Due November 2009: Second trimester thread!

[turtle23]

New thread for you as it was geting a bit big...

helips glad your DS is ok. They keep us on our toes don't they? Maybe he will have a nap today and you can catch up on some rest.

ninjacat I hope you managed to get things resolved with your ex before the weekend so you can enjoy Glasto. It's just a shame for DS' ske he is so unreasonable (yours too, of course)

sleepless sorry to hear about your SIL. I hope she's getting lots of comfort and care at home.

pedalmonster about your 5.5 months garden leave! I'm really glad you're happy with the outcome though, and don't have to have any more stress under that awful boss.

erikamaye I really like Jo Brand actually, so might try that book. Luckily I am going down to my parents' on Thursday and my mum has more books than anyone I've ever met. She'll keep me in ready supply. I know she's got The Book Thief too BBL, so I might try that one. Sorry I've forgotten who was reading Shantaram - I was bought this for Christmas but I read about the first paragraph and I didn't really like the writing. My friend said it was one of her favourite books ever though, so I might have to give it another try.

Sorry, meant to say, lemontop it sounds like you've had a really stressful weekend. I'm glad they couldn't find any reason for the bleeding - I know it's frustrating not knowing why, but I think that is normally a good sign. Do you have to have a scan or are they just waiting and see how you go?

Morning everyone

Lemontop hope you're ok now and feeling a bit more reassured about things. I know a lot of people who've bled inexplicably in pg but all was perfectly fine.

sleepless echoing thoughts for your SIL and hope it's not too awkward for you and dh.

pedal what a result!! Couldn't have been a better outcome for you - am thrilled for you and just a little !!

I've just finished 'Call the midwife' by Jennifer Worth and it was brilliant. All about a young midwife in the East End in the 50's. An excellent book but will tug at your heartstrings esp with pg hormones!

hobnob next do some good maternity top packs - handy for Aberdonian summers as you can layer them under tunics on chillier days. I have some for work and they're ideal.

A friend of mine gave me a bag of clothes to rummage through last Friday and I feel like I've been given a whole new wardrobe! Is lovely to have a few new pieces to wear.

Scarlotti, think I read that one a few months ago - remember turning distinctly green when I got to the bit where the poor midwife is doing an internal exam of a woman covered in oozing syphilis sores... Not a read for the queasy, methinks.

Helips, augggh! Poor you, it's so scary when they do that sort of thing. We've had two runs to A and E so far, and knowing DS, there'll be a few more...

Lemontop, sounds terrifying, I am SO glad that your baby's all right.

Re. clothes - I hate buying stuff online too, especially maternity (where the sizing seems even odder, depending on where the designer estimates your pregnancy weight will go...) The thing I'm worrying about is clothes for this winter, as I remember from DS how hard it was to nurse through layers of winter stuff - you're pulling aside your coat, pulling up your jersey, unbuttoning your shirt, trying to unsnap your bra without pads flying out, and all the while, baby's shouting and your milk is soaking your tops... It's also next to impossible to find button-down shirts which stretch over massive engorged boobs - I was a 34FF for a while - and I was never one of the 'Just haul your top up!' crew as a) I didn't really want to display acres of pasty postpartum tummy, and b) I needed to be able to stuff muslins surrepticiously up my shirt to catch all the run-off.

'surreptitiously', sorry. Good grief. Hi, I used to work in dictionaries before my baby ate my brain!

Thanks folks..my SIL has all the support round the corner, both parents and in-laws so that is a good thing..DH doesn't think I should call yet tho..

pedal that is an amazing outcome!!! gardening leave to boot, what a result.

helips what a mare!!!! you just can't take the risk tho..must have been very scary for you. that remind me to look up where the nearest A&E is here..

Laugs Shantaram is an odd read..not my favourite book but a good yarn all the same. I love India so like to read about the mucky underworld that I don't know much about. Someone was reading in on a helicopter ride to Monte Carlo a few years back and raved about it..think he was just chatting me up..oh the good ole days

Pedal WOW that is a fantastic outcome I have always dreamt of being given gardening leave!! It happened to DH when he changed jobs - he had 3 months sat at home, I was so jealous!

Lemontop OMG you must have been terrified, poor thing. Which hospital did you go to? I hope the bleeding and pain has gone now, and as others have said, it is a good sign that they can't find a reason for the bleeding.

Sleepless I am really sorry about your SIL. Could you maybe send some flowers, so you are showing you are you are thinking of them but without feeling too awkward?

The midwife is coming round at 2pm for my 18 week appointment. I feel nervous that she won't be able to find the heartbeat - those monitor things sound to be a liability and I just have this panic that she will look all grave and have to send me to hospital or something... Also, TWO people at work have told me stories of people who lost their babies in the second trimester - I am so pissed off. I mean, obviously it is absolutely awful for them, but they were both ages ago and they just feel the need to wheel out these stories NOW to scare me - I swear that is the reason. Grrrrrr.

katster I've found that people do seem to tell you horror stories about their/ other people's pregnancies. I can't imagine why they might think you want to know this! I suppose maybe if it's happened to them, your being pregnant might bring it all back. But quite often the story relates to someone they don't even know that well, which really annoys me.
I remember last time this mate of DH's, who I really didn't know, kept on telling me NOT TO PANIC about the birth, but in this really panic-inducing tone, AFTER he'd told me both his children had had complicated births. But both children were absolutely fine minutes after the birth - why not tell me that side of the story instead?

sleepless helicopter rides to Monte Carlo sound very glam! I can't remember the last time I was chatted up either....

Oh, speaking of a-time-when-i-didn't-look-entirely-frumpy, I have a school reunion in a couple of weeks! It'll be so weird to see all the people I haven't seen since school, but I'm feeling so gross at the moment - I don't want everyone to think 'ooh... she's let herself go!' I'm only (just) 28, but have loads of grey hair already! And terrible skin. And I'm just at that stage of bumpiness before people definitely know you're pregnant, so I might just look really fat. Can't afford a new outfit or haircut. Even worse, I have to endure the whole thing without a drink!! I wish I could just be a fly on the wall instead.

Lemontop - Glad to hear that your baby is fine. As someone said before, there are lots of women with bleeding and they can't always find the reason but they had a healthy baby in the end. It is a stupid comparision but nose bleeding is a common pregnancy symptom. Maybe there is just too much blood in our body that has to get out somewhere. Anyway, I hope you feel good now.
Pedal - that sounds good and even better that you and your husband are happy with the situation.
Sleepless - I am really sorry to hear about your SIL but I'm sure she will be fine with all the support from the family.
Katster - don't worry about your appointment. I'm sure everything will be fine. Even if sometimes they can't find the heartbeat wouldn't mean anything. Didn't you already feel your baby move? (Sorry I can't remember)

I had my scan today, everything seems to be normal, quite interestingly the thigh bone is longer than the average (but still normal) and I always thought that mine are a bit too long in proportion to the rest of my body and the "abdominal circumference" would as well be more than the average which again is no surprise considering the amount of food I had the last couple of weeks . Anyway, I wasn't really worried but I'm very relieved that everything seems to be fine. And finally we got the surprise: It seems to be a girl!!! And I was just so convinced it would be a boy (I even accidentally used "he" sometimes). Funnily enough lots of people had told me things like they "knew for sure" it was a boy. It seems this little person inside me has already messed around with all of us

Laugs - I'm sure you'll look fine at your school reunion. I have lots of grey hair as well. I had dyed them for the wedding and now as it comes out again it seems to be worse (what an effect this marriage already has...) Could you maybe use just one of this self dye things? They only cost a couple of pounds. And I'm sure you will look pregnant in a couple of weeks. I think wearing tights things help to show your bump. If you try to hide it with a floating or loose-fitting top you are more likely to look fat than with something tight that shows the nice pregnancy shape.

Thanks ursigurke. I do actually have a home dye kit that I bought ages ago, but it's a colour I haven't used before and I can't afford for the hairdressers to fix it if it looks terrible, so not sure what to do!
Congrats on the baby girl!! And happy birthday to your DH. I hope that was a good enough surprise for him. Are you celebrating for the rest of the day?

Tamlin yeah, that bit was a corker - and the woman didn't have any shame either! Have just get her book about the workhouses so no doubt will come across more delights! Am just amazed at how people lived then, and it was only about 50 years ago. Have to say I do look at bent over old people differently now.

Laugs I'd say dye it! Also, what size are you pre maternity? I have a dress I could pop in the post to you for you to wear if you like.

usigurke congratulations on your scan and your daughter!

kaster hope it's all gone well with the midwife.

Cheers everyone. I came home feeling much better about the situation but then woke up this morning to even more brown blood!

I'm hoping this was caused by being given an internal examination yesterday as I sometimes bleed after smear tests etc. I'm going to give it till tomorrow to see if it settles and if not I'll head back to hospital. It was so scary having to go to the labour ward. It's much too early!

Yesterday it sounded like the doc thought it was a problem with me rather than the baby as there was good heartbeat etc. I'm hoping I'd be in much more pain etc if it was something serious. I've got my 22 week scan 2 weeks today. That might give me more of a clue.

Usigurke YAAAAY congrats on your long-legged little girl!! I am so happy for you. And Happy Birthday to your DH!

Lemontop You poor thing, all this extra anxiety - I am sure you will be fine though. Did they mention cervical erosion? Could it be that? I think that's fairly innocuous but common in pregnancy?

Scarlotti and Tamlin - think I will buy that book on amazon now - sounds just up my street at the minute

Midwife been and gone - she said she wasn't going to check the heartbeat as I have been feeling movements and there was no point as it can still be hit and miss at this stage (can it??) and she didn't want to panic me!! So I worried over nothing. Next appointment in 4 weeks.

Can't believe how many of you have had your anomaly scans - I am so jealous. Mine is not for another 3 weeks and 2 days!!

Oh, and Laugs we have a school reunion too, on 11 July. I am dreading it. DH and I went to the same school so I am hoping I can hide behind him. Also have nothing to wear and would normally over-indulge in the old vino at these things so it's going to be terrible. Hang on - you're not going to the same one are you???! We can look frumpy and pregnant together if you are!!

congrats to everyone with twenty week scans and happy pink and blue shopping...i have to wait till sat week and seems ages away and i have convinced myself something is amiss.. just rang to c if could bring it back to this sat as am 20 weeks this week but fully booked...

also threw up all over work this am, first time this pregnancy, onset of morning sickness at 20 weeks??

Weston, sounds more like a tummy bug to me. Have heard of nausea coming back in the third trimester, but not of it showing up for the first time half-way through! Hope it passes quickly...

I'm twenty weeks last week, and my scan isn't for another week. Small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but gnnnh, I really want to know that everything is okay. Like some of you others, I keep hearing horror stories ('..and the baby had NO KIDNEYS!') from 'helpful' people.

Usigurke congratulations at finding yours is a girl too!

scarlotti that's really kind but I'd worry about something spilling on it etc. I might just go for a tunic and leggings and make sure I tell everyone I'm pregnant!

katster it did occur to me it could be the same reunion as you lived in Cheltenham too, didn't you? But no, mine is on the 4th July. Wish I had a DH there to hide behind (though not mine, particularly, he is even more shy than me!)

weston hope you feel better soon, it's horrible being sick, esp. if you have to work. I'm feeling rough today but it's just hayfever I think. Feel so tired though. DH has college tonight so I'm planning to go to bed when DD does.

Laugs if the hair colour is not too different from your natural one I would dye it. And to you and katster, I'm sure you will be the stars as pregnant women! It's a sign that you are in a happy stage of your lifes and I'm sure there will be others wishing to be in your situation! So you should definitely see it as a positive thing and enjoy being all proud of it!
Weston, I hope it was a one time thing and you will soon feel better.
Thanks for all your congratulations, also to my husband's birthday. He already had a picknick with friends yesterday, cake for breakfast, a scan of his first daughter and will get a nice homecooked meal (I personally think, it would be a good occasion for a small glass of wine for me too) so I guess it was quite a nice day for him.

Aaaw usigurke I def think you should be having a smal glass of wine What a nice birthday for your DH.

Laugs mine is in Yorkshire. Yuck. There's a chance I can sneak out of it as also a 60th birthday celebration on the same day (DH's family) so might have to go to that instead. But then, there will still be the wedding the following week which I am dreading! We are only going to the evening bit, but it is a bloke we both went to school with who neither of us know that well now. BUT lots of school friends will be at that too, and I am feeling v paranoid! No idea what I will wear. I got a really nice tunic-dress from Primark in jade green with black crochet around the edge (that sounds horrid - it's not, I promise!) but don't think it's wedding-y enough. I had got a dress from Zara but I am wearing it today and I have to wear a top under it or it is v revealing. May have to sneak to TopShop maternity beforehand, methinks...
Weston Hope your tum is ok? Could it be a tummy upset?
Tamlin yes, I am sick of those people!! (Am getting a t-shirt that says IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAD A DODGY 20 WEEK SCAN, THEN KEEP IT TO YOURSELF UNTIL I AM 25 WEEKS PLEASE!!)

My goodness I've been away for a week and I've had a struggle to read all your posts!

lemontop what a stressful time for you. Glad to hear baby is doing well. I'm sure everything is fine.

Have my anomaly scan on Friday, we decided not to find out the sex, well unless it gets too much for DH and I and we give in at the scan! How excting that some of you have found out what you're having, we should update the list!

ursigurke congratulations on your news! I definitely reckon a glass of wine is in order to toast the occasion.

I didn't believe school reunions actually happened! Be cool to let people know you're pregnant. You can be all smug and glowing!

ursigurke congrats on your healthy girl, what a lovely birthday present for your dh! Hope you have a lovely evening and you definately deserve a small glass of wine!

Well, ds is back on fine form after last nights antics. In fact he is driving me mad!!! He is in a bed now rather than a cot and just will not stay put, I reckon I've put him back to bed about 10 times already and I am sick of running up and down the stairs. Can't believe he isn't tired after his late night last night and early rise this morning.

Got my scan tomorrow, woo hoo! Not going to find out the sex but will be a massive relief to know everything is ok with beany.

At least my bump may distract from the fact my so-called career is in tatters! My school was a grammar school, so will be mingling with loads of highly successful Oxbridge-now-City types. I will cling to my friends and eat myself silly at the buffet (God, I hope there's a buffet....)

katster topshop maternity do have some nice stuff. Or I'm sure you could dress up your Primark tunic with some well-chosen accessories!

I have been SO clumsy today. I managed to smash two of our 'good' dinner plates and dropped DH's PSP down the toilet . I REALLY hope it still works. In the past I have (entirely accidentally) broken two laptops and nearly a third - all his too.