Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

[annamama]

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

annamamma Yep, I too am thirsty - mainly at night. I'm probably not drinking enough during the day - what is it we're meant to drink - 2 litres? Difficult to do. I hadn't thought about diabetes, but now you've got me thinking...

Caitni I have to say, after 2 MCs that I've not found the midwives very helpful. I followed my midwife's advice with the second MC, when I bled at 8 weeks, and waited it out for 4 weeks. I went to the docs who referred me for a scan. The fetus had died at 6 weeks (so I didn't find out until 12 weeks). Now, this is very different to the stage your at - MCs are very common in the first few weeks of first trimester. What I'm saying is that you should perhaps try to get a scan, not wait it out. My 'resident' doesn't move much, but I try not to think about it - mainly because I have no idea what's normal. It's an evening baby, kicking in after I've eaten. So I too go most of the day with very little or no movement.

Caitni just read your post and hope you've gone to get checked out by now, if not, then GO. It's worth it for peace of mind, and I'm sure that's all that will be needed.

EmLou I also agree it might be wise to take some time off, if that's what you think you need. Why should teachers have to work on through a health issue in pregnancy, just because they're teachers and they've got 'set' holidays IYSWIM? Ok, so you've got kids who need you but maybe you just need to trust that a temporary replacement can do a good job while you're away. Glad the docs are keeping a close eye on you, and I hope things will improve soon.

Names - what a headache. Everything I suggest to DH he seems to have a random reason for rejecting it (it rhymes with x/y, he teaches a horrible kid with same name, it's too ethnic, too old-fashioned, sometimes he just needs to say it in a funny voice for it to be rejected) and he never seems to just consider a name or let himself get to like anything. And he never suggests any himself! So frustrating. I have about half a dozen names I'd be more than happy with, but they're all on his NO pile. We DO have a middle name, so at least that's something. But I'm beginning to think we'll just have to call this one "DD2", Mumsnet style, unless we can think of something better!

My sympathies to all those suffering from coughs/colds/pig-flu-jab-inflicted sore arms. DH has been ill with a cold for the past 2/3 days and, having sneezed about a dozen times in the past hour I'm now wondering if I'm about to come down with the same. Yuk

Anyway, DH has managed to battle on through his illness and agreed to take DD to a party at a local soft play area which I'm really grateful for. a)I hate soft play b)I can't see myself crawling around the place with ever-expanding bump c)I actually have some work to do for a change - so I'd better go and do it.

Caitni Please come back and post..... we're trying not to worry for you........ If you haven't got the message from everyone else GO TO HOSPITAL! My MW and Antenatal clinic have always said any blood = straight to hospital. To reassure - my SIL was in and out of hospital about 9 times bleeding with my Nephew who was born at term very healthy and is now 5! It's probably nothing but deffo get it checked.....

(((((hugs))))) for caitni, hope you got some reasurrance, and all is well, xxx

hi to everyone xxx

Saw midwife today and guess what my bp was 110/77!!!!!at booking it was 120/88 so am pretty pleased and so was mw!!!(cannot remeber a time it was ever that low!!!

got to have glucose test at 28 weeks as i have raised bmi and my mum is a diabetic- so that should be fun, fasting for 14 hours!!!! need to sort some child care out for DD too as i will have to have bloods taken, drink sugary drink and then sit still for 2 hours whist the drink gets into my system and then have repeated blood test- i will be starving and grouchy by then!!!LOL- in the same week i have a scan and an appointment for anti d all at the hospital all on different days!!!! they cannot get it all on the same day either!!!!boohoo!!!lol

got my maternity grant paperwork and posted that off so hope it will be in my bank soon ,

take care everyone spk soon xxx

caitni After my scare two wees ago today, I feel for you and I really hope you've gone to the hospital - particularly if you're one of our 'low placenta' ladies. And if you've gone, I hope to not hear from you for at least 24hours (which is how long they are supposed to keep you with no 'fresh' bleeding). Unless, of course, you pay to use that bed-side thingy that can provide tv/films/internet; in which case I expect you to check in and reassure us they're 'keeping an eye on you'

sarah My bp when it was taken last week was 102/57 which is rediculously low... but it's always like this when I'm pregnant (and always on the 'low' side of ideal when not).

EmLou It's admirable that you care so much about your students (all 'good' teachers do) - and yes, they're a bunch of kids who need you.. but please remember there's another kid who needs you, literally for everything right now. In the scheme of things I'm sure your students will understand (and cope far better than you might imagine! A failing student isn't really gonna turn around for you, and those whom are doing well will continue to do so). It's imperitive you de-stress and chill out as much as humanly possible imho

What can I say? I'm feeling 'huggy' this evening!

I'm also typo'ing for England. Forgive them all, please!

Hi all,
Just been catching up on posts from the past few days.
Caitni - hope everything is ok and like everyone else said hope you got things checked at the hospital, lots of hugs to you.

Just been reading the name politics posts. Why do family members insist on knowing and then saying no i don't like i think you should name him/her this?? If they like it that much they should call their children it!! Sorry for the rant!

I've been looking at baby slings today has anyone got/used one before and what do they think please?

x x

Oh ladies

Thank you so much for your kind and wise words! I honestly had tears in my eyes reading some responses before I left for the hospital.

I decided to go and get checked out, so didn't have time to post again before leaving work. Just home now, after a good going over, and all is well - baby was asleep for the whole thing, which accounts for the lack of movements (on the scan we could see the odd twitch, just like his/her dad does in his sleep ). I must say the labour ward and maternity day unit were fantastic - reassuring me that no, I wasn't being paranoid and no, don't feel bad about coming in etc. No idea what caused the bleed but I'm seeing my midwife for my 25 week check on Friday, so not too long before another check. It's now even lighter, so hoping it just tails off.

Manda I'm like you on the BP front - tonight was 104/58 despite me being so anxious. I've always been told I have low BP, so am glad pregnancy doesn't seem to be changing that.

Sarah Good news on the BP though poor you and the GTT! Though I'm glad they're checking you out, as better safe than sorry etc. I would be totally rubbish at the length of fast, I'm beyond grumpy when I'm hungry.

EmLouT I think it's lovely you want to be there for your kids, but I'm with Manda and the others - nothing wrong with putting your own baby first for the time being.

Anna glad you're enjoying your Dad's company - my own Jersey DH also loves orange (in particular) and green so good present! I think the Ikea highchairs look great. I'm also very thirsty - and thirsty for things like OJ or Robinsons or lemonade and not just water - and my urine was fine tonight. Midwife said it was pretty normal.

Thanks again for all the support - this thread is really brilliant, both for sharing all the good stuff but also for getting support for the not so good stuff too.

xxx

Hi Caitni really glad everythings ok x

Hello, all, gosh, what an exciting day for a lot of you!

Caitni, glad to hear all was well in the end, but what a fright you must have had! Of course it was the right thing to do to have yourself and baby checked out. I am so, so glad for you that they were able to reassured you . The alternative just does not bear thinking about...

Nameing politics, oh yes, we have problems with that too. We would like DS4's name to "work" in 2 different languages or at least be easily pronouncable in both. Also the previous 3 boys have names of 1 syllable (very good vo shouting crossly ) and it would be kind of nice to come up with another short name, but we are truly running out of ideas.
BTW, as "my" girl's name that I had decided on when I was about 12, will now never be used by us (, but only slightly) so any of you soon-to-be girl-mamas can have it: Anna Katerina Niamh. Boys are just soooo much harder to name.

As to the question whether it is easier or harder to deal with the uncertainty of pregnancy when you are medically trained, I think it depends very much on personality rather than knowledge. Being a glass half full kinda gal myself, I usually assume everything will be just fine and denial/head in sand works very well as a stress reliever for me . OTHO, when DS2 was almost delivered at 25 weeks due to a big haemorrhage due to placenta praevia, I had to very much make the conscious decision to hand over all decision making to the medical staff looking after us and "just" be a patient.

IWCAS, at your vote winning unborn child! I hope he will be very very cute, I suspect Labour will need all the support it can get come May...

Oh, and thank to all wishing me well. Cough is still here, I am not unwell in myself, just tired because I cannot sleep for coughing, gah! Anyway, have been to see my Gp and will be referred to haematology to ponder low white count some more. Please do not let them want to do a bone marrow biopsy...

IWCAS Coooooooooooool name!

caitni Thanks so much for coming back and putting our minds at rest. i've watched too much pregnancy related "ER" to have gone to bed happy unless I knew you were ok!

Pacific Heck woman - 25 weeks...... !!! Glad he's ok..... 25 weeks though - some of us are nearly there now!

Caitni so glad you went and got checked out and all is good with baby Caitni. Bleeding at any stage is so scary.
Sorry for the moany post from me but I've had a shite day. Had a really bad night sleep due to increasing sinus pain so went to GP and have been given some amoxicillin so fingers crossed this kicks in and gives me some relief.
I was feeling so bad that DH was persuaded to take my dog out for a walk but she ran away (she's only 1 and always comes back to me but is less reliable with DH) anyway she was by the river which is very, very full and by the dual carriageway. I was convinced she was going to be squashed. She was missing for over an hour and had got out of her collar so had no ID tag on (although she has been chipped). I called the non emergency police line and reported her missing and a lovely lady with her own choc lab found her in her garden on one of the roads leading out of town. All very stressful.
I've got my consultant appointment tomorrow where I'm supposed to get a debrief on DD's birth. Fortunately my friend is going to mind DD for me so I can concentrate on what is going on.
Thanks for the leg cramp tips. I need to retrain my mind about pointing my toes clearly!

Fab news Caitni. So glad all is well!

He was eventually delivered at 31 weeks and after a bumpy start is now absolutely fine : big and mad and cheeky, so it's all good!

Caitni - so glad all is well - the day units usually are lovely - I met someone who is now one of my dearest friends whilst hooked up to a monitor in a day unit when I was pregnant with DS. The midwife was so funny that we bonded over hysterical laughter, our children were born days apart and I wouldn't be without her. Turns out that two months later the same midwife saved her (my friend's) daughter's life as the maternity unit were about to turn her away when she came in, in labour but only one cm dilated. The midwife remembered us and suggested that she be put on a monitor for a while. Turns out her DD had the umbelical cord wrapped around her neck seven times and she had to be delivered by emergency c section.

Thanks for all the advice and kind thoughts. I am taking a few days off work so hopefully I will get some rest (although DH is away and DS has a nasty cold) but it will be nice to spend some time at home!

Re Potty training - DS is now 26months and I am planning on going the stay at home for a full week and go cold turkey on the nappies route. Gina Ford reckons you can do it in a week - I don't usually like Gina but I would like to get DS out of nappies and the softly softly approach doesn't seem to be working.

Final thought - I too am thirsty and beginning to suffer from heart burn - mostly at night. Think it is probably just the stage we are at.

Good days all!

emlout can thoroughly recommend the GF potty training. Worked a charm with DS (who was 2 and 5 months - so 29months) I think he could have coped A LITTLE earlier but I couldn't!! Will leave DD for a long long long time. She's 2 in a couple of weeks but i would rather have her still in nappies when DC3 comes along.... purely selfish reasons.

And Pacific I clearly missed reading the almost out of your previous post. Thanks for the reassurance. Must stop watching ER. They never have easy birth stories.

And I've just rewatched the "Bodies" series with Max Beesley. Mum made me promise not to watch it until i'd finished having children - which I thought I had.... She was right. No one needs that level of detail I now have in my head unless they're an OB consultant!

Morning, all!
DS1 and 2 both kind of potty trained themselves @ their 3rd birthdays (one just before, the other just after). I did not even try earlier than that . Because they were well ready for it, it worked really quickly: DS1 who hates a mess/anything wet or sticky had it sussed virtually in 48 hrs, well daytime anyway. DS2 took slightly longer, but again was v easy and not at all traumatic. We had Smiley Face Chart for weewees and chocolate button for No2s in potty . Bribery and corruption everytime.
DS3 will be exactly 2 years when this one comes along and I am not planning any potty training before then. I'd rather have him safely in nappies... Might have a go in the summer if he seems interested. At the moment he is still very very astonished when he happens to be peeing on his feet @ bathtime !
I think it is true that girls quite often are ready a bit earlier than boys (but then again, what would I know about girls ?)

V damp start to the morning here, soggy school run, DS3 who insists on walking on the way home found some puddles to dive into ... So he is in his 2nd outfit of the day and I have not had a shower yet !

EmLouT, Gaviscon works a treat for me. I like to take a swig from the bottle before bedtime, just in case .

Everybody have a nice day!

Well, ladies, I'm sitting here still in my jammies feeling rough as I have indeed succumbed to DH's cold. Throat scratchy, sore head, and the dreaded pelvic-floor defying sneezes. Yuk. It's the first time I've been ill while working from home, so I don't know what the rules are about putting your feet up?? I could, technically, be sitting here putting info in a database - I'm warm and reasonably comfortable - but what I really feel like doing is lying down on the sofa and watching This Morning. Who do you ask for a sick day when you're self employed??

Caitni Phew. Really glad you and bubs are ok.

IWCAS I love the name you've chosen - so good. I really like surnames for first names anyway. And I think it's cool that your son could be gracing the pages of party literature - although if he grows up to be a Tory politician it could come back to haunt him! Speaking of which, will you be boycotting this website today at around 1.45??

Pacific the name Niamh had just popped onto my radar in the last couple of days and I really like it, but I have a funny feeling DH may not be keen on the "funny spelling". Wonder if I could convince him to go for it if we spelled it Neve? Although I do prefer the traditional Irish version...And I do hope you feel better soon. I too hate it when coughing keeps me awake, it's so frustrating.

I'm off to eat...again. Feeling quite hungry these days, although not sure if it's the PG or the cold that's increasing my appetite!

caitni So pleased you went and have been reassured!

Poor you Heckle Technically, I think you have to ask you for the day off but I suspect you will refuse yourself and sit there inputting data. To be honest, if it's really not taxing, I'd be inputting data - otherwise I'd lay there watching Philip and Holly (boo, bring back Fern!) with a little voice at the back of my mind telling me I was falling behind... I'm sorry, this is not useful for me to say, is it?! Hope you feel better really soon.

Heh, have to say I was surprised at the lovely, accepting, smile at the end of your report that things are not exactly going to plan, IWCAS! Aw. There, there.