Jan 2013 Part 5: Once we pop (on time!), we just won't stop!

[BuntyCollocks]

New thread! I've lost my lovely spreadsheet so if someone can add in the stats and update, that would be wonderful; I'm sure someone else had a spreadsheet that was as anally organised as me

complicated I'm really glad you had such a lovely dinner! I've always wanted to go to the Oxo tower, but not likely to now since I stopped working in London. I don't have an anterior placenta but I did last time and this time I'm feeling loads of movements compared to when I was pregnant with DD. I've had one or two days where she's been quieter, but I have to agree with bunty, it's a pain and it might feel awkward, but insist on getting it checked out anyway? I'm sure everything is absolutely fine, though I don't agree with their guidance either. But please don't let that worry you more - it's not because I think something is wrong, it's for peace of mind as bunty said. You've had enough stress with earlier scans so you deserve a break from it.

bealos hope your presentation went well.

bunty thanks for the redirect tip! And pleased you sorted the bag stuff.

just back from midwife app (31 + 5) and measuring 33cm. mw (a different one than usual as usual one has broken her arm) said she was not concerned yet but will see at next appointment if there has been a big growth again and if so will refer for a growth scan. however it has got me all worried and i feel i am going to do nothing but worry til my app in late december.

Hello all,

Your dinner sounds amazing - very jealous!

I also have an anterior placenta and movement is a little less now but still feel him, he is def head down (was confirmed at scan on Mon) and to be honest, I'm delighted as can sleep better now (if it wasn't for my blooming cold!)...I agree with others though, if you are at all concerned re movement get yourself checked, I did and whilst I felt like I had wasted their time the nurses and MW were great and said I had done the right thing.

On another note went back to the doctor today as still coughing up my guts, totally congested etc and he had a brief listen to my back and said yep, its now a bacterial infection so will put you on antibiotics - are you ok with that. I replied yes as long as it was okay for the pregnancy to which he replied, oh you're pregnant, how many weeks?! Told him I was just over 32 weeks??? Does he think I have a cyst on my stomach -swear to god, could not believe it! He then goes on to say, not advised to take any medicine but more dangerous before 16 weeks so I would 'probably' be fine but it was up to me. I said I would just leave it and asked how long I can expect to feel like this, expecting a little bit of empathy or maybe even some advice but no, he just sat there and said no idea!

Could cry....feel miserable and so stuffed up, what a useless fecker!!

x

salt that's still within normal limits. I think it's only when it's 3cm or more bigger or smaller that you get sent for a growth scan. And even then the measurements are a load of bollocks as it's widely accepted now that tummy measurements are often inaccurate. If you got someone else to measure you they would probably get a different number.

newbie some doctors are rubbish and have no empathy and it sounds like you saw one of them. I don't have faith in my consultant and most of the midwives I've met as mistakes have been made in my scans and I've had very little empathy from them too. I feel annoyed for you. On the whole though I would probably avoid the antibiotics too although I'm sure some are absolutely fine in pregnancy. Is it worth seeing a different doctor in a day or two if still no better?

Aw, Newbie, sorry to hear about your doc's appt. Maybe you should just take the antibiotics? There are plenty that are safe in pregnancy. You are more conscientious than me: I didn't think twice about taking them a couple of weeks ago when I had infections in my ear and chest. They will run you down a bit, but you're already totally run down anyway so maybe you should get this cleared up sooner rather than later.

Bealos, hope you got your presentation done and it goes well. :

Pmgkt so jealous that you're off work! Enjoy it. :)

birdies i thought it was ok as well, but i was wondering if they go by the measurement alone or the gradient of your growth curve as mine has gone from 50th percentile to over 90th in four weeks.

salt I never had my tummy measurements plotted on percentiles but I would still think that it's just different people measuring in slightly different places. I'm pretty sure they go by how you measure on the day as opposed to how things have changed. But, don't sit it out worrying, ask your midwife if the change in growth matters. The trouble is, if you did go for a growth scan they can be massively inaccurate too (as I found out!).

I just realised you're less than 2 weeks difference so that sounds pretty good to me. But I'm a worrier myself so I'd probably ask about the change too, and maybe to confirm at what point they would refer you for a scan (as I bet you're a long way from that with your measurements as they are at the mo).

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/22/hungary-midwife-agnes-gereb-home-birth

sorry all, not sure why your thread appeared, that link was meant to be posted on a totally different thread , please ignore!

Thanks for all the brilliant advice. I did take you up on it as baby is normally really active after lunch, so rang hospital and they told me to come in. Car park was full so had to drive around to main hospital and was majorly stressed by the time I got to Triage. They took my BP immediately and it has never been so high. Anyway, they hooked me up to fetal heart monitor for a good half hour and just hearing the lovely heartbeat calmed me down instantly. I think that is now my favourite sound in the whole world. I then saw doctor who asked lots of questions and checked BP again (was normal) and they said heartbeat was good and strong and everything else was OK, so just to continue monitoring fetal movement at home and come back if I was worried. They didn't do a scan so don't know whether baby was hiding behind placenta, but am just assuming it is. Have now felt a few kicks and have got a relaxing evening at home so am going to keep a record of all kicks. I will be so relieved when this baby is in my arms, though I know that will bring a whole new lot of worries, but at least I can then see the baby so will know if something is wrong. Anyway, your advice helped me make the decision to go in (which I was on verge of doing anyway, but needed that push) and feel so much better for it. Huge thank you.

Great new on your new changing bag Bunty. I haven't really got my head around changing bags yet. I get a free one with pram, so will see whether that is sufficient after baby is born, or whether I need a bigger one.

Can't believe how rubbish your doctor was Newbie and really feel for you as you are in so much pain and not getting any support from GP. Hope you can have a relaxing stress free weekend, so at least you can sleep during the day and try and get rid of this infection. Big hug.

Hope everyone else has relaxing weekends. We've got a big family dinner with in-laws tomorrow night. Will be fun, but I don't like being far away from hospital at moment (they live 1.5 hours from us), so will be relieved when home again on Sunday. I am taking my notes and hospital bag with me just in case.

Newbie - your doctor was rubbish! I'm currently taking anti-biotics as I have a wee infection. Amoxycillin for example is safe in pregnancy. There are far greater risks if you become more ill. It might be worth going back and seeing someone else for a second opinion.

I've been leaking milk a bit too. I quite like it in a weird way because it shows everything's working.

Complicated - I'm glad your anniversary dinner was lovely. One day I may go out in the evening again

I've also been in for monitoring as my baby didn't move at all yesterday morning. It flew around while I was on the monitor though! The hospital were lovely and very reassuring.

We are going to have a home birth (hopefully). A friend has a pool which we are going to borrow. This explains why I haven't pack one iota into a bag. I have bought a load of stuff though so that's good!

Exactly Complicated, when I can see the little one, I'll feel so much more secure in feelings/logical brain in terms of knowing if anything's wrong.
I went in to triage on Monday night after feeling very little movement all day. Baby started kicking as soon as I was attached to the monitor though! Embarrassing.
But I knew I wouldn't sleep/relax if I didn't go in, so glad I did.

I had taken two lots of antibiotics before I was even 12 weeks pregnant, I was horribly ill with whooping cough. If you have been coughing for a while newbie it might be worth checking you don't have that?

My baby has also slowed down on the movements. She is moving just enough not to panic me. I am fairly sure it is because she has gone from transverse to head down but I am keeping an eye on it. I totally relate to the feelings of just wanting her out and in my arms.

I snuggled my friends three week old this afternoon, he is totally gorgeous and tiny. I had forgotten how snuffly and scrunched up newborns are!

Aaarrrggghhh! Restless bloody leg syndrome!

Great news about the bag, Bunty.

Complicated your evening sounds lovely but unfortunately I can't stop sniggering because it made me think of this thread...

Lora I am also on iron tablets. They aren't the nicest things, but I've been on them for a week or so and I think I am feeling a bit less tired already

I'm another one with an anterior placenta and have minor freak outs about movements all of the time. I've also been told I just need to make sure I get ten a day, which I always do, but I will go for hours with nothing then suddenly feel about ten in a row. The only time I always get movement is just after I lie down in bed at night, so I think if I ever didn't feel movement then, I would go in.

Salt your measurement is exactly the same as my last one, I measured 33cm at 31+5. I was told that the measurement is only a very rough guide, and they will only send you for a scan if you are at least 3 or 4 cm out.

bealos hope your presentation went well. Glad everything is ok complicated

newbie I agree with the others, if you don't feel better soon it can't hurt to see another doctor who would hopefully be a bit more helpful.

I took a random day off work yesterday and had a lovely 2 hour snooze. Sooo looking forward to mat leave and being able to do that every day!

Hi

Thanks for all the advice, I got my WC vaccination about 3 weeks ago so surely it can't be that?

If I'm still feeling rubbish tomorrow am going to call MW and see what they say. Am sure the antibiotics are safe, just unsure now cause of that stupid doctor and think if I'm over the worst of this cold I can cope with a few more days but just seems to be lingering.

X

Bugsywugsy that thread is hilarious and am now crying with laughter. I felt way too sober to be reading it though!

Allchik I totally feel your pain. I have had restless legs syndrome for last 3 months and it drives me mad. It alternates between legs each night and always starts when I'm watching TV then when I go to bed. I have had so many sleepless nights. I have tried everything and only things that work for me temporarily are stretching out calves by going up and down on tiptoes, and pouring ice cold water over calves before going to bed, then try and get to sleep before it starts again. Or go to a nightclub and dance all night, but been far too exhausted for that!

Hello lovelies. Thanks for all your kind wishes for Megan. She's doing well and only needs a feeding tube until we can establish breastfeeding. Woke up yesterday feeling like I'd had a boob job overnight! Managing to hand express a few drops and hopefully will get more on the hospital pump today. Feel like a dairy cow!
Still finding it all very surreal and am a bit teary (had a minor meltdown in the supermarket on the way home from hospital!) but feel blessed that she's so well considering.

Does anyone know the normal level for iron? At my 28 week bloods I was 9.9 and started iron tablets. Then retested at 32 weeks it had dropped to 9.5. Changed iron tablets and now have to take 3 a day!
Dr has signed me off for 3 weeks so won't be back before maternity starts.

Does anyone know if this is really low or just a bit low?

I'm only 33 weeks, what will I do for the next 7 weeks??

Hi milkandsugars,

I think they like your levels to be above 10 ideally so don't think you are too bad. Mine were 10.2 at 29wks and they put me on 3 tablets a day as a precaution. I have only been taking 1 a day as find they can make me constipated so am eating lots of iron rich foods as well to see if that helps. Am getting re tested on Wed so will see what happens.

Good luck and am sure others will reply too who prob know better than me!

X

Morning everyone.

I seem to recall Hb is considered normal range above 11 and borderline above 10. Anything below that makes us a candidate for iron replacement though they wouldn't start getting particularly worried til it dips below 9.

Re changing bags, we ended up using a lovely leather satchel (man bag- DH was happy carrying it) last time instead of a proper change bag though I would have loved a Lin and Leo, they're right up my street. I'm a bit here now. I do think they are useful if you're carrying bottles and formula as well as nappy changing kit and spare vests.

The most I will be doing this time is getting a new portable change mat like this to keep in whichever bag comes out with us.

I have got as far as buying maternity pads and breast pads, got some old sheets/towels in a box with the pool kit, baby clothes are ready with first outfit options on top of the pile. The only thing left to buy now is the sling for daddy to use (mine's too decorative, apparently). I'm going to keep the Connecta for me, sell the Beco and get a Manduca for him.

This morning DH is chopping wood in -temps outside while DS and I swan around the kitchen in fleecey PJs. Must get up and dressed if I want to go out anywhere today.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

pascha in case you change your mind, check out red direct it was originally the lin and Leo I liked but they are out of stock until well into the new year (I emailed).

To replace the Bag of Hassle, I have purchased a babybeau Eden - should be £220, got it for £136.95 with the discount code, including postage, thanks to the 40% off at red direct, so it's actually cheaper than the lin and Leo.

I can't wait for it to arrive. It looks gorgeous, with the added benefit of being totally useable after I need a changing bag as just a beautiful bag. That swayed me from the pacapod.

Wish I could be of help with iron levels, but mine are always good (14.6 last check).

Morning all! Thanks so much for all your kind messages about the presentation. I did it and... it was a bit of an anti-climax, personally. I think it went well, but all that prep for just 15 minutes talking just felt a bit deflating. Thank god I have no more speaking appointments til a few months after the baby is born! I'm not sure I'll ever get used to speaking in public, despite doing it lots now, some people just seem to ooze confidence.

tinyeyes123 you are doing such a great job! Totally totally normal to feel incredibly teary when your milk comes in, let alone the quite stressful situation you are in, being early and all and having to stay in the hospital. I honestly remember having a proper 'Jordan moment' about 4 days after the birth, sat in the bath, thinking my boobs are sooo ridiculously big and hard and all I want to do is cry! :) big hugs!

Hi all, we have our first parentcraft class this afternoon and I am absolutely dreading it. I'm really shy and hate doing things or talking in front of people. I'm considering not going, but I know I'd regret it if I didn't at least try the first one. Anyone know what I should expect??

Hope everyone is well!