August 2013 Part 3 - Adventures in the second trimester!

[FoofFighter]

Last fred here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1654660-August-2013-Part-2-Looking-forward-to-scans-and-the-beginning-of-bumps

Stats fred here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1655004-Due-August-2013-Stats-Thread

Welcome one and all to the wondrous second trimester where we shall bloom and glow

Hi all, been keeping up with thread and on Facebook but not posted much. Big congrats to all who have had healthy scans and know what they are having. DH and I are not going to find out the sex of our baby next week at our scan as I really want the surprise!

Woofers don't worry too much, I feel like j know nothing so bought a couple of books for my kindle. One of them opened by saying, actually parenting is based on instinct and when your baby is born you will just instinctively know how to do things. So u can get great advice here and from friends or family or ante-natal classes but I really took heart from the fact that actually it will just all fit together, it will be instinctive (even though it might not feel like it!). I am normally the works most anxious and stressful person but I have surprised myself at how relaxed I feel about giving birth and the first few weeks with a new baby!

Anyone else having a bump growth spurt at the moment? Feel like my bump has conpletely popped out in the last few days. Getting a lot of stretching and growing type sensations too. It's not painful but noticed I was walking 'like a pregnant woman' today! And holing my hips when I get up from my desk at work! Anyone else starting to feel big?

Meant to say 20+2

Hello everyone, lovely to hear good news about scans and ideas for names!

18+4, bump definitely showing, but scan not until first week of April - so impatient! Also, been off work with norovirus for the past few days, so feeling a bit sorry for self - also empathising more with those of you who had morning sickness which I escaped. I can now feel your pain, and it's only been a few days!

Don't think I've felt baby move yet, although sometimes I have the distinct sensation that it's just a bit, well, lively in there, although I can't pinpoint anything specific. How about everyone else?

Yes my bump has gone whoomp now at 18+1, will put a pic on FB tomorrow so you can compare it to last weeks :o

Yep, my bump's getting bigger too. I noticed it particularly at flamenco class this evening. Usually I rest my hands on my hips when practicing new steps but today when tried that it wasn't woring very well - not enough hips left!

20+4

Co-sleeping is not for us, either. I need my space in bed, even DP gets thumped politely asked to move over if he's crowding me. DD has slept in our bed a handful of times, when she was bf and woke too early to get up, but too late to go back to sleep in her cot. I would feed her lying down which would get her back off to sleep, and I might grab an extra hour's dozing, but generally couldn't get properly comfortable, and found myself really aching. I certainly could not sleep like that all night, I'd be crippled.

Muddy DD went straight into her own room, didn't stay in ours at all! With hindsight, I think that might have been a little harsh, making her sleep on her own, but I know I'd have been jumping up to check her at every snuffle, I'd have had no sleep at all. We're currently deliberating whether to do the same with DC2, on the one hand it feels a bit mean, but on the other hand, DP does a very physical job, with dangerous machinery, I prefer that he gets plenty of sleep.

Oops, forgot! 19+2, scan on Friday, won't be finding out sex.

Def feeling a bit bigger but a bit more 'compact' too (if that makes sense) so its more bump and less splodge lol. Have to put my knees out to the side to put knickers / socks / shoes on rather than knees straight up

19+2

Congrats on the first pink bump remembering! My scan is tomorrow at 11.20, hoping that baby is feeling co-operative.

Mat leave - I am having the full year off 28th July 2013 - 26th July 2014. I am very lucky that I work three short days per week (8.30 - 3.30) and can afford to have the whole year off. It's my last mat leave, so I intend to enjoy it (fingers crossed!)

Woofers LOL at tummy time for us! My little ones both hated tummy time with a passion. However, I did pick them up all the time naturally, holding them upright, feeding etc so we never had a problem with a flat head. My friend's DS had to wear a brace thing because he had a flat head, but it was a medical thing not because she left him lying down. We never had a sheepskin rug, I always thought they would be a nightmare to clean if they puked on them! Also, remember that the books are only there to advise you - your baby is an individual just like you, and you'll work out what to do. The absolute best source of advice I had was my DMum who was an absolute star - don't know if that's an option for you, but if you have any close female relatives they will be a godsend.

Co-sleeping - i kept DS and DD in a crib in our room until they stopped feeding through the night. We co-slept a little bit, and it was fine for us and they both now sleep through the night like angels. You've just got to be sensible and follow the guidelines eg no drinking, no smoking etc.

ooh MrsPennyapple - mine's not til next Wednesday - wish mine was friday!

The thing with pregnancy is your inundated with information, there's so much to read about the pregnancy and if you've time, the birth, that when your hokum your baby you realise you never read much about different methods of parenting! Which is fine on the whoke, because you follow instincts.

It's been 6 years since my dd's pregnancy, and I've spent a lot if time on parenting forums and blogs and I've had time to consider what worked and didn't, and which bits were instinct and which were following guidelines and culture and how evidence based or not those guidelines are.

The most determining factor though is your babies personality, they are all so different and one rule for all just doesn't work. You often end up doing things different than you ever thought and then have to change it again with the next. I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like getting to know a different little personality and the challenges that come with trying to figure then out :)

Morning everyone - it's a gorgeous sunny day here, hope the weather is on the turn now - I need Spring!!!

My bump has definitely jumped out in last 2 weeks too, bending at the waist is harder work and its 'solid' rather than could-be-cake. It's all rather exciting isn't it?!
Mat leave I'm starting early as I spend 5hours/day on a train either side of a full on stressful job so starting at 34 weeks with Hol beforehand. My last day is June 7th!!! I'm planning in taking the full year then accrued holiday so hoping to go back early August 2014 just after first birthday... I want to BF for first year and with my commute that will be v hard once I return so making the most of it

Good luck to waves for scan today

Good luck stopsitting xxx

I agree dave - i remember looking in books for things I was confused about with ds and thinkign 'but he doesn't do that - my baby isn't normal according to the book!' - so yes, sometimes putting the books down and just going with how your baby is and your instincts is a lot less stressful!!!

Thanks for all the reassurance gals.

I forgot about instinct. They didn't have ina may in the caveman times. Thanks for the horse analogy. I suppose mother and baby groups will be similar to being on a livery yard.

My m I L is rather thick limited with her experience, so I don't fancy relying on her, my mum told me that I should book in for a water birth, but couldn't comprehend why this wouldn't be possible - ie you don't choose when labour starts!
However I do have a few sensible friends. And instinct!!!

I've been thinking about the pros and cons of co sleeping. And since we have a king size bed and I think it's too small for me and hubby then co sleeping prob won't work. I like the idea of having the cot side down like the nct nest thing. However, I'd sleep in a stable with my horse (not with the baby tho! No need to alert social services yet)

I'm going to put a link to the organic sheepskin on my 'hint list'. Our babe is the first grandchild for both of our parents and the first baby in my family for 16 years. So it's a bit exciting.

Are you doing gift lists? Or buying everything yourself? Or have you had offers to purchase big items?

Woofers - exactly like a livery yard, find the right one or your stuck with a load of bitches. Missing my ponies today :( suns out and girl who loans my cob has a pic up of them getting ready to go for a hack :(

19 week 2 days

Xx

Hope your scan goes well stopsitting

Dave you're right, information overload really isn't a good thing. I'm trying to be relaxed about it all, but i'm a planner and panicer so it's hard!

chocolate I'll put my entry in for the Waddle for Life after pay day. It's been an expensive month so far.

Well I went for my first pregnancy type class last night with these guys, well the Edinburgh branch. It was really good, only three of us in the class so we got loads of attention.

Boss has given me a text book to read though at work, mind numbing!

Right i need a bit of advice on buggys. Ob i need a double and we have choosen the baby jogger city select as it converts back into a single.
Last time we had a hauck travel system that had a carseat and buggy seat no carrycot and was perfect and elle loved it. We have the choice with this buggy to get a carrycot would u get it or just use carseat?

Xxx

Woofers, no gift list here, don't think that'd go down too well!! GPs are buying the pram and that's it really. I shall drop gentle hints on FB for friends to buy next size up stuff as we are sorted for first few months, but that's about it really.

Abbie I'd go for the carrycot, carseats really not good for little ones.

www.dbh.nhs.uk/Car_seat_awareness.aspx

A lady on Netmums lost her baby girl after she slept all night in a carseat, very very very sad :(

Carrycot every time Abi, newborns aren't meant to be in carseats for very long and a carrycot will be much cooler for our summer born babies.

Hope your scan went well stopsitting

We co-slept with DD, and still do mostly (she's a wonderful hot water bottle) but not through a conscious decision. It was either co-sleep or no sleep for me! I perfected her lying with her head on my outstretched arm. This time we have the nct bednest so baby will have their own space but I should still be able to lie them on my arm and shift over to feed.

I don't think we need much for this baby, the two big things we needed we have got already but a few new blankets would be nice, I really like the ones in zara but they are expensive so don't feel comfortable asking for them!

Abi I'd get the carrycot and use it instead of a crib or Moses basket. If you put baby down for sleeps in day in carrycot an need to nip out on foot then you don't have to wake him up.

Lovely scan for me this morning - and I'm joining team blue

All looks great with the baby, and he was waving his lovely long musician-to-be fingers at me, and giving the old thumbs up. Super excited. STBXH didn't turn up which was a relief.

Just hoping I get over the sickness soon