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...

Sorry to hear you're suffering pingoose. I've had the same problem for a few weeks and know it's not much fun. When you see the GP I'd really recommend asking if they can refer you to a women's health or pregnancy physio. My physio has been so helpful and I'm sure the problem would have got worse without the advice she's given me. I also got given a support belt that you wear around your hips and lower back and which helps make the joints a bit more stable and so less painful.

Hope you get some help and start to feel better soon.

Comelucky don't worry about judgey/no drugs angle in NCT, if you hear anything that sounds like bullshit, just do your internal eye roll and nod and smile

The most important thing I've learned through all these babies is that whatever works, there is no right or best way to do anything. I also decided that anyone who passes judgement on my choices is an arsehole, and I should never give a shit what an arsehole thinks. It's made for a much less stressful existence

I'm loving how unjudgemental this group is, ladies I salute you! Hurrah to women not hating on other women!

I'm totally with oops. If people are going to judge you on the way your child was brought into this world it says more about them than it does about you. I like how it acts as a filter. Smile, nod and move on well away from them! Nothing wrong with an epidural, CS or whatever it takes to get everyone through childbirth in the best shape possible.

Happy new year everyone! Hope you had a good NYE however you spent it.

Totally agree oops. In most cases, just because something is right for one person that doesn't make it right for everyone else. We all have enough on our plates without judgemental attitudes.

Judging on parenting and esp birth and feeding choices. All births are different, I have been lucky enough to have easy births and that's mainly what it comes down to luck! This time round I may need a c section due to placenta previa, it will be annoying to have a c section after five easy deliveries but what matters is mine and the baby's safety so if that requires a c section so be it. Plus I am a great believer in women having bodily autonomy so if they want a c section for whatever reason they should be able to have one, thankfully the nice guidelines now agree with this.

Re feeding I have both breast and bottlefed, there are advantages and disadvantages to both, do what works for you, your baby and your family. Each baby is different, what works for one won't necessarily work for another.

If there is one thing having five kids had taught me is tgat they are all different, what is perfect for one may be hated by another, barring abuse etc there is no right/wrong/good/bad way of parenting it's about finding ways that work and most importantly ways that keep you sane and able to enjoy the journey.

And here is me at 26 +3 a proper baby bump now!

Happy New Year everyone!

That's really valuable advice 5madthings. I know I for one really value your experience (first-timer here!). And nice bump! I'm 25 weeks today and my bump is looking pretty similar to yours.

I've been feeling movement every day which is lovely and keeps me nice and sane (unlike the first 20 weeks!). It's all starting to feel very real now and it might be time to start buying things.

Hope everyone is doing well

That first sentence should have said tgst judging re birth, bfeeding etc is just bullshit, ignore anyone that does.

Brooke glad you find it helpful, believe me I bet madthing6 will still be teaching me new tricks! But is is really important to look after yourself in all of this. Don't beat yourself up over any choices you make, look after yourself so you can enjoy your baby, believe me it passes by in a flash. When you are in the middle of it and knackered it can feel never ending and relentless but they do grow quickly and with that growing come new phases and things to stress over but also things to enjoy. I think it's always worth remembering this too shall pass... Which is currently my mantra regarding the restless legs which are stopping me from sleeping and the chaos of my house post Xmas... The madthings go back to school on 5th so I can sort out the house and catch up on sleep then...

I've booked on the nct course... I hope it's worth the money! For some reason they are all different prices on different areas... I'm talking £30 more down the road not impressed emailed the people and waiting to hear back. Did every 'join' I'm tempted to get that refunded... I'm not sure I need to be in the club???

Thanks for the suggestions on the SPD ladies. Will definitely ask about a pregnancy physio. Funnily enough it's settled down now - on Boxing Day I couldn't sit down or stand up without crying and doing a Michael Jackson-ish crotch grab. But now it's only a twinge every so often. Will see what the GP says next week.
Have booked in for the equivalent of an NCT course here, and a separate breastfeeding class. Am ready to roll my eyes and do whatever suits me anyway

All the NCT classes near us are 45 mins- an hour away and I figured if they are for making friends I'm not going to want to drive all that way for coffee! The midwife said they do classes in the villages though so we are going to phone up about them next week. She said to call the local sure start centre. Worth mentioning that when I was in hospital the other day chatting to some ladies who were near delivery, quite a few hadn't got on any of the free classes because they assumed the midwife would tell them at an appointment what to do and by the time they got round to asking/being asked at 32 weeks or so, all the classes were fully booked... So might be worth many of us looking into this in the next few weeks!

Apologies from me for being a lurker but not a poster. The hacking thing a few months back got me changing my username and then I could not remember my password and couldn't be bothered to reset when the Facebook group was easy to do! Have changed it now though and clicked on the "remember me" option!!

Anyone struggling to fit rings on? Just bought a plain silver band because I'm sad about not being able to wear my wedding ring - my fingers look normal but are definitely 2-3 sizes bigger than they were.

My fingers have definitely swelled Come my engagement ring has gone from loose to just fitting comfortably. A bit worried about what happens if they swell and I can't get the ring off

Yeah, that was my fear. Taken all the rings off to be safe, and hopefully soon my new ring will come to tide me over. I assume it all returns to normal afterwards, I love my engagement ring so really miss that.

Hello!
Can I join in please? 23 weeks with DS no. 4 here.
No problems so far, luckily I seem to have easy pregnancies so fingers, legs and everything else crossed that it stays that way!
Very active baby with lots of movement. He's kicking away right now

Hi all,

Glad to see you're all getting on well despite the usual pregnancy ailments! I can't complain too much - just getting a bad back at night and heartburn - was so bad last night I ended up throwing up my dinner :-(!

I've had to sign up to two NCT classes as we're still hoping to move before the baby is born (just renting out our flat and renting outside of London as really want to get out of London before baby arrives!). I've had to pay out quite a lot but can cancel 4 weeks before so hopefully I'll know which one I'll be going to by then. It's all very last minute - can't believe how much I need to do in the next 15 weeks.

Is anyone else feeling really fat? I was feeling great last summer in my size 10 wedding dress but a combination of being really hungry in the first three months and being a bit too lax after spending the first six months of last year dieting has meant I've put on a good stone and a half at 26 weeks. My bum looks like cellulite city, even though I've been doing Body Pump classes twice a week. I really need to rein in the carbs and treats but it's hard knowing that I'm going to gain weight anyway and so many other treats (like drinking!) are off limits. Anyone got any tips for keeping off the excess weight? Or can anyone reassure me that I'll be able to lose it after the baby is born?!

Hello Dragon welcome in :)

Welcome dragon I also have four boys, then no five was dd and am expecting Dc6 Sex unknown!

Re rings I have noticed sometimes my wedding ring seems slightly tighter but it was loose anyway, it's mainly when I am hot. Some swelling and fluid retention is normal in pregnancy but if it seems a lot it's something to get checked out.

I suddenly feel like bump is stretching my rib cage, it feels really uncomfy like I need to push the bump down away from my ribs. Goung to go have a bath to see if that will help.

Suffolk I got married in may this year (after 17 yrs and five kids...) and was running half marathons in April.. So yep I feel huge, I posted a pic a few posts back of me now and I am not huge really just feel it. Have put on about a stone and a bit I think. No tips for keeping off the weight I guess not too much sugar etc but your body will fain what it needs to gain and yes it should come off afterwards, it has for me each time but I had to work at it a bit after dd and I guess I will have to this time as well just because I am slightly older than when I had my first. With ds1 I was back in my jeans when he was a week old, the weight fell off, but I was only 20, with ds2 and ds3 it wasn't as quick but did come off easily and I was cycling and swimming etc. After ds4 I was poorly which made it harder but it went and after dd I just had to make the effort to go running a bit. I am lucky it never takes much to lose weight, I don't have to be super strict, I am fairly active anyway cycling every day etc. I have found a really nice bike trailer that is also a running buggy that I am going to get so I can get out and get fit with baby in tow!

Hello everyone. I'm feeling huge and it's an incentive to stay in the water on our holiday. It's fab to be relaxing here in the Turks & Caicos. The beach today was amazing and I had a 2 hour nap. Feeling rather zen for once while my kids are bordering feral standards!

Anyone else feel baby pushing out to the extreme? I feel a sudden pressure and then I can literally see baby moving and pushing against me. My belly goes really hard and it's so uncomfortable.. 25+4

I do get a pushing sometimes alongside massive kicks or something. I can't see the moving yet though. 26 weeks, seems to be getting stronger in there all the time!

Baby giving some huge kicks and rolls and pushes over here too, enough to make my whole tummy move and shock me if I've got something resting on there. Got a few videos of them moving as it's so visible already! Taken me by surprise as I don't remember it being so early with DD1.

Anyone else thought about maternity leave? I was going to stay up until 37 weeks but there's a chance I could be induced at 37/38 so I'm thinking of maybe taking some earlier time off with DD1, but then lose time the other end with baby then so I'm not sure!

Mat leave I was gonna try and go to 38 weeks but this is my first and I want to max out with baby. It would take me to the Easter holiday but I'm genuinely scared of my waters breaking whilst I'm teaching!! Everyone at school thinks I won't make it, I'm already waddling and have aches and pains!

Welcome dragon.

Frankie, I paid to join NCT as when I signed up they seemed to suggest you had to be a member to go to their coffee mornings or be on the local mailing list. I've since found out that's not the case and would probably have thought twice before paying for membership if I'd known that. I also found it odd that the courses vary in cost in different areas.

suffolk, I definitely feel like I've put on a lot of weight - think it's about a stone and a half so far. The odd thing is that I can't really see where I've gained weight other than bump and boobs. I've been starving so struggling to stay away from junk food etc. I'm feeling quite nervous about how I'll manage to lose the weight after pregnancy though.

I'm not totally sure yet about maternity leave. I carried over some annual leave from last year so I'm hoping to have a few weeks annual leave before starting my maternity leave. Think I'll probably aim to finish at about 36 or 37 weeks but depending how I feel nearer the time I may end up finishing earlier.

Hello Dragon. Welcome!

crumbly I'm booked in for a planned section at 39 so had planned on working up until 35 weeks, but like others I'm stiff and sore already!

Was looking over DH's and between now and mid March he's only home for 2 and a half weeks at the end of Jan and away the rest of the time. Considering moving maternity leave forward to 32 weeks. Having time at the other end doesn't matter for me this time, as I've already decided I'm not going back. I knew that no. 3 would mean giving up work. I'll be sad to leave, but it's for the best for now. I should be able to get back into it easily enough once the kids are up a bit.

Rings are a bit snug here too April. My hands are looking really chunky!

Should say DH's rota!