Blood tests/Baby not moving/SPD... long list!

[caggimedicine79]

Hi everyone

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and just wanted to ask a few questions. I'm completely confused by all of the appointments, what they're for and when they take place.... god knows how i've managed to remember them with how my memory is at the moment!

Anyway - at 16 weeks I had an appointment with my midwife for the tripple test. She took blood from me, but completely messed it up and ended up rupturing the vein in my arm causing massive bruising (which I still have 4 weeks on) and leaving me unable to move my arm completely for the first 2 weeks. This was a nightmare considering I got married 2 weeks after the appointment, so had the bruising for the pics! Had to wear a cardigan over my dress to try and cover it! Anyway.... my main question is - does my midwife have to take blood from me again? I know I can ask someone else to do it... but I don't really want to cause any problems between us. I was just wondering if there was a need for another blood test with my mw?

I have my 20 week scan next week (so really, a 21 week scan!). I've been asked to make an appointment with my midwife 4 weeks after that. What will she do? So far my midwife has done nothing except take my blood pressure and that blood test. I've had no measurements/examinations or anything else done. Is this right?

Sorry this is a long one!

Another question I have is one that's bothering me a little. I first felt baby move at about 16/17 weeks. It was ever so slight. From then on, I felt little kicks and movement every 4/5 days.... until 2 weeks ago. I've not felt anything in 2 weeks. Is this normal? I still feel very pregnant, and my bump has definitely grown, so i'm not overly worried... but I just thought that i'd be feeling baby moving around more by now?

Also... yes, I know - it goes on! I am suffering from what I believe to be SPD. It's extremely painful and is limiting my movements - but from what i've read so far, there's not a lot that can be done. Is this right? I know you can have physio - but does it help?

Thanks for reading my LONG message! Hope you can help.

 

[charlie84]

Right i will try and answer your questions hun

With regards to the blood tests, i didnt have any more mandatory ones after the 16 week triple test. I did however have to have blood drawn for a GTT as i had sugar in my urine so they referred me for the test.

As for midwife appointments if i remember correctly i had one at 8 weeks, then had my first scan at 12 weeks. Then i had the midwife/doc at 16 and every four weeks after till about 32 weeks when it changed to every two weeks then once a week from 37 weeks. Something like that anyway. At each appointment my blood pressure was taken, urine tested and babies heartbeat listened to.

Regarding your babies movement, i only started to feel baby move at about 21 weeks. My placenta was anterior so it cushioned any kicks/movements until then. But if you are worried phone your midwife hun.

I also got diagnosed with SPD. I got referred to physio in which i was shown exercises to do and was given a support belt and a stretchy support. The stretchy support provided me with some help as when i took it off my SPD was worse.
Defo see if you can get physio if you have SPD. Some people have ended up on crutches as it had gotton so bad.

 

[Julie84]

Anyway.... my main question is - does my midwife have to take blood from me again? I know I can ask someone else to do it... but I don't really want to cause any problems between us. I was just wondering if there was a need for another blood test with my mw?

Poor you - I had a similar thing at my triple test and had horrible bruising for a month afterwards (I didn't have a wedding though so can't imagine how upset you must have felt! )

My antenatal notes say they will want to run more blood tests at 28 weeks to check haemoglobin levels and rhesus status etc. I am going to ask for the practice nurse to do it though as the last two times I have had blood taken it has been horrific.

I have my 20 week scan next week (so really, a 21 week scan!). I've been asked to make an appointment with my midwife 4 weeks after that. What will she do? So far my midwife has done nothing except take my blood pressure and that blood test. I've had no measurements/examinations or anything else done. Is this right?

I expect you will have your blood pressure taken, check you urine, listen to baby's heart and maybe have a feel of your tummy to check if you feel about right for your dates (this is what happened at my appointment a week or so after my scan).

Another question I have is one that's bothering me a little. I first felt baby move at about 16/17 weeks. It was ever so slight. From then on, I felt little kicks and movement every 4/5 days.... until 2 weeks ago. I've not felt anything in 2 weeks. Is this normal? I still feel very pregnant, and my bump has definitely grown, so i'm not overly worried... but I just thought that i'd be feeling baby moving around more by now?

If you have any concerns discuss them with your midwife however this sounds perfectly normal. I started feeling kicks at 16 weeks but there would be days when I wouldn't feel anything. Even now there are quiet days although I do feel kicks or at least shifting about every day and there is a definite pattern to waking and sleeping. I think you are asked to count at least 10 movements a day from 28 weeks onwards.

I am suffering from what I believe to be SPD. It's extremely painful and is limiting my movements - but from what i've read so far, there's not a lot that can be done. Is this right? I know you can have physio - but does it help?

I can't help you with this I'm afraid. I get quite a lot of pain in my pelvis to the point where I sometimes can't get up the stairs in the evening and turning over in bed is impossible. I told my GP at my last routine antenatal appointment and he (yes, it had to be a man!) said it was a perfectly normal part of pregnancy and just wrote 'achy hips' on my notes!

I've been going to aquanatal and have to be careful with some of the exercises but generally being in the water makes everything feel so much nicer.

Sorry you are having such a rough time of it at the moment. I hope things start picking up for you and you can get some help with your pain.

 

[XXAmyXX]

I had blood tests done at 16 weeks and need to get a few more at the 28 week appoinment I think cant remember wot there for tho, glucose and sumthin.
I have an appoinment with midwife 4 weeks after scan as well, it is just a routine appoinment-my MW checks heartbeat, my blood pressure,weight, and also measures my belly and asks if i have any concerns etc. Also get MATB1 form at this appoinment.
I wouldnt worry about baby moving to much as every1 is different and if ur tummy seems 2 b growing fine Im sure all is well.
And I also have SPD....It is horrible!! I have had physion and I would say that it does help a little but its jst 1 of the joys of being pregnant altho sumtimes it can get u down, I have a support belt for work which helps.

Hope this helps as every1s MW appoinmnets seem 2 b diff depending wot area u come from, good luck with ur scan next week

 

[caggimedicine79]

Thanks for your replies.

So - Amy... am I right in thinking that your midwife has measured and felt your tummy etc?? I've had nothing like that at all. I know it may seem quite strange, but I was surprised that no one did a pregnancy test on me before sending me for a 12 week scan!

I hope there's no need for my midwife to take blood again. I don't want to mention anything to her, because obviously I want a good relationship with her. But it was a horrendous experience.

I've bought an Angelsounds Fetal Doppler from ebay which should be with us soon.... that will put my mind at rest about baby not moving! Although as I said earlier - we've got our 20 week scan on Friday which we're looking forward to. Not going to find out what the sex is though as we want it to be a nice surprise

 

[XXAmyXX]

Yeah she measured n felt my tummy at the 16 week appoinment, and id imagine all the appoinments I have that are just for routine check up will be the same. If she doesnt do it at your next appoinment jst mention it. I have an angelsounds doppler as well and it is really good.....altho iv became a bit of an addict with it!! The battery is actually dead and I havent used it for 2 days as not got another 1 yet but listened to hearbeat at work last nite on a doppler I found!! (Work as a nurse) xx