Due March 2008- Alright everyone, let's see those babies!!

[turtle23]

New thread to fill with birth stories

Do lots of walking anyway so thats ok. Lots of bumpy drives every day especially with my driving- camp is covered with speed bumps!!

Have you had any more show looking events today turtle?

Anyone have any knowledge or experience of pre-eclampsia?

Had irritating experience today with MW (2 of them at the appt).

Had told them again (same story for last 6 weeks) about the bad swelling and numbness in extremities, which they finally actually wrote down in my notes and seemed to be concerned about. Also mentioned upper right side pain I've had for about two weeks.

They took BP about 7 times (high-ish, but not sky high) and sent bloods and urine for PE testing. I was told to call labour ward tonight for results. MW said that I should mention to hospital that MW were concerned about BP and told me that hospital may ask me to come in for monitoring based on results.

Rang hospital tonight and numpty on the phone got results and said "everything is fine apart from your urine". So I asked what about my urine. "The levels are a bit elevated." What levels? "How much do you know about your urine?"

She says they did find protein but could be contaminated sample or a bladder infection. I asked if I needed to come in for monitoring and she said only need to come in if fetal movement slows. I said no, I mean for PE concerns and she said well when is your next MW appt. I told her Wednesday and she said well then go see MW on Wednesday.

I'm so annoyed. I will call again tomorrow & hopefully speak to someone with a brain who can give me straight answers, but I'm just irritated now. I may have at least three signs of PE but I'm not really sure, as this woman was so useless.

Any thoughts?? I'm not panicking or anything, just want some answers.

If that's what it is, it's pretty pathetic. Pinky/creamy bits. Wouldn't notice if I wasn't looking, I don't think.

That was directed at tori, jfly!!
If I were you I would take a brave pill and demand to be seen. If you have any worries you should be heard, and PE is not something you want missed. Go and see them. Cry, it always helps.

DOn't worry, turtle! Hate those cross posts!

Will see what they say tomorrow. If they try to fob me off again, I'll go in, armed with my "take me seriously" American accent.

What were your BP readings Jfly- I might be able to reassure you.

Had a bit of a show last night and again this morning (I think - was tiny both times though!). Still nothing else yet

jfly, I can't believe they aren't taking you more seriously! I'm getting narked at having to be monitored for high bp with no other signs (apart from a tiny little bit of oedema in my ankles, but that's normal for me anyway) and my urine and bloods were fine.
I think you should camp out at the hospital ward until you find someone to take you seriously if you've been having this for the last 6 weeks!
How about headaches/visual disturbances?

turtle and ibblewob keep us posted, need more baby news!

Bugger all happening here with me apart from getting a right good kicking.

Just had the best midwife visit. Rang up this morning because they FORGOT to come to me to take my blood pressure and they said come in...I went in and got thebest midwife ever who took my recent probs very seriously, sent me to a registrar and stood beside me fighting my corner and DEMANDING that someone do something to help me. Ended up with permission to take immodium, blood and urine tests and an appt again next week, she then took me back to antenatal and made me a cup of tea and gave me a hug. I feel a bit better now. Also baby has dropped a bit more and am waddling like a fat duck.

Yey turtle! That must have been a massive boost. Lots of good vibes to all the brilliant midwives out there. Shame it seems totally dependant on the individual though - much of my contact seems to have been with rushed, stressed and insensitive ones!

Sometimes I think it would be a great profession, with all the opportunity to really help people, but then I get a glimpse of the downsides - at my sweep yesterday the doctor and midwife were totally at loggerheads. EG

midwife: "the patient is ready Dr"
Dr: "well, the Dr is not ready. Ha ha (insincere laughter)".

midwife: "Shouldn't you check the heartbeat?"
Dr: "we don't have one of [those little machine things]".
Midwife goes to get one with much rolling of eyes and huffing and puffing fron the Dr.

Was very uncomfortable!

hello. did yoga class. very good. energising. briefly. 40+6 and grrrrrumpy with everyone and everything. wish i could be left alone a bit more.

JFly - hope everything is ok - I agree with Turtle that you need to get them to check you out. Don't know much about PE but it isn't something they should be messing about with. Out of interest which hospital are you booked at?

Turtle - Yay for your midwife! So pleased that someone is finally trying to do something constructive... and particularly impressed by the hug and tea! Hope the Immodium helps!

Happy Saturday. No news here- due date tomorrow so have made lots of plans because I have little hope LO will show up just yet!
My sympathies to all struggling.
MNFM- love the name! Is there a story behind it?
E x

Thanks, all. I'm at Chelsea & Westminster, Cricket. Most care is with team MW at community clinic in Earlsfield.

I rang the hospital again this morning and talked to another MW. She wasn't concerned by my BP's 148/82, 138/80, 126/80. She said my urine was a little higher than normal at 22 (not sure what measurement that is, apparently 20 is normal). She also mentioned iron but didn't say much - something like "oh your iron, well, that's probably b/c of your gestational age."

Then she said, "oh, you're very pregnant aren't you!" She seemed to put everything down to how far along I am. So, results aren't "normal", but not "bad enough" I guess. I just think it's odd that I have the requisit symptoms for concern and then get elevated protein in urine and they still don't seem bothered. I wish they would just say, your levels need to be "this" for PE.

I'm going to keep an eye on fetal movement and look out for other symptoms. I haven't had headaches or visual problems, but then again my sister had NO symptoms other than very high BP and the reflex thing with her PE.

I'm meant to see MW on MOnday for BP, but if I'm at all concerned I will go in tomorrow.

Turtle, I'm very jealous of your MW experience. That must have been so reassuring. Why can't they all be a bit more like that??!

Jfly, I think as long as the bottom number is 85 or lower they won't be too concerned - but if your "normal" figure is much much lower then maybe they need to have that pointed out to them?
My bp at booking in was 110/70, and has been fairly much around the 120/80 until earlier in the week, and they just classed it as normal.
However, 150/100 or over 110 was too high, and they wouldn't class it as ok until it came down to 85.
Fingers crossed there's nothing wrong with you, obviously you know someone that PE has affected so you're more aware of the consequences.

Getting my bp rechecked in the morning, must listen to hypnobirthing cd before m/w turns up!

I have had really low BP all the way through (down to x/50 at one point) and it was up at 120/80 last mw visit... they said they wouldn't worry about it until it hit x/90 although they wanted to keep an eye on it so hopefully yours is ok JFly - I also had a trace of protein in my 'sample' at the last check and was told it was borderline and it could just be a contaminated sample, so sounds very similar to your experience. (Apparently it is only first urine of the day which is 100% accurate on levels anyway?) Just make sure they keep a close eye on you. Fingers crossed your little one decides to put in an appearance soon and then you won't need to worry about it all and your blood pressure will come down because of that!

uch and tommy's both don't begin to worry till the lower number is over 90.

i've also had protein trace in my urine. just a trace is commonly found in late PG MW told me.

Amazed. Yesterday's midwife just rang me to make sure I was ok. For no reason other than she felt bad that I'd been "ignored" for so long and wanted to check on me. She is truly lovely. Wish I could find a dr that gave a s**t.

Poor MB up in the middle of the night. Do I dare hope it's b/c you're in labour??

I had read that 140/90 is the figure above which BP had to be to be considered "high", but also that it depends on baseline BP. Also can depend on upper # OR lower # being x above normal. And also read that PE can be diagnosed with combination of other symptoms even if BP not particularly high. Anyhoo, I'm sure I don't have it, but it's interesting to read that it's not just BP above 140/90 equals possible PE.

Thanks for all your reassurance! I do indeed hope this baby comes soon, so all "levels" return to some sort of normal....

Going for another long walk this morning in Richmond Park. Get down there, baby!

m/w trying to scare me into induction again this morning as my bp at 85 ("borderline" in her words) and because no sign of cervix moving when trying to do a sweep. So got to have bp check again tomorrow.

Have insisted i don't want induction, so have hopefully got until around 17th before they "insist" I do. Who knows, she says she'll have to discuss with her manager tomorrow as they're obviously getting cold feet on the whole home birth thing.

Grr. Blasted BP! Seems to scupper us all. Thing is, it seems so subjective anyway. Both how a person takes BP and how they interpret it. Annoying!

congrats mom

have been bouncing on dd1s space hopper as i havent got a birth ball. more fun though in my opinion. havent tried the sex approach yet, feel like a giant hippo so not really feeling like it. also did lots of dancing at dd1 s birthday party yesterday in the hope that the time warp might set me off. nothing yet appart from bhs not so much as a tiny show!

Hey Fitnfotyone... you could be living my life a day in advance!!

I am 40, 5 days overdue and ubder massive pressure to yield to induction! But get this... my blood pressure has been 100/60 ALL through my pregnancy ( as it was for the first) until I had a hated debate with some registrar about induction...it went to 140/90!!!

That tells me my body knows exactly what is right for it!

Four mile cycle ride this morning along a bumpy forest road with family and a nice hot bath. Not a twinge.

Last day before considering induction is 18th day after you. Keep in touch gal!!