March2013 New year, new trimester, old symptoms but the finishing post is in sight!

[Oodsigma]

And confuddled has passed it!

So will this one be our last before we move to post natal?

And who is next?

Thanks sarah & jojo for the thread title. :)

Hi everyone, hope you are all enjoying a nice relaxing Friday. I have only one more weeks of work now, yay! Had 34 week midwife appointment yesterday and was please to have low BP and a head down baby! Only slight worry is that I was measuring 32 weeks and am 35 tomorrow. Midwife said she wasn't worried at the moment but flagged it in my notes for the next check. She mentioned they might check for low fluid levels which concerned me a bit. I don't think I've been leaking but possibly haven't been as hydrated as I should be. Can this make a difference?
pudtat Those are long days, hope you get plenty of rest when you are home.
Plenty of baby hiccups going on for everyone then. Mine gets them three times a day and I also feel them in my bum.
Cot mobile sounds very cute plonko. I'm hoping to resume my blanket knitting when I finally finish work.
SoYo How lovely you have finished work. Hmm, leave favourite complaints for me are rib kicks and head grinding on pelvis bone I think!
Hi to everyone else, have a great Friday!

Sheld- I'm not sure about your lack of drinking is the problem but I hope that you get some answers hopefully someone will be able to
shed light on this!!!
Puds- yeh your right about carrycot was thinking just if I was downstairs and baby fell asleep but DH is saying we should get another Moses basket as all our babies had one???? I guess it's good that he wants them to all have something new of their own and its not like they are expensive! Has anyone else got a cot already and is buying a new mattress I know your suppose to!
I remember getting these spots in my last pregnancy they don't itch just I noticed them and thought why again?
My Gp is upset that I have not had regular checks with MW but in all honesty I forgot that I was suppose to make own appointments as and when I hit certain weeks!!! Not had BP, urine or the regular checks for weeks but apart from spd I'm feeling fine! Am feeling abit naughty now and have to get bloods done soon!!! 34+3 today!

Count - we're getting a new cot mattress. Mainly because the one that came with the cot has had two babies in it already (and not just babies; it's a cotbed so has been in use from elder niece's birth to younger niece being big enough for bunk beds) and also two cats using it as their favourite bed. Twenty quid from Amazon, so not exactly breaking the bank.

Odd that you have to make your own midwife appointments. At the end of every appointment I've had, we've booked the next one. Don't blame you for forgetting though!

Leni - I thought it was a newborn insert too, but searching by that name mostly just brings up bits that go in cloth nappies. Hoping the one from the car seat will be easily removed and fitted into the pram, as that would sort the problem nicely.

Plonko - pressure and period pains are both listed in my baby book in the prelabour section. Sounds like not too much longer to go for you! 35 weeks today for me, and I'm currently reckoning she'll be one day late, as I have family visiting that day and sod's law rules my life. Still hoping for a few days early though.

Shel - low fluids may mean amniotic fluid. It drops near end of pregnancy and in theory baby is born before drops too low but not always, in which instance you're induced or a c-section. Nout to do with how hydrated you are. So she's probably keeping an eye on because it suggests labour not far off.

Unless she was referring to your hydration levels of course in which case - drink more water!

£20 for a mattress on Amazon, that's a bargain.

Yep, definitely meant low amniotic fluid - oligohydromnios. Can be due to several things, one is dehydration of the mother. I tend to drink very little all day at work so am trying to drink lots now. Problem is I have to keep excusing myself from meetings :)

Shel. I have been having a caraffe of water with dinner, so I tend to drink more then and I bring it over to the sofa with me - amazing how much thirstier you are when it doesn't involve hoisting yourself out of your chair and lumbering over to kitchen. At work it's cups of decaf tea interspersed with water, fruit juice and the odd Purdeys or somesuch. The variety seems to work for me and I get morning drink along with a mid morning one for fridge and do same at lunch for the afternoon, so its all sort of on hand. My big prob is I get bored drinking same ole thing and I don't really like squash or most fizzys. That said, the loo visit thing is the inevitable conclusion.

You sound like you are doing a great job of keeping hydrated. I tend to have a drink with breakfast, coffee when I get in and then very little else until my evening meal. Making much more effort today, think I'm on my 5th drink now. I get bored too because I'm not a big lover of sugary things.

Sheldonella they don't worry about the measurement unless it's more than 3cm above or below the number of weeks you are & some people don't measure the same as others. They should start right down on your pubic bone with the tape measure facing away from them so they're blinded (it's very easy to cheat & make someone what you think). If its not normal I'd normally check 3 times to be sure but I'm a bit OCD . The other thing to remember is that it's common for tall people to measure smaller (longer body to hide baby in) and vice versa. Although that doesn't fit for me as bump is massive and I'm a giant too! If they were concerned next time they'd send you for a growth scan just to check baby's measurements and it's rare for these to be abnormal but best to check if there's ongoing concern.

On a lighter note, I've noticed my first stretch marks today & actually thought I was going to cry! I've been like a moisturising nazi & was really hoping to avoid them but alas no! Boo.

Thanks SoYo that is reassuring. I am tall and was surprised by the measurement as I feel absolutely huge and just got a fresh batch of strethtmarks! Baby is nicely active too and keeps sticking her lovely little feet out. Just hope I haven't been leaking fluid as I have been (TMI) a bit damp but put it down to discharge. Oh the joys...
I sympathise with the stretchmarks. Mine are very itchy and tender.

Shel - I'm usually like you so it's taken a lot of effort to consciously find a way to hydrate more regularly and that's the routine I've plumped for. I can still find myself gasping in evenings though which means drinking like a fish before bed and as said, the inevitable conclusion.

So far stretch marks aren't too bad, but I'm under no illusions. My guess is post pregnancy I suddenly notice they're everywhere, but til I notice ignorance is my friend.

I've found sparkling water to be my drink of choice. I can happily get through about 5 pints of water each day with at least two cups of tea on top. However earlier in pregnancy I was feeling really groggy, and this immediately changed when I upped my water intake. I pee a lot

Stormy yes I'm hoping not too much longer to go now, the period-like pains are getting more intense. Hopefully another fortnight and I'll have my body back cuddly baby. Though I'm sure my discomfort has nowt to do with it, he'll come when he wants now! I really don't want to go overdue but probably best to prepare for sod's law eh? I'm starting to feel like a watched pot now, so I hope you go into labour before your family arrives cos it's not a nice feeling!

I'm starting to look at my prepregnancy wardrobe with hope now. I miss not having to wear enormous clothes! I look like I'm ready to pop. Somehow, and I'm sure mentioning this is tempting fate, I've managed to escape stretchmarks but I already had lots on my hips from rapid weight loss when I was at uni. I'm praying that because the skin's already stretched I won't get anymore, and I've been slathering on the Belly Butter every morning like a good 'un.

I had a bad day today worrying about my last appointment with my consultant. Everything is really well with baby and me and no signs whatsoever that this is going to change. We are well past the point where we now know things went wrong last time with DD1 and we know its not possible for those issue to repeat at this point in this pregnancy. Everything is looking really good and totally boring and normal. Yet they are already talking about inducing me at 38 weeks. When I asked what the medical grounds were for this recommendation my consultant happily admitted that there were absolutely no medical grounds and my baby seems to be thriving inside. When pressed further about why on earth I would want to subject me and my baby to a risky medical procedure when there were no medical grounds for doing so and no benefit to baby to born earlier, the consultant said it was 'pre-emptive'. When pressed about what we were "pre-empting", he was not able to give any answer and just said it was 'policy'. He was also not willing to discuss risks of induction at all! I just don't understand it and it has left me worrying if there is something I am missing. I have regular fortnightly scans, weekly ante-natal appointments with my independent midwives and monitor things like blood pressure myself at home (purely for reassurance and not because there are any issues with it). This means any problems would be quickly discovered and of course in that situation I wouldn't hesitate to accept an induction to keep baby safe. But the hospitals attitude to induction at the moment seems so unscientific and I just know I am going to be continually pressured about it and its making me really anxious - not how I wanted my last precious weeks of pregnancy to be. Not a happy bunny

Rainbow didn't want to read and run as that all sounds very stressful. Like you say there seems to be no reason for panicking you, so not nice to do this at such a late stage. Maybe the consultant wants to allow you to feel 'in control' by setting a definite induction date? If that's the case, and I hope it is, then refusing to discuss the risks is not fair, but I've never heard of a consultant known for their bedside manner.

I really hope you get the answers you're looking for. Like you say, baby is thriving so please try to relax and enjoy the final weeks of your pregnancy. Put your feet up, ave a brew and a hobnob or four

I had to go for a growth scan this week as the midwife said my baby was measuring at 31 weeks when I am actually 35. She did say there was almost certainly nothing to worry about and as it turned out everything was fine. Had to go for a walk down the corridor and a can of Coke after initial scan to get the baby to move into a position that the sonographer was happy with, but all was fine eventually!

Finish work in just over a week - people at work keep saying my bump is very low and I'm bound to go early. I really hope they're wrong, I want a few days to myself first!

Rainbow - why not ask your independent MW to have a chat with your consultant, she may be able to help you to make sense of it all. It sounds a lot like the consultant wants to ensure you have a happy healthy baby and because of your last pregnancy feels this is the right path. Doesn't mean you shouldn't question of course. As you're using services of an independent MW I'm sure they'd happily liaise for you if asked.

plonko hobnobs sound good! I think you are right that its about giving me some certainty around birth and perhaps lower my anxiety but that alone really is not a good reason in my opinion to undertake the risks of an induction and unfortunately the very idea of inducing early without good reason is having the opposite effect! tramp yes I will ask my independent midwife to question him some more - at the moment they are as baffled as I am why he is suggesting a medical procedure without medical grounds, which is what he said explicitly. It is very hard to make sense of it. In any case, ultimately up to me to decide the best course for me and baby so unless medically things change I think I will be refusing induction for the time being and simply request more monitoring if that is appropriate. Just try take it one day at a time anyway!

rainbow how stressful- and confusing!! It sounds like you have a good plan, and good supportive midwives to help with your thinking.
I feel really lucky with my midwives and my hospital, but the hospital does tend to be a bit enthusiastic with offering scans and tests and the ensuing procedures. It's great to have midwives who really focus on my choices and attitude to intervention and risk. I feel like they will really help have the birth I want, and also make sure that the baby and I will be safe- and have the medical might of the hospital if we need it.

plonko yes, why on earth are so many consultants so rubbish at bedside manner?? Surely makes their job harder to have confused/ upset patients?!

tramp I thought I'd be working up to the last minute (I'm freelance...) too, but I'm so glad my main client persuaded me that this isn't a good idea. Next week is my last, and I'm very very ready for it!
Also, I am so behind on baby prep, I really need some time for that!!

Has anyone heard if zoey is still hanging on in there? Fingers crossed!

Grotty, I'm never offered anything at my hospital - been left to my own devices since 24 weeks! Would almost welcome a bit more in the way of over-cautiousness sometimes...

The whole place is so over subscribed they just want to tick you off the list. Hoping the actual delivery ward will be different

Plonko I really hope you're able to let them know how much anxiety this induction idea is causing you. I can imagine at this point you just want to be able to trust them to be doing the right things and at the moment they're just doing random things instead. Sounds like they want to cover their backs but in a bit of an over zealous way... Be forthright and don't be pushed into it!

Sorry I meant Rainbow!

grotty zoey is still hanging on!

Rainbow I agree with Leni, don't let them force this on you.

My hospital seems to lean towards overcautiousness too, Grotty. My first scan revealed two large but simple ovarian cysts, one 4cm and one 6cm. By 20 weeks one had disappeared and the other was 2cm. I was scheduled for a growth scan at 34 weeks and kept in consultant care!
Needless to say the 34 week scan revealed nothing - baby so big we couldn't find my ovaries! To think this (IMO) non-issue could put me under cons care seemed a bit much. I could understand if I'd had previous complications, but I haven't.

Still, at least I know that should something become a concern my hospital will take it seriously and quickly take the necessary steps to remain in control.

Well to be fair when cysts do cause complications they're nasty - so better to be cautious. Or at least I'd want them to be cautious. I'd certainly be asking a lot of questions if they'd been blasé about them.

Whilst you do want birth you'd like and plan ultimately healthy happy baby is the goal and sometimes best laid plans have to be foregone. It'll all seem worth it when that baby is in your arms though.

leni and tramp that's why I feel so lucky! Much better to have the things offered, and I feel like my midwives are really good at helping me make my own properly informed decisions about what to take up, without getting overly worried if there is no need to be. The same midwives will be delivering my baby whether I go into hospital or not, so I feel I can totally trust them to keep me and baby safe, and to make plans that suit me and the inevitably changing situation. So I won't be making weird decisions out of fear or ignorance. Birth definitely seems like a best laid plans situation- you just can't know in advance, so really trusting your practitioners seems important.

plonko glad your cysts faded away rather than caused anything untoward. Very stressful though! Are you still in consultant led care? Was it jojo who had to have a cyst operated on? Thinking of her up in Aberdeen!

Rainbow you are absolutely right, there probably is no medical indication for this! Problem is there is a lack of evidence for lots of things in Obstetrics and often it's just doing things for reassurance if between the medics and patients it is agreed the benefit outweighs risk. When someone's had a previous tragic outcome lots of consultants offer early induction for reassurance only but it sounds like you're being very sensible about it. Induction does come with risks and if you're managing how you feel about your pregnancy this time so well and the risks for you personally outweigh the benefit then you're quite right to carry on as long as you feel comfortable with it! Does sound like your consultant hasn't managed to explain this very well though. The job of docs is to be able to explain all risks and benefits of any suggestions they make and then help you come to the right decision for you based on that information, if they haven't then make next available appointment and go with a list of questions about it. They're obviously just trying to do what they think might be right for you but not involving you enough in the discussion! Hope you'll feel better about it soon!

Went to a wedding yesterday and had a lovely day and did manage to spend the entire day in heels, fit in a bit of dancing and put a very drunk DH to bed after he fell over trying to get undressed! Was very proud of myself and very glad I didn't go into labour early but today I'm completely shattered! Going to snooze on the sofa with the PuppyMonster.

Hope everyone's enjoying a lazy Sunday!

Thanks to all for the kind comments - feeling a bit better today. grotty your point about making decisions out of fear or ignorance is exactly right. Provided I am happy that I have had all the relevant information and discussed risks/benefits fully then I can feel confident in my decisions and put the 'what ifs' aside. I would never ignore sound medical advice - in the face of evidence that something is not quite right I would be taking all the medical assistance available that would help to secure a good outcome. Like tramp says having a happy healthy baby is the goal. Problem with unnecessary induction is that it does inherently have additional risks to mum and baby so just don't think it should be undertaken lightly. For me, there needs to be more benefit to an induction than just purely physiological benefit in order to outweigh the risks.

soyo thank you for your perspective - I think early induction for reassurance only is exactly what is being offered here. I appreciate that many people in my position would perhaps jump at it to keep their sanity by having a fixed date for labour just for the waiting and worrying to be over. I think the consultant and midwives are just very surprised that my DH and I don't feel like this - for us, our peace of mind is just not as valuable as minimising risks to baby and accepting an early induction without medical indication would go against this. Its just always really disconcerting to go against 'policy' and hard not to second guess yourself in case perhaps you misinterpreted the information/recommendations you are being given.

Hope everyone is having a great relaxing weekend!