MSE Pregnancy Club 26

TeamLowe

Kerri she's probably waiting for your projects to be finished lol boo for the dashed hopes though

Good luck today to Samtoby and Rummer, hope your scans go well

AFM getting lots of Braxton hicks and soreness in my back, thought little lady had moved down but she seems to be sticking her bum out quite high so she must have squiggled back up again lol
My big sister went home to the other side if the pennines yesterday after her Christmas visit. Really weird to think the next time I see her it'll be to meet her niece. She's asked politely that little one avoids the 12th January as she's on a baking course lol

cllola

kerri_dfw wrote: »

Kynthia - it is possible to check your dilation yourself or get your partner to check for you. I'm about 2cm and almost fully effaced now. I know it's not for everyone but I've found it quite empowering to know, especially as I have no faith in my midwife as after talking to other women in the area I've got the most incompetent one

Lurker here...I'm still on the 12-24 thread but only really taking part in discussions that don't involve the recent issues!

I hope things start again for you Kerri. I'm interested in the self examination thingy, what's the best way to find out how to do it?

Good luck samtoby and Rummer xx

squ1rrel5

Good luck for the scans today ladies! X

Kerri, perhaps your little one is hanging on to be the first baby of 2014!

Zippy, thanks for that list of essentials, that has helped me stop panicking slightly that I'm really under prepared!

My pregnancy hormones are awful this morning... I'm absolutely gutted to hear about Michael Schumacher. He's been a hero of mine for the last 20 years and the news is so sad. Normally I can cope with that kind of news with more of a stuff upper lip but have been in floods of tears this morning.
I can't even read anything online about him without crying. Please let it be good news...

RobotsinDisguse

Hi ladies, Thank You so much for all of your advice and support. I read everything you had to say a few times, and it did really calm me down.

The appointment with the midwives is shortly. I'm scared.

claire16c wrote: »

Sounds like a right kerfuffle Robots over something that could have been simplified.

I dont have your experience but what I would suggest is, as you are worried about the aspirin etc, is to perhaps make an appt with your doctor, to talk over all the tablets you are taking to ensure that another professional is happy with you being on them all at once? So just for a second opinion really as you say the consultant wasnt listening to you when talking about this.

Where is the consultant that you saw as you said the hospital is in another town?

Thank you. I will make an appointment with my regular Dr who knows me well.

The consultant was at a 'Cottage Hospital' which is near where my husband works so it was easier for him to attend with me. That place is just a little further than my nearest hospital so it seemed sensible.
I'm going to the regular hospital today.

fran-o wrote: »

Sorry Robots, not got any great advice just hugs for a difficult time. We were given a really detailed book by the midwife/ hospital about various screenings and their implications before we had our 12 week scan. Is there anything like this tucked away in your medical notes?

Just wondering if you have seen a midwife that was not understanding of your health issues, is there a possibility to ask to see someone else? I've got a feeling someone else on this thread had a horrible experience with a particular midwife/ nurse and was able to request that they did not see that person again. Maybe they'll pop by with more. Every health trust has a dept called PALS (patient advice liaison I think!) so do talk to them about your options or register a complaint.

Best wishes

Thank you. I didn't remember that booklet, but on your advice went rummaging and found it amongst all the random product leaflets. It did help to read it over.. i feel more prepared. thanks

samtoby wrote: »

I don't have any advice RobotsinDisguse but do you know what the risk level was for downs? Mine was a 1: an amount. I am sure someone had a high risk on the 12-24 thread but I can't remember who it was.

I would 2nd others opinion on seeing someone else - all this stress will not help your BP. x

Thanks - the midwife who visited wasn't able to give me the number. She said she didn't know it.... I can only guess that if it's a really high percentage they dont want you worrying (even more) at home for a few days before the appointment.

kerri_dfw

cllola wrote: »

Lurker here...I'm still on the 12-24 thread but only really taking part in discussions that don't involve the recent issues!

I hope things start again for you Kerri. I'm interested in the self examination thingy, what's the best way to find out how to do it?

Good luck samtoby and Rummer xx

I googled for instructions you're basically looking to feela doughnut shape right at the back in there. It gets shorter and softer later in pregnancy. Not for the sqeamish and I understand not for everyone

emz118

To whoever mentioned about crib/moses basket mattresses... I've just ordered our crib mattress from Tesco direct to collect using clubcard vouchers (doubled up) so it's cost me £5.50 and £5 in vouchers. Not a big saving, but every little helps as they say!


You can only do it until tomorrow though.


We did the same with nappies, wipes etc yesterday, changed £10 so had £20 to spend, which meant 3xpacks wipes, 3xpacks nappies (2 pampers, 1 Tesco) and some cotton wool. Bargain!

RobotsinDisguse

amyloofoo wrote: »

Robots - Just delurking to let you know that I also have issues with anxiety and depression and have also previously worked in perinatal mental health (and currently work in postnatal care :rotfl:) so have experienced my fair share of both good and poor practice in antenatal care of women with MH issues. Most areas now have specialist mental health midwives who will be very used to sensitively handling these kinds of issues and all hospitals should have a specially designed care pathway for women with MH needs. It may be worth seeing if you can get a referral to one of these midwives or to your most local perinatal mental service (although these can be few and far between).

As Kerri has said, I also recommend you get in touch with the supervisor of midwives to discuss your treatment so far and hopefully create an ongoing plan that works for you.

Please feel free to PM me if there's anything I may be able to help with. I hope your experiences from now on are much more positive,

Amy xx

Amy - thank you. I really appreciate you reaching out like this. I'm reassured to know all of this.

BadlyWrittenPoem wrote: »

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with helthcare professionals who made things worse.

Wrt the asprin, I presume it was your GP who told you only to take paracetamol? There are loads of medications which are known to be safe to take during pregnancy or to have a very low risk but the general advice is not to take them because you shouldn't take them unless the benefits make them worthwhile. Asprin is commonly given in pregnancy both as prevention of pre-eclampsia or hypertension and to help people who have suffered recurrent miscarriage or are known to have certain blood disorders which can cause miscarriage as the benefits are considered to outweigh the risks. The consultant should have explained that the risks outweigh the benefits and also explained that the dose is different to what you would take as a painkiller when you questioned it - when I was told I would be offered it, the consultant referred to it as "low dose asprin".

Wrt the general treatment you received from the consultant, I would suggest that you request not to be treated by her again. You are entitled to do so and you do not have to give any reasons unless you want to - I changed MW in my last pregnancy because mine was so bad and when I requested to change, nobody questioned my request or asked why at all. (I do think that the treatment you received is worthy of a complaint but I'm guessing based on what you have said that it is probably not something you would be up to emotionally at this time and that you need to just prioritise getting the best treatment for yourself right now rather than pursue complaints.)

The hospital mix up sounds like probably one of those one off mistakes which in these specific circumstances had a big knock on impact but if you feel that it has made going to that hospital too anxiety inducing, another option is to change hospitals which again you should be able to do relatively easily.

Another thing that might be helpful is to enquire as to whether there is a mental health MW. I don't know lots about it but I have known people be referred to a MHMW and if there is one available it might help in terms of their ability to accomodate your specific needs and in terms of their awareness of and understanding that you have specific needs.

ETA: Incidentally, my BP was lower once I had changed community MW and was lower the time when the terrible one wasn't there and a random one was covering for her - it really does make a huge difference and I do recommend changing any Dr or MW who is treating you in a way which is causing you significant stress.

Thanks all really interesting. Thank you for taking the time. I didn't know about MHMW existing, but it does make sense and i'm glad to hear of it. Also, thank you for explaining the Aspirin situation - FAR BETTER than the consultant did! :T I can only think the Dr said not to take aspirin due to the fact i'd had some bleeding (in a book a friend lent me it says something like that too). When i went in to get it from the chemist the Pharmacist practically shouted at me for calling it Baby Aspirin, as it's low dose and not suitable for babies... i explained that was how the Consultant told me to ask for it... and she said rude words about the consultant that were closer to the truth than she knew!:rotfl:

I'm sorry for the short replies but i'm heading out to the hospital soon but didnt want to not reply for any longer.

kerri_dfw wrote: »

I'm just finishing a high contrast black & white quilt to use as a portable movement mat. It's pastel colours on the other side so she knows that the high contrast is for play and the pastel for sleep.

thanks for distracting me with nice ideas... i quilt and really like the montisori way of doing things... so i'll be planning a quilt too.

LannieDuck

Kerri, I'm sure you'll be getting some action soon

It sounds very like my labour with DD1 - I was about 40+10 or so, and my cervix was doing nothing. I was heading for induction, then I had three nights of the sort of cramps you're describing, and on the third night they got much worse, I went into hospital and I was 5cm!

I think the cramps were my cervix sorting itself out. Hopefully yours will come back soon... probably just as you get to sleep tonight :P

kerri_dfw

Hope the hospital goes Ok today Robots. Making a quilt or movement mat for baby has been one of my favourite projects recently and kept me almost sane x

sunshine81

squ1rrel5 wrote: »

My pregnancy hormones are awful this morning... I'm absolutely gutted to hear about Michael Schumacher. He's been a hero of mine for the last 20 years and the news is so sad. Normally I can cope with that kind of news with more of a stuff upper lip but have been in floods of tears this morning.
I can't even read anything online about him without crying. Please let it be good news...

Mine too, I had round one of tears because OH wouldn't get up when I wanted him to, and now round two has started as I'm watching Gary Barlow in Afghanistan!!

Keeping one eye on the news for Schumacher, he is a legend x