March 2013 VI: cooking, crocheting and chit-chat

[theTramp]

Old thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1558560-March-2013-Mk-V-Lumpy-bumpy-witty-knitters-patiently-await-the-bloom?msgid=34370452#34370452

And on with the conversation

Quick post from me as I'm still at work!

My tummy feels strange today - it feels like I'm holding in my stomach muscles when I'm not (I don't have any)! This is going to sound weird but bear with me - it feels like there's something there and this morning it felt like my whole tummy moved. I haven't felt any movement yet (well I think I have been but midwife said no) so am discounting anything I think I've felt.?!

When I stand up I feel it straight away, like a pressure at the front of my tummy (but if prodded it still feels floppy).

Should I be concerned about this - does it sound normal?!

Apparently flu jab very worth it.

Whooping Cough is after 28 weeks & designed to protect baby when small before they get vaccine at 8 weeks. There's an epidemic at mo apparently hence recommendation when hitherto wasn't a requirement.

Finally met my MW today who was lovely & answered my Qs re the above as per the above.

Manda - trimming is way forward. You can buy a lady parts hair shaver which has a guard so scary as it sounds it's impossible to cut yourself with it so perfect for mirror based use. I had a couple of ops in past leaving nasty scars to heal down there and trimmer didn't hurt at all. Costs about £7 or Veet as someone else noted. I'm a wuss and hate pain so no waxing for me thanks.

Been off piste for two days thanks to revenge of the pasta. Attempts to start eating things that had hitherto not agreed with me should apparently include minimal amounts of pasta. Lesson learnt.

Had bit of a meh work day today. Account that was apparently signing on dotted line this week have had last minute swerve and gone with someone else. I'd mind less if the someone else in question wasnt someone I just don't think has the capability to manage or provide what they need. It's their choice of course but bloody frustrating & means my target list for signed up clients by Christmas is down one which is also a financial blow. (sigh)

MrM is away til Sunday and hopefully he'll get this film project. Great news for him & financially for us if he does. An utter arse for me though cause it'll mean no MrM from Dec (apart from two weeks at Christmas) until end April (with paternity trip when Socs decides to arrive of course)

Can you tell I'm having a feel sorry for myself moment? I've decided on a bath, a trashy mag, comfort food (tuna hash) and an early night. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

Thanks to everyone with pram/pushchair thoughts for tallies & sorry for not name checking (just been through 3 pages of chat & my brains rubbish). I thinks it's Vista upright or Cameleon because I've tried them out and they seem both high up enough and generally suitable. If buying new I'd def opt for Vista - it's really practical and because pram is ventilated it can be used as a carry coy as well, unlike Cameleon. However as noted upthread (& thank you for link) if second hand it'll be Cameleon if only because Vista is hard to find second hand at the mo.

Very impressed with everyone's decorating and with all the ladies who are struggling with bad hips, bad legs, post op recoveries & scars & crap student housemates and with sickness still.

Re over compensating hubby's - if you think carrot & stick theory I say reward the nice behaviour even if it is in compensation for past rubbishness. Presumably it's nicer than their rubbish selves and you'd rather keep this version? Even if it's this version turned down a notch. I completely understand why it hurts though. Relationships are much harder to manage than good ole selfish singledom.

I'm sure I've missed out a bunch of stuff, for which I apologise.

My IO non mat oversized wool polo neck jumper in wine has arrived. Shed loads of bump room and gees but it's cost and fabulous. It's awfully pricey but I really want one in green now (as well). Maybe in the sales... Anyway recommended by me if any of you ladies are also always cold and like giant oversized snuggly wool jumpers.

I think tummy pain issues all sound like muscle stretching.

www.livestrong.com/article/324506-stretching-stomach-pains-in-pregnancy/. Here y'are

Dame, I had my flu jab the other week. I got a letter from my GP also. When I had my 16 week appointment with my GP she mentioned the whooping cough jab. She said due to increases cases of whooping cough I should have the jab later in my pregnancy. As I had it as a 10 year old it would also boost amunity. I'll be having it when due.

Cor, not read for days. BUT... DH is out for the evening so I had bizar collection of leftovers for tea, Mama Mia is on telly (no way I'd get to watch that with DH in the house) and some serious MN catching up to do!

Thanks for the link Tramp. I'm not sure it's that though as its my whole tummy and there's no pain (not like the sharp twinges). I wonder if I've pulled a muscle when shopping yesterday perhaps. Desperate for it to to be a sign that things are progressing so reading into everything at the moment (can you tell)?!

Emus - if you are worried I think go to hospital or speak to MW tomorrow. But it sounds more baby growing pains than baby worry, but if you are worried go check.

Pregnancy & birth magazine, yes that is right I bought a pregnancy magazine and shamelessly, has a bunch of clothing ideas and 20% off IO this month.

emus coming & going or constant? Post on pregnancy as well see if anyone knows?

It also has a cd of 20 lullabies

I also bought it earlier this month so I now have two copies. But copy I bought at train station didn't have a CD with it. Bloomin heck, I have been crap today. First of all it was the forget purse debacle and now this. Bah.

Yummy DH made me cakes today and I just ate 6- now feeling a bit sick but it was worth it!

dame I have the flu jab every year and apart from a sore arm it's fine, 2 years I have been pregnant and it's been no different so will be having it again and am all booked for a week Saturday! I don't know about the whooping cough but from my research it's for protection for baby so I will be having it regardless of if it makes me ill esp as I will be having baby early :)

Tramp I agree with your carrot and stick theory I am just such a stubborn mare it's hard sometimes- loving your plans for tonight and am truly jealous :)
I come home to a argumentative 9 year old in bed and a 1 year old who tipped milk over his head and DH laptop!

Myjob to be honest during the week I live in my work uniform which is a mans polo shirt - is huge on me so I'm not worried about growing out of that for a while! And men's combat trousers which are uncomfortable on me now but maternity work trousers are still too big. At weekends I have a pair of under bump jeans that I love but they're big too! I'm going out for tea on Friday night so I'm going to raid everything I have for something going out-y!

Manda - there weren't many at my school whose parents paid full whack, I definitely couldn't fit in with the people who were proper posh (one of them actually appeared as a debutante in Country Life!) but tbh they haven't done any better things with their lives than the average person. Looking back on it, it all seems to be a posh meat market. We had twinning a with boys schools and were encouraged to make contacts with boys from prestigious families. We have an alumni magazine where people give updates on what they're doing and most of it is tennis clubs and umpteen children called Rupert!
My bikini trimmer does not hurt at all, apart from when I accidentally nip a bit but if I had a guard I wouldn't have any qualms in using it without being able to see much.

Lexi - most of my friends at school were army brats :) I was a day girl so I used to invite the ones whose parents were stationed abroad over at exeat and half term, they were all lovely and down to earth and never asked me questions about what my parents did...aww I do miss them now, haven't thought about them for ages!

Dame - I have my flu jab tomorrow and I had to organise it myself, my MW thanked me for reminding her to tell her other patients! My DH got a letter from his GP inviting him for a drop in appt but I had to ring my dr and book a flu jab appt. I'd give your GP surgery a call as if they were going to send you a letter they would have done by now.

Gosh reading about how some of your workplaces have reacted to mat leave makes me feel very grateful for my workplace. There have been jokes about me not returning and they don't put up with me moaning about feeling sore or anything but they've taken all the things I was struggling with off me and asked me to tell them if I need anything. I've even been able to tag two weeks of my annual leave to my mat leave so I can break up earlier. They're sorting out my chair too, it's all stuff that is good practice I suppose but having come from two small private sector companies I appreciate how lucky I am that my work are helping me. I hope those who are getting problems at work find solutions to make life easier

Aw Sarah, sorry things are a bit rough at work. Yes, avoid stress if at all possible and please try to look after yourself. Hopefully the closer you get to mat. leave the more disengaged you will feel, so stressy situations won't leave you actually feeling stressed. I've heard from friends that this can happen? Hope things improve anyway.

So sorry Emus but I just don't know?phone midwife?

Tramp v. glad MW lovely. Thanks for lady garden trimmer tip! I think I will go down that road :-) Think you deserve sorry-for-self moment - not the most perfect thing MrM being away now, and if he comes back with good news re film job then it's tinged with sadness cos you'll without him for so long. Hmmm, tricky.

I had a very sorry-for-self moment when I got in earlier. Somehow it took 2.5 hours to get from BFI Southbank to my home in Oxford. AND I took the train to be quicker! 30 mins tube, 15 mins wait for train, 1hr 20 or something on the slow (off peak) train, 20 mins waiting for bus, 20 mins on bus. Which is all normal, but there was a really shouty woman sat next to me on the bus. Driver told her she couldn't get on (clearly a history there), and shut the bus down and phoned HQ. All the while we sat there she was shouting and swearing and shouting and trying to engage people. Eventually driver got the order to keep driving as they didn't have anyone to sort the situation out. So he drove on and she shouted all the way home, right in my ear. It wasn't too bad, but by the time I got home, after hobbling from the bus, I burst into tears and sobbed for about 20 mins. DH has sat me down in front of Bake Off with a hotchoc.

I know it sounds crap but I really wish I wasn't going to Paris tomorrow. I'm knackered, I haven't written my talk, I'm supposed to be delivering my book on the way to the Eurostar, it's not finished, I haven't packed, I can't be arsed, and I want to stay home and hibernate. I know I'll (probably) buck my ideas up later but I just needed a moan. Booooo! Sorry to be so doom and gloom!

Manda - moan. Moan some more. Have a sit down and enjoy it. Then sort out Paris trip stuff and tomorrow is a new day etc. But mostly get the moaning out tomorrow. You're officially allowed to.

Zoey - I am soooo looking forward to sulky children moments (not) :)

Hermione and Lexi, interesting to hear about your schools. Mine wasn't really that posh by comparison (just posh compared with where I came from, I guess). We had a model who was on telly a lot and kids of famous footballers. Sixth formers with sports cars, y-a-w-n. It used to be a boys school (actually a RC priests' training college) and we were the first intake of girls to go all the way through the school. No-one knew what to do with us so we got away with murder, looking back! Right, going to make onion gravy, my sole contribution to tea, bless my DH...

fanks tramp

Oh I'm not worried about it! There's no pain, just feels different today but I did some food shopping yesterday and I did over pack the bags and stretch so I'm thinking it's more that. I was hoping it was a sign that I'm about to feel the baby but obviously not!

Angel I only notice it when I stand up! When I'm sat down I've got the usual cramps (mild an not regular) and stretching.

Oh Manda, sounds like you've had an awful journey home. Glad your back now. I love the Great British Bake off but now I really want a cake! Also loving Nigella at the mo and Nigel Slater starts on Friday (move day - don't know how I'll cope without TV and Internet!)!

Me too with cake. The sponge on round 2

Reading the comments on flu jabs - I rang my GP surgery to ask if I could book myself in the flu jab clinic and they had to check if I was eligible. They only send out invites to people over 65 or suffering from a chronic illness like asthma. They allowed me to book in, so I'd suggest if you haven't received an invite you probably won't get one. No one has mentioned the whooping cough vaccine either. I give up.

Had my anomaly scan last week - passed with flying colours, and baby is a girl. Yay! She's also just started kicking, which is sweet. I have been warned it gets much less sweet with time.

Emus ? was going to say something to you, and totally forgotten! It was probably days past useful by now any way. hope your tummy is feeling OK.

Three ? re catheters, I was catheterised twice during labour with DS but only because was stuck at 9cm for HOURS and the MW said if bladder was full it could be getting in the way of baby moving down and holding things up. Sadly seemed to make no bloody difference! Wasn?t painful or anything, bit un comfortable having to stay still and on back to have it done but that?s it.

We just had changing mat on the floor last time round as no space for changing table but I?m hoping to have one this time as I wrecked my knees keep kneeling to do nappies last time

Ooo, Em, think I might have remembered. Was it you said you hadn?t really thought about names, prams and baby stuff in general? Well we haven?t either! Obviously as it?s our second we have most essentials, though will be needing a double buggy. But no name thinking and I still don?t think it feels very real. In the processes of buying a house so that?s perhaps part of it. Also hate my job so bit stressed with that so not a help. Mostly though I think I?ve just been feeling too grotty and sick to think about anything before I just fall asleep! Don?t think we thought about that much before about 20 weeks or so last time either.

Midwives, I?ve seen two as twice my ?normal? on has been on leave, but think I?ve only been three times! Both seem very nice though. However, last appointment a week or two ago she said I didn?t need to come back until about 34 weeks. Seemed to think that standard sort of MW checks would get done at hospital when I have to go for GTT and anti D appointments so no need to double up. Hope they do as otherwise seems a very long time before seeing a MW again! Don?t remember having usual checks when I had appointment for anti D jab last time (and didn?t have GTT). Oh well, suppose if I want to see her I can just book an apt.

Was getting worried about all the lady garden chatter, glad to see there are few others like me who don?t bother! Went through a phase of tidying around the edge with razor but gave up when PG last time and never done it since. Think I?m reasonably tidy, though don?t have a lot to compare to not regularly looking at others

Odd, hope all the physic kit is helping. Sorry you're struggling with it all.

Sarahs, sorry to hear work is so sucky. I hate my job, and am not doing well in it either (which feels horrid to admit, I flew in my last job and was so well respected, but I can't deny I'm not having the impact required here) so counting down the days here too. Well, would be if I?d decided how early to finish!

Manda have a good moan, hope you manage to feel a bit more prepared, adn if nothing else, it'll all be over soon! Don't think I'd have a hope of doign the amout n of stuff you seem to manage, you never seem to stop!

Right, that was a mamoth post and I think I might have made some vaguly relevent responses for once (don't expect it agian ladies!)

Whopping cough isn't until post 28 weeks I think and I believe some areas are sending letters and others aren't. BUT there is a big ad campaign in surgeries and MWs are meant to mention it.

Ooo, was there some talk of a meet up with actual date and plans? Can someone fill me in please. I could get to York from Leeds I reckon.

Emus my middle feels quite funny too at times! someone told me today that it looks 'a funny shape'

Seems like theres been a lot of busy days all round! I've had two full on days at work, really tired but at least I made it in so far this week! My boss was sending an email to the whole organisation to clarify some managerial and role changes, including mine. He asked me if I managed him mentioning my pregnancy in it as I look assuredly pg now and wear fairly fitted clothing. Either that or i'm smuggling cushions!

I think its really funny when people are snobby about others going to private/state schools, especially by time they're adults - as if thats all that you're going to have to you by the time you're actually living your own life! I went to a good state (Cof E) in London which was a fairly nice one (only a small amount of chair chucking accross the classroom!) DH went to private school, we went to the same uni, theres not a great deal of difference betwen us in our values or anything [shrugs]. If we had the money I might consider private school for dc's but only if they were facing going to one of the shit schools around here. Dh def isn't bothered about his kids going to private school though because he went or anything.

Hermione my work are being nice to me as well. Also really struggling with some of the reactions some of you have been getting :(

More materialistic exciting news; we've just ordered a sofa that we'll get delivered in November, and a tumble dryer thats coming next week! Christmas comes early around here - also criminally shows how much money we saved in childcare and petrol from me being signed off of work for eight weeks over the summer

Aww hermione exeats! Makes me feel quite nostalgic!
Sorry to all those struggling with unsympathetic employers & colleagues. I'm struggling a bit but in a different way - finding the commute hard (though easy compared to manda's! Hugs!) and feeling stressed about the lack of time to prepare before cover starts in Jan. Got a big review presentation dropped on me 'to help with my career development' and I know I will get a grilling during it, plus I have a phobia of presenting
Tramp must be difficult with your OH's job situation.
Sat here with a face mask on - so, so spotty, never known anything like it as an adult, I look awful but more worryingly they hurt! Got a big party to go to on Fri & just want to hide at home with my crochet squares. Night all & sorry to those I have missed.