Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hire a wheelchair? (pregnant)

51 replies

notanotherschoolrun · 19/12/2021 21:46

Really want to go out with OH tomorrow to
Pick up last bit of Christmas presents.
I'm 6 months pregnant and really struggling to get around, I can walk for 10 mins then I have to go Sit down. Dizziness heart palpitations feel like I'm about to faint can't breathe properly etc. It's so frustrating every time we go out I end up back in the car and leave OH to go round on his own and he comes back with nothing.

I was planning on hiring one at the shopping centre but not sure if it's a bit selfish of me?

OP posts:
Chocolatewheatos · 19/12/2021 22:38

That's really quite concerning. I'd have wrang the midwife unit at hospital, but all places are different. But you definitely need that checking out.

Thedogscollar · 19/12/2021 22:39

@notanotherschoolrun

I don't know whether to wait until the morning when I see midwife or call up. Isn't the assessment unit just for fetal movement? I feel so faint and breathless.
Midwife here. The maternity triage deals with a vast variety of conditions that can occur in pregnancy.

You should call your maternity triage in the morning explain your symptoms and I'm sure they will invite you in for a checkup and to take bloods.

It sounds like you could be very anaemic going by the symptoms you describe.

Call them first thing they are open 24/7. I'd say this is more important than Xmas shopping. Have you had or been offered your covid vaccines? They will ask you on arrival.
Good luck and hopefully you may just need some iron supplements.

PivotPivotPivottt · 19/12/2021 22:41

I would definitely get checked over to be safe but this is how I felt during pregnancy when I was anaemic. I was fine after iron tablets.

unfar · 19/12/2021 22:42

@PurplePansy05 that's great if that's changed now. I was diagnosed with a heart condition in my second pregnancy- identical symptoms to op - and it all went through my GP who referred me to hospital. Midwives and obs were completely hands off and only interested in the baby.

Original poster
notanotherschoolrun · 19/12/2021 22:43

I just called they did say it sounds like im anaemic. So will tell midwife in the morning and get bloods done and will definitely give the shopping a miss. Thanks everyone x

OP posts:
elfonthestairs · 19/12/2021 22:45

@notanotherschoolrun

I just called they did say it sounds like im anaemic. So will tell midwife in the morning and get bloods done and will definitely give the shopping a miss. Thanks everyone x
I have the same and turns out I have an iron deficiency, try to order bits online next day delivery that's what I've done x
PurplePansy05 · 19/12/2021 22:50

Really glad you called, OP Flowers Request bloods to be done asap, you should be getting the results back before Christmas. Don't let this drag into the new year for the sake of your baby and yourself. If it is anaemia you'll likely feel a big difference after iron supplements. I hope you get the answers and feel better soon - take care now and definitely rest up Flowers xx

Letsbekindplease · 19/12/2021 23:02

I clicked this too thinking you had pgp. I used a wheelchair to get out a couple of times. It was my grans and I didn’t try it before going out. My backside literally filled the full chair it was tiny!

Anyway, I think you should speak to your midwife as that doesn’t sound normal op. If you’ve had this before then maybe the same again but at least speak with midwife. I don’t see any wrong in needing a wheelchair if you need one though. If it lets you enjoy a day out then go for it

Didicat · 19/12/2021 23:20

I too had pgp and hired a mobility scooter for the last ten weeks, however as others said see your health professionals as that’s not normal.

Was just suggesting a mobility scooter I felt much more independence with than a wheelchair.

Outwiththenorm · 20/12/2021 06:07

I fainted throughout my pregnancy - worse during the first 6 months. Sometimes it would happen even when I was sitting down. It was bloody horrible. I’ve always fainted easily though and midwife said it was probably blood pressure related, but low rather than high. No one ever suggested it was anything serious. I’d be interested to hear what your midwife says.

Original poster
notanotherschoolrun · 20/12/2021 10:24

I had a terrible midwife it's really worrying me about having the baby there. I work at the hospital and they have just been marked as "inadequate" which is concerning me.

I told her how I had been feeling and she said a lot of people are having panic attacks are you quite anxious and I told her no. She then said well you have to have your bloods done in four weeks anyway do you just want to wait until
Then? And I told her no I want it done now. Then she proceeded to tell me how I don't look sick but I had a full face of makeup on.

OP posts:
QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 20/12/2021 10:40

OP please keep advocating for yourself. I was told I was anxious when I was experiencing these issues through my pregnancy, I let it go because I didn't want to be a nuisance. By the end I was constantly breathless, black circles under my eyes (hideously so), heart palpitations and I needed a bloody transfusion as I was so anaemic and had to take really strong iron tablets for weeks.

GirlOfTudor · 20/12/2021 11:07

I really hope you get the bloods done. You can always ask for a different midwife or a different hospital. Ask your GP for help for the bloods if needed.
It's concerning that you hadn't seen your midwife in person by 6 months! Covid or not, that's NOT okay.
I don't want to worry you, but my sister had a neglectful midwife with her first pregnancy and she ended up having to deliver a sleeping baby. It turned out she had undiagnosed preeclampsia. The midwife didn't bother with some of the routine tests during her appointments and apparently said she could have preeclampsia but "all women get it" 🤔
I really hope you feel better soon 💖

4thtimethecharm · 20/12/2021 11:09

Tell her no. That you know you are not supposed to be feeling this way. That you think something is wrong, and you will not wait four weeks for an answer. That you object to it being considered psychosomatic, and want to be taken seriously. Go to PALS. Do what you need to do.

I have been badly and incompletely advised several times by (well-meaning) midwives. Most are too overworked to stay on top of the developments in their field. I now take everything with a grain of salt and double-check everything.

Regularsizedrudy · 20/12/2021 11:45

Did they not take bloods at your booking in appointment?

Mummy1608 · 20/12/2021 12:00

@Regularsizedrudy

Did they not take bloods at your booking in appointment?
Anemia in pregnancy often begins later in pregnancy rather than as a pre existing condition.
Mummy1608 · 20/12/2021 12:02

@notanotherschoolrun

I had a terrible midwife it's really worrying me about having the baby there. I work at the hospital and they have just been marked as "inadequate" which is concerning me.

I told her how I had been feeling and she said a lot of people are having panic attacks are you quite anxious and I told her no. She then said well you have to have your bloods done in four weeks anyway do you just want to wait until
Then? And I told her no I want it done now. Then she proceeded to tell me how I don't look sick but I had a full face of makeup on.

You can switch midwife team and even hospital! www.mybirthmychoice.co.uk/during-pregnancy/if-you-wish-to-change-your-choices/
cherrypie66 · 20/12/2021 12:08

That is not normal you need to get checked out. Should be able to do all the usual things when pregnant

ReeseWitherfork · 20/12/2021 12:11

Your midwife sounds like a dick. And not doing a good job either! Good luck OP, if your thyroid is causing issues then you need to get it checked ASAP. You can call the GP for that; that's who will monitor thyroid issues, not the midwife. They may even refer you to an endocrinologist at the hospital.

1forAll74 · 20/12/2021 13:36

You can perhaps sit in the shop trolly, and hold all the shopping, and tell your husband what to buy, or what not to buy.

unfar · 20/12/2021 14:16

I know someone down thread told me this is all handled by a midwife but for me it wasn't and never has been. If you contact your GP they absolutely will deal with your health issues and arrange your necessary tests despite being pregnant.

CorpusCallosum · 20/12/2021 14:24

Yep, I had/have exactly your symptoms, thought it was just tiredness from pregnancy, Christmas, work and toddler but turned out to be quite severe anaemia.

Had to get prescription for iron supplements from GP anyway, midwife couldn't prescribe, she just picked up the issue during standard bloods.

Call your GP today and get sorted 💜

CCSS15 · 20/12/2021 15:03

I had similar from very early on in pregnancy - they finally diagnosed b12 deficiency with the last set of blood tests (is it 28 weeks?). Anyway, load of b12 jabs later and things improved dramatically

Mummy1608 · 20/12/2021 23:00

@1forAll74

You can perhaps sit in the shop trolly, and hold all the shopping, and tell your husband what to buy, or what not to buy.
Hehe I think you've either never been pregnant or forgotten what it's like Grin no way could I have clambered into a shopping trolley in my third trimester let alone climb out of it again!!
Marvellousmadness · 20/12/2021 23:06

Are you obese ?being pregnant shuffles and squashes all your insides so breathing becomes harder. But it shouldn't be as bad as what you describe at 6months.
Check your iron levels and blood pressure.