October 2016 (thread number four). Entering the second trimester.

[FuzzyOwl]

Last thread can be found here

@Climbingcheesecake I would recommend going to M&S to get measured and get some advice on what type of bras to choose. I have a great one that definitely provides me with a lot of support.

I got the check for Down's syndrome at 12 weeks but haven't received any results from it by post or call. She said everything was fine at scan and went through a few questions. Should I have received something or is it based on the measurement?

Fresh DD is 10.5 months, she will be 16 months when this one arrives. How old are yours? I am aiming to have four dc one day so hope to follow in your footsteps!

Hi all, haven't posted on here for ages so hope you don't mind me butting in! I'm due 18th of October. Just starting to think career wise what I'm actually going to do, I.e how long I feel I want to take and money implications. I'm a manger with fairly high responsibility, I love my job and couldn't even tell you the last day off 'sick' I had I'm just not someone who can imagine being at home all day. However I equally don't want to miss the valuble first months with my baby. I was thinking around 9 months leave? Is there an 'average'? Also do many other work places offer different maternity pay on top of statutory and how is it structured? Thanks in advance :)

My dd is 3, old enough to be slightly miffed that she's not getting a sister!

My older two are 16 months apart, I found that gap relatively easy TBH !

Belle with DS I took seven months - that was 6 months full pay, then 1 month SMP. I then worked two days a week and used annual leave for another 2 months, and went back to work 4 days a week when DS was 9 months - it felt like the right thing to do. I got to spend a lot of time with DS. But it was nice to go back to work and be 'me' again, if that makes sense? This time I'm planning on taking 6 months, topping it up with holiday for another month or so. At this stage in my career, I'm close to promotion and a substantial pay rise, so I don't want to take too long - once I've been promoted I'll consider going part time/part year

Angharad your DD is a couple of weeks older than mine. I would love four but think I am too old now, so will settle for three (if I am lucky enough).

Alice my paperwork from the hospital said I would get a phone call within three days if high risk or letter within three weeks if low risk. If you are past this, maybe ask your midwife?

Belle I get an advanced maternity pay on top of SMP but each company is different, so it will all depend on your individual one. I am almost at the end of my 12 months of maternity leave now (plus I will be taking a month's parental leave and acrued annual leave with DD); I intend to do the same this time.

I have heard lots of negative things about M&S bra fitting but think, as with everything, it depends on the individual concerned.

Lovely news from all the gender scans. I really should get one booked in.

Hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine this weekend. I've managed to burn my arms and get heat rash so suffering slightly and trying not to scratch. Feeling very relaxed though, especially as I finally felt well enough to do some gardening.

Belle I had 9m leave after dd was born. This time am aiming for 12, as it will mean I can be off when dd starts school. Plus I suspect life with 2 might be just a teeny bit more tiring!

Had a fab day in the sun today at a local animal park. Not too burnt as my pasty skin/freckles combo was slathered in children's suncream!

Definite bump developed the past few days, no hiding it now! 18 weeks tomorrow though so it was inevitable!

Belle I had 9.5 months after my daughter then went back 4 days but planning (if we can afford it!) Yo take the full year and holidays on the end this time as I won't be doing this again!

I took 7 months last time with a/l was good got back into work easier, debt free and ds was with his cm before the separation anxiety kicked in. This time as ds starting school in September I'm planning on the whole year otherwise will be back to work just before summer hols and would create other issues with childcare. My work pay 12 weeks full pay then 27 weeks at SMP so not particularly outstanding but having always worked in private sector is best I've ever had. Last 12 weeks will be unpaid so will have to think about how that'll happen.

You are lucky Belle that you have a job you enjoy so much. I am planning the full year off at the moment and definitely won't be returning to my current job. Depending on how I feel and our financial situation in a year I'm lucky enough to have a range of alternatives, including hopefully extending that year a bit. The worst case is that I go back into teaching but I'm hoping to avoid that as it isn't a very family friendly career!

Has anyone got to 17 weeks (slim build, first baby) and not felt any movement??

The bad taste and inability to enjoy food has finally gone away, just in time for birthday meals and impromptu BBQ this weekend. I've been feeling great this weekend, loads of energy. Telling myself it's the lovely weather and 2nd trimester effect that's making me feel so much better...

Belle mat leave and work arrangements depend on each individual family, talk to your partner and work out what's best for you both, everyone's different. I'm taking the full year, but I get additional pay at the start (public sector).

Congratulations on all the gender scan results. We'll wait til 20 weeks, but thinking of going private if baby's in the wrong position to find out gender.

Hoping I'll feel baby move when I'm lying on the sunbed in Spain this week. Been rushing around so much that I may not have noticed (I hope!).

Hi Iris. I'm also at 17 weeks, slimmish and first baby and haven't really felt anything other that the odd tickly feeling, which may not even be the baby. Can't wait to feel something, but I have read that it's quite normal not to feel movements till later (as late as 25 weeks even, or more often 20) with the first, so I hope you're not worried at all! Sunny holiday sounds lovely!

Iris I did with my last pregancy. Do you know where the placenta is because an anterior one will delay you feeling movement.

Taco I think the tickly feeling is what people are feeling at this stage. I've also heard it described as butterflies or 'snap crackle & pop' like rice crispies. I've not felt anything like that (yet).
Thanks for the reply. Hope all's going well with yours.

Thanks Fuzzy, the party was on Saturday. It went well and everyone enjoyed it. I'm glad I waited until DD asked for a party as I don't think I would have felt like all the work had been worth it if I'd done it when she was younger.

Iris, I've felt mine at 19, 15, 17 & 14 weeks and still haven't felt anything this time (almost 17 weeks). The first, third and fourth of those I qualified for consultant care because of how thin I was so I'm not convinced being thin is anything to do with it. I was really stressed out about the 17 weeks one having felt the previous one sooner but it turned out I had an anterior placenta. I think typical range for a first pregnancy is supposed to be 16-20 weeks.

Im 19 weeks now with my 2nd and don't feel anything it is another bloody source of nervousness and felt ds at 16 weeks and had expected to feel something much earlier this time. I had an anterior placenta at 13 week scan so keep telling myself that is why but still .............

20 week scan on Thursday and if they cant see gender will then book a private scan I cancelled the one I had booked for last week so hoping that they can tell on Thursday. If it is anything like DS scan it was very obvious!!!

I'm 19 weeks tomorrow, also with first and am a size 8 normally. I've not felt anything definite yet, but have developed a definite (hard) bump in the last week or so.

Wow, it is so HOT!
Anybody else struggling with the heat wave, I don't mean to complain, love a bit of sunshine, but good grief I am** warm!!!
Could murder a mojito

Fuzzy how old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm also thinking we may have to settle for three due to age (should we be so lucky to have another after this one)!

Fresh that's good to hear you found 16months gap OK. Maybe I'm being naive but I'm already so totally 'in the baby zone' I can't imagine it being that much more difficult. I already spend my days endlessly feeding, nappy changing, pureeing food etc as it is, so doing one extra for the new baby doesn't seem like it would be double the work... And hopefully soon they can entertain each other. Nothing could throw me like the shock of having my first DC, when life changed so massively. My life has already changed IYSWIM. But I realise it might be much harder than I think, depending on what sort of baby we get. DD is a dream, v low maintenance so maybe we've just been spoilt so far!

Top 2 favourite names atm are Claudia (nn Coco) and Persephone (nn Posy). Really can't decide which I prefer. Any thoughts?!

Iris I am 17 weeks with dc2, slim, know I have a posterior placenta, saw baby kicking on scan this weekend and still haven't felt anything. Didn't feel anything until 18+3 with dc1.

Angharad I am 37. My DD is also a dream and people constantly keep telling me that not all babies are like her and whilst I know this is true, I am in complete denial that I will have anything other than a second and hopefully third easy baby.

Posy is such a cute nn Angharad.

Had my midwife appointment today and really didn't like the midwife. Completely failed to ask any of my questions as she just rushed me through. Did get to hear the babies heartbeat (for about 2 seconds) though, so that was something.