Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where my toenails is - Due June 2010

[greensnail]

Ok, here it is ladies. Nice new thread for us all to enjoy

LaTrucha I've had a few dizzy spells. Had them early on around 16-20 weeks and a few over the last few weeks. Mine are always in the morning. Don't have a definitive cause as Midwife showed no interest at all! Having researched on internet I think common causes are blood pressure - too low or high, over heating or if the baby is lying in a strange position that restricts your blood flow.

ELM hope things start to improve soon.

Good Luck to those ladies due their Anti D injections soon - had mine on Thursday and almost leapt off the bed! Much worse than when I had it with DD, apparently the needle is much bigger now! Saw a different midwife last week and she was much more helpful re SPD and said she would refer me to physio if it gets any worse so big improvement on having to just put up with it!

PMSL at you lot, I shall tell DH he is getting off lightly with a tongue lashing and dirty looks.

We have done nothing all day due to the awful weather, why must it rain when three children need entertaining ?
Having said that DH has some consultancy work so i'm on my own for the next few weeks, right up until the end of May which is bloody typical, but mustn't grumble at least I can afford some days out and to buy some bits and pieces

mampam exactly the same thing has happened to us, i'm trying to decide if a metre would be such a bad thing, i suspect it costs more in the long term though.

Minor update- I am now also apparently anaemic

Need irone tabs and guess this would explain why I am so tired....

Hi All, Haven;t posted for a while so thought i would say hi to everyone. I've tried to read everything thats been going on and it has taken me a week to catch up lol.

LaT -I'm also having horrible dizzy spells which the midwife has said is down to me being really aneamic. I'd defo mention it to your midwife next time you go. Am on my second type of tablets but it doesn't seem to be impriving much. Have to have an iron drip if it doesn't pick up soon.

On the happy side of things, went for one of those 3D scans on friday and it was the best thing ever, could see the baby opening his mouth and swallowing. He moved loads too and looked like he was waving at one point.

Anyway, it's still so lovely to hear whats going on whith everyone x

Hi all

Phew! How much has been happening and how many people have posted?! Loving the fact that every time I log on, there's more news from you guys. Sorry about your anaemia saucepanman and NotGrownUpEnough and about your cheeky neighbour mampam, as if you don't have enough to cope with - as a church-goer myself I'm a bit at that behaviour - wouldn't say that was Christian best practice!

Quick update from me. We went to Prague a couple of weeks ago and I was full of energy, tripping around the place, seeing all sorts. Was v good. And then something happened on the stroke of 28 weeks ... and since then I've just been a little old lady if I overdo it. It's my back, I have these days (like today) when every step hurts and walking anywhere is a strain ... I'm in London this week too so far away from my local physio ... anyone got any tips about what I can do? I wondered about stretches that counterbalance the fact that my back is obviously suffering from being too concave, like the bit of the yoga cat stretch where you hump your back. What do you reckon?

Anyway, my last day in London is in a couple of weeks and I'm counting down the days, I just want to be in Scotland, home when I need to be (luckily I can work from home if necessary) and physically relaxing a bit more. Didn't help that this weekend DH and I were entertaining big time - had elderly Mum and Dad up to visit for the first time, plus MIL and FIL and auntie and uncle and my sister - nine for Sunday lunch. Was fun but I obviously can't recover from that sort of running around so easily now!

That said, I've had a pretty good run so far so I've not done badly - so I mustn't complain! (Having just done so! Sorry!).

Have a lovely evening all

ELM sorry you're having such a hard time, but great news that you're past the point where your waters broke before - that must be very reassuring for you.

LaT I'm also having dizzy spells, but then I'm prone to fainting even when not pg so its no real surprise for me. I'm also anaemic so I'm sure that's not helping. Definitely get it checked out if it continues.

saucepanman I can sympathise with your 4 appointment morning - this is what always happens to me, but am very excited that this week I only have one appointment. And its at 9am, so hopefully they won't be running too late by that time, if all's well I might manage to leave the hospital before lunchtime for once!

Am slightly concerned that the baby seems really low down over the last few days. Feels as though the head is engaged when I'm walking, but surely its too early for that? Anyone else have this?

For you anaemic ladies, you might try Spatone. I found it didn't constipate me last time. In fact, I might get some tomorrow to see if that makes me feel better.

I've been ok this afternoon, but feeling 'thin' if you know what I mean.

Greensnail - I could swear my bump has slipped down too. I think maybe this is part of my problem today - there are probably some internal organs which need to get out of the way . But today I notice, under my brests (sorry if TMI) there is a definite space where there is no bump and I swear it wasn't there yesterday.

Thanks for the replies re MIL from hell csws yes that is exactly what she is to quite a few people,also if you would like a visual,she looks like a cross between Boy George (same makeup) and Shirley from Eastenders (same cats arsehole mouth)

Greensnail i am 30 weeks tomorrow and i also feel like the baby is really low down,especially as you say when walking,very common i think,nothing to worry about.

Notgrownupenough congrats on your 3D scan,sounds great,i would love one of those but budget wont allow unfortunately,my BF had one and i watched the dvd,lovely

Oh,and sorry if TMI,but is anyone else 'enjoying' the classic 3rd Trimester symptoms of piles and constipation? really really painful and uncomfortable I am one step away from having to sit on a rubber ring!

Thanks LaTrucha and LittleRobbo. Its funny how you forget when things are supposed to happen isn't it. I think I find more things to worry about this pregnancy than last time as I convince myself that it wasn't like this last time!

Luckily for me I get to avoid the joys of constipation as the medication I'm on has the opposite effect . In fact I'm quite grateful for my iron tablets to counteract it a little bit.

Hi, just a quick one to say that I've been checking my babycentre (sorry MN) weekly e-update on what the baby's up to at this stage and it specifically said that you may notice the baby moving down at around 29 weeks ... so don't fret greensnail, it's all in the plan!

Feel sorry for you ladies with anaemia. Don't iron tablets make you constipated?

greensnail and LaT I never had a noticable difference with my previous bumps when the head engaged but they were huge babies so I think they just filled up the whole of the space regardless.
I always thought (and I'm probably wrong) that 1st babies engage much sooner than subsequent babies who engage much later on or at the last minute?????

milly even if we had a prepay meter I don't think it would make any difference to us. Electric Co want so much money off us a month that we wouldn't even afford to light a lightbulb with the amount they would want us to put into the thing each week!

georgee sounds like you need to take it easy(easier said than done I know!).

HI everyone, just catching up

All fine here - I went to breast clinic on Friday as follow up to the-nipple-condition-which-I-had-googled-myself-into-a-state-over. They were gracious enough not to treat me like a hypochondriac nightmare and as it's cleared up, thankfully it looks like was just persistent eczema. Tried to feel less useless by reminding myself that it's not unusual to be anxious when pregnant. I think that's where all my emotional and irrational stuff that others have been posting about ended up.

Feels as though the baby girl is still transverse lie, and I can relate to all the stretchy uncomfortable side feelings that other people are having.

I have bought nothing yet, but am rounding up all things I've previously loaned to other people or that they're lending me this time.

Sorry about the hassles and worries that several of you are having - mampam the electric company behaviour sounds like typical stuff that they do - amazing what they're like and I too would feel like I couldn't be dealing with it right now.

I have had pains under my ribs on the right side and from what I've read this is normal, it's just very irritating as I cannot get comfy when sitting for very long. Is this just stretchy stuff? I'm not worried but wonder how long it will take to pass as it's been hanging about for a few days now.

littlerobbo I add the same sentiment as csws

We've bought a 2nd hand micralite toro off eBay which the in-laws have paid for, I didn't want to take the mickey with asking for a new one, I know they aren't the most expensive but the one we got was only used for a few months. It has the pram bit and buggy bit so I think we're sorted

gizmo I may try that tactic only other half! The babies room has virtually no floor space and will need sorting very soon, maybe an attack of hormones will get the ball rolling...

No dizzy spells here, but I did have weird blurry vision for a while earlier today, which was quite scary. Iirc this happened twice in my last pregnancy too. I've no other reason to think it's pre-eclampsia (main cause of sudden blurred vision in pregnancy), so am hoping it's just one of those odd things, or somehow diabetes related (though my blood sugar seemed fine at the time).
Does anyone know if a very high stress morning could cause sudden brief hypertension, another possible cause of blurred vision? Had the morning from hell with ds, who has been screaming at us or sobbing for most of the last few days.

I would think stress could affect your vision CSWS - but keep an eye on it (pardon the pun!)

Re Anaemia - can't remember who said about maybe having to have a drip - Im on double Pregnacare iron tablets, am 31 weeks now, and don't want this to affect my ability to have a home birth - how often are they checking your iron/bloods then?

Am thinking that in the next few weeks, we should start the lovely perinneal massage. Have bought some Almond Oil in preparation, however my other half doesn't seem keen to help - mind you the pile situation would be a tad off putting I would think!! Any body else going to be doing this? Or think it's worth it?

justbeme certainly not.
I am of the opinion it does it's job just fine without any additional help from me, it's like in the olden days they used to suggest toughening up your nipples for breast feeding but nobody does that any more. I'm leaving well alone.

Oh GOD hadn't thought about the constipation! I had iron tabs after the birth of dd and they made me really nauseous- not good when I have just stopped feeling sick I am wondering what effect the anaemia will have wrt to my section, as I tend to PPH in a big way afterwards- I guess I'll find out on wed. Had rump steak and spinach for my dinner, can't get more iron rich than that. I was just starting to think I could knock the pregnacare on the head when I finish the last packet, obviously not!

A few people mentioned bras way further up the thread, and I meant to comment- I am still in my normal bras! I hope this means they won't get too much bigger, as they are ordinarily enormous , also that maybe I haven't put too much weight on this time as I was overweight to start. I cannot check, as the bathroom scales' battery ran out and I am too chicken to change it! I always wore wireless bras in my other 3 pregnancies, but cannot bear the thought of doing the school run with basically unsupported breasts- time for that when breastfeeding! Also I accidentally threw all my old mat and nursing bras away, together with my mat clothes and giant knickers, when I was about 5wk pg with this baby!

Greensnail and LaTrucha : This is what I was looking for in the thread. I took some pictures of my tummy 2 weeks back and then again this week and I can tell u for sure my tummy has slipped down. My bellybutton used to be all puckered and pointy and I could see it sitting on top of my belly like a cherry on the cake but now I can hardly see it as it has slipped about 2 inches!

I am 31 wks now. Guess it's normal but have no clue what it is about...

whenwillisleep I'm so pleased that everything is OK. It's good to be vigilant about these things.

I'm sh*itting myself today (not literally). Have got to phone the Electric Co with a meter reading. Knowing our luck we'll have to pay more not less.

Everything I seem to do is always marred at the moment. I should have had a lovely day yesterday as I went to see my friend who I haven't seen for ages and her beautiful 10 month old boy. He was just adorable and scrumptious. Somehow I just couldn't enjoy myself properly with this huge dark cloud looming over me. In the back of my mind I was continuously thinking where will we get the money from to pay the bill.

I just wish I could run and hide somewhere and go to sleep, only to be woken up again when it's all over and everything is sorted out

omg thanks soo much to everyone re bumps lowering, am so relieved that it's normal as i was panicking that things were going to happen very very soon! Does anyone else feel like now the baby is a bit lower you have what i can only describe as a really heavy fanny? Like there's loads of pressure on it?

mampam you have all my sympathies, money worries are just awful. Is there any way you can come to some arrangement with the electric company where you pay a portion of the £500 each month? Hope you have a better day today anyway.

justbeme I did the massage which was pretty yuk and have no idea whether it helped or not. I needed two stitches after ds who knows whether it would have been more but i doubt it. I don't really think it makes a difference but i guess it's nice to feel like you are doing something that might help.

csws you poor things - how old is your dd again? Just makes life very very stressful when they are like that. I am certainly no medical expert but i would have thought that something like that plus all the usual stresses of being pregnant may well trigger something. Although you should probably see your gp/mw just in case.

perkster and those with rib pain - I am not sure if it's related but mine coincided with starting to get quite bad indigestion and popping the gaviscon has definitely helped.

whenwilli - glad all things nipple are okay!!

i am avoiding all the things i have to do today re building works on our flat - does anyone have any experience of dealing with building regs???

Well Mampam, it could just be stress and tiredness, but from where I'm sitting I'm a bit worried it could develop into full blown depression. So far you've mentioned you're having trouble sleeping, you're not getting any joy out of anything, you've obviously had a significant shock in your life with your DH's problems before christmas (and in my experience depression can be a bit contagious if you see what I mean)...the only thing that isn't on the classic tick list is lack of appetite . I'm sure you don't fancy it, but maybe having a chat with your GP might be a good tactic at the moment.

On the 'leccy front, remember it isn't in the electricity company's interest to bankrupt you, although it is in their interest, unfortunately, to get their money back as fast as possible. You don't have to accept their proposal on repayments - make them a counter offer! Also, it's very common for accurate meter readings to reveal that actually you have been overpaying on your account, so try not to let it scare you too much. If it turns out that there is an underpayment there are some good tips out there on how to keep your usage to a minimum.

Justbeme I think there are studies that show the effect of perineal massage to be neutral, but having said that I have done it twice and beyond a graze with DS1 (who had his hand up by his head) I have an alledgedly intact perineum. . God the things I type on Mumsnet. Anywaaaay, I'm in two minds about whether to bother this time because although my pelvic floor tone is OKish, there is no doubt that things in that department are no longer the taut, twangy luurve trampoline they used to be and I think, unless this baby has a staggeringly large head, it's not likely to be in too much danger.

Hi Justbeme, it was me who said about the iron drip. I'm currently on one Ferrous Fumarate tablet 3 times a day and am still taking my pregnacare everyday too and the bugger was still dropping last time i went. I'm having blood tests every two weeks at the mo, next one tomorrow, so i'll let you know how it get on.

The doctor has worried me a bit by saying that mothers with low heamaglobin (sp?)at the time of birth are more prone to post natel depression and i'm already quite prone to a dose of the blues. Any one have anything they know about this?

Hi All,

Just a quick one as Im supposed to be working.

Mampan I would strongly recommend getting some advice about your electric bill/ finances. Do you have a local advice centre or CAB? If not I could give you a couple of numbers to try for phone advice. They could potenially help you neogtiate with the electric company for a reduced payment plan, look at social tarifs, grants to pay off the debt, and also look at maximising your income (i.e. checking you are receiving all the right benefits). There is no need to feel stressed about this on your own as there is plenty of help available. (I work in the advice sector so it is something I do on a daily basis)

LaT Ive also been getting dizzy spells and was planning to have a chat with my midwife this afternoon. I had to pull onto the hard shoulder whilst driving to work yesterday as I started feeling faint - not fun. My work have been great though and Im now doing more from home. Im very excied as after this week Ive only got 5 weeks left - cant wait!

Oh gizmo it's just been one thing after another after another for over a year now. Dh's job going tits up, suddenly finding there was not having enough money to cover our bills, so we had to go to the CAB to sort out our debts, me being pregnant when we're in the middle of a financial crisis, hyperemesis, SPD, DH's breakdown, kids playing up, school continually asking for money we can ill afford, DH will probably need an operation on his knee and I worry about how we will survive when he isn't working as he is self employed, cancelled appointments, horrid MW, no social life, friends have all but disappeared, boss hasn't made life easy, IL's and DH's GP's making our lives a misery and now want to get in contact because of baby, worry about C-section, feeling guilty when I eat something naughty because of what MW said about my weight, feel guilty just contemplating having a bath or a shower knowing we'll be using electricity that we can't afford, my mother going on at me all the time, the cat driving us all to distraction now DH wants to get rid of it and I feel guilty/sad for DC's, our neighbour taking the p*ss, having to mother DH all the time................the list just goes on and on.

Selfishly I keep thinking to myself, "why me?". All this crap doesn't seem to happen to other people. I don't believe in God but I keep thinking that if there is a God then he must be dumping it all on me because I'm a coper.

I was depressed in my last pregnancy and had PND (in the form of anxiety and panic attacks) after but I don't think I'd feel down if all of this stuff just went away and it never seems to be one thing at once it's lots of things all at the same time.

Anyway DH has phoned about the electric so I'm off to work out how much we use each each month etc

I'm sorry everyone, I had a lapse into self pity mode then. I normally can keep a smile on my face and find the funny side of all these silly things that happen to me