February 2014 - is there an octopus in there?

[LittlePandaBear]

Okay I don't like to run out of things, even threads, so here's the new one.

Can't remember who described their baby kicking like an octopus but it's very true :)

Sorry to hear so many people are unwell. Artisticme your fall sounds nasty, deffo spend the day at home, maybe do some internet shopping?

I was up in the night as well. I've had a stinking cough for weeks now and I've got glands like bowling balls at the back of my throat really hope it's not the onset of tonsillitis. I think I saw a white spot lurking on my tonsil. Bloody flu jab is a con! We were meant to go to the inlaws for dinner but I might cancel that to stay on the sofa.

I had my high iron meal of steak (well done) with cabbage washed down with orange juice last night, went down a treat.

Hope we all start to feel better soon!

I hope all of you in pain and with colds get better soon.

I'm 29 weeks today. Only 77 days to go, that seems no time at all! 25 days of work left...

I made a ginger cake and an apple and blueberry cake in the end yesterday. Only tried the ginger cake so far, it was lush. Now I just need to think of cleverer hiding places for the cake away from DH, he ate over half a cake on his own in one day a few weeks back

Sorry to hear people are feeling unwell - tiny try gargling with salt water (1 teaspoon of salt to 1 litre of warm water) as this will numb the tonsils a bit, the acid of the saltwater will kill off a few lurgy and it helps clear any mank. I used to come down with tonsilitis as my go-to illness, but not recently, touch wood. artisticme that sounds unpleasant - hope you can rest up!

We had our first NCT full day class yesterday - it was pretty good! I was mentally braced for a lot of woo propaganda, but she was determinedly neutral about a lot of things. I learnt quite a bit too, and DH was feeling a lot happier about his role in things now and gained a few practical skills like swaddling / bathing a baby, etc. The mustard in the newborn doll's nappy was an amusing touch! There were 6 couples all told and they all seemed like people we could hang out with, so that was reassuring.

I am so jealous of all your baking! Getting to grips with the whole bloods thing now, although Plamers Cocoa Butter gives a seriously high false reading, so I have now learnt, wash hands before the prick test! Plus there was another woman there who had GD and we had a little bitch chat about it.

Speaking of ill - last night went to a family dinner and my aunt was clearly getting over a cold and was double dipping chopsticks! I really hope I don't get whatever she had :(

Thankyou for all the well wishes:) just me being super clumsy. I'm not very good at staying on my feet at the best of times but just now seem to be even worse!!

Aw so many people have the cold!! I had my flu jag abou 3 weeks ago now and it doesn't seem to have come to anything other than a permanently blocked nose! Got my whooping cough vaccine booked in for next week:/ has anyone had it yet?

Saving my WC vaccine for 34 weeks (nurse said that would confer best/maximum immunisation to baby) , so that's something to look forward to

littleen I'm due 23rd feb?

Sorry for everyone else ill / in pain, last time we want to be like this is when pregnant!

We had our first antenatal class last Tuesday - 3 other couples including us, all seemed nice but only one appeared on our wavelength and same sense of humour. The other 2 were much more serious!

Discussed labour in a general sense, what we wanted to get out of sessions (funnily, it was mainly what to do after birth), active birthing positions and use of birthing ball to help with baby position and bad back - sat on one for a bit and really did improve my back!

Hubby was a bit unsure (particularly of the pictures) but said he felt like he learnt quite a bit, although did think a lot of it was repeated but suppose some people do need to hear things several times to understand.

Art I had my wc jab on Thursday and today is the first day since that my arm doesn't feel achy and bruised!
Didn't make me ill though.

Sorry to hear so many of you are feeling rubbish. Feel better soon ladies

Are any of you second or third timers bothering with ante natal classes this time round? DH doesn't want to (to be fair this will be his fourth!) and I'm not sure what I would get out of NHS classes a second time - not shelling out for NCT ones. I think I might go to some of the breast-feeding classes in January though, it would be really nice if that worked out this time.

Today has been what a good Sunday should be :-)
Lie - in (thanks DD!) lazy breakfast, a couple of hours autumn walk in the woods, followed by baking and dinner that cooked itself in the slow cooker while we were out enjoying ourselves. Now a bath, Strictly, and a choice of gingerbread tray bake or carrot cake with orange icing. Happy Unplastered :-)

What's with the colds? I don't normally suffer much with colds but am so congested (especially at night) that it keeps me awake, and hence even more grouchy than the hormones and AND make me as it is!

I'm not bothering with Antenatal classes, did the NHS ones first time round, which were informative but not good for making friends. Can't afford the NCT ones, though I would like to make some friends as I don't know anyone else with babies/ currently expecting.

sugarmice rather than parenting classes, are you doing any preggo excercise classes, like yoga? Might be a good way to meet others who are expecting in your area?

I'm in the cold club too, haven't been able to shake this horrible cough so back to the doc tomo o think.

Unplastered your day sounds lovely and good to be making the most of outside before the snow sets in :)

25 work days left!

Unplastered it didn't occur to me to do any antenatal classes this time to be honest. It's like riding a bike isn't it?! We did NCT first time around which was fab for meeting a great group of friends - we all still see a lot of each other (although less so since most of us have been back at work) and are already organising a joint 2nd birthday party for our little ones in March. I guess I'm lucky that between my original NCT group and friends I met at baby classes/buggy fit type classes with DS and friends I already had locally, I'm sorted for people to hang out with on maternity leave this time around. Don't feel the need for any parenting type updates although I am doing the free NHS 'antenatal physiotherapy sessions they offer at my hospital. Did the first one a while back and have two more group sessions in January which should be helpful.

Unplastered, I'm doing the NCT refresher course as we are new to the area and I wanted to meet people. DH isnt coming as its not one they have a creche for.

We did NCT course for DS and until recently we still met weekly (people have moved, changed jobs), we email almost daily. However, we meet as a group, all of us at least 4 times a year. We have our Xmas do coming up soon.

Today I have really bad spd and am currently crippled on the sofa, at some point I will crawl to bed. Too much shopping today I think...

For those with SPD, I'm finding the only way to be completely pain free is to sit in my car with my heated seat on full. Exactly the right position, and the heat is really helpful. My reclining sofa is almost the same positio , but no heat - DH suggested an electric blanket!

sorry so many are feeling rubbish!!!

I'm feeling ok at the moment although rather irritatingly I have made plans for every weekend until Xmas and I really wish I hadn't so that I could do some baking & nesting in the baby's room.

I'm hoping DH is going to put the baby furniture together at the start of December so that it all feels more real.

I'm very jealous of the ladies on the work countdown!! I'm not finishing until 31 January so I have AGES ago. my mat cover is in place at the mo though and things are going well but I'm finding myself getting increasingly irritated that I feel like people are fazing me out of my own role... what's irritating me most though is that they aren't bothering to include my mat cover but are just answering things themselves (mainly incorrectly) so then those senior come and ask why I have done things a certain way when I haven't..... I feel like screaming that they would have correct information if they just bloody well asked me instead of asking people who are effectively guessing .... I feel better for getting that off my chest- sorry for the rant!!!! I really need to keep reminding myself that in 8 weeks it really won't matter to me!!!!

Evening all, to those feeling poorly, too many to name individually!

We went to stay with PIL this weekend and it was so awkward. MIL and FIL at each others throats all weekend (I predict a divorce in the near future). BIL cracking odd jokes about how the baby might come out with a dented chin "from all the shagging"

I just wanted to pack up and go home. Ended up going to bed at 8.30pm to avoid more strange comments. DH sympathises and agreed it was all a bit odd but they are his family and he doesn't see them that often so we just have to put up with it.

But we got home at lunchtime today and DH was a star - unpacked bags then got straight to work on the nursery again. Just a few more bits to do then all done and I can't wait to start filling the drawers with baby clothes and nesting properly.

Cubano - probably different ways to count it, have had several different days where my week goes up, but going to go for sunday like my mw says :)

jazzcat that sounds very, very awkward :o what a relief to be back home!

Jazzcat that sounds a barrel of laughs! I might have given your BiL a slap!

notone - I may sign up for aquanatal/ pregnancy yoga though money is tight at the moment as I've had to fork out over £100 to get up to Scotland this afternoon for my great auntie's funeral :( I will see if there's something I can go to in January.

jazzcat does sound like an awkward weekend! I don't think I could have bitten my tongue!

Won't be around for the next couple of days so no doubt I'll have pages of catching up to do by Wednesday, you chatty lot! Love and sympathy to all those suffering at the moment. Take it easy! (I've been told off by numerous people for decorating the nursery, despite the fact I let DH do the high bits!)

Sitting waiting for a midwife so I thought I would catch up on the thread. Took me rather longer than I had anticipated . This time round we won't do NCT classes but will try and sign up for local ante natal ones at the Surestart centre to meet some mums (and Somany, probably!). 28 weeks today but not giving up work til 24 Jan. Trying to stay engaged is tough! Especially as the team are aware we have not sorted cover for me, so are a bit worried, meaning I have to be focused and not googling baby stuff too much . Getting all of the odds and sods that we need slowly amassed via eBay, waiting for the Jan sales for all the items that need to be brand new.

The third trimester is definitely not as nice as the second one. I'm struggling to get comfy at night and feel weirdly billious - like I can't eat too much flapjack as it won't go down. Looking for an Xmas party dress that I can wear to family bashes and on Xmas day. Went to Topshop at Oxford Circus on Saturday for a quick look and a) felt ancient but also b) was disappointed with the maternity section - apart from the tea dresses the colours were all bleurgh. Might go down the Christmas Pudding jumper route instead.

Sorry for all the colds/general under the weather-ness. 10-14 weeks or so to go for many of us! It will whizz by, and until then, stay warm and well.

Will catch up with the full thread later but before i forget - ruey I got quite a party friendly lacy number from jojomaman at the weekend and can provide you with a discount code if you're interested? I'm hoping it'll do me for every christmas event...

ruey keep your spirits up while looking for a dress in the 3rd trimester, it's not easy. Maybe a two piece like leggings and a lovely long top and jacket?

Also are the Surestart centres still running? I thought that they were being closed down? So annoyed that near me the breast feeding classes are free and ONLY for recipients of a certain type of benefit (not sure what type though). That centre would have been a nice 10 min walk away and a way to meet others near me.

unplastered I don't think I'm going to do antenatal classes this time but going to try and sign up to aqua natal and yoga aswell:)) difficult to find time to do all these things when your working with a little one too though I'm finding!?

Also finally managed to satisfy my mulled wine craving with alcohol free from ikea!! Honestly everything id hoped for and more, although was like heart burn in a cup:( definately paid for it after.

Had my midwifes appointment this morning and everything seemed fine other than low blood pressure. Always think this part of pregnancy starts to drag a little bit:/ just constantly counting mile stones...2 weeks till scan, 4 weeks till midwife and then only 8 (and a bit) weeks left. :) :)