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....

Those wanting to rent the bednest for 6 months - worth booking the rental early maybe (though not looked into if you can change the date if needed?) as 15% off until Oct 27th www.bednest.com

Guy, that treasure hunt sounds so nice :)

camwombat we should do a swap of clothes since you now need girls and I now need boys.

Ooh you all sound so organised with your lists and spreadsheets I just buy things as I see them and hope I don't forget anything too important!
I've just been playing a game with the baby! I put a malteaser on my tummy, he kicked it off then I ate it!! Only problem is we got through rather a lot of malteasers and now I feel slightly sick

Laura I love your game. I'd be quite tempted to cheat though

Oh my god Laura I have to play that game! What an awesome idea!

Glad your day perked up Guy - your treasure hunt sounds lovely, let's just hope someone does come across it eventually.

Marzipanned - id really recommend the Mongan method book if you're interested in hypnobirthing. Also I can email you the stuff we've been sent about the course if you'd like - there are relaxation activities you do with DH which help you stay calm during labour and "anchor" you to stay calm etc. We've got a disk of affirmations and relaxation to do as well - not sure if it comes with the book too but worth getting hold of. I feel much calmer about birth since starting the classes as it just seems to make so much sense.

Apparently surestart centres do hypnobirthing sometimes - I didn't know but a lady at work said she did hers through them. Might be worth a look?

laura that's so mean. Giving poor Leo a sniff of chocolate and whipping it away. Way harsh.

Just got home from a 4 mile walk to mummy's house for roast chicken. I do worry with all my hardcore dog walking what lengths I'm going to have to go to to bring on labour.

Dawn just put a note on Facebook for you to let me know how your GTT goes, good luck. My London friend (with the kick ass nursery) had one automatically at 28 weeks so that made me feel a bit better but still panicking.

Thank you for all your pooing and tearing advice, even the bad experiences. I need to face it, its going to be one big fat painful cringe.

I'm sooooo jealous of pram chat, I know SIL has really swanky shit she wants to give me but all I want to do is go shopping. With my imaginary money.

whoputtheramin Thanks for the bednest reminder. I've ordered mine now :) my sister works for boots, and has got me a while bunch of stuff for bargainous prices :) so that means I'm entirely sorted other than a few odd things like changing bag, mats and the most expensive thing of all... the pushchair.

I'm a bit undecided about hyponobirthing. I was put off by a crazy colleague who decided that she was going to have her first at home with no drugs at all, and described it as a great success even though her and baby ended up being rushed into hospital....

shrops roast chicken sounds amazing. I lurve roast chicken.

I felt my first "outside" kicks today, me and baby just chilled on the sofa while dh and ds cooked and cleaned

Another vote for mongan method hypnobirthing - although it sounds woo, it does actually make a lot of scientific sense. IE your hormones won't flow and contractions won't be effective if you are fearful and tense as the blood will flow to your tense muscles and adrenaline will kick in instead of oxytocin (is that the right hormone?) so just relax and let your body get on with it. I must book in for a refresher course but funds are tight as have a house to renovate and christmas coming up!

I found out that one of my cats had been in the room when I had ds as she popped up on the bed to have a good sniff of the placenta as soon as it was delivered I caught a glimpse of it and thought so focused on gazing at my gorgeous and perplexing newborn boy instead . I don't think I will be painting/eating/drinking it!

Finally managed to read up on this post!

Vix I hope you are coping okay, all the best to you and your family.

Saw the natural birth doc ages ago, and yes I was slightly freaked out too. Will not be doing anything at all with placenta, although donating it for science or blood etc is fine!

Just ordered myself the hypnobirth book/cd, a "how to be a dad" book for my boyfriend and a pregnancy yoga dvd on amazon! Exciting times!

Grats on feeling the kicks on the outside prettyprudence ! Yesterday I was slightly freaked out when I felt little one far down in my stomach - although it wasn't a kick, more like two massive lumps poking out. Head and bum or something, no idea! He moved pretty quickly when I touched him though, so boyfriend didn't get a feel =/ Shy baby!

Morning preggers, thought we might be done by the end of the day, so when this is full head here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1887727-February-2014-The-cake-mix-is-in-the-mug-the-microwave-is-on-its-slowly-rising-and-well-be-pinging-in-three-more-months

It occurs to me that cake would be a good thing to pack for the hospital - no microwaves, but something tasty, full of energy and very relaxing with a cup of tea either during the first stages of labour or afterwards.... I may experiment with ideal labour-cakes and get back to you all.

I won't be pinging for another 4 and a bit months.

I'd like to do hypnobirthing but I don't think I can afford the classes having just shelled out for the NCT.

Eeyore - another way to look at your colleague's story is that hypno made her so chilled out she STILL considered it a good experience despite the hospitalisation :)

What I meant was there are only three WHOLE months till February, when I hope the majority of us will be pinging!!

julietee that's a fair point! and to be fair, I hate the feeling of getting drunk and hated coming around when I had general before, so I don't really want drugs myself...

I really want to try hypnobirthing as wrll, am like you eeyorish and hate the thought pf drugs and things. Can't afford tje classes tho so will be going it alone with books and cd. I think u mentioned mongan method book misskatamari, do u think it will be useful without the class to back it up?

winter I have bought a book/cd combo, by Katherine Graves who is a British hypnotherapist (after the "What to Expect..." Americanisms I wanted British English, IFKWIM) and there are lots of things to do, to incorporate into your everyday routine, so I think a book/cd may be as good as a course if you do the bits and pieces.

(I had hypnotherapy to try to stop myself bawling my eyes out at my wedding - she gave me a cd of the session and told me to listen to it every day, which I didn't, and ended up seriously sobbing walking down the aisle. So I know whatever you do, course or book, you really need to put the hours of prep in so it can be effective...)

Hi all

Well after walking the children to school (in the rain), I then had to walk into town (in the rain) to get to my flu jab appointment. I didn't get half way before my boots decided to start letting the rain in and had to continue with soggy boots and socks. Grrr! That gave me the preg rage I can tell you.

Had jab, walked to m+s (in the rain) to buy consolation choc chip shortbread and some sushi, then got the bus home. Am presently on the sofa worrying that the tummy aches (I say aches, theyre very mild) are to do with the jab, and not the load of walking I did first thing, which usually gives me a bit of bump ache when I get a good stank on. Im meant to take the kids to their swimming lesson after school (yep, walking again, In the arsing rain by the looks of it) Ive asked dh if any chance he can do this week but it doesn't look v likely. Im tired, worried and don't want to go back out (in the rain) Sleeping past 3.30am this morning was impossible - I was tossing and turning til around 6, then it was time to get up Ive got a busy day tomorrow too - harvest festival, school thing in the afternoon, then school club after school. Im knackered.

After-labour cake sounds a fab idea! Must say the tea and toast I was brought after having dd was the best tea and toast Ive ever had in my entire life and Ive had a lot

Thanks gnitting. I'm usually pretty rubbish at keeping things up but feel like if there's ever incentive it would be now.

Thinking of which... squeeze ladies Squeeeeeeze

Aww guy I feel your pain! My trusty Primark winter boots (£20 from 2010) have finally given up on me with the rain leaking in on Saturday and the heel falling off on Sunday. Time for a new pair (only if I can find some equally bargainous ones!) Also have developed the inability to sleep through the night. I am exhausted by 9pm most nights so go to bed. Then wake at 3am and toss and turn and huff and puff about DH's excessively loud breathing until 6am then decide might as well get up to start the day. Perhaps I am getting myself ready for night feeds??

Am a bit in denial about the whole birth thing. I have watched OBEM/BBC Midwives programmes and obviously know it will hurt. NCT classes don't start until Jan. Thinking of having whatever pain relief they want to offer me but might draw the line at an epidural. Also looking into hiring a TENS machine - anyone got any good reccomendations? From what I can see they are all around £35 to hire for a 6 week period (presumably so you have it on standby for the birth) but about £70 to buy outright. Worth it?

Afternoon
Sorry if TMI but I've been bleeding a tiny bit today... I'm 25 weeks.
What do you think? Phone the GP or wait and see what the situation is when I get home from work?
I have no idea how common this is....
Thanks x

Hi hope, I have I idea either. But if it was me I would phone midwife now to be on the safe side, see what she advises.
Hope all is ok.

hope I am clueless on this but my midwife did say at my last appt to phone or text her with any concerns before getting myself too stressed. Might be nothing but worth putting your mind at ease.

And that's certainly not TMI - we've had worse!

Jazzcat - So its not just me wide awake in the early hours then I do think the babies are preparing us, my baby was wriggling loads last night, and just as I thought I could drop back off then Id either feel a massive kick, or dh would piss me off somehow...

Tens machines - I borrowed one from a friend to use when having ds, and found it to be helpful. I would've managed at home fine with that and gas and air if ds didn't turn out to be back to back and stuck... Im considering getting one to use this time around. We bought one to use with dd but I didn't get to use it, and I must say it had a good resale value so we didn't lose out much. It was good to know I had it.

Hoping I can shut my eyes for an hour now before school run and arsing swimming etc

Hope definitely call your mw, it's probably nothing serious but very important to check!

I am having a nightmare with sleep. Struggling to fall asleep and waking up for hours in the night, then napping all day which perpetuates the cycle. But forcing myself to get up and start the day is tough when being up means so much vomiting!!

Missk that's a really generous offer to forward the emails, Id love that. Let me know if you have my address from fb group and if not I'll pm you :)