Due in May: the 2nd trimester, more glowing and less throwing

[Yorky]

Before the other thread bursts!
Thanks Miko for the title!

Harecare - we can swap babies, I have two boys already and my DP wants a girl!!
Sorry about your DH I hope he will come around to the idea quickly. I cannot imagine how it must feel. But little girls are so cute he is bound to melt sooner or later.

Yorky - there's 16 months be DS1 and 2 and they will be 3.5 and 2.2 when dS3 is born!

Good luck with physio - have you tried one of those belts? They might give you some relief. Also no carrying children!!!

Saggy and miko - I'm the same, I've put on too much already I am sure I look enormous and I'm pretty sure I didn't look this big when I was 40 weeks with DS1

just won a really good priced icandy peach stroller on ebay and trying very hard not to squeal with excitement everytime i talk to someone about it!

Oooh mythical - we got our stroller on ebay a couple of years ago! Family had hardly used it, thanks to an insistent little walker. Got it for a third of the price it would have been and was in mint condition. I am feeling your euphoria! Many happy walks. :)

Commiserations to everyone feeling guilty about not "warming" to the sex of their baby if they found out. There are lots of complicated emotions to deal with. I so wanted a boy with my first, found out it was a girl and was definitely grumpy and emotional for a couple of days til I came to terms with it. Now of course (as everyone says - and it's hard to believe til you experience it) I wouldn't swap her for the world. Now I'd love another girl! But have a feeling I am having a boy. I hope I love my second baby as much as I love my DD.

Can anyone else who's had at least two babies confirm that the love for no 2 is as overwhelming and instant??? I'm sure it will be but would love the reassurance!

myweeangel - love is definitely just as overwhelming I promise you! I was kind of leaning towards a girl preference wise but now very happy with boy no 2. Got out ds's old clothes last night and was really lovely looking at these gorgeous tiny clothes that I'll be able to use again in a few months!

saggy, miko and tostaky - I feel pretty massive too. Was small with dd, average with ds and have a horrible feeling I am going to be giant with no 3! My waist has disappeared and like you tostaky I looked at my bump today and couldn't believe I am only 21 weeks. I may be overreacting slightly but this is defnitely the biggest I have been, must get the yoga DVD on!

Harecare - I am so sorry to hear your dp is still struggling to deal with having no 3, I hope he is back home tail firmly between his legs very soon. I hope you have some emotional support nearby? Grrrr on your behalf. Thanks for reassurance re low lying placenta, feeling fairly calm about the whole thing now, going to plan for the home birth, do the yoga, listen to the hypnosis stuff and if it doesn't move I will adjust my plan then. Just have to waaaaait....

OK Tostaky - lets swap! I actually thought about adoption earlier today. I know I'll love it eventually, but not at the minute.
myweeangel I can't promise it'll be as overwhelming and instant, but you will love the baby just as much.
LittleSarah - I'm planning a home birth too, but the consultant advised against it today. I lost 700ml blood delivering the placenta naturally with DD1, but was still allowed a home birth for DD2 - for her I got the injection to deliver the placenta quickly and all was well. I think I'll still aim for a home birth against my consultant's advice, I can always transfer to hospital if needs be. I'm not sure if my midwife is comfortable with a home birth though so may try to change midwife - we've moved since DD2s birth.

Thats cool - there are at least 3 of us planning HBs on here - don't let the consultant put you off Harecare, if you were OK last time then aren't the stats in your favour? My SIL had a retained placenta after her 1st, was told she was high risk for 2nd - but didn't have time to get to hosp so had unplanned HB and no problems at all.
I was found to have group B strep early in 2nd pg and MWs initial reaction was hospital, constant monitoring, no water etc and I left the surgery in tears - then had my HB anyway! (and another one with DS2)
My friend is expecting her 4th in August and is planning a HB - she's been lanning one since her 2nd but is determined to get it this time - she had PE with her 1st 2 and was induced with her 3rd so fingers crossed for her this time!

Will put down HB pompoms and go to bed now sorry

Hi all,
Had scan today. Everything is looking good with baby, but placenta is anterior & a bit low. I've to go back at 32 weeks for another scan. Sonographer lovely, very thorough & said it's likely placenta will move up as uterus grows.
MS has went away just this past week & feeling good. Hope you are all well.

Hi harecare, so that's 3 of us on our third child, and having the same gender again! It does seem to work out that way for a lot of people. It's all girls in my mother's family line, going back for at least 4 generations that I know of... I really think I can only biologically carry girls! And in 2 families I know locally in RL, both mums have just had their 4th boy.
I hope you start to feel a bit happier about it soon, I'm sure you will once you've had a little while to get used to the idea. This is one of the reasons i think finding out the sex is a great idea, if you have a preference for a boy or girl...by the time you get to delivery you will have got over any disappointment or mixed feelings, instead of facing those feelings at the birth. (i do know one mum who cried and was apologising to her husband on the day she gave birth to her 3rd girl, and she hadnt found out what she was having).
Think about these as positives (which were my reasons for hoping for another girl): hopefully it will make family life and activities more straightforward eg. DC's likely to have similar interests / want to go on the same kind of days out / want to see the same films at cinema / less likely to have a clash where you need to be in two places at once like ballet classes and football field on sat morning etc! And my biggie: it's got to be cheaper - I've got a whole wardrobe of outfits ready to go, I get to re-use some of the pretty dresses that only got worn a few times on special occasons, the toys are already here, I'm getting great value out of what I thought were quite expensive purchases at the time!
I'm thinking of you dealing with your dp's "space" issues. It sounds like you are doing a great job looking after for your DD's, and I'm sure it's not easy right at this moment.
Also, well done to all those who've just had their scans and got healthy and reassuring results.

Hello ladies.

24 weeks yesterday, it's quite comforting to know that LO is now 'viable' and could possibly survive on her own. The anterior placenta might have moved, or else she's got a bit stronger because I am feeling quite a few kicks now. Even DH has felt his first kick now, which he was quite chuffed about. At the same time I think it made him realise a bit how weird it must be for me laying in bed with someone kicking me from the inside! (She always seems to wake up as I go to bed!).

Congrats on your scans all.

Mikocat - that's great about you and DH feeling the kicks!!!

Lucky star - that is exactly what I think about having 3 of the same gender!!

Since we've known the gender, DP and I are at war about names... We picked a name for DS2 and I changed it during my night at hospital... So he left me with a xxx baby and came back to a zzz baby!! DP was not impressed and still reproaching me this incident . So he says he only will choose a name this time around! I disagree...

Also do you know where I can find a flattering swim suit for a size 12-14 with DD cup? The dss have started swim lessons and I just look awful in my old non-mat speedo....

tostaky - Some lovely if expensive ones here at Bravissimo (although there is a sale on). Only says cup size though, not dress!

tostaky - Mothercare have quite a range of swimsuits. They don't do them by cup size but have lots of different shapes. I've got my eye on the dotty tankini as my pre-pregnancy tankini is looking rather comedy at the moment!

Mikocat - How lovely to be feeling kicks :) I know what you mean about the 24 weeks thing, that's the countdown I have in my head at the moment!

Yorky - did you have a HB with your first? Part of me would really like to have a home birth, but the niggly doubt in the back of my head says that I should do it in hospital this time and then try for a HB with the next baby. I think it's the having to rush to hospital if something went wrong that puts me off.

Harecare - hope your DH comes around soon and you feel happier about everything. Thanks for pelvic floor reminder, I keep forgetting!

I need some recommendations of how to ease trapped wind please I'm sat on my exercise ball in a bid to shift it...but to no avail!

And I know buggies have been mentioned previously, but has anybody decided what they're getting/got one already? Any recommendations from 2nd/3rd time mums? We've had a play with the Quinny Buzz which we really like so I think we're going to go for that. We like the fact that we can get the maxi cosi car seat and it'll clip on to the frame and it comes in pretty colours

Try eBay DREAMING.. I bought my dds bugaboo brand new last time an swore I'd never do it again.. I've just got a 9 month old quinny speedi off eBay it's immaculate the isofix base is still in bubble weap and the maxi cosi car seat is unused !! for £62 !! Bargain I almost jumped up and down

Thanks lucknumber, you're right of course, but until DP comes around I can't really "enjoy" being pregnant at all no matter the gender. Quite miserable really although his family are checking up on me daily which is kind.

DD1 is being great though and I had been wondering about what to do about rooms as DDs currently share and the playroom would have been for the baby, but I felt sorry for it not getting to share and was considering 3 together. Obviously it'll be in with me for ages, but I like to plan ahead. DD1 now says she wants to sleep on her own in the playroom as she doesn't like DD2 asking to get in her bed - despite me finding HER in DD2s bed last night! So she'll get a room to herself and DD2 can share with the new one eventually.

tostaky I picked up a maternity tankini in Mothercare sale this week for £7.50!!! A bit floppy round the boobs, but it'll do.

dreaming I had no choice with the buggy we got as DPs Mum chose it, but I specified it had to be able to face me. We got a silvercross one and it's served well for 2DCs and we're borrowing a buggyboard to use it again this time - didn't have a buggyboard last time and DD1 just sat on the cross bar bit which worked OK. I fancied the bright bugaboo ones, but don't know if they'd have been as durable.

Dreaming - yes, all mine have been HBs, although where we were living when I had CD1 we were literally 6mins from the hospital which was reassuring - I was more worried about the speedbumps on the way! I thought I'd have to have the 1st one at home and then think about home for hte next and was really surprised when the MW didn't seem the least bit phased when I suggested it

Harecare - really hope he comes round soon, I have no idea how you're coping, you must be amazing

Physio wasn't as good as I'd hoped :( I have an elastic support belt but got more information from my friend than from the physio who didn't actually tell me that my body is just showing fair wear and tear after 4 pregnancies in 6yrs, but came pretty close

Ebay all the way for cots, buggies, birth pools, tens machines.... the only thing DS1 had new was his travel system cos I wouldn't have a 2nd hand car seat

Hi harecare, like you my two DD's are sharing a room. We do have a spare room but they want to be in together. And I have the same thing with the younger one wanting to get in dd1's bed as well - but that's not every night so it's not too much of an issue. It's more of a problem that they chatter and mess around a bit so I'm sure they'd both get to sleep more quickly in separate rooms!
So I plan to keep them in together for the next few years, while they're happy enough, and this baby will go into its own smaller room.
I'm full of admiration for you, getting on with things even while you feel so upset with what's going on with DP. I'm glad to hear at least DP's family are being of some support, and I hope they can help you out a bit. Have you got people in RL to talk to about how you're feeling and coping?

dreaming - just wanted to say we bought a Quinny Buzz for DD1 and it's still going strong and will be dug out again for DD3! So turning out to be quite a cheap investment in the end! I've always found it easy to use (so easy to put up and down) and we used both the pushchair attachment and the maxi cosi car seat on the frame. I do quite a lot of car journeys and have always found it really useful to be able to move a sleeping baby from the car to out and about without having to wake or disturb them. Just lift the car seat out, click it on to frame and you're off with no crying (most of the time!!)

I would second mothercare for tankinis, they have some lovely ones. Mine is from there...only wore it once last time round but now actually getting some good use out of it with ds's swimming classes :) Hoping to get to wear it in the birthing pool this time!!

Anyone see obem last night? Fabulous...would love a waterbirth just like the disney princess girl!

Ok about to order the spotty one from mothercare - do they size large or small. I'm usually a size 12 but I worry maybe I should go for a size 14 to accommodate a few extra pregnancy pounds...
My local mothercare doesn't stock swimwear...so I have to order it

Hello ladies.

Am starting pre-natal yoga today - anyone else here doing yoga or pilates classes? Do you find it helpful? I'll report back.

Yorky sorry to hear that your physio was rubbish, I hope that the support belt helps.

Hello all, hope all well. I have just signed up officially for my doula course. You have to complete it in 6 months but I want to do it in under five so it is finished before wee man arrives. There is a LOT of reading to get through! Looking forward to it though. I have one book from the reading list already (Birthing from Within) and have ordered two more to begin with (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering). So apologies if I start to use you for research!

Miko - How did you find your yoga? I loved my class but this time I am sticking to the dvd as there are nowt anywhere near me! I always feel better afterwards, more relaxed, plus it is a bit of a workout, which I need!

Dreaming - I too have had both mine at home. I can understand wanting to try it at hospital first, I think it depends on the mum really. Some women might be worry about moving from hospital to home having been used to the back up available there while others would happily transfer. The midwife did say to me that it is usually recommended to go for first in the hospital but was happy to let me go for it at home, a huge majority of labours are straightforward.

And we have a bugaboo bee which I rather liked. Very maneuverable and quite light. Plus I like the look! I never did get the cosy footmuff thing and have been looking on ebay for one, then today at toddler's one of the ladies said I could borrow her's! Another thing crossed off.

Harecare - I think if you are comfortable going for the home birth then go for it. Consultants have to be extra cautious don't they? Liability and so on. Still I'm surprised he/she is going against when your last birth was fine. I mean people go for home births after difficult labours, often it is being away from hospital that helps them through the next time.

cupcake - OBEM was great, I was laughing and crying alternately. Glad I've been through it though, more of a disney experience for me than that poor woman in the red dress, glad to see you get a broad spectrum of experiences. Disney as in being fairly quiet and just breathing like mad not Disney as in full make-up and straightening hair!

Haha, she was hilarious straightening her hair after
I was worried watching the other poor mum as my first was forceps but really want to avoid it this time....am worried the fear might take over like it seemed to have with her...
Let me know what you make of the books for your course as I'd love to read up more about gentle birth, hynobirth, all that kind of stuff as I'm sure it would help me to have a positive mental attitude!

tostaky I would say go for a size 12... they do seem to account for the extra pounds one might put on during pregnancy. Mine is a 12 and very generous around the boobs and bump.

harecare thinking of you loads; really hope things start to turn around for you soon. :( that you thought about adoption but I know that your kind of situation must lead your mind to all sorts of places. Vent on here whenever you need to. And thinking of you too luckynumber as I remember you saying you weren't sure about it all as it was unplanned etc...hope you're doing ok.

milko - was going to start pilates on Monday, but then lost my live in sitter! Woe is me...
obem - I reckon the painful one was back to back as that's what the pain is like. I just don't think they managed her well. She wasn't comfy with both legs on the bed, but they kept putting her back on. Why did she need to be on the bed? My 2 were back to back and I couldn't have sat on a bed or led on a bed for anything.
cupcake - thanks. I just can't be happy about being pregnant with DP away and it's hard as everyone asks questions, "do you know what it is" etc and I can't happily talk about it or think of names etc when I just don't want to be in this situation. I'm trying not to feel guilty about feeling so bad towards this poor unborn child as I know eventually everything will be OK and guilt will just make me feel worse. I do have friends to talk to and my DDs are carrying on as normal so I am "managing" and "coping" very well.

pelvic floor

Miko - I did pg yoga with my first and active birth yoga with my second and I loved it!! So relaxing to have some me time and concentrate on the baby. Useful preparation for labour? It depends on you. I'm just unable to breathe slowly when I'm in labour!!! But good to talk and try different positions.

Littlsarah - you are training to be a doula?? I'm kinda exploring my options ATM and doula is something i have envisaged although I'm not sure how it would fit with 3 kids under 4, a hubby who works long hours and no family around.. I had a doula for my vbac and she was great! Dp wants a doula again this time around, just to be here and be a back up.

Good to see the discussion of buggies etc starting as we are just beginning to think about getting ours. We had a fab offer of an unused and v expensive one from a friend but sadly it was too big and bulky for our needs (we live in a flat; would need to get it easily up stairs, have a small car etc). Do any of you have recs for small, light and easy to construct travel systems (keen to get one that's compatible with a car seat)?

Baby is getting quite wriggly now, especially in the afternoons and evenings :)

Have my appointment to check out this cyst thing on Monday - good thoughts much appreciated!

I seem to have a Quinny bias as I have my heart set on a Buzz, but the Quinny Zapp is meant to be light and compact, and is also compatible with the maxi cosi car seats. I'm sure someone who actually has practical experience of using buggies, instead of just driving them around their local mothercare, will be along soon to advise though!

Woo for wriggles! Will be thinking of you on Monday, hope all goes well.