Pregnancy #65

[calabazarock]

I saw JuniorDragName move around last night which was new to me and pretty epic. I was getting a pulse/heartbeat type feeling, dunno if he was pulling the cord around and I could feel the pulse from the cord or if he kicking me rhythmically or what he was up to, but then my stomach did a sort of ‘Mexican wave’ motion. So I got MrDragName upstairs to have a look but he wasn’t sure if he could see it or not, I guess I had the better angle as I was staring directly down at my bump and he couldn’t fit in behind me to get the same view as me. But he did it two or three more times and it was pretty epic whilst also being slightly like that scene in Alien .

My latest anxiety fixation is the fact that the young man is breech and I don’t believe he’s turned yet, though I can’t be sure. I’d like to avoid a c-section if I can. And I realise him being breech is not the only reason for needing a c-section but it’s quite a big reason. Obviously, I just want a birth that is safe for him and me and if that is a c-section then that is what it is. But, in the meantime, is there anything I can legitimately and safely do to encourage this young lad to turn? I tried googling and some of the stuff either seemed a bit ‘woo woo’ or a bit dangerous or both!

Mine was breech at some point, no idea when he turned around.
If you felt baby kick more than 3-4 times very rhythmically, he probably had hiccups.

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

According to the info screen in the hospital obstetrics clinic waiting room yesterday (which I saw lots of and learned lots because I was waiting for AN HOUR (*), baby's also move less when you're up and about moving because the swaying/rocking motion of your movement soothes them, whilst when you're at rest they're more likely to be a-wriggling.

(*) very fun trip.

Spoiler: my fun day out

I have to go for extra checks because of the SNRI I'm on and there being a tiny tiny elevated risk of bleeding (which is much less than the overall risk to baby if I were to stop taking SNRI etc etc etc). Anyway, it's one of those where you go in one room for pee and blood pressure with a nurse, then back to the waiting room to wait for obstetrician. I'm already stressed out because when I got there I COULD NOT PEE INTO MY SAMPLE TUBE so I'm sat in the waiting room for half an hour stressing because I didn't pee, and then started needing to pee but didn't want to get up and go to the loo because sod's law she'd come out and call me as soon as I'd gone and I was alone and didn't fancy turning round to the random couple behind me and try and explain and unload the responsibility on them that I need to go and pee can you listen out for Lily Kestrel and tell them I'm peeing if they call me. ANYWAY so then the nurse calls me and I'm like 'listen I didn't pee, can I go and pee now' and she's like 'you what why didn't you go while you were waiting' 'well I didn't want to miss you if you called me' 'FINE I'll be in the door with my name on it' so I go and pee and then go to look for the door on the corridor and there is no door with her name on it so then another nurse is like 'what are you doing here' 'I'm looking for [name]' 'she's in the door with Blood Pressure on it' (*throws arms up in air in frustration*) off I go

She keeps calling me Katie. My name is not Katie. I'm like I'm not Katie. "Oh sorry I know, [Lily]." *Five seconds later* "So Katie do you smoke" She takes blood pressure and it's high, one over what it should be. She takes blood pressure again and it's high, one over what it should be. And pee has protein in. This is a risk for early sign of pre-eclampsia, Katie. Back you go to the waiting room, wait for doc.

I'm sat FOR AN HOUR WAITING TO BE CALLED BY THE DOCTOR thinking omg my blood pressure is high omg omg omg, it's so hot and loud and there's so many people and I'm just sat there freaking out.

Anyway go to see doc and she's like well it's been an hour I'll do your blood pressure again and it drops by four. So I have to have bloods anyway but it's probably nothing.

Omg that is WILDLY frustrating. Hopefully all is ok, that would have raised my blood pressure, too!

 

[fishsticks]

Yes hopefully. I think I'm just on edge due to my miscarriage in April.. I hate being pregnant, love having the baby but hate this part .

Thinking of you!! Have you managed to get through at all?

 

[lilykestrel]

10 weeks at the end of this week and I still haven’t had a date for my 12 week scan. Got my booking appointment this Friday with the midwife I guess I’ll need to chase because I think you need to have it done by a certain time if you want them to measure for the trisomy stuff?

obviously it might vary by trust but at my booking appointment, the midwife pressed a button that sent something to the ultrasound people to book my 12 week scan and I'd had it through by the time I was back in the car after the appointment. But I had my booking appointment a couple weeks ahead of you so can't hurt chasing

 

[ahtisyourself]

Sooo has anyone actually ever sneezed or farted out their own uterus? Asking for a friend

 

[calabazarock]

I wore a lot of my normal clothes to gym. I got 2 bigger t-shirts and a pregnancy yoga pants from decathlon, those came in handy the last 2-3 months.

 

[RedPotter]

Yeah I definitely will, the lady we had for the rest of the course was a bit more open minded on everything and seemed to cover everything better!
The breastfeeding one was brutal though, she stepped in last minute to cover, I wish she hadn't!

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

The newborn prams have me so confused. Why must they all be so clunky. I tried a few out around a shop yesterday and the back wheels on most just seem disproportionately large and awkward. I know most travel systems will take you from newborn to toddler stage, but I already have my eye on another nippy looking stroller that I will probably buy once the child is a bit more sturdy, I find them much neater and easier to manoeuvre. So really I don’t think I need a travel system with loads of different attachments and awkward clunky bits, I just need a newborn pram that doesn’t have huge monster truck back wheels that take up most of the pavement and isn’t going to be a pain to get inside my tight front door! Is it too much to ask

I did buy a chunky beast because I wanted all terrain wheels so we could make the most of where we live, but I went to one of these pram megastore places and although it was like 1hr45 minute drive away (each way!) it was totally worth it as they were able to demonstrate everything, were completely unpushy about any brand or type or even about buying anything, we were equally left alone to try everything out and put attachments on and off and wheel stuff about. We went twice, once to get our heads around stuff and once to purchase. Helped us as two newbies who had no clue at all! I’ve seen decent ranges in Smyths as well, the wheels looked a bit more dainty which will suit urban environments!

 

[calabazarock]

I'm 37w and been told to start walking a lot and blabla. Has anyone tried dates? how many a day?

 

[fishsticks]

If it’s internal and your length of service won’t be affected then it’s an absolute no brainer to continue in the process. Even if there was that break it totally depends on the job - a toxic workplace with a bit of enhanced mat leave isn’t really a good place!
Lots of people don’t even know they are pregnant at this early stage and, without wanting to sound awful, it -is- really early so there still are some viability questions that nobody can answer. Sorry, I couldn’t think of a nice and gentle way to say that so forgive me because I obviously have everything crossed for you for a healthy pregnancy that goes to full term.

People withdraw from hiring processes all the time even at the last minute. I have myself (not for pregnancy reasons but other reasons). I once had someone show up to their first day of work with my organisation and resign within about an hour it happens! You have to do what is right for you and everything else is a business transaction to other people.

You're 100% right and I know I need to think that way entirely as I know how common early losses can be, but it's so tricky without feeling like a fraud bcus I do know.

The role I've applied for is something I've wanted to do for a while and doesn't often pop up, so I'd be stupid not to apply, but I also don't want them to think worst of me bcus of it. Technically I have nothing to lose but my pride, but it's bloody hard to get into that mindset.

 

[A1992]

Thank you!! I'm only 25 weeks tomorrow, I'm taking 3 weeks holiday and then officially on maternity leave after that, I'm too scared of premature labour that I just wanted to leave work ASAP so I didn't have that to worry and stress over too! I told my consultant at my last appointment I wanted to elect for a C-section, she said my next appointment at 29 weeks will be when I need a decision but I know my mind won't change! Hopefully I will get more info about everything then, I didn't have a C-section with my 1st so I'm terrified but the thought of giving birth vaginally to twin 1 and then needing an emergency C-section for twin 2 terrifies me a lot more

Yeah fully agreed re the scheduled c-section. That’s the route we will go down too, as long as these two little ones stay inside until then!!

Sending you so much positivity and really hope they stay in for another 11 weeks! Keep us updated.

I too am quite concerned about the risks of preterm labour - did you have a cervical length scan? I had one at 16 weeks and will have another at 20 weeks, to assess the risks and make a decision on a cerclage (which also terrifies me). Pregnancy feels more scary than I thought it would!

 

[Tretps29]

I love how whenever I get a bizarre new minor inconvenience of an ailment I whack it into Google and it's like YEP TOTALLY NORMAL MOST EVERYBODY GETS IT NOBODY KNOWS WHY BUT *comedy jingle sting* THAT'S PREGNANCY

It's waking up with intense calf cramp in my right leg currently. Dunno why it's just my right one. Probably something to do with the girdle pain.

(By the way thank you to whoever a few pages back gave the tip to do everything like moving to standing with your knees firmly together. I feel very regal but it has helped massively)

I’ve had horrific cramp in my legs when I wake up after a nights sleep but it’s only when I’ve been wearing heels or on my feet for a while.
Now I’m on mat leave it’s completely gone so I think the mix of hormones, being heavier and pregnant was the culprit.
My muscles were so fucked I felt like I’d run a marathon every time I got cramp

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I take them as the iron makes me constipated but they don’t give me what I imagined- it just makes my stools ‘softer’ so it comes out easier(?) Not like the runs haha. Sorry if TMI but the thought scared me at first too as I didn’t want to have to be dashing to the loo at inconvenient times but it really isn’t like that for me!

That is good to know! I need all the TMI, hahaha.

 

[RedPotter]

I had a meeting with my manager and decided I wanted to start maternity leave a week before my due date and I'm taking 2 weeks annual leave before that. I've decided on 9 months at the moment for financial reasons.
I know my manager sent my Mat B1 form off to HR etc, as everything at my work HR related goes through the manager rather than direct to HR. But I'm just realizing I've not had anything from HR at all, I know they sent a letter through to my manager with a breakdown of my maternity pay.
Is that normal should I have something in writing confirming my Mat leave start date etc? I only have 4 and a half weeks left of work so probably should be thinking about this stuff!

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I put myself to bed before 9pm last night and didn’t really fully wake up till 7am (had numerous wake ups in the night and a couple of trips to the toilet but that’s totally normal) but it did really help me feel rested. I’ve not really managed to achieve what I wanted to because I feel MASSIVE and I feel like JuniorDragName is trying to burst his way out of me, alien style, but I’ve got some stuff done and I’m just trying to be kind to myself about it. Things are basically ticking along with the to do lists. We might build our bedside crib thing later. I’d like to tell you that this will be a really great moment for us both but most attempts we have to build anything together end in threats of divorce .

MrDN has followed instructions now and there has been progress on our wee garden project so that’s exciting. He’s out picking up the fixings and I am pretty sure we have enough of the paint for the project already. We can’t finish it today but it’s coming together!

 

[ThisIsMyDragName]

I’ve been trying to up my water as I’m so thirsty and definitely getting constipated but I’m not loving having to pee every 45 minutes

Yes! The boy is absolutely plonked on my bladder, the second I stand up or walk I feel like I need to pee. Even when I’m standing up from the bloody toilet! The physio told me about how to move myself about in case I was struggling to fully empty my bladder but it’s more my son’s position than anything else.

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

Im thinking im a nerd because I got a hand me down moses and just sew some sheets for it.

Not sure that makes you a nerd? I’d love to have the skill or space or time to be able to see my own sheets.

 

[LittleMissMuffet]

I hate this insomnia rubbish, like clockwork every night at about 2am and I can’t get back to sleep until 4-5am and it’s completely come out of the blue too, I was sleeping so well! I’ve tried pillow sprays and sleep music and magnesium and still, awake every night with restless legs (which I had before pregnancy anyway, just worse now ) I suppose at least I’ll have practice for when baby is here! It’s not so bad now as I’m a teacher with no other kids and it’s the summer hols but I’m really trying to fix this before I need to be up at 6 when the holidays end - I know when baby arrives sleep will be much rarer but I’d like to get it whilst I can

Yup. It’s been like this for the last two months at least for me. I don’t even need a wee. Just wake up. Then my first born is an early riser - he was waking at 5:30 but is managing to stay asleep until 6am lately.

 

[amarantine]

Had my 20 week scan today and happily everything is looking as it should! Only had 3 separate anxiety dreams about missing the appointment/things going wrong last night turns out I have an anterior placenta (seems quite common from these threads?) which explains why the movement I’ve felt so far feels super faint!! I saw a reel on insta recently of a baby quite obviously rolling over from the outside - it looked like her whole belly was rippling so I can totally imagine baby moving doesn’t always feel like cute little flutters

Glad all looks good! I was so anxious for our 20 week scan! I have a posterior placenta but until very recently baby’s movements were still very faint and fluttery which I still get just interspersed with the odd roll and kick now! I find the videos of women at a similar point in pregnancy to me actually physically seeing the movements bonkers because I have never experienced that and even mr amarantine can’t feel baby moving very much! I’ve been so anxious about movement this whole time, I’ve been rubbish at managing pregnancy anxiety

 

[cc_2013]

I’ll be 21 weeks on Friday and still barely feeling flutters it’s my first one and I do have good core muscle tone, and I know baby was moving round loads at our 20 week scan on Friday because the sonographer kept telling baby off for wriggling away but I feel like I should be feeling more and am getting pretty anxious - please say there are others of you in here who didn’t feel much at this point?! I want to have scans literally every day to check that everything is okay I’ve also told my new boss about baby today and she was so lovely about it so that’s a weight off at least - now just got normal pregnancy worries rather than job ones too

I’m 37 weeks, nearly 38 weeks, and still can barely feel anything