DUE SEPTEMBER 2010: SECOND TRIMESTER ALREADY!

[Love2Dance]

Hellooooo? Anyone there? Night ZZZzzz.

Hello everyone,

Had a horrendous couple of weeks
Wednesday before Easter I was up all night in excruciating pain in my back and abdomen - went to the doctor's next day obviously very worried and it turns out I had kidney stones! Doctor said it could possibly be pregnancy related but not sure. How random? I've never had them before and in the space of a week I passed 7 of them. I don't think I've ever felt pain like it. Worse even than when I broke my leg in 2 places! At least then I had some kickass painkillers rather than the completely useless paracetamol. Anyone else had kidney stones and given birth? I'd be interested to know how the pain compares!

A kidney infection followed which was also v.painful in a persistent achey way rather than the sharp stabby pain, but the anti-biotics are just starting to kick in now so fingers crossed I am on the mend. Totally washed out and exhausted though. Just want to sleep for England now...

Good news is we've got 20wk scan day after tomorrow and am very excited. I think on my last post about 2 wks ago just before the stones struck I was hoping the time would pass quickly as I couldn't wait! A true case of be careful what you wish for me thinks!!

Oops - 19+5

Boo....so sorry to hear about your troublesome two weeks what a mare. you poor thing sorry i cant be any more help, but am sure someone will pop along who can be!
Good luck with your scan....are you going to be finding out the sex?

love - you have the best attitude there with regards to keeping an open mind for your birth plan. its great to have ideas and if it all goes how you want it to , then you cant ask for more...however, birthplans do have a lot to answer for, especially if nothing goes according to them. Ladies can feel very let down and sometimes inadequate, where as if you have a few things set down and are willing to take it as it comes, it can take the pressure of

Have spent the last hour watching 'desperate midwives' (reality TV) dont know why as every birth has bought a tear to my eye!

Thanks LovetoDance and Bessie123 for your opinion of the Gentle Birth Method.

Agree it is too restrictive and unrealistic even for or especially when you're already gluten intolerant! I hate to cut more food groups esp. vegetables and fruit! But I can see the sense in trying to eating a really healthy diet as much as possible and to focus on getting ready for birth and spending time and mental capacity on it. That all makes sense. Am switching from my usual yoga class to antenatal next week so hoping I will learn from that and thinking of buying a hypnobirthing CD to try and start practicing some mind tricks!

Will also treat myself to the odd reflexology session as I enjoy it but can't see myself doing weekly treatments.

hmm, I have an idea that the gentle birth method might be gluten free. Or at least reduced gluten (I seem to remember it saying something about giving up wheat).

I have a quick question about maternity allowance. Is anyone here planning to claim it? I am self employed and only planning to take 2 weeks off but 2 weeks with MA is better than 2 weeks with nothing and it will help if it doesn't work out as I want it to. Would just be nice to have a bit of advise before I plough into the forms!

Sounds horrible BooStar I had a friend at uni who had kidney stones on a regular basis and she was very ill with them, but I don't have personal experience.

I don't have my 20 week scan until next Weds, seems like forever. Although if one more person says they think I'm having a girl I will scream. How can anyone really know, although its interesting they are all saying the same!

Jaysfourth of all the names you have listed Chloe and Emily are my favourites, Emily is one of my choices if we're having a girl

19+6

Hi cinnamongreyhound earlier on in this thread, someone, although I can't remember who, posted with detailed info on MA. I too will (hopefully) be claiming it. You can find out all the details here: tinyurl.com/34fdc7

One thing cracks me up though. This health in pregnancy grant. What is the point of the blooming thing if you can't claim for it until 25 weeks, and payment can take up to 6 weeks? Your pregnancy's almost over or, in some cases, you've already given birth! Surely you should get it while it can still make a difference to healthy eating and vitamins etc. - I've spent about £50 alone just on supplements. Which reminds me, I'm still taking my femibion suppl. which has folic acid but is also a vitamin complex. I know you can stop with the folic once in 2nd trimester, but I feel well and I wonder if that has anything to do with the added vitamins? Will it do me any harm to continue? (I've never bothered with vitamins before and now I'm worried baby will be used to them so stopping them is more trouble than it's worth IFYSWIM)

Glad to hear scans are going well etc. Can't wait for my 20 week one, I think that's when I will finally relax.

MammyG aw, didn't mean to make you cry!! For what it's worth, my mum was pregnant with one of my siblings when my granny (her mum) died very suddenly and traumatically. Our family really struggled to come to terms with the loss of our matriarch, but when my sis was born it helped heal a lot of sadness. While it may be hard to feel that way right now, your LO will be a real ray of light in your family after a difficult time. I know it didn't take the pain away of our loss, but it gave us all something to celebrate and I'm sure it kept my mum going when she might have just completely fallen apart. Stay strong - something miraculous and positive is on its way.

17+1

Hi everyone,

Haven't posted for a while. I've got my 20 week scan on Friday, so I'm looking forward to that.

I'm glad I'm not alone with troublesome ILs! With DD1 mine stayed at our house while I was in hospital, they were still there when I returned, but it wasn't too bad, as they were gone by the evening. Also, didn't think i had much choice cos they live 3 hours away. With DD2 I came straight out of hosp, didn't even stay one night, so they were staying with us for baby's 1st night at home. I was quite put out by this.... but again, didn't think I had much choice!
After hearing all your views I think i'm gonna try and be more assertive this time.
They never make any effort with us usually, much prefer to spend their efforts on the other grandchildren, so I kind of think they don't deserve it anyway!

I've thought of a few names, but nothing jumps out at me. With DD1 & DD2 I had 2 definate girls names (no boys names). i'll have to get my thinking cap on!

Still feeling rough, tired & sometimes sick - didn't last anywhere near this long previously - thinking it's a boy???

Anyway, I'll update once i've had scan

20+1

ooosabeauta He'll be 21 months. Luckily he's small. Only just into 9-12 month clothes! DH is also small so should be fine. The biggest bonus is my Mum & Dad are coming too so there'll be plenty of choices for him! We're going to Kusadasi in Turkey. Mil has an apartment there so we go every year. I can't wait especially having babysitters with us! It means I can actually laze around cos they can take ds off!!!

As for keeping up excitement I have lots so will save some for your scan! I'm excited about everybodies scans!!!

MammyG Sorry to here you're having a bad time! Can you not get an appt with the MW to hear the heartbeat or borrow a doppler from someone??

Love2Dance you mention birth plans! I didn't have one with ds! everyone kept on at me to write one but I just thought that its such an unknown entity that I couldn't possibly plan for it! My "plan" in my notes basically said "go with the flow!!" I'm so pleased I did that. On paper it wasn't an easy labour. It was quick but resulted in an episiotomy & ventouse delivery followed by manual removal of the placenta but I just trusted the midwife & did what she said! I loved it & can't wait to do it again. My plan will be the same this time!

Girls names: Tilly or Bella. Just a bit concerned that they're dogs names!!!

i like Tilly also, (Matilda) but DH mother has an age old tortoise called Tilly, so no go for us!

After what i was saying earlier, this little girl has woken up! I have been having quite firm thuds, low down, not outwardly 'feelable' yet but none the less quite significant in the big scheme of things.
I got a doppler from ebay ( less than a tenner!) and i use it at least once a week, i would def recommend one, the kids love having a listen in

Thanks all - what a bunch you are! Takes me right out of myself and is about the only time in the day where it truly sinks in that i am pregnant and it is something to be truly grateful and delighted about.

Ladyrabbit - miraculous and positive - my new mantra!!!

Boostar - had kidney infection in early pregnancy - 5 weeks. Awful. Had attack on sat night that doctor said was gallbladder but I dont have gallstones. Was on the floor crying and fit to pass out. Labour didnt put a patch on it! at least with labour you know why and what is happening. this pain with no end and no relief was excruciating!

Jaysfourth - Love matilda, epecially Tilly. Problem is loved it so much called our first puppy Tilly! She isnt with us anymore but everyone else things its weird! Penelope (penny) is a contender. Loved emily too but there is two nearby.
Other names we are considering: Jane, Vivienne, Lucy, Ellie, Fiadh, Arwen, Cordelia, Eliza or Elsa. Just nothing jumps out as 'yep thats it!' Whereas with both boys had their names sorted at 5 weeks and this time too. Its so lovely to see your baby and just go 'Hello ***!'
Am now signing off to research about buying a doppler! Did you get yours on ebay?

Thanks LadyRabbit I've found it and downloaded the form so fingers crossed I get it!

foxyjbro99 I had a boy last time and sickness is lasting much longer this time so I was thinking a girl!! I also have leg hair this time which I lost last time and have almost zero sex drive, whereas I couldn't get enough last time . Will find out 21st anyway but always fun to guess

cinnamongreyhound I didn't have leg hair with 2dds, but do this time! I have a slight sex drive this time, but zero with dds! Very strange isn't it! Think I'm gonna wait for surprise, but don't think I'll know what to do with a little boy after 2 girls! x

I feel the same after having a boy, everyone thinks I must want a girl but would really be happy with either. My mum is desperate for a girl so would be nice for her!

Does anyone know if it matters if you have the 16 week combined blood tests at 17 weeks? We're on holiday right now and won't be back til 17 weeks... I hate not having tests at just the right time but theres not really anything I can do about this one!

Hi everyone, just catching up after a few days away out of easy internet access - holiday in the Lakes with DP and my mum & dad. Lovely weather and lovely chats re LO (their 3rd grandchild but my first child so obv plenty to talk about).

I've got my 20 week scan coming up on Friday - not planning to find out the sex - and tomorrow I've got a fetal cardiac scan (just because I was born with a small heart murmur myself - no big reason to think there'll be a problem but better to check these things out). So I should be able to see him/her again even before Friday, which is great.

20 + 3

HI all

back from easter family last night. Had a great time, and for first time in years wasn´´t deseprate to get back home.

So much has happened, have to continue on the parents/PIL theme, as was wondering what Id do this time round. With DS1 my family came 2 weeks later and stayed in a hotel near by, no questions asked. PILs arrived 3 days after, (also BIL and girlfriend!), and first comment from MIl was "oh I see you still have a tummy" I repeat they came 3 days after birth. . She repeated this 3 times and then got really upset I didn´´t want the special lamb dinner she´´d planned cause I couldn´´t face the meat (this lasted at least a mth after birth). My situation is complicated in that we rent there holiday home, so would be difficult to suggest they stay somewhere else.

Ohh, that feels better, didn´´t know I was still so pee´´d off.

20 +5. Scan due Thurs yeh!!

Hi all

Just laughing at Foxy's comment about leg hair etc. When I was p/g with DS, I KNEW it was a boy and the only way I could explain it was that I felt like I'd had an injection of testosterone!
Don't feel like that at all this time - so I'm reckoning a girl...and that would chime with what EVERYONE else is saying - how DO they 'know', I wonder? Are they judging it on the bump shape (i've even heard a midwife say that she could tell from the bump shape last time, as DS was 'all out the front') or are we picking up on hormonal markers/pheromones we aren't even aware of?

Just watching Great Ormond St, It hasn't quite replaced One Born Every minute as my tuesday night Babycrack - it's a hugely sad to be honest, but it's very sensitively filmed.

Hi all

It's been a good month since i last posted. Couldn't believe we're on a new thread.

Anyway, great to hear everyone is well especially with 20 week scan time. Seems like not long ago we were in the first trimester. Boy how time flies!

All my family and friends are taking bets on whether they think it going to be a boy or a girl. Some of you have mentioned that you just knew with previous pregnancies but I just don't get any sort of feeling at all. I keep calling it a girl simply to contradict DH who is convinced it's a boy (even though we spent the weekend thinking of girls names). Wish I had a real idea but I suppose i will just have to wait till labour day!

I have defo got a little bump now. It is particularly hard in the morning when my bladder is full. Can't wait to be even bigger!!!!

Anyone been feeling any flutters or kicks??? I keep feeling my tum but haven't felt anything other than gurgling trapped wind.
Defo thinking of getting a doppler too.

Hi Everyone, Just adding myself to the list. I'm 17+1 now and starting to feel little tightenings in the morning, but not had any movements or flutterings yet. This week has been the awful, been off work for the easter fortnight and a week ago I strated getting these ligament stretching pains. I'm just hoping they clear up before I go back to work, wouldn't beable to concentrate let alone stand, pain gets really bad. Got my scan in 2 weeks - can't wait.

Jaysfourth #4 EDD 24/08/10 Nottingham, GIRL
Inzidoodle #2 EDD 26/08/10 Scotland, BOY
MerryMagpie #1 EDD 28/08/10
comixminx #1 EDD 28/08/10 Oxford
Foxyjbro99 #3 EDD 29/08/10 Shropshire
lilypad72 #1 EDD 30/8/10
mcfee #2 EDD 31/08/10
cinnnamongreyhound #2 EDD 31/08/10
BooStar #1 EDD 01/09/10 New Forest
Stickhasgrownup #3 EDD 02/09/10 SE London
NovemberAli #1 EDD 02/09/10 Nottingham
lillyfc #4 EDD 02/09/10 East Sussex
Babyshoes #2 EDD 02/09/10
ChocolateCalculator #2 02/09/10
swordfishtrombones #3 EDD 02/09/10 SE London
bananastew #2 edd 02/09/10
flippertygibbet# edd 03/09/10
IlariaS #1 EDD 03/09/10
jbakedbean #2 edd 04/09/10
patito #2 EDD 04/09/10
Cakeandfinewine #2 EDD 05/09/10 Staffordshire
Mellousol #1 EDD 05/09/10
Monstermuncher #2 EDD 05/09/10 Glasgow
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Eleanora #1 EDD 06/09/10
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heather1980 #3 EDD 07/09/10 manchester
eggonlegs #2 EDD 08/09/10
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LB1981 #1 EDD 10/09/10 NE London
susiey#3 edd 12/09/10 n.london
upsoearly #2 EDD 13/09/10
Cityangel #2 EDD 15/09/10 London
Love2Dance #2 EDD 15/09/10 London
Bonners #1 EDD 15/09/10 Scotland
MadameG #1 EDD 16/09/10 London
CathN #1 EDD 16/09/10 London
MudandRoses #2 16/09/10
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HellysBelles #1 EDD 16/9/10 SW London
Bloominnorah #2 EDD 17/09/10 Scotland
WhiteRoses #1 EDD 17/09/10
cazza41 #1 EDD 17/09/10
Mellymooks #2 EDD 17/09/10
Willthecatbejealous #1 EDD 17/09/10 Leeds
Lifeas3plus1 EDD #2 17/09/10
OhFuck #2 EDD 18/09/10 Scotland
LadyRabbit #1 EDD 18/09/10
LucyLG #1 EDD 18/09/10 Staffs
VoilaAnotherGimlet #1 EDD 19/9/10 London
Scooby16 #1 EDD 19/09/10
lenga01 #2 EDD 20/09/10
Whammie76 #2 EDD 20/09/10 Scotland
Irishgal1 #1 EDD tbc
MammyG #3 EDD 21/09/10 Ireland
Nandos #2 and #3 EDD 22/9/10 London
caprica6 #1 EDD 22/9/10 Hampshire
DreamingAboutSleep #2 EDD 22/09/10 Herts
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Bessie123 EDD 25/09/10
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Kittyonthebeam #2 EDD 25/09/10 BOY Dubai, UAE
Bellabelly #3 and #4 EDD 26/09/10 W Kent
Ohfuck EDD 26/09/10
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Watersprite #2 EDD 27/09/10
legallyblond #1 EDD 29/09/10

happy Monday to all

sunshine here, makes you feel so much better doesnt it!

welcome whammie

Jody , time flies when you are having fun a baby...i have a doppler and its great!!

Mudandroses, with each pregnancy ( mixed sexes) my hair rate has slowed down! my arm hair is non existent and i only find myself waxing my legs once or twice during a pregnancy - and thats coming from a one time hairy beast !! It must just depend on person to person, i have doubts about whether you can base the sex on specifics that have happened, although i am willing to be proven otherwise

comixmix, good luck with both of your scans, nice when you get to see your baby 'out of schedule' so to speak. I hope the cardiac scan shows nothing more than a healthy beating ickkle heart!

Patio, gl for yours too.... @ your MIL (?) for asking such a stupid insensitive question.... what does she expect, i mean honestly. I still have 'tummy' from my first..and this is my fourth, maybe i wont ever look like i have given birth!!!

Strictly, i think you have a window for the triple test, something like 16+3 - 18+ something.... not exactly sure. But i think at 17 weeks it will be fine!

right off to have a choc ice ( or two )

Well, that was sooner than I expected! Turned out I'd got the two scans confused and in fact it was the 20 week anomaly scan today (all well, bang in the middle of the charts too) and it'll be the cardiac scan on Friday. Good luck to all others with their scans coming up!

On another topic - I posted a while ago about getting a doula. The first person I contacted turned out not to be available during the time that I needed, so I went a bit further afield, and am actually quite glad I did. DP and I met the other person and chatted at length so that we were clear on what we'd be getting, and so forth. She seemed really nice and knit-your-own-yoghurt-ish than the first person (which suits us). Cheaper too - £400 plus expenses, versus the £650 quoted by the first person. So I would advise shopping around and contacting more than one person (though I am generally not very good at that and like to stick to the first person I try so long as they seem reasonable, ah well...).

20 + 4

Hi all, I'm new on here though i'm 18 weeks already. Mini me was too big for the nuchal and we had a shock with the triple blood test coming back as 1/160. Decided against the amnio and am now trying to start thinking like i was 2 weeks ago when I didn't worry about a thing.
Can anyone recommend a really light weight pram that'd be good for long dog walks in the winter months?
Hope everyone is feeling good!
Alison x

Hi, I am considering claiming as I too am self employed. I'm hoping to be able to claim but unsure as I will still have funds going into my bank from my mail order sales.... even though all I'll be doing is posting things out I can't help thinking I might be penalised for it.
Can't really help anymore as I've not fully investigated the situation yet. Hope you get on ok with all the forms!!

Alison x

Welcome AMMAG! Hope your claim goes ok and you're able to get what you should. Re. buggies, I would imagine (depending on where you'll be pushing) that a buggy with all-terrain type wheels would be a good idea for winter dog walking, but they're not always the lightest ones. I swear by my Bugaboo Cameleon, but I suppose it's a bit of a lump. Is smooth and adaptable though. Don't want to have to stop using it!

Strictly, I'm in a similar position re. triple tests because I was on hols last week so having it tmw at 17 wks. I'm not too interested in having it because from my recollection a lot of it is based on age (the multiplication of odds) and because of what we've been through to get here it wouldn't make any difference. However the midwife looked alarmed at that and suggested I came in for it anyway, and that 17 weeks is a fine time to have it.

Patito I'm at your MIL's comment! That's absolutely normal! Last time my MIL was here she took down our curtains because I had 'hung them wrongly' She was also 2 1/2 hours late for my ds's birthday party, with no reason. She arrived and proceeded to tell everyone nasty gossip about people we don't know in her area, and not let anyone have a word in edgeways. And suggested that everyone eats the cake that she's made rather than mine because hers was rather good... She's only visited twice since he was born though, which I suppose is a blessing. Right, sorry had to get that all off my chest. I'd promised to lurk this week!

Hope you all have good weeks.