Due March 2025 thread 2

[Zuzu2020]

Hi guys just making a new thread as the old one is nearly full :)

I think they're offering the covid boosters from 1 October. Not sure where I'll get one yet as GP doesn't do them they told me so will ask midwife.

Sorry if that came across wrong to anyone! I'm not anti vax and have had all the ones recommended when growing up. Didn't have the Covid ones as I wasn't travelling, work from home and lived alone. Barely left the house so I didn't bother. I will probably just get all of the recommended in pregnancy eg flu whooping cough and rsv. My only concern was my midwife said there's a small risk of preterm labour..so I was thinking of putting it off to as late as possible just incase but then its less effective so I'm more in 2 minds for WHEN I should get it..

Do I need to book the whooping cough separate to my 20 week scan or will it be offered after my scan..

From reading, I think that theory was shown to be false in a recent study of 25,000 pregnant women who had the RSV vaccine. X

Mine was given straight after my 20 week scan last time and I’m told it’ll be the same again now.
I had a text offering the flu and Covid vaccine from my gp but by the time I’d clicked the linked, all the slots were gone 😂 I’ll have to ring and see what they reckon I need to do.

Got the scales out to weigh the suitcases and made the mistake of weighing myself 😐 gained 6kg since the start of pregnancy which feels excessive but looking at charts isn’t that bad for 18 weeks (although maybe not great either). Pre pregnancy I lost 12 stone so finding the weight gain a bit mentally challenging. Although know I could be eating healthier and probably less but I’m hungry constantly at the moment and in the bad habit of grabbing whatever I can. Also pizza being my pregnancy craving isn’t the best 🫣

The "whooping cough" vaccine is actually a combined vaccine for whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and possibly polio - the NHS started using the current brand (ADACEL) for pregnancy just 3 months ago in July, so there are two brands still around with one being phased out. See www.gov.uk/government/publications/prenatal-pertussis-vaccine-change-from-july-2024-letter/prenatal-pertussis-vaccine-change-from-july-2024-letter

My midwife didn't know this. I'm fed up of poor vaccine knowledge from GPs and the NHS.

So I've been reading about the vaccine schedule myself and the "whooping cough" (combined) vaccine. Read yourself but my summary is more or less: it appears to be highly effective though not perfect at preventing infant death (92% in one study; in the UK, 5 infant deaths out of 26 were to vaccinated mothers so that's more like 80% but small sample); about a quarter of whooping cough cases are vaccinated.

Some more reading:

vaccineknowledge.ox.ac.uk/pertussis-whooping-cough

academic.oup.com/cid/article/76/3/e1129/6663311?login=false

Latest data - next batch being published by UKHSA 10 October: www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-epidemiology-in-england-2024/confirmed-cases-of-pertussis-in-england-by-month

There is currently no standalone whooping cough vaccine available in the UK afaik.

@GlitteringCat I've gained 2 whole stone in 18 weeks. I'm disgusted in myself after losing 10 stone before falling pregnant!! It's hard and depressing watching the scales go up. My craving is toast and jam donuts it's all I eat. Even 4 slices a day sometimes! Just got back from all inclusive which probably doesn't help. I feel massive I don't even want to look in the mirror!😅im constantly hungry aswell. I actually laid on the sofa last night and ate 3 donuts one after the other. Instant regret🙉I don't particularly eat healthy either as I don't like chicken or vegetables since becoming pregnant so I eat things like a sandwich for dinner. I know I need to change! I keep considering calorie counting still to stay accountable but I know it can get extreme and I'll start eating not enough so don't think I should do that..

@m00ngirl oh interesting. I didn't see anything or hear anything about this. Just was told it's the same thing that people have been getting since around 2004.. are you getting it?

@m00ngirl isn't this a good thing though? Sadly polio, that once was eradicated in the UK, is now back on the rise having recently been found in London water systems.

I do agree though that the GP understanding of vaccinations is generally poor.

This is wonderful news!! Did I have a little cry thinking my baby will be extra protected against more things? I did indeed :)

worked in international development prior to coming back to have a baby - I think people wouldn’t be as cavalier about vaccines if they had seen the impacts of these disease.

@Ellsx6 the info given to us about vaccines and pharmaceuticals through the NHS is so poor / often wrong, my midwife (who has been a midwife her whole life) was admittedly clueless and quite perplexed that it's a combined vaccine for some reason. As I understand the vaccine during pregnancy was introduced in 2012 in the UK (and the new ADACEL brand 3 months ago).

@Jellybelly888 Polio is obv horrendous. It seems like ADACEL doesn't protect against polio though - but it's not entirely clear to me and my midwife has no idea, and said the GP won't even know what brand it is that we're offered as it's offered at the hospital along with 20w scan. So she said I'd have to ask there and then at the hospital. But good luck trying to get this info on a busy day at my local hospital..! It seems like it was introduced to replace the other brand for the maternity vaccine because the other brand did contain polio and this caused "blunting" ie marginally less effective polio vaccination for the infant vaccination schedule.

I think take up of the ADACEL ("whooping cough") pregnancy vaccine in London at the moment is just under 40%. There's also data around on cases of whooping cough per region, you can find it online, obviously London is comparatively high as it always is for all viruses etc.

I think maybe I just trust science and take all vaccines offered to me 🤷🏻‍♀️ I know everyone is different and can make decisions based on their choices.

Maybe I’m a bit more enamoured by science because it’s what got us our BFP and miracle baby! 🌈

I remember reading a post (I think on here?) about the vaccine being held in London clinics like it was with the Covid vaccine so you have to show up and just wait your turn on a particular day. Apparently there’s really low uptake amongst lower income or self employed families because they can’t afford to take an unspecified amount of time off work… I know maternity appointments are supposed to be covered but I can see how an employer would be dubious about someone potentially taking a day off. Plus if you have other children, child care would be a nightmare….

I’m under consultant care (ivf pregnancy) and they’ve said for the appointments that it’s for the day rather than a specific time and I’m not thrilled to have to tell that to my employer even through they are absolutely amazing - effectively I’ll have to cancel all my clients for the day.

Me too, if they offer it I'll have it! As far as I can see/feel, protection against additional diseases being included in one easy jab can only be a good thing

I actually had no clue this was the case when given the vaccine! I still would have had it but a bit unsettling to know I wasn’t informed what I was actually being injected with. Was only told it’s the whooping cough vaccine.

I was told by dietician not to count calories whilst pregnant or focus on weight loss anymore (was still a stone off my goal) and instead prioritise protein. But having same issue with cravings. Pre pregnancy I couldn’t tolerate bread or sugar and since becoming pregnant these intolerances have gone which weight wise is awful! Although apparently they return post birth which I find bizarre. I’m high risk for GD so quite nervous if I don’t stop eating cookies that I’ll definitely get it. I have to do 6 finger pricks a day for a week rather than the drink test which I’m obviously due to do when I return from over 2 week all inclusive holiday 😥

@GlitteringCat I'm still a bit over the bmi calculator as wasn't finished losing weight either! I've been put on aspirin as I'm higher risk to pre eclampsia as my bmi is over the 'healthy' number. Also having GD test every 4 weeks after 20 weeks🙉they advised I got my first one at 7 weeks and it was negative so hoping it continues. Midwife also said to me counting calories is a dangerous game during pregnancy for people like us😅so perhaps I shouldn't. She said just listen to your body and give it what it wants..instead I listen to my brain and will end up the size of an elephant!

18 weeks but have only put on 6 pounds and haven't felt any movement yet (first baby)...is this cause for concern?

Had a private scan at 16 weeks which was all fine.

I'm 17 weeks tomorrow and put on about 5 pounds, no clear bump yet and not sure if I've felt movements or not. Also my first pregnancy. I think it's normal for it to take longer with first pregnancy to notice changes

@bouncingblob I wouldn't say it is no. I've felt movement on and off from 15weeks but midwife said it's all down to how alert to your body you are, belly fat, position of baby, how active baby is as you may just miss when they move, placenta position ect. Most first timers feel baby for first time at around 20 weeks apparently.

I've put on about a stone and a half at 18 weeks 😩
I wasn't formally diagnosed with GD last time but spent the last few weeks finger pricking and following the diabetes diet as though I had it. Was just too far gone to be referred for the test so they told me to just act as though as I had it. Worried I'll have it this time but I'm not booked in for a test because I don't have any risk factors and don't have the actual diagnosis from last time. She did say she'd send me for a test straight away if I had sugars in my urine sample. But I'm not back there til 28 weeks.
Ive still got the testing kit so thinking of buying some more strips from boots just for peace of mind.
I'm absolutely not eating appropriately if I do have it so could do with a wake up call earlier than later if I need to make changes. Xx

I think whether we have lost or gained weight we worry.
ive lost over 5kg overall and worry about development and what I’ll gain!

I was diagnosed with it last time, so they had me tested at 16 weeks this time. It came back clear but the very next day I had +2 sugars in my urine!
My midwife has told me to flag someone down when I have my 20 week scam and ask them to test my urine even though they usually wouldn't at that stage. Is that an option for you?

I have to test again at 24 weeks anyway but it will be difficult as all I seem to want is sweet and sugary food (and carbs)

If you’re worried at all, get the test done. Sugars in urine is very food dependent. So get a blood test.
If the mw refuses which they shouldn’t! Then buy a kit (not expensive) and do a couple of morning fasted tests, if >5.5 in pregnancy you need formally investigated and I don’t think any sensible mw would decline at that stage.