Frisky and Glowing in The Second Trimester on The February Baby Bus!

[BillComptonstrousers]

Well, are we?

Has the sickness abated?
Are our locks shiny and luscious?
Are our nails long and strong?
Are we back on form in the 'ahem' bedroom?

No? Well we soon will be ladies it's The second Trimester*

*billcomptonstrousers accepts no responsibility if this does not happen to you.

Old thread here

wicket hopes the cyclizine works for you, was a miracle drug for me, helped so much!

Hi, I thought I'd introduce myself as I've been lurking for weeks. I'm 30, and this is my first baby. I have a slightly unusual backstory to my first pregnancy.

I work/live in London although I'm not originally from the UK and I've lived in three continents in the last decade! I actually have a LOT of British friends but only ONE has a baby. I can navigate the NHS easily but the whole process of giving birth and antenatal care seems really confusing. So please read and answer my questions at the end. Thanks!

I was away on a work related research trip (to my home country; I'm a lecturer and in the summer we typically spend 6-8 weeks on fieldwork for our research) when I discovered I was 6w pregnant. I haven't been ill at all, no MS of any sort but apparently this runs in our family- my sister, mother, aunt, even grandmothers never had any nausea let alone vomitting, so can't complain at all.

Had two scans (10 weeks and 12 weeks) and all my blood tests while abroad- there is no free health service in my country but I paid for things and the care was excellent. I also got to see a consultant obs/gynae on a weekly basis. In some way I was glad I wasn't back home in London as I know that there is no scan here before 12 weeks whereas I got two scans plus loads of tests etc.

I got back at 12+3, immediately went to see my GP to find a midwife. GP was impressed with the antenatal care I'd had so far and said that most of the blood tests I've had I would not have been offered in the UK. BUT it turns out I'm too 'late' for my first two hospitals of choice and they are all booked up. I've been referred to Chelsea and Westminster instead and I'm waiting to hear from a midwife.

I'm 16w as of today, yet to see ANY midwife in the UK (I'm not complaining though as I had excellent antenatal care for the first 12w). Can someone, more familiar with the NHS than I am, please guide me through a little bit of what I can expect from here onwards? Specifically:
a) do I go to the hospital for antenatal care or will the midwife come home?
b) what tests/scans can I expect? I know there is an anomaly scan at 20w, what next?
c) I read somewhere (possibly MN) that I need to see the GP for urine chests and checking BP. Do I just book myself in for this at the local surgery- what do I say- 'I'm x weeks pregnant and want a urine/BP check up?'
d) I've signed up for the NCT classes and other stuff. Is there anything else I need to be on the ball about?
e) I've read somewhere (again possibly MN) that I might be entitled to free dental care during this time. How do I obtain this?

I've been doing tons of online research and lurking away on MN but I thought I'd ask these questions to more experienced mothers rather than googling away on my own. Thanks a ton for reading this far and I do hope someone can answer my questions!

Cyclizine was fab for me & I still have a supply just incase!

Also, I realise I should have said a huge congratulations to everyone else on this thread (before embarking on my self centred and very long story!). And I hope that ppl who have been feeling sick are doing much better. Also massive respect to all those who have one or more toddlers. I'm often so tired I can barely get myself to work and back (despite an enormously supportive DH whose excitement is quite touching)- I'm in awe of some of the women on this website!

Hi Potol and welcome I am really sorry I can't help you with your questions, I live in Ireland so I've no experience of the NHS but wanted to say welcome anyway, glad that you don't have MS!

Hi Potol

COngratulations! To try to answer your questions - and i should say first that antenatal care varies even within the NHS, but from others on here, my answers should be vaguely generalised and hopefully won't differ too much from place to place. As you're in London, which seems to have a more pressurised NHS, that could also affect things.

1. You will be unlikley to get home visits. You will probably see a midwife either at the GP surgery or the hospital. If you are a low risk pregnancy (no no complications or other medical history) you won't have to go to the hospital except when you have a scan. You may not see the same midwife each appointment wherever they are. When you have your first midwife (MW) apointment she/he will tell you where the net appointments will be.

2. Yes, anomaly scan at 20 weeks. Someone else will have to tell you when the other scans are as I am high risk and have loads of scans. You should see MW at 16, 20, 25, 28, 32, 35, 38, 40 weeks (i think this is right), but again, your MW will tell you this when you first meet her and tell you whether you need to make the appointments or whether they will be automatic.

3. Your MW will tell you about BP and urine tests. my MW does mine, GPs aren't involved in antenatal care, so i'd wait to hear from her (again!)

4)NCT classes are fab and will tell you everything you need to know. Your MW will also give you an NHS pregnancy book which is a great resource. Being on mumsnet will answere all your other questions!! No question is too silly.

5. Your MW will give you a maternity exemption form to fill in and send off. This will give you free dental care and prescriptions through pregnancy and the first year of baby's life.

Basically, the answers to most of your questions will come when you see your midwife!

Other people, please correct me, esp if you are at C&W hospital too!!

Oh, and potol, i often wondered how anyone managed to be pregnant with a toddler, and now that I am, basically, you don't have any choice but to cope with it!! I wasn't any less tired with this pregnancy, but we just had to keep going!!

On food aversions, I was retching at dinner at the courgettes, even when DD took a bite! I'm barely eating any dinner these days, breakfast and lunch normal, but not much tea! Why is this??!!

Welcome Potol

woowa I've found that I eat more at breakfast than I used to, normal lunch and then not much at all in the evening, only really feel like picking at bits of food and if I start eating I feel full really quick, not sure why though

woowa I'm the same I'm hungry in the morning and will have a lunch but come 6pm I feel sick and can only really pick, I can't remember the last time I had an evening 'meal'

13+4

Good morning everyone and thanks woowa for the detailed reply. And of course, while I haven't been sick, I briefly held up South West Trains at rush hour by semi-fainting in the heat...oops.

Oh also, I then decided to take a cab home (post dizziness) rather than a bus. Cab driver was HORRID. Got off outside my front door with driver mouthing away at me (I hadn't figured out how his door mechanism locked...erm, ok then), walked thru the door, pointed at the departing cab and said, 'he was mean to me' and burst into a flood of tears. Oh, the look on DH's face was priceless. Hormones hormones hormones.

Morning. And welcome Potol! I hope all your questions were answered.

I made a BIG mistake last night! Like woowa pam and louby I've been starving at breakfast, normal at lunch and no appetite in the evening, only last night DH suggested a curry, and being the pig that I am, I ate way too much. Not only did I make myself really uncomfortable, I was horribly, horribly sick - much more than I ever was with normal ms, and I've pulled a lot of muscles. I also have a sore diaphragm. And I hardly slept. Poor me

15+4

Good morning everyone!

Hope everyone is having a better day than I am in durham, I was dreaming all my stuff was in a flood and my bed and all my favourite books were floating down the river, only to wake up and and realise it was chicking it down outside and it has not stopped all morning, where has the summer gone???

I've been away for two weeks so not had time to post, I've been doing the rounds in london/oxford seeing old friends/family/In-Laws/Ex In-Laws, so I was knackered when I got back.

We had the most brilliant day at the Cotswold Wildlife Park though, well worth every penny, just wish we had got there earlier as it's so huge we were rushing round at the end trying to see the rest of the animals! Am sure there are a couple of you in oxfordshire?? If you haven't been you really must go!

I've got my scan on the 12th Sep and I will be 18+3 so hopefully be able to find out sex of the baby, if not I think I will go private and try again, really want to know what it is this time! also seeing the consultant about my PND and how they are going to proceede with treatment for that.

Is anyone else crippled with constipation? I'm at work this morning but have been bent over out in the back office because I just can't stand up because of the pain sometimes. I'm eating masses of fruit but it doesn't seem to be helping at all!

I'm pretty much the same as the rest of you, starving on a morning, but can't really face a big meal on a night.

Have a lovely day everyone and welcome to the new ladies

Bugger I forgot the 15+6

Bill I'm with you.... fruit, fruit, veg and fruit.... and still troubled!

I have an added bonus of calcium tablets too which I believe also help bung you up

I think as a result of that, I had the worlds worst sleep last night.... tossing and turning, up to the loo loads, duvet stealing, then too hot, then too cold. Majorly grumpy this morning!

I did eat loads for tea last night though, and I too have been eating mostly during the day, and a light tea to finish. But last night we had a completely rbbish tea and it was lovely, so I had loads!! (Cheese, ham and branston toasties!!!! mmmmmm) ALso I don;t think I am helping myself by having an egg with my salad for lunch today.... but it is shaped like a bunny!! (I'm still aged 6, I am SURE)

Welcome to Potol, hope you get yourself sorted with the NHS soon! I'm going for my consultant appointment tomorrow.... hopefully getting my pregnancy book

tmi warning I cured my, ahem, constipation problems the other day. Had a stupid, stupid craving Tuesday night and ate 14 whole pickled jalepenos! Definitely wasn't bunged up yesterday

Had our shopping delivered too and have never had such a healthy looking fridge! Definitely progressing from surviving on carbs and junk food during the first trimester! A couple of people have commented on my hair too do hopefully I'm starting to reach the glowing stage (yeah right)

Just to even the balance out though I was telling DH's nan that people who don't know I'm pregnant might just think I'm fat. Her reply was 'yes they will love, they'll think you've just got too comfortable since your wedding last year'! Lovely way to make me feel better! Haha!

Hope you're all ok and don't all have the bad weather!

16+5

Welcome Potol. I'm in London and I have to ring the Midwives Centre to book my appointments - they just tell me to book in 4 weeks time etc. They contacted me for my first one though after my GP referred me.

I had my 16 week midwife appointment yesterday. She couldn't hear the heartbeat with the doppler so she sent me over to the hospital for a scan (I think I looked worried) and they saw me quite quickly. The baby was fine and it was great to get he extra scan and see it wriggling about again! They did all the measurements and checked for stuff they do at the 20 week scan and everything was fine and I even got another picture. They asked if I wanted to know the sex but we've decided not to so I said no - but I did have a huge urge to say "OK TELL ME!" for a few seconds - I'm so glad I didn't! especially as DP wasn't there. I came away from the scan buzzing - its just so reassuring to see it. I find it so hard not knowing how the little thing is doing in there when you can't see it or feel it!

My next scan is at 22 weeks as I'm on holiday over my 20 weeks (last holiday just the two of us!).

I'm still hungry all the time, but I find I can't eat such bit portions as I used to as I get really full easily and feel sick. Which is probably a good thing. You poor thing phlossie. I haven't had as many of my beloved curries (hence my name) since I've been preg but I'm sure I'll be back on them soon - just in smaller quantities.

Has been good hearing about all the 16 week appointments. Hope all the remaining ones go well

Hi Everyone

Potol-Seems as though Woowa answered everything for you. Welcome and congratulations :)

PamB-Good news, bet you're relieved to see a wiggly one.

You lot have been so busy I can't keep up!

News from here, I think I may have sciatica, I keep getting pains right down my left leg, at GPS tomorrow.

I'm always, always hungry! Can't satisfy myself, and having to try and hide it from dcs isn't easy but can't keep eating loads in front of thgem or they'll want to too.

Not particularly frisky here, pretty tired actually.

I think most people knows about the pg now but I'm having to keep quiet on FB as OHs Aunty is really struggling with her mc, don't want her to think I'm rubbing it in her face. :(

14+4

Back from a week in France - very relaxing and the sickness abated a lot until the bumpy landing on the way home luckily managed to get off the plane and to the toilets before I had throw up.

I was also brought back to earth with a bump today by having to go into work to find out the GCSE results. I'm head of maths so always feel personally responsible for the futures of 240 kids. We did ok but not as well as last year. I also hate seeing the kids who have worked so hard and still only got D's they are always so upset. Whatever the papers say a C grade in maths is hard!

pinkhollie i remember my GCSEs - did them in 2008 - and they were hard. I got a B and was upset with that! We were one of the record years they speak of too. I think that children now have so much more to deal with now. I may be stereotyping or whatever but children used to be children; they would play out, weren't under pressure to look perfect all the time (even for school). The media seemingly forcing children to grow up. Idolising people such as Miley Cyrus etc. and feeling pressured to look like their idol. You just gotta look at cases of anorexia/eating disorders and how they seem more common now. All this talk that exams are getting easier etc. etc. etc. really does upset 16/17/18 year old doing GCSEs/A levels. I remember breaking down and being in counselling because school pressures really fucked me up! (I was predicted As across the board - didn't get one - i got 4 As 5 Bs and 2 Cs) good grades but i was pressured to get 'better' without the right teachings. On spreadsheets all my grades in lessons were in red because I wasn't achieving As and that is hard. Children don't need the extra pressure of being told that their exam is getting easier and feeling like shit when they don't get the grades they worked so hard for!
Hope that makes sense.

Anyway. today has being an eventful day!! I am around 15+4 and this morning DP ahem went down on me* sorry if TMI, and on orgasm my bump went rock hard and tensed up and moved to the left. It was uncomfortable and weird. Had a dull ache after that so ended up at the doctors. Luckily everything seems fine but i have to go back if i get any dark discharge/blood. I didn't like it. I am more paranoid now in my second trimester than the first for some reason. I am not enjoying pregnancy :( feel very down all the time and things like this do not help :(

Anyway in between all this my step daughters mother has found out I am pregnant (no idea how she found out) There is a lot of history and back story to this i won't bore you with the details but basically everything is going back to court because she is stopping contact because DP 'doesn't need his daughter as she is getting replaced by bump' she is using my unborn child as a weapon against me and my DP. It is so upsetting that there is a little girl whose mind this venomous cow is messing up!! Bearing in mind that my DSD has three older brothers with her mothers exh and she says that she loves them all same (i don't doubt that) but how can DP be different and love his daughter any less than bump. (she seems to think that he will )

Potol - it seems everything has being answered for you. Congratulations and welcome!!!

OMG look at this essay :/

PinkH-Glad you had a nice holiday. Sounds like your year did well, it will always fluctuate from year to year depending on your kids abilities. (imo)

InnocentRH-IME the bump going hard after orgasm is normal, and can feel quite uncomfortable. Wait till you get bigger! I hate being pregnant, it is not something that comes naturally to me. I keep bending over and squishing my bump cos I've forgot it's there. Grr at step daughters mum, what a stupid thing to say/think, surely nothing can change unless she has proof that your oh is neglecting dsd. Maybe she will calm down after a while..

Crazybit. DSD is 2.4 and has being like this since finding out she was pg, so DP has had to put up with 3 years of this, never easing off... Lets hope she calms down, but really who are we kidding... She has being pushing DP out of his DD life anyway... Thing such as not turning up to drop DD off for pre arranged contact etc. DP as Non resident parent has absolutely NO rights though which is the worst bit because she can do what she wants...

Innocent Redhead - you must be the youngest on here if you only did your GCSEs 3 years ago? Cool! Mine were half my lifetime ago. eek.

AFter recovering the sleep, someone rang at 4.30 last night, i think it was someone who does call to bother us from time to time (it's part of the vicar job!), we hadn't heard anything from him since last year, so i was hoping he'd gone away. We've worked out how to switch the phones off during certain times of day (well, night), so we should have peace tonight. I found it really hard to get back to sleep afterwards, and then when I did, I had a dream where it happened all over again, and then I woke up again! So, hoping to sleep through the night tonight!

I couldn't finish my movie-snack maltesers tonight, very unlike me!! We watched "Source Code". Don't recommend it. Alright but not brilliant. (hmmm, just looked on rottentomatoes.com and it gets 91% on there. Maybe we weren't in the mood!)

Anyway, glad people are generally ok. Off to SLEEP now

16/17 ish

InnocentRedhead you are literally half my age.

WE CAN EAT CHEESE!!!!!! I'm hugely excited by my new discovery that we can eat pretty much any cheese as long as it's cooked.

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/cooked-brie-and-blue-cheese-during-pregnancy.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=216

Deep fried brie anyone? :)