Due April 2023 💕 into the second trimester 🍂🎇

[Cuppasoupmonster]

Welcome back ladies. Here we are, second trimester 🥰

I’m early 30s and had 1 in 2300! The background risk for age was something like 1 in 900 so better than average odds… I did have NIPT though but I’m a bit of a control freak.

I’m 14+6 today. Had my first scan 2 weeks ago which was lovely and really quite emotional as I was quite anxious (my first pregnancy). Was struck by how much they were wriggling about - it’s funny to think of them moving so much when I can’t feel it yet.

Had some intense growing pains at the start of the week which thankfully have subsided. Was quite shocked by how they affected me as I get quite bad period pains normally and handle those okay. But this felt like I’d been kicked in my lower abdomen/back and the sharpness of them made me feel a bit sick! Hoping that’s the last I see of them or they’re at least milder next time.

Not showing yet but I’m a heavier woman so expect it might be a while. Got my baby on board badge for the tube though as I get tired standing up for too long!

I know a baby Maximus shortened to Max but it's always sounded a bit Gladiator to me! Max can also be short for Macsen which is Welsh.

Still waiting for my blood results but scan was lovely last week! Anyone else now worried as symptoms are much gone! Will struggle to wait for next scan!

@tattlytote what about Maxwell or Maxim

@Pommy1 Layla is nice 😊❤️ I also like Lilah. Oh just remembered another favourite for a boy - Wolfgang! I've got German ancestry so feels somewhat appropriate but maybe a bit out there... Maybe middle name territory hehe

I like Maximilian, but also I'm watching the Empress ATM on Netflix (so good! Highly recommend if you like a period drama!) And there is an unsavoury character called that which slightly puts me off plus it was an ex's name 😅
I also like Elizabeth/ Elisabeth for a girl - imagine it may get more popular again due to the queen's passing recently? Beth and Eliza both lovely nick names.

Also love Layla! What middle name would you put with it? I can’t think of any!

My niece is an Isabella which I love

I love these names 😍😍😍 some lovely ones.

Does anyone find themselves touching their belly all the time? I seem to do it unconsciously, not to draw attention to it or anything (there’s hardly anything there lol) but I think I’m just aware that it’s different? Idk

I think lots of names would pair well with Layla, you could go with one a one syllable name like May or as Layla isn't particularly long you could choose something longer like Victoria. Both names ending in 'a' sounds nice to me too.
Names like Gary and Janet are so far off being popular at the moment it almost tempts me as it would be so unusual but I can't see it starting a trend yet 😅

@MamaMenna oohhh! My other favourite name ends in an A and I would love to use that as a middle name but thought it wouldn’t work but I think you’re right and it does sound really nice!

How’s everything enjoying eating out at the moment? I want to be able to enjoy going out before we have to think about childcare but I’m finding it’s more of a stress thinking about whether you can eat things etc that it’s not actually that great of an experience

@Springblooms08 my eating out experience is completely ruined 😩 I avoid eating out now, can't eat big meals/sickness/just don't fancy anything! I cried with food in front of me in restaurant because I'm so fed up of wanting to eat the food but really not being able too because I find meals generally overwhelming. I suffer with anxiety anyway so I worry it will effect me long term when it comes to eating out. Anyone else get this or just me being weird?! 😂

@xalexandra aw I’m really sorry to hear you’re experiencing that, but I don’t think that’s weird at all. Whilst I’ve not struggled with sickness too much, I am finding I just don’t enjoy huge multi course meals. That combined with being more particular about what I feel like eating and the worry about the hygiene of the restaurant/that I’ll eat something I’m not meant to…just not a great experience all round! Definitely relate to the anxiety around it.

Sorry, it’s flicking between two usernames that I have on my account but I don’t know why as I’m not changing them each time. Will see if I can get it sorted so it’s not confusing!

@xalexandra I totally get that! I haven't had badsickness in this pregnancy but had it the whole way through in my last 2. I'm so grateful this time to actually be able to eat. But I've found my tastes have really changed. I don't fancy things I'd normally eat and have no idea what I want to eat most of the time. Its so frustrating as I'm starving but haven't idea what I want to eat!

Hi everyone is anyone getting heartburn? I’m 17 weeks tomorrow and it’s been pretty bad this weekend, related to eating or drinking anything 😩.

@Springblooms08 i was also thinking this, I haven’t eaten out much due to food aversions more than sickness but feel I need to do this and more things I won’t be able to when pregnant! Especially as a ftm I won’t have this time again.
We have a bonfire event in 2 weeks time with food stalls from around the world which sounds nice so looking forward to that. But also want some more romantic time before it disappears for a long while 😅

@Chocolat I have heartburn already too. Had it on and off for about 2 weeks now. Gaviscon do work a bit for me though

Had my first bout of heartburn today after some duck spring rolls at lunch time. Teach me 🤣

My heartburn is daily and has been around from about week 8, it's manageable as long as I don't go near chocolate, coffee, tea, anything artificially overly sweet like sweets, cakes, biscuits or anything overly salted. Fruit is fine luckily but I really can't even have a cup of decaf tea, herbal only.

With you all on not enjoying eating out / meals as much... I thought the nausea had gone but seems to be back this weekend during the afternoon and evening wahhhh! Really hoping it goes 💯 asap.
In terms of being worried about what we can eat, I recommend looking up the NHS guidance as it really isn't a lot that we have to avoid... It's essentially don't eat partially cooked or raw meat or seafood, don't eat unpasteurised cheese or mould ripened (most cheese is fine including feta, hard cheeses like parmesan, cheddar, hard goats cheese, soft goats cheese as long as not mould ripened, manchego etc all fine), and make sure lettuce and salad and all veges are well washed esp of eating raw. I think majority of restaurants we can trust they'll be washing their veges. I've had burgers a few times with lettuce and it's been fine!

I would not get a packages sandwich from a dodgy service station for example but a Pret one if trust... Just have to use our common sense really and majority of food chains or well frequented restaurants will have strict protocol in place to prevent food poisoning.
I did freak out as ate a medium well done burger in Spain and also potentially ate some mouldy cheese so do get the anxiety 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I feel like I'm getting rythmic juddering / twitching in my stomach quite a lot but weirdly it's up higher than my womb, like nearer to where my actual stomach is...very odd. Anyone had this? Wondering if baby is kicking my stomach organ... I do also feel movements down lower which I know are baby but this twitching up high is strange. I'm 16 weeks but second baby - movements still light but defo there

@Longbin think I’ll have to get some! For some reason thought I’ve avoided the worst of the heart burn but I think the worst is yet to come 😂

Hey everyone.

Here is our gender reveal at 16 weeks. I hope its right?! We are over the moon its a girl!!!!