March 2017 - Thread #2

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March 2017 continued!

Question: if I need to see a consultant obstetrician, and the midwife says I don't, what should I do about it? I had a gynaecological condition and both my gynaecologist and GP said that I would see a consultant during my pregnancy. When I told the midwife about my condition at the booking in appointment, I don't think she knew what it was - but she didn't ask. She just continued with her questions and then at the end of the appointment said that I wouldn't need to see a consultant and would just have midwife-led care. I wouldn't normally insist on special treatment but given that my gynaecologist and GP both said I would see a consultant, I am inclined to trust them over the midwife! I didn't challenge it when she said it, but now I have the follow up letter which says "midwife led care" and "no concerns observed"... What should I do next? Call the midwife team? Write to them? Or go through my GP instead?

Millions of positive vibes to those who are bleeding x

Not sure NameChange but I would probably speak to your GP for advice.

NameChange maybe try the midwives first and then GP if they're not listening to you. I would tell them that medics have told you previously you would need to see a consultant.

Cinnamon I'm sorry about all the worry you're going through with the bleeding. It's so hard to not worry about it. Will you be going for a scan soon? Sorry if you've already said, my memory is terrible.

Wellies I did daisy birthing classes last time and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it!

Namechange can I ask what it is? It's just I had CIN3 when I was 22, for which 1.3cm of my cervix was removed. I had extra scans to measure my cervix (all fine, I went into labour 39+5). However some of my friends who have had the same treatment weren't checked out at all! It seems to vary from trust to trust as to what they consider referral to the consultant. In fact, at first my MW said it wasn't an issue, then phoned me the next day to say she was referring me. I was seen at 17, 20 and 24 weeks then discharged back to MLC. I am wondering if I will need extra scans this time....

Gosh I haven't spotted in ages but I've been following. Congrats and welcome to newbies. Sending positive thoughts to those who are bleeding (it's very common!).
I had a booking in appt last Friday. It was a bit early but I'll be away for the next two Friday's and didn't want it to be late as I needed to be in the system to book my scan, which I haven't done as don't want to call from work! I'll do it tomorrow. The midwife wanted my EDD to be based on LMP so has adjusted my date to 2nd March, from 6th (as I have a 32 day cycle since having my daughter). I don't think the list needs to change though as I think it'll be redone after the scan. The midwife wanted the doctor to prescribe me a higher dose of folic acid because of my high bmi. I've no problem with that but DH went to collect it and the doctor hasn't done it because they wanted to talk to the midwife about it as the dose as it was high - so annoying as she only works Friday's and I will be away for two weeks when I should be taking it! The receptionist said she would talk to the doctor but it's frustrating that he questioned her. I'll be under midwife and consultant led care because of my bmi which is annoying as last time it was just the midwife but I'm hoping I'll loose a bit of weight if the nausea ever kicks in (I was latest sick this time last time) and I can persuade them I can have an nice active labour as I remember that was mentioned last time. I do feel down that my bmi is up more than last time but I had such a nice pregnancy I'm hoping I can talk them around as I really want to give birth either at home or the birthing centre, not on a ward.
I veer between being grateful for minimal symptoms and worried.
I have felt particularly feeble in the heat and a bit breathless which I think is the main time I've felt different , so pregnant.

Hi ladies, hope I can join you all. Got a BFP last week (well far more than one if I'm honest )

Name: Cinnamal
Age: 35
EDD: 27th March
DC3 (but DC1 for my partner)

I'm coming off the back of a MMC in February, so will prob be a bit quiet on this thread until I'm a bit further on and feel a bit less jittery! Looking forward to chatting with you all though

Thanks deuscat - the website looked great!

Cinnamal, I feel just like you. I miscarried in January and while I'm interested in the thread, I can't get too invested in it all just yet. Fingers crossed for sticky beans this time!

Thank you deus and alpha, I was thinking of trying the midwife team first (I'll ask to talk to the team leader!) and if I'm not getting anywhere with them, I'll call the GP.

Happy I had vulvodynia, a chronic vulval pain condition, for years. It seems to be fine now (I hardly dare say it!) but I still need to discuss whether it might impact the birth and whether I need any extra preparation or care. Plus I am worried (perhaps more than usual) about tearing in case it causes the vulvodynia to come back with a vengeance. All worries that could be eased if I saw a consultant obstetrician!

NameChange, there is some really interesting information on how to prevent tearing and having a more relaxed labour in the book I've been reading Gentle Birth Method by Dr Gowri Motha.

deus I had a scan on Monday which showed that everything was fine, even a heartbeat observed. But the mw said that it was just a snapshot and didn't confirm nothing would go wrong in the future. Bleeding has gotten much worse this evening and I now have really painful cramps... I really don't think it's going to end well.

Oh Cinnamon , it must be a very worrying time for you just now. I really hope that the bleeding tails off for you again. Hope your OH is taking good care of you.

cinnamon I discussed my strong cramping and spotting with both the sonographer and a sister at the emergency gyne clinic today and they both tried really hard to reassure me that it can be absolutely normal and not cause any problems. Of course it can also be the beginnings of a mc, but they said more often than not it isn't. I found it difficult as I've only ever had the experience of that followed by mc, but as dh said, they wouldn't go to such lengths to stress it if it wasn't true.

I know nothing anyone can say can bring much comfort at the moment as it's so worrying (I've bled much more following the internal scan today, but again they warned me I would.) All we can do is wait, which in itself it stressful isn't it!

Are you having a follow up scan?

Sounds awful name change. Re: tearing, that was my biggest fear. I ended up with a 1st degree 'tear' that didn't require stitches and was fine within a week. I recommend hypno birthing and also my biggest tip is don't 'push' as the baby crowns. Also known as 'the ring of fire' I remember this vividly (although not the pain strangely) and I knew what was happening. Your body pushes anyway, you don't actual have to actively push in a complication free birth.

It sounds like your MW doesn't know what it was . Go through your GP I think and see if you can get referred that way. Is it worth possibly seeing a mental health MW? not that I am suggesting that any of it is 'in your head' but if it is going to cause you anxiety, maybe it's best to look into it now rather than you panicking nearer the time?

Cinnamon if you are in a lot of pain, don't be afraid to go to a&e, although I would go in the day as they don't tend to have sonographers at night. If the worst is happening, and I'm not saying it is, it's no time to be a hero. If you are scared or in pain go and see someone. Big hugs. Whatever happens you will be fine xxx

Tutu I've hd 2 3rd degree tears (and 2 with just a graze) and it was never suggested I go under a consultant for it. I was under the consultant anyway but the general agreement seems to be that just because you have had one it doesn't increase your chances of having another.

Lozza92 You are not far from me - I wonder if we wll bump into each other IRL and not know!
Told my sister today and she was quite negative :( kids have been hard work today with the heat and therefore lack of sleep and this was enough to make me sob. I'm a hormonal mess.

Cinnamon, Elsa and Cho thinking of you three, such a worry to be bleeding and nothing anyone can say can reassure you really, fingers crossed everything is ok xx

carolann I was using deep heat patches and doc I saw yesterday said I could have solpadeine but nothing worked. Am actually back in hospital as pain got worse earlier and had it in my side also so was worried about ectopic, have had a scan though and baby is in the right place thank god and even heard the little heartbeat. Have had a chest x Ray to check for clot and a bunch of other tests, keeping me in overnight and they are being so so thorough hopefully they will get to the bottom of it all soon.

Thanks everyone, didn't sleep well with the cramps and very tired and emotional today, can't decide whether I am better off staying at home, but work don't take kindly to sick days and I would have no distractions here.
cho how would I know the difference between heavy bleeding and a MC? This is my first pregnancy so I have no idea what to expect, I certainly didn't expect this. I have no follow up scan booked, she just said that if I bleed for more than 2 weeks or it gets much worse to go back, I would consider this much worse... But I don't want to waste their time and I'm not sure how much another scan will help as if it's still there it's more uncertainty and if it's gone it's gone. I have a wedding on Saturday and I don't know how I'm going to not tell my friend when I'm not drinking, but I don't want to tell her if it's going to MC.

QueenFee this 3rd degree tear thing must go by a different policy from hospital to hospital as they are saying I definitely need to be under a consultant for previous 3rd degree. Ive doubled checked. I got a 2nd degree on my DC2 so don't know if that's added to it. I don't have any other health issues so to be it seems a bit silly to be under the consultant but I guess it's their call.

PS I hope all those that are bleeding are ok. I've heard many success stories after bleeding so all the best with everything.

cinnamon it's very hard to tell I'm afraid. I think if you have clotting that's not a good sign but even then there are people who have heavy bleeding with clotting and baby still pulls through. Last time when I had my missed misscarriage I had mainly brown spotting, never heavy, with a little bit of red and a tiny clot and then it stopped completely for 2 weeks before I had my early scan and found out. So there really is no way to tell for sure other than scans I'm afraid. If the bleeding is significantly worse I'd definitely go back though. Take care of yourself.

Anyone got morning sickness? I'm only 4+1 and I felt so horrendous on my drive to work that I had to pull over because I thought I was going to be sick. Isn't it a little early for that?!

Wow this thread is really taking off!

Main symptom for me currently is sore boobs - they're so heavy and painful. Was never particularly blessed in the boobage department so them growing is fun!

In the booking in appt, do they ask about family history? We've got cystic fibrosis on my side (DH is getting a blood test next week to hopefully rule that out) but apart from that I don't really know. I've held off from telling parents... Do you think I should to give accurate info to the midwife?