2nd time around

[Herb]

I am currently 7 months pregnant. We are really looking forward to No 2 arrival. In particular both my friend (who is 6 months pregnant)& I am getting fed up with being refered to as huge - if you are talking to a pregnant Mum are a Toddler group or activity, try having a little tact!

I've been feeling really sick this time (number three)- find a glass of water, especially with a slice of lemon/lime in, seems to cut through the sicky feeling. I've gone off so many things - tea, coffee, apples, loads of sweet things - though I'm enjoying the dark chocolate - thanks for the tip.

Chocolate? Really? Just the thought of it makes my stomach turn this time around (sigh!). I am feeling soooo much more tired than last time and feeling sick soooo much earlier than I did last time too. All that and dealing with a job, farm (calving time!), husband and toddler is just really taking its toll.....

Just to let you all know, I am definitely a new woman since popping these Supradyn tablets. I must have been deficient in something because since taking them for a week I have returned to nearly normal energy levels and I have a nice pink tongue again instead of a white furball.
I am so relieved as I was really worried that I was going to feel hideously lethargic and knackered all the way through this pregnancy.

Supradyn here I come, and I'm not preggie!

I feel so good! Started taking a multi vitamin with iron supplement last week and have also hit the magic 12 week mark and all of a sudden I have energy again and the morning sickness is an occassional, faint niggle. Can't believe the difference! Not sure if it was the vits or the 12 weeks but I'm not complaining either way. One slight niggle. I saw several girl friends over the weekend and none of them guessed I was pregnant despite the enormous belly, baggy tops, lack of alcohol and constant munching. I'm worried. Do they think I'm always like this?

Hmonty, you probably just have really kind, supportive friends who would never dream of asking you why you are having a baggy jumper day. Imagine if you weren't pregnant, just feeling a bit lardy, and one of them said something - you'd have been so upset! It is such a horrible stage though, I don't know about you but for about two months from 12 weeks to 20 weeks I just looked extra chubby and not really pregnant at all. Already this time I am feeling fatter than I did last time and have already had to abandon one pair of trousers.
Glad to hear you are feeling so much better though. I am still feeling great and have not quite hit 12 weeks yet, so can only sing the praises of Supradyn.

Hmonty, I cant believe it is 12 weeks already. Are you feeling more relaxed now?? Ive been thinking of you all.

i'm 10 weeks pregnant and i'm confused as to whther i can eat cheese such as ricotta/mozarella/mascarpone, ie if they're made with unpasteurised milk, any ideas?

Hi Joe,
Thanks for the thoughts. All seems to be going well. Getting bigger and bigger! I've got my first scan on Monday and hopefully then I can relax....and tell peopel before they think I'm just getting horrendously fat!

As to the cheeses....I think you are supposed to avoid all unpasteurised cheese due to the risk of listeria etc (I believe)...However, having said that, I've been eating anything and everything. 4th time round it seems to be so much less important! (Apart from booze and smoking obviously ....not that I smoke anyway!).

Hmonty, lets us know all when you get back, 'im not fat Im PREGNANT'.

God what a relief to read this thread - I am 9 weeks pregnant with the second (current daughter is two) and it all happened sooner than we expected I am so lethargic, knackered, grumpy and just feel sick constantly. I have put stacks of weight on already (or at least it feels like it) as my clothes aren't beginning to fit.

I feel like a really bad mum because when I am not working (3 days a week) my daughter is quite often plonked in front of a video selection for the majority of the day (she seems happy!)

I like the sound of eating chocolate - funnily enough I have been craving the really strong lindt 70% stuff anyway and heavens I had some in the cupboard from my energetic baking days bliss!!

Hmonty, how was things today???

Hi,
The scan went well yesterday. Only one (hubbie had been having nightmares about there being twins!) and he was wiggling around (I'm assuming it's a boy based on past track record - until told otherwise). Had a few tears afterwards with relief but at least I can tell people now. It's amazing how many people have said 'oh , yes, we guessed'. I'm not convinced although I'm well into my 'fat' wardrobe and am already eyeing up my maternity clothes as they look so comfortable. I do love my maternity clothes!

I have to go back for a check at 38 weeks as the consultant thinks this may end up being a big 'un...My first son was 7lb8 and the second was 8lb13. Not that I'll let them do anything unless they tell me I'm carrying an elephant!

I felt like such an old hand checking in. Definitely a been there/done that feeling! I'm sure the staff are starting to recognise me (and my notes were by far the thickest in the pile). four pregnancies in 4.5 years....I sound like a rabbit!

Hmonty, was that a 20-week scan, or do you get them earlier where you live? (Can't remember what your due date is?). I've got mine in 3.5 weeks time and it feels like an eternity away, especially as I decided not to go for any of the other tests. At least I have heard a heartbeat, so am now summoning up the courage to tell work before I have to get into maternity gear...

Im pleased all is OK Hmonty. You must have had that glint in your eye thats why everyone guessed. My hubby wants to try for another baby now, my son has just turned one. Im having all the normal thoughts, just getting my figure back, looking forward to riding my ponies again and will my son feel pushed out if we were to have another baby with him so young, but on the other hand I would like him to have a brother or sister and I dont really want to wait much longer as Im 34 now and I might want another one. What if I have twins, they are due to pop up. As you have all young children what has your experience been.

Hmonty, just thought hope I havnt put my foot in it with my last posting, sorry if I have.

It's OK Joe. No foot from mouth extraction needed! I'm 35...a mature mother according to the books! (Shame the same can't be said about my mentality sometimes!).

I'm really pleased that we had our kids close together. 15 months between the first two and it'll be 2.5 years between the new baby and middle child. Given half a chance this gap would have been closer.

Everyone has different reasons for planning (or not!) the gaps between their children. One of my thoughts was that I wasn't getting any younger and so wanted to 'get things over and done with' - especially as I'd always planned a big family. My eldest has never shown the slightest bit of jealous to no2- Mainly, I think, because of the close age gap. He's never really known anything different. (I'm one of four children with the first 3 close together and I certainly can't remember life without my sisters). I'm more worried about how no2 will cope with no3 as he's that little bit older. Also, my eldest was going through a 'Daddy's boy' stage when no2 was born and so didn't seem to mind that my time was taken up with the baby.

Other advantages of having them close together are that we never completely got our lives back to 'normal' and so never felt that we were having to give up something again....just a continuation of the same thing! (Oh god....sleepless nights again!) Also, all our baby equipment and clothing has just been passed down directly from one son to the next without looking dated. This has definitely saved money! As the first two were so close together we did have to get a second cot and highchair but luckily we were generously given these second hand by my sisters MIL.

The boys are now at a stage where they play nicely together (most of the time and kill each other the rest) and I don't have to worry about the eldest playing with toys that have parts too small for the youngest etc.

Of course there are draw backs. It was extremely hard work to start with. Having a baby is hard at any time but when the eldest child still needs constant supervison and attention as well this does add an extra degree of work. Just the logistics of getting a toddler and a crawling baby into the car were a nightmare, for instance.

And having two children in nappies was crippling financially and for the dustman to carry away! Not to mention confusing....all size nappies look the same when chucked in a changing bag (Can highly recommend Benneton nappies for this reason as they are different colours for different sizes)! I think we kept pampers going single handedly for a while there!

I just can't wait to have my big gang of boys (I'm assuming no3 is a boy based on track history) sitting around the kitchen table when they're all in their teens...looking down on their little Mum! Check back in about 14 years time!

Hi Sid,
I'm lucky that my local hospital (Princess Royal in Haywards Heath) does a scan at booking in at 10-12 weeks. They measure the nucral fluid at the back of the baby's neck and from this can calculate your probability of having a downs syndrome baby. Apparently my risk was 1 in 232 as a 35 year old but based on the nucral measurement I have the risk calculated as 1 in 1770 (or there abouts!)....The same risk as a 20 year old! Ha! Wish felt like a 20 year old too...but that's another matter!

These scans do take ages to come round don't they. I had to wait 3 weeks for mine (from receiving the date) and it seemed like an age. Can't wait for my 20 week one. They should be able to tell me the sex of the baby (provided it's legs aren't crossed!) so I can decide what colour to paint the nursery and start the task of choosing names....A nightmare for the most indecisive couple in the world! Are you going to ask what your baby is? Will they tell you (I know some hospitals don't).

I must admit that we did discuss about having the tests or not and decided that if there was something wrong with the baby we did want to know as we didn't feel we could cope as a couple with a disabled child - especially not with two small children already. A tough choice but we decided to make the decision before we knew either way. I'm just so relieved that everything seems to be fine. Good luck with your scan....

Thanks Hmonty I had pretty much decided to go for I think, Ill keep you informed. So Im a mature mum too ha thats a laugh, having a toyboy helps me feel younger than I already do.

I don't think I will try and find out what sex the baby is, Hmonty, although it would make working out the new sleeping arrangements easier (someone somewhere will have to share!)(we have one of each). I am vaguely thinking about trying to attempt for a home birth as the last time my dd popped out 1.5 hours after we got to hospital. In those 1.5 hours I probably saw the midwife twice for two minutes - she was so busy - and we only got some attention once dh saw the baby's head and rushed to reception yelling 'my wife is giving birth right now' (the loneliest 30 seconds of my life). There is probably a long involved mumsnet thread on home births - must look for it.
Joe, from this thread it looks as if you'd made up your mind to go for a second child within 24 hours - ah the persuasive powers of Mumsnet! 34 is spring-chicken-like to most of the mums I know (I'm 35).Personally, I didn't find it difficult to decide on having a second, but I think having a third means abandoning all logic....

Sid, we had always planned to have more than one but I think it was the way my husband came in from work and out of the blue just said shall we try for another baby, threw me for a bit. We were waiting for his promotion to be secured so I could give up work when the second arrived and this happened this week.

When I told hubbie I was pregnant with no3 he said 'Shall we go for four?'.....Jury is definitely still out on that one! Logic? That and hormones don't seem to mix. I'm thinking 'no way' now but just wait until this baby hits that gorgeous 3 to 6 month stage ie they look cute but can't yet move or answer back.....

I was one of four and hubbie is one of 3. We both had very happy childhoods and get on with our siblings really well so I can see where the influence has come from!

Oh, and I heard a statistic the other day that was interesting. Apparently the birth rate is dropping but the number of people with 3 or more children is increasing...ie it's trendy to have more than 2 kids if you choose to have kids. Haven't been trendy since...well ...ever!

Wow, trendy and a mature mum, are you allowed to be both?

I'll start wearing boob tubes and hipster trousers next....flashing my big belly of course!! Well if the All Saints and Spice Girls can do it....!