Shelbell's Baby Diary

[shelbell]

I'm just concerned that if I carry on like this I won't be physically fit to give birth naturally or to recover from a c-section. I think if I was induced now I would stand a chance at being able to give birth, but if I keep going down hill like this then in a couple of weeks it would be beyond me. It's not just that, but that's the part that worries me most as that affects the baby as well, the rest just makes my life harder. At this rate I'm going to be pretty much bedbound soon.

 

[Sunflowers]

Sorry to hear about your lupus flare up, some women don't get as bad a flare in pg though so fingers crossed for you there.. I guess they'll be offering you serial scanning if that's the case and checking for growth, liquor volume and also whether you have good doppler flows (good blood flow to and from the baby) and take it from there.. 32 weekers do very very well now - sometimes need a touch of cpap which is a little mask (or prongs up their nose) which blows a gentle pressure into their lungs all the time - the hardest part of breathing is when you first open up your lungs at the start of each breath, a bit like when you're blowing up a balloon - the hardest part is getting it going! CPAP means they don't have to do that hard bit! He or she would also need a little tube down his nose or mouth going straight into the tummy for feeding with..

Has anyone talked to you about antenatal expressing? Might be worth you doing some reading online and also talking to your mw, the thoughts are you express what you're able and freeze it meaning if the baby is born early then you'd have a supply of colostrum all ready to go in your freezer.. Early introduction of breastmilk (even as little as a couple of drops in the mouth) has been proven to reduce the risk of neonatal sepsis as it primes the gut, it's wonderful stuff!! Something for you to think about anyway, and might give you a feeling of doing something positive for your baby?

Hang on in there chuck - and do pm me if you want to know anything about what goes on in NICU.. xx

 

[shelbell]

Thanks sun. Yup we have regular scans etc, I have hughes as well as lupus and also nephritus and a whole list of others so I don't get to do much in life without it being monitored!

I haven't heard of antenatal expressing, will do some reading on it. My son was in NICU when he was born so that side doesn't scare me too much.

Had a really bad night last night, between pelvic pain and anxiety I didn't sleep much and am feeling very very teary this morning so am going to pack myself back off to bed for the day. Had my jab and also had my 3-monthly b12 this morning so feeling doubly sorry for myself! Very very fed up of all the injections.

 

[angie-bum]

wishing you a good sleep and lots of recuperation

 

[Purple Hugs]

Interesting about the antenatal expressing. Does this work even if you're not leaking Sunflower? I heard that it can be used to induce labour and it freaked me a bit I must admit. It was on another site where someone was considering doing it as a way to start labour off at 36-37 weeks through impatience not for medical reasons.

Really hope that you get somewhere Shel, I can only imagine how hard things are for you at the moment ((hugs)) and send hugs.

 

[XxAbbiexX23]

When is the earliest you can be induced? Sorry to hear you're not feeling well and I hope you feel better soon. I understand why you're wanting to speak to your ob and talk about getting a date sorted, you want to have as much energy as possible. I have to say it's amazing the things you learn on here, I had never ever heard of antenatal expressing until just now.

 

[Purple Hugs]

Abbie - I hadn't till about a week ago I must confess and was a bit gob smacked! lol

Hope you've had a better night tonight Shel - yes I'm up at 3am AGAIN. lol

 

[shelbell]

I did manage a better night last night thanks. I even managed to bake a batch of cheese scones yesterday evening! Nesting me thinks.

I have physio today so i doubt I'll be doing anything else. Often on tuesdays I go out shopping with my mother but i don't feel up to it today.

 

[Purple Hugs]

mmm the scones sound lovely! Reminds me I bought some scones earlier (fruit) might have one in a min with a cuppa.

Hope you feel better after physio though that will likely be the opposite in my experience of physio! lol

 

[shelbell]

aye, tend to feel worse for the next 24 hours, but after that feel better for a few days. I have been fitted with a giant tubigrip lol which looks lurrrrrrrrrvely lol but feels great.

Got some of my blood results just now and my haemoglobin is back to normal which is good news, and my kidney function is fine, so that is even better (I have nephritus which lupus often aggravates), have to wait a bit longer for my lupus results.

Counting down the hours till out appointment tomorrow. If she doesn't give me a date I will cry!

 

[Sunflowers]

There was a study day at nicu recently which is attended by Consultant neonatologists s as much as nurses and midwives - antenatal expressing was one of the lectures given! It wasn't something I'd heard about until then but the benefits in terms of gut priming and reducing infection are something to really think about!

 

[shelbell]

am not a happy bunny this morning. At physio yesterday she did some deep tissue massage around the back left of my pelvis to loosen it up. Because of my fibro any massage is painful but I thought it was for the best and just got on with it. Last night when I sat on my gym ball my back went in to agony Ever since I'm in a fair bit of pain when I move and the area she was massaging is very very tender to the touch. I know that's not the fibro as that is more about pressure points at the time of contact. Surely it's not normal to be in so much pain post massage?

On a side note. Only 7 hours and 36 minutes till our appointment.

 

[Sunflowers]

No, it's not normal - either she's stirred too much up and you're having an acute healing crisis or she's stirred too much up and done more than she should!

Give her a ring and talk to her, she might be able to suggest some exercises for you to do in the meanwhile or bring forwards your next appointment..

xx

 

[shelbell]

Was thinking about calling her Sun, will do so after my jab. Will dig out a hot water bottle in the meantime!

 

[shelbell]

Well appointment didn't go too well. Beany boys abdomen is measuring small. They've decided that they want me to go to 37/38 weeks, so have spent most of the last 2 hours in tears. Had a funny turn on the way to the scan room so wasn't feeling too hot to start with and the prospect of another 5/6 weeks of this is too much. I honestly don't know how I'm going to cope. Got to go back in 4 weeks for another growth scan, and keep an eye on movement in the meantime. At the next appointment we should get a date for induction/c-section (they haven't decided which yet).

 

[Purple Hugs]

Shel I'm so sorry ((Hugs)) really wish there was something I could say or do.
I hope that time for it all to sink in and settle helps somewhat. ((hugs)) Really hope baby catches up a bit growth wise too while you wait.
Perhaps they'll change their plans at the next scan, or give you and earlier one if you push for it?

Sending big huge comforting hugs ((hugs))

 

[Sunflowers]

Aww, it's hard I know - I was begging them from 34 weeks but deep down I knew that Jocelyn was better growing in than out as long as she was doing ok and same goes for you too but I really understand that desperation.. I hope the days pass more bearably until you're 37 weeks.. xx

 

[shelbell]

Cheese!

My brain probs are getting worse. Lupus affects you neurologically and I get memory problems and a general foggy brain with it. This morning I decided I had to go to Tesco after my jab to get sandwiches to take with us to our NCT class tomorrow. Not my brightest idea as I'm not too steady on my own at the moment. Anywho, got the sandwiches, along with 3 bags of grated cheese. I don't know why. I do like cheese but I never buy ready grated and we have plenty of cheese in.

Am now banning myself from solo shopping trips. Hubby hasn't stopped laughing.

 

[angie-bum]

more cheese muffins prehaps!

 

[Purple Hugs]

lol at the Cheese hun!! ((Hugs))
Am not steady on feet at the moment either, 2 funny turns again today so can empathise.

As for cheese, well cheese on toast sounds good to me! at least it'll keep for a while too.

I lost my keys the other day - had to pick graham up and I KNEW i'd had them as unlocked door with LO after school.. he rang to say ready to be collected - he ended up getting a lift home with someone else as I was searching high and low and almost in tears. I'm a creature of habit and put them on the fridge when I get in.. Well he came in, searched all over with me, they were in my handbag! The handbag I hadn't even used that day!! lol Baby brain has well and truly hit me! lol