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!

[dreamfeeder]

Hands around a mixture of V-shaped pillows, pregnancy pillows, and re-arranges the glittery vom buckets ready.

Gets the jelly snakes going, along with some Cadburys for good measure, and a strategically placed fruit bowl to disguise the unhealthy choices.

Flicks the duster round, sinks down into a comfy sofa and awaits the rest...

Ninja Try not to worry. I was exactly the same with DS. Felt quite pregnant at 7 weeks, and then by 11/12 weeks I just felt completely normal, had no stomach bulge, no sickness, boobs normal, no cravings. Was so prepared for bad news and all was fine.

When you're getting 20 kicks an hour in the ribs you'll look back fondly to the symptomless pregnancy days

thanks real I'd forgotten what a headfuck the whole thing is (excuse the rather rough language but I can't think of a more apt phrase at the moment!)

Dream your work-life balance sounds tough at the moment. Hope your colleagues will be more helpful and mat leaves rolls around soon. I agree with Biscuits that you may need to speak up for yourself a bit more, but I know it's hard.

Too that's exciting re your DH feeling a kick for the first time!

My bottom hurts! I've had piles on and off since having DD and they have flared up again thanks to early pregnancy constipation. I have been eating a healthy diet, lots of water etc and am going every day, but my bum still hurts! I've used some homeopathic cream, which just has flower extracts in it, which I'm sure is safe. Does anyone know if I can use anything stronger? I'm already worried about how bad my piles will get!

Real 3.8 is my doctor's suggestion of my due date. I reckon it's probably more like 31/7 based on when I think I ovulated. We'll see!

Ninja I can relate to what you're saying - it's so hard until you've had a scan. I feel the same already and I've got ages to wait til my scan!

Ninja - I had virtually no nausea/sickness this time round - I can remember 2 incidences at about 6 weeks and that is it. My constipation also disappeared and I started to feel less tired at 10 weeks suddenly. All was fine - I just wasted an easy first trimester when I could have been enjoying not feeling sick.

I'm still worrying at 26 weeks by the way - just about different things! I do think I was a lot more serene with my first pg. Maybe because I knew less?

Ah, I feel for those of you with piles . I've had it periodically since ds was born but fortunately nothing yet this pg....

I met up with Scarlet this morning which was very lovely indeed. She asked me to pass on a message to y'all though - she's had a slight computer keyboard meets OJ incident so can't type anything! She's still reading but can't post, so just asked me to let you all know that she hasn't disappeared .

Hope everyone else is well xxx

generic can you use prep h when pg? Maybe their website might help? Otherise dr google might have some handy tips?

Thank you all for calming me down, I know I'm being silly but pomme i think you are right, I certainly knew a lot less in my first pg and so didn't worry anywhere near as much.

of dear about the oj on the keyboard! Hope you get it fixed soon.

Just waiting for my nct group /ds's friends to come round this afternoon so the house will be chaos - could be up to 4 four year olds, 2 one year olds and 4 adults - my flat is tiny!! Its a good thing the sun is out and we can turf the kids into the garden.

Oh, I wish I could meet up with you in RL!!! I did wonder what had happened to scarlet (hooray for 19 weeks today for you scarlet!)

DD slept through last night!! Wonderful. Still woke herself up early coughing though, but did lie in her cot for another 15 min so that was something.

I've been out meeting a friend and her little boy though- the one with twins- her little boy is faster than my DD and was trying to run round holding her hand and she was getting pulled off her feet!!! He's bigger and stronger than her. And they were trying to talk to each other, baby-babble style, was very sweet. She's asleep now. We're going away for 4 days tomorrow, so hope I'll have some phone signal- dumfries and galloway, and a farm in the middle of nowhere so I'm a bit worried about lack of MN!!!! So what I'm meant to be doing is packing...

ninja, you are still just as preggers, try and relax a bit says the most paranoid of the lot, on the Christmas run-up your scan'll come around soon enough. Be lovely to see your baby wriggling. Did you decide when to tell your DS? After scan or when the parents come sooner? And have to admit, my 20 week scan is taking forever to arrive! 6 days now.

I do wonder how much of my mega-bleeding is piles- no-one found any on examination after DD and my tear, but it is still the working theory for the cause of the bleeding... and I too am usually sore now.

Yesterday at work was difficult, because I knew the child's dad was going to be there, so didn't say anything in advance as I assumed my colleague would get dad to help with the handling... It wasn't so bad I suppose- taking said 11 year old from sitting on a piano stool, to up and forward into a leaning-forward standing frame, so involved taking her weight from a lower sitting position up and forward into the equipment. And down again while we made some adjustments. And up again. And down again... I just had expected dad to do it, but both parents frighten me to death have very high expectations and I just wimped out of saying no at the time. Will make things clearer in advance next time. Ideally, it would be two therapists first time anyway in case of problems, but parents are being taught today anyway, so FX it won't even come up again (optimistic) If it does I'll just say I have worse back pain to parents and that's why I'm not helping handle again etc etc. But you don't want to whinge about pregnancy woes to a parent of an ex-prem child with CP who's just had major surgery too much I've found!!! I have about 14 or at worst 16 days left at work (on my 2 day weeks!), assuming I have to stop by 28-30 weeks which looks likely- hooray!!!!

hello to everyone else, but I really must go and pack now...

How nice that Scarlet and Biscuits have met in RL! Did you address each other as Scarlet and Biscuits?! It would be weird to know everyones' real names!

Ninja hope the afternoon is fun and not too stressful!

Dream enjoy your long weekend and glad that DD slept last night!

The pain is a bit better now (time is a great healer!) I may have a bath tonight as that usually helps a bit. Hope they don't keep getting worse! I remember a Victoria Wood sketch about developing piles in childbirth - she asked her mum to knit two hats (one for the baby and one for the piles) - ouch.

big discounts on medella elec breast pumps inc double ones on amazon black friday sale on now but only for next few mins!

I had my risk assessment today at work. I was given lots of advice on how to sit and bend safely. Working with small children means every thing is low down so it is going to get difficult! They are going to provide me with a lumbar roll, wedge and footrest that I can use at my desk and when I am using the low chairs with the children. I am so lucky that they are being so supportive!
Things are going to be a bit tricky over the next few weeks as I found out today my colleague is losing her baby at 10 weeks! She had a bleed weds night and she had a scan today and it was bad news! I told her boyfriend that she can take as much time off as she needs and sent flowers but I don't know what else to do. It is going to be hard for her coming back and seeing my pregnancy continue:(

Wants that sounds so tough! Sending some No Brooking vibes to your friend. How painful for her and awkward for you! I hope she's okay with everything in the end.

Hooray for Dream's DD sleeping through! Hopefully she'll enjoy the feeling of not being tired so much she'll do it again tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day, etc etc... V jealous of your up-to-16 days of work remaining! I do feel less guilty about my plans to head off at 32 weeks now though, so thanks!

Some of those Black Friday deals are sooooooooo tempting! I really wanted the Avent breastfeeding set! I held myself back from buying on the promise of lots of post-xmas deals. I really don't want to buy anything baby-related until after the 21 wk scan!

I feel very sorry for everyone with piles! My diet is not the most healthy and therefore I've had a few run ins with these so far - never fun!

I'm also holding out for the post-Xmas deals Scream. Trying not to buy anything until then! I also got very excited when I was offered my first seat last Monday. Sadly nobody offered me one yesterday when my train was delayed by 67 minutes (!!), sigh.

Wants, that's a tough situation :( Sending good vibes towards your colleague...

Ninja, every time I have a symptom-less few hours I go into extreme worrying mode. Try to stay positive! :)

Thanks guys- my colleague is going in to hospital on Monday and then going away with bf for a few days to recuperate. I am not expecting her back at work for at least a fortnight and will be happy to give her longer if she needs it. Am feeling very sad for her:(

wants very sad to read about your colleague I'm sure she'll appreciate a bit of time off.

Ninja I think I wrote an exact copy of your post about disappearing symptoms when I was at the same stage as you are now. Everything was fine, as it will be for you too

dream have a lovely few days away. I hope you get to have a rest and catch up on some much needed sleep.

I've had a laptop nightmare. OJ with bits in completely buggered my keyboard yesterday morning. It's still not working so I think a new one may be required. The laptop itself is fine, so in my desperation to get back to brooking DH has found me an old keyboard which I've managed to link up to the laptop. Not a permanent solution but ok as a temporary measure.

It was lovely to meet Biscuits properly today. I was worried I might actually call her Biscuits to her face and I've now got to be extra careful and still refer to her as Biscuits on here. What a shame we're all so far away from each other (apart from us 2) we could have had a big brooking meet up.

A big Brooking meet up would be lovely, but we are a bit far flung. Glad to hear you got a keyboard to work, Scarlet, even if the laptop is a bit buggered. Now you know what to ask for for Christmas!

Wants, your poor colleague . At least she has a sympathetic boss in you. Not much comfort for her, though, poor thing.

On the piles front, I discovered one post-birth, although it might have been there before, I'm not really sure. It seems to be dormant at present - FX it stays like that! I have a friend who used to discuss her PPP (Piles Prevention Plan) with her boss during her pregnancy! She also discovered piles post-birth, so the PPP didn't work. I'm sure you can use Anusol in pregnancy, Generic.

Dream, yay for sleeping through the night! Do you feel like a new woman? Have a lovely time away, even if you will be internet-free.

Real, definitely showed faster this time! Kind colleagues told me that I was showing at about 13 weeks. I was not pleased.

Grr, my mattress didn't come because bloody Yodel couldn't find the house and instead of phoning for directions, sent it back to Bristol to the sender. Was spitting. Mattress company are sending it back, still by Yodel, so not sure if it will ever come. I was really looking forward to it!

Oh, wants what a shame, how awful for your colleague...

too, that is SO annoying- I'd be majorly annoyed too. WHen I ordered DD's very fancy pocket sprung cot mattress, and was dying to get her out of her moses basket which she hated, they delivered the wrong size, and I sent it back wit the courier, but was told it'd be another weeka t least for another... I think I cried. I found a different company making similar and got next day delivery!!!! And yes, I feel miles better!!!! Now if only she'd go to bloody sleep in the evening... another hours and hours marathon. Can't wait for the toddler taming book to arrive! I think I'm bullied by a 14 month old. For tea tonight she wouldn't eat a single mouthful of her pork and apple casserole with pasta, and would only suck Philadelphia from a breadstick, but not eat the breadstick mind, then hand it back, while pointing at the tub of Philly in a determined way saying 'AH!' .... I'm stuffed aren't I?!?

I was trying not to buy anything, and then the Monster Buggy slipped through the net- only because we thought they'd bring it up north though and they're not ten a penny... which the sellers still haven't said they will, or given us a courier price though they have my money... Still, my thoughts on that were there was loads of bidding for it, so I'd just whack it back on e-bay should the worst happen... Nothing else will get bought though mostly as I missed meconiums post on black friday deals

I've got back pain... I'm not quite looking forward to going away, with us not being able to get DD to go to sleep in her normal routine at home, let alone in a travel cot in a holiday cottage (though it'll be at exactly the same time, come what may!!!), and DH is always so over-optimistic about what we can do. I must stop being pessimistic and hope it's lovely!!!

dream - hope dd is transfixed by being away and falls asleep without any trouble. Brooking hard that she might do..... Maybe lots of fresh air will do the trick?

Also hope your mattress finds its way back soon Too - I've heard lots of bad things about Yodel. How silly though if they can't find your house - they should keep looking not just send it back!!!!

Hope everyone else has a lovely weekend planned xx

And wants you poor colleague -how awful. It sounds as though you've done everything possible to help in as much as making sure she doesn't have to worry about work which I'm sure will help a little.

biscuits, here's to a tranfixed baby!! Will do some fresh air but have to weigh it up against her awful cough that's still pretty dire.

We're on the motorway on way north, with severe weather warning

Hope everyone ok, will hopefully be able to get signal in cottage but we'll see!

Dream D and G is beautiful! We have been camping there a few times. But the weather is indeed extreme here (a bit further north) at the moment, so I hope it is better where you are or that the cottage is cosy. Maybe the noise of the wind and rain will lull DD to sleep tonight?!

I am feeling a bit sorry for myself. I have hardly seen DH all week and we now have MIL staying. I am at home working while DH is out with DD and MIL.

I had a rather interesting conversation with MIL last night. She asked what we thought about the NICE recommendations to let women in England and Wales request C sections, then announced that she thought it should not be allowed (apart from absolute emergency) as it stops you bonding with the baby. I can only assume that she forgot how her DGD arrived. And how the next one is likely arrive... Slightly awkward doesn't really cover it. DH's face was a picture!

Also, my decaf tea tastes vaguely of fish, although that might be beacuse I ate a packet of Skips whilst drinking it...

Sorry, hello to everyone! being gloomy clearly made me forget my manners.

Hope everyone is having a good Saturday. I am going to make a non-fishy hot chocolate, get on with my work and cheer up now

Fishcake, I often think decaf tea tastes fishy - don't know why it does, but it does. at your MIL. Tact somewhat lacking! I don't think anyone has a right to criticise CS - it's a perfectly valid method of childbirth. Honestly, some people have no idea. Anyone who says anything like that to me is going to get very short shrift. Grr on your behalf!

Dream, echoing Fishcake on the cosy hopes. It is absolutely freezing and howling a gale here in Midlothian. We took the dog out earlier and my ears were frozen despite my giant furry hat. Hope you get signal in your cottage.

Biscuits, I think if Yodel can't find the house, it would not be unreasonable to phone us and ask for directions! Pigs. Not sure how they think they are going to manage to redeliver it if they couldn't find it the first time.

I think anyone criticising any type of birth is a bit of an arse personally...

I am busting out of my 32ff maternity bra today. I have done 34g bf bras but they are underwired. Am slightly annoyed that I will have to spend more money on bras and that my boobs are bigger second time round than first! They shrunk right down after bf ing - I loved it!!

Pomme you know you can wear underwired as long as they fit properly and don't dig in anywhere?

I'm still in underwired and just get the fit checked at bravissimo. I've had to have new ones since being of, but they are u/wired. I wore underwired all through my last pg too but no such thing as an underwired 36J nursing bra