Why is it that you think of all the things you SHOULD have asked your midwife AFTER you have left the appointment?!

It didn't help that I had to have DS with me today and he was full of beans and a complete distraction. I was also feeling a bit emotional and upset and I wanted to rush out of there before I burst into tears

I am 24weeks + 5 days. The midwife measured the fundal height and it was 28 and apparently that is quite a bit higher higher than expected. She has booked me in for a "growth scan" on Monday. I don't know if I want this, because I really can't see what difference it will make. So what if the baby is bigger than expected? His growth may slow down before my EDD anyway, and if it doesn't, I'll birth a big baby. So?!

I've also had blood taken and they want to test for pregnancy diabetes. I don't know what the implications of that are, so I wished I had asked more about that too.

There was also something "up" with my urine sample, something they were measuring for was off the scale and they had to send it off or something. I really SHOULD have asked about that, but that was mentioned just BEFORE all this other stuff and then it sort of got pushed out of my mind.

I tried to broach the subject of HB (which I wanted this time) and she said not to worry about that just now, just cross this bridge first.

I'm struggling to remember everything she said (WHY didn't I take a note pad?!) but there is a chance of my care being transferred for ebing "high risk" and then I really can't see me having a HB, or if I do I can't see "them" making it easy for me to get it.

I do trust this midwife, she is very nice. I just wish they were more transparent about what stuff MEANS. My head is fried and I just want to

ARGH!

Thanks for letting me vent... if anyone has any info, sources or or anything I will be so grateful. Somehow, I don't feel so confident any more....

Gestational diabetes is a standard test they give to everyone around your time. I have mine at around 25 weeks. They might be thinking the because your fundal height is big that that could be pointing to GD, because babies of GD mothers tend to be larger. Often, they like to induce GD mothers a bit early. Did they say if it was protein or glucose that was off the charts in your sample? Ah, and babies born to GD moms have to have their glucose tested after birth because they might not be able to process the insulin mom was taking.

All that being said...don't jump to the conclusion that you have GD, try to relax and wait and see. Also, I don't think that GD necessarily precludes homebirth.

Thank you. I wasn't tested for GD last time and she told me specifically that they were doing it because my bump has got quite a bit bigger. I don't know, I am actually looking pregnant at last (6 months!) and I was sort of pleased about it... and now I'm just begging Peanut to plleeeeeeaase not grow any more, and then manybe when I've had this scan everything will be ticked off as normal and they will leave us alone.

I don't think I have any other diabetes symptoms - she didn't ask tho, maybe there is something I am missing. I don't think I HAVE got it, but she did dodge the question when I tried to talk about the home birth, although that might be because it is still a bit early for that yet. And she did say something about high risk care, but I was getting quite flustered and upset at this point and not really taking stuff in properly.

I don't think there is a bl**dy thing wrong with me or my baby, tbh. I am just terrified that they are going to be all "risk of this" and "risk of that" and poke me and prod me and try to stop me birthing at home. I don't WANT to fight with the people caring for me. I don't want to be paranoid or stressed. I've been all excited and confident about this baby from the beginning and now I've been brought right back down to earth with a big (sorry for the pun) bump.

Bless your heart, I know how you feel! I feel the same way. The best thing you can do right now is try to keep calm as much as you can, and don't project on what "might" be. Right NOW, you know you're baby is doing well, and you're doing well... everything else will come and be conquered in it's own time.

Would you be able to phone your mw when you feel calm and can take things in. You may of only picked up bits of what she said hun xxx

Bless you, I agree with philly, can you call her at all and ask her to explain?

Hi there

I too am being tested for gestational diabetes & having the blood test tomorrow, (due to the fact that a) it's a routine test in Spain & b) because my baby is measuring 2 wks ahead of dates & as I'm unsure of my family history (I'm adopted) then my Dr wants to be on the safe side. If it was found that you have gest diabetes, then yes it is usual for the team to transfer you to a Consultant for regular monitoring. It's just that with gest diabetes, if not well controlled then the baby can be large & this can obviously have a reflection on your delivery if not well managed. But this is all jumping the gun & you may not even have it, so try & relax & not worry too much until you have a result, it may just be that your baby is a bit bigger, but that doesn't necessarily mean you wouldn't be able to have your HB.

Good luck
Jayne x

I am trying very hard not to worry about all this; the stress is the worst thing for both of us. Maybe it's just me reading the graph wrong, but it looks 4 weeks ahead to me, which seems quite a gap. And yup, she did say I'd be transferred to a consultant because of the high risk thing IF.... I don't want a flippin' consultant! I want my midwife! But you are all right and it's jumping the gun. It's just routine procedure at this stage because bump is bigger than expected. The scan will *probably* show everything is perfectly fine... and if it doesn't, then I will have to think about possible risks, discuss my options and maybe start putting my foot down.

Thank god I am lucky and I have a golden DH. If it DOES come down to me still wanting a homebirth and them not wanting me to have one, he will stick up for me. That means the world to me.

Edit to add - I will consider ringing mw tomorrow now that I am calmer... and I'll have a notepad on hand and I'll write down loads of questions first! But I'm thinking I might wait till my scan on Monday - if it's fine I don't NEED to discuss for clarification and if it's not fine I'll need to discuss again ANYWAY.

The one thing that concerned me was that she was on the phone for a while to different people, trying to get this scan booked for me. It's being booked through a different department - not because I am being transferred but because it's the fastest way to get the scan and she seems to think it is urgent. One the one hand - YES! I have a midwife who is proactive and wants to push things thru quickly for me, and discover any potential problems early, or at least put my mind at rest! OTOH.... dear christ, she thinks it's that urgent, maybe I should be worried! KWIM?

I had gestational diabetes with my two successful pregnancies. The first was undiagnosed until birth, but my son was born with hypoglycemia, so that was the first sign...plus he was 9lbs 10 ounces, two weeks early. With my daughter I was diagnosed at 19 weeks, and went on the diet and insulin. There is some controversy regarding treating GD, but I haven't really researched that, nor did I know about that when I was pregnant with my daughter. I would say that with my son I had a DR that was very relaxed and maybe too relaxed as I did develop complications later such as high blood pressure at the end. With my daughter I had a DR that perhaps went a little overboard, although I always felt that me and my baby were "safe" as I went for non-stress tests, extra scans, and I had to phone in my blood sugar levels weekly. I went back to the first DR for this pregnancy. I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to have a vag birth...but, as far as a home birth, I really have no idea as our countires midwives are very much different than here. Here there would be no chance, but I don't think our midwives are very trained. Sounds like it is much different over there. Homebirth, although I know a couple people who have had them here, it is very very rare. I know it is scary getting information...kind of too bad your m/w never explained anything to you...that was really unfair...but, until you have anything confirmed, I would stay hopeful and perhaps see if you can call your m/w and get her to explain this all to you. She should have in the first place. Big

Oh heck I AM having a vaginal birth! The chances of me going for a CS are remote, to say the least. And if I stamp my feet and have a tantrum and say I AM HAVING THIS BABY AT HOME there's not much they can do about it. They can ADVISE me.... they can try to pressure me, they can count on their superiority complexes to make me go along with it.... but the choice is mine. Unfortunately, that means that if the risk IS high and the midden hits the windmill, it's on my head. So I have to be SURE before I start stamping my feet, that it really IS what I really want. Hopefully, everything will check out ok on Monday and it won't even be an issue.

Thanks everyone!!