This week has been a better one, and in fact yesterday was the first day in about three months that I have actually had the energy to get off the sofa without wanting to cry.
The baby is now the size of a lemon and I am still fairly sure it’s a boy. We have decided on names for both which happened a lot quicker than last time!
I have started suffering with really bad heartburn in the evenings, the tablets don’t seem to work and I can’t swallow Gaviscon without puking so if anyone has any natural cures then do let me know!
I haven’t been struggling with food as much this week and have been able to eat a lot more healthily than in the first few months. In fact I have actually been craving sweet potato. I’ve had it every night for the last three days!
There has been quite a few things on my mind this week surrounding a couple of important decisions that need making.
Firstly regarding the flu jab and secondly regarding where to have the baby.
I don’t want to go into the flu jab debate too much as it is a really personal decision and to be honest I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, you have to do what you feel comfortable with and for me I have decided not to have it.
I have been doing lots of reading this morning and someone made a point about how your body lowers it’s immune system for a reason when pregnant so taking something to stimulate it doesn’t seem like a very good idea, then I also found a study that contained statistics which aren’t mentioned in the NHS leaflets.
I also spoke to my midwife who said that a lot of women do only get mild symptoms and don’t suffer complications.
For me that made up my mind, there is a risk either way but I have decided not to intervene and to leave it down to nature to decide.
Just to clarify, this is just my decision, I totally accept why people would decide to have it and I would never judge anyone for it, I think it’s important to do what you feel comfortable with.
Yesterday I found out that pregnant women are now being offered the whooping cough jab to protect their babies before they are old enough to have it themselves. I am still undecided about this one as I do get really anxious when I have a tiny baby and it would worry me to think they could catch it. Now it looks like I will be reading into this for the next week…
My other difficult decision has been about what hospital to choose but I will save that for another day!
Congratulations and you are looking lovely! Regarding heartburns I had awful ones during my pregnancies and gaviscon would make me sick, so the only thing I found was Tum Tums (the fruity tablets). They work the treat for me and I had a packet everywhere I went. Have you tried those? If not give it a go, we never know.
As for your decisions on vaccines etc, they are yours and you are right to trust your instinct on any you make.
Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy
Thank you! I haven’t tried Tum Tums actually, I had the Sainsbury’s own ones which were rubbish! I will def buy some and give them a go! x
Jessica Amey recently posted..14 Weeks Pregnant
Ooh, the bump’s definitely getting bigger!
It’s awful. I live on Rennies & lots of water with ice & lemon, it seems to help 
xx
Having the same dilemma about flu & whooping cough jabs. Really not sure but E brings so many bugs home from nursery I’m thinking I may get them.
Sorry you’ve got the dreaded indigestion
Steph recently posted..Redefining dad
It has really popped out this week! I know, it’s such a tough decision about jabs, I literally have no idea what to do, I keep changing my mind. Apparently Australia were giving out the whooping cough jab to pregnant women but stopped it as it wasn’t even effective at preventing it in newborn babies. It all just seems to new and I hate that we don’t have long to decide xx
Jessica Amey recently posted..14 Weeks Pregnant
Been following you on Twitter for a while, first time blog comment!
I was hassled by my Midwife, GP and OB to get the flu vaccine. I finally agreed at 34 weeks. I wasn’t 100% happy about it. I have to say, I had to fight HARD to get the medication I needed for Hyper Emesis Gravidarum, during both pregnancies (the one that works for me is “contra-indicated in pregnancy by NICE, despite the fact that it’s given in Europe and the US with very few issues) yet they were jumping on me to get a flu shot, which frankly was untested, unregulated and also if you read the paperwork that comes with the vaccine says “contra-indicated” in pregnancy, although they do give it to pregnant women without question.
My 4 year old and I both had the flu shot, and then when my son was 6mths old we all got the flu, H1N1, very badly, despite her and I being vaccinated and him allegedy getting my immunity. We were swabbed to confirm it was the “Swine Flu”. If I get pregnant again, I won’t be taking up the offer of the vaccine, to be honest.
I think like everything, you have to weigh up the pro’s and con’s and decide for yourself. There are risks and benefits to everything. If you’re comfortable with not having the shot, good for you.
I’m not anti vaccine, my kids are vaccinated, I’ve had my boosters as needed, I just feel the hype and fear around the flu vaccine then getting the flu anyway, despite the vaccine has given me a jaded view of it.
Ps sorry, misread that. The Pertussis vaccine is important, in that even if not 100% effective, it can prevent severity of symptoms and spread of disease. However, it’s given with the full DTaP, which I wouldn’t feel comfortable about having, to be honest, so am with you on that. Apologies for rambling previous comment. Am sleep deprived and didn’t read it properly. Can’t delete it! Need coffee!
Not at all, I am grateful for all comments on this subject as I am finding it so hard to decide what to do! I think that is one of my concerns, that the vaccines aren’t always effective at preventing the flu in which case it seems like a risk for no reason. Then like you said the pertussis jab has to be given as the full DTaP which I just don’t like the idea of. It is such a new thing to do and apparently in Australia there were doing it but stopped as it wasn’t even effective in preventing whooping cough in newborns.
Google is full of information, both good and bad and I find myself swaying to and fro but I think my gut instinct is telling me to not have the flu jab and to have the whooping cough one. I have a few weeks to decide though so I might just keep an eye on what is happening in regards the the spread of whooping cough. I didn’t have to worry about any of this last time! X
Jessica Amey recently posted..14 Weeks Pregnant
Over here (aus) the primary care givers are given the whooping cough once the baby is born not while pregnant. maybe this could be an option for you. I decided to get it as whooping cough is quite common here i even had a work colleague who had it so decided to get it.
try peppermint tea for heart burn?
flu jabs arent even offered so didnt have to make a decision there.
glad you are feeling better
Jen
Oh that’s really interesting, I might see if it would be possible for me to have it after giving birth. If not then I don’t think I am going to have it, I was looking at the stats yesterday and apparently 4 babies usually die from whooping cough a year but that has gone up to nine babies this year. Obviously that is awful but it does seem like a very small risk still, I mean there is a risk of cot death and all kinds of other things anyway. I just don’t trust the fact that they are saying it’s safe despite it never being used on pregnant women before. It’s a tricky decision though as the scare-mongering is so bad that they make you feel awful for not having it done! How are you feeling? xx
You gotta go with what feels right for you, and I agree there are so many other risks as well so it seems pretty small in comparison. They must be able to do it after baby is born, dont see why not..?
Hope Matts ankle is recovering well?
I have had a good 2nd trimester no sickness at all or reflux, appetite a bit too healthy.. haha! Only complaint is the odd random day of extreme tiredness but its not too bad and pelvic pain is very annoying as I cant go for my usual walks as hurts too much. Other than that all good.
Hopefully you will keep feeling better now too
I still don’t know what to do about the flu jab, but my midwife hasn’t mentioned it so I guess I will just wait and see what she says.
You are looking lovely xx
Katie recently posted..Family Time.