Second, third, fourth or more timers due in December

[sevendwarves]

is anyone else feeling a little left out by the first-timers due in December thread? This will be my second DC (DS will be 3.5). I think I'm due on 15th December.

well, it's day 3 of watching what i eat and so far so good! I'm basically low carbing, in part to try to guard against gestational diabetes (there is some diabetes in my family). I feel thinner already. ha ha.

seven- sorry you've not been well but i wouldn't worry too much about the bump. mine has changed so much day to day and week to week. i swear it's smaller than it was, but in a good way - i think it's sort of taking shape and firming up.

i finally got around to telling my boss yesterday and he took it well. I'm hopefully up for a promotion and he didn't think it would be an issue with anyone. (of course it shouldn't be but reality can be a different thing.)

I definitely had to tell him after one of my colleages on Monday asked me outright if i was pregnant! what a shocker! i would never in a million years ask that question unless i was 99% sure. She does sit next to me though so who knows what pregnancy vibes she has been soaking up for the past few months! And then there is my overall expanded shape ...

Hope everyone has had a good few days.

We've finally decided on names, we have James for a boy and Ava for a girl. I've got my scan on Wednesday so not long now until we know which it is! Also we're doing our first baby shopping trip on Thursday so going to be a very exciting week!

hi all hows everyone doing?, thank you all so much for your kind words, we are soo happy our little man in well and healthy 1 of the best moments of my life, so excited for everyones upcoming scans! has anyone else had theres yet? my daughter (fingers crossed, touch wood) i think is finally getting over her naughty phase, she still has her little moods and the attitude sometimes but thats to be expected. altho she has dot quite clingy lately, do you think because the babys coming? she wants me to carry her around all the time which is hard when your 21wks preg, ive been getting sore backs, and MW has told me i ant carry her around anymore, which is harder said then done. other then that i have been feeling really good lately, alltho have been on holidays for two weeks, start back at work tonight, which is only two hours a night, but its after tea, dishes, chloe bathed, to bed etc etc so im hoping im not going to be to knackered afterwards! strangest thing happened to me last night, woke up about 3am with my belly so tight hard and huge, it was the weirdest feeling, went away after a couple of mins tho, have been reading that 2nd 3rd etc pregnancys u can get braxton hicks the whole way through? is that what that was or should i be worried? i never had BH which chloe so not sure what they feel like...was rather strange! hope everyone is well xo

Hi ladies. Seven - i hope all goes well today and you must report back on what you're having! James and Ava are both lovely names.

I had my 20 week yesterday and all looked good ... and it's a girl! now being totally honest, i really wanted a boy to go with the one I have, but having spent most of the past seven years in a state of fertility anxiety I am so thankful to be having another child of any variety!

i'm just a bit scared of girls and pink and all the gender crap girls have to deal with. plus mother-daugher relationships can be really fraught. anyway ... we are thrilled that the scan looked good and no problems spotted.

Needs- i haven't had Braxton Hicks at all but that does sound like how it's described. I think they can start even earlier, so no cause for alarm. I haven't picked up my son for weeks (apart from onto the toilet!) and he's been really good about it. Hopefully your daughter can accept that you can't carry her around as you used to. That's good she's being less of a naughty boots. My little guy is with his grandma this week (while we moved house) so I am missing him.

Hope everyone else is well.

Hello - i've finally plucked up the courage to join. I'm 20 weeks tomorrow so due date is 22 december and have a little boy already who will be 2 at the end of the month.

I needed courage to join as had complications in first pregancy (IUGR) where bascially ds stopped growing and had to have loads of scans/monitoring and ds was finally delivered by ELCS at 31 + 4. He then spent 4 months in NICU having a really hard time of it before finally making it home, small but perfect.

Think you can all probably understand that I am shi**ing it this time around. Reoccurance rate is about 25% but am on low dose aspirin as well (seems to be the magic stuff that cures all from what i've read on here!) which is supposed to help. Want to be excited but terrified it will happen again. sorry for offloading - hmm didn't mean to spill everything.

Anyway, 12 wk scan looked ok and all wriggling around in there. We get a 22 week scan where i am so only another 2 weeks to wait to see how we are getting on.

needs hello - sounds like braxton-hicks to me. I've had them this time and last time (although only realised last week that was what it was, thought it was the baby doing a u-turn until then!)

goodnight hello too - i kind of fancy another boy too until dh said he'd be happy with either but a little girl would be so nice as he would get to give her away at her wedding and do the speech and all (cue weeping from me - how cute). he has a good point me thinks.

hope all the other december ladies are growing away happily x

Hi hawthers, hopefully you'll fair better in this pregnancy, at least you're aware of the potential problem and presumably like me you'll get extra growth scans to keep an eye on things.

goodnight glad the scan went well, I'm sure the thought of a girl will soon sink in, and once she's in your arms you'll probably wonder why you were worrying.

Our scan went ok but we weren't able to find out the sex as baby wasn't being very co-operative. The sonographer wasn't able to get a good view of the spine or kidneys so I have to go back in a fortnight for another scan, hopefully we'll get to find out then. That means with my 2 extra growth scans bring me to a total of 5 scans! We've decided to still go shopping tomorrow anyway, there's a few things we need which aren't gender-related, it just means shopping for boring but essential things like muslin cloths instead!

Hello ladies!

Been working my way through the pages of this thread for a while now but never seemed to get to the end! Have got there now (obviously) and wanted to say hello.. it's so exciting at the moment.

Got my 20 week scan in the morning (8am) but am very lucky that MIL works at the maternity unit so will be leaving DD - 23m - with her whilst me and DH get to find out that everything is going well (fingers crossed)... Was horribly ill in the first trimester and turned out I caught e-coli which spread to my wee and was just ghastly.. was ill for about 6 weeks and so was really worried had managed to hurt the baby. Everything looked ok at 12 weeks (well, 14 by the time we were seen) but this will be the big test, I guess...

DH gagging to know the sex so think we'll probably find out - sort of rooting for another little girl (Goodnight - girls are fab!) but as everyone says, you just want happy & healthy so we'll wait to see.

Anyways - is late and swore I would get to bed fairly early but, as always, MN sucked me in, this thread especially

welcome Hawthers! after all that, I can understand your worries, but it sounds like you have a great chance of not having to go through that again. that wedding scene you describe is sweet, but now reminding me of how neither of my parents were at my wedding and I just saw my father for the first time in 10 years earlier this year. So maybe I am also projecting my own experience as a girl onto the little one inside me. me and my brother are exactly the same age difference as my children will be, and we get on fine now but he made my life a living hell as a child. ok, every family is different and i have to hope that my one with DH and DCs will be a lot more functional than the one I grew up in!

enough about my emotional issues, though. I also want to wish Skillbo the best for the scan today - hope that has gone well. How awful to have e-coli and thank god you're better now and baby was fine at last scan.

seven - what suspense to have to wait another two weeks to find out the sex! i had to go back with my son, because they couldn't get a good view on his heart. apparently pretty normal that they are uncooperative. :)

Well, everything was absolutely fab today although took ages and had to go in and out three times as the little one just wouldn't roll over. Delighted - and so relieved

Goodnight - know what you mean about brothers and sisters, me and my bro are currently not speaking and he hurt me physically when I was little and emotionally ever since. Don't get me wrong, there have been lots of good times but theres no-one who can piss me off and upset me quite like him! BUT - my two best friends have older brothers and they have just the best relationships with them so I think of me & my bro as a blip rather than the norm.. plus, you can make a difference too which is my plan!

Hope everyone doing well too and not too many fat ankles, sore backs, heartburn or lingering nausea - halfway ladies

skillbo glad the scan went well, why are they so bloody uncooperative?!

Had a very successful shopping trip, we got some towels, a changing mat, pramsuit, sleepsuit, nappies and dummies. Other than a new mattress and blankets and clothes if it's a girl we've pretty much got everything now. We did find ourselves looking at cribs though, we couldn't afford one last time but might think about getting one as they're so cute.

ahhh, on holiday now (well, visiting family) and it's such a relief. My mum is bathing DS as I write. Also means I get to miss all the madness in London, some of it very sadly within spitting distance of the house I just moved out of, as well as our new house.

I hope everyone is doing well. Skillbo - glad your scan all went well and as you say - halfway through now! you didn't mention what you're having though - is it a secret? :)

seven - great shopping! and how did your scan go - are you saying what you're having?

forgive me for my nosiness - I am telling every random person i'm having a girl! (though i have to suppress the urge to grimace.)

a flight attendant said - oh you're having a girl this time - while i was taking my son to the loo. i didn't even know i looked pregnant in what i was wearing so i thought that was pretty funny to say - well actually - yes!

Wow Goodnight - that's one perceptive flight attendant. Whereabouts have you jetted off to. My parents live in Spain but are getting on these days so when we visit, they are quite hands off - no bathtime off for me or Dh sadly! Nice weather though, so not complaining!

And we're having a little boy (fingers crossed). I was a bit sad that it wasn't a girl tbh (shall we swap Goodnight?? ) but am now getting quite excited as it's all going to be new - and I know it would be anyway but it's lovely talking through names and J saying 'big sister' and rubbing my tummy saying 'baby brother' - very cute.

Anyways - MUST go to bed as not sleeping very well. Actually - on that perhaps you ladies could help. I know you're not supposed to sleep on your back but am concerned about the recommendation to sleep on your left as I have issues with my ear and serious sciatica (sp) in my left leg which makes it really hard. Is this advice more for the last couple of weeks or should I persevere on my left. If I'm honest, I probably roll around a lot anyway - and for some reason am waking DH up by using his back like a laptop at the moment and shouting out 'click' a lot . Just need to sleep better really but any and all advice welcome!

Hi ladies,

Sorry I've not been on for a while. Just been really busy in RL and at work!

Had my 20 week scan and we're having....... a BOY! I was shocked as assumed it was another girl. I have 2 boys with xh and girl with dh, and dh has another daughter with his ex (confused?!). He's over the moon at getting a son, and you can just call me Victoria (Beckham!).

Otherwise, apart from early spd twinges and not being able to sleep, I'm blooming now!

Skillbo welcome! No advice on the sleeping tbh. Can you invest in a maternity pillow? I got a cheapie v-shaped one and it's great as goes under my bump and between my legs. Otherwise have you tried the pillow between your legs thing? Other advice I've seen is to fold a double duvet in half and put it between your sheet and mattress. Apparently it's very effective. I wouldn't worry about sleeping on your back, you'll know when you're too big to do it as you'll feel grotty! I try to start on my left side and always move back there when I wake up (a lot!).

goodnight hope you're enjoying your hols!

seven mine didn't play ball at the scan either, but they weren't busy so sent me away for 45 mins for a walk and something to eat and drink and he was jumping around in there!! I was dreading coming away team yellow, I told dh we'd be booking a private scan .

I was 21 weeks yesterday....only 16 weeks max of work after today!!!

goodnight we couldn't see the sex, but I've got another scan on Wednesday so we're hoping to find out then. I'm convinced it's a girl though.

anyone else feel HUGE?

i know that you tend to be bigger second time around and plus I had growth problems with no.1 son but i feel absolutely massive. clearly a good thing but feel like i'm about to burst already and i'm only 22 weeks this week. its this normal??!

Hawthers - am also feeling pretty big this time round and I don't think I am really. However, everything kind of stayed in until about 6 months whereas am in maternity clothes already and have been for weeks... I also feel more fat than pregnant as bump still a bit squishy at the bottom but am also eating far too much and not exercising so it all makes sense!

Thanks for the sleeping tips harrassed - I do have one of those v cushions and it does help but it's just I worry about the side thing.. the cushion also helps with that actually as tend to wake a bit when turning over.

Amazing how you forget these things - I really enjoyed being pregnant before and had proper rosy memories.. am now remembering that this all happened last time, I just had conveniently forgotten - blooming baby brain eh.. wonder if labour is a walk in the park like I remember

hi ladies.. im with you hawthers im 23weeks and feel like im 30weeks, its getting harder to bend over, harder to get up, im absolutely stuffed by about 3pm and wish i could take naps :( last few days i seem to get really realy angry for no reason! i must be a nightmare to be around, i saw a pic of myself the other day and nearly cried at how huge i look... i weighed myself and have put on 10kg :( with my daughter i craved healthy food, rolls, orange juice, fish etc this time, ( not sure if its coz its a boy this time? all i wanna eat is junk food.. i no im so bad. me and ds have been doing alot of baking and last night for example i was up at 3am eating anzac biscuits i am still getting quite a few bleeding noses, about 3 aweek now, they last for a good 15min tho, and constantly drip its horrible, and have really bad heartburn, didnt get this bad till around 35weeks lastime... my back is getting so sore, and am still constantly having to carry ds all the time, altho she has started sleeping through which does make a big difference... so sorry for my winge ladies had to get it all off my chest... hope all if well with you all, sevensevenseven let us no how your scan goes..harassedandherbug congrats on your wee boy!! goodnightmoon i hope your well deserved holiday is going well!

Hi girls, sorry for the break in transmission- i've been on holiday (which was fab. Two weeks split between two cottages, first in Hunstanton and second week near Calais).
Got back and had my 21 week scan- it's a boy :o)
Am a bit concerned though as I have an anterior low placenta right down to the cervix. If it doesnt move up it's called placenta previa and that's generally bad news (increases risk of bleeding/preterm baby). Have to wait 11 weeks for another recheck scan. Have been "given" a consultant antenatal appt for 32 weeks. Kind of gutted/stressed as was lucky enough to have straightforward MW-led pregs with my DDs, was hoping to avoid the hospital other than on B-Day!

Oh, and about the sleep thing- I could never get on with v-pillows: i am using a home made beanbag pillow sausage (you can buy them for £35 but I cheated and sewed a sausage shape cover then stuffed in one of the DDs old bean bags!) it's good to cuddle and more shape-accomodating than a pillow.

aethelfleda FWIW both of my pregnancies have been consultant led. It's normally just extra BP and urine checks and a chat with my consultant who is really lovely. Tbh it seems a bit pointless but i guess it's good to have it in place should the need arise. Last time my pre-eclampsia was diagnosed by the consultant and hospital staff, even though at my previous MW appointment I had higher than usual BP and protein in my urine yet no investigations were made.

Thanks seven - I have nothing against getting consultant attention!- it was lovely feeling "straightforward" with the other two, so I was hoping to be lucky on a third roll of the dice- plus I don't really like putting on my mum friends to (eg) get the DDs from school if I have an afternoon appointment (we're 25 mins from the hospital).

To cap it off I have a somewhat medical background (shh!) so I know too much about some of the complications, even though for most people this sort of thing is fine, it's hard not to think about the possibilities. I'll be Ok ( unless I have a bleed and then I will panic big time!)

Our scan was fine on Wednesday and we're having a girl!

seven - congrats on your girl! i am warming to the idea of a girl and have even been buying a few girl clothes here in the States, where I'm still visiting family. We head back tomorrow night and I'm ready to go - have been the past few days at my brother's house. He has five kids (four girls, one boy) and it is absolute mayhem. Within a matter of days my son has become an Americanised, Disneyfied little monster, very aggressive and demanding. He was already having "terrible three" wobbles but this has just sent him over the edge!

Skillbo - boys are lovely too so congrats! I just love having a boy. Like you, I also have bad sciatica (on my left side) that has really become worse than ever in this pregnancy. I tend to start off sleeping on my right side, with a pillow between my knees. I'm finding I get a lot of pain on both hips/upper legs though. (also have the SPD so have to try to keep my knees in line) Sometimes I will lie almost on my back but with a pillow wedged under one side so that I am not fully flat. Frankly sleeping is the worst! I don't know how it will feel in 5 or 10 or 15 weeks from now.

Hawthers and Needsanswers - I was feeling so big, I gained too much too fast but have really managed to slow things right down in the past three weeks by eating more sensibly. I cut out a lot of "empty" carbs - all the snacky stuff like biscuits and cake, and even bread and pasta. I'm eating mostly meat, fish and veg, but still plenty of fruit too. Also lots of dairy like yoghurt, and my vice is ice cream. I think I actually have lost weight but I am feeling great and bump has become very much a bump instead of part of the larger blob that I was feeling like!

Harassed - congrats on another boy, you must be a pro!

Aethelfleda- glad you had a nice holiday, and congratulations on your boy. I hope your placenta doesn't give you too much bother. I have enjoyed so much "getting away from it all." - even from my hubby, ha ha. He already visited my family with me for two weeks earlier this year so he went off to Egypt instead to kite surf ... Will be nice to see him again but we were bickering like crazy before I left, having just moved into our new house and me being hormonal and nuts and all. :)

Evening all ladies!

Hope we're all feeling in the pink - wow, my social life is exciting, so exciting that I was gutted when MN went down about an hour ago - just didn't know what to do with myself!

Anyways, had my regular mw appointment this week and everything looking good except I have got to have the diabetes check. I knew my BMI was larger than last time and the mw reassured me I'm borderline but should still go for it. I am certainly going to have it - I don't understand why you wouldn't want to have a potentially life saving check, but am just a bit nervousn and gutted that I have let myself go a little... has anyone else been or about to go through this?

And checked the whole sleeping thing... at this stage, lo's are too small to have too much of an effect if you lie on your back but obviously not a great habit to get into. As regards left or right, it really doesn't matter too much which is a load off as sleeping on my left is proving nigh on impossible!

Goodnight - sounds like a good break and hope you managed to get nicely relaxed and your flight home is ok... hope the break has done your DH good as well. I'm finding me and DH are having words quite a bit at the moment but I think it's mainly down to my lack of patience due to tiredness so pick faults where I would normally let things go... Having said that, DH is just as bad with DD hitting her stride with her tantrums, he's just at the end of his tether by the time I get home from work (he's a SAHD) so can take it out on me perhaps... oh well, it can only get more interesting once our DS appears..

Anyone chosen names (not that I want you to post them) - we're just unable to agree on any of them and the one I reallly like, DH is dead set against!! Doesn't seem right using the boy name we'd thought of before we knew we were having a DD before - seems like it's sort of her name, iykwim

Oh, and Seven, congrats on little girlie - how come you were so sure?? Am a little although am looking forward to meeting our little boy..

Evening! We've got no idea about names yet- what we did with the DDs was generate a shortlist as we went through then after they were born, decided which name she "fitted". Got there within a few days with both of the girls, they just "felt" like one name . Probably will do the same this time.

My cousin, however, found it so hard to decide what to call her DS she emailed her entire address book to say she was calling him Elvis, just to get people off her back asking!!
She said actually it was interesting as half the replies congratulated her on such an unusual name, the other half said "you ARE joking, right?!"