November 2020 Babies - Thread 3

[Sakura54]

Another new thread for the Nov mums to continue our discussion!

@Hancock2020 are you GPs not doing phone/online appointments? I got my prescription through AskMyGP that they are using.

Got my first weigh in on Thursday and first round of blood tests- will be 9+4 at that point!

My favourite go to meals (in between nausea bouts) atm are:

• Tilda mushroom rice with bisto gravy and cheese ...
• Pork sausages, chopped up with hash browns, rice, cheese and tomato ketchup!

As much as I try to eat healthily I just can't stomach a lot of the foods I used to love. I would eat fish at least once every day- now I can barely think about it without gagging!

@Fouryearslater nope, nothing. Which is just another reason why I want my midwife to actually contact me, I had a booking in appointment with a nurse a couple of weeks ago and still heard nothing but it's because I'm only 7 weeks

@Natopp I've not weighed myself for years for various reasons I won't go into. When I got weighed by the nurse in recent years I've closed my eyes and asked them not to read it aloud to me. None have ever asked questions and all of them have been really nice about it!

@Natopp my midwife didn’t tell me. I didn’t realise I was standing on scales because she was doing my height at the same time so I was concentrating on standing up straight. Only knew when she said it was done and was fine! I looked at the notes when she was typing them up because I was interested but I didn’t have to know.

@natopp I think it’s important to be weighed, because they need to know your BMI and weight gain during pregnancy needs to be monitored. Offcourse we are all going to gain weight, but as long as you don’t eat extra, you won’t gain too much. Maybe you can ask them not to write it in your notes?

My digital scales have just run out of battery, but I’ve got an analogue one too lol. I’ve got a thing about weighing myself (even though it’s always the same).

Hi Ladies,
Sorry if this has been covered - I called the midwife last week and got told I would get a call back for my booking in appointment...I know the nhs is under pressure so I don't want to chase but is this ok do you think ?
I'm 7 + 3. One minute I'm sicky and feel awful with headaches the next I'm climbing the walls for a toasted hot cross bun with butter 😂😂

@helenrebecca haha DH just came back from shopping and sang ‘hot cross buns’ to DS. We don’t normally buy it.

Just got my booking in appointment but it won’t be until I’m 11+2. Seems very late to me, does that sound ok?

You don’t have to be weighed but I think there are additional risks if your BMI is above a certain level. In my last pregnancy I gained a lot of weight (much more than recommended) but because I was slim to start with they weren’t bothered, and didn’t weigh me every time. I didn’t mind being weighed, but the midwife said it wasn’t necessary as I looked fine. For context my BMI was 20 pre pregnancy and I put on 3 stone in total 😱. Hoping that doesn’t happen again as though the first 2.5 dropped off quickly I still haven’t shifted that last half stone!

I think I was only ever weighed at booking and before the 12 week scan with my previous pregnancies. They didn’t weigh me again and quite frankly I didn’t want to know. My BMI was also 20 to start with and each time I put on loads of weight. Not sure how much but I was certainly 3 stone over my pre pregnancy weight several weeks after having dd2 when I finally plucked up the courage to weigh myself. I did lose most of the weight both times although my shape has completely changed.

Seen lots of chat on it so thought I'd share I had my booking apt today.

It was an hour over the phone. No bloods or urine sample - I’ll get that at 12 wk scan. She asked my weight and height to calculate my BMI. Booked in various apts for me and I'll collect my maternity folder at 12 week scan.

She confirmed that I need to attend scan alone but that I could take a video of Baby Tonic to show dh. We’re a bit sad about it but I get it, I don’t want to expose the midwives or anyone else (including myself) to risk and what would I do with the kids anyway..! I’ll come home and all being well will tell the kids then - and then my parents.

16 week apt is a telephone apt - so no listening to the heartbeat then either. It’s so shit. Bloody virus can do one! (I have a history of bleeding at 14 weeks and both times have had to wait for 16 week apt to set my mind at rest that baby was okay). After that point I think they’re face to face, but it’s third baby so they probably only see me about three times anyway.

After 28 weeks they’ll appoint me to a local hospital (because my local unit has closed for now because of Coronavirus) - but I’m hopeful by then things will be different - it’ll be Sept after all. Plus I’m hoping homebirth is an option again. 🤞🤞

That all sounds quite positive @Tonicandgin. I really hope things are back to normal before we give birth! I worry that they’ll relax the restrictions over the summer then have to lockdown again at some point in autumn if there’s a resurgence, but fingers crossed not!

My hospital don’t listen for the heartbeat at 16 weeks anyway. I asked about it with my son and they say they can’t always find it at that gestation because the baby is still small and it causes women unnecessary stress, so they just don’t do it.

I am heading into hospital tomorrow to get my bloods done and the more I think about it the more nervous I get. I dont mind getting bloods done, I have just realised I am better off the less I go into a hospital. Its safer at home, less risk of catching it. I am suddenly happy that its phone appointments and minimal contact. Baby is in there cooking away, I am staying away from crowds and hospitals, and hopefully when it comes to 20 weeks + when things get serious it will be much safer. Right now, the less having to go to a hospital the better!

No, I didn’t get weighed again either (my BMI is under 19). I meant, we should be monitoring our own weight gain to keep it within the limits. They do measure your bump every time though, to make sure baby is growing.

I want my appts to be by phone too instead of all at the hospital, but they just wrote down so many dates and said nothing about that!

@SqidgeBum I had my booking appointment in a hospital last week and I have to say, it was almost completely deserted. Security on the doors so you have to show an appointment slip to come in, hand sanitiser everywhere. No people traffic in the corridors and all the staff were wearing masks. I had to go in by public transport so that was also a worry. The hospital itself was very very quiet though which was really reassuring. It definitely made me appreciate the strict rules on visitors!

@BuffaloCauliflower it does sound late if only then they will book your scan. Some say you need to have your scan by 12 weeks, but some are doing scan at 14 weeks. You might like to call and check?

I’ve got a viability scan at the fertility centre tomorrow morning. Very nervous! Think I’m 7weeks. If everything is okay then I suppose I will have to pull my finger out and make contact with community midwife and whatnot. Have had two mmc previously (and I have a 12 year old DS). Liking reading these threads and seeing the range of experiences. Seems it’s a worrying time for all of us.

Adding in to the weight thing... I've a BMI of 20.8 which I'm ok with now but have had a lot of weight anxiety in the past. I was agonising over having put on weight in the first 6 weeks due to lack of exercise (fatigue) but had actually lost 2lbs due to nausea. Now I'm just so bloated that I can't bear to weigh myself again. I'm really really worried about how I am going to handle putting on weight... I've been referred to the mental health midwife team so they can keep an eye on me which I'm grateful for but I also wish my stupid head wasn't my worst enemy and that I use up so much time and energy putting myself down at this time when medically I need to put on weight. Have been really struggling with not being able to exercise properly due to tiredness now that I'm needing to snack regularly to keep nausea at bay.

@BuffaloCauliflower hi! If it’s any conduct I will prob end up the same. I think if you’re really worrying about it call and explain your concerns. If anything, at least they may be able to reassure you x

I have my first scan (8weeks) on the 20th. I just booked it and now I'm so nervous that it's just in there, not growing. I feel dreadful though so that's positive.

@canueve I’ve already got a letter with a scan date at 12.5 weeks. This is the separate midwife appointment. So no worries there.

@calimommy I have the same fear, and I don’t even feel reassuringly awful! I keep trying to remind myself that MMC are rare, only 1-2% of early pregnancy losses, so the odds are low

I have just realised I have no appointment slip or written confirmation of my bloods appointment. My midwife just rang me and told me to go. I hope I can get in

@Natopp If you choose to have the Downs screen then they’ll need to take your weight but, like some of the others have said, you can always ask them to not tell you x

@BuffaloCauliflower the scan is more important than the booking appointment. The booking appointment is bloods, urine, and then a really long, pretty boring chat about your/DP's medical history so they know if they need to be looking out for anything specific in your results.

@seventhrow, if it would make you feel better, could you try doing a 10 minute workout when you feel least tired? Or try pregnancy yoga?

I just had to accept that I will be putting on weight (I put on 4 stone with DS, between constant nausea and SPD meaning I was on crutches for 4 months), but I know that's a difficult thought for some people