FEBRUARY HEARTS Due in February 2015 , open group all welcome!

[Feronia]

You're totally right huckleberrry, I actually went to EI in person and contacted Employment Standards. The university is covered under BC Human Rights Code, but it's not like they put the reason for termination as "pregnancy" -- they put "budget reasons." I am thankfully eligible for maternity + parental leave, and I'm going to see whether my midwife can write me a letter for sick leave for medical pay for the gap I'll have between benefits because it's not like I can look for work when I'll be 8 months pregnant!

I found out today that my boss knew about terminating my position earlier in the year (I don't know how early -- she knew I was pregnant mid-June). If that's the case, wouldn't responsible thing be to give me a heads up so I can find another job when I still can -- or to help me find another job on campus?

 

[MellyH]

That's great about the maternity leave coverage, but completely shitty about your boss not giving you a heads up.

 

[maisie78]

Congrats on team blue River

Welcome Kiki and congrats on team pink

Feronia I'm glad your mat pay is safe and hopefully your midwife can help. Totally shitty of your boss though if she has known all this time. In the UK they can.make you redundant when pregnant if your position no longer exists but they have to take reasonable steps to find alternative employment within the organisation especially when it is a large organisation like a university where the chances are they could find you something x

 

[MiniBump]

It makes me really grateful to live in the UK when I read stories like Feronia's because that could never happen here!

I would be really shitty and ask my employers for proof that my job was under threat before they knew I was pregnant (presumably the decision has been made following some kind of budget scrutiny, management meetings, etc. rather than off the cuff?) If they couldn't produce anything, I would pursue a claim for discrimination! Does anyone else do the same job Feronia or is it just you because if there are others, surely there should have been some kind of redundancy process (although may be different in Canada)?

Welcome to the new group members and congrats on the gender reveals!

I have my first Consultant appointment today. Not sure what this entails but I guess it's just discussing my options for birth (tho I have to take a urine sample which I wasn't expecting) Wonder if she'll listen in? Hope so!

 

[smawfl]

Hi Ladies,

Sorry for the lack of posts, was a hecktic weekend with DD's bday party.

Welcome to the newcomers

I have my 20 week scan on Monday, can't wait but apprehensive too, hope all is ok!

Has anyone started feeling Braxton hicks yet?? I had them last time, but I don't remember them being this early.. Think I might have overdone it at the weekend, and haven't really been drinking as much water as I should.

When is everyone starting maternity leave?

 

[bubbamadness]

Congrats river and congrats and welcome kiki.
I had some bh last night. Think it was for the same reasons. Over doing it. Having a relax day today

 

[MiniBump]

Well the consultant (not the lady I was expecting) did listen and HBs fine. I had a Braxton Hicks as I laid on the couch but when I told him he said it was too early and I wouldn't feel them until about 32 weeks, even though I've been having them for weeks already! Needless to say, I ignored that! He didn't fill me with much confidence

Leukocytes in my urine so sending a sample off for urinalysis (said he would, not convinced!) and have to drink loads. Looking forward to my scan on Friday now, yay!

 

[Megamegan]

MiniBump- I haven't had any BH yet as far as I know, but I have gotten some uncomfortable cramping in my stomach from walking. I don't think it was BH, I think it was just a muscle cramp, because it hurt and took forever to go away. Also that consultant sounds lame! It is annoying when doctors/medical professionals think they know more than the patient when the patient is sitting right there telling them what they're feeling.


So I had my 20 week scan yesterday! I can't believe that day has come and gone. I don't have official word yet from the doctor, but DH and I feel like everything is okay. We saw all his parts. The tech had to let me go pee in the middle because I was in so much pain from having a full bladder. It pisses me off that they ask for a full bladder, while they can easily do the scan without one. It is so painful for me to hold in pee!! Anyway, she confirmed that he's a boy, and I'll be calling the doctor this afternoon to ask for an "all okay" instead of waiting til the 27th for my next appointment to hear the results. I figure they'd let me know if there was a problem, but DH and I just want to hear those words.

Also, he was measuring 21 weeks 3 days. They said anything within either 2 weeks behind or ahead is good. I was just glad to hear he's growing

I can't believe I'll be holding a little tiny baby in my arms in 20 weeks. It's shocking to imagine!

 

[EMYJC]

Hi all, sorry I havent been on for a while, been a busy week. I have had to go on Metronidazole again as I have BV like I did when pregnant with my DS. It scares me as I am sure this might have contributed to him coming early. I asked this time if I could swab myself, it wasnt offered to me and am now so glad I did, as although rare, there is some research to suggest it can contribute to prem labour and even miscarriage in the 2nd trimester. Just hate having to take antibiotics when pregnant. Whatever helps though.

 

[MellyH]

Sorry to hear so many of us are fighting off infections. Hopefully they all resolve soon.

Megan, hooray for a great scan! I haven't heard anything from my doctor since my scan... 9 days ago, so I assume everything is okay! My next appointment is next Tuesday so hopefully she'll let me know then if there were any issues, but the technician taking all the diagnostic images didn't see anything amiss.

MiniBump, I hate it when you're not confident in your medical provider, it just opens up so many doubts!

 

[christina1612]

God this week is going so slowly, typical as my scans on Friday! Has anyone else started suffering with pgp/spd? My hips and groin feel really uncomfortable if i do any sort of walking
i had it with my son but in sure i didn't get it until about 30 weeks! Its bearable but i know its only gonna get worse and with having to rely on walking to get around its gonna prove to be tricky!

 

[RaspberryK]

Christina I have pgp and have had for few weeks, I'm going to the doctors about it this week.

Update from me, not the best news unfortunately. I had one lletz treatment last year so I get to be monitored by a consultant and have to have internal scans to check my cervix.
My cervix has shortened from 4.3cm to 3.2cm in just over 2 weeks and there is some funneling. I had to have an internal and my cervix is 1cm dilated and soft.
I'm now on 400mg progesterone pessaries 3x daily and signed off work for 3 weeks. I'm presuming I'm on partial bed rest although he was so busy he didn't actually say.
I have to return a week today to see if things have improved or not.

Xx

 

[smawfl]

Christina - I had mild SPD last pregnancy. Wasn't too bad, I went to physio but didn't really do much. I think it got better towards the end and went immediately after birth.

Raspberry, sorry to hear this, hope the bedrest and progesterone helps and you see and improvement soon!

 

[MellyH]

Raspberry, how scary. I'm glad they were monitoring you and have caught it this early. I would also assume at least modified bed rest. The only other twin mum I know in real life had cervical cancer a few years before she got pregnant, and she had a cervical stitch put in at about 13 weeks and was on bed rest from 16 weeks until they were born, but they did stay in until 37 weeks!

 

[Feronia]

Raspberry, sorry to hear. I hope the bed rest + progesterone helps you. Was this discovered on an ultrasound or did you have other signs?

EMYJC, how did you know you had BV? It's good you're being treated if it can do that much harm! For some reason I'm paranoid about pre-term labour even though I have no reason to be, so I'm sure it's helpful for everyone to know the symptoms.

smawfl, I've had braxton hicks since about 18 weeks. I get them every day, there's nothing to worry about unless they're painful and regular. It's a great way to check your own fundal height (another reason I'm not worried about growth since my fundus is spot on at my naval like it should be). MiniBump, whoever told you that you shouldn't feel them until 32 weeks is an idiot. It varies by each woman, but you can definitely feel them earlier -- especially on subsequent pregnancies.

I started maternity leave on Tuesday lol. I'm having so much fun hanging out with my daughter. I'm in a much better place about losing my job now! I honestly didn't think this type of thing could happen in Canada either, but I posted about this in my local babywearing group on FB and it's happened to a lot of people. That's nice that in the UK they have to try to find you other employment within their organization. She definitely could have done that -- there are over 20,000 employees at this university...

MiniBump, I did ask for the exact date that this decision was made, and my HR adviser said she's getting it to me. That should be interesting since I know the exact date that my boss knew I was pregnant (she knew at 6 weeks since I had to go to the ER for bleeding).

Megamegan, congrats on the scan! I'm sure they would have told you right away if they suspected anything unusual. People always find out about potential problems the same day.

 

[swanxxsong]

Raspberry, I am so sorry to hear that! Praying all goes well for you. Please keep us posted, thankfully it seems they caught you early enough so hopefully that will help keep things in check!

 

[SurpriseBub]

So sorry to hear that, Raspberry. Though great that they have been monitoring you and have been careful. rest up, and hopefully all goes well. I have read stories about people with the same issue, but the cervix has actually lengthened again with the pessaries and rest

I agree on pushing for some more explanation, Feronia. Might give you some peace of mind. They also were shitty about the security escort etc, so no need to be too polite on your end!

Emyjc- sorry about the BV hope it is gone shortly. I am bummed to be in the same boat, but the meds seem to have already kicked in. Hope you feel better.

Minibump- how weird that the Dr said you couldn't be having Braxton hicks yet. A) you would be the one who knows! And B) The Mayo Guide to Healthy Pregnancy and the book I got from my dr both say they commonly start around 21 weeks (and the pattern is more likely a bit later for first timers and often earlier for subsequent pregnancies).

 

[RaspberryK]

Thanks ladies, I had no other signs other than occasionally crampy and fanny daggers (lightening crotch) and strongish braxton hicks. I've had no infections of any kind, and nothing that rang any alarm bells.
Xx

 

[MiniBump]

MiniBump, I hate it when you're not confident in your medical provider, it just opens up so many doubts!

I agree but, thankfully, I don't have to see a Consultant again unless I go overdue (which I doubt). I only saw him because I had a previous caesarean but, as there are no underlying problems and no complications with this pregnancy and I'm hoping for a VBAC, I just see the midwife from here on in. Even then, my midwife won't be there when I give birth, it will just be whoever is on duty at the hospital! We don't get the same continuity of care provider as you probably do in the US!

Wow, Raspberry, sorry to hear you have to go through that! Look after yourself and hopefully things will have improved next week

 

[smawfl]

It's a great way to check your own fundal height

Actually the first time it happened I thought it was the baby's back or something poking out.. then realised it was my uterus and found it really interesting to know where it was!