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.

I'm not even going to attempt to catch up now - will try and get online later and read the 6 pages of the new thread i have missed! almost as bad as the 142 emails I came back to at work and I was only away a week

hope everyone is okay and growing well, I definately have a very large pumpkin under my clothes although I still weigh less than pre pregnancy - what is going on there?!!

We were camping at the weekend ( hubby at Landrover show again!) and had a bit of a disaster on Friday night - airbed got a puncture which we didn't discover until nearly midnight! A very uncomfortable night spent sleeping on the floor1 DH got a warning the next morning if it wasn't resolved then I was going to the very expensive hotel down the road! Luckily we managed to borrow one off a friend who had a spare. Have to say the last trip in 2 weeks will definately be my limit!

Had my consultants appt today - had to wait 1 3/4 hours to be seen past my appt time! Good news though - he is happy at the moment for me to go to the MLU and was actively encouraging a WB as he says 2nd babys are easier and quicker so he is not too concerned about my ME. He also said I should be considering reducing my hours or going sick - I did point out I was too stubborn to do that! He also said if I needed to I could go back onto my proper pain relief - going to try and avoid it as long as I can as they are quite meaty tablets but he said baby would be fine and they will be ok for BF as well.

We finally have some movement on the house front they have said they have 2 places for us to view on 21 Sept although they wouldn't be available for us to move into until mid Oct - but at least it is a start! I know both houses and one is really close to work but small and the other is larger but a 3 storey town house with next to no garden - hopefully the OT will be able to help us make sense of which is best!

I also picked up a baby magazine recently and there was a voucher codes book attached - I will try and list them all later if anyone is interested.

Mrs S

Midwife called today with some good news. She's spoken to the supervisor of midwifes and apparently it is ok after all to use the pool if I want to, so that's cheered me up. My doula has also emailed me some stuff over to look at about GBS. Feel a bit more reassured now. Thanks for the reassurance everyone :)

I am feeling really sore all of a sudden with my pelvis and hoping it doesn't keep going like this whilst we are away.

With mothers at the birth, it's not something I would want personally, although my Mum did ask. I wouldn't feel comfortable with her there so that is reason enough not to but I think if you would like your Mum there, your preference comes first over you DH/DP if that makes sense.

DD seems to have developed an imaginary friend. She's been going on and on about a girl who we assumed was a new child at nursery but they confirmed today there isn't anyone with that name there. Her friend appears to have come home with her today as well. Can't quite decide if it is cute or slightly odd.

is any one else massively chilled out about life? Im kinda taking the attitude that what will be will be, and I cant control what happens so no point getting worried about it?

We have SIL coming to stay week baby is due, shes a MW and will by our Doulla, planning a HB (if I get that far and they let me) if not, what will be will be... :)

I wouldn't want my Mum at the birth as she stresses me out (I hate her being around when I'm really sick too). But if you're happy with your Mum being around, she could act as your DH's backup in case he needs the loo or just a break or to get you both food/drink/etc. Maybe if you put it as her being your tea-lady, your Dh wouldn't feel threatened?

OWO - I'm the opposite! Stress-head! DH got hysterical giggles yesterday when he was trying to get me to talk about what I was stressed about and I burst into tears trying to explain I was stressed about him wanting shelves in the nursery when I want a bookcase, and where to get the pushchair from. I'm also stressed about work stuff atm.

But I'm not stressed at all about giving birth! Weird, huh?

DH has now said I can have a bookcase.

WLL - great news about the waterbirth! If I end up testing positive for GBS, I'll insist on talking to the SoM and pushing for a waterbirth too.

Okay, must govget ready for NCT Working Bumps this evening!

lol, japh I love hysterical pg women stories. Last time round I almost burst into tears in tesco's because I couldn't remember if I'd eaten tuna that day or not!

spanishlady that's a difficult dilemma but from what you say, it doesn't sound like either your mum or DH will be massively offended whatever you decide.

WLL I'm pleased you seem to be back on track for your waterbirth.

MrsS good news on the house front

I have DD home from her sleepover - I asked her if she'd missed me (not in a needy way I have to say ) and she said no. Typical.

Heyla,

I'm new to mumsnet, it's the most friendly chat groups so far. Other sites with Due December groups aren't so chatty. :(

I'm due 12/12 with our first.

It's interesting to know what you are all going through too, I sometimes wonder that it's just 'me' sometimes.

I am chilled out about the birth, what will be will be and all that. I've got simple demands, but as to preference, I'm open minded. DH is fretting that I won't be able to cope! He had to buy me to tubs ofb&j choc fudge brownie to make up for that comment! :)

I am mostly stressed about MiL and her 'opinions' and bad habits with my neice and nephew. I live within 5 miles of my parents and his, all our family are local, which has it's benefits - so I'm told

I've also got SPD that is really niggly, doc referred me to physio, but no news yet as to what help I can get, apart from a large supply of co-codamol that makes me...floaty.

LO has hiccups at the moment, which makes my bump ache and me tired.

I've got MW tomorrow for 25 week check up, I've got a list of itty bitty questions to ask her.

Ah well, looking forward to chatting with y'all

Hiya

welcome to the thread Kellestar,and congratulations
that's great about your house news MrsSnaplegs, sorry you had to wait so long for consultant though
spanishlady and mumatron good luck with the mum/DH things
wholelottalove hurray, good news about waterbirth!
DuellingF, I really hope you manage to get the MIL visit issue resolved to what you can live with, it's been weeks of you worrying about it on and off (I know you don;t worry all the time) and it doesn't seem fair that your pregnancy should have this hanging over it all the way through, you should not be expected to have people staying in your house after you have given birth if you don't wholeheartedly want them there. Really, you shouldn't have to be worrying about it.

I have just been to my second antenatal yoga class, was all right but not very strenuous. My Buddha Bellies Nicole Croft DVD is much better - more strenuous AND more relaxing - so I might save myself a tenner a throw and just stick with doing it at home for now. Although it is nice to see other pregnant women.

DF Mumatron - Yes and ouch to legcramps, have been having them constantly the last few days, not fun, and also worrying me about my threshold for pain! :(

SpanishLady could your mum be there for the at home early labour part and then maybe freshen things up for you until after you have the baby?
I had to tell my mum that we'd prefer for her not to be there at the birth but she's going to come up and be at the house if she can afterwards to help support us. Its such a tricky thing with mums isn't it, specially as compared to DP's they really are the veterens in giving birth! I think for me and DH its just something we need to do together and feels like that will be more special.

MrsS boo for appointment wait, but congrats that things are going well. easier birth for a second sounds nice :), will bear in mind when if it feels like I never want to do it again!

WLL hope the good news keeps coming re birth plan

OWO Nice to be chilled :) see if you can bottle the no stress about the birth just in case. I just went to AN class this eve, everyone else was 32+ weeks pretty much, and think I was the only one in the room who wasn't completely uptight with the whole thing. Guess time will tell

Welcome Kellestar snap with 12/12 - hope all is going well with you.

With AN class (NHS) had heard mixed things. Went to first session this eve and wasn't that impressed with info, seems to do you if you have textbook/straight forward birth with perfectly timed contractions etc. Wanted to do an early one as am provisionally booked onto later NCT class for Oct/Nov. Reason wouldn't do NCT now is because not sure about making DH sit through all the extra hours
IYO if anyone has experiance of both, will NCT give me a lot more info and support or would it just be bumpfy?

I had a melt down earlier, expecting my first so everything is new to me so please forgive me, but I leaked milk for the first time, rang my friend sobbing my heart out because I was now a 'cow with udders' and 'tiger stripes' and not a human with boobs and hips...Please tell me I'm not alone with irrational meltdowns?

Urgh can't sleep! Have ahad an hour I reckon tonight.

We have another week here until schools go back, but that means we can take them to a few places next week that will 1. be empty adn 2. be back to off peak prices.

SpanishLady - perhaps your mum could be at the hospital, but not in the room unless you do ask for her? If it were me in your position I think that's how I'd manage it.

MrsSL - urgh what a horrible wait (note to self, remember e-reader for all my next hospital appts) but yay at consultant being keen for you to have baby at MLU, and yay for finally getting somewhere on the house front.

Hey Kellestar, congratulations on your first baby & welcome!

Laurenamium - I think emotional (& irrational) meltdowns are all part and parcel of pregnancy. Look at Japh's bookcase story & maxpower's tuna story. I expect the rest of us could give you a story or 2 as well!

This pregnancy is so much less stressful and more exciting than my previous 2 (although much more uncomfortable and niggly). I feel bad towards the boys for saying so, but this one feels so much more wanted and special (my babies are both oh so special, but I think my relationship with DP and the fact htat both of us do really want this baby makes it so so different). He's looking after me so much, I'm not stressing about his family like I would have been about ex's. His dad called the other day re Christmas saying they were going to pop down a few days after Christmas for the night (staying in a hotel), but weren't going to stop for long as don't want to impose and incase I'm not up to loads of visitors, and said they are happy to go by my lead etc.

Still up, just made myself a sandwich.

My pelvic floor is shot away. I;m thinking whats the point in the exercises. I've been obsessive about doing PF exercises since I wsa at school, as I never wanted to be 40, hell I never wanted to be 60 and wetting myself! Whenever I'm sat still I'm tensing, releasing, holding, trying to pull it up like a lift like we were told in AN classes, but here I am, 30 years old, 26 weeks pregnant and changing my knickers at least 3 times a day. What am I going to be like at 36 weeks, or worse still post-birth? Is it really time to crack out the tena lady?

Isn't it funny how peoples opinions differ so wildly? I'm just putting some reviews up on Trip Advisor, and the 1st one for Drusillas couldn't be more different from mine. In fact total contradictory reviews!

My stupid o clock mammoth posts split into many instead of just the one!

one more then I'll leave you all alone! belly!

love the photo Cheryl!!!!

Lauren - my boobs are streaming milk, have been for last few days, I actually think my milk is coming in after the scare at the weekend, or the steriods have done some thing. Chillax, realx, you'll be fine a few months post birth I promise.

I was streaked in stretch marks last time, and I can still see them now although they havent gone red yet - but I am sleeping in a proper bra evry night, which I think helps (didnt do that last time)

Does any one want to weigh them selves? Im a bit too scared... 27+1 today :)

RE Antenatal classes they arent offered to 2nd time on wards here, so we arent doing them

Welcome to kellstar helloooooo

Thanks OWO, I forgot to weigh & measure myself last night, so will be doing it tonight. So far, just under 2st weight gain for me. LAst week I was 12st 6 or 7lb, having been just over 10 1/2 stone pre-pregnancy.

You've gotta love the Daily Mail. Found this from a link on a site I was doing some research on.

"Despite the health risks, Breastfeeding is making a comeback in Britain"

full article here

Seriously!!!

I can't wait for DH to get home tomorrow, both DC's have been a nightmare with sleeping since he went on tuesday. DD wouldn't go to sleep, then both woke up in the night at stupid o'clock. Had to give DD DH's dressing gown last night to get her to sleep and she's been up since 5am looking for daddy. Another day of tantrums and tears from being tired and missing daddy.

I can't seem to sleep on my own either even though we usually fight over the duvet and he ends up on my side of the bed with me right on the end.

To make it even better we've had no hot water since tuesday morning so I'm having to bath the DC's at my parents and making do with quick tepid baths once kids are finally asleep.

I don't think I actually want to know what I weigh, two weeks ago I'd put on 11lb so far, I already needed to lose 2 stone, probably need to lose 5 by december!

Morning all - well back at work and trying to get the admin finalised for the course I have in next week, it's driving me slightly batty how little my predecessor had organised and makes me look like a numpty to be trying to organise it so close to the dates unless I am honest with people and slate my predecessor which makes me look like a real back stabbing cow - definately a no win situation!!

Have spoken to IT about mobile working with a laptop, just need authority from my boss this afternoon and should be able to get that up and running so may be able to work from home a couple of days a week until we move.

Crazykat I don't envy you the water situation - that must be horrible, how long will it take to fix? Have you tried having your daughter in with you until Daddy gets home - might make it easier for both of you!

CherylAnnTweedy Sounds like you had a rough night last night, hope you are not too tred this morning, have you tried sleeping in an armchair/on sofa propped up with a duvet/ warm blanket - it really helped me the first time round and I am doing it again already at the weekends at home. As for Pelvic Floor Exercises - I do when I remember but definately a few Tena Lady moments here as well!

OWO Stretch Marks - you can just try basic olive oil on your skin to help, not too expensive but will help keep skin supple. another "natural" remedy for scarring and skin healing is Aloe Vera - see if you can get an actual plant from someone (maybe freecycle) - slit the leaves and use the gel inside on the strech marks - it does help fade scar tissue and heal burns. If not you can buy it from healthfood shops but it is expensive. I was watching Gok Wan last week and a woman described her strecth marks as her baby lines - quite a nice descrption!

SpanishLady My Mum came to the hospital the first time round but ended up staying in the BF room and patients lounge most of the time, I didn't really want her there at the hospital but couldn't tell her. She only came in after I had delivered and then went back to our house with my DH. She stayed for a few days (had already been at ours for a week) and his parents came down to stay as well, no room really for everyone to stay and I hated it. it will not be happening this time, if our parents want to come down they can but they will all be staying in local B&Bs and visiting will be restricted access. We will also be having a quiet Xmas at home, my DM is going overseas to see my brother and his wife thankfully. DH parents may pop down for a day or so but not long.

Kellestar Welcome

To all who mentioned leg cramps thank you - didn't have them until last night!

To all who mentioned spilling food down belly- again thank you - have had no problems until this morning when I got poached egg all down my navy blue dress!

I also have itchy bobs and hairy belly - all of which I recall being mentioned on here!!! I think I should stop reading this thread as my body is clearly reacting to all the symptoms you guys are having!!

I have a bloke that works in my department (separate office) who has really bad breath - he had to come into my office this morning and his breath was so bad I can still smell it!! I feel sick with it so may have to open some more windows!!

Hope everyone has a good day - right off to do some work

I am so not weighing myself.
Sorry to hear about everyone having meltdowns.
I am okay at the mo, quite serene and feeling good, but less advanced than some of you - 25 weeks 2 days today.
No milk yet, though wearing a proper bra has been unbearable for last 3 weeks, last night blue veins appeared everywhere on my boobs so presumably something is happening.

Strange dreams ahoy - a few nights ago I was breastfeeding my cat in my dream, yuk! And every night I wake up between 2.30am and 4.30am for at least an hour.

DH read another Beatrix Potter story to the bump last night, then listened with his ear to my belly and could clearly hear the heartbeat and feel kicks! So he is very excited.

I still feel like this is a lovely time. I am so happy to be pregnant and I feel full of joyful anticipation and happiness.

I can't concentrate on work at all mind and am not interested in anything much unless it is baby-related so I have become very boring, I am boring myself never mind everyone else.

Will catch up later, been stressed with all the contact shit and dc's reactions, plus busy trying to sort the wedding. pics of bump on profile :)

Oh and I'm 24 weeks today, glad I reached that milestone.

CherylAnnTweedy - have you tried physio or pilates? I'm doing some pilates squats (inc. pelvic floor exercises) when I go swimming and it's really helping my SPD at least.

kellestar - apart from a belt and crutches if you get really bad, the help for SPD mostly consists of teaching you how to move to not stress your pelvis (e.g. getting in/out of bed/cars with knees together) and exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor and core muscles. If you know basic pelvic floor exercises, start doing those at least now. The most important thing is loads of repetitions of the exercises - physio can't help is you don't practise the exercise enough. And put your feet up whenever possible - it takes the strain of your pelvis.

ButtonAzure - I went to our NCT Working Bumps group last night and was chatting to a group leader about birth choices and preparing for things to not go as planned. She said the only issue she had with her NCT course was that they didn't do much at all on c-sections, but she encouraged us to ask lots of questions about the "what-ifs" on our courses. I think one advantage of NCT classes is that the groups are smaller, with more time, so you can do that more easily. We're going partly/largely to make friends with people due at the same time as us anyway.

I find it bit strange at the NCT group as I seem to have done far more research than anyone else and am far more confident about my choices.

laurenamium - my boobs make me so upset! They're so big, heavy and weird and my bras are not pretty. Plus I got my first belly stretchmark (I think - it's tiny) this week and nearly cried when I saw it in the mirror. I don't know why the prospect of stretch marks is upsetting me so much as I got loads of stretch marks as a teenager and they're barely visible now so I know they really do fade!

OWO - I weighed myself at the weekend and have put on nearly 6 kilos (13 pounds?) which I'm quite happy with.

Is anyone else thinking of getting a 4D scan? Hoping to book one today.

I am feeling like a good Mummy today, DD started back at school so I got up extra early and made bluberry pancakes for breakfast and flapjacks for break.
Lets see how long I can keep it up for!
Baby is going crazy today, I keep seeing lumps and bumps sticking out of my stomach.

MrsSL Good news about the house and consultant.

Wholelotta My DD had a similar friend, we invited her to her 4th birthday party, as we thought she was real!
She also had an imaginary mouse, I found myself getting back onto a crowded bus to retreive as DD wailed she was still on the bus

OWO also feeling chilled, glad you are too.

japh your DH was wise to allow the bookcase

max its nice to be wanted isn't it? I asked DD if she wanted me to walk her to school as it was the first day, she looked at me like this and said
"you do remember I am in year 6 now don't you?"
I pretended I was joking!

kelle hello and congratulations.

Miffster do you think BhuddaBellies would be suitable for someone who hasn't done yoga for years after an embarrassing falling asleep incident?

Button also suffering from cramps, bananas are meant to be good but I hate them.

lauren poor you although I haven't been too bad this time I was an emotional wreck first time with DD, especially when my sister pointed out all the stretch marks under my bump I had been blissfully unaware of!

Cheryl sorry you couldn't sleep. Glad you are enjoying your pregnancy. Keep going with pelvic floor exercises, they are useful.

crazykat poor you with no hot water. I know what you mean about not being able to sleep alone.

Getting Fembrace fitted tomorrow, I'm sure that will look sexy!

hey all. Good to hear all the great news about houses and medical/hospital stuff

I have been really bad with my stretchmark cream and the pelvic floor excercises I really should make more effort. I keep hitting my bump on door frames and walls! Am so unused to it!

I think I have put on just over a stone and am coping with the bigger boobs but maybe should be wearing a bra at night as I have read lots of people do? I am sleeping well now as DH is sleeping in the spare room and so I can't hear him snore, though I wish we could actually sleep together

I have tentatively asked my sister if she will be my birth partner if I feel like I need someone else other than my DH. She has done it before.

cheryl am loving the bump.

OWO I have no leakage but I did watch a video the other day about hand expressing which made me . I am so worried that breastfeeding won't be straightforward so trying to get as much info as I can. I am just so convinced it will be the most painful thing ever and I will be struggling through christmas and family visits.

I probably do go on a bit too much about my fears RE visitors and should stop worrying. I have a tendancy to worry before I even know what is happening but in this case I feel like no one has told me anything about their plans and I am scared to ask outright incase it seems confrontational and rude. I want to be welcoming but because it will be Christmas and I am a first time mum I am not sure the two things will mix well.

No 4D scan for me, I have had something like 6 scans already and possibly will have to have a growth scan if I am still measuring big.

lauren you are def not alone! I had a meltdown last week and I am expecting #4! I spent the whole morning sobbing and DP had to take the kids out and came back with flowers and chocs I was so distraught. You are going through so many changes,for the first time, it is not surprising it catches up with you emotionally.

For me, sometimes I think my system is still running on a monthly cycle and had extreme PMT, as I feel fine now.

My boobs do not seems to have reacted at all to pg hormones, even though I started leaking quite early with my other 3.

cheryl I had my 1st baby when I was 25 and have had to carry tenalady around just in case ever since. It only affect me if I have a bad sneezing/coughing fit or jump around on the trampoline. I hear that those electronic er, exercisers and pilates are good. Nice bump BTW!

I also will not be going anywhere near scales. My first pg they believed in weighing you every 2 weeks and it made me depressed especially after I got to 3 stone over, so I stopped counting. I have not weighed myself since.