For those of us ONLy just in the 2nd trimester

[slymunchkin3]

Hi All,

Hope that you are all well. Shellie sorry to hear about the pains you are having. I have something similar which is the cause of me not sleeping. Really bad backache and pain in my left hip. I don't think there is a lot we can do about this just try to get as comfy as possible. I get up & go for a walk around, the pain eases then I get back in bed. I go to see the midwife on Thursday so I will mention it to her also.

Apart from that had a great weekend & went mad buying baby clothes, we even bought our moses basket. It all seems so real now & we are really happy. The kicks are quite strong now & regular, and I smile everytime it happens, then end up chatting to my bump cos I know baby is awake.

Teresa_ hope that you are well and looking forward to hearing the heartbeat soon.

Caz, Gem & Bina - also hope you are all ok.

When are we in the third trimester by the way?

No more news for now .......Take Care Ladies

Almost 22 weeks

[TERESAWANTBABY]

Hello,

-Bina,
Not sure if your already gone on holiday, but I just wanted to say enjoy every minute and every BITE !!!

-Caz
Thanks for the reassurance, its nice to know I am not alone!!
How is the cold ?? Are you feeling any better ? I think I am also starting something and it is really annoying !! AARGHHH!!

-Gem,
Good luck with the kitchen, just hurry uo and get it done, so you can start the nursey.. it must be so exciting to plan and prep. for the nursey !! I can't wait !!

-Tracey,
My Dear ... I also miss our chats !!! Your a doll !!! I am soooo happy to hear that your little ones are doing just fine ! I am still shocked that I am on this thread !!! What an amazing feeling !! Have you spoken with Dagny?? I think lots of us miss her here .....

-Shellie,
Hows your leg? I hope you feel better soon ! It must be such a pain ! Have you gotten any sleep ?

-Christina,
It must be amazinf feeling those kicks.. I am so looking forwad... A couple of days ago I started feeling little flutters , at first I wasn't sure what it was, and after so much investigating it is actually my baby !!! I am so exciting .... come on baby give me a BIG ONE !!!!!

Anyway my day is almost over here in the office and I just can't wait to get home !!!

Talk to you all soon !
-Teresa
15 weeks 1day PG!!

[Tracey S]

Morning - just popped on before having to sort out Alice who is grizzling as they both had their jabs yesterday - you have all this to look forward to.
They were so good and just grizzled yesterday for most of the pm but slept all eveing and night and Emily slept through until 7am from 11pm for the first time! Alice is very grizzly this morning so have my work cut out.
so excited for you all and getting very pleased to see retail therapy going on! Keep up the good work ladies as is the exciting part as pg progresses and you feel more tired. Keep drinking to stave off the headaches and do try and get out for a walk or something as better for you and baby/ies.

Teresa - have heard from Dagny - she is steering clear of site at present as not up to it but also email and pc broken so not possible, She sent thro' the most lovely of pressies and a heart wrenching letter which arrived at the weekend bless her. she sends her love to all and gets updates from Squew who she has met up with a couple of times. She will be back and I know we all wish her the best and for her dreams to come true as she is such a special person.

As for the rest of you keep me filled in on all the news and what shopping you are up to and any Tracey advice I can give
Love to you all
T, E and A
xxx

[caz1]

HI all!!
Hi tracey - cant get over how sorted you sound!! So pleased that the girls are starting to sleep more -that must be very nice!!

Cold no only still here but actually worse and have basically been in bed for 2 days and done very little for the 3 days before that - feel utterly useless - done NOTHING for about 5 days! Problem is you can't really take anything can you - my doctor said parcetamol and Lemsip are fine - so I'll stick to that and lots on honey and lemon. VERY dull!!

Anyway -apart from feeling sorry for myself - no other news - kicking still very random - go lots yesterday had none today really. Just have to hope that all normal I guess?!

Gem - I keep stressing my DH to do nursery as well - and he also keeps saying that theres loads of time - well its doesn't feel like it to me!!!!
Was going to go shopping with my Mum tomorrow for furniture but not sure I'll be fully up and running - so may have to delay til next week - BOOOOOO!

Um - got no other news really .....is anyone else out there ADDICTED to baby books, magazines and TV programmes! I SOOOO am! What a saddo! Favourites are Junior Pregnancy and Baby and on TV I like Baby whisperer (Although can't get on with her book at all) and Maternity Ward!! Hee hee!!.......think its DEFINATELY time to get back to work!!

By the way - what is everyone planning to do after having baby? Is anyone thinking of packing work in?? I am very split.....I kind of think we've tried so hard for this that all I'll want to do is stay home - the other half just has NO idea what to expect and I've NEVER not worked so it might be too weird? Especially losing your financial independence??
Anyway - speak soon?!!

Cazx

[gem]

Just popping on to say I hope you are all having a good weekend.
We will have to start a 3rd tri tread next week
Caz I 'm leaving week on 3rd dec when I will be 35weeks I'm having 26weeks off so will be going back 6th June,dh will have the baby every afternoon as he can finish at 12.30 Mum will have it on her days off which are mondays and fridays and We've booked it into a local nursery which we went to look around it is a non-profit nusery and dont charge you to keep the place open in school holidays if you work at a school which I do so its really handy as I would have to pay for its place every holiday and including the 6 weeks summer hoilday it would work out expensive,also this nursery charges per hour which is very reasonable so we are sorted.
Well I'l catch up with everyone later
Love Gemxxxxx
26weeks 3 days

[caz1]

HI there
Still can't decide when to start maternity -I think you have to give 3 weeks notice?? Have got really relaxed boss so I guess I'll just play it by ear. But its not far away is it.....GULP!!!!!!!!!!!Anyway no news - cold a bit betting - THANKS GOODNESS - SO boring!! And very annoying not being able to take any mega cold cures!

Was going to go on hospital tour today to see where its all gonna happen....but they are too full - so I guess we'll just have to wait in suspense for another week or so! Not sure I mind that much actually - I'm slightly in denial about the actual pushing it out bit?!

Anyway thats all for now!
Cazxx

[Fiona L]

Hello ladies.

Well it's been a while since I posted here but I am glad all is well with you all and I'm not alone in sleeping badly.

Have had a really crap time since August and only now feel I can talk about it. I went for a scan in August at nearly 17 weeks as my placenta was thin at the 12 weeks scan and CVS. The ultrasonographer said she had to get the consultant in to look at something on the scan. It turned out that the baby's head was too big which is an early indication of hydracephalus, fluid on the brain which can lead to brain damage. They couldn't tell for sure and asked me to come back in 2 weeks.

I was completely hysterical, particularly as I had gone on my own as we had DP's kids and mine (4 in total) and he had stayed at home to look after them. The hospital is an hour away from home so I had to drive back down the M40 in the pouring rain sobbing.

I'm afraid I completely fell apart after that and spent most of the next 2 weeks in bed crying so DP had to look after the kids on his own, pluy cook, clean, wash etc. I also had real problems being with his children as they reminded me of all the problems with our baby.

We had another scan after the 2 weeks when the consultant said that the ventricles in the baby's head had enlarged but they couldn't tell us is she would be brain damaged or not.

We struggled on for another 2 weeks not sleeping, crying and very depressed and then had another scan when they said the same thing. During this time we discussed both having a termination (when I would get very upset) and dealing with a handicapped child and we argued a lot as we were both tired, emotional and oftern irrational.

Our respective mothers both put a bit of pressure on us to terminate the pregnancy and to think of our other children. I'm sure they meant well but.....

We then went back to the Fetal Medicine Centre in London where I had my nuchal scan and CVS. They scanned me again and then sent us off to Kings College Hospital where we had to wait 3 hours to see Prof Nikoleides. We left home at 9.30am that day and got back at midnight!
He said pretty much the same thing but again couldn't tell us if the baby would be brain damaged or, if so, by how much. Like all the other medics, he wouln't advise us what to do, just said we had to make a decision.

Making a decision was the hardest bit. I coldn't see how we could cope either way and I hardly slept. It also upset my children who would see me in tears a lot. I couln't speak to anyone but DP, my mother and a couple of close friends. Everyone else I avoided.

We booked another scan for last week and agreed we would have made a decision by then. The week before the scan DP was in Switzerland for a night (where his kids live) and I couldn't sleep (again!). During the night I decided to keep the baby and deal with the consequences. I decided to trust my instincts which tell me it will be ok and stick with it. DP was very supportive and having made a decision life improved.

We went to see a chilren's brain surgeon last week who has incredibly positive. He looked at the scan photos and reports and said that if it had been very bad the consultant and Prof Nik would have strongly advised us to terminate. He didn't think it was too bad and talked through all the things he could do if necessary. He also said that you would not be able to tell the children he deals with who have hydrocephalus.

We felt so much better and are now just trying to get on and enjoy the pregnancy. The baby, a girl, is moving all the time and I feel sure whe have made the right decision. I couldn't have lived with myself if I had terminated a healthy baby.

Obviously, we haven't bought anything but I am determined to try and be as normal as possible now and GO SHOPPING!!

My EDD is 19th January but I am having another section so she will be born on or around my birthday of 6 January. I think someone else has an EDD then.

Sorry to have gone on and on, but it's a bit of a relief to be able to write it all down without crying. I too have a terrible cold which came on last Friday and is not helping on the sleep front so I feel and look terrible!!!!

Anyway, catch up again soon.

Love Fiona

[Fiona L]

Hello ladies.

Well it's been a while since I posted here but I am glad all is well with you all and I'm not alone in sleeping badly.

Have had a really crap time since August and only now feel I can talk about it. I went for a scan in August at nearly 17 weeks as my placenta was thin at the 12 weeks scan and CVS. The ultrasonographer said she had to get the consultant in to look at something on the scan. It turned out that the baby's head was too big which is an early indication of hydracephalus, fluid on the brain which can lead to brain damage. They couldn't tell for sure and asked me to come back in 2 weeks.

I was completely hysterical, particularly as I had gone on my own as we had DP's kids and mine (4 in total) and he had stayed at home to look after them. The hospital is an hour away from home so I had to drive back down the M40 in the pouring rain sobbing.

I'm afraid I completely fell apart after that and spent most of the next 2 weeks in bed crying so DP had to look after the kids on his own, pluy cook, clean, wash etc. I also had real problems being with his children as they reminded me of all the problems with our baby.

We had another scan after the 2 weeks when the consultant said that the ventricles in the baby's head had enlarged but they couldn't tell us is she would be brain damaged or not.

We struggled on for another 2 weeks not sleeping, crying and very depressed and then had another scan when they said the same thing. During this time we discussed both having a termination (when I would get very upset) and dealing with a handicapped child and we argued a lot as we were both tired, emotional and oftern irrational.

Our respective mothers both put a bit of pressure on us to terminate the pregnancy and to think of our other children. I'm sure they meant well but.....

We then went back to the Fetal Medicine Centre in London where I had my nuchal scan and CVS. They scanned me again and then sent us off to Kings College Hospital where we had to wait 3 hours to see Prof Nikoleides. We left home at 9.30am that day and got back at midnight!
He said pretty much the same thing but again couldn't tell us if the baby would be brain damaged or, if so, by how much. Like all the other medics, he wouln't advise us what to do, just said we had to make a decision.

Making a decision was the hardest bit. I coldn't see how we could cope either way and I hardly slept. It also upset my children who would see me in tears a lot. I couln't speak to anyone but DP, my mother and a couple of close friends. Everyone else I avoided.

We booked another scan for last week and agreed we would have made a decision by then. The week before the scan DP was in Switzerland for a night (where his kids live) and I couldn't sleep (again!). During the night I decided to keep the baby and deal with the consequences. I decided to trust my instincts which tell me it will be ok and stick with it. DP was very supportive and having made a decision life improved.

We went to see a chilren's brain surgeon last week who has incredibly positive. He looked at the scan photos and reports and said that if it had been very bad the consultant and Prof Nik would have strongly advised us to terminate. He didn't think it was too bad and talked through all the things he could do if necessary. He also said that you would not be able to tell the children he deals with who have hydrocephalus.

We felt so much better and are now just trying to get on and enjoy the pregnancy. The baby, a girl, is moving all the time and I feel sure whe have made the right decision. I couldn't have lived with myself if I had terminated a healthy baby.

Obviously, we haven't bought anything but I am determined to try and be as normal as possible now and GO SHOPPING!!

My EDD is 19th January but I am having another section so she will be born on or around my birthday of 6 January. I think someone else has an EDD then.

Sorry to have gone on and on, but it's a bit of a relief to be able to write it all down without crying. I too have a terrible cold which came on last Friday and is not helping on the sleep front so I feel and look terrible!!!!

Anyway, catch up again soon.

Love Fiona

[Fiona L]

Sorry it's come up twice, you can tell I am out of posting practice.

[gem]

Fiona
I'm so sorry you and your dp had to go through hell wish we could have been there to help you through it.
I'm happy to read that they are being positive about your baby girland you now feel up to post and get shopping,Hoep your cold gets better and you are able to sleep easier now.
Take care and keep in touch
My due date is 5th Jan so we are pretty close
Love gemxxxxx
26weeks 5days

[Shellie]

Fiona,

I am very sorry to hear what you have been through. We are always here with a good ear if you need to chat. I am glad you have made a decision and getting on with your pregnancy. Stay positive so you send you're little baby girl good vibes. I am glad your DP has been supportive. You had some encouraging advice from the specialist so hang on to it.

Enjoy shopping!

Shellie

[Tracey S]

Fiona

Thank you for sharing with us - you are so brave and you have my admiration. I feel at a loss as to what to say as I can't imagine what place you are in with this sort of issue but for what its worth feel you have done the right thing. I am sure she will be a constant source of immense joy to you both and only hope that she is not badly brain damaged. She will and am sure already does feel very loved and she is a very special baby with very special parents.

Get shopping and sending you all our love
Tracey, Emily and Alice
xxx

[TERESAWANTBABY]

Hello ladies...
Hope your all doing fine ! I am doing pretty good.. WELL.. Guess what?? We heard our babys HB on wednesday and it was 160bpm !! We are soooo happy .. I was a nervous reck !! But I must say that it was music to my ears !! We were on Cloud 9 !!!

Anyway I better get working I am already training someone for my maternity leave ...

Talk to you all soon !

-Teresa
16weeks 4days PG!!

[bina]

Hi everyone,
Fiona - so sorry to hear about your heartache and the most difficult decision you have had to make; so pleased to read you seem to be coping incredibly well with it and can look ahead now! We're always here to lend a helping ear, of course! Let us know how things progress - your children's surgeon sounds really up-to-speed so looks like you're in good hands! We all keep our fingers crossed for you! We're also having a girl, due on 6th January (your b'day?)!

Well, back from hols in France and although relaxed, now feeling really pressurised to get ready for the baby. We have done nothing (except buy a cot and moses basket), and - like most of yours it seems - DH thinks there's still heaps of time. When I pointed out to him that I will only be working for another 8 weeks it might have hit home a little, so I'm taking things into my own hands now, shifting things around in her room, buying paint etc - that'll make him feel to guilty he'll have to help (hopefully!).
Anyway, kicking is going mad, really enjoy every moment of it. Only thing is the insomnia, can't remember the last time I slept through the night and that's BEFORE the baby arrives! Oh well, will prepare me I suppose.

So can we start our THIRD trimester thread now? If so, let's go for it - isn't it amazing we've come this far? When Tracey first said time will fly I secretly felt it was creeping, because I wasn't showing, scans seems miles ahead in the future, and now: it's all happening! Fantastic!

So keep your spirits up everyone! Happy Sunday!
Love,
bina

27 weeks, 3 days

[Fiona L]

Despite the resolution to do some serious shopping, I still haven't bought anything! A friend who is expecting a baby at the same time bought me one of those towels with a hood and ears on it but that's it. There is a pram shop that has been recommended to us as it is really good value but it's 40 minutes away and we haven't got there yet.

What has everyone else bought?

Love Fiona