Due March 2010 - do I look pregnant yet or just fat?

[annamama]

... starting a new thread as the old one was running out of space ...

Hi everyone, I haven't been on ages as nothing to say but I have been lurking!

For those who are tired so was I (so much for the blooming second trimester) but got blood-test yesterday and turns out I'm anaemic so now have a prescription for iron. Might be worth checking out.

Haven't even considered shopping for the baby yet....hmmm maybe I should make a list.

Was thinking of going for a Stokke Xplory - cruely expensive but was hoping to get one second-hand. Any of you old-timers have any views?

rebecca I'm another one for the anti-d injection, but I'm not getting it until December. I'm surprised they took so long to tell you! Hope things get better for you now. I'll be on the look-out now for bleeding!

Hello again all - sorry it's been ages since I last posted - in fact, I can't actually remember when I last posted...

Back in the land of the living (more or less). Have moved - our furniture into the garage of the new house, much of our stuff into the upstairs bedroom which is having the least c**p knocked out of it, valuable/electrial stuff into a storage unit, and ourselves and stuff we needed for survival (that's ALL DD's toys, then) into ridiculously wee 2 bed flat (with NO storage space).

But builders are in and have started knocking stuff down and the architect has finished his drawings and is just checking with the planning depts. so it's all quite exciting at long last!

Have almost finishd unpacking the remaining boxes here, and am looking forward to living box-free for the first time in weeks and weeks.

The whole packing marathon was a nightmare, not helped by every member of the family going down with the tummy bug which DD brought home from nursery, DD had it Sat/Sun, I had it Tues/Wed, my Mum went down with it Thurs/Fri and DH on Sat/Sun. 'Twas great fun, indeed it was. Of course DH had it MUCH worse than the rest of us...

Internet connection here patchy on a good day, and surfing/posting at work is a big no-go as we're all trying to be extra conscientious to keep hold of our jobs following even more redundancies last week ? hence my prolonged absence. Have been trying to keep abreast of what's been going on with you all, but it goes so fast...

Had my 12 week scan (at 14 weeks) couple of weeks ago along with blood tests for downs. Results from that have gone AWOL though, as our Royal Mail re-direct doesn't seem to be happening with all the strikes. It's irritating, because I know bubba's nuchal measurement was a bit high, so it would be good to know what effect the bloods had and what the final ratio is. But then DDs was off the scale and she's fine so I just thinking that it's maybe just the way I make 'em and trying not to panic...

Phoned up about my GTT results, as hadn't heard anything after 4 weeks, only to be told they can't tell me over the phone, but if there'd been any concerns they'd have phoned me... so, er, um, ok then... Not massively reassured, so am being careful about my diet until I know for sure.

Looks like I'll have to wait for my 16 week MW appt (which, incidentally, I won't get until I'm 17weeks + something) to find out about all of that. It all seems a bit ineffectual... but I guess Royal Mail isn't helping.

Thankfully the intercostal muscle I pulled is finally starting to ease, so I'm getting some sleep again. Probably helps now that I'm no longer packing/shifting boxes of heavy books and large items of furniture. I find it amusing that DH gets worked up about my carrying DD up and down tube stairs in her buggy and tells me off, and then in the next breath says "can you help me move this table/wardrobe/chest of drawers?"... ...

Aside from all that I'm looking quite huge already (but I knew I would - I was massive last time too) and just generally a bit wiped out my too many late nights at work (there have been a few too many midnight finishes recently - just what I need!?) or packing, followed by early mornings with DD. The new nursery run means I have to leave the house half an hour earlier than I used to . I could do with some long lie-ins but that isn't likely to happen any time soon... .

On the upside am now only 10-15 minutes walk from the Whittington... .

I'll try and catch up more this week, so I can post something which is less "me, me, me!!" but hope meanwhile that evryone's doing OK - although Rebecca it looks like you had a pretty rubbish day ... Hope you've recovered and your DH is now home and pampering you suitably?

Right, gotta go sleep...!! Determined to be in bed before midnight for the first time in weeks. Will try and do better next time - sorry all!

db
xx

Minicooper - "poo and snot", haha... thanks for sharing! Glad you survived...

Rebecca - it sounds ridiculous what you had to go through! When it could have been sorted out straight away like you said... I'm also Rh-. They've just changed it to only one injection (at 28 weeks), it used to be 2 anyway. Yes it does hurt a bit, ouch!

Donttrythisathome - let us know how you get on with the iron! Is it true that you can get constipated from taking tabs...? I'm borderline anaemic but will just try to eat more red meat, spinach etc to start with.

DB - sounds like you've had a tough time! Where do you / will you live now then? I wish I could live around those necks of the wood, I used to live in Tufnell Park. You should phone your midwife and ask her to phone up to get the blood results and risk number. That's what mine did.

I'm off to a "celebrity hairdresser" in London today! His name is Stuart Phillips, I had never heard of him... DH found him for me and booked the appointment as a treat, as I've been saying for a while I don't know what to do with my hair, and we love watching the makeovers on Americas/Britains Next top model! God knows what he will come up with... (help!)

Hee hee! I'm also LOL at Pacific saying that Pixie's been sleeping with a Slytherin!! Sleeping with, thinking of...I can see how you'd get the two mixed up?!?!?

Annamama - thanks for the suggestion about my bizarre BH-like sensations - but it's definitely not my bowels! I've had plenty of that sort of thing too so I know it's not that

Good to get an update from you DB - I really hope you get the chance for more sleep soon.

Rebecca - thanks for the tip about hypnobirthing. I'm trying not to think about the whole labour thing too much yet, but I know when it gets a bit closer I'm keen to try anything that might help make things a bit quicker and easier this time (it was a bit of a long drawn out process last time which culminated in more than an hour of pushing) and I think some relaxation or positive thinking-type exercises might help. I'll check out your link.

Right, I've got to get off into town to brave the local jobcentre as, to cut a long story short, the contract with my last employer ended so I'm technically unemployed, but trying hard to start working from home, so until I can get something off the ground I'm getting my money's worth from the goverment. But I forgot to go for my first signing-on appointment. Oops. Not sure if the preghead excuse is going to wash with the lovely Jobcentre Plus people...we'll see!

ROFL at Slitheen/Slytherin exchange

DB - glad your move went well - it gives m hope.

We have found a property a love and is perfect just haven't bloody sold ours. I'm desperate!

Hi rebeccacad, I'm another Rhesus- person.

Sorry you had such a horrible time at the hospital. It just brought back a memory and I wanted to share it.

I went in to the hospital, pregnant with DD at about 30 weeks or so, as I'd thwacked my bump with the clothes horse (don't ask) and I was paranoid about internal bleeding and needing an anti-D injection.

DH and I spent about 5 hours in a tiny store room on the labour ward while they took blood tests, monitored the baby's heart rate, checked I wasn't in labour (!), lost my blood results, took them again and finally gave me an anti-D injection. We ended up playing games like I spy and 'I went to the cinema and I saw...list names of films in alphabetical order' and by the time I finally got the injection we were both practically hysterical with laughter having been cooped up in there for so long. Still, I think it means that me and DH get on OK which is good.

And you know what, after all that performance DD is RH- too, so I needn't have bothered. Ho hum.

Annamama - enjoy your treat!!

Designerbaby - congrats on getting sorted - sort of! It'll be worth it in the end.

Just back from 16 week midwife appointment. Heard the heartbeat which both me and DH thought sounded like a train ( old tales suggest that means its a boy!)

Advice please - I' mt hinking of changing doctors surgery - is it mad at this time??? When we moved here 4 years ago we didn't know there was a surgery in walking distance. I have dream like visions of walking to the surgery next summer pushing DC for weigh ins etc rather than traipsing in the car off up the road. More importantly I don't feel 'cared for' by the baby team at my surgery. You have to go on specific wednesdays and take the earliest appointment no matter how inconvenient and see either the maternity GP ( who is a cow!) or the midwives. Today was my second midwidfe appointment. The first one seemed completeley disinterested and todays just seemed unhelpful. I asked about parenting courses which I had heard that the surgery offerred. She tried to fob me of to NCT which costs quite a lot and people I know locally haven't been impressed. I made a quip about having enough to spend money at the mo ( in jest!) and that I thought they offered them. Her response in stroppy tone was - well thats what you get the government grant for!! (beg to differ!!) Then proceeded to be told that my sugars are way too high and what did I want to do about it. Well hello - I don't know - you tell me you're the midwife!!! Outcome was blood to be sent off in first instance. Not too worried about that as my twin had high bloods for all 3 pregnancies. Anyway am I being silly?? I don't feel supported at work or at the GP and can't change work so wonder If moving GP would help??Heard good reports about the local surgery. The last 3 appointments (except today) have all kept me waiting 30 mins. Granted some GPs are quite nice but you can't see them in pregnancy. What do you reckon? DH just says 'whatever you think'.

xx

Scooby

I changed GP's to my local one whilst pregnant with DS1 - really glad I did. I had to write a letter and request the transfer to the new GP practise manager explaining why as I hadn't just moved to area. It being closest to you home will suffice. It's a small practise so I nearly always see the same GP.

NCT - I couldn't recommend it enough. I only did NCT but I have friends that did both. All said that the NCT classes were far better. the other ones seemed to comprise of 16 yo Mums.

So, Annamama, are you looking gorgeous? Hope you got spoilt rotten by your posh hairdresser.

Scooby - I agree, prob worth changing now - if only because as you say, you can walk to the closer one when the lo arrives.

I did NHS classes as well as NCT - NHS offered 3 morning sessions, but no partners allowed and I wanted him to be fully briefed in what to expect - hence NCT! NHS classes were useful in that they were run by one of the (lovely) midwives from the hospital - and although I didn't have her during my labour, she did most of my postnatal visits and was lovely. NCT was good for giving me a completely false impression of what my labour would be like but did actually provide me with a fantastic network - we still meet up most weeks, whereas the NHS class was so big you didn't really get to know anyone. Hth.

Sparing a thought for those poor mums in Sydney with the dust storm - I would be in a proper preggy panic if I lived there!

scooby at the completely disinterested care you're recieving! That's awful! Shift GP asap. Blimey if your community midwife doesn't give a toss about your pregnancy, who else there is going to?! Just

I have always chosen to be registered with nearest GP, simply for ease of getting there, so can only recommend that (and no, I am not registered with our own practice, fabulous as we are !)

All you Rhesus negative mums: if you happen to know/are able to find out what Rhesusfactor your DS/partner is, then you do not have to worry or have antiD if he is negative too. If they are/were blood donors they would know. Might save a lot of faffing for some of you...

designer, well done for having survived move more or less intact. We moved 2x whilst I was pregnant and did up houses while staying in rented flats - and it is a nightmare! But was soooo worth it, so hope you are going to have a gorgeous home to raise family in .

I swore I would not MN tonight, really need my sleep. My cough has FINALLY stopped and I need to catch up on sleep.
48 hrs countdown to my 16 week check - I am unreasonable excited seeing that I have already been scanned 2x, but I am changing hospitals (the one I had previous 3 in is closing before this one is due and totally unreasonable they did not agree to keep it open until he will have arrived, grrr) and need to get booked again and dazzle them with my oh so fascinating obstetric history .

So, night-night, hope you are all well x.

Hi all, sorry I haven't posted in ages.

Had my 16 weeks check on mon, heard heartbeat which was a relief as I hardly have a bump (was small last time too) and was begining to think i'd imagined being pregnant!

Interesting scooby that you brought up changing gp's, I think you definately should by the way they don't sound very supportive at all! I was considering doing the same but not sure i can be bothered with the change and the possibility of them losing info in the move etc hmm... They're ok at times there have been several occasions where they've just been rubbish about all sorts really and thet aren't the closest one to me either. There is one within walking distance and the one i'm with now is in town...

I'm soo tired lately, having to grab a nap when I can every day which is a bit annoying as there's stuff I need to get done round the house that I could use that time for. I'm a total yawning misery if I don't get one though.

Anyway, sorry for the me me me post...

DB - Glad you got moved ok

Off to watch friends re-runs with dh

Must...get..off.....MN...........aaaarrrrrrghhhhhhh

Thanks for the tip Pacific... but I already knew that, and they actually tested DH first time around (but he's Rh+). The midwife gave him a blood form, get yours to do that too if you're Rh-!

Oh the "celebrity hairdresser" Stuart Phillips was fabulous! I felt like a star being there... He took plenty of time beforehand to discuss what would suit me etc. He said my hair was badly cut before, some too short layers need to grow out, so he couldn't do exactly what he wanted THIS TIME, haha. But I still ended up looking pretty good. Is it worth the money though...? I guess that depends on how rich you are! I'm not sure if I'll go again, but I highly recommend it as a one-off treat. He was really friendly and chatty, for example he told me that his wife has just left him... I said: "what did you give her a bad hair cut?"

Swingsofglory - yes if you can sit in a cupboard with your DH for 5 hours and still get on, you've got a great relationship! Bloody hospitals...

Scooby - I agree, you should change GPs! You should not be treated like that. And Dalrymps - you should change too. You've got your pregnancy notes yourself, so at least they won't lose that.

I did NHS classes, they were pretty good, but I didn't really make any friends, but later I made friends with one woman from the class who gave birth on the same night as me.

Off to get blood for quadruple test! Should have results early next week, hope it won't give me more reason to worry. I hate worrying!

scooby, sounds like it would be a really good idea to change GP - I'd be recommending it just purely for the convenience even if your midwife wasn't being incredibly rude. You really need to be able to trust and rely on your health workers, especially in the early days, so it's worth finding someone you're comfortable with. And it is really good to just be able to pop DC in the buggy and walk round to your GP - we live really close to our surgery and it was really good not to have to turn every trip into a major excursion. Plus if you get ill yourself you only have a stagger a few metres to get a prescription instead of dragging yourself into car, driving etc etc...

Oh yeah, and I did NHS classes at the hospital and they were great. Not sure I remember every bit of info given but it's good for getting your head around the basics and the main thing is making friends - I still meet up every week with two other mums I met at the classes. I was really lucky I guess because we're all roughly same age/interests etc but we all get on so well (even the DHs get on!) and talk about everything. That's particularly useful when you've got a random question about your newborn which you're too embarrassed to ask your health visitor in case you look daft but you need to get someone's opinion! (although of course you would also consult the wise ladies of MN )

PS just discovered another maternity clothing sale at funmum.com. They've got 25% off til Sunday. I just got this jumper

, sorry, didn't mean to state the obvious re rhesus -. If you've been through it all before, you'd of course know.

Posh haircut sounds fab. It is amazing how much better you feel after great visit to hairdresser's isn't?

Re classes: I did local NHS and NCT classes when expecting DS1, mainly for the social aspect of it. I was very aware that I had no close friends with young babies and my family were all abroad. I felt that both classes focused a bit too much on the technical bits of giving birth rather than on the much much longer period of time you are going to spend looking after you baby! It all seemed to culminate with the safe delivery of the baby unto mummy's tummy and that was that. Eh, no, that's when it all started, IME (I felt it was a bit like made bridezillas focusing only on their "special day" and kind of forgetting there was going to be a lifetime spent in matrimonial bliss from the following day onwards ).

My bumb is positively huuuuge - 16 weeks tomorrow . I am still wearing "normal" clothes but only because I had lost some weight before I became pregnant and size 16(!) still fits...

Pacific - I don't think everyone knows that, so well said. However, I just realised, maybe midwifes don't suggest the baby's father get tested, just in case someone is not sure who the father is!!!

Yeah they don't tell you much about how to loook after a baby do they? Oh well, books and maternal instincts turned me into an ok first time mother...

Heckle - that jumper is great! Thanks for link.

been feeling odd for a few days so i have been to docs, BP slighly raised, but not overly concered, just been told to take it easy and keep an eye on things, if i am worried etc to go back, made appt to see mw too incase they have any ideas !!! Headches are terrible, she has given me some paracetamol but to be honest whats the point!!!!!LOL, she thinks its hormones but who knows,

i have told work i won't be in tonight as gp said to try to rest more!!!!!HAhahaha, thats intersting with 2 kids and a lazy hubby!!!{grin]

have called mw and she wants to see me next week to be sure everything is ok, i feel better by getting checked out though,

hope everyone is ok xxx

I'm another Rh neg. I had the injection first time round but when we moved house I found DH's blood donor card (he only gave blood the once and couldn't remember what he was) anyway turns out he is Rh neg too so no need to worry this time round.
annanmama my BP is 100/60 which isn't as low as you but I'm normally border line high so it's low for me. MW suggested drinking lots of water but I'm not sure how that helps. I know you need to keep your fluids up anyway. Friend suggested iron supplement but I'm wary of getting constipated so not really tried that although she did give me water soluble stuff that is supposed to be very gentle.
scooby definitely change your surgery. They sound horrible and then there is the convenience factor so 2 good reasons.
NCT classes were too far away for me so I just did the NHS ones. Too busy to get chatting to anyone but got the general gist of childbirth and breastfeeding from them. I made mummy friends at our local family centre. NCT isn't the only way to meet people so there is hope for those of you who don't have an NCT group within easy reaching distance although I do appreciate that a lot of women do make really good friends through NCT. Your MW or HV should be able to tell you about any local breastfeeding support groups (if you are interested) and your local council should be able to tell you of any mums and baby groups/mums and toddler groups in the area. I moved to the other end of the UK when I was 20w pregnant with DD and was desperate to get out and meet people after I had DD

tentatively pokes head in

Hey all,

I'm pretty new to mumsnet and only just discovered these 'due date clubs' after mostly lurking on pregnancy...

So, a brief intro:
I'm Amanda, 35 (36 in November weeps) I have DD 14 and DS 11... and now 16+5 (EDD 7th March which is DD's birthday!) with DC3 (new partner - ex-DH and I broke up over 3 yers ago)

I'm currently a SAHM, but have had a varied 'working life'.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!