Due in June - Thread 11!

[PlodandPod]

@Brightsmoke
@EarlGreywithLemon
@fpeg
@PeeAche2
@pregnancydiaries
@Rolledthedice
@Vimto1991
@Annabell1
@Prema112
@Lostintranslatio
@Roxystar23
@PleaseSendNoodles
@imhereforthecake
@RoseValleyRambles
@t0nim92
@Yecats22
@AlbatrossSociety
@unknownscot
@beansprout55
@MrsNT
@Letsbekindplease
@GrowBabyGrow
@MrsTwentyNine
@Flowerbug1994
@DaimDillyDoo
@MsBubbles85
@Octoblockisadick
@C1ueless22
@CurryandSnuggle
@rathernotshare
@InvisibleDragon
@4thtimethecharm
@ALHCTPS
@RooSut25

@pregnancydiaries i just checked again following your guidance. So ferratin is 19 now. Previously its was 34, then prior to that 46 and then prior to that 30.

Haemglobin is 112 and range for that starts at 115 . Last blood test this was 109 so slightly improved but outside range slightly.

MY RBC count is also dropping :( ss attached

Thread 11 already - I can’t keep up!
I’m off for a half hour pregnancy massage this afternoon - a birthday gift from MIL. Unfortunately she booked the spa closest to her house rather than one local to me, so I’m hoping that the effects aren’t negated by sitting in the car for an hour each way at 34 weeks 🤞

@JAR1981 That photo is beautiful!! I thought it was an advert, you look amazing!! So good that you're negative still 🤞🏼

@PlodandPod I did perineal massage last time and found it v uncomfortable and still tore pretty badly so I don't have a lot of motivation this time...

@JAR1981 how beautiful!! If I had the confidence I would do this, too, but I could not do something like that. 🙈

got my final work meeting in ten minutes. Telling myself not to cry on webcam…. :) still feeling like I could keep going and cancel my annual leave but I should enjoy the time I have now relaxing.

@MrsNT my ferritin level was 19 at 25 weeks, which was when I asked to go on the supplements. It’s gone back up since then to about 30.

How are you taking your ferrous sulphate tablets? I know it’s a bugger timing them around dairy and tea, but I assume you are leaving a 2 hour gap so they absorb fully? I also drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice just after taking mine.

You can ask the GP to also check your B12 level as that can sometimes cause anaemia symptoms. A ferritin of 19 just means the iron stores are a bit low, but as someone else says it’s the HB that they really keep an eye on. Definitely chase up with your GP though.

@JAR1981 Omg I love your photo! You both look gorgeous and so happy! Thank you sharing it with us all. 🥰

Hi all, i've just come across this thread, am 35 weeks today! You guys all seem a friendly bunch, random question but at what stage should i be looking at getting nursing bras? First time mum at 40 years old through IVF so its all new to me.
x

Omg @JAR1981 I totally thought this was an advert!!! That picture is insanely beautiful 😍

@MrsNT it's so frustrating when you feel rubbish and they won't do anything about it. Just make sure to get them checked again in about a week or two as the Hg can drop pretty quickly xx

@Rolledthedice
Im taking them at lunch time 🤔i didnt realise i had to leave a gap between food and iron tablet time 😖
Maybe thats y 400mg is not making a difference.
I cant have it in the morning as i take thyroxin at that time and those 2 conflict with each other. Will start taking before lunch time now but as yoy said given how we are eating all the time now difficult to space out right

@Letsbekindplease it was totally fine. It took about 3 hours in the hospital in total because they monitor baby's heart on the CTG and make you hang around for adverse reactions. Felt exhausted after it and had a sore head this morning but that's passed now.

Wouldn't quite say I feel like a "new woman" but hopefully will stop me feeling any worse.

Definitely chase up those Hg levels but it really is frustrating that you have to be so deficient before they intervene. I could of done with the infusion weeks ago!!

I can't keep up half the time anymore haha!

@DaimDillyDoo and @GrowBabyGrow glad everything OK with you 2!

@beansprout55 I felt like that at 31/32 weeks, but since I hit 33 weeks baby dropped a bit and my breathing is so much easier. As long as I have a pee often and don't let my bladder get too full I'm honestly finding this last week a million times easier than the previous 3 or so.

@Letsbekindplease I keep getting daggers too! It's so uncomfortable but hopefully means baby is nice and low so I'll take it haha.

@unknownscot I keep debating perineal massage but don't actually know if I would be physically capable of reaching to do it at the moment 🤣. The newest evidence seems to say it doesn't really make any difference (evidence based birth did an article and podcast about it), but can't see that it would hurt trying (except for how uncomfortable it is supposed to be).
I would personally look at some research about induction vs c section, and weigh up pros and cons and see how you feel. It's your body and your choice which you go for (or neither if you decided not to).

@RoseValleyRambles me 🙋‍♀️! I've got about 3 things I can actually wear so I'm on a never ending cycle of washing haha.

@PlodandPod either maternity leggings or a stretchy summer dress in a bigger size for me I think to go home in.

@fpeg I've read that it's the hormones released by the placenta detaching from your womb that triggers milk production, so in theory being prem shouldn't matter. My midwife has okayed me starting harvesting colostrum even though I'm early, just said to stop if any signs of cramps. On an evening I'm sitting watching TV milking myself like a cow, it's ridiculous 🙈🤣.

@JAR1981 that picture is just gorgeous 🥰

Welcome @NorthDevonBeachLover not long to go! I was told when I had a fitting at about 12 weeks (due to going up 3! Sizes in that period of time) to come back 2 weeks before due date and they'll fit me for afterwards. Hope this helps!

@Octoblockisadick thanks for the info that's really useful!

@Octoblockisadick Are you getting much milk?? And what's the advantage of harvesting before birth? I haven't heard of this x

@fpeg thank you, that's really helpful.

Ah thanks ladies, the photographer did such a great job and completely put us at ease. So pleased we went for it and got them done - @Vimto1991 was well out of my comfort zone too (especially the ones where my modesty was protected by only a scrap of material! 🙈)

@Vimto1991 sure it will feel amazing when you close that laptop tonight!

@Jammymare enjoy the massage I do hope it’s worth the drive.

@NorthDevonBeachLover welcome! I have bought a couple of nursing bras from seraphine for the hospital bag and initial week or two. They just come in a S,M,L I think which makes it easier although I am literally still an A/B cup (the one pregnancy symptom I really wanted and sadly didn’t get even a sniff of) so if you’re more blessed in that department it prob makes sense to go for a proper fitting.

@MrsNT I found mid afternoon is easiest for timing the iron tablets. You’re supposed to avoid taking them within 1-2 hours of eating dairy, eggs, or wholegrains. That’s pretty much all mealtimes ruled out for me! I also have them with a glass of orange juice, which helps with absorbtion although it’s not helping the heartburn

@JAR1981 beautiful photo! Hope your test is negative. I didn’t catch it from my husband when he had it in February, although he took three days of symptoms to test positive (on PCR only!) and we didn’t isolate him until then. I actually did an antibody test afterwards, out of curiosity, and it was negative. But doing all the cooking, extra cleaning, looking after our daughter and working for a whole week nearly broke me. So I have a lot of sympathy!

@NorthDevonBeachLover I also went for my fitting 2 weeks before my due date last time. It seemed to work!

@Vimto1991 enjoy the rest over the next few weeks and don’t feel guilty. Being well rested before the birth helps a lot in the early newborn days I think!

This is so interesting about the timing of iron tablets! GP rang yesterday to say my latest bloods put me in the anemic category so I've been prescribed iron too. They'd been quite high (esp for a veggie) and they've plummeted in the past few weeks. But if you have to avoid dairy (I assume because of calcium) that would make sense because it's about 5 weeks since I had to take Gaviscon after every meal for heartburn...because that has calcium carbonate in it! So maybe that has impacted my ability to get iron from my diet.

Thanks guys, stuck to my guns and won’t let myself feel guilty for taking time for myself!!

on another note, anyone had sudden LOTS of movement? I’m sat in a meeting, and baby violently started kicking/punching for about five/ten seconds. I’m worried, they’ve not done that before, not sure if I was sat weirdly, or they were just moving to get comfy. Feels weird calling triage with a move, as I know it’s normally for no movement?

@JAR1981 Such a lovely photo, makes me wish we had decided to get some done now! I don't blame you for buying lots of them 😊

@NorthDevonBeachLover Welcome! You've given me another thing to add to the list with nursing bras, thank you 😂 I hadn't even considered needing to go and get measured!

@Octoblockisadick I think I'm on the same page as you. Not sure I can actually reach and also wondering whether it will really be worth it for the perineal massage. May give it a try a few times and see how difficult it ends up being!

@Vimto1991 I discussed reduced movements with the midwife a few days ago and she said there was no such thing as too much movement. If you're worried though I would say it's always best to call for advice. Trust your instincts 😊 xx

@PlodandPod yeah and my best friend said she had something similar in her pregnancy, but triage have told me to come in to get checked. Cue nervous wreck as DH drives an hour to the hospital.

Glad you're going to get checked. Keep us updated how you get on 🤗 hope all is okay

@MrsNT I think the main thing is to not have dairy or any black tea within 2 hours either side of taking the iron. It’s a pain working that into your day though! I try take my iron at about 3pm so after lunchtime but before dinner.

@GrowBabyGrow yes I think the calcium is the main inhibitor of iron absorption, alongside tannins in tea. I try and avoid taking iron too close to bedtime now as it really sets off the acid reflux and all I want is Gaviscon!

@pregnancydiaries I agree it’s ridiculous that they let our iron stores drop so low before offering anything. I had to demand a Ferritin test at 25 weeks because I could tell I was on my way to becoming deficient and wanted to intervene early. Glad you are feeling better! x

@Flowerbug1994
So being an IVF baby they want to induce/section at 39 weeks.
I'm so so so anxious about it all that I'm pushing for 38 weeks.
Consultant agree induction at 38 weeks if I really want.

I'm just in two minds about it all.

My ferritin has dropped again too so back on iron tablets. Eugh!!