Easter is approaching, and the PESH are laying all over the place!

[maamalady]

Antenatal fred fun for BESH graduates

CRESH

Faith - pinky faithlet arrived 14th April 2013
Pinkr - suitably pinky one arrived 25th August 2013
Jethro - blue one arrived 23rd September 2013
Noks - pink one arrived 12th January 2014

PESH

Frankel - EDD 4th March ANY TIME NOW
Sinky - EDD 18th March
Merks - EDD 21st March
Driz - EDD 7th June
Draf - EDD 19th June
Kat - EDD 20th June
Winks - EDD 26th June
Dor - EDD 18th August
Ginger - 20th August
Euro - 28th August

PESH-in-hiding
Bugs - EDD approx 21st October

I'm already over not getting the birth I want. That's what I mean by the picture in my mind of birth having changed. I am mostly upset because I feel like my body is failing centime. I'm so rubbish at making babies. :(

I know but you are doing okay far, whatever you think.

Also a more medical delivery doesn't necessarily mean flat on your back. You can see be mobile whilst bring monitored. Don't write it all off yet.

I didn't mean to be flippant earlier. The one thing I have discovered so far is everything about getting pregnant, staying pregnant, growing a baby, having a baby and raising a child, everything is a compromise of what and how I thought it would and should be.

Kat and dor are very wise, euro. Bear in mind also that right now, at your last scan, centime is absolutely fine - you are growing your baybee and you are both okay. Increased risk does not mean a guarantee that there will be a serious problem. You may go in for the next scan and find that your arteries are coping well.

Baby school yesterday went through pain relief options during birth, positions, induction, and monitoring - water is only one of those options. Continuous monitoring may not be necessary, and if it is, you have plenty of other ways to stay mobile and as relaxed as possible. Some people plan to have water births and then find it's not for them after all.

It is hard, I know, but you can and will cope with the worry and care for your baby :)

HOTB has just reminded me baby school told us that our local hospitals have a wireless waterproof continuous monitoring system (referred to as "telemetry", needs the batteries charging before use so warn your birth centre before you go in) so needing monitoring need not completely exclude the possibility of a water birth. Might be worth asking your midwife if that's available at your hospital too, euro?

Thanks draf. Those are exactly the sorts of things we need to speak to the mw about tomorrow, as well as figuring out how to get consultant care if we need it (and I suspect we probably do). I've heard of the wireless monitoring, but apparently not all hospitals have it, so I need to find out what the deal is at our local hospital.

I feel a bit better after a good sleep. As well as the nap yesterday, I slept from midnight to almost 10am, so about 11.5 hrs in total, which is unheard of for me.

bugs I think that's normal at this stage. Next thing you know, the bump will pop!

The gap between the scans is hard bugs, you don't have a bump yet and you don't feel movement either. Its normal not to feel especially pregnant in the second trimester. I find the 16 week midwife appointment really helps if they listen to the heartbeat, it breaks up the long wait for the 20 week scan.

It's hard. I think this time around every time you have felt negative things have always turned out OK. I guess you just have to sit tight and hold onto that.

I found the wait between scans tough too. I did get to hear centime at the 16 week check and that was reassuring for me. I also started expanding rapidly around that point, which was a good sign that something was going on in there.

It is a milestone Bugs

We're doing ok, mastitis feels like it's clearing up but my boob is still too swollen and hard for E to latch to. I'm having to express every couple of hours which is pretty soul destroying at night as E has slept 10-4 and 10-5.30 the last two nights, but I still have to get up to express

E has also got a bit of bottom trouble at the moment - no poo since Thursday. I'm not worried, as she went almost 6 days without pooing when she was a week old, but she's obviously uncomfortable as she keeps squirming and crying before letting out a big fart. Poor love.

This week I need to get my boob fixed so am of to 2 breastfeeding groups. We also have our first baby group on Wednesday and a baby massage class on Friday. Also on Friday we're sorting out our Wills. It's a depressing subject but something we had planned to do when E came along, unfortunately HWHNN's upcoming deployment has meant we need to do it quickly and I've not found it easy to talk about. Sorting out a Will just before he goes just feels awfully pessimistic and I've been crying (again!) quite a lot over it. God knows what the solicitor will think of me.

We have written wills. We need to go and sign them though! It didn't find it depressing actually. I found it positive to know that Faithlet will be taken care of should the worst happen.

Congratulations on reaching the second trimester bugs. Big milestone and hopefully you can look forward to feeling a lot better. More energy, less feeling pants!

Sounds like things are improving Frank. I hope the boob fixing is successful. Mine are finally shrinking a week after stopping BF. I miss it a bit but she's not 'asked' for it so she's coped ok with stopping.

I have the lurgy. Had to leave work yesterday as I was sick. I also have this weird aching in my legs and back. Not fun!

Yes, it's a fantastic milestone, bugs.

I hope you are feeling better faif!

frank it is good that the mastitis seems to be clearing up. I hope E's troubles ease soon.

We don't have wills. Until now, I've been happy to follow the intestacy rules. I might have to have a rethink in light of changing circumstances though.

I had my mw visit today. She was fairly chilled about the scan issue but did suggest that I might want to get a scan around 24 weeks for reassurance. I'll have a think. She said that a consultant referral would normally be made if the problem persists after 28 weeks, so I guess all I can do now is wait. (Gah, more waiting.)

We had a lovely wander around Greenwich this afternoon, which has lifted my spirits a bit (even if the traffic was horrific). I'm feeling less under the weather too.

I tried maternity tights but they were awful! If I need to wear a dress I put on long maternity leggings under it plus boots.

I'll second the leggings advice. I gave up tights months ago.

Evening hags.

Euro glad your midwife was chilled. I know it's hard, but if she's not concerned I hope it makes you feel a bit better.

Bugs sorry about the discomfort. I actually liked the Mothercare maternity tights but then I was at my biggest through the winter when thick tights were just what I needed.

We're getting E's tongue tie snipped tomorrow. It's gone on long enough and she's not out growing it so the time has come.

Boob is still swollen so I'm still expressing like a mad thing . E is also going through a nasty stage of screaming at the top of her lungs for what feels like ages. I think she has some trapped wind which isn't helping. The only saving grace is that she has slept 10.30-4ish the last 3 nights.