July 2013 Part 3 - happy new year, happy new thread

[dinkystinky]

Happy 2013 one and all!

Waaaaaaaaaahhhh... Just got my maternity gear down from the loft. Ds is only 3 but I looked at it all and couldn't believe I was ever so small! Everything is size 10/12 and I wore it right up to birth. Doubt I could get in any of those jeans now and I'm just 15 weeks.

Have eaten a packet of haribo in disgust.

Gah.

Seeing the midwife on Monday though so am hoping that will cheer me up.

Is anyone feeling movement yet? I keep thinking that I might have felt something but turns out to be wind every time...

X posted there, sorry to hear that badmissm. I was hoping for elective cs too, guessing I will have the same experience. Veering towards a home birth now. Never thought I would say that but I can't get my head around how poor my options are here (midwife led unit is nearly an hour away, local hospital infamously poor). Thinking I might get a pool and just hope for the best.

Well I have never heard of slapped cheek disease.. now I know

Very glad my 8 hour round trip to North Wales monday is cancelled.

Really struggling to sleep now, almost wishing I was back at 12 weeks when I could sleep all day. Think it's all excitement tho, just bl*ody knackered all day then wide awake all night!! arrggghhh.

Morning, well afternoon or evening. I drove across country yesterday for a photography workshop to play with a newborn (by play I mean get some amazing images and not pooed on once). I am exhausted today I mean pregnancy tired plus sore from all the work. Went to to the office til noon then abandoned the snow storm and passed out at home til 4.

Feel like such a lazy bones but all I wanna do is sleep this weekend.

Sorry you're having such a bad experience with the NHS, BadMiss.

specialknickers - home birth - eek! I get the impression that's what the midwives around here are trying to push, but there's no way I'm planning on giving birth anywhere without a paediatrician, obstetrician & anaesthetist on site! (I'm a natural pessimist)

TotallyEggFlipped I get the impression around here they are doing anything that won't cost money...they are pushing home births too...

Cottonsock Not been able to sleep since beginning of pg....!

Stick them on ebayspecialknickers then we can all buy them!! My evening is spent on here or eBay maternity. I'm sure I'll get off the sofa once dinner is made one day, just not yet!

Sorry to hear you were treated so badly badmissm, I am a little shocked. A real shme that services aren't more open minded in this day and age.

I made the most of being at home for work today and enjoyed a nap. Bliss. Probably means I won't sleep well tonight, but the short term gain is worth it! Breadmaker did us proud too, and have been indulging in toast this afternoon. Convinced this'll give the bean some warmth!

It's worth researching home births. Statistically they're as safe if not safer as hospital if it's a normal pregnancy. The best birth stories I've heard have all been home births. I do understand the concern re not having so many experts and facilities nearby but having weighed it all up with the many downsides of hospital birth such as less one on one care and more likelihood of interventions it seems the best option for me. I used to be dead against the idea until I did some research and talked to people who've been through both. Shame mw led units aren't too widespread yet but they're on the increase [s

Sorry, have re read and that sounds a bit preachy which wasn't my intention! Just wanted to put it out there that for some people it's actually a far less scary prospect than a hospital environment. Truly believe it is and should be a personal choice and we're all different with different needs

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience badmissm With " choose and book" you have the right to choose which hospital you go to so it might be worth asking your GP to refer you somewhere else. Of course it might not be practical geographically.

Didn't sound preachy at all bb01, don't worry! I was all set up for a home birth for ds (was in the Netherlands where nearly half of all births are at home, tis the norm there) but didn't progress after 24 hrs in labour and was sent into hospital for an induction .

After I did finally deliver him, the midwife told me he'd been back to back, face up and had raised his arm up superman style... Ouch. Was very glad in the end that I was in a clinical situation with a room full of doctors at the end, it could have got quite nasty. That said, I always wonder what would have happened if I hadn't had an intervention, maybe he would have turned around again and been in a better position? Who knows....

bb01 most people medical people would agree that a low risk pregnancy is a retrospective diagnosis. There is no way of knowing in advance who will have cord prolapse/ shoulder dystocia/ post partum haemorrhage etc. Personally having had 3 normal vaginal deliveries and probably being as low risk as a person can be I'm still having my baby in hospital (midwife unit attached to hospital) with easy and immediate access to paediatricians/obstetricians etc. I just think it's too risky even though I'm low risk.
It is a personal decision but for me it's a no-brainer.
Anyway sorry if that sounds like a rant, one of my siblings is an obstetrician so I've heard some scary stories of what can go wrong.

devil sorry to hear about your cat, hope the chemo works out

badmissm any chance you could ask for a second opinion? Doesn't sound like you are at all happy with that consultant, maybe someone else would be more sympathetic

I'm jealous of all you guys having heard baby heartbeat at 16 week check my midwife didn't check mine as it's no longer part of plan at that point?!

Thinkingof4 sorry I mean low risk up until then, that's how it's been worded in the research I read. But you're right, no way of predicting no complications during the birth. I totally used to think the same but then changed my mind when read how much more likely complications are in hospital but also if you feel nervous which was a clincher for me. Think talking to midwives who support it despite the possible risk factors also sold it. Am not trying to change people's minds from hospital choice but just adding that not everyone sees it as a risky or scary option so might be worth looking into if local hospital facilities aren't great.

Specialknickers,that sounds scary and think it's so important to be ready to transfer at first sign of trouble if you are planning a home birth

Sorry to hear your MS is still making you throw up daily guavas. Mine's relented to just nausea now, so manageable if a little yucky.

I live in fear of things like slap-cheek - I often come into contact with children through work, but not in a school situation, so a parent/carer may not think to mention it, especially if they don't find out until after I've seen them. I may ask the MW next appointment if it's worth checking my immunity just in case.

Thanks for the down-to-earth advice on "all your baby absolutely needs" dinky, I think it's easy to worry about not having everything and being organised enough, but actually the essentials boil down to quite a short list. I can't remember if it was you or someone else who said it but also like the idea of baby sleeping in a carrycot when newborn, as it saves spending out on a moses basket they may only use for a few weeks.

Sorry to hear all those that have had bad experiences with the NHS. It's such a postcode lottery isn't it? So far things have been fine for me, but then I haven't had any complications so it's hard to compare.

My first eBay purchases of maternity clothes arrived today! Very exciting. One lot was a bit of a disappointment, but then it set me back all of £1.20 and will be fine for slobbing around at home clothes. The second lot was fab though, including a smart black dress that will be great for a hen do I have coming up when I'll be about 23 weeks.

Hope everyone is keeping alright in the snow and all home safe and warm now. Luckily both DH and I were able to work at home today, but still debating whether to make the 2 hour trip to my parents tomorrow as planned...

13+5

Tashtastic Choose and Book would work in principle, but next nearest to here are a midwife-led unit which I'm too high-risk to go to, and another hospital which is well known for killing babies and mothers.... beyond that, we are so fo in reality from civilisation, 70+ miles away, leaving no choice at all....

MrsRoss26 seems like a bit of a postcode lottery really...

bb01 Nothing against home births, but not for me. Am too high-risk even to be allowed in midwife unit.

Thinking of 4 Only 2 Obstetricians at hospital, other one is ultra-religious and an absolute cow. When I lost twins 2 years ago refused to investigate why and inferred it was because I was unmarried... This one was recommended to me as 'the nice one'

Just a bit scared really, and had hoped to calm my fears and actually have a sympathetic ear...

BadmissM your NHS PCT continues to astound me with its whiteness! Do you have a supportive GP? Can you talk to them about your concerns?

Special knickers - pretty sure my old mat wear only fits as went for stretchy stuff and 2 humungobump babies have stretched it even further!

Hi! It's friday!!! Hurrah!

missm that consultant sounds terribleand you've obviously been through something awful with your twinsshould be more understanding!! Could you get a doula perhaps, to offer more caring personal support? Doulas are becoming more common here...not sure about uk. I was considering one myself because i had such an unpleasant experience last time. this time i just love my new obstetrician so i've decided to stick with my hospital instead of switching to midwives...there's no assurance that my OB will be on duty when i actually give birth though, thus the doula thoughts--would be nice to know i'd be able to count on one consistently supportive person. Not sure if that's an option for you there?

special know what you mean about feeling frustrated enough to want to give up and just go for a paddling pool.

Re maternity clothes. I planned to shop on my way home today, but my wee passenger didn't nap today and fell asleep in the car. I am inspired by all the ebay shopping! But how do you know what size will work? And no returns... I am a medium now still squeezing into my skinny jeans (just) but if i get huge again then...i am reluctant to buy too much until i see what my body is going to do this time. Thoughts?

I had a birth doula for DS2 after a bad time first time round - and will be having her again for this baby. She was my emergency post natal doula with DS1 and is a lovely grandmotherly type with a lovely way about her. So Doulas get the thumbs up from me.

Marimama - in UK you get your normal clothes size in pregnancy clothes

I hope everyone was safe in the snow today. Very envious of those able to work from home, and especially those who fitted in a nap as well. So glad it's the weekend.

BadMissM your NHS Trust astounds me. I'd second considering a doula. I had one for my 1st birth and she was absolutely excellent. Would have her again but we now live at the other end of the country so not really an option.

In terms of hospital versus midwife lead units I'm happier being within easy reach of a medicial team so decided to have DS in the midwife led unit on the same site as consulstant led one. On the day the midwife led unit was full so I was on the consultant led ward and had a really good experience.

AmaDablam glad your eBay purchases were good. I was hoping to go shopping this weekend but given the snow I think I'll hibernate instead.

marimama I hope the boss telling went well. In terms of maternity sizes I went with my normal size last time, but then I didn't put on much weight and brought everything from shops.

TotallyEggFlipped I hope your job discussion went well too.

Guava I'm inspired by your class. Now considering getting off the couch and looking for the local advert for pregnancy Pilates

Hope you all enjoy your weekend

dinky so glad to hear you had a good doula experience, even postnatal.

Oddly enough, our microwave/range repairman's wife is doula and lactation specialist and he is a total sweetheart, so i think i will try to meet her soon. At least to chat vbac and moving past fear of repeat labor issues & related early breastfeeding struggles.

Re clothes--sure you're right. Just last time started out a medium and ended very much a large. ;) thinking positive duchessesque thoughts, though, and will do some shopping this weekend.

Oh, xpost! marie yay for more doula approval.

Boss telling went great. She was delighted for me. So nice.

doulas sound brilliant. i am happy with my hospital but if stuck between a rock and hard place like badmissm i would def go for doula.
anyone else struggling to sleep at night? it is doing my head in, once have gone for a pee or sorted dc with nightmare i lie awake feeling achey and have fidgetty feet-never had that with other 2. am actually looking forward to dh being away next week(for this reason alone) so can listen to radio in the night.
i am feeling lots of movement now but all tiny ones that no one else can feel although dh thought he could last night.
having been offering advice on moisturising skin stuff, i am now itching all over like a monkey and nothing is sorting it. i am also down to my last comfortable bra which i have misplaced-may have to go shopping too.
have been to pg yoga-i find it pretty good and relaxing(except for wind worry).

jeremy vine gets me when he slags off the profession of my dh-seems to be 1 of his favs.

oh and on the baby advice-have just remembered how many breast pads and maternity pads you need-1st time i had to get my dad to go on a mission.