February 2016 Halfway mark: Flutters into kicks into thwacks!

[haquoi123]

New thread, heeeeeeere we go!!

Sighing Drink lots of water and eat some carbs - usually gets me through. What on Earth did your mother say?

Told DH about the wave of light last night and he refused to join in - just said "No". Today is the anniversary of his sons death. He's at work for the first time. Usually he books the day off. I'm on tenterhooks.

Till: sorry, I decided "stuff it" and took a nap there. I shall now try again.
Mum, well her first words "so, still not getting an actual roof over your heads then? (we rent)". And "well, it's early days, better see how it goes. I'm surprised you told the girls, they'll be crushed now". Apparently my gran is delighted, however. Tempted to facebook update now: just to feel some positivity coming our way. Not the best reason though.

I hope your husband is as up to the day as he believes x

Sighing Is she usually like that? Awful thing to say about your DDs!

Yes. Foot in mouth disease in every situation. It's almost an art form. She responded to announcing my engagement (remarriage following divorce) "are you marrying for his money?". She's not easy.

Afternoon

Had my scan today and we are in Team blue!

Everything is good with the baby, the sonographer was great talked us through everything he was looking at and checking. Also was offered a screening to see if I was at risk of pre term labour, they check your cervic with the internal probe etc and pleased that I am low risk.

Can now finally get excited and start buying things :-)

That's great MaryEllen! Happy shopping!

Congratulations on your scans maryellen and pheonix

We're surrounded by boys!!!!!

Congrats Phoenix and MaryEllen

I can't access stats on my phone but it seems like we have a lot more boys then girls? Would someone have a look and post the numbers?

I spent ages queuing for a car park space today only to have someone steal my 1st one and someone try to steal the 2nd. Was going to get out and stand in it but she backed down, don't cross a pregnant lady! Then could hardly get out of the car, going to have to start looking for spaces not next to another car soon. Difficult enough getting a parking space where I live as it is!!!

Baby does not like me lying on my side! He goes nuts now when I lie down, which is unfortunate seeing as I need to sleep on my side. So he spent most of the night punching me but didn't keep me awake as my insomnia is back with a vengeance anyway!

I don't think my stats are on the spread sheet, how do I add them?

I have the same thing rufus as soon as I lay down at night baby becomes very active!

Hi mary here's the link docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dWmvdD9SkvPQqKn7rpFHazgufmda2FOTMtL093cZFj8/edit#gid=0

but you might not be able to edit if you're using a smartphone (not so smart!). If you note your stats down in the thread, then I can copy them into the stats sheet.

TMI post here (sorry) I just went to the toilet and was sort of straining to do a no 2 (sorry) and there was some bright red blood when I wiped. I git v freaked out incase it was from my vagina so checked with finger & all ok so I'm 99.9% sure it was from my bottom. Is this a heamerroid? Has anyone else had this? I know I shouldn't be straining!

Probably a haemorrhoid. Can also get analysis fissures if squeezing a bit.if an external lump can use haemorrhoid cream for pain and pop back in. If nothing external you basically need to soften your poo - up the fruit and fibre etc as they can get quite sore later on. Want be related to bubs.

I'm not on the stats at all it seems! Lol. First baby, currently 21+1, due sometime around 23-28 Feb.
Ratty if you're confident it wasn't vaginal then that sounds like hemorrhoids, sorry! There's loads of creams and things, including witch hazel based ones, but if it's not hurting to pass solids then I'd focus more on eating well to soften your poo, and recommend toilet wipes rather than use loo roll, its gentler on your behind!

sighing my mother annoyed me today too. I have a lot of ishoos with her so I try to keep her at arms length, at least emotionally, but I still get tripped up.

She texted me today and said did I want to meet for coffee at 4. I said yes ok, but then I realised that she had an appointment in my town just before meeting me so a) it was just convenience for her and b) she parked her car in my driveway for the meeting

I know it sounds a small thing but I just wish she'd want to meet me without it being tacked on to something else for once.

Also I told her that I had a Physio appointment this Wednesday and she didn't even ask what it was for (sciatica)

I do realise I sound 12!

ratty ... yes, I have them, I seem to get every undercarriage ailment going, although they are not too bad right this moment. You can get cream and suppositories and the suppositories are better, although I'm not 100% sure about using them in preganancy- maybe just check with your mw. DO NOT get constipated, this makes everything 100 times worse. If you're in pain, get some witch hazel from chemist, soak cotton wool pads in it and put them in the fridge.

MaisieDotes my sympathy. There's no way I'd live nearer my mum, I'd go mad! And she certainly has me having to give myself a stern talking to to not revert to some sort of petulant teen. Weirdly it's becoming easier in person (always used to be the phone so I could roll my eyes) ... parenting has honed my and hard stare nicely!

Ratty blood is really scary! When I had my bleed I took a baby wipe and pushed just few cms up inside, it came out covered in blood so I knew it was vaginal. I have had small rectal bleeds all my life, often don't even feel a tear happening, doesn't mean you have haemorrhoids, just that something tore when doing No2. Normally they heal on their own. I use baby wipes to keep clean.

Maisie I spent all morning yesterday cleaning the house, my mum came round and announced my house was disgusting. It wouldn't have mattered what I had done, nothing is good enough for her! She just like putting me down, she loves making digs about my weight and telling me how thin she is at the moment.

I have taken every list that you kind ladies had posted and compiled them into 1 giant list removing all the duplications and putting the items in relevant sections. Should have everything that anyone had mentioned on it. I still need 90% of things on list!

Baby List

Pushchair?/Pram?
Sling?/Carrier

Nappies
Baby wipes?
Cotton wool and cotton pads ?
2 x Changing mats (1 upstairs, 1 downstairs)?
Nappy wrapper
Nappy bags
Baby changing bag

Car seat?
Car seat base if needed?

Moses Basket/Co-Sleeper/Crib/Cot ?
Mattress
Mattress Protector?
Fitted Sheets
Blankets
Muslins/Swaddles
Sleep Bag/Grobag
Mobile

Baby monitor?
?
Nursing bras?
Breast pads?
Breast pump?
Steriliser? set
Bottles
Bottle brush
Formula
Dummies?
Bibs
Muslins - small
Feeding pillow

Maternity Pads??
LANSINOH?
Nappy barrier (i.e. Sudocream)?
Nappy rash cream (i.e. Bepanthen or Metanium)?
Calpol
Infocol?
Baby lotion?
Ear thermometer ?
Baby/nail scissors?
Brush?

Baby bath and/or bath support?
Bath products
Bath thermometer?
Hooded towels ?
Sponge ?

Snowsuit?/Pramsuit
Babygrows?
Short-sleeved bodysuits?
Vests
Cardigans?
Hats??
Baby grows ?
Socks ?
Mittens and Bootees

Bouncy chair?
Play mat?
Kit for handprints/footprints
Keepsake box

sighing and maisie, that sounds awful, so sorry to hear you're having to deal with that negativity.

ratty that doesn't sound pleasant at all. I put a bit of all bran in with my morning cereal which had been keeping me regular. Another wonderful thing from hypnobirthing: the J breath. Breathe in swiftly through your nose and then long breath out again through your nose imagining that the air is travelling in a curve down your spine and under your bum (like a J), and repeat. Fucking awesome for getting a poo out, it's not forcefully pushing, I use it every time now. (original purpose for birthing obv!)

We had our 24 week appointment today and apparently my bump is about a week bigger than my gestation. Either I've got a big baby (thanks DH, he was a 10 pounder and his brother over 11! I on the other hand am small!) or actually our conception dates are out (and we think they are anyway).

Congrats on your scans maryellen and phoenix!

X post, thanks rufus!

Omg so much stuff I need! I'm going to think about it all after Christmas. How do you know what size mat bra to buy for breastfeeding though?

Don't commit to a few nursing bras until your milk supply has properly come in (post engorgement). Get fitted about 1/2 way (or 1 hour after ish) between feeds.
In the meantime get a maternity/ nursing bra during the last trimester that is a little looser than you maybe need. To get you through/ out and about to get a few well fitting bras.

I've put this baby down for nursery, there's a two year waiting list here for good ones. I want to start going back when she's 18 months (self-employed) so Sept 2017ish. They have said even with sibling priority, it's not guaranteed! I only found one I liked so it's defo worth doing your homework.

I need to sort out MAT b form and maternity allowance...really hope it's not complicated, I can't take it!

It depends on your current size, but I notice up to a G (i am not) you can get fairly low cost nursing bras from a few stores/ supermarkets (online though).

Primark, ASDA and Tesco do cheap nursing bras, however my local shops only do upto a 34E and I'm already busting out of those. I went up to a GG when breastfeeding and it was fucking horrendously expensive for nursing bras Too small ones cause blocked ducts/mastitis. I'm dreading it due to this - I don't want to sit on a bus for an hour then walk 20 mins across the City to get measured in Bravissimo 4 weeks post birth feels sorry for self

I have no advice re:mothers. I've been NC with me for 12 years. Best decision of my life, in regards to my mental health. Pop over to Relationships and look at Toxic Parents.

Nurseries with waiting lists?! That's a totally alien concept to me. None of them here (the ones attached to schools) allow you to put DCs names down till they're 2, as they don't start till they are 3 - which term they start varies. One school was adamant it was the September after she turned 3 and told me I was ridiculous for suggesting she start the half term after she turned 3 However the other school I looked at took her the half term after she turned 3! Go figure!

Thanks ladies - I'm pretty sure it was bottom as no blood on finger when I had a root around (sorry!) Will up my fruit & fibre! Did scare me though