Due January 2019 (3rd thread)

[Buttercup53]

Starting a new thread for the January 2019 crew! Newcomers welcome :)

Hey everyone – just wondering if I could get some advice from you lovely ladies!

My father in law will be visiting (and staying with us) 2 weeks after the bub is due – he is a smoker and I’m just wondering the best way to handle this. Obviously he will smoke outside, however when he comes back into the flat he will still smell like second hand smoke. I mean, I don’t want to be a drama queen / overly paranoid but I’ve read advice that second hand smoke is not good for babies and especially newborns – I just don’t really know what to do / say if he wanted to pick up and hold the baby after he had been smoking.

Nobody else in the family is a smoker and I don’t have any friends that smoke so I’m a bit clueless here!

(PS. Getting him to not smoke whilst he’s staying with us is not an option)

Thanks harry, I'll have a chat with the midwife today about how to deal with the appointments in the future.
I've made a list of all of my BP readings so she can see them, and hopefully that itself will make me feel more relaxed because I can tell myself that I'm fine at home, and that I can show this to her.
But going forward, maybe waiting outside as you do with your dentist will be really helpful.

Again, it's not that I don't want to take medication if I need it. My priority is the health of the baby and myself - it's not that I want to avoid medication or similar at all costs.
It's just that I don't think it makes sense to give me this medication at a quite high dosage when my BP seems to only be high when with medical professionals.

My usual midwife yesterday said that my BP would skyrocket if I met her in her scrubs in the local supermarket - and I think she's right.

ladydanger I went to a health visitor introduction where they talked about second hand smoking and babies.
If I remember correctly, they recommended that smokers wash their hands after smoking and before touching baby, and that they change their clothes (I don't remember if the health visitors just said change their top or if it was clothes generally) as the particles sit in the clothes for 90 minutes or so (I would have thought it was longer based on the smell, but what do I know).
Based on what I've read (on the link below), I'd probably also not let him hold the baby right after he's been out smoking - but maybe I'm paranoid about it. www.babycentre.co.uk/x1048535/will-smoking-outside-protect-my-baby-from-second-hand-smoke

@RiskIt4Biscuit i have white collat syndrome and the minute that band starts tightening i feel the panic set in. Have you tried asking for the manual blood pressure cuff? That definitely helps me. Also getting it taken at the start and end of an appointment helps as it comes down when i know im leaving. Are you taking baby aspirin? Your home readings sound great and even hospital ones are only marginally above where they should be. My mw told me 140/90 is when they class it as higher. Wedding sounds lovely btw!

@ladydanger my dm smokes and will be around the baby all the time i am dreading it already. I popped round last night she smokes in kitchen on doorstep in a big high ceilinged house. I came home reeking of fags. I domt know how to broach it without sounding a twat.

Rarfy They sometimes use the manual one, but it's more or less the same result. No matter what they use, I react to the uniforms, the place and the situation.

I am not taking any aspirin and haven't been taking any during my pregnancy. I used to take a high dose of aspirin for migraines, but I haven't had any migraines during pregnancy.

Hopefully using the BP monitor at home will familiarise myself with the feeling of the cuff and all that and make me more comfortable about it.
Going the same places each time and (hopefully) seeing the same people each time will also make it more relaxing. So far, I've found that the nurses and midwives I've met have all been lovely, so I'm hoping that I can work on how I react.

They are happy with my home BP readings, so they've said I don't have to take the tablets - that could obviously change.
I am to keep monitoring my BP at home and bring in my readings, and I am still going in to see them on a regular basis, which is fine - they obviously care and want to make sure everything is fine.

The midwife tested my BP monitor (by using it on me, and then using the one they usually use) and she was happy that it wasn't faulty.

That's good news about the tablets.

I think time and regular visits help. I used to be a nightmare but have got used to things a little now after so many unsuccesful pregnancies. My dad is the same.

I asked about aspirin as im on 75mg and have been throughout and wondered if that contributed to better bp readings for me as i am normally fairly high but have been ok in pregnancy.

@ladydanger ask him to wash his hands as soon as he comes back in and change his top. Also don’t let him pick baby up for a while after he’s smoked. I don’t want to smell of smoke myself let alone my poor baby :( my mum smokes and that’s what I’ll be saying to her.

@riskit I’m glad you don’t need the tablets :)

I've not been feeling my babies usual movements today so I phoned the assessment unit and they want me to come in and get checked over. Does this mean I'll just be hooked up on to a monitor for a while? Or are other things involved? Haven't been in for reduced movement as of yet!

@Kate123cl ive never been but i thought they put you on a monitor for a certain period of time then i guess if tjeu werent happy with that they would maybe scan?

Hope it goes ok.

@Kate123cl they will attach you to a monitor to check baby’s movements and if they aren’t happy they may scan you. Fingers crossed that little one shows you up when you get there’s and starts moving loads! Keep us posted. Hope all goes ok xx

Kate123cl I think it depends on the hospital.

When I was at the hospital for reduced movements (I was feeling faint flutters/bubbles, rather than the usual proper kicking), I just had a scan.
They were about to hook me up to a monitor for 20 minutes or so, but the consultant had time to do a scan first - so he did the scan and it was clear that everything was okay, so there was no need for the monitoring.

They asked for a urine sample and blood tests while I was there, and checked my blood pressure, and I would assume that most of that is standard too.

Make sure to bring your notes if possible as well - they will add their notes so your midwife and GP can see them.

I hope it goes ok!

Thanks ladies!

They did my blood pressure and said it was a little high but drank some water and went back to normal again.

They hooked me up to the monitor for an hour or so and he started kicking away

They were happy for the time being but have organised a scan for Monday just for reassurance.

Thanks again!

Hi All,

i'm due 28th Jan, getting real now! 30 weeks on monday.

Had a massive bleed this morning @5am (32 +3)- placenta praevia so been admitted for foresable :( - they're giving me injections for baby's lungs and hopefully move up to a ward when they're happy bleeding stopped- been so scared-

@tadda how scary! Sending you lots of love and hoping your ok. Do keep us posted if your able to. Your in the best place now xxx

Thanks for all your advice everyone - that sounds sensible and hopefully will be able to communicate this to him in a way that does offend...!

I’ve gotten terrible pubic bone pain in the past few weeks... it went from being mild to now consistently sharp pains (moving in bed is agony). Wah!

Thanks @harrypotterfan xx (can't sleep! First night ever away from 14mnth DD1 and keep nodding off then waking up and 2 seconds checking for her :( x )
Been having pain, but luckily no active bleeding for a while, so think another 24/48 hours on obs ward, then move up to main ward and seeing sonographer on Monday so they can pinpoint exact placenta position- also have a fibroid with red degeneration that's kicking off right now so on hefty pain killers-
But baby v active and they're happy with her, so aslong as it stays that way that's ok....does look like I might be in here for a while (until c-section, really hoping to make it closer to 37, so 4/5 weeks....don't know how that's going to go but see what happens- only took 30 mins from 999 call to get to hospital, but just know I'm going to be so scared of another big bleed-)
One thing at a time hey x all ok for now x

No active bleeding is good :) just take each day as it comes and focus on scan on Monday.
Good to hear baby is moving well and they are happy with that at the moment.
I can see why you’d like to get to nearer 37 but your at a good gestation now so if it has to be brought forward then baby will be in a good position to thrive still.
I’m sorry that you didn’t sleep, hospitals are bad enough on their own but first night away from your dd can’t have been nice :( who’s was she with? She’ll have been fine I’m sure.
It’s very normal to be scared of another big bleed who wouldn’t be. But like I’ve already said each day as it comes at the moment, do try and get some rest of you can xx

Hi @harrypotter x DH doing a fab job of looking after Dd1- really proud of him x he's just popped in with her and he's even got her dressed up, hair done!
They've moved me up to ward today, in alot more pain than I was yesterday but they're keeping me topped up - have to remember to eat though, nearly passed out this morning but was on nil by mouth yesterday and had alot of painkillers- oromorph, coedine, iv paracetamol - thing im worried about is still with all those painkillers my tummy still sore -

Not bled since yesterday - so just waiting on scan tomorrow and see what they say

Hello everyone.

Hope all of you are well and sorry not read back as have been ill all weekend with a sickness bug, feeling better now thank goodness!!

Went in for movements also as with having this bug I think it had an effect on babies movements as I wasn't keeping any food down, and was feeling pretty miserable, everything is fine, and they have scanned me today to double check, Midwife told me yesterday at MAC that baby was breach which scared me to death however the scan today has revealed that baby is head down 33+5wks, so I've got to say that's a massive relief, I felt a big movement last night while I was in bed, so she either turned last night or Midwife got it wrong, either way I'm so relieved as I was getting worried!!

Today I've been in Asda and bought a few bits, a hat and a fleecy all in one, the collection is starting to grow! Still need some more stuff as all the stuff I have currently got is boys stuff having 4boys already! I just need to buy a wardrobe or sort out some wardrobe space so I have somewhere to hang all her stuff.

Anyway will catch up soon. Bye for now x

Hi @tadda
Just wondering how you are today? Xx

Hiya @harrypotterfan x went in for 1 1/2 scan today - they checked everything - baby growing well and happy atm (approx 5lbs and all in the 90th + percentile)- but placenta now completely covering cervix and they dont reckon there's any chance of that moving, plus baby gone head down and they can't guarantee I won't have another big bleed.....so looks like it's the next 4 weeks in hospital as close as they can get me to 37 for c-section, but not going home now before baby born -I'm ok with that now, it's just too risky - just need to settle in a bit- some nice ladies on ward with me atm but pretty sure they'll be quite a few x

It’s good to hear baby is growing well. I’m sorry you have to stay in but best to be safe. Get someone to bring you some books and maybe some headphones so you can listen to music and drown out any noise xx

Hello ladies, I am currently 30 weeks pregnant this is my first pregnancy. Someone suggested for me to join this thread and I'm hoping to learn and lot. And I'm glad I've found some other ladies due near to mine. As I have no friends or know of anyone due in January or near to

Welcome to the group :) we are a lovely bunch.
There is a fb group which is a bit more active than the thread of you wanted to join. I shall find the username of the lady who can add you to it you need to pm her your fb profile and she’ll pop you into the group if you want to.

Hi all, just checking in again as I haven't been on here for ages for various reasons. But now I've just got 8 weeks to go, and have my section date booked in for 15th Jan! Eek not long to go now! Does anyone else have a planned section booked?

In other news I have been in twice for reduced movements (and both times she started kicking away as SOON as she was hooked up to the monitor! Sod's law, made me look like a nutter!). I also had to have an MRI scan of the abdomen which I knew was planned and was expecting but it turned out to be quite a horrible experience and I felt so guilty for putting the baby through it - she hated the noise of the scanner and it felt like she was trying to move to hide away from it :-(

Hope everyone is doing well xx