December 2017 babies #7 - 2nd trimester, gender reveals & 20 week scans this way!

[Carley27]

Thread #7 (!!!) for mumsnetters expecting in December 2017.

Join us for chat about the second trimester, teams pink, blue and yellow, 20 week scans and as always... food.

We also have a secret group on facebook - if you would like to join please ask to be added :)

Spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xkkNdcxTRfLVAtBUItL__yT9FchALAwK63e2BjZbVMM/htmlview

Dream Genii has arrived. No offended, but I'm hoping not to see any of you at 4am!

Sleep well Scots!!

Hope so @glastogal! And you're right - they're much closer to the trisomy type of stats, but it's still hard not to worry when someone tells you you're definitively positive for something 😕 Apparently I need to be tested again a few weeks before my due date, but even so the stats also say that (like a pregnancy test) tests can yield false negative (but not false positive) results so I'm best just taking the IV antibiotics whatever the results closer to the time.

Good luck @ScotsLamb!!

Biker sorry I totally missed your post. Being honest, reading those details just makes me think it's lucky they know as some of us will have it and won't know. I appreciate it's not that simple but I hope you will take some reassurance based on the fact that you can be medicated for it now they know.

I'm roasting hot. Just had to put he bedroom fan back on! Wide awake and can't sleep

That's true @Mrsbluebell17 We are grateful that Monday night's bizarre trip to the hospital resulted in them finding this out as now we at least stand a chance of mitigating the risk. Won't stop me worrying but I'm glad they'll be monitoring it carefully and seriously (it'll be all over the cover of my white notes too).

It does however make me sad that the NHS doesn't test all of us as a matter of course (only testing women who have had to go into triage seems a bit of an arbitrary way to pick and choose, doesn't it?!) and therefore that there are so many others who may not know and who won't have that care. The midwife said that there are private tests available, but how many would think of getting one if they don't even know about it?? Hence I wanted to post the links to also help raise awareness.

Thank you to both you and @glastogal for taking an interest and helping me process my thoughts and feelings on this 😘

Ps Fan didn't cut it last night for me. Didn't get to sleep till almost 1am, then broken sleep, and then awake at 5... 😣

Whoops - hit 'post' again too soon.

Ps Fan didn't cut it last night for me. Didn't get to sleep till almost 1am, then broken sleep, and then awake at 5... 😣 Hope you and others got a better night's sleep!

Morning biker. I get you completely. I had no idea it was such a huge risk so without you raising it, I would possibly never have known. At least I know that I can keep it in mind now. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I slept terribly too. Totally broken, disturbed sleep. It's going to be a long Friday! I think it was already going to be a long day, waiting for our gender scan tomorrow!! Our gender scan is with a 4D scan package too and I keep forgetting about that bit!!! Hope your Friday goes well!

Yay for scans! 😄 Enjoy yours tomorrow - so exciting!! 😄

Our anomaly scan is this afternoon. Little Biker must be getting excited already about us seeing him again because he is showing off and has been 'pummelling' my insides this morning even before my coffee! 💙

Happy Friday everyone! 🎉

Hooray for anomaly scan!! Hope you have a lovely time and get some great photos biker.. I'm lying in bed, refusing to get up until Bug thumps me, I could be here a while!!

Biker, I agree it's terrible they don't say anything. I suppose at least now you know and they can prevent anything from happening?

Also, good luck to everyone with gender scans in the next few days - can't wait to see and hear the news

@glastogal Did you succeed in the big-thumping quest? 😄

@CheesecakeAddict They will now administer IV antibiotics every 4 hours from start of labour. This helps mitigate the risk (see stats above) but doesn't completely eliminate it. Still significantly better chances than those who don't know they have it so won't have the antibiotics option!

I got a couple of tiny thumps.. will have to do @dirtygrubbybikerchick as this mumma can't stay in bed all day waiting (however much she wants to!) DP reckons he feels rolling when I don't, but can't feel even the big kicks. Just goes to show I am totally feeling them on the outside psychologically, phantom kicks just because I feel them internally!!

Hehe Don't worry @glastogal - you'll be feeling big ones soon enough and in a few months you'll be wistful for the days when they didn't hurt so much! 😬

Biker I had an argument with the midwife over toxoplasmosis testing. I was lambing sheep when we conceived (well not at exactly the same time. That would be awkward for the sheep) and we have had toxo on the farm. Midwife refused to get my blood tested for it. I said it would involved ticking one more box and she said the NHS would only check for it if I had symptoms. I really just want to know if I'm immune to it so we can stop being so over dramatic with the washing, cleaning etc.
I think we should be tested for strep b as it causes so much stress at birth if found out then.

Good luck to all having anomaly scans!

Biker, would a c sec be an option?

I'm going to have a rant now. I'm a bit pissed off that I told work that I am not coping working 70 hours per week and I'm too tired. They want me plan all my lessons in advance of my maternity leave too since they can't find a teacher to replace me. And at first I was obliging but second time since returning from a 5 day trip, for which I don't even get paid, walking 8 miles a fucking day, that I am put on cover. So fuck them. They have 5 fucking months to find themselves a decent enough cover teacher because I'm done bending over backwards for a workplace that can't help me out when I've never asked for a damn thing in the 3 years I've worked here. End of rant!

You can get a kit to test for Strepb online. The test itself is free and you pay when you send it off for testing. I think it's about £30. I was in 2 minds whether to have it last time as the risk is low and it means being attached to an IV through labour when I wanted a more active experience. The decision was taken out of my hands though as DD arrived at 35 weeks. It's best to leave testing as late as possible because the situation can change from one week to the next. When DD was born she was in NICU and showing some signs of infection. I was TERRIFIED that she had it (she didn't) and swore I'd definitely have the test next time. If I make it to 37 weeks this time I'll take the test.

biker sorry to hear you've come back positive for group b but I'm glad it has been caught. I was +ve with my first. Only found out as I insisted the midwife tested me as I had non stop thrush almost my entire pregnancy which I read could be a sign. She was reluctant to do so but turns out I was right. It didn't really affect my birth other than the IV which was fine, although I think it excludes the option of a water birth. Baby was born healthy. Surprisingly thou midwife has told me they won't test me again unless I show symptoms. Just seems like it's worth testing everyone to me.

@ScotsLamb That's just crazy - why take that chance when they know that your occupation and lifestyle make it a much higher risk?! So frustrating. Can you get a private toxo test done?

@CheesecakeAddict C-section is a possibility. Doesn't wipe the risk out completely (as apparently it can traverse the amniotic membranes) but it's the lowest risk (as far as GBS is concerned) if combined with antibiotics as well. But c-sections of course come with their own risks. If it was just this issue on its own then I might not choose to have a C, but I have a couple of other health risks so it may well be heading down that route anyway... will discuss with my consultant at 24 weeks.

@Oysterbabe That's really good to know! £30 is definitely a worthwhile investment IMO.

And absolutely @Thewinedidit Totally agree there!

Ps Really glad both your kids turned out ok, @Oysterbabe & @Thewinedidit 🙂

@CheesecakeAddict That's awful re work btw. And sounds vaguely illegal...........

Cheesecake I'm also a teacher and, if you are anything like me, will be feeling guilty about leaving your kids anyway without school adding to that pressure. I've struggled with the pressure of pupils not having a teacher if I go off sick vs me making myself more ill by staying in school when unwell. We are already 2 members of staff short and will be 3 when I go on maternity leave. I know there will be a lot of pressure on me in the run up to maternity leave but I've made sure I have mentioned, within ear shot of my head of department, that I would like to work until the end of term unless it gets too stressful and I'm in titled to take maternity leave early from 4 weeks before that.

I would sit down with your boss and explain that reduction of hours needs to happen or you will end up too sick to come into work which is more awkward for them. I would also explain that your blood pressure is lower than usual so you are more light headed so wandering about the school for cover is an issue but you are happy to do it in your room (it's usually more hassle for the class to move than for them to find another member of staff).
Worst case scenario if you are feeling really pressured is to explain your stress and anxiety to your docotr as they might deem you unfit to work for the rest of term.

But remember: TODAY IS FRIDAY! Enjoy a wee schloer or non-alcoholic cider and put your feet up.

Wishing you all a good weekend!

All good with anomaly scans today 😄 cheeky boy was giving the sonographer a hard time with positions (he was trying to sleep) but we got there in the end 😂 measurements are all good and no anomalies identified.

This is him blowing bubbles after swallowing amniotic fluid 😂