May 2017 #10 - To be prepared or not prepared

[RasperryInAMelon]

Here's a link to the last thread and photo updates just incase anyone's looking for anything!

Thread 9

Photo Page - Bump Update

I don't have access to a desktop right now though so can't post the link to the GoogleDrive spreadsheet, but it's a few posts down in the previous thread!

Happy chatting!

@WishIWasSleeping I know. "Oh it's different from booking" you don't say love!!!??

Argh tight and itchy bump today. Lathered cocoa butter on it. The joys!

@EsmesBees it was ridiculous and it ended up sleeping on the receptionists counter. I love cats a lot but having a cat in a clinical area where there are babies & mums isn't right. Yes it's cute but honestly!

Also what made me chuckle is that she said I should be having growth scans. I literally went "what do you think I'm here for exactly?" I'm going to ask for her name when I walk past tomorrow and I'm not seeing her again.

Today has been draining, and I slept for 2 hours when I got home! Going to do a baby audit to see what we need to buy. This payday is my last before maternity pay, so I want to get the final bits and pay off my last credit card payment. I can do this!

Just wanted to share some pictures of his little face. Today he was sucking his thumb and just resting his hand on his face. He's got a big curl on his head which makes me think of the baby emoji! 👶🏼

Think that would have been enough for me to totally disregard everything she had said after that...
good job she's looking at someone else's notes in relation to the update on baby... #MostMondayishMondayEver ...!
all around I think... x

On a slightly lighter note - back on thread 9, in the midst of the monster munch debate, someone (I can't remember who) asked how many I could fit in my mouth at once. Just did the challenge - a grand total of 4! (No chewing allowed)

Sorry to hear about everyone having trouble with midwifes etc 🙁
Hoping everyone's week picks up quickly!

Just finished my first 4 day weekend and definitely feel like I could do with not going back to work 😂 All of a sudden I feel as exhausted as I did in my first trimester, and keep getting hip/bum pains and funny little dizzy moments, not pleasant! Oh well, not long left to go 🙂

Interesting to hear how many people are craving pineapple! Didn't think I'd had any cravings, but then spent all weekend thinking about mango and now can't stop wanting more! Not to bad, there could definitely be unhealthier cravings to have 😂

@Barnes79 hahaha! It wasn't me but 4 is exceptionally impressive!!!

Barnes - IT WAS ME!!!! Will see how many I manage tomoz & let you know . Did you suck them 'til they'd gone down?*

Ticky - misread your last post as "fanny little dizzy moments" and thought "me too!!" Then realised I'd misread! Funny tingly/ achey sensation I have to assume is connected to ligaments etc stretching? V odd!^
^
Nurse - you should defo get her name! Did she introduce herself at any point? The #hellomynameis campaign Dr Kate Granger started a few years back to focus on compassion and human communications between clinical staff and patients. Hugely powerful and means I will always make a point now of saying "I didn't get your name, you are...?" If a consultation of any sort starts without an intro. And I believe the NHS and (all?) Trusts and FTs have adopted it/ signed up so if she didn't bother, it's another black mark hellomynameis.org.uk/ .

Peach- does your NHS employer support the #hellomynameis campaign? And how was the NCT class? Start mine on 25/3.

Mighty - zen is defo the way to go!! We're nearly there.

Savage - it was more like "40+ = higher stillbirth risk. Epidural is controlled. If we make you go early at 38/39wks or induce at any point you'll be safer with the epidural rather than G&A which won't last the duration so you'll then get the epidural whilst writhing in pain, so it'll be harder to do and by the way, it's right on your spinal nerve where it's dangerous to screw up". Scary stuff - and intended to be. Which annoyed me a bit.

*apologies if this reads like a smut post - genuinely not intended to, but re-reading....

@Teaspoon74 I helped introduce that in my last trust! Nope she didnt! Definitely waddling over there tomorrow.

tea haha oddly enough I get that too with the hip/bum pain!

Tea - no I didn't. I had to take them out before I choked to death. 😳 Told DH the smut comment and 5 minutes later he's still chuckling to himself... 🤣

Well teaspoon if it makes you feel any better I ended up with epidural last time at 9cm (not because I needed one, I was fine on the G&A) and it was fine.... It was quite fun having them say not to move, contractions were pretty close together by this point, so they just said to warn them if one was coming! I wasn't induced though, which I believe can make the contractions more painful.

@BouncingBlueberry thank you so much, that's very kind of you. I have ten zillion questions! May I pm you on here with some for starters?

I'm due at the diabetes clinic on Wednesday-they told me to bring a book as it will be a long afternoon!

It's really reassuring to hear you are controlling yours through diet alone. The irony here is that I was trying to eat super healthily, low carb, dark green leafy veg, fruit, pulses and high protein until the suspected kidney stone issue kicked in, and had to quickly change my diet to include slightly crap, more carby refined foods as kidney stones love a lot of the low GI foods. The kidney pain has stopped, but in two weeks I've gone from normal blood sugar to GD. Quite literally between a rock (stone?) and a hard place! Could have happened anyway I guess, regardless of the sudden change in diet, but tonight I'm back on the militant healthy meal planning. Sod the kidney stones. He's more important!
I'm so curious to see what spikes me now too. I eat unsweetened porridge every morning but I understand even that can cause a spike for some. Lucky I like eggs again after months of not being able to even look at them on tv

Well that'll teach me for missing a day in this thread - it's taken me all day to catch up!

Just back from 3rd NCT class - covered practical things for first 2 weeks after birth such as sleeping, bathing, feeding etc. Sessions are interesting and good to confirm some things that I already know. People seem like a good bunch too so hopefully will have someone to meet up with while I'm off on leave.

Something that came up tonight was that most people at the class had heard from or had visits from their health visitor already. I haven't heard a thing and my MW didn't mention anything either. Should I try and find out what's going on or wait a bit longer? I'm 32+3 now.

Had a sudden panic today that I'm way behind in buying things. I think because we bought the big things early on and I haven't done much since. I feel a trip to Lidl would be good to stock up on basic baby bits, toiletries for hospital bag etc. How many nappies are you all planning on getting in pre baby? I have a few packs and don't know if I should wait til baby arrives before getting more.

Sorry to hear about crap treatment - good to hear there's a complaint going in nurse.

Teainbed thank you, it's so good to have the support of voices of experience here. I'll certainly be in touch via pm if you don't mind?

This and Barnes's monster munch record illustrate precisely why this group is so brilliant.

I told my mum about it earlier (the group, not the four monster munch, although she would doubtless acknowledge that triumph) and she said it sounded like one of the best things to come from the internet. She's only ever been online about 5 times in her life and she still hit the nail on the head!

@growcookeat mine was due at 34 weeks but it's been cancelled due to lack of HVs in the area. Your NCT class sounds great! I totally forgot to ask about classes today; I want to know more about feeding. I think I'm going to try BF & expressing.

@mightymouse76 I totally agree! For the first time in a long time, I don't feel alone.

Back from first NCT class - was good and interactive, lots of visuals on squashed organs and feeling the weight of the baby, placenta, fluid etc to give us an idea of how heavy it'll feel (and shock the men). Next week we get to practice massage so sounds great!

Teaspoon yes we support the my name is policy, though practically because of the patient group I mostly work with I don't always get to implement it.

Grow I haven't heard a peep from HV either and didn't know I should have. Also I have 4 packs of Aldi size 1 nappies plus reusables once things have calmed down. Didn't want to overbuy so will buy more as and when I know the size of baby.

Grow I have no idea about HVs. Haven't heard anything from ours, but we are having maternity care in a different trust so we could have slipped through. No idea if I'm meant to contact anyone at any point .

Also interested in how many nappies I should be getting!

@MrsJW15 a friend sent me this as I'm known as a little hoarder! I've got 4 packs of size 1 & 3 packs of size 2. I've got pampers, Aldi mamia, boots and Tesco.

I think I have acquired DHs cold, so I'm trying to eat orange and ginger smoothie!

grow I can't honestly remember if I had a HV visit before birth last time (I think not!) and I know I saw very very little of them post birth (you are usually under midwives till day 10 after) - I had a 28 day appt with a HV who wasn't even from the area but was drafted in to help as they were so busy. I was glad to be left alone tbh, there seem to be some rather useless HV's out there and I didn't actually need any support. Then at 8m there's a check (here we go to clinic) and again at 2 years. I think that's the sum total of time I've seen HVs.

My MIL is an assistant to the HVs. The advice she's given me is... outdated to say the least.

Visited our friends with their 5 day old newborn today, got a lovely peaceful cuddle... it's definitely all worth it! That light at the end of the tunnel is NOT an oncoming train!!! Can't believe how tiny they are... and not really a small baby at 8lb squeeee

Nurse that seems like a lot of nappies. Guess I'd better get buying!

Ticky - put your mango into a mango and lime cheesecake... delicious!
Grow - we didn't get much health visitor attention at all with my first, but have already had the letter for a visit this time - which I've changed as I'll still be at work! The health visitor said on the phone it's a new scheme in these parts that they offer a visit to all mums regardless of what baby you're on, but you don't need to accept, as long as they offer. My DD is only 14m old, so it's def still new. (I'm in the midlands) Maybe give your health visiting team a call?

I feel like I'm missing out on the NCT classes... beginning not to like my midwife even more for assuming I didn't want them...

I have a precise total of 3 free newborn nappies.. and I know I said before but I'll say again as I didn't realise I personally could be so picky - but I'd advise against stockpiling a specific brand until you've tested it on your newborn. I hated Asda nappies once I'd used a few, and now I flit between ALDI and boots as I found the Asda little angels smelt funny every time my DD peed in them! Plus some have slightly tighter leg holes and stuff - so buy a pack of each if they are on offer. A trip out to the supermarket for nappies might be just what you need to get out of the house after the first week! (with or without baby!)

I think I need to buy some monster much...