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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

PMA Grads Thread :-)

997 replies

Dollydaydream2829 · 21/05/2017 21:43

Hey ladies,
We've finally made it to the other side and are journeying through the unknown territory of pregnancy! Here to share our stories, our worries and keep that all important PMA!
This is a thread for our PMA TTC Grads and for any women expecting their babies and feel like injecting a bit of positivity into their pregnancy journeys and the gang!
Feel free to join and introduce yourselves below :-)

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Moo31 · 23/07/2017 07:39

Hope you manage to get a nap yourself @baking that's an early start!

Good point re the Emma's diary thing - I got a phone call about a book club I could sign my child up to lol! I have diverted the emails to my junk so they're not so bad!

Also a good tip re nappies - my mum insisted on buying me a pack of the pampers but I managed to steer her off the 96 pack and just got a 44 pack lol. Oh has done some research and apparently lidl are the best (we don't have aldi in NI but I think aldi and lidl are the same thing anyway!)

BellaMoon · 23/07/2017 10:04

morning ladies

i haven't got the bounty or emma's diary stuff as yet so ill check that out today. i have the bounty app but had forgotten about it til you've just mentioned it!

DH had a convo with my friend yday about nappies as he was thinking of buying a pack with each weekly shop to stockpile. My friends advice was same as you @bakingmad83 as her little1 didn't fit pampers very well and the lidl 1s were ideal but again, as sizes change so much, she recommended a box of 72 at a time!

what's the advice you have on milk ladies? breastfeeding aside, have any of you looked into formula and what's best?

i have a list for baby, me and DH for the hospital @Moo31 - consulted online and checked with a few friends too. loads of people said lip balm and flavoured water are essential due to gas & air drying out your mouth and lips top tip alert lol. DHs list has all the practical boring stuff like chargers, money etc. he needn't think i'm making a list for him to be comfortable hahaha

i have been watching a show called Teen Mom UK (just since yday i promise) and by god this is both inspiring and worrying. i'm impressed by the resilience of these young girls coping with becoming mothers but also worrying me about how they make ends meet and how they emotionally support their kids when they need emotional support too.

anyway, we're off for a nice walk today then into the gym for a swim as iv had a lazy couple of days. back to work tomorrow 😭

bakingmad83 · 23/07/2017 11:30

Thanks Moo - I had considered a nap, but by the time we were back to the house and DS was sleeping, didn't feel tired. Think the fresh air at the park and on walk woke me up a bit :)

I like Lidl and would shop there, but nearest one is 45 mins away. Heard good things re their nappies too.

Re formula Bella a lot of people like Aptimil, as it markets itself as closer to breastmilk, but from a nutritional point of view, all standard formulas you can buy off the shelf are pretty much the same, they have to be, as they need to meet standards. However, some parents do find that some formula seem to suit their babies better than others, so like the nappies I guess it's just a case of trying some and seeing which agree best. Avoid hungry baby milks though, as they're digested more slowly and tend to cause digestive probs like constipation.

Hope you enjoyed your walk and swim Bella!

bakingmad83 · 23/07/2017 11:54

Sorry if that sounded instructional re the formulas! Was rushing to get post written as needed to wake DS from nap, as he'd already had longer than intended - find if he has more than 45 mins in day, even after an early start, he is a nightmare to settle! Just from a professional view point, I guess do your own research and see which appeals :)

Moo31 · 23/07/2017 11:58

Morning @bella! Enjoy your walk and swim - sounds like a lovely Sunday :)

I just had coffee and catch up with my friend and her dd who is almost 2 - she kept saying "baby come out!" Lol Her Dh told me to tell oh to have lots of games on his phone as he was so bored - I'll not be passing that tip on! She also said to add flip flops for showering to the list as you don't want to do that in bare feet. She took 4 nighties and wished she had had more (She was in for 3 days) and also towels! (Which I hadn't thought of!) Also Lucozade still drinks to sip on for energy.

Hope you're not doing too much for the rest of the day @Baking :)

Moo31 · 23/07/2017 11:59

Also both my cousins used aptimil for theirs - both did combination breast and bottle.

Also don't tell anyone but teen mom/mum (US and UK versions) are my guilty pleasure! ;)

AmandaP86x · 23/07/2017 16:29

Hi lovely ladies just reading back.

Hope ur ok @Ohb0llocks that's such a shame. I hope you have sorted it out. ❤️

I don't even know what Emma's diary is haha just going to google after here.

I am officially 2nd trimester today woohoo.

Thanks @Dollydaydream2829 I'll defo be getting the extra shifts in!! Hopefully I'm going to take the year. I was considering the 9 months but all girls at work have all said if u can afford it take the year cause they have ended up extending their Mat leave.

That pampers advert about preumature babies oh god 😭😭 bubbling here now!! Lol!!

I can't wait until after my 20 weeks to make lists and get buying! Not long to go!!

xxx

AmandaP86x · 23/07/2017 16:35

Oh and just read this article which I thought was very good ....

Moo31 · 23/07/2017 18:55

Totally agree @Amanda! What's wrong with "you look amazing / fantastic / glowing" and just leave it at that!!

AmandaP86x · 23/07/2017 20:03

Totally @Moo31 people have said to me oh ur really showing aren't you - r u sure it's only one? Awwww SHUT UP! 😂

bakingmad83 · 23/07/2017 20:46

Ended up being an active afternoon, but tbh I find I'm less tired when I'm busy :)

Get some cheap dark towels if you don't already have some Moo, as you won't want your best ones blood stained. And in my experience you can't have too many maternity pads - not sanitary pads, as the chemicals in them can irritate and they're too absorbent if they need to assess how much blood you're using.

Congrats on entering the 2nd tri Amanda :) Think your midwife would have given you an Emma's Diary folder at booking, though if they see it as just marketing they may decide not to pass these on to mums?

Don't think people can ever say the right thing when it comes to bumps though. Was a bit offended when someone earlier in the week said that if she hadn't been told I was pregnant she'd have never known - that was with me standing in front of her with a very obvious bump, which she must have thought was from eating too many cakes and pies! I've had the twins comment a couple of times too! Seems that perception of bump size varies a lot.

Dollydaydream2829 · 23/07/2017 21:24

I've not got the bounty pack or Emma's diary either! Can you apply for them?? I don't think I got it in my pack baking but will have another look.

I wish I could actually read that article amanda - looks like something I could benefit from. Like you said baking, it completely varies on others perception but it has got to the stage where I've been made to feel quite paranoid for being 'too big' for my stage yet the midwife said im small and baby is small - every bump grows differently anyway .... I've also had the twin comment.

Sounds like you've all had lovely and busy weekends. I've spent another weekend in work! Busy busy but on the plus point, I get days off during the week which can actually be quite nice.

OP posts:
AmandaP86x · 23/07/2017 21:51

Did anyone get the downs test??? Xxx

Moo31 · 23/07/2017 22:12

I got a bounty folder at my booking appointment but had to download the app to get the goodie bags (got mine in boots).

Emma's Diary is a website - you have to register then download and print the vouchers and take them to boots (or argos)

@Baking how rude!! Thank you for the towel and pad tips :) great to have advice from people who hace been there before!

@Amanda - they don't offer it in NI so I didn't have to think about it. I really haven't got a clue whether I would hace taken it or not. So sorry I can't help :s And congrats on entering 2nd tri - must be an amazing feeling!! Hopefully some of your worry will ease now :)

Moo31 · 23/07/2017 22:13

I've also joined the asda, tesco and boots baby clubs online lol and set up a special email folder where they all go to so my inbox doesn't get bombarded!!

bakingmad83 · 24/07/2017 05:59

I had the combined test Amanda, but hadn't actually realised till this pregnancy they're also testing for Edward's and Patau's syndrome, so waited till after getting the results before telling anyone I was pregnant, as wouldn't have wanted to continue the pregnancy with either of those conditions as they're so severe. Thankfully within a week I came back low risk for all three trisomies.

Hope you find those clubs worthwhile Moo. I joined them last time round, but never got the free change bag you were meant to at Boots, so hopefully you'll have more luck if they're still giving away a freebie on joining.

Enjoy your midweek days off Dolly. With DH's shift work it's nice to be able to do things in the week sometimes - find places less busy outside the school hols and you can get all those useful jobs done like go the post office, bank, docs etc can't you.

BellaMoon · 24/07/2017 07:00

morning all

first day back at work today and i had the worst nights sleep. not work or overactive brain related, more headache and uncomfortable. i'm going to be a delight for my colleagues today (not)!

yes @AmandaP86x i had the CUBS test so measured neck at 12wk scan and took bloods. the wait on those bloods coming back was horrendous. i had to chase my results at 16wk appt and later got a text from midwife to say results were low risk. i think they go on the "no news is good news" theory as they get in touch with high risk folk quickly but they must realise we all want confirmation 1 way or another!

had my leisurely walk and swim which was lovely. felt light headed most of the day and later realised i'd only had cereal at 7ish and didn't get home til after 6. think i'm going to have to set an alarm on my phone to remind me to eat! never in my life would i have thought i'd need reminding. this obviously explains the sore head now.

talking of specific email accounts has any1 set up a baby email account and been sending the baby emails that you will let them have when they're older? my friend did it for her nephew as she lives overseas so i did it when i got my BFP and i regularly send wee updates, pics etc. just a bit of fun but i'm going to try keep it going at least 1 email a week til he is 16!

thanks for the formula advice @bakingmad83 and @Moo31 i do intend to breastfeed but i'm well aware it doesn't suit every1 so ill make sure i have at least 1 tub of formula at the ready!

hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work i go (kicking and screaming like a 2yo) xxx

Moo31 · 24/07/2017 08:07

Aw @Bella 1st day back is always pants! But by 10am it will feel like you were never off!

Happy Monday everyone!! 😀

AmandaP86x · 24/07/2017 11:18

I have again started to freak myself out !! 🙈 so I got the measurement done at scan it was 2.9mm - googled it(silly I know) and it says anything under 3.5 is fine. But seen so many people saying theirs was 1.7 or 1. Something and it's freaked me out a bit!! I did get bloods taken so I will need to wait until then! Just wondering if anyone got measurements and what they where xxx

bakingmad83 · 24/07/2017 12:07

Hope first day back goes ok Bella! I'm finding my appetite is even worse now I'm pregnant and past the nausea stage - if I go more than a few hours without food at the best of times I feel unwell. Not quite sure how you managed two lots of exercise on only a bowl of cereal! But setting a reminder sounds a good plan :)

Don't worry too much Amanda - easier said than done I know! - as obviously the measurement is only one small part. Measurement this pregnancy was lower, but when risk came back was higher as influenced by bloods - but still only 1 in 25,000 for Down's syndrome vs 1 in 35,000 last time and 1 in 50,000 for Edward's and Patau's (don't know previous risk, as they never used to tell you even though were testing for it, which was sneaky!)

Moo31 · 24/07/2017 13:05

@Amanda - I don't think I got any measurements done, nothing I can remember anyway. In my experience you are best to call your midwife if you have any queries / concerns - they keep telling me they expect us to call them. So I would say call them and they will put your mind at ease I am sure!

@Baking - I am the same with eating, have to eat every 2 hours. If it goes past 3 hours I feel so nauseous! So yes @Bella - set a reminder!!

bakingmad83 · 24/07/2017 15:58

Moo, don't think they'd have taken that measurement if they don't offer a test for risk of trisomies in NI.

I think they call you within 3 working days if you are high risk Amanda, so the rest of us just to wait for a letter in the post, which I was told would be within 10 working days, but probs varies from place to place.

I've found nausea is back the last few days, though only in late afternoon/evening. Hasn't been helped that I've done some evening meals recently that involves chopping raw meat - hate that at the best of times!

Roseandbee · 24/07/2017 18:31

Im still here btw, been reading but not posting, been feeling sick all the time, spend most my time lying down. bit of an improvement today so i hope things will start to get better i'm 14+3 today.
I had the harmony test at 10 weeks which tests for downs, but I also opted in for the NHS one, my measurement was 1.7mm but they couldn't get my bloods, they've tried 4 times now but keep missing the veins and in my end the midwife said the harmony test is more accurate anyway. But I did want the two, what if they muddled up my harmony results?
I was also told anything under 3.5 was fine Amanda and they do contact you pretty quick if theres something wrong, so dont worry, says me worry my results may have got muddled.
sorry your nausea is back baking, how long have you been nausea free?

Oh i got the bounty folder with my booking in, but the midwife said they're not half as good as they used to be. Not picked up and of the packs, what do you get in them?

bakingmad83 · 24/07/2017 20:34

Sorry you've been feeling so rough Rose. I had my nausea till 15 weeks, so been rid of it 8 weeks before it came back, hopefully yours is on the way out! I was glad just to be doing fish fingers and veg tonight, so no nausea-inducing meat prep. Usually only have something processed once a week and DS is pretty good at eating what we do, so will have homemade chillis, curries, stir fries. Did baby led weaning with him, which all being well will try again - lots of mess, but lots of fun :)

Heard Harmony much more accurate, think it's one of the tests couples go for if they come back high risk, but don't want to risk an amnioscentesis. I used to have real probs with blood being taken and had to go to the phlebotomy department at the hosp if I needed any samples doing, but touch wood my veins seem to be behaving these days. Shame you couldn't have the NHS test done Rose, but sure you got the right result :) Think pregnancy plays lots of tricks on your mind and makes you stress about unlikely scenarios!

I agree the contents weren't as good as with DS 3 years ago, though think what you get does depend where you redeem them. From Boots I got a sample tub of tummy butter, a few newborn size nappies, a tenna pad, 2 disposable breastpads, some nonbio washing liquid and conditioner, I think that was all, but can't complain for nothing :) when I redeemed with DS there were things like a hooded towel, baby gro and a set of Johnson products for baby, along with the bits mentioned above.

AmandaP86x · 24/07/2017 23:38

Never heard of the harmony tests but just googled it!!! Did you pay £500 for it!!???

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