August 2021 - Heading into the second trimester

[BertieBotts]

Old thread was about to fill up again

I will try to get to the car seat/pram Qs in a bit...

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, having a surprise! 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💛💛💛
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July) 💛
@smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep EDD 2 August, TBC 💛
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, having a surprise! 💛
@runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, TBC 💛
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, TBC 💛
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 16 August, TBC 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@northernsquirrel- EDD 31 August, surprise 💛

@Inmypjsagain

I think unless the RCOG change their guidelines work places have to abide I plan to be using A/L and mat leave from 31 weeks and plan on being fully vaccinated by 32 weeks, I do think the government are being very optimistic about return to normal by June!!!

@Inmypjsagain I think everyone will feel differently and each person is entitled to how they feel. You could talk to your employer once it’s clear and see if they’ll support you wfh.

Personally, if I could go back to normality tomorrow, I would jump at it. I’ve not enjoyed lockdown and found it really isolating as DH is at work 13 hours a day. I feel like things are lifting too slowly. But that’s just impatient me.

Hopefully there will be a happy medium or the option to stay wfh if you feel safer like that xx

Do what feels right for you

@Inmypjsagain as in feel different from one person to the next, not different to how you feel xx

Hi all,

Very excited that the shops will open but I’ll be looking to go end of April when the biggest crowds have gone and I’ll try and get a hair appointment for the first appointment of the day, I went in October and felt quite safe so would be tempted to do the same.

Regarding the normality I’m completely anxious about it, @Inmypjsagain I’d still be cautious especially with a newborn but I don’t want to passing them around for a hold which I did when my niece and nephew arrived 7+ Years ago, my parents and in the laws have had their vaccines so should have received 2nd dose but Unless concrete evidence comes out to say it stops transmission between people I’m going to be strict and will just have to deal with the fall out a later stage but definitely not one to be getting worked up over for now!

@Inmypjsagain I know was thinking that too.

To be honest I think we can all say that we want to wfh or get something to back us up from MW or something. X

Thank you all so much- interesting to see other perspectives. I think I’ve been overly cautious throughout the whole pandemic really!

Don’t get me wrong, I long to see my family, go to a pub and a shop that isn’t sainsburys!! But it seems weird no mask etc.

I’ll keep an eye on the rcog guidance and see what the updates are! I can’t take more than 2 weeks off annual leave at any one time at work, I’m due 10th august, I’ll start Mat leave on the 1st and 2 weeks prior as leave will take me to mid July.... just hope my clients won’t want to see me...!

@Inmypjsagain it's such a personal thing, so I don't think there's any right way to feel! Personally I'm completely thrilled - I don't enjoy working from home and was really worried my work might ask me to from 28 weeks but I'm hoping that this means I can get back with everyone else. I also want to socialise properly and would be sad if I couldn't enjoy the last little while of it being just me and DH with our friends and family. But I know that some people feel really differently, which is totally fine too!

@PurplePansy05 it all seems so expensive doesn't it!! I'm trying not to add up what everything might cost because it's too depressing but I'll probably have to face reality eventually...

Now counting down to going to do some non essential shopping and sitting with a (sadly non alcoholic!) drink in a lovely sunny beer garden 😎, heaven!

@Whatshouldbemyusername

And so does non essential retail! Hello John Lewis!!

YASSSSSSSSSSS! My Mum has already called me to book me in for a John Lewis and lunch date 😂

Great news about your appt @WolfMother326 😁

@Inmypjsagain Honestly I’m quite excited. My manager will continue to let me WFH, she sees me as too much of a risk (I work for social services and our service users haven’t exactly been sticking to the rules throughout..), so I think I’m more at ease because I can control that aspect of it. Hopefully your employer will be flexible in what you feel comfortable with

@biscuitcat I too am absolutely buzzing for a beer garden! 😎☀️

@PurplePansy05 I’m not tallying up to be honest because I’m scared 😂 I’m buying bits from now to spread the cost a bit. This month I’ve bought the crib (second hand), along with a breast pump, happy bin and nipple cream because Boots had an event on. I don’t like thinking about money at the best of times so doing it bit by but makes me feel like I’m spending less 😂

Perhaps you could get a GP letter advising to WFH if you are concerned @Inmypjsagain? And as others have said the RCOG guidance will still be in place and clearly we cannot be forced to be vaccinated in pregnancy or to take on this level of risk to ourselves or to our baby, this would be blatant discrimination based on sex and pregnancy.

I wouldn't worry too much, I'd speak to your employer if you're WFH now there is no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to continue for an extra few weeks. There are other options too, this could come under flexible working request or at worst you can consider an early maternity leave if you're very worried. I won't be that worried if the vaccine is given to most adults, the likelihood of catching the virus then will be very low.

Shops will be heaving but perhaps not immediately, I suspect people will return gradually.

Hairdressers will be overwhelmed. I've spoken to mine and explained I'm pregnant and whether she could put me in on a quietish day early on. She was great about it, said she'll prioritise me and will be working all hours. It's worth asking early IMO.

Thanks @HopefulB, I agree re recycling, it's so much plastic and just stuff! I really would like not to go crazy tbh. I think chatting about some lists of what we have closer to the time would be helpful as I could easily see myself becoming worried about not having this or that and questioning if that's ok. Totally support second hand with most items too and I'll be looking into that as well xx

@biscuitcat @PurplePansy05 thank you and everyone who commented earlier with such sensible advice. Think I read the lifting plans and panicked a bit, I suppose more sensible to see how things progress and then liaise with drs and hr. My boss is very supportive but hr aren’t at all- back in august they had us all back in the office at full capacity, didn’t allow any wfh even for people previously shielding. I work in London with a tube commute, so can see how trying to have a conversation about this might go down. When I told HR early on about the pregnancy they were very dismissive and said they’ll speak to me after 20 weeks when it’s viable....

Also as to costs, I’m first time but have tallied an estimated cost of about £3k too. Feels like maybe that’s too much but I’m not sure where to scrimp and where to splurge!

Sorry feel like I'm forever asking these questions girls but does anyone else keep getting shooting pains in one boob?? Todag its been really noticeable👀

@PurplePansy05 I think I only spent near £1000/1500 and that was all brand new stuff. I didn't buy a lot of the "other" stuff until after he was born to see if I actually needed it. I bought a travel system that included carry cot, seat and car seat for £500, my nursery furniture cost around £350 and then the only other things I bought were clothes, nappies wipes etc. Didn't buy any other big things I.e bouncer chair or whatever until after he was born xx

@MrsB2019x I'm unfortunately tallying up cause I need to split the savings between this and our renovation. Dread to see my bsnk balance after all this and also for the next couple of years with childcare tbh! But we'll manage, everyone makes it work.

@Inmypjsagain I'm not saving on safety or on weight (in a sense things being convenient to carry, fold, lift etc.), I want my son to be as safe as he can be and I'd rather not break my back, it's bad enough already. But yes this won't come cheap. The only thing that helps me is the thought we might have another baby so it won't go to "waste" as such xx

@lucyrp That's amazing! I'd love to spend closer to that but it's just creeping up and up. Think prices have gone up too, don't know if anyone else gas noticed? Furniture is definitely more expensive. Re breast pains - yes, my left one all the time! xx

@Carefree1 omg I love tenby. Was looking at holidays to book for mid June for us 3 before baby comes and praying we can do that. There's a lovely self catering place we went for my birthday last august that I'd love me and OH to go to again before baby arrives roo x

@Inmypjsagain from 28 weeks you shouldn't be forward facing in any role so I can't see that advice changing anytime soon, so if you can't do your job not forward facing you'll have to have other arrangements made I.e wfh

@PurplePansy05 I must admit my nursery furniture was ex display so I got a bargain there. I would honestly look at second hand furniture as it won't cost more than £500 for a full set that way. You honestly don't need everything you think you do like someone else said. You literally need the basics and if you find you do need something when baby is here then you can order it! Better than having loads of stuff you never use or use a handful of times!xx

@lucyrp my left boob often feels like someone is poking a hot pipe through my nipple. Bizarrely not my right one. Assuming it’s normal!

@PurplePansy05 going to a shop will really help with weight, so hard looking at prams online. In a bid to save costs i don’t think we’ll decorate our spare room to a nursery for a good while yet. Plan on having the baby in our room for a year so will delay buying a proper cot until it will be used.... realise I’m delaying the spending but makes it more manageable!

@Inmypjsagain that's what mines kind of like. I've noticed they've started leaking clear liquid too which I think is the beginning of colostrum x

@Inmypjsagain also on the cot front just from my point of view I found it really helpful having the cot set up in the room from the word go as I could put him down in there for a nap during the afternoon and it got him used to sleeping in his room before actually moving into there a year or so later x

@lucyrp thank you- hope it doesn’t but let’s see! Think I am prematurely panicking. Will be keeping an eye out on the Instagram account pregnant then screwed, imagine they’ll comment as they have been throughout the pandemic :)

@lucyrp sorry cross posted! Leaking boobs already? Crikey I’ll keep an eye out! Hope the boobs are less achey soon.

good point about the getting them used to their room- you can probably tell I’m paranoid but I think I’ll try and supervise naps to start with and as I hopefully relax (!!!) can get that set up. All these grand plans, watch how it all changes when baby gets here ha

@Inmypjsagain I'm also secretly hoping the advice doesn't change as it means I have to do the shit part of my job and not the part I enjoy 😂

Oh yeah definitely I understand. I don't think I did that from 6 months onwards so you do have time but its definitely worth considering! When I think about it maybe I was a bit too relaxed as a young mum as I never panicked about things like that but it might change this time round now I'm older and wiser 👀🙈

@lucyrp I am sure I will panic about everything 😬 😕 it’s my natural reaction! (Also saw your bump photo up thread and very jealous, I look like Ive had a good dinner, no sign of a bump yet)