Due May 2024? Part 3

[Sa11yCinnamon]

Just kicking off a new thread, hoping no one else does it at the same time!

@Athena1984 hope all is ok, keep us posted xx

@PeppedUp my heamoglobin has continued to drop even though I’ve been on iron since 8 weeks and had it increased but I actually feel much better than I did a few weeks ago, even though my levels are lower! So not sure what that means.

We had another growth scan today and baby girl has had a nice big growth spurt so is now off the 10th percentile and pushing closer towards the 50th ☺️ I’m 34+5 and she’s coming in about 5lb 9 so almost exactly what they’d expect just now. Should end up being about 7lb 9 at birth if she carries on this way!

They’ve updated my badger notes now, actually a bit smaller than what I thought I saw on the screen!!

5.5lbs just now so should be about 7.5lb at birth which is still obviously fine and sounds pretty average!

That's amazing news @SarahB88, what a relief.
Although I would be baffled by your update too @Clarkey34 it's great to hear that they don't think they need to deliver so early.

@Sa11yCinnamon sorry to hear that. I feel mildly better but I think part of that is because the GP prescribed me antibiotics for a chest infection that I’ve had for ages (struggled to get seen for a while as the receptionist kept telling me to go to the pharmacy instead). Otherwise B12 issues feel pretty similar to iron issues.

@SarahB88 glad to hear you’re feeling better even if your blood results don’t match. And great that it sounds more positive about your daughter’s weight

@Yourowgirl and @PeppedUp I’m really pleased with how she’s getting on ☺️ got the midwife again on the 25th so will see what she’s thinking about whether I need another scan or to just go to the 39 weeks.

With regards to the iron, no idea why my levels continue to drop but at least I’m feeling ok. I can’t remember if I said that after multiple hospital trips about my chest pains and palpitations they’ve finally ruled out a clot. The palpitations have stopped but the pain continues so now they think it’s something to do with my asthma. I’ve got the asthma nurse on Wednesday so hopefully know more. Also got and appointment with a doctor to talk about whether my spine injury prevents me from having a epidural or spinal if one is required.

Has anyone else had a letter from their health visitor arranging a home visit? My letter says they aim to see you between 32-34 weeks for the first appointment and they’ve booked it for Wednesday, when I’ll be out at the asthma nurse! I’ve only got 2 weeks of work left and am actually really busy trying to get everything finished off, do you think I can ask them to come when I’m finished work instead? I’ll be 37 weeks then though so not sure if it’s really needed.

@SarahB88 From what I was told the Health Visitor isnt "compulsory" so I would say it would be fine to ask them to come when you've finished work.

Glad all is OK with the palpitations x

@MrsB2005 that’s good to know, thanks! I assume it’s just some sort of introduction to her because I don’t have everything set up to show her yet 😂 the nursery will probably be done soon to be fair but all she’ll see is the next to me crib still in its box and the fact that we do actually have a pram and car seat lying around! I’ll see if she’ll still come when I’m further on.

Hello all, first time poster here! I am nearly 36 weeks pregnant with my first baby!

Definitely getting to the stage that I just want him here and I'm very excited to meet him! I'm not feeling too anxious about the labour/birthing process but I am about the post partum period.

I'm quite an anxious person by nature and I know that post partum hormones are all over the place! On top of that, I unfortunately lost my Dad suddenly when I was 20 weeks pregnant, the pregnancy has been a real distraction for me and a reason to get up everyday, eat, exercise etc.

Any advice on how to navigate the post partum blues?

@SarahB88 I had my health visitor visit on Friday. Spent the whole morning cleaning and worrying about not having everything set up and ready, of course she didn't actually care about any of that and spent the whole time in my living room not looking or asking questions about preparation lol
It's really just an introduction and opportunity to ask some physical and mental health questions about you and your partner before she visits again and there is a baby and no time to ask those questions. She also said its a working relationship and she will work around me with the visits etc so I'm sure she won't mind you asking to postpone. I found it quite informative and a good chance to ask some questions about safe sleeping and breastfeeding.

@Irishmamatobe24 so so sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad, how totally devastating.

Unfortunately I'm a first time Mum so have no good advice about post partum blues, definitely something I'm anxious about too though. I think just try to be as honest with yourself as possible and if you feel like you are struggling for longer then you would expect speak to your partner, midwife, family etc, whoever you have in your support network and ask for help.

@Irishmamatobe24 congratulations and welcome! I’m so sorry to hear about your dad - that’s a really tough thing to go through when you’re pregnant.

Regarding postpartum, can you do perinatal therapy? You can speak to them in the lead up to and after birth. Also, the postpartum blues may not eventuate. I was not in a great place during my last pregnancy due to lockdown and some other things and worried it would spill over into postpartum but it didn’t.

@SarahB88 thats good that you got a clot ruled out. My heartbeat has been high for the last couple of months - usually between 100 and 120 - but they say it’s due to the iron/B12 deficiency.

@Judethepud good to know about the health visitor, I’ll have to call on Monday to rearrange.

@PeppedUp I’m quite surprised I’m not being tested for B12, how did they detect yours if you don’t mind me asking?

@SarahB88 Is it not something they routinely check? They picked it up when I had my blood test to check my iron four weeks after I started medication - I wasn’t sure if it was something they had always been checking or if it was just because it has some link with low iron.

@PeppedUp it doesn’t come back on the basic full blood count. My friend, who is not pregnant, has a thyroid condition which seems to make her more susceptible to a b12 deficiency and she gets a separate test for it so she can get her shots scheduled when needed. Sounds like they are looking after you well!

@SarahB88 oh right - I don’t get access to my notes so I only find out what they’re testing if something is wrong. I’m actually getting tested for lots of things this week, including thyroid, as GP wants to rule out that my symptoms aren’t from something else other than pregnancy.

@PeppedUp good luck! Would make sense to check thyroid if they’re giving you b12 shots.

I had my last hair appointment today before baby comes!

Out of interest, for those of you who have had a health visitor visit, are you only based in England? I’m based in Wales and didn’t have a health visitor visit until baby was born and there’s no indication I’ll be getting one before the birth of this little one either!

@cosylife I’m in Scotland and have been offered one. It says in the letter I’ll get 10 visits up to the age of 5 with 1 before birth.

@cosylife I'm in Northern Ireland and had one.

@Judethepud Thank you! I think you are right about being honest with myself if I'm struggling and asking for help. Luckily i have a fantastic support network around me but I'm not always the best at communicating when I need them to step in!

@PeppedUp thank you, I think it's my anxious head already anticipating that I'll struggle but who knows, maybe all will be fine! I think I'll have a chat with my midwife at the next appointment, I haven't talked to them about losing my Dad so probably good to flag it. I hope you've been able to enjoy this pregnancy more than your last one, I'd imagine being pregnant during lockdown was challenging.

Has anyone applied for nursery yet? We’ve put our name down at our son’s nursery but they weren’t as reassuring as I’d hoped that we would get a place. We applied for my son just after he was born but I have heard nursery places are more in demand since the government increased free hours.

@Irishmamatobe24 thats great that you’ve got a good network - hopefully if any of them have had kids before they’ll take the initiative in helping you. I think lots of us struggle to ask for help.

Hey all! How’s everyone holding up?

I have my second growth scan tomorrow and if baby is still big, I’ll be discussing induction etc! Feeling slightly nervous.

i still haven’t packed a hospital bag OR got a lot of things we need- also making me nervous! Hope everyone’s doing well x

We got the nursery as finished as it needs to be over the weekend her little crib is now in our room!

My bump has been super itchy today! Has anyone else started perineal massage? I’m not sure how to explain it but I feel different down there and I’m wondering if I could be a little dilated already. I’m sure I lost a bit of my mucus plug last week but thought it was just a bit that dropped out and it’ll regrow. Do you know if the midwife would do a vaginal exam at my 36 week appointment to see what’s going on down there? And does anyone who’s done this before have any advice on how things feel once dilation starts? I’ve read that you can be 1-2cm dilated for a number of weeks. Baby certainly seems low again with the lightening crotch I’ve been getting recently!

@PeppedUp I tried to apply for nursery but my first three choices are council run and they don't take applications til baby is born. Would make a massive difference in terms of cost so praying one of them has space.

@LondonGirl1992 good luck today, keep us posted! I've not packed my hospital bag either, I think I have everything I need but I need to wash all the baby clothes, must do that this week.

@SarahB88 I have attempted perineal massage, no idea if I'm doing it right! I don't know about exams but there's no harm in asking, especially if you feel like things are happening!