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 ...

Just adding myself to the list. My, it is getting long :

Becky7000 15 February #4
Smac 25 February #2
pureeandpearls 26 February #2
Tigresswoods 2 March #1
Donttrythisathome EDD 1 March #1
DrSkid 1 March #3
Potpourri 1 March #4
onlyanauntie 1 March #1
369thegoosedrankwine 1 March #2
MissieMoosMummy 1 March #2
cyphercat EDD 2 March #2
Caitni EDD 2 March #1
Horsiemummy 2 March #2
Oscarsmumm 2 March #2
Pipsonhisway 2 March #1
sarahmikeharryandrosie 3 March #3
BlueyDragon 4 March #2
TakeLovingChances 5 March #1
Dalrymps 5 March #2
hecklephone 5 March #2
Dophus 7 March #3
Twofalls 7 March #2
Carrie2010 7 March #1
BYM 5 March #2
CAFW 9th March #2
ilgb 9 March #2
Sariska 9 March #2
rebeccacad 9 March #1
therubyslippers 9 March #1
wilkos 11 March #2
Lemonadegirl 11 March #2
PacificDogwood 11 March #4
itwascertainlyasurprise 11 March #1
Josie22 12 March #1
Swingsofglory 12 March #2
Iwonka 12 March #1
Scooby26 13 March #1
Vixie123 13 March #1
MrsSnow 13 March #1
Minicooper 14 March #2
slackrunner 14 March #2
Poppyjen 15 March #1
Annamama 15 March #2
Childofthe80s 16 March #1
mmtwgr 16 March #2
Scootergrrrl 17 March (??) #3
Arcadie 17 March #3
SleepWhenImDead 18 March #2
designerbaby 19 March #2
Kay1980 19 March #2
Luckysalem 22 March #2
Veryworriedme 22 March #1
Easydoesit 24 march #2
PixieOnaLeaf 25th March #4 ()
Rindercella 27 March #2
Fleximum 28 March #3

Hope I've done it right; took me a while (NOT a computer genius)

Smac, here is my VBAC story: bottom line, it was a great experience and I am hoping to repeat it this time.
I had induced vag delivery with DS1 at 41+5, emCS at 31 weeks with DS2 due to Placenta Praevia and had expressed a preference for VBAC rather than elCS simply because I was hoping recovery would be quicker as I was going home to 2 boisterous boys + newborn. I was told they would be unhappy to let go too much past my dates, so I did everything I could think of to get things going once I was 39 weeks: evidence based or old wives tale, I tried it .
Lots of excercise, hot curry, nipply tweaking, sex, Raspbery Leaf tea tablets (cannot stand the actual tea), acupuncture, bouncing on Swiss Ball, etc etc.

Anyway, went into labour at 41+5 (seems to be the standard length of my pregnancies..), 2 days before my date for CS. Had first painful contraction @ 5 am, by 6am I was unable to get out of the bath on my own, DS had to dress me, 7.30 in hospital, 8cm dilated, took to 11.30 for DS3 to appear as his head was a bit rotated. The "urge to push", my God, I had no idea: it is not an "urge", it is an absolute bloody imperative, your body pushes, whether you want to or not. I'd had no idea as DS1 was delivered with epidural and syntocynon drip as contractions had slowed down, so I had never felt anything like it. With DS3 I had G+A and some morphine for the stitches.

I had such a high afterwards, it was amazing. I was lucky that I had a very supportive consultant, also that I had had 1 vaginal delivery already.

Sorry, for the long ramble, it is your fault for setting me off asking : anybody showing the slightest interest will be bored to tears by my amazing, never-before-seen birth experience ....

Hope everybody waiting for results (GD, or Type 2, DB, booo). And Lemonade, cervical erosion v commonn in pregnancy, try not to worry too much, should really not have any bearing on baby's health.

Arcadie, the only reason I know I am expecting a boy is because I had the CVS (Chorion Villous Sampling) which gives you all the baby's chromosomes. It is a diagnositic test for lots of genetic problems and I have a very high risk of certain trisomies (also: I am 43 ). So knowing the baby is healthy was the real "prize", knowning it's a boy is just a byproduct.
The hospital I attend does not give information on gender by ultrasound as a matter of policy.

Right, I will now stop monopolising the thread. As you were.

Pacific - it was the CVS that showed it's a boy, right? Surely they can't see from the scan already... Did you have the CVS because of your age? Ah it must be so great to know for sure there are no chromosomal abnormalities!

Arcadie - awww that's so sweet that your DS wanted to talk to the baby. Did he not ask "how did it get there?" or "how is it going to come out?"

DD will be almost 2 when the baby is due, we'll probably try to explain it to her a couple of months before, but maybe she'll wonder before that why mummy is getting so fat. Any stories about telling younger children about a new baby, did they understand, what did they do/say?

I crave fruit too, good isn't it! Big yellow ripe plums... mmm!

Good morning all

having a break from tidying to do a bit of MN-ing

pacific - how exciting to already know what you're having! I'm already in two minds whether or not to find out at the next scan. We knew last time with DD but I think I might prefer not to know this time - but DH is quite adamant he wants to know whether it's a boy or a girl and it can be VERY hard to change his mind about anything!

Arcadie - glad your DS took the news well. Our DD has just turned 3 and we've been testing the waters - 'wouldn't it be nice to have a new baby?' 'do you think you'd like to have a brother/sister one day?' etc etc...to mixed responses. Some days she's for it, others not so much. Last night she told us she didn't want a new baby because she liked to swim fast. Ah, the bizarre logic of toddlers.

db - all the best with glucose test, hope you get a good result

Great to hear of some more happy scans and may the days go quickly for those still waiting for theirs!

ps who said nectarines?? I'm off down the fruit shop...

I wish I could crave fruite rather than cheese on toast and pork pies. I've already put on 10 lb I had such good intentions this time of putting on a mere 2.5 stone (yeah right)

When I told DS1 (4.5) he was really excited, keeps talking to the baby. DS2 (2.1) - pointed his Ben Ten watch atmy belly, assumed the stance, and said 'I shoot baby'. Oh dear.

Ds1 is ver sweet, constantly being careful of mt tummy. Tells me (wisely) to wait and see when I speculate on gender and is obsessed and looking at my rather graphic birthing book.

having a miserable day as I become more and more convinced that my SPD is back, already

It's lovely to hear about how older children are responding to the news of the new LOs arriving. Very cute!

Dophus I really hope it's not SPD yet . And don't worry about the weight gain - you're growing a new human and cheese on toast and pork pies contain vital dairy and protein!

Heckle hello and welcome . I like your DD's logic - at least she's pondering it from all angles!

Pacific hurrah for the healthy baby!! You must be so relieved . And congrats on another little boy - how lovely.

Designerbaby sorry to hear about the glucose levels. I found my booking in at the Whit slightly bizarre in that she had me drink a bottle of lucozade and I have no idea why (it wasn't a proper GTT). So I'm now convinced that I'll have elevated glucose levels in my sample as well . Anyway, I know this is nearly impossible for you to do but try not to worry. It's most likely to be fine [fingers crossed emoticon].

Arcadie loving the fruit cravings! You inspired me to have a banana for my elevenses (I'm with Dophus on being a bit more of a savoury type - toasted cheese bagel with pesto being my current snack of choice at weekends).

MummyElk at your DD

Mumbot & RubySlippers congrats on the scans

TLC I wouldn't worry too much about the view. To be honest, I had a scan at 10+4 and had a lovely posing baby, easy to spot hands, feet, spine etc. At 13 weeks the baby was bigger (had more than doubled in size, which was cool to see) but was not posing half as well. Roll on the 20 week scan when we'll all get great views!

Loubudd hyperemesis - how completely awful . I really hope the anti-sickness drugs work and the HG passes soon.

Big waves to everyone I've not named. Off to get some lunch!

Pacific That is an AMAZING birth story... I LOVE birth stories, cannot get enough of the miracle that is ANY birth whether a "good" one or a "traumatic" one. Any other multips fancy sharing?

Nectarine count today: 1

Had scan today. All good so very relieved.

LouBudd I think I am feeling the odd tiny fluttering (am 12+4 according to scan), which is way earlier than I was expecting (was at least 17 weeks with my first). Also a bit surprising because I have a strongly retroverted uterus so babe is still firmly inside my pelvic girdle and, I would have thought, a fair way from my abdominal wall. However I'm pretty thin and apparently sometimes that means you can feel it earlier. Are you feeling movements?

Nectarines sound yummy. In fact, a lot more food sounds a lot yummier than it did this time last week. I even managed to eat some of the butternut squash risotto I made ds the other day - although it was lacking the garlic, sage, white wine and parmesan that I would normally like.

Dophus - hope you're not getting SPD (already). That doesn't seem like fun.

at all the kids' reactions to new baby!

I did 20 mins on our new crosstrainer (from ebay) today, feeling very proud of myself.

sariska I am certain that I have felt something (other than wind). I felt my 1st baby at 17 weeks and my 2nd at 15 weeks. The midwife will probably poo poo it when I see her at 16 weeks. I thought it may be because I have pretty much no muscle tone left to my tummy after my 1st 2 whoppers. Or maybe your uterus twitches. I am baffled. What do you think?

LouBudd - I really don't know. Lack of muscle tone, low body fat, knowing what you're looking for.... I've heard a few explanations for why you might feel a baby's movements earlier than conventional wisdom says you should. Like you, I am sure what I am feeling is not wind but I probably won't be truly convinced it really is the baby until the tiny flutterings turn into kicks

Hi LouBudd, I've had the same thing, it's definitely possible to feel the baby at this stage, although rare and only if you know what it feels like. xx

Retail therapy day at mamas and papas today, such lovely clothes and such damage to my bank account!

veryworriedme I have no idea when they do the nuchal test thingy. I'm sure they do it at the 'right' time for ladies who are deemed medium-high risk.

All I got was a blood test and urine test to make sure I didn't have any diseases.

From the impression I got from the midwife speaking to me (her tone rather than what she said) I wasn't going to be offered a nuchal test as I was such a low risk.

My scan and booking in appt were at the same time. She did all the family background questions etc and was quite thorough with those.

I'm only 24 (will be 25 when baby is born) so I think from my age and the answers I gave to her questions I'm deemed low risk.

Hope that helps?

Those who have felt movements - WHERE do you feel it? Like really low down...? I certainly have the lack of muscle tone, so now trying hard to feel something!

Try this for a snack: carrot sticks dipped in (low fat) humous. Heavenly!

annamama - yes, what I've been feeling is really low down and is just a brief quiver, lasting no more than a second or two before it stops. And I've only felt it when lying down flat on my back in bed.

veryworriedme nuchal fold scans are normally performed between 11 and 13 weeks, the nhs don't normally offer them unless you have some specific high risk factors. I paid £100 for a nuchal translucency scan this week, it was very reassuring and is more accurate than the serum blood screening

annamama for me it felt like tiny prods but really low down behind the pubic bone

xx

Had the scan and all was well -little one was waving away. Put my date back by one day so now officially due March 12th.

Feel really excited and will now relax and start enjoying it all.

I was having a conversation today with two of my pregnant friends. I have thought that I had felt movement as it was just like the feelings I had with my DS. Sort of like a tickle low down and in the right area. Well it was little one or gas - I prefer to think lo {grin}

Shyla hadn't put herself on the list yet and I guess the next person to adjust their due date can take Mrs Snow off

Ok thanks, I'll see if I can feel something too down there tonight when I lie in bed!

Pixie, hope your DD (and other kids) will be pleased by the news!

Today DD (16m) lifted my shirt up and started hitting my belly. I said there's a baby in there you know. She said "baby" and gave me a confused look, don't think she gets it at all. I googled for new baby children's books and found a few, might order one called What's in your tummy mummy?

HI all - EXHAUSTED tonight after a whole day on my feet at a photoshoot, followed by a quick dash down Oxford street to Mamas & Papas for maternity jeans because I just can't last out any more. Feet have swollen to the size of melons - since stupid shoot was at the client's offices so I couldn't wear my beloved Birks.

TakelovingChances - not all hospitals offer nuchal translucency scans as standard - so if you wanted to have one you might have to investigate that. The hospital I went to initially last time didn't - it's just that my DD (apparently) had such a large nuchal fold that the sonographer couldn't help noticing, and the rest is (a somewhat painful) history. But it wasn't officially a nuchal scan.

The bloods you gave at your booking I don't think would be used to test for downs etc. unless accompanied by a scan at a similar time. I think if they're doing a risk factor on bloods alone they do a set at about 16 weeks - but please someone correct me if I'm wrong. They may well do this for you as routine if they don't do the nuchal scan.

But yes, at your age your background risk is probably VERY LOW! Which is great!

Anyway thought I'd just try and help clear that up a bit because it seems like your midwife wasn't particularly forthcoming. And a little word of warning about 'assuming' things will happen - not always the case, and ALWAYS worth double (and probably triple) checking anything you're not sure about! Sad but true...

We've told DD (21 months) about the baby and although if asked she'll say there's a baby in mummy's tummy and give it a little kiss (cute) I think she's generally oblivious and has no idea what that really means. I'm encourages though that she spends much of her time at the moment inspecting various teddies and dolls for 'poo poo', duly cleaning them up and putting nappies on them if found that they need it before tucking them up for naps in various places around the house. It may be that I have to very little for this new baby as DD will have it all in hand. Unfortunately her favourite spots for her teddies 'naps' are on the stairs - so might have to watch that... .

Still a bit anxious about the bloods and hoping against hope that it's a fuss about nothing. Not helped by FIL (who's a GP in SA) saying that over there they don't recommend GTTs for pregnant women because it 'shocks' the body too much. Indeed the 12 hour fast beforehand will be a shock... . Still, it hardly put my mind at rest - but then he rarely does!

annamama I ate seven raw carrots in one sitting at the weekend. SEVEN. Couldn't help myself - whats THAT about...? The 5 flakes in our fridge remain untouched which is weirder still.

Love to all and good luck to all those with scans coming up.

[hugs]

db
xx

Hi all.we are having ours at rvi-newcastle.its a very forward thinking hospital and specialist centre 4 nuchal tests.as a result we all get the combined test for free as part of dating scan appointment.sonographer who did me is also the leading specialist.she was lovely and training an excitable midwife.the pair were both v broody by their own admissions and oohing and aahing at our scan.v happy experience as a result. Complete opposite to work! I want that midwife! X

Nectarine count by end of day: still 1.

Strawberry/Apple/Blueberry count: too high to recall... see you tomorrow!

hi all
quick one - been out for a friend's birthday and DEFINITELY need my bed (why am I even on Mumsnet?!! [worried addiction emoticon])
One book a few of my friends have mentioned as being very good is There's a House in Mummy's Tummy here
sleep well all, i'm hoping i don't reap the non-rewards tomorrow of such a late night!!

designerbaby Thanks for that good explanation. Being a first timer there are many confusing things!

I try not to just assume things about my care, but I do try to give midwife the benefit of the doubt - she does this daily, and I'm just another woman to her.

I have a secret weapon with me though to explain certain things to me and keep me right..... DH is a Doctor, he doesn't working in Obs and Gyne, but last year he worked in that area of medicine (and in that hospital!) for 6 months. So he knows about what that specific hospital does and times etc.

In one way it's good that he's so useful, but at same time some of the midwives were chatting away to him and I was sitting there saying, Hello, I am here for my appointment! Lol!

Thanks for all responses, I hope that clears it up for anyone else who was wondering.

Hope everyone is well on this fine Friday morning