Jue in June 2011 - not even our growing bumps can stop us from wittering on

[neenewps]

Onwards we go with the 2nd trimester...

big hi to smelly and almighty

oh yes big weight gain here 22 weeks today and think i have put on around 10-11lbs now since i hit about 16 weeks the weight seems to be coming on thick and fast adn being a short ass i dont think i carry it very well, my belly is also getting very big, dont think i was even this big at 6 months last time with DD

Has anyone else out there woken up in a really shitty mood? or is there anyone out there who is feeling on top of the world and fancies snapping me out of this?!

I was awake really early and thought I could feeling some kicks - so excited...then about 2 hours later after being doubled up on the loo I realised it was just brewing diarrhoea. I dont think I've caught anything, just the result of a rather hot thai curry and then a chilli with brussel sprouts so serves me right! Gutted, hope bub is ok in there.
To make it worse I sat on the loo reading a Gina Ford book on baby routines. Now, I'm going to ask gently as a complete amateur...does anyone advocate her routines? I'll say no more til I've got some replies!

Hope you are having a better morning than me
x

I bought a gymball yesterday on my physios recommendation. So much for the 10 minutes the instructions said it should take to pump up! Took the best part of an hour. Still now I have a nice big ball to sit on and she said I can do free weights with my arms while sitting on it, which is brilliant because my muscle tone is terrible and having SPD is really affecting my ability to exercise.

DH and I are taking DS swimming shortly and I'm hoping my pre weight lose togs are going to suffice in covering me up. I know I need maternity togs soon , but don't swim that often and have to go out of town or internet them in. Wish me luck.

Have a lovely not to Mondayish Monday all. x

x post Jasmine. Sorry you're day has started much as mine ended last night (tag?!). Baby will be fine i there. Just try to stay hydrated.
I say hang the routines and let your baby tell you what it needs when it needs it. Without it taking over your life of course. I found ds fell into a natural routine after a few weeks and it changed subtly as he grew and his needs changed. That's just me though.

nomore ha ha re your gym ball - they do take a long time to pump up...and no guidance over exactly how big to do them either! I was thinking about mine last night and am about to dig it out to replace my office chair - so much better for the posture

re your swimming costume - do try it on before you get to the point of no return in the changing room...would hate a repeat of 'sausageskin' syndrome that I had last week! Have now got myself a proper suit...this one isnt going to be transparent or bursting!

I woke myself up this morning by suddenly jamming a fingernal really hard up my nostril!! Gave myself a nose bleed. So I wasn't in the greatest of moods when I woke up.

Nomore I've got a gym ball too, it's supposed to help my coccyx - I got DH to blow it up though!

AlmightyCitrus, my midwives seem amused at the idea of weight being an issue and sort of dismissed it as 'Drs, what do they know'! I have been weighed a few times, but they need your weight for the triple test and no-one ever commented on the weight.

Lisascat, my 20 week scan is on 7th Feb too, I can't wait!

Morning all and welcome newbies, always nice to have new faces .

Jasmine sorry you've woken up in a shitty mood, hope your day improves (eat lots of things you want to and go window shopping to cheer yourself up!). Oh and bubs will be fine in there, just keep hydrated as Nomore said.

Never did Gina but my only piece of advice I give out routinely to new parents is bugger all the books and don't look at them. I 'did' the baby whisperer for a couple of weeks, probably not even that, which is much more relaxed then Gina and it still made me feel like a complete failure! I went to a talk ages ago by Tanya Byron (parenting guru/clinical psychologist/very interesting woman!) and she made the very valid point that all these books do, in which she included her own, is take the emphasis away from the parent and deskill us. Relax and enjoy parenting rather then getting tied up in routines, etc. Having said all that I know a few parents who swear by Gina, can't say it's my cup of tea and with this being my third I'm pretty confident routine will work around the eldest and then the second and then maybe the baby

Happy Monday all. Off to my scan in a couple of hours, eekkk!

Very true knackered and nomorechocbiscuits - I remember beating myself up about 'routine' as well - too much pressure.
It doesn't help that everyone you meet says 'have you got him/her into a routine yet?'
Routine schroutine!!

My only verdict on Gina Ford is that I daren't say how I feel about her on here, for fear of getting MumsNet HQ in another law suit.

A friend bought me the Baby Whisperer, and accompanied it with a great piece of advice - only read it when something's really troubling you. I made things up at my own pace with DD, and only dipped into the book when we were having real sleep issues. Even then, I took a few sentences for advice, but didn't follow it religiously.

Lol, thanks for the comments about the 'routines'. I must admint I kind of lost faith when the newborn schedule says '8.15 - make yourself some breakfast - wholemeal toast and juice are appropriate' - bugger off, I'll eat what I want for breakfast thankyou! As it happens I usually have fruit and yoghurt so I'm not exactly hitting the biscuit tin (that comes later) but there's a difference between suggesting 'routines' and then there's dictating my life!
As you can tell, my mood hasnt improved yet!

Re. pushchairs we are still trying to decide. We were planning on getting the Quinny Buzz travel system, buyt have read several negative reviews about the size of it and todfdlers outgrowing it at 15 months. We are now looking at the Graco Symbio travel system - does anyone have experience of this? Perhaps I should ask in a different forum actually!

I read too many books with DD - including the baby whisperer and Gina Ford. I don't intend to make thta mistake this time as it puts you under pressure and makes you feel you are failing when it doens't work out like the book says (in my experience).

Scan went well and all is as it should be !

Can't help on buggy talk as I have completely forgotten what I had with DD but did have a phil and ted's when ds arrived which was great for the pair of them untli they got too heavy for me to push them both up the hill we live!

MainlyMaynie - Mine do comment on the weight, and some seem to delight in doing so. And that was last time when I was 3 stone lighter.
I've not had the triple test. Apparently I was supposed to have it at my 16 week midwife appointment, however I saw the consultant at 15+3 and the midwife who was assisting said I didn't need to make the 16 week appointment as she'd seen me (didn't check anything though). Probably not worth doing now anyway if I've had an amnio.

And re: books...Don't do it!!!

Why would you take the opinion of 1 person and let them tell you how to bring up your child?
Ask a few real life friends how they coped. Ask on a mum-based internet forum . You might get differing opinions, but then you have options. If one method doesn't work there will be plenty of others to work through!

Question - why have the triple test if the nuchal comes back ok? And why are so many people having amnio? I was asked today 'when is your amnio'? huh? didnt know I was having one - are they routine? Why?

Happy Monday! Welcome to the new folks .

Really tired after taking ds swimming this morning and my back is killing me . Already . Have called the midwife this morning for a referral for physio, as suffered with spd and sciatia last time, and could hardly walk by 34-35 weeks. I was doing yoga then, and can't afford the classes this time around, so let me know if you can recommend any good books with exercises in I can follow at home.

On the routine debate, I didn't pick up a single parenting book when ds was a baby; me and dp decided to trust our instincts. It really worked for us; we did whatever felt right and he settled into a routine after a few weeks all on his own, with no fights or tears. I sometimes had huge moments of doubt about whether I was doing it all "right", but would talk things through with my Mum or friends with babies at that point rather than following a prescribed path. I suppose some people feel they need a strict routine from the start though, so it is whatever works for you. All I know was that we had a wonderfully smiley, secure little baby who was happy to adapt to his surroundings (even if he's a cross between a monkey with OCD and a hurricane now)

Cross posted with lots of you - glad all is okay knackered - can't wait for my scan on the 1st!

Leroy what a positive turnaround from dp

Jasmine51 - We don't get the Nuchal test here. I queried it with the sonographer she said that it had only just been brought in here, but A)There was no-one qualified to do it, and B) I live 3 miles too far to get it done free anyway. If I wanted one it would have to be private, £150 and a good hours drive away.

I've had the amnio due to my age. Hoping for some good results tomorrow.

Hi ladies,

Woah can you guys post. Liking all the throw-the-books-and-routines-out-the-window chat. My mum unsuspectingly bought us the Gina Ford book and I opened it on a page which had rigid five-minute timings for everything and freaked out. It has remained closed ever since. I have a nice practical book by Penelope Leach which has information in which may help me not to inadvertently kill the child through my own ignorance, and I'll be dipping in and out when I need the answer to a question. But apart from that I am steering clear!

Oh, and price. We're already in debt so anything more than £300 is just too ridiculous to contemplate ...

TTL keep watching ebay for bargains - just got my car seat from there, normal price seems to be around £35 for a maxicosi...only make sure you logoff before you get carried away...just bought a newborn clothes bundle..but in my defence it was only £1!
I am getting alot of offers of stuff - I'll post what I cant use and see if anyone wants it.

Congrats on the scan knackered. Quite a few scans looming now I think. Mine is next week on Wednesday.

jasmine in my area amnios are only offered if nuchal or triple test come up high risk I think

My personal opinion on GF is that it can work for some people but it strikes me as trying to force your baby to fit into your life, rather than adapt your own around the baby.

I agree with throwing out the books, try to get your cues from the baby, they can and do fall into predictable patterns but the patterns themselves can change as babies grow and develop.

Just don't stress when your baby doesn't sleep through the night for 2 weeks months years!!!! You are not doing anything wrong, some babies are just like that

I think sometimes we forget that babies are individuals with individual needs, and there is no one-size-fits all method for parenting your baby. At the same time you shouldn't feel you need to be a martyr - it's okay to ask for help and want to put your baby into some kind of routine to make things a little easier on yourself.

Good news from me. Earlier than expected phone call to tell me the first set of results from my amnio are clear.

Good luck to everyone else.

Moog, my scan is the same day as yours. Will you be finding out the sex if you can?

And i've got terribly itchy boobs and body too LeroyJG, which get worse when i'm in bed at night. I practically rip myself to shreds at night trying to relieve the itch.

Are we missing a couple of regulars? Nurse sunshine hasn't been round a while but she probably is busy busy busy with uni/placements.