MSE Pregnancy Club 28

snowscreamer

moreofthegoodstuff, I've also seen this and we discussed it in an antenatal class I went to at the physiotherapy department of my local hospital. Separation of the muscles is really common and happens to about 70% of women. In the vast majority of cases it heals naturally after childbirth so don't worry about it. However to maximise your chances of the muscles knitting back together don't do any stomach crunches, make full use of your arm muscles when getting up from standing, and roll onto your side first when sitting up from lying. Hope this is helpful!

penguingirl

Yeah my stomach definitely goes pointy when I try to use my stomach muscles too much e.g. to stand up. Had just assumed it was normal!

moreofthegoodstuff

I shall be way more careful going forward and try not to worry about it too much! I'm so glad to hear it's quite normal! I hope at 22 weeks I haven't done too much damage already.

arbrighton

Mine does it too and I'm having to really think about how I get up as my natural thought is 'sit up then get up'- I even struggled after the hairwash part at the hairdressers today. And I had a decent core pre pregnancy

april87

Been told is nothing to really worry about. A lot of pregnant woman end up with a degree of muscle separation, and in extreme cases surgery is needed to repair it. She said it tends to go back to normal post natal and that special exercises can aid it. I have had all my crunch type exercises removed from my plans since finding out I was pregnant to minimalise the damage. So I personally won't be worrying about it.

sweetbabu

I'm also getting cone-belly!

I ordered our changing bag, the cot mattress and the final baby clothes.

All we now need is a baby monitor - and my sister recommended the DORMI app for android. It's free, and she said it's the best monitor she's ever used. I'm definitely checking that out.

Glad all the scans and appointments have gone well. My next is on Wednesday and I'm a bit scared after last times apparent ectopic heartbeat and baby hulk!

Today has been an absolute !!!!! of a day. My OHs dad has been in hospital for the past three weeks and they can't find what is wrong with him. He also contracted MRSA while in hospital. He's been tired but ok previously but, when we visited on Saturday, we just couldn't wake him up. On Sunday, OH took his mum to visit and his dad's first (and pretty much only) words were 'how's the baby?'. He was so delighted when we told him about the baby and was quite upset at the thought of anything being wrong with him. At 2am this morning, they got the phonecall to go say goodbye . We know he's a sick man, but all we want is for him to be able to see the baby. Thankfully, they saw another consultant today and he said that having known his dad over the past three weeks, he deserves to be given the chance to get better. He's now in ICU, but in a coma.

I haven't slept since 2. Normally at this time of night, I'm having to sit with a few cushions behind my back for support and my back and belly are sore, but i think I'm too exhausted to actually feel that sore - and that's with the bathroom and kitchen being scrubbed top to bottom and the rest of the house being dusted and hovered.

And my uncle died last night so I'm trying to see if I can get to the funeral. I obviously don't want to miss it, but i can't drive that far and, being 33 weeks, I need a fit to fly letter, which I can only get from a Dr, not a midwife apparently. I also don't want to be too far from home in case anything happens here

That was one horrid conversation to have with Dd.

vanilla8

Thanks firebird, april and penguin.

Lots of baby hiccups here.

Still got to pick a changing bag, what one did you go for sweetbabu? Sounds like you and your OH are going through it at the moment, glad the drs in ICU have given your OH dad chance to fight on.

I'm in the gas and air/water birth camp and epidural if needed, need to write up my birth plan and stick in the notes this week

sweetbabu

I chose the lekebaby multifunctioning backpack. I do a lot of flying and plan to carry baby in a wraparound sling so that I've got my hands free so i thought this made sense. It's quite big as well, so I should be able to fit a few of my own things in for travelling.

Also, it seems like something my OH could happily carry.

I'm also in the gas and air camp with as little medical intervention if possible. However, don't be so set on your plan that you feel upset if it doesn't go that way. I've known quite a few friends to feel like failures because they couldn't have this natural, earth mother birth that they wanted. So, important as a plan may be, try not to solely focus on it to your own detriment x

april87

Sweet sorry to hear your not having the best of times right now. I'm glad to see that the drs have given OH dad a good chance.

Thanks for the reminder on the bags, need to get it picked up from my aunt. OH has mentioned getting one but I've always put it off, now I remember why.

Firmly in the no sleep camp right now. Not sure if it's anxiousness about my MW appt later or not but been wide awake since 3

penguingirl

Thinking of you sweetbabu, hope you get some sleep and look after yourself.

Hope your appointment goes well April.

I forgot to say about mine yesterday- baby is head down, but head isn't engaged yet. So fingers crossed for some downward movement soon! Also my missing blood tests turned up, apparently I have excellent haemoglobin levels.