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.

Hmmm, is it unreasonable to refuse to answer the phone to a client at 0830 in the morning, on the basis that I think they're being cheeky phoning me this early?

After a lovely week away, got back to work to find the shitstorm has got worse - one of the team has left and they're not going to replace him, despite the fact that we're already all flat out. The reason given? Legally we would have to offer the people in a call centre in the north east who are being made redundant the job, despite the fact that to work in this team takes five years of higher education and two more years of formal training. My current mantra is "three more months"... looks like I'll be starting ML a bit earlier than planned, just to get out of here!!

Scared that I seem to be the only person who hasn't started (or even really thought about) shopping yet.

Oh yes, disaster scenario... despite long conversation with DH about a month ago explaining that I didn't want any visitors staying around Christmas/the birth/first few weeks, which I thought he'd agreed with, he went and invited the MIL!!!! I very quickly interjected and pointed out that as I'd banned my parents from staying, we couldn't have a different rule for them, but can't believe he did that. Going to have to have strong words with him...

Oh yes, and I've been getting through at least 500ml of water during the night for the past month...

I totally and utterly blame HFW for my DH's obsession with vegetables and and his decision to get chickens which I didn't want. He has all these dreams of retiring to a smallholding too and in theory it sounds lovely. However, there is a noticeable reluctance on his part to deal with the drudge aspect of animal care. Cleaning up poo or sick, walking dogs in the dark in winter and taking sick animals to the vet ( and burying the dead ones) usually gets left up to muggins here. So much as I love animals and and don't mind these tasks, we will not be following his dream. I am paying close attention to the fact my parents, who have a v large garden, are looking to downsize in a few years because already the maintenance is too much for them. I want a retirement where I never have to set sight on some other critters poo again. Oops, sorry, bit of a rant there.

I am liking the dancing babies :)

My mum came round yesterday with homemade cake, some maternity clothes she just "happened" to see in a sale and then took the kids out for a few hours so I could get on with decorating. So all good here this week :)

Ooooo, homemade cake! I wish I had people who brought me cake!

Had our anaethetist appointment this morning which went smoothly. She agrees that an epidural may not work for me, but thinks that an epidural/spinal has a better chance of working than a usual local anaesthetic (which don't work in me) because it's straight into the spine. She said that as spinals work so fast normally, if there was time to try a spinal for a EMCS, then there would be time to see if it worked in me, with GA as back-up. She also examined my back and said it shouldn't be an issue to get an epidural in. So we're still going for a home water birth with maybe G&A, but it's good to know they're not fussed about my issues being a problem if I need interventions.

Has anyone looked into epi-fentanyl as a pain relief option, if it's offered at your hospital? Apparently it's an option if I don't want to use epidural or it doesn't work.

Yep, I've been thirsty every night.

Hi Everyone

Hope everyone is well & looking forward to the weekend (I know I am!!)

25 week midwife appointment on Monday, anyone that has had theirs already, is it just a 10 minute thing ? check urine & off you go or is it a bit more involved than that??

DuelingFanjo ? You might know this already? We have family in Ireland & plan on visiting for cheap family holidays. We save our Tesco clubcard vouchers & use them to pay for the boat from Holyhead to Dublin, not sure if it might be able to be used on other routes too?

WhatWillSantaBring ? You are not the only one who hasn?t started shopping yet!! Well that is until last weekend when I went on a bit of a panic shopping spree (after reading everyone else?s lists) and brought random (mostly useful) things!!

I?ve also been trying to decide on a pram but am going a bit blind/mad from having looked at so many.
I think I?m quite liking www.mothercare.com/Jane-Nomad-Matrix-Pushchair-Active/dp/B002MQ6LHG/ref=sr_11_1/277-0601408-2339154?_encoding=UTF8&mcb=core (hope i've done that right)
But it?s a website exclusive, would I be crazy to get it without trying it out?? Having trouble finding stockists (or maybe I?m not looking properly??)
I like the 2 year guarantee & hope it would last for DC1 and any future children.
Does anyone have previous experience or seen any research on the safety of the carseat that comes with it?

Off to get some cakes healthy lunch

3½ hours until my weekend starts!!! YAY

hey cookieaddict thanks for the tip about Tesco Vouchers, i didn't know.

I had my 25 week check last week and the midwife measured my bump and listened to the heartbeat. Also gave me my MatB1 form and the form to apply for the HIP grant.

Cookieaddict - I wouldn't buy without trying TBH. It's a lot of money and you might find it really heavy or hard to collapse or hard to get in the car or flimsier than you anticipated.....

Have you looked on the MN Reviews section? We found that really helpful.

DF - Tescos Clubcard Points can also be converted into Airmiles or BA Miles...we've done a few European flights that way.

My 25 week check was with my GP and was just the usual urine, bp, listen to the heartbeat stuff.

I was measured at my 25 week scan and listened to her heartbeat, and talked through the HIP grant forms and MatB1 form, was in there about half an hour I think!

Cookieaddict and others: I have a reeeeeally stupid question...

Ahem: I don't really understand how the travel system style prams work. I get that they're supposed to be easier because they 'work' with carseats etc, but what does that actually mean?!

Does the body of the pram just lift out and transform into a carseat, or do you have to get the corresponding carseat too? And either way, does the cost of the pram include all the bits you need for the car?

I did say it was a dumb question...

Hi all,

I don?t think it?s dumb, I can?t believe how many different types of prams there are!!! This is my first so I don?t actually have any practical experience?

I think the travel system is a metal frame (the chassis?) that you can ?click in? a car seat/carry cot/forward facing/parent facing pushchair.
I think generally a travel system always includes the forward facing pushchair & car seat but different shops/websites include extra bits & pieces in the deal.
Also you may have to get a separate base for the car seat to make it adaptable to your car (which I think is sold separately).

I?m not sure if that actually helps at all, it?s been a long day & reading that back I?m not convinced it makes any sense.
I could very easily be wrong about all of it!!!

Right cookie Which says although the seat has very good front crash protection and excellent head support, it scored very low on ease of use, and the fact it is easy to fit it incorrectly, it also said it didn't have good side protection.
Most of the parent reviews say the same thing, it seems to be very good in lie-flat mode but hard to fit correctly when sitting up.

The Jane Strata however which does fit on that pushchair though isn't the one included is a Which best buy and scored top marks for overall safety.

Okay my turn for a stupid question?

Can someone define SPD for me??

I?ve had a bad lower back for the last few weeks which has been getting steadily worse.
Feels like I?ve sat down and someone?s moved the chair so banged the base of the spine (if that makes sense)
Really hurts when changing from one side to the other when laying in bed & some times standing up from my chair at work (or just randomly walking) I get a sharp pain and it feels like my leg is about to give way.

I mentioned the bad back to the midwife when I got my blood results (think that was at 18 weeks) and she said ?well you?re pregnant, it?s normal to have a bad back?

So am I just being a wuss with a low pain threshold or is this the beginnings of SPD?¿

Thanks Notso that would be great.

Thanks cookieaddict and notso, very helpful, I think I've got it now! I'm hoping to use a sling as much as possible for the early months but given that I'll certainly need a carseat it seems sensible to buy into the travel system...

Sounds like similar symptoms, Here is the leaflet I have just been given at the hospital today, page 2 gives a discription and notice the writing in bold about half way down page three, I would print it off and ahow it to your midwife.

Also cookie don't know if you have thought about it the Jane Slalom pro is on Mothercare website for £300 and something pounds including the better scoring Strata carseat, that gets really good reviews as a 3 wheeler pushchair, my friend has used hers for three children and it's still going strong.

Has anyone got any experience with the mamas and papas morph carrier? I was just looking at it and like the idea of a detachable baby pod :o could be quite handy for passing the baby over if she gets a bit heavy!

button we only did the NHS AN classes last time and found they were really thorough. They went over an all to plan birth, every intervention imaginable, caring for your newborn, signs of pnd, post-pg sex, seriously, everything.

cheryl I sympathise with the sleeplessness but I was LOL at your description of preparing to sneeze

miffster talking of weird dreams, I dreamed I had a 14lb baby the other night!

DF as far as I'm concerned, it's normal to feel thirsty at any time of the day or night

ff I love my chickens but I'm lucky that DH does all the husbandry - if he didn't, we'd never have got them because I'm way too lazy.

Had a manic 2 weeks at work but I'm now of 'til Thursday - woo hoo! Need to get on with some decorating this weekend though, so I'll have to try not to overdo it.

Belly size - 114.3cm

weight - 12st 8lb (from 10st 10lb)

bmi - 33.30

C&G at 24 weeks - congrats.

MrsS Dreamt of being on a very large tricycle last night! Very of River Cottage.

FF I love my chickens! But will have to make some cake tomorrow as you have sown the seed.....

Cookie I would have said try Which? as well, they sometimes do a free trial period. When we got our Jane 6 years ago, the old lie flat carseat didn't get particularly good reviews from Which? at the time but I think they have improved. I never had a problem fitting the car seat and as it was large lasted DS1 well over a year. Worth looking at the weight of the buggy bit as well, if you need to lift in and out of the car alot. I've been surprised how much of a difference there is between the weight of some travel systems.

Had to buy some tenalady today so must definitely increase the PF exercises!

Meh - DH's friend just said I look wide and like I am carrying some weight on my hips! He thinks it's a boy!

though this says weight on my hips and rear means a girl. in yer face

DF I didn't know men believed in old wives tales! I've got weight on my hips - just means I'm fat .

Just found this for you to all print and leave for DP/DH top tips! I did laugh at No 4.

df when i had ds i put on weight everywhere i went from a size 6/8 to a size 14. with dd1 i had a little neat bump and was back in size 10 jeans the day i brought her home from hosp. so old wives tales are crap.

im exhausted today so not doing a catch up post. will try again tomorrow.

Morning all, been awake for a couple of hours again, but not too bad this time. Was going to stay in bed, wait for DP to wake up, but his migraine medication knocks him out so much that he won't be awake 'til at least 9, so thought I'd have a bath, do some exciting things like take ds1's school trousers up adn come online.

jobob - thanks for the link, think I may well do that, haven't been brave enough yet to warn DP about the possibility of poo!

I agree old wives tales are a load of codswallop, but I still find myself studying them to see what I might be having. (It's about 50/50 as it happens!) Although I have taken the fast heartbeat to mean it's a girl, plus my bump being very round & having put loads of weight on my bum & thighs must also mean it's a girl. Oh, and the MS that I had this time round also must mean I'm having a girl!

MrsS - enjoy River Cottage today. You seem to be popular on the dream front. I had a dream last night that I was driving along the seafront past the d-day museum, you were riding the other way on your trike wearing a Royal Mail uniform , giving another postman a 'backy'.

notso - what a horribly long wait, and about what the mw said. What do ladies with spd do then when they need the toilet? Walk on their hands?

C&G you must be excited, only a week to go!

Spoke to PILs last night and they are buying us the pram, they said they bought SILs so want to buy ours, which is great. So probably going to get that today. We're getting a Graco travel system that has been reduced in Toys r Us since the beginning of the year so are quite keen to get it before they have none left.

I'm still a bit snuffly from yesterday. Things getting to me that usually wouldn't. My asos delivery never arrived (been waiting almost 3wks for it). They wouldn't even look into it until yesterday so now have to get a refund as they are out of stock on the items I ordered and can't get anything else for the money I paid for that. Been living in 1 dress and 1 very tight skirt for the last month so in dire need of clothes. (Lots of tears when leaving sorting office to check it hadn't gone back there without a red card, followed by lots of tears at lack of clothes) Then Haven really annoyed me with their stupid pay 7 months before you actually go on holiday policy. Oh but they were being kind by saying I could have until Feb to pay for it (if I paid full brochure price). So holiday in May in top of range static for £170 but has to be paid by Nov or £370 for same holiday and they'll be really kind and let me pay it off in Feb. Told them (in a nice way) where to poke their stupid company. Then got off the phone and burst into even more tears. In conclusion, I hate big companies! I used to love asos, when they were small they were brilliant, now though they don't seem to actually give a crap, adn as for Haven, a small company would at least have done all they could to accommodate you and not lose a booking but they're obviously too big to actually give a damn about one person.