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

Poppy just a quick one as dashing out to work - I've had something which sounds quite similar. Usually in the evening when I've been sat on the sofa when I get up one keg just won't take any weight and is very painful - the pain is very localised in my sacriliat (sp.) joint (bottom on back across pelvis) and in the hip joint of the leg (usually left) that won't work. If I can manage to hobble putting weight on it for about 6 v painful steps it just sorts itself and pain completely disappears. My chiro says it's because my pelvis is twisted and unstable and so the joint literally is moving out of position

Oh ali, that could be it. I will know more tomorrow and shall update you then

Oh FGS!!! Cut off at my doctors/mw for glucose is 7 - mine was 7.1. FFS. Now I have to go and have a GTT. Argghh. Really hacked off.

voodoo GTT is relatively easy - annoying but better safe... :)

Tis the fact the MW wrote on the bloods - Voodoo has just eaten her lunch (inlcluding half a can of lucozade!) literally 30 mins before bloods taken. Then books an appointment that I cannot make and tells me that I will just have to change stuff round - erm like what? Taking my dd to school on a different day? Ah man am so annoyed by it all, just feel like every time I feel like am taking a step forward I get thrown back a couple. OH is neither use nor ornament and is just like shrugging his shoulders!

Ranty Voodoo today, sorry :)

Ok, that's unacceptable. Tell them you've got no way of going there - if you give them plenty of notice you should be able to change the appointment!

Ask to speak to a doctor, and explain to them - I've had arguments with nurses where the consultant/GP stepped in and said "Nursey, you're being unreasonable".

Persist!

(Starting to think there should be some kind of uprising amongst pregnant ladies - the care we're given is absolute rubbish/inconsistent!)

voodoo to give your body the best chance of being 'normal' (not to cheat the GTT but to show its reactions under normal conditions - let's face it, starving for 12 hours then having a massive overload of sugar are not the most common of situations when pg and so who knows how accurate the results are?), try to eat low carb the day before, have a high protein snack before the fasting starts and try to walk around during the 2 hr wait between bloods. Apparently this makes your body work with the sugar drink most efficiently and helps replicate near-normal conditions.

What you want is what your body does everyday rather than under medicalised conditions.

Pamsco I'm right in thinking your're in Singapore? So culturally there may be differences to how doctors operate but even so I am on your behalf that you have been lied to. Unless you are immensely overweight (eg 30 stone plus), her statement that you are 5 times more likely to have a still birth is, frankly, bollocks.
You did the right thing by questioing her stats. If she can't produce them then ignore her as it's her job to know these things!
Remain calm. Continue with the pregnancy. In labour, if you want to keep mobile, do so. They can't force you.

So many doctors expect us to smile nicely and meekly accept what they say as the truth. They are well-educated and often brilliant at their job but that doesn't mean they can't make mistakes and that we can't do our own research into things and make our own decisions.

voodoo I agree - state you cannot make it. If they won't budge, don't turn up. Frankly with a reading of 7.1 just after eating i'd tell em to stuff it

Here's how my GTT went - I ate as normal the night before - I do have a fair amount of carbs in my diet - it's what I crave, so I reckon it's what my body wants...
I had a fasting reading of 5.7. 5.9 is the top of what they'll accept to do the full GTT, so it was looking pretty bleak - the phlebotomist even made the comment "see you at the diabetic clinic then".

My bloods came back absolutely normal, everybody happy, no worries.

If you are diabetic, or borderline, no diet choices before the fasting GTT will help.

MrsA I am so close to telling them to stuff it - why cant they repeat the bloods that they did at 28 weeks? like exactly 1 week ago today? Id even not have my lunch just before I went! Or jab me and test with diabetes prick test? I agree that fasting then handing sugary drinks isnt a true indication but I think they say it is how yr body deals with the overload? Probably hangs onto it if am starving/thirsty?

My son also starts his new school that week - high school and I have a board meeting that day that I have to attend and present at. MW seemed to think it was amazing that I had work to do? Well yep I have a job too! Am not just baby machine.....

MW is like well with all the other stuff that hospital are assuming with you then really you need to attend.

I agree pregnancy seems to equal loss of independence and rights and sense?

Thanks for all the kind words, ladies!

The lovely nurse in charge of dd asked me yesterday if I wanted a cuddle. I told her that I would love to have a cuddle but not if it was going to destablise her. So she agreed that the best thing to do was to give dd a break from cuddles and that I would just change nappies and feed her while in the incubator. Tbh, when ds3 was in NICU, that was mostly what we did and that worked out fine. The main reason for wanting cuddles and contact is that I feel it will increase my milk production but I am not doing too badly on that score anyway.

I did change one nappy and OMG, can my darling daughter do a stinker of a nappy! Poo everywhere and then trying to change a nappy when your baby is hooked up to loads of tubes and wires is like trying to do a crazy 3D jigsaw puzzle. I did get it done in the end though![proud emoticon]

Aww Chip thats great and you are right to be so proud! Well done :) Hope she is getting stronger day by day and that you can have her home soon as she is well enough! How are the other dc's taking all the wires etc?

I feel like I have a result! I can have another blood test done by the practice nurse to test glucose. No trip to the hospital and GTT yet! It isnt the test I object to but the attitude! When rang MW back to tell her she said 'are you sure that it was a MW/Nurse you spoke to and not a receptionist?' OMG. I said pretty sure it was a MW and that she was welcome to check. Sigh.

Chip just started smile crying (I do that a lot) at the fact that your wee gorgeous Sylvie is doing stinkers. She will get stronger then cuddles galore!

MrsA It maybe culturally different here but it is Scotland not Singapore I know you are right and I know she was wrong but I get the worry that my pushing them will create more issues. So I am going to keep calm, smile, filter and ignore. Then on the day if there are no medical issues evident I just refuse the monitoring and demand patient centred care - I just need to prep OH carefully for representing me.

I'm still upset about "that woman" but am now feeling more supported as OH agreed with my approach to them - he loves doctors and hospitals so I feel alone if it looks like he is siding with them.

He is being great and 100% agreeing with the "not lying on my back" stance (so to speak).

Cali What a complete bummer! I got lucky I was 0.1 under the limit. And do you know what we could both be retested and swap results and the interference would switch - I know they have to have a cut off but the machine you fall into is an utter pain. I would ask what your baby's growth is looking like. That is the biggest concern with high sugar levels.

Voodoo I'm glad they are listening to you.

I spoke to my mum last night and asked her about my birth - I knew I was back 2 back so I was scared to ask just how long she was in labour. She was dramatically going on about how long it was until I did the math and it was 8 hours! 8 bloomin hours - I wish! Every other back 2 back I have heard of has been 15-20 hours!

Anyway ladies - the ultimate PMA - repeat after me...

My beautiful baby is growing strong, I am fit and healthy (even if I have some structural trapped nerve and joint issues), my body was designed to birth my baby and they will be perfect.

And if you are really going for PMA...

My beautiful baby knows what position to be in at the right time, they will slip out easily in a few hours as they can't wait to be a family.

This probably sounds silly but I'm wondering if I need a strep or GTT test - I hadn't even heard of them until reading the recent posts. They don't seem to offer them here...
I have my first midwife appointment next week so I will ask then. But I did give birth a few days prior to 37 weeks last time - maybe I had Strep B...

chip so glad DD is doing stinky's & you have discussed with the nurses to ensure you are able to be hands-on without worrying about unstablising her.

voodoo glad you managed to sort it so you just have rpt glucose test; sorry that it was a lot of hassle for you though

pam sorry that you had such a bad appt despite all the good news. I think your approach is sensible though.
As for back to back labour, DS was B2B & total labour was 6& 3/4 hour (1 1/2 hour pushing though as DS also had fist up against face & they made me go on my back - not being pushed into that again this time!!)

Hope all is well with everyone x x

My ds was back to back, I'll not mention the length of time as it doesn't sound great!

Tjuice don't worry about it - be glad about it! It all comes down to your NHS locality (if in UK) and what their policy is.

The famous postcode lottery! For example in one part of the country if you have a BMI over 30 you will get a GTT, over 35 somewhere else and over 40 somewhere different.

It all depends on the pigeon hole they have put you in from a risk perspective. My BMI is between 37 and 39 depending on whose height reading you go with between the 2 hospitals. Policy is everyone over BMI 40 gets treated as high risk regardless of their own health and pregnancy.

Weight isn't the only factor with GTT - ethnicity, diabetes in the family, previous occurrences in previous pregnancies. If you don't tick these boxes then you won't need the test. If you feel you are showing the symptoms then speak to your mw. But please please don't talk yourself into the symptoms.

I can't comment on Strep B as I don't know what the risk factors are - never come across it either.

Nothing much to add, other than positive thoughts to all with dodgy tests results, crappy GPs and MWs, and sciatic pain! :-(

Tjuice I haven't had any of these tests either, nor have they been offered!

Chip I'm glad you and baby girl seem to be getting on well!

Well I've had a rubbish FFS morning.

My consultant wasn't there. On holiday. FFS.

The Dr in her place didn't seem to have a clue what I was there for. FFS. which was supposed to be a complete check up and growth scan. Infact it didn't seem like the Doctor had really read my notes at all, I was asked when my last scan was and how many weeks preg I was. She inspired no confidence in me at all really.

So the good news is they did an internal to check there is no waters and they are satisfied that the problem is bladder weakness and discharge rather than amniotic fluid. She had a quick peek on the scanner just to look at the fluid around the baby too. Hurrah for that, I feel more like a normal person again. Blood results from yesterday were not back yet, so I'll ring my MW tomorrow about those.

BUT she didn't really do any other checks on me and she didn't do my growth scan. Infact she she didn't really look at Xander at all when she looked at the fluid.

I complained that it was only last time I was in I was promised I would only be seeing my consultant at appointments now instead of all these different faces and yet again it was a different face today. Infact when I made this appointment my consultant told the desk herself it had to be with her and not the registrar on duty that day. I also complained that I had travelled the half hour to the hospital and there had been no growth scan - which is really one of the main points of these visits anyway, to check my baby, this is especially important at the moment as we're reaching the point where Belle became unstable and died.

Now todays appointment was only made 4 weeks ago, surely my consultant would've already known when her week off was? so anyway, she is apparently back next week and I've been rebooked to go back next Wednesday for the growth scan I was supposed to have today. I've no idea why the lady I saw today just couldn't do it but there you are. DH won't be able to have next Wed off as well, Mum is in work, my best friend is in work so looks like I'll have to go it alone.

Left clinic and had a cry. DH is annoyed and feels a day of his annual leave has been wasted. But did sort of see Xander on the screen - so that is a bonus I suppose.

Just feeling really grr now, I don't normally complain about the hospital, but today was not great.

Hi everyone,

chip I'm glad that things are going well with DD, and that you're getting to to do hands on things with her - and that she's doing stinky poos :o

pamsco and caz, what a rubbish time you're both having. I can completely sympathise. Typical, arrogant bloody doctors When I was first transferred down to Manchester from Edinburgh (due to where we're living at the mo), the cardiac specialists were really quite aggressive. They almost told me and DH off for getting pregnant without their consent - which considering we had been planning this very carefully for 2.5years, and my cardiologist in Edinburgh, who has been fab, had given the go-ahead - was rather galling. After bombarding us with questions, which we both answered whilst feeling very confused, I eventually asked if they'd read my notes that Edinburgh sent. Well, it went very quiet, they went rather red, and had to admit that they hadn't. GOD..I could have killed them!! They have totally backed off, and we've kinda had the upper hand since -hehe

I've found that doing load of research, really knowing your stuff, asking questions and taking notes really puts them off, and makes them realise that you're not going to be a walkover. My GP friend told me that whilst she was training they really try and install the whole superior doctor bullshit, and it's whether or not you fall for it (she didn't but a lot do). Don't let the b**ds get you down :o

Having a better day back wise, and my maw and paw are coming for a couple of days to help/discuss what we still need. Won 2 sleeping bag thingys on ebay for less than a tenner, so feeling quite smug :), and have been washing the million cardies that my ILs have given us. It's starting to feel more real - eek!

Hope everyone with aches and pains start feeling a bit better - get the lovely OHs to do massage, even if it doesn't solve anything it's def good for relaxing the ole muscles.
xx

caz oh how frustrating for you. glad everything looks well though.

pam how dare she try to scare you like that, that's absolutely disgusting. am glad your results were good though.

stripey can't believe they had a go at you wihtout even reading your notes.

chip so glad sylvie-rose is doing so well.

Hello ladies,

I'm sorry to hear that so many of you are struggling with your antenatal care.

Chip, I still can't believe that you're already caring for your little one and doing dirty nappies! I'm not sure I've yet really realised that I'm going to have a baby... I'm very happy that Sylvie's doing well.

Had my 30wk appt with the midwife today - I get a different midwife everytime which is possibly good as maybe it means I'll see a familiar face when the big day comes.. They all seem nice, this one was my favourite tho. It was all good news today, good iron, good blood sugar, bump measures 30, baby is kicking, I'm getting fatter etc Ooh and baby is head down facing backwards currently! Stay where you are baby! She said I should write my birth plan in the next 4 weeks and bring it to discuss at 34wk appt.

I've been thinking about inviting my mum to the birth in the role of doula. Do you think I'm mental? It's just she's quite chilled out and I thought she might be helpful in supporting me and OH and helping me to stick to an active natural birth and not panicking unnecessarily. A kind of constant female support. I don't want to get to know my midwife and then have a shift change and set the labour back coz the new faces unnerve me..

Who are you planning to have at your births?

Pamsco sorry I thought you were in Singapore!!! But tbh, the fact you are in the UK makes me even angrier on your behalf! Nothing against docs overseas but some cultures make doctors behave differently, and I assumed that no doctor in the UK would use blatant scare tactics with lies. You live and learn eh?

It's difficult really cos in a dire emergency (like we've seen recently with dear chip) and with illnesses/accidents, then doctors are fab and very much needed. However, the vast majority of pregnancies and labours are completely natural, are not illnesses and really would actually do better if they were left alone and not interferred with!
I think doctors see the worst case scenarios, so they work off the reasoning that everyone is going to be a blue light labour. I suspect some cons can't handle the fact that labour is often better/safer without any medical help (if we assume midwifery is not medical help but birth assitance IYSWIM). That's why I think all labour units should be in midwifery-only centres attached to hospitals. Tbh, if that were an option I would probably take it to give that little extra peace of mind that if anything did go wrong, I am on-site at a hospital. I haven't got access to one of those, and so for me the risk of going to hospital in a consultant -led labour ward is far higher than birthing at home.

To that effect, I have hired a doula and I can highly recommend one. She takes the pressure off DP, will support me without being emotionally involved and will be with me throughout the labour. Labouring at home means I get 1-1 midwifery care (and when near birth I will have 2-1 care), so for me a much better bet than a rushed labour ward.

Having your mum as a doula-type support sounds good as long as you can trust your mum to remain detached and not get emotionally drawn into panics when she realises it's her grandchild they are talking about. Sometimes (not always) midwives will target relatives who are emotionally involved to put pressure on the labouring woman if she is being stubborn (in their eyes).

Caz I share your frustration.

Pam I'm just relieved that I don't have to put a needle in myself 4 times/day... It's just funny how a prelim bloodtest can make nurses/doctors assume it's all hell on earth and doom - when it then shows to be absolutely fine. I don't get growth scans, and have had fundal measured twice - both times Sprout was spot on.

Tjuice They do do glucose and Strep b in Denmark, but they're just not as... in your face about it. The Danish health system is one of the best I've experienced, so don't worry - but do ask the doctors if you think you need to.

As for birth partners or what ever the "correct" term is these days... My partner and my mother. Partner for general "You did this to me!" pain relief and hugs and holding me up etc (he's such a caring star, as long as he stays awake...)
Mother because she will call me on any bulls**t I try to pull (she's an ICU nurse), and act as a reality checker when I freak out and say "I can't do this any more, cut the baby out!". Luckily, she can speak reasonable English but probably won't understand much of what the midwives say if they speak to fast and in Mancunian, so she'll keep a cool head and start worrying when she sees medical reason to worry. She's also a crazy pagan devoted to holistic care, so I'll be covered on the "Mother Earth" side when I go "EPIDURAL NOWWWWWW".

I second the postcode lottery as I got gtt for being over 35.

Can't believe how bad some appointments have been. Caz especially as I really thought they would be very good with you.

I would just like to get information so I can make an infomed decision about my baby and myself. Wondering about getting welfare scan privately once hit 36 weeks providing not gone into labour by then.

Chip glad to hear sylvie is a stinker! I am sure she will be one of the most cuddled babies once she is a bit fitter.

Pma have got my physio appointment next week so hopefully that will help with hip pain. Dh has meeting out of office so should be back early for once.