First time mums expecting Spring babies

[FlirtyThirty]

Hello!

I'm expecting my first baby on 24 April. I'm currently only 4+4 but have NO symptoms at all! Have just retested as I'm convinced I've imagined it!

Went to Dr yesterday to share the news and have to wait for hospital 'choose & book' paperwork so that I can arrange first scan for around 10 October.

There seems to be so many decisions to make all of a sudden...

Anyway...just wondered how you other first timers were finding things...or your other halves for that matter. Mine is still in total shock in spite of this being a planned baby!

Flirty x

SPRING MUMS-To-BE

Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)

SPRING MUMS-To-BE

Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)
BRIGHTSIDEOFLIFE - EDD 1st May - Kingston Hospital

Hello all,

Sorry I have been away for a while - I had a really rough few days with MS. My books say that it tends to get worse during weeks 9 / 10 but I had a relatively good week 10 - weeks 11 / 12 are proving the challenge!!

My Nuchal Fold & Dating Scan are scheduled for one week today, October 21st and my midwife appointment for the day afterwards. I am so excited, I cannot wait.

This past weekend was a lovely one, but quite emotionally draining. I helped organise the baby shower of my very close friend, whose baby is due tomorrow, a week before our first would have been due. (When we both found out we were pregnant - we joked about doing a joint baby shower.) I thought that being pregnant again would help me to handle it better, and whilst it wasn't as hard as I thought - I still had some inevitable 'what if' thoughts. Still - she is looking very well, is very excited and will surely pop any second, so I am thrilled for her.

Elpis Great news on telling your boss, and how exciting to tell the rest of the office on Friday!!

I know what you mean about having maternity clothes but not showing - I caved in and ordered some maternity jeans on the sale at Funmmum. Although I don't have a bump, my normal clothes are very uncomfortable - but I feel very weird for having ordered them!

lolianja CONGRATS on getting to 20 weeks!! Are you feeling any movement yet?

binky pity about the stretchmarks - I thought I was starting to get some small white ones on my hips as well but a nightly lathering of Bio-Oil seems to be controlling it. Are you using any creams or oils?

binky Hello, fellow X-Factor addict here I am so sorry you are still being ill and know what you mean about the self-pity. Hopefully the time with your family helped a little bit.

evs that feedback on the IO clothes is really helpful, at least the dress was nice? I hope your doppler arrives soon, which one did you order? We have the Angelsounds one and it is fantastic. Hearing the heartbeat is very reassuring and now (I am 12 weeks on Friday) we are hearing what we think is movement (Probably not, but it is nice to at least pretend!!)

jools So many of your concerns about DH's epilepsy are familiar to me - at the moment, the holidays abroad particularly! We are due to fly back to South Africa for a holiday next month and I am dreading, dreading the overnight flight. Everytime he moves I panic. It is tough and I am hoping to speak to the midwife about our concerns regarding the possibility of a long-drawn out labour & lack of sleep. They must deal with this sort of thing? Am thinking of you and DH.

It is great news that you get a 12 week scan, what a relief for you! Do you know when you will get the date?

Hello to anyone else I might have missed!

Good to hear from you BSOL Exciting about the scan I requested a date for mine yesterday and they will write to me - am hoping for Nov 7th so that I can tell my friends at a get-together that evening if all is well.

I was thinking of getting some Bio Oil, but am superstitious and don't want to get any before my 12 week scan

When should I start using it - when bump arrives, or pre-bump ?

Hi all! Sorry I've not been on for a while - things have been a bit hectic recently. I'm 15+4 today and I think I'm starting to get a bump (underneath my rather podgy belly!). I can definitely feel it if I lie down, but it's not so noticeable if I'm standing - I just look a bit fat!

I'm at a conference this week and only had 1 pair of trousers that fit me now, so had to go shopping at the weekend. It felt a bit silly to be looking at the maternity stuff, so I ended up buying a pair of black stretchy trousers 2 sizes bigger than usual, which will probably do for another month or two. After that I think I'll have to go for maternity trousers. I went into H&M (they're a scandinavian company, so we have lots of them here!) and bought a couple of smock-type tops too that aren't maternity wear, but will do the job. I always thought the smock fashion was awful for 'larger' ladies as they just make you look pregnant even if you're not, so it's good to have an excuse for wearing them now!! The maternity jeans in H&M are about 40 euros (erm, that'll be about 27 pounds) and look pretty good, though a bit on the long side. Their maternity tops just look like their usual stuff - couldn't see much of a difference except they're probably a bit longer in the body. Doesn't seem to be many other shops here for maternity wear, so looks like H&M will have to do!

Just wondering if anyone into their 2nd trimester now is a bit worried because they don't really feel pregnant any more?? I'm getting a bit paranoid because I feel quite normal (except for my very strange heartbeat, which skips and adds beats all over the place... )

I'm having my second midwife appointment next monday, so maybe I can listen to the heartbeat to reassure me then. I haven't felt any movements yet, but apparently my placenta is at the front of my womb which can cushion the kicks!

Oops - bit of an epic post there!!

Thanks BrightSide! Yes, lots and lots of movement. Proper full on stamps and kicks now. Been feeling slight somethings since about 13/14 weeks, but now they really are full on. This seems to be rather at odds with the fact that my belly is still as a flat as a board. I'm finding myself doing what my mother did, pulling up my top to a flat stomach, waiting a few seconds then watching people's dumbstruck faces as my stomach reverberates from a visible kick! It's strange. But they do say every pregnancy is different etc. Sorry to hear that you've been having a rough time with MS. I hope things improve for you soon.

Hi jools I had bio-oil already (It is lovely to use on your face if you are having a particularly dry or sensitive day.) I would start using it whenever you feel comfortable, rather start too soon than too late

kalikaroo How funny about the smock tops! I thought exactly the same thing. I bought a few pretty tunic / smock style tops during summer but didn't like how they made me look pregnant so I shoved them to the back of the wardrobe. I pulled them out this weekend and tried them on again and thought 'GREAT - they make me look pregnant!'
I hope you find another shop that stocks Maternity Clothes. Where are you based again?

Did you ask you GP or Midwife about your heartbeat? I have had a few 'missed' or 'skipped' heartbeats lately and the first few freaked me out. I wasn't sure whether to ask my GP about them or not?

lolianja It must be so reassuring to feel the kicks. How funny about your flat stomach reverberating!!

Kalikaroo - I was looking in Hennes today They have mat jeans for £25 and lots of Summer stuff enormously reduced. I quite like some of the tops, but won't try any one till I have a real bump

I won't be able to buy jeans from them - I need a 29 inch inside leg !!

hi all. cant wait until i feel the first movements. my angelsounds doppler came thismorning and it was lovely hearing heartbeat and babe swimming about. will hvae to limit myself to using once a day!!

i started using bio oil and clarins body tonic oil as soon as i realised i was pregnant as want to try to keep the marks away as long as possible have to do what feels right for you though jools.

i too had funny heart beat for few weeks earlier on - seems to have settled now. due to increased cardiac output i think.

lolianja - congrats on 20 weeks! dont want to wish my pregnancy away but cant wait until i get a bit further along and get my bump.

you can add me to the strictly and x factor fan club, love my saturday nights in now!!

going to go and cook a steak and ale pie - jamie special. strange craving for pie. mmm, xxx

Morning all, hope you're all doing well

I'm 9 weeks today - yeay! But I have a question, I've put on a couple of pounds and was just wondering whether this was normal or if it was purely down to me eating too much? I've been trying really hard not too, but sometimes only Pringles will take the yacky feeling away!!

But evs that steak and ale pie sounded nice...

Saz - I'll be 8 weeks on Friday and, in the past month, I've put on half a stone - most of it in the past 2 weeks

I know that I am prone to putting on weight, and a couple of weeks of mild nausea and eating carbs to combat it has not helped, but the weight increase is very dramatic compared to my eating and exercise regime.

The MW was not really open to the idea that this is baby weight and not fat, but I'm certain my diet cannot have led to such weight loss, so am now keeping a food and exercise diary to prove to her that I'm not a glutton

SPRING MUMS-To-BE

Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)
BRIGHTSIDEOFLIFE - EDD 1st May - Kingston Hospital
BinkyB - EDD 7 April (but think will be earlier as twins) - Chelsea & Westminster

In case anyone is still feeling sick, what's working for me (today, anyway) is sipping tonic water. It's about the 30th 'remedy' I've tried and by no means the most random, and given it's the only to have had any effect so far I thought I'd share.

Also as of today... BUMP ALERT! Woke up this morning with a 'pot' that looks about twice as big as when I went to bed. Am slathering on the bio oil. Suspect it might be the massive slab of Galaxy I ate last night - c'mon, it was half price with my Grazia, now what preggers lady could refuse?!

Question for you all... when do we have to start wearing non-underwired bras? The M&S ones look like something the NHS would issue (to geriatrics) so am keen to avoid for as long as I can! Although hotmilk ones look a bit foxier.

Binky - the tonic water things definitely works!!! I discovered it last week. Just one thing though. Go gently on it as it contains quinine, which is pretty hardcore as 'everyday' drugs go and can cause damage. Now, you would have to be drinking litres of the stuff for it to be significant, however, worth bearing in mind.
Oh, and as for the underwire thing...don't know the official time...but I'll be leaving it til my 3rd trimester at least...I'll look hideous otherwise. I hate non-underwired bras...they do nothing for me!

I have my scan tomorrow morning...will find out if
a) I have imagined the whole thing
b) I am growing a baby
c) My hideous sickness is the reuslt of growning 2 babies!

SPRING MUMS-TO-BE* March
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)

April
BinkyB - EDD 7 April (but think will be earlier as twins) - Chelsea & Westminster
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital

May
BRIGHTSIDEOFLIFE - EDD 1st May - Kingston Hospital
Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)

Flirty thanks for tip re quinine - hadn't even thought of that. Guess it must be pretty hardcore if it staves off Malaria! How exciting about your scan, tell us all about it when (if!) you've come back down to earth...

Hope it goes well Flirty I am also waiting to find out:

1 - If there is anything in there
2 - If I have imagined the whole thing
3 - If my vastly expanded tum this early means twins

Hi all,

MY MS seems to have receded enough for me to cram in some maltezer's this afternoon - Yummy!! Are any of you REALLY missing any particular foods that are no-no's in pregnancy? I am desperate for peanut butter...

binky I have been in non-underwired bra's from right at the beginning, it wasn't by choice though, I found my underwire bra's so uncomfortable (Especially at the sides, sorry if TMI). I am wearing some very boring plain, padded non-underwired M&S ones. They are definite passion killers but are soooo comfortable. They weren't actually in the maternity bra section - they were on the normal racks and look exactly like normal bra's.

flirty Good luck for your scan tomorow - I can't wait to hear all about it.

BSOL it's medium steak for me!!! I've decided that I'm just giong to give it up until May as I dont think I could bring myself to eat a well done steak

Good luck for tomorrow Flirty, you'll have to let us know how it goes. I'm very excited for you I can't wait for mine for the same reasons as you've all mentioned above....I'm almost convinced I'm making this up

Binky I'm still wearing underwired but I think I may have to change soon as they're starting to become uncomfortable. Any excuse for shopping tho eh?

me too

SPRING MUMS-TO-BE*March
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)

April
BinkyB - EDD 7 April (but think will be earlier as twins) - Chelsea & Westminster
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Salbysea - EDD 18 April - Dorset
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital

May
BRIGHTSIDEOFLIFE - EDD 1st May - Kingston Hospital
Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)

Brightside - I'll pack a large jar of peanut butter in my hospital bag for Kingston and hand it over to you as I'm leaving and you're 'checking-in'!

Crunchy or smooth...?

SPRING MUMS- TO - BE March
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)
ChocolateEclai - EDD 28th March - North Yorkshire

April
BinkyB - EDD 7 April (but think will be earlier as twins) - Chelsea & Westminster
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Salbysea - EDD 18 April - Dorset
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital

May
BRIGHTSIDEOFLIFE - EDD 1st May - Kingston Hospital
Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)

Hi everyone - wishing you all good luck for your scans tomorrow!!! I'm very excited for you! Make sure you come staight on here and tell us all about it!

saz and jools - I have also put on quite a bit of weight and I'm not feeling too happy about it! (6lbs in total, but I'm getting closer to 10 stone which I have never been over so quite scary!). It must be normal if we are all putting it on hey?

binky - I am still wearing underwired bras at 16.5 weeks - tbh my boobs haven't grown yet! boo hoo!

BSOL - I haven't really given up anything! I am still eating medium rare steak and runny eggs - I guess I figured I am unlikely to actually get food poisoning! I think you only have to avoid peanut butter if you or your dp has a peanut allergy, but I could be wrong!

I am still really tired all the time so am going to try another early night - DP isn't even in from work yet!

Hello girls - I had my scan yesterday and I'm walking on air the baby waved at me and jumped (yes, jumped!) around... so so happy, relieved, excited and I think it's finally sinking in that I'm going to be a mummy... woo hoo!

They've changed my due date slightly - new EDD 27 April... have updated list.

Hope you're all ok on this rainy miserable day... hurrah for spring babies

SPRING MUMS- TO - BEMarch
Lolianja - EDD 2 March - Essex (but probably giving birth in Lancs)
ChocolateEclai - EDD 28th March - North Yorkshire

April
BinkyB - EDD 7 April (but think will be earlier as twins) - Chelsea & Westminster
Evs34 - EDD 8th April - North Yorkshire.
Salbysea - EDD 18 April - Dorset
Elpis - EDD 23 April (that's what THEY say; I think 25) - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, London
FlirtyThirty - EDD 24 April - Kingston Hospital
Bicnod - EDD 27 April - Kingston Hospital

May
BRIGHTSIDEOFLIFE - EDD 1st May - Kingston Hospital
Saz007 - EDD 20 May - Durham
Jools1 - EDD 29th May - Watford General (hopefully the MLU if I can keep my BMI and BP down)

good luck for upcoming scans. it is the best thing in the whole world to see your baby/

glad im not the only one gaining weight, v strange creeping over my usual ' im getting too heavy threshold - must cut back a bit' feels good though

great bump band at jo jo which you can attach to your trousers so dont have to do them up - i can get back into my skinnies!! hooray. anything to avoid maternity trews for a while.

off to bed as v tired. good luck tomorrow. xxxxx

Hello all,

I am suddenly starting to feel a little better...it is GREAT. I still feel queasy and the oddest smells still turn my stomach (Fabric conditioner? Fragrance-Free hand cream?) but I am actually keeping food down and starting to feel vaguely human. I am 12 weeks tomorrow - so bang on schedule. YIPPEE!

I got my jeans in the mail from funmum yesterday. They are great quality and quite stylish - they don't look like real maternity jeans. Unfortunately they were too big in the leg, so I am sending them back but I will definitely order from them again. I did get a pair of casual cotton maternity trousers as well and couldn't believe how comfortable they were! It was like putting on pyjama's

saz007 I know know the feeling - a Well Done steak is just a waste of good meat!

flirty CRUNCHY PLEASE!!! That is so funny, because I was just telling my DH that I am going to pack a few Kit Kat Chunky Peanut Butter s in my hospital bag and eat them straight after littlebrightside is born!

CE luck you on your boobs not growing yet! Mine grew slightly at the beginning, so I bought some new bra's. In the last few days, they have grown again and are now bursting out of my bra's so I am having to go shopping again! This pregnancy thing is expensive!

I was told to give up Peanut Butter if either my DP or myself have/had allergies such as Asthma, Hay Fever (My DH has this very badly), Eczema (I had this as a child) or peanut allergy.

Having said that - I just googled it to try and find a link to post here and have just read that there is very limited scientific evidence that there is a correlation ...peanut butter suddenly looks much more attractive!

Bicnod CONGRATULATIONS! That is great - I am so pleased that the scan went well. How exciting

BSOL - don't know if you've seen it (and haven't checked to see if you posted on it !) but there is a thread in the pregnancy forum about peanut butter and lots of people do eat it here

Very interesting thread...especially the piece about peanut allergies increasing in children since advising pregnant mothers to avoid peanuts!!