Due November No 2

[eidsvold]

sorry for being presumptuous enough to start a new thread but I had so much to catch up on and fill you in on...

hiya all - finally settled and have pc at home!! Singapore was wonderful if exhausting. The heat took a lot out of me but it was great to have the break before we headed into the move again. We are in our house and settled - almost unpacked - just books and non essentials left to sort out.

had my first real ante natal appt last week - found a great GP - very approachable and very pro - woman's choice re: everything - amount and type of testing - I had three hospitals to choose from. She then did a proper antenatal consultation and I got to hear the baby's heart beat - great I also have my referral for my scan but have yet to have a date.

Halfway( 20 weeks) today - EDD is 5th November.

Over here the antenatal care is either shared between the GP and the hospital consultant or is all hospital based - there are a couple of midwife led birthing units but very hard to get into - done by ballot system and at this late stage no way I would even get a look in.

Gp was brilliant - took all I had to tell her about last pregnancy in her stride and rather than preaching and assuming what I wanted ( like the GP and midwife in UK) she asked me what I wanted.

Unlike the UK - homebirths are extremely rare - I have decided to have a hospital birth in the major hospital for the state - should anything like last time happen again I am right there rather than having to be transferred or having the baby transferred.

Now I just have to wait for them to get back to me with an anomaly scan date. Hopefully all being well - next week.

Glad to hear all is well with everyone else - baby is moving and heard it swishing around whilst the GP was trying to hear the heartbeat. Definitely in maternity clothes now - got some good jeans from George/ASDA before we left.

Take care....

this thread is very quiet, I hope everyone's ok!!

M/wife said she can't send out MATB1 before 26 weeks as they will just send it back to her!!

Had routine appointment with her today, she sadi to call her when I go into labour and she'll try and be there for the birth. Ic ouldn't belive my ears, that's so great!! (now I bet it's going to happen when she's on holiday!!) Still I think it's very nice of her, didn't expect this on teh NHS!

Hi All - had my 23 week scan yesterday morning and it was fab - DS has huge feet and hands (like DP!!) and didn;t stop wiggling (sure he does more than DD did!)

We took DD with us and she thought it was 'OK' - can;t believe she wasn't any more impressed but I suppose at 4 a shape in black and white isn;t that great after being brought up on Dora and Blue and all that stuff in colour!!

Have told work that I will give up 2 weeks before I am due but if divorce comes through will be sooner!! - Hoorah lets hope divorce comes through!!

Have also been drinking tonic water and it has had a hugfe effect on the reflux - better than gaviscon TBH - just sip it and see!!

Hi girls. Sounds like things are moving along nicely. Twinkie, thanks for the tip on tonic water - I will give that a shot.

Spent most of today at the clinic trying to get seen by the midwife as I have been really dizzy. I couldn't get up all day yesterday (typical that I am on holiday this week too!). After days and days of trying to get through on the phone I finally got through and had to leave a message. tHAt was at 8.30, and I didn't hear a thing. Was at the end of my tether and crying due to lack of support (and over-reaction probably) when DH came back from work to take me down there (at 1.30). After queing etc etc I got seen by the day assessment centre and there's nothing wrong. Apparently it's quite normal adn some people feel the low blood pressure more than others. All teh basics about getting up slowly and drinking lots, and making sure I eat lots of iron, in case it is anemia (they tested urine & have taken blood, so I'll hear if there is anything wrong). Basically I feel let down with the support, but now I know I just need to be persistant if I have any worries again.

I know I am probably over reacting, but it's my first baby and I don't have any family around who can tell me what's normal and what's not, and the GP was worse than useless when I saw her about being pregnant, so I'm not holding out any hope there.

On a positive note, baby has started kicking properly and we saw a little foot/fiswt moving my tummy the other day. It was well exciting! And I treated myself to a haircut today, so am feeling good. Just need a facial to get rid of these spots (!?!) and I will be positively glowing.

Pot Pourri, I think it is normal to get dizzy, from what my mum tells me it was her only pregnancy symptom! Makes me feel even more of a whinger! If it would make you feel better you can get little home blood pressure measurers, which would rule out low blood pressure dizziness, and make them sit up and notice when you seem to know what you're talking about! Don't think they are that expensive if it is still worrying you! Hope you are feeling better.

Morning All... glad to hear you are all OK. Sam the spells of dizziness is really normal, I had them with DD and had a few at the weekend. I find it happens more when I'm rushing around. So I guess I'd use it as a reason to have some "you" time!

Also, was wondering if anyone else was having any pain in the pubic region? I get a sharp pain on one side when I walk and also turning over in bed (which is no small feat in itself these days!!!). Don't remember this one with DD and just hoping someone can recommend something to make it stop as I'm on holiday next week.

Twinkie - your scan sounds fab, glad everything was OK

PandaBear, sounds like SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction). Pain on turning over in bed is a classic sign. I don't think there is much that can be done for SPD - if you do a search on here you'll find a few threads about it. It's worth mentioning it to your m/w. I've been having pelvic pain already too, down the sides of my hips, no probs turning over in bed yet and I'm just hoping it won't get worse.

I did have a touch of sinusitis, was streaming with a cold yesterday but much better today thank goodness. ds's grandparents are coming down later to come and make a fuss of him so I'll have a busy day looking after the 3 of them!

Oh dear PandaBear, I hope it's not the SPD, although from what I've read it looks as though there varying degrees of it. Make sure you take some paracetamol with you!

I've got the usual things, I'm finding sleeping harder, I have to wake up to change position, and am only at my most comfortable when I have the whole bed to myself, and the duvet and an assorted arrangement of pillows!! I'm aware when I stretch out too that I'm about to get cramp too, so far managed to avoid it going into spasm though!

Has anyone started buying stuff yet? We have seen a pram that we like (they are all so dull atm, don't you think?)thats reduced atm so we might go and get that next month. My mum came up at the weekend, and brought with her so little boy's clothes. She said she was too excited by it all and had to go and get something!! Looked round a few shops with her and got a few little bits that were in the sale... Am I doing too much too soon?!

been looking at the odd bit of equipment - luckily a friend is loaning us all her no longer needed baby goods so we really don't need tp buy too much although I left a lot of baby clothes with the in laws in the UK to be sent on later....

off to a parent, babies, children expo on the weekend...

otherwise all well here... been busy but enjoying being at home with dd. First hospital booking appt next week - interesting to see what happens and compare to the UK.

Pandabear - go and tell the doctor about the pain I did and now have a physio appointment the week I come back from hols!!

Flossam, IMO it's best to shop early as you really won't want to face the shops towards the end. First time around, we got some of the expensive stuff (pushchair etc) in sales about this time of year. Left some of it till after I left work though - but I found it a real drag going round the shops by that stage. Haven't been shopping this time at all because we have most things, but I might succumb to a couple of new outfits (esp. if we find out sex at scan on Monday).

I seem to have taken over the whole bed too, poor dh (well, he has himself to blame ).

Flossam - snap with the sleeping problems! And I need to pee all the time! Poor dh.... My mum's on holiday atm and I'm looking forward to her return so she can take ds out for a couple of afternoons so I can put my feet up for a bit. Our builders are making good progress but while they're here I can't snooze while ds is napping - he can sleep through the noise but I can't!

I havent been too tempted to buy much as I have SO much stuff from ds. We will find out the sex 2 weeks today and if it is a girl then I will succumb to a few things as I wont be able to resist! I am using the same things as last time as I refuse to buy a new pram! A friend is giving me a car seat and a Moses basket and a baby chair and so I am sorted really.

You second time Mums.....are you buying new prams or using the one you had first time? Are you pram addicts or quite frugal? My SIL has had 7 prams/pushchairs for 2 children!!

We need a new pram, the one we have isnt suitable from birth. Cot and high chair kindly donated by friends, the other stuff I shall buy within the next month.

PandaBear, your pain could be round ligament pain. This (according to my Miriam Stoppard book)is very normal and due to the stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus. It happens when I turn over in bed.

Twinkie, glad to hear your scan was a goodee. When we showed ds the blurred pics from our scan, he glanced at them for a moment, pushed them aside and asked if we could draw a bus! I suppose he is too young to appreciate the miracle of pregnancy even though he is very excited about having a brother or sister.

We need a new pram, the one we have isnt suitable from birth. Cot and high chair kindly donated by friends, the other stuff I shall buy within the next month.

PandaBear, your pain could be round ligament pain. This (according to my Miriam Stoppard book)is very normal and due to the stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus. It happens when I turn over in bed.

Twinkie, glad to hear your scan was a goodee. When we showed ds the blurred pics from our scan, he glanced at them for a moment, pushed them aside and asked if we could draw a bus! I suppose he is too young to appreciate the miracle of pregnancy even though he is very excited about having a brother or sister.

oops

we have to get a new pram as we gave our other two away when we emigrated - only had dd's buggy which is needed for her and no way suitable for a baby from birth - we really only need that, a new car seat, and cot mattress - and some clothes as I left a lot of those back in the UK - need the mother in law to send them out..... may not make it in time...... luckily the baby is a summer baby and so will not need a lot of clothing at first!!

Eidsvold I thought you were having a moment of madness there, summer baby, in November? But of course all the seasons are the other way round down there!! What am I like!!

We have a pram that has already been used by 3 babies (my dd, my niece and my sister's nephew) but is still brand new, so that's ok for the first three months, then we'll need something new as dd's buggy is too spartan for a baby, and am finding iot very difficult to decide on something, as I don't want to spend huge amounts of money on it!!

I think bunny2 is right about the pain, I had it withh dd and ahve it again now, especially if I've been walking a lot.I believe the pain with SPD is really quie bad. So much that you cannot walk or move properly, anyway a word with the midwife is always worth it!!

Potpourri I had a lot of dizziness in my first pregnancy, and I have occasionally had to squat in the train when I didn't get a seat to avoid fainting. This was before I showed of course and people used to look at me in very funny ways.
I find it shocking though that you were unable to contact your midwife...mine has given me her mobile number and encouraged me to call het with any concerns I might have!!

AM I just incredibly lucky? What is the norm?

my uk midwife was brilliant - like you webmum I had her mobile number and was told to contact her any time I had any concerns....she moved to another district prior to dd being born but still came to see us both in the hospital and even now asks a friend of mine who is also a patient of hers how we are....

over here - I am under GP and consultant care although I will meet with a midwife at my hospital visit next Monday.....

you are not the only one flossam - a number of people in the UK found it strange when I was saying how lucky I was to have two summer babies when they knew no2 was due November.....

With both babes i got that pain - down inthe pubic area - not bad enough so I couldn't walk but I often found I got it at night if I had an expecially busy day which involved a lot of walking or some sort of physical activity ( like pulling up old flooring...... however like the others have said - if in doubt - get it checked out......

woo hoo! had my first hospital appointment with a midwife today... got to hear the baby's heartbeat, she also showed me where/how the baby was lying.... and like in the UK - I got my first bounty pack ahhh I feel pregnant now

have to meet the consultant next week and do a glucose tolerance test....

until 30 weeks - it is all with the GP now... just up the road rather than an hours drive to the hospital.......

nice on eidsvold! was the bounty pack over there any better than the one here? - not much worth having in this one!

Hi everyone.

Well, we had the scan and everything looks fine and....it's another boy. So no shopping for new outfits for me. Well, maybe I'll succumb to 1 or 2 things if I see something I really like.

Everything else is fine so nothing else to report. Hope you are all well.

it had little samples of different things.. you know, nappies, wipes, breast pads, antacid tablets, milton tablets, cocoa butter cream and such like, reading material including some brochures with discount vouchers for various stores, mother and baby magazine, a guide to shopping for baby ( generally just showing different types and brands that are out there), the little bounty book about pregnancy. The hospital also gives you a baby days record book and other helpful information. Quite nice to come home and pour over all those things.

One thing that did surpirse me is that this hopsital does not provide ANYTHING - you have to take it all with you... all your bits and pieces, and eveything you will need for the baby including bedding for the egg carton, bunny rugs etc..... I wondered what would happen if you were like I was with dd - in for a scan, next hour - having a caesar and a baby appears... and I had NOTHING except my handbag.... had to send dh home for the half packed bag ( we only lived about 5 mins from the hospital then - this time we live about an hours drive - if you get a good run!!) - he did not know which one to bring - had one for labour and one for hospital stay... poor thing - he just looked at me when I then sent him home with a bag again....

That pack sounds good eidsvold. I picked one up from the hospital on Monday which had some washing tablets and fabric conditioner, lots of little samples of Dove (soap and sachets of shampoos and lotions) and a Frusli bar (hope it doesn't taste of the soap) which was quite good. It wasn't a Bounty one, it was from Baby Welcome and you can register for packs online.

Feeling a bit fed up this morning because I stubbed my toe last night and it's really swollen and sore! I can hardly walk. I shall take myself off to the docs tomorrow if the swelling hasn't gone down by then as of course I can only take paracetamol which just takes the edge off the pain and does nothing for the inflammation. In fact, I have to go to the surgery this morning with ds, who has been off-colour for days. Seeing a nurse who might be able to advise me about the toe as well I suppose.

Hi Gingernut. Sorry about your toe but I doubt there will be anything they can do about it. Your best bet if it is still sore is to tape it up to the next one. They very rarely 'fix' toes even if they are broken, and would be even less likley to do so whilest you're carrying baby. They wouldn't want to xray it either. Keep taking paracetamol for the pain, it is safe and try a warm foot bath to sooth.Hope it gets bette soon, and congrats about little boy no 2, glad everything was fine.