Due in June part 3 :: Entering the 2nd trimester, bring on the blooming!

[NattyandThomasandBumpandSanta]

new thread as old one once again will not load in the time it takes me to make a cup of tea so as far as i am concered thats too bloody long!

keep this one full guys!

N&T&B

LOL Daisy Cameron with weetabix and you in milk stained jammies.....that would be so me, i'd probably have not had chance to shower and change and still have nighttime bra under my clothes (yurgh!). I just don't know how things are going to go on sibling front and don't want Lucy thinking "mummy has new baby and now I get dumped at school all day and when Im here shes feeding the baby..." maybe Im worrying uneccessarily. Thinking about it I remember phoning DH in tears when she was about 6-7 weeks saying I was going to give up bfing as DD wouldn't latch on properly, had many MWs and HVs advise on where going wrong that I was so confused they all seemed to have a different view... When first had DD my milk took over 7 days to 'come in' and whilst I was in hospital the night nurses where tryting to get me to give her "just one cup of formula" to get her to go to sleep as she seemed to be constantly crying at first probably 'cos she was hungry. One thing that i was always puzzled about was being told bfing would prevent eczema, but DD had infantile eczema from day 1 !?

I'm with hollyandalice on the threads slating anyone who doesn't bf. It isn't easy, yes its natural and the best but you shouldn't make your life and the babies life miserable, those early days fly by and before you know it they are not little babies that fall asleep on your shoulder and if you've missed all those precious moments beating yourself up then I think you'd regret it. Phew! Sorry for rant/waffle!

Think my moto would be on these subjects (and for many others..) go with the flow that makes you and your baby happy. In a few years you'll wonder what its all about.

Pst...(whispers) hope bfing police aren't coming to visit our thread!

Hi all, had my amniocentesis today and everything seemed to go fine, I'll now have to wait 3 weeks or so for the results, which will seem ages. Anyway, they did a scan at the same time and the baby was pretty obviously a boy! So, 1 of each for me too. I was a bit stunned at first as I'd sort of expected a girl but now I'm quite excited thinking it'll be something new.

I'm another cloth nappy user, but DD often wears disposables, mostly when she's at nursery or we're out. We also had her in disposables till about 3 months, which gets you past that stage where you're changing them every 5 minutes, and also as the cloth ones seemed impossibly bulky and hot too (she was born in july and we live in Italy). You don't have to go all out and buy loads of reusables, you could just get a few and see how you get on. At least you will know you're saving a bit of landfill everytime you use them. On the whites front, well, you can get coloured ones! I reckon I've saved loads of money and I'm happy that they'll get used another time for no.2. I have motherease and they haven't frayed at all btw.

Just to weigh in on the bf debate too.....
Why does nobody mention the it hurts like crazy at first? I got cracked nipples too but found aloe gel worked wonders. A week - 10 days later it was going fine and we never looked back. So much less hassle than bottles etc, as I'm lazy that's a big plus for me. I think a bit more honesty about initial problems and the knowledge they can be overcome might help a lot of people who give up.

Italy wow! Sputnik you lucky thing! Good news on the scan!

YES THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT ILL GO WITH THE FLOW, ill try bf but buy some bottles too just incase lol

i still want to try cloth nappies too it just knowing where to start what to get and things.

sputnik you had amniocentesis was there a reson you had one?? good news about the scan though.

juicy any news on your scan today sex wise

Unfortunatly here you can't get any of the other tests, like nuchal scans etc., you lot seem to be able to get to assess your risk, so it's amnio or nothing. As I'm nearly 40 I thought it best. I trust the guy who did it he was really good and put me very much at my ease. Seems to have gone fine, which is a huge relief!

glad it went ok you are surposed to rest for a few days now anit you?

i had to pay for my nuchal scan too and am 40 now so i understand how you feel

Well done on the amnio Sputnik, also, lucky you with one of each. I have 2 boys, so the odds are that I'm probably having another one - I'm going to have to wait until MARCH to find out!!
I LOVE Italy - whereabouts are you?

BTW BF police are NOT allowed on this thread

To anyone who was wondering about NCT - I have just had a form through which seems to be two evening sessions and two day-long weekend sessions, a total of 16 hours. Cost is £160 for two. I am confused. I had an idea that these courses would be once a week, in the evening, for about six weeks. I really don't like the idea of giving up two days at the weekend and nor does dh, I would much rather do a weekday evening. And they have terrified me by suggesting that at the weekend each couple brings a dish for lunch which 'we will all share'. I would be so tempted to bring some Turkey Twizzlers.

What to do? I am scared if I don't do the course I will not meet any other expectant mums. On the other hand, the thought of giving up six hours on two consecutive weekends a month before giving birth eating brown rice in a village hall is not appealing.

It is a difficult one - I didn't ever do NCT as DS1 arrived before the classes started! I met loads of people through baby classes such as music groups and play groups.

Some friends did meet through NCT classes and still meet up every week and are great friends through it - others don't really gel and go their separate ways once the baby gets a bit bigger. It is always nice to have others to share the same experiences you will be going through (no sleep, poo colour, bf etc etc)

Don't worry doggus. I met all my friends through a mother and baby group run by the NHS. It was a great group and really fun, I think all new mums are offered them. The antenatal class I did was a waste of time and I didn't bond with anyone there. They were all a lot older than me (I was 23 and the next youngest was 35!) and they were really judgemental and I felt they were looking down their noses at me. Although this was an NHS class I know that most of them joined the NCT. I have to say the NCT isn't for me. They all seem a bit stuck up and if you don't have a Bugaboo and wear dungarees then you can't be in their club!!

Also a large proportion of the NCT are fully paid up members of the bfing police!!

Trace - it's a boy! Kind of knew anyway. The main thing all his bits are in the right place and ok. A bit wierd that that's the last scan though. Won't see him again until June!

Also haven't decided on the NCT thing, although I think I may have missed the boat. I think the classes get booked up pretty quickly in London, so the decision may have been made for me. Friends who have done it do recommend it for meeting other local mums though. mmm.

Hi guys - can I join you? EDD 12 June; dd 5; dh 38; me 40 (but in denial). Have just moved south of the border to Somerset and am feeling a bit out of it. Have had a lovely hour reading this thread - even though I should have been job hunting!

Hello all and welcome westcoaster! Am so pleased everyone here is open minded re. breastfeeding. This is my first, but I've seen sisters/friends being bullied by HV, being told they're bad mothers because BF wasn't working out. SOme have done it fine, some haven't - I'm definitely keeping an open mind; I'll do it if I can, but if I can't, it isn't the end of the world. I wasn't breastfed and I'm perfectly healthy...
Re. NCT, I'm doing classes in London (weekly evening ones, no whole days - sounds a bit much to me). I'm going on my own (there was a couples one which they originally signed me up to, but I had to explain that DH is not only v. busy at work and often works late, but also that he is just never going to be the kind of man who practises breathing exercises with me. He's great in a crisis and very supportive, but stick him in a room full of pregnant women talking about bodily parts, blood or even nappies and there'll be a DH shape hole in the wall... ). Anyway, they were a bit disapproving (I told DH he now had an NCT black spot against his name; don't think he was too concerned), but found me a class that's just for mums to be(I think partners come to one evening). I signed up early, mainly because I have no idea what I'm doing and thought it would be nice to meet people, but since then I've discovered a whole load of alternative antenatal classes at doctors surgery, hospital etc, many of which are less expensive and look just as informative, so I wouldn't worry if you're not signed up to NCT. I didn't join it, either, I just paid for the classes.
On another note, how are the bumps looking? Do you think we should start charting our growth for a laugh? Prizes for the biggest, that sort of thing? Mine is definitely about twice the size in the evening, but I suspect that's all the lovely trapped wind I suffer from these days (TMI? Sorry...)

Hi everyone and welcome westcoaster...Tee Hee Doggus I'd be tempted to go along just to take the twizzlers for a laugh! Seriously, whatever you decide to do you always have us here on the June thread as your mates going through the same thing... My baby mates are all from after DD was born, baby groups etc. you end up going to same baby groups as other mums, we used to go to Rythm Time (from about 6 months) (think similar classes with different names around the country ie think monkey music is another) and mother and baby swimming and tumble tots (from crawling I think).

Good news on the scan Juicylucy! Another boy! Wonder if most of us will have boys?

Marylou, think you're not alone on the windy tummy... think measuring is good idea, is this from the measurements that MWs take at 26 weeks, etc?

Afternoon ladies, welcome to westcoaster!

on the nappy front, I've just found out our local council give you vouchers for a starter pack of real nappies, think you can use this for the laundry pick up service as well.........Might be worth asking .

NCT: Got a call from a lovely girl down here and it does sound as though their bit more flexible about times of classes- know i wont be paying a fortune to give up a weekend! Am seeing midwife tomorrow so will ask more details.... I'm in Brighton by the way.

twigga I'm SO glad there's someone else who's nearly 30 and learning to drive, dp has put his foot down now and decided I will be having lessons during my six months 'off' , do let me know how you get on!

For big , very comfy and pretty knickers I would reccomend primark or pri-marche as is known down here, they cost about two quid, won't last forever but we hopefully won't be this size forever!! Are cotton...

For some reason I'm convinced it'll be a girl...........
yes seems to be lots of free groups here too for meeting mums........the more I see the more I wonder if NCT is worth the cash.... Can anyone say it is??

Whats a twizzler?

Bit embarrasd 'bout measuring bump- I clearly ate all the pies and bump is more of a spread.........

Strawberri, Don't worry my bump is a spread too... have always had big wobbly tummy even before DD looked like had already had a baby, am size 18-20 normally so not small. If it makes you feel any better when had DD one MW (who was very skinny) said to me when had heart monitor stapped to bump at hospital "hmmmm... says here on your notes difficult to monitor.." think she was implying my extra 'spread' on my tummy made it difficult! Having said that am under consulant led care this time and will be paying particular attention to growth of my bump as they are querying my DD 'small for dates' compared to my BMI (am 6ft 2" - she was just under 7LBs at 40+2) etc, though this was never an issue when born and she is now one of biggest in class etc.

Twizzlers - Turkey twizzlers as featured on Jamie Olivers School Dinners not actually even seen/eaten one but believe they are reformed turkey meat in a twizzle coated in breadcrumbs - think thats right but if got it wrong feel free to correct me anyone!

Really must go and do something useful...like domestic drudgery

Thank you for the reassurance regarding NCT. I don't think we will go - the idea of two whole days spent doing breathing and told to breastfeed is not for me. Hollyandalice - great idea, I think there is a mother and baby group run by my surgery. And seansgirl, you're right, there is mumsnet!

On bumps, marylou - I still don't have one, just two attractive layers of fat, one above the waist and one below. My gynae scar has started to bulge and look red (sorry, TMI), I look shocking I really do!

Welcome westcoaster...glad you can join us. Have you had your 20wk scan yet? I'm due 10 June and mine is next Wed....can't wait!!
congrats to Trace2 and Sputnik...at least you can now narrow the name search down a bit. DH and I nearly coming to blows over one particular girl's name. He doesn't want to know the sex next week, but it would either kill or enliven that particular debate. I hope it's obvious one way or the other, and I'm starting to feel a bit bloody minded about it...i.e it's my body, my baby and I'll know what sex if I want. I'm fed up having to pander to his wishes all the time. OK, rant over . Feeling really hormonal and weepy today and fell out with DH this morning. DS in tears about it when I left the house so not feeling like 'world's best mum' today . thankfully DH is going to Scotland for the weekend, so DS and I will have time to do some nice stuff together.

I meant Juicy...not Trace 2. Have you had yours and do you know sex btw, Trace2?

Hi All

Just popping into say a very quick hello - not much time and dashing off to post a potty training question about my DS!

Bump's coming along fine - not much movement compared to DS (who was very 'busy' and always letting me know he was there!) but it's still relatively early days I s'pose (17+3 today).

Got lots of double-takes at toddler groups this week, from people who have obviously just been thinking that I'd put on a bit of beef before Crimbo...ha ha!

Boobs still a bit tender; not quite ready for new bras yet; give it a couple of weeks...they really feel like they're gearing up and have done virtually since I conceived (BF'ed DS and intend to with this one) so roll on the Dolly Parton look!

Will post more later...soz - must dash! xx.