Charters Anonymous Graduates – No more temping!

[GetDownYouWillFall]

Hello ladies ? bit nerve wracking moving over to ante natal but thought I?d be brave! Here?s to a trouble free 8 or so months for us all! And hoping lots more of us move over very soon.

Step away from your thermometers ladies. That way madness lies.

Sits back. Feels a bit lonely. Waits for others.

green veins? Seriously??

spilt what you've said about vaginal deliveries for stillborn babies makes sense. I suppose I just thought that going through all that pain and knowing you were not going to have a baby to take home at the end of it all would be too horrific, but you're right, it would also be horrific to have it "removed" from you - the sense of emptiness would be awful. Thinking of that poor lady.

nix great you are feeling kicks - it doesn't matter that they are faint - any kicks are good enough!

I really thought I felt another twitch this evening! Just after dinner.... felt a kind of squelching, pulling sensation. Fully admit this may have been my dinner gurgling around though

Thanks LadyGG re. Newport! Really hoping I will not have to find out whether they have a maternity unit! Would be weird though to get transferred to Southampton - DH was born in that hospital.

We haven't seen Newyearsday around much lately - hope she is doing ok. She is the next one to pop I believe!

Thanks Iwish re info about that line you get on your belly. 23/24 weeks sounds about right. Have any of you other ladies got that line yet on your belly? I seem to remember it took months to disappear after DD.

Hope Terrys you are doing ok this evening - did you get a scan pic of your 6 week bean? Bet you are sneaking peeks at it if you did! I kept looking at mine when I'd had my early scan!!

MrsA has it sunk in yet? Is DH getting excited yet?

No line yet. But I am getting hairier. Hmmm...another boy perhaps?

No line yet eh LadyGG. Did you get the line with DS?

Don't know why I'm obsessing about the bloomin line

Hairier? Is that a sign it's a boy? I really think mine might be a boy. Just feels very different from how I felt with DD. But who knows, they say every pg is different anyway.

I don't think I want to find out at 20wk scan but DH is adamant he does. Hmmm, how do we compromise on that one??!

DH also wants me to have a planned c-section. I am not convinced!!!

I never got that line last time... just a huge green vein down to my uterus!! Luvverly. I seem to be getting hairier also,, am hairy anyway, will look like a chimp soon.

Same prob here re the sexing GD, I normally give in to DH he is the stronger one, but on this we havent really discussed it. He can bog off! MW wont allow the husband to know if the wife doesnt want to.

Hi all.

Got a bit of a question....
I went to the toilet earlier and my knickers were a little wet. Dont ask my why but I smelt the fluid and it had a wierd smell, kind of like sperm (not had sex for a while tho). Is it normal? I do get quite a lot of fluid at the mo but never noticed the smell before - tho I've never smelt it before.

Iwish it's probably just discharge. Don't worry about it. How wet are we talking? I don't think it's anything to get stressed about, just a normal part of being pregnant.

I had loads of discharge this morning There was a big blob of it in the toilet - yuk!

It was just a bit getdown the smell kind of freaked me out since we havnt had sex for a while.
I've had a few big globs too - nice lol. Thanks for coming back to my question. Hope you are ok xx

11 days till scan woohoo!

Ah, well if it was just a bit, then really I wouldn't worry at all.

Wow just 11 days till your scan? That's so exciting! Bet you are counting down the days now. I loved having the scan. I was totally transfixed seeing the little thing, could count its fingers, it was so clear.

I've got my 20 week scan date - 26th April! Very excited about that too!

I am counting the days. I can't wait to see the little one. It's on a Monday morning so don't think I'll sleep on the Sunday night!

Wow 20 weeker! That will be so amazing and will be so clear. I bet you can't wait. We all seem to be waiting and wishing time away till we can see them on the scan. is there any time we will relax haha.

Iwish i wouldnt worry too much i have had the same for the last couple of days... tell you what..look away now if you are squeamish!!

I am prone to bacterial infecs since MC (3) and it could be the onset of another - fishy smell can be a bacterial vag infection smell. Could just be sweaty, were you wearing tights? Could just be a little extra discharge....do you have baths? ATM every time i bath the next day my discharge is a diff colour! Bubble baths can cause infection and imbalance the natural flora.

When i had a brown bleed at 14 weeks it smelt of sperm and i was terrified. The mw said if it was amniotic fluid then more would have seeped out afterwards.

Have a wash and see if it returns... but try not to panic xx

Iwish i am scanning mon lunch... 20 weeks! FX for good news

Slowly sinking in now. Got gp appt tomorrow morning. I desparately want a natural birth and am worried that going into hospital will mean I end up with a section again.
Not very good at expressing my worries, need to toughen up.

getdown was it you who said DH wanted you to have a planned section? Any reason why? (Just nosey)

I'm having a lot of discharge too - a bit like creamy cm. I think it's probably arousal fluid (tmi alert). During last pg I was horny all the time. Couldn't get enough and this one looks like being the same. Poor DP will be knackered!!

Good luck with all the scans, I won't get my 12 wk till start of May I think.

Anyone having an early nuchal scan? Here you have to pay for it or wait for a blood test at 16 wks. I went for blood test last time but think I'll pay this time round. It's about £200 I think!

that you have to pay for your nuchal scan MrsA! It's part of the standard screening programme round here. I had mine as part of the dating scan. Not heard anything yet, which I hope means is good news (think they contact you quickly if there is a problem).

Yes it was me whose DH's wants a c-section this time!! I did say to him, look, it is MY body! But he basically wants what is going to be best for me.

I had a really traumatic vaginal delivery last time (bad tear, surgery afterwards, haemorrhage, blood transfusion, urinary incontinence), plus the trauma affected me so badly I ended up with severe depression and was in a mother and baby unit for 3 months. So, in some ways an elective c-section does appeal!

Not decided yet - we've got to see the consultant in April to talk it through.

Maybe if I'd had a c-section first time round I would be more keen to do it "naturally", however, my view now is that it's not particularly an achievement or more worthwhile to have it vaginally. There are no medals at the end of the day. The main thing for me is that both me and the baby end up ok.

Nuchal's not standard here either MrsA. Infact they never even offered the option of having it and paying so you'd have to know it existed and ask.

Iwish I hope everything's ok with you. I get very wet down there during pg. Also I have really pungent wee!

I've just had my thyroid results back after they retested at 16 weeks (last done before 6 weeks!) and my TSH is now up at 4.6, FT4 falling and only 13.9 (was 16.1). Humph. The GP apparently wrote "normal, no action needed" next to the results and I really don't think this is right. It's climbed from 2.3 pre pg to 3.6 at 6 weeks, to 4.6 now. No medication. They think TSH up to 5.5 is normal, and until it's over 10 doesn't actually need drugs. This is so badly wrong for pregnant women. I am getting more and more exhausted which I think is probably linked - nodded off at a red traffic light last week FFS! So I am going to try and see a GP tomorrow armed with printouts and info, and DH is coming too to ensure I don't just let them fob me off. Wish me luck. I want some thyroxine please!

The discharge is called Leukarrhoea. It's a pregnant thang. Normal. I did find that it increased more as pregnancy went on. Also seems to have a particular odour when pregnant, stronger than normal....so I know what you mean

I had nuchal scan both times, MrsA and you have to pay for it here too . But was "only" about £140 I think.

Sounds like you had a rough time last time, Getdown. I also had a bit of as difficult birth so got hold of my labour notes to see if I can work out what happened/went wrong and chances of it happening again. Might be quite cathartic to be able to talk it through? My issues were down to a difficult presentation meaning DS got stuck. Luckily had a ventouse with episiotomy which healed really well so nothing like what happened to you. Still worried about it happening again but really want to get my home birth this time - I laboured really well til he got stuck.

But at the end of the day it has to be YOUR decision, your body, your choice in my book. Is DP's job to support whatever YOU decide.

Dont blame you GD for wanting a section, i hav ethose thoughts too.... after last time.

It must be LG, i was swabbed again recently (not totally paranoid or anything) and even the dr said when taking the swab "oh yes def looks like you have an infec again" and the swab was clear!!

No nuchal here as bambino was a wriggler, even though it was offered they couldnt get the measurement, we had the16 week bloods, all fine. Go get the doc tomor spilt!!!

MrsA great on the doc apt! Tis real :)

Really getting lots of movement now - hard little baby in there shuffling about :)

nix I don't really have baths, I have a shower once to twice a day. I've had a shower a couple of hours ago and the smell is still there a little. ill see what happens tomorrow I suppose. I did think amniotic fluid and kind of panicked. Oh I hope everything is ok!
Ooh 20weeker on Monday, so exciting!! Bet you can't wait.

MrsA I usually get a lot of creamy cm. Mine definitely isn't from arousal lol! I've completely gone off sex
Lol your DH will be nakered. On the other hand my DP will be whinging for sex!

split yeh I'm ok thanks, apart from the dodgy smelling discharge that worried me.
I put in 'thyroid levels in pregnancy' on google and found the levels it should be in the different trimesters. Maybe have a look and speak to the doc if necessary. My tsh is currently about 1.75 and the have upped my dose from 50mcg to 75mcg.

ladyg is it like a spermy kind of smell? It was wierd anyway. Hope you are ok today

Oooo I never knew the gloopy gloop actually had a name! Leukarrhoea! Well you learn something new every day!

Just watched OBEM on catch up TV - got me crying again. And I have to say, the c-section is getting increasingly appealing!

Really hope you get your home birth LadyGG.

I do actually have a copy of my notes from labour, but they don't really help much, in that they don't tell me anything I didn't already know. My notes from the mental health unit though .... now those were interesting!!

Sorry you are worried about your thyroid spilt I think you are right to push for more investigation - I do believe that you should go with your instincts - the drs. don't know everything, you know your own body best. Hopefully all is well, and you will have your mind put at ease.

Can't believe some of you have had to pay for your nuchal scan.

Blimey, that does sound scary, Getdown. You just do whatever you need to do.

Spilt see another Doctor. Not medicating until after TSH of 10 is a very old fashioned/outdated view even if not pregnant. I would be on the floor at 10. Your TSH levels are classed as borderline but in pregnancy should be around/lower than 2. I would ask for a trial of Thyroxine, they will prob start you on 50mcg and retest in 6 weeks. I would also ask them to test for anti-thyroid antibodies to see if they can work out why. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Iwish yeah, kind of a bit spermy.

split I agree with ladyg to see another doctor. Tell him/her you have been reading up on the levels in pregnancy and want to be medicated appropriately. I was started at 25mcg over a year ago which they increased after about 6 weeks like ladyg said to 50mcg then went up to 75mcg a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks ladyg hopefully kind of spermy is normal then

split I have no experience of thyroids but hope you see a doctor that treats you properly.

Loving all the talk of ladygardengoo!! [Grin]

Sigh. I must stop temping ladies I know but my temps are still lovely and high. Slap me someone.

Off to gp today. Dreading it tbh, as this is where all the hcps get involved and treat me as a statistic not a person.

I am overweight and had raised bp throughout DD's pg. That aside I felt well but I was marked as high risk and written off.
DP knows this and knows I have issues with DD birth but tbh he's not being v supportive :(
Apparently I need to move on and stop worrying and let the drs do their job.
I took anothe hpt today and it was a very strong +ve line and he didn't even get excited.

Just feel a bit on my own today. He moans that I am on mn a lot but if he won't talk to me about things, does he blame me?

Just wish he was as excited and pleased as some DH/DPs on here.

Sorry for the rant. Bricking it about the gps and feeling v hormonal.

What are you worried about at the GP MrsA? Is it that they will lecture you about your weight?

Sorry that DP is being a bit of an arse. Maybe he just needs a bit of time to come to terms with the news. I'm sure he will come round. I've heard that for men it can't really feel "real" until they see scan / a visible bump / something tangible.

Thanks for the support yesterday. I saw the GP today and he ummed and ahhed for a bit and the upshot is he has given me a prescription for 25mg for the next two weeks and he will be phoning my antenatal consultant on Monday to get his opinion before issuing a longer prescription. He will also arrange a referral to an endocrine specialist but wanted to discuss with my AN consultant who would be best (half way between two major hospitals, my GP knows the specialist at the hospital my consultant is not at, but wondered whether better to get all care done at the same place!). So I think it's a good start. Lady I was tested for the antibodies in November and was borderline. GP reckons let the endocrinologist decide whether to repeat that as he's not sure what effect pregnancy might have on that.

Like GetDown I didn't know the goo had a special name, I have happily told DH that is the reason for the whiffiness so shut up about it!

GetDown it sounds like you had a truly horrific time and I hope that whatever you choose this experience is nothing like it and helps heal some of those emotional and mental scars.

MrsA how did you get on at the GPs? Hope it was better than expected.

We had a pig out at lunch time on the Pizza Hut all you can eat buffet. Twas yummy. Sadly all I can eat is not all that much as I get full really quickly now, but I did manage to put away 5 slices of pizza and a pile of salad. DH made up for my effort though by having 10 Still, we do it rarely.

Spilt glad you are getting somewhere.

Getdown I agree your previous experience sounds just awful. But at least you have previous experience to help you find the best way this time.

I saw the GP today and it went OK.
My problem is that it's a vicious circle - I need to keep my blood pressure down but when I have it taken I get stressed and anxious and so it goes up.

With DD's pregnancy, the main consultant (I felt) had written me off as a statistic without even knowing me - overweight, wrong side of 35, raised bp. Must = pre-eclampsia. During the pg they tested me loads for diabetes but my results were all normal.
The assumption I suppose that I am high-risk led to an indiction I didn't want and a c-section I didn't want.

I know what I look like - someone who spends their life in McDs but I don't honestly.
I am a fairly fit, healthy fat person! I walk loads, eat lots of fresh fruit & veg but it sounds rubbish trying to justify your existence to the docs.

What I want is an unmedicalised pg and I trust my body to know what to do.
I am not naive and will need regular bp checks and perhaps even mild medication but that should be it I hope.

Anyway, long post sorry, I asked the GP to go to Wrexham hospital rather than the Countess of Chester and she was fine. I am seeing the midwife on Monday and I daringly brought up the possibility of a home birth and she didn't gasp or faint.
With Wrexham you have all your hospital appts at the local community hospital and just go to the main hospital to give birth. If you have a homebirth, you get 2 midwives at home, which appeals.

Whatever I do, I've decided to hire a doula for the birth. That way, I'll have someone who can speak for me if I'm not able and DP can't.
I've already found one on mn who has doulaed (sp?) at 2 HBAC.

God sorry for the mammoth post.

Hello darlinks! Haven't read back very far but am with you on the discharge and it keeps increases throughout the pregnancy - lovely.

I'm 33wks this weekend. Bump is huge! Big movements! I've been getting pelvic pain on and off, and seem to be wadding already. Finishing work in 3wks. Starting to get prepared, shopping for bits n pieces.

Excited, nervous, can't wait to meet our little boy.