Aug 2021 - 2nd Trimester continues

[Alittlexmasmagic]

Hi everyone, another thread begins & things are getting real now 😄 x

@MrsB2019x yes! I can't eat dinner or tea meals at the same size as I could before but find myself hungry i between now where as I didn't really snack before. Sometimes even missed breakfast but that's not a possibility now.

@LyraShaeLilly yeah we were definitely hoping for at least one of each gender so both me and hubby a little disappointed! We had said to each other that if it was all three of one gender, I wanted girls and he wanted boys! These are definitely our first and last babies, so I think I’m now a bit sad I’ll never have a boy 😢

Would love to hear what you’ve read on gender disappointment!

@LyraShaeLilly I was desperate for a girl before we even got pregnant the whole time ttc and then when pregnant someone suggested the baby was a boy from our 8 week scan when of course it was too soon to tell really and I broke down crying. Not long after I realised I don't actually mind whichever we have as long as they are happy and healthy. But of course a secret preference to one gender is to be expected

@ElonaWise I had actually booked mine in for last week but spoke to the GP and she said that as I'm otherwise healthy and mostly low risk at work (as although I'm working from home less now, it's mostly with children) she'd advise waiting, and said that if she was in my position that's what she'd do, so I cancelled it for now. If more information comes out before baby does saying it's fine in pregnancy I'll definitely have it, and if not, won't be able to get it in my arm fast enough while breastfeeding!

@Daffodil21 I would say I'm not feeling nervous about things opening up - I can't wait! As some others have said, by then almost everyone will be vaccinated and cases seem to be low in summer anyway, hopefully all will be fine. It's totally understandable to feel nervous though, it's been such a weird, uncertain year that such a big change feels odd!

@biscuitcat I think I just had a panic because all this time I've been thinking 'oh I'll be happy going out when things open up after I've given birth' but I sort of forgot about the fact that there may be a baby to protect as well 🙈 I am super happy things are opening up soon though! It must have been so tough for those who have given birth in the last year (and those of you who already have children!)

@Champson

This is the article I've found most useful so far.
https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/gender/prediction/the-boy-girl-blues-dealing-with-gender-disappointment/

Also have you seen the new Plenty advert, its about Dad cleaning up after 3 girls, it's really lovely and I thought of you when I saw it in the SU2C Bake Off adverts!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v2Du7Q3UtCo

Good article thanks for sharing!! And cute advert too ☺️

@LyraShaeLilly I've definitely had those feelings, I'd love a little girl and I think I was starting to hurt DH's feelings a bit! Oddly, what helped me was googling lovely things about having a boy and I think it showed me I was being a bit silly really. We're having a surprise but I have a strong feeling it's a boy so I'm glad I did!

@Champson if it helps, I'm one of three girls (close in age but not quite as close as yours...) and I love it! How exciting for you 🥰

@Champson that's fabulous, girl power!!! Also congratulations @HopefulB, welcome to the RMC graduates club 😊 Let's hope for our rainbows to arrive safely for those photos, shall we? 🌈🙌🙏

I secretly would love a girl in the future, one of each would be a dream and I also always had a feeling that my first loss was a girl. I just know this. And so having a girl to bring home one day in the future to join her big brother would be just amazing. BUT I will be grateful to have my baby/ies home safely, it's such an enormous gift that I will always treasure ❤ xx

I'm one of two girls and I was sooo close to my sister growing up, it was brill.

I always thought a family of all one gender would be so special. Although feel massively hypocritical as am very much hoping for a girl this time! If there hadn't been such a big gap between DS1 and DS2 I would have been hoping for a boy I think. I think they make friends when they are close in age and the same sex. I'm a bit apprehensive that having 2 opposite sex they wouldn't be as close but I'm probably being silly! Oh well. Will hopefully find out either way on Thursday.

I remember there being all-girl triplets in Child of Our Time, maybe you can find some old episodes of that to watch? They were born really early though so maybe the later ones where they're doing well, not the first one where it's all touch and go! I think they were called Alice, Chloe and Mabel, something like that. There is also a great documentary on youtube about identical quad girls. Found it here:

(I find it totally weird in that that the mum dresses them all the same! Also it must cost her a fortune!)

Today's Sky News if anyone is interested:

news.sky.com/story/covid-news-live-coronavirus-vaccine-study-reveals-protection-for-pregnant-women-as-germanys-lockdown-easing-plans-threatened-by-soaring-case-numberss-12248402

It's in the Breaking News live section so you may need to scroll down to read the full news.

xx

That’s interesting, I had a text from my GP the other day inviting me for the vaccine. Still not going to go for it though I think until after the birth, the research is just too small

So nice to hear from you ladies from all female households - it does sound really nice! I am an only child so I have no clue really! We will have the added complication that two will be identical and one won’t and I’m worried about the one feeling left out. We have years to deal with it but all the stuff that goes through your mind now!

@BertieBotts loved that documentary thanks for sharing!! At least by the end she starts to let them wear their own thing!!!

@Champson I am one of three girls, no brothers here! We are now 30/27/25 and all ridiculously close, we talk everyday and see each other every week (I know we aren’t meant too! But we just go for walks!) Growing up it was my sisters who were the closest, I think with me being slightly older and they used to share a room so spent a lot of time together. But I bet it will be so lovely having two best friends the same age as you!

@LyraShaeLilly everyone asks me if I have a preference and I always say no. But deep down I would love a DD as I already have a son. But I’m trying not to think about it too much as I don’t want to be disappointed! To be honest the more I think about it my son would probably prefer a brother anyway. 😂 So either way I will be happy, but would love a girl to dress in girly things!

@Champson also it’s worth noting for your DH even though they are all girls it doesn’t mean hr and they can’t do boy stuff! My dad used to take me fishing and I loved it 😂 Rang in sick for me one day at school and we did a all day fishing trip. So although they won’t be BOYS, he can still enjoy doing stuff with them.

@Magik01 oh wow, that’s exciting to think it’s movement, thank you!

I’m actually looking forward to everything opening up again and I’m not apprehensive about it at all, but I do appreciate that it might be for others. Regarding vaccine, I personally wouldn’t have it whilst pregnant and I’m also a bit reluctant at all, until it’s been around for a little longer. I’m not anti-vaccine, I’ve had them to go abroad etc. Just not comfortable with it.

@Champson I’m a girls only crew too, just me and my sister. There’s a 5 year age gap, so we haven’t always been close, but we do have a lovely relationship. Likewise, I played rugby when I was young, so my Welsh dad still got to go to watch his child play rugby on a weekend 😂 xx

I have now had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. I had the first one a month ago (at 14 weeks) and the second last week (17 weeks). I have Crohn's disease and may need to go on medications that suppress my immune system later in the pregnancy, so my consultants (an obstetrician and a gastroenterologist working together) wanted me to have it. I was nervous, but I read up a lot on it. I'm also originally from the US, and most of my pregnant friends are having it there - they are on the priority list and its recommended. My doctors explained to me in great detail as well how the vaccine works, and how it was very very unlikely to have any impact on the baby given how these type of vaccines function. It's a personal choice, and I could have said no, but now I'm glad I went for it.

@WolfMother326 is it prednisolone by any chance? I was on that until a few weeks ago. It was a little scary being on it during the pandemic I have to say. Generally cases here have been low, but they did start to pick up while I was on it. I was able to wfh but my husband wasn't, so it was always a risk that he may bring it back to me. Thankfully that didn't happen! I didn't HAVE to take it, I took it in order to suppress my immune system so hopefully my body wouldn't reject the pregnancy, something seemed to have worked so it was worth it. It's good you've been vaccinated if you have to take it for medical conditions though, it will be good for you to have that peace of mind x

Interesting how many all girl households we have here! I was saying at the weekend everyone I know with babies has a girl, except 1. So we’re talking about 20 girls and 1 boy. I googled it and actually more boys are born... so where are they all? We’ll find out next week at our scan, I always assumed I’d have a girl for some reason, until I got pregnant and I’m just positive it’s a boy!

I have an anterior placenta but I am sure I am feeling quite a lot of movement now, I’m sure I’m not imagining it, I’m 19 weeks... that seems a bit early? It’s not hard kicks but I’m conscious of motion in my lower tummy and like he’s bouncing on me, making a twitchy flutter?

Thanks for sharing @Daffodil21- do you also have IBD? Glad you were able to get off the prednisolone and didn't get the virus!
I have never had to take medication for my Crohns, it's always been very mild and I can usually manage it with diet and exercise, but it's been more active during the pregnancy/getting flare ups. The drs want me to go on a biologic/anti-TNF treatment for just 8-10 weeks to reduce the likelihood of preterm birth or low birth weight. It feels like a lot, having never really taken medication for my condition, but of course I would do whatever I need to protect my baby, so I will probably start it in April. The medication does lower the immune system, but the thinking is that since my body has now already built a strong immune response to covid using the vaccine, that hopefully won't be lowered once I start the meds (if you get the vaccine while on the medication simultaneously it probably reduces the vaccine's efficacy, but they aren't sure). I do feel safer now.

@WolfMother326 I don't have IBD, I only took it as a potential treatment for recurrent miscarriage. Just to warn you, I did gain a lot of weight on it very quickly (although I'm not sure you would if it's treating IBD? I'm afraid I have no idea!) and also got a moonface while on it. It's going down now though which is good, so don't worry it's not permanent. It's all worth it if it helps you though.

What's biologic/anti-TNF?

Ah I see @Daffodil21, I didn't know they prescribed it for that. I'm glad it helped you (I assume it did as you're at this lovely point in your pregnancy).

Anti-TNFs are a new kind of medicine that are less invasive generally than steroids, which are an older/more established treatment for IBD. I hope I don't have any side effects, but it will only be a short course so I'm not too worried.

@Carefree1 @Magik01 - DEFINITELY on the sports! It's the first thing I said to him - take the girls to play cricket and football with you, and who knows maybe 1, 2 or all 3 might love it. I used to play rugby too - only for two seasons until I tore my ACL. I love sports - definitely hoping at least one of the girls will be into it too!!

@WolfMother326 I had to go private to get it, then the NHS consultant agreed to prescribe it 'as I've already started taking it' so I'm not sure I would have got it had I not gone private. Yeah, it seems to have done its job! All my losses were early and it's seemed to have got me past that point at least. I was nervous to come off it but also glad at the same time! Still on progesterone but have recently halved my dose and will be drug free next week..!

Oh that's interesting. I hope they work for you!

@Inmypjsagain I think all the boys are in my husband's family!!!

So happy for you @Daffodil21 - it must be a wonderful feeling to where you're at!