Graduated Elderberries (thread 2)

[Cavort]

Oops, seems we ran out of room without noticing!

Not too early at all Alex - from the time I found out I was pg I didn't sleep properly. Got better - but prob not until 12 weeks for me I'm afraid. I couldn't tell at first if it was excitement or hormones - but then it lasted so long, and when I was completely exhausted, that I soon put it down to hormones. Drove me bad - used to be up from 4 or 5 am every single day. Exhausting!

Been up since 5am today though - too excited! And baby kicking loads - quite glad as he/she was v quiet yday. Although kicked off when DP popped the question!!

Hmmm. I meant mad, not bad...

It's not even that I'm tired, that I can deal with, it's that I worry I'm not getting enough sleep for my body to do all the pg stuff it needs to do. Then again I'm anxious about most things being bad for the pg right now, really trying to relax!

Can't believe I didn't ask this already - did he get down on one knee when he did it?

He did! And for some reason when I said yes I got down on the floor too?! My dad got a pic of it from their hotel balcony!

Don't worry about not sleeping - someone once told me that the baby takes what it needs from you and leaves you with the rest. So it's poor tired you that gets the hard part! Plus it's so common - sure we've all been there. Try to get an afternoon nap today maybe?

40 is the new 30 Janey, haven't you heard?

That sounds like a lovely proposal, very romantic and what a beautiful location. The Ring of Kerry will be stunning... even in the rain. My DSis lived in Ireland for years, mainly in Cork but she had spells living in Clonakilty, Shannon and Galway. I used to pop over quite regularly on a weekend and we'd go exploring (I know they get slagged off, but god bless Ryanair and their cheap-as-chips flights!) She moved back here about 4 years ago... with her Irish DH in tow.

Alex I would like to be able to tell you that the insomnia gets better but 26 weeks in and I am still waiting. I second what Janey said about afternoon napping. They are a life-saver!

I can't wait to see that pic janey!

Thanks cavort, I'm going to try and squeeze an afternoon nap in. We're going round to the in laws today and DH wants to tell them, I'm not keen to as I feel like it's more pressure on it, but I've told my mum and some very good friends so would be a bit mean to stop him!

DH is so funny, we were getting the tube home last night and he made the man in the pregnancy/disabled seat give up his seat for me to sit down! The man was looking at my obviously-not-showing-at-all waist suspiciously!

Congratulations Janey! So romantic! Were you expecting the proposal or was it a surprise?

Pregnancy seats reminded me - do you guys also have special check-outs in supermarkets for pregnant women? I never paid attention to that before, obviously, but we do have them over here - well others can use them as well, just that they're supposed to let you go first. Happened to stand in one and the check-out lady insisted that I should go past everybody - honestly, was odd, as I don't actually have any issues with standing and waiting. I'll probably appreciate them in a couple of months, though.

Wow, that is much more romantic Janey, I got an envelope thrust at me as i was walking up the stairs to get changed that contained an engagement card with a ring selotaped to the back!

I've never heard of pregnant lady checkouts Hazle, we certainly don't have them in my part of the world, what a thoughtful idea though.

I'm wondering if I should start trying to do the bulk of it online anyway if the midwife has told me not to push a shopping trolley (Oh coming and helping is obviously too much to hope for, knobhead). Don't like the idea of other people choosing my fruit and veg though as I'm fussy.

Purple I was dubious about online grocery shopping for the same reason. I thought the fruit and veg would be horrible and the fresh stuff would have short dates. I have used Tesco and Sainsbury's and I am pleased to admit I was wrong, everything so far has been top notch. The first few orders took bloody ages though!

Purple has your MW or Doctor officially diagnosed you with PGP/SPD? (I have no idea what the difference is!)

I'm asking because I have started with an unexplained pelvic pain. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like I have been kicked in the groin really hard and now it's bruised. Except I obviously haven't been kicked. It started on Friday morning after I had taken the dog out in a blizzard and 6 inches of snow. I thought I might have walked funny in the snow but it hasn't gone away yet so I wonder if it's the start of PGP/SPD or even something else?

In other news I just popped to Asda to buy some floor cleaner and accidentally bought loads of Summer romper suits. They were so cute, I couldn't resist! We had better not have the same shitty Summer as last year now!

Yes I'm afraid it sounds terribly familiar although I really hope it's not mine hurts all over but the worst pain is between my legs sort if where your knicker elastic goes if that makes sense and your description sounds the same. Just try to rest it's and keep your knees together as much as you can to avoid straining your pelvis, it's all you can really do. You can buy support belts but I don't know if they're actually any good or not.

Oh and FYI don't think there's MUCH difference between the two but the leaflet my midwife had given me says that pgp represents pain in the whole pelvis not just the symphysis pubis (pubic bone at the front) so yours might just be spd if you're only getting the pain between your legs. I use phrases like 'just' and 'only' but don't mean it like that as I know it's bloody painful. I've also been told I can self refer to physio but I'm reliably informed by another pg lady at work that it won't help at all.

Yeah by that definition it sounds like I'm starting with SPD. It's not bad at the moment, just a bit uncomfortable. Is yours getting worse as you get bigger or did it start off agony and has stayed the same? I've just Googled ways to alleviate the pain and it said to get on all fours to take the baby weight off the pelvis. Fine while I'm at home but I'm not sure how well that will go down in the office.

I've started getting a bit of reflux as well. I've got a feeling the last 13 weeks are going to be loooong!

I'm afraid to say it does get worse as you get bigger. Although I've already had mine for about 6 weeks so if yours is only uncomfortable now rather than painful perhaps you'll be ok for a while?...I'm just trying not to be a harbinger of doom as I'm afraid I'm in a sorry old state with it all because the 'sides' of my hips are knackered too and I've got a lot of lower back trouble so I'm just desperately hoping you don't suffer as much as me! Midwife said to avoid pushing or pulling things (vacuum, shopping trolley etc) as this makes is worse and to avoid walking too much. Give yourself plenty of rest stops on the sofa and hopefully we'll get through it. on the plus side, the majority of the pelvic pain apparently disappears the instant you give birth.

Now we just need someone who has got some GOOD news!

Oh and if you find a magic cure for the reflux do let me know as I've got that too. I know, I'm falling to pieces.

Even with the little bit that I have, I can imagine you are really suffering with it. You have all of my sympathies, it must be absolutely horrendous

Only time will tell how bad it's going to get I suppose. For now I'm grateful it's not that bad.

There doesn't seem to be any cure for the reflux. I am just trying to stay upright as much as possible and I will be pestering my MW for a Gaviscon prescription when I see her (I can't believe how expensive it is to buy a small bottle! )

I cheered myself up slightly yesterday by ordering a pram and car seat, and I bought loads of nappies and wipes from Sainsbury's as they had 1/3 off all their baby stuff. I am starting to feel reasonably prepared now. Prepared buying wise but nowhere near prepared for the birth and for a little new human who is dependent on me.

Luckily I haven't had too much trouble with reflux/heartburn, but gaviscon does help.

Good news is that it's Easter weekend! Will certainly enjoy the days off.

Hm, talking about clothes - I'd like to get a nice matching outfit, for those first photos, but can't decide what size to buy, newborn (50 cm) or 1 month (56). First of course there's the chance that baby is early and we'd need a premie clothes. But if he's on time, then DH is 6'4 and the chances are that the baby might be taller than average. Then again, if he is just 50 cm then 56 would look funny, wouldn't it? What sizes are oyu buying?

Oh sod it, I'll just get both sizes Got my yearly bonus payment today anyway.

I have been thinking the same Hazle. The first 2 sizes here are Tiny Baby (up to 7.5lbs) and Newborn (up to 10 lbs). Chances are that Tiny Baby will fit at birth but like you say, which size do you buy when you just don't know? I also concluded that I would have to buy both so she doesn't look like she's wearing a baggy sack on her first photos in life.

Having said that, I have been looking around for the perfect first outfit and can't find any I really like. It's that same old issue that everything is covered in flowers or stupid slogans.

I know what you mean, we don't want the first photos to proclaim our PFB's "Little Princess" or "Naughty Monkey"!

Here, Petit Bateau seems to be "the" brand, have got quite a lot on ebay, but thought I'd check the website and get maybe the first outfit new. OMG the prices! 30-40 euros for baby pyjama?? They do have some cute things though, so maybe I'll just get this 1 item..

I haven't bought anything special yet but I've bought a few basics in newborn size (they seem to do the size based on weight here so newborn is for approx 7lb baby). Given that I'm only 5ft and OH is only about 5.7 or 8 I think unless I'm really late chances are I'm not going to have a massive baby. That's the theory anyway!

I was so late they insisted on inducing my mum and I was still under 7lbs...then again she went into hospital with her dressing gown pocket filled with packets of fags. This lapse in judgement does not stop her telling me that she knows it all about raising babies and I'm wrong about absolutely everything. She did give up smoking once I was actually born so apparently that's ok.
Her gems of wisdom this week have included:
About my bump measuring small 'well you look massive to me'
'The trouble with you mums these days is you think you know it all'
And 'they do too many caesarians these days for no reason, you didn't get that in my day'
Give me strength because sometimes I would gladly strangle her.

Oh cross post Cavort, how funny, the newborn stuff I've bought says its for a 7lb baby?

purple - something that might offer some comfort. Alex and I have a lovely pregnant friend, who has been really suffering throughout her (second) pregnancy with morning sickness, followed swiftly by PGP. She was in agony from really early on, and we went out in January with her and she was hobbling around really slowly, and having to get taxis everywhere because she was in so much pain even walking or standing. Anyway, I saw her a couple of weeks ago, when she was 33 weeks, and she's now fine. Basically I think the baby has shifted down into her pelvis more, and just like that, it's like she's cured. She says she feels better than at any other point in her pregnancy. So maybe, just maybe, the same will happen to you. Fingers crossed!

And lordy - you're all so organised. First outfit for photos - hadn't even thought of that! All I've bought is some babygrows in white and beige....

I was a decent 3,5 kilo (which is about 7,7 pounds) but sister and niece were both almost 9. Will see PILs this weekend and ask about the average size on their side - I do doubt I'll be lucky enough to get anything under 7 though..

I have been stocking up on cheap multipack babygrows and vests (as they won't fit for long and they're only going to get covered in poo), but I agree that first outfit is worth spending a bit extra on for the lovely first photographs. If I can find one I like that is!

Useful information is coming in thick and fast from my work friend who had her baby a few weeks ago. She says her best advice is manage your friends and family's expectations of how soon they'll see you after the birth, as she was inundated with visitors while struggling to get BF established and she wished they would all go away and leave them to it for the first week or so.

She also said she wishes she had expressed from the start as her baby is currently feeding every 1.5-2 hours so she struggles to get a break. She is expressing now so Dad can help out a bit but she feels like she's playing catch up.

And get a cheap plastic jug to pour over yourself when you wee after the birth as apparently it is agony without!