July 2011 babies - second trimester here we come!

[MadAboutTheBoys]

I was just about to post to say sorry for starting the July thread and then disappearing, then saw that it was all full up! So I thought I would start us a new one.

Hello to all the many many ladies that have joined the July club - it's lovely to see so many of us here. I've been trying to read back through all the old posts, but there are so many, that's partly why it's taken me so long to get back! Have also been having some personal troubles, but that's another story.

Anyway, I'm 12 weeks today and slightly looking forward to my scan on Christmas Eve, but also nervous in case it's not good news. I'm looking forward to catching up with you all again and hearing how you and your bumps are going.

we've had alot of negative comments about having of fourth.

obviously the only reasons im pg is a) it was a 'mistake' and b) my overwhelming unquashable desire for a girl of course

why on earth would we plan and desire a little baby?!

Nicola, that is exactly why I haven't wanted the news to get out yet. I know it'll be even worse this time than with DC4 . Trouble is, as you all know I wasn't exactly overwhelmed at being PG again and so it will feed into that as well.
I want to feel happy and proud to be PG again, and I'm there, in private, but when I start getting the comments in public I hope I can let it wash over me.

I can understand people saying "what were you thinking" or whatever to us. We weren't going to have anymore because of what it does to me, everyone knows that I'm at risk being pregnant and is concerned, especially Mum who had to pull me off the toilet then dropped me on the floor after our angelbaby was born because I had a TIA. Actually my parents have caught me a few times when I've had TIAs but I think the juxtaposition of that has stuck in her mind.

Twit congratulations x infinity! Even though it was definitely planned we then decided we wouldn't cos of DH's job situation but it was already too late! So when the test came up +ve there were quite a lot of mixed emotions here too. But now I'm definitely happy, out and proud (if you like)!

Confuddled my mum was happy although also concerned. I have nothing like your health ishoos with pg but I did have terrible SPD and back pain last time resulting in crutches, sleeping tablets and morphine. So I guess her worries are understandable. Your mum's concerns must be much worse. Perhaps once it's all over and a safe gorgeous baby is in her arms she'll allow herself a little happiness?

So who has felt baby move? I'm getting cross because I haven't yet! With dd1 it was 18wks, dd2 about the same, ds was approaching 15 wks. So there I am, lying in bed this morning very still trying to feel something when I did! Yay! Just a little fluttery ripple. How exciting! Then I farted and it went away...

^^

lol button! i've been feeling small movements for just over a week now which is really reassuring

hey everyone, good to catch up on your news. I have to confess that (a) I haven't even told my mum that I'm pg yet and (b) I haven't felt any movements yet either, although my bump is definitely growing.

I think that having an unplanned fourth child definitely makes it harder to tell people, especially with 3 boys already. It's actually easier to tell strangers as I can laugh off whatever they say, but I know my mum will be really upset that we're having another child but half way round the world from her, plus she'll be worried for me and how I'll cope - and I'm worried too, but I don't want her to see that.

I am really desperate to have a scan now to just check that everything is going well. I have to go to the GP to be referred for a scan, I can't just book it myself. I was trying to find a home-birth supportive GP in the area we've moved to, but the one GP someone recommended is away on holiday until the end of the month and that's just leaving it too long. So I've booked with a GP who has a very rude receptionist (she couldn't spell my name and when I hesitated in answering her she said "It's your name, isn't it?" before putting me on hold) but at least I got an appointment on Friday. Luckily here in Australia you can have as many GPs as you like so I don't have to stick with this one if she's as rude as her receptionist is.

I also hope dp will come to the scan as it makes it all more 'real' for him. He's told his boss that I am pregnant but most of the time at home I think he forgets. He's certainly not thinking about the practicalities come July, which are at the forefront of my mind.

Ds2 however, has been a star. He's clearly thinking a lot about this new baby. He's said that he will tell my mum for me if I like - so that she doesn't get upset with me directly!! And he's said that after the baby comes he will give ds3 lots of attention e.g. if I'm feeding or cuddling the baby he will cuddle ds3 so that ds3 doesn't feel left out. I've been so impressed by how he seems to have grown up (in that respect, at least).

Ds3 is still breastfeeding but it's starting to hurt when he latches on and in truth I'm hoping he will tail off as ds2 did at around this point. I'm not going to forcibly wean him, though, so we shall see how it goes.

By the way MrIckle I had leaky boobs in pregnancy with ds1 but not in any subsequent pregnancies. I do wonder, if they are leaking already, whether it would be worth you investing in some washable breast pads for after the baby is born? I had a huge oversupply problem with ds1 and spent masses of money on the disposable ones before I even learned that you could buy washable ones.

Also something else that took me ages to learn was that if you put pressure on your nipples it should stop them dribbling. i.e. folded arms are not just good for hiding the leaky patches but may stop them continuing to form! It's supposed to be the principle behind the Lilypads (silicone breastpads) but sadly they didn't work well enough for me.

And fab123 I am sorry to hear about your unsupportive ex-partner. Some men just seem better at running away than growing up when circumstances require it. I hope you manage to build up a good group of supportive people you can really depend on come July.

I've been catching up on all the news, sounds like everybody's got something or other making them uncomfortable, which I am finding very reassuring

Button I "think" I've felt the baby move (I'm 16+4), but then I have had ripply feelings for at least 3 weeks, which I thought a bit unlikely for a first! The bloatedness does make it a bit confusing but surely I can't possibly be feeling farty THAT much.

sues you must have a very touchable looking bump for it to have started already! I hope it doesn't happen to me, but one can never be sure in my crazy office.

I now have a new 20 week scan date and it is only 5 days after the original, so not too bad. ALthough I'm still annoyed. I feel like I've been counting down forever to it.

Bump is wriggling a lot today. I'm now 18 weeks though, so to be expected. DS1 is desperate to feel it. He will have to wait though as it is too small to be felt on the outside yet. :)

Sues I haven't had anyone touching my bump yet, and didn't have too many with the previous two. I don't mind some people doing it, such as close family. It really depends on your relationship with people and if they are nice and ask first. Would hate it from colleagues etc. though.

Back atcha button !
That's a relief then eglu are you going to find out what you're brewing? I actually felt LO from the outside yesterday, but only a tiny bit.
I hope you're doing ok fab
I think I'll wait until the summer sales to get a pushchair, hopefully by then we'll have a bit put by, so I'll definately be putting the sling 'recipe' confuddled gave me - I don't suppose you have a website you use for fabric have you?

Well I have been very crafty over the weekend, I have made my first ever nappy (so cute), started knitting a teddy bear for LO, made a tunic and a skirt for DD (she is off with The Bug) out of old stuff. And they are actually wearable in public!

Hi all - we're getting towards the 1/2 way mark now and I must admit it doesn't seem all that far away considering how quickly the last few months have gone. I think it helps when you already have a dc as you don't get much time to think about being pregnant!!

Still not received call or letter about the bloods so i'm hoping that no news is good news! Scan date has come through and its for 22nd Feb - this is gr8 as its half term and so hubby won't need to book any time off and ds can come too.

I can't believe how much i'm showing now - my tummy is quite big and i'm defo in dresses and maternity clothes now.

Hi all, been trying to catch up but things are mental at work again so no free time for the important things like MNing! I suddenly got my bump between 15 and 16 weeks and now look properly pregnant, which is great :) Have packed all my thin clothes away into suitcases and if I continue to grow at this rate I will soon have to put away the ones that look fine with a little bump! Also think I've been feeling movements, especially since Saturday, am 17+6 today so timing could be right? How do you know for sure that it's the baby moving though?!??

Twit, I'll message you the answer because I don't want to give all my secrets away, I've got my slings on my website

I've lost a couple of posts so I'm not sure if I've done this before or not, what do people think about a buddy list? Basically we pair up and swap details so that if anything happens (we get kept in for something or more likely when the baby comes) we can contact that person and they can pass the message to the group. The other suggestion is making a Facebook group, it gives a lot more flexibility in discussing things and we can follow threads better.

Well, at 18 weeks I'm into the second half of my pregnancy and almost as far gone as I was when my angelbaby was born. I have this amazing vivid picture of what the baby is looking like now.

love both those ideas confuddled, sounds good to me!

i can't believe we are so nearly at the halfway point too, its very exciting. We have holiday to pay for then the baby shopping shall commence!

Twit We are finding out the sex this time. Haven't in the past so we are really excited, which is why I was annoyed about the date changing. And well done on your craftiness.

I am also excited about getting to that halfway point. I realise that I said I was 18 weeks earlier, but I'm actually 19 weeks today.

Liking yout ideas confuddled.

Hello all, exciting to hear about the flutterings! Me too! It comes and goes and seems to be if I'm sitting up.
I had a good long chat on the phone to a friend who is due in April and all we did was have a right moan!
MY backache is getting worse although I am starting to pin point the cause- pushing the buggy especially up hill. I walk my dogs every day so am doing a flat walk on wide paths instead. Still aches but not so bad. I went to try and buy a support belt today but nowhere seems to sell them so going to order one online in a minute, and some bras too.
Anyone else suffering with their back?
Oh and headaches too. Real head splitters. It's been a a bit weird as I just don't get headaches in non pregnant life.

Sues I hate bump touching too. Nobody has attempted it yet, except my son who kisses the baby, but that's ok of course!

Eek, its been so long since I posted here this thread has fallen off my 'threads I'm on'.

I haven't read anything but thats kind of why I've not posted for a while as it just seemed such a daunting prospect to try and catch up that I've been putting off coming back to thread till I have the time and I never do!! Will try and keep up from here on in!

Have my scan tomorrow. Am feeling slightly anxious as in my last pg they noticed ds2 had a cyst on his brain, was all fine in the end but I am now much more aware than I ever was before that this is an anomaly scan and they are looking for problems so this could be where I find out. I always knew that before obviously but in a different way iyswim. But we do plan on finding out the sex and I am very excited about that!! DP is also getting excited which is good as he wasn't overly excited about the whole pg thing to start with so really pleased he's coming round now. And he even said it would be quite nice to have a girl which I wouldn't have expected either. Not that he doesn't adore dd but he just finds boys easier to relate to I think. And dd is now 10 and full of pre-teen attitude and thinking she knows it all which is enough to put anyone off TBH!

Aw HighFibre your DS2 sounds adorable!! How old is he?

I was really sad to hear that Fab, but so glad you have good support around you at the moment. I'm sure he will very much regret his actions sometime down the line.

Are many of you finding out what sex your babies are? DH wants to know, but I want the surprise and would only really want to know for practical reasons.

Good idea confuddled, we did that last time (passed mobile no's and email) and it worked very well.

Glad that you have found an osteopath Spanner, hopefully you can see them soon and for no money! I had mine this morning so its def not the same as last time, though she didn't mention what it could be. She did some sort of 'tweaking' an rubbing down my hip and I've to go back on Monday for more. It kindof feels like I've got a wedge between my thighs and I'm knock-kneed and toes pointed in (not normal for me btw!) - is that familiar to any of you?

Oh a wee question to the 'already mums' - any suggestions on how to get my DD to take milk from anything other than a bottle? We stopped them last week, but she just spits out milk from anything else. She has drank from a cup since starting solids, but won't entertain it if it contains milk. She was on 4x8oz bottles a day so it's not as if she doesn't like it - I'm stumped.

Good luck tomorrow Pesha! You are so right about the scan too - I think its easy to forget that they are actually doing it for a reason, not just so we can see our little ones again!
Agree about the pushchair Cara, mine certainly feels worse when I'm doing that - I get daunted about even a small incline.

How old is she Fraochsmum? My friend's ds was bf but would never drink milk from a bottle or otherwise and lost interest in bfing around 7 months ish I think before giving up bfing sometime before a year old. Shes just tried to make sure he gets a lot of dairy in his food with sauces, cheese, yogurts etc.

I've always been really bad at getting mine off bottles and ds2 was 3 before I managed to get him to give his up It was only a bedtime one for the last year or so of that! He now has 'big bot bots' which are juice cups with a soft silicone straw or spout with milk in at bedtime, although only 2 or 3 nights a week. He is 4 soon so I am really trying to stop them. Before that breakthrough earlier this year he had never drunk milk from anything other than a bottle or a breast!

Thats not a lot of help really is it?!

Hi everyone! It's very exciting to hear about all the baby movements :) I think I've been feeling them a bit over the past few days, though only in the evenings. I'm 17+5 now so about the right time. It's either baby, or my dinner! But I think it's the baby because I've been feeling consistent flutters for a few days, without any of the usual stomach gurgling that I'd expect if it was just dinner

Am definitely in maternity clothes too, I haven't told many people at work and I think they will start being suspicious soon.

Have had one person feel my tummy so far (my BIL). I know people complain a lot, but I didn't really mind. Strange as I'm not normally touchy-feely with other people.

Fab sorry to hear about your situation :( But you sound strong and like you have everything under control.

Cara, how old is the DC in the pushchair (sorry I know I've probably missed it)? You might, age dependent, find swapping to a wrap helps. Last pregnancy I had to kick my eldest out of the wrap and made her walk because she was too fidgety and it was before I had crutches. We used to bus/ taxi it everywhere. I'm finding it easier to wrap the youngest but she's not such a fidget. I find it makes a good back support too, like having a splint.

Thanks Pesha for the reply - she is 13 months and weaned herself off the breast at 6 1/2 months. I expressed from an early age so she would be used to a bottle, then she picked up and drunk from a cup the first time I put it in front of her, but she just refuses to take the milk! I have done the same as your friend so far.

I had my first flutters last night! I'm 17+3 now squirrel and they were v v faint, but definitely baby movements.

Kiki I have a hypnobirthing cd from first time round if you want it? (Elizabeth Mongan I think)

Thanks for your thoughts guys. He's in Spain with work at the moment and I've asked a friend to be intermediary for a while until I get my head straight. He was trying to make all the excuses in the world and then started to re-write history to blame me... I don't think I can deal with that level of immaturity right now.

Emotional phase has certainly hit! It's not sending out "depressed" hormones to the baby or anything is it? I am a bit worried and trying to keep cheerful and sing along to Spotify playlists etc etc to keep Pea blissfully unaware. I know that if mother is stressed later on baby can feel it but has that started already?

Just listened to Chuck Berry 'Roll Over Beethoven' and she seemed to approve judging by the flutters!

Confuddled - I'd be happy with something on FB if everyone else is? Either way, it's a lovely idea.