July 2019 (thread 8): pram choices, 20-week scans, and the morning gag

[RooKangaroo]

New thread!

Sorry, don't know if someone else was planning to do this. Just noticed how close we were to being cut off on the last thread.

Mine are normally low - just the few today which were mega high! He also did one today that made me jump out of my skin - it was so forceful!

I have a mix of places. Usually just above my bikini line but every now and then they feel along the line of my belly button (which is getting rather shallow now...).

Low kicks here below belly button, I feel really round today I am sure they have moved, I couldn't reach the bar to adjust the car seat earlier and now my back hurts

Round ligament pain so strong this evening!! Baby must be having a growth spurt

Hi ladies
Just catching up... Found out we are having a girl today! So shocked as was convinced it was a boy from 13 week scan but she's a little girly! I have only gained 2.5lbs so far and don't have a bump as of yet really! feeling movements really low down on my right some evenings too. Going to the baby and toddler show in Manchester
On Saturday and hoping to order some things as so Far she has one babygrow and nothing else 😂.

Ooh jcq19 I'm going the Manchester baby show on Sunday! Hope it's good. We're having a girl too, I've got quite a few little bits but nothing proper really, just clothes and nappies. Need to get the nursery finished and decorated so we have somewhere to put everything!

Hi everyone, a lot to catch up on!

I lost a stone and a half in the first trimester so I’m now back up to the weight I was during my booking appointment. It won’t be long till I start piling the pounds on though, I can’t stop eating!!

Still no definite movement here at all. My husband thinks that I am feeling things, I just don’t realise. We can see where she is lying and can see when she has moved positions but I don’t think I can feel anything. Definitely no butterflies or bubbles as other people have mentioned. I get a lot of pressure and stretching but that’s about it so who knows what is going on in there.

Also, waiting to order our pram because we went to order the bundle from Mothercare and they didn’t have all of the bundle available. They are supposed to be ringing me when it comes in stock so I can go in and order it. We are getting the Oyster 3.

@capybaras I can regimens Sterimar salt water nasal spray - pregnancy approved and I found it really helps.

I’m having movements but mixed sensations. Had a few bubble popping ones, some tumbling, and the occasional jab. Some days goes really quiet but I tend to have every second day I think.

My movements are also low down and then occasionally mid-belly, around the belly button. Getting the odd very hard kick now too. I'd say she moves in bursts of activity around twice a day, as well as in response to sugary or caffeinated things.

Thanks for the recommendation @Yukka - will pick some up after work!

Is anyone else still a complete snack monster? I swear I'm eating every hour at the moment! Have breakfast at 7:30, snack in work at 9:30, another snack at 11ish, lunch at 12, another snack at 2ish, snack before tea and then tea! Constantly eating!! Will be the size of a house by July!

Finally managed to get hold of my midwife and she's sending my matb1 form to me which is a relief! Just need to agree the final dates then it'll all be booked! Is it bad I'm already counting down the days?!

Yep capybaras I am so hungry all the time. It comes and goes though, not been too bad this week but last week I was ravenous constantly. I've been trying to have healthy snacks, boiled eggs, nuts, full-fat yoghurt, seeds, fruit, etc. But sometimes I just need chocolate.

My movements seem to be mostly around my belly button/slightly above, on Monday she gave a big kick/punch and husband felt it - he was surprised by how strong it was! She was very active on Monday because I had drank probably too much coffee and ate a lot of chocolate oops. At the scan 3 weeks ago she was head down so bum and feet around my belly button but I guess she could have moved.

Went to my pregnancy exercise class last night, we were doing strength exercises, squats, etc. My thighs can feel it today! Need to try to do it twice a week for 20 minutes each time. Signed up for pregnancy yoga starting next month too.

Yeah I start with good intentions of fruit, nuts, yoghurts etc but it quickly descends into chocolate and crisps. Just can't get enough carbs!

Oh wow that sounds intense - I've been doing pregnancy yoga and swimming plus trying to go for a walk every lunchtime- but squats sounds hardcore!

Yes to being hungry all the time! Bit a few minutes after I've eaten I feel uncomfortable and too full, no matter how little I eat.

This whole pregnancy so far I've felt very restricted around my stomach and I hate having any tight or thick clothes on my tummy. Even tights feel too much on some days. I'm basically living in leggings and tunics, but even leggings feel restrictive sometimes. I can't go around naked!!

@Capybaras yes to snacking and not usually eating the right stuff! I just want carbs and sugar. I missed it so much during my first 14 weeks that I now want to eat everything in sight! 😂

@RooKangaroo I’m the same with clothes. I’m really struggling because it almost hurts to have anything restrictive around or under my belly. I bought some comfy, stretchy black pants from Tesco which were reduced to £7 and they are amazing. Just been wearing those with a t-shirt for work. I don’t even care that it looks like something a 90 year old would wear 😂

Finding it hard to stay caught up on this thread. Is anyone else just absolutely wrecked and ready for bed by about 5?! Genuinely considering taking my mat leave earlier than planned so I can get a few naps in toward the end!

I missed the kicks after the birth of my first child ( though weirdly at first you still think you feel them - or at least me and some friends did)

I get the odd somersault feeling low in tummy but I really do think it's because I don't have as much time to focus on bump ( sorry little one)

My bump hurt today, like an ache. Think I've been on feet too much. It was a relief to lie down on my side and it to feel supported. I'm also knackered as no nap today :)

I'm a bit achey today, but I also have quite a lot of sharp pain around my hips, butt and groin. I'm seeing the midwife on Monday to pick up my MatB1 form, so I'm going to check in with her about the pain. How's everyone getting along with their decisions about maternity leave?

We ordered our car seat tonight, so I feel like that's all the big ticket items bought now I think. I hope I'm not missing anything massive. We wanted the Cybex Cloud Z, but it hasn't been tested as compatible with pram we've chosen yet, so we've gone with the slightly earlier model of the Cybex Cloud Q Plus and it's matching isofix base. It's a relief to have another decision made.

@FuzzyPixel I handed in my letter and matb1 form last week knowing my boss would push me for a return date which I hadn’t included only my start date of 19th June. As I understand it, it’s illegal for her to ask me but I knew she would anyway. Lo and behold today she told me I have to give her a date which I disputed and she argued that she had been told by the accountant that they need to know too. She then went on to tell me how its okay for big companies to not worry about these things but we are a team of 4 and they all will be working hard, taking on extra hours just to cover me and it would be really unfair for them not to know when that will end. Today I was just to tired to fight and had some awful news from one of my clients moments before so it seemed very unimportant.
I’ve agreed to go back on 14 th March 2020 and 8 weeks notice if I want to return sooner. Very annoyed with myself now that I didn’t ask to go away and think about it but I just want the arguments over, it’s been horrible.

That's so unfair @HchyScott , yes they have to cover you but it's not like they needed a date right away ! They could quite easily have waited til you've actually had the baby a few months ! You can take up to a year if you want so I'd have just given them a date and said it could change . You're quite within your right to do that !

With my last baby I wasn't asked when I'd return. My smp was due to end the December and I told them maybe a month or so before that I wanted to take more unpaid leave (just to keep my options open ) and they were fine with it !

@HchyScott set a reminder on your phone or emails for December time or earlier or slightly later to tell them you want longer off. Saves you forgetting and getting in a middle nearer the time!

I think I'm going to take all 4 weeks annual leave in the middle of June to the middle of July and then go on mat leave from the 14th July (due date is 21st) so I have an extended break!

@ReginaPhalange89 I know that’s what’s so annoying, she’s the type of person that needs everything done yesterday and has been bugging me for dates since I was 14 weeks! It’s been a long battle with her. She’s stupid to be honest, I’ve given her a date but I can change it to have my full years entitlement as long as I give the notice so it doesn’t mean anything anyway, it’s never set in stone.
@cravingmilkshake yes definitely will do that so I’m not caught out!

@HchyScott Sorry to hear your manager is being hopeless.. I do understand that you don't always have energy to fight it though. Pregnancy is so draining and when on top of that you have to fight for your basic rights it's exhausting. I had to sit down my manager and explain antenatal appointments + getting time off for them, and it was painful. Added loads of stress to my work and make me feel really uncomfortable.

I hope she won't make your last few months difficult. If you find the energy, tell her how she is making you feel. She needs to learn and sounds like someone has to tell her. I hope you don't feel pressured to come back early in any case.

I'm torn 're when to start my leave. May go middle of June as my commute is long, is a quiet time and the dates line up nicely.

Or towards the end to get more out of it money wise as just got a promotion.

Morning all 😃

Hope everyone is ok on this yet another miserable morning!

I’m due 27th July and I’ve provisionslly said I’ll work until 14th July then use 2wks AL until baby comes. I’m on my feet all day though so if I need to change that date nearer the time then I will. I’ve provisionally said I’ll return in April but not given a date x

Quick question if anyone knows?!

I took Monday off work as sick leave - I had been in agony over the weekend and had to attend admissions at the maternity hospital on Saturday and Monday. Thought I'd lost the baby it was all round horrific 😞

Anyway I've been moved onto a stage 2 on our works absence policy.

Had time off in May for surgery and then a case of flu in November. Can one day of pregnancy related illness actually be counted towards this?! I thought it had to be recorded separately.