The Continuing Adventures of the First Time Frolicker Graduates....

[Hermya321]

Right (plonks self down and breaks out the biscuit tin and tea bags), I've stuck the kettle on. Whose joining me?

ARRIVALS:

Fulhamgirl - EDD 30th May - DOB 9th Apr - Girl - Lily Ann - 4lb

CURRENT__GRADUATES:

Trying4Baby1 - BFP 21st Aug - 25th Apr - Girl
Kaystar - BFP 27th Aug - EDD?
Pepperonipizza - BFP 12th Sep - 24th May - Boy
Ladyemmalou83 - BFP 13th Oct - 23rd Jun - Girl - Erin Elizabeth
bluesnowfalcon - BFP 14th Oct - EDD?
DesperateHousewife21 - BFP 3rd Nov - EDD 18th Jul - Boy - Dylan
Spirael - BFP 7th Nov - EDD 25th Jul - Secret
Curlycasper - BFP 11th Nov - EDD 21st Jul - Girl
EmsieRo - BFP 16th Nov - EDD 20th Jul
vix206 - BFP 8th Dec - EDD 22nd Aug
HypotheticalMummy - BFP 9th Dec - EDD?
Ozziegirly - BFP 16th Dec - EDD 24th Aug
NovemberAli - BFP 24th Dec - EDD 2nd Sep
Eleanora - BFP 28th Dec - EDD 4th Sep
WhiteRoses - BFP 11th Jan - EDD 15th Sep - Boy
hamsterlover - BFP 11th Jan - EDD?
Hobnob - BFP 17th Jan - EDD 26th Sep
MadameG - BFP 17th Jan - EDD 16th Sep
pixiestix - BFP 18th Jan - EDD 24th Sep
ceebs05 - BFP 22nd Jan - EDD 29th Sep
addie81 - BFP 28th Jan - EDD 8th Oct
chancewouldbeafinething - BFP 1st Feb - EDD 11th Oct
WorrisomeHeart - BFP 29th Jan - EDD 12th Oct
Hermya321 - BFP 12th Feb - EDD 24th Oct
fudgecat - BFP 19th Feb ? EDD 28th Oct
Pidgin - BFP 27th Feb - EDD?
Honeymoo - BFP ? - EDD 1st Nov
YorkshireTeaDrinker - BFP 1st Mar - EDD 6th Nov
DrewsGirl - BFP 4th Mar - EDD?
bunnygirl80 - BFP 12th Mar - EDD 19th Nov
Mumnerves - BFP 1st Apr - EDD 8th Dec
Spanishlady - BFP 3rd Apr - EDD?
luckyseven - BFP 8th Apr - EDD 17th Dec
Capricorn76 - BFP 12th Apr - EDD 1st Jan
Homebound - BFP 30th Apr - EDD 8th Jan

FUTURE_GRADUATES:

aly323
Ariesgirl
Bellaby
calligraphy82
Calyx
CaveMum
chalky3
cher rycobbler
claireinthecommunity
Dinkytinky
evilgiraffe
FelicityFlick
haloflo
Kaloki
kkas
kurl yvoice
misshoohaa
MrsWajs
Muser
Papertiger
pinkiePoo
pipsicles
seablue
Sevans
Stiffybyn g
Wannamummy
Zippys

I've had no mention of the Swine Flu jab here at all in West Yorks. And I booked in with the midwife back in November last year, during flu season!

Of course, I was going to refuse the jab anyway. But I can't refuse it if they don't even offer it to me!

My thought process leading to deciding to refuse basically went along the lines that as far as I could establish, all the pregnant women who had problems with swine flu also had additional underlying conditions. I'm very lucky to be a picture of health usually, so I was pretty confident that if I did pick up swine flu, I should be able to fight it off without too many problems.

I figured that since I had no unusual circumstances, then in my sitution the risk of an untested vaccine was greater than the risk of something going wrong through getting swine flu - especially since I wasn't even likely to acquire said flu! (I don't really work or commute amongst the general public.)

Touch wood, so far I've managed to avoid flu! Instead I've just had about four common colds...

spirael i honestly think i am being offered / given it as the health service in Northern Ireland bought too many vaccines! i agree with your logic about the pros and cons but i do work in a public building but sayingthat no one had it back in the peak time.

I work in a very busy, public building in the UK and there is no way on earth that I am having the vaccine. Everything I have read on it makes me deeply, deeply suspicious of the whole thing. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to have it, Lucky, - its a choice, not a requirement and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Lucky No I was never offered it.

But then again, I probably would have refused it anyway as I caught swine flu off of my delightful niece over Christmas. Woop de doo!!

It was horrid and I was off work for a few days as well.

Hi all

Had the first definite kick today - everything before now has just been bubbling, IYKWIM. Very cool, can't wait for the next one! I keep poking my bump to see if I can wake Mr Teeny up and get him to move again! I have a feeling I'm going to be one of those mothers who wakes their baby to make sure they're ok...

Totally agree about not having the swine flu jab - it always seemed very odd to me that I would have the injection when I'm not even touching nurofen. However, so far it's never been mentioned by the MW's, so not been an issue!

bunny sorry to hear that your current work is being crap. Hope the new opportunity works out!

spireal I am very jealous of you leaving work soon - I cannot wait until my leave starts! (only another 4 months )

Congrats to everyone who had a good scan last week!

Yes yes yes worrisome that's how I feel! I can't have a lemsip or a glass of wine, but I can have a virus injected into me? It just seems wrong.

Spirael I didn't realise that the pregnant women who also had problems with swine flu did have underlying problems. Like you, I am very healthy, and have no other medical issues at all, and I've only ever actually had flu once, when I was 4, despite working and commuting into London for 7 years.

I think I will just keep avoiding it. I don't have to see my GP for anything else, and my Obs doesn't seem to talk about any other medical stuff apart from the pregnancy, so hopefully if I don't mention it, neither will she.

Hi all,
Just trying to catch up but at the moment my brain just seems to let me read but am struggling to reply.
Am agree with all of you re: vaccine, I don't think I'd have it either, it just protects against swine flu and who's to say another type of flu won't get you anyway? Also there were concerns about possible mercury in some of them??! All very worrying.

bunny lol at the maternity swimsuit thread, poor woman, I did cringe for her though. Can't believe your bosses! Isn't it just bordering on discrimination?

pixie congrats on your scan, I don't think I want to know either, but I know I'll come away feeling 'done for' like you.

sazzie and hobnob congrats on your girls

Some quick news from me, had my dating scan today, am 11 weeks tomorrow. It was such a relief to see peanut (our name for LO) moving, I was so worried I was just imagining it all The sonographer woke peanut up and it was frantically waving it's little arms and legs throwing a tantrum! DH says it must take after me as I'm a grumpy so and so if I get woken up Bless, peanut is only 3.8cms at the moment!!

We were always going to start telling people after the scan, so rang my mum and dad after. I don't think my dad knew how to take it as he kept changing the subject, but I think he was pleased (first grandchild)Mum is already planning how long she can come over and stay after the birth!

DH is going to call the in-laws tonight, I'm sure they'll be chuffed to bits too, also first time grandparents.

Sorry about the me, me, me post, hope everyone else is ok, sorry can't comment on the anterior placenta thingy as I don't quite understand it yet, need to read up more about it first.

Have a nice week everyone!

Has anyone else starting making a baby shopping list? I did today and am now feeling quite overwhelmed.

I also started looking at mine and DH's income when I'll be on SMP and am now feeling a very great urge to panic. At the moment I earn the lions share of the wage and we'll loose quite a chunk when I go on maternity leave. So I'm trying to sit down with yet another list and try to work out incomings and outgoings and find out where we can make savings and the like.

This may be affected by the over consumption of chocolate tonight though.

LO has also started making itself known at night now, I was just about to drop off to sleep last night when I felt a lurch in my tummy and then LO just started kicking and poking me. It went on for quite a while. It also kicks after meals now as well. It is quite cool.

DH says he can feel a bump now as well, I just look a little rounder. In fact I think I look like a frog, all spinderly arms and legs and an expanding tummy. Thats just me though.

Did anyone else get shooting pains up and around their tummy areas (not uterus) around this time? I'm assuming that I'm getting round ligament pain or that my organs are protesting the fact that they're starting to get squished now. Any thoughts????

Pixie Great news on your scan!!

Spirael I can't wait to get off work (despite the fact I'm worrying about money). I bet it feels so close now doesn't it.

Mumsnerves Congratulations!!! It's so cool isn't it, just wait until you get to hear the little heartbeat. It's fab!!

Oooooooooooooooh!!

oneof8 has just got a BFP on the frolickers thread!!

Hermya I can't wait to hear the heartbeat or feel LO It must be the best thing ever! DH got quite emotional watching the scan today, it was really touching to watch

Congratulations Mumnerves! Its so amazing that a baby can be perfectly formed and less than 4cm big, isn't it? It just boggles my mind

Worrisome - LOL at you poking Mr Teeny to wake him up! It will be great when he starts to kick back at your hand.

I'm with you on the inconvenient movement Hermya, although after waiting so long I am just glad that LO is moving about! S/he has started kicking me right in the bladder over the last two days - its the most weird and uncomfortable thing I have ever felt in my life!! Indescribably uncomfortable, bordering on real pain, and real panic that I will wet my pants. DH was laughing his head off earlier as I was screaming "Kick me somewhere else, kick me somewhere else you bastard!!" God knows what our neighbours think of us.

Yay!! Congrats Oneof8

pixie I am almost peeing myself with laughter at the thought of your neighbours listening to you shouting at the LO - 'Oh Muriel, do you think we should call the police, it sounds like he's hurting her in there!' If only they knew! Can totally sympathise re the bladder kicking though - had my first experience of that today. It was one of the weirdest things I've ever felt!

Hermya it is really scary when you start to put lists together and thinking about cashflow. I've been putting extra into our savings to try and cover the shortfall in the mortgage when I'm on SMP and the three months when I'm paid nothng. I think DH and I are resigning ourselves to living on beans and Smash for a bit though! It'll all be worth it in the end. I am fairly anally organised so we've had a 'stuff for Mr T' list for a while and I'm starting to make a dent in it - still ridiculous when you calculate all the money to be spent though, and thats without the £1200 pink crib!

mumnerves fab news re the scan - it is the most amazing thing, seeing them wiggle around, isn't it?

ozzie just stick to your guns, they can't force you to have the jab!

Congrats oneof8!

oneof8 yay, congratulations!

mumnerves lovely to hear about your scan, it's so amazing when you see them for the first time isn't it? DH and I were grinning like fools for the rest of the day!

Worrisome and Hermya I agree on money, it is daunting. Although Dh earns quite a lot more than me, I don't get paid anything when I am on maternity leave, so we lose my salary entirely, which is quite scary.

Basically DH has drawn up a plan and a spreadsheet (he does work for a bank) going through what our income will be, our fixed outgoings and then how much we will have to spend weekly.

Then we have actually started living to that now, and so basically my salary is currently being saved entirely, partly to ensure that we have some money put aside, but also to get us used to living on only one salary.

It's actually been ok so far, we have done things like, taking lunch in every day, meal planning, cutting out takeaways entirely, limiting eating out to when we really feel like it etc.

Plus basically we over pay on our mortgage, and also pay a chunk into an investment account, and we have just stopped doing that for the time being. We will have time to do that again later after all.

We also started buying bits and bobs from about 14 weeks which has spread it out a bit. We still have big things to buy though and I think we'll just have to bite the bullet and get them. We're not getting any hand me downs or anything as we don't have any relatives with children over here, so it is being really expensive.

Morning all! Hope everyone is doing ok today.

I've got virtually all my baby shopping done now, but it has been a particularly expensive couple of months getting everything in! I made a big spreadsheet of everything I thought I might need right back at the beginning of the year. I then split that into things I needed immediately, things that I didn't need until after LO was born and things that'd be nice but weren't essential.

I then went through every item on the list and did a whole load of research (something to do during lull periods at work on the internet ) into the products to find exactly what I wanted and the cost. Then tried to view the product in a store or at a show to ensure it was right before acquiring things over several months so the costs were spread.

I guess I'm fortunate in some ways with my DH being an accountant. He is meticulously organised with finances and has been squirrelling money away for several years now to fund the initial baby setup costs, as well as supplement my salary (I'm the bigger earner in our household) while I'm on maternity leave, so we can maintain our current standard of living. We're as bad as each other for being over-organised.

Anyway, mild pains around your midriff probably aren't anything to worry too much about, Hermya. As you say, everything is having to move and stretch at the moment! As long as the pain isn't too strong, doesn't last a long time and eases a bit if you move about then it's unlikely to be anything to be concerned over.

As for people being kicked in the bladder... I'm afraid it gets worse. Just wait until your LOs progress to 'bladder headbutting'. It's a whole new and exciting experience! Fortunately I've not lost control of my bladder at any point thus far... But it's been worryingly close a few times. I'm getting very close to resorting to wearing full sanitary pads or even Tena Lady pads... Juuuust in case. [paranoid]

Not much other news from me. I've been prescribed iron tablets since my levels were down at 12, which while not too bad is the bottom end of normal. Since I've got my sights on a homebirth, the midwife wants my levels higher than that in case I end up losing a lot of blood. (Also, having a higher level will make my recovery quicker, apparently.)

So it's back to having treacle running through my insides again for a bit while I'm on the tablets, bah! Oh well, at least I'm not too badly affected by the tablets, some people have awful side effects. Me, I just get a bit of constipation (George - my baby hemorrhoid - will be happy. He might get some friends!) and start to have monochromatic bowel functions. Woo?

Apologies if that was TMI.

Congrats oneof8 mumnerves glad to hear you had a good scan. It's amazing to see how much they move around in there even though you can't feel them at all.

chance hope you enjoy your clearout. In the weeks before we moved I ended up on first name terms with the ladies in our local oxfam shop I was in there with bags of stuff so often

spirael hope the iron tablets don't mess with your insides too much. I've been practicing my hypnobirthing breathing while on the toilet and it definitely helps when constipated

I am so of all of you with organised DH's with spreadsheets. The last conversation I had with my DH about buying baby stuff involved him saying that he reckoned we wouldn't need to buy ANY clothes for the poor thing until after it's been born!!!

My work seem to be being a bit more positive about things now - they are apparantly looking for a locum to cover me so at least it sounds like they're making some sort of effort. I told all the nurses this week and they were all really pleased, although they had been suspicious for weeks. Apparently my recent obsession with eating extremely regularly gave me away

I got a lovely parcel from my MIL today. I had a cute little baby blanket and a babygrow in it. It's newborn size, and I've always looked at newborn clothes and thought they are so teeny and cute. But now I think it looks massive given that it's designed to fit someone who will have come out of me!

Hi Girls!

Just dipping my toe... Hello to you all and thanks for the "Congratulations"

Still in shock, and having doubts its real. Got on and off cramps, GP said I'm about 6 weeks. Cramps started similar to AF, but now do feel different (or I am paying more attention!)Other than this no symptoms.

Did anyone else have this? x

Hi OneOf8! Lovely to have you here! Don't worry about the cramps at all. Loads of us had similar when we first got our BFP... actually, I think Hermya is still having them this week and she is aaaaaaages pg now! The ones I had were more like the pains you get when you do too many sit ups, rather than AF-ones, if that makes any sense, but you can get all kinds of pain without it meaning anything bad. Its just your lady-bits making way for everything that is going to happen over the next few months!

OMG - pixiestix - thats what I had Monday, I though it was from the accident Sunday, as back of my hips and neck hurt also!

That (the muscle ache) is getting better, feels the same as you would expect after a gym session a few days previous now - but my neck is also much better so I didn't think it was even related to my new status!

The cramps go from nothing to sharp like a heavy af on way. I hate the lack of knowing whats happening but the fact it is similar to the long cycle prior to last af getting myself concerned.

As was GP who done the test, I have a MW 1st appt scheduled 14th June. Having skimmed the Jan 2011 thread, this seems a little late (the 11th week) - am I ok to keep the appt as it is or should I try to arrange sooner?
If we keep it, OH can come with me (or is that not normal practise?!?)

God - going to go and read up as only checked food in detail so far. Will be grey by the end of the month at this rate!! x

It depends how you feel about the appointment. I didn't have my first meeting with the MW until 16 weeks which was really late, and it was fine. We just caught up on two appointments worth in one go! I didn't take DH but my MW was very laid back and I'm sure it wouldn't have been a problem if he had been there.

You should have a scan between 10-12 (ish) weeks though, and often it is the MW who organises this - so if you are not meeting yours until 11 weeks, make sure that your doctor is on the case organising it for you.

What happened to you on Sunday? Are you ok?

There does seem to be a total information overload when you get pg! I am constantly questioning what my body is doing and if it is normal (As these guys well know! ) I would recommend the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book if you don't have it already - its packed full of stuff to freak you out inform you what your crazy body is up to!

Hi guys,

How are you all? Gosh I feel like I've gone off the deep end this week. I've been looking at all mine and Dh's finances for when baby comes along. Turns out we'll loose a heck of a chunk of money and I'm not sure where it'll be made up from. I'm just going to save like crazy over the next few months, all we can do really.

Also made a big crazy baby things list, which was also scary. But I have a plan so it should be ok.

I'm still waiting on my triple test results, but I'm not worried as they said they would ring me if there was a problem with them. Two weeks later and no call, that'll do for me.

I've also been a course this week with a group of people who I really don't click with. I do try and get along with them, but they don't seem to want to get along with me. It's so strange, they'll talk to me and sit with me at lunch. But if they walk to lunch or walk back from lunch to the classroom they won't wait for me. I was sitting with one of them today and I was said 'I'm going to get a coke, do you want one?' she said 'no'. So I got up and went and got one, now if it was me and someone asked me that I would wait for them. I got back to my table and this girl had just walked off and left me. I did speak to them last year about this very issue and it did get better for a bit but is now just like it was.

I don't know if I'm being over sensitive, they do talk to me and are nice to me. It's just really unconcious stuff, they'll wait for each other but not for me. It's weird and it has been made worse by my stupid hormones.

Seriously I've been snapping at people all day and then having to walk off so that I don't burst into tears.

I rang my MIL re my worries over finances and she said that it'll be fine (which is what I wanted to hear as I was going into meltdown mode) and I said off hand in a jokey way 'well my make up budget might take a hit' and she said to me 'well you just might have to wear no make up or the cheap stuff for a bit won't you'. I had just calmed down and she goes and says that!!! So my body changes, my clothes won't fit, my finances takes a hit, a baby takes over my life and home, I'll feel like a mess at the best of times and you tell me I'll have to give up my fabulous and quite frankly essential to my continued existance on this planet mascara and blusher!!!

Well I just sort of laughed and then quickly left the conversation. I then went home and absolutely sobbed my heart out to my poor poor DH. Seriously, telling me my mascara had to go was the last straw for me. I am now working out how to have to mascara fund for when I'm on ML.

I mean concealer is a MUST for all Mums of newborns as far as I'm concerned, they should give it out on the maternity wards along with the bounty bags.

Incidently anyone gone and got theres yet?

Oneof8 They seem to make first appointments late for some reason, have they given you a scan date for that time as well? Your OH can go with you no worries. Also apparently around the time you're supposed to get a period, pregnant women can get cramps. But if you're worried go to your Docs or EPU.

Spirael No TMI, otherwise how else will we know about certain things.

Bunny Awwww your MIL sounds fabby!! It does look different when you think baby has to come out of yourself doesn't it.

Worrisome I've been saving especially for that crib!

Hermya I'm starting to panic too about finances. Like ozziegirl we started overpaying our mortgage last year so I think the money will be coming from that. We earn about 50/50 at the moment so for us it's a big chunk to lose as well. My heart says take a year off, my head says that would be nice but you can't afford it! I'm sure your finances will stretch to concealer and mascara!

bunny what a lovely present from your MIL Is that your first baby present?

oneof8 just wanted to echo everyone about the cramps, they had me really worried for the first few weeks, but they do ease off. I found if I pushed myself too hard physically (like walking too quickly) they were worse, so just try and take things easy. My DH came with me to my MW appt and also for the scan. Just make sure you get your 10-12 week scan booked by someone.

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments about my scan, this is why I love this thread, everyone is just so supportive

Oneof8 I'm just going to agree with everyone about the cramps. It's just everything stretching to accomodate baby. I had AF like cramps for the first 2-3 weeks of pg, now I'm getting muscle and ligament pain. They get really bad if I sneeze or if I laugh too hard.

My DH came with me to my first appointment, but only because my obstetrician did a dating scan at that visit. He actually spent most of the time complaining he was bored while we waited, and because there were only women's magazines in the waiting room he resorted to playing with the toys they leave out for children

hermya those people on your course sound a bit strange

If you start stockpiling makeup now then you can spread the cost so you won't have to go without. I totally agree with you about it being an essential item for new mothers - I will be packing mascara and concealer to take to the hospital with me so I look all lovely in all the post-birth photos.

mumnerves yes it was our first baby present- I felt all emotional when I unwrapped it.

I am now 14 weeks pg so I've officially entered the second trimester - yay, although it seems strange to think that I'm a third of the way through this pg already

Had my job interview yesterday. It went really well, and it sounds ideal as it would be starting up a new practice, so I'd only be working 1 day a week until patient numbers increase. That's unlikely to be until I've come back from ML so I will be able to ease back into work rather than having to put LO in childcare full time straight away. I asked if me being pg was a problem and she just said that if you employ women you expect them to get pg, and she will just have to cover my ML. So a much better attitude than my current boss!

Morning!

Hermya I'm worried about finances also - we have recently moved, and at the time seemed a great idea to start everything at once (moving walls etc) so we only had one skip to pay for, as had "ages" to put it all back together... so we have a house to fix, and I'm the main earner. I have our finances on a spreadsheet, so will just re-jigg stuff and work out what to cut back on. Everyone says it works out so just holding onto that until I can see clearly!

Bunny the practice seem really nice - I'm not worried about telling my bosses, as a family run business, and get on really well. This is about the only thing I am not worrying about!

mumnerves thank you. Will call GPs today.
For a control freak, I am really poor at this. Had no idea was preg. Last time at GP was 6 weeks earlier getting results from blood test following long cycle/lack of af. Came on the next day - literally. Thought it was just another long cycle and had been carrying on with"normal" life (drinking etc)

Pixie I had a fall at work on Sunday, ended up flat on my back, and banged my head. At the other job (office) Monday had what felt like whiplash and it was getting worse throughout the morning. Got an appt to ask for painkillers, as ibuprofen wasn't easing it. As the GP a locum, he'd read my notes so asked about af, as it was 6 weeks ago did a test... Worst thing about the fall was it was it could not have been in a more public setting. It was the kind of thing you giggle about when it happens to someone else.

Not a bad start to pregnancy - drinking a glass or so during the last week due to 3 stressful weeks at work and had a BFN to say its ok, lifting etc at the other job, taking ibuprofen for nearly 36 hours following a fall that could win awards on WipeOut (anyone who knows this show will know what I mean)...

I promise I will start to be more normal soon. We are telling my parents this weekend, due to house issues and had made plans with my dad what we were doing, timescales etc. Don't feel fair to bareface lie, so its honesty or avoiding. Town is to samll to avoid...

Will be telling work after that (after mw appt) - again, as a family business they expect total honsety. If I tell them can start planning, and negotiating better Mat bens as Stat only at present. This will give back some of the control currently AWOL.

Have a lovely Friday!

Hello! Hello! I've missed you all! I was a frolicker until march this year, when we had to take a break from ttc because I was having an hsg scan at the wrong time of the month. Hsg is the one where they put a tube into your uterus - ouch - and inject you with dye so they can check your tubes are open. The luck ones among you may remember the rectal antibiotic that featured in this procedure. And the next month- BFP! Due on 10 Jan. It was just so lovely to see my name on the future grads list here - thank you!

Hsg showed I have an arcuate uterus, which means it has a dip at the top. This can mean all sorts of boring complications, so I'm going to keep my appt with the infertility consultant on weds as this will be my first chance to talk to someone properly about the scan.

Am on iPhone so adding myself to the list is probably beyond me!

Sorry to hear your experience fulhamgirl. So glad you are both healthy at the end of it.

Happy to see so many frolickers here. It's great to have a thread where everyone is a first timer and lots of us were trying for a while.