I wandered lonely as a PESH

[Muser]

That floats on high o'er vales and hills
When all at once I saw a crowd
Of cackling, quaffing, ne-er-do-wells

Pull up a seat, grap a glass of vino and a piece of sushi, it's Delitime again.

BESH BAYBEES
dontrythisathome, girl born March 25.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April.
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8.
CurlyCasper, girl, born June 24.
CUNextTuesday, boy, born June 29.
AlpinePony, boy, born 1 July.
Carrots, boy, born July.
IggyPiggy, girl, born July.
Cosmosis, boy, born Sept 5.
Backinthebox, boy, born Sept 7.
Skatergrrrl, girl, born Sept 10.
VAG, boy, born Oct 2.
Silversky, boy, born Nov 1
SomethingSuitablyWitty, awaiting update

UPDIFFED
Honeymoo, 3 wees a night, due October 31 (boy)
okiecokie, self-confessed control freak, due November 6
SomethingSuitablyWitty, benelux babe, due November 14
ReginaMonologue, knows when all the sales are, due November 20 (boy)
maswera, jungle hottie, due December 11
PollyPoo, wants to name her baybee after the dog, The New Messiah is due December 25
MrsFC, joining whether she wants to or not, due 22 Jan
ChoChoSan, "and Lo! The lord did resurrect her petrified womb", due 31 Jan
CluckyKate, hatching an egg, due February 2
Perfect Dromedary, defied medical science, due February 24
Muser, will she ever stop puking?, due February 27
Ginhag, reckless cake-carrier, due 28th Feb
Medee, finally over the Haribo craving, due March 12
Casserole, completely out of witty things to add, due April 8
Scorpette, now carrying a RL baby in addition to Clothilda and the squid, due 21 May.
Laurielou, the unmarried hussy with the "surprise" diff, due 31 May (ish)
Rocketleaf, no longer jealous of morning sickness, due 1 June.
Twinkle Toes, supergluing her fanjo shut, due 23 June.

Hello everyone...

...they never told me that you grow out of maternity clothes!!! I am beginning to bust out of a couple of worky type items, which I am happy to pass on to anyone who might make use of them. I am hoping to get another couple of weeks out of them (too much to hope to make it to Xmas?).

My nice, compact up-front bump has now started oozing out of the sides as well, and I am getting some serious kicking from the Ninja inside! I can't believe this creature is going to double in weight over the next 10 weeks

I have a Mothercare plain grey short sleeved dress, which is dull and mumsy, but great for work here, plus an Isabelle Oliver pencil skirt in black ici. I started off as size 12, and only put on baby weight, no extra cake weight, so that is the sort of size we are looking at. I am currently 30 weeks, and expect to be able to cram into them for another 2 weeks. Let me know if anyone wants it...

Can I just say hello and congratulations to all the people who have laid their baybees over the last couple of weeks. I have been extremely busy at work, and have missed out on the thread for a while, so I am very about ignoring joyous tidings...though I did find time to read TellUsAboutTheHoneyMummy birth story in FESHland. Well done those girls!! Afraid I'm not up to date with anyone else either apart from orange nip juice laydeez updates, so I will just fill you in on MY life .

I had my first NCT class t'other day, and everyone seemed really nice, though as Humpy and Bangers told me, I expect to become instant Best Friends 4Eva with the lot of them, and then either have bitter child-rearing disputes with them, or find myself attached to the tragic emotional vampire amongst them, whilst the rest have fab timez togeva! (Or indeed, I could turn out the be the vampire!). Anyway, NCT lady completely chilled about everything - you can be as interventionist or lentil weavy as you like - it's what works for YOU that counts! She also sanctioned the drinking of wine...hic, so hoorah!!

Had a fun time singing Echo and the Bunnymen at MrsFC birfdee at the weekend, and dragged out the stilettos for the occasion...high heels otherwise tragically consigned to the bottom of my wardrobe these days. Saw the lovely Bangers and Camel as well, plus her chap.

On BF - I intend to do this, and then do FF if BF not working - contented family unit is what I am looking for, and when I look around at my friends I can't identify who was BF and who was FF, so I am assuming FF wouldn't turn my baybee into a drooling drongo (my own company accepted)! I will, however, have the number of the local BF counsellor to hand to help out should I hit difficulties, as I wouldn't want to give up for no good reason.

Yesterday at the Midwife:

MW: Now, do I need to go through the benefits of breastfeeding?
Me: No, I fully intend to try to breastfeed.
MW: Fine,

So, that?s my plan, such as it is! I will go the workshops they run, and I had a read of the NHS book yesterday, and apparently there is a DVD too on request. I?ll do what I can to persevere, fully aware how hard it is, but also how much support is available ? unlike in my mum?s day. But hey, if I move onto FF, as long as baby and I are happy, that?s all that can be asked for.

Same approach by MW for me, MedicinalCompounds. She also didn't even ask me about DV, harumpphhh!

I saw the midwife yesterday and had this exchange

Midwife's assistant/trainee: Are you going to breastfeed:
Me: Well I'll try
MWA: Let's discuss the benefits of BF
MW: Oops haven't I done that yet?
MWA: mumble mumble mumble mumble
Me:

1. I had already said I was going to BF
2. It really wasn't 'a discussion'
3. I couldn't hear a word she said
4. If I wasn't planning on BFing, that really wouldn't have persuaded me to...

Chuh, honestly

Congrats to recent differs Orchid and Gaga, fab news! And also great news on the scan and downs result Scorps. Polster hope the crutches are helping, just think they can also be used to knock young boys and annoying other people out of the way in the supermarket.

All going well in the Cokie house. I have a little gem that loves her kips and is currently fast asleep on Mr C's chest while "watching" Dickinson's Real Deal. I tell you daytime TV is shit..however we have been to see MW this morning and to Ikea so not totally house bound.

I will get around to posting birf story at some point in FESH for those that are interested.

I'm STILL breastfeeding MiniG two and a half years later. It wasn't easy to begin with but I count myself extremely lucky to have a great team of community midwifes who came out to see me every single day til I got it established. Never looked back. Am struggling to get the little guy to stop now but that is another story and I don't mind really as it only twice a day (bar the agonising early preggo sore nips).

Not being smug by the way, prob would have stopped sooner but MiniG would NOT take a bottle. Also I weer towards the hippy spectrum of parenting in that I can't be arsed with routines etc.

So if anyone is struggling with breastfeeding and needs any advice and midwives are being shit then feel free to pick my brain such as it is.

Bit about the midwifes just going through bf as a box ticking exercise. There ARE loads of good things about it and they could at least attempt to be a bit more inspiring on a subject that a lot of women have very little experience of and find the prospect a bit scary/unknown. People really need good support on this and it doesn't sound like much is being offered in advance.

Thanks for Congrats, Okie. And I would love to read your birth story - have a slight obsession with birth stories!

He might stop naturally as you get more pregnant LadyGG, as doesn't your milk change? I do know people who kept tandem feeding after though. And why not? Doesn't harm anyone. Breastfeed for as long as you feel like it, that's my view.

I was meant to eat something healthy tonight. I have caved and ordered pizza. What happened to my plan to eat healthily during pregnancy?

tbf, if I hadn't been clear on my intentions, I suspect she would have started doing the "why you should breastfeed" spiel. Kudos on the 2.5 years though, Gaga.

Evening all, just a quick one from me as I have marking to do. I had my first MW appt today. She seemed nice enough and was all for me having another home birth. I told her given how I'm feeling at the moment that I want to go to hospital and have all the drucks possible this time. She laughed and said she'd ask me again later, but seriously, I think I have suffered enough!! Am back to being sick several times a day, I even had to leg it from the midwifes office to the toilet. I feel so utterly crap all day long - grrrrrr. It's so much worse this time and I have no idea why!!!

I also got asked about B/F today. I fed mini O to 17 months so she presumed I would do the same again. I will try, that's all I said. I found it easy enough to start with, but then we had colic issues and that caused some difficulties with feeding. I thought the game was up at one point when he took more readily to a bottle than me, but I stuck with it and it got much easier again. I'm also up for being asked if people need advice. I found several of the support lines available really, really helpful. They're free and the ladies I spoke to were very calming and knowledgeable, so I can highly recommend them.

Anyway, going to make my way to bed as Mr O is out. It is my intention to do some marking, but we shall see .

Maybe a girl this time, Orchid? Sorry to hear you're feeling so rubbish. Did they give you any advice to deal with it?

I'm feeling a wee bit sick this evening but very mild so not complaining!

I wanna breastfeed. For several reasons:

1. I was breastfed for only 6-8 wks and wasn't gaining weight (and I was a preemie, so worrying) and instead of showing my Mum how to feed my properly cos I was tongue-tied (slightly different latching technique, apparently), they told her BF was dirty and less healthy than formula and refused to let her use a breast pump, etc. (you couldn't buy them anywhere), so against all my mother's wishes, she was basically forced to FF me. My brother, however, was BF for 18 months (not tongue-tied and she was older by then and not to be pushed about, ha!). I am a puny weakling and always ill, he is as fit as a bloody ox and as he was prem too, I have arbitrarily decided that it was being BF that made all the difference. So I really want to BF for as long as poss. 2)I'm secretly v earth mother and shiz and daydream about the wonderful closeness BF will bring
2. It makes you lose fuckloads of weight.
3. It's free!

I don't care what other people chose to do. I think people should at least give it a go and I can't help adjusting my judgypants a bit when women won't BF cos they don't want to get saggy boobs or think breasts should only be sexual things (what a vile 'tude), but in the end, it's none of my business and everyone is different and you have to do what works for them and their baby and if that's FF, go for it.

I told my Gran and Aunt tonight about being pg (saw Gran, rang Aunt)! To say they were overjoyed would be an understatement! Gran was almost in tears and was rubbing her jaw by the end of the visit cos her little face hurt from grinning. I did her a big copy of the best scan pic and she was mesmerised. And she had a good ole rub of my tum too. Says it's given her a new lease for life and that it's all she's dreamed of for years, awww. And my Aunt was so happy and said that finding out had made her feel a weight lifting from her heart regarding her childlessness (SOB!) and that she was going to be the best Great Aunt ever and was going to start saving up and knitting, etc. So a good night all round :) Except I did tell Gran I liked Gaylord for a boy's name and she took me seriously, so she'll probably tell all her friends that now!

I am ordering NAPPIES! I got my £30 voucher from the council so putting it towards ordering some trial stuff from The Nappy Lady. Marvellous stuff.

oh, what a wonderful reaction, Scorps, from your Gran, but especially your Aunt.

I know I don't belong in here (yet, she says firmly)but just wanted to say "me too" re ext bf to LadyGG as it seems inappropiate to put it on the BESH thread :)

It'll be really interesting to see if miniG goes off it now you are pregnant as it alters the taste apparently.

:o at Gaylord, Scorps. Is your surname Focker?

I spotted in the hossie that nearly every wall on the antenatal ward had posters promoting bf.

My attitude is/was I will give bf a try. If I can do it then great. If I can't I am not going to beat myself up about it. Each day I manage to bf is an achievement.

GG is it normal for it to be going well and then not so well?? Think MB has changed his latch = sore whilst feeding.

My pal is expecting and has already decided that she won't bf. Her reason is so her hubs can also feed the baby. I think making up formula is a right faff ESP if going out. Also she wrinkled her nose when she mentioned bf so assume she doesn't like the idea of a small child hanging off her - fair enuff it's not everyone's idea of fun.

You might just need to adjust your latch slightly Silver. As they get the hang of it they can start to suck more strongly and if latch isn't quite right you might get a bit sore. Also over time you get a bit more "casual" with your latch - until you start to hurt.

Make sure his mouth is really wide open before you get him on and make sure you do the tummy to Mummy, nose to nipple thing. What position are you using? Sometimes a change can help. Is it one nipple or both that are hurting? Have you got uchions under him to support his body enough? Sometimes if they drop down a bit it can start to hurt.

If you adjust latch and still hurting thrush could be a possibility? Can you see anything in his mouth?

Boo great to hear you are doing extended BF too. Makes me feel less of a freak!

By the way, this is a great site for breastfeeding stuff

Scorps your lovely story made me weep as well. So lovely - I want to give your Nan and Auntie a big hug
x

Sadly, BettyBoo, my surname isn't Focker. It's just Bottomley, so nothing funny about being called Gaylord Bottomley...

(It's not really Bottomley, either)

Well, just got liver test results - 'normal, not further action required': PHEW! Doc said that she really thought I had a liver problem as my pain was so intense and unwavering. Did warn me that it could return in 3rd trimester, even with the drucks, if it's this bad already. Never rains but it pours, etc. But SO unbelievably relieved it's not a liver prob. Pain is better than serious disease any day!

Awww, Mum texted me saying Grandma rang her twice this morning, first asking about what to buy the baby for Xmas (aww) and then asking if anyone's got ginger hair in TYF's family; she's a foxy redhead and is quietly hoping for a ginger baybee :) (Granddad had sandy hair but Dad and Aunt have dark brown hair... well, silver in Dad's case, L'Oreal's finest in Aunt's).

PS We haven't told TYF's family yet! He is genuinely nervous about it, because they are so unexpressive (if that's a word) and don't cope with change well and he's really worried they'll have little or no reaction. I think it'd break his heart if they didn't seem to be bothered. He's already totally head-over-heels with Isadora (like me). I'd be pissed off too, but that's not the point. My family are so emotional and so overjoyed that he can't bare the thought of his not seeming to care I hope they bloody prove him wrong.

It was his birthday on Friday - his mum forgot to post the card on time and sent him a small, un-iced home-made cake and that was IT (they are insanely rich and MIL doesn't work). Even I got socks off them! He is the stereotypical overlooked middle child and it breaks my bloody heart to see it

Sorry, but was necessary ILs rant. How can they not care about the most wonderful man in the world?!

PPS His brothers get b-day pressies.

I'll stop cluster-posting now

"Isadora" Scorps? Will he stay Isadora if he's a boy? Isadore perhaps?

Sorry, the above was v boring! Am feeling massively hormonal about eeeverything at the mo.

What about Isambard? I think that name should be brought back!

Glad your blood tests were clear. I know heartburn can throw up some red herrings (our whole family suffers with it & all the related punctured oseophagi & hernias etc.) - two of my sisters have ended up in the 'orspital with it (one of them in an actual ambulance on blue light!) with suspected Heart Trouble, and felt a bit daft coming out with large bottles of Gaviscon in their handbags. Let's hope it doesn't plague you throughout, like it does lots of diffyladies :(

Re. TYF's parents - I do know how he feels, poor chap. I have 10 nieces and nephews and frankly astonishingly tight-lipped parents. They were bored of children by the time I was born, never mind by this stage! I know full well they will not be able to muster much more than a "That's nice," if I get a win. The OM's parents will on the other hand start hanging up bunting from week 12. Meh. It doesn't matter. I'm sure you'll encourage him to tell them in just the right way as soon as he can.

ANYWAY I am mostly dropping by to check out the place prior to beginning my first 2WOOFL in ages, and to cuddle Polls, who is always on my mind .

Snogs and bitchslaps all round.

It's only the nickname I use on here, cos the baby looked like it was dancing during the scan. Is only same thing as Muser's Bob (who could be a girl).

Scorps what a brilliant reaction from your family!! Very heartening . Sorry to hear that TYF is not looking forward to telling his family though. Whatever happens, the main thing is that you and TYF love the wee nipper. Anyone else is a bonus. The fact that he/she will have a super duper mum and dad, and grandma, grandad and great aunty is fab . Try not to let it get to you, it's their loss, not yours!

I agree with the BF thing being a good start against illness etc. It really does seem to make a difference from my own experience. The only thing that worries me is that for those it doesn't work out for, knowing all this only serves to make you feel worse. My lovely SIL really wanted to BF, especially after I had managed it for so long. She found it such a struggle and for various reasons had to stop after only a week. I know it broke her heart and she said that didn't feel like a proper mother and was a failure. That upset me a lot as she then banned anyone from mentioning it and talking about bottle feeding etc - it became a sore point. I think she's over it now, but it caused such heartache for her that I think had she not have known all these benefits she would not have felt quite as bad for not managing it. I don't know entirely what my point is here, but having experience of it going well and seeing the impact of it not going well makes me think about the way we approach this whole thing in terms of information delivery.

God that was such a ramble - sorry!!! Will sluck off back to bed now...

P.S: Gaga would love a girl, but genuinely think we're team blue. Mini O has categorically said no to a sister and yes to a brother, so we'll see.

Thing is, though, HB, this baby will be the first grandchild for both sets of parents. Older BIL is a virgin for life ultra-nerd with smooth, action man genitalia (or so I tell myself) and younger BIL is a very young 23. I imagine your parents showed some excitement over the arrival of the first of their GC.

Like I said, I realise they won't be WOOHOOing all over the shop, as it not their style, and TYF accepts that they're not emotional, tactile, complementary, involved, etc. (the gits), but he would like a bit of a reaction from them over this. Ah well, they may well shock us - fingers crossed :)

I fear the acid will etch its name across my entire diffdom (oooh, see what I did there?). Still, pain + baybee or no pain + no baby isn't even a contest! BRING IT ON