Nov 2011 - Mat B forms are in and time is flying not long now

[PamSco]

Sorry just went for a new thread as I couldn't see another.

Hope you are all well this morning

Am sure there is a gestational diabetes thread/support already on here :-)

smiling but he's DANISH, I thought they were all DIY miracle workers?

Haha, Cali, that's what he says. I'm always being told about what Danes have done for the world - most recently they invented the just-eat website!

what's the just eat website? I feel I should know...

I come from a family of Danish masons, carpenters and plumbers - we always bought wrecks and restored them... I'm afraid they don't do anything to oppose your DP's opinion...

Here's a list of how awesome we are

lol at giblet!!!

Cali I'm glad your bump is kicking away again! but I think we're all getting to the point now where we should be straight on to the mw if we have any
doubts!

snoozle you had me convinced that I didn't actually need a baby monitor, and then i saw MrsAs post and now i'm thinking oh that's a good idea for the shower etc! I am so clueless!

Feeling sooo tired and bump really aching :-( dh is out at football, and i'm sat home watching Gavin Henson in the batchelor recorded from the weekend. to be followed by britains next top model! Nothing but crap tv to make me feel better!

Staceroo MrsA makes a good point about watching for the lights in the shower, but in my case, I couldn't even use it for that, because I'm hopelessly short sighted, and once I take my glasses off to get in the shower, I wouldn't be able to see the lights anyway!

MrsA I'm really aware that it sounds like I am trying to counter your every comment with 'a-ha, but have you thought of this scenario?!!', and I really don't mean to! I'd also say that a lot of my reasoning comes down to something as simple as the layout of my house, which is very straightforward - pretty much average size and layout, with bedrooms upstairs, living area downstairs, so even when we had put DD to bed at night and then came back downstairs, we could easily hear her. On the other hand, I have friends who live in bungalows, for example, where the bedrooms seem to be miles away, and I can see that a monitor would be much more useful for them than it would for me.

Wow Chip huge congratulations on the arrival of Sylvie-Rose - what a shock, I really hope you are on the mend and little Sylive-Rose is thriving. I remember DS's time in NICU like it was yesterday - such a weird little bubble to be living in, hopefully the cuddles will be more and more frequent over the coming days and she'll be home before too long.

On monitors - I applied the same level of paranoia to parenting as pregnancy so always completely reliant on mine being full volume so I could hear every breath - overkill I am sure but I missed all the monitors of NICU beeping to tell me all was ok and also DS was an incredibly quiet sleeper - I used to strain to hear him even in the same room as me. DD was completely different - it was like having a hedgehog or something in with me all the grunting and fidgeting. As Snoozle says I don't think I'd have missed a cry as they were pretty loud but I liked being able to hear the breathing for reassurance. I had a Tomy digital one and plan to get a new one this time round as it seemed to pick up even little sounds.

snoozle lol. Don't worry, no offence taken. You make good points. I probably was sucked in by marketing spin but it was right for me and DP. Given a newborn will be with you all the time for the first few weeks, those who are undecided could see what happens and then get one if needed?

Me, I'm still wrestling with the idea of reusable nappies. Not so 'mother earthish' now am I?!! :)

Evening ladies, I do enjoy seeing the different opinions on this thread and find it really useful to hear from the already parents. I don't think we'll get a monitor initially as we're in a flat and with everything so close together I don't think it's essential for us. As we'll be moving so soon after the baby arrives, I'm trying to buy as little as possible beforehand so we can make decisions about what to get once we're settled in our new house.

We have the pram and car seat and my sister is lending us her Moses basket and then we can get everything else once we've moved. This is my belief anyway, how much can we really need in the first 4 weeks?

I had my GTT a week last Friday and haven't heard about the results yet! The nurse said they would phone me within 3 days if there is a problem so am hoping no news is good news. Fingers crossed.

I think the news of our first thread baby arriving has subconsciously got my DH thinking as he mentioned tonight that we should get thinking about what we need in a bag for the hospital so we can feel like we're starting to prepare! I suppose with 12 weeks to go we should think about it but is it just me or does anyone else feel like there's still ages to go? I honestly feel like there's no rush!! Famous last words....

I think I'm really waiting for 32 weeks when I will know if I can plan for labouring in the birth centre and then I can at least plan with a location in mind

mrsA I am sure that I want to use reusables again but that is because I got on well with them with DS. With DS I used disposables for the first couple of months and the idea of reusables was introduced to me during the post-natal group my health visitors put on. It took me a while to decide which ones I liked and felt happy to use (& could afford -some aren't cheap). If you are new to them and unsure of whether you would use them, then my advise would be to have one or two a few different styles (along with some disposables) so you can see which type you get on best and whether they actually suit you and your baby's needs/lifestyle. This gives you time to try without great expense then you can spend out on the ones you know you get on with IYSWIM??

Cali so glad baby started to have a party - just typical they wait until you start to panic before they start to move!!

monitors I had an analogue one for DS & had no issues with it (the layout of my house at the time meant that it could be difficult to hear DS once he was in bed and I went downstairs). Have been contemplating with this baby as to whether we need one as the layout is a lot more sound-travelling friendly...have now been given a basic one from a friend that we will use if we need to. For me I looked at the different ones available and didn't see the point of some of the added features e.g. melodies, 2-way talk. Melodies - we have a cd player & relaxing music cd that baby & I already listen to so would prefer to use that. 2-way talk, I'd rather go up to baby and sooth than speak to them over a machine which could confuse the hell out of them. Just my opinions and I know people who have found these functions useful.

P.S MrsA I really want to go for reuseable nappies but it feels like lots of people try to talk me out of it (family mainly) so will see. My sister bought a whole set that she never used for my nephew so I'd like to try with those.

We have used re-usables on ds3 and ds4. I love them! I do tend to go for ones that look cute though! I have my eye on some very pretty Weenotions ones for dd ( will have to get used to saying dd!) but at the moment there's no point as she will be ages in the NICU and is much too tiny for the mainstream nappies.

Bit of a tough day today. Had dd out of her incubator for a cuddle and her heart rate and oxygen levels dropped very low so the nurse put her straight back in to the incubator and on to the CPAP machine. Thing is, I have noticed that that is more inclined to happen when I hold her, if left in the incubator she is more stable. So despite having read up on Kangaroo care and how good it is for preemies, I am now very reluctant to take her out of her little nest. Dh read up on it and apparently this is quite a normal thing to happen to preemies but it is very hard to take.

Caz I am sorry time is so rough for you. It is understandable and I hope that you can keep busy to make time go faster and also that you can find some positive thoughts.

Hils yay for good GTT results!

Snoozle agreed on the monitor, however I think if I was still in the UK I'd get one (3 storey house, where I can't hear my DH yell for me over 2 storeys!). But as I am in a flat with only tiled/wooden floors, I am happy that the sound will carry without issues
Sorry your results are on the high side :(

Mrs also very good point about the shower, films, etc. torn now

voodoo hope you feel better soon

chip sorry that Sylvie-Rose's heartrate and breathing isn't stable :( It must be so hard, but please be kind to yourself!
I have no idea how these things work, but do they have a rough estimate as to when she will be strong enough to go home with you?

I have started getting really strange pains in my lower back/pelvis. The other day I stood in the kitchen and then suddenly couldn't put any weight on my left leg as I would scream in pain. I couldn't move at all, but after a short time and DH trying to help me out of the kitchen I felt a huge click and the pain was gone. Any ideas? This happens quite frequently now, but I don't think I am dislocating a joint..?

chip you'll only be doing what you think is best for your DD, tis natural not to want to do anything that would destablise Sylvie-Rose but she'll get more used to being out of incubator and cuddles are for mum and dad's sake too not just baby. Hope tomorrow (today!) is a better day.#

I'm up for another sleepless night. Thought should get up instead of disturbing OH as he is up early for work tomorrow. Just want to zeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

Chip, is it not a case of building the time you can hold Sylvie-Rose up? I know nothing about preemies so feel free to ignore me! Hope yOu are both doing well.

How have I gone from not managing to sleep to not managing to get out of bed! I truly do not know how am going to manage when am back in a school run and earlier work start time routine! 29 weeks today might have something to do with it?!?! Haha.

chip I can't imagine how hard it is for you to see Sylvie-Rose's heartrate & oxygen levels drop whilst you are giving her cuddles. You must be so torn; the only advise I can give is to speak your concerns to the neonatal nurses - the should be able to reassure you and work with you to ensure that Sylvie-Rose is safe and stable yet able to get some valuable cuddles with mummy & daddy. Cuddles are valuable to both of you but if it is causing you distress then be open with the nurses x x

28 week appt today. Growth scan and GTT results plus the other bloods, getting nervous.

I'm determined to be calm but I've been riled by a terrible leaflet I was given which was written in such annoying language. It said I would be given anti sickness tablets, I should have an epidural early, I should not eat after going into labour. It more or less doomed me to a medicalised labour - which I do not want unless the baby or myself is in distress. Stoping now before I fume more.

Chip it must be really hard I hope the hospital supports you all well.

Poppysmum could you have a trapped sciatic nerve? Sounds rough whatever it is!

Good luck today Pam sorry I'm clueless Poppy, wee docs trip in order?

Poppy I know its wrong to let a random stranger diagnose you over the internet from the other side of the world, but let me have a go anyway!! What you are describing reminds me of when I was expecting DD, I would get a terrible pain my my back and shooting down my leg. I think, as Pam said, that the Dr said it was the sciatic nerve, but the interesting thing is that DD was breech until quite late on (36 weeks or so, I think) and one day she turned head down and bam, the pain was gone, never to return. So, it might relate to the way baby is lying. Having said that, it sounds like a trip to the Dr is on the cards for you, to put your mind at rest and get some proper advice!

OK, what is the very thing that you need when you have suddenly been made aware of the importance of regulating your blood sugar levels? Can you guess? OK, I'll tell you! A stomach bug! I can't even keep water down, and was vomiting so violently last night that I was sure I had damaged myself, I had this searing pain all around my bump and even up into my chest from the effort of being sick (sorry, TMI I know, especially first thing in the morning!). Anyway, there is nothing left to throw up (sorry, more TMI!) but I am still having abdominal pain, which is probably the bug working its way through my system, but its painful enough to make me want to see the Dr, so we'll see how that goes. Such drama!

Pam, do NOT let them wind you up! You do not have to have these things if you don't want DON'T forget that!!!

Stern teacher voice back in the bag now :)

Poppy I have sciatica, it realllllllly hurts - random inability to put weight on leg etc and shooting sharp pains in back and legs. I found moving slowly from standing to sitting and vice versa was helpful, if got up too quick then was likely to fall over! Dont think there was anything that I could take at its worst and its only just started flaring up now.

Snoozle, worth seeing doc anyways? Just need to put minds at rest more so now I think.

Off on a little road trip to see a client, not sure I am looking forward to it! Still have a sore throat and ear, like swallowing daggers and having one rammed in right ear repeatedly. Lovely timing as have tomorrow and Thursday off work as hols and anti d injection on Friday at the hospital.

Have a good day everyone!

caz - good vibes to you, i can well understand feeling a bit wobbly at this time, but everything will be cool with Xander (I also love that name)

Danish miracle workers??? Maybe they are but my new best friend here is a Ukrainian guy who has painted my apartment and last night came around to put up curtains and shelves and safety catches on the windows. DH and I are utterly crap at anything practical and basically wait until we can afford to throw money at it. But I did my our very first power drill yesterday ;)

But I totally vouch for how brilliant LEGO is, as I work for the danish advertising agency that have been with LEGO forever. I am surrounded by LEGO right now ;)

Re. baby monitors - I think its worth it, just to assuage the paranoia you have as a new parent. It was necessary when we moved DD to her own room at 6 months, as my DH and I are both addicted to earplugs. We don't want to hear each other but with the monitor jacked up on high, we could definitely always hear her when she cried. For a while we kept each other awake, all being in the same room, because the same night she moved to her own room, she started sleeping all through the night. I also found it useful when I was out and about and she was sleeping outside (very Danish-style).

chip - i can imagine this must be difficult - really really hope that everything stabilizes quickly so you can get close to little Sylvie-Rose.

snoozle - sorry to hear about your bug, hope you get better soon. Was dreading the same happening to one of us here, as the normally nice tap water in Copenhagen has been contaminated by e-coli, so we are having to boil everything twice. Well annoying.

Morning everyone!

chip I'm sorry to hear about the oxygen/heart rate slowing when you give Sylvie-Rose cuddles, but hopefully it will stop soon as she gets stronger. And then you can both have lots of cuddles. Can you hold her wee hand while she's in the incubator? As a wee bit of contact is better than none (oh, going a bit teary now, pregnancy hormones!! I've managed to avoid being particularly emotional so far). I can't even imagine what you're going through chip, but you're being so brave and calm my hat goes off to you xx

poppy, I concur with the others, sounds sciatic. Perhaps you should see if you can get an appointment with a antenatal physio. I've been seeing one for my SPD and they're great. They might be able to give you some exercises/support belt to help ease things. Best advice I got was to get 'in and out of cars like Lady Di, NOT Brittany Spears'! :o

Going to be 29wks tomorrow, which made me realise that I'll be the big 30 next week - eek - another milestone! And then it's only 8wks until I'm induced - Jesus, we are so totally unorganised. I think it'll be an on-line shopping and budgeting day today.

Slept much better last night, though didn't go to sleep until about 1am as worrying about money, and my upper back has decided to fall apart on me (an old injury that recurs at the most inappropriate times), and keeps sending shooting pains into my chest, which is not ideal when one has a heart defect :( But feeling better today, but might have to succumb to paracetamol if it flares up again.

Hope everyone has a good Tuesday x :)

Poppy I have the exact same thing - go to the GP, get referred to the physio - before you end up like me, out of your mind on gas and air trying to hop into an ambulance, only to be told by a tired consultant at 4.15am that there's nothing they can do...

Tjuice Sleeping outside - one of the best practices I'll be inheriting from my Danish side! I'm even getting my mum to bring a "termodragt" over, as I can't find any good ones in the UK. But I will be getting a thermometer baby monitor, so I can keep an eye on it!

chip sorry yesterday was so hard for you, it must have been so scary. did they say that it was a normal reaction to being out of the incubator? i hope today has gone much better.

poppy i'd definately see a gp even if just so they can refer you to the physiotherapist.

snoozle hope you're feeling better.

pam hope tests went well.

baby monitors we had the tomy walkabout classic advance, which suited us ok. I'm another one who likes being able to hear breathing just to ease mind.

we also used reusable nappies after the first couple of months, but in our case they were useless. it never kept anything in, 9 times out of 10 wee would leak out and any time he did a poo came out the sides, i won't go into the time he got diarrhea. we persevered for a few months then just gave up.

saw mw today, not my usual one, apparently if i want the gps test i have to pay privately for it about £35 apparently. Also they no longer provide maternity belts through the physio anymore i also have to pay for it myself. like i have spare money for that.