February '16 approaching and conquering the 12 week mark!

[haquoi123]

Stats! docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dWmvdD9SkvPQqKn7rpFHazgufmda2FOTMtL093cZFj8/htmlview

Agree with tired about going to your GP. Or could you talk to your midwife charlotte? They ask about anxiety and they might be able to get you in via pregnancy route. I can't believe the counselling service won't help!

tired, let me know if you have any luck with the bras. I tried on a few in Debenhams and they were awful. Far too tight and came up too high over the boobs. Still in my sainsburys crop top bras but starting to spill over...

Hi haquoi it actually really helped to have you rationalise back the other way!
Mat bras- I went to triumph and got two from their sale content- ugly as sin but soooooo comfy.

Does anyone have a pregnancy pillow brand that they have used and can recommend? I've been looking at them all and I'm confused. I know I only have a few weeks of sleeping on my back left and I struggle sleeping on my side even when not pregnant. I have now discovered for the last two nights that sleeping on either side gives me a dead arm for the underneath arm and then I have horrible pins and needles. I've looked mostly at the dreamgenii and boopy pillows.

My uterus now feels like a big hard ball in my abdomen, very weird sensation when you push on it. DH tried to lie on top of me this morning for a cuddle like he used to and got shouted off as it was so uncomfortable, felt like it was going to pop and weird for about a hour afterwards. How anyone can say they didn't know they were pregnant till the point they go into labour is beyond me!

I got the dream genii on a friend's recommendation and adore it. I'm a front sleeper normally so it allows me to be sort of on my front but really on my side. I don't understand it but my arms are fine, they fit nicely!

Re: bras, I happened across some Elle McPherson maternity / nursing bras second hand (but in great condition) and not only are they extremely comfortable they also look really nice. My husband was impressed!

We got a card in the post today from an extended family member, it was a congratulations on your baby boy! Does anyone else think that is seriously inappropriate and weird to give a couple who are only 16wk pregnant with their 1st baby? We know that they want a major favour from DH, other family members have told us and are sucking up before asking but still weird right?

rufus - totally agree, weird.

Very weird rufus...

What stage should you stop sleeping on your back. I've been trying not to the last few weeks but finding it tough. I'm no good at sleeping on my sides and can't sleep on my belly as its too bloated and big

I got the dream genii a few weeks back rufus and find it really good for encouraging side sleeping as you can still lean more to your back but be on your side iyswim. Only issue is I've had to get rid of it for the last few nights as find it WAY too hot in this weather, been waking up sweating after using it attractive!

Looking forward to going back to it once this stupid hot sticky weather has finished though!

Very weird indeed rufus...

I think there's no 'should' about sleeping on your back. If the artery (or whatever it is) gets compressed it's something you will feel and find very uncomfortable and a little scary, I think it affects your breathing. Unfortunately it seems there is the tiniest evidence that sleeping on your left side helps so I've been trying to do that (but it's the one major tick of fear that I can't shift from what happened last time, so I'm encouraging my left-side sleeping but trying not to freak out about it).

jelly have you tried wedging a pillow under your belly or under your back, like tired? It might help with the side sleeping.

4am wakings here, grrr. I keep waking up in pain because my bladder is full, but it takes me ages to actually wake and realise the problem. Is the pain normal? I don't remember it with DS. My dream fairy had to talk me into going for a wee (yes dream fairy!)

Jelly I think it is 20 weeks that you are supposed to stop sleeping on your back. Your Aorta (main artery) and Vena Cava (main vein) run down the inside of your spine and your uterus can press on them reducing the blood flow and putting a strain on your heart. I love sleeping on my back, have sore neck, shoulders, hips and several dead arms in the night from trying to side sleep last night.

haquoi love the dream fairy. When I really need a wee it is painful, can't ignore, have to get up.

Only 2 wee breaks last night for me, I'm down from 2 large glasses of water to half a glass in the night, so my excessive thirst is decreasing at last.

Hi everyone!

Glad to hear of happy news for you over - amazing to know it's a girl too!

Congrats to others too on their good news goneswimming and monk included!

Charlotte - Can you find out more about why the counselling service have declined the referral? I wonder if they feel they are not specialised enough to deal with pregnancy related issues - you might be better off going through the antenatal mental health service as they will be more specialised. Your GP can refer you. Otherwise they should really point you in the right direction for support in your area.

I have had to buy some maternity clothes too! Is it best to stick with your usual size or go a size up? I'm usually an 8-10 and have been buying size 10 which are fine for now, but I think I may need size 12 at some point.

I had my 12 week scan on Tuesday and I asked if there were any signs of gender yet, and the sonographer said it looks like a girl, but obviously can't be sure this early on. I'm convinced it is a girl now though - so tea your guess may be correct!

I'm 13 weeks today and still having some really bad days with energy and nausea. And I feel like I have so much to do!!! So although I'm feeling quite chilled about the pregnancy itself, it's life-stuff that causing me stress!

Anyway, here's the latest pic xxx

Congrats span! Lovely pic.

rufus thanks for info on back sleeping - I wonder if your body just wakes up if you roll onto your back in your sleep?

Hi everyone. I haven't posted for ages but have been keeping up

Everything fine here. I'm been treated for gestational diabetes again as I had it with ds2 so blood testing on a morning and an hour after every meal for the rest of my pregnancy. I've ended up buying myself a Doppler because I was stressing that something was wrong. I can find hb pretty quickly every time now (I'm 15+6 today). I've got my 16wk appointment on Tuesday and another appointment at the hospital with midwives and diabetic folk on Sept 3rd. I haven't got my 20wk scan appointment through yet

We've made our first baby purchase today (well put a deposit down anyway) it's a pushchair package. We were tossing up between the Quinny Buzz and Quinny Moodd and have gone for the Buzz xtra in red. We've got the buzz xtra, Maxi Cosi Pebble, carrycot and footmuff for £529.99, I can't wait to get it nearer the time

Can I be added to the stats please I can't do it on my iPad. Phoenix80, age 34, due 8/2/16, this is baby 3, live in Barnsley

Phoenix that's a great price for all of that. We were happy with our quinny buzz and maxi cosi pebble. The big, soft tyres are good for most terrains but it's worth having a puncture repair kit and/or spare wheels as back up.

Hi to everyone else. Hope you've all had good weekends. Roll on the bank holiday next week!

Nothing to report here really. At 17 1/2 weeks I'm definitely showing now. Still feeling queasy and struggling to eat most veg. 20w scan in just over three weeks

No 16 week appointment for me. When I had my consultant's appointment at 14 weeks (where they literally did nothing apart from ask a couple of questions and discharge me) they said that replaces your midwife appointment and, since it's my second, I don't need to see her until I'm 28 weeks. Seems like a long time but I guess they're not worried about anything which must be good.

Hey spanoo, I bought a pair of jeans from jojomamanbebe, and I just got my normal size, they fit fine. I found h&m sizes came up tiny! That's all I've bought so far, so don't know about any other brands really.

Hey Spanoo, I would buy in your normal size for now but keep in mind that you might want a few things in a bigger size towards the end as your bump gets bigger or in case you get any water retention.

My 20w scan is 3 weeks today! I can't wait, really excited for it. Although I am sorely tempted to get a gender and reassurance scan for £40 quid!

Jelly - I've been looking at gender scans too but dh won't let me lol x

Morning all

just back from a lovely weekend in Italy. I'm 15+1 and I felt baby movements for 3 consecutive days last week; since Saturday though I haven't felt anything. Should I phone the midwife? I don't want to seem like the over-anxious first time mum :-/

Morning everyone, just catching up after a few days holiday.

Looking forward to 16 week appointment on Wednesday, another milestone.

I have been wanting to get more informed about the whole childbirth experience (first baby), so bought a book called birth skills by juju sundin last week after reading a few recommendations here on mumsnet. It has been an interesting read so far (I'm about half way through). She talks about distracting yourself from the [healthy!] pain of contractions which I think I understand from previous sports injuries. No harm in giving it a go anyway. I don't think my midwife unit offers epidurals anyway

Its great to see people joining back in on the thread who have been away or lurking! I've updated the stats for you Pheonix.

On a personal level I wouldn't worry too much Calypso - it's early to be feeling movement, and it's likely to be a good month til you get anything regular. However, if it's making you anxious then a call to the MW won't hurt.

Charlotte, definitely speak to your GP again for another referral, and to your MW- try all the avenues. Could you afford any private sessions? MH services are stretched, but they need to get some treatment sorted for you.

Couple of days off work as we're up seeing family- had a lie-in (albeit with pregnancy wee at 6) til half 9. Utter bliss

Hello everyone! Spanoo, lovely pic

Charlotte, definitely speak to the GP again and your MW. If it's taking a while or they're not helpful, it's worth considering private counselling- after I left a course of NHS counselling, I had a bit of a crisis and saw the same counsellor again privately, £50 per hour, she really helped and was available immediately whereas it was a 6 month wait on the NHS. PM me if you need any advice!

calypso I think it's from 28 weeks that you need to start tracking movements and letting your midwife know if they change in frequency. I had a couple last week (I'm 16 +4 at the moment) but they were when I was on a long drive and I've not felt any since.

thanks for the non-movement reassurance!

CHARLOTTE I'm practically a mental health guru as I've been in and out of NHS and private care for over 10 years.

You must push for "talking therapies", it's free on the NHS, albeit perhaps with a long-ish wait (3-4 months, not ideal with pregnancy). Usually the CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) has a shorter waiting list, sometimes they can see you immediately, and in my experience, this is the best for anxiety issues.

however if you want to see someone straight away, MOST good private therapists will offer reduced rates if you are on a low income. This is a great website for finding someone in your local area www.counselling-directory.org.uk/ Often the first session is free and you can work out if you like them or feel like you can start to build a relationship with them. I've had many therapists over the years (male and female), some you click with straight away, others you don't. (The best therapist I've ever had was a male NHS practitioner).

In an emergency, you can always call the Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

PM me if you need to x