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

Hi all

Several people have mentioned hip pain, and whoever had the 'stand up in agony, no weight on one leg, 6 steps in loosens up' post rang a huge bell with me. I went for physio last friday with the exact same problem. Cant say its cured completely but im SO much better and it is (as someone else said) loosening of everything with all the relaxin and joints rubbing together that wouldnt normally. The good news is that the phsyio told me 90% of pregnant ladies can have 1 session of physio and not need anymore - seemingly we just need to be 'realigned'. Worked for me so thought i would share the love!

chip Im still thinking of you lots and SO glad to hear she's doing well

and to everyone else (especially caz) who is suffering poor antenatal care on your behalf. I do sometimes feel we're treated like cattle on a line and I know that there are some very, very good individuals but it really isnt consistent. Personally the original hospital i went to was consistently appalling and since we've moved its been consistently great - I have no idea why so. Having said that, i could never, ever do what they do and have much admiration for people who work in caring professions so maybe i should just wind my neck in .....

My update is that because of my issues (bicornuate uterus for those of you with veeery long memories) I have to have a growth scan at 34 but should be c-section at 39. Very pleased as also means army DH who is away from oct - dec can come back for a week and be there.

other than that im very very glad i only have 3 full weeks at work left, 3rd tri tiredness is kicking in with a vengeance and braxton hicks kept me up all night last night - gave DH a right scare!

Un mumsnetty love to the littlest of our bunch (sylvie-rose) and hope everyone else has had ok days

Right - off for monitoring. Sprout is either deciding to sleep for hours on end, or running out of space, but I'm not taking any chances. Also, I've been getting some weird painful twitching in my lower stomach, so I phoned the triage to let them know I was coming in (no asking if I should this time...)

I should probably bring a book...

I've just read my message from this morning Pam, just incase you thought I was being rude, my SIL is big, but I wasnt meaning that you are at all, having met you at the Edinburgh meet up, IYSWIM, anyway hope you didnt think I was being rude or anything

smiling I am having my DH and mum in with me for the birth. My mum wanted to be there and I figure she has done it before and will provide comfort and support. So I don't think you're crazy at all.

Sorry to hear about everyone's sub-par care. Canada's system has been pretty good. I do feel abit like cattle where its been done so many times before they don't seem to think/care that every women is different and that its a big deal for us - but of course they can't be as excited as we are. And I asked about a birth plan at my 28 wk appt and the GP said 'we don't normally do that but if you want to make one we will attach it to your file' which I think basically means 'we will never look at it'

cali hope everything is okay with Sprout and that they don't make you wait too long!

lk I was looking for the same post that said 'stand up in agony, no weight on one leg, 6 steps in loosens up' as that describes my pain exactly - and I am cured!

Two cures.

1. This only really happened at my work desk and a physio came out and said the seat wasn't giving me enough leg support. There should only be 2-3 fingers width from back of knee to chair otherwise the pelvis tilts forward causing pressure on the front joint. Changing this halved the pain.

1. A trip to ante natal physio and teh miracle worker there said - I bet you hold your breath or breath in as you stand. I looked quizzical. She said - gone sit down and stand up. I do! I breath in deeply and hold my breath until I'm up. What that does is fill the lungs, push the diaphragm down which in turn pushes baby and guts down onto the front of the pelvis. I now sigh out as I stand with both feet planted equally to recieve my weight.

Result - minimal pelvic pain.

Ah I really shouldn't complain too much - my care has been nothing but fabulous on the whole with this pregnancy, just a shoddy appointment today. Most of the HCPs are being very paitient with all my neuroticness.

Hope everything is ok cali

cali good luck for the monitoring.

Lol 2Jacks - I don't take offence easily, unless you don't know your underlying absolute risks and call yourself a prof

I got what you meant.

Cali best of luck and I hope they don't keep you too long. Movements have reduced for me - no more big kicks just nudging and what I call rustling about.

MrsA they also have it on their website. They are entirely driven by stats and research and don't see the woman in front of them.

Its DH for birth partner in my case. My hospital is very strict that only one person is allowed to accompany you anyway. Last time, he sat in the corner and read a book (got the whole thing read, from cover to cover, we were in the labour ward for so long!) and I was fine with that - I just wanted to know he was there, he wasn't of any practical use at all, and nor did I expect him to be! If he didn't accompany me, I think I would have to do it on my own. My SIL did when her daughter was born - her husband didn't want to be there, and there was no one else she felt comfortable with. I would be the same, I can't even bear the thought of one of my sisters being there, even though we are close, its just way too intimate.

As for my mum......well, she is too elderly anyway, it would be too much for her, but despite having given birth five times herself, I know nothing about her pregnancies or labours as she just clams up when I try to ask. I put it down to our very repressed Northern Ireland religious upbringing - anything to do with bodies is best not talked about! All my female friends are the same actually - despite being in our mid 30s, none of my friends feel comfortable discussing things like this with their mothers. I don't know any female friends of my age whose mothers even discussed or explained periods to them, never mind childbirth, or heaven forbid, sex!

Chip Very glad to hear that Sylvie-Rose is doing well!
Pam and Caz and everyone else having crappy antenatal care, I hope things improve.

My blood sugar came back at 6.9, so they are just going to leave me alone. I had eaten breakfast within the previous hour, tho had had fizzy water rather than anything sugary. I'd had squashed banana on wholemeal toast too. I do tick some unfortunate boxes (My dad had diabetes for years, tho it was type 2 and he was overweight when he got it, and DS2 was over 9lbs). I'm squeamish and have to look away when needles come near. I'd rather give up sugar than either test my blood myself or inject myself, so hoping it won't come to that, tho I wouldn't avoid a GTT if it was advised.

On a cheery note, DS2 was back2back, and labour was all done and dusted in 3 and a half hours, with no tearing!

cali thinking of you!

chip great to hear things are progressing well

smiling I'm just having my partner at the birth, would like my mum to come too but she lives 5 hours away and we want to have some quiet time before everyone decends as it will be a full family assault once the bus leaves Swansea!

Great tips PamSco, will check my chair but thankfully I have only had hip pain from laying in bed which I seem to have sorted out with loads of pillows in various places around me!

smiling I've just contacted an independent midwife today about being my birth partner. She's coming to meet me next Wednesday, and doesn't have anyone else due in November so I'm lucky. I'd put if off for ages as I'm not happy about feeling that I won't be able to get value for money. I don't feel like I really need support either before or after the birth, and as my labour is likely to be short, and she can't get a contract to actually deliver Connor in hospital, I really only need someone to be there to give me informed advice in case I'm being bullied, and in case they leave me on my own if they're short staffed on the day. Because of my previous PPH, they should keep a close eye on me, but this hasn't always happened in previous labours. There really isn't anyone else appropriate for me to ask to be there with me. My mum died when I was 23, and I'm single with no very close friends in Edinburgh. Feel so much better that I now have someone I can trust to be knowledgeable and on my side, I'm starting to think it will be money well spent. I may only need her for one meeting and a 3 - 4 hour hospital labour, but it does restrict her ability to earn elsewhere if she's on call for me, so I need to respect that and value it. Hoping for a bit of discount tho!

Birth Partners Mine is my husband, though he's pretty much relegated to bringing my drinks and food and keeping the peace until I hit transition if it's anything like my previous pregnancies where I just want quiet and to be alone until I hit transition (then I need him there and anyone else to talk quietly). The friends we're having over to watch the kids have offered to distract me in labour with games - which proves that they are sweet, they are geeks, and that none of them have children . One of the kids has offered to help this time, which we're still debating, but likely it will be like before where the friends show up with movies and pizza and the kids are super glued to them.

Got a lovely long cuddle with baby today. She did go "down" once or twice but when I started panicking, the nurse said "Don't look at the monitor, look at the baby!" If they are a good colour then the monitors are not so important.

I don't think the boys have much of a sense of what's going on as they are not allowed in to see her. Only parents and grandparents can visit. This has changed since I had ds3; at that time ds1 and ds2 were allowed in whenever we liked. But I also remember a lot of the babies in NICU at the time coming down with bugs and have to say that this seems to have improved so although it's hard for us, perhaps it's a good policy!

But the skill of the doctors and nurses! I watched them work away for ages on a LO across the room and was blown away by their knowledge and dexterity in looking after such a tiny person with such care! Whatever they are paid, it isn't half enough!

chip so glad you got a cuddle in! Is she getting bigger? I was picking up bags of sugar in store today just to get an idea of how big bubba is (2.5-3lbs)

I missed all the discussion on baby monitors but I just found this one AC401, it comes with a mat that goes under the mattress and sets off an alarm if baby stops breathing. Has anyone had success with a monitor like this or does it seem like over kill. I feel like it would be reassurring but not if it doesn't work...

Chip Sounds like LO is getting all the care and love she needs :) Glad you're both doing well.

Monitoring was good - lovely consultant with med student looked me over - it was interesting... Poor girl tried feeling Sprout, but was so timid and careful - I told her she could be more gung-ho with me, and she apologised!
HB is stable and fine, I had a few registers on the contraction monitor but internal exam was fine.

Also found out that she's engaged her head, and that is causing my hip and pelvis to be tender - and that's probably why she can't move about as much...

So, informative, but tiring - I also got told off for not eating and hydrating enough - back to force feeding myself... Considering I've only gained 4 lbs during the whole pregnancy, they're probably right. :(

Mrs, it's me that's in Singapore. Have name changed for the occasion (I was PoppysMom).
Anyway, Singapore is much more hands on. It is very easy to get struck off here, so doctors will always take you seriously and I have never had any issues with my care. I really feel for the ones on here that have to struggle to get what they want and deserve.
The only down point I can see, is that I cannot have a water birth unless I go to one specific hospital (which I am not), but that is it. There is a small risk of the baby starting to breathe under water, if the temperature isn't spot on, so due to aforementioned striking off the register barely anyone accepts the risk. In general, that means that labour here is much more interventionist and they would rather c-section everyone, but we'll see. I will discuss birthing options today hopefully.

voodoo definitely make them move the appointment. How ridiculous of them!

chip so glad that things seem to be going ok and that you have hands on time as well as more cuddles. Take your time and be kind to yourself. I am thinking lots of you and your family

caz really sorry that the appointment was rather rubbish :( I hope time flies by till next week when you get a proper look at Xander

smiling, I think if you feel comfortable with your Mum then you should take her with you.
I am just taking DH, as there is nobody else here, but he is a strong minded man that will always put me first, so I am not worried about needing someone to fight my corner. I wouldn't take my Mum anyway. Plus, she wouldn't want to come anyway?

lk and Pam that was me about the standing up :(
I have readjusted my seat and will see if that makes much difference. I too breath in and hold my breath to stand up, turn in bed, etc. I feel I have more strength to move this monster of a body! I will try to breathe out.
I will also try more pillows in bed

Cali, I am so glad you went to get checked out and that bubba is doing well. Sorry about needing to eat more. It's hard :(

Dr appointment in 3.5 hours (not that I am counting ). Can't wait to see bubba. He is very active and has been nudging me quite strongly all night, so I kept waking up. Very cute though and rather this way round than the other :)

Hope you are all well

Hooray! 3am wake up, joy, don't think I've ever seen so much of he Witching Hour as I have done in the last few months .

Re birthing partners: only DH, as I'll be attached to so many monitors and there will be so many specialists there will be no space for anyone else. But my folks are planning to come down for the time I'm in hospital to help clean and prepare the house, and visit us (DH is staying in Manchester for the duration as we live 2hrs away). Then they're going to leave us when I get home so we can get used to being 3 for the rest of DHs paternity leave. We just need to see what the ILs have in mind :)

Anyhoo, am off to persuede the LO to go to sleep so I can :o

hi stripey - I've been up for a while too. Joy. Hope you managed to go back to bed for a bit.

Re. birthing partners - I am kind of like a bear in that I just want to go off into a cave on my own and give birth! I say that but of course, the reality is I want all the doctors and nurses around, plus my DH. Last time, he really pissed me off though - I was in my own world of pain and everything he did irritated me! How horrible for him.
If my mum lived here, would I ask her to be present? Not sure really. I trust her (as a senior nurse) to kick ass in an any kind of emergency maybe even more so than my dh, who is a still specialising as a gp and wouldn't dream of interfering. But on the other hand, I would probably be horrible to her too. I guess I am just a monster who probably should give birth in a cave on my own ;)

Caz - sorry you didn't get to see your regular consultant. Continuity in these kind of situations is so important.

My stupid little issue this week is work in general. I had forgotten how rough it is to be pregnant in the danish advertising industry. I work with loads of blokes who are irreverent and make constant comments about my size and eating etc. But its not just them - Danes are pretty frank and have an offbeat humour (no offence cali) so even the women (who are all so slim and body-conscious) are like "Are you having twins?" or "Eating for two?" whenever I am in the canteen. I thought I was well too old and sensible to let my former body image issues get to me but they do creep up.

More confidence-eroding though, is the feeling of being sidelined for projects right now. I know its probably natural (and nice) that they are taking the pressure off and planning for new things that will develop after I am on maternity but its a peculliar situation. This limbo period is rubbish - I want to off now and just finish my home decorating and my writing for children course...

So, I have been to the doctor and completely forgot to ask about the pain. D'oh! I was so stressed, as I had to run because I wrote the appointment down for half an hour late in my work calendar :(

Anyway, I saw bubba and he is fine, kicking so hard that the scan bed thing wobbled. Had my OB stunned :)
Development and growth are good, but Dr wants me to have the GTT test anyway. His words "big mummy, big baby". My pre pregnancy BMI is 25.4 and I have only gained 14.3lbs by 27 weeks! Anyway, I guess for him I am large. He mostly deals with tiny locals.
At least I can just wander in to have the GTT and don't need an appointment.

My urine sample came back with me having had E. coli!! That was a major shock, but it's all clear now and I am so grateful he started me on the ABs before getting the results back.

Next appointment isn't until 22nd, so still on 4 weekly appointments.

chip so glad she's doing well, and you're getting some cuddles.

merlioness e.coli, grief that sounds a bit scary.

cali glad monitoring went well.

birth partners will be my dh, i just hope this time he remembers to get my hospital bag from the car as we're going in.

E.coli? Grief!!! Glad yr ok!
Glad the monitoring went well Cali.
My birth partner will be OH. Should be interesting!!

Sorry, before everyone falls off their chairs in shock (though I did almost!), it was a strain that was susceptible to many ABs, so was easily cleared up. Though, I reckon that I had it for over a month before getting checked out and then it wasn't the UTI I thought it was afterall
The OB says that it wouldn't have caused baby any harm, but I obviously felt very rough.

All good now though :)

merlioness - My BMI was about the same as yours pre-pregnancy and no-one has suggested to me I was big at all!! isn't is funny how different cultures view things. scary about the e-coli. glad its clearing up with the ABs.

cali glad monitoring showed baby was fine. always better to go in and get hooked up than sit home and worry.

I'm feeling more refreshed this morning than I have in a long time. Had a 3 hour sleep yesterday afternoon, and went back to bed around 11pm last night - I've had the usual toilet get ups but not disturbed by HB so it almost feels like I've had a full nights sleep! Hoorah! I'm sure I'll be knackered by 2pm again though... I never have enough energy to last the day anymore.

Going back to work isn't going to go well, I have a feeling. Summer holidays end a week today.

Only birth partner I want is my DH. He did a grand job last time and I'm sure he'll be just as grand this time.

Caz Yay for sleep! Glad you are feeling better today.

Cali great news - engaged already woo hoo! Hope that helps you relax a bit looks like baba is a good baba getting ready :)

I was still down last night and OH was lovely lots of support and cuddles. He knows how important a mobile labour is for me so he is going to fight on my behalf. Love that man :)

Anyways I'm going to cheer myself up, not that I am unhappy, but a shopping spree for The Boy's first wardrobe is planned for after work. Still not sure what I should get but off to town I go. Seeing my pal for a chinese as well. All good stuff.

Hope everyone has a good day.