Due October 2009 - Feeling better and feeling baby!

[princessmel]

I have started the new thread

Went back to work today but still felt ill so came home at lunchtime. Brought some untaxing work with me to do (including making sure our mat leave policy is up to date! ) so have whiled away the afternoon doing that. Feel torn between wanting to chill out and relax and properly recover from this cold and not wanting to waste the time before mat leave when i could be finishing off. The good news is that my replacement is definitely starting next Monday - originally we thought she couldn't start until after I'd gone - so I can do a face to face handover rather than loads of notes........

Got a routine GP appointment tomorrow and am slightly worried about what she'll say. I'm sure that my pulse is running a bit faster than normal because of the cold, so hope it doesn't mean that I've got high blood pressure that needs to be monitored. I've come this far without any problems at all, and I'd hate to think that at the last minute I become a high risk pregnancy . I'm probably worrying about nothing...

kowaikiwi - sorry to hear about your DP. I know what running a small business can be like, and hopefully he can find a way to make it work while giving you the support you need. Good that you have a good relationship with your MIL2B - personally I'd rather struggle on alone than have to depend on mine. There'll be other groups in your local area that can help you out as well. NCT offers things like Bumps and Babes that you don't have to be a member to attend. Good luck!!

Thanks Treats x

Am just back from hospital. All was fine and I was going to be signed off back to midwife led care - until SHO took my blood pressure and found it to be 144/86. Now I have community midwife coming out on Friday to take it and do checks and appts at surgery next Monday and hospital again on the 16th.

The thing is, he took my bp straight after I'd sat up from lying down - I thought that you're supposed to stay for 5 mins in same position? No best of 3, he just took this and ran off to the consultant . So I'm cheeesed off at the moment. The last time my bp was at its higest was 140/80 - and that was when it was taken straight after sitting up as well. Alternatively, it could have something to do with the refereeing I've been doing btwn my mum and sister all week, they are not getting on and I am getting an earful of it every night on the phone.

I know its better to be safe than sorry but I was sooo close to being signed off and now I have to see super cautious SHO again.Am under strict instructions to take it easy until Friday. Sorry to moan btw

Littlepea sorry to hear about your DHs uncle and everything going wrong at once. Hope phone sorts itself out

Treats and everyone else suffering - feel better soon

kowaikiwi-sorry about your DP, I also know how hard it is running a business together. Re the exercise/fitness-I had to stop running and gym early on. Switched to swimming but kept getting kicked in the stomach by merceneray old ladies that wanted the run of the pool. I figure that my body was made for this and between us, we'll muddle through. My mum and MIL have told em their birth horror stories so many times that I'm immune to them now!

Treats feel better soon

erm , what is it with these DHs and buggering off?

Mine is away 2 days next week as well, but uncontactable!! I have got the number of someone who will get an urgent message to him though

TBh, i feel so vile, i am going to finish work next week - driving is such a struggle and my commute is horrid

that's my moan over

x post with happy there ... sounds a bit stressful for you

are they worried about pre-eclampsia?

Oh dear Happy! I hope your mum and sister start behaving themselves. Do you have a history of high BP? Do you have big arms? I only ask because I have and if they take my bp on a small cuff then I get an abnormally high result. Don't know about the sitting still for 5 mins thing. I always have mine done first and have to sit and not speak or move while the machine does it and they go off and test my wee. Hopefully it'll be back to normal next time.

kowaikiwi, you sound very busy! I hope you can start relaxing soon. I'm doing practically no exercise, am going for strong of mind rather than strong in body I think you need stamina rather than fitness tbh.

I have had a few very bad days.With my pubic bone each step and movement was killing me.The lo also got their feet stuck under my ribs total agony, DH got some kind of flu and was grumpy that I didn't want to come anywhere near him.So I have been looking after everyone and feeling a little madddddddddd.

However I think the baby has dropped as my pubic bone is now much better, there are no feet stuck under my ribs and I am now breathing with more ease.Yipeee still cross with dh though

As an ante and post natal exercise teacher (in a past life)I would say chill out about exercise now.If you feel up for it fantastic.However its time to really listen to your body and get in tune with how you feel.If you can walk there is no better exercise that you could do at the moment.But if you want to put your feet up go on and do it.I do believe that if you eat healthly and slowly build up your exercise after the birth (SLOWLY NOT LIKE A MAD MANIAC)that you will get back into great shape so please do not worry about your fitness levels at the moment.We are on the final countdown.

Hi and thanks-yes, SHO worried about pre-eclampsia. Totally overreacting as far as I could tell,I'm more annoyed that he just took the one reading than anything else. I'd literally just sat up, had arm dangling freely and was chatting to the Foundation Year doctor who was also in the room.As I understand it,to take accurate bp at the v least you need to be rested and your arm needs to be supported. No history of high bp at all so we'll see what midwife says tomorrow. Can I refuse to see this numpty SHO again?I've got visions of him trying to get me in for a c-section for any inconsequential reason.

Am not speaking to my mum and sister for a few days to see if that helps-let them sort themselves out!I know it must be hard moving back home for a year when you're 25 but she starts aflaming teaching course soon and she won't be there much so everyone neds to chill-I'd quite like to enjoy the last weeks of my pregnancy

fidelma-poor you, that sounds agonising.Hope the pain eases up soon and everyone starts to recover from the flu, sounds like you need some papmering

Morning ladies

Just back from my 36 week check and he is 4/5 engaged and measuring 34.5 cm because of this. MW said he is likely to arrive anytime from 37 weeks-hop not as mum and dad away next Thurs for a week.

Sorry things are not so good with some of you. MW was running v.late so having a cuppa before I rush and get DD2 from nursery at 12pm.

Laters!

HC
x

36+2

HT, doesn't sound very accurate at all. I wouldn't worry. Yes you can refuse to see him again, although you could always just ask for a second opinion if you don't believe/trust him. Thats what I'm planning to do with the registrar I saw last. I don't want to make a fuss but I don't think she should be making important decisions about my care.

Craving alert: I'm craving smells, wet laundry and damp coir worm bedding (no worms in it yet)! Fortunately I'm not putting them in my mouth but I'm thinking about it - yuk.

lol at your cravings smallone - I like the smell of grip-fill and wood filler, exactly the same as I was at the end of my first pregnancy!

HT I was under consultant led care for DS and had a real prat of an SHO at my 36ish week appt, who made me cry with anger he was so rude.. I told him to 'wipe that smile of your face when you're telling me things you know I don't want to hear'... . It worked though, I had a meeting with the 'top' consultant the following week and got everything I wanted agreed to...

...shame DS wasn't party to the discussions

My sleeping patterns are ridiculous at the moment, I'm knackered during the day and have restless legs at night, which keep me awake. If I don't nap, I can't keep up with DS... If I do nap, DH says that's why I can't sleep at nights... he might be right... is anyone else having issues sleeping 'at the right time'?

Heartburn has been playing up a little this week, but nothing too bad, and certainly nothing like I had in my first pregnancy, this time has been so much easier all round its been amazing really!

Wierd cravings although I do get the damp laundry smell !!

HC that sounds close I hope you are all ready.

HT thanks for the sympathy.

I have gone totally mad at DH this morning and he really deserved it.Although prehaps not the most subtle approach. The baby is due 4 weeks on tuesday and I feel that I deserve some TLC from him.

sparkly I have the same problem.I need to sleep during the day to cope with the madness between 3pm and 9pm before all DC get to bed and then DH wants my attention, but then I don,t sleep well at night hence some mad MNing in the middle of the night.

Hi all!

Sorry so many of you seem to have be having aches, pains, real-life drama and unhappiness - does all seem to come at once! Big hugs to you all and hope things pan out for the beter very soon X

Have been skiving off MN for a week or so, just had horrible work-related week last week (me in floods of tears in the evening, PhD thesis seemingly going down the drain after 3 years due to some college admin bullshit). Taken a cheeky week off as too angry with dept head to be in, but back in next Tuesday for a last week as that's when my PhD funding ends and I ought to show my face. And go for lots of lunches with nice friends

treats sorry I never responded to your yoga class mention - I was in the class probably sat opposite you! I was sat with my back to the window, probably two or three ladies in from the back. I was the one who mentioned I had been unwell with asthma for a while? Anyway - don't mind 'outing' myself at all, if you feel like having a tea / coffee / cake before the next class we are both at, that would be top banana. Don't know how the messaging function works on MN but feel free to poke me (BTW not going this week as my mum is over and we're decorating. Have 3 classes left to take in the next 4 weeks so hopefully we'll cross paths again!). Get well soon X

Regarding exercising at this stage (I'm 36+1) I completely know how hard it is to balance when to exercise and when to rest. I was at the gym / running / cycling / swimming everyday before being pregnant, and now I only do yoga and aqua-aerobics, but the latter I still really go for it and then am pooped afterwards. The instructor is my midwife so not at all concerned with amount I'm doing (although she suggested that I really shouldn't cycle anymore - and the racer was getting quite uncomfortable!) but I think as long as you feel up to it, ante-natal exercise classes are a very welcome relief for me, I'd go mad if I couldn't do something, but then some days I try to chill out. I have a half-marathon planned for this time next year, which I think will be long enough, certainly not going to dive straight back into the kind of exercise routine I had before - and of course I bet I won't actually be up to it with the baby!

V disappointed that there is apparently no correlation between having almost constant braxton-hicks all day and most of the night, and having an easier labour. Whats the point of all this 'practicing' then??!

Hi all,

wrt exersise I am not doing any! Apart from being a mum to 2 dc's. That's it. My physio said I shouldn't even be walking to school, so am going in the car. But I would feel too achey and tired walking all the way anyway.
My physio cheered me up actually as she commented on how slight and small I was (not the bump obviously!!)and this really perked me up!

Cravings, nope not got any! I do have the odd 'want' for something, but that is usually a want for a dinner or a particular snack etc. Not one that is ongoing.

HC that means it could come in 5 days!!!!

I am getting a bit concerned as I am not having any feelings of 'get the baby out!!' atall yet.
People keep asking me if I am excited and if I can't wait etc but tbh I am just jogging along, going from day to day.
It's like I am normal with a bump!

I think maybe it's because we still haven't got the baby's room ready. We can't untill the dc's bunkbeds arrive in 2 to 3 weeks. Then dd can go in with ds and the cot can come out.
I haven't got the baby clothes out yet either, but dd's things are still in the baby's room....
I am also a bit like this generally. I don't look forward to holidays much untill they are right here, as I always have a worry that something will happen , like the kids getting ill, bad weather etc etc! So I sort of make myself not get excited till it's happening.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy the baby is coming, but am just not giddy with excitement and anticipation. That's a bit sad isn't it?

Hi everyone.

Sorry some of us are struggling for various reasons at the moment. The whole bp thing is stupid-sounds very wrong so try not to worry about it-when they take it next time it should be fine.

I'm glad we're not the only ones not ready I have just done one load of newborn baby clothes that I need to dry. Still some stuff lost in the loft, but since we're going to try not to spend any money this weekend, we're going to stay in and try and sort everything out! We had no hot water last week as the boiler had broken-I had to bath/shower in the baby bath-if anyone had seen me All fixed now but cost ££££-glad it happened then though as if it had happened when dp was trying to fill the birth pool i'd have been !!!!

The mw is finally coming round to see me this morning-after changing the appt. 4 times to talk about the homebirth-then I can finally order the pool. I hope I haven't left it too late-37 wks on sunday!!!

We tried dd without nappies for a few nights this week-ended up giving up as I couldn't cope with rushing out of bed in the night to take her to the toilet/change the bed She had had dry nappies every morning for months so it is sods law that this week it all went wrong! Think we'll leave it for quite a while now so that everything with the baby settles down.

I haven't had any anti-natal classes this time-even though I wanted them as they kept changing/cancelling the refresher classes. I feel TOTALLY unprepared for the birth-I can't remember anythng-tis worrying me slightly! I really must try and read up on birth over the weekend......

Princessmel-I feel a bit the same-just bumbling along with life, still doesn't feel real, just wandering how it is all going to work with another one-timewise and space wise!!!

x x x

Morning all, not prepared here either! I keep thinking I've got ages left but I haven't really. Am 35 weeks this weekend so have somewhere between 2 and 6 weeks left. 6 weeks is ages but 2 isn't! I think its coz I'm not buying anything for baby, its not really sunk in. I'm planning to pack my hospital bag this weekend in the hopes that that will make it more real. I've just been chucking things into a bag as I've come across them, so I think once its all out on the bed I'll feel more prepared.

DH is away now til mon night. Dropped him off last night, came home and put dd to bed and then sat on computer feeling really uncomfortable, tried to go to bed at 10.30 and was kept awake with contractions every 4 mins til 1am. Not proper ones, but more painful than BH. Not sure what it was in the end that stopped them coz I tried so many things! But just incase any of you have similar - a pint of squash, 2 paracetamol, bachs rescue remedy and a hot water bottle. I lay on my left side in bed and did some deep breathing. I would have had a bath but didn't fancy getting stuck in there all night with only dd in the house! Typical isn't it, always happens at the worst times.

morning all

hc - wow ... getting close for you!

exercise - not for me unless you count working FT and parenting a lively 3 year old

we are moving DS to his new room in the next few days - need to get a load of stuff out of the loft

am due 4th October and have decided to stop work next week - am barely coping with the commute TBH and am anxious about being a long way from home and getting stuck on motorways

i have my consultant appt next week to hopefully sign off my birth plan - i HAVE to use the birthing unit ...

have good days everyone

morning all
just back from consultant apt and I'm being induced a week on suday my fluid levels have gone up so they would like me to deliver soon, have a scan at 4.20 to check fluid levels and everything else.......really excited but also scared as I know what is coming
hope everyone is well and having fun getting ready and organised , will post more later tonight , take care

Oooh theboob - you're going to be first!! How exciting! Quite that you know exactly when it will happen, but I don't think I'd feel ready if I knew it was going to be that soon. Best of luck with the appt this afternoon.

Calypso - I remember someone talking about their asthma but can't quite picture the face . I was there last night and next week is my last one. I'll look out for you if you're there - perhaps I'll wear a carnation or something . I'll see if I can work out the CAT system between now and then and message you privately - it would be great to get in touch.

Sammysam - fingers crossed for your mw appt. Hope you get the homebirth you want.

princessmel - I know what you mean about not really feeling "it" yet. It still seems quite unreal to me although I've put it down to it being my first and not really knowing what to expect. it has surprised me that I don't think about my baby more often, and that I haven't really had any feelings about it - I'm quite an emotional person normally and I thought I'd be more excited/teary/fearful about the prospect of becoming a mum. Maybe I'm still in denial! I expect things will change after next week when I go on mat leave.

Sparkly - I'm having disrupted sleeping patterns as well. There don't seem to be any specific factors, I just can't sleep. It is annoying because I then get tired during the day. Hope you feel better soon.

Had my GPs appt yesterday (shared care with mw). Was a bit worried that my BP would be high - my pulse has been fast these last few days while I've had my cold - but although it was slightly raised, she said it was nothing to worry about. She listened to the baby's heartbeat on the monitor and said s/he seemed to be 'as happy as Larry'. so that's good. No sign of the baby's head descending yet, although I am measuring a week ahead of dates (currently 35 weeks, measuring 36) - can't draw any conclusions about likely delivery dates though!

theboob - wow! how do you feel about it?

how exciting and scary ... do you have everything ready?

boobalmost there let us know how you get on this afternoon.

I am having huge BH infact I would say false labour.Oh and the runs (if you know what I mean!) Also 99% sure the head has engaged. I am slightly frustrated that I could have up to 6 weeks to go or 2 and that I am obsesed about the birth already

DH gone off to pick up children and I really don't feel that I have the energy for them.Not a good start to the weekend.

Hello everyone,

I've been keeping up to date with what's been going on with you all, but I've not posted for quite a while.

So, sorry to hear that some of you are having a tough time, and I can't believe that the first babies could be here in the next week or 2 - where has the time gone?!

I'm currently 33+2 weeks, so feel like I've got ages to wait yet. However, it looks like we'll be moving house before baby is born, so I need all the time I can get! I just hope it's not too much change for dd - a new house and new baby both at the same time, I hope she adjusts to everything ok.

Things are going well with my pregnancy, no major complaints, so I'm really lucky there. I'm so glad I'm not working though, I'm tired enough as it is, I really don't envy those of you still working!

I'll try and start contributing to the conversation more, things are going to start getting exciting soon and I'd like to be part of it all

Afetrnoon all
Midwife has just left - bp 125/80, no signs of pre-eclampsia. We spoke about the SHO and she agreed that it sounds like he took the bp all wrong and was surprised he didn't take a second reading and give me the chance to be normal. She thinks its ridiculous that I'll be having midwife appointments at surgery on Mondays and seeing him at hospital on the Wednesday. Apparently, he's only been there since August which was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me-I think he's collecting patients. Explained to her that I've been commissioning authors from and running focus groups with doctors for the past 4 years and while I'm sure that my being there is great for his clinical experience, it is of no benefit to me. She agreed and I'm now back on midwife led care only, just need a hospital appointment at term.

Huge thank you to everyone that gave advice, I feel like I can finally be a bit assertive with the SHO now. He got my dates wrong as well, out by 5 days.

Mossop-good luck with the move, I think you're v brave! I moved house from S East to the North 2 weeks before I got married and that was stressful enough, can't imagine doing it while pregnant!

fidelma-am also having breathtaking Braxton Hicks (at least I presume thats what they are) and the runs. I'm still a bit confused as to when I "know" I'm in labour and when its BH-everyone says "you just know" but I'm so bloody minded about hospitals I'm likely to stay at home far too long and baby will be born in the car on way to hospital!

Treats and princessmel- it feels a bit surreal to me too-again, perhaps because its my first. Also had no ante-natal classes but have an all day one tomorrow so that should make it hit home.(I hope). People keep saying I'm in denial about how much its going to hurt but the natal hypnotherapy has helped so much, I get excited when I think about the birth now, not scared like I used to be.

Theboob - wow, how exciting! Hope you got on okay this afternoon

sammysam hope appointment went well, fingers crossed for your home birth.

HC 4/5 engaged, I am so jealous! Can you send some of vibes over here? I want this baby out soon!

Have a good weekend everyone x

well scan went ok, her weight is about 7lb 6oz now, she has lot's of hair that I could see floating in the water and could see her chubby cheeks my fluid levels have gone down so it look's like I am leaking like I thought, so going to do lot's of bouncing on the ball this weekend , I am all ready for baby now and with induction date I can arange other DC's too

HT.....glad you have your care sorted now
mossop ....I think your very brave moving now , all the best with it
fidelma.......hope your ok with the pain's , I wonder if this is it for you , exciting !
hope evryone else is ok and has a brilliant weekend x