Feb 2019 babies thread 7! Growing bumps and gender reveals!

[maxiflump1]

Thread 7 ladies......!!

That would be great, thanks xc

I had a scan today and i’m having a boy. I’m thrilled and relieved to see the baby’s heart beating away and all the organs/measurements were good. The ultrasound technician was lovely, much much nicer than the nhs one so well worth it for that alone.

@yakadee My scan today was with babybond who I would highly recommend. They have an offer on at the minute so I only paid £39.

I had my 16 week appointment today... she wouldn’t listen for the hb ☹️
Said it is official guidelines and she has broken the rules previously and it has come back and bitten her in the bum so now she has to say no.

Such a shame as I got to hear it with my first two kids, but won’t with this one..

Might book a scan... 20 weeks seems so far away!

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking

Where do you live? I have mine tomorrow and I'll probably cry if they don't listen. Although called my hospital and they said they do 🤞🏼

I’m hoping mine listen to heartbeat. At my booking in they said they allow you to listen if you want to to but that was at Leeds General Infirmary. My routine appointments are at my local surgery in Bradford so they may be different... if not I will be waiting anxiously for scan about 3 weeks!

I had my 16w appointment today and she asked me if I wanted to have a listen to the heartbeat but that she's not looking out for anything in particular at this stage, found it fine xx

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking that sounds like bs to me. I asked in my 16 week appointment with the consultant and she did it. Unless it's specific to that hospital I guess...

@Camsie30 my midwives don't listen for heartbeat at any point during the pregnancy as it's the policy of the trust. This was explained at my booking appointment. They did when I had my DS 3 years ago so guess it's a recent change.

@maxiflump1 blimey. How very odd, your think it works be a pretty basic requirement. I wonder why

@Camsie30 they said it's because it's difficult to distinguish between the heartbeat and placenta and that even if there's a heartbeat it's no guarantee that baby is ok. They are very keen on monitoring movement after 24 weeks as an indication of a healthy baby. My trust is quite an innovative trust with a big emphasis on research and my consultant says she expects most trusts will follow suit over the next few years....

My midwife said that official guidance said to only do it from 36 weeks (it was either 36 or 38 but I think 36). She does it from 28 weeks though. I asked about it at my 16 week appointment so she explained. Not sure what the new midwife will do as they're changing this week. My next appointment won't be until 28 weeks anyway though.

Im with Epsom hospital They done the heartbeat at my last appointment she didnt mention anything about not being able to do it anymore just said can you lay down i need to check babies heartbeat! I didnt even ask x

@Baby160P

I’m in Northamptonshire.

I did question the midwife why, and she said despite explaining that it may not always be found, she’d had patients leave leave in tears when it couldn’t be found.
Unfortunately it seems like the emotions of some have ruined it for all. I get that it could cause anxiety... but I’m a bit gutted I won’t get to hear this one 😕

I just downloaded a heartbeat monitor app! I can’t find the heartbeat but I’m not worrying too much about that as I might just be a crap app and it is a first attempt...

Anyone else used one?

Any tips??

Phone is on airplane mode when using the app...

@alicerr i just dont see how they work?? U can buy a dopla to have at home yourself but I didnt want to get one because i would probably get obsessed and iv heard you should only use now and then x

@Lulabell1 I thought about getting a Doppler and wasn’t sold on the idea but something made me just buy and app and try it. It basically just uses the phone microphone so probably does nothing more than the voice memo tool on your phone really...

I’ve read up on the apps... I’m not convinced they do anything.

I’ve read that they pick up a ‘heartbeat’ even when placed in random places..

@AliceRR I got an app but it stated that you won't find a heartbeat until late in the pregnancy with the app. I looked at dopplers too today but apparently they shouldn't be used very often which is why the midwives don't use often because the noise can be traumatic for the baby like a oncoming train to them. 😬 My worry is taking over. Im so worried about tomorrow's appointment!!

@maxiflump1 mine said she will listen from the 25 week appointment onwards. Wonder why yours is different? I’m over by shield rd school so not far from you.

@AliceRR
My midwife told me then apps don't work at all and not to waste your money!!

I have a Doppler and the noise isn't scary for baby at all. I only use mine on a Friday evening but been super lucky to find it each time

@Fredthespider how bizarre! And I think we are with the same trust! I was told they don't listen at all by mw and consultant but it seems it varies between clinics. When is your 20w scan? Mines at Southmead on the 26th.

I think it's very normal for them not to listen at 16 weeks. I know my midwife didn't with DS and it was for the very reason in case she couldn't find it and I think that's fair enough tbh. I can't remember what point she started listening but I heard it loads with all the appointments you get after 20 odd weeks.

I wouldn't use a Doppler later in pregnancy as apparently the heartbeat alone isn't indicative of the baby's wellbeing (its movement that's important) so people have wrongly assumed everything is ok.

The app probably is rubbish. I think I did well for it not to be another source of anxiety when I couldn’t hear it!

I know there are various things said about dopplers too. The way one of the MWs explained it was that if someone was passed out on the floor, you wouldn’t think they were fine just, because they had a heartbeat... and same is true of baby... which is why movements are so important later.

Also I’ve read things about the ultrasound waves of using it too often but there is divided opinion on lots of things as obviously it’s not ethical to test safety of various things during pregnancy.

I think using a once in a while is probably fine

Panicking a bit after reading that as I listen on my Doppler nearly every day! I'll cut down! I had read it was fine and the concern is the misinterpretation from them rather than the safety (I think I read this on NHS). I think they are concerned about the souvenir scans (4D) more than Doppler use but could be wrong.

I have told a few people at school today. Feels surreal! Hope everyone's well. I have a bbhugme pillow on order - the sand coloured one is reduced on Scandiborn and they have a 10% off code for any of them (think it was just bbhugme10 or something). In case anyone's interested in buying one!

I think I had HB at MW appts last time but tbh I’d agree with pp- it’s totally not indicative of whether there’s a problem. Having a trace done - when they put monitors on and document the readings - is much more accurate but probably not done till later. I had a few done for reduced movements with DD. She hated them! Used to boot them off!

Can totally understand why some trusts have adopted a policy of not doing so as the anxiety it can cause must be huge. Obviously it’s nice to hear though!