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

[jellypi3]

Stats are HERE

This is the one I had: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1905220502/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1442600573&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Maggie+Howell&dpPl=1&dpID=51hosnR83yL&ref=plSrch

tired that's a really good idea!

I was discharged after 6 hours last time too but just wanted to be home. But having said that I probably (well didn't) wouldn't want a home birth either happy but now it's set in motion I'm pretty happy with it. I think midwife led units are great, if you have the option.

hacquoi that sounds like a plan, I think it's great you have a doula to help advocate for you this time. Not long till 26 weeks!!

Friday is a big day for so many of us! Will be thinking of you all.

Have great weekends!

Haquoi we are seriously considering a doula this time. In fact I am meeting one next week for chat. Do you have yours arranged? This lady is someone who I have met through baby yoga classes and comes with a recommendation so hopefully it will be a good idea.

Xing that's the book I have too.

Very humbled by all the crafting. I don't have any talents!

I've slept for 2 nights exclusively on my side now but tonight my feet are so swollen that they were overflowing out of my shoes like a soufflé! My ankles are so swollen that there is no visible ankle structure, you can't see any bones! I actually look like I have severely sprained both ankles! I'm sat in the bath with 4 cups of Epsom salts in desperation to try and shift the fluid. Not sure what else to do with myself??? Tomorrow I am going to have a no salt and no sugar day. Also going to check my urine that there is no protein incase this is something more sinister.

rufus that sounds painful. Can you pop to gp tomo to see what they say? Or chemist?

may I've just emailed her to confirm - we met her for a chat last week and she was lovely. DH is really into it as well as it will help him not to have to deal with any potential conflict, which he finds really hard. I hope your meeting goes well!

rufus you really are suffering! I do think you should get that checked out, especially as you've had it for a while now.

troika, I'm also sporting a belly beard! And for truly tmi, my arse crack has also sprouted (and my word, was I aware of it when it was happening). I had the same with ds and was mortified, but it all fell out a few months after he was born, so I'm hoping for the same this time!

Wow rufus, have you seen the GP/MW about that? I would, sounds extreme. What with that and the skin/acne issue it sounds like you're having a rough time physically. And sorry to hear the prolapse has re-occurred Maisie, not fun at all

My Mum is the knitter in our family; she's just finishing off a new winter cardie for DS, and then will crack on for something for the baby. We've requested the Hungry Caterpillar pod/hat combo as it's soooo cute and will be perfect to embarrass the child with 18 years hence (mwoo-hoo-hah-hah)

I'm at the other end of the spectrum re. the birth, had an elective section at my request last time, and will be going for the same again. Various reasons, but sections are definitely for me, just have to jump through the hoops with two meetings with various medical bods to get it signed off.

Dr Who back on tomorrow, so excited!

Thanks harquo Luckily dh is also happy with the idea. In a 'whatever might make it easier' kind of way! He's also not one for confrontation. I know we have it worse but it must be hard for dhs/dps too.

Joining the hairy belies anonymous here too!

I've been on my feet for 3 days so going to take it easy over the weekend and if no better on Monday then I will get some medical help.

I have body hair sprouting everywhere! I have hirsutism from PCOS and had all my hair lasered off 15 years ago, it has all started to regrow! My bikini line is spreading down my legs and up my belly, I'm not impressed!

I'm tempted to use dh's beard oil on my belly beard....if it's going to grow then at least it can look presentable!

I'm wondering about hypno birthing things too as I have a real phobia of hospitals and have no chance of getting a home birth this time. I am hoping it would just keep me calm enough to not go into full panic mode.

chinchilla I'm personally of the opinion that wherever or however a woman feels safest giving birth is the best option for them. When do you find out you can have one?

may I read a fascinating article recently that touched briefly on the experience of partners seeing their loved ones go through something that made no sense to them /complicated birth and how there's often not much support or understanding for them. That sealed it for me, we went through so much when ds died trying to get back on the same page of our feelings, I really want him supported in supporting me. My poor dad vomited/fainted when my baby sister was born - the third birth (out of four total) he'd experienced! My step mum was yelling at people to get him a chair, she could see it coming!

rufus how's the swelling this morning?

I'm 20 weeks today!! I got to 20 weeks with ds but they put me back to 19 in the hospital, but it still feels like a milestone!! Just another week to go and I'll officially be in 'never done this before' territory. We might make a 20 week cake, I feel like celebrating!

clumsy that sounds tough. I think anything to help you relax would be useful x

Can you remind me please on the best place to buy Maternity tights? Was it in Boots?

Great news haquoi. Definitely reason to celebrate. Must have been tough approaching this stage for you.

Relieved I'm not the only one turning into an ape maybe the sonographer won't think I'm such a freak after all!

Got a couple more maternity bits today. Leggings, vest, jumper, knitted dress. Seems like such a lot of money but I don't want to spend the rest of my pregnancy feeling crap about myself.

haquoi I think reaching the 20 week mark definitely calls for celebration cake!

My ankles and feet have gone down a lot but are far from normal! Finding my no sugar no salt day difficult already, particularly as the soup I had for lunch was probably full of hidden sugar and salt!

Zara has loads of normal clothes that can be used as maternity. They have put side splits in a large amount of this season's stock. I just got loads of tops that will have tons of bump room in them. I have found maternity brands such a rip off just for having some extra bump material. The only specific maternity things I've bought are jeans, leggings and 1 dress.

I've been buying non maternity empire line tops on eBay. Other than that I've got a couple of maternity vests and 2 pairs of maternity jeans.

And haquoi cake definitely sounds like a good plan x

Isla I quite like Boots maternity tights. The 60 denier ones are very soft and comfy although I find they fall down ever so slightly by the end of the day and need a bit of hoicking up. They are on buy one get one half price at the moment (or were when I bought some this week anyway).

Rufus not sure if this will make a difference (and you might be doing this anyway, just skim read thread to catch up) but try elevating your ankles above your heart (lying on sofa with feet propped on a couple of cushions or sofa arm). It helps the return of lymphatic fluid from the area. I've had really bad swelling in ankles/legs in the past and it's made a massive different. One dr even advised I sleep with my feet elevated on pillows and it helped loads. Def agree with everyone who has said to get it checked it :-) Also sympathise with the PCOS hair growth spurt- between the extra body hair (bloody toes for gods sake) and my spotty, spotty back I feel about as attractive as my cats litter tray.

Apologies for terribly written post! Deffo feeling the insomnia/preggo brain at the moment

Definitely worthy of cake haquoi, congratulations.

I haven't even thought about maternity tights - my legs are disproportionately chunky, even in comparison to my bump, so I'm avoiding skirts and dresses atm. I'd love to be one of those pregnant women who still has long lean legs.

Totally agree on Zara rufus; I'm currently modelling one of their jumpers, and have a t shirt too. I only got a few bit and bobs this time round, having kept it all from DS. They seem to have a slightly slouchy 90s vibe going on, so my Mum treated me to a couple of things from there.

Great news you've hit another milestone haquoi, and an excellent plan to get a Doula. I'm a believer in a woman's right to choose from conception to birth, and in trusting individuals' judgement too. I have to attend the slightly euphamistically named 'birth choices' clinic followed by an appointment with the consultant. As my midwife said (and I know from last time), both will try to change my mind and I'll need to stick to my guns, but have done it as a first timer so this should arguably be easier.
I was grateful to the MW for being supportive too, does make a difference, psychologically if nothing else.
Should hopefully have it sorted by end of next month

Definitely a reason to celebrate hacquoi!

rufus I had REALLY bad odema last time, seem to have escaped this time. It was so bad that I broke a shoe walking across the office, they were flats and the top just spilt open, which my boss found hilarious. I think It is completely normal especially towards the end, I found a nightly bath and leg elevation helped but unfortunately it never went away, until birth. I actually went up (and stayed) a whole shoe size! If you can afford it get a pregnancy massage as they seem to drain it using specific massage. Otherwise just huge sympathy from me, it really sounds like you're going through it.
And to you too maisie that sounds just awful xx

Have you tried laying down (cushion under bum) with your legs up a wall ? Gently bend each knee then raise back up (using the wall not your stomach muscles).
Also smooth oil/ moisturiser onto your feet firmly and smooth firmly upwards towards your back. (Ideally your partner could do that with your legs slightly elevated).

Thanks xing

Yes to foot expansion, I was a size 4 always until I had DD when I "grew" to a size 5. Then I was a size 5 for 13 years.

Since I had DS last year I find I'm buying size 6s! I can still fit into most of my old shoes though so I'd say it's more like a half size that I've gone up.

I hope my feet don't get any bigger this time!

I have ankles this morning and my shoes are falling off my feet. A combination of Epsom salt baths, legs raised and sleeping on my side seems to have worked!

rufus I had really bad foot swelling last time and I think the heat makes it so much worse, you might find it goes down a bit when the weather cools. It's horrible though, I feel for you having it early on in the pregnancy. Def get it checked out if you are concerned and keep an eye on your urine tests and bp.

haquoi get that cake! 20 weeks is definitely a milestone to be celebrated! It's halfway to the finishing line too!!

I'm desperate for some more maternity clothes, they just seem such a rip off for only wearing them for a couple months. And I'm getting really annoyed that almost all the shops maternity lines are online only now. Especially shops that are meant for mothers and baby (mamas and papas I'm looking at you!!) it's so annoying because I'm a weird shape and I hate online shopping and nothing seems to fit me when it arrives gggrrrrr.
I'm keeping my eye on second hand bundles on eBay, hopefully will get some good stuff that way but even then I keep being outbid. Maybe I'm just a tightwad haha

20 weeks tomorrow! And only 4 days til my scan, getting nervous now

Hope everyone else is well

Halfway tomorrow - I hadn't even considered a cake but really fancy one now

I actually feel like I am getting the hang of it now - 20 week scan tomorrow & have broken my own record by finding where the hell I put my maternity notes before bed time. I really need to get better organised.

Rufus glad your oedema has improved. Always worth a urine dip if troublesome...