February 2014 - We've got big bumps and we cannot lie...

[DawnOfTheDee]

You other mothers can't deny,
When a girl walks in with an ever expanding waist
And a round thing in your face
You....'d better give her some cake....

etc, etc,

New thread! Enjoy!

Ouch Sugar! That's sounds painful! Hope you're ok!

Glad your growth scan went ok Notone. I feel like I've had a massive growth spurt over the past few weeks. Will find out just how much at mw appointment on Tuesday. Must post a bump pic on FB! I'm also intrigued by candies clementines, so do share!

Aw sugar you're poor fingers!

harlem I finish half day next Friday! then 2 weeks, then 3 more weeks before mat leave. When do you finish?

Well that's me off work today. Exhausted, sore back and bump :-( Husband not happy, says I have managed all week and it's so close to weekend I should just go in but I've been struggling in all week, each day feeling progressively worse. He forgets as well that I have an hour drive (his is only 30 mins and on top of that I've been taking him and collecting him recently to save on petrol!) to and from work as well as having to actually stand a ,today the day actually teaching - the standing isn't too bad, and to be honest, I do sit a fair bit now and wheel around backwards on my chair or get kids to come to me but the actual teaching is hard! I run out of breath half way through what I am saying and constantly drop board pens and rubber!

I do feel guilty, partly for the kids but mainly because my department are having a really rough time at the moment. At least I stayed late last night and all planning and copying etc are done for the whole of next week - a. It of assessments (yes I am that horrible teacher) and some fun Christmas maths things eg plotting coordinates that make a Christmas picture and a Christmas murder mystery (which I am actually excited about). I will be in next week though! Can't guarantee after Christmas but I WILL be in next week!

Rant over and now to try to go back to sleep!

Cubano - don't feel guilty, you can't help how you feel. I doubt it's particularly helpful for your dh to say that to you - ignore him. They haven't got the slightest clue what's it like to be pregnant and I'm sure if they could experience it the world's population would decrease significantly. You are doing an amazing thing growing your baby and it takes it's toll on you. Put your feet up - you deserve it.

I second Sassy's advice Cubano, definitely ignore him, they really have no clue what we go through!

I finish next Friday until Jan then have 4 weeks until mat leave. So sounds like I'm only starting ML a week after you. Let's hope it goes quickly!

Christmas jumper day at work today. Feel slightly unprofessional interviewing for my mat cover dressed as a Xmas pud, so have brought a spare top to change into

Aw thanks sassy!

Husband has just this instance text and apologised! I swear sometimes he is reading this!

Cross post Harlem - you gotta interview as a Christmas pud! I finish 24th jan... Can't wait!

cubano glad you're listening to your body and having the day off. Rest up and focus on eating and drinking well.

I had a hilarious dream last night. Baby arrived and everything in the house was as it currently it (I.e. chaos, no nursery etc). DH tried to do the first nappy change and we couldn't find anything useful. He kept pretending everything was ok whilst having a look of absolute fear on his face

I went to see my psychologist yesterday - I last saw him about 2 years ago. I said 'you've probably noticed I'm pregnant' and he said 'Oh! I thought you'd just put on a bit of weight! I wasn't going to say anything'
Anyway, it was a relief to see someone and not have to explain my background, and my anxiety flare up is a lot calmer, so I'm very happy about that.

Does anyone else feel really emotional/ overwhelmed reading/ watching stuff about the birth? I watched OBEM for the first time the other day and ended up sobbing uncontrollably. Weird.

Meanwhile, my capacity for eating dinner has greatly reduced. I can eat the world for breakfast, then after lunch bump gets uncomfortably tight and bloated like a puffed up balloon and stays that way and I don't want any dinner.

Julietee, I struggle to eat a large dinner in the evenings too. Mostly I just snack on crap from 5pm, I do eat a healthy-ish lunch generally. Today is the first day that I have felt really rubbish and over tired. 32 weeks and the bump has grown enormously in two days. And the baby moves like a dervish! Just trying to savour every minute, this is my last pregnancy and the bump-mama relationship is so special

I've struggled to eat a full meal for weeks now. But yesterday the midwife said I was 1/5 engaged and for the first time in ages I managed a whole bowl of Thai curry. So maybe my baby has started to drop down already! I wasn't expecting to baby to start to engage so early.

I'm loving being off work now. Have been making curtains this morning. I'm so much more relaxed already. It helps that baby has been moving normally again.

julietee I've worked out that my primary stress relief, when I'm not actively looking after my stress levels, is crying. It's not that I'm upset, it's just like a valve that physiologically stops me being totally overwhelmed - not good for my state of mind, as I used to get really embarrassed but now I just ride it out and blame "hormones". But yes, in answer to your question, I can do a casual chat about giving birth, and joke about it, but when it comes down to visualising holding this little bundle in my arms, or actually being in the moment of labouring, I've bawled my eyes out to a couple of sympathetic people. When I start to think about my DH's involvement in the whole thing, and how amazing a dad he's going to be, I can't help it.

Cubano yes, listen to your body, not to your DH!

Eeyore I am terrified that your dream is going to be our reality. The work in our house that was meant to be finished mid-October is still going on! The carpets were supposed to be fitted on Wednesday - yesterday I called over and over without any joy and today they aren't even answering the phone

Julietee yes, I get hugely emotional watching things like OBEM. Have done ever since the positive pregnancy test!

My appetite is the other way round - not great in the morning (I'm hungry, but I feel too sick to really eat properly) and gets better throughout the day. I can easily eat double portions at dinner, as long as I space it out over a couple of hours!

Quite envious of you with engaging babies and growing bumps! Feeling stupidly paranoid about the whole measuring behind thing, even though it's only 1cm and I know it's not an exact science...

Marzi I'm measuring behind too, and he's still head up!

marzi I'm measuring two weeks behind now, bump hasn't grown in the week, just descended. I think it's normal.

Thanks for the reassurance. Mine definitely hasn't descended though - her head is up in my ribs! I think it was just having a few things out of the ordinary at one MW appt, as all the other ones have been very 'spot on' and reassuring. Ah well, that's pregnancy though!

Well Friday 13th has bought with it the news that my GTT came back positive for GD. Have a consultation on Tuesday with specialist diabetic team then bonus extra scan on Friday. Also further appointment on NYE! Now concerned about baby coming early and I'm not ready. I only need to sort hospital bag and blankets so all manageable but feeling panicky. Also not looking forward to Xmas without the usual sugary treats.

Will catch up on everyone else's news later , sorry for woe is me post

Sorry to hear that jazz. I'm sure gnitting will be along with some helpful advice as she seems to be coping extremely well with it! Think positive - bonus extra scan means getting to see little one again, and baby coming early will probably seem lovely when you are feeling really fed up of being pregnant in late Jan/early Feb. As for the no sugary treats... maybe stock up on your favourite (permitted) charcuterie and cheeses and have those instead?

So candied clementines for those who asked.... (think really lush orange jelly sweets)

Slice, fairly thinly (about 3mm), 7-8 clementines, discarding the top and bottom of each.

Put 500g sugar and 250ml water in a pan and heat making sure the sugar dissolves. Once dissolved boil for 5 minutes.

Place the slices in the pan, and simmer for 1.5-2 hours stirring occasionally to make sure they cook evenly.

After two hours the rind should be translucent and tender. Remove from the heat and place apart on a greaseproof papered baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 90 degrees (fan) for a further two hours.

Then simply remove from the tray and dip into caster sugar before allowing to cool on a cooling rack for at least an hour (if you can resist!) If not eating them immediately, they need to be placed in an airtight container.

It takes a long time but no major effort really and sooooo scrummy! I also dip mine half in chocolate.

Notone, that sounds fab, can I just check, do you leave the peel on when you cut them?

YUM! I've bought them in the past but it sounds easy peasy to DIY. Definitely happening this weekend.

yep leave the peel on... I'll bung a pic on fb. I'm going to try it with limes next. Just moved on to the brandy snaps now! They are for a hamper for my dad and step mum's christmas present. I only found out last week that I'm seeing them for christmas tomorrow. eek! And then my brother phoned today and said he was coming too so I've had to make enough for his hamper too. It's been a busy baking day!

haha marzi you know me too well!

sorry to hear that jazz - it's not the end of the world, but it's a bit of a bother. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions that I might be able to answer, but if I can tell you three things only, it would be this:

• a lot of people find carbs in the morning really spike their blood sugars, so if you're lucky enough to be able to eat bread etc, do it in the afternoon. I find natural yoghurt, berries and walnuts is a satisfying breakfast, and I never thought I'd say that out loud.
• you'll find yourself eating smaller meals, but going for a walk for 30 minutes after eating a bigger meal makes a world of difference - so far

I've sat through three large, wonderful meals out with good bloods afterwards thanks to a 30 minute walk

• if you're up for a spot of baking, try this recipe, it's amazing! Lots of carbs, protein and fibre, so all healthy, and it will hit the sweet spot that chocolate may no longer get to:

blueberrygirlinoz.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/no-sugar-oat-drops.html the recipe makes around 18 pieces, and one of those with a cup of tea in the afternoon will help you forget about the stuff you can't eat.

And if you end up taking medication, it's not the end of the world, or an indictment of your dedication. If your pancreas is getting plain old hysterical, it's just a thing that happens, so don't take it personally.

Sorry to hear about the GD Jazz. A couple of friends have had it and they managed it surprisingly easy so hopefully you will too. X

Sorry about the GD Jazz. But at at least you know now and can monitor it, plus you have the bonus of extra scans to see babyjazz! Gntting's advice sounds very sensible :-)

So I decided against interviewing in the Chrismas pud jumper (sorry Cubano ) but it paid off as both the FD and I loved the guy, offered him the mat leave contract this afternoon and he accepted! So glad that is sorted and I can start my handover when he comes in on Weds!