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 💛

For anxiety you could actually try some hypnobirthing exercises. They are just breathing exercises really. They're meant to be good to practice before the birth so you could kill two birds with one stone!

@Magik01 oh wow! Personally I couldn't bare to be at home for any time before baby comes so I've just booked two weeks holiday for the fortnight before my due date and requesting my mat leave from my due date but hoping to pop baby out 10 days early like my first so I'll hopefully work up until like 2/3 days before the birth the same as last time 🤣 to be fair I actually lost my job when I went on maternity last time too but it was because the company went bust and I was on 0 hour contract so had no redundancy or Anything it was rubbish

@ElonaWise I’ve got headaches almost every morning that I wake up.

Re anxiety I agree with @PurplePansy05 and @BertieBotts with everything they have said. Remember to be kind with yourself and celebrate small wins/successes. You are growing a tiny human and it’s marvellous. We are all a small mums community here so please feel free to reach out as well.

Another tip is when you feel overwhelmed take a moment and take 3 deep breaths focussing on those and list three things at that moment that have gone well that day and that you’re grateful for. It always works.

It will all work out babe. Loads of us are first time mums and it’s normal to feel a certain way when a lot is going on in the background with personal life and work and health. Just remember that it’s ok and be kind to yourself x

I can't wait to open my hypnobirthing book - I think that's a very good point that it might help earlier on too 😊 xx

I saw this this morning, how timely 😊 If anyone is struggling with something today 💐 xx

Welcome @lovelsa, there’s a list somewhere to add EDD too if you’d like?

Morning all!
Interesting chat re weight gain, my bmi was >25 Pre-preg, so glad to have lost slightly in 1st trimester (and def don’t need to put on the average 4kg fat reserves). I was wondering when the gains would start. One of the books suggested 0.5kg(1lb)/week in 2nd trimester, and to contact MW if no gain in a 2 week period.

One of the benefits of NHS is rather generous AL, I’m just working out how to use whole years allowance before end of Aug, as we can’t carry over. I’ll book all of August. Take a weeks holiday in June (cottage somewhere to go walking so we don’t mix with anyone), thinking it may be good to use a day a week through June and July to go 4 days a week? (I don’t have a physically demanding job, but it is stressful). What would those who’ve experienced 3rd trimester suggest?

@HopefulB I’m with NHS too and loving that I need to squeeze all my annual leave in 4 months 😀. I’m planning to do 3/4 weeks days for the last month. I quite struggled with the last month in my last pregnancy but I did travel a lot and quite long distances. Won’t be doing it this time as we won’t be going back to office till September, but like yours my role can be very stressful and demanding.
We will be going for a one week break in June (the other side of the uk from us).

@HopefulB@RockyRockyRoad

Both of your holiday plans seem like something I’ll need to do though I don’t work for the NHS I do have a generous holiday allowance that I’ll need to use plus the 5 I carry over from this years allowance due to covid. I was thinking taking two full weeks before off, week at June (before the lockdown restrictions go) and try and find a nice cottage somewhere but then some shorter weeks throughout July - though I WFH I think it’ll be warm and would mean I can take it easy and cool down and not have to be ready for video conference calls! Would be good to hear if anyone has had a previous summer baby and struggled in the heat?

I’ve not put any weight on but my body composition has definitely changed so it’ll soon show on the scales.

Need to get some books and start reading I think now as it feels a lot more real! X

Hi @ElonaWise and @lovelsa and congratulations!

@lucyrp wow so are you still 11lbs ish down?

@PurplePansy05 oh what an early wake up call, did you manage to get back to sleep? It was odd I woke up at 4:32 and wondered if anyone would be around.

And looks like not too much weight gain all round- 1lb a week seems right ish for me so I guess I’ll keep checking.

I’m going to have to google hypnobirthing as I’m not sure what it is. I’ve very much avoided reading up about birth as the thought scares me so much!

@Inmypjsagain yeah still about 11/12 pounds down!

I’ve been tracking my weight/tummy measurements for a few weeks and I haven’t seen any change. I’ve been eating quite a lot (esp carbs) abs beginning to get a bit worried. Although I’ve had nausea I haven’t been being sick.

Hi everyone, I've been following the thread but not had the courage to join until now.
After a long 4 years of ttc, 3 cycles of ICSI and then 3 natural losses, I'm 16w+4 with a healthy baby! We've had a low risk NIPT result and 16w scan also showed normal development so we are finally able to feel excited about the pregnancy and actually plan ahead. EDD is 8th Aug.

Updated! :)

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💛💛💛
@coffeeandrainbows1- EDD 4 August (but most likely July), Boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July), Girl 💖
@Smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep - EDD 2 August, Boy 💙
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@lovelsa - EDD 9 August, Boy 💙
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, surprise 💛
@ElonaWise - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@Runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Srtdr - EDD 12 August, surprise 💛
@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! 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@caz1226 - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@Lille4 - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@Redskinsucks - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@RockyRockyRoad - EDD 18 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

Hi all, very nice to virtually meet you all! I am having my first and thought joining will help with tips etc! my EDD is the 5th of August and hopefully it's not late. Likely a boy but will wait until the 20w scan to actually get excited about the gender!

@LottSE20 I am in the exact same situation. I lost about 3kg in first trimester just from nausea, no sickness, but have felt pretty much normal since week 11 (now at 15w). So far I haven't really gained any weight - not gained back what I lost, not going up week by week. But i am starting to notice a little bump coming out, so imagine it will start happening in the coming week. Apparently it only really becomes an issue if you aren't gaining anything by the end of the 2nd trimester, so I don't think anyone needs to worry yet!

@Inmypjsagain I’m glad it’s starting to ease up for you, albeit slowly! I wouldn’t have thought mine was sickness related as I’m only vomiting one day a week really but my appetite went down a fair bit and I was only eating half my usual portions. Appetite has come back properly now so I’m sure when I’m weighed at my 16 week appt I’ll be back to being slightly porky 🐷

Welcome @lovelsa! I’d love a brood of boys, gorgeous names you have for yours too 💙

Welcome to you too @Dia12 and @Andr33a, congratulations!

@PurplePansy05 I needed that, thank you 💙 happy 16 weeks to you and your boy!

@HopefulB @RockyRockyRoad @Fran919 I have a similar issue with my leave! Work policy is to use it up but we have a work allocation model - if I squeeze all my leave into just a couple of months I won't be able to get everything I need to done unless I work extra hours on my work days, which would defeat the point rather!! I need to ask my manager what the best thing to do is - if I can be allocated less work and go 4 days a week for a while that would be heavenly!

@Inmypjsagain I'd really recommend the book Give Birth Like a Feminist, I think by the same woman who founded the positive birth movement. It's really wonderful, I read it and honestly came away almost looking forward to birth 😂 but even without that, I found it such a useful way of considering how birth can be positive and empowering (though I've not done it before so come August I may take all of this back!!)

@HopefulB if it's a hot summer like it was 3 years ago, go off as early as possible! The heat gets really unbearable once you're huge. I could barely walk to and from the trams without feeling I was going to faint

I finished 6 weeks early last time due to German laws and it was bliss.

I would check about using AL around the actual due date, because there are some laws about being off for a certain amount of time immediately after childbirth so it might have to be counted as maternity leave and not holiday.

@BertieBotts in the UK you can use your annual leave up to the EDD on your MATB1, afterwards it's maternity leave, or if baby comes early, maternity leave kicks in on the date if his/her birth automatically.

There are no issues with using annual leave before mat leave, but if you're off sick in the 11 weeks before EDD and it's pregnancy related, mat leave can also kick in then.

Welcome @Dia12 and @Andr33a!

@MrsB2019x 😊 so pleased to your appetite is back too! I miss eating proper food!

@biscuitcat thank you, will order but probably after 20 week scan- not going to do much until this point passes! But looking forward to birth...! Well that’s great I hope it has a similar impact on me! Very scared of the thought at the moment.

@PurplePansy05 the 11 weeks! Oh no I thought it was 4 weeks before the EDD. I’m really going to need to look into this properly and try and get a proper plan in place!

@Inmypjsagain You're 100% right, apologies about the confusion- it used to be 11 weeks, but it is 4 now, that's correct! Sorry, please don't stress! xx

@PurplePansy05 oh phew, thank you , I’d just opened up acas to have a look. Must admit I’m pleased it’s not 11 weeks as I’m braced for still being sick at that point! Still going to need a proper plan though. 😊 xx

That seems like a sensible change, 11 weeks is a-lot before EDD without baby especially if you only get 12 weeks or leas paid!!

I'm using 4weeks of A/L and then starting mat leave at 36weeks so will have 2 months off before baby arrives as i have A/L to use then will still get 12 months wirh baby including A/L

You've all made me cry with your lovely replies on anxiety. It's so reassuring to know others feel this way. I'm doing this mostly alone as my partner doesn't want a relationship. So it's amazing to have some women to talk to on here. Thank you so very much for the replies and support. I appreciate it so much.

@Inmypjsagain I've just noticed I rudely ignored your question, yes, I went back to sleep after an hour, then got up at 6:30, off to see my consultant in the morning. I didn't end up having a scan, she just said that my cervical procedure isn't a concern - so actually glad I had a private scan before to check my cervix tbh! But apart from that, the consultant was very nice. I'm staying consultant-led until 36 weeks at least, I have extra growth scan at 32 weeks and possibly between 20 and 32 but they want to the 20 week one first to see. DH and I decided we'll have a couple done privately anyway if they aren't offered to us.

Anyway, we've just exchanged on our new house 🍾🍾🍾 and the big move is tomorrow! I've been off for the last week packing up, so there isn't that much left...saying that, it'll probably take hours anyway. Think this adrenaline is affecting my sleep too.

Thank you @MrsB2019x, I'm glad it's helped you a bit 😘

@ElonaWise I didn't realise you have an unsupportive partner. It makes me very sad that some people choose to miss out on the most wonderful gift, parenthood, when it's right there waiting for them. Do you think he might come round? No wonder you are anxious, it must feel like we are climbing Snowdon whereas you're climbing Mount Everest right now. But ain't no mountain high enough, remember. The most important thing is that your baby will be much loved by you and you'll give him everything, I have no doubt. Courage ❤ xx