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

[neenewps]

Onwards we go with the 2nd trimester...

supersunny

OK ladies, looks like I might have SPD. Am not too bad at the mo but don't want it getting worse. Any tips? (toddler friendly ones of course.....)

star sorry, dont know about SPD other than its not fun, someone will have experience and be along soon.

re nipplage and transparent swimming costumes - could go the whole hog and let the lady garden ramble...that'll complete the attractive pg woman picture! I was glad that when we did the jumping up and down exercises in the pool we were encouraged to cross our arms across our chests, the tidal wave/black eye potential there was huge. Then theres the pelvic floor exercises and my worry about 'lady farting' bubbles in the pool but now there far too much information for you!

TTL - what facilities did you use in the Spa? DH and I are off to a spa hotel in a couple of weeks, I know I can use the pool and not the steam room or sauna, but what else are you able to use?

I've put on half a stone, hope I don't put much more on!

Hopefully I will make it to Aquafit tomorrow! Need Ds to get up earlier, think it will be easier now he is less reluctant to get to school - I need to drop him off at 8am if I am to make it, but have been dropping him off at 9am!

Sassamax - I did look at the arms reach one, but would be looking at the full size one.
My problem is we now have bought a new bed and mattress (fabulous!!) but not sure how it will work with the cosleeper.

I think i might set up a separate thread to discuss this.

I've had SPD before but only fairly mildly - I could still walk - climbing stairs was a problem though, and I did walk funny. I got a belt from the physio and some exercises. She did a funny sweepy type maneouvre as well which temporarily helped.

Kara they are adjustable to an extent - jealous of your new bed and mattress

:o at all the ladies swimming stories!

Have had a lovely day today.. my friend flew up from London to have lunch with me! Was so lovely to see her as I haven't seen her for a while and was nice to just sit and chat all afternoon :)

My other friend text today too as she has just given birth. Complete surprise for her though as she was told at her 20 week scan that she was expecting a girl and she has just given birth to a boy!!

Jasmine if you truely look like a walrus, then I suggest what you really need is a dentist, not a new pair of togs.

Stargirl I too have SPD. it fecking hurts at the moment as I strained myself last week. Get yourself refered to an ante-natal physio ASAP. Try lifting toddler as little as possible (not easy I know, I have a very heavy nearly 3yo, who likes being picked up). My physio gave me a elastic support belt that I wear when the SPD is playing up as well as exercises to do. The belt ain't sexy, but it beats feeling like I've been kicked between the leg and hobbling like an old granny. I've found a warm bath can help relax the muscles too, but it only does so much. Getting to a physio is the most important thing. Good luck and i hope that wasn't to waffly.

My SPD is the reason I do almost no exercise at the minute. I used to walk a lot, which is how I got the SPD to start with, but now with the paths being so icy and me not being able to take DS in his pushchair for very long, that's out. I'd love to get back into swimming, but sadly at the minute can't afford too. When spring kicks in and DH's work picks up I'll be wallowing in the pool again.

Had my 16 week MW appt this afternoon (a week late, but never mind, that's my fault). Bean has a good strong, steady heart beat and all is well .

My friend (who is also pregnant) has lent me her regular swim suit that is a couple of sizes bigger (normally). Not sure I'll be swimming enough to justify spending money on a maternity one. Is it a bit minging to buy one of Ebay? Don't know if I fancy doing that.

Great to hear about your 16 week apt's Nomorechoc and SuperSunnyD

I hadn't even thought about trying to squeeze into my swim suit... eeek. Was also going to try aquanatal classes! May have to try the cozzie on first!! :o

Hi all, my boobs are so massive I was spilling out of my maternity swimming costume yesterday .

I suffered from SPD last pregnancy as well as sciatica and am starting to get twinges now, so am going to call midwives about a referral for physio. My physiotherapist was useless last time, you could tell she didn't know much about SPD, so hopefully I'll get some more help this time.

Am feeling very shaky today; have been put on consultation for redundancy at the end of March. The govt are not going to fund any more debt advice, which is where the funding for my post comes from. They have not made a big announcement hoping that no-one will notice . I am the only debt adviser where I work so am the only person on consultation, so looks like I'll be going unless some more funding magically appears in the next two months . Don't know how we will cope, as I earn the same as dp and we already struggle. No-one would give me a job at 6.5 months pregnant even if there were any out there! I am dreading having to move house to somewhere cheaper on top of having a baby, and getting into debt, and not being able to buy any nice things for the baby .

Sorry, me me me rant over...

Oh no 8rubberduckies so sorry to hear about your job
Have you worked as anything else in the past that you could maybe do in the short term?

I have worked in mental health, and as a holistic therapist, and in sales, but would rather poke my own eyes out repeatedly for minimum wage than go back into sales. There just aren't very many jobs in public / charities sector at the moment (i.e. what I do now and mental health), and jobs as a holistic therapist just don't exist, you have to set up as self employed. I will probably have to get a temp job filing or something during April then I will have to go on to Statutory Maternity Pay in May so I don't lose my entitlement, and look for a new job as soon as I feel up to it after having the baby .

Evening all........sounds like a day of mixed news. Hope everyone ok.
at the swimming costume discussion.

I think i felt a kick today.....was driving and felt a couple of proper flicks in my lower abdomen, then felt it again when i was in a meeting :)

Hello everyone... yeah to the NW, I'm in Chester.
Maternity leave, I get SMP which I think is 6 weeks at 90% then £123 a week thereafter, woop woop. It's at times likes this I wish I worked for a larger company!
8rubberduckies sorry to hear about potential redundancies, I didn't think you could be made redundant whilst pg or they at least had to honour your maternity leave and any pay arrangements, not 100% sure though.
Anyone else suffering from total brain fog!? I keep saying or doing really stupid things, you know the sort of things you do when you're really tired, doh. I got the pregnancy pillow on line I will try and find the link for the site, wasnt a well known one.

petitech i am having proper pg brain......work think its funny, DH thinks hes living with a numpty and i think its scary :)

8rubberducks I am so sorry about your day. Id agree with petitech - over here you simply cant be made redundant/ fired when pregnant. I would look into it a little bit further. I hope your ok, I am thinking of you

:) @ Merlion ?step away from google? love it!

Thank you jasmine / neenewps I think I?m going to put the PKD to the back of my mind until after the scan and worry then if necessary. Your posts made me feel a million times better last night though to know there are ?normal, healthy? people out there with it so thank you again.
Kara it basically means lots of cysts in the kidneys (I think) which can cause enlargement so am hoping they can get a good idea from the anomaly scan.

Finally have my 20 week scan date after DP went and sat in the hospital yesterday and refused to leave until they actually booked it in much to the entertainment of everyone in the waiting area who seemed like they?d had as much fun getting appointments as us apparently. Roll on next Thursday it is then! 3pm though, I?ll be no use to anyone all day!

LisasCat Your mat leave sounds very like mine, 6 weeks at 90% then the rest SMP. Planning on taking the full 33 weeks of SMP then returning but on reduced/evening hours (haven?t got round to telling work that bit yet). I?m due June the 4th and am finishing 2 weeks before hand and then using 1 week holiday + 1 week mat leave before my due date. Once you?ve got your bank robbery fully planned give me a shout, yes? misshooha my work are letting me save any holiday I don?t use then paying me it in December as a bit of a boost for Xmas, not sure if your work could do the same if you wanted to?

On the subject of co-sleeping etc, shoot me now but I?ve just started reading Gina Ford....and it seems to make a lot of sense?? My friend who gave me the book did it with her first two (more strictly first time round) and they?re all round fab girls who?ve not had any sleep/feeding problems. I know Gina Ford is the anti Christ of MN though so I shall stop talking now

jasmine / moog I?m watching OBEM now on sky+ and DP has just offered to buy me an ipod as a going into hospital present as I think he?s worried I may try to get up and strangle anyone like that girl that won?t shut up if I can hear them!

clarkiee I?m not sure on the swimsuit/ebay/minging front? I think it might be a little? Depends how much wear you think you?ll get out of it I suppose if you can justify paying full price.

Anyone else seem to have given up sleeping yet for whatever reason? I?ve had a cold for the last week or so and can?t breathe when I lay down. I?ve tried piling up pillows but I sleep on my side and just can?t get comfy and end up tossing and turning. Considering how little sleep I?ve had in the last 4 days or so I feel surprisingly ok but think an early night may be in order by Thursday which is my next day I get to finish work before 8.30.

Sorry super long ramble post from me again!

8rd sorry x-post, no useful advice as such but just wanted to say thinking of you :(

Thanks a million for sharing all the maternity leave plans all. I dont really understand the system (whats smp?) and it seems to vary alot - no univeral leave entitlement? its fabulous though that up to a year can be taken.

Over here everyone is entitled to 26 weeks (so 6 months) paid maternity leave. The statutory pay entitlement is 270 per week and some companies will top this up to your usual rate of pay for the 6 months (very few these days though with the recession), I am very lucky though, as a public service worker this is (about the only!) a perk I receive so Ill be on full pay for 6 months (actually tax wise, it works out a little better so Ill be up a few euro a month).

You can then take an additional 16 weeks unpaid if you want. After all the recent cuts and with our mortgage theres no way we can afford this!! I did take 10 weeks unpaid with ds this year but it crippled us financially so we've decided that Ill take 4 weeks (or else Id be back just before Christmas!)as this is doable. Ill then take a couple of weeks accrued annual leave after, think this will take me to mid Jan 2012 and baby (hopefully) will be about 7 months. I dont mind going back at this stage to be honest, because baby will with my mum or dh.

Oh! have to approach my new boss (when I start on Monday) about when Im finishing up. Legally over here, you have to take maternity leave at least 2 weeks before your due date - so I have to go on maternity leave on 19th May (due 2nd June). Was going to work up to this date but I've exams in the 2nd week of May that I'd need time off for anyway so am going to ask if I can take a few weeks annual leave and finish up on 29th April (at 35+1). Hmm.. hopefully new boss is lovely and understanding.

Would usually try and work right up to the 38 week mark and save annual leave for when baby is here but Im already very tired this pregnancy and I know with work and college Ill be exhausted at that stage so Im not going to be silly about it.

Oh and just wondering (as rubberducks brought up!) why cant you co sleep if you or your partner smokes? I could never understand this. I understand not drinking alcohol for fear of rolling over/ not waking etc.. but whats with the smoking? its not like your smoking around or near the baby? sorry, I know I probably sound stupid (irrelevant here as neither of us do anyway now!!)

Barbie smp = statutory maternity pay = IRO £125 per week pre tax I belive.

33 weeks of that. Brilliant. Can't wait. I really should add mortgage holiday to my list of things to look into now I think about it