Due August 2022 (3rd Thread)

[Beth262]

New thread - because I'm badly procrastinating with actual work today 😆

@squatternutbosh12 @Cakecakecheese @Shelly1812 @Coalcraft @madeleine85 @SantiagoSister @Mufflette @Gem2811 @ToCaden @RP90 @mamaof2girls @beckybloomwood11 @Isonthecase @Kcat82 @Unknown6 @strawberrysummer19 @Celyn22 @theotherfossilsister @PopgoesBang @Surprised12 @miltonj @BunnieMilk @Delight12

Sorry if I've missed anyone!

Thanks @CoalCraft the antenatal day unit were fab and put my mind at rest, I called them at 8 and was hooked up to monitoring hearing baby's heartbeat by 9!

I'm exactly the same with movements, they've moved to a totally different place and feeling much more pokey today.

New kind of movement today. First time i felt baby have hiccups.

I had a pizza for dinner last night and today I feel so constipated. So much regret! I also have mild cramps, but I think it's likely related to being constipated - has anyone else had this or should I be concerned?

@ToCaden Yeah I've been feeling hiccups for the past week or two, only sporadically so far but I used to feel them multiple times a day with DD1 so if her sister is anything similar they'll soon ramp up.

@beckybloomwood11 Uch, sounds like my life! I have to be so careful with what I eat at the moment to avoid constipation and pizza (and anything else heavy with lots of cheese) is definitely on the banned list 🙁

If I do get constipated then I get more contractions, could your cramps be that or are they more intestinal? My advice would be to take 30 mins to monitor the cramps and if it comes and goes in a regular pattern (maybe like one every 5 mins) then take yourself off to triage xx

Thanks @CoalCraft - the joys of pregnancy! I've had a couple of big glasses of water and that seems to have helped, will be keeping an eye on it tonight and will call triage if the feeling returns!

Anyone had their whooping cough vaccine yet?

I had mine yesterday. Was just warned about sore arm (which i def had) and possible fever. Woke up more congested than usual, whole body aches, sharp headache, and just feel rough and a bit nauseous. Had a fever which paracetamol seems to helping with.

Looked it up and these are reported side effects but wasn't expecting it after little to zero reaction to flu vaccine. Did anyone else feel rough after whooping cough vaccine, and when did it get better?

Sorry for the silence everyone, so baby girl is 10 days old it's gone so quick she's doing well, we're not out if the woods yet but she is getting better every day. I'm still in hospital to sort my blood pressure out as it's still high understandably but doing well.

@Delight12 glad she's improving and I hope she continues to do so. I hope you're doing ok, must be really tough.

@Delight12 so pleased to hear she is doing well 🙂 Hope you're making sure you're looking after yourself too x

@Delight12 very good to hear that she's doing well, I bet every day feels like a new milestone at this point. Hope you're being well looked after and managing to find some space to get your head around everything. xx

@Delight12 So glad to hear she's doing well, hope you and she continue on the mend xx

@ToCaden I had my vaccine way back around 16 weeks but didn't have any side effects at all... Sorry that's probably not what you wanted to hear!! Really hope it doesn't last too long for you xx

@ToCaden I had mine at 16 weeks too, and I did feel pretty bad with it- similar to you, fluey aches, sore arm, headache, temperature. It did last a couple of days actually but then quite quickly got better - paracetamol helped too. Take it easy and you’ll feel better soon!

@Delight12 so glad she and you are doing well! Hope the BP settles soon, sounds like they are looking after you both ☺️

@Delight12 happy she and you are doing well. Thanks for updating us. Hope your blood pressure improves soon and you are finding the time to rest and get your head around her sudden appearance.

Thanks for the replies guys. Fingers crossed am feeling a bit better this morning, just worn out.

Starting to feel the outline of his little feet when he kicks sometimes. It's somehow creepier to be able to feel the rough shape of his limbs through my body. Cute, but also a teenie bit horror movie-esche.

Uch, despite me taking two iron tablets a day my anaemia has only gotten worse, down to 101 from 111 at 12 weeks. Below 100 they start to think about infusions.

Weirdly I don't feel especially tired or anything, but obviously it needs sorting. I've been told to start taking three tablets a day but I honestly don't think it'll help.

And also the cat has done herself another injury.

Uch, just feeling glum.

Fabulous news @Delight12 😊

@CoalCraft may be worth asking about different types of iron, I can't remember the difference but got on great with either ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate and the other one didn't help at all. 2 spatone with orange juice was surprisingly effective too.

@Isonthecase Ooh that's interesting. I've been taking ferrous fumarate just cause that was originally prescribed, but maybe I should try something else 🤔

@CoalCraft I know, it's bonkers that it should make a difference but apparently they absorb differently. Worth a try anyway, worked for me 😊

@CoalCraft Taking it 3 times a day might be counter productive - more recent studies have shown oral iron absorption is actually better if it’s taken fewer times a day, and better still on alternate days. It’s due to oral iron intake increasing blood levels of a protein called hepcidin which regulates (obstructs) iron absorption for ~24 hours after ingestion of oral iron supplements- taken alternate days the effect of this is lessened and more iron is actually absorbed. Having said that, taking it just once a day in the morning is still better than 2 or 3 times a day, if alternate days proves hard to remember (it would for me!). British Society for Haematology guidelines for iron replacement in pregnancy reflect this research as of the past couple of years - you could chat about this to whoever’s prescribing you the iron perhaps.
Although if your iron is still dropping along with your Hb I would agree intravenous iron would be the way to go! I’m having that this Friday because my levels are also low and I just throw up the oral iron.

@CoalCraft ps. Sorry you’re feeling glum :( hugs, and hope your kitty gets better soon too! X

@squatternutbosh12 Yeah, I've read that too, hence why I'm very doubtful that taking more tablets will help, but explaining that to my midwife is probably a non-starter, so ho hum. I'll discuss it with my consultant when I get there but I'll do as I'm told in the meantime. I'm more or less resigned to having the infusion at some point anyway! At least I feel surprisingly well.

The one thing I do wonder about is why the assumption that it's due to low iron. As far as I know I've just had haemoglobin counts, and that can be low for other reasons. I guess it's just that iron deficiency is so common that it's a fair assumption.

Anyway. Nice long weekend coming and the good news is that we have a sensible treatment plan in place for kitty. Now just gotta wrestle a pill down her... 😁

@CoalCraft yeah that’s a good point, it’s worth having ferritin checked to prove iron is actually the culprit, and things like your thyroid and B vitamins etc if not. I agree it’s prob because iron deficiency is the commonest cause.. but I share your lack of enthusiasm for a wild assumption!
Glad kitty has a plan. I want a cat, aren’t they just the best? We’ll probably get one when the baby is a toddler!

@CoalCraft i recommend pill putty. Worked on my elderly cat who is a nightmare to get pills down. It's usually fur lost and both of us stressed. Didn't think it would work as she's a fussy eater and always able to find pills in her food, but wrapped pill and gave to her after a bit of putty on its own and it went down in one crunch with appreciative lip licking and requests for more.

@squatternutbosh12 Cats are great, we got ours when DD1 was about six months and it worked out really well.

@ToCaden I must investigate this amazing invention. Thank you for the recommendation!

Hi Everyone, I’ve been off here for a while, so just had a good catch up on the thread. Can’t believe we have our first baby already!!! @Delight12 huge congrats and so glad to hear you are both doing well.

sending hugs to everyone suffering at the moment. Entering the third trimester is tough!! I’m currently on 28 week, and definitely feeling the aches and pains when I turn over in bed, stand up, or really do anything out of the ordinary.

I’ve been looking into birth options again. Although this is my second, I feel like I didn’t even give the whole process the proper thought and attention. Luckily, my first was born naturally, at 37 weeks, with no issues. This time round, I’m quite a bit older (41) and rather overweight, so have been reading that in most cases, they probably won’t allow me to go overdue, but would look to induce. This has raised a couple of questions and I was hoping others may have experience or thoughts on it:

1 - has anyone had experience of being older, and is it likely that they will want to induce on sue date? My midwives are very non-commital about it all - in fact almost actively side-step the question.

and 2 - my immediate reaction is to say I would rather opt for a planned c-section, rather than go the induction route. I know many induction stories are fine, but I know too many people who’ve ended up with horrible labour stories or even emergency c-sections, which have taken ages to recover from. I guess my question is does anyone on the thread have any experience with this/opinions on the matter? I’m keen to hear what others have to say, rather than reading bare stats. And as I say, the midwives I’ve seen aren’t really open to having a conversation about it - just keep saying it can be discussed closer to the time