Daughter's first pregnancy - a few concerns - advice, please?

First of all, congratulations! the reason it's not safe to sleep on her back after the first trimester is because the weight of the growing uterus can flatten a major vein, the vena cava, which brings blood back to the heart from the lower body I believe. This can cause dizziness and I think can cause harm to the baby by disrupting the blood flow.
I can't help with the other issues I'm afraid, but I'm fairly sure that problems with weeing are common and could be to do with the position of the uterus.

Congratulations, lucky you! Apart fro m the worry of course!

If your DD is have a urine test and glucose test then she is being well looked after. I remember finding it difficult to wee early on and DD2 had a couple of glucose tests which found nothing wrong.

As far as sleeping goes - I was just glad to get comfy, blow anything else!

I would be surprised if the uterus was pressing on a bladder much at 13weeks.

I have never heard of not lying on your back either.
Is she drinking enough fluids?
Tell her not to let the GP or Midwife ignore it.
Are there any midwife drop in centres near her. They might just be better informed that a GP.

Yes, congratulations Rowantree

It is natural to worry about pregnant daughters, but your 'job' is to reassure her that everything is OK and to shield her, as much as possible from those horrendous difficult birth stories than some insensitive people like to tell first-timers. I agree with Kitty that it sounds as if she is being well looked after if extra tests have been ordered.

I sometimes think we have too much infirmation these days at the touch of a button. I never even had a heart monitor attached to me when I gave birth in 1971 and 1972, the midwife used a sore of upside down silver vase-like thing to listen to baby's heart beat. Dissuade her, if you can, from overuse of the Internet but encourage her to form a good relationship with her midwife.

Congratulations Rowantree. despite what you may have heard in the press our ante-natal care in this country is excellent. I would say stay off the internet for advice and stick with the GP and the midwife. Best wishes to you both.

I had a 'retroclined womb' Nellie and that was said to be why I had an issue with weeing. Don't know if people still have them.

Many congratulations on this wonderful news!

It sounds as though everyone is doing the right things; but she must keep on nagging if she continues to feel concerned.

Retroverted uterus will cause problems with seeing, in extreme cases it can cause massive urinary retention requiring catheterisation to empty the bladder. It's often mistaken for an infection so might be worth considering asking her GP to check for residual urine after she's wee'd.

'Sleeping on your back' I was a midwife and I've never heard if that! I had to sleep on my back because of problems arising from a previous fractured pelvis.

Fasting blood sugar - you'll need to await what her GP says, not inevitably Gestational Diabetes.

Many congratulations by the way! My DS and DDIL are expecting number 2 in early June and I can't wait!

'seeing'! weeing stupid iPad!

I used to get dizzy if I was on my back, but much further on into the pregnancy. It made examinations a bit tricky because not all midwives understood the issue. No one ever suggested that it would hurt the baby as, obviously, as soon as I felt woozy I moved! Best wishes to your daughter.

Too much information available at the touch of an iPad and too many pressures on young mothers and mothers to be.
Gestational diabetes can't be ignored but if this proves to be an issue, your dad will get good support and dietar advice, she'll be a vent more closely monitored.
Congrats, enjoy it with your dd and try and help her laugh at the overload of advice and expectation - whilst following most of it ?

I think if there was a problem she would be told to see her GP immediately [or, I would assume the GP would be contacting her straight away], not make an appointment.

I do agree that there is far too much information available these days. I felt my DD's pregnancy was (for her) fraught with unnecessary anxiety because of this information overload. I used to tell her, "when I was pregnant with you and your brother, apart from ante-natal checks with my GP, I just got on with my life. I got pregnant, waited 9 months and had a baby. That was it."

I have heard of the lying on the back thing in labour, when the uterus is very heavy and the baby is under stress of contractions. But not otherwise.
Most "retroverted" uteri don't stay in that position in pregnancy though do they - it is only when they are in the non-pregnant state - they kind of unfurl once the uterus gets to a certain size.
I agree though re urine retention. That is quite unusual and I would urge her to speak to a midwife about this. GPs used to do lots of antenatal care and even deliveries but they are not so geared up for it these days I believe.

Congratulations row entree on your news being a grandparent is amazing never hea d of back thing . Hope urine problem soon sorted ?

On my last visit to the obstetrician before I had my 3rd child, I felt faint lying on my back - the obstetrician was delighted - a teaching point for the students who were with him. He made me move on to my side and all was fine.
My daughter is due her baby in 2 weeks - it is a very nervous time. Hope all goes well, Rowantree.

If your daughter is of an anxious disposition, suggest that she goes to hypno-birthing classes.
My daughter had a very anxious first pregnancy and was traumatized by a difficult delivery. With her second child, she was determined to do it differently and the hypno birthing transformed her experience and attitude to life in general. She, and I (neither of us being into 'hippy dippy' alternative medicine etc) would totally recommend it, as do many of her young mum friends.
Enjoy being a grandma. It's great!

anya how right you are! DD1 is a midwife and it enrages her when young mothers-to- be are given info and scary news from doctors and then told to go home and nothing is done about it.
In her experience and she must have cared for hundreds of new babies, the doctors are often quite wrong.
Mothers are told the baby is too big and in the wrong place and then these babies are born with normal or under weight and are born with no problems- the mothers could have delivered the baby themselves.

Keep your daughter cheerful and she will be better as time goes on.

MargaretX spot on! The midwives know best. I was told by a doctor that I must have my dates wrong as I was far too small for term. The midwife stood behind him shaking her head and mouthing 'pay no attention'.

My daughter was born the following day weighing in at 8lb 9oz.

I had a similar experience with a doctor who told me either I was four or five weeks wrong on dates or my baby would be very small. The midwife told me the date I had was right and my baby would be about eight pounds. The midwife was right of course

if she has gestational diabetes it's not the end of the world but if she is eating a "normal" healthy diet she may need to adjust her carbs as they break down into sugars in the body. Or she can carry on & risk a large baby. it shouldn't be too bad as long as she monitors her sugars. I was borderline GD & my son was 8lbs 8oz despite having a long lasting threatened miscarriage,

sorry to add but id she is GD diabetes.co.uk (not.com as they tend to dismiss any non official ways of improving diabetes) has a GD forum

I can't add anything on the specifics of this post.

Was very taken aback when my own daughter kept telling me things she had seen on the internet that contradicted what I was telling her - and me after 4 children! Grannies these days have to compete with the internet.

A friend's daughter got completely confused and into a lot of needless hassle by taking advice from a variety of on line sources. In the end a daughter will, without realising it a lot of the time, do what her own Mum did which worked perfectly well - so caution with the internet I say.