Due in September 2009: we are now officially blooming!

[StealthPolarBear]

Even if it doesn't seem like it most of the time

i just had a 16 week appt today (at 18 weeks!) all is fine, but my next appointment is apparently at 28 weeks - crazy stuff. i reckon asking the dr to do the normal checks in between is a good idea if you need the extra reassurance or have questions, i had shared care last time which worked out fine.

i had a hugabub sling which i used day in day out for most of the first year and then went to an ergo sling after that. both are great, but the hugabub is great for newborns and the first year. i'm only hoping i can find it again in the cupboards somewhere - i really don't know where i've managed to hide it. otherwise i'll have to think about getting another. you might need a few goes to learn how to tie it, but once you know it becomes second nature andyou can do it super fast.

If it's your first you should be getting seen every 4 weeks throughout pregnancy, (these are the official guidelines). For your second (or 3rd, 4th etc) you see the MW alot less, I didn't see much of the MW until 3rd trimester with my second and expect the same this time. If you have any worries along the way you should be able to see the MW whenever you want, not just on your alloted appointment weeks.

erhianj here! decided to get round to changing my name!

Audrey I had my 16 week check last week, and wont see the midwife til 28 weeks either, but there seem to be quite a lot of appointments after that with her. Will look up the hugabub sling - slings seem like a great hands free option!

Such a slow typer! Every 4 weeks there will be 12 weeks between my last appointment and my next! My Dr's are used to me now though (almost on xmas card terms) so am sure they will see me if I want any extra checks.

Thusnelda I have to say i agree about newborns in front facing buggies, I dont like it at all and definately prefer to be able to see my baby and for them to be able to see me.

I was also shocked to find that at my 18 week midwife appointment I wont see her again until 28 weeks, although I have my scan on 22nd and having just moved house I think I will book in to see midwife at new gp surgery a couple of weeks after the scan then it wont seem so long inbetween.

Well i have been shopping today for new clothes, I tried so hard to find some bargains and resist mamas and papas but it didnt work, 10 minutes and 2 tops and a pair of jeans later and id spent £77. Good job I have an understanding DH. Plus I totally neglegted my appearence whilst pg with dd and really do feel that contributed to my pnd so have vowed to have nice hair clothes and nails this time round hehe

Thusnelda I have to say i agree about newborns in front facing buggies, I dont like it at all and definately prefer to be able to see my baby and for them to be able to see me.

I was also shocked to find that at my 18 week midwife appointment I wont see her again until 28 weeks, although I have my scan on 22nd and having just moved house I think I will book in to see midwife at new gp surgery a couple of weeks after the scan then it wont seem so long inbetween.

Well i have been shopping today for new clothes, I tried so hard to find some bargains and resist mamas and papas but it didnt work, 10 minutes and 2 tops and a pair of jeans later and id spent £77. Good job I have an understanding DH. Plus I totally neglegted my appearence whilst pg with dd and really do feel that contributed to my pnd so have vowed to have nice hair clothes and nails this time round hehe

Hi all just to clarify, your scans count as an appointment. It 'should' be 8-12wk (booking and/or dating scan), 16wk, 20wk (scan), 24wk, 28wk, 32wk, 36wk, 38wk, 40wk, 41wk (consultant app). I shall emphasise the should as every area varies greatly, however these are the official guidelines every PCT should be aiming for with 1st pregnanies. I'll try to post a link, when I get time. I think it's the NICE guidelines but I could be wrong. I think with subsequent pregnancies they are allowed to drop a few but you must be seen by the midwife at least 4 times (I think)

Hi all, just checked and 1st pregnancies should get 10 appointments You can read the guidelines for ante-natal care here www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/CG62/NiceGuidance/pdf/English

oh sorry for slingmeet confusion. My head has gone to mush I swear - I wandered off in Ikea today leaving my handbag in one of their room sets like it was my own living room...

Agree with Littlecheese re having nice hair, clothes and nails, have only left the house 6 times since Jan due to the HG and do look a little dishevelled , so cannot wait to get to the hairdressers and have something done to my mop,cos it does make you feel worse. I've ordered my clothes online, but am still sort of inbetween, normal clothes are too tight and the maternity ones are just a little too big! Am sure I will grow into them soon enough though .

ahhh - Ikea
It's a four letter word never to be said in our house, poor DH comes out in a sweat at the meer mention of Ikea!!

Lizlemon - lol at leaving your bag in the ikea room set I have been really scatty too. I've also started calling my son by my brother's name (they have the same first letter but that's where the similarity ends). Aaagggghhh - I'm turning into my parents!

Re appts. I had a 16 week one with a consultant. Have to say, I think it is rather poor that 2nd, 3rd timers etc.are seen so little. Just because they've had a baby before, doesn't mean their needs are less. Having had several m/c I would like to see a m/w more than the standard appts offered. At the very least I feel that women should have their blood pressure and urine monitored every 4-6 weeks. That could be done with a practice nurse - doesn't have to be with a m/w. On the other hand, I do understand that some women who have had uncomplicated pregnancies relish the idea of less input.

I confess- I have never been to Ikea. More at home at the Countrywide stores where you can buy Layers Mash, Alfalfa and other such treasures for your critters. Must say I like some of the local furniture and homeware stores, though sometimes all this shabby chic is more like shabby s**t. Is it me or is anyone else sick of Cath Kitson prints everywhere. If I go in one more house with the same blasted bunting and floral teacosy with shabby roses on I'll scream.... Sorry it's the hormones.....

No I completely agree - I'm so over Cath Kidston, if I was ever into her. I do have one fabric that's kidston-esque (I sew stuff) but it's got cowgirls on it so I think that's ok.

Glad you got a 16 week appointment with someone half decent Thusnelda.

tpt: 8 and three quarters, up a quarter from last week. Have done hardly any exercise this week so it's hardly surprising.

Just had my anomaly scan. Bit early at 18.6 but I couldn't do it next week so they opted for earlier seeing as how I hadn't been scanned since 8 weeks.

I'm so excited. Everything looks good (and quite cute if you ask me). Amasing the detail, like when she pointed out a blob and said that's the bladder. I'm thinking I'll have to take your word for it, looks like a blob to me. We were in the US with DS and didn't get this level of detail with the scan so it was a bit new.

Booked in for another scan in 3 weeks because it was a bit early they didn't get as clear pictures of the heart as they like. They didn't see anything wrong just want to be sure. No complaints here.

Oh yeah and its a girl. I can't stop grinning - one of each, will definitely be shutting up shop now.

Makes up for the news that I now have to start medication for the gestational diabetes. Going to be a long 21 weeks, I just want my baby now.

Excellent news ticklist. Congratulations on a girl how lovely! I'm would love a little girl, but I would also love a brother for ds. I can imagine myself as a mum to a brood of boys! I can't wait to find out what it is, part of my wants to get a private scan just to know! Won't have my scan till I'm 23 weeks so its a long wait till the middle of May...

Will be listening out for the horses/train thing at the mv appointment this morning- which way round was it for boy/girl?

Can't tell yet but I hope its another sunny day.

I sell stuff for sewing Lizlemon so that's probably why I am critical of some fabrics that are popular now! At the moment I am making antique looking little bunnies in vintage silk fabrics with button joints and felt bears. All for grown-ups not babies though. Wish I knew what these two were- they wouldn't tell me at the 16 weeks scan.

Neddie they sound lovely - would love to see them. I'm so in awe of people who make softies. I make bags mostly, with bibs, doorstops and make-up bags on the side thrown in for good measure. I'd love to know what this little one is so I can make some cool clothes.

Sadly I've got to wait as long as you to find out bigbang. Congratulations on finding out TickList!

Can't you make some cool clothes anyway? I find it so tedious that these days everything seems to be either pink or with a tractor on it.
When I was little we had mostly children's clothes rather than boy/girl stuff. Stripes, animals, red, green, yellow - and very often handed down. Admittedly I did find that annoying sometimes, especially when my grandmother bought four matching cute little winter coats for my four cousins - when they arrived on my shoulders 10 years later I didn't find them quite so cute, especially since I had all four of them year after year after year! But mostly I didn't mind it at all. My mother had regular "Kleidertausch" get togethers with her friends to swap or buy from each other, and some of my favourite clothes came from them.

Congrats Ticklist! REALLY cannot wait for my scan now - 2 weeks and 2 days......!

Neddie those softies sound cute, you'll have to put them on your profile! would love to be able to sew, buttons make me loose my temper though so not good!

What I'm looking for at the moment is bras that actually fit! I've gone from 34c to 38c but cannot find anything to fit properly, maybe I can live in boob tubes for the time being!

Hi there, I'm a newbie, and I'm due in September (the 12th to be exact) this is my first pregnancy and I know nothing about babies, so guess now is a good time to start learning!

Glad there are still a few others whose skin is still terrible was thinking it was just me!

So hello everyone

Hello Weddingtigger - lots of newbies on here, but lots of very helpful 2nd+ timers - let the learning commence!!

Morning all -

Congrats Ticklist, that is such exciting news!

So I am half way today (based on dates for late August which I think are out by 5 days hence I am on the Sept list). Feels like it will be a long way to get through another 20 weeks again, but everyone says this bit goes more quickly. I hope so.

Scan in one weeks time - getting excited after hearing about your Ticklist!

Hello and welcome Weddintigger!

Daffodilli, I find bras difficult too. Bought my first maternity one yesterday but even the specialist couldn't sufficiently explain to me what the difference is between a normal non-wired and a maternity bra. Superior microfibre or something. Its a 40C - I'd rather have a 42, but anything above 38 seems to start at DD or the like. Will have to find those extender bits for the back to hook in.

Hi there Daffodilli and Thusnelda, thanks so much for making me feel welcome.

I had a nightmare getting a maternity bra, Mothercare couldn't fit me as they said my shoulders were too small, managed to get one in M&S but they are soooo not attractive. Sigh