The berry copter thread for all your clenching and hand holding needs

[BlindKitty]

Small print: ideally pg with #1 and had ttc for >12months although let's face it, we ain't as fussy as we used to be, just as long as you're nice

5 second generation berry babies and LOADS more to follow

On the subject of bras, I really like the bodysilk seamless which is wire free and very stretchy. So far mine have done me from about the end of the first trimester (I should probably have got them a bit earlier but was using sports bras), and hopefully they will continue to work as nursing bras. Definitely not pretty lingerie but much better (and cheaper!) than having to get remeasured for new ones every month or so. That said, they might not give enough support for bigger cup sizes - I'm about a DD/E cup now and used to be C.

I don't do beer but I sure am missing cocktails this holiday

Am I the only one whose boobs aren't doing anything?!?

Are mocktails an option where you are, Bunny?

Hello copter berries,

Dissapeared off the thread for a while as I started bleeding on Saturday. Started bleeding, went to a&e and spiralled into panic. Had a scan this afternoon and had good news - all seems to be fine!

Anyway, hope you're all well. bunny hope you're enjoying your hols. I'm not feeling anything in the boob area yet btw, although oh says they're getting bigger.

Bushy Bitburger Drive is like a proper German beer. Think Erdinger also do an alkoholfrei version. Ex-barmaid!

Feather glad to see you back here!

So I saw my consultant urologist today. Amazingly, the EPU had sent him the 7w scan! Unparalleled efficiency. But what was funny is they hadn't sent him any notes and I don't think he's used to looking at those, so he was trying to find out if I was in fact pg whilst I was trying to ask him Qs about how the pg would affect my screwed up kidneys I eventually cottoned on that he didn't know!

Anyhow, as I suspected, I am at greater risk from morning sickness than most, as it may mean I can't keep hydrated properly; I may be at greater risk of pre-eclampsia as that disproportionately affects first time mums, mums with kidney ishoos, and also my own mum had high BP whilst pg. and he has had a patient before with a similar condition who needed early induction and then emergency surgery 2 days after birth. So, fun fun!

However those are all just possibilities. The absolute worst case scenario is a nephrostomy bag which is where you have an open wound in your side, draining into a wee bag, so like a catheter but out of your side. That is a rare occurrence though!

Although there was a man with one in the waiting room today and I had to avert my eyes

rp gosh, that all sounds hardcore, but you will be ok! I know this sounds a bit woo and a bit naive, but in terms if keeping hydrated, would drinking lots of coconut water help? Electrolytes and all that? You're 7 weeks and how many days now? I'm 7 weeks + 4days. I think we're a few days apart, right?

bushy where are you?

merk thanks for your not on the other thread. Such a relief to hear I'm not the only bleedy one. How's being a mum? How old is your little one now?

Feather, really good that your scan went well - hope you have no further scares!

RP, that sounds really tough for you - hope they really look after you well and you manage to avoid all those problems!

Just watched OBEM and cried my eyes out (mostly in a good way!) - I am such a hormonal tear fountain just now!

On the subject of non-alcoholic drinks, I tried the kopparberg alcohol free pear cider which was nice and refreshing but left my mouth tasting of pear flavouring for the rest of the day. Pity, as cold cider is such a lovely hot weather drink!

Elderflower cordial and tonic (in a posh glass with ice and a slice to make it more g&t-like) is my go-to drink at the moment. Might go and make one....

Ooh I'm having an elderflower cordial now! It is so nice being able to actually stomach food and drink again, despite not feeling 100% still.

Yeah my consultant is nice but full of apocalyptic scenarios! When I first started seeing him, he had this habit of saying "I hope you'll live for many years yet" I always used to think, yeah me too, I'm only early 30s! I am a weird one, as my particular problem is ambiguous, so I think he is hoping to get a paper out of it keeping me under close monitoring.

Feather I'm 8+0 today. I read in my Pregnancy Bible last night that the 12w cut off point for "feeling safe" is actually fairly arbitrary, and it is actually once they have seen a heartbeat that you are likely to be okay. Apparently then the risk is only 3%. It suggested it is mostly cos women first see the HB around 12w that we tend to think of it as a magic cut off, although obvs the second trimester is safer.

It made me feel better anyhow

I didn't know about coconut water, hmm! I am not a fan of coconut taste but will see if I can keep some down.....

Feather your situation sounds quite similar to what happened to me so I really understand the fear. E is 13 weeks now and growing up fast. Scary to think she will be nearly a year old when your babies arrive. There are no words to describe how amazing it is to have her...you'll find that out yourself. But it's also, especially at the start, a lot harder than anybody prepares you for! Anyway, I'm in bed by 8.30 most nights now so am around to answer any questions....

rp coconut water isn't too coconutty. Got into it when I was doing lots of spin classes as is always get a dehydration headache unless I had one beforehand - it's an expensive little habit but well worth it and most supermarkets do special deals in Vita CoCo or Zico, which are the two nicest tasting ones - I'd avoid the ones flavoured with other fruits and make sure they're cold - not v pleasant when they room temp! I promise I don't work in the coconut water industry btw.

Thanks for the 12 week thing too - a relief to know. So we're 3 days apart! I like this a lot - you recruited me to the berries when I posted a long and sad tale of infertility nearly a year ago and I'm so pleased for you rp. Have you got midwife and scan appointments yet? Mine just came through the post in the last couple of days. Midwife next Weds and 12 week scan on the 17 - although that seems very early to me....

merk wow - sounds amazing. I can imagine it's beyond exhausting but so, so lovely. Really sorry, but not familiar with your story as I joined the berries mid-last year and you had already graduated.

Maybe a lot of berries can relate to this, but I spent so long focussing on trying to get pregnant that I had lost a bit of perspective on what it was we were trying to do - which is to become parents to another human being. OH and I just had a big conversation about it over the weekend. I'm just starting to get my head around the fact that this may actually be happening......!

feather know exactly what you mean, remember at one point getting pg just became a goal, an item on a to do list, we had totally lost sight of what we were trying to do. I think because the constant failure rams it home what you do want.

rp that does sound scary! Coconut water isn't coconutty and good offers normally on vita coco in supermarkets. I've also seen aloe Vera drinks in the juice aisle that are meant to hydrate and full of vitamin c. Tried a mango one last week, was ok.

Lovely to see it so busy in here, keep it up. I am a bit pooped so will quit for tonight but will be back.

Just spent half an hour trying on outfits in pursuit of one that doesn't make me look fat/pg! Surely clothes shouldn't be tight at this stage (7-8weeks)??!! My wardrobe is vastly reduced to loose trousers I can do up and not clingy tops!! Btw not moaning but just want to cover up the secret and because I've not been doing exercise I'm looking a bit chumbawumba- someone wang me please. This was not helped by a jokey comment on weight gain by dh whilst I sat on sofa demolishing some Doritos yesterday. He was just taking the piss but I am a bit sensitive about it but trying not to be as I want to be all gracious about my body changes.. Hmmm.

I may have to go shopping as otherwise it's going to get very capsule!! What are you wearing atm? Any recommendations of clothes that aren't maternity but make you look not pg?

I bought two loose jersey tops that are gathered with elastic in a drop waist from Dorothy Perkins, thinking these are just the ticket and will just make me look like I'm trendy and bought a new top ,not I'm trying to hide something. The day I wear one ,I got told the parents were asking was I pregnant!

Bushy the bloating is terrible in the first tri...you will look pregnant long before you have a bump because of it. You'll have to get clever with your clothes for a while

bushy I'm feeling pretty walrussy at the moment. Lack of exercise + bloating + living on toast is doing it. I'm wearing skinny jeans with over-sized tshirts a lot at the moment.

jess I may have a mocktail tonight! Having a lovely holiday thanks feather, bit different to usual with no booze, pate or runny cheese but nice and relaxing which I guess is the last time ever lol.
P.s. Very pleased to have you back with us!!!

RP scary scenarios but I'm sure they will keep an eye on you and look after you

feather yep I know what you mean! the getting pregnant was taking over your life that being pregnant feels odd! I still don't think its real here at nearly 6months which is why I'm so reluctant to buy stuff. Dh wants to get organised but I'm still taking one day at a time, if that makes sense?!?

bushy the bloating is weird! I managed till about 12 weeks in my work trousers and floaty tops and then I couldn't do them up! Luckily we announced not long after that so I could get the summer dresses out. I felt huge but then my bump shrank at around 15 weeks which worried me again but that's quite normal top! It's a nightmare lol

jess I may have a mocktail tonight! Having a lovely holiday thanks feather, bit different to usual with no booze, pate or runny cheese but nice and relaxing which I guess is the last time ever lol.
P.s. Very pleased to have you back with us!!!

RP scary scenarios but I'm sure they will keep an eye on you and look after you

feather yep I know what you mean! the getting pregnant was taking over your life that being pregnant feels odd! I still don't think its real here at nearly 6months which is why I'm so reluctant to buy stuff. Dh wants to get organised but I'm still taking one day at a time, if that makes sense?!?

bushy the bloating is weird! I managed till about 12 weeks in my work trousers and floaty tops and then I couldn't do them up! Luckily we announced not long after that so I could get the summer dresses out. I felt huge but then my bump shrank at around 15 weeks which worried me again but that's quite normal top! It's a nightmare lol

I think it was much easier hiding early pregnancy in winter clothes - jackets and cardigans that hang down past the bump worked well, but obviously would be way too hot now! (on the bright side though, you won't have to deal with late pregnancy in summer heat!) Long straight silk scarves might be a workable summer substitute. Alternatively, could you try drawing eyes upwards with a distracting new hairstyle/statement necklace?

Agh agh agh, cramping again, stronger this time. I know it is probably nothing, but...!

Seeing MW for first time tomorrow morning. Hope she is nice!

Have a hand to hold RP. You will find you get all sorts of odd aches and pains for the next 8 months or so!

I know Merk and sorry to,keep banging on

I didn't mind the cramps at first as I pictured it as my uterus adjusting. But ever since the MC scare I keep thinking, oh no here we go again :(

Will feel a lot better once I've had the 12w scan if I make it that far

Hello all! Just dipping my toe in the water... Feeling relieved after today's scan, but don't want to get ahead of myself! 9w1d today (scan said 9w2d but I'm sticking with my own calculation!!).

Sorry about the scary cramping RP. I'm getting loads of twinges at the mo.

bunny that makes total sense - but you're six months now! Are you enjoying it more? This pre-12 week anxiety is really getting to me.

rp if it helps any, I'm getting cramps too and still oozing a bit of brown gunk (sorry guys! TMI!!)

win 9 weeks! Yay! So pleased that your scan went well today.

Finding it really hard not to tell my close girlfriends. Have told my very bestie the news and she's been great, and we've told our mums, but that's it. OH is away now till Monday working at Glastonbury and I'm trying to stay off google.

Win, good to see you over here and really glad your scan went well. Hope it all goes smoothly from now on.

Ooh winohh I'm dead chuffed things went well, think you're the market leader with us newbies. 9 weeks!

Know exactly what you mean bunny re taking it one day at a time and not really thinking you're pg. I told my chiropractor today as felt she needed to know to adjust treatment. I said about not really believing or dwelling on it as it's all a day at a time. She said that lots of friends/ clients who'd struggled to conceive were the same but then really late it hits you like 'shit I'm having a baby!!' Yup, that'll be me!! The chiro was really lovely and gave me a hug!

I also went to yoga tonight and told my teacher. She said she had tingles and thought I would say that! Was lovely to do yoga, she said she heard me let out a big sigh of contentment!! Sure the bean will come out all woo as we did ohm chanting!! My only thing is that she's not trained for pg yoga but knew some of the poses to avoid and was also practising yoga til late on when she was pg. she said to avoid back bends, big twists, shoulder stands and positions lying on your tummy. We did do light twists and some work lying on the front but I think at this stage there's no bump so it's ok. She also said she would check up on the positions and I am going to re google. She was also really lovely when I told her, gave me a little taste of what it might be like to tell people.

Thanks for the tips. I think if I start wearing scarves in the summer they will A. Think I've gone bonkers and B. Definitely know I'm up the duff. It's a thing at our school that pg women wear scarves, a parent notices and it's hot gossip in the playground! Glad I'm not the only one feeling chumbawumba. Dresses are definitely a friend!! Like the idea of distracting the eye upward, out come my funky necklaces!

feather must be lovely telling mums and besties. I am seeing mum Thursday but we're not telling anyone til 2nd scan (12weeks). I think my mum and dad have an inkling as my dad keeps saying how well i look when I see him; also I declined a glass of wine on his birthday, not like me and it was Sauvignon blanc my favourite!

rp try not to worry, merk is very wise!