Due in October 2012 Part 6 - Third Trimester Trials and Tribulations

[YompingJo]

Shiny new thread!

Ready?
Steady?
Go!

Is anyone else's bump growing in spurts? Mine did something crazy between weeks 24-26 but hasn't really shifted since... I was measuring fine at 28 weeks so not particularly worried, just curious!

Hooray, sun in shining Ireland too! Eat breakfast squid- I'm starving myself, about to get up! Your festival and weekend plans sound like loads of fun! Especially the belly painting! I worry about women like your sis-in-law - that kind of isolation would drive you loopy and is bad for the child (exhibit A: my mother).

Baby Showers: can be horribly American but not if you make it clear it's just an afternoon tea party and not all OMG It's All About Me and Presents. They'd be pretty common in NZ now, which made me sad because it looked like I wasn't going to be able to sort one out (very alien concept in Ireland). I mentioned them recently to some girls I used to work with though and they are going to throw me one! More of a Baby Party. Its really more about having tea and naice cake and a good laugh with your mates - and playing silly games like measure the bump etc, guess the gender etc. All innocent, chocolate cake fuelled fun. I certainly would make it clear that presents are NOT expected. They are (in my experience anyway) always a nice opportunity for a heavily pregnant lady to dress up (but stay at home, woohoo), and have all your pals come round for the afternoon and wish you well. It's also v child-friendly, other mums usually bring their small children too. Anyway whenever I've clarified what it would be to people they say it sounds like a nice idea! The reality is that in NZ people would bring you very small presents too (a pack of babygros etc), but I am not mentioning this to people. I suggest you all think about having a wee tea party, it's lovely!!

My sciatica was murderously painful yesterday, so I went to the massage place next to my work (in a quite rough area of Dublin) in desperation. Ok it was a good massage (from both the Chinese doctor & Thai masseuse who work there) but totally surreal. Thai lady trying to fire Chinese lady and take over the lease. She also started crying when I told her I was having a boy because she always wanted one as she can't go to Buddhist heaven without a son who is a monk! Also suggested she visit an NGO I deal with thru work to get advice after she started telling me about all her problems! The Chinese lady wants me to visit her after baby is here so she can help me. They also rubbed my belly a LOT. The Chinese doctor insisted on giving me fruit to take home - an apple and 3 plums LOL. On the plus side it only cost €20 and my butt is way less sore.....

Looking forward to Sardinia tomorrow! Have got all of next week off work. Ahhh 9 days off. Brought some work home to finish last night, was only done at midnight, but glad I did it - a worry-free week for me!

26+1, first baby (boy)!

And YAY shiny new thread!

Cock, sorry about the thread name - can I blame early morning baby brain? Can't work out whether I thought "Tribulations" were positive things, or I meant it to be "Triumphs" not "Trials", but either way I thought I was going for one positive word and one negative one. What a nobbing bloody nobber I am

Loopy, thank you for tidying, my OCD side fully approves. Although what was wrong with my link? . If you are in a tidying mood, I have 8 boxes of teaching paraphernalia and end of term presents that need tidying and I can't face it . I often get given wine as an end of term gift, which is fab, but obviously this year not to be so I got a lot of chocolate instead, and am now trying now to eat it all in one day! Chocolate for breakfast?

Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts on baby showers - broadly similar to my own but I'm horrified to admit I'm slightly swayed by the fact that I will get presents - what a hypocrite!!! Think I will let them go ahead and organise it as the main person who wants to is a bossy cow and it's easier to let her than to say no but with the provisos that a) DH can be there if he would like (I'm pretty sure he'd hate the idea of being there but I want him to have the choice otherwise I don't feel that's fair) and b) presents are limited to a fiver or offers of help post-birth and c) it's a maximum of 2 hrs long.

Congratulations to Orange for finding a house and DH's interview - keep us posted, to Angelico on your beautiful floors and to Lisbeths on getting sent a cheque - moral victories are the best, well done for standing your ground.

Smiley, the irregular heartbeat sounds scary and I can understand your worry - but if the antenatal people said they didn't need to see you, I guess they think it's not a concern so in a way that's reassuring - although I know it's a whole lot easier to say that when I'm not the one it has happened to.

LondonLivvy, pregnancy, as we are all proving, is very different for everyone so just because your poor friend is suffering a lot it does not follow that you will be the same. Know what you mean though - it's like the horror stories about birth, they make you feel that that is what it will be like for you as well.

midgetm, I would do the painting but then I'm bloody minded and obstreperous (sp?) and if I'm told I can't do something, it's like a red rag to a bull and all I want to do is say "Really, I can't do that? I think you'll find I can! ". But, as it is to do with chemicals, which are actual things I can smell rather than just scaremongering over a million to one possibility of catching listeria or something, I would ventilate the house well, take regular breaks and maybe wear one of those nose and mouth masks from B&Q.

Crazy, don't beat yourself up, you're amazing for dealing with one DC whilst brewing another! I'm equally volatile when I'm tired or stressed, and it's my biggest concern about having children - over-reacting when tired and making them scared of me . But I think as long as they are in no doubt about how much you love them, they will not be emotionally scarred by a few outbursts.

Bella your day with DH sounds lovely, I'm glad you got to have that time together.

Well, so on my first day of the summer holiday, I was up before 7 and I'm driving for 2 hours to pick up a cot, then for another 2 to visit my friend who has had her op and in recovering at her mum and dad's, then 2 hrs home. Then tomorrow we're off to Northampton for a DH family BBQ, then Monday we're in London for the day as we have tickets to see Rhys Darby in the evening and want to make a day of it, then on Tuesday my mum is coming for the day. Way to have a relaxing start to the summer holiday, Yomping
.

And yesterday DH wrote this on FB: "Hurray, it is the time of year when teachers turn back into human beings for 6 weeks". I nearly punched him. He assures me it was meant positively as in "but you're superhuman for the rest of the year" and "it's lovely to see you more relaxed in the summer" but to me it just sounds totally insulting, like I am some kind of robotic monster the rest of the year and barely human. I want to comment on his status with "if it's that bad honey, don't feel you have to put yourself out by staying with me" but that would be bitchy and hormonal churlish, right?

Yomping, 37, 29+1, with way too much to say today!

PS this post, reading it back, seems very me me me - so maybe a baby shower would be perfect for me

wantanorange so cute with your little three year old! I'd have cried for sure. Do you mean you've finished work? I hope so, I've been feeling very guilty about being far and away the first one to grind to a stand still on here! (Though I know teachers do get that six week break - in six weeks I'll be 37 weeks anyway!) It's not a competition and I should stop feeling so guilty, I know! And big congrats on the house. Good luck to your husband.

Kyyria I hope you're managing to enjoy your time off. And I'm glad they're waiting to get someone who knows the situation to sort it out. confession: I went to the dentist pregnant after 12 years of not going. And my teeth were fine. HAH.

Thanks bella and enjoy your summer holidays! I've had some nice rainy holidays too, and yeah kids never mind. (They love puddles!) The anniversary day sounds lovely too - I am lucky to have a supportive mum who loves to babysit - she doesn't live that near but she doesn't mind travelling - I'm hoping I'll still get an odd day to myself. I bought some concert tickets in December!! My mum or another mate might help out for a few hours. Maybe that was stupid but I've never seen Pulp before! Er, all these things can go on ebay if I am being totally unrealistic.
and yeah girls - go get everything on prescription, make the most of those free pregnant prescriptions! I worked in GP for four months at one point and gave out gaviscon by the bucketload

londonmrs hehe to the mugging comment. I got my suitcase carried by a young man at a train station the other day. I felt like an old lady!

crazypaving (not used to your new name) yay yay on only 9 days to go! So it's not just me, good! I am in awe of you ladies with jobs and kids and pregnant, it just all sounds so much! we should be able to clone ourselves or something. As to bumps being bigger second time round, everyone says this so I keep telling myself to enjoy my relatively manageable bump this time! Is it even possible to get abdo muscles back? I do(did) lots of weight training/core work pre-pregnancy and would like to do it again post-pregnancy, it's not a vanity thing I just feel better when I'm fitter and stronger. I know midgetm does lots of stuff like that...

midgetm I'm sorry :( I feel a bit bad stopping so early too, I just couldn't face a new job, new hospital, with no one I knew ... I have no idea why I'm apologising, I just feel sort of bad, like I'm cheating the system! If I hadn't been starting a new job I think I would have tried to keep going to around 36 weeks, but doing 4 weeks of a new one just seems like so much pain for so little gain...blah, I wish I didn't feel like I needed to justify myself all the time!
I'm sorry you're struggling at work. It's so hard to know what to do with letting yourself have time off when you need it, getting the balance right. I mean you can't have nine months off (unfortuatnely) but maybe some mental health/recuperation days aren't a terrible thing... I've had 5 days off with sickness this pregnancy.

Right it really is breakfast time now.

Squid don't you dare be apologetic. If money were no object I would finish much sooner. Its just that i am currently the main earner. And I want the time off when the baby is here. And my job is fecking hard but it is not physical at all. If it were it would be impossible to even aim to work late as it is I could end up finishing early anyway with my shit obstetric history we all make the choices that suit us. I am jealous, I can do something about if I choose to.

I think I am being a bit of a nobber. I think kyria is right. I spent all morning crying one day this week. This is bad for the baby. I'd be the first person to say taking time off is not a weakness and we should put our babies first. I have a grown up job and currently making people redundant so feel when my team is going through such turmoil i should be better at trying to keep stiff upper lip - this is just bollocks really! Again I say Kyria is right - being a nobber.

Thanks for the painting advice - going to give it a go but take it easy. Sorry quick post but wanted to slap/stroke squid so doing it from my phone.

Right. Major catchup due. Really need pc or laptop but is that feckin slow i have actually sat with a pen and paper to make a list of what everyone has said so i can post back!! Need to make effort like everyone else!

So here goes........
Wantanorange best best best of luck with job and house, everything crosssed! All sounding positve!

Squid do not dare feel guilty about work nearly over, we are all delighted for you! Enjoy your weekend, festival and friends! All sounds fab! No idea how we can see pics but wud love to see that painted bump!!!

Angelico so pleased house coming together and floors fabuloso! We are miles off..... Major fuck up with guy who was doing stairs. Disappeared. Now 3 weeks behind due to new joiners, new design and new wait! All delaying finish of plaster and start of paint. DH end of tether. Me resignedly accepting unlikely moving before baba.

Kyyria Pleased to hear about your extra week off, make most of it. Cannot beleve u are putting up letters in nursery!! We have freshly plastered walls in that room!!! That's all!! Good for you!

Yomping think i am weighing in late on shower chat. Sounds cringeworthy indeed! I was worst embarassed bride! But love the idea of girls get together with lunch and laughs! Is my birthday in few weeks and had hoped t have a wee lunch or afternoon tea out, but one of best friends getting married the following week and everyone bit caught up on that. Maybe someone will buy me a bun or something!!!!
Oh and as for your start to hols!!! Hope u slow down soon!!

Elpis good luck with that London weather!! Lollies and loose clothes in plentiful supply hopefully! Enjoy the cheerful effects of sunshine tho, nothing quite like it as long as you can get some cool from it!!

Londonmrs i too suddenly look upduffed this week! Every single patient has asked me about it! When i tell them when due tho i get a slightly odd look followed by you are very neat, not like 6 months. Hmmm. Then i find myself explaining that i am v tall, has lots of room and i was so poorly for 4 months lost loads of weight. Sound like a right whinger!!! Just need to say, thank you! Yes, i am neat! So bloody what? Still 3 months to grow and being skinny and tall i might actually topple over...........!!!

Crazy love name! Love your baby shower story! Sounds familiar to many an occassion! Sounds like how my DH will probably end up at this wedding in few weeks! And i will revel in being sanctimonious and cross!! And jealous.......! And you very nearly finished work..... Aaaaaaah

MidgetM lucky you with the olympics tickets! Take it easy and dont go mad but what a treat! Once in our lifetime indeed and really on TV will look like any other! Personally i am a disaster in crowds and noise but i am an oddball and very delighted for anyone able to enjoy them!
As for the painting. I was determined to help. We have entire house, walls ceilings and wood, all bloody new. DH adamant not healthy. So i spent day off last week cleaning plaster and concrete off windows and frames. Shoulders and legs still hurt 4 days later..... Soft furnishings selection anyone?!

Smileyhappy that was a crappy MW apt. Only natural it has annoyed you. As a GP yourself i am sure you can rationalise and believe the call from the other department and not let this get you down. Surely they would see you if need be. Hopefully just a blip.

Lisbeth check out you and your refund!! Moral victory indeed! Well done you guys for standing up to them!

Zara your massage sounds hilarious! Mental image of bickering women! How v professional! Nice diversion from pain and at a bargain price! And enjoy Sardinia, we would all love to come!!

Phew...that is it. Apologies to anyone i missed! In time taken to do have prob missed loads more!

Moi? Grand. Ridiculously excited this morn. DH deciding what ingredients needed for tuna stew for dinner. Remembered it needs white wine. Nearly wet myself at thought of pinching half a glass of said wine, ice COLD! DH gives dirty look, i said bugger off, half a glass of vino will do no harm! In total preg i have had half bottle crabbies alcoholic ginger beer, quarter glass champagne and one 200ml bottle of piss 4% lambrusco. I am a saint! Apologies to anyone who thinks those 3 drinks are bad.......!

Sun shining, good for soul! Have a lovely day all!

www.mumsnet.com/pregnancy/hospital-bag

Total techno wicko that i am, wonder if that link will work?! V amusing but useful little excerpt on hospital packing! Poor chap in Boots..........!

Oh and i am 28 weeks today! Am i officially third trimester now? Yay!

huffle that stairs man is also a nobber.

Was just remembering something really lovely that happened to me last time I was pregnant.

I was about seven months and standing at the north end of the tube platform, just behind where the driver's cab stops. It was rush hour and quite crowded, though I've been in worse. Anyway, when the train came in the driver jumped out and said: 'I'm not s'posed to do this love, but why don't you hop in the cab with me, you shouldn't have to crowd in like everyone else.'

So I had a thrilling ride home in the front of the train, which had never happened before, and I don't suppose will ever happen again. The driver chatted about his wife and kids, though he was a bit worried about being caught with a passenger in his cab and disciplined. But it just shows the unexpected gestures people can make when you're pregnant.

Midgetm sorry, but he is not a nobber. He is a fuckwit. And worse.

Elpis that is lovely!!!!!! A very romantic story but not in a romantic lovey way, IYSWIM!!! Bless him.

Have become quite fond of the word nobber......!

Squid I have indeed finished work, though I don't seem to have had any rest yet, I got up at 7:30 this morning (quite a lie in!) and haven't stopped doing house work til now. I want it to be all clean and nice when we get back on Wednesday.

DH has just phoned and said his bank card won't work. Cash point says it can't process it or something. Bugger! I don't even know what that means!

Huffle You are a saint! I've had a small glass of wine each week and a pint of Guinness a couple weeks ago when I was anemic. I've discovered Becks Blue and it's OK, but not great.

Am excited about the house. If we get it, I'll have a nursery! It's a big step up from what we had for DS, all together in a single bedroom.

Hi all,

Mental day yesterday travelling to norwich and back to collect works funding from Children in Need. Left our local train station to London at 6am and 9 trains later, at a cost to our company of £400!! me and my colleague arrived back. Am completely wiped out today but was so worth it. My bean was kicking all day as I was sitting down loads, and also got to experience some olympic fever whilst passing through London, one of the trains went via the Olympic site so got to see the stadium, Village etc, quite impressive! Glad the day wasn't next Friday though, imagine it will be complete chaos! Oh and couldn't understand the lack of security on the underground - surely a week before the Olympics open is a ideal time for a terroist attack, but there were no bag checks, police presence or anything.

Oh, really can't be bothered with yet more packing today but its got to be done - moving in with my parents on weds! Hopefully getting the survey done on the house next week, then fingers crossed its all systems go!

God I want my bed...............

Just stopping by to announce I've done my first bit of proper exercise since I got pregnant and I feel fab! Went swimming (something I'm actually not bad at) - can't do breaststroke cos of SPD, so was feeling a bit oo-er about swimming freestyle having done zero exercise for...gawd knows how long. But I took it easy, swam a km, and feel great! Will prob need a nap soon though....

9 working days left for me, but last day is last day of Aug, as I only work 2 days/week.

Off to catch some SUN!!!!! Although am dreading the idea of hot weather next week - bah humbug etc.

So am working my way through 6 pages of posts and found the new thread! After thinking I?d be on MN more this week, I got a last minute urgent work assignment which has occupied my days and nights until yesterday. I?ve mostly slept since so playing catch-up (so excuse me if I?m commenting on week-old posts!).

Yomping - so terribly sorry to hear about your friend. It?s terribly sobering to hear things like that and puts all our troubles and gripes in perspective.

Elpis - agree with you on M&S bras ? their strange sizing doesn?t seem to bear any resemblance to other brands. I?ve never found one of their bras to fit well. I think their undies in general have taken a nosedive in recent years. I?m STILL struggling to find bras to wear and now only looking at nursing bras, as you suggested. Get bad nipple pain sometimes and turns out although my cup size hasn?t gone up much, my back size has gone up 4 or 5 sizes!!! (which I think is mostly because my bump is so high that I?m measuring the top of that as my ?underbust? ). Still no leaks but I had my occasional ?someone?s sticking a needle down into my nipple? pain before bed last night and then dreamed that same boob leaked about a bucket of yellow milk onto the floor . Hoping this pain is something to do with the milk supply and not a blocked duct/worse. crazypaving - you said something about it feeling like pins and needles (while you were still dameflat ). It comes in short ?attacks? then resolves completely?

CWest Yes! I get a hard bum poking out of the left side of my belly button?usually followed by some sharp knee-ings and kicks. It?s usually when I?m lying back on the sofa and my hand?s been there so I always figure that she?s coming for a pat :) but stretching makes sense.

Another member of the ?almost constant semi-heartburn canonlyeatsmallamountsatatime? club here and, as of last night (again), hip-pain club. Angelico thanks for the tips. There was much tossing and turning onto different sides last night as it?s my left hip mainly. I seem to be sleeping mostly on my right side (but at least not my back). Also had odd dreams when I went back to sleep. Perhaps the hip pain and odd dreams go together? Also loving the idea for your new name when you get a new house . Feeling a bit like that myself at the moment!!

Am trying on my new bump band today. Hurrah!! :) :) :) Hoping that will help a lot. I must be retaining LITRES of water as bump is V heavy and apparently (according to ?Baby Centre?) LO only ways the same as a head of Chinese cabbage!! My ar*e!!

Agree with Angelico about orientation of baby, for all those worrying. Mine started breech, then moved herself to legs up/head down around week 23/24 and leg movements vary from right to left side but the gynae told me she may well yet move again so no point feeling good or worried about her orientation at this stage; worry after 37 weeks, basically (was the gist of his advice). Will also be practicing the bizarre ?physical jerks? (as my dad used to call them) if she turns again before due date!

Right, more reading (have got as far as last Tuesday morning ) and no doubt more posts later from me. Will try not to continue posting 4 large posts one day a week (and the day fewest MNers are online ? doh!). ?Tis not my intent?

HAD ENOUGH!!!!!

My cock nobber of a husband has just had a MAJOR epi fit at me because HE'S had enough of packing and wants to go to the pub with his mates.......EXCUSE ME????? Yes I did have a moan at him coz I've been packing all bloody afternoon too, am still shattered after my 14 hr day yesterday and he was basically pissing off leaving me to clear up the mess, sort the washing out, calm down DS who as well as me was in tears. He also said he's gonna come home whenever he wants and basically there's naff all I can do about it. Arse wipe. He's never been supportive when I've really needed him, in fact the more I try and get his support, the more he turns away. I'm nearly 7 months pregnant, I don't need all this packing shit either but its got to be done so its tough right? I can't poss off to the pub either!! It's like he expected me to turn round and say "of course babe, I'm really sorry, your life is so stressful right now, of course you need some time to yourself to relax and chill out and time to yourself. I don't need any help lugging piles of washing and boxes around whilst looking after DS, me and my almost 7 months bump are completely fine and not stressed at all but even if we weren't of course you going to the pub is more important." Arrggghh sometimes I really hate him, he can be a right shit when he wants :-(

Poor Cwest Cock nobber indeed, your anger is totally acceptable. But try and plan some revenge, the happiness of those thoughts will do you more good than fuming! and oh and [ virtual brick] to hit his hungover head with in morning. Oh, that'll do, you and DS up nice and early with nice super noisy play and screaming. It's a start. Xx

Saturday ? Fjordmor catching up?Volume II?

squid - Glad to hear that you are soon to be free of your punishing work lifestyle. Feel your pain with the MIL with dubious taste. You?re not a bitch. ! :) I felt like a super-bitch when I thought through this very problem, then decided to make 2 shareable online ?wishlists? and told DP that if anyone mentioned wanting to buy us stuff he could direct them to those. Ouch ! Haven?t had the guts to tell anyone about them yet as I feel all spoiled brat and ?babyzilla? just by doing it. I mean we?re lucky people want to buy us stuff, and with our financial situation I can?t afford to not be grateful for anything; however not to my taste it might be! (Doesn?t stop me secretly wishing that people might ask if we have a wishlist? ).

Zara - Sardinia!

crazypaving - also think you should have a confidential chat re changing MW. It?s a very important thing and, having worked in the NHS in a department where patients had to develop very close relationships with specialist nurses, I can say with a fair degree of certainty that it won?t be the first time they have dealt with such a request?

Elpis - loving your DD covering your bump with stickers! So sweet :).

CWest - fantastic news about the house! I have everything crossed for you! I?m having dreadful difficulty selling my flat (agent starting to suggest I drop the asking price which wasn?t unrealistic or greedy in the first place) and also there?s nothing worth buying on the market here at the moment so I?m trying not to worry that we?ll still be in our pokey basement when the baby?s over 8 weeks :-.

Yomping - Hooray for making it through to the end of term! You deserve all the and you can manage! Also hooray for smileyhappymummy starting mat leave! And Squid - yay for being on the home straight! Definite toast/party needed for you for getting through this pregnancy under the working conditions you have tolerated! You are indeed a total trooper.
Feels a bit odd that just as everyone else is talking about going on mat leave, I am trying to get a business off the ground and am getting into the career swing (albeit one I am building myself and so can tailor round my situation with baby).

Btw smileyhappymummy - well done your dd! I think it?s great to be proud of your kids. Please don?t apologise for it ? you?re hardly boasting!! :)

I feel ambivalent about baby showers. I wouldn?t actively seek to be thrown one, however, a lot of the girls I know here are American or have lived there and there?s a fair chance they might want to throw me one. I can?t be churlish about something that they see as an essential part of childbirth culture. Have to be fairly culturally flexible here as an expat in a cosmopolitan town. Mind you, they wouldn?t invite lots of my F&f so it would just be thrown by a group of girls who wanted to do it and didn?t feel obliged so that?s fine with me (the last one they threw for another British girl here about to pop was as a surprise for her ? so I don?t expect I?ll get the option to turn it down. They?ll probably just pretend it?s a book group meeting or something?). If they don?t, that?s also fine as it?s not something I feel is part of British or Norwegian cultural life so I would neither expect nor miss it. I feel a bit like this: a lot of people, sometimes even people you don?t know, enjoy buying baby stuff and having an excuse to. I remember one of the nurses at work throwing a baby shower at work for a girl leaving on mat leave and more people showed up, more money was donated and excitement caused than anyone?s leaving do or birthday. People she rarely had anything to do with had got all excited about going out to buy baby stuff. It?s about them (the baby shower throwers) and something they want to do. Personally, since we?re so broke, I wouldn?t be in a position to object to anything that involved people wanting to buy us useful things for the baby. Our poverty goes before my pride or personal ideal values these days (but then I?m an old bird ? idealism fades with age and the realities of life?or perhaps I?m just a cynic?).

Ah ? nearly there but this post is already too long so I?ll say the rest in a subsequent one ()?

Fjord enjoying your catch-ups! No yawning here!

CWest your husband is being an arse I think you should book yourself something you'd enjoy - a night with a friend at the cinema, a massage, I dunno, anything, and present it to him as a fait accompli. If he has anything to say about it at all, look surprised and direct his attention to the events of today. You can talk in detail about how it feels to be nearly 7m pregnant - and if you need any backing up, you can direct him to some of the posts on this thread! I would make tomorrow morning hell for him if I were you - lots and lots of noise grrrrrrrrrrr

Saturday ? Fjordmor catching up?Volume III?episode 3/3

lisbeth - a big yay for getting the money from the crèche. Hope this draws a line under the whole business for you now and that you spend the money on something that makes you happy :).

squid - yes! Bump totally grows in spurts. I?ve just been having one actually. I know this because I ?suddenly? can?t fit into a couple of things I could a couple of days ago and have sudden wipeout exhaustion on certain 1-2 days periods that coincide with obvious bump growth. Also new stretchmarks have appeared ? just as the previous ones were fading to shiny (and I've been religiously moisturising and using bio-oil - Grrrrr). For those asking about stretchmarks (can?t remember who it was ? sorry), mine appear on the furthest out bit of my belly and are in 2, roundish patches either side of my ?proud outy? and right now, they look like a patch of scratches where I?ve walked through brambles or something. In fact, they look more like 'kick marks' than stretch marks! I?m confident they?ll fade more or less completely as I?ve had them on my boobs once before in my life and now they?re not noticeable. They usually go ?shiny? looking, and then kind of white. Then, if you?re unlucky, the skin where they were just goes a little bit thinner and ?different?. Nothing too disfiguring in the scheme of things.

huffle - also yay! (Clearly tonight I will mostly be being a yay-sayer ). Is 28 weeks officially the third trimester mark then? That makes me a week away (even though I?ve sadly looked 3rd trimester since about 17 weeks)!!

CWest - that is nobber qualification behaviour. Sounds like he can?t take the stress of it but that?s no reason to bail and go down the pub. Sadly I think this is just a ?male? way of handling things. My DP can be very understanding and empathic, yet when he has worries and stress gets too much for him, instead of taking action to try and change the situation, he goes into some kind of panic/camel head in the sand kind of thing whereby he just becomes immobilised and tries to pretend the problem isn?t there. Other than putting it to him calmly, when you?re less on edge, that you really need his help because you can?t take it either, but it has to be done, I don?t see that there?s much that you can do. But valid strop - I?d be furious in the same situation.

41, 27 weeks today, 1st DC (DD :-)) - off to make sorbet and watch Saturday night trash telly.

Ok DH has SLIGHTLY redeemed himself.....he's just come home and whisked me and DS off to the family friendly pub with a soft play area that DS loves. Plus he came home with some bottles of beer so I know he's planning on staying in tonight now and he's apologized. He's still a nobber though.

CWestI'm none too pleased with DH at the moment. Since formal childcare is now at zero my family looked after baby while I was at work (4 hr commute) and I felt I could not ask for any more help while I was off so I have had DS to myself - a lot. I am knackered. DH went out this morning with his brother (not to pub, but). Anyway he is still not home and I've just put DS to bed and I think I'll follow in about 10 mins.

I hope things aren't as bad for you as your post sounds - was it just a venting? I simply don't think they (men) realise how tiring pregnancy is. But I must say it surprises me too. I walked up a slope today and all but had to sit down at the top.
Sounds like you are looking at this from an abyss of tiredness - I haven't worked that long a shift since before DS was born.
Will your DH come home at a reasonable hour? Not too from beer?

CWest I am fuming on your behalf! Men can have such one track minds! DH is similiar. He can either be worrying about and taking care of pregnant me OR get stressed about the house OR panic about exams etc. As soon as you throw him another ball to juggle he drops the first if that makes sense. Of course that means more for me to juggle which he just can't get his head round and empathise with. I console myself with the knowledge that we are obviously far more intellent and capable than they are!

I realise I'm being horribly sexist but if they act like such stereotypes.......

Well...last day in paradise, then an 8 hour drive home tomorrow. Felt a bit useless this trip. The water was very very high this year so there was a lot of cleanup to be done but I could not help lifting logs or fixing docks etc. went out a few dys in the kayak and paddled a couple km, and out in the paddle boT too. No major hikes, just stuck to the nice flat train tracks for walking. LOTS AND LOTS of afternoon naps. But breaking myself of that today in preparation of returning to work on tuesday. Everyone else is snoozing at the mo.

Have enjoyed reading and keeping up with posts this week off, but signal has been too weak to post. Getting a lucky 2 bars right now!

Wishing you all sweet dreams this evening. Ttfn!

Well we're of to London today and DS has woken up and been sick, his nose if running like a tap and I have an upset stomach. DH is sulking and worrying. Sounds like a normal family holiday.

Ladies.. sorry but I need a moan.

I have been feeling awful (over-tired for no reason, occasional sharp crampy pains in stomach) since Friday morning. Predictably slept badly Fri night cos I couldn't get comfortable and yesterday the pains got more stabby (and me more panicky) so achieved absolutely nothing apart from sitting on the sofa with the cat feeling sorry for myself. Eventually got to bedtime, went upstairs (we have a split level flat, the sitting room faces the road, the bedroom faces about 20 other small gardensof other flats) to find that one of the neighbours is having a wild party. I do have earplugs but it wasn't sufficient. At all. By 2am I was so pissed off I migrated to the (two person) sofa and slept for a bit until.the cat decided it MUST be breakfast time and then at 5am the heathrow traffic started up. I am so so tired, and obviously even more panicky about sore tum now I've slept even less.

I guess the logical thing would be to go to the hospital but I've planned to see my best friend today and its the first time since Feb that I've seen her and I really think that would help with morale, if not the pain.

Sorry ladies to be so self centered. I'm just over tired, worried, and really really want our flat / house stuff to go through so I don't have to have any more crappy nights like that.