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.

Joe1 sorry but I'm sure I read somewhere that VB's due date is around there somewhere!

Just remember, she has personal trainers & and a private gym and untold people to occupy Brooklyn, and can employ vast amounts of staff to cook, clean etc for the 1st few months while she gets on with getting her body back!

Im not worried about her getting her body back before me I just dont want my little one to be sharing the same birthday as a Beckham and always having 'oh the same birthday as ??? Beckham' I will look just as good in my own time

Has anyone been for a scan at Kings College Hospital in Camberwell? Is there a car park you can use? I'm from Brigton and am due to go next week for a 13 week nuchal fold scan as we don't get them down here. We would like to go by car but obviously if car parking is going to be difficult we'll have to go by train. Also, are they ok about small children being there too as we'd like to take our ds.

Debster, I went up to Kings for the early scan. Can't help with the parking query as we went by train (I was working in London at the time), but thought I would pass on a couple of tips from our experience. The staff were absolutely fantastic, but as it is a specialist hospital and people are often referred there in an emergency, there can be quite a long wait (we waited 3 hours, and that is not at all unusual apparently). If you are thinking of taking a child with you then I would definately suggest taking somthing to amuse them, or finding out from the staff how long the wait is likely to be so that you can go off for a walk somewhere. I also found it really hot (like many hospitals) so would advise wearing layers that can be easily removed! All the best for your scan.

I went there a couple of years ago. There was a carpark (the charges were quite high compared to normal council car parks but I think thats the way all parking is going these days). There was also some street parking where there was no yellow lines etc but that gave about a 15 min walk and the spaces were very sparse due to commuters etc. We were actually told about parking in the letter from the hospital? BE WARNED THOUGH..it is A RED ROUTE SURROUNDING THE HOSPITAL, NO STOPPING AT ALL!! (& I've seen tow away trucks!)

Debster-are you going to the Harris Birthright? Unless you have an early appt, ie 9am expect a very long wait. 3hours not unusual at all. Park in the Garden Centre/Flower shop just before the hospital on Denmark Hill. Its cheaper than the KCH parking, and you don't need to pop out to top up your ticket. Its opposite the big T-jnc by the traffic lights, immediately after Ruskin Park on your left if you are coming down the hill heading into Camberwell.
There are toys for children and they are allowed, but may not be that co-operative if you've had to wait ages. I left my ds with G'ma each time we've been. Just felt I wouldn't be able to concentrate on what was being said to me if I was worrying about him. He was just nearly 1 when we went for our first scan, so you may have an easier time with older ones.
If you are travelling early, ie commuter traffic, leave oodles of extra time. It took us 2hours from East Grinstead on one occassion, to arrive 5mins late for a 9.10am appt- major stress!!
Good luck with your scan, they're the best at Kings. You're in good hands.

Thank you so much for your tips. Yes it is the Harris Birthright Trust so I really appreciate all your comments about the lengthy wait. Our appt is at 11am so I'm obviously going to have to prepare myself to being there after lunchtime. Honeybunny - excellent parking tip. Will be printing this off when the time comes!!

Well, Im 17 weeks now and bump gradually getting bigger. I was sick for the first time yesterday in a week and made me feel pretty grotty for the rest of the day and just wanted to sleep but other than that feeling quite good now. I still have this horrible taste in my mouth most of the time though but thats better than being sick. Getting my appitite back, yipeee food again. Is anybody having problems with drinking? Im really thristy but having problems finding something to drink that I like, forcing water down and coke with apple juice. Scan on Friday which will hopefully put my mind at rest as I have always had this niggling feeling in the back of my mind that something is wrong, but Im probably just being a worry pot.

How is everybody else feeling and going, I know some are near or over their due date by now. Enid are you still being sick??

I'm 31 weeks now and panicking. I have a cot but no mattress (is ordered from john lewis but they've no idea when its due in). Changing unit, chair, curtains, baby bath, pram, car seat all ordered but not expected for another 4-6 weeks. Baby's room not decorated yet. Curtains ordered but will take John Lewis 6-8 weeks (!) to make them (can't do it myself as am useless like that). John Lewis tried to sell me a carry cot mattress this morning that quite obviously was the wrong shape and didn't fit, and the assistant was quite rude when I said I'd look elsewhere. I know most of this isn't really important and the baby won't care if the wrong curtains are still up but its really getting me down. I moved house about 6 weeks ago to a completely new area and don't know anyone at all, all the NCT classes were full up. I've never seen the same midwife more than once the whole time I've been pregnant. Got my dates for NHS classes but there are only 3 - one Saturday for 5 hours, 1 midweek for 2 hrs and an optional extra class for 2 hours which I had to specifically request. I was expecting a series of weekly classes where I might actually meet other mums to be. I just feel like its all being left to the last minute and I don't know anything - what do I do if the baby comes early? The books and articles said I should now be having fortnightly antenatal appts, but am still on monthly appts. I don't mean to be pathetic, but I've not done this before and I'd just like to feel that someone is taking notice of me. I'm not sleeping properly and feel tearful all the time, and am prob being horrible to my husband - he's now sleeping in the spare room as I can't sleep when he's around, even though I want him there.

I'm sorry for this massive whinge I just can't stop worrying and don't really have anyone to talk to.

MBB - don't panic! I can tell everything feels as if it's all going wrong at once, but I only finished painting my dd's room when she was 6 mths old (same time we got the cot) and I'm glad I was so laid back about it all, because I just spent time looking after myself. My local NCT classes in N.London were full too - but they suggested another independent one (used to be NCT) & I still keep in touch with some of that group, nearly 2 yrs on. I know it sounds a bit glib, but try & enjoy your pregnancy (& baby when s/he arrives). If you still can't find any other mums, try some of the toddler groups/parks now the weather's getting better. I moaned to my midwife about not getting enough appointments and managed to get extra - do ask at your GP's practice, they may have a nurse-led system based in the community. I remember v well how ill-informed I felt about the birth/first few weeks, but in the end it all worked out ok. I hope this helps

Thanks Bundle. I know what you're saying makes sense, its just hard to keep things in proportion sometimes. I do love being pregnant though. Its silly, but I feel so smug and pleased with myself. I'm v proud of my bump & spend hours in the bath looking at it & talking to it. I would like to show it off, but haven't seen anyone I know, apart from husband, since I moved house, so no-ones interested! (see, whinging again!).

There is a mother and under 5's group in my village - do you think I should go along and check it out before the baby comes? Am a bit worried it could be cliquey.

MBB,

First of all, this all sounds completely normal, so try not to get too worried about it (I know that's easy for me to say, but reading your message reminded me vividly of how I felt when I was pg with my first child).

Of course you want everything to be lovely for the baby, and right now if you're anything like me you're well into the nesting phase (dh still jokes that the only time our house has been really clean and tidy was when I was pg). If the baby arrives before you've got the cot etc sorted, just pop him/her in bed with you - a lot of new babies won't sleep anywhere except tucked up with mum anyway. And as for curtains, well, new babies aren't governed much by whether it's night or day anyway!

It's a funny time, these last few weeks before your first baby arrives. At the moment you're worrying about a whole load of things that won't matter a bean once the baby is born. Maybe nature gets us worrying about these relatively minor things to keep our minds of what is about to happen - I don't know.

The antenatal visits thing is understandably worrying. Our local health service cut back a lot between when I had ds and dd, and I was hardly seen at all when pg with dd. I was very glad that I wasn't a first time mum then - you need a lot of reassurance that everything is OK at that point. Try and focus on the fact that if anything was at all wrong or suspect, they would be watching you like a hawk, so you're probably fine. If you're at all worried about anything, make them see you. I saw a locum when pg with dd who listened to my tummy then said he couldn't hear a heartbeat, but that he was sure everything was OK. I hit the roof about it, and strangely enough got far more notice taken of me after that!

As to the antenatal classes, get a couple of good books and read all you can, to supplement what you learn in the classes. Is there a mums and babies group anywhere near you? I made a lot of friends through the local Baby Club after ds was born, and my weekly trip there was a lifesaver when everything started to get on top of me. Also look out for NCT coffee groups - another place I've made good friends (and found an invaluable babysitting circle).

Most of all, try not to worry right now. If the baby comes before you've sorted everything, it'll be alright. You'll improvise and get by, and laugh about it later. Console yourself that most of us buy far more stuff for our first baby than we actually need - when I think of all the things we bought and hardly ever used! Our list of essentials for dd was incredibly short compared with first time around!

I'm rambling a bit - what I'd really like to do is give you big hug, then sit you down with a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit and get you to unwind! It will all be fine, honest!

mbb, I know what you mean about fearing little cliques...but there may be others in there who are dying for you to get in touch (bit scary though, making a move in what sounds like a smallish community where you live)! I found the hospital classes a bit useless and haven't kept in touch with any of the mums there. I work part-time so feel I've missed out a bit on making some local contacts..the other parents at our nursery just pick up their kids & head home quite quickly (understandable really when you think about it) so I feel a bit isolated from them too. we borrowed a moses basket and bought a new mattress for it, which solved the sleeping problem for those first few months. once your baby arrives just try & do one single thing every day eg go for a coffee, post some cards or buy a loaf...(get dh to stock up on basics & lob them into the freezer) it really does boost you when you're feeling overwhelmed by the business of new motherhood.

Joe1 - have had a good few days but was sick again yesterday and felt v queasy this morning. But my appetite seems to be returning to normal at last...so no more weird foods...but I fainted at the weekend so just another b**y pregnancy symptom, I'm having every thing in the book this time round. Glad to hear you are a BIT better...

I am actually drinking no-alcohol lager (becks) in the evening as I crave the bitter taste of it. Also lemon barley water...yum!

I am back home now and mobile after my c-section. I had a beautiful little boy, a healthy 7lb 13oz and a fine pair of lungs on him!!!
I only had to stay in hospital for 2 days after the birth.

congratulations Kid! how's the scar? and the feeding? best wishes to you all, x

bundle
the scar is okay, still weeping slightly but not too sore. Decided to bottle feed and baby is feeding really well, put on 3oz by 3 days old!

congratulations kid - welcome to the world kidster!

wow! the kidling certainly isn't messing about!

Congratulations, Kid. Hope all continues to go well for you both!

Well done Kid, and hello Kidlet! Take it easy. xx

Congratulations Kid!

Well done Kid glad all is going ok for you both.

Enid, I found some apple high juice which is really nice in Asda. Had scan on Friday, all ok with the somersaulting wriggler. From the scan they have changed my due date to 2nd October, thats different to my date and the midwifes so we will see when this one arrives. Im seeing the midwife next week as the hospital decided not to do my bloods in case it was too early so we will see what she says. Not being sick so much now which is nice but still knackered most of the time.
How is everyone else doing?

I haven't written for ages, a combination of working away from home and being very sick unfortunately. I am now 14 weeks and have started to feel better in the last few days. I had a bleed last week which was horrible. My lovely midwife rushed round and checked for the baby's heartbeat which happily was easliy found. I had a scan this week and all seems to be well, I haven't had any more bleeding but it's difficult to relax fully. I know there's nothing I can do really but I was in floods of tears, it's even harder to think about now that I have seen the baby looking very lively on the scan.

Joe1, I am due a week after you and I had my bloods done yesterday, I hope thay haven't done them too early. I had a nuchal scan, perhaps this makes a difference?