Due in Oct 2012 - part 4!

[Angelico]

Back for more...!

Evening all,

londonlivy your placenta story made me laugh a lot!:)

zara I definitely wouldn't worry about cat hair or toys.... My DS was discovered eating coal at 7 months, in the garden at 12 months chomping a large lump of pigeon poo, and friend's DD was discovered on more than one occasion eating a slug!!!!! Gross, but both kids are happy and healthy.

Telling my boss the news tomorrow, hopefully she will be cool and at least I can stop walking around carrying extra large notepads to disguise the bump!

Sweet dreams all and happy Friday.

Eating the placenta? Really. In my eyes thats just gross. The hospital can do whatever they like with it ;)

Evening ladies :) DH away O/N, would normally revert to 13 yr old with parents away and stay up all night but have AN appt early tomorrow so can't.

Sedgers congrats on happy scan :)

Smorgs - you CAN get maternity pants! (As in smalls / knickers / undies) I asked a few girls in work if they got them when they were pregnant and they said they were too expensive and they just got used to wearing their pants way down beneath bumps :)

Lisbeth try not to worry about the spotting, it seems to happen to lots of people x

Livvy congrats on the walking and holiday, commiserations on the flat sale thing - it's a crap time to be selling :( We have all this ahead of us in the next couple of months... :( And thanks for book congrats although haven't signed anything yet :) It's teen fiction. Waiting to get first offer in tomorrow and then the to-ing and fro-ing will begin :)

Ooooh - and placentas! One of the kids in work told me her mum sold hers for £30 to some beauty company - apparently they put it in face creams and things?! Don't think I could stomach eating it.

15 weeks tomorrow...

Reported

Angelico, my placenta is worth £30? Wow, who knew??? That might tide us over for a bit until Biff (pet name for Bean, will explain one day!) is old enough to start child slavery and earn us back some of the money we have to spend on all the baby paraphernalia (only joking, obviously, will not make him/her work until he/she is old enough for baby modelling as he/she is definitely going to be the most gorgeous baby in the world )

I keep trying to feel my uterus and can't . No matter how much I prod, I'm convinced its not in there. Can anyone else feel theirs at 15 weeks? I have a definite "shape" now, it's not neat enough to be called a bump, it's just a general swelling of the front of my body (still might be due to indulgently large Easter Egg I'm steadily ploughing my way through ), so things are moving outwards and upwards, and bending over when I've got jeans and a belt on is getting uncomfortable, so why can't I find my uterus? Shouldn't it be making itself known around now? I'm feeling in and just above pubic bone, looking out for something hard feeling. Am I looking in the right place?

Morning all. We're in Birmingham for the weekend as we're going to the gadgetshow live today. Was debating grabbing a bacon butty on the way there for breakfast, but after all the placenta talk I may pass smile

Managed to drag DH into mamas and papas for a quick look at pushchairs yesterday - still feel overwhelmed by the choice though.

Not feeling too bad at the moment but not enjoying the shortness of breath on walking or the achey tummy muscles afterwards. Still looking forward to a mid-afternoon snooze though smile

Got scan on Monday so trying not to scare/worry myself too much between now and then!

Hope everyone is ok - happy bean baking smile

yomping I wouldn't know how to find my uterus. How would I know it when I met it? I'm with you on the upwards thing though. Def shape higher up now when previously it was all very low. St Mary's want some of my placenta for research so wave goodbye to the £30 midget. Damn and blast.

Good morning ladies :)

Kyyria, the Gadget Show live Sounds much more fun than the day I have planned! Can we please swap? :P

Due to my sinus tachycardia, I have to see the consultant today. I have no idea what he will say, but I am praying he will just monitor me and let me have a natural birth.

Today I am 15+3 I love the number of weeks increasing

I am supposed to be report writing today, so am obviously browsing the web in an attempt to put off the inevitable. Came across these and had to share...

Warning, the first one is not for the faint-hearted or squeamish, do NOT look if you are still feeling nauseous.

5 fun uses for a placenta

and some more ideas!

. Kind of wishing I was brave enough to try one of these!

Zara and Orange - DF and I are divided about Down?s. He thinks it wouldn?t be quality of life for the child and it would drive us apart. I?m not so sure it would be the end of the world. Very nervous about scan + blood results. Eek.

What is it about the quality of life that would be any less than yours or mine? The quality of life comes down to the life we as parents create for the child. Again I think that attiude is down to ignorance. Does he believe a person with Downs is in pain a lot? Can't go to mainstream school? Can't get a job? My cousin is not any meds, not in pain at all, goes to a mainstream school and is doing BTEC with every opportunity of working. She will never be 100 independent but she is absolutely happy. If you asked her, I think she would say she had a great quality of life.

What on earth would drive you apart? If he thinks having a 'normal' child isn't incredibly demanding and won't pressure on your relationship just the same then he has a bit of shock coming to him!

The real issue is wether HE as a parent can provide for a child with Downs and the only way to know that is with knowledge of what raising a child with Downs entails.

I really hope I haven't come across as to pushy or trying to persuade anyone one way or another. I just wanted both sides put out there and hope a 'real life' experience is helpful for seeing things from both sides.

yompingjo you need to lie down and relax to feel your uterus. Mine is just above my ahem... Bikini line, and if I suck my stomach in, it sticks right out!!! I can cup my hand over it, so it seems quite big - but then my gp did say I was having twins still no sign of it when I'm upright, apart from this morning when I really needed a wee... It was a proper bump then!
Hope you find it... It was a big moment for me!!! I also should be doing school work but am procrastinating helping dh prepare for a job interview. Any good thoughts that can be spared for him would be much appreciated btw. He's really nervous - never seen him like this before he just keeps saying that it'd mean so much to us and the baby to get this job - bless him!

Thank you nenehooo, I found it!!! I had always tried to feel it whilst standing up, so I took your advice and lay down and felt around, and oh my god it's huge . I feel less like a podgy easter-egg-eating glutton who has lots of fat but no actual bump, and more like a genuinely pregnant person! Actually feeling very shocked, lol.

In return, sending my very best wishes to your lovely-sounding DH. Everything is crossed for him - when's the interview?

My own lovely DH is outside, cleaning my motorbike as we are going to stick it on eBay today . We are currently a 1 car, 2 bike household, and as there is not parking for 2 cars here, and we can't really afford it anyway, we are going to downsize to 1 car and 1 bike. Mine is a 1000cc sports-tourer beast that is not really necessary for pootling around town which is all I do on it these days and his is a shiny and totally impractical chrome-fest of a machine, so to make it fair we are selling both and buying a much more practical 600cc machine which neither of us are very excited about, lol. Turns out my bike looks really nice when it's actually clean . I can't help him clean it as I'll get sentimental and cry all over it .

Really hope everyone is having a nice day today. I have given the morning over to work (ditto the next 2 days) and it's hard when it's so beautifully sunny outside and I'd love to be out walking in it. Grr.

36, 15 weeks today, with an actual real uterus!!!, DC1

Morning ladies :) Just back from AN appt (finally!) and all seems well. Saw consultant, she is very nice, bean apparently has long legs! :o I'm actually measuring 16 weeks but she's sticking to 5th Oct as I have a v regular cycle. Glad I got early scans as bean is now too big for all the comical jumping about it did a few weeks ago, kind of folded round. Has a definite spine and a little bony hand, so cool! Going for triple test next week (which I have to pay for as it goes to England) to check early anomaly risks.

Yomping I am not brave enough to look at those links until a bit later in the day...! :o

Kyyria Gadget Show sounds ace! And don't worry about the buggy thing, I find it terrifying. My SIL (3 kids) trailed us round Mothercare in Dublin last week chatting about buggy vs pram vs travel system while DH and I followed in stunned silence :o She loves all that stuff, I just find it totally overwhelming. And I swear my first car cost less than some of those bloody buggies!

Milk hope your test goes okay - sending positive vibes! x

Nenehooo good job on the uterus hunt :o It's like a treasure hunt! I'm sure I felt mine really early on, it was hard, but now that it's moving up slightly it's hidden behind a slab of flab

Busy day - parents and nephew coming up, coffee with friend later - in between frantically checking email for book news! MOT tonight which will probably prove to be the unlucky Fri the 13th even of the day .

Have a good day ladies! xo

X-posted Yomping lol - and we are bump buddies! :o

34, 15 (16?) weeks with a uterus somewhere behind the blubber...

And sympathy on the bike :(

Yay Yomping!!! We have ACTUAL uteruses - uteri?! And they are massive, and hard
Hubby has just left for the interview - it's at 2 and won't be over til 5. It sounds horrendous, he has to do loads of tests and presentations. And on Friday 13th!!! Luckily he's not superstitious! I actually feel sick for him - which upsets me because the nausea had been on the wane! Ah well, he's on his way and what will be will be - thanks for your good thoughts! Sad about the bike situation - I have an old limited edition mini sitting in the garage which was my pride and joy til dh wrote it off for me. I was absolutely hysterical - literally like someone had died Just can't face selling it - plus I'd only get about £50 for parts. Imagine what you'll get for your lovely shiny bike?! And we really need to start thinking practically with these little people we're growing... a bike will be next to useless when you've got a baby/toddler. But you're never too old to get back on one!
Glad to hear your AN appt went well Angelico and keep us posted on the book!

Hi everyone

Can I join please? I have been lurking for a while but was waiting for my 12 week scan and NT results (all clear) before posting!

I am 15 weeks today, due October 5th. I am 36 and it's my first pregnancy. Seeing the baby for the first time on the monitor - there's really nothing like it is there?! DH and I are excited but a little overwhelmed!

Nice to "meet" you all" :)

milk GadgetShow is fun, loads to see but not many places to sit down. My hips are killing me from standing up! Dread to think how achey and impatient I'll be when I'm 8months gone with a mahoosive bump!!

Angelico- thanks :) I honestly have no idea what the consultant will say which is annoying me!

Congrats cheesymonster Can't believe you were able to keep yourself from posting until now!

Kyyria- I used to just collapse on the floor like a beached whale with DS :P

WantAnOrange Thank you for sharing your positive view of Down's - I do appreciate it and I share much of your view, to be honest. I think the tricky thing about Down's is the range of disability that it can involve. Someone like your cousin, for example, sounds to have a pretty good life, but obviously at the other end of the spectrum, people with Down's syndrome, as you know, can suffer from severe heart problems and other health issues that would limit the quality of life. DF also worries about who would look after them when we die as they're unlikely to be 100% independent at the same age as others.

You're absolutely right about the pressures of children in general on a relationship and I think he does have a huge shock coming to him. Unfortunately none of his close friends have children (whereas most of mine do, as well as my sisters) so I think he has a rather limited (and possibly rose-tinted) view of parenting. I'm not sure how to guide him towards a more realistic view of what it might be like.

Yomping boo re selling motorbike but sounds like the right practical solution! Oh and I looked through the "fun things to do with the placenta". A teddy bear? SHUDDER.

I can't find the uterus at all (even with nenehoo's advice) but think maybe it's just too early (11wks 3days)?

Cheesemonster HI! and congrats on the happy scan. Mine's a week today (I'm so impatient it's rubbish).

Angelico yay re positive AN appt.

Can I also have a moan about acne please? I've suffered since my teens and it had mostly gone away after Roaccutane and then yasmin, but now it is truly horrible - all over my back and chest and it's so demoralising. no more vest tops for me and I was mortified to go to the swimming pool whilst on hols with such a display of spottiness. I really really hope it'll get better in trimester 2 but I suspect it'll be here till pepe* gets here. Anyone else suffering? Any tips? I find toothpaste dabbed on at night reduces the redness but am a bit scared to use anything else in case is bad for pepe.

(pepe = maori for baby - my DF is a kiwi).

londonlivvy I had to really suck in my stomach whilst lying down - you know when you hold your breath and make it go concave! But again, I only discovered it last week - around 12+5 - and I do have a large uterus
I've also suffered from acne for longer than I can remember. Went on Roaccutane about 9 years ago which gave me perfect skin for about 4 years - those were the days - sob! But it came back with a vengeance a few years ago. I went to the doctor and BEGGED to go back on Roac but he said no I ad laser treatment at the hospital for 2 years but it didn't stop it completely. A few things have helped me a bit:
The main thing is an LED light I bought from Lumie. It was expensive (£175?), but it's been the only thing that made a real difference.

I also cut out caffeine, which has had quite a dramatic effect.
I had a turkish hammam which was amazing for my skin - although you can't do it whilst pregnant! It completely cleared everything out.
I've stopped using the light as my skin seemed less important as we started to think about babies etc and I don't know about effects on pregnancy etc. I should say that the spots are on my face - I do get a few on my chest and back but much less severe and not noticeable - more under the skin, so feels rank! So what I'm saying is - I feel your pain, acne sucks.
In other news, I CANNOT stop thinking about my dh at his interview... I feel sick - not sure if nausea is back or if I'm nervous for him, think it's the latter cos it feels different. I'm clockwatching, can't concentrate on my planning and just feel bad. I'm an idiot, just needed to vent!!!

teehee livvy even I didn't know the Maori word for baby! I'm going to use that from now on.

Re: Downs for us it's quite black and white. It (along with many other serious abnormalities that could be detected that this stage) would equal termination and was something DH wanted to know my position on long before I got pregnant (or we even got married). This is because as well as two families he knows with Downs children, DH's mother (retired primary teacher) has taught mainstream as well as (two) more severely affected Downs kids, and she has the same view as DH (ie always terminate). (In NZ education system the view is basically that all Downs kids should be mainstreamed if possible) Even though our position might be considered extreme, I am glad that DH and I are completely on the same page with our views. I think it's tough when one partner has a fixed view but other is more flexible/sways in the other direction. Anyway, I reckon roll on non-invasive diagnosis for Downs (it should be sometime in the next 5-10 years, they're trialing it in the US right now) to reduce the stress for couples and help people make the right decision for them (whatever that decision is!) quickly and without worries/what ifs. :)

It did make me sad though to read on a NHS booklet I found online that aside from carrying on the pregnancy or termination, you could give a Downs baby up for adoption. :(

Had my second scan of the week - this time the public one! Baby was very very active again, kicking and punching like mad, rolling around and around and around...! I was not expecting this much activity! No antenatal appointments for me till my big scan on 15 June, then my next midwife appointment on 6 July.

All these antenatal appointments this week have been very very bad for my productivity, as well as colleagues wanting to stop and chat now I've revealed I'm preggers... errr I'll try better next week, methinks!

Come on 5pm... just an hour and a bit to go!

hello all! It has been ages since i have posted, was feeling a bit down for a while but am feeling much better since having the reassurance of my scan. Thrilled about everyones scan news and growing bumps and glad to be back in the loop.

I know I have missed lots of discussions but one I would like to comment on is the travel system thing. We didn't buy a top of the range travel system but the one we had was really useful as the car seat clicked straight into the push chair meaning I never had to wake sleeping baby up when we got to our destination. And the carry cot bit could work as an extra moses basket so that after a walk they could be moved straight into the house. I know it isn't for everyone, but it worked really well for us. Also, the one i have got i can steer and collapse with one hand which has been really useful. OK rant over, I just know how baffling the choice is and remember feeling like I didn't know where to start.

Hi Cheesemonster you are bump buddies with me, Angelico and Yomping - EDD Oct 5th.

With DS1 I had a travel system from Jane - I was 8 months behind SiL so we shared the cost of some of it and my other SiL will use it next month then back to me in Oct so we have had averall good value - though it was the price of a small car. The transfer of the sleeping baby was great though and I walked a lot whils on mat leave and it was a 3 wheeler and baby slept the whole time. It gave me a lot of freedom.