Due in July - Expanding by the day

[kbaby]

Thought I would start the thread.

HC Sorry that our MIL is like that. I guess theres not much you can do apart from telling DH to stick up fo you. My Mil is ok but has her odd ways. She was against me bfing and was determined with DD that she would be dressed in pink frilly dresses. Soon put a stop to all that and I just used to ignore her comments.

The kicks argetting a lot stronger now. They are still fairly low down and sometimes in my bladder.

Im glad im not the only one breaking wind like a trooper. Im almost afraid to bend over in work

Im hoping to go back to work 3 1/2 possibly 4 days a week. Im going to put DD in nursery 2/3 mornings but mil will have both the rest of the time. Id love to do less but when I work out how much id lose its shocking and weve just extended our morgage for the extension. The other option ive got is to work in the call centre and do shifts but I dont fancy the weekend shifts. Im too frightened to tell my mnagaer yet.

My parents live 150 miles away, DH's are 200 miles away (not that I mind being so far from my in-laws ). When I left home at 19 with nary a backward glance I didn't think there would ever be a time when I wished my mum lived closer - how times change! I do miss my mum being around, as we have a much better relationship than when I lived at home (I was v stroppy teenager, and suffering bouts of depression as well, so kind of took it out on my parents )

Had a lovely day in sunny Bristol today. Went round to a friends for supper and silly board games last night, which was most enjoyable. Then spent time reading the papers and pottering about the garden. Got loads of washing done and out on the line. Will have to get off my bum in a mo and get the tea on - think its a 'throw together whatevers in the fridge' kind of day today!

hi all
what a lovely day - just spent the afternoon having lunch with a lovely friend and mooching about down upper st, where every second woman was pregnancy (what's going on?)
as for the babysitting I realised v early on that we're going to have to find a very reliable babysitter - PIL live 000's of miles away and Mum in another country and no GP's so ............. you guy's with regular babysitters are v lucky.

Evening ladies,
Ali - I pay my babysitter (a 15 year old) about £3 an hour but she's the DD of my friend and my DD is 10 and no bother so I'm really just paying her to be on call and sit and watch the telly. I think my SIL pays about £5 per hour - I think it depends where you live and how old/difficult your kids are.

Yeah - £3 an hour is how much we pay too. Until very recently, we've made sure dd is tucked up in bed and asleep before we go out (which admittedly means going out after about 8pm which is a pain). Fortunately though, the babysitter is doing child development at school and really wants dd to be up and play with her. DD had other ideas and never wanted to see her and got hysterical at the idea of it, until the last time, when they bonded over a Henrys Cat video and both were beaming when we left!! Made such a difference.

It was hard when DD got upset, and I also find it harder to motivate myself and her if we haven't been out for ages (can seem like too much trouble etc), but it makes such a massive difference to the way dh and I communicate - even if we're dog tired and grumpy, we have such different conversations when we're out and on our own than we do when we're out with her or on our own at home (can't explain why or how).

Might be worth finding out if any of your local schools or colleges do child development courses or similar, and putting the word out there...?

Went to mothercare today to try and find a suitable double buggy. They are all so heavy I dont know what to do.

My skin is really dry since pregnancy. Im covered in body lotion but it makes no difference and im sure ive found 3 strech marks

Morning, everyone else iced up this morning? Took forever to deice the car!

Congrats on your exam results bumpybel, well done .

Re the babysitting, as my inlaws look after DS full time at the moment we feel we can't ask them to babysit on an evening as well. My parents live 100 miles away so that isn't an option (although a big relief for me as we don't get on that well). As DS usually wakes up during the night we don;t really want to leave him with someone he dosen't know very well. May have to see if SIL might be interested in exchanges as they go out a lot but have 2 sets of parents babysitting for them.

I also have very dry skin that itches badly. Trying to rememeber to moisturise morning and night to keep it at bay. So far no sretch marks. I got them on my sides and undersides of my boobs last time .

re the buggy the jane powertwin is very light and not side by side so shouldn't be a weight imbalance with a toddler and newborn.

They are expensive but we got ours off ebay so saved a bit.

Morning ladies

How are we all today?

My bump is soooo tight and solid-as if there is no fluid in there. The baby can't possibly get any bigger as there won't be any room. Am on hols this week thank goodness as feel shattered at the moment.

Bought 2 skirts last time (before the MC) but they don't fit now. I will be able to use them after the baby is born but am getting desperate for something to wear. I ruined my pair of black maternity troos by washing them with new towels v. senior moment! DH has told me to go and buy a new pair as he is embarrassed to be seen with me in them but took me long enough to get them as had to visit 2 other towns then pay for them to be shortened-grrrhhhh!

kayzed-nice to have a new car and go at your own speed. ((xx))

I bought a new pushchair which is suitable from birth but will use my M&P big pram with proper carry cot for madam to lay flat out in for the first few months and have been considering getting a buggy board for DD to stand on when she gets tired. I was hoping that as she will be 3 in July she might be able to walk further.

Worrying about all the things I need to get done by July so think at 30 weeks I will pack my bag. DD will need a bag packed so we can whisk her off to grandparents on the way to hospital. Also need to get DD's 3rd B'Day presents sorted as won't be able to after the baby is born. Am doing a cross stitch sampler and am even worying about not getting that done! The garden needs seeing to but struggling to bend down and we haven't even started the nursery. IS THIS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR ?

Right, must go before I bore you all to death.

Byee for now and have a good day.

((xxx))

Oh yes bumpy-congrats on your exam success!

((xx))

Hi Everyone

Hope that you all had a good weekend. It did nothing but rain here but today it's lovely and sunny, so hoping to get some washing out and maybe even some gardening done!!!! If I can get up and down ok. I've been in pain with my sciatica all weekend. Got stuck halfway up the stairs last night Funny now but wasn't at the time. Also been having loads of BH, every 4 mins for almost an hour at a time, on and off during the night. DH was panicking a bit, bless him. But everything has gone quiet this morning.

HC - Don't worry I'm beginning to panic a bit too as so much is going off at end of June, beginning of July. Planning to start getting my bag ready after Easter hols. Will be about 30 weeks too. It's DS birthday at end of June and he's vice captain at a international tennis event the same week, so will have to cross my legs if I want to get any tennis watched. As DH is at work I'll have to get him there and back each day. It's cool as you do get free tickets and get to chat with some of the players too. DS was due same day that 'Blob' is but came early, so we'll have to see what happens.

Off to town this morning to see about some paint. DH is planning on decorating the hall and landing this week, so had better decide what colour .

Take care and chat with you soon.

HC same here seems to be so much to do . We are moving bedrooms again. Just got DS room sorted and worked out it would be easier to fit 2 beds or bed and cot in our room so we are swapping, which means cleaning and decorating our room first. Just got the wardrobe and chest of draws for our new room and transfering clothes this weekend. Beds move tonight. Hope it all fits as our new room is smaller.

Also ordered a dishwasher this weekend (slimline) comes next week. Can't wait one less job for me to try and fit in .

The list is never ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morning all! Lost the plot as not been online since Weds!!
Can't catch up with all the news so just wanted to say hi and hope you're all well.
I have an appointment with a general surgeon today having been referred by my own consultant. They are going to check my sphincter function (try saying that after a bottle of vino collapso - though of course none of us are getting pissed at present!).
I had a bad 3rd degree tear with dd 3 years ago and so they want to check how things are before we decide if this is a vaginal delivery or elective section. I may get a balloon put up my bum......
Agalch - you're so lucky that your 3rd degree turned out to be a 2nd!!
Anyway, appt is at 2pm so I'll be back after that to share the full joys of a rectal exam!!!!
Ah, pregnancy and childbirth - nowt quite like it!!!!

Quick question!

Does anyone know what happens to your maternity pay, etc. if the company you work for goes under?

Hi Ladies, been away and am back relaxed and happy, Centre Parcs really is a lovely especially with discount from Mumsnet.com!!

Feel fab even though in work, Easter on its way cant wait for all the chocolate, Weekend sitters for us this weekend as we are off to a wedding, just 1 night but a total treat to have some real adult time for myself and DH. Babysitters all live 200 miles away so in-laws coming to stay while we are away to look after DD who adores them. She will be spolit rotten but then once in 2 years why not!! It is hard not having anyone to babysit. We even had freinds to stay with their DD and we went out and they stayed in, sounds weird but we have done it the other way and it is really important to have time away, just not having to think about a small person for a few hours.

Jersey, your (SMP) Statutory Maternity Pay should be ok, but you shuld get in touch with your HR department (Personnel) and the DSS to check what you will need to do, it won't happen automatically.

Anyway love to all

Hi all,
Lovely sunny day here again. Been out in the garden this afternoon. Did you know you could get climbing plants that actually smell of chocolate! I brought two today am looking forward to the flowers, so I can sit and smell them all day...

I've never really been that interestd in gardening before, this year I cant stop. Must be all those hormones.

Spub - My little sister had a balloon put up into her cervix when she was trying to have her dd. She was late and had to be induced, but the little bugger still didn't want to come. So they inflated a balloon inside her and attached it to some string. My sis had to gently pull it every now and then.

She said it was brill, coz otherwise she would have had to have a c-section.

Still, dont think i'd fancy it!

I hope everything goes well with your appointment and you get a good result.

Well all this fresh air is making me shattered, I know it's far too early but I am off for a lie down. Hope you are all well, will catch you all again soon.

Evening all!

Puddy.. hope youre feeling a bit better and more mobile. Hour long BH's sound like hell. I think I've been getting them, as my tummy goes like a rock and feels very low and pressured, but it normally only lasts for five or so mins and is after i've been still a while. How old is your DS to be a tennis vice captain?

HC I know what you mean about things feeling very tight in there. Sometimes it feels as if theres no room for anything else at all. Feel like a big tightly blown up balloon!.. and theres still twelve weeks to go!

Spub... hope things went ok with your tests and that it wasnt too painful. At least by now it will be over

Pink! Chocolate smelling plants!!!! Where do you get them from and what are they called? My garden is flooded with the daffs that I planted last year... really glad we did it now, as i definitely couldnt be arsed to start faffing about with the garden too much this year! But i could maybe manage to plant something that will smell of chocolates!.. Although may be too tempting to eat the leaves!

Hope everyone else is nice and relaxed and not getting too stressed. xxx

DH has been working on the baby's room since Christmas, still not finished! Think this is because it has been his study/den/junk room and he is slowly saying goodbye to it :o So far most of the junk has been cleared out (terribly important things like broken bits of computer, model aeroplanes and A-level Physics notes) but the knackered old PC is still there, albeit on its last legs. There are also patches on the wall and floor from where we ripped out the vile fitted furniture when we moved in 2 yrs ago. Mustn't complain because he works long hours at work and then comes home to plunge into DIY.

kayzed, we've always been like this - I want to throw stuff out, he wants to hold on to it 'because it might come in useful'. We've also been together nearly 10 yrs (since he was at uni) and some habits are a bit set!

So jealous of your sunshine and your flowers...our daffs aren't even out yet up here!

Still enjoying the holidays though - my mum has just come back from Zimbabwe (been there for over a year) and will be here until at least after the baby is born. It is lovely being able to pop round to see my mum.

Starting to chase up my appointment for my foetal cardiac scan as I haven't received it yet and was told I would have the scan at 24 weeks (which I am now) I phoned the hospital yesterday and they said they'd get back to me...surprise surprise they didn't!

Hi to all!
Well done to all of those DIYErs and gardeners. We really need to get moving, too so it looks like Easter will be a DIY bonanza at our house!

Thanks for the kind wishes re my appt yesterday. It all went ok and there was no balloon!!Had a very, ahem thorough examination and was told that my sphincter muscle tone isn't bad and that I'd managed to "get away with it" last time. The surgeon was surprised that I'd managed a 3rd degree tear without any manual intervention such as episiotomy, forceps or ventouse. Apparently it's pretty rare for it to happen "by itself"! Anyway, given that it DID happen and that I also retained the placenta he's recommending that I don't take any chances and that I have an elective section. Feel ok about it as although it's far from a walk in the park the outcomes are more "predictable".
Still can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would choose to specialise in bum holes......