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....

Oh my goodness, I need to be more organised. All I have is a Shopping List which I tick as I go

Sunflowered - we're going for the baby jogger city select which turns into a double if needed. I know a few people with it who love it an it's the only one I like the look of when it's in double mode as there are loads if options for the children facing you/each other/outwards etc. It can be quite long in double mode but seems pretty easy to manouvere. Plus it fits in the boot if our micra!

We went to our second hypnobirthing class today. It's so interesting and a lady came in with her husband and toddler to talk about her birth at the end.

We learnt some relaxation and massage techniques and also watched a video where a lady had a natural birth and then did "placenta painting"! Heard all about the options for cord clamping/delivering the placenta naturally or with intervention and then things to do with it afterwards. The midwife running it said that sometimes they get chucked away but she has known people to take it home and plant a tree with the placenta in the ground underneath (like using blood/bonemeal fertiliser from the garden centre). She also told us about how you can get it sent off, freeze dried and made into capsules as apparently all the nutrients can help with PND. She's even gonna mail out the recipe for "placenta smoothies" as she said some people cut it into chunks and put one a day in a berry and juice smoothie lol!

It's really nice to be getting so much information about natural births and thinks I research and consider. I'm half and half about whether to go for a home birth at the moment. There's also so much stuff about making sure the room you birth in is quiet and ambient etc and using aromatherapy in the weeks prior whilst relaxing to help you associate scent with relaxation so you can use the same scent during birth to help you stay calm.

I know it might sound like hippy clap trap to some people but it's interesting to lean about and then decide for yourself as there's so much I had never heard of or considered.

Somany I hope you're week goes well, it sounds stressful looking after two little ones on your own x

I'm still sleeping on my back with no bother - I think it's only a problem when you're so huge the weight if the bump compresses major blood vessels, and I think it'll be apparent when that starts happening...

Just booked a trial on a different yoga course. The one I tried last week I'm wasn't hugely keen on. It had some nice stretches but a fair proportion of the class was a bit umm, alternative for me: "Place your hand on your heart, full it with love, then on your womb to transfer the love. Picture the baby reaching for your hand and giving you love in return then place your hand back on your heart to absorb your babies love." Well I was working on my shopping list and pondering my itchy nip for the duration. Visualisation of such a type is valuable for some but I'm more after stretches and the teacher simply explaining how that'll help prevent my fanny tearing.

Boo. Computer just ate my long post. In brief:

I can't sleep on my back anymore. Feels weird and uncomfortable. Think my bump is too big now.

Yes I do get hip pain.

With DD she was delivered by EMCS. I was in labour for 36 hours though and no-one mentioned a poo so I didn't do one or they whipped it away quick. Bit disappointed by this. Since being a toddler i've had to get rid of all my own poos and do all the wiping myself. Presume this will continue until/if I get really old. Kind of like the thought of someone else sorting one out for once.....

Misskatamari - placenta smoothies? Seriously?

I'm not sure I like the sound of eating my own placenta, but I don't mind the idea of my garden getting some nutrients from it. But I don't trust the foxes not to dig it up.

I do like the sound of aromatherapy in the weeks running up to labour and in labour. I can totally imagine myself wanting to give labour in a cosy dark environment.

Well the good news is I have finally found a maternity bra that fits. Thanks to Debenhams. And I'm also feeling better after my weird turn on Friday! No more tummy cramping or back pain. I don't know what it was but I didn't like it!

Off to bake some muffins now. they'll have courgette in so will officially be healthy then I have work to do, boo

I know! You should have seen my face at the placenta painting too.

I was expecting her to day some people eat it - i.e. take it home and cook it and then she started going "they get some strawberries and raspberries and some yoghurt and fruit juice and make a smoothie - it tastes just like normal smoothie" lol.

To be fair I do kinda see the point as it's full of nutrients and animals do it, but god placentas just look so bloody gross I don't know if I could bring myself to do it. Maybe i'll bring it home for the cats lol!

I did read about a couple a few years ago who minced theirs, made chilli and invited their friends round to a "placenta party" bleurgh!

Eeyore i'm glad you've managed to get a good maternity bra and are feeling better!

Lol Dawn - i'll errr, keep my fingers crossed you do a poo this time!

One of the videos we watched today had a lady at home in a birth pool and her hubby was with her, and then once the baby was out her two sons got in as well and I just kept thinking "I wonder if there is a poo in there too"!

- how is this a thing!!!

oh my god, after clicking on another link I have now also discovered that some people dry out the umbilical cord as a "keep sake" WTF!

missk grim! I totally respect that people want to take a totally natural approach to childbirth, but I'm not sure I'd ever go that far.

I can report that spiced courgette muffins are bloody yummy. I've eaten two already. This might be my new craving. Baby fidgetbum EeyoreIsh is kicking his appreciation

I should not have clicked that link while eating me tea! Gross. The hospital can do whatever they do with my placenta thanks very much. I don't even want to see it!

Ooooh they sound yummy Eeyore! Do you have a link to the recipe? I've got some courgettes that need eating!

Lol I know Laura - I mean i like my arts and crafts but i think that may be a step too far.

I can't find the recipe online for the muffins I made today (they're from the cake angels book, which is gluten and dairy free bakes). But a few weeks back I made this cake and it was amazing. The muffins were very similar but with cinnamon and nutmeg. I added pistachios and no raisins.

I really recommend the cake angels book for people with coeliacs or dairy allergies, I love it.

Guys I have got this travel system from Babies R Us

www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-Us/Travel-and-Pushchairs/Travel-Systems-and-Pushchairs/Travel-systems/Graco-Quattro-Tour-Deluxe-Travel-System-in-Bear-and-Friends(0100786)?searchPosition=0

I had a good demo in the shop, it has a car seat isofix base and fits my car and so on. My mum bought it for me, so I didn't want to get something really expensive. Plus, I like the colour.

We need to go cot shopping when I am off for half term, with MIL, as she has offered to buy us our cot. I am thinking babies r us again, but haven't picked out a cot/mattress yet.

I have started using my pregnancy pillow for sleeping and it helps support everything. I am still getting painful belly cramps with wind, and lots of twinges from muscle pulling. Still not feeling any movement, but had another wee listen today with the home doppler and the heartbeat is there and moving about. Wonder why I can't feel it?

www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-Us/Travel-and-Pushchairs/Travel-Systems-and-Pushchairs/Travel-systems/Graco-Quattro-Tour-Deluxe-Travel-System-in-Bear-and-Friends(0100786)?searchPosition=0

sorry the first link didn't work

Sorry didn't mean it to sound at all dramatic on fri, just as laura said the single mumminess. For two quite traditional people went really well and spent the afternoon today with my gran picking knitting patterns so she can get going.

Eeyorish sorry to hear about friday, sounds incredibly dramatic and not nice but glad they didn't find anything and that you're doing better. Maybe LO was just in a weird position pulling on something.

Have just beem catching up and you've been a chatty bunch this weekend! Slightly traumatised by the placenta eating chat, but something I would be interested in is cord blood freezing/donating. So much good stuff in there

Placenta smoothies-absolutely not! Yuck! Each to their own though I suppose. They asked me if they could take blood from my placenta for testing because of my Obstetric Cholostasis, I had no problem with this and had no problem with them then discarding it.

I am so exhausted, I haven't taken my iron for about 5 days now as I had run out. Must get more as I am just too tired without it. I have just put my little munchkins to bed and think I may go to bed myself now.

Champagne I have that pram! Bought it for DD1 for pretty much the reasons you say. I love it, it's still going strong - can't recommend it enough.

I've ordered a double buggy this time (Baby Jogger Double or something) but I think i'll still end up using the oyster if i don't have DD1 with me.

I've got my GTT tomorrow - has anyone else had one of these yet?

Thanks so much for the pram advice champagne and for your checklist - feels a little less overwhelming now, and less like I'm sticking a pin in a list at random! And it's reassuring to hear that your oyster has lasted well dawn. I think there might be a free car seat deal with oyster at mothercare at the moment if that's any use champagne?

Thanks somany, camwombat and missk too. Will add your advice to my new spreadsheet There's just so much choice - my first instinct was to just order a bugaboo because everyone else round here seems to have one so they must be good, then I remembered that "but we needed to buy a buggy" isn't a good enough reason to not be able to pay the bills.

I'm not usually squeamish but I'll be passing on the placenta party/painting/pellets I think. They can do what they like with mine as long as nobody makes me eat it [nauseous emoticon]

Eeyoreish I'm reading one of the hypnobirthing books at the mo and it's talking a lot about creating a comfortable environment for birth. It does make sense that birth hormones wouldn't respond well to being watched, poked, put in an intuitively vulnerable position flat on a bed, having instructions fired at you, etc.

Awwww sorry I've traumatised everyone with my placenta discoveries! Let's all remember delicious cake in a mug and put it out of our minds

Thanks for the link Eeyore - will give the book a look as well!

I'm so chuffed - bagged an arms reach cosleeper crib on eBay for £144 including postage which is loads cheaper than the price new. Phew! Can't believe DH actually let me buy something!

Hi all, Ive had a very emotional day today so will be glad to get to bed! Feeling better now though after a good cry and a walk with dd. We were collecting different leaves, and went for a walk around the field near our house. There was a sign on the gate saying that someone had lost their gold ring, so I suggested to dd that we look for this 'treasure' (dd is definitely a 'finder') and then we could've made someones day. Unfortunately we were unlucky but at least we tried.

We've gone for a maclaren regarding buggies, we bought one with ds and it did both children and a good 5/6 years of being used daily in all weathers. Was easy to fold and carry onto buses, didn't take loads of room in shops/shop doorways, fitted in the boot of the fiesta and covered so many miles over the years as I walk everywhere. I didn't hesitate going for the same brand again, theres so many buggies out now that I either don't like, think are far too expensive, or don't think theyd suit my needs. I know lots of people don't like newborns in front facing buggies but Ive always used slings when they've been that tiny so it wasn't a problem for me.

We've already got a moses basket from previous, ditto car seat, cotbed, bedding, washable nappies, growbags etc basically everything that we found helpful and worth having with our other 2, I think the only bits I need to get now is a new nappy pail, and bits for my labour bag. I'll make a list, I love lists Hope you all have a nice evening, Im off to bed once my children finally settle...

Champagne you are my hero. I love a good spreadsheet.

I'm still planning on a second hand pram from gumtree, but will come on here to get advice from you knowledgeable lot when a decent looking one comes up.

I would love to save the cord blood but it's not offered at our hospital. I am in two minds about the placenta - yes, have heard that the placenta encapsulation pills are great for PND and milk supply, but am sure that when the time comes whipping out a ziplock and stuffing a great big piece of meat in it will be the least of my worries!!

Missk it's so interesting to hear about your hypnobirthing course as I really wanted to do one but the only one in our area was fully booked. I absolutely love the idea of a natural birth, at home, surrounded by candles and aromatherapy, but at the moment I find our home one of the least relaxing places in the world to be! Hopefully I can transport some of those ideas into the MLU though...

Right-o, off to bed, exhausted after a puke marathon today!