Discovery Home & Health

Hi Jules

Just to let you know that I went to the doctor's yesterday and they did an examination and confirmed that I am still red and inflamed and are therefore referring me back to the hospital.

Many thanks for your advice and all the luck in the world for TTC.

Becky
x

Hi Becky,
At least your on your way to getting it sorted out, let me know how you get on.
Thanks hope it doesn't take me too long tc.
Best wishes
Jules

Hey Jules - how are you? I am Jacq from the March / April thread. I have another 6 weeks to go. My legs have gotten rrally achy in bed and I seel to have big veins on my feet and ankles now when I get up. They do go down after aout 10mins - but really upsetting my sleep. I also seem to have a pain in left side of groin. - any advice on how to get a better nights sleep. Getting a bit cranky on it at this stage!!!

Hi Jacq,
You will get uncomfortable at this stage and theres not a lot you can.
You can put pillows under your bump and under your leg, if on your side, or under both legs if on you back.
The groin pain may be a trapped nerve or the pressure from the baby when lying down.
the veins are just because you have a lot more blood volume and body mass now, so this may be the cause, the itching I'm unsure about, but if they get worse or are causing you to not be able to sleep, then see your GP.
Best wishes
Jules

Hi Jules - Thank you for taking the time to answer me. I guess I am being silly as it's a small price to pay really. Not long to go now anyway.

Thank you and Good luck to you!!!!

hiya jules, i gotta quick q for you. i understand you can use a tens machine in labour, does it have to be a special one for labour or can it be a normal one for pain relief, my mum has one (she has fibromyalgia, like the start of m.e) and she has one for pain, i just wondered if i could use that., also if i wanted to give my baby breastmilk, but not breastfeed it (so DH can also help), could i be able to do this from birth, or how long would it roughly take for my milk to come through so i can express? if i have to breastfeed, how long would i have to do it for? cheers xx

Hi,
I wouldn't use your mums machine, it may have different currents going through it, and as you have to place the pads near to the spinal area, I would hire or get a TNS for labour.
You can express and bottle feed, though I will say that the breasts are best stimulated by the baby feeding off them rather than the machine, and it will take a few days for your milk to come in properly 3-5 days, and longer to be able to express a good amount each time to feed the baby every feed. The baby may even get confused with bottle and breast, so its best to keep to breast to start with. You can breastfeed for as long as you want to, but its best to try and feed for a year if you can, that is the time the baby can go onto normal cows milk. But any amount of time is a bounus.
If you don't want to breastfeed at all, then you can just express from the day one, though your baby will need artificial milk to start with as you won't be able to express enough in the early days, but you still have to use the pump every 3 hours to get your breast stimulated.
Hope this helps
Jules

whats the difference between the tns for labour and the tens machine? thankyou for getting back to me so soon. xx

Hi sorry to confuse you, TNS and Tens is the same.
Jules

Hi Jules,
Quick question for you (well not so quick actually). This is my third pregnancy, (i have a 9 year old and 6 year old). I estimate that i am only actually about 4 weeks pregnant (and ive done three tests already). The question is, when should i make an appointment to see my GP? or do i make an appointment to see the Midwife at the surgery? not sure. Seems so long ago that i done all this. This is my 1st pregnancy with this partner.
I will say that my 1st pregnancy went fine, but my 2nd pregnancy was a nightmare. Dont know what went wrong (may not even be conected to the pregnancy) but my son was born with a rare benign brain tumour (which should have been picked up in my scans but never was). This has caused him to have other problems. Also my partner had Sickle cell and i was told the kids had been checked at birth and were ok (then i found out when there dad died) at my kids ages of 3 and 7 that they were carriers (they have the trait). I know this all seems like im rambling now (actually i feel a bit like i am), but i dont remember being so nervous with my last two pregnancys. I feel a bit let down by the health profession as they have missed things on two occasions with my family (and not little things). I feel that i need a bit of reassurance that every thing is fine, im not sure wether i should ask for extra monitoring or am i just being paranoid. I know for one thing though........... i'll end up mad by the time Novemeber does come along! (lol)
Thanks Char x (sorry to go on and on)

Hi Char,
You need to phone your GP surgery around 8 weeks, depending how your surgery works, you will either see the GP first or have your first appointment with the Midwife around 10 weeks. But the receptionist will tell you which you will see. The you should have a date scan at 12 weeks and an anomaly scan at 20 weeks.
Every pregnancy is different, at your 20 weeks scan, say about your son, and I'm sure she will take a double look for you.
As for any concerns you have throughout your pregnancy, always write them down and then ask your midwife, GP or consultant.
You should not need extra monitoring for anything unless something is found, but just because they don't find something, you worry they have missed something again.
If you don't feel satisfied that something was checked properly, you are within your rights to ask for it to be checked again.
If you get a good midwife that you can talk to well, she should be able to reassure you throughout your pregnancy.
But don't worry unless you have to, enjoy your pregnancy, this one is different to the two, and won't be the same.
Best wishes
Jules

Thanks Jules, your kind words almost had me crying (is that the hormones already) lol. Well i will try and wait till 8 weeks, im already feeling sorry for the midwwife that i get. Poor cow will be retiring after dealing with me. Thanks again for your reassurance.
Char x

Char,
I'm sure the midwife will have encountered a lot worse than you think you are.
Anytime ask me anything, and I will do my best to answer it.
Best wishes
Jules

Hi Jules

What a luxury to have you here, reading through your previous answers is so useful, thankyou for the time you take doing this

I just wanted to ask, is it reasonable to ask for a scan just for reassurance? i had a dating scan which put me at 9 weeks , my next scan is at 13 weeks, but im very nervous as this weekend we are finally visiting my other halfs parents (i will be 11 weeks on saturday )after putting off travelling because of feeling so rotton. It meant we missed her 50th and she really wants to see us and we havent told her why we have not been visiting .
what im trying to say is can i ask for another scan - just to be sure before telling them? ive read about babies dying in the womb and so i really only want people to know who need to know before 12 weeks x

Thankyou , t x

Hi Teri,
Your very welcome and its nice to hear I am appreciated. Thank you.
Teri, have you a history or miscarrage? Is there any reason for you to think that there may be a problem?
If not, I think your beating yourself up about your pregnancy when you don't need to.
Your dating scan was good, you haven't had any cramping or bleeding since? Then everything is fine! Don't worry.
And your next scan is only 2 weeks away, and I know it may seem a long time when your waiting but it will soon be here.
The hospital have no reason to scan you again, so they would say no to your request.
Are you going to tell the other halfs parents the good news?
If so go and enjoy it, and stop worrying.
I keep saying don't do any worrying until you have to.
Best wishes
Jules