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March 2013 Mk V: Lumpy bumpy witty knitters (patiently) await the bloom!

978 replies

Chefette · 07/09/2012 10:09

New one marchers sorry on phone and can't link! Will post title in our old thread x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
OodHousekeeping · 15/09/2012 15:02

I had a sister that died at a few days old before I was born. I don't remember not knowing although my parents didn't talk about her that much.

shieldbug · 15/09/2012 16:14

Finally, I have caught up!

zoey how are you doing? Glad to hear you are out of hospital; has the bleeding stopped? Hope all is well.

congratulations to all on successful scans and dopplers. I had another scan with the consultant on Weds and he also seems to think that baby bug survived my last mega period (heavy even by my standards- thanks to the fibroids). Current estimates are that I am 15 weeks not 12, so my 20 weeks scan is on the 17th October. I'm also going to be scanned pretty much every month, which is great news (to check baby bug still has enough room, I assume). I have also been warned of the likelihood of experiencing serious pain from the fibroids this pg (got a bit sore last time too, to put it mildly), so there's something to look forwards to.

Will try to post more often so I can actually respond to others' comments, not just update you on my news.

Hope you are all having good weekends.

HermioneBoo · 15/09/2012 16:33

The Hilary Devey program - it was better on the first of the series but I completely understand your point of view manda, I did switch off near the end of the second program because of the work from home Mum - I got the feeling that a lot of that was for show and in reality she worked way more hours than she would have done if she just worked in an office. The first program showed a lady that had a high flying job at Ford and found after the birth of her first child her priorities changed and climbing the ladder wasn't as important as having a good balance.
I recommend a haircut, I've been going to Toni and Guy for about 10 years now and both myself and DH get our hair cut by a really lovely lady (she even came to our wedding!) but I'll be a bit scared if she ever leaves! It has helped that my hairdresser tells me what she's done so I can ask for it again. Anyway, pregnancy is doing wonders for my hair, I usually have not much and it's fine and curly so frizzed up at the slightest hint of moisture, now it is thick and shiny and bouncy (also thanks to a good haircut admittedly) and it just makes up for the acne and encroaching podginess!
A picture of me taken today has just gone up on FB and my cousin said 'loving the bump!', looks like the bump is noticeable now!

ThreeForTea · 15/09/2012 17:27

Hi there, hope things are going well. I am convalesing again today. Having really loved my first week back at work and being in my new role, I have succomed to yucky cough and cold and useless for anything today! My chest has got really bad and it seems like my childhood asthma has returned goodie goodie. I'd forgotton that that can be a pregnancy symptom. But not complaining, still feel miles better than during that fearful first trimester

My tummy is sticking out quite nicely at times now so I am pretty much wearing mat clothes. Have had flutters as well :) Am determined to enjoy this stage of pg whatever happens.

My copy of 'Vaginal Birth After Caesarean: The VBAC Handbook' by Helen Churchil and Wendy Savage arrived today so will have some lovely info to get my teeth into! First time i've purchased a book with 'Vaginal' in the title at any rate. Dh opened the package by accident but soon saw that it wasn't one of his!

kirsty80 · 15/09/2012 17:41

Hey lovely ladies! I have been a way for a whole week and so have had a lot of catching up to do. I felt really poorly all week last week and finally dragged myself to the doctors on Monday. I had pains in my groin and throat and so was diagnosed with tonsilitis and sent for another scan. I started to feel a bit guilty about the number of scans I have had (4 now and only 14 weeks) but went along to make sure everything was ok. During the scan I started being sick - tmi sorry! and nearly passed out. The midwife asked if I am sick a lot to which I replied yes! They ran some blood and urine tests and ended up admitting me on to a ward. Basically, I hadn't eaten very much because of the sore throat and what I was eating wasn't staing down so they needed to put some drips in :( the main thing was that bubs was fine - more than fine absolutely beautiful and I got to see fingers and toes!!

So i have spent the past few days on a post natal ward (only bed available) which was incredibly difficult as I am a few weeks off my due date for the twins that I mc'd. I was surrounded by babies and exhausted mothers!! it made me feel very envious of what they had - but hubs reminded me of what I have - beautiful son who was named star of the week in his first week at preschool this week (proud mother alert) and a bubs on the way!

I have caught up on all posts and particularly enjoyed the conversations about losing yourself after childbirth - I don't think anyone can plan for how desperately in love we are going to be with our babies in just a few months time!

I am so excited for tonight - strictly and chips and gravy!!!! ummmmmmmmm

Have a lovely saturday night ladies! x x

Sheldonella · 15/09/2012 17:54

Ooh kirsty chips and gravy - yummy. I ate them in the peak district on wednesday and had forgotten hoe delicious they were. Sorry to hear about your hospital stay but glad baby is ok.

Sorry you ave been feeling yucky too three. I'm sitting down trying to breathe normally today after stirring up lots of dust moving a bookcase. I'm sure it doesn't usually affect me this much.

Just waiting for Dr Who now and am making homemade pizza. Now, what toppings do I want...

Funnylittleturkishdelight · 15/09/2012 18:54

Ohhh I may have eaten a whole huge bag of cheesy doritos...they were so moreish and tasty!

A question to all ladies who have got passports for their DC- how long does it take for a baby passport to be ordered, what did you need to do it and how soon after birth would you say was realistic to try and get one?

IWantAChipButty · 15/09/2012 19:27

Hello all! Think I have finally caught up with you, have been on holiday for the last week and it seems I've missed half a thread!

Glad everyone is starting to feel better, I'm definitely feeling less sick now!

Bought a few wee baby things while I was away and DH actually suggested we go look in mamas and papas at prams. Nice that he is showing some interest, not so nice that he decided he really doesn't like the bugaboo bee which is what I had my eye on! Typical! Started looking at other prams but there are so many how are you supposed to decide? Anyone else feeling out of their depth about baby stuff yet?

Oh and I would like to join the fb group, do I have to pm someone? Hopefully it will be easier to keep up on there!

ThreeForTea · 15/09/2012 21:13

Hope bookcase wasn't too heavy shel Dust would probably kill me at this stage! (but you may have noticed i'm fairly fragile :) ) I had planned to sort out dd's room tomorrow if I feel better and bag up all her too-small clothes.. might me a hanky round face job, not to mention braving the attic.

Turkish baby passports are ok, you could probably do most of the forms before he/she comes along, and the photo can be from day one; you just probably need to go somewhere where they can do one, any photo shop probably. They don't need to have eyes open/mouth closed or anything I don't think. For the countersign the person just has to sign to knowing you or dp for two or more years, as obviously can't have known baby! DD's took a fortnight to come through from passport office. The only thing with kids passports or first passports is that you can't use the one week express service or go to the office to get it done in a day so you're probably looking at three weeks to be safe, if you put application in straight away!

Rainbowbabyhope · 15/09/2012 23:23

manda the point of talking regularly and openly about our DD to our new LO from the beginning of his/her life is to ensure that it never is a 'big adult thing'. Our DD is part of our everyday family life even if she is not physically here - to avoid talking about her except on certain occasions would be a huge injustice to her life and moreover our new LO deserves to know about his/her sibling and have that be part of their identity. I know a surviving twin who's brother died shortly after birth and being twin is very much part of her identity even though she never knew him - that can only be achieved if the knowledge of the existence of the other child is a normal part of everyday life, just like a living sibling.

I would be interested to hear whether your views were different if your partner died during your pregnancy - would you avoid mentioning their father to your LOs until they were older? Would you pretend to them that they didn't have a dad and purge your home of any photos etc until you felt they were ready to handle the knowledge that they actually have a dad who died? I know that if I was in this situation I would talk to my LO every day about their dad so that he/she would growing up knowing him through me and would have a dad as part of their identify. To me that situation is absolutely no different to a dead sibling.

By the way, I am neither 'brave' nor 'strong willed' - my experience has simply taught me that every life - whether lived in the world or only in utero is equal in value when it comes to celebrating and remembering them.

mandasand · 16/09/2012 00:01

Rainbow, I think your question about whether, if my DH passed away during the pregnancy, I would have different views on the matter is interesting and does prompt reflection. I think that in all honesty, for me, there is a significant qualitative difference between a child's dead father and a child's dead sibling who never even had the chance of life outside the womb. From what I understand children who grow up without, say, a father may have legitimate questions from a very young age about why they don't have one when a lot of their playmates do. There are also very many helpful 'props' which may help a child in the processing of what this means for example, photos of him as a man, family videos in which they may see resemblances in themselves and their living relatives, memories of his tastes and ideas on a whole host of subjects which I, friends and family can share with the child in order to build a picture of him and his life which would, I think, helpfully go some way to address the absence of a living daddy figure in their lives. Because of this it is possible that I may introduce the idea of 'daddy' from an earlier age than I would try to explain the idea of a stillbirth and a sibling which never had a chance of life outside the womb, but I would nevertheless in both cases make every attempt not to overburden a small child with my own complicated and heavy feelings of grief, having as I indicated in my post -- had to bear far too much responsibility for TMI of an adult-emotional nature as a small child. But a really interesting thought-exercise for which I am grateful, thank you. As other posters have said, you will do the best for yourself and your family, but I hope you agree that it is sometimes useful to explore different approaches to the very difficult aspects of life.

A good, if totally sloggish day at the desk for me. I did 'work' in front of the telly this evening, with the aid of, Strictly and a lot of chocolate and crisps (to balance out the potentially too-healthy meals consisting mainly of veggies from the lottie). DH being a total star, cooking and all sorts as I trundle through files and footnotes I haven't looked at for too many years. Breakfast with another old mate tomorrow and so excited about telling her about the twins! After which - off to the library to check yet more arsing footnotes and then back to the desk. But I am determined to fit in an hour at the lottie to admire all DH's recent stirling efforts.

Still loving my hair! It was blow-dried so nicely I want to keep it forever ? but it will def. turn greasy tomorrow! Those who are teetering - go get your hair done!

Quick catch-up:

kirsty, bloody hell!!! hope you are feeling much better now Smile

three you can def take an inhaler for the asthma if nec. Flutters!

hermione keep us all posted on the Hilary D. programme if you keep watching it! be interesting to see how it develops (without having to watch it and potentially get cross with it, hehe!)

shield so glad all was well on the scan, phew! and hooray for extra scans.

chipbutty if you PM me your RL name as it appears on your FB page and an idea of what your profile pic shows I'll friend you; if you accept I can add you to the page. Or you can do this with anyone on the thread who is in the group - but group is v. secret and only FB friends can add peeps. (If that makes any sense at all?v. late, v. tired!)

night all.

theTramp · 16/09/2012 00:02

Kirsty - really pleased all is well now and sorry to hear that you were poorly enough to spend a week on a drip. But nice to know baby is well and more viewings - hurrah! I don't know about anyone else but I'm glad I live in an age of scans and sonographers, lord knows how hard it must have been for our mothers who didnt have any of that sort of reassurance.

Glad people are feeling better generally this weekend.. Moving a bookcase, by yourself - tut tut!

We're just back from a seriously chilled day. A nice long but gentle walk with tea & cake in the middle of it then a cinema double bill with dinner in the middle of it. But sadly back to work tomorrow.

Hope everyone's evenings were lovely.

Rainbowbabyhope · 16/09/2012 00:31

manda I think you vastly underestimate the value of a life lived only in the womb - something which I hope you will have the opportunity to reevaluate as your pregnancy progresses. You will be astounded by the personalities your LOs will develop before they even enter into the world and how much they become people to you before you ever even set eyes on them. Even though my DD never got the chance to live independently she still lived in this world and was still a person in her own right. I felt her wriggling around, kicking, sleeping and jiggling - and my DH and family shares in that. I have many scan pictures and videos of her. I held her in my arms and spent blissful hours with her when she was born. Her birth was in fact unexpectedly the most wonderful day of my life. I have photos of her when she was born, of me holding and kissing her. More than enough to build a picture of her short life. This is not about burdening the new LO with our grief but about him/her having a full family life and not hiding something precious. Most importantly - a life lived entirely in the womb is not something less than a life in the world (whether it is one day, a decade or a hundred years).

FloweryBoots · 16/09/2012 08:16

Urgh. Was just praising my self on discovering a breakfast I have actualy enjoyed and went donw quite well (croissants with lots of jam, mmm), and thinking I'll be having that more frequently. But, still managaed to throw it all back up quite violantly and somehow pulled my shoulder in the processes. Great!

Kirsty sounds dreadful, hope you're doing much better now.

*Chip, hope it was a nice holiday despite feeling poorly. I am now trying to resist the urge to bu baby clothes. We don't really need any more, and we hope to find out the sex at 20 week scan so might as well wait until then since there are so few unisex clothes anyway.

Do need to look at prams at some point adn yes I will be absolutly bewildered by the choice. Last time accepted a hand-me-down because the idea of having to pick our own was terrifying me and that way we didn't have too! Turned out to be a great pram but is pretty tatty now adn I think we may need a double. DS is pretty good at walking but since I don't drive if I want to get somewhere at more than a snails pace the buggy is required for him still!

FloweryBoots · 16/09/2012 08:18

Oh how I wish I could type (or rember to read through posts before posting!)

HermioneBoo · 16/09/2012 09:06

Ahh Strictly makes me so happy! All the sparkles and smiles and shiny hair :) I bought me some new jammies and sat watching Strictly eating chips and gravy (with peas to add some kind of nutrition) and was very content.

Now tonight is Downton, I've only recently finished watching the last series (first trimester sickness and tiredness was good for something) and in the program synopsis for tonight's episode it says that preparations are on for Mary and Matthews wedding - when was this arranged?! I'm sure the last time I saw them they were stealing kisses in darkened rooms.

manda Hilary D program was only a two parter so you're safe from shouting at the telly Wink

Prams - I know the one that I want, the Uppababy Vista, but have never seen it in real life until yesterday when I got way way too excited and almost shouted to DH 'look! Look! An Uppababy vista!' he was so embarrassed but hey ho, it looks great in real life! Luckily my in laws have said that they will contribute towards it financially as otherwise I'd have no chance of affording it. I have become an expert on prams and can tell you the make and model of prams going past whilst out and about, much to the embarrassment of my friends and DH - hehehe!

ChipButty I decided by reading reviews on MN, going to see as many as I could in real life and finding out what other people had (my in laws asked me to research prams, I'm not so weird that I'd do this off my own bat!) and pushing them round and seeing how small it was when it folded down as our house and car is pretty small.

Funnylittleturkishdelight · 16/09/2012 09:39

Flowery! You poor thing! How many weeks are you now? I get 'the hunger' in the mornings when I want food...but I have no idea of what food I want! Nothing appeals- but if I don't eat, I feel crap!

I now have super glittery nails and mermaid toes! Yes, the irony of calling them mermai toes is not lost on me. Am I right in thinking you can't have painted nails when you go in to have the baby so they can check your circulation?

Funnylittleturkishdelight · 16/09/2012 09:42

Oh and prams are making my head hurt.

Is it better to have one that transforms into a car seat or to have a seperate car seat? Or both?!

suburban · 16/09/2012 10:18

Waves tentatively....

Can I join, have been semi lurking since the beginning, but too superstitious to post anything before my scan. Now that I have seen the little bean waving and I know it's not just doughnuts in my belly feels a bit safer to join.

This will be DC2 for me already have a DD who will be 3 in the April after baby is born. Due date is 29th March.

Re buggies and prams. I think so many come with a car seat attachment you might as well just go for it as it's one less thing to worry about. They are also useful if you get a nosy baby who gets bored of lying down before 6 months when they can move into buggies and travel system seats.

Am in sort of double buggy limbo because DD is a good walker but like flowery I don't drive and sometimes like to be able to strap her in and just go. Think I am going to go for A Joovy which looks like it will easily fit on the bus.

Am going to catch up now, congratulations ladies.

theTramp · 16/09/2012 10:26

Rainbow - it sounds a lot like you are still grieving and you are dealing with things in your own way. My perspective on this is similar to Mandas and I think if I'd grown up with my Mum talking about a dead sibling regularly I would have developed a few issues involving living up to the ideal of someone who never had the chance to live (out side of the womb). Psychologically you're walking a very fine line there. Children are capable of taking on board and coping with a lot but they're also deeply sensitive about their place in the world and insecurities develop very easily. You see them between siblings - just imagine how it would feel if you have a sibling to compete with that you never met? By no means am I suggesting you shouldn't tell your child that they had a sister who sadly didn't live to meet them, but be mindful that what means a lot to you has a very different context for a child.
You also sound like a woman who is still coping with a good deal of pain and grief. Have you been for counselling at all?

Croissants sounded great - boo for the ms.

I've had a lovely lie in and am now getting up to face a days writing. MrM, after an hour of asking, has gone to make a pot of tea. Honestly, you just can't get the staff.

GummiberryJuice · 16/09/2012 10:56

Morning everyone,

Sheild glad everything is well with you

tramp I agree I would love another scan about now just for a wee reminder everything is alright

Kirsty how awful for you glad you are feeling much better though

Rainbow I think I must have missed your original post that started the discussion but I do agree I knew each of my dcs personalities well before they were born, I think the thing is none of us know what way we would deal with it unless we were in that situation. You sound confident and positive about the way you are handling everything and that's the best starting place Thanks

GummiberryJuice · 16/09/2012 11:10

X posts with loads of people

Welcome Suburban

I started typing ages ago then went off to hunt down the yummy smell of toast

But Tramp again I agree with your last post too, and you said exactly what I was thinking but couldn't put into type

Right off to sort some housework while I feel half normal

FloweryBoots · 16/09/2012 11:49

turkish 15+4 now. The sickness isn't as bad as it was at it's peak, but the improvement stopped and actually it does seem to be getting slighlty worse again. The last few days I've felt rotten none stop until mid afternoon no matter what I do, though fortunately usually only sick once first thing, ocassionally again mid morning, and then it kicks in again early evening (not counting before tea, but having tea kills it off for around 20 minutes before it's back for the evening). Getting pretty fed up of it now, but know there isn't a lot that can be done. I don't think it's nearly so bad as to be hypermesis (sp?).

Welcome Suburban. Congrats on the good scan! That Joovy pram does look very versatile. I've not really bothered looking yet but when out and about most doubles seem to be more suitable for 2 new borns, or no new borns, so not really one new born and one todler!

Funnylittleturkishdelight · 16/09/2012 12:05

Welcome Suburban! Congratulations!

flowery I really hope it calms down this week- mine is definitely so much better this week and I'm one week ahead of you- I think the morning sick feeling just takes a while to shake off!

Funnylittleturkishdelight · 16/09/2012 12:05

Oh and thanks for the thoughts on prams suburban !

off to giggle...