June 2016 #4 - 12 week scans, seeing tiny feet and hands!

[laughingGnomette]

Happy new thread everyone :)

Stats found here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oTx71GeTR-ilVPTpIhNhutAwZPqNyYNEyIDwO80PmKQ/edit#gid=0

I did NCT with number 1. For someone who had no clue it made me feel a bit more secure. But it really concentrates on labour and breastfeeding. Not so much on when the baby is here. It was ok, but hindsight showed me it set up unrealistic expectations on the importance of a 'natural birth' (no drugs) and breastfeeding. Having said that I'm pleased I did it because it made me feel like I knew something even if in reality I didn't know as much as I thought I did!

It did however introduce me to a lovely group of ladies, people I was seeing regularly even after 3 years. And one of whom has become godparent to my second.

If you're not doing it, particularly if it's your first, the important thing to do is to find a group of ladies (maybe here?!) who you can bounce ideas off and help work out what's normal and for helpful advice. and who like to drink coffee and eat cake

I did Nct and although I found the classes quite dull I really enjoyed meeting some really nice people, many of whom I still see regularly. All my friends who have done it have really love the support network you get in the early days and it's nice to have other babies the same age. And although most of my other friends have kids they were all different ages and I didn't meet up with them as much as I thought I would.
Totally get what Mrsmugoo said about the baby chat though! I'm totally avoiding it next time round, in fact it's what I'm dreading most about mat leave.

Oh my maternity clothes have arrived, going to try and leave them til after scan (6 days!!!) As feel a bit of a fraud atm apart from the huge boobs and permanent sick feeling!

I didn't do NCT as I have lots of friends and did the free ante-natal classes. I stayed in touch with some of the mums from the antenatal but we had nothing in common other than babies born within 2 weeks of each other. I spent a lot of time with my non-mummy friends but when they went back to work and I was working part time, I wished I had some other mummy friends as I hate going to groups alone. I do go alone now and would be happy to go alone but the first year or so was hard without anyone to go with so from that angle, perhaps NCT is a good idea. I also get the impression NCT antenatl people want to be friends whereas I'm not sure all the antenatal girls with that bothered.

Three people I know including a very good friend have announced they are having a baby in June next year. Bursting to tell people, just hoping everything goes well, 10 sleeps until 12 week scan, feels like an eternity away!

I did NCT last time, and I was really glad I did. The instructor was really ace, and although I was fairly clued up already, I learnt lots too, and especially it allowed me and DP to discuss lots of the stuff it's good to get your head round together.
the women in our group still meet weekly, all together, and usually in other combinations at least once more in the week, 2.5 years in.
I was strategic in choosing a class that would have a catchment area in walking distance and which was likely to have people with a similar lifestyle to mine, so we'd have more in common than just our due dates.
I hesitated because of the godawful "pay x hundred to get some Friends Like Me" which is grim and not great for society. But I really recommend it. In the early months you need people to socialise with who are nearby, likely to be available whenever, and not mind if you flake or are super late or have to leave right away. Most people who are not at that stage of life have trickier schedules than that! I get the whole not wanting "mummy" friends, but that doesn't mean that some of the parents you meet aren't going to be amazing people you would choose as friends anyway. With the added bonus of going through a pretty mad stage of life together!

Got my letter through today for 12 week scan. 21 dec. My letter doesn't say anything about having a full bladder or empty. I know so of you have said that you were advised to have a full bladder. Has anyone else's letter not specified this?

I did NCT last time and was glad i did. I met a great bunch of women and we do keep in touch and the DCs are now 3 1/2yo! Most of them had DC2 last year, or in 2013, or announced they were not having any more. So I think I am the last one.

LAst time we all met up at the local bf NCT drop in about a week after DS was born. This was great because i got to see that they all looked crap too and nervous - made me feel more relaxed in myself. quite reassuring to feel normal!!!

As we are going to be living in a different area I shall probably do NCT again so I can meet some other like minded people to spend the few weeks between finisihing work and baby arriving and then to email/meet up with after the babies arrive. London can be a lonely place if you dont know anyone who is out n about at the same time as you. Most people I know will be at work during the day!!

btw for anyone still experiencing..... constipation... I have found the answer. Yes, just like it says in the books and on the websites - exercise!! I did a 1k on treadmill, some weights, then another 1k, followed by 20 minutes swimming. I assume it works because it gets the blood pumping and muscles awakened. I was quite pleased with the results (sorry TMI!)

miracles my hospital doesn't care if you have a full bladder or not. Mine wasn't and this caused no trouble- so I'd guess that your hospital doesn't mind either!

Oh forgot my pic...

I won't be doing NCT - very expensive friend agency!
Did it with DD and am still friends with 4 out of 6. It is great for meeting people but that's about it...

Lovely pic jelly! Here's mine!

I didn't do nct because of the cost and i was lonely. Had no friends with babies. Thought i would meet people at baby groups but everyone either had their friends or were a gaggle of nct'er's who didn't need anyone else. If you worry that you will be isolated, do nct. I should have. Blimey, that all sounds a bit grim

I'm ok now cos DS is fab company!

Gorgeous scan pictures ladies.
Miracles, we are scan buddies. Got mine on 21st too. I can't remember if mine says anything about full bladder or not. Will have to have a look.

I did NCT and really enjoyed it and met a great bunch of supportive ladies. We're still friends now despite a few moving away.

Did anyone who has done NCT have anyone in their group having their second baby? Thinking about this has reminded me of the lonely times of mat leave and wondering if I should sign up this time round... would people find in weird to have a second-timer in the mix?

torf i wondered the same. I kind of wished I had done NCT first time round mainly to meet people but that's about it. It's really quite expensive imo. I am also put off by the fact our local NCT is quite militant and I'm not sure I would agree with it all!
We did the (free) ones at our local hospital which were good but because DD1 was so late I wasn't in hospital with anyone I recognised and didn't do the follow up classes with the same group so didn't know anyone. Maybe I will do these again but make more of an effort to keep in touch with people!

Oooh jelly and torf lovely pics!!

The NCT run special courses for second timers (the ordinary one is very much geared at first timers). I think it's called a refresher course?
Two of my original group have just had seconds, and another will shortly, so we should have a bit of a mat leave overlap, hopefully.

Torfhinn my NCT experience was exactly the same. I didn't do it because of the cost and I thought I'd just meet people at groups. I did meet a few people but it took quite a while and I really wished I'd done it to have friends from the beginning.

We've moved since then so will do the refresher course this time round, it's much cheaper.

I did NCT with my first. The instructor was very anti drugs in birth, only discussed breast feeding and avoided and told us we shouldn't need pain relief - gas and air only if we felt desperate and that she couldn't discuss bottle feeding! Some mums were lovely but I actually made a better friend at the hospital free one. I'm not sure what to do this time round as I know it will be ELCS, I know how to bf etc but wouldn't mind meeting other mums as none of my friends are expecting.

Lovely scan photos!

Lovely scan photos ladies!

Torfhinn - I seem to think one of the ladies from my previous MN antenatal group did NCT classes as a second timer (not the refresher classes) and felt a bit left out by her group for 'knowing it all' by already having a DC. It completely depends on your group though I imagine. Luck of the draw.

JoMalones - yes our instructor was quite anti-drugs in birth too, that said she did cover emergency c-sections. One thing I do remember was her likening bottle feeding to giving your baby Big Mac and fries

I'm still in touch with my NCT group (almost 4 year on). I'm the last to have my second and none of them will be off work when I am so I'm just going to rely on baby classes to keep loneliness at bay :). Or if any of you that are in London or the surrounding areas fancy meeting up from time to time...!

I should probably get through my 12 wk scan first before getting ahead of myself!! Roll on 11:30!

Lovely scan pics!! I know this sounds silly but I find it fascinating that they all look so different already

I did NCT with my first. It is very expensive and I found the classes fairly tedious with not that much info. My instructour though was lovely and very balanced - covered all types of pain relief, sections. She wasn't preachy at all. We met a lovely with only one crazy, and I still see most of them fairly regularly.

I hated local baby groups, I felt ancient compared to a lot of the women in their early 20s and had nothing in common with them at all.

I also have a tight knit group from my July 2013 Mumsnet group. They were lifesavers in the early days - there were experienced third or fourth timers and clueless novices like myself. There was always someone up at 3am to keep you company through the nightfeeds. Have met a few and am still messaging them now.

Scan at 1330! Yikes!

Lovely scan pics everyone!

Strange question.. But does anyone else have a very lopsided bump?! When I wake up in the morning I have a pronounced lump (about the size of an orange!) on one side and nothing on the other.... Can't feel it as much when I'm stood up, but very obvious when lying down... Not sure if it's normal?!

Phone issue: should say 'met a lovely bunch of people with only one crazy'.

First day back at work and only just in the door and I've been sick already! This pregnancy is such hard work compared to the last one!!

Lovely scans ladies! Making me so excited for mine!

Good luck for those with scans today!

I am going to do NCT. We moved to this area fairly recently and j only know a couple of people, none of whom will be having a baby any time around me so I think it is a bit of a must! Just hope everyone else is as desperate keen to make friends as me...

14+2 today and wondering if the hyperemesis may be starting to improve slightly. Fingers crossed.