March 2011 - rolling on into the second trimester

[Muser]

We filled the first thread, time for a new one. Anyone and everyone due in March 2011 are welcome.

I'm with Muser on that one. I'm due on the 20th March and a month of horrific labour stories might scare me to death! Just keep us in the know of the good stuff... "baby Bob born this morning... etc etc" sort of stuff. We can all focus on the positive... Babies instead of bellies!

Also just back from another trip and reading back over last few days it really has been busy.

Got back from Gatwick to find Doppler had arrived - so first thing I did was try it. Took a few minutes but found the whoosh whoosh of placenta then my own thud thud heartbeat and finally the steam train of LO's. Amazing and so, so reassuring. Have a nasty feeling I could get addicted!

Have still not heard back from either of my local NCTs - round here only thing on offer us the two weekends running version but it's looking less and less likely I'll do it as they don't seem to reply!

Thoughts and best wishes to everyone.

Xxx

PS Muser - good idea - though it still feels a v v long way off!

To update you all, me and DH went for our counselling session with the screening nurse this afternoon - the end result is that I am booked to have a CVS on Monday afternoon. Our Fetal Medicine Unit (Cornwall) has a good record and CVS has same m/s rate as amnio. We should have the results by Thursday - so hopefully, by this time next week we will have a clearer picture. The nurse was lovely and although sympathetic, was straight to the point with facts and statistics. The risk of m/s is obviously a worry, together with waiting for the results, but we are trying to take it one step at a time. I am trying to stay positive, but my blood result was very high risk 1:39 - which although the nurse said shouldn't always be taken into account because it is a combined test, sort of swung it for us to go ahead and have the diagnostic test. I'm grateful that I don't have to wait for another fortnight until I'm 16 weeks for an amnio but obviously very frightened about the whole thing. I need you all to keep me in your prayers and keep everything crossed for a happy outcome. DH is supportive, but can't really understand how I'm feeling so is great on practical support but not so good on the emotional side - glad I've got you guys there to see me through this xxxx

Chickie I am right there with you. Having been in your situation very recently I know exactly how you are feeling.

The worst bit about the CVS for me was the anaesthetic going in and then the wait for the results!
Make sure you have a couple of days booked off work to rest afterwards.
I have everything crossed for you and hope that you get some good news as a result of all this. xx

Chickie my prayers are most definitely with you x

Oh yes, Chickie, I am also right by your side there, having also only very recently been through similar - our risk was higher than yours though at 1:80 with a nuchal fold of 5mm- so far we have had the first lot of results but are still waiting for the full report. Definitely the waiting for the first lot was the worst bit. I sought refuge in the Ante-natal tests and choices forum as it was too much for me to read about anything other than my own pain at the time. You will get through it. Sending you lots of positive vibes and good thoughts. xxxxx

Hi all, this is campervanfan, I can use my 'real' name now I'm past 16 weeks! Am on another postnatal thread but they're friends on FB so didn't want them to find out just in case. I've been so busy the last few weeks at work that I've not been on here at all, been working stupid hours. Hope you're all well. Chickie, sorry to hear you're going through the mill x

Chickie most definitely in all my thoughts and prayers. The strength you have shown is amazing and that goes for everyone who has had to deal with any concerns over the past 4 months.

Sorry not managed to check in much this week ? work busy ? uggghh, but have finally (whispers) turned a corner on the MS!! Fingers crossed it stays that way. Hello to all ? moves too fast for me!

Purple ? you are so strong. A brave decision ? absolutely everything crossed for her being a fighter and as strong as you are!

Chickie ? hugs ? rough times ? hope your tests go well this week ? again everything crossed for a good result.

DH and I have rightly or wrongly decided not to have any screening ? no nuchal or blood tests. We didn?t first time around and are just not sure how we would digest the information. As ?Notaroundmuch? says you could have a risk factor in the thousands and be the one or be one in five and be one of the four. We have decided against ? not sure if right decision, but hold faith in 20 week scan to detect if there was a major problem. Am a bit of a fatalist I?m afraid.

NCT ? we did do it first time around and if was doing it again for the first time again I would still go. Bit of luck of the drawer as to whether you will meet friends for life. I am still in some contact with two of my group (4 years on), but in the early days we met up quite often which was great. Classes were quite useful as well ? quite pro natural, but also explained things like C-sect, drugs etc. V pro-breastfeeding also, which in the early weeks after DS born made me feel like bit of a failure as he ended up in NICU as refused to feed and lost too much weight ? expressed for a bit, but resorted to bottle feeding in the end which seems to have done him little harm.

Still just look fat not preggers, but some good bargains this week in Mamas and Papas. Was in dire need of tops for work ? goodness only knows what I wore last time ? it was four years ago, but some of the things I had seem sooooo hideous now. But I guess you wouldn?t wear exactly the same normal clothes 4 years on anyway?

Sorry bit of a ramble!
Must go as need to concentrate on Downton Abbey.

Jx

Hi there,

I am new and live in Hong Kong. I am due on the 18th Feb 2011. Do you mind if i tag along on this group. I am a bit homesick now I am pregnant. Thanks and heres to all the impending bumps. I have just started showing for real...its wonderfully weird. For those worrying, I had high risk for DS and some issues. We decided to go for the amnio and thankfully all is fine. These tests are very worrying and I am so happy I did the amnio as this gives me peace of mind. its fine as long as you can really rest afterwards and keep your feet up. The needle and procedure were not half as bad as I expected and it felt more getting my ears pierced. However no amount of advice stopped my worrying until we got the definite results. Knowing either way is better than driving yoursefl crazy with worry.
Anyway hope you regulars dont mind me posting. Now that we are on the run to Christmas and Im stuck here, it would be lovely to have some pregnant company :)

Welcome lovdy,
purple and chickie fingers crossed for you this week, you are both very string women.

I have just come back from a lovely relaxing week in Spain with whole family, inc my 8 month old niece who is nails, i have to say. Its made me a little worried as i dont remember my DS ever screaming like she does at night. Honestly, one night 2.5 hrs and another 3hrs, nothing wrong with her just temper as she wanted to get up.I am now slightly panicking about what this LO will be like!!

I did also think that i had barbequed the baby as i burnt my belly, i knew you could catch the sun through the clouds but not to that extent!! Luckily baby is really starting to wriggle about in last week so i knew it was ok

Downside though back to work hope everyone else is ok and has had good monday back xx

obviously meant strong women

Another update from me - had the CVS this afternoon. Very uncomfortable and emotional, cried practically all the way through. Consultant and sonographer were lovely and so caring - which made me cry even more! Slight hiccup in that the first attempt didn't produce any tissue (complicated by the way the placenta was lying) - I was asked if I was happy for them to try again (being advised that 2 x attempts would not increase my risk further). We continued and thankfully the second attempt was successful and fingers crossed now in readiness for my results - I am expecting a phone call on Thursday/Friday at the latest. Am now feeling battered and bruised, still tearful, but glad the first hurdle is over. Thanks to you all for your comforting words, support and prayers - they mean a great deal to me. Will keep you posted xx

Oh chickie you poor thing, it sounds horrendous. I'm glad they were kind to you, and I hope you're at home being taken care of now. Wishing you a quick recovery from the bruises and aches, and fingers crossed for good news in a few days xx

I was thinking of you today chickie- I recall the day of our amnio as a pretty bad day, although for me the actual procedure was straightforward. I felt like I had been hit by a bus afterwards, but the next day felt pretty much back to my normal self, just wanted to take it easy with lifting/moving about etc to be on the safe side.
Hoping that you are being well looked after and that you don't find the wait too bad. Fingers crossed for a good result and that you hear soon. x

chickie just popped by to say my thoughts are with you (as always). I was thinking of you today. Take care x x x

Welcome to lovdy and any other newbies I have no doubt missed. It's getting such a busy thread now!

Welcome home sam26oscar - sounds like a very interesting holiday!

Just over two weeks until our holiday (well 'mini break' really!)

Hello to everyone else too

Ooh a holiday Evian! Where are you going? Hope it's good

chickie youa re so brave - well done. all my thoughts and prayers are with you this week!

Thinking of you chickie and sending good vibes your way.

I have started feeling movement, which is amazing. I'd been told it would feel like bubbles bursting to start with, and it really does!

spiltthetea thank you! We're going to Disneyland Paris for our son's 2nd birthday. He loves Mickey Mouse! I'm a bit excited too! I wanted us to do something nice as a family before March. He's had quite a tough year with hospital appts and has been so resilient and I wanted to spoil him just this once!

Must go and get sorted, wake DS up and try and coax him into eating his lunch!... The health visitor is coming at 2pm

Have a good day everyone x

Hello all.

I'm still thinking about the ante-natal classes. I think we probably will book on to the NCT intensive weekend one near us.
Does anyone know anything about the NHS ante-natal classes though? do you have to pay for them? are they offered to everyone? what are they like and what do they involve?

mixed I am a little jealous at you not working!

pip congrats on your scan, sounds wonderful.

welcome to lovdy

chickie sounds like an ordeal, hope you are ok.

muser how wonderful to have started feeling movement! I haven't felt anything like that yet, I get little aches and pains but think it could be anything and not sure what is the baby yet!

hello to everyone else!

ooh I bought some really comfy smart black maternity trousers for work at the weekend from Next. very pleased with them.

I am also debating between NCT and NHS classes, that I believe are free - superpenguin just wondering about the difference as well. Any insight would be most helpful.

I'm hoping to do both the NCT ones and the NHS ones.

I believe the NHS ones are just very informative and matter of fact rather than being supportive (from what I've read from other MN posters). I got information about my NHS ones from my midwife but its only something like 2 hours at the hospital so I don't have great expectations but since it's free I'm booked in already for January.

Since money is an issue I intend to use my health in pregnancy grant to pay for the NCT ones. I've always believed that fore-warned is fore-armed so I think I will face giving birth a lot braver if I'm prepared and know what to expect. I'm also quite isolated where I live being so far from my family that I think the possible network of other new mums might help me. I hear that it is more common to make friends at an NCT meeting than an NHS one but then again its still the luck of the draw.

Hi all

Just thought I would add my experiences of antenatal classes. We did both the NHS and NCT ones last time (2008 so things may have changed, also it may differ from area to area).

NHS - these were free, arranged via community midwife. Places went very quickly. We did them in August for an October due date. There were 4 classes scheduled, each Tuesday evening during August. The sessions were due to cover labour & delivery, breast/feeding, the care of the baby and a tour of the maternity ward. However the second class was cancelled due to staff shortages so they added 2 and 3 together. There were about 10 couples I think. Everyone got on (not that there was much time to chat), we are still in touch with one of the couples. I found this course to be really interesting and beneficial in that the midwife running it could provide the NHS perspective and local info i.e. she knew what the pain relief options were in our local hospital, what the visiting hours/protocol was, whether you were able to get your own room etc. I would do them again if this was my first pregnancy (if that makes sense).

NCT - the longer course was already booked when I contacted them (about 16 weeks I think). We opted to do the intensive course, this was one full day (Saturday) then an evening to cover breastfeeding. There were 5 couples and we are still in touch with all of them (even though we only met for ajust over a day before the babies born). In my opinion this course wasn't as useful for 'practical information', it was more about our thoughts, our preferences, making sure we were happy with what was happening in hospital etc. However from a longer term perspective I made some really good friends and was introduced to the local NCT group which I attended until the end of my maternity leave. I will go back this time (to the baby group), lots of the girls I met at the NCT baby group are now pregnant again or have recently had second babies.

Please ask if anyone wants any further info

Do you know if the NCT ones book up quickly like the NHS ones? Like I said in the last post I want to use my health in pregnancy grant to pay for this course but am wondering if I leave it for another 10 weeks will I miss out on a space on the course.