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

Pacinofan, glad to hear the bleeding has stopped! Must have been very scary.

We've now finally exchanged contracts on our house and are moving on Thursday! What a relief!! I feel I've been in some kind of limbo for the past 2 months, always thinking we might move any time now, so never saw a midwife or had a blood test. I'll have to register with a GB really quickly once we're in the new place.

I'm still in my non-maternity clothes, but only just - bump and boobs both growing at a frightening rate... Will need to go shopping soon. Anyone know a good mail order company? I tried Blooming Marvellous and JoJo Maman Bebe last time and everything I ordered was awful, bad fit and terrible quality. Ended up wearing a pair of trousers from Formes to death.

Thanks Homsa, yes it was scary but glad to report I heard baby's heartbeat today, I am so happy.

Regarding decent maternity clothes, I have just got some really nice stuff from Next. So far it has washed really well, and it was really reasonably priced too. Even better I had it delivered so I didn't have to brave the shops (I am the only woman I know who actually doesn't particularly enjoy clothes shopping and would rather be doing something else instead)!

Hope that helps,

Homsa, there is Isabella Oliver but their range not quite right for me but lots of people rave about it there is also company called Push have not looked yet they are supposed to be good. Sometimes Hennes has nice stuff

Tumblemum, glad to hear someone else eats two enormous cooked meals a day.... or is that just me?

Still wearing prepregnancy jeans, and they are still comfortable, but I have put 4 (4!) kilos on already, so don't know where it's gone. Boobs haven't got much bigger either, but am a 40E, so good job really!

(I'm probably walking around with the most ginormous arse in human history, but unaware because it's behind me and I can't see it)

Pacinofan, so glad to hear that your baby is ok, I know how scary it is when you bleed. It made me check the paper every time I went to the toilet(sorry if too much information)

I just want to eat toast with butter, real butter. All the time.

Thanks for the tips, have just had a look on the websites - Push have some really nice trousers, but sooo expensive! I wouldn't even pay that much for non-maternity jeans! Also liked some of the Next stuff, but I think I'd better try it on in a shop - I've never had much luck with mail order. What did you get from them, Pacinofan?

Colditz, I could easily eat 2 cooked meals a day, if only someone would cook them for me!! I still feel queasy if I go for, say, 3 hours without eating, it even wakes me up at night... I haven't got any scales (never bothered to replace the old ones when they broke), so don't know how much I've put on, but in my last pg it was quite a lot, and it looks like this one's going the same way. Oh well. After 6 months of breastfeeding, it was all gone again, so I'm relying on that!

Anyone doing pelvic floor exercises yet???
Must admit I never bothered with them in my last pregnancy, and never had any leakage problems, but I probably shouldn't take the risk this time round... (she says, doing three squeeeeezes then getting bored)

Hi, I almost should hello myself again as it's so long since I logged on but we had no computer here for about a monthe and a half. girls, it was hell. Anyway, back on board now and all's going well. I have the massive appetite thing too and can't really tell if my bump is bump or belly. I feel a bit gloomy about prospects for my poor body this time around as before having DD I was pretty fit whereas this time I am NOT. Also the pelvic floor thing... I am finding for some reason that since pregnancy the whole kit and kaboodle is fairly medium. A serious run for the bus will necessitate a knicker change. I had a third degree tear with DD and suppose the pregnancy hormones have just loosened up the muscles or something. Well, damn, really. The second baby will just be able to open the curtain with one hand and stroll out.

Crikey, we are a slow thread, aren't we? More chatting needed!

Has anyone else started feeling definate movements?

Certainly not definite ones no. I sometimes get a non definite one but just a little bit, not over and over again like I remember from last time. Does that mean you do? lucky you... lovely feeling!

Hi all
Long time no speak, have been back from honeymoon for a while but the computer had a virus and was sending out 1000's of emails apparently so the broadband company cut my connection. Now fixed but involved some tears on my part (is anyone else weepy over stupid little things ?)
Wedding was simple and lovely and honeymoon fabulous (cyprus - warm green sea, huge swimming pool, comfy sunlounger, gorgeous new husband etc). Luckily I seemed to regain some energy just in time !!! Felt very pg in my swimsuit by the pool...
Have had another midwife appointment, now 16 weeks, and heard heartbeat which made me cry (again). Had APF single test but not results yet. Have consultants appointment next week due to being "elderly"
Went to my first pg yoga class last night and loved it, very friendly and as I know nobody else whos pg, it felt very reassuring to be surrounded by pg ladies (some almost due). Will def go every week.
Am in maternity clothes (Red Herring range at larger Debenhams)and have difficulty tying shoe laces!
Have not had chance to read string yet but hope you are all well. Cant quite believe I am now Mrs FirstTimer40 (better late than never eh)
Take care

Congrats FT40! All sounds lovely. Am that you heard heartbeat! I asked if they would be listening when I went for my blood tests last week but the sister said they wouldn't be able to hear it so no they wouldn't. I was disappointed as I would have liked the reassurance and I know the heartbeat is detectable from 10 wwks. felt a bit fobbed off!

Congratulations FT40. Glad you had a nice time. Good to see you around again, Spots.

Homsa, I've not really been doing them. I did them a lot after the last pregnancy but not before. Regarding the maternity clothes, I think next are good too, but what I can't seem to find anywhere are nice maternity thick jumpers/polo necks/coats. You know, anything warm for this very cold winter that's supposed to be coming our way. Anyone got a maternity coat?

Has everyone stopped sleeping on their backs then? I'm trying but you can't help what you do when your asleep. I generally go to sleep on my side but apparently spend most of the night on my back. I did this last time too, except right towards the end when I was so huge that I wasn't moving anywhere without waking up, 5 minutes of huffing and puffing and help from a crane to shift me.

I've been feeling what I think are some movements but they aren't very strong.

I am thinking winter cape this time around, last pg a coat was the problem for me too. Saw lovely ones in recent style pages of sunday papers.

Hi All,

Pelvic floor exercises... yeah I remember those - about once a week when the pregnancy yoga teacher reminds me!!

Not quite in maternity clothes yet - but mostly cos I managed to lose a couple of stone after DS1 so am smaller than I started off with him - if you see what I mean! - so still got a lot of 'fat' clothes that I'm using at the mo. Not for much longer tho I don't think. Not planning on getting a maternity coat... got a huge parka coat that I wore last time (again,lent by a friend who had lost quite a bit of weight), but also just bought a big wrap over cardi thing (you know chunky one that needs big pin to do it up at one shoulder sort) from Evans. Hoping that'll do me right through apart from wet days. Mothercare are pushing their new range of maternity stuff - catalogue pics look nice although not checked out much in shops yet.

Got a midwife appnt. next week, can't wait - feels likes ages since my scan and really want to check everything's ok. Apart from that, all seems to be going pretty well at the mo. Had a hideous day yesterday with sinuses playing up but apart from that actually starting to feel human again. Wouldn't say I'm exactly 'blooming' into 2nd trimester, but my nails are growing pretty nicely at the moment for a change so maybe I am!

Hi All

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, I've actually been on holiday in the UK. Was lovely to be home, but it seemed to fly by and before I knew it we were heading back to the US.

There is a pretty good selection of maternity clothes here in the US, but I actually got some fab stuff from H&M while I was at home. I got some lovely brown tweedy trews that really don't look like maternity and a gorgeously snuggly full length cardy. They really had some good stuff, but I had to think about fitting it in my case! Really reasonable on price too.

Had my 16 week appointment yesterday and heard the heartbeat (155 - so going by the old wives tale, another girl ). Still haven't put on any weight yet, in fact am 7lbs lighter than at my first appt! I am starting to eat much better now that the nausea has eased up though, and a couple of days I have started to get that 'I could eat and eat and not be full' feeling, so I'm sure I'll soon make up for my early weeks on the weight front

I haven't really started with the pelvic floors yet, though I did loads with dd1 as I did pre natal yoga 3 times a week. I keep meaning to get going with the yoga again, but much harder this time with a toddler to chase around! I do think they work though - I had a text book labour with only a small tear (pretty amazing with a 9lbs 10 baby!), and despite my fears my nether regions returned to pre-pregnancy size very quickly, I'm sure as a result of them.

hello all, not checked in for a while as been exhausted as dh been away and work and all that

feeling fat but ok , ds is being a sweetheart at the moment, I have decided to take my mat leave early as having hellish time at work and going to take a year and may not go back and plan to get a different job in 2007

Sorry to hear that you are not having a great time at work Tumblemum. I was made redundant when I returned to work (never actually had to go back which was good) and I have to say I don't think I would have coped very well this time if I was working and looking after DS. I now work for myself and although it is long hours in relation to the pay, I think my quality of life is much better We always thought we needed two salaries, but have since found that we didn't, although of course we have had to tighten our belt a bit. It is quite annoying really as now I wonder what did I waste my money on?

I had my mw appointment last week and heard babs heartbeat for the first time, it was very strong and the mw found it straight away which was good. I now have to wait until the end of the month for my next scan and then I don't see the mw until just before Christmas.

I am so happy that ms has now gone Last time I was still being sick at 26 weeks. I am still in non maternity clothes and weighed myself this morning and I think I have put on about 9lbs. I am sure at this stage last time (almost 18 weeks) I was wearing maternity clothes and huge.

I have also started yoga which is good and at least gives me an hour of relaxation a week. I was disappointed that I couldn't do aquanatal as well as the local class is at the same time as my yoga and I can't do the evening class as it is past my bedtime!

How is everyone else doing?

I agree, yoga was great for me last time around. Not a chance this time: class is 40 mins away by train and I can't justify childcare fees for the time it would take. Feels like it wouldn't be the same doing it alone with book or whatever. isn't that daft?

I know what you mean spots, it's not quite the same at home, although last time I did find a really good DVD that I did at home a lot.

Have a look at this
www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/PredictSex.htm

My friend sent it to me and it was right for all 8 babies in our playgroup - I've also tried it for all 10 of my nieces and nephews and it was only wrong for 1! Just a bit of fun.

predict sex

What time zone are we in on the predicty thing?

I guessed at UK being 0 and annoyingly it told me DS 'should' have been a girl so doubt it would work for this bump. Whats the old wives tale you mentioned tho MrsEves about the heart rates, I've heard this one lots of time but can never remember which rates mean girl / boy

Yep, we are in time zone 0 (well you are in the UK) - although it didn't seem to matter as it was wrong anyway! Your only the 2nd person I've heard it be wrong for, but it is only a bit of fun.

As far as I remember, the old wives tale about heart rate is 120-140 = boy, and 140-160 = girl, but someone else might be able to correct me there. Hardly an exact science though is it

thanks locks yes I cannot wait to finish I would love to work for myself but cannot see it happening

had a bit of a scare we have all had head lice courtesy of ds so bought some non toxic lotion from chemist it did not say anything about pg so assumed ok but read somewhere that you cannot use anything if you are pg - tell me it is not true

bit worried about the baby now and don't feel pg anymore hope i am just being a silly says she scratching...

I have just done the calendar predictor thing, says ds is a girl irrespective of what day he was conceived on in Feb 2003, I was certain he was so perhaps that explains it but the only problem is he is definitely male and his behaviour is at the male end of the spectrum
says I am having another girl so know what that means another lovely baby boy

Hi Tumblemum, I've no idea specifically about the head lice shampoo I'm afraid but I know that some people worry about highlights/hair dye, but I've been reassured a number of times that those are fine to use since they don't penetrate any lower than the skin and hair follicle... i would have thought the shampoo would be the same? How about asking your chemist or phoning something like NHS direct to put your mind at rest?