~~August 2010~~ tummies blooming into bumps

[CherryPie3]

5th thread come grab a bean bag, theres a cake table in the corner (feel free to help yourselves)

I have a lot of sympathy for this topic. They measured my BMI at 30 at my first appointment which apparently is borderline obese.

Now i am on the curvy size but definitely no where near obese. (i am a size 14 5ft 6 pre pregnancy) What they didn't take into account was the fact that i am a dance teacher and have danced all my life and have a lot of muscle, especially on my legs (admittedly underneath a bit of chub) The midwife knows i am a dance teacher because she gave me a lecture on dancing while pregnant .

She then insisted that i get checked for gestational diabetes because my BMi is high. She just needed to look at me to see that i am in no way obese but i suppose they have to follow protocol.

I have no objection to another test by i do feel that with the current way of measuring BMI a lot of women are going to be upset by the insinuation that they are fat when they are not. By their standards most athletes would register as obese because of their muscle density.

carolondon I'm in a similar position to you. However I do object to the test. Medical research has shown that diagnosis of gestational diabetes leads to no better outcome than it being undiagnosed. More over your whole pregnancy (and subsequent ones) are more likely to be medicalised just by the act of having the test (even if it's negative). If it isn't you're likely to be induced at 38 weeks, end up being monitored constantly in labour, and have your baby whisked away for blood sugar checks and maybe even put in special care for this monitoring. Not happy.
Now I just have to be brave enough to tell the midwife I'm not haivng it!

Thanks pamplemousse, i didn't realise the consequences of having the test. I think i might do some more research, the test isnt for another two weeks. I suppose i could just not turn up for it rather than confront the midwife (i hate confrontation) although i know that is rather passive aggressive.
If it is negative (which i am sure it will be) why would the pregnancy be medicalised and to what extent?

Has anyone else had experience of this?

Sorry to leave you all but i lost my little baby yesterday. Still in hospital so excuse dodgy typing. Hope to pop back in August and see how you all get on x

Jenny,
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you.

So sorry jenny, take care, xxxxxxxxxxxxx

So, so sorry, Jenny. Thinking of you xxx

So sorry for your loss Jenny, take care. x

so sad for you jenny. Hope you're being well looked after xx

oh jenny - I am so sorry...there is nothing more to say is there...so unfair

Oh no Jenny, how awful . I am so sorry. Do they know why it happened? How did you find out? Sorry if that is too personal - when I lost my baby it really helped to talk about it. Hope you are bearing up ok and the hospital procedure is not too traumatic. Take care and enjoy lots of blue cheese and wine for the next few weeks.

I have just returned from a lovely week away in the Peak District. And last weekend we went (without the kids) to Northcote Manor in Lancashire which is one of Nigel Haworth's restaurant/hotels. We had the 7-course taster menu and it was yum. They were really careful to check with me what I could and couldn't eat but I had to laugh when the last course came and it had parma ham in it (that they had not mentioned, tho they had mentioned all the other ingredients ). I ate it anyway. That is the second time I have eaten parma ham (I got it on a Caesar salad by surprise in a restaurant as well). I also had two glasses of champagne and a small glass of wine . Not all in one go though. I keep telling myself all our parents drank through pregnancy and we are ok - not sure that is a very good excuse for me not being able to control myself . I am drinking much more this time than in my last pregnancy . I feel even worse about all that after hearing Jenny's news .

Still no sign of MrsZac? I am sure she will laugh her head off when she comes back to find we have been so worried about her!

Re midwife appts, I have not seen mine since booking in - I am sure she told me to come back at 24 weeks cos I wasn't having the bloods done at 16. Scan on Thurs - we are not finding out the sex (unfortunately ). DH felt the baby kick for the first time this week which was lovely, I am getting lots of really strong movements now.

pamplem0usse the Suede gig was amazing but (you'll hate me for telling you this) there were empty seats everywhere which didn't make any sense because, as you know, tickets were hard to come by. They were on top form, much better than when we last saw them in 96.

I'm so sorry Jenny I only just read your post

So sorry for you Jenny, hope you are being well looked after. It's such a heartbreaking thing to happen. Take care and please let us know how you're doing when you're feeling up to it x

So sorry Jenny, I hope you have lots of support and take care of yourself. So, so sorry for your loss.

Oh jenny I'm so sorry hope you're being well looked after and your get home and safe soon.

Girls thanks so much for your support - it means so much to me. caro I'm 5 ft 8 and my BMI pre-preg was 27 (doubled-checked it last night). I feel so much better knowing that many of you have similar stats. It's funny - I was heavier before I fell pregnant with ds and never went through this guilt. It's crazy. All from one arse-covering comment. Sheesh. Who needs enemies when we can mentally torture ourselves more than adequately!?!

pample I've also been lined up for a GTT as both my dad and grandad have diabetes. I didn't know I could refuse it though. Although I think I'm already 'on the radar' for mentioning shoulder dystocia with ds - so have to meet the consultant to make sure this baby 'isn't too big for me to give birth to' What a crock of shit that is. I'm a firm believer that you grow a baby you are capable of birthing - it is what our child-bearing hips are designed for (Ha! Stick THAT in your BMI pipe and smoke it all you annoying weight-obsessed healthcare profs!)

Re the shoulder dystocia, my lovely community midwife is certain it all happened because I was forced to lie flat on my back. So this time, I'm making sure I go to yoga and stay as active during birth as poss.

Sorry - bit of a major essay there!

Morning everybody,
Very sorry to read of your heartbreaking news Jenny. Really does put everything into perspective, take care of yourself hon x

Am intending on having a relaxing day today. We've had DP's 2 year old daughter staying with us since Friday. She is a real gorgeous little sweetie & so well behaved. She even spent all day at Newbury races with us and a group of adults for somebody's b/day yesterday. Was a lovely day but so tiring! Esp as we'd been up most of the night after said little sweetie suddenly started being sick everywhere the night before. Sorry, hope ur not eating a late breakfast reading this! Ended up having to strip down the sofa cushions, the bed, even myself & put about 3 loads of washing on. And am definately considering following in lots of your footsteps & having the carpets shampooed soon! Still, at least it kick started me into cleaning the house from top to bottom & is now all sparkling clean. All good practise for August I guess!
Also started feeling the baby doing little kicks a few days ago too. Was so exciting Have been feeling movement for about the last 4 weeks, so nice to feel progression. DP has even managed to feel a few.
Hope everyone has a lovely day x

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping I could join in on your thread, I am currently 20+5 (due August 10th) and I have my scan tomorrow so v.excited. I have had 2 mc before so have been fairly nervous up until this point, but, I have felt the baby kicking in the last couple of days so am feeling a bit more relaxed.

Cherrypie - if you could add me to your list, I would be under team 'Surprise', other details I think you need are that I am in South London and I am 31.

So far I have really enjoyed reading your threads and have found it very reassuring to know that there are other people out there experiencing similar things to myself. I am looking forward to joining in, although I can't promise to keep up as your threads move v.quickly!!

SassaB xx

God - So sorry to hear your news Jenny. Don't really know what else to say . Hope you are being well looked after.

Welcome SassaB - we're a chatty bunch but quite a few just dip in and out so whatever fits best for your lifestyle

So sorry to hear your sad news Jenny - I can't imagine what your going through but I hope your being looked after. Devastated for you...

How is everyone today? I had a great day yesterday, totally spoilt our Angelbelle! A few little outfits and bought some gorgeous flower wall lights for her bedroom and a flower and butterfly ceiling light fitting from B&Q. Can't wait till I can properly deck out her nursery! Does anyone know where we could find some draps filled with fairy lights for the cot? I saw some over a little girls bed on Holby City once!

Having a quieter day today, washing, ironing later. My Step-FIL is down helping DH put some finishing touches, e.g. shelves etc in the untility room before my tumble arrives tomorrow. Its going to make such a difference having a tumble dryer! Who thought I would ever have gotten so excited about domestic appliances! Haha!

Bubbabear - I'm starting to feel stronger and regular movements now too instead of bubbles popping, I'm hoping DH will be able to feel in the next week too!

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Jenny I am so sorry to hear your sad news, my thoughts are with you.

carolondon I had a GTT with DD and it was negative. Because I had one with my last pregnancy I have to have one with this pregnancy too. Its a major hassle as my gp surgery wont do the test so I have to go to my local hospital (20 minutes drive on a clear run) for 9:20am and then wait around for 2 hours for the results! I am self employed and have 2 shops plus a 22 month old DD. I am not allowed to refuse the test. While I fully understand the reason behind the test when I checked my blood sugars (I have a friend who is diabetic and she like checking other peoples blood sugars) it always comes out at 4.6 - 5 which is perfect. I see it as a total waste of NHS time and money!

Jenny I'm so sorry, please take some time to be kind to yourself and I hope that others are doing the same.

On the GTT front, you have a right to refuse any screening during pregnancy. The problem with this test is that the very fact that you've had it leads to the assumption your pregnancy is higher risk than it is (assuming you don't have GD) amongst health professionals.

Given the major risk factor is having a big baby, and I'm 5"11 broad shouldered and wide-hipped, I think that some attempt to take this into account should have been made.

Moreover, the overnight fasting it requires will make me ill. I still have morning sickness and if I don't have something to eat before bed/ when I get up I am invariably sick.

Plus, the test already raises cortisol levels, I'm very nervous of needles not helped by the fact that my last blood tests took three people and six prods with my needle (both arms and wrist) to get blood out. And my midwife said to expect the same with this one. Nice.

So not looking forward to telling her I'm refusing it though, although my husband totally supports me.

I'm also TOTALLY bemused by the fact that noone has even explained what the test is/ how long it will take / what it's testing for. I've only found this out from the internet. Which I think is pretty poor...

Sorry about the rant!!!

Pample, no one said anything to me about overnight fasting when the appointment was booked! I am just going to turn up and if that means i can't have the test i won't lose any sleep over it.
What are the symptoms for gestational diabetes?

You're supposed to fast for 8-14 hours overnight before apparently......
I think one of the issues is that it's asymptomatic.....

Just lying here attempting to fight off DP's man flu that he seems to have given me today & got me thinking about the swine flu (or even normal flu) vaccine. My midwife gave me a leaflet on the swine flu vaccine & told me pregnant ladies can have it free.

I'd never really given it much thought before, i just wondered if other people have decided to have it or not & what anybody's thoughts on it were. I asked my doctor what he thought & he said that in his professional opinion he would (or rather has to) reccommend having it & there is no evidence that it can harm the baby in any way, although he personally would not be fussed if I decided against it!

Im not worried that this is swine flu btw! Just curious & thought MN is always a good place to seek out opinions

PS, does anyone have any tips about any non-medical, pregnancy-safe remedies to use to help? Paracetamol never does anything for me so im not even trying the '2 tablets if absolutely neccessary'.

< reaches for yet more tissues > sniff sniff Why does illness always strike a few days before the school holidays?!!