24-9-2009 - I'm sorry, he is how big?

My mood while writing this blog: Ok

I went for my midwife appointment today at 30 + 2 days after quite an eventful week.

My blood pressure was very good considering I had a blazing row with my Payroll department yesterday. Somebody decided I should have zero pay today and pay back nearly £2000! Not very helpful as it made my BH longer and more regular and painful, and I couldnt get in touch with DH to get him home. It took 3 hours of laying in the bath after I got the money sorted for the contractions to ease back to "normal".

I didnt have two breakfasts today, but I did have a very substantial breakfast a good 2 hours before my sample, yet I was told off again for ketones. I have to take food to bed with me now, set an alarm, eat &then go back to sleep, and make sure I eat something every 3 to 4 hours during my waking periods too, cos this is the 4th sample in a row with ketones in it.

She measured his heartbeat 153 bpm, and fidgeted very nicely for her. She measured the height of fundus, then measured it again, before she asked me to remind her the sizes of DD1, DD2 and DD3. After a bit more poking, prodding and wobbling she said "Well, as you suspected he is head down again and his head sinking down into the pelvis so I doubt you will be getting any relief in the pelvis until after he has been delivered. Amnio fluid ratio to baby feels fine. He is measuring in at 35 weeks size, although of course his lungs are still immature at 30 weeks."

At first I thought wow that precise 30 weeks +5 days, but it didnt register until she mentioned about the lungs.

"I'm sorry, he is how big?"

"Even allowing for an adjustment for adipose (doctor jargon for being a bit fat!) I make him 34 weeks, he is very long. So between 34 and 35 weeks he is now about 5lb give or take a few ounces"

Ok...I was struggling to remember how much the gain is in the last trimester per week but it was like the hamster in my head had stopped pedalling the wheel! I just couldn't quite do it.

"The consultant team will measure you again in two weeks," she continued "but it is unlikely that they will risk you getting to 40 weeks, he could be 11lb by then. By 37 or 38 weeks, there should be no need for steroids. Your consultant will give you her opinion, and I will see you again about two weeks after that."

I asked if my blood count had come back from the vampire department from my last sample 3 weeks ago.

It was 14.3 when I had my first lot done on 14/05/2009, it had dropped marginally to 12.3 on 03/09/2009.

My midwife said that it is unlikely it has plummeted in 3 weeks since the test, but given how the baby is growing so big it would be wise to start taking iron tablets now. She advised she cannot write a prescription until a blood test shows a level of 10.5 or lower, but recommends I continue to eat red meat 2 to 3 a week including citrus in the same meal to help with absorption, fortified breakfast cereals everyday, my vitamin fortified chocolate milkshake as often as I want (I like this woman!) and buy an over-the-counter iron supplement (as long as I check that it doesnt contain any Vitamin A as part of the preparation). While there are no guarantees, it is likely I will have a better post partum recovery should I haemorrage again this time if my blood count is 13+ when I go into labour and end up as 9 or 10 afterwards.

After DD3, my blood count on leaving hospital was 8 and I was on iron tablets for about 3 months, and felt dreadful. I dont want to be that low (or lower!) ever again.

After that, I left in search of chocolate milkshake and a supermarket sarnie before coming back home.

I looks like my maternity brace is gonna have to stretch a whole lot more before this baby makes his appearance!