Due Feb 2010 part 2: the second trimester

[CaractacusPotty]

Not sure I am any more qualified, frankly, but hey ho!!

Angela, I'm sure your scan will be fine, espeically as you're feeling so much movement. It's just a shame you have to go on your own - if DH can't make it, is there anyone else? Failing that, get yourself a good magazine or book to read in the waiting room, and reward yourself with a bar of chocolate afterwards!

Also having "hard bump" moments. I don't remember this so early on from last time round, but as I'm utterly convinced I've forgotten everything I ever learnt about caring for a newborn, I don't think my memory is as good as it used to be.

I definitely feel that there are fewer appointments this time round - I saw my GP after the positive test, and have had MW appointments at 10 and 18 weeks. My next MW check is at 28 weeks, though I do have the scan in between - I'm sure last time I was seen a bit more, but maybe not!

I'm not sleeping very well either. I hope it doesn't mean that this one will be difficult at night (hangs head, remembering that DD slept through the night for 14 hours at eight weeks, and was terribly spoilt on the sleep front)...

We survived camping this weekend, had a great time, my friends went out for a long walk on Saturday and I wimped out of that, partly because I can't carry DS in his carrier as it goes around my waist and I couldn't take his pushchair. Plus I don't feel all that fit anymore, fine if I can go at my own pace I'm a bit slow! We went to the local playground and had fun there instead.

Hope everyones scans go well.

Watercress - I keep having similar worries as DS has always been very good at sleeping, think I may have been spoilt too!

I'm in maternity tops, need the length to cover my tummy and could do with some maternity jeans before I get any bigger.

I asked my midwife for some Gaviscon last appointment, she made a comment about it being early to be getting heartburn and I was only getting a bit then but luckily I remembered how bad it had been with DS and wanted to be prepared, good job as it is getting bad now and I haven't got another appointment for ages!

Hope everyone is feeling well.

Blimey, ktpie, congrats on managing a camping weekend!

D'you think gaviscon would go out of business if it weren't for pg women?!! I cannot stand the taste of the stuff, but have to admit it works.

Goodness, I didn't mean to cause a stir about mat clothes! If it makes it any easier, I've been living in a skirt whose elastic went years ago so is just a drawstring waist at work, and joggers at home! But I remember just being so vast so early with ds2 (I think because it wasn't long between ds1 and 2) that it's nice to not be mahoosive this time. It's funny - I look porky in the mirror (presumably the view most people get) but from my point ov view looking down I feel I look enormous!!

AngelaCarleen - have you any friends who can come with you? I know it's not the same as actually having your dh with you

flyingcloud 4 hours in close confines with drunk people - very relaxing, not!

Very VERY cautiously think I may have had a little less nausea this weekend. Unfortunately, also finding normal meals not enough... Bring on the bulge!!

Angela - good luck with your scan. It's pretty understandable to worry - we're undertaking the biggest responsibility of our lives. Hope you can maybe find someone to go with you.

Watercress - duh - um what does a hard bump mean? I get that too, but I guess it's normal.

2Happy - fingers crossed for less nausea for you.

Angela - Good luck with your scan, I really hope you can take someone along with you for company. I am also very nervous as have my cheeky scan (at Royal Free - which I have actually moved from and shouldn't be going to) tomorrow, am 20+1 now so just hoping all will be well. Am sure that I have felt movement this weekend but as it's first time still doubting myself.

Is anyone else ravenous at the moment, I cannot stop eating - and it's all bad stuff like white toast and butter!

Nah, I know someone who works for GSK who make gaviscon. Us pg women are but a mere drop in the ocean to them.

I got my AFP results today. I have a 1 in 182 chance of a Downs baby. It is a higher risk than with my ds (he was about 1 in 208 or something IIRC) but it is the going rate for somebody my age, so we won't take it any further. Has anyone else had results for this yet? I did all my stressing about this with ds, and this time I'm like, yeah, whatever. I can't believe how much more laid back I am this time. Poor child neglected before we even start.

I have a dose of thrush which is annoying, I haven't had it since I was pg with ds. Goes with the territory I guess. I'll phone the midwife tomorrow to get canesten on prescription, I am sure they can just hand it out without me seeing the doc.

I've not had blood tests results back yet, but they said three weeks which was last week, so I'm just hoping that there's nothing to worry about as they've not notified me IYKWIM.

No-one to come to scan with me, all family hundred's of miles away (and besides my mums swanned off to cruise round the caribbean ), and my two closest friends aren't around. I hate going in and everyone staring at you trying to figure out why there's no-one with you , I know that's pathetic.

Just got my pregnancy email which says at 20 weeks I now only have 140 days to go, oh my days .

Is there any way to show off our bellies on mumsnet? A gallery or something? I want to make sure my belly is not the biggest belly around!

I've had 4 scans so far (with two more to go,for various reasons to do with ivf, kidney function, bleeding and location of placenta). DH missed the first two, came to last two, and after sitting in hospital being tortured by babyTV for 3 HOURS last week, don't think he'll be at the next ones! There are always women there alone, I don't think it's odd at all, and most midwives seem to be completely lovely anyway!

elebereth, you can create a profile page and post pics on there. I think my ds accidentally took one of my bump the other day when he was messing with the camera! I'll have a look for it and see if I can get it posted!!

Can I join in I've just found you! Due on 23rd Feb. 20 week scan next Tuesday....nervous but excited!

Reading about weight gain with interest, I have put on about 11lb so far - although I went from doing weightwatchers and running about 10 miles a week to erm, eating bread and chocolate and sleeping 13 hours a day so no wonder really. Trying to up the fruit and veg count and get moving now the ridiculous exhaustion has passed but not worrying too much, am otherwise having a trouble free time of it and staying healthy touch wood. Although DH said yesterday I don't look pregnant yet really just a bit fatter...he was actually trying to be nice, I was like, er, thanks!

Also just discovered my hairy belly...omg!!

Hi Boardbunny and welcome

I'm really glad I asked about hairy bumps, seems more have them than smooth ones like in the maternity bra pages in the Mothercare catalogue!

Angela, I don't think it's odd anyone going alone to appointments, sometimes partners just can't make it. I know what you mean about good mates being far away geographically, could you take a wee video if your mobile has such a gadget? Or get loads of prints?

I too had to go bra shopping and was quite shocked at the size that fitted! They have grown a lot (I was an AA cup before pg) and are now quite torpeedo like much to dh's amusment

I'm feeling very lucky not to have indigestion (touch wood)and really hope that the symptoms ease off for those who have nasty ailments.

Look after yourselves

scan at 20+1 yesterday... all well and, well, we couldn't avoid knowing that DD will be joined by DS in Feb! Full frontal! Just wonder now whether to tell anyone or not - can't believe how many people asking - i never, ever do... or that 'what names are you thinking' either!

DD (2.10) is flat out on the sofa having a kip which she hasn't done for months, so i'm sitting feet up on the other one catching up on MN!

Lots of movement, which seems a lot earlier than last time, and i've been in maternity jeans for weeks too... starting to need longer tops now, and my coat suddenly seemed tight yesterday! it was fine the day before!?

seeing MW every 4 weeks here in NZ which is quite nice, but don't get a ref to the consultant until 29weeks. Am swinging (wildly, and almost daily!) between decision on VBAC or elective section after probs with DD.

weighed myself yesterday and i've put on 10lb...

DD worrying that i'll 'get broken' for birth - i've just said not to worry, and even if i do break they'll just fix me again (fingers crossed!!)

hope everyone is ok!

I thought all the blood test results would be back by now? Mine came back several weeks ago (they do them at the first scan so they can tie them into a nuchal fold scan, and so they can do CVS before 16 weeks if needed) and I think my risk was 1 in 400ish. The fact I can't remember is a good sign!

I'm ravenous at the moment too - more so in the morning than later in the day - so am trying to eat healthily (but failing much of the time, alas).

Very amused by all the talk of hairy bumps. I don't think mine is any hairier than my usual tum, but I am noticing all the stretch marks from last time round (eek).

Pops, good luck with your scan today. Stoofadoof, glad yours went well and if it's any help, I'm planning to say about the sex but not the name (chance of a decision that DH and I agree on before the birth is slim anyway!). Mawbroon, boo on the thrush.

And welcome boardbunny!

Your health board sounds much more organised than ours watercress! I was told that by the time I have my scan (15th Oct) it would be too late to do an amnio, and anyway, they don't check for soft markers at the 20wk scan any more apparently. So I would have had to have made a decision on the amnio based purely on the 1 in 182 figure.

In fairness, it was only a couple of months ago that they introduced 20 week scans for all here, so they are still a bit disorganised.

Hi all,

Glad to hear all the lovely scan news.

I had a 1 in 46 nuchal screening result at 12 weeks and had the CVS, not really knowing what I would do about a negative outcome, it was horrendous but luckily ok. So pleased your odds aren't low enough to worry you mawbroon..and with you on the thrush too, sooo boring. I had to get a prescription from my GP but she gave me loads to keep me going.

I have a hairy tum too! Although it seems to have been around since the last time, and indigestion kicking in in the last few days.

I have my scan on Friday and I'm dying to know the sex but DP not budging, any ideas? I am hoping for a blindingly obvious full frontal like yours stoofadoof, how funny.

Ah well, broke open the maternity clothes today. It was kind of fun - I'd forgotten about some of the clothes, just a bit stuck with a pretty limited choice for the next 20 weeks! Then spent all morning at work hoiking the trousers up!!

I got my blood results long enough ago to have forgotten what they were as well, but they were done early to tie in with nuchal too. Glad your results were ok mawbroon.

Boardbunny - yay! another person due on the 23rd! Welcome.

Glad the scan went well, stoofadoof

To be honest mawbroon, my local NHS is pretty shonky, and this efficiency is very uncharacteristic. The cynical part of me thinks that something must have happened to make them so good in this respect...

I'm also bored of maternity clothes 2Happy. Oh maybe I'm just bored of the way I look in them! I feel massive today, but then it is my exact halfway mark so I suppose it's nice to have it noted in some way.

Clappedout good luck with the scan. Hope you get a full frontal!

PS. So proud of myself when my bolds work!

I am loving all the tales of hairy bumps, purely because it is the first symptom anyone has mentioned which I don't have!

I have a word of warning for anyone who, like me, thought they would find out the sex of their baby but not tell anyone. It is not as easy as it sounds! Have nearly slipped up lots of times already.

Is anyone elses bump growing at an alarming rate? Seriously, I will explode if it carries on at this rate. I have had to start wedging myself with pillows at night to get comfy. Lucky old dp....

Glad the scans are going well and hope all those yet to come go equally well.

I think my midwife thinks I'm nuts. Went through today (I work in the hospital where they're based) and asked her about my 16 week bloods, well actually I asked her about my blood test that I had done 4 weeks ago. After about 5 minutes of me gabbling on she eventually said 'oh, your pregnant' . She's going to ring me tomorrow afternoon and let me know the results as theres nothing on my notes in her office, which I think is a good thing . This was after I asked her what a pm clinic is, that would be a clinic in the afternoon Angela , muppet!

Was looking after a wee baby on the ward today and all I kept thinking was 'wow, I'll have one of those in 20 weeks'

I'm wondering if DH and I should pay for another scan when he's home so he can see the baby moving around etc. I've told him it's up to him, as he's the one who's missed all the other scans. I feel so sorry for him that he's missed them

For those who don't usually eat fruit (like me) and feel that they should be eating more to nourish little ones, I've turned to Innocent smoothies. Although they seem really expensive (about £3 for 1 litre) if you're like me and buy fruit but never eat it and it goe off in the dish and you bin it, the smoothies work out cheaper. I just hate the texture of fruit, but Innocent smoothies are great. And they count as 2 of your five a day if you drink 250ml!

My bump was so hairy last time it must have looked like a monkey was giving birth, poor doctors! Glad other people are similarly afflicted.

Think I have been overdoing it a bit as I keep getting a horrible pain in the side of my bump, I think it is muscles or ligaments pulling. Baby seems more active than ever and getting to the point where you can see the movement from the outside. I tried to show DS (15 months) yesterday and he came over and stuck his fingers in my tummy button then found a scrap of fabric (I had been making curtains) and spent a happy ten minutes trying to post that into my tummy button. He is very cute as he keeps wanting to cuddle the bump!

DH came home from work yesterday and was shocked at how much my bump had grown during the day (perhaps this is the cause of the pains?).

I'm ravenous all the time as well, made some hobnobs on monday and ate them all yesterday, just having a bowl of cereal as I was still hungry after my jacket potato.

Woowa - nice tip, I am exactly like you, since I got pg have spent a fortune on fruit that just goes off in bowl bought with good intentions.

Well had the 20wk scan yesterday at Royal Free and all seems well, they really are so much bigger. It seemed so quick but saw all the bits except those gender determining one's. I was sooo close but dp was adamant. Turns out I have an anterior placenta as people have spoken of, so may not feel as much movement early. Having said that got major kick during scan and baby was going nuts last night. Think I ate too much sugar. All so exciting... we had to have a long walk round mothercare afterwards to go gaga over cute things...

Walked straight into RF antenatal reception after scan and removed myself from their books so am now officially at UCH but got my cheeky extra scan.

Hello All!

Welcome to the new comers. I have been keeping up with everyone's posts but have been just too freakin' tired to post myself! I am an exceptionally lazy creature these days!!

I am 20+1 today, had my first midwife appointment and scan. Everything went well, baby is looking the right size and healthy . We didn't find out baby's sex - it is going to be a surprise now!

DD came to the scan and was very excited about seeing baby but quickly lost interest when she saw that 'baby' was a fuzzy black and white blob on a little TV screen.

My appetite is still man sized and shows no sign of easing off, DH reckons I will catch a cold from all the time I spend in front of the open fridge. Thankfully and amazingly I have managed to avoid MS so weight gain has been unavoidable... About 7kg so far - sorry I'm metric!

I have had to try and seek out summer maternity clothes which is easier said than done. No one seems to have grasped the fact that Aussie women still like to wear 'nice' clothes while pregnant which don't cost 100's+ $$$. I miss shopping at Dorothy Perkins, H&M and topshop. Most of them do ship to here but that cancels out any saving I make. I am just going to try normal but bigger clothes for as long as possible - then I may just slob about in sarongs!!

I had my first major sobbing tantrum tonight after DS, while pissing about with my make up when he was supposed to be brushing his teeth, dropped and smashed my lovely new Bobbi Brown foundation. I had been wanting it for ages and got it for my birthday. I managed to save about 1/4 of it but may slice my face off if there is glass in it. I cleaned up the mess then sat on the bathroom floor and had a big cry. It's not fair!! I must go to bed early tonight.

Take care everyone!