September 2014 - we're over half way there!

[HippyJess]

Shiny noo thread with only 4 full months to go! Where did the time go??

Tea I didn't have retained placenta but they had to work on my manually down there for a while which was painful but wasn't really with it. Definitely need a birth plan this time if I go vaginally then epidural it is as I want to be induced again rather than wait with the epi if I have the same time again then at least its pain free

missb thinking of you x

Hey just checking as has hadn't posted for a while.

Had 2nd 20-week scan on Wednesday (then 22 weeks) and she behaved herself really well this time and so sonographer was able to complete all her measurements. Apparently baby is growing well and no abnormalities detected so obviously very happy. Decided to pop into Mothercare on way home (was thinking about maybe buying a celebratory baby outfit or similar) when stumbled across a ex-display Joie travel system that they had just put on sale today. Apparently they no longer wanted to display the travel system in the colour jade as it's always out of stock in that colour, so they were selling off their display model in that colour to avoid having to keep annoying all their customers. Normally the whole travel system would have been £480 (buggy, pram and car seat, plus all the covers etc) but because it was ex-display it was £200!! We snapped it up! :) It's got a couple of small scuff marks on the wheels where it's obviously been for a few 'test-runs', but ultimately brand new. Just got everything else still to buy now! Am planning on hitting one of the NCT 'Nearly New' sales at some point to try and grab some other bargains.

Hope everyone else is well. xxx

MrsBrightside sorry about all the waiting and stress you must be under. Have been thinking of you. **

So today my boobs are leaking and I feel like I've got the worst PMS ever.... Please someone tell me that's normal, and tell me how to not want to strangle everybody!!

ilove good idea to go with a birth plan, we have a senior midwife at the hospital helping to write ours as it all went so horribly wrong last time. Definitely worth requesting the epidural early if you want to be pain free! Personally I'm not too worried about the pain, just that what the doctor did is apparently not routine, I didn't get a choice in the matter and I suspect it's been left off my notes, so there's no proof of it at all. The consultant said it was 'barbaric', it's the principle for me more than anything.

Hope everyone's ok today, I feel better than I have done in ages, maybe it's this lovely weather .

The weather is nice as long as theres a breeze! Dont like feeling too hot. All this hot weather is making me want to jump on dh is that normal lol.

Tea the worst pain was actually giving birth but would rather them be able to do what they need to rather than worry about telling me to use the gas and air and changing the mouth pieces. Dr kept saying take a big breath of it and it will help.

Wow the baby is really kicking, I love it!

Tea and others who are writing birth plans, what do your plans cover?

My birth plan is pretty basic; birthing pool if possible, I'd rather not have an epidural, delay cord clamping and under no circumstances have forcepts to be used as the baby could possibly be hypermobile.

I'm not entirely sure tbh, as despite having 3 DCs I have never written one before! As far as I know you state preferences for what you would like to happen during labour.
Obviously, no one can predict what will happen so I think it's mainly writing down things that you can control to some extent.Things like pain relief, active labour, and foetal monitoring as far as I know.
It's also if you have any special requests such as opting for an episiotomy (not recommended anymore), or if you would like an epidural as soon as you can etc.

Of course very often people change their minds, or something happens medically which requires a change of plan.

I've always just gone with the flow as it were, but the consultant wants us to write one this time, I think mainly so we feel we have some control back.

Whoops, didn't read your question properly inbloom

My personal plan so far is just going to include constant foetal monitoring and that if anything seems even slightly wrong, I will be taken down for c section immediately. These two are purely because of the abruption I had before.
I might see if I can have anti sickness drugs too. I have needed them before as I tend to be violently sick all through labour - might be better to have them before the sickness starts!

OMG, I just stepped on the scales and in the last five weeks Ive gained 7.5lbs. So in total Ive gained 11.5lbs. It feels like more but the numbers still shocked me. Ive checked it against the pg weight gain calculator and is very much on the low side of normal at 24 weeks but given how fast it has gone on I really do need to watch what I eat.

Im finding that I need to eat all the time and I don't always want fruit and salad! cake, chocolate, ice-cream is more to my taste

missb how are you? Have been thinking of you. xx
coolcat leaky boobs very normal, I remember that from last pg. Not had it yet from this one. Might be worth getting some breast pads.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Don't worry whiteblossom. I weighed myself the other day and I've already put on about 15 pounds and I'm only 22 weeks. My baby also has a sweet tooth. Baby wants cake, biscuits, ice cream and cheesecake! xxx

Strawberrygashes - why no forceps if baby might be hypermobile? Why might baby be hypermobile?

Just curious as I'm hypermobile and want to know if there is anything I should be aware of!

Oooo cheesecake. I had asdas extra special cheesecake at mums yesterday mmmm was delicious

my birth plan
I want to be induced at latest term.
I want to be induced by the breaking waters rather than all the faffing around with pessaries as ds1 is sn tube fed cant really handle change and family can't really handle his sn. The quicker baby is out and ive been given all clear to go home the better. I want bloods doing before being sent home and urine testing as I get utis aftee delivery. I want an epidural or spinal and if I have to got to theatre for anything then I want either husband or mum with me.
I want to bf as soon as possible. If possible that baby isnt given bottle first unless im too ill too.
Does that sound reasonable?

Ps thats the first time ive done a birth plan in this pregnancy

Oohh and I want to know how they will manage another hemorrhage im sure its something like 3rd stage active management or something bloods n fluids ready too

coolcat hypermobility runs in families, both me and my son have it and I suspect my daughter has it too. If baby is hypermobile they could easily dislocate a shoulder etc by pulling them out with forceps.

Dorothy perkins has 25% off inc maternity, also includes free named day delivery using code DPXX0514.

I just bought a summer midi dress from here plus a maxi from next.

Can we eat cheesecake/ I thought softcheese/cake was out, was it baked?? sounds delish!

Pretty sure cheesecake is fine, it's made with Philly type soft cheese which ok, just mould ripened soft cheese like brie and camembert to steer clear of .

Just done birthday party for 7 year old - knackered!

That's awful that they wouldn't give you an epidural Ella, definitely put it in your birth plan and have your dp back you up this time just in case it happens again. My last labour I didn't want an epidural but I had 3 midwives trying to convince me to get one despite me saying no and dp on my side repeating no to them. Dc2 was born about 15 minutes later though which shut them up! I had an epidural quite early with dc1 too, so I always thought midwives were very pro epidurals.

Hope everyone is well & getting some sunshine!
Just back from another scan we paid for, in definitely team pink! So excited! Got some 4d pictures too which was a bonus!
Cheesecake is fine, I've eaten loads some xx

whiteblossom Sat 17-May-14 08:05:24
OMG, I just stepped on the scales and in the last five weeks Ive gained 7.5lbs. So in total Ive gained 11.5lbs. It feels like more but the numbers still shocked me. Ive checked it against the pg weight gain calculator and is very much on the low side of normal at 24 weeks but given how fast it has gone on I really do need to watch what I eat.

Stop beating yourself up about this. Its stupid. Focus on the fact that you haven't put on too much. You can spend your whole pregnancy stressing about this, and completely forget that weight gain isn't a black and white good/bad thing like we are taught to believe in the rest of our lives. You should be a lot more confident and happy within yourself as you are doing ok. I think its easy to forget that you are unlikely to gain weight steadily and that often its likely to be in uneven growth spurts.

I've seen a number of posts about weight on this thread and previous ones. All with someone stressing about how much they have put on. None seem to have put on more than they should be. Not by a long shot. If anything they completely within or are way under loads of the models of weight gain I've seen! I really do think its reflective of our dieting culture and a general aversion to gaining weight, which making it really difficult to get out of that mindset. Plus comparing how much you've put on with someone else, is really bloody unhelpful as we are all different shapes and sizes.

Bear in mind that despite what you say, I don't believe the NHS have an official guideline for how much you should put on during pregnancy, only a general ballpark range. Nor do they generally weigh you during your pregnancy, unless there appears to be cause for concern of some sort. This is for a reason; women don't conform enough to a range which is appropriate for everyone. You can put on more or less than the general range and still be perfectly healthy and still go back to a normal weight quickly. They clearly don't think its a serious issue and they don't think it would be a productive thing to do throughout pregnancy (probably because its more likely to cause anxiety and encourage unhealthy eating habits if they did).

As long as you don't go mad and are eating fairly sensibly then you are probably ok. This includes a cake allowance.

Thanks red you are spot on in everything you say. The reason behind my concern is that a few years ago I was unwell and the gp rang and left several messages urging me to go to A&E for blood tests for diabetes. As a result I figured I could do with losing at least a stone for health reasons alone. I lost a stone and continued to lose a total of 2.5st- after working so hard Im very reluctant to gain the weight back. Im concerned that with sleepless nights and a new baby Ill be reaching for the biscuit tin and with no time to myself to exercise. In addition to this there are some people who would just love me to get fat (bitter and twisted ones) and again I'm determined to put the v's up at them.

Though the NHS have weighed me twice so far no comment was made (apart from the MW's comment about the size of my belly!). The guideline Im looking at is not NHS issue but one recommended on MN PG thread, so thinking about it could be complete tosh!

Thanks for making me think a bit more rationally, though it is hard!