BROOKING NO ARGUMENT for pain-free sneeze births and an abundance of empty birthing pools - pt 12!

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

I think this is the first time I've ever started a brooking thread!

Re movement I can relate to what Whim said about feeling like something is happening but when I stop and concentrate I'm not sure. I think that is a more accurate way of describing it, although there have been some episodes of flutters, which I imagine is miniGen turning somersaults.

Tock I am getting pretty bad headaches too at 15wk. Sometimes they are pounding temples and other times it stems from my neck so I am trying to relax and stretch my neck/shoulders more. I use 4Head rather than paracetomol as I'm still a bit paranoid. It works quite well and peps you up a bit.

Nutella how are you today?

I'm doing OK food-wise, eating lots of heatlhy stuff a bit like Fluffy. I'm still off chocolate (not like me AT ALL) and not really snacking on naughty things, just fruit and nuts. I weighed myself today and I've only put on about 2lb but I am a bit overweight. Size 12 in maternity clothes and if I'm honest, size 14 normal clothes. Like Tock said though, when I BF DD I found it very easy to lose weight! Hoping for that effect again this time around.

Tock hurrah re heartbeat today! I've got my 16 wk appt on Friday - can't wait. Scan already seems ages ago!

Yay for a nice, strong heartbeat tock :) I gained 6lbs in the first 6 weeks, I think it must have been water retention as I've never gained that much that quickly in my life it levelled out after that, though.

Fab you're getting an extra appt, even if it's just to listen to the hb etc :) Is your 20w scan actually at 20 weeks? Exciting :)

Chocolate was the only thing that made me barf generic til I was about 20 weeks!

I'm planning to join Weight Watchers once the baby's here; there's a class just down the street and you get lots of points when you're bfing (37 daily + 49 weekly ). I figure there's probably not an easier a better time to do it.

Hi Gen - so lovely you are v close on my heels (I bet we end up v close together when it comes to actually giving birth). I hope your MW app goes well. Sounds like you are getting similar preggo symptoms as me. What are your instincts re' boy or girl? My 'jury' is still out though given my brothers have had all girls (4) I'm guessing it will be my job to big up the number of boys. I will seek out 4Head although I only take about 1 paracetamol every 3-4 days and I'm pretty sure it can't be too terrible for tinytock though do get a twinge of guilt each time I gobble a tablet.

Hi Fluff - sounds like water retention for sure. Will drop off in an instant. Don't worry about your weight for a bit after birth - just try to enjoy every minute of blissful knackeredness new baby time. WW sounds good for getting out of the house though and leaving DH in charge to experiment on his fathering techniques without a brooking mum fussing over him.

Yes my 20wk scan is bang on 20+1 according to first scan date though I would say that it's 19+summat according to my carefully timed and recorded SWI back in mid April. I'm not keen on accepting the scan date as they will try to induce me the minute I'm beyond 40wks (scan date), which is likely in my humble opinion and I dread being induced.

TTFN again!

Afternoon everyone. I've been really tired the last few days, so mostly reading and not posting. I went to my hospital appointment on Wed which was good, apparently I've been clear of cancer long enough that my risk of getting it is back to population levels :) Very good news to have.

Did the physio class then last night, was interesting and useful. Had a chat with the lady after and she suggested a few things which might help my back. One was sleeping with pillows, one to maintain the shape of the waist while laying on my side, with the edges of it supporting bump/stopping you rolling onto back, and another pillow between legs, knee to ankle. Both should stop twisting of back and hips during the night. Might be useful for you fluff?

The other suggestion was to get a ball to sit on and balance. Will help use the stomach muscles on my right side, which were damaged by the surgery. She said brains are guilty of 'turning off' muscles after injury, and just refusing to let you use them. I think this has been my problem, I am physically unable of tensing those muscles even a little. So the plan is to trick my brain into using them for balancing.

Tock so glad you got the nice strong heartbeat. I felt relieved to hear it at my 16w appointment, helped break up the wait between the 12 and 20 week scans. Not long left to wait for my scan now - Wednesday afternoon :)

Having my SIL over tonight to cheer her up. Going to bring forward some baby planning activities just for her. Think we might see about planning the babies room - it's currently a computer/music room. I've got a place to move the computer to, but not the piano and guitars, so it's going to need some planning.

Nutella I get dull aches quite often, I think it's just my tummy muscles stretching. Mine is mostly one sided too - but as said above, I only have 'proper' muscles on one side! I'm sure it'll all become much more clear cut soon as your little one builds up strength to kick harder :)

Hello thanks for all the opinions!
I'm still not sure about movements, 17 weeks today :o but hopefully all will be clear in the next few weeks. Generally the times when I think I can actually feel the bubba is at bed time. Still got pains (it's almost like having a rock sitting on my right hand side sometimes... Very odd) but they come and go so hoping that will ease off .... Yay week 20 growth spurt

I've gained a bit... Hopefully not too much should weigh myself again. When I look down I am sure my belly is huge, but in windows, mirror etc it's still at the fat pregnant stage.

Oh, re water retention, I have loads! Feel it all round my hips! It only feels better when DP give me a rub. Ho hum... Can't grumble too much; my preggo symptoms are pretty light in the grand scheme of things!

Great news about strong heartbeats and advice on back pain, hope all sorted soon.

Just wanted to say Tock that re paracetomol it is safe in pregnancy, but I'm just a bit paranoid and also it's a sort of personal challenge after all the lifestyle changes while TTC to stay off 'drugs', caffeine etc. Although I have had the odd dose when my headache has been really bad. I love the fact that we are so close together (and Whim as well). I'm looking forward to a mini-baby race like we had several weeks ago! My DD arrived on her due date, but my due date for this pregnancy (from the scan) is 5 days sooner than 'my' due date, so I'm expecting this one may well be 'late'. It's baffling how the medical profession set so much store in the measurements from the scan to give the EDD when surely there is a range of sizes for the foetus at 12 wk.

Stacks I think your plan is an excellent one and great to hear that your cancer risk is now back to general population level - brilliant news! Enjoy the room planning and tell us what cute items of furniture and accessories you are buying

Fluff I am so sad about the chocolate. The thought of it really makes me queasy. I have had a massive Toblerone in the cupboard for ages and it calls to me every night but my stomach says 'no'. Sob.

Hello how is everyone? Who is next to pop?
I am vvvv tired but dd is a lovely little pudding albeit one who feeds voraciously and all the time. My poor boobs have really been through the mill. I got mastitis the day after my milk came in which was horrendous but its all slowly getting slightly easier thanks to the breastfeeding clinic.
Love to all, hope all is well x

Sat in a grungy walk in clinic waiting room, waiting to see someone about thrush and a uti (or possibly a very kick-happy baby, I honestly can't tell). Just the way I wanted to spend 2-3hrs of my Saturday morning

Fab news about the cancer stacks. Will they continue to monitor you regularly or are you off the hook now? (I remember you find that quite stressful).

Where abouts do you position the cushion under your hips, right in your waist dip? I might give it a go :)

My phone ate my post and now I want to cry. Just feel so frustrated and angry and can't do anything about it because its just a stupid inanimate object.

Ill rewrite tomorrow.

Aww Stacks the wonders of modern technology?!? I hate it when the computer does that to me.
How is everyone doing? We actually have some sunshine here! Hurrah! And we are off to look at a flat in a bit which is nice because we went out for brunch this morning, (massive food fest :o) which they often do rather well here, and I think we will cycle over to this flat which will help process all the waffles and nutella and sausages I've eaten :o no not together!

stacks, I sometimes still want to cry or throw things when mn eats my long posts, time is so precious now (can I still blame hormones with 15 week old babies or just the sleep deprivation?). Much sympathy lovey and we'll look forward to reading it tomorrow.

Goooooood morning everybody :)

Stacks I hope your weekend picked up after the MN debacle?

Unbelievably, I haven't posted for so long this thread had dropped off my threads I'm on list. Running off to mw appt now, then seeing fluff. What an exciting day!

Just leaving now whims :o

My antibiotics make me feel sick :( Rice crackers are my friends...

Afternoon all. My weekend did improve, thanks. I felt so silly getting annoyed at my phone, which just made it all worse. It breaks quite often, and I know how to go back and copy the text so I don't lose it. For some reason though this time it deleted the copied text, which was infuriating! Anyway...

It was mostly a post to Fluff about the pillows, so not very exciting. Basically you want a soft pillow (feather ones work well) which you can scrunch in the middle to make a pasta bow shape. You put the skinny bit under your waist, and the two sides of the bow stick out to the front and back - one to support bump, one to stop you rolling onto your back. Then a second pillow between your legs from your knees to your ankles, this maintains a position much like when you're standing up straight, rather than a sort of legs-crossed-need-a-pee standing position that your hips fall into when you lay with one knee resting on the other.

I bought pillows specially for it yesterday, some nice feather ones from TK Maxx for £20. However, the physio also suggested just going along to a craft shop that sells beanbag filling and buying some of that cheaply. Then stuff a pillowcase to desired size. Much cheaper than buying a 'maternity' pillow, which is mostly just branding. I will say though that the extra insulation of the pillow either side of me made me over heat a bit, and I ended up mostly throwing the covers off. Turning over wasn't too much trouble, except for the leg pillow which I kicked off during the night. I did however wake up with less back pain, so maybe I'll stick it out and see if it continues to improve.

Can't remember what else I was going to say. I spent the weekend knitting a little cardigan for bean. I've got the back and one side done so far, it's so much quicker in a tiny size :)
Got my 20w scan on Wed too, really looking forward to it. We'll get to find out what flavour bean hopefully. I'm trying not to think too much on all the other tests and things, it's just a chance to see my bean and get to know him/her a little better. Positivity helped a lot by the frequent kicking and moving I'm feeling - it was strong enough for DH to feel last night too, which was really nice. He probably could have felt it ages ago if he was patient enough to sit with his hand on my tummy all night, but still :)

waves to all

Thanks stacks I'll give that a go. It's a bit hit and miss how I sleep, but that seems to be what sets my pelvis pain off? And it's only ever painful on the left side, oddly enough.

Good luck at your scan! Try not to worry, I'm sure they go smoothly far, far more often than there's a problem :)

Lovely coffee with whims this morning (thank you for the coffee and the cot!) - it was lovely to meet another Brooker :o

Thanks fluff, glad you got home safely. I've been uploading the last lot of cds to itunes all afternoon. Best get back to the packing.

Hi everyone. Hope you had a lovely weekend and are enjoying the summery weather. stacks that all sounds very technical! I've got a dream genii pillow that I got on special offer with DD, and have been using that. I think it's the same principal. I get rather hot with it too, not helped by the fact that a) my body temperature is naturally elevated now and b) I like to sleep completely covered up by the covers, in my own little cocoon!

And guess what? I'm sick again. But it's all my own doing this time - I ran out of Sanatogen M2B vits, and rather than buy more I decided to use up the Pregnacare ones I have in the cupboard. Big mistake. You know how sick I was at the start? May not have been just the morning sickness I've been horribly nauseous since I re-started taking them, and have had a few bouts of vomiting. God knows what they put in that stuff, but it really doesn't agree with me! DH got me some Sanatogen again, so I'm off the Pregnacare for good now.

Baby kicking me in the pelvis. Ouch!

Ooh, anyone done an actual hypnobirthing course? I really want to go to one as I felt like the CD was good, but I would like to know a lot more than it went into. I've found out that the iconic Janet Baskelas is running a course near me soon, but I can't attend as we'll be on holiday at the time :( Would like to find a good alternative, although quite frankly I'm considering cancelling my holiday for Janet!

Ah, sorry, that was a bit me-me-me.

How are you all? fluff I hope you're feeling better now. UTI & thrush are not fun. Sadly the antibiotics will probably make the thrush recur, so stock up on Cansesten Combi. You can buy it from the supermarket, although obviously you can't use the maternity exemption for it.

So lovely there was a meet-up today :) Let's do more of these!

Love and good pregnancy/post-grad vibes to all brookers - stacks, whims, jen, fluff, tock, nutella, gen, munx, cakes, dream, ninja, little, loopy, olives and anyone I've missed!

Hello

I am being kept awake by both my children. The one who is already born has been put back to bed after lying in with me smacking me in the face while the one who has yet to be born smacks me in the ribs and pelvis.

Sigh. Am sitting waiting to see if the Calpol administered will work and then I shall attempt to get some sleep.

I have a dream genii but I agree...it's too hot ATM and I am flailing about trying to turn over with my broken rubbish pelvis!

Sorry I am the one who is a bit me me me smegs

I hope everyody else is getting some sleep and that fluff feels better soon.

It's my left side too funnily enough...... The nerves are really bad so have put in an emergency call to the physio.

Right, shes quiet so I am going to attempt to get some Zeds.......

Gosh, I'm sorry to hear about the sleeping problems, sleep is my favourite hobby, sport, past time.... I love it! I spent 8 years in a job which meant I became a champion at functioning on 6 hours or less as the norm and I haven't missed it for one second!
What am I going to do when bean arrives :o

Munx being smacked by both kids at once... That is pretty harsh! Hope they don't team up and cause extra trouble too often....

Smegs I remember another friend not being able to take Pregnacare once pregnant and they felt instantly better when they stopped taking it.. How very odd! But you're not alone.

Have a great day everyone!

Oh yes - I think pregnacare makes you feel rough too. I didn't get sickness but I remember working out that if I took pregnacare without food I would feel dodgy. Gave up early on in pg1. Have some Zita West vits this time but take only a third of the recommended dose plus aloe vera.

I've been on a hypnobirthing course Smegs with pg1. Most useful aspect - training DP for the homebirth. Ask away if you have questions. I have lost my CD that came with the Marie Mongon book; if any brooker with a copy is feeling kind do you think you could share with me, somehow or other?

Bit of news: I have a rock so it looks I am actually getting married in October 2013. Sorry if I don't sound terribly excited, possibly a slight anti-climax after all the shenanigans of expecting him to pop the question for around a year or more, . I do want to marry him... in sickness and in health and all that - though it will be a civil ceremony.

Sending brooks to everyone with aches, pains and on anti-bs. Hope it all picks up for you. I have a bit of a killer cold but first illness in 17wks, almost, so can't complain.

xxx

Congratulations tock! He finally did it! Any romance involved?

Don't worry if not, my DH proposed while I was eating a bag of crisps . It's the marriage wot counts, not the proposal/wedding.

I would love to pick your brains on courses. I've got two options locally, neither of which are great for us time-wise. Who did you see? Did you have to go far for yours? Was it private or group lessons? Sorry for nosiness .

Yes - I agree Smegs. He is the right man for me and that's all that matters. Not terribly romantic, although in the sunshine in a meadow. I was feeling rather grumpy and holding a ring-tailed lemur . As you might. He asked but forgot that he had a ring in his pocket or was trying to wind me up by making me remind him that proposals usually involve more than just the question. Unfortunately, I was a bit crestfallen by the ring when he fished it out, although it is definitely growing on me, despite being too big. A vintage 'modernist' style, but on a gold twisted/fissured-looking band (I am too pale for gold) with a rock in a claw and I'm terrified I will take out DS's eye or do something hazardous. I think we will adapt it if I can find a jeweller willing to do the work for us and not empty our bank account. DP was v nice about it. I'm such a fussy old bag and you're right about wot counts but as I'm going to wear the bugger for the rest of my life I'd quite like to like it.

Ok - the Hypno course was 4 x 2-hour sessions run by a St Tom's n Guys midwife who had 4 kids of her own. There was only one other couple on the course - actually might have been easier with about 4 couples. We talked through the methodology, watched some v good birthing videos (including 2 births in the sea!) and we always did a guided meditation at the end. I found the book more inspiring, and enjoyed trawling through positive natural birth stories on the web. But DP definitely absorbed a lot and didn't bother with the book so he wouldn't have 'got it' without the course. It was a short drive away (in Blackheath) in the evening. Of course, all easier as we didn't have to fix a babysitter. hth.

xxx