January 2011 - New year, new baby! - 2nd Trimester

[mummychicken]

Got there first - thanks Sarrita for the suggestion!!

Hi Star, so exciting isn't it this is our first so am either excited or terrified! Good luck to you, do you know if you've got a boy or girl?

Hello everyone, hope everyone with stressful situations is ok, with my dd my waters broke eleven days before I realised so I can join you in that particular embarrassment!!
Have had lovely day sorting through gorgeous baby boy clothes my sis-in-law has very kindly given us. Got overexcited and washed all his bedding and have dressed the Moses basket - bit early (am 32 weeks on Fri) but starting to seem really real now and am very excited!
Working up till Christmas which is starting to feel ridiculous, but only 2 days a week so will hopefully make it! So appreciating my days at home, so that's a plus.

31 weeks + 4

Stardown I think this is one of the "least active" antenatal threads as someone started a late Jan thread so there are fewer of us on here.

Being REALLY grumpy at work probably because I'm knackered and 3 yr old DS keeps waking at 3am wanting a cuddle.

I haven't got my fags and vodka health in pregnancy allowance yet - over 3 weeks after I sent it off. They won't do anything until it is 6 weeks and I'm still pg. Seems a bit unfair that if I have baby early I could miss out on £190 due to some office cock up.

31 weeks (thanks mummychicken for remembering, it's nice to know where everyone is but had forgotten it on my last few posts).

Hello again star I think I remember you because of the list of complications, hope none of them cause too many problems.

dancingcat glad the scan went well, was it for a suspected problem?

deedee I'm also only on 2 days a week but still more than ready for a break. Is Christmas a quiet time at your work or is it going to be a manic last few weeks?

Congrats hannah on the wedding, fingers crossed the water is nothing to worry about.

I'm afraid my memory isn't that good even when I'm not pregnant so sorry if I've missed anything else from the last couple of pages (must check thread more regularly so I don't have so much to catch up with). Hope everyone else is well - or as close to it as is possible at this stage!

helo everyone, hope you are all keeping well.

need to panic somewhere - i hope no one minds!

i was admitted to hospital last night with severe pain in my c-section scar - kept in overnight and all day for obs to make sure nothing was going to rupture. everything is fine with the baby it's just me who is falling to pieces!
my consultant popped in to see me for a few mins this afternoon and said as pain is only going to get worse in pelvis and scar site, and as i can barely walk anymore, he wants me to have section at 37 weeks. this just seems so early. i know it's considered to term, but i am still realy worried.

anyone else had earlyish babies around 37 weeks, and if so was everything ok? i know that they wouldn't deliver a baby if it wasn't safe, but i would rather suffer a few more weeks of pain than have my baby born too soon.

xx

Postmodern I don't have any experience, but just wanted to offer support! I expect that the Drs will only suggest early delivery if they felt it was truly safe and of some real benefit, but I can understnd why you would worry! It is only 3 weeks though - I'm sure my grandma said all six of hers were about a month early and they were all fine and very healthy!

Here is a link that I got via e mail that may reassuure some of us who have reduced movements recently - I'm sure it was mentioned earlier in this thread...

It also said this in the body of the actual e mail - aimed at those of us who are at 31 weeks:

"Your baby?s movements are probably starting to slow down as there is less room to move. There?s no need to be concerned, but if your baby?s pattern of movements changes very noticeably ? or if your instincts tell you something is wrong ? do speak to your midwife."

Sure we probably all have heard this type of thing already, but it did put my mind at ease a bit when I got it this morning...

Sorry to hear your in such pain postmodern understand completely why you are concerned but as Roxie said I'm sure Drs wouldnt suggest anything that could harm your LO.

Thankyou DeeDee glad to hear I'm not the only one was fairly embarrassed.

Amazing how many of us are all suddenly having problems, I'm a bit lost at the moment as to what I'm supposed to do next, been told to go back into delivery suite if "leaking" gets worse or carries on, but given no time frame for how long it has to carry on or how worse it has to get. Feeling a little bit paranoid, everytime havent felt LO move in a while. Been fairly calm throughout pregnancy until now, just feel like I have no real information.

mummychicken were also still waiting on our health in pregnancy grant 3 weeks later, bad timing really as meant to be finishing work in 2 weeks and maternity allowance still not accepted. Have been lucky that have been given most of our baby stuff from family members but money would be nice just to relieve a bit of pressure off DH. Hope yours comes through soon.

I must have been really lucky cos my HIP grant came through really quickly! In the end it only just covered the wages I lost for having the previous week off work sick anyway so wasn't mauch of a bonus in the long run - only a temp so don't get sick pay .

Hi everyone,

32 + 5

Hannah sorry you've not had much info, that is rubbish. If I were you I would go back in at any little concern or whatever, just err on the side of caution.

Postmodern, that's a bit scary, how far are you? My scar has been ok so far. 37 weeks is a smidge early but they don't do these things if the benefits don't outweigh the risks, so try not to worry too much.

Keep us posted both of you!!

I got my HIP approx 4 weeks after sending it off so dno't panic. The helpline is rubbish though, kept tellig me their systems were down!

As for movements, I think they may change a bit towards the end, especially if head engaged in 1st pregnancy, but not exactly reduce, just perhaps be less moving about and more kicking in one spot perhaps. I would really urge anyone who is at all worried to go and get checked out. If you think its been a while, have something sweet and/or a cold drink then sit quietly and monitor for up to an hour. If you don't get plenty of kicks or pokes then go and get monitored. Better to be safe and reassured.

Take care everyone xx

hannah don't worry to much, it could be your forewater that has gone in which case baby still has plenty left. My Niece had this and it was another 3 weeks or so til baby arrived.
If you do continue to leak or it seems more they will need to see you as it will be the hindwater that has gone - HTH.

postmodern i feel for you as I have also had pain in my scar site this time - though not as bad as yours. RLF had her baby at 35 weeks, she was 7lb and perfectly healthy bar a touch of jaundice. 37 weeks will be fine and like others have said the docs would not suggest it if there was a risk.

mummychicken hope it comes soon mine was also quick I think it was about a week.

Hi all, another dramatic day, more waters gone and baby being lazy so hadnt had much movement when MW asked me. Went to hospital and on monitor still no baby movt so was sent for a scan.
As soon as started scan got a good kick in the ribs, never been so happy for it. LO absolutely fine apparently is just my forewaters which have gone but can apparently regenerate themself so could continue to happen, but not so bad now I know baby is fine. Also confirmed hes a boy which is nice as even though we found out I still had a few doubts as didnt get shown it on screen. Only sad tht DH didnt get to see the scan but my dad did as he was nearby which was lovely. Overall very happy and feeling much more confident about everything. Baby is massive 4 pounds 10 oz, am only 31+4, and is apparently likely to be born early, but aslong as can keep him in there for a few weeks sure will be fine.

Also I got my HIP grant today mummychicken hope yours is in soon.

Did your niece have her baby early ladybuzz nice to hear of people in same situation.

hannah glad it was good news, My niece was a couple of days late I think so slightly further on then you when it happened. I know they weren't concerned in the slightest when it happened and she panicked as you do!

Great news Hannah, that sounds a stressful day! Thank goodness all is well. I think we are going to have lots of traumas/stresses between us over the next few weeks as things are going to start happening...exciting but scary!
Wondersparkle I am a teacher so things likely to get increasingly manic in run-up to Christmas rather than calmer!! What about you? I am going to be jumping for joy on my stop day, 21 Dec. Means don't need to start mat leave until the schools go back after Christmas, which is my due date :-)!

Great news Hannah

37 weeks isn't terribly early - they do call it full-term for a reason, and if you aren't 100% sure of when you conceived you could be closer to 40 weeks in any case My sister had twins born at 31 weeks who were each 4 lbs! So hopefully your little one will be just fine.

DP went for midwife today who didn't seem very concerned about the low amniotic fluid - she said it fluctuates quite a lot and as long as we still feel him moving in there (yes we know it's a boy dancing, so excited!!) it should be okay.

She also said no proteins in the urine - great as had some early on in the preg. She said he was only measuring 28 weeks though - get so cross as by our calculations he's 32 weeks and by scan he is 30 weeks on Saturday! So midwife is saying he probably won't be out as early as we thought.

So ready to meet him though

We got our grant very quickly after sending it off but we sent it RIGHT when we could to make sure it came through on time.

When is everyone finishing up work and going on maternity leave? DP's bosses are being a bit shit about it at the moment and she wants to leave sooner than planned now.

postmodern - a work colleague's wife had her baby at 37 weeks last weekend and everything was absolutely fine

deedee I work in a lab and in theory we should get quieter for Christmas, summer is normally our busy time, however it's been a really bad patch for people leaving and going off on mat leave in my team, so we're rapidly running out of staff and I'm going to be making that even worse come 16th Dec...can't wait but still feel sorry for everyone who has to pick up the pieces.

Scary but exciting how soon we're likely to have babies arriving - I hope it's not for a little while yet though.

I haven't sent off my HIP grant form yet. Forgot to ask for it last time I saw the midwife because I was distracted by seeing yet another midwife - so far I've seen a different midwife every visit. At this rate I'll meet them all before I give birth! I've written it on my maternity notes now so I don't forget next time I see the midwife. Does anyone know if the doc can issue the form to me because I'll see him next week?

I have another 6 weeks at work - will be 36 weeks by then but I get really tired. Partly my own fault for doing too much and not going to bed early enough. I only have a day and a half annual leave left so might cheekily consider a day off sick if it all gets too much for me.

Hi ladies, hope everyone is well

Wondersparkle - my scan wasn't really for suspected problems, I have four weekly growth scans as I have pre-existing diabetes and antiphospholipid syndrome (one could cause big baby, one could cause small!) - he's playing average and has been in the middle throughout! They also check for placenta and cord problems but they're fine too. In fact all the textbook things that we were aware could go wrong - we knew we were taking a risk both for me and baby by ttc - haven't so far. He is likely to come early though

On the HIP point - mine came within 10 days - it was in my bank before I got the letter from them saying it was coming!

Have been getting what I assume are braxton hicks increasingly over the past few days - they've been getting quite uncomfortable and though I've read that they tend to be all over the bump, mine are very much at the bottom. Will mention them to my midwife this morning when I see her, though I know she'll tell me not to worry, but I do as I know that antiphospholipid syndrome means he could realistically decide to come out any time - when I mentioned to my consultant in London that my local obstetrician said we'd talk about delivery at 36 weeks he laughed and said 'oh you'll never make it to 36 weeks!' Am sure its not early labour, but am still going to get my hospital bag together. DH is getting worried.

See you all soon

Yes gallicgirl I have seen a different midwife every visit. And If I did not remind them about things like giving me forms/telling me about classes then they don't seem to bother! So I have to make sure before every visit to look up/find out what they should be doing/what i should be getting on that particular apt so I can make a point of asking them!

They only just gave me my forms for getting free prescriptions last week because I asked for it - they looked bemused when I said they hadn't given me one at my first apt!

And the doc will probably just ask you to see the midwife I'm afraid.

I want a form to apply for maternity allowance (prob won't be entitled but worth a shot), when I was unemployed I asked for one at the jobcentre but they told me to see the midwife, but midwife told me they have them at the jobcentre! And getting hold of my MATB1 form that I need to apply for it, and my DP needs a copy of for his pat pay was also a mission and a half!

Dancingcat - good luck! I f it helps I've been getting BH a lot recently, and mine always feel quite low down...

Oh good luck dancingcat glad baby has been doing just fine so far, made me smile that your DH is worried, everytime I make any sort of noise for example an "oh my gosh" at the news last night, DH runs in panicing, very sweet for now but hoping he'll calm down, packing my hospital bag today as well though just in case haha.

Thats really rubbish about always having different midwives gallicgirl and Roxie, mine changed halfway through pregnancy and my new midwife was very apologetic about it, although I was actually very glad as shes lovely and the one before made me feel like I was about 12 whenever I wanted to ask a question.

I had same issue with maternity allowance form Roxie,after going back to the jobcentre a second time they gave me a number to call to get it sent out to me, number they gave me was wrong but got there eventually, apparently system has changed so there is alot of confusion. I was told you can print it out online aswell but its v long and came in post the next day after I called.

How can you identify Braxton Hicks as opposed to very bad cramps?

My DP has been having cramps for several days, quite low and the baby is very head down, could possibly be engaged. We have another scan in 2 weeks so hopefully all will be well, I would much rather him come out at 32 weeks than just pushing 30.

Also does anyone have any tips for heartburn? Gaviscon is doing naff all. We tried another tip from a friend about cold natural yoghurt eaten sitting up but that doesn't seem to do much as DP eats natural yog all the time.

Only just discovered this thread, but am due on the 7th of Jan so i hope you don't mind if i join in :)

I'm feeling like the 8 weeks left to go is taking forever, and although i can't wait to meet the baby (we don't know what we're having) i also don't want them to early and have a rubbish birthday!

I was wondering about Braxton Hicks too Stardown, because i'm not really sure i've had them, though apparently everyone has!

I was lucky with my maternity allowance, GP gave me the form and i got it through within about a week, was shocked it came so quick.

Braxton hicks are like weird tightenings across the bump, can't think of how else to describe them. My bump feels tight and hard with them, like a football!! They are uncomfortable but not supposed to be painful (though mine sometimes are more than just uncomfortable iyswim). I talked about them with my midwife this morning, she came up with the football comparison - which fit with what I feel. Not everyone gets them apparently, or maybe they do but not everyone notices them. I tend to get them when I've been really busy. They should only last for a minute or two and should not be regular. Midwife told me not to worry but to monitor them (because of my risk of pre-term delivery) and if they get regular, like every twenty minutes, painful, accompanied by lower back pain and watery discharge to go to the labour ward. HTH

Star I suffered REALLY badly with heartburn with DS and this time around I'm having really bad acid. I agree gavison was completely ineffective. The only thing I have found that works is a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda disolved in a warm glass of water (Granny's remedy) It tastes disgusting but a wonderful release comes along with a very manly burp!!

No Hip grant yet - 4weeks after sending it off [grrr]

mummychicken What a fab tip, will get DP to shove it down drink some tonight.

Is there any way to chase up Hip grants? My only guess is that getting closer to Christmas maybe bogged down in paperwork, plus the fact they're scrapping it next year (woohoo us )