Due March 2005 part 2

[misdee]

here we go!!

Hi misdee - I had bloods taken at my last midwife's appointment at 26 weeks - 3 samples, can't remember all the tests they're going to do! Never even heard of glucose tolerance test - is that anything to do with gestational diabetes? I thought that was tested for with the urine sample. I've also just decided not to get the routine anti-D (for rhesus -ve women) at 28 and 34 weeks, so that gets me out of a couple more jabbing sessions. So I'll just get anti-D if I have any indication of problems, and at the birth if the baby turns out to be rhesus +ve.

Dd has taken to shouting "hello" to the baby through my tummy and saying "He can hear me" ("He" being a bit of an assumption on her part, cos we have no idea if a girl or boy!). She also keeps saying "The baby can come out now", and looks rather disappointed when I disagree!

yeah itys a check for gestational diabetes. my mum is diabetic, dd2 was larger than average (by 1oz!! on their scale) and i am over weight so they make me do GTT's. i had one back in octobter and had to spend 2.5hrs at the hospital. my urine samples are fine btw. they will also be checking antibodies level, another rubella blood test (as they lost my results) full blood count etc etc. they also want to give me an anti-d injection at the same time.

they are mean i'm telling you!!

Good grief - you're going to be like a pincushion!! A perfect excuse to line yourself up for a real treat once it's all over, I think.

quick question....is it standard for 28 week bloods to be taken? cant remember having them with ds. Just the midwife said when i go to the hospital for my follow up consultant appointment for my blood pressure i need them to do my bloods (as no one can get blood out of me....)

I'm due blood tests at 28 weeks for rhesus antibodies and also an anaemia check (the anaemia one everyone has I think).

Fat lot of good it did last time though as they lost the test results and by the time it got noticed and retested I was very very anaemic with only 3 weeks to go before my due date - they panicked, referred me to haematology and threatened me with iron injections if my iron count didn't improve on iron tablets

All turned out fine as I responded to the iron tablets, but I could have done without the hospital visits!

yeah its standard for 28 week bloods.

pidge, are you having anti body screen done instead of the anti-d jab?

misdee - I don't think I'm having anything done instead of the anti-D jabs, but maybe I should talk to my midwife about it. I kind of thought that once they'd found antibodies - unless it was within 72 hours of you being sensitised it was too late to do anything about it anyway. I confess I don't understand this completely. I was initially going to accept the anti-D and only turned it down after reading a paper by a midwife, and reading some threads on here. Am going to call my midwife tomorrow to see what she thinks about antibody screening - actually come to think of it, is that not routine at 28 weeks for rhesus -ve women? Oh dear, feeling very clueless!

I've got a screening test for antibodies at 28 weeks, Pidge. They don't seem to offer anti-d routinely here (yet!) but I'd turn it down if offered anyway (I've read the same article as you I think!). I'm not even absolutely sure I want it after the birth as the risk of bloods crossing isn't always very high if there were no interventions, and I'm not planning on having another one anyway.

I'll probably have it if baby turns out to be r+ but I'm just not absolutely sure yet.

ZoeC - the more I think about it, the more I think they will screen my blood for antibodies anyway. I think that's pretty routine - but will double check. I want to keep open the possibility of having another child (might well have changed my mind on that by the end of March!!), but think the risks of sensitisation before the birth are very very low, particularly without you getting some warning like a bleed, or knowing you'd taken a knock.

Sorry the rest of you - have gone off on a rhesus negative sidetrack here!!

Everyone at work keeps asking me when the baby is due and how long I'm working - they're all blokes, so I think they're paranoid I'm going to somehow produce the baby in the office at 6 months!

cant belive i have 3months left. too too scary.

i have finsihed ther babies room!!

just waiting for the little finsihing touches to arrive, so i can put those up and finish it properly but all the hard work is now done.

Ooh - scary night tonight - dd has gone into the big room out of the nursery (bit sad, actually). We've moved the cot into the new room and gave her the choice of whether to sleep in cot or bed - she started out in the bed but bottled it as I went to leave and asked to go in the cot. But, so far she's fine in there - just got a bit freaked at first. Next step - big bed! At least the nursery is now empty so I can give it a really good clean and replace the border that dd has picked off.

Yes 3 months (or just over for me)!!! I was trying to explain to dp at the weekend that 3 months isn't long to prepare - we have still done nothing - with christmas, we are also taking 2 weeks holiday the time will go really quickly, and what if.... the baby comes early, I am not well in the last weeks or too tired to do anything..... am I panicking unecessarily!!!.... at least we have a room for the baby now although it is still piled with junk from moving!

We are (makes life very much easier in Switzerland) getting married in January! Just a very quiet civil ceremony (big party comes later when I can have a proper drink again!), but saturday i was looking for something to wear (nothing traditional, just simple, elegant)! it is IMPOSSIBLE!!! End of season so everything sold out, new stuff doesn't come in until February.... any suggestions????

Leogaela - congrats on the wedding - very sensible to save the party for when you can join in properly. Not sure I have any great suggestions on the clothing front - except to look online? \link{http://www.isabellaoliver.com/IOSite/pages/home/default.asp\Isabella Oliver} are rather fine (not that I own any of her stuff!) and \link{http://www.formes.com/\Formes} are online too - though no idea if they would post out to Switzerland. I have a wedding to go to when I'll be 8 months pregnant and haven't found anything great yet.

Had a bit of a shock on Saturday when the community midwife turned up to deliver the home-birth kit that they're supposed to deliver at 36 weeks! Turns out they'd mis-counted my weeks. Anyway, they said we might as well hang on to it - haven't dared open it to see what is inside!

wow, your going ahead with home birth. i dont feel i have enough space here for a home birth, all the rooms are tiny lol. Tho if #3 arrives as quickly as dd2 then i may not have time tio get to the hospital. (arrived at 6cm dilated, had her an hour and half later)

oh gio and open the pack , iwant to know whats in it!!

Promise to open the pack tonight - to be honest we were so busy this weekend we were barely in the house.

We will see what happens with the homebirth - we live only 5 minutes from the hospital, so if the baby refuses to pop out, it will be easy to transfer. And dd took nearly 3 days to deliver, so if that happens again frankly I'll be up there hollering for an epidural again!

Oooh! homebirth does sound brave!!! Although a really nice idea I think (but not for the first!). What other pain relief can they give you at home if no epidural? Reassuring to know that you are so close to the hospital though. What happens if the baby arrives early? Do you get admitted to hopital as an emergency?

Thanks for the link Pidge - I have looked at Formes already, but will look at the other one now. Hopefully by the time of the wedding you are going to there will be new things in the shops, and lots more choice in the UK than here!

Just realised I haven't posted on this thread for ages!! Don't really get much time now, as DD 9 months is almost walking.

Feeling pretty good now, just a little tired. I have my 28 week blood tests later this week, so may end up on iron tablets.

Pidge - I would have loved a homebirth - lucky you, but I have ended up deciding upon an elective caesarian, because my chances of ending up with another emergency section this time round are quite high.

The delivery date will probably be end of Feb, rather than 1st March (hope you lot don't mind me staying on this thread).

The hospital have also said that there could be a problem with the baby's kidneys which may mean antibiotics after the birth (this was picked up at my scan). I have to go back for a repeat scan at 34 weeks.

Hope everyone else is feeling okay? Is everyone ready for Christmas?

Leogaela - you can have gas and air and pethidine at home, just not epidural (hoping to have this one at home too)

Pidge - let us know what's in there - I'd love to know!

Hi everyone - Pidge, I am also hoping for a home birth - am going to get one of those inflatable pools and have also bought hypnotherapy CDs as I'm a bit of wuss when it comes to pain but strangely don't want any drugs apart from ga & air (am I mad?). Had an epidiural in hospital first time and not keen to repeat the experience. Leogaela - have you tried ebay for an outfit? I've bought loads of really nice maternity stuff (new) via ebay - mainly from people in America as the US seem to have MUCH nicer maternity clothes than we do in the uk - also much cheaper, even with postage. Also, \link{http://www.carla-c.com/\carla c have bridal wear. Good luck!
Misdee - how is dh? Have been thinking about you.
Anyone else having problems sleeping? I just can't seem to get comfortable in bed at the moment, despite lovely new deep soft mattress topper and lots of pillows - and I'm only 25 weeks! It can only get worse!

Let me try that link again - \link{http://www.carla-c.com/\carla c}

I'm getting more and more uncomfortable at night - my legs get really restless from evening onwards which drives me mad, then the palaver of whenever I turn over having to take my pillows with me!!!

Thanks for the link Bonym! I have only looked at ebay locally, I hadn't thought about looking further afield.

Lots of people seem to have bad experiences giving birth in hospital and with epidurals. I wanted to go to a birth house but then after looking at one thought there isn't much difference in that and a home birth and as its my first I thought that it is a little too far away from safety when you don't know what to expect. I am very envious of you that are brave enough though as the whole going to hospital thing seems to make it all too medical and me nervous! Also in Switzerland they seem to expect you to stay in for 5 days! Does that seem like a very long time????

Me too Bonym I'm not sleeping great. I get a really bad cramping pain in my left hip which is progressively getting worse! I also have pillows tucked under everywhere possible. If I don't wake up with the cramped hip I wake up flat on my back with my heart pumping really hard. However I go to bed very early and don't get up until quite late so not feeling tired...but as you said, it can only get worse!

Bonym, dh isnt too good atm. he is being referred for assessment for a heart transplant, probably wil lbe in the new year he'll get that appointment through. he is sleeping loads and generally exhausted most of the time.

yes same probs with sleeping, but just 2 afternoons a week now working which takes the pressure off sleeping.
i really want a drug free birth and have been reading active birth books which i soooooo recommend. we are designed to have babies. this is theory at the moment and i'm aware that things can go wrong but i know that my body can do it and it's safe and normal. the hospital i'm with promotes active natural birth but we're paying for it!

Sorry to hear that misdee - you must be worried sick. hugs