The Berry-Copter!!!

[Bunnygirlie]

The Berry thread - berries (over 30s) pregnant with first baby after trying 12+ months.

Support, advice and hand holding from the grads.

Don't forget to CLENCH!

Just looked back on the berries thread, it was Gnomiegrace, I don't think she posted again after her BFP so I hope everything's OK.

Anybody fancy pulling together a list to help me keep up

Hello all!

Phew exhausted! Just had a mega week at work with 7 hours' additional teaching at postgrad level and then today was an open day, so an hour long unscripted talk to about 80-90 prospective students and parents. Went well but I'm afraid I decamped to my office after and ate an entire bag of M&S chocolate caramels and then came home and slept . I also rejected DH healthy dinner of sweet potato wedges in favour of a tuna sandwich with pickled onions. Definitely pg

I will be 6 months on Monday - weird!! Anyone else around this stage feeling like they look properly pg? I definitely have the swallowed-a-basketball look as well as a really fat back but am generally quite enjoying this bit.

We do need a list but can't on tablet.....

Hey ladies! I haven't been around for a bit as work is soooo stressful it's just not funny.

bunny Huge congratulations to you!

kitten Glad that your scan went well, it must have been lovely to have your mum there with you when she lives so far away.

feather I swear baby is kicking me in the bladder as well! Haven't felt any movement as such yet (16w+6) but keep feeling pressure really low down near my bladder, albeit always on one side.

Don't be too hard on yourself rp especially when you're working so hard. Word of warning: please don't mention M+S food, I miss it soooooo much since leaving the UK. You can keep your pickled onions though! Must be nice to have a proper bump! Right now I can just about fit into my jeans but am starting to look a bit chubby rather than pg. Am debating when to buy maternity clothes, can't get my head round it at the moment!

AFM, got the NT combined test results back a few weeks ago. After the dr completely freaked me out about being high risk (0ver 35 + ICSI), it was 1:3400 so hugely relieved. Also had a 16w scan last week and found out it's 80% a girl! Hugely excited. Out of 10 grandchildren and great gc on DH's side it will be only the 2nd girl in the family.

Hi to everyone I've missed off,hard to catch up after being away for ages!

Updated List:-

In the Berry Nursery
Merkin: Delivery date: 21 March, girl
Thunder: Delivery Date: 26 March, girl
Tally: Delivery Date: 7 April, girl
Boom: Delivery date : 11 April, girls x 2!
Katatonic: Delivery date: 24 April, girl
PoppySeedBun: Delivery date: 23rd April, girl
Brodicea: Delivery date: 7th May - girl
Kitty: Delivery date: 20th May - girl,
Puppymummy: Delivery date: 5th June - boy
Foody: Delivery date: 17th June - girl
Qazxc: Delivery date: 17th June - girl
Angel: Delivery date: 4th July - boy
Charming: Delivery date : 9th August - boy
Jessplus: Delivery Date 22nd August - boy
Dartmoor: Delivery Date 8th Sept - boy
Bunny: Delivery Date 7th Oct - boy
Sidney: Delivery Date 10th Oct - boy

In the chopper

Yorkie: EDD 8th Nov - boy
Win: EDD 23rd Jan -
RP: EDD 2nd February - waiting for 20w scan!
Feather: EDD 5th February - girl
Chloe: EDD 23rd March - 80% chance of being a girl
Lady: EDD 12th April
Kitten: EDD 13th April
Snowlily:

Hi chloe glad to hear you got a low nt score and congrats on the girl. Must be such a relief. Hope you're doing okay.

Hi to everyone else!

chloe such amazing news - congrats! You must be so relieved.

Hope everyone else is well. Have had a dramatic few days with family issues and I've been very emotional. Spent most of yesterday feeling very poorly and being sick. Went to the gp this morning as I just needed reassurance and my blood pressure was right up - she also couldn't find the baby's heart beat using a Doppler so I got sent to the hospital for ECG and bloods and to see a midwife at maternity triage. Heart rate seems fine and waiting on bloods, and of course, the minute the midwife put the Doppler on me she found the baby's heartbeat. Now at home laying in bed feeling exhausted and stress and trying to let go of the family drama - I know I have to put the baby first but it's very difficult. Sorry to be to so 'me, me, me' but just needed to get it out. Hope everyone else is ok. x

Oooh Feather have a hug. That sounds hard.

Can you take a day off work this week and just have a chilled day? The BP thing wants watching. I'm doing mine every week at the GP's - I know that's really anal sounding but it helps me make sure I am not getting too stressed etc.

And remember, you are also putting your family first by putting the baby first, the most vulnerable member of your family, so don't let anyone guilt you into thinking you should be 'doing more'.

Updated-Updated List:-

In the Berry Nursery
Merkin: Delivery date: 21 March, girl
Thunder: Delivery Date: 26 March, girl
Tally: Delivery Date: 7 April, girl
Boom: Delivery date : 11 April, girls x 2!
Katatonic: Delivery date: 24 April, girl
PoppySeedBun: Delivery date: 23rd April, girl
Brodicea: Delivery date: 7th May - girl
Kitty: Delivery date: 20th May - girl,
Puppymummy: Delivery date: 5th June - boy
Foody: Delivery date: 17th June - girl
Qazxc: Delivery date: 17th June - girl
Angel: Delivery date: 4th July - boy
Charming: Delivery date : 9th August - boy
Jessplus: Delivery Date 22nd August - boy
Dartmoor: Delivery Date 8th Sept - boy
Bunny: Delivery Date 7th Oct - boy
Sidney: Delivery Date 10th Oct - boy

In the chopper

Yorkie: EDD 8th Nov - boy
Win: EDD 23rd Jan -
RP: EDD 2nd February - probably a boy, waiting for 33w scan on Dec 19th!
Feather: EDD 5th February - girl
Chloe: EDD 23rd March - 80% chance of being a girl
Lady: EDD 12th April
Kitten: EDD 13th April
Snowlily:

Thanks for your kind words rp. Know you're right. Just feeling so blue about the family drama, but need to snap out of it and make my baby the priority. Everything just seemed too perfect for a while so this layer of stress is really getting to me. Took today off so not sure if I can take another tomorrow. Feel it's taking the piss a bit, you know?

ANYWAY, how are you? How's everyone else doing?

Feather sorry to read about your stressful time over the past few days. Glad the little one is okay. I had family drama from about 8 weeks pg which has only just starting to sort itself out now. I was soooo stressed and upset to start off with but decided that the priority was the baby and I had to switch off from it all for a while and hopefully it would sort itself out, which it has kind of. The switching off was certainly not because I didn't care but because I was getting myself in such a state worrying about it when it wasn't going to be easily resolved. I really recommend doing the same for a while if you can. Some things are more of a priority at the moment and whilst other peoples actions and comments can be pretty much out of your hands you can chose when enough is enough and when you need a break for the sake of you and your baby. If anyone questions you calmly explain that your bp is high through stress and you need to step away from the situation for the time being. Hope you're okay - maybe spend a few days laid on the sofa with your phone switched off?

Thanks yorkie. Think you've hit the nail on the head. I'm going to have to disengage from what's going on. I found out by accident - family had been keeping it secret (for two months!!!) as they didn't want to upset me while in the relatively early stages of pregnancy, so there's no pressure from them - they're just worried about me now. Think I'll have to do some 'mindfulness meditation' and see if that helps at all. As I said before, just found out about the whole drama this weekend so been in initial state of shock. Thanks so much for your kind words and support. Good to know I'm not the only one and that there is a way of getting through it. how are you doing, anyway? Not long now!

Aw your family sound very considerate Feather.

I know what you mean about feeling like you're taking the piss. I am sort of "working to rule" a bit at work and it feels weird

But at the end of the day, if your family have been able to keep this from you for that long, you probably don't need to have direct input into the drama - hope it's not presumptuous to say that! So you know you don't need to stress about it.

Why not try going swimming? That can be very relaxing. Or, doing a pg yoga class after work?

Off to yoga tonight rp. Need to find a local pool with heating too - great idea on the swimming.

Happy Tuesday all. Dragging myself to work today and feel like a total mess.

Great scan news lady and kitten!!! And great combined test results Chloe! Phew! Must be a relief!

RP, I definitely feel proper pregnant now. I had my first 'ooh you look big for 25 weeks' comment today. After stressing I was too small I'm now worried I have gestational diabetes (never happy!). I honestly think people have no idea how big or small people should be and just make a comment for something to say!!

Feather sorry you're going through such a stressful time. I hope you can find some time to relax and detach from what's going on. Xx

I had my 25 week check this morning. My bump measured right on schedule, and we heard the heart beat. also had flu jab for good measure! So far no ill effects!

Excellent Win! Mine is a week today.

Yeah I think people have no idea on size. I find it reassuring being at my pg yoga class, as I am the "youngest" there and going round the room, you can see the gradation of bumps according to week. makes me feel slim

Btw I have a ridiculous paranoia yes another one

I have found over the last couple of days that my discharge has become more liquid, thinner and more watery, and there is more of it. Enough to make me feel a bit sticky when I woke up today but not to wet the sheets. Also smells a bit different.

Someone tell me there is no earthly chance I am leaking amniotic fluid.....?

feather glad to hear your family are being supportive - makes a big difference. Hope you're feeling a bit calmer and the yoga helped a little. Look after yourself.

Yep, okay thanks. 36+3 here and can't wait to finish work on Friday. Been a struggle lugging the bump on a commute into London the past few weeks.

rp I've had exactly those same worries throughout too. My discharge has become very watery and there have been a couple of occasions I've stood up and felt it come out of me which has worried me. However, it hasn't been continuous and I suspect if you had a leak it would be more than just a one off occurrence and you would have more episodes during the day. I wear panty liners all the time now. There is always something to worry about isn't there?!

Thanks yorkie :) I will ask the MW next week and hope she says I am being crazy!

Ah the rivers of Babylon in your pants...lovely isn't it
If you're worried about waters leaking you should lie down on your back for half and hour. If you feel a gush when you wake up it's likely to be waters, otherwise it's not likely to be anything to worry about

Win have you been told to harvest colostrum because of the diabetes?

To the 25 weekers, have you started buying baby stuff yet? Since the scan I've been online window shopping but not bought anything yet. I do, however, have a nice changing bag that I bought in 2010 when I first started wanting a baby and a pushchair that I bought during the 2ww of IVF#1 because the price was so good!

I don't have a GD diagnosis yet merk, just worried I might have it (along with a host of other things!). Have my test booked in for about 3 weeks time so we'll see!

Good question lady. We haven't bought anything yet! Definitely on the to do list over the next month though. I've been window shopping but haven't actually handed over cash yet. What pushchairs are people looking at?

Yorkie, 36+3 yikes!! Not long now!

Anyone started thinking about when they might go on mat leave yet? What's the norm?

The pushchair under my spare bed is a baby jogger versa gt. Reduced on amazon at the time from £450 to £283, couldn't resist!
I think for the car seat we're going to get the britax dualfix. I'm not bothered about being able to lift out an infant carrier with the baby in it and I like the fact that it swivels, less twisting for my back and having seen people trying to get wriggly little people into car seats, hopefully this would be easier!
I'm hoping to start mat leave at 38 weeks, with 2 weeks annual leave before that. I work long days, a lot of standing at work and drive an hour each way so I'm hoping this is realistic.