Due April 2006

[MrsQ]

Hello... Technically I'm due on 30 March, but the March list is already quite long and if DS was anything to go by, we'll be well into April by the time this shrimp makes an appearance (fingers crossed, touch wood, etc etc! - still at the early superstitious stage!!). Shall I start with some stats? I'm 34 (will be 35 just after birth), DH is 33. We've got one DS just turned 2.

Hope to have some thread partners soon, I'm v friendly, honest

That's great Pacinofan - nice they gave you pics too. (what's an EP unit BTW? And while I'm at it, Ponka - what's VBAC?) Did the unit suggest what the pains might have been - maybe just muscle stretches or soemthing?

I reckon I felt babster move last night. I was kind of curled up in the chair and started getting all butterfly-like gurgly sensation. I'm 14+4 today and checked in Miriam who said 16-18 weeks you might feel it, bit earlier if you've had a baby already. So could be I guess.

DS actually slept in til 7am this morning, rather than his usual 6.15 on the dot (coincides with DH's shower in the room next to DS so just something I've got to live with I think). Feel like a new woman! Still gonna have a rest now while DS sleeps though

Once everyone's had their scans, shall we start a new thread for a new trimester???

Hello April ladies!!

I used to be on this thread as Baggybear, and I know some of you won't know me. But I just wanted to pop by and let you know I still think of you all. I hope things are all going well for you and progressing nicely. When I see this thread (and the March one) on the active threads, I always think of you and wonder how things are.

I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing. Wishing all lots of luck.

Baggy xxxx

Ah thanks Baggy. Good to hear from you. How are you doing?

Not too bad. Not TTC yet. As you know DH wasn't keen on having another baby, so we going to discuss it again in a few months. But I'm hoping he will see the light and say "yes" to going ahead!

I take it everything is good with you. How far gone are you now?

Just over 14 weeks, starting to get over MS which is a relief. Maybe a bit of Christmas spirit will put your DH in the mood for a bit of serious BD'ing! Sure you'll work it out with him, good luck. Hope the rest of your family well.

Sorry Mrs. Q VBAC = vaginal birth after caesarean. How exciting to feel the baby.

So nice to hear from you Baggy. I have been wondering a lot how you are. Yeah, Chirstmas is a great time for BD.

Glad to hear everythings O.K. Pacinofan.

Hi all! I too felt a gentle pokey sensation 'In There' the other night. I am due on 6th of April, don't know how far along that makes me. I thought you couldn't feel anything until 18 weeks, but I definatly felt something! This is baby number 2 though.

Does anyone else have no appetite except for things you really want to eat? I have just stuffed tomatoes on toast, and it was like the Ambrosia of the Gods.

My belly is sticking out unreasonably far too. It is making me look about 6 months pregnant but at least I don't feel like a fraud. Just a pig!

Hi colditz, I'm due 8th April with my second. I already have a ten month old ds and this one came as a bit of a shock! Have definitely got a little tummy too and have also thought I felt something moving gently but thought it was a bit too early. I had to go to tescos last night to stck up on pot noodles, stuffed one down at about 11pm!

Has anyone been offered screening bloods for downs syndrome? Mine are nominally booked for the 18th of this month, but the midwife has said they are completely optional. I am in a low risk catagory (I'm 25), so what do you think?

I find blood tests hideous anyway, and know I would keep the baby if it had downs syndrome, so is there much point having the test? Do you think it is better to be prepared for these things?

On a different note, does anyone elsehave a bright red face?

This is the triple test or maternal serum screening test, right? I've been offered that, not sure if to take it either, as I've already had a private nuchal scan that put me in a low risk category. I also have a bit of a needle phobia, and will do anything to avoid a blood test! When I had my first antenatal appointment and they were hovering over me to take my "booking bloods", I managed to talk them out of it by saying that I'm moving house soon, and wouldn't it be better to let the GP who's going to look after me in the new place do it, blablabla... I would sell my grandmother into slavery to get out of these situations

I always think it's better to know and be prepared, but maybe that's because I never expect anything to be wrong anyway. Don't know what I would do if they told me the baby had Down's - as it looks like DS has SN (although we don't know yet to what extent), I would really have to think about what degree of disability our family could cope with.

Anyway. No bright red face here, but itchy skin, and loads of nightmares that involve saving DS from all sorts of dangers! Had this in my first pregnancy as well, where I was saving DH and family members in my dreams ... must be the hormone overload!

Hi Colditz, I am actually off to London to University College Hospital for my screening test this weekend. Although I could have tests done here on the NHS, the test I am having done (the intergrated test) is more conclusive and minimises the need for invasive procedures like an amnio or CVS. As I am 38 I feel the need for screening tests - if we were told our baby was downs syndrome we would terminate the pregnancy and would wish to do so as soon as possible.

Screening tests always open a lot of debate and it's such a sensitive issue. I think the decision to test really depends on your outlook regarding the results. If you are unsure, what about having a chat with close friends who have been through similar? Not sure the midwife can advise really, I think they can just inform you of what is available. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I agree pacino fan the whole screening thing is a very personal thing, and ultimately what ever you decide will be the right thing for you. I refused the triple screen with dd and I probably will this time too, for the simple reason that they come back with a lot of false positives and I have known a couple of people who have had miserable pregnancies being worried about it when nothing was wrong at all.

If you would want to terminate should something be wrong then obviously it's a good idea, if not then the argument is that it is better to know and be prepared. I personally wouldn't want to know, I would just worry etc and it would spoil the pregnancy, I'd rather just deal with any suprise I get as it comes! But that is just me - each to their own

On a happier note, I too really thought I felt the baby the other day! I'm due April 8th and thought this was far too early even with a 2nd baby, but I'm convinced that's what it was, and now a few others are saying it I think I might have been right

Now for the embarassing question - could be to much info for some of you so apologies in advance, but I have had a ridiculously itchy bum (not cheeks - more specific than that IYSWIM ). Anyone else have this weird symptom?? I know it is really common to get piles during pregnancy (as if there weren't enough unpleasant symptoms!), but there is nothing actually there(on the outside anyway) so I didn't think it was that. Any other ideas what it could be? Sorry to be so graphic, but if you can't ask on Mumsnet, where can you

MrsEvs - I think you can get piles insede too......

Eat plenty of sweetcorn, it scratches on the way out!

Mrs Evs i get this and it is piles, porridge and prunes are keeping them at bay for me. i too think i felt babe move yesterday and i am not due till 22 just was that unmistakable sensation

Oh no, the dreaded piles!!! What can you do about it? Do I just have to grin and bear it the whole rest of the pregnancy?!

Fraid so I think. Best not to allow anything to become 'blocked up' so to speak which just causes more pain / discomfort. You can probably use normal treatments for them, which have the effect of shrinking them and allowing you to forget about it!, but obv. check with pharmacist first.

Anyone know when FT40 is back, need to hear about glorious relaxing sunshine holidays - even if it is by proxy!

Re the piles if I am vigilant and avoid consipation then they cause me no trouble, if my diet deteriorates then they are so painful. After ds I was in agony and suffered for months before going to see the doctor who gave me a prescription for steroid suppositories which were a life saver - don't suffer in silence but prevention is better than cure IME, diet works for me when I can be bothered.

Had my scan today reasonable odds for nuchal and lovely to see my baby, so pleased. there was a sort of 'bump' between the legs is this what a boy looks like? been searching the net for pictures of male or female 12 weekers but cannot find...

We were told (cos they couldn't decide between the two doctors, which was really frustrating cos with DS we knew) that what they were looking for is the genital bump (three little white blobs as far as I could see). If this bump is parallel to the spine, its a girl; if its pointing up, its a boy. Having explained that, the doc went on to say 'so I'd say that's probably a boy', whereas to my experienced eye it was deffo a girl! Just hope babster plays ball at 23 wk scan and opens up for a good look!

MrsQ the baby was in profile and there was a sort of bump sticking out halfway up the thigh area with what looked like a small tube on top, so assuming it is a boy.. but you have made me wonder now.. Anyone know where I can find a web picture of what they look like at 12 weeks?

Hope everyone on here is ok, I have just eaten a lot of food I have got to cut back but get so hungry

Hello, just popping in to say hi and hope all is well with everyone.

Have had a very stressful time since Friday - I started to bleed, albeit slightly, Friday morning. The early pregnancy unit were very good and saw me same afternoon to give me a shot of anti-d (I'm rhesus negative) and we were also able to see baby on screen, alive and kicking, and hear his heartbeat for the first time. Bleeding lasted until yesterday, although it is only light. I have had my nuchal fold and scan done on Monday in London, nuchal fold was fine and the sonographer seemed satisfied all was well with baby.

Am very relieved, but to be honest feel emotionally drained. The bleeding has worried me a lot, even though I know other women experience this and continue to have healthy babies. Also, our appointment on Monday was a real disappointment. The clinic was full, the sonographer was rushed and I didn't even see our baby on the screen, nor did she point out anything for us. The administration left a lot to be desired (important details like my LMP were incorrectly recorded, my name misspelt) and and overall we both felt very let down, the service we received was so different to that in my first pregnancy. I am just telling myself to forget about it, the main thing is that our baby is growing healthily and my bleeding stops.

Thanks for listening, xx

Oh pacinofan, sorry you've had such a hard time. It's so good that everythings fine now though. I'd be cross about the scan, too. Are you given a detailed one at 18-22? If you are, I hope that's conducted in a much better fashion but, like you say, you know baby's well and that's the main thing.
Take care.

I am so sorry to hear about your week pacinofan, I know it is just a job to some people, but they should remember that to each person they see it is the most important thing that is happening to them and they need to be treated accordingly. I felt that with my first, but this time round with the first scan the lady was really nice and so apologetic when she muddled my first and surnames around - she immediately corrected it and reprinted the results, although TBO I assumed that they just specified the surname first so didn't know she had made a mistake.

I have had a really bad week, but your week puts it into perspective for me. Firstly I trapped my finger in double doors at the hospital of all places. Then later that day I went down with a really terrible stomach bug and threw up for England all night (I might as well have thrown my curry straight down the toilet). That then wiped out my weekend as I was completely drained and then I have had a stinking cold all week.

I am feeling much better and today I noticed that I have a very distinct bump now. I am pleased that I am still able to wear non maternity clothes so I am hopefully keeping the weight under control (although a stomach bug does help that!)

I hope everyone else is feeling good and all the terrible symptoms of the first trimester are starting to ease.

Love to all x

Likewise sorry to hear about your week Pacinofan.

I am struggling with a ravenous appetite last few days I have had to have two lunches... Worried about weight gain as already overweight

Got my booking appt on Thursday looking forward to that as same mw as previous pg and she is lovely

Hope you are all ok, this thread is very inactive we need to do something to revive it. when are you all planning to take you mat leave? I am going as early as poss as generous contract and finding work is leaving me exhausted

Thanks for your messages of reassurance, it has cheered me up. Thankfully the bleeding has now stopped and I am relaxing a bit more. I have my booking in appointment this afternoon which I'm looking forward to in a funny kind of way, even though I'm a wuss at giving a blood sample. I suppose a booking in appt. kind of makes things 'official'.

Anyone got flutters very early? I am 13 weeks and feeling (very light) flutters already. Didn't feel anything until much later with dd1 and am very surprised to feel anything so early. Anyone else?

Tumblemum, I too have a ravenous appetite. Yesterday I not only ate a full Sunday roast but then proceeded to eat a pile of Yorkshire puds and cold roast potatoes later on. I was pretty light when I became pregnant but I am already 10lbs heavier, and I swear I seem to be permanently hungry, mainly for carbs. Also craving coffee and bananas, always been a tea drinker so a coffee craving is certainly weird! Have started to swim again this week and intend to fit in a walk where possible, hopefully this will help keep things in check. Have also cut back on dd1's activities like mini-movers and swimming classes, her schedule was so busy it was leaving me exhausted. She is also in nursery an extra half day now (now does 3 half days) which has really helped.

Hope all well with you all, bye for now,