March Mummies 2015 - to second tri and beyond we go, bumps appearing and sickness (hopefully) disappearing

[lotsoftoast]

New thread for the March Mums :)

Aww that's so sweet! I've told DH if all is well today he has to buy me the first baby item, eg a little outfit, so I may use that in the same way!

Well that's just taken me ages to catch up - 8 pages worth!

Had an amazing holiday in Jersey last week, just me, DH and DS. What a beautiful place, and DS became a bit of a Daddy's boy which was nice. He is usually very much a Mummy's boy, but only because he spends so much more time with me due to DH's work hours. To see him really respond to them spending quality time together was brilliant.

Had an appointment with my consultant yesterday to discuss my notes from DS's delivery - won't bore you all with the details but basically I was worried that she would either think we were wasting her time, or that she would just automatically defend her colleagues, but she was brilliant and so lovely about everything. So much so that I'm actually now seriously considering a vbac, which I wasn't before. She did say though that if I choose a section then she won't try to talk me out of it.

I was a bit embarrassed to get upset when we talked about why I never got to hold DS straight after delivery. It's a relatively small thing in the grand scheme but I do feel like I missed out on something as he was around 45mins old by the time I actually met him, in the recovery room. DH did get to hold him though so it's not as though he was left on a table by himself or anything! I just hope that if I do attempt a vbac, this particular consultant is around at the time, as I will feel reassured knowing that she would listen to my concerns if labour is not going well and would act accordingly.

Sorry for the long post, it's been a while! Sorry to those still not feeling well, particularly Durham.

Loving the names btw - I think we're leaning towards Isla Maisie for a girl, don't know for a boy. I love Evan but DH doesn't. He likes Ewan (or however we would decide to spell it!) and I must admit it's growing on me...

Been so out of action on this thread for ages - sorry everyone! Glad to read everything is ticking over for most of us but Durham god you poor thing, I keep hoping to read you're feeling better :(

So much going on, so shattered, really struggling each day. I wish I could call in sick for a day but being a SAHM doesn't really lend itself to that!

I have to go home on Thursday - other end of the country - because my nana is having an operation and only has a 30-50% chance of surviving. She's been suffering for so long because of incompetence from the doctors and I feel so angry about it all, and just wish it was over for her. Is that awful? I don't know. Leaving DS at home because I can't handle the scrum at Euston and last time I took him, my reserved seat was double booked. But my granddad was really disappointed and I feel so guilty - but how fair is it to put 2 year old DS through a four hour train journey and then go straight to a hospital?

Loving all the names talk, it's so exciting - makes it so real, doesn't it?

Lots of people in my other group have just given birth and they're all talking about lucky they are their toddler DD/DS goes to a nursery because they get lots of time off and lots of time to bond with their new baby. Makes me wonder if I'm being incredibly naive to think me, DS and baby will just have to get on with it.

Anyway will try to keep up in the thread - keeping up on FB so that's something. A few of us are almost halfway there, and lots of you are soooooo close - almost at the halfway mark! Hurrah!!

Could you do a video of DS on the ipad so your nana and granddad can see him, Zebra? Such a tricky situation, bless you. And maybe bring a couple of special pictures or something by DS so they still know he's thinking of them. Yes, not many two year olds could cope with that, particularly if emotions will be running very high anyway. I really hope the op goes well and your Nana finds it helps too. Will be thinking of you.

Maybe I should join the facebook group? Eeek, not sure!

Thanks smoke I did think of bringing some pictures. And a little video would be nice but I don't know if she'd be able to see it. I think she's pretty out of it.

And yes - join the FB group!

How do i join the fb group? I've forgotten who I need to pm

smokeandglitter thanks for asking. Not great. Put myself on sick leave today. Lesson observation went shit even though I and TAs thought it went really well. I sat in my PPA session feeling deflated and broken so told my partner Y2 teacher that I was going sick. Should have done it a while ago but tried to soldier on as many people I am closest to see going sick as being 'weak'. Got to the point that I had to put me and baby first and not everyone else's opinions. A lot is troubling me: working so many hours and an endless list of jobs, marking is getting intense, work book scrutinies, lesson observations being a negative experience and the fact my toddler (and will be 8 month old child) being in childcare for 50 hours a week, paying £715 a month for someone to bring up my child (that will increase to £995 come autumn 2015) and when my two year old asks on a Sunday if he is going to aunty Gwen's (childminder) and then announces he wants to go, sort of cuts you a bit! I see midwife tomorrow at my 16 week appointment. Hoping she can help or put me on official sick leave. I have 7 days to self certify and hope I can do that tomorrow rather than make a separate GP appointment.

smoke if you PM M27J5M your email she can add you :)

Zebra it's not awful to want your Nanna to be out of pain. My Nanna died from lung and breast cancer a few years ago. She was such an independent, fiesty old bird. It was horrendous to see her deteriorate into a shadow of herself, and although I really didn't want to lose her, it was partly a relief when it was over. She just wanted it to be over too.

Yes Smoke join the facebook group. I think you can also pm lotsoftoast too.

I had my appointment with the mental health team at the maternity unit today. Not sure how I feel about it, but have been referred on to a specialist mental health unit nearby. We will see. I also have leukocytes and protein in my urine so that has gone for further testing.

Durham I hope you are starting to feel better.

I can't believe people are having 20 week scans! Mine is almost 4 weeks away. It's bonkers. I don't have a bump and still feel like I'm about 5 weeks gone!

Had my 16 week appointment this afternoon (16+5). Everything fine and I was quite surprised she listened to hb. Had the same mw last time and didn't get to hear it til about 30 weeks so really didn't expect her to do it today. She did warn me that she might not find it but only took a couple of attempts.

Don't see her again now until 28 weeks - on 30th December! That seems like forever away!

And for those that were on the thread weeks ago when I started my mammoth insurance claims will be please to know that I think we've finally got them sorted at last! My husband's wedding ring was easy enough - the insurance company rang me a week after I sent the form and said they would raise a cheque - that arrived in the post today so we can get his replacement ordered. The one for my tenants' front door that got kicked in has driven me mad and nearly resulted in having to report the insurance company to the ombudsman for their incompetence but after yet another 40 minute phone call today (35 minutes of which was spent on hold...) they finally agreed to transfer the money straight to me and I should have it by Friday. Hoorah!!

Junk Good decision. You need to put yourself first and I can totally sympathise with the work load, it's ridiculous. Hope you start to feel better soon.

Hi all, thank you for your messages. Unfortunately I am still being sick every day and struggling to hold food/fluids down. Had my 16 week midwife appointment today and mw was surprised my urine was clear of ketones (it was very concentrated). She thinks if I continue being sick as I am I'll be back in hospital by the weekend (not something I really want to happen, so fingers crossed I can keep enough fluids down to avoid another admission).

On a positive note though I heard baby's heartbeat again and a huge kick too! Apparently baby was really active, really makes everything worthwhile :-)

Had my 16 week appointment today too Keeper, and the MW was able to find the heartbeat straight away, so that was lovely to hear. Urine and BP were all fine so I don't see her again until 6th Jan!

Have told a few more people now so I'm feeling much more comfortable with it. The sickness is loads better and I feel fairly normal again now, although still tired by 8pm each night.

Durham, so sorry to hear things aren't getting any better; I hope you avoid going back into hospital.

Zebra, sorry to hear about your Nanna, I hope the op goes well.

Junk, I hope the MW is able to sign you off. Teaching can be really soul destroying can't it? It really affected my feeling of self-worth at times when things weren't going well.

Hope everyone else is ok.

I keep loosing you guys from my threads I'm on.

Hi, haven't had time to catch up with the thread but will do later this week! Just wondering when you ladies got your matb1 forms? I want to formalise everything at work. My HT is also pushing me to give her my mat leave dates in the next couple of weeks. She's suggested that HR can specify that I have to leave at the end / start of a term if it's 'in the best interests of the school' but I'm not convinced that's right. I don't think she really knows either to be honest, but that would mean me starting about 5 or 6 weeks before I'm due, which is earlier than I'd like. We're also not sure yet how long I'm going to take as we have to work out finances and things. Feeling a touch pressured but I guess we have to work it out sometime! Anyone in a similar situation?

Twitt, when I was teaching they couldn't make me start mat leave at the end of a term. Both times I started mat leave in the first week of May, around 3 weeks after coming back from the Easter holidays.

Hi All.

Sorry about your Nanna Zebra hope all goes well. Fingers crossed you can keep enough water down to stay out of hospital Durham but fab that you heard the heartbeat again.

I was wondering the same thing Twitt had assumed I would have it by now, maybe at my 25 week appointment it will appear.

Just wondering, is anyone having a flu jab? My Mum heard them being talked about on Radio 4 and is bugging me now. And I have a new symptom, wondering if its a common one. Every morning wake up congested, blow nose to find lots of dried blood in my tissue. Yuck.

Hope you wont mind me having a little boast too. I was doing some pilates last night and think bump took exception to me lying on my tummy on top of him/her as I felt all kinds of kicks and punches. Which is unusual. My placenta is at the front and I have felt very little so far. Was brilliant [Grin]

twitt the midwife told me I'd get my MATB1 at my next appointment which is at 22 weeks. Inside my blue notes folder thingy there is a timetable which I am sure mentions it. I will check tonight. I need to tell work when I am planning to start mat leave 15 weeks before I am due. I am planning on starting mat leave 2 weeks before edd and using some holidays first so 3.5 weeks before edd.

I am having the flu jab at the end of Oct butter. I wasn't going to have it when I was pg with DD but DH had a bad dose of flu (and he is never ill) and really wanted me to have it so I did. Given I have had a cold off and on for about 7 weeks now decide to have it again.

Yes to flu jab, and (I know you didn't ask) but yes to whooping cough jab as well later on :)

Afairc you have to formalise mat leave by week 25, you don't get you matb1 until next appointment. They cant force you to start your mat leave at any point, might be worth a conversation with hr if boss is trying to do that!

Sorry you're still feeling rough durham :( hope everyone else is doing ok x

I had not even thought of Whooping Cough pink (nobody had mentioned it yet!) I had Whooping Cough when I was a baby but a quick check on NHS website tells me my immunity will probably have worn off by now so I suspect I will get the jab anyway.

I will be 25 Weeks at my next MW appointment - potentially a little late for the MATB1 if I have to formalise with work by then.

Whopping cough is recommended at 28 weeks butter The theiry is it is passed to baby via the placenta and give immunity until they have their first set of jabs. So isn't really for you benefit iyswim!

Yes to both jabs too. I have to have a full blood count done every 4 weeks due to my ridiculously low iron levels so will arrange for flu jab when I next have those done at the end of the month.

The whooping cough one is done after 28 weeks i believe. I know there's a bit of a debate about it but as far as I know, it's the same jab that our babies will get at 8 weeks old anyway, so I'm using the logic that it's safe for him/her while they're inside me iyswim? I will be having that one too when the time comes.

No to both for me. The flu jab is a new one each year, and you can still get flu despite the vaccination.

The theory that protection crosses the placenta for the wc jab, is still just that, a theory. I know three babies whose mums have been vaccinated and they've still caught whooping cough before their own 8 week jabs. There's still no real evidence that it works, other than rates going down. But rates would have been falling anyway as 2012/2013 was the peak period and there is always a massive drop after the peak in every historical case of wc.

For me, the risks don't outweigh the potential benefits.

But it's a v personal choice and you need to do your own research to make the best choice for your family

Midwife advised me to take two weeks sick leave. She was appalled at what I had to put up with. She said it sounded like bullying due to pregnancy. I am not entirely sure it is though I said it is difficult to prove it. She has got SPAR team involved with me now and need to see GP to officially sign me off. Told to ring the GP surgery tomorrow morning as no appointments today. I text work to let them know and was told to ring school after my GP appointment to speak to the Head! That sent me downhill again. I don't want to talk to her whilst feeling so raw and when only three days into my sick leave. Not as if I don't want to speak to her, maybe next week, just not now. Hoping I can refuse on 'medical advice'. Not doing my stress levels any good.