Due August '07 - Part 4

[tokentotty]

Welcome all !!!!

I've had appointments at 10 and 17 weeks now not again untul 28 weeks.

I'm going for a GGT at 27 weeks as ds was over 10lb. I don't think you normally get sent for one unless you've got diabetes in your immediate family or you've had previously large babies. Wouldn't worry about it, your midwife will test for sugar at your appointments.

I've had appointments at 11, 16 and now 22 tomorrow. I've to go for a GTT at 28 weeks as well as DH's mother is diabetic. Hopefully I can combine that test with my Anti D treatment as I'm another Rhesus negative girl.

The same thing happened with me loler for bfing. I'm going to try it again and decided I would try to get all the help I needed. Luckily there is a lot of support in my area for bf that wasn't there when I had dd. I also decided that I wouldn't get so upset if I had to change to bottle feeding. Although that is going to be easier said than done when my hormones are all over the place and I've had no sleep for 2 weeks!

Line dancing sounds like hard work Hersetta even when not pg. Glad you had a good time though. I really need to get out once in a while to do something fun. I'm starting pilates on Thursday but I've been before and I know it's not particularly strenuous. I just need to be a bit stronger and more flexible. With regards to cots or cotbeds, it really depends on whether you'll have another baby. If you intend to have more children then you might as well go for a cot and then buy a bed when you have the next one (as long as the older one is big enough). It would also depend on how much room you have in your bedroom as cotbeds take up a lot more room. We're going for a cot this time round as we're intending to have at least one more baby. It also helps that someone gave us their dd's old kids bed.

Katybird - I've got a letter that my mw gave me on my booking in appointment. It says for your first baby you will be seen at 15-18 weeks, 22-24 weeks and then 26, 28, 31, 34, 36, 38 then weekly til you deliver. For 2nd or subsequent babies you will be seen at 15-18 weeks, 22-24 weeks and then 28, 34, 36, 38, 40 and then weekly til you deliver. I don't know if this is standard or particular to my area but this should give you a good idea. You should phone up your mw and find out. At each appointment I've had I've been told when to book the next one.

MW at 11, 16 and then not till 29
GP at 7, 11 and 25 though (and tbh she's much better than the MW)
Also high risk unit at 12 and 24

Thanks, I'll stop worrying about it! I've only had one mw appointment so far - 15 weeks, because they were so busy - but my 20-week scan was on time so I'll just assume they'll get round to me eventually.

Crossed posts, GiLL - thanks for the info, I'll give them a ring.

Um, 8 weeks, 15 weeks and then 24/25 weeks for midwife. Weird how much this stuff seems to vary across the UK (along with scans).

So frustrating! Trying to call the antenatal unit but they've just got a phone message saying, "We're only taking calls between 2pm and 4.30...". Hopeless!

Sorry, just needed to rant at someone.

So it turns out that my midwife should have told me at my first appointment that they get patients to see the midwives at their GP clinic, unless they're high risk. But my GP surgery won't give me midwife appointments because I'm attached to a different hospital (Barnet, not the Whittington). So I think that means all my antenatal appointments will be with a GP not a midwife. I don't normally moan about the NHS but argh!!

Know what you mean Katybird, the hospital are making me change my GP (I'm with such a good surgery too!) to a more local one as "the midwives will get confused"

Far be it from me to put down any NHS staff, but surely "I live in and my GP is in the next town of because we used to live there and we are moving back there in 6 months" isn't too far out a concept?

I just realised I haven't got a MATB1 form yet...what are they for again?

I think they're to claim SMP from your employer - I think !

Must remember to pick one up tomorrow.

I'm in a similar position - my GP surgery is in Haringey but when we moved down the hill last year (our old flat is only a 15 minute walk away!) we moved into a new borough. But I like my surgery too much to give them up, and they're happy to keep me.

That's mad bananabump - you'll just be transferring back to your old GP in six months' time!

The MATB1 form is to give to your employer so that you get maternity pay. Your GP should be able to provide one without having to make an appointment, just ask at the reception. I was expecting an official form but it's just a scrap of paper really!

Can understand all the frustrations with appt's. I've seen mw at 10, 16 and just today at 24. Next appt is 28.

I'm going for GTT in 2 weeks (I'll be 26 weeks), this is my 1st baby but I was 10lb's+ when I was born. Some authorities give GTT to all mums - does seem very unpredictable according to authorities.

MW appt was fine but have seen 3 different MW's now, never the same one. Would like to have a familiar face.

i'm lying in bed trying to catch up with all the news on here.

appts with midwife - i've had the following scheduled 8wk, 15wk, 24wk and will be having 28wk, 32wk, 36wk, 38wk then weekly.

I had a GTT test with DD as at my 28wk appt my blood sugar was high - turns out i was borderline so diet managed to keep it down. think that routine bloods are taken around 28wks to test for anaemia etc as well as sugar levels (so don't have a mars bar before going to midwife!)

bananabump - th hospital can't make you change GPs - it's only the GP or Health Board/Authority that can make you change. If the practice is happy to keep you on thier books then argue your case! do you know if you are still in the practices catchment area?

Not in their catchment area, no. I'm not sure why they're being so fussy but I don't want to make enemies of the midwives, so I'll go along with the swap, for the sake of an easy life.

good morning all!
I had lovely scan yesterday, sonographer spent 45 mins and seemed to check everything possible, I think she really enjoys using the machine. She even checked in thermo colors the babies bladder and my cervix! This is obviously the plus side of a private clinic in Tanzania, they have all the time in the world.
The downside was that I still haven't managed to arrange a visit to see maternity facilities at the 'best' hospital here. The Dr I saw yesterday seemed suprised I was considering it.
The back pain is becoming intolerable, the Dr suggested ibuprofen and 2 days bed rest with legs raised. But it's impractical and I don't want to take medicines unless really necessary.. but this nasty pinching pain has got me shrieking and is getting worse everyday.

hmm seems like a mixed bag for you itchy - great scan but lots of back pain - dont have any advice i'm afraid - just sympathy.

did my first proper pregnancy brain idiotic thing - meant to be on a course today in Edinburgh - except it was yesterday. only realised at 4.55pm yesterday. had been thinking for weeks it was today. luckily the company that runs them will let me do a different one for free cause didnt fancy having to tell my bosses that i'd cost them about 400 for nothing.

on holiday next thursday for two and a half weeks, but as usual its so much work to be done, that sometimes it feels like it would be easier to just stay at work - sure most other peoples jobs are the same but its so frustrating - i dont complain when colleagues leave work with me, cause everyone is entitled to go on holiday without feeling guilty, but they dont take files off me without a whole lot of humphing and trying to get out of it.

sorry rant over. since i wasnt meant to be in the office today - think i will catch up with some baby browsing on the internet at lunchtime. Baby Show in Glasgow this weekend. purplerabbit and I shall be there checking out the reusable nappies etc.

HI all,

Sorry to hear about the back pain itchy hope it eases for you soon.

I've had midwife appts at 10 (booking in) 16, 22 and next one at 28 wks. I've seen the same midwife at each one as she is the only one at our GP's in the village, which is very different from DS1 in the suburbs when I had a different MW at each appt. However the one I have now isn't the cheeriest of people can't say that I relish going to see her. She was quite abrupt last time I saw her when I asked about changing to the midwife led unit at the other hospital. I am kind of hoping she is not on duty when I go into Labour or maybe I should learn some of the tricks I saw in a Bangkok bar once that might get her to crack a smile whilst I'm in labour and she's between my legs

Hello all. It's my turn to have a rant, although it's not about GPs or midwives. Dd was just awful last night and it took us over 2 and a half hours to get her to go to sleep. She's been getting worse recently, just messing about but last night was just the last straw. Dh and I got so angry and upset we ended up shouting at her and she ended up screaming herself to sleep. The neighbours must have thought we were killing each other. I've just felt like I could burst into tears any second ever since I got up this monrning. I'm feeling a bit better now but I had a meeting to distract me. We've really got to do something about it soon or I'll end up having a nervous breakdown.

Hope everyone's well.

Gilll I can sympathise - ds has chosen this week to decide he wants to use the potty - all v well, but he holds onto it so long, he sits on potty 4 ages, then gets up and wees everywhere.
I'm going to mums today and could have cheerfullly killed him - he's been screaming at me and I've been screaming back. I'm too tired to cope with the extra hassle right now.

Why do they pick these moments to have one of their moments?

re M/w appts - mine were 8, 16, 24 then 28 and can't remember after that. routine bloods at 28 weeks.

off for a week now, so lots of catching up when I get back! Enjoy the baby show guys - cotton nappies are so easy - I'm just getting the teeny tiny bambino mio covers out ready for LO - went onto motherease once DS was crawling. FAB.

Hi Gill. Sounds like a grim evening and not what you need when you're knackered... Do you think she might be playing up a bit because she's feeling attention diverted to your pregnancy and the unborn baby?

If she's not too young, you could try bribery and coercion - maybe suggest that if she's a big girl and goes to sleep without a fuss, that she comes shopping with you this weekend and picks out an outfit for the baby that she's chosen all by herself - and then one for herself for the baby to first see its new big sis in.

Again, if she's old enough you could make a 'countdown' calendar with her to when the baby is born - you could sellotape little treats to certain days, so she sees it as something to look forward to. Hmm, maybe I've been watching too much Blue Peter

Friends have sworn by sticker charts for getting their kids to go to behave better - guess that's something else to try. And they say the less fuss you make of them getting up every time, the less attention they get/reward from doing it (even with negative attention like shouting). Key thing is for you to avoid stress. Maybe you could leave the putting to bed several days a week to your DH/P and go for an evening swim to relax?

Sorry if the above is useless advice - wish I could say pour yourself a big glass of wine! x

Thanks Annie and Growingbagpuss. It's really hard to deal with especially when I feel like going to bed early every night. I know shouting at her really doesn't serve any purpose but when you're pushed to the edge of your patience and sanity it's the only thing you can do to release the pressure.

Thanks for the suggestions Annie. I don't know if she will understand but I'm willing to give anything a try at the moment. I'm actually going to Pilates tonight so I'm hoping it will calm me down a bit. I seem to remember from when I used to go that you lay down on a mat at the end breathing deeply listening to the instructor saying calming things. I'll probably fall asleep!

Hello everyone

Sorry to hear about your bedtime stress Gill, hopefully you won't have a repeat performance this evening! Stop worrying about what your neighbours think though, that will just stress you out even more!

I have turned into a real shouty woman recently as I have been really struggling to cope with my DS' toddler behaviour (I don't want to call him 'naughty').

I have tried super hard today not to tell him off so much, but he is really pushing the limits (he's at nursery this afternoon thankfully). TBH it hasn't helped that I have been suffering with sinusitis and have had a pounding head for about a fortnight .

I feel really guilty about not being more patient with him and for shouting so much. It is especially not nice to end the day on a negative.

Yeah, am off to yoga tonight which I look forward to now just to have the snoozing time at the end!

Sorry if previous post sounded a bit like the way a man would deal with the situation - ie dishing out the advice - I guess I've got all this to come .

Thanks Washersaurus. I felt awful this morning that I was upset with dd and she had no idea why I wasn't being my usual cheery self. I know what you mean about not wanting to call your ds naughty. I keep wanting to call dd a monster but I know they just learn what they can get away with. I agree it's just what toddlers do. I keep thinking about SuperNanny. It always turns out to be about teaching them boundaries and to learn new behaviour.

Not at all Annie - all suggestions are gratefully received.

I'm off now. I explained to my manager what had happened and she told me to go home early. Have a nice evening.