Due July 24 - Part 2

[MixedCouple]

Started a new thread as the last one is full.
Got my apt letter today for my scan in Jan will be the 11th should be 12w 3D.

@Oatmilk - it is tough but what else cam we do. Have no other choixe but to suffer and keep going. I reflect very very often in the ease of my last pregnancy. Naps when I wanted. Sleep in when I wanted. Just really self centered 😂 now I am lucky to put my feet up for 10mins.

I just think loooooads of women have done, are doing it. And I need to suck it up.
My Nausea is easing up a little the last couple days. So hopefully it goes soon.

@Chloemac - yes totally normal, midwife asked about movement this week and I think sometimes at bedtime I feel a little bit and she said it’s normal to not even feel anything this early on. It’s more like 28weeks they expect you to feel consistent movement in any kind of pattern.

@Nocoffeenotalkie how lovely to be having another girl! Congrats!

@ceruleansky - so pleased for you that results are all good news! Congrats!

@Nocoffeenotalkie ahhh how exciting!!!! One more sleep until I find out!! Got me proper jealous now! 😂😂😂

@CB2805 yesssss!!! Glad it's not just me!

@Morningcoffeeaddict
Thank you! How are you feeling?
I replied to your previous post but I think the tag didn't work : (

@Nocoffeenotalkie
Congratulations on your baby girl!! Looks like she really wanted to keep you guessing for a while longer!

@Chloemac
I have flutters occasionally, I think it's normal! But if you're unsure or uncomfortable it's better to ask!

I'm definitely starting to feel the baby or my uterus IDK which, if I turn to one side, that side becomes hard and I can feel something under the skin of my belly without even pressing too hard. DH felt it too and he freaked out. Anyone else feel this? I'm 15+4. I don't think it's the baby because there's probably a lot of fluid and I don't think I can feel baby this early but there's definitely something! Feels like a water balloon

@ceruleansky - oh I didn’t see it, this thread moves on so fast! I’m good just tired still - lucky DS is start of half term tired so he was happy to snuggle watching tv while I snoozed this afternoon! DH came in to find the two of us and the dog in a sleepy pile on the sofa.

I get that lump in my tummy too sometimes, rolling over like you say causes it - also no idea what it is but more likely uterus than baby? I’m 16+4 now and had it about a week or two?

@ceruleansky thank you! I am plus size so I worry that my bumps not as big as what it should be and I felt little flutters but nothing regular, when I lay on my side I can feel a harder part that seems to stick out a bit more than the rest. I need to stop comparing to others and there pregnancy’s :)

Hi all! I asked for a blood test to check my iron this week as I've been short of breath, light headed and shattered! My bloods came back and as I'm now 116 my midwife has said they're normal and no action needed.

However. At my booking appointment my iron was 140 and apparently the threshold for treatment is 115... so I'm one off... this seems a bit mad that I'm being told 'normal no action needed' when I'm clearly symptomatic and on the threshold.

I have the same midwife now that I had 2 years ago with my son and I'm not filled with confidence as according to her I never had blood pressure issues (she would always take it manually and magically it would always be mid 110s over mid 70s but electronically it would always be much higher). I ended up with late diagnosed preeclampsia and hellp syndrome.

I guess I'm after your thoughts on what to do next. There's no way I'll get a gp appointment so is it worth just buying some iron supplements to take?

@BunBun221 i would defo go to your GP for a second opinion. The iron tablets you can get over counter are not going to be strong enough if you really need more iron.
If the GP thinks action is needed, you can then maybe send an email to midwife unit and ask for a different midwife going forward and set out your concerns? Have they checked your ferritin levels too? As they are a good indication of your iron levels too

@BunBun221 - I’d probably also go with speaking to the unit and asking for a second opinion. Do you also have a consultant given previous preeclampsia/hellp? Asking the consultant would also be an option if so - my midwife didn’t redo my thyroid tests at my 16week check (said 28weeks for next bloods) and I saw the consultant two days later who ordered them straight away.

if no one is helpful you can get private blood tests in the post via a company like Medichecks - they’re really quick, operate at actual hospitals if you don’t want the post option, and if iron is dropping at that rate may well show up below the 115 so she’ll have to act? I check my thyroid with them in between NHS tests as they’re not frequent enough.

@BunBun221 you are well within your rights to ask for another midwife. Don't risk it if she did similar things last time.
It is odd as my iron store have always been low but normal range at 22 but my midwife said to avoid anemia postpartum to start iron supplements.

@missmoosh annoyingly she hasn't posted the test results to either Badgernotes or the NHS app she just texted me 'Hi your iron level is normal at 116. Thanks' so I don't know the ferretin level etc . I didn't realise that OTC iron wouldn't be strong enough so that's super helpful thank you!

@Morningcoffeeaddict yes I'm consultant led! Seeing them in 2 weeks for my 20 week scan so worse case I'll ask them there- if I remember correctly it was fhe consultant who put me on iron the first time too as the midwife told me my iron was fine then too 🤣

@MixedCouple we have a severe shortage of midwives here so unless I'm willing to drive half an hour each way to the local hospital to have appointments there she's my only choice unfortunately.

@BunBun221 - definitely raise it with the consultant then - at least if you’re consultant led you’ll be getting a second opinion easily enough. My midwife seemed more worried about what my iron count would be at the 28week mark (I can’t remember what threshold she said for that) but mine was 111 at booking and she put me on iron then so it’ll be right by 28w - the thresholds drive me a bit mad when they insist on being by the book like her! there’s so little difference between our results and I’m on iron and you’re not but we both had symptoms which should matter!

@Morningcoffeeaddict I managed to get hold of my friend who's an ex midwife who reassured me that the consultant will 99% put me on iron and while I'm not technically at the threshold yet, the massive drop is what's making me feel super symptomatic because I was a lovely healthy 140 before. Its put my mind at ease a bit because otherwise I wasn't sure what would be causing the palpitations or shortness of breathe so early!

Shes also now a health visitor and has also told me that my midwife has a 'reputation' but wouldn't expand on that 🤣 so I also feel somewhat validated there too! I'm in Gloucestershire so a little bit on edge after the panorama programme!

@BunBun221 I’m Gloucestershire too - I saw they put out a statement but haven’t watched the programme, I think it would stress me out too much. I did make a stand and pick my consultant though and luckily my midwife is taking me seriously but I think when I make the point I had no warning signs last time and then my son was born at 28 weeks they have to listen.
To be fair to Gloucestershire- when I had my son they were mainly brilliant just overstretched. Only a couple of the nurses and one ultrasound tech I didn’t like. Does sound unfortunate that you have the community midwife with a rep though - I’d also check with your consultant if you have open access to the antenatal clinic given history, mine has given it to me and it means any time I’m worried I can just turn up at GRH for a check up and to speak to a consultant. We had it to paeds with my son when he was a baby and meant we could skip the a&e queues and faffing about and get straight in if needed.

@Morningcoffeeaddict oh the open access is good to know thanks ill ask! My first birth was mostly OK - I had more of an issue with the hospital food than my care if I'm honest as I didn't really have anything to eat except breakfast in the 4 days prior to birth (I have an egg allergy and they kept bringing me food with egg in).

The programme mostly focused on the Aveta birth centre in Cheltenham and the fact that there were a couple of midwives who weren't cautious enough to send mums to Gloucester in time to get the help they needed. I actually found it quite reassuring to watch, but I just can't shake the 'on edge' feeling I have!

@BunBun221 the food thing I’m worried about this time - I don’t eat Gluten now and all I remember them having regular access to when I was having my son was toast and sandwiches. At least this time it’s not covid so I can get my husband to bring me supplies in if needed. I was literally just saying to someone I’m worried about it and they said “it’s a hospital surely they’ll be prepared for allergies” but you’ve confirmed my suspicion!

That’s good to know - luckily I won’t be going anywhere near Aveta anyway (although they seem to have it closed a lot these days anyway) I’m having a planned section but even if I wasn’t I think I’d want / need to be in Gloucester where the consultants are just in case.

@Morningcoffeeaddict I'm having a planned section too at 37/38 weeks! Do you know roughly when it will be? Ours is down for WC July 1st Maybe we might meet on the ward 😊

In terms of food I think my OH is planning to make food at home and bring it in packed lunch style this time to make sure I actually eat and were planning on arriving with plenty of snacks and food we can prep in the breakfast room with the hot water (like soups and noodles)! We did order KFC to the hospital as well last time as I was starving in the evening!

Ladies on planed c section do you get a private room? Or you still on a ward? Would it be any different with twins?
I would love to have my partner stay with me overnight

At our hospital, you can ask for a private room (which can be turned into a family room for partner staying...or a family suite, so older children can stay, too). That's charged extra, though. I think it's about €150/night. If you have a C-section, you are meant to stay for 4 days. Even my midwife recommended that.
It probably won't be necessary for us, though. DH will be at home with DS and the rooms on the post-natal ward are all one- or two-bed rooms. Friends have been by themselves in a huge room when it hasn't been busy.

I remember there were six of us in a room when I had DS and I couldn't wait to get home. I had a vaginal birth without any issues, though, so got to go home after a few hours. If we had needed to stay longer last time, I probably would have requested a private room or a transfer to Weston hospital instead.

We are having a little baby girl!!!!! Also turned out that 12 week scan where I was told I had an anterior placenta wasn't correct, it's posterior! Which explains why I have been feeling little rolls in my tummy on an evening!

@BunBun221 I’m periodically anaemic and just get Ferrous Sulphate tablets from the pharmacy they’re only about £3 a packet so I never bother getting a prescription. Helps to take them with food and vit C for absorption.

Can’t remember my ferritin level post partum last time but it was something ridiculous like 2, and those tablets sorted me out.

@missmoosh congrats! How exciting! And interesting news about the placenta, makes sense though if you’ve been feeling movement.

@BunBun221 - if we make it to 39 weeks which consultant said is the latest they’ll let me go - it’ll be the week of the 15th, but I went at 28weeks last time so who knows. For some reason I have 37 weeks in my head so maybe we will bump into each other!

@CB2805 I had a private room last time but because DS was in nicu and it’s seen as cruel for nicu mums to be on a ward with other mums and their babies if the hospital can avoid doing it. Although when DS was poorly we were moved to a different hospital where they just didn’t have private rooms so I was on a ward then (and hated it). As with all things I think access to private rooms (paid for or not) depends on the hospital. I’d expect to be on a ward this time but haven’t asked.

@CB2805 I think its usually onto a ward after a planned section, but space at our hospital on the ward is super limited so I don't think twins would fit in the bay so in the case of twins I'd imagine you'd get a private room!

In theory I think you can pay for a private room but only if there are any available at the time - they don't tend to be guaranteed!

oh that’s great to know ladies thank you. Didn’t had idea you could buy a private room. Will ask my consultant about it next time. Thanks for the help it cleared the air a lot🫶🏻

Hi everyone! Been a while since I posted. Hope everyone is doing well :) I’m 19 weeks today and have my 20 week scan on the 23rd which I’m looking forward to!
Definitely started to feel proper flutters in the last week too which is really exciting! Can anyone else feel a fair bit of movement yet?

@lorelaii i am also in the Newcastle area and doing the bump and baby class! My due date is early July so I’m on the one that starts in mid April. Looking forward to it as I feel clueless about everything currently!!
regarding going through your GP that sounds right to me, I am in the process of moving house and wanted to change midwife’s due to various things but I was told I can only change midwife’s once I register at a new GP - which I’m gonna do once I move. At the moment my current midwife is connected to my GP but not the hospital I’m planning to give birth at.

@Amberellaella for alcohol free beers etc I’ve completely avoided them, although for no reason other than personal choice as I’m sure they are 100% fine to drink. As someone else said I’m sure certain fruits and breads have a tiny bit of alcohol in so if a drink is no or low alcohol it’s not much different! I haven’t missed alcohol as much as I though I would to be honest, although I am away for a week in March at an all inclusive - pre-pregnancy I was looking forward to a few all included beverages 😂 so maybe I’ll have a couple of 0% drinks when I’m there if they have any. I know of some people who have had a small Prosecco or wine during pregnancy and been fine so I think it’s just personal choice when it comes to this!

@CB2805 not TMI at all but yes I do have this on and off, it almost feels like I’ve come on my period and some days I feel like I need to check myself in the toilet! But from what I’ve read this is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about unless there’s a bad colour/odour alongside it

@CMRC17 so exciting to feel movement, I can’t wait for this feeling as well🙈
It feels exactly as my period is coming which drove me mad at first but I guess I start to get use to it. The wonderful things that pregnancy comes with😂