February 2014. Bodystockings at the ready. We make pregnancy sexy.

[DawnOfTheDee]

Ok we don't. We're sick a lot, cry at adverts, moan about back/hip pain and if we got a quid for each new stretchmark generated we could all give up work and employ a nanny.

In fact if you know any teenagers feel free to show them our threads...we are the most effective contraceptive since sliced bread don't ask.

Ladies...as you were....

Just trying to upload my bump pic now!

Thingy what do you think of the schools that are closer? That journey doesn't sound doable at all on a long term basis. Hope you can get something sorted soon.

Oooh i need to take a bump pic! I'm definitely feeling much bigger round the middle now (although i think side bump may be made of mostly nutella).

Sooooo knackered from school. They got a crap OFSTED before summer and now its just ridiculous pressure with loads of days when people from the local authority are in and might come and observe you, so you need to spend ages writing lesson plans in a specific way which probably won't even get looked at. It's so frustrating as this week I have spent all my frees and hours after school specifically writing out all the things I am going to do in terms of SEN and differentiation etc - when what would be best for the kids would be using the time to mark their books and give feedback etc. Of course non of the plans got looked at either (not even by me as if i can't remember how to teach a lesson once i'm in it after 8 years there's a problem!). Part of me is counting the days to maternity leave due to all the stress we are being placed under, but part of me is a bit sad about going off as I really like some of my classes this year, especially my GCSE groups and it would be lovely to help them finish the year and do well. I just hope they get someone decent in as my cover.

Julietee - you mentioned yesterday wanting to do some crafty classes. Have you thought of learning crochet? I taught myself easily using "The Happy Hooker" by Debbie Stoller, and youtube videos when i needed to see stuff and there is just sooooo much cute stuff you can make, especially for babies (blankets and toys etc).

I was hoping to be productive tonight but I think it is bath and bed time! I just love bed so so much. Sorry some of you are struggling sleeping. Touch wood i've been mostly okay so far (a bit of insomnia here and there) but I'm sure the aches and pains will start soon so I'm trying to get maximium sleep whilst I still can.

Sorry for those suffering with SPD too, it can be so horrible. My friend has had it with both her pregnancies and has been signed off both times as she's a teacher and could barely hobble around on crutches for more than a few mins. I hope some physio etc can help ease the pain a bit.

lol - the joys of crochet why???

julietee and anyone else booked onto NCT classes - when do yours start? November seems so soon! Wish I could make the Dec ones nearer my house but date clash

Misskatamari I could have written your post about ofsted and school! We are exactly the same - been so close to tears today because we are not actually able to pay attention to what matters (ie the kids)! We also had a work scrutiny foisted on us this morning, which hod knew about yesterday but didn't say Anything about as we had a late night last night so she didn't want us doing extra work at home... Ridiculous!

With regards to last post about putting my foot in it with parent and contradicting info that someone more senior said, I spoke to Union rep and then the head and she wAs actually fine and said that I had clearly just been trying to give the parent the full and honest picture, so relieved about that!

Strike day tomorrow for us and school is closed. I am really counting down days to maternity as moral is so low in our place at the moment...

Will post bump pic tomorrow as ready for bed now and can't be bothered to walk to a mirror!

Sorry for whingey post but just feeling stressy headed!

Also ch1134, I'm doing private classes and mine start 12th nov- seems really early to me too, but I was told thAt the next set would be cutting it close to due date.

thingy definitely try anf appeal at one.of your local local schools, that commute sounds absolutely impossible.

choco and others I think it's just your situation that determines when it's best to finish work. I'm having to move back up to be nr family so will stop at xmas.to give me time to gey settled there.

For ppl more clued up than me my manager told me today I had to get paid for my AL accrued during ML and I couldn't take it. That seems wrong to me...

Bump pic coming up, it's amazing to see the difference in everyone's in just a few weeks!

I will definitely appeal when I get the official 'no' on the local school place. I had a really good cry, the first in years and I felt much better. Ds2 isn't bothered either way so I need to relax a little and admit that this is out of my hands for now. Thanks for the advice everyone it has really helped.
Love the cute bump pics on FB.

Hi everyone, loving the bump pics!
I put a photo on of the fabric letters I got for the wall above his cot. I love them, I've got them stood up on my dressing table and keep looking at them
Baby appears to have turned around and is now facing my back which is very uncomfortable as he is kicking my insides instead of the front of my tummy! Anyone else like that?

On my way back from Brussels. Can't wait to collapse into my own bed! I'll do a bump pic tomorrow. Bump is mainly wind at the moment, and I can't really let it go on the train...!

I'm officially starting maternity leave at 38 weeks, and I have a week's annual before then. But I only need take an extra 8 days annual to finish work in the 20 Dec. I have a horrible commute and loads of leave accrued so it's a very attractive prospect right now.

I made the mistake of looking at my tummy button earlier. It's gone all stretchy out and weird! my bump has grown so quickly in the last week. I have to admit I love lying flat on my back as it's like a football under my skin then

Champagne that's what I thought...! If I want to take my leave I should have tje right too. Glad Glad it's not only me who thinks odd. I'll try and discuss it as was hoping to frontload it in jan.

Laura I've been feeling her occasionally kick my nowels and I think someone else mentioned that ad wrll. Very strange. She was really quiet today but booting away now. So disconcerting when u don't feel anything...it's just th start of worrying abt them isn't it?

Nowels = bowels

I'm never going to learn how to use these smartphone things

Winter I'll second what others are saying re annual leave accrued during maternity. It's up to you whether you take it as leave or money and not your manager. Speak to someone in your hr and get them to correct your manager.

Ch Mine start around the 12th of Jan, if I remember correctly. November does seem early, but I guess it depends on availability in your area. Then again, maybe Jan is late! But works for me because my brain has decided to be all superstitious about practicing labour stuff too early incase I bring it on - bad, bad brain! Seriously, I can't even watch Midwives.

MissKatamari Thanks for the craft tips :) I tried to teach myself crochet once but shall have another go with that book! I love blankets so this will be good motivation.

I really sympathise with all the teachers. My mum was a teacher and department head and it was horrifically stressful almost always. You brave ladies.

May have gone to TK Maxx to check out the baby clothes today and come back with a onesie that says 'My dad's a geek' as a present for DH :D Who, less wonderfully, then thanked me with a germ filled kiss. God I hope I don't get ill.
I also hope my frickin wall neighbours don't leave their alarm on for HOURS tonight again. I went to talk to them about it thisevening and she just said 'Oh, he's one of them that takes a lot of waking up'. That's not MY problem! Stop making it my problem! If you're too old to hear a high pitched alarm, get a lower pitched one, morons.

Sorry to side track, but teachers - it seems that EVERYONE's schools are "failing" and requiring additional monitoring etc.... Is it Goves plan to fail everywhere and then turn all schools in to academies? I had friends work at PRU's and as soon as the govt decided that they would be phased out they all pretty much "failed" inspections and were shut down. My dm is a teacher and just been through another estyn inspection (Wales) as her school is failing. Its such a load of bollocks. Rant over.

missk I had just started crocheting a sleeping pod for baby and abandoned it as not feeling very inspired. Might make it a lobster instead now

julietee crocheting is great when you get in to the swing of it (I restarted my first project 25 times!) - the work grows fast so you feel a quick sense of achievement. Yesterday I crocheted a newborn hat, booties and half a cardigan for various friends babies die this winter. Hopefully I can start making something for my own baby soon! If you like sewing, then Amy butler has some nice books with patterns for babies.

I agree about the teaching being so stressful at the moment. my husband is a primary teacher, having retrained. His previous work area should have been really stressful but he coped just fine. He loves teaching but moved to a school where a combination of a bitch of a headteacher and so much pressure to keep up with all the additional work tipped him over the edge and he was eventually signed off sick and resigned. He's trying to find a part time teaching job now even though the difference in pay will make a big impact on us.

Been awol recently but just catching up. Had a late night dash into hospital last night at 11pm as baby decided to stop moving yesterday afternoon after being very active the last couple of weeks. Due to our stillbirth last dec, hospital were v good and asked us to come in for monitoring. Needless to say, once we were in there baby started kicking the Doppler but felt better for being there.

Winter - I'm also front loading some of my 2014 leave in January. I'm sure as a minimum they have to carry your leave over, payment for leave is sometimes an option but shouldn't be forced on you.

I'd never trust an Ofsted report again. My son's school was rated as Outstanding when he began in 2007/8. Its a wonderful school and very popular. The staff in particular are amazing and have a lovely relationship with parents. After a 2011 Ofsted, the school was marked down as Satisfactory, quickly turned into an academy and 70% of the staff, including the head, left for other opportunities. It seems quite odd really and such a shame for schools that are trying so hard to do well in tricky situations.
I'm off to view a school today actually. Even though it's oversubscribed, so ds2 probably won't get in to year 5, I might as well keep the appointment and take a look because this will probably be ds3's future school. Now, viewing a school for an unborn baby is some serious forward planning. Might as well check out secondaries and Uni's for him too.

Oh, so glad everything is ok callooh. That must have been scary. So sorry for your loss last year.
The guidelines of checking baby movement every 90 mins seem a bit much for me. I can't say I notice movements that frequently but I do 'check in' with baby twice a day and give him a poke for peace of mind.

Thanks for the replies after neurotically checking everything about NCT before booking! It's booked, and we start in Nov - all seems a bit too soon and real but I guess it is!

Hey all, I am new here. I have been active on the hyperemesis thread but only just found you! I am 22+6, smallish bump, due 15/02/14.

I haven't felt the baby move yet, this is my first. I have a home doppler and check the heartbeat regularly so I know he is ok in there. I do have really painful wind a lot of the time and I wonder does that affect my ability to feel him?