Due September 2005 - Thread 4

[PiccadillyCircus]

Here is a new thread

Hi all,

I haven't been in touch for a while , due to a mixture of usual things things like nausea and exhaustion plus feeling very low. But the good news is that I am feel great now, so good that I am going to go swimming today.

I went for my first scan on 11/3(just the normal one)and everything appeared fine. It was quite amazing seeing that little person for the first time. DP had tears in his eyes. It all seem much more real now.

I didn't have the nuchral scan as it wasn't available in my area. Also have to admit a little bit of "ignorance is bliss" . However I am due to have the blood test for Downs, etc on the 4/4 and we then go on holiday for two weeks so I hope I can relax and not worry too much while I am away.

Re getting ready for holiday - is waxing ok when your pg??

Hi Jaxpax, glad to hear your scan went well. I went for my triple-test bloodtest today so fingers crossed. Last time I got a phonecall from the mw saying 'You have to come for another scan as soon as possible, you're high risk' - I was completely thrown and said 'High risk for WHAT???'. Once she'd explained she said 'You're being very brave, most people are in tears by now' - needless to say that prompted a full-on breakdown as soon as I was off the phone! I had I alpha-feta protein levels but the 2nd scan was fine - jus the usual overzealousness - let's hope I don't get a repeat of all this because hopefully it's just one more visit to the hosp for me (20-wk scan) and from then on it's just community mws and home sweet home with any luck

Hi all. Glad that most are starting to feel better.
And glad that you had more positive news Milward.
I'm feeling much better now - more dynamic although still prone to extreme tiredness. And also the odd niggly stomach cramp when I overdo things. Spent yesterday and the day before crouched in our loft bagging clothes and books for charity shops prior to our forthcoming move. And certainly felt it when I woke up this morning. But by mid-morning had recovered so set about once more with a vengeance.
Haven't posted much recently as seem to have bouts of being completely overwhelmed by gutwrenching nerves and worry regarding the pregnancy. Nothing to worry about on paper, but perhaps because I know so many people having babies this time whereas last time I didn't, I just feel so much more aware of potential problems. Have had a lot of sad news from friends recently regarding their pregnancies, so I feel very unsettled and upset for them too of course. And while I love love love the advice and community of mumsnet, it does mean you hear so many varied experiences including some really sad stories
So all in all, while physically better (hooray), am much more of a nervous wreck this time, convinced that something is going to go wrong, or that I won't cope after the baby is born, or that I could never love another baby as muchas I love my daughter, or that the lack of sleep while caring for a more and more active daughter is going to send me into a complete tizz. What a wuss

Glad everyone is feeling better does this mean we are going to start blooming? Wish i had more energy but heyho nevermind.
Pooka - Stop beating yourself up sweetheart, the anxiety is perfectly normal especially if you have friends who have had bad news. We all worry that something will go wrong but that is all a normal part of going through the process again, first time round we all think we are invincible and never worry about what ifs and maybe's but once you have been there and done it and you get used to looking after a child then the anxiety kicks in, a friend of mine has three and said that her anxiety levels increased each time, she is expecting her 4th and is a nervous wreck even though all her stats are fine. And don't worry there is allways room in your heart.
Franch - Hope you test results are ok.
Good grief I have waffled on a bit haven't i.

Not at all Compared to me at least
All reassurance gratefully received.

Moring all, I had my 12week scan yesterday and all seems well, we don't belong here anymore though as my edd was 27/9 but the scan put me back to 02/10.

Are you off to join the October thread Yokefleet? Make sure you pop back here and keep us updated!! You're the opposite to me - I had my dating scan and was due 2 weeks earlier than I thought.

Is anyone intending on doing an NCT ante natal class? Or done one before (would you recommend it?)? If you are planning on doing one, have you booked in yet? I read somewhere that you virtually have to book in the day you conceive - must get onto it!

Have MIL and SIL coming to stay tonight for a few days - we are going to tell them tomorrow night after my nuchal scan. Also going to phone my parents in NZ and break the news to them (they will be wondering what is going on - last time I went home from the UK I took a husband (actually, fiance, now husband). This time am taking a baby! LOL. First grandchild on both sides, so expect there will be much excitement!

Must be mad, as have booked flights home (one way) departing on 29th Nov. Baby will be 8 weeks at most. Am working on the basis that it's probably easier to fly that distance with them before they are mobile...

Yokefleet - you should keep posting here (and on the October one) in case you are early - only 2 days in it!
Kiwifruit - I didn't do NCT classes just the midwife led ones, but they were useful. As you say though it's best to book NCT early from what I've heard.
Glad most of you are feeling better. I haven't posted for a while as there isn't really anything going on. I'm at that stage where apart from a growing bump I forget that I'm pregnant really. Have an appointment next week with the midwife (16 weeks) but don't really see the point - the usual bp etc in and out in a few minutes. I have already asked to cut down to minimum appointments though, so probably can't take any more out! I might take ds1 with me as he loves playing 'doctors' at the moment so will be fascinated by it all.

So Kiwifruit - are you moving back to NZ or just going for an extended visit?

I did NCT classes and really enjoyed them. What do you hope to get out of them? We wanted to meet people in our area who were more like-minded and were keen for an intervention-free birth. Our teacher was great. Both DH and I really got a lot out of the classes.

I have just got my U/S and triple test date through and it is during a week when I am away, so I hope I can change it to earlier, else I might be too many weeks pregnant for it to be accurate.

I have toothache. Does anyone know what treatment a dentist will do on you whilst pregnant?

Moving back - DH is English, but is now homesick for NZ (we lived there for 3 years before we came back here), and I have to admit that I am too. We'll always be backwards and forwards though, as DH still has family over here (although his twin brother and wife are talking seriously about emigrating to NZ too, which would be great).

No idea about the dentist - I guess they will do anything not requiring large amounts of drugs? All I know is that treatment is free (although not sure if this is for all dentists, or just NHS??).

Beatie - re NCT classes... Would like to meet people in our area who will also have babies about the same time as me (don't have any friends over here with babies), and the general ante natal/birth stuff... Will give them a call this afternoon and try to book something...

Whereabouts in NZ will you live?

In Christchurch for the first month (that's where my parents are), then probably in Auckland, as it's DH's first choice, and where most of the jobs are. I'm not so keen on Auckland, but figure that since DH has moved to the other side of the world, shouldn't be too churlish re where we live. And I suspect DH will soon lose his rose coloured spectacles (we were very over living in Auckland when we came back here) and I will be able to suggest that we move somewhere else (as I said to my Dad - sometimes you have to lose a couple of battles to win the war - rule number one in husband managment!!). Actually, Auckland isn't so bad (just expensive in terms of housing), and we have a lot of friends there. We are cunningly going in November to get 2 summers in a row - when we came back here we did 2 winters in a row, and it nearly killed me!!

Speaking of summer, it's soooo nice out there this afternoon, and I'm stuck in the office . Not fair.

DH and I have tentatively discussed a 3 year move to NZ in two years time. He's a Maths teacher and we keep reading about how there will be a shortage of Senior School teachers starting in 2007, owing to some baby boom. We quite fancy a little adventure and the chance to explore the other side of the world without making multiple trips.

I've ruled out Aukland because of house prices so maybe over the coming months will pick your brains on other areas to live.

Beattie - feel free to ask anything you want to know. My preference would be for Christchurch (but I'm biased ), or some of the smaller centres like Napier (lots of yummy vineyards) or Nelson (great weather, close to gorgeous beaches...).
You're right about the shortage of teachers (and I think maths teachers especially).

Kiwifruit, just to confirm what others have said, I did the NCT classes and really recommend them - I thoroughly enjoyed them and the social side is incredibly important IMO. We had a couple of meals out before the babies arrived then started meeting weekly as soon as they were here - plus ad hoc meet-ups in twos and threes in between times. We kept this up for nearly a year - most of us have moved and/or gone back to work now, but we're still very much in touch and had a big joint 1st birthday party in January. I think the early days with DD would have been a lot harder without the support of 6 other mums with babies of exactly the same age as mine.

And if you haven't called already, RING NOW!!! They do book up incredibly early.

Hello

I have just come across mumsnet and hope this is the best board to post my first message on!

I am 36 and 15+2 with my first baby (EDD 6th September).

I live in Putney, SW London and will be having my baby at the Chelsea & Westminster hospital.

Look forward to chatting to you all.

Thanks Franch - have just checked out the website for Central London, and there doesn't seem to be much left for Sept babies. There is a Saturday/Thursday one that does 20 hours and has 6 couples for £400 (ouch!), so think I might go for that one and wait to see if any others get added that I can switch to (some are still only up to May babies). Or maybe I should go for a shorter one and also do one through the hospital/midwife (assuming that they do them...).
Any recommendations? What sort of course did you do?

I went to antenatal classes run by my midwives which were great and free and I thought it was especially good for them to be run by practising midwives who might actually be delivering my baby. I found the classes practical and realistic (my sister in law went to NCT classes and they seemed to paint a very rosey picture of things so she was shocked when she had to have an emergency c/s and the like) and they didn't start until I was in week 33 which was good as I could still remember what they said when I went into labour. I was also on leave by then so didn't have any issues about getting to the classes. You are actually entitled to time off for parentcraft classes anyway.....
Betsey - I also live in East Putney and am having babe no 3 in Chelsea & Westminster - which is where I had ds and dd. My edd is 16 Sept.

With antenatal classes, so much depends upon the person running them. There was definitely a social side with my midwife-led ones too which I agree is very important and they also tended to encourage intervention free labour but at the same time were realistic and cautioned about things that can go wrong. If the social side is important, then agree the NCT is good but I found I met plenty of people just through my classes, baby clinics and doing stuff like baby massage and going to the park etc. I have to say, I was a bit put off by my local NCT who were really snooty about me being a working mother and quite dogmatic about various issues such as MMR and natural labour and so on. It really depends what works best for you. I preferred to meet people my own way rather than be lumped together in a group and try and get along with those people. I think you can be very lucky and a number of my friends have made lifelong friends through the NCT but others have been disappointed and found it a little socially exclusive. In theory, its objectives are great but so much depends on who is running your local branch.

Thanks Sallie - good to hear a different point of view. Maybe I'll do a shorter NCT course, and the one that (hopefully!) the midwife runs. Decision is too hard for my tired brain at the moment...

Betsey - welcome! How has your pregnancy been so far? Have you had scans/booking in appointments etc?

I hope my posts helped. Much depends on what you want to get out of your classes. Betsey - we might be at C&W at the same time - you never know!!!!

Hi Sallie

Nice to talk to another mum who lives so near me!

I am also going to go to the classes run by the midwives as they are just around the corner from me and I have found the midwives so friendly and approachable. I don't think I would like NCT classes anyway as I get the impression that they are focused on natural births/breastfeeding and I am definitely more of an epidural/bottle feeding kind of girl!

Did you find the C&W a good place to have your children? I don't know anyone else who's had a baby there.

Hi Kiwifruit and thanks for the welcome!

I have had 3 scans so far (had 2 miscarriages before this pregnancy so was a bit paranoid!). I had one scan at 7 weeks, one at 9 weeks and my nuchal scan at 12 weeks. The nuchal scan came out fine with the risk of downs at 1:2800 which was really good for my age so I was very pleased about that.

I had my midwife appointment last week when I had loads of blood taken for various things, and I've got my 20 week anomaly scan on the 22nd April.

I haven't got much of a bump yet, hoping it's going to start growing soon!