Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

[annamama]

... this is a new thread following on from the last one, welcome oldies & newbies ...

Hello ladies
I have my parents staying which is lovely but limits my MN time considerably! I've been trying to catch up on all the posts before I posted myself but things are moving so fast !
Happy belated birthday for yesterday Arcadie it's mine today and I am feeling terrible - full of the cold, was taken out for lunch and couldn't taste a thing! Can't decide whether to postpone my birthday dinner tonight - Mum is trying to persuade me I should as it would be a waste of money if I can't taste anything but I don't know if I'll be any better tomorrow and my resident babysitters leave on Sunday.
I'm another lasinoh fan I tried Boots 'expert' brand last time as I was put off by the price of Lasinoh but it was rubbish. MW left me a small sachet and said it was the best stuff so sent Mum out to buy some and never looked back. Someone asked about using it now - yes you can but you could use any moisturiser now, the thing about the lasinoh for breastfeeding is that it is unscented and natural so you can put it on before and after BF and not worry. You obviously aren't supposed to be slathering lots of scented lotion on your nipples and then expect baby to feed.
I'm sitting on the swine flu fence but legs dangling over on the non vaccination side. I know all the limbs etc are formed by now - I've seen them wiggling on the scan but I can't get it out of my head that this has not been tested on pregnant women and they can't be 100% sure of any complications/side effects and poor Thalidimide children just keep coming into my mind. My surgery called me up and offered me an appointment for last week or this week which I have declined so policy seems to be different around the country (as usual!)
I feel absolutely huge - haven't found a tape measure to actually measure my bump but I feel very big. My mother asked me if I was sure of my dates and laughed when she saw me semi undressed! I'm 25 weeks today and feel like I'm 35 weeks pregnant or more !

Swine flu: New advice to pregnant women

Stop press - there's no mention of this on the Mums' net front page yet, but there's new advice for preg women (er, as it says above!).

Download the leaflet here:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_108153

And see BBC's health correspondent's discussion of this here:

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/ferguswalsh/2009/11/swine_flu_new_advice_to_pregnant_women.html

Read the leaflet now. It's pants. Nothing new in there.

So, my scan yesterday... THankfully, everything looks 'normal' although baby's measurements have jumped up on the centiles from average to...well, his head os on the 95th. Cue DP joking about me havin to pop out 'Melon Head'. It seems perfectly obvious to me now that I really really was stressing out before the scan as directly afterwards (literally in the waiting room as the tech typed up her report) I came over all weak and dizzy. This progressed to my stomach churning by the time I got home. So I laid down for the hour I had before I had to leave to see my GP. I know it seems odd to get the symptoms of anxiety AFTER the fact, when I've had the all clear, but that's so typically 'me'; in a crisis (or stressful situation) I generally cope amazingly and people will comment on how together and calm I am. Afterwards? I'm Mrs Fall-to-pieces and often slip into depression. Really is curious, but I also know myself enough to know that I come through that ok too with a little bit of time (where I guess I kinda process what's happened in the downtime). Oh, still didn't really get a picture. Tech took one of his profile and his hand is up to his mouth - DP said 'He's blowing you a kiss' DS reckons he's sucking his fingers, but I'm hoping he's like me and actually is already sayig 'Shhh!' in utero

Spoke to my GP about SF vaccine. Of course, she's advising I have it. I actually feel quite swayed towards having it now. I think, had this part of my pregnancy occured during the summer months I'd not get it. But we are entering cold/flu season and as such the risk of coming into contact with SF is that much greater so... I'm going to go ahead, I think. Next clinic is on Monday at my GP's (she said they're running clinics as the vaccines come in batches of ten that all need to be used within 24hours of opening...)

Smac Happy birthday! Another scorpio, yay! So sorry you're poorly though.

Got some 'bad' news in the post this morning. It seems the swab they took when I was in hospital last week is positive for group B strep and they're advising I have IV antibiotics during labour. I'm clearly going to have to talk to someone about this (simply my midwife, or consultant/registrar?) as I am a) allergic to oenicillin and b) have SUPER quick abours. I know it won't necessarily follow that I'll be so lucky this time, but DS was 1hour 40mins from first pang to giving birth. The anti b's are suppposed to be given 'at the start of labour' ideally 4 hours before birth, but at LEAST 2 hours before for the protection they offer...

This, to my mind, says that to be 'safe' I'm going to have to go in to be induced, with the anti b's given to me BEFORE the induction. My hopes of a midwife led birth in the birthing centre are vanishing from sight (even though I'd still have to hope my placenta previa resolves itself). Just feel very sad about it all this afternoon (opened the letter at midday and been reaing about GBS since).

Add to this DP ran into my sister's ex girlfriend last night and she proceeded to spew what can only be descibed as 'hate' about me - I was never anything but nice to her, even after their split which was kinda acrimonious and she behaved dreadfully.

And I won't really be seeing much of DO this weekend as he has his daughter... and I'm too pissed off about everything

Happy Birthday Smac BPM Thanks so much for more helpful stuff on the vaccine. Was going to bury head in sand but have been sent an invitation to a jab drop in. My DUMBASS surgery apparently don't do appointments they do "drop ins" which could mean waiting outside if the queue gets too long for as long as 2 hours..... Don't know whether to try to go RIGHT at the beginning or very near the end in the hope that I won't be standing around for eons...

And am I right in thinking it'll make me feel like crap for 2 or 3 days afterwards?!

wow so many scorpios! Happy birthday Smac and belated b day arcadie

Ive had a horrid day today too, scary, so much so i cried in front of a director while he squirmed and said 'no, its fine' a lot.. I basically had to tell him that there was NO WAY i would be involved in the up coming short notice audit even if it was in my department as the last one (when i was 5 wks pg) made me so stressed I thought i would m/c. So i think i was crying because of hormones obviously but also because i dont want to just dump all the stress and crap on someone else because im pg. But i know that whoever does end up with the crap isnt going to be as good as me doing it and the result will be shocking. (sorry if i sound a bit self important but seriously, im surrounded by numpty's - this is the public sector..)
And then i cried all the way home in the car and i can feel how stressed i am now, so I'm furiously stroking my actual siamese's (not a euphmism) in an effort to be calm...
Really looking forward to picking up my DH from the station in an hour but I know his advice would be just to call in sick nx wk and Im a complete control freak - theres only 5 weeks till xmas week and I need to finish so much stuff.. but why do I care?
Sorry for ramble and me me me but Im furious with everyone including myself!

Evening, all !

TGIF, had my Chinese dinner, yum! And have just read through all your posts, my goodness this thread moves FAST!!

My last contribution re Swine Flu (promise, cross my heart): There have been babies born after the vaccine had been given. As studies are not done on pregnant women (for obvious ehtical reasons) these were women who were pregnant when vaccinated but did not know about it yet.
As BPM said above any controversy is about the adjuvant, not the actual inactivated virus. The adjuvant allows to give a smaller dose of virus more effectively which is why Pandemrix only requires one injection, Celvapan 2.
Right, that's it, you'll be glad to hear.

My bump seems to be developing a mind of its own, getting bigger and smaller almost hourly. Also inhabitant seems to be quite prone to hiccups, at least I am getting v regular mini "eruptions" .

Congrats on good scan, Manda! That's great news. Hope you are feeling ok.

Everybody else, sorry, my brain fails me.

Night, night.

siamese. so glad its not just me, hope you managed to calm down, and realx last night!!!!! i am feeling little better today ds is fine so we are off to a soft play centre for a few hours with friends,

have a great saturday everyone xxxx

Lots of sympathy for sarah and siamese - hopefully your stress is passing and you're feeling better.

I am feeling much more positive about the GBS since I started a thread in Pregnancy yesterday evening and many ladies have been kind enough to share their experiences - both good and the absolute worst outcomes.

Before I opened my letter yesterday, I'd absolutely NO idea about the risk gbs can pose to a newborn, let alone that between 25-30% of us are carrying it. Without wanting to sound all 'scaremongery' I just wanted to raise a little bit of awareness here in the antenatel thread - I know we all have so many other health worries when it comes to pregnancy and our babies but awareness won't make something happen to you - but can be crucial to a good outcome if you prove to be one of the 'unlucky' ones.

My thread is here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/49/861009-Experiences-advice-please-GBS-Group-B-Strep

Well, gonna take myself off to my sisters now. Have a great saturday, all!

Thanks for the link Manda Get about 6 posts in an had to stop as could no longer read screen through tears. Will go back to it when cross with DCs feeling more calm and collected. Good idea to get some helpful advice and support. It's flagged on my notes as my SIL lost 2 babies at about 20 weeks with GBS and I think I was tested for it in EPADS so hopefully will escape any GBS complications but always better to be forewarned....

Hi all, new here!

I'm 21+5 with baby number 2! And its going to be a girl! so i'll have one of each! Very excited and nervous as wondering how i'll cope with 2! my son is 22 months.
Anyway looking forward to chatting with you all and sharing stories and progress etc.
x
x

hi Manda OMG thanks for bringing this up - i have never heard of this - I read your thread and I was in tears..
So how come they tested you? Very fortunate they did - do you know if all pg women get tested eventually ie during labour? I cant imgine something this serious just being left to chance ie your recent hospital stay..
At least we all have the opportunity to read up on this now, thanks so much x

Hi again,
I know this may sound like a really obvious question but I wondered if anyone could decode some of the abbreviations like DS DH etc please???!!!
I know its probably gonna be obvious ehat they are but I just can't seem to decipher them at the moment!!
Thank you very kindly

Hello mummyscrummy and welcome!

Yup, the acronyms are a bit confusing at first, but luckily there's a page that explains them all right here:

www.mumsnet.com/info/acronyms

It won't be long before you get the hang of the more common ones.

Arcadie, siamese sorry you were upset

siamese GBS is routinely tested for in the states/canada but not here. As I said, from what I've read on the GBS support website, some 25-30% of women are carriers (it's NOT something we catch, it's NOT sexually transmited - the bacteria lives in our intestines and with some women it migrates to the vagina to live there too). Being a carrier doesn't automatically mean your baby will have a problem, but IF it does infect the baby then the consequences can be dire.

I was in hospital for a bleed last week and they, for whatever reason, swabbed me to test for it (maybe because my gbs status would be even more crucial if I were going to go into preterm labour).

It's possible to get a private test done and they're really not expensive. Knowing what I know now, although the risk is relatively small (and presumably this is why we're not routinely tested), I would opt for the private test.

Hey Mummyscrummy nice to see you in here.... fret not about looking after two. They entertain each other very soon! I have one of each at the moment at 22 months apart and although they get on each other's nerves, they're happier together!

Seemed like it's been a while since we updated the list... I've had a trawl through and added as many newbies as I could find but won't have all the stats I'm afraid. You can update it yourselves by copying pasting and changing....

Becky7000 15 February #4
Smac 25 February #2
DrSkid 22nd February #3
pureeandpearls 26 February #2
Donttrythisathome 1 March #2
Potpourri 1 March #4
onlyanauntie 1 March #1
369thegoosedrankwine 1 March #2
MissieMoosMummy 1 March #2
Tigresswoods 2 March #1
cyphercat 2 March #2
Caitni 2 March #1
Horsiemummy 2 March #2
Oscarsmumm 2 March #2
Pipsonhisway 2 March #1
angfirsttimer 2 March #1
Scarysarah&co 3 March #3
BlueyDragon 3 March #2
TakeLovingChances 5 March #1
hecklephone 5 March #2
KarenAdie 5 March #1
EmLouT 5 March boy #?
BYM 5 March #2
Dalrymps 6 March #2
Scooby26 6 March #1
Iwonka 6 March #1
Evitas 6 March #1
Twofalls 7 March #2
Carrie2010 7 March #1
MandaHugNKiss 7 March #3
Lauralai 7 March #?
AHedgehogisDueinMarch 7 March #2
Ilovegreenbeans 9 March #2
Sariska 9 March #2
rebeccacad 9 March #1
therubyslippers 9 March #1
Summer2010 10 March #1
Anya4 11 March #4
wilkos 11 March #2
Lemonadegirl 11 March #2
PacificDogwood 11 March #4
BulletProofMum 11 March #3
itwascertainlyasurprise 11 March #1
Minicooper 11 March #2
Josie22 12 March #1
Swingsofglory 12 March #2
Vixie123 13 March #1
Walnut8 13 March #1
slackrunner 14 March #2
Poppyjen 15 March #1
Annamama 15 March #2
Retromum 15 March #2
OhWow 15 March #2
Childofthe80s 16 March #1
mmtwgr 16 March #2
SaraWoo 16 March #1
Scootergrrrl 17 March #3
Mumof2point5 17 March #2
SleepWhenImDead 18 March #2
PixieOnaLeaf 18 March #4&#5
Kay1980 18 March #2
MummyElk 18 March #2
designerbaby 19 March #2
PennyScotia 20 March #?
Luckysalem 22 March #2
Veryworriedme 22 March #1
Betterbitofbutter 23 March #2
Mummyscrummy 23 March #2
Dana4nyc 23 March #?
Easydoesit 24 march #2
Rindercella 24 March #2
Arcadie 26 March #3
Gangle 26 March #2
Leolo 28 March #2
Fleximum 2 April #3
Shroomer fill in your details!!
LaTristesse " " " "

Smac - happy belated birthday, hope you had an ok one!

It was DH's birthday yesterday, felt bad not being able to give him a birthday kiss (and maybe something else... Starting to miss it a bit now so maybe I'm not a nun after all... ). He doesn't know exactly when he's coming home, dammit, I'm so sick and tired of being a single mum! DD is definitely worse behaved since she's been fatherless, she's clingy and grumpy and doesn't play as much on her own as she normally does. In desperation I went to Mothercare/ELC yesterday and spent a substantial amount of money on new toys for her, in the hope that she would play more by herself! A little improvement but not much. I think she's missing her daddy and she doesn't understand if/when he's coming back. Just took her out on a "nice autumn morning walk", it wasn't a success, most of the time she wanted me to carry her and when I refused she cried mummy mummy mummy. For about 5 mins she was happy splashing around in a water puddle, that was it. Ok, enough moaning. At least my dad is coming tomorrow to keep us company!

Manda - I read your other thread, some real sad stories there! My first reaction was OMG why don't they test everyone for this Group B Strep thing. But apparently the test isn't that reliable and the majority of babies who are born even to carriers are not affected. Still, it's the most common cause of serious illness in newborn babies, so it does seem a bit strange that they don't test when they test for so many other things. I guess it's important to keep a close eye on your newborn... which we'll all do anyway! So Manda, you would probably be ok even without the IV antiBs but now you know you're a carrier better safe than sorry eh... Great news that your scan was good! Melon head, ouch...

Oh and I also bought DD a potty. She likes sitting on it, but with her nappy and trousers on! If I take them off she gets upset. Hmm, oh well there's no rush, she's only 18 months. Would be nice to have only one bum to change in March though, we'll see.

arcadie do I just let you have my details in this forum? They are:
Shroomer 15 March #1

Shrooms me love, your wish is my command.

Becky7000 15 February #4
Smac 25 February #2
DrSkid 22nd February #3
pureeandpearls 26 February #2
Donttrythisathome 1 March #2
Potpourri 1 March #4
onlyanauntie 1 March #1
369thegoosedrankwine 1 March #2
MissieMoosMummy 1 March #2
Tigresswoods 2 March #1
cyphercat 2 March #2
Caitni 2 March #1
Horsiemummy 2 March #2
Oscarsmumm 2 March #2
Pipsonhisway 2 March #1
angfirsttimer 2 March #1
Scarysarah&co 3 March #3
BlueyDragon 3 March #2
TakeLovingChances 5 March #1
hecklephone 5 March #2
KarenAdie 5 March #1
EmLouT 5 March boy #?
BYM 5 March #2
Dalrymps 6 March #2
Scooby26 6 March #1
Iwonka 6 March #1
Evitas 6 March #1
Twofalls 7 March #2
Carrie2010 7 March #1
MandaHugNKiss 7 March #3
Lauralai 7 March #?
AHedgehogisDueinMarch 7 March #2
Ilovegreenbeans 9 March #2
Sariska 9 March #2
rebeccacad 9 March #1
therubyslippers 9 March #1
Summer2010 10 March #1
Anya4 11 March #4
wilkos 11 March #2
Lemonadegirl 11 March #2
PacificDogwood 11 March #4
BulletProofMum 11 March #3
itwascertainlyasurprise 11 March #1
Minicooper 11 March #2
Josie22 12 March #1
Swingsofglory 12 March #2
Vixie123 13 March #1
Walnut8 13 March #1
slackrunner 14 March #2
Poppyjen 15 March #1
Annamama 15 March #2
Retromum 15 March #2
OhWow 15 March #2
Shroomer 15 March #1
Childofthe80s 16 March #1
mmtwgr 16 March #2
SaraWoo 16 March #1
Scootergrrrl 17 March #3
Mumof2point5 17 March #2
SleepWhenImDead 18 March #2
PixieOnaLeaf 18 March #4&#5
Kay1980 18 March #2
MummyElk 18 March #2
designerbaby 19 March #2
PennyScotia 20 March #?
Luckysalem 22 March #2
Veryworriedme 22 March #1
Betterbitofbutter 23 March #2
Mummyscrummy 23 March #2
Dana4nyc 23 March #?
Easydoesit 24 march #2
Rindercella 24 March #2
Arcadie 26 March #3
Gangle 26 March #2
Leolo 28 March #2
Fleximum 2 April #3
La Tristesse fill in your details!!

Hasppy monday everyone. Mine was specatculaly dull as I had loads of work to do.

Please someone share an exciting weekend!

Hi - Friendly Facebook check - just confirmed an SV and a BE.... any takers as to who you are?!!

And BPM I had a Curry and Karaoke party on Saturday night. Mighty good fun but a 2am finish once I'd cleared up!

Sunday was church, leftover curry and then a SLEEEEEEEPPPP! ( and then Doctor Who )

Hello, all, and a special welcome to all newcomers !

BPM, I don't know about exciting, but we had a v busy weekend (MIL birthday, overnight stay, 2 sets of friends coming to visit yesterday with a total of 7 kids, then special event that the kid's club I am member of organised, pant, pant...).

So today we are doing NOTHING. Well, dentist appointment in the afternoon, kids have day off school though, we are still in PJs and I am glad I have a bit of time to feel sorry for myself as I have a cold/cough thing again. Wonder what my white celles are up to... . Will get them checked again this week. And am on antibiotics, again...

Have a good week. I will carry on checking in, but never find the brain capacity time to reply individually. I am truly impressed by those of you who do.

B haemolytic strep, now there is a whole bad can of worms.. Can be anything from totally harmless bug that colonises us rather than infects us, to causing sore throat/tonsillits, to being really dangerous to neonates. Thank goodness v rare. Unfortunately testing does not necessarily help as a negative test now does not mean you'll be negative at delivery, on the other hand if positive at any time you will always be assumed to be positive and your birth choices will be limited. This is one of the reasons why labouring mothers temperature is monitored in labour and antibiotics are given to newborn if there is any sign of infection even before tests have proven anything. I have no advice to give, I am afraid, but know I am going to take my chances.

On that cheerful note, have a nice day, everybody.

hi everyone.,

Welcome newbies¬!!!! had a crap weekend here too- Ds got over his bout of sickness only for DD to be struck was up every house on sat night from aroung 12-30pm!!!! i have done so much washing from all the bedding and pj's i had to change!!! i think its the firdt time she has actually been sick since she was a baby, she looked so confused and frightened poor little thing!!!(just hoping it misses me - i dont want it!!LOL)

Ds is back at school and dd is fine today so trying to get a few odd jobs done but really cannot be bothered!!!LOL

i have ordered most of my xmas cards so just waitng for them to be delivered and hopfully all but 4 pressies i am more or less done!!! cannot wait to get the decorations and the tree up!!! all the shops are looking very festive atm!

hope everyone is ok xxx

A question for those of you who already have kids: what sort of flooring would you recommend for a nursery? (e.g. hard, vinyl, carpet, rug).
A question for first timers with no nursery in their house yet: are you going to prepare it before or after christmas?

Depends whether the nursery will also be a play area. Our nursry is pretty much just for sleeping so like carpet.

anywhere for playing - particularly if any wet play or food may be taken in is better wiht a hard floor (IMHO)