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

Taichi, wow, that is just wonderful news...thank you so much for sharing it with us!!!! It is sad when others leave, and we never get to hear about their later successes!! Fingers crossed for you & buckets of glue too!!!!

UTIs - I have had my share (blech). What seems to work for me is clearing out my bladder straight after a bed session with DH (sorry if TMI) and I mean doing it quickly once you've finished, and cuddling afterwards! Also ditched my g-string pants and only wear cotton now. If I got a little niggle, I took cranberry capsules for a few weeks to boost things a bit.

Birthing pools - I was looking into this for my last birth as I was going to bring one with me to hospital. Sadly, I never got close to using it as my birthing pains (contractions) were too painful. I rang my labour ward at my hospital and just asked them for some advice and they were very helpful. HTH!

That's great taichimum, hope all goes well!!

Had scan this morning, it's blue. I think the sonographer (is that the right job title?) thought I was a mad woman! My friend couldn't come in with me, only drop me off and pick me up so I had to go in with just dd. She was a nightmare and was screaming most of the way through, had to placate her with sultanas! I was feeling a bit lonely and vulnerable and was in tears before the sonographer had done anything! She was really sweet and kind. When she told me it was a boy I just dissolved into floods of tears. I felt really silly and selfish because everything was ok, but I was just so desperate for another girl. I spose the reason is is that dp already has 3 boys from a previous marriage and they come and stay with us every other weekend. They are so horrible and I dread every weekend they come. I feel like such a cow for feeling this way, but I can't help it.

Ok gonna stop moaning and crying now, pull myself together and be thankful for what I have. At least I can buy loads of new baby clothes now! Sorry for whinging!

Big hugs HollyandAlice - sorry it's not what you wanted. I think you should placate yourself by going and buying loads of lovely blue things xx

Thanks annobal, I'm just being silly and hormonal I think. I am really happy everything is ok and when I read other threads about people having problems with their babies and miscarriages I feel really lucky. I think it's coz dp isn't here and I need a hug! x

Hello - Can I join you? I am due 12th June with a little boy. I've just been trawling through the previous messages (phew there is a lot!) and wanted to say to babymonster that I am rhesus negative too and had the anti-D injections with my first baby. Just to reassure you - they are not that bad - I ended up having five injections in the end as I had a little scare at 20 weeks and so had to have one then and also after I had an ECV. They are really nothing to worry about, I'll be getting them again this time and am not at all worried!

Congratulations to Taichimum - what great news!

Holly, it's ok to feel disappointed...it's hormones and sure you're lonely, but we sometimes just have hopes. When I was told DS was a boy it took me a good couple of months to get used to it. I was afraid like you of having nightmare boy behaviour (my sister in law has two absolute Terrors!!!). I have been pleasantly surprised over & over again with my DS though. If you show yours lots of love and affection, I'm really sure that is what you'll get back. Mine gave me a real hug today, it made me want to cry (with joy) And it may help to read things like How To Raise Boys which gives you some clues into their developmental particularities. Chin up!

That all being said, this time round I'm expecting a girl (well 90% sure anyway) and that is actually terrifying me more at the mo! I remember what I was like at 14 and Gawd it was awful... need I resurrect the Madonna look again to refresh your memory?

Hi ellietv and welcome, we're all v friendly, if a little mad (and obsessed with Cath Kidston!).
Thanks lilkel, I'm feeling much better this morning. I spose it'll be quite cool to have one of each! Lol at the Madonna look! Our daughters will probably dress like that, these things go round in a cycle!!

LOL at the Madonna look. Think I shall reassure myself with that if mine is another blue (2 already). Don't worry Holly&Alice - your reaction is totally natural and it doesn't mean that you won't love and cherish your LO. My 2 are so affectionate - always sitting on my knee and cuddling.

Think I'd prefer Madonna to The Smiths though, or Metallica (which DH is still obsessed with). Ah well - there's always boarding school

Oh God, Madonna... And that's not all. Girls are so much more critical - I remember turning my nose up at everything my Mum did for a good few years as a teenager. Boys are a lot more straightforward. If you have one of both you've got the best of both worlds (remember, too, that little girls love their Dads; boys adore their Mums, so you'll have a fan for life...) And don't beat yourself up for feeling disappointed. Like Lilkel and Annobal have said, a lot of it wil be hormones and when you're expecting one thing, to find out it isn't can be a real shock. I heard a story about a couple who'd been told they were having a boy; when the baby was born, it was a girl and it took them weeks to adjust - the mother found it really hard to bond with her daughter initially because she'd been talking and 'bonding' with a boy for nine months...
BTW, pregnancy wardrobe update - sister gave me a pair of (used) Isabella Oliver pregnancy trousers on Sunday and I'm in love. I think they're about £50 to buy new but my God, they are worth it - I haven't been so comfortable since getting pregnant, and they look gorgeous too - it's like wearing pyjamas but you look like you're wearing elegant black trousers. Have worn them every day so far and can't see myself taking them off, so had I bought them I'd consider them good investment. End of advert - it's just that I've tried all the maternity ranges and I've found them all so depressing I coudln't bring myself to buy anything (hence sister stepping in; naked pregnant woman is not a good look ).

Welcome ellietv, hope you are well and that you have had a good pg so far.
holly....good news that everything OK from the scan and don't worry about your reaction, those pesky hormones have a lot to answer for. No doubt struggling ith your dd didn't help. DSs are lovely...mine can be a little monster sometimes, and is a veritable muck magnet, but he is generally adorable, and coming from a family of three girls and one boy, I can say that the bond between mothers and sons seems much stronger than mothers and daughters (so much so between my mum and my bro that if he murdered someone she would probably say they deserved it !!) We found out this one is likely to be a DD and I'm thrilled to be having one of each, although dreading the temper tantrums....neither my ds nor any of my friends ds had them, but all the little girls I know like to throw themselves onto the ground for effect. It's quite bizarre.
Still we are beariing in mind that they do often get it wrong...mistaking the cord for tackle or tackle hiding etc...and won't be rushing out to buy the shocking pink paint for the walls just yet!

On a different note.....my Cath Kidston catalogue should be winging it's way to me as I type . I'd def spend £60 on the changing bag, but DH might have something to say about that....maybe I can convince him it would make the perfect Mother's day present....and it's cheaper than the Radley bag I have my eye on at the moment...

oh and Daisybump, don't forget it's Valentine's Day soon. I managed to convince DH that I deserved the Frame Bag (in lieu of floral tea dress)...anyone else need excuses?

Does anyone else feel "blooming" yet???

Actually I'm feeling quite blooming - about bloody time!! I think partly it's the iron I'm taking - was really run down and tearful but when my mum got me taking iron I felt better immediately - and partly the fact that am feeling 'properly' pregnant - unmissable bump, squirming bean inside... whereas before I just felt fat, overwraught and knackered. Plus I have my new stretchy trousers that don't dig in, or make me feel like a frumpy old woman. Am going to enjoy it while I can... I gather that once we all hit third trimester it's back to being knackered, tearful and overwraught again...!!

I just feel fat, albeit with squirming bean, so that bit is good...

What kind of iron supp are you taking? Perhaps I should invest in some.

I dearly hope this 3rd trimester is not like my previous. I was ready to pop by 35 weeks, and had given over completely to track suit bottoms by then!

I think they're called Spa Tone - you can get them from the chemist or supermarket and it's in sachets rather than pills so your insides don't solidify (sorry, tmi? Iron can be a nightmare for the digestive process but these sachets don't have that effect...) You just mix one with orange juice and it gives you all the iron you need for the day. I didn't realise, but if you take iron/eat foods with iron at the same time as dairy products, you don't absorb it properly so it's really easy to get low, particularly as your body's producing so much more blood. I had no idea I was low but as soon as I started taking it I felt a million times better.
Re. feeling fat, I find that sticking my stomach out as far as it will go is great - firstly it's something have spent my whole life NOT doing, and secondly it just reinforces that whole 'no, I am not fat, I am MAKING A BABY HERE' sentiment that is sometimes hard to vocalise

Mmm maybe I need to purchase some of that iron, I keep falling asleep on the sofa (maybe that's just me being lazy!). I'm also a veggie so prob have low iron anyway. Haven't had any blood tests yet to check iron levels because my midwife won't do them at the surgery. She said I need to go to the hospital to get it done. Is this wierd? With dd I was at a different surgery and the midwife took my blood.

Blimey and here I am chowing down on Special K and Alpen thinking I'm chock full of iron - didn't know the milk would be an issue Will have to check this stuff out. I seem to end up at the chemist at least once a day now anyway... today we ran out of saline drops for DS nose. Poor dear.

(yeah I know you can make your own saline but frankly I did once and was too paranoid about it being sterile enough, and it's just much easier to have it already in the dropper).

For those building up the ultimate medicine box for your new bub, add saline drops and a nose suction to your Calpol and Calgel...

My iron levels were fine at the last blood test yet I still feel soooo tired. If I took spatone on are there potentially any problems with having too much iron?

Hi bump! No, not as far as I know. And Spa Tone states on the packet that it's safe for expectant mothers. I feel like I'm pushing iron on everyone now! But before I took it I felt drained, tearful and irrational (me?!) plus everyone kept telling me how pale I was... my bloods were fine at my last check too but that was eight weeks ago, so I guess things can change in that time. And now the colour's back in my cheeks, literally and metaphorically speaking. (Lilkel, I was the same - I thought Shreddies would provide everything I needed. Pah.)

marylou- does it taste yucky?

Must keep up with posts its difficult to remember who said what when you leave it a few days.

Anyway, welcome to newbies (Pingu, Ellie and anyone else), echo H&A we all seem to be raving nutters on here - but are really quite harmless and friendly! All very respectable in 'normal' life when not prg!

YUK YUK YUK YUK - Is it me or did anyone else see Kirsty's revolting maternity outfits on Relocation, Relocation????? Am very disappointed in Kirsty as although she does wear so v.hideous combinations have always had respect for her very individual taste and admired her carrying off a 'womanly' figure too. But oh dear! I do think prg hormones have taken over here. Or is it just me and are you all going to me that she looked very funky?

H&A Glad to hear that scan went well. I can completely understand re the sex issue. I have DD too and would also like to have another, I just can't help thinking it. Dont know why it just pops in there. However, I don't think that we will be finding out the sex at my scan next wed as DH has his mind set not to. And, although I usually get my way I don't think I will be on this one. So got to gear myself up to thinking maybe blue maybe pink and buy lots of white babygros!

On the stretchmarks front my DM had three us and has no stretchmarks! But however, I do had some since teenager and developed a few more in later stages of prg with DD. My SILs sister is a fitness fanatic and a very taut size ten and jogged (yes jogged) on her running mc all prg and has horrendous stretch marks. This is her second and had them from 1st but apparently she had stretch marks ontop of strechmarks that actually split and bled!
My (probably misguided) theory is that if she didn't keep herself so toned throughout she might not have had that prob? Dont know? Maybe? So I opt for the 'comfort version' and do a little exercise nothing strenous and eat a bit more than I would normally...... (tut tut any excuse!)

Really need to get ready to take Dd swimming............

PS Cath update - Think that after considerable hinting my two DBs have clubbed together and got me a Cath hospital bag for my bday!!

Also had a thought in the night (couldn't sleep - restless legs already! ) - Do you think Cath and Nigella invite Kirsty Allsop to their parties they sort of go together don't you think!? God! This is mad! Its like Fantasy Homemakers!!

Totally with you on Kirsty's outfits. Tent was the word that sprung to mind. SHocking behaviour.
Re. Spa Tone (and I really am going to get in touch with them and demand some commission here), it tastes a bit metallic, but if you dilute it with orange juice you can't taste it and also the vit C means you absorb it even better.
Yay on the Cath Kidston bag - have definitely got my eye on the weekend one as my hospital bag. And the nappy bag. And the chairs for the garden... This is why I don't allow myself to go to the website - I become a woman possessed. I'll be carting my baby around in a cardboard box because all our money went on pretty bags with flowers on them

hi all - just had a major idea I can make a sling from Cath fabric!! whoo hoo! Oh now I am excited! Quickly someone please reprogramme my brain before I think of calling DD-to-be "Nigella"...

In meantime, been trying desperately to decide on a pair of "i'm pregnant and too big to tie my shoes in the Spring" shoes. Anyone else having this issue?

So far I've settled on silver Birkenstock sandals like these .

Also tempted to get a pair of flats by French Sole for slightly cooler days Like these olive ones or these tan ones or God help me these in platine . Opinions??

Shoes without laces. Had not even thought about that. But of course, makes so much sense. And love the French Sole shoes - I think a pair in every colour seems appropriate...
Friend at work has warned me against birkenstock type shoes - she said she wore them all the way through her pregnancy and her feet spread and she never got them back to their pre-pregnancy size. She recommended wearing tight stilletos constantly to keep them in check. Or Chinese feet binding.
How about Cath Kidston fabric feet binding? See how this opens up a new world of opportunity?
Okay, I'm going to stop now. But love the sling idea.