Due August (Thread 2)

[Beth262]

Starting a new thread as the first is almost full...

@Isonthecase @CoalCraft @KitsuneDream @netflixandnochill @smooshrasberry @seathistle @notsofertilemyrtle @Squatternutbosh12 @Glago2017 @madeleine85 @beckybloomwood11 @Gem2811 @PopGoesBang @Surprised12 @Cakecakecheese @Minnie296 @Unsure1010 @SantiagoSister @jeggles @LiMc1 @netflixandsauvignonBlanc @Mufflette

I've only tagged those from the last few pages of thread 1. Sorry if I've missed anyone!

Well now I'm feeling a bit upset/annoyed.

In my last pregnancy I had "irritable uterus" from about 19 weeks, which wasn't picked up as a concern at the time but in retrospect almost certainly was as the contractions became ever more frequent and eventually morphed into labour at 33 weeks, hence DD was born seven weeks premature. I was told that I would therefore be under consultant led care in any subsequent pregnancies and had assumed this would begin quite early (say 20 weeks) so that a recurrence of the problem could be headed off with plenty of time.

Well, after much chasing to actually get my referral processed, I rang them today as instructed and was told an appointment had been made for me... At 32 weeks. There is a real risk that my baby will have already been born by then

The lady on the phone said that if I have any problems before then I can always contact my community midwife and she can ask for the appointment to be moved forward, so I guess I just wait and see if I get "irritable uterus" again and if so, start badgering my midwife, but she was so dismissive of the contractions last time. I guess she might take them more seriously now, given my history.

I've had a family member generously offer to pay for a private consultation but obviously I'd rather not have to go that route. Will wait and see I suppose if I do get those contractions again and if the midwife takes them seriously if so. Just feeling down and a bit neglected.

@CoalCraft that’s awful! I had a premie (different location I’m in the us) but they’re doing a full transvaginal ultrasound detailed check at 16 weeks to preemptively check there’s no reason that my body is going to do the same this time. I went into labour at 31-32 weeks last time they managed to hold it off for 3 more, but I terrified of the NICU this time. Genuinely unless he comes early by some shock I’ll do anything I can to not go there. Can you talk to them again? See if your consultant will make an exception based on your history?

@madeleine85 NICU is no fun, is it? I'm glad they were able to delay your premature labour a bit. Unfortunately by the time anyone realised I was in labour I was already at 10 cm and wanting to push, so there was no stopping it. What annoys me is that if anyone had recognised my symptoms as threatened early labour I think it could have been stopped or delayed, but as everyone thought it was just ordinary Braxton Hicks, it wasn't picked up. I think they were thrown off because o wasn't complaining of pain, just tightness / discomfort, but real labour contractions weren't painful for me either.

I think my problem this time is that "irritable uterus" isn't really considered a medical diagnosis (I mean, does it sound like one?), and so my notes just say I went into labour spontaneously at 33 weeks for unknown reasons. There's no record of the warning signs that were there from way, way earlier, despite me telling every midwife I've spoken to about it.

Even so, given the birth was at 33 weeks, leaving the appointment till 32 seems rather late! I assume they're banking on me speaking up if anything worrying happens in the meantime ( and I will!)

I do intend to have a bit of a moan to my midwife at my 16 week phone appointment next week and just say I'm concerned.

Thanks for listening to my little moan anyway xx

@CoalCraft you have the right approach in mind, in my experience, taking to nurses/midwives has way more impact than raising your concerns to a doctor. Hopefully they listen and can put your mind at rest a little bit, otherwise you'll be showing up at the hospital every time you do have a braxton hicks contraction (understandably)!!

I'm feeling very sorry for myself today got an infected tooth so all swollen. Got antibiotics and taking paracetamol sparingly but does anyone have any home remedies for dealing with the pain or itchy gums?

Make sure to use saltwater to try rinse your mouth out @Gem2811. Good luck, tooth pain is just awful, and nothing solves it without dental intervention. Sending hugs

@madeleine85 thank you it was a fight even to get to see a dentist they weren't going to see me until next Wednesday as an emergency appointment 🙈

Thanks everyone. There’s no way I can travel back practically really. It’s a 5/6 hour round trip. Work would accommodate the appointment but it would mean repeating atleast that day of the course which would stop an accreditation and pay rise going through before my maternity as the courses are run on fixed dates which isn’t really in my interests.
It’s good to hear I’m not really missing much and reassured it’s normal in lots of areas.

I think I’ll just have to suck it up and get on with it. I’d probably miss an appointment whenever I did the course so it sounds like if anything this is the time to do it rather than later on.

I really hope I can feel movement by then. 14 weeks now and nothing yet. The odd strange sensation but could be all sorts, nothing definite.

Although remembering baby kicks feels like a life time ago I even though it’s only been 2 years!

@CoalCraft this is shocking. I’m consultant led this time after a haemorrhage / placental rupture at 38 weeks resulting in an emergency delivery and a very poorly baby. I concur NICU is no fun!
My consultant appointment is 24 weeks. My midwife was quite open and said they’re not that interested until the baby is viable but would be involved throughout the remainder of my pregnancy and would discuss a care plan to plan for the best outcomes this time.

I absolutely think you should complain. Start with your midwife but maybe even PALS etc. you deserve safe care.

I’m sorry it’s such an added stress for you!

Thanks to everyone with the doppler (misuse on my part) reassurance. I had the 14 week checkup today, and the doctor found the heartbeat quickly but complained that he was moving all over the place and she was having to follow him around :). Apparently my random cramps are probably dehydration related from increasing exercise now my energy is back/not drinking enough. Better drink up!

Sorry for the drama a few of you are going through. The sixteen week appointment is also not a big thing here and is considered a voluntary appointment and not needed if you don't need to go over the opt in blood tests from 12 week one.

I recommend the saltwater rinse for infected tooth. Warm the water first so the cold water doesn't hurt your tooth. Cold compress on cheek by tooth. Elevate your head when sleeping. Also heard of weird temporary solutions such as dabbing a little vanilla extract on the swollen gums, but haven't tried that one.

Keep getting strange sensations last couple of days. It feels like when a piece of your clothing is folded oddly and puts a little more pressure one side over the other. I keep adjusting my clothes, but not really going away so guessing it might be baby or uterus. Looking forward to getting to the definitely baby weeks instead of maybe something else. How did people cope pre pregnancy test???

Will be 17 weeks on Saturday. I might possibly maybe cautiously be getting some energy back, but still pretty wiped in the afternoon.

@Gem2811 Ouch! There is nothing fun at all about toothache! I second the saltwater suggestion. Just DO NOT swallow any you'll likely be sick... Made that mistake once...

@koalalala Thanks for the support and advice. The more I think about it the more I think that well, there isn't much they can do for me proactively anyway, so it probably just is a case of going into hospital if I get the contractions and being treated for them then... I just wish someone would communicate the plan to me. Maybe my midwife will in our chat next week.

If I do have to go in for the contractions, though, and they fob me off, then I definitely will complain. I know that a lot of women do get a lot of Braxton Hicks and everything's fine - in fact that's why I was so calm about it in my last pregnancy - but now I know from experience that in my case it's a warning sign and I won't just let it worsen into labour again. I'm determined!

I'm glad a sensible plan has been put in place for you and hope that it all goes smoothly for you this time. Your little one is okay now?

@ToCaden It could well be baby! I had my first definite kick yesterday at 15+4 - had my hand on my tummy at the time and my whole tummy jumped with it! It was a sharp little jab from inside 🥰

@CoalCraft I understand your anxiety. After my bleed they admitted me and scanned me and missed the placenta issue. They kept telling me baby was fine and I kept telling them the baby hadn’t moved once and something was very wrong.
In the end I got so assertive I asked a doctor to write on my notes what I was saying and show me because I wanted back up if this baby was dead that they ignored me. He scanned me again and I was in surgery less than 10 mins later!

Trust your gut and always know you know best!

@koalalala omg that is terrifying! I’m so glad you stuck to your gut/that your child is ok! Good reminder that only you know what’s going on inside you. Hopefully this time for you is very different

Anyone else's mood all over the place lately?? 15 weeks and don't know what to expect from 1 hour to the next!

@surprised12 definitely had days like that, mainly when I'm working. I've started adding a B complex vitamin to my regime and it seems to be helping for energy and mood. But before those especially I'd be excited, angry, sad, depending on the moment.

@surprised12 yep me! Had a tough day at work this week, and just couldn't shake it off in the way I normally would (and of course no wine didn't help!). Feel all over the show really mood wise - it's a roller coaster! Reassuring to know I'm not the only one

@surprised12 Feeling similar- been irritable and grumpy particularly for the last week! But then also swings between having the giggles and having a random cry as well. Sounds like loads of us are at similarly at the mercy of hormones! Hope you (and all of us!) feel a bit more normal soon! X

Quick Question - is anyone using an iron supplement they would recommend? My normal pregnancy vitamins contain iron but I’m super constipated (sorry tmi lol) and I think the iron isn’t helping.. but I do have borderline low iron level so feel just taking a little might help with energy. Just not sure if there are any brands that might not cause as many tummy issues!

@squatternutbosh12 my go to iron is spatone, not convinced it does anything but it doesn't mess up my digestion like the extra strong ferrous fumarate tablets 🤣

@Isonthecase Thank you! I’ll look into that one. Oh god yeah I had the fumarate tablets from GP a few years ago- NOT GOOD 😱 If spatone is even just a little bit of extra iron without the digestion woes it will do the trick!!

Morning all! (Apologies, long catch up message)

I’ve been offline for a while but dedicated a good hour to the feed yesterday fo catch up from page 14… Now up to date, so happy to see most scans and tests are back with positive results!

I’m finding pregnancy pretty wild and all a bit of a shock to be honest. My nausea is much less than it was (I read someone else had it bad around a similar time to me, mine was horrendous 5-10 weeks constantly). I’m bloated, tired, cry spontaneously, definitely relate to the grumpiness and I’ve had pelvic girdle pain since week 12 (hopefully starting physio soon).

I had a reassurance scan yesterday as I just wanted to see her 😍 and my 20 week scan is the 4th April, which feels like another long wait. It was amazing to see a proper baby in there, her spine, her ribs and she even started ‘drinking’ 🤢 opening and closing her jaw.

According to my dating scan I’m 15w6d today (due date 21st August) but yesterday she measured as 16w2d and 16w5d on two different charts! Got my 16 week appt with a midwife on Thursday so going to ask them what the best thing to do with that info. As they refused to do my PAPP-A test, perhaps this info might offer me more scans?

Hope everyone is feeling ok. It sounds like we’re all in a very similar boat with the hormones! 💛 Does anyone have any strong cravings or aversions? I’m obsessed with M&S’s BLTs at the moment.

@netflixandnochill hello! Nice to see you here again! So glad your reassurance scan went well- I actually had one yesterday at 17 weeks too as I just got myself all in a flap worrying something was wrong when I had literally no evidence there was actually anything wrong 🤦‍♀️ still, I feel reassured which was the aim! And it was so lovely to see his little face - had a free 4D ‘peak’ thrown in which was a treat!!
Although the sonographer scared us saying there might be a problem with his kidneys because the renal pelvis measurements were too large - spent ages studying them from different angles and then checked his chart only to say ‘oh actually for 17 weeks these are just fine!’ 😱
Most of my aversions have become less strong although I really can’t stand fish still (did like it pre pregnancy), and my food love is CHEESE. Omg this baby is obsessed with cheese, it demands it grated on absolutely everything. Or at least that’s my easier 😆

Excuse*!

[quote beckybloomwood11]@surprised12 yep me! Had a tough day at work this week, and just couldn't shake it off in the way I normally would (and of course no wine didn't help!). Feel all over the show really mood wise - it's a roller coaster! Reassuring to know I'm not the only one[/quote]
You've just described my week!! I'm so glad it's the weekend as I've had myself in a right bad place this week.
Usually a few gin's on a night would help - but obviously not now 😂

I'm praying in the next few weeks I can just be in a normal mood consistently. Fingers crossed l!