Due October 2023 Thread 8

[Chanteuse]

New thread for our October group - third trimester time!!

@monsteramunch scans for me too - one at 28w and one at 30w - next one is 34w. He was tracking the same line and is set to be a big boy 🙈

@LWestYorks it’s like being in the first trimester all over again with the bone-deep exhaustion, heartburn and food aversions. At least it’s normal!

Crossing legs is bad? 😳 I never knew that and cross mine all the time!

@Chanteuse not me reading this cross-legged

I don't think crossing your legs is bad! I'm just surprised I was told that.

The main Nhs sources say that it CAN raise your blood pressure temporarily, and CAN aggravate hip issues, and CAN increase ankle swelling -but unless you have any of those things, it doesn't affect you or the baby.

I hope this doesn't sound rude to anyone in the know, but I wondered if it was because she was "only" a sonographer, therefore it was something she picked up, but wasn't expert in?

@doeandfawn and @LWestYorks another one for whom the third trimester hit like a ton of bricks! 🙋‍♀️ Tired all the time and walking anywhere feels like a chore. Really not enjoying this as I'm someone who was very active pre-pregnancy ☹️ At least it's not hot 😬

@thecatsthecats Someone who had a big heart attack told me off for crossing my ankles too, said it’s bad for the heart so I wonder if it is related to circulation etc. When I cross my legs, my feet go blue 😱 but I still do

@LaVitesse2022 I’m the same, very excited to have the energy to go back to the gym postpartum but right now a trip
to Sainsbury’s and I’m in bed for a nap.

I had my 28w scan today - baby measuring bang on 58% and all other measurements also normal. My doppler was also normal which was a relief as last time it was a bit over the normal range. I have another scan in a month's time at 32 weeks.

They totally changed my team - consultants, midwife and now dietitian. But they failed to tell me this so I had a rather mama bear experience today :) I went full on with why is no one communicating anything to me and why am I at the hospital every day only to be told my appointments have been cancelled. I feel one needs to just fight for what feels right, if we just wait things don't happen.

Has anyone else been diagnosed with GD? It is again such a struggle with food - what I can eat and what I can't, I am hungry all the time.

They totally changed my team - consultants, midwife and now dietitian.

You get a team?! And they were consistent until now? Lucky!

Sorry, only kidding - it sucks, doesn't it? I don't have GD (have been referred to repeat the test), and my first consultant was fine with my measurements which were followed by a negative GD test. But then I see a new consultant on Monday who wants me to repeat GD - I feel like the first consultant would have made a different call. I was dragged around five different consulting rooms, dumped in one, where they weren't expecting me, and treated like an imbecile for asking a few brief questions to straighten out the next steps.

It's a bit galling to be told how your care should be by people who don't seem invested in being caring...

Re: GD, my husband follows something called the slow carb diet - I'd check it against the GD advice, because it's quite similar from my memory of cooking for a friend with GD. Lots of lentils and beans, as well as meat.

@thecatsthecats yeah similar experience here 🙁the thing was they booked me in for meeting consultant last months and told me she won't see me because it has been cancelled. But will see me today - now I was told her appointment was cancelled again and I was under diabetic clinic with a set of new people I haven't spoken to or met yet. I met two doctors yesterday but they are not the ones on my "so called team" :) so yeah all a bit of a mess. My app also has no updates and no results which makes me feeling in the dark as well. I requested these yesterday and today because I have a right to know what my glucose test result was. The answer from the doctor was "oh I'd put you on insulin already if your result would have be so bad" Seriously.

There's a great GD UK group on Facebook with tons of recipes but they all require a lot of cooking which I cannot always do. We are not all at home all the time. I do hope you test negative again because it is a lot of work with GD and a lot of extra stress. I also think you are right saying one consultant is fine with one thing the other is not - sadly that's just the nature of how they work. As a teacher I understand, I have my standards of practice that maybe someone else would find strict but I rather have all bases covered. I guess your consultant is doing the same thing.

With the lovely weather today and forecast, I was thinking about when to get all the babies clothes washed... I feel like it's too early but also beginning of September I am planning to pack hospital bag.

When are people thinking of getting clothes washed?

Honestly, we just had to let my lovely cat go after three weeks of appointments and treatments whilst we tried to get on top of helping her, and it was SUCH a better care experience.

Treatment pathways explained. Follow up calls. Medication carefully explained. Well-integrated care between different vets. And so much compassion. And actually, quite an interesting conversation about GD with one of my vets.

She actually told me that it was possible to refuse the test, whereas the consultant just said, "you'll need to come in to do another GD test". Which I'm willing to do, but I think it's cheeky to state it as a matter of fact rather than to spend five seconds explaining.

@Smiffette done loads of mine to be able to dry it outside!!

@Smiffette I’ve done all mine as it’s come into the house 😹 some of his clothes have been clean and in the drawer since May

@doeandfawn @katherine123x that makes me feel better as I'm itching to get it done whilst the weather is nice!

That will be my aim over the next week, all clothes and bedding and blankets!

@Smiffette absolutely
If anything I can't afford there tumble dryer 😂😂

@Smiffette I’m just trying to find all my packed away boxes then I’ll be washing as soon as they’re in the house! I’ve started my hospital bag already too 🤣

I was never this organised with my first but feel like with a toddler running around I’m just doing little bits as and when I can to hopefully avoid last minute chaos and stress!

I'm 30 weeks and haven't even bought (let alone washed!) the bulk of her clothes yet 😬

We're moving house over the next couple of weeks so really hoping that things calm down a little and I can enjoy nesting a bit once we are in.

Working full time in the third trimester is really hitting me hard, I'm absolutely knackered. Hopefully anaemia will improve now I'm on meds and maybe that'll help a bit.

Those of you in the third trimester, also working full time and with existing children to care for... I salute you and don't know how you do it!

@Smiffette I've also started washing mine :) Was waiting for a ray of sunshine to dry them outside - nothing beats that freshly laundered outdoors smell!

@monsteramunch we just found out today our landlord is selling the flat so we'll need to start looking to move very soon too. Honestly this is the worst timing as probably by the time we'll find something it'll be very close to due date, but leaving it just after baby is born is really unappealing. Was looking forward to just focus on baby stuff for the last 2 months... 😓

@peonygirl I got diagnosed with GD last week. It's really depressing. we are away next week and I couldn't put a menu together with food I could quickly cook... Chocolate and desserts is another thing that hurts me so much! I love my carbs 😭 I am in the gestational diabetes uk fb group. There are some good ideas but I am sick of peanut butter and eggs! Regarding appointments, I received today like 10 messages cancelling and rebooking appointments for me by the diabetes team. I hope you feel better than you did a few days ago. You are stronger than you are and you can do it! And given you are solo, who cares, take a huge luggage with you and put everything in! Hospitals are not ryanair/easyjet to weigh or measure your luggage/hospital bag!
Are you on any medication for GD?

@razzler991 compression stockings up to the knee: I bought them from boots, you need to take your measurements. I have varicose veins and one of my feet is badly swollen. Dr will prescribe me thigh high compression stockings but for these you need your blood circulation tested first. I hope you enjoy your holidays!

Regarding washing, I already started washing items, There are just so many things I have been given or still have from my daughter that I need to wash, on top of my normal laundry! I hope that by the time baby comes, everything will be washed and dry!

I had my 32-week growth scan. All is fine so far. The estimated weight now is 2.2kg which seems a lot as I had my youngest at 36 weeks whose weight was 2.5kg.

@Alexandra07 thank you for your kind words. I know I am strong but these past days were really hard on me - I cannot get through all the needles that are in the future. I was also told I'll need injections after c-section to prevent blood clots which doesn't help with my anxiety. I am part of the GD FB group and trying to tailor the diet but I am hungry a lot and I feel my body needs more sugar so I have headaches now. Currently not on medication but as I am still only 28w and insulin resistance spikes after 32w so we'll see how it goes. I had a feeling they like putting you on meds just so it is easier to control and doctor wasn't happy when I "reminded" him I am in the power to decline medication.

@Chanteuse I am moving next week and haven't got around packing yet! It is really unfortunate timing for you - I took a smaller apartment just because I didn't want to go into September still searching and then be between moves around early October. It is very stressful and I hate moving but it will be done, one way or the other. Try to take things as easy as you can.

Regarding washing - after you lovely ladies confirmed what washing liquid I should use, I now washed all newborn, up to 1 month and 0-3 clothes. I will wash the 3-6 after my move, there's no rush. @monsteramunch I highly recommend to look at Facebook marketplace for baby bundles of clothes - you'll get majority of stuff in one go, then you can buy individual items if you wish. I got absolutely everything I'd need for first 3 months so I won't need to buy any clothes for the little one. I even got Born in 2023 onesie :)

@monsteramunch I’m also on iron tablets 😂 not entirely sure they make a difference though 😇 still shattered ….

@NSx I've complained about being tires so much, that my husband asked me if I was still remembering to take the iron tablets 😅.