Late May 2012 Bambinos- 2nd trimester thread- less pumping, more bumping

[CrackersandCheese]

Here we are ladies- a lovely new home for us all- filled with good vibes.

Link to 1st trimester thread 1st trimester

Thanks for feedback girls . I have calmed down re-weight gain. Started pilates and resumed by regular walking (had slipped over xmas!!), plan is less stress more do something about it!! Moving house this weekend so crazy busy packing etc. Not looking forward to it at all. Once we get settled into new place I'm going to start looking for prams, cot .. the fun stuff :-)
Thank god it's Friday, have a nice weekend all

I'm planning a home birth, which the mw has been very encouraging about. We're only 5-10 mins from hospital if anything goes wrong so not worried about that. Am hoping to manage on gas & air (will also try to get pethidine or equivalent from gp in case I need something extra!). Also I'm starting yoga on Monday, looking forward to it as teacher seems lovely.

Weight wise I was 11 stone 4 (am 5'5" and have struggled to control my weight over last few years) felled to 11.2 by 16 weeks and last time I checked was around 11.8 so have done ok so far. Am feeling big now, and am only in mat clothes apart from a few tops/stretchy dresses so don't know how I feel in 18 weeks at term!

Dozey I'm sure your DD is just going through a phase, must be strange for her seeing her dad but not having him at home, I'm sure she'll perk up in no time.

Hi all,
Haven't really thought about birth plans, would like to have a pool avaliable tho. Am going to have a look at a birthing centre (staffed only by MWs) that's not too far from us.
DH isn't too thrilled about that tho as the nearest hospital to it is 20mins drive (going hell for leather!!) and he thinks it's risky...
Also don't want to get too hung up on a particular plan as I don't know anyone who's ended up with exactly what they wanted!

My weight gain's a bit tricky to work out - literally for the 5 weeks before I found out I was pg (so I'd actually been of the whole time!) I was on a crash diet which I'd lost about 10lbs on, have put all that back plus about a stone, bit don't know whether to go from my pre diet weight or not...

Figure I'll just try not to pie out too much and try to leave the worrying (read that as traumatic panicking eveytime I look at the scales ) until afterwards...

Xx

No idea what my weight gain is -- I prefer not to know! I was weighed at 9 weeks for booking in, and then at 14 when they took my blood for screening, and hadn't gained between those two dates, but I definitely have now. I'm finding it quite hard to get used to being bigger, but DH is doing brilliantly to support me.

Dozey, really sorry things are hard right now. It sounds like you are doing really brilliantly though, and however much you worry about DD I'm sure she is getting a fantastic amount of security from having you there and knowing how much you love her (it shines through your posts). Your situation is awful, but in all that darkness there is something wonderful about the fact that your DP is able to write down everythingl he feels for you. You will be such a strong family unit when he's back with you.

Birth plan wise, I am trying not to overthink things. I have a bit of a tendency to freak out if I make plans and they go wrong, hence my plan is not to plan too much. I thought about home birth, but DH finds it scary and I wasn't convinced it was for me, so I've asked to go to the midwife led unit. I'm really lucky, because it's in the (fantastic) hospital, so if I need more help I'll just be wheeled into the lift to the labour ward on the next floor. All this assumes that there'll be room for me -- the hospital is bursting at the seams.

I've started pregnancy yoga. I thought perhaps I had gone too soon, as the class felt a bit lame after the yoga I'm used to, but I felt great afterwards and I think it's good to work on it while it's still easy so I've got a good rhythm as the bump presents more challenges!

i've started pregnancy yoga too, and having always been rubbish at yoga, it's perfect for me, and i think i would even do it if i wasn't pregnant! i feel terrific afterwards too.

My weight gain is about 5 kg (11 pounds) at 22 weeks. Had my scan yesterday, which was very exciting. Tried my hardest to guess the gender, but the image was too grainy and disjointed, and frankly i thought the head was the belly until told otherwise. Otherwise, the doc said the baby in a breech position, but from what i've read, that isn't something to worry about at this stage.

Otherwise, has anybody been needing the toilet constantly? I went to the cinema, and i had to leave to pee four times - and they say get to the cinema all you can before you have the baby!

Re iron, i was told that dried fruit, such as apricots, is brilliant for supplementing depleted iron stocks, but probably more for those who have reasonably normal levels anyway.

Anyway, good luck to all those yet to have their scans.

Thanks for your replies, DD hasnt perked up. worst day yet out of the past few. :(

I'm also worrying about the effect on DC with my current stress/unhappy levels.

Here's to a better day tomorrow (she prays)

I need someone to give me a smack and stop me from being silly. I had convinced myself that I didn't mind if I had a boy or a girl. Then when the sonographer said we were having a girl I realised that having a girl was exactly what I wanted.

We had a difficult time telling the sex and had to go in and be rescanned 3 times because baby's foot was in the way, eventually she wriggled enough that the sonographer said she was a girl. She said she had thought that anyway but had wanted to try and get a clearer picture. She said she hadn't seen any boy bits, and showed us what looked like girl bits, she did say however that boy bits can sometimes appear later on. She did say she'd be very, very suprised if we had a boy in the end though.

I just keeping worrying that she got it wrong. I know I'm being silly, and she probably is a girl, but you do hear of it happening. Someone tell me to stop being so silly! x

Stop being silly! It's more than likely going to be a girl, And there is always a chance they've got it wrong, but I bet if it comes out a boy, you'll be just as chuffed! You'll love it anyway! You might have felt the same if they said boy!

hippie our 'boy bits' were clear as day from 15 weeks so I highly doubt she would have suggested a girl unless she was pretty certain. I think you will be having a girl and if its a little boy then you will still love him regardless!

I haven't thought too much about writing down my birth plan yet, but I have a pretty good idea what I want. Just as natural as possible, at a birthing centre, water birth if possible etc . Not going to overplan. I will talk to my midwife about it when I next see her.

Thanks Karate and alextasha I feel much better about it today. I think I was maybe in shock a little bit. We didn't even think we'd get pregnant, nevermind have a girl! :)

How is everyone feeling today? x

Pretty poo :(

Missing DP so much, Going to see him Thursday thankfully. Plus I missed his phone call today by 15mins :(

I just wake up each morning hoping that its going to get easier somehow, but its not. It's horrible how much DD is changing and he's not here seeing it. walking/hair getting long/chatting lots/learning... just breaks my heart every
time she does something new as it should be both of us seeing it all. And even more annoying knowing that we haven't heard anything yet about a transfer to 'open'. He's doing ok though, well as much as he can be. Just living from each visit really.

I could go on forever......... but i won't. don't want to put everyone on a downer!

Other than that.. DD is kind of back to her usual self, but she's had VERY funny nappies the past 2 days, so i wonder if a new tooth will make an appearance...

Still no replies from my emails about pregnancy pilates/yoga.

May also look into Aqua-natal, anyone else?

How is everyone else?

dozey sorry to hear that you are missing your DP. It must be really hard for you. I hope that you get some good news soon about him transferring.

Could you maybe record your DD doing things for him to see when he gets home? x

I have been doing that, along with photos. and also making a "Daddy box" from DD... and i've also got a box of goodies for him on his return (will be from Xmas/his birthday/valentines etc)

:) x

Would be feeling better if it wasn't Sunday night! Have spent the weekend trying to figure out how long I can afford to take off work, but it's making my head hurt! We trying out a new budget as of payday to see how little we can live on! It could be interesting! Trying to find out how much DH spends on food at work is like pulling teeth and I'm no closer to finding out! He was very secretive with his bank statements though, so suspect he'll be in trouble when I find out!!! Especially as I've been brown paper bagging it since being knocked up!

I've starting doing a pregnancy yoga DVD, and like was said earlier was amazed at how easy it is! Lots of sitting around breathing!

karate I am trying to work out how long I can take off work too, but since I work for a small company and noone has ever left on maternity leave they have nooo idea how to handle it and its taking them ages to decide on pay etc. It's really annoying, I had to print off stuff from the internet to give to them!! I am considering leaving start of March, taking annual leave for a month and then starting maternity from the start of April, but will have to see. I just hate commuting into central London every day!

Alex my plan for maternity leave is to push it as close to my edd as possible, have 5 months on maternity leave and then take 1 month of holiday at the end.
The plan is to have my last day in the office on 9th May (dd is 20th) but this might change if I'm totally knackered by then!
I commute into London too - about 1 hr each way, and I think it'll be this rather than my actual job which limits how long I can do it for.
Have just worked it out... Of all goes to plan, I've got 83 working days left!

Xxx

wommer That's a good plan, I dont think I could stick it out for that long though! I am also not planning to go back to work afterwards as we are planning on moving back to Australia when the little man is about 6 months old, hence why I want to make the most of my maternity leave. Also, my company is doing pretty badly and I'm scared if I leave it too long they wont be able to pay me! The earlier the better I say! I am looking forward to being a lady of leisure for a couple of months before the baby arrives :)

Completely understand everyone's mat leave dilemmas. DH wants to change career but that means we'll be at least a grand a month worse off :( so he's panicking whether to go for it as I want to take the whole year off but not sure if it's financially viable (only get statutory smp)... Also looks like the nursery I want is $1200 a month, so that's gonna hurt, and will have to check out child minders etc. in case there's another option.

Have also got heartburn back again, but hoping yoga tonight will help me feel better! Hope everyone's doing ok xx

ah that makes sense Alex. If I was stopping afterwards I'd go much earlier, but want to maximise the time I have off with the baby as I have to go back (annnd you're going to live in Australia?! No, not jealous, not jealous at all lol!)
We're gooing to be thoroughly modern though. When I go back to work (novemberish) DH is going to become a house husband.
Reckon it should work out really well (fingers crossed!)
Xxx

Evening all...anyone else feel as though they're on a weird emotional rollercoaster? My brain just feels so full of baby and baby planning related stuff that the thought of trying to work at the moment is just too much....I wasn't feeling very well this weekend and woke up with a thumping headache this morning so didn't go in today but mainly I just couldn't face it...which feels really bad!! I've been slowly trying to get through a list of things today. To try and get them off my mind, whilst also trying to rest as I just seem to feel totally wiped out most of the time, which is getting a little frustrating to say the least. Also think my boobs are taking on a new life of their own as my nipples seem to have suddenl grown and I think my bras are getting tight again...just when I thought I'd got up to date with having ones that fitted too! Really can't face the thought of going in tomorrow either but have no real excuse as to why I should stay off but just feel v tearful and over emotional about everything...and DH working in a late shift tonight and not home until v late so I can't even chat to him and work out what to do...Ho hum...and here was me hoping to work all the way up to 37.5 weeks before finishing...

I've been trying to work out what to do with my maternity leave too. I only get SMP, and DH is only on £17,000 a year. We manage now...just. I was hoping to take at least the 9 months off that I'd get smp, but I don't want to go back to my job as they've already said that they wont be able to give me set days/hours.

Thinking of training to be a teaching assistant. I know that some of you are teachers, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Are there jobs in that area? x

wommer hahaha I am from Perth in Australia, but live in London with my DP so we are going to move back because we both have family in Oz and its a lot nicer for kids than London (sorry just my opinion!) or at least my area of London, if I lived in Chelsea it might be a different story . Nice plan with your husband staying home! Hope you can get him to do all the housework for you too! Although I am staying home and insisting on a cleaner so thats a bit hyprocritical of me....

always that sounds like a dilema, especially with heartburn thrown in too! Hope you and your husband can work it out. I think I will probably be getting SMP too, but will find out soon I hope!

blue I would take full advantage of pregnancy related mystery sick days if you are not feeling up to working! Your work can harldy question a couple of days off when you are 5 months pregnant... If I get even the slightest sniffle or if it feels too cold outside in the upcoming months I shall be calling in sick!

hippie thats a bit of a problem, I think training to be a teaching assistant is a great idea. I was studying to be a teacher through correspondence before I got pregnant (now I'm taking a year off). I think it will be such a rewarding job, I dont have any idea about how easy it would be to get work though.

So, some exciting news...my DP and I have decided to elope! Haha, well not really, but we are going to get hitched in a registry office and then head of to Paris for a couple of nights. We have been engaged for a year now and had the big wedding planned back in Oz, so we are just going to scale it down and have a big party when we get back and do the formailities over here, otherwise it might just keep getting postponed forever! So excited! :)

fab news alex

I'm feeling less over-emotional this morning and have made it into work but still feel totally wiped and SO so tired, so not sure how productive I'll be but at least I'm here. Just been counting how many weeks now until I finish and it's about 16 but we have a week booked off in March and there's probably a week's worth of odd days and bank holidays that I've also got booked off, so that's 14 working weeks left. Hoping they pass quickly!!

hippie teaching assistant plan sounds good and the hours would fit in well and you'd still get the school holidays which would be great! I think they're quite sought after positions as lots of Mum's go for it but definitely worth going for!

Wonder how crackers is or has got on with her interview fof the freelance work, was that today?

Right...better get on with some work really...come on brain...

hippie I'm a qualified teaching assistant/play worker (level 3) and the jobs are very hard to find and usually very little hours a week. Sometimes you can find some if u specialise in working with children with special needs but again the hours I find are like 12 a week. But as blue said very sought after, but the hours are perfect and ideal for working mums I would love to get back into it but couldn't work in a private nursery again!!!

iow I used to work in a private nursery and I really didn't like it. So much so that it has put me off putting my child into nursery.

I'm just trying to explore my options really. Also contemplating office work, ho-hum x