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

[Yorky]

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

sugarx just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear what you've been going through in the last few months... How could so much happen in one family in such a short space of time, and all while you are coping with pregnancy and the life changes that brings. I don't know anything about the condition that has been identified at your scan, have you been given lots of information / support with this by the hospital? I hope that you are are on an upward curve from now on, and that things start to improve with your sister. Puts my issues into perspective!
Hi harecare too. I was glad to read you are getting some support at home on a practical level with DP back at home. But I know you are still feeling overwhelmed emotionally, and I can imagine how hard it is right now. Not much help I know but I'm thinking of you.

Tomorrow I think I will find out if I'm about to be made redundant. Have been given a meeting time with the head, so I'm guessing that's what it will be about. Crossing fingers but it's not looking hopeful.

sugarx and harecare - I was so sorry to learn about what you've been going through, I really feel for you.
luckynumber11-can they do that? I thought the LAST thing any employer would do, tough times or not, was to make a pregnant woman redundant! I don't know your circumstances obviously but do you have an employee assistance programme you can call and discuss your rights?

Hello ladies.

I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself the last week or so, but now I feel bad reading about sugarx and harecare and their tough times, my thoughts are with you ladies!

I am just miserable because of the SPD, which is making my life pretty horrid at the moment. I had a group physio session at the hospital yesterday which told me nothing that I hadn't already gleaned from the internet or been through in my 'Fit for Pregnancy' session at the other hospital. I have a doctor's appt tomorrow (was meant to be Monday, but they cancelled on me) where I am going to beg for help/pain relief.

In other joys the acid reflux has been making itself known occasionally, so I now have a bottle of Gaviscon on my desk at work, one at home and some sachets for out-and-about. It was really bad last night, but I think that's because I gorged myself silly had a large dinner.

I'm still excited about LO though, nothing so far has made me think that this won't be worth it when she is finally here.

My cot arrived yesterday! It was delivered to my Mum's though as we'll be moving house before the baby comes, so I don't get to gloat over it. It's a Baby Bay, which I managed to get over £100 cheaper than in this country by ordering it from a German seller on eBay (it's a German product, which DH and I always find reassuring).

Hi ladies, glad to see an influx of posts after I accused you all of being quiet

miko hope the docs can give you some answers...do you already have one of these back support belt thingies? Apparently meant to help lots. Ah I remember having gaviscon on my desk when pregnant with ds...thankfully I haven't had reflux too badly yet this time but plenty of time yet!! I get it in my throat, a horrible burning sensation!

lucky I think itchiness in pregnancy is v common..I remember a lady on my last an thread who had itchiness all over her body and it just drove her mad - she was taking baths with special solutions in and some medication...it had a specific name the condition but can't remember it... anyway, doesn't sound like yours is severe but still must be so annoying! I remember getting a ridiculously itchy bump in the last few weeks last time... I would stand in the shower and just scratch it for ages ...prob due to all my nasty stretch marks though!

harecare glad dp is back for the time being but still can't be easy for you thinking about the future...hope you're ok :( x

sugar just so sorry to hear about your parents, can't believe it And your sister too...really hope baby is helping you to keep your spirits up a bit.

miko - Here's a tip: don't leave a magazine on a laminate floor and then slip with one foot to spread your legs wide suddenly... OOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! I hope you can take it easy and be very careful. Follow all the advice you've been given and see a chiro/osteo and at least you can "manage" the pain you're in. If you can avoid long term damage then it really will go once the baby is here - small comfort I know when there are months to go and you want to be "enjoying" your pregnancy.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts. I haven't cried all week which is a huge bonus of having DP here! If you can send any tips/advice on how to help him fall back in love with me I'll happily put them into action. We are respecting one another and I'm enjoying planning things to do on my "coparenting nights off" Usually I don't go out a lot, but I'm seeing a friend tonight and then off to a poetry and music night on Friday, so not all bad really.

Hi all!!

I check the thread almost everyday but don?t often have something to say ?.

Sugarx ? Really sorry for you? it all must seem very surreal for you. Hope your sister gets well very soon

Harecare ? Glad your DP is back. Do you think there is any chance of him changing his mind and staying longer with you?

Mikocat ? swimming is NOT good for SPD but just being in a swimming pool for a good 10-15 mins was such a relief for me when I was Pregnant with DS2. Whatever you do, don?t spread your legs!!

Mythical ? let me join you on the packing front? we are moving on Tuesday to our new flat and I only have Friday to pack on my own. We did try and manage a few boxes last week-end but with two active little boys it is quite hard work.
We also need to renovate the flat (incl structural work and loft extension) so we are going to live in a building site ? Im hopefull we will get MOST of the big work done before BB3 arrives?Fingers crossed

Weight gain/appetite ? I noticed a huge increase in appetite over the last two week or so (and I am only 22 wks). I seem to be eating constantly? really not good for my body image? and I feel like DP doesn?t want me anymore (because im huge and the fact he is knackered because of work)

Mothercare swimsuit ? whoever recommended Mothercare swimsuits ? thank you!! Im now the proud owner of one now and just need to put it to test.

Doula i have sent in a few requests for doulas this afternoon bc DP would really like to have one again and i have to say i appreciate having someone else to support us/me. Hopefully one of the lady i wrote too will have some availability... Im really thinking about it as a new "career" in a year time or so...

Finally TMI? Im leaking pee big time.. so much I have to wear liners everyday? so PELVIC FLOOR ladies!!!

Hello all! Nice to see the thread a bit busier in the last few days :)

Harecare - glad you are getting a night off. Do you really think he has fallen out of love with you or is it a mini crisis over having another baby? Hope things work out for the best as soon as possible with as little disruption for you all as possible.

Sugarx - what an awful time you've been having :( Wish I could do or say something to help ((((hugs))))

lucky - I seem to be getting random itchiness but moisturising definitely seems to help.

Miko - feel free to have a moan as SPD is no fun. Hope you manage to keep it in check as much as possible.

Totasky - doula sounds great (both for you to have for the birth but also for a future career move!)

I've been potty training 2.8yo DS since Sunday and today he's showing signs of properly grasping control. We've not had any accidents today (except when he tipped the potty over in excitement at having done a wee ) and 6 successes. We also managed to go out and do our usualy Wednesday Jo Jingles and soft play activities so I'm stupidly proud of him :)

Wow SES - he is doing really well, DD has been potty training since just before Christmas and I still get excited when she comes home from one of her morning sessions at nursery in the same clothes I dropped her off in!

Sugarx - how on earth did you cope with all that being thrown at you, I can't cope with daily life while under the influence of random hormones, you are doing so well, wish we could help somehow

Tostaky - we had a doula for DS2s birth, she was a trainee and advertised on MN for experience, she was really handy for advice and support as he got later (11days is a very long time!), I've wondered about doing the course as I want to be a MW eventually, but I've also thought about doing the NCT antenatal teacher course which is probably easier to work around kids

Harecare - not a magazine but a cut off piece of laminate from the floor he was laying at the time, same effect though. You have my sympathy. Would so like to move without pain :( felt really selfish when the nursery at DS1s school rang to see if DD wanted a place at their nursery after Easter and I said she could wait till Sept cos I didn't need another daily school run to do with my pelvis falling apart

On a slightly happier note, DH thinks we can get the car fixed for less than we originally thought, still could do without spending a few hundred on it though - was hoping to get a private scan we could take DC to during Feb half term, but think that money has just gone under the bonnet, at least we hadn't told them we were thinking about it so they don't know they're missing it

SES and Yorky - Glad to hear your potty training is going well, mine is still not going anywhere, ds just doesn't seem to understand, argh!

sugerx - I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. I hope you are managing your grief okay and getting lots of support. Fingers crossed your sister gets a diagnosis soon.

tostaky - My appetite has gone a bit weird last few days. Can't seem to manage dinner but snacking later on is fine, tonight I had barely any pasta but two cupcakes. Yesterday barely any chicken and rice but then toast and crisps.

tostaky - Mothercase swimsuit - yes please!! I bought a horrendous one from Ebay (I don't usually but anything from ebay to wear and this thing just confirmed it-for some reason it wants to show off the boobs, eek) so need to try again. Would you but the size you are usually & how much do you need to spend for something that actually fits as none of my mothercare shops & similar stock swimusits so I can't try one on?
On the emotional trends-oh yes, crying is defintely part of the daily routine now! I scared the life out of dp last Sun as he made me cry three times in one afternoon. And I can't watch a lot of tv programmes/ads any more (the ads for 'War Horse' in cinema have been so embarrasing because they really make me cry-god knows what the people around me must think!!) So I take my hat off to all you ladies here who are having a tough time with really big decisions & issues. Hugs to you all.

Harecare Ow ow ow! That sounds horrendous (although did make me laugh a little bit - sorry!), I was trying to get into the bath in the 'ladylike' way that they recommend you get in and out of cars, i.e. sit down and then swivel legs round together, unfortunately I kind of slipped and the edge of the bath went right up my bum (with a fairly dramatic sucking noise that DH could hear out in the hall), I won't be doing THAT again.

Went to docs today and she gave me Co-codamol and wrote me off for the rest of the week (she did offer to write me off for a full week, but I felt a bit guilty as I'm not in work for that much longer anyway), anyway I'm under instruction to limit my activities and try and catch up on my sleep for a few days. I did blub BIGTIME in her office, which probably helped. She said that they might have to write me off work full-stop if the pain isn't manageable, but she was worried that I might actually be worse off at home going out of my head with boredom! Anyway, I'm going to get back on to the physio dept at the hospital for a proper appointment.

On the plus side LO is going crazy lately kicking me all the time, which is nice as I like to think that she is happily wriggling away in there, oblivious to what's going on out here!

Hi all!

Sorry I haven't checked in or a while - life is amazingly busy with work, and I'm trying to spend as much time as possible 'relaxing' too.. not that that always works out.

Sugarx, I'm so sorry for your losses, and for the tough time you're having with PG too.

Harecare, I don't blame you for crying. I hope things are slowly working themselves out - make sure you take care of yourself.

Miko, definitely chase the physio department - and ask them what other activities they would recommend to help try and ease the pain. Sorry you're suffering so much :(

All is good here, PG wise. Had a midwife appointment today that went well! Have bought a pram/buggy, cot and carseat, so feeling rather prepared (I have lots of jobs due to the nature of my career, but can only get maternity pay from some, so am buying everything while we still have the money to do so!). Only nine more weeks of work (and less for some employers), so hurrah!

The only other bit of madness here is that we're house hunting. We're renting at the moment, but can afford to buy if we get a mortgage confirmed before the end of April. Looks like we may well be moving either when I'm huge, or lugging a newborn around! Exciting none the less :)

Hello Ladies. Sorry not to have posted for a while but have tried to catch up on all your news! Welcome to the newcomers & big hugs to all those who need it.
I had a stressful Nov/Dec as we packed up the flat & put the contents into storage (or sent stuff to charity or the tip!). We then took a long holiday to see family & friends in California, Melbourne & Sydney which was lovely (actually it was totally awesome!!) and arrived in Joburg this week. (RTW ticket was cheaper than a return to Melbourne for our friends wedding so we thought right lets do it - once in a lifetime & all that!). DH has a project out here & has been travelling back to London every other weekend for nearly a year so I thought I would avoid the British winter to come join him. I am here until end March so will be exactly 33 weeks when we fly back to London.
It is a bit weird to have gone from alleged high flying career (just an excuse for your employer to expect you to work all hours god sends) to not having any work to do all day. It has hit me this week as DH has been back at work. Don't get me wrong though it is amazing to do this now & avoid all the stress that goes with the job which I am sure will be good for me & LO, especially as I have been warned I may be at higher risk of PE due to a low PAPP-A score at my Combined Test & family history. Fingers crossed I am allowed to fly back!! (we are prepared to fly back earlier if necessary but need to find a dr out here to "look after" me so I can be monitored)

Btw - has anyone tried to find travel insurance? What a nightmare it can be!! Please check your policy wording carefully as many insurers do not cover pregnancy at all. I don't know how they are allowed to do it but it was a very stressfull search fir me before we left. Nearly had a stand up row with DH about it due to some of the quotes we had (quite amusing in hindsight as we were on Skype at the time!!). Eventually went with these people:
Citybond Suretravel
109 Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4SY
www.citybond.co.uk
Tel: 0845 618 0345
A division of Citybond Holdings Plc

The quote was fair & they do not exclude pregnancy so long as you are following dr advice. If we need to use them I will update you on how good they are.

Right time for TMI..... Haemorrhoids... Yes. Is anyone else suffering? I don't know what to do but I think the combination of long flights, different food, pregnancy & the resulting constipation ha now led to this sorry state of affairs. Any tips for dealing with it would be gratefully received! Plus any funny stories to relieve the stress!!

Hope everyone is feeling better in this trimester. I feel good although still in denial :). We had a great 21 week scan in Australia though & all seems to be going fine. We are expecting a surprise so grannies are instructed to knit white cream or mocha. I will have another scan at 24 weeks & at 28 weeks to check growth & PE risk so we will get the chance to see LO again. LO is not doing much which I am secretly disappointed about. You all seem to have v active LOs.... But perhaps I am too overweight to feel it? I get the odd sensation mainly in the evenings though so maybe I just need to tune in more!

Am looking to do NCT when I get back but difficult to know where to book as we don't know where we will be renting!! Love to hear your NCT stories - is it a good investment of time & money? I have heard mixed stories from my mates.....

Wow SirCharles, your trip sounds fantastic, what a wonderful excuse your Melbourne friends provided :D

We have replaced the car thanks to a loan from bank of MIL so less stressed than I was on Friday, but still dreading June as DH is very likely to be made redundant (forces) so he is lookig around for options. Its kind of nice to have the fore warning but I'd still rather know than try to plan when there are so many variables and unknowns

How are people finding the speed of pregnancy? I was saying to DH the other week that I felt like I'd been pg for ages and it had only just go to the point when medicine would try and save it if anything happened - and now I feel like I've got ages to go, mainly I think cos I went into town while kids were at school/nursery and did too much so now feel like I can't even do retail therapy till baby hatches and SPD (hopefully) magically disappears

Yorky-SPD-I really feel for you. I got it really quickly in 1st trimester and the only thing that seemed to work was doing nothing lying on the sofa! It is almost completely gone now though, only comes back if I go for a long walk so fingers crossed yours improves too. Have you had a session with a physio? I was shows all sorts of support for it, the one most people liked best was a sort of massive tubigrip that you put over your bump?
Speed of preg-oh I know, it feels amazing to know that as of tomorrow this bump is officially 'viable'!! and also like you say so long to go still (almost 4 months for me). I am trying to do all those growns up things that will be tricky soon enough, atm-eating out, theatre, cinema....though I also feel guilt, like I should save ALL my spare money and do nothing! also the weight gain is now kicking in-having put nothing on for ages, found I had put 2kg on the other day! Here we go.....

Hi everyone,
Yorky I sympathise with the redundancy fears / uncertainty and not knowing whether to apply for other things etc. I was told last week that they still don't know whether they will be making me redundant, as my school won't find out what money they're being given for another month or two, plus they won't know sixth form numbers till sept etc. So I'm on the list of potential redundancies, but can't tell me one way or the other. (I think one of you asked if they're allowed to make pregnant women redundant and yes, they are, as it's not just me affected but also the girl I jobshare with. So I can't prove they've picked me out for redundancy because i'm pregnant).
To complicate things, I've now been told I could transfer to a job working for the borough, but I have to decide in the next couple of weeks, without knowing if I would be made redundant from my current job or not. The borough job will involve earlier starts in the morning, working in the school holidays (tricky and not what I want with 3 kids), plus there's a possibility they will be undergoing some restructuring there in the summer, so I don't know how secure that job would be either!! What a dilemma, in my line of work I am unlikely to be able to get a job anywhere else, as loads of people in my profession have been made redundant this year, with the cuts made by local councils. So a lot of us out there looking and no-one recruiting!
Also, like you Yorky, my husband is waiting to find out whether he will have to leave his job in Sept 2013. If he does, we need to think of a complete career change...not easy for older men in the job market right now. But he might get his job extended, we just don't know, and it's difficult to plan for that. Work and income just a bit of a dark shadow right now that I try not to think about, as it's not going to be good with three little ones if we're both out of jobs! But it may not turn out that way...
Re: weight gain Basse, I don't weigh myself, ever, so I don't know how much I've put on. But I can tell it's steadily going on, hips, thighs, bum etc, not just bump! I've always carried quite small in previous pregnancies, but I'm sure I'm looking much bigger and bumpier this time, and friends/family agree... so hoping I'm not going to be massive and uncomfortable in a few months time. (And hoping I don't find I've gone up about 3 dress sizes once baby is out, as I'm not a dieter!)

weight gain - I've put on a stone already since before I was pg and really want to be able to get back to my pre-DS weight at some point (preferably before Christmas!)

Yorky and Lucky - hope the job situations resolve sooner rather than later. Sometimes it's the being in limbo that is the worst.

SirCharles - WOW at your trip!!!
We did NCT pre-DS and it was really worth it, particularly for the group of friends we made. 3yrs on and we still have nights out together and see each other fairly regularly.

luckynumber11 and basse - I have been weighing myself recently, especially as like you lucky I have always been quite small during pregnancy and this time seem to be far bumpier, and I too have definitely noticed a good gain recentlybasse! tostaky - was it you who mentioned the NCT email about putting on a lot of weight after week 24? Seems to be correct where I am concerned!

Yorky - Speed of pregnancy is strange. Seemed to take an age to get to 13 weeks, then pretty fast til recently, now it seems to be slowing again. Think once I hit trimester three it will feel like it is moving again, plus by then I should have sorted out maternity leave and maternity allowance (am self-employed) and be getting that wee bit closer to my 32 week can I still have a home birth or is the placenta still too bloomin' low scan...

SirCharles - Glad you had such a fab holiday, sounds amazing. I liked NCT although mine was just a short course so didn't really make any friends. Young single mum to be didn't really fit in! I think I'll go to my local parent craft classes this time as I don't live in town anymore and it would be nice to meet some other women in the area.

Afternoon! I have put on 7 kg & am 24 weeks. This is 7kgs more than my consultant wants me to put on during the whole pregnancy though. Personally I thought her mad telling me to remain weight neutral. It is not as if I am clinically obese. Yes I did have a BMI of 30 at the start so am classified as obese but seems a little odd that if I was a few pounds lighter I would not have been told to stay weight neutral! Anyway, I get what she is saying. The lighter you are the less likely you are to have complications and due to my family history of PE and my low PAPP- A score I already have an increased risk of complications so I need to minimise any others. So, I have joined a gym ! And I tried an exercise class on Friday. The most fun in the name of exercise ever.... Preggi Bellies!! Check out the video on the website. Was fab. V tiring exercising after not doing any for years but try it at altitude - I thought I might keel over after the warm up!!!. Their answer phone message cracks me up too "& remember Preggi Bellies ladies do it on the ball"! Hilarious!!!! Preggibellies
Someone should bring a franchise to the UK?! It is already in SA & Aus...

Right, an off to sgn up to NCT classes. Fingers crossed we end up renting in the area of London I sign up to!

Hope you all had a great weekend.

SirCharles - what area are you signing up for a class in? I've signed up for a course in London in April even though we don't have anywhere to live when we get there yet! (I signed up with my Dad's address).

27 weeks tomorrow and I have put on 1 stone 4 lbs so far. It seems like a lot but DH (bless him) says that apart from the bump I look the same (totally untrue - I do love that man).

Is anyones bump getting heavy? I move around a lot for my job, and am getting tired now. Am 24 weeks!

Does anyone feel like their skin on their bump is getting stretched now?!

Hi, I've been away for a few months, I had a late MC last summer and after I started getting anxious after the first few weeks, decided to stay away from forums until after that point had passed this time. But I'm at 24+ weeks now, she's wriggling consistently and has looked good at all the scans so I felt a bit more confident about coming back. Getting a bit excited now! My other kids will be 11 and 8 by the time she's due, so it's almost like starting again. I'm trying to be restrained with the shopping, but the knitting will be picking up pace in the next couple of months! And DH is so excited, it's cute. He even brought home a pair of pink converses 3-6month size today - very unlike him! I'm moving house in (hopefully!) 3.5 weeks, but DH and DCs are being firm about me not doing too much, which is lovely!

I hope everything is going smoothly for all of you. I'll go and try to find a stats list to add myself to now, as I'm sure you'll have started a new one since I was last optimistic enough to be here!

1st May - Mikocat #1- Scan = Girl
2nd May (or 28th April by scan) - Harecare #3 - next scan 12 Jan
2nd may - DialMforMummy, #2
2nd May - MidwifeWithABump #1
3rd May - Mythical #1 - next scan 11th jan - Girl
3rd May - LadyMaybe #2, Surprise - next scan 29 Dec
4th May (or 30th April!) - Yorky, #4, Scan = ????
4th May - saggybaps #2
4th May - Goodname #2
4th May - Ariane5 #4 - scan = boy
6th May - Wrigglebum #2 - Surprise
6th May - Oltob #2 - next scan 16 Dec
6th May - Tara0202 #2
6th May - Purestcocoa, #1
8th May - Dreaming #1, Surprise
8th May - myweeangel #2 Surprise (but quietly convinced it's a boy)
10th May - Marmite123 #1
10th May - WaitingForalittlelamb #1 -scan = girl
11th May - Cairnterrier, #2
12th May- Chocolatesparkle, #1 scan = Girl
13th May - musicalmrs, #1 - next scan 4th Jan
13th May - Bonbonpixie, #1 - next scan 30th Dec
14th May - Montymum, #1
15th May - heidihole, #1
16th May - cupcakefairy, #2
16th May - Failsafe, #1
17th May - MandaHugNKiss #4
17th May - ballroompink #1 - next scan 29 Dec
17th May - Sunshinela, #1
19th May - SirCharles #1
19th May - NewToThisStuff
21st May - littlesarah, #3 - next scan 4 Jan
21st May - luckynumber11, #3
22nd May - Knittymum, #3, girl (confirmed by 2 scans)
23th May - tostaky, #3
24th May - MixedClassBaby, #2
25th May - LimeFlower #1 (bakingpowder=boy)
26th May - GingerLemonTea #1
26th May - BebeBelge
27th May - SES #2
28th May - Catsycat #3 - next scan 8th Jan (waiting list), (ring test = girl)
28th May - openerofjars #2
29th May - BlueCrane #1 - next scan 3 Jan
31st May - CluelessPro #1

I hope that was the latest version of the list - couldn't find any later than that!

Welcome back knittymum! & good luck with the house move. Have fun knitting. I did not pack my crochet hooks so may have to go buy new ones out here if the urge gets too great!

mikocat I have registered interest in the NCT Clapham weekend antenatal classes as DH will only be in the UK at weekends and neither of us have a clue about any of this!!!! Fingers crossed we are loving somewhere round there. We used to be in SE1 but that is too far from my friends with kids & a pain to get to/from Heathrow for DH. Where have you signed up?

hannahberry my bump is not heavy as such yet nor stretching the skin but I now weigh the same as I did last June/July before we got pregnant so I suspect that makes a big difference. However I have noticed lying on my front is now getting a little uncomfortable so these things may be about to change!! I hear supportive bump bands are actively recommended by health professionals in most countries, excl the UK. They support the bump & your back. My mum said they were still used in the UK in the 70s & highly recommends them. Perhaps you could try one? A little support could mean it takes a little longer to become tired - might that help?

In other news it felt as if a rugby game or ballet was kicking offin my bump the other night - just as I was going to sleep. DH is very excited because he could feel this. V cute!