Due May 2009. Woo hoo! Summer babies!

[ScaryHairy]

Hello

I have just found out that I am pregnant and calculate that the baby is due on 1 May. It's a bit early for me to be getting excited but I can't help it!

Is anyone else due in May?

OOh just had a quick drool at the maternity underwear on the Hot Milk website - will have to invest in some I think. (and quite soon, my body seems to be expanding all over the place - its ridiculous). Due no doubt to the copious amounts of carbs I'm consuming to make myself feel better. Don't normally eat much bread etc so this is weird for me!

Tired and slightly nauseous this morn, about to make a 'Peppa Pig' cake for DD2 who is 2 today! Keep putting it off as struggling with the idea of whisking raw eggs - uck. Has to be done though.
detsy - can't believe only 1 of your 6 neighbours willing to BD when partners are showing! My DH couldn't be less bothered about the bump etc except it gets in the way a bit! Will have to subtly ask my friends and see what their partners think - interesting...........it's actually me that goes off it - can't really be bothered and later on I get Braxton Hicks afterwards which is really annoying (sorry if TMI). I do however change my mind and become quite keen from 37 wks onward and insist on it as much as possible in an attempt to GET THE BABY OUT!
Sorry am lowering the tone!

imnotok - BIG congrats and welcome!

Congratulations & welcome imnotok

Cote interesting how the care differs between countries. Possibly it's the NHS trying to save cash, but I think it's also due to the fact a lot of people feel pregnancy & childbirth can be too medicalised - it's totally natural, after all - and being cared for in a more low-key way can be more relaxing for the mother.

Personally I've got no issue with being under the consultant, but I feel strongly about trying for an active birth & don't want to be on my back strapped up to an array of machines if I can avoid it.

detsy not a lot of bedroom action here either, mostly due to my body clock shifting to early nights/early mornings. Also am nervous about fully doing the deed because of the spotting - I know it shouldn't do any harm, but I can't relax - so relying on other methods of entertainment

Asked DH if he thinks he will be put off by the bump, said 'dunno, maybe' - durr, wrong answer!

I don't see how pregnancy can be 'more medicalised' just by being followed by a qualified doctor rather than a midwife whose medical knowledge is limited.

From friends in London, I heard quite a few bad stories on antenatal care - ex: midwives feeling the bump and declaring baby is head down (rather than the ultrasound which would be the norm at 8 months or so here) and then woman pushing for hours before someone realizes its the bum coming out. Emergency c-section, baby's legs out of sockets, two operations in first year of baby's life

True, childbirth is 'natural', but it was also natural until very recently in human history for many women and babies to die or be damaged during childbirth.

All my humble personal opinion, of course.

What happened to your friend sounds truly awful!

I have heard good things about the French health system - that they don't skimp on investigative tests in contrast to the cash-strapped NHS who keep everything to a minimum, which can lead to problems being missed.

I can certainly understand you being more comfortable having your care given by a specialist gynae. For me, and perhaps because the NHS is the way it is, I'm comfortable with mw care as I think they (generally) have good practical experience of the whole range of pregnancy symptoms & complications and know when to refer to a doctor. Doctors only seem to be bothered when things go wrong rather than supporting you through the whole experience as a mw is more able to do (eg I have a 24hr advice line I can contact, midwives who support & can advise on active birth, yoga etc). But as I say that may be due to lack of NHS resources rather than the fact that midwives are an inherently better choice for antenatal care than doctors.

Spanglemaker, I have a rather different personal experience. I was under consultant care with DS for a variety of reasons. My consultant was more than happy to support my decision to have a water-birth. The midwives, on the other hand, dismissed my decision without any discussion and I had to get my consultant to write his "permission" on my maternity notes.

My consultant took the time to make sure I was sitting, standing and getting out of bed correctly and even advised on relaxation techniques. The midwife, who I saw regularly, never even bothered to learn my name

With the exception of my consultant, the whole experience of pregnancy and delivery care was pretty appaling. I am considering an alternative hospital with this baby.

I have a GP appt this afternoon, the only time they could offer me was when I have DD with me. Was hoping she'd be at school when I went - now I'm going to have to spell out that I'm pregnant to the GP so little ears don't hear.

Are there ANY safe cold remedies out there ?

Have been feeling increasingly rough for 3 days now - sooo stuffed up, headache and head full of cotton wool. I think stinking cold plus pregnancy brain = catatonic !!

llareggub that is awful of the midwives! Just as well your consultant was more sensible.

I realise I'm probably being totally paranoid about the thought of being 'wired up' if I don't need to be (who knows, on the day I could be begging for a bed and an epidural within minutes!). I was heartened by the mw I met yesterday who was very pro relaxation methods, and gave me the number for her colleague who is into yoga as prep for the birth. But there is no guarantee who I'll get in hospital and they might be complete ogres!

Actually what's worrying me more than anything is that they're scheduled to be moving buildings 2 weeks before I'm due - and we all know how these things get delayed! Am just hoping it won't be complete chaos.

Spanglemaker - Getting advice on 'relaxation techniques' is all well and good, but I hope there is someone around you in RL who also tells you a bit about the reality of birth, so that you won't be disappointed (or feel like you failed) if you discover that it is near-impossible to 'relax' when being squeezed like a lemon by (what feels like) the hand of God

I know several people who went into birth thinking it would be a 'positive' experience that would celebrate their womanhood and where they would sail through thanks to their hypnobreathing, relaxation, homeopathy, etc and came out bitterly disappointed because it was the worst pain they had ever encountered and no amount of 'relaxation' helped.

I think the key is to try whatever techniques you like, but understand that no matter how you've prepared, sometimes giving birth takes a turn that is out of our control.

I listened to a hynoptherapy-for-giving-birth tape that someone made for me and did yoga. I'm really glad I did those things as they made me feel positive at the time, even though I ended up having a terrible birth and had to have a C-Section. I think a lot of these things are helpful in terms of managing the fear of giving birth, rather than the actual process itself.

Cote don't worry I have no illusions that I will 'breathe the baby out' ! I may cope very bravely, or I may completely wimp out almost immediately - I've no way of knowing. I won't be disappointed in myself if I can't cope. But I do believe that I will certainly cope better with the fear of childbirth and have a more positive pregnancy if I can use yoga etc to relax beforehand. And it may even help me in the event, if I'm lucky.

A friend of mine had a (half-hearted) attempt at natal hypnotherapy, and while she said it didn't help her in the later stages of labour it was useful earlier on. The mw also said in her experience women who used relaxation techniques went into childbirth with a more positive mindset compared to those who had had little preparation who tended to be much more stressed and afraid.

I saw my froglet today!!! DD kept pointing at the screen made me cry!! Have another scan in two weeks as they could only just make out a heartbeat as by the size 7mm, I am only 5wk +4 so very early for a heartbeat.

The consultant was in there with me as they had concerns that I was having twins, they said my high hotmone levels were due to an ovarian cyst whioh is nothing to worry about apparently!

spanglemaker- I am training to be a hypnobirthing practioner and I used the technique with the birth of my daughter. It was amazing. I am actually looking forward to this labour it was a fab experience I didn't feel pain.. I wasvery calm and didn't have any drugs not even gas and air really (that was down to me not using it properly)- Ruby came out after 3 pushes, no tearing and she is so content I believe that my stress free birth contributed to her being such a relaxed baby, she slept though for 13 hours a night from 12 weeks and she was breastfed which is unusual- belive me I endured lots of hateful looks at playgroup from tired moms!

Also I gave birth in practcal silence which was very calming!

Congrats bluebell82 lovely news that you saw your bean!

one thing about the level of care I received during labour was that hypnobirthing did work against me as midwives measure your labour by the amount of headbutting the wall you re doing. Because I was calm they sent me home and told me I wasn't in labour and to come back in the morning to be induced as my waters had broken.

I went home and was back at the hospital 40mins later and had my dd within 25mins of arriving..

Also they didn't even bring me a cup of tea they expected me to walk to the other end of the ward and get my own! I felt like the wqorld had fell out of my fanny at this point!

Bluebell, lucky you seeing your baby! Glad everything OK so far.

I saw the doctor today. Now have to wait for my scan appt, although I won't be having a scan until I'm 12wks. Will be Consultant-led though as I had my stomach opened up twice ten years ago due to having an ovary removed (I had ovarian cancer) and then again when I had an emergency C-Section with DD. Now have the option of going for an elective C-Section, but that would mean opening up the same scar for the fourth time - might as well put a zip in there

bluebell82 wow, I am very impressed, and very pleased for you that you had such a positive birth experience. I'm thinking about hypnotherapy - will have to do some more investigation.

There was a programme about freebirthing on TV a few weeks back, which featured one woman who had a completely silent waterbirth - think it was her first child too. I'm sure that is a very rare - and in all probability a very lucky - experience but it was inspiring!

(Certainly won't be contemplating freebirthing btw!)

So here I am, determined not to eat the world and put on 38 pounds like last time. Careful with what I eat, sticking to salads, vegetables, and grilled fish/meat. No deserts, no chocolate. Even exercising a bit on Wii Fit.

So how is it humanly possible that I have put on over 2.5 pounds in 4 days?!? Booooo hooooooooo

Has anyone else already put on weight?

cote, have I ever! I swear I look more pregnant than my colleague who is 26 weeks. I'm sure people at work have guessed.

I've resolved not to weigh myself for a while - my tum is massive and bloated and I'm feeling fat, so don't want it confirmed !!

Silly question coming up - I have the scales that also measure body fat %. I think that the fat assessment is achieved by some small electric charge through the body to measure resistance - could that be dangerous or am I being neurotic

Oh, and has anyone got any experience of Watford General ? Sounds like that is where I'll be going and have searched MN for opinions - some very good, others horrific

Hi all, just found out Im epecting my second, and very much of a shock, baby. I have a lovely dd whos 15mths and will be a week off being two when baby comes. Im due around 20th May, cant quite belive it still, was expecting to have a bigger gap between the two. Any other second timers out there would love to share your tips

Hi all,
Thought I should join in. I am due around 27th May, and the tadpole will be my first baby. Really excited, scared and excited some more in amongst feeling sick and having the sorest boobs in the world!

Does anyone else feel weirdly lonely? I think its because we have decided not to tell anyone until scan and I'm not one for keeping things quiet.

OK Ladies im officialy a fatty, 2 people today asked when im due!? Im only 5 1/2 weeks, why am i so big. Mum said because 2nd pregnancy and bla bla bla but im seriously worried aout twins as they run in our family, in very big for dates, i had positive pg results at 2 weeks after period. Someone talk to me!! xx

Wow bekkaboo- how long are your cycles usually, amazing to get a BFP 2 weeks after period!

I think its normal to worry about twins- i've done it in every pg. But guess if there's a history of it, then you have more reason to worry lol!

As for putting on weight, I've read that this could be to do with bowel activity slowing down and being a bit bunged up- I know I am!

As for doing the deed in pregnancy, DH enjoys it, and was even having erotic thoughts about it the other day! Not that we've done anything about it lol.