The Brookers are ready for a 2014 sneeze-birth fest. Come and join us if you think you're hard enough...

[SantaMaybe]

Here we go brookers. At least three of us will be sneezing on this one

Keeping everything crossed that sunbeam is on his way out this weekend Solars!! Glad the monitoring went well, hope it goes well again today.

As far as other people are concerned, if they start hounding me, I will turn off my phone. I'm hoping this threat will keep them at bay

Brooking extra hard for a sneeze birth today, Solars! I only minded certain people who phoned...like my stepmother, who calls me about twice a year to organise the kids' birthday and Christmas presents, suddenly started calling every day and would say things like 'we haven't heard from you for a while! Any news?' Um, no, Dad called me an hour ago to ask the same thing! Also, if there was news, I WOULD HAVE PHONED HIM! The news is not going to be 'oh yes, the baby was born 3 days ago and I forgot to tell anyone'. PIL were the same - the phone would ring and MIL would be all 'oh, I just called to see how you were getting on!', pretending that she had just felt like ringing and there was no ulterior motive at all...I didn't mind chatting to Dad, Mum, DSis and various friends at all - they were just as excited but somehow less annoying, and I had been at home for a month by then and was bored.

Have you been trying all the old wives' tales things to start labour? What did anyone else try? Here's a list:

Eat pineapple (must be fresh, not canned) - I did this one, no sign of it working but the pineapple was yummy!

Have a curry - I did start having contractions shortly after eating it, but think it was more likely that the sweep I'd had in the morning triggered those off, and they petered out again by about 6am without getting anywhere.

Have sex! Tried this also - didn't work.

Raspberry leaf tea/capsules - I didn't try this, so no idea.

Some sort of reflexology thing where DH had to push on various points in my back - we tried, but I'm not sure he was finding the right points and it didn't work at all. Also tried the equivalent on my hands and feet, which didn't work either.

Scrubbing the floor - not my cup of tea at all, despite DH's best efforts to get me to try it.

I can't think of any more - anyone else?

In my news, I finally have a consultant appt, yay! The lovely MW arranged one for Monday but we were away and didn't know about it, so she rearranged it for Monday the 3rd March. My 20 week scan is Friday 7th, so it'll be a busy week. It's a different consultant to the one I had last time, so I hope she's nice.

Brooking extra hard for things to happen over the weekend of you Solars

I would tell people that you will let them know when there is something to know. It annoyed me too, as if we wouldn't tell them when the babies actually arrived!!!

Thinking of you my love.

I did the raspberry leaf tea thing, which I'm sure sped up my labour - but you have to drink it throughout the third trimester ideally. I drank gallons when overdue I also ate lots of pineapple and got completely sick of it...

I think keeping moving did the most for me. Lots of short walks, lots of bouncing, bell ringing (which I think got things going!) and lots of stairs! Lots of box sets while bouncing was the main thing. Kept me busy if nothing else..

Spending a couple of days with family after my grandmother died yesterday. Trying desperately to hide a mini bump and the sickness.. and also panicking about what I've got that will fit me for a funeral. Think I have a massive black-grey waterfall cardigan that will hide a multitude of potential bumpy secrets..

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandma Musical. I hope the funeral goes as well as it can x

Musical, so sorry to hear about your grandmother. at potential bumpy secrets, though! Bet your bump is only noticeable to you. My great-great-uncle died yesterday too - he was in his late nineties and had been very ill with Alzheimer's combined with severe mobility issues, so it's not really a sad event, as such.

I'm sorry to hear that Too

Thanks Maybe and Too. I'm sorry to hear about your great great uncle Too. It's similar with my grandmother - she'd been ill for a while, although deteriorated very quickly... so although it was a bit sudden it wasn't hugely unexpected.

I think my actual very tiny bump I have first thing in the morning is unnoticeable. However, by late morning the bloating makes me look pretty substantially pregnant.. and by late afternoon, about 6 months so! I think it's down to a lack of stomach muscles - I haven't been able to work on them for a good few months thanks to my back. There's only so long I can suck my stomach in for now

Sorry to hear so much sad news :(

music I am less bloated and bumpy now if it is any consolation! Layering a long vest and then shorter top has always been a fail safe her for me.

I feel quite excited to be on here just in time for two sneezes! I wasn't too harassed when I went late, wonder if it is because I am such amoody buggar by then? I also had no problem having no visitors for first week or so with Ds. Hmm lol
Dried papaya gave me some BHX so might be worth a try? I also drank a gallon of raspberry leaf tea with both of mine and had fast 2nd stages so I think that is worth doing.
Good Luck though ladies!

Too hope consultant goes well, are you having ELCS? I am possibly going to be under consultant care due to what happened last time with my blood pressure etc although I hope not! Also might have to have GTT this time, so much has changes since last pg,whooping cough vaccine and flu jab too and regularly weighing!

I am starting to get over the early pg anxiety, although still worried I will have scan and it be bad news :(

Oh my name change worked! I didn't think it had!

Purple, everything will be absolutely fine when it comes to the scan, for you are a brooker :)

Glad to hear the bloating and bumpiness has subsided.. hoping it does for me too. Funeral isn't for a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping I'm slightly less bloated by then. DH and I have decided against a private early scan, and I haven't heard back from the midwives yet, so guessing I'll still be keeping it quiet by then.

Though DD has cottoned on and keeps saying "Baby" and then kissing my tummy... so maybe it's only a matter of time!

Hope something's happening for you Solars!

music DD started talking about a baby shortly after my positive test and then said "I think your having a baby" a few weeks later. However she has wanted a baby sister ever since DS was tiny! I only said we might be having a baby last Sunday and she hasn't mentioned it since.

Thank you for the brooking spirit, every day of being pregnant is a blessing

I have kind of told DD - when the MW was here at 16 weeks listening to the hb, but we haven't made much of it yet and she hasn't mentioned it again since, so I think she's forgotten. I'm really waiting until after the 20 week scan to start telling her about the baby and preparing her. My sister sent me a link to a lot of books aimed at toddlers about to get a new sibling, so I might invest in a couple soon.

Musical, my bump is ridiculously huge already! I hate this stage where I look somewhere in between fat and pregnant - probably pg by the evening but because my tummy button is still an innie, there's this big dimple in the middle of the bump which makes it look like fat during the day. I hope my uterus hits my tummy button soon and smooths it out! also it could easily be fat - weighed myself and have put on 12 lbs already!

Purple, I agree with Musical - the scan will go great!

Solars, how are you doing? Scoffing pineapple and papaya and curry?

Maybe and Pen, how's the SPD? Mine's calmed down a bit at the moment, possibly due to me being a bit more careful. The physio said to breathe out instead of holding your breath when you do anything that you think will hurt, eg rolling over in bed/bending down to pick things up etc. She said that just doing that alone would help a lot because when you hold your breath, it pushes your diaphragm down and puts more pressure on your pelvis. I've been wandering around sounding like I'm huffing every time I do anything, but it does seem to be working! Must do pelvic floor exercises, though - am crap at remembering them.

I'm sure you look lovely Too!! My belly button is still an innie, it seems to have gone sideways into a smile

Mine is PGP rather than SPD, but have definitely found that breathing helps. I learnt that at my hypnobirthing. I've also been recommended reflexology so maybe that will be worth a shot?

Purple, it's scary how in tune kids are isn't it?!

Marking place

Hope you're ok and things start before Monday solars.

Quick post to get you back in my TIO. Had a nice, but simultaneously awful week 'holiday'. DS decided not to sleep, so we're all exhausted. Seeing family was nice, but it's lovely to be home to my own bed, and not having to worry that DS crying is waking up 6 other people (paper thin walls in the house!).

Will catch up over the day, or this evening.

Oh I found you. I've been awful at keeping up this week.

Too in N.I we don't have SPD, all pelvic problems fall under PGP, and it covers everything these days. Back, hips, groin, pelvis, legs. It differs everyday. Yesterday I felt great no pain at all but today I'm very sore again.

Thanks for the breathing tip too I will be giving it a go next time I'm doing something.

solars I hope things have started for you re: people ringing and texting I just completely ignored my phone the whole time. I didn't answer to anyone and only replied to certain people as I was so annoyed at all the questions.

We have had an awful week. Ds came down with a temperature on Sunday night which lasted until Thursday. Thought he had slapped cheek but doctor says it's more viral. Has an ear infection (on antibiotics) has a sore throat, refused to eat/sleep. Plus I now think he is teething. So I am exhausted from lack of sleep.

I was put on iron tablets from my 29 week bloods, had them redone on Friday as they think it's lower and I may need a transfusion. Fingers crossed I don't. Baby is measuring small but following her line and weighs roughly 4lbs.

Hope everyone else is keeping well and had a nice weekend.

Been lurking for a while and twisting my hands in knots about whether to post or not. I have decided in the end, that even feeling as shit as I did last time is worth the opportunity to say the following.

Congratulations too and musical!!! I cannot believe that you both, purple and I are pg again all at the same time (I'm 10 plus 5 today). Old Skool brooking rules!! Squeeeeee

Plus much more excitement, followed by a quick nap and a snack.

So hey to everyone else, I'm thinking you'll let me know fairly sure if I should bugger off again fairly soon, ha.

Bloody hell, I think I'm psychic.
Pomme, I actually thought about you out of nowhere earlier today!! Can't believe you've now posted! Loads of congratulations to you, hope you & girls are well

Oo esp! Hiya little - all good here. Hope you and kids all good too.

just popping in to add my Brooking vibes for Solars tomorrow if things haven't started this weekend. You will be in my thoughts xx

Evening all, also popping in to say good luck Solars I will also be thinking of you I can't wait to hear all your news :)

Maybe how are you doing my lovely? Is leave suiting you?

Dino any scan news? Hoping you're doing good.

Pomme so pleased to see you :) 10+6 here lthough I will be very surprised if scan does t bump me ahead a few days.

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I am aching all over so I am guessing the relaxin has really taken hold! Sorry to hear about those of you suffering from PGP :( I spent a good year before this pregnancy building core strength (still not great) and getting fit, so really hoping I can minimise impact, I guess will wait and see! I think I wil see a chiropractor this time after a few recommendations, I don't know if that would be an option for any of you?

I also may have had the most embarrassing hormonal moment yesterday...
DH said he wouldn't go the shop for crisps and chocolate as it isn't good for us. I may have started crying in my defence I have been quite good with cravings and just eaten meat and too much bread. After laughing at me, he did go to the shop! I really hope I don't have any other silly moments

I also quit my job yesterday so that may have been a contributor!

Oh yes Dino I have been thinking about you this weekend. And those over their due dates too [Thanks] [cakes]