hello everybody,

Just thought it time to introduce myself. I'm 29 weeks (due 3/11) with boy/girl twins in Merseyside. Just had a 28 week growth scan (normal with twins) and both babies nice and big, growing more like singletons! eek! I have two older DCs, DS - 4 and DD 2.

So, what's a happening with all of you?

Great news on the scan Pavlov!

The scan was great, DD came along and she was great, and when she stopped being great, DH stuffed her with a donut! We also managed to get 4 scan pictures for free by offering the sonographer a donut with her coffee at break!

All is well, and we did find out what we are having - due the well endowed tackle in between the legs, we are most certainly having a BOY!!!! I won, I said ALL along it was a boy. and DD said 'a boy? not a girl? a boy? oh' and now she is telling everyone she is having a brother so we can't keep it a secret even if we wanted to.

Good morning. The thread is getting big so I started a new one here

Haven't done it before so forgive me if it doesn't work

Good luck on your scan Pavlov! hope it is a very enjoyable moment for you.

You little ones don't need to have big parties to have a good birthday (as you say Koumac they can end up costing a lot of money and stress) so don't feel bad Pavlov your plans for your DD sound lovely to me. On DS1's third birthday DH, DS1 and DS2 (then 6 months old) and I went to the Natural History museum in Oxford and then had tea and cakes at home - it was lovely and just the four of us. DS2 had a family party with just cousins, grandparents, etc for his third birthday and he had a great time too. DS1 has had the 'invite all the children and hire a village hall' do for his fourth and DS2 for his second so they've had a variety. I think variety is nice for them - makes their birthdays more memorable.

Pavlov I am not registered to CAT. I really appreciate your help. I am online now till 12 and then again tomorrow from 8.30am onwards.

We have very similar bike for ds look here

He is 4 now so grown out of it but try telling him that he won’t give it up! He learnt to balance really quickly and goes incredibly fast! We are looking into buying proper bike as he is more than ready. No stabilizers needed here!

Big birthday parties can be so stressful! And they end up costing as much as small wedding! Smaller ones on the other hand are relaxed and she and you can enjoy them more. Ds is starting reception in Sept and apparently you are expected to invite all the children to the first birthday party so the children “can get to know each other”!

Our scan today too. But not till evening. So very excited and nervous at the same time. We are taking ds with us, he is 4 so understands about the baby. I showed him pictures from pregnancy book and he is v. interested in the scan. He gets shy with strangers so should be able to keep still when we are in there! But I am also taking Thomas magazine and loads of snacks to keep him busy!

Ds and I have “new reception children” visit of the school to get through this afternoon before we get to the hospital. I really hope he likes his “big” school!

Hobnob I have been wanting to go to NI or anywhere in Ireland actually for as long as I can remember! Even looked up the ferries last year but that was it. It looks so lovely!
I am N northern Moravian! I will be flying to Brno but from Ostrava on the way back. And I know what you mean about the alcohol poisoning! Although it’s probably safe to return now as so expensive he wouldn’t be able to justify it this time round!

We just had massive flooding over there. It looks so bad. My parents’ house seems to be ok so far (yet) but we have a little stream running through the garden so any more rain will be killer!

Beepbeep your mum sounds pretty much like my MIL, both PIL actually. We hardly see them now and its usually only dh and ds who go for “longer” weekend the most. For me it’s just not worth the stress anymore. They are always busy doing their stuff (what normal person would’ve finished in an hour they spent 3 hours doing) so ds it’s just bored. They never buy anything for ds even though it’s their only grandchild so far. They haven’t seen him for almost a year and he was given a book and I think that’s only because my ds and dh went to bookshop when visiting them and dh didn’t have the currency with him so FIL ended up paying!

Goodluck with scan Pavlov - bloomin DHs! mine is now working next tues which he was meant to have off, no childcare sorted. it needs sorting today and i'm at work but apparently it's still up to me to arrange! not sure how that works?!

pavlov your DH sounds JUST like mine! (not surprising, they have the same birthday). However, at our last scan he was really trying to get DD involved and she wasn't interested at all and was a bit of a pain to be honest. I just wanted to concentrate for 10 minutes, but when there's a 2 yr old around the only thing you can concentrate on is them. Maybe this time round he'll see what I meant (won't admit to it though!).Having said that, we might have to bring her to the next one anyway and just both be in a huff about it.

Hope the scan goes well! And let us know how DD gets on on the bike, it looks very cool. Has she ridden a trike before or this her first go?

Good luck with the scan Pavlov!

Its our scan today YEY! at 2pm so I will post how we get on. We have not decided if we will find out the sex of the baby yet. I don't want to, DH does and I am concerned that curiosity will get the better of us when we are there and if we are asked if we want to know.

DH still has not sorted out a babysitter for DD this afternoon, he really does not seem that excited . He said 'why is it she can't come again?' I said more than it being awkward and she might be a pain, I want this to be about me, DH and baby, just for half hour and he said DD is family and its about family. I told him she won't have a bloody clue what it all means, and what if there is a problem? or if she plays up he will have to leave and won't be able to be involved, and he sighed 'fine you get your own way as usual' which is his way of saying he wants her there so he does not have to bother sorting out childcare. I could do it, but I do everything bloody well else, including work so its not much to ask .

Anyway, i am excited about the scan

beepbeep we had a big party for DDs first, with far too many adults but we figured it was more about us than her then! And same last year, a few children, lots of adults and we realised it was toooooo much with the adults. now she is old enough for it to be just about her, and that is what we thought, her birthday, even if it is just a small birthday. Its all about her.

I know what you mean also about family. I have a small family, we are not that close, no parents to cook for me anymore! DH has a good family but they are in USA. We got to see them at christmas though (most of them, not all of them) but his mother sends us Baclava and Pastaflora (sp) each christmas even if we are not with her! It would be nice to have them a bit closer so we can see them more often, and for less time each time if that makes sense

Pavlov - that's definately ok, we had big party for DD's first, then took her and a friend to pizza express for her 2nd. She's 3 5 days ater this baby is due, so not sure what will happen this year. I like the bike, let us know how se gets on with it, I might pinch your idea!!

It's DS's 1st birthday on Monday, haven't really thought much about it, poor little man! We're having a family bbq next weekend (DH's family anyway, mine live 200 miles away, but we're going up to see them the following week). DS has so many toys that have all belonged to DD, not sure what to get him, he's not really that bothered by toys but it would be nice for him to have something of his own!

DD & DS's sports day at nursery today - should be interesting! DS may win the 'flapping the arms race' and DD has refused to wear purple - apparently that's the colour of her team, oh well!

Very of all you who get to go home and relax, my mum is a nightmare, she's actually worse than the children! she shows very little interest in them - can play for about 10 mins and then gets bored, it really fustrates me as it take us 4.5 hours to get there and sometime i just think what's the point?! i don't expect her to spend money on them (she doesn't!) or to go OTT but it would be nice to get a little help & i just wish she would show some interest in them other than when her friends are around and she can use them to show off!

I bought my DDs birthday present yesterday...she is going to be 3 next week. I got her this. I am sooooooo excited to see her face

She wants, for her little party - party hats, party plates, balloons, cake and presents. I am sure we can arrange that. We are having a really low key one this year and I sort of feel bad about that as its her last one just us. But we do not know many children her age and most of them live too far to come on the day. So we are taking her and a boy of 4 to Pennywell Farm in Devon for the day, then coming back and hopefully having another child over for a small tea with the above! We are also thinking, this is the last year we can do it low key as she will socialised far more this year and she will want a bigger party!!!That's ok isn't it?

EricaMaye - I am sorry I never said Hi. I am like a bridezilla eh? What should we call that? Pregzilla? .

I read through your initial post and it made me feel very sad, that you are in a position where things are so tough for you to enjoy your pregnancy and look forward to being a mother. But I did just want to respond to one part of it if i may

you said 'I want to be a good mother. I want to supply everything this child wants and needs to make it happy. I want to help it grow into a responsible, happy, bright, social young adult. I feel so bad in myself for the fact I can't give it a nursery - I feel like I've failed before I've even jumped the first hurdle!'

and to that I say - a child does not need a nursery to be a happy child. A child needs love, and a parent that wants it first and foremost. With that, which you have demonstrated clearly you do, you can find ways around it. People have babies in so many difficult circumstances and are fantastic parents and there is no reason why that will not be you. You are doing the right things to make sure your baby has a great life, you are working with your social worker and therapist to deal with your own problems, you have a boyfriend who is happy about becoming a father, you know what you need to be doing and you are working on that. That is all any of us can do. The nursery is nothing in the grand scheme of things. And many many people do not have their children in a seperate bedroom for a long long time.

Good luck, welcome to this thread and I hope you are finding it supportive so far. I am sure you are, its a very supportive thread).

x

Becky - I can't spell for toffee. AND I swear its gotten worse with being pregnant!!

Well the meeting went better than I thought it would. It was more a "filling out a bundle of sheets" kind of meeting. Got assessments over the next six weeks, where the social worker who I've met before will see us seperately and together. They asked our opinions on their involvement and my darling darling darling parnter informed them just what he thought! Don't think I've ever wanted to slap him and kiss him so much both at the same time haha! However, they did put my mind at ease slightly - the way they were talking made it clear they didn't really consider us much of a risk, which was such a comfort. The woman I haven't met before - my social workers boss - said it was obvious we were putting the baby first, and were both coherent and elequent. Even if I can't spell. So I guess thats a good sign!

My mums friend happens to be the chief midwife in the area, and although she's not my midwife (She did say she would if I wanted her to be, but didn't want to put me in an awkward position. Bless her!) as I'm under the teen specialist, I know I can always call her if I'm concerned about anything. Its really helpful, and it just so happened she called this afternoon while my DP was round. We were talking generally and I said DP was here, so she offered to come over and bring her machine so he could hear the heartbeat! He hasn't heard it before So she came over, and he got all blubbery about it - my dad just got freaked out! - I told him to grow a set, but thought it was so sweet. He recorded it on his phone, and kept playing it back all the time he was here so he could listen to it again and again So happy at the moment!

tayto cheese and onion are unique and def dont taste like any other...guess where i was born...

I can't even do the icon correctly!!!! Time for bed perhaps rather than BB.

My spelling is embarrassing - what are crips? Sorry guys and you wouldn't know I worked in publishing [blus]

Hobnob I know the word but I can't remember it either! Don't you just love how the Japanease have words like that that we don't ahve in English? Genki is a good one. Lol at your being Meg Ryan and your DH Prince William. When my DH came to visit me (he is 6 foot 5 inches) we were in a lift with two tiny old ladies and one said to the other 'cor blimey, look at the size of him!' and DH just smiled politely not knowing what they'd said. I cracked up. Shabu shabu is yum!!!! I also loved yakitori, okonomiyaki.

I watched Wife Swap too Laugs and was really shocked at that woman - feeding her little girl crips for breakfast too.

I've been working too hard - feeling sooo tired. I need a holiday. I'm waiting for BB to come on. I'm sad, I know.

hobnob my mum is from NI so we go over there quite a bit. Where are you from? She was brought up in Belfast, then Newry, but all our family now live in Bangor so we go there. It is a lovely part of the world. My mum always regrets she brought DB and me up English rather than at home! In fact, you've just reminded me I have to go and buy the Tayto cheese and onion I found in our local shop to being to her tomorrow. (they blatantly taste like any other cheese and onion crisps, but try telling her, or any other NI person I've met, that!)

I'm off to my parents' for 10 days, so looking forward to plenty of lie-ins, I hope! I do kind of revert to being a child when I go home. It's nice for a few days and then I find myself desperate to make desicions and get a bit stir crazy. 10 days is by far the longest time I've spent at home for a good few years. I hope it's fun.

Oh, ursi you should definitely try chocolate hobnobs - they are the best biscuit. Very very moreish. And they come in a resealable tub so you can pretend you've only had one when you've actually eaten half a packet.

I just wanted to take this stupid tight shirt off and realised, it wasn't the shirt it was my skin. I guess not much I can do about that

I've been to the beach too, somehow burnt my forehead, but only the top bit in a strip and I have a nice X in red on back too, so that'll be fun.

pavlov so good to hear you are feeling more like yourself and less like death on a sofa

BBL congrats on the scan. Your post about Japan made me very un-genki - can't remember the word for wistful! Ramen.............mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm but the best had to be shabu shabu. And that sweet yoghurt drink you got in cartons, and the amusement of Pocari Sweat, and the taxis with automatic doors and gloved drivers with glow sticks, and the powder snow and snowboarding..... mmmmmmmm And people who thought I was Meg Ryan and DH when he visited was Prince William

koumak you must be really looking forward to going home. Where abouts in Czech are you from? DH was in Prostejov near Brno for a year being an English conversation teacher. He hated teaching but loved the hospitality. Although, by his own admission, if he'd stayed any longer he'd be dead from alcohol poisoning . I visited for a week and loved it there.

I'm off to NI again for an extended stint to see my folks. DD and I fly over next week, DH follows a week later with the car and we then all go to Donegal on the west coast to play on the beaches and rock pools for a while. We do it every year, and if the weather is kind it is heaven on earth. Also lovely to spend time back at home and being cooked for

One more day of work left! Had 3 functions to attend this week, so my white Stuff stretchy dress has been a worthwhile investment.

The braxtons are definitely here! But not so often today. Wee bean must have known it was on show yesterday and was setting them off!

Koumak that sounds like the best holidays ever. I'm sure you will get soooo much good food.
I find it strange too that you never see a gynaecologist here in England. I used to see mine twice a year. And I think, all women I know, go there at least once a year. I found it quite funny when the GP asked me for the last smear test results and if I could get them sended here. As I could not "prove" the normal result, I have to do the next one in I don't know how many years and with a written result I would only have to do it again in even more years. In both cases long enough to die several times from cancer.
I got used to the fact that I do not see a gynaecologist during my pregnancy but I still dislike the fact that there is not ONE person, knowing my case. I always meet different ones. I guess in my case it is worse as I only registered with a GP when pregnant and he is now on extended leave so I will see an other one on my GP appointment.
When I am back in Vienna, I'll definitely see my gynaecologist, not because I'm worried or have any questions, just because I think I should (and maybe I'll get an extra scan )
For those with hayfever, I hope it will be over soon. Luckily I'm only suffering a little bit so I can go through it without any medication.

Tamlin - Try mothercare's "fuller bust" range. I'm a 32 G (If they get any bigger, I'm chopping the buggers off!) and they go bigger than that, I think

Hope thats some help!!

Yep, I went to the pharmacy today, told them what the GP had said and the pharmacist said she'd look in her magic book. According to that, piriton is 'considered safe' - only the one made from chlorphenamine, NOT piriteze, which is a different drug. Like scarlotti says, I don't think they can ever say anything is definitely fine in pregnancy as ethically you could not test on pregnant women, that's why they leave it to the GP's discretion. Interesting that my GP wouldn't prescribe it though, but told me it's ok to buy? The pharmacist also said that piriton can be used for babies as young as 1 month old, which is another sign of its safety.

I have taken 2 today now anyway, so I hope it's alright.

DD and I spent the afternoon on the beach, which was fab. We just got back and the flat is like an oven, but can't open the windows due to nasty pollen. I have to work this evening and pack our bags to go away tomorrow, so I'm hoping if I ignore her for a bit she might start feeling sleepy!

Speaking of ignoring kids, did anyone see Wife Swap the other night? I was so shocked at the mum who spent up to 12 hrs a day on the internet while being a SAHM to her 18 month old. I am a lazy girl at heart, so never thought I'd find myself siding with the super-organised wife, but the other one was surely neglectful? I was actually crying watching it.

bbl congrats on the scan!

koumack sorry! I completely forgot about the NEM risk assessment! I will try to remember tomorrow at work and will email it to myself and then forward to you...Are a MN subscriber as in paid the subscription fee? If you have I can CAT you (which means contact a mumsnetter, not exactly the words, but thats what it says down below ) if not, I can put my email addy on when you are online for a few minutes then get HQ to delete again once you have written it down.

BBL I posted a thread on mn asking about antihistamines as I always get bitten on holiday and react really badly. I was told on there that piriton was ok.
I rang the mw and she said she couldn't say for me to take anything but to call my GP. Spoke to him and he said piriton is fine, many others aren't but this is. He's given me a prescription for tablets - can't remember what they're called but I'll check when I get home tonight and let you know.
My gp is excellent and would never prescribe anything I shouldn't take, and also knows I've been through 2 m/c before being successful this time so takes extra care.

They can't say in books/leaflets that they're safe for pg women unless they've undergone rigourous testing on pg women. As most pg women won't put themselves up for testing, companies have to put the warning on the medicines to check with your gp.

Obviously each to their own - I will be taking the tablets though if I get bitten as the incessant itching makes me want to sever off my own limbs!

Weight gain - according to the scales I am now 1st 5lbs heavier than when I started. According to a site I read, the majority of the weight gain is still to come so I am going to be huge!!

I thought piriton was harmless too. But my GP made me worry. Piriton does makes me very drowsy and even non-drowsy drugs make me tired. There are some natural remedies which I didn't look into, honey, sea water nasal wash etc. But, he did offer me a nasal spray, but they can take a couple of weeks to work and I needed instant relief and knew my hay fever would ease by the end of June.

koumac we have to pay for a private scan if we want to find out the sex. I didn't want to anyway because I didn't with other two - I like surprises!

DS2 went on his first ever nursery trip today so I am going to pick him up soon, I've missed him sooo much today (nursery is usually 9.10-11.40am). I hope he's had a good time. He went to a deer park / farm near here. I'm also dying to find out how DS1's day has been in light of recent events.

So is there nothing pregnant hay fever sufferers can take? That's not fair. I would have thought piriton was quite harmless. DH suffers badly and he'd collapse in a heap of man flu if he couldn't take piriton.

Laugs I went to my GP for antihistamine as I suffer from hay fever and bad reactions from bites (we were due to go to Italy as this time) He flatly refused to give me anything and advised I take nothing. He went through his book and checked off each drug and none of them would confirm, safe for pregnant women. I did suffer in Italy with a bad bite, but I kept spraying myself with repellent and used a cream for the bite. The hay fever has been bad, but getting better as we're moving into July. It's amazing how GP's have such conflicting advice!

Better than my DH, touring Hospital A - he was waving around the sieve in the pool room, shouting cheerily 'What's this for then? YEEEURRRGH!'

tamlin I remember my hospital tour! St George's Tooting...DH loudly asked where the cigar dispenser was..how embarrassing!

I think the last Japanese book I read was 'Battle Royale'. Fabulous stuff.

BBL, lovely to hear that your scan went well! It is SO nice when the sonographer can explain what's going on, but I think some of them fall in the 'can't chat while I'm concentrating' category!

Erika, I'm jealous, bloody Mothercare doesn't even do bras in my size. I've got a 32 ribcage (and most of their bras start at 34) and thanks to pregnancy, giant knockers so I wind up having to buy online. Even Bravissimo (usual refuge of women with big boobs and small ribcages) has a rubbish maternity range.

I've been phoning Hospital B every day for the last three days, trying to book a hospital tour. Nobody. Ever. Answers. Their. Phone. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

bbl congrats on scan!!!! poor little thing needing a wee...

koumak jealous of your trip...a grandma who bakes and bakes..yum..Hope that you have a lovely time and that grandpa recovers and enjoys time with the kids.

Here is Switz you see the gyno for 36 weeks then get transferred to a hospital or private clinic depending on your health cover. The private hosp are like hotels so I've heard. I'll be going to a hospital and forking out for a nurse's help when I get home.
Weird getting a full on exam every month..i have to make sure the lady garden is nice and tidy which is a chore as I can barely see it anymore

Ohhh weight gain Its an evil invention. I think pregnancy should make you a size ten and about 5'8.

Mothercare have a HUGE clothing sale online, by the way. I spent £40 yesterday, and go three bras and a pair of maternety jeans.

My cousin had her fourth little boy this morning - 5lb 13oz. She's stolen the name we had planned out for a boy, though!!!

Hope you have a nice day

becky did you not find out the sex of the baby? I thought you wanted to know as you have 2 boys at home. I dont know how you people do it keeping a surprise!

ursigurke all I saw was a big dark space which she told me was the baby's bladder full of wee. He / she didn't do a wee until later (by now I hope he or she has been!).

Just to add that it looks like that dh will not be joining us this year as really busy at work (suppose a good thing in this climate) but still we will miss him!
Especially ds as my mum is coming end of July to stay for a week and then taking ds with her before I join them so dh will not see him for 25 days! Yes we counted!

Ursigurke I am flying on 15 and coming back 31 so whole 3 weekends and over 2 weeks off! I cannot wait. On way back I will be under 32 weeks and I checked with both airlines; flying there with Ryanair and back with Czech Airlines (bigger luggage allowance to bring back baby stuff and food….) + will change my airmiles both for ds and me on inbound flight to get extra 20kgs of luggage allowance!!! As have to bring all the baby stuff my sister had borrowed as she’s had 2 children since I had ds. But will take doctors note with me on both flights. One from GP from here and one from gyenecologist I will be seeing just before I fly back. Don’t you find it odd that women in the UK never see gyn. unless its something wrong?

My parents will take few days off too (they still work full time although 6am-2pm) so will organise some nice trips. But generally just want to laze around in the garden by the “paddling” pool or under the massive ancient walnut tree and play with the kids and eat and eat and eat. My mum always has a food plan for the whole period and grandma just bakes and bakes. Its bliss. And ds is outside all day long playing with my niece. It’s lovely. And in the evening I tried to catch up with all my friends and their children. It’s the best therapy! getting quite emotional now!

Pavlov do you think it would be possible for you to email me the “expectant mother at work” assessment. Not really sure how to CAT you? Not even sure if that’s how it’s spelled… What does that mean?

Erika I am sorry about your scare

And hope lemontop your body stops playing silly games too! So you can start enjoying the planning of your wedding! When is the big day?

hobnob what was your dh doing in Czech? And was it any good?

BBL, congratulations on your scan! If you don't mind me asking did you see on the screen how your baby was weeing? Or just the full bladder? Sorry if the question is too indiscreet but I am just fascinated what they can see. I saw a lot of the things that the lady showed me but other things where just black and white for me.
Koumak, I'm almost a bit jealous that you can spend so much time back home with your family. I'll go to Vienna for a couple of days (where actually my sister with the kids and my brother live) and my parents will come for a couple of days to see me. But I wish I had the time to go to their place too. I just imagine getting my mum's food every day! I'm sure you will enjoy your stay (and I hope you will have lots of homemade czech food)
When are you do again? Will you still be allowed to fly end of August?

BBL and everybody else - great news about the scans!

It’s great to hear that the ms is almost gone for everybody including Pavlov

Also I have been wondering what happened to our only man and the two sets of twins?

Happy anniversary Sleepless

And I wish this was not true but I have put on a stone already. I am a whale too. Still doesn’t stop me from eating! I am hungry all the time. I think about food constantly! It’s my colleague’s birthday today so we are going out for lunch and I already know what I am going to have– steak, mashed potatoes and salad.

After reading about 8 pages I realised this is going to be a massive post so apologies to anybody who cant be bother to read this!

I am going to get things off my chest first and go back to catching up if that’s alright!

Is anybody feeling up to updating the list with our little boys & girls ratio? I have a scan tomorrow evening. Very excited but also really worried. I would love to know that the baby is ok so I can hit the sales for the right colour… I can feel the baby moving a lot and that is really reassuring. When pregnant with ds both dh and I were sure that it was a boy from the start this time I have no idea. Even looked up the Chinese chart that says boy and the wedding ring test says girl so not really helpful either!

Somebody asked me yesterday if the baby is kicking like a boy or a girl and I said “like a girl which might not be so good if it’s a boy ha ha”! Having another boy would be much more practical and they are so lovely but having a little princess would be special too. Can’t decide really. Or as my dh puts it – one of each and be done with!

Becky I am [shocked] at the boys behaviour and so sorry for you ds. I don’t understand the teachers’ behaviour; surely she should approach you straight away too? What do the teachers on this thread think, do you not usually talk to all parents involved to make sure they know that you are dealing with it (and how)?

Jealous of others glamorous past life and of all the holidays. I shall be spending my holiday at home (Czech) at my parents house with my sister and her children at the end of august and it will be lovely as always but wouldn’t mind going somewhere more exotic one day! But it is so good for the kids they always have such a good time and my parents and grandparents get to spend time with them as well which is priceless especially as my grandpa had heart surgery last winter (at the age of 82) and we all know there is not much time left.

BBL great news and congrats!!

I'm back! All ok! The baby needed a big wee apparently as he / she had a very full bladder but everything is ok so I can breath now. Phew! I was so nervous. When I get nervous I get a twinge in my right armpit and it was hurting really bad!!! The sonographer was lovely though and she explained everything to me, which I never got in Oxford. She went into great detail 'that's the diaphram' etc.

I haven't read The Boy called H - will check it out on amazon!

Happy Wedding anniversary Sleepless! What a lovely day to have an anniversary on. It is lovely out there.

sleepless congrats on your anniversary!

Hey all..its our wedding anniversary today!
Am very happy and smug..Three years and lovin it..

BBL hope your lo is better. big hugs to him and you. This is rough on you both. I hope the boy is properly punished.Bullies..hate them.
DH obsessed about Japan and reads lots of Japanese authors. Have you read the Boy called H by Senoh..its awesome

Pavlov!!!! so pleased you're better..MS is just the worse thing..welcome back..The tiredness however doesn't go does it?

Erika you poor mite. hope things go well today. What a scare.??

Glasto!!! enjoy all you folks..my BIL usually plays and goes every year but not this one and just as well as SIL still upset.

DH going to the BIG Chill for a stag..rather him than me!

Katster don't worry too much about the weight..its the one time we can guiltlessly put any on!!! (as she eats another choc chip cookie)

Yes iron pills make your poo black! its odd..
Sorry for the Braxton Hicks..I had them with DD as 26 weeks..its really scary. ..What I'm not looking forward to is.. Haemorroids. sorry TMI.

Laugs my doctor has said it's fine - I'm taking some on hols to stave off the inevitable itching I'll get when bitten.

BBL good luck for your scan!!

Hope everyone else is well, too many posts to respond personally. *Koumak and pavlov* great to hear from you again.

Tired here, Ds keeps waking at around 5:30 - 6am and it's taking its toll. Full day at work after that is hard work!

Still, managed to win a cosytoes and a changing bag on eBay so am happy!

Scan in half an hour - I'm nervous!!!

By the way, if anyone has hayfever, do you know if I can take piriton?
I asked a pharmacist about a month ago and she said I couldn't take anything, but I noticed on DD's piriton yesterday it says 'consult your doctor before using in pregnancy'. I rang the doctor this morning and he's said he can't prescribe it, but he's sure it's fine to take and to just check with a pharmacist.

that should say DAY all day in the office!

Good morning all. I can’t keep up. I decided today that instead of working (am going to be all say in the office) I shall be catching up with you lot! I will be back later.

ninjacat It's probably be too late, but I hope you have a fab time!

I get that about-to-have-my-period sensation too. Hopefully it's just my body hard at work down there.

DD has been upset this morning as DH had his bags ready for glasto and she thought she was going too. He picked up his bag and asked her if she was ready (to go to nursery) and she rushed off and got her little yellow suitcase, thinking she was going on holiday.

Luckily DD and I are off to the coast this afternoon, so a few hours on the beach might appease her. And hopefully do my hayfever some good - is anyone else really suffering at the moment? Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day here and we had to keep inside with the windows closed and the blinds down. Boo. What a misery. I'm so glad the beach is nearby at least.

erika I hope you got some sleep and that everything goes ok with the social services today.

pavlov nice to see you back and glad to hear you're feeling better.

OK so I'm off at 8am tomorrow so probably wont get a chance to post before I leave.

BBL Sorry to hear about your ds. Unfortunately these boys only get worse as they get older so best to teach ds some ways of dealing with them now. My ds freaked me out today when he said a boy in school had got a knife in one of their lessons, said to ds"this is it" then made to stab him but stuck the knife into the chair ds was sat on I would be on the school doorstep but apparently this happened some time ago and ds was telling me because the boy has just been excluded for stabbing someone in the back with a pen. I asked why he didn't tell me before and he said because the teacher saw and didn't do any thing. He doesn't seem bothered but I'm not sure that that isn't even more disturbing.

Pav good to see you.

Erika hope you are feeling better. I have a horrid sensation of heaviness in my bump and like I'm about to get my period but just ignoring it for now.

of all those who have not gained weight. I am officially a whale!!! And I've gone up three dress sizes.

nice holidays abroad.

for the cool scans

Sorry if I've missed any one. See you all when I return from glasto.

Hope I don't get mistaken for a walking tent

hobnob sharon fruit!!! Yum!!!! I've lost much of my Japanese so it makes me laugh to hear DH practicing. He goes to a class once a week. He and I were just friends when I was in Japan and he came to visit me twice - now he's more into things Japanese than I am. I really enjoyed my two years there: lots of memories of print club, pocket bell, karaoke, makudonaldo with the students, raamen (esp my favourite spicy tofu raamen), popping to the local Hot Spa for funny loaves of bread with just eight slices per loaf, and those musical train jingles. I'd love to take the DSs and this new baby back one day when they are old enough (and we are rich enough!).

*Pavlov( so pleased you are feeling a bit better. Onwards and upwards!

I've been working this evening baaaaa so off to bed now zzzz with a good book (The Tree of Forgetting in case anyone wants to know!). It's fab - can't remember the author's name though.

pavlov, thanks, yes I am very pleased but I would have been in any case. Now, it is even kind of a surprise as I was so sure of having a boy (stupid to be so sure though)

usigurke - thanks for wondering! I have been on and off but lost the thread and did not stick around long enough to find it again what with my newfound energy and all (and I have been taking spatone so sure that has helped my energy). Congratulations on finding out you are having a girl! Are you pleased?

Talking of tiredness - have almost fallen asleep twice this week at work. Like proper drooping eyes. It took all my effort today not to say 'sod it' and just have a doze it was so overpowering!

pavlov I was already wondering, where you were so even happier to hear that you feel so much better.
hobnob I think maybe once when I was in a hurry, it sometimes feel very tight and hard in the evening but I think that would rather be just full of food.
And I just realised that you are a biscuit, I will definitely try you as soon as possible, maybe your chocolate version... although I probably shouldn't start a new bad habit

I have had a couple, sort of put it down to growing and stuff...but could be?

Anyone getting braxtons already?

Seem to be having pretty regular tightenings these days

oh for those with low iron, if you get constipation with them try spatone instead. It is ace, safe in pregnancy and you can take double dose in pregnancy. It is a clear liquid which you can put in orange or grapefruit juice to speed up absorption even more.

O.M.G i have too much to catch up on. I will go and scan a few hundred posts! But won't promise to respond to many.

Hope all those who have had scans have had positive news, and fingers crossed for those with scans soon. Mine is in thursday at 19 weeks, but I am still waiting for the consultant appt which was meant to be at the same time . They just do not seem bothered.

Not been sick for almost 2 weeks! Still taking meds, but i was sick even on them before that. I still feel sick from time to time but really think i have turned a corner. I am making up for it big time with food. I can even eat Boost Chocolate now although preferred food is savoury still.

Hope every one is well xx

BBL I was in Tochigi on JET from 98-99 - was just getting to grips with conversational Japanese when I had to leave. I couldn't do the long distance thing with DH any more and he was homesick after a year in Czech so didn't want to come out and do GEOS or such like. I miss it so much. Had a random craving for sharon fruit the other day, which I haven't had since I got back! Big hugs for your wee boy.

lemontop so sorry that your bleeding is still causing you angst, and that you still have 2 weeks to go 'till your scan I had mine today at 20 weeks and I have a right little wriggler. It was lovely to see all the bits of the heart and brain, and a tummy full of fluid apparently. We even saw he/she swallowing. ursigurke we have to opposite problem - the femur seemed shorter in comparison to the other measurements. Yet another short arse like me then! katster and those of you who are still waiting for 20 week scans hang in there, it'll be fabulous when you finally get the scan, and such a reassurance after your previous scares I bet. Almost as good as the scan was bein told by the sonographer that I was slim - which I haven't felt like since 2005! Good to know that the chocolate hobnob habit hasn't had too much of a detrimental effect yet

Weight loss for me seemed to take an age. I was BF for a year, and I think that the appetite that came with it was a big hurdle. Too many hobnobs....

erika sorry to hear about your stressful weekend. at least you know the baby is ok now, but things like that can really throw you.

lemontop glad to hear the spotting's stopped. I've had some bright red spotting twice now and was told they couldn't find anything but it was probably from the top of the cervix, which is soft and quite prone to bleeding in pregnancy - do you think this could be it, if it might have been knocked during the examination?
When's the Big Day?? Are you all prepared?

I can second what tamlin said about the wrinkly elephant skin! I lost the weight really quickly - was back in my old jeans a few days after the birth and dropped another dress size in a few months. I think this was from breastfeeding - I was starving the whole time, despite eating loads. The down side is my tummy is horrible! Really baggy and gross. I'd rather lose weight less quickly this time, but I don't know how. Also, the elephant skin is probably here to stay anyway!

Hi everyone! Just spent an hour and a half catching up! Congrats on the positive scans! I'm now thinking it would be nice to not find out the sex, but I'm not that patient and I certainly don't think DH is!! Apparently, according to DD, if we have a girl it is going to be called Eleanor (not a favourite of mine I have to admit) and if it's a boy it is going to be called Harry (which I like, but not with our surname).

Erikamaye sorry your 'friend' has upset you and written such an unnecessary email. People really should learn to keep their mouths shut. I hope you are ok. hugs

It was dd's 5th birthday today. She has been so sweet bless her! Very excited and they did loads of really sweet things for her at school. She then had her 2 best friends over for a tea party which was really nice, although three hyper 5 year olds dancing to high school musical and hannah montana was quite a sight!!

I went away to Champneys for the weekend with some friends. It was soooooooooooo nice! I want to go away again now!

bbl so sorry to hear what's happening to your little boy. Hope he's ok and the teacher can sort it out quickly.

erika sounds horrible. Hope you're ok and glad you heard the heartbeat. Pregnancy can be so bloody stressful!

Don't talk about weight loss! I've gained about half a stone and am worried I'm going to look ridiculous when I get married as I was big before I got preggers.

My spotting seems to have calmed down so hopefully it was just a result of the internal examination.

ErikaMaye poor you that must have been very frightening. Glad you and your little one are ok

I echo what has been said about your so called 'friend'. If they say things like that they aren't worth knowing. Some people are just so pathetic.

Thanks everyone for your kind words about DS1. DH is a governor and he's going in tomorrow for a meeting and he said he's going to speak to DS1's classteacher.

I'm eating the hugest peice of cheese ever right now. Yum. Cheese is just the best thing ever.

Beepbeep have a good evening

Helips - a friend of mine had liposuction and a boobjob after she had had her 2 DCs! She is married to a footballer mind!

Tamlin - very at your weight loss, i think i've just had minetoo close together to get all the weight off, but i suppose i noticed it coming off around 5/6 monthsish, but was pregnant again when DD was 10 months and then again (this time) when DS was 7 months. This is def going to be the last time, so when am up ad running i intend to acually do something about it this time and swim or go to the gym (in all that spare tme i'll have?!?!), but didn't see point before as i knew we were planning on being pregnant again soonish.

Becky - feel so sorry for you and your DS. The thought of someone not liking, or worse sill bulling any of mine makes me want to cry (none hit school age yet!), not sure how i would deal with it, but must be very hard.

DH gone out walking the dog, he's made it very clear he's afte some 'action' tonight - can't think of anything further from my mind! however it has been an awful long time poor bloke!

bbl so sorry for your little boy, it must be horrible for you too seeing how upset he is, my heart really goes out to both of you. I hope the teacher dishes out a suitable punishment to these boys, can they not split them up as it sounds like they just egg each other on? Your boy sounds lovely, I hope this all blows over soon. Oh, and good luck for your scan tomorrow!

I got down to my pre-pregnancy weight from ds after about 8-9 months but to be honest my tummy has never recovered! Even with a personal trainer it was still a bit wobbly, although was improving until I got pregnant again! This time round I am going to exercise sooner after the birth in the hope that I will get back to some sort of normality. Failing that, there is always Liposuction

Erika glad you are ok, must have been quite scary for you, try and rest up and don't let these so called friends wind you up too much.

Katster, I think that the general rule of thumb re. pregnancy weight is nine months on, nine months off. (I have a personal, entirely unsubstantiated theory that if you lose it all too fast, you're more likely to get the wrinkly elephant skin around your middle!)

I didn't really start losing weight from nursing until DS was properly on solids, when he was ten months old - it was as if my body wanted to hang on to some extra stores while I was his sole source of nourishment. Once he was eating one or two proper meals a day, the nursing really knocked all the weight off, and then some - was down a full two dress sizes from pre-pregnancy by the time he was 14 months.

Hey all, hope you're all okay.

Just popping by quickly - managed to land myself in the labour ward yesterday and am still quite freaked out. I had really bad period-like pains under my bump, they started on Saturday night, then eased off on Sunday, then came back with a vengance yesterday. Evetually got hold of my midwife and she told me to go to the hospital. Got there, and the ante-natal unit was closed, so had to go up to labour, which terrified me in itself. Then when I was seen, they couldn't find the heartbeat. She got a bigger machine, and managed to, said the baby must have just been hiding, but I don't think I've ever been more terrified in my life. Today I've been a bit better, trying to take it easy, but that's gone out the window - am just heading out to a friends birthday.

I also recieved an email today from one of my supposed friends who declared that my child would be better being adopted. She still seems utterly convinced she was quite within her rights to say so. I decided to respond, and told her that if that was her style of friendship, I most certainly did not want to be involved with it. Am slightly annoyed with myself as I did swear and loose my cool, but in saying that, I was so infuriated and upset by what she said in the first place, I guess my reaction was justified.

I'm sorry I haven't had the time to read through all the messages and respond, I will when I get back in - won't be sleeping well tonight, social services meeting tomorrow!!

Hugs to you all. x

Katster I think I will talk to his class teacher tomorrow. She hasn't actually said anything about what has been happening to me herself yet: I've only heard via the boy's mum, my friend, and what DS1 has told me. I realise she wants to nip it in the bud by going to the source but it would be nice for her to just talk to me about what she's been doing and how she is approaching it.

I think everyone loses their pregnancy weight at different rates. I have so far with the first two pregnancies been very lucky in that the weight has fallen off me quite quickly, within weeks, except a bit of a wobbly tummy which stays forever which I think everyone has unless they ar famous and have surgery or a personal trainer.

How sweet to get a present and card

I feel huge for 19 weeks.

Oh dear DS1 is now as I type this trying on my bra from the washing basket!!!! He's so funny.

Becky your poor DS. I really feel sorry for him. I know from my school how mean children can be, but that sounds like bullying. Wasn't the teacher on duty able to stop this incident? I know it's not possible to see everything, but today's thing sounded fairly major. If I was the teacher, the two Jacks wouldn't be having a playtime for the rest of the week. Oh and good luck with your 20 week scan tomorrow.

Also started Cloud Atlas only to not get very far... Am reading 'If minds had toes' at the minute, which I am loving. Think it is by Lucy Eyre. Kind of a philosophy book as well as a novel, which I like, in a geeky way!

Have also been worrying about the weight thing. I have put on 6 lbs so far. Think it is mostly around my bump, which apparently is huge, but not sure. My thighs feel a bit bigger though. Just scared of ballooning in the last trimester. Ladies who've done it before, do you think you generally lose most of it fairly quickly, or is it a real effort of dieting/exercise madness?! A parent of a child I teach told me I was too big for 19 weeks today BUT another parent of a child has given me a huge, beautifully wrapped baby present and hand-made card - am waiting 'til DH gets in to open it, but how sweet is that? She is lovely!

Oh becky your poor DS Sorry, I don't have any wise words of advice. Bullying is such a horrible thing and your DS sounds lovely. I'm so glad he did tell the teacher and didn't keep it quiet. Does he have other friends he can hang around with while this other boy is being easily led? Such a hard situation.

BBL, that's awful! I also think you can probably complain about the teacher on play duty - most schools have very strict anti-bullying policies in place. If your DS is getting physically attacked, that seems pretty clear-cut to me (and yes, I know that small boys are prone to this sort of thing, but if there are no repercussions NOW, what sort of big boys will they make?)

I do hate this sort of thing. My DS is just starting to be bothered by older children jeering at him and shoving him - he stands in this attitude of sorrow with his hands over his face, and I just want to skelp the little monsters. (There's no rage as irrational as mummy rage.)

Ooooh David Mitchell is one of my favourite authors! He is ace on a stick! Also Haruki Murakami if anyone likes things to be a bit off the wall.

DS had another incident today The boy, who I think is at heart a good boy just easily influenced (the one who wrote the letter), was apparently involved with these two horrible little trouble makers (both called Jack as it happens) and DS1 was pinched, kicked and hit at playtime. DS1 told the teacher on play duty and she just said, get this, 'keep away from them'. Yeah right! How helpful is that. So DS1 did the right thing and told his class teacher later back in class who has had words with the parents of the two Jacks and my friend (who feels absoltely terrible about it). I can't believe it though. I just want to keep DS1 at home now I can't bear to see him being upset and hurt. He's such a gentle little soul but sadly its those sort of people who get picked on. I remember from when I was at school. Grrrrrr. Sorry for the waffle and the rant everyone.

Black poo???

I've got my 20-week scan tomorrow. Will not find out the sex because they won't tell! Sigh! Not that I would anyway as I like surprises.

BBL, it is really shocking that so little ones can already be so cruel. But I'm sure in the end, it will make your little son very strong and even if he is (luckily) a very kind person himself he will learn how to deal with this kind of people.
scarlotti, I'm sure it must be difficult for a mother to let her child leave into independence even if she knows that the child is capable. Maybe it is just harder than you had thought because of the pregnancy hormones.
Turtle, don't worry about your weight. I only started to put on a couple of weeks ago. I first had lost 3kg.

Ladies, I'm so jealous of your Italian escapades! Mind you, we're going to the French Alps next week, so can't complain. DH is a complete cycling freak and he's doing this brilliant organised race down there, something like 170km, quite a few cols. I'm going to be the support, as my cycling days are put on hold for now.

We actually cycled around Europe for seven months 4 years ago and spent 6 weeks in Italy, loved it.

laugs say hello to those olive groves for me.

Laugs I loved Italy. We were in Umbria, on the border of Tuscany. The heat did get to me a bit. We would venture out in the morning and then keep out of the sun when it was at it's hottest. The most enjoyable part of the day for me was from 3.30-7pm when the sun was still hot but not uncomfortable. We did have some scorching days. The ice-cream was my holiday highlight . I'm sure you'll have a brilliant time!!

Ooh I started Cloud Atlas, but never got very far with it. Maybe I will try again. Still drifting between books at the moment - I'm not happy until I get hooked in!

Sleepless don't worry about me, I just like a good moan! Actually, I've found out that my only really good friend who is going is a girl who REALLY talks up her career (beyond recognition), to the point of it being embarrassing for everyone who knows her, so I am sure a bit of self-deprecation won't go amiss.

turtle glad to see you and hope you're not too worried about the weight gain thing. I haen't been weighed this time, but I seem to remember last time that it was more like my weight became displaced for the first few months - bigger round the tummy, but I lost weight in other places. Maybe this is it?

eeyore and helips congratulations on your scans!

fruitpastels we are going to Nice, followed by Tuscany at the end of July. I can't wait! Where were you? Did you find the heat hard?

sleepless yeah, black poo... It's all glamour and roses, isn't it? Funny, because I haven't got any other pg symptoms yet, belly a bit out, but sprout still not bouncing. It's strange to discover that this is having an internal effect after all.
I've been reading threads about this iron lark, drink orange juice, munch on spinach and dried apricots. And some cow.

Talking of books, has anybody read Lisey's Story by Stephen King? I love his non-horror stories.

I also cannot recommend David Mitchell enough. Everybody read Cloud Atlas!

bbl hope your little boy has a much better day at school today. Your post made me feel ever so sad, kids can be so cruel to each other. I dread to think what I'm going to be like when ds starts school and if something like that happens.

Had my scan this morning and all is well. So relieved and lovely to see little beany waving his/her arms and legs! eeyore like you we are waiting for the surprise, although it was tempting to find out!

Hi everyone,
congratulations to all those with good scans and all the exciting boy/girl news.
I had my 20-week scan today but I didn't find out the sex as I have decided to wait for the surprise. The baby was great though and apparantly has extra-long legs! Very happy that there were no problems picked up, I too have been hearing the odd horror story lately. It was nice to see the little one one the screen, although I still find it difficult to connect the blurry screen picture with the concept this this is actually my own child!
Weston, sorry to hear you have been sick today, how miserable. Hope you feel better soon.

BeckyBL how mean!???? I can't understand how kids can be so cruel..scary isn't it..DD is only 18months and when she is pushed over by the older kids in the park I feel like crying..its so hard to deal with their disappointments and hurt. Are you ok? Is he better?? Good you got a letter.

Turtle I've only just gained a little weight after the MS so don't worry..

Laugs Careers don't define us..we define us. so enjoy the reunion and knock em out with your charm. Sorry about the PSP and dinner plates!

oh and yes my old life was quite glam..i remember those days with fondness!!! but am happier now than ever.

scarlotti its natural to be worried..my mum didn't let me do the outdoor pursuit on Dof E..and I regret that...she'll be fine don't worry too much.

Welcome back Fruitpastels*

*Skorpion had my results today too and have v low iron too..hence the tiredness. take the pills and I will too..watch out for the black poo!!! its so odd...

BBL lol at the cow!! she'd get a right fright if that happens!
I think it was more that the depth of my worry was a shock, if that makes any sense. I'm used to feeling worried for Ds going into situations as he's only 3.5 but DD is so self sufficient and capable it's strange to get those feelings about her again.
Am sure she'll be ok ... now if I can just get the pictures of her wandering aimlessly lost around vast lakes and countryside out of my mind I'll be fine!!

Scarlotti I did a Duke of Edinburgh many, many years ago! She'll be fine I'm sure. I can imagine how you feel though; it must feel strange. I remember eating bangers, mash and peas cooked on a tiny burner thing for our tea and waking up in the night and bumping into a cow on my way to the toilet.

BBL glad your ds is happy today and that he got a letter of apology - that was sweet.

Turtle don't worry about the weight thing. I've had 3 succesful pg's now and the weight gain has been completely different with all of them. DD was the best with practically none for 5 months then minimal for the rest, put my jeans back on to leave hospital.
This one is the worst - I've put on 1st 5lbs already and it's not like I've been eating lots. My body obviously gets more efficient at building fat stores with each subsequent pg

Fruitpastels we're off to Majorca for 10 days am so looking forward to it, work is quite busy and I work full time so a break will be just the ticket. There are kids clubs for Ds (if he'll go ) and DD will entertain him too for a bit so am hoping to get a bit of lounge and read time. We've also gone half board so no cooking and cleaning either.
Thought we'd make the most of the opportunity as with 3dc's the rest of my life will be spent in static caravans if I'm lucky!!

My DD went off today to the Lake District on her silver Duke of Edinburgh trek. Felt dreadful leaving her this morning as they are on their own pretty much for 3 days/2 nights, and have to cook their own meals. It's been a long time since I've had a situation where DD has felt like my little girl again as she's almost 15 now. Am hoping she comes back in one piece!

Turtle what an insensative midwife!

DS went to school happy today and the offending boy has written him a letter to say sorry which I thought was very sweet. I just hope he has a good day today

Fruitpastels, I'm so jealous at the thought of Italy. I would kill for a holiday at the moment - WITH childcare, I should add...

Turtle, I lost weight in the first and second trimesters with DS (and the hyperemesis), and then blew up hugely in the third when I could actually keep food down again. This time around, I've gained 11 lbs already, but I'm hoping that the weight gain will be more gradual.

Turtle I haven't gained much weight either. Are you naturally slim? The sickness got me so I had to gain back what I lost and have gained a little on top so far. I think I'm about 3 weeks ahead of you, and only started to gain some pounds in the last 2 weeks. The last trimester is when you need to increase your calories by 200. That's not very much really, an extra sandwich a day. I wouldn't worry yourself too much. I'm sure you'll get some weight on you very soon

Thanks for noticing I wasn't here, Laugs...I have just had a lot on my mind recently and haven't felt like posting. STill here, still waiting for the scan which is weeks away!

Not to annoy anybody...but I haven't gained any weight. Am getting worried. When I said to MW she just scowled at me and said "Well..eat more, then. You gained a huge amount of weight last time, I thought you'd be glad not to this time."

Hello All. Congratulations on the scans, little boys and girls, how lovely to know. Roll on July 14th!

Had a doc's appointment yesterday, as blood tests came back with low haemoglobin result. Got put on iron supplements. Funny, I have been feeling quite tired but as soon as he confirmed the low iron I started to feel really exhausted! The power of suggestion, eh? I admit I haven't been eating my greens, and can't even think of eating a steak! Maybe I'll chew on some rusty nails...

Becky I hope your boy has a better day today, what meanies those other kids.

I managed to win a huge bundle of mat. clothes on e-bay! They're making their way to me now, can't wait.

BBL Hope your DS went off to school ok today.

We went to Italy for the week. It was lovely and relaxing. Back to normal life and feeling post holiday blues today. I'm looking forward to Friday and having my scan, which is cheering me up. Getting some strong kicks and noticed bubba has a routine, esp at 10pm when I want to go to bed!

Scarlotti Where you off to on your hols? I have another week off in August but I think we'll be staying at home for that one.

I think the sun has done my teenage spots a treat! I don't feel like spotty dotty anymore, and actually feel the blooming stage has begun.

BBL how is your DS (and you) today? Hope he's ok now and looking forward to school. Children can be really cruel at times. My Ds was brought to tears by a boy at sunday school last week - My DS is 3.5 and the boy had told him he was doing his picture wrong as he was scribbling and not colouring

I hope your friend, who's the boy's Mum, has had a good word with him and apologises today.

Anyone else impatient now to meet their baby?! I'm wondering if it's because I know he's a boy and now I just want him here!

We're off on holiday on Sunday - I can't wait

He's more chirpy now (DH is reading them a story right now). Like you say Laugs it is so hard feeling so powerless. I can't be there tomorrow or the next day or whenever and the thought of him being scared or worried about going to school is killing me. He loves school. The worry never stops! It starts when you get the positive test result! (Having said that so does the joy and just wonderful warm feelings you get thinking about your bump / baby / little boy or girl.)

Aww BBL your poor DS. And poor you - it must be so hard knowing something's happened when you can't be there. Hopefully it's just a one off. Is he ok this evening?

ursigurke yeah!

Weston poor you

Laugs just hold your head up high at your reunion - you're having a baby and that's a wonderful thing!

I had a reunion last autumn - 20 years since we did our GCSEs together - it was both great fun and really, really weird. I wasn't a popular kid at school (a bit of an odd-ball geek really) and all the same feelings of 'oooh I'm not as pretty as them' come back! It was weird but a lot of fun too (and fascinating to see how people really don't change over time).

I've had a bad day DS1 was kicked by a boy in his class and the same boy, egged on by two other boys, pulled his trousers down. A teacher saw this happen, thankfully. This boy's mum is a good friend of mine, too, which made it a bit awkward. DS1's class teacher told the boy's mum all about it after school so she could have words with her son but nothing was said to me which I found a little odd. So my friend told me about it and obviously felt really bad about it. DS1 was really glum all the way home and just looked so sad and hurt. He's so trusting and so friendly (a bit naive perhaps - he's had problems adjusting socially since he started preschool at age 3) and he wouldn't hurt a fly so when someone is mean to him he can't understand it. I don't quite know what to think really. I hope it is just a one off. These two boys (the eggers oners) have pushed DS1 over before and knocked his snack out of his hands - why are children sometimes so cruel? They are only five years old as well

fruitpastels nice to see you back. Have you been on holiday? I've been wondering about everyone on the thread we haven't heard from much recently. turtle? Lissyglitter?, flumpity?, munchies and loads of others. Hope they're all doing well and are far too busy having proper lives to be on here all the time

At least my bump may distract from the fact my so-called career is in tatters! My school was a grammar school, so will be mingling with loads of highly successful Oxbridge-now-City types. I will cling to my friends and eat myself silly at the buffet (God, I hope there's a buffet....)

katster topshop maternity do have some nice stuff. Or I'm sure you could dress up your Primark tunic with some well-chosen accessories!

I have been SO clumsy today. I managed to smash two of our 'good' dinner plates and dropped DH's PSP down the toilet . I REALLY hope it still works. In the past I have (entirely accidentally) broken two laptops and nearly a third - all his too.

ursigurke congrats on your healthy girl, what a lovely birthday present for your dh! Hope you have a lovely evening and you definately deserve a small glass of wine!

Well, ds is back on fine form after last nights antics. In fact he is driving me mad!!! He is in a bed now rather than a cot and just will not stay put, I reckon I've put him back to bed about 10 times already and I am sick of running up and down the stairs. Can't believe he isn't tired after his late night last night and early rise this morning.

Got my scan tomorrow, woo hoo! Not going to find out the sex but will be a massive relief to know everything is ok with beany.

ursigurke congratulations on your news! I definitely reckon a glass of wine is in order to toast the occasion.

I didn't believe school reunions actually happened! Be cool to let people know you're pregnant. You can be all smug and glowing!

My goodness I've been away for a week and I've had a struggle to read all your posts!

lemontop what a stressful time for you. Glad to hear baby is doing well. I'm sure everything is fine.

Have my anomaly scan on Friday, we decided not to find out the sex, well unless it gets too much for DH and I and we give in at the scan! How excting that some of you have found out what you're having, we should update the list!

Aaaw usigurke I def think you should be having a smal glass of wine What a nice birthday for your DH.

Laugs mine is in Yorkshire. Yuck. There's a chance I can sneak out of it as also a 60th birthday celebration on the same day (DH's family) so might have to go to that instead. But then, there will still be the wedding the following week which I am dreading! We are only going to the evening bit, but it is a bloke we both went to school with who neither of us know that well now. BUT lots of school friends will be at that too, and I am feeling v paranoid! No idea what I will wear. I got a really nice tunic-dress from Primark in jade green with black crochet around the edge (that sounds horrid - it's not, I promise!) but don't think it's wedding-y enough. I had got a dress from Zara but I am wearing it today and I have to wear a top under it or it is v revealing. May have to sneak to TopShop maternity beforehand, methinks...
Weston Hope your tum is ok? Could it be a tummy upset?
Tamlin yes, I am sick of those people!! (Am getting a t-shirt that says IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAD A DODGY 20 WEEK SCAN, THEN KEEP IT TO YOURSELF UNTIL I AM 25 WEEKS PLEASE!!)

Laugs if the hair colour is not too different from your natural one I would dye it. And to you and katster, I'm sure you will be the stars as pregnant women! It's a sign that you are in a happy stage of your lifes and I'm sure there will be others wishing to be in your situation! So you should definitely see it as a positive thing and enjoy being all proud of it!
Weston, I hope it was a one time thing and you will soon feel better.
Thanks for all your congratulations, also to my husband's birthday. He already had a picknick with friends yesterday, cake for breakfast, a scan of his first daughter and will get a nice homecooked meal (I personally think, it would be a good occasion for a small glass of wine for me too) so I guess it was quite a nice day for him.

scarlotti that's really kind but I'd worry about something spilling on it etc. I might just go for a tunic and leggings and make sure I tell everyone I'm pregnant!

katster it did occur to me it could be the same reunion as you lived in Cheltenham too, didn't you? But no, mine is on the 4th July. Wish I had a DH there to hide behind (though not mine, particularly, he is even more shy than me!)

weston hope you feel better soon, it's horrible being sick, esp. if you have to work. I'm feeling rough today but it's just hayfever I think. Feel so tired though. DH has college tonight so I'm planning to go to bed when DD does.

Usigurke congratulations at finding yours is a girl too!

Weston, sounds more like a tummy bug to me. Have heard of nausea coming back in the third trimester, but not of it showing up for the first time half-way through! Hope it passes quickly...

I'm twenty weeks last week, and my scan isn't for another week. Small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but gnnnh, I really want to know that everything is okay. Like some of you others, I keep hearing horror stories ('..and the baby had NO KIDNEYS!') from 'helpful' people.

congrats to everyone with twenty week scans and happy pink and blue shopping...i have to wait till sat week and seems ages away and i have convinced myself something is amiss.. just rang to c if could bring it back to this sat as am 20 weeks this week but fully booked...

also threw up all over work this am, first time this pregnancy, onset of morning sickness at 20 weeks??

Oh, and Laugs we have a school reunion too, on 11 July. I am dreading it. DH and I went to the same school so I am hoping I can hide behind him. Also have nothing to wear and would normally over-indulge in the old vino at these things so it's going to be terrible. Hang on - you're not going to the same one are you???! We can look frumpy and pregnant together if you are!!

Usigurke YAAAAY congrats on your long-legged little girl!! I am so happy for you. And Happy Birthday to your DH!

Lemontop You poor thing, all this extra anxiety - I am sure you will be fine though. Did they mention cervical erosion? Could it be that? I think that's fairly innocuous but common in pregnancy?

Scarlotti and Tamlin - think I will buy that book on amazon now - sounds just up my street at the minute

Midwife been and gone - she said she wasn't going to check the heartbeat as I have been feeling movements and there was no point as it can still be hit and miss at this stage (can it??) and she didn't want to panic me!! So I worried over nothing. Next appointment in 4 weeks.

Can't believe how many of you have had your anomaly scans - I am so jealous. Mine is not for another 3 weeks and 2 days!!

Cheers everyone. I came home feeling much better about the situation but then woke up this morning to even more brown blood!

I'm hoping this was caused by being given an internal examination yesterday as I sometimes bleed after smear tests etc. I'm going to give it till tomorrow to see if it settles and if not I'll head back to hospital. It was so scary having to go to the labour ward. It's much too early!

Yesterday it sounded like the doc thought it was a problem with me rather than the baby as there was good heartbeat etc. I'm hoping I'd be in much more pain etc if it was something serious. I've got my 22 week scan 2 weeks today. That might give me more of a clue.

Tamlin yeah, that bit was a corker - and the woman didn't have any shame either! Have just get her book about the workhouses so no doubt will come across more delights! Am just amazed at how people lived then, and it was only about 50 years ago. Have to say I do look at bent over old people differently now.

Laugs I'd say dye it! Also, what size are you pre maternity? I have a dress I could pop in the post to you for you to wear if you like.

usigurke congratulations on your scan and your daughter!

kaster hope it's all gone well with the midwife.

Thanks ursigurke. I do actually have a home dye kit that I bought ages ago, but it's a colour I haven't used before and I can't afford for the hairdressers to fix it if it looks terrible, so not sure what to do!
Congrats on the baby girl!! And happy birthday to your DH. I hope that was a good enough surprise for him. Are you celebrating for the rest of the day?

Laugs - I'm sure you'll look fine at your school reunion. I have lots of grey hair as well. I had dyed them for the wedding and now as it comes out again it seems to be worse (what an effect this marriage already has...) Could you maybe use just one of this self dye things? They only cost a couple of pounds. And I'm sure you will look pregnant in a couple of weeks. I think wearing tights things help to show your bump. If you try to hide it with a floating or loose-fitting top you are more likely to look fat than with something tight that shows the nice pregnancy shape.

Lemontop - Glad to hear that your baby is fine. As someone said before, there are lots of women with bleeding and they can't always find the reason but they had a healthy baby in the end. It is a stupid comparision but nose bleeding is a common pregnancy symptom. Maybe there is just too much blood in our body that has to get out somewhere. Anyway, I hope you feel good now.
Pedal - that sounds good and even better that you and your husband are happy with the situation.
Sleepless - I am really sorry to hear about your SIL but I'm sure she will be fine with all the support from the family.
Katster - don't worry about your appointment. I'm sure everything will be fine. Even if sometimes they can't find the heartbeat wouldn't mean anything. Didn't you already feel your baby move? (Sorry I can't remember)

I had my scan today, everything seems to be normal, quite interestingly the thigh bone is longer than the average (but still normal) and I always thought that mine are a bit too long in proportion to the rest of my body and the "abdominal circumference" would as well be more than the average which again is no surprise considering the amount of food I had the last couple of weeks . Anyway, I wasn't really worried but I'm very relieved that everything seems to be fine. And finally we got the surprise: It seems to be a girl!!! And I was just so convinced it would be a boy (I even accidentally used "he" sometimes). Funnily enough lots of people had told me things like they "knew for sure" it was a boy. It seems this little person inside me has already messed around with all of us

katster I've found that people do seem to tell you horror stories about their/ other people's pregnancies. I can't imagine why they might think you want to know this! I suppose maybe if it's happened to them, your being pregnant might bring it all back. But quite often the story relates to someone they don't even know that well, which really annoys me.
I remember last time this mate of DH's, who I really didn't know, kept on telling me NOT TO PANIC about the birth, but in this really panic-inducing tone, AFTER he'd told me both his children had had complicated births. But both children were absolutely fine minutes after the birth - why not tell me that side of the story instead?

sleepless helicopter rides to Monte Carlo sound very glam! I can't remember the last time I was chatted up either....

Oh, speaking of a-time-when-i-didn't-look-entirely-frumpy, I have a school reunion in a couple of weeks! It'll be so weird to see all the people I haven't seen since school, but I'm feeling so gross at the moment - I don't want everyone to think 'ooh... she's let herself go!' I'm only (just) 28, but have loads of grey hair already! And terrible skin. And I'm just at that stage of bumpiness before people definitely know you're pregnant, so I might just look really fat. Can't afford a new outfit or haircut. Even worse, I have to endure the whole thing without a drink!! I wish I could just be a fly on the wall instead.

Pedal WOW that is a fantastic outcome I have always dreamt of being given gardening leave!! It happened to DH when he changed jobs - he had 3 months sat at home, I was so jealous!

Lemontop OMG you must have been terrified, poor thing. Which hospital did you go to? I hope the bleeding and pain has gone now, and as others have said, it is a good sign that they can't find a reason for the bleeding.

Sleepless I am really sorry about your SIL. Could you maybe send some flowers, so you are showing you are you are thinking of them but without feeling too awkward?

The midwife is coming round at 2pm for my 18 week appointment. I feel nervous that she won't be able to find the heartbeat - those monitor things sound to be a liability and I just have this panic that she will look all grave and have to send me to hospital or something... Also, TWO people at work have told me stories of people who lost their babies in the second trimester - I am so pissed off. I mean, obviously it is absolutely awful for them, but they were both ages ago and they just feel the need to wheel out these stories NOW to scare me - I swear that is the reason. Grrrrrr.

Thanks folks..my SIL has all the support round the corner, both parents and in-laws so that is a good thing..DH doesn't think I should call yet tho..

pedal that is an amazing outcome!!! gardening leave to boot, what a result.

helips what a mare!!!! you just can't take the risk tho..must have been very scary for you. that remind me to look up where the nearest A&E is here..

Laugs Shantaram is an odd read..not my favourite book but a good yarn all the same. I love India so like to read about the mucky underworld that I don't know much about. Someone was reading in on a helicopter ride to Monte Carlo a few years back and raved about it..think he was just chatting me up..oh the good ole days

'surreptitiously', sorry. Good grief. Hi, I used to work in dictionaries before my baby ate my brain!

Scarlotti, think I read that one a few months ago - remember turning distinctly green when I got to the bit where the poor midwife is doing an internal exam of a woman covered in oozing syphilis sores... Not a read for the queasy, methinks.

Helips, augggh! Poor you, it's so scary when they do that sort of thing. We've had two runs to A and E so far, and knowing DS, there'll be a few more...

Lemontop, sounds terrifying, I am SO glad that your baby's all right.

Re. clothes - I hate buying stuff online too, especially maternity (where the sizing seems even odder, depending on where the designer estimates your pregnancy weight will go...) The thing I'm worrying about is clothes for this winter, as I remember from DS how hard it was to nurse through layers of winter stuff - you're pulling aside your coat, pulling up your jersey, unbuttoning your shirt, trying to unsnap your bra without pads flying out, and all the while, baby's shouting and your milk is soaking your tops... It's also next to impossible to find button-down shirts which stretch over massive engorged boobs - I was a 34FF for a while - and I was never one of the 'Just haul your top up!' crew as a) I didn't really want to display acres of pasty postpartum tummy, and b) I needed to be able to stuff muslins surrepticiously up my shirt to catch all the run-off.

Morning everyone

Lemontop hope you're ok now and feeling a bit more reassured about things. I know a lot of people who've bled inexplicably in pg but all was perfectly fine.

sleepless echoing thoughts for your SIL and hope it's not too awkward for you and dh.

pedal what a result!! Couldn't have been a better outcome for you - am thrilled for you and just a little !!

I've just finished 'Call the midwife' by Jennifer Worth and it was brilliant. All about a young midwife in the East End in the 50's. An excellent book but will tug at your heartstrings esp with pg hormones!

hobnob next do some good maternity top packs - handy for Aberdonian summers as you can layer them under tunics on chillier days. I have some for work and they're ideal.

A friend of mine gave me a bag of clothes to rummage through last Friday and I feel like I've been given a whole new wardrobe! Is lovely to have a few new pieces to wear.

Sorry, meant to say, lemontop it sounds like you've had a really stressful weekend. I'm glad they couldn't find any reason for the bleeding - I know it's frustrating not knowing why, but I think that is normally a good sign. Do you have to have a scan or are they just waiting and see how you go?

helips glad your DS is ok. They keep us on our toes don't they? Maybe he will have a nap today and you can catch up on some rest.

ninjacat I hope you managed to get things resolved with your ex before the weekend so you can enjoy Glasto. It's just a shame for DS' ske he is so unreasonable (yours too, of course)

sleepless sorry to hear about your SIL. I hope she's getting lots of comfort and care at home.

pedalmonster about your 5.5 months garden leave! I'm really glad you're happy with the outcome though, and don't have to have any more stress under that awful boss.

erikamaye I really like Jo Brand actually, so might try that book. Luckily I am going down to my parents' on Thursday and my mum has more books than anyone I've ever met. She'll keep me in ready supply. I know she's got The Book Thief too BBL, so I might try that one. Sorry I've forgotten who was reading Shantaram - I was bought this for Christmas but I read about the first paragraph and I didn't really like the writing. My friend said it was one of her favourite books ever though, so I might have to give it another try.

Hobnob I lived there from 1995-1997 in Saitama (so long ago). Where did you live and what were you doing there? I did the JET scheme (teaching English) and had the best time ever. I miss it so much (nihon ni ikitai!) DH downloads Japanese drama with subtitles for me to watch! DH is actually learning Japanese now which is kind of embarrassing because I've forgotten so much so I hate it when he asks me to talk to him in Japanese and asks me 'what is the kanji for such and such?' I can't remember!!!!

Helips oh dear poor you what a stressful night!!! Glad your DS is fine.

sleepless sorry to hear about your SIL. It's a horrible thing to go through

sleepless sorry to hear about your SIL, hope she is ok and being well looked after.

pedalmonster thats great news about the redundancy, you must be so relieved that everything is sorted at last.

hobnob that tunic is beautiful and will probably see you through Autumn too, just remember to get a bigger size than normal if not maternity!

I am shattered this morning. Ended up taking ds to a&e last night and didn't get home till late. Basically I put him to bed last night and he got straight up again as normal so I just left him to play. After a bit I went upstairs to find him playing with a bottle of mediced which i stupidly left on his chest of drawers. The bottle was open, god knows how and ds smelt of mediced so rang nhs direct and they said to take him to hospital just to err on caution as half the bottle was gone and I couldn't be sure how much ds had had. Anyway, he is absolutely fine, in fact he was wide awake last night so couldn't of had much! Despite going to bed late he woke up at 6am, and got me up twice in the night! yawn!

lemontop I hope you're not worrying too much about not knowing where this bleeding is coming from. It'll be something innocuous I hope.

BBL when were you in Japan? I was there for a year about 10 years ago and just loved the place. Such fond memories and I SOOOO want to go back!

Pedal I'm so glad you're happy with the outcome. I too am officially 'replaced' after the end of this week (well, beginning of next term in August) but unfortunately I still have to go into work until the end of October to earn my pay!

Ninja trying hard to restrain myself online, but then not really knowing why, because I have nothing to wear. I just hate spending money generally and also hate buying clothes online. Don't really have a choice since our only real-life-try-it-on maternity outlet appears to be Mothercare and maybe H&M. Trying to work out what the essentials are: have jeans, lived in blooming marvellous strappy tops last time so need some more of them. I also had a pair of over the bump jersey trousers which were a godsend before and after the birth. As I said, these clothes made their way to Spain, never to return. I didn't get enough last time so want to think carefully about how much more I really need and how versatile they are. I found this tunic online last night, which sparked off the leggings comment, but it's not even maternity. I'm just aware that up here in The North normal summer clothes are often only warm enough for short parts of the day! It looks stretchy enough????? Shame it's grey, but should do Autumn too if it doesn't look ridiculous. If not, it'll do next Spring to hide the flab!

Tell me to stop thinking and just get something...

Hello ladies! congrats Trikken and Scarlotti on girl and boy babies - yay you can start thinking of names - wow we are half way there now! can't wait for my scan!

I had my final meeting on Friday and, as i had expected, my role will not exist in the new structure... so i have taken the redundancy package as can't go through the trauma of applying for a new role reporting to my boss, where i would get paid less and have to work harder - he is such a jerk and bully. But on the brighter side, i have a 6 mth notice period with this package, which covers me fully for maternity pay etc. And the crowning glory - i could not have planned this if I had tried - I have a hand over this week, then on "garden leave" for 5.5 months - woooo hooooo! Full pay. So i am practically being paid to stay at home and redecorate! DH had even agreed that this outcome is better than we could have hoped! so i am unemployed but so so pleased!
hobnob was it you asking for tops and leggings? I got some great tops from New Look, and also H&M Hennes.and get the leggings from H&M they are very comfy and do not shrink in the wash. on yr feet - anything! Ugg boots (if you are so inclined) ballet pumps, strappy flat sandals, plimsols. I even wear my leggings under skirts or dresses (have not waxed for a while so a bit furry for showing the legs!)

lemontop glad all is well..its a scary ole ride this isn't it..i hope you're ok.

Just had some bad news about my SIL who has MC..its heartbreaking and I just don't know what to say. DH doesn't feel he can even talk to his bro about it, but we have to acknowledge our sadness for their loss.

ninja that is a lovely thought that the baby is lying on a nerve, however i get twitching when not preggers too!! Am midway through Shantaram..its mighty long but i quite like it. Also restarted Donna Tartt's The Little Friend which as beckybl says isn't as good as Secret History.

Father's day was pretty quite. I watercoloured a card and put a Big Bear and Little Bear on it..didn't get round to making the fairy cakes pedal..Had guests for lunch so was busy tidying up and cooking.. Am shattered now and DH giggling at Top Gear as i type.

Helips hope DS is better..cleaning up a LO who has just vommed at 5am is a mare..Been there too so hope you got some rest afterwards.

Can't believe the weekend is over

DH videoed me breastfeeding DS1 in hospital and I didn't notice for about five mins and was mortified when I saw him! DS1 was only a couple of days old so it there was me with it all hanging out trying to get him latched on! Now that moment is captured for ever!

helips sorry your DS has been poorly - poor little mite!

Lemontop glad to hear your babe is ok, hope the docs can root out the cause for you so you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

lemontop glad to hear all is well with baby, must have been so scary for you.

I wish I had time to read, I love a good book and will make a note of everyones suggestions so that once ds is in nursery and baby is on boob I can start reading again!

urgisurke your comments about the MIL taking pictures of breastfeeding made me laugh, don't think dh's family would dare do that

grace09 I will be having a good look at the mamas and papa's website, I feel a spending spree coming on!

Well, my day didn't start off too great. Ds was poorly yesterday and had a temperature all day. Then this morning he woke me up at 4.45am and projectile vomited over me. Nice! Poor little mite seems much better now though and is splashing away in the bath with daddy.

Hope all the dh's had a good fathers day, just think what it will be like next year!

Phew, this seems to be a mammoth post from me so I will go now, have a fun evening everyone!

Lemontop I've just read your post. You poor thing. You must have been so worried and scared. Glad you heard the baby's hearthbeat and at least you know your little bean is ok. ErikaMaye you too I hope you are feeling brighter today.

Ninjacat on the classics front how about George Eliot? Or Thomas Hardy - I devoured his books when I lived in Japan as they reminded me of home (plus until I learnt the language there wasn't much else to do except read great big books!).

Glad all's ok Lemontop, must have been scary for you. Take care x

hugs lemontop that must have been so scary I had some terrible cramping last night and was in tears, so scared that something was going wrong. Its eased off this morning, so I think I must have twinged a muscle or something... I'm glad the baby is okay.

Ninjacat - are you a classics fan? If you haven't read it, I would throughly suggested Ivanhoe, or The Age Of Innocence I love my classics...

Afternoon all. I've had quite a morning! Spotting got much heavier last night with some red blood and I was having really bad pain etc. I also realised I hadn't felt the baby move for a few days so was in a bit of a panic. I rang midwife this morning who told me to go to labour ward as I'm over 20 weeks. Was there for hours and thankfully heard baby's heartbeat and apparently my cervix is closed so there's no danger of imminent premature labour or miscarriage. PHEW! They still can't find any reason for it but have suggested I go to GP for another smear test as it may not be baby related. At least baby seems ok.

Hello all, thanks for the kind words. Dp saw I was struggling so as taken over dealing with solicitors and getting legal advice.

I had my first drink in five months last night a glass of bubbly which was quickly followed by a home made chocolate mouse. I can now add that to the copious amounts of coffee I've not been able to refrain from and the goats cheese (avec rind) and have to admit I am not being as strict in the second trimester as I was in the first.

I'm also on the hunt for new reading material. I have now recovered from reading War and Peace and feel able to move on. Any suggestions welcome. (Or maybe that's a thread of its own?)

I cannot wear leggins and pumps because I gave size 8 feet and look like a clown or anything floaty because I look like a 12man tent on wheels. But for you skinnier minis I saw that M&P are doing "maternity jeans for a tenner www.mamasandpapas.co.uk/product-dark-denim-jeans/s0004646/type-s/" (size 6 and 12)

Sleepless I read that the eye twitch could be down to baby lying on a nerve. I don't know if that's anatomically correct but it's a sweet idea. My twitch is almost constant now and I'm sure people think I'm winking at them in the street. Oh well I'm sure it will pass.

Lemontop I'm sorry you're still spotting. I hope it clears up soon for you.

congratulations trikken and scarlotti on the scans and good luck to those with scans next week.

Just wanted to say in case you haven't seen it already but mamas and papas have got a brilliant sale on at the moment. I got a tunic dress and this lovely purple dress which i'm going to wear for weddings this year and a tunic top Had to really control myself as there was loads of nice stuff. Also great deals on prams, nursery furniture etc.

egg butties mmmmm...thanks becky that's breakfast decided!!

What to read next? That is too big a question to ask Laugs! I love having that problem It depends what sort of thing you like or are in the mood for. Have you read 'The Book Thief'? Actually I'm coming to the end of my book soon too so need to think what to read next.

We've just had egg butties for breakfast - yum! House is sooo quiet without DH. I just hope he isn't too hungover.

hobnob - I usually wear some dolly shoes, though I found some fantastic and comfy things off amazon... Link: www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0012EHF9M/ref=ox_ya_oh_product I got the pink and green ones, but my therapist, after seeing mine, ordered the other ones. They're really comfy, take a little wearing in, but comfy!!

As for tops... Primark have a lot of tops in at the moment. Evans do as well - I bought a beautiful dress there for my 18th. Peacocks are fab for range currently as well. Hope that helps!!!

Laugs - I'm reading Jo Brand's new book at the moment, entitled "The More You Ignore Me". I went to her book reading and interview because I love her! But if you want something thats got a good balance of comedy and seriousness its well worth a glance.

Just finished reading The Road Home this evening and feeling all adrift without it! What to read next? I have loads of unread books on my shelves, but none appeal.

OK, thanks for that. Feeling fairly stupid, but haven't considered leggings since my teenage days!

Hmmm. Being pg is a bad thing - I'm spending more time looking at clothes online than I normally do in a year, and finding far too many things that I like (few actually maternity clothes - a handy hurdle to spending a fortune!).

Who was it got some nice floaty tops? Where were they from, if you don't mind me asking?

hobnob, ballet slipper flats, I think. If you're worried about arch support, Clark's does some with hidden support in the slipper.

Comfy I mean!

I either wear my calf-length boots or when it is hot these platform-but-very-confy (made by Dr Martens) shoes.

Entirely random question - just looking for some comfy clothes and considering a tunic-type top. Being in Scotland, I'll need to consider leggings. What does one wear on one's feet with leggings?

<feeling a bit unobservant and stupid>

Have strappy sandals, but what when it's raining?

lemontop - If its any consolation I had some bleeding the other week and some Braxton Hicks at the same kinda time, so I was terrified. But the midwife said the same to me, that because it was brown blood, it was old blood, so there was no need to be concerned.

Hi everyone

We are missing DH today but we've just had some major retail therapy and I managed to get the shoes I wanted for the wedding half price!!! We've also bought DH a present for tomorrow and I'm cooking up a big pot of spag bol for the DSs' and my tea tonight. I wish I could have a nice glass of red with it though ribena perhaps.

Trikken curry for breakfast is cool! I like it!

DH is probably drunk already and on a punt. Hmmm. I don't want to know actually what he's up to. He'll be back tomorrow all unshaven and croaky with red rimmed eyes I'm sure.

Can't remember names already, but whoever wasn't going to find out the sex of their LO, I'll be in your camp. They don't offer to tell you up here - in fact there are signs everywhere in multiple languages asking you not to ask. I thought it might be for cultural infanticide reasons but have since found out it's just a throughput issue in the scanning department. Double-checking takes time and less scans are done per day... Although I'm glad to have one less decision to make on that front.

I decided today to go for my favourite 3-mile walk which I haven't managed since about April. I was shocked at how difficult I found it, especially uphill. DD was very patient with me toddling along at less than toddler's pace . I wanted to do it before SPD dictates that I can't. I was tempted to give up after the 1st mile, but the prospect of another 4.5 months of not being able to walk even a mile spurred me on. I am now officially crippled for the rest of the day (even after wearing my SI belt) but have that nice tired feeling which you get after earning a nap!

beepbeep so sorry for your situation with DH. I'm struggling with mine at the moment, and that's just because of 3-day conferences, late nights at the office and golf matches galore. It does sometimes feel so lonely. He's currently napping on the sofa after golf, waiting for DD to wake up. Hard to to get into the mindset of thinking he should be DOING something with his time at home.

Scarlotti congrats on your wee boy!

I've just realised I've forgotten my own stepdad on father's day, after being so proud to have organised something for DH. Grrr pg brain!

sleepless Its good your able to cook again, I too have just been able to crack out the saucepans and create a cooking frenzy. (Will admit to Dh and I have curry for breakfast this morning) Is that wrong?

PS pedal sounds like SPD..i'm sorry I know what you're dealing with. Get a belt and some physio if you can.. I plan to get some physio as carrying DD down the stairs is really getting painful..that and getting out of the bath...ouch!

ninjacat if only we all had dick head detectors..would have saved a hell of a lot of tears and heartache...hope youre not getting to down about it..he is being a real numpty and I'm sorry you're having to deal with it now..as you say though you have a lovely DS which is a blessing. BTW my right eye is twitching too..for three days now.

trikken and scarlotti congratulations on the scans..more pink than blue on this thread isn't there!? so pleased all is well...

*pinkfizzle Switzerland is all choc, cheese and fresh air..add non-stop sunshine and you have a summer in Geneve..its bliss..so good for kids. Am dreading winter..so spoiled with the summer. will be too busy with the baby to notice i suppose.

Curry night was great!!! yummers. so pleased I can bear to cook now..

Congrats trikken and scarlotti. My scan isn't till two weeks on Monday. Still can't decide if I want to find out the sex.

I'm still getting spotting. grrrrr I really thought it would have stopped by now. I panicked cos I was getting strange pains for the last two days. I spoke to the midwife and she doesn't seem too concerned. Same old story 'brown blood blah blah blah'.

I have a theory that it might be thrush causing it(TMI again!!!!) but I've never had any treatment for that before. I've got a GP appointment on Monday morning. Was thinking of rescheduling it as it's the last week of term and I've got tonnes to do but think I'll go for peace of mind.

Ohhhh congrats trikken and scarlotti I'm so happy for you both!!! I'm counting down the days till my scan, can't wait!!!

Kaster my brother's wife was told it was a boy at her 12 week scan, which was then confirmed at 20 weeks and at birth!!
It's not something they do as it is still early, but the sex areas develop around the 11-12 weeks and boys naturally are easier to spot!

Hey congrats trikken and scarlotti! One more of each

Ninja cat I do feel for you with your ex-problems. He sounds like he is being very immature and emotional about the situation and not considering your poor DS at all. Grrrrr.

DH has gone to Oxford already. Isn't it straneg how even though I am main carer during the weekend when you are doing it alone at the weekend it just seems that much harder? The DSs are fine though and running around in their jammies singing to themselves. I'd better go get them and myself dressed

We need to get our thinking caps on for father's day. We've hidden home made cards in his luggage but we need a present of some sort too I think.

Hi all,

Ninja So sorry you are having to deal with all this with your ex - tbh why would he pay for a solicitor that could be dealt with rationally? I hope it gets sorted soon. If he just drove over...

Trikken congrats on your little girl, and scarlotti congrats on the boy!!!
I am looking forward to seeing if the 22 week scan still thinks it's a boy, since I am sure 13 weeks is a bit early to detect it? Having said that I am in boy-mode so I am not sure how I would feel if they said it was a girl now! Accidentally bought the cutest hippo bibs the other day... Although I am sure a girl could cope with hippo bibs!

Usigurke are you finding out the sex on Monday? Good luck!!

BeepBeep I must admit, the swine flu thing had crossed my mind too. But I was more worried that a newborn could get it. I think we have to hope they have a vaccine by then. ANd if we are in v late pregnancy, ie in October, say, then delivering a month early wouldn't be too bad? I suppose it's one of those things we can't do much about, hence not really worth worrying about if that makes sense.

I had a dream last night that I met an ex-colleague walking in Northumberland - I was with DH and we had a little boy, a little girl, and I was pregnant again!!! OMG - although tbh that is my dream scenario, but it was such a nice dream, I didn't want to wake up!!! I am such a freak...

Ninjacat, sorry that you have to deal with so many problems with your ex. I hope this one will be solved in an easy way and that you can focus on your pregnancy.

Congratulations to your scans, trikken and scarlotti! I can't wait for mine on Monday.
helips, interesting that our husbands family consider our body as their property whereas our own families respect our privacy. My sister's MIL took even pictures of her while breastfeeding which she didn't realise until she saw them and as she said, her breasts were really not even pretty on the pictures but "well presented". And MIL showed all those pictures "of her nephew" to everyone! And I can perfectly imagine mine doing the same. My husband is an only child so we really have lots of pressure on us (we already got a complaint that they had to wait so long for a grandchild)
I hope you will all have an nice weekend and for those celebrating father's day, a nice day with your family, Laugs, I really hope you are getting that apple, too. I find that sooo cute.

Have just read some more posts!

Laugs - we're not planning on finding out the sex, we didn't with DD or DS.

Ninjacat - sorry you're going through the stress with your ex, hope it sorts itself out quckly. By the way, I also get atwitchy eye when tired!!

I can't believe hw many posts since i last looked!

Sleepless -thanks for comment on kids, DD looking better this morning, but poor DS is VERY snotty andfeeling sorry for himself, unfortunately DH is working all weekend (2nd one on trot, I haven't had a day off with him in 14 days - nice!!)

Hobnob (think it was you!!) - we did our wills last week, like you we've been meaning to do it for years. It was pretty straight forward, main thing was naming executor and someone who would be willing to look after kids if the worst was to happen! Decided they shouldn't get any money until 23, tho if aything didn't happen SIL & BIL would prob have to use any money we would leave to buy bigger house for all the kids, so prob no money left for them anyway!!

Think i'm coming down with DC's cold, have shocking sore throat and real 'coldy' feeling.

DH is getting concerned about swine flu! He's read that there's going to be an increase in it in the Autumn and one of the main groups of concen are pregnant women in the later stages of pregnancy - great! Anyway he's decided he's going to discuss it with the consultant when we see him. To make matters worse a case has been found in school 2 miles from our house, so he's panicking now! Nice to know he's concened, but I'd rather he was more concerned about how i'm going to look after a 2 yr old, a 1 yr old, be heavily pregnant, working and have him working weekends and all my days off for 17 days in every 5 weeks (he leaves at 6 and returns at bedtime). DH gets days off but they are when i'm at work, so for a 17 day stretch i'm either at work or looking after the kids on my own. I find this period exhausting now so i'm not sure how i'll cope towards the end.

Apols for my winge, I just hate DH working these weekends, selfishly cause i get no help with the kids, but also because i don't get to see him.

Laugs yes unfortunately the letter is a response to ds refusing to talk. I have spoken to his Mum and she says he's not talking to her either and hasn't even given her his new address (he won't tell us either)
The problem is I'm not dealing with a rational person so really I just despair as to what the best thing is to do. He took me to court last time because I objected to him sharing a bed with ds when ds was 8. In court he agreed to give ds his own bed then thanked the judge for giving him his family back! Even the mediators said they couldn't work with him. Arghhhhh
I wish I'd had a dick head detector when I was 17. Still would never be without ds so guess I have to learn to live with it.

Sorry to go on about me. Just feeling very lost with all this and just want to enjoy being pregnant.

Scarlotti congrats on the little boy

Congrats scarlotti! A lovely little boy. Hurray! And how did DD's exam go?

Is anybody else not planning to find out the sex? I'm getting all jealous now everybody seems to know!

ninjacat I meant to comment on that solicitor's letter before but it slipped my mind. It seems like your ex is being really extreme - is this all about DS not wanting to speak to him on the phone? Did you ever mention the situation to his mum, if she's a bit more rational? I think I'd try not to mention the letter to DS if possible. Would DS be willing to meet up with his dad if you went too, maybe just for a day (I know it's a long way though) - maybe you could do it on the way to somewhere else, to make it a bit more casual. Sorry none of that's probably very helpful.
Oh, and the twitchy eye - I get that when I'm tired. Speaking of which...

Congrats scarlotti! sounds lovely,really happy things went well for you too.

Thanks everyone for your messages!

Hi all

Scan went really well .... and we're having a boy!! Am pleased now but did have a twinge of dissappointment that I won't get to play dress up with a real live doll Now excited by the thought of having two blondie boys running around all over the place! Got some lovely pics.

At least we won't have to buy any new clothes!

Farting away this end too

Trikken Congrats - a girl

Laugs I will be working at the Thali Cafe (in the Galde I think?). Finish at 4pm so send him for lunch - password, Ninjacat.

Free veggie curry for a week then a scan on the Tuesday I get back. Sonographers going to love me.

This is an odd complaint but my right eye won't stop twitching. Pregnancy related?

Still really stressed about solicitors letter. I can't cope with going to court. Don't see what good that would do any way. Talk about a sledge hammer to crack a nut.

I love holding other peoples baby's and I've probably patted a few bumps - now I feel like a freak

Crossed with Trikken - PINK OUT, PINK OUT, PINK IT OUT!

Laugs BBC 3 do some good glastonbury coverage. I am going to stay at home and put on my wellies, find a sun dress that fits and dance around the living room.

Hobnob you keep farting and I'll keep burping.

I've probably crossed with others too. Anyway back to my exciting friday night.

Claire21 Despite being one of the first to be due on this thread I have not felt the slightest flutter... it must be due to the pizza padding insulation that surrounds my bub.

*Southern Belle* I do get the GP to check the HB each appointment and I find that reassuring and it always makes me .

to hear about your reduced income.

BBL I used to keep my dh waiting due to work ... I find it hard to keep balance and thinking back makes me shudder ...

In this climate of job insecurity I fear workaholic tendencies may increase, so tough. I really hope BBL that you can enjoy a peaceful weekend!

ErikaMaye here's wishing you assurance for your diagnosis and I hope you can get excellent care.

Sleepless when I think of Switzerland I think of fresh air, cheese and chocolate, what a fab combination!

Take care all, have a fab weekend I've got a night of tv and burping ahead. Hope all the scans go well as we are all inch closer to our d days.

Congrats trikken! Are you ready for the onslaught of pink??!

We think we finally sorted everything will-wise bar what we want done with our bodies. Odd that we've never considered it, and having discussed it a bit on the way home we really can't decide even where to be buried/interned, and whether that should be in the same place even if we die decades apart. There are so many scenarios to think about too, and decisions change accordingly. like what happens if one of us dies, both of us, both of us plus DC, etc. Apparently after the helicopter crash there was a rush on wills in Aberdeen. Just wish I had a crystal ball in a way.

Onto lighter topics - SLEEP! Maybe it's just my body finally turning a corner with this cold but I could NOT wake up this morning. DH left at 7:30 and DD had been up a while already. He'd given her milk but not breakfast (he seems to have an allergy to feeding the poor mite - she is hard work with food though). I was aware of noise and conversations, but could not for the life of me open my eyes... for another hour and a half . I just kept drifting into really real dreams. Poor DD just kept trying to engage me in conversation. So glad she hasn't got to the jumping on you stage yet Feeling a bit like a neglectful parent.

Don't know what I've eaten but I'm farting for Britain tonight , and so was DD. Can Philadelphia sandwiches do that to you?

Sorry Trikken I crossed with you - glad it all went well and congrats on the baby daughter!!

Just caught up with the last day's activity! Sounds like a busy day - hope the scans and exams and HR meetings all went well.

ninjacat DH has been looking at the Glasto line-up tonight and deciding all the bands he wants to see. I'm getting so jealous! Will you be on your mum's stall? I'll have to get him to have a peak at you - I'm desperate to put a face to everyone's names.

Pretty much everyone asked us last time if it was planned or... (you know, how the words hang in the air). I didn't actually mind. It wasn't planned and most of our friends would probably have guessed that. Actually, my friend (who's also pg with no.2) and I were laughing yesterday that the first time round you can claim it all 'just happened' and you're not really a grown up, but by the time you get onto 2 that's a real statement. 'God, I'm definitely a real mum now' we were saying. Hmm remind me what I've been doing the past 2.5 years, before I became a real mum?

Sounds like everyone has nice father's day plans. We bought DH a book, but DD didn't seem to notice we were buying it (was too busy spinning the Mr Men carousel), then cried when she found out. She wanted to get him an apple

I hope you're all having lovely friday nights anyway. I've already forgotten who was having the curry, but it made me jealous. DH has gone out, DD in bed, and I am planning to snuggle up with my book (which I LOVE now, BBL) and eat some cheese and crackers and drink hot chocolate. Woo hoo. Despite it being friday night, I actually can't think of anything I'd rather do.

southernbelle sorry to hear about your loss of earnings. I am freelance and very short of work at the moment, so I know how it feels. I am reassured at least that babies cost very little, especially for the first year or so. By the way, if anyone else is on a budget, I was in TK Maxx today and they had some lovely baby stuff. There was a baba sling for £25, which I'd been looking at in John Lewis for £39. Also some really cute clothes. You do have to rummage through the crap though!

Had scan today, it went well. found out that we are having a girl!

I'm too tired to type but lurking.

Getting in the Glsto spirit and sending Big Love to you all.

Hi all, haven't posted for a few days as just too tired but have been lurking! Good luck to everyone having scans today and congrats to everyone who has just had them. Mine is next Tuesday, can't wait!

Lots of dh's relatives have touched my tummy at a recent do, I got really annoyed and told his Aunt that I didn't like it. She just told me not to be silly and that we were family, I thought only by law not blood now get your hands off! Honestly, my family wouldn't dream of touching and prodding me, bloody family-in-laws!

They are doing some building work at DS1's school and one of the builders rubbed my tummy the other day. I'd never met him before! So I rubbed his back

I hope all the scans and GCSEs went well today. I cam remember clearly how stressful exams are. I used to work myself up into a frenzy the night before and hardly sleep. Drove my poor mum batty waking her up at 3am to say 'I can't sleep and I have an exam tomorrow!'

DH has just phoned 'I'll be on the 7.24 train if I am lucky so home at 9pm'. Pah. Ah well. I'm just grinning and being all chirpy for him.

Just got back from the hospital... Silly physcatrists, they can never make up their minds about a diagnosis! This guy is convinced I have rapid-cycling bipolar. Hmm... Funny, I suggested that one to my physc a few months ago and was told I was wrong. Ah well.

He thinks I should go back on my meds... I'm going to think seriously about it. I don't like the idea of the baby having withdrawal to deal with, but I am really struggling right now. I've been off them 14 weeks.

He also informed me that I'm more than likely to have a physcotic break after the birth - well thats something to look forward to! Last time I had even an episode in a hospital I was treated appallingly. Not to tell the whole story, but I was called a pathetic attention-seeker by the nurse for thinking someone was coming to kill me. So I was just left alone, screaming and crying, hiding under a chair while I was being laughed at. So am now terrifed of having a break on the maternity ward... Gah!

Pedal - I know, and I am greatful, it just drives me bonkers! She's worse than me, and I'm the one who's pregnant!!!

Hope today's scans went well.
I haven't had many people touching my belly so far. Just my mother in law (without asking, I didn't like it at all, would NEVER do that) and my colleague (who asked and it was fine for me, she is very curious and want to know everything about it). I quite like your reaction pedalmonster.
I guess it is also a cultural thing. I was on a wedding, my Japanese friend was there with her two month old girl (at the size of a European newborn). A Spanish woman came, shouted: "how cute, can I hold her?", Japanese (polite) husband said: "yes of course" and the poor Japanese baby got even a kiss on the cheek! I almost fainted (not to speak of the poor Japanese mum) and my pale husband only whispered: "What will we do, if that happens to us?" (TBH, I think, that his side of the family will have no problems to kiss our children all the time, as they have my genes too, they will probably run away
I get lots of comments from friends about my bump but I take it very well as I am sooo proud of finally having a noticable one. Maybe it is because it is my first?
Questions if it was planned or not seem to be a bit rude but maybe not for the person who asks. I suppose it depends how and why they ask. One, rather young colleague asked me, I think she couldn't imagine that anyone would really plan to have a child. I didn't mind, I guess she just wanted to know but I probably would mind if the question sounded like criticism.
hobnob - making wills must be tricky. but it is definitely better if it is done, especially what happens to the children. Hope your solicitor can help you to make it easier.

Can't wait to hear about the scans today!

I'm feeling really tired and shattered today - DS is full of beans, of course, and the baby is kicking up a storm as well. Yikes. My husband just called from London to say that he'd be taking an earlier train so he can cook dinner and help me get DS to bed. Am v. grateful!

Sleepless we opted this year to make DH a booklet about 'why I love Daddy'. I made some very comical cartoonish drawings to try to illustrate each point, and she has scrawled scribbly crayon over them. I intend to get her to ask Daddy to read her this story book on Sunday

pedal good luck to you, and Southern sorry to hear about your earnings drop. It's times like these that I realise I shouldn't be whingeing constantly about having too much work to do and be very grateful for my permanent contract.

SPD is a shocker. Do get yourself an SI belt which someone posted a link to earlier and a lot of rest. Mine is really starting to kick in if I walk any distance in a day.

Got to see solicitor and sort out wills today. We were meant to do this 4 years ago but never got round to finalising things. I find it all too hard to make decisions on, especially what should happen to DD & LO in the case of double calamity, and how to divvy up belongings. Made especially harder by the fact that we live close to DH's family, who are healthier than mine, but I know my mum feels deprived of grandchild time living in NI. And should we divvy stuff up between family members of just give the lot to the kids? So hard.

sleepless suspect that I have got SPD too, but didnt with DS. Hurts when I sit, stand from sitting, climbing stairs v difficult, turning over in bed requires military planning and getting in / out of bath is almost impossible. Or I am a wimp. Going to Doc on Monday to have it checked out - but I definitely have a waddle. Unless all those cream cakes are weighing me down...

Erika you are so lucky thatt yr mum is getting all these things for you! I know it probably seems like she is an interfering Nan, but trust me, when you start getting closer to baby arriving you will be glad to know that you have everything you need.

We are waiting till 2nd scan to find out if girl or boy, then I will go into the loft and garage and go through everything, see what we need.

Pedal my mother is the same..even tho i see her every 6 weeks she has to comment on my weight, waistline, skin, why i haven't blow dried my hair..yadda yadda yadda..She expects women to spend all their time looking good for their partners..hmmmmm ...If only i had the time to blow dry my hair!!

Am is Switzerland..no one would dare rub your tummy here!!! In England I always had to endure it..once the postman at work came up to me and rubbed my belly and said "ooooh thats a girl"!!! he'd had 6 so he knew!

Cupcakes! another good idea..will do those as well..

For another treat, its curry and samosa night tonight.. woo hoo..

I've suddenly popped in the last 2 weeks..and have started waddling thanks to SPD

Pedalmonster - the idea of you rubbing peoples bellys back did make me giggle, I might do that too!

Whilst my mother hasn't mentioned my wasitline - though she did turn round in shock at about 12 weeks and say, "Oh my God, you have a bump..!" as if the words "Mum, I'm pregnant" had not past her ears at all - she seems obsessed with buying anything not just baby, but child, related. Our attic now has two Moses baskets, two buggies, a car seat from birth, a car seat from six months, a carry cot and frame, a changing mat, a baby bath and frame, and some toys that she inisits were "just too cute not to buy". Silly woman...

ohhh Scarlotti what a week - your poor DD, hope all goes well for her. I was reading on babycentre that around now you DO seem to just "pop" and suddenly look pregnant! Of course some of us looked pregnant before we even started, but thats probably for another discussion...

Funny how people feel the need to comment. I have been wandering round our office and about 3 people have come over to rub my tummy! Honestly - is that necessary? I just rubbed theirs back, which was quite entertaining!

My mother is the worst though - she seems to need to provide a running commentry on my waistline daily (she picks DS up from nursery so i see her almost every day). Annoying.

sleepless we are doing cupcakes for daddy on sunday! (budget cuts!) Just in case snapfish does not deliver in time!

wow we are all around half way now (i'm only 17w!) and i have another few weeks to wait for my scan too... wish i could feel baby move around a bit more often. Today is D-day, i have my final meeting at 4pm to find out if I am redundant. don't really care anymore though. southernbelle I am with you on the financial-reorganising problems - have got an xls open with various calculations...!

GCSEs are evil. And I think in the two years since I sat mine they've got worse... Removing coursework was a stupid idea... I'd have failed everything except maybe English and History without coursework...

Good luck Trikken and scarlotti hope everything goes well Am jealous, and getting impatient for mine now! Am up at the hospital this afternoon for a maternal mental health appointment I don't see why they can't do it at the same time! Want to see my baby again hehe!

Good luck Trikken we can swap updates later

Thanks sleepless I'll be on later with a scan update.

Scarlotti genius idea.. thanks I'm on it.
Good luck for 4pm and the GCSE...poor little mites. I hated exams..
Trikken you too, have a lovely day.

beepbeep sorry for whingey los..hang in there, its friday!!! but I know its a long day with snotty kids..

good luck with all the scans today, don't have mine for couple of weeks.

have 2 whingey little people here, both snotty and full of cold, today is going to be a joy i'm sure!!

Hi, Got our scan today too, at 2.30 excited and nervous but hopefully all will be well.

sleepless x-posts - we've done a mouse mat with photos of the dc's on it from snapfish @ £6.

Morning all

Big day in our house today - scan is at 4pm and we're going to ask the flavour, and dd has her science GCSE today so lots of tension in the air!

Get strange comments too - a friend of mine said the other day that I looked like I'd popped since the week before and now looked pregnant and not fat I mean, I know it's true but heavens, do I have to be reminded all the time
Meeting my old nct gang tommorrow and haven't seen them since about 10 weeks so no doubt there will be lots of comments flying around!

southerbelle hope the finances work out ok. We're trying to work out what we'll have too - I'm the main breadwinner in our house and am waiting for the accountant to work out how much smp I can claim. Hopefully I'll know soon as am not good when I can't plan for things .... not that I'm a control freak .... much!

How rude of people to ask if it was planned..? Even if you want to know..you shouldn't ask.

Hope you're better BBL. How do you manage 2 DSs on your own..?

southernbelle try and relax and lie on your back and breath in and out..you'll soon feel it. The work thing sucks..thats a big pay cut but after a while you'll adjust and forget about it.

Its a long ole day when DHs arrive home late..tabbycat I sympathise. DH doesn't get home till 7.30..so DD goes mad till 8.

Almost fainted yesterday its just too hot here...

Any ideas what to do for fathers day? last year we did a footprint painting..am stuck for ideas..

Morning all! Thanks guys for your kind words a mint areo sounds good - I feel better today although DH has warned me he isn't sure what time he'll be able to get away from the office today. He's off tomorrow first thing for a weekend of punting and boozing in Oxford as well!

Grrrr Pinkfizzle at your awful cab driver. What a fuss over 20p? He couldn't even buy a Mars Bar with that! Why some people seem to delight in making other people miserable over something really petty is beyond me. Life is too short.

I get asked the 'was it planned' question sometiems because people can't believe I'm having another 'at my age' (hardly drawing my pension yet) and why would you want a third one when you've already got two? Sigh.

Southernbelle sorry about you having to loose two of your mindees.

Hope everyone has a good day today

Hi everyone, just been trying to catch up a little and just one day takes ages.

Congratulations to those who have found out the sex of the baby! I'm so keen to find out but still have another 3 weeks until my scan at 22 weeks!

I've been getting myself into a bit of a tizz about not feeling the baby move so much lately, but in reality it's probably because I have been rushing about and not having a second to myself to sit down and concentrate! Every so often I get a bit of a bigger kick and feel it but would like it be happeing more often! I'm also worrying a bit about money as since I found out I was pregnant I have given notice to 2 mindees and have received notice from 2 mindees so I will be down about £1600 a month It's not that we can't cope, it just means learning to live without that money and the luxuries that it let us have. I am grateful though that we still able to manage ok it's just a shock.

Katester37 - The next person that touches my belly is going to get my walking stick where the sun don't shine. What is it with people thinking that they can touch you just because you're pregnant?! How does it change things??? I'm not a walking pram, for goodness sakes...

Claired21 - Not just here then?? We're not married either, and the first question I tend to recieve after politely informing people that no, the father is not my husband but yes, he is sticking around, is "When's the wedding?" I remember the first time I was asked. I choked. Man, people are so damned rude!!

Anyway... Watched the new Greys Anatomy - sobbed my eyes out - and fell victim to the gluttony of crisps (Never used to eat them..!) - and made up with DP - we're going out for dinner tomorrow night so hopefully we can just carry on as normal. All in all been a lot better evening tonight than last night and this morning.

Hope you're all well. x

Oh BBL, hope you feeling better soon. I can thoroughly symnpathise as DH leaves at 7.15am and is never ever back before 8 - usually at least half eight. Spend much of the time feeling like I'm doing it all on my own, especially as if it werent for DD thoughtfully waking us at 6.15 every moringin he actually wouldn't see her at all during the week.... He loves his job, but is a complete workaholic and as his family (and mine tbh) constantly remind me that he brings in more money than I do, guess I have to lump it.

Feel free to rant here, that's what we're here for - especially as he probably feels bad too. Go and have some chocolate! DH has gone out so I've just sat and scoffed an entire mint aero (large)while watching the Mentalist Baby seems to love it though as is now kicking like mad! xx

grace - congratulations on the scan and having a girly bean wriggling away in there! Haven't booked yet but think we'll go for the anomaly scan at Babybond, if I can persuade DP that it's worth the £159!!

On the personal comments front - I've been amazed by the number of people who asked if this baby was planned or had we been trying. I think that is really rude and family, friends and colleagues alike have asked!! Admittedly, we're not married, but have been together for 4 years... Grr! It's a question I would never ask someone.

I'm last on our Nov list so a bit behind you all but have felt little flutters occasionally, usually always just below my belly button on the left. Can't wait to feel more movement, just like I can't wait to have a noticable bump! Gimme a couple of months and I'll be fed up with baby movements keeping me awake and feeling like a beached whale!

happy birthday tamlin. Hope you've had a great day.

Arrived home from work to solicitors letter from ex. Apparently I am breaking his access order. Grrrrr

I hate that he can hide behind a solicitor rather than deal with his sons needs.

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Tamlin
Happy Birthday to you

oops - my post was way too long over zip.

Katster that you still have ms.

Thankfully no one touches me to do so would be a weird invasion of personal space, but I do get the "you are so huge" comments...

but then I do have some lovely male work colleagues who always ask how I am in the nicest way and I am so grateful to work with them.

My rant - and this is a me me me post - a pregnancy travelling tale ... after 30 minutes of waiting for a bus I decided to cab it home (it is only a £5 ride away and I could have walked as it is probably only a 15 min walk even at my snail pace, but as it was 8pm, I had a longish day at work left walking shoes in the office so I thought I would treat myself.

I hail a cab and realise as I am travelling that I might not have enough cash, and that what I do have is all shrapnel so I ring ahead to DH and ask him to get money ready and to come out, and I explain this all to the cabbie.

When I arrive home DH has a slight delay coming out the door as he is cooking dinner and had something bubbling on stove.

The Cabbie says it is £5 quid, the meter reads £5.20. I tell my DH it is £5, before paying the money my DH also asks the cabbie how much the cab is. The cabbie says £5. DH pays and runs back inside to the stove.

As I am getting out of the cab, and I am a bit slow getting up and getting my bags, the cabbie berates me in a sarcastic manner for not paying him 20 p or any tip for the waiting time and starts going off. I feel like crying but don't, and I do offer to pay the 20p but he drives off. So now I feel like having a blanket ban on tipping black cab drivers (irrational I know). I am so annoyed that he didn't try his rubbish with my DH standing there.

Anyway I get in the door and then transfer my stress and rant at DH saying he didn't come out quick enough and left me with a weirdo , but all ok now and I realise I was being wound up by nothing.

After this very long rant I can now enjoy my pasta in peace, although I do wonder how I am going to deal with sleepless nights unless I learn how to avoid sweating the small stuff!

BBL I sometimes hate my DH's job too. He gets in gone 7, and I am so sleepy by 8 (I know - I am truly pathetic!), we hardly seem to speak in the week. But obviously am grateful he has a job, and on the plus side, he loves his job - it's just what he wanted to do, so I should be grateful for that. I think it's 'cos I leave so early, and he gets back late, our working hours don't work too well together! Usigurke when we lived in Cheltenham DH and I worked 5 minutes away and used to meet for lunch everyday and it was soooooo nice - I loved it. Do you work close to your DH?
Ooooo am so glad everyone else is feeling bubbles lowdown - maybe I am not insane after all
Erika well done for the retort at the ignorant bit*h today - who did she think she was?!?!

Is anyone else getting fed up of personal comments made by people they don't really know?! EG, is it normal that parents of children I teach feel they can pat my tummy constantly, then laugh when I say I am not due 'til November as apparently I look like I have swallowed a watermelon?? And just people who stare at your tummy constantly?! Is that just me possibly being hyper sensitive? Grrrr, I think it probably is!

lemontop take it from me - if your baby's not ready no amount of reflexology is going to induce labour (the voice of bitter experience)

Speaking of forbidden things in pg - I had a bit of a foray onto a bouldering wall today whilst on a school trip. I just couldn't help myself (but did sensibly draw the line at wearing a harness and going on the big wall, and going on the trampoline for that matter). Did really well, only a couple of small climbs, but my pelvis is shouting at me tonight (was fine at the time!)

I had a very watered down Bailey's last night too if it makes anyone feel any better.

Didn't realise parma ham was a no-no

LO is kicking away these days and I am HUGE compared with what I was like with DD.

I don't want to make him feel bad but I did need to vent here to stop me getting upset when he got home Lunch is a lovely idea Ursigurke but sadly not really feasible as he works in B'ham and we live in Shrewsbury and DS2 is at nursery until 11.40am. I did once take the DSs down on the train to meet him during half-term on his birthday and that was really nice - we all sat and ate cake with his co-workers. He actually does hate his job most of the time (more so than he admits to me I fear) but in this climate and with a DS or DD coming along there's no point him looking for something elsewhere. Plus he has no time to look! Poor guy. Well he's getting meatballs and pasta for tea, that should cheer him up

BBL - just wanted to say, that's what this thread is for, rant here, don't make your poor husband feel bad. And actually if he only hates his job "sometimes", that's good. So many people have to work in jobs they really hate.
Is there any chance you could have a quick lunch with him during the week sometimes? I had lunch with my husband today and it was really nice. Obviously not too much time but still an unexpected nice moment.

I feel better already for just having a rant! There's nothing like a good rant to help put things in perspective.

Sorry you're having a bad moment Becky. Its okay to resent it and feel grateful at the same time - if it wasn't I'd be tottally buggered with the whole pregnancy situation I hope you feel a little better soon.

Katster so sorry too to hear you're still suffering. I feel it quite low as well like little bubbles.

I'm feeling sorry for myself just now: DH has been working so hard I hardly see him (he leaves at 7am, back at 7.30pm, eats his tea and then at his computer until after I've gone to bed - gone midnight). He's away this weekend with some friends and he's going to be at work next weekend for at least one of the days (as well as being at work all week). I hate his job sometimes but if I moan he takes it personally like I am moaning at him. Also I feel I can't rant about it to him as I do feel sorry for him being so busy and I don't want to add to his stress by being hostile but I sooo hate his job. Rant over now. Sorry guys!!! I should be grateful that he has a job I know and I am. But I sometimes just want to stamp my feet like a toddler and go 'its not fair!'.

Hi all, just briefly. Spoke too soon, think Mum is attempting to stalk me on here as well. Name change to IsisNeferatri.

katster - I hope it eases off soon! Cramberry juice helped me, if thats worth anything And I second what ursigurke has said about the uterus being low down at the moment, my midwife told me the same thing. In fact the first time she caught the heart beat, she was virtually on my public bone. I'm due around the same time as you.

katster sorry to hear that you are still suffering from MS, I'm sure it will soon be over. I think it is normal that you feel the baby so low. You are due in the second half of Nov, isn't it? So you're whole uterus is still under your belly button. I felt it always on the right side (somewhere between belly button and pubic bone), I was already worried that I am not quite symmetric. But since about a week, I have felt it already everywhere and it is definitely getting stronger.

Hi everyone,
Just trying to catch up...
Well, spoke to soon by saying MS was gone... Thought the days of throwing up in my classroom sink were gone, but apparently not...
Hmm... Not sure I agree about French women eating all the forbidden foods! When I lived in Paris, I stayed with a family and the mum was pregnant - she was worse than me! Certainly wouldn't touch brie/camembert/parma ham etc, and wouldn't eat salad in restaurants. I think it's probably like here, where everyone's different.
Grace congrats on the little girl!! So exciting!
Can I ask, when you feel movements, is it ever quite low down? FOr the past week I have been feeling big 'bubbles' but really low almost at my pubic bone. Surely this is too low?!?!
Oh, and Happy Birthday Tamlin!!

Happy birthday, tamlin! Glad to hear that your husband had such a useful and nice birthday present for you, hopefully the next thing on his list is this physio appointment you are waiting for.
About the forbidden food list: I've had half a glass of champagne so far. I don't think that the occasional glass is harmful but I definitely think too much of it would (we all know what it does to us) It's a bit sad but for me, it doesn't make sense to have just one glass, it's either none or probably more than one (don't worry, I'm not an alcoholic). So I prefer to not drink at all.
I would sometimes fancy some forbidden food but I do feel guilty. In most cases probably nothing would happen but to know that there is a slight chance of getting toxoplasmosis or salmonellae .... I used to really love mousse au chocolat (and to prepare it for lots of occasions) but it has raw egg in it. It is always a risk but it is a huge difference if it would just be me being sick for a couple of days or harming someone else like having a premature birth...
In general, I agree with those of you who think that we are treated like children ("nanny state" was one of the first new expressions I had learnt when I moved to the UK ) but I completely disagree with statements like "a mother knows what is best for her child" or "a woman can do whatever she wants because it is her child". It has been my decision to have this child but it doesn't belong to me. I have to take decisions what is best for him/her as long as he/she has no choice.
Anyway, I'm sure, eating forbidden food will be ok... most of the time.

Thanks everyone. I had a physcotic episode because I worked myself up so much but had a sleep and am just feeling numb now. I know the doctors say thats never a good way to feel, but its always a releif for me. My family are all home, which s good I guess in that all the times I've done some serious damage to myself I've been home alone, but my mother drives me bonkers. She'll ask me to talk about whats wrong, and if I'm honest - talk about the hallucinations, the voices, the paranoia - it just freaks her out!

I got an email from DP basically telling me to get a grip. I'd quote it, but I don't want to reopen the message and upset myself again. He asked what more I want from him, saying he's an okay boyfriend and wants to be a good dad. I don't know how to answer it, as I'm not sure what I do want from him. I don't think he quite understands, although I have told him, that he is my only social time. The idea of seeing him at the weekend gets me through the week, and the hope that he'll call me in the evening gets me through the day. I hate it, but its true. I just don't have any friends - lost my state school friends by getting a scholorahip for sixth form, lost my sixth form friends by getting admitted to a physc unit and becoming disabled, and lost virtually everyone else by falling pregnant. Most of the time being so alone doesn't bother me, but I wish he'd understand why it upsets me so much when he doesn't communicate.

Anyway... Rant over. I would say this all on one of the groups I run, but my family have decided that facebook stalking me is of course the answer to everything. Fab.

Grace - Congratulations, I'm so happy for you

Tamlin - Happy birthday, I hope you have a really fantastic day. I'm jealous of the coffee cake!

Dorisdaily - Thanks for that, I might pursuade my brother to push me down to the shop if thats the case!

happy birthday Tamlin! Aren't we having a lovely celebratory week on here? Sorry you've been so stressed about the birth though. Hopefully the debriefing will put your mind at rest and allow you some closure on what happened last time. And well done to your DH for getting it sorted (I can't imagine mine thinking to do that in a million years!)

grace Hurray for the good scan and another little girl to add to our list! Yay.

erika I wouldn't hesitate to tell them that you want to keep up your therapy sessions. On the one hand, it's great that they have judged you're coping so well, but on the other hand, FFS, being pregnant must be the biggest period of upheaval a woman can go through, and I'm sure we all feel like we need a bit more, not less, help at the moment. I don't really know your circumstances, but to take away anyone's support during pregnancy just seems incredibly counterproductive to me!

thanks dorisdaily wish i could have 12 weeks off work! i am 19 weeks so hopefully would be ok if did catch it

Happy birthday tamlin and that's great news you've finally got the debriefing thanks to your lovely hubby. I'm sure this will help you feel better about this lo's birth. sounds like you have been really traumatised and i'm sure they will not let anything like that happen this time.

becky i am struggling with tiredness today too, think it must be all the stress and excitement from yesterday catching up with me!

Happy birthday Tamlin and well done on your DH for his rant. Sorry to hear you've been auffering nightmares about it all though, hopefully you can talk it through with them and get some resolution to your issues and concerns.

Glad it's not just me that eats from the forbidden list!

Oooh another birthday - Happy Birthday Tamlin!

Great news about having a midwife debriefing. I hope they can provide you with some reassurance. Well done your DH for his rant!!! It does work sometimes!!

I'm fighting the urge to sleep right now. DS2 is in bed and I am doing work but struggling.

Grace, congrats on your scan!

I had another Parma ham and Stinking Bishop sandwich today, so I expect to hear the wailing sirens of the pregnancy police at the door any minute... I am feeling a bit sick at the moment, but I expect that was the two huge slices of coffee cake I had before lunch (it's my birthday, hurrah!)

Am really, really pleased as I finally got a call from the midwife yesterday afternoon with my bloodwork results (including the chickenpox draw I've been worrying about) and she ALSO asked if I still wanted to meet with midwives for a debriefing over DS's horrible birth and the neglect which occurred then. I'm so frightened that the birth of this one will go the same way - I asked for this debriefing at the booking-in and again at the sixteen-week, and hadn't heard anything!

So I rang DH, delighted, to say that the midwife seemed to be getting stuff organised, and he sounded really smug. I finally clicked and asked if he'd called the hospital, and he said 'Well, I'm tired of listening to my wife waking up screaming from nightmares and then crying herself back to sleep. So yes, I rang up the hospital and bollocked them out thoroughly on my lunch break today. They said that there was a note on your file saying that a meeting needed to be arranged, but that nobody could do anything until the midwife finally sent off the official referral letter. So I shouted a bit, and they said they'd see what they could do.'

Seems ridiculous that it takes DH having a strop for stuff to get done, but apparently it does! Now, if only I could get that SPD physio appointment I asked for at the booking-in...

erika although having said that, there are places you can get additional support and it does not mean you are a bad /weak / incompetent person if you ask for help - actually it is the opposite, it is very brave.

easyeggs awwwwww! I want a video!

grace congratulations on your lovely scan. How wonderful and you must be so relieved everything is ok!!
erika poor you, sweetie, but try not to feel too alone, we are all here! I think you have self-confidence issues - you will be amazed at how strong you are inside, especially when you are carrying a baby. It is also difficult for your partner so he is bound to need to "escape" with his mates every now and then - try not to be too clingy / demanding (Ha! Pot calling kettle black...) Men are funny, the more you try to get them to communicate and be suportive the more they withdraw. You are not alone, but many many mums and pregnant ladies are alone, and you need to remember that you CAN cope. When your tiny little new born is lying in yr arms looking up at you, all he will know is that his mummy will take care of him - and you will. We all will - to the best that we can do - we will all love our babies and give them what we have. You will not be "tested" beyond your capabilities - fate works like that.

I'm in Geneva and on the border of France.. I eat most things..including Pates and Foie Gras..be rude not to.. I don't however eat food from street markets or some seafood...

I have had one or two v small glasses of wine and love the smell of whiskey. Can't bear to drink it though

EricaMaye ask for help..I agree.. at this time in your life its your health and that of your baby that matters. Incapability doesn't even come into it.. I felt very guilty just lying around in months 2 and 3 because of morning sickness but these things happen and DH was there to help out.. I hope your DP realises this soon.

easyeggs very very cool to see your baby!! amazing!!!

weston hi - I know all bout slapped cheek or parvovirus now as it is going through my dd1 school. It can be harmful your baby if you catch it before 20 weeks but is v.v.v.rare. My doctor advised me to have an immunity blood test to see if I'd had it before (and therefor wouldn't be at risk) as most people have had it without knowing anyway. My daughters teacher is pg with her first and has now been off for about 12 weeks as she is frightened of catching it (even though she must be 28 weeks by now) but all us mums at the school who are pregnant just have to get on with it but thats for another thread....

Goats cheese - food standards say you can eat it as long as it doesn't have a rind (ie chevre) I love love LOVE the soft spreadable one you get from Sainsburys and might have to drive there now just to get some!

oh and claire i asked about an anomaly scan. absolutely no chance - all due to funding apparantly. Did you book a private one in the end?

Hi ladies - with all of you with the strange sleep patterns. I'll sleep for 12 hours solid one night and then struggle to fall asleep and then sleep really lightly the next. Jealous of all the wriggly babies. Every now and again i think i feel a wee flutter but it could just be wind.

Soooo....had our booking in scan yesterday, a bit late at 17 weeks but it meant they could make a good guess at the sex and it looks like we're having a girl!! Was totally convinced we were having a boy so came as a bit of a shock and we've had to stop refrring to her as him or the poor thing will grow up with some sort of gender confusion!! Anyhow everything was fine, no problems so i am now going to try to relax and enjoy this pregnancy. woohoo!!

Pregnant French people do eat those 'forbidden' foods. I was in Paris on a work trip when I was pregnant with DS1 and the authors I was visiting (authors of The Oxford Companion to French Food no less - as of yet unpublished six years later it has to be said!) was agast as I picked through the menu when we went out for dinner and said 'I can't have this and that'. They thought I was this really neurotic weirdo English woman!

I have had one glass of wine so far but that's just because I haven't had any opportunities as DH doesn't drink much so we haven't had much in the house. I'm certainly going to have a glass of champagne at the wedding in July.

ErikaMaye asking for help does not equal incapable. If they think that then they aren't doing thier job properly. If you think you still need more than one session then insist on it. It is their job to help you. I hope your DP comes round soon and realises that sulking is not the answer and that you need him.

EasyEggs thats so beautiful

As for food and drink regulations... I keep hearing all types of things, and its all very confusing. I really want tuna, pate and goats cheese... Not all at once, obviously!! At a wedding a few weeks ago the vegitarian was tangine, with the biggest slab of goats cheese you've ever seen. My DP is veggie and I nearly cried in jealousy.

Talking of DP... He's not talking to me right now I'm feeling very low, and that little voice of anorexia is talking at the back of my head again because I'm so down right now. I'm really upset - I know I'm being clingy with him right now, and I'm beating myself up mentally pretty much every minute for that, but I feel really alone. They decided yesterday that I'm "well enough" to have my therapy cut down to one session a week, and I wanted to scream taht I'm just not. But I'm scared that admitting I'm struggling right now could be read as being incapable. And I really need DP to be there for me. I don't think I've ever been quite so frightened in my life, and it feels like I'm doing it all by myself.

I agree I am having Parma ham and mozzarella salad for lunch today and probably tomorrow as well. Have been thinking about that for a week. I cannot possibly resist any longer! Is that really bad?

mumsie yes that was definitely your little baby wriggling around - you are not imagining it! Yay! Its lovely and reassuring, isn't it! :-) Mine wriggles when I am reading DS his stories in the evening - i think it likes the story time too! Also DS hugs and kisses Bump during story time too, so baby could just be trying to get DS to stop leaning on him/her...

scarlotti with DS1 I as so strict about what I didnt eat - and now, to be honest, I am not worried. If it is something that is bad / off, my body will reject it . It all started on my trip to france where I was forced at gunpoint (ahem!) to eat Brie cheese... which then spiraled into a cheese feast. And yesterday I gave in to my cravings for fresh white bread and butter with PATE!!! Yum. The baby loved it!

My theory is that pregnant French people probably eat this food all the time!

weston we've had a few cases at ds' nursery. I think you're ok if you're not in contact with it. If your dd gets it then I'd speak to your mw.

Laugs yes, agree with the ethics, but think the offshoot of that is a bit scaremongery and restrictive. Am all for avoiding medicines where possible, but I resent the changes in 'advice' that seem to be driven by an assumption that we're all a bit too daft to be sensible.
I'm with you on the alcohol - I've had a few drinks to date and will do so on occasion going forward. I drink with food, and only have one glass of wine. If I'm out for longer, I've taken to getting a lemonade and then putting a spalsh of dh's lager into it. Can have a few of those and feel that I'm part of things, with no risk to baby.
The advice when I was pg with dd 15 years ago is so different to when I was pg with ds 4 years ago - and it's different again this time!! I can't believe things have actually changed that much.

I can understand from an ethical point of view that medicines can't be tested on pregnant women though.

Hmm well last time around I was very much 'by the book' - I was so scared of anything going wrong and it possibly being my fault. I suppose I still feel like that, but my attitude has changed a bit. I think the thing that really got me was when they changed the alcohol guidelines from 2 units to none at all, with no new research. Of course it means nothing to the person who changed it (and I can see why they did) and I know that lots of other people can take or leave alcohol, but for me it means a big difference to change from feeling like I can have the very occasional glass of wine to knowing that I'm not allowed anything. And I know I plan to BF, so that is nothing for 18 months or so. I think for me alcohol is so tied up with sense of occasion, that it really does make life less rich without it: going out for a meal and having a soft drink; toasting someone with an orange juice - it really isn't the same to me. So that is a rule I flaunt, on the odd occasion. I trust myself not to drink more than one glass and I've probably had about 6 glasses of wine in the last 4 months. I'd much prefer it if they would put a bit more trust in women to behave sensibly though.

anyone know anything about 'slapped cheek'...had never heard of it till a few weeks ago and now i keep hearing about it! anyway one of the kids at my childminders has it...so its contagious and not great for pregnancy...suppose not much point worrying till my DD gets it??

Laugs x-post. Glad to hear your DD is on the mend.

So what do we all think about all these things we're 'not allowed' then? I wonder if my flippancy is too flippant, iykwim? I read that article that Tamlin posted a while back about listeria and the likelihood of you actually getting it from cheese etc. and I do think that we're treated a little like idiots. I do think that a lot of the warnings from things are because they don't test them on pg women and then don't want to risk being sued.

I'd be interested to hear what others think ...

Morning all

lemontop I'd be leaning towards it being a bit over cautious but them I'm on dc3 so more flippant! maybe later in the pg it might be labour inducing but I'd be surprised. Don't use any essential oils in the water though as they can cause problems.

Hah, sex drive - what's that?!! Mine was never the best to begin with but has taken a complete holiday. Have braved it a few times and I find it all a little uncomfortable to be honest due to the extra sensitivity so it's not something that's going to be happening in our house much over the next few months!! Poor dh.

Hope all you with poorly toddlers are doing ok and they're on the mend. My ds (3.5) will speak to the baby if he's reminded and it's so sweet! He recites his full name to it!

hobnob sorry to hear you're smoring - given dh is from Aberdeen I actually understand what you mean

easyeggs that was amazing! and lucky you for getting to see your little baby again.

Poor you and DD Tabbykat Hope she's feeling better this morning. My DD still has a bad cough, but it's just a normal cough, not that mad, crazy croup cough, so I'm sure she's on the mend. She also almost slept through, which was fantastic! I don't think DH will be getting his place back in bed any time soon though, she seems to like it there.

I'm not sure about the foot spa, lemontop, but I am getting fed up of the long list of things we're denied during pregnancy. It seems endless. DH bought DD a vaporiser yesterday, and it is apparently suitable for babies aged 3 months, but not for pregnant women. I just can't believe something can effect our little beans more with the whole buffer of our bodies to protect them, than a newborn baby. Humpf.

erika I can't believe how rude that lady was. How does she even know how old you are or what your situation is? Good on you for rising above it.

tabbykat I remember feeling really cheated last time when I got to the 2nd trimester and didn't feel full of life. I'd wrongly assumed I'd actually feel normal, but no, I think it's more a case of not feeling quite as knackered as you did in trimester 1 or will in trimester 3. It's all relative. I went to bed at 9pm and I'm still a bit sleepy today.

Wow, easyeggs - I can't wait for mine even more now!

tabbykat - My DH has also read the thing about sex drive... I really hope it does come back soon, but for now it's just non-existent.

Good morning ladies, isn't this sunshine fantastic always puts me in a good mood lol!

Just a quicky but I had another scan last night cos I realised at our gender scan they didn't give us a DVD that we paid for so I rang them yesterday and they squeezed me in last night. Was fab to see baby again and amazing how much she has grown in just under 2wks

If anyone would like to take a look I have put it on HERE

(I had to record it onto my camera from playing on laptop as couldn't figure it out any other way so sorry it's not fantastic)

I'll be back later to catch up on everyones latest. Have a great day x x

Morning All - Hope you had a fab birthday Lemontop! I adored the Pet Shop BOys and had a poster of them wrapped around my maths book at school. Really fancied them both as well - aah, happy days....

Glad to hear we're getting lots of movement. Stitch is v wriggly when I eat chocolate, but still not really had too much in the way of big kicks yet. Feel a bit bad it's not getting much attention.When I was pregnant with DD I would sit quietly chatting to bump and playing with it and enjoying being PG. Just so busy now looking after her that it feels like this one isn't getting much attention - and it's not even here yet!

Not helped by still being exhausted. DH getting a bit impatient and reading excerpts from the books saying unhelpful things like "Your energy levels will have returned to normal by week 16" and "Your increased libido and extra blood flow may may sex even more enjoyable." Just CAN'T BE BOTHERED - especially as DD up all last night being sick from coughing and now have massive pile of yucky washing! Hope it's a bit better your end, Laugs?

Must get on as have sponsored toddle round the park today - or sponsored waddle in my case! xx

Happy Birthday lemontop and congrats on making the half way point!

Lemontop it is not the same, but when I can I wear croc massage flip flops, they don't look quite as hideous as croc shoes but they massage my feet and are just wonderful, I have not noticed any labour inducing effects.

Jocey hope all is ok, any chance you can change your consultant, hope s/he does not have a god complex?

I will join in with those of you who suffer from bouts of pregnancy insomnia and have vivid dreams.

I know reflexology is used to start off labour sometimes, same as accupuncture. Curious think, reflexology... I always find it a bit creepy how they can tell so much from your feet... I don't know anyone thats used one aside from my mum, and she's definately not pregnant. Maybe follow the leaflets advice and consult your doctor?

Oh no. Just checked instructions on foot spa and it says to check with doc before using in pregnancy. A quick search on the Internet says they're not recommended something to do with reflexology points and inducing labour
Surely this is being a bit over cautious? Anyone used one or heard anything about this?

Laugs I thought I was the only one with that little sneezing problem. I was sick yesterday at lunch time, violently and had a v full bladder, not a good result.

Becky I want photos of that please! I can't run them, but I'm sure I would have many many volunteers to push my chair - that way, I can take the other competitors out as well!!

She's not the first one to say something - but its the first time I've had the guts to retort!

Mmmm my dreams are pretty crazy at the moment too - I thought they were bad enough on anti-physcotics, but noooo these are just sheer madness.

Oh no Katster so does that mean that on sports day at DS's school I can't entere the mummy races? Pah.

Erikamaye I am shocked by that woman on that bus. What a cow!!!!! I do like your positive attitude and how brilliant your retort was. Serves her right - she's a total coward.

I'm sleeping ok at the moment but still having bizarre dreams.

*Happy Birthday Lemontop* Have a brilliant day, and a great time at the gig.

So its not just me waking up at 5am? Evil evil time of the day...

My partner is driving me bonkers today. Being so unresponcive, and now I've just found out - via FACEBOOK none the less! - that he's buggered off out for drinks with his mates. Feels at the moment that I'M the one putting in all the effort. I don't mind he's gone out, but I think I've had a grand total of one text message from him today, saying the following. Ready for this? In responce to me saying that the baby was being really active and I was in a fab mood, I got: " xxx" What. The. Hell.

However, I am feeling very proud of myself today. On the bus on the way into town, some woman glared at me and started tutting, then said to me, "Pregnant at your age, its disgusting. You're going to turn into one of these teenage mothers who lives off my hard earned taxes..." Blah blah blah. It used to really bother me, and then I realised today I didn't actually give a damn, and I turned to her, and I said, "I'm sorry, I think you must have mistake me for someone who gives a shit what you think." The look on her face was priceless. I'm really proud I've got to a state (even if its just for today!) where I don't care. Its my life, and I made a mistake, and now I wouldn't change it for the world

Happy Birthday Lemontop!!!!

Happy BIrthday Lemontop!! And well done to your DH, that's so thoughtful.

Scarlotti also feel a sharp low down pain when I cough and sneeze. I had such a bad cough (which finally has gone) that I was getting really stressed by it but I think it is normal.

Also feel strange bubbly feelings, and other 'sensations' that I haven't really felt before. Can't wait to feel proper kicks.

I am so, so, so tired. I am half asleep now. Also wake up really really early, wide awake. V annoying. ON the plus side, today I haven't been sick and I am hoping MS is finally saying goodbye. Need to sleeeeeeeeeeep!

Also, told my class today - they had half guessed (they are 6/7) so I put them out of their misery! One boy said 'but Miss, you're not fat enough to be having a baby' - aaaw. And at playtime, one boy asked me to race him somehwere, and a girl said 'Don't be silly XXX, she can't do racing, she's PREGNANT.'

Happy Birthday Lemontop of your considerate DH.

we're such a comical bunch of forgetful hormones - but I do love hearing everyone's news. It's like eavesdropping on random conversations!

All much the same here. My skin and scalp are SO DRY at the moment I'm flaking everywhere. Must be missing some essential nutrient or something and wee bean is robbing my skin of it. Must remember to google that one sometime....

Still 'smoring' with the cold, as they say up here. It's getting no better and now on day 5 [resigned emoticon].

Scarlotti I'm having weird sleeping patterns too. I definitely have 'light' nights where I can't get to sleep and never feel like I was ever deeply asleep. I wake before the 6:20 alarm (but still manage to doze until 'slept in' time!!). Other nights I am snoring on the sofa by 9pm, wake up in the wee small hours and drag myself to the loo and bed, and then seriously can't wake up in the morning. No idea of alarm, DH getting up, nothing. Totally weird. Probably activity and food-related, but I don't have the memory to investigate that theory!

Hi Guys and HB Lemontop!
Had first meeting with consultant and was gutted. Both DD and DS had complications and I am with same consultant. She was really off - implied I fussed last time when she wanted to induce at 36 weeks! All I wanted was reassurance that if this one goes funny we wont be messing around! I know it migt not but with 2 at home I don't need the extra stress.
Sorry to rant but...

Oh my god that was twenty years ago!!!!! I am old.

I saw the Pet Shop Boys in errr 1988 or 1989. Does that age me? They were brilliant, albeit really, really tiny from where I was stood. I am sure you'll have a good time and a good bop lemontop!

Lemontop, happy birthday! Take away sounds lovely.

A little bit of wee when sneezing seems to be normal. And I sometimes have to wee twice within 5 minutes and not just a little bit. I think it is much more in total than I actually drink.

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Lemontop
Happy Birthday to you x

Cheers all! going to see Pet Shop Boys on Friday. Having a take away tonight as feel more like that than a restaurant.

It's so exciting people are starting to feel the little 'uns move. Mine seems to move more when I have a drink.

Another great book! Laugs the Road Home is great but slow to start so persevere.

I'm reading Flannery O'Connor Everything that rises coverges which is a really old book from the 1960s of short stories set in deep south US and is brilliant! I can't remember how I discovered it but I bought it off ebay recently.

House is a mess. Ahhhh!

I think I felt my first kick today - am 16 weeks. Been having flutterings for weeks but today I felt a tiny little pressure in my stomach on two occasions. Really want it to be a kick but too scared to think it definitely was! Please someone tell me I'm not imagining it!

Happy Birthday lemontop! Hope you have a lovely day. What band are you going to see?

I am also ashamed to admit a little bit of wee comes out when I sneeze. And I have hayfever, so am sneezing quite a lot . I need to wee all the time; I never feel properly empty.

I am reading The Road Home by Rose Tremain. Well, I start it every night then fall asleep after about 3 pages. I think it's going to be good, but I can never remember what's happened the night before. I have also fallen in love with the name Rose Tremain. It has a lovely ring to it. If I have another daughter she will have to be Rosetremain Mitchell.

I hold the bottom of my bump now before I sneeze as the stabbing pain I was getting was really quite sharp.
pedal no problems with my wee tube here but my 'problem' is still here Spoke to the doc and he reckons it's probably here to stay now until the end. Sigh. Will have shares in Caneston by the end of this!

skorpion Yes, i have that pain too - and when I sneeze it feels like i have pulled a muscle - i am paranoid that I am going to disloge the baby!
Also - does anyone else have this - sometimes the baby is squashing my wee tube, so i need to pee but it won't come out until i jiggle up and down a bit. sometimes the oposite, where i just get back from a pee and need to go again. And sometimes when I sneeze i pee a little ... Its all glamour over here!

Happy birthday lemontop*

*BBL my memory is complete mush now Luckily my boss has 3 kids (he's male) and is quite sympathetic and knows the side effects of pg.

I find I can't remember words in sentences and walk into rooms now forgetting why I'm there. Sigh

Happy Birthday lemontop!

I've read Little Friend sleepless. V. good but not as awesome as Secret History which is in my top ten of fab books of all time list.

I picked up DS2 from nursery this morning only to get home and realise I'd left my keys on the nursery floor while helping DS2 into his shoes so we had to walk all the way back in the rain, and all the way back home. And now it is time to get DS1 so we have to go back again - four trips in one day!

and forgot happy birthday to lemontop!

I cannot keep up with you lot!

It’s my birthday in few weeks time too. a big one. 30! I have chosen, ordered and paid for myself for my birthday present. it happens a lot around here. even wrap my own Christmas presents... so anyway I got very expensive ghd hair straighteners yey

Yes that as exciting as it is over here at the moment!

Happy birthday lemontop!! Who are you going to see?

skorpion that's exactly what it felt like for me before I started feeling movememnts. It felt a bit like wind-(+ sometimes it was but then I started feeling little movements. Still no kicks or anything though.

I've got to the half way stage! woo hoo! and it's also my birthday. My DP bought me gig tickets, a foot spa for my manky sore feet and loads of tomatoes and chocolate for my cravings. He is a sweetie.

I thought I felt something the other day, like wind but different. Mind you it's so windy in there, that it's hard to tell the difference
It also has been hurting much more recently. I think it's the ligaments, but it really is painfull sometimes. Even when I sneeze. Things are certainly moving around in there.

Hi Pedal long time! Hope the holiday was good...

Not going away till Sept!! but the whole world and their dogs are coming to visit in July and Aug..lots of washing for Me..it will be fun to see friends and their los...

I sleep well..too well.. and DD waking up late so having a lie in too...it won't last..nothing ever does.

Started reading Donna Tartt's Little Friend..anyone read it? Her Secret History is awesome..

laugs hope your LO is better..3 nights bad sleep is pretty tiring..get some rest..it'll be over soon..

wish the 4th july would magically arrive! dying for next scan as still convincing myself that i am not pregnant..think felt baby moving but never really sure if its that or not..DD wasn't a big kicker either..or maybe i just have too much padding to notice..is that a cream cake i hear calling for me...

yes, I seem to sleep ok but still wake feeling really tired. Have an obvious bump now which actually feels like a bump not just like i've had too many doughnuts.

scarlotti - my sleep has gone potty, too. I'm very tired in the evening, but as soon as I go to bed I am awake reading. And I woke up at 5 am today. You'd think that the body would try to cram in as much sleep as possible now, when it still can.

We have two weeks to go before we go away. And a bit longer for the scan - not until the 14th. I can't wait, really looking forward to seeing how much the sprout has grown. And I think I finally look pregnant! My work trousers are getting really uncomfortaby tight... I hope I can stop blaming jaffa cakes now

Morning all

Anyone else having strange sleep patterns? For the past few nights I've been unable to sleep for the first hour or so after going to bed, then waking up around 5:30 ish. Last night I must have been so tired from the night before, I fell asleep instantly around 10:30 then slept solidly until 7 - and am still tired!! What on earth is going on?
Not conducive to being productive at work .... as if my motivation levels needed to drop any lower as it is!

Two more days now until my scan and 10 days until our holiday - hoorah, can't come a moment too soon. (sorry Laugs)

Okay so adding and reposting:

Julietbat #2 EDD 28 Oct,
Pinkfizzle #1 EDD 28 Oct, SE London
Koumak #2 EDD 28 Oct (TBC), North London, UCHL
FattipuffsandThinnifers #2 EDD 31 Oct,
ursigurke #1 EDD 31 Oct, West London
Mrsladybug #? EDD 1 Nov,
Mangolassi #2 EDD 1 Nov,
Broodzilla #1 EDD 2 Nov BOY
Lillee #? EDD 3 Nov,
Supercherry #2 EDD 4 Nov,
Chocotastic #2 EDD 4 Nov, SE London
Fruitpastels #2 EDD 4 Nov, SE London
Stokey #1 EDD 4 Nov, North London
Homeinthesun #2 EDD 4 Nov,
Gizboss #1 EDD 4 Nov
MrsDisorganised #5 EDD 4 Nov, Scotland
Lemontop #1 EDD 5 Nov,
Ronniemummy #2 EDD 5 Nov (to be confirmed!!)
Browntrout #2 EDD 6 Nov Manchester
tamlin #2 EDD 5 Nov,
Piper #1 & #2 EDD 6 Nov, Twins!
BonyM #? EDD 6Nov,
Leannabanana #3 EDD 6 Nov,
BlackLetterDay #3 EDD 6 Nov,
Trikken #2 EDD 6 Nov, SW Dorset
Tabbykat #2 EDD 7 Nov, Kent
Scarlotti #3 EDD 7 Nov,
Ruddynorah #2 EDD 7 Nov, leeds
WizzyWoo #2 EDD 8 Nov,
AileenF1 # EDD 8 Nov,
Barnowl #4 EDD 8 Nov,
eeyore2 #1 EDD 8 Nov, London
Munchies37 #1 (Twins) EDD 8 Nov,
sleeplessinthecity #2 EDD 8 Nov, Switzerland
Buttercup EDD 9 Nov,
Catitainahatita #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Helips #2 EDD 9 Nov,
CakeForBreakfast #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Hobnob57 #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Tiddlypom #2 EDD 9 Nov
Cies #1 EDD 10 Nov, Vigo, NW Spain.
QueenNeurosis #? EDD 10 Nov,
PootleTheFlump #1 EDD 10 Nov, South West
Grendle EDD 11 Nov,
lynniep #2 EDD 11 Nov, Cambridgeshire
CassORole #? EDD 11 Nov
Weston #2 EDD 12 Nov,
LadyGooGoo #3 EDD 13 Nov, North Wales
roomac #3 EDD 13 Nov, NW London
Tigger32 #3 EDD 14 Nov, East Midlands
MiniLlace #? 14 Nov,
Southernbelle77 #2 EDD 14 Nov, West Sussex
BeckyBendyLegs #3, EDD 14 Nov, Shorpshire
Barnowl #4 EDD 15 Nov, Hampshire
pinkmich1972 #3 EDD 15 Nov, kent
DeathbyDora #3 EDD 15 Nov, USA
alexdrake #2 EDD 15 Nov, Essex
Kyte #2 EDD 16 Nov, Hampshire Surrey border
LaraT #2 EDD 16 Nov,
ErikaMaye - #1, EDD 16th Nov - Brighton and Hove (Birth at PRH)
EasyEggs #5, EDD17 Nov, Kent, (Sussex/Surrey border) GIRL!
Brightonbaby #1 EDD 18 Nov Brighton&Hove
Dorisdaily #3 EDD 18 Nov
Pavlovthecat #2 EDD 18 Nov
belgianbun #2 EDD 20 Nov, S London
ldeeanna #1 EDD 20 Nov, Truro, Cornwall
Manfrom # 1 (twins) EDD 20 Nov
katster37 #1 EDD 21 Nov, S London BOY
Ninjacat no2 EDD 22 Nov, Bristol
Hamandegger #? EDD 23 Nov, West Sussex
Beepbeep #3 EDD 23 Nov
Turtle23 #2 EDD 22 Nov, London/Surrey border
Flumpity #2 (Twins) EDD 26 Nov,
MumsieBumsie #1 EDD 26 Nov, South London
Laugs #2 26 Nov, Newcastle
Grace09 #1 EDD 27 Nov, Glasgow
Pedalmonster #2 EDD 27 Nov, Surrey
Joycey29 #3 EDD 27 Nov,
Naetha #2 EDD 27 Nov,
FairyBex #1 EDD 28 Nov, Cumbria
raggie #1 EDD 28 Nov, North London
Skorpion #1 EDD 29 Nov, Oxfordshire
Claired21 #1 EDD 29 Nov, Glasgow

I think I've only not been here for 24 hours and already I've forgotten all the posts I just read - sorry! DD was coughing ALL night again with croup. I don't think it was quite as bad as Monday night or her nap yesterday though, so hopefully we're over the worst. She's never had this before. Isn't it strange how they only seem to get symptoms when they're lying down? I have been fantasising about a night's unbroken sleep - and that's after only 3 nights of DD being ill - remind me again how I will cope with a newborn??

Everyone seems to have been on holiday, which makes me pleased and jealous in equal measure. Actually, DD and I are going down to my parents next week for 10 days, while DH goes to Glastonbury. He keeps trying to convince me that going to my mum's is as much of a holiday for me as Glastonbury is for him. Still, looking forward to it though.

Lol at all the funny toddlers in our ranks with cold noses and sore bums.

Hello everyone,

Just added myself

Julietbat #2 EDD 28 Oct,
Pinkfizzle #1 EDD 28 Oct, SE London
Koumak #2 EDD 28 Oct (TBC), North London, UCHL
FattipuffsandThinnifers #2 EDD 31 Oct,
ursigurke #1 EDD 31 Oct, West London
Mrsladybug #? EDD 1 Nov,
Mangolassi #2 EDD 1 Nov,
Broodzilla #1 EDD 2 Nov BOY
Lillee #? EDD 3 Nov,
Supercherry #2 EDD 4 Nov,
Chocotastic #2 EDD 4 Nov, SE London
Fruitpastels #2 EDD 4 Nov, SE London
Stokey #1 EDD 4 Nov, North London
Homeinthesun #2 EDD 4 Nov,
Gizboss #1 EDD 4 Nov
MrsDisorganised #5 EDD 4 Nov, Scotland
Lemontop #1 EDD 5 Nov,
Ronniemummy #2 EDD 5 Nov (to be confirmed!!)
Browntrout #2 EDD 6 Nov Manchester
tamlin #2 EDD 5 Nov,
Piper #1 & #2 EDD 6 Nov, Twins!
BonyM #? EDD 6Nov,
Leannabanana #3 EDD 6 Nov,
BlackLetterDay #3 EDD 6 Nov,
Trikken #2 EDD 6 Nov, SW Dorset
Tabbykat #2 EDD 7 Nov, Kent
Scarlotti #3 EDD 7 Nov,
Ruddynorah #2 EDD 7 Nov, leeds
WizzyWoo #2 EDD 8 Nov,
AileenF1 # EDD 8 Nov,
Barnowl #4 EDD 8 Nov,
eeyore2 #1 EDD 8 Nov, London
Munchies37 #1 (Twins) EDD 8 Nov,
sleeplessinthecity #2 EDD 8 Nov, Switzerland
Buttercup EDD 9 Nov,
Catitainahatita #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Helips #2 EDD 9 Nov,
CakeForBreakfast #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Hobnob57 #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Tiddlypom #2 EDD 9 Nov
Cies #1 EDD 10 Nov, Vigo, NW Spain.
QueenNeurosis #? EDD 10 Nov,
PootleTheFlump #1 EDD 10 Nov, South West
Grendle EDD 11 Nov,
lynniep #2 EDD 11 Nov, Cambridgeshire
CassORole #? EDD 11 Nov
Weston #2 EDD 12 Nov,
LadyGooGoo #3 EDD 13 Nov, North Wales
roomac #3 EDD 13 Nov, NW London
Tigger32 #3 EDD 14 Nov, East Midlands
MiniLlace #? 14 Nov,
Southernbelle77 #2 EDD 14 Nov, West Sussex
BeckyBendyLegs #3, EDD 14 Nov, Shorpshire
Barnowl #4 EDD 15 Nov, Hampshire
pinkmich1972 #3 EDD 15 Nov, kent
DeathbyDora #3 EDD 15 Nov, USA
alexdrake #2 EDD 15 Nov, Essex
Kyte #2 EDD 16 Nov, Hampshire Surrey border
LaraT #2 EDD 16 Nov,
EasyEggs #5, EDD17 Nov, Kent, (Sussex/Surrey border) GIRL!
Brightonbaby #1 EDD 18 Nov Brighton&Hove
Dorisdaily #3 EDD 18 Nov
Pavlovthecat #2 EDD 18 Nov
belgianbun #2 EDD 20 Nov, S London
ldeeanna #1 EDD 20 Nov, Truro, Cornwall
Manfrom # 1 (twins) EDD 20 Nov
katster37 #1 EDD 21 Nov, S London BOY
Ninjacat no2 EDD 22 Nov, Bristol
Hamandegger #? EDD 23 Nov, West Sussex
Beepbeep #3 EDD 23 Nov
Turtle23 #2 EDD 22 Nov, London/Surrey border
Flumpity #2 (Twins) EDD 26 Nov,
MumsieBumsie #1 EDD 26 Nov, South London
Laugs #2 26 Nov, Newcastle
Grace09 #1 EDD 27 Nov, Glasgow
Pedalmonster #2 EDD 27 Nov, Surrey
Joycey29 #3 EDD 27 Nov,
Naetha #2 EDD 27 Nov,
FairyBex #1 EDD 28 Nov, Cumbria
raggie #1 EDD 28 Nov, North London
Skorpion #1 EDD 29 Nov, Oxfordshire
Claired21 #1 EDD 29 Nov, Glasgow

Good morning all.

Hormones are raging. Had a hissy fit yesterday at my brand new client... I have just taken over their books and found that the mess they have managed to create in only being in charge for a couple of months themselves means much longer hours for me just to get to point zero. Aaarrgghh! And it's not like this stuff is rocket science.

Have a meeting with them later on and feel a bit embarrassed about my outburst, especially having received a very polite and apologetic e-mail from them.

Haven't actually told them I'm pregnant, as I'm self-employed, just imagine the 'pregnant loony' label when they find out.

<<sneaks on whilst pretending to make packed lunches!!>>

Morning all!

Have come to the conclusion I am just too busy his time round to feel baby moving...DH works away from home so am 'in the midst' of children etc until I drop into my bed when i am too tired to do anything but sleep! To be on the safe side however have booked an app. on friday with my midwife, for reassurance

Will come back later have a good day all!

erika yes, go ahead, thats what you need to do - copy the list and paste it into the nessage box, then add yourself into the right place.
WIth DS1 I also felt movement at 16 weeks, and this time I felt it early too.

Mrsdisorganised LOL you are too funny - you are true to your name!
Beepbeep your little girl sounds very bright!

and forgottonyrnamewithSPD that was the funniest thing - having to explain that your bum was sore.
Had 16w check yesterday and heard the little heart beat - like a little race horse, it was so fast! hmmm - fast is meant to be a girl? hmmm - think its a girl. Or a boy. Definitley either of those.

Laugs It might be me who has the ds who suffered from croup? We speny a lot of time in and out of hospital, nebulisers etc...

It was pretty horrid with at least one touch and go moment but he did grow out of it in the end if that is any reassurance?

We were always told to boil kettles in his bedroom but not sure what good it did.

Hope your dd is on the mend and feeling better. I do remember it was always worse in the early hours but it's amazing how quick they bounce back.

I'm really hopping this one doesn't suffer with it but my grandmother said all her boys (5) had it so we'll see.

I have to admit I'm terrified of bringing this baby home but quite enjoying being pregnant

Thanks pedalmonster, am quite touched!

mrsdisorganised - I've been very lucky and felt movements from 16 weeks, which I'm told is weird as its my first pregnancy, but think its because I'm spending more time lying down than most people because of my condition.

Managed to stress myself out today to the point of experiencing Braxton Hicks. Was absolutely terrified as had a little spotting on Sunday, although it was dark blood, so not new. Called my midwife in practical hysterics, and she just told me I need to relax and shes not worried phew

Would anyone mind if I added myself to the expectant list and reposted it?

Hello! Have realised I actually added my name to this huge list a long time ago and lost the thread as only posted a couple of times! So updating my details.

Julietbat #2 EDD 28 Oct,
Pinkfizzle #1 EDD 28 Oct, SE London
Koumak #2 EDD 28 Oct (TBC), North London, UCHL
FattipuffsandThinnifers #2 EDD 31 Oct,
ursigurke #1 EDD 31 Oct, West London
Mrsladybug #? EDD 1 Nov,
Mangolassi #2 EDD 1 Nov,
Broodzilla #1 EDD 2 Nov BOY
Lillee #? EDD 3 Nov,
Supercherry #2 EDD 4 Nov,
Chocotastic #2 EDD 4 Nov, SE London
Fruitpastels #2 EDD 4 Nov, SE London
Stokey #1 EDD 4 Nov, North London
Homeinthesun #2 EDD 4 Nov,
Gizboss #1 EDD 4 Nov
MrsDisorganised #5 EDD 4 Nov, Scotland
Lemontop #1 EDD 5 Nov,
Ronniemummy #2 EDD 5 Nov (to be confirmed!!)
Browntrout #2 EDD 6 Nov Manchester
tamlin #2 EDD 5 Nov,
Piper #1 & #2 EDD 6 Nov, Twins!
BonyM #? EDD 6Nov,
Leannabanana #3 EDD 6 Nov,
BlackLetterDay #3 EDD 6 Nov,
Trikken #2 EDD 6 Nov, SW Dorset
Tabbykat #2 EDD 7 Nov, Kent
Scarlotti #3 EDD 7 Nov,
Ruddynorah #2 EDD 7 Nov, leeds
WizzyWoo #2 EDD 8 Nov,
AileenF1 # EDD 8 Nov,
Barnowl #4 EDD 8 Nov,
eeyore2 #1 EDD 8 Nov, London
Munchies37 #1 (Twins) EDD 8 Nov,
sleeplessinthecity #2 EDD 8 Nov, Switzerland
Buttercup EDD 9 Nov,
Catitainahatita #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Helips #2 EDD 9 Nov,
CakeForBreakfast #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Hobnob57 #2 EDD 9 Nov,
Tiddlypom #2 EDD 9 Nov
Cies #1 EDD 10 Nov, Vigo, NW Spain.
QueenNeurosis #? EDD 10 Nov,
PootleTheFlump #1 EDD 10 Nov, South West
Grendle EDD 11 Nov,
lynniep #2 EDD 11 Nov, Cambridgeshire
CassORole #? EDD 11 Nov
Weston #2 EDD 12 Nov,
LadyGooGoo #3 EDD 13 Nov, North Wales
roomac #3 EDD 13 Nov, NW London
Tigger32 #3 EDD 14 Nov, East Midlands
MiniLlace #? 14 Nov,
Southernbelle77 #2 EDD 14 Nov, West Sussex
BeckyBendyLegs #3, EDD 14 Nov, Shorpshire
Barnowl #4 EDD 15 Nov, Hampshire
pinkmich1972 #3 EDD 15 Nov, kent
DeathbyDora #3 EDD 15 Nov, USA
alexdrake #2 EDD 15 Nov, Essex
Kyte #2 EDD 16 Nov, Hampshire Surrey border
LaraT #2 EDD 16 Nov,
EasyEggs #5, EDD17 Nov, Kent, (Sussex/Surrey border) GIRL!
Brightonbaby #1 EDD 18 Nov Brighton&Hove
Dorisdaily #3 EDD 18 Nov
Pavlovthecat #2 EDD 18 Nov
belgianbun #2 EDD 20 Nov, S London
ldeeanna #1 EDD 20 Nov, Truro, Cornwall
Manfrom # 1 (twins) EDD 20 Nov
katster37 #1 EDD 21 Nov, S London BOY
Ninjacat no2 EDD 22 Nov, Bristol
Hamandegger #? EDD 23 Nov, West Sussex
Beepbeep #3 EDD 23 Nov
Turtle23 #2 EDD 22 Nov, London/Surrey border
Flumpity #2 (Twins) EDD 26 Nov,
Laugs #2 26 Nov, Newcastle
Grace09 #1 EDD 27 Nov, Glasgow
Pedalmonster #2 EDD 27 Nov, Surrey
Joycey29 #3 EDD 27 Nov,
Naetha #2 EDD 27 Nov,
FairyBex #1 EDD 28 Nov, Cumbria
raggie #1 EDD 28 Nov, North London
Skorpion #1 EDD 29 Nov, Oxfordshire
Claired21 #1 EDD 29 Nov, Glasgow

That is an amazing list!!!
Will have to spend time reading this thread and finding out whats going on

Are lots of you feeling lots of movement yet? Just wondering! Also see alot of you are due another scan( presuming you had one at 12 weeks) I have only ever had a scan at 12 weeks and again at 36 weeks (to check position of the placenta) maybe i could request one, feel a bit left out!!
Going to start catching up now.....

Well done all of you with the good scan results.

Thanks for all the burp tips, I'll be trying strawberry milk tomorrow.

Tamlin I think girls look cool in rugby shirts!

Hope work eases up for Becky and Laugs and hope all was ok at the docs Laugs.

Strange things aren't they, kids?! I can't believe some of the stuff DD comes out with!

I was trying to convince DD that she needed to go to the toilet while we were at the garden centre this aft before we got back in the car, she kept telling me'i'll tell you when Mummy' so I got her into toilets by saying that I needed to go, so we got into cubicle and she announced 'i'm alright mummy, i'll just watch' - not stupid are they?!

good evening all, I'm finally back, internet is on again. but it is impossible to read all those posts from one week. So I just hope that everything is fine. I saw, that some of you already had their second scan and that everything was fine. I'll have mine on monday, which is also my husbands birthday. I hope a nice picture will be ok as a gift, I really can't focus on that (unfortunately he just loves surprises)

I've tried to explain to DD that I can't carry her down the stairs or play football with her due to my SPD because 'I have a sore bum'.

Then she started quizzing me publicly about whether I needed to do a big poo to make my sore bum better

Hobnob - DD has also got a cold, she keeps telling me she has a cold on her nose, I couldn't work out what she meant then realised she had a cold and it made her nose runny - bless!

Done - have started a thread for baby lists - things you need and things you dont. In the antenatal section.

Had a lovey day (last day of being signed off work and DH als on a rest day). DH took dog for long walk this morning with DD in backpack and DS slept for whole time so had some time to myself. Spent tm,e playing in garden (with DCs, not on my own!) then went to get DH a new mountain bike followed by trip to garden centre and tea at Pizza Express (DD's favourite place), only one terrible twos tantrum from DD so all in all a pleasant day.

Pedalmonster - glad you had nice break, hope you do/do nt get yur job (whichever want you want!!). I had a horrendous boss u until recently and I know all too well how it can make your life a misery, even when not at work.

I think if you go from a boy to girl it's nt bad clothes wise, it's when you start dressing boys in pink frilly dresses it's a little worrying!

Having a really hard time catching up! Erica hang in there and just plan one day at a time. Having interviewed people last week for the first time, I loved hearing about different people's life experiences and felt really privileged to match them to my job and the people they'll be working with. You never know - you might get some nice affirmation if you go for it!

at the scans news! One week for me to go!

Been far too busy this week. Trying to theoretically get ready for matty leave before the end of next week (handover starts next term in August) is so not realistic and I'm just drowning in stuff I can't get done due to other commitments. And most of it requires me being at work to do it, so I can't just plough through it during the holidays. And I have no childcare available for me to go to work during the holidays to sort it out until near enough August, by which stage the impetus for me to do this stuff will be well and truly gone, if I can remember who I am by that stage . Argh.

Was it Broodzilla's DH who has his head in the sand about getting organised? My Dh is very much the same, even though he's been through it all before. I haven't even suggested names or shopping yet. TBH we've both been so busy, it's unlikely we'll discuss anything sensible until we are on holiday later in July (seriously!). It's a mad house at the moment.

Been starving too recently. Must be at that 'stage'!

Got a stinking cold - seems the germs are circulating us all again!

PS Waitrose is making this new amazing Pink Milkshake stuff. I think its new - never seen it before - but have consumed 8 litres of it in 2 days. burp

Oh My! Finally.. have managed to get to the end of the thread! You ladies have been very chatty while I was away on the continent! I had a lovely break with DH and DS and amazingly DH did not even switch his blackberry on - although he did bring it along as Sat Nav back up! (Gadget freek).

Welcome all the newbies - so many of you... I thought we had everyone by now?!?! the list isnt fully udated with all of you so feel free to copy and paste it and update... below is the last one that I found.

Laugs thanks for thinking of me, sweetpea! Yes I have been having stress at work with being restrutured and had my interview yesterday (appling for my role which actually doesnt exist now!) and I will find out on Friday apparently. To be honest I would welcome the redundancy to get away from my bully boss - and then find a new job in a years time (unless I can convince DH otherwise...)

I loved the lists you were making of unnecessary items - honestly, we should make a new thread... infact I may just do that in the antenatal section. After DH was born I spent hours trying to figure out how to use some things - and Jeans / button shirts for babies? Who would ever invent those when babygro's exist!

erickamae (love that name and have noted it for potential daughter) poor you - have not read all the posts as there were about 25 pages (!) but sounds like you have a lot on your plate. My cousin and her DP had less than no money with their first - both were living at their parents houses... they had their little one in a drawer from a chest of drawers on the floor then in the bed with them... People are very generous and if you ask in your community people will probably give you / lend you anything you need. All a baby needs is mummy-milk and love, and to be warm and dry. What ever decisions and choices you make, you are making them for your family and you will do what is best based on what you know at the time! Good luck!

Julietbat #2 EDD 28 Oct,
Pinkfizzle #1 EDD 28 Oct, SE London
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My DB is dying for it to be a girl, but everyone I know has had boys, so that would save a fortune. I think any girl of ours will be dressed along the same lines as yous, Becky! Though saying that... If its a girl, DB will have probably dashed off to the nearest baby shop before I've even whipped the gel off my tummy...

If its any comfort, Tamlin, have managed to make my way through two bowls os cereal, two bags of crisps, three apples, a bowl of soup, some plain crackers, and a donut today so far, and I have some jacket potatoes in the oven Probably not the heathiest of diets, but the shopping doesn't come until tomorrow and I was brought the donut by my brother...

I keep craving fizzy drinks. I detest them - unless they're being used as a mixer, then I can just about force myself to drink them... - but the idea of a can of pepsi max has been in the back of my mind all day... Tut!!!

Mmm. Crumpets.

Why am I permanently hungry? I would like not to turn into an elephant seal, but I can feel sealitis creeping upon me. All I want to do is eat...

So true Tamlin. If we have a girl she's going to be a tom boy whether she likes it or not in the DSs' old osh kosh dungerees and if we have a boy, well he will not want for clothes and toys!

I'm eating a crumpet and it is nice

I keep thinking how much CHEAPER another boy would be. (I suspect that a daughter will still wind up in a lot of blue onesies, tiny rugby shirts and dungarees...)

Yeah another girl!

Hi all, hope all is well with everyone, I'm afraid I haven't even attempted to catch up with all the news, you're just too chatty for me

Just popped in to say we had our 20 week scan yesterday and found out DS is getting a little sister! All looks as it should be but have to go back for a 34 week scan as baby is lying transverse and placenta is low anterior. Not too worried about that as odds are I'll wind up with another c-section anyway and any extra chance to see my little girl is a bonus to me!!

becky I heard somewhere that if you already have two of the same sex, it is much more probable that the third is going to be one as well.

erika I hope you're feeling better today, welcome to the thread. So much good advice on here already, chin up and one day at the time. Good luck if you decide to go to the interview, it will certainly be good practice if nothing else.

homeinthesun congratulations on a girl and enjoy your trip. I miss my DH like crazy whenever we're apart.

beepbeep I had my first yoga class yesterday. It was lovely, I was the only one there. I really like the tutor, as I took a couple of non-pregnant yoga classes with her before. I have to say, the affirmations she was saying at the end threw me a little, I still can't get over the mental barrier that it is actually happening to me and not some other skorpion. When she asked me about labour I had to admit that I am still in the fingers in the ears and saying la-la-la loudly stage. I'm not afraid of it, just not ready for what comes after. Does that make sense?

Hi Laugs I hope your DD is better today: my DS has had croup and we stick him in the bathroom with the shower on hot for ten mins. He also has an inhaler which helps. He's only had it a couple of times though. We did end up in A&E once with him but he was fine once they gave him a nebuliser.

I'm drowning in work this week

homeinthesun yeah a girl!

I'm starting to get curious now about the sex but I'm not payiing £50 to find out the sex! I reckon another boy.

I hope your DS is feeling better today, Laugs.

Woah!!! don't log on for a few days and there is SO MUCH NEWS!!!

Erika I agree with Tigger you have lots on your plate at the mo but I am sure that given the support and inner strength that somehow appears when we give birth you'll be able to cope just fine..you have to believe it. Please go to your interview..if not for the job then just for some practice..It could change your life in many ways. Well done for coming on here and taking in the advice. You seem level headed for such a young lady and you should be proud.

homeinthesun congratulations on having a dd...hooray..

laugs hope your DS is better! and good luck with the deadline..let us know how it goes.

HAven't even thought about this baby in terms of "stuff' yet...we should have everything I hope!!!

katster you're lucky to have all the things there...plus you'll accumulate lots more! Babies don't need much..just some grows, nappies, lots of muslins for the spit ups and lots and lots of love.

It's slowly sinking in ladies that I'm going to have another little one..MS is so consuming that i'd forgotten that I'm having a baby..now that its in fully kick mode, am getting excited and slightly scared!

Morning, another bad night with DD. I think she has croup - someone on here said their DS gets it but I'm not sure who - Tamlin? She does seem a bit better this morning, but since I was seriously considering A&E at about 5am, I am taking her to the doctor anyway. Typically, I am also on a deadline for tomorrow morning and I'm keeping her off nursery. Isn't it always the way?

That was all about me... I'll be back later to catch up with everyone else's posts.

Homeinthesun - Congratulations!!! I have my scan in three weeks, am counting down :D

Thanks pinkpizzle, I intend to. Am shattered. Going to call my better half, if he's still awake, then sleeeeep. I've been doing the same thing - might try the strawberry milk!

pinkfizzle milk works for me - any flavour. Have been suffering all evening too - might have been all the bending and exertion putting together a flat pack chest of drawers mind

homeinthesun congratulations on your little girl!!

Strawberry milk did the job for me

*Home in the sun* so excited for you!

Ladies - Burp, burp, burp and burp... I have been burping all evening without respite. Any tips to ease acid reflux and heartburn will be much appreciated.

ErikaMaye - hope you get to rest up tonight and catch some zzz's take care.

Hi all, thank's for the lovely reasurring messages last week when I was a complete mess. I went for my 20 week scan today, I took my friend and my DS along with me, the scan man told me he couldn't tell me what sex the baby is but could say that the baby is not a boy, so it looks like we're having a girl. Dh and I are very happy but just need to find a name at some point. I'm off to the UK on Wednesday night for a couple of weeks so I get to see family I haven't seen in 14 months, and I get to see my DH who I haven't seen in 10 days (but it feels a lot longer).

katster37, it kinda... Slipped my mind to tell them!! Oops. So I'm going to walk in, with a stick, and a bump, and then mention I was in a physc. unit for 6 months... I could just go to scare them!! Its a local care home... It caught my eye because the offer NVQ training free as well... I dunno. Probably totally impractical, but maybe you're right