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.

oh and forgot to say, sneezing and caughing turns my quite innie belly button into an outie for a few seconds. I did't 'feel' the change but my husband noticed it poke when I sneezed the other day, and if you put your hand over it, it comes out. Finding it a little freaky and funny at the same time.

c&g glad you had a nice day for your wedding - looking forward to photos.
Sorry to hear so many of us have pain - I don't remember having it this bad last time but it is a lot more uncomfortable this time round.
strix you sound as much of a workaholic as me I've even been plotting in what my programme will be for my back to work days Argh!
No cleaning on my part - very motivated to do it but far to tired. DH has done very little whilst DD has been on school hols so house is very messy - spiders can walk across our bathroom ceiling just on their webs ! I hate it but can't do much about it

Pjen, I don't understand. If the manufacturer says it's from birth, then it is. Did the manufacturer or the sales person say you had to remove the baby after two hours. I know the Maclaren Techno (which we had with DS) was from birth and not totally flat. But the baby is so small at that point I used to just slide him up so he was on a totally flat (but inclined) surface. Besides, I thin some of the rules are rediculous.

If you really like the pram, I would probably question the validity of this two hour rule. ANd, in fact I'm on baby number 3 and have never heard the 2 hour rule before this thread.

Checking in again, feels like has been a while but so much seems to happen with everyone so quickly.

Congratulations on being married c&g that sounds like it was lovely.

this pg thing really is up and down, gosh, think i had such wrong preconceptions and havent even done the birth and post natal bits yet. Just shows I guess that there are such misconceptions about pregnancy. And so many people just don't seem to appreciate what an important thing women are doing.. and how hard it is sometimes, even without other people making it miserable for them. It's a mixed bag.

I woke up the other night and found that i had wet patches on my boobs, was such a strange feeling - like finding out I was growing boobs in the first place when i was 12.
Hasn't happened again since, think a one off is fine by me until baby is here (if only you could have control over things like that: or anything in pregnancy!)

cheryl

ditto ff - lauren you're welcome to come and clean my house - my DF came round today and knocked a load of plaster off the wall in what will be DD's new bedroom v soon - but he didn't get a chance to finished clearing it all up before he had to leave.

pjen I share your pram rage - I remember it well from last time round. Thankfully the one we bought is still in good condition so we'll be wheeling it out again this time round.

C&G congratualtions, glad you had a lovely day.

OWO sorry you're feeling crappy - we're all allowed a day or 2 to wallow every now and then.

WWSB glad to see you're work are starting to look after you a bit more.

kellestar sorry you're in such pain - it doesn't help that your MIL who clearly has no experience of living with pain is making you feel inadequate.

Was supposed to be on a 3 hour course this afternoon so left work at 12.45pm. Went to the wrong venue so arrived late (but in the process managed to squeeze in lunch with DH which was nice as it was totally unexpected). When I arrived, there were only 3 other people there so we covered what we needed in 30 mins and I was on my way home just before 3pm. woo hoo

Congrats C&G - so glad it sounds like a great great day, and a nice night away in a hotel! Fab .

Sorry to those in pain - kellestar, that sounds really sore and your MIL sounds like a total pain in the arse! I can't believe she would say something like that - why would you make the pain up? Grrrr.... I promise never to be an evil MIL to my boys wives!

Cheryl, I think it was you that mentioned swelling down below? I have the same. I think its mainly the extra amount of blood flow making it a bit swollen and that why sex is often so much more enjoyable! But last pregnancy I found the swelling turning a little sore and it turns out I had VVV (vulva varicious veins!!!).... . Its quite common and goes away as soon as LO is here but all a bit embarassing at the time! Not that I ever told anyone who was not on MN. .

I'm totally with the people who dont want to see the baby popping out. When I had DS1 the midwife asked if I wanted to feel the babies head and I reached down by in my state I just ended up bashing him on the head. And it freaked me out feeling something there... Its not for me really...

Did anyone else see the "Cherry has a baby" programme - thought it was quite good!

Time to head off... Tired and meant to be catching up with work. Had a big fight with DH as well and he is downstairs with me upstairs and I dont really want to see him and get into it all again.... So I may just head to bed after my work. Can I just rant for a minute, when me and DH have an argument he usually ends up trying to mimic me in a really childish voice... It drives me INSANE and I always flip out. Why can't he argue like a grown up...

Congrats c&G and looking forward to the pics!

notso that looks like the very attractive belt the physio gave me last week. I have found it helps a bit when walking, but my main issue is sitting down. The only thing the physio said about that was not to sit for more than 20 mins, but how that squares with work is anyone's guess. Got docs tomorrow and will see what they say.

Kellestar and everyone else in pain, sending lots of sympathy your way. If it helps, talking to yoga teacher tonight she said everyone other than one person she has known over the years with SPD has felt better immediately after delivery. Water birth is supposed to be very good for it too.

I saw that cherry has a baby programme on iplayer. I liked the birth at home in a pool, the woman was so calm and relaxed.

I am feeling really impatient today for the baby to be here. Not really enjoying this pregnancy at the moment!

Morning, off to BILs for the weekend so popping in early to say hello.

PJen I think the advice you have been given about the pushchair is wrong, Quinny do say that if the pushchair is being used from birth they reccommend it is with the Maxi-Cosi, and as that is a carseat then the guidelines state that babies shouldn't be left in a carseat for more than four hours at a time.
However it is quite unlikely that your LO would be in it uninterrupted for more than that, IME even if we were out for 6 hours there would be a break inbetween for feeding/changing etc and sometimes I would put them in the sling even though we had the pram with us especially if we were getting on the bus or train.
Looking at the actual seat it is a bucket seat so although it does lie flat it isn't flat but you could easily buy a wedge cushion and put the cosy toes ontop similar to the Bee cocoon and it would be much flatter.

Congratulations C&G Glad you had a lovely day.

Kelle you MIL sounds like a cow. Sorry you are in so much pain.

WLL I find sitting uncomfortable after a while, am thinking of trying a birthing ball to sit on. I am lucky that I'm not working now, feel sorry for those who are having to work and deal with pain.

Right sorry I haven't replied to everyone really must go and pack etc.
Have a good weekend all.

maxpower I dont know how you can sleep knowing its there! urgh plaster is the worst too its FULL of dust!

Anybody on here not having their first, I have to do 3 modules at Uni starting in February, I can mostly work from home but will have to go in every now and again and will still have to put the work in...Is it do able?Im due the 1st December so hopefully she will come in time and be a few months old before I start

im starting to freak out that im not ready, I know this is normal, it happened last time with DD but im feeling mega stresseed about everything

and im a fat fuck - watching the cherry has a baby programme, have any of you worked out????? I havent? I stopped running on advice frim my MW and I darent weight myself.

Ive gone from 9.5 stone (size 8/10) and I feel so fat and disgusting :(

me too owo, i stopped riding 2 months ago...the midwife wanted me to stop straight away incase I fell off but I had to keep my horse fit until I found someone to take her on loan. I stopped the gym too, on my last visit to the midwife she told me I had put on too much weight...2 stone :-o

I went home and cried for about 4 hours, Im like the walrus off the new argos advert :-(

seriously, I feel grose - genuinely, I love my bump, but I know that I am grosely over weight and I miss my tonned ass!!!! (As Im sure DP is)

... since I was admitted to hosp and given steriods, DP has refused point blank to have sex too, which is really great, and not helping the whole "Im a whale and you dont fancy me any more" thing.

oh i can completely sympathise with that, Im not with bumps dad but have been seeing someone else since early on in the pregnancy...he wont even cuddle me anymore as it bothers him that theres a person inside him that isnt his! Its an awful feeling isnt it!

Would you mind if I joined?

Hi wild lilac waves

Hi, new to this so I hope my messages are going on right

So the general consensus here is that everyone is feeling miserable for various reasons (work, pain, walrus symptoms, generally finding pg NOT the bunch of roses that the books tell you it should be!). While I'm sad for everyone, at least it means we know we're not alone. (Maybe some of you are having a blast - but sensibly keeping your heads below the parapet so as not to upset any irrational pregnant women :o)

Sorry for those of you with DPs who are not being very supportive. I too am feeling increasingly like a lumbering ox but also enjoying the fact that I am tucking into an enormous chocolate sponge that is swimming in chocolate custard... I know I'll regret it when it comes to losing the baby weight but for once in my life, I am not feeling guilty about food, and that is the way it should be, IMHO.

I have just got my "birthing ball" out of the cupboard. I resent the fact that people out there sell them as "birthing balls" for £18.99 when they are, in fact, exercise balls, available from Boots for £6.99. I'm beginning to smell a con when it comes to all things baby related (in much the same way that a cake with white icing is twice the price if it is labelled a "wedding cake")

HI wildlilac, tell us a bit about yourself.

LAurenamium I had to go back to work full time when my first was 11 weeks... I had a childminder but was still breast feeding which was difficult. It was very difficult emotionally too. However, it is doable and needs must. How long do you have to be in college for and do you have childcare lined up? My MIL left my DH in his pram outside her lecture theatre (she was 19 and at college when he was born) but I think that would be frowned on these days!

V jealous of those who still have a figure to obsess over losing :) If you want to keep fit swimming and walking are great exercise for pregnancy. You will still put weight on cos that is just this stage of pregnancy, but if you are fit your metabolism will help lose it more quickly post-birth and you will be able to get back to your regular workouts quicker.

Although positioning is, admittedly, an issue, surely there must be some way of persuading your shy men that pregnant women have needs too?:)

hi wildlilac

lauren other than because I'm a complete slattern, I can leave it there because once the door's shut, I can't see it.

franken its the end of a 4 year degree, i was supposed to have finished it this year but failed my last modules as I just wasnt on the ball what with finding out I was pregnant plus morning sickness plus the breakdown of my relationship and Uni took a back burner...Uni is being really good though and letting me choose alternative modules to take and allowing me to work a lot from home so Im guessing it should be ok!

As for my boyfriend, Iv pretty much told him wwhere to go and Im happy about it :-) if it bbothers him that I have someone elses baby inside me now it's going to bother him even more when shes here and letting herself be heard!

Sorry Franken I misread, I will only have to be there 1 or 2 half days, I can do the rest from home, but Uni is an hour and half drive away so it will be more like 2 days a week...Im pretty positive I can find family to help for those times

That is great lauren, you will love having some time to yourself and if breastfeeding, can express for 1 or 2 bottles during the day. Although it is not meant to be done,as I said, needs must and you can mixed feed if you can't express, ie give formula during the day but breast morning and evening/night.

Usually Uni's are very supportive about helping you find childcare if family prove to be a problem.

Good on you about the boyfriend. Its not as if there's not plenty of info out there on sex and pregnancy if he was interested to find out. And to not even cuddle you- grr. Hope there is someone in your family to give you lots of cuddles.

Hi all,

Sorry so many of you are suffering in various ways.

Congrats to C&G on your wedding!

I've had a lovely (working) day so far but am now feeling v tired. I'm feeling well in myself but not sleeping too well so afternoons are a bit of a killer.

I had my first person ask outright if I was expecting a baby today! I've been aware for a while my bump is quite small and I didn't show at all for ages, but am pleased it is now reasonably obvious, even if it did take six months! A few weeks ago I was getting worried because friends were saying I looked too small but my measurement at the 25 week check was 25 cm so I guess everything is ok. And I'm constantly bombarded with kicks and full body rolls in case I forget!

I am definitely developing a nesting instinct, but for me it's not cleaning, it's baking. Yesterday I was lying awake in the early hours so I got up and made bread and cakes at 4am. Bizarre (but yummy).

Not much sex here either OWO and Laurenamium DH just doesn't seem interested - lots of cuddles though. Quite difficult to look seductive when your pants are straining at the seams I suppose...

Oh and Laurenamium I reckon you will be fine with uni if you're determined to do it. I'm planning on taking very little time off, although I'm self employed and work from home, so it won't involve arranging childcare, but I think if you are organised two days a week shouldn't be a big problem, especially if you've got helpful family.

I too watched Cherry Has A Baby and had a little cry when the babies were born (you'll have to excuse the hormones). I

Doctor has signed me off for two weeks. I am kind of feeling guilty because it is v busy at work, but mainly relieved as I was getting stupidly sore and was crying this morning as I couldn't sit on the floor with DD and play with her dollies. She kept asking me to and loked so sad when I tried to explain I was sore.

lauren well done on carrying on with your degree. I think it will be tough, but doable as they do nap a lot in the day, but get as much practical and emotional support lined up as you possibly can.

Hello to wildlilac

OWO and others feeling bad, I am with you. I'm putting on more weight with this pregnancy and being nagged by my Mum which isn't helping. She should know better as I have a history of eating disorders (recovered now but found putting on weight with DD quite tough). The SPD means I can't do loads of walking and I think I've been comfort eating a bit. I have so far gone from 9 st 10 (and 5' 6'') to about 11 st 4 although have stopped getting on scales as this was not short of the weight I was at full term with DD. DH has been doing his best, bless him, but says helpful things like 'well your bum needs to be a bit bigger to balance out your bump'!! I am just trying to rein in the unhealthy snacks, do my yoga and generally trying to pretend it's not happening.

It is such a shame we still feel all the pressure to look slim and good generally when we're pg though.