Due Feb 2010 part 2: the second trimester

[CaractacusPotty]

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

Have just had a quick catch up as haven't been on for a wee while. Seems there seem to be a lot of us just now with low lying placentas! I have to go back for a scan at 36 weeks to see if it's shifted, but my approach is that there's nothing I can do about it, and there's no point in worrying about it until we find out what the situation is nearer the time. Which is the same approach I am taking re presentation of this baby. DS might have stretched my uterus enough for this one not to get stuck breech like he did in my bicornuate uterus.

Pregnancy wise, i am feeling great. In fact, I often even forget I am pregnant! I was chasing ds round the soft play today, and only remembered I had a bump when i found it a bit tricky to get through the rollers!!

My ear infection has cleared up pain wise, but my hearing is affected in one ear which is annoying. I will go back to the doc after this second dose of antibiotics if things haven't improved.

DS's party went well on Saturday, it was over in a flash, and the Lothian bus cake was a hit. I will post a pic on my profile when I get home. It's his actual birthday tomorrow, and I can't believe that my baby will be 4!!!!

woowa Yes I am in Australia. I lived in London for 10yrs which is where I discovered MN. I am an Aussie but DH is a Brit.

I have realised that all of my DC are summer babies despite them being born in July (UK), December(Oz) and this one in Feb(Oz)! I am starting to think a winter baby might be nice tho - for me!!! Not hot here today thankfully, just a nice 20c.

mawbroon happy birthday your DS, hope he has a lovely day and glad the party went so well

Chinook- our town is riddled with swine flu and because I teach, I'm terrified I'll catch it and give it to bump and to DS One of my students had it and said he'd rather have died than lived through it, it was so bad

I'm in a bit of a state today. I can't walk properly, my backs given out, my groins crunch if I try to move. I can't get out of the chair and it takes me hours to walk to the car. It's been building up for weeks. I had SPD with DS pretty bad, but nothing like this, it's horrific and I'm only 22 weeks I'm going to ring the docs but I think it's safe to say my pelvis is seperating Anyone know what will happen?

Hello everyone,

We had our girl's name chosen but DH couldn't make up his mind on any of the boys' names. He changes his mind ALL the time. Even our girl's namee has different variations and I have given him all the options and told him to choose and while he likes them all he can't decide on one - he literally changes his mind from one day to the next! It's starting to drive me mad. We haven't told anyone either, it's hard enough to get the two of us to agree with without getting anyone else's opinion!

I slept so badly last night and my bump feels big and heavy today. I am away from home for work and in a strange hotel bed, feeling a bit tired and emotional. Sorry to complain!

Take care everyone.

Thanks for the advice on the low lying placenta. I think what i'm really worried about is that I won't be rescanned before I fly at christmas. If I knew it had moved up before I fly I would feel a lot better but maybe i'm just being over anxious.

I'm so confused about the swine flu vaccine too. I had a bad reaction to the normal flu vaccine two years ago and I don't know how close the two vaccines are. Going to check out the swine flu thread and have a think.

TotallyAndUtterly I would be going for sick leave without a doubt if I were you! SPD and swine flu outbreak double whammy. Look after yourself.

Hi All,

I haven't been on for ages!! I have been very busy with DS starting nursery school. All is good with me, scans have gone well apart from baby not in good position so had to go back the following week, also found out i'm having a GIRL! All very exciting now and DH is driving me mad he would have our bedroom turned into a nursery already if i let him!

I hope there hasn't been any major drama's recently, I will try and catch up but not sure if I'll get through it all.

I have a 3D scan booked in a couple of weeks so I can take DS with us, I can't wait

Is everyone feeling regular movement now?

I really can't make up my mind about the flu jabs, seasonal or swine [worried emoticon]. If you have been offered the seasonal jab, have you taken it?

TotallyAndUtterly I have no experience of SP but it sounds horrific and very painful. I second midnightsun, surely you should be on sick leave if you can't even walk. I really hope it improves.

ktpie my DP only gets statutory paternity pay. Rubbish! He's going to take both weeks, and as my maternity pay will be at 90% at that stage we'll use that to cover the shortfall.

I still sometimes forget that I'm pregnant. And then I catch sight of my tummy, and go, oh yes!! I am loving it though

Has anyone thought of using a postnatal doula. My sister has one and she is a fab help in the home while mum and baby are working things out e.g b/feeding. She makes my sister gets an hours sleep every day and helps with all the household chores. She found her on the Doula UK website.

Unfortunately I can't go on the sick as I'm hourly paid so I wouldn't get any pay Going to soldier on through it. I went to the docs this morn all she can do is give me paracetamol and hurry up my referal to the physio. She said they might give me one of those belts. I think it's heading towards crutches though

Tatty- how much are postnatal doulas?

Becks- how many weeks will you be? I'm getting 4d scan end of nov and I'll be 26 weeks. Can't wait.

Totally - sorry we posted at the same time as each other and I feel bad for complaining when you are having a hard time. I really hope you can see the physio soon.
Good luck with it all.

Oh no, sorry to hear that sick leave is not an option. That stinks.

totally that sounds awful. I take it you don't have income protection or illness insurance (sounds like you are self-employed)? Can you get any benefits to help out financially, as it sounds like working with your problems is just going to get more difficult, not easier?

Becks, yay for another girl (apologies to anyone else having one, I've lost track - maybe when we start the third trimester thread, those of us who have found out should put it on the list?). Glad to hear all is well.

westlondongirl, can you ask for your scan to be brought forward to before you fly? I can't see them saying no, and won't it help the medical person who has to write your letter to allow you to fly anyway? I remember flying late in pregnancy last time, and the airlines insisted on "fitness to fly" notes at various times (one airline was 24 weeks!). It may set your mind at rest...

Mawbroon glad you are feeling better, though it's a shame you still have some pain. Well done on the cake!

flyingcloud, hope you are feeling ok. Don't apologise for complaining, we all have days when we feel a bit blue.

And as for paternity leave, my DH won't have been in his job for long enough to get decent pay, but his employer has suggested he take two weeks annual leave, then his paternity leave a few weeks later when they will be able to give him full pay. Not sure how legit that is, but we're not complaining!

Afternoon all,

Totally, same here - really hope you get some treatment soon, it sounds horrible

Erm, names - firmly in the keeping it quiet camp! Like Watercress and her DH There are so few names that my DH and I agree on (mostly I come up with ideas and he says "nah" , but then doesn't have any ideas of his own ) that I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to put me off them!! I'm hoping we'll manage to come up with a few options and then decide once LO has arrived.

Paternity leave wise, my DH only gets two weeks statutory, which he is definitely going to take - hopefully he'll have a bit of holiday left on top of that too though.

I'm getting a post-natal Doula to do all my washing and cooking - I tend to call mine Mum though...

Totally I'm also suffreing from SPD, I also had it with DS. It started at about 16 weeks with both, when did yours start? Mine was a lot worse with DS and I had to be signed off of workin the end and I used crutches. I know it's not much comfort but it WILL go as soon as you have given birth, but until then theres not much we can do I got referred to a physio at 16 weeks coz I was so bad last time so have been wearing support from then, i think thats the reason it's not as bad this time round.

I'll be 25+2 when I have my scan, mine is also 4d, I had one with DS and it was amazing the pic actually looked like him when he was born! To be honest I'm getting it free from work other I don't think I would get it again this time round.

Totally - That sounds horrible! Rubbish that you don't get sick pay either.

Sounds like my DH has a pretty good deal on paternity pay then, will stop moaning.

The doula idea sounds brilliant! Do you think I could pay one in biscuits?

I keep changing between thinking I'll have the SF jab if offered it and deciding I won't. I think it's a really hard decision to make.

I managed to get a coat this morning, it's this one (in grey, they didn't have purple) from Tesco, got it in a size larger than I normally wear and hoping there is enough growing space in there to get me through. The empire line effect means it doesn't look too bad with the bump (at least that's what I'm telling myself).

How are those with toddlers to contend with getting on? Struggling out to get in the van this morning carrying DS and a bag I started to feel a bit faint. Thankfully he can walk now but is a bit slow and it's fairly hard to control the direction he's heading in so I find myself picking him up when I'm in a hurry.

Hello all, my first time on and enjoying reading your posts. Don't want to sound thick (at least not this early on) but can someone explain the DH, DS, DS1/2 etc? I'm guessing DH is darling husband but could equally be Donut Holder - so very confused!

While I'm on, does anyone have any experience of hypnobirthing? Am 24 weeks with my first, pretty scared and considering waterbirth with hypnobirthing, but none of my friends have heard of it and can't stop themselves rolling their eyes and striking fake yoga poses and going "Ommmmmm" whenever I mention it. Husband equally sceptical (hmm) so would love to hear any comments.

Look forward to hearing how you all progess.

Pingu - at the top of the page there is a link to acronyms or otherwise you can find it here

Oh! And welcome Pingu! I'm 24 weeks with my first too, good to have you on board.

Hi Pingu!
I have a natal hypnotherapy CD that I used to listen to when pregnant with my first. I stayed pretty calm throughout labour, in fact the midwife wanted to send me home as she didn't think I looked like I was in enough pain, not sure if this was due to the hypnotherapy!
The way I looked at it was it was worth a shot and listening to it was a good chance to stretch out on the sofa and relax during pregnancy, in fact I must try and dig it out soon.

Ooh, I do like the coat ktpie, that's my mission for this weekend too - I may well try that little number! Loved the Red Herring millitary-style one but balked somewhat at the £75 price tag!! Apparently BHS have some lovely snuggly ponchos so I may well check those out too...

Welcome pingu! Haven't really looked in to the Hypnobirthing thing, there are classes out there but all of the ones I've seen have been £££ (I sound like a right cheapskate today! ), reckon ktpie's idea of getting a CD sounds good - if it even helps with the pain a fraction it's got to be worth it right?!

By the way pingu, what's your due date? I'm 24 weeks too and I don't have a due-date buddy on here yet!!

Hallo all!

Not enough time to respond to everyone, but it's been good to catch up with all the news.

westlondongirl - another low-lying placenta here. As everyone else has said, please don't worry unduly. It's very rare for it not to have 'moved' by the time they scan you again. I had the same thing with DD and it was well away from the exit route at 34 weeks. Agree it might be worth asking if they can scan you before you fly, if it would put your mind at rest.

Am very intrigued by this hypnobirthing thing since lots of you seem to be advocates.

Welcome pingu

watercress and fiz - with you ont he Blackadder, but when I suggested to the boys that if it's a girl we could call her Kate not Bob they didn't get the joke (unsurprisingly!!).
Welcome Pingu.

Hi Gals,

Loads of questions so I'll just answer an overview- I'm not self emplyed, I'm an hourly paid lecturer so I am technically employed by them but they only pay me for the hours I actually work. Will I be allowed to work on crutches? Or will they not be insured for me? My SPD started at 17 weeks last pregnancy and 6 weeks this pregnancy! 6 weeks! Ridiculous eh? It wasn't this bad last pregnancy. I kind of knew this would happen.

I too am interested in hypnobirthing. I bought one of the books and it looks fab. I'm definately going to try that aaabbbcccd technique for breathing and relaxing. Couldn't afford the classes though.

Will i still be allowed a homebirth with bad SPD or will I have to have a hospital birth or cesarean?

How many of us are having girls?