December 2010, where we waft about in mat gear eating icecream

[Miffster]

Yo December 2010 ladies, here we go - the mid-point of our pregnancies...and beyond!

C&G that's such worrying news. I do hope your repeat scan is reassuring. Did they say what echogenic bowels is?

Hello Spanishlady - glad to hear your scan went well

By the way, the boy bits were only obvious when the sonographer and DH pointed them out. Really don't think I would have seen if I didn't know what to look for. I am now getting really frequent kicks, which is nice, especially at night when I lie down. No kicks felt outside yet though

CheeseandGherkins I missed your post. So sorry to hear this news. I hope that everything turns out ok will be thinking of you.

Am sure you have googled too but I have found sites which say most cases of echogenic bowels have no underlying abnormality so I really hope this is true for you.

Thanks, I hate all the not knowing and the waiting. These blood tests will take 2 weeks apparently but the infection ones 4-5 days.

I've read that DF and am hoping it's just that. My downs syndrome risk was 1:1000 from one but 1:800 in another I had, the FMU midwife said it would increase that risk 3 times if the consultant confirms the echogenic bowels.

I'm just worried about going in on Monday and them doing a scan, finding the same and then throwing choices such as amnios at us (they mentioned that today already). Really wouldn't know what to do as I would want to know for peace of mind but wouldn't abort so would the risk be worth it? Lots to think about.

I have been googling lots yes! Apparently it can mean iugr so they may offer growth scans too.

Hi Dueling - I am not sure why it is their policy, their blurb says that the intent of the scan is to check for anomalys not gender and therefore that is what they concentrate on - but think the possibility of suing/disappointing people could also be a big factor. Some people have mentioned he large asian community the hospital serves but am uncomfortable giving that too much credence but who knows.

Chloe - you are right of course but it just looked so much like boy bits I was surpised my husband made no reaction - we wouldnt have asked to find out even if our hospital offered so am happy with boy or girl!

Cheese - I am sorry to have crashed in bumbling on about my scan - but I really think it is just a precaution and that everything will be well - I'll follow your post and wish you very well x

C&G I hope everything turns out okay.

Welcomee newbies.

Is anyone elae waking at daft times in the morning then being up for hours? DD has had night terrors (or really bad dreams) the last two nights and I've not been able to get back to sleep once she's calmed down.

Has anyone tried the dreamgennii pillows and are they any good?

crazykat I bought dreamgennii pillow from Mothercare and slept with it once and got backpain. You can only sleep on left side, which is annoying. Also, it doesn't have a pillow cover so I guess if you want to wash it you have to wash the whole thing. I replaced it by a normal pillow, which I put under bump to between legs and I can sleep on both sides... I am selling it half price to a friend, who doesn't mind it is once used...She is used to sleeping on the left side. I prefer to have both sides as option :)

So I am looking at mothercare site and they have the nappy disposal system for half price, which with the 20% off coupon should be a good deal! What the hell is this thing though and is it any good???

Also which one is better? Manual breast pumps or electronic? Or am i freaking out too early and shouldn't buy any of these??? I do want to BF and then pump to let DH feed too as it is important for me that he binds with LO.

Thanks again.

Re bras - I got measure in bravissimo and bought 3 in there then went to m&s and tried loads on bought a few more there. They have some really lovely ones.

Crazy I love my dreamgennie pillow, been using it since about 10 weeks or so. I find it really helps with my spd, the part that you put between your legs helps as does the back support. Afaik you can have it either way so you can sleep on either side too. Mine has a cover, you can remove it to wash it so you don't have to wash the whole thing. It was an extra I bought.

Pjen which nappy disposal system? Like the sangenic ones? If so, they are great, I plan on using one again. I wouldn't recommend pumping until your supply is established, probably until about 6ish weeks, but after that I'd use a manual one. Personal preference though. I don't think dh would necessarily need to feed baby to bond though, plenty of holding, bathing, changing etc to be done, not just feeds! Do be careful how much you do pump though as you don't want to affect your supply. I wouldn't want to be doing it for regular feeds.

Oh and the bras I bought in bravissimo were two panache ones and a bravissmo branded one, they fit so well and are really comfortable but also pretty, not just boring ones. I bought the underwear to match and they fit ok as they sit quite low.

C&G - hope everything is ok in the scan on Mon and hopefully the consultant can shed some more light.

Chloe - congratulations, boys are fab! Snap with the placenta. Just wish I could have had the same sonographer rather than cowface that I had. Instead I had to find that out on google.

PJen - 2-9 . What am I like? Stubbornness has to be the 1st trait on the list. I'm fiery, say what I think, and then realise I need to think 1st, doh! I'm really confident, but at the same time quite shy. I'm a people watcher. Erm...quite a tomboy, although you'll very rarely see me wearing jeans or trousers of any kind. If you get on with male sagi's, you should get on with female ones too. My dad and I are the same person, which is great, but we are both as stubborn as each other and will never back down. I would say my personality is quite contradictory too, i.e. tomboy/love girly clothes, shy/confident. Musicwise - fave 2 bands/groups are Girls Aloud & Foo Fighters!

I feel sick. Missing my babies like anything, I've been crying most of the day at the thought of them going to ex's. Counselling finished last week, I thought I was ok, but have already made an appt with gp to re-refer me to her. From now on during the hols my mum is going to have the boys on the day they go to their dads as I just can't handle it. I hate the 'well you chose to sleep with him' comments (not from anyone who matters) erm well actually I didn't. Why do people who've never been in an abusive relationship think they have the right to comment and judge and not even consider there may have been more to it than a 'simple' break up. GRRRRRRR. Sorry, really need to get it off my chest, and not something I've yet told DP about, so can't say it to him.

c&G sorry to hear your scan news. Hope you get some good advice on Monday.

Cheryl sorry to hear that you're upset.

Pjen iirc this is your first baby isn't it? If so, I'd suggest you hold off on breast pumps. I found I couldn't bf (I'm not saying I didn't want to or didn't try, I genuinely couldn't seem to produce any milk - even the midwives agreed with me, couldn't express anything manually or with a pump). Once you've mastered the art, then get a pump. My SIL didn't successfully bf but has already bought a pump that just turned out to be a waste of money.

C&G so sorry to hear your scan wasn't good, fingers crossed for you,sending positive vibes for baby and clear results.

Pjen I had a manual pump last time which I used with DS1 and found it worked really well. DS1 was a section baby and where I am they keep you in for 5 days and tell you to feed them when they cry. My nipples were in bits by the time I got home so I expressed for a few days to give them a chance to recover. The only bit of advice I would give re BF is remember to eat well, rest each day, keep hydrated. And knowledge is power!

I bought some cheapie mat bras from ebay (ex mothercare stock i think) they're comfy but I look like Hattie Jacques !! Lucky DH loves me...

Chloe congrats on the scan, i had a low placenta with DS1 and again with this one, it moved up last time so I'm not concerned, they will just scan again at 30 weeks.

cheryl sorry your sad. I think if the counselling is a good idea; to talk to someone who is independent of the whole situation and you don't have to watch what you say is a real benefit. Why do people feel they have to comment? I think its people who are unhappy with their own lives that manage to churn out cr*p like that, it must make them feel better somehow by kicking someone when they're down.

C&G sorry to hear you hvae had such worrying news. Sending you lots of positive wishes and I hope the weekend doesn't drag too long for you.

PJen I used a manual Avent pump which was great. You don't actually need a pump as hand expressing, when you get the hang of it, can be as effective (you'd need to express into a sterilised bowl I guess then transfer it into the little bags for the freezer). I carried on BF DD when I went back to work at 7 months for another 3 months and the manual pump was fine. IN the hospital they had a brilliant electronic pump which I used in first few days as we were readmitted with DD v sleepy with janudice - I just couldn't wake her up enough to get her to latch. They're about £25 for manual I'd say, and TBH unless you are totally expressing you probably won't need an electronic one. The resell price is pretty good on e-bay, but you could always hold off until baby is a few weeks' - as others have said, you shouldn't need to express in first few weeks as you are etablishing supply.

I never got a nappy disposal system - never saw the point to it and also used cloth for some of the time with DD.

Cheryl sorry you're having a tough time. Well done for arranging to get a re-referral back to the counsellor if that would help.

I've bought a spare packet of terries nappies for this one for little stage, as we didn't start using cloth with DD until she was a few months old. I'm not sure if I'm being a bit ambitious wanting to do it again with No 2 especially as it will be mid-winter so nowhere to dry them! ButI already have loads of terries/totsbots and nippas and wraps and things so I may as well use them a bit, then sell them when this one gets bigger.

Has anyone else found a few people have been slightly when you say you didn't find out sex? One of two family members have been slightly funny, as if we're being selfish or difficult for not telling them. Everyone else my side of the family (and us first time round) found out and told the family. I know it doesn't matter what others think - it's our baby after all, but still I was a bit taken aback.

oh dear, just been googling low lying placentas. wish i hadn't.
i'm now trying not to worry about life-threatening bleeding, placenta covering the cervix, and premature birth

Chloe - I did a heck of a lot of googling too, there's one (I'll try and find a link later) that says only 1 in 600 people who are referred from their 20wk scan actually need a cs. The risks of having placenta praevia are so slim. Unfortunately for me my sonographer never explained any of this to me. I found everything out from google & MN (MN being the most reassuring!). Luckily I was seeing my MW 2 days later so she was able to put my mind at rest. She was actually really angry at the sonographer and gave me the address to complain to.

"The vast majority of women who have a low-lying placenta in the middle of pregnancy will not be affected in the later weeks. At the end of pregnancy, only a tiny percentage of women have the condition. One study of 6,428 women found that only 0.16 per cent of women (around 1 in 600) had placenta praevia at the time of birth.1 In most cases the placenta, even if relatively low in the uterus, will not be affected by the cervix opening during labour."

from this page

I keep craving alcohol - and I don't drink even when I'm not pg....?

Hi all,

crazykat I have the dreamgenii and I think it's great I bought it off amazon and it came with a pillow case - you can switch over to your right hand side you just use the back support under your bump and bring the leg bit between your legs from behind (!) it is pretty expensive for what it is but I guess I'd say it's worth it if it helps you sleep.
C&g thinking of you x x
maxpower I haven't even missed alcohol but I do find people keep trying to get me to drink - saying oh a bit won't hurt and my mum gave me 'no alcohol shandy' which I later found out did have alcohol in ! I wonder what's wrong with people! Also has anyone had or considered the Mothercare My Choice pushchair?

c&g fingers crossed for you, hope you have better news monday

Wholelottalove most people have been very positive towards me when I said I wasn't finding out the sex. My workmate thinks it's great as she thinks it's the best way to do it, though I totally appreciate why people do like to find out.

I really want to use real nappies myself do any tips and hints you have I would be really grateful as specially as I am having to reassure DH that it's worth doing - he thinks it will be more hassle.

Cheryl thinking of you , hope you are ok.

I just got the highest bid on a mothercare spin pram on ebay but it didn't reach the resrve price, I wonder if they will contact me and ask me if I want to buy it anyway.

I am craving for cheese on toast (again) so ...... I'm going to have some!

What else is tempation for but to give in to!

Woke up at 6am today, worrying and looking things up still. I know I am a worrier but I want to be prepared just in case. I want to know what could happen and what they could say. I can't really think of much else at the moment. She's kicking away lots though, definitely making her presence felt :)

Cheryl Sounds really horrible for you. I hated doing handover too, often my mum would come over and do it and towards the end, my new partner, as I just didn't want to see him. Being in an abusive relationship isn't easy at all, it's just not as simple as saying leave, or you shouldn't do x,y,z etc. I know exactly what you mean.

Kitty I would go mad over that, stupid people trying to force to you drink alcohol. I don't drink at all while pregnant through choice so if someone tried to trick me into it I would be absolultely livid.

pitter cheese on toast sounds good, I'm trying to eat more so may well go make some as I haven't eaten yet, just on a cup of decaff at the mo.

Thank you Cheryl Just logged on this morning and that is reassuring. Sorry your sonographer was such a cow

Hi ladies. I am gatecrashing from the Feb thread due on 5th Feb but planned section at end of Jan.
Was having a nose last night and came across anxieties around visits post birth and felt right at home. My in laws live away and will be first g child but I am extremely anxious about having overnight guests in the weeks after. particularly during dh precious paternity leave and dds half term week......mil is teaching assistant. feels wrong asking family to stay in hotel when have spare room but just can't face house guests. glad its not just me. I will watch in December to see how you handle it esp duelling fanJo

Morning All, just popping in before commencing housework, my Dad told me off yesterday for being slothenly

C&G So sorry for you having a worrying time, I really hope all is well and you get results quickly.

Dueling I used reusables for DS from about a week old, and really found them no more hassle. I definitely had less leaks than disposables.
My best advice would be not to buy a whole lot of one range before you have had your baby, I made the mistake of that and although the performance was excellent I found them too bulky.
Also use reusable wipes, I used a mixture of fleece and terry and kept them in a Tupperware, I used a solution of chamomile tea, water and olive oil on them.
It's a good idea to set up a changing area with everything on hand as there are more components for reusables, I had a mat on a cupboard and a shelf above with wipes, liners, nappy nippas the nappies and wraps on, and also had ahook on the side with a wet bag hanging on for all the laundry to go in.

I am starting to feel quite achey in the pelvis area a bit like I've been riding a horse for a week, hope it's not the start of something and I've just been having too much sex!