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.

Morning all, been up half the night with Ds, he has a bad cold and is not handling it well, perhaps it's boy flu!
Dh has a bad back too we were a bit like a comedy act this morning as he couldn't lift his leg up to fasten his shoes and I struggled to bend down to help him!

I think the baby has turned around as I am getting lots of big kicks up near my ribs, am pleased as it was getting uncomfortable with low down kicks.

Loving the old wives tales, with DD I did put on weight on my hips and bum, had sickness and craved fruit.
With DS my bump was all at the front, I had no sickness and craved fruit and ice.
This time bad sickness, bump mostly at the front, craved meat!

Cheryl Thats nice that PILs are buying your pram, hope you get it sorted. Sorry about the clothes and holiday though.
I only have one pair of jeans now, I can't wear leggings anymore with the support belt unless under a dress as it gives me a lumpy looking bum!

MrsS have a lovely time at River Cottage.

Have a good Saturday everyone else

Cookieaddict - SPD is dysfunction of the joint at the front of your pelvis. It can feel like a burning or stabbing pain right in front low down or like someone has kicked you in the fanjo!

The term is sometimes used to cover all pelvic issues in pregnancy, but that's erroneous.

PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain) either refers to pain from the SI joints at the back of the pelvis loosening, or to that plus SPD plus pregnancy hip issues (it's the proper umbrella term afaik).

Your issues sounds more like PGP to me TBH, with the sacro-iliac joints being affected, but it could be SPD as well. I'd definitely get a physio referral.

hettiew - travel systems usually work by the seat unit or carrycot coming off and the car seat going on the chassis. Some pushchairs can take a carseat, but in/on the seat of the pushchair if that makes sense.

We're getting (this morning - v excited!) the Quinny Buzz 3, with the Quinny Dreami Carrycot, so the seat unit can come off and we can use it as a pram at first. We've already bought a Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix carseat which clicks onto the Buzz chassis.

FWIW we went into Mothercare yesterday to ask about an offer on the Quinny and happened to speak to the supervisor. She said that they can give us a further discount if we order in store, called a threshold discount - it's a discretionary discount you may get if spending lots of money. Worth asking about if you order in store and are spending hundreds of pounds in one go.

CherylAnnTweedy - you do know you shouldn't use normal BMI calculators when pregnant, right? If you've got one that takes into account pregnancy, could you post a link?

I think working on the basis of whether you go up dress sizes in maternity clothes is as good an indicator as any of weight gain. If it's all bump/boobs, you shouldn't go up much, if at all.

notso - what a stupid MW. There seems to be an assumption that if you have SPD, you must have it bad and can't learn to manage it. I don't know why they think physio, etc is worth it then. I didn't get on with the MN SPD support thread as there was this feeling IMO that SPD wasn't something you managed so that it wasn't a real issue. If you weren't thinking about crutches and panicking about opening your legs in labour, it wasn't really SPD, etc, which is balooney.

morning all, another non-sleeper here. DH's snoring kept me awake even though he went to the spare room. I long for a bigger house!

Woke up feeling ill but probably is just hunger. The thirst is getting worse too.

Japhrimel have fun with the Buzz, I have resisted going up and down the street as I thought I might look a bit mad but have had fun assembling it in the house. I can't get it down the hallway though - need to move some furniture!

I've checked what the midwife put in my maternity notes and she said the HB was 140 - 156. I wonder if this is going to be a girl!? I'd love it to be (though really honestly I will be happy with a boy) if only to prove my DH wrong . He thiks it's a boy and we've been calling the bump Bob for a few weeks.

just checking in to say yay - my cadbury's hamper & £100 amazon voucher (courtesy of mumsnet) arrived this morning. I'm not sure it's actually possible to eat as much chocolate as they sent, but I can't accuse them to being mean

Hello all

very happy to have just scored a fab ebay bundle for a tenner inc. P&P for 3-6 months boy summer clothes from Rocha, M&S, M&P, Next - perfect for when we move!

Cheryl sorry to hear about the clothes and holiday stuff

in a rush to go to SIL so this is a quickie and sorry not to reply to all of you individually but I have to share the spooky CHINESE BOY/GIRL PREDICTOR with you...

It was right for me and for my upstairs neighbour so let's hope it is for you!

The chinese gender predictor was right for both of mine and says girl this time round.

jobob thanks for that link it really made me chuckle!

I cheated and asked the midwife to tell me what I was having at my last scan :-) 4D scan this thursday too!Very exciting!

How exciting Lauren, I have mine on Saturday. Hopefully HIP money will be in the bank by then.

Japh - tbh I take no notice of bmi at any time, just find it interesting to see how much it's going up by. My 'normal' weight is about 9.5 - 10 stone, and with my height being only 5'1" that gives me a bmi just on overweight, so I find it all pretty laughable really.

Spur of the moment decision to do a car boot tomorrow, don't think we'll make as much as last time as most of the stuff we have is serious tat, but £30 and I'll be happy.

I've found this weight gain chart

For my pre-pregnancy weight I am just heavier than the high normal.

just tried the chinese prediction chart - according to that, my DD should have been a boy so I'm not going to lend that much weight to it!

Bah! my birthday is too close to my due date so if I have the baby before it's a boy and after it's a girl!
It is right for DD but wrong for DS.

maxpower am of the cadburys hamper and the amazon voucher, lucky you!

Hello all, hope you are having a good weekend. We are just back from a lovely 2 weeks in the Alps which involved a lot of chocolate and fresh air and a bit of exercise too. Feeling very chilled as it feels like I'll be into a winding down phase at work too, only 10 weeks to go.

Won't try to reply to everyone as there is so much that has been going on. Sorry to hear that SPD is kicking in for so many now.

Have not weighed myself for ages but based on the clothes size thing I seem to be doing okay. I have a real bump now but it is still fairly discrete.

Take care all,

P

Had a lovely time at River Cottage yesterday even if it was a long drive there and back (3 1/2 hours each way) - obviously we thought we would have moved by now so when we booked it we didn't think it would be such a long day. Long queues for hot food and book signing but great fun. Manage to win a raffle prize of some Apple Brandy as well so saving that for post pg!

I clearly spend too much time on here if you are all dreaming of me

About to go and catch train back to work - changed times of Greyhound so don't have much choice tonight - need to be back a bit earlier today as I have 2 courses starting with me tomorrow and my boss is away for a week doing a charity walk

Went to a baby show today, a bit like a wedding fayre but for pregnant people. Lots of people trying to sell things I don't really need but it was useful to chat to a couple of women on the re-usable nappy stalls and I had a really good chat with the woman at the NCT stall and got some contacts for breast feeding support. Is anyone else worried that the support might not be availabe so much around Christmas?

Met up with my SIL and her husband, she still has only a very small bump while I look huge!

CherylAnnTweedy - thanks for the weight calculator. That's really useful being able to enter what week we're at.

DF - yes, it's a bit concerning about lack of bfing support over Christmas. I'm hoping the local NCT group leaders might be available if really needed. And the national NCT helpline might be open: www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/getting-help/helplines. I'm also hoping my Mum & MIL might be able to help!

Am due NYE, but hoping for ElectiveCS, so might be before Christmas.

We have had complications, so feel in limbo as not much info + no more scans until 29.5 wks, so a while to go until we know whether our 'B' will be okay. Terrified yesterday as hardly any movement - back to normal today though! It's either a footballer or a champion boxer - why does it keep jumping on my bladder?
Getting low on things I can fit into, but we don't have the money for more - I can make do.

Morning all
Anyone else getting tired again? And emotional?

I had to have a sleep Sat afternoon, and was falling asleep Sunday afternoon, and now I'm at my desk and I feel tired. Not as bad as first trimester but still tired.
Baby jumps on bladder at 2.30am every morning without fail, and wriggles furiously from 11.30pm-12.30pm. Plus I wake at 6.30am so not really getting enough hours sleep.

Need to vent, sorry long post. Lots of crying yesterday. My family are all apparently keen to come and pick through our furniture and belongings to help themselves - already! We're not leaving til March 2011!

They [my family] seem to expect me to give away thousands of pounds worth of beloved things DH and I have spent 11 years acquiring and loving and carrying from home to home. My SiL wants to send a van round, my uncle wants to visit and look at my TV, my sister wants my sofas and sofabed... and they cal got in touch yesterday about it! It felt like circling vultures!

Maybe it's my fault as I mentioned to my sister a week ago that I was worrying about what to do with the lovely beech bedroom furniture we bought with our wedding John Lewis vouchers and whether anyone would keep it for us for a few years as I hated the idea of selling it on and couldn't afford storage. Somehow that seems to have turned into my family deciding they can all help themselves in a free -for- all to our TV, stereo, cushions, books, sofas, furniture...and it will somehow be doing me a favour! My sis actually said 'it's not all about you, you know' and 'we need to fit in taking away what we want, and that means looking well in advance'.

They expect to be thanked for taking it off our hands. I guess I am just not ready to have people coming round dismantling our life in front of me, it feels very ruthless.

It just really upset me. I'm already quite anxious at the thought of moving thousands of miles away and having to live in rented accomodation in a small island full of expats where I have no friends, with a 14 week old baby and DH starting a new job. Don't get me wrong, I'm up for it, as it's the only way DH can see his baby - working in the UK in his industry = massive hours to the extent that I might as well be a single parent.

But right now, all I want to do is nest. Leaving my network, and my neighbourhood, and my flat in the UK makes me cry. I wish we didn't have to move thousands of miles so he could work normal hours and see his baby. I wish he could work less and we could stay in North London.

I know it's hormones but it is horrible. I cried on and off about it all day.

My family never ask me if I am ok, never say, how are you feeling and wait for an answer. You'd think it might occur to them that I might be feeling frightened and anxious at all the huge life changes ahead, and need support. But they think I am the strong one, they call me for advice and practical solutions and that's it. They expect me to support them, not the other way round.

Oh Miffster, that's just horrible. Put your foot down and say no one is taking anything till February! Otherwise what are you going to sit on???

I definitely sympathise - I can't handle considering that we may be emigrating next spring so am coping by just not thinking about it. My plans go up to baby arriving and no further!

Your family sound like they're being pretty horrible TBH. I'm not surprised they upset you.

And yes, I'm getting knackered again. Lie-ins and/or naps are definitely called for. It doesn't help that what with the baby kicking, me needing a pee or a drink & our dog thinking that if I'm awake it must be time to get up, I haven't had an uninterrupted nights sleep for weeks now!

KarenHL - hope everything is okay!

We've got our 4D scan on Friday - I can't wait to see the LO again and see how much she's grown. The grandparents are very excited about seeing a video of their first grandchild before she's even born. It'll be good also to double-check the sex and check she's all okay.

And then we're off on holiday! So much to do before then though, especially as work is getting on top of me!

Hello all,

It's been a week or so since I posted so thought I'd check in.

Miffster just read your post and I am agog. Not surprised you are feeling upset.

I think we're all starting to get physically tired now from the extra weight, feeling of responsibility, and yet the knowledge there's still another three plus months to go!

I've just been made to feel a bit upset by my insensitive GP. I had my 25 wk check up about an hour ago and she couldn't find the heartbeat with the Doppler. She was prodding around for ages and when I asked if I should be worried, she got annoyed and said, of course not, you're feeling movements aren't you? It was as if the lack of a heartbeat was simply an annoyance for her because she couldn't tick the right box in my notes.
I'm not a naturally anxious person, but I think a little reassurance goes a long way, especially if it is your first pregnancy.

Then I asked about the HIP grant and Mat B1 form and she told me she could sign them but I should have already got them. Cue waiting at the reception desk after my appt for the forms. Now I'll have to wait another three weeks until I see the midwife again.

However, since I've got home I've had lots of reassuring kicks, which has made me feel better.

After my hormonal melt down the other week I'm feeling a lot better about everything generally and am really happy to be pregnant. I keep having dreams I'm feeding the baby and feel so blissfully happy, then wake up with wet patches round my boobs. Sorry if TMI!

Quick message, tommee tippee and avent bottle, steamer, breast pump etc are all half price or a third off in tesco, picked up a bargain breast pump and a few bits today.

I find myself talking to Jasmine as if she was already here. Which helps explain why my shsred secretary and DH are giving me strange looks.

I had a wobble at the swimming pool last weekend - a combination of bad behaved teenagers, over crowed changing area and Jasmine drawing attention to herself. I'm OK now.

DH is being very considerate about sex but "doggie style" with assorted pillows supporting key areas is still OK with me. At least for a bit longer.

The Practice Nurse is still moaning about me being too thin. Well I don't feel too thin!

chloesbaby your Gp sounds crap. Are you seeing a midwife? I was told I could only have my HIP form once I had passed 25 weeks and not to send it off before then as they would ignore it. I also only got my MATB1 form at 25 weeks though I think the midwife could have given it me sooner.

Miffster I am at your family. Can you spell it out to them and tell them how they are making you feel?

Hi to everyone else, have a great scan japhrimel. Pitterpatter I feel like I should be making more effort to have sex but am just so tired!

I've been doing loads of research into breastfeeding lately as I really really want to be informed.

I think she was just distracted and busy, but yes, it is a bit crap DuelingFanjo
I am in theory seeing a midwife, but in reality I have only seen her once at my booking appt. I saw a different midwife at my 16 wk appt because the first one was on holiday.
So hopefully I'll see her again for the second time at 28 weeks.
I don't expect to be wrapped in cotton wool, but it would be nice to feel like it wasn't just a tick box exercise.
On the plus side, she did give me a prescription for laxatives so hopefully soon I'll be able to go to the loo. It's been nearly a week

Hi girls, I am back! I was in Canada for 2 weeks travelling from East to West coast and now back. It wasn't that good of a vacation as it was mainly family visiting, which is nice but tiring. Travelling when pregnant is crap. I have been sick and having back pain and it wasn't a really good trip at all.

I don't get night sleep as well.... I went to bed around 1 AM last night and at 5 AM I was awake!
I am trying to catch up on the posts but boy we are such a chatty bunch and I have to confess that I just casted and got some idea of what has been going on in the last two weeks...

Miffster you do need to talk to your family. This is NOT okay and you need to clarify rather than being nice to them.

Lavita what happened with your leaking? I hope it wasn't anything serious...

I am kind of glad to be back and I am NESTING like crazy! Last night I started cleaning all the closets and donating clothes.

I also have a new maxi cosi car seat... yayy... I have to confess that I am struggling with the push chair choice though. I need to have them all in one store and go around and try but the stores in London are small and carry some of the models and the sales reps are constantly bothering you - which is very frustrating!!!

Welcome back PJen. Sorry your holiday wasn't relaxing!

Did you get the CabrioFix? Do you want to be able to use it as a travel system? We were looking at the Mothercare MyChoice 3 (which fits the CabrioFix) but weren't all that impressed at the build quality and ease of use. We got the Quinny Buzz 3 in the end and that fits the CabrioFix or Pebble afaik.

DuelingFanjo - I'm doing loads of breastfeeding research too.

It seems the really important thing is realising that it will be tough, that it may be painful at first and that just when you think you've got it cracked, baby has another growth spurt. So many posts about quitting bfing on the feeding forum seem to be because the Mums hadn't realised one or more of those things and so assumed that they were doing it all wrong. Luckily my DH is 100% behind us giving nothing but breastmilk for as long as I can go without my meds (and even then I want to build up a stock of expressed milk).

chloesbaby - that GP sounds awful! I haven't had my HIP grant form either - will ask my MW about it on Wednesday. I'm finding that my GP is a bit useless, so am saving most questions for MW appointments instead.

Has anyone else starting thinking seriously about their birth plan? DH and I started going through it all and writing notes at the weekend, but we didn't get all that far I have to say!

Anyone else getting stretchmarks? I now have 2 on my belly.