Due February 2007 - 2nd Trimester

[CurrantBun]

For those of us due February 2007 and moving from the first to the second trimester ...

We've made it this far - only another 6 months to go! (Gulp!)

Our hospital allows one 'guest' in at the scan and any children of the woman.

Lucy - I don't think that GTT are routine in the UK. Only if something is suspected or if you are at risk for some reason. I would ask your midwife to clarify why you need it.

The letter I had from the hospital said very strictly that only one person was allowed in, but when I had my dating scan I had DH and my friend who is a student nurse, and there was a student MW too, so maybe if 2 people turn up with you and you smile sweetly they'll let them in?

Hi everyone and thanks to all of you who let me know where they got their copy of babygroe. Not posted for a few days as recovering from taking 6 very competative 10/11 yo boys bowling and to pizza hut for DS's birthday on Sat, felt completley exhausted for days after.....never again! It's actually his bd today, wow 11, am feeling very old. Well I finally booked with a midwife yesterday at 18 plus weeks and don;t have my scan until 23rd Oct, will be just over 22 weeks then, so everyone else seems to have loads of news and I am still in the dark about mine! Off to get DD ready for the day now!

Lucy, I had the normal urine tests in my last pregnancy, but at one stage they asked me to do the more advanced glucose test where you have to fast beforehand.

There is usually a special reason for this. In my case it was because glucose levels in my urine tested borderline for gestational diabetes (found out afterwards this was because I had the test just after breakfast!). Maybe in your case it's because the baby is measuring big, if they asked you just after a scan? Babies of GD mothers grow faster.

sallyn your post reminded me that I found Steve Biddulph's book Raising Boys a useful read. Your local library is almost certain to have it. I didn't agree with all of it but there's some thought-provoking stuff about being more mindful about having those "Oh lets all complain about men" conversations - because you're growing a future man, and also some stuff about teaching them ways to handle aggression and physicality without necessarily kicking trees, each other etc.

snugglebumnappies, no sign of babygroe at Queen Mary's Roehampton. I do remember receiving a copy after DS was born at Kingston Hospital so maybe I'll get one again then.

Good luck for all the upcoming scans. re visitors, for my scan, there was only one extra chair, but DH was allowed to be there throughout, and the sonographer gave us some free photos too!

How's the head today plumpbump?

Hi all,

Haven't posted for a few days but have just read back and caught up. Seems lots of us have had or are soon having our 20-week scans. Mine's booked for 10th October. Can someone who's had theirs tell me what they check? Do they make sure the baby is growing properly as well as looking at its organs etc?

I thought that the glucose tolerance test was a standard procedure at about 28 weeks? This is because resistance to insulin develops in all women during pregnancy and in about 2-4% of cases results in diabetes. More info here if you're interested.

I'm feeling great at the moment! My only minor concern is the fact that everyone keeps telling me how small I still am at 18 weeks and it's making me paranoid that the baby isn't growing as it should be. I can feel small movements, like fluttering, from time to time so know he/she is in there. I'm very tiny anyway which made me think I'd show earlier, although my mum (who's a similar size/build) told me she didn't even start wearing maternity clothes until she was 6 months, so maybe I shouldn't worry. I'm nowhere near needing maternity clothes yet - although that may well be because all my trousers are very low-waisted and sit below my mini bump! Surely we're all different and our bumps will all be different too?

Hello, this is my first post. I'm at 19 weeks, due February 20th. I have a son who will be 12 by then, hence my username.

My blood tests came back with a 1/100 Downs risk, so I'm going for the amnio tomorrow. Not looking forward to that much, and everything seems to have been put on hold...

Oh well, wish us luck.

Currantbun - here is quite a good explanation of what happens at the scan. If you read back on my last post I said that they went through each organ - but this explains why. The sonographer took measurements quite often too. If it is any consolation I am not showing much at all at nearly 22 weeks. I have put on about 3-4 pounds (and am wearing maternity trousers ? all done up ? because the cut is more comfy) and friends and family who know about the baby say they can see a small bump, but everyone else is oblivious. I am 5'7" and weighed 9 stone pre baby so I think so far a lot of change has just been accommodated in my body. At the scan they estimated the baby to weigh 420g which they were pleased with and I saw the midwife today who said I had a 'neat bump' and it would probably only really get going about now, so I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Oops - welcome 12yeargap!

Hey everyone! Welcome 12yeargap and other new ladies.

Head is still banging, but back at work, thanks for asking BabyD! I know that according to the doctor I am well pg-wise, so am putting it down to work stress. Peachy, you have my sympathy - we are buying a house, but we're first timers, so no sale. Still v stressful.

Loving all of your stories and questions on the scan - have mine a week tomorrow. Am really excited!!! I think I've felt a couple of light movements, mostly when I haven't been lying down waiting for them, but in the middle of a lesson etc. Really looking forward to a nice lengthy exploration of what's going on. Incidentally, my last scan was ruined by my desperate need for a wee, having followed their instructions to drink. I was so desperate, she had to rush. Do i have to drink much this time? Had no letter, just booked scan at last scan.

Plumpbump - no need to have drunk all that water as last time! The baby is big enough now to be seen without the help of a full bladder pushing it up!

Best wishes for your scan - it is a lovely experience ?

Hi all,
reasuring things from me.
Current bun I'm not into maternity wear really yet. I can just about fit into things although one pair of mat trousers I have I wear as they are so comfy.
I snugglebum My scan isn't til week 21, I know things have been happening a bit later for you but I feel in a similar way. It seems I have to wait ages!!
I think my mum has decided to come to the baby show which is great.

and.. another person at work has announced their pregnancy, thats the 4th (not including the teacher who miscarried) in two terms!!!! Mu head must be pooing her pants!

What is it about moving? We have just gone on market too! Though are going to rent in between as house proving hard to sell (no off road parking) and I can't bear to be in limbo. Now we have decided we want more space we want it now! We will give it another couple weeks then rent out our house. That way at least we won't be paying rent and mortgage and can think again about what to do in New Year.

For those who haven't had their 20/21-week scan yet, I was warned by some friends not to expect much info or viewing time at this one, and they weren't wrong. Apparently it's mostly just a check that you're on schedule and there's nothing 'obvious' wrong. It might just have been my hospital (the Royal Sussex), but they just scanned down through the brain, heart, length of femur etc. I had a really stupid view as the monitor was next to my head so unless I had a neck like ET I wasn't going to be able to see squat. Whole thing was over in about 5 mins, compared to nearly an hour at King's for the 13-week scan.

My bump seems small too, considering we're over half way, plus the fact that I walk around trying to stick it out so everyone can see, but midwife and sonographer thought it was right for the stage.

Thanks for book recommendation babydriver. will check it out.

With DS my main paranoia was my teeny bump (or lack of!). I didn't have anything that even I could notice until 18wks + and most people wouldn't have realised I was pg until 22wks +. At 24wks I even called my mw out on a Sunday as I was so worried the baby wasn't growing properly! Mainly because everyone said I was 'neat'. Anyway, I measured small most of the time but still got quite large at the end and DS was a normal 7lb 15oz. Please don't worry about lack of bump at this stage - it's more normal than not.

Thanks ladies for reassurance re. bump size and 20-week scan procedure - Soundbites, that link was really good and I've printed it off.

We've decided to go private again for our 20-week scan. The Fetal Medicine Centre (where we had the nuchal scan) is so much easier to get to from work than our local hospital, and we were really well-treated there last time. The hospital has changed the date/time of my scan appointment three times now (without even the courtesy of a phone call - just a computer print-out letter telling me that it's been changed). This isn't a major issue for me as obviously I'm entitled to time off work for these appointments anyway, but hubby has had to keep rearranging meetings and reshuffling his diary, which is really unfair and becoming problematic. This also means our appointment won't be rushed, we'll be seen on time or thereabouts, and I don't have to have a full bladder (which the hospital insists upon). The Fetal Medicine Centre also assured me that they cover the same things as the NHS scan but in more detail, which is extra reassurance.

I know it costs money and in some ways it goes against my principles to pay for something which I'm entitled to free of charge, but sod it as am fed up with being messed about by the hospital!

Hello

Currantbun, sounds wise to me - if it's accessible to you then why not go private. After my last hospital visit, am dreading further dealings at hands of local NHS.

Had midwife app today at surgery. Really enjoyed it as heard little chugging heart and she also got me to press down and feel a ridge which is the top of my womb apparently. Weird but good. Is all in right place. Has been ten weeks since scan so comforting to hear!

Apparently, my blood group is A negative which may mean something if the baby is positive. Am to expect more blood tests and an injection possibly? Anyone else the same?

Hi all
Had my 20 week scan today all was fine but the baby has some fluid on one of its kidneys so have to be re scanned at 36 weeks and if there is still alot of fluid then when babys born he/she will need antibiotics and kidneys scanned, quite worried about it as dont know what it really means but the doctor said its quite common. Scan took about 20 mins and baby was sucking its thumb and sticking out its tongue, got some lovly pics even one of its footprint!!!

Has anyone had there 20 week scan & found out the sex? Already have a son of 3.5 and am bursting to find out if he will have a brother or sister!!! Chinese birth chart - got 1st child right as a boy & says girl for 2nd. . . . The suspense is killing me!

I'll hopefully be finding out tomorrow Katpoo. But only if my appointment goes ahead - I have another appointment with dermatology 40 mins before it so I'm begging everything is running to time. They couldn't reschedule me for ages and I need to see the dermatologist more than the 20wk scan unfortunately. Hope the sonographers will secretly fit me in regardless though...

hey first time mum due 14th feb

Amnio was sort of...crowded (2 consultants, midwife, medical student), and it certainly hurt, although not as bad as I thought. There's just no way that having a needle poked in your uterus is ever going to be a fun and relaxing experience.
Should know result by middle of next week. consultant said from scan it's probably a girl, which is what I was hoping for, we will get a definate sex with the amnio result.

Hey KatPoo
I've got my scan on Monday and hope to find out then, Chinese thing says it's a girl and it was right with DD so we'll see....

Hello becs21, how are you finding it so far?

Plumpbump - I am resus negative A also. I think this means that if you baby is positive (depending on the fathers blood group) should your blood come into contact with the babies blood (due to an car accident or something of the like) then your body will try to reject it, thinking it's some alien form.

You will have what I think from memmory are called anti D injections. Two will be given whilst you are pregnant when your 3? weeks, and a third after you have given birth. Last time I had them in my bum!! Its to protect against the next pregnancy or something like that.

Don't worry its nothing to worry about, being negative A just means we are of a rarer blood group. Your midwife or doctor should be able to tell you more.

Maybe the Chinese birth chart only works for the Chinese - mine told me I was having a girl but the sonographer told me different. Sallyn I know how you feel/felt. My problem is that I'd so convinced myself it was a little girl (it had a name, I'd bought it a little embroidered chair) that yesterday it felt like I'd 'lost' the girl, even though the boy was clearly alive and kicking. They did let me have everyone in for the scan though, DOD, mum, and stepdad in wheelchair - 'as long as they sit still and don't ask me any questions' - cheers UCH.