November 1014 - thread 5 - the rainbow collective romping (and limping) into 2nd trimester!

[weeonion]

hi folks - thought we should have a new thread!

Just to scare you... this was 37+3 with DD1. I had almost doubled my weight from 7 stone to 13.5 and gone from a 6 to an 18. It all came off and I was back to an 8 within 6 months. But what's even scarier is this time I've been bigger all along that I was at the same stage last time!

Hopeful I was in a similar sudden braking situation on the M1 a couple of weeks ago and felt the seatbelt cut right into my belly. But all was absolutely fine, I think it's well cushioned in there. No harm in ringing up your midwife tho, if I didn't have my doppler I would have!

Anna I love your bump. I had a family dinner today and one memmber said 'You don't look pregnant at all, just like you've just eaten or something, you really can't tell'. I was gutted. I was proud of my ever so slight curve. I envy your bump, and like Amy83 said, the grass is always greener!!!

Oh amylou, huge hugs, I know you're right.

I just wish people weren't so bloody opinionated. I have to formulate some silencing response that I can whip out at will - but it has to be something jokey/mild as half these comments come from sick people!

Random I am going to look exactly like that I know it - all at the front! I don't know how I'm going to keep from constantly toppling forward!

Amy I think that's almost worst than comments about how big you are, we're all very proud of our little bumps, only a horrible person would be little them!

Anyone whose worried about bump size have a look at Google images, there's so much variety!

I think a few pre-pepared responses are a good idea. I need some shut downs for questions about the father. None of anyone's beeswax and I'm not telling. :-p

Grew up in surrey and parents still there..... Jealous of a meet up so may gate crash on my next visit home.
In Devon now, anyone else south west??
People really do have the weirdest things leave their mouths to pregnant people, as if we aren't at our most sensitive anyway!!

Random I often lie in an obviously outrageous way when people ask questions they should know are overly nosy; it makes it seem jokey and makes it harder to push the issue.

I confess that with comments about ds as a bump though I did tell a few people rather pointedly that 'at least in my case it'll all disappear after he's born'. Pg seems to give people free rein to say all sorts of things, including unsolicited advice/'you must..' and inappropriate bump touching. The other thing that drives me mad is how acceptable it is to say things near to term about going overdue. Ds was 27th December, due on the 15th, and I wish he'd been on time for his sake (will be guilty for the rest of my life about his birthday date.) The number of other people though who KEPT telling me that they hoped he'd be out by Christmas really pissed me off, like I was personally failing THEM. Argh. Bug bear of mine.

The move is now complete which is ace, only small snagging work to do. Am a bit concerned about being 16+6 now and no 16 week appointment booked, due to having to change doctors etc at the worst possible time. Also our local hospital is Whipps Cross but hoping to go to Homerton as it gets better reviews for maternity. I loved the hospital ds was born in but no chance of that as it's in Manchester!

Also re slings - I would encourage anyone! Great for calming and helping sleep, plus gives you your freedom back with both hands and to get stuff done. Stretchy wraps are good when they're very tiny, then woven or soft structured carriers. Dh likes ssc types so we have a Connecta and a rose and rebellion, plus wraps for me, but the best bet is to borrow from a sling library and find out what suits you and the small if you're unsure.

Morning all! The sun is actually shining in Scotland this,morning !!

Your bumps are all lovely. They are as individual as you are and will all end up v v different as we go on.

I agree that people feel they can take incredible liberties with pg women. DP used to be brill when a stranger or someone unwantedly my bump. He would either smile and touch their bum or stomach and if they gave him a "look", he would say
"oh but I thought you were ok with being touched up, given that's what you have done to my GF"

I think I am the only Scottish one on this thread?? Stripey was here too but sadly, she hasn't been back in an age. Prob no meet ups but may jump on a general Scottish meet up which happen regularly and there seems to a few Scots on the October AN thread too.

Meeting my doula today - excited!!!!!

We've ordered the Silver Cross Pioneer in Sand. Went for it over the Wayfarer due to the shop having an offer where you got a change bag and a parasol free. Plus the shop we got it from will keep it until you need it which is useful.

Anna, it's a lovely bump! It's taken me ages to see it as had to find thread on MN.com!
I reckon mine is about the same as yours and I'm 18-3.
Weighed myself this morning and I've actually only gained 7.2lb and most of that was definitely pre-12 weeks when I lived on buttered carbs and crisps so I suppose most of the weight gain is bump.
I feel that the massive tummy actually makes the rest of me look slightly slimmer, except for my extra chin!

I found this pregnancy weight gain calculator which was quite interesting.
www.calculator.net/pregnancy-weight-gain-calculator.html?ctype=standard&pstage=18&twins=0&cheightfeet=5&cheightinch=3&cpoundbefore=146&cheightmeter=165&ckgbefore=50&printit=0&x=67&y=18

Sorry Miskate that app stressed you out! I used the microphone on the bottom of the phone on my tummy and the earphones to hear the heartbeat but my loudspeaker doesn't work so I had too... I hope you got it working?
I couldn't find heartbeat last night an got in a bit of a flap.
Think I'm going to try and leave it alone for a few weeks as it's still early days to find it without a proper Doppler and then I panic unnecessarily, just as the midwife warned me I would when I asked her about getting a Doppler!
Still, glad I did manage to find it and think I'll enjoy it more later on.

weeonion, hope you find that you click with your doula. I would really like to have one but am using my very practical and sort-of medically-trained mother as a stand-in! (Mostly because it is free )

utopian, hope you get your appointment sorted soon, but glad the move went well DP is still negotiating for the new business premises that come complete with currently unliveable house, but he's convinced that we will be in there by the time Bean appears. Given that it still needs plumbing, electrics certifying, plastering & decorating and they're still 'considering' the latest offer, I am dubious

Random, your bump was beautiful. How was the rest of you still so shapely?! This is making my weird, shapeless tree-trunk of a torso look even less attractive haha!

Oh gosh, DP's sister went in for an uninvited 'bump' grope on Thursday evening. I don't even have much of a bump, which makes it extra creepy. I think I must have given her The Look of Death, because she stopped with her hand about 6 inches away and retracted it with a very meek 'Sorry, I should ask.'

Ellie - once I worked out how to use it and stopped being stupid it was really nice! but as you say, I think it's too early to hear anything properly. It highlighted to me that a doppler would probably stress me out more than it would help, so that was definitely useful :) I think it'll be a great app once I get to 30 weeks plus.
i'm the same as you in terms of weight gain too - I put on a lot quite quickly as I'd come off my very restrictive pre-pregnancy attempting to be 9 stone again diet. It's evened out now, and your link has shown me that I'm in the acceptable weight gain bit (now!)
Absolutely loving all these photos of bumps!!

sale alert - H&M have 50% off maternity wear in selected styles!

I'm another one with no visible bump and slightly worried about it (anterior placenta and it's DC1 so can't feel anything yet either).

I'm sure it's fine though. (repeat to fade)

twiglet - she was our NCT trainee antenatal tutor so know her well from last time. DP was fab last time but feel i want more support for homebirth this time. Would love my mum to be there but she is in another country so cant really get here to be with me easily / quickly!

miskate - is that H&M onlne or in shop - cant find it online...........

Toni, I think I'm getting that one too but in black. What shop was the special on at?

It's online - I found it by going sale, then maternity. Not loads of stuff but a few dresses that would be good for weddings and some jeans.

Nearly another thread full - only 30 messages left on this one....... name suggestions??

amy83firsttimer Sun 08-Jun-14 19:35:10

I'm having the opposite problem and keep convincing myself it's died.

amy - i have just read this and didnt want to let it go past uncommented. Are you ok?

I am back! Sorry for my unexplained very long absence, I have been totally snowed under for the last while... I'm in my last few months of uni and have had my final exams and other general pressures going on. I finish in September, by which point my to-do list will be so long it'll be like a full time job!

16+3 now and starting to notice a bump forming, which I am finding really really exciting. Having had a lot of issues with body image in the past I'm trying not to worry about that side of things too much, but to focus on the wonderful things my body is managing to do just now! Like so many of us, my placenta is anterior so I'm prepared for the fact it could still be ages before I feel the little one move.

I've got my first appointment with the home birth midwife tomorrow and my 20 week scan in 3 and a half weeks. I feel like things are passing by quite quickly what with not having a moment to think!

Has anyone been to a Birth Rocks class, or know if it's any good, and if it's for partners too? I want to go to an active birth class that is for partners as well, but am not sure if birth rocks is what I'm looking for. I've found another one run by a yoga teacher and physiotherapist that I really like the sound of so I may book that one instead.

Wee onion - sorry for disappearing, I'm always a bit sporadic and useless on the internet when life takes over. I thought I remembered another Scottish person on this thread but have no idea who it was. I'd definitely be up for a meet-up sometime, it'd be lovely to meet you and others. I've started becoming a bit obsessive about slings and eyeing up everyone wearing one to suss out what I think - so it's be great to bend your ear on that topic too.

hi I'm new to this. I'm due in nov iA :)

hi everyone I'm alia and I'm due in mid nov iA :)

nice to meet you all!!

stripey!!!!!!!!!! you're back!!!

You may notice a few concerned posts from myself looking out for you. SO glad all is well for you! Are you out yet on the positive birth glasgow FB page???? I am booked in for lazydaisy classes starting 1st july and seperate hypnobirthing group to prepare!

Which HB MW you seeing tomorrow - is it anne or caroline?

Oooooh - questions questions.....

Hi alia8753 - welcome and congrats!

Welcome Alia

Good to hear all is Ok Stripey!

Amy, I also get worries like that all the time for no reason at all, I have a big bump, I feel movement (though it's not regular, yesterday had lots and today barely anything so far but then I did have an iced peach tea and a bottle of coke :p) and I have a doppler so I hear a heartbeat every night. Yet I still panic! I think it's partly due to past mmc and partly because now I feel I've got so far it's unbelievable and for everything to go wrong at this stage is just a horrendous thought when I've vested so much in all of this and feel a bond with my baby. I think it's just the start of a lifetime of worrying about our little ones, it started the day of my bfp and I doubt I'll ever stop worrying :p I think it's normal to a degree, as long as you're not having horrible night mares and genuine massive panics with no clear reason, wanting to call an ambulance/ go to the epu...

Venus - It was a local shop in Hull I'm afraid - so unless you're nearby it's not much help - although think I may have seen it cheaper than retail on Pramworld...