@nolemomma14 sometimes the overnights aren’t that bad if I’m in a nice hotel with good amenities, comfy bed with no one snoring and no DD waking me up and someone else cooking breakfast would prefer an overnight like that to a super early wake up call for a flight/train/drive and late return!
When I was pregnant with my 9yr old my Dr's office was a 1.5 hour drive away in good weather/light traffic. So was the hospital. I drove it frequently right up to my RCS at 39 weeks and no one ever advised me to stop. Wasn't necessarily comfy towards the end, but wasn't a big deal.
@hakele at my practice, if everything is normal and there are no concerns, they don’t do a scan after 20 weeks. If you make it to your due date, they will do a non stress test at the 40 week visit and if they think necessary, one last scan.
With my second I had additional ultrasounds at 28 and 36 weeks because I was measuring more than 2 weeks ahead, and they like to see measurements within 2 weeks of the due date, plus or minus. This pregnancy is following the same, so I’ve had a scan at 28 and have another scheduled for 36 weeks. My last pregnancy i had very high fluid levels, and that is the concern again this time.
@hakele - I never had a scan after the anatomy scan. If everything is progressing without complications, you do not need one.
I asked my midwife at my last appointment since I turned 35 a couple of months ago if I would have anymore this pregnancy. She told me while they would like to, they do not because the insurance companies won't cover additional ultrasounds without a medical necessity.
@hakele here they have 3 mandatory scans at 12, 22 and 32 weeks. The 32 week one is to confirm positioning and review some of the organs that’s weren’t fully developed at the AS.
i remember the 32 week scan being way less interesting because baby is too big to really see anything at that point!
My gynecologist has a machine in her office so this pregnancy I’m super spoiled by having a peak every appointment going this morning!
@frenchbaby18 I flew cross Atlantic to visit family at 28 and returned at 32 weeks last pregnancy. Then did an 8 day roadtrip at 33-34 weeks. I felt fine, I just wore compression socks on the plane and got an aisle seat (I joke now that getting the socks on was harder than the actual flight) and always had shotgun for the road trip
This pregnancy we have a cross Atlantic yep to visit family planned at 32 weeks, returning just before the 36 week cut off for that airline. Of course my Midwife could change her mind if anything happens in the next 3 weeks, but she's been fine with the idea of it since I asked at my 10 week appointment.
I think it all comes down to how well are you feeling?
TTGP history (*TW*):
Started TTC Oct 2015 BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016 Re-started TTC Aug 2016 Started IF testing Nov 2016 Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017 BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
@BigBadWolf12 you are more courageous than me!!! I seriously considered a last trip for a wedding the first week of June (32 weeks) but it was bad timing with DD’s end of school year and ended up deciding not to get the tickets...
I feel like I’ll draw the line more easily for work trips haha
@hakele the 20 week scan is usually it if there are no concerns. They were going to do another ultrasound with my first at 39 weeks because I was measuring small. But she was born the day it was scheduled lol! I just tend to measure small at the end, but my babies were 7lbs and 7lbs 9oz.
@frenchbaby18 absolutely use it as an excuse to limit work trips all the trips I mentioned were personal. I wouldn't do work trips that late.
TTGP history (*TW*):
Started TTC Oct 2015 BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016 Re-started TTC Aug 2016 Started IF testing Nov 2016 Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017 BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
I've started washing baby clothes but I'm hesitant to wash the newborn sizes since puffin is measuring ahead. Dd was (is) small and wore newborn until like 5 months. What are you guys doing? How long did your lo's stay in NB size?
@hakele They normally do one around 32 to 36 weeks here to check positioning. I had frequent US with DD because of a dilated kidney they were tracking. This time I had one at 25 weeks due to a fall. At my appointment last week my OB opted not to do another US since I'm having an RCS anyways and even though she still seems to be breach it doesn't really matter:)
@asupernovablizzardstorm DD only had 2 NB size sleepers that she wore in the hospital but other than that she was out of NB clothing immediately. I bought and washed a few NB size sleepers/outfits this time but DD has a doll that wears NB size clothing so if baby doesn't use it she can use it for her doll. You can always wash a couple of NB things and the rest 0-3 month stuff and then if baby needs more NB stuff you could wash it later. You can always find 0-3 month stuff that will work for a few days if you need time to wash more NB stuff. I hope that makes sense. It sounded better in my mind:/
@nolemomma14 you've already gotten some good responses, but I wanted to add my two cents. My Dr. said no travel alone more than an hour away after I hit 35 weeks.
@asupernovablizzardstorm - DD was 6.7lbs and was out of newborn clothes within the first month. DS was 7.8lbs and never really wore nb. I have some NB clothes for this little one, but not much. 3M will fit although might be a bit big at first.
@asupernovablizzardstorm mine don't even fit in NB when they are born. We always skip NB and go right to 0-3. Unless this LO comes in the next couple weeks instead of in 6 weeks she won't fit NB either.
Any STM notice a correlation between the time of day you had BH or real contractions and when you went into labor? Wondering because I’m really nervous about going into labor at work but that seems to be the only time I’m having BH!
@abmeier - I notice my BH all day long, and more so during the afternoon. This is mainly because this is when I'm most active. Each of my pregnancies I have had very frequent BH (multiple an hour usually during the day).
With my previous two, more frequent contractions for me started in the late afternoon. However, with my second, I did trigger them by walking our 65lb dog around the block after a membrane sweep.
@cindler thank you! My office schedule got re worked a bit this morning, so I’ll be making the round trip once more at 34+3, and that’ll be it. Today the drive was pretty uncomfortable, and while I know I most likely won’t go into labor at 36 weeks, there’s just no point to being over 2 hours from my hospital if I don’t have to!
@asupernovablizzardstorm my first wore maybe a handful of newborn outfits in his first week and then we switched to 0-3 months. There was still some newborn stuff that ran a bit big, but he just looked more comfortable in the 0-3 month stuff. For my second we went straight to the 0-3 month stuff. I have a few newborn outfits we’ve been given for this baby, but pretty much planning to go with the 0-3 month clothes again. Both of my boys were 8lbs 10oz and this baby has been measuring to bar around that size as well
@hakele, I’m in AZ and my doc is doing a growth scan on the 30th at 32 weeks. I’ll appreciate being able to see baby again even if he is squished. He’s super active lately so I’m sure he’ll find a way to keep trucking lol.
1) Does everyone get BH at some point after 30 weeks? I’m 31 weeks and haven’t had any. Not sure when to expect them...not sure if there’s a typical time frame or not...
2) Do any of you STMs plan to take leave from work before your due date? Or did for a prior pregnancy? How did you handle the conversations with your employer? Would you do anything differently?
I can’t see working full time up to my due date. I don’t have any major medical reason- so it’s hard to make this judgement call without knowing what the next weeks will be like for me. Wondering what STMs have done and how it went!
@expatmom39 with my first if I did have BH I never realized it. My dr said it’s far more common to notice them in subsequent pregnancies. You might feel and get some eventually, but also completely normal not to notice them, especially as a FTM
@expatmom39 I’m not planning on taking time before except for maybe a couple pto days. With my first I worked until 2 days before my induction. I didn’t really need to be off, but I was just so done so I rested and made sure everything was ready.
@asupernovablizzardstorm M was in newborn for about 6-8 weeks, but by 12 weeks he was in 3-6mo! He chunked quick! He was a skinny 8lbs at birth tbh.
@hakele I had several U/S because of positioning around 36 weeks. I loved getting to see M again, and his eeny weenie ears (the tech was so sweet and printed me pics of just his ears!).
@expatmom39 this will be my 4th maternity leave and I've done it slightly differently every time! First one my employer's policy had leave start 2 weeks before my due date. Second time I worked up until I delivered. Third time I planned to work up until delivery but I was in a lot of discomfort/pain so I decided to start my leave at 38.5 weeks and she was born 3 days later. This time I'm feeling so run down and exhausted I've decided to start my leave after July 4. My due date is July 18.
In my opinion starting maternity leave at 38-39 weeks seems about right. Many FTMs go past 40 so you probably won't want to start leave earlier than 38 weeks. It gets boring when you're home alone and feeling really big.
@expatmom39 I agree with @Cbeanz that there is a balance between needing to rest before baby and getting bored! Here we stop at 36 weeks with an option to stop at 34. With DD I stopped at 35 and she was born at 41+5 and I was very bored and anxious waiting. This time I think I’ll try to extend to 37-38 (you aren’t allowed to work past 38 here) because that will give me a bit more time of maternity leave and allow me to finish some key projects.
As for BH, I never felt any with DD and haven’t felt any This time either. I did at least feel them nicely when the real ones happened
@expatmom39 Last time, my job was more project based, so I needed to ramp down a few weeks ahead and hand it off so that if I went into early labor, the project team wasn't left in a lurch. So I technically worked until 40 weeks, but I really had cleared my plate at 38 weeks and was just answering emails from home. I didn't have DD until almost 42 weeks (induced!) so I was SO bored and time went by SO slowly!
This time, I have a new position and it's different - it's more day-by-day advising so I could drop out at any moment without any terrible effects, so I'm planning to work up until 39 weeks, which is right before July 4th. I'm in the auto industry, so we all shut down for the week of July 4th for factory retooling anyways, so it is just a natural stopping point for me.
I will stop physically coming into work around 36 weeks and just work from home. Those last few weeks last time, I got SO uncomfortable, I don't want to be waddling around my building and it's just not necessary to my job (corporate). Plus, and this is a huge point maybe you can make, if I go into labor, I don't want to be at work, and I don't think any of my coworkers wants me to go into labor here either lol. I'm delivering a mile from my house, but 40 miles from work. I want to be close to home/hospital when I start getting close to birth. You are considered "term" at 37 weeks ("full term" at like 39 weeks).
Between this time and last time, I've had to tell three different managers my plan, and they've all taken it just fine. One was a mom, two were men with kids - they get it. Just go in with a plan on how to address everything.
With regards to BH, I never felt them last time. I've felt them quite a bit this time though.
@tsa208 - I know I'm going to be super bored as I get closer to the end as my job is project based. My boss has already stopped giving me new projects, so I'm working on wrapping up what I'm currently assigned right now. Then I am going to be training my interim person at the start of June so that they are ready to do some of my task-based stuff. And also helping them get ramped up on new projects and things that they will be doing while I'm away. Then I think I'm just going to be doing little dilly-dally stuff until the end. But I work from home, so I can at least do other things when I'm bored... right now, its laundry.
We have a basic audio only monitor for DS. I’ve read review that adding a second audio only doesn’t always work because they can be on the same frequency. Does anyone have 2 audio only monitors? Do they work? Are they fairly close to each other? Our boys’ rooms are next to each other.
Thanks, ladies! I never thought about getting bored! My work is mostly projects too- and I just messaged my contractors today that we are about to hit a contract hibernation while I am out. I’m just feeling strongly that I can’t keep up 40 hour weeks and I’m going to have to make a gradual plan to reduce my hours. I’ll talk with my doc Saturday, then talk to HR next week about what my options are to be part time, if that’s even possible, instead of starting full leave too early. I hate that it may be an all-or-nothing choice. We’ll see! I’ll be re-reading your responses and thinking it over! Appreciate your insights! 👍🏼
@expatmom39 I didn't have any BH with DD until close to 36 weeks and even then they were barely noticeable...just felt like tightening here and there. Also with my first I went into labour at 40+2...I went off on medical leave at around 38 or 39 weeks. I requested my mat leave to start on my EDD. I know our mat leave etc is much different here though. With this one I went off on medical leave 2.5 weeks ago as mandated by my doctor and I am so so glad he pushed me to do this. I requested my mat leave to begin at 39+1 this time since my RCS will be at 39+2.
FTM. Yesterday, at 29W exactly, I felt stronger BH than I've ever felt, and multiple instead of just one. I also had some slight pain at the sides of my belly, and wonder what BH feel like to everyone else?
When I was pregnant with DS it just felt like subtle tightening. I had one instance of false labor contractions around 38 weeks that were painful and regular but subsided after about an hour.
This pregnancy I have felt BH since 1st tri. The tightening has seemed really strong and noticeable, often uncomfortable, painful if I've overexerted or am dehydrated and makes me feel like my heart is racing and it's harder to breathe --- kind of like a panic attack. Since I know what they are I make an effort to take slow, deep breaths and it resolves almost immediately.
For both of my pregnancies (M and this one), I had strong, patterned BH for all of the last trimester, I've had them even longer this time, since month 5. It's frustrating because it doesn't hurt in a pain way, but it is extremely uncomfortable and makes me short of breath and movement. I can get them for up to four hours every 3 to 10 minutes, lasting between 30-45sec. Sometimes drinking water/moving/laying down/hot shower helps. Most of time? I'm SOL.
I haven't gone to the ER because it was exactly this way with M and nothing ever came of it. It was a total mindf*ck for the last six weeks especially, my doc and doula were convinced it was a sign of baby coming and I got so frustrated and weepy. If they ever increase in intensity or go on for longer than 45sec, I'll call my doc and go in. But I'm not anxiously awaiting for it to do anything this time.
Re: Ask a STM+ Questions May
With my second I had additional ultrasounds at 28 and 36 weeks because I was measuring more than 2 weeks ahead, and they like to see measurements within 2 weeks of the due date, plus or minus. This pregnancy is following the same, so I’ve had a scan at 28 and have another scheduled for 36 weeks. My last pregnancy i had very high fluid levels, and that is the concern again this time.
I asked my midwife at my last appointment since I turned 35 a couple of months ago if I would have anymore this pregnancy. She told me while they would like to, they do not because the insurance companies won't cover additional ultrasounds without a medical necessity.
i remember the 32 week scan being way less interesting because baby is too big to really see anything at that point!
My gynecologist has a machine in her office so this pregnancy I’m super spoiled by having a peak every appointment
@frenchbaby18 I flew cross Atlantic to visit family at 28 and returned at 32 weeks last pregnancy. Then did an 8 day roadtrip at 33-34 weeks. I felt fine, I just wore compression socks on the plane and got an aisle seat (I joke now that getting the socks on was harder than the actual flight) and always had shotgun for the road trip
This pregnancy we have a cross Atlantic yep to visit family planned at 32 weeks, returning just before the 36 week cut off for that airline. Of course my Midwife could change her mind if anything happens in the next 3 weeks, but she's been fine with the idea of it since I asked at my 10 week appointment.
I think it all comes down to how well are you feeling?
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
I feel like I’ll draw the line more easily for work trips haha
BFP #1 June 2016: EDD 16 March 2017, MC July 2016
Re-started TTC Aug 2016
Started IF testing Nov 2016
Spontaneous BFP #2 January 2017: Rainbow Baby Boy September 2017
BFP #3 November 2018: Baby #2 expected August 2019
With my previous two, more frequent contractions for me started in the late afternoon. However, with my second, I did trigger them by walking our 65lb dog around the block after a membrane sweep.
@asupernovablizzardstorm my first wore maybe a handful of newborn outfits in his first week and then we switched to 0-3 months. There was still some newborn stuff that ran a bit big, but he just looked more comfortable in the 0-3 month stuff. For my second we went straight to the 0-3 month stuff. I have a few newborn outfits we’ve been given for this baby, but pretty much planning to go with the 0-3 month clothes again. Both of my boys were 8lbs 10oz and this baby has been measuring to bar around that size as well
1) Does everyone get BH at some point after 30 weeks? I’m 31 weeks and haven’t had any. Not sure when to expect them...not sure if there’s a typical time frame or not...
2) Do any of you STMs plan to take leave from work before your due date? Or did for a prior pregnancy? How did you handle the conversations with your employer? Would you do anything differently?
I can’t see working full time up to my due date. I don’t have any major medical reason- so it’s hard to make this judgement call without knowing what the next weeks will be like for me. Wondering what STMs have done and how it went!
Thanks!
@hakele I had several U/S because of positioning around 36 weeks. I loved getting to see M again, and his eeny weenie ears (the tech was so sweet and printed me pics of just his ears!).
First one my employer's policy had leave start 2 weeks before my due date.
Second time I worked up until I delivered.
Third time I planned to work up until delivery but I was in a lot of discomfort/pain so I decided to start my leave at 38.5 weeks and she was born 3 days later.
This time I'm feeling so run down and exhausted I've decided to start my leave after July 4. My due date is July 18.
In my opinion starting maternity leave at 38-39 weeks seems about right. Many FTMs go past 40 so you probably won't want to start leave earlier than 38 weeks. It gets boring when you're home alone and feeling really big.
As for BH, I never felt any with DD and haven’t felt any This time either. I did at least feel them nicely when the real ones happened
This time, I have a new position and it's different - it's more day-by-day advising so I could drop out at any moment without any terrible effects, so I'm planning to work up until 39 weeks, which is right before July 4th. I'm in the auto industry, so we all shut down for the week of July 4th for factory retooling anyways, so it is just a natural stopping point for me.
I will stop physically coming into work around 36 weeks and just work from home. Those last few weeks last time, I got SO uncomfortable, I don't want to be waddling around my building and it's just not necessary to my job (corporate). Plus, and this is a huge point maybe you can make, if I go into labor, I don't want to be at work, and I don't think any of my coworkers wants me to go into labor here either lol. I'm delivering a mile from my house, but 40 miles from work. I want to be close to home/hospital when I start getting close to birth. You are considered "term" at 37 weeks ("full term" at like 39 weeks).
Between this time and last time, I've had to tell three different managers my plan, and they've all taken it just fine. One was a mom, two were men with kids - they get it. Just go in with a plan on how to address everything.
With regards to BH, I never felt them last time. I've felt them quite a bit this time though.
My work is mostly projects too- and I just messaged my contractors today that we are about to hit a contract hibernation while I am out.
I’m just feeling strongly that I can’t keep up 40 hour weeks and I’m going to have to make a gradual plan to reduce my hours.
I’ll talk with my doc Saturday, then talk to HR next week about what my options are to be part time, if that’s even possible, instead of starting full leave too early. I hate that it may be an all-or-nothing choice. We’ll see! I’ll be re-reading your responses and thinking it over! Appreciate your insights! 👍🏼
This pregnancy I have felt BH since 1st tri. The tightening has seemed really strong and noticeable, often uncomfortable, painful if I've overexerted or am dehydrated and makes me feel like my heart is racing and it's harder to breathe --- kind of like a panic attack. Since I know what they are I make an effort to take slow, deep breaths and it resolves almost immediately.
I haven't gone to the ER because it was exactly this way with M and nothing ever came of it. It was a total mindf*ck for the last six weeks especially, my doc and doula were convinced it was a sign of baby coming and I got so frustrated and weepy. If they ever increase in intensity or go on for longer than 45sec, I'll call my doc and go in. But I'm not anxiously awaiting for it to do anything this time.