Sept 2013 - kicks, prods and finding out the sex...

[LexyMa]

here we all are... hoping for nice clear 20w. scans, not too much inadvertent weeing and getting that 'glow'...

I picked up a speedo maternity costume from John Lewis as I really don't like the halter neck style that everyone else seems to sell.....too uncomfy if you're well endowed!

Not bought anything baby related yet, but have a John Lewis wish list building up & am off to a baby show on the 20th which am sure will signal the start of the spree!

Be careful with stock piling nappies as size could be an issue and also different brands have different fits so some will suit your baby more than others.

I felt the first little flutters yesterday - it's like nothing else but did take a few before I was sure.

I've also noticed the last couple of nights that it is much harder to get comfortable in bed. I usually sleep on my tummy but can't anymore. Trying to get used to sleeping on my side but keep waking up sort of wedged in between the two. I hadn't expected that to happen so soon.

I'm afraid we have bought quite a lot - car seat, pushchair, nursing chair, angel monitor, changing bag and lots of little bits as well. Mostly because this way we don't have to buy everything all at once which we wouldn't be able to afford. Can I let you all into a secret though? It is the best fun EVER!

Anyone else's bump smaller in the mornings? Mine seems to feel smaller and wobbly in the morning but grows massively through the day and becomes harder too...v odd

Flipflump, I've not really felt anything yet. :( I was starting think it might just be me. Glad to hear that there's a few others too. Also, my bump seems to have paused in growth. It had a growth spurt around a week ago but nothing since then.
Has anyone else noticed that your bump grows most when your sickness is at it's worst?

Ooh jammy I woke with a high-up crampy feeling this morning - ouchy!

lexyma I have found that my baby on board badge has had almost no effect at all so far! Hopefully you're brave than me and happy to ask for a seat if you need one

hetty I'm a stomach sleeper too and can highly recommend the full body length pillow that people were talking about on the last thread. It's not the most romantic thing ever (!) but omg it's sooooooo comfy to sleep with. Think it still on offer for a tenner in Argos.

fozzie my bump definitely grows through the day....am sure it has nothing to do with that fact that I'm pretty much living on a diet of carbs and veggies

Had an odd conversation with my bf last night....the subject of breast feeding came up, and she announced to the group that there was no way I'll be breastfeeding on demand for six months. I said that well that's my plan but we'll see how things go obv, but she was insistent and said surely I need to get baby straight onto a 4-hourly bottle routine so I can get my life back . Sigh - not even 6 months pg and already getting grief for our choices!

Flo your bump pics are gorgeous!

My bump defo gets bigger after food, which makes sense as there's less space for the bowels at the mo! And I feel sick when I have indigestion (usually when I've had too much food, like last night....). Gaviscon & peppermint capsules all the way for me ;-)

Am still on pregnacare as am veggie so have always taken a multivitamin, alot of the normal multi-vits have things in that you shouldn't take while preggers so I feel safer with pregnacare.

Ha lexy I take it back, a lovely lady on the bus just spotted my badge and offered me her seat

I'm having slight issues with the terminology 'bf on demand' with DH because we have a friend who tandem bf's on demand her 1yo and 3yo and with the 3yo it really is 'on demand' rather than 'ask nicely' - she is a slave to him/it and will not say no (nothing to do with bf, she won't say no to him about jumping on furniture or anything really).

It's given DH the absolute terrors and he has visions that if I start of bf on demand it'll mean ending up like that family.... I'm doing my best to reassure him but it doesn't help that we don't have a lot of other bf-ing friends who weaned earlier or mixed with ebf bottles (as I intend to).

Had lots of flutters all day Monday but none since I am feeling movement but it's more like little jolts has anyone else kind of skipped the flutter stage? I wouldn't say it was a big kick or anything but definately more than a flutter.

Bump seems to have stopped growing completely its the same size as it was at 12 weeks I'm now 18+1. I'm not too worried as am guessing that when I was 12 weeks (when I thought it was too big!) it must of been bloating
and now it's more of an official bump.

kitten glad you got a seat on the bus this morning

doritaI bought the left hand swimming costume here www.next.co.uk/women/maternity/underwear-swimwear/2

I tried it last night- worked well except when you push off from the side the top peels down a little. I don't think I exposed any nipple though!!

It was super comfy, loads of space to grow and it will be great post-baby whilst my body is all wibbly too. Highly recommended (unless you're a "serious" swimmer!) I did 30 lengths happily (second swim since before xmas) and was very comfy in it.

Jammy we're going to try real nappies, and have been donated a bunch. Will buy a few disposeables but hoping to go without the expense (also I'm a bit of a hippy!)

flip I've also found nose blowing and a lighter toothpaste helped.

Hetty- I also used to love sleeping on my front, but I broke my shoulder last yer and had to pump myself full of cocodamol and lie on my back (couldnt even lie on my side!). So I've got used to just having to lump it. You will too!

Fozzie my bump doesn't exist when I lie down, or first thing in the morning! but by lunch it's going "HELLO" and knocking things off shelves!

Kitten- BF is a very emotive issue. I would love to BF, and do so for as long as possible (ok, maybe not up to age 5!!) but maybe even up to the year, and ween when I go back to work. Not everyone's up of tea, but for me that feels like it should be the natural normal thing to do! I'm not having a baby to "get my life back" I'm having it to change my life forever!!!

Ready thanks! I am so glad I've got my creative mojo back!

jemimah depsite being told I'm likely to feel kicks as I'm slim, I'm still not really feeling anything as far as I can tell! Sounds like it's a wriggly little git (12 week scan and kicking the doppler at hte 16wk midwife appt) but I can't feel it yet!

Wow that was long! :)

Bad guider - maybe using the term bf ing on 'request' or 'cue' would be better terminology. With a newborn they aren't demanding it as such straight away, more giving you cues that's what they need (eg cute little mouth making sucky movements).

I bf DD until 2.3 (January) but not always on demand, it's usually easy to distract an older child if you choose too. Never planner to be an 'extended bfer' just said I'd give BFing a go and see what happens.

Likewise Jennimoo - I wanted to bf DS2 until 6 months if I could manage it and before I knew it he was 2! Went back to work when he was 10 months and expressed.

Yes, 'on cue' is a good way to put it for a newborn.

I was really taken aback when DH said 'I really hope you won't be bf on demand' and I said 'of course I will be' but then we talked and I realised he was thinking about the 3yr old we know.

While I don't judge their decision if it works for them, there is just no way I could bf a 3yo on demand whenever and wherever they want instantly as my friend does.

btw. not ruling out extended bf. Just extened combined with 'on demand' without boundaries.

Oh my days I just found out my friend is preggo this morning. She just did her poas and think she was in a state of panic! I told her to save up her wee and go get herself a pink (fr) test as I found them so much more sensitive. I so hope it's a real baby! All that seems so long ago!

flip following all my good advice last night I practically vommed on my toothbrush this morning...

hetty we are the exact same as you- been buying stuff for ages, cause I love to organise and prepare things but also mostly so that its not a huge financial shock come July/ August.

About the BF issue, I agree 'on cue' is a better description for what I am aiming for. Some sleepy newborns even need prompting and reminding to nurse regularly in those all important early days. I have seen threads on MN of mums waiting for their newborns to 'demand' and they end up getting themselves in a pickle, coz lots just don't.

I'm another who intended to ebf to 6m and then carry on till 1yo before switching to cows milk, however for various reasons I'm still feeding her at 2.5, albeit down to once every few days now. Fwiw I have not fed her in public since she was about 9/10 mo. Not for any special reason, just because she stopped needing to feed in the day.

jennimoo I have just realised our DDs must be very similar ages (Oct 2010?) :)

Are you planning on bothering with a double buggy can I ask?

Triple. I was on the Oct 2010 thread but DD showed up 2 weeks early in September!

We rarely use a pushchair so hadn't even considered getting a double. But I bet she'll want to ride when she sees her little brother in a pushchair!

Yes I'm hoping to mix with ebf bottles after the first few weeks too - in no small part because we feel it would be good for DH to be able to feed baby, and for others to get involved too. Incidentally my DH is nothing but supportive about bf...although he's slightly apprehensive about me feeding in public - think he has visions of me flopping a nork out randomly :o Not sure why my friend seems to feel so strongly about it - she doesn't have kids of her own so it's not from personal experience. Hopefully we'll be able to discuss things a bit more in the next few months - I don't want to be self conscious about feeding in front of her :(

At the moment our plan is bf (with some ebf bottles if poss) to six months, then introduce blw. It's just a loose idea of what we'd like to do though - all kinds of circumstances could change that of course!

Can I just come on and have a slight panic please? Just been to the loo and there was a little bit of blood. It was mainly when wiping - I've had quite a lot of mucassy discharge (sorry if tmi) and so it was mixed in with that but was red/pink. There were also a couple of drops in the loo. I'm trying not to panic. Not had any pain at all and feel fine. Waited 10mins and went again and there was nothing. Am I overreacting?

Been lurking as I can never keep up with the conversation!

Had my 16 week midwife appointment today at 18+1 an I got to hear the heartbeat. Midwife and I agreed it sounded like a train. Wonder if that'll be true. Got my 20 week scan on 25th and I plan to find out! Didn't find out the last time but seen as this one has been a wee surprise, I need some control and hope that finding out will help me regain that!

Not overreacting giraffe but try not to panic, it can happen for lots of reasons. Have you dtd recently as that can be a big cause, or it might just be some old blood coming away.

Give your midwife/epu a call and get checked out for peace of mind, but if its stopped already then it's probably nothing to worry about.

Deep breaths

Girraferama, I'm sure there's no reason to panic, but in your shoes I'd want to get checked out. Can you reach your MW?

Am wondering if anyone's had pain, like sitting on a knitting needle right up the fanjo. Sort of a pain/itchiness which is right inside. Sound normal?like a uti? Something else? Makes me move about in my chair to get comfortable. Went to the loo but it didnt shift it.