Due in October 2012 - Part 5

[Kyyria]

Just starting us off on a new thread

Sorry that was an epic post - I have one more difference between maternity in the UK and France: Their obsession with 'internal' examinations every time you see a doctor to check your cervix is closed. Seriously, I've never had so many people put their fingers in there. Apart from that one time, in the 90s when I was young and needed the money......

Lovely to hear everyone's news. to all those struggling with houses, estate agents, employers, worries about stop-start kicks or scans (midget I'd definitely ask for another opinion, they're being totally nonesensical) and everyone being hard on themselves (especially you squid, wish I could send you a big hug).

Sorry this is a bit me me me, but just needed to shared that I'm now officially off work for a week's holiday - first time off work since Easter, manically busy period in between, and frankly I can't wait even though I suspect it's going to be a week of sitting in my somewhat bonkers cousin's house in Cornwall (we I wimped out of camping, and I'm v grateful for the hospitality but she can be completely nuts rather hard work) no doubt in the rain, as DH works (he's technically off work but has already warned me he's likely to be working on laptop for much of the week :( poor boy).

Otherwise, bump is growing super-fast at the moment, yoga is helping my back but I feel like a lumbering twit doing it (any good books/videos to recommend, as I really struggle to remember the exercises from my weekly classes?).

I too panic when the baby stops wriggling for a day then grin like a loon when it starts up again. Wednesday always seems to be a quiet day, very odd.

Kyrria can you ask the Uni where your course is run for info on funding for each of the years? They should know about various options that might help. And definitely get that risk assessment done, just a light mention of the stress issue should be enough to ensure it's on paper.

yomping totally agree on the bra front, still struggling to get anything comfortable let alone flattering. The boobage growth seems unstoppable here, DH thinks it's all his christmasses rolled into one but I'm really starting to wonder where it will end...

Hope everyone has lovely relaxing weekends

Mickey - sorry you had such a crap experience with your consultant. That must have been very demoralising. And then to find out you can?t get a scan. Hugs to you x

Feeling for you squid & smileyhappy - We rely on doctors so much and it?s got to be one of the most challenging roles to be heavily pregnant in. Kudos and take it easy on yourselves. Roll on finishing eh? Agree with lisbeth though about the perspective squid (oh and btw, you do look supercute :). Love the Dr Seuss compliment! :)). Also, mine kicks upper left abdomen and was told she was nicely head down on my scan at 25 weeks :). (should have known her genetically big head ? from both of us ? is killer on my bladder when she?s asleep/not active).

lisbeth - glad you got the letter to the crèche done and dusted and out of your head space.

Welcome, , welcome Elpis! :). Gosh what a lot you have on your plate! Another legendary coper! :)

Smorgs - sounds like you have a great gynae. Mine speaks very little and answers questions with very general answers. Just as well I?m not anxious, eh? Also getting foot tickles under the rib cage (at least I hope that?s all it is!) Feels like a funny, bubbly rising ?palpitation? coming from my stomach (but without acid) and sometimes makes me do a tiny baby-sized burp . Also feel a bit nauseous when she more vigorously seems to practice cycling on the underside of what must be my stomach .

Angelico/DameFlat - had to laugh at the weird dreams stuff :). Hadn?t really had any of note since the end of the 1st trimester but last night had one about Ty Pennington (from my favourite ?cry-along? telly, ?Extreme Makeover Home Edition?) doing T?ai Chi demonstrations on the beach in his full plaid shirt and dungers gear! (??!??). Think it may have been stimulated by the fact that he is currently here in Norway and my subconscious mind was ?playing? with his name (Ty/T?ai :)). Speaking of T?ai Chi, I must do some. Haven?t practiced for ages and I bet it?s great for pregnancy! DameFlat - also feeling for you coping with the other LO whilst feeling the strain. There was me thinking ?I?ll have to have my 2nd child quite quickly afterwards??. Yes age wise, but see the challenges. Despite being amazingly shagged you?re doing an amazing job juggling it all! . Maybe I have BH from you description? I wouldn?t know. I get what I call ?spasmy baby-kicky feelings? (Doh!).

Re: Sex - also in the ?hot to trot? category (although I usually am when not pregnant). Unfortunately DP is going through a ?I can only be persuaded into it once a week/10 days if you really push me? :(. I usually have to make some comment during the day like ?is it my lucky ?getting some? night tonight?? or something annoyingly similar to get him to remember I have needs? (Grrr ). He always seems to feel very good the next day but just doesn?t seemed wired to even thinking about it at the moment. Our relationship in other ways is very strong and close at the moment so I?m not worried. Just damn frustrated!!

God still have more to reply on but will sign off here as my posts are way too long. Will write another after?um?lunch. (God is that the time??? ).

Yep, I'm also agreeing on the bras- it's ludicrous.

I love the sound of giving birth where you are fjord. Is it a public health service or privately funded? If it's public, sounds like the nhs could learn something from them.

Well my movements reduced so much overnight and today that I called midwife early afternoon. Hadn't felt any movement all day, which is really unusual now.

Predictably baby woke up as soon as the doppler probe was on and started trying to kick it off. Felt like a right tit. Still midwife said I was right to come in- never feel stupid getting some reassurance, ladies.

Not sure why the French midwives always feel the need to do internals, although when I asked my husband (he's French) he just laughed and said that's the French way- if in doubt, grope it. Apparently women in France get to know their gynae as soon as they reach puberty, and you can only get the pill from a gynae not from a regular doctor. I've never even met a gynae in the UK.

Ok, cultural differences... London...

1. No one touches my bump. Most people on the tube prefer to pretend not to notice it until I ask them for a seat.

2. Will probably never get to see the same midwife twice because it's such a huge team. And yet they're always complaining of being short-staffed.

3. There is a midwife-led birthing centre near me where I hope to give birth assuming everything goes smoothly. No epidurals, but gas and air, you get your own double room where your partner can stay and you can stay for a few days if you like. It's NHS, but I think I'm just lucky that this place is near where I live.

4. People keep telling me to put my baby's name down at the 'good' schools now or we'll ruin her life. Very irritating as we plan to move to a different area next year.

5. Everyone at works keeps calling me grumpy for not being excited about the Olympics. Well if they lived within 2 miles of Olympic Park and had to commute across town while 6 months pregnant, they'd be bloody grumpy too.

Oh, and also on the sex talk... would anyone mind if we have a quick chat about positions?
It might sound lame, but I really miss... missionary. It doesn't quite work now because he's worried about squishing my belly, and being flat on my back doesn't make me feel too good. I mean, we've always been happy in lots of other positions too, but I'm worried it's going to get even more limited. Really want us to enjoy ourselves as we expect a drought come Oct / Nov / Dec. Any thoughts, anyone?

I love the sound of the Norwegian hotel thing, what a lovely idea. I absolutely hated being on the postnatal ward last time - and that was in a single room, and they let dh stay one night too (though am cynically convinced that was so the midwives wouldn't have to bother looking after us....). That's one bit I am not looking forward to this time though am going to be a bit more assertive about asking midwives for help with baby if I feel I need it ( rather than sitting and crying on my own!).
londonmrs pleased to hear you did go to see midwife, absolutely agree that we should all feel fine about getting things checked out, that's what gps and midwives are there for, and I always tell patients I'd much much rather see someone and reassure them than have them sit at home and worry, even if it all turns out to be fine.
On the sex front - I am in the just not interested camp. Don't know if it's tiredness, hormones or whatever. But dh seems ok with it, had a good chat about it a few weeks ago so I know he's not feeling neglected and we're still having lots of lovely snuggling time.
kyrria no idea re funding stuff but definitely agree that stress needs to be part of risk assessment. Good luck and don't let them make you feel bad!
mickey have you got a midwife you like who you can talk to about scan - or get them to refer you to a different consultant? GP sounds not v helpful but to be honest prob can't refer you for a scan - I know I can't refer people for scans just to day assessment unit or wherever and then midwives or obstetric doctors decide about scans. Do feel for you though, I am not sure that people realise what an anxious time pregnancy is and how important peace of mind is.
squid hope today has been better for you. I am finding work a lot harder just now than usual, not even just physical stuff but all the emotional side of things is getting to me far more than usual (not great when you work in a hospice!) and I am struggling not to cry most days at work now, managing to save it up for when I get home mostly! Just feeling much more vulnerable at the moment. I think you are very wise to go off early, it's best for you and your baby so sod anyone else's opinion. Doctors are a bit mad when it comes to competitive being at work when pregnant / otherwise not 100% well. Just ignore.
Right had better go and run bath for dd, so pleased its the weekend. Sorry to anyone I've ignored am rubbish at remembering things but do read and think of you all. You are a fab bunch.
Oh, by the way, I'm in east Yorkshire ad now 27 weeks and 1 day.

Mmmm?Enjoyed my 2 big chunks of iced coffee & cinnamon cake lunch!

LondonMrs/Midget - had a similar ?movement crisis? when I hit 26 weeks exactly. Baby has been head down and I?ve been feeling regular, familiar-feeling and ripply visible kicks for a good few weeks now. Suddenly when I put my hand in the usual place, baby?s feet/knees didn?t seem to be there anymore (can often feel them through my skin). For about 2 days she seemed to be lying transverse underneath my belly button and I only felt vague, ?interior? soft kick feelings occasionally. I willed her to get back into her head downed position and massaged my belly in that direction a lot and lo and behold, after 2 days, she?s back to where she was. I think sometimes lack of movement means they have changed position. I certainly feel most when she?s head down than when she was breech/transverse. (she belted me just under my stomach as I wrote that! It?s like she knows when I?m ?talking? about her! )

Midget - get you shopping! . Sorry to hear about your tiresome interview. How dare they do this to you when you've other things to worry about!

Yomping - I hate maternity bras and I don?t even have any yet! My new Mothercare/Bravado/NCT shop ones (yay! Finally something in my size!) are being brought back from the UK for me by a kind friend this weekend. I was so sure they probably wouldn?t fit that I also ordered bra extenders! . Am quite sure I?m going to feel miserable with the inadequate support for my comedically oversized knockers but cross that bridge when I come to it. I?ve never been able to wear a spaghetti strap so envy you that at least! :)

CWest - don?t feel guilty about breakfast ? see my ?lunch? above . (bad Fjordmamma!!)

hufflepuffle - you sound like you need some or perhaps a slice of my cake? Hope things look brighter later x

Loving hearing all the cultural differences from France londonlivvy & Smorgs. londonlivvy - Hurrah! :) for your potential property happy ending! Everything crossed for you. Re the weight ? I had put on 8kg at 25 weeks and Midget said that sounded normal. So there. It's official! You?re fine :).

2 questions (then I promise I?ll try to shut up for the day and stop being an over-posting nobber):

1. I?ve not produced anything from my breasts yet ? should I be?

1. Re: nudity during birth. My boobs are so damn heavy, I can?t be upright-ish comfortably for more than a few minutes without something to support them. Am I going to be ok staying in a bra and, since I?m hoping for a water birth, should I think ?supportive bikini top?. Happy to flop it down to put baby on the breast but the thought of the extra weight of knockers ?hanging? throughout labour is almost more daunting than the thought of labour itself and I'm hoping most of my labour/birthing will be relatively upright.

Yes, Yomping, why do the bras have to come up so high?! I finally found some half decent ones (Elle McPherson I think) that look nice, but the lacy nursing A-frame thing inside really irritates me for some reason. I want to cut it out but then the whole nursing function will be lost.
Also, I thought I felt a "shiver" type movement the other day. It was very short though so I figured I must have imagined it, but did get me wondering whether unborn babies could have fits. Weird. Glad to hear it wasn't just me though.

Dame, what are let-down reflexes? So many things to learn...

Smorgs - no gas and air here either, and epidurals not very common at all but becoming more so, so are available. Before I knew this I was looking forward to a bit of gas and air, and didn't want an epidural. Now it looks like I'm going to try with absolutely nothing and probably end up begging for an epidural when it gets too much. Usual practice is to book the epidural before hand (ie. you wont get one if it's not booked), but my nice doctor has told me I can ask for one at the last minute. I feel very special!
Hope you have more luck with the house-hunting soon.

Welcome Elpis, sounds like you've got a lot to deal with. It'll be interesting to hear your experiences.

Enjoy your hols londonlivvy, all sounds very active! I'm off on mine on Sunday, can't wait, won't be cycling up any mountains though!

Cwest, I'm ashamed to say, I rarely eat anything at all for breakfast. That's got to be worse than biscuits, so don't feel bad, especially if that's all you can stomach.

Thanks for the cultural differences Fjord, really interesting. I will try and post more soon, but right now I have to go to bed. Busy day tomorrow, and this is already way too long as usual!

Night all

Crossposted LondonMrsS - it's public health service. Mostly like the NHS except there's no National Insurance here, a lot of stuff is fully reimbursed and paid for upfront (you get a card like an NHS card and with most things, if you show it, you don't pay upfront) but everything to do with pregnancy is 100% free. Norway has been voted the best place in the world to be a mum :). Perhaps that's why I'm not that anxious?

It's nice to be thought of as a coper. And thanks for all the flowers!

On the subject of maternity bras - I wouldn't bother. They come in big sizes and aren't underwired, but that's the only point of them. Nursing bras, on the other hand - the ones with drop-down fronts - are much more useful. Because I am (coughs) unusual in still breastfeeding my 3-year-old, I'm still wearing them, because there seemed no point in wearing normal ones when my bra size hasn't settled down and won't for ages. Elle Macpherson are pretty but tend to come up small and a lot of the styles don't come in anything bigger than an E cup. Hot Milk are striking and last well. My favoured brand is Freya and I bought them from Figleaves.com.

Under no circumstances would I buy a bra from M&S again. When I was 8 months pregnant I took up one of their 'get measured properly' offers and joined the queue at the changing rooms. I had to sit on the floor while teenagers took the seats. A bossy cow measured me and brought me some nasty bras. I bought them. They were too small. I was too pregnant/ preoccupied with newborn to take them back. Grr. I had a look at M&S' maternity range this time round - couldn't believe how small and poor it is...

Fjordmor - it's quite normal not to have leaked colostrum yet, especially if you don't squeeze them to see if there's any there (sorry, tmi, maybe). I didn't leak any first time round and as you can tell from my previous post it seems irrelevant to ability to bf.

Oh, and one more thing - no one should ever feel guilty about starting maternity leave at any time before their due date. Last time I worked until 38 weeks because I felt I could only take six months' leave or I might lose my job title. It was fine. This time has been so much harder, even though I'm on four days a week and can work more flexibly (and it's still a desk job). No two pregnancies are alike.

Fjord I wore a bra (and nowt else) during my last labour. All good. It got a bit...er...shall we say mucky, but it all washed out fine

cherry let-down reflex is when your body gets the milk-flow going. I wouldn't have recognised it during my first pregnancy, I just know what it is now, having bf DS for 14m. For me, it's a kind of tingly pin & needles feeling that comes at random times at the moment. It makes me feel anxious because my milk supply with DS was astronomical, and as a result (plus him having 100% tongue-tie) I had significant difficulties feeding him and was utterly miserable for the first 6 months. Am stupid bloody-minded idiot who stuck it out...it was worth it, eventually.....

Hi Ladies, so much to catch up on!!! yomping, my pregnancy brain was in full swing during my last post, i was confusing midget and mickey, so it would not suprise me if i inadvertently gave u credit for telling my how to look at photos when it wasn't actually you. But, u gave me very good instructions and i managed to find your pictures of your lovely bump! :) Whoever it was, thank you very much.

Squid, hugs, hope u had a better day today. Agree with everyone who encouraged you not to be too hard on yourself. Everyone feels different from each other and from day to day with pregnancy, and you have a particularly full on physical, mental and emotional job, so you're not a failure for feeling overwhelmed and exhausted at 29 weeks. This pregnancy business is tough, with all our overly relaxed and achey joints, our raging hormones and crazy moods and anxiety, the tiredness and lack of sleep and the discomfort of needing to eat, drink pee and carry around all the extra weight all the time. smiley, thinking of you too, in the hospice, that would be really, really hard. Hang in there!!

Elpis, welcome back, massive respect to you, managing pregnancy with a little one and MS.

kyria, i think the Health and Safety executive legally requires employers to take steps to ensure their employees do not suffer stress at work, in so far as is reasonably practical. Given you have now been off twice with stress, it sounds like they are being negligent if they haven't at the very least offered you a stress risk assessment.....which is quite different to a mat risk assessment. You defintely shouldn't feel bad asking for one.

CWest, i have been living off microwave meals since the end of May as our kitchen rennovations have taken much longer than expected. I keep telling myself all those pregnacare tablets are making up for the lack of nutrients in my crappy salt and fat riddled diet....fingers crossed :)

Hey ladies, this thread is moving at lightning speed recently can't keep up at all so forgive me for missing out loads of people I am reading and sympathising with lots of people - loads of you sound ready for the weekend! Don't know how you're still going x

Yomping think you said about the 'vibrating baby' thing - I had that too! Think it was Tuesday or Wednesday morning in bed was very strange. Would have been alarming but for fact she went happily went back to normal movements afterwards so assumed all was well.

Major sympathy to all with house woes - I feel your pain, I really do! I have no patience at all for crap workmen at the minute, we're at that stage where all the workmen are lined up in sequence ready to go one behind the other and it only takes one complete cocknobber to let us down and the whole house of cards threatens to collapse. Had one such cocknobber last week and it has really slowed everything down. Am obsessed with being in new house pre-bean - think it must be some weird nesting thing

Fjord that hospital place sounds so cosy the way they let you snuggle in for a few days afterwards - really sweet! Visiting is really poor at our hospital, poor DH will get a whole hour on his own in the morning plus general visits. Hope I can get out after 2 days!

My diet has been crap recently, feeling really guilty about it. We just seem to have lots of visitors / nights out / mad busy days doing house related stuff. Really need to get decent food shop done but went this afternoon for a brunch party tomorrow and my back was killing me by the time I got finished :( Not fun.

Still, can't complain too much, the sun has been out last couple of days which has totally transformed my mood after couple of weeks of shit weather :o

Anyway, hugs to all who need them, heading off to bed - in fact turned down a party tonight much to DH's shock so I can crawl into bed - one late night last night nearly killed me

Night all x

28w today...

In Cambridge catching up with my sister and old friends for the weekend.

Done about 4 miles (very leisurely pace) around town today. Left hip now agony. Cannot bend leg. Paracetamol no fecking use. How am I going to manage childbirth when this is so uncomfortable??

It's now 1:45am. Absolutely knackered. Want to sleep but everytime I move hip pain wakes me up. Will be a zombie tomorrow.

Kyyria I've been getting pain too. I keep doing too much, I carry on as usual until it's too late then it hits me. Think DH realised how worn out I was last night because he did the dishes without being asked . My ankles swell when I've been walking too. Starting to get a bit anxious about the trip to London next week!

I've been waking up with nuasea in the mornings, I thought that was long gone!

Finally managed to drop off about 4am. Awake since 7:30am.
Shattered does not come close to describing it!
wantanorange I've noticed certain smells are makinmg me feel nauseous again and I'm going through another craving phase too (fish fingers...yummy!)

Went to bed at 8:30 last night when DS did as was shattered, but of course was then awake from 2:30 til 4am grrrr, so much for an early night.

On the plus side, my lil bean was also awake, and very active, so enjoyed some time feeling her kicks, punches and OUCH stretches........does anyone else get this??? Suddenly a lump will appear on the right side of my bump, (think its either head or bum) pushing out. It will stay for around a min or so then go. Weird and it hurts but I look funny!

Having my usual brekkie of tea and biccies but don't feel quite as guilty now, thanks ladies.

wantan my ms has never gone!!! It's not bad tho, I feel sick as soon as I get up, spend 5 or so mins gagging and bringing up phlegm (sorry tmi) as obv stomach is empty, then I'm fine for the rest of the day.

Well starting the dreaded packing today as moving out in less than 2 wks......we only in a 2 bed flat but have no idea where to start. Think its gonna be a LONG day.......

Beccus your post made me as you indicated squid has to "drink pee". Missed out a comma there

Ouch Kyrria and WantanOrange. Another member of the hip pain club too, although not as severe at the minute. What has helped is:

• putting a folded up duvet under the sheet to lie on
• moving big V shaped cushion between thighs instead of knees
• put a wedge under the bump as it was dragging me off centre / twisted
• not lying too long once I'm awake

Sleeping is definitely not the easy pleasure it once was Woke in middle of night with raging heartburn, swallowed some Gaviscon blind and propped my torso up on giant sausage cushion. Then woke at 6 to pee and rub my hip. Then did doze off again but was plagued by horrible dreams, mostly involving work and me being accused of being devious and uncommitted (hmm, bit of guilt about a year off...? )

CWest good luck with the packing. Can't believe you still have MS you poor thing, at least it isn't the all day sort.

Have a big group coming for brunch this morning so going to get the oven fired up. DH had to go off and get bread rolls there as not a bap left in NI yesterday due to the sunny weather / barbeque plans. Predictably it's raining today...!

Have fun whatever you are doing ladies x

Hi all. Really interesting hearing about cultural differences, keep them coming.

Had horrible dreams last night, a colleague (in the dream) told me how much everyone else disliked me and asked my why I was so irritating. I should have biffed her one on the nose but instead went into instant "I want to be liked" mode and tried very hard to explain that I'm nice, but pretty a bit autistic and can come across as unfeeling and weird and demanding. She was unconvinced and said everyone hated me. I woke up wanting to cry. And in the dream she had 5 giant boxes of assorted Hotel Chocolat easter eggs and wouldn't give me any. Cow - I never liked her much anyway!

Poor DH is ill, some digestive system bug, and is really suffering - all is not very happy chez Yomping at the moment.

I am well, and extremely grateful for having pretty minimal physical pregnancy symptoms, heartburn was fleeting and has settled now, nothing aches yet, not even my back which is weird as I have a really bad back for years - BUT, my main difficulty is feeling like my freedom has been taken away, I am just so bored with myself. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and I have lost all the outlets for my energy/aggression/frustration, so all 3 are building up and last night I nearly exploded. Did a lot of crying over really trivial, stupid things that make me sound like a totally ungrateful nobber but do, in fact, feel really important to me - I used to ride my motorbike to and from work - now I have to cope with the impatience of sitting in traffic and I can't get past and keep moving . I used to be able to run for half an hour, including sprinting at the gym, and race 10k or further semi-regularly, and now walking wears me out and sometimes actually feels uncomfortable all over the bump if I try to go any faster than snail's pace . I used to go climbing approx once a month/6 weeks, or get some mountain time - adrenaline, physical and mental challenge, scenery, fresh air, the feel of the rock under my fingers, finely balanced moves across slabs, moving together with DH up long easy ridges, just feeling alive - and now I wouldn't even fit into a harness or have the energy to walk to the start of a climb . And on top of all that, even putting on socks and doing up buckles on sandals is uncomfortable now . Felt very "woe is me" about it all last night, and itchy to do something, anything, to feel like me again. And I can't even go out and get hammered which always helps to make me feel better if I've got cabin fever. And I feel bad about indulging this self-sympathy, because actually I have it pretty easy and have had throughout the pregnancy so far, and if anything I should be grateful, not miserable. So I am a crap, ungrateful, self-indulgent person as well as being miserable!

Taking myself off to hide in a cave and not inflict my self on anybody else, ever again. Won't need to wear nobbing uncomfortable bras in my cave either .

Holy moly. So much catch up...... Must try properly later!! Felt bit better yesterday as helped DH out a bit in house (yeah, really useful me with his mountain to do!!!!) Thank you for encouraging tea and biccies all.

Angelico which hospital are you? We are RVH as bit nervous about first pregnancy but so many nicer units here!!! Not at all lookng forward to, seems busiest bloody maternity ward in country, hoping the rumours of 'you are ok and go home after 6 hrs' are just bloody rumours!! Tho as ELCS you will not be rushed. And yes, hasnt the unexpected sun been a tonic of the best kind?? Bit grey again today, but sure.

Off to meet another potential recruit to replace me at work, not feeling hopeful!!

Will read properly later!

YompingJo

I can empathise with your frustration a bit, having had some of my activity curtailed by both lovely DD and what I refer to as 'the evil disease'. I was never a mountaineer but I've done some decent climbs in the past (and did a 9-mile walk in the Sussex Weald at 13 weeks and a 7-mile one at 19). Here's how I try to deal with it:

Avoid pushchairs. They made me feel as though I was pushing a shopping trolley everywhere. Use a sling and move up to a really good backpack as the baby gets older. It gives you a great feeling of satisfaction to carry them around, and you can go anywhere. Your ability to carry the weight increases gradually as they grow. Don't use a BabyBjorn, though - kills the shoulders. And keep the changing bag as small as possible - three nappies, fold-up mat, nappy bags, small packet of wipes, spare vest and bodysuit, cotton wool pads and an eye cream-sized pot of nappy rash cream is usually enough. It's true pushchairs are useful for carrying shopping, but I do almost all mine online.

Swim. Especially outdoors - colder water gives you that endorphin rush really quickly.

Use a few hours off from the baby to do something active, and make sure your partner knows you need that time. It's tempting to lie around in a sleep-deprived way but that doesn't help if your body wants to exercise. Obviously having someone to accompany you can be a motivator. Plan the trips on an iPhone (or whichever device) while you're tied to the sofa. I love maps and route-planning and used to pore over those, too.

I don't cycle because I live on a hill in London and am a wimp in traffic, but if you do you can get a child bike seat when the baby's bigger, which must be pretty liberating.

Good luck! Life will be different, but probably in a good way.

Hi all, I've got rid of my big clumsy lumbering nn I never really liked - here's my shiny new alter-ego (in homage to my new garden?!)! Goodbye DameFlatYouLent.... Hope it's not too confusing for all the baby brains out there in the nicest possible way

I'm a total zombie today so won't stay long. elpis I thought those were all excellent thoughts though - I love the idea of outdoor swimming, but it's hard to come by in this country, isn't it? And have you heard you need a permit to swim in the Thames as of very recently although who would want to do that in their right mind anyway

Snoozy sofa day while DH entertains DS. Damn rain ain't helping.