Due Feb 2010 part 2: the second trimester

[CaractacusPotty]

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

Forgetting your notes, ah yes, very nearly did that too, but I remembered, and forgot my wee sample lol. I'm so with you on the finding things in weird places, except it couldn't be me that put it there cause I'd remember wouldn't I My brain is porridge

Asked about the Swine Flu Jab and my Midwife suggested the Department of Health Website, haven't had a look yet but she said it's reliable information and recommended by one of her mates (also a MW) who has a pregnant immunologist on her books!

Also got told the amount of Braxton Hicks I'm sometimes getting is well over normal so if I get another episode like last week where I get loads I'm to call Triage and go in for a check. Also that I must rest more. That's me told. I'm off to the sofa with the newly arrived Ina May Book, The Guide to Childbirth one, I reckon I'll be asleep in 3 minutes!

Good luck with the letter, just got my Mat B cert today so that's one for tomorrow

Glad it's not just me that forgets my notes! I must have forgotten them more times than I've remembered them, think my MW is coming to expect it now. Remembered my wee sample for the first time though and was very proud of myself for that!

I sent my MATB1 to HR this week, I'm starting ML in February but taking the whole of January as annual leave which is my full year's entitlement. I would have been able to carry it over to 2011 but I'm an accountant and January is year end, and hellish, and I am SO GLAD that I am not going to have to do it, and 8 months pregnant come to that. I've got a long and growing list of Things To Do in January, anyway, and hope I'm not too huge and exhausted to do them...

Is everyone's baby moving daily? Mine has the odd very quiet day, today it has hardly moved at all and it's not that I'm too busy to notice as I'm (whisper) a bit slack at the moment

Had a nap and a look at the Department of Health Website. This seems to be a good document to read, lots of facts! I like facts, I don't like spin!

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_107650

fiziwizle - if i haven't felt baby move for a while i have a cup of coffee and that makes it move again! Am i a bad mother? Well, I just worry that it's not alright. But i am glad you mentioned it because i thought it might just be me who didn't feel it move.

At what point are we supposed to actually worry if we don't feel it move? How many weeks, I mean?

A lady at my church taught me to breathe this week (she's a founder member of local NCT branch, and has taught gazillions of women apparently), and told me to practice on my braxton Hicks contractions. I must say, it's very helpful. my DH is supposed to help me practice by squeezing my wrist as a pretend contraction, squeezing harder for a strong one, etc, so that it becomes second nature by the time birth comes. EEK!! Expect i'll lose the plot and huff and puff like a loony when when it comes to it!

ANyone else planning on doing NCT and NHS classes in order to be as well prepared as possible?

Oh lordy. DS has been under the weather for a few days now. I took him to nursery and minikickers today because he seemed ok, just a bit pale.

After minikickers, his temp shot right up to 38.7 degrees, calpol did nothing, nurofen brought it down a touch. He was also coughing and complaining of being "sore inside the legs"

I phoned the doc who said to bring him in . Our friends next door have all been ill with a similar thing, and it turns out the youngest boy has a school pal who tested positive for swine flu a fortnight ago.

The doc said it was impossible to say for sure, but swabbed him for statistical purposes. It takes a week, so he should be better by then anyway.

Swine flu seemed like something that other people get until this afternoon.

Pleased to announced I've gained 7 kg to date since pregnant! It all just seemed to pile on in the last month, I thought walking was getting a little bit tough on my thighs but only realised why when I got on the scales....

fiziwizzle ... on the buggy thing we got the maclaren techno xt for DD... still going strong 3 years later and ready for this one... it lays flat so is fine from birth... only downsides i can think of are... 1) its forward facing, which we found fine but i know many people (and studies!) suggest that rear facing ones are better cos the person pushing can interact more with the baby... 2) there isn't a huge basket thing underneath for tonnes of shopping - specially when it's laid flat. Also, it's umbrella fold (i think that's the technical term!) rather than a fold flat so it might be too big for your carboot but would be fine for the bus/train etc. We got ours from kiddicare.com.

On the plus side, its narrow, does from birth until they don't need it anymore, was cheap (comparitively, i think we paid £110, but i figure it's done 3 years already and will do for no 2 too, so not a bad investment), has extendable handles so good if you're taller, and fine if you're not, erm, can't think of anything else - but might be worth a look! Oh, and we got the cosytoes thing too to go with it. HTH

mawbroon DD (then 2.7) was swabbed for swine flu back in June... she had 38+ temp for about 10 days and all the stuff that goes with that bless her... on a calpol/nurofen regimen with sponge baths and cool showers and barely got her temp down... we also ended up having to give her an enema cos she was constipated with all the paracetamol! took her a good 3 weeks to get over it i reckon... we got quarantined as well! not a nice time - really feel for you - hope he's better soon!

hope everyone else is doing ok - enjoy the weekend all!

Sorry to hear about your ds mawbroon. It is awful when your precious little ones are ill and you feel so helpless. Really hope he is on the mend soon and that it isn't the dreaded swine flu. You must be worried for yourself and your wee bump too. Try to look after yourself as well as ds.

Thanks for the buggy advice stoofadoof! I had a look at their online video and it looks like it folds up nice and small. I've had someone else recommend a Maclaren too and hopefully I'd be able to get one on ebay... Now how to work out telling my friend that hers is too bulky

Good luck with your DS mawbroon I hope it's not SW [fingers crossed]

woowa I mentioned the mon-moving-sometimes to my MW and she was very breezy (as she always is) and said perfectly normal right now. Pregnancy book said that regular movements should be felt from 28 weeks (it actually recommended to monitor them, i.e. count how many in an hour every day, but I'm not sure I'd go that far? Anyone?).

I'm going to NCT and NHS classes - hoping to meet as many other new mumstobe as possible as I'm moving to the area at Christmas and a little bit worried about being a billy no mates . Oh yes, and good to be prepared for the birth!

Hi all,

Glad to see most of you are doing ok, I am with those of you struggling with toddlers. Although I have just one DD who is nearly two i am finding the lifting & tantrums hard work, not to mention the occasional boot in the tum, bless!

Just got back from holiday in Qatar and managed to end up in hospital with a urinary tract infection that was causing minor contractions. It turned out I also had thrush, both of which if left untreated can trigger labour. I was kept in for 24hrs observations and antibiotics by i/v. All very scary but much better now and never been so happy to see Heathrow, if a few days later than planned.

I hope I don't scare anyone but please all be careful if you think you have a UTI or thrush and get some advice quickly. I had no idea about this beforehand.

Now the dilemma with SF vaccine to think about....thanks to those very informed posters for help.

Thighs are thickening
Face looks like a balloon
Fave shoes don't fit
Can't breathe when i bend down to pick my shoes up
Getting up for a wee at least 3 times a night, more if I can't sleep, which is lots
So thirsty constantly
Have done no xmas shopping whatsoever
Have no idea on jab
Forgot my widwife appointment completely
Have regualr rants at DH about saving money, then blow some on a maternity / baby item to make myself feel better - doube standards or what?

But apart from that I'm fine! Hair is looking rather nice, but not helping as feel like a bloated warthog!

Welcome newbies!

Getting a icandy cherry, lightest one on the market as have to carry pushchair up and down 12 steps every day, bit pricey at £630 for whole system including car seat, but thankfully parents are chipping in.

Anybody had experience of c sectiion? Have appt with consultant in a couple of weeks due to previous gaeny type operations and illnesses

Also, any ideas on halloween costumes for pg ladies? Have seen one idea of painting bump as a pumpkin (bit lame??) and another quite gory one where they stuck a dolls head and arms coming out of the bump with loads of fake blood (bit sick??)

Stay well and healthy and a little bit spooky x

Hi everyone, not posted for ages. Bump has well and truly arrived, at nearly 24 wks, at work there are 3 other ladies due around the same time as me. They look like they have a melon up their jumper, I look like jabba the hut. Oh well!
Decided on the pram, going for the Silver Cross Linear Freeway, and nursery decor but will probably leave it a couple of weeks before that gets tackled.
Having a few domestics at the mo, DH is refusing to smoke outside, he has only ever been allowed to smoke in the boxroom where we have the computer but refuses to move. Thinks the stats on smoking in house and cot death are bollocks apparently. Trying not to get too stressed and hoping he will see sense but have told him if it comes to it either he, or me and bump, will be moving out come the new year, can't believe how selfish he is being.
Anyway apart from that all fine and just watching my expanding stomach with fascination! Hope everyone is having a good Halloween and staying away from the trick and treat chocolate, unlike me!

Hi all, hope everyone is having a lovely weekend

So it has begun... Went out for a dinner date with DH last night (a rare and wonderful thing in these cash strapped times!). Whilst sorting out our bill, the waitress (who, up until that point had been great) asked when I was due... when I told her she looked stunned and said "but that's aaaages away! Have you got twins in there?!" Colleagues and friends might get away with that, but a complete stranger? Grrrr!

I didn't leave her a tip...

Mawbroon, hope your DS is feeling better x

Haven't been on in a while.

I had a midwife appointment last week, took my folder that usually has my notes in, but they weren't there and also forgot my sample. Then when she asked me to go and do one (because I'd been just before we left home) I managed about 5ml, if that . She told me it was pathetic .

DH heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time, and our Bean also had really bad hiccups! Little piggy.

We've bought our pram, and some nursery stuff and a baby monitor. I'm so pleased things are starting to get sorted! DH is being a bit anoying with the shopping though, every day he gets up and says 'can we go shopping for baby stuff?' . Yesterday I stamped my foot and had a pyjama day, there's only so much shopping even I can do .

Hope your DS is feeling better Mawbroon, a week seems a long time for the results to come back, ours at work only take 48 hours .

Fluffycoo my sister-in-law called my bump huge the other day, then proceeded to poke it. Do they sell special finger breaking implements for us to use?

Afternoon everyone, hope you all had a good Halloween. We had a party which was fun, except for me dribbling molten toffee on my thumb which removed a large chunk of skin when I pulled it off, and ds1 and his cousin decided to have a dump each in the back garden .

Pingu - ds2 was a c/s, what do you want to know?

Who said we're nearly (or some of us are already) into the third trimester?? WHAAAAAT?! How the hell did that happen?! I'm still getting nausea every sodding morning, haven't noticed any sign of a bloom, and still can't quite believe I'm pg at all sometimes . Where does the time go?

I've had a shock this weekend, we moved some mirrored wardrobe doors from the spare room to our room and now I can see myself naked when I'm getting dressed, and it's not a pretty sight! I'm massive now! I'm thinking ignorance was bliss. The stretch marks are looking lovely and red again too.

Got my letter to say I will get maternity allowance today which is brilliant as I'd previously misread the requirements and thought we wouldn't be getting anything.

Clappedout - same here struggling with a toddler and tantrums.

Mawbroon - how is your DS?

I'm really tired this afternoon and DS is finally having a nap but I'm waiting for a delivery so better not fall asleep.

Hello everyone,

Mawbroon, how is your DS?

Well the first timer with NO toddlers or children is starting to struggle here. I have pain in my lower back, particularly my tailbone when I am sitting / lying down. I keep having to move around. Another fourteen weeks of this!! God I am useless and am really going to be crap at childbirth.

Flyingcloud I had that pain in the coccyx last time, it was deeply unpleasant and I feel for you.

Hope all of you are well and your children too (fingers crossed mawbroon).

Same here too clappedout and 2happy, totally exhausting!

Take care of yourselves everyone.

Hi girls. Thanks for asking about ds. I thought he was on the mend, but when dh and I checked him last night before we went to bed, he had puked all over his bed.

This is a full week now that he's been ill, but the confusing thing is that he seems to be back to normal poo wise, for a couple of days then it starts up again. He's lost a bit of weight and feels like a bag of bones when I lift him, but he is a solid chap, so had the weight to lose.

I offered him rich teas for breakfast (dry food after being sick) and has rejected them because they are "too brown round the edges". Not too ill to be fussy then!!

Today I will washing his bed all day I think. Duvet, pillows, the lot. Nothing was spared!!!

Top tip for first timers - invest in a good waterproof sheet or two.

I am fine. Pregnancy wise I am hardly having time to notice that I am pregnant. I just get a reminder every time I have to swig Gaviscon.

another one struggling with toddler! the odd nights she sleeps through seem to be the ones i have blinking insomnia too... cack. She's ace tho - offers to go and get my shoes out of the cupboard when we're off out, and passes me the washing out of the basket to hang up so i don't have to bend over . I was just about to start matleave 3 years ago!! time really does fly!

pingu DD was emergency section - so like 2happy, if i can help, just shout ... i'll get to see the consultant in a few weeks cos have to decide whether to vbac or book a section based on what happened with DD... am swinging wildly between the two options and can't make up my mind!

made the mistake of weighing myself today... gulp - i've put on over a stone and am almost as heavy now at 25 wks as i was at 42 with DD! ... mind, i did start out heavier this time too

we had trick or treaters round on sat night - 7pm and blue skies and blazing sunshine - seemed very odd!

has anyone sorted their Christmas shopping yet? am thinking i should probably start which is unusually organised for me! DH is also concerned that we're all alone down here without family support, so he wants me to get bags packed and stuff sorted out in case anything happens earlier than planned... can't believe i've actually been and bought some lansinoh cream today, as he does actually have a point!

sorry for the ramble! hope everyone's feeling ok, and you and yours are well...

oh mawbroon poor you - poor DS!

DD will usually eat a small bowl of dry cereal if she's not well - something like cheerios in a little bowl sitting on the settee rather than at hte table - she'll get through 2 or 3 bowls before she remembers she's not feeling too well!

i'd echo mawbroons waterproof sheet advice too! we've got the hippychick sheets - more expensive than the plastic ones but feel just like proper bedding - not sweaty and crinkly... got ours at boots i think!

Yes, ds ate a load of dry cereal, so at least there is something inside him for him to puke next time.....

I got a waterproof sheet before ds was due, in case my waters broke in bed. It is a horrible crinkly thing, like sleeping on a crisp packet!! I have it as my spare one for nights like last night, but found really good ones in Ikea which don't crinkle at all, and can be tumble dried.

Are we officially in the 3rd trimester yet? It seems overnight I have heartburn and ligament pain when I walk. I feel (and probably look) like a fat old mamma. Can't shake this UTI, on more antibiotics, anyone else suffering?

stoofadoof, I'm having similar sleep problems with my DD. Last night I couldn't sleep from 3am and just as I was dozing off at 5am she decided to wake up and practice her swearing (to my shame), until 7am....sitting at work with huge bags and blurred vision. Grrr. Very sweet that she is helping you with the washing and shoes!

If anyone wants a laugh read the brazilian wax thread, very amusing.

3rd trimester starts week 28 according to something I just googled. I am only 23 weeks, so a bit to go yet, but I guess some of you are there, or almost there!

I really did feel like I was blooming about a month ago, but it was very short lived! Perhaps if we all get back to full health I can bloom for a couple of hours before hitting the third trimester.