January's new May thread

[MrsFooCough]

All of us May mummies are BACK like the Terminator only less deadly (unless preggo rage strikes and we're within waddling distance of sharp things)

Stats page

Baby size chart

Have a , some , and TELL US EVERYTHING ~listening intently~

Home,soon!!!

Argh , dd's got a cough and cold and kept me up half the night. Am so tired this morning whereas she's perky as a pancake!

Oh forgot to say, the midwife will see me this afternoon to check the baby, but I did have a few movements this morning anyway. He's probably just being lazy!

Good luck this afternoon dobe!

Is anyone else doing pre-natal exercise classes? I've just signed up for a course of pre-natal yoga sessions. They are for pregnant women & apparently also teach you relaxation techniques to use during the birth. I haven't really done any exercise this whole pregnancy so think it will be good for me!

I'm off to ante-natal yoga this afternoon mrsmummy! I've been going since 17wks and find it great (relaxation techniques etc). I swim 3 x a week too which is so lovely as you can exercise 'properly' without worrying about the inconvenience of bouncing bump and boobs! Have pretty much given up everything else (except walking the hounds!)... had my last ride on my horse last weekend as decided the time had come to call it a day, and haven't run since christmas :-( Hoping I'll bounce back into everything quickly afterwards (haha... the naivety of the first timer!!)

Hope you enjoy your yoga - I'm really enjoying mine!

Ladies, please could I pick your brains on the GTT? Glucose Tolerance Test.

My midwife has decided to refer me for one, purely because my sister had Gestational Diabetes in her first pregnancy, but avoided it in her second and third.

I don't think I need to be tested as I have no risk factors (as per NHS info below), but my reluctance is also due to the sheer inconvenience - I have no childcare available and will have to wangle a minimum-four-hour favour from a friend, first thing in the morning, none of whom this would be an easy ask for.

I'm 26+3 now so if I'm doing it have to book in at the hospital dept ASAP.
What do you ladies reckon?
I've queried it with the midwife and will have to wait a few days for her to get back to me.

NHS GD info says:
You're more likely to develop gestational diabetes if:
you're overweight, with a BMI (body mass index) above 30 (use the BMI healthy weight calculator, but note that this calculator is not suitable for use during pregnancy)
you've given birth to a large baby, weighing more than 4.5kg (9.9lb), in the past
you've had gestational diabetes before
you have a parent, brother, sister or grandparent with diabetes
your origin is south Asian, black Caribbean or Middle Eastern

If you're in any of these higher risk categories, you should be offered a test to check for gestational diabetes. You may be given a home testing kit to check your blood glucose levels, or you may be offered an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT or GTT) at 28 weeks or earlier.

Thanks bushprincess, I'm really looking forward to it! Wow your exercise regime is still pretty impressive! I'm also thinking about how quickly/if I'll bounce back afterwards..!

Longtailedtit, is the GTT the one where you have to drink lucozade & then wait an hour? I'm having to have that too even though I'm not in a high risk category. I got the impression it was pretty standard for first pregnancy. Might be wrong though.

Swimming is really good to do whilst pregnant. Ive done it with both dds and going to start going again next week. I attribute both my labours being quick and easy to me having gone swimming 2/3 times a week covering 1.5k each session.

mrsmummy that's what's bugging me tho, this is my second! I def didn't do it for my first, and the only friends that have had it have had one or more risk factors.

Apparently here you have to fast for 12hrs, so the appointments are first thing, you drink the sugar drink at Hosp, then wait 2-3hrs, then get tested again.
It means dropping DS off at a friend at 7:30/8, then rushing to the hospital for the test, then picking him up at 11:30/12.
Bit of an ask/pain in the arse for what I think is an unnecessary test!

They still check my peepots at every midwife appt anyway, so I can't figure out why I need the GTT, given I have no risk factors.

I've been to one pregnancy yoga class so far and really enjoyed it.

Bush I'm really impressed with your exercise regime too. I've been saying for ages how I'll go swimming, but somehow I still haven't managed to make it there.

That might sound a bit mental of me to do 1.5km each time, ive always been a swimmer. Don't push too hard and stick with breast stroke.

Morning all.

mrsmummytobe - I think it depends on the area you live in. here, you only get referred for GTT if you have any of the risks factors or if you start measuring big.

I'm on my second early 12h shift in a row - two 04:40am starts have nearly killed me. I am also getting kicked to pieces, so I think the monster objects as well. Oh well. I'm off for a couple of weeks after this.

Has anyone made a decision yet about when they will stop working?

I keep meaning to go back to swimming as well. I was doing it a couple of times a week, but then MS kicked in and I was scared I was going to throw up halfway down the pool. I am managing to do some cross trainer, but need to start up swimming again. May go tomorrow morning before my 24 week midwife check. I'm sure she won't mind if I smell of chlorine!

I am going to look at yoga/pilates too. I used to do pilates three times a week when I was overseas - I miss it!

kally and others, re stopping work -

Don't forget to look at when the Bank Holidays fall when you're planning your maternity leave.
The lady who organised my leave from work was a good mate and helped me figure out the most beneficial working plan - I managed to do 4 day weeks throughout my last 6 weeks, arranging them around Bank Holidays and booking a couple of annual leave days too. It made the last month a lot easier to manage, as my commute was nearly 2hrs each way.

I hadn't thought about BHols when I first approached her with a leaving date, her date juggling meant I got paid for another fortnight. :)

tit (hope you don't mind me calling you that ) That was really good of her. Unfortunately I am on an annualised hours agreement, so BHols don't count for me. I can't complain though, as I get a really good maternity package from work. OH has said I don't have to go back after if I don't want to as well....

I have put down at the moment that my maternity will start on my due date. I am starting to think that finishing a bit earlier (around the 6th May) might be better - I work in France and, whilst giving birth out here wouldn't be the end of the world, I would rather go into labour in the UK! That and the 12 hour shifts (48 hours one week, 36 the next) including nightshifts are only going to get tougher. Work are great and have said I can change whatever whenever, but I am still unsure when to start my actual leave.

I'm finished [does a dance of joy] got signed off for 2 weeks yesterday and I'm finishing at. 28 weeks so that carries me through!! Woop woop

I'm finishing on 3rd April, I'll be 34+5 as I'm finding 2.5hrs in car daily hard now. I'm similarly doing 4 day weeks for my last 4 weeks and I already WFH one or two days/week.

I'm at home today and my lower back is really sore. Hoping a swim later will help somehow. I had an ongoing lower back issue before pregnancy that I'm managing to keep in check at the mo. Not today though.

I had my GTT yesterday due to PCOS and a family history of diabeties in the family. Despite not having any sign of diabeties with my DD. The consequences of un managed diabeties in pregnancy can be very severe so I would have one if you have indicators one is nessersary. 3 hours out of your life now is much easier to deal with.

I am very down my SPD has got so much worse over the last 10 days. It's making looking after DD v difficult I can't lift her or push the pushchair. And can only walk for about 5 minutes. I need to keep doing stuff but getting out the house is increasingly difficult. I am 27 weeks today so it feels like an eternity to go at the moment.

I had the same thing with DD and was signed off work from 26 weeks but I could rest when needed and didn't have anyone else to worry about.

Just not sure what I can do differently to avoid the pain and making it worse.

Hey everyone - thank you for your kind words and advice.
I find it difficult to walk the dog actually, haven't been able to for some months, as my balance has been shocking since bump first made an appearance and Little Dog is a puller (we've tried EVERYTHING to get her to walk well on the lead but she's an Italian greyhound and she just wants to run, we can't let her off lead anywhere except fully enclosed gardens so she can get a bit frustrated with just running on the extendable lead sometimes). She pulled me over flat on my face/belly in about week 10 of pg so DH banned me from walking her.
I agree that getting out more would be good for me! Once my maternity jeans (that only got ordered last night because I put off asking for things as I absolutely hate being such a financial burden on my over-worked DH and under-paid DM) arrive I will finally be able to leave the house, my stupid maternity leggings from Next (bought 3 pairs back in November) are too thin to wear in the cold winds we get here in The Ruralness, and they have HOLES in already. I don't have a swimming cossie that would fit me, and we can't afford membership of our local gym/pool anyway unless I can make it to the Sure Start centre apparently, I shall be asking DH if we can go there this Saturday and find out what's what, neighbours with 8mth girl said that if you register there they get you free/heavily discounted membership and your whole family gets some money off too. That sounds good.
I def think I've got depression. I had it for years and came off Citalopram over a year ago now, when we started TTC. I knew I'd get it, but DH is really scared of me going on any antideps (he's terrified of anything happening to the baby, he often half wakes in the night exclaiming "don't let them get to Bean" over and over again) so I don't know what to do. I know there's no risk to the baby as pre and post-natal depression have been so widely studied and there are many options for me, but I just don't want to scare him.

Thank you again, I'm feeling a lot better today. DH has seen a job advertised that's exactly what he does now for £20k more than he's currently paid. If he gets that job he'd be SO much happier, he hates that he can't buy me stuff or spare money for me to pop out of a weekend with my mum or him for a coffee and a potter around town. Trouble is, if he leaves the current job and gets this new one, there's going to be that irritating month in lieu of any pay when we'll be worse off than ever, not able to make rent or anything like that, and it'll probably be JUST before the baby comes. I can't help thinking it's GOT to be done but how in god's name are we going to manage?!

Sorry sorry, big rant, I don't really know what to do. Le sigh

mrsfoo a lot of businesses recognise that a month without pay is terribly hard for most people so will pay in weekly or two weekly instalments for the first month - all your dh has to do is ask. I don't know a single business I've worked with lately (I work with about 15 on a weekly basis) who won't do this.

kally I'm stopping working on 7th April. I have spd which is killing me already so by then I'll be 35 weeks. I'm taking 3 weeks holiday (which I would have taken pregnant or not because of ds's easter holidays) and starting maternity leave on 28th April when I'll be 38 and a half weeks.
Also our holiday year runs from April to April so that works out well too AND it's the new tax year so I'm hoping I can avoid being taxed on my maternity pay.

I have my GTT tomorrow and I'm shitting myself. I HATE blood and needles. I have had sugar in my urine 4 times now (even after fasting) so either I have "leaky kidneys" or diabetes. I'm hoping for the former.

OH! I meant to say - I went to see the midwife and she had a feel of the baby and listened in. The reason I've not felt him as much lately is because he's transverse with his back to my back. He's got much more room to wave about, but his hands and feet might not be connecting much with me.

I thought he was transverse this morning because my belly was lopsided. She said if I go on all fours it might encourage him into a better position. I'm still in work now, so it might not be appropriate in the office but I'll have a go this evening!

That's a relief to know Dobe, glad all is well with your bean. Tricky blighters! We're just back from two week hol - I took all our Christmas choc & ate what I wanted when I wanted. And the midwife could tell! Sugar in my urine for first time today, only a trace but still detectable. Back to being good(ish) I guess, sigh....

Mine keeps being breach so am hoping it rights that in the next couple of months because that could be tricky!

Just re read post, it doesn't sound right! Trying to say that sugar levels increased for me because I ate lots of rubbish but not at all saying that's why others have higher sugar levels. I was caught out by the ever knowing midwife!

Really dobe ? EXCELLENT I shall give DH my blessing forthwith. The place he's at now is ok I suppose, big famous entertainment company, international and all that, but his role was kind of created for him and I've become increasingly sure that they had no idea what they actually needed from him. He's doing a job in Central London as an international IT support guru and he's getting £45k. It's bonkers when he's doing the work of two men and the assistant they brought in to help him actually creates more work than he gets done. So this other job may be perfect, Central London still so we know what to expect with travel costs, but £20k more is just brilliant. Exactly what he deserves. I have a feeling they'll snap him up and practically bite his hand off they'll be so keen! Don't want to jinx it though so no specifics just in case THEY ARE WATCHING