Due in July Part FOUR - gather here!

[Cyee]

Can't believe we need more space... again...

There have prob been a million cross posts while I have been trying to catch up .

Caroline1852, Justaboutmanaging and paupaula's advice is good catz. I also think it is really unfair of her to make such a comment about the baby's size and her suposition at the cause, tbh I have the reverse problem with midwives and they keep as vague as possible about everything. Maybe post on the childbirth thread about the pool question, there are some really knowleadgable women on mumsnet.

Myfairone what position is your babay in, your sonographer sounds fun!

Saf1 enjoy your quality time with family.

Melissa M lol about making a list being on your to do list, dp is nagging me to get on and do one.

Jamantha I have a lot of pins and needles a little protein in urine all that type of thing. I think swelling and raising blood pressure are inevitable for many of us in pregnancy particularly in this heat without it being PE. The medical staff just have to be overcautious on this issue as recognising PE saves lives.

Kyte I cant quite remember the positions you described but they sound similar to my baby's position at the moment and also ds position. I think if you scroll through the pregnancy and childbirth threads there is lots of discussion of optimum foetal positioning, I have to admitt that although I know the theory it is tough putting it into practice - the sofa just calls out my name!

Miaou being alone at hospital sounds ok to me, I felt like I had an audience with ds. Might be quite nice to just have yourself to worry about during labour and let the midwives do their job - you may even get a bit more support than you would otherwise have.

Wish I could post a response to everyone but i think it might actually be an impossible task, this thread moves so fast!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for my dad and Cyee I hope your uncle's treatment goes well.

Oh Stigaloid what a tough time you are having I am really sorry about your homebirth not being a safe option. Lots of hugs for you and hopefully you will have a beautiful uncomplicated birth at the hospital.

Hugs and best wishes to Stigaloid - sorry things aren't goign so smoothly.

And Catz, my DH has admitted that he's more likely than me to accept what medical staff suggest, again in the name of safety. We've had a talk about it and he's agreed to try to support me if I agree not to be automatically stubborn. I've assured him that I don't want to put me or the LO at risk, it's just that I don't want to end up being forced to do something just to make it easy for someone else.

Anyway, very happy at the moment, as decorator has just finished! Rooms look great, and nice to have the house back to ourselves. And going to see Derren Brown tonight, which is part of my Christmas present!

Right I'm using the Notepad tip to try to respond to comments while catching up on all the posts.

Miaou - so happy your new midwife and hospital unit are good. It must be such a relief. You've reminded me I need to go and look round the maternity unit. The open day is tomorrow so I might sweet talk blokie.

Pulapula - could I take you up on the tens machine? My parents are in Sheffield, and I'm just over the hill so pop across often. I hadn't hired one because if I'm honest they scare me but the more I read about them the more I think it might be something I might use.

Catz - Your midwife sounds like a real tyrant. The only thing anyone has mentioned to me about a birthplan was at the parentcraft classes where they advised us to write out our ideal birth (ha!) and anything we felt very strongly about but they also told us that when we arrive on the labour ward they can tell how we are dealing with everything and will advise us. My midwife hasn't mentioned one at all.

Stigaloid - Sorry things you're having a tough time. I'm sure anything affecting the baby would have affected you too. I hope the midwife can put your mind at rest. Apparently taxi's are quite normal modes of transport for getting to hospital, (I asked at the parent craft class). My blokey doesn't drive and our families are all about an hour away. A woman in labour has to be less trouble than the usual Friday night customers. Hope your husband's job gets sorted soon.

I've been starting to feel very pregnant the past week or so, I've had it very very easy so far, but now I'm exhausted after a short walk round the shops, I seem to have constant mild period like pains with random stronger pains which I suspect might be BH. My bump still seems quite small compared with some people I see, but it feels so heavy suddenly.

I had a horrid day yesterday, I was doing a 24 hour sleep-in shift with an agency worker who I don't particularly like. I was feeling rotten and she was her usual loud brashy self. I probably was a bit snappy, but for 34 weeks pregnant on a hot day I thought I was staying quite calm. She wasn't very happy that I didn't want to do the 2 mile walk to the shops pushing a wheelchair (which I've been banned from doing for 6 months anyway.) Then after tea she shouted at me for criticising everything she had done all day, bringing up the fact I'd told her not to hoover as I'd already done it that morning, and what really tipped her over the edge was that I pointed out the scissors she was trying to use on a client were blunt (they were a pair from a Christmas Crackers.) I'm useless at confrontation so ended up apologising then when she'd gone home I spent an hour crying on the phone to my mum and blokey.
It's only the 3rd time I've had a proper irrational hormonal cry during my whole pregnancy. Normally she wouldn't have bothered me, none of the other staff like her either, but a mixture of hormones, tiredness, and not having another member of staff to whinge to tipped me over the edge last night. At least I managed to keep it together until she'd gone home.

I'm definitely ready to start maternity leave. I've got 2 shifts next week then I'm done! Thankfully I'm not on duty with the agency staff again, and when I go back to work after maternity leave she should have retired (please, please, please let her have gone!)

Catz: - I have had comments about size of baby and working as well - just smile sweetly and say "really, thats odd, I get so much more rest than my friends with toddlers" then innocently ask her what gestation the doctors she has worked with went on maternity leave at (often the worst offenders at working almost till the LO drops!)

My hubby has stopped engaging in any discussions about the birth and has a slightly green about the gills look when it is raised - now seriously wondering if I should have my mother on standby in case he bottles it - couldnt cope with labour worrying about him too!

Hi Bilblio,

Yes, happy for you to borrow the TENS. Email me at timandpaulaATblueyonderDOTcoDOTuk if you see what i mean and we can sort out a suitable date/time. Something in the next 2 weeks would be good for me (before my c-section), otherwise it may have to wait a while which would be close to your due date! If your parents are nearby, I don't mind posting it through their door as I'm on maternity leave now so time on my hands.

JAM - I would agree that its a different kind of tired. In the first trimester, it was a "need my bed by 7pm" tiredness that couldn't be shifted. Now its a "i can't do anything quickly and/or without getting out of breath but I don't care as I'm 8 months pregnant so I will do things at my own pace, and take advantage of people offering to do things for me". In the first trimester, quite often, noone knows you're pregnant, so you have to try and behave as usual even when you feel rubbish. So I would say to your friend it should get better.

First trimester tiredness is just the pits whereas in the last trimester it is a tiredness with feeling so bulky and slow moving. First trimester the most horrible part of pregnancy, tiredness, sickness and all those horrid and stressful tests.

Wow, there's been a huge amount of chat...

Catz - other ladies have responded so much better than i could but am just so cross for you about the mid-wife. Glad your next visit was a bit better.

Myfairone - My finish date is the 22nd june as well! Am very very excited about it and can't wait but I've got a busy two weeks ahead of me.

Stigaloid - Sorry that things aren't going so well for you. I hope your DH gets a start date through soon. I know what you mean about bad timing as DH is being made redundant 3 days before I start maternity leave. Sorry you wont get your homebirth, but at least you'll get the care you need. I heammoraged last time and needed a tranfusion after losing 5 pints. As a result I'm all for hospital births if there is any doubt about safety.

Weddingcake - thanks for the midwife website name - I have a feeling that will soon be one of my favourites

Miaou - I'm the same re: parentcraft classes - I'm really only going to meet more people. Even if you can't go weddingcake you'll meet loads of people afterwards. I still see my post natal pals as much as the one I made during antenatal classes.

Huskygirl - Sorry you feeling so bad - I think its definately worth getting your bloods taken again. I think 11 is normal as my bloodcount dropped to 6 when I had the blood loss and they wanted to get it up to 9 or 10 before I could go home. But as you said your result was 6 wks ago - a lot could have changed.

Twoplusone - I think you are being perfectly reasonable restricting your in-laws to a couple of days. Its a time for you to be selfish and look after your needs. Especially if they dont help around the house

Hello my chatty chatty friends...

I cant remember who wrote what but can remember that some of you are having a hard time (Stig, I really hope that things pan out for DH and his new job).

I think at this stage we have all done remarkably well. None of us have been imprisoned for murdering/strangling/attacking our DH/DP's! The majority of us are still at work (well a few!) and most of us are still talking about housework and washing up!

Lets give ourselves a round of applause for being strong, independent (albeit a little emotional at times) women!!!!

We have all done so well and now with the tiredness and headaches setting in we are about to give birth. Whether we have written plans or not the baby will come out. I never heard of a baby refusing because its Mum hadn't written what painkillers she required...No matter how insensitive your DH/DP has been he will be blown away once the baby is born....

So lets all give ourselves a big hug and reach for some chocolate!!!!

MYFAIRONE

Stop mentioning chocolate.
Had glucose in urine at midwife appointment on Tuesday. They phoned me at work yesterday as they think i might have a urine infection(I haven't the bottle wasn't sterile as I was trying to get rid of the glucose - but don't tell them) Anyway I mention that the glucose is still there 4 days later (5 if you include today) and she asked if I had a family history of diabetes. BAD QUESTION! My mother has type II diabetes on insulin and my sister had gestational diabetes. My Aunty has it as well I think.
To cut a long story short they have booked me in for a GTT on Monday morning. I can't have diabetes. I'M A SELF CONFESSED CHOCOHOLIC!

Fingers crossed Typhoonsmum. I'm now waiting for results of fasting blood sugar test, so thinking of you as you wait for your GTT. IF they do find something, let's keep fingers crossed that it's gestational, and will sort itself out in a few weeks time?

Typhoonsmum and Jamantha, Omit the word chocolate and replace with the word 'Apple'!

Hope your test results come back okay!

Lets hope it is just gestational if it is. I can't live without sugar.
Don't people with GD normally have larger babies. My bump is measuring 30 weeks at 32 week check up so that can't be right.
I'll have to stop looking at the internet. It tells me babies born when mothers have GD are more likely to be overweight and have jaundice and develop diabetes themselves as they get older.

I had fasting blood sugar test about 18 months back, when routine urine test at work showed glucose. That blood test was fine, but scared the cr%p out of me and I did manage to adopt a much better diet and lifestyle as a result of that. Unfortunately that's slipped of late, but am going to make a concerted effort to redress the balance, as I want to be there as a healthy mum for my LO. Thankfully 2 urine tests have showed nil (including one this am which also had no protein, so not so worried about PE now either, phew) while I'm waiting for the results of this weeks bloods, so I may be getting another chance.

I realise I've been lucky though (and fingers crossed will be lucky again with these results). Hope good news extends to everyone else too.

Typhoonsmum, from what I understand GD CAN lead to larger babies, which MAY lead to early delivery in order to avoid baby being too big to deliver, and baby also MAY need a little extra care first few days while it adjusts metabolism and insulin etc to new environment without Mum's high blood sugar levels. Now I know that sounds bad, but as far as I've read it it's full of IFs and MAYBEs. I think if you do have GD they'll do extra growth scans to keep close eye on LO's size (I had one booked in preepmting the blood result, and came out as top end of normal for abdominal circumference, but in normal range). So something to be aware of, but not end of the world. Hope that all will be clear though. Good luck!

Sorry if that sounded gloomy and scary! Didn't mean to be, now worried when just read it back.

Justaboutmanaging I am tired but this is because my sleep is more easily disturbed at the mo (cramps,indegestion, ds waking, dp snoring, worrying about things I have to do etc)its not the chronic 1st trimester tiredness thank goodness!

Bilblio your colleague sounds awful you have my sympathies.

typhoonsmum hope the test comes back negative. I had a negative test recently - the midwife didnt care she said i still shouldnt eat chocolate (not the right smiley I need more of a spoilt toddler smiley) obv hagen das cookies and ream really is more of a calcium booster than a sweet treat .

Not sure if you have a toddler but if you do leave them at home with someone else. My test was a nightmare because I didnt realise you had to sit quitely in the waiting room for 2 hours after the test before they recheck the blood sugar - this is impossible with a 21 month old.

I had a GTT too a few weeks back, and took my 18 month old with me - not recommended. I have had the test before because of big babies but results always negative. I think big babies can result from having GD but you can also have a big baby for other reasons (genes probably), I think also you can have GD without necessarily having a big baby. It makes sense to get these things checked out esp if you have glucose in your urine.... I felt a bit picked on having it as I did not have any glucose in urine but still had to have it.

I'm actually meant to be in work on Monday. As I work in the Maternity building I've been told to go down during work but if I go back to the ward after drinking the sugar stuff I am NOT TO DO ANY WORK!
By law they have to give me the time off work for the appointment. SO I think I'll take a good book and sit in the break room and watch the others do all the work. (It is going to be busy on Monday anyway! He He He. )
I do have a toddler but as I am in work she'll be watched anyway. Imagine a 4 yr old sittting quietly for two hours.

Evening all, I'm sorry to hear that GD is a concern for so many of you. Its not something I know anything about but now hoping its not something I have to deal with because my sweet tooth is back with a vengeance!

I feel a little victimised tonight...my Mum seems to think thats its okay for me to drop my plans to fit in with hers! (I mean why would be being 33 weeks pregnant and married mean that I am unable to fill some social arrangements that she has made!?!?!?!?)

My DH is in 'I couldn't give two hoots whats wrong with you mode'! I asked him if we could talk because I have a lot on my mind and he told me to go and tell someone else! Great, thanks for the caring attitude!

So I have come to Mumsnet! [gri]
Thanks for listening ladies! Feel much better now.

Myfairone my dp is pissing me off at the moment, I think its probably hormones in my case.

I have cut and pasted I think from Bilblio 'mild period like pains with random stronger pains' - I am feeling the same thing this evening. It has freaked me out enough to sort out DS 0-3 months clothes. Now I just need to launder them and figure out where to put them. We haven't got any chest of drawers available and I cant find any that i like on the internet that are good quality, cheap and will deliver quickly - gah!

Sorry to hear that pookey...Mine is just being a complete idiot and to top it off his Mum just called to tell us that his sister has had her baby and he hasn't given me any details and just gone back to bed! grrrrrrrrrrrrrr........

Sitting here trying not to think bad things about him!

Hope your pains stop....have you taken any paracetamols?