November 2018 #3

[olderthanyouthink]

Ante-natal thread for babies due this November, continued...

Stats spreadsheet is here - add and update yourself as needed!

I did NCT twice. The first time I was the youngest at 30, but age didn't seem to matter. I found the friends I made an absolute life saver in those first few months.
Then with my second I did refresher NCT as I'd moved areas. I did it solely for the people. It was good, and I made one good friend, but to be honest as we all had other children we found it hard to meet up with pickups, nap times etc. It wasn't a negative experience, but I got a lot more out of it the first time!

I spoke too soon! I just puked my guts up at my in laws and they haven't said anything but it was difficult to be subtle "just popping to the loo!" (runs there, stays in making gagging/puking sounds for 10 minutes)...

Have struggled to make my mind up about the NCT. I think the information is variable, some of the instructors seem to have an agenda which leaves parents badly misinformed. I might struggle to bite my tongue. I've already managed to slip into "obnoxious lecturer mode" a couple of times in this group, just can't seem to help myself!

But on the other hand it might be a really good group, and a good way to make friends. I do live in a rural area which might mean I don't mean anyone nearby. I think the deciding factor for me is my job means I probably wouldn't be available to go to half of the sessions anyway so I'm not going to do it, save the cash. Would be really interested to see how it pans out for those of you who do go!

I'm undecided about NCT too, the classes do seem very expensive and the quality/ attitude dependent on the leader from what I've heard. I'm looking at Daisy birthing classes which have a branch local to me and I've heard good things.

I did daisy birthing with my first and really enjoyed the mix of hypno birthing and practical information. Plus it was cheaper than NCT and I didn’t have to take DH Who hates enforced friendship making!! I also went to pregnancy yoga and the girls I met there I’m still friends with 8 years later. With my second I didn’t bother with anything except pregnancy yoga but that wasn’t so much from a friends point of view more from a connecting with baby thing. This time I plan on pregnancy yoga again from a relaxing point of view then I’ll probably hit up the baby groups and see. But I’ll have so much going on with school and Nursery with the first two it’ll be a different experience. I’m relying on you guys really as my support network!!

I loved the NCT classes. We did an intensive one so about 8 sessions over 12 days. Our leader was lovely and covered all options/eventualities. All of us (age 27-37 but most of us were 31). We all got on well and met up at least weekly until some of us went back to work. We still WhatsApp a lot and meet up when we can (some still meet weekly). I see a couple a nursery drop offs etc. It was such a great support (& still is). When I had my mc in Jan, they visited, bought flowers, sent cards etc. I wouldn’t be without them! I didn’t really know many people in this area before NCT though!

I didn't do any antenatal classes last time but I did a baby yoga class from 2 weeks post partum and am still friends with the mums from there. Hoping to do similar this time and preg yoga as I'm in a new area so need mum friends whilst on mat leave! That mush app sounds good too.

Home from holiday today, totally exhausted but no more bleesing. Scan in t minus 2 days, just got to keep a lid on bad thoughts until then!

I'm definitely feeling movement, as I type? Anyone else? I'm 13+6 with my third so may be a bit ahead of others but I'm definitely feeling it.

@GreenMeerkat 12+3 today and definitely have been feeling movements for the past week or so. It's my second. So knew I'd feel things earlier but didn't realised it'd be this early!

I’ve been feeling movement too, I’m 13 weeks today!

Forgot to say it’s my second too!

I think I’ve been feeling flutteryness too! I have my scan tomorrow (should be 12+2), excites / nervous over here!

Hello! I'm 12 weeks today, due 11th November and we have our scan on Thursday, so the date might change a bit.
This is our second, our first will be 6 years old by the time bump arrives.
I did NCT the first time around, to be honest we only did it for the friends and I am so glad we did. The other mums were much needed friends in the early days. Someone always had something that wasn't going well, which made you feel better about what was going wrong for you! I am still in touch with 3 of the 4 mums ( one fell off the grid for all of us) and one is a very close friend now, and we all still try to get together in the holidays. If you can do it I would highly highly recommend it. Not for the ante natal classes but the friends!!

A bit of movement here too but not definite for the last couple of days. Trying not to overthink it (I’m 13 weeks today with 2nd).

I downloaded the mush app, looks really good so thanks for the recommendation @Sarahhh1984. Not many pregnant people on it at this stage but I think I’ve decided to do the pregnancy yoga and see how it goes. Much cheaper than the other options too!

Welcome @Sabulous!

Yep little flutterings here too! Only 11+4 but 3rd baby

Welcome @Sabulous I also have my scan on Thurs and due date currently 14th Nov DD2 is currently 6 nearly 7! Eldest DD is 10. It all feels so new again!

@greenmeerkat I'm getting flutters, especially evenings and when I get in bed. I'm 14 + 2 with number 3 so I'm not surprised!

Yes movement here too and approaching 15w.

Did NCT first time and in my 30's was one of the youngest. But whilst I'm in touch with my group still I haven't seen them for 2 years! Some groups with other friends I know are still very close though but you just can't predict how a group will be. The content of NCT was very disappointing imo and focused on knowing your rights and pushing back on interventions and avoiding pain relief which whilst was useful knowing, it wasn't practical. Didn't cover induction, c sections, put more emphasis on not using pain relief than using it, (which was crazy as every woman and birth is different and they'd have been better off covering it all without what seemed a "hidden agenda"). Three of the group ended up with c sections too and we were all would have been vastly unprepared had we only used NCT as our guide. Also the talk about breastfeeding was very idealistic, even for those that found it very easy, they still came up against hiccups not covered. I'd say if you do it then just keep an open mind and read around the topic and just hope you get a good group!! I'd have still done it if I had my time again, but was just unlucky we didn't all bond like some groups. I'm considering a refresher this time as that seems to have mums on 2nd or subsequent babies and just ignore any content (planning a c section...) but the refresher time of the course is really tricky in comparison to the others and because my DD will be at school then it's kinda like being a first timer again and there seems to be less with gaps like mine and I would do it so I know people to go to groups with and coffee but then maybe the first timers won't want a second timer in their midst! Haha! Dilemma! I'd do NHS antenatal course if you're offered it too though (mine doesn't now), every opportunity to meet others! I met most of my friends via a children's centre course all with babies born in the same month and still see them all, we all lived in the same area and all very sinilar personalities which I think was where my NCT group fell down as several lived outside my town. Oh and of course my mumsnet group from the first time, totally don't know how I'd have navigated the first few months without having that support!! I've heard Daisy Birthing is fab, they've stopped the one near me but it's supposed to be good content!

Wow that was long, sorry!

Yep 12 weeks here and flutters for about a week or so. It's my second, I felt dd quite early at around 15 weeks so I was expecting earlier! It's been a nice reassuring surprise.

@nightmanagerfan lovely to hear from you. Glad it went ok. I hope recovery continues to be ok. Sending my best wishes for all the best for the future.

This is my first time pregnancy - when do you all think I'll be feeling flutters?

@Magpie24 I was around 17/18 weeks with my first

Oooo all of you lot feeling flutters already that is so exciting. I hope I feel early, I think I’d be much more reassured. Only 10+2 though so probably a while to wait yet.

magpie with my first I didn’t feel anything until about 21 weeks. But as soon as I did it was constant. It felt like a long wait to feel something. I mean I’m sure I did but I had no idea what the feeling was like and didn’t recognise it. I also had a placenta that meant that my feelings were less sensitive so don’t worry if it’s not early. With my second I felt it earlier on as I knew what I was looking for. This time I’m on the look out for it!!!

@Magpie24 With DD I started feeling them around 16 weeks but it can differ for everyone. Think it can be up to 20-odd weeks for some women.

@Saraswati

Glad things have settled and are a bit more reassuring for you. Is your scan tomorrow? Good luck!