We're now halfway and it's PMA all the way - Nov 2011

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Halfway there now ladies. on the countdown.

Oh thats a nightmare about your neighbours Buffy, lets hope its a one off. Ours had a period of playing karaoke (mainly murdering Roxanne and Love Shack) till 2 am a for a few weekends but thankfully they got bored. It can really get you down and you don't need that on top of everything else! Great about the kicks!

The sun finally came to Lincolnshire today and DP and I had a lovely picnic in the park - it was DP's suggestion as well which is very unusual! Bless him. Tired now from all the fresh air but should sleep well tonight. Went to a very lively pub last night for the first time in ages and had great fun (managed to last till 1am with the help of an afternoon sleep!) discovered non-acoholic ginger and apple mojitos! Yumm Yumm.

Evening all, Cali thoughts with your friend and all in Norway.

Buffy my baby is kicking like a goodun most days now too. DH has been really surprised by the level of movement already so I hope your DH feels the kicks soon too. I was up my parents this weekend and my sis felt a really good kick too.

I had a really nice chat with my mum and dad about their experiences having me and my sisters as well, I know I've heard the birth stories before but seems more special or interesting now!

Sorry to all those others having back and round ligament pains. I have my second osteo appt on Thursday and the back pain is still bad so I can't wait. I find it strange that I wake up with back ache, I'm even sleeping wrong! The round ligament pain has been better though so that's good news. I have my first yoga class on Wednesday too.

Can't remember anything else, spent 5 hours bathroom/tile shopping today and I'm exhausted. Hoping I can stay awake for the Lovely Bones, anyone seen it, will I need tissues?

Morning all,

glad to hear about the good weekends, mine was pretty quiet, enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend and thankfully DH didnt get too much sun at East Fortune, being a ginger he is partial to being burnt!!!

Glad to hear your friend is ok Cali, so sad about the shootings in Norway and to a lesser degree the death of Amy Winehouse, so young and although she had her problems such a waste of an amazing talent.

I've been having terrible numbness in my right hand and in my neck, I guess that it is carpal tunnel, but it's becoming a right pain, it's worse this weekend, so hoping that it's actually going to get better if I drink a lot of water at my desk at work, which I dont really do when I'm at home.

Have been busy buying up stuff for the baby too, hoping to get the baby's room painted next weekend and will buy a cotbed then too, after that I just need to make some curtains and all of the major stuff feels like it's done, washed the clothes I have bought so far yesterday morning, was such a cute sight to see all those tiny things on the washing line, took a photo of it!!

Hope everyone has a good start to the week, only have 12 more weeks to go at work and we pick up our newer car on Friday afternoon - cannot wait!!!

morning ladies.

cali glad your friend is ok.

my new blinds went up yesterday and although there's still a couple things dh needs to do to them i'm really happy with how they turned out. 2 weeks of measuring and remeasuring and sewing all worth it.

collie how did the buggy buying go?

sorry for the spd sufferers, it's not very nice is it, only 3 more months to go.

What a gorgeous weekend! Spent all saturday baking and then all Sunday selling the prodcuts of my labour in the sunshine at Portobello beach. The weather was unbelievably gorgeous and I didn't burn! Sold out of cake twice (had to go back and bake more :) ) So if this continues than I may be able to afford to pay the structural surveyor for our loft conversion. Huzzah! :o

Had a bit of lower back pain, so much sympathy to everyone else suffering. Gonna get in touch with the physio now rather wait for life altering debilitation.

NotJust Thanks for the Pelvic Floor excersize link. I sneezed yesterday and a bit of wee came out! I though my pelvice floor was quite strong - and I have been doijng my excersizes. Mortified!

PMA - I have a mahoosive box of cherries and am feeling damn pretty and 'glowy' today.

Have a brilliant day
xxx

Does anyone know where chip is? Have I missed an update?

The stuff in Norway is horrific. I tried to avoid reading about it for ages and then read all the articles in the Daily Mail (app) when I couldn't sleep. I felt sick. My heart goes out to the poor people who died, their families and the people who witnessed it. They said on the news that he disliked Muslims. It doesn't explain to me why he shot a load of kids at a camp - not that targetting Muslims would have made it right. I suspect he'd have found a cause to hang his hat on. He just wanted to kill.

Cali so sorry you have friends involved.

No news here. Did I mention my birth pool arrived? DD was thrilled and if we'd filled it with water she'd have been giddy. Took some pics of her and DH lounging in it which I'll post on FB later

Ps on the pelvic floor thing - I have wet the bed twice now

I thought my waters had broken at first but no. Fortunately DH was working away...

Not sure if this has been said before - but if you aren't remembering to do your pelvic floor muscle excercises (Hypnobirthing doesn't use the word Kegel and I'm trying to be a good hypnobirther) then find a trigger to make you do it.

If you drive a lot do it at red lights. Or every time you see a yellow car. I do it in work every time I walk through a doorway - I also straighten my spine and tuck my chin in as I had slipped discs in my neck last year and teh doorway is an excellent trigger - it becomes automatic.

Staceroo sorry to be a bossy boots but please don't do the pelvic floor clenches when you wee as a matter of course - it can cause kidney damage or infection. Only test you are doing it right with a brief stopping of the wee - very brief.

Cali how worrying for you and terrible for your friend. Hope you are ok and calm now.

collie I haven't seen much sensationalising of the Norway story but then I only watched the BBC news channel.

It is a flabberghasting situation.

When I was at the airshow on Saturday I found myself staring constantly at people's buggies and prams I'm sure they must have thought I was a loony. Hypnobirthing yesterday was excellent again really starting to feel more empowered and in control. Not sure I want to go to teh NCT or NHS antenatal classes to talk about needles and drugs kind of feels like it flies in the face of hypnobirthing.

just jumping on to ask a question that I have been meaning to ask for weeks and I've just remembered- to those of you who swim/aqua. Did you get a maternity swimsuit/tankini or not? I would really like to get a tankini for holidays and to get one that is actually going to fit my massive knockers I could go to bravissimo, but they don't do maternity ones. Does this actually matter or would a maternity one be more flattering and stretchy over the bump?

kellykettle i believe he chose the labour camp as a protest against what he sees as the labour government's too open and too liberal immigration policies. We'll soon find out if he gets his platform in court today.

Pam I'm the same, have totally turned into buggy stalker. Tragic!

Folic and Pam, I'm glad to hear the buggy stalking isn't just me! I keep looking and wondering if they lie flat or whether you would need an additional carry cot! Which ones are you liking the look of?

Folic I go swimming reasonably often and have just bought myself a maternity tankini from figleaves online. This followed a rather embarassing incident at the swimming pool where I literally couldn't get into my normal costume! I had to ring my husband and say I wasn't going to be in the pool after all... I don't have enormous knockers, and I would say that the new tankini (size xs) would fit me better if I did, so that may be the way forward for you. I think they have some which are done by bra size so you can get one which is really comfy. (I just bought the cheapest)

Life is ok here, its the school holidays now, so as a teacher I am breathing a sigh of enormous relief. I keep thinking about how I'm going to cope going back in September though... Still, 6 weeks before I need to worry about that!

Hi again,

Just quickly catching up during my lunch -

Maternity tankinis I am quite big up top (currently 36H -previously 36E- thanks maternity hormones). I was worried about a swim suit - I got one out of figleaves too as they had the nicest selection and had thought that I would go to bravissimo for a bikini top to wear underneath and hide any gap. TBH I've never need to get that bikini top, the tankini is big enough to cover more than necessary.

Hope this helps :)

Cali pleased your friend is OK and so saddened for the friends and families of those who weren't so lucky :-(.

Also what is GTT???

Pam another buggy stalker here! I'm worried people think i'm gawping at their kids! Though at least I'm obviously pg now, so doesn't look as wierd (i hope!)

Folic I bought a maternity swimsuit (one piece) from mamas and papas at the weekend. I never normally go for a one piece but it felt nice to have my belly covered (to keep baby safe ) and also covers up the great big rash I have on my belly! It's really nice and flattering on the boobs. Also has a nice double layer over the boobs to hide my constantly erect nipples!

have to admit i'm not bothering getting a mat swimming costume, i need to replace my old one anyway, will just wait till after to buy a new one.

i am knackered just went to the rec with ds had a bit of walk and kicked the ball for him to run after and had a picnic. sooo hot.

Cheers everyone, I've ordered maternity tankini from figleaves in a couple of sizes to see how I get on.

lizzie With regards to travel systems, I change my mind every week. No joke. I've been keen on at various times, phil and ted's (put off by cocoon if have a second), baby jogger city mini (decided not warm enough for winter?!) babystyle oyster ( still kinda keen but seems bit flimsy, baby jogger city select (decided too bulky for me) and now after another play at weekend I'm back on on baby jogger city mini with a carrycot- although carrycot is ridic tiny- I'd say 8 weeks max. Figure with a city mini that means don't have to go out and buy another lighter stroller as everyone seems to and also the fold mechanism is brilliant for getting on and off buses and just generally. My main reservation is that it will be cold and winter and will a footmuff be enough to keep baby warm plus it's a three wheeler and people are scaremongering that they tip easily. Friend who has one loves it though...

kellykettle can I ask what birth pool you went for? Currently considering one for us.
I have £100 to spare after I met a potential doula today. She was lovely, really no nonsense and not too 'hippyish' and the best bit is that she charges just £100 to cover costsas she does it for the love of birth. She said the midwife catches the baby and I am there to catch the mother (mentally of course).
I had budgeted for £200 for the doula, so have a bit of spare cash for a birth pool!

Whoever mentioned GTT - I can't recall exactly what it stands for but it's the test for diabetes they do.

Cali I am so sorry but relieved for your friend. How horrific and I don't really know what else to say, it's just awful.

I am feeling lots of kicks and movements now - loving it. The only thing is, I have to stop myself saying 'ooh the baby's kicking' cos we're trying to get DD out of a scratching/kicking phase!

And to throw another topic into the pot......anyone heard about Group Strep B and thinking about testing for it around 37 weeks? Just curious.

argh, wrote a long post and then IE died. Bloody computer.

Folic oh of course, his political platform. I forgot. I still think he would have done it if he'd found another cause.

Stace Glucose Tolerance Test, like MrsA says, it's looking for gestational diabetes. Are you having it? I had mine a couple of weeks ago now.

Pamsco I have use my Braxton Hicks to practice hypnobirthing relaxation and breathing . I noticed last week that every time I had a BH that I would think "I hate the feel of this" and tense up and it would hurt more. It dawned on me that if I can't relax through a BH then I'll have no chance in labour so now I look forward to them, stay calm, breathe and move a bit. I quite enjoy them now and it certainly makes them easier.

MrsA I got the Birth Pool In a Box - Regular. It's bigger than I need really, the mini would have been fine but it was an Ebay bargain, unused, full kit - pump, sieve, liner etc.

I know another forum where a lot of mums trade their birthpools in, I'll PM you a link - or are you the FB group?

MrsA I have pm-ed you a link to a bargain pool

Hi all, Cali hope your friend is ok, such a terrible thing to happen :( I am on the 1st day of a week off and have done precisely nothing!! I think I need some 'downtime' if am honest. Not too tired but body is crying out for a slower pace of things. Realised am 25 weeks this week, it is a scary thought!

I spent time on sat looking at prams, kind of sure I have find the right one but not sure. Have done the mega expensive prams before so not feeling too bad about looking for cheaper options. The fact I am eternally poor helps make the decision too!

Got 1st appt at new hospital on Friday, when saw the covering mw at my normal mw appt last week she commented that 'ah well at least you may get what you want, to use the mw led unit but you may not too'. Helpful comment of the week that!!

Hope everyone is doing well. I am weighing up the options for birth so off to have a squizz at some homebirth sites :)

Please can someone tell me what pushchair/pram/travelsystem to get as I really do not have scooby!...

Cali such a hideous atrocity, doesn't bear thinking about. Hope your friend is bearing up.

Fantastic chiro appt today - really feel like she's sorted me out! My pelvis was twisted with one side locked and the other doing all the work (hence the pain) so have been pushed back into alignment (felt the diff straight away) and given loads of tips to avoid it happening again (including bending like a duck which was hilarious.

If anyone is wondering about a chiro - go for it - helped that mine is an ex midwife who specialises in treating women ante and post natally but compared to relying on NHS physio last 2 pg I can't beleive how much can actually be done to alleviate the pain rather than the limited help I've been given previously

hi all!
Well I've been cracked, clicked poked and prodded by my chiropractor, while his lovely receptionist kept DS amused with colouring books. I do have a spinal curvature and misaligned pelvis and it's going to take 6 weeks of twice weekly appointments in the hope we can change it to give me a shot at a better birth this time round, well any birth really, not a section, before my ligaments soften up too much to do any more and we have to stop at about 33 weeks or so! Talk about pricey though. We were going to use the last of the money from my mum on a new buggy but it looks like she's paying for this instead and we'll be eBaying to get our Baby Jogger! Hey ho. I think someone was worrying about how warm it would be? We were snowed in for weeks last year and don't have a car, and I'm thinking we might get the same this year but I'm fairly confident it'll be fine. I'll dress bunny warm, put her in a snowsuit and then use the footmuff (and the Phil and Ted's cocoon when she's teeny tiny which I'm going to shoehorn into the Jogger!)
H007 I sooo hear you on the picking a buggy 'mare! My only recommendation apart from not buying a Confort Loola (my nemesis from DS) would be to look at the Mumsnet reviews for each of the different general types of system on offer (three wheeler, travel system, pushchair etc) and to have a look at which type you prefer. Good luck :)

ha ha H007 I think it needs to be your decision! I've just bought the silver cross surf in stylish lime green, but its not for everyone. What are you going to use it for? Do you drive a lot, use public transport, go for long walks over rough terrain, live in a mansion or a flat etc. These all affect what sort you need. I used the Which? guide to help me see what sort of pushchair I needed, then looked around at the mothercare website and the mamas and papas website to find the one I eventually settled on. I can't wait to get mine on Saturday!

Hi all!

I so don't have time to keep up - its crazy as with DS I was very chatty on the AN thread but this time I almost keep forgetting I'm pregnant. Maybe thats why this one is really kicking me all the time, reminding me its here

Just wanted to add I had a Birth Pool in a box with DS and it was very good and easy to use (apart from the fact DH had to fill it with kettles and saucepans and then I didn't even like it when I was in it ) and I got mine second hand from gumtree.

How many of us are there planning a homebirth then?

Poppet tis me worrying about the warmth of baby jogger in depths of winter without a carry cot- what a brill idea to put a phil and ted's cocoon in there. My friend offered me hers when she was recommending a phil and teds so maybe could have it for jogger. hmmm food for thought. Just googled and apparently graco soft carrycots work in the jogger too www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GRACO-NEWBORN-BABY-SOFT-PORTABLE-LIFT-OUT-CARRYCOT-/190544832150?pt=UK_Baby_Pushchair_Accessories_parts_ET&hash=item2c5d5b6696 Just looks like the same thing really.

H007 depends on your budget really, I just bought a Stokke Xplory and I love it (am road testing it with my 2yo). I have heard only good things about the iCandys. IME I wouldn't get a Quinny. I love my Baby Jogger City Mini which I use with DS but I personally wouldn't have it for a newborn as it is only forward facing.

Have you had a look at online reviews or do you have anything in mind?