Due June 2022 (thread seven!)

[PeeAche]

New Thread!

I also didn't look at growth charts etc... everything is always "fine" apparently!

Had the most horrendous acid last night, so bad it actually burnt my throat! I did stop taking the acid tablets from the GP stupidly thinking it had gone away!

I've started buying quite a few bits now and it's all building up in her little room

I am 24 weeks 2 days today and have my midwife appointment tomorrow. Anyone know what to expect at this appt?

@PeeAche you’re lucky you have anything in your Badger Notes!! From what I can see this app tells me f-all.

Luckily they give print-outs for the scans otherwise I would have no record of anything. Even the midwife admitted it was the first time they were all using it and most of the NHS staff don’t know how to/remember to enter the data. I hugely dislike having to use this stupid app and not having a clear paper trail each appointment. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@DaimDillyDoo I feel your pain with the acid reflux! I thought I could suck it up after having it since Dec but finally tried Gaviscon a couple of nights ago and it was BLISS. 😅 I hope yours settles with the tablets.

Am I the only pregnant person with a permanently blocked ear? Tried a balloon inflator thingy but it doesn’t seem to help. Such an odd symptom.

@Annabell1 and @mrkb thank you for the sports bra recommendations! 😊 I have a bra fitting on Saturday so will have a look at the ones you mentioned.

@rolledthedice Mine has just started today! I've had quite a snotty nose, another joy of pregnancy, so I assume ear is connected. Not sore, but I'll mention to midwife if it doesn't go.

For the few of you on blood thinners: are you also starting to struggle to inject into your tummy? My belly skin is starting to stretch now, with the bump getting bigger, and I cannot find a way to 'pinch an inch' anymore to inject into. I try to slouch, bend over, etc. to create a 'roll', but no luck. How is this working for others? And if you have had to do this in a previous pregnancy, when did you need to switch to thighs?

@fpeg, @AlbatrossSociety & @Lostintranslatio thanks so much, will buy my normal size & see how I go

@4thtimethecharm I'm 21 weeks and finding it a bit harder as you say, but i find I can pinch more if I go quite low and it also doesn't seem to hurt so much. It probably helps that although I'm not big I'm definitely an apple shape and still feel like I just have a bit of a belly rather than a very firm bump!

@4thtimethecharm also struggling. I’m now injecting more in my sides/muffin region. I’ve my next midwife appointment on Tuesday so gonna ask if I can switch to thighs. Tummy is also freaking me out that the needle will go through to my uterus!

@DaimDillyDoo @Rolledthedice I’ve just started getting the acid too! So vile!

Is anyone else hearing their own heartbeat in their ears? Apparently a form of tinnitus common in pregnancy. Fun!

20+3 with anterior placenta.... currently late getting ready for work because I can see and feel kicks from the outside for the First time!!! 😭👶🏼

Thanks @PeeAche there’s literally nothing in my app, but the midwife has emailed me the scan report.
Interestingly, I was told by the sonographer at the scan that I had a low lying placenta, but not to worry as in most cases it would resolve itself, and was booked in for a follow up scan at 36 weeks. The midwife who sent me my scan report was a bit less blasé advising no sex, no heavy lifting or vigorous exercise and that I shouldn’t fly and to keep the emergency labour number in my phone and come straight in at the first sign of any bleed
Qu me spending all night googling ‘ Anterior low placenta, touching internal os’ in panic. Fortunately, all the reports I’ve found were much more reassuring than the midwife, and I’ve got an appointment with my community midwife today too, so will double check a few things with her at my appointment.

I'm not looking for any solutions but I just fancy a moan.

It's 2-fold:

1. On Monday when I was trying to leave work for my 20 week scan appointment, a young woman I work with (25, no children, sharp suits, project manager) suddenly appeared with a load of "urgent" stuff I needed to have done "before lunch". When I explained that I was on my way out and that I wouldn't be back until after lunch she got funny with me and it was quite humiliating. It was obvious she thought the issue was my fault and that I was being obstructive by leaving for my maternity appointment. I ended up staying for 20 minutes extra to sort the stuff out. By some miracle I found parking fairly quickly at the hospital (I usually have to allow at least 15 minutes to find a space) so I wasn't late.

1. During my monthly 1-2-1 with my manager yesterday, he mentioned that my maternity appointments are "stacking up" and to be careful I'm not losing too much time. It's 10 appointments between November 21 and June 22. Including all midwife appointments, a re-scan (unsuccessful 20 week scan) and 2 OB/GYN appointments. I haven't booked anything "extra" like classes or exercise.

I have been an engineer for 15 years. I've worked on some really remarkable projects. I've had my work published in scientific journals and I have been at my current company for years and years. I'm not some vague, unprofessional, hardly-at-work chancer. Which is how I suddenly feel. I truly feel as though I've lost some of my professionalism just by getting pregnant.

Thanks for listening. ❤️

I'd just like to add this is my first (successful) pregnancy and I live an hour's drive from the hospital which compounds the issue of taking time off for appointments.

@PeeAche so sorry that your work is making you feel shitty, that's absolutely unacceptable. You're actually entitled to take time off for pregnancy yoga if you fancy it so for him to get snippy about your hospital appointments is ridiculous and added stress you don't need. Have they ever had a pregnant employee before!? It doesn't sound like it!

I'm self-employed and have quite flexible working hours on Mondays and Fridays so I've just had to squeeze my appointments into those, although the GTT one I think will be too long so may have to cancel some work but unfortunately won't get paid!

I have been here about 7 years and haven't met a pregnant woman in all of that time.

There was 1 pregnant woman in my last job and a pregnant woman in my one before that.

So yeah, 15 years and I've met 2 pregnant women at work.

The joys of working in engineering.

@peeache that sounds really unreasonable of them. I'd be tempted to raise it formally of you feel your HR would be supportive. Otherwise I'd swot up on some pithy responses that cite their legal obligation so you can stand up for yourself if it happens again, eg "this is actually quite a standard number of appointments, but if my baby's health requires additional time, I'll obviously need to take that too. I'm also legally protected for taking this time. Can you explain what you'd like me to do differently?"

@PeeAche what a pri**!!!!!!!!!!

@PeeAche That's really shit, please speak to your HR department and hopefully they take action by telling him to wind his neck in and hopefully put him on some discrimination training and ideally give him some coaching on how to support pregnant employees.

I know it's not the point and no matter what they do or how they handle it, it's still left you feeling shit. Be proud of yourself and don't be afraid to breathe fire to stick up for yourself!

What the actual fuck is wrong with managers sometimes. Some of them are totally brain dead (I'm a HR manager myself).

So sorry to hear @PeeAche! I’d definitely speak to HR. If nothing else, logging this concern might give you some additional protection should the manager get more arsey. Not that he can actually do anything other than be arsey - the law is extremely clear on this and he is very much on the wrong side of it.

@PeeAche that’s awful. They’re really need to be told of the law here because you could have their guts for this!

I would just respond “it is my legal right to take paid time off for maternity appointments that are recommended by a medical professional, and that includes time for travelling to and from them”,

@PeeAche I know you're not looking for solutions but I so agree with everyone else here! I'd politely but firmly say something along the lines of "sorry you feel that way, please feel free to raise any issues you have with appointments to HR as I'm actually legally entitled to go to them. I've been very fortunate that I only have 10 planned because others have far more than me. Just to let you know if I am advised I need more appointments I will be taking them for both my health and my babies and I suggest taking any issues up with the HR department."

For context I've already had 16 appointments related to pregnancy and by Monday next week it will be 18!

Asda George has lovely pram suits on sale.. from 16 down to 4.50

@PeeAche that is supremely rubbish and horrible. Sorry to hear they've been treating you like that.

I think I had my first actual kick today! Just stood up from the table after lunch and felt a little tap under my belly button.

It's the boost I needed today as I am SO nervy about the anomaly scan on Friday. I just want to know they are ok in there!

Do I need to go with a full bladder for this one? For my 12 week scan I was absolutely busting and she made me go to the loo because I was tensing up every time she pressed down which made it harder for her to get a picture

@growbabygrow yey for kicks! I didn't need a full bladder, and it said on my appointment letter not to. Worth a check in case yours has any info tucked away