I got a fright yesterday

As the title suggests I got a fright yesterday. A pregnancy related fright. (This is long but everything was fine)

I was at work sitting at my desk and I felt something weird so I went to the toilet to find that my underwear was soaking. It definitely wasn't urine and it seemed too watery to be discharge. It also had a very sweet smell. I didn't panic right away but I decided I probably shouldn't ignore it so I called the midwife. I have a 24 hour number for the community midwife unit. I explained to her what had happened but she thought it was better that I call the RAH because I'm only 30 weeks. So I called the RAH and they told me to put on a maternity pad and head up so I can get checked. 

My mum came with and I think it was just before 5pm when we got up there. The midwife had a feel of my bump to check what position baby was in and to make sure he was still free.  I was hooked up to a monitor so they could check the baby's heart rate over the next half hour. Everything was fine with that, he was kicking and moving around loads. After that a consultant came down to speak to me about what happened. The consultant said everything looks fine with the print out of the heart rate. She also had a feel of my bump and said my uterus is feeling really soft which is a good sign. She wanted me to wait so a senior consultant can come and do an internal exam. This was about 6.30pm she said this to me so I was ok to wait. 

I still hadn't seen the other consultant by 9pm and by then I was getting fed up. My mum was still with me so I went out into the corridor to speak to someone. I happened to find a midwife not doing anything (who was completely useless) and she said the consultant wouldn't be able to do an internal exam because I had a low lying placenta at my 20 week scan. I still don't get why it took her over 2 hours to tell me this. I then asked if I could leave but was told it was advised I stay over night so I could have a scan in the morning to check the fluid labels around the baby. At this point I didn't really want to stay over night - mainly because if they were that concerned about the baby why leave me waiting for over two hours. I was annoyed because had she said this when I first came in my mum could have went home rather than be stuck at the hospital with me until that time. I asked if I wanted to go home could I not go to the community midwife unit where I live. I said I could check for any more fluid when I was at home and obviously if there was anymore then I would come back. The midwife was really stroppy and made a huge thing about if I wanted to do that then I would have to sign something saying I was going against medical advice. 

I tried asking why they wanted me to stay in and this midwife just said she couldn't answer that. I asked what the risks were if I went home - again she said she couldn't answer that. I asked if it would be dangerous to myself or the baby if I went home - she couldn't answer that either. 

I was just frustrated. I know if my waters were leaking it would be serious. I just don't think it's too much to ask that a midwife takes the time to answer any questions I have or talk about any concerns. 

I agreed to be admitted over night. She then said if I did really want to go they could arrange a scan at the midwife unit but I said I would stay there. 

I didn't have any fluid loss, cramps, tightenings or anything else throughout the night whiwhich made me feel better about it all. 

Thankfully when I woke up in the morning that midwife was gone and it was the day shift! The midwife who was with me today was lovely. I can't remember what time it was when I woke up but she came in to listen in to baby again for a few minutes. I think after that I fell asleep again. When she came back in later on she explained she wanted to do some antenatal checks. She also had a student midwife with her and asked if I minded the student midwife doing the checks with her double checking. I didn't mind. It was actually good to hear them talking through to each other what they were checking for and why. The student midwife had some problems working out what position my baby is in but apparently that's because I have a small neat bump which is all baby. She said the bigger the bump then the easier it is. After checking my blood pressure, temperature etc I was hooked up to a monitor again for another half hour of monitoring the baby's heart rate. This time I had a button to press every time I felt him moving. As soon as she hooked me up he got the hiccups which was quite funny being in the background on the monitor. This midwife (her name was Susan) made me feel so much better and answered any questions I had. 

After the half hour on the monitor I had to fill my bladder and was taken down for a scan. The fluid levels around the baby were fine and he was measuring where he should be. His estimated weight just now is 1.5kg (about 3.3 lbs). I know you'll ask - I didn't get a picture. At the time I didn't care about pictures - I just wanted to know that my little boy was doing well in there. He looked massive compared to the 20 week scan and it's getting cramped in there. 

Guess what? My placenta has moved out the way of my cervix. Baby's head is lower than the edge of the placenta so I'm all set for delivery at the community midwife unit! 

So I was taken back up to the ward where two consultants came to see me. They just went through the results from the scan and assured me everything was looking fine but they wanted to do an internal exam just to see if everything looks ok. 

One of the consultants came back a while later to do the internal exam (forgot how uncomfortable they were) and she said everything looks fine. My cervix is closed and she couldn't see any evidence of fluid leaking. She did take some swabs though just to check for any infections but she was happy enough to discharge me. I've just to keep an eye on things and take it easy over the next few days and if it happens again I've to phone them. 

So hopefully that's that and things will keep quiet unti the end of February. 

I'm so relieved that everything is ok. I don't think it completely hit me how serious it would have been if my waters had completely gone. I feel really stupid now since it's turned out to be nothing but everyone kept reminding me it's better to be safe than sorry. 

29 weeks

29 weeks today ♥

It still feels like the pregnancy is just flying past. 

I'm still feeling lots of movements and kicking but it's getting to the stage now where it's almost painful. I can feel that he is running out of room in there. I just feel really tight and stretched and I still have at least another 11 weeks to go. It's more noticeable (obviously) when he's pushing outwards but I can feel him through my skin. It's a strange feeling when he changes position and I can feel his bones. Hope all this is a good sign he's growing well and getting strong in there. 

Since he's head down I'm getting a lot of kicks up in my ribs. I notice it more at night when I'm in bed rather than during the day when I'm sitting up. 

Sometimes it's still hard to believe there is a baby in there. 

Work is still hard going but I have less than a month until I finish up. (Bring on the 8th January!)

I haven't had a chance to take a picture of the bump today but here is one I took last night. 

I'll add my picture from today once I take one and upload it. 

So for now.. the bump yesterday at 28 weeks & 6 days..

Excusing the mismatched underwear. 

I'll be back later to add a bump picture for today so it's exactly 29 weeks. I just wanted to write an entry just now since it's Wednesday! 

28 weeks

28 weeks ♥

Hello third trimester! 

I had my 28 week appointment today up at the hospital. It went well. I'm measuring a week behind but the midwife, Brenda, didn't seem too concerned. She said she thinks it's just my frame because my bump is very neat. When she was feeling the bump to see what position the baby was in he kept kicking at her. He's head down - I hope he stays that way! I just need my placenta to be ok at my 34 week scan. She had a listen into the heart beat aswell and again he kept kicking at the doppler. His heart rate was 140bpm ♥ 

I also got to have a tour of the labour suite and post natal rooms. It's all been redocrated and it looks great. There is a huge birthing pool. Brenda also let me see all the equipment and explained it's only used if the baby has problems breathing when he's born but it rarely happens as you have to be low risk to deliver at the midwife led unit. She did say all the midwives there are trained to use the equipment if the need arises. I feel even more confident about having my baby there. 

I also got my form for the health in pregnancy grant so I'll need to get that sent away by the weekend. 

My next appointment is on the 30th December. I'll be 32 weeks. 

Here is the bump picture for this week.. 

Here is a bare one aswell.. 

It seems to look bigger uncovered. Or at least it does to me. My belly button is almost flat and my laparoscopy scars are stretches and feel really thick. I don't have any stretch marks *yet* but it's still early days for them. 

So 12 weeks until my due date. Unbelievable. 14 weeks at the latest until I meet my baby boy ♥