Thursday, April 26, 2007

Quite A Day

Yesterday was a packed day!

In the morning, Roarke and I left the boys to their own learning and playing, whilst we finished off painting and organising our bedroom. Well, I say finished - we have 2 piles of papers still to file/sort!

After lunch, we went over to the hospital for my 34 week check up. The antenatal clinic was very busy - running about 1 1/2 behind schedule having had only one doctor on for most of the day.

I saw the same consultant, but this time he seemed much more open and friendly - perhaps someone had put a note on my file!

Straight away, he noticed my puffy ankles, then measured me. At 34 weeks I came out as 38 cm. He checked things over on the bedside ultrasound, and Jonathan looked very content in there, heart clearly visible, and head engaged (!).

However, considering last week my GP measured me as 33, at 33 weeks, this was a big jump. He sent me round to have a glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. He also ordered a scan (booked for Wednesday) to check on "the size and well being of the baby".

Hmm. Hard not to worry about things like that, in fact I've spent the past 24hrs looking up GD and what I should be eating if that turned out to be the case.

Actually, I've just rung the hospital; they said that the random glucose test came back within the normal range. Don't know what exactly - the last one I had at 23 was only just under the highest point of range.

So now I'm all confused. Trying to assume that either Jonathan has just put on a normal growth spurt (in other words, not a growth spurt associated with anything being "wrong"), or that he just stretched out more yesterday. I've been saying for several weeks that he seemed big for dates, but as he lays oblique most of the time, its hard to tell. Maybe, now he's engaged, it just means his full length is more obvious.

However, the past 7 days I've definately had the same symptoms as if I'd had GD - excessive sudden hunger, thirst, dry throat, nausea, blurry vision... Don't know. Have to make myself wait patiently (ha!) till Wednesday.

The day wasn't over yet though; at about 8.30 William swallowed a small metal ball - just a bit bigger than a geomag ball. The usual family panic stations. Called NHS Direct just to reassure myself that I was doing all the right things (don't know why I bother, as usual, too little too obvious too late was their response). More useful was the fact that Roarke was out at someone's house - someone from the church who happens to be a gp! So when I rang him in a fluster, the guy gave us advice and reassured us that everything was ok.

I did the normal mum thing: "I hope now maybe you'll all stop putting things in your mouths" only to find William with another small toy in his mouth about 5 minutes later!

According to NHS Direct I need to "monitor his bowels" for the next 4 days until it comes out...

Today, in between searching the internet for stuff on GD etc, we set out to collect some stuff from freecycle (being let down somewhat by a lady in Lakeside after we drove all the way over there to get a baby bath, only to find she had apparently gone out...). This afternoon I've been sorting and packing clothes and food for our trip to Sheffield tomorrow.

I realise this is the first time away since the boys went GF last year, and its just dawning on me how hard it can be. I did look into places to eat up there that could cater gf, but in the end its easier to pack our own food. We hope to be able to cook at a friends tomorrow night, then at the EO venue on Saturday night (as we are only staying in a Travel Lodge).

Makes me think about how we'll cope in Disneyland... still can see us giving in for the 4 days and allowing them gluten. Especially as, in order to get them formally tested for coeliacs just in case, they do need to go back on gluten for a while. Not sure I can face that though!

The boys have had a huge game out this afternoon, building invididual towns, and connecting them with railway track. The towns are made out of things like the cola cups (of course!), lego, and some very ingenious use of house shaped boxes and other items. Even the roads were named after where they were (station road, dockside etc) and Joshua in particular has shown a good grasp of town planning in the layout of his.

Whilst over at Lakeside we saw two Eddie Stobarts in the services - we are assuming we'll see many more tomorrow!

I've also got some I-Spy books for the journey which have grabbed the boys imagination and interest just as I'd hoped, so that can help trigger off all sorts of good learning conversations during the journey!

So, no more posting from me till Sunday/Monday - depending on how tired I am, and all supposing I don't end up labouring in Sheffield! Packing my maternity bag just in case....

8 comments:

Classroomfree said...

((((hugs)))) thinking of you here. I know what a worry things like that are (although no exact same experience to call on I'm afraid). Towards the end of my pregnancy with Callum the midwife had a panic about him being too small and ordering scans and all sorts. He arrived the next day, safe and healthy, but the panic and worry I had been put through has never left me *shrug*

Anonymous said...

Hi Ann. Try to take things easy thing weekend. Abi had diabetes and so we are a bit up on it. The "average" is between 4mml and 7mml. Although 8 wouldnt be terrible.
Anything above 10 is considered as possible GD- but it is looked at with other things too. Hope that is some help.
For ankles Try and rest with your ankles raised if possible. I used to lay on the bed with two pillows under my head and four under my legs whilst reading to the kids.
As for the scan, try not to worry! The term "the size and well being of the baby" is a blanket saying to cover all manor of things.
Have a good weekend, thinking of you.
Carol
x

Anonymous said...

Hi Ann. Try to take things easy thing weekend. Abi had diabetes and so we are a bit up on it. The "average" is between 4mml and 7mml. Although 8 wouldnt be terrible.
Anything above 10 is considered as possible GD- but it is looked at with other things too. Hope that is some help.
For ankles Try and rest with your ankles raised if possible. I used to lay on the bed with two pillows under my head and four under my legs whilst reading to the kids.
As for the scan, try not to worry! The term "the size and well being of the baby" is a blanket saying to cover all manor of things.
Have a good weekend, thinking of you.
Carol
x

Shirl said...

I think you are very brave making the journey to Sheffield at this time.

Hope everything goes to plan....

BWs, Shirl

Emma said...

Like Jules I usually have concerns that baby is too small here and have had to have growth scans, only for everything to be within the 'normal' range. With this baby I'm measuring less than I should but they're used to me now, lol! I'll be thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed that you don't have GD, which will be a pain to accomodate another specialist diet on top of the GF one!

I totally understand re travelling and eating GF. It is a nightmare and I have to admit that I get really moody when I watch everyone else easily find things to eat and I have to struggle or eat the same thing day in and day out.
Our holiday to Disneyland Paris in 2005 was okay and I contacted the dietitian over there before we went who sent me a list of the restaurants and what food they provided for a GF diet. The breakfasts were fine but during the day I either had to stick to a salad and fries from just one provider or pay through the nose for a proper GF meal. After 5 days I couldn't wait to get home and cook for myself again, but I'm sure you'll get by and I packed a huge box of my GF cereal bars, biscuits, etc to snack on through the day.

As for the metal ball scenario - we've been there too and monitoring bowel movements carefully with the aid of a stick still didn't do any good and we ended up with a trip to A&E 10 days later for a metal detector scan and x-ray, only for the ball to have passed without us noticing. So try not to worry as I ended up imagining allsorts only for it all to be fine.
Kids, babies and gluten-free diets eh?!!
Only 6 weeks to go Ann...nearly there! xxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Not long now Ann!

I had to have GD tests for my first 2 babes, It was'nt GD just a big baby! But its worry having extra tests.

Jake swallowed a geomag ball last year, *rolls eyes*.

HAve a good weekend

dawniy. said...

I went diabetic when i had connor , but it's that long ago I can't remember a thing lol
I hope you are ok darling , you sound very together over the packing , i'd be tearing my hair out .

hope you had a lovely time :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Ann, Hoping the earthquake from yesterday hasnt affected you all too much.And your mum too, Is she ok?
Carolx