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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Original poster

Due February 2006 - the sequel !

906 replies

Mama5 · 19/06/2005 21:31

Hi Girls - so here we all are and so far so good (fingers and toes crossed and wheelbarrow loads of baby dust abounding)

Thought I would start a new thread (new name too) as babies being found out about now will just about be into March so we are no longer the absolute newbies which feels good!

So maybe we should collate all our due dates(any one had a dates scan yet??)

Keep it up!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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YeahBut · 20/07/2005 19:12

TicTac, they see all shapes and sizes and wouldn't bat an eyelid!! TBH I think they would be more concerned about the stick insect pregnant ladies terrified of putting on weight (Victoria Beckham et al). Only had one of mine in the UK (dd1) - in London 6 years ago. My booking in appointment with the midwife was also done at home - standard practice in our area.

TicTac · 20/07/2005 19:12

Thanks Womba, I guess I shall just have to scorn at her if she does say anything ;)

I wasn't even offered a hospital MW appointment. I think it must be in this area because a collegue who is expecting a week after me has also not been offered a hospital MW appointment.

People are so handy to give you scare stories. A friend of mine is a healthy 5'10 and size 12. She keeps telling me that be cause I am the size I am and only 5'2 that I will be forced to have a C-section!!! I am keeping a bit of a distance from said friend at the minute as she is driving me potty!!

TicTac · 20/07/2005 19:13

Thanks Yeahbut...is it Holland your in now? How is it going??

womba1 · 20/07/2005 19:24

Who the hell needs friends like that Tictac?!?!
It seems the minute people find out you're pregnant, they cannot wait to tell you scary stories about how traumatic their births were... it really pi$$es me off!!!!
Weight has no bearing on whather or not a c-section will be required!! I laboured for 28 hours and then it was decided i needed an emergency section as my ds wasn't budging. It seems ironic but at the size i am, it would appear my pelvis is on the small size and my baby was 8lb 6oz.
This time round, i'll probably have an elective section but i haven't decided yet... it's early days and i'll probably change my mind a million times yet...it's a woman's prerogative and all that!!

JuA · 20/07/2005 19:55

Tic Tac - people become "experts" all of a sudden when you get pregnant - I just smile and then mostly ignore people.

I was due my first midwife appointment at home last week but it was cancelled and it has taken me 3 phone calls to get it sorted - I am now going up to the maternity ward at work where apparantly they have my paperwork so I can just go in work time more easily. I am not sure what will happen for my next ones - I had a mixture of hospital and at my GP last time although the hospital ones were due to problems / my request to sort some things out that I needed to see my consultant for. Otherwise I hink I would have had them all at my GP surgery.

TicTac · 20/07/2005 20:30

Phew...It is my best firends hen weekend this weekend and as Maid of Honour I have organised a fantastic elegant affair. I had forgotten the small fact of me being pregnant and bulging and therefore my posh dress may not fit...

Just tried on my beautiful Monsoon dress...bit of an issue round the boobs but nothing that anyone else will notice! How come it feels as I have doubled in size but this dress still fits? Granted, not with all the room I had in it when I last wore it!!

YeahBut · 21/07/2005 09:41

Yes, I'm in Holland but I've not had a baby here before either! Dd2 was born in Australia - we're going for a baby per country atm! I've been very impressed with the care that I have had so far. I was referred to an obstetrician as soon as I mentioned that I'd had the IUGR in previous pregnancies and my care has been fine. Have my nuchal scan next Wednesday but because they combine it with blood test, I have to wait until my appointment with the consultant next Friday before we get the results. I'm not very good at waiting for things!! Actually, this is the first time that I have been quite anxious about the scan - I'd not really been bothered about it with my last two but a good friend of mine had a dreadful time last year. Her nuchal scan came back as high risk and so she had more tests and the baby had downs. It was the first time I'd ever heard of anyone having a positive result. They opted for a termination - what a horrible decision to have to make. So I'm more worried about it this time.

TicTac · 21/07/2005 10:19

Yeahbut...it is a dreadful decision to have to make but you can only start to think about that when you have the results. My sister in law was high risk (no idea how come) but the midwife just dropped a piece of paper through the door saying "Can you call me on Monday, baby might have a problem" it was her first preg too!!!

I know it is easier said than done but really try not to worry, the odds are very much on your side and if the test does come back positive...well you and your DH will make the right decision for you!!!

XX

flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 10:19

Feel like poo

Tabs · 21/07/2005 10:58

Thought I'd throw my two-penneth in to the Downs discussion - hope no one takes it personally if I disagree with their opinion - I understand that everyone has to do what they feel is right for their own circumstances.

My opinion is that you shouldn't have the tests unless you already know what course of action you will take if the result is high risk. If you would terminate a baby with Downs then yes, I would certainly say you should have the test. However, if you make this decision, you also have to be prepared for the risk, however small (1-2%) that the testing can cause the miscarriage of a perfectly healthy baby.

If you wouldn't terminate, whatever the risk came back at from the nuchal/bloods, then why bother having this test at all? It's only around 60-70% accurate, and seems to cause a lot of unnecessary worry.

TicTac · 21/07/2005 12:10

Ooo, I love a healthy debate. I agree in part with you tabs but I am not sure you can truley know what action you would take until such a time you are faced with the real life scenario. Funny enough my sister and I where having a light hearted discussion last night about the baby and my choice to NOT have any of the available tests. She asked me what would I do if the baby was born with some serious defect (and I don't mean blindness etc)... I can not honestly answer that question. Until the baby becomes a reality (as in I have gone through hours of hideous labour) then I can not be certain what I will feel. Logic always dictates one thing and emotion another.....

TicTac · 21/07/2005 12:11

ooops...Flamesparrow big hugs hun, you have been feeling rough for a while now.. I hope you get better really soon!! X

popmum · 21/07/2005 12:26

I agree too tabs - I declined the downs and spina bifida tests cos I probably wouldn't have a termination (esp. as it would end up being about 20 weeks by the time you decide what do to). Spoke to my dad about it and he was very nice and said whatever the baby was like we'd all support you and it....!
I said to the midwife i didn't want them and agree said same as you, that many peoplehave them without really thinking about the consquences - better to think about it in advance me thinks!
I have had my booking in (20 mins of watching a midwife write all the details down on about 20 forms) and have got scan on 2 Aug, followed by a consultant appt as i am 'high risk' due to c-section last time. Seems a bit silly as you are either high or low risk - no in between. Also the only issue for me last time was the labour, not pregnancy so seems a bit over the top to me....anyway, we shall see

Tabs · 21/07/2005 12:30

Yes I see where you're coming from TicTac. There are certain similar(ish) situations where I honestly have no idea what I would do. For example, there was a lady on This Morning the other week who knew that her baby would only live for a max of a few hours once it was born. I think that she knew this early enough to have a termination, but her point was where do you draw the line - is 15 mins of life enough, a day, a week - that really got me, as I couldn't think what my answer would be. Let's hope that none of us are ever faced with such a tough choice as that.

Good to hear that I'm not the only one refusing the Downs tests though.

Flamesparrow - I thought your sugar rushes were getting you through ok now?

Tabs · 21/07/2005 12:34

Sorry Popmum - crossed posts - wasn't ignoring your comments!

Yes my midwife said that the first appointment is really all about paperwork! Am seeing my community midwife tomorrow, so will be interesting to see what happens at a 'normal' appointment.

This high/low risk thing does all seem a bit random doesn't it? I guess I was classed as high risk then due to my previous SVT attack - wonder if they re-classify you once the consultant has decided that there's no cause for concern?

popmum · 21/07/2005 12:40

I think you stay high risk, but strikes me you have to kind of look after yourself really - there is a guide to all the apptments but if you don't make them then you won't get chased for them. I am supposed to see my GP about every 2 weeks in later stages, but i probably won't cos as I said the pregnancy wasn't the issue before. You know your own body and I think as long as you are sensible and get help if you think you need it, it would be ok.

flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 15:08

I left my dextrose sweets in the car overnight, so couldn't have one when I first woke up, and its thrown me off all day... tis my own fault for not going to the car last night when I noticed

Tabs - when you talk about the miscarriage risk, are you just talking amnio, or scans as well? I'm going for the nuchal scan, but nothing whatsoever to do with wanting to know downs risk - I wanna see my baby ... if the risk is suddenly high, I don't need any other tests, I want my baby whatever.

Tabs · 21/07/2005 15:42

Just amnio and CVS Flamesparrow - no dangers ever identified from scanning alone. The scan and bloods are considered as screening, whereas amnio and CVS are classed as testing, as they are the only ways to get a definite result.

Don't blame you for wanting to see baby - bless! I take it you don't get a 12 week scan on NHS then? If you're worried about the unnecessary stress that could be caused by the screening result then if you're paying for the scan you are quite entitled to ask them not to look at the nuchal fold, but just to show you baby Flame instead!

flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 15:44

They give us the nuchal scan on NHS round here - from what I can gather they wanted to give mums the chance to see their baby earlier than 20 weeks, but probably couldn't justify finances of it, so now they do the test

BarefootMama · 21/07/2005 16:07

Does everyone get it flame regardless of age?

flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 16:11

Yup.

Was age related 3 years ago, and now just offered to everyone.

YeahBut · 21/07/2005 17:11

Interesting debate on scans. I agree with lots of you - don't have the tests if you would have the baby regardless. Do you get a choice at the 12 week scan in the UK - can you just opt for the dating and having a look for normal development without the nuchal test? In Holland, they don't do a routine 12 week scan unless you ask for screening and only do one developmental scan at 18 - 20 weeks.

Tabs · 21/07/2005 17:41

Hi Yeahbut - normally in the UK you get a dating scan at 12 weeks, but not a nuchal, unless you are above a certain age (35 in my area). Flamesparrow's area seems to be the exception by offering a nuchal as standard.

Most people if they want a nuchal test have to have it done privately.

I believe that the triple blood test is offered as standard on the NHS to everyone though.

flamesparrow · 21/07/2005 17:43

You can alway count on me to be the odd one!

JuA · 21/07/2005 18:36

Seeing midwife tomorrow - I am so glad to get everything underway - and it will hopefully clear up a few things - like why they have changed my consultant and how my care will be organised. I hope it will be at my GPs because the waits at the hospital were always really long.
Is anyone taking their older children to the 12 week scan? - I am not sure what to do. dd is 19 months old so will not have a clue but I don't think I have anyone to look after her and I think it will be quite nice to have her there.