Due late September/early October 2023

[esgill]

Anyone else due around this time? I'm due at the end of September but suspect it might be later than that. Hoping for an October baby as it's my favourite month in the year!

I'm still in the nausea-inducing first trimester but only a few weeks to go before some relief, apparently. I have felt car sick pretty much everyday for 5 weeks, relieved temporarily by eating whatever I am craving.

I'm planning a few little holidays during the second trimester. It'll be nice to spend some quality time with my husband before we become parents. And hopefully to sleep well on hotel beds.

I am nervous but excited about the future beyond that. I'm nervous of bad news, of continued terrible nausea through the best part of this year, of childbirth, of the lack of sleep I know is coming with having a child, of the pain of breastfeeding. I'm looking forward to seeing the baby grow into a person who can speak and who I can read stories too. It's something we take for granted, but it still blows my mind you can love another person and then combine your DNA and have a child who might be totally different from both of us. There's no saying who we are all going to meet – and what lives they have ahead of them!

@esgill eeee congratulations
@colourPink oh I am just delighted too, I bought my first little lot of boy clothes - 20 week scan next Friday, can't wait x

Hi @Ks86 congratulations welcome to the 2nd trimester x

Hi thanks 😊

@colourPink @RMS0209 thank you <3 I don't know why but knowing the gender definitely makes it feel more real. Is it the same for both of you?

I can't wait to buy baby stuff. Need to make a list of everything we need but want to keep it minimalist.

I'm oddly nervous about the 20 week scan. Hopefully all will be okay!

Hi all, hope you are all well!

So exciting to see all the gender scans happening - things are really moving along :)

I'm currently 16+4 and waiting for my 20 week scan date. I thought about having a private gender scan but decided to save the pennies and wait it out. Can't wait though - hoping it'll be around 18th May which is my DH's birthday, it will be a nice little present for him :) Can't wait to get the date through, hoping it won't be much longer until I get my letter!

So pleased that the sickness has done one... Although still getting waves of fatigue so the daytime naps are still happening. Definitely feeling a difference in my energy levels and loving my baby bump! Haven't bought any maternity clothes yet but the clothes are definitely feeling tighter so may have to start doing some research.

We have started collecting bits and bobs for the baby - trying to save as much money as possible so gladly accepting hand-me-downs off friends and family. Also been keeping an eye on local 'Buy Nothing/Sell Nothing' FB pages - amazing how much good quality stuff is gifted! So far we have a pram/baby swing/baby strap carrier/Sleepyhead pod/Next to Me crib/ feeding pillow/high chair! Anyone else trying to go thrifty?

Had a phone app with my consultant the other day - I've been referred due to having a history of leukaemia and they've found a large fibroid which has grown from 3cm to 7cm between my 6 week and 12 week scan so they're going to keep an eye on that. My consultant was lovely - he said due to the position of the fibroid (right next to my cervix) it may block the baby's exit during labour so he thinks a planned C-Section will be necessary, but we'll know more after the 20 week scan to see if it's grown any more. He really put my mind at ease about it all as I've been worrying over it since I found out I had the fibroid. I've been offered extra growth scans and he said they'll look after me so I'm more relaxed with it now than I was. Anyone else had fibroid pregnancies?

oh wow. I seem to have missed a lot of the msgs! So excited to see more mums due around the same time :)

@colourPink @esgill So excited that you have found out the gender of your baby. It does feel more real now that we know the sex. We are expecing a little girl :) I am so excited.

Are you all sharing the news with anyone or going to keep it to yourself for now?

We haven't done any shopping at all for the baby, should we start now? My friend just had a baby in March, so I am hoping to take advantage of anything that doens't fit her baby anymore by Sep/Oct time!

@Bluewhitefloral I have a condition too that also requires me to have additional monitoring and scans. I am glad you are being well taken care of. I am surprised at the numbers of scans and appointments they have arranged for me and I actually mentioned it to the midwife too, but I guess it's better safe than sorry. Hopefully everything will be OK for you.

I will have my 20 weeks scan on the 12th May :D

I have my 20 week scan 10th May. Can't believe they're all coming around!

@Kayycatt we've bought most of the "big stuff" already. Pram, nursery furniture etc. but holding off on little bits until after I've had a baby shower as I know so much of it will be gifted.

For anyone wanting to shop for big baby bits I highly recommend booking a John Lewis consultation. It's a 1:1 appointment in store and they go through EVERYTHING with you. Prams were such a minefield for me - I didn't know where to start but the lady was amazing and helped so much!

You don't necessarily have to buy anything after. However, if you choose to (and we did) it was 10% off if you spent £1000 or more and 15% off if you spent £1,500 or more. So worth it! Our pram/travel system was £1500 but then we got 15% off that. Made it WAY cheaper than anywhere else to buy the same set!

@Bluewhitefloral Congratulations on your little one! Yes we're also being quite frugal – also because I can't stand wasting too much when I know it'll be used so little. Babies grow so quickly you don't get much use out of things. We are getting quite a lot of hand-me-downs and also trying to keep things minimalist. Wondering if we can get away without a carseat as we don't have a car. We might have to borrow one for the taxi on the return trip from the hospital.

@Kayycatt It is getting exciting now! We have told most people we're close to but no big social media announcement – I don't think we'll do that!

I think we're going to wait until after the next scan. I'm putting a Wishlist together though with some essentials, looking for the right pram, carrier etc.

@colourPink we're planning on doing a John Lewis shop too! I think after the 20-week scan. Mine is on the 11th so close to yours :) I'm also so overwhelmed by everything you need to buy. Here in Scotland we get the free Scotland Baby Box which helps a lot.

@colourPink @esgill I think I am going to look into the John Lewis consultation. I was looking at the Mamas and papas one as well, anyone got any experience with them?

I have started a wish list on Amazon, also using it for myself. So I add things to the list when I see something that may be useful.

How are you all feeling? I am starting to struggle to sleep at night. I am a back sleeper but I feel I am stretching my abdomen too much when I am sleeping on my back. Trying to sleep on the side but is not the most comfortable position for me! I just ordered a babybub pillow, will see if it helps!

@Kayycatt tell us how those consultations go, if you do them! I did one at Jo Jo Maman Bebe for maternity clothing and head's up, you get a really nice free goodie bag with any purchases. Well worth it.

I'm sleeping poorly: I usually sleep half on my side half on my tummy. I have been trying to practise sleeping on my side and get the worst leg cramps and hip pain and then end up reverting to my back, but starting to have the same stretching pain as you in my abdomen.

Have any of you had the 20-week scan yet? I'm so nervous about it... Mine is next week. Planning on buying things after that!

@esgill same as you for scan, mine is next Thurs 😬 can’t wait to see them again (I say this but we had a private one a few weeks ago so it really hasn’t been long😂). Have you been offered the whooping cough vaccine at the same appointment too?

same with sleep, really struggling to get comfortable and tossing and turning a lot. I’m a stomach sleeper and that’s really uncomfortable now. I try side but I keep waking up on my back and although I know the advice is you shouldn’t after 28 weeks, i’m trying not to get into the habit now.

Everyone keeps telling me to get a pregnancy pillow but I’m still not really sure what use it would be to me at this point, maybe I’m being thick and just don’t understand them!

also has anyone’s belly button popped? Mine is almost there and I’m finding it so weird because it’s always been an inny!

Hey, I introduced myself on the first page but I've not been around much since but have lurked here and there 😅.

In terms of a pregnancy pillow, I would recommend a 'V' shaped pillow as it takes up less room in bed. It also helps support your back by raising the leg that isn't in contact with the bed when you're on your side and means that you aren't putting as much pressure on your bump (I use a different one like the woman in this picture). I remember it being really useful in the third trimester and also for breastfeeding in the night.

My 20 week scan is also on Thursday. I'm really looking forward to it. We aren't going to find out the sex this time around (but we did last time).

20-week scan tomorrow! Anyone had one yet? How did it go?

And are any of you doing antenatal classes? I have a couple via the NHS at some point. I was going to do Bump & Baby but at around £200 it feels like quite an indulgence, in these austere times...

@PBandJs no my belly button hasn't popped yet -- and I have only just started looking pregnant! 2 days off 20-week mark.

@WineCap I'm nervous more than excited about my scan tomorrow. Hope we both get good news <3 I might invest in a pregnancy pillow afterwards, and book a nursery consultation at John Lewis.

I had my 20 week scan today. Baby is all good! I still haven't felt movement but I also found out I have an anterior placenta so it might be another few weeks until I can.

Was so lovely to see the baby again - so surreal that he's inside me!

@colourPink so happy for you! Must be such a relief. You're at the halfway point – I guess we're all coming up to it!

I met another woman who is pregnant in my city and she can't feel any kicking yet. Totally normal I think. I started feeling it but not regularly, mainly after eating dinner when I lie down, it's very subtle -- feels like a worm wriggling in my tummy.

@colourPink I'm glad the scan went well! had an anterior placenta with my first and I think it was around this point that I started feeling more confident that it was baby moving. I'm sure it won't be long until you're feeling movements too 🥰.

I did NCT for my first, but mainly for the friends if I'm honest as the course wasn't particularly useful if you've read any books. I'm friends with two of the mums from the course two years on, so it was worth it from that perspective.

Had my 20-week scan today! All fine and they confirmed again that we're having a girl <3 so surreal. Now I feel I can start buying things/preparing for our new family member's arrival...

I'm glad your scan went well @esgill. It really does feel like a good point to start getting properly organised. Were they able to get baby in the correct positions easily? I was turned upside down and put on my side etc, my baby is a bit awkward and wriggly!

Our scan went well too though. It is so amazing to see the sonographer go over each body part. Our's mentioned that the baby's heart is only about the size of a 20p piece - which seems incredible when you see how fully formed it is!

@WineCap my baby is also super wriggly but they managed to get everything eventually. I had a bar of chocolate before going in as I heard if the baby is in the wrong position they get you to have a walk and drink something sugary.

Yes it was surreal to se the heart! It's just a 2D image but already I think our baby is cute/I'm imagining what her character will be like based on her movements.

We're off on holiday from this weekend -- a little nervous about that but I need the sun/some good food/a change of scenery for a bit. May end up buying baby things in the south of France!

How is everyone? It's been so quiet on here! I'm now 23+3 and starting to feel all the hormones! Haven't felt emotional really until the last few days but now I feel highly sensitive - always fun 😂

Hope everyone's pregnancy journeys are going well ♥️

Feeling pretty manic with my toddler to be honest! I’m sure in my first pregnancy I was keeping up each week reading about the development of the baby and finding time to read a little bit about looking after a newborn, and this time around I just can’t keep up!

My baby-related goal this week is to get my husband to look at the info I found on local antenatal classes & decide if we do want to book one - if they haven’t filled up in the 3 weeks or so since I found the information 🫣

I've definitely been feeling a bit more emotional this past week. TMI, but I also went a bit sex crazy last week too😂

I feel bad for my toddler DS as I can't do as much with him now. I always plan an activity for the morning but by the afternoon I'm shattered. He seems ok with it all though, and I think it does understand that I'm growing a brother or sister! How old is your toddler @MummyInBucks?

Channel Mum on YouTube is a nice quick weekly pregnancy update video series. The videos are approx. 5 minutes long, so I try to do those but I'm definitely not reading all the books and doing all the research like I did with my first!

I'm starting to think about tackling/organising my baby clothes that are stored away in the garage. It will be nice to go through everything and I'm sure I'll feel a bit emotional in my pregnant state as I look through everything. I love buying baby clothes and I feel like going through what I have will stop me from going overboard! How is everyone else's prep going?

@colourPink I'm now 25 + 2 and wow I can't believe how time is moving so quickly. Nausea is largely over, thank goodness -- it ended around 20/21 weeks so pretty late for me. We've been on holiday to the south of France and I just got back from a retreat which was hard work alone and pregnant (mainly the travel) but worth it. Although I got an infected horse fly bite and ended up on antibiotics which was scary being pregnant.

I've been pretty good at keeping up exercise, still doing lots of walking, a bit of swimming, yoga etc. Not long until the third trimester though, when I hear things are much harder. My birthday is in mid-July and I'd like to go away for a weekend to a nice hotel up north in Scotland but I'm not sure whether it's the right thing to do? We don't have a car so if I went into early labour, we'd be at the mercy of extortionate taxis... But it would be a lovely last thing to do before baby appears.

I am starting to feel really excited finally. I think it's getting past the scans and viability week and feeling baby kick. I had a dream about her and it was lovely; nothing happened, I just saw her and carried her.

Hi all, been a while it seems since I have been back on this thread. I had my 25 weeks midwife appointment last week, it was very quick and nothing special. I thought the midwife was supposed to measure my bump. Did anyone have that done?