Due July 2024 - part 4

[Oatmilktea]

The other thread was filling up so thought I would set up a new one!

@Sophie3003
@ceruleansky
@Amberellaella
@wannabe123
@glasshalffull0
@Morningcoffeeaddict
@missmoosh
@Jess725
@AnonymousXXIX
@Busyhedgehog
@Nocoffeenotalkie
@justanotherlaura
@Honeymint
@Savvy21
@hopingfor23
@chilliflakesmum
@ExpectantEs
@AimeeLou84
@Welshgal85
@TooHappyToday
@Bali200

I’ve tagged people from the last few pages of the previous thread, hopefully everyone makes there way over here when the other one fills up!

These days when I sit or lie down and I stand up after a while, I'm in agony. Those first few steps hurt so much! I don't feel anything until I stand up. I'm not sure if it's round ligament pain or something else. Sometimes its accompanied by cramps or sharp pains but goes away in about 5 minutes. Anyone else experience this?

Thanks all. Took the plunge and ordered the new snuzpod mattress for overnight sleeps. The old one has been in the loft (albeit wrapped up) for 2.5 years and does also look a bit orange on one side now that I look closely… For the sake of £35 I thought it was worth minimising my inevitable anxiety about it 😂. We’ll also keep the old one as a spare e.g. for downstairs naps when he’s being supervised anyway! That should make me feel better about the waste. Just the swing to assemble tomorrow, then finish my hospital bag and I’m all set ☺️

@ceruleansky i an definitely more stiff after sitting down for a while, even on the pregnancy ball! Assume it’s a mix of round ligament and pelvic girdle pain 😊

@Amberellaella woo nearly ready then! Defo not worth unnecessary worry for £35! I just have to pack some spare clothes and snacks and then my bags are all packed! Got the husband to repack it all and the baby bag so he knew where everything was in it. He just needs to sort a bag for himself now lol

Yes same here. Pretty sure it's a normal 3rd trimester thing 😅(and somewhat hopeful it means the baby is moving from diagonal to head down???).

I haven't bought a new mattress for the next to me it was new with my son he outgrew it quickly so it's barely used I did buy a new waterproof cover for it though. I doubt I'll order a new mattress for the big cot but might change my mind when baby goes in it. I did splurge on the owlet sock to help ease my anxiety a little

Hello all. I've been lurking for a bit after coming across this thread, but thought I'd pop in to say hello. 😊 My little boy is due on the 18th of July. It's my second pregnancy and first to go this far.

I'm having extra growth scans because of low PAPP-A. Went to the hospital on Tuesday and they reckon he's 7lbs 9oz already! 😆 He's also head down now, which explains the wriggling he's been doing. Are you a baby or an eel, little one?

Definitely getting pain, especially if I roll over in bed. My pelvis clicks and it bloody hurts. Getting out of bed is fun too, I end up waddling like a penguin. 🐧 A very fat, grumpy penguin.

I've been having hypnobirthing sessions. I'm hoping everything is straightforward and I don't need any medical intervention, although if it happens it happens. I also feel very unprepared compared to the rest of you! I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. 😅 Seems like packing a bag ready for the hospital is going to be my task for the weekend. 😊 (Although it'll be more like a suitcase.) I'm so looking forward to meeting my baby. Both of us are Dragons (Chinese zodiac) which I think is really cool. One of the first things I bought for him was a dragon plushie. 🐉

💐 For everyone having difficulties. It must be scary and stressful. I hope it all goes well. ❤️

@missmoosh
I see, good to hear that it's normal, at least! Feeling abormal is the new normal. 🤣

@AnonymousXXIX
I guess this is something that's going to occur up until delivery, then!
Is baby still diagonal?? When will you be able to see the baby next to see if the position has changed?

@SapphireSeptember
Welcome to the thread! Congratulations on your pregnancy! We will all endure the discomfort together until the end! 🤣🤝

@ceruleansky goad bubba is doing well. Round ligament pain is a bitch!
Baby boy is kicking me and his movements have become painful. I think last pregnancy as I had a anterior placenta things were cushioned a lot! But this time I have a fundal posterior placenta and the difference is crazy.
Yesterday was especially bad.

@wannabe123 yes I got the tightenings to but not pain with it.
I am sure it will be fine and work out alright. My backup hospital is 1.5hrs away to! But my birthing center just up the hill like 2min drive. I hope I can have baby there. May child care (parents) pive 3.5hrs away! So I hoping they arrive at 39 weeks if not a day or 2 before 😱

@Cherubs4 butter on toast at 3am is 😍
Are you starting dates and raspberry leaf tea? Bridget teylor has some good videos and also Care about little ones on YT.
Have you thought about trying castor oil / Midwives brew? Obvs discuss with Midwife/Dr.

@Busyhedgehog oh my sorry to hear about DH. Wow what an odd coincidence both times. Having sympathy symptoms. DVT can happen with pregnant women so he got it. Or is he teyong to steak the lime light? Well i hope he is doing better.

@Jess725 yeah insomnia been crazy bad. Waking up anywhere from 1am / 3am. Sometimes I can get back to sleep after an hour sometimes it is 3/4hrs. Then have to be up at 7am with DS1.
My cramps come and go late evening and early morning still not getting worse just staying the same. My midwives are very natural so they don't do many checks unless i request. I like the hands off approach. They also encourage home births.

@Bluebonnet3 congrats!!! Glad to hear it went well and you are both doing good. How much does she weigh? That's nice you have a friend coming. And I am sure DS will be fine. Did you prep him before hand?

@Morningcoffeeaddict the ideal rental just popped up for us and i really want to take it. But it would mean moving out of our place at 39weeks! So we may have to pass on it. So sad. We have waited 4years for a bigger rental, has a lovely garden and 4bed. And reasonable rent for it and right next to the hospital in a lovely quiet residential. I am so gutted. 😭

Using some mattress as DS1 didn't use his much. And was with us at 4months! Probably be the same this time as well.

@SapphireSeptember welcome and congrats. Right with you with the pain moving in bed. SPD in bed and SIJ when I walk to much or cleaning a lot. I am nesting crazy and fixating like a mad woman. I finished cleaning our ground floor. Just done 1st floor and now onto 2nd floor!! But carpets still need washing! And DH has been dragging his heels so much I could murder him. 😂

@MixedCouple2 - oh how frustrating for you! We’re moving tomorrow (at 35 weeks) and I am exhausted from all the sorting and packing, but also somehow wide awake at 4am thanks to pregnancy insomnia which is a real treat. Seems like every woman in our village I talk to moved house at 35+ weeks or with a newborn only a few days old somehow but I don’t think any of us would recommend it. 39 weeks is very close to due date though - is there anyway you could see if they’d be flexible on dates? I guess not but it might not hurt to ask

I napped too much yesterday! The plus side is that I didn't have any cramps or tightenings yesterday (although I was then slightly disappointed that nothing was happening). However, I couldn't get to sleep until gone midnight and then was up again at half 2 and then at half 4 my 3 year old woke up having a bad dream about a spider 🫠 Having to fight the urge to go back to bed now he's at nursery and get some washing done first!

@ceruleansky I have a midwife appointment next week (36.5 weeks). I don't think it's a scan, but I hope she will be able to feel for the position (and refer for a scan if unsure?). Yesterday I was sure the baby turned the right way down, but then overnight I am pretty sure it wiggled back into diagonal again. At least that means there's still space to move, right!

@Morningcoffeeaddict insane as it sounds, I would probably go for it! It's nice to have things sorted before baby gets there but not essential. All you need is a mattress and a fridge, really! I am a stay calm and roll with it kinda person. But if you think it'll stress you out then obviously don't, that would not be good for labour!

@MixedCouple2
Agreed. Yikes that must be hard. Posterior placenta here as well and I'm not looking forward to getting to that stage you're in!! The things we moms go through 😅

@AnonymousXXIX
Okay, I hope that baby gets into positions by then. Have they told you what would happen if it isn't the case?
Yes I suppose if it's still moving about there's space.. I was told that generally once they engage they don't move much.

Had a little tiff with DH today. His parents are staying with us and I feel suffocated by their presence. I'm not used to a lot of attention and am usually quite independent, I like doing things my way. When my mom comes to stay she's mostly in her room and comes to occasionally check on me and she knows my routine.
This allows me to move around the house and do what I need to and I ask for help only when I need it.
With my in laws they are in the living room watching TV all the time so I've kept away from there mostly because the second I step out of my room they're asking me what i need. They are trying to help but they make me feel like I'm handicapped. Won't let me even fill my own water bottle without some kind of conversation or asking if I need help. It's all too much, I'm not used to this kind of attention but according to DH I should be happy to have help. Well of course I'm grateful but I do need some room to breathe.

@ceruleansky Indeed! No one tells you about this stuff, it's only until it happens that you realise. I want to meet one of those women who loves being pregnant and floats through it, looking all calm and serene. I'm knackered and grumpy, and I hate most of it. I do love feeling baby moving though, that makes my heart melt. 💙

@MixedCouple2 Thank you! I'm glad I live in a flat, not much cleaning to do. Although I currently have a big pile of washing I need to get through. 😱 And I need to clean the bathroom, which is my least favourite job. Your DH needs to pull his finger out. Could you make use of a cattle prod? 😁

@SapphireSeptember
Yes true, I've been through so many things that I've never heard people mention as symptoms!
I resonate with that, I have had difficult moments but I'm grateful that it has been relatively smooth so far. When I hear what others have gone through I get that feeling that okay, you're good, it could be worse.
I am going to miss being pregnant and feeling the kicks, as you said. I think it's pretty cool our bodies can do this. And having had fertility treatments I know how much it hurts to try and fail over and over so even though I moan about it, I'm happy to be pregnant!!

@ceruleansky - that would drive me crazy with the in laws. I like my own space at the best of times but pregnant I’m especially grateful for it! I’ve not told my mum we’re moving tomorrow because we’d fall out if she came round to help. Luckily my in laws are very busy anyway so they tend not to get under our feet - we have the opposite problem that they’re meant to be having our son for weekend and still haven’t decided when they’re picking him up tomorrow!

@ceruleansky 💐 I can't imagine. 🥺 I'm glad you've got your baby now. ❤️
Yes, I haven't had it too bad. A bit of morning sickness at the start, and feeling achy and tired, but nothing major. And baby is healthy. I did get a kidney infection around the New Year which was horrible, and because of the pain they sent me in for an early scan to check baby was where he was supposed to be, but everything was fine. Also found out I was further along than I realised! I hadn't quite decided if I was going to continue the pregnancy or not at the time, as I was a bit unsure, and I had people worrying about me and saying I wouldn't cope, but seeing the scan pictures made up my mind. 💙 I'm also quite stubborn, and hate being told what to do. 😁

Another thing they don't tell you is baby moving can actually be quite noisy! I get little clicking sounds from my tummy if he's being particularly active. Nor do they tell you how itchy stretch marks can be. I didn't feel anything until a couple of weeks ago and suddenly it's non stop itching, and I got a mirror and looked under my bump and there's loads. I've been rubbing body lotion on every night.

@Morningcoffeeaddict Good luck with moving day! 💐

Thanks @SapphireSeptember ! I’m with you about being stubborn when people try to tell me what I can and can’t do. Estate agent rang this morning while I was packing and said “I hope you’re putting your feet up and letting other people do the work” - partly I wondered what other people he was talking about but straightaway he was getting “you can believe that if you want to” as a response. I am being careful but being told my limits is like a red flag to a bull 🙈

@Morningcoffeeaddict
Ugh, I know what you mean! I totally get that you haven't told her - you're also in the "do things my way" group. Totally get it. Good that they haven't been in your way but can help when you need it.

I had a conversation about this with DH and told him that they could visit at the end of my pregnancy, when I would need some help and once mat leave starts.. if I had to work and deal with this I wouldn't cope. I knew this would happen.
I'm so anxious about how my mother in law is going to be once the baby comes. My mom will be here as well, so I'm hoping we can balance it out or it'll be total chaos and I'll have to send everyone home, who knows!

@SapphireSeptember
Thank you, I'm glad we passed that phase! ☺️
I'm glad that your pregnancy has not been too difficult and that baby is safe and healthy!!
Love how things worked out for you - seeing the scan and hearing the heartbeat for the first time is quite a surreal moment, isn't it! Why would anyone tell you you couldn't cope, that sounds awful! Certainly not the way to react to a baby! Glad you decided what's best for you. :)

Interesting, I've heard a lot of people talk about clicking sounds but haven't experienced it thus far. On the itching, I have it too, I think wearing certain fabrics that are really soft helps and I oil my belly and torso (boobs are also itchy) multiple times a day and apply lotion at night before bed.

@ceruleansky - it will be good to have the help when baby arrives, hopefully they’ll be helpful and not just under your feet at that point and I’m sure you’ll welcome the opportunity to go for a shower or a nap while someone watches baby every now and then.

I was lucky last time with Covid that people were forced to leave us alone, but with this being our second I think I might welcome some help - to help entertain my son if nothing else, he’s very excited to have a little brother to play with but don’t think he understands that newborns aren’t quite ready for playing yet

@Morningcoffeeaddict
This is certainly my thought process right now which is why I insisted I would need help from both of them, especially since DH has to go back to work after a week or ten days..
I'm sure you'll need help with DS while having to navigate a newborn! The older ones do get a bit more needy sometimes..

On the topic of things people never mentioned to me before having a baby: postpartum night sweats! I slept on a towel for weeks, and had to change the bedding nearly every day; everything got completely soaked overnight!!

@AnonymousXXIX I'd forgotten about that and we're going to have a heatwave to deal with too 🫠

@Morningcoffeeaddict I've had that feeling! My thing is I need antihistamines, firstly because I was getting eaten alive by midges and I was coming out in huge lumps, secondly because of hayfever and 'pollen food syndrome'. (If I eat certain things I get a hayfever type reaction.) Asked a couple of different pharmacists, couldn't get a straight answer. The NHS website says loratadine is safe in pregnancy, so I've been taking that.
It's like all the things you shouldn't eat, and in my case I've been told off for drinking tea and coke because of the caffeine. I also got told off for looking at nail polish! Apparently I should only be thinking about stuff for the baby. <hides bird & blend order>
Meanwhile I was quite happy that it meant I didn't have to do any heavy lifting at work (DIY/tradespeople type place.) Some of that stuff is really heavy! If I'm at home and want to move a box of books, I will do. But no way does that weigh 25-35kg.
Also spoke to someone who didn't sound impressed by me taking paracetamol. I drank while pregnant, and ate liver, because I didn't know I was. I'm not going to feel guilty about things I know are safe. (Also not feeling guilty for the other stuff either!)
The bloody GP I spoke to when I told them I was pregnant seemed to think I might as well have an abortion because I'd been drinking. He seemed to think I was going out on the lash, despite me telling him I don't actually drink that much. Then he asked me about drugs. I confessed to buttercup syrup, cold and flu sachets and ibuprofen. Don't think he was expecting that!

@ceruleansky You're welcome. 😊
So am I! I'm not going to know everything till he's born, but I don't think I've harmed him by things I've eaten/drank before finding out I was pregnant. He seems healthy enough. 😊 Fat little chonky baby. He weighs more now than I did when I was born, and I was couple of weeks overdue. 😆
Thank you! ❤️ Indeed! When I went for the 12 week scan the sonographer fell in love with him, and she did the 20 week scan as well. She said he was very photogenic. 😁 But the first one felt surreal. Both the nurse and sonographer said they could see I'd made up my mind.
There's lots of things why people have said I wouldn't be able to cope, autism, not living with the dad, low income, my family live far away, previous mental health issues, not living somewhere I can actually live with a baby (currently going through the council to hopefully find somewhere to live, they've said they'll speak to the lettings agency on my behalf.)
But I have good friends where I am and my mum is always on the end of the phone. I have a good church community around me as well. I will cope fine. It's my boyfriend I'm worried about!
I love my little one so much already, I said that even before I'd even seen him! My friend didn't understand how I could say that, but I just knew.
I still don't feel completely ready, but I think that's normal.

The clicking is very weird, as was the tugging feeling (not so much now he's not got as much room.) I remember feeling the first little flutters back in February, it felt like a little bird beating their wings. Now it's proper kicks and wriggling and sometimes hiccups. I'm typing this while baby is having a party. 😂
At least it's not just me. My boobs were really itchy a couple of months ago but seem to have calmed down. Also getting a bit of milk leaking, but just a few drops. The tummy itching is the worst though, and feeling so tight I think I'm going to burst!