Looking for 1st trimester buddies

[Wendy]

Hiya everyone, wow loads of twins - fantastic and that means even though some of us are a bit ahead in time, we'll all be due within a few weeks of each other. In fact theres so many people here now, perhaps we should have a roll call so I can jot down whos where etc etc....

Elizabeth, oh Gina Gina !! Shes my goddess - HOWEVER her book is really badly written and laid out and and full of inconsistences !! Her later books are better. we took it basically as meaning the baby has its own room from day 1. We had a moses basket, so for the first 4wks he slept in our room in the basket. This was because we were staying in the uk with my parents, so we didn't have another room for him to go in, but I couldn't of beared to be sleeping without him anyway. When we returned to our home in france we tried putting the basket in our room for night time and had him sleeping in his big cot for naps in his own room however - hubby loves to watch tv in bed, so it wasn't practical and basically I moved into Benjamins room with him next to me in his basket for the first 3mths then I moved him into his cot - but I continued to sleep in his room - I just couldn't leave him !!! that was until about 4 - 5 mths, then I gradually weaned myself away and returned to hubbys side around about the time we dropped the 11pm feed and I was slightly less worried about him stopping breathing !!

SO - to cut a long story short - get a moses basket. The big cot just seems sooooo big when they are sooooo tiny, whereas the basket is perfect and cocooning and they look so cute. Some people say its a waste of money as they are only in it for a few months, but mine was great for putting his cuddly toys in and to sit him in during the day after hed finished sleeping in it and before he could support himself properly sitting I then lent it to my sister in law and now I'll be getting it out again for this next baby - so it certainly has been a MUST buy for me and also gets over the problem of 'two cots'.

I'm glad you're going for the Gina way - It really does work. A lot of the stuff like ' you will eat toast and tea at 08.03 and 26 seconds.....' you can ignore but the feeding and sleeping routine really does work. I know all babies are different, Benjamin fell into the routine really easily, other babies may be harder work but in the long run its an excellent routine that sets up good practices and stops you falling into all those traps and ending up on one of those 'babies from hell ' programmes.

I'd definately recommend the 'expressing' system too - its incredible that she says 'they will have a growth spurt and demand more food' and they do - its like clockwork and the expressing business helps with that extra demand without having a screaming baby. Plus its really handy having a bottle of expressed milk handy for when you are out and about and its inconvenient to get your boobys out. I breast fed Benjamin for 8mths (until he got teeth !!) but I regularly used a bottle - but it was always breast milk. Some people make out having a new baby is a nightmare of sleepless nights - it doesn't have to be. I only ever had to feed Benjamin once in the night until 6wks and then that was it, the 10pm/11pm feed only lasts till about 5mths then baby sleeps 7pm till 7am everyday and goes to sleep on their own in seconds - its fantastic.

I'd better stop there - I sound like a real nutter

Glad everyones well and bumps are progressing nicely - I'll be officially second trimester at the end of the week - whippee !!!

If you want to email me privately about ginas methods etc feel free then I won't have to bore everyone else about it !!! my email is chrisblakeman@hotmail.com


Loads of lOVE wendy xxxxx

[kappy]

Wow! Things have changed on here while I was gone. A big congrats to Caroline and Sue on the twins announcements! What great news! You both must be so excited! It's wonderful to see the little heart beating away (2 hearts =), and it only gets more exciting with each scan.

Anne ... Hope you're feeling well these days. The exhaustion is overwhelming at times but remember that it's normal and soon passes. Good luck on your scan Friday! You'll be amazed at how quickly the baby grows.

Edi ... I think you're out of the country this week? Hoping all is well with you and the baby.

Wendy ... I'm ordering the Gina Ford book today. I've been wanting to for some time now, but I needed to finish the stack of books I have on my coffee table first. 15 hours on a plane helped me catch up on my reading =) Glad to hear that so many of her recommendations worked well for you with little Benjamin. I have a friend that swears by her book.

Our trip to Lanai was great. It's a beautiful island, and the people are just so friendly. The in-laws are beyond excited about the baby, so it was fun for them to actually see me. It was nice to get home though (always is no matter where you travel). I can't believe I'll be 15 weeks tomorrow! Yippeee!

Question for you guys ... anyone experiencing lower abdominal side pains that sort of comes and goes? Almost in the groin area? I called my doctor. He seems to think it's the ligaments stretching. I have a tilted uterus, so he said they stretch even more when the uterus has to right itself. It's a bit uncomfortable at times. It acted up on my flight home making it a pretty miserable ride. I'm sure sitting in one position for such a long time didn't help. I did get up and walk around a bit (for circulation), but I think it wasn't long enough to stop the spasms. Just curious if anyone else has felt this too. The pain isn't horrible, it's just enough to make you worry sometimes.

Well, I'm off to run some errands and straighten up the house. Hope you're all feeling well and having a good week!

Hugs,
Kelly

[Wendy]

Hello everyone and great to have you back kelly, glad you had a good holiday but as you say its always nice to be back especially when you have so much to plan and be excited about.
wrt ligament pain - I get it too. Usually when I move. Its differnet this time to last time though, it feels like i've strained a muscle in my groin and hurts when I move in certain ways I also have lower back pain and can harly walk if I sit or lie in one position too long. Last time it was more around the sides of my uterus that I got that muscle strain feeling, i also have a tilted uterus but also my back was horrendous and I had to go to the dr to get it put back in position ! Later on in the pregnancy when theres alot of weight it felt like I had no muscles or bones at all down below, if my skin hadn't been there I would of fallen apart !! Oh the joys of pregnancy As you say the long plane trip won't of helped. I believe excercise is the best cure, walking and swimming which now spring is here in sw france I'll be doing at last !! 24c yesterday whipee !!
loads of love wendy
ps gina has a web site which might be worth joining when baby arrives for help working out her book www.comtentedbaby.com but it costs £40 to join, a bit excessive in my opinion, but everyone on the message board is a gina fan and can give good advice.

[kimbo]

hi everyone,

im a bit nervous posting on this side so early - i only tested+ve on monday so im only 4 weeks 6 days pg but im getting very paranoid and wondered if anyone can reassure me?
I had really sore boobs and today they seem to have gone although veins are still there! I have also been feeling really bloated and cant stand anything tight on my stomach. i have no other symptoms but today have an upset stomach and cramping, dont know if its pg related of not!
my clinic wont do blood test and will only scan at 7weeks ( 4th April ) so im just looking for a bit of reassurance i guess before i get too neurotic !

I thought the 2ww was bad enough but this is worse im paranoid about m/c and eptopic and wonder if i beg the clinic if they will scan early.

thanks for listening i feel better just getting it off my chest

love kim

[SQUEW]

Hi Kim

I know how you feel, and believe me I am still worrying! The 2nd 2ww is hard. I find the boobs come and go, and some days it is just tender nipples more than any real pain. I had really bad indigestion to start with which made me bloated and windy and then that went, and have only had a few waves of nausea. The only really noticable thing is the constant tiredness and a white discharge(sorry...tmi!!). I guess everyone is different. But try not to worry, easier said than done!! Everything will be fine and your scan will soon be here to reassure you.
Kelly, is see you are just back from what sounds like a lovely holiday, do you mind me asking how many weeks you were when you went? We have a holiday to Antigua booked when I will be just over 14wks, I asked both my GP and Consultant and they have both said to still go as long as I dont have any probs before hand, so at the mo am hoping we can still go. Were you at all worried about the flight etc?
How are you feeling Caroline? Do you have any m/s? I am worrying as women expecting twins are supposed to suffer more?!
Good luck for your second scan tomorrow Anne, mine is 23rd and am petrified.
Hi to Edi and Wendy, its lovely here today Wendy, but only about 18c, wish we had the 24c!!!
Take care all
Sue
xxxxxxx

[Wendy]

Hiya, CONGRATULATIONS KIM on your positive - fantastic - YOU ARE PREGNANT !!! so enjoy it - although thats really easy to say when you are past all the initial worrying. It sounds like your clinics a bit mean not giving you a blood test . Most don't scan until theres a chance of getting a heart beat - around 7-8wks, but I had 3 blood tests, 1 a week, which was a great help knowing the hcg levels were going up. I'd push for a blood test at least. Anyway, you are pregnant and fully deserve to be posting here and this is what its all about - being able to talk and discuss your symptoms and worries with others in the same situation to help you get through those first few weeks. Bloatedness and sore boobs etc come and go and you are unlikely to get any really major obvious things like m/s for a week or two at least (I got nothing till 8wks)
ttfn love wendy xxx

[kappy]

Hi all!
Welcome Kim and Congrats on your BFP!!! This is definitely the place to post with all your worries (and believe me we've all had them!). I also find it strange that your clinic won't do a simple blood test. I (like Wendy) had at least 3 early on. I was actually bleeding (just like a period) when I found out I was +. My clinic thought I might miscarry, so they had me come in twice in one week to make sure my levels were rising. I would definitely recommend pestering them for a blood test. As for the symptoms, I also found that the breast tenderness would come and go. One thing that was persistent was the tiredness. I do understand about worrying regarding lack of symptoms. I never once felt any morning sickness, and in many ways that made me worry (I'm sure Wendy and Edi remember me complaining =). Seems that every person is different and has different symptoms thru their pregnancy.

Hi Sue ... yes it was a lovely vacation, but I was truly happy to get home. I was just starting my 13 week when we left, so I was there thru week 13 and 14. I checked with my doctor first and he said traveling was fine. I think they only worry if you're having problems or if you're in your third trimester. He did tell me to make sure to get up and walk around on the plane ride (especially since it was a long one). Long flights over-seas are typically at a higher altitude, so there's even less oxygen. Walking around and doing ankle rotations (while seated) keeps the circulation going for you and your baby. That's about it! Oh, and drinking lots of water (but that's a given). Sounds like you have a great vacation to look forward to. Believe me ... you will be ready for one by then. All the worrying that comes with the first trimester can be really stressful. I couldn't wait to get on the plane.

Well ... gotta go and make some dinner.
Love ya,
Kelly

[Edi]

Caroline, Anne and Sue - Hope you're taking good care of yourselves.

Kim - Congratulations and welcome, it's wornderful to see our little group growing.
Like you my clinic doesn't do blood tests and I also had to wait weeks before they would scan me - six weeks in my case. Also I had no real symptoms until about 6 weeks. I was completely paranoid and had DH driven demented. Totally fed up with me, one day he said, "Look the only thing you have to worry about is how we will decide who gets the one ticket to watch junior compete in the Olympics." Well he made me laugh which was probably the first time I had cracked a smile in weeks. Easier said than done I know but try and think positive thoughts visualising your little mite growing inside you.
Wendy great idea to do a roll call. I was beginning to think I was the elder lemon of the group but as you say in reality there are only a few weeks between all of us.
Put me down for September 1st.
Kelly great to have you back and to hear you had a good trip.
I get those lower abdominal pains too. I've only experienced that groin pain once but it was bloody uncomfortable.

On my flight from the UK to the States I spent more time at the back of the plane ankle circling etc than I did sitting in my seat. At times it felt like I was standing at the back of a bus rather than a plane!

I'm hoping to find some stylish maternity clothes in NYC this weekend and we're going to see Mamma Mia on Broadway on Saturday night.
Itsy Bitsy better be in dancing form

Love to All,

Edi

[kimbo]

Hi

thanks girls for your replys, makes me feel better im starting to relax a bit now

love kim

[SQUEW]

Hi Girls

I had my 9 week scan yesterday and it was AMAZING!!!!! Both twins were fine and measuring 9 wks 2 days. They have arms and legs and they were both dancing!!! I couldnt believe how much they were moving and the sonographer said they were at the afternoon salsa class! They looked like the Ally McBeal dancin baby!! We could see their little hearts beating away and also got a clear view of ones spine. I cannot believe how much they have changed in 3wks.
So then my clinic discharged me, that was so sad!! Dont get me wrong we wont miss the bills, but it has been a big part of my life for the past 2yrs and I am sad to leave?!? My consultant hugged us both and told me I was gonna get really fat and laughed!!
Its finally starting to feel real. I still cant believe I am not suffering with morning sickness etc, to be honest apart from overwhelming tiredness, tender boobs and not knowing what I fancy to eat, I dont feel that much different.
Hope everyone else is ok, where have Anne and Caroline gone??? They were due the same time as me but have not posted for ages, I hope they are both ok.
Kelly and Edi thanks for the advice re the holiday, we still are planning to go all being well. We can canx up to 4 days before dept and only loose £100, so are bearing that in mind just in case. I know what you mean though, these weeks are stressful and I hope I can start to relax once I am at the 12/13 wk mark. Did you both sunbathe? and if so, did you cover your stomach?!!
I have my 1st NHS scan on 11th April, is this a vaginal scan or one on your tummy? Also do they tell you the nuchal results straight away or do you have to wait?
Hope everyone is looking forward to a cracking easter.
Take care everyone.
Lots of love
Sue xxxxxx

[caroline m]

Sue - sorry I haven't been on the board. We moved out of our house 3 weeks ago for 6 months for building works & have been without a computer at home & no time at work really. Just hope the builders stick to their schedule or we will be in trouble - certainly won't be able to cope with twins in the tiny 1 bed flat we are currently living in!

I have now had another scan since knowing it was twins at 8 1/2 weeks ( what a relief that they were both still there) & have another at 10 1/2 weeks. Then the clinic want to do a 12 week one ( they say it will be very detailed at some special Fetal Unit - so dread to think how much that will be!)t plus I am now in the NHS system too so have one with them at about 12 1/2 weeks which I think must be the Neuchal Fold test too.

Do you know much about whether there are extra risks with amnios for twins? This is the next thing I am going to have to research.

Are you getting fat yet? I have a big tummy already - looks like I have had too many Easter eggs - don't know how long I will be able to hide it at work now!

I am finding the exhaustion very debilitating - had lots of afternoon naps over Easter so suffered today without being able to have a mid afternoon snooze!

Hope all the other 1st trimester buddies are ok.

Caroline x

[SQUEW]

Hi Caroline

Glad you are ok. Its sounds like you are having some major works on your house!! How exciting! Were you already having them or is this as a result of the twins?!
You must have either had or be having your 10 1/2 wk scan now? Its great to see them isnt it? I have my NHS one a week on Monday, this is the nuchal test aswell. I will probably start to panic again next week as I worry they will tell me something bad everytime I go!! As regard to the amnio... from what I have read there are no added risks as its twins, however worst case scenario that there is something wrong with one and not the other you then face the prospect of selective termination, which does carry an increased risk you may miscarry the other one too. I really dont think we would do amnio unless they thought that the babies had a problem which would enable them to only live for a short while. I think this is a very personal and hard decision to make, but I do remember someone on an earlier thread saying that the risk of amnio/miscarriage was a 1:100 but they had something like a 1:200 chance of downs, so she said that she wasnt going to have the amnio as that was a greater risk, which does make perfect sense! I am hoping that none of us have to face that anyway...think positive and all that!
I am still very tired, but I cant complain as I have had very little sickness. My boobs must have had a growth spurt or something yesterday as they were so sore I thought they would explode! They seem to have calmed down again today though. I bought some maternity bras, yuk!!!! Oh well I guess comfort is paramount now?! Yes My tummy has grown, I have put on 4lb but feel much fatter! I can still get my jeans etc on...just but they are so uncomfortable I am not wearing them for very long. I had a look at maternity clothes on Sat and depressed myself, I still found myself wondering into places like Warehouse, picking out things and then suddenly realising that I cant buy them!! My tummy seems to get bigger in the evening also?!
Let me know how your scan went, this thread is really quiet now?! I think all the others have gone off to the 2nd trimester.
Hope you are ok Kim and good luck for your scan on Monday.
Take Care
Luv Sue
xxxxxxx

[caroline m]

Hi Sue, glad you are ok.

Must say last night my tummy was enormous - even hubby said so. Feel gross already. I put on 1/2 stone with the treatment anyway as I used to go to the gym 3 morning s a week but haven't been able too since Dec as I had to go to the clinic most mornings & once I got a positive was too scared/ exhausted to do anything. Anyway it will be worth it - just worried about how huge I am going to be!

Think I will go and have a look at maternity clothes tomorrow as beginning to feel uncomfortable in work suits.

We were doing works to the house anyway - just now they are time critical!

I have my 10 1/2 week scan on Wed next week - so already starting to worry about that even though I know there is nothing I can do about it!

Looking forward to a restful weekend. Hope you have a good one too.

Caroline xx

[kappy]

Hi Sue and Caroline,
Glad to hear that your both doing well and that all four babies are growing as they should! It is quiet on here these days. I'm officially well into my 2nd trimester (17 weeks) and I know the same goes for Edi and Wendy. Not sure where they are ... where are you guys? I don't know if we should start a new 2nd trimester thread or pop onto the existing one. It's kind of sad to leave this thread since it's been going for quite some time now.

The scans all get more exciting as time goes on. My nuchal was so much fun. We got a great profile view of the baby ... little feet and hands. So CUTE! Whether or not to do an amnio was a big decision for us. I'll be 36 when I deliver, and because of that my odds of a Downs baby are slightly increased (1 in 230). When the results of my Nuchal came back 1 in 2060 we decided not to risk an amnio. I go for my detailed level 2 scan next week (this is the big 20 weeker, but they have me in at 18 weeks ... guess you can do it anywhere between 18 and 22 weeks). If anything comes up wrong then they will probably recommend an amnio, so we'll see. Hoping that's not the case.

I've found that getting bigger is exciting and depressing all at once. The bulk of the maternity clothes out there are just so unattractive. The only really cute ones cost a fortune, and that's just hard to justisfy. My belly really popped out over the last couple weeks. DH almost can't get over it. With twins you guys will be showing much eariler than us singletons. I remember Edi found a great website with really nice maternity wear. Can't remember the name off hand, but you can find it a few pages back.

Edi/ Wendy ... how are you two? Have you had your 20 week scans yet? Anyone know the sex of their baby? I can't wait to find out. DH and I are really hoping Baby P cooperates next week, since I don't think we could stand not knowing! We have girls and boys names narrowed down to 3 each. We both feel pretty good that we'll be able to pick one pretty quickly once we know the sex.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Spring is definitely right around the corner for us. I can't wait until it stays warm for good! Hoping that the snow we had this past week was the last of it!

Hugs!
Kelly

[Wendy]

Hi, sorry Kelly, i popped on here the other day for a quicky but didn't see you or edi, so didn't post. Have been really busy doing I don't know what and just havn't managed to get on. I am 17wks now and having my 4mth scan on friday 8th, can't wait to see junior, I'm getting quite big now but still havn't felt anthing and I thought I would of by now as I felt Benjamin at 19wks and they say you feel it earlier with the second as you know what its like, so really keen to get the scan so that we know all is still ok. Had the results of my triple blood test (which is automatic here in france over 35) I was convinced it would be worse than last time (which was 1in30 risk and ended up with an amnio) but couldn't believe it when he said 1 in 190. Dr still recommended an amnio as I'll be 38 in july and the high risk cut off is 1 in 250, so 190 is still considered bad; but we were so thrilled the risk was so much lower than with Ben (and he is fine of course) that we decided not to have the amnio. The risk of miscarrying a healthy baby at 1 in 200 was far to close for comfort and since I'm 2 yrs older than last time (and age plays a big part in the calculation) we actually reckoned that it was a pretty safe result combined with the nuchal being normal. I'm having my 5mth (22wk) scan at la rochelle though as a choice rather than the local hospital, just to make sure alls well health wise and make us more secure in our decision.
We are really looking forward to finding out the sex - hopefully on friday (a good guess at least) and finally being able to name baby. We've got Sophie for a girl as we chose that years ago, (with 'benjamin') but havn't worried about a boys name yet until we find out, as theres no point racking our brains for one if its a girl.
I was also thinking maybe we should start a new thread - perhaps by due date as then more people might join - i've not looked at the other threads but they are all quite long and have a wide range of pregnancy dates in them I expect. Its not that I don't enjoy the company of everyone and will happily recount my experiences for others who need the advice its just also really nice having a close group that are going through things at the same time too, I'm sure sue and caroline feel closer to each other than to us guys. I might start one.
ttfn love wendy xxx