December 2010, where we waft about in mat gear eating icecream

[Miffster]

Yo December 2010 ladies, here we go - the mid-point of our pregnancies...and beyond!

PJen you looked great when I saw you! don't listen to anyone, I get a bit scared when I look at the scales (I've put on nearly 10 kilo's) but it's mostly bump and I was a healthy BMI pre pregnancy as I'm sure you were.

Frankenfanny pmsl at dog food instead of washing powder

Can't remember who it was who mentioned they had mushrooms and stilton, which sounds amazing BTW, but everyone does know that you can eat whatever cheeses you damn well like as long as they're piping hot? It's only eating them uncooked that can be potentially (and TBH unlikely) dangerous.

Also you just reminded me that I totally forgot to share my amazing news with you from when I was in France a couple of months ago. OK, so my cousin took me to an amazing cheese shop and the cheesemonger took me round the shop showing me which cheeses were safe for pregnancy and which were out of bounds and also explaining exactly why. It turns out that Roquefort is totally safe for pregnancy as the particular mold (Penicilin Roquefort) is deadly to listeria! So blue cheese fans go and chow down on Roquefort to your heart's content.

This page is in French but if you scroll down to the table that has a quite obvious green side and red side (I'm sure you can work it out) you can see that Roquefort is actually recommended for pregnancy health.

This makes me very happy

Off to Green Man festival today to do a talk on a project we got back from in February. DH and I travelled overland from London through Russia, Mongolia, China and around Southeast Asia talking to real people about climate change. The people in Mongolia were particularly cool and every gerr (gorgeous round house-tent) has its own solar panel! There's interviews and videos on our Climate Stories website if you're interested.

Japhrimel I am getting a paiin at the top left of my bump and it's also stoppping me from getting any sleep on my left side - I wonder if this is just a common complaint?

A really bad night's sleep again last night. DH snores, specially when he's had a glass of wine, so I seemed to spend all night kicking the bed to try to wake him up. I am probably waking the baby too. It seems to take ages for him to wake and go to the spare room... DH that is, not the baby!

Midwife appointment on Tuesday - I'll be 24 weeks I think, or is it 25?!

Glad you're not making the baby sleep in the spare room just yet, DF. Have you tried ear plugs? Some nights its really noisy where we live (when they're testing machines locally) and since i discovered ear plugs, its made such a difference, as i just stick them in roll over and go back to sleep.

Glad also MrsSL that it sounds like people are taking your housing situation seriously. I have a lot of sympathy for you - thank goodness my DH's current boss is a bit in love with him (I think!) so she's postponed his move by a month - otherwise he'd be moving in the week either before or after my EDD! I know I can stay where I am for a bit, but not ideal if DH is working miles away when I'm two weeks overdue.

Thanks for the cheese infomration GGG - though I am not sure I will be brave enough to break the ban - personally I'd be fine with it, but for various reasons I'm in a bit of an awkward situation and don't want to be seen as being reckless with this pg in anyway. It really drives me mad that they come up with such strict rules on what you can and can't eat, rather than giving you the facts and explaining why and how to manage any risks.

Right, got to get through today - stress levels yesterday reached a peak and i had to hang up on a client because I started crying over a lost email and couldn't go on. So embarrassing

Reshape glad the scan went well and contrats on a little boy :) I have 2 and they are really lovely :o

MrsS Lol, loving that gift :o

notso I like those prams, still not decided 100% on one but leaning towards the britax one.

japhrimel I wish I could do swimming but I'm really poor at it (always have been, no stamina) and can't even manage a length. Just always been a weak swimmer even when I did ballet, tap, jazz, horse riding and could do them for hours on end, still couldn't manage to swim! Zoe is a lovely name :)

Heidi welcome :)

Strix thanks, we have an appt on MOnday to choose a date! So excited as once we have one I can start actually getting the dress and some clothes for the dcs too etc, etc

MrsChris that sounds awful, I'll be no help to you though as I'm terrified of flying anyway and won't fly at all anymore! I'm sure you'll be fine though tbh.

Dueling you don't need to worry about the baby's position for a while yet, so I'd carry on slumping, I am!

Hettie welcome :)

Aimee nice to see you again :)

Will finish off later, family just arrived!

Morning all - glad I decided to take today as a leave day - no rushing around this morning before meet and then bus home. looking forward to meeting chloesbaby and hopefully CherylAT as well. I could probably do a meet in London as well - Friday afternoon or weekend would be best for me.
Good news about the Roquefort GGG - your trip sounds amazing, I read a really good book recently I think it was called the horse boy about a family who took a trip across that region to try and find a form of treatment for their ASD son - really moving book.

Actuallly sat watching daytime telly in peace - it's a wonderful feeling!

I wouldn't worry to much about putting on weight, a lot of it is boob and "fluid" at this stage - LO probably only weighs about 500g upto 20 weeks after that they start to gain a lot in weight and size - if your MW is n't concerned then don't worry too much!

this week I am taking my DD down to see my Mum in Devon for a couple of days then we are going camping next weekend at a Landrover show in the midlands so fingers crossed for some nice weather please!!

Just a quickie to say looking forward to seeing you MrsS and hopefully Cheryl

That trip sounds amazing GGG! Such a wonderful experience . And great news on the cheese - I love strong blue cheese and have been indulging every so often.

PJEN - I can't believe someone commented on the weight gain! Particularly bad timing as you said you were feeling it a bit. I can't understand though how thye say you be putting on less than 15lbs (is that what he said?). All the fluid, baby, boobs wieghs more than that at term... I lost a ton of wieght as soon my babies were born. I'm sure you're fine . I, however, have been indulging in too much food! Definately using this pregnancy as an excuse to pig out which I must stop doing because the older I get the harder I find to lose the weight. Saying that I'm working at home today and thinkin about having a jammy crumpet... Mmmmmm. Only had my porridge at 8am.

Emma - I used to get that itchy, bruised piece when pregnant last time. I think it was a little late on from where I am now but definately there! on the right hand side I think at the top of my bump. I dont think I ever figured out what it was .

I saw that programme about family swap! It was quite good but I did find it very stereotypical. The family with 4 girls was all into dancing / horse riding / shopping for hours at the weekend etc, and the boys just wanted to play football, play with water pistols and basically run around. I guess that was the whole point of it but it just seemed too much. No reason at all why girls shouldn't be more physcial and boys a bit quieter - at least thats my experience with my kids and friends kids. The one thing that was quite interesting was that one of the 4 boys wasn't into football like his brothers (and dad) and seemed a bit left out. And the mum of the family used to do a lot of horse riding. It was only after the swap that thay thought to involve the non-football loving boy in the mums desire to do more horse riding. And he was really keen!!! So it just goes to show that kids shouldn't be boxed into boy = football and girl = dancing etc....

MrsS - Hope you get somewhere soon with the house situation. Must be so frustrating being pregnant and not able to put down some roots. How does it work if you find somewhere privately to rent? or does it have to be in Army accomodation?

Good to see you back again Aimee! Totally agree with the others on getting into a ante-natal group / class. At least it will get you out and about and meeting people in the same boat.

Mmm, that crumpet is calling

Aimee - I am 5'-2" and DD was 2 weeks overdue. So I wouldn't hold out any hope that your baby will exit before the due date. What I can tell you, is your lungs will get extra squished. I hate that part of pregnancy and am already finding that I need to arch my back to inhale properly. I highly recommend a small pillow for lumbar support.

PJen - Anyone who thinks you are fat is perhaps suffering from weight issues of their own. What an odd comment to make to a pregnant woman.

LONDON MEET UP PEOPLE (Pjen, Lavita, Emma, QoD and anyone else who wants to jump in)- It looks like sometime after Sept. 12, daytime of QoD can make it, and can we please do a weekend. My work looks to be sending to Aberdeen a fair amount. And I can't really predicte the schedule much in advance. And of course I would just hate to miss a meet-up, so if we could do Sat or Sunday, that would be great... But, Lavita I'm not sure if that worsks for you with your work schedule. In fact I think maybe we need a Due Dec 2010 London Meet up thread, so I have started one here

CheeseandGherkins - I'm a pretty crappy swimmer too actually. I just always like it because it takes the weight off my bad back and joints. You may find it helpful during pregnancy just because of that. When I go I tend to do 1 length (very slowly), take a break and maybe do some pilates squats against the end of the pool, then do another length...

Morning all,

Quick question, as this is my first so a little clueless... Do I really need to start buying baby clothes, kit, pram etc now?

I'm only 24 weeks and we have a tiny flat, so I'd rather wait till later and leave us room to breathe for as long as possible!

On the other hand, I don't want to find that I'm too tired/cranky/enormous to get the shopping done if I leave it a month or so.

Any advice?

I haven't bought much of anything yet. But, am planning to get before DS2's arrival:

Carseat (if you have a car)
pram
A bunch of newborn sleepsuits w/ scratchmits(and possibly cute Christmas outfit)
muslins
blankets
any cot/mosesbasket sheets required
nappies
small bottles / steriliser / etc. (or boobs if you are absolutley opposed to bottles)
small bibs
reclining bath seat thingy
changing table (which is about the only item I still have)
dummies (if you want to use them)

You don't need clothes up to 6 months or a walker or a high chair, etc. AS I rule, I would go ahead and get anything you think you will need for the first two weeks post birth. Def get stuff by the time you are about 30 or 35 weeks because you don't want to get caught out if bub arrives early. And if you have an unplanned section, you don't want to have to run to the shops when you are physically not ready (expect about 2-4 weeks).

Oh, of course, formula if you are not planning to breast feed.

I've been getting thins gradually to spread the cost, so a few baby grows here a tube of nipple cream there.

Our house is small and it really does mount up but I am planing on sorting out the spare room soon because it will just be easier to contain it all. I want to do it before I get too big.

Strix - this is brilliant, thank you so much! A list of essentials in EXACTLY what I need, and all the ones I've found online seem to be designed to get me to spend my lifesavings on a lot of unnecessary accessories...

Oh, and November/December/January babies need hats (unless you happen to lie in Kuwait).

I'm sure there is more I have forgotten.

Well I'm on the bus back up to London having met with chloesbaby for a cup of T! - Shame CherylAT wasn't able to make it maybe next time! Well neither of us appear yto be axe murderers and we had a nice chat.
I was really dense and forgot the time we had arranged and turned up an hour early - spent ages looking at all these girls and women walkng past to work out if they were pregnant and if they might be the right person, then I thought I might have been stood up, then I realised I was just dense and was an hour early Oh well at least it wasn't raining!

Strix -- good list but don't forget things like nappy wipes, powder, baby bath stuff. I didn't bother with bibs just muslins until we started weaning. Definately cute xmas outfit - we had a reindeer for DD as she was 3 months - I'm thinking Xmas Pudding this time!

Chooster - we couldn't afford to rent privately and if that ends up the only option then they have to do it for us so it is subsidised to the equivalent we would pay for our quarter. We still have to wit for them to sort themselves out. I'm RN by the way not army
Glad to be on my way home - looking forward to extended time with family!

Oh no! You were hanging around for an hour and were too polite to mention it!
It was really nice to meet you MrsSnaplegs
My bump is definitely the poor relation compared to yours, but I guess I will have a growth spurt sooner or later.
I hope you have a nice break from work next week.
I'm looking forward to clocking off for the weekend soon and having a relaxing weekend possibly looking at prams. So far I've only bought a few clothes and we have a Moses basket from SIL, but your list has inspired me to get organised Strix

nice to hear from you aimee remember you can come on here and chat whenever you fancy a bit of company

Button he sounds like such a nice chap (not!)

frakenfanny lol at your baby brain moments

Pjen sorry that you've been upset by your colleague, if it's any consolation, I had a really hard bump (all baby) last time round and 6 months after having DD I was smaller than I'd been in years. Just hoping the same thing happens this time round!

My scan went well yesterday at the hospital, baby is growing and fluid levels were normal, echogenic bowel still there so we have scans booked for 30 and 36 weeks. The test results for CF came back clear, a really low chance that we could both be carriers so that rules that out :o Really pleased about that. We got some lovely photos too, she looks like she's blowing bubbles in one of them, I'll try and scan them in and post at some point.

First supervised contact session is booked for tomorrow 10-12, but dd is adamant that she isn't going so it should be interesting.....At least it'll all be noted down and given to the court no matter what happens but they shouldn't be put through all this stress just to please their Father, as none of this is in the children's best interests; that's very clear to me. All it's doing is upsetting them and distressing them but one day he'll be sorry. He's burnt any bridges he may have had left with dd and that's a shame but he's brought it on himself. He might be able to force some things with contact now but when they're older he's basically ruined it for himself; he'll grow up a lonely old man with no family around him but it's all his own doing. He's too pig headed and controlling to see past the end of his own nose though so nothing anyone says would bother him; as long as he gets what he wants that's all he cares about. He's proven that by taking this so far.

MrsS Have a great time in Devon, dp's family come from there and just left today from visiting.

Chooster Mmm, I really fancy a crumpet now! Dp is making me a dinner I really fancy later, filled pasta, mash with cheese, peas and gravy. I've been craving peas since yesterday when I smelt them in the hospital, thing is, I don't even really like peas lol. Very strange.

Strix I'm 5ft 3, so far I've been 4 weeks early, 2 weeks early and a few days early and even then I felt like I actually couldn't breathe. Hoping not to go overdue with this one.

Japhrimel Ah I assumed you were a really good swimmer :) I'll have a think about that as I'm getting worse. I've been using some old crutches today as walking is excruciating, I need to go back to the physio and get some more advice.

hettie I've bought a few things so far, leaving the pram and bigger things until later on though.

congrats on the scan C&G and CF results and good luck for tomorrow

c&G glad to hear scan went well and I hope things aren't too bad tomorrow.

hettiew you honestly don't need as much as you think/they try to sell you in the first few weeks. I think I would possibly add a few vests to Strix's list, depending on how warm your house is, and potentially some sort of snowsuit or cot with hood as we're all due mid-winter. However, they can be pricey and grown out of quickly so as long as baby has hat on and is bundled up well in blankets it'll be fine.

For me, I would also add a sling, should you wish to use one and if you have any extra cash and would like to breastfeed a decent BF cushion (see my post about widgey - some going on ebay) although as long as you have plenty of pillows in the house they will be fine to use.

I expect everyone will have their personal 'can't do withouts' - I guess that's how you end up buying tons of stuff!!

I've had tiring day with DD who has been hard work. Met a friend at a soft play and did too much running around with DD, picking her up and throwing myself down slides etc and now my hips/pelvis and back are v sore. Going to have a hot bath and hope that eases it. There was a slightly comical moment when I followed her climbing up this hole thingy which went into a small tunnel and I almost didn't fit... Had my bump been any bigger they might have had to call out the fire brigade to get me out! I think I might have to hand over soft play duties to DH from now on.

erm, coat with hood

Thanks for your suggestions re PGP ladies. Will try out the swimming.

I put cat food in my cereal bowl the other week. Fortunately DP saw and stopped me tucking in. One of the cats has taken her revenge by getting ringworm. I don't think it's a threat to the baby, but it has rather put me off cuddling her, and she does love sitting on my bump!

I've started buying a few things with the aim of spreading the costs a bit. It seems weird buying warm wintery sleeping things in August, but I couldn't resist a sleeping bag and a merino swaddling thing...

hello all

had to rush to Mothercare today to get bras as have gone up again, am now 40DD and very itchy, anyone else got that?

Am very nesty and organised; trying to buy stuff and spread the cost and also am loving getting things on ebay - a new thing for me.

Am also taking advantages of sales for everything, because I don't know if I have said this yet but the big news is DH has a job in Grand Cayman, so we're selling up and moving out there when Tiny is 12 weeks (the earliest I would agree to go). So we have a lot of preparing and organising to do and I want to do a lot of it now whilst i can still think/sleep/walk properly.

Tiny has got some lovely reduced summer cotton clothes in the summer sales for 6-9mo and 9-12mo, because the stuff out on the island is a) flipping expensive and b) seems to have Disney characters or fussy twee slogans all over - and manmade fibre, yuk.

I have also got 2 basic NB sets, and a bit of NB stuff I've been given (vests, sleepsuits etc) and have got quite a few 0-3mo and 1-3mo cotton sleepsuits and vests and the odd T short and joggers/hoodies sets to mix and match.

I had great fun arranging it all in small piles in 2 drawers I cleared out. When I get stressed I open the drawers and go cluck cluck cluck .

Am loving being pregnant and having a bump and am so, so excited.

Oh please can I come to the London meetup after 12th September? Only not on 18th as am in an all day parenting course with DH called when 2 become 3' (was recommended by some first time faters we know as being especially good for men as most classes are aimed at the ladies).