July 2011 we're entering the second half!

[confuddledDOTcom]

F1rstT1meMummy 25/6/11
Ickle: EDD 29/6 pg#1 age 31
Pesha: EDD 30/6 pg#4, age 32, (dd 10yrs, ds1 7yrs, ds2 3yrs)
Blueberryjam EDD 1/7 PG#5 AGE 27 ( 7,6,4 & 8 months)
Loueytbg EDD 1/7 PG#3 Age 37 (DS1&2 3.6, 1 mc)
Tebbles EDD 1/7 PG#1 Age 29 (No DC yet)
Orchid: EDD 1/7 pg#2 age 31 (DS 2)
WolfcubEm83: EDD 1/7 pg#1 age 27
Phlebas: EDD 2/7 PG#10, age 35 (dd1 10yrs, ds 4yrs, dd2 18mo)
Riddzy: EDD 3/7 PG1, Age 31
MadAboutTheBoys 3/7 PG#3 Age 34 (DS1 3yrs; DS2 17 months)
Emmylou30: EDD4/7 pg#1 age 30
Mitchell81: EDD 4/7 pg#4 age 29(dd 10 yrs,ds1 4yrs, ds2 2yrs)
Eglu: EDD 5/7 pg#3, age 33 (DS 7 & 3) - Girl
Twit: EDD 5/7 pg#6 age 35 (3 ds's 12,9,3 one dd 4)
Countrybunkin: EDD 6/7 pg#14 age 26
Miss Lolita: EDD7/7 pg#1 age 31 - girl
ScarIettOHara: EDD 8/7 pg#1 age 34
Oceanfox: EDD 08/07 pg1 age 37
Smiler80: EDD 08/07 pg#1 age 30
Fiatlux: EDD 08/07 pg#1 age 36
MeesaMum: EDD 9/7 pg#1 age 30
wolfhound, EDD 9 July pg#3 age 40 (DS1 is 3 and DS2 is 16 mths)
Mrsfarge: EDD 9/7, pg#4, age 34 (ds 9, dd 3, ds 2)
Scarthy: EDD 10/7 pg#2 age 35 (DS 3yrs)
SpannerPants: EDD 10/7 age 27 pg#1 - boy
emilyplus1: EDD 10/7 pg#2 age 25 (DD 17 months)
confuddledDOTcom: EDD 11/7/11 girl (expected to last until May, ELCS will be mid-June if I last that long and they get their own way) age 30 (3 girls: 1 angel and two amazing girls age 4 and 2)
Sweetiexxx: EDD 11/7 pg#2 age 32 (DD 17 months)
Highheelsandequations EDD 11/7 pg#2 age 30 (no DC yet)
Rarewelshbit: EDD 11/7 age 33 (no DC yet)
Scrivette: EDD 12/7 pg1, age 30 (no DC yet)
canny77 12/7/11
NNABAIW: EDD 13/7 pg#2 age 33 (DD 15 months)
Stottiecake: EDD 13/7 pg2, age 37 (ds 2)
StormBird: EDD 13/7 pg2, age 28 (no DC yet)
Squirrel007 EDD 13/7 PG#1 Age 29 (No DC yet)
BeatrixRotter: EDD 14/7 pg#2 age 34 (DD 2)
kalp12 14/7/11
Sues1974: EDD 15/7 pg#2 age 36 (DS 21 months)
filey1: EDD 16/7 pg#1 age 28 (no DC yet)
pennyly: EDD 16/7 pg#1 age 32 (no DC yet)
JazzS: EDD 16/7 pg#1 age 29 (no DC yet)
Nicolamumof3: EDD 17/7 pg4 age 33 (DS's aged 11.6, 4.11 and 3.3)
youpie: EDD 17/7 pg#2 age 34 (ds 16 months)
Nitnatnaboo: EDD 17/7 pg#2 age 38 (ds 5 yrs)
Highfibrediet EDD 17/7 pg#4 age 38 (ds1 8y, ds2 6y, ds3 2 1/2y)
Fraochsmum: EDD 17/7 pg2 age 33 (dd 11 months)
Hefner: EDD 17/7 pg#1 age 28
a11J: EDD 18/7 p#1 age 21
Stangirl: EDD 19/7 pg2 age 41 (DD 9 months)
Fab123: EDD 19/7 pg#1 age 29
Zanzicat: EDD 20/7 pg#1 age 30
Pregnant inParis: EDD 20/7 pg#1 age 30
isitreallythattime: EDD 20/07 pg#2 age 32
Dynababy: EDD 21/7 pg#1 age 34
FessaEst: EDD 21/7 pg#3 age 30 (mc & DD 13 months)
cara2244: EDD 21/7 pg#2 age 31 (DS 2 years)
FallingandLaughing: EDD 22/7 pg#1 age 33
Geordiemam4: EDD 23/7 pg#4 age 31 (DD age 13, DS age 11, DS age 8)
Brassicababe: EDD23/7 pg#1 age 37
Brightsideoflife: EDD23/7 pg#3 age 33 (DD 19 months)
PixieOnaLeaf EDD 23/7 pg#6 Age 44 (DD1 16, DD2 12, DS 9, DTD1 8 months, DTD2 8 months)
GruffaloMama EDD 23/7 pg2 age 35 (DS 2.1)
Inbetweener EDD 24/7 pg3 age 36 ( DD 8 DD 6 )
LadyGoneGaga: EDD 24/7 pg#3 age 32 (DS age 2.5, mc)
honeybabymoon EDD 24or 25/7 age 30 (no DCs)
Emmywoo: EDD 26/7. pg## age 33 dd 4 and mc
Chocoflakes: EDD 27/7 pg#3 age 37 (dd15,ds13)
Ivegotmrbitey: EDD27/7 pg#1 age 31
SelenaDoula 27/7/11
Sugargirl1: EDD 28/7 pg#2 age 32 (DD 13months)
Badgerwife: EDD 22/7 pg#1 age 30
Buttonmoon78: EDD 29/7 pg#5 age 32 (DCs 13, 10 & 3)
ddas: EDD 31/7 pg#1 age 26
sunshiney78: EDD 31/7 pg 1 age 31
ZuluWarrior: EDD ?/7 pg#3 age 32 (DS 20 months)
JimmyChoo17: EDD 16/07 P#1 Age 29

I didn't even know there was a thread for selling stuff! Just had a peek at the Classifieds section on talk bit but can't see anything that looks like it...sorry, not being very computer literate today!

Nope I couldn't see either, glad it's not just me fab!

Thanks Christmas I feel a lot better this morning tho I ache all over - did a lot of gardening yesterday! That does sound like you're own pulse BTW. I can see mine in the bath!

Jimmy are they sudden v sharp pains or pains which gradually grow and then decrease? The latter are BH and I find them painful but then I'm on #4 so that's not unusual. The former are prob just ligaments etc going ping. I say 'just' reservedly as it hurts like hell! If you're worried at all do speak to your MW.

Although I feel better (combination of relaxing day and good night's sleep) we did receive some rather bad news yesterday. DS has not got a place in the school we put down as first and only choice, the school to which his current nursery is attached, our nearest school yadda yadda.... Instead they've sent him to another school, further away, where he knows no one. Though he won't be going. I'd rather home educate than send him to that particular school!

It'll be v interesting though. One of the teachers lives just down the road from us, further away from our chosen school. Her ds is in the same position - no sibling at the school etc so I'll be intriuged to know how he's fared!

Basically they'll have to prove to me that every child in the 60 offered places is either in care, is statemented or lives in catchment and has an older sibling at the school, or lives closer. If they can prove that to me then I might be satisfied, but I doubt it. After the year he's been though - prolonged bouts of deafness and 2 ops - I really think he's only just finding his feet again so to put him in totally new surroundings would be devastating. I've logged an email appeal and will be phoning tomorrow am at 9 to do the same. I'm also going to see our gp to see if they'll write a letter to help regarding the social aspect and his deafness...

Enuuugghhh I am such an attractive bed companion....not only am I sleeping with my gob open due to congestion I am snorting rather than just plain old snoring. How does the song go? "sexy...everything about you is so sexy"

Morning ladies, another sunny gorgeous day ahead.

button doesn't sound like mine are Braxton hicks, mine are sudden but last for ages. If anyone on here has suffered with ibs then that's the pain. I am wondering if that is what it is as thinking about it, I get after eating anything slightly fatty! But was ok after a curry last night but then again our curry house is superb so not greasy at all. I do get those sudden sharp pains too which I presume are ligament pains in one place only but oweee they pinch!

Poor ds, I dread all that school catchment malarky as there are some places I really don't want my bubs going too! Lower schools here are fine but middle is questionable and they are talking about changing the catchment boundary we are in which Is annoying as we chose to move into this house partially for the schools! They haven't changed it in years...but I would be interested to find out how that teacher gets on too!

Can I pick your brains those of you who are already mums....did you buy a rocker/bouncer chair? Saw a good hauk one which you can gently rock and baby can have 3 positions in.....then there are the all singing dancings ones with swing actions, vibrations etc.....is it better to buy one of those over a normal rocking bouncing one? Also seen that shouldn't leave baby in them endlessly or they will get a flat head but just wondering if you recommend a particular type? Someones offered to buy us one you see.

Hello everyone. Hope you are all well. DH is away until next Sunday and gets to spend next weekend with my Dad. Makes me a little homesick but super busy here so must get on with it.

I was tweeking my baby registry last night and ended up opening up the baby seat given to us by our friends. They used it a grand total of three times as the baby was 23lbs earlier than expected. I ordered a second base for my car and read the instructions. I used my teddy bear to practice putting the harness on correctly.

For baby bed linen most places here have 180-200 thread count sheets which feel a little scratchy to me. Which fitted sheets have others found work well? DH is in England so I can send him out next weekend to buy the crib sheets while he gets a buttons easter egg for me!

button - I would be livid if I were you. It is so important that the children in the school come from the same neighbourhood as it makes it much easier to develop friendships. We are willing paying extra to use a local daycare center because we want our child to be able to go to playdates. If they have friends half an hour away there is a good chance neither of us will be able to do the drive.

Jimmychoo - we have been given a swing thing by the same friends who gave us their baby seat. Their girl hated it. I would see about borrowing one first or buying after the baby arrives from a place with a good return policy. They paid good money for theirs and the only thing it acomplished was developing their daughters lungs and screaming technique.

Jimmychoo - with dd I had an old style bouncy chair with a metal frame that actually bounced and she loved, I could bounce it with my foot and it would send her off to sleep. Unfortunately she was a terrible daytime sleeper and would wake as soon as I stopped bouncing. With ds1 and 2 I had the mothercare winnie the pooh vibrating chair and wasn't overly impressed, it doesn't really bounce very well and the vibrating never did anything for them so when the batteries ran out I never replaced them! This time I am buying a 2nd hand swinging seat from my friend and am thinking about getting a new bouncer but may wait and see how it goes with the swinging one. Have also bought a bumbo 2nd hand off another friend but thats for when they're a little older.

Button - good luck with the schools appeal. We don't find out here till the 26th, I'm a little worried as the infants and juniors are actually seperate schools so ds2 doesn't have a sibling at the school and it is not our catchment school even though it is our closest. And as I am not currently cming and have no children on my books I can't use that as a reason either. We are outside of the catchment are by about 2 houses! Normally its fine and all the children who want to get in do but every now and then they have a year with lots of applicants. I don't even want to think about what I will do if he doesn't get in!

Well you may remember me saying about MIL booking a weekend at centre parcs for my due date as it is also her 60th birthday. She has now realised that me being due then makes planning things very difficult so has changed it to sept (the week they go back which means me taking the dc out of school for the fri and following monday which i'm not really happy about but not the end of the world so I'm not saying anything!). But we have spent the afternoon with them for a bbq today which was lovely, the dc adore her and FIL, but she did mention that now they're not going to centre parcs in June they may go to France instead. Now I know its her 60th birthday and I know I am being completely unreasonable but all I can think is shit, whos gonna look after my kids now when I go into hospital?!? I can't and won't ask my mum. The last time she looked after my dc was when I thought I was going to have ds2 (turned out I wasn't and he was born the next day and they went to ILs that night) so they had dd and ds1 overnight. I think that was only the 2nd, maybe 3rd time she had had ds1. Since I had ds2 they've not had any of them overnight and they've only actually seen them twice in the last year at all, I honestly don't think ds2 would know who they (my mum and step dad I mean) were if he were to see them and actually I think ds1 would prob walk past them in the street without realising. DD does miss her grandma though as they were always quite interested in her until a few years ago. I haven't spoken to my mum since my 20 week scan when she rang to ask if it was ok and what we're having. They only live about a 15min drive away btw. I live in their nearest biggish town so they come here reasonably often to shop and my sister lives 15mins the other side of me and they see her regularly so its not geography stopping her from seeing them.
I do have 3 close friends I can ask but 1 is blind so can look after them fine in her house but is not able to take them to school or anything if need be. Also her children have all left home now except one who is 14 so it somehow feels like a bigger ask now she doesn't have young children of her own, if that makes any sense. Another friend I know would have them at the drop of a hat but she works 2 full days a week and also she has 4 dc of her own in a 3 bed house so where she'd actually put them I don't know. And my last close friend would have them (she might not enjoy it a whole heap but she'd do it without question!!) but she also works 17hrs a week so would depend on what shifts she was on and she has ME so gets incredibly tired at times and I know is struggling to manage her hrs at the moment so having my 3 on top of her own 2 might be too much for her.

Eek sorry, that has turned into a massive post. I'm still thinking it all through myself! I hate asking favours of friends and this is such a big one I really don't want to!! Beginning to think Homebirth might now be our only option. But then I really don't want them here when I'm in labour, I don't want to have to worry about upsetting or scaring them or waking them up or have them wanting food and drinks and asking questions throughout or whatever! Bugger, why is nothing ever simple?!

Want2b I've just got a couple in from Boots and Mothercare which are all really soft and lovely. More like jersey stretchy material than harsh cotton :)

Pesha we've still got a while to go yet so just ponder the childcare situ for a few weeks. Yr MIL may change her mind again and one of your friends may actually offer. If not you never know what is around the corner. I say this only because everyone has been telling me I've been thinking too far ahead recently. I'm just a planner though, but I can see sometimes it doesn't make sense to get flustered over things that may be irrelevant in a few weeks. Chiiiiill Winston!

Thanks Fab - will send DH in to take a look after he finishes his workshop on Friday. The NCT sale sounds amazing. I have been scouring 2nd hand ads here for lots of things but a lot of Americans overcharge for 2nd hand.

I always go for jersey Want2b, it washes up lovely and soft.

Thanks for the support about school guys. I'm really hopeful that by the end of the week we'll have got a place confirmed as the council have buggered up the measurements! They had us down as a walk of 1.2 miles. I said 'eh?' and the lady told me the way I walk to school according to their records. I said 'bollocks'. I pointed out (with us both looking at the map, over the phone) the route we walk and said that my measurements on map my run are .73 of a mile. Anyway, having promised a call back within the next 3 days (this was at 9.10 thing morning) I've just had a call back from her boss apologising profusely. He said if they can't overturn class size themselves this week then they'll support my appeal and provide additional evidence that their mistake has disadvantaged a within catchment child and that other within catchment children who live further away have been offered places. He says whilst he wouldn't buy any uniform yet (I didn't tell him it was too late!) as he can't guarantee anything 100%, he's 100% sure we'll get a place. Yay!

Pesha I'm sorry you're going through the same thing. It's so unbelievably stressful. I hope you get good news!

Jimmy are the pains more on the right side? Just under your ribs? If so then it could be gallbladder pain. My friend suffered through all her pgs with this but it never continued beyond that. All it meant was that as it was fatty food which exacerbated the pain, she ate very well through her pgs and ended up with v little weight to lose! There's always a positive!

Hi all. I had a nice but exhausting few days at my Mums. We took the boys to the beach a few times since the weather was nice. It was nice to have a week off work, I'm not looking for ward to going back tomorrow I'm just so tired. I'm going to bring my ML forward by a week as I don't think I'll make it until 36 weeks.

I'm another addict of remegels, I have one every night before bed even if I don't feel that I'm getting heartburn, it's a just in cae measure.

I'm 28 weeks tomorrow though, which sounds quite good. I do appear to have a foot or feet in my ribs though so I'm incredibly uncomfortable.

Hello ladies

Popping in briefly (as usual) but this time to say there are some really good prices for maternity swimsuits on asos.com. The most expensive is £25 and some are reduced to £10! Makes me wish I hadn't paid a huge amount of money for a tankini I didn't even like. So if you're planning to do any swimming and need a new swimsuit please take a look over there.

Want2bsupermum, Asos deliver free all over the world, and NEXT do a flat-rate $7 delivery too which isn't bad. I've also found it hard to pick up good secondhand deals over here (Australia) although I did buy a great swishy cotton jersey top on ebay which feels a lot more glam than most of my other maternity clothes.

Pesha I have my head in the sand regarding who is going to look after the kids when the next one is born. Dp said something about inviting his sister over, which would be great but I don't think he's asked her yet so I won't depend on it. I don't really know any of our neighbours and most of them seem to be quite elderly and worry about things like how many washing lines we are using up and whether the people down the road are putting their rubbish in our bins. So I don't think they would cope with looking after three lively and demanding boys! I am booked for a homebirth and feel the best outcome would be for this one to come during the night and be all finished before the kids wake up! Unfortunately ds3 didn't quite manage to come as quickly as I'd hoped so I'll have to come up with a plan B in case this one is awkward too.

Sounds like your friend with 4 kids might be the best bet - it would be an adventure for the kids and wouldn't matter if they slept on the floor or top-and-tail for a night or so, and she would be pleased to help out, plus it would make a huge difference to you. But that's just my opinion!

Thanks guys. Will take a look as asos as a maternity swimsuit would be amazing (I am squeezing myself into my tankini) and get DH to get the jersey sheets.

With regards to having baby #2. DH told me the other night he doesn't want to wait too long between babies. I gave him a funny look and said 'we'll see!' Given that we have no family locally (closest family are my aunt and uncle who are a 10hr drive away) we would go for an inducement for #2 and have family look after #1.

Speaking as one who has had induction for medical reasons, I'd not recommend it for convenience reasons Want2b!

Am loving your DH's PMA about the whole thing though!

jimmy I used 2 bouncers for my DD. A fairly flat vibratingone by McClaren for when she was very little to just lug her about in (i kept my moses basket upstairs) and a more upright one that lit up and played tunes on a caterpiller for when she was a few weeks older. I found it very useful and was forever strapping her in it - when I was showering, cooking lunch, watching telly etc etc

Thanks everyone, I might just buy a decent one but not worry too much about swings a vibrations etc. Save money for something else.

Found a nice hauck one for half price that my friend has recommended.

Sheets - matalan had some nice soft ones.

Next question for you learned mums!! Did you just have the nhs antenatal or did you pay for nct? The nhs offers only 2 in this area and they are only 2 hours. One for breatfeeding and one for pain relief which my hubby will come to. People keep telling me that nct is a better class and also you will meet great new friends but part of me is doing it more for the friends aspect I do worry I'll become a mum and have no one to bounce the everyday stuff off of. I'm hoping to join an aqua natal class which might help? But that's the next town tho and with less income maybe petrol glugging to meet friends - might not be the one!

I never did NCT ones but then my NHS ones were a lot more than 2 hours! My SiL did NCT for that very reason - to make friends.

Just had a mad dash to the emergency drs - ds's ear began leaking orangey brown gunk. Both grommets are still in place thankfully but they've upped his antibiotics to double what he was given before. I know I'm paranoid but I can't face going back to him being deaf - again...

Hey Jimmy I've also signed up for Gentle Birth with a local lady - was £65 odd for 7 hours, so that added to the NHS one I hope should be enough. I'm also looking for a bouncer and also a travel cot...saw a bouncer at the NCT which I should have just held onto, but as I went by bus I wasn't sure it was worth lugging it back. Was a Greco one for only £4 too :( Dagnammit!

Button I hope your DS is alright. I had grommets in and out and shaken all about when I was a kid and it all worked out fine in the end :)

JimmyChoo17 I would've done an NCT class if I could have afforded one I think. The NHS one was OK in some ways, not so good in others. The breastfeeding aspect of it was really bad - loads and loads on the benefits of breastfeeding and nothing at all on how to actually do it. It took me ages to make friends with other mummies locally! Now there are a whole bunch of us, many on no. 2 now. I met mums through the local children's centres and playgroups once my son was born.
Aquanatal I really enjoyed last time. I think our local class has gone now but I am going to start swimming again now my cold has finally gone.

buttonmoon good news about the school place.

Thanks Fab. The problem it that this is his 3rd set. And the last ones before hearing aids so I'm totally paranoid. His second set fell out within 3 weeks after just such symptoms as he's had today. The nurse was such a bitch too, made me beg for an appointment. I'm glad I did too, I'd never have slept tonight if he'd not been seen!

Thanks Cara too. I'm really pleased but until I see the letter in my hand I won't quite believe it!

Too much to catch up on so just popping I. Briefly to say hi. Have first physio tomorrow suddenly feeling huge!!

I like John lewis cot sheets best

Thanks for the tips on sheets guys. DH is going to be busy at the weekend.

button - good news with the school and how awful about the gromits (can't believe the nurse made you beg for an appointment). I find out if I am having my inducement date moved up a week tomorrow. The baby measured big on my scan (top 99%ile) so they have been tracking the growth since. I was 28wks on Saturday and the baby is almost 3lbs already. I had my glucose test and other blood tests this morning and will get my results tomorrow. My dr was happy with going past 40wks and having a c-section but I really don't want surgery.

I hope to pop anytime between wk 36 and the end of wk 38 before the baby gets too big but this hasn't happened to any of the women in my family yet (had a premie but that was due to other problems).

Jimmy I didn't do the NCT one as I thought £200 was too much and I thought it would be full of worthy women wanting to eat the placenta and have reuseable nappies (not that i have anything against anyone wanting to do either - it's just not me). I did the NHS class which was ok - though not good for meeting people and a specific one by the NHS on breastfeeding. The bf one was invaluable as I never knew how complicated bfing is (which it sort of is until you get the hang of it then it is the easiest thing in the world). I have made loads of "mummy" contacts since DD was born by going out to lots of mother and baby groups - but I am close to 4 children's centres, 2 1 o'clock clubs and a very active library so am lucky.

In my area you only get 1 2hr antenatal class on the NHS which is meant to cover everything so DP and I signed up for NCT classes. The first one was last night, and covered labour and normal birth. It seems weird doing antenatal classes though, I don't think it's really sunk in that in 3 months I could have a baby!

One word for you Spanner - denial! That's what I was in during the ante-natal classes with #1! The baby bit was great, you know, the lovely mental pictures of pushing them about in the pram etc. The bit about getting it out and feeding and night sleeping and all that? I was in total denial! Still, turns out she was the easiest of them all, both to get out and afterwards I think it's because it's such an abstract thing with your first.

DD2's birthday today, party tomorrow. She's v excited!