Due in Sept '07 - part 3 - The Blooming Stage !?!

[canadianmum]

Due to recent sad news and at the suggestion of others, I have started this new thread. Let's hear everyone's news.......

apologies about spelling - quite upset and meant to be working but this is not my best day for concentration!

Oh Poppy you poor thing - my heart goes out to you. I don't know anything about Ashford and St Peters but perhaps you could start another thread asking? I bet there are plenty of Mumsnetters out there that gave birth there.

Re the private thing - have you thought about hiring a private midwife for a home birth rather than paying out to go private all the way? Not only is it less expensive but may well turn out to be a nicer experience for you.

I know it sounds really bolshie but have you thought about contacting your local press? There is so much in the media about the rubbish state of maternity provision in this country at the moment so you may find that if you end up exposing your local hospital to media scrutiny they might become a bit more accomodating. High risk I know and not for the faint hearted but I guess it depends on how angry you are.

Honey - fabulous news about your little girl. So chuffed for you

Oh Poppy - I am sorry you are having to content with this. Maybe you need to go and visit the hospital on offer to you? You may be pleasantly surprised. You can't necessary go on website. I love the net and I find my hospital's website completely baffling! Sometimes it is best to go and make up your own mind on a hospital and see it yourself!

Maybe you need to take a note out of Teecee's book (very impressed with her!) - although you shouldn't have to, sometimes you just need to make a lot of noise to get heard.

You shouldn't be forced to either private or home delivery unless you want to. You have a right to NHS care, even if it is not your first choice. Try to clear your mind and look at each option listing good/bad points.

p.s. don't worry about spelling - with me it's fast typing = terrible spelling!

best of luck

Poppy - all sympathies. What a nightmare!
Re information - I found info on stats etc from here
but I agree, posting a question is a good idea - I'm sure you'll get replies. Good luck!

Honey - congrats on news re girl baba, so exciting, I'm excited for you! also a bit envious!

Honey, that's great news! So pleased. I am so envious... still have 3 weeks to go (2+5, but hey who's counting?).

Poppy - that is a bloody disgrace. Get angry, have a good cry then marshal all your hormones and get doorstepping. You shouldn't be forced into penury or ethical dilemma due to whim of a health trust. Find out as many people in positions of relevant power (MP, editors of papers, heads of health trusts and hospitals etc) and get even. Tell them you will come and give birth in their office - sure they have a nice sofa they can spare you - if they don't help find you a bed.
Go and sit in your doctor's office and cry and cry and cry until he/she does something.
Make some noise and you usually get what you need because people will do anything for a quiet life.

thanks everyone - really does help to hear from you.

Definitley considering homebirth option (got a good name to contact) and my dh already written to my MP - probably just as well as I am incoherently angry when worked up at the minute.

Have already got on the case to PCT (not that they're much use as its their policy that seems to be causing this shortage).

Have been crying in the GPS this monring and much good it did me- would have really liked to punch the practice manager although not sure that would have helped my booking (but would have made me feel so much better ). How I resisted when she said -thats ok you can come in and see the GP for antenatal care.. gee thanks -you're letting me have what is the normal standard of care.. Ta very much

If I hear one more person say (its not just you -its a problem in the area) I might solve problem by having baby in prison hospital...

Honey2theb - how exciting. Girls are fab! I'm one for a start
Having 2 girls already I really, rewally don't mind what I have this time. Another girl would be fab, a litttle trio of girlies, lovely, but on the other hand it would be lovley to have a son.

Poppy - that is totally mad that you can't get a bed in your hospitel. FFS, it's not like they can't plan ahead a bit, you haven't just arrived unannounced wanting to stay for 2 weeks. How about writing to the department of Health and local MP etc and getting them on the case for you. Write to the chief executive of the hosital, the head of all midwives, anyone and everyone you can thinnk of and demand they gat you a fucking bed. Thye've got plenty of notice, there is no excuse.
On the other hand, having had a home birth - they are amazing. Not having to leave you home while having contractions is one thing. You get to saty in your lovley house with all your comforts, you get to crawl into bed after a bath with yur baby and your husband. And you get to write your home address on the birth certificate. It's just fab. Once you have 1 home birth you'll never want to go into a hospital for a baby again. You have 2 midwives with you at home and if anything doesn't feel right they get you into hospital anyway.
Either way I hope you get what you want babes, you just might have to fight a bit like I did but it's worth it when you get the birth that you feel happy with.

20 week scan dates:
17th april - honey2theb
19th April - Sparks
19th April - lou031205
20th April - Gils
23rd April - Sophus
23rd April - Fiofio
23rd April - pennypops
23rd April - Nettee
24th April - FlossALump
24th April - Spangly
25th April - Spraklynewthing (will be 22 wks!)
27th April - Jasper74
30th April - MMooMar.
30th April - EdieMcredie
1st May - FilBrit (will be 21 weeks)
1st May - LoopyLouLisa
4th May - Purplelostprincess
4th May - Poppy34
8th May - Holly29
9th May - hopeitwontbebig
10th May - Diddle
15th May - GiveMeMoreMash
15th May - Canadianmum
15th MAy - TeeCee (will be 21 weeks)
17th May - MrsMar
21st May - TinaLC
24th May - Rin 23
25th May - kinki
25th May - laksa

Aw Poppy, poor thing. What a nightmare for you. I hope you do get something sorted. I'm glad your DH has written to MP, this sort of thing shouldn't be happening. LOL re prison hospital, hey Pop women get away with murder for having PMS don't they, surely we could 'do over' a couple of relevent people all for a good cause!!! Sorry prob bad taste considering what's happened in America

Honey what fantastic news.... I've updated the 20 week scan list to show your results

20 week scan dates:
17th april - honey2theb girl
19th April - Sparks
19th April - lou031205
20th April - Gils
23rd April - Sophus
23rd April - Fiofio
23rd April - pennypops
23rd April - Nettee
24th April - FlossALump
24th April - Spangly
25th April - Spraklynewthing (will be 22 wks!)
27th April - Jasper74
30th April - MMooMar.
30th April - EdieMcredie
1st May - FilBrit (will be 21 weeks)
1st May - LoopyLouLisa
4th May - Purplelostprincess
4th May - Poppy34
8th May - Holly29
9th May - hopeitwontbebig
10th May - Diddle
11th May - Nicki10
15th May - GiveMeMoreMash
15th May - Canadianmum
17th May - MrsMar
21st May - TinaLC
24th May - Rin 23
25th May - kinki
25th May - laksa

I've had a maternity bra success, yyyyyyyyyyyyyyes! Marks and Spencer, fabulous, really comfy and quite flattering, unlike those horrible Mothercare bras, yuk.

Poppy - here you go in case you want them:

• Patricia Hewitt MP, Health Secretary, Department of Health
• Catherine McCormick, Midwifery Officer, Department of Health
• Professor paul Lweis, Chair, Midwifery Committee
• Collette Mannion, Head of Midwifery

(not sure if she is only head of midwifery at my hospital though)

Hi everyone and welcome to all our newbies.
Great the list is getting longer,but my god ...so much to read when you havent been on for a day or two .

Honey fab news on the scan ...a little girl ...fantastic.Chuffed for you.

Poppy, thats bloody awful...Got to make some real noise about that one.I mean,why should you pay if you dont want/cant afford to.Somethings not right is it when they will give a pregnant woman that sort of option.I would love a home birth but for some people it just wouldnt be their cup of tea.Good luck and let em have it!

Hope everyone else is getting better news.

I havent been well for a few days now ,sore throat ,cough ,snotty nose ...yuk.
Yep and everytime I cough I get those pains down my bump too.

Was supposed to have had my amnio on Friday just gone but when I got there ,the sonographer (sp?)took us into an office and had a chat with us.She was really nice,lovely lady.Anyway to cut a long story short ,she was not impressed that my midwife had railroaded me into just having the amnio because of my age without having the triple test first.Especially pee`d off as There is a history of spina bifida in the family and could do with the markers for the AB scan.

Ended up just having the triple test done,nurse taking the had to have a stab at both arms cos she couldnt get enough out of the one so have a lovely blue bruise on each arm ....looks fab with a tshirt on! have got to phone on Friday for the results.

Just to top everything off ....I have been waiting since mid last year for a hospital appointment to get a tooth removed under a general ,got the appointment through today ,but I dont reakon they will do it now does anyone know?

xxxxxxxxx

Hi poppy, sorry to hear about your problems, I agree with the others, contact as many people as possible, including your local paper/local tv news people. You have to make some noise about this, because it is a disgrace you are being forced to make a choice you don't want to. You have paid your national insurance to fund the NHS now it's their turn to provide you with the service you've paid for. Good luck!!

Having berated the NHS I've just had a lovely appointment with the midwife, she was 45 mins late, but hey! You can't have everything! I'm bang on target with everything, I can't believe I'm so lucky! I got to hear the baby's heartbeat too which is sooooo reassuring. A lovely solid 140bpm. It has put at ease so many of my worries about aches and pains I've had over the past few weeks.

xx

Welcome back MMooMar - Having been wondering how it went - Fingered crossed for results.

I had a wisdom tooth out a local two weeks ago. Not sure they will recommend a general unless absoulutely necessary. Personaly I would recommend teeth extractions under local. Had 4 teeth out under general when I was 13 - will not regale you with the specifics, suffice to say wouldn't go down that route again!

hello again, thanks for all welcomes, Poppy i am sooo sorry to hear about the awful problems in your area. given my hormones at the moment i'd be ready to murder if someone suggested a homebirth to me when i wasn't sure if i wanted one!!

having said that i was sooo opposed to homebirths but was speaking to a friend of mine who unwittingly had one for first baby with no midwife or anything!! she said tens machine and hot bath took all pains away and she wasn't "sure" she was in labour til too late!! that made me contemplate them much more seriously, cos no pain sounds great to me!!! (midwife told me that the more relaxed you are in your surroundings the less it is supposed to hurt)

honey, am sooo happy for you!! a little girl, how gorgeous!!! i chose not to know (most unlike me) but now i hear your news i really want to know...guess it's too late - or will it show up in my notes somewhere?!

ok, everyone who's talking about big boobs STOP IT!!!! i am jealous and will gladly gladly receive any unwanted boobage from any source whatsoever. my chest is measly!!

enjoy the lovely sun - i am stuck at work wishing i was home and wishing my baby was due earlier so could sit out and sunbathe!!

Cheers spraklynewthing,
Hoping to get some good figures with the test cos at the moment I feel like I still wont know which way to go with it...got a bloody good midwife me!

Re the tooth situation,They have already tried to remove it with a local but I dont freeze very well (major probs with just filling), so then I paid for a local and sedation and NEITHER worked.So has to be a hospital job...

WTF? Preganancy is mad. Have always hated, hated, hated gardening. But have just spent every spare minute since weekend in the garden - mowing, weeding, planting, triming lawn edges with scissors (as i said WTF???). Some bizarre kind of nesting thing going on obviously - god knows what i'm going to give birth to - a gnome?

Oh Sophus...
lol at the gnome

I usualy love gardening,but I have gone the opposite.Got so much to do and cant be arsed!

Just got to add
Yes I usually love gardening but even I wouldnt trim the lawn edges with scissors!

Still could have been worse,you could have used nail scissors

GP just phoned to say that may (may mind you ) have a place at Chelsea and Westminster which is a little better as a choice as where my step sister had hers so feel less like I'm being dumped. Still dont actually know if they've got a place for sure and they said no booking appt for some time... so I'm having first proper medical appt with the GP next week at 19 weeks. More fool me for thinking wouldnt have to wait this long (Went to GP at 8 1/2 weekst o get booking referral) without kicking off -reckon needed to wait for hormones to kick in and make me do it.

I am still going to get onto more people about this -thanks Teecee for suggestions! I may not want to go private (dad is a gp and its against my principles ) but I am really lucky that money isnt an issue. But that is not the case for most people and what are tehy doing? What if you're not as gobby and hormonal/obsessive as me and hadnt bothered to ring round about this? Seriously if I hadnt been such a control freak about not having dates and rang the GP earlier in the week I'd not have known about this as still be waiting (after 8 weeks !!) for a letter from the hospital. Its not just about me but about anyone anywhere having to put up with this..

on a nicer note at least I've got a scan date (I am paying but going to the foetal medecine centre as they were really lovely at my last scan which I was beside myslef about having found out about 2 previous m/c at scans), Really want to know everything is ok (still superstitious although been getting twinges and butterflies which may be kicks -am I weird to go through complete worry fits that everything not ok?

I really want to find out what it is. I'm convinced its a boy and have no girls names so will be stuffed if my instinct is wrong!

Hi poppy, I hope you get your place at C&W, I was offered it as one of my options but went with St Georges at it's closer to me. Fingers crossed!!! I totally know what you mean about not going private too, not because anyone in the family is in the medical profession but we're all raving lefties! hehehe!

Sophus - You have made me laugh about the gardening, normally I'm pretty obsessive about tidying up, cannot sit and relax if there's a stray pair of shoes (usually dh's!) lying around. Now.... couldn't be bothered if there's dust piling up, grime all over the house and I haven't changed the sheets for three weeks!!! I've got the opposite of nesting instincts, filth instincts!

Good luck with the triple test mMoomar, when do you get the results? I can't believe you were railroaded in to an amnio, I can't remember if you've had a nuchal? Either way, I'm the same age as you, and my m/w wanted to wait and see what the results of the nuchal before we did anything else. It's not right you should be pushed in to a proceedure that has a risk element to it based on just age. Seems really wrong to me.
I wish I could help with regards the wisdom teeth thing, I was born without any (I'm obviously not too wise!) so never been an issue with me. I'm sure I seem to remember someone posting on here that they'd had a GA while pregnant and everything was ok. I hope someone comes along soon with some better advice than me!

Take care everyone xx

i have permanent filth instincts - am messiest person around (except for my now beautifully manicured lawns), DH on the other hand is tidiest person on planet and literally despairs at my ineptitude. Even our cleaning lady is too messy for him - they have this war of attrition going on. Every Friday he comes home and has to go around the house reaaranging everything. I just sit there shouting "get a life".

Mmoomar, is it a bottom wisdom tooth? Apparently the bottom ones are much harder to remove, therefore are generally done under anaesthetic. From what I know, it isn't ideal going under a general when pregnant but they can give you as light an anaesthetic as possible and for as short a possible time. HTH

Sophus

You so made me laugh out loud, because my DH is exactly the same. I'll be lying on the sofa watching TV when suddenly he'll spring up and 'move the bowls on the shelf' because they've been moved by the cleaning lady and not put them back in precisely the same position...

I can't wait to see how he copes with a wee one in the house. Bless.

Hi,
Haven't posted for ages but been lurking. Had a midwife appointment last week and heard the heart beat, though it was doing somersaults so kept coming and going. I have a scan buddy[Holly29]!
Can't believe the nightmare some people are having trying to get a hospital. I'm trying to keep relaxed but found out my mum has got cancer so threw up yesterday just from the upset I think/hope!

20 week scan dates:
17th april - honey2theb girl
19th April - Sparks
19th April - lou031205
20th April - Gils
23rd April - Sophus
23rd April - Fiofio
23rd April - pennypops
23rd April - Nettee
24th April - FlossALump
24th April - Spangly
25th April - Spraklynewthing (will be 22 wks!)
27th April - Jasper74
30th April - MMooMar.
30th April - EdieMcredie
1st May - FilBrit (will be 21 weeks)
1st May - LoopyLouLisa
4th May - Purplelostprincess
4th May - Poppy34
8th May - Holly29 & ccpink
9th May - hopeitwontbebig
10th May - Diddle
11th May - Nicki10
15th May - GiveMeMoreMash
15th May - Canadianmum
17th May - MrsMar
21st May - TinaLC
24th May - Rin 23
25th May - kinki
25th May - laksa

ccpink, am so sorry you and your family are going through such a tough time. i can't imagine how i would feel if my mum told me that. thinking of you. please remember that all of us are here for you and try to enjoy this time too with a new life growing inside you, and remember to stay as positive as you can.

big hugs xx