April 2011....anyone there? <echoes>

[shitforbrains]

Hi Ladies!

Just got a BFP. According to calculator am due April 2nd 2011...

Hi Kurly, I've just been checking this out as the Government are abolishing the scheme after 1st January 2011, you can still receive this if you are 25 weeks before 1st January and still have a few weeks after this date to claim. I found the link below useful in my search for what help is available.

On a serious note, yesterday I had a VERY close call and it woke me up to something I've always thought was a bit of a waste of money...Pregnancy seat belts.

I have a lovely Land Rover a vehicle up until yesterday I thought I was as safe as houses in. That was until my steering failed whilst overtaking on a high walled country road. Whilst I avoided heading through a wall and into the Lake I felt the seat belt lock and I'm just glad I've taken to rolling my jeans and top between the seatbelt and my mini bump as this prevented the belt from rising up and crossing my bump. When the AA finally turned up, we chatted for a while to calm me down, he told me he bought his wife the seat belt attachment as soon as they found out they were expecting as he's seen the damage seat belts do to pregnant women. Needless to say he didn't manage to calm me,I was already in shock so it was enough to scare me to death and make me cry. It also woke me up to the risk I never took seriously, some pregnancy things are money makers we all know that but this is something I'm buying right now. I'm just glad I was doing under 30 on the sheep dotted roads near me and not on any main road.

On a positive finish, were fine, uninjured, just shook up, I just wanted to share all experiences so others have choices, it's a freak accident and I'm sure none of you will experience this so don't worry, but it's something to consider getting. x

salted pretzels...glad your ok must have been terrifying !

sorry I might sound a bit dumb..what do u mean seatbelts? are the normal ones in cars not ok? sorry

They make things called bump belts, they fit on your current belt and are padded to hold the lap part of the belt across the top of your legs under your bump. That way when the belt tightens in an accident it doesn't do damage to baby.
I hadn't thought much about them but now I can see how a belt can cause such injuries. Not trying to scare anyone just nobody seems to talk about things like this until it happens to them, which thankfully is still a happy ending in this case.

salted pretzels I'm glad to hear you and your bump are ok, sounds a horrid experience.

peta hope you're having fun settling into the new place, we've just got a dish washer as well, I

Oh gosh salted what a horrible shock for you :( will definitely be investigating whether I can get maternity seat belts here.

Welcome Kurly!

Congrats on the clothes, beetle - I can't wait until I can legitimately start wearing maternity clothes. I bought some tops for yoga on Saturday a d my primary concern was how much bump I'd be able to fit under them!

saltedpretzels that sounds terrifying but so pleased you and bump are ok. Do you know where you can buy the bump belts?

Hi everyone, not posted for ages as I have nothing exciting to report. Welcome to all the newbies!

JenAT I too told my 2 year-old and she asked me to open my belly to see the little baby inside. I could tell her that we'd open it in April! I'm likely to have another C-section so could tell her the truth without disapointing her! Well done for telling her about natural birth, I'm glad I could find a way out...

saltedpretzel I hope you've recovered from your shock.

Everyone, take good care of yourselves, let's enjoy the second trimester while it lasts.

Hello,
Welcome to all the newbies, and congratulations to everyone who has had their 12 week scans recently, especially on the twins Hippy.

I had my 16 week midwife appointment today and heard the heartbeat for the first time which was lovely. My little bump is starting to grow too although not yet needed any maternity clothes. Did get offered a seat on the tube this week for the first time though which made me happy.

Has anyone got their burst of energy yet for the second trimester? - mine seems slow coming but have just finished a week of night shifts so that might be adding to the tiredness too!

JoEW I'm at Kingston Hospital too so you never know we might bump into each other on the maternity ward in April!

Hi All
haven't posted for a while.. been a few weeks since my 12 wk scan and nothing really happening till next MW's appt next week. Feeling a lot better than in 1st trimester but getting a lot of dizziness so be good to get BP etc checked next week.

Anyone got any thoughts on whether they're having a boy or a girl.. total guesswork I know, but I am sure I am having a boy!

Afternoon all hope alls well in the world. Feeling back to happy self today, no more tears, happy to be lucky.

Noticed today that I haven't felt sick for three days now which is great, well except when I'm hungry but I've accepted this as the norm now ha ha. Headaches still daily though, heading to the chemist now to get this 4head and give it a whizz, DH has already laughed at the thought of drawing on my forehead.

Discovered maternity jeans, bought 4 different pairs and have only kept 2, I prefer the adjustable button elastic band in the back of Mothercare/Moda and Mamas & Papas jeans with the soft elasticated (I think some kind of lycra) section to the sides/pockets, very comfy. I don't like the fully elasticated top bands as they fit nice but underneath the band feels tight and restricted especially when you sit down.

Bought a bump belt for £6 on ebay yey can't wait to get it fitted.

Still no energy boost spending more and more time sleeping, it's great to work from home but I'm slacking off too much lately my DH is taking the lack but it's unfair on him, I'm getting lazy, need this much coveted energy boost and bloom.

Filled out my birth plan, well first draft anyway on NHS Choices website, going for a waterbirth, had pethedine and gas and air with first made me real sickly drunk and I don't remember much after ten mins of having jab, second just gas and air was better as I felt more in control but I really fancy water this time around. Can't decide between the hospital and birthing unit.

Hope to see you there Poodle82! I'll be the one looking terrified and demanding drugs. Re energy burst, I am still waiting for that, though I don't feel sick at all anymore. I was lucky and never felt really sick but even the queasiness seems to have gone now. Still sleeping like a teenager.

Just spent my lunch break in Debenhams trying on a million bras to find one that feels comfortable. Finally settled on a couple that feel reasonable. I have now bought five bras since finding out I am pregnant. I'm only 14 weeks. How many will I need between now and April?!

lucieloo my DH is 100% certain we're having a girl. There is no basis for this. I have threatened to find out at the 20 week scan if he doesn't at least entertain the idea of us having a boy. I think it might be a boy but it's a 50/50 punt.

Salted, also can't decide between hospital and birthing unit. Had taken the view that I was going to go for hospital and have an epidural and not attempt any heroics, pain relief all round. But now I'm not so sure. But I don't want to get stuck in the birthing unit and then find it's too late for an epidural either. It's my first, no idea how I will feel.

Hey guys - not been on much recently - decided to go for another nuchal scan privately after the first one wasn't clear enough for a measurement, and the odds they gave us were really quite scary even if I am nearly 35. 1 in 87 to be precise. We were freaked out to start with, and talked and talked about it, but then we turned it into a percentage - 1.2% percent risk of Downs, and 98.8% chance that everything is ok, and we started to feel better. Amnio seems so scary and risky itself. So we've decided (totally personal, absolutely no judgment on anyone who would think differently, btw!) just to trust to the fates and progress with the pregnancy. Having made that decision I feel much better, but have the odd panicked day - like today! It's just taken the shine off things somehow. Sorry to offload!! On the plus side, I don't feel sick anymore, just really tired, AND I have a little bump starting which is just SOOOO exciting!!

Hi Hippy and KittyCatcat - we initially were due to have scans on the same day, but as I am absolutely enormous, I arranged for an earlier NT scan. We had bad news and good news. - The nasal bone was absent which, with my age (39) and poor bloods put us in the high risk category.

We were offered cvs. After some research and soul searching we decided to delay cvs and have another scan a week later. - And...they found a nasal bone which changed the odds to 1:2300, which I can totally live with!!

It has been an emotionally exhausting week. I haven't been much use to anyone or at anything. But now I finally feel like I can look forward to the baby. Yay!!

Daisy17 - am really glad that you have found what is right for you. You know when you have made the right decision for yourself/your family. Our risk was higher initially (not that that makes much difference). I totally understand what you've been through!

Daisy I think everyone gets worried about the downs stats. I'm 33 and when I had my 12 week scan they couldn't really get a clear enough picture of the nuchal. My ob told me if I wanted a full nuchal fold scan (which i'd have had to pay extra for) it would probably have to be an internal scan. Didn't like the idea of that at all. I'm looking on the plus side that at least i've got no percentages to worry about.

I agree that the tiredness sucks. The worst thing I find is that i'm really tired in the afternoon and then can't get to sleep at night. Felt rather guilty this afternoon as was my half day at work so was home with DS this afternoon. I spent over an hour of it asleep on the sofa whilst he watched a DVD. He kindly woke me up when it had finished I felt in no position to refuse him his favourite dinner and cake for pudding. I dread to think what i'll be like once the 2nd baby arrives.

Hey muffin

I was wondering how you got on. That must have been an emotional rollercoaster for you! I am so happy that the second scan was a much brighter one for you.

I ordered some maternity clothes yesterday. Hope they fit.

How's everyone doing? Are you able to concentrate on anything apart from the baby? (I cant!)

Thanks for the messages, guys. :>) So glad your second scan was better Muffin and yes Liv77 I really rather wish we had never bothered with the second scan now and just sailed on regardless! The nuchal was only 3.5mm which isn't far off normal - alarming how it sends the numbers through the roof! Re sleep, I'm with you there too Liv as I am shattered by the end of the teaching day, fall straight to sleep when I get into bed then wake up at FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING and fitfully doze till the alarm goes off. Not helping! ALthough getting us all prepared for when the baby is actually here I guess!! I have read that it is because the baby's metabolism doesn't slow down at night like ours does, so basically we are being woken up to give it some food!! So EXACTLY like it will be in six months, then..... biscuits by the bed, good excuse!

Daisy, I love the idea of of being woken already to feed baby, that made me giggle but it's a really nice thought when your awake at all hours.

Anyone got one of those pregnancy pillows? Any good? I have 4 strategically placed pillows but some nights there just not enough.

Not a notion of feeling sick today 4 days clear, it's like being some kind of addict counting the free days lol

JoEW I'm torn between the hospital and birthing unit. Hospital because everything is at hand one stop shop if you like. I'm wanting the birthing unit because it's as close to a home birth without wanting to get up and wash up, cook and make everyone tea before I'm ready to. plus I don't fancy a birthing pool leak on my carpets lol. The stats show less intervention or need for drugs in a unit and partners can usually stay with you the whole time. You get comfy double bed, en suite rooms and a coffee area for any visitors to sit and chat, more like a hotel room. All equipment is hidden in designed wall units so if all goes well you don't have to see much medical machinery. Although the nearest easy access hospital to me is over an hour away so that's playing on my mind. I'm in the Lake District where we have loads of cottage hospitals but Penrith birth centre is an hour motorway from Carlisle, or I can have a hospital birth at Whitehaven. Tough decision I guess it all depends on my progress up until B day! I'm arranging to visit both through my midwife.

Muffin
I bet that was some week of waiting. Now you can relax a bit, it's a shame in a way that we find out about all these tests weeks before we can have them because it builds the worry of what if!

Now the bit I'm bursting to tell you.......
I feel movement and it's not from prune juice!! Thought I felt it yesterday afternoon then just before bed (8.30pm feeling old) but I woke at 4am for me relief break and when I got back comfy I felt it again, obviously I did the only thing I could, woke my DH to tell him lol. This morning 8am I was day dreaming and then flutter flutter again this time I'm sure I'm not wishful thinking. Any other 2nd/3rd timers feeling it yet?

Caramel 4head - used it last night (read the instructions first, I wish I had) I put it on rolled it twice across my forehead so 4 swipes, ten minutes later I had the kitchen towel trying to get the ice cold burning stuff off my head lol
Half an hour later all gone, used just one swipe later in the night and after ten minutes a cool line on my head but headache gone!! Miracle because paracetamol haven't worked. Will keep up with it for a few days before final verdict but so far, so good.

I like these smilies ha ha!

Well I think I'm less tired than I have been but, to be honest, I'm not sure if that's just because all the books say I'm supposed to be less tired! 14 weeks today, and it's just all going too slowly. kittycat I can't concentrate on anything else either. I'm impatient because I feel like I'm just a few weeks away from all the exciting things (feeling movement, getting a bump, 20 week scan) but at the moment I still just don't feel that pregnant. I definitely don't have a bump yet but I'm feeling quite fat. I'm starting to think I'm getting fatter just under my boobs - wondering if the baby is shoving fat upwards? Anyway, it's unsightly!

I've got my 'Risk assessment' on Thursday. Is that just my 16-week appointment then?

The next midwife appointment I've got written in isn't until my 20-week scan.

oooooo exciting Salted

Not heard of a risk assesment Cyclebump

Thanks for the 4head tip Salted, I'll be off to the pharmacy this afternoon to give it a whirl.

Cyclebump I haven't heard of a risk assessment either. I know at the booking appointment the midwife made an assessment of whether I was low or high risk based on bp, weight, bmi, previous pregnancies/labours etc. That determines whether you go under a consultant or not at the hospital I'm at...Wondering if it could be this if you haven't already been through all that?

I've had a few scary days. I had some bleeding on Sunday after sex . It had stopped in a few hours but I went to get everything checked out this morning just to be sure. It was fine, they couldn't find any reason for the bleeding. Doubt I will be able to get DH to go anywhere near me again now though until the baby is out, he was petrified he had caused the bleed.

I had a feeling the baby was ok as I think I've started feeling flutters too salted! Not 100% sure yet but feels like the start of it and I know second time round you can feel things earlier...but I'm only 14wks, maybe this is too early and I'm just feeling air bubbles rumbling round my tummy!

I was born with the right side f my pelvis under-developed and had my right hip joint built with bone grafts so am high-risk as I may not be able to even attempt vaginal delivery :(

I'm just wondering if I should be having a midwife appointment as well now that I'm 16 weeks.

Just saw your post Caramello, DP is worried on the sex front too. Most positions are totally not possible now because I am, what we have decided to term, babyliciously bumpy.

Am really up for it though so I have to keep pouncing on him when he's unawares!

cyclebump, the Dr who scanned me said the safest position to have sex is with your partner's back up against yours...maybe you can convince your OH this will be a-ok! I can't face the thought of a 26wk drought to come...and that's before the drought after the birth

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!

I take comfort from the fact that a close friend went full term and on the day she went into labour she and her DH had had sex not once, but TWICE!

Obviously it was before she went into labour...