Mum's-to-be

[jodee]

I hope no-one thinks this thread is too 'exclusive' or 'cliquey', but I can no longer join in with the weight loss thread, so I thought I would start this one up!

I wish I had had the benefit of the internet (and especially Mumsnet, of course!) first time around and felt pretty isolated after ds was born, so it's good to have some 'virtual' friends in the same boat now I'm expecting no 2.

It would be interesting as well to find out just how many of us are pregnant, there must be loads of us! and just to have a general chinwag.

[lou33]

I have found that a lot of friends have offered to help if we need a break but the offer is miraculously retracted if we try and take it up! As a result of that we just don't go out anywhere. When my last baby was born we had to get someone from Leicester to come and look after the other 3 (I live in Beds) and even then she put a time limit as to when I had to be home so she could go feed her rabbits! Just as well labour only lasted 22 minutes!
I have had 2 at home, both by accident, but in hindsight it would have probably been a lot easier if I had not gone to hospital early to have number 4, and just waited til he came along at home so I wouldn't have had a struggle with childcare. I now realise that the only person you can rely on is yourself, however unfortunate that sounds.

[debster]

I think I'm due on 12th October but that's only my estimate. I haven't managed to get a doctor's appointment until 6th March so will get it confirmed then. I really don't feel pregnant though!

[callie]

Been to docs today and seems my due date is 22nd of October!! Iam booked in to visit the surgery again in 5 weeks time. That seems so long!!

I've also told dh over the phone, as I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. He's delighted and is on his way home from London right now!!
He's taking me out for a celebration meal tomorrow night and has even arranged for the kids to stay at my mums! So a nice lie in on saturday morning.

I have been feeling sick today though!! No vomiting just a queasy feeling.
Definitly feel fatter already as well. And i've got a horrible taste in my mouth that i remember from last time.

[MalmoMum]

Went to the first pregnant yoga class of this pregnancy today. I relaxed very well, I hope I didn't disturb anyone with my snoring.

[jasper]

lou33 I am fascinated to hear more of your accidental home births. Please tell us the details if you don't mind!

[Joe1]

Im being sick every morning at the moment, yuk. Is anybody else really hungry all the time?

[Dixie]

I'm now 22 weeks and feeling better, sickness totally gone now, just really tired! (thought the middle trimester was when you got higher levels of energy!). This will be my second baby and my main worries are of my son, how will I cope with 2? And what if I go intoi labour in the dead of night or early hours what would we do with ds can't exactly take him off to the delivery suite with us....I'm probably being a panic monster and tomorrow will have realised a sensible plan of action but just had to share my thoughts.....

[jodee]

Joe1, all that's on my mind is food, food, food. No sickness so far though - did you feel sick almost immediately? I'm just wondering if it's still to come or not.

Dixie, I've had moments when I've thought 'what have I done!, I'll never cope with two' but then I think that maybe it was worse the first time round as I didn't know what I was doing, this time I will know what to expect, and I will be more assertive - dh will definitely be more hands on this time.

Do you have family nearby? I've told my Mum to have her mobile on permanently so I can get her dash round night or day when the time comes.

[Lill]

wonder if mrs beckham is feeling like you now that number 2 is on the way.

[Tigger2]

Friends sister went into labour at 5.00am yesterday and had a beautiful daughter by 6.30am!! Saw them both today and had a wee cuddle, ooooooh, the hormones and broodiness have taken over I'm afraid, time to work on the hubby I think!!

[Joe1]

Jodee no didnt feel sick straight away but whereas with ds I just felt sick all the time, this time it comes in strong waves and am sick, which I hate, though ds is very sweet about it has a giggle then seems to ask if Im ok. That tends to happen when I get up, after this morning I had 5 bits of toast, how much weight am I going to put on. Cant stop eating bagels loaded with philadelphia.
Lill cant believe the Beckhams baby is due in September and please not on my due date. Hope she puts on loads of weight and is being sick. Am I being horrible or it could be hormones, yes its hormones.

[MalmoMum]

When was this bit of celebrity trivia announced?

[jasper]

What do you all think of the pregnancy mags?
Although I quite enjoy a peek at them from time to time they really do irritate me with their incredibly upbeat and simplistic tone.
Perhaps I have just been unfortunate but aspects of my pregnancies have been realy awful to deal with, and not just minor discomforts. Suggestions such as "nibble on a gingernut to combat morning sickness" or "add a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water to aid restful sleep" just seem so ridiculous to the seriously nauseous insomniac! It is only from talking to other mums and mums to be that I realise I am not alone in sometimes firnding the whole pregnant bit really hard to cope with at times.
As for the fashion pages ....am I alone in having no interest at all in looking sexy throughout my "nine magical months"?

[Pupuce]

I tended to buy the magazines but every time I felt the content was weak... and the same thing for baby magazines. The advice is very simplistic, it is very rare that I'll learn something from them.
I just don't know why I bother ! But I do !

[Eulalia]

Lil - just noticed your message. How nice to have someone with the same due date. That is not a bad idea turning the joke around. I forget - you have one/two children already? No I am not wishing the time away as there is too much to do here (DH is currently building a 2nd bedroom - it doesn't have a floor yet) and besides I want the weather to be warmer. I've discovered that I take easily to pregnancy and rarely suffer any of the common complaints (sorry everyone!) so am not in a hurry in that respect.

Jasper - so you are still here then. Are you organised for the baby? I rarely buy magazines, particularly pregnancy/baby ones - as you say they are totally unrealistic or tell you the bleeding obvious.

For those who have had more than 2 kids - what did you do about no 1 after the birth - were they kept at home all the time or did they visit you in hospital? I hope to only be in for a couple of days this time and wonder if it is worth upsetting my son by him visiting me and wondering why I am not going back home with him. I've never been away from him for more than a few hours and certainly not overnight (he will be 2 3/4 by then).

[Joe1]

Malmomum, I heard it on the radio yesterday.
Eulalia, I am also worried at leaving ds overnight, I havnt yet left him really to go anywhere and he is approaching 18 months. I really would like him to be the first to visit the baby with dh and Im hoping to be out asap. With ds I was only in for the night.

[janh]

Eulalia and Joe1, much as you love your firsts and think you must get back to them asap after the birth, I would say don't make any plans, or promises, as you don't know what kind of delivery you'll have, or how you'll be feeling afterwards - if poss (if child is old enough) try to suggest that they will have a LOVELY time with Daddy, or Grandma, or both, or whoever, while you have a little rest in the hospital; I found when no 2 arrived that I had this overwhelming need to spend time with her on her own before squaring up to family life again! (Plus I had a C section so couldn't go straight home anyway.) My eldest was just 3 when her sister was born, she visited every day and was quite happy either at home with Daddy or at Grandma's.
It might be a good idea to arrange a couple of overnights away from you before you go in, if you can - easier with an older one of course - both to make it easier for the big one to cope with your absence, and to give you one less worry.
Good luck to all you mums-to-be anyway - you have an exciting time ahead!

[lou33]

Jasper, they were accidental because I give birth so quickly!

My first baby was only 2 hrs and 20mins from first contraction, so by the time the ambulance arrived the head was about to be delivered. Midwife came about 20mins before she was born. Looking back it was a bit scary, as her heart stopped, her head was turned the "wrong" way making it harder to push her out, and the cord was round her neck. And I tore massively because of her head psition even with an episiotomy. Luckily being my first I was oblivious to all the panic, and the midwives (there were 2 eventually) didn't show any worry at all, until at the end, when she said "this baby has to come out NOW", to which I duly obliged!

My second baby was born in hospital with 3 mins to spare, I was pushing her out into my tights when I got there! We were on holiday in Ireland as she wasn't due for 3 weeks. In fact I was packing to go home when I went into labour. She took 1 hr 50mins. Fortunately I was staying with family, so they had my daughter while I was whizzed into dublin by ambulance.

Because of the 2 previous precipitous labours my midwives were on high alert when number 3 was announced, so they booked me in for a domino, saying they would deliver at home if needed.Obviously that was the case, he arrived 2 weeks early in 1 hr 11mins. When the ambulance arrived they wanted to take me in because they said i wasnt crowning, but i told them just to wait and see, and five minutes later I was! Midwife got to me about 15mins before delivery again. That was the first pregnancy i managed to get any pain relief, the other two the gas was either frozen or run out!

Number 4 was slightly different because everyone was in a panic as to how fast I would deliver this time, so along with other reasons I was induced 4 weeks early. I had a 22minute labour and delivery from the time my waters were broken, which I have to say I feel very proud of! Just as well I was in hospital I suppose! My midwife said she will always believe any mum who says she delivers really fast in future!

Hope that has answered all your questions .

And no I am not having anymore, all my babies have been sent to me now, and so I was sterilised just before Christmas!

[Lill]

I have had 4 planned home births - 3 in water
(bet thats just blown my cover!)
I would recommend it to anyone whose thinking of it.

[jodee]

Joe1, it's all your fault! Since you mentioned bagels with Philly I've been stuffing my face with them!

[Joe1]

Nice arent they. Ive moved to french toast with philadelphia with the odd bagel. Iam now regularly throwing up nearly every morning, how lovely. Im 11 weeks now so all should stop soon, shouldnt it, please.

[debster]

Mmmm bagels. Noticed whilst in queue in Sainsburys yesterday that they're doing buy 1 pack of bagels get 1 free. Have now nearly finished the first pack!! Anyone else having carbohydrate cravings? Also have been experiencing what can only be described as period pains in my lower back. It's stopped now but is worrying me as I don't know if this is meant to happen at 7 weeks. Is it something I ought to do something about? BTW what kind of painkillers can I take. Is paracetomol ok? Sorry for all the questions. you wouldn't believe this is my second would you!

[debster]

Didn't quite make the happy face!!

[Dixie]

Paracetomal is fine. I've got my 2nd scan tomorrow and so looking forward to seeing my little wriggler again (I'm 22 weeks). I've been diagnosed with diabetes & am now on insulin so they will be checking the baby for other things tomorrow as well. It is a worry but I've been following the special diet very well so I know i've been doing all i can do....it doesn't help wanting certain things so so so so much and I just can't have them!! It was harder when I was having the sickness because I'd found having a gingernut biscuit really helped but then wwhen the diabetes was diagnosed I had to cut out biscuits etc (everything nice!). Anyway glad to hear you'll all doing okay. It's good so many of us are in this together!

[callie]

Debster, Please don't worry too much about your period type pains. I've got them too and did with both my other pregnancies. In fact with my first I was almost not going to take a preggo test because I felt sure my period was about to start.
And i've never even had any spotting at all.