February 2019 babies - onwards and almost the third trimester!

[Since2016]

New thread!

@powkin I may be wrong but I believe they don't measure the tummy itself but they feel where the uterus is and measure that for the babies size rather than you or your tummy

Yep, it's called fundal height and is measured from your pelvic bone to the top of your uterus. That's why they squidge around a bit before measuring so they can find the right points to measure! After 20 weeks, it should pretty much mirror the number of weeks you are in centimetres (I had mine at 24+4 or so and it measured 25cm).

I can't say I like the actual physical feel of movements. I like what they mean and I'd rather feel them than not feel them (and I feel glad when I do), but purely as a sensation on their own they aren't overly pleasant!

@Baby160P I see! She said it was a bit of guesswork and it’s looking at weeks of pregnancy and if the measurement is off by more than 3 (cm? inches?) then it’s a concern. Think mine is at that upper limit.

I think I'm the same. Love to movement as it's a reminder and reassurance but the feeling alone isn't exactly nice? X

Most people don’t have any scans after 20 weeks although 32 week growth scans are becoming more common.

@powkin don’t worry too much. I measured ahead with DD based on that measurement as she was a big baby. But often people say big babies are easier to birth?! My mum is tiny and had all 5 of us naturally no issue and all >8lb. If you’re measuring massively far ahead or behind they may refer for growth scans / additional monitoring.

Ouch Baby160p hope you're ok!!!

I don't think the conflicting advice on movements and patterns is helpful. Was talking about this with a maternity doctor at my gym class last night, and she said the actual correct advice is you should feel movement from 24 weeks if it's your first, and then a "pattern" from 28 weeks. But the pattern doesn't mean they move at the same time every day, it's more how much you feel them. So post 28 weeks, if every day you're aware you're feeling baby quite a bit, and then suddenly a day passes where you don't, that's when to be checked.

Easier said than done I know! To be honest though, this will sound a bit blunt, but there's not much that can be done pre about 26-28 weeks anyway. I know babies are viable from 24 weeks, and of course there are some miracle stories. But the outlook for most delivered that early is quite bleak. I was very naive in my first pregnancy and went in to be checked pre-24 weeks. I don't quite know what I hoped would happen if things weren't ok (they were thankfully!).

They can't have a named midwife for patients to contact as they would get phone calls all hours, don't think midwives are paid enough for that level of service! You should have a triage or something available to call though if you're worried?

It's my second pregnancy and like others I don't see the midwife now until 28 weeks, I like it to be honest! I found my 16 week appt totally pointless. They get more frequent from 30 weeks.

@powkin it's difficult but try not to worry too much. I have two friends who measured small (one to the point of having growth scans) and their babies were both over 8lbs. The way you carry can affect the measurements if the baby is hiding deep in your abdomen or sticking out giving a higher measurement. I'm sure they'll say if they're worried though.

I’m a little bit older and all my friends have had multiple kids now, I know loads that have had to have growth measurements/scans and they are wrong every time! I have absolutely no faith in them.

Similarly with the glucose test, I know loads of people that have had it (myself included) but I don’t know if anyone that had had gestational diabetes.

Not that these tests aren’t needed, but.. I think people need to put it in perspective. Maybe finding a way to self counsel would be better than letting yourself get stressed?

I've had to have growth scans with all three of my children so hopefully I can give some advice! I think around the 28 week mark the fundal heigh was about 3cm below (was measuring small for dates) so I had two weekly scans to check growth and blood flow to the placenta etc to check everything was as it should be. My eldest was on only the 5th percentile and started to drop off so they decided to induce me at 38 weeks. He was 5lb 12oz which is officially above the low birth weigh group.

The other two again I had the scans and went under the consultant however was signed off both times near the end as although small they were following their growth percentile line. I think DS was 38 weeks I was signed off but the consultant said you'll be back soon and I had him 4 days later 6lb 5oz and my daughter also born at 38 weeks was 6lb 7oz. I have a growth scan booked for 36 weeks as standard this pregnancy.

I am also quite tall so think my bump hides quite well as it's longer rather than sticking out!

Funnily enough I've had different midwives all my pregnancies but this time I've seen the same lady every time however if there was a problem I would go into the early assessment unit at the hospital which I would call first and actually even when I was up in Scotland and had a bleed I just walked into the early pregnancy unit at the local hospital even without notes and they still scanned me etc no problem!

One of my best friends is also a midwife assistant so any questions I've been asking her or if she isn't sure she asks her Mum who is head midwife! Quite handy really! Unfortunately they are at a different hospital to the one I will be having baby at though!

@sickmuma that sounds handy.

@notasgreenascabbagelooking I think trying to self councel is a significant part of the reason I'm looking into hypnobirthing. I know too much about the poor outcomes.

I do love bake off, can't wait to have a kitchen and an oven!!

Friends baby born at 34 weeks this am 😱😱 in NICU but doing ok. Such a shock!

Ahhhh I was planning to work up to 38+1.... I'll be ready fb he comes then but what happens Work wise if he was to come early and I wasn't due to be off yet???

I meant if not fb.... bloody pregnancy carpal tunnel hands

You have to just go off. Your mat leave would automatically start from your due date or when baby arrives if earlier.

@Since2016 - yikes! Bet that was a shock! Glad everything and everyone is OK x

Gosh @Since2016 I'm glad they're doing ok. Hopefully the baby will gain strength quickly and won't have to stay too long. How is your friend?

Is there any update on the baby who was born at 23/24(?) weeks a couple of weeks ago. I can't remember who posted about it.

@Baby160P our policy is the same as @Since2016 said. Your mat leave would start the day or the day after the baby was born if you weren't already off. I was convinced dd would be early because I was born at 32 weeks. I still planned to work up to 38 weeks with her and would have had to drip work. She ended up being born at 41 weeks. You just don't know (even with planned induction/section as you could go earlier).

They’ve been told at least 6 weeks in hospital. My concern is how quickly they’ll discharge her - they won’t let her stay that long I don’t think which will be hideous. She’s ok just in shock I think and desperate to hold him / he was born at 12:17 am and she’s not held him yet as they’re being moved to another hospital with better support. So scary I really feel for her.

How scary for your friend @Since2016 hopefully he gets stronger quickly and doesn't need to spend the full 6w in hospital.

My DD was born at 35w and I still had 2w of work left, I literally emailed my boss and said sorry I won't be back in as I've had my baby! My mat leave started the day after she was born and the holiday etc I'd been intending to take was rolled over and I got to use it at the end instead. I think that's a legal thing rather than a company specific policy.

Thanks all - he’s v small. They were going to induce at 37 weeks anyway as he’s on the 2nd centile and there were concerns about growth. Hoping he thrives now he’s out!

Hopefully he will get strong quickly.
Friends son was born at 35 weeks last month (first baby) they were told 6 weeks he gained a lot of strength and was home within 2 weeks so fingers crossed.

The units are amazing these days.

I am sure 6 weeks is just a ballpark figure so they don't expect too much of that makes sense? My cousin had her baby at 29 nearly 30 weeks a couple of months ago due to pre eclampsia and he was out within 6 weeks a month before his due date which was pretty amazing! I also have friends both which had babies at 25 weeks, the eldest is the same age as my son and you would never even know he was early, the other does have a slight delay but really it's amazing considering they were so early. I think they say out on due date is the aim! I hope your friend is doing okay @Since2016 and that her little one comes on in leaps and bounds, it must be so scary going through it all and feeling so helpless.xx

@since2016 hope all goes well with your friend. I thought home by due date was the plan but often manage to discharge well before then.
It's the paranoia about early delivery that is making me get things sorted super early. I'm trying to make sure I don't leave too many half finished jobs each day as I don't fancy sitting on labor ward trying to explain what someone needs to do to tie up my loose ends!!
I think I must look slightly threatening at work, a couple of people (colleagues rather than public) have commented on my bump and looked like they were going to touch me then pulled hands away, must be properly glaring at them!

@Since2016 is she able to stay with him on a camp bed/chair once she's discharged? She could also ask advice at the hospital. They may have charity (like Ronald McDonald house) or subsidised accommodation for relatives (although I know it isn't available everywhere).

In my experience they tend to give likely worst case scenarios in terms of length of stay as it's so disheartening and worrying if they take longer. So fingers crossed they do well and escape earlier!

I'm on my second course of antibiotics for UTI. Feeling really miserable about it to be honest - the last one was only three weeks ago. I've been so careful about drinking plenty since, too. I'm wondering whether it hadn't fully cleared though I felt fine. Can't tell for sure as the lab said my sample was mislabelled - it wasn't, I did it myself and am 100% sure it was right. I even took it directly to the lab by hand!

We've started to accumulate baby stuff from friends now, I've been saying 'yes' to everything as we are lucky we've just moved to a bigger house with plenty of storage and our parents will likely be quite involved so good to have spares to keep at theirs!

It's my first and I feel like I'm seeing too much of the midwife to be honest!! I feel stressed about the time off work even though they're lovely about it. I'm a doctor so I guess have more of my own knowledge to fall back on - though that's sometimes worse as I'm more familiar with all that can go wrong!! In my trust the 20 week scan is the last one but my obstetrician friends have all said a growth scan is worth it so I will probably pay for one myself.