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've tried out the Phil & Ted's and the Jane Powertwin as well, and preferred the P&T by a long way. The Powertwin is quite heavy, and with my toddler in the front there is no way I could lift it onto a kerb (I tried!).

I was all set to buy a P&T in the next few weeks, but a friend told me yesterday that they have a weight restriction of 12kg for the front seat - am trying to check whether this is true, as if it is it might rule it out for us. Bugger - just when I thought I'd got it sorted!

Have arranged to meet a post-birth doula next week, and if we hit it off I'll hire her to come and help me out in February. We were going to get an au pair, but have been put off by horror stories among friends who have had them, and I don't really like the thought of someone living in the house with us. What I really want is a sort of second mum - maybe a bit optimistic, but you never know!!!

Hello ladies - just letting you know I am still here! I am 26 weeks today and feeling the baby lots which is lovely. It seems to wake up and jiggle at 6.30am every morning which is clever as it shows it knows when I usually wake up, but not so clever on the weekend when I want a lie-in (the last I'll get as once the baby is born I don't stand a chance!).

I saw the GP today - a couple of the apmts need to be with a GP instead of the midwife. Everything is fine, heard the heartbeat and she measured me as 25cm which she says is about right. She too went on about me having a 'neat bump' (no one believes I am as far gone as I am). SIL has said that means a boy (really?) so DH is ever hopeful!

I asked her what to do about the leg / feet cramps I seem to be getting quite frequently during the night - forcing me out of bed - and she said to have a nice bath before going to bed and massage the muscles in bed before sleep. Usually I dive into the shower quickly in the morning before work - a bath sounds like a bit of a sedate luxury!

We have bought vitually all our baby stuff - reading the debate on strollers I really hope we went for the right one (Britax Zeta). There is so much choice. All I have left is stuff for me - nursing bras, maternity pads, breast pads etc. for the hospital and I hope I don't need them for a while yet!

DH is away for the next two weeks on a course - I'm really not looking forward to being alone, but it can't be helped, and better now that in Jan / Feb when he needs to be on call for labour!

xxx

TuttiFrutti - Just got this off P&T's website:

• Single buggy (Toddler or Newborn) 25kg?s
• Double (Toddler-Newborn) 25kg?s in the front seat (toddler), no maximum weight limit on newborn position (designed for up to a 6 month old)
• Double (Toddler-Toddler) 25kg?s in the front seat, 15kg?s in the rear seat.

Soundbites - I had a very neat bump (or so I was constantly told) with DD1 and she was (and still is) a girl. Sorry to dash your DH's hopes!

Double buggies are such a minefield lol. We've decided to try without one and then get the nipper twin if necessary. DS is only 14 months just now but is refusing to go in his buggy and wants in the sling or to walk anyway. So I might just not leave the house until they're both 3 yrs +

I had almost an hour of fairly regular, VERY strong braxton hicks last night. I was starting to panic a bit! With DS they were always uncomfortable/painful and came in regular spurts (so much that I confused everyone when I was in labour!). But that wasn't until 34 wks +. I'm only 24 wks. Should I worry? I decided that if it went on past the hour I'd call the hospital but they stopped just short.

Thanks Moosma, that's a big relief! I couldn't face going through all that research on double buggies all over again.

Suzi, I've had the same thing re BH. Apparently it's normal to get them a lot more, and a lot earlier, in subsequent pregnancies. I had none at all with ds until the last week when I was overdue anyway, but this time I got some about a month ago and now every few days I get some BH contractions. Some of them are just like a tightening across my stomach, but occasionally they are quite painful, almost like real contractions.

Hey Everyone

Hope everyone's ok. Been trying to catch up with the thread after moving house...we've got the final push this weekend - finishing up in the old house and many trips to the tip to sort.

It's interesting how everyone is getting comments on their bumps. DH's parents and grandparents came to see the new abode and DH's grandmother asked me on a half hourly basis "Is it twins"? I felt really self conscious, not helped by the fact that I hadn't seen my MIL since being 5 weeks and I am now 23 weeks. Her eyes were out on stalks - talk about lack of eye contact - it was "talk to the bump cos the face aint listening!!"! DH INFURIATED me by not understanding why I feel uncomfortable being stared at and commented on. The fact is, I am the right size (whatever that is) for my weeks, for me. I am a curvy girl, so naturally my bump would be curvy too, or so I keep reassuring myself! It seems that whether you are a size 6-8 or a size 14-16, people still find it ok to comment. Ignore my rant, am just hormonal!!!!

Due back at work Monday after 3 weeks off sick with stress....feeling very very anxious....gulp!

Hi everyone, LOL about big knickers and trousers round ankle situation. I am temping at the moment and last week was phoned up and asked if I could get somewhere ASAP. I just grabbed clothes and half way through the day decided that I had picked up a pair of knickers I hadn't worn in ages. By about lunchtime I felt like I was being cut in too and I think the baby was beginning to fear that it's world had halved. When I eventually got home and could breathe easily again (and walk!) the baby did a celebratory lap of it's whole world making sure to kick in every corner!
I'm feeling quite envious of you Soundbites having got nearly all your stuff. We thought we were doing well last week when we got some nappies and a babygro. We're looking to move house in the next month and just can't contemplate buying more stuff to have to shift. Hope everybody's aches and pains ease over the weekend and lots of sleep is had by all

I am beginning to dread the days when I have to work in London (I'm really lucky to be able to work at home or in other offices when necessary) as most of my smartest clothes just don't fit now, and my hair has also gone wild. With a 3 yr old there just isn't enough time to get ready in the mornings - how am I going to cope with two???

I can sympathise with the 'cut in two' knicker situation - my tights are living up to their name today, and there's a lot of internal wriggling going on as the baby tries to let me know how this feels. I caught a glimpse of myself in a window earlier and I look like Humpty Dumpty. A smartly dressed Humpty Dumpty in skirt and boots, mind you.

Can absolutely understand Plumpkinbump's point about not wanting people to make comments on your size, but it seems to go with the job unfortunately. I guess that it is quite an extraordinary physical change in my case, which is why people feel that it is something to comment on.

Have people started rubbing the bump? With some people that's OK but if you don't really like them, it is SOOOOO irritating!

I've slept ! Fantastic. I finally got so exhausted that no amount of jumping leg or dicomfort could keep me awake. Feeling much more human now. Thank you for all your nice posts.

... and I totally agree on the comments thing PB. The moment you are pregnant you seem to become public property and everyone for family members to near strangers finds it necessary to pass comment. People tell me I'm too big / small and then ask how far on I am... or tell me to stop waddling becuase I'm not pregnant enough for that yet... or tell me to stop eating biscuits.. or I am sure I still want to be driving so much... is going to a concert really OK.. should I really be painting the kitchen.. does my doctor think my weight gain is alright... I really mustn't wear an underwire... why won't I tell them my favorite names... I am craving that ?(every time I am seen to eat anything)... I msut try not to have any drugs for labour (I plan to have everything going)... am I still managing to have sex... why am I not getting married.. etc etc etc. There seems to be no aspect of my pregnancy or life that people find out of bounds for commenting on. It is really getting on my nerves... and that's before they've had a bit rub at my bump without asking... including the person who just wandered up and rubbed it and then said "you should get a t-shirt printed to tell people to leave your bump alone".. and apparently telling people to sod off isn't acceptable either.... rant rant rant.

I went to the doctor yesterday about my constantly itchy nasty swollen bits (been like it for 2 months now despite throwing everything at it!) and was asked by a fellow waiting patient, "are you just here for a check up or is there something wrong?" It was soooo tempting to tell them exactly what I was there for...

Hi everyone - I had an interesting appointment with the GP this week as well - with her looking at the piles and the swollen bits too - what a great job

On the pants front...I've always found the smaller type pants better when I'm pregnant so they just sit under the bump - wuite a difference for me as I'm usually a sloggi big pants girl normally.

Also had people patting the bump - don't mind too much as long as I know them but last weekend we awee at a big party (I was sober - everyone was a bit tiddly to say the least) and my friend's DH patted my bump. When I made a comment he patted my bottom instead (he was more than a bit tiddly). Told him that he really didn't want to touch that bit of me..... all the other women knew what I was talking about (see earlier paragraphs re piles and swollen bits!)

Roll on February

Maybe we should all get one of these!!
T shirt
I've not had too much touching but I'm sure it will come.
Today I have been mostly sorting out my wardrobe putting away the summer stuff and (sob) the stuff that no longer fits or won't within a matter of weeks.
I should be getting on with my planning but I think I will knuckle down to that tomorrow.

No bump touching here! i never got any last time either. I must have a p*ss off kind of face lol

I'm looking rather pregnant for 24 wks. I'm a bit worried about how huge I will be by the end at this rate!

Anyone else hating work? I generally love my job, but find that i'm counting the days to mat leave (and it's ages away yet), and find that each day drags - i just don't want to be there. I want to be at home with my new baby!!!

I know how you feel ja9. People keep ask me if I'm counting the days.. they mean to the birth, and I say yes.. but coutning to the end of work. Like you I'm going to have to work on for ages as well and I just can't really be bothered being there anymore.

I am trying to work out when to stop work - I don't want to eat into my precious 6 months maternity leave too much. Baby is due 1 Feb so my boss suggested leaving at Christmas but I thought I might try to work the first two weeks of Jan (up to Jan 12) - and in fact, something has cropped up in the second week of Jan that I really ought to be the one to do it at work. I have just had a look at the print out of my dates that the GP gave me at the beginning and it says that the baby is expected to arrive any time from 11 Jan-15 Feb! One person I spoke to said that I ought to have a decent rest before the baby is born to prepare my body for labour and also because if I don't I won't catch up after the baby is born! I hadn't even considered this point.

BTW, do those who have season rail tickets know that they can be upgraded to First Class?

I have just sent off a copy of MatB1 and a copy of my ticket and a letter arrived on Friday authorising an upgrade. My doctor's surgery hadn't heard about it, the rail companies don't advertise it, so I thought there was a chance some of you might not know. Of course, First Capital Connect doesn't always lay on first class (such as this morning) but the whole work / commuting scene is a bit more pleasant knowing that the option is potentially there.

HI I've had the stopping at christmas dilemma with my maternity leave soundbites. I'm due a little later than you the 19th Feb and am thinking about stopping mid jan, on friday the 19th. This means I go back to school for 2 1/2 weeks. I was planning to do very little over christmas to let myself have good rest
I'm probably not going to take the full 26 weeks either as I want to have the summer holidays on full pay so am planning to go back at 24 weeks early july (if I leave it later it looks like I'm taking the p*ss. DH wil have the baby for those 3 weeks and then I'll have 6 weeks off again.
I's all swings and roundabouts isn't it?
Has anyone got one of those sleeping pillow things I've ben sleeping mostly on my back and am starting to get paranoid about it. I'm going to start a thread in pregnancy about them. Any advice welcome
(I'm on non contact now hence the daytime posting)

Well I'm not working (not much anyway) so I'm not counting days too much. I know that, much as it's hard being really pregnant and busy, it's 100 times worse having a newborn lol.

With DS, I stopped work 2 wks before my due date. I was working from home at the time though so if I had been doing a long commute I would hvae probably stopped sooner. I'm glad I stopped when I did as those 2 wks (DS arrived on date) were tough and I was having false labour and scares of no movement most days. As well as no sleep.

I have a sleep pillow sausage thing and don't really use it. I used it a lot when getting to grips with breastfeeding DS though. Not sure how much I'll use it this time (hoping feeding comes easily! ) but they are handy for a multitude of things. Mine is a beany bag type one and I used to curl it around DS on the floor when he was just starting to sit but would topple.

Hi all,

Just caught up - haven't been on here since last Thursday and things really do move on! Have had in-laws to stay all weekend (they are lovely so it was a really nice weekend). MIL is an ex-midwife and said that I'm a good size for 23 weeks (especially as I'm so tiny). She had a good feel of my tummy (with my permission!) - very difficult for an ex-midwife to keep her hands off a bump!

Went to Next on Friday morning before in-laws arrived, as there is a large branch near us which stocks maternity wear. The smallest size (8) literally fell down around my ankles: I could get the trousers on without even undoing them! Have just ordered a couple of pairs of maternity trousers online from a company specialising in petite clothing so am praying they will be OK as I'm pretty much out of options otherwise!

I'm due on 26 February and met with HR last week re. my maternity leave. Am planning to start it from 11 February which is a couple of weeks before my due date. I don't want to finish work too early as I'd rather have the time afterwards, but I can always revise the dates depending on how I feel closer to the time. At the moment I'm planning to take about 8 months off work rather than the full year I'm entitled to, but again I will have to see how it goes.

Sorry to gatecrash your thread being a non expectant mother. I am trying to get in touch with spudballoo who is due in Feb and have left a few posts in different places to attract her attention - but no luck as yet (she hasn't got the right permissions to CAT her). So I wanted to ask you if you see her on any threads to let her know that I have been trying to get in touch. You have probably seen from her posts that she had to have a temporary colostomy after her first birth. I am in the same position and up until reading her posts hadn't known of anyone else that this had happened to. So, would love to be able to speak to her to share experiences and alternative toilet humour and not feel quite so isolated. So, thank in advance for any help.

hi all. i'm due 22 feb. not sure exactly how far along that makes me. can't really keep track of things at the moment tbh, recent bereavement (my dad), have a 1yo dd to look after etc.
my prob is i just have NO energy, NO enthusiam, NO patience, NO appetite for ANYTHING!!
i feel very unhappy, stressed, lonely and close to the edge of
!!!!!!!!>>>>>>EXPLODING

Hey maisiemoosmum, after reading your thread I felt like I just needed to write and say that I'm thinking of you. You sound like you have been through an awful lot so it's no surprise that you're feeling down. I'm not sure that anyone would have any solutions but I'm sure support is here in the bucket load. At the risk of a cliche I guess it's just about taking one day at a time and finding things to smile about now and then whilst still giving yourself to grieve. Have you tried reading the thread about the funny things MN children have said? It made me laugh!

Oh Maisimoo, that sounds really bad. Have you seen your GP or any other health professional? It sounds like depression to me, but I'm not medically trained - but whatever it is, it is obviously wrecking your life at the moment.

Soundbites, babies can come at ANY time so your GP was right to give you a wide range of dates. My first was due on 15th April, but my GP said "All that really means is that it will probably happen at some point in April". It was the 26th in the end, and one friend due at the same time didn't give birth till the first week of May!

I don't agree with what your friend said about getting lots of sleep now though. Sadly sleep is not like chicken casserole, you can't prepare it in advance and freeze it in batches for future use. So I don't think sleeping a lot now is actually going to make those first weeks with the new baby any easier!!!

hi tutti. i haven't been to gp . i don't want them to fob me off with being an over-emotional pregnant woman, also - how can you get out everything you need to in the 3 minute gap they give you? i suppose it's worth a try though. i am finding most days quite tough, and it's all i can do to get dd washed, dressed and fed. dh doesn't really know how bad it is as he is only at home a few nights a week. i will make an appointment tomorrow, i know myself i can't go on like this. do you think i should speak to the mw at all or just stick with the gp?

Oh maisiemoosmum you do sound like you're having a horrid time, is there anyone who can have your LO for a few hours to give you a rest and let you clear your head?