So, my birthing ball arrived! I can't even begin to tell you how much just bopping about on my ball has helped with the SPD! Best £30 spent this pregnancy so far!
I had my GTT Wednesday, I was the most awful, grumpiest, hungriest person in the whole world. It's a brave brave person who will deal with me at 8am when I haven't even had a coffee, it's an even braver person who allows their husband to sit next to me in a clinic waiting room full of women who are fasting to sit and eat a packet of prawn cocktail crisps right under my nose!
I want to give a big shout out to the staff at my Fetal Assessment Unit who are such wonderful, lovely caring ladies! They are amazing and so helpful. I told the nurse doing my bloods our story, the 12 year wait, the failed IVF and then the surprise spontaneous pregnancy, and she almost burst into tears and was so happy for us!
They also took my routine 28 week bloods whilst there and had to check my antibody levels to see what dose Anti-D I would need on Friday.
When we left the hospital, we went straight to Starbucks and I got my Latte with a double shot of espresso and almond syrup. When we got home and I had my first sip, along with a pain Au chocolate, Bongo said it sounded like I was having an orgasm and even the cat came strolling out of the bedroom to see what all the fuss was about!! Then I stuffed my face with a fried egg and mushroom sandwich, but alas, there will be no more of that..........
We went back to the hospital yesterday for me to have my Anti-D, but it had been sent to the wrong site of the hospital 15 miles away, the fantastic midwife rang down to pharmacy and had them immediately bring me the correct dose! Within 10 mins, I was sat with the massive needle in my arm! She was gave the big speech about not looking, so I told her after IVF meds, this was a walk in the park and she said 'Oh, your the lady! We heard your story Wednesday, everyone in the unit is thrilled for you! Congratulations!' Which was lovely!
Then the bad news, I am anaemic, so have been prescribed Ferrous Sulphate tablets. I was anaemic when pregnant with Charlie and I know from experience that these tablets make me as sick as a dog. I ended up swapping to a natural Iron source called SpaTone. I started taking my tablets last night, and you guessed it, I've been pig sick ever since. So I am going to take SpaTone in the mornings and the Ferrous Sulphate in the evenings when I can handle feeling rough a bit better.
I was also diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. We kind of knew this was going to happen, after my funky blood readings back in 1st Tri. I am so angry at the nurse from my doctors surgery who shouted at me when I rang to discuss after having a hypo. She told me I was being silly and shouldn't have been checking my blood sugar levels as i was only worrying myself for no reason and I was wasting everyones time and shouldn't even have a blood glucose monitor. She should have listened and taken me seriously. I will be making a complaint.
So, I have diabetic clinic on Tuesday as well as midwife to pick up my equipment, see the nutritionist and learn about my diet. Hopefully it will just be diet controlled, but of course, if I need insulin, it will be no biggy to me injecting myself multiple times a day again!
It may very well go in my favour now about having a ELCS, babies tend to be bigger in mothers who have GD which would also mean a higher chance of her having a shoulder dystocia if I am to have a VBAC (which has always been my fear), and also, she may have to be taken to Special Care straight after birth for a couple of hours just to check her blood sugar levels are not too low. They will also not let me go over dates either and I would rather have an ELCS than be induced.
Also, I am having to use bum bullets again (suppositories) s I have hemorrhoid's. I hate these things! But they are getting quite uncomfortable now and the cream on its own just wasn't helping or relieving them.
So, all in all, it's been a shitty week for me, and I can't see the next couple of weeks getting any better. So many appointments coming up, but at least I get to see my little/big piglet again on the 1st October as I have a growth scan and an appointment with the Consultant. Hopefully they will just offer me a date for an ELCS. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
27 Weeks 4 Days
Lets get the pics out the way!
I have lost my belly button, if anyone finds it, can they return it please??
My bump seems to have 'dropped' since last week.
And I'm sure I am going to give birth to an octopus, she's all arms and legs and wriggly. She makes my whole belly move when she moves, I'm sure she's running out of room already!!
So, I had my VBAC clinic appointment last Wednesday, and I'm very confudeled about the whole business if I'm honest!
If I had just been given the information booklet we were given at this appointment, by the consultant a few weeks ago, when we should have been given it, then I would have gone in with a whole different frame of mind.
The upshot of it is, I am having a VBAC, unless something crops up on my growth scans or appointments between now and my due date.
I am surprisingly OK with this, Bongo still has a few worries, but we decided to get our heads around the idea, not stress about it, as we will go into labour and birth not mentally prepared for it, and that is the worst possible thing for any of us.
I am quite excited (yeah, I am mental) about the idea of being at home and going into labour, making all those calls to say it's started. I am also of the frame of mind, that I really do want to prove myself wrong, that I CAN DO THIS!! Or at least give this a damn good try!
I have a 5 in 1000 chance of my scar rupturing, so I will be monitired throughout labour, which is kind of annoying as well as reasurring. I am sure I will be one of these women who want to be mobile during labour, I will want to bathe, bounce on my birthing ball (which arrived today!!!) I cannot labour or give birth in our natural birthing unit, and I will be labouring in a room right next door to maternity theatre 'just in case'. I still have an issue with forceps, ventouse and an episiotomy, but I am coming round to the fact that if I am at 10cm and just can't push for whatever reason, they would rather do a forceps or ventouse delivery, than take me for a section, which is understandable.
I have another Consultant appointment after a growth scan on 1st October, and I will be discussing a few issues, such as my wonky cervix - will this affect dialation and birth? Can I be monitored being mobile, such as using a handheld doppler instead of the CTG machine if i want to bathe, and making it very very clear that if something, anything was to go wrong with me or the baby, that I pushed and pushed for an ELCS and was basically talked out of it.
So, I am at the stage, where we are thinking about our birthing plan. We will probably be writing two, one for a VBAC delivery and one for an ELCS, depending on if they change their mind at some point between now and 13th December.
I am also thinking about packing my hospital bag this week. I'm going to pack for a 24 hour stay VBAC and if I need anything else, either Bongo can bring it in or I can add it before we go to the hospital.
Charlie has also decided he would like to be at the hospital, but not actually watch me give birth!! I've always wanted to have him there, always wanted to have him close to me during this time. He really is my closest friend, support and I trust him more than anyone else in the world. He has grown up so much over the past 3 months and I think he will handle the situation well, it's completley up to him when the time comes if he wants to be there, and I am happy for him to be. (He has said that I am not allowed to shout at him when I have a pain though!!)
I'm so proud of my son, I really am. I honestly thought this would go the other way, he has had me all to himself for nearly 14 years, I thought the transition would be very very hard for him, but he has adjusted so well. I also make a point that if anyone buys anything for baby they are not to leave Charlie out! Even if it's just a sweet. I have sat him down and explained that there are things we need to buy that are essential for the baby, and I can't always buy the equivilent for him, and he told me to stop being so stupid, I don't have to keep making it up to him, I think he realises that I have tried very hard not to have him pushed out by all the baby talk, and things. I also explained Christmas will be very different, we can't afford to spend as much as we usually do and it will be very hectic with a new baby, and he really is very understanding.
We have also put up the Moses basket in the bedroom, just so the pets get used to it. I have lined it with tin foil (cats hate tin foil) and I have put the cat net over it. So far, so good and no one seems interested in it! It may be a different matter when there's a nice warm snuggly baby stinking of milk in there though! We are slowly trying to get the cat out of the bedroom, especially now she is used to the dog (it's only taken a year) so hopefully, we can mover her into Charlie's room/front room.
Another conversation has cropped up this week.......... contraception.
Now, I may come across as selfish here, but you never know what the future holds. We haven't thought about it, not really. We are just very very grateful for what we have right here, right now, and what Decemeber will bring.
But, I don't want to stick ANY hormones in my body afterwards, I have learned my lesson!! Especially that evil Depo!! IF, we decide one day to TTC again, i don't want to have to worry about any hormones that I have put in my body, so that rules out, the pill, implant, mirena coil and depo. I don't think having a coil in any way will be good, because of my cervix and (stupidly?) I worry about any internal damage it may cause. This leaves condoms, withdrawl method or abstinence? But to be honest, I hate condoms. And the last time we used them, when DRing for IVF, we managed to fuck that up, he put it on inside out and back to front!!! I know, I know, practice makes perfect, but it just doesn't feel the same does it? And I don't think he will be happy with abstinence!! HA Ha
So, on to this week. I have my GTT appointment tomorrow, I'm really not looking forward to that! I am not aloowed to eat or drink (except water) from 8pm tonight. I don't know how I'm going to do it! I'm such a pig at the moment!! I have to be at the hospital by 8am, they will take my fasting bloods, then I have to drink a glucose drink and then have ablood test again 2 hours later. The only saving grace is Bongo will be on standby with my order from the coffee cart of a latte with double shot of esspresso and almond syrup!! I had one evry morning on my way into work, so I know it's good stuff from there!!
I also have to have ablood test tomorrow to see how much Anti-D they need to give me on Friday. I almost need to take out a mortgage to pay the car parking fee's the amount of times I'm at this hospital in the next few weeks.
Well, that's about it for now. Although there is a very special person I would like to thank, just for being her. She knows who she is!! I love you so much and I'm so grateful to have you as my friend.
I have lost my belly button, if anyone finds it, can they return it please??
My bump seems to have 'dropped' since last week.
And I'm sure I am going to give birth to an octopus, she's all arms and legs and wriggly. She makes my whole belly move when she moves, I'm sure she's running out of room already!!
So, I had my VBAC clinic appointment last Wednesday, and I'm very confudeled about the whole business if I'm honest!
If I had just been given the information booklet we were given at this appointment, by the consultant a few weeks ago, when we should have been given it, then I would have gone in with a whole different frame of mind.
The upshot of it is, I am having a VBAC, unless something crops up on my growth scans or appointments between now and my due date.
I am surprisingly OK with this, Bongo still has a few worries, but we decided to get our heads around the idea, not stress about it, as we will go into labour and birth not mentally prepared for it, and that is the worst possible thing for any of us.
I am quite excited (yeah, I am mental) about the idea of being at home and going into labour, making all those calls to say it's started. I am also of the frame of mind, that I really do want to prove myself wrong, that I CAN DO THIS!! Or at least give this a damn good try!
I have a 5 in 1000 chance of my scar rupturing, so I will be monitired throughout labour, which is kind of annoying as well as reasurring. I am sure I will be one of these women who want to be mobile during labour, I will want to bathe, bounce on my birthing ball (which arrived today!!!) I cannot labour or give birth in our natural birthing unit, and I will be labouring in a room right next door to maternity theatre 'just in case'. I still have an issue with forceps, ventouse and an episiotomy, but I am coming round to the fact that if I am at 10cm and just can't push for whatever reason, they would rather do a forceps or ventouse delivery, than take me for a section, which is understandable.
I have another Consultant appointment after a growth scan on 1st October, and I will be discussing a few issues, such as my wonky cervix - will this affect dialation and birth? Can I be monitored being mobile, such as using a handheld doppler instead of the CTG machine if i want to bathe, and making it very very clear that if something, anything was to go wrong with me or the baby, that I pushed and pushed for an ELCS and was basically talked out of it.
So, I am at the stage, where we are thinking about our birthing plan. We will probably be writing two, one for a VBAC delivery and one for an ELCS, depending on if they change their mind at some point between now and 13th December.
I am also thinking about packing my hospital bag this week. I'm going to pack for a 24 hour stay VBAC and if I need anything else, either Bongo can bring it in or I can add it before we go to the hospital.
Charlie has also decided he would like to be at the hospital, but not actually watch me give birth!! I've always wanted to have him there, always wanted to have him close to me during this time. He really is my closest friend, support and I trust him more than anyone else in the world. He has grown up so much over the past 3 months and I think he will handle the situation well, it's completley up to him when the time comes if he wants to be there, and I am happy for him to be. (He has said that I am not allowed to shout at him when I have a pain though!!)
I'm so proud of my son, I really am. I honestly thought this would go the other way, he has had me all to himself for nearly 14 years, I thought the transition would be very very hard for him, but he has adjusted so well. I also make a point that if anyone buys anything for baby they are not to leave Charlie out! Even if it's just a sweet. I have sat him down and explained that there are things we need to buy that are essential for the baby, and I can't always buy the equivilent for him, and he told me to stop being so stupid, I don't have to keep making it up to him, I think he realises that I have tried very hard not to have him pushed out by all the baby talk, and things. I also explained Christmas will be very different, we can't afford to spend as much as we usually do and it will be very hectic with a new baby, and he really is very understanding.
We have also put up the Moses basket in the bedroom, just so the pets get used to it. I have lined it with tin foil (cats hate tin foil) and I have put the cat net over it. So far, so good and no one seems interested in it! It may be a different matter when there's a nice warm snuggly baby stinking of milk in there though! We are slowly trying to get the cat out of the bedroom, especially now she is used to the dog (it's only taken a year) so hopefully, we can mover her into Charlie's room/front room.
Another conversation has cropped up this week.......... contraception.
Now, I may come across as selfish here, but you never know what the future holds. We haven't thought about it, not really. We are just very very grateful for what we have right here, right now, and what Decemeber will bring.
But, I don't want to stick ANY hormones in my body afterwards, I have learned my lesson!! Especially that evil Depo!! IF, we decide one day to TTC again, i don't want to have to worry about any hormones that I have put in my body, so that rules out, the pill, implant, mirena coil and depo. I don't think having a coil in any way will be good, because of my cervix and (stupidly?) I worry about any internal damage it may cause. This leaves condoms, withdrawl method or abstinence? But to be honest, I hate condoms. And the last time we used them, when DRing for IVF, we managed to fuck that up, he put it on inside out and back to front!!! I know, I know, practice makes perfect, but it just doesn't feel the same does it? And I don't think he will be happy with abstinence!! HA Ha
So, on to this week. I have my GTT appointment tomorrow, I'm really not looking forward to that! I am not aloowed to eat or drink (except water) from 8pm tonight. I don't know how I'm going to do it! I'm such a pig at the moment!! I have to be at the hospital by 8am, they will take my fasting bloods, then I have to drink a glucose drink and then have ablood test again 2 hours later. The only saving grace is Bongo will be on standby with my order from the coffee cart of a latte with double shot of esspresso and almond syrup!! I had one evry morning on my way into work, so I know it's good stuff from there!!
I also have to have ablood test tomorrow to see how much Anti-D they need to give me on Friday. I almost need to take out a mortgage to pay the car parking fee's the amount of times I'm at this hospital in the next few weeks.
Well, that's about it for now. Although there is a very special person I would like to thank, just for being her. She knows who she is!! I love you so much and I'm so grateful to have you as my friend.
Monday, 2 September 2013
25 weeks 3 days Midwife Appointment
Fucking excellent.
Diagnosed with SPD. I have to rest and have physio.
Even more excellent - if I have another episode of "Braxton hicks" like I did Saturday night, I am to ring triage at the labour ward and go in and be checked and monitored.
Ok, I'm not panicking in the slightest. Nope, I'm really not. Honestly.
25 Weeks 3 Days
I haven't updated in forever! I've had so much going on.
Charlie has been home for a month over the summer holidays, and trying to keep an almost 14 year old entertained while feeling like a beached whale is.......diferent!
We have had a few problems with Bongo at work and he has had some time off, we have been trying to sort our cramped little flat out to make room for baby and baby things, I still have no idea where we are going to put everything!!
We are almost done buying everything now, just a few little bits and pieces and we are ready to rock and roll!! I can't believe I have only 14 and a half weeks left of this pregnancy, it's flown by.
I have a reallly really busy few weeks coming up appointment wise, although it's going to be busy, I am so very grateful that I am being looked after so closely. My next few weeks are like this:
Today - Midwife
11th Septemeber: VBAC Clinic
18th Septemeber: GTT
19th Septemeber: Anti-D blood test
20th Septemeber: Anti-D injection
1st October: Growth Scan
1st October: Consultant Appointment
In between, I will have another Midwife appointment as well.
I have Midwife this afternoon, just the usual checks etc, but I really do need to speak to her about this pelvic pain now, it has actually reduced me to tears on a number of occasions, the only way I can describe it, is like being kicked/having a groin strain (times 100). I can't get in and out of bed, it hurts to walk, and get up from a chair. I have bought a maternity belt, which is amazing, it holds it all in, and you feel like you kind of fall apart when you take it off! I would highly recommened one if your having pelvic problems. I am going to be asked to be referred to physio now, which she offered to do a few appointments back if I was still suffering.
I am also getting quite bad Braxton Hicks contractions! Except mine don't come and go, I have one that will last between 30 mins to an hour, then ease off, and I have this around 3/4 times a day, they can take my breath away at times! I was in the hallway when I got one Saturday night and was holding on to both sides of the wall for dear life, not quite being able to move, Bongo came and gave me his hands to hold while he tried to move me into the living room to sit down, but I couldn't move! He got screeched at to just 'leave me the fuck alone, I can't fucking move!'. Oh dear!! Imagine what I will be like in established labour??!!
Now, I really have a problem with the gruffalo! I can't shave, or when I do, I'm shaving blind and completely missing bits! I was thinking about trying and using some sensitive hair removing cream today, but that really only lasts as long as shaving, doesn't it? And it still means I have tot try and reach everywhere, and last time I tried using cream, it felt like I'd given my hoo ha third degree burns. I was thinking about biting the bullet and going for a wax, but I'm too scared, then someone recommeded sugar waxing as apparently it doesnt hurt so bad, but I'm still going to have to pluck up the courage to give that a go!! Such a dilema!
I have some bump pics, they are not great, so excuse the stretch marks!!
Daddy having kick cuddles!! The size of his hand makes my belly look tiny!!
Charlie has been home for a month over the summer holidays, and trying to keep an almost 14 year old entertained while feeling like a beached whale is.......diferent!
We have had a few problems with Bongo at work and he has had some time off, we have been trying to sort our cramped little flat out to make room for baby and baby things, I still have no idea where we are going to put everything!!
We are almost done buying everything now, just a few little bits and pieces and we are ready to rock and roll!! I can't believe I have only 14 and a half weeks left of this pregnancy, it's flown by.
I have a reallly really busy few weeks coming up appointment wise, although it's going to be busy, I am so very grateful that I am being looked after so closely. My next few weeks are like this:
Today - Midwife
11th Septemeber: VBAC Clinic
18th Septemeber: GTT
19th Septemeber: Anti-D blood test
20th Septemeber: Anti-D injection
1st October: Growth Scan
1st October: Consultant Appointment
In between, I will have another Midwife appointment as well.
I have Midwife this afternoon, just the usual checks etc, but I really do need to speak to her about this pelvic pain now, it has actually reduced me to tears on a number of occasions, the only way I can describe it, is like being kicked/having a groin strain (times 100). I can't get in and out of bed, it hurts to walk, and get up from a chair. I have bought a maternity belt, which is amazing, it holds it all in, and you feel like you kind of fall apart when you take it off! I would highly recommened one if your having pelvic problems. I am going to be asked to be referred to physio now, which she offered to do a few appointments back if I was still suffering.
I am also getting quite bad Braxton Hicks contractions! Except mine don't come and go, I have one that will last between 30 mins to an hour, then ease off, and I have this around 3/4 times a day, they can take my breath away at times! I was in the hallway when I got one Saturday night and was holding on to both sides of the wall for dear life, not quite being able to move, Bongo came and gave me his hands to hold while he tried to move me into the living room to sit down, but I couldn't move! He got screeched at to just 'leave me the fuck alone, I can't fucking move!'. Oh dear!! Imagine what I will be like in established labour??!!
Now, I really have a problem with the gruffalo! I can't shave, or when I do, I'm shaving blind and completely missing bits! I was thinking about trying and using some sensitive hair removing cream today, but that really only lasts as long as shaving, doesn't it? And it still means I have tot try and reach everywhere, and last time I tried using cream, it felt like I'd given my hoo ha third degree burns. I was thinking about biting the bullet and going for a wax, but I'm too scared, then someone recommeded sugar waxing as apparently it doesnt hurt so bad, but I'm still going to have to pluck up the courage to give that a go!! Such a dilema!
I have some bump pics, they are not great, so excuse the stretch marks!!
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