July 2019 (thread 9): shame me about my bump, and I'll shame you about your complete lack of manners

[RooKangaroo]

Honestly, I go to catch up on the thread after a few days and you guys have filled it up! Love this chatty group.

How is everyone this morning?

Hope it's just a blip AIDE2424 and readings / headaches go back to normal. My midwife didn't mention whooping cough (my husband keeps reminding me it's "hooping" not "wooping*...I'm bound to make an idiot of myself at some point!) but I recalled it from last pregnancy so just googled. In some countries they say 28 wks (think it used to be the same here but they changed it) - so definitely not too late. Really sharp pains on left hand side last couple of days - can't sleep because of it. Hopefully it'll go soon.

Commiserations on the side pain, Kentishgal. I still have this ☹️ Things that have helped this weekend - sitting up in a straight-backed armchair instead of rolling around in bed in pain and getting on all fours, head down. Somehow helped relieve the pressure or something. What a joyous time! MW today thought it might have been the baby's feet, but I really, really don't think so. It sort of burns and feels like needles at times.

Speaking of vaccinations, I might be over-thinking this, but should DH ideally be getting a whooping cough jab? I think they might do that in the US? Maybe just for early babies... Also, I've no idea if DH's and my vaccinations are all in date from childhood. I think some run out in your 30s/40s? If that's right, should we be topping up? I might ask the GP next time I see him. I'm sure he'd love to switch off my internet access sometimes!

Whereabouts is the pain stargazydrifter? Mine is low down on left a few inches above my groin. I think it's scar tissue but will get it checked if it's still there in a week or so. Honestly I didn't have any of this in first pregnancy - just shows how different they can be I guess.

stargazydrifter funnily enough we discussed this last night (prompted by daughter having her pre school mmr today). I recall some but not all - before last pregnancy I was immune to rubella but lost immunity towards the end of pregnancy - so then I had the mmr after birth - but they no longer test for it in pregnancy. I also had the chicken pox vaccine before trying for this baby. But otherwise, we have no record. Don't think there are many they'll give to you in pregnancy though?

Ah you're right on vaccines when pregnant! Maybe something to think about after birth, depending on BF I suppose.

My pain is right in my ribs on the left side. Google suggests it's where the stomach is roughly.

Thanks everyone for advice about whooping cough, did a little googling and looks like I can have the vaccine after 20 weeks...
www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/
Will talk to my midwife about it at my next appointment.

Hope everyone has a good day and those babies are behaving and not causing their mummies lots of pain/stress /sleeplessness.

Glad you got checked out @AIDE2424

My BP was up last night too so going to get my sister to do it manually today and will pop up to admissions if I need to. I was admitted for day observations over 20 times during the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy with DS so really hoping to avoid the same thing this time 😭

Question about blinds/curtains for the nursery - are blackout blinds an essential? I was just going to get a blackout roller blind but DH doesn't like them, he prefers the look of venetian wooden blinds like we have in other rooms. I'm worried they'll let too much light in in-between the slats. I personally prefer sleeping with a bit of light from the window in the morning but will it mean baby finds it harder to sleep? Obviously baby won't be going into the nursery until 6 months but I want to get the decoration finished.

thedust - we just had normal curtains and she slept fine - although not sure if it might have been a different story if she was a naturally bad sleeper - maybe we'd need to make sure everything was conducive to sleeping then!

@thedust I have found blackout blinds, we’ll in our case curtains, an essential. She’s 6 now and if there is a gap in the curtains the first hint of sunlight wakes her up.

It depends how your baby likes to sleep, but dd would only sleep if it was pitch black, otherwise daylight=playtime. Helpful for daytime naps too as you can make it dark in there even if it’s really sunny. We got our blackout curtains from Dunelm and they’re really cute.

I'm in Liverpool and whooping cough vaccine was mentioned really early to me as they have had outbreaks in Liverpool. Got mine booked in for just before 27 weeks x

I'm in Liverpool too @OneMoreWish! I hadn't heard about the outbreak but I did get a letter from my GP about it.

@thedust I'd say they're an essential. Cos of baby wakes at like 5am and it's light they'll probably not want to sleep. Same for day time naps , I find them a nightmare if we are away somewhere and don't have a blackout blind . My wee one sleeps in complete darkness, no nightlight or door open etc .

We have a gro blind which is a big black thing with suckers on, take it with us if we're going to stay over anywhere !

@thedust yes that and chickenpox- though they didn't need to tell me that as I keep hearing about children in family/ friends/ child classes who are catching it.

North or south? Xx

@OneMoreWish south Liverpool, Mossley Hill. I knew chickenpox was going around, my neighbours kids had it. Mumps too! Luckily I've had chickenpox, DH hasn't though.

@thedust me too I remember getting it clearly but I had to convince my mum I had had it lol

Ooh I'm south liverpool too just off Woolton Road x

I don't know if anyone here has been tested for gestational diabetes? Or if anyone knows when/if everyone is tested at some point in pregnancy?

I'm constantly thirsty and it's driving me mad.

ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts if you have a look at last night's chats, I posted that my MW said you should do the test no later than 28-29 weeks. Not sure how standardised that is. I'd definitely go to the MW/GP and ask.

Hi ladies.

Received a call at work today to come in this afternoon for a growth scan! No idea why. 25 weeks and 4 days! Very random. Baby is moving around in the waiting room though so I'm feeling positive!

@StargazyDrifter thanks I'll have a look. I can barely keep up with everything on here!

Just found a checklist in my notes. Looks like that's something done or discussed at 28 week appointment

My MW has asked me to write down a birth plan for my next appointment and im a bit unsure what to write down. this is what i've got planned so far.

1. Would like a water birth with gas and air.

2 If water birth is not an option then would like to progress with labour and attempt a nautural vaginal brith with gas and air

1. if throughout labour i change my mind i would like to request and recieve an epidural. I am not opposed to any pain relief.
2. should any complications arise i consent to medical intervention including an emergancy c section.

Is this what she means? What else do i need to include? How much detail do i need to include?

any suggestions?

@ForTheLoveOfDoughnuts I’m being tested for diabetes in a couple of weeks time but that’s only because my mum is diabetic. When they test your urine at your MW appointments they look for sugars as that’s a sign of diabetes. It’s something to ask about at your next appointment if you are worried.

@Onestep2 you can download a template birth plan from the NHS website to give you an idea of what to include.
This is the link to the page: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/how-to-make-birth-plan/

Hi there, well what a busy few days its been. Heart rate issue passed on tuesdayeventually but when I went for growth scan and speciliast check up yesterday my BP was high and urine sugars where 4, so they've brought my diabetes test forward to 2 weeks time. Went back today and BP was 'very' low for a pregnant lady so they think my insulin is probably off track. Listened to babe's heartbeat today though and all is fine.

Who knows. if it keeps reoccurring they will sent me to cardiology. I actually think I over did it at the weekend as I was away.

Also apparently cereal for breakfast even in a healthy person will cause a spike in sugars, didn't know that. Hoping I don't have GD, I've lived off cereals . .

Growth scan was good otherwise and babe is spot on 50th percentile.

@onestep2 you might be able to add in more around medications pre epidural (pethadine etc) all the, you've mentioned birthing pool, do you want midwife led or labour ward - include that, and do you want any other 'services' like aromatherapy if the hospital offers it, do you want music, playlists etc and also what should happen re skin to skin contact - straight to you or straight to dad. If you've had a c section - straight to dad? What do you want to do re feeding after birth, and what if you wanted to BF but you are physically unable, should they use other mothers expressed milk or formula, what's important to you. those are the main things I'm thinking about but will look at the NHS link too.

Also, my midwife recommended e the plan that things don't usually work that way, of course, and talked about the role of the birth partner, what if you really ARE in a lot of pain and your plan says absolutely no epidural under any circumstances, but if you birth partner thinks its a good idea, are you happy to give them control. And, if you're completely happy to be hospital led, just put that at the top of the page.