Dec 08 - the one where we wonder what are our bodies going to do next?

[rosmerta]

Sorry for rubbish title, best I could do

Hi everyone,

Went for my Doppler scan the other day. They said that of the 2 arteries in the womb, one is working fine, but one has a 'notch' which means the blood flow isn't great - they said it isn't the worst either, though. (Turns out it's this which resulted in the dodgy blood results earlier which came up with 1 in 18 chance for Downs - I had CVS , and thankfully got negative result - no Downs).

They also said they would be more concerned if placenta was on the same side as dodgy artery, but it's in the middle. Also, the blood flow is continuous - it'd be more worrying if it was getting interrupted.

The risks as I understand it are a small-for-date baby (and possible early induction /CS) high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia (scary stuff!!). At the moment though, my baby is large for age, and my blood pressure is absolutely fine.

I have to take 1 baby-strength aspirin a day to thin my blood, and they're gonna scan me every 4 weeks, and everytime I go near a health professional I have to have my blood pressure taken.

While it's not great news, the earlier scare about Downs was just horrible, and has kind of put everything into perspective. When they told me I might have a baby with Downs, desite being usually being a pretty rational person, a part of me was convinced the result would come back positive, and I really wasn't in a great state. This time round, I find I'm being much more pragmatic. It's all a game of risk - they haven't actually said the baby WILL be small for date, or that I WILL get pre-eclampsia.

As well as the 'notch', other facts are (as far as we can tell) my baby is fine right now, I am fine, the hospital I'm visiting seems to be equipped with the latest equipment, the people seem great.

They're monitoring me, and I feel like I'm in relatively safe hands. (I suspect this may not even have been picked up on at some of the hospitals my friends have been to, judging from some of the stories. One of my friends is attending a hospital where you don't even get a 20 week scan as standard!)

So, I'm not consumed by worry, thankfully -I'm still enjoying being pregnant and planning for the future (read shopping!) which I just couldn't do while waiting for CVS results before.

I wonder if it's possible to get equipment to monitor blood pressure at home? (I think this is pretty reasonable as pre-eclampsia is scary stuff!?)

I wonder if there's anything I can do besides taking aspirin to reduce risks of small for date baby?

I'm gonna go to the doctor and maybe a NIMH-qualified herbalist to ask about what I can do to keep blood pressure down. And will probably scare myself shitless looking up early signs of pre-eclampsia on the web.

Sorry for the gloomy post, but if anyone has any useful advice I'd appreciate it!

Actually that reads a bit funny - the aspirin is to help blood flow, not directly to reduce chances of small-for-date baby.

Would hate this to get out into the web and start false rumours about taking aspirin!

Lowri: sorry to hear you had some stressful results, but good thing it was oicked up (and that there don't appear to be any problems so far). The extra monitoring sounds a bit of a pain, but also a good way to put your mind at rest.

No experience with high bp, but can you get one of those home monitors? Supposed to be more reliable than a single measurement at random intervals.

Make sure you get plenty of rest . Are you working at the moment? If so, mkight be an idea to have a chat to your manager to make sure you're getting plenty of breaks etc.

Hiya Effie. I didn't think of mentioning it to my boss, but a good idea thanks. He's pretty understanding.

Think I'll definitely get a home blood pressure monitor, had a quick look and they seem affordable.

... and on a nicer topic, welcome Preggiejane!

I have nesting big time! Some friends gave me 4 large bags of nice baby stuff, and it made me realise just how much more space we'll need. I have plenty of storage - it's just that it's full of stuff! Am on a mission to go through everything I own and get rid of as much as possible.

IME work are fine with these things as long as they know in advance

esp if (for eg) it means you starting your ML a little earlier than planned

Hi Lowri - sorry to hear about your worrying doppler results. I just wanted to say that I had pre-eclampsia in my first pregnancy and although it can be very dangerous if not caught it is unlikely to get serious if you are being monitored and are looking out for symptoms. As long as it is caught earlier they can treat the BP and if necessary induce the baby early (you must already be about 24 weeks so the baby is already viable). If you have any questions do not hestiate to ask.

Thanks

hahah, OMG,

just seen some old, old thread which was full and searched 'dec' and couldn't find a new one ( ) so started one!

PMSL!!

Lol Disenchanted. Has anyone posted on it? How is the search for a name going?

Hi Disenchanted long time no see.

Effie i think i got the same snowsuit from greenbaby.

Lowrib take care and i wonder if you can hire the BP monitors. I think your attitude is brilliant and will def help keep that BP down.

back from my pamper weekend, had the most amazing treatment. I anyone leaves near or works at Canary Wharf, i can def recommend the Mother-to-be treatment at the Reebok sports center spa.

I love putting my DS in red clothes, blue stuff i so annoying almost all boys clothes are blue or look like they are made for mini soldiers.

Hello everyone,
lowrib sorry to hear about your probs, sounds like they are really onto it though, fingers crossed it doesn't cause any real problems. Sounds like a good plan to get one of the BP monitors, if you can't hire/get one on the NHS maybe they are not that expensive from ebay??

I have an embarrassing confession, I do not have stretch marks. My mum laughed at me and pointed out that they were going in the wrong direction!! I had scratched myself somehow and they have now gone. Feel a right wally.

that was meant to be lives not leaves

oh SL thats good to hear, i didnt actually know that stretch marks only go in one direction. Your not a wally, you are pregnant we are all a bit wallyish lately.

Apparently they go in the direction that you would stretch if you see what I mean, so they would go across the stomach, and mine went down from top to bottom. I actually have some on my hips, don't know when I got them, so I should probably have figured this out! They are a pale silvery colour and don't bother me at all.

i have some on my hips also that i got in my late teens (bad junk food diet while at uni) they go up and down. I also got some on my boobs when my milk came in (with a vengence) but they disappeared i have just checked and there is no sign of them now.

Thanks Veggiemummy and SummerLightening

Not relevant at all, but have you seen this thread?

Made me laugh

summer my stretch marks (and they're definitely stretch marks as they were the right colour and are still there) go up and down under my bump - so they CAN go that way too. DD grew a LOT in the last few weeks so I went through my whole pg with none and then discovered them after she was born!

(Anyway - glad you haven't got them though!)

Thanks for the chocolate/tea tips, people. Sorry I've been a bit low - I think going back to work tomorrow will help a bit . DH isn't very well at the moment and whilst I try to be sympathetic sometimes I find it really difficult to see him deteriorating and end up being less supportive than I should be.

Feel very much that everything in the family is down to me - ie yesterday cooked big roast lunch (I wanted to - so can't really complain!) then also spent four hours making up DD's new grown-up bed... sliding around on a laminate floor isn't the best for preventing SPD (DH tried to help but he's never been any good at DIY - flat packs have always been down to me - and now isn't strong enough to be much use) - then had rubbish night's sleep because DH has constant sneezing which prevents him sleeping and then he gets leg spasms from lack of sleep and the MS...

Now panicking about how to support DD, DH and DC if/when he has to give up work... sometimes wish someone would look after ME!

Sorry!!!

Just got back from a lovely week in France, although the in laws drove me slightly mad,I'm getting very intolerant in my old age! Have not read all the way through as too much going on for my tiny brain. I've started to get those bloody leg cramps. Scared the crap out of DH and the cat this morning when I woke up yelling in pain. But I am now officially 6 months pregnant (and looking about 8 months) so only 4 to go! Hope everyone is well and blooming.

Hello girls

Sorry, Lowrib, to hear about your results but it sounds like you will be carefully monitored so they can act at the first sign of trouble. As you say, they are only saying you have a TENDENCY for these awful things.

And Verso, sorry that everything is falling on your shoulders...it sounds hard.

I haven't got stretchmarks on my tummy yet but suspect I will get them as I have some on my hips and thighs from puberty and I think if you are the type. you are the type...Still slathering on the Bio Oil though, just in case it works.

Beans, going back to Friday, sorry you had a bad experience with H&M. But given that I couldn't get size 16 jeans over my hips, even though I got some of their purple trousers on at a 14, but am still wearing some 12s from other shops...I think they are skimping. I might even write them a letter if I can be bothered.

Heartburn has kicked in this weekend, I've never had it before. It's a nuisance but not so bad that it's really getting me down (yet). Also, my back is beginning to hurt. In the country this w/e so went for a lovely long walk yesterday and picked a few early blackberries. Autumn is on the way...

Ordered the Bugaboo Cameleon. It's going to take 8 weeks to arrive, which seems a bit daft given that I am 26 weeks. The car seat comes with it so if I have the baby at 34 weeks (and let's face it, it happens) I'm going to be sans equipment.

More tomorrow when I am back at work, no doubt...Don't usually post at the weekends. Hope you are all having lovely Bank Holiday Mondays. Going out for a pub lunch, I think. Sod the calories.

Hi all .. just skimmed messages so will try and now remember what i wanted to say!
Stretch marks - for some bizarre reason i have never developed these on my stomach when pregnant, pretty strange as i have them on my hips and thighs from puberty. I dont know why but as this is dc4 im hoping to avoid them again!
Maternity clothes - i have been on a very strict budget this time round as unplanned pregnancy and we had given everything baby and maternity away, so i have not really bought anything. Inherited a bundle from friend who had her fourth (def no more!) baby in april and i bought a couple of things from ebay. I would def recommend ebay as i got a mixed bundle (h&m, gap and blooming marvellous) of about 6 dif items for about £15 inc p&p.
Hi Verso im sorry its being so hard for you at the moment, does your dh have MS? Do you get any help, if not you should really look into getting a carer. A friend of mine has a husband who is paralised from the neck down and they have 2 kids and i think he has 2 full time carers (diff circumstances i know but if you are not getting any help you may be entitled to some) paid for with carers allowance.
I have my scan tomorrow to check if baby's head has grown .. am extrememly nervous but trying not to show it too much, just hoping first set of measurements were wrong.
On another point i think this baby is trying to stamp his or her way out! I have never had such low kicks with any of my others but all the kicks from this little wriggler around my pubic hair line. Told this to dp and he sees it as another sign that its a girl .... already giving us grief (toungne in cheek!)
Hope evreyone had a good bank holiday x

Verso: have you got help you can call in from family and friends? It sounds hard . I do find that I worry about things more while pg, a lot of it must be down to those protective hormones. Feel free to vent on here, we won't tell anyone

reban: am getting lots of low-down kicks as well - I saw it as (another) sign that my pelvic floor is not as it used to be

oh god i didnt think of that effie! Lets hope it holds out as i know my whole body is really feeling the strain with this one .. def my last pregancy as my body and our bank balance couldnt cope with anymore little accidents!