February 2014 - Part 5 - The one in which nobody has ANY vomiting, heartburn, or random leg injuries...

[marzipanned]

Well, here's hoping!

misstopsy I'm also due 4th feb yay! Didn't realise so many of us shared that date.

That's freaky somany but sure he's wrong and everything will be fine.

Last night DH and I had a bit of fun with that Chinese gender predictor thing and the ring test. Both said boy! We have a private scan tomorrow so will be interesting to see if its correct. On the other hand baby was very calm at 13week scan which some say would suggest girl. Ver nervous/ excited about tomorrow. Tbh mainly finding out sex as hubby is very desperate to know and is very practical and wants to be able to buy/ decorate in advance. We only have a girls name tho, boys names just don't really appeal to me so don't know what I'll do if it is team blue.

Hope everyone is well.

17+3

I have just finished watching a movie called 'The Odd Life of Timothy Green' with my children and I couldn't stop crying. It was about a couple who could not have children and near the end when the boy who had magically appeared to be their son is going back to where he came from, I was in pieces. My children were laughing at me as I was in floods of tears. The film showed how the couple were so desperate to be fantastic parents and so desperate to be parents. It just got me so emotional and made me think how lucky I am to have been blessed with my 3rd precious little one. Some people will never be able to experience the joys and all the bad bits of carrying a baby. We are all so blessed!

Sorry for getting all emotional on you all. It was just a kids movie but being pregnant made it an emotional rollercoaster.

Could somebody add the link again for the Chinese gender predictor please.

15+6

I've got my 16 week midwife appointment on Tuesday :)

This pregnancy is still bliss! Can't believe how lucky I've been :)

Getting increasingly bloated! Bump is showing slightly - it kinda scares me >.

Sounds like it will work out tiny so that's good :)

Thanks for all the virtual hugs! Had a phonecall a few hours ago - they will not give me any money for rent because my rent is too high (it is completely average for the area) - and no money for food either at this point, was told to apply again in a few weeks. Good job my parents will feed us for now! Also been told that I will not be entitled to food money once baby is born, because I will not be available for work. How backwards! Surely they can't let the little one starve?! Bragging about being the richest country in the world, yet their own people get no help when in crisis. Am sorting out a meeting along with my doctor and counsellor to see if we can get some support with a few "authority" figures alongside fighting my case - I am just too tired.

We can't afford to move back to the uk without working and saving up for a while - and my other half is adamant he wants to stay here for the time being, as he still believes we can make it. Funny how things turn out! He is desperate to be in my home country, whilst I am desperate to get back to his. Going to make the best of it for now, and hope he will agree with me some day.

misskatamari hypnobirth sounds great, I want to do that - can you let us know if she recommends a cd or anything?

Awww littleen I hope the docs etc can help you get things sorted. It's absolutely ridiculous you won't be entitled to help!

I know this hypnobirthing course recommends the Mongan Method - I think there are books and CDs available on amazon. I've read lots of positive things about hypnobirthing so really looking forward to doing it.

littleen you can get natal hypnotherapy cd's (british version) or Hypnobithing Rainbow Sounds Cd with an accompanying book, Mongan Method (american version). I did a course in the Mongan Method. Just read up about the philosophy of hypnobirthing and listen to the cd's every night at bedtime (sleep is the ultimate relaxed and hypnotic state!) and you get conditioned to it. I still cannot tell you what is on the rainbow sounds cd beyond the intro music blush but it works! You should start no later than 32 weeks. Oh an practise the breathing techniques in the day time. Both types sold on amazon. There are also loads of videos on youtube of the visualisation and breathing techniques, plus some lovely calm labours and births.

that sounds great, thanks guys :) I will look into that!

littleen you can claim some UK benefits from Norway, including Jobseekers Allowance and Maternity Allowance, depending on eligibility. Have a look at www.gov.uk/claiming-benefits-move-travel-abroad/where-you-can-claim-benefits

Having one of those random panicky moments that not felt baby move yet. I guess as its second dc thought I'd feel it by now as 15 + 4. Any other second timers in this position? X

I'm 15w today Sassy and haven't felt anything yet. My instinct is that as I am still peeing a lot in the night that my uterus/baby hasn't moved up much yet so I won't feel anything while they are tucked up in my pelvis?

I'm 16+3 now with no 2 and no real sense of movement yet - I thought I felt a few flutters but not sure. Early days yet.

Thanks for the reassurance. It just seemed like everyone on their second was feeling movement and I wasn't. X

Woop woop 18weeks today. Has a much nicer ring to it than 17 weeks- boooooring.

Made my first purchase today- a baby gate. I know what you're thinking, but I justified buying it because I was going to anyway to keep the puppy from going up stairs. But it cost a fortune (unless £50 for one gate is normal?) because it was the only dark wood one, which is essential because all our oak doors, beams and stairs are very dark. It may look out of place in a 400yr old house but it will be fit for sir Wilfred Arthur Perciville (or his girl equivalent if its a girl, which btw is now a problemmo name wise, because as you all now know my surname begins with an S so she can't be called Peony as some kind sole pointed out that Peony S sounds like penis. Great. Back to the drawing board. Is Henrietta acceptable?) I'm rambling, apologies.

thank you littlest . I'll have a look and see if my other half would be eligible. I'm not a british citizen so don't have any rights when I don't live there I don't think, but he should have :)

shropshire Henrietta is a lovely name!

I haven't felt any movement yet, am nearly 15 weeks now - and I didn't feel anything when I saw little one kicking and twirling during ultrasound either, so I know it's okay :p

hey shropshire in 17 weeks today 17 weeks rocks!!!!

Was going to do add a little disclaimer after my comment bit I couldn't bring myself to do it! Keep up bare, 18 weeks is the new 17 weeks. Have you considered growth hormones?!

Somany that film sounds like I should avoid it! Having struggled for years for my first (IVF) boy I totally get those emotions. It was the worst thing I've ever had to go through. Never thought I'd have a surprise, ever! It's very very weird this time.

I am still being sick on and off at 18 weeks! :(

I am mystified how I can't feel something that's 14cm long crown to rump kicking about inside me. I'm quite petite, it's taking up a large proportion of belly space already so I just don't get it!
Haha at peony s/ penis! Delightful.

It won't be long before you can feel movements. This is my third so I was expecting to feel it much sooner but only felt definite movements a week or two ago when I was 16-17 weeks. I can only really feel it when he/she is doing full turns which makes my bump stick out at really weird angles. Sometimes DP can tell where baby is just by looking at the bump.
Off to ikea today for storage solutions for baby. We won't be moving now until he/she is 6m-1year so we'll all have to squish in to our bedroom. I'll probably turn a small ikea cot into a co-sleeper but as for clothes storage I'm still not sure. Anyone else sharing a room/co-sleeping or planning the nursery yet?

I'm 18 weeks today woo hoo although I feel sick again which is rubbish. Made worse by my cat being sick this morning which left me gagging and running to the bathroom straight after breakfast. Managed to calm it down but it's left me feeling gross

Oooooh just put my hypnobirthing and nct classes into my diary so exciting! Although nct is a whole weekend 10-5 both days plus the Monday night 7.15-9.45 - reckon I (and poor DH) will be losing the will to live by that point. What the heck are they doing having a class for pregnant people that ends at 1/4 to 10 at night - that's about 2 hours past bed time!

Milk I'm with you on not understanding how we can't feel a pretty massive thing kicking around in us yet! I've not had bubbles for a few days (but Doppler checked its still there lol) - hopefully soon well be getting proper kicks (and all moaning about how they're stopping is sleeping!)

Ooooh Stockport has got some festival on today which apparently has vintage market stalls and foods from around the world - hoping to go investigate and support it's attempts at not being shit scallie land! Hopefully stuffing my face will make the sickness abate.

Hope you all have lovely Saturdays planned and are feeling well

Awwww that's so exciting thingy - I sooo want an ikea trip!

Our bedroom is small so probably only be able to fit a Moses basket or crib unless we do some serious moving about and have bed crammed next to the wall etc. Don't really wanna fork out for things that the baby is just gonna grow out of really quickly tho so something like your idea of cot next to bed sounds really good (if it would fit ). Our second bedroom is currently our (ridiculously messy) office so we deffo need to figure out how to move things elsewhere. We have the long hemnes drawers in there (oh my god I love them so!) but they are crammed full of our clothes like every other available storage place so really don't know where we're gonna put things! Not gonna get a wardrobe as rooms not really big enough and I reckon we don't need one as baby clothes are teeny!

I really need to just start sorting my bloody house out! We just have so much stuff!!! It doesn't help that I do crafting too so just have boxes of wool and fabric and ribbon and buttons etc etc everywhere. Plus all the cookbooks in the world! I might start by going thru the wardrobe and putting anything that won't fit me for ages (pretty much everything) into vacuum bags to go in the loft/basement. Then a major decluttering before we can think about baby's room

I hope you find some lovely things at ikea!

That's what we've been struggling with too miss. I keep clearing away things we don't need to try to make more space but it never seems to make a difference. We have two adults, a 13 yo, a 10 yo and 3 cats in a 2 bed house so a new baby will have to squeeze in until we can move.
Good luck with the house clearing. It's not the most fun job but got to be done. I think we are just going for ideas and measuring up today but no doubt I'll end up spending money anyway.

Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better champagne. I've created a stash of healthy snacks to help curb my weight gain. Yeo valley yoghurts, carrots with houmous, loads of fruit, raisins and seeds. Anything to stop me from grabbing crisps and biscuits.