**August 2010** Part 6!! Starting to show with gusto now ladies.

[CherryPie3]

Thread 6.

You lot talk too much.....

Happy chatting

Sparkle that's shocking! Did they think treating you like that was going to HELP lower your blood pressure? And - did they only take the measurement once? They should take it at least 3 times, with gaps of a few minutes in between; also you should have been told to sit with your feet flat on the floor, not legs crossed; and it should be done on your left arm.
(Have just finished my cardiovascular system essay - am NOT a medical person, but have just done this so have been reading the text books! Am 100% convinced I've NEVER been told all this stuff by anyone that's ever taken mine.)
I think 160/80 is the top end of 'mild', bottom end of 'moderate' - which shouldn't get you an automatic prescription - it should get you monitored for a few weeks before they decide what to do with you.
Is there anyone else you can go talk to? GP?

Am sitting here trying to get excited by essay on respiratory system now - yawn... May have to go eat chocolate - have an urge to make crispy choc cakes - you know, thing you used to make when you were 6 - runny choc sauce and cereal dunked in it - then eat it hot straight out of the pan all at once - like anyone's actually going to calmly put it in the fridge and wait for it to set...

Great scan news ronx sparkle poor you! Some people just don't think do they. If it's any consolation I had a car full of yoofs scream at me last night to get my fat ass down to weight watchers don't they know where babies come from? And there's nothing fat about MY ass thank you. Now if we were talking double chins or upper arms or excess boobage, that's a whole different story!!!

neenz you're absolutely right - plenty of time to get baby in position (hips ABOVE knees apparently to discourage breech). Just like the idea of bouncing around on a gym ball all day . Might motivate me to do some actual work

LMAO @ blueberries that brought a huge smile to my face! Can imagine them screaming "get your excessive boobage down to weight watchers!"

Thanks Lilypad - how interesting that it should be left arm - have only ever had it taken with my right arm and quite a few times laying down... interesting.... have had a few appts over the last few weeks but suffer with white coat syndrome which is not helping my cause.

I spoke to my midwife earlier she said that growth chart from last scan looked fine and that the doctor is urging on being cautious with tablets and it would be a good idea to take them - but that he shouldn't have said about me harming the baby as that will not help my stress - do you think!??

This pregnancy thing is stressful! But sure it'll all be worth it!

I would guess lying down is OK for blood pressure - not sure - the sitting thing is about not having your legs crossed - because the constriction puts pressure on the arteries in the leg - which b*ggers up where the rest of your blood is, so messes about with the pressure levels. Nice technical explanation!??

lilypad are you available for my next appt! LOL. The bu*gering up part will go down well!

Last thing on Blood pressure - honest. White coat syndrome in itself is enough to put your blood pressure up - of course...

You can get BP monitors from Boots - we had to get one for our course when learning this stuff (I'm doing a degree in acupuncture) - they were 50% off at £15 a few weeks ago. Not quite as reliable as the GP ones, so def take it 2 or 3 times and see if it settles. But at least you can take it yourself at home - well away from all the white coats... ;-) Might be worth thinking about if they do want you to take drugs - would leave you feeling better informed, at least!

Right - off to make fish pie now - lots of lovely mash on top!

Well what a lovely day!

Only had 3 of my lovely class in so I took full advantage and spent the morning going for a walk ~("Exploring our local area!") and having a lovely drink in Tesco Cafe. Then this afternoon we had a whole school fun day event raising money for the RSPCA, so it was fun and games all around on the yard! Lovely to have a relaxed day.

On a sad note though - my class fish have died... we've only had them a fortnight, I can't even keep fish alive! Rubbish....

Pregnancy photographer has just left, can't believe the difference in size of me since her last visit 4 weeks ago! Coming again at 32 weeks now! I'm especially excited about my 37/38 weeks shoot and obviously the newborn shoot! (ooo my little baby!) My last shoot being pregnant she's going to do a lot more shots of poses etc, at the moment its more a focus on my growth and a few basic poses, but the last shoot DH will be in them too. I love photos! Lol!

neenz - Yeh I had heard about those breathing mat monitor things but hadn't planned to get one, like you said if you follow the risk of cot death is slim, and as someone else said often there is no explainationable reason and wouldn't really be prevented by a breathing sensor either. So we'll stick with a video montior, at least with that I'll be able to see position, movement etc.

Bouncing - it isn't funny how people can be so rude, but the way you described those yoofs screaming at you had me giggling!

Ladies I'm worried about what size baby I may be growing! Stood next to someone in work who is 38 weeks and there was barely any difference in our size, literally she was only slightly bigger than me! If I'm as big as she is now what on earth am I going to look like at 38 weeksand about to drop?! And with what size baby to push out?!?!?! However MW said I was measuring spot on for dates yesterday....

Chill out for the evening now, what to cook for tea?? Think I quite fancy mash, fish and peas....

Oh scrap that - DH wants a takeaway. ooo love lazy midweek evenings!

Well pdate from here is that I reeally thought something was happening last night. Pain in lower back all day got progressively worse as day went on then was coming in waves at night..

Exactly how I felt the day before dd1 was born. Thankfully today I'm feeling back to 'normal' so panic over.

DH leaves tonight in middle of night for his stag 'weekend' returning early hours of tuesday. To top it off my parents will be away, my IL's will be away, my sister's dp will be away and another grandparent type person we can count on also away

So hoping for no re runs of last night.

Lily Fish pie (made by DH, aka Marco Pierre Weehector - I'm a lucky girl on the food front) here too! Yummy. And totally with you on making choc crispy cakes & eating straight from the pan...even better if you add a spoonful of golden syrup or make it with Mars bars.

Bouncing that was actually quite witty of the yoofs and if directed at me, coulda made me smile or cry depending on my frame of mind at the time - but hey, we have an excuse! My boobs need to go to Weight Watchers too..

Sooo tired today, terrible night's sleep last night - had been quite smug that I wasn't suffering all the back, pelvis & tummy muscle pains mentioned here but wham, I'm now doing the pillow Olympics and getting those nagging tummy growing pains that feel like toothache again.

You are right Weehector it is just the same as toothache!

i'm on the list as surprise - tis a boy - everyone I know it having a boy too!

Am also feeling huge. people always comment baby is growing 'very nicely' but not sure whether thats good or means 'big baby alert!' Have 25 week Docs app next week & he measures my bump each time I go & see him so will ask his opinion on the big bubs front & if big bump = big baby!

Interesting to read about the sitting positions poss affecting position of the baby. Only really thought abt it in terms of looking after my back before. Really need to bear it in mind as I teach 4/5 yr olds & am frequently sat on diddy little chairs with them each day. Plus am intending on being at work full time until the end of term when I'll be abt 36/37 weeks. Prib won't be able to even sit at the little tables properly then lol.

The photos sound interesting Caz, kinda wish I'd taken some photos periodically just to see how much bump has grown. When I first started to show it felt like it was so obvious I was pregnant but compared to now I must have been so little!!

On the other hand, we have school class photos tomorrow - eek! I'm having enough trouble finding something half decent to wear each day for work, let alone making it permanent in a photo for people to buy & look back on for years & years!! Oh well, am thinking dark blue top with long dark blue cardigan to make me appear a bit more slimline? Prob won't when I see the photo but I can delude myself for now

I would say, please don't worry about the size of your bump . Judging the size of babies is famously unreliable - even sonographers find it incredibly difficult (the number of people I know who've been told at late scans that their baby is worryingly large or small, only to find out at the birth that it's completely normal). So there's no way that just looking at the size of the bump is an indication. There are so many other factors - your general physiology (size, muscle tone etc), the position of the baby and the placenta, the volume of amniotic fluid etc - that's there's just no way a non-expert would be able to have a clue what size the baby is from looking at you.

I was told dd would be a 9 lb er and she was 7lb4 but they didnt get much right that time round lol

Morning

girlsyearapart - how scary that must've been! Hope you had a much less eventful night last night, and everything is fine until your DH gets back...

I've spent yet another half night on the sofa - and it goes to show how much bigger I've got recently! I had to remove the back cushions to fit on it properly! Haha! Wish DH would stop the snoring though, I know he can't help it and its not his fault I have to get up to go the loo which means I can't go back to sleep for his noise quite often but sleeping on the sofa isn't really a sensible option for much longer. Oh the wows of only having a 2 bed house, I have no spare bed....

Elusive - I know your right about bump size, it was just a shock to be the same size as someone only 2 weeks off! When I spoke to Mum she said that she was big quick on all of us (showing by 12 weeks like I was) and enormous by the end and I came out at 7'10 which isn't super enormous is it. So I hope I'm the same as her and growing an average size baby in an enormous tummy! Haha! (Or maybe this other lady is v v tiny for 38 weeks....?!)

Well I better actually do some traditional type teaching today and not just focus on Personal and Social Skills! (I.e. the wellbeing of relaxation!!). So individual target teaching this morning it is!

Have a lovely day all!

Morning lovelies

Ronx and ishe - congrats on the scans, I have updated the list for you

GYA Hope there was no repeat of the pains honey and everythings settled down. How scary for you!

Blueberries You have such a way with words

CazEm My bump is also huge which has had me raising my eyebrows slightly - my record for baby weights is as folows
dd, born at 35wks 4days = 7lbs3oz
ds, born at 39wks 6days = 8lbs6oz

so, based on that. I think I'm growing a big'un (not valid as evidence I know but still....)

Sparkle poor you, so they tell you your bp is too high, then stress you out and tell you to go away . No wonder you wwere upset, shame on them! I'd definitely get a 2nd opinion - my bp was higher than that but they didn't medicate me for it? They monitored it. Hope it improves for you xx

LilyPad I bow down to your knowledge on BP!! . Oh, and I'm on of those that has to wait for the crispy cakes to set trying to set a good example to kids (although I always leave some mixture in a bowl for me and the kids to eat ). Well it is spare.....

Star Hope the physio can help ease the backpain

Cakey Going home outfit now added to my list , thanks! Just going to take baby home in a sleepsuit/romper and a cardigan if needed.

Sorry wasn't around yesterday - had a repeat of the cramps , not in hospital but thinking it might just be around the corner. Am supposed to be on bedrest now but am at work with painkillers. Mw doesn't know yet but will tell her later - just taking it easy here and taking codeine. Feeling a bit low today cos I know I should be at home but I really can't afford to be . I want to do whats best for my baby, but just feel like it's not an option thats available to me.

Ispoke to my employer at work and although they're understanding - they just suggested starting my meternity leave early and using my holidays as from now, not really an option as I actually want to spend some time with my baby before I return to work 9if I return to work at all...)

Sorry for whingey post!!

Shiny New List
20 July - Aussie #1, Nottingham, 35 20 weeks scan all good BOY
25 July - Emster #1, Walthamstow, 29, 20 week scan all fine, SURPRISE
22 July - 4 Aug) Chulita #2: Dorset, 27. 20 week scan all good SURPRISE
28 July - CazzyBabs #4, Cambridge, SURPRISE
29 July - CherryPie3, #3, West Yorkshire, Age 25, 20wk scan fine. SURPRISE
29 July - BouncingBlueberries #2 South London, 33 20 week scan all good SURPRISE
31 July - Missus84, #1, Bristol. Age 26 - 20wk scan fine BOY
01 Aug - Nikalah, #1, Dorset. Age 35 20wk scan fine GIRL
01 Aug - Bumblingaround #4, SURPRISE
02 Aug - Dibbydab, #1, Devon. Age 34 - 12 wk scan/nuchal fine. SURPRISE
03 Aug - carolondon #1 North London age 37, 20 wk scan fine. BOY
04 Aug - kcoffin #3. SURPRISE
04 Aug - girlyearapart #3 kingston Hospital Age 30 - 12 wk scan fine. SURPRISE
06 Aug - YummymummyKJulie, #1, NW London 12wk scan fine, GIRL
07 Aug - NichyNoo, #1. Brussels. Age 29 - 20 wk scans fine BOY
07 Aug ? CazEm #1 Newport. Age 25 ? 20 wk scans fine - GIRL
07 Aug - Weehector #1, Largs. Age 36. 20 week scans fine. BOY
08 Aug ? ElusiveMoose #2 Kent 33 20wk scan fine BOY
09 Aug - possiblenewmum #1, Guildford, age 31 - 20wk scan fine - GIRL
09 Aug ? Alice #2 Suffolk age 25 20wk scan fine BOY
09 Aug - thecoffeelady #2, Fleet, Hants, age 32 20 wk scan fine SURPRISE
11 Aug ? CellyD #1, Walthamstow, 20wk scan fine SURPRISE
10 Aug ? SayAnything #1, Brussels, age 33 ? 20wk scans fine BOY
12 Aug - tunise, #4, Suffolk, age 31. 20wk scan GIRL
13 Aug ? Neenz #3 Liverpool (32) - 12wk scan fine, 20wk scan fine SURPRISE
14 Aug - LCRLCR #1, Brighton, age 34, SURPRISE
14 Aug - Burkoid, #2 SURPRISE
14 Aug ? babyducky #2, Brighton, age 24, 20 week scan fine. SURPRISE
15 Aug ? LizzieA #1 Wirral, 33, scan ok BOY
16 Aug - parkgirl #1, 20wk scan fine - GIRL
16 Aug - Tah2 #3, South Wales. SURPRISE
16 Aug - Vix206 #1, Leicester, 32, 20 wk scan fine BOY
16 Aug ? cakeywakey, #2, age 32, 20wk scan fine GIRL
17 Aug - Doodleydoo #2 Kent still just 34, SURPRISE
18 Aug ? Isheisnthe #3 Camberley, FPH, Age 33, BOY
19 Aug - marzipananimal #1, York, age 23 - 20wk scan fine SURPRISE
19 Aug ? Bubbabear #1, Reading/Berks age 29, 20wk scan fine BOY
20 Aug - JessieEssex #1, age 33, SURPRISE
21 Aug - loobyt #2, age 34, Devon, 12 week scan fine, SURPRISE
24 Aug ? JaysFourth #4, age 38, GIRL
25 Aug - Sam86 #2 Liverpool, GIRL
25 Aug ? aendr #2, Huntingdonshire, 33, GIRL
25 Aug - Joey30, #1, Halifax - West Yorkshire, age 30. 12 wk scan fine, BOY
25 Aug - Soontobefatnat #1 SE London Age 30 12 week scan fine, BOY
26 Aug - pamplem0usse, age 25, #1, Herts 12 week scan/nuchal fine SURPRISE
27 Aug - Jamiki #3, SURPRISE
29 Aug - LilyPad72 #1, age 37, Berkshire, 20wk scan fine BOY
29 Aug - starshaker #2 & 3 Ayrshire Age 29 12 week scan fine VIOLET TWINS
30 Aug - Sparkle #1, age 31 12 week scan/nuchal fine - SURPRISE
31 Aug ? vitapulchra, #4, Guernsey, 32, 12-wk scan fine, BOY
02 Sept - MrsZaC, #1, Glasgow, age 26 - 20wk scan 16/4/10 11am, SURPRISE BABY COUNT Boys - 16
Girls - 11
Surprises - 24

morning ladies,

Cherry I think your midwife is right, you should be resting don't want another repeat episode! hope your feeling better soon. Can you not ask them to sign you off? my friend had really bad SPD and she got signed off for a while before her maternity leave kicked in, and then broke her tailbone giving birth and had to be signed off even when her maternity leave was up. Might be worth a try? I don't know much about these things though.

I decided after realising just how rubbish I am at doing my pelvic floor excersizes I needed some help so have bought this it's got good reviews so hopefully will help, I'm all up for 20 minutes a day instead of stuggling 4 times a day I'll report back to you if there is any improvement, at the moment I can only contract and release, holding for more than a second seems impossible!

congrats on scans ronx and ishe

star physio really helped me so hopefully you will get some relief.. she's got me to do quite a lot of deep abdominal work to stregthen my core muscles, seems to be doing something.

I was thinking... should we start a list of things that we have bought, big stuff, e.g. pram/cot/baby monitor/car seat. Or people that are not 1st timers what they would reccomend?? just an idea... I was thinking it may help first timers like me decide on what to get. what do you think?

e.g.

mrsZaC
pram/buggy: considering Quinny
car seat: considering maxi cosi pebble & isofix base
monitor: ?
cot: moses basket/deciding on cot when baby is here as hopefully moving
other: pop n'grow pocket nappies set.

it might be a stupid idea, but thought I would run in past you lot and see what you thought.

MrsZac - I like the list idea, as a fellow first timer!
buggy/car seat - thinking about the MOthercare Xcursion one - any experience out there on that one?
...That's about as far as I've got so far...

Cherry - sounds like you're not having much fun. TRY to turn your guilt gene off, though - you're doing the right thing staying put in bed - and frankly, no one's indispensable, if you're worrying about work - don't - they'll cope and life will go on... At least, all that extra bed rest should give you more time to compile lists for us (selfish? moi? Not at all...!)

MrsZaC I know you're right, and the mw's have said it would be easy to get signed off but all I would get is SSP, which is almost nothing. I wouldn't be able to pay my bills, or put petrol in my car.

I currently bring home about £1100 each month, if I give up work and go on the sick I'll get £79.15 a week.

Huuuuuugggggeeee drop . But I've got a feeling if I don;t play their game of bedrest then they'll only admit me to the hospital and then I'll have no choice.

Heres my list of stuff
BOUGHT
~Pram/Buggy - M&P Pramette
~Cot - Kiddicare (fab bargain!! came yesterday) Not bothering with a moses basket this time. Already have a mattress.
~nappies - dozens of size 1 and 2
~cotbed fitted sheets x 5
~white sleepsuits size newborn x6 (asda)
~white/cream sleepsuits size early baby x6 (gift - hope I don't need them!)
~socks, white size 0-0 x 5prs (tesco)
~white popper vests size newborn x6 (asda)

STILL TO BUY
~car seat
~gender related clothing
~monitor

LilyPad Thats just it - I'm not in bed - I'm at work feeling guilty because I should be in bed

at list making....something to occupy my time!!

owh cherry that's so rubbish! can't believe that, even your stat mat would be better than that!!! I'm not sure what you do, but could you do some work from home?

would you get benefits if you were off on the sick? that would take care of your council tax, bills etc?