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.

Hi all and thanks for your thoughts. I'm ok, had a friend over this morning and DD is napping now so having a cup of tea. It has really made me think about how much I've been neglecting all my old friends since DD was born though and how DH and I don't always have as much fun as we used to. We have lots of fun with DD of course, but not so much as a couple/people within our own rights outside of being parents. I'm only 29 but sometimes I feel/act a lot older I think. I'm determined to make sure I make more time for the things that really matter from now on.

Lavita sorry you're still being sick. When I was being sick I did wee myself a couple of times, although I knew it was wee IYSWIM. I would keep an eye on it and call your midwife for some advice too. I second doing pelvic floor exercises and getting into the habit.

Interested to hear about aftercare for stitches. I had a small tear with DD but they let it heal naturally so no stitches. Hoping to be as lucky again this time, but who knows.

Japhrimel I've started with heartburn too - spicey food oof the menu for me now! I also woke up with an almighty cramp in my calf last night which really hurt. Normally I can pull my foot up towards me as it comes on and that eases it but I can't have caught it in time.

Apparently I was snoring like a trooper last night - proper comedy snoring so DH tells me. He's going to have to decamp to the sofa soon.

C&g how exciting! Congrats on the wedding date.

DF glad to hear your sister's good news. Shame she had to go through the stress though.

Button other than any stitches I seem to remember midwife visiting not only to check DD was feeding ok and weight etc but also to feel my uterus and make sure everything was going down ok and no infection etc. You could always talk to your midwife and call if any concerns.

jobobpip good luck with the garden clearing. We've got to do our study too this weekend as we need to start using it as a playroom for DD so we have room for baby stuff too.

Yay for baby kit deliveries!

Well, I am looking at the Maclaren softcot carrycot and it is very small, so it won't be much good for more than a few weeks I expect, but that's ok, I got it second hand.

I suppose I can pad it out with a lambskin and then wrap him in a blanket? is that what you do with carrycots? It doesn't feel particularly padded. I can imagine the car seat is softer but the plan is he won't go for pram rides in that until he is a bit older as his spine won't be flat in the car seat - I read you are not supposed to have them in car seats for hours at a time when they are very small and new. hence the carry cot plan.

You shouldn't wrap babies up much as getting overheated is a real issue. A carrycot should be padded enough to lie them on without them getting bounced around or needing wedging in any way. And you'd just use layered blankets over them. You could put lambskin or a blanket under the baby if it won't get rucked up around them.

C&C congrats on the date

WLL hope the funeral went ok

DF yay for your SIL

Lavita hope everything's ok

sooo glad for this long weekend

DH was told today that he's working away next week . He used to be away every week mon-fri, now it's just the occational week or couple of nights but in some ways that makes it worse as I'm used to him being around. I prefer it this way though - I don't think we'd be having no.3 if he was still away every week.

DF glad your SIL got a better result for the proper nuchal scan.

Lavita hope you're okay, how did the scan go?

Sorry to hear about the funeral, WLL.

COngratulations on the wedding news, C&G! That's fab.

I'm having a very hormonal time at the moment, perhaps because now we've found a house, I'm relaxing and it's all coming out! (The last house we made an offer on was snatched away by a dastardly gazumper. This one is being sold by someone less mad and with more morals, I hope.) So we're very excited about that and might actually move in by the end of Oct!

But the prospect of packing with SPD and a huge bump is worrying me. And DH and I just had an entirely pointless argument about baby names. Basically, his MIL veto'd the first one we liked a lot by saying, pre-emptively, that she hated it (it was mere chance, we hadn't mentioned it to her) and apparently the one that's been going round my head all week is the name of her first, Big Mistake husband. FFS. Anyway, DH says he doesn't like them either, which at least is a better reason for not using them!

My bump, besides being pretty much full-term looking, is hard a lot of the time, especially at the end of the day. I think I'm noticing Braxton Hickses a lot earlier this time round.

Maybe we might go buggy-hunting this weekend, though it's bound to result in more spousal acrimony...

We're going buggy testing tomorrow as Mothercare have 10% off pushchairs this weekend.

I just won a changing dresser on eBay. Very happy about that. I'll want to paint it white and change the handles, but that'll just make it more personal IMO.

DH is working Sunday & Monday though - grrr!

Congrats and fingers crossed on the house Reshape!

Thanks for the cot-lining info japhrimel.

DH STILL at work, he has been very late every night this week; I wouldn't mind normally as I know he is very busy but he did call and say he was leaving at 8.15pm and we have not had a night together since we got back from holiday. I was looking forward to unwrapping the new pram and everything, I've been excited about it all day, and making a risotto.

Oh well, microwave dinner for me, I can't wait any more.

Thanks for all your kind wishes and for the great advice Miffster.

Scan was fine, consultant really happy with both babies, growing really well, no problems at all and no signs of TTS. So I'm very happy

Really tired so I'll check in properly tomorrow

Hehehe loving the new thread title!

Starting to get the odd movements now but not the great big kicks like most of you are getting . Sorry I've not been on here for a while, I have been in and out of hospital with MIL. We've just found out that she had a tumor by her optic nerve and we have been running around like blue arsed files trying to get that sorted out.

Going to go and catch up with the old thread a bit :)

just marking place on new thread, didn't get to post for a while on the last one.

i thought i had made a good start on the shopping but most of you are doing much better. i have loada of really impractical things though. i just haven't been able to resist

hoping to make the most of some of the sales on this weekend.

df have you cracked and looked at the report yet? no idea how you did not look straight away!

c&g dress looks fab, i would love to get married before baby comes but i would really like the big do and there is no way i could afford everything i want.

squistle hope mil is ok. tbh i don't always get massive kicks, it really depends on how baby is lying i guess.

i was getting worried yest as had not felt much movement, guess who was up half the night with a foot stuck in the ribs?? i also managed to burn my hand with hot water from the kettle. absolutley shattered today.

will try and get a pic on of the bump. i feel massive but everyone thinks im quite small for nearly 24 weeks.

have a good bank hols weekend all.

congrats on the house reshape & good news on the scan lavita - that must be a huge relief

I've finally bitten the bullet and am attacking DD's room. Seriously, I imagine Bhagdad is tidier than her room.

I am really sorry to hear some folks are having serious problems to worry about whilst pg and hoping it is not affecting looking forward to LO's arrival.

It makes me feel really selfish to have reached emotional meltdown stage through lack of sleep, feeling ill from swine flu jab and lots of worries, nothing that won't come right in the end ,but just spin around my head. I just can't even talk to DP just now without feeling tearful as everything he says sounds insensitive. Sheesh, you'd think I was 14 not 40.

with DD as she has put us in the position of having to let my mum know baby's sex, when my mum particularly wanted a surprise, and DD knew that. Kind of hope scan was wrong now, just to prove a (childish) point.Still, I have been ordering some baby stuff and she is the only one excited about them, especially the fluffy nappies!

reshape sympathies about the baby name dilemma, the ones who criticise are not the ones who spend hours researching and thankfully finding their perfect name, they can shut the up. This goes for DP's who don't put the effort in, too. Mine has decided! he has got the perfect name and will not look at any other options, even though I don't love it, grr.

reshape great news about the house and I sympathise too on baby names. We have our shortlists we like now (only two for boy and three for girl, but it only needs one first name) and I'm giving up telling people as they all pull faces etc - and these aren't even particularly unusual names IMO. My sister is the worst for it and seems to think she has the right of veto ove names she doesn't like because they are names of ex's ex-gf and things like that

frakenfanny I hope you're feeling a bit better. Pregnancy is tough, physically and emotionally regardless of what's going on so be kind to yourself. I have had phases of being up at night worrying and worrying and I've found writing it all down in a diary can be really helpful. Could you book yourself a massage or something to destress?

Really glad all fine lavita that's great news.

I've been out with DD and done a lot of walking today so feeling pretty sore and stiff. Was nice to get out in the sun though. Still got heartburn going on...seems to be steadily getting worse.

Evening all,
Been shopping for DS's birthday presents for the last two days.
He is 6 on Monday and I had ordered him loads of lego from the website but the delivery tracking said it wouldn't be here until Tuesday so have been desperately seeking replacements for two days solid and guess what arrived this afternoon while I was out, yes the bloody lego!

I also won a changing bag on Ebay which arrived and it was filthy, covered in something sticky and full of rubbish!

Glad to hear your scan went well lavita,
and that you have found another house reshape.

mumatron hope your hand is ok and I am now interested to hear what impractical things you have bought, I hope one of them is not a wipe warmer!

Squistle hope your MIL is ok.

miffster sorry you didn't get to do the pram unwrapping and risotto making with DH.

japh hope you find a suitable buggy.

crazykat I don't like it when Dh has to work away either though most of my friends think I'm mad to say that.

wholelotta I can totally sympathise with the feeling older, I am 29 too, but feel ancient compared to non-parent friends who are older.

DF hope you have had fun with your baby bits.

franken I replied to you but it disappeared somehow. Shame about your DD spoiling the surprise, mine is particularly trying at the moment, she has started being very critical of me and is answering back a lot. She too is loving cute fluffy nappies though.

notso i have bought this swing will last about 5 min, but i wanted it also bought lots of impractical nursery bedding for a nursery that isn't going to get used for about 6 months. ah well. i have enjoyed buying it all.

at the changing bag! can you wash it? hope it was a bargain!

My List

steriliser, just incase.
400 nappies {disposables}
12 vests
4 baby grows
10 bibs
snow suit
5-6 outfits
2 coats
toiletries, wipes and cotton wool.
fold away changing table from ikea.
moses basket
nursery furniture will be here next week
pram is on order and should be about 2 weeks
changing mat
bath support
night light/light show thing.
nursery bedding set
nursery bits and pieces.

still to get
cot mattress
sheets
moses basket stand
changing bag
hospital bag
car seat

im sure there is loads of stuff i have forgotten.

Thanks for listening,I feel better now,guys are often just not good at all the emotional stuff. However, DP took the kids out and left me alone to have a long bath and pamper session, then came back with flowers and chocs and we sort of talked about it like sane people :)

wholelotta you gave me a lighbulb moment, I remembered reflexology helped me enormously last pg so will book a few sessions - it does seem to keep things more balanced.

The swine flu jab seems to have run its course-felt like heavy cold for a couple of days, just left with a sore arm, baby still v active so one less worry.

notso, is it the "trying tens" then? Mine had a freakout today because her socks were "all wrong"
at the changing bag - hope you can sort it out with ebay. I have just realised I have bid on the wrong item today and no-one else is bidding - oops!

franken glad you are feeling a bit better now.

Thanks mumatron, I am most impressed with your list :)

I have got a carseat and some reuseable nappies -waiting on some ebay baby clothes bundles. The rest has to wait till I actually have a decorated nursery!

ybh it looks like nothing in bags in the room but looks loads written down.

off to bed now see if i can catch up on some sleep, between burnt hand and active baby i think i managed about 2 hours max last night.

hey all, great news about the good scan Lavitabellissima and glad you are feeling better Frankenfanny. squistle I am thinking of you and your MIL.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words RE my SIL. She is doing really well and is so happy. I saw her at a BBQ yesterday where she announced her news to some other friends and then we sat together and discussed babies everyone else there was so pleased but I thik baby talk can be boring for a lot of them.

I talked to another friend about a mutual friend who has recently given birth and she said that it was 'ok to pop in to visit her, she's amazing, she was out of hospital the same day she gave birth' which made me chuckle as I think those who aren't pregnant or who haven't given birth themselves seem to assume that a quick relaease from hospital means it's ok to just pop in whenever. She also went on a bit of a rant about another friend who had set strict visiting times when her children were born and compared her unfavourably with the recent new mum for being 'uptight'. Eeek, wonder how people are going to feel when I start telling them not to come unannounced.

I've realised that I am really starting to panic myself about my in-laws after the birth and there's teh posibility that my MIL will be back over in April for the birth of my SIL's baby and might want to stay with us. I can't help worrying that my whole maternity leave will be spoiled . Plus the friend who recently gave birth was induced and then had quite a difficult birth be cause the baby 'didn't want to come out' and had to have a forceps delivery. This is all my worst fears rolled into one!

The BBQ food really disagreed with me and I had a really bad night's sleep. My DH is also snoring more and more and I do't think we've managed a full night's sleep together in the last fortnight. The spare room is supposed to be the nursery but I can't really dismantle the bed as it means he won't have anywhere to go - though to be honest I can still hear him when he is in there.

gosh - what a moaner I am!

Oh and strangely I weighed myself today and have gone from 12 stone 4 to 11 stone 13! not even been to the toilet!

quick update

spent night in hospital

started bleeding at 9pm, only one bleed but hospital wouldnt let me come home and admitted me - steriods for baby lungs incase deliver me early, allowed out today at lunch but have to go back tonight for 2nd dose steroids