Due November 2006, Part II

[spinach]

hi all, hope everyone is well..

hi everyone!!!

what a gorgeous day again, this must be summer!!

got my scan date through for the 23rd of this month, thank god!! i'm actually starting to get quite stressed not knowing what's going on in my belly so only another 11days to wait!!! and counting!!! only symptom i seem to have left now is extreme tiredness, thankfully ds is still having a 2hr nap in the day, so i do too!!

spinach - thats sucky news :(

and everyone else who's had scans fab news :)

I don't know whether I am excited or scared stiff at the prospect of twins! Chances are I am either ahead of my dates or just huge!! I can't believe I am going to have another 3 weeks of wondering if I should excited, petrified, or not bothered at all...

my philosophy is, don't worry about something thats not an issue yet... you could spend the next few weeks worrying for nothing - thats a waste of precious energy!!

funny story i just thought of... dp out working theother day, in a families home who had twins a similar age to our ds, so they were all talking... turns out the wife was also pg, she was out having her scan at the time.. any way she comes home while dp is still their... scan went well, 3 heartbeats found!!! could you imagine that, 2 pg's, 5 babies!!! apparently they only wanted 2 children!!!

LOL no, don't put the idea of triplets in me, then I really would run for the hills!!!

Seriously, it must be very strange to suddenly go from two kids to five!! I think most people could get their head around twins but, triplets is a whole different ball game!!

NJ- yes that would count. Identical twins are basically a freak of nature that can happen to any woman (I'm allowed to say 'freak' as DH is an identical twin!). But non-identical twins can have a genetic 'risk' factor in that as long as there is non-identical twins on your mothers side and it all stays with the women (ie not your mums dad, or mums mums dad) it means they ovulated more than two eggs that month and so could you.
I suppose you'll just have to wait it out and see. DH was convinced I was having twins this time as I had such strong symptoms v. early on but was absolutely sure of dates. but two scans later only one there!

I thought that was how it all worked but wasn't 100% - thanks :)

I am not convinced it is twins, it could still be that I am ahead of my dates, or just that I am huge, I'm not worried about any outcome just want to know NOW!!! LOL

NJ - I don't blame you for wanting to know now! It's certainly a big thing but in a way I'm not suprised the people you spoke to on the phone weren't more helpful, because you are I are both in Lancashire and are likely to experience similar antenatal care. I've been for 2 scans at Preston's EPU, but both times they would only do it after I'd been to GP with bleeding and been referred. I tried to talk to the hospital directly but didn't get anwhere.
I do now have a direct number to community midwife team, but they didn't even contact me until 11/12 weeks when I had my booking in visit. They don't seem to want to spend any time on women who've not reached the 12 week scan. It seems a shame to me, as surely this is the time when we have the most questions and the most worries.

I would go and talk to your GP. Mine could feel through my belly how big the uterus actually was, so maybe you could explain your concerns and ask your GP to do the same for you?

Don't know if I am glad it isn't only me with crap service or not!!!

I was already annoyed with my midwife before today, and now (even though it isn't really her fault) I am even more annoyed, I don't know her name, the number she gave me to get in contact with the community midwives took me on a wild goose chase, she wouldn't see me until I was 10 weeks, knowing that there is a 4 week waiting list for a scan, and even when she did see me, all she did was take my blood presure, told me it was low and I might feel a bit dizzy (no sh*t sherlock) measured my height, weight and calculated my BMI and that was it. Didn't ask if I had any worries or concerns, saw the size of me and didn't mention it she just sat there staring at my belly the whole time, like I said she couldn't even be bothered to tell me her name...

Sorry for the rant, feeling a bit p*ssed off today!! It is a good job the sun is shining, else I might really have gone off on one!! :)

Hi all.

Glad more of you are having positive scans and that some of you are feeling better... second trimester must be better right?!

I feel okay, thanks for all your good wishes. I worried sick really, I know baby is fine at the moment but its horrible seeing loads of bright red blood. I had just started to feel relaxed as I'm now 14/15 weeks...even told a few people, and now this. I really thought that after the horrible start to this pregnancy, the surgery, the uncertainty of what happened (they said it could have been twins and one aborted) that I could start to enjoy these middle months as much as i did last time. Now i'm worried sick that things won't resolve and I'll end up in hospital for weeks on end or have to have a section early.

I know it'll probably resolve itself fine, but can't help but worry. Been told not to do much! ha ha like i have the energy anyway, even so, with a 2 year old, thats impossible!

Moan over. Hope you are all well and happy!!

by the way NJ, your mw sounds crap!

Oh... when should i have my triple test... does it have to be dead on 16 weeks? cos i think mine is booked way too late???

Spinach, I am sorry you are going through this. Everything crossed that things turn out OK in the end.

My midwife said the triple test had to be done at 17 weeks, which is why I was worried if I am a month ahead by the time my scan comes round, I would be 18+5 - too late for the test.

Having said that though, I probably wouldnt take any notice of my midwife or what she says anymore so someone else might have a definate answer!!

I'm getting a little confused about all these tests and when they are supposed to take place - I haven't been offered a nuchal scan and apparently I won't as I am in a low risk category and dead on 35 (not over it). I had a load of bloods taken at 9 weeks and they all came back okay - this is why I know I'm low risk.

I've been given the date of my one and only scan - Although I will be in a heightened state of emotion as it's the birthday of a neice who sustained brain damage during a badly conducted birth and died a month later ... and a few days before the tenth anniversary of my father's death.

Anyway - my MW did tell me her name (although she was only filling in as the Midwife who is supposed to be there as she has broken her arm) - she also told me that she is likely to return near my due date and be around when the time comes. She didn't seem to have time to answer all my questions - but when we heard the baby's heartbeat she was just as happy as we were and that made feel better - it was liked she actually cared.

Anyhow - hope all goes well for all of us - and hopefully the sun will come out again and shine on the MAY Fair that our little 'village' within our city is organising.

Bye for now - LA

LadyAnne, nuchal scan availability varies from area to area. With my first pg, i had one - it was offered to everyone regardless of age, now i live in a neighbouring borough and in second pg i am not offered one.

I think i'm getting triple testing at about 16wks, which the midwife said tested for the same things.

Spinach, sorry to hear about the hard time you are having. I hope things do settle down for you and enable you to enjoy the pregnancy.

Morning girls :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend, although the weather has been a let down :(

Am I the only one then that up until I have my scan at 14+5 weeks, all anyone has done for me is take my blood presure, measure my height and weight, and then work out my BMI??? I haven't had any bloods done, I haven't heard the heartbeat, no one has felt my belly... feeling a bit left behind here!!

Hi everyone I can not keep up with this board- but to fill you in they have moved my dates again to the 4th Nov now which makes me 15 + 1.

My midwife was very cold with me - as is my first pg husband came with me - she explained i was high risk for downs because of my age and then said ' so what will you do keep it abort it or have it adopted ' I left there in tears that is wht i paid for the nuchal scasn just to put my mind at rest.

MS is going and energy is coming back so hopefully we will all start to feel the same soon.

Good luck to everyone and enjoy th rest of the weekend

eeyoreuk

Eeyore, I am starting to think every midwife is an awful old bat that needs to go through a pregnancy and birth again to get back in touch with how we are all feeling!! I realise that they see the same thing day in day out, but that is no excuse for being so rude and cold hearted. Besides anything else, it is nothing to do with her what you would do if something like that happened.

I hope things start looking up for us all care wise.

Eeyore - what a horrible woman, and what a thing to say, very for you...

All these midwife stories are certainly not making me want to rush back to the UK and get my own grumpy one!

Hope things are better on your next visit.

NJ - think you should have prob had bloods done, maybe they'll do them at the hosp when you have a scan. FWIW I've not heard the baby's HB yet either. Next MW appt is in 2wks IIRC.
Sorry to dishearten you but after a couple of weeks without much nausea I was sick yesterday with v. little warning ie not enought time to get to the sink or loo! But no nausea so felt fine!
Hope you are all well.

Mygirl, yes bloods are supposed to be being done at the hospital when I have my scan, but they haven't made an appointment or anything I just have to wait there until someone can fit me in.

My next appointment after the scan is 21st June, I will be 17 weeks by then.

That is a bit late. TBH I think the medical profession who have patient contant need to learn a little more about how to interact with humans! Maybe ring yr Dr for yr bloods, I don't think there's anything too urgent but you really need to know your Rh blood group (cos if you are -ve you may wish to consider treatment whilst you are pg) and immunity to rubella eg.

I am rhesus negative, M/W knows this.

NJ - the only blood tests I have had done are to establish blood type, check HIV status and general immunities such as rubella. Maybe as this isn't your first, you don't need these?

Also, I saw my mid-wife this week and asked about testing (nuchal etc) and she said it was done between weeks 17 - 19 in derbyshire. I had been confused till this point as my next appt is at week 16 and I had assumed this would be too late - but all adds up now!

She also said that at 10.5 weeks she wouldn't be able to hear a heartbeat, and I said that I'd seen it on the scan so wasn't worried about it - but really wish I could hear it - I thought you could hear it by now? I guess she doesn't want to worry me by trying to find it and having problems...not long to go till the 16 weeks appt so perhaps I'll hear it then.

Time is still ticking by v slowly....have just had v strange meal of pasta, pine nuts, ham, pineapple and grated cheese - curiously satisfying however!

Is it normal for random food cravings to kick in this early or is this just my body trying to create a meal from the few things it hasn't fallen out with over the past 6 weeks?!

I dunno if I've got random cravings but def gone off some usually 'love' stuff and have started wanting more 'odd' stuff (odd for me!). I think about a certain food or I smell it (even tho the smell isn't there to smell) then I have to have it!
NJ - maybe as it is not your first they are not so worried about bloods altho I've had booking bloods done at around 8wks with all four of mine, so dunno why this would happen. but as I say as it isn't yr first then I wouldn't worry as much, they are cutting back a hell of a lot, suppose it leaves you in peace more!

Hi all
Despite my good intentions I just haven't kept up. Hope things are ok with you all. So sorry to hear that you are bleeding again Spinach hope your baby can hang on in there - its been such a tough wee cookie.

Seem to be fine here and pg going to plan. Taken my usual low tech approach with no scan or tests other than basic bloods - although why they repeat half of them esp blood type, rubella status etc seems a bit pointless and a waste of NHS money. Seen the midwife once, not spoke to my GP (didn't seem the point - and I've still got gaviscon on repeat from last time). Really lucky in the fact our community MWs are all fantastic - seeing her again the beginning of next month. Not had the heart beat checked but my belly is growing. Now 16+ and still knackered but still feeding 10m old ds although only twice a day and running after the other two. Decided to buy a new house yesterday - need more space although will really miss our tiny village and my gorgeous views. Have 2 weeks to get this one on the market just hope I can get a painter asap to cover the years of neglect and mucky finger prints from around all my walls. Moving mid Sept - and can't ever move again - none of my babies have been born in the same house - and moving might just tempt fate again . Should be settled by the time smidge arrives. Hiring a birth pool again - with it being my 4th was wondering if I should one that can be filled in advance. Might look a some of the other threads and check out others folks experiences.

Anyway obviously late as I'm rambling terribly. Look after yourselves and I'll hope to catch up as soon as I can.