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Original poster

The one where the BROOKERS make babies and blankets and hats and other crochet stuff!

999 replies

BeedlesPineNeedles · 06/08/2016 09:17

I almost put this in arts and crafts, seeing as how we talk about crochet as much as we talk about babies!

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ControlGeek · 09/08/2016 19:28

Oh Beedle that sounds horribly scary. I'm glad they were able to identify the cause of the bleed though, and that it wasn't anything more sinister. Is there time for the placenta to move out of the way before a cs is needed, did they say? Massive ((((hugs)))) for you and MrB, you could do without this.

Original poster
BeedlesPineNeedles · 09/08/2016 20:04

They've let me out and signed me off work for 2 weeks. I've been ordered to take it easy, but I don't have to actually stay in bed. They expect me to bleed again at some point, but at least I'll know that they want me to stay in overnight!

Once they had pointed out the "contractions" I could just about identify the slight tightening when I was hooked up to the monitor.

They don't think the placenta will move enough now to avoid a CS as it's completely covering the cervix at the moment. But they will be checking in about 4 weeks anyway

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Imps9 · 09/08/2016 20:52

Oh I'm very glad you're back at home Beedles. 2 weeks off sound quite nice - it's great that you have crochet to keep you occupied! It's good that they have told you that you will bleed again - at least it won't come as a shock when it happens. Do you need to go for any extra MW appts to keep an eye on you?

Imps9 · 09/08/2016 20:53

Oh and were they Braxton Hicks?

keepitgoing · 09/08/2016 21:31

Phew I'm glad you're home, I was getting worried. 2 weeks off will be lovely, just rest sleep and watch TV. Lots of Olympics!!

BH were described by my sis as the baby getting 'shrink wrapped' I think that's a good description Grin

Imps9 · 09/08/2016 22:31

Good description! I love having BH - they're a gentle reminder that things are happening in there.

Original poster
BeedlesPineNeedles · 10/08/2016 09:18

I think from reading the pregnancy books the mw gave me weeks ago they were referring to BH, but it wasn't a word I knew and mrb translated it as contractions Shock I feel much less worried now I've worked that out! But they hardly noticeable to me anyway! But I've now learnt the word for proper labour contractions too.

Mrb has gone to work today leaving me nice and comfy on the sofa. No Olympics for me as it's not on one of the free channels, we hardly watch any actual TV so we only have the free channels and netflix.

My mum has offered to come over and look after me for a few days, whilst it would be lovely (she would definitely not let me do anything whilst she cooked and cleaned) I think peace and quiet and gentle pottering around will be fine!

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ControlGeek · 10/08/2016 11:11

beedle so pleased you're back home and you have a nice peaceful couple of weeks to look forward to.

I'm panicking a bit - I've just realised that I wasn't given an antenatal appointment after my 20 week scan (I did check at the hospital before coming home whether I had one and they said no!) and now I don't have my MATB1 form or anything. Next mw appointment is my consultant appointment at 28 weeks, which is too late to hand my MATB1 in to work isn't it?

Imps9 · 10/08/2016 11:31

No Geek you're fine. The only things that you need to have told your employer by 25 weeks are the fact that you're pregnant, the expected due date, and the date you intend mat leave to start. The MAT B1 actually only must be produced by, effectively, 3 weeks after the start of mat leave. You'll be fine to give it to them at week 28.

Hope you're doing okay Beedles. Enjoy the pottering :)

ControlGeek · 10/08/2016 11:43

Thanks imps the internet can be very confusing and conflicting at times. Seems some places have an antenatal appointment at 20 weeks with the scan, others don't and you just need to wait. Mine is a 'just wait your turn' place :)

keepitgoing · 10/08/2016 11:58

Glad you're home beedle, must be hard in such situations in a second language. Time to swot up on all those phrases. What is "give me some drugs!!"... Grin

geek imps is or course right but you should for first baby see mw at 24/25 weeks. Most places won't give matb1 till 24 weeks which is viability

keepitgoing · 10/08/2016 12:00

(At least that's nice guidance)

ControlGeek · 10/08/2016 13:22

No midwife at 25 weeks here Keep, just GP appointment and my yoga instructor's already warned me GPs round here have no idea what they are supposed to do at those appointments.

Original poster
BeedlesPineNeedles · 10/08/2016 13:24

Definitely swotting up time keep luckily I have the booklet from the mw in both languages. Though they've written twice as much in the Swedish one, the bits that the same seem to be a direct translation.

I've packed my hospital bag in case there's a next time and have decided that perhaps it would be a good idea to wash the newborn clothes (I was waiting until we had bought the drawers to put them in but now is perhaps better)

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Imps9 · 10/08/2016 13:34

It never ceases to amaze me how different the antenatal care/process is in different parts of the country! Why on earth would you need to see a GP at 25 weeks and not a pregnancy specialist, i.e. a MW?!?! Makes no sense at all.

I was thinking of packing a hospital bag in the next couple of weeks to take to France with us on holiday...just in case. I'm also going to research the nearest maternity hospital to where we're staying, again, just in case.

Can't believe the amount of stuff some lists I've seen online recommend you pack in a hospital bag Shock. Are disposable knickers really an essential, or will normal pants do as long as you're wearing super-mega-nuclear-strength sanitary pads?

cartoontrickster · 10/08/2016 13:38

I think I've just been hiding out, I've been exhausted, N not sleeping well, bed time can be a nightmare and we've reached new levels of terrible twos.

Scarey stuff beedle glad all is ok and you can have a nice couple of weeks rest.

N is asleep so I may do the same! Does mean another fight at bedtime though Confused

cartoontrickster · 10/08/2016 13:42

Normal pants are fine! It's just because they might get wrecked if the pads leak.
Also I have to make an antenatal appointment with a gp after my 20wk scan for a heart and lung check. Can't remember when I'll see the mw again I think it's a while off.

Original poster
BeedlesPineNeedles · 10/08/2016 14:18

imps I bought 2 packs of black Primark full briefs in size 18/20, so I got 10 pairs for £5, that seemed a fairly disposable price to me! Plus they can be washed and worn again if normal pants are too uncomfortable.

I'm also slightly worried about how much stuff we need to take when the baby actually comes. We ended up with 2 backpacks and a small wheely case yesterday and that was just for us! Though I probably won't need as much stuff to entertain me once the baby comes!

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cartoontrickster · 10/08/2016 17:41

I think those lists you find are a bit ott! Dh or who ever can always bring you extras or bits you've forgotten. It was really hot in the hospital so at times N was only in a vest and certainly never wore a hat. I had a thin dressing gown a fluffy one would have been too much and this was January!
An nct friend had a baby recently and told me they no longer provide milk you have to bring your own if you plan to bottle feed, which I think is terrible. Can't remember if they provided cotton wool.

keepitgoing · 10/08/2016 17:47

geek that's silly. A gp is more expensive than a mw. Ah well

Disposable pants sound gross, I agree, black ones or old ones you don't mind ruining. beedle why have you bought such a big size? trix I don't think ours provided cotton wool. I was going to pack my bag soon - very exciting isn't it! I didn't use most of the stuff I had last time eg tens machine, music, massage oil etc.

trix why do you need the heart and lung scan, I can't remember. Is that for you or trixette?

cartoontrickster · 10/08/2016 18:05

It's for me and seems to be standard I think I had it last time too. If there is a specific reason it hasn't Been explained to me.

Loopyaboutmy2boys · 11/08/2016 08:14

Just attempted to catch up!

Beedles, I don't want to worry you but I think it would be a good idea to pack your bags ASAP as if you will be having the baby next time you go to hospital. I know of several people who have had the placenta covering the cervix and in every single case the baby has ended up being delivered before 36 weeks. One from my rmc group went into hospital, then sent home after a night/day of monitoring, and within days she had another small bleed and went back in again, and then had another bleed whilst in the hospital and they ended up doing an EMCS. They don't take any chances at all from what I've seen. The best advice I saw someone given was to pack 2 suitcases for herself. Each case should contain 4 days worth of clothes and pads. At the end of the first 4 days in hospital, the first case could be sent home with her husband for washing and the second case taken in. Then a third bag which has things for the baby in it and a 4th bag with things for the mother that stay at the hospital all the time (hairbrush, phone charger, things like that). I hope none of this info ends up being needed but i wish I had been that organised when I ended up being in for 5 days when I had ds1. I hadn't even finished packing a bag as I wanted a home birth and he came before I'd even reached 39 weeks. Absolute chaos!

Original poster
BeedlesPineNeedles · 11/08/2016 08:54

Thanks loopy my emergency bag is already packed with stuff for me and MrB! But the 2 bags idea is good. I'm not sure if I have 8 days worth of clothes that still fit that I could leave packed at all times, may have to steal a few of mrb's tshirts!

All the stuff for the baby is in a blue ikea bag but feels a bit irrelevant at the moment as it would all be too big for a while yet. I'll try to at least get it all washed and sorted by size over the next few days so mrb can bring stuff in if needed.

keep I was worried that size 14/16 might be a bit snug, they don't look that enormous width wise, though they are scarily large length wise.

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Imps9 · 11/08/2016 09:22

I have plenty of minging AF pants that I would be only too happy to dispose of post-partum. I think they will do.

I bought a Barry-Baxter notebook to jot down all to do lists, reminders, useful tips I've seen etc so I might write a hospital bag list in there. If the worst comes to the worst and something happens before we've packed, at least Mr Imps will know where to look and what to pack.

Loops what's the latest with you? You have your next Tommy's appt next week don't you? Did you TTC this month? Hope you're having a good summer hols with the boys too.

Drizzly day here and a bit chilly too. Garden could do with a soak though so it's probably a good thing.

Imps9 · 11/08/2016 09:23

Oh, and how many pads do you get through in one day straight after the birth would you say? Change once an hour or less regularly than that?