Rats Successfully Smacked, the 'No Brookers' uneventful pregnancy and pain free birth thread :)

[MeconiumHappens]

Hello :)

lol purple, thats a great description of my mw, I normally say she's a bit, ahem, fierce. Ray of sunshine, he he!! Good. I am determined to bf. Bottles are too much like hard work for me!!! I loved knowing so long as I had nappies and clothes- and a muslin of course!!- with me that was all I needed DD would never go hungry and had instant grub, whenever, wherever, in 2 seconds flat.

Good luck with the gp!

Hi all, I've missed you today! It's been hectic at work.

I know it was HOURS ago but in answer to Too everyone at work has been lovely and very happy about my news. Several new mums & other preggos have offered useful advice and support, and no one has tried to tell me any birth horror stories yet! It's been great being out! Also my 16 week scan is a private one, and it's miles away because I'm only 12+5 at the mo.

I'm soooooo glad other people are having crazy dreams too! You ladies are always so reassuring! I did chuckle at some of the stories!

Hawthers lots of No Brooking coming your way for the scan on Mon. It all sounds really promising though so fingers crossed. It sounds like you were a miracle Mum first time round, that's an inspiring bf story! I will be Brooking No Argument that you have a much much easier time of it on this occasion though, you've already proven your super Mum status!

Dream I hope your pains ease soon. Obviously as I'm only carrying one I'm sure my experience is very different to yours, but if it's of any comfort at all I've also been having cramping pains the last couple of days. I haven't felt anything like this since the very first couple of weeks following my bfp. Trying to cling to the idea that it's still just the little one making himself comfortable!

Also it SUCKS that they've messed up your blood tests AGAIN! So frustrating! I'll be crossing my fingers that you have a smoother time of it when they try to draw blood next time.

Apologies if I've missed anyone out, I'm on my phone so can't double check. I hope everyone's doing well though!

So pleased for your results too what a relief.
Had scan and nt today, all looking good. Baby did a pretty amazing complete turn from head on left to head on right in the time it took to take a measurement of a still photo. I though the sonographer had switched them image but no, baby had done a complete spin in about 3 secs, impressive!.

Yay for good scan Meconium

Brooking for Hawthers for monday - its going to be awesome xx

Wants, aquaerobics sound like a good idea. Does your local pool do Aquanatal? Some of the ones round here do and I keep meaning to join, but haven't yet.

Dream, hope the cramps go away! Also, grr at your MW for messing up your blood tests! Hope the blood comes out easily this time - it might be because you were so dehydrated the last time that made it so difficult.

Ignore the MW about twin mums - I have pictures of Mum feeding us both in tandem. She sat in the middle of the sofa with one of us under each arm on pillows. I think the MW's talking crap - you've bf before, so it isn't completely new to you, and you're determined to do it, which is half the battle!

Hawthers, you sound like a complete bf star! Good luck for the scan on Monday - the Brooking is in full swing for you and therefore BabyHawthers will be nice and fat.

Purple, oh no! Is all exercise off the table, then, even things like swimming? Obviously not breaststroke legs, but you could do a sort of doggy-paddle with breaststroke arms and front crawl legs, if doing front crawl is too energetic.

Yay for scan, Meconium! Your baby sounds highly acrobatic. Future gymnast, perhaps? Have already decided that Bean shows great dramatic promise and will be an Oscar-winning actor in later life .

Scream, glad to hear work is treating you right! I'm sure the horror stories will come . Some people can't seem to restrain themselves. One of my colleagues asked me if I'd watched the sextuplets programme and when I said no, she said good, because it was very harrowing, and then proceeded to tell me all about it anyway, with graphic details around the babies that died!

So far so good - I think Bean is okay, although I'm still not getting heaps of movement. I'm probably expecting too much at only 17 weeks - the odd kick here and there is really all I could expect at this stage.

another recommendation for the medela swing here, i used it when i expressed at work for DS. my friend got one too for the same thing (for her DD not my DS ) and we both got on well with it. although if i was having twins I'd maybe get a double pump to save time!

this will probably be my last post till about next Wednesday. heading for the airport soon! can't decide whether I'm excited or nervous. DS first plane trip and worrying if my giant boobs will fit in my dress i have for the wedding. they have had a bit of a growth spurt

DS is in a very...chatty mood at the moment so he will probably be confusing the locals a lot. his latest favourite thing is going up and trying to start a conversation with "hello man/lady!".

will miss you all and look forward to catching up 42534 pages when we get back!

Great scan news Meconium and how lovely to see your baby perform some acrobatics.

Have a fab time at the weddding jaggy. At least you're "out" now and don't have to make up any excuses for not drinking.

dream I'm sure the cramps are nothing to worry about. I read that it's completely normal to feel more aches and pains second time round and you do have 2 babies in there so double the aches and pains.

Nothing to report here. April just seems like years away...

Jaggy hope you have a fabulous time at the wedding and the flight goes well. Also hope the men aren't tripping over themselves distracted by your boobies and your dress [hwink]

Dream hope those aches have gone off. I've been crampy too since yesterday, but by such sharp pains as you've mentioned. I hoping (desperately) that it is just somehow stretching, although it feels more crampy than stretchy .

No bleeing or anything so am hoping it's nothing.

Still no kicks or anything to report here - hope something like that happens soon...

Off to wagamamas for lunch shortly which will be nice (if a bit weird as my friend had been ttc for almost as long as us and had a mc just before our 12 week scan )

hi,

I'm so tired again from DD's night antics. I hope this phase passes soon. I was getting so cross at 2am, which is not helpful, but I was so tired and just wanted to stay in bed!!!

Cramps not so bad today- it was the sharpness and the suddneness and how painful they were that worried me. I will be mentioning them when I see the consultant next thurs. I even googled the clinic that does private scans in our area- closed due to staff illness so that's not an option. I do have a few stretching pains too, but this is different- the stretching ones are usually where I move funny and it triggers some pains. The cramps are out of the blue. If there was such a thing as an EPU in my area I think I'd ring. However there isn't, it's GP til 18 weeks, then delivery suite from 18 weeks on here. As the GP can't do anything to reassure me, I guess wait and see...

biscuits, hope your cramps have gone. Of course it's fine. Is your bump still growing? that's going to be a good indicator. I can safely say mine is. Strangers commenting level... I do look at least 20 weeks now though, but still in size 8-10 clothes until the bump starts protruding from my tops Hope your lunch goes well, and your friend isn't too jealous of your bump (in the nicest way of course, but hard not to get bump-envy when you're desperate to sport one yourself!)

too, I'd barely felt DD move before my 20 week scan last time- all depends where your placenta is and how wriggly baby is at that stage as to whether you feel them. The odd kick is great I'd say!

jaggy, hooray for your Timing Couldn't be Worse Wedding, I hope you all enjoy it.

scream, the horror stories didn't really bother me- everyone's different and I'd self hypnotised myself into thinking it'd all be fine. . As I'm sure it will be- you'll have your lovely mw to support you too- did you book her? If it helps, if this wasn't twins there's no way I'd consider not trying for a normal birth again despite the fact it all went wrong last time with my unfavourable induction and whopping tear- and I haven't had that long to forget!

Ok gave up looking for the stats thread. I am not sure what I am going to do about classes. They run physiotherapy classes towards the end of pregnancy but unfortunately it clashes with my uni lectures in that semester. I think I will remember the basics of baby care, I just want to make sure my body is ready. Maybe aquarobics?

Wants, check this thread from yesterday. Bartlett linked the stats thread for you on here yesterday evening

Just got back from 20 week scan and am a little bit worried now! Baby is quite small - within the line things but much nearer the little edge than the middle and right on the little edge for head circ. Also have a notch on left uetrine artery which is a risk (but not too worried as had that with dd too and it disappeared later on).
Am quite worried - dd wasn't little at all...
The ladies didn't say anything, just wanted us out asap. I have had a lot of scans through both pgs and I would say these two were definitely by far the worst.
All the anomaly bits were fine which is great news, just worried about growth now!

pomme sorry to hear you're worried. It does sound though that the scan was good. I'm sorry I don't want it to sound like I'm trivialising your concerns, but the anomaly bit was great, the baby is smaller than DD but still within the average range and the sonographer didn't show any concerns. Is that right?

Could it not be that this baby is just smaller than DD? Is there anyone you can call who can put your mind at rest? Your midwife? The scanning department where you went? It seems to horrible to be left worrying about something that hopefully you really don't need to be worrying about. Did you share your concerns with the sonographer at the time?

(((((hugs))))) What does your DH think?

Thanks for link Bartlett. unfortunately it didn't work on the iPad ! I should be getting the letter for the NF scan this week so I will wait until then and put both dates on at the same time:)
Just found out one of my staff( the one I was hoping would cover my maternity leave) is 5 weeks pregnant so will be going on ML a month after me! There are only 8 staff altogether so it feels a bit like buses!

Wants - I've just bumped the stats thread for you so it should be near the top of the list for ante-natal clubs

How frustrating for your ML cover.

Rather depressingly they never covered me when I went on ML with ds . Shows how much I must have been doing! Apparently they didn't need anyone specific to keep up my Facebook surfing

Thanks biscuits. updated:)

Pomme, have you called your MW/consultant? If you're worried you should try to get some answers - perhaps growth scans would be in order. The last thing you need is to be stressed by this, so I would push for some action. It's great that the anomaly stuff was fine, though - yay for that!

Have just ordered an Angel Sounds doppler from Amazon [hblush]. I really shouldn't as have gone mad spending today - bought some new Gap mat jeans online for £50, plus booked haircut for tomorrow, plus DH and I went to Ikea and somehow spent £100 before we escaped! [hblush] some more. All the same, I can't wait until my doppler arrives! It may save my sanity over the next few weeks until Bean is kicking more regularly. I even paid for first class delivery, which I almost never do.

Evening all!

Pomme, I'd definitely get in touch with someone - MW? - if it's stressing you out lots. Glad that the anomaly scan in general went well though!

Too, I've been really tempted by buying a doppler! I haven't suggested one to DH yet - I don't know whether he'll just think I'm mad, or will go mad himself and have to buy one straight away!

Wants, I've been wanting to try out some aquarobics too. There are several pools within bus distance of here (at the time I'd want to go, the DH always has the car at work, sigh!). Can't find any specific classes for preggos here though, though I suppose there might be...

Dream and Biscuits, I've been having lots of crampy bump feelings (in my hardly existent bump!). Lots of aching and just general uncomfiness. Also hoping it's lots of ligament stretching and whatnot. I'm prone to lots of aches generally, so I suppose the cold I've had this week hasn't helped either. Will ask the midwife about it when I finally get to have a booking in appointment...

Breast feeding wise, I'm definitely all for it, and will be trying my hardest to make it work. But as a first timer, who knows what will happen..! Will definitely see if there are any local classes that might be helpful beforehand.

Phoned my doctor's surgery today, to enquire about the flu jab, only to be told "eerrr I'm not sure we do it for pregnant women!". After assuring them that the NHS does, and that I'm sure they do (and that it says they do on their website!), they're getting a nurse to phone me to confirm what's going on on Monday. I really wanted to get the whole thing out of the way sometime next week, while I'm off school (hurrah for half term!) and could feel achey and miserable at home, rather than while teaching. Suppose it's my fault for not enquiring earlier!

Also - am I right in thinking the booking in appointment has to be before the 12wk scan? (well, 13wk for me!). My scan's on the 7th Nov - some time away I know, but I've still not heard about when my booking in appointment would be, despite being told I'd be contacted 'soon' by the midwife who took all my details two and a half weeks ago. Considering chasing them either tomorrow or Monday...

Pomme hope your mw can give some comfort. Brooking for you xx

Musical your mw might know of an aquanatal class - often they're run by mws. I'd defo chase for your booking in appt. As I keep reminding DH the 7 nov is only 2 weeks away**

** I remind him of this fact because it is also my birthday, although I'm sure he is keen to remember your scan date too .

Funnily enough your conversation with your surgery re the flu jab sounds almost exactly like my first chat on the topic with my surgery! Keep chasing 'em . And it really isn't that achey or painful. Slightly tender arm was all I had for a few days.

Too good luck with the Doppler - let ya know how it goes

Dream hope your tummy is doing ok? Mine is still a wee bit crampy

For me they won't do the booking in until after the dating scan. You have a brief 15 min mw app first, height, weight, BP etc, check you know what to eat/not eat and that you're taking folic acid and get your green notes (or not, in my case). Until they see a viable baby on the scan you don't get any other info/time wasted on you!!!!!!!!

pomme try not to worry. I'd definitely get in touch with someone though- your midwife or consultant next week. Prob mw first, as I think they'd be more accessible. Someone has to be the lower end of these centiles though! It's still 'normal'. A small head you say? Marvellous, DD's 75th centile head did a whole lot of damage to me.... (a friend has a tiny head her husband teases her about- she's one of the nicest, and brightest people I know, is a Paediatrician, and is doing an Open University english degree in her spare time between working and looking after 2 children under 3! It can't be a bad thing, and if there seem to be no anomalies that's fantastic!). My DD was also quite small then- plus they thoguht single umbilical artery whch is linked to IUGR. She wasn't actually single umbilical artery, and caught up and was 50th centile at 40+4 when she was born! Don't mean to trivialise anything you've said (for all i say I'd be just the same), just maybe normalise some of it, and hope you're not too worried. xx

Oh, and I did a GP Visit Of Shame again today... For all those parents already, you know the one. You take your child to the GP who looks at you in a 'worried well' kind of way. I was worried. My normally totally energetic litle monster who doesn't sit down all day won't stand or weight bear at all, or eat, is hot with cold extremeties and sat or slept (!!!!) on my lap ALL afternoon. I was so worried it could be meningitis with the lethargy, not wanting to weight bear, sleeping on me (she hasn't done that since a very tiny baby) and cold extremeties when she was clearly running a temp (but I had no thermometer to confirm it) I took her to the GP. Who thought she was fine, just a virus, and wsan't worried she had a temp of 38.3 with freezing hands and feet and wouldn't weight bear. I'm trying to be reassured but I'm still checking her a lot!!! He definitely thought I was a paranoid mother, but did say she looks like her daddy (like I hadn't noticed)- her daddy did his training year at that practice. And I blame grapes on the other thread, as only this morning I posted she's only been ill so I was worried about her once in her life. Well, make that twice as she was worried about how often people take time off work with ill kids!!!

x posts biscuits! Yes, I'm still crampy and worried. Consultant appt next Thursday, I'm wondering what I need to do to talk her into scanning me then?! I will tell her about the cramps and my worries, but am almost tempted to exaggerate a little to ensure I get scanned. Really bad, unthinkable to do, or just a bit naughty????? After all, I've got the appointment anyway, and they do scan with the mobile scanner when they want to- I know they do, I had 2 or 3 in run-up to DD's birth by consultants due to prolonged rupture of membranes (think one was a sonographer though).

Oh Dream I would have done just the same!

In fact, I did earlier this year. DS suddenly did all those things - temp, lethargy etc. Then I noticed cold extremities too. It was just at bed time and as I went downstairs, I thought 'I'll just check with Dr Google....' (ok, I know this isn't always the best idea). Anyway the NHS Website said that if your child had a temp of 39 and cold extremities to not even bother with NHS direct, just ring 999!!! (for fear of meningitis) So I did, and they sent an ambulance who whisked us off to A&E!!

Fortunately it was nothing serious - eventually his temp came down while we were at the hospital and he picked up energy wise, but I don't think you over reacted at all.

And you can never take a chance with anything that might be meningitis. I think it is a bit like going to the mw / hospital if you notice a change in baby movements - one of those situations where they'd rather see you with nothing wrong than you not go in for fear of looking over the top.

What does your DH say about it?

Hope the aches and pains go away soon, Biscuits and Dream. Um, it might be dodgy tummies. Usually when I get cramps it turns out my tummy is upset, such as this afternoon. Would that fit your symptoms?

My flu jab is booked for 12 Nov - first date they could do it. At least it's a Saturday so I won't need to miss more work. After skiving all week I am now feeling a bit guilty. I could perfectly well have been working yesterday and today - it's not like my job is physically exacting. I got 'and, um, would you normally get the flu jab' when I asked for it, to which I replied 'it's because I'm pregnant' and you could hear the reservations melt away in the receptionist's voice! She also asked how far along I was, so perhaps they have some sort of limitation on when you can get it.

Musical, the doppler was only £25 inc p&p, and the reviews were all glowing (like us! See what I did there? ). So many people saying it really calmed them down, especially in the 12-20 week period when there's only a little movement to be felt. DH wasn't keen when I first suggested it weeks ago, but I think that was partly because it says it is best used after 15 weeks (despite loads of reviews saying they picked up the heartbeat at 10-12 weeks) and he didn't want me freaking myself out trying to find it too early. He's come around to the idea now.

Also, someone on my Angel Babies thread linked to this site: abm.me.uk/ and I found no fewer than 3 bf support groups within 5 miles of me! I have bookmarked it for later reference.

Thanks all. I know I'm probably being silly - especially when I could be worrying about the notch instead! It was just quite a surprise to see all the measurements to be right at the bottom. The monographer didn't say anything but only handed me the report as she was almost pushing me out the door.

I am due to see mw and consultant in 4 weeks time but it might be worth a phone call if I carry on being worried maybe. DH says he's not worried but then will mention things like - maybe it's because of your cold that sets me off again!

Plus one of dd's little pals we spent the afternoon with the other day has chicken pox! Apparently it's recommended to get a blood test to be certain of immunity - anyone else heard of that?

dream - I'd be worried! Don't worry about the visits of shame - we all do them! Hope she gets back to normal soon. I also always gaze longingly at scanner when I see my consultant! I have just asked in the past and she'd done it for me without blinking.

musical - Keep pushing, you are definitely entitled to it! I had mine this week - slightly tender arm only side effect over here too.