July 2014 - Thread 4! Moving into the 2nd trimester and starting to glow.

[talulahbelle]

Didn't see one started, as our last thread looks full. Let's hope we are all kicking the early pregnancy sickness and starting to glow :)

ellie

my bP was higher than usual due to DS2 winding me up earlier. massive headache didn't help, but at least I had a nap since so I feel less murderous.

ismarah

yes, that's the one, it's definitely baby's movement! yay!!! so exciting!

blue

what was especially wonderful, that for the first time ever I heard my heartbeat and baby's overlapping, with hers'his being exactly twice as fast, so halfway between my loud "booms" there were tiny booms. It was truly special, and amazingly never happened before!

nice to have a unique thing about each pg, and this I will definitely remember!

Boom-boom-Boom-boom-Boom-boom yippee!

the gap Paddington stuff is super cute. do you think it would be still available in march? when we have big scan and find out gender hopefully :)

I suggest Ebay gals - I still spent a fortune, but the thrill of savings for practically new clothes was naice!

I'm sure gap Paddington range will be around for a while mummy or at least I hope so!

I can't wait to hear baby heart rate only a few weeks until next scan so hopefully then...

Started doing exercises to strengthen back/reduce pain but now I'm feeling very sick :-(

home i'm looking very plump just not pregnant! ismarah mine is all organs and blubber too :( Feeling a bit down about being fat and old (I turn 36 next week) today...

Hello everyone, sorry for going AWOL for a while, life has been hectic.

The best bit is from yesterday I've started to feel LOADS of baby movements. I first thought I maybe had last weekend and a few times earlier in the week, but last night was the first time I was definite, it was continual (may have been all the mini eggs I ate, opps). I got my husband to put his hand on my belly and he felt two kicks too.

Work wise, my boss has told me I will be made redundant while on maternity because no women in a senior position ever gets to come back to their job in reality. Of course legally there's no way she can say this but it's her word against mine and I can't afford to kick up a fuss - I know that they'll do what they want anyway. That said I will be making notes of all the times she's dropped hints and the one blatant conversation we've had about it this weekend.

In some ways I guess it is better to know, I'd worried about this happening anyway. But pretty scary given that we're moving house and I'm only going to be on statutory maternity pay. We'll cope but I could do without the worry!

House wise we've seen a couple we like so hopefully putting in an offer within a week or two.

Now shattered after a long week at work so on the sofa under the duvet awaiting a takeaway pizza!

Ismarah that definitely sounds like baby kicks to me.

Plate I'm so pleased you've had great news from your tests so far and are starting to feel more relaxed.

Ipsum really hope you are feeling better by Monday, doesn't sound like a nice situation.

Ooh I got some nice maternity jeans from H&M by the way - and less than £30. They are quite long in the leg though.

I have a really obvious bump now, so at least 50% of my normal clothes are out now... Trying to drag them out if I can so I don't get bored of maternity clothes too quickly.

Auntie I and a few others on the bus are already at least 36...it's not a bad club to be in. By the time bean is born, I'll be 37.

Thinking about GAP going home outfit maybe for bean. Maternity clothes wise, I'm trying not to spend too much money but leggings / bottoms are turning out to be crucial for me. Tops etc I can still manage normal ones as they stretch comfortably but I can't stand having something compress across my belly flab bump. Still, another 9k walked today in London.

So sad to read so many of you are still so sick. I'd offer you all a virtual but not sure it would be of help..

MrsA your work is taking the piss! Read up on redundancy on maternity leave:

www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/redundancy.pdf

Fifi, I know. I'm thinking there's no point making a fuss now, instead I will make notes and plan to have a pretty frank conversation (about how much they will pay me to ensure I don't make a massive fuss) once they officially try to do it.

At the moment I need to keep my head down and get to my maternity leave start date - if I'm made redundant before then I'm really stuck.

After that, to be honest I've gone right off working for my current boss anyway. But I will make it tricky for them...

Ismarah I'm impressed with your walking.

(Sorry, forgot to say thanks for the link Fifi)

Hello all. Sorry to hear some people are still suffering ms. It makes me feel guilty whenever I moan about feeling generally unwell (which is how I feel a lot of the time). But I never had proper ms. Hope you all feel better soon.
I told my manager yesterday and her reaction was quite warm. She sad it crossed her mind one day I said I was not feeling too good... anyway will tell just my team mates next week after my 16 wks appt and let it filter down.
Am a bit cross cos the maternity tights I bought from hm seems to be sagging or maybe I need my bump to be bigger~) .....
I haven't bought anything and will try and resist as I may be going to the states and I know I'll be getting a bit at my "surprise" baby shower :) . I have a definite bump now thought it was gas but looks and feels like the real deal.
'Mrs A2 sorry to hear about the frankly horrible behaviour of your boss. They are really asking for an employment tribunal hearing!!
'Ismara' sorry to hear of your friend's reaction. Don't let it stop you enjoying every moment of your pregnancy. I was saying to someone recently that AM only going to be a first time mum once, so am very well going behave like one rather than a 'been there done that' one. So ignore her.
K am off to feed bump if I can find something to eat that doesn't make me feel nauseous!!

MrsA sorry to hear the stress you're under with the work situation - I may be in the same situation or made redundant before my maternity starts (for different reasons) and someone told me to read up on regulation 10 - apparently theres a protected period which starts when you get pregnant til the end of maternity which.affects how they treat you.

ismarah its more of a "where the fuck has my life gone?" moment rather than being 36 when.baby is born... if that makes any sense...

I'll be 40 in August, so I think I'm the oldest.

do I win?

Just came across this on another thread (cant sleep in on my day off) its 100 things abt pregnancy birth and baby :)
adrielbooker.com/pregnancy-birth-first-time-mom/

Sorry zing I will be 44 in August :)

I'm fairly sure il be the youngest at 22 just and on my second dc?!
Sorry I haven't been around for a while, this thread moves so fast I haven't had the time just to sit and read it all, so Im confessing to have only read the last page before commenting!

I'm fairly sure I've got a pregnancy bump, those who know I'm pregnant are saying bump, those who don't are asking if I enjoyed Christmas!!

Hope everyone's feeling well! I was until I had a kebab for dinner last night.......!

MrsA2 - wow that is utterly shocking, I am very angry on your behalf! What kind of industry do you work in (if you don't mind me asking and you don't need to answer if too personal/specific)? Is it normal for 19thC attitudes to prevail?!

Sounds like you are being very strong about it all - all the upheaval must be really stressful.

(Am very jealous of you feeling movement though!)

Am also shocked MrsA2. Make notes of any conversations, they cannot do this. Sadly my DH will be made redundant later this year.

I am 41, 42 in September so also part of the old brigade . This will be my one and only pregnancy. My husband would like more (hes 34) but tbh he has said he never dreamed he would meet the right girl and have a child so he is happy. Particularly when he sees me hobbling around like an old woman because of the pelvic pain.

Anyone know about the changes in mortgages? Ours is due for renewal in July. Was hoping to get it sorted before June but will clearly be pregnant at that stage.

Ummmm random question but...

My craving seems to be pickled cockles, but its just occurred to me it might not be safe to eat them? I've eaten them already but now don't want to eat more if they can cause harm!

The parsons pickled cockles are cooked first before pickled!! (I think)

I reeeeaaaaly like them!

liquid I'm not a mortgage advisor but do work in the industry - one of the biggest changes is they are doing away with interest only mortgages - best bet get an independent mortgage advisor to shop around for you before your renewal date - don't know where in the country you are but I have a friend if you are in the London area x

Plate, I better not name the industry, it is a bit male-dominated, but in theory is meant to be pretty forward thinking.

It is shocking and liquid is right that we should be protected BUT in reality it is very simple to, as far as the law goes, ensure that it looks legit. Thanks Auntie, will google that. Awful that companies can do it so blatantly. I definitely will be taking advice though whenever it happens.

Liquid, will you need to use your salary for the mortgage? If so be aware of the drop off when on maternity, also some lenders will loan you less once you have a child. Of course if you have a good LTV then that's less of an issue anyway. On a plus note, lending rates are still pretty low at the moment.

Howly, no idea but that does not sound like a craving I want to have!

MrsA2 I wanted to pop in because the same thing happened to me. I took legal advice and they said to email my manager, copying HR and to document every conversation rather than just keeping notes. I took the advice, figuring that I had nothing to lose. My manager was furious and wrote back denying it, but that then helped a few weeks later when she tried it again. That time, my email said I was confused as her first rebuttal had been phrased in terms stating that they had no intention of making me redundant. A few exchanges later they told me unofficially that i was safe (and i wrote confirming and minuting the meeting). Basically i made myself such a nuisance and made it so clear that I'd take them to the employment tribunal that I scared them off. What you need to do here is to accumulate documentation that shows that you've asked them about it. Otherwise if you go to tribunal and say that you have notes showing this was because of your pregnancy, they will argue that you didn't ask them about it and then it really will be your word against theirs. Good luck!

Also, on a more general note, I have felt the first movements I think! Hurrah, he's wallowing away in there!

home think I felt our first flutter this week. makes it all a little bit more real! think we have decided on our pram today also! a silver cross wayfarer for £420 inc carrycot the older seat & colour of our choice. cheapest I've seen it anywhere, nice and easy to use and maneuver too :)

Thanks Home, that's given me something to think about. I'm very tempted not to make too much fuss now, just get safely to my maternity (I really can't afford tho be out of work before then) and ensure I keep decent references - it's a really small world in my industry. But your post has definitely made me think. Are you still working there? And has it affected your progression etc within the company if so because you made a fuss?

Lovely lie in til 9am here and it's a gorgeous, sunny though cold day. Went for 1.5 hr wall yesterday, looks like maybe a day to do the same today.