March 2012 - buxom and blooming in the second trimester (we wish!)

[FlipFantasia]

Here you go ladies, somewhere for all soon-to-be March mums to share the ups and downs

Oh God. I have such a JB crush - it's actually quite wrong!
just for you Knitterati [drool]

Hi everyone, feeling crappy today, full of a cold, kids full of colds, the little ones are pretty bad, had the smallest to the doctors this morning, so he's now on antibiotics and inhalers, and if theres no improvement, its hospital and nebulisers for him, he gets ill pretty quick at this time of year (he has downs syndrome) I havnt had a full nights sleep in over a week with him, i normally end up downstairs watching crap tv at stupid hours of the morning till he settles!
On a lighter note, I had my 20 wk scan yesterday, all is looking good, and I was totally wrong, because its a GIRL! I have four boys, and one girl already, so I just assumed this one would be a boy too. I really didnt mind either way, but it will be nice having another female in the house!!

Hurrah for the scan and for some more female company for you five!! Very exciting indeed!

Sorry to hear that you and the 5 are currently suffering with horrible colds - such a nasty time of year isn't it?

Hi all, had my 20 week scan today although I'm only just 19 weeks. All seemed to be well, saw the baby wave its hands, everything is in the right place, baby is the right size etc but then the consultant went all quiet and said "Ok, lets go and talk about the scan". So I knew something was wrong!

She has told us that the amount of fluid around the baby seems low. She can see the bladder and the kidneys and they seem to be working but it looks as though there isn't enough fluid coming in and out of the baby. If this continues then the amount of fluid will just keep reducing until the pregnancy is no longer viable. On the up side, apparently sometimes the scan doesn't show much fluid for a random reason and then there is nothing to worry about.

So, the upshot is that I have to go back next week for another scan. If the amount of fluid has increased then everything is ok. If not - we have to have "a conversation" with the consultant. Which means a termination probably.

So horrible having to wait. Plus its my daughters birthday next week and I have her party to deal with a few days after the scan. For some reason the thing I am most upset about is having to tell people if it all goes wrong. We already have one healthy child and I'm sure we can have another but there is something so deflating about the idea that this pregnancy could end when I'm already half way through.

Please send good vibes for the baby peeing lots and increasing the fluid over the next week. And if anyone has heard of anything similar please let me know - good and bad.

Santa - have some very un-mn like hugs from me (())

Really sorry to hear that the scan was not conclusive but I will keep everything crossed for you that in the next week more fluid appears and everything is fine.

Hi, I posted on here way back when we were all just getting BFPs. Then I decided to hold off on the excitement till the 12w scan, I had a bad feeling. The scan didn't go well (I have a thread somewhere on Antenatal Tests and Choices if anybody's really interested in the details) but slowly the chances are improving. I've lurked from time to time but didn't want to post till we know for sure it's viable (next scan Thurs, another fetal cardiac scan in 2 weeks).

However, I just saw SantaLucia's post. I have seen other women with this (am also on FertilityFriend, thanks mostly to three miscarriages and desperately TTC, seen several instances on there). You're almost 20w. 24w is viability threshold. I have seen women whose fluid level got so low that their obs took action - but it was to try to keep them hanging on till 24w or as much past as possible, and then do c/s and NICU. I know that bit is frightening, BUT the conversation is NOT necessarily a termination.

Oddly, one piece of advice which seems to be common in the US and not in the UK (here they say it has no effect) is bedrest and drink plenty of fluids and eat high-protein diet. I know several women who tried that and the fluid levels increased, even normalised. Theoretically I can see why the UK docs say it doesn't work (water doesn't go straight from your mouth to the amniotic sac, and if there's a problem with the kidneys, there's a problem with the kidneys) BUT if you're dehydrated, the fluid levels DO go down - baby gets dehydrated too. (In fact, my mother just told me about the DD of a family friend also expecting in Feb - just went to MW b/c couldn't feel movement, was told to go home and drink plenty of water, next day the movement started). If you're feeling hopeless, at least drinking water won't hurt, may help and is at least something you can try.

The technical term is "oligohydramnios". And my own DD had it. Not till later, admittedly, but we don't know when - all we know is that at 15 days overdue(!) we had our first scan since 18w, and there was

ps I should also add that I'm now 20w, I had my appt with the high-risk ob last week and oligohydramnios was obviously a big item on the agenda. She told me that they'd be monitoring me closely for that if/when the fetal medicine clinic release me from their monitoring programme, or else they'd overlap if the baby has other problems. She was quite clear on the plan - monitor carefully, if the levels start dropping monitor more closely, if they fall below a certain level, get the baby out and into NICU if necessary. And if they don't start falling during the monitoring, get the baby out at 39w anyway to avoid a repeat of last time which is apparently likely. At no point did she say "and if next week's scan shows low fluid levels we'll discuss termination", so I got the distinct impression that on the amniotic fluid side of things, we were talking very prem as worst case scenario, with all the risks that entails (and I'm well aware survival isn't guaranteed) - but not giving up on the baby.

HTH. I'm not an expert but just wanted to share what I have been told in my circs.

Loads of hugs to you SANTALUCIA......wingdingdong you have made ME feel more positive about santalucia's scan so i hopoe it has worked for her too. When my last baby was born she was in SCBU for 10 days, she looked MASSIVE (10lbs) next to all the tiny babies there....some were just 23 weeks gestation and roughly 1lb in weight.....the optimism in these places is astounding even though it is heartbreaking to see such teenies, and many many of them are survivors!
Dont give up hope santalucia, be strong, i am sure everyone on this thread is rooting for you.

And for you too wingding, i didnt realise from your first post what your current situation is. (((((hugs))))

Santa have some proper, genuine hugs from me too. Like Stuff said, I feel more positive after reading WingDing's post, so I hope you do too. Plenty of rest can't hurt, so (and I know first-hand that resting is difficult when you're worried) do try to rest and take good care of yourself. I'm thinking of you, and hoping that next week shows a much improved situation and a happy little baby xxxx

Now, Santa's baby, get busy with the peeing please!

WingDingDong all the very best for your appointment and lots of love to you too. I hope your results are good news xx

Hello, I've been lurking on this thread since it started really and I got my BFP but didn't want to tempt fate by posting until now. It's still a tentative hello though as we lost our daughter at 37 weeks in December to stillbirth. It may have been a cord accident but I've now been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (have been on insulin since about 14 weeks) and my new consultant (changed hospitals too) said I would have had it last time so it went undiagnosed even though we pushed and pushed for it as I had symptoms. That may also have caused her death.

My 12 week scan went well and I have my anomaly scan on the 28th of this month, currently 17+3. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that goes well as Scarlett also had echo genic bowels at her 20 week one. I've had lots happen in previous pregnancies too so would be high risk even without this. I'm terrified that we'll lose this baby too but hanging on and trying to stay calm as much as possible.

I have a strong feeling this baby is a boy, dh thinks girl so, we'll see :) I'm due on March 17th but won't be going over 38 weeks, if that. I'm not sure my nerves could take it and I want this baby out while it's still with us. Not sure on induction or if I'll ask for a c-section, never had one and that scares me a lot but it may well be the best option for the baby. Have to wait and see for now.

I've been feeling movements since about 10ish weeks and they're now proper little kicks, dh felt it for the first time last night which was really nice too. It took a long time for this pregnancy to even seem real to me and even now it's still quite surreal but the increased movement and bump size is helping with that.

Hope to get to know you all over the coming weeks and months :)

Santa I can't add any more helpful advice, but that I do hope things work out for you. An un-MN hug for you. Now...baby Santa, Pee!

WDD: sorry to hear about your difficult situation. It sounds as though the Dr's are on to it, which is always a good place to start from.

On a lighter note...flip: swoooooon!

Ah & welcome cheese&gerkins!

Lots of positive pregnancy vibes to all.

Evening ladies

SantaLucia so sorry you had such a worrying scan today. Wingding's post is v informative, and I think that resting/drinking lots/high protein diet sound like a good idea. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the next scan shows better fluid levels. In the meantime, some ((hugs)) for you xx

Wingding I'm so glad you've delurked and posted. What a worrying time you've had (sorry, I was nosy and just read your thread in antenatal tests/choices). I'm glad your amnio results came back clear and I'll also be keeping my fingers crossed your next cardio scan is good. Please keep posting, as remember we're here for the stressful times as well as the good times!

CheeseandGerkins hello and welcome . I'm so sorry to hear of Scarlett's death. I remember your thread at the time and how heartbreaking it was. I'm glad they've picked up on the GD this time and that you're getting the treatment and monitoring you need. Looking forward to sharing the journey with you! It'll be interesting to see who's right about what gender your baby is - I also think I'm carrying a boy this time and DH thinks it's a girl.

Five glad you had a good scan and hurray for another DD for you and Dsis for your DSs and DD1! Hope the kids get over their colds soon, especially your youngest.

Big waves to everyone else - hope everyone's well.

My mystery meeting with my manager and director today was about my pay...turns out HR cocked up and they've overpaid me by about a grand since I returned from maternity leave in March (I dropped from 35 hours/week over 5 days to 33 hours/week over 4 days and HR didn't pro-rate my salary accordingly and I didn't notice). They actually suggested that they take the grand out of my next pay packet - to which I was completely and went mental (and I never normally go mental!). I insisted that as it wasn't my mistake I shouldn't be made to pay back anything (although I would have paid it back over 6 months or whatever...it's just that negotiation is part of my job so I'd never start with the position I'd arrive at IYKWIM). I did have to go and have a little cry in the toilets after the meeting though, as I was just so shocked by it and felt like an idiot even though I'd done nothing wrong. Anyway, by close of business it was confirmed that i didn't have to pay it back and the company would swallow the cost. My relief was immense.

Sorry for such a work ramble when other people have work stress/baby stress going on!

knitterati x posts - I think you need to be directing your swoons to Shagging as I think JB seems like a perfectly nice man but doesn't do it for me in the erotic dreams dept

Hello, hello sorry for going AWOL DS started school, DD started nursery and we house sat for my folks for 3 weeks without internet. All fine here, 16 weeks, feeling movement!!, think DH is coming round to not finding out the sex and looking at names is driving me insane. Hope you are all well and I will try to keep up from now on! :)

Santa thinking of you - can't imagine what you are going thro ((hugs))

WDD Welcome and good luck with everything!

Cheeseandgherkins Welcome to you too!!

MrsMcJnr Welcome back!!!

Not much to say really feelin very unpregnant so pulled out a previously condemned t-shirt so I can feel atleast a little bumpy!!

Wish MN would create some sort of mobile site as my phone doesn't like it at all and I would like to be able to be nosey updated throughout the boring bits at work!!

santa thinking of you, I hope you find a small swimming pool inside you next week (so to speak).

I've been lurking too but with everlasting morning sickness on top of DD (2.10) and DS (14mths) being ill and just generally acting their ages my mn time has been seriously reduced.
I'm going to try and keep up a bit better with you all now :)

Thanks everyone for all the support and advice. I've been drinking loads and trying not to worry but its difficult. The situation is on my mind all the time. It is so much harder because I've already told everyone and so people ask me each time they see me "How's it going? Everything ok?" and now I don't know what to say. Eugh.

Lovely to hear of all the good scans though - I remember how lovely it was to get over the 20 week scan last time, proper shopping can commence!

WDD and Cheeseandgherkins - very inspiring posts from both of you. I'm keeping everything crossed for successful pregnancies for you both this time around.

Santa I'll echo what everybody else has said about the really imformative and positive posts above and will keep everything crossed that baby santa pees a lot this week.

Apologies flip that message about JB was meant for shagging
< curses phone for not being able to see conversation thread and type a message at the same time >

Welcome Chulita
Glad everyone is starting to unlurk delurk join us!

I went to John Lewis last night for a pushchair 101. Oh deary me! It's a minefield out there. I'm off to go start a thread on the product reviews I think. Completely bleedin' lost!

Morning everyone!

It's nice to see our numbers swelling like our bellies

Knitterati what are your 'must-haves'? (does it have to fit into a tiny boot, etc etc) Do you have other LOs? (sorry, my memory is shocking just now!)

Santa I'm not surprised you're feeling so worried. I can only imagine the waiting makes it all the more difficult. Can you take some time just to tuck yourself up at home and drink (water!) for a few days, thus avoiding having to face all of the well-meaning but difficult questions? xxx

Thanks everyone for the good wishes - I'll delurk properly if the next couple of scans/appts go well. Till then I'm not quite ready to join in the excitement.

Hope everybody else's scans are good; it does feel like you can start the shopping in earnest once you get past halfway.

Anyone else still throwing up? I was trying to doze on the sofa when DS woke up so had to get him and just knew I was going to bin my lunch, plonked him on the floor and just managed to unzip his grobag and close the stairgate before I revisited my coffee and gingerbread man dessert. I'm not a happy bunny, 18 weeks today and still going...

knitterati what sort of things are you after? we didn't do our research before our first purchase which is why our travel system sits unused in my brother's inlaws' house...