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

[mummychicken]

Got there first - thanks Sarrita for the suggestion!!

Hi everyone, sorry to hear about redundancy woes, that must be just another added worry

I wanted a home birth last time so we got plastic and then put old towels and blankets over it. I believe the midwives are fab at clearing up for you.

Sadly I didn't get a home birth, ended up with a c section, but did labour at home for 3 days which was a blessing.

One thing I would say is have a contingency plan. If you end up having to go in, will it be to the birthing centre which is nearer and you're not keen on? How will you feel about that? One thing first time around taught me is to be pragmatic and not too set in how you want things to be, because life sometimes isn't like that and its best not to be disappointed about these things.

A compromise can be a really nice Midwife Led Unit, with dr led nearby or same building should it be required. Our MLU is lovely, birth pools, lovely rooms etc.

Anyway, hugs and luck to everyone xx

hi
same as jobi1, sorry from everyone's DH losing their job(especially at this time)... :(

i am gonna sound very ignorant, but is it still this bad that you need plastic over your floor? eehh we got laminate...easy to clean...no???
i might be a bit unexperienced(well actually i am !)
but can you have a home birth in your bath or thats not an option(instead of birthing pool that seem to much work for me to install,fill up, empty...).

welcome to all the newbies :o Where in NZ are you penguin? Love the place, have a best friend who lives there - been out to see her and do some travelling four times! Probably a wee while until will take LO out though. We've already said it's going to be great when her, mine and another good friend in Oz kid's want to do the travelling bit.

I am like you funkymonkey - my bump just seems huge, bit worried have another 3 months to go! It's all out front which is quite cummbersome.

Bump also must be pushing everything up as this week I've started to struggle a bit with belching and having to be careful about how much and what I eat.

Think you probably won't really be that bothered about plastic sheeting when the time comes - hit the charity shops and buy some duvet covers/sheets that you have plenty time to wash a few times and then fling out post birth. This time last year we got a double sleeping bag from a supermarket for next to nothing that we use for the dog.

hi walkthedogi got some old towels and sheets that i wanted to get rid of to make space in the baby's room(since it a bit of a storage room at the moment...)I just gonna keep that and then throw the lot away afterward(thats if everything goes well and i get a homebirth!i might beg the midwife for an epidural by then lol!)

Sorry to hear about the redundancies Crap timing.

Re mess and home birth - I think it is in my head! With DS I don't remember any mess in the delivery suite but I remember being quite surprised about the post birth bleeding (possibly because of the 2nd degree tear although I had 4 - yes 4!! complete strangers giving me a exam to see whether it was a 3rd degree tear - all were lovely EXCEPT the bloody consultant (male) who walked in, didn't even say hello and put hand up straight up my tender bits!)

I suppose I could keep the old throws that I have been meaning to chuck away for another few months - just in case!!

hi all, welcome new peeps and sorry to hear about redundancies, crap timing, hope they find something else v soon.
I am beginning to get the fear about finding suitable childcare - i'm planning on starting work again for 2 days a week around the 5/6 month mark and wondering how far in advance i need to be thinking about sorting it out - we will be in SE london where i hear competition for nursery places is intense. Does anyone have any feelings re nursery versus childminders? Which do you think is better for a baby and why?
xx

Thanks for all the redundancy wishes. DH is being very stoic about it. It has been a stressful time for him, so I am glad in a way that it is over, and he can move on. Not the easiest time to find work, but it has never been that straight forward for him - so he's used to it.

FunkMonkey1983 has your DH got another job yet? I hope so. Are you working?

splodge77 I went back to work when DS was 5 months. Just a couple of days a week in the beginning. He went to a childminder, and I really thought it was brilliant. Having the same carer I think is an advantage with little ones. Steve Biddulf (good author on kids) says childminder is best.

He had 6 months at age 2 at a nursery. It was a good place, but I found that there were too many kids of the same age and the 3 yr olds, about to move up to pre-school, pushed the 2yr olds around. So he went back to a childminder. He is very happy and she now drops him at the local state pre-school and picks him up.

Re childcare, its an emotive subject and very personal. Probably best to check out both and go with your gut instinct.

we were lucky enough with DS to have family help when I initially went back part time, and then he went to nursery just for half the week at age 2. He loves it and I think its been really good for him, he's come on a lot since being there, and as he gets a lot of one to one attention elsewhere I think the group situation is good for him. Our one has small rooms of up to 6 until age 3, so they tend to be all of a smilar age and not in too big a group. The nursery also has a preschool, where he will go in december when he's 3, and I'm glad because he already knows the place and the people and will be with kiddies he knows, so it works out well. I'll also be off then, so he'll go back to just 3 mornings, plus a day at grandmas. Hopefully it will work out well.

I think the competition for baby places in general isn't too bad because of longer mat leave, but probably best to start thinking about it soonish.

Hello everyone,

I hope you don't mind me crashing the thread - I think I did post very early on in pregnancy but had a couple of scares and decided to stay away from all baby related things until much further on. Now 26+5, and beginning to feel a little more confident.

Hope everyone is keeping well.
xx

sarrita Luckily DH has found another job but it's only part time at the moment. I'm working full time but I do worry about how we will cope when I go on maternity leave.

splodge DS went to a child minder 2 days a week from 6 months. She was fab and he loved going there (unfortunately she has recently stopped childminding). One of our main reasons for the CM route was cost - we only needed cover from 9am to 4pm whereas the local nursery charged from 8 to 6 whether you used it or not

Hi there,
Just found this thread too, I'm 24+5, pg1, 30 and a Kiwi living in the UK. Due 17th of Jan, one day before my own birthday! Sonographer 'thinks' its a girl, having another scan at 34 weeks so might get a confirmation then?

sploge I changed hospitals, having moved from west London to just outside the M25. It was relatively easy, just had to have what was essentially another booking appt and a new set of handheld notes made. I also wasn't that fussed on the care I got first time around, nothing wrong with it, its just more personal now, which is nice.

Nice to meet you all :)

hello bk postmodernglad you feel good about your pg now

to everyone that already had kids and experienced child care. i earned just over the minimum wage, so lets say i had to go to work for 6hours, i need to leave my child 8hours at nursery/childminder(with traveling to work), it cost me more to go to work than staying home(even with tax credit)plus my hours includes week end and working late??? anybody else in the same situation???

Hardly sounds worth it littlehuman. All respect to you. My career has been on a downward trajectory since I had my DS. Feel very low about it. Try to keep chipper as I do love my DS and am looking forward to baby II.

Hello postmodern.

littlehuman that sounds a crazy and tough situation workwise - prob worth having a few years out until littlegirl starts her nursery place?? Can you imagine not working or does that feel not right for you? I work 2 days a week (am a teacher so good holidays!) but am lucky that my mum lives close by and is happy to look after dd for me. Quite how this will work with 2 is not clear, although my dd will have started her half-day nursery place by then so not so bad. Sympathies with the decision making, is not an easy one!!

deedee i ll be quite happy not to work.
i've worked almost 7 days a week, every week since i am 17(as i never know how to say "no" to people to cover classes/shifts) , quite happy to get a break lol!
just want to make sure between dh's salary plus child benefit (or whatever you get for having a kid)its enought to survive until she goes to school! i gonna look into that soon and see what the best option is...

littlehuman Could you get a childminder closer to your work than home so you don't need to pay for commuting? Babies are quite portable . Only if you ACTUALLY want to of course..

littlehuman I'm pretty much in same situation, although I don't have a job at the mo. Even if I did find job in my profession, by the time I pay for travel/parking/child care, I will hardly have any money left, doesn't help that I have joint problems that limit me to about 4 hours a days work. There has been no suitable work come up, and the likelhood that any jobs that I could apply for will be minumum wage, which would be even worse. Mind you I really want to be a full time mum for the first while anyway.

childcare costs are ridiculous - if i go back to work after baby arrives, i'll be spending pretty much all my wages on childcare for dd and the new one, which seems pointless, but i hate feeling like i don't have my 'own' money.

hope everyone manages to find a solution that works for them.

xx

Just adding myself to the new list :)

25/12 - BunnyBaby, 34, pg3 (1DS), BABY
26/12 - Stenogirl, 36, pg1, BABY
27/12 - FunkyMonkey1983, 27, pg1, BABY
28/12 - tellnoone, pg3 (2dcs), GIRL
29/12 - Jobi1, 35, pg3 (1DS), BABY(due 010111)
31/12 - Littlehuman, 29, pg1, GIRL
31/12 - CLB1, 27, pg1, BOY
02/01 - newyearmummy, 34, pg1 BABY
05/01 - berrycravings, 25, pg1 BOY
07/01 - sarrita, 33, pg 2, BABY
07/01 - deedee321, 33, pg2, BOY
07/01 - walkthedog, 39, pg1, BABY
08/01 - mummychicken, 38, pg2 BABY
09/01 - Hannah1890,20, pg1, BOY
10/01 - Asianbabe, 34, pg2, BOY
11/01 - splodge77, 33, pg1 BABY
11/01 - Panta777, 37, pg1, BABY
11/01 - wondersnuffle, 30, pg2, BABY
12/01 - EmysBoo, 28, pg1, BOY
16/01 - Loudlass, 29, pg9 (4th dc), BOY
17/01 - mamasunshine, 27, pg3 GIRL
17/01 - travispickles, 32, pg1 GIRL
18/01 - careylouwho, 33, pg1 BABY
18/01 - gallicgirl, 35, pg1 GIRL
19/01 - PenguinNZ, 32, pg2 (1DS) BOY
20/01 - feelinghip, 33, pg1 BABY
22/01 - Superparty, 37, pg6 BOY
20/01 - MammaK, 31, pg2 BABY
23/01 - DancingCat, 39, pg1 BOY
25/01 - LadyBuzz 30, pg3 GIRL

Deciding what to do re work and childcare is so hard - I echo what postmodern says - there is no right answer you just have to do what works for your family. All my mum friends have made different choices and there has never been any suggestion we don't respect each others choices - if you are happy with your own situation I guess there is no reason to worry what others do! I am the only one who didn't go back to work at all but I have since met a couple of other full time SAHM's.

Sorry about the redundancies happening - that is bad timing.

Hope the various potty training going well! DS is still doing OK but trying to hold wees in too much when he is "too busy", and then not quite making the toilet in time!!

23+2 weeks now. Had my c-section booked on Friday for 24 Jan so I am very pleased that is sorted out. Its strange knowing when it will all happen though!

Hi everyone,

The childcare issue is tough, I'd really like to be part time, and was for 2 years after son was born but then work forced me to return full time. I hate it, thank god its not for much longer. When I go back after mat leave I'm hoping they will agree to at least a year of part time, by which point DS will be in school which will help with cost and time etc. I would prefer to stay part time though, may need to job hunt for that...

Got 7.5 weeks until I finish work, roll on, and first midwife appointment for 3 months tomorrow, can't wait! C section is booked for 29th December, only 3 days before due date. I am really scared something will happen before then! But its kind of tough really as there is no list from the 24th to 29th, and the 23rd is booked and 22nd too early. Nightmare.

Been feeling really tired and achey and emotional this week. Am 27 + 4, so I guess this is the third trimester! Weight gain is + 14lbs, which I guess is ok ish, kind of average. On the the plus side its a lot better than last time.

Not much else to report, except killer heartburn/acid. Yuck.

Hope everyone ok x

Hello everyone!

I am 27 weeks today - due 4th Jan - I have joined this thread as Im really struggling with hips/back and have had lovely support from others on here, and Ive just moved to a new area and dont know any other pregnant people!

This is my first pregnancy and Im planning a water birth - any input would be greatly received!

Hope everyone is doing ok! x

Welcome luckykitty. Have you read any advice re hips/back yet? A few of us on here have had some problems. Mine is more pelvis pain. Has got much better by using a serola belt when walking the dog, limiting how long I am on feet for at one time, using 2 extra duvets folded under bed sheet. Put this link on a few times, but info is good : www.acpwh.org.uk/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53:leaflets&catid=1:leaflets&Itemid=12

jobi1 I am now getting heartburn, have had a little, but last week or so has increased in the evening mainly. Found last night that eating a small amount of pasta, with carrots, sweetcorn and a tiny bit of salad cream caused me no problems - very boring but so nice not to have that hideous feeling.

Washing some 2nd hand baby clothes today, they are so cute! They are either unisex or more boyish, so perhaps it will be a good thing if we do have the boy my OH is now convinced we are having!

Thanks walkthedog, I have been ranting/crying about it here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1045080-Pelvic-Girdle-Pain Im now waiting to see another physio and a rheumatologist as i have crap joints in general. Oh the joy
I have done lots of reading about various different things that can cause problems, have been in touch with the Pelvic Partnership people too who were really helpful, Im really disheartened as ive been trying to get some help for the last 10 weeks and have seen 9 different people now and its just getting worse and now my pelvis clunks and makes icky noises too.

Thanks for the link