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December- The Final Countdown!!!!

777 replies

Calmriver · 12/10/2006 16:46

HI Guys, I am still confused, so please join me on this one.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
lucy5 · 31/10/2006 16:46

Thanks, i'm ok. My next appointment is next Wednesday. Just wondering what else they are going to spring on me, TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

babypowder · 31/10/2006 16:47

WB - how upsetting for you. Especially having made all the plans and things. Hopefully all the worry will be for nought.

Had my appointment with the consultant today re Rh antibodies. Looks like fortnightly blood tests and scans from now on. So I won't be cared for by my fantastic team of midwives anymore as I pass into the hands of hospital medical teams.

My ankles are definitely swelling up at night time now, and I often have to take my rings off in the middle of the night. I just feel so bl**dy gorgeous I envy anyone who blooms in pregnancy!

PumpkinMilkshake · 31/10/2006 16:48

Lucy - dont joke, I read a thread yesterday where a woman said her MW told her at 32 weeks or something it was twins!! How can they have missed that - I wondered if it was for real actually.

lucy5 · 31/10/2006 16:49

Keep us posted wb, maybe someone here will know more about it!

PumpkinMilkshake · 31/10/2006 16:49

Ahh BP. I told my Community MW how awful the OB was and she has said I can cancel my final apt with him. Can't both look after you?

lucy5 · 31/10/2006 16:52

Bloom??????? I think most of us on here can be described as blooming awful I'm glad we are all puffing up together though!

Twins, oh lord, now I'm worried

judemum · 31/10/2006 16:53

WB- big hugs. Try not to imagine the worst- maybe you need to go and speak to your midwife tomorrow and chat all the implications through with her as you are probably imagining its much worse than it is and more than likely, there is no major issue at all. The problem with doing your own research is that you will only look at the worst possible and make yourself worry unecessarilly and in fact, your m/w willl be able to give you a more balanced and sympathetic view.

babypowder · 31/10/2006 16:55

Milkshake, the midwives have promised that they'll keep in touch (I do love living in a rural community!!), and obviously they will continue to care for me and the new baby once we get home. But because I have to have a C-section, my care moves to the big teaching hospital from here on in. So no more giggly chats with my midwives.

weirdbird · 31/10/2006 17:00

Yes EliBoo its excess Amniotic fluid and they are talking about TOF among other things

PumpkinMilkshake · 31/10/2006 17:03

WB, I got told at 32 week scan I had a lot of AF, but that they could see no baby reason for it. Then OB felt me and said the scan was wrong I was all baby - go figure.

However JM is right, dont self analyse what you've been told as you'll only worry. Wait till you see your MW.

Chin up!

weirdbird · 31/10/2006 17:09

I did talk through the implications for my birth plan with Consultant and she did talk about all the rest and I know that 1 in 100 baby is low odds, but it means that I wont get to have that first cuddle as baby will be whisked off for testing, they will probably want to keep baby in for 24 hours to monitor them and I am so scared of missing Xmas with my daughter.

Had a really high trauma pregnancy last time and I had hoped to have a straight forward one this time and with this the last chance of any of it being normal is out the window.

Am going to speak to Midwife as soon as I can get hold of her as I dont have a out of hours contact and am due to see Health Visitor on Thursday anyway as they are keeping an eye on me already due to my terrible AND and PND last time.

Think this is definitely the last one for us!

judemum · 31/10/2006 17:12

WB- sorry to be thick again- whats TOF?

EliBoo · 31/10/2006 17:19

WB, I had polyhydramnios with dd1. It was diagnosed at 38 weeks, via a scan - which was done because they thought I was having a huge baby (I wasn't, it was mostly fluid).

It might depend on the hospital, and any scans you've had, or initial APGAR tests etc but...dd wasn't whisked away at all. They did come to our room a few hours post birth and insert a nasogastric tube (I howled, she coughed once then seemed unbothered) which they left in for a little while, then removed. That was to check for GI blockages. Later she had a blood test, which came back fine except for slightly raised crp (inflammation marker) which could have meant something or (as it turned out) nothing. As a result, they wanted to keep an eye on her and give her antibiotics just in case - but she was fine.

So yes, I'd say it might delay you leaving the hospital by a day or two (if her initial tests aren't all clear, as dd's weren't) but it might not. Did they say they'd whisk her away? If so, why?

I know how I felt after being told about it, and I did'nt have the loss of a planned home/water birth nor the fear of PND....so can imagine this has come as a shock.

Seems like a few of us are having changes of plan at this stage...maybe shows how near the end bit we are?

weirdbird · 31/10/2006 17:40

www.tofs.org.uk/info_abouttof.htm

weirdbird · 31/10/2006 17:50

Thanks EliBoo

Sounds like you know exactly what I am going through, the wanting to run tests immediately was one of the reasons they didnt want me to have a home birth so I assumed they would want to do them immediately rather than wait a few hours, I suppose it depends on how baby appears.

Did you breastfeed? I assume that they wont want me to latch baby straight on as I did last time!

EliBoo · 31/10/2006 18:18

WB, yes I did - dd was tucked up beside me leaving theatre (she was born by section, after failed induction - I had high bp), and as soon as she was awake enough to want to, latched on. My memory is hazy as to when they actually did the tests - I think it must have been the next day, as I was sitting up and holding her (she was born in the evening). Certainly didn't interfere with breast feeding - I suppose the actual amount of colostrum they take in is tiny in volume. Also, I think the tests may have depended on her actually having fed first - though can't swear to that.

batinshoes · 31/10/2006 18:22

wb - dont know much about the condition but with my dd she went to scbu straight away and was bottle fed for the first 18 hours. I then breastfed her for 12 hours but broke my wrist and had to have an operation so she had another break being bottle fed for 24 hours. We picked up the breastfeeding and managed it for 8 months so dont panic if there is a gap in bf as they soon pick it up and they dont all get 'confused'.

EliBoo · 31/10/2006 18:26

WB, do you know why they're talking about tof? Did they see anything on the scan to suggest it? Or is it simply because its ONE of the possible causes of polyhydramnios? Because if its the latter....well, they shouldn't be scaring you. I scared myself with no extra help (thank you google ) but the reality is that the vast majority of babies born after excess fluid are totally fine.

I hope its the latter!

Calmriver · 31/10/2006 19:30

My DD latched on 10 minutes after she was delivered by Section! They said she was very hungry...It was so amazing! I am so looking foreward to all of this in 4 weeks!

Can you believe it's like next month!!!

Make sure all your hubbies or partners have their mobiles on general and NOT silent! I have given mine a warning!!!

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weirdbird · 31/10/2006 19:55

EliBoo - I dont know why in particular TOF is being discussed more than anytthing else but that is what the Consultant has written on my notes about them being worried about...

bewilderbeast · 31/10/2006 20:15

Thank you all for your good wishes. Joseph is doing very well and is showing a stubborn streak to rival my own. I, on the other hand, feel like I've been hit by a truck, am having no luck with breast feeding thanks to a distinct lack of help and a sort of dislike of breast feeding from the staff who are understandably more concerned with getting a specific amount of food into him every 3 hours on the dot than with how it gets there. Basically feel totally useless at the moment and exhausted beyond belief by the time we get home each evening. Sorry to moan but if I say anything to my family and friends they just pat me on the back and say how well i'm doing and that I have nothing to feel down about which while well meaning and lovely of them somehow just makes me feel worse.

lucy5 · 31/10/2006 20:37

Bw, you and your body must be in complete shock,! No wonder you are feeling exhausted and down. Is there a breast feeding counsellor at the hospital someone who could help and fight your corner? Are you having trouble or is the hospital feeing Joseph before you have had a chance? Also remember it's quite normal to feel low after giving birth even if it was plain sailing. After what you have been through it's not surprising. Please come on here as often as you can, as the old saying goes "it's good to talk"

weirdbird · 31/10/2006 21:59

BW - If you want to talk to someone who knows about breatfeeding and will be positive and give you advice call the NCT Breastfeeding helpline, you dont have to be a member to use it, I used it myself when I was struggling.

Its 0870 444 8708

jabberthefriendlyghost · 01/11/2006 00:08

Hi everyone, lots of news today it seems.

BWB, hang in there, it's not surprising that you're having some ups and downs after what you've been through. I would really pester them at the hospital for bfing support. That's their job and it can be quite daunting getting started.

WB - I know there's other MN'ers who have had excess fluid. Once you know a bit more you could start up a thread about it and get lots of support I'm sure.

babypowder - sorry you'll be missing out on your MW team. At least you will have a chance to get to know the hospital team before the birth, from what it sounds like.

Dh and ds are out trick or treating. I always enjoy Halloween so much, but tonight my back hurts and I'm tired and so my mother and dad are answering the door instead I just can't get into it.

but I am definitely going to upload the picture from Saturday just have to get dh to size it for me. I'm such a technophobe sometimes...

castlesintheair · 01/11/2006 08:28

Bewilderbeast, not surprised you feel a bit pants after what you've been through but so pleased to hear baby Joseph is doing well. Don't know which hospital you are in but the OB I saw yday for 34 week check told me there is only ONE NHS hospital in London that has decent post-natal care for mothers. Unfortunately, once they have the baby out and you are alive, most places aren't really interested in you anymore. Sad but true.

Just wanted to say hang in there, don't beat yourself up, things will get better. On a practical note: Urtica Urens (homeopathic remedy - I used it so can recommend, I was swimming in the stuff!!) helps to bring on milk production and Vervian (herb - you can get the tea in Sainsburys!) also helps with milk production and calming you down/helping with postpartum depression, which of course, all has a knock-on effect on b-feeding. HTH

Lucy & WB ((HUGS)) Can't believe what you are going through you poor wee lambs.