The Definitlies - May 2014ers!

[MrsFooCough]

Almost there now, May mums!

Stats page: docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvygwA-EKhURdDMwQWNNWGt0cHhmVkloazVVQ0hYNUE#gid=0

Size of baby chart: m.thebump.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-tools/articles/how-big-is-baby.aspx?MsdVisit=1

Dobe I think if you prop yourself up a bit it's ok to lie on your back. I saw a good infographic about it - will try and dig it out!!

I think it's ok if you lie at 15 degrees! Here's the pic I saw

s1237.photobucket.com/user/1CatherineM1/media/HuffandPuff001.jpg.html

Taken from this mumsnet thread which is useful

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1060893-laying-on-back-during-pregnancy/AllOnOnePage

Hope these links work...

Brilliant, thanks for these!

I left my university degree when I was pregnant and I have to admit that I do sometimes regret it - although I wouldn't have actually done anything practical should I have achieved the qualification!
It's a bit of a catch-22 and I will just let you know that whatever logical, pragmatic, sensible decision you make now may be completely blown out of the water by your new baby

Curls I had pre eclampsia with my first, detected quite early. It's a bit of a pain in the bum because every midwife visit I would get sent to the hospital for monitoring but depending on the severity then they can give you blood pressure tablets (can't remember the name) to reduce the risk.

The main worry is oxygen to the baby (which sounds horrific but can be easily dealt with) for example I'm on a low dose of aspirin every day which hopefully increases the babys supply or something? They don't know if I have it again but I'm constantly dizzy and seeing stars so I assume I do... It can be quite dangerous if left untreated but is usually well monitored if they catch it

Thanks for the support everyone! Much appreciated. Non pregnant people just don't 'get' it do they?

nannyplum and dobe thankyou for sharing your experiences, very reassuring. I hope I get signed off from work, ha!

Forgot to say before, we are also having a boy! moobaloo Freddy is top of our list too!

Thanks for that info re lying on your back hezbean, I've been having similar issues and the 'Expecting Better' book isn't as reassuring on this as it is on most issues. That diagram is really helpful so I might give that a try. Would be interesting so hear what your mw says if you do ask her dobe. I'm not due to see mine for ages as my next check-up will be with gp.

Is anyone else getting lots of headaches? I know this is relatively common but most things I've read seem to imply this is more of a first trimester thing while all the hormones are going crazy. I know it can also be a symptom of pre-eclampsia but I'd assumed that wasn't something to worry about this early on - obviously not the case given others' experiences! I'm pretty sure I don't have any other symptoms though (eg no dizziness or swelling).

I had my midwife appointment earlier and she confirmed that I have SPD. Damn it. I've been referred to physiotherapy and advised to take painkillers to help with sleeping at night. She advocated pillows, lots to prop me up if I'm on my back, pillow between my knees, no moving my legs far apart and no crazy exercise. I could just see DH calculating how we could shag if I can't move my legs apart! lol

Also, she's moved forward my GTT test to week 25 - the earliest possible appointment. I had high sugar in my urine after not eating for 12 hours before the sample. I told her I had concerns about feeling shaky and ill and thirsty after eating sugary food, and this is the third consecutive time I've had sugar in my urine. I'm so scared of blood - I will not cope very well with having to test it daily at all

Other than that - the baby is measuring exactly correct for dates, good strong heartbeat. Even with the spd and potential diabetes, I still feel a million times better than the first 13-14 weeks, so I can't complain too much.

Oh and off topic of pregnancy, but I'm on the cusp of winning a huge contract at work, the kind of contract that would result in a hefty pay rise, huge bonus and probably a promotion as well. Three months before I frigging leave. Typical! It's made me wonder whether I should come back after the baby or not now! I wasn't going to, but this would probably double my salary - I'm tempted!

Dobedo it's really hard isn't it as we first timers have no idea how we will feel about work after the baby is born. My plan is to take 9 months leave then go back 2 days a week but they won't confirm in advance whether I can definitely come back 2 days a week. Another teacher at my school had to come back in 5 days a week but only 2 or so hours each day due to the timetable. That would be an absolute nightmare with child care, etc if they did that to me! At my job though if you don't go back for at least a certain period you have to pay back all the money they gave you for maternity leave.

Sorry to hear you're having a crap time of it dobe hope you feel better soon!

mrsmummy I'm an ex-teacher and at my old school they did everything possible to make it as difficult as possible to come back part time! If you can manage without your contractual mat pay then you can opt not to be paid it... If you go back you get a lump sum and if not you've nothing to pay back!

I have my scan tomorrow at 11:10am. Nervous

mrsmummy another teacher here- secondary if that makes a difference. My school are pretty good. I've done 3 days a week since I came back after having DS- full days. There are a number of part timers, and those with pre-school children get prioritised I think in timetabling (unfortunately this does mean the other part timers get pretty shafted). I intend to carry on with my 3 days after this one, already made that clear as timetabling will start as soon as I go on maternity and I intend to go back next Jan. I've been there almost 10 years so don't know if this also makes a difference.

dobe I also have PGP/SPD, have done since 15 weeks or so with this preg, started about 22 weeks last time. Physio helps- I have exercises and she does some manipulation thing on my lower back- but it's not miraculous unfortunately. Plastic bag on the car seat so you can swivel in and out with knees together. Sit down to do anything like shoes, socks, trousers... loads more advice here. Last time I ended up being signed off for the last couple of weeks before I started ML. I'm hoping to go longer this time, but it depends how bad it gets. And as for sex, well... my pelvis feels so unstable it's completely out of the question at the moment.

Squiffie good luck for tomorrow.

Moomin hope you get some more useful advice that helps you make the right decision- the right one for you.

I had my second anomaly scan today (after TFMR) and all is good so that's a relief. Also confirmed we are having a girl, which we found out at the first one. So feeling much more relaxed about things- as was our DD it would seem. 23 weeks, so less than 16 to go :)

waves/hugs as appropriate to everyone else and Alyss, if you are reading this, you're in my thoughts x

dobe congrats on the work thing, even if it does make future decisions more difficult!

Sorry to hear about the spd. Can I ask about your symptoms? I think I'm developing it - I get a tight, stiff feeling in my groin/pelvis, a bit like I've pulled a muscle. It's particularly bad when I've been sitting down in a relatively hard seat (office chair, train etc) for a while. Did the mw examine you in any way to diagnose it? I was seeing a physio because of my back problem and she was a bit dismissive when I mentioned this, so I'm not sure she knows much about pregnancy issues. I'll mention it to my gp but I've seen lots of people on here saying lots of hcps tend not to know much about it. It's good that your mw was helpful.

Moomin I mentioned a few threads ago that I had been in your position with my son - had him in the summer between 2nd and 3rd year of uni.
I don't know how much has changed in student finance since and I don't know your exact circumstances but I got a childcare loan which practically doubled my loan. I only used childcare 2 days a week so I had money left over.
I continued to live fairly frugally and babies don't have to be expensive! My partner worked 2 days a week and that helped.
I know it is really daunting but it can be done. A friend on my course went for the option of doing the final year part time.

Teachers on here, anyone got a handy way of working out take home pay? Bursar being next to useless keeps telling me when the pay will drop to next reduction but I know this, just want someone to tell me what I'm getting each month with reductions, tax etc. Tried finding a spreadsheet/calculator on Tes, nut etc but no luck! Anyone had more helpful bursars or payroll than me?!

loopy she just asked me questions and pushed my knees apart until they hurt and said that it was classic spd.
My symptoms at the minute is just a generally sore pelvis. It gets worse as the day goes on, taking a step hurts, getting in our out of the car hurts and moving in bed the past couple of nights is impossible. I've had to get out of bed and get back in a different way just to change position. When I take off my trousers I can feel my hips clicking/grinding! My lower back hurts too but I'm not sure if this is spd or just a sore back. I hope it doesn't get too much worse because taking time off work isn't an option.

psynl that's so reassuring to hear, thank you! I haven't been able to have a proper look at my student finance options, the websites are all a bit confusing and different rules for Welsh students etc but it's so reassuring to hear it can be done as it feels like so far the overwhelming opinion I've heard in real life is people sucking their teeth and telling me if I really cared about my baby, I'd drop out of uni (nothing to do with the practical side, all about me not caring for my baby by wanting to go back to uni at six months) so the support on here is so much appreciated, from everyone :)

blanket thanks for the info, will have a proper look when I'm not trying to cook dinner and deal with ds!

God I have been feeling really ill today!
Had quite bad d and v, with only nausea no v.... Sorry tmi ... And I feel so dizzy all the time and like I haven't eaten anything all day ( you know that empty headed stomach feeling?) had to lie down at work - now I have a cracking headache! Any idea what it could be or do I just take a couple of paracetamol and live with it?

can't exactly empathise with the SPD but can sympathise with the pain! I'm hypermobile and am suffering so badly already, the physio gave me a support belt yesterday so I'll see how that helps, but I get alot of burning feelings in my hips and back. also scared myself a little reading another thread about hypermobility and the increased risk of forceps, venteuse (sp?) & tearing one lady said she was an inpatient for 8 Weeks before giving birth because of it! eek!
stressful day today with an exam this morning so cooking out tonight with a bubble bath and early night
loving the name Freddie by the way!

For those of you suffering with SPD get referred to a physio by the midwives asos the exercises and guidance and support belt can really help.

I had it really badly last pregnancy and was signed off work from 26 weeks last time as I couldn't sit in a chair for longer than 30-60 mins at a time.

The general rules are if something hurts don't do it. But you can't always tell till the end of the day that something has caused a problem.

Keep knees together as much as possible so get dressed and put shoes on sitting down, swing legs to get out of car , go up stairs one at a time, no sitting crossed legs, turning over in bed engage pelvic floor before attprimg to turn, or just move your head to other end of the bed, pillow between knees and bump in bed and duvet under the sheet to help.

No pushing shopping trolleys! AlL the control comes from your pelvis and be v careful swimming and never do breast stroke. No lifting.

I also found acupuncture amazing last time.

I have had twinges since 7 weeks so have taken all the steps above and it is ok so far I just take it v easy as I have a toddler to look after so I really need to stay mobile and off crutches this time.

potato there are also lots of threads on how quick and easy labours are with hyper mobility :) mine was 1.5 hours 3cm to birth as everything was no flexible. So focus on the positives. But hypermobilty is the cause of my SPD so you gave to take the bad with the good.

My pelvis has just started paining me these last few days. I'm being very careful when turning, taking off and putting on shoes and socks and lifting. I find a small pillow between my knees when I sleep helps a bit.

This website is good for info. pelvicpartnership.org.uk

Unfortunately it is not recognised as treatable problem in Finland so no help from the midwife. It got me really down during my last pregnancy.

Thanks to all for the spd info. it doesn't seem to hurt parting my legs (in fact it's more comfortable) so maybe it's not that. Ah well, I can live with it for now and will mention it at next appointment.

moomin - I think I've also mentioned a friend of mine before, who had a baby after her first year of uni. She switched to an open uni degree (and was able to transfer credits from the part of her course she'd already done). I'm not sure how it all worked financially though. There are definitely options so don't give up, and definitely don't let anyone suggest you're being uncaring - that's ridiculous!

Thanks squiffie & blanket. Squiffie, I hadn't heard of that - sounds great but unfortunately think we will need the money coming in. Good luck for your scan tomorrow!

Blanket, I'm at secondary too so I'm really hoping my school will be as understanding as your sounds! Congrats on your lovely scan news :)

Sorry Irish, I'm no more clued up that you but if anyone on here knows I'd also be interested!