Graduated Elderberries (thread 2)

[Cavort]

Oops, seems we ran out of room without noticing!

What an awesome picture! And Hazle's right - you look beautiful and really really happy

I'd forgotten about that. That episode was hilarious!

Well I've only got a few random stray ones but they are properly WHITE. I refuse to fret about it, I won't be able to see them for much longer past the bump anyway I've got one persistent white eyebrow hair as well, I just keep plucking the bugger out every time it grows.

Lol - OH was mortified at discovering his own grey eyebrow hair... he has none elsewhere on his body, so I found it amusing that he was so concerned about this stray. Bless.

The worse thing about the downstairs issue was that at first I thought it was something else, like excessive bump cream application. Now that's a disturbing thought process to go through, I can tell you!

Anyone else keep getting a red bump? I think it's an oestrogen thing, or an excess heat thing from extra blood, but it is quite amusing. Like a giant red nose in the middle of my body...

Been in a photoshoot today so just catching up! I got excited by some of the things I've got to look forward to (buying baby grows and thinking about first pics) and not as excited about others (grey pubes!!)

cavort love your wedding pic!

I'm busy being anxious about everything being ok - I'll be 5 weeks this Thurs (who slowed down time?) Roll on first scan!!!

Oh and what do you mean I could've demanded a Mulberry on my wedding day? Missed a trick!

Alex but now you can demand a push present!

A push present? I've just read another thread where a woman was saying she didn't have a bump photoshoot because her DH thought it was a waste of money and she really regrets it now, but she did have a bump cast made. Am I unusual in not wanting either of these? WTF would you do with a bump cast? Put it on the mantle?

Alex yes I think we both missed a trick there. The hilarious thing was her gift to him - a photo album full of massively airbrushed 'tasteful' pictures of her in her underwear or naked... which cost £1000 and was basically just another gift for her. He would have much preferred new fishing rods.

Yes the time does move in slow motion before the 12 weeks scan. I can't even say find something to take your mind off it as I know it's impossible.

Hm you could use the cast as fruit bowl, I guess.
I can't imagine my pregnant belly photos on the living room wall either.

cavort my wedding photographer (who was great) does bridal boudoir photography shoots which is basically the same thing, I told her thanks but no thanks, he can see me in my underwear anytime so pointless, and it's not like he'd have them framed on the mantelpiece for his mates and MIL to look at!

A bump cast?! Not as bad as those vagina casts they do at a place in Brighton we saw on my hen do...but still! [Grin] at bump cast fruit bowls. I have to confess I do want bump pics (I know, I know) but only because my stepdad is a photographer so would do them for free. Can't wait for him to do my baby shots too (DH would be very impressed with how positive I'm being there, talking about things I'll do with the baby without being all anxious!)

My Sis is in labour! I can't tell anyone in RL so you lot will have to allow me to get excited here!

Waters have gone, the rest of the mucus plug (a bit went last week) has gone, contractions are 4 minutes apart, lasting for about 90 seconds and they're off to the hospital! Looks like it's a goer!

My BIL is apparently running around like a headless chicken in total panic and has taken an hour to make some sandwiches. Men!

Ooo, I could be baby cuddling tomorrow

Alex I am taking weekly bump photos on my phone, but i'm not even sure why. Just curiosity I think as I want to see it grow even though its stubbornly remaining quite small.

Vagina cast? That's DH's next birthday present sorted then. Do you think I need to get it done now while it's still intact?

Ah lovely, good luck to your sis! Is this your first time being an auntie? Do you know if it's a boy or girl?

And why not go for before and after vagina casts?! Double up as bookends?

'While it's still intact'

I've never understood what you're supposed to do with a bump cast either, or why you'd want a picture pained on it. I haven't taken any photos of my bump but I do sort of regret it a little bit now as I think it might be nice to look back and see how much you've grown. I don't mean posh studio ones, theres just not a single picture of me pregnant yet and I've been this way for quite a few months now! Ah well, on the plus side, there's no evidence of me looking like a whale either

Congrats on impending Auntiehood Cavort, it's unexpectedly the saddest part of being an only child

Good call Alex. Fanjo bookends for DH's next birthday. He will be overjoyed!

It's my Sister's first and it's a boy. My Step-Sis has 2 though so I'm already Auntie to them.

So, has she had the baby yet? So nice that you are having the babies just a couple of months apart!

at before and after casts. Could use them as candle sticks as well, would certainly get a conversation around the dinner table going.

Alex, you're really making me laugh with the fanjo bookends. I am NOT looking on your shelves next time I'm round - heaven only knows what I'll see!

cavort - exciting!! any news? I bloody love being an aunty - sometimes I worry I might not love my own as much as I adore my niece and nephew (they're both amazing) - so you'll have a few months of that to enjoy before becoming a mum. How exciting. Plus you can try out nappy skills on your nephew, so that you've fully mastered it when yours arrives! Your DSis can handle any poo up back accidents, and then you'll be able to avoid any poo-gate episodes yourself!

(although apparently poo up back incidents are pretty much guaranteed. yuck.)

Nope, no baby yet

She is fully effaced and 2cm dilated so he's definitely on the way, but less than 4cm is classed as latent labour which can last for days so she has come home to mope. They've already lost a nights sleep and it's not even established labour yet... I am dreading it! She is contracting regularly though so FX for some progress today.

Janey I remember my nephew having quite a horrific poo-up-back incident when I was changing him. I put him on his front and was cleaning his back with wipes when he spontaneously produced a massive pile of vomit. He couldn't hold his head up at that point so his head was lying in sick and there was poo all over his back. I think my reaction at that time was something along the lines of, "Who on earth would have one of these, they must be mad!"

Important to know in case of poo-up-back incidents - you don't pull the vest off over their head, but roll it down instead, that's what the openings at the neck are for. At least won't get the poo in the hair as well. Apparently many experienced mums are surprised to discover the option.

My sis was also in labour for days, certainly not fun. Mine is still in transverse judging by the kicks, so if he does not turn, CS it is..

Much excitement this morning! yay to impending auntiedom Cavort and the fanjo candlestick holders could be the perfect Chrimbo present for my mum... (She likes having nice candelsticks on the Christmas dinner table)...

I saw the photobump thread earlier and I think I'd like some, as a reminder. It's a totally amazing thing growing a baby from scratch, and I really don't want to get through the whole of pregnancy without any pics to mark this nigh-on year of my life. Any pics of me looking white as a sheet on Xmas Day (10 weeks) do not count.

Was hoping that holiday to Greece would be perfect no-fuss option. But let's not talk abot that

We'll see.

One of my friends is exactly four weeks ahead, so I'm hoping to get pre-Baby Bear cuddles as a warm-up act - tho the timing might be tight!

Hazle have you looked at www.spinningbabies.com yet? Baby bear likes lying transverse, so I tried the inversion stretch the other day, just for fun. Remarkably, it did go vertical a little while afterwards - my bump looked really slim all day! - and stayed vertical most of the day (tho this might have been coincidence). Apparently transverse lies are more common with low lying placentas, and the theory is that they go transverse as they don't have comfortable room to go vertical in - this is more common if you sit slumped at a desk a lot as there'll be more room towards your back IYSWIM.

The day I did the inversion I also sat leaning slightly forward all day and it did stay there, only slipping back round in the evening when I had my feet up.

Could be total coincidence, but must be worth a try?

In other news am having a hen-do crisis. Going on one this weekend, no dress theme or anything like that (phew) but couldn't find anything to wear. Got something from ASOS that looks lovely on the tall, long-blonde haired model, but on me, it's a little big (size 8) and I just feel like a total frump. It comes below the knee on me, makes me look short, and it doesn't show off the bump in a way that would be useful - (ie to encourage folks to be gentle) - just looks like I've stuffed a pillow up.

Given that the maternity offering is atrocious in this city, and Good Friday (not always good for shopping) is my only chance to rectify situation, I'm a little alarmed. The girls I'm going out with are a bit younger and a bit um brassier? So I know I'll stick out like a sore, swollen thumb. OH meanwhile thinks this is how it should be, because I'm pregnant.

I got my conference in Barcelona approved, nice.

Now I have the same problem though Brave - I'll be 34 weeks pregnant, probably the size of a house, and need 2 decent work suits and a dress for a gala dinner. Will be a total pain to find. Will have to wait a bit though with shopping to see how massive exactly I am by that time.

Oh and sure I''ll give the spinning baby thing a try. Would love a neat slim bump!

Trust me, it's so weird - never realised bump could be such a different shape!

Great news on Barca conference! That'll be fun - when is it? Hope it's not scorchio for you then...

I left it late too for the same reason - but regret it somewhat now... if dress fitted ok, would work for late in pg as it's elasticated and expands. And, I think it'll be perfect for another wedding in June, but a hen do? Eek...

brave - I think you make a truly excellent newsreader. Good work.

I have bought very few maternity clothes, but alex saw this dress on ASOS before her BFP and sent me a link to it, and I had already bought it! I'm tall so love maxi dresses, but I think they look nice on everyone, so thought I'd share.

In terms of an evening thing, I (thankfully) bought this too, and took it away with me, which meant I amazingly had something vaguely nice to wear on the evening we got engaged. Lucky. Anyway, it's knee length on me and I'm 5'11, but I didn't look horrendous in it, which is quite remarkable for current circumstances. Is that any good, or too frumpy?

Cross post bear, sorry.

I'm going to a wedding at the start of May and have to do a short reading in the church - have NO IDEA what I am going to wear to that and am already depressed at what a heffalump I'm going to look. Not sure how late to leave buying it - I'm thinking two weeks before should be OK?