August 2014. What a Christmas present!

[Choccywoccydodah]

Thread number 2 ladies.

It's a perfect Christmas present for me!

Mini - welcome, and I know how you feel. I want to be excited but I'm still not sure I even believe it's happening!

Hi all! Room for another one? Am 31, have a ds (18mo) and due with dc2 Aug 12th at the standard calculations so 6 wks today I think..

Have read everyone's posts but am struggling to get the hang of who's who at the moment. Will look forward to getting to know you all as time goes by so please bear with me.

Interesting to hear some of your comments on when & how to tell family and friends. Was pregnant (by accident) with ds1 at the same time of year last time and felt we had to tell people because it'd be obvious over Xmas and new year if I wasn't drinking. Probably couldn't have done it any differently but I did regret it a bit. MIL in particular was so delighted (1st grandchild both sides) and they were all so over excited that it felt like a lot of pressure on me till I'd got the scans over and confirmed all ok. If the worst happened I could have dealt with it but I don't think I could break the news to family members who were so over excited about it.. Everyone has a different relationship with their family though. I do understand that other people would want the support if it went wrong but I'm the sort of person that can't cope with too much sympathy and people knowing my problems if that makes sense to anyone?? This time we're going to try and keep quiet till after the 12 wk scan. Hopefully it'll be easier to hide it as I hardly ever drink much now due to having a toddler in tow at all times!

My biggest concern is not gaining excess fat this pregnancy! Have lost 3 1/2 stone this year and would be devastated if I had to start from scratch again! Am still 2st overweight and have been doing Slimming World for the last couple of months. Am intending to keep going throughout. Haven't told my group leader I'm pg yet - mostly because I live in a village where everyone knows each other's business and my in-laws live here too so it'd soon get back to them.. Am hoping to lose a little bit more flab yet anyway before the chance has gone. Last time I think I was still losing weight up until 14 weeks so am hoping to hold out till my scan. Put on 1 1/2lbs at tonight's weigh in though. Not too worried as I think last week's 3lb loss was probably a complete fluke and it's just balancing out now. FEE - if I've got this right you are doing SW too? Have you told them yet and how are you getting on?

Thanks sharkey. It all happened so quickly it's come as a bit of shock! Just read the rest of the thread. Sorry to those that are suffering at the moment.
Some stats from me though. Dc #1 EDD 25 Aug

Thanks for the reassurance ladies. I'm sorry I didn't even think about the fact that people are having early scans due to previous or current problems. This is my first pregnancy so in naive and terrified!

Ladies who have had previous pregnancies - did you just go to NHS antenatal classes or did you do the NCT ones? I'm tempted by NCT but DH is not convinced due to cost!

Misery hope you get your infection dealt with soon.

My symptoms at 6+1 are sore boobs, tiredness and restlessness, lower back ache and metallic taste in mouth. I had cramping previously but not had any for a few days now.

Just popped my frolic acid

Thanks everyone for reassurance re lack of symptoms. Presumably the nausea will kick in just in time for Christmas. Shakshuka I am on the left coast, in Portland. I've been here two years. I relocated due to getting married.

Hi buttercup I'm 29 and this is my first pregnancy! I'm from the UK but actually in Australia ATM. My due date is 13th August but as I can't remember when last period was I'm going for a dating scan on 3rd January. Baby not planned but wanted, was on the cards for when we got home. I've got a few symptoms- weepy, weeing all the time, feel a bit sicky, sore boobs, bloated tum. Bit nervy/panicky about every twinge I get- a psychic once told me I'd have a miscarriage and its hard to get away from that!
We've told close family- I wanted too- if anything bad happens il need there support. They are all happy-sister due in may-she's over the moon! Our plans are to stay in oz until 12 week scan then fly home around 13 weeks.
In that sense I may be alone??? Anyone else travelling? Lol
Lucky to have great bf! :)
Looking forward to getting to know everyone :)

My first appointment is mid-January - can't wait! We will get to hear the heartbeat. That is going to be the most incredible moment. Also I will be seeing a midwife which is far from standard here in the US.

buttercupyellow I have been doing SW on and off for a while. I hadn't done v well since mum died so had planned on getting back on plan in January. Reckon it will just be crisis management now!

terra
Oregon is supposed to be gorgeous! Lucky you!!

I think you're very smart going with a midwife. I had one with my youngest who was also born in the US and it was a great experience. Are you doing a home or hospital birth?

I'm having trouble finding a midwife for this pregnancy. I definitely don't want a homebirth and want midwives affiliated with good hospitals. My oldest dd was very sick after she was born so I want a hospital with a top notch NICU just in case. Where I live, the best hospitals are very conservative, have very high c-section rates and I can't find a midwife who works with them. All the midwives seem to be either into homebirths or a birth center in Brooklyn or some of the less good hospitals. My other option is to go into Manhattan but I have a nightmare vision of giving birth in traffic in the Queens-Midtown tunnel :) So I think I'll reluctantly go with an ob-gyn and maybe hire a doula.

Well this is DC1 Shak so the idea of a homebirth is a bit scary. I think they are very positive but I'm not sure yet whether first time is the time to try it out. There's always that "what if.." fear of something going wrong. (I realise things are less likely to go wrong at home, but still). Honestly, having only known I'm pregnant for 1 day, I haven't given the birth too much thought! But birthing in a tunnel in traffic definitely doesn't sound the way to go...!

Yep I can see that SW wouldn't be your first priority at the moment FriendofDorothy! Just concentrate on getting through Christmas. My heart goes out to you

Woo 3+ on my last digi. Got to be good to that level surely. So pleased. Slept terrible last night. Drinking my decaf tea hoping my body will be tricked into thinking there's caffeine in there.

My sympathies friend

Talking of birth plans I have been thinking a little on this (then stop as sounds terrifying). Def don't want a home birth, but would quite like a midwife led birth but husband (a doctor) doesn't trust midwifed so not sure it'll go that way. Plus at least if there is another doctor in the room my DH can be a husband and not act like a doctor. Lots to think over

Don't bother writing a birth plan, it really won't be used!

Our plan last time was getting our baby out safely, however that was and with whatever pain relief I fancied at the time!

As it was I laboured so fast I had paracetamol and codeine up to 6cm then gas and air to 10cm. I had pethidine for pushing but I didn't get to do that for long before being whisked into theatre for forceps, which weren't possible so I had an EMCS.

It's best to not have rigid ideas as you can't be disappointed if you don't follow the plan. :-)

Oh, crap night here too. DD woke at about 3.30 and I've been awake since. Sigh.

deus I'm hoping to join an NCT group, less for the classes and more for the people I'd hope to meet there. I don't know many people in my local area and I'd really like to get to know some more people for my year off work. I know it'll be expensive, but I think for that it will be worth it.

Morning!!
Very true horace re birthing plans, my experience of fast labours throws everything out the window!!! :)

Bad night sleep here too so so hot its not even funny. Is anyone else feeling hot??

We also decided last night to book for a reassurance scan after xmas around 7-8weeks. Never done one before but I think it will put my mind at ease slighhhhtlllyyyy

5-year-old step-monkey's pointy elbow just landed on my very painful boob. Ouch I tell you. Ouuuuucccchhhh!

I'm boiling and sweaty, Lucy. It's grim beyond belief!

I'm quite achey today. It's not cramps, just aches. Don't like it much though. :-/

Ouch Ruggle!

Mssleepyhead I'm the same. I don't really have any friends local to me since we moved a few months ago and I would really like to build a support network through the NCT classes and groups. However, DH is currently not happy with the cost and thinks we will get enough info from the NHS classes.

Regarding birthing plans, this also frightens me! However, the hospital I have chosen have a midwife led unit and I'm happy with that. I was initially a bit freaked out that I wouldn't be able to have an epidural without being transferred across to the medical ward, but then I figured they obviously have lots of women doing it without on the midwife led unit so it can't be that bad.

Naive?!

deuscat I would 100% recommend the NCT classes- not just the classes but for the support. You can get quite isolated on mat leave as all your normal friends/ family are at work- plus your friends will all be at different stages with kids/ no kids etc. the friends from NCT are a group you can meet up with, moan to, compare experiences with... For me it's been invaluable! I still see them all at least monthly 13 months on, and meet 2 weekly to go swimming- so do tell your hubby it's for a support network- which the NHS ones may not provide. I went to some NHS health visitor talks after the baby was born- and I've never seen any of the women from that again!

We're not gonna tell anyone until after 12 week scan. My MIL has filled us in about DHs cousin who had a m/c with all the details, and I would be gutted if something similar happened and all DHs cousins (about 10 of them!) knew as MIL had told her sister. I'm a private person.
I'd maybe tell my Mum, but DH wants us to tell no one. I couldn't tell my sister as she's quite immature and would get too excited and then I'd worry she'd be upset if I had a M/c!!!

Lucy, I had hot sweats on Monday night, sharp stomach pain this morning that came but I think it's because my vowels are playing silly buggers and went feeling a bit achy today. I am so worried this pregancy, can't stop thinking the worst. Im constantly on knicker watch. I'm going to see about a early scan for jan. Just to put my mind at rest.

My birth plan went something like this last time.

"I plan to manage on gas and air. I would like a waterbirth. If needed I will have morphine based drugs, if needed I will have intervention such as ventouse/forceps and if needed I will have a C-section. At all times I will be guided by the professionals and as long as I end up with a healthy baby and I am reasonably intact then I don't give a shit how it all happens!"

As it happens I had a labout that lasted about 3 1/2 hours from first minor pain to delivery and I got to the hospital at 7.35am and he was born at 8.13am. There would have been no time to fill up the pool!!!

So, I would say, have your preferences for delivery but don't get so hung up on them that if you don't get what you want it ruins your whole experience.

I've got achey boobs for the first time this morning...if it's anything like my last pregnancy, morning sickness won't be far behind!

We're staying with dh's family for Christmas, and I've got to find a way to avoid the traditional starter of foie gras (we're in france) for the Christmas meals with fil on Christmas Eve and mil on Christmas Day...I've told them I don't like it, which surprised fil as he's seen me eat it before! Think they're going to guess anyway as I'm normally quite keen on the wine so we'll probably tell them before Christmas, although I would really rather wait until 12 weeks.

Oh glad Im not the only one feeling hot and bothered!

Missv - Its funny how our bodies react so differently to pregnancy isnt it. I had quite a few cramps yesterday so on knickerwatch too paranoia is not fun at the moment!