Due June 2022 (thread five)

[PeeAche]

New thread!

@PeeAche how did it go?

@pregnancydiaries Aargh, that sounds awful. This pregnancy lark is no walk in the park, is it?

Had my scan today - there was an actual real live baby! Thankfully just the one!

Drank so much water beforehand the baby was all squashed up and the midwife sent me to empty my bladder out a bit

@pregnancydiaries and @RoseValleyRambles I think dizziness on pregnancy happens because our blood pressure goes down a bit anyway. So if your BP was already on the low side it can drop enough to make you feel dizzy.

Some things that I find helpful for managing this (pre-pregnancy, but the same still applies):

• drink loads of water every day
• eat a bit more salt
• have slightly cooler showers and make sure the bathroom is well ventilated - doesn't have to be freezing, but if it's really hot and steamy your blood vessels dilate to try and lose heat through your skin, so your blood pressure drops even more
• try not to spend ages lying in bed when you first wake up. I always feel more dizzy after a lie in at the weekend.
• if you've been lying down, sit up for a bit before standing up
• try to eat something and drink some water first thing in the morning before doing anything (especially taking a shower)
• baths are the devil's pond and should be avoided. I can never have a bath without basically passing out. Unless it's tepid, which is pointless.

Probably you are doing as much of this as you can already, but just wanted to share in case there's something useful there.

@PeeAche yes! I've a legit fear of being in labour in the car. I'm a good hour drive from the hospital, a lot more during rush hour. For now, I'm telling myself that's next year's problem.

Just had a phone call to say my Harmony screening came back all low risk and..... what we have been referring to as a HE is actually a girl. I was so convinced it was a boy! No less delighted, however

@Starbeach and anyone else that fancies a read - 1 live and very active baby inside me - but overall, a terrible scan.

Gynaecology called me this morning to tell me I had to go in and have scan on tummy and kidneys and that this would be my 12 week and replace my scheduled scan on Thursday.

When I arrived, it was at Ultrasound instead of Antenatal. Sonographer complained all the way through because she shouldn't be doing baby scans. No nuchal screening, not allowed any print outs, screen turned away from me so I had to crane my neck but still literally saw nothing.

Sent back to gynaecology and told to ask for EPU. Gynaecology got annoyed and told me EPU only runs in the mornings and why am I asking anyway. Explained the situation and they still couldn't fathom why a person with a kidney infection wants pregnancy care. Explained I'm pregnant and then they got even huffier and asked why I hadn't been booked in the morning. Told me to wait outside until someone became free - said it might be a few hours.... so we left. Just walked out without causing a scene or saying a word. No idea about the state of my kidneys but stopped caring really. Baby is fine.

Planning to call antenatal tomorrow and ask them if they can still see me on Thursday. Have a do over and maybe get some photos of baby. Plus, as an older mum, I really don't want to skip the screening, if possible.

Also planning to call my midwife tomorrow and ask her to escalate the kidney thing with my GP. Fed up. And no gorgeous picture of a baby to show off.

@PeeAche that’s awful they should do it again if you want the screening 🤬 hopefully they treat you better complain all the way. I’m older too at 38 almost 39 so I wanted it done

@PeeAche I’m so cross about this, you deserve so much better. Congrats on seeing your baby though I hope you were able to enjoy that for just a little bit xxx

@PeeAche that is absolutely pants. Did the grumpy sonographer at least deign to tell you if your kidneys were ok?

Definitely try to get the scan reinstated - the screening is important.

@Clomid1 Hi thanks for your reply, they have said at 15 weeks they would do the QUAD test does that not cover the others?
They haven't asked me back for a rescan is this something I should/could have asked for do you know?

Thanks for your advice in relation to the NIPT

@PeeAche definitely push for another scan! She couldn't do the measurements at my first and she was really grumpy - my husband said she was a dementor and sucked the life out of his whole day.
Was dreading the rescan but the second sonographer couldn't have been lovelier. Really flipped the entire experience on its head. Fingers crossed you get the same 🤞

Attending scans question!

Partners can go now cant they? When I recieved my scan appointment letter it had a covid leaflet in for the NHS stating attend appointments alone and have a negative lateral flow. I'm sure this isn't the case anymore but it's still made me unsure. I'll call the hospital later this week to double check.

@Olive60 im sure they can now ! I had family member who lives in a different house hold come to my scan and nobody said anything, but i guess it might just depend on your area

@Olive60

Attending scans question!

Partners can go now cant they? When I recieved my scan appointment letter it had a covid leaflet in for the NHS stating attend appointments alone and have a negative lateral flow. I'm sure this isn't the case anymore but it's still made me unsure. I'll call the hospital later this week to double check.

I had my partner with me for mine, we were just both asked to show negative results for a lateral flow. Might depend on your NHS trust though!

I had my other half there and no one commented on it so I think it’s ok xxx

@PeeAche So sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience ☹️ I would definitely push to have the Thursday scan still. Hope you're doing okay xx

Hi friends, about 7ish, the hospital rang and gave me some news:

1. I'm 11+5 not 11+3 as initially thought so my due date is now 22nd June
2. Despite every single dipstick test coming back negative (and all the doctors and nurses treating me like I was mental for claiming kidney pain - guys, I was bent double and crying!) my culture test has shown that I definitely have a bad UTI
3. My kidneys are not filling and emptying properly.
4. I have received a new prescription for antibiotics which I collect tomorrow

It's been 2 days of hell but I am finally getting somewhere.

And yeah, I took my partner to the scan with no issues.

Omg. I have other news too: My sickness is subsiding. Like, properly. For anyone that hasn't been following my puke-plight (because it's hardly the most interesting thing in the world): I have HG and have had very bad dehydration. Hence, the kidney drama.

The sickness has calmed right down and so suddenly as well!!

@PeeAche sorry to read about shit scan. Glad they’ve got to the bottom of the pain and you’re getting the right treatment. Please push for another 12 week scan though, you shouldn’t have to forego the proper experience and screening for their incompetence!

And whoop whoop to your HG subsiding 🙌

@Olive60

Attending scans question!

Partners can go now cant they? When I recieved my scan appointment letter it had a covid leaflet in for the NHS stating attend appointments alone and have a negative lateral flow. I'm sure this isn't the case anymore but it's still made me unsure. I'll call the hospital later this week to double check.

My hospital had updated covid advice on their website which was more up to date than what was in my letter. Still said we had to have a negative lateral flow (but I've been to the hospital twice now and nobody has asked me for it!) OH was allowed in for the scan. At our hospital They just offer you a fresh mask on the door/hand gel if needed. The scan person made us wash our hands too!

anyone else getting headaches all the time ? Im 13 weeks and i thought they would fade but whatever i do it wont budge, my appetite has came back the past few days tho which is great because from 9-12 weeks i could hardly eat!!
i keep myself hydrated and i eat when i need to so dont know what else to do about it😂

@jennixxx Yes to headaches, seem to be a daily occurrence 😩 Sickness has passed and is rare for me now but has unfortunately been replaced by some horrific headaches. Have been taking paracetamol when they're really bad but that's about it! x

@PlodandPod its horrible isnt it??! My sickness has passed too but now its these awful headaches. daily for me also they just wont go away no matter how much sleep i get, how much water i drink or how well i eat!! paracetamol isnt even working for me which is soooo annoying ! The joys

@invisibledragon that is such useful advice, thank you! This will be really helpful if mine gets any worse. Had a good giggle at the bath bit...