Due February 07 - New Thread!!

[Tommy]

there we go...... that wasn't painful at all

What a bargain! Boots has one at £8.99 too with 300 extra points!

Hey ladies,
I'm going for bloods on Thursday, feel like I'm near the finishing line, yay!! I'll be officially 28+2 but I have a niggle that I'm further, time will tell.

Re: Winter coats, I managed to cannily pick up one in New Look few months ago for a £5, beautiful camel colour with this season's funnel neck, the shocker is..it's a size 20, lmao!! I'm normally a 10 but reckoned that my wildebeest-sized belly will fill it up nicely,

Does anyone else feel like they've been experiencing the gestational period of an elephant? Can't remember the last two feeling so drawn out, but then again, it was a long time ago!

TLB.x

OP is occiput posterior I think. Occiput meaning head down.

I loved my gym ball last time and will be getting DH to inflate it again this weekend. I got a £8 one out of argos. Main thing is to make sure that you get the right size for your height and that it's inflated to the right size. They're thinner than the pregnancy ones but I wouldn't worry about that. The AN physio I saw said the gym ones were fine.

I used mine a lot in the last few weeks trying to get DS to engage (although he never did!). Loads of hip circles and figures of 8 to encourage labour... and I reckon it worked!

The occiput is the back of babies head, the part that we would call the crown. So you can have a direct OP where this part is directly in line with your spine or a LOP where it is to the left and a ROP where is it to the back, but in both of these cases the baby would still be described as in a posterior position. Will stop waffling now!

DD1 was ROP and I've woken up this morning with a tangle of limbs sticking out through my tummy button so I think this one's going the same way

I'm seeing the consultant today about my persistently sore bits though, so maybe I'll ask him for some reassurance!

Cons not worried about mild jaundice, so neither am I.
I have a birth ball from NCT, nice and thick, which I used for my last home birth leaning over it on all fours until 7cm dilated with an OP baby, didn't get any of the associated back labour this way and he shot out from start to finish in 6hours which is meant to be speedy for an OP baby.
This one has been confirmed oblique breech, also OP, but may well turn before they want to see me again in 8 weeks time.

thanks guys was getting a bit worried have only seen mw once for booking in. am booked in to see her at 28wks so sounds like its about right.
currentbun glad to know iam not the only one suffering from cramp am getting it nightly but at least its alternating from right to left leg (hope it doesn,t happen to both at once!!!), think your right and its another little joy of being preggers!

Smudgemum, peachygirl thnks for the advice I have had a chat on the BF thread and got loads of help from some lovely ladies. Don't know about specialists calling when baby is born I already had the SAS (cleft nurse, CLAPA contact, specialist sonographer) parachuting in when they first pick it up on the scan. All helpful but a bit bewildering. Ruthie, Currantbun am getting cramp too - apparently need to up my calcium intake and my MW has recommended plain chocolate for a lowish iron count - hooray

Hello there - happy Friday!

I have the exercise ball from Argos - the cheapest one they do - and it is fine. We bought a foot pump for £4.99 from Halfords which makes inflating it a breeze. I have been trying to sit on it in the evenings in front of the TV. My friend wants to throw me a baby shower and she says it is on the condition that I preside over the procedings sitting on my birthing ball!!!

I've been getting cramp loads - forces me out of bed in a hurry. The GP was unhelpful and just said have a bath before bed. Yoga teacher says to have potassiam - either bananas or some raw cocoa (name escapes me) that is available in health shops.

Have a good weekend, everyone - I am dragging DH to a birth workshop run by the yoga teacher. And then we are off for four nights, staying in a nice hotel on a winter break deal as a last treat (and last 'couple' holiday) before baby arrives!

That sounds lovely, Soundbites. Hope you enjoy the break. If we'd known I was going to get pregnant we'd have definitely booked a two-week break in the summer rather than a week. We had planned to go away again but it just never happened.

Welcome to DrJo and Ruthie - DrJo, hope you get lots of support and advice re. the cleft lip/palate. I think there is a lot that can be done these days. Will LO need surgery?

Just back from midwife appointment this morning. All was fine - blood pressure OK (lower than at my last appointment), fundal height within the acceptable range for my dates (baby slightly above the mean), heartbeat heard loud and strong, and baby is currently breech which I wasn't surprised to hear as most of the movements I've been feeling are quite low down. Midwife showed me where the baby's head was and I felt it which was a bit weird! Hope I didn't squash it, poor little thing! I did have a very slight trace of sugar in my urine but midwife thought it was probably the remnants of a very rich, chocolate dessert I had at a friend's last night and wasn't concerned. I never usually have desserts so it may well have been, especially as the sample I gave was only my second pee of the day. All my other urine tests have come back NAD so if midwife isn't worried then I guess I won't be either. Next appointment in 3 weeks' time. I've also been told to go ahead and book into the birth centre for the midwife-led birth I want, which is great. Of course there are no guarantees as lots can change between now and the birth but feel as though I'm starting down the path I want to be on.

Didn't get cramp last night - am hoping it was just a one-off ...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Well I saw the consultant this morning and it was all a bit of an adventure! Firstly he didn't know why I was there, so gave me a vague check over then I had to explain all about my poor bits, which was very difficult as he didn't speak the best English and we couldn't understand each other. He said he'd need to have a look, but the room we were in was so tiny he couldn't get round the end of the bed and there was no lamp, so he ended up peering round while a nurse held a torch for him! I've had better medical care half way up a mountain in Nepal!

He said I have vulval varicose veins and the weight of the baby etc is making everything try to fall out - I seem to remember someone else on the old thread has them too, please can I have some happy thoughts?

I also asked him when I should start doing OFP stuff to prevent another OP experience and he told me that nothing I do will make a difference, the shape of my pelvis will determine the baby's position and that if DD1 was OP then that was obviously the best way for her to be He wouldn't have said that if he'd been at the birth

So I think I shall choose to ignore his doom and gloom and try OFP anyway, it might work and it certainly can't make things any worse.

Sorry for the ramble, but I had to vent!

Hi Moosma, sounds like your consultant wasn't that much help. I think you should just pretend that he didn't happen and ignore what he said and like you say, carry on doing what you are doing to turn LO round. Or decide that perhaps all problems are down to low iron and take Dr Jo's midwifes' advice and eat chocolate. Surely milk chocolate would be even better because then you get calcium too?

Soundbites I am very jealous of your long weekend. All DH and I have to look forward to is starting to pack our things for moving and falling out with each other because I won't be packing things properly and I measured up at the new house today and missed some vital measurements! Roll on Monday I say!

Thanks everyone for the info about exercise balls, I think I may go out and treat myself as it sounds like a good way to try and get baby in the right position.

Currantbun I had exactly the same thing with glucose in urine and although MW asked if I'd been eating sweet things she still wrote it in my notes as NAD and said that they only worry if you get it more than once!

hi everyone just wanted to join ur thread, im due 10th feb and this is my second child to be, was reading your messages tho and i wondered if i were seeing my midwife regularly enough, only had apps at 12 and 20 weeks next app is for blood tests and that is when i am 30 weeks
xxxx

hello all. I think I've been very lucky - at the beginning my MW ticked the boxes on the maternity notes of when I should see her, but stressed that this was the bare minimum and that I could phone and get an appointment whatever week I wanted - I think I've been to see her an extra couple of times, and she's been very supportive. I say be more demanding - they are here to look after us!!!

I have nothing to moan about mw appts as I have been seen on a three week basis - either at hosp or mw at gp's! Something to do with me being classed as a high risk due to gestational diabetes last time! No copmplaints - I have definately had more appts than last time and will get two extra scans at 28 and 34 wks!!

Not sleeping well at night but seem to be coping on the amount of sleep I get - seem to be turning into my mother - she usually only gets 4-5 hrs a night!

Nothing else to report - 26 weeks tomorrow - so either 12 or 14 weeks left to go - not being allowed to go over! Got 11 weeks left in work - can;t wait!!!!

Ignore me about the OP comments... occiput is head... not head down! I am getting confused with all these thing (cephalic etc!). Blame nappy brain, I was so much more on the ball before pg with ds lol! I think my brain has actually packed up an moved out now - anyone else feel the same?

hi Moosma, not sure if i've picked up the thread correctly but are you talking about the baby being back to back rather than the other way around , which is what you want? if so the consultant is wrong! my first was back to back, meaning hours of 2 min contractions and more hours of pushing, followed by me passing out 12 times post delivery! ds2 was the other way around, perfectly positioned and delivered in 3 hrs! with ds2 i made a concerted effort never to sit behind the vertical and from time to time lean over a gym ball or something similar as this position is supposed to be great for getting them in the right place.
re your vulva varicose veins i hve them too. all down my leg and up there. all i know is you can't do much. one thread on here suggested wearing thick sanitary towels which i've tried the last few days and although i hate the things i think they have helped a bit as they put a bit of pressure on them therefore they throb less! apparently they'll go 30 mins after the birth as it's the baby weight that's doing it. good luck xx

btw - ds3 due feb 6th, that's why i've got the vein problems, they're not left over from ds2!

Ladies, all who are in search of inexpensive winter coats, get ye selves down to Primark asap. They have woolen type ones, and stunning brocade 50's style ones too. They've got cracking ones at £20, and miracle upon miracle they're cut so as to accommodate a growing bump. I managed to get myself a 12, which given the size of my HUGE bazookas at the moment, is quite a feat. I means I can wear after baboo arrives too. I'd say over all a result. Down side is however, in my valiant shopping efforts I've managed to aggrevate my SPD to record levels and had two fits of tears due to pain last night. I suffer for my art,LoL

TLB.x

SmudgeMum, that's what my midwife said too - that the trace of glucose in my urine would only be a problem if it was still there at my next appointment, in which case I'd have to have a random glucose blood test to see what my blood glucose levels were like. I think I'll make sure I don't eat anything sweet for the few days before my next appointment, just in case! I spoke to my mum last night and she remembered once having the same thing when she was pregnant but it was nothing to worry about. My MIL (an ex-midwife) was also unconcerned. So will not worry about it unduly.

I am also slightly tender 'down below' - also can't believe how engorged that area looks and feels: gross! Apparently all normal though. It's only uncomfortable if I'm a bit constipated and need to 'bear down' to do a no. 2 (sorry if TMI!) but otherwise not too bad. It may get worse as the baby gets bigger and heavier but will just deal with it as and when it happens.

Have just ordered our pram - went for the Quinny Buzz in the end with the carrycot and car seat as extras. Have played with SO many prams in so many stores and am confident we'vemade the right decision for us and our needs. Nearly went for the Bugaboo but just couldn't justify the cost in the end - also I found it quite hard to fold and unfold which for me is a major consideration.

TLBH - thanks for the tip re coats. i have been working today but will be queueing at Primark's door tomorrow!!
I know just what you mean about brain packing up suzi2 - I think mine disappeared about 6 months ago. Is there no chance of it ever coming back?

Congratulations on making pram choice Currantbun. I think it's really hard to decide and eventually you just have to go with what you think best. Then you need to stop looking or you'll beat yourselves up as to whether you should have got...... We got ours off ebay and are pleased with it (apart from car seat doesn't fit in back of car but we're supposed to be swapping cars anyway) Going to bed early to be sure of being first in Primark queue. Sleep well everyone!

hi everyone! just wanted advice really... this morning i got up off the bed and there was a wet patch with some thick mucus discharge on the top, and ideas what it could be and what do u reccomend i do.. i have phoned delivery suit and they said to come in however i am dubious the ward is due to close in the next few months and the care there is minimal. midwives disapear for hours on end and no matter whats wrong with you they make u feel like ur in the way.
xx

Bubblebell I would go in.Or even go to casualty. Even if the care is not good at your hospital at least you will be in an environment where action can be taken rather than at home worrying about it.

I would say that you should go in to get the once over. It's hard to say what it could be. If it was very wet, it could be your waters have gone. But a small wet patch wouldn't suggest that. If it's large amounts of mucus, you could have lost part of your plug. But don't stress because your body will just make more at this stage. But the most likely thing is that it's normal discharge. You can get quite a lot in the last trimester... I remember being shocked just how gunky things were lol!

Hope they can reassure you. If for any reason they do want to keep you in/do tests then you could always ask to be transferred to another hospital.

Hey bubblebell. I hope you managed to get some reassurance from somewhere and that everything is ok. Please let us know.

I've had a disappointing day - went to Primark to look for coats but couldn't find anything that didn't look like a tent on me or wouldn't do up. I think I'm just the wrong shape. maybe I should emigrate to warmer climates and then I wouldn't have to find a coat!