November 09, new skills are fun - look what I can do now, Mum!

[DontWorryBaby]

New thread for our little handfuls!

Hi all

Lurking here too but wanted to come out of hiding to reply to Ursi.

I'm rhesus negative, but O- so one of the common blood types. If I remember rightly, a very miniscule percentage of pregnant mums actually do develop antibodies. I think it's actually a fraction of a percentage but could be wrong. It's obviously unnerving the fact that nobody seems able to explain the issue to you, but if it's the same as the rhesus negative thing, except for an even rarer blood type, hopefully it won't become an issue. Sounds like instead of having the anti D product to give you, they will just check that you haven't developed the antibodies as this would indicate that your blood was coming into contact with the baby's? Hopefully all these checks will show no antibodies and you'll be fine.

And I'm not sure if I'd posted on here a few months ago about my cousin whose baby had mirrors syndrome and slapped cheek? The first hospital she was admitted to almost delivered the baby at 24 weeks and basically told her they had no other option and there was very little chance of survival. Well, she was moved to another hospital the following day (the hospital I'll deliver this one in - centre for neonatal care in Scotland and Ireland) and they gave the baby three blood transfusions in the womb before her waters broke at 27 weeks and they then couldn't do anymore in case of infection. Baby arrived on Tuesday by section at 36.5 weeks, 6lbs10. Needing a bit of help with his breathing and antibiotics because mum's waters broke so long ago but I've been really amazed by what they have been able to do and so pleased they've had a happy ending. Just don't worry ursi, have faith that everything will be just fine. No point stressing although I know the natural reaction is to worry.

Hope everyone else is ok. I'm 32+2 today. Doing not bad although had a lot on this week, including another assignment for uni due in today, and was feeling quite unwell yesterday. Probably just down to exhaustion but have the midwife tomorrow so will be checked over then.

Katster Hope all is going well with your boys?

Pav Come out, come out, wherever you are!

MsI Good luck on Monday. Will be thinking of you!

Sorry if I've missed anyone else. Already been in bed tonight for an hour or two but woke up hungry so I'm awake and functioning but still half asleep. Back to bed soon.

Ah Ursi just reread your post - so there are antibodies present already? Hopefully the level will remain low as it is very unlikely that your blood will come into contact with the baby's pre delivery.

PS Ursi (sorry - me again!) Can you find out your husband's blood type? If he's rhesus negative, all might be ok? Or if you developed antibodies from first preg, does that suggest Paula and DH are both rhesus positive?

DWB, thanks for your messages (I never got so many just over night and just for me )
I am actually Rh positive, I think my husband too but obviously he is not sure. If you google blood groups you will find a whole list of parameter, so on my paper from the laboratory who checked my blood is a veeeery long combination of letters and pluses and minuses. What causes the problem is the Lutheran Group (There are two, an a and a b) and my Lub is negativ. And that's where it starts to be like being Rh negative but without the injection. I don't actually know if DH an Paula are Lub positive but I suppose so as the birth is the only opportunity where my blood came into contact with other blood. So that's when I started to built antibodies against Lub positive. So it is similar to being Rh negative but in the end it has nothing to do with it.
I'm not sure if I can explain it very well but as you said, at the moment there is nothing to worry about it and especially if my blood doesn't come into contact with the baby pre delivery (I wasn't sure about that so thanks for that info)

And wow at your cousin and her baby. It is really amazing what they can do these days.

Hello everyone!

Wow Ursi that must be worrying for you, can you ask to speak to someone more in the know about these things? I had no idea about these unusual blood types, if it wasn't so scary it would be quite interesting.

Msi good luck with your job interview

DWB glad to hear your cousin's baby arrived safe and well, it really is amazing what they can do these days.

All good here, we are off out tonight for a mexican and no doubt a few margarita's will be drunk. Hopefully I won't be too hungover tomorrow, my tolerance for alcohol has gone right down since having the kids!

Happy Mothers day for Sunday everyone!

helips, I guess not knowing anything is actually the most worrying thing.
But I think I know the key things and it is more about practical stuff now. And I hope at least the consultant will be familiar with the problem.
And I feel exactly how you describe it, it's actually interesting, something I had never heard about but as it turns out not that uncommon as a problem as two others on my antenatal club have a similar problem / know someone. Just not with that particular blood group.
And it is so surreal that I am not worried either. Luckily, from todays point of view there is no risk for the baby (and that's what counts for me) and it will never be a problem for me. As long as I do not need a blood transfusion as an emergency. But that is really a thing that no one ever thinks isn't it. If I had a planned operation there will also be time to donate first just in case.

This may sound silly but somehow I feel like I needed this shock (which it was initially) to realise that there is actually a second child growing in me. Up until now I didn't think about it too much and even worse, I kind of ignored the movements, even though I had been waiting for them, because they happened when I was busy and I had this feeling "I will deal with it later". Now I know that there is someone else who is equally important as Paula even if it is someone who I haven't met yet.

Happy Mothers Day lovely mummies! Hope you are enjoying copious amounts of chocolate and wine all being spoilt rotten.

Happy Mothers' Day everyone!

Ursi, hope you can find someone that will explain things and give the impression thay know what they are talking about. It must be unnerving, being met with professionals who just can't explain what is happening. As has been said before, they can do amazing things these days. Not that you need telling this, you seem to be very calm about things. And I can identify with your feelings about the second pregnancy, it just doesn't seem real somehow, with so much going on in the world around you. I long for some time to take a chance to focus on this next baby, am not holding my breath though.

DWB, that is great news about your cousin's baby. What a shocking difference between hospitals, though. Hope both mum and the little boy are doing well.

MsI good luck today.

Helips hope you enjoyed your night out. I've become a lightweight when it comes to alcohol. And staying up

Hope all had a lovely Mother's Day.

Thanks for remembering Skorpion!

Thank you for all your words of advice everyone. I got the job!

Very pleased but did spend all afternoon looking soppily at Rosa and thinking how much I love her and will miss her when work fulltime. However, also fully aware that TOO much time with her drives me round the bend.

You around scarlotti? Want to hear all the goss from your trip.

ursi sorry to hear things are complicated. It sounds like there is lots to be positive about, especially as there's no risk for baby or you at the moment. Hope you're ok

congratulations MsI!
I do four days with a one and a half hour commute- not ideal but I would go potty if I didn't work at all. They want me to up to full time next year but I am hoping not to have to, just because I am so bad at leaving work behind me, I would work all evening and all weekend if the dcs were not there to stop me, and as you know, in teaching, it doesn't matter how much you ever do, you can always do more! Let's make a pact to leave at 3 at least one day a week, and take no work home!

Yes! Wook, I know. I am the same, workworkwork. I love it though but it is NOT sustainable with Rosa around so I am totally with you on that one. And I will be calling you up on it come September!

I remember you dilemma last year about the school closer or further and was trying to recall what you decided in the end. It is lovely to hear from you btw. I spotted you on that relationships thread the other day (I have been lurking...) and thought how I we were missing you over here. H is looking SO cute from the pics I've seen on FB, she seems like your double.

MsI this is such good news! Congratulations, am very impressed.

Wook nice to see you again.

Not much to report here. Started to feel sick again in the last couple of days... I've been prescribed iron again, as bloods not good, thinking maybe the tablets are making me feel sick.

Booked time between Easter and the Wedding off, can't wait for some time to spend at home. Oh, and really must do something about my fitness levels. Or lack of. I did some mild gardening on Sunday and felt 190 years old yesterday. Honestly, six years ago today we were embarking on our bicycle tour of Europe and now even looking at a bike makes me shake... Such a wimp.

Ursi- hope some professional medical advice is on it's way to you soon. It's terrible that you are so left in the dark. Hope you are through the ms now and enjoying the blooming phase.

Msi- well done!

Wook- good to hear from you.

Scarlotti- hope to hear form you soon!

Scorpion- can you take the liquid sachets of iron-spartone? May stop you feeling sick.

Juicy- how is A's leg now?

Helps- hope you had a lovely night out.

DWB-how are you feeling this week? Hope the assignment got finished and you have rested a bit.

We are through the illness. Don't like to say it too loudly. Was so worried about C as he was looking rather fragile. What a difference a couple of weeks make, he is eating lots and looking solid and healthy. He has started walking or should I say almost running! He is so happy to be mobile and able to keep up with big bro. It has become exhausting though as he is climbing everything possible. A few bruises in his forehead basically from having wobblers and banging his head on the nearest solid object. Walking seems to have brung on some tantrums, where has my placid boy gone?! I hope its just a blip and he calms down a bit .

Sorry if I've missed anyone.

Thanks for all your messages. Officially I am still left in the dark and I have decided not to insist on an earlier appointment with the consultant. Mainly because I am not impressed by him already before even meeting him but also because I will be at home over Easter so I will see the same gynaecologist I had seen when pregnant with Paula. I thought it will be good to get a second opinion anyway and then I can wait easily for my consultant appointment in June.

MsI, congratulations! I can imagine how busy you will be but I am sure you will manage well!

Fruit, glad to hear that your family is feeling better.
And thank you for resuming so greatly where we are all. I keep wondering and waiting about news but am usually to lazy to ask.

Well done MsI! I'm only looking for work but I still get soppy thinking about leaving M during the day. Hope the transition is quick and relatively painless.

Ursi So sorry to hear they can't give you a straight answer. I'm glad they'll be doing extra tests to keep an eye on it. It sounds like there's a very low chance of anything going wrong, but still... you don't need anything new to worry about!

Skorpion Iron tablets are the devil. Our bodies were not meant to consume iron in such high doses. Cooking in a cast iron pan is supposed to introduce loads of iron into food - do you have one?

Fruit Your C sounds like my M. They must feel like little superheros once they start walking, and have no patience to deal with frustrations!

Had a great time at BIL's wedding! M stayed up way past her bedtime, looks exhausted in all the photos, got whisked away by my parents after cake so that DH and I could enjoy the rest of the evening. She even slept with them in their hotel room. Of course we woke up at the usual time out of habit - 7am - while she slept till 9! Can't wait until my brother gets married, so that she can be the flower girl :)

Fruit Glad C is a bit better. We seem to have more tantrums nowadays as well. I think it does coencide with the walking as they are now getting used to being able to do more things on their own and they dont like it when they get told they cant so something that they want to do. Thanks for asking, A's leg is fine now and she's back to her normal self which is good, just wish I had half the energy she does!

longway Glad you had a good time at your Bil's wedding!

Thanks for the congrats everyone. Official end of term here now and it's sunny so happiness reigning in the Interpret household. For now...!

Hope it's sunny and cheerful where all of you are.

What a beautiful day! Fridays are so special, and now there are two glorious weeks ahead with NO WORK, joy!

H is obsessed with watching Ernie from Sesame Street singing 'do de rubber duck' on you tube - she sings it in the bath! Elmo's song is another big fave and the Count Von Count. H says 'mwah hah hah' whenever she sees him!!!
tantrums or at least the odd strop, are quite frequent here- and are often averted by one glimpse of Ernie and his rubber duck!

Skorpion I couldn't agree with iron tablets when pg with H, they made me feel so so grotty. I took Floradix instead, it's amazing stuff and easy on the stomach.

Hi all

Have been keeping up with you, just, but too busy and tired to post after the trek. Back to reality now and just about caught up on sleep, washing, clingy Ioan etc! It was a brilliant experience if a very tough and challenging one but I'm so glad I did it.

Thanks so much to all of those of you who sponsored me, I am touched. The two trekking teams raised just over £80k which has bought 6 minis and paid for 6 full time nurses at various childrens hospices. A great achievement

Tantrums have started a bit here, normally when he's told no or has something taken away from him! Still no walking but am sure it's not far away - hope so as my arms ache from all the carrying!

Well, off to bed now but just wanted to say a quick hello to you all x

scarlotti Back already? Congrats on a successful trek!

wook M has an Ernie doll, which she loves and calls "baby", and she has a rubber ducky, but I am so dense I completely forgot about that song! Thanks for reminding me. We love pulling up Sesame Street on youtube.

Just generally feeling very dull today, no doubt because M had a fever last night and we lost some sleep over it. I forgot to strap her into her stroller and walked half a mile before realizing it. Fortunately she stayed put. Then I sent a text meant for DH to my Twitter and didn't notice for 2 hours! And was mad at DH for not responding! All better now except for a bad cough. So ready for the weekend.

scarlotti, welcome back and well done! You must be really proud of yourself.

I hope you had all a lovely sunny weekend!

Thanks everybody for the advice on iron tabs. I saw mw on Friday for the 16 week check up (yikes!) and she was very surprised that I got the prescription in the first place, as the levels were at 11.4 - apparently they don't give them out until t drops below 11.0 I'm thinking maybe I got them already as it is still early in the pregnancy, so it can only go down. She's asked for a change in the tabs though, to the same ones I took with Lucy, they were much better. In the meantime I have a thing for red meat, so I must be missing it then.

Scarlotti, good to have you back. Sounds like a fab achievement, you must be so proud. Have the boys been OK all this time without you? Only asking about the boys, I'm thinking DD was OK.

Thanks for reminding me about Sesame Street, not something I know from my childhood (was it on then even?) but I love happy clapping with Elmo!

Gave Lucy her first haircut yesterday (well, just lobbed off a bit of the fringe as it was getting into her eyes). And performed my very first operation in the morning today - removing a splinter from a little finger. Joys of crawling over old decking in the garden. In the office now, it looks glorious outside, but is actually quite cold.

Hope you're enjoying time off, teaching ladies. I am looking forward to time off between Easter and the wedding. Can't wait in fact.

Skorpion My iron levels have been sitting around 10.5 for the past two months. I think two pregnancies close together can cause low iron but when they do a full blood count, they check iron levels AND iron reserves so maybe your iron reserves are low and this has caused them to prescribe the iron tablets? Spinach is also good for iron levels, we add it to pasta and curry dishes. You can buy a 1kg bag of frozen spinach and it comes in ice cube sized chunks so easy enough to add to something which is cooking. My midwife also suggested adding spinach to sandwiches.

Scarlotti Very well done on your trek - that is some amount of money to raise! Hope it has done you the world of good and you've had a chance to think things over with a bit of a break from homelife.

MsI Well done on the job! How are you feeling about it now that you've had a bit of time to digest the news?

I had typed a rather lengthy post a few days ago then lost it and couldn't face retyping so apologies for being awol for a bit. All fine here, 34 weeks today. Starting to get organised. Hope Katster is coping ok and Pav - everything ok with you?

While I'm here - I took Ethan to have his feet measured again on Friday. He's now a size 6!! Took the opportunity to do some other measurements, he is 2ft 8 inches and weighs 1st 13. I think he's going to be big. His daddy is 6ft3 so I suppose that's to be expected.

Thanks for the warm welcome back ladies I am proud of my achievement and desperately trying to hang on to the peace I found and not get sucked back into work/busy home life! It was great to know that I can still rise to a challenge when needed, and I'm going to try and set myself a few more over the next few years so I remember that I am me as well as a mother and a wife.

The boys did miss me, Ioan especially as he didn't understand where I'd gone, but all seem to have settled back down again now so he's sleeping again which is wonderful!
I had lots of time to think about home life and things between me and DH are still progressing slowly. He also seemed to miss me and came over the moment I got back. We are still communicating well and things are moving in the right direction so just have to see what time brings now.

Lovely to hear all the good news about jobs etc. and sounds like the second pregnancies are progressing well, hope you're all taking care