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

oh dear sputnik! It sounds painful, tiny electric shocks...it doesn't bear thinking about esp post labour ouch. I think I'd rather be incontinent and have my Cath Kidston bag .

Hi everyone

I'm new to MN and thought I'd join in, if thats ok. Im due beginning of June and based in Manchester. (anyone close by, feel free to say hi!). I'm really glad I found this site and you all seem like you know what you're talking about!
I feel really lucky so far, apart from a bit of ms in the early weeks, I feel great, shiny hair/nails, bags of energy, seems like pregnancy agrees with me! I had the 20wk scan last week and it was so lovely, although they said the placenta was a bit low, and want to see me again at 34 wks. I posted about it on another thread and lots of ladies replied that it was quite common, so i felt better after reading that.
I've recently started to feel baby move, which is nice, if a little bizzare!
I opted not to have any bloods done for the baby, sometimes wonder if that was the right thing to do- the mw, although nice enough, kind of pushed me into making a decision about it while i was at a routine appt, and it was all too quick, so I just said no. Has anyone else not bothered with the bloods?
One thing that has kind of got on my nerves about the pregnancy, is how people keep making comments about how 'massive' I am. It's funny how your weight becomes a blatantly public issue when you're preggo, with the world and his mother seemingly free to comment! (how shallow of me!) They keep telling me I'll end up with terrible stretchmarks 'at this rate'. How rude! (shock) When do they start to make an appearance by the way?
Anyway, I realise the randomness of my post, just thought I'd say hello. Hope you're all well. x

Agree - ouch - would still prefer the nice bag.

I've now given up on nappy changing bags and have a lovely Furla Christmas pressie that is large enough for a nappy for DS2 and some wipes - what more do you need!

I was looking on M&S site today and they are still selling maternity clothes online. Was especially enamoured with the 2-pack bra for my ever increasing bust - am now a DD (was an A in the not too distant past - don't think I can blame it all on the mince pies)!!

Hi Pingu and welcome - sorry x posted. Well done on the scan. I know what you mean about the size thing - I have the opposite problem. I'm not particularly huge but people keep asking where my bump is and now I'm getting really paranoid - just another thing to worry about I guess. Don't worry about stretch marks though - I think it all comes down to genes and there's not a lot you can do about them. I have had bloods done but mainly because I've been anaemic in previous pgs - if you change your mind and want to have them done, you can always go back to the MW can't you?

Hi pingu!! lol re stretchmarks . I was rather unfortunate with dd, I didn't start really showing until about 30 weeks and was really pleased coz I had no stretchmarks. Oh my joy was to be short lived!!! I then grew really quickly into some sort of human whale. My first stretchmark didn't appear until 38 weeks, by 42 weeks (when dd was born) I had them from the tops of my boobs to my knees, I looked, and still do, like a road map!! Don't mean to scare you, coz some people don't get them at all and most aren't as severe as mine. I used to cover myself in cocoa butter, but that did nothing and bio-oil doesn't get rid of them. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do, either you'll get them or you won't. Dp says they are special and he calls them "alice marks" because alice made them and it shows that I made alice!! He's very sweet!

Don't worry about random people commenting on your bump, wear it with pride and get one of those comedy t-shirts from Blooming Marvellous! Or just tell people to mind their own bloody business! It's more depressing when you go out after baby has been born and people as you when it's due (happened to me 2 days after dd was born and the assistant in boots asked me, I was mortified!!)

annobal I have those bras from m&s, they are really comfy. I bought them when pg with dd and they are still fine after 13 months of bfing and I don't plan on buying any more!! When I bought mine in the shop they had 2 packs, one black, one white, which is useful.

Thanks for the replies- you're right about being proud of bump Holly. The thing is- I am, and not especially 'huge'. People just seem to have to say something every day, it gets sooooo boring. Anyway, my mum reckons she didn't suffer too badly with stretchmarks, so maybe that'll be my saving grace ( or am I just kidding myself?!)

Sputnik now my poor pelvic floor will never return, if it hears that I might start electrocuting it

...in actual fact, I've already purchased embarrassing things to help 'redevelop' the area which resemble something you'd find in a Soho sex shop. Yes I was that desperate. So I may just have a go with this... oh dear

Welcome Pingu. I hope you like Cath Kidston

wrt mat bras - I'm in love with Bravado. Especially good for those low on the nork-meter such as myself. Black ones for BF, definitely!!!

Welcome Pingu, you never know with the stretchmarks, I didn't get them last time, but I did give birth at 38 weeks, so maybe if things had gone on longer I might've got them like Hollyandalice. I religiously slathered myself with pure cocoa butter, shea butter, neroli and vitamin e from month 4 too, but who knows if that helped or not (smelt good though ).

Lilkel, does Cath Kidston do a pelvic floor stimulator carrying bag do you reckon? Sorry to add to your shopping list! Seriously though did any of those, ahem, devices do any good? I'm wondering as my pelvic floor isn't what it was after DD and I'm a bit worried about the effect of no.2.

Speaking of no.2, I got a huge kick in the middle of the night from him, up til now just had vague squirmings. Hope he doesn't follow in big sister's footsteps and wake me at 5 in the morning every night, she was a real wriggler, and hiccuper.

I think we should raise the pelvic floor device bag with Cath and see what she can come up with...
Welcome, Pingu - and don't worry about comments. On Saturday, someone asked my DH when I was due ; when he said June, she was shocked and said she thought I was due 'any day now'. I mean, hello? I might have a bump but it's not that big... (7.5 sheets of loo roll today, btw). personally am just pleased that for first time in my life don't have to hold in tummy
20 week scan on Friday, so hoping all's well - am getting regular little kicks, so hoping that's a good sign.

Welcome to the madhouse pingu...good to have another one on board.

Just spent the last ten mins catching up since Friday...must start logging on over the weekend.

I'm missing out on the whole CK experience, but as s elf confessed 'bag lady' I must check it all out. Expecting a DD, so flowers wouldn't look out of sorts would they? It's how to justify it to DH though....

LOL at all the pelvic floor and stretch mark comments, and aww at your 'alice marks' H&A...that is just so sweet. My DS was lying to one side, so am more stretched on the left side than the right....hoping this one will even things up a bit!! Also didn't get any till 36 weeks, and by 42 weeks was horrified. got lots on my boobs when milk came in but those have disappeared thank goodness. DH doesn't mind them thought which is good. Heaven forbid if there was ever any other man to see me naked.....with the stretch marks, the squint c-section scar (which due to increased stretching on left now have uneven ladygarden...sorry tmi), and the overhang over the scar....even I'd scare me seeing me naked for the first time !!

My hormones have been in over-drive this weekend in a scary fashion ....spent all of yesterday alternately bawling my eyes out, screaming at (literally) or throwing things at DH. Not a happy camper and hate this mad scary broad who's taken over my body. Is it cos this time it's a girl?? DH, understandably, wants me to take time out from work, but I'm too busy and know I'd only have to do it all when I got back....so no point. He started his new job today in Lincolnshire and will be away Mon - Fri. He spent last night on the sofa as I wouldn't let him in the bedroom and wasn't very wlecoming when he brought me a cup of tea at 5:30 this morning when he left...Don't know how to resolve this one...won't see him now till Friday.
But, on the upside....have decided to start maternity leave sooner rather than later and plan to stop work at the end of March, giving me two and half months to chill out. Think I need it. Eight weeks and counting!!
Maybe something flowery is just what I need to cheer myself up...off to check out the Cath website

A PS for Pingu....I decided not to have any blood tests done too. I've had two mc and knew I would continue the pregnancy regardless so decided there was no point. I'm an old bird as well, so at a higher risk of Down's, but thought it was worth the risk...did have a few moments of self doubt, like am I just being selfish and is it fair on the baby being born with Down's, but...bloods only give an indication anyway, so trying to stay positive. All looks OK on 20 wk scan, so a bit more relaxed about my decision now.
Talking to my mum....who had no scans, no bloods, no books available, and a midwife who never gave any information other than she was pregnant and babies heart sounded well. She had no idea what labour was even about till it started as women didn't really talk about it back then (yikes). It's much better to be prepared, but I think sometimes we do suffer for having access to too much information.

Ok, haven't posted for what seems like forever...

Everything going fine - had 20 wk scan last wk, and have found out we are having a boy, so will make one of each.

With regards to stretch marks - have resigned myself to never wearing a bikini again - still have lots from having dd, so don't think I will notice additional ones from this time around! DSS recently wanted to know 'what are all those purple marks on your tummy?'. Kids are just great for your self esteem.

Daisybump - giving up work at the end of March sounds great, think i will be holding on to the end of April as need to make the most of mat. pay. At least it has gone up to 9 months now, which is a big bonus!

LOL daisybump!! I'm praying that dp never trades me in, I'll never be able to pull ever again!
I didn't get any tests done either. I decided that I'd rather not know and what ever will be will be. Although I am low risk at 25 my midwife kindly pointed out that things could still happen! She also told me that about half the women she was seeing were deciding not to have the tests, so it's definately not unusual. Maybe people are deciding that they'd rather not have the information because then you have to deal with the results.

Have my 20 week scan 2 moro and really stressing. Dp has just realised he has an appt at 10 and my scan is at 9.50 and he can't cancel. Hell. I don't drive, all my friends and my parents are working and the hosp is miles away. Also can't reschedule scan as the hosp is really busy and can't fit me in another time. I spose I'll have to catch a bus on my own (well with dd in a buggy!). Nightmare.

Oh Holly, that sucks. Sorry hun. Maybe by some miracle your DH's meeting will be moved/cancelled. Pray to the Meeting Gods. I often do...

I think you lot are all very brave for not having tests done. I'm one of those people who avail themselves of every gadget, advancement, test, etc, all in the hope of appeasing my hopelessly paranoid brain. Guess I'm a sucker for modern technology and/or adverts...

ROFL at the Cath Kidston holder for my pelvic floor gadgets ... actually she does sell a little gadget holder (catalogue p.26!) DH has decided to buy me a teadress. Don't know whether to be excited or depressed cuz I surely won't fit into my old size this summer season in time to wear it? Could buy the big, big size but then will surely resemble a nicely flowered house with two legs poking out the bottom??

In my latest effort to become either Cath or Nigella, I've gone and purchased a load of craft stuff from Woolie's today (yea big spender, me). Coloured paper, glitter, glue, paints...hoping to make a valentine for DH (from DS, now 10mo). I must be bonkers.

Crisis averted, I've found a friend to take me to my scan! phew!
lilkel maybe you could wait til the summer sale to get a dress, then you will know what size you are and you can get 2 instead of one!

Mmm, I'm confused. Is anyone else planning a home water birth (or is it just me being a hippy!!)? I'm looking at birthing pools on the internet and there are loads of different ones with various kits and things. It's all mind boggling. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of them or is going to use one.

OMG I can't believe it - 7.44 and we've all just got out of bed!!! We've been the house of sickness for the last week and don't think we've had a sleep through the night for ages - but to get that PLUS a sleep in!!! Yes - I think my life is officially over - 7.30 IS a sleep in.

HollyandAlice - am also a water birth hippie planning a home birth. I'm borrowing a pool but don't really know much about them or it apart from I think the water has to be at least 50cm deep.

Good luck with the scan today.

Am a bit annoyed as I just got my blood results back and I have a UTI. I now have to have antibiotics which I hate. Anyone got any tips how to avoid??

Just thought I would drop a line on my old thread to share some news. For those who don't know I had a mc at 11 weeks at end of Nov and left this thread. Good news is, I am pg again! Did a test this morning and had a little cry. Due in Oct. Fingers crossed this one goes ok. It certainly feels more like my first pg which resulted in my DS.
Good luck to you all. You are half way there now. Will be thinking of you in June

Have to tell you about dream last night. Went to birthing centre yesterday evening (for real, not dream) and was very nice - birthing pools, dimmed lights etc - but they showed us lots of quite graphic photos which slighty freaked me out as I'm not sure my subconcious had actually registered the fact that I actually have to give birth at the end of this. So, cut to 11pm and I can't sleep at all - mind racing... finally fall asleep to find myself in dormitory full of women in labour, with midwives walking up and down telling us what we should be doing. Then I discover that we're actually on Big Brother and that viewers will vote us out if we don't do it properly... paranoid? me?!!
Still, DH came away from birth centre in awe - said he coudln't believe I was going to 'go through with the whole birth thing' (like I have a choice! Bless...) and said he'd never be able to do it in a million years.

Taichimum, that is the best news - huge congratulations, and let us know how it goes. Will be thinking of you... xx

Wow Taichimum, that is fantastic news I am so happy for you.
Everything is crossed for you and will be sending cement-mixer-loads of glue. Take care of yourself.

Congratulations Taichimum - that's great news!

PS Taichimum, I don't envy you having to go through all the ms etc all over again so soon, but if and when you feel up to it, we could do with you on the ante-natal fitness thread , maybe you could show us some good tai-chi moves

Well done Taichimum ...fingers and toes crossed for you......come and join us on the pregnant after miscarriage thread...lots of support there to get you throught the next few weeks.
Sorry..not a technofile and don't know how to link you directly to the thread.