Rats Successfully Smacked, the 'No Brookers' uneventful pregnancy and pain free birth thread :)

[MeconiumHappens]

Hello :)

Fish - ouch! That sounds very painful. I do hope it has gone off now and isn't hurting anymore. I know nothing about sciatica but you should perhaps get if checked out? Could it be that pelvic girdle pain, or SPD perhaps. I also know nothing about them, but all 3 complaints sound terrible so if it isn't a one off you should get it looked at I think as there might be something that could be done. As I say I have no idea what the symptoms are for SPD or PGP but I think I read on here that PGP could be helped with prompt physio. Look after yourself.

Scream your sciatica sounds terrible. Are you still getting it while pregnant? So sorry you've had a rough day. I am sure that not sleeping and not eating must be a contributory factor if you're feeling stressed out about things. Plus pg is the most hormonal headf**k going! Could you perhaps arrange something nice for you and DH to do together? Perhaps a weekend away if you have time or even just a nice night out? Something where you can talk nice and calmly. Does your DH appreciate how little sleep and food you're getting. Maybe he needs to give you a bit more leeway for being 'unreasonable'? Sorry, that's not worded well but I know that my DH really has had to be quite accommodating to my 'fluctuations' . It's a stressful time being pg, not just from the physical demands put on you, but for the huge changes ahead. And if you've got a combination of not sleeping / not eating / sciatica on top of the 'usual' pg things, then you're dealing with a heck of a lot of stuff. Could it be some of that would be stressing Mr Scream out too? Either the stress if what's to come or just what he can see you going through without being able to 'share' the physical burden? Maybe if you could find a time when you can both have a calm talk about what's worrying you, or even the amount of stuff you're going through it might help?

Apologies if that was too nose-pokey-in - I don't mean to sound patronising or like I'm telling you how to fe married! Hope I've not said something stupid / inappropriate?

Musical can you tell us which restaurant you went to now, or would you have to kill us? And perhaps more importantly which places were better?

Hope everyone else is ok xxx

Ah, I think DH has shepherded DS through his breakfast now - should be safe to nip downstairs to make a cup if tea and steal some biscuits now all the hard work is done

Fish, the presents were some hooded baby towels, and a sleep suit :) Sensibly in 0-3 months size, not newborn - my step-MIL knows what she's doing!

Scream, your sciatica sounds horrible. Have you ever had its cause diagnosed? I had it constantly for about a year, although mine started with the shooting pains in one leg, went on to pins and needles down legs/in feet (again, almost constant), with a dull back ache on top if things were really bad. After months of physio, which sometimes helped and sometimes didn't, I finally had an MRI and they diagnosed a bulging disk (L5-S1) which was causing it. The recommendation was surgery, which I blindly ignored, but took Alexander Technique lessons instead, which have helped me control it :) Although it's probably a genetic condition which I've exhasperated, hopefully the AT will help me keep it in check...

I say all this because I wonder if something similar might help you? Mine was so bad it was hindering my career (couldn't sit in lectures (studying for Masters at the time) or at a piano properly)...

Also, I think a lot of couples argue more during pregnancy - it's a time of so much change and new-ness and scariness. Definitely think Biscuits's idea of getting away sounds good - or going to do something that's just about the two of you! Also, have you both tried talking about all your thoughts and feelings and fears about pregnancy and babies and things? It may be that he's very worried or concerned about some things, which are making him stressed - just as your lack of eating/complete exhaustion/general PG hormones are probably making you more so. Could there also be work stress filtering in? Whenever DH and I are having a bad time and arguing lots, when we sit down and try to diffuse the situation we realise it's normally because of a huge build up of things- talking about them and identifying them doesn't always make it better, but it makes it easier to see what's going on from both sides.

Biscuits, the restaurant was L'Escargot in Soho. It was very nice, don't get me wrong - we also had the pre-theatre menu, which might not have been as 'posh' as the full menu, but was very affordable (£15 for two courses, £18 for three!), as we all had places to get back to. Saying I've been to nicer places makes it sound like I frequent restaurants all the time - to be honest, the ones I go to most are those you can exchange Clubcard vouchers for! DH and I both agreed, though, that we have had nicer meals in places we've been for other 'celebrations', like Gauchos steak house (their steak was delicious, and I don't really like steak!) where we went after a graduation, and smaller but still posh-ish restaurants we went to celebrating events such as our engagement with family.

We're away for the next couple of days (family funeral, not sure what the internet will be like for MN, nooo!), but that does mean I have a ridiculous amount of work/chores to complete today - and it looks like DH is ill to top things off, meaning he probably won't help. Sigh :( So much for a relaxing Sunday...

Nice bump dream :)

DS was never that bothered about cups of milk, he's sort of getting into it a bit now. (well he asked for one at 5.30 am yesterday ) He has milk on his cereal and loves cheese and yoghurts so I guess he is doing ok. It sounds like your DD is coping ok - she's not crying for it which is good! Try not to feel too bad - you've got plenty on your plate at the moment. I am strangely looking forward to feeding the next one, as I will have a bit more confidence in what I am doing.

I haven't had any nosebleeds yet scarlet, have the permanent stuffed up nose though. I had nosebleeds last time so am expecting them again sometime.

I have burpy wind it's terrible! Especially after a meal I feel I have to get loads out. I am actually burping quietly in the corner of the lab here as i type .

Hope you get on ok when you're away musical.

I am not sleeping too well either scream - I can fall asleep ok at first, but wake up in the early hours and can't get back to sleep. I have been trying to go to bed early to counteract it, but feel like poor DH is geting abandoned in the living room! I am certainly managing to stuff my face eat plenty, but even the tiredness is making me feel and look crappy so you must feel awful :( I feel like I have big brown rings round my eyes!

feel better after a catch up - even though i am neglecting my work

better get my large butt moving.

I am too scared to weigh myself as my enormoboobs must weigh a ton. They were realy sore and heavy but I am now comfy thanks to 2 new bras. The Bravado Double Plus is just the scaffolding I was needing :) It is suitable for nursing and maternity so i didn't feel too bad investing. If you have not seen them the Bravado ones are kind of stretchy, to allow for growing and shrinking of boobs during pg and bfing. I sound like an advert here but they are soooooooo comfy

Scream - I think I meant what Musical said but she's worded it much better than me!

I see what you mean about the restaurant Musical. I think probably the poshest restaurant I've been to was Claridges, and I'm not sure whether it has it Michelin star or not at the mo? I know GR lost it, but not sure if they've got it back. That was my Christmas pressure from Mr Biscuits last year and it was great. I love love loved the restaurant. The only downside was we could only get a table really late. So DH had booked the theatre first, but we were so late eating. It was gorgeous though. It was also our first weekend away without ds that was just for us iyswim, not for a wedding or similar. In fact, it was probably our second weekend away without ds, the only other one being for a wedding! DH scored highly last Christmas . It was nice to take advantage of our built in baby sitters too since it was while we were living with the in-laws.

Mourning Jaggers

Just googled your wonderbra (obv not a wonderbra in the traditional sense ) here. Looks well comfy but sadly only up to a G cup .

The worst thing is if I'd been smaller before I got pg I'm sure my boobs would have been smaller too, but too late now. They're no bigger than last time at least!

Scream I meant to ask - do you know what it is that's stopping you from sleeping? Is it painful somewhere or just unexplained 'can't-get-to-sleep-even-though-I'm-tired'?

Not mourning! Stupid autocorrect!!! MORNING!!!!

hehe! Morning to you too

Oh poo, I thought they went bigger? Sorry to get you all excited then disappointed! I got mine from 'From Here to Maternity' website if they appeal to anyone, v quick and reasonable prices.

I think i may expand out of this one if I get any bigger though :( I think I only got to an F last time but I feel huge this time!

Oh it was the 'Bliss' and 'Sublime' nursing bras that went up to J/K sizes, not the one I got.

Morning all! Sorry to be so negative last night, I really shouldn't post in the middle of the night! Many thanks for the suggestions, it doesn't feel quite so overwhelming now that it's morning (and I actually got a little sleep in the end!) I really like the suggestion of a weekend away to talk. Will definitely try to get DH on board with that!

Jaggy my lack of sleep is more at the annoying tired-but-not-happening end of the scale. I've always found it difficult to get to sleep, and I guess it's just stress plus pg symptoms keeping me awake. Altho my cramps have passed for now, yippee!

The sciatica isn't constant fortunately. Musical that year of constant sciatica sounds terrifying! I have fairly constant back pain, and if I don't listen to my body (work shorter hours, lie down frequently, support my back more) then it flares up into sciatica very quickly. My last serious episode was a few weeks ago when I was doing exams. I'm a prime candidate for constant sciatica once the baby gets bigger tho. I'm a bit worried I'll be affected from around 20 weeks, but we'll see. The cause is an overarched spine, it's too curled in at the bottom. Doesn't affect my walking, it isn't visible externally, but it means I carry all my upper body weight on muscles that are too small to cope, which leads to loads of problems. I remember this issue from my gsce days, but it wasn't formally diagnosed until I started work at 22.

Anyways, sorry to go on and on about me. I just want to help Fish figure out if she's getting pg-induced sciatica, in which case getting to a physio early is crucial! It's sooooo much more effective to prevent sciatica than to resolve it once it's in full flow. (whilst pg you can't take the usual muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories they would normally give you, so it's sticks around much longer.) there's lots of prevention you can do tho, from basics like putting a supportive cushion on your fav chair, to deliberately lying down on your side for a while in the middle of each day, and especially regular core exercises like yoga, pilates, or Alexander technique (the teacher needs to know about your back tho).

Wow, will definitely end the essay here! Altho I sooooo want to hear more about all the yummy restaurants!

Will also be checking out that website for bras Jaggy thanks for the recommendation!

Dream, I love the bump pics! You are so skinny apart from the bump! I am also refusing to weigh myself, Jaggy. It would just be depressing.

Fish, I have had those shooting pains too, in pregnancy mostly, but once after doing lots of exercise. I think it might be related to my SPD in pregnancy - it is definitely the most painful aspect, and I wind up hobbling like an old woman! Mine tend to be when I have been sitting for some time after a period of activity and then when I get up they cripple me. They shoot down one buttock and into the top of my thigh. I also get aches on the outside of my hips, and the pubic bone pain - seems to depend on how I have been sitting/lying, or perhaps how Bean is lying.

I am starting to chart Bean's kicks today, as the Count the Kicks website said to start from 20 weeks. I've only been awake since 10.15, though, so there's not much on my chart yet! She tends to move a lot more in the evenings, I find.

Have been checking out Hot Milk nursing bras, but may resist for a while longer. I have a lot of rather low-cut clothes at present and nursing bras would show because they come right up the chest!

Scream, meant to say that perhaps you should try a pregnancy pillow here. Oh, it's out of stock - try here. I am sleeping much better since I got mine - I lie on my side hugging it with one leg up, with the bump leaning on it too. It is also helping that DH and I are sharing the bed but having a king-size duvet each instead of sharing one. It feels most luxurious! It's not that DH particularly nicks the covers, it is more that with the pillow I feel like I need more than my fair share of duvet. The pillow helps with the SPD and with the fact that I naturally sleep on my front with one knee up, which is a) going to squash Bean and b) just about the worst possible posture for SPD.

I am too stingy to buy a pg pillow too, but I am thinking of rummaging out the v-shaped pillow I used for feeding DS (had a Widgey pillow too but that might be excessive to take to bed!).

I think it's the wide band at the bottom that i like Sceam, nothing to dig in. It is indeed no use for lower cut tops too, but I might treat myself to the nicer ones for feeding. It's nice just to be comfy at work :)

getting twitchy about how full the thread is so made a new one...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1342064-The-We-Will-Brook-No-Argument-for-a-totally-boring-and-uneventful-pregnancy-in-which-we-shall-bloom-and-a-pain-free-birth-thread-part-3

and just look biscuits after your nice tutorial I have forgotten how to make the noce pretty linbk that just says 'here' in a nonchalent kind of way... doh.

err, and how to type. NICE and LINK.

Yo rat smackers, we need a new thread!

Had a really vivid dream last night that i went to me 20 weeks scan and was told i had TWIN boys. I was stressed out at the sudden doubling of occupancy in my uterus and how this might affect my plans for home birth and how it would be trickier for feeding whilst wandering about in sling etc. But i did have the good sense to think "must pop onto mumnet, dream will be surprised!" haha!

MOVED TO NEW THREAD

oooh, and like the bras jaggy. I'm measuring at a C at the min, but was a D when feeding before.... would I slop around too much in a D??? seems silly to buy a nursing bra in a size I won't be nursing in, and I do think they look so much comfier than mine!!!

yeah, me too, on new thread x-post

Just tried link dream and it doesn't seem to be working for me! Help I don't want to be left behind ( boo hoo!)

well ladies i have kept myself busy and today has finally arrived my early scan is at 11am to ensure baby is in correct place so keep everything crossed at 11 for me and ill update you all when i get back i feel sick im that nervous :(

Oooh good luck Jazzy. I remember feeling super sick the day of my 8 week scan but brooking hard we'll be all later xx