Pop pop pop We're all about to POP! - July 2014 thread

[ismarah]

Hope you like the title - like inside us, there was no room on the other thread!

Auntie I never remember which is which systole and asystole but the first number is usually less worrying if it's high than the second number. The first one fluctuates more and is more susceptible to external factors, like diet and stress. The second number is more of an indicator of a possible medical problem, but your GP or consultant should be able to tell you more if your MW can't. To give you an idea, the highest BP recorded in my medical files back in the day was 216/165. It took them about 4 hours of pumping me full of drugs before it settled back down to my more usual (but still unhealthy) 150/100. And that was on the full complement of beta blockers and diuretics. Thankfully, that was also the start of them figuring out that there was something actually wrong with me and from there it went on to be fixed, which leads to today (120/70) and a bean in situ. About 100gr of liquorice per day is enough to have a significant effect on BP, but I suspect if you've been eating it that consistently over that long a period, it's probably having something of an effect.

If I recall, you're struggling with mobility too, so suggesting a nice soothing walk won't help, but maybe meditation would work?

Moving Sounds like your physio is rubbish TBH - I'd ring them up and ask to be seen by an antenatal specialist physio or to be sent to the antenatal physio class. You could have been fitted with a support belt, if nothing else, and told how to move your body in order to minimise discomfort / increase the number of good days. Basically, keep your knees together as much as possible, which means being careful doing things like getting in and out of cars and beds and chairs. Be particularly careful about turning in bed - if you're anything like me that's the most painful bit! There are also exercises you can do to hopefully strengthen your core to cope better and if all else fails, there's crutches to take the weight off a bit. Also, take all the paracetamol you need - don't be a martyr. Late night baths / showers are also helpful to relax muscles before bed. SPD is also something that should be included in your birth plan, stirrups are contra-indicated for example.

Those struggling with SPD should really have a look at the Pelvic Partnership

Wow lots of babies scaring their parents with lack of movement - glad all turned out ok.

I've had two awful nights of minimal sleep in a row so work was tough (and very hectic, typical) today. Still no interviews lined up for my mat cover so who knows who I'm meant to be handing over to in just over two weeks - that doesn't help with the insomnia when I start fretting about it in the middle of the night...

Thanks for all the info ismarah. We went to see a show where I had liquorice allsorts and was aggrieved about the lack of plain liquorice in the bag so bought some when we went shopping at Aldi that week and its gone on from there... though I used to drink liquorice vodka by the litre when I was at uni

Also thank you for the link for pelvic partnership

moving and others suffering pelvic issues - make sure its noted clearly on your notes/birth plan that you have issues in case they need to move your legs for you for what ever reason during labour so they know to do it slowly and carefully as you may not feel the pain if you've had pain relief and end up with ligament damage.

marking my place.
10 more days of work. today was day 3 of teaching internal person chosen to cover my mat leave to avoid her redundancy. shes nearly 50 (has several degrees somehow)& my job is just not sinking in. my job isnt difficult, its just a matter of doing certain aspects by specific times. im sick to death repeating myself & I even wrote an idiots proof step by step guide from what needs done &how/when to do it. she still isnt getting it & has experience of the internal software we use but somehow she doesnt know how to use it anymore. she cant even answer her desk phone without hitting random unnecessary buttons. I'm struggling to remain patient, I've tried to let her get on with it & get her to speak up when she needs me so shes not "being watched" but just sits there doing nothing & not asking for help. ARGHHH!
sorry for rant again. 11th june 3pm cant come quick enough at this rate!!
getting to stage where I cant put socks on anymore :(
going to book in for a toe gel polish and stick with the flipflops, hoping our uk weather is kind to me lol.
sorry to hear everyones reduced movements etc, I've been in once for this & staff were fab. as a result I got changed on to shared care also because of all the frequent unexplainable bleeds I've had.
belly wise im massive, lovely swollen legs& calves too as day progresses.

Thanks for the link ismarah, the person I saw was an antenatal physio, there is no class and she only sees you once during your pregnancy although she said I could ask to be re-referred if I feel it gets to the point that I need crutches.
I had to wait 8 weeks for my first referral so had already done my research so told her I was keeping knees together for getting up etc but was still in pain. Basically she looked me over, watched me walk across the room then commented on my posture and said if I try to keep my butt tucked in more that might help, that's really the closest thing to an exercise she gave me. She asked if I found anything eased the pain and I said I felt most comfortable on my ball and she said to keep sitting on that whenever possible then.
Then she told me about their postnatal mum and baby physio class which may help me tone my core, gave me a piece of tubi-grip to 'support' my bump and said about how it would ease off after the baby is born.
TBH I was disappointed how little help she had been, especially after waiting for more than 8 weeks to see her, but wasn't sure what was the general outcome of these appointments so thought it might be standard.

Has anyone packed hospital bag yet? I've started thinking about the things I need to get together but haven't actually got any of it together yet!

mummy I'm going to have my toe nails done too

moving I've been on crutches for a week and its helped even though I was dubious to begin with - I can walk without being in pain and I don't hurt later on either.

I have piles of stuff ready to go in bags but not a complete set of stuff yet iyswim?

Ha DP has just walked off in disgust as I reminded him we should start the perinium massge this week

TMI alert! In his enthusiasm at finding a position to comfortably dtd, DP has literally ripped my downstairs! It hurt at the time but we changed position and it was ok, then it hurt when I went to the loo, DP inspected and it looks like a cat has scratched my outsides

I'm in enough pain with my back/hips etc..... It's not as if pregnant women wee a lot or anything

He thinks 24 hours and everything will be ok. I'm thinking maybe I'll allow him to go near me on baby's 18th birthday....

Just a word of caution for those having nails/pedicures done. Firstly if you end up having a CS then they will want you to take it all off (I think) as use one of those clip things on your toe for monitoring. Secondly please please stress to the person doing it that you are pregnant and more susceptible to nail infections. I had a fungal nail infection in one toenail when pregnant with DS-post pedicure it had spread to two further nails as the lady didn't clean her clippers properly in between. I didn't realise that when pregnant you are much more susceptible to them and had assumed she'd be careful anyway. Unfortunately since then I've been breastfeeding or pregnant so haven't been able to use any medication to clear it and rely on me to do my own pedicure now as just won't risk a salon again (it was a decent place just a daft lady I think!). Alas it's getting harder and harder to reach to do them now!

PFB question here…I've been doing laundry and washing all the new clothes, blankets, sheets etc…Should I wash soft toys too?

Oh moving sounds like she was a bit useless. My physio also gave me tubi grip and lots of exercises to do which both really helped. She then arranged future appointment and said wouldn't be signed off physio until after birth so could make appointment as out patient any time with out a referral? If your no better in a week worth calling to speak about alternative bands?

So pleased hospitals have been so good for you all mummy et al really reassuring to hear if am worried best to go in.

Feel dreadful very sick and sleepy right now but can't sleep!

Well was 6.30 when finally gave up on sleep, no big walks or anything to active for me today just feel constantly sick and then baby starts kicking my ribs... fed up right now!

ismarah - DH picked up a cute toy polar bear from a charity shop a few months ago, I think I'm def going to give it a bit of a wash before baby gets here.

Thanks for all the gender neutral shopping advice btw. Not a big pale pink or pale blue fan either, so hoping to branch the boy out into some other bright colours once he's here! Quite shocked at how gender specfic colours are in shops - I've always disliked pink so if we were having a girl I'm sure I'd be feeling even more frustrated (1980s memories of the lady in Clarks telling 5 year old me I should choose the pink Care Bear trainers and not the blue Care Bear trainers - aargh!).

I can't decide whether 7 more weeks of pregnancy is ages or no time at all. You would think it was a simple concept 33 weeks sounds more advanced than 7 weeks to go - very strange

In other news, one of my yoga group managed to have an her baby as an unexpected breech in 8hours with no pain relief - wow

blue I know the lady doing my nails she's very good but thank you for the tip re: cs - I'll check with mw on Mon as I had assumed as long as I kept finger nails free I'd be ok...

fifi ouch! Poss use a sports bottle to pour water on you as you wee?! DP hasn't been near mr for ages :(

ismarah I thought the same about toys but then decided baby doesn't need them for first month or so...

ickle/moving my physio only gave me prlvic floor exercises and tubigrip first appt but spent a good hour assessing my movement/alignment/etc so I had assumed that she hadn't given me any other exercises as they wouldn't help much... now I'm confused...

Last day in the office, thankfully. I didn't realise it was half term (therefore the roads will be empty) so decided against a slow but comfortable drive into London and went for a slow and very uncomfortable train ride instead. I felt so hot, claustrophobic and faint that I had to get off a stop early and stagger to a bench to get some fresh air. The only person who bothered to see if I was ok was a lovely Eastern European lady. When I got on the next train a whole crowd of people pushed past me, forcing me to stand next to the door rather than get to one of the "priority seats". By the time I got to work I felt so ill and knackered I wanted to cry. Luckily my lovely colleagues have plied me with drinks and doughnuts and I've revived - but I'm really looking forward to waking up next week with nothing more taxing than a walk to the supermarket or a bit of light baby clothes washing to look forward to!

Oh ickle so sorry you're feeling so rough :( the lack of sleep thing is horrid but add nausea to that too-so not fun! Is it worth chatting to your doc again to see if there's anything they can give you to help you sleep? I'm sure if your sleep improved the nausea might ease a bit too-i know when I'm sleep deprived I feel v sick.

So pleased we have a break in the rain so I can wear one of my new maxi dresses-just so comfy not having anything tight around bump :)

Yeah :) for mat leave starting for some of you!! In some ways you could say I have almost started as only managed a days worth of freelance work this month, but then having DS to look after feels like a full time job!

fifi I don't know whether feel sorry for you or jealous - I'm with AuntieM, I'm lucky to get a hug off DH at the moment!

And muperoon - sorry about lousy commute but at last day and at doughnuts!

Another growth scan today (I'm basically best pals with the sonographer now, we were chatting for about 15 mins after the scan!) Baby is in upper quartile which is reassuring and is following a nice consistent growth trajectory from the last scan to this one.

But the damn thing is breech

Finally saw midwife (rather than consultant) and sorted out matB1 at last, and pointed out I'd missed my 28 week bloods. A bit annoyed that being high risk and having loads of consultant appointments means that I've missed out on standard monitoring. Going back in this afternoon so they can take the bloods better late than never

Midwife confirmed my suspicion that I'm not going to be considered a suitable candidate for the birthing centre - farewell dream of tranquil waterbirth.

One of my friends who has just had her DS said her DH hadn't been near her for months. Is it worry about hurting the baby? maybe DP just isn't that bothered? the effort/organisation it takes? We aren't swinging from the chandiliers here, prob 1/2 a week max. It helps that I'm already off and DS is at nursery so I'm able to catch up on sleep!

Oh and I've been using sudocrem

Trying to nap and bean busy kicking and wriggling away which is neither comfortable nor restful! Also brain just decided to have random thought train about waters going or sudden unexpected bleeding whilst I'm alone with DS and me not being able to get hold of DH or anyone to look after DS whilst I go to hospital. So much easier with DC1 as no other kids to sort out. Suspect there maybe a few more of these sort of panicky dreams/daydreams to come yet though!

I just haven't been in the mood for hanky panky. Pelvis far to sore and get a weird burning sensation after. Can't wait to get back to normal!

Plateofcrumbs I probably missed earlier posts on the other threads so apologies, but why does your MW say you won't be allowed to give birth in the birth centre?

This is something that's been concerning me too, ever since my MW wrote "medium risk" on my green notes. OK, so I'm over 40 but I'm not unhealthy! And I really want to use the birth centre!

muperoon - I've got a slightly dodgy umbilical cord (only has 1 artery instead of 2) and a bad case of endometriosis. I think both things are risk factors for slightly higher rates of complications.

I was hoping that if I got through the pregnancy without any concerns they might give me the green light but doesn't seem that way. Will check again with consultant nearer the time.

I'm having a cry :( gp said when prescribing me codeine that it may affect baby when its born so I didn't want to have to take it every day but I'm in pain already so I'm going to have to take it tonight or not sleep :(