July 2015 (thread 10) - the one where the bumps are huge, feet become unreachable and nesting seriously kicks in.

[Fattycow]

Welcome, welcome, to the 10th thread for babies expected in July 2015.
We are all counting the days and might even see the arrival of the first babies on this thread!

Here is the stats list, please keep your own entry up to date:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p3idkH2TaQYAy22I_N73k1_-G6Ezq67lAdhQvDjQkU0/edit?pli=1#gid=0

When I have scan next week I see my consultant too, so will have wee n bp checked there n prob measure but just feel like my community midwife should have done this as I haven't been seen for 3 weeks either.

It's like she only had me in so it shows on my notes that she had me in as she should n she's doing her job.
I could be just being overly sensitive.

charlie, it sounds very annoying. A midwife shouldn't make you feel like this. Overly sensitive is a common thing with hormonal bombs (aka pregnant women) like we all are, so anyone in the profession should be considerate of that fact!
You are a person, not a number on the stats!

I feel a bit abandoned as well. I'm supposed to see GP in between MW visits but they seem to think it's a bit weird? Plus my next appt (34w) is with the consultant at the hosp again so I'm not sure I'll see the MW at all? I'm a bit worried I'm being streamed into contultant-led care. I was thinking of texting the community MW to see if I can just pop in to talk about the birthing centre.

Is it normal to have growth scans? It's not something that's come up at any of my appts.

I just text OH telling him how I feel, think he knew Something was up when he went to work but I hadn't told him, hadn't figured out how I felt. He's said to ring MW n tell her. I'm sure I'll be ok later on tho.

Charlie growth scans aren't really the norm, a lot of people won't have them. I get them as I have an under active thyroid, they also found I was measuring 2weeks ahead at 27 weeks.

Ah ok thanks. I want to know if the little one is head down.

I'm still a bit confused about all my choices etc. I've booked into NCT classes but registrar I saw at 28w said I should take the hospital ones as well so I've finally got round to leaving them a voicemail. I have to take classes at the hospital if I want to use the birthing centre but I don't know if they're the same ones?!?
According to my notes I am supposed to see:
34W: MW (but I've been referred back to registrar at hosp rather than my normal community MW) - this appt is apparently to sort out my birth plan, so maybe lots of my questions will finally be answered!)
36w: GP or MW if breech
38W: GP
40W: GP or MW (but no reason given)
41+: MW if bubs is still in there!
I haven't seen GP since I was at about 5W and can't really see the point - what do they actually do? It also seems a bit weird that I will potentially not see the MW again (although as she's a community MW I wouldn't have had her for the birth anyway).

I think I lost a bit of my plug!

My mw hasn't mentioned any classes, birth plan, asked if I've done my bag or anything. Like I say not there again till 37+4 so leaving all that a bit late. I had pre-eclampsia with dd and had her by csec at 36+6.

I've never known of someone having to see gp through pregnancy seems strange to me.

Fatty hope everything is ok.

charlieis30, so are you seeing consultants along the way for a specific issue? (You don't need to say what it's for if so!) The list of appts you mention below is standard in the last few weeks for UK ftms. (I get slightly less because I'm a second timer). But I've never had to see the GP in between though, that is a bit odd. Has there been any explanation for that?

I'm fine, it was just a little bit. And plugs can regrow, so I'm not worried at all. More excited really, as to me it's a sign that my body is getting ready for labour.

Charlie with my first birth plans/hospital bags etc weren't mentioned by the midwife once. I don't know if that's normal or expected but it was fine for me, I prefer the in/out approach!
Growth scans don't happen as standard (I've not had a scan since 20 weeks and all being well won't have another), do you know why you are having them?
I never wrote a birth plan at all with DD, my plan was to get the baby out as safely as possible! Apart from that I was completely open minded. Ended up having a long but I complicated natural labour, with gas and air. Think I'll take the same approach this time too.

That was meant to say 'uncomplicated'

broody at my hosp it seems all women see the consultant for the 28w appt but then normally you go back to community MW for 34w. I'm not sure why I'm being kept at the main hospital, I had a couple of "red flag" issues so it could have been any of them really (history of depression, history of MC, at risk of prem labour although I've now been discharged from prem clinic).

I've heard others say that they were advised to see GP (plus it's a photocopied "normal care for FTM" form so it's not specific to me or anything. Plus on my GP website they say "we like to see pregnant women throughout" but then the receptionists don't seem to know anything about it. Doesn't help that my normal GP is on mat leave herself so I'm just not that comfortable rocking up to see some random doctor. I feel like I'm wasting their time (honestly, sometimes I really hate the NHS, it always makes me feel like I'm supposed to be so GRATEFUL for everything. I didn't grow up here so it doesn't come naturally to me... I feel a lot more comfortable just paying for appointments sometimes, it makes me feel like I'm in control of the situation if that makes sense?) I thought I'd see the GP when I went for my whooping cough vaccine last week but it was the practice nurse instead. Honestly, I'm so flipping sick of seeing all these different people. I sort of wish I'd hired a private MW or doula just to have some continuity through my care!

Sorry team, I sound like a right grumpy cow. Up until about a week ago I felt so amazing still but now I'm getting more and more tired (although still sleeping really well yay) and bump is starting to get uncomfortable.

Those of you doing this with DD/DSs are freaking HEROINES

Charliej86

I was GP & Consultant care only with my last DC. I had eclampsia (full seizures) with DC1, so had to see either one of them on a weekly basis (normally GP weekly and consultant every 4-6 weeks), didn't have a midwife.
Was looked after by a specialist hospital at the time (Kings College)

Bit different this time, my consultant has given my weekly BP checks to my Midwife to do, and I have seen my consultant 4 times so far, and will be seeing him at 34 + 36 weeks.

I am having two weekly scans due to Essential Hypertension and previous eclampsia & pre-eclampsia. I am not on the grow program (which has confused everyone) but they are scans to monitor baby growth.

Strangely I also have a growth chart plotted as both of my previous DC's were 92nd centile for weight at birth.

I'm still feeling a little peeved but sure I'll get it over it. I don't want to go to any classes n not fussed about help with birth plan but would be nice to be offered.

Other than that today I'm in a pretty good mood, managed to get a bit of 'adult fun' last nite. First time in around 10weeks and OH has been adamant it wouldn't be until after all recovered from birth.

My midwives are equally unhelpful... Never see the same one, give me conflicting advice, don't explain things. Had an appointment yesterday and was told I should go to the hospital ante-natal class on Tuesday (thanks for the notice) even though the last one I saw told me I didn't need to. I asked about a tour of the ante-natal unit and they told me its up to me sort that out - even though my friend who's giving birth at the same hospital but with a different midwife team was offered one by her midwife. Was also told my bump is slightly small so they may send me for a growth scan next time, but weren't clear about exactly what would lead to that. Have been very disappointed with my ante-natal care but guess it's just the nhs unable to cope.

Woah sorry for rant, have been feeling a bit fed up this week but going away for a few days tomorrow so am looking forward to that

"secret" baby shower today. someone look after me before I hurt people

It is slowly dawning on me that in about a month's time, I'll be having a real baby!

mcfatfat, I hope the shower is fun!

have fun at the shower fatty and to the other fatty hope your plug is growing back!

I'm feeling the baby move quite strongly today - think she is turning around! Apparently I don't need to worry until 36 weeks though!

Am trying desperately to finish off my mountain of work so I can go on maternity leave. Getting distracted by thoughts of babies though!!

lucky, has baby been breech then so far? Fx you're right and there's some turning going on in there. Yeah I think at 36 weeks, if mw thinks baby is breech, she will send you for a scan and to discuss birth options.

broody no baby was head down, bum up with back facing towards the world on Monday, so hope she hasn't turned into breach! Was just a very strong movement so has got me worried. I guess I won't find out now until 36 week appointment. I'm not very good at working out which way baby is lying. I just can't tell what body parts I'm feeling and there is a lot of 'padding' between me and baby if you know what I mean!

Oh I see, lucky! I know the movements are strong at this time because of the limited space in there now. Hopefully your lo will stay head down and was just having a good old shuffle about I think mine is head down but not 100% sure.

I'm sorry to hear some of you are not happy with your mw. I remember being frustrated last time that I didn't see my own mw at every appt and I never felt totally confident in her. In their defence though...they're really under supported, under financed and are up against timescales, paperwork and all sorts, so they don't have tons of time to talk about everything in detail - partic not what you're putting in your hospital bag! I'm sure they'd answer your questions though if you get a list prepared. Antenatal classes are great for learning more but they're not compulsory so it's up to you if you want to do them or not. There's tons of info online re birth plans and I certainly wouldn't get too bothered about having tours of mat units etc because when the time comes, you wont give a fig whether you get a nice welcome from the receptionist or where the toilets are!

Agree broody MWs in the NHS are stretched and really they are there to risk assess pregnant women to ensure that serious conditions are treated promptly to minimise risks to baby and mum. They probably come into their own if something goes seriously wrong for you. That's why they should be doing basic checks (BP, urine, heartbeat) at every appointment.

For the rest of us, they haven't got much time to indulge our anxieties and needs....although I'm sure most MWs would be happy to answer any questions/ concerns you have. It is really up to us to prepare and find out information for the birth. Buy a book, read Mumsnet, attend antenatal classes, speak to other mums as your first ports of call, then ask MW any service-specific questions you have. MWs will obviously provide personalised care for the actual birth though.

If you want a more personalised antenatal service there are options - you could book into a private maternity clinic etc, but obviously these cost £££!

P.s. I'm quite glad my MW appointments last less than 5 minutes. They do their checks and all has been OK so don't see the point of sticking around wasting time - I'd rather get back to work! Couldn't stand it if we had to go through lots of tick box exercises and information giving that I already know from books/ NCT.