January 2014 (thread 9) Pregnancy half time is over. Fast growing bumps, braxton hicks and we thought we would worry less!

[Frizz1986]

Hope its ok me setting up a new thread.
Couldnt see one, but if I am just being blind please tell me.....

frizz yay for your DH! That must have given him a bit of a boost! Fingers firmly crossed!

space what an emotional roller coaster of a day for you! Plus insensitive cuntpuffin doctor didnt help! So glad you are back home again and the bleeding has stopped! Take it easy....

Well have been awake since 3.30am - feeling boiling hot - really hoping I am not coming down with anything. Sitting up drinking icy cold water watching trashy tv!

choco I go off on 15th Nov too! Hurray! 7 weeks to go after this week!!!

mrsg your DH is gonna be properly spoilt with that little feast!

sultana and choco oh so jealous. I have got until 20th dec to wait!

I also woke in the night sweating like anything. I was drenched! We even had the window open as dh had used tcp and put the cotton wool in the bin and it stunk the room out so needed some air.

bymoonlight i would have no idea..... Not done much exercise myself either so i just have back and hip pain but yours sounds frustrating. Hope it gets better for you.

I'm planning to stay in work till mid-Jan... Eek! V jealous of all of you with only 6/7 ish weeks to go!

Been up since 5... Woken by nightmare about hubby; good job he's back today after 2 weeks away with work! I've warned him to be prepared for my "new maternal curves" (copyright the Daily Mail, ha ha)

:o "maternal curves"! I had a bit of a panic the other night and was quizzing DH on whether he thought he might not love me any more when I'm all fat after the baby is born. He LOVES the maternal curves currently, but I fear he might not love them when they look like an understuffed beanbag.
Le sigh. Such is the life of one who marries someone far more attractive than they are! He reassured me, of course. But we'll see!

Sorry you've had a scary time, space. They said similar to me when I was admitted the other week. I was 23+6! I know it's true, but some doctors lack bedside manner.

I am properly in love with my Matalan haul. Everything I bought is great, fits perfectly and is super-comfortable. I'm going in to the store today to see if they have the PJ bottoms I bought online so I can get another pair.

Midwife today. I'm going to bitch a bit about the consultant and how useless he was. Also going to ask why my left boob is itching like you wouldn't believe!

Bymoonlight, I went to an antenatal class yday about pelvic and back pain and I would suggest that its a pelvic problem. You should probably go to your GP to get checked out as wouldn't want it to get worse.

Frizz we have the fan on every night and I was only sleeping under a single sheet. I am still feeling hot wearing just a t-shirt at the moment... Really odd! Taken my temperature and it's normal, but I just feel hot. Very annoying and a tad weird!

Toby you have been through it before so know what to expect, which is in some ways a good thing - no nasty surprises - but also I guess a bad thing for you as you are already worrying about the post-preggers bod! I am trying to prepare myself, but have to say, I am not sure I will be fully prepared for the ugly truth. It's definitely my boobs and belly I will be most worried about - the rest I can't really see (like my ever expanding ass)!

Matalan is the one place I haven't raided online. They didn't have anything maternity in store which was disappointing, although I bought two nighties in there in a larger size which are getting me through at the moment....

The pj bottoms I bought from jojomamanbebe which I thought were super comfy when I tried them on are now actually clearly far too big! The over the bump band is so loose it basically hangs around my waist in wrinkles, making them really UNcomfy! This will be the first time I will be actively trying to shrink a pair of trousers. However, the length is perfect, so will probably end up with ankle swingers if I am successful in my quest for shrinkage.....

The post-birth body is not pretty, that's for sure! I've been a bit lazy about my weight in the past year or so because I knew we would be TTC and it didn't seem worthwhile to try to get thinner, even though I got married in the meantime and will always have photos of me as a slightly fat bride. But as soon as this beast is out of me, I'm going to be back at the gym and working at getting a decent figure once again.

Re Matalan, I got:

These, which are not maternity, but I got a size 14 and they're perfect with loads of room in them still. I'm pretty sure they'll fit until the end. And they're like heaven to wear!

This, which I'm wearing today and comes way down past my bum/p, so is fine for wearing with leggings.

This, which is amazingly comfortable and looks really nice on. I wore it out to lunch yesterday and got several compliments on it. I figured it would do for Christmas too.

This, which will be great with tights and boots when it gets a bit colder.

And these, which are fab for slobbing around the house/taking DH to the station at ridiculous o'clock in the morning.

Honestly, everything is great. I don't think they do any of the maternity stuff instore -- it's all online. But you can collect it from the store, so you don't have to pay delivery. I am too lazy, so I made my order up to over £50 with the vest top, so I didn't have to pay delivery :o

Did we ever establish a FB group? I was thinking about it the other day and couldn't remember if it ever happened.

sultana - I'm 23 weeks tomorrow and have put on a whole 2 lbs in a week - could be the chocolate, but I also feel that my bump has grown too ;) I got lots of "but you're not showing AT ALL" comments at a university induction event last night... I keep thinking that I must be doing something wrong - I know that makes no sense!

frizz loving the cupcakes business idea. I used to work for a newspaper and remember interviewing these two young women who were running a little cupcake business from their own kitchen just on the side (whilst studying full time). They were doing deliveries to businesses - for birthday parties, conferences and stuff like that. Depending on where you live, that might be a good niche for you! Possibly easier than trying to supply local cafes?

angel I'm planning to work all the way up to giving birth! My boss has allowed me to work from home after Christmas, which is nice - so it will be ALMOST like being off... But I only get 6 weeks of paid mat leave, so want to save all of those for when bubbale arrives. I'm planning to take 6 months off, or maybe 8 if we can stretch our funds a bit. 9 months off would be amazing!

I got a question...or rather would really appreciate your opinions on this one.

Before I got pregnant I had applied to start a part time evening course at uni (it's a masters degree which stretches over four years). I have decided to start it this year and at least do one term (until christmas), and then see how it goes. The problem is that I will have to decide around christmas time whether or not to return for the second term...

The time commitment would be one evening a week (6-9pm) plus some extra reading etc. There is an exam at the end of the year too - although the mark doesn't count towards the final grade, so all I would have to do is pass!

I'm really excited about doing the cuorse and it's something I've been wanting to do for years. It means a total change of careers and would bring me a lot closer to the kind of job I know I would love doing.

The problem is that I also want to be able to focus on my baby (my first). The university knows about my pregnancy and they said they would do anything to accomodate me so I could continue (if I want). They could put lecture notes online and so on, and I wouldnt have to come in for a few weeks after birth. The "positive" thing of course is that I will be off work until at least the end of July, so in a way I might have more time to study? If there wasn't that screaming baby in the corner, and the night feeds... ;)

Am I trying to do too much at once? The alternative would be to interrupt the studies for a year and then return in January 2015 when the baby is a year old. What do you guys think?

lalunya I presume that if the studies did not progress as well as they needed to you would still have the option to start again in 2015?

If this is the case then I say go for it. Yes, it might not work & it will certainly be tough & require lots of discipline but you won't know unless you try, right?

Hi ladies I've been really busy so have been lurking on and off over the past month. Even though I haven't been commenting it's been really great to follow everyone elses experience of pregnancy. Glad to see most aare doing well. Big hugs to space (i think) about the bleeding - I've had it on and off and it's scary as hell!

lalunya I've just started a Law degree as it's what I've always wanted to do. We had fertility treatment etc which didn't work and were told we'd never have another child, so I enrolled. Of course as soon as I got accepted we found out I was pregnant. We are absolutely delighted but I am going to continue doing the course. Mine is fulltime but they have said the same thing to me about being able to defer my second trimester until the following September. However, unless I or my baby are very ill after birth I fully intend on continuing. I've worked so hard to get here and my husband works from home and so can shoulder a lot of the childcare. Plus, from experience, tiny babies are far easier than toddlers as they sleep a lot more and so I think I'm better getting the first year done, rather than trying to go back with a whirlwind toddler.

Either way you'll know what the right decision for you is, but with regards to the workload I would say it is totally attainable part-time. :-)

I'm another one who's had some worries about what I'll look like by January!

I've also been really warm recently, which is good as I haven't put the heating on yet!

Talking about studying, I plan to take a year out from my OU degree, but mainly that's because the next course I'm doing only starts in October and I didn't want to overlap with the course in currently doing. Also DH will probably be Afghan next year over the exam period and none of my local friends would be able to help as they all work, I don't think they'd appreciate a 4-5 month old baby in the exam hall!

sultana thanks love - feeling much better today, my DH said much the same as yours. 44 more working days. Minus the six days of leave - that means 38 more working days. I can do it.

bump size wise - I say SOD em all. Everyone has a view on the 'right' size, but they know NOTHING. My Mum had a v delicately worded conversation with me, which was clearly leading up to 'are you being careful not to put on too much weight'. I told her I'd put on 6lbs, and that the mw wasn't worried, and that I was well aware of not gaining too fast/too much, and that I was 6 months gone. At which point she did some fast mental maths, and went 'oh yeah. I thought you were 5 months'. Ha.

Space god how scary, you poor thing. Hope you're okay now.

another hope you feel better soon. Colds are GRIM when you can't take anything.

MrsA Scratch what I said about H&M. I ordered 10 days ago, my order is now 'being packed', when I emailed to say WTF, they said 'oh, well, it has to come from SWEDEN and then be sent on to you'. SWEDEN. FFS. If you can't get maternity wear to people quickly, don't fucking tell them their only option is to buy online. Cuntpuffins. And it's a £4 delivery charge, with no 'free to collect in store' options. Bah.

Tooth did you stitch by hand, or do you have/use a sewing machine? I'm considering asking for a machine for my birthday, to do exactly those sorts of things. Would love some advice, if you have a sec.

angel maternal curves sound like a brand of panty liner

Frizz I'm still boiling all the time too. I am wearing v thin maternity combats, flip flops and a short sleeved top today, and slightly sweaty already.

toby I have 'slightly fat bride' pics too. I don't care, I had a brilliant time getting slightly fat, and I made up for it by dancing like a possessed woman (I am Rock Bride, complete with scrunched up face, flabby arms above head and Fingers of Rawk extended).

lalunya I'd give it a whirl. You sound passionate, and if you decide it's too much, it sounds as if the Uni are supportive.

Phew, I think that's almost everything.

Just got to nip home to have lunch with the pooch. Got to work early today so I could come home and check on her with dh being out all day.
Decided to add some last minute dumplings to my stew for lunch

What belly pains are people having? I have been having a weird dull ache since yesterday. On and off normally lasting for a few mins but it seems to keep returning. Its not sharp and almost feels like bubs is pushing into my belly as where ever the ache is my belly seems much harder.
Just wondering if anyone else has had the same. Dont think i have any discharge change and no bleeding. Have damp bits in my pants but have had them for ages and when i called mw she said it was probably pee (yay) and not to worry if a pant change isnt required. So dont think anything is leaking...... i really hoped that by this point there would be no new aches and so i would feel confident that i knew what was going on!

Humpty it does rather, doesn't it... Maybe I'll launch my own business! GLAMOROUS

Frizz I quite often get a pain mainly in my lower right side which is accompanied by it feeling slightly harder, I've also just assumed its baby pressing against something.

Goodness I don't know how you ladies remember everything everyone has said! By the time I've read everything and come to post my mind just goes blank!
space hope your still feeling better today.

Frizz good luck to your dh. It can only be a good thing if they gave him a heads up about a more suitable job opening. He must have impressed them! Will keep fx for you both.

No belly pains here but I am getting quite bad pains in my knee. Think the nerve must get trapped every now and again as it's really sharp stabby pains that radiates down my leg. Assume it's just a side effect of the loosening joints but will mention to mw next week anyway.

Jealous of you guys with so little time left at work. I've 56 days left. I think I'm planning the same as you Frizz. At work till the 20th Dec, holiday till the 3rd Jan with mat leave starting on the 6th. I'm planning on going back on the 1st Sept so Dh and I can have the summer together.

Anyone using a birthing gym ball yet? We have confessions of the birthing ball at yoga so going to dig mine out this weekend so I don't have to admit I'm not using it yet again I have been told it's really good for back pain and getting bubs into optimum foetal position whatever that is!

Have to finish off the cupcakes tonight. Could be a disaster as never tried Italian meringue before. And it's puppy training tonight as well

Humpty how have you only put on 6lb?? I think I've put on close to 20lb!!! Unless I'm really underestimating my pre-pregnancy weight or calculating it really badly! I do have a very sizeable bump!

Lalunya, I think I'd do it. It's only 3 hours a week and it sounds like something which really interests you. I started a college course when DD was 3 months old and it was lovely being out of the house with adults for a few hours a week, and actually using my brain!

Frizz, if the ache/hardness is just in one place, I'd say it was probably the baby sticking its head/bum/knees into you. If your whole bump goes hard it's more likely to be Braxton Hicks.

I've put on 4kg. 8/9lbs? But I was a bit squishy to start with.

Lalunya, I'd do it. I'm going back to my part time masters in September, only because there is a big deadline and quite a few teaching blocks in Jan which can't be moved or deferred, so I needed to defer the whole year. I'm very lucky that my employer support the course, and allow me to work on it during work time (within reason).

I've been getting achy/sore bump which lasts for about a day about once a week at the minute - I think it's growing pain as I seem to be really popping at the mo!

In good news, my physio appointment has come through for next Friday. Hurrah! Hopefully they can stop me from feeling like I've been kicked in the crotch all the time.

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone - I think I'll go for it and if it absolutely doesn't work out there'll surely be a way out.

I've put on -1lb so far but weight has been going up rapidly (1lb per week minimum) for the past three weeks, so I'm hopefuly.

Toby - I was ill for a long time too, so still making up the weight lost in the beginning.
Nature - I bet you have a lovely round big bump by now! I keep moaning about how no one can see I'm pregnant yet - I guess we always want what we don't have!

toby those yoga pants are similar to what I wear on a daily basis. They are my pregnancy staple and soooo comfy!

humpty my mum said something similar to me! We are so different as she barely had a bump and actually was the same weight when she gave birth to me as she had been pre preggers!!! How is that possible? I on the other hand have a sizeable bump and have packed on around a stone....

toby I told myself I would swim lots but have only been a handful of times, so I will join u in the gym after bubs pops out!