Due August 2018

Morning all

How are you ladies doing?

@Reese, have you started the anxiety meds yet? Are they helping and how is hubby?
@Jay Bee, My hormones are under control for the most part hehe. How is it going with the cramps you had and the sleeping? I think I am due first (2nd July) but she will probably be born middle June (c-section)
@Chanti, how was your camp? JHope you enjoyed it and got lots of rest for that rainbow
@Cariem, how are you?

Sorry if i missed someone?

AFM: Just got off the phone with the labour department for my second UIF payment and the conversation went exactly as i thought it would. Originally when I went to apply for retrenchment UIF they said I should apply both for maternity and retrenchment. I told them that the baby will only come in June so how will I bring the birth certificate for my second payment? They said that it would be fine as this is a different case with the retrenchment. Well guess what, they are not treating it different. They are first paying out maternity and then retrenchment and no they can not give me the second payment until the baby is born. So guess who is without money for the next 2 - 3 months. I have a credit card but I have been working so hard to get it paid of and I'm nearly there but now I will have to start living off it. I just hate that I knew this will happen but I trusted them and now I am stuck.

Eliana is not moving much today which also doesn't help but I got out my Doppler and sounds like a nice fast heart beat going on in there, I didn't struggle to find it either but if she doesn't start moving soon I will just call my doc for some reassurance (she actually said very strictly no to a Doppler so I'll just keep that part quite). I have my next appointment on Monday so hopefully I can just stay calm for the weekend.

Lots of love to you all, thanks for letting me vent so much

@ Chanti, I guess if it hasen't moved at 20w then it won't really move enough by 32w? Thank you for sharing and gives hope that my placenta has loads of time to move up which I believe it will do. Enjoy the camping and have a wonderful relaxing time and hope you catch some sun.

@ Reece, how wonderful that each baby has their own kicks just like their own little personalities, beautiful. I had a front facing placenta with my first which lead to terrible back labour and she was born facing forward. Once again I have a front facing placenta and really hoping that I do not have the back labour again and that she will turn the normal way during birth...ouch.
It's good that you are both doing the nursery and maybe that time will help. Finances is always so stressful and consumes ones thoughts if you allow it.

AFM, I have cramps and sometimes such sharp pains that I have to sit down for a few seconds, right under my belly button. I also am not sleeping well as wake up every few hours to use the bathroom. Other than that we are looking to buy a bigger house as we only have 2 bedroom now and they are really small. So I will not be doing a nursery until we move and like our first baby sleeps in our room. Hubby also said that no more children after this as financially we are just unable... i was hoping for 3 children but time is also not on my side as I am turning 40 towards the end of the year.

@Reese - I am glad you are on some meds if that is what helps you. Better to sort it out now than deal with the rollercoaster of emotions and anxiety if it goes ignored. Well done mama

I can imagine the financial worries for hubby are quite big especially if things are looking a bit unsettled at his work. These men of ours really know how to bottle up the stress and really stress themselves out. Work definitely is hard to find these days and a job is such a valuable thing. I will say an extra little prayer for him tonight and that he has stability in his occupation. Listening to praise and worship music is really a nice way to connect with God and just be still. I have been invited to a moms prayer group/bible study which has been really lovely so far and has really grown my Faith and been a reminder that there are good people in the world and other Christ loving moms to lean on.

We bought an old slipstream caravan and it will be our first time taking it on a trip! Queen size bed and all inside so I'm hoping this means I won't have mattress dilemmas like when we use our tent! That can be seriously uncomfortable!

@Salemein, some days are better than others. Doc has put me back on my anxiety meds for a while to see if it will help. My anxiety attacks was triggered by my DD2 when I was pregnant with her. So guess it started again now. I also struggled with depression with her. It's such a horrible feeling.
Eliana is such a beautiful name and has a wonderful meaning. Wow, you are already 28 weeks? So happy everything is well with little Eliana. I love chubby babies...they are so adorable.

@Jay-Bee - thank you. I do really feel gigantic, but doc did say that I'm only going to get bigger from now on so I have to prepare myself. As long as they also chubby and healthy and NOT preemies, I'm happy. I agree with Chanti on the placenta position. Don't stress about it too much. There is still time. Up until last week I was so worried because I cannot feel Rebecca move at all because my placenta is in the front. But last night while sleeping, she showed me she was still here. Her movements are very soft whereas her sister, Mikayla is extremely busy and has no problem in kicking the breath out of me.
So I'm sure you will be fine.

@Chanti - Hubby is still not in a good place emotionally. But I think it also has to do with his job. The company he works for is in a bit of trouble and no one is sure how long it will last. Work is so scarce these days. We are seriously considering immigrating.
Like I said above, some days are better than others. We don't talk about the twins much and we are trying to find solutions to the finances etc. He is helping me with the nursery so I think he is trying to deal with it in his own way. It's going to take some time for both of us.
I listen to a lot of Praise and Worship songs these days and its the only way I can get through some days. I struggle to pray, because all I keep asking is why God is giving us 2? and why does it have to both be girls when we have been praying so long and hard for at least 1 boy. I try not to dwell on it too much otherwise the sadness and fear overwhelms me. But today is a good day and I'm taking it as it comes.

Enjoy your camping at the beach! Sounds so good. My camping days are on hold from now on. I am just too uncomfortable now and hubby is saying that he thinks the twins will be born end of May! I'm hoping he is wrong because it is way too early. I'm trying to keep them in until end June.

Hey ladies,

@carien - It sounds like you had a lovely easter! It really breaks my heart to hear of strained relationships with your moms, sending you and @Sparky some love to get through this and praying for repaired relationships. I had my 20 week scan a while ago, it was amazing! my 24 week one is this friday

@Reese - How are you holding up? Your latest post seems a bit happier Are you and hubby feeling a little more settled? Those are really beautiful names and have such nice meanings. I love looking at meanings to names before deciding if it can go on the list.

@Sparky - Yay for tomorrow being scan day! The 20 week scan has been my favourite so far! Loved seeing the detail and just watching baby. How is your blood pressure doing? I know we do have lower blood pressure in pregnancy and it gets worse as we progress. Take care of yourself mama xx

@Salemein - It sounds like you have your hands full there with your sister! It doesnt help that you have that strain on top of the retrenchment. You need to make sure your well being is priority at all times and your sister needs to be aware of that too. So if you need to let hubby deal with the tough stuff for you then so be it, but you and Eliana are the priority right now! It really frustrates me when people act useless about the most simple things. Your little one is such a cutie!!! So happy she is doing well Yay!!!

@Jay - My doc told me early on that my placenta was low but that its not a concern until 32 weeks as it can still move up until then. Then at my 20week scan the radiographer said my placenta is still partially covering my cervix (enough to cause c sec) but I musnt be concerned as it still has alot of time to move and is way too early to judge... So it baffles me when a doc says that they will decide at 20 weeks if its c sec due to placenta being low when it still has so much time to move as our uterus really starts to grow after that. My placenta has already moved alot since that first time when we spotted that it was so low, so I'm hoping it continues to move but won't fuss about it until 32 weeks when the doc makes his decision. I'm due 3 August Measuring 2 days ahead at every scan so could be a tad earlier if baby is on time!

AFM, I hope I covered everyone, I struggle to remember whats happening with everyone if I need to read a few posts... Oops!! Well AFM, been loving my growing (yet still tiny) bump and feeling baby move. I fall more and more in love everyday! Hubby and I are going camping at the beach from Thurs - Mon and really looking forward to that! I absolutely love camping and need to switch off for a bit. I think I will also try to catch that last tan before winter arrives! I have my 24 week scan on Friday, really looking forward to seeing baby again as it has grown so much. We have had very little to buy in terms of baby things as people have given us so much, its been an absolute blessing! I really am so excited about this little life growing inside of me!

Hi ladies

Sorry I have been so quiet but work has been really hectic and my 2 year old is keeping me on my toes and soo tired.
How is everyone?

@ Salemein, I remember you from the TTC forum and now you are 28 weeks already. What a cute little photo and a lovely name, I am finding it very difficult to find a name that we just know is the right one. How are the hormones and the preggy niggles?

@ Reece, I remember with my first and now I have a increased discharge and so long that it doesn't burn/itch/smell/bloody I am sure that it is fine. Rebecca is on our list of names for our little one . I am sure that you look beautiful and healthy and well done for carrying twins as it must be hectic.

AFM, almost 18w and was told at 16w that I have a low placenta and that it should grow higher with baby and if it has not at 20w then I will have to have a c-section as it will cover cervix. Really hoping that at 16w it was normal to be low and will grow and stretch with baby. I am also so tired and my lower back and area under navel is sore. I also have a huge bump definitely bigger than my first and no way of hiding it at all.

How time is flying... who's baby is due first? I am on the 13 Sept

Morning all

@Reese, you sound so much better today than last week, I'm glad about that and the names they are beautiful and the meanings , I feel a name meaning is very important, just gives that sense of belonging to me, that's why when we came across the name Eliana and saw it means God has answered we just knew that will be the name if we are having a girl, we actually never decided on a boy name, like we knew we are having a girl and her name was shown to us.

AFM, went for as check up yesterday at exactly 28 weeks and my doctor is very happy. we have a little fatty on her hands haha, in the pic you can see the fat/skin hang over her shoulder. She is still very shy about showing her face but I at least got to see her yawn and put her foot in her mouth. On Sunday we started having hiccups (so cute).

I am now seeing the doctor every 2 weeks so next scan will be on the 23rd of April at 30 weeks.

I hope all you ladies are doing great