January 2014 - thread 5 - getting excited as we all start getting 12 week scans and move into our second trimester....

[LittlePeaPod]

Here we go again....

Glad to hear I am not the only one with an inflatable/deflectable tummy.

MrsVDB the pregnant lady waddle just made me laugh out loud. Brilliant!

Toby good point on the earlier date. Thanks for that I didn't even consider it! I too have booked DF and I onto NCT classes. Ours start Oct/Nov.

MrsAVB No change here really however over time I have found some foods that I can eat if I get them down as soon as I have an urge. Like you I am still vomming as well. So basically carrying food (carrot sticks/certain fruit/ dairylea breadstick dunkers/Bombay Mix I know strange selection and a couple other things) around with me all the time. I am so pleased to hear your appetite is coming back. That's brilliant news even if the horrible vomming wont do one just yet. You are right about dates not mattering by the way? NHS Sonographer just said to me"this baby will come when it's good and ready. Not before and not after"

Penny ohhhh the dry scalp sounds unpleasant. Is it itchy too? My skin is starting to dry out but I have started lathering on Bio Oil mixed with Coco butter and E45?. Not that I am paranoid about stretch marks or anything

Stretch marks OK a bit of shallow vanity time now?. Has anyone else started lathering on oils/creams to try and reduce/stop stretch marks? I know this is probably down to genetics and locations/ oils apparently don't hit the dermis which is what is damaged but second/third etc. time mums what did you use that you swear by? I will try anything just so I know I tried? Mental, yes I know I sound totally mad and vain!!

NCT has anyone considered/historically done the post-natal NCT classes? And were they any good?

With regards the doppler I didn't get one because MW told me she would not advise it as there wasn't enough research to be able to say whether dopplers are safe to use in early pregnancy when the baby is at it's most fundamental development stage. She said that this was one of the reasons they stopped using it as well as the fact it can cause more concern when a heart beat is not detected. The other thing that scare the bejesus out of me was learning that the frequency concentration levels of dopplers are great than the general ultrasound machine because it has to penetrate deeper into the baby's little body. Apparently one minute of Doppler exposure equals 35 minutes of real-time ultrasound. That seemed a little intense for me. But like someone said earlier there are risks to everything we do/eat whilst pregnant so it's about how averse to risk each individual is as to whether or not the use the Doppler or eat stuff (tuna, shell fish, have a little wine/bubbly etc.)

pod I'm using bio oil in the hopes of avoiding stretch marks! I know it probably won't do anything but it makes me feel better. Although it helped some scars disappear so I guess it must do something. Celebrities never seem to have stretch marks and it would be a big coincidence if they all just had good genes!

That's basically what the sonographer said to me, Pod about the doppler (including hearing the heartbeat during the ultrasound). I hadn't realised it was any more than just turning the sound on during the scan!

Re stretch marks -- I really don't think it makes any difference. If your mum has them, chances are you'll have them. If you have them anywhere else, from just normal growing, chances are you'll get more during pregnancy. And celebrities do have them! There are entire websites devoted to it!

Morning .

apparently give it a day or so. I've had the same panics, around the same time as you. Nausea came back with a vengeance a couple of days after. Quite reassuring!

pea I also swell and deflate during the day. In certain dresses I look 4 months gone, in some clothes I am not bumpy at all.

Re first scan - I'm allowing about 2 hours, but mainly cos at the Royal London, they do bloods in Phlebotomy, so you have to go and queue. No idea though, have told boss my 'physio' was running late 'last time' so I'll keep him updated. Have booked three hours total (incl journey time). Cannot wait to be done with all the deception!

Felt appalling again this morning, gah. I did vary my breakfast again (foolish Humpty, bean only likes Marmite on toast) so that may be why. Appetite is recovering though, so that's nice.

toby I'm glad I'm not famous then! Me and mum both had them on our hips and thighs from puberty, but mum didn't get any in either of her pregnancies so I'm hoping I can avoid them, I quite like my stomach!

Afternoon all - lots to catch up on ...

MrsAVB that sounds like a fab scan! How amazing the detail they went into with you - that's really special!!! Loving the "can you pass a memo to bean...". Plus your discovery of the tennis ball! How cool!

Frizz will keep everything crossed for your DP. Bless him! Awful having your confidence knocked, especially when you try so hard!

Flowers they really are keeping you in suspense - hope you get some answers and dates out of them soon!

Tooth happy 12-week-aversary for yesterday and really hope your scan today goes well!

SarahL what fabulous news about your DH! What a relief! Really hope you have equally good news today at your scan...

Quack another fabulous scan story! So exciting!!!

Extra I have no advice but really good luck with the interview. I also wouldnt tell them unless they offer me the job.

Tarka good luck with the scan - hope it goes OK!

Pod really sorry you are still so rough - great you have identified a few "go to" snacks, but how exhausting! For me the last couple of days were much better and I thought I was coming out the other side, but today is back to ++nausea. However, I am able to tolerate more smells and am slowly getting a wider range of food I can eat which is definitely an improvement! The 1.6mm is the fluid at the back of the neck. They normally are particularly concerned about a measurement of 3.5mm or over, which can be indicative of certain condtions, such as downs.

And yes, my stomach definitely inflates as the day goes on (with some trapped wind to exacerbate it over the last couple of days too - joy!)

Humpty can't believe you varied your brekkie again! Have you not learnt from the other day???

I too would be interested to hear anyone's experiences of NCT postnatal courses as they are currently trying to get me to book one....

Shit, forgot to say: extra on the job front. Don't tell them (IMHO) - employers have every opportunity to screw you over, and they will. SMP is shit enough already (6 WEEKS at 90% followed by £130 a week - insulting), don't let them take more away from you!

Well I feel rough today. Thrown up twice at work. I've not had ms at all (I'm now 10+2) so think I might just be ill. Don't want to be a wuss and go home if it is pg related though . Meant to be going out for dinner with work people tonight as well.

Realised that sounded a bit bad. I meant if it is pg related I would feel a fraud going home when a lot of you ladies have had it so bad and managed to carry on.

toby that explains why the lady said she doesn't normally put the sound on when scanning (but did on this occasion as I was so paranoid sobbing like a crazy lady ) I thought at the time why doesn't she just turn the volume up so you can hear it every time!!

Afternoon all!

pea, Naturegirl and anyone else feeling sicky, sorry to hear it. Hope it passes soon.
And those not, don't worry! Someone I know NEVER felt sick and had no symptoms (except for bfp) and her baby is now 2!

I'm keeping mine under control by eating, eating and eating! I've lost 8lb so I don't feel guilty at all! Any other time I'd be really pleased as I'm now almost back at my wedding weight, but now is not the time for weight loss.

We've got cheese and marmite sausages tonight - my ultimate craving food! Just hope they live up to my expectations! Might take a smell or a bite and could go wrong. We will see!

Re: stretch marks. I lathered bio oil, then boots own stretch oil (cheaper but thinner), and was given some meals yard mothers balm (doesn't smell of much but v moisturising) during my last pregnancy. I got 1 tiny stretch mark where my belly piercing was, and nothing else. My mum and grandma didn't either so not sure if that has anything to do with it.

I'm not sure the creams work but worth a try. If you get them tho, try to think of yourself as a tiger who earned her stripes! ;-)

Arghhhhhh just had my lunch and I'm bursting out of my trousers! They are a size bigger than normal too! Desperate to find some nice maternity ones now.

I wish I hadn't used my Doppler now. I haven't used it for weeks and did use it a lot anyway. Scan showed heartbeat was fine, I just hope I haven't done anything to baby's ears!

It's more the pressure on the heart they worry about, as far as I understood it, Penny, and your baby's obviously looks perfectly healthy on the scan so I'm sure it's fine. I think it's more that they don't know exactly what the effects are, so they err on the side of caution.

I only know, MrsV, because I asked at my private scan about hearing the heartbeat. I remembered Pod(?) and someone else saying that they'd heart the HB and knew the rate from v early scans, so I thought it was just a case of turning the volume up, too!

stretch marks I'm already getting one just above my fanjo. SEXAH. I had loads as a teen, so not surprised and my Mum has millions. I don't mind them. I am v itchy, so use an oil to ease that, but have no illusions of it helping with stretch marks!

I have them too. Mine are very old, though, and practically invisible. My mum has loads, and my sisters. I was never going to escape that.

toby my old ones are invisible too now. Just sort of a different texture in places (boobs, mainly). I don't think they're ugly, just part of human existence, tbh. Not in a earth mother woo kind of way, I just think you have to accept them. It would be like trying somehow not to have a bump whilst pregnant!

I only have them on my belly. A couple on my hips, but none on my boobs. I used to hate them. Now I kind of love them.

I got a load of stretch marks when I was a teenager - all over my hips, thighs and some on my boobs, but not a single one when I was pregnant with DS. Weird.

I honestly think it's pot luck, but a bit of nice moisturiser never hurt anyone, did it

I am here, but I'm not here...it's Wimbledon and i'm glued to the sofa whist trying very hard not to throw up.

Sending best wishes to everyone. x

I've bought burt's bees belly mama - don't know if it will do anything to prevent stretch marks but it's helping with the itchiness.

My last word on dopplers but Penny don't fret. As I say my DS, my friends children and tens of thousands of other children are all absolutely fine after the use of a doppler.

My skin and scalp have suddenly gone dry - never normally an issue. I already have a few stretch marks on my boobs, hips and thighs from puberty, but they are all mostly silver now and not very noticeable. Hope I wont get too many more in pregnancy, but what will be will be. They arent high on my list of worries, but will probably need to start moisturising purely to stop myself turning into a scaley reptile if this dryness continues! Bought the bodyshop chocomania lotion and it smells lush!

penny although there are obviously concerns re the dopplers and nobody is sure of the effects, I cant help thinking if there was a really serious risk it would be plastered all over the internet/midwives would ensure we dont use them/warnings would be all over the main pregnancy websites. When I bought mine I wasnt made aware of anything and a lot of my friends used them throughout without any issues. I will think twice about using mine now just in case after hearing what everyone has said, but not going to stress about using it a few times already....well going to pretend I am not stressing about it anyway

Oof... Just had to run for the train in heels, geez... It's tough being a woman!
Stretch marks - I have a few on my hips due to university diet/ lack of portion control but they are mostly invisible unless you were really looking. Have bought some of the palmers cocoa butter stretch mark cream (it's on 3 for 2 at sainsburys with other toiletries ATM).
Does anyone know anything re. annual leave and maternity leave? Is it at employers discretion or is there legal guidance? Basically my office closes for Christmas anyway and we all get additional leave (on top on a/l). Ideally (and if im well) i want to work up til then, then start mat leave when everyone else goes back in jan. Annual leave year finishes at end of march and we are not allowed to carry over, does this mean I have to take it before mat leave (and therefore before Christmas closure), or is there a way of taking it in jan/ feb/ march so I get maximum time off with babe? Or is this all up to my employer?
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