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

Hello ladies - Kalikaroo, glad they were so nice and scanned you to so swiftly! Very impressive. And extra happy to see all's well.

I'm back from 21 week scan - and all's well! In fact it was totally amazing how much details they can see. (Kingston ladies - if you get Angela doing your scan, she was excellent at pointing everything out to me and DH!) Can't believe next time we see baby it'll be on the other side of my tummy! Very very weird!

Hello ladies and welcome newbies! Blimey I've been away for a few days and come back and there is so much to catch up on- I love it! I've been at a lovely spa with my Mum for some pampering, it was bliss. We were meant to go months ago but couldn't do it while I was still puking nine times a day so as soon as that all eased off we got booked - I feel like a new woman and it was a really special break - 'Granny' even got to feel the twins kicking away.

Congrats to all those who've had scans / found out flavour of baby / been reassured by lovely hospital staff. Commiserations to those with building work going on - yuck.

Our home front news is that we have found a lovely house to rent - am SO happy now I can imagine us somewhere, was starting to feel like Mary and Joseph on their donkey (albeit less virginal).

And the latest on my bump is that it is ENORMOUS! And I feel kicking lots of the time, so maybe one is kicking while the other sleeps and then the swap. Which sounds a promising sleep pattern, don't you think?!

This week's craving: tinned peaches and Carnation milk. So while I don't know if my children are boys or girls yet, I do know they are good old 80s throwbacks! Will have Wham on in the delivery room

Hi All

Welcome Beth, Due1stMay, Girlylala, Rosa, Peaches and Flossie. Big congratulations to all of you. Very sorry to hear about your three previous MC's Flossie but delighted you're expecting again. This is turning into quite a group of mums to be.

I am currently suffering from the most awful cold I have ever had - quite hard when you are hardly allowed to take anything for symptoms. Have been off work the past three days. The first two I couldn't even find the energy lift the laptop to look at mumsnet . Went to docs yesterday which I wouldn't normally as I know there's not alot they can do but was worried a secondary infection had gone into my chest. Also as well as all the normal cold symptoms I was throwing up (was in tears last night after chucking up all over duvet - illness and pregnancy hormones don't mix) and have been really breathless so just wanted her to check baby and me over. Anyway she wasn't very helpful apart to comment that she had no record of my pregnancy on her computer (well that's hardly my fault). She did check my chest and said it was clear and practically chased me out the door. Anyway I'm feeling a bit better now and had my 22 week midwife appointment today. She was much more helpful and supportive and everything is fine with baby so left there feeling alot happier. Anyway sorry for the moan but just had to get that off my chest.

Congratulations to everyone who has had lovely scans. The pics are lovely to see. We don't get a routine 20 week scan here but they have agreed to do one for us next week because of DH's family history, so am nervous and excited about that. Can't wait to see baby again.

Congratulations on the new house BinkyB. You can really start planning for your two little ones now.

Congrats on the house Binky, that must be such a relief

So glad your scan went well Flirty - I've got mine booked in for Monday... starting to feel a bit nervous. Did you have to have a totally full bladder by the way?

Pinkadink - you poor thing, that sounds rubbish what a crap doctor... glad you had your midwife appointment today to make you feel better...

I'm currently living in a house that smells constantly of poo which is lovely (I expect it will be standard come April actually, so maybe I should get used to it...) - the toilet has had to be taken in and out of the bathroom while the plasterer does his thing and it all smells a bit rancid. Boo hoo. Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end...

Baby kicking (or I think hiccuping) so violently this evening I can see my tummy move very amusing. Particularly amusing that every time I yell for DH to come and have a look the little bugger stops moving!!! I think it's going to be a stubborn one just like it's daddy...

Right - off to bed - night night spring mums

Bicnod - don't feel nervous! The chance of anything being wrong is statistically tiny. The sonographer was LOVELY with us. She talked us through absolutely everything that she was looking at. It is absolutely amazing. She will show you all the vital organs (brain, kidneys, lungs, stomach, heart etc), where the umbilical cord joins the tummy (just like a straw) and look at the bones - arms, legs, fingers and toes. It will blow your mind! I can't stop looking at the scan picture now.

Oh, and just a thought, I booked in for my 28wk midwife appointment whilst I was there (my 24wk one is at my GP). Anyway, my Kingston appointment is on 28 Jan at 3.30pm (the clinics are every Wednesday)...if you are able to make an appointment near that time, maybe we could grab a coffee or something? MAybe we should ask Littleduck too. I suspect that they'll say Brightside needs to go the following week...but you never know... we could have a party!

Hello girls!

Pinkadink - so sorry you're not feeling well and the GP being unfriendly . Hope you'll feel beter soon.

Binky - that spa trip sounds lovely and you need as much pampering as you can get before the babies come! Congrats on finding a new place to nest too!

Bicnod - mine does the same: kicks me several time in a row and then when I get DH and put his hand on my tummy she stops... and only restarts when DH is well out of reach....
At least when the baby comes you'll think: " well it doesn't smell as bad as our house a few months ago..."

Off to Austria tonight for our 10th wedding anniversary trip. No special outfits packed as nothing but pg jeans fits.
Back next week. Hugs to all.

Happy Anniversary skiingone!

Thanks Bicnod and Skiingone. Am feeling a bit better today but still off sick. Missing my work Christmas lunch but never mind.

Bicnod poor you with your bathroom aromas. Maybe we should swap houses as I can't smell anything at the moment . It will all be worth it when you have a lovely new bathroom.

Happy anniversary Skiingone. Hope you have a lovely time in Austria.

I love feeling kicks and looking at my tummy moving. At midwife yesterday baby gave a big kick at doppler when she was listening for heartbeat which was amusing. I also have one who jumps around until DH tries to look or put his hand on my tummy then stops moving.

I just ordered some maternity clothes from JoJo Maman Bebe. They have a sale on with some good bargains so thought I'd let you all know about it in case anyone fancies a bit of retail therapy.

Hello fellow first time mums!

Just a little note - I went for a pregnancy massage on saturday which was a bit of an extravagance - but if you can stretch to it give it a go. Baby peaches174 LOVED me being so relaxed and was leaping about like mad.

Is a v fab to connect with your bambinos - especially if you are lazy like me and haven't started doing any exercise - add to your christmas wish list!

If you live in se22 area can recommend hb therapy on melbourne grove, was £54 for 70 mins

Have a fab week y'all

Peaches x

Bicnod...how did your scan go?!

Hi lovely ladies

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a stubborn baby who refuses to perform to order

Sorry for my absence last week. Had stinking chesty cold like pinkadink. Spent three days in bed, then felt a lot better, but now feeling a bit ropey again. Am cheered up by reading news of lovely scans and new homes ( binky] (sorry about the poo bicnod - how horrid ). Hope your scan went well - will check back later to see.

to everyone else.

xx

Hello spring mums - Flirty thank you for asking, I had my anomaly scan today and am happy to report that the baby seems perfect everything normal and baby is big (measuring 22 weeks even though I'm 21 weeks today - argh!) and bouncing.

It was very cute - the sonographer couldn't stop laughing because the baby kept sucking it's toes!

Told them we didn't want to know the sex so another suprise baby to add to the list

Feeling so so so relieved - and totally in love with the baby already...

They wouldn't let me book in for my 28 week midwife appointment until after my GP appointment [hmmm] - although I think maybe it was just the grumpy receptionist making it up so I'll phone later this week and ask to book in... will ask for 28th January

Right - I'm off to bed... xx

Hi all!
I'm at 25 weeks now and got an email thingy yesterday saying its good for bub to start getting used to daddy's voice so DH is going to read him/her a story every night from now on. Last night's was a hit and bub kicked happily all the way through!

Am scouring the internerd for news of this forthcoming benefit but can't find anything - would be really grateful if anyone finds any links...

x rosa x

Has anyone started looking for cots yet?

we can't sell our 1 bed flat for love nor money so need to get the most compact yet versatile solution possible..

Does anyone know where you can get one with drawers underneath and a clip on changey thing?

Peaches x

Hi everyone! Glad you are all well (although some sound a bit stressed!)

I don't think I understood the mw about the £190 properly! She seemed to be saying that everyone who is currently pg would get it, but maybe you don't qualify til you are 25 weeks for some reason! I will check to see if I can find anything else out!

I had a bit of trouble at work today as I fainted in the middle of a lesson (oh the shame!...) Got sent to the mw who said baby is fine and so am I, but has taken some blood to check for low iron levels. I sent dp to get me a massive juicy steak for tea! Still, only 3 more days left til xmas hols so hoping it doesn't happen again! Have any of you guys fainted? I'm hoping it's reasonably normal!(I'm 25 weeks now)

love to all CE xxx

Right here is the info about the £190 £190 although mw def said it was coming in at xmas!

CE I had low iron levels and that made me a bit woozy, so my MW recommended Spatone which is a gentler supplement than the tablets you can get (it's a sachet of iron-rich water that you drink in orange juice as it tastes vile on its own). You can buy it in Holland & Barrett. Has made a difference as iron levels are all normal now. Oh and vit C is important for iron absorption so stock up on satsumas as well as steak!

Peaches I haven't even started looking at cots yet but will let you know any I come across. Will also be looking for 'space saving' ideas as I'd like to put both cots in the same room so the babies can stay together. One other thought, what about renting your flat our so you can rent somewhere bigger? That's what we're doing as our flat isn't just tiny, it's not very baby friendly. Then we can sell when (if!) the market settles down again.

Just wondered if any of you watched BBC4's 'Growing Babies' programmes? There were 2, one this week and one last. We recorded and watched them last night, had some really interesting findings in there especially about premature babies and best way to care for them and last night, they said that babies can taste our food - so women who change their diet radically after giving birth tend to be the ones who struggle most to establish breast feeding. My diet is still very bland to keep sickness at bay, and I was looking forward to getting back to normal, but makes sense now to try to establish feeding first before I go mad on curries, strong cheeses etc. afterwards!

Hope everyone's keeping well, anyway. We had another growth scan yesterday and twin 1 was 1lb 5oz, twin 2 was 1lb 6oz. Aw. Twin 1 clearly didn't have an inferiority complex though as was giving twin 2 a good kicking

Hello girls!

Hope all are doing fine and the colds are getting better!

CE - fainting is a very effective way to escape work and to get the rest of the day off and every pg woman has the right to faint here and there! . I have not fainted yet although felt like it a couple of times, but changed my mind as I didn't think it would get me anywhere.
Seriously, hope you're ok and it's just iron levels and low blood pressure.

Binky - I read out to DH the part of your post about Twin 1 and he thought it was very funny.

My anniversary trip to the Alps was great. Thank you for all the congratulations. Except DH had torn his calf muscle skiing ( I end up not skiing but getting a nice full body( except for tummy) massage). So I had to orgaise some removalists for our move to the new flat for Sunday as DH now can't walk properly and I'm not going to do the carrying myself.

I also wanted to share something with you - when I was going by tube to Heathrow ( DH was going separately from work) with my little cabin bag a girl asked me if I needed help and carried my bag for me from one platform to the other at Piccadilly Circus. I was very surprised and reluctant to let her carry my bag up and down the stairs, but she insisted, said that she was a nurse and knew better that I should not be carrying that much ( wasn't that much, maybe 6kg). I don't think this will happen to me again, the majority of public just don't notice anyone else, but I was very impressed and grateful to the girl for her help.

Ok, I have not started shopping yet, but will do soon, so if any of you come across good deals or useful items - please share the wisdom.

Hugs to all and wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

It's so nice to hear of well mannered people who help us pregnant fatties out - the other day a young man shoved past me on a crowded bus to get to a seat! How very rude

Binky - thanks for your note on cots - let me know if you find anything!

Hello all - getting very excited about Christmas mince-pies have just come out of the oven, I've made oodles of chocolate fudge, chocolate coated peppermint creams and brandy truffles as pressies and have marzipaned the Christmas cake... pheweeeeee!

Bathroom still not done but hey ho, not going to get stressed about it.

Best of all, I finished work on Thursday and not going back til 5th January - yeeeeeehaaaa!

Just wondering, how early are you all going to take your maternity leave? I'm thinking of finishing 3 weeks before my due date - is that similar to what everyone else is planning?

Also, DH and I have been chatting about nappies and I'm really keen to give cloth nappies a go - just don't think I can cope with the idea of my baby's nappies stinking away in a landfill somewhere... is anyone else considering cloth? And have you found any decent advice websites?

Hope all are doing well... we should try and do a post-Christmas meet up to compare bumps x

Hello again! I promised I'd introduce myself properly, and then disappeared.

By way of explanation the 20 week scan turned into a bit of a trauma, which has only just been resolved.

The baby was alive and kicking and all measurements were within normal ranges, but the sonographer noticed that he has bilateral talipes (both feet turned in). In most cases that is all that is wrong, but it is linked to chromosomal abnormalities, so I had to go back the next day for a scan with a fetal medicine consultant. At that point I was a little upset, but realised that, in the grand scheme of things, there are far worse things. Unfortunately at the second scan, the consultant spotted three other "soft" markers associated with chromosome problems, and gave a 1 in 10 risk.

I hadn't had a nuchal scan or the triple test, because after all the miscarriages, didn't want to risk the invasive tests, particulary as I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy just because of Downs. So after all that, to be given such bad odds was devestating.

After much agonising, we decided that we needed to know one way or the other so we could prepare ourselves, and I had the amnio and blood tests for a multitude of other things. That was over two weeks ago now, and the final results have just come back clear, and there is no sign of any problems caused by the amnio. So huge sighs of relief all round.

I'm also planning on starting my maternity leave 3 weeks before EDD - conveniently timed with the end of our financial year.
I am self-employed I'm not entitled to the statutory maternity leave, so if my business partners agree, I'll be returning to work at the beginning of November.

As the good nurseries round here are currently booking places for September/October, I've got to start thinking about that already. Scarey or what? I'm visiting a couple on Monday morning to get my name on the list ASAP. This will probably send me into another "it's all going to go wrong" trauma, but, as there is a far greater chance that I will be having a baby in April, it has to be done!

I'd much rather be making mince pies and peppermint creams though. Bicnod - you are clearly a domestic godess!

FlossieF it sounds like you have been through a very stressful time. So pleased for you that everything is okay. Hope you can now relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

We went for our 20 week scan on Tuesday and everything is looking fine. Didn't see as much as the 12 week scan as baby is getting alot bigger so it was more a case of seeing different parts and doctor was fairly brief when she turned the screen to let me see. But the main thing is the baby looks fine and all measurements were normal.

ChocolateEclair thank's for the info on the £190. Have you had your blood results back yet? I haven't had any problems with fainting but would imagine it's fairly common in pregnancy with all the extra blood your body is producing. Anyway I hope you haven't had any more problems and are feeling better now.

BinkyB I saw a bit of one of the growing babies programme and also found the bit about care of premature babies very interesting. Glad your growth scan went well - lol at the antics of twin one .

Skiingone glad you had a lovely anniversary trip. It's good to know there are considerate polite people out there to help us pregnant ladies out and not all are like the terribly rude man Peaches encountered .

Bicnod I'm also getting very excited about Christmas. I'm finished work now 'til the 5th January so got that lovely beginnig of holiday feeling. Going to ice my christmas cake tomorrow and finish off my pressie wrapping. All your home made pressies sound lovely and are making me hungry . I'm starting official maternity leave two weeks before my due date but have around two weeks holiday left so going to tag that onto the start and finish four weeks before. I'm also seriously considering using cloth nappies at least some of the time. Don't think I'll use them straight away as the smaller sizes of shaped nappies don't seem to last that long before the baby will have outgrown them and I don't really want the added pressure for those first few weeks. However I think I'll invest in some of the second sizes. My sister used real nappies some of the time on her DS and liked Itti Bitti D'lish best. She also liked Motherease and Tots Bots. I've had a look at twinkle on the web which seems to have good advice - took me a while to get my head around all the different options though!

Hi to everyone else. Hope you are all doing well and looking forward to a relaxed festive season .

Hello all,

Sorry I have been so quiet lately - work has been a little crazy with the usual end-of-year rush. Today is my last day in the office before Christmas though and everyone else has already left - so it is nice and calm

binky and pink I also watched that growing babies programme and really enjoyed it. The bit that stuck with me was how early our babies developed their memories while in the womb...remembering loud noises and voices from 18 (?) weeks onward...

I am haven't decided exactly when to start maternity leave (I have to let work know after New-Years.) I am thinking of using my annual leave to take about 4 weeks off before my due date, then have maternity leave start as late as possible. I am hoping to come back in the beginning of 2010 (Wow...the seems a long way off! )

flossie It sounds like you had a really rough few weeks following your 20 weeks scan - I am sorry you had to go through that but very pleased that everything has turned out to be OK. What will the follow-up or treatment be for the bilateral talipes?

skiingone I am pleased you enjoyed your trip - although how awful for your DH! I hope that your move went slowly and your nearly settled into your new home.

bicnod It is great that you are considering cloth nappies. I think it is a good idea if i will manage when I am back at work...will you use a nappy service?

I am glad to see that everyone is doing well and promise to post more regularly now that work has calmed down!

Hi Everyone,

Glad to hear all the good news and that everyone is looking forward to Christmas!

Bicnod I posted a thread on the Nappies/PottyTraining list asking about cloth nappies and got lots of great advice. You should try doing the same thing

I have my 24 week scan on Thursday and will be so relieved to have finally reached the
'viable' stage - it seems to have taken forever! Hopefully the babies will all be well and happy and dh and I can feel a bit more confident!