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

[mummychicken]

Got there first - thanks Sarrita for the suggestion!!

Hi ladies,
Another week has been and gone and gain I've not been on all week, well thats not entirely true, I've been catching up on my phone on the train but its so hard to post so I say to my self, I'll do it at home, and all I do is blob on the couch, hehe.

32 weeks tomorrow, like the other teachers I'll be working till the 17th which is 36 weeks, so only 20 days of work left!! I went on a class trip a couple of weeks ago and I think it took a good 3 days to recover, never been so tired!

stenogirl I also take the tube, and unfortunately a train, at least people on the tube will gice you a seat. I was at Paddington the other day in tears after standing for 20mins, the nice lady at customer services said I can use 1st class so thats all good!

Went to our hospital for a blood test on Frdiay, and got a very good vibe, going back for a tour of our midwife unit next weekend. Our ante-natal class was taken to a midwife-led unit tonight for a look around, was also very impressed. Hopefully we'll have a routine birth and can stay in the MW centre, but fortunately there is a maternity ward in the same building if I need more 'help'.

I also looked at the birth pool, am quite keen to try it, is anyone else having, or has had a water birth? What are your thoughts? At the moment I think I'm going to want to wear a bikini top or a bra, not too keen on being naked/on show. I'm sure I'll get over it (eventually)

Sorry for the long post, its like having a good catch up with friends!

berrycravings I took the premaxx sling out of the box, tried it and didn't like how it felt on, so think it'll go back to who it came from, so don't need to worry about it's safety now.

kiwijesta I am keen to use the pool, and also wondering what I'd wear, was planning on going in in a big tshirt (if I can find one!) or a nightie - I'd feel way to self conscious otherwise. I know people say by that stage you don't care, but I'd rather keep my bits somewhat covered.

stenogirl my hospital bag is almost there, few things to add, most importantly snacks and drinks for me and esp for OH.

Had the return of MS today (well assume that as felt better after sick). Was fine, we went to do shopping, started feelling ill in car, attempted to shop, but had to leave OH in supermarket, lay in car, managed to make it home, and then was very sick. Was a pest, as we were hoping to do some stocking up in the next couple of shops to save ourselves post birth, but OH didn't want to leave me too long, so got the essentials and didn't bother with the rest.

hi kiwijesta

i am thinking of going for a water birth, have decided now to go for the lovely birth centre - attached to the not so good but also not so busy hospital! Went to look round birth centre today and it is like a swanky hotel!! midwives seemed really nice too. 75% of their deliveries are water births. Goodness knows if it will all go to plan and I will be able to manage with only gas and air but i'm going to give it a go - think that'll be less stressful than labouring in the waiting room of a chockablock maternity ward!
having been totally disorganised so far DP and i went on a mega shopping spree yesterday - both on foot and then later online! so finally feel like we're getting prepared for baby's arrival. exciting!

35 weeks

I'm also thinking about a water birth since my antenatal classes and seeing the pool in the delivery suite.

I've cut my hours down to part time as I'm so tired at the moment, only got another 7 days until maternity leave so I'm really looking forward to that!

It's funny that at the start of my pregnancy I was terrified about labour and birth, now that I'm nearing the end I just want to get on with it so I can meet my baby!

berrycravings ...
i didnt realise the midwife bit not completed yet...thought it had all been completed
aaggghhh...hopefully can still get there though....will google in a minute

I have been to Pembury maternity suite twice over 10 years ago, when i lived in Horsmonden....for 2 of my boys...

The hospital was old & there was mention in the air of a new hospital being built....but the staff back then were lovely...even if the building wasnt :)

anyone feeling like their birth is imminent??
Im having so many Braxton hicks, and backache..along with having to hold under-carriage at times as feels like shes about to kick her way out

hopefully surely some more of you feeling this way?

How is every one's belly button? Mine is really tender and I have a horrid feeling it is about to turn into an "outie"!

mummychicken I've been wondering about other peoples belly buttons! I've got a really deep 'innie' which is now less deep but I can't see how its gonna pop out, but hey 8 weeks to go, you never know! :o

Hi all, BP still high and still plenty of protein in wee, having same issues as everyone else by the sounds of it with regards to poor care. Have seen 3 nurses and 1 Gp in the past 10 days none of which know me or the situation so each time feeling myself have to repeat what the person before them told me. On Friday nurse checked with Dr what should be done and was told I needed to get a MW appt. for this week to get properly checked, but when tried to book appt on Friday was just told there were no appts this week. Been trying to get in touch with MW since Friday leaving messages, bt shes part time so had no reply and obviously not an emergency...yet!

V frustrating and have alot of medical family GP's for parents Grandma and aunty both nurses and other aunty an NHS manager so lots of angry family panicking and trying to take over.Very lovely of them but really not much help. Hoping to finally hear back tomorrow so will see what the outcome is. Apologies for the rant!!

Mumsylady also have feeling that birth is imminent, nightmare 2 weeks with regards to pregnancy and now having alot of braxton hicks! some really quite uncomfortable, also keep getting feeling of being kicked rly low down like on my cervix (not sure how as baby is head down)but horrible feeling makes me double over and cross my legs and making DH panic and check the floor for the rest of my waters. Also whenever I wake up in the night I feel like I have to check the beds not wet. Basically am paranoid after told baby will probably come early... Glad not just me :)

Mummychicken bellybutton question made me smile, mine has now become half outie half innie, normally hardly have a bellybutton at all and DH keeps teasing me that its become a full outie, dont know if will happen though but I guess plenty of time.

Sorry for long rant post, finished work a week early do to all recent problems so must post more often to avoid full splurge when I finally get round to it.

33 weeks

hannah that sounds awful, can't believe they keep passing you about like that. I can picture it all being a too many cooks situation if your family get involved as well! It is kind of reassuring getting to feel like it's not too much of an emergency but that kind of reassurance isn't quite the same as someone telling you there's really nothing to worry about.

DP observed tonight that my bellybutton is about half out, I think it's going to go the whole way quite soon.

Also on the countdown to finishing work (and a bit of those who already have).

hats off to all you still working !!!!!
I dont know how you do it.

and I'll bet not all have sit down & rest jobs

I know just getting the train once was awful when I was heavily pregnant some years ago....because noone offers a seat !!!
(well....they didnt to me....and it was obvious I was pg and not just on the large side)...

think all the gents moved out of London !!

but it must be so hard towards the end just dragging yourself out of bed, never mind outside into the freezing morning air & then to hours of work ....with no ability to sneak back off to bed )!!

I only do the school run...which means from the warm house...to my warmly heated car...then straight back home again...
and thats hard enough. !!

Hello, will read through properly later and post!

hannah - How high is your BP? And how much protein have you had in your urine? Any swelling etc? I'm V by your treatment. I would phone the maternity ward at the hospital and speak to a MW there. They should want you to go in and be assessed/check baby and bloods etc. Just to be on the safe side and/reassure you. Especially if your diastolic number has been 90> the last couple of time? And you have 1+ of urine. Have you been measuring correct size for dates? Baby moving frequently etc?

oh...and whilst your there Hannah ...also wanted to ask what is your BP of late?
and are you still having any trouble with waters etc...?

do think with high BP & forewaters leaking earlier on.. you should be having MV's etc keeping constant vigil.

do you have a clinic nearby you can pop into from time to time in case your concerened with anything else?
(sorry for the spanish inquisition )

BP last few times has only been 145 over 85 but DR said issue is because its normally so low, my normal BP up until a few weeks ago was 90 over 60. so quite a big difference, I thought that might be why they weren't too concerned as not too high for anyone else but apparently it should be based on your individual BP.

Protein started off as just a trace getting higher each time I've been in. Baby fine and was always measuring high but bit paranoid now everytime he doesnt move for a while.

Thankyou for all your concern, think im just being overly anxious what with everything that has been going on recently. We do have a day assessment unit at the hospital but I don't know if I'm worrying too much if drs etc. not too worried. MW finally called me back whilst writing this and has made me an appt on Thursday afternoon so fingers crossed all is ok. Feel better knowing that she actually knows about it to be honest.

With reagrds to blood tests mamasunshine can they tell you if you definately have pre-eclampsia? I hate all the maybes at the moment would really like a definate answer although I know thats obviously not always possible.

mumsyladyWaters have slowed down(only v small leaks now) MW told me they would as his head engaged,one less thing to worry about.

wondersnuffle that is exactly how it is re. too many cooks in the kitchen!how much longer do you have at work?

Hi hannah glad your MW is seeing you this Thurs, I'm sure she will send you in for monitoring if she thinks necessary. They should be concerned if your diastolic in particular has increased by at least 15 points. Yes, they can see if you have pre-eclampsia through bloods (liver enzymes and clotting etc), although by that point I think it's already affecting liver so would be pretty serious if allowed progress that far? I think they diagnose pre-eclampsia with high BP, protein in urine +1 >, and another symptom such as IUGR. Will be back have to pop out

My MF appointments have been 12 weeks, 18 weeks, 27 weeks, then next week which will be 36 weeks. Not ideal really. Have seen the same one twice, for a total of 20 mins. Still, I imagine there's a good chance she'll be on holiday or something when I go into labour anyway!

Innie nearly an outie. Have put on 13 kg in total. My book says no more than 14 kg, so I'm hoping I might stay within the limits. Oh no, wait - there's Xmas! No chance!

Am also thinking of a water birth. Have been offered ECS. Everyone I know personally yelled "take it, take it!" but I'm not sure I want to.

walkthedog I laboured in the pool with my DS until I was told to get out and get on with it... Fairly common apparently to labour but not actually give birth.

Much to my surprise I was completely naked. I had thought that I would give birth in at least a baggy t-shirt, but found that the process and focus required to get baby out (on gas & air, maybe different if you have an epidural) I didn't want anything on. As it turned out there were many spectators... My MW, senior MW, my DH, a trainee doctor, and I think there was a trainee MW as well.

Still have an innie, but doubt it will outie as it didn't with DS.

Feeling short of breath and heart racing at night - hey ho.

Hannah glad to hear you'll see your MW on Thu. Me too for normal check-up.

Just had lovely hot-choc, DS at preschool till three and should be indexing my book which has the same delivery date as baby. Sitting on a great big ball, which makes typing and computer work more comfy. :)

{{hugs}} Hannah, you are going through a lot.

Belly button still an innie, but does look odd around about it.

Had a visit from Health visitor, just more a hello. Will be back when baby 10 days old.

sarrita I'm geting some shortness of breath, but more when I am sitting and have to move about to try and get a better postion.

MS is def back, but at least this time it is not whole day nausea and have only actually been sick on Sunday.

Macmomo don't worry what the book says re weight, eveyone varies, 14kg is only 30lbs and my NHS book says that the average weight gain is 28lbs. Biggest concern is a rapid weight gain in the last few weeks - pre-eclampsia sign.

Anyone started filling up freezer? Decided this week to start to make huge portions so can freeze some ready meals. Going to make mac cheese tonight - not sure if I will be able to eat it but will be a lovely post birth dish when I have no heartburn :)

33 weeks

Havn't been on here for a bit and trying to catch up on everything - can't keep up. Innie is still an innie although getting tighter and wondering whether it will go. Have also been having a growth spurt over the last week or so and starting to get uncomfortable (keep bashing bump on everything) - also throughly fed up of baby bashing something below (bladder and cervix together I think at times?!).

Sorry to hear of those with high bp etc and surprised to hear of lack of care in some areas. You';d have thought preventative measures with midwife appointments would be better than letting problems build up! We decided early on that given we pay enough in tax we would hassle NHS for whatever support we felt we needed. Been ok so far but DH would be on the warpath I think if not!

Starting NCT class tomorrow which should be fun . We have also raided library for birthing and baby books and reading our way through those at present.

Have others got hospital bag packed yet? think we need to do and have started collecting - cheap nightdress and PJ's from sainsburys to start with - think we will be doing as massive raid in MC next weekend.

One thing that has driven me a little potty this week was a text DH received from MIL. Said they had been doing lots of shopping for baby which we would get at xmas. No problem with this and glad they are excited. I did suggest to DH that it would be useful for them to let us know (roughly) what they were buying to avoid duplication! They refused saying it should be a surprise - but did say they hadn;t bought clothes but other useful stuff. Am I being unreasonable to think this may not be that helpful? Did suggest we gave PIL list of what we are getting and let them get on with it. Problem is that they are not on e-mail so sending them a list would be pretty obvious and I really don't want to upset them! Also a little concerned over what they might think is useful?????

Oops! Got my MW dates all wrong. The appointments were 12, 18, 25 and 35 weeks (next week). Then again, I thought today was Wednesday until about half an hour ago

Haven't packed hospital bag yet - hadn't bought anything to go in it except newborn size growbags and a little hat. And one set of PJs, but I'm using them!

34 weeks,

Belly button half and half,sticks out abit around the edges under my clothes, but thats more because I used to have it pierced.

Planning to start packing hospital bag when I finish work, so at 36 weeks. Have thrown a few bits in their to keep them out the way (breast pads, maternity pads etc). Need to head to Primark for a nighty and dark towels.

mumsylady keeping my fingers crossed for you that it might be open in time, my sister is in that catchment and her midwife said last week that staff had had a tour and was looking really good and midwives excited about it opening!

Hannah hope Thursdays apt helps sort things out for you and your care improves. Pregnancy is worrying enough without having probs getting to see the right people!

cotswolder I would find the inlaws present thing tough too. Perhaps get your DH to mention on the phone to them all the big things you are off to buy at the weekend as part of the conversation giving them the chance to interupt if they already have got it for you!

walkthedog keep trying to fill up the freezer. We bulk cook and then end up eating all the food during the week! Need to try harder at this!

Sarrita I am now craving hot chocolate...ummmm

Putting on so much weight have stopped weighing myself. My arms have got fatter this week, very upsetting but have been told this is the body storing fat to breastfeed, been told I'm lucky its not my face! This happening to anyone else???

berrycravings I accumulated my first round of 'back-fat' with DS. Wasn't expecting that! It is definitely for breast-feeding, as are all the other bits of newly accumulated fat.

They should ditch the whole "breast feeding linked to ... " advice and just focus on what matters YOU WILL LOSE BABY WEIGHT IF YOU BREAST FEED! Works better than breast feeding MIGHT "boost IQ" "immunity" "ability to tidy up toys, make dinner and hang out the laundry...!" (if only).

Good friends hubby told their son the the reason mummy had a plaster over her outie button (it was rubbing on her clothes) was that otherwise the baby would fall out!

Woke at 5.30am and filled in Maternity Allowance form. Feel knackered now! DS off to childminder - peace. Time for another hot-choc and banana bread me thinks.

Was all ready for MW aptmt this pm and then remembered it is tomorrow...

33 + 5
Belly button firmly OUT, been out for ages, looks ridiculous! Very stretched-looking tummy.
Hannah, hope you are feeling ok today, sounds a stressful time. Realising have been very lucky with my care, regular appts with same lovely midwife.
Anyone else suffering from extreme insomnia?? I have slept about 2 hours total over last 4 nights and am a total wreck - was really worried bout driving to work the last couple of mornings. Took dizzy turn in the supermarket this morning and had to be escorted to a chair!! Thinking no point asking midwife for advice, nothing they can do for not sleeping! Is just frustrating.
Do we all need to start bouncing around on gym balls around now? Off to TK Maxx later today to buy one!

deedee I got mine from Argos. Seemed a good price and they had a choice of size - I am nearly 6ft and needed a big ball.

I find DH sleeping in spare bed has the most positive effect on my insomnia.

Thanks sarrita, they both sound good tips! Had not thought of Argos.

31 + 4

Hi all

Sorry to hear some of you are suffering hannah hope you get some answers and reassurance soon.

I have the most horrendous varicous veins on my fanjo TMI and they are swollen beyond all belief, so much so that I think baby is going to fall out any minute, the pressure is really bad at times. also this week started with Braxton hicks and was so painful in work yesterday thought he might turn up early. Is continuing today and everytime baby moves it hurts. Belly button on the verge of being an outie, other children finding it most perculiar. Doesn't feel like there is much room left for him.

No bags packed here either, must get a wriggle on with that, don't really know what to pack as not convinced its a boy, don't think I will until the show me his bits lol

Only 13 more working days yay!!! until I can rest run round after my 11 month old