Due January 2019 (3rd thread)

[Buttercup53]

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

@harrypotterfan1604 please can you also let me know who I need to contact to join the FB group? Thanks!

Pop @LG93 a private message on here with a link to your fb profile.

I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad experience :( it’s all over with now though.
Exciting to have a date booked in and to know when baby will be arriving by.
I wish I could know when baby will come 😂 I’m due 4th jan and am so worried it’ll be Xmas day 🙈

I've had an eventful day, spending over 7 hours at two hospitals.

Had a routine BP appointment at the local hospital earlier.

Went there, and my BP was too high (they only used a machine and it was in a tiny room with loads of people going in and out all of the time, including a midwife tripping over the BP machine cord 20 seconds before they took my BP). I found it really stressful.

Saw a doctor, who decided that I had to be on BP tablets. She is/was worried about the growth of the baby (based on BP measurement only), so arranged a scan.

I told her about everything that has happened so far - I don't know who my consultant is, I have seen loads of doctors who all give me different info, I was prescribed medication but not told what it was, but just that it was for my BP to then realise only what it was when I got back from the pharmacy, and she said she would talk to someone about that, because that simply wasn't ok.

Anyway, long story short, she said I had to go to the maternity assessment clinic which is at a different hospital some way away - and I could either get a cab or they would call an ambulance. I was not allowed to drive there myself. I had to go today.
They were to monitor my BP, monitor baby, test all sorts of stuff.
The midwives and the doctor acted like baby and I were in a really bad way - but I've been feeling absolutely fine (and baby is moving loads), and my only issue is my blood pressure being high when they measure it. When at home, it's still fine.

So I got a cab. I called my DH who left work and came to meet me at the MAC as quickly as he could.

Went to MAC, and was met by some really lovely midwives and nurses who were so good. They talked to the people from the other hospital, read my notes and really got an understanding of the issue. I was offered a cup of tea and generally just felt like I could relax and trust them.

I was at the MAC for hours. They took my BP a few times. They have said it's fine - if I was to take BP medication, my BP would get too low and that would be dangerous. I talked to two doctors there - and they both agreed that I was fine - and should not be on medication.
Aspirin was recommended by the doctor at the first hospital, but the doctors at MAC said it would be pointless to start on now.

So I'm back where I started, but at least they are now saying that my BP measurement taken at MAC is similar to my home measurements which is a step in the right direction.

We missed the first antenatal classes which I'm really upset about.
I've only just had dinner - and the last sensible meal I had was before 11.00. I am absolutely shattered and quite confused about what happened today.

I know they are just trying to help, but this is just stressing me out.

@harrypotterfan1604 could you please let me know the fb page please x

@riskit4 what a day! Hope your ok? X

Hello hope you are all well.

Just a note about the smoking grandparents - can you explain your concerns to them and ask them to consider smoking e-cigarettes instead? It’s just vapour that comes out so none of the horrible smells!

@risk it, it sounds like an awful day for you :( I hope you managed to get some sleep last night. Good news about the BP though. Are you at work today? Hoping not so you can rest xx

Thank you!

Today is thankfully a very quiet day (I work from home and there’s not a lot, if anything to do), so I am spending most of it on the sofa under the duvet, with my snoring dog as company.

I am okay, but the whole experience really scared me. It is not nice to be told that your only choices are cab or ambulance, and that you urgently need to get to (another) hospital.
I had a feeling throughout that it was just my white coat syndrome that was causing the issue, but it doesn’t make it any less scary.

My DH was absolutely fantastic yesterday and so were all the staff at the MAC.

I do feel embarrassed that I can’t control my blood pressure in some situations, to the point of causing this much drama for everyone.

@RiskIt I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience, it's not nice is it! Especially when they make it feel like such an emergency!

@harrypotterfan1604 yes it is quite nice to know that baby will definitely be here by the middle of January... I have several friends who have gone way overdue with their first babies so I'm glad I won't be waiting around too long! Especially as I'm finishing work at Christmas, so if I'd gone up to my due date it would have been the end of Jan, and 42 weeks would be mid February which still feels aaaaages away! 4th Jan isn't long, I know a lot people try to avoid a Christmas baby but I think it would be lovely :-) What a great present!

@harrypotterfan1604 I too would also love to join the FB group!

My LO was due on 9th Jan but now know I'm getting a c-section 19th Dec at the latest.....I'm still staying in your Jan gang though if ok!? :)

@tadda how are you getting on? Xx

Hi @harrypotter - ok atm, just settling into hospital stay- they taken cannula's out for now so got a bit of a break from needles! Spoke with consultant today and it's just really a check/watch/wait for foreseeable and hope for 37 week plan x

Hello everyone, first timer here due 19th Jan. So excited for our little girl!
Whilst I’m here I’m very confused by this talk of patterns of movement, I don’t think we really have a pattern except that she tends to have a break for a while and then when she is active she goes for it. I keep worrying that I won’t notice if her movements decrease or increase. Are people here generally going on what feels normal or monitoring kicks per hour or something similar?

Try and figure out what’s normal for you. Everyone’s movements will be different and some people never fall into an actual pattern.

Pattern doesn't necessarily mean the same time of day either, for me he moves more just after I've eaten or had a cold drink, he also tends to move when I first wake up and when I'm lying down to sleep no matter what time it is. If I'm busy in the day I won't notice much movement, but that doesn't mean it's not there. Also, I have an anterior placenta so if there is movement behind that then I don't feel anything at all but I might be able to see it if I'm sat down and watching the bump.

I agree that it's a bit confusing with what "pattern of movement" really means.
I've found that I feel a lot of movement early morning (around 5 in the morning), just before lunch and a lot in the evening.
When I eat and drink, especially sweet and/or cold things.
When I relax, lying down.

It is very common to not notice as much if you're busy or on your feet.

I had a day 3 weeks ago where I was worried, and I spent a bit of time just lying on the sofa to feel for movement. It just didn't feel like it did before, so I went to get checked out - and everything seemed fine, so maybe he was just kicking the placenta or the cord (he was kicking the cord constantly when the consultant was scanning, and it didn't feel like the kicks I've normally felt).

Also, you may find that kick counter apps will help you with keeping an eye on the movements - by making it a habit to relax and just focus on movements at certain times of the day.
I've personally not really gotten on with the apps as I just fall asleep when trying to monitor, but my impression is that a lot of people really rate them.

I think as you get used to the movements, you'll notice if it is different. If you are worried, please get it checked out asap - don't wait.

I've been to hospital today to have my BP measured, and there was no problem whatsoever, which I am so happy about, especially since what happened on Tuesday.
I am hoping to make sure I don't have to go to the local hospital again as I think the way they do things there stresses me out far more than at the larger hospital - and I'm happy enough to spend more time getting there, but I'll have a chat with the midwife who made the appointments to see what she says.
I'm hoping I will not have to deal with the consultant, but on a positive note, a growth scan was booked for me, so at least I'll get to see baby soon.
My DH is really annoyed that he can't come to the scan (he'll be abroad), so I'll have to see if they will take a picture - I don't really know what the process is for those scans.

Riskit I found the growth scan under whelming. Just straight to business measuring. No talking through what each bit was like first 2 scans. No lovely head/face shot and no option for pictures. My OH came with me and I've told him not to bother coming to the rest. It's lovely to see baby but a lot more practical than I was expecting x

I think it depends on who you get. I had a growth scan a few days ago, the sonographer we had was great. He explained what he was doing as he was doing it, he even gave us a quick look at the face and pointed out details like the eyelashes. Baby was a bit too big to get any decent photos otherwise we would've asked. It was certainly a lot quicker than the 8 and 20 week scans, and would've been nice to have more time to see more of baby.

Growth scans are a lot quick (in my experience) and it does depend on who you get. Our first sonographer was quiet and wanted to focus whereas our second one was really chatty.

I’ve just discovered my first set of stretch marks on my lower belly at 33 weeks and I am a bit upset and annoyed about it. I know it’s normal but I have been slathering Neal’s Yard mother’s balm on day and night since 12 weeks. I should have know something was up as my lower belly is constantly itching.

People told me this before but it really is all down to genetics!

Thanks - it does sound like it depends on who does the scan/where you are. I'm hoping for the best, but will not expect anything.

Hia everyone, we have just had a growth scan as we felt like we wanted to check all was ok. We are very lucky and measured absolutely fine with all measurements. Legs are on the shorter side but still ok. It's not really much of a shock as its mammy is short! Baby currently weighs 4lb 8oz (estimated) I have no idea If that's normal for nearly 33 weeks.

I cant wait to meet our little one, I'm getting so excited! 7 weeks seems so long away. I'm becoming impatient although I'm still at work so that's keeping me busy.

I hope everyone else is doing ok!

I've just had a growth scan, and everything seems fine. Baby weighs around 2500g at the moment, which should be normal (I'm 33+6).

Saw the consultant after, and he seemed to not really know why I was there - despite him booking the appointment.
So he asked if I was happy to be discharged from his care, which I said yes to.
I'll keep checking my blood pressure at home (I have the monitor so might as well use it), but it seems I don't even have to go to the blood pressure clinic - all further appointments are with my midwife and GP (just the routine ones at certain weeks) and if I have any issues, to call the maternity assessment unit.

I feel really relieved and happy about this.

Tonight we have our antenatal course, which I am really looking forward to. It started last week, but we missed it then as I was in hospital, but apparently it was just an introduction, so no big deal.

Also, my DH was supposed to be abroad, but it was cancelled, so he's been with me at the hospital and will come to the course tonight, which is awesome.

Hope you're all doing well!

Just had my placenta site/ growth scan...12 days so far in hospital and still managing to (just!) keep my sanity....cSection now booked for 19th December, placenta still completely covering my cervix and little constant bleeding although they're closely monitoring me and baby doing fab...now weighs in at nearly 6lbs approx (at 34 weeks), head down, loads of movements (doing a Bruce Forsyth impression on the scan!) -
Just needs to stay put for next three weeks- although she's had steroids for lungs, they're giving me iron infusions to build up my store count and they're all ready if she needs to make a surprise early arrival...
I'm just concentrating hoping she gets here safely with no drama... x

@tadda
It’s gkod to hear from you with an update. It sounds like there’s a good plan in place for you :)