About to start / Just started / Trying for a while TTC no.2 (part 5)

[GingerbreadBabyPlease]

Here we are ladies, part 5, with a new spin to the title to include some of us long-timers!
May it bring many, many more BFPs and some happy, healthy babies

mrs I will be flying back on Fri 13th!!! But I don't think of it as an unlucky number, DH and I got married on a fri 13th, and 7 years down the line we are still happily married!

Hi everyone!

Quick check in amidst the moving madness. Can't wait til it's over to be honest. Fed up of it and we have so much stuff (thanks, DD!).

Good news that you're OVing Ginger, but boo to AF arriving. Which blood test was the one which showed that result?

Maybe relaxing and taking a break is what you need? Give yourself a chance to stop thinking about it for a while.

Amsterdam sounds fantastic, by the way.

Windy must've had her baby by now I'd have thought...come back and update us Windy.

I see ATruth on Facebook in our August group, but not on MN. She's fine. :-)

Third trimester here now...downhill from here! Less than 12 weeks til I meet baby now, assuming a 39 week ELCS. Scary thought!

I can't believe you and morerum are so close now, mrs! Seems crazy.

Hope Engels and Swede are both ok.

Hi to everyone else, including newbies! :-)

Hi Ginger - I think it's great news that you are ovulating, it means you know you can get pregnant so you must see it as a positive and keep trying. Why are you taking a break from it for a few months? Maybe don't see yourselves as actively trying and take a more laid back approach to it and you'll probably then just fall pregnant. I can't believe you arrive back on my due date, will I have had my baby by then or not I wonder?! What date do you go? Some of our journeys may be over before yours but we will all keep in touch. We could change the title so it covers the new babies and those still trying.
Hi Hungry - Are you all moved in yet? How's it going? Oh God Hungry, on Friday I will have only 4 weeks to go. So scared now of labour! I hope your move is going ok.
Ginger - I hope your girlie weekend is lots of fun.
Hi to everyone else x

Hi everyone! Hope you're all enjoying your weekends. I am currently hungover and have a hyper toddler crawling all over me. I'm ovulating at the moment according to opks so we managed to fit in a 2am session after hosting a eurovision party! :) Am knackered today though. I'm not giving up alcohol or sugar for ttc this time round and I feel much more relaxed about it this time, but it is our first cycle trying so I'm sure the stress will come...

Mrsm, yes it is very handy to have a mw for a mum. Unfortunately we all live in Sweden so Leeds might be a bit far! :D I think you should definitely go for the homebirth if you are low risk and it's the place you feel the most comfortable in! Can you get g&a at home or will it be no pain relief at all?

Ginger sorry about af, but it is good that you're ov. Maybe a break would be good and just dtd for fun for a bit - you never know!

Hi Karmanna - I didn't realise you were in Sweden. Have you always lived there, are you actually from Sweden? You can have gas and air at home so I was hoping to try with no pain relief but gas and air if I need something. I never tried has and air last time. I am looking forward to seeing the home birth team this Thursday to discuss it all. How was your birth?

Karmanna - forgot to say, fingers crossed for you if you're ovulating! I hope it doesn't take you long.

mrsm, I am Swedish but lived in London for 15 years and dh is English. We decided to move to sweden when ds was 5 months old as thought he'd have a better childhood over here than in Tottenham (plus nursery fees are about a tenth of UK prices!)

My birth was not at all what I had written in my birthplan but I think it was a positive experience. Got into hospital and asked for an epidural straight away but went from 3cm to fully dilated in half an hour so had no time for any pain relief, not even g&a. 13 minutes later he was born - they said next one might be even quicker so maybe a homebirth would be safer than trying to get into hospital as we live in the countryside, and my mum is only 5 minutes away. Good luck with meeting the homebirth team! I'm sure they can put your mind at ease and would be lovely not to have to travel anywhere when you're in labour but staying in the comfort of your own home, not to mention avoiding the hell on earth that is the postnatal ward shudder

Well my month off has started with a bang,went on a spur of the moment big night out last night, have been so, so hungover today, so sympathy with you Karma! It was hard work looking after DD this morning, DH has been at work all day, so we have been watching lots of cartoons! Had such a fun night though, and joined some friends tonight for hangover curry, DD tagged along too, lots of things I never would have done if I was pregnant!
Gosh another one that lives in Sweden! You could start your own ttc club!
mrs it will be interesting to hear what the homebirth team say on thursday. I only used gas and air with DD and it worked pretty well as a painrelief. It was still very painful of course, and right at the end I felt I wanted something a bit stronger, but I think if you already know how painful giving birth is, and what to expect, you will be just fine with G and A!
Good luck to you this month karma, eurovision baby? How long did it take you to conceive DS?

Hope everyone else had a nice weekend x

Ginger a night out and a curry sounds like a great start to some time out!

Karma id love to have a mw on hand I have so many daft questions I want to ask!

Hungry when do you start mat leave now can't be too far away?

Mrs is it real yet? I was 36 weeks yesterday and still think there might be some denial especially with dh!

I can't remember who asked but dh's business is doing really well im so proud of him for taking the chance

Hi to kt better swede calling and anyone else I may have missed xx

I am very of curry night ginger as curry here is rubbish, hard to find and €€€. One of the things I really miss about the UK.

Goad you had a good weekend. For me the most important lesson I learned from ttc DS (18 months of trying) was that you can't put your life on hold while trying for a baby. Keep living, keep having fun, especially with DD. This time when I was trying to get through the mc and having to wait for the all clear I told myself that every month I wasn't pg was another month with DS, to give him attention and have fun with him. At the same time, if you need to feel sad, then let yourself without feeling guilty about it. I know it sucks, but the good news is you are ov, you have dd so you know you can have dc. Big big hugs and enjoy Amsterdam!!

karma I admire your ttc commitment...2am! I am outside the UK as well, in the Netherlands. DH is Dutch.

I'm plodding through the 1st trimester. 7w+1 today. On and off nausea and tiredness. Past point of both my mcs so fx. Have an early scan next week, but just want to get to 12w now. Have had nights proper sleep. Mothers Day here yesterday so it was a very welcome present!

Hi everyone, how's everyone doing?
Hi Morerum - yes it's starting to feel very real now! How about you? I think you are due exactly a week before me. On Friday I will be due in 4 weeks exactly so it's count down for us both ! So exciting! If you are offered a sweep will you have one? I've decided I would decline this time if offered. I've got the health visitor coming round this afternoon to give me my red book and see me before baby is due, then midwife appointment on weds and home birth team coming round on Thursday so it's all go. Are you all prepared?
Hi Ginger. - your weekend sounds great fun and well deserved. I think it's time to enjoy yourself and just let things be and happen naturally, and it will happen for you xx
Hi Karmanna - I bet it's much nicer bringing up a child in Sweden than it is here. I also second what Morerum says, I would love a midwife on hand for all my silly questions and little niggles. Especially someone as close to you as your mum. Just reading about your birth experiences makes me so jealous, that is exactly how I would like one to go this time. Nice and quick and if I can manage with no pain relief or just gas and air I will be thrilled. How old is your DS again? Mine is only 2, he knows I have a big tummy but I don't think he understands it's a baby!

Morning everyone! Hope you're all dandy!

Ginger, I didn't know there was another Swede on this thread? Waves! It took us 9 months to conceive DS but I had an ectopic when he was just 3 months old and lost a tube so I fear we're in it for the long haul this time, but I am determined to stay relaxed and not get obsessive this time round. Fx for Eurovision baby! Last time I had a royal wedding baby - there was a bit of a baby boom round that time as it was a double bank holiday too!

Hi Calling, I would LOVE an "english" curry - they are not very good here either and they don't deliver anyway. Sob! Suppose on the upside we get to celebrate 2 mothers days - Swedish one coming up at the end of May! :) Good luck for your scan next week and fx you'll have an easy pregnancy!

Mrsm, DS was 2 in January so similar age to yours! I don't think he would quite get the baby thing either, but even if I got PG now he'd be about 3 when baby would be due. I really hope you get the birth you want this time round! Mine was not what I thought I wanted but in hindsight it was what I would want for my next, although I am quite intrigued by a water birth.

Hi everyone.

Sounds like your weekend was good gingerbread!! I think it's great news that you're ovulating, but I can see what you mean, it kind of makes it even more frustrating in the short term. At least you're not going to be reliant on medical intervention though.

How did the move go hungry?

How did you get on with the health visitor mrs I managed fine on just gas and air the first time, but that said I was in the birth pool as well. Will be interesting to see what the home birth team have to say! What will you do with ds during the birth?

My dd was a royal wedding baby too karmanna!! Hopefully Eurovision will have been just as lucky!

Good milestone re being past the mcs calling will be lovely for you to have the reassurance of the scan next week. What day is it on?

Brilliant news re dhs business morerum if only you'd know when he got the redundancy that things would work out ok!! How are you feeling? I bet you're really uncomfortable now!!

How's everyone else?

Hi Karmanna - my DS was two at the end of December so ours are very close in age! It's a lovely age too. I think a two or 3 year gap is ideal. Thank you, I hope my birth is similar to what yours was.
Hi Better - how are you feeling? The visit from the health visitor was fine today, just talking about the birth this time and she is very for me having a home birth this time. She was very encouraging and supportive of it. I hope the home birth team are the same on Thursday. Better - I hope to have no pain relief if I can manage or just gas and air like you. Did you find that manageable? I won't be having a water birth but will spend much of it in the bath as I felt that eased the pain last time. DS will be looked after by mum and dad unless he's at home.

I'm feeling pretty good, getting bigger! Fortunately no back ache or anything yet. In total contrast to our last few weeks (with dh at home 24/7) he went away with work this morning until Friday! Dd doesn't know what's going on!

I found it manageable with just gas and air & the pool, I have no plans to have any stronger pain relief this time (although would never say never!) the main thing that wore me down towards the end was exhaustion, and I do feel the length of my labour could have been a lot, as in 5 or 6 hours, less. So I'm going to put things relating to that in my birth plan this time, but the pain side was fine just gas and air. Do you still have a birth plan for a home birth?

Hellooooo all! Sorry been a bit AWOL lately, no particular reason but work is hectic and home life equally busy.

All is ok here though. Went for a scan on Thursday last week and it was lovely to see my little boy again. 17 weeks now so he is growing fast. He waved and bounced around, very cool. Now only got one more scan (anomality) on the 12 June before I depart for Sweden.

Have taken the decision to not quit my job. They offered me a sabbatical and I took it. Not that it will change much for me but at least I am still employed which I think is a benefit when looking for another job and I get to keep all my wonderful bank benefits which helps financially for sure. I can take a decision next year if I want to come back and return to the job I love or if I resign and hopefully find something equally fulfilling in Sweden.

Otherwise, plans to move back are going ok. Have ordered my shipping (not taking a lot of things, mostly baby stuff etc) and finalising other things.

Counting the days really now as I am all set to go. Love this country but it is very tough to live in as a foreigner and I am really tired of having to fight for every thing. Very scared of returning to Sweden though, its been 16 years since I last lived there permanently, certainly going to be a culture shock from Africa:)

Anyway, otherwise, not much new. See there are a few newbies since I was last on! Always good with some new 'faces'.

Trying to catch up on what's been going on. Any new pregnancies???

Hi Better - your DH must be feeling much better now then which is good news. You must be glad he's back on his feet. I can still do a birth plan for a home birth if I like, for example where I want to give birth, that I want to spend much of my labour in the bath and that I'd like to try no pain relief but gas and air if I need it. I think I still will do a birth plan and I can put things like I would prefer no epidural if I end up having to go to hospital for any reason etc. glad you're feeling ok. I'm just getting big and tired.
Hi Swede - sounds like you're doing well.

Hi everyone! Hope you're all doing good!

Hi Swede, I am also Swedish! Where in Sweden are you moving to? I lived in the UK for 15 years and it was definitely a bit of a culture shock to come back here but now that everything is starting to fall into place (after 20 months living with my parents!) I think it's the best decision we ever made and DS is thriving and loves it here. Good luck with the move!

Hej Karmanna! Nice to meet another fellow Swede on here! I am from Gothenburg so moving back there. Will also be staying with my parents for a bit but think it will be ok for a while at least. Glad to hear that you've had a positive return, makes me feel more positive just hearing that. Hope I can turn to you for some relocation advise? I lived in the UK for 12 years and have spent the last 4 years in South Africa. Think I will definitely have a bit of a culture shock upon my return! Where in Sweden are you?

Hej Swede! I'm in Lund. I love Gothenburg, have relatives and friends there and it probably has more jobs than down here. What field are you in? Yes do feel free to ask for advice - I did find that Sweden's changed quite a bit since a last lived here, but maybe it's just because I'm an adult now. Authorities are a bit complex and don't get me started on arbetsförmedlingen - total waste of time! But the rest is great and we've finally been able to buy a house that there's no way we could have afforded in London. Welcome home! :)

Oh I love Lund! I am a lawyer and currently working for a bank here. Not sure how easy it will be for me to get a job in my field as I got all my legal qualifications in the UK but we'll see. Will be off the job market for a while though as baby due in Oct. Looking forward to coming home though, always loved a challenge.

Oh well you have professional qualifications AND work experience so you'll be fine I'm sure! Congrats on your imminent bundle of joy! You'll have some time to settle in and do some nesting before baby arrives then! I bet your parents are pleased to have you back!

mrsm, thought you might be interested in reading this:

gu.com/p/3p6zd :)

Hi Karmanna - thanks for the link, I've just read it. It's interesting as my mum rang me earlier and said there was a big article in the paper saying the very same thing - that women should be encouraged to have babies in particular second time babies at home. I desperately hope I don't have any complications or problems in the next 4 weeks that prevent me from having my home birth. I'm due in just 4 weeks this Friday x

Karmanna - Yes I am keeping positive for work but yea its going to be a while before I am on the market again for one of those. Parents are very pleased we are coming home although obvioulsy we all wish it was under different circumstances. Not sure if you've read back but my husband has decided he no longer wants to be married to me. My move back is therefore a direct result of that as I cannot stay in SA being a single mum of two, it just wouldnt work. Wish my husband was coming with me. I still love him very much and imagining a life without him is very hard. Some days are ok but others, like today I am feeling very sad about it. Anyway, at work now and got a busy day ahead so hopefully that will keep my mind off the sad things for a while.

Mrsm, yes fx for smooth sailing for the rest of your pregnancy! Have you had an easy pregnancy so far? Do you know what position baby is in yet? Hope the meeting goes well tomorrow!

Swede, I'm so sorry, I didn't realise that! Is your husband staying in SA, will he still see the children? Well, it will be nice to go home and be looked after by your parents for a bit and I bet they're thrilled to have you and their grandchildren near - I can imagine they didn't get to see you very often when you lived in SA! Have you got many friends left in Gbg? Even if you don't I'm sure you'll easily make new friends as Sweden's so family focused and there will be lots of baby and toddler groups you can take your LO's to and meet other parents! How old is DC1?