Due August 2020 Thread 2

[cannotmakemymindup]

Hello ladies new thread here for all of us been chatting on thread 1 due in August with our babies!

@cannotmakemymindup crazy isn't it? I've seen that many I honestly couldn't tell you one name. 28 week appointment alone I seen 2. I've seen 3 community midwives so far since the beginning. Think it's been maybe about 6 altogether so far, 2 different doctors surgeries and 2 different hospitals. If it wasn't for reminder letters I don't think I'd be able to keep up with where I'm at.

That is so many @JMill13!!!
The midwife I saw last time admitted that this isn't how they like to work at all, they much prefer getting a good consistent relationship with us.
Names have stuck in my head purely because of how differently I have been treated by them. Although if I get the one that isn't pleasant at my next appointment I know I'll speak upto her about how she has treated me, as I have got to that point in my pregnancy, where I ain't taking any crap from anyone

I'm keeping track in a diary and on a wall calendar to make sure I don't forget appointments.

If any of you are worried you can buy urine dipsticks on Amazon. It's what we used in hospitals and GP surgery. It will detect leukazites for a urine infection, protein, ketones and glucose. There is enough in a pack to test daily if you really wanted to.

@cannotmakemymindup isn't it? One of the ones I seen last time wasn't even sure if she'd see me again next time or not. The last community midwife I seen at 25 weeks, is retiring in June or July so she'll not get to see out the pregnancy either. It's nuts. Ooh good idea keep notes and speaking up, I never really know what to say or ask at appointments.

I have taken my diary with me before with written questions that I want to ask, from the weeks prior to the appointment I have thought of. Especially as my brain is somewhat like a sieve at certain moments @JMill13

I wouldn't ordinarily speak up so directly to a healthcare worker but I have realised that actually her attitude toward me really put me at danger of ill health. If I had listened to her views and she had had control of a certain situation, my aneamia wouldn't have been picked up until much much later date. As it is even with medication it hasn't improved, just didn't get more severe. Which means I would have been really struggling from tiredness amongst other symptoms. I'm high risk on a few accounts anyway even if initially it doesn't come across.

Hey ladies!

I had my Hba1c test this week too due to my BMI..they definitely do not and have never (at least in the past 10 yrs) routinely tested everybody, only if you are higher risk and meet their criteria for it. Everyone gets the urine dips obviously to check for glucose.

Anyway good news here is my BMI hasn't increased so much to need further referral - phew! But I am measuring ahead, so I had a growth scan today. Little one is looking well and healthy, fluid levels appear to be normal for now too. It was lovely to see my bub again! 28 weeks and counting!

Sorry for the delayed response hectic day! - thank you all for letting me know about the sugar blood tests, I'm not overly worried, but will ask my MW again at my 32wk appt. I may invest in some dipsticks as well. x

I wonder if I could get your opinions on something...
Over the last two weeks I've lost 2 1/2 lbs and I don't know if I should be worried. My midwife weighed me 2 weeks ago at my 28 week check and was happy with my weight then. I'm seeing her again next week so I'll mention it then but do I need to bring it up earlier? My bump feels smaller but that might be my paranoia. We were only measuring on the 10percentile to start with so it feels like it wouldn't take much for her to be too small.

@superscientist i would phone your midwife just to check, put your mind at ease. It's probably nothing but better checking than not.
Have you been eating less? Could be that you're less bloated, body getting rid of excess fluid or something, but like any changes I'd say check with your midwife, if anything it'll keep your mind at ease.

@Superscientist I agree with @JMill13 to just call your midwife and get her opinion on it.. how are babies movements? It could well be that now the weather has cooled, you had some excess water that has now gone?

@superscientist when is your next midwife appointment? If you're worried and not seeing her for a while then could be worth a call incase she wants to bring your appt forward.

My weight has fluctuated quite a bit and I'm thinking it's probably just down to the fluid I'm holding on different days/different times of day.... i got weighed at the consultant appointment at 28 weeks then at 29 weeks by the midwife and I was down 3lbs on the week before, then at 30 weeks I was in hospital and I was up 4lbs again.
It's pretty normal for me to fluctuate a lot though, even pre-pregnancy.

Thanks my next midwife appt is Tuesday.
I don't think I have been eating less but I find it difficult to judge. I'm a bit worried that they will think I'm deliberately losing weight, I used to have anorexia /bulimia and struggle with weight gain.

I have been struggling with pregnancy nausea the last few weeks which probably isn't helping. I'm still able to eat meals OK but fluids are harder, the difference could be water weight as I was drinking quite a bit more a few weeks ago when it was hot and I was less nauseous.

Movements have been normal, she's getting quite forceful now! I was sat doing my cross stitch last night and her movements were actively moving the frame.

@Superscientist mine is the same, since the weekend her movements have been a lot stronger and we can see my bump move sometimes now. Last night I told my DH it felt like she was pummelling me! Such a relief after weeks of worrying about how little I was able to feel her.

@superscientist did you find you gained fairly steadily during the second trimester? Apparently weight gain in that stage is fairly typical, maybe. So maybe now you're coming out of the end of that phase you will taper off for a week or two before you start steadily gaining again?

I wouldn't think they'd be too concerned or judge you going by just one weeks weight change, but make sure you are drinking enough and not getting dehydrated. Maybe set yourself a fluid challenge if you are struggling to get enough ml's in with the nausea, like 50ml sipped over 15 minutes. Babies tend to take what they need and we get whatever is left over, so try not to panic just yet and just focus on little and often. I'm sorry you're feeling nauseous again! I always find if I let myself get hungry, the waves of nausea return, so again small snacks between meals? My body prefers carbs to help! Fingers crossed its short lived for you!

I don't know why paragraphs disappear, sorry!

My weight gain has been quite slow but steady between 1 and 3lbs a month, sometimes going 3 weeks without gaining anything.

I have had a look at my weights and I'm wondering if the "higher" weight is the odd one. I only have one weight for that week and it is 4lbs higher than the week before. If I look at my weight change over a 4 week period I'm about 3lbs up so consistent with previous weight gain. I think I'll keep an eye on it between now and Tuesday when I see my midwife.

It's just so hard, I've lost all my usual clues that I am eating right - do my clothes still fit, is my weight in my normal range etc. Even after 12 years I'm only free from it because of being vigilant for early warning signs. I'm going to try drinking a bit more to make sure I'm properly hydrated and maybe add and extra snack.

I've developed a really constant lower backache today, almost like the backache you get when your period is about to begin and you keep checking every time you go to the loo 😅- is this normal? Baby is moving away as usual x

I had the other day but I think it was the position she was in I thing she has got herself wedged front to back and where she was pressing against my abdomin and back was very achey. Not sure if this is the same

@squashie34 i'm not too sure although i have experienced the same, and i really don't like it!! But it only happens once every now and then, are you getting this feeling constantly?!

@squashie34 I've had this on and off but I think it depends how I've been sitting/lying/walking the dog.

@Oldestchild90s yes it's been a steady dull ache all morning.. doesn't come and go like a contraction or anything like that and no tightenings in my stomach? I did do some
Yoga yesterday and wondering if it could be that - I haven't exercised for ages properly 😅 but o also know sometimes backache can be a sign of early labour. Really don't want to phone the labour ward if I don't need to as I feel like I live there at the minute with reduced movements etc! 🙈

Mine was a steady dull ache, the abdomen side was a painful ache so I took some paracetamol which took the edge off and later it went completely. My plan had been to call the triage number had it not eased off. I'm sure they would rather you called them than sat at home worrying.

I have the back ache that feels like a period sometimes - I agree part of me literally thinks is that my period then I remember it can't be. Also have it where it feels like baby is kicking my kidneys or other organs. Plus sometimes just a dull ache if I've been on my feet for awhile. I haven't needed painkillers though, it's never got that bad @squashie34

@squashie34 when I went to my last antenatal appt the said my baby was back to back and my midwife asked if I was having lots of back pain so maybe it's that? She said if I do get pain to go on all fours for a bit to try and make her move to a more comfortable position for me, maybe that might help?

On other news just finishing my hospital bag packing. How many bits of clothing are you packing for your babies? I've got 3 lots of vests, baby grow, hat and scratch mitts. Do you think that will be enough? Although I'm planning a home birth it will be nice to be prepared enough if the worst case scenario should arise! X

@StephD2020 you're so organised! I've been wondering when to start packing my hospital bag (and what to put in it).

I've not really had much back ache as such but my entire body is feeling heavy and lethargic now. My legs feel like they've been filled with lead and I've got definite cankles now.
I finally succumbed and ordered a pregnancy pillow so going to try that out tonight as I haven't had a comfortable nights sleep in ages!