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

Hi all, sounds like some of you are suffering at the mo and my heart goes out to you. Luckily for me my pg is going well and not even had the heartburn yet that I had with ds.

fab You wil receive lots of support with bf as its something hospitals are really pushing. I was determined to do it last time and went on the course beforehand. Its not until you have your bundle of joy and try that you realise it is harder than you think but once you both have the hang of it you should find it works well. I bf ds for 4 months and he didn't need any formula even at night. I remember struggling at the hospital to get ds to feed and I had one nurse with a spoon and another one squeezing my boob just to get a little colostrum - dignity goes out of the window lol. And I would definitely recommend making the most of your time before child - I honestly don't know what I did with all my spare time before having a baby!!

I would also say that the raspberry leaf tea, pineapple etc doesn't always work - I tried these plus eating currys, two sweeps and even had sex! DS was still 10 days late lol - Our babies will arrive when they are good and ready and not before.

Hi everyone, been keeping up with the posts just about but too tired sometimes to post. my 2 year old has stopped sleeping thru the night and is either up for 2 hours or coming into my bed when hubby is away working, but then fidgets for over an hour. Ive been getting no more than 5 hours sleep then working full time so am shattered.
had the glucose test done yesterday, the sugery drink was disgusting but other than that just boring waiting around for 2 hours fo 2nd blood test.

On a happy note, for those of you that remember Hulla as one of our earlier ladies who miscarried at week 7 shes just announced on facebook that shes 12 weeks pregnant so im really pleased for her.

suz xx

ps building starts at my house for a conservatory on Monday, cant wait :o) and also have a growth scan on Monday morning.

Gosh, I feel like I started a right old moan, everything was really positive on here until I piped up with messy house syndrome!! Sorry guys ;)

But at least all our moaning shows each other that we are not the only ones. I feel like nobody in the real world understands, except my pregnant friend.

I could've kissed a work colleague today when she said she will be team teaching the class I have on Fridays period 5 with me! Am finding work such hard going at the mo.

Fab breast feeding is great but yes very hard at the start. I was lucky to have a midwife who is a friend and she spent hours with me in the first week helping with some latching issues. Like that girl in the documentary, I would say go to a support group ASAP and seek help if its hard. I found it tough for 5 weeks and then a total breeze. MY LO is so smart and never got ill with anything at all while breastfed (smug grin). You also lose weight easily...although it did start creeping back on as he began to drop feeds. I tell myself that was mother natures way of preparing me for baby two!!

Bfing is another reason I fancy doing nct as apparently the local classes are great rather than the crappy nhs offering at our local hospital!

I'm feeling ok but then again I had 21 horrific weeks so I am due some nice time :) although I did get really bad cramp in my legs today but I think that was because I was not drinking enough over the past 2 days, been hectic at work which is not an excuse to deprive baby of course!

My house is a disaster, the dog unhappy and the fridge empty but what is making me a grumpy guts is the fatigue. I think all the early morning appointments are starting to get me down. I am up at 6am for appointments before work twice a week and tomorrow I have to rise at 4am for a lovely call with the UK team for an audit I was working on and then I am working in Manhattan tomorrow. The last thing I need is to carry my laptop and other bits halfway accross midtown. I will be lucky to finish at the client by 7pm and will probably make it home for 9.30pm. It is also expected to rain....

Part of me can't wait for DH to get home and other part of me wouldn't mind him being gone for another week so he doesn't see how dirty the house is. I have not had a chance to do much this week.

Want2b I wouldn't worry too much about the house being dirty - in my experience men barely notice! Besides I'm sure he'd be happy to do something when he sees you :) My friend has offered to become my cleaner when she finishes being a nursery nurse for the summer. Is anyone else considering a cleaner? My friend who gave birth last year swears by it!

JimmyChoo good to hear that you're feeling OK now. I have found eating lots of iron rich foods has helped my energy levels and I too am having a rare pregnancy-feeling-good-week. My yoga teacher said she thought I looked like I needed more iron, and she was right, I feel loads better. About to go an munch some houmous and crisps...then got a pizzahut delivery on the way...hhmmm, not so healthy!

Fab I am considering asking my MIL to clean and paying her :-) OH is very anti a cleaner so I just have to pick the right moment, and posibly offer to pay out of my own pocket.

Haha Cara - one good thing about not living with anyone, no one to disagree with my "needs" for a cleaner :) Plus don't worry about the unhealthy aspect of Pizza Hut. My friend and I were innocently looking at buggies for her in Boots when she suddenly mentioned the buffet...I've not been in literally years but suddenly it sounded like the BEST IDEA IN THE WORLD! So off we trotted. 9 slices of various deep pan later (plus sides of pasta, some of which even had spinach and peas in! See, healthy!) and I still can't move. This was at about 2pm btw...

Hi all :) hope all's well. Been following with interest the moans and groans, feelings exactly the same as most of them so that's comforting! Lol. Had 28 week appt today, had complete meltdown at clinic however as kept waiting for almost TWO hours! Ladies and bumps would come, be called and leave and I was left getting madder and madder. Of course this extended period of time had afforded me the opportunity of compiling an articulate and assertive complaint to the appropriate body in my head, only to be reduced to a snivelling wreck by a very lovely midwife who couldn't apologise enough for the 'oversight'. Damn nice midwifes, too lovely to be mad at for long! I'd also like to add re messy houses that I also am an owner of a guilty secret of a mingin house (most of the time) which appears to friends and family like a show home when they come as that's when it gets cleaned! I have no children yet so no excuse other than laziness . Anyway, aside from the through the roof blood pressure from the stress(!) Pregnancy ticking along nicely at appt today, measuring bang on for dates etc so pleased with that. Little monkey kicked the doppler off when attempting to locate heartbeat, was secretly pleased with that thinkin 'yeah don't mess with my mummy' ;) well it makes me feel better lol x

Thanks Fab - currently on a conf call on a Friday at 7pm. Working from the office tomorrow and then DH back on Sunday afternoon. After this call must go to the supermarket to get some food. I missed the order this morning. I asked for a delivery before 6am and they came at 6.15am. I wish they had left it in the porch!

One day I will open up my purse and pay for cleaning. I am rather cheap and don't want to pay for it when we are both out of the house during the day. Once the baby arrives I will see how it goes. DH does the cleaning if I ask but he isn't very good at it.

I'm very cross and need to rant, I very nearly started an AIBU thread but have bottled it and come here to moan instead, DP is playing football so can't ring him!

Next door neighbour is a single woman, prob mid 50s, but regularly has her dc and grandchildren to visit. Today for the first time my dc have been talking to one of her GC, who I believe is 8, over the fence (by standing on the slide, the fence is 6') and playing catch with a ball etc. Anyway, all had gone quiet, dd and her friend upstairs, the boy from next door seems to have gone in and my boys playing quietly outside, ds2 in the sandpit and ds1 with a water gun. All of a sudden I hear man from next door shout (in a very loud, angry voice, the sort dp and I would reserve for 'don't run into the road you're about to get hit by a car' type instances) "OI, PACK THAT IN". Queue ds2 coming in very quickly and trying to head upstairs. I stopped him and asked him if the man had been shouting at him, he told me yes, he had sprayed the water gun over the fence. I told him he shouldn't have done, asked him why etc etc then he took himself upstairs. After about 20 minutes I went up to find him lying in bed, tears in his eyes and he is now too scared to go outside and play in his own garden. I have told him that what he did was wrong but actually the man shouting at him in such a way was also naughty and that if he ddoes it again I will go round and tell him off!!

Now I realise it was very naughty of ds1 (who is 7btw) to be spraying water over the fence but it is only water, its a nice day, anything that he got wet will dry very quickly, its not going to hurt anyone really is it?! The man next door is a complete stranger to my dc and a disembodied voice growling over a fence I feel is totally unnecessary (I know I've spelt that wrong - double letters are my spelling weakness!!), a simple, calm voice saying the same thing would be ample surely? If he'd been throwing rocks or glass bottles then yes, that amount of aggression would be justified but over a bit of water?? With no warning or anything first.

And I am now cross at myself because I didn't shout back at him! DS1 is now curled up on the sofa under a blanket watching TV and very subdued If it was rtepeated behaviour I might be a bit more understanding but we have lived here nearly 3 years and my dc have never done anthing to cause a nuisance to neighbours other than occasionally (another double letter word I can't spell) accidentally throwing a ball over the fence.

Sorry for big rant but I do feel calmer having got it off my chest! Doing chips and hot dogs for tea now so hopefully that will cheer ds up and then will probably all watch Megamind together, I might do some popcorn too if I can find any in the cupboard!

Chips hot dogs, megamind AND popcorn?! Can I come to your house for tea Pesha?! Lol x

Hi there, I hope you ladies will help me out - can I please ask you all a question?

If you were attending a breastfeeding education session for pregnant mums and their partners, and you were asked "name one thing you know about breastfeeding and one thing you'd like to know" what would your answers be?

I'm a BFing peer supporter and I have an interview for a job as a breastfeeding support worker on Thursday. I have to give a presentation about what I would cover during an antenatal Bfing workshop and how I would deliver it. I was thinking of starting by asking everyone to introduce themselves and tell me one thing they know and one thing they'd like to know about BFing. Obviously I need to know what type of answers I'd likely receive!

And I thought who better to ask than the lovely pg mums on MN

Hi neenz. Well I know very little about it tbh which is why I want to go on a course. Scared that the pain will hurt so much if she doesn't latch on properly that I won't be able to do it. Sooo, I guess I know it is harder than it looks, I have vague ideas that you have to keep her horizontal, tease the nose with the nipple to get her to open wide and then stuff it in when she is at optimum open mouth peak...That is all. I would like to know a lot more (how long each feed takes on average, what breast shields are like and whether to buy some in advance, whether someone will help me when I try to do it for the first time in hospital, when you know to change to the other boob etc etc) but not knowing much about it prob means I don't know what to ask!
Hope that helps? :)

Hi Neenz, firstly, good luck for the interview! V exciting! I'm with Fab in that I don't really know anything much but I guess I would say, "I know that bring is best for the baby for lots of reasons" and my question would be "if breastfeeding is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world then why does it sound so hard?!" I watched the documentary on BBC3 the other evening and it scared me!!!! Let us know how you get on!

Hi Neenz, good luck for the interview! As a first time mum to be I am becoming almost more terrified about breastfeeding than about labour as it seems to be such a massive deal and so complicated! I guess one thing I know is that babies don't know how to breastfeed when they are born and have to be taught. Questions would be does anyone find it easy?! And what kit should you have to get started? Hope that helps.

Oh Pesha I do feel for you and your ds. My ds had a similar experience when someone shouted at him for walking on the wall next to their garden. And I am currently missing my lovely neighbours back in England. My neighbours here are all child-free and seem to have too much time on their hands to worry about things that are not very important, like whether we are going to tidy away the camping chairs outside our garage because they "make the place look messy".

I have to say in addition to the conversations earlier that I also have a very messy house and it only gets tidied when dp decides to have a go or when someone else is coming round. I harangue the kids to clear bits off the floor but I really can't be bothered to get on my hands and knees to do it myself, so most of the time their toys stay there and act as loads of trip hazards. Good thing the baby won't be crawling for a while!

Neenz one thing I know about breastfeeding is that it does get far better when the baby is older, so it's really worth sticking it out. One thing I would ask is why are the healthcare professionals/NHS/any other experts in the UK so scared of providing proper comparisons of breastmilk with formula? Because surely if they did that it would be completely obvious that all formula is much of a muchness (unless you have kids with allergies I suppose) and the formula companies who say 'our formula is closest to breastmilk' are just doing very clever marketing?

I mean nutritional content and possibly antibody content etc. as opposed to focussing on the practical issues.

neenz

With breastfeeding I have no idea how to combine working and feeding. I work super long days (often 12+ hours) and already have the pump. My questions all revolve around this darn pumping thing. How do I work the machine? How often should I pump? How long can I freeze the milk for? How long does it keep fresh? How do I manage being out at clients and pumping (ie can I pump more in the morning and evening)?

Also, the instruction manual isn't too clear. I have no idea how to work the darn thing. I get that there are parts that I need to clean but how on earth do I clean the tubes? Do I just buy new and throw the old ones out?

The one thing I know about breastfeeding is that it is very cost effective. It is the cheapest way to best provide nutrition for your child.

Hello everybody (waves).
In full on baking mode today. Going to make a lemon drizzle for a friend's birthday on Sat. Wondered if anyone can tell me what kind of food you are allowed to take in for labour? I've got a birthing centre so not sure if that is different from anywhere else...but it has a kitchen you can use with bread and toaster etc. I was thinking of making up some flapjacks/brownies for some high energy pushing! (Can you tell I'm over the pregnancy bit yet and am onto the "aren't you done yet?" bit?). Plus, does anyone know how long flapjacks/brownies last for? Have to admit they have never hung around long enough for me to know their longevity!

Oh a different note; I came home quite late last night after a friend's BBQ and found a big bag on/blocking my pathway...as I approached it a lady came out from the darkness by my house/bins, and completely scared the life out of me! I actually said "God you scared the shit out of me!" before realising I had no idea who she was and the fact she was loitering around my bins/porch at 11:30pm wasn't completely normal. She said "Oh I didn't mean to scare you" and almost reached out to touch my shoulder when I came to my senses and said "er, what exactly are you doing??". She calmly picked up her bag (large over the shoulder paperboy type thing) and said "I was just posting something, don't worry" and made a sharpish exit behind me up the road. Needless to say when I got in there was nothing posted through the door. Freaked me out tbh. Wasn't sure if she was sleeping rough in my porch, going through my bins for account numbers or (the nicest excuse I have) taking flower cuttings from my garden. Anyway, I bolted all of the doors and called the police to report it today. Only description I could give was that she looked like a taller version of the Mum in The Goonies! Police said that next time I have to call 999 as she could have been a burglar with an accomplice in my house which has put the willies up me all over again. Convinced she was casing the joint now. Hopefully seeing her face to face will have put her off .

Fab based on my experience, something very, very sugary! My son was pushed out with help from massive slugs of Dr Pepper as it was the only sweet thing we had in the house. I can honestly say it helped. I would go for super sugary, non-natural stuff tbh. Also 'cos you don't know what your labour will be like....I spent ages packing and preparing stuff for a long labour (scented candles, relaxing music on Ipod, changes of PJs, magazines, bath oils) that never got used as I had a quick first stage. So quick that my OH couldn't hook the Ipod up to the stereo (even though he is a technical genius), as he was too busy helping the midwife monitor the baby. I would bake and freeze all the lovely stuff for afterwards as that is when you will really need it.

Grrr had to go into hopsital last night. I was worried about reduced baby movement for 2 days and I was so worried I rang up. I had tried everything to get her to move - prodding the bump, playing music, lying down, cold drinks, sweet stuff.... Then of course, as soon as I got there and the midwife got the doppler out, the baby wouldn't stop moving. It was a bit embarrasing! The midwife wrote on my notes 'monitoring not possible due to rapid fetal movements'
I think all the stillbirth stuff in the news had me panicking. They were really nice about it though and I know the motto is better safe than sorry. But i still feel lke a prize idiot/overprotective mother :(

Thanks Cara. I've just read that if I don't chop the brownies up and leave it as a loaf I can freeze it for up to 3 months...I might just do that and hope I remember to defrost it in time. Don't want to assume i'll feel like baking nearer to the date! Addicted to Maoam sweets at the moment too which is not normal for me! I can't believe how much cake/puddings/sweets and chocolate I've eaten through all of this! Creeping up to 12 stone which is probably why I feel like i'm walking around with a donkey strapped to me!

I've been wondering about movement too actually. My friend has apparently "the most active baby the sonographer had ever seen" but mine only seems to move about 20 mins after eating or if I lie flat on my back (usually when trying to sleep!). When do we start kick counting?

Oooh and if anyone hasn't got a car seat yet, I found these pretty cheap - got my Mxi-Cosi Cabrio for £99. Plus the delivery info is pretty good and you can see which hour they will deliver from an email link on the day of delivery :)

www.kiddisave.co.uk/store/

I'd only worry if you don't feel it when you might normally - perhaps your LO will be chilled out? Mine moves the most after lunch and at night when it's all quiet and at bedtime . At least that's when I really notice it.

Don't worry about it Cara, they tell us to do these things so can't really have a moan when we follow their advise. You are being sensible, after all you tied for two days to get her wriggling - that's quite some time - it's not like you ran in there the minute you noticed.

I feel a bit better today (famous last words?). It might be because there's no school run and 3 out of 4 kids are staying at various GP's houses. (DS2 is due back any moment actually)
I'm wondering what gems my father wil come out with today, when he came to pick him up he mentioned my lack of house-work (it is a tip) and when I explained that I can't do alot of it and had to basically rely on the kids to help a bit and DH to do the rest he said he felt sorry for DH having to work all day and then have to do the house-work as well
I asked if he would pity me if I worked all day as well and then had to do the house-work etc and he looked a bit but I know he actually thinks it's my job (along with the kids stuff etc). Then I told him that for me the next step would be crutches (prob exaggerating but you know) and having to sleep downstairs etc that the DR, Physio and MW had all told me not to do certain things... (yes I know). He just hmmphed and said make sure DH knows I appreciate it. fuckofffuckofffuckoff.
Then in town some random bloke 40's I'd say, suit etc bumped past me and said 'maybe you should walk a bit faster' . Not 'oh sorry'
'really?' says I, allowing him to get an eyeful of bump, 'maybe you shouldn't be such an arsehole' He looked a bit shamefaced but didn't apologise. Ah well, the joys eh?

Oh no twit sounds like men are being pigs to you today :( I'm hoping that eyeful of bump was enough to shame the prowler into not breaking in too. Although two people at the BBQ last night said they hadn't noticed I was pg!? Worried now I just look like I ate all the pies.

My friend is on half term at the mo and has asked me to go for a walk with her as she's bored. I have said twice now that we'll have to go slow (the hill to and from town in itself is getting a little tough already, let alone a walk after!) so I hope she isn't too ruthless!