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!

Hello! I'm just signing on quickly as it's been ages and I thought I would be better at keeping up, but no. Oh well!

Great thread!

LTApples - HA about the cat food. I hope you realised it prior to tasting it! :)

I had to go to the GP this week for my continuing nausea and vomiting... I was throwing up every day and feeling really crap. :( The GP gave me tablets to take three times per day and it has changed my (pregnant) life! I feel like myself again (sort of - a more emotional, fatter self, but still)...

Also was able to buy a pram, cot and changing table on ebay - all three arrived last week and it has been fun setting up the nursery.

Just thought I would pop in before going to bed. We leave in the morning for a short holiday so I will pop back when we return and in the meantime, I hope you all have a great week-end and week!

CheeseandGherkins - get ye to the physio! It really helped me, but it's a bore as you have to stick to it. I've been slacking lately as I've been so busy and then so tired and I'm feeling it. Swimming is definitely not just for super swimmers either.

Miffster - my boobs get itchy whenever they have a growth spurt. It really bugs me reading about how "you might need a bigger bra now you're in the 2nd trimester". What! I'm thinking my FF bra is getting to small now...and I started at a C cup!

Wow at Grand Cayman! DH and I may be moving to the US next year, depending on if he gets a transfer out there with his company. He was going to go for it this year, but I refused to move when pregnant...I've also set 12 weeks as the earliest I would move, but am now panicking that I won't cope if it does happen! It doesn't help that we won't know for sure until a max of 3 months before we move. So atm, we're not buying new furniture, a new car etc in case we move but we don't definitely know we're going either!

Oh, good point, Wholelottalove, vests are a must, even if just for an underlayer of warmth in the winder. Also, anyone who has not yet been to a maternity ward, they are positively tropical. So, even though it is December (or November, or January), I recommend dressing for summer.

Japhrimel, Where in the states will you be going (if you go)?

Morning all, just checking in before signing off to go on holiday!

Hope all is well with everyone and welcome to everyone new.

Hope today goes okay c&g - will be thinking of you and your dc but as you say at least it will all be documented.

We are off to Switzerland for 2 whole weeks - first holiday this year and boy do I need it. Now just the packing to do and to leave the house immaculate for house sitters and potential viewers...

Wow Miffster congratulations on the move, how exciting. I have gone from 36 B to 38 DD and managed to get a couple of new bras in the mothercare sale. I was wearing underwired bras but have switched now to the less supportive ones. I've washed and arranged all my ebay bundles (managed to get a great load of sleepsuits and vests for £6ish!) and am hoping to paint and convert an old cupboard of my Granny's. My mum's partner is hopefully going make me a changing top for it :)

at the catfood mistake likethemapples. I am hoping to Swaddle too.

C&G glad the scan went well.

Sorry to hear you have been so unwell ebrookm but glad you have it sorted now.

fascinated reading about you buxom ladies - mine have changed by one whole cup size......to a B! pathetic!

Afternoon all glad everyone is reasonably ok and hello to recent returners!

C&G Hope everything went well with contact visit today and your children didn't find it too stressful

Miffster Wow Grand Cayman! You might want to check out the thread on here about annoying house guests as I bet you will be swamped with people who think of you as a cheap holiday umm so next May ok for a visit Does your husbands co sort all the removals out for you? If so it shouldn't be too bad as they tend to pack everything for you!

Maxpower wow still a B - I'm - I went from B to E at about week 8 and need to go back and get new (bigger) ones again now!!

ebrookm glad you seem to have got the sickness sorted it isn't nice this late on is it!

93pjb Enjoy Switzerland for 2 weeks!

likethemapples Cat Food! I'd have to fight the dog for that - it's my daily challenge at home - how to stop the dog eating the cat food

I really want to start nesting as well now but have resorted to just putting everything in the spare room - hopefully when we get a house DH will go down for a day or 2 and paint DD room and the nursery before the furniture gets moved.

Just shocked myself with cost of rail ticket to my mothers tomorrow - usually use my rail card but forgot to renew it and having been using the bus from work to home forgot how expensive the train is!!

Hi people, loads to catch up on, will try over the rest of the day. Rubbish weather eh!

Don't know if anyone else has already posted this but asos has a massive mat clothes sale. Dresses that were £35 are at £10, tops were £14, now £6 etc. I've outgrown 2 dresses I bought a few months ago and 1 skirt is decidedly uncomfprtable come the evening, so I've had to get a couple of bits.

Had an antenatal check-up this morning and DH didn't even remember to ask how it went then he moped about all day (he was supposed to be sleeping as he's on night shift this weekend, but claimed he couldn't, despite spending the last week telling me how tired he is) and consequently had the hump. I had to entertain DD all day and take her to a birthday party this pm - he's now gone to work so I'll have to do her dinner and bed by myself and look forward to being woken up early by either DD getting up at a ridiculous hour or DH coming home. grr.

Strix - it would be near Seattle, WA.

maxpower - I'm very at B cup boobs! Pretty sure my bra is too tight on my left boob only. So now I'm a G cup on one side and a FF on the other side. I'm horrified at how lopsided I'm getting! I miss my balanced C cups!

Sorry your OH was being childish today!

Just a rant. DH made home made burgers for him and his mate tonight. Somehow they managed to use a wok, a frying pan, two saucepans, a deep fat fryer, 2 chopping boards, a lazy-suzan (!), several bowls, the grill and an oven dish which they managed to smash into several pieces! How is that possible! Not to mention the grease and flour all over the hob and the grill .

I just finished cleaning it all up because I couldn't wait any longer for DH to do it despite him saying several times 'leave it, I'll do it' because I just couldn't bear the thought of waking up tomorrow to find it all still there waiting to be done!

I really really want to throw the deep-fat fryer out as it stinks and it's a pain. meh! I'm off to bed!

Bloody pregnancy boobage. I was 36A when I started all this! Or sometimes 36B. 40DD is a bit . Have given up on underwired too, despite treating myself to lovely glamorous Bravissimo 38D ones in June. Hope I get to wear them after pregnancy but I bet my tits get huge and milky and sore, then deflate completely and sag. And I used to love my perky tits [cries}.

Thansk for the asos tip CherylAnnTweedy

DH and I went to John Lewis and looked at prams, we are going to get a MaClaren XLR and I am going to look on ebay. Am still worried it is a bit heavy at 7.7kg but was won over by it's suitable from birth, plus the fact you can clip a car seat to it and have the baby facing you when very young...as we don't have a car here (but will need to get in in GC) it means we will get 3 months of wear out of the car seat, and use the buggy til he is 3-4years old so feels like a good bargain.

Anyone know anywhere that does pram and buggy sales?

Then we went to the Whittington hospital and toured the birth centre which is amazing, like a hotel huge individual birth suites with huge birthpools and plasma TVs and double beds - all fab and if I have an uncomplicated birth, DH and I can crash together in the bed and leave together 6 hours later - just luxury.

But the post natal ward is awful, beds squashed together like a boarding school dorm, separated by thin curtains so you can hear everything and are only 3 feet away from other people and their crying babies/visitors/smelly food/ringng mobiles. I would hate to be stuck there - you could hear everything your neighbours either side were saying, and everyone else in the ward too.

So can't decide about a homebirth or trying for a natural birth at the Whittington birth centre. But if something went wrong, I'd still end up in the postnatal ward - there's no getting away from the fact that postnatal care in London is horrible, it seems.

Am going to try to see Homerton labour ward and birth centre and post natal ward and will probably then transfer to the Whittington as it is only 2 miles from my flat, the Homerton is 5+ miles and has a grim post natal ward reputation.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend

DF at your messy DH!
have a lovely holiday 93pjb

DFgood rant - hope you got it all out and have a good sleep. No doubt he thought he was Gordon Ramsey in the kitchen. Perhaps he will remember cleaning up as you go along prevents nagging wife syndrome, certainly hope you have better luck than I've had in teaching that!

maxpower snap- still 36B, most envious of enormous boobage going about, it would balance out my enormous bump and thighs nicely. Mine are refusing to get excited and will no doubt react to the whole pregnancy thing only when actually required to produce milk. Also sympathies on the grumpy useless man front - and they say we are supposed to be the emotional lot :).

I haven't been shopping much yet as the room is not ready to store things in but at least we have found out the building work is not likely to happen now until after the birth (and probably well into new year if we get weather like last winter).

I had decided not to get a pram- it would take up a lot of space in my small house and I mostly use the car anyway- I thought dog walking/shopping etc would work better with a sling - but a lot of people find this odd- what do you all think? Has my pregnancy brain fuddled up here?

I am trying to get mostly second hand stuff off likes of ebay as I have Xmas for 3 kids to buy for as well but I know I will break my budget for a few cute newborn things. After all, I have saved a lot of money on bras . I also found the sleepsuit my firstborn came home from hospital in -I was so pleased as my subsequent ones have used it and it will be nice for this one as well.

Baby also can now be seen wriggling about from the outside as well as felt, it is quite freaky but nice to rub cream into my belly and feel and see her respond. Can't wait to meet her!

Not much sleep for me tonight... at my parents house, DH is Laminating their floor so we are trying to sleep in my sisters room under a duvet about 6 inches thick (in august, really!) So been up since 5, nesting instinct led me to scour and scrub their kitchen which they left very yukky last night - DF the leaving it till later thing eew gets so much worse I really agree - Sounds like I have elderly parents but their actually v young and able bodied; just v chaotic! They live in W London btw and we're down loads atm so if here weekend of meetup will def try to make it.

Can i just say GGG have been craving broccoli and stilton soup and been making do with chicken (Not as good) so that info may have made my dreams come true :) (ah, so easily pleased!)

hettiew good question, and strix great list! at the moment my collection is a bit limited, mostly to a 3 month supply of nappies of acsending sizes. I know quite a lof of people with babbies so hoping the spirit of pass on will be alive and well. Have a savings account for baby though so figured could wait and see if i get any presents and then go mad online, partic in online Jan sales.. which bascially start on christmas don't they? I'm totally expecting to be late but figured DH, Mum and Sis can always be sent to brave christmas rush if baby comes on time or early, lucky things!

Oh also, just about the boobs - I really miss my tidy handfuls, small boob people! :( I can't get used to them resting on my tummy in the bath! (DH not complaining - yet!)

Question with maternity bras as well, is the middle bit meant to rest against skin at base of cleavage like a normal underwire bra? because none of the sizes seem to do that at all on me, and tried on tons.

frankenfanny - slings and carriers work great for walks, especially proper hikes, but babies get heavy. I couldn't cope with carrying a baby when shopping TBH - plus if you have a pushchair it can hold the shopping bags as well! I also like that if I go out and go for a coffee or lunch, the baby can sit/lie in the pushchair and doesn't have to be attached to me the whole time. Each to their own though....

ButtonAzure - yes the bra chest band is supposed to be against the skin between your boobs. It's a common issue - Mothercare and M&S seem to be the worst at selling women bras that are too big in the chest because they don't have the range of large cup sizes! Bravissimo is great and they will have an idea of where to start trying things on just from looking at you. I never would've thought to go all the way up to FF when I needed to go down a chest size!

Bravissimo do an online fitting guide to work out if a bra fits properly or not - they do everything by look & feel of the bra, no tapes.

www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit/default.aspx

We had friends round for lunch yesterday with their 3yo boy and 6mo girl which was lovely. It was really nice to see that our dog was mostly amazing with the baby - he just loves little ones whether they're babies or puppies and is so gentle. He has a thing for socks though and baby socks bouncing just above his head was too much temptation - he tried to take them off, lol!

I said "yes, please!" to an offer of clothes so hopefully will get a load more. I figure that I'd have to have an awful lot before it's too much stuff, as too few bodies and sleepsuits just means having to do more frequent washing!

Finally got a night's sleep, even if not a great one. It makes such a difference to be in bed all night!

ff at the money saving - and pleased to have some company down here in small boob land!

DF I share you're frustration. My DH always manages to use every item of kitchen equipment, even if just making some cereal. He is the main cook in the family, but still, the mess he makes is sooooo disproportionate. I might only be able to make scrambled eggs but at least I do it tidily.

DD was so good this morning. She got up when DH got in from work and after he had breakfast, he came up to bed. She made herself a giant bowl of rice crispies and settled down in front of cbeebies - courtesy of DH finding the channel for her - which meant I didn't wake up until 8.50am. (For any first time mums, that's the equivalent of lying in 'til noon!)

It looked like it was going to pour with rain this morning but it seems to have perked up a bit. Maybe I'll brave the park this pm.

Glad you got some sleep japhrimel!

Here you go ladies - Mothercare special disocunt code - 20% off orders over 75GBP - quite a few things are akready discounted and it still works - saved 71GBP on a carseat and Maclaren buggy last night! Should have paid 355GBP and paid 284GBP wth 12% discount on buggy then further 20% off seat and buggy
(sorry, no pound sign on my computer keyboard so have to keep typing 'GBP' instead)

Type in 'VFL' at checkout- you have to have gone almost all the way through the check out process, put your card number in and everything. Valid til 26th August

From vouchercodes.co.uk

Does anyone feel brave enough to list what they have bought/borrowed/begged so far? I am a bit that I am so organised, am not like this normally, don't like shopping and am very cautious about 'the baby industry', just as I was about 'the wedding industry' when getting married. But trimester one had so little energy am thinking trimester 3 will be similar so really trying to take advantage of clear head and high energy now. Plus, we're emigrating when Tiny is 12 weeks so the more I do now the less I have to worry about then - and the summer sales are very useful...and I have got everything cheap in sale/reduced/2nd hand...

Oooo, thanks for the code. DH gets paid on the 25th and should get his bonus then so we might buy a few of the more expensive things then.

What I've got so far:

Cellular blankets for pram & cot
Newborn & 0-3 month clothes
Baby sponge
1 pack of newborn nappies
Changing mat liners
1 pack of breast pads
A few toys
Some books (okay, babies can't read but I love books!)
Cuddly throw for the nursery chair
Picture frames, light pull & ornaments for the nursery
A load of fabrics for making bits for the nursery

I think that's it so far. It mostly fits into 3 storage boxes stacked up in our bedroom! We're progressing clearing the office/nursery this weekend though, so hopefully it won't be too long till that's decorated and I can start setting it up.

One tip I had from a friend (male) that I thought was great is to label drawers/baskets/boxes in the nursery so DH can find what's needed!

Oooh this thread moves fast, MrsChris i got the socks from Superdrug I think. Boots and places with travel accessories will have them too. They can be called Flight Socks or DVT socks - they just look like knee length, quite tight stretchy things. You may prefer not to wear them with a pretty summer frock and sandals .

For some reason I find weekends more tiring than weekdays, wonder why this is? Yesterday went furniture shopping for 2 hrs and had to have a nap on the sofa afterwards. Weird.

Great news about the Mcare code - might have a little look online now...

miffster I love a good list making session so I am in!

I have:

Moses basket from ebay with 3 sheets.
Cot from a friend
Another cot brand new from DH's friend who was given it to review for a website and offered it the day after my friend gave us the first one!
Moby Sling from ebay.
Quinny Buzz 3 bought new (Am looking out for a cheap carrycot on ebay)
We buy nappies everytime we do a food shop but I am also watching several AIO re-usable nappies on ebay as we plan to use them after the first few weeks.
Video Baby monitor - DH bought it new though I think it's not really needed, he loves his gadgets so I left him to it.
Lansinoh cream
Breast pads
loads of flannels, brown for bums cream for face and hands.
2 baby sponges.
2 cellular blankets one fleece blanket.
Maternity pads
some large pairs of cheap knickers.
Cot mobile from Ikea.
Loads of muslins.
Large 21 piece 0-3 bundle from ebay - various vests and babygrows/sleepsuits.
6 newborn babygrows from ebay.
A couple of newborn babygrows/vests from Asda/tesco.
A couple of 3-6 month babygrows from Asda.
Socks and scratchmitts from Tesco
A changing mat.
Nappy rash cream stuff - forgot the name of it.
Cardigan from tesco
Cardigan from ebay
Cold water steriliser from ebay as hopefully going to express milk later on.
Breastpump free from mothercare as husband complained about collection issue. Also they gave us a whole load of stuff I plan not to use like a dummy, baby on board sticker.
Car-seat from a friend - not been in any accidents.
Baby bouncer chair from same friend.
Bath seat thing from same friend.
I've also been picking up kids books from charity shops and some little board books for £1 from Tesco.

Like you, japhrimel I have it all stacked up in boxes in my bedroom and I've washed and put all the clothes in boxes with labels on My sister calls it my baby stash!

I am extremely jealous of all you people having holidays although I guess people would class my life as a holiday as I literally do nothing...boredom really kicking in lol.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed me back and suggested going to baby groups/ antenatal classes. I am starting the NHS antenatal classes in October, and have decided not to let ex-bf come so that I can make some friends...not looking forward to telling him he can't come though. There are things like yoga classes/ aquanatal classes available but I really can't afford it :( never mind family is back now so not so bad.

Sorry to hear some of you can't sleep, so far I'm managing to get sleep 10-7 which is great, but I am suffering in other ways before you get jealous :o My hand has been hurting since last Tuesday and when I googled it it looks like it could be Carpal Tunnel - looks like I'm off to doctors tomorrow.

Oki sorry this is going to be a huge post, and I want to explain that 99% of the things on this list have been bought by ex-bf's family (I think she likes going overboard), so basically everything has been bought. As much as I appreciate the help and know that I couldnt afford to get everything it has upset me that she has bought soooo much - my need to nest is not being met. So here is the list:

Johnsons Baby Shampoo
Johnsons Baby Bath
Johnsons Baby Lotion
Johnsons Baby Powder
Johnsons Baby Oil
Johnsons Cotton Buds
Johnsons Cotton Wool x2 pkts
Johnsons Baby Wipes x12 pkts
Johnsons Baby Soap x4 bars
Johnsons Moisturising Cream
Johnsons Sun Cream
Vaseline
Sudocrem x2
Natural Baby Sponge
Avent Bottle Brush
Avent Bottle Caps
Avent Bottles, 6 small, 6 large
Avent powdered milk carrier box
Baby Scissors and Clippers Set
Baby Comb and Brush Set
Avent Dummies x4 clear
X2 Bottles of Infacol
White Bibs x20
White Vests Newborn x9
White Babygrows Newborn x9
White Vests 0-3 months x7
White Mits x3 sets
White Hat x3
White Booties x3 pairs
White Knitted Cardigan
Lemon Knitted Cardigan
Newborn Pampers Nappies x6 packets
Nappy Sacks (In packs of 300) x2
White Baby Blanket
Baby Towels Plain White x2
Baby Towel Beige Bear pattern
Lemon Fluffy Blanket
White Muslin Squares x12
Plain White Fitted Mattress Sheets for Moses Basket x6
Plain White Flat Sheets for Moses Basket x6
White Blankets for Moses Basket x4
Plain White Sheets for Cot
Plain White Fitted Mattress Sheets for Cot
Cot Blankets x4
Karvol Capsules x2 boxes
Calpol x2 bottles
Dentinox Teething Gel x2 boxes
Calgel Teething Gel x2 boxes
Moses Basket and Stand

I bought:
Graco I love my bear travel system (including car seat)
Bath set - bath, toiletry box, top and tail bowl
Bath and Room Thermometers
Changing mat
Microwave Steriliser

Sorry if I have scared anyone with my list - honestly would not have got half of this if she hadn't.

Only my ds2 went in to the contact centre yesterday, ds1 and dd both refused. Apparently the contact went "well" with him though but he's only 3 and doesn't understand properly, they tempted him in with the prospect of trains . He even stood there and just told them about ex hurting them, so matter of factly. He managed to turn up over 30 mins late as well, apparently went to the wrong address...even if he did he should have made sure he knew exactly where he was going in plenty of time. Kids are really unsettled and upset since this too, ds2 was up twice in the night crying and clingy and has been all day, ds1 is clingy and quiet and dd was crying on and off all day yesterday and couldn't sleep until 11pm last night. It just isn't fair on them. I can't see how this is in anyone's interests other than ex tbh. He's one selfish man and I hope karma bites him on the arse sometime soon for putting them and me through all this.

wholelotta I've got a sling from last time that I hope to use, an Ergo ng, just need to buy a newborn insert for it.

Miffster I also have itchy boobs, very annoying, I'm putting cream on them in the hope that it helps. Birth centre sounds lovely and wonderful, doubt I'll be allowed on the midwife led birth unit but I'm hoping. Remember that you can discharge yourself after the birth anyway even if you have to give birth on a normal delivery unit, obviously only if you're up to it.

ebrookm still being sick? That sounds awful, I hate being sick at the best of times, feel sorry for you.

japhrimel I definitely will again, been using dp's old crutches the past few days and that has helped immensely so I want to try a belt too. I'd love to move to America, I envy you! My left boob is bigger than my right, not by a whole cup size but it's noticeable! To me at least. I've got a whole load of baby clothes for newborn and 0-3 months so far, some babygrows, coats etc, breastpads but still need to get moses basket, pram, blankets, nappies etc. Don't forget all the maternity needs such as HUGE maternity towels :o I'm not getting everything yet because of space. With the 3 kids already they take up a huge amount of space even in a 4 bed.

93pjb hope you have a lovely holiday :)

Cheryl I love asos, will have to take a look, ta.

DF I would have left it! But then I'm a lazy sod lol

Franken I love slings but am getting a pram too. I do tend to just carry baby and keep them close to me as much as possible all the time but there are definitely times when a pram comes in handy too.

Attic & office clearing is going well! I'm finding it tiring (hence being on MN having a break) but it's nice to feel we're progressing the nursery.

aimee0211 - partners attend antenatal classes so that they can support the mothers as their birth partners. If your ex is not going to be your birth partner (and who is is entirely down to you) he doesn't have any reason to be at your classes.

Wow, your ex's mother has really gone overboard, hasn't she? Look at all those toiletries that you can't use at all for the first month and all that teething stuff! Don't feel pressured by them to make decisions on breastfeeding, dummies, etc - it's your body and your baby.

CheeseandGherkins - sorry you and your kids are having all this stress with your ex. It's probably obvious to you, but are you documenting their distress, sleep issues, etc surrounding the visits? Might help with proving that they are not in the childrens' best interest.