BFP Due date September / October 2018

[hazyshade]

Evening ladies.

Can I get a refresher from everyone how far along you are? I'm finding it hard to keep track xx

Tarapt, lovely to hear your little one is making their presence known. Foes it disturb your sleep much?

Madame G, I'm with you. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed on where to start with buying stuff.
We're fortunate that 2 close people have kept some of their baby bits back for us. We've got a moses basket, bath seat, and both a manual and electronic breast pump, plus a few other bits. So will need to look at pram, car seat, and bouncer seat thingy. I hadn't thought about bottles/steraliser where I'm planning to breast feed. Do people still buy these as backup?
I'm glad your Panda is doing okay, after going quiet on you.

Neniel, how are you holding up with DH away? Are you able to speak with him via phone/online?
How brilliant you felt your first kick! That's so exciting!! And wonderful news about your scan x
Last night laying on the sofa I think I could feel Jellybean, but wasn't sure. I'm hoping the proper kicks will be any day now 🤞

Expatmum, your DD is super cute using the high chair for her doll. What a great way for her to start to be interested by it all.

AFM, I am thankfully feeling much better, and was back at work on Tues. I had been out for a friend's birthday and ordered cod. There had been a couple of other people at nearby tables, plus one lady on our table that had sent their food back. I had thought mine was ok, and had been careful to check the temp was consistent. I wish I'd sent mine back too now on a 'just in case' basis 🤔
I listened to heartbeat which gave me some reassurance, and rested a lot.
I saw my friend and her little girl this week. She is the most adorable, cheeky and cute little lady. She asked if she could feel my bump, then asked if she could kiss it "because that will make it move". 😍 sadly it didn't, but I've promised I'll visit her when it does. She's such a sweetheart!
I'm very glad DH came home on Thurs night. I'm now feeling like we're needing to crack on and get things done. I want us to buy another car- one with back doors, but I find the whole searching such a laborious task. And we've not even talked budgets yet. DH is part way through doing our bathroom, then starting on what will be the nursery (Which I have to declutter 🤦‍♀️)  fun fun fun!!

[FertilityFriends]

[MadameG]

Hazy what a cutie your friend has hopefully you’ll start being able to feel proper movement soon, is your placenta at the the front? Did you let the restaurant know about your food poisoning? That’s really bad that so many people were sending food back!

Re breast pumps and bottles, I bought one primarily so that DH can feed the baby too but also because I know quite a few ladies that struggled with feeding but did manage to pump. I think my hospital’s advice is to have a small amount of formula on standby just in case, which I think you can get in premade bottles.

For car seats, I knew that I wanted a 360 one that twists to the side, as my hips won’t tolerate lifting a chunky baby and leaning into the car at the same time. This massively narrowed down the options - result!

Expatmum how did your appointment go? Is your thyroid more stable? Xxx

[expatmum2]

I think it was Luna who was good at keeping track of where we all were!  So yes, a good idea to recap:

Expatmum: currently at 22 weeks, Team blue, singleton, due date: 10/10/2018 (although I've since worked it out to 11/10/2018 and my midwife reckons 18/10/2018 now!).

Thyroid is a bit all over the show, MmeG!  She said it will be for months with hormones, breastfeeding, etc, so in fact normal wisdom goes out the window with thyroid medication in pregnancy and she said to keep taking the dose I'm taking even if it might be over-producing now but the baby's thyroid is only independently functioning at 6 months, so I need to allow for that.  They'll reassess everything properly in February 2019 when hormones aren't ruling my body so much :-)

Those 360 car seats didn't exist when I bought my car seat 16 years ago, but I love them and think we'll get one for the other car rather than keep swapping the seat depending on who has the baby!

Hazy, glad you're feeling better and got company.  It's amazing the impetus a new baby gives to all those jobs that you've been putting off for ages - we're converting the loft too after two years of vaguely talking about it!

How is everyone else doing?

AFM baby has suddenly become very active.  I'm feeling him a lot during the day and particularly in the evening when I lie down on the couch and everyone has been able to feel his activity now too, so it feels like a shared family experience rather than just me on my own!

xxx

[Neniel]

Good morning

I hope you're all enjoying the good weather.

MadameG - Feeling the movement is definitely exciting and gives so much reassurance. It becomes more consistant by the day now and I start to spot patterns. I was meant to tidy and clean the house at the weekend, but the weather was too nice, so I couldn't be bothered. I am watching "One born every Minute" at the moment. I get out of breath really easily now, especially going up the stairs.

expatmum - It's been ok DH being away. He sends me messages regularly and we talk briefly every day. He bought clothes for me and the babies in India. That's so cute your daughter using the highchair for her doll

hazyshade - I am exactly 21 weeks today. It's not been too bad. At the weekend a couple we often go out with asked me if I wanted to do something, so we went for a stroll in a park near me and then sat outsid at an Italian restaurant enjoying the food and the sun. DH send messages every day and we briefly talk on the phone. Not long now until he is back. Yesterday about lunchtime it felt like the 2 were doing summersaults in my tummy, funny feeling.
Good to hear you're feeling better. Shocking that so many people had to send their food back. Sounda like you still have a lot to do before baby arrives.


AFM, I am really enjoying the nice weather. Also went to Lidl yesterday, as they had a baby event. By far not as much choice as Aldi, but still good. I bought a pregnancy support/nursing pillow for £10 and it makes sleeping and sitting so much more comfortable. I also bought a couple of maternity tops and a maternity tunic. I may actually go back today and see if they have more colours of the tunic, as it's great, lightweight and really comfortable.
I can't wait for DH to be back on Saturday, I really miss him. He has seen a job in Germany advertised amd the hiring manager is someone he worked with previously in his current company. He's conatacted him about the job, as it is pretty much exactly the same he is doing now, just with less to no travelling. The job description reads like it was written for him. He has an interview on 25/06 when we are in Germany for my niece's christening. We want to go back to Germany  as we don't like the insecurity Brexit is causing. At the moment with me being pregnant and the twins' birth not so far away I just don't know how we would do it. I guess we'd work something out if we have to.

[Neniel]

I thought I put up an updated list:

Who we are - List updated as of 11th June
Name           EDD                 Team                       Location                        Currently
tarapt           4th September      TBC                     South Manchester
ClaudiaH           5th September      Green                     London
Luna                   18th September      Pink                     London-ish (North)
JessicaJones   5th October      Pink                     South West
Rosy678           9th October      Green                     n/a
Expatmum           10th October      Blue                     Strasbourg                    22 weeks
Sunnygirl           13th October      TBC - Guess: boy     London
MadameG           13th October      Green - Guess: girl     South West
hazyshade           19th October      Green                     South London
Neniel           22nd October      Pink+Blue             West Midlands               21 weeks
loopylulu888   31st October      Green                     n/a



*will try to update on as regular a basis as I can!


If everyone remind me again if they are having a girl or a boy and how far along they are I'll add that to the list.

Do we leave the ones that haven't written anything for a while on the list?

[Neniel]

I don't know how to get the table nice looking though, as Luna did 

[hazyshade]

Just a quick one from me.
I've just found out there is such a thing as a sling library- you can try different ones before buying.
I've had a quick look online, there is one link via NCT, and another for South London Sling company.
Thought I'd share in case others find it helpful too.

AFM, I have my 20 week scan tomorrow morning. I can't wait! I've felt much more little popcorn-type movements from Jellybean, and it feels like it is getting stronger 😊

[tarapt]

Hello everyone, sorry for the absence, work is busy and I'm feeling so tired at the moment.  Hopefully I won't miss anyone. 

First things first, thanks neniel for updating the table.  I'm team blue and 28 weeks today.

Hazy,  good luck tomorrow at your scan.  Popcorn is a good way of describing the movement.  Baby will soon be making your tummy move with kicks.  Glad you are feeling better after your food poisoning as MadameG said did you contact the restaurant?

Neniel I meant to take a look in Lidl and forgot all about it but they looked like they had some nice stuff.  It will soon be Saturday and dh will be back.  The job sounds good.  Everything will work itself out if you do move back to Germany.  So pleased your 20 week scan went well.

Expatmum I don't think we can rely on our bodies to behave now we are pregnant.  The main thing is that the baby is well.  Hope it's not affecting you too much either.  My high chair is in the box still.  So cute dad is using it for a doll.  I bet she can't wait for baby brother to arrive.

MadameG I've been looking at the nuby one as it takes the normal bottles as well as the wide neck ones.  Lovely that you are feeling more kicks.  Anything that involves bending down seems to be getting harder by the day.

Afm a bit of a rollercoaster week.  Had my 28 week growth scan last week and baby is doing a bit too well and is measuring over the 90th percentile.  To top my appointment off there was glucose in my urine again so got booked in for a glucose tolerance test on Friday.  They take blood, give you a sugary drink and then take blood again after 2 hours.  So got a call yesterday and my levels were elevated and I've spent the afternoon today taking about diet with one of the specialist midwivesas I've got gestational diabetes .  I'm hoping by restricting my carbs I can get my insulin under control so I've got to keep a food diary and test my blood 4 x a day.  TBH I'm a bit upset about it all but I'm not too sure what/if I could have done to prevent it.  I'm now getting even more hospital appointments as I've been transferred to the diabetes clinic.

[MadameG]

Tarapt sorry to hear about the GD diagnosis, I’m sure you didn’t do anything to cause it  I’ve been following suggestions from gestationaldiabetesuk as a preventative and their advice seems very sensible. Apparently they have an active social media group as well if you look on their website. Fingers crossed you’ll get your levels under control. Glad that baby is doing really well though, are the growth scans shorter versions of the 20 week one? xxx

Hazyshade good luck today and enjoy seeing your little one on the screen. The detail is amazing! Thanks for the sling library idea. We bought an ergobaby carrier at the show as it doesn’t put any stress on your back, it’s all supported by your core. We tried a few out there and there is definitely a big difference between them all! xxx

Neneil thanks for the table, could you update my guess to a boy please? Oh and thanks for the Lidl reminder too, I’d been meaning to pop in. Only a few more sleeps till your DH is back I’ve also been watching one born (and doing a fair amount of blubbing!). That’s exciting about the prospect of moving back, good luck for his interview. It’ll be chaos but will work out I’m sure. The brexit dilemma is really pants, we need to make sure Panda gets their French passport ASAP before anything else changes, it’ll just be British me stuck in lines at airports!  xxx

Expatmum at least your thyroid is being monitored, even if it is a bit haywire! Shows how hard our bodies have to work. You must be very busy with the loft conversion, is it going smoothly? So lovely that your family are enjoying bump time too xxxx

Afm DH is away and I realised how much he does for me! My bump was really sore last night after standing up cooking/tidying away etc. My ankles looked a bit swollen too, I definitely need my rest. More excitingly the kicks have now got big enough to make my bump move! Looks like little lumps rising out of the skin for a moment love it 😍 xxxxxx

[tarapt]

Madameg there is a really good face book group for gd.  It seems that the advice given by the nhs might not always be the best. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.  Yes growth scans give baby the once over and then measure the thigh, abdomen and head.  From this they plot the size on a chart and estimate the weight.

Is dh back and looking after you now?  I’m finding it difficult standing for too long especially doing food preparation.  With the gd I’m having to do even more now.  Dh will cook,  but then I end up having to clean up his mess.

A night off tomorrow as I’m buying dinner for Father’s Day.  Is anyone else going out?

Afm day 4 of keeping a food diary and I don’t think I can tolerate bread.  Get high readings  after toast and we had fajitas last night and it must have been the wrap that increased my levels.  I’ve lost a couple of pounds not sure I’m supposed to though.

We went for a 4d Scan today and it was amazing.  Only got one good picture though as baby Decided to do a somersault and then proceeded to fall asleep with his arms over his face so we are back next week to try again.  hopefully he isn’t as camera shy.  There was A few tears when we saw his face in 3D though.  They measured baby and he was smaller than the weight estimated at my growth scan.

Hope everyone is doing ok.