February 2014. The cake mix is in the mug, the microwave is on, it's slowly rising and we'll be pinging in three more months!

[Shropshiremummy2B]

Sadly my cake mix is rising too much and resulting in a serious muffin top.

sunflowered I think so long as you're not obstructing stuff, it really doesn't matter what you bring in or use to help you feel calm and comfortable. I'm sure the MW have seen it all before, and will be glad you've thought about it, prepped for it, are entering into it with as much calm and thoughtfulness as possible. You might want to ask someone in advance what all the machines do, so that they are not just random intimidating equipment dotted around - knowing that they are there for x, y or z might help take some of the weirdness / anxiety out of it.

What book are you reading?

Had such a bad self esteem day yesterday I'm hoping paying professionals to make me look a bit nicer might help perk me up a bit. I never normally pay for anything like that - never had a manicure, my make up is all about a decade old etc. etc. but following a bit of a meltdown yesterday morning, 2 hours later we met up with a friend I've not seen in over a year who said, entirely unsolicited 'you do look tired y'know'. Why don't people know when it's appropriate to bloody lie?? Way to kick a girl when she's down!

Seriously, girls, you are giving me a complex with all this talk of waxing. I don't bother even when I'm NOT pregnant :-) since DH resembles a gorilla when naked, he can hardly complain, and usually it's only him who sees me naked! TBH, I'm fair and not particularly hairy anyway, and I don't go so far as to not do my legs and pits, but the full bikini is a step too far for me.
Whoput, my dad announced yesterday that I looked 'shattered, bloody awful'. Thanks Dad.

Oh unplastered how mean! I hope you snapped back with a good retort! I wish I had at my friend but I was too busy trying not to burst into tears, again, in the middle of a cafe.

I absolutely don't wax for DH's sake - he couldn't give two shits about how hairy my bits are - it's purely a personal preference. In the interests of providing tmi I am a hairy beast and it gets so LONG! I never feel quite clean when it gets out of control. I know that's not remotely rational, but there you are.

Never mind the lady hair, I'm going around braless at the moment (other than to work) as bras have become instruments on torture! so my boobs are larger than ever and flapping around shamelessly. I have to say I hate it and would rather wear a bra, but sometimes needs must.

pregnancy is certainly taking me into unchartered style territory!

Gawd we really don't need Dads and friends telling us these things do we?!!

whoput I am the same, I don't feel clean if I'm in wildebeest mode, especially with the extra pregnancy discharge.

Most of the year I just trim and epilate the worst bits, I only bother with full bikini when I'm going to be prancing about in one. But I do really want to go swimming at the moment, so I need to sort myself out. Signing off, Dark and Hairy.

I hear you on the bra issues. I really want to find a lovely soft non wired crop top type thing that'll work on small back but massive norks (32GG's and growing) that I will also be able to use for nursing and will provide a bit of support to boot... An impossible task it seems! Gap in the market? Going to have another root around town later. Not beyond contemplating getting one that's almost there and customising with a needle and thread! Have one good one from cake lingerie but it's a bit too 'structured' for sofa loafing.

What I really want is to wheel around an iv stand with sling like contraptions to take the weight off me entirely. They are wrecking my back!

I go through phases of defuzzing down there and then not bothering. Think I need to book a professional waxing appointment though. I am a lot hairier this pregnancy than normal - it's growing faster everywhere and I can't keep up with it! Worst of all is the fact that my stomach seems to have visible hair all over it In fact, I'm getting lots of ingrowing hairs on my belly and really don't know what to do (I keep exfoliating and trying to tweezer them out but my stomach is a mess of sore red bumps and hairiness)

DH couldn't care less whether I'm hairy or smooth - I do it for myself, but I have a spa day booked with DH in November so really need to get myself sorted - legs, bikini line etc. Hopefully it'll make me feel more human. I've never looked this bad before in pregnancy.

whoput have you tried Bravissimo - they do loads of different bra styles for back sizes down to 28 and cup sizes DD and above. They also do vest tops etc with built in bra support. I'd highly recommend finding a store and going for a fitting - they will take the time and help find just what you're after.

I used to get all my pre-preggo bras from bravissimo (use to be a 30f) but they don't have much in the way of soft cup nursing options - just 4 more heavy duty wired ones which I tried (in a department store as there's no bravissimo near me) and didn't like! Just not comfy enough. Like wearing scaffolding. The problem is with wires for large cup but on a small back measurement is the wires cut and chafe right into my armpits which is painful and not great for milk ducts. Bravissimo are brilliant for getting measurements right but have a limited selection for preggos I think. I think I've spent about £400 on mail orderbras from there, figleaves, hot milk, cake etc etc which have all been promptly returned - every style and size variation (as they vary so wildly from brand to brand) I did find one that I loved but they don't go bigger than a G. Bastards.

I'm back from my travels in the outer Hebrides and can report that extra pubes come in very handy on a chilly river bank or wet and windy grouse moor.

I'm equally pleased to report that no Bambi's died at my pregnant hands, and not just because I couldn't be bothered to stalk deer for miles over ankle twist inducing terrain.

I am so jealous of everyone's nursery progress so called three different carpet fitters. All three are fully booked.

Don't forget your pelvic floor preggos.

Glad you had a good time Shrops and thanks for the pelvic floor reminder!

My mind is like a sieve these days so apologies for not remembering, but who else is planning for a home birth? I went to a really good home birth info session this morning run by the home birth team from my local hospital. Met lots of mums who had recently had home births (and their cute tiny babies) and also had my first check up with the home birth team leader. From now on, she will come to my house for my antenatal appointments, bonus! I'm really excited about it. Going to start stalking eBay for birthing pools and putting requests out to friends and family to donate me their knackered old towels!

At my check up (25 weeks) she felt my tummy and said my uterus is up to my tummy button which is right on track size-wise apparently. So the rest of the bump from there upwards is all my organs that have been squished up to make way for the ever-expanding uterus - interesting! Also got to hear the lovely heartbeat again, never fails to make me smile.

I'm so tired I could snooze all afternoon, but I have work to get done and a plasterer coming around soon. Big yawn!

sounds like you had an amazing time shrops, you lucky thing!

Julietee I know of people who have felt kicks in "opposite" sides of the bump due to the length of the baby! Do you know if it's a big one?
Also, it could have reacted if you had extra adrenalin whilst watching film, if the scenes were a bit exciting :) I know my little one is more active when there is adrenaline in the picture, or I am driving a car for some reason (which is both anxiety and adrenaline) :P

Was the film good :D?

sugar IO also have several days (up to 5) where I have not felt anything. Ended up going to midwife just to check, and it was all fine in the end. She did say that it's still quite unpredictable, but of course it's better to be reassured than to worry nonstop! I'm sure it's nothing - also could depend on where your placenta is - perhaps baby is kicking it and you don't feel it :) But if you are very worried, it's worth getting it checked out just to put your mind at rest!

Wish I was brave enough to get a wax. Really need to sort it out, as I'm usually very uhm, neat about it :P For my own sake, other half doesn't mind luckily! (Don't think men should have a say in the matter tbh!)

Totally baldy frou that smells of chocolate. Apparently. If I could get near enough to tell I wouldn't have had to spread my cheeks for the poor soul that tackled it. (Shropshire if I ever go near a windy grouse moor I shall fashion myself a merkin- thanks for the heads up)
Was less mortified than anticipated, though still fairly mortified.

I'll join you in the hairy beast club did have a wax last week tho so fine at the moment. I just can't be arsed shaving my legs at all at the moment - and they get so itchy when I do anyway that I just wax when I can be arsed and think "fuck it" the rest of the time. Luckily DH is a hairy beardy and doesn't care either way. God help our poor daughter when she emerges tho - i do have visions if a werewolf baby!

Lovesto - I'm still unsure about home birth or birth centre at the hospital. We still haven't been to look round yet but hopefully will this week. I didn't realise until I mentioned it to my mw that they bring everything they have at the unit with them anyway which was reassuring. Since we're doing hypnobirthing I think a home birth would be lovely, and my midwife is all for it as she says home births are amazing. I was speaking to a lady at hypno class yesterday who said you can hire birth pools for about 90quid for 5 weeks which is way less than I thought they would be. I'm a but wary as it's my first but think it would be so much easier to stay calm and relaxed. Can't decide tho

Unplastered - my dad commented 3 weeks ago 'look at the state of you, you poor thing. You are huge'

Missk a lady in my yoga class has had hers ready for about 4 weeks now. It keeps the water warm so she gets in it every now and then to relax

I like the idea of a home birth but we live in a terrace with v thin walls - our neighbours have been really kind to us since we moved in but I can't cope with knowing that they've had the full commentary-by-groan of my labour!

I can't remember who asked earlier but I'm working through the natal hypnotherapy book (I think...) I've done the good bits about useful hormones,.birth is nothing to be afraid of, natural process, etc, but keep getting distracted when I try to move onto the bit with the actual hypnobirthing in it. I suspect turning up on labour ward with a couple of hippy throws (for the bleepy machines) and saying 'this is all natural it's not going to hurt' won't get me all the way to 10cm...

Now to release a bit of preggo rage...

The only roofer within a 30 mile radius who's returned my calls about /// * leaking roof can only come over the one time this week that nobody can be at home. falling down house. Don't they know there's a pregnant woman here?? who spent all her money on the last bit of the house that fell down and now just wants enough in the bank to buy a pram

Phew. Sorry. I have, however, concluded that this is a very profitable week for roofers....

Grrrrr what a nightmare sunflowered. I hope you manage to get it sorted soon. Have you managed to investigate (by that I mean hey DH to investigate obvs!) the problem a bit more? Will be keeping my fingers crossed for dry weather!

Have you been using the natal hypno CDs as well? We've done the Mongan method class and a first it is really hard doing the exercises but I'm definitely finding them start to work in helping me relax.

We're in a terrace too and my concern is the space for the birth pool - dya think Santa can magic me up a new house for chrimbo?

Whoput - I'm very jealous of your chocolatey bits too! My place only has normal wax and I feel robbed now!

Oh sunflowered I can really sympathise. Went by my building site of a house today to feed and love the cat and it was obvious the builders hadn't been by today. The job was meant to be finished TWO WEEKS AGO.

So I find the rainbow relaxation really fab for helping me relax, but I always use it in a quiet bedroom... not sure if it will work as well in a busy hospital?! On which note I got a lovely email from the countryside MLU that I've been considering, and, reassuringly, their outcomes for mothers who transfer are the same as outcomes for mothers who labour in consultant led units. So I think DH and I will go for a visit and that might well be our Plan A.

Hi everyone:D just marking my place:) 25+4 today:)
Out of interest, is anyone here having growth scans through pregnancy? Got one on Thursday and feeling a little bit clueless about everything:/ xXx

I'm hoping it's just a couple of loose tiles... Doesn't look like a lot of water's coming in (and the rain's stopped for now so we've got a bit of a break).

Marzi builders are just a nightmare! Ours said 4-6 weeks and took 11... At least we're back in ours now though - the leak is a new development in a different bit of roof. Does yours look like it's nearing completion...?

I haven't got the hypno cd yet - was impatient so got the book on kindle but doesn't seem to come with the cd so need to track one down. I originally thought relaxation exercises and music were a bit ott but am getting strangely addicted to the daisy birthing soundtrack.

Artisticme - I've got extra growth scans. Had them with dd as well - they're just basically the same as 20 wk scan but less detailed - a nice chance to see baby again.