February 2016 - Boobs are growing, sickness is going, and some of us are finally showing!!

[jellypi3]

Stats are HERE

Xingxing I meant to say posterior placenta, not anterior. Sorry if I've caused anyone to worry unduly. Blame my baby-brain

maisie I would keep all my problems rather then have a prolapse, that sounds really sucky. Hope the exercises help pull it in.

My pustules have erupted out again around my mouth, my eczema was nearly gone, so very depressing! Have to start slapping the nasty acid back on again. Going to try a pillow between the knees tonight, hopefully it will reduce the hip pain. My legs have blown up again tonight but been walking all day, lying with my legs up the wall trying to get them to drain.

Thought this article might interest someone, maybe 1st timers more then experienced mums.
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3237135/What-REALLY-happens-birth-waters-breaking-just-hurts-experts-reveal-truth.html

Rufus that sounds awful hope you are feeling better!

pheonix I am a back sleeper too the only way I can sleep not on my back at the moment is to hug my huge v pillow my DH is very upset that I am cuddling this not him oops!

I am very happy as I now have a sofa after 3 months I can finally put my feet up!

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can wear to a birthday party on Saturday? We are going out for food and then they are all going clubbing after (obviously I will be going home to bed) but it's with people who I haven't seen since school so I want to look decent and not frumpy.

I think the main obstacle to childbirth is fear. Film and tv births always show a woman who is out of control and screaming in agony during a ridiculously quick, and often very public, birth. The reality is very different.

Is anyone else finding that their bladder is nearly empty then the baby moves and suddenly feel like you are going to wet yourself but when you wee there is hardly anything there? Then if baby moves the feeling goes. I'm having this a couple of time a day now.

I'm with you on that may (haven't read the article though, can't quite bring myself to). We're breaking the bank having a doula and starting hypnobirthing classes. I'm not afraid of the actual labour, but after all the shit I went through with ds I feel like I deserve to give myself the option of a better birth, for me, for bubs and for DH. Even if you think hypnobirthing and all that stuff isn't for you, there are loads of brilliant articles on oxytocin vs adrenaline, etc.

rufus your poor skin! Yes, bubs very much enjoys sitting in my bladder, but not too long at a time, thankfully.

Who was it who is crocheting? You've got me back into it, I started a blanket yesterday. I did one for ds but didn't finish it - after he died it was fitting that it would have been big enough to wrap him in anyway, so it's in his memory box. I've been meaning to for this baby but hadn't had the guts, so thank you!

may and haquoi - someone previously mentioned the book "Birth Skills" by Juju Sundin which is full of fantastic practical tips for labour.

Another good book, which explores in depth the physiological response to fear/ stress and how it affects labour is "Childbirth without Fear" by Grantly Dick Read.

It explains how adrenalin slows down / stops contractions and how keeping calm helps progress labour.

Poor Rufus!

Haquoi, it was me and Calypso all excited about knitting- glad you've come to the dark side and started crocheting again I started a blanket when I was first pregnant, went on to miscarry and put it away, added to it again when I was going through 2nd miscarriage and finally finished it this pregnancy. Can't tell you how scary and emotional it was to actually finish, but it feels good that this baby will share something with the 2 that weren't to be.

That's lovely that your baby will share that blanket monkerina. There's no such thing as excess love and that blanket will be full of it. I felt quite emotional starting mine, but then the general confusion, wtf? moments over the pattern and 'crap, I counted 111 ch and not 122 but I've already done two rows after and blow me I'm not undoing it all' moments took over :) baby had a good wriggle as well, so I feel were going to have it covered

Loving all the knitting talk. I am a bit of a knitter too, but haven't made anything for the baby yet. After all the scariness of the 12 week scan results I think I will wait until after the 20 week scan before starting anything... But I have my eye on making at least one of the Knitted Odd Bod Bunch (Donna Wilson). They are so funky!

Clumsy I reckon jeans and a top. Either just a vest with accessories or new look and next do nicer tops. Go for maternity to make ure bump pop and underline that ure pregnant

Haquoi I'm crocheting - sporadically though - the baby will probably be 18 by the time the blanket's finished

Maisie that sounds like no fun at all, I hope the kegel exercises help.

I had my scan yesterday and all's OK though I have a low anterior placenta. Which is reassuring that I can't feel very much but I have to have another scan at 32 weeks to make sure it's moved up a bit. Dr Google says it will most probably have moved up by then so fingers crossed it does and I don't need a c-section.

Rufus I'm constantly needing to go to the loo and then hardly having any wee in there. And your poor skin, I hope it clears up for you soon. Mine is so dry at the moment but not eczema dry yet. Just dry enough that I really should remember to drink more fluids but keep forgetting - will have to set up a drinking schedule - which will be so much fun with the tiny bladder I now have.

Oh yes, and the sonographer told me that for my 32 week scan I'll need a full bladder. Which was bad enough at 12 weeks, 32 weeks is going to be awful!

I am knitting, but too scared yet to knit for nearly-a-bump. I have three babies to make Christmas gifts for .... I will be damned good at the cute hat pattern though

Thanks happy that's what I was thinking but do you think I will be alright in heels? Not worn them for a few months but they make me feel better about myself.

I'm so jealous of all you knitters I can't do it for toffee but my dd has informed me that I need to make a teddy bear for this baby as I made one for her. Not sure when I will find the time but I will enjoy looking at patterns.

Loving the knitting chat. I wish I was good at it! I started a quilt with my first that still hasn't been finished...

This time next week my scan will be over and I will feel like I can finally relax, all things being well. I can't wait for it to be here. We have a boys and girls name that we are more or less decided on, though I don't feel as certain as I did last time. I fear both are really popular and will become more so!

I am a massive advocate of hynobirthing despite being the least woo or pro anything alternative person there is! I listened to the CD and found the techniques super useful. I had a very relaxed and positive birth, and really enjoyed it because I didn't feel scared. Even if something goes wrong this time, I think the relaxed state of mind does help. I also think not caring about the outcome helps. My SIL wanted a water birth etc and felt a real sense of loss when she ended up with a heavily medicalised birth, it really affected how she saw her baby. I don't really mind how my baby arrives as long as I get one, and I think that helps with the relaxed POV too in a weird way.

Having said that some of you may remember that I am down for a home birth this time because my 'active labour' stage was only 15 minutes long and there's a chance I wouldn't make it to hospital so they would rather I planned for a home birth and have a midwife present should I need to try and go in, in case there is a problem or I'm on the side of the road. I met my midwife yesterday and she is really lovely, has 20 years experience and is very relaxed, the whole team are really lovely so I feel quite happy about it. One major bonus is that all appointments are at my house now so no more traipsing up to the health centre for antenatal appointments! I heard the heart etc. She said only 12% of second timers end up in hospital and I must say I do like the idea of sleeping in my own bed instead of waiting around all night in the delivery suite. Although all this seems a long way off right now!

XingXingFox - wow 15 minutes! What a relief to feel comfortable with your midwife/team, especially for a homebirth. My first one left, so now don't have one allocated :(

Out of interest, did/have you had classes/ 1 to 1 on hypno or just the CD? Am really interested in learning about it - can't do any harm is what I'm thinking!

posey, have a look at Katherine Graves on YouTube - she's written a lot of the material that used in classes (or at least for the one I'll be going to). There you'll get more information on it (obv she thinks classes are better, but I think it's what will work for you more than anything)

fox, wow, homebirth for you def sounds like a good idea!! We're half an hour drive from my hospital, but closer than the midwife centre so I might as well be at home :) if I'm cleared at 26 weeks then I'm all go for one. My issue with hospitals (well one of many, inc some unreasonable phobias) is partners being sent home after the birth in the hospital. If I end up in hospital and they send him home I'll be discharging myself. After our last experience, baby and DH are never leaving my sight, not for a couple of days at least. No way.

I'd like to try hypnobirthing this time I really panicked last labour so would like to try and stay calm! What cds would people recommend I can't afford proper classes. ..

I'm mkre of a sewer then a knitter. I did knit a little blanket for dd but ot was very basic squares sewn together. Thinking of making some stuff for this one if I have time as didn't know last time was a girl to do any sewing. Advantage of knitting is you can take it out and about with you need to find time to do sewing at home!

I've signed up for the early transfer home scheme here in Ireland which means that (all being well) I can leave the hospital as soon as I wish after the birth, and then the midwives will visit me for 5 days at home.

I did it with DS although I ended up staying in the hospital over one night, due to the timing of his birth, the fact I'd had an epidural, and then having to get anti-d as I am rhesus negative. All in all though, the hospital stay was fairly short as he was born at 7pm and I was out the following morning. So hopefully I can do a similar or shorter stay this time.

Loving all the crafty talk! I've nearly finished my crochet blanket, and am busily ignoring the fact that it's obviously triangular not rectangular as intended. Am NOT undoing half of the damn thiing!

Sounds like there's a few of us with anomaly scans next Friday? Can't wait! Think once we're sure everything is ok we'll look at getting a private scan booked so DS can see baby too.

Your poor face Rufus. I still have quite a few spots along jaw and on my back but other than that my skin is OK. I have however developed a very very hairy stomach. Tempted to shave it.

I'm going for midwife unit birth in local hospital if the consultant allows it. Depends on the state of the placenta. Previous DC I did the same and was discharged after 6 hours. If the consultant won't allow it I'll have to travel to a different hospital 45 mins away which I don't really want to do but if needs must.

Midwife units seem brilliant (for straight forward births) ! I wish we had one round here. A home birth would not b for me! And I really want to b out out as soon as pos.

Happy Friday everyone!

Loving the crafty talk although I am NOT gifted in that area!

Absolutely knackered - think got 3 hours last night, SO glad it's the weekend! Currently in the bath eating Doritos! Oh the glamour!

My scan is on Thursday pm, extremely worried something is wrong but just want it over & done with.

I'm interested in hypnobirthing but can't afford that and NCT - interested to know if book/cd will help.

God I'd love a gin tonight!

I might be able to burn the CD for people? When I'm back in London (currently in Brughton for weekend) I'll give it a go...