Due March / April 2022 2nd thread 2nd trimester

[Carolinesyear]

Hi everyone made a new thread for all the ladies due end of March beginning of April 2022. We are coming to the end of the first trimester, some of you have already crossed that important milestone! Some are starting to get bumps and sickness could be leaving, has anyone got that 'glow' yet... fat chance

Heyyy, I hope you're all doing well!

Has anyone found it near impossible to do. GTT test, I've done one about 4 times and I just can't keep the liquid down🥵

Do you know if there's an alternative?

I'm so worried as due to my ethnicity, I'd be considered high risk too.

I have hazy memories from Mumsnet that there is an alternative blood test they can do instead of the GTT. I think lots of trusts opted for that instead of the drink at the start of the pandemic. Cannot for the life of me remember what it's called, when it needs to be done by, if it can be used at 28 weeks, or what limitations it has, but I'm reasonably sure it exists! Seems pointless (and a bit mean) to keep trying to repeat the GTT.

I had what she called a "random glucose test" which apparently looks at your sugars at that moment in time and also somehow can tell how your sugars have been for the previous week. Done as part of my 28 week bloods as well as when I was 12 weeks.

Are you meant to have a routine 28 week blood test? I saw my midwife at 26 weeks and I think I see her again at 32 weeks. I’m 29+5 now so assume I’ll have them done at my next appointment if we are 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes we they want blood at around 28 weeks to do the second check of your blood type anyway

@Countingchicks Ahh, my midwife is pretty shit to be honest. Likes to spend my whole appointment telling me how she has to look after 200+ women as they are so short of staff. She probably forgot! I’ll mention it at my next appointment. 😊

@Nats7504 Is this the midwife who thought your bloods would be done at your 28 week scan which was also in lieu of an actual midwife appointment? Yeah....

I cannot honestly give a flying fig how busy, or how big her caseload is. Certainly doesn't matter that this your third child, she's missing or deliberately ignoring basics now. I'm actually getting worried for you that you and probably most to all of her caseload are getting neglected.

@Dyra Yeah, that’s the one 👍 as you predicted no bloods were mentioned and I didn’t see a midwife at that appointment.

I am a little disappointed by the care but feel sorry/bad for them so don’t like to moan. Although it’s my 3rd baby, my youngest as 12 next month so I’m like a first time mum again really. Thank god for Mumsnet as I have no clue! Maybe I need to be more vocal and go into my appointments better prepared 🤷🏻‍♀️

@theconfused not sure about alternatives, but I did my GTT yesterday and it was horrific. The drink was ok, but I got so lightheaded, the room was spinning and I had ringing in my ears like I was going to faint. Heart palpitations and the baby doing somersaults for the whole 2 hours. I got home and cried! I’ve felt rough, and hungover ever since. Wasn’t expecting it to be so awful

@Nats7504 I get that they're busy, but there's some antenatal care that, to my mind, is essential. Booking, 12 week and 20 week scan, and the 28 and 36 week appointments. Not got beyond the 36 week myself, but I imagine the 40 and onwards appointments are important too. Arguably the 32 week one as well, since it gives another data point for bump growth, and could detect late(r) onset GD and brewing pre-eclampsia. And what I've listed isn't even taking into account a high risk pregnancy! Iirc as it's been 10+ years since your last child, you should be treated as a FTM. I'm honestly fuming. You shouldn't have to be the one telling them what to do. Up to you if you want to make a complaint. I'm also not one for moaning or making a fuss, but the "care" you're getting isn't even the bare minimum.

Since I doubt your community midwife will get back to you, maybe try your GP to get your bloods done? Just say that they've been missed and hopefully they can slot you in with the nurse.

@Derbee Oh that sounds so awful. I remember mine from last time. Heatwave, just finished a night shift, and they forgot to mention I could still drink clear fluids..... So many attempts to hit a vein... Hope that a decent night's sleep will help you feel much better tomorrow.

@Dyra If it’s important I might give them a ring tomorrow and book myself in for them. It’s hard to know when to push and when to sit back and let it slide.

What did work end up doing? Are you suspended on full pay or did they find you alternative work?

Can’t believe I’m 30 week tomorrow. It’s fine scarily fast! We’re moving house end of March too. Was mean to be February (it’s a new build) but it’s been delayed. So looks like I’ll either be ready to pop or he’ll be a week old when we move 🙈 Not ideal

To my mind it is important, as it's keeping track of your blood cell counts (red, white and platelets). Not sure if it's anything more than a full blood count, but it still gives important information that might need to be acted on.

In the end I've had to take my remaining annual leave from 28 weeks to give my manager the "opportunity" to find somewhere to redeploy me to. That runs out end of next week. If she can't find anything, I'll be classed as self-isolating from then on, which comes with full pay. If she does... Well we'll see.

That is some very close timing on the house! I'm sure it will all come good in the end. I think no matter when baby arrives, you, DH and your older two will be laughing and telling stories about the move long into the future.

@Dyra I’ll give them a call and see what they say, bet they tell me to wait until my appointment 🙄

When would you like to have taken maternity leave from? I assume if they don’t redeploy you that it will kick in at 36 weeks? I submitted my mat leave request at 25 weeks and they’ve not even looked at it yet! (I work for a big bank and our HR dept is all online!) I don’t know whether anyone else is knackered or if it’s just me being older this time (I’m 38 next month 😫) but it’s going to be a long 7 weeks until I leave.

Close timing is one way to describe it 🤣 feel a bit sad that I won’t be able to nest and get things all sorted before he arrives but it is what it is. He’ll be born into chaos and with 2 teenage brothers it won’t likely change anytime soon 🤷🏻‍♀️

This thread has gone all quiet. Hopefully everyone is busy buying and getting sorted for their little ones. 😊

Third trimester exhaustion it seems! I think I've got PGP kicking in a bit now too, such fun 😒

@Countingchicks At least it’s a thing then and I’m not just being lazy 🤣

What is PGP? Im so clueless even though this is my 3rd that I’ve just ordered some pregnancy and baby books 🙈

@Nats7504 pain deep in the hips. More so for me when I shift my weight when seated. Pelvic Girdle Pain

@Countingchicks Ouch 😓 That sounds painful. Is there anything that you can do to help it?

@Nats7504 not sure, will ask physio but bump support belts seem to make my back pain worse

[quote Countingchicks]@Nats7504 not sure, will ask physio but bump support belts seem to make my back pain worse[/quote]
I have pelvic girdle pain, had it a since about week 22 (now week 31). I logged it at my midwife appointment and then a few days later I got an appointment for a physio, it's an online one and I've had to wait 6 weeks since logging my pain to have the physio.

There are videos on YouTube as well that I saw that give advice on stretches and movements which can help.

@Countingchicks I've also been using the support belts and haven't found them to make much difference.

An hour long bath in the evenings has helped as well as wheat heat bags when I go to sleep. I have a very active job where I'm on my feet all day.

@Nats7504 Happy 30 weeks! I hope your GP doesn't say that. I bet your midwife would be unwilling to do a blood test at 32 weeks, as 1) They wouldn't normally, and 2) According to my antenatal schedule, there's another blood test at 34 weeks.

As for mat leave triggering at 36 weeks, tbh I don't know. No-one has said anything. It's an interesting situation. I'm off because of pregnancy, but it's not a pregnancy related illness. Not sure they can force it.

@Countingchicks Ouch. That does not sound pleasant. Hope your physio will have some handy tips for alleviating the pain.

@Dyra Aww, thank you. ❤️ 10 weeks to go!

I don’t think I have a antenatal schedule, so have no idea when I’m due appointments! She just books the next one while I’m there. The doctor told me to ring my midwifes office so have left a message.

Hmm, that is a tricky one. You’re right in that you’re not off due to sickness but their inability to find you a suitable role. I’d personally be pushing for paid time off until you would’ve commenced your maternity leave if you were working. 🤷🏻‍♀️

That feels wrong that they didn't give you a schedule, or at least signpost you to where you can find one. Is there one in your trust's maternity website?

I tried linking these pictures of my trust's schedule a moment ago, so apologies if this is a second post.

Ok..... So the midwife's checklist went through, but not the appointment schedule. I'll try again in a bit.

@Dyra That’s super helpful, thank you. I don’t have anything like that in my notes which is why I have to ask you guys 🙈 My trust seem to be really short staffed and actually closed the labour ward due to it, they were making women travel 40 minutes away to another trust to have their baby!