Due October 2006, PART THREE!

[Gemmitygem]

Thought I'd start a new one..

But will make sure no-one's left on the old one.

Hope everyone is blooming and not too hot!

Yes Swizzler Im having terrible trouble sleeping. I got up at 3am for a wee then woke at 6am Which is realy annoying cause my 2 ds alarm goes off at 7 to get them up for school so by the time I got back to sleep it was time to get up again to get them ready. Doesnt help that I wore a new (size 20!) nighty to bed and it felt like a bloody straight jacket cause every time I rolled over it stayed put so I was totaly tangled in it. To top it all I went to a bbq last night and ate chili con carne and rice which was realy yummy at the time but I had to get the Gaviscon out in the end as the heartburn was just too much!!!So I dont feel very enthuastic about anything today and Im going to my cousins who has sorted loads of baby stuff out for me and is making a pic nic lunch for us. Realy dont fel like it but I suppose Ill put on a brave face and pack my Gaviscon..

Poor you Gingeme - heartburn on top of no sleep . I hope you have a nice lunch and get lots of baby stuff.

yes, it's so hard to work out exactly what causes the heartburn.. like sometimes it's just a bowl of muesli and you're getting the 'path of fire'!

I'm restless at night too but mainly because of the heat.. end up stuffing pillows and duvets under bump and under knees and can't get comfortable. But I'm sure it gets worse later in the preg! I definitely think a bit of exercise helps though, as then you're more knackered (I speak as someone who doesn't have kids already)

hi folks, so much to catch up on in only 10 days!!

Gingeme - glad to hear your scan went well

Wuzzlefraggle- hope the wedding went well

Seona - best wishes to your mum, mine had a heart attack at 46 yrs old and lasted another 14 years so I hope she's feeling better soon.

I'm feeling a bit fed up too - I think it seems that I have so many things to do and just not enough time to do them, particularly as I just can't seem to stay awake in the evening yet when I get to bed can't get a good night sleep, too hot, back hurts, sore hips, oh well, best get used to it as it's unlikely to change any time soon.

Have many of you decided when you are going to stop work? Originally (at about 12 weeks) I thought I would go to end of Sept (due on Friday 13th Oct) but as I am expanding minute by minute I think the middle of Sept is more realistic, as am not sure will be able to fit gargantuan belly behind the steering wheel after 36 weeks - but it is so difficult to predict what you are going to feel like in another 3 months time!

Is everyone else feeling really huge? Have just seen a picture of Geri Halliwel 1 week before her cs and she looks the same size as I do now, am beginning to think I am in danger of exploding before I have to give birth!

Oh well - will keep applying the mother to be oil - does anyone have any tips for not getting stretchmarks or is it all a load of baloney?

Take care x

Hi jmcmugwump, don't forget that pictures of Geri Halliwell (or any other celeb for that matter) will have been airbrushed, steam rollered, taken from unrealistic angles ... They're not real, or at least the pictures don't portray the real people. (They're probably not as blobby as us either, but they've got personal trainers.)

As for the stretchmarks, I've heard that applying cream doesn't make any difference as they form too far below the skin's surface. We're supposed to not gain to much weight. (How the hell we're supposed to avoid that during pregnancy I don't know, especially as we have to nourish ourselves and our babies and I can't resist the choc ices.)

So I'm not the only one becoming a mum without a mum. How are you finding it, jmcmugwump? I'm ok most of the time, but then something happens - like the first time I felt the the baby move - and I'm off.

Yes, my bump is expanding hourly (as people keep telling me - thanks for that). Stoppped weighing myself but I've prob put on at least 16-18 lbs so far. It's mostly on the bump, though, so I do look v. pregnant. If one more person asks me if I'm having twins I will scream!

The prob with leave is that I'm planning to only take 6 months so would like as much time with baby as poss. Also, as I was a very late arrival and I think OH was late as well, the chance is that this one won't turn up on time either. I don't drive, but the bus could get interesting! I'm getting close to the date when I need to let HR know when I'm leaving and am still undecided.

Just bought a load of shower jellies from Lush to go in the freezer, plus some foot and leg gel from the Body Shop. Any other tips for managing the heat?

Sorry to tell you this ladies but cream to stop stretch marks is a good advertising ploy. But I am pleased to tell you once youve got your first set you dont usualy get too many more each baby you have! I call mine my go faster stripes! Foot and leg gel however are heaven especialy the Avent ones. I have been pregnant through 3 spring/summers and got a free sample of one with my first ds and have bought it eversince while being pregnant. Especialy if you have a relaxing bath and a willing dh to rub it in for you.Talking of celebrity preggy pics Ive always fancied getting the one done like I think it was Demi Moore when she was preg and not wearing much . It was black and white. I thought it was beautiful. Though Im nothing like her and as you said it was probably air brushed and that sort of thing. Like all the ladies in the Mothercare ect catalogues dont seem to have any stretch marks.....On a lighter note my lunch wemt very well and my cousin and I had a good girly gossip while our ds played with sand and water. They had a whale of a time and I came home with lots of goodies. Feeling a bit better now. xx

well I have fallen for the marketing scams! When pregnant with DD got loads of Clarins body oil from people for my birthday, and have to say didn't get any stretch marks. I do have them from puberty, so my skin is prone to them. Not taking any chances and am smothering myself in cream this time (though as it isn't my birthday til April having to settle for the Boots own brand!!!) If you can afford it I would give in and buy the Clarins stuff!!!

majornoo - me too, love the smell of the Clairins stuff, I should really have shares in the company.......I get through about 3 bottles with each pregnancy ( and this is my 3rd baby, gulp )
smells lovely though

I love the Clarins oil too and have only just found out (after having used it on two pregnant bellies (mine of course!) that you are meant to actually put it on before your shower and then shower it off. What a waste ? I think I will continue doing as I have always done and put it on after my shower or bath.
Went to the Kent and Carey sale the other day and got a few little dresses for the new baby as I feel that she needs a few of her own things considering that she will be wearing all of her brother's clothes for the majority of the time.
Glad that the weather is cooling down at last though it does not seem to have altered anyone on public transport's caring side. I thought that it was bad enough when I was PG with DS1 that no one offered me their seat (especially when I was overdue in the height of the summer). I was then amazed to see that no one offers the slightest bit of help when trying to get a buggy off a bus. Now that I am both PG (and certainly showing) and with buggy, absolutely noone offers seats or helps me with the buggy off the bus. As soon as someone realises that I am PG they look away, obviously feeling that it is best to ignore me rather than do something as kind as offer their seat. There is my rant and I feel a lot better for having got it out!!
It is amazing that we are soon entering the third trimester. Before we know it we will have our little babies. A girl I did baby massage with last year had her baby at 25 weeks and the baby is now a beautiful healthy little girl. She weighed 800g when she was born. It is certainly strange to think of giving birth now but wonderful to realise that there is a strong chance of survival at this stage.
DH looking at footie which is probably why I am writing such a long post. Anything rather than sit down to watch!

Oh my God I so hear you Tigerlion. I take my 2 Ds to Bedford every other wkend to their Dads. This is half hour from Arnos Grove to Kings Cross then an hour to Bedford and unless I take my 2 year old ds out of his buggy and carry him no one offers me a seat on either train. They shuffle their papers and pretend there is something realy interesting out of the window! So bloody ignorant.Though I must admit the majority of the time I do get help with the stairs either up or down. Though buses are a different matter. If no one moves even when I say excuse me I just run into them and if they throw me a look I just say'well I did say excuse me!'. Im not scared to speak my mind when it comes to ignorant people

hi all,

re the clarins, I also bought it because my cousin said it stopped her getting stretch marks. I also put it on after the shower, can't think why they would say before.. But all that's in it is plant oils.. do you think something like walnut oil or olive oil (!) would work as well? It makes sense that oil would work more than cream.. I'm putting loads of moisturiser on morning and evening and letting it soak in, but starting to feel like one of those people who gets greased up to swim the Channel .

re the rude people on the tube, I would just say 'would you mind giving me a seat? Oh, thanks, that's so nice of you!' That's the German approach, (actually they would be even less apologetic and say 'I want to sit down, please!) and it works! (cos they can't say no!), also I think it teaches them a lesson. I'm quite a big mouth (or assertive, as I prefer to call it ,), and actually tell people to get up for oldies, pregnant women etc if I've already given up my seat and there are still those in need of one; I'm not embarrassed: I think if people interacted with each other in public and dared to speak out there would be more of a sense of community

Oh dear.. ranting again.. I'm turning into Disgusted from Kazakhstan

Swizzler, am also suffering in the heat. Cold showers help, and also keeping moisturiser, shower gel in the fridge. It's really irritating when people say, 'ooh, you'll be heavily pregnant RIGHT in the middle of summer: that will be hard, won't it!'

Hadn't thought about keeping the moisturiser in the fridge - will give that a go. I'm using the Avent stuff, which isn't too pricey and smells nice, plus Lush's Therapy massage bar in the evenings. No diea if it will help with the stretch marks, but it has sorted out my dry and itchy skin

My foot is still really painful so am hobbling around looking pathetic. I'm getting an idea of what it will be like to be waddling about at 8-odd months pg at a fraction of my normal speed. Now I know it will be REALLY BORING.

Cooler again today - hurrah!

What did you do to your foot Swizler? Yeah its cooler today. Everyone feels less stressed and tired when its a bit cooler. I put the baby stuff in my machine last night ready to put on this morn. Put in the Comfort and turned the machine on thus realisisng Id forgotten the Fairy!!! Doing it all again now with powder. Doh.....

glad the weather is cooler, but interesting to read of bad expereinces on public transport - I have never had a problem, ds was born early September so very big during hot summer and always got a seat - used buses a lot too and agin not a problem - maybe I am scary looking or something! Or motherhood has made my memory selective!

Might try the avent oil - thanks - if nothing else I can persuade dh to give me a massage!

Seona - thanks for the 4D scan stuff - hope it goes well and your mum is improving.

Hana-I've been through 2 bottles of Clarins so far already-hence my move to the cheap Boots stuff!

you can be a second class citizen when you are pregnant and travelling on public transport can't you. Very annoying.

Whiffy-not sure I can make 11th July (though will work on it when I get back) but the August date should be fine for me.

Anyway, I will not be on for a week or so as about to leave work to start my holiday. Hurrah!
Have a good week everyone.
See you when I get back from watching my friends down red wine and scoff runny cheese all week!!

Have a good one majormoo XX

Have a good holiday Majormoo. If you can't enjoy the red wine and runny cheese, at least you can enjoy everyone else having a hangover.

I'm feeling a bit slobbish about stretchmarks. I've just been using normal moisturiser. I feel shamed into going to the Clarins counter. It might be expensive, but compared to the amount this child is going to cost over the years, I guess it's a drop in the ocean. I'd use it after a shower as well. Call me cynical, but doesn't using it first mean you just need to use more?

My sister gave me some nice mother to be oil from Neal's Yard, although I don't hink it did much to stop her getting stretch marks - probably due to the fact that she was overweight to start with and put on 3 stone - rather than the ineffectiveness of the oil! Fortunately i lost about 10lbs before getting pg, so am now just back to the weight I was before I dieted, am hoping that will keep them at bay, but I think it is kind of inevitable and not much we can do to stop them.

Dogmum - I'm finding it really tough to go through this without Mum, there are so many questions I have about what it was like for her and I will never know the answers, plus knowing that she will never know any of her grandchildren is really hard . Dad can't remember much so there is little point asking him, plus I don't think men got that involved then (1973)! Fortunately my sister had a baby a couple of years ago so she is very good for support, and I am trying (when my brain will remember) to keep note in a little book to pass on to my daughters just in case, will probably make quite good reading in 20 years or so!!

JMCmugwump and Dogmum and anyone else who no longer have their mother around, it must be tough not having their support, but do remember that they must be watching you from somewhere and helping you along the whole path to motherhood. My father died a few years ago and I was very emotional as DS would have been his first grandson. He was a great father and I am sure would have made a great grandfather. DS has his name as his middle name and has many similar characteristics to my father. Whenever I get a bit emotional thinking of my father, DS looks at me and smiles or laughs which really sets me off. Must be those pregnancy hormones!

Quite agree with you Dogmum about the waste of using Clarins oil before shower. Must be a marfketing ploy so we use double the amount! For anyone who really wants to pamper themselves, have a Clarins antenatal massage at any Clarins beauty studio which are in lots of department stores across the country. It costs around £30 and involves an hour of sheer bliss. You come out smelling and feeling absolutely fantastic.

Hope that everyone is coping at work. When I told my boss about my last pregnancy he made me redundant, we took them to court and funnily enough, we won. We went to court when DS was a few months old so I had it hanging over my pregnancy and once DS was born. Put a real dampener on things but made all the better when we won. If anyone gets any grief at work from being pregnant in any shape or form, don't let it go as the government is very favourable towards pregnant women treated unfairly. Anyway, the whole thing meant that I had no job to go to once that DS was born and I have delayed the going bacfk to work thing until the children are settled at school. The job I did would have paid noweher near the cost of childcare so I am quite happy to be a stay at home mum for the while. It is tough financially but it is so lovely spending time with the LOs.

I was prescribed a Codeine type pain killer by my GP as I have such excruciating back ache. Apparently it is fine in pregnancy but I really want to avoid taking something too strong. Has anyone else taken something similar and if so did it relieve the pain?

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend full of pampering if you get half the chance!

Gemmitygem - i actually use extra virgin olive oil and and am very pleased so far - it's also much cheaper than the posh stuff!

I've been very fortunate with being offered seats on trains - have been offered 3 so far, so have not yet had to stand up for an entire journey. People must feel sorry for me! Although it usually takes a couple of stops and most people do pretend you don't exist. I guess I've been very lucky.

I've lost both my parents, and do feel very emotional if I let myself think about it. I fortunately have very nice in laws. Very touched today when my MIL said that she's just bought a pattern and wool to make the baby a little hooded cardigan! That would have been just what my Mum would have done. Had to really stop myself from bawling on the bus when she told me!

To top it all I had an anxiety dream last night that my DH was deeply attracted to another woman. The way he looked at her in the dream was so distressing to me! I woke up completely unrefreshed with my duvet mostly on the floor, so goodness knows what I was doing in the night!

jmcmugwump, I wasn't feeling that huge until I went swimming the other day. The moment I got out of the water I felt so very heavy that I had to sit down for 10 mins to muster up enough energy to carry on!

Can't believe it - 24 weeks tomorrow - another milestone, ladies!

I'm on hols from Saturday for two weeks, so hope you all have lots of fun and carry on growing nicely!

Have reached 24 weeks and it's such a relief! Incidentally, when are you '6 months pg'? Presumably if the whole thing lasts 9 months it can't be at 24 weeks - would 26 weeks be about right? And when does the third trimester start? Sorry for all the q's, but I've managed to lose my pg book! Quite how you can lose large, bright pink book in a small flat is beyond me. Perhaps time to sort out the junk

Not sure what I've done to my foot, but it's painful to walk on. Probably a strained muscle or something. It's also a bit swollen and sore. If it doesn't improve over the weekend, I'll limp along to the GP.

Update on pg cravings: red stuff. Red meat, red fruit (esp cherries and strawberries), red fruit tea. Also lots of cheese - I think that baby may be having ANOTHER growth spurt!

Majormoo and MRs Blobby: enjoy your holidays

Feeling MUCH better today as had a good night's sleep . Prob as I went to bed at about 6pm last night . How those of you with small children are coping is beyond me. Hats off all round.

And today is 'officially' the happiest day of the year - so enjoy!

Have decided that 24 weeks is 6 months - this is based on nothing apart from the fact that if I think of myself as 6 months I have an excuse for being so bloody huge

Mrs Blobby - I have already told DP that if it's a girl it will have my mothers middle name, but my sister had also decided the same thing, she already has a boy, so we are having a race to see who can get to use Mum's name first - anyone would think we were both still 12 years old (we're not by the way)

Has everyone signed up on the Pampers website for free vouchers and stuff? They have a few other interesting things on there too.

Does anyone have any thoughts on these Grobag things? - My sister says she wishes she had used one & will def get one next time round, and her 2 friends swear by them, they look a bit restricting to me but am prepared to be convinced.

hi all,

MrsBlobby, will try olive oil then (as surely can't be much different, Clarins only has plant oils in it, nothing 'magical!'

Re counting, it's complicated isn't it, because we all know what week we are, but people always ask how many months, and it's 9 calendar months but 10 months of 4 weeks (phew!) I'm 24 weeks now, tell people I'm 5 and a half months..

hope your foot gets better soon Swizzler and you get a chance to rest it..

mugwump, what are GroBags?. I know what you mean about the names, my cousins have bagged nearly all the nice great grandparent names already, so will have to hurry up..

Still struggling over a boy's name. Have Gabriel, Corin, Toby, Samuel, Robin and Jonathan at the top of the list.. what do you think? I want something unusual and quite Biblical..

just time for a quick one - grobags are great! Stops the baby kicking off covers and getting cold and waking up! Baby has to be 10lb+ to use them if I remember, and we got the 1.5 tog (I think) - it is the middle one, so a cover could be added if necessary - although our house tends to be quite warm (terrace). Don't remember our ds being restricted, although I think he went to the second size a bit earlier than stated (ie at 5 months rather than 6), and when they move up a size, they baby looks tiny again, as there is so much growing room!

Good weekends/holidays to you all.