All those online for NZ timezone!

[buzzybee]

Hi all. Used to be a regular on MN when I lived in London but since moving back to NZ have found it harder to make the connections due to all the brits being asleep when us down under are online! So if anyone is keen to start a thread for those of us in this predicament please reply! My DD has just turned 5 and started school last week (scary). Have just found out I'm expecting number 2 - due roughly Xmas day...

Thanks Haribosmum and Kjaysmum, grateful for all messages of support!

Out of interest Haribosmum do you mind me asking how old you were at the time? Its just that my MW was telling me tonight that she also had this soft marker with her youngest and she was 45 at the time. Just wonder whether its more correlated to older eggs (I'm 37) IYKWIM!!

Am having another scan at 34 weeks and going private this time to a sonographer my MW recommends so hoping for a more pleasant experience

Hi AnnainNZ if you see this!! Just wondering how you're going? Must be over 30 weeks now? I'm 25+. Nothing new to report here except that DD are off to the Gold Coast next week which should be fab. Fingers crossed we'll have lovely sunny weather the whole week!

Hi Pregnant mums in NZ (Anna, Buzzy). I'm 28 weeks now and starting to feel uncomfortable and sluggish, after a couple of months of energy. Ah well, it wasn't going to last was it. Hope you have a wonderful break Buzzy, that sounds just the ticket. We are going to Chch for a week which is not quite the same... but I should be able to put my feet up and get parents to do the work. Feeling horribly homesick for London and my friends at the moment so its quite hard.

Shells - I started getting tired again at about 28 wks - but some days I feel energetic and some days tired - it goes in stages. Hope you're feeling OK.

Hi Buzzy, only just saw your message. I'm 33 wks this w/end. Second trimester was great - generally felt very well. Finished work at 29 weeks, I'm very lucky, can just rest now if I'm tired. Some days I feel pretty energetic and other days feel really knackered - but the tiredness has really only happened over the last week or so. Today was an energetic day so I went swimming and did 15 laps.

Have a few more bits to get for the baby but have most stuff now. Still doesn't quite seem real that there'll be a baby here in 7 wks (or more, if I go over, like most 1st time mums). In a weird way I'm actually going to miss being pg, I've enjoyed it (mostly!). Still haven't ngot my head round the whole birth thing, it's just impossible to imagine...actually to be quite honest I'm terrified of the birth, but am trying not to think about it too much!

Weather ahs actually been getting quite nice during the day up here so I've been going for walks on the beach and in the park, enjoying some spring weather.

Hope you have a lovely time in the GOld Coast - we got married in a church there last Christmas Eve! How's the pg going - are you blooming?

I'm feeling nervous about birth too and i've done it twice already! perfectly normal i'd say. have you got a good midwife? my ante natal teacher in the UK said to our group 'half of you will have straightforward births and the other half of you won't and there's not much you can do about it'. and she was right. lots of rest and exercise sounds good though. how exciting that your baby will be here soon.

Hi Anna - my last chance to check MN before I head off to Oz tomorrow! I'd say you were peculiar if you weren't at least a bit afraid - after all haven't we all had it drilled into us since birth what a painful experience it is ra ra ra. I'd say don't dwell on it too much and take it as it comes. Try and stop yourself from rushing into hospital too early as its much nicer to be at home, and try all the different suggestions people make in turn til you find something that works for you (for me it was sitting in the bath, others say TENS machine or Swiss ball - personally I didn't like them!)
Lucky you finishing work at 30 weeks tho!!!
Am starting to get rude people asking me how long I have to go like it must be tomorrow as I look big enough and I've still got 14 weeks and plan to work for at least 12 more! Having said that have cunning plans to work from home as much as I can get away with
Have recently popped out in a big so I think that's why I'm getting the comments - has suddenly become very obvious!

Hi to Shells too!! We must try and organise that meet-up for when I get back!! Hope you're feeling sort of settled although not surprised you feel homesick. Sadly Wellington in Springtime with all the wind can drive you a bit spare. But it does get better - hang in til January! Have fun in Chch.

Buzzybee, how was your holiday on the Gold Coast? Lots of sun and relaxation I hope.

I'm 34 wks now and in the last week my bp has risen and protein in urine has shown up, both signs of pre-eclampsia unfortunately. My LMC and the hospital specialist have decided I don't need to be in hospital yet but have to have total bedrest at home - which sounds like heaven, but I'm actually getting a bit bored! Have DVDs, books, radio and internet all set up from bedroom - lots of time on MN! Hope all going OK with your pg.

Hi Anna. Sorry to hear that - I can imagine you must be very bored. I had a call from SkyTV last night offering me a deal to sign up and I must admit I was quite tempted as I remember the boredom of feeding a little baby, particularly in the middle of the night and having a few more TV choices definitely helped. Resisted though!! as money will be quite tight for a while.

Gold Coast was fantastic - lovely and warm, only had a couple of showers and did some great stuff. Third time I've been there with DD but we always find something new to do as well as the old favourites like Movieworld and Seaworld. I daren't weigh myself though after all that junk food...

My PG fine I think. Seeing my MW for the first time in about 6 weeks tomorrow. Still feel quite a bit of movement but not quite so violent - think bubs must be a bit more restricted for space down there!

Ah, it's not too bad, I'm sure there are loads of people who would love to have a few weeks resting in bed at this stage of pg!

Glad you had a good holiday. One year I was there we went inland to a couple of national parks, they were lovely - though the rest of the time we lazed by the pool at the house of the friends we were staying with.

Better news on the baby front, had a growth scan today as dr wanted to check my high bp isn't affecting the baby's growth. I'm 34 wks and all the baby's measurements were spot on - 34 wks - apart from her stomach which is measuring 36 wks! . Must be all those chocolate biscuits she's been making me eat! Nice to know her growth is all good though. We are now calling her "big fat baby"

Anna, glad to hear things a looking a bit better for you.

We went to Mt Tamborine inland last year and to Mt Warning this year (day trips). Make a nice change from the tourist hype at the coast and always nice arty stuff to be found. Went to a cool pottery place this time just south of the QLD/NSW border.

My measurements at 28 weeks are 40, 44, 43 now so my bump looks huge! Keep having people ask when I'm due who then try and swallow their surprise when I tell them 3 months yet...I'm normally a fairly standard size 14 but am very tall (6 foot).

Just had MW here. Fundal height 30 but am 28 weeks so that's on the big side apparently. HB 134 and BP 110/60 which is actually low so nothing to worry about there. She thinks baby is head down. Came away with a clutch of forms - one for my employer to say due date, one for 30 week blood test and one for follow up ultrasound scan to check kidneys again.

Also asked about birthing pool and their MW practice has three they lend to clients so looks like I will get one of those. Still hoping for a homebirth.

MW visits every 2 weeks now which is scary - although haven't booked the next one in until I know when the scan will be as good to have it straight after that.

Do you have a "buddy" on the Due in Nov thread? i.e. someone to let others on the thread know if you give birth? If not I'm happy to give you my mobile number and you can get someone to text me and I will post on your behalf. I've seen others do that and thought it was quite a nice idea. Funny how you start to feel quite close to people you get to know through this website - especially on the ante-natal threads!

Yeah, we went to Springbrook and Lamington national parks - think that was the names - pretty dramatic and some fab views. So quiet and empty compared to the GC! We went to Byron too but I found it very very busy - bit disappointed as people had been telling me for years I would love it there - think it used to be more laid back. Got cheesy photos of us at Australia's most easterly point there.

More good news on the bp, down to 130/85 today (low for me), swollen hands and feet have gone down a lot and I'm generally feeling really well. Dr still wants me to see nurse at the practice twice a week to check bp.

That's a fab idea about the buddy thing, we don't have that going on the November thread. My number is oh two one one two one nine one seven three, you could text me and I'll have your number, then I (or someone else) can text you when the baby arrives. Would be good to have someone in the same timezone doing it! I'm happy to return the favour, unless you already have someone on Dec thread doing it.

Got scan pictures and stats through the post today, the average weight for 34 wks baby is 4lb 9oz (apparently), this one's weight is estimated at 6lb 5oz - already! With five weeks of growth to go! . So much for the high bp restricting growth!

Just sent you a text message Anna. Nice to have that sorted! Where do you plan to be over Xmas? Just asking as there's a possibility my LO will come Xmas day!!

Have my next scan booked in now for 15 October. Will be just over 30 weeks by then. Still got very mixed feelings about it - will the kidneys be worse, will they pick up anything else to worry about? etc But on the other had will be nice to see her again.

I'm pretty sure she's head down, back to back at the moment as can almost feel her hands pushed out and her feet pushing up .

I'll be in Auckland for Christmas, planning a quiet one at home as we will have a 6 wk old (or thereabouts) so will be able to get on the internet and post news if necessary.

The baby was breech but growth scan showed she is now head down and kind of sideways on. I am meant to be having another growht scan in 10 days though not sure if I really need it as she was measuring pretty big on the first one!

Hope your scan goes well, they're never quite the same once you've had potentially worrying news from one - not so relaxing, more "hope everything is OK" while they're doing the scan. Is nice to see the baby again though

Wow, have just logged on as been in Chch for a week. Things are moving! Good that your bp is down Anna, cross fingers about the breech.
Glad your holiday was good Buzzy. Sounds blissful. Mine was more catching up with family, which meant a bit of respite, but lots of politics too. So not perfect...
Anyway not feeling very positive about my birth either. I'm just with a team of hospital midwives as we moved to Welly when I was 20 weeks and couldn't get midwife here. The woman I was seeing was really good, but now I've got a new one, and she's sweet but clueless. And I need to see a consultant as I had a CS with my first boy. Firstly they booked me to see her 5 days before I was due. Fabulous. Then I moaned and they brought it forward a month. But it still feels way too late as I've got lots to discuss and feeling nervous and not feeling like the midwife will be much help. Sigh. Its never easy is it.

Oh Shells, you have my sympathy. So sorry to hear you haven't been able to access quality care for your PG. I'd be quite happy to never see to consultants at Wellington hospital again! Esp a certain Chinese OB consultant (not being racist but I really didn't take to her). I understand there's another chap called Jeremy Tui who's a bit more empathetic. Have you considered trying to find a private consultant OB? Might be a bit late now tho...

I could try asking my MW what she'd suggest in your circumstances if you like? She took me on because she has a preference for homebirths and I had a homebirth last time so willing to consider again this time. Otherwise I think I'd be in the same camp as you as not many MWs willing to take on someone due roughly Xmas day!!

Shells, sorry it's been hard getting the right care - I know the midwife system is meant to be that you can choose who you want but doesn't seem to work out like that somehow! I know there is a real midwife shortage in Auckland and if people don't get one as soon as they find out they're pg they can be struggling to get one. I know someone due Christmas Day and she really struggled to find one who would take her on - even though the chance of her actually having the baby on Xmas Day is pretty tiny.

I'm lucky that my GP is my LMC. She takes on 8 pregnant women a month though, which means she has about 70 pg women on her books at any one time plus her regular GP patients - so sometimes she seems very busy and stressed when I see her! Nice to have someone who knows my medical history though, espec with my history of high bp.

Just had a baby shower, which is prob not something I would have done normally but a friend insisted on organising one for me. Nice to catch u

Ok I posted that too early! Meant to say nice to catch up with everyone but just chatting to people for 3 hours has left me knackered! Am now in bed watching something about Auckland Zoo while it pours down with rain outside

Thanks for your support. What was the Chinese OBs name? I will try and avoid. I am seeing the fairly useless midwife again this week so will try and get her more onside. I think the hospital midwives are very used to dealing with ESL patients and women with huge socio-economic issues and they really can't see that middle class women like me are worth spending much time with. Blah blah. Any suggestions happily accepted on how to make the best of it all!

Shells, her name is Hong Soo Wong and this is what she wrote to my MW after my 20 week scan "Linda is 37 years old and she refuses amniocentesis despite of the finding of increased nuchal transluscency in this pregnancy. She had a serum screening performance at 16 weeks gestation and according to her this showed a risk of about 1:600. On morphology scan yesterday there was a finding of dilated renal pelvises and that the fetal nasal bone could not be well visualised. Linda understood that these could be signs of Down syndrome. Linda had been explained that the screening tests, including the nuchal transluscency screen, the maternal serum screening and the morphology scan could not confirm or exclude Down syndrome. To do so, Invasive testing is required. Linda has discussed this with her husband and she has decided not to go ahead with any invasive testing."

Its hard to convey in words but her total demeanor was entirely patronising - as you say I don't think she's used to dealing with well educated women, or regardless has an attitiude of "doctor knows best". Quite apart from the fact that I have no "husband" or indeed any partner and such a person was never mentioned during my visit there!!

I need to talk to my MW to make my next appointment so will ask if she has any useful suggestions. I have actually found her very much more helpful than the consultants - for example, she has advised going to Bowen Hospital for the 30 week scan I'm having to take another look at the kidneys as the scanner there is very experienced and a much more empathetic person (and its just a check - there's nothing that could be done now anyway until the baby's born).

God what a patronising cow. I would have been FUMING. And so disrespectful of your decisions, which I know were not easily made.
I think she is the OB I have an appointment with. Great. I am going to do my best to change it. Let me know what your MW says. Thanks so much.

Sorry, now I've probably completely freaked you out . I'll send you an email when I've talked to my midwife.

Anna - a baby shower. How funny. Someone offered to do one for me once and I said no, and now I wish I'd said yes! It is a foul day here today and the kids are driving me mad and there's another week of holidays to go...
Thanks for all your help Buzzy. I'm ok, just a bit anxious.

I have a friend who LOVES organising stuff - keep telling her she should be a professional event planner. The very first thing she said to me when I told her I was pg was "ooh, can I organise a baby shower for you"!

Was nice to catch up with everyone, prob the last time I will see a lot of them before the birth, with me being confined to bed and all that. I did go to a baby shower once where there was a "list" at a big baby gear shop, like a wedding list you choose a gift off - I didn't do that!

Weather is foul up here too, rain, thunder and lightning. No kids inside for me going stir crazy so a bit nicer for me! We used to dislike days like this at work when we couldn't get the kids outside and would have 20 under-2's inside all day long...

Anna, are you a pre-school teacher then? My mum and I are trying to get resource consent to set one up here in Wellington. I'm just the business advisor - she's the ECE expert!

Funny thing about baby showers. One of my friends refused to have one for her baby last December and has now asked if she can do one for me!! I don't actually need a lot of stuff so hopefully people will get me super practical stuff like bottles of Pamol!