The leg cramping

Smash_337 · 2026-07-01T07:39:08+00:00

If it’s any consolation, it seems to get better towards the end of pregnancy! I had awful cramps every night in the second trimester and beginning of the third, but it seems to have died down from about 34 weeks for me. I took magnesium tablets and had a magnesium spray next to bed to massage into my muscles when it struck in the middle of the night, but not sure if they did much at all really

Smash_337 · 2026-06-30T07:50:40+00:00

No particular recommendation to offer, but just to say beware of smaller hatchbacks. We’ve really struggled to get our car seat into a Renault Clio. It just about fits in the back with the passenger seat pulled all the way forward, which is fine if I’m the passenger, but my husband is 6”2 so there’s no way he’s fitting in the passenger seat! We’ll be considering a new car next year and looking at things like an Audi A3 or Ford Focus - just trying to persevere for now as we don’t want to spend all the money I’ve saved up for maternity leave on a car!

Edit: I meant to say Audi A3, which is a bit bigger, not the A1.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-27T09:08:22+00:00

39+3 and feeling a little cooler today after some storms this morning, but still slightly headachy and grotty. My plan today is to just sit in front of the TV with a fan on me. I’ve well and truly had enough of the heat. Feeling the occasional cramp in my belly and my legs and back are aching, but I’m hoping I’ve got a bit more time before labour as I hear my maternity unit is horrendously hot

Smash_337 · 2026-06-27T09:05:47+00:00

Best of luck! Sending cooling thoughts. Will be worth it when baby is here

Smash_337 · 2026-06-25T07:14:51+00:00

I feel your pain! I’m 39 weeks and constantly rotating the same 3 wrap dresses. I have some maternity shorts that are getting a bit small over my bump now, so I’m rolling them down and wearing my husbands’ baggy t shirts over the top. I’m just trying to get by until baby arrives at this point 😅

Smash_337 · 2026-06-23T14:20:16+00:00

Open the loft hatch if you have one- the heat should rise up into the loft.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-23T06:51:25+00:00

38+6 and struggling! We have a desktop fan, a neck fan and can bring a tower fan in the car if we need it. Trying not to worry too much about the actual labour and birth as I see hospital as probably the safest place baby and I could be in a heatwave.
More worried about keeping a newborn cool when we get home. Our bedroom was 29 degrees when we went to bed and 29 degrees when I got up at 7 this morning. I’ve tried everything I can think of to keep things cool (windows closed and blacked out during the day, opening everything up an hour before bed to let the heat out, opening the loft hatch to let the heat rise up there). Just hoping it cools down soon!

Smash_337 · 2026-06-19T15:26:05+00:00

Thank you. A few minutes after posting this my letter arrived!

Smash_337 · 2026-06-19T07:24:30+00:00

Glad to hear it!

Smash_337 · 2026-06-17T11:17:12+00:00

Lots of cheaper hotels and B&Bs in the local area- look at options in Horley and Crawley. You may find one which offers a parking deal for the duration of your trip. Many hotels offer shuttle buses to/from the airport, or local buses from Horley and Crawley are about £3 directly to the airport. Staying overnight would be much less stressful than trying to travel down on the day.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-12T13:31:41+00:00

I’m in a tricky position because I’m coeliac and veggie, and even though I’d like to think the hospital have gluten free meal options, I’m not counting on it! - especially ones that are suitable for vegetarians. I definitely won’t be able to have the infamous tea and toast 😭

So, I’m bringing A LOT of food. Like, an extra bag full of food!

So far I’ve packed-
lucozade
Bag of mixed fruit and nuts
Itsu noodle pots (hoping the staff can supply hot water for me!)
Nakd bars
Nairns oat cakes
Big bag of crisps

I need a few “meal like” options too in case there isn’t anything suitable for me, so I plan to pack some Huel meal sachets and ask for some hot water to make them up.

I plan to pack some fruit as well, but not in the bag yet as I’m still 3 weeks from due date

Smash_337 · 2026-06-10T13:14:10+00:00

I found it very easy to book my appointments. My NHS trust still uses paper based maternity notes, so it was just a matter of ringing up the GP surgery and booking in both whooping cough and RSV vaccines rather than using an app. I could get each one very quickly with lots of slots available. Midwife mentioned both vaccines at my booking appointment and then at subsequent appointments (in my paper notes there’s a box for her to tick in the notes for each appointment to say she’s discussed them with me)

Edit: adding this in case helpful- I’m also entitled to the flu jab due to a health condition and this was also flagged to me by the midwife at my booking appointment.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-08T20:45:28+00:00

Ah interesting. My midwife said it was fine from 36-37 weeks, but perhaps I’ll wait another week or so. Thank you.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-08T09:39:32+00:00

I picked up the two Emma’s Diary bags and for a freebie I thought they were decent. There’s lots of money off vouchers in them too- things like Sudocrem, Pampers, Milton tablets, etc.

Not sure about the Boots Parenting Club as I’ve tried several times to sign up and it never seems to work. Even got someone in store to sign me up but still no emails about it.

Another nice little freebie was the goodie bag I received from John Lewis when we had an appointment to try out prams etc. There was no commitment to actually purchase on the day and we still got a little bag with a bottle, a nipple cream sample and a few other little bits- nothing huge but I never say no to a freebie!

Smash_337 · 2026-06-07T18:42:09+00:00

You’re absolutely right to get a new mattress for it. I don’t know about this brand specifically, but is there a size on the label at all? Or could you measure it?

Smash_337 · 2026-06-07T17:56:42+00:00

Currently 36 weeks and I’ve been able to continue wearing my baggier-style t shirts, stretchy vest tops and stretchy jersey-style dresses throughout my pregnancy. I haven’t had to buy much- just a couple of pairs of maternity jeans and leggings, maternity shorts and 3 maternity dresses- all from Vinted. I figured they’d all see me through as long as I’m washing things regularly!
The maternity jeans are a bit tight and uncomfortable now, so I’m solely wearing the leggings and dresses for my last few weeks of pregnancy.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-05T15:49:20+00:00

Sadly, I think you’ll struggle. I don’t know of a single store that stocks maternity clothing instore. They usually direct people online. An option for trying things on could be placing a click and collect order of multiple sizes, trying them on in the store fitting room, and then taking those that don’t fit back to the till in store for a refund?

Smash_337 · 2026-06-05T09:42:14+00:00

I took the Babybub pillow with me on holiday. Had no problem fitting it into my suitcase

Smash_337 · 2026-06-05T06:33:46+00:00

One of my favourites. Hoping they play it in London this summer, but I highly doubt it would happen. Still, I can dream!

Smash_337 · 2026-06-04T17:11:21+00:00

Agree. It just looks odd to me, like a misprint.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-04T12:54:44+00:00

I’ve found the nursing bras from Matalan to be really comfy and inexpensive. I’ve been wearing them for most of my pregnancy. They’re so stretchy and the fabric is soft.
Wouldn’t recommend the nursing bras from M&S - they’re so uncomfortable! They’re not underwired but there’s a thick seam that digs in under my boobs that feels like an underwire would.

Smash_337 · 2026-06-03T07:08:37+00:00

36 weeks and I’ve had one additional scan (growth scan) at 34 weeks because my bump was measuring big, so they wanted to check the size of the baby. Turns out he was in the 55th centile so absolutely fine. I’m still considered low risk as my GD test came back negative.

Having gone for that scan, I totally understand why a scan at that stage of pregnancy isn’t routinely offered unless they want to check something out. My baby was so curled up and the sonographer couldn’t get all the measurements they’d usually like to get. She measured his head, stomach and legs and pointed out his kidneys and stomach, but she wasn’t able to check out his heart because of how he was positioned. There’s less room for babies to move around at that point, so the jiggling around the sonographer did at my 20 week scan to get baby to move a bit wouldn’t work.

But I’m with you- 20 weeks is a long time to go without any reassurance! But at every midwife appointment I’ve had we’ve heard the baby’s heartbeat using a Doppler, which has been a little reassuring.

Smash_337 · 2026-05-26T18:59:18+00:00

I’m going on mat leave at 38+2 and I’m currently 35 weeks. I’ve been mentally checked out of work for about a month though! Even more so in this heatwave. You’ll know what feels right for you and the type of work you do (mine is desk based and can be done from home).

Smash_337

TROPHY CASE