Due Sept 2017

[Savasanna]

yes! The super low menstrual-like cramping! It's confusing to me as I know my uterus is so large now, how/why would I continue to have cramping so low?

The tightness is pretty wild. I agree that it doesn't take much for that to happen. It's actually starting to happen right now for no reason. One of my fibroids is sort of causing me some pain, too. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that it went this long without being much of an issue - but it is pretty annoying.

How long do your BH last for? I've only had maybe 3 strong bouts of them. Two lasted about 2 hours (and a ton of water!) and one was several hours longer, but also was more spaced out/not as constant.

 

[MrsKChicago]

Moving right now would kill me! My house is a mess and my kid is bored as it is, I can't imagine adding to that. My mom is taking Teddy tomorrow for the afternoon since DH has Thursdays off and we don't have any appointments for once, so we can get a lot done around the house, hopefully. I'd rather nap, though... I need to do the baby laundry and pack the hospital bag and an overnight bag for Ted at a minimum, hopefully I can get the bassinet and so on set up, too.

I've mostly only been getting the BH if I overdo it or I'm not drinking enough. They're definitely uncomfortable but thankfully not too frequent.

I'll be honest, I'm too lazy for the tea this time. I drank a ton last time and I still had 24 hours of active labor, so I'm not very motivated this time. I'll try the dates, though. Technically I should be starting now since I'm 36 weeks, but I'm waiting until after Hamilton and the last bit of baby shopping to be safe.

 

[gingmg]

I'm actually relieved to hear that you are getting the period like cramps too. I've had them on and off the whole pregnancy, but these last few days has been more than before and had me a little worried. I get two different kinds of tightening. One kind is like a typical contraction, getting slowly tighter over the course of maybe a minute then backing off over the course of another minute. They still aren't painful but I'd say the intensity of them is ramping up. It's like everything inside my body feels tight for that minute, not just my bump. Last night they were coming pretty frequently again that I almost started timing them on the clock, but after a lot of water and rest they stopped and I feel fine again today so far. I almost called last night because they felt too frequent but I felt more reassured when I got them to stop. The other kind of tightening I get is just that my whole bump goes hard. Sometimes it feels like it can be like that for a long time like you described. I had a lot of BHs with my first but it feels like more this time. It's hard to know when to be concerned and what's within normal. My midwife checked on Monday and I'm not dilated so that feels reassuring.

Good luck moving! Hope others are going to do the brunt of it and that it's not too stressful.

 

[Tess08]

The raspberry leaf tea is supposed to make contractions more effective or something so makes labour go quicker. Not sure if it actually does but I'm willing to try anything lol! I take the capsules so it's one with breakfast n one with dinner.

I've been getting the cramp too! I'm putting it down to baby moving down into position coz I can't think of anything else it might be lol.

Yeh we defo didn't want to be moving this late on in the pregnancy but we have been looking since January and just haven't had any luck. I'm just gonna try take it a little bit at a time and I'm going to throw a lot of stuff out before we move so it's a good excuse to have a right good clear out and then I'll just replace things after we have moved in properly x

 

[Impatient27]

I'm having the cramping stuff too! My midwife distinguished the tightening plus cramps as practice contractions, whereas the tightening without any pain involved are just Braxton Hicks. Not really sure what the actual difference is, but she seemed to think it was important. I'm supposed to call the office if I get 4 of the practice contractions in an hour, but not worry if I have Braxton Hicks, even if they happen often. I've gotten 3 maximum of the practice ones in an hour, so no call to the doc yet... 33 weeks today! Will start with one cup of red raspberry leaf tea when I hit 34, then slowly increase from there. I'll start the dates at 36. Worth a shot!

 

[Babybump2017]

It all sounds so scary I've been having the tightening for probably 8 weeks now but obviously this is my first pregnancy so I never know the difference between what could be serious and what is just my body preparing! I'm so clueless I don't even really know what the first sign is to look for or how it all pans out in stages! I guess it's either broken water or pain! I absolutely can't wait for her to be here now. I'm really uncomfortable and miserable right now. Seems like you have a busy day tomorow mrs Chicago I couldn't imagine having a toddler and being pregnant! Luckily everything for bubs is ready, and hospital bag is packed I just need to collect her pram and car seat now which is still in the shop until needed as I don't really have the room to store it.. I also found one of the hardest decisions picking which outfit to bring her home in I dread to think how much has been spent on clothes since I found out the sex. The child has more than I do

 

[MrsKChicago]

The clothes shopping is so fun, though! This is our last, so I was excited to get to shop for a girl this time, though I have more fun that I expected shopping for Teddy. I bought mostly used and clearance but I'll probably be buying more once I get a good idea of her growth and our weather.

I'm lucky that Teddy is pretty well behaved by 2 year old standards, but it's still definitely a different pregnancy experience this time! I have to sneak my ice cream if I don't want him to have any, and he keeps stealing my lunch. Only toddlers are cute enough to steal food from an 8 months pregnant lady and live to tell the tale! He's kind of useful in ways, though, too. He'll fetch me things when I don't want to get up. Yesterday we came into the living room and I was already on the couch when I realized I'd left the baby gate open, and he went and closed it for me

 

[gingmg]

Anyone else nesting? I mean I don't have that surge of energy or anything and I'm trying mostly to take it easy, but I'm finding myself fixated on certain things.. things that shouldn't even matter and have nothing to do with the new baby. Like last week I cleaned the inside of the stove, the other day I washed the jogging stroller, yesterday I folded and reorganized everything in the linen closet and junk drawer, and today my son and I washed, swept, and hosed down the front porch... because it seemed like the logical way to spend our afternoon??? (Followed by an outing for ice cream for the second day in a row) It's like all of a sudden I see dirt and clutter in places I've never noticed before and it feels like if I don't do it now it will be three years before it gets done. I'm cleaning things I haven't cleaned since I was nesting when pregnant with my son. When I start sweeping the basement, I'm about to go into labor... haha.

 

[Tess08]

Anyone else nesting? I mean I don't have that surge of energy or anything and I'm trying mostly to take it easy, but I'm finding myself fixated on certain things.. things that shouldn't even matter and have nothing to do with the new baby. Like last week I cleaned the inside of the stove, the other day I washed the jogging stroller, yesterday I folded and reorganized everything in the linen closet and junk drawer, and today my son and I washed, swept, and hosed down the front porch... because it seemed like the logical way to spend our afternoon??? (Followed by an outing for ice cream for the second day in a row) It's like all of a sudden I see dirt and clutter in places I've never noticed before and it feels like if I don't do it now it will be three years before it gets done. I'm cleaning things I haven't cleaned since I was nesting when pregnant with my son. When I start sweeping the basement, I'm about to go into labor... haha.

Yeh I've been nesting a bit! Clearing out cupboards I haven't even opened in god knows how long and like u say, as soon as I get the idea in my head to do it it's like I need to do it right there and then or it really does my head in lol. I've kind of had to do this though because we are moving soon (hopefully!) so I need to go through what we're taking and what we're binning.

So I had my first midwife app in 6 weeks today and she is concerned that I'm 34 and a half weeks but my bump is only measuring 30 weeks. She's booked me in for a growth scan on Monday to make sure baby is growing ok. I'm happy I don't need to wait too long until the scan to make sure everything is going ok but I'm also annoyed at my midwife because the last time I was there I was measuring 2 weeks behind but she said as long as it's no more than 2 weeks they aren't concerned and then she sent me away for 6 weeks! She said she would keep an eye on my bump growth so surely she should have booked me in to see her again in like 2/3 weeks time to measure me again instead of waiting 6 weeks in which time I've fallen behind by a further 2 and a half weeks?! So infuriating that just because this is my second pregnancy the midwives have defo not paid as much attention to me as they did the first time as if this pregnancy isn't just as important x

 

[gingmg]

Tess- I'd be infuriated too, they should have scheduled to see you sooner. I hope it turns out to be nothing like before. Maybe you just have a little peanut??? I hope that's the case. I would imagine this is going to be a long weekend. Thinking of you!

 

[MrsKChicago]

That's so frustrating, Tess. I can't believe how long they make you go between appointments. My midwife has flat out said she's not worried about me, but I'm still being seen, she just pushed back my transition from every other week to ever week to 37 weeks instead of 36. Hopefully everything looks good on the ultrasound.

 

[Savasanna]

Oh, Tess - that IS upsetting and you have a right to be annoyed. Here's hoping you're just growing a little Peanut. I've heard tons of stories of small bumps and big babies, actually - so maybe you just have super strong abdominal muscles!

I had my last growth scan today. She's measuring about 6.5 lbs, 49th%. Also - I'm 3cm dialated and 50% effaced! So crazy! I feel like this pregnancy is suddenly over!

 

[lilmisscaviar]

Tess I'm so sorry that they didn't keep a better eye on you but definitely fight for what you feel is right. I had to push my midwife when I found out I had polyhydramnios, otherwise I would have just been another "normal" case too. Glad that they were able to get you in soon but I agree that it should have been spotted a while ago. Every pregnancy is different. I haven't had polyhydramnios before which is why I had to push for them to look into it. They thought that because it is my fourth baby - despite multiple previous losses - that everything was ok. I really hope everything turns out normal. Hopefully baby is just a tad on the small side... not necessarily a bad thing as long as everything else is ok. Keeping my fx for you!

Savasanna - Wow 3cm dilated already! Sounds like you're going to be due for an early birth They typically don't check us internally here until 37/38 weeks. I'm wondering if they will this time though considering that I'm more high risk this time?

 

[Tess08]

Thanks ladies. I'm sure bubs is fine and just maybe a little bit on the small side but yeh I'm pretty pissed at how it's been left so late to check. I'm worried that if there is something wrong it's too late to do anything about it but that'll just be my hormones making my mind go into overdrive no doubt!

Caviar, what is polyhydamnios? I've never heard of that. It's crazy that we should need to push our midwives to look into these things for us.

Wow sav! 3cm already?! How many weeks are u? I was 1cm dilated for about the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy last time but I didn't progress any more than that until the contractions and proper labour started x

 

[Savasanna]

I was 36+5 yesterday. My OB said this doesn't mean anything re the timing of when labor will begin (other than possibly that I won't make it to my due date) but that it could indicate a smoother/faster labor. Who knows if she was just saying that to make me feel better, but I'll take it!

 

[MrsKChicago]

I didn't do cervical checks until I was overdue with Teddy, but I've heard first time moms especially can sit at a few centimeters for weeks. I wouldn't read much into it, but hopefully it's a good head start for you!

I poked DH again about middle names and he promised he would have an epiphany this weekend . We'll see how that goes.

I'm going shopping Tuesday for the last few things for the hospital bag - snacks, Depends, diaper and nipple cream, etc. And meeting my brother's wife to talk labor plans since there's a good chance we'll drop Teddy off at their house and they'll take him to Mom's. I got almost everything washed this week, I just forgot the nursing pillow cover, so I'll throw that in with my regular laundry tonight. I'm hoping to pack what I already have this weekend, finish after shopping Tuesday, and then we just enjoy our Wednesday date night and baby is allowed to come . I doubt she's in any hurry, though. I'll be surprised if she ends up being an August baby.

 

[ladybrown33]

I have polyhydroamnios and the doctor says she will check my cervix next week. We'll see how this goes... I'm not very pleased with my doctor but at this point I just have to wait it out. We will make the birth plan at this appointment on Tuesday and I'm done with the whole thing ready to deliver and move on.

 

[Savasanna]

So can we back up and talk about those menstrual like cramps again? I had them again last night and they were getting pretty intense! They started around 5-ish and lasted well after I went to bed for the night. They ranged from just crampy to intense. I did a bunch of googling and definitely found it to be normal for this stage of pregnancy, but is this something that I can expect with regularity for the remainder of the pregnancy? I hope not because it wasn't exactly the most fun. The baby feels a bit lower today so I'm wondering if she was moving down and that's what caused the cramps?

In any event, I woke up this morning with a hard belly so I'm anticipating they're going to come back at some point today. I'm hoping to at least make it through the work day first, though!

 

[MrsKChicago]

I'm going to guess that if there isn't a clear reason like dehydration, that you'll be getting them on and off until real labor starts. Hopefully they don't get too bad.

 

[Savasanna]

Bummer. :/