February 2014 - Part 4 Beginning to bloom (hopefully)

[ChocoFrog]

New thread and ever hopeful as we move into second trimester that we'll all feel wonderful soon...

[mrscookie78]

How funny 212VIP, you never know! so where did you have your first then? I'm nearer Frimley park this time round.

[barebranches]

gnitting im down for the PRUH...didnt know there was an open evening... what was it like??

[Somanychanges]

I just had a dream I was buying baby clothes and they were girls clothes. I've decided I have to find out sex as I have a preference (feel bad about that) and I need time to get used to it if its not the sex I am wishing for.

I know it won't really matter but there is just something in me which has always wanted 2 girls and 1 boy. I have a girl and a boy so I keep thinking this has to be a girl. But as I have one if each it really doesn't matter (that's what I keep telling myself) it just matters that its a healthy strong baby

[vix206]

Littlest I'm due 26 January but DS was 15 days late so I'm expecting an early Feb arrival. Plus I started the original thread for February

[tiegysmum]

Amicus, my due date is also the 30th Jan! My first was a little early and second came on her due date... So guess it could go either way! Vix I hope I'm not 15 days late though! X

[212VIP]

mrscookie DS1 came two weeks early. We were at a funeral in Poole when he started coming in the crematorium car park... I didn't have my notes or hospital bag. Was all a bit scary but seems a long time ago now.

Quite jealous of sell of you with no symptoms or bumps. I look huge already. Literally had to tell people from about 11 weeks as was getting strange looks. Boobs are HUGE and excruciatingly painful. I have to psych myself up to take my bra off at the end of the day!

Best of luck to all with scan coming up.

13+6

[Thingymajigs]

somanychanges We have two boys so there will always be a part of us hoping for a girl however much I deny it. However, after trying for a year for this little one I will honestly be delighted with either. I just need that scan to confirm either way to settle any niggles in my own mind.
Everyone who has seen our dating scan says 'BOY!' because they is a large blur between the legs. This is probably the umbilical cord but now its my default setting to refer to the baby in conversation as 'he'. I honestly can't imagine carrying a girl or having one now. That seems to be something that other people do. Silly really as I know it's 50/50.

[gnittinggnome]

sunflowered and bare it was an early pregnancy evening, with the NCT, council family services, a woman from Doula UK etc all there, and a short video of the services in the maternity ward. PRUH also have the Oasis Birth Centre, (which looks fab, and if possible I'm angling to go there - it's within the hospital so if it all goes tits up I'm two doors down from all the medical intervention you can shake a stick at) but that's only for low-risk births for women between 16-42 years old. The open evening is for anyone, I think, who's expecting in the Bromley area, and is on the 1st Tuesday of each month.

The reviews on the NHS site for the hospital are mixed, of course, but the negatives seem to involve overworked MW, which is why I'm hoping to have a doula there, so if I don't see anyone for a bit I've got knowledgeable support on hand.

The hospital was clean, didn't smell of ick, everyone was very jolly, and crowded - clearly Bromley are experiencing a baby boom. My booking hospital, where I'm doing my ante-natal appointments is also great - new, clean, easy to navigate - everything I was worried it might not be.

We are hoping to buy a home (renting so far) before Bean gets here, and may stay in this area which is nice, but miles away from friends, or move up into north London, which is far less nice but has friends around for support. Whatever happens, my plan is definitely the PRUH. The only downside for me is that were we currently live, we've just scraped into the catchment area for this hospital, so it's an hour by public transport or 35 minutes by car on clear roads, and I really don't want to give birth in a taxi!

[LovesToBake]

Thingymajigs I'm also pretty much expecting another boy although I'd really love either. Now I've had one boy, I can sort of imagine life with two little boys but as I don't think we'll be having any more, I would also love to have the experience of bringing up a daughter and all the potential that brings for a special relationship. Plus we have our girl's name sorted but are pretty stuck for boys names!

[Timpani]

I'm 1st Feb! Only just occurred to me that I should be one of the first... Duh!

[barebranches]

thanks for that gnitting im was looking at Oasis birthing unit too.
My appointment hospital is really hard to navigate! ive been lost every time!! im not that close to PRUH either and live right on the boarder with greenwich. Think the greenwich hospitals are even further though!
So glad to hear from someone thats visited PRUH.

[Thisisfreakingmeout]

Wowsers, this one moves fast! Good luck to those awaiting scans.
The birth experiences are very interesting. The fact you are all coming back for another is most reassuring of all! Thanks for sharing.

We are making a baby list of essentials to try to curb any insane purchases, and keep MIL & FIL from going dictating everything! Makes it feel real.

14+1

[Somanychanges]

champagne I would except the invite and then play it by ear. No one knows what the end of your pregnancy will be like. You may have had baby by then or might not have it until 42 weeks. I had had my first by 35 weeks because I got a liver disease called Obstetric Cholistasis which is a pregnancy related issue. I had never heard if it and had no idea that I would end up a high risk pregnancy.

However, I was still working right up until a week before having my baby and could have easily attended a wedding if it was not for having to be monitored in hospital so often. Just see how you feel it's a long way yet.

So I may be joining you early feb ladies as I also had my second early for the same reason and this condition has 90% chance or reappearing in subsequent pregnancies. I definitely won't be going over 37 weeks I'd imagine so that puts me at 3rd Feb.

11+3

[jayney86]

Hello still here, just marking my place

[Malteaser1982]

Morning ladies

I so loved the 40s recommendations - not so much when said to me by grandmas, MIL and mum when I had DD lol

I also enjoyed reading the birth stories. It's very encouraging that those on their second birth or more are not fearing birth this time round. I usually have a quite high pain threshold, so I hope it helps if I eventually get a natural birth.

Champagne I would still go to the wedding but would carry hospital bag and notes with me in case baby makes an early appearance.

So, yesterday I asked re no longer having sore boobs. By the evening they had become sore and heavy again (don't know whether my constant poking is to blame though ). This morning they are deflated again. But since I'm still puking I'm not worrying too much.

I have another question for you this morning though (if you don't mind). Yesterday evening I was lying on my back on the sofa. My tummy was sort of quivering (like muscle spasms but I wasn't feeling anything). When holding my breath, my tummy was pulsating with my heartbeat. Does anyone else get this? Even DH could see it!

[misskatamari]

Malteaser - yep I noticed my heart beat showing in my stomach a few weeks ago. Was really weird. I got a bit excited before I realised what it was - bit baby just my pulse!

Champagne I'd accept the invite but play it by ear nearer the time. I'd make sure to take notes etc with you - and if going by car maybe take hospital bag etc just incase. My husbands family live in Cardiff and were in Stockport so going down for Christmas ill be in a similar boat - just gonna hopefully be able to get there and go prepared just incase. And say a prayer that babies aren't early!

[jazzcat28]

champagne if it's a really close friend as you say then send a little note or card with your RSVP to explain that due to obvious reasons you will do your upmost to be there but your plans could change at the last minute. As a recent bride I had a similar situation with a guest and to be honest, it wasn't a big deal that she didn't turn up on the day itself as by that point she'll be on cloud 9 anyway!

8.5hrs and counting til I will have hopefully seen bean at my private scan.

Totally not gonna get much work done today.

12+0 today

[littlestgirlguide]

Champagne it's nice to have a due date buddy!
I would accept the wedding invitation, but take your hospital bag and pregnancy notes with you. Play it by ear as others say though - you might have had the baby by then! I worked to 38 weeks last time round, but I was very tired and a long journey followed by a late night would have been an ordeal!

[gnittinggnome]

bare you're welcome! I think the Lewisham hospital has a great midwife-led centre next to their very good hospital (the one Mr Hunt has been trying to disembowel for who-knows-what reason) so that might be worth looking into. One I wouldn't recommend, for absolutely no reason beyond blind prejudice, is the QE in Woolwich, just because the hospital itself is in bad financial straits and I don't know how that might impact on MW/maternity services.

malteaser yup, I get that too! (and my boobs have been waxing and waning in soreness, but far less sore than they were at the beginning)

[Morien]

Hello everyone, am finally ready to take the plunge and join you - I've still been posting on the Fab 40+ TTC thread as I've had this thing about jinxing my pg by coming here (and I like it there anyway )

I'm 13.1 with DC1, due mid-Feb; MMC last year at 11 weeks, hence the nervousness. I had my scan 10 days ago and all was well, and am now waiting for my Harmony test results. I'm not blooming yet though! My nausea's subsided quite a bit, to be fair, but I'm still exhausted.

It's good to read these positive birth stories; people do tend to share only the horror stories, don't they?

[Malteaser1982]

Oh thank you misskatamari and gnittinggnome. Glad I'm not the only one! It was so weird - was wondering if there was an alien in there