Due May 2009 - It's all in front of us now!!!!

[divedaisy]

And on we go!!

Pula, good idea but I would never be able to keep that kind of information without looking! I'm terrible at my own secrets .

dh defn doesn't want to know but said he'd support if I wanted to find out.guess i'll decide tomorrow.

pula if you blood pressure is ok you could try licorice for constipation. I got quite bad this time round but this sorted me out

yawningmonster I have just noticed the time of your last post - no wonder you are yawning!

I'm in NZ so was actually 3pm here so not quite so bad as it looks. Became yawningmonster in recognition of my ds's appalling sleeping in the early days (still prone to night waking now at 4)

Of course - I always forget mumsnetters could be anywhere!

Is it lovely and warm and sunny there? Blimmin' freezing in England.

wish I were in NZ right now. sigh. Is it summertime now Yawning?

Just back from my anomoly scan and despite not feeling any baby movement, baby is wriggly and alive! 'as far as we can tell', everything looks normal and good. it was such a long scan, sonographer went into every detail, it was brilliant. I asked about downs indicators and he was a bit evasive about it as they can't tell certainly which, of course, I know. however, I'm sure my MW said they could note anything risky and I was almost using this scan as an alternative to screening. guess I misunderstood. in any case, the scan came out with great results so I may as well be happy with that.

didn't find out the sex but am nearly sure it's a girl. I'm not an expert but looked hard for any telltale sign, nothing. i suppose if it were a boy then I'd be very, very (happily) surprised. they didn't mark down the heart rate either so will ask at next MW visit.

i'm surprised now at how deflated I feel. anyone down? DH went back to work excited, all i feel is apprehensive, discouraged (why????), overwhelmed, etc. maybe because i'm tired, it's been difficult with dd1 potty training and both DDs being clingy and whingy... don't know. I should be very happy so am disappointed i haven't turned my mood around with such good scan results.

anyway, need to get to work but don't think I'll get much done today. mind just wandering as to what to eat next .

Hi Momino Glad that your scan has been a sucess. I can't wait until mine on Monday!

I saw the midwife this morning & it turns out they've had a meeting about me (well, other ladies too)- my consultant, my midwife, a senior midwife & my health visitor .

I have been offered an elective c-section, I just need to let them know my decision between 34 & 36 weeks & they'll book it if that's what I decide. I am so unsure, as I kind of feel like it would be cheating.. (I am an odd one I know) But at the same time I am so petrified of labouring again. - I thought I was fine with the idea until I was actually pregnant!
They are trying to avoid stress & trauma after my ds almost died in labour & I had severe PND (was hospitalised) & PTSD & I keep having flashbacks / nightmares.
So after me ranting that my consltant was a total ar*e to me it turns out he just has a naff bedside manor but 'cares' in a pro-active talk to other professionals kind of way.. does that make any sense what so ever..
Also they are trying to get me in to see a counsellor as the midwives can not go through my last labour, pnd etc due to not having my notes / treated me at the time.

Anyway, sorry for the long rambly post!
Has anyone had an elective c-section here?

Missy x

Hi MissyK. an Elective C section sounds good to me.

had bad birth with dd1 but didn't care since she was first baby and my feel good hormones totally kicked in; plus felt I had good, attentive care.

dd2 also was awful birth but didn't get the attention or pain relief i'd requested then was left for a few hours before got toast, bath, stitched up, etc. went into PND which i still feel (not as bad as yours) and not looking forward to upcoming birth. i haven't talked to MW about this yet but have talked to counsellor and GP.

if I were you, Missy, i'd defn go for the elec. especially if you have the prof support and you think it's what you want.

MissyK I had an emergency c-section last time and am having an elective on the 27 April or 4 May (Star Wars Day!)

I recovered really well last time and was driving again after 3 or 4 weeks. I had hardly any pain at all and established breastfeeding with a little bit of effort. The only bad thing was not being able to join in the -horrid- birth stories as I had nothing of any note to share! It isn't that bad, honestly.

I had yet another appointment with my consultants today, yes, I have two! They were also joined by the registrar so now I have no doubts at all that I am in good hands. I'm back there again on the 31st for my 20 week scan and yet another appointment with the consultant.

Hi Ladies - I've loads to catch up on, but thought I'd give you a book review! I got these because DS is scared because he doesn't know how to be a big brother. They arrived last week and we have read 3 of them so far.

• I'm a Big Brother By: Joanna Cole - we haven't read this one together yet, but it ends up by telling the child that there is only one 'me' which makes you very special. there is the mention of the birth canal with a basic picture - but it is skimmed over so fast!
• Mummy's Having a Baby By: Camille Liscinsky - this is great! It is a present to your child from you. it starts of by reminding the child he was once a baby, and he gets to stick photos of him in the book and discuss how mummy & daddy felt when he was born. then it progresses on to the new baby coming. there are pages for your child to stick scans in and braw a picture of the mummy (can't wait to see this!) beautiful book & DS loves it!
• I'm Going to Be a Big Brother! By: Brenda Bercun - fab colourful book giving the child loads of advice - why you need clean hands; keep toys tidy etc etc. we've spent lots of time discussing things raised here. great!
• What's Inside Your Tummy, Mummy? By: Abby Cocovini - each double page describes a month of pregnancy in simple to understand lingo - (I forgot to buy a medium sized melon to show how big Baby Bump is now!!) half of the page is designed for the mum to place in front of her tummy and it will show the child (& mum!) how big baby is! DS loves this book! So he recommends this one!

Hope these help!
Away to do school run. x

divedaisy, I like the 'what's inside your tummy mummy'. Let's see.... cinnamon/raisin bagel with cream cheese, chicken and salad sandwich, two choc macaroons, 3 pieces of cheese on toast, cream of tomato soup.....

Llareggub My DH will be jealous, he wanted our little man to be born on 'Star Wars Day' lol..

I think I know they wouldn't have offered me the c-section this early unless they thought that I really should have it, but having never been through it I am nervous. Also that I'd have a 4.5yr old and a newborn to look after & undoubtedly in some pain, unable to lift things etc.. Agh!! Oh well, weeks and weeks to decide yet.

I think I'll just focus on my scan on Monday, then Xmas, then a little family holiday, one thing at a time for me before my head explodes!

Had my 17 week scan earlier and pleased to report all is well.

MissyK you'll be surprised at how much you can do, seriously. But 2 years on I am still trying to convince DH that it isn't safe for me to hoover, so there are some plus points.

Good news those who have had their scans! Got just over 4 weeks to wait for mine! Feels like ages away.

I fell off my bike yesterday as it was icy - we went out earlier when it was ok and didn't realise it was icy. I was going really slowly and landed on my backside so I'm sure the baby should be fine, but I burst into tears and couldn't stop crying for ages.

I didn't ring anyone or go to hospital as I thought they might think I was being hysterical - I didn't land on my stomach and didn't have any wounds that needed looking at. I guess they could have listened to the heartbeat for me... What would others have done? I feel really silly about it. I certainly won't be going out again on my bike if there's any doubt about the weather.

MsG,
I fell over our dog and landed on my tummy when I was about 29 weeks and cried as well. Since it was on my front, I rang the MW who asked me to go in to get checked. Also gave me an antiD as precaution since am Rh Neg. everything was ok though.

Ithink maybe I was a bit too cautious but never mind. if you landed on your bum, you should be fine (I hope you're ok and not bruised!). But, do call MW for any reassurance.

MissyK - when I saw my consultant back in Nov and I discussed with him about my history of PND & PTSD (I was on anti depressants for about 2.5 yrs - I came off them myself cos I basically forgot to take them!! and had nearly 2 years of psychotherapy) so I am in the high risk category of developing it again and am terrified of it coming back. Anyhow... he referred me back to the consutlant psychotherapist. I saw him this morning and had a quick chat about management of it should it occur again. He told me he was going to speak to the Psychatrist who would be in charge of managing drug therapy and then he'd get back to me to let me know who I should be referred to and when etc. He also reassurred me that either him or the Pschiatrist would react very quickly to see me should the need arise. I felt reassured and relieved. Maybe you should ask now for a referral? You obvioulsy need to chat things over with someone. The chances of history repeating itself are rather slim (but yet you are still remembering them with fear ), and because your team are aware of your fears they may be able to do more for you...not allow a long labour etc?? Any surgery is not a simple, risk-free, easy solution. Take your time thinking what experience you want - you will only get one chance at it! XX

MsG - Have you felt any movement of the baby before and since coming a cropper? Obviously if you got any bleeding or cramping you should get checked out pronto. Take it easy - or tie loads of cushions to you ass next time . I collected 'a bag' of Santa pressies to wrap up for ds school. The bag contained boxes of sweets and wrapping stuff. Size of said bag - you know those BIG BLUE 'use me and get your green points in Tescos' BAGS - that was it crammed full of stuff! I nearly did myself an injury getting it to my van. I'm taking things very easy at the moment. Have felt lots of Baby Bump movement! I get scanned on 31st - 3 weeks 2 days (but who's counting !!)

llareggub - what is Star Wars Day??? What happens?

Oh I had a (big) bit of a tearful outburst on Sunday. Our new cooker arrived and came witout the wires to connect it up. I burst into tears after shouting at dh & ds...

divedaisy, I'm glad you asked the Star Wars Day question - was afraid to ask .

May the 4th be with you!

Thanks Momino and divedaisy. Haven't felt any movement of the baby at all yet - probably too early with my first... I feel fine, a bit bruised on my bum but that's it. I just wasn't sure if I was silly not to get checked. x

HtheH.... grrroooaaannn, never figured that one out.

can I just say... I'm supposed to do about six hours of work when girls are at nursery. Today, I've done 3 if I'm lucky. Just don't have my head/heart into it. Anyone else same?

Hi all.
Just on with a couple of minor moans -
am so, so tired this week (yawn)
and had my booking in with midwife yesterday (17+wks!) Took an instant dislike to her, and had a pre-pubescent (or he looked it) medical student sitting in the corner staring at me as if I was a freak of nature. Because he was there I was (unaccountably) unable to ask her the things I wanted to know (such as why was my labour last time so horrific?). She said 'oh yes I looked at your notes from last time. You had a substantial haemmorage didn't you?'
Nobody told me - but that might explain a few things.
Then she told me I had an episiotomy too - er no. Now that I would remember. I told her absoulutely not, and I had no stictches either. She looked a bit disbelieving and moved on to questions about family history and that was that.

She didn't even feel my tummy or listen to the baby heart beat! Midwives should do this at every appointment (or so I was taught anyway).
She took gallons of blood and sent me away with a booklet about breastfeeding and said 'oh you've done it before so you'll be fine'.
Er, once again no. I may have done (struggled) before.

Anyway can you tell I don't like her.
Am depressed just thinking about having to deal with her again.
Bleurgh. Wish I'd looked into the Independent MW thing a bit more!
Well sorry for moaning. Better go and sort kids out.
Carol concert later - must try to stay awake!!!

Sorry - am moany cow today!
Congrats on good scans everyone x x x