Dec19/Jan20 IVF Graduates - Thread 2

[Chooklass]

New thread for us all to keep in touch. Think we're all nearing the end of the first trimester or dipping our toes into the second ... how far we've come since the days of agonising over stims!

Link to old thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_clubs/3812203-Dec19-Jan20-IVF-Graduates

@FlapJackered I am still sleeping on my belly! Read that I would naturally stop when uncomfortable. I heard you should sleep on your back when your belly is visible and can press on the artery. I don't think we're there yet but check with the midwife perhaps when you talk to her next time.

My 20w scan was rescheduled just a couple of days forward and the letter says I should bring the partner! It's on 18 May. Last letter for 15 May scan didn't say this.

I've been trying not to sleep on my back @FlapJackered but also keep waking on my back! Don't think it's much of an issue until 3rd trimester but I'm trying to get into the habit.

I'm also trying and failing to stay on my side through the night! Considering buying a pregnancy pillow to get used to it now before I get huge but lots online have mixed reviews.

Well NCT now booked and paid for! At the moment it's saying it will be delivered by zoom but hoping by then it will be in person. Mine is quite early because I had to either chose a mid Sept to mid Oct or mid Oct to mid Nov due dates class, and I figured I'd rather be last then first!

Those leggings look ace @DobbieFreeElf and @Lily999....I don't suppose either of you are short though are you? I'm only 5"1 so trousers I order online never fit, and the way those gather in the picture around the model's ankles I think they must be quite long?

I bought a pregnancy book which says you should stop sleeping on your back from around week 14. But - it also says people always move in the night and don't be alarmed if you wake up on your back. Apparently the way you fall asleep is the position you are in for the longest, so that's all that you need to really worry about.

Hope today went well @FlapJackered
@October2020 - your results are amazingly low! Don't think I have heard of someone getting as low as 28,000-1. Brilliant 😊

@Viletta hopefully it will be face to face by then but to be honest it was the WhatsApp group in the early days (and long long nights) that was the saviour. We only started doing lots of stuff and establishing long term friendships after all the babies arrived. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think that the birthing lessons were fabulous, a bit rose tinted, and 3 out of 5 ended up having c sections! But I learnt some stuff and like I say, it was worth every penny to meet our now best friends! 🤣

@FlapJackered only need to worry about side sleeping (left side specifically!) when the weight is heavy enough to decrease circulation. But I did ask my midwife about it in my last pregnancy and she said “if you move and are asleep on your back you would most likely move subconsciously before there was an issue”. It was a definite, don’t worry too much about that answer!

@October2020 I can’t wait to dig out my pregnancy pillow, beware you will never want to let it go! Mine is just a long long one, I think I bought it on groupon for not much money and I loved it. Once it’s in the bed though there’s very little room left for DH, once he asked me whether I wanted to share the bed with him or the pillow... I didn’t answer to save hurting his feelings!!!

@Wimbledon1 they are quite long, I normally take a longer jean and these do still bunch around the ankle but to be honest I’ve bought a size up and I’m only using them at home or out on walks so it doesn’t bother me!

Hope everyone has a happy Sunday!

@Wimbledon1 I am 5ft 8 and took a picture maybe this helps? The model for some mysterious reason is standing on her toes on every single photo so it could be misleading. Xxx

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend, I can't get enough of it! :)

@Lily999 you've got a lovely bump here!

I have my eyes on a very expensive pregnancy pillow bbhugme. It has great reviews and should feel like a yoga holster that I love at my yoga classes. Can be used to help breastfeeding too. I think I'll only buy it when or if sleeping becomes uncomfortable. I am a tosser and DH would not appreciate me throwing the massive pillow around at night.

Found a cute and easy baby jumper knitting pattern / YouTube video if anyone is interested.

@October2020 makes sense about the WhatsApp group! I'll subscribe to a class after 20w scan.

@Viletta I have my eye on that one too I too have told myself I can't buy it until I'm in pain! Also fell in love with the Mokee moses baskets - trying to convince myself we probably don't need one full stop!!

Is anyone 'feeling' pregnant? Apart from my bump (which could easily be bloat) and feeling sick in the afternoon, I don't feel any different at all. When I poke my stomach I can't feel anything (no hard ridge like google describes although I am overweight) and nothing else at all really.

Trying not to let the anxiety overwhelm me that there is something wrong. I know I have no reason to believe anything has gone wrong. Just worrying myself.

£140 for a cushion 🙈

I may have just ordered myself a Theraline original pillow. The bbhugme looked amazing but couldn’t bring myself to spend that. The Theraline was recommended on Mumsnet www.mumsnet.com/reviews/maternity-pillows

My bump has definitely become noticeable now but when I weighed myself this morn I’m only 2lbs more than booking in so guess I must have put on weight in the bump but maybe lost it elsewhere? I’ve actually felt quite good - finally 2nd trimester relief - and managed a run or walk each day. Think not being at work and being home in nice weather has left me with more energy to exercise than if I’d been teaching all day.

It’s a bit late but hello @October2020 glad you found us!

Oh god pillows weren't even on my (very long!) list of things I need to buy. But yes good point. My DH question - out of confusion, not tightness - of "can't you use one from the spare bed" I don't think is going to work is it!!

Thanks @Lily999 - hmm, so you have seven inches on me and they fit you perfectly. Think that'll be a no for me, but imagine there will be short-arse alternatives, I'll have a look out later.

@October2020, honestly, no I don't either. Although I massively touch wood, have had a very easy pregnancy and had close to no symptoms even in the first trimester so now being in the second it's not surprising. I called the midwife the other day about my weight issue and he asked "do you still feel pregnant though" and that scared me a bit because the answer is no!! But the fact we are both feeling like that is probably a good sign. Late miscarriages are rare at about 2% and missed ones even rarer. And then for both of us to have it....seems much more likely our bodies are just a bit slow to swell out and all is fine in there 😊

@Littlelot I have the Theraline! We have named him Pierre. He's amazing! Only just started using it but it's so comfortable. Not much room for DH with it in the bed though. 😂

@DobbieFreeElf @October2020 I know £140 for a pregnancy pillow is ridiculous. I planned to buy it second hand but with pandemic it probably won't happen. Unless I'm in pain or can't sleep I would not bother I think. On the other hand after all the IVF expense I want to treat myself. Will let you know if I end up getting it.

I don't feel pregnant at all. I haven't had any morning sickness or lots of symptoms in the first trimester either. My only symptom is occasional sensitive / soar breast, round ligament pain when I stretch. Ivan still fit into my regular jeans and gained around 2kg. I think it's fine though according to the weight chart for my BMI. Also second trimester is supposed to be easy.

@Viletta honestly I’d go for the £12 on Wowcher and upgrade if it doesn’t work for you. That’s the one I have and I would have swapped it for DH in my last pregnancy! 🤣

I’m feeling nothing but fat at the moment! Totally “normal” but like I’ve been eating all the pies!

Are you all finding that your urge to wee has subsided slightly? And your thirst? I’be not woken for a week for a few days now and my thirst isn’t unquenchable, as it has felt for the last few weeks. I was expecting not to need to wee as much but I can’t remember being less thirsty moving into the second trimester...

Good morning Ladies! Hope the weekend was good for all of you. :)

A pillow! Just realised there ae so many things I didn't even think of... Do you think it would be a good idea to share shopping lists or is that silly?

@FlapJackered I am also trying to sleep on my side, but I also turn a lot when I sleep, so no idea whether it's working or not :)
As for the joggers I ordered grey ones as well because now I can't wear anything else but them and my PJ's.

Thanks @Viletta TBH I wasn't sure if it's a bump or the bloat, but getting more and more convinced it's the baby now. :)

@October2020 just realised we are on the same timeline here, what is your EDD?

Signed up for NCT, didn't realise they are so pricey when received the final sum was a bit surprised, but I am sure it'll be worth it. I have a feeling the one we were supposed to go is full as it came up with a course that starts on the 7th of September, should still finish before the baby comes though and it is showing as face to face instead of online.

Wanted to ask anyone else desperate to feel the movements? I know it is early as I will be on week 14 in 2days time, but strangely I can't wait to feel some sort of connection if it makes sense.

@Lily999 I'm due 19.10 but I highly doubt we will get that far - I'm at high risk for preterm labour and it has to be a csection. In my head I've got end September/beginning October! :) I'm 14 weeks exactly today.

Shopping lists would be good. I've been trying to look at prams etc but it is SO CONFUSING. Makes me realise how much I don't know about babies!

I'm really glad nobody else is feeling particularly pregnant - reassuring me that nothing has gone wrong. I am desperate for movements too so that I can be reassured by that!

@DobbieFreeElf I'm definitely less thirsty but still getting up for a wee every single night. Driving my poor husband mad!!

@Lily999
I have a shopping list in my head for now. Really want to try prams before buying but set me eyes on an expensive cybex priam that I want to get second hand. Apart of that I was thinking to just get essentials, like newborn onesies, cardi, blanket, sheets, hats, nappies, muslins, bath chair, next2me cot, a Moses basket for downstairs. I’ve finished my first jumper yesterday and it felt quite emotional for both DH and myself.

When is your harmony test? It’s definitely better to put your mind at piece and would be worth it!

Another though I had is to try natural birth with no epidural. I’ve paid so much money for this experience would be silly not to feel it 100% 😂😂😂

Also does anyone have dogs? I’ve got a well loved very needy French bulldog that doesn’t like children and babies. She sleeps with us at the moment, I was thinking of training her to sleep downstairs before birth and putting barriers to make sure she and the baby are not in the same space. She doesn’t mind sleeping in the guest bedroom that would be eventually baby room. Hard to get my hear around what is best for the dog to make sure I train her before she get the baby bomb.

OMG @Viletta that is adorable! I was considering knitting, unfortunately I am still working full time and we are super busy as I am working in the pharmaceutical business and get so tired by the end of each day, but hoping my energy levels will come back up soon now that I am officially going to be in the second trimester on Wednesday morning ( 13+5 today).
Your list is great thank you, I do feel unprepared and clueless. Harmony test is provisionally booked for the 9th of May and I have my 16week appointment with the midwife on the 6th of May. Exciting times!

@October2020 my EDD is 20.10.20 :) Why are you at risk for preterm birth? How can they tell you that this early? Is it due to the PAPP-A? Because it was mentioned to me as well, but then they said oh, not really as they have never actually seen babies come early due to that so I kind of dismissed it.

@DobbieFreeElf I too still get up 2-3times each night, but I can go back to sleep easily now, maybe adjusting. Still thirsty as well, wouldn't mind if the urge would subside a bit..

@Lily999 no don't worry, we knew about it before we started IVF - I have an abnormality in my uterus/cervix so baby will run out of space at some point and won't be able to make it out through my cervix.

I've actually got no idea what my PAPP-A is nor what it does. I should probably check that at some point.

Thanks @october2020 so that's different. Don't worry about your PAPP-A they have checked it when doing the Down screening, would have told you if it was low. Due to this I will have more growth scans during the third trimester to monitor the baby.

@Viletta did you offer to share a link for a knitting video for baby clothes? I'd love to have the one you used. :)

@Viletta that's so gorgeous!! 😍 I am knitting a blanket but that's on hold while I knit gifts for two other babies!

My sister in law has kept lots of my niece's baby stuff for us which takes away the decision making! So we already have a pram/ car seat/ buggy system, cot, travel cot and all the gear for cloth nappies! We're being offered hand-me-downs from other friends too so don't think we'll have to buy much 👍

We also get a baby box from the government in Scotland which has lots of lovely things in it ❤️

Oh @Chooklass that's amazing, I just remembered you knitted as well :) You are so lucky with the hand me downs, we have a few big bags of baby clothes from my sister luckily both for girls and boys, but the big stuff we didn't take as back then we lived in a small flat and had no space to store it.

You got a baby box? That's very nice, do you think it's for everyone or did you have to request it?

Not got yet, think we register for it through midwife in 3rd trimester. Every baby born in Scotland gets one ❤️