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...

Ahh it's my son who is the pucker and we have convinced him to take the bottom bunk. They will have a waterproof mattress protector on both mattresses!

Mattress covers help but it's not thst so much more it going down the sides etc, ours have a sort of guard rail so it goes on there and on one memorable occasion the lego boxes that live under the bed were not under the bed... So yep puke in the lego which then had to be showered and then put in pillow cases in the washing machine. Tbf though unless he is at work in which case I get on and deal with it whilst retching myself, dh is the one tgst deals with puke and the bigger ones are old enough to help with stripping beds etc.

I don't know why I feel so hormonal and stressed tbh, but dh has taken some of the madthings out, the others are playing nicely and I am in the bath. I have a bowl of celery balanced on my belly and baby keeps kicking it!

I am very aware of my mood having had pnp after Ds4 and then one following on from that it was a really horrible time and having never had so much as the baby blues before a bit of a shock. Being that Ill once I never want to go back there so I keep a good check on my mental health. I am missing running and my not so healthy.option of the odd cigarette! My sleep pattern is screwed as well so I am just going to keep an eye and see gp if needed. But I feel better for having a bath and dh is off work til 4th Jan so that's good. I think I just need to give myself a kick up the arse whilst also remembering that I am pregnant so need to cut myself a bit of slack.

I am not too worried re dealing with a newborn, I find thst stage fairly easy it's more juggling the needs of the others, keeping the house in a state I am happy with and also not enjoying feeling fat. Tbf from behind I don't look pregnant and my bump is the same as my others but I had got used to my body being my own.

Anyway I am making my list and if necessary will rope my dad in to help ie changing sink in kitchen and building shelves, storage etc and the boys realised I was stressy and have had a good go at tidying their bedrooms so that's good.

Oh I think part of my stress is relating to birth, I would like a nice easy birth like the others, preferably water birth as I loved that but have placenta previa so if that doesn't change it will mean c section. I can cope with the idea of elcs which is better than an emergency one obviously but not looking forward to recovery afterwards. How it will impact on life, school runs etc. There is nothing I can do about it but you know when you keep going over things in your head? That's me. Anyway scan on 18th Jan so May have more of an idea than.

It's so nice to hear how everyone's doing. And welcome macdat.

April, we're currently using what will be the baby's room as a study too. It's taking us ages to sort through everything and get the room ready for the baby. Hoping to have it mostly sorted quite soon as otherwise we've literally nowhere else to store the stuff we need to buy before the baby arrives.

Mazzle, your scan picture is amazing! I can't believe how clearly you can see the baby's face. Making me a little bit tempted to book a 4D scan myself.

I'm definitely feeling a bit hormonal and stressed too madthings and I don't even have any older children to take care along with being pregnant. I've been feeling quite overwhelmed about how much I think there is to do before April, and have also been getting a bit teary at things that normally wouldn't bother me. Hopefully having family around to support you will help a bit, but I'd definitely see your GP too especially about the difficulty sleeping - I find everything is that bit harder to deal with when you're not getting enough rest. Fingers crossed you get some reassuring news at your January scan.

I'm still feeling pretty rubbish with a cold, though definitely on the mend now. I've spent most of the day on the sofa underneath a blanket so hoping the rest has done me good. I've also used it as an excuse to spend half my day looking at prams and nursery furniture online. I've found a few good offers in the sales so might even buy something now (have bought pretty much nothing so far!).

I've recently started to get heartburn quite a lot which is really unusual for me. Is anyone else suffering with it? Gaviscon seems to help a bit, and I'm also trying not to eat too late at night as have heard that can make it worse. Any other tips for dealing with it?

I've bee hormonal and stressy too. It was worse just before xmas, but I've had a bit of a rest the last few days which has worked wonders. My emotions are never far away right now though.

I've had lots of acid reflux but not actual heartburn. I think the best over the counter stuff is the double action Gaviscon, so if that's not working it's worth asking the GP. I've been having a lot of sugar free Rennies in the night when I wake up with it. On the bright side, the sugar-free Rennies have a laxative effect which is sorting out the constipation (how glamorous a life I lead).

As a first timer birth seems so far away and unreal to me now. I keep getting 'helpful' advice from people about it, but it hasn't really sunk in that I will have to go through it to get this baby out. I've been like this all pregnancy though - I can't look more than a few weeks ahead without everything seeming a bit unreal.

Hi
I've been mega anxious and stressy too. I don't remember it with the other two at all.
Rose tinted glass possibly!
I've ballooned over Xmas. Feel massive!

comelucky I feel the same. This is my first time and anything more than a couple of weeks ahead goes into a hazy blur. Birth plan? What, you mean I'll have to give birth . . . . .? I got a wake-up call this week when my uterus popped up above my belly button and I realised, crikey, this is just going to keep getting bigger, and then it's going to have to come out!

I've had a really bad cold since Christmas Day and it's stopping me from feeling any pregnancy stuff. So I don't now if I'm hormonal or not, I'm just a grumpy mess. Can't breathe. Boo. knits glad you are starting to feel better. I have to start choosing a pram etc too. How do you choose the right one??

I figured out the pram by going to try a few out and thinking about what I wanted from a pram. A good pram shop will give you advice if you go in and say what you'll use the pram for and what your budget is. I want to go for walks locally but also get the bus into town and be able to fold if need be, so I've gone for a pram that's somewhat best of both worlds. You can get bigger heavier prams that are more solid if you'll just be walking with it (but check it fits in the car if you'll be driving) and lighter weight ones that don't have such fancy wheels if you won't be walking so much. The other factor which I really struggled with is if you're getting a travel system knowing what you can use in your car - but places that sell car seats and prams can look at your car and help you figure this out.

Thanks comelucky, yes I'll go into town to have a proper look next week hopefully. There's only so much you can do online. I'm looking for a travel system - the whole thing really. I need it for walks down country lanes, but light enough to get easily in and out of the car. Thanks for the tips. When are you due?

Hope you find the right one for you :) I'm due 9th April.

Had my 24 week check up today (I'm 25+5). Got to hear the baby's heartbeat and she measured my bump for the first time. My midwife also told me about antenatal type classes which are available, but I won't be able to go because of work. I know I'm entitled to take it off, but I really can't justify it.

Has anyone been to antenatal classes before? Or planning on going?

I did NCT for DC1 which was great but more for making friends than learning stuff. I'm still in daily contact with some of them 4 years later. Don't believe the NCT stuff about epidurals though, it's bollocks. It doesn't slow down labour, studies in the US where epidurals are more common show it can help move labour along as your body can relax and do its thing when you aren't tensed up in excruciating pain.

mazzle I went to them with ds1 but they were in the evening and tbh were not great. With ds2 I did nct ones they can be good for making friends etc but tend to be more natural childbirth focused, this was fine for me but isn't for everyone.

Tbh there issues a wealth of info online that I would say other than as a way to make friends etc they are not necessary. My hospital has an online tour of the delivery unit etc now rather than actually going in to have a look around. And there are hv classes and parent and baby groups for afterwards. It really is the meeting people thing that is useful, ds1 is 16 now and I am still friends with a small group of mums I met at ante natal classes with him.

It is very different now though as I say with online stuff. I would find out about groups and support for after the birth, that's when you need friends with similar age babies! I have a lovely group at a local church hall I will be going back to, homemade tea and cakes, scones. Run by some ladies from.the church it's really nice. I am not remotely religious Btw and nor is the group it's just a place to go once a week, talk to grown ups, a cup of tea and there are other mums to chat to and someone wiling to cuddle baby and as baby gets older toys for them to play with and craft for them to do as toddlers. Ds(7) still remembers and talks about going to that group :) as does dd(5).

Also if thinking about bfeeding then find out now about local support groups etc, hvs can be a bit crap ime. In my maternity notes I got leaflets about a bfeeding group and your hv should be able to tell you about baby groups etc in your area. It's worth finding out about ones run in local church halls or children's centres etc.

But the actual info from an ante natal class is all found online though check with your midwife re your hospital ie do they do mobile epidural as not all do or about birth pools ie mine has loads but that's new when I had my last baby five years ago they only had two birth pools.

Umm will have a think of anything else :)

mazzle I've booked up NCT classes for February because I'm a first timer and could really do with as much help as possible. Also everyone I speak to says they have had a great experience forming a network of people going through the same thing at the same time and the support can really help (I suppose like this, but in RL!)

The NCT classes do cost (£185 for a 16 hour course spread out over 3 sessions) and I will have to take time off work but I felt it was worth it both for me and DH.

I want to do NCT but it's my second DD so feel I might be the odd one out with the first time mums. I just want to make mum friends haha.

I've booked some NCT classes, mostly because I want to meet people locally. I worry in case they are judgy and push the 'no drugs' angle too hard, but hopefully I'll at least meet some potential mum/dad friends. Almost none of my friends now want children! I'm also going on some free NHS parentcraft sessions to learn the basics of looking after a baby, I've booked a one day baby first aid course and we'll go to the hospital talk when I remember to book it.

I've been very grouchy today, rang up to ask hospital where the GTT test is held because I've not been sent an appointment letter, just given time. And they say I can't have any medication before the test. I'm on anti-emetics and will almost definitely throw up without them. If you throw up, you have to repeat the test. Oh and they are saying this applies to my anti-seizure medication, so there is no way I'm going unless they change their minds on that because having a seizure would definitely be bad for the baby! I'm going to see if they will let me measure blood sugar at home for a period instead, I don't see why not. I've been offered it for bmi over the threshold - I was 30.8 at booking in and the cut off is 30. But my mother's side of the family is all the same - short and stout by nature and no diabetes to be seen anywhere in my family. I eat a really healthy diet and I wouldn't be able to do more than I am already doing to change my lifestyle in that regard. Midwife not answering the phone, appointment with GP is the day after I'm meant to have the test. I think I'll wait and if I don't hear back from midwife I'll cancel test and see what GP suggests.

Crumbly I'd love to meet a second time mum on my course to make friends with - someone who knows what they are doing already, fabulous :D

crumbly when I did nct for ds2 they sid specific classes for second time parents, so all of us were on our second or more child and we were all doing them to make friends pretty much. So call your local area to enquire,you need to do it soon though as they get booked up ime.

comelucky that sounds like crazy advice re stopping anti emetics and your seizure medication for the gtt. I would think you need to see specialist to decide on best plan but testing blood sugars at home as you have suggested sounds like a good plan. That's just finger prick and easily done. Def get medical advice from.someone who knows you individually like your gp. They will probably just refer to to consultant obgyn but you can't risk messing around with your medication.

Fwiw I was offered gtt as I have history of big babies ie 10lb 13oz but discussed with midwife and consultant who both agreed I have no other risk factors and we're happy for me to decline.

Thanks 5, it helps to have someone else say so. It just sounds wrong to me, they said 'oh there's always lots of women throwing up here' and the idea of being forced through it over and over in the hope I won't throw up for one of them seems so wrong. Good idea to ask for referral - hopefully the GP will help with that.

My midwife's keen to have experienced mums at the antenatal classes, so I wouldn't let that put you off crumbly.

Comelucky I agree with 5madthings. What bonkers advice!

Had a look on the NCT website, but they don't offer anything as far north as me. However, I did find a local charity that offers a variety of classes. The breastfeeding support group looks appealing. Think I'll join end of March for some tips before the baby arrives.

Thanks April, I will have a look for the double action Gaviscon and the Rennies - that side effect would definitely not be unwelcome for me right now! Re the GTT, I agree with everyone who's said that seems like very bad advice. You only just fit the criteria for being invited for GTT anyway so I'd definitely seek advice from your GP or midwife about whether you definitely need it and if so whether the benefit would outweigh the risk of you missing doses of your medications.

I've booked NCT classes starting in February. They're expensive but hopefully worth it. A lot of my friends don't have children yet and those who do live quite a long way from me so I'm really keen to meet other new mums and have always heard NCT classes are good for that. I'm also going to some NHS classes as I thought it can't hurt to be as well informed as possible. I do agree you can probably find out most of what they'll teach you online though. Crumbly, I'd definitely be happy to meet a mum who already had children and could share their experiences so I can't see any reason you wouldn't be welcome at an NCT class.

The GTT is mandatory for everyone here in the U.S. Its a one hour test that they do and you can continue with pretty much any medication. I took it yesterday and the worst part is the flat fake tasting fanta you have to drink. It's almost fury.

It does not sound right that you stop medication. With DD I was taking three drugs to stop me throwing up. You can also eat before the test. Friends who had it in the UK were told no eating.

I didn't realise this thread had dropped off my list! Have had some pretty severe pelvic pain the past few days, I'm guessing it's the start of SPD but we're on holiday for Christmas and I can't get to a GP until next week.
Also having some pretty horrendous mood swings as well, poor DH. I know he feels pretty helpless when I'm sitting there crying over cold toast.

Sorry to hear that Pingoose. I'm only just starting to get pain in my pelvis. Never had it with eithet of my last two pregnancies. A friend recommended a tubigrip. I think you can only get one from a midwife/physio. Have had a look online but can't see one anywhere.

pingoose do you have a bump band or anything to help support your pelvis. You could take Co codomol just until you see gp? I get spd as well but touch wood it hasn't been too bad yet this pregnancy but my moods.... I have spent a couple of hours at the park today with a friend and her kids and feel much better for getting some fresh air despite it being bloody freezing. We are now snuggled watching jungle book :)

My eczema has gone a bit mad which is horrid and makes my mood worse but it's not as bad as it could be.

Going to make a bit of a list re baby bits, my mil bought me a loveky stripey blanket from John Lewis and matching muslin cloths in bright rainbow colours which are lovely and my sister gave me her carseat, need to look at how to install it as it has a base and I have not used a base before. It's a britax one britax babysafe? I think I am assuming I can find instructions online.

Re tubigrip you can but it at a chemist but not necessarily in the size you need but I would think you can get it online?

Even if you can't see gp or midwife it might be worth calling and they should be able to put a referral through to physio for you.