Due in December 2006 (PART TWO)

[accessorizequeen]

Coz the first thread was getting too long....

Elibean, was it British Doulas you talked to? I was thinking of getting a birth doula. But I found them a bit weird and told them I'd changed my mind.

Yes let's all go on strike and rest rest rest! It's hard to think what else I could not do, though. I have to go to work. DP does all the cooking, and no one does any cleaning. I don't know what it's like to be a younger mum, but at 37 I'm weary.

Ah well, it's nearly the weekend!

I have my scan picture pasted onto my computer and it is soooo cute. She is just moving a little fist up to her little mouth. Awwww.

I have been making a diligent effort to rest more this time around. With ds I was working and finishing up an MBA degree, besides doing a major remodel on the upstairs (of course, I wasn't doing the actual construction ). The result was, too much weight gain, joint problems, carpal tunnel, Bell's Palsy, lots of fluid retention and a miserable 3rd trimester. This time around I'm being much more careful. Working 2 1/2 days a week - except this week, conicidentally - and taking it really easy around the house.

So far, so good...

Wish I could be resting, but DD's Noddy party(2nd birthday party) is almost here!!She is so lovely with 'tiny'DD in my tummy.She constantly gives her big hugs and kisses and 'Tiny' responds by punching and kicking. DD finds it very funny!

I am trying to get DD into nursery for 2 mornings a week, and she is devastated when I leave her and cries pretty much the whole time,sobs and is unconsolable. I feel so guilty but I know she has got to be a bit braver.

Anyway, got a poo butt to change now,

x

I spoke to midwife about total lack of energy this morning so she's done a blood test and sent it off. She recommended dark chocolate, early nights (I can't get much earlier, haven't seen past 9pm in a while), dried apricots (?) and green vegetables. So far I have eaten half a bar of Green and Blacks and am having my first day off work in months, so feeling quite decadent

It is scary to think we're heading towards our 3rd trimester - it is whizzing by. I can't imagine having baby here, it's all a bit surreal

x

Oooo chocolate and rest. Sounds brilliant - and the chocolate part comes naturally to me most days so thats good. Now for the rest...
Devongirl, you hit the nail on the head for me...it is a bit scary, getting close to the third trimester, and I have slept so badly these past two nights and reckon thats why. I'm fine all day, then have mysterious sleeplessness...its just anxiety (and heartburn!) and I'm going to start talking about it. Which will mean I can sleep, which will mean I'm less tired, and less anxious: how's that for a plan
Loulou, I did talk to them - and had exactly the same experience. So I'm sticking to Doula UK, and have talked to two very nice women so far...not yet met them, but looking hopeful!

When does third trimester start? (Did the first one end at 12 weeks? But three lots of 12 weeks doesn't add up to enough weeks.) But in any case, it is getting a bit scary. I think I will have to accept we're not moving house, and start buying some Baby Stuff.

Good luck with blood tests Devongirl. I will join you in the Green and Blacks and an early night!

And hope you have better luck with Doula UK Elibean - I'm going to look them up now...

I always thought it was 13 then 26.

The downstairs bathroom is functional again! Still not actually finished, but it's nice not to have to race upstairs with ds. Now we just have to get through with ds's new room, new nursery and our new bedroom...

Anyone else had their hearts racing? Especially at night - asked midwife about it and it's hormonal apparently, and quite normal, but it was pretty scary

x

Cor, I've made everyone defensive now, didn't mean to! Just that moving house and all the other stuff is quite major on it's own much less combined with baby. I think if I ate better, I'd feel more energetic (but actually I feel quite fine most of the time, I'm really chuffed not to be crying all the time anymore!). But not really managing that - think dried apricots are full of iron, aren't they as is dark choc? The only things that are really tiring me out are potty training (all that bending!) and dp asking whether I've chosen all the stuff for the new bathroom yet (clearly not as I'm resting

I too am having trouble sleeping and my heart's raced on and off since I got pregnant, only yoga calms it down. I had it quite a lot in other pregnancy as well, is it just coz blood is pumping several times faster round the body?

I was thinking 3rd trimester started at 28 weeks & it makes me feel better so I'm sticking to that!

AQ, I thought 3rd trimester started at 28 weeks too. The 2nd trimester is the long one!!

I can't believe how many of you are going through major events at the same time as being pregnant. Especially all the building works - I just can't imagine the stress levels!!

For all those with heartburn probs - are you keeping an eye on what you're eating? I had awful heartburn with ds (I was rushed into hosp via ambulance with 1 attack b/c they thought I had a blood clot on my lung - ) so when I was p/g with dd I looked at what I'd eaten before the attacks. The biggest culprits I found were bread and pasta, orange juice and anything too fatty/creamy. So far, touch wood, I have only had a couple of mild bouts this time.

Can I also just check how many other people are having horrendous mood swings this time? I think I've always been a bit irrational in pg but this time is just ridiculous. I have no control over my temper, the slightest thing sends me flying off the handle. I'm not weepy though, just really, really cross all the time. I think dh will decamp to his mate's if I don't calm down a bit . Does anyone have any strategies for calming myself down?

Olihan, think you're right about orange juice at least, don't think I can give up bread & pasta! I find getting too hungry also brings it on, I need to eat every 3-4 hours or it's horrible.
Whilst I'm feeling great the last couple of weeks, I had horrendous mood swings for all of the 1st trimester and several bouts in the last couple of months. DP and I have eventually noticed that it flares up in the same way every time, I feel tired to start with, then grumpy/snappy and finally teary. So I'm trying to notice if it's mood swing tiredness happening and warn him straight off so we don't end up having an argument coz I'm a cow etc. The only thing that has ever eased them is yoga (same goes for the depression I get when not pg), really calms me down so I can manage the snappyness. But unfortunately it is one of those things, there are hormones swimming madly round our bodies, no surprise it has an effect on mood as well as energy and sleep etc. It is really hard, but maybe if you keep track of them you'll find they come in cycles and that will make them easier to manage?

Aq, that's a good idea to see when they happen. I'm hoping they'll ease a bit when dh goes back to work (he's a teacher, so he's been under my feet for the last 3 weeks ) and I can get back into my usual routines with ds and dd. I'm feeling really tired at the mo and I'm sure it's because we've been so much busier, going out, seeing people, doing jobs around the house, etc. When it's just me and the dcs during the day we have a much less hectic schedule. I've looked into pregnancy yoga but there's nothing that's very local to me so I think we'll just have to cope with it!!

Good to know about the heart racing thing. I haven't remembered to ask OB about it as it has only happened a few times. Always at night, too

Yep, a few heart races too - but I actually had more of them the first trimester (then again, I was on steroids at that point). I do get really puffed after walking upstairs now though - strange, given I can swim 30 lengths easily?!

AQ, don't worry - I don't feel defensive, and doubt anyone does, was a good point re resting more and not giving ourselves such a hard time! Works for me, anyway

I find pasta, if it has tomatoey or meat sauce with it, is one of the worst for heartburn...but tbh, with a hernia, I get it regardless. Its especially bad morning and evening, or if I lie down at any time. Cereal brings it on as much as toast does, so I just take my Zantac and eat whichever...but if you can control it with just diet, so much the better!

And I've heard anything from 26-28 weeks for third trimester, think I might opt for the 28 week one...though I feel a lot better already, having talked through some childcare worries with DH, and made a list of scary things to ask the OB about next week. Am now expecting a great night's sleep

Have you done ordinary yoga olihan, coz if you have you could just get a book or dvd? I think there was a thread on products about pg yoga dvds if you were interested? Can't help but rave about yoga, pg or no! I'm starting my normal class aga?in next month (no pg classes near me either) and will just have to do less than the others, that's fine with me as long as the instructor knows what I can't do.
Massive heartburn right now, d'you suppose it's the half a packet of Lakeland's licorice?

I can't wait for third trimester! The sooner this babe is fully baked and I can meet him the better! I've been feeling like my body has skipped the"nice" middle bit anyway. I've gone straight from tired and sick to tired, sick and large! I'm already getting "can't be long now!" comments to which I answer "Yep, halfway there already" You should see their faces!
I also cannot give up orange juice despite the heartburn so it'll be nice when there's only one of us fighting for my insides!
I've been a devoutee of dark chocolate throughout this pg so I'm hoping that's keeping the iron levels up!

With ds I used the Shiva Rea yoga tape. This time around I had planned to do pilates but running around after a toddler seems to be all the exercise I will get or want

I did pilates with dd, but tbh the best thing was all the pilates I'd done pre-pregnancy - meant I got my tummy muscles back much faster after, even though I didn't do much during. So yours will stand you in good stead, Jabberwocky - or yoga, I'm sure! Running after dd (and swimming once a week) is all I'm managing too...

Can someone remind me if weight is meant to pile on at this stage (24 weeks)? I stayed the same from 12-22 weeks (having put lots on in first due to steroids), and suddenly have gained about 3lbs!

Yes to mood swings, yes to heart racing (and thumping), yes to weight gain! I think you're meant to be putting it on now.

Olihan & anyone else who's suffering from mood swings (me too by the way ), I take homeopathic remedies Sepia for angry depression and Pulsatilla for weepy depression. They are fine to take in pregnancy. When I had PND after DD I saw a homeopath who sorted me out. The best bit was chatting to him for 1.5 hours - pouring out my woes right back to childhood was most therapeutic! Would recommend it to anyone.

p.s. I am enormous - someone said to me this morning "not long now love". Ha, I wish!!

Ha, yes - was ordering buggy this morning (dh managed to put our old one out in the side alley to make room for something or other, and the dustmen took it ) and nice saleslady said 'how long have you got?' then looked very surprised when I said 'three months'!
Loulou, thats reassuring, thanks.
Hope everyone has a good weekend - we're off on a family visit, if I can manage to get off MN and go pack....

Elibean - I laugh at your 3 lbs. After not gaining for 2 checks I put on seven lbs this time. EEEEK! I have been really, really watching what I eat this week. Am ultraparanoid about weight as I gained 40 lbs with ds

One thing that I am hoping helps me out in the ab recovery area is that I have been teaching belly dancing for about 4 years now - student before that for several years. But, I only taught one class in July and none yet in August. Not sure how I'm going to progress with it for the next 4 months.

btw, how many of you have had Braxton Hicks? Had my first real bout last night. I didn't particularly care for it.