April 2016 babies - 20-week scans, growing bumps and little kicks!

[suffolkblonde29]

Hi all,

I've started a new thread to take us up to the third trimester.

Hope you are all feeling well. I feel like my bump is a little small and I'm not feeling lots of movement (but this may be due to an anterior placenta). Got my 20-week scan tomorrow so not long to wait to see if everything's ok - it's actually nearly 22 weeks though as baby really wasn't playing ball when we went last week and was hiding with its back to the scanner.

Getting excited that I'm halfway there though...

No midwife or doctor has ever mentioned anything to me about hair dye being a danger, but to be on the safe side I looked it up on the NHS sight it said if you want to be cautious then avoid if for the first 12 weeks. I've been colouring mine all through my pregnancy. Every country seems to have different guidelines. Has anyone else noticed that their hair is fuller? Usually mine is limp and thin. Not looking forward to hair loss after the birth though .

I had a night away and a spa treat last month Knits. It was lovely! Got my toenails painted too, though they are all chipped now. Really need to paint them before I can't reach!

I colour mine too ladies. The only thing to look out for is your skin can react differently whilst preggo so it's usually a good idea to do a little patch test even if it's been cool in the past. If you're still worried then go for highlights or lowlights. The dye doesn't touch your skin and nothing can be passed down the hair to your skin either so safe as houses. I've just highlighted and bobbed mine and it feels so much better :)

want2be I have been craving celery, carrots and cucumber, just raw on their own... Dh has been a bit miffed by my crunching away in the evenings. But hey its healthy. Though not really my usual choice of snack for a winter evening!

Re hair dye nhs advice is it's Ok. I rarely dye mine but that's because I have eczema and get it on my scalp and am wary of a reaction. If it weren't for that I would be as I like funky colour hair.

I see midwife tomorrow for 24/25wk check and then have a scan at 28wks, looking forward to seeing baby again. I am feeling pretty good at the moment. Spd is niggling so will see physio for that but this is def the easy stage for me.. Touch wood.

Mazzle, my hair has definitely got fuller and shinier than it was before. I'm loving how much nicer it looks, but think I need to resign myself to it going back to being a bit dull and flat after birth.

I've just got a letter confirming my next physio appointment after Christmas. I've been seeing them because of back pain and they've been really helpful. Definitely recommend asking for a physio referral if anyone else is suffering with back problems. They've given me a list of gentle exercises that seem to be helping and I've also got a support belt to try out if it gets any worse over the Christmas break (but obviously hoping that won't be needed). Pregnancy is making me very grateful for the NHS!

My obn is funny. She is totally fine with me eating runny eggs but says in her medical opinion it's not smart to eat deli meat (slicer isn't clean so risk of food poisioning) or do things like dye your hair (no keratin treatments either). She is also fine with me drinking copious amounts of coffee. Said it has an excellent laxative effect which is perfect during pregnancy.

It's funny because here in the US my care is overseen by two obn's who have managed my first two pregnancies. They care about certain thing you don't expect and don't care about what you expect them to care about. So far they are fixated on my ankles as I had preclampsia with DD. I'm going in on Saturday for another drip to get my fluids up as it does help my ankles depuff. They also have given me a prescription for massage once a week. Sounds a bit OTT but it makes sense. I'm working a lot of hours and my legs are swollen. I get an hour of blissful sleep on the maternity pillows they have while they push the fluid back up.

It's funny the conflicting advice we get all the time isn't it want2b! I've learnt to chill much more by this one and pick and choose quite a lot. I reckon there's no rational reason for my choices half the time! I am the worst pregnant person ever though...I have a glass or two of wine a week, eat rare steak, runny eggs, I've even been known to nibble a raw oyster and a spot of pate
I don't eat uncooked unpasteurised cheese though and I avoid deli meats too! I saw a programme once where they found listeria in a deli ham sandwich and it's obviously lodged as a fear in my brain!

I'm like you oops, have had a glass of wine (or a spritzer) each week since hitting the second trimester.However DH won't share any of his soft cheese with me
In NZ in the past few weeks we've had a listeria scare in deli meat, and hep A in frozen berries. So I've had to start being extra vigilant in what I'm eating. Sigh.

oops The conflicting advice is annoying because we all want to do what is best for our DC. I totally won't eat a steak that is well done. I always do medium rare while pregnant. There is no other way to eat it!

I'm having one of my paranoid days . I'm 23 weeks today and after getting used to reassuring movement this last week, I haven't felt anything today so far. It's amazing how quickly we can think something is wrong, or maybe this is just me . . . . !

Nope not just you Brooke I think I have actually got more paranoid with each pregnancy! It's still early re regular movements but if you are concerned you can call your midwife, that is what they are there for.

I saw my midwife today for 24/25wk check, all good. There was a student with her and I said she could palpatate, check heart etc but baby was so wriggly she was having trouble listening in. The baby was literally kicking the doppler it was very funny. Midwife very happy and my next app is 18th Jan at hospital where I will get a scan etc to check size and see consultant.

Hi I'm 21 weeks had my anomaly scan this wek to go baby to check fluid on a kidney but they said not to worry.
Also because I turn 40 soon I will Apparantly get more scans for growth. Not sure why but I'm happy to go with that!

So baby kicks an moves like mad whenever we play music near my bump... It's amazing to watch!!!

Definitely not just you brooke. I had a day of feeling almost no movements last Friday and I was feeling so worried by late afternoon. I needn't have been though as he was back to his usual movements that evening. I think 23 weeks is quite early to feel movement every day so I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Why not call your midwife if you're concerned though?

Glad your appointment went well 5madthings. My midwife always has students with her too and they've often had trouble finding the baby's heartbeat as he's wriggling around!

Thanks for the reassurance 5 and knits. He's back bopping today! Best to realise that not every day is going to be the same. It's amazing how quickly the worry sets in.

Hi helensburgh, I'm 42 and will be getting scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. I don't mind at all - I love a good scan! (after some horrible ones in the past)

I'll have to try that poppy. My singing doesn't seem to have much effect

brooke if you are not getting the movements you expect try rubbing your sides. Obn has me do this when I get to 36 weeks during the day, ideally every 3 hours. Apparently it helps set the baby up for their feeding schedule once born. Both doctors have also said that if I rub my sides and the movement feels different to call them to let them know we are coming to the hospital.

Hi ladies. How's everyone's weekend going? I've been really tired the last couple of days, think I may have over done it at my work Xmas party on Friday (although I didn't stay out late at all). Feeling a bit pathetic being so tired after one slightly later than usual night!

Was also just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what pram / buggy / travel system you might get? We had a look round Mothercare recently and there's so much choice I felt completely confused by all the options. Would be great to hear recommendations from anyone.

Poppy, that sounds lovely. Will have to try playing some music to bump and see how he reacts. At the moment the only thing that normally seems to make him kick is me eating or having a cold drink. I love starting to get to know what time of day he's usually more active too.

We went for a Bugaboo. I've had one before (a different model) so know it well. Sold my last one for half of what I paid, so I know they have a good resale value. Also, I already have a maxi-cosi car seat, which is compatible.

It's very difficult knowing what to buy first time round isn't it?

I would buy a cheap stroller 2nd hand at first and once baby gets here go shopping with the baby. I would never have purchased the city select stroller! I quite like the compactness of the bugaboo bee. Truth be told we all end up with multiple strollers because there isn't one that is perfect!

I have an ICandy peach 3 wheeler off roader. It's great but not light. If you are planning on having more than one and with a 3yr age gap or less then get a double (like Phil & Ted's - we have a sport) or one that converts like an ICandy blossom. I second what want2b said though, try and find this stuff second hand. The ICandy peach plus maxicosi pebble car seat didn't give us much change from £900, probably could have picked up the ICandy for 1/3 or less of that on eBay. I regret getting all PFB about it now, could have saved ourselves so much money.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Mazzle, I hadn't even thought about resale value if we get a new one and then sell it when the baby has outgrown it. That's definitely something I'll keep in mind now, as well as possibly buying second hand in the first place.

Also hadn't really thought about getting one that converts if you have a second baby with a small-ish age gap. I think we'd probably want this one to have a little brother or sister one day (fingers crossed it happens for us!) so will also keep that advice in mind.

Thanks again!

Morning all, hope you had a good weekend. I think I overdone it a it with my cleaning yesterday (which is totally out of character for me!) as today my arse is sore?!

I've been cleaning lots too, and sorting through things that don't even need sorting. I think I'm starting to 'nest'

I've been really tired too. I'm not sleeping properly at the moment and all the work that xmas involves is getting me down. I usually plan more in advance for xmas so there isn't last minute stress, but this year I've been totally wrapped up in the pregnancy.

Late to the party but the pushchair we've gone for the Mamas and Papas Armadillo Flip XT

Also as a side note I had the Mothercare Orb/Spin last time with DD and it was bloody awful. One to avoid.