December 2015 #2

[toadierocks]

As the 1st trimester sets in, its all sick-bags, ginger tea and laxatives! All aboard!

###STATS###

chandlers I'm definitely closed for business, nothing but the doc going there for now!

I am mainly eating my way through the nausea which is annoying as last time I actually lost weight in the first trimester.

First timer here too, thought u didn't have any symptoms until I felt nauseous all morning!

feed I dont know the difference between nausea and hunger anymore.
6 weeks tomorrow!

I agree with whoever upthread said about kinda wanting this to be your first again. I keep on worrying about having a nearly 2 and 1/2 Year Old, and a Newborn....My DS is lovely (Obvs!) But He is very demanding and can be hard Work. I think DH is planning on taking more time off Work this time than He did with DS! Hope everyone is feeling good today. I am waiting on my 12 Week Scan Date, should be beginning of June...Seems so long away!

niknak also 6 weeks tomorrow! Woo!

I'm not sure what's hunger and what's nausea at the moment either.

I feel shattered but kind of want to go for a walk. Dh is telling me not to bother as I might wear myself out to much. I can't just laze around the house all day though. And I still need to get up and go to work tomorrow and the rest of the week! That's more tiring than a stroll in the fresh air. I think its coz he doesn't want to come with me....

Those with children already how soon did you go back to work after? Have a meeting with the uni this week and most likely going to discuss my options of a year out vs some time off (how much they will let me take is definitely up in the air)

Sweets/chops/other first timers, I honestly think being a first timer is much harder because of the complete unknown, at least second time round we have an inkling of what to expect. Sure dealing with a toddler while going through morning sickness is harder but it's completely expected (for me anyway)

Feed with regards to being a baby novice? You can't read enough books, speak to enough experts etc to fully prepare for having a baby, and I doubt anyone ever feels 'ready' but a lot of it's natural instinct with elements of 'suck it and see' but I can promise once baby is here you'll be ok

I know it's a bit twee for mumsnet but I think of having a baby as the hardest but most rewarding thing I've ever done.

Hi all hope everyone is doing ok? Not been on much this week- I've been having a rough time if it- feeling pretty down maybe the hormones but my dd slept through last night which helped (she must have taken pity on me!) hope everyone is good and welcome to all the new bfps

I agree with sparkle, first time round I didn't have a clue, I'd literally held a baby once before in my life, none of my friends at the time had babies. I won't lie, for the first few months I was completely overwhelmed by it all as I had no idea how all consuming babies can be (especially if you've got one who cries every time you put it down!). And I don't think any amount of reading can really prepare you for it either. But, you do get through it somehow, and even if you're not a natural earth-mother type (which I certainly wasn't!) you will eventually find your feet and become more confident in what you do.

Afternoon all. I'm not active much either, wishful, but following all the posts. I feel a bit boring since all I have to contribute is "soooo tired!", it's actually a real comfort to see other people's symptoms to know I'm not alone. So thanks!

I told the first person yesterday, a good friend/colleague who have birth exactly a year before I'm due. She was so happy and excited, said she loved being pregnant. I'm really looking forward to having a proper little bump/fetus in there.

I have been devouring more books - just finished one on a couple's experience of infertility and IVF, gives me a much better idea of what people have gone through. Not easy. Now started on a really interesting-sounding one about how experiences in the womb shape the rest of our lives. Hope it won't make me feel guilty for using plastic etc.

metalhead and sparkle, my friend who had a 4 month old, her first, said the same: she had no idea how all-consuming and totally dependant the child was on her. I think it didn't help that she was on her own from when the baby was 1 week old.

I think having a baby is always scary, regardless of what number it is! Scary in different ways though. I do envy the first timers ....I was the world's least maternal person until I had my own. Once I'd cracked the first few months of silent reflux hell I can honestly say mat leave was one of the happiest times of my life so far. To whoever was asking about leave from work - I intended to take 9 months but ended up taking a year. Did a bit of freelancing and teaching in the evenings to top up as my employer had no maternity package so it was just SMP. Was worth scraping through for! Mind you I hated my job at the time...I do think it's a very personal thing, how long you take off.

Awww feel all wistful now! Hope this bean is a sticker!

PS whatsforye my DS does exactly this! Poking me/DH in the eyes and shouting "EYES! EYES!" is his favourite way to wake us up!

serenity it's all about the lactulose solution for any, er, blockages. Go buy some! Seriously, you will ALL gave to drink this by the bucketload after giving birth. Constipation (which you will get) and stitches do NOT mix, believe me.

WFY did you have it bad afterwards? I was ok, once I'd decided I just needed to relax and get the first once out of the way (but not sure we should be talking postpartum poos to the first timers just yet hahaha)

Anybody else got an onslaught of dry and itchy skin?? I am drinking lots of liquids and applying E45 cream liberally but still my neck and back are as dry as a...
And does anybody know if this is a short or long term pregnancy symptom?
Thanks! Cx

egg I went back at 6 weeks as am the breadwinner but don't recommend it! I think 3 months is more manageable, this time probably 3-4 months but as I have just lost my job it is all part of the great unknown!

I agree with sparkle and metal, first time I didn't have a clue. The nursery nurse tutted at me as I tried to change a nappy and wash her. But I had read loads, watched lots of cheesy videos and we found our way through.

My first pregnancy was so stressful that this time is definitely better although I find parenting with a toddler and morning sickness very tough. My advice to first timers: just sleep.

Hi ladies,
Not posted for a few days as was just generally feeling yuk and had very poorly dh and poorly ds so not been fun!
To the first timers I had never held a baby before ds and now I'm a pro . I didn't read any books other than the pregnancy day by day book. I can get a bit caught up in doing something perfectly if im not careful and I wanted to be relaxed.
I'm super bloated and look at least 16 weeks rather than 8. None of my clothes fit. I've got a wedding to go to in a few week. What the hell am I going to wear!

Oh and I took around 10 months off and will do the same this time as it will fall nicely with ds starting school.

Inspiration I'm at a wedding in a few weeks too, wonder if it's the same one Hahahaha

Same here I had barely touched a baby before I had mine and it was totally fine.

Plus they are tougher than they look, as the second timers will find out when the toddlers attempt to show their new siblings some "love" I had to stop DS sitting on the baby quite a lot!

I went back to work one day before 6months so that they couldn't legally let my mat cover pinch my job. She tried and it took a few months but we got there in the end.

Working full time with a 6mo was tough but the PND made it a million times worse than it had been. Honestly ladies it's more common than you'd think and it seems a bit of a lottery if anyone will notice - nobody ever did the PND questionnaire with me.

This time DD will be 4.5 and have just started school. She's desperate for a baby (didn't know about 2) but I know I'm going to have to go into overdrive to make sure she doesn't get jealous.

Loved your post Haribo about bring a first-timer. Now I'm feeling sick i'm actually allowing myself to start thinking I am pregnant and might get a baby out of this later this year! Was so long TTC I've almost shut off the ability to believe I could ever be pregnant. Had some quite mad existential moments on the flight I was just on thinking about the fact a life is growing inside me, etc. Absolutely fucking mind-blowing. If that's too twee for Mumsnet, well, it can do one!

Can I just ask whether anyone is using any pregnancy apps? I've downloaded WebMD and The Bump which are good but they both seem to be American which means some of the info is irrelevant to UK users. Any good UK ones?

Also I have read a very good book indeed which I recommend to anyone struggling through all the divergent advice on what you should be doing when pregnant - it's called Expecting Better by an economist called Emily Oster. Good,rational stuff for people that like their essential info to be based entirely on evidence and hence less wishy-washy!

Chandlers it's even weirder swimming then I'm a human submarine!

Ooh, thanks for the tip WhatsForYe. I've been trying Calfig but I'm still only going every four days or so.

I've got a wedding to go to in late June, when I'll be 16 weeks. I'm not going to buy anything to wear until nearer the time (don't want to tempt fate) but I've been looking on ASOS and they have some stunning maternity dresses. I really hope I have enough of a bump by then to justify buying one!

I'm using pregnancy + Chandlers which is recommended by the nhs website.

Feeling really jetlagged/hungover today. All Iv wanted to do is lie down.Dreading work tomorrow!