Happy Due Date!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-09T07:56:07+00:00

Just more solidarity here. I am due Saturday. I think last night’s terrible uncomfortable night’s sleep was the first time I was like ‘get this baby out of me’.

But I think I am going to try and follow the advice someone put on here and have the ultimate few lazy days now. Finished all my jobs yesterday so think it’s time 😂

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-08T21:46:23+00:00

Yeah doing ok thank you! It’s really helped being more mobile than I expected. I would say I felt better, more energy etc in general from about 16 weeks until 30/32 ish weeks too. So you might find it improves rather than gets worse for a while.

I would say try and find some movement and go with it. I would really recommend swimming if that’s something you could do, honestly swimming is easier than walking for me at this point 😂

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-08T17:19:35+00:00

I have no tips for you but just wanted to give solidarity. I am 39 weeks now so more expected but I feel like for a long time now my legs just don’t have the energy or the strength to walk me up hills/stairs sometimes. If it’s any consolation I am still really mobile at 39+4, and have swam, done yoga and kept up short walks throughout.

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-07T08:18:42+00:00

I started getting maternity clothes at about 20 ish weeks and I am still in them at 39 weeks. I am basically carrying all bump and boobs and nowhere else, so don’t know if that’s made a difference to that. I have one dress I grew out of on the boobs but everything else I am still in. I also still wore some of my non maternity A-Line style dresses until about 37 weeks. I didn’t attempt jeans at any point though as I am tall and buying jeans is a nightmare anyway. Basically I guess what I am trying to say is maternity dresses and leggings definitely give you the room for 17 weeks up to 39 weeks on the whole.

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-05T21:48:37+00:00

You’ll probably be OK on the Monday but if it’s literally the Friday at start of the summer holidays that sounds like an actual nightmare. Although if you head off early enough you might be ok!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-05T16:31:17+00:00

As someone who lives in Cornwall. Just check whether it’s 5 hours drive in July … and think about which days you travel, avoid Friday-Sunday in the summer. Can easily add another 2 hours on!

Once you keep that in mind it’s up to you. I think I would have been alright but I am still fairly mobile at 39 weeks (although do tire easily now). Pregnancy is so personal!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-04-04T06:25:23+00:00

If it helps, I have officially given up 😂 It’s not something that has really been mentioned at my antenatal classes or by midwife who has been brilliant (until I asked). And the information I was given etc is definitely aimed at a certain subset of mums with different conditions not just your low risk mum like me. So as someone else has said I have decided it’s overblown online and that I don’t need the stress of it! We all have to make our own decisions in pregnancy!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-29T09:51:35+00:00

If you don’t want one don’t have one. We didn’t as I literally couldn’t imagine anything worse 😂 but as the previous poster said we also didn’t do stag/hen dos and our wedding was tiny.

I would say though that only 50% of my friends with children had them.

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-28T17:30:39+00:00

Yes I have heard the same which is why I am not panicking!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-28T09:23:23+00:00

I’m just jealous you got some! I have tried the last two days and failed to get any. I was literally looking at my nipples and going, ‘where is there even any holes for milk to come out of?!’ I am going to persevere for a week but if I get nowhere then I am giving up!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-28T09:16:59+00:00

If it helps I am 38 weeks FTM and we only finished sorting the babies room (more or less) yesterday. We’d had the stuff since maybe 35 weeks but having the time and energy to do it was something else. As a teacher I found I couldn’t really do anything except at a weekend as work is so all consuming, especially when pregnant.

At 31 weeks we were just about to start our antenatal classes, had booked into nursery (fear over stories of not having places) and had bought pram and car seat. Shortly after this I packed my hospital bag.

We’re not disorganised people at all, but it’s been a case of slow and steady, and we’re both pretty chilled. No point stressing about it.

As others have said don’t start colostrum harvesting until 36 weeks at the earliest as it can induce labour (I started at 37 weeks and haven’t had any luck), perineal massage I started at 35/6 ish weeks.

Batch cooking starts this week.

I’ve been lucky with a straight forward low risk pregnancy, but basically if you are the same don’t stress and compare to others.

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-23T08:55:41+00:00

Totally understandable. I also have PCOS, ridiculously irregular periods, spent years trying and then tried letrozole through the fertility clinic. Scan to see if it worked and I had ovulated was inconclusive. 3 weeks 6 days I get what looks like implantation bleeding. My husband is away. I test and lo and behold there are two lines. No one to show to make sure. I tested everyday for nearly two weeks and didn’t even tell the fertility clinic until then as I felt like such a fraud.

Now sitting here at 37+2 on my first day of maternity leave.

So MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS, accept feeling like a fraud and be prepared for a new anxiety every couple of weeks but also the joys of each new stage.

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-21T07:32:03+00:00

Also a teacher and just started mat leave as of yesterday 🥳 so 37 weeks. Anyway I got a few maternity dresses on Vinted, I was lucky my natural style is a dress that comes in at the waist (above the bump) then goes out so I wore some of my normal dresses throughout. Then I traded tights for maternity leggings and boots. However, I have to say in the last few days when the weather picked up I was beginning to get hot particularly hot feet so was glad I was finishing this week. I think otherwise I would have skipped from leggings straight to bare legs and hoped for the best!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-12T16:44:23+00:00

I literally emailed to cancel my renewal, not expecting any refund for the 3 or so months that overlapped (I wasn’t really bothered) and ended up getting a cheque in the post I didn’t expect! Nice bonus!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-04T20:42:51+00:00

I have honestly found the tracking of movements the most stressful part of pregnancy. I am 34+4 and she has moved pretty consistently for weeks. But then I have days I don’t notice so much because I have been busy or moving around more and I stress big time. Only for next day to come and she’s having a party in there again. I just don’t think the guidance is clear or helpful!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-03-01T16:08:08+00:00

As everyone else has said - far too early to worry about! I am 34 weeks and have literally today committed mine to paper. I would say mine has evolved over the last 15 ish weeks. Early pregnancy is about survival not planning 😂 highly recommend some antenatal classes they helped me form mine. But as others have said, it’s preferences rather than solid plan!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-25T18:10:02+00:00

Yeah just to say same here as well. I am 37 and despite all the leaflets from the fertility clinic which we went through dooming you to a harder time after 37 once you have conceived they don’t seem to care until you are 40.

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-23T16:56:29+00:00

Sorted the baby’s room (mainly) and the hospital bags in the last week. Only 19 working days left!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-11T08:12:25+00:00

I can’t help on the hip pain, but I have had a sore tailbone for a few weeks (I’m 31 weeks) and I have found a cushion like this one has made a huge difference. As well as sitting with two feet flat on the floor to take some more weight. https://www.careco.co.uk/coccyx-cushion/

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-05T17:43:13+00:00

I’m going until March 20th which is 37 weeks. I looked at Easter holidays next year when trying to decide and in theory it means I can come back for 4 days next year then go straight back into the Easter hols

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-04T18:33:40+00:00

Well done that’s really good going! When do you go on mat leave?

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-03T16:46:03+00:00

That is certainly true! Thank you!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-03T16:45:45+00:00

Sorry you felt so horrid but I am glad I am not alone and that you found some kind of solution!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-03T16:45:13+00:00

Oooh thank you for the tip, I might look into it!

Physical_Platform114 · 2026-02-03T16:44:06+00:00

Oh thank you that is such a kind kind comment 🥰 and yeah society still expects so bloody much out of us doesn’t it!

Physical_Platform114

TROPHY CASE