#getting on a plane within the next 24 hours to go to a weekend wedding

[midnightwind]

having the weirdest stomach issues of just having a negative appetite even when I'm so hungry it hurts, but only being able to eat like half a meal at best before it gets too much all while my stomach hurts

why does my stomach feel the need to shake up the chronic problems, were the last few years not interesting enough?

[laurenj966]

Being pregnant during A Global Pandemic COVID-19

About me, myself & a bit of him!

Hello everyone! My name is Lauren, I am 24 years old and I am a care assistant in a care home and my partner, Craig, 23, is a mechanic. Craig and I reside in Scunthorpe. In January 2019, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, which was managed by medication. I grew up in Ashby, Scunthorpe as an only child. Craig was born in Scunthorpe then brought up in Barnetby. Craig and I met on Plenty of Fish in what I think was 2017!? We was on and off for a while but then he eventually got stuck with me! (Poor lad!). We only got to see each other at weekends due to work commitments which was hard at first, but the will power made it work.

We went on our first holiday together to Amsterdam on a mini cruise, then went to Benidorm in October 2018, where I lost all dignity due to a stomach bug! (Bless Craig, his first time on a plane!) We then decided to ‘gate crash’ my parents 25th wedding anniversary in Marmaris, Turkey in July 2019, where Craig and I got engaged on July 2nd, their anniversary! When we got home the planning began! We have our date set for the 12th June 2021, a beautiful church, venue, five bridesmaids, oh and a best man! Haha! With us planning a wedding, we thought we should move out! We bought a lovely three-bedroom semi-detached house in Scunthorpe. With a lot of Saving, blood, swear and tears, we finally moved in on Friday 13th December 2019 (I know! What a day!) and now we have our home just as we’d imagined.

 The mental health

After previous employment issues, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in January 2019. I was prescribed Sertraline tablets which were my rock! I had my bad days and good days. Planning the wedding and the house move was stressful, but it kept my mind occupied. I then got another job which I love, in a different care home. I was so scared of asking the doctor for help, but it was the best things I did! I was embarrassed for a while in front of people who knew I was on medication, but with support from my family and Craig, made me more confident.  

 Finding out

It was 5am on Saturday 25th April 2020 when I woke up and something told me to do a test. I had been on the ‘pill’ for years, to help control my heavy periods, but I chose to come off the pill earlier in the year as my periods were all over the place (Craig new about this!). I took one of those cheap tests and... a line appeared then a faint line! I shouted Craig and got him to look and he could see it too! We went back to bed then went to get a better test when the shops opened that morning. We bought a digital Clearblue test which said I was 1-2 weeks pregnant. We was both shocked as we had been careful, but we was both so happy! Craig said a few swear words and we both laughed and said, “oh s**t!”. I straight away went to tell mum, who did not believe me at first, but then was shocked and cried. The next person I had to tell was dad! (HELP!) Dad was more bothered about the house and the wedding, but he got over it! And I saw him smirk a little on the video call! Craig told his mum, dad, and sister, who were all over the moon. I then visited both sets of my grandparents to tell them and they were happy too!

I was due in work the following Monday and took advice from a nurse who said I was at risk been there with being early weeks due to the Coronavirus. I was then sent home by the area manager and was put on ‘Furlough’. I had my first appointment with the midwife on May 15th, unfortunately Craig was not allowed to come in with me due to the pandemic. This is when I realised that this pregnancy was going to be hard for both of us, especially Craig. I found out at the appointment that I was seven weeks pregnant, which meant the ClearBlue test was two weeks out!

1st Trimester  Week 1-12

Some of the symptoms started to show by week five! I became very bloated and my clothes were getting tight already! It was quite frightening, we were in lockdown, Craig’s garage was forced to be closed, I was ‘furloughed’ and no one was able to see each other. Not seeing mum everyday was hard. Craig did all the shopping while he was off work to protect me and the hand washing, and sanitising door handles game was very strong. As now there was not just me, I had to protect from a deadly virus, I now had my baby to protect. Craig’s garage finally reopened, and he had to go back to work. The first day was hard as I was used to him been here every day and now I had to do the shopping. As lock down was eased and we was allowed to see people again, distancing was key, I needed to protect my baby.

Nearing the 12th week and with been at home all day, I began to clear the spare bedroom, (baby’s room). I was always on the internet looking at ideas to decorate the baby’s nursery. By now we already had Moses baskets, bouncer, cot, almost everything! (I’m impatient!). I had my first scan at 12 weeks, and it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, because I had to do it alone as well as knowing Craig was missing out on seeing his first child in the womb. They confirmed there was only one baby in there! Phew! They said he’s looking perfect! And I got a photo to keep. It now felt real! At 18 weeks we booked an early gender scan at Hey Baby in Hull. This was when we found out the gender! The cravings were strong... crisps, fruit, and sweets, but still no sickness! Yay!

 Gender reveal!

We booked an early gender scan at Hey Baby in Hull as Craig was allowed to come into a private scan with me. Our scan was Saturday 31st July. We had arranged a gender reveal back home in the garden as the lockdown restrictions had been relaxed. The scan place was amazing, it had big screens to see the baby on, Craig could not believe it. I closed my eyes and waited for the lady to put the coloured light on. I opened my eyes and the room was... BLUE!! We was so happy I even cried! We got some brilliant scan photos of baby and we bought a confetti cannon! We got home and set the garden up. There was my parents, Craig’s parents and one set of my grandparents and we also video called my auntie and cousin. We nervously burst the cannon, and everyone was so happy for us. We then went to the Queensway for a meal.

 Mental health & pregnancy

When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately stopped taking my Sertraline tablets. Luckily, I had no side effects. My GP told me to stop taking them however my midwife said to take them if needed. This meant that I would need extra scans as they can have an effect on the baby and I felt this would be selfish of me, if I continued to take the tablets, so I stopped and chucked them in the bin. Some days were definitely harder than others and still are but then I realised I came off the tablets for a good reason, for my boy! Only my closest family and of course Craig have supported me through this. My manager has been brilliant, she has phoned me almost every fortnight to see how I am.

I take comments to heart, always have done, always will due to the depression. So comments such as ‘you’re getting fat” “There must be more than one in there” “Do this” “Don’t do that” and pressures of breastfeeding instead of bottle feeding, all have an impact on my mental health that some people can’t see. Also, due to spending nearly all my school life been bullied, I am more scared of my child being bullied at school and not having friends like me. I want to give my boy everything he wants and needs in life just like I was given. I do spend too much time worrying about what I need to do in the future or what might happen in the future. But what I do know is that I will do my damn best to be the best role model I can be to my boy!

2nd Trimester Week 13-28

By week 20, the nursery is almost complete! We decided to go neutral and animal themed. I love it! We are lucky that we have a lot of built in storage in that bedroom. We built the cot, the changing unit and bought a lovely gliding nursing chair in beige. It is perfect! We also have our pram! It is like pushing a bus! We went for the Venicci Prestige Edition in Shadow Denim Grey and we got the 10-piece bundle. Two days before my birthday in August, I had my 20-week scan at the hospital. I was able to take someone along to this scan with me for some unknown reason! So, I chose to take mum as Craig was working. Mum could not believe it and said it was amazing! It was quite a long scan as they checked he had everything he should! He has two arms and two legs! His brain, spine and organs are growing as they should be, and she said he looks perfect and I got another picture! At 24 weeks I had a test for Gestational Diabetes, due to having a high BMI (Everything seems to be blamed on a person’s weight!). It was the longest appointment I’d had yet, and it was awful! I was told that if I got a call within a couple of days it would mean I have Gestational Diabetes... after a week and no phone call it turns out I DON’T have it! Yay! Baby had started to get very wriggly in there during these weeks. I had been to the hospital a few times as I had not felt him move which was really scary and I got told that because he is only tiny, I won’t feel him much. However, as the weeks went on, I started feeling a pattern in his movements... (my mealtimes!) but then one day did not feel him for about 12 hours. I was so scared; I called the hospital and was sent to the maternity ward and yet again I had to do this alone. (Even though at this point of the pandemic you could meet people in a pub but was not allowed one single person to come to the hospital with you at such a scary time!!!!). After waiting anxiously and seeing the midwife looking nervous, he was absolutely fine and was just hiding! Monkey! By week 27 I have baby’s bag packed, car seat and blanket ready! Just my own bag to pack! It has gone so fast and we are so excited! The cravings have stopped, I still have not had any sickness! But my hormones and emotions have been like a rollercoaster. I have felt like I needed the tablets, but I haven’t given in! I can do this!!

 The COVID baby shower

I had arranged a baby shower for November. I bought all the accessories I'd need to throw a baby shower for me and my boy. I had sent out invitations to close family and friends and planned what food I was going to make and what games we'd play. But then... Big bad Boris made yet another announcement, one that thousands and especially I did not want to hear... the rule of 6. Gatherings of six people maximum and he said this could be in place for the next 6 months. I gave it a few weeks and though about possibilities of having two separate parties of six, but then thought the second just would not be as good. So, I decided to cancel it. I am absolutely gutted. This pandemic really is breaking so many hearts and ruining peoples' plans.

3rd Trimester – week 29 – 32

At 29 weeks I was having a lot of stabbing pains in my lower abdomen I was sent to ward 26 and was monitored for over an hour. Baby’s heartbeat and movements were fine, then I was examined, and they said it was not labour. I also started my maternity leave at week 29.

I had a routine scan at 29 weeks and 2 days. I saw the doctor afterwards who said that baby was growing a little smaller than expected, but the midwife said he’s growing normally, and he weighs three pound. At this appointment I was also told that I had to commence Tinzaparin injections twice a day because of my varicose veins and to prevent blood clots. I was also told that there had been a prescription at the hospital for Aspirin since June! Which no one told me about! It came as a shock that I had to inject into my stomach twice a day as I am not a great fan of needles. I was sent home with sixty injections and a sharps bin. Some days are harder than others at doing the injections and they are leaving my stomach in a right mess!

The following day I had a routine appointment at the midwifes, she measured baby and said he’s fine and we listened to his heartbeat and she said that it’s perfect! I informed her about the injections, and she said I should be taking the Aspirin a long side the injections, so I had yet another trip to the hospital to get the tablets. I then requested to speak to the practice manager of my doctors surgery, to query why I haven’t been put on any form of blood thinners since going to the doctors since 2015 about my veins and being told repeatedly there’s nothing they can do (or should I now say will do!). Since being put on the injections and the tablets, I have felt fed up and I’ve been more annoyed at the fact of why was the possibility of having to be put on this medication not mentioned to me at the start of my pregnancy, it’s disgusting.

Another day, another letter through the door… I had an appointment with the Anaesthetist to talk about pain relief in labour. Disgusted and upset could not even describe how I felt after that phone call appointment. So yet again… “due to your BMI” I suggest you go straight for Epidural. No, I’d like to try without anything thankyou. I won’t lie, throughout this pregnancy, I have never felt so discriminated against by health professionals who I thought was are there to support you. But no, everything is put down to a person’s weight. If they’d bother to even, ask “why do you have a large BMI” they’d probably understand!

My midwife appointments are getting more regular now. At 32 weeks I had another appointment they said he’s measuring fine and his heartbeat is good. They are referring me to the consultant earlier than my next scan due to the severity of the bruising and pain caused by the injections.

 3rd Trimester – week 33 – 36

I got to see the consultant earlier than I should have regarding the bruising… typical! They’ve faded. So, I showed her the pictures I had taken but she wasn’t interested, just said to continue with the injections. Part of me felt selfish as they’re keeping both me and baby safe but the other part of me is finding it really hard physically and mentally. Twice a day having to count down to inject myself, suffering with the bruising and now lumps are appearing from where I’ve gone into something under the skin. But needs must n all that!!

Week 33 I had another scan, baby is now five pounds and is growing as well as expected. The lump I have sticking up on my stomach is his little bum! Every time his bum moves makes me laugh and love him even more!

At week 34 I had loads of appointments this week! I had my routine midwife appointment…. Now this was amusing! Little man decided to fight the doppler and send his heart rate up to 200!! The midwife said if it doesn’t decrease, I will have to go to the hospital to be monitored and put onto a drip. After filling in my notes she checked his heartbeat again and it had gone back to normal! What a monkey. The next day I had the health visitor visiting me, I heard they can be not very nice, but the lady appeared to be nice! I didn’t agree with some of the things she said and most of it is common sense and she gave me a little red book for baby. Last appointment of the week… I had a phone call appointment with the midwife about my birthing plan. I’m having him at Scunthorpe General (if he doesn’t pop out at home or in the middle Aldi! Haha!) I’m hoping to give birth in the birthing pool, firstly with no pain relief and if need be gas and air and then Craig is going to cut the cord. Typical me asked about self-discharge… I don’t like hospitals and I don’t want baby in that place for any longer than he needs to be especially at the minute.

By week 35, the hospital bags are fully packed! My monthly deep clean of the house has been done with thanks to mum for helping! And the Christmas tree is now up! So, now the moses baskets are in place upstairs and downstairs, baby’s bottles and everything else is organised. So now it’s just a matter of waiting!

[astrogeoguy]

The Slim Moon Slips by Saturn, Some Meteors malinger, and the Pretty Pleiades warns of Winter!

(Above: This image of the Pleiades star Cluster in Taurus, also known as the Seven Sisters and Messier 45, was taken by Stuart Norman of Toronto, from the RASC Toronto Centre’s observatory near Collingwood, Ontario on October 20, 2017. The glowing blue nebulosity is a gas cloud that is sitting between us and the distant cluster.)

Stargazing News for this week (from October 22nd, 2017) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to the York University Observatory, visit www.astrogeo.ca. 

My latest column for Space.com is all about the upcoming meteor shower season. You can find it here. 

Public Events

At 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening, October 25th the public are invited to attend a free RASC Toronto Centre Speaker’s Night Meeting at the Ontario Science Centre (Room TBD, just follow the signs). The speaker is Professor Ralph Chou, Professor Emeritus, Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, presenting These old eyes - they ain't what they used to be! Details are on the RASC website here. 

Taking advantage of the Moon, Saturn, and some favorite objects in the sky this week, the RASC Toronto Centre astronomers will hold their free monthly public City Sky Star Party in Bayview Village Park (steps from the Bayview subway station), around 7 pm on the first clear weeknight this week (except Wed and Fri). You don’t need to be an RASC member, or own any equipment, to join in. Check here for details, and check the banner on their website home page or Facebook page for the GO or NO-GO decision around 5 pm each day. 

Eastern GTA sky watchers are invited to join the RASC Toronto Centre and Durham Skies for stargazing at the edge of Lake Ontario in Millennium Square in Pickering on Friday evening, October 27th, from 6 pm to 11 pm. Details are here. Before heading out, check the RASCTC home page for a Go/No-Go call in case it's too cloudy to observe. 

Other events this week include:

On Sunday, October 22 at 1 pm, the downtown U of T Planetarium presents Halloween Themed Planetarium Show (kid friendly). (Details here.) On Monday, October 23, 2017 at 8 pm, U of T's Dunlap Institute presents a free public evening focusing on Dark Matter. (Details here.) On Tuesday, October 24 at 7 pm, the College/Shaw Library presents Earth's Battered Moon by Sara Mazrouei, a graduate student of University of Toronto. (Details here.) On Thursday, October 26 at 7:30 pm, the Ontario Science Centre presents astronaut Scott Kelly in Conversation. (Tickets and details here.) On Friday, October 27 at 6 pm, Gallery 44 hosts the opening of Nathan Cyprys’ art image exhibition “Cosmicchronos”. (Details are here.) 

The Moon and Planets

The moon spends this week in the evening sky, growing from a thin crescent hovering over the western horizon after sunset on Sunday, to a First Quarter moon in the southern sky on Friday evening.  The entire week will be perfect for exploring the moon’s delights, both visually, and through binoculars and telescopes. The zone along the boundary separating the lit and dark sides is especially enthralling – as this is where the sun’s rays are lighting up peaks and casting long dramatic shadows from them. All this at a convenient time! 

(Above: This week, the slim crescent moon will traverse the Milky Way, hopping over Saturn (at centre) from Tuesday to Wednesday evening. The sky is shown at 8 pm local time.)

The moon will also be crossing the Milky Way while still slim enough not to outshine it. The Milky Way, the concentrated band of stars, gas, and dust that traces the plane of our galaxy across the sky, rises from the southern horizon in evening and arcs overhead towards the north. On Monday night, the moon will sit on the western outskirts of the Milky Way and about a palm’s width to the right of Saturn, which is the medium bright yellowish object partway up the southwestern sky as the evening darkens. Saturn sets in the west about 9 pm local time this week. On Tuesday night, the slightly thicker moon’s crescent will hop to sit squarely within the Milky Way, about a palm’s width to Saturn’s upper left. Finally, on Wednesday night, the moon will land on the eastern edge of the Milky Way. 

Blue-green Uranus reached opposition and peak brightness last Thursday, when the Earth moved directly between it and the sun, making us closest to it for the year. It is situated between the two chains of stars that form Pisces (the Fishes). It’s about two fist diameters (20°) above the southeastern sky at dusk and observable for the rest of the night in binoculars under a dark sky (or telescopes, the rest of the time) as it crosses the sky. To help guide you, there’s a medium-bright star called Omicron Piscium a generous finger’s width to the lower left of Uranus. Viewing the planet on any evening for a week or two on either side of opposition is nearly as good. 

Tiny blue Neptune is located in the southern evening sky about half a finger’s width below the medium-bright star Hydor in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer). It is observable from full darkness until midnight, but it is too faint to be seen without a telescope. 

(Above: Venus and Mars grace the morning pre-dawn sky this week, with Venus descending daily while much dimmer Mars climbs. The sky is shown at 7 am local time on Tuesday, October 24)

This week, extremely bright Venus continues to drop daily in the eastern pre-dawn sky as it swings sunwards. The planet should be easily seen for about an hour, once it rises at about 6 am local time. Much dimmer and reddish tinted Mars sits about a fist’s diameter to the upper right of Venus. Mars rises about 5 am, an hour before Venus.  

Bright Stars to Look For

As the evening sky darkens, a number of bright stars will pop into view this time of year. The Summer Triangle, composed of the stars Vega in Lyra (the Harp), Altair in Aquila (the Eagle), and Deneb in Cygnus (the Swan), are still prominent in the southwestern sky after dark. Aquila, on the bottom left (south) sets around 1:30 am and Vega, on the right (north) sets around 3 am local time. Deneb, which marks the swan’s tail feathers, is the highest of the three and nearly overhead in mid-evening. The great bird truly appears to be flying south for the winter, down the starry river of the Milky Way, until it returns late next spring. 

The very bright star twinkling low in the west until about 8:30 pm is Arcturus. Unlike airplanes, Arcturus won’t flash on and off, or move left to right. 

Turning to face north, you’ll see the Big Dipper practically resting flat along the northern horizon. Looking farther to the right (or east), the very bright star, yellow Capella will catch your eye. Capella is the first harbinger of our favorite winter constellations. Its home constellation, roughly circular Auriga (the Charioteer) leads Taurus (the Bull), and then Gemini and Orion, up from the east as the evening wears on. After 8 pm, you should be able to spot the bright little Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters and M45, low over the eastern horizon. 

(Above: In addition to the bright stars of the summer triangle constellations overhead in the west, the northern horizon features bright Arcturus setting in early evening, the Big Dipper, and the bright yellowish Capella off the the northeast. The Pleiades star cluster is labelled M45 at the lower right. The sky is shown at 8:10 pm local time.)

Orionid Meteor Shower

The excellent annual Orionid Meteor Shower peaked this weekend, but you can continue to watch for a reduced number of them until the shower officially ends on November 14. The meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, but will only be true Orionids if they are moving in a direction away from a location (the radiant) above the bright red star Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion. Although not too prolific, Orionids are known for being bright and fast-moving. Happy hunting! 

Zodiacal Light

From now through the end of October, the nearly vertical morning ecliptic favors the appearance of zodiacal light in the eastern sky for about half an hour before dawn. Look for a broad wedge of brightening centred on the ecliptic (i.e., surrounding Venus and Mars). It’s reflected sunlight from interplanetary particles that are concentrated in the plane of the solar system. I posted a picture here.

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.