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....

pettyprudence Thanks! I've never got past the second row of crocheting before but will redouble my efforts :)

Thingy Apparently in normal circs we're not meant to do kick counting til the start of the third trimester - 27 weeks ish.

Yay for NCt bookings Ch! Another date to look forward to to break up the wait.

I have a CBT appointment today that I've been referred for. I lost patience with CBT a while ago because I had it for ages privately for OCD and got sick of all the form filling, so I wonder how this will go.

I'd say over half my belly button is 'out' now. Seems a bit early for that!
I'm proposing to be off from the very last week in January (due beginning feb) do I should get at least a week off before labour, and actually have 4 weeks annual leave from 2013 to carry over and take before my ML kicks in! That's for my 'job' job but I also have an online shop and I haven't a clue what to do about that. It's a long lead time for made to order items so I need to make sure I don't have a stash waiting to be sorted while I'm in labour!

I'm pretty sure last time my mw didn't start concerning me about baby movement till about 28 weeks. I guess in other cases it'll be different i.e. previous exp but for straightforward pregnancies a few weeks before you have to add that worry to the long list ! X

Also not touching my 2014 leave. Thinking to have my maternity leave (going to guess at around 8-10 weeks of it but not committing to return date until just after the birth as I want to check all is 'normal' before I commit to so little leave) then go back for a wee while and get thigs back in track then take all my annual leave. I'm the only person that does my position/role and I don't want them to have to get cover for me as that'd be a huge pain in the arse for me attempting to hand over, so keen for them to just cope without me for as long as they can! Have discovered that I can work for 10 days during my maternity leave and get paid separately for them without affecting my SMP so that should help. (DH and I both work from home hence all this hopefully being possible)

Welcome Jen and all the other newbies. I've not posted in ages and this dropped off my 'threads I'm on' page

Must try harder

Thanks ladies.for the comments re AL.I actually think my mgr got that info from hr but I love tje odea of calling ACAS with them in the room

Welcome jen!

Ahhhh I lost you all. Haven't posted in a bit then, not like me. I have been on the FB page.

Welcome to the newcomers.

Revelation! I have not been sick in almost 2 weeks, the longest so far. I have also reduced my meds to only one a day just first thing in the morning. Praying I do not relapse.

I hope you are all having a good day.

Hi all,
Been absent for a bit as I just haven't had the energy tbh. Not caught up on the thread but thought I'd post an update. I think the antenatal depression may be creeping into my life, sucking a lot of the joy out. However, I've recognised it (had PND after DS2) and am going to make the most of the support I do have. DH, whilst supportive doesn't realise that he's part of the reason I'm so low - Our libidos are more mismatched than ever (there's always been quite a discrepancy - he'd be happy with sex once every couple of months, I get grouchy if nothing happens for a week) as he seems to have gone completely off the idea of coming near me whilst I am still up for it just as much, in spite of feeling tired a lot. I think the extra hormones and emotional up and downs that come with pregnancy mean that I take it really personally when he rejects my advances and then find myself withdrawing from him in other ways as a defence mechanism. In my more rational moments I completely understand why he's not interested right now. My stomach has so many stretchmarks it looks like a tube map, and hormones have made my skin worse than ever. Plus of course, the wonderful mood swings. Attractive, er not.

Have had to turn down a family that HomeStart wanted to place me with as I felt I don't have it in me right now to provide the emotional support necessary. Feel very guilty as I like keeping busy and hate letting people down, but just don't have the energy for it right now. Still doing some voluntary stuff with them but just don't have it in me to provide intense one-on-one support at the moment.

On the plus side, I've sorted out with my employer when I will start ML. I will still have some holiday leave left so my last working day will be the last Saturday in January, I will use up my annual leave then ML will start mid February. I've worked a bit of overtime this month and last to increase my monthly average, as I have to send in 3 months of wage slips for claiming Maternity Allowance, so need 3 higher than average ones in order to claim as much as possible!

I have also decided I am going to make an effort with the nursery after all, and am on the lookout on Ebay for some coordinating curtains, pictures, blankets etc. After half term I will paint the room (having 2 lively boys already, I'll leave you to imagine the state the walls and paintwork are in....!)

Booked to go back to Germany (where DH & I lived pre-kids) and take the boys to the Christmas markets, teach them about German Christmas traditions, take them to see some of the sights etc. Can't wait.

SugarMice I completely get the sex drive discrepancy - it's the same with us. I do the getting-hurt-and-withdrawing too, the rejections can really sting, especially when everything in pop culture says men should be up for it at all times, which is obviously nonsense but still hurts when you compare.

My CBT appointment was horrible and has left me feeling down and rubbish. I found her really hostile, then she accused me of being hostile and unwilling to engage and she only got nicer when I said I was finding her so. But it was too late because I had already had a terrible anxiety surge so now I feel horrible AND guilty for potentially hurting LO with lots of anxiety hormones, which is ostensibly what I was there to get help for in the first place. IF it's going to make me feel like this I don't think I'll bother making another appointment.

sugarmice you poor thing. We seriously need to swap DH's as sex is the last thing on my mind, that what got me into this situation in the first place! Although I imaging your DC's are quite attached to your DH, so understood if not. On a more serious note, pleeeaasse take me to German markets with you...

Can I ask if anyone has got an itchy "area"? I really don't think its thrush as its more around than in the "area" and cream isn't shifting it. I'm fully aware that I am gross which is only exaserbated by the fact you all now know what I look like and my real name.

Littlest you have outed me in real life!! I can't believe it! I'm not really sure why I was so embarrassed when she asked me what Mumsnet was and why I go on it, I suppose i'm pretty traceable on here and read back most of my posts and cringe!

I re-read our first thread for old times sake, we were all very cute, talking about weeing a lot mainly. Me being generally sarky and saying anything for a laugh. Nothings really changed. Except now im sure im pregnant. Deffo.

julietee that sucks! I can relate somewhat to trying to find someone I can actually talk to - it took me trying two Drs before I was able to find one who was on a wavelength I could get. My friend also tried to get CBT for her phobias and had to ditch her first therapist after one session because she just made it all so much worse. But, she persevered and is now able to eat in a room with people eating rice and noodles, when before it would have been impossible. Can you see another therapist?

And don't fret about the hormones - healthy children have been born to women in all manner of stressful situations and been secure and happy. Easy for me to say, I know, but if you can, take comfort in statistics. Good on you for trying to take a step towards being more healthy for your LO.

Thanks for the welcome, lots going on here, I see!

A little more about me, I am a teacher, so I can't use annual leave as part of my maternity, I just have to work within the term times etc. I have decided to finish at Christmas, then return in September for the new school year. It isn't ideal to have such a long break before the baby comes but it is the most practical given the timings.

Sugarmice - I know how difficult that situation can be, I had it with my ex. I wonder does he feel differently because you are pregnant, maybe he feels strange about it knowing the baby is in there? I am sure it has nothing to do with your pregnancy body.

Sugarmice and Julietee - I have suffered from clinical depression for years, and the dr is reducing my antidepressants a lot for the pregnancy. I am finding it really hard to cope, especially with some family problems (to do with my parents) that are really upsetting. OH is very supportive but he can't fix it, you know? I have tried counselling and CBT, I suppose my attitude has always been that anything that might help is worth a shot. But hugs to other sufferers, it is a very nasty and invisible illness.

Thanks for the reassurance about not feeling movement yet - I feel a lot better! I am feeling pretty sick today though :( - sucks to still be suffering at nearly 23 weeks.

Petty - I think it is Gove's master plan to just force schools to become academies if possible. It's awful. It makes me despair that the government can just privatise education and there's nothing we can do about it. Couple it with the awful way the media is portraying teachers over strike action and it makes me so worried for when my child eventually goes into education.

Sorry to the ladies feeling anxious and down. I've suffered with anxiety for a few years and have found acupuncture a big help in helping me feel more balanced. Might be worth looking in to.

Yaaaaay I've just bought a cute pink Moses basket on eBay with stand for £12! Chuffed! I wasn't sure whether to get one but can't go wrong at that price. Will just need to get a new mattress and it'll be good to go. Now I just need to stop buying eBay bargains (have got some cute clothes bundles but must stop - will have to hide them from DH!)

welcome jen

I've had a two hour long nap today whilst working from home, so now I'm having to play catch up with all the work I didn't get done earlier. The nap was amazing though, I am so short of sleep.

I think I've had my first craving! i've really wanted doritos and salsa all day, and finally it got too much and I had to go buy some. They were so good. I could have eaten the whole pack! I'm so excited, yet also surprised that I can have a craving at the same time as sickness. Our bodies are doing weird things right now

For the teachers on here, this tickled me about a free school...
Http://gu.com/p/3jjcb

Well I have had 2 boughts of hysterical tears today... 1 because I got lost trying to get to b and q and couldn't get my sat nav to work, then after lots of aimless driving, finding homebase to end up crying in there because I couldn't decide on a paint colour for the nursery by myself after husband said to just pick something neutral and not too yellow...

Upside, I've bought a lot of my bedding and accessories - ended up going with jamboree things from mamas and papas, although didn't get the coverlet and pillow or the curtains (gonna make them as cannot justify £86 for a pair of curtains)!

Awww Eeyore I'm jealous if your nap (and your Doritos and salsa!). I'm forever eating at the moment but just feel so hungry and sick if I go for a few hours without food!

Cubano - sorry to hear about your tears! That does sound like a stressful time that would no doubt have most of us preggos weeping at the moment.

Is anyone else just bloody knackered at the moment. I want to be useful when I get home from work but I'm just exhausted! Plus I feel extra guilty as DH is working on deadline at the moment so is getting home really late to a big moanbag wife and a messy house . He's out on a driving lesson now and it would have been lovely to tidy up for his return but I've just sat on the sofa/chatted to my mum/finished the Nutella all the while wondering if I can go to bed yet! I haven't been very hormonal but I think I may cry at the messiness of my house

Oh missk the exhaustion is awful. I've increased my working from home days to twice a week so I can nap. I would be broken otherwise. I've been awful around the house, DH does everything at the moment, I'm such a shit wife!

Thanks for the kind words ladies, particularly those of you who have suffered similar. It's horrible, but I feel better right now than I did earlier, so am not always down. :-)

Shropshiremummy LOL at your suggestion. WRT the itching, it could be thrush - I often get it in pregnancy and frustratingly found the cream didn't clear it either, though I was getting impatient and desperate as supposed to use the cream several times a day for a week or so for best results! The doctor prescribed me some internal cream in my last pregnancy, which I had to use with a syringe as I couldn't have oral tablets in pregnancy, that seemed to work.

Cubano some of the M&P stuff is outrageous isn't it? I was particularly surprised at the price of the curtains too. It's not much more than hemmed fabric (albeit with cute patterns on!) I too find myself in tears for the most pathetic reason so sympathies.

misskatamari with you on the exhaustion! Can't do it all, so my house looks like a bombsite right now...

Sorry to all those feeling down. Hope you find the help you need x
I'll make sure I put bottoms on for my next bump pic too....photos of me with my arse hanging out can't be good for anyone if it's not ok to make this sort of joke about this sort of thing let me know and i'll shush btw

I had a cry today (purely pg hormones i'm sure)....I pick DD up from childminders on a wed and thurs. As we don't have a car this involves a mile and bit walk to the bus stop in town from work then half hour on bus then short walk to cm then pick up DD then push her a mile or so home.

The past couple of trips have been getting more difficult. By the second walk i have to do i can feel my lower back sort of stiffening up and aching. When i get in I have to sort her tea, wash up, etc. It just seemed so difficult today and all i could think is this is going to get harder and harder as the bump (and DD) get bigger.

Anyhoo had a chat hysterical snotty sobathon with DH when he got home and he was fab. Came up with lots of solutions and said not to worry and that I wasn't a fat, rubbish hippo (i had called myself this) I was amazing for carrying our second DD and being such a lovely mummy. This, of course, made me cry even more

Welcome jenpatnim btw! Can't believe we are still getting newbies but you're ever so welcome

Lol dawn I feel as if I shouldn't laugh at the fat rubbish hippo comment but I feel exactly like a fat rubbish hippo at the minute with the agility of a 90 year old! I'm only 27 not 87 for fucks sake!!!

Laugh away! We can be fat, rubbish hippos together. That's what this group is for

Maybe that could be the next thread title!

Yes, I am completely exhausted all the time! I come home and sleep for a couple of hours most days to try to manage, and my house is a disaster but I can't face tackling it. I have a week off for half term coming up so I will have to do something about it then.

I have had the odd hormonal sniffle but nothing too bad. Just shattered all the fricking time.

Anyone else from Northern Ireland?

Omg Shropshire I'm so sorry! I said, I think I might know of someone who goes to that swimming class, she's said it was good, and she said who, so I said I had never met you but 'met' you on MN, and said your first name(one of them! Not both, and it was even your middle name as it happens!) and she guessed! I really wouldn't have outed you deliberately. I'm so embarrassed, I'm really sorry