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!

Hi ladies, just checking in to see how you all are!?

I'm 28+5 and just got off a telephone appointment with the health visitor where she basically just introduced herself and explained what they do etc. I was on the phone over an hour!
Also, just had a text from midwife saying my '28 week' appointment will be going ahead as normal tomorrow so thats good news.

@mable88 just make sure you take some food with you that you can eat afterwards straight away after the blood tests. And it does sound like your trust has done well to keep things very similar. Hope it goes well though.

Oh good @Newmama29 it's so hard knowing what is normal isn't it?

@cannotmakemymindup I intend to have a handbag full of snacks to eat before driving home 😂 my main worry is that it says to eat nothing tonight after 10- including Gaviscon!! I always wake up in the night with heartburn and pop a couple, so I am preparing for an uncomfortable night with not much sleep

@cannotmakemymindup I just had the blood test, only certain people are getting glucose tests but they said if the blood test results raise any concerns they'd call me.

@Newmama29 increased discharge is very normal, I seemed to just be losing a lot more one day and also it coincided with some reduced movement so they wanted to check. They did a swab and it confirmed it wasn't waters fortunately. If you're worried always worth calling though.

@cannotmakemymindup @2020Aug thank you for the reassurance! You just never know what’s normal & what’s not & I don’t want to be phoning the maternity unit for every single thing haha!

Anyone else based in Scotland? Was does your 28 week app entail? I have mines in a couple of weeks, the last app I had was 22 weeks & the midwife never mentioned what would happen. Obv they do your BP, urine & Doppler but do they do a glucose test at this time?

I had BP, urine sample, listen to baby and bump measurements. Didn't really seem like she had much time, but then again she never seems like she has much time. I was supposed to have standard bloods to check for anemia, but she couldn't get any from me, so she will do them at next appointment.

Thanks for the new thread @cannotmakemymindup!

I went for my anti-D injection today, was braced for it to be painful but it was totally fine. The hospital was so bloody hot though, has me dreading giving birth in August now! That's the last of my weekly May appts (I've had an echo, a GTT and a consultant review, plus 28w appt), and I'm pleased I've got nothing booked in now until 31w, and that all those tests have come back clear! Discharged back to midwife led care now.

Have tried to post this twice and have no idea why it's not posted 🙈🙈

But will try again. My friends recommended I buy "My expert midwife - Spritz for bits" for my hospital bag, so thought I'd pass on the knowledge to you guys as both of them swore by it. I ordered it from Boots but they have a website of their own and I'd imagine other places sell it too. One of my friends that recommended it said she didn't have it after her first baby but did after her 2nd and said it was the best thing.

Really stupid question here, but as a first time mum I've never been in labour before, and we'll I just wondered how do you know your in labour and what does it actually feel like.

Thank you for starting the new thread.

Has anyone been sent for a growth scan yet?

Bump is measuring on the large side, so I am being sent for scan as it currently puts baby over the 100 mark on the percentile chart.

They don't routinely test for gestational diabetes in my trust, so wondering if its that.

@JMill13 I've heard of this actually!! They do quite a few different bits don't they? Definitely going to buy some and I agree with @heroineinahalfshell when I was at the hospital yesterday it was SO hot! I was only lying on the bed on the ctg monitor and I was sweating, so much so my heart rate was 111🥵 so I ordered a small handheld usb fan from amazon for my hospital bag today! Would definitely recommend packing a fan as imagine what it will be like in August!

Here's a question- is anyone considering perineal massage and/or buying an Anibal to try and stretch down there pre birth? It horrifies me (haha) but I'm wondering whether to give it a go if it means no tearing.. I've got NO idea how I'm meant to get a baby out of my lady garden, the dr struggles getting a small speculum up there for a smear 🤦‍♀️ feel like I'm going to end up with one big hole like a cave! 😅

@Newmama29 I had a mild freak out a few weeks ago when my underwear was soaked - two thoughts were sweat or leaking fluid. It was a warm day and my office chair can be hot. I put clean pants on and some leggings as I was wearing a dress so didn't have a layer between me and the chair. I stayed bone dry! Definitely getting sweatier down there! I try to keep in leggings or tights now and not had a reoccurance. Obviously don't automatically rule out fluid and get checked out if you are concerned it is better to be safe but sweat can definitely be a cause!!

I had my 28 week check today, usual BP, urine test and she listened to the heartbeat. She also did my fundal measurement for the first time and weighed me because i was unsure whether to be worried about my weight gain or lack of.

@ml01omm my understanding is that the fundal measurements can be a red herring sometimes. There are many factors that can influence it. The scan will give a better idea, gestational diabetes can be a cause of bigger babies. I imagine they will test if the scan is also on the high side. It's all a bit subjective a colleague of mine was told she was having a big baby - she had it a few days later a smudge under 7lbs!

@squashie34 I’ve ordered some perineal massage oil, I figured I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving it a go!! FTM so no previous experience but a word of warning - my friend told me that by the end of her pregnancy she had to get her husband to help her as she could no longer reach the required area... but I will be starting in a couple of weeks, the oil comes with instructions and there’s a page on it in one of my pregnancy books, so will give it a whirl!

@mable88 can I ask which oil that is?! I'll definitely order some especially if it comes with instructions as I haven't got a bloody clue what I'm doing 😆 our poor partners! I'm not sure whether to ask my partner to help me by the end, he might think of it as a starter to something else and poor him, doing the deed couldn't be further on the bottom on my list of things right now 😩 my libido has disappeared as much as my ability to see my knees 😂😂

@squashie34 yeah they have a full range of stuff. I haven't had a look yet as I was about to stick an order through for makeup from Boots (not that I'm going to need that any time soon, need a beautician to sort my eyebrows first 😩😂) when my friends text so quickly added that into the basket. There's so much stuff to think. Right there with you on the thought of pushing baby out down there, smears have always been a dreaded nightmare for going up there but I figure it's nature whereas smears aren't really and women have been doing this since the dawn of time, it must be able to stretch enough.

I have been wondering about these creams/sprays as I am hoping to have a VBAC this time. Good to have recommendations. I keep seeing the advert for that brand on Instagram @JMill13 so may try through that as I'm sure they're offering a discount.

@ml01omm I haven't yet been sent for one but like you I'm measuring big currently. So midwife said yesterday if next measurement follows same trajectory then she'll send me off for a scan. However I am not sure if, bit TMI, fundal is measuring big because I am constipated currently. Iron tablets have not helped at all obviously with that. So I'm thinking has baby got pushed out because of limited space?

@Feelthefear01 how come the midwife couldn't get any blood? What week will you be for your next appointment? Sorry you are not getting the care you should be. Yesterday was my best midwife appointment since my original booking in as I had a lovely one, who I am hoping to see again next time because like you I find the other one very quick and dismissive of lots of things and not thorough at all.

@squashie34 I went for this one off Amazon.
Weleda Perineum Massage Oil, 50 ml www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000OS135E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_R4rZEbEGYHAMG?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 It’s literally just arrived so not used it yet but it smells really nice! My friend had the spritz for bits which she said was really good, so I might get some of that as well for the old hospital bag!

@cannotmakemymindup I have always been hard to bleed so it's not really her fault. That was my 28 weeks appointment last Wednesday, she has booked me in again next Wednesday to try again. She is a lovely women just not very proactive, such as forgetting to call me for my 25 week review and forgetting to call me to give me urine results for a suspected infection. I don't mind these things too much as I'm a nurse so know where to find results myself from the urine (and have dip sticks at home) and also know the symptoms of anemia, however know nothing about pregnancy so sometimes can feel let down by her.

How is everyone doing? I'm feeling the exhaustion too, feels like third trimester hit me like a train lol. Can't believe I'll be hitting the 30 week mark in just a couple days, it feels so real and there's so much that still needs done. Is anyone else nesting like crazy? The nursery is still a wreck and I'm freaking out over it a little.

@mable88 Good luck with your glucose test! I wasn't allowed to have any antacids the night before either and also get awful heartburn at night so it wasn't fun and didn't help my mood but once it's over get some and a nice meal. Fingers crossed for good results for you. I should be getting a call about mine today.

@ml01omm I have a growth scan scheduled for a couple weeks out as I measured small. My doctor said it's most likely just the way I naturally carry though, so it could be you carry bigger? I know gestational diabetes also can cause bigger babies but I always thought it tended to be right at the end as they pack on a lot of fat. I could be wrong though. I hope it goes well

@Feelthefear01 Well at least she's not leaving it to long between trying to get the blood. It's a good thing that you are in a position of knowledge though and can follow up on things. I think at this time it's what a lot of us are having to do as the care isn't quite as continuous as normal. I certainly had to tell the midwife I needed full bloods yesterday as requested by my consultants team as she hadn't read that bit in my notes before I had gone in and was surprised it was so many different checks. She nearly had to do it twice as she needed so many vials for all the tests needed and had missed one off her list.

I do find it a bit concerning what I read on this thread about the things being missed and not followed up. I'm lucky to be in the position I am in but some people would either not want to speak up or wouldn't know where to go to chase results or to seek advice/ support. I'm hoping this is just down to the covid 19 outbreak and not normal practice, but as I said before it's my first pregnancy so have no idea.

Thanks for starting a new thread 🙂
I also have my 28 week appointment tomorrow and as sad as it sounds I'm really looking forward to this one. My last baby was undiagnosed breech so I'm very paranoid this one will be too, I'm hoping she can tell me how this one is lying and also curious to find out how I'm measuring as I feel massive this time (although i know it's not very reliable)
I'm definitely 'treating' myself to one of the expert midwife packs, I've seen there's a discount code for 20%. Hopefully I'll be able to have a vbac this time so I'll get to try it all out. It comes with oil for massage too I think.
This weekend has been a struggle, just so lethargic which is difficult with a 3 year old about pushing the boundaries. Feeling very uncomfortable in the evenings so got my exercise ball down and sat on that for an hour- was so nice!

Hey all! Hope you're all well💕

Currently in hospital with my little one as I decided to rumble down the stairs and have had bleeding since, had a little scare earlier too as they thought my waters had gone but luckily not. To make it even better the baby's fathers sister is at the hospital having hers so I'm hoping I don't run in to her😩.

Hope you're all well and baby's are safe 💕💕💕

Thanks everyone! I’ve just ordered the spritz for bitz, perineal massage oil & nipple balm. They have a discount for 20% off when you spend over £45 so that’s why I got the nipple balm along with it. I’ll try anything lol!

@Chez2306 oh no that’s scary! I hope everything is ok & let us know how you get on 💗💗

@Chez2306 hope all is ok for you both.
@newmana my nipples have been so sore recently I was thinking of cream too even though it seems early.
@mable88 can you take some preemptive gaviscon at 9.59? See you through a little maybe?