The elderberry copter thread #4, for all your hand holding, sausage wanging and burger toning. Entrance criteria: ttc#1 for >12mths, prev berry experience preferable but not essential

[BlindKitty]

New home, as requested!

Evening all!

Can I just take one second to say eeeek boob juice

All this talk of bonkage is making me nauseous lol, I can't even think about DH coming near me at the mo.

boom feel better soon you poor thing!

To save reading back can you let me know again what pregnancy books are good pretty please?

The constant stress is a nightmare, I had smoked salmon for lunch and then spent all afternoon wondering if it was ok lol

bunny it freaks me out too! Suppose I better buy some breast pads just in case though

Re pregnancy books, I faffed about which I've to buy and read the first few chapters and haven't looked at it since! I will dig it out now though!

Oh and I have a very faint linea nigra!

See that's why I need a book, what is that?!?!?

Sorry boom, it's dh that did all the research. We haven't come up with a decision yet either.

There are nappy libraries you can go to boom to have a look at different ones. I just googled real napies and there are a few websites that give alot of info about the different types. Don't think I will know till I see them for myself.

bunny my fave book is 'Expecting Better' by Emily Ostrom - deals with all the dos and don'ts of pregnancy with some actual research.

We also got given Miriam Stoppard's guide for new parents by friends, and it's good too, though more info on birth and afterwards than pregnancy.

And I got a Kindle version of 'What to expect' very early on, which I found fairly useful as a reference for some stuff, especially in the early stages when we weren't telling anyone.

bunny the book didn't tell me anything I didn't already know tbh. Most info I've acquired is from here!

A linea nigra is a line that appears down your tummy in pregnancy.

Boom, what do you want to know about reusables? I have changed pocket-type reusables on friends' kids (no problem) and am planning to use them, but haven't gone into detail on brands yet. Think it depends on the shape of your baby which sort fits best so I don't know how anyone knows what to get in advance! I will probably use non-reusables for the meconium stage as that sounds like a pain to wash out and it makes the very first changes easier!

I have another friend who advises people on real nappies, explaining different types and demonstrating how to use them, so am planning to pick her brains - however there is a network of people who do this so that could be a good way to find out more. The goreal.org.uk website is really great at explaining the different types (with costs etc) and helping you find local advice.

Thanks jess that's useful. Had a look at that site, still sitting here dumbfounded at how it can cost £300-750 initial outlay for ONE BABY. I guess you could get second hand ones? Agree with disposables for the mec stage though, ugh the thought of trying to rinse that out!

The birth to potty ones seem a lot cheaper than buying different sizes; can be in the £200 range which sounds rather better! I am definitely thinking about second hand which seems much cheaper. Generally I plan to go for second hand stuff as it seems so much more sensible for babies who go through things so quickly - seems no real reason to do differently with nappies!

Sid just saw your msg on the other thread. Please feel free to use this thread as an outlet for the worrying/stressing. I think we all focused so long and hard on getting the bfp that we were all a little shaken by the unexpected stresses and worries that came with getting it! So those 'is this normal?' questions that go through your head (and the feeling that AF is going to arrive any second) are something we have all been through. While we are talking about nappies and stuff we are still here to support the newbies (its not long since we were where you and bunny are now)

Am currently trying to think about anything (including nappies!) but my 12 wk scan tomorrow - currently paranoid that there will be nothing there as it still doesn't seem real! I mean, me, pregnant? How can that be possible?

jess that's exactly how I feel...I spent so long preoccupied with TTC that towards the end I truly felt like it would never happen, and so now, having to reset my new "normal" is proving a little difficult. I've been in a horrendous mood since late last week, mostly due to SKs being fairly difficult, and the symptoms I had so strongly before my +ve test have all calmed down and left me wondering if they were all in my head.

Right now I'm getting AF-style cramps and am terrified that tonight we'll Skype my family to tell them the news, and tomorrow it'll all be over I've said it before but TTC turned me into a pessimist/worst-case scenario type person and it's hard to actually believe that this is real and has every chance of going the distance.

Thanks again merk for the reassurance; it helps, a lot. I'm sure in the next few days especially if morning sickness makes a regular appearance I'll start to feel a little more settled, if not secure. It'll take me a while to get up to speed on other Berry pregnancies but I promise, I will, and will be happy to offer any support and encouragement I can, and get a few pointers of my own along the way

Sid, if you think about it it's not surprising - think how long we spent failing to conceive month after month and compare that to the fraction of that time which has gone by since your bfp! It's a big change of self image from "I'm infertile" to "I'm pregnant" and while it's joyful and real it does take a bit of time to adjust. 8 weeks since my bfp I am much more used to the idea but still have wobbles of disbelief, like today. Add to that the "not daring to hope" that tends to go with IF and it's no surprise we struggle to believe it when our ttc dreams come true.

The thing that helped me most was deciding just to enjoy being further along my ttc journey than I had been before - whatever happened, I was a step closer than before that bfp. And having got that bfp, despite all the risks the most likely outcome is still a healthy baby! I don't think there will ever be a point when we stop worrying about something, even when our babies have grown up! So be gentle with yourself and don't forget to take joy.

Sid it's not an easy transition to make, we all spent so long waiting for that BFP to transform our lives and assumed that getting pg would mean nothing but rainbows and butterflies - yes, it's wonderful when it happens, but it's almost disappointing to realise that suddenly you're not worrying about something not going right any more, you're worrying about something going wrong. Which I think is harder to take somehow!

Right now I'm the size of a whale and get booted by my passengers on a regular basis, but I still have wobbles every day in case something goes wrong doesn't help when I throw myself headfirst at the pavement on a regular basis. That said, it will get better and positive feelings will outweigh the negative. Try not to rely on morning sickness and other symptoms though - I had very little of anything and turned out there were two on board!

And I promise not to talk about nappies for a while

How's everyone else getting along? Any more scans coming up?
I've spent today with a friend helping her plan her wedding, lovely to have an entire day away from baby stuff! Just home and looking forward to putting my feet up...

Hey merk getting along ok. Sleeping is worse, was just being awake/asleep/awake/asleep about 15-30 times a night, but now I can't seem to get to sleep much before midnight and still waking up all the time. proper awake today by 5.30 (was fine I went to 24hr asda on way to work) and was ready for a sleep by 08.00.
I no there is no solution or easy answer.
I have always been a rubbish sleeper (not slept through a night since my teens) but i had finally 'learned' to sleep in the same bed as someone else (even if it is with ear plugs). now he has been sleeping in the spare room for over 4 months and I STILL have to wear ear plugs or can't sleep at all!!!
MOAN, MOAN, MOAN!
Sorry merk you did ask!
On a positive note though I did not take promethazine last night and apart from a few nauseous moments I have yet to vom
had our friend round last night to look at some plastering we need doing in the spare room and have started planning!!! eek!!!

Sooo tired and ready for the weekend already. Off out for tapas as one of the girls left work today but really want to go to bed. Mmmm tapas though

sid you, bunny and jess have come at a funny time. I'm afraid the copter has turned into the grads thread! I think we've forgotten the purpose of the copter in the first place! Maybe we need a copter to the copter?! We've all been there. I've not long stopped knicker watch tbh and replaced with bra watch for signs of boob juice. Ask away with any questions, anxieties etc. we've all had them. We all mostly had cramps as well as the embie is just getting settled in.

So got my GTT tomorrow eek! Must go and get a drink now as not allowed anything but sips of water after 9.00pm. Please keep me occupied tomorrow! Apparently I'll be there all morning stuck in one room (starving!)

I'm almost feeling like I'm left out with not being asked for a gtt. Not that I want one, but a lot of the HG ladies have to do that.

Sid, I'm sorry we're being so scary. Only a few weeks ago I was telling dh that I still had trouble believing it, even though I've been feeling ridiculous kicks.

Tally I've not had one either but am worried I'm at risk as living on sugar

Evening.

I second sid with a thank you for all the reassurances, I know how you feel Sid, I didn't feel I really belonged in the copter still my early scan, still not sure now lol,

jess 12 week scan WOW - wishing you lots of luck x

sid how you feeling? Did you tell your family?

kitty good luck for whatever the GTT is!

Not much else to say here, still feeling grotty, gagging in the shower first thing and feeling horrid till I eat and then it comes back again after a while till I eat again. Eating lots of sweets my poor teeth!

P.s. please don't leave and become proper grads just yet!

DRUM ROLL... New series of OBEM starts on Monday

Sympathy Bunny, the sicky stage is crap. And the heartburn will wreck your teeth later on so I wouldn't worry too much about the sweets. Just take advantage of the free dental treatment!

Bunny, sorry you're feeling sick - it is a horrible feeling. Have you tried having a biscuit(s) by your bed to munch a little before getting up? It can sometimes help to tide you through to a proper breakfast!

Kitty hope your gtt goes ok, should just be 2 hours between your blood tests I think then you can eat! That is a very long time from now though, don't know how I would cope!