TTC 6 mths+ GRADS THREAD

[Biscuitsandtea]

Afternoon.

I thought I'd start a Grads thread for those of us previously on the TTC 6 mths+ thread. I've been lurking on the ttc thread recently to see how everyone is getting on (having only very recently qualified to move off it!) and a few people were saying what a nice idea it would be if there was a grads thread so we don't lose each other.

Anyway, would be lovely to hear from other lovely ladies that were on that thread - or even if you were never on the ttc thread but had a sticky time of it getting your bfp then come and settle down with a decaf cuppa for a chat.

teu I love slinky malinky books (and hairy maclary) probably my favourite series of books for reading aloud (the rhyming and choice of words is fabulous). And with her being a Kiwi - you couldn't not buy her books since you're over there! Our black kitten is also called Slinky (as homage to lynley dodds :-)

buzzy we never had a nursery either for DS1 (coudlnt' understand how people get excited about matching bedding and stuff, he didn't end up in his room for about 2 years (it was previously the guest room and then became a dumping room and took us a while to sort it out - we actually slept in it for 18 months and he had our room!). My mum always tells me how when we were babies we were just put to bed in a drawer (not closed, I hasten to add :-)

art so good to hear from you and hooray that you're getting ready to finish up work soon (that last day at work is a great feeling!) I took my little man into work 2 weeks after he was born, and that was also a great feeling (knowing I still had a year off, while everyone else is struggling with all the work they have - mean of me I know, but it did feel good!)

First night alone with Hamish was suprisingly good. I think the wee mite took pity on me since I had no-one else to share the winding/carrying duties, so he put in a good 3 hours sleep, followed by 90 minutes awake/unsettled, but then another 3.5 hours sleep - one of the best nights sleeps I've had since he was born (so good that he chose that night to be nice to mummy :-)

Mr E on the other hand got very little sleep and felt rubbish the next day (well, he would stay out until 2am :-D

Glad that you've met some nice folk at the NCT course, I don't think I ever mentioned my failed IVF session to anyone on the course at the time. For some reason (which was ridiculous) at the time I felt like a failure for not only having IVF but totally failing at it too - everyone else seemed so damn fertile in comparison, we sort of kept it as a dirty secret (I don't advocate that approach at all by the way, and now I do tell people, but at the time I felt sort of second-class about it all - weird I know!)

Mind you, as far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter how the baby got in your tummy, it's the fact that it's there that's the important thing!

Great news on getting in the birthing centre too - will be keeping my fingers crossed that you get a really good birth (so exciting!!)

Waves to everyone else - can't wait for more baby news - come on folks? Where are all these graduate babies??? :-D

these are the things I need to think about getting, maybe in a few weeks i'll have a look online :)

heart wow - congratulations on your little girl (you obviously made such a nice home for her she didn't want to leave!).

Sorry the birth didn't go the way you wanted it, but as you say in the end it's all about getting a positive result and you got that :-D

So so pleased for you - enjoy your newborn bundle of amazement!!!

heart congrats on your baby girl

Wow Heart congratulations! You sound completely loved up with your new little one, I'm so pleased for you. I'm sorry you ended up with all the intervention but the main thing is you got a good outcome and you sound to have handled it all really well. It's reassuring to know that intervention doesn't have to mean a negative experience but it seems that attitude is a big part of that. I've got to do my birth plan this week so will keep reminding myself that flexibility and acceptance are key.

Teu how did the baby shower go? I have never heard of the chocolate poo thing, hope you were spared that! I point blank refused a friend's insistence that I should have a baby shower as I've kept the whole thing so quiet, I didn't want her to go inviting lots of colleagues who had only just found out and then felt obliged to turn up with presents plus after so long as a barren I would rather go to Hell than go to a baby shower and I imagined other people might feel the same way. Instead we are going for a posh afternoon tea on my last day of work. It looks like the main ingredient for me is still likely to be gaviscon so I hope I can do justice to all the scones!

Buzz how are you feeling? I hope Kayla's behaving herself a bit better. I'm a bit worried about how our poorly old cat is going to react to suddenly having a baby in the house, I fear she might go into hiding and never come back out particularly as she has been getting so much attention for the last few months, we'll need to make sure she doesn't feel neglected.

Ele I'm glad Hamish behaved for your first night alone with him! at Mr E feeling worse the following day! I've been so long without alcohol now the idea of a hangover seems totally alien, I will be the cheapest date ever when I'm finally allowed to drink again.

Quiet weekend here, loving the sunshine but I can't stay out in it for long! I've been clearing my office and filing most things in the shredder or the recycling bin, it's a good feeling :)

Congratulations heart! Wonderful news and a massive well done on getting her out. Love her name too, gorgeous!

Ele well done on a successful first night alone. Glad Hamish behaved himself. Sounds like it's all going really well :)

Art I've had a couple of tiny g&t's since she was born and I've really savoured them. Had a glass of pink champers to toast her properly yesterday and felt very woozy!! Cheap date indeed but means I can justify posher booze ;) Your afternoon tea sounds lovely.

Teu hope all is well with you and Mr T. What is this chocolate poo of which you speak??

Buzzy fab to see you here :) Hope you are keeping well.

Waves to everyone else! Sorry for shoddy namecheck.

As for me, I'm really well. Elodie is a joy. Still well behaved, feeding really well (she's a little piglet!), putting on lots of weight and she's loads of fun. She's started smiling and Daddy got the first gummy smile last week. I'm tired but not too bad, she tends to wake for 3 or 4 20 - 30 min feeds between 11 and 6 and usually goes back down in her basket but has been a bit clingy (growth spurt / brain development apparently) some days so we do a bit of co-sleeping, which means I get some rest rather than dealing with fussing after feeds as she goes straight to sleep. I'm really enjoying time with her, it really is the best feeling in the world

We're all hanging out in our pants on the bed with the windows open this afternoon eating nice food and watching the tennis! Planning on a walk when it's cooled down later. Hope everyone is enjoying the gorge weather and those with big bumps aren't suffering in the heat too badly!!

Lots of love to all, especially Heart and little Madeleine xx

Yay heart! Best news ever and what a beautiful name, so elegant and classic. I think you've got a brilliant attitude about the birth and thank you for making me feel not scared about whatever happens. Aw, I am so pleased for you. Nothing makes me happier than the arrival of a gorgeous little 10 plusser baby! Hope you're getting some rest, healing well, being spoilt rotten by MrH and enjoying these precious first few days with little Madeleine.

eleth you are right, there are some MUCH more 'out there' names than classic and handsome Hamish in the US. MrC has some 'interesting' ideas on the name front... the ones he likes seem to remind me of 1980s sorority girls. I'm so pleased your little chap was so sleepy when you looked after him on your own for the first night and gave his mama some well-earned rest!

princess your post was so lovely, there is so much happiness just shining through. Glad Elodie is growing and feeding well. I love the idea of the three of you curled up in bed together, makes me feel quite emotional, especially after everything you went through to get here.

buzz how are you feeling lovely? Your 12 week scan must be around the corner... mine is on Thursday, can't wait. My dad will be visiting and I've asked if I can bring him along to see as well as MrC.

teu I bet your shower was utterly lovely. I have played guess the chocolate poo in the past so can understand your reluctance! But I think showers can be really special occasions where you feel supported by lots of people who care about you and your little person, and are excited about welcoming him or her into the world.

art yay for clearing things out of the office! Now you can start to nest . I am so excited to find out if you're having a little boy or girl... we are going to wait until ours arrives to find out too. Hope you're not feeling too exhausted or struggling in the heat I hear the UK is having.

Back from my course and not looking forward to work tomorrow, but very excited about being able to see the 12 week mark in sight. I did some yoga while I was away and it felt so good to be doing gentle exercise again. I still feel a bit sick but the back ache has eased up for now and my ovaries feel a little less tender so hopefully they are being squished down as my uterus gets bigger. At the moment I just look a bit porky but not really bumpy at all.

Congratulations heart wonderful news! Such a happy thread!
I'm just waiting - 39 weeks and ready whenever baby is, but don't think it'll be this week. But hopefully soon!
Loving the sunshine. V happy to be on mat leave in the summer!
I can't wait for a gin and tonic princess! Elodie sounds gorgeous- I can't wait for newborn cuddles of my own soon.

art I am ok thank you, a little more tired and still sick with indigestion which can only be a good thing hopefully, so when is your due date?? Yay to clearing out the office :)

princess Glad things are going well with little Elodie, my worry is with co sleeping is that the baby would fall out of bed or I would squash it

critter I am now 11 weeks today my scan is booked for 12w4d on the 19/07, I've already had my blood tests and another scan, it all started to feel a bit real, I was considering the Harmony test at FMC but I hoping with Donor only being 25 the risks should be low. Its quite nice to actually see a baby not just a blob, I have 3 scan pictures to which Barry said ' this baby is going to be well documented' oh did I mention he cried when I showed him the scan

I am with you art on the whole baby shower thing, I have been invited to one but the whole idea is just too much for me to deal with, I really couldn't face it, I think it would upset me, so need to man up and tell her, I certainly won't be having one

Someone at work said 'ooh you are starting to show' um no that is the stone in weight I have gained from all the drugs my poor fur baby is not a happy kitty with all this heat . . .

buzz glad it's not just me who keeps being told I'm 'showing', no, that would be my gut from all the pasta I've been eating to stave off nausea and the bloating from IVF . Can't wait to look properly pregnant.

mellow eee it's so soon! You timed the maternity leave brilliantly ah how exciting that you'll meet your little person shortly. How are you feeling? Not too uncomfortable I hope.

mellow sorry x posts earlier so close now :)

Critter I think I'll just look fat for most of it

buzzy and critter I felt the fattest around 10-16 weeks, then when the nausea and bloating passed and you can start eating normal food again, it all calmed down - I put on most of my weight by 20 weeks and didn't actually gain any more weight at all until about 30 weeks, it just all moved itself about. And now, according to some random graph on the internet, I've put on the "right amount of weight" in pregnancy - just in the opposite trend to everyone else, i.e. lots up front! It is toughest in the first few months, but does get better!

I feel good now, not particularly uncomfortable, I think I'm lucky - I can forget I have a bump sometimes! And the heat really isn't bothering me, I'm loving it! Think baby might be better off inside, he might find it a bit hot outside, so I'm happy for him to stay where he's most comfortable for the time being. I have a few pieces of work that would be good but not essential to finish off (although very minimal motivation!) and have made plans catch up with a few people this week that I've neglected over the last few months (working full time and finishing off a huge extra-curricular project will do that for you!) - last arranged catch up on Sat night, then will start to feel impatient at 40 weeks next week I think - should maybe pencil in a few plans for next week just in case! It is odd being on mat leave without being a Mum, I feel slightly fraudulent!

Hi all,

Hope you're all well. It's been busy on here which was lovely to read through!

Great to see you here buzzy- massive congrats on the BFP and subsequent scans.

Huge congrats also to heart on the birth of baby Madaleine - beautiful name, I love it!

We've had a really exciting month... My nephew has finished all of his treatment and, fingers crossed, it looks like the very aggressive treatment he has had has worked :)))) Will know more in next few weeks but at the mo all looks good. He has been an amazingly brave boy and I'm incredibly proud of him. Thanks to everyone who asked about him x

Also, we have had a little boy! Born last week after induction,syntocin drip, epidural and a helluva lot of pushing!! Although I had quite a lot of medical intervention and most of my birth plan couldn't be met it was a lovely experience and all went really well.
The little one is an absolute poppet. He's feeding and sleeping well and I have to stop myself from gazing in awe when he's asleep, so that I can get some sleep myself! He's worth every tear shed :)

Anyway, hope you're all well. Lots of love x

Congrats Frannie! Amazing news :) So chuffed for you and Mr F. Another happy, well behaved 10 plus baby! Totally get what you mean about gazing at them and yy to worth all the heartache and tears. Also, brilliant news about your nephew - that must be such a huge relief for your family. Isn't it lovely how shitfests can turn themselves around?

Buzzy and Critter I second Mellow re bumps. I just felt fat until about week 20 when the bump started to show. I was all bump at the end (I guess who wouldn't be with a nearly 10 pounder squashed up in there!!!) I hardly put on any weight anywhere else apart from having swollen ankles and a puffy face at the end - you will feel much more pregnant and glowy and bumpy soon :). Oh and ignore arsehole comments. My not so immediate family have decided I was mahoosive (they saw me at 8 months) as I had a massive baby. My Nan has actually been quite cruel about it. Meh. Her issue, not mine. I was actually very proud of my pregnancy shape. My dad mentioned that I had gotten "quite a bit bigger at 9 months from 8 months" and Nan said well you were huge at 8 months and then added "your dad said you doubled in size and was really worried about you"! Utter fabricated bullshit! She does love to make up a story that one and then spread it around the family. Anyway. I'm nearly back down to pre-pregnancy size thanks to a ravenous baby that can't leave my boobs alone for more than an hour!! And I've learnt to take comments about my size and baby's size with a big pinch of salt. It's just sad that people can't just be pleased for you, especially when they know what you've been through.

Mellow good luck! You're up next! Hope everything goes well and look forward to hearing your news :)

We're off for the weekly weigh in shortly. She's feeling heavier again and I reckon she's done another half pound! It's funny seeing her next to the other babies because she just looks so much bigger!! In fact she was heavier and just as long as the 8 week old little boy in the clinic last week and when the mum found out she was only 2 wks her face was like this -> !!

Right off to get sleepy mini princess ready for the hv, she's all a bit sleepy in her eyes and milky round her face! Quick baby wipe bed wash and new baby grow methinks.

Waves and love to all
X

frannie Yay! Aw, hooray for your beautiful little son! Massive congratulations, enjoy it, and I hope your husband is spoiling you rotten. How lovely, and how nice to have a summer birthday for your small chap, I foresee lots of lovely birthday parties in the park or the back garden over the happy years to come. So glad to hear about your nephew too, he sounds like a little fighter.

mellow thanks for the reassurance on the chubvilledom, you enjoy your maternity leave, you are absolutely not a fraud - it's bloody well earned as a 10 plusser!

princess you are so right - that sounds like other people's issues not yours. When people make you a present of a nasty comment like that, just refuse to take it. Complete bullshit. It sounds like you were a gorgeous pregnant creature and you produced a big baby - with no pain relief! It's amazing how spiteful people can be. Just brush that off your shoulder, as Jay Z would say.

My 12 week scan is in a couple of hours. Terrified. Will let you all know how it goes.

Good luck for your scan critter! I sobbed through mine as it's amazing to see the lo on the screen. Enjoy :) xx

just lost my post

frannie congrats on your little boy, are we allowed to the name?? So pleased to hear your nephew is doing well :)

art I love you fur baby pictures, mine has been very affectionate today

critter did you see a waving mini critter, did your dad go with you :) I can understand your concerns, I worry that I will get there and find out I have miscarried again and that my body hasn't recognised it, I'm feeling really guilty as I have just had my hair coloured and that I have poisoned my baby

princess sorry for all the thoughtful comments, I have heard others say people have made odd comments to them, I haven't had that to my face probably because most most people know I would tell them to feck off and keep their opinions to themselves as I am not interested

I always knew with my body shape I would look fat when pregnant but the steroids and progesterone have made me super fat, my face is huge it is repulsive, only a few more days and I can cut down on the steroids

I was ttc naturally for almost 3 yrs with same partnee! Started at 18 and im 21 in two months... Got my first ever bfp last month :D x

buzzy there is nothing repulsive about you. You're beautiful inside and out! And in a few weeks we will both have proper bumps. Don't worry about the hair dye. Mini buzz will be perfect!

Hmph, turns out I only got a doppler check not a scan...apparently I have to sign up for a scan if I want the nuchal test thing separately. I was a bit disappointed as I'd brought my dad and husband along all excitedly! But the main thing is that they did check the heartbeat with a doppler and it was there, loud and clear. So that was reassuring.

mellow I am on mini-mellow watch!

Quick one from me just to say many congratulations frannie a slightly arduous journey but you got your little boy - so chuffed for you!

And great news on the doppler (although disappointing for the scan - do they not do them as a matter of course? I've never heard of anyone NOT having a scan at 12 weeks?) it's amazing hearing their heart beat so strong isn't it?

Re bumps - I had a thick waist (looked fat) for ages before the bump started to arrive properly - but once it does, there's no mistaking it - buzzy - you'll be a beautiful bump-endowed lady in a couple of months :-)

critter I forgot your dad was with you, are you able to get a scan while he is still there??? minibee had a heartbeat of 182bpm, supposedly that means its a girl

I don't mind not really having a bump, i'm more concerned that I look and feel like the elephant lady, critter you have not seen the whole ugly chin thing going on, the ladies on the pred thread assure me that the moon face from the steroids goes down reasonable quickly along with eating like 5000 starving Africans

I have had bad indigestion today but cannot remember if I took my omeprazole 20 minutes ago or not

I think because I am having midwife led care you have to set up a separate appointment if you want a nuchal scan (although I didn't realize this). To be honest the midwife was a bit judgy about it - like I shouldn't mind one way or the other and if I wanted the nuchal scan it was because I definitely wanted to terminate if there was something wrong. I am in the UK next week and couldn't set up an appointment in the US in time so I'm going to fork out or a private scan when I'm in London. I did think it was a bit mean of them not to do a scan when my dad was there TBH!

Buzz you will be off the steroids soon, hang in there.

Eleth hope Hamish is still Bonny as ever and growing well! X

Critter there is the FMC on Harley Street they do nuchal scans as long as you are not over 13w6d for £180 or a 'reassurance' scan for £100

buzzy thanks so much - I tried them and they didn't have an appointment when I could make it, but I've found another similar place that will do it around there and booked an appointment. Hopefully my mum and MrC can come too (as both of them will be in London with me) so that will be really nice. Your 12 week scan must be next week or thereabouts too?