My Third Antenatal Class: Breastfeeding

This was the fun class where we had to bring in teddies to practice on. At first the midwife talked about the importance of breastfeeding, for both mum and baby, and she explained that we no longer have the natural instinct of how to breastfeed, due to evolution. She said that is why so many women struggle to do it these days, and that persistence is the key.

Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and osteoporosis for the mother, as well as suck her uterus back into place quicker and help burn 500 calories a day. It reduces the risks of asthma, other allergies and being overweight for the baby. It also contains all the correct nutrients the baby needs to set up their immune system.

My Second Antenatal Class: Pain Relief

To be honest this session didn’t really do very much for me, but I think this might be because I have already talked to lots of people and read on pregnancy forums and websites about the many pain relief methods.

The midwife started by talking through a basic labour scenario, and then would give different incidences that would result in different birthing methods having to be used. This included looking at using ventousse or forceps if the baby was finding it hard to turn in the canal, and she said this can include the doctor having to cut you (episiotomy). She said that these days episiotomies are not done very often, because it is known that tearing naturally heals a lot quicker than being cut.

My Third Trimester

I thought I would write this now, seeing as today I am officially 37 weeks pregnant and therefore baby is fully cooked. I cannot believe I am finally able to say that; in some ways it has felt like such a long journey (especially during the nasty first trimester!) but since hitting this final tri, it has flown by.

The main things I have noticed in this final tri, is the sheer DISCOMFORT of it!

My First Antenatal Class: Labour

Had the first antenatal class yesterday. Apparently the one session that they felt was sifficient 9 months ago when my sister was pregnant, is no longer good enough, so they now do three classes.

The first is about labour. I took The Bloke to this, because I was hoping they would talk about what he needs to be doing to help me whilst I'm in the biggest agony of my life.
He was quite reluctant to go, but when I reminded him that he won't need to go to the other two (pain relief and breastfeeding), and it would save him from being HUGELY nagged at, he soon shut up.

34 Week / Growth Scan

Had my 34 week growth scan last week (6th Feb) and yet again the little boy chose to hide and not perform!

I say little, but he has really grown over the last four weeks that I feel him a lot more, and most movements are actually quite painful (especially the feet under my ribcage!).

I had been told a few days before by the midwife that he is now 3/5's engaged, so he is head down- SCARY!

Back Pain...SUCKS!

Unfortunately this may be a ranty, moany post, because my back has been in a lot of pain during this third trimester, and I am starting to go slightly crazy!

I have been getting shooting pains on the right side of my body (the right butt cheek, leg and lower back) on and off for the whole pregnancy, but as baby (and I) have been getting bigger, the pain has been worse and more constant.

I went to the midwife, who referred me for physio, which I have now had three sessions of. It is a physiotherapist who only works with pregnant women, which is reassuring, but as you can imagine I did wait a couple of months before she saw me!

My Second Trimester

Week 12-16

If you have read my earlier post about my first trimester, you will know how awful those three months were for me. I kept holding onto the thought that by week 12 I might feel normal, while trying to ignore that some people had told me the sickness and tiredness could last the whole pregnancy for some women! Apparently on average, the nasty symptoms ease off by week 16, and thankfully mine started to go at week 14. I began to get some energy back, and then the nausea started to reduce so that I was no longer having it all day every day. By week 16 I felt a lot better.