May 2017 #4

[WishIWasSleeping]

Oh, obviously I do know how!

Hi all, thanks for the pregnancy yoga chat, it gave me a kick up the bum and I've booked into a class.

Hope everything goes well with people for scans and harmony tests. I paid for a second scan as bean would not co-operate the first time and DP and I had talked about what we would do if high risk/ confirmed issues. He has close relatives with serious disabilities so we have direct experience of what it can mean. I had an interesting experience on Friday night though, I was (work related) visiting some local youth groups and one was for young people with special needs. As is often the case when I go visiting, they were hands down the most welcoming, lovely and keen to show me what they get up to group of the night. There's a member with Down's syndrome who competes at a national level and I think they said she'd been to the Paralympics in Rio (I was distracted by the fast and furious game of scoot board that was going on). We're all really hoping for the healthiest little babies possible. On the one hand my job (what I've described is one of the nice bits) has made me vary wary of what having a family can mean for all sorts of reasons and I'm sure work is one reason that I'm a fairly old first timer. On the other I'm really pleased for the opportunity on Friday to have challenged myself. Sorry if that sounds clumsy, I definitely don't want to offend anyone and don't mean whatsoever to be preachy - I just saw something that made me really happy unexpectedly and wanted to share.

On a lighter note, can anyone recommend a brand of maternity leggings for short arses?

Shoney like you I am normally permanently cold but seem to have heated up since being pregnant. Only just into my winter coat - usually comes out in October!

Lots of twinges here too, especially when sneezing/coughing. Seem to have more energy these days though which is a relief!

I'm feeling a bit worried at the moment that I'm putting on a lot of weight - my tummy looks huge but isn't hard as if it's baby bump. Kind of feels heavy at the bottom too, especially when I bend or stretch. Scales are broken so I don't know exactly how much I've put on. Those of you who already have DC - when did you start showing with a proper bump? Is 15 weeks way too early?

Is it worth the money compared to just having the NHS?

I think it's worth it but then I'm 39. I suppose it depends what your decision would be if it was high risk ?

newbieho I have heartburn, moderate so far but I do wake up some nights because of it. I take Gaviscon, GP said it's safe to use. I used to mainline it in my last pregnancy and it did me no harm.

Raspberry, your explanation made me chuckle out loud on the train. I'm glad its not just me feeling 'windy' (I'm giving my husband and dog a run for their money in our house )

Did I see someone mention that M&S tights are good? I am finding my current ones are getting uncomfortable but reading reviews of some brands the mat ones can come up short and I am 5' 9" - I don't want to be waddling for longer than necessary!

Mamuska I didn't bother with the harmony test, but then I'm not a high risk, and neither is DH, nhs results came back low risk too so I don't feel it's worth us spending the money on. It's probably a 'nice to have' if it's easily affordable for you, but it still only gives you a risk ratio (albeit a more accurate one than nhs) rather than being 100% accurate so I didn't feel it was worthwhile. However if you are older, high risk (e.g relatives with a chromosomal defect) or just want a bit more reassurance and can afford it, then it's more worthwhile. It's entirely down to personal preference and circumstances

Just realised my EDD is exactly 6 months today, which is slightly scary!

Also I saw primark do maternity tights although I didn't buy any as still squeezing into my current tights, but it won't last long.

*Mamushka

That should have had a star before it to be a correction... too tired for this today!

Nurse I'm booked into Craigavon, it was there or Enniskillen but I had he first two in Craigavon and it was OK.
Newbie I was prescribed Gaviscon last time for occasional bouts of heartburn so it is definitely ok to take.
Glad you feel better raspberry, constipation can be horrendously painful!

I'm exhausted and aching from my flu jab and now worrying about the hot bath I just had. this tiredness makes me grumpy!

Thanks for the Harmony info Makes sense. I don't think I am high enough risk to warrant the expense but I can see why others would want a more accurate test.

thenervousnelly Thanks! My bump also seems to inflate and deflate depending on bloating too... It's definitely bigger than it normally would be after a big meal, but sometimes it's somehow bigger than others.

Today was my last day of having to conceal it from work colleagues, as long as the scan goes well tomorrow... I had to wear a massive cosy poncho to work, which was the only item of clothing I own that is thick and loose enough to hide the growing bump! Fortunately it was also super cosy as Mondays are always freezing in the office where the heating has been off all weekend.

Tonight my belly feels so massive and hard and bloated. I've had really awful wind as well, DH is disgusted, he's lit a citrus candle and sat near it on the far end of the sofa trying to only inhale candle fumes

Good luck with all the scans tomorrow!

I am mostly feeling cold but then wake up boiling and can't wait to get in the shower to de-sweat!

For heartburn sufferers - I can't take Gaviscon or Rennies as hate the taste/texture so I take Zantac or generic equivalent (ranitidine) which is safe in pregnancy. You can also get omeprazole on prescription if it's severe.

I'm wearing my lucky dotty pants for the scan hope they work!

Thank you everyone for the heartburn remedy list - I will pop up to Boots on Thursday. I'm not feeling great this week, hopefully it will get better.

Good luck everyone on the scans today, hope all goes well

Any recommendations for leggings for tall-ies? I'm 5'11".

FoxMulder my friend recommended the tall range in New Look for mat clothes and leggings as like me she's 5' 9" so perhaps try those? Wont be expensive either if you decide you don't like them

Mamushka what time are you?

Wow, one minute we're panicking over a new thread, the next we've nearly filled a new one! Well done Wish! Is this a sign that we may all be feeling just a bit better?

Waves at Stationary over the hills - it is nice to know there's someone else here

I had an awful day yesterday- we'd had a really nice weekend telling family the news which went really well (when I stopped crying everytime I said it out loud - hormones ) and I felt human again, then yesterday I was back to square one being sick every hour in the afternoon... and because I was so disrupted I had to keep working til after 7 to finish the thing that would normally take a couple of hours. Dissolved into a snivelling mess on DH who told me off for not eating or drinking enough (which was what I needed) and then made me toasted cheese which I promptly demolished. I think I was such a mess because after the weekend I really thought it was getting better! I felt that rubbish I didn't even open my Seraphine parcel!

Rasperry I'm glad all was ok yesterday and good luck everyone for scans today!

I get random stabbing pains when I sit in one position for too long, but since I'm getting them in my legs, arms & ribs as well as around my bump it's definitely ligament pain!

On the feeling cold, I was always cold before so was hoping that pregnancy would heat me up.... hasn't worked so far so still in multiple layers!

Barnes I thought I wasn't having any cravings until I mentioned this to DH and got the response - what about the week where all you would drink was soda and lime and now we have a cupboard full that you won't drink... and the week where you demolished the packets of cocktail sausages that you never normally buy.... So maybe you are and you haven't realised either!

Best wishes to all those having scans today. My first day in maternity tights and nursing bra today. So so comfortable.

Good luck for the scans today.

I had my scan at 9.10 - all is well! Cute wriggly baby. In the picture baby appears to be waving...

Dates about a week earlier than previously calculated, only 11+3 making it potentially a June baby... But I have a feeling the real date would be somewhere inbetween the 27th May and then.

I have to go back next week as baby refused to get into the right position for the Down's measurements! It was actually quite painful the sonographer was repeatedly poking prodding my belly really hard for about 30 minutes, trying to get baby to roll over into the best position. But at least I get another peek next week