December 2011- over halfway there!

[sevendwarves]

Welcome to the new thread ladies!

I've been desperate to jump DH for the last month but as it was ramadan, I didn't have the energy to at 9pm and I couldn't be bothered at 3.30am either (I'm more of a morning/reasonable time of day person) - and now I still have to wait over two weeks till he comes home so...

I've also been tracking my weight on those pregnancy weight calculators, I had managed to gain the minimum for my height/initial weight up to 20 weeks, but now I'm 2kgs over the max at 27 weeks so I need to do more excersize and eat less sweets. Also I'm starting to worry about that glucose blood test they do at the 28 weeks appointment - last time I had to have a GTT afterwards and DH was very harsh to me about it :(

lalababy I don't think those things are contradictory as such but rather that there are better times for each thing. e.g. you wouldn't want to do mixed feedings for at least a month so that your milk supply is properly established. You could always express milk though so that your DH can do some night feeds etc. And I don't think that a timed schedule is recommended for at least 3 months (and a lot of people don't agree with them after that either) but you can try to establish some sort of a routine e.g. feed, play, sleep earlier than that. I would just say not to get stressed if it doesn't work out and follow what works best for your baby -finding out by trial and error

I think a lot of it comes down to trusting your own instincts e.g. if the baby is screaming for an hour then i would try anything, including rocking, to calm him/her down and get them to sleep. But if they're happy to go to sleep on their own then let them!

I actually didn't read any babycare books before DS was born because he was 10 weeks early and I'd been in hospital for a while. I already knew the basics and safety stuff etc. but hadn't read any theories e.g. Gina Ford/Baby whisperer etc. And I have to say that I was a lot more sorted and less stressed than my friends who tried to follow a certain formula or method and it didn't work out. Just go with what feels best at the time is my recommendation. Sorry if that's not very helpful!

OH NO! I hadn't weighed myself for a while and just did and found out that I've already put on 23lbs! At 24 weeks I should only have put on 15lbs. I'm really shocked! I didn't think I'd been eating that badly. Feeling depressed now :(

Random pregnancy symptom No. 379: ears popping

They do it all the time, for quite long periods, and no amount of swallowing, holding one's nose etc works. No dizziness or anything. Just random ear-poppage. Anyone else?

Just looked at a pregnancy weight gain calculator... I'd tried to find something like this before, but I couldn't find anything in the UK. The main sites don't like to give anything away. Anyway, I just found two sites - bioth american. babycenter.com america says that I am overweight and at the top of the scale, yet baby2see.com thinks I am starving and underweight.
The lesson to be learnt here is, you know yourself. I was slightly overweight before (or obese probably by some standards - 140pounds/10 stone at 5'2"), I now have a fat derriere, huge bazoomers and a healthy round bump, and have put on about 14 - 17 pounds overall). It feels pretty normal. I could do better and cut down on the sweets and carbs... but they make me happy, and have replaced wine. Other people on this thread have put on only a few pounds, and others have put on around 2 stone - lesson no. 2: we're all different. Que sera sera!

I think trial and error works best!

I had ideas of how I would have a routine, how DD1 would sleep in her own cot, but it became apparent that it wasn't going to suit either DD1 or us (well, it wouldn't suit us if we actually planned on sleeping, ever!) as she was the exact opposite of what people call a 'good baby'.

DD2 would have happily fitted in with whatever we fancied doing, we carried on as we had for DD1 because we were used to it by then and it worked.

I was surprised at how much personality newborns come with, when we tried putting DD1 down once she had gone to sleep (this was on day one, just after coming home) she proceeded to scream for 12 hours and did so every time we attempted to get her to sleep not snuggling me. I can remember taking endless photos of newborn DD2 sleeping on the bed with me sitting next to her as I was so astonished that she just merrily went off to sleep when tired!

lalababy I agree with mmmmcheese I didn't read any books before DD was born and all worked out fine with me only occasionally needing to ask the health visitor for advice. Trust your instincts as to what's best for you and your baby

I guess I am just a bit worried that I don't really know anything about babies. None of my friends here have kids or are pregnant and my parents and DH's parents live far away so we only have good ole internet or books to rely on for advice. In fact... I have never even seen a newborn up close! While my sister has kids... she lives in NY and I first saw them when they were 6 months.

Was just trying to figure out whether I was supposed to pick one style... but I guess that is not necessary. Hopefully the antenatal classes will fill me in with the rest!

I would just recommend getting a basic baby care book, which will tell you enough so that you will know how to do things safely without confusing you with lots of different methods. Before DS was born I had never changed a nappy and never even held a baby for more than a couple of minutes, but you get used to it very quickly and become confident. I was worried about nappy changing, which is kind of silly as it isn't rocket science! If you can wipe your own bum you can wipe a baby's :)

And if you have any Qs after the baby is born - ask mumsnet!

lalababy I also agree with mmmcheese's advice. Once baby is here you'll know what to do and will soon wonder what you were worrying about! Id also never changed a nappy and had only very briefly held a newborn, I was still worrying when I was in early labour whether I was capable of being a mum but found it came surprisingly naturally to me. And don't worry about asking stupid questions, the night I brought DS home he finished his bottle then screamed as if he was ravenous. I actually phoned the hospital to ask if he could have some more , they must have had a great laugh afterwards!

Oimissus we are virtually the same height and weight, although I am on the 17-18lb weight gain.

beemybaby I'll catch you up before we pop!
Did Bodypump tonight, everyone laughed at me when I couldn't get up off the bench after the chest track!! It was really tough after two weeks off. Tummy's aching now though... Can't see me keeping this up for much longer.

Officially the heaviest I've ever been! Put on 2lbs (TWO POUNDS!!) over the weekend, now weigh 142lbs/10st 2 (5'4, pre pregnancy I was 122lbs, check me and my 20lbs gain)!

Is anyone else going to the baby show this weekend in Manchester?

lala, we bought this book as Dh has never spent anytime with a baby, it's helped him realise most of it is common sense & stopped him panicking that he'll do stuff wrong.

lala, if you're not drowning in bools, one i found very helpful and down to earth was an (originally Australian) book called Kidwrangling, by Kaz Cooke- it's sold in the UK under the title "the rough guide to babies and toddlers".
Very sane and sensible advice with a degree of dry humour (there's a spoof chapter called "a day in the life of a perfect mother" that's very silly).

Only factual stuff I'd query in it is the cloth nappy info- she has very out of date info, has obviously never cloth nappied herself and has clearly decided the easiest thing is to tell "normal" mums not to feel guilty for using disposables (and therefore implying that only mad hippies use cloth nappies, ta love.) . A bit of a shame, but I've never yet seen a childcare manual be properly up to date with cloth nappy information, so hey.

And Oi, I am amazed you are managing bodypump!!

I can hardly walk briskly to the corner shop without creaking and gettimg puffed. But I am on DC3 and decidedly pre-loved...

Hey ladies

Haven't read back on thread yet, will do later.

I have an ever growing bump and very active baby

Had a very busy weekend nursery is done just need the baby now.
Hope everyone is well

Morning all, Yep, AWCH am going to the babyshow in manc this weekend. thanks for reminding me, I'll print orf my tickets. :)
My sister was giving me her old pram, which I've always liked, but when I checked it out this weekend, I decided it was just too big and unwieldy. (It's 12 yrs old). So my mum's decided to have that as the "Granny pram". I can use the Babyshow to research new models (before buying them cheaper at discount outlets or off e-bay. :) )
There had better be lots of freebies and competitions that I win!

Morning everyone!

Had my first night of DD3-related crap sleep! I could not get comfortable and was disturbing DD2 when I heaved myself about, so I'll be settling her to sleep then moving over to the other side of DP from now on.

Result being that I am very grumpy this morning, DD1 is setting up a board game to play (I don' want to sit on the floor!) and DD2 did a giant poo in the bath this morning and made a HUGE fuss about getting out. So today I am planning on parenting from the sofa and carrying on with the socks I'm knitting for DD1.

Aw msbuggy sorry to hear that. It's not good is it, tossing and turning trying to get comfy and keeping everyone else awake (I've given up trying to sleep on my left because of it). Luckily for me, I do not have to contend with giant poos in the bath ...yet. Yikes! Oh lordy! You have my sympathy.

Sorry to hear that msbuggy. I woke up with a very painful left hip this morning, hope it doesn't last too long.

Is anyone else exhausted at the moment?

I get a sore left hip too seven there are a couple of yoga poses that stretch it out which help a lot (well, they stop me limping round all day anyway!) is the one I find most helpful.

Happily, this is the first time DD2 has pooed in the bath. I got DP to sort it in the end as it was triggering my morning sickness and once it starts it stays for the whole sodding day! Hopefully DD2 disliked having her bath cut short enough that she'll remember to ask next time...it worked for DD1.

My general tiredness varies at the moment, but Gods I can feel that this is my 5th pregnancy in 5 years (I've had 2 late miscarriages). I feel more like I did at about 35 weeks with DD2! I feel ancient...I'm only 27!

Am going to stop feeling sorry for myself now and go and make roast veg soup for lunch, it is so autumnal here I want blankets and soup!

Hello all, checking in after a lovely long summer - we went to Cornwall, then the USA for two weeks, then to two weddings in the Peak District and in Kent and work has been mental since I got back. It's hard to believe I have two months left and then off on mat leave!

It's really amazing to skim over the thread and realise that so many of the things I thought I had to report are pretty much identical to what everyone else is going through. Very reassuring to know that the painful hip I woke up with on the weekend, my absolutely rampant feelings about DH, DH feeling very weird and uncomfortable about said rampant feelings and it prompting a tearful discussion and loving reconciliation, tiredness and the fact that my ass and thighs look as pregnant as my belly are all normal.

My worst pregnancy symptom at the moment is that I have put on so much weight that my thighs rub together and sometimes I get randomly really wet which makes it all very hideous and kind of painful if I'm wearing a skirt that's too tight. I thought I had wet myself once, it was so bad - if it gets any worse I may have to investigate pantyliners I have needed to get some more maternity clothes though - one of the two pairs of trousers I've been living in are linen and I was pretty cold the other day on the train platform, and I have only one jumper that currently fits - can't wait until it's properly cold and I can start wearing tights and boots.

Had my 26 week checkup with GP last week - all fine, baby is head down and she could even identify shoulders, feet etc which was amazing. No MatB1 form but work have not chased me yet - I will mention it when I book the week 30 midwife appointment and see if they can post it to me or something.

We have been given 5 babygros and 7 little white vests in 0-3 months, and a couple more babygros in larger sizes - MIL has knitted in cashmere the most incredibly beautiful little reversible baby beanie and is hard at work on a stripy blanket to match. She's got the "december baby" bit between her teeth and has grand plans of a whole winter wardrobe of cardis, cable knit vests, and fair isle jumpers I think at this rate we won't have to buy any clothes at all - certainly not in newborn sizes!

Welcome back Tyelperion. Rubbing thighs - check. msbuggy exhaustion - check. I've got so much to do at work, so many reports and briefs to be written, and just do not have the energy or the impetus at all. I plan to work until the very end, but I don't know how that's going to work. I could happily finish now.
Oh yeah - and Autumn - check. :(
Got the happy news that yet another of DH's siblings is expecting. First it was his sister who had only been with her partner for a few months who announced their happy news (neither have jobs or any means to support said child. child no. 4, father no. 3 - I'm a bitch, I know.), and now his brother who got it together with his sister's mate (less than 6 months ago, she is also unemployed and without means, with two kids) is now sharing their happy news.
I know I'm being incredibly selfish, but I can't help feeling that they are stealing our thunder.
But mainly I'm angry because their relationships are so new, and I just don't think they've really thought through what they are doing. It just seems so irresponsible. Argh! Rant over.
It's none of my business. Live and let live. But if they steal any of our proposed names, there will be bloodshed!
I have nothing against SAHM's - you know that. I truly wish I could be one. (And we had discussed DH being the SAHDad to bring up the little uns as I'm the main income earner. It's still an option.) But I do get a bit irate by those who think that the state should support them completely, and make no effort to take responsibility for themselves. Rant over, again.

Hello everyone,
Holy crap - on the November board they already have 2 premmie babies!! Wowsers. That has properly freaked me out.

Hope everyone doing ok, sorry about the aches and pains that are doing the rounds. Everything chez mouse is ok but I am far too lazy to do gym or yoga or even hypnobirthing practice....just too tired. But also, along with Tyelperion the thigh rubbing is driving me crazy. I have put on 6 kilos and swear its just on my thighs.

Don't know how anyone else is getting along with hypnobirthing (seem to remember there are a couple here who are giving it a go???). I am alternating between "what a lot of tosh" and "IF it works it must be amazing" but I was given some affirmations for DH to read to the bump. He is VERY not keen...Is anyone elses DH just not preparing for the babe? I know he will be amazing once the beastie arrives but currently his level of engagement is decidedly "meh". And I don't want to nag...

My thighs were always my trouble area and yes now they are immense and rub together too, not put on anywhere else really thankfully. Baby gave me a proper kick yesterday in middle of tummy it made me cry out in shock as they are usually nice, gentle little thuds on the right hand side not a big old boot.

Hit 26 weeks on Friday so am off home to Scotland at last minute glad as will get to go home for last time before am grounded, flying to Inverness then hiring a car to get home with my dear mum paying the £200 for the priviledge, she told me to fly direct but that was £400 (shock) so refused i dont mind the drive anyway. Was my dad's 60th birthday the other day and couldnt go up for various reasons so glad can go, its anniversary of my dear Gran dying tomorrow and will be able to see my 3 month old niece for last time until Jan too so just feel really clingy and want my mum!! Im 30 .......feel so pathetic Sodding hormones!!