January 2011 - New year, new baby! - 2nd Trimester

[mummychicken]

Got there first - thanks Sarrita for the suggestion!!

hi mammasunshine. sorry to hear about the ordeal you are having with this pregnancy. I do hope things settle so that you can get on, like you say.

And THANK YOU for putting my mind at rest re: newborn and toddler. If you had said that it is harder than being pregnant with a toddler, I would have freaked out.

Sarrita, what a bloody relief! Well done your DH!

I am still knackered and taking those foul iron tablets, pregaday. Anyone has taken them? Did they work? On top of this, Diego has had vomiting and diarrea and disturbed nights with full changes of bedding and PJs (both mine and his) since Thursday. He is all subdued and clingy, and has lost quite a bit of weight. I really hope my poor little boy picks up soon.

hi mamasunshine, so sorry to hear things have been rough, wish you better.

Sarrita, great news re your husbands job, wooo!

Also thanks for easing fears over newborn + toddler, I am SCARED!

Pacita, poor Diego, that's awful! Wish him better.

Another hand up for pelvic/hip/back/leg pain, as well as achey feet and gheavy tummy! Worst at night or if walking or on feet a lot, but still manageable so just plodding on!

8 weeks and 2 days to go - eek!

Ah PAcita - sorry to hear about your son and hope he gets better soon - must be mega hard work having to do all that and be pregnant at the same time.

Pacita and Jobi1 - I am crapping myself at having two newborns and a toddler - also we have no help from family as my parnets are dead and my DP's live abroad - eeeeeek!!

Sarait - that must be a weight off your mind - especially with a baby coming!

mamasunshine - glad the tests came out negative! Hopefully they'll stay that way and you won't have to go through the whole hospital thing again this time.

Amberc, I hear you. My parents and my DP's parents are both abroad, so it is very hard. Our trade off is not having a social life, I suppose. We do stay in a lot. MIL is coming for 10 days on the 12th, and that will be a huge help. She is a great cook and an angel around the house. I am sure you will be fine with your two newborns, but I would recommend to say yes to any offers of help from friends, family, HVs for baby sitting, cooking, cleaning round the house, running errands and so on.

I'm ok on the SPD front, thank god. Probably to make up for the lack of energy and heartburn from hell. I sleep with a kingsize bottle of gaviscon next to the bed and will scream like a harridan if anyone dares move it!

Hi mamasunshine, have they tested you for GD? Have got totbots fluffles (sp?) they don't make them anymore, but have had good write up as dry quickly. Got them 2nd hand, but unused. Also have totbot bamboo ones, which are supposed to be a good idea for night time use, but they take ages to dry. Nappylady site (and probably a few others) have a questionnaire you can fill in and it gives you recommendations of what nappy they think would suit you.

My major issues were drying time and leakage (well lack of leakage!) - so main reason going for nappy and wrap.

The muslins are just regular ones, using a jo fold (not to difficult to master, but maybe sizing for baby might not be so easy)and have some newborn cotton bottom wraps (off ebay), not 100% if wraps are needed initially, but happier to be on safe side.

Great news re DH job sarrita

pacita hope wee one is better soon. Get your MIL to cook extra portions so you can freeze and have lovely ready meals post birth.

mamasunshine - sorry you've been so poorly x

Thanks for the messages, feeling much better again after more rest today. Will try and get out tomorrow for a bit, but will be taking it easy.
sarrita - how fantastic for your dh that must be such a relief!
pacita - I haven't tried the pregaday, but I take floravital (yummy) and Spatone, I find they work really well together. How old is Diego? Poor you, sounds very hard and poor Diego, hope he feels better soon.
amberc - I obviously cannot vouch for 2 newborns and a toddler being easier . Can you maybe hire a mother's help and cleaner to help?
walkthedog - consultant said more tests, but wants to see me again this Thurs and possibly another scan. He did say one of the causes of the polyhydramnios was GD, so I will be tested but he didn't say when. I was thinking about getting the bumgenius nappies, but will have a look at that website, thanks Have loads of muslins so will give them a go too!

Watching the lost house on ITV...probably shouldn't really!

I have my second GD test tomorrow - fingers crossed. Every wee sample comes up positive for glucose. They are horrid to have though aren't they. I feel sick with starvation by the end.

Pacita and Mamasunshine, I have hired a maternity nanny for 4 weeks after my c section who,lives in and does 21 hours a day, 6 days a week ( mega bucks but necessary) and then I have MIL coming from Spain for 2 weeks - then it's just lil old me. I am going to get a part time nanny as I remember how hard it was with one and no help and I'm not going through that again!

Isn't it sad about LIly Allen?

Hello everyone, congratulations on the twins amberc. A maternity nanny sounds like a brilliant idea, sorry if this is a really nosy question (and feel free not to answer if it is) but do you get any extra financial help with twins? I've always wondered if there was a special rate multiple birth tax credit or some sort of grant or something?

For all those suffering health problems at least there's not that long to go now. I can't believe it's November already and only just over 2 months until baby is due...although I'm sure we'll end up with a few Dec and Feb arrivals

I'm hoping to do a proper catch-up soon but wanted to check in before I lost track of the thread completely!

mamasunshine sounds horrible I hope it doesn't get any worse for you! I used bumgenius first time round and they were fantastic - still have them to use again this time. They are pretty bulky but I think thats true of all real nappies but no problems under sleepsuits.

Amberc maternity nanny sounds lovely! I have a combination of DH 2 weeks, mum 1 week then sister 3 days a week for 2 weeks after my c-section so I am hoping that will be enough. Family all live at least 2 hours away and work full time so I am really grateful they have been able to save some time to come and help.

pacita hope little boy is better soon. That sounds nasty. I am expecting some bugs to hit my DS soon as he has not been ill for ages.

sarrita great news re job, that will be a weight off your minds!

It is sad about Lily Allen - must be so hard when its public knowledge. I have a friend who was due to have twin boys in Jan around same time as me and she has had them early at 27 weeks - they have survived for 2 weeks so far and are stable now but both weighed under 2lb each - it has made me very glad for all the aches and tiredness I am feeling that at least the baby is still where it should be!

DS has decided to give up his lunchtime nap which I was really trying to preserve (but he is 2.8 I suppose so couldn't go on forever) - I am missing my guaranteed break in the middle of the day now. Think our name shortlist is down to Peter, Alexander or Edward now!

Hope everyone else doing well!

wondersnuffle - You get 2 x child benefit but I don't qualify for anything else if such a thing exists!

Maternity nanny sounds like a life saver! We have 5 days on our own before she comes assuming the twins stay in me until my c section date. I keep watching multiple mums on telly and all they ever say is 'thank God I have my family around me' and I always think oh fuck!

I think with lily Allen that's the worst thing - that everyone knows. The small upside is that everyone is sending loads of sympathy and it must something for her to at least know that the general public is thinking of her. crumblequeen, your friend is not on MN is she? One of my twin thread mums was due just after me and she had hers last Monday.

I had my ante natal app and scan today and all is fine with the girls. Both almost 3lbs each which is a great weight. I was worried 'cos I couldn't feel much movement at the top but it seems that one twin has turned and now both heads are at the top.

Anyway - off to bed now!

Very sad about Lily Allen, poor girl.

Whilst public knowledge is hard, I think its also hard to go through privately. I had a miscarriage early this year and had to lie to work and stay home cos I couldn't face anyone and it was awful. Its such a taboo subject, same as fertility problems, and I think that makes it all the harder to deal with.

Feeling quite low at the moment cos the baby we lost would have been due in a couple of weeks, plus I'm getting anxious about the birth and also coping afterwards with 2. Need a good night's kip I think.

Hope everyone ok x

maternity nanny does sound lovely although I did have a friend who had one for 6 weeks and hated it in the end - got fed up of her always being there are taking control to much and telling said friend what to do all the time - that and friend and her DH had very little time to themselves to enjoy early part of family life!

I may be being stupid/naive but we are planning to trying to cope on our own at the start rather than having family descending for more than an hour or two for the first week! I can't bear the thought of mother or MIL trying to tell me what to do (and they might!)and think we will need the space to get bf and ourselves established. I've also been reading threads on how to keep parents and IL's away from hospital etc which has made me laugh. My worst nightmare of the whole thing however is having to bf (and I am intending to do it!) and get boobs out in front of any family members . Just seems very wrong (never saw my parents in any undressed state when younger which may account for it) and do not want to spend day imposed exile in bedroom with everyone else downstairs somewhere.

I've also been feeling for Lily Allen. Had two mcs - agree with Jobi about it being a taboo subject! Best wishes to her...

Mamasunshine - sorry you seem to have having a hard time of it but hopefully getting better. Compared to others I don;t seem to be so bad with 10 weeks to go.

Also seem to be getting some of the shopping done - mumsnet has had great advice on forum pages!. Bit earlier than would probably have done but with xmas and new year the thought of battling round places is not pleasant. Had a bit of scare with lack of movements monday and ended up on hospital tracer. Scared DH a little as well and he is now on a speedy mission to get the car seat sorted before anything might arrive early!

Maternity leave sorted and finish work last day november. Starting to count down the days..........

Jobi - also meant to say that hope you got that good nights kip and you can feel a bit better. x

Jobi1 - hope you feel a bit better after a sleep. You will be fine and have lots of support on MN!

I have no experience of miscarriage but lots of infertility. I was honest about it as I saw it as nothing to be ashamed of. In fact it is the reason I got redundancy in the end (there were lots of people fighting for redundancy and only those who were crap at their jobs or had really good reasons got it and IVF was my good reason). It turned out I didn't need IVF in the end although I had one which failed - just a good dose of fertility drugs!

Cotswolder - my nanny seems lovely nd has been ringing me up fairly regularly. I chose her because I thought she would be the most bearable to have around 24/7! I tried not to get bombarded in the first week and I'm glad I did - I guess it's harder when you have more than 1 to contend with and you'll take whatever help you are given! With BF, You can always wear a shawl/scarf to cover your nips up. I knew someone who always did this with BF in public. After a few weeks she couldn't have given a toss though and never bothered!

Hope you are feeling brighter jobi1, no wonder you have been feeling low. Good to hear everyone's news, sorry I am such a lazy member of this thread, always reading, never posting! Have just started refresher ante-natal classes, is bringing it all back to me! When are people setting up cots/packing hosp bags?? Have enjoyed reading the lists of stuff to prepare, not having to buy it all this time but reminds me what we need to dig out of the loft! Is weird with a second baby as there is so much less preparation to do plus less time mentally to prepare as you are so taken up with other dc. I have just started preg yoga which I did last time and really enjoying it. Hope everyone with stresses and strains is getting through it ok, very glad some of the redundancy problems have sorted themselves out - not an ideal time for extra pressure!

cotswolder my FIL left the room rather than stay while I breastfed first time, so you may find they are escaping somewhere else rather than you! It is a bit fiddly at first sometimes, helped me to be out with other breastfeeding mums when you are doing it in public the first few times (safety in numbers!!)

jobi1 hope you are feeling OK! DS has been in a VERY defiant mood this week and I fear being stuck in the house with him and the baby at times like this (had to carry him kicking me out of playgroup today as he wouldn't leave and car ticket was running out - won't be able to do that when I have another to sort out too!)

amberc I thought that would probably be the case but it does seem very harsh when you have to buy 2 of everything (or at least an extra 1 if you've got stuff left over from DC1).

I'm so sorry jobi1, I don't know if it makes it better or worse if people in RL remember the dates but I'll be thinking of you

I haven't started packing anything yet but I really should. With DS I was convinced I was going to be late so didn't pack a bag until I was in labour (2 weeks early), then had half unpacked it as planned homebirth was going well and we'd got as far as putting baby clothes on the radiators...ended up ambulanced into hospital and not having any shampoo, phone charger and loads of essential bits and pieces. Must do better this time!

At least this time around I have most baby things, I had lent a lot to a friend and she's been returning it as her DS finishes with things, it's been really nice sorting through as it's all come back and she's added quite a bit so there's lots of things which are new to me. Also a surprising amount of things which we've not found a use for between us - I gave her 3 packets of unopened scratch mits and she's returned about 7 unopened packets! However we both had late spring babies so there may be more use for them in January...

Very very sad news about Lily Allen I've thought about it a lot and just cannot begin to imagine how awful it must be I'm sorry to hear of the mcs suffered by you all and infertility etc. I have no personal experience, but have family members etc who have suffered. Big hugs to jobi1 hope you get chance to get some rest and quiet time to yourself over the next couple of weeks.

amberc - 3lb's each Great weights!! We're just over 3lb's with 1 and I feel weighed down Maternity nurse sounds fab and absolutely needed with a toddler and 2 newborns! I feel I tried to do too much last time with no help (15month age gap), so have just hired a cleaner this morning to start next week Now need to find a mother's help?!

crumblequeen - thanks for another vote on bumgenius! Ds1 (2.8) has had phases of napping/not over past weeks. I either put him to bed for an hr's quiet time to read, or put him in bed with me to watch a dvd whist I sleep!

cotswolder - I don't think it's naive at all to think you can do it yourselves with your 1st baby It's such a lovely time when there's just 1 to think about. I have fab memories of just me, dh and ds1 just lounging around, bf, watching films etc/reading bks/watching daytime tv...it was utter bliss Then no 2 comes along and it's COMPLETE MAYHEM trying to feed/dress/wash/entertain a toodler too !! In regards to bf, it can be/is hard for the 1st 3-6 wks, but if you get past that milestone it is SOOOOO easy. With ds1 after a bit of practice in private I fed him anywhere, just tied a muslin under my bra strap so it just covered my breast. Now I don't bother and just feed...but that takes confidence and eventually getting fed up with 'trying' to cover when in reality no-one can see anything anyway! I'd recommend getting strappy vest tops to wear under a looser top, just lift top up, pull vest down and hey presto no-one will see a thing

wondersparkler - another who has many unopened packs of scratch mits and many other things!

Have another consultant app later to check on symptoms and all other bits that have arisen, maybe a doppler scan. Hopefully he can answer some of my many questions. My ds1 2.8 is having a very difficult time settling into nursery at the moment . He's clinging to me in tears begging me not too leave him there??? Very upsetting, and I honestly don't know what to do for the best? He's been going there since he was 9mo.

Hope you're all well, and sounds like some are getting ready for Xmas, I need some money so I can start shopping!

Has anyone been given the NHS from bump tp breastfeeding dvd? I watched it on Tues at my breastfeeding peer supporter class and it's really good! Apparently all pg ladies get one, but I haven't.

hi everyone...never realised there was another jan thread...
have been listening in on everyone under thread "due late jan 2011"....although im due on the 10th.
so have been scanning everyones posts on here too :)
(dont really have time to read....but its the only thing to make me sit down & rest)
im in SE london , expecting girl
have 13 month old twins (boy/girl) and some more boys who are all in primary school...twins now asleep
(and I should be doing housework !!)

OMG mumsylady I though I was going to be busy!

mamasunshine, re your toddler - they all go through mad phases. My DS 2.5 went through that same thing a couple of months ago and now can't wait to be rid of me and says he does't want to come home. I bet he's fine 10 minutes after you've left is he?

I have to have another GD test. I was meant to have it yesterday but I felt so awful in the morning I cancelled it. The only thing is you have to fast from 8.0 the night before until two hours after you've had that minging drink. I wake up so hungry I feel sick and have to immediately eat. How am OI going to go to 10.30 without eating anything (and that assumes they'll be on time too).

I have crumbled and bought some baby things. I needed some new bras from M&S and ordered some babygrows and socks etc for newborns - I felt a bit superstitious last pregnancy and wouldn't get anything until 30 weeks. Was going to do the same again this time round. I suppose a few babygrows won't hurt!

Amberc your lot are so mean making you fast from 8pm, I only had to fast from midnight (and that was bad enough, especially the not even being able to have sips of water).

welcome mumsylady

I got that dvd too mamasunshine, haven't watched it yet - on my list of things to do!
How did the consultant appt go?

hee. hee costwolder you made me laugh re keeping family away and esp BF bit. I am very happy for my parents to appear at the hosp and even if they wanted to come stay for a wee bit, mainly as I know they are so helpful, don't push their ideas and I can say what I want, BUT as nice as my OH's family are, I DO NOT want them to do anything but a high speed pop in to say hello, as they will stay for ages, pretend to be "helpful" but really just be a pest.

deedee I've been slowly getting things for hosp bag and thrown them all into a bag - toothpaste, spare pants, etc, did buy some sweeties but they've been eaten!

hope you are feeling better jobi

My pelvic pain, esp the pubic pain hasn't been great, so been spending more time resting over last few days. This has meant I have finally finished knitting a baby jumper. Very simple, a few mistakes, but so chuffed as it is my first ever garment I have made.

Off to pick up OH from his first day back at work, went in mid morning. His back is getting very slowly better, he still can't sit properly for more than 1 min, can stand for 30mins and walk for about 15. Reahly not sure if he is ready for work, but better for his mentality.

Wowee mumsylady !! You will be busy too
amberc - yes he's fine after about 5 mins definately testing his bounderies, have to stay strong! Do you know when you GD test is yet? I've got to have one too, hospital are going to ring tomorrow to book one ASAP. Not looking forward to it.
walkthedog - hope the rest helps your pelvic pain. I found not walking far for a few wks REALLY helped. Just pottered everywhere and drove distances. Your poor dh too!

Had consultant app. Basically they're now trying to find the cause of the Polyhydramnioexcess amniotic fluid), so having a GTT test (for gestational diabetes) and more blood tests for things like toxoplasmosis. Unless the problem reslolves itself (doesn't sound likely )then apparently they will try theirhardest to get me to 38 wks at the latest before induction/planned c section. Another growth scan in 3 wks to see if all's ok.

So now need to get my head around no homebirth and probable c section Also he warned me that if my waters break (higher risk due to uterus struggling to hold extra fluid), which cn happen anytime, I need to get straight down on floor with pelvis higher than head and phone an ambulance This is due to higher incidence of cord prolapse! I love how I have to experiment with all these different pregnancy complications each time

On a brighter note blood pressure and urine were fine

mamsunshine I've not had the DVD but I think a friend of mine (first pregnancy) has, I wonder if they only bother handing them out first time round? I have been wondering about becoming a peer supporter but wasn't sure how much of a time commitment it was? Also what do you do with older children while you're training/supporting?

mumsylady I've often wondered why Jan has 2 threads, glad you've decided to come and see us!

amberc that is dire but around here they do GT tests afternoons as well, I know a few people who've had to starve all day. I'm sure there should be a better way...

walkthedog congrats on the jumper!