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!)

I don't want to find out the sex either, but most people do these days and some of my friends think I'm a bit weird not wanting to know. Apparently in the States it is practically compulsory (says my SIL who used to live there).

I can see the advantages - buying clothes, decorating nursery - but I really liked the surprise element last time! Also, as I'll be having a planned C-section so will know the date in advance, what else will there be to announce to people?

Alocin, how did it go with the mw on monday..? I hope all is ok with you and baby. xx

Hi everyone
Things are fine with me. We are counting the days to the scan now. Good to see everyone else is enjoying theirs. I finally think I have felt the baby. last night I felt several little 'thumps' I will be looking out for them again tonight. when I concentrate on trying to feel something I seem to be more aware of my heart beating - does anyone else find this? obviously pumping all that extra blood round.
I went trouser shopping at the weekend and bought 3 pairs. One from Dorothy Perkins, one from blooming marvellous and one from M and S.
The M and S ones are SO comfy and I think quite smart. Go and get some now!! In fact I am contemplating returning the others and getting two more pairs of them!!!
Current bun I am going to the baby show too, my mum is coming down. Buggies will also be my priority. Dh has to do an 'open day' at work so is spared this experience. I'm also looking to get free stuff. (I've been to several educational things like this and they always have good stuff to give away)
link to lovely trousers
Also if you go to Cow and Gates website cow and gate and register quote PRB1106C and they will send you a free cuddly cow.
Also if you ring SMA 0845 776 2900 and register with them they will send you a fluffy hooded bath towel. (tell them you saw the ad in pregnancy and birth magazine) I have no shame when it comes to free things!!!!!

Yay, I'm getting a free cow!

I didn't find out the sex before DD1 was born but this time I have done for the practicalities really. It was lovely to have a surprise last time and I totally agree with Currant Bun, the pain's got to be worth some surprise! We're not telling anyone that we know though, I've only had to lie once so far...

Also we're hoping it will make it easier to explain to DD1 who will be 17.5 months when DD2 arrives. Any tips on how to explain would be greatly appreciated!

Moo Hoo so am I! Am wondering about the baby show - are there likely to be superdeals on the stuff there ('cos whilst my Mum is a Bugaboo-lover realistically my baby's going to be getting pushed round in a nicked supermarket trolley filled with cushions)? And what about the freebies? I'm having flashbacks from school trips to the Clothes Show, split 50/50 between grabbing the it's-free-cos-nobody-wants-coral-lipstick-and-blue-eyeshadow cosmetics and sauntering casually past the Storm Models stand with my cheeks sucked in. 500 times.

I don't if you will get 'super deals' at the baby show although on the website there are vouchers you can print off.
In my experience of the school stuff ones, they sell off old stock and give discounts like 10%/ 20% off etc.

Here's the list
£2 off each CD at Stand B30 from Twinkle Twinkle You're The Star Ltd
£5.00 off all Consultations at Sweetdreams baby Consultant, Stand B74
10 % off all products and services
10% - 50% OFF NORMAL PRICES
10% DISCOUNT ON ALL SHOW BOOKINGS
10% Off ALL Nappy Cakes Ordered At Show!
10% off RRP on Start-rite footwear
10% off some services at The Portland Hospital
15% off HUGABUB baby carrier from Passage at stand C86A
15% Off Your Order On Stand C24 Pebble UK
20% Discount - Child's Play - Stand G29
20% off all Green People Organic Baby and Children Products at stand C5
20% off on any VHS at the Smart Baby Zone Stand (B48)
25% off all Baby Showers booked at Stand C54, The Ultimate Baby Shower Ltd
30% Discount on the So Smart Boxed Gift set when purchased from Smart Baby Zone at Stand B48
4D BABYBOND SCAN WITH DVD AND COLOUR PHOTOS
Activity Books - Child's Play - Stand G29
All Change Books - Child's Play - Stand G29
Apeekaboo Imaging 15% off all 3D/4D Peek Packages Stand C70
Apeekaboo Imaging Special offer Stand C70
Baby Casting Kits from £9.95!!!! Stand J19
Baby Signing Books - Child's Play - Stand G29
Buy 2 get 3rd half price
Five Little Ducks Set - Child's Play - Stand G29
Free bath thermometer and flannel with every CuddledryTM baby towel at Stand G7
Free Birth Ball with every labour course booking at G23
Free Fridge Magnet
Free Goody bags
FREE merino wool hat worth £9.95 with every baby sleeping bag purchased from BAMBINO MERINO at Stand C80A.
Free personalised gift from Freya Design when buying a wooden keepsake box - Stand C26
Free Prize Draw at G23
FREE PRIZE DRAW FOR ANY HARNESS FROM KIDDYSMART AT STAND B4
Free Teddy Bear stand F7 Vertu Occasions
Old Lady Set - Child's Play - Stand G29
QUALITY GIFT BOX SETS FOR BUDDING PARTY GOERS!!
Shop over £50 and get a FREE Love Chords CD (for pregnant mums and newborns) worth £9.99
Show Special!
SPECIAL BABY SHOW OFFER!
Special Show Offer at G23
SPEND £30 OR MORE AND GET 10% OFF AT KIDDYSMART STAND B4
WIN A 4D BABYBOND SCAN
Win a FREE BABY SHOWER!
Win a FREE NAPPY CAKE!

It's a good way to look at stuff in person you might ordinarily only see in catalogues like the fabric nappies.
I'm also looking forward to some quality 'baby time' with my mum.
I'm glad you have got your cows

Peachy - I'm very aware of my hearbeat, especially when looking out for movement or trying to get to sleep at night. I remember this with DS too.

currantbun, we have cream carpets throughout (not our choice, was the showhome) and still plan a homebirth. I have been assured there is very little mess. And thinking about DSs birth, it wasn't that messy apart from meconium stained waters going. Mind you, a cream carpet with a 14 month old is a living hell...

Hi there,

I've been enjoying reading messages on here as a first time mum to be. I'm due 2nd Feb so 22 weeks and all ok so far apart from not sleeping well. We decided that we didn't want to know the sex of the baby either but it makes discussions about names interesting. Just moved up to the Newcastle area 3 weeks ago and don't know anyone here never mind anyone who is pregnant! I'm not working at the moment (and can't find anything) so finding it quite hard to meet people. Reassuring to read messages about placenta at the front from someone (I had that too and didn't feel any movement until last week)

Moosma - I meant to say that I wondered if it might help you to explain to DD1 if you visit friends who have a baby and an older child? Just a thought. Also, that kind of depends on knowing people who fit the criteria I think I saw a nice book aimed at quite young children - probably Usbourne?

Have any of you experienced this - the other day i was dropping DD1 off at school and a woman who i only have say a quick hi to in passing walked up to me rubbed my bump and said so what have we in here then?!! i was so suprised - am i being unreasonable thinking that this isn't ok?!?! Has my bump become public property?? Thoughts please

Lucy - I'm quite miffed as noone EVER did this to me when I was pg with DS or so far this time. Other than my mum and DH. Although it's hard, I would take it as a nice thing. Pregnant ladies and new babies get people all gooey and I guess they find it hard not to get 'hands on'. I hate when people tickle DS cheeks and things (with filthy hands!) when we're out. But I guess he can't help being so adorable

Sorry but I get a but I get annoyed when people think they can go around touching my bump when they like. With some people it's expected family etc.. but I have had experience of strangers in Tesco coming up to me and touching my tummy and my other children. My bump is NOT public property neither are my children If I went up to a stranger and start touching them up I might get carted off by the little men in white coats.

shhhhhh - all well! Baby heartbeat strong, she said it was probably facing and kicking in rather than out. She also usefully told me that hospital is about to change policy on sexing at scans, so worth an ask on Friday.

I agree Ruth, I hate it when people come up and start stroking DD's face etc. We're expected to teach our children not to talk to strangers, but when they do that it makes it very difficult!

Got my amnio result, and everything is fine, and it's a girl - which is what I wanted

That's good news, 12yeargap.

No-one has come up to me and touched my bump yet, probably because I'm still hardly showing at nearly 20 weeks. Obviously if you know me, you'd know, if you see what I mean, but otherwise I don't really look pregnant, just a bit lardy round the middle compared with my normal self. I think if anyone tries to do that, though, I will ask them politely not to. I don't like having my personal space invaded.

Suzi2, thanks for reassurance about the lack of mess re. home birth. Good point about pale carpets and toddlers though! We spent ages debating whether to have carpet or wooden floor in our lounge - in the end carpet won as stairs lead directly off lounge with no door, which makes it lofty, and it can feel quite chilly in there. Carpet feels cosier. Still, if it gets trashed we can always take it up in the lounge and have wooden floor put down instead in a couple of years. We deliberately didn't go for expensive carpet figuring we might need to replace it sooner rather than later!

We've done the opposite CB, we had laminate floor in the living room but have just ordered carpet (supposedly stain-proof for 5 years!) to replace it as it's sooooooooo cold up on top of our windy hill. Also DD keeps getting cold feet/legs sitting on the floor all the time (socks never stay on more than 5 minutes and she slips over), have got a very boring brown colour as we still have 1 lot of baby sick and 2 lots of potty training to go...

Err, don't know who told you home births aren't messy. They can be very messy, you don't need plastic sheets for nothing! I had my last in a pool to contain it and when it came to cleaning the pool out my Dh was mightily relieved it wasn't the floor, cream carpet or otherwise.
My first was in hospital as normal, and there was a fair bit mess then too and I have yet to lose a lot of blood during birth.
I suppose it depends on how much is messy for you. Generally the m/w will clean as they go and do as much as they can to restore order at the end, but it is definitely messy at the time.

Evening ladies - hope you are all ok. Well done 12year on your good news, bet you are really pleased and relieved!

It's all a bit doom and gloom here. Won't rant on here, but if you're interested, I've posted elsewhere. rant

Scan tomorrow! Dead excited, so keep your fingers crossed for good news on all being well!

Hi
I've not had too much bump touching yet but it is very small. But on one day last week I had two people say 'your geting bigger now' and one person say 'gosh I can't believe you are still so small'

I saw an old colleague from a previous job, when he turned up in reception to see someone at current place. I got quite a shock and blushed when he rubbed my bump! Imagine if we did the same to men and their beer bellies!

Someone commented that I had grown over the weekend. Another recently pg mum said "God, I hated it when people said that to me" and the lady had the grace to look embarrassed. Maybe that's the thing - prime friends, family or even the children to make a comment like "why did that strange lady touch your bump, mummy"!!!!!!!!!

peachy - with DS to some I was "enormous and about to drop" and others I was "neat". I just wished that someone had said "you're about the right size" lol. I did get more of the "you're tiny/neat" comments though at 5/6 months so much so that I became VERY paranoid that my baby wasn't growing and something was wrong with him!

plumpbump I just wanted to say that I hope the issues at work are resolved soon. Thinking of you sweetie, and fwiw I think you should get signed off, they're going to have to cope without you soon enough, let them get some practice in now and take some time for yourself and the baby to be together.
When you look back you won't want your pg to be coloured by a continuing situation at work which caused you so much exhaustion.
In most businesses they won't change the environment or practices whilst you're still there doing the work, they'll see it as they don't have to, someone else is covering.
Good luck for the scan today x

I am now 22 weeks and at the scan found out we are having another boy. It must have been very obvious as we didn't get the 'it's not 100% accurate speech'. I have a DD who will be 5 and a DS who will be nearly 3 so was hoping for another girl, but I now think having 2 little boys will be great! They can do that rowdy energetic boy stuff together. But now I feel obliged to get on with decorating the spare room!
I have a c-section booked for 23rd Jan (12 days before EDD) so can get everything planned now - work, childcare etc. I'm not at all bothered about the lack of surprises and feel more excited now I know what's happening when!
No-one has patted my (now quite obvious) bump, but several people I hardly know have asked 'was it planned?' which I think is exceptionally rude, and usually tell them so. Is having 3 children somehow wierd and freakish to some people?

Hello Spanna ? I had quite a few people ask me 'was it planned?' too, when I eagerly announced I was pregnant with this, my FIRST child! It was a bit upsetting at the time, and I think it was founded on their belief that I couldn't possibly be intentionally planning on disrupting my life at the tender age of 28 years old! Once I did assure them that the baby was much wanted and planned, they did warm to the task of congratulating us, almost as if to have done the congrats without checking first would have been wrong. People are funny ?