August 2011 - 2nd trimester blooming - not us!

[KTisPG]

New thread for us August 11 ladies

OMG Nhan glad everything OK. So scary when you see the dreaded blood. Not a nice feeling at all. I had a week of brown at 8 weeks, then a red spot a few weeks ago, but all fine.
Glad you got to have a scan and everything OK :)

I expressed at 2 weeks as I went to the gym so dp looked after dd for a few hours a week.

Congrats on the scans everyone, yukana little girls are lovely! Dd is only 20 months and is already loving dressing up as me!

I'm getting really excited about my scan tomorrow! I think were going to find out the flavour! Bump is kicking me loads at the moment, very reassuring!

Is anyone else going to attempt to potty train their dc 1 this spring? Were going to try in may, fingers crossed!

My dd is beginning to understand babies, every time we mention it she lifts up her top and points to her tummy saying baby!

Klou i was expressing for a week before baby latched, and bottle feeding him due to special care. He also had a dummy before he BF. He was then combination fed expressed bottle & BF and there was no confusion. I think there is a degree of party line and also what works for your baby best. :)

Sorry you had a scare Nhan.

20 week scan today - all fine. Team yellow :)

yeah mrs vidic i am doing potty training with my oldest at the moment, well started a few weeks back but just need to persist with it as i end up just keeping him back in nappies due to we are always going out the house and busy, but going to have to get on with it a bit more properly asap really. he is older than yours though i have left it fairly late, he is 3 in june.

Lol team yellow Nick, glad scan went OK :)

We're all nearly (or over) halfway woohoo!!

Thank you for the tip-off about tommee tippee bottles being on offer in Tesco!

Last time I followed the advice of giving a bottle a day from 3 weeks old and it worked really well for us. DS never refused a bottle, and never refused boob, he was totally used to both, and it meant I could have the occasional evening out, and it was especially useful when my milk supply was low at the end of the day - that was the feed that was ff in a bottle - then my milk had a chance to replenish for the night. I know this isn't a popular opinion, but knowing that my baby would take a bottle probably made me able to keep up bf for longer because bf still felt like something I was choosing to do, rather than having to do because I had no other option. With DC1 I expressed her bottles, but I didn't have the time, energy or milk to do that with DC2 so he had ff. But we did do a bottle every day to make sure they didn't forget how to take it.
I'm hoping for another active birth with just G&A but we'll see...epidural is tempting, but if moving around means the whole thing is over quicker then I'd rather choose that!
Baby has started kicking rather than just those butterfly feelings, seems so much more real now! Less than 2 weeks til our next scan :) I have to take a wee sample as we see the midwife after the scan, like a routine appointment.

Fwiw re birth plans - mine was thrown out the window with DD, had G&A (useless which surprised me), then peth (made me sleep and dragged things out), then epi (which I thought is a one off injection but isn't as you top it up or not as you want) but all ok in the end and no ventouse, etc.
Every birth is different and seriously I would just keep an open mind and hope for a little intervention as possible but be willing to adapt at the time - make it as 'easy' as possible for you, a stressed mummy isn't what baby needs.

Had my 20 week scan on friday. All went well, I just tok DD as DP couldn't come. Was hoping to video it but we weren't allowed. All fine, but decided not to find out sex. Head and abdominal widths were above average and femur length below (so stocky legs lol).
Baby is very active now, doesn't seem to sleep much at all.
Broke down twice today, had to call assistance twice and took me 6 hours to get home (they wouldn't tow me first time because they said car was starting fine (until I broke down again 10 miles later!) so off to bed now!

Good luck with the scan MrsV. And nice to hear everyone else's. All this talk of birth and feeding makes it all seem scarily real. Anyone else - first timers I guess more likely - still in denial half the time? Am being kicked at present so I suppose I've got to acknowledge it's real....

KLou I'm at your MW. Of course how we all chose to feed is entirely a personal decision, but the World Health Organization guidelines specifically state that MWs should not be recommending bottlefeeding JIC. Also there is no independent evidence whatsoever that Aptimil is closer to breastmilk, in fact they have been in trouble with the advertising standards agency over this claim because it cannot be substantiated.

I mix fed my first and exclusively bf my second and I did have loads of problems with my first which made me really passionate about this topic. Not because I mind how anyone choses to feed, but because there is so much misinformation out there. All the information about the benefits of each particular formula come from the companies who manufacture them who will not allow independent verification or testing of their claims.

Sorry to rant but it makes me really and that MWs who should know better repeat the advertising claims as fact

Fwiw I found that cow&gate gave my DD more 'breastmilk-like' poos whereas aptimil bunged her up!
I was so at our ante-natal classes with our first DC, they were going so OTT with not promoting bf or ff over the other that they actually gave us no information what so ever and I was completely under-informed and had a nightmare feeding DD. I did loads of research before having DS and got a bf counsellor round on day 3 'just in case' and we got on great (and as I said he had one bottle a day from 3 weeks, but I was strong and didn't do one 'just in case' before that)
I found this website by Dr Jack Newman a lifesaver, especially the videos.

I really want to BF, so am not planning to use formula anyway. I guess they are just trying to prepare me to cover all areas so there is no stress after baby is here with having to run around buying bottles etc. Which personally, I think is pretty responsible of them. After all, there'll be more to deal with then going shopping lol!

I haven't bought any formula, and the MW's here (I've seen 2 so far) do strongly recommend BF, but I suppose they have to make sure you are prepared JIC the baby rejects the breast, or I get ill etc.

I've got a friend who is due 5 days after me and she is strongly AGAINST BF as she doesn't want her tits to sag The word vain sprung to mind when she said it lol (I do not have a problem with anyone doing what they want to do, it's their choice, but she and her DH are VERY vain lol!)

Got scan this aft, sooooo excited.

Glad your scan went well Selina

Our monitor turned up today. Been testing it, and had DH running all over the house to see if he could hear me on both the handsets. It kept going off at first as obviously no baby on the mat (Angel care sound and movement one), so that obviously works!!! Had to turn it off and couldn't read the instructions quick enough. It's great though, and really recommend it so far. Really pleased I got the 2 monitors too, will work so much better for us than having to carry the one around the house. :)

Nhan sounds scary. Glad all ok.
Congrats selina, nikster, yukana on scans and good luck to those coming up.
Klou the feeding can be a bit of a minefield. If you do want to breastfeed and sometimes use the bottle, I would agree with trying bottle at around three weeks but keeping it up once a week. With my DD I tried at three weeks and thought 'great she will take a bottle' then left it til six weeks and the minx wasn't having any of it despite my hours of expressing milk. Drove me mad, thought I would never get to go out and leave her. With my boys I made sure they would take a bottle from early on, and I ended up breastfeeding much longer safe in the knowledge I could get someone else to feed them if need be. Mind you by child three my social life had taken such a nose dive anyway I hardly had the need to leave him.

Klou you'll have to tell your vain friend that it's pregnancy that causes 'saggy tits' not breastfeeding! Common misconception though.

I also had a hard time establishing bf with DS1 but I think a lot of that was down to his traumatic birth. We spent the first week in hospital and he was just too sleepy to feed so I was hooked up to an electric double breastpump (nice....), gave him what I expressed then gave him formula top ups using a bottle to get the fluids through him, under the paediatricians orders. By day 5 he suddenly woke up, started breastfeeding brilliantly and didn't have any more formula until 4 months when I introduced one bottle a day!

All that expressing in the early days gave me a huge oversupply of milk and I leaked copiously for months, on the plus side I collected lots of the milk that leaked out and froze it so I had a handy supply when I left DS1 with someone. As he had taken a bottle so early he was never bothered where his milk came from and there was no 'nipple-teat confusion' which I had been so worried about.

DS2 on the other hand was born by ELCS and breastfed beautifully from day 1. No problems and it was a breeze compared to the first time. I expressed and gave him a bit of milk from a bottle at around 3 or 4 weeks, just to check he would, and he did. He hardly ever got left with anyone else at feed times as I hate the way I get engorged and my supply gets messed up when I miss a feed, expressing just doesn't empty the boob so well. Anyway, when he got to about 5 months I suddenly found that he wouldn't take a bottle, aaargh!!!! We had a day out planned when he would be about 7 months , just me and DP, with tickets, couldn't take children, was getting quite worried..... Tried all sorts of different bottles and cups, expressed milk, different formulae, nothing worked. Kept trying once a day for about a month until finally he accepted one, phew! Oddly enough he wouldn't touch SMA, which is what I had occasionally given to DS1 and would only have Cow and Gate, I hadn't even though they might taste different.

Whilst exclusively breastfeeding this next baby I will definitely being making more effort to get him or her used to the occasional bottle, it is so important to me to be able to leave them and know they will take a feed after the stress of DS2's refusal! That said, I love breastfeeding so I'm looking forward to it again, this is likely to be our last baby so I shall make the most of it.

Glad to hear about all the lovely scans, ours is next Thursday (31st). We will be on Team Yellow too

klou good luck for scan this aft, and anyone else who is today
carrie i found cow and gate better for having more normal poo too, aptamil didnt seem to agree with my ds, so i always just stick with cow and gate if i have to go to formula
my scan is tomorrow morning, cant wait

Ooo exciting about scans, mine is 3 weeks today

Is anyone having trouble with sleeping on their side? I was ok with DS, but this time, I just keep waking up on my back. I have a wedge pillow and I've been putting a pillow between my knees, but neither are proving very effective.

I told her that littlemisslozza but she didn't believe me. She'll have to find out that hard way lol! TBH she didn't do a lot a research into the whole pregnancy thing, and I have had to correct her on a few things and tell her to look it up on the net.

MrsChemist I too keep waking up on my back, but my belly has a strange feeling, like baby moving into an awkward position and doesn't like it, so I have to move onto my side. Will start using my Dreamgenii now every night I think, as that is really good for keeping you on your side (as long as you don't use it how it is meant to be used lol!)

Everything went well here on the scan, although baby wasn't playing nice!!! Would either wriggle around so sonographer couldn't take measurements, or would bury it's head low down and not move!
I had to go and walk up and down the stairs a few times to get him/her to move position lol. Been feeling 'her' wriggling like a good-un all morning and since scan.
Everything measured up OK, and give or take 2 or 3 days, my measurements are all OK.
Weird looking at baby face on!! Had hand in the way so couldn't see all the face, but saw nose, lips and eyes at different points and all OK there.

Didn't get any great pictures, the ones we got are of baby face down and not too clear which is a shame.

Didn't find out the flavour, and I couldn't see a willy lol, but sonographer said 'he' on one occasion but that may have just been as she didn't want to say 'it'.
When she took measurements from underneath, it looked like there was a pair of balls, but it easliy could have been 'lips' lol! So none the wiser. :)

Have just got back from scan. Were having a girl, which was a surprise as I was sure I was carrying a boy. Also been told I'm a strep b carrier from earlier water infection so will have to rush to hospital when labour starts ( as I'm prone to quick labours) so I can get iv anti biotics.

I feel like crying, I should be greatful but I just feel gutted about the whole day. I know I'm being ridiculous but I am disappointed it's another girl. Also I now have the strep b combined with quick labour fears.

I wish I'd stayed at home, which names me feel like shit as I should be happy baby is healthy. I can't stop crying and I don't want my baby to feel unwanted

Oh MrsV so sorry you feel like that :( How many DC do you have already? Will this be your last PG, or are you planning more?
I am (secretly) hoping for a girl, but I won't be disappointed if we have a boy, he will be just as loved. I just suppose we all get our hopes up for what we would like. I am sure I saw a boy on the scan as have been looking at scan pictures on the net since we've been home!
I'm sure your baby won't be unwanted and she will will be the most precious little thing :)

im so behind on this thread im very sorry! MrsV give yourself time and dont beat yourself up about how you feel im sure its very natural, i have dd5 and ds2 and they fight all them time, dd hates that he is a boy i dont know what she will do if i have another boy, and everyone i know says that having two girls is lovely with how close they become, but everyone says things like that but it wont change how your feel, im sure you will get used to it and everything will be fine x

My eyes went really weird this morning driving to school i had to pull over, i thought i was going to have to ring someone to come and get me and the kids, it was like both eyes got stuck looking to the side, and they were spasming, it lasted around 20sec stopped and then did it again, i do get migraines with disturbed vision but this was totally different and very scary, anyone had anything like this?

dp got me a doppler so couldnt stop using it last night! was lovely, my scan is next Friday but not going to find out the sex, will wait for a surprise but i think its a girl!!!

I like the name Willow for a girl.

Willow is lovely never, someone I used to work with about 10 years ago was going to name her baby girl Willow. It started off as a joke as she wanted something flowery (ie Daisy, Rose, Lily etc) and one of the blokes in the office said, call her Willow (taking the piss) and all us girls in the office loved it!!
Not sure if she did, as I left, but it's a lovely name :)

Hi all,
Just an update, we had scan yesterday and it looks like we are having a girl! After 2 boys and knowing this is our last, i am so excited! I've bought pink already! I was hoping for a girl, but had kind of kept quiet as a healthy baby is the main thing but i did really want to experience both, selfish i know. I lost my mum to cancer 4 years ago and was hoping to have the mother/daughter bond, albeit from the other side of the coin. I am having a private gender scan a week on sat as i want definate confirmation as i have 2 suitcases of boys clothes to sell/hand-on and don't want to do all of that and out pop boy number 3...
mrsvidic i totally understand your feelings don't be hard on yourself, when i found out my second was a boy i was a bit gutted, but now he is here i couldn't imagine my life without him. Bad luck on the strep B thing, sounds a worry.
littlemisslozza sounds like we have had similar birthing experiences, i had a 3rd degree tear with my first boy and an elective C with my second. I'm booked in for another ELCS on the 3rd August, will you be going down that route again?

As for BF and formula, i think it all depends on how you feel and your personal experience. My first son had a traumatic birth and was slow to feed, took about 3 weeks and alot of pain to get him settled into it. Second son, with the C section latched on within the hour, it was wonderful. saying that I can only manage 6 months, i find it wipes me out and by the 6 month mark i want my body back! So its all personal.

Anyway thats it for me, i will update again after my second scan on the 2nd April x x

oooh, just seen the topic of names is up, I am set on Iris for a girl, i just love it, what does everyone think?

For some reason I can't separate Iris from the biological concept of an iris so have mixed feelings about it, but that's just me. Love Willow though neverlookback.