December 2010: no, it's not an autumn pumpkin up my jumper ...

[Miffster]

...and we're gliding towards the third trimester, draped in suitably flowing attire.

Thanks for the warm welcome ladies

Kellestar, loving that HFW is a new acronym, they should put it on the list, imagining HFW as some Star Wars character now!

On the coats debate, Asda were good first time round, cuts were quite generous if I went 2 sizes up, and the plus side is they were inexpensive but did the job...leopardskin sound fab, Chloesbaby, I have to admit I have a thing for shoes, hats and accessories when pregnant, as these things all stay the same size and you can wear them afterwards....

Maxpower, I'm really hoping it's not NYE or Christmas Day, I'd really like to avoid either of those dates (my first was a week early, so anytime is possible!)

Miffster, hope you get the response you want from your folks...

C&G... Hope you have a lovely day...

Lavita, thanks for the tip but I really can't get on with Gaviscon - I am trying nettle tea to balance hormones, prepared to see if it works, doesn't taste too bad if you add lots of honey.

FF loved your DS's take on Daddy's job. My DD cracks me up by pointing at my belly and going "Baby" (although I am not sure she fully grasps the concept yet at 17 months old, it does make me smile...)

Mrs S, you were lucky, you must have had an unusually reasonable guard on the London Midland route today! I had one tell me he didn't believe I was pregnant the other week . As it was too early for MatB1, I had to show him the scan in my wallet...as if I could be bothered to make it up, I have far better things to do with my time (!) - I have the joys of commuting in tomorrow for meetings.

I'm not doing NCT this time round, but for those of you that are, you probably already know most of what they will go through, I had the same concern as I had an earlier due date than the rest of my group.

The best thing we got out of it was a really great group of people, I still meet with them now even though we are all back at work.

You've all got me thinking about my birth plan now, feeling a bit disorganised...one thing I will stress when I do get round to writing my birth plan is the use of mobile monitoring, last time they ignored this even though I had written it in, and they put me on my back which really hurt , as I had preferred being up and forward up to that point, and went back to that as soon as I could.

I did a water birth previously, and am hoping for the same again as this did a lot to ease things up after transition. It also reduces the risk of tearing (as does olive oil in the weeks leading up to delivery - that was the best tip I was given by my next door neighbour..)

chloesbaby - you should get a new mattress if it's been stored in a garage or attic or anywhee it might have got damp, because of mould spores.

I think that if it's waterproof and has gone straight from one baby to the next (so only kept in a bedroom) then it should be fine.

We've got Basket/Crib sized sheets from Mothercare and cellular blankets from John Lewis - I figure it's not a waste as they can also be used in the pram carrycot.

Afaik, if you have pethidine, you're not usually then allowed to get in the pool because it could make you very drowsy, so there's a drowning risk if you pass out! If you wait till it's wearing off, it shouldn't be an issue - just depends if your MW is strict about sticking to policy (if it is a policy).

Lol at the coat!

Lol77 - I can't tolerate Gaviscon either but have found the Rennie dual action tablets easier to get on with - no artificial sweeteners for one thing.

Mobile monitoring is one of the things I'm very set on if I have to go into hospital. Was trying to explain to DH this morning that they might want to use continuous bed-bound monitoring to make their lives easier, but they'll have to convince me there's a good medical reason for it (over frequent but not belt monitoring) before I'd be happy on my back! I'm trying to get DH ready to fight my corner if needed.

Our Quinny Dreami carrycot arrived last night and it's so cute!

I think HFW is a great figurehead for the green revoloution. And it's something I'm very enthusiastic about. Dad, Uncle and Grandad were employed directly by HFW as the butchers when he started the River Cottage brands in 2000, they are now employed by a local supplier, doing the same tasks but also butchering for the local supplier. What niggles me the biggest, the animals are raised on the local supplier's organic farm. But once a River Cottage label is slapped on it, the price goes up. A lamb box is £50 more expensive with the RC label on it, but tastes exactly the same as available from the local suppliers.

The first time I visited HQ it was about 6 weeks after it had first opened in midsummer, and pretty much once a year since then. It's a gorgeous spot, when we went for a walk around it was clear that the land itself wasn't rich enough to support what he was growing and farming. What was there was mainly for show and tell rather than to support the farm house.

He's also the worst shot ever, last series he 'shot' a sitka deer, which actually got away. I had a phone call to go and speak to a friend to see if I can cull from his herd. I had a rough size and age to work to and then met dad half way down so he could clean it up for the rest of filming.

Theres so many things that make us smile when we watch the series. The amount of times I say 'that's my handiwork or my familys'.

I think the things he has done is amazing, an idea to life of the land and 12 years later its still a strong and exciting thing, so many people converting to a greener life. He doesn't ask people to go full out and completely change to a greener existence, he gives you ideas to improve the quality of your food, life and the world.

Our garden is enough to support us, the chickens [when they actually lay eggs where we can find them] support us. Most of my meat is supplied locally as ethically as possible. I like to know what life and care they have had. I'm lucky to live where I do, we have so many farm shops and independant butchers. I know many colleagues come out from Bath to do their shopping in our community.

MrsSnapLegs what part of the deep south are you moving to?

Hey all, I just got back from my 4D scan, very exciting! She is definitely a she, has chubby little cheeks already and was yawning and using her placenta as a pillow when she was trying to go to sleep! The scan lady (I dont know the posh name) said she thinks she will be one of those babies that like their blankets and soft teddies around them to sleep which made me smile :-) To make it even better, I get to go back 6th October and have another scan completely free as they had touble with the printer at the end so we got the CD Rom put in the post for us, a free dvd AND a free scan! Very happy!

Hi all, what a result lauren. Only 2 days left 'til mine.

Thanks for the coat advice, am planning on a trip to the big asda near us this week (they also do mat clothes, I got a dress a few months ago for a tenner and it's the only one that still fits me!), so I'm going to have a look at their coats while I'm up there.

I'm back to both ds's at home again now, ds1 went back yesterday, woke up this morning being sick , he's perked up this afternoon and is now watching top gear on dave!

Lol - I'm with Japh on the heartburn front. I can't handle gaviscon and am using rennie soft chews, they work pretty well for me and are easy to take.

Re moses basket bedding, I just used normal cot sheets folded in half in the past, will probably just do that again.

laurenamium that is so exciting. Did you take your mum?

found this interesting read on birth plans in BBC. worth sharing... news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7292565.stm

Also another easy read on risks of epi being overstated:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7821056.stm

laurenamium so cute...... now I want one too :)

PJen the scans are well worth every penny imo. I had one with ds2, they were really new at the time. The price has gone down a lot since as his cost me nearly £300 and I got a lot less than what you get now.

Just put ds2 scan pic up on my profile

I have lost track of how far along everyone is. But I find it really helps to compare with others.
Can we have a round up and compare symptoms?
I am 26 +2 and I have...

sensitive itchy boobs - can't bear bras, only secret support vests,
slight breathlessness,
tiredness is coming back,
don't feel the cold,
bending over is a bit fo a struggle but I can still manage it,
round ligament pain when I overdo it physically,
belly feels stretched too tight but no outy tummy button or stretchmarks...yet!

Not too bad, really.

How about you?

Lovely pic of the baby Cheryl!

I am 27+1 and have...

-occasional mild heartburn at night
-exhausted at any physical exertion - have to rest before I can fully climb stairs
-freezing cold feet, and feeling the cold in general
-very heavy belly, quite painful at times
-stretchmarks are starting to show a bit more, especially round appendix scar
-belly button is almost flat, have the gaffer tape ready for if it does pop out.
-back ache, really struggle to find anyway comfortable in the evening (laying over birthing ball is most comfortable, but that hurts my boobs)
-can't get up from the floor, have to crawl to stairs so I can get one knee up on bottom step, otherwise pain in abdomen is excruciating
-waddling already
-almost constant need to wee, esp when I get into bed, most nights go for a wee about 6 times in the first hour (and do actually wee quite a bit every time)
- tmi - man-size, toilet blocking poos, x3 daily
-hairy belly
-eating very small portions (even a happy meal fills me up)

I think that's it, mostly niggly things really for me.

Hi all - good to have a catch up although I've not been through it all yet - will read some more later on...

Just back from teh midwife appt - 28 weeks today! Am measuring 29wks so fine but she said I look bigger because my stomach muscles that seperated when I was PG wiht DS1 are spreading further apart. The gulf between them is quite scary now . She recommends pysio but I doubt anything can really help too much but she did say it may ease my lower back pain which is caused by my poor tummy muscles. Glucose in urine as well but am hoping my bloods come back OK otherwise its off to the diabetic clinic for me - Booo.

So my symptoms are:

• Heavy heavy bump!
• Very sticky out belly button
• Lower back pain
• Thrush
• Weeing every 2 hours at night
• Breathlessness if I do any form of exercise (inc stairs!) - I dread walking up stairs at work with a collague who is chatting to me!
• Quite erotic dreams!
• Hairy legs (but thats just laziness!)

I think thats it...

Going to book at 4d scan I think - you've inspired me!

laurenamium - scan sounds amazing. Mine's tomorrow - can't wait to see our LO!

Miffster - I'm 26+1 and have....

• Huge heavy sore boobs that leak sometimes (so so freaky).
• Breathlessness if I try to do too much, such as walk up the stairs in one go
• A baby kicking the bejeesus out of me! Had to stop and lean on a clothes rack while out shopping to breathe through her kicking me today. Rubbing my bump got her to move...but then she started on my bladder so I had to find a loo fast.
• Can't get up from the floor without something to pull myself up by.
• Can barely reach the floor and can't bend over to do up laces.
• Lower back pain/SPD, especially when LO is either back-to-back or kicking me in the pelvis. Given how much back ache I get from her being back-to-back now I'm dreading her possibly being OP for labour.
• Some heartburn.
• Insomnia.
• Tired a lot, but that's probably due to the insomnia!
• Stomach muscles noticeably starting to seperate gulp.
• 2 new stretchmarks (I have loads of old silvery ones).

But we're off on holiday tomorrow night. I cannot wait!

Quick question, if I cut down my hours at work by taking a day's holiday each week (so I only do 4 days) will this affect my 90% of salary maternity pay for the first 6 weeks?

One thing I forgot to add to my list - increased allergies, I suddenly became allergic to the guinea pigs a couple of months ago, and it's getting worse.

Just weighed and measured myself - 12st 11lb (so just over 2st weight gain), and belly measurement 117.1cm, just over 20cm gain there.

Lavita - I wouldn't have thought that holiday pay would be taken off when working out your 90%.

I didn't think so either but DP seems to think it would

Love the pic cheryl and great news about the scan lauren.

I'm in the minority, I LOVE Gaviscon but is the prescription stuff different?

I think I am 26 +5 and my symptoms are...

Just found some stretch-maks on my boobs
very dark ariola.
Feeling like going to the loo all the time but then not really weeing much when I get there.
Waking at 3.30 am for very small wee.
Really bad constipation.
breathless when I walk to far.
Quite bad heartburn.
Lots of movement but no feet or elbows shoving me.

I don't have leaky nipples but then I am not brave enough to do the squeezy thing!
No aches in my bump apart from when the baby is on a nerve which has happened twice.
Belly button in still an innie.

I am about 12 st 4 - I was 11 stone when I got pregnant, still I feel fairly huge! the Belly is big!

Not sure how it could affect it Lavita as I presume you are talking about paid holiday rather than unpain leave? If you are still being paid a full working week then your average pay will be fine. Your company policy will tell you how they calculate the average. A lot of people take holiday to reduce their hours in the last few weeks of work.

I think the 90% is based on your annual salary so if you are taking holiday entitlement it won't effect it at all.

DF - DP is with you with loving gaviscon, he'll take it straight from the bottle while if I was to take it I'd have to stand over the sink. The prescription stuff is much much thicker than the over the counter stuff, I was prescribed a bottle last pregnancy, needless to say it went unused.

I'm 27 weeks and have not weighed or measured but have gone up a clothes size on the lower half ( not counting bump!)

BUmp is enormous-can't believe it has 3m of growing still to do. It is starting to press heavily on the very tops of my thighs when sitting.

Having chronic heartburn and occasional indigestion/nausea.Need to drink a lot of water,especially at night.

Nothing of the TMI kind, yet....

Very tired and breathless, despite taking extra iron. Am taking a daily nap with my relaxation tape. CAn still just reach down to tie laces, but need to do a giraffe leg spread to brush up crumbs or get down on hands and knees, as too stiff to squat ( am trying to practice as good for labour).

Boobs still unimpressed by pg hormones and still wearing pre-pg bras quite comfortably. NO new stretchmarks and belly button flat -not for much longer methinks. Ankles making up for it by swelling up instead.

15 years ago I was in labour for the first time. And I wouldn't have swapped it for anything.It certainly focuses my mind on current birth plans though!

Am v jealous of those with 4D scans and I am contemplating blowing our budget on one,would love to confirm it is a girl and see her again.

Kellstar yes my mum came with me she absolutely loved it and has made everyone that will listen watch the dvd since we got home!

franken My scan cost under a £100 pound and I got dvd and pictures and a 20 minute scan!

Im 28 weeks +2 and symptoms aren't too bad:
tiredness
breathlessness
greasy hair?!
the first signs of stretch marks on my tummy :-(
I had a leaky nipple just the once...and a meltdown about it

Ok, here are my symptoms. I am 25+1 today.

• Discomfort under ribs when I sit for long periods. I find jabbing my fingers under my ribs helps for some weird reason

• Boobs have increased one cup size but nipples have grown quite dramatically and leak when I get in the bath or have dreams about the baby

• Heartburn which I am taking Gaviscon for. Don't mind the liquid stuff

• Sudden exhaustion after feeling absolutely fine the moment previously. I went out for a walk yesterday and suddenly just HAD to sit down having felt fine

• Sudden urges to wee

• Not sleeping very well and often waking up to vigorous kicks at 5am

• Far more emotional I CRIED at the Derren Brown prog the other night when that bloke stepped up to fly the plane

• I've put on about a stone

• No stretchmarks yet but my belly is quite veiny