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!)

hello all, not been on mn for ages. i'm due in feb with 2nd child - so just getting my face in so to speak and saying hello to all other februaryers (note: not a real word )

Hi to maisiemoosmum and mrsj
Had my scan today, was absolutley fantastic, was done at Babybond in Manchester as I am avoiding the NHS for as long as I can. Was able to watch the whole scan as it was performed via an overhead projector, the pics were projected right onto the wll infront of me and the sonographer talked us through everything she was looking at. Had some fantastic views of baby and it just seemed so much more personal than the scans I have had on the NHS with my other babies. Got to find out the sex of the baby, another boy, so poor DD will be sandwiched between the two of them. A bit worried about DH, he is really dissapointed as he wanted another daughter, feels he has bonding and interaction problems with boys, it's so hard to say though as our DS has Asperger's Syndrome and is therefore very difficult to interact with anyway. The only other worry is that having a DD meant I didn't really have the worry of autism again as it is pretty rare in girls (altough it could have happened) but I guess this one is more at risk being a boy, and already at greater risk having a sibling on the autistic spectrum. Anyway if I dewll on it too long I will start to worry so am not going to give it much thought....or so I say! Everything normal on scan, so am continuing to plan my homebirth, though not much planning gone into it yet. Anyone else planning a homebirth for Feb?

CurrantBun, La Redoute do a few maternity things and go down to size 6, maybe you could find something there?

Hi to mrsj and maisymoosmum. This is getting to be a pretty monster thread!

babe, I've been wearing my mat pants for some months now (had bought them last time round). Personally I find them much more comfy than ordinary big ones as they sit low below the bump and you don't have to worry about them cutting in or falling down.

currantbun, I think Lands End USA catalogue has maternity - I seem to recall sending off for it last time around, and they do ship to the UK. Don't know how low they go in terms of sizes though. You could probably ask when you ask for the catalogue.

snugglebum, glad that all is looking well for now and I guess we'll all have to keep our fingers crossed for you into the future.

As for me, not much to report except I've pretty much decided on the M&P Pliko Pramette by way of a pushchair/pram so am now on the hunt for a second hand one - seem to be a fair few on ebay.

Enjoy the rest of half term, for those who notice it.

Babe - i'm feeling like that too tho' i do find it is usually nearer the end of the day so i put it down to gravity taking it's toll!! It's my 2nd too...

i also have a really sore back. I thought it was due to my bad mattress but we have had a new one now for a fortnight and back ache hasn't eased any. i'm a bit concerned about it because my bump isn't big yet, and i got massive last time, so i'm concerned that as my bump (and the strain on my back)grows the pain will get worse. It's especially bad when i put my weight on my left leg... - any advice from anyone?

That's us past 5 months now - it's going so quickly for me. Although i'm already counting down to mat leave. Am working fulltime temporarily, and can't wait to have time to myself again!

ja9, would try an osteopath or chiropractor for the back pain, sounds like there may be some disalignment of the pelvis if it's worse when putting pressure on one leg. Or if you have someone near you who practices Bowen Technique then this is very ggod for gentle manipulation and pelivic allignment. Hope you find something helps.

Hi to the newcomers.

Currantbun - I recall a place online from when I was pg with DS that would make maternity trousers to order for you. And it wasn't that expensive - about £40 a pair. I'll try googling later to see what I get, but might be worth a try. I love the Zapp too - DH really wants one - but it's worth remembering that it doesn't recline.

Moosma - I was hooked on the P&Ts for ages until I saw it out in practice. My problem with it is that the newborn is laying flat until they have good neck/back control to sit right up. No middle ground and they're staring at the back of a seat. So I'm back to looking at doubles... or slings!

Babe - ASDA used to do giant maternity pants that are comfy. I have emma jane ones too but they're getting tight already! I think maternity ones are better as the waist isn't designed to dig in. As for engaging... I feel heavy like that a lot. Most first babies engage from 36wks +, second babies often don't engage. Mind you, my DS never got past 2/5ths until into labour so there are no hard and fast rules.

Snugglebum - I love babybond! We're getting a 4D scan there (we did with DS) in a few weeks and I can't wait to see my little girl. Exactly the same gestation as the one with DS so it'll be interesting to compare them.

Ja9 - I have sacroilliac disfunction that is like back pain with a touch of sciatica and general pain if trying to do things that knock my pelvis away from straight (ie standing on one leg). I also can't sit on hard surfaces for any length of time or I'm locked! I have been seeing an osteopath for ages (pre DS, post DS and during this prengnacy) and it's making a huge difference. So far I haven't struggled like I did with DS. I also switched mattresses but it made no difference. I found sleeping with a pillow under my waist helped. So we bought a memory foam mattress topper (tempur type stuff from Costco) and it has made a huge difference. It was pricey - £150 - but I've been managing to sleep for longer than an hour at a time without having to turn over.

Thanks MoosMa and Suzi for maternity wear tips. Will have another scout around and see what I can find. It's just a bit demoralising being unable to find anything that fits - and although they were trying to be kind, the assistants in the stores who said, "You should be pleased that you're so tiny!" really didn't help any!

Am wearing my one remaining pair of work trousers that still fit comfortably - I nearly threw them out last winter as they were so big round the waist they wouldn't stay up unless I put a safety pin in the waistband, then I decided they might come in useful if I ever got pregnant: so glad I kept them now!

I've got a bit of pain in my lower right back - I had it on the left in the same place a few weeks ago. Think I must have trapped a nerve or something but was really stiff after I'd been for a run last night. It was fine while running, and afterwards - it was only when I finally sat down on the sofa and relaxed for a couple of hours that I had difficulty getting up again. I'm sure it'll pass - I think it might be caused by the baby lying in a certain position and putting pressure on some of my nerves.

ja9, echo suzi2's advice about osteopaths. I saw one through last pg and am doing again with this and it has been invaluable in keeping back & pelvic pain at bay.

another thing worth trying - and currantbun might find this handy too - is sitting on a gym ball/birthing ball. You need to make sure you get the right size. The most common is 65cm diameter but eg I have a 75cm one as I'm a bit taller than average. You need to be sure that your pelvis is just slightly higher than your knees when its inflated. You can get the standard ones from Argos pretty cheaply. If you want a good one guaranteed not to burst (apparently it does happen!) then Ledragomma (Italian brand) are worth seeking out. Mine's been out for a few months now and I sit on it almost every evening now as it's much more comfy than the sofa and stops me getting stiff. DS thinks it's a great extra toy during the day too!

I had that too CurrantBun, I was getting desperate to find mat clothes last time, so I asked in Debenhams if they knew where did them. She suggested Mothercare but I replied that I had tried there and they never have size 8 in stock and size 10 stuff just falls off. She looked me up and down and said "well you are very tiny", and that was when I was twice the size I am now! I dread to think what it's like for you even smaller!

I know, MoosMa - it's so difficult if you don't fall into 'standard' size categories. DH pointed out that there probably isn't much of a market for people my size, which is fair enough, but it makes life very difficult given that there are a limited amount of places selling maternity clothes in the first place.

I get that "Well, you are very tiny" thing all the time, as though it's somehow something I've done that's made me this size and I therefore shouldn't possibly expect anywhere to sell clothes small enough for me!

Reet Petite looks like it could be an option, but need to measure the inside leg of some of my trousers before I order anything - the longest they do is a 29" leg and it may just be a bit too short (oh, the irony!)

Hi all,
Current bun get your mum to look in 'Old navy' in the states I got some good stuff in there on holiday (in particular these 'gaucho pants' which were reduced to $10 a pair . I think they should be croppped on normal sized eople!!) and a shop called 'pea in the pod'
Have you looked at reet petite I don't know how small you are height size but they might have something. I'm smallish too and took back three pairs of maternity trousers in favour of those M and S ones I posted a while ago.
I have also got some nice tops from Jojo maman bebe which are a great fit.
Welcome new ladies!!!

Another thought currantbun is to buy some of those maternity trouser extenders. Basically a posh safety pin with fabric in between so it doesn't look like your flies are undone. I think bumpto3.com might sell them.

belly belt

is the kind of thing I mean.

Lots of sympathy on finding clothes difficult. I'm a short person too, but I seem to have grow a rather low slung bump and huge backside all of a sudden and absolutley nothing fits... including my lovely maternity work trousers from M&S !! I've only had them a few weeks but find that I have to undo them at my desk or I get cut in half, esp. when the bump starts moving around. I'm now convinced I am going to forget about it at some point, get up from my desk and find my trousers at my ankles mid office. The only things that will go round me now are the huge stretchy trousers I got ages ago in M&S which are 2 sizes bigger than normal, but they do at least do a short length. I dread to think what's going to happen when I get bigger.

Also having the back pain, in fact I've had it rather badly for a fair few weeks now. My doctor just tells me it's just stretching and it'll go, but it's still there. I'm also seeing an ostepath which helps, but costs a fortune as I need to go quite a lot. I am having Bowen technique done tomorrow so we'll see if that helps any.

It's been a major downer on the whole pregnancy so far, it's stopped me doing any exercise or sports, limited even shopping trips and means I have to spend a fortune on car parking near my work as too much walking around makes it worse. My office policy says I don't qualify for a parking space at the building as "pregancy is not in illness". I would like to seek out the MAN who decided this and punch him, perhaps several times, in the lower back and tell him it's not an illness.

Sorry... whinging at length here, but the complimentary bane of my pregant life, the persistent restless leg, has got me out of bed for the second time tonight and I have nothing else to do at 5am but sit and type... and wonder how I am going to cope at work with out a proper sleep for 3 nights in a row. And if one more person at work helpfully tells me that's it's all in preparation for when the baby arrives then I might just have to...... I dunno.... take a total hormonal exhausted crying fit or something equally irrational... off back to bed...

Oh, Suis! It sounds as though you're having a rough time of it. Is there someone senior in HR you could speak to about the parking situation? I know that pregnancy is not an illness per se but many women have problems and pain associated with pregnancy that they did not have previously which can make it impossible to do some things that were taken for granted pre-pregnancy.

The lack of sleep can't be helping. Is it worth taking a couple of paracetamol if your legs are feeling particularly restless? I occasionally get restless legs when I'm in the middle of hard marathon training and usually find a couple of ibuprofen relaxes them enough to enable me to get to sleep (but obviously ibuprofen, like everything else, is banned in pregnancy ...) And I know what you mean about wanting to deck people who make "helpful" comments ...

Suzi, thanks for the 'bump belt' tip - might be a possibility if I can't get any decent maternity jeans as at least may extend the life of my normal ones. Peachygirl, thanks for the shopping tips for my mum!! Someone else on MN recommended Reet Petite yesterday and I've looked at their website - they look OK. I'm quite short (5'1") and their longest leg length is a 29" inside leg - measured my petite trousers last night and all of those are 29" inside leg so definitely a possibility. Won't order anything until next week though as I'm off work Friday and Monday and it's easier to have stuff delivered to work as I can guarantee I'll be here or there'll be someone to sign for it.

Current bun I'M 4"11 and resigned to a life of taking up trousers. You could get some wonderweb stuff.
Those trousers I recommended in M and S I think are 27 inch leg and I haven't had to take them up.
Suzi sorry to hear about your problems at work.I agree talking to a HR person might help.
The Bowen should help. Our deputy offers it at work with the kids.

Peachygirl, a 27" leg length would definitely be too short for me. I like my trousers practically dragging on the floor! But then you're a couple of inches shorter than me (amazing! No-one is ever shorter than me!) so the 27" length is probably perfect for you.

Size of a different kind!

Went to midwife yesterday, all well with wee and blood pressure, healthy heartbeat. But she said I was 'big for dates' - fundal height is 25 cm and I am 23 and half weeks. She said baby was probably having a growth spurt. Do I need to worry? Am I going to have a massive baby (I am only 5'3'' and hubby is not a large man!)?! Any advice appreciated.

Alocin, don't worry. From what I've read the fundal height is not a particularly reliable way to assess foetal growth (although better than weighing the mother!) The measurement can vary depending on how the baby is lying as well. And babies don't necessarily grow a 'set' amount each week - if you're a bit bigger than average at 23 weeks, the baby might not grow much in the next period and you'll be average or below on your next appointment. I don't think there's any really reliable way of assessing how big the baby is likely to be, but if you and hubby are both relatively small it's unlikely (although not impossible) you'll have a huge baby.

I'm hoping this is the case anyway - I'm 5'1" and tiny and hubby's 5'10" and slim, both our families are quite small, so hope I don't have to birth a bowling ball!

The midwife said I was 1 or 2 weeks ahead size wise with DD1 but she ended up 7lb 9.5oz at 42 weeks, so I shouldn't worry too much, I don't think it's really that accurate. Turned out I had gallons and gallons of fluid which is what made me enormous.

suis, on the restless leg thing, I don't know how much you've looked into it already, but I dimly recall reading somewhere that for some people it can be associated with a minor deficiency in one of the minerals - I think it might be potassium? Might be worth googling for info?

Alocin, agree with others, no need to worry. Just keep eating as healthily as you can so as not to pass on the cakes and stodge to the bump (...tho as I email this I'm supplementing my lunch with a chocolate mousse!)

I must say I have put on a vast amount of weight already, but all in front - I'm quite pleased my arse isnt so huge that my knickers dont fit! Lets hope its all lots of heavy fluid!

moosma, another one her for the p&t but what has put us off is the fact that the baby who is sat at the back (usually the newborn) doesn't have a hood on their seat to protect them from wind etc. The pram looks brill but there are just a few things we have since heard/seen thats out us off slightly. Have you looked at the Jane: Twin two..? Does look like a bigger pram BUT imo it's got everything we need..Suppose I will put up with the fact that it's more of a twin pram than the p&t..but after 2 months use you never know....

No news at this end, I'm 26 weeks and still huge although the mw says Im measuring right. Thinks it may all be fluid..heres hoping..!! DD was 9lb 4oz so I am preparing myself already..!!

Thanks for the pointers shhh, I did think of the hood thing but thought that if it's nasty I'll just put the rain cover on. Also I did look at the Jane but it's really heavy and I do a lot of pushing up hills so that's quite important to me. The Mothercare single one I have now is heavy enough, but the p&t is about 3kgs lighter