Due in September 05 - Thread 7

[andif]

Had a dreadful night - heartburn until 12.30am, followed by cramp in my calves, then vivid dreams. Can't remember what causes the cramps, or how to stop them, but do remember getting them with ds2 at this stage.
Typically, after moaning about lack of supply work, am working this afternoon, when all I feel like doing is sleeping. Having a very lazy morning, may go and plant some plants my parents brought me up yesterday.

Kiwifruit, you can join anytime. I go on Wednesdays and there are two classes. The one at 6:15 is for 30 weeks and over and the one at 7:15 is for up to 30 weeks.

Just had a frustrating conversation with a midwife from the hospital over the phone. I phoned to find the results of an "URGENT" smear test that I had 5 weeks ago. Never got anything through. It was negative. Which is good. But then I asked her about how to go about having a home birth and she told me I'm not eligible because I'm out of their catchment area. Not sure how that works since my GP sent me to them. It wasn't as if I chose to go out of my catchmetn area. I'm also not eligible to see any community midwives during my pregnancy. Now to be honest, I'm not sure if I want a home birth I'm just want better midwifery care. Since I'm only scheduled to see the hospital midwives at 28 and 34 weeks I don't feel this is adequate to prepare me for what type of delivery & care I can expect from them. (If I had it in hospital)

She also used every trick in the book in disuade me from a home birth saying they wouldn't know how my cervix would react and that I might not be able to have a home birth anyway. And then went on to tell me that the reason I was having unrealistic expectations was because I'm from America! (I guess only American ex-pats get fed up with having non-existent maternity care)

Silly, because if it were because I was American my expectation would be to have my baby with an obstetrician and flat on my back.

Argh! Sorry to rant. Just needed to get it off my chest.

well i do feel better for being confined to the settee yesterday. dp got in from work and wouldn't even let me go to the loo without following me to make sure i wasn't over exerting myself.

we have noticed however that in the last two days my bump has spread out, and its the sides of my stomach that have been hurting most so dp says he's pretty sure the muscles there got to stretching point and then gave up hence the pain and the changing shape of my bump.

another day of lounging on the settee.......and i have a book to finish reading so will lose myself in that. 7 books in the series and i'm on number 4.........hoping to finish it just as i come to the end of my pregnancy.

hope everyone else is keeping well........

Morning! Am feeling very sorry for myself today as didn't get any sleep last night, and have a stinking cold . Don't think I'm going to last the whole day at work...

Andif - thanks for the link, will go and get myself one of those in the weekend.

Katts - thanks for the info - may well see you there on Wednesday!

I went to Mothercare yesterday and the reality of looking after a baby came flooding back to me. Now I feel like I suddenly need so much - even though I already have most of it from my first child. Strange what you can convince yourself you need.

I bought two sleepsuits. They are the gown type which don't have legs but instead a sort of elasticated bottom. I thought they'd be good for middle of the night nappy changes. I keep looking at them. They're so cute. This is the first purchase I have made for the new baby.

Katts - you're using UCH, aren't you? Where are you exactly? Feel free to CAT me about this - I am also out of the catchment area for a UCH homebirth but the m/ws have been overwhelmingly supportive and I'm seeing the Head of Midwifery next week to see if we can come to an arrangement. If you're not happy, definitely contact her - I have her phone no. and email if you want them.

UCH is one of the 2 hosps used by my GP practice - I'm in N1 (Canonbury) and yet I too am out of the catchment area - I guess it's much wider for hosp births because they don't have to come to you.

Although I haven't had confirmation of their agreement to do a homebirth for me, in the meantime I was very much encouraged to see the community m/ws - I'm using the team at City Road and so far it's all been great. Obviously the reaction you've received will be slightly different because this is your 1st birth, but with a bit of background info from e.g. the homebirth.org website or the "homebirth action plan" in the 'files' section of the Yahoo waterbirth discussion group (I can email this to you), you should be able to counter any objections on those grounds.

Does that help at all?

Thanks Franch! Have CATed.

Haven't got it yet but will email you when I do

TGIF! Long week at work - am starting to rethink when I stop working. 36 weeks now seems a long way off. Not helped by HR woman now throwing a huge spanner in the works re my annual leave entitlement. I changed departments on may the 1st(not my choice I may add) and they are telling me I only accrue 6 days of leave prior to sept! This despite the fact that I am on a fixed term contract for at least another year. I may either lose 22 days of PAID leave or be forced to take it at the end of my paid maternity leave disallowing any unpaid leave. This woman is doing my head in. Last time it turned out she was wrong re leave entitlements but I had to make huge fuss before she rechecked policies and conceeded that she was wrong. AHH!!
So I could lose a full months salary - an issue as I earn more than DH - so we are going to battle a bit when I stop work and then go part time.

Sorry re rant.

Also having lots more BH - up to 4 an hour so am a bit worried especially after hearing re VF. No blood or fluid though so not sure if I should act on it. Over w/e I would have to go to A&E or labour ward which seems a bit of an over reaction. Was just about to call m/w the other day after no movement for 48hours and then... lots of kicks ensued. Would have felt like a right idiot.

Oh boy - what a week! Toes still look good though!

Got ball from Argos - thanks for tip Andif. Will hopefully help back ache when sitting at desk.

Just wondering - does anyone here have either a wedge pillow or a V or U shaped pillow? I want to get either one, but am not sure which is best. I am feeling a tad uncomfortable when I am sleeping, and am getting lots of hip pains as well....

I have a V shaped pillow from last time which was very good. I need to find where I have put it though.

Am thinking of looking at ebay for a wedge one as well...

I am also going to get one of those balls from Argos. I wonder if people who look at sales will feel there has been a rush .

V shaped pillow was very good for when I was in hospital so much last time; especially for leaning against when I was sitting up.

Had a midwife appointment yesterday which DS came to (firts one he's been at). He looked concerned when I was having my blood pressure taken and then very interested when we were listening to the baby's heartbeat. Don't think he has any idea what will happen in September though.

Two of his friends came round to play this afternoon (along with their mums). One of them is having her second baby at the end of June. I had been feeling rather larger, then remembered when I saw her that I still have a long way to go (and a long way to grow). Still, 23 weeks today - only another few months.

I have one of these pillows - sort of v-shaped - they're filled with little soft beads so you can mould it as you wish in bed, and I also found it good as a breastfeeding pillow when DD was very little. Also when she started to sit up I used it as a support to stop her falling over backwards - so it's had quite a long life prior to this pregnancy! I'd recommend it. Mine still has a blob of red paint on it from when we made DD's handprints when she was teeny

OK just ordered that pillow, as it look lovely! I like the idea of the beads inside! Better nights sleep here we come (I hope!!)... think I might order one of those birth balls as well - does it come with some sort of pump to fill it up, or can you do it with something like a bicycle pump? (sorry to as a stupid question! )

My sister in law just had a baby girl yesterday, she was induced. The midwives wouldn't believe that she was in labour, and she gave birth on the LABOUR WARD!!! with no painkillers as well, and 5 other women in the same room... things like this scare me! I just don't understand how it's possible for midwives not to know you are in labour... don't they examine you and stuff?!

LadyL, not a stupid question! I bought a new bicycle type pump to inflate mine, but it's not ideal - a footpump would be better!
Have borrowed a vshaped pillow, but find I get v hot and bothered being surrounded by pillows - what will it be like in the summer? (assuming we have one?!)

I have a wedge which is really good better than overheating when surrounded by pillows. It was £10 from mothercare or toysRus do one for £9.99 not enough of a difference in price to argue over and as mothercare is closer thats where i went. I also have a v which i use if i have to sit up in bed, will probably take my v into hospital with me. I will believe the rummors about summer when it eventually arrives. Just being nosing out the window as we have new people moving in and it looks as if they have small children DD will be impressed as there aren't many people in the street with children her age.

I got a ball from Asda and it came with it's own pump can't remember how much it was, as we got it before christmas.

hi everyone, just wanted to join in on the conversation as i've only just figured out where this thread is. milward, i have also been suffering with my veins, i'm very lucky though as i work at the local hospitalright next door to the andu clinic and know all the midwives personally. i happened to mention one day that my leg was black and was hurting me and sue had a look and called the sho straight away. they put me on bed rest for a week and gave me some gorgeous brown support tights to wear, which are such a turn off for dp. LOL it was phlebitis, which apparently is inflamation of the veins. it's eased a lot since but that was about 7 weeks ago. i can't believe i'm 25 weeks today. what date is everyone else due?

Hi bubbles, welcome to the thread All our due dates & details are on the stats thread - do add yours!

I'll mention the vein prob next week at my check up - I don't know what constitutes a bad vein prob or if what I have is ok. Bubbles2904 hope you don't have any more probs with your veins. I'll probably get have to get some super thick support tights - just the thing for the summer!!

Had my scan on friday. The doc said everything looked ok - could still be chromosome probs but on just the basis of the scan all structures were normal and so we could feel abit reassured. Was so stressed about this scan (from blood test result risk ratios). Had a migraine start just afterwards - only now feeling better. Last night couldn't sleep despite taking paracetamol. Today just rested whilst dh looked after dds.

Welcome bubbles.

Milward - Glad your scan went ok.

Anyone heard from VF?

Hi and welcome Bubbles

Haven't heard anything from VF - really hope things are OK. Hopefully we haven't heard because the baby is still hanging in there and they're keeping her in hospital to make sure it stays there...

Went and bought some maternity bras today - they're so attractive - not. DH will be over the moon when he seess them...

Thanks mummyhill. How big is everyone looking. I'm feeling huge & only 22 weeks!! nearly don't fit one of my medium size maternity skirts. Good job everything I bought this time was in large Hope VF is ok.

Still thinking of VF, hope we hear from her soon.

milward, I feel huge already! Found a picture of my belly taken by DH at this stage last time round and my navel hadn't even popped out yet - I can't even remember when it did this time round as it was so long ago now

I'm also hoping VF is OK.

I' just starting to feel very big. My boobs are definitely bigger this time round, so I'm just a massive blob out front where the belly merges with the boobs.

Is anyone else uncomfortable when they walk? I can manage about 30-40 minutes but then that's it - my back hurts. Anyone else? I feel quite restricted. I'm used to walking all over the place. We're on holiday next week ad I wonder how much I'm going to be able to do.

I'm sure I'm getting bigger every day. And I had my first experience of swollen ankles last week on a business trip to Lisbon - so I even had fat feet. Marvellous.