Due in May- 2007 is officially here 01/01/07

[ShowOfHands]

We're having babies this year!

Lupins - I'm exactly the same with the 'under the bump' trousers. If I so much as walk to the kitchen (never mind going up stairs), they start to fall down. I've tried belts too and they do dig in, as you say. Bobba has a good old kick when this happens - to complain, I imagine. I remember when I was having DS - all maternoty jeans came with the huge elasticated fabric panel that stretched over your bump. I had a pair and they were forever sliding down. I remember having to rush through Birmingham city centre one day only to find that my jeans slid further than ever before - let's just say that they managed to get to 'lip level' before I was able to pull them back up. And I had lovely, enormous maternity knickers on too.

Twelfty - you are so right. It varies so much from shop to shop. I usually don't bother with places like Zara or Mango or Jane Norman as they seem to design for 6ft, boy-chested, pre-pubescent girls. French Connection is the bloody same. I usually seem to fair better in TopShop and Next but the branches near me don't stock the maternity ranges. Boooooo!

MKG - that's excellent news - think of all that free stuff! I love freebies, me. Plus getting on telly is an added bonus. I always LOL big time when you talk about your DH and stuff. You are always spot on too.

I agrees 12weeks, I being 4ft 11 have nightmare finding normal trousers let alone maternity ones, there is a big gap on the short range, like you say can be 27 inches which is fine for me or 29 inches which I have to wear with boots - dont do dresses or skirts in winter as a rule, spend too much time in walking boots and mud this time of year

MY pants fall down all the time too. I'm wearing my Maternity pants from ds but I can't walk down the street without my thong starting show.

I bought two books yesterday. "Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth" and "The thinking woman's guide to a better birth". I've been dying for some good pregnancy/childbirth reading to do and aside from "Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy I haven't read anthing other than my "Pregnancy for Dummies" (really good by the way) and "What to expect when you're expecting"

LG&T - my fat jeans don't fit me either. And I'm not going to be able to tell you lot how much weight I have put on as I am just too scared to look. I feel ENORMOUS. Remember when we were all complaining we had no bumps at all and our babies weren't kicking!

I've just started a new habit of squeezing my norks to see if anything comes out. Pg is really bringing out the best in me.

Scan at 3.20 on Monday - still haven't decided whether to find out, I think we'll decide at the eleventh hour.

Sky - I've just started booking appointments at nurseries too. Does anyone have any feedback on Montessori nurseries? Their fees are pretty steep, but would be happy to pay if people can tell me they are superior!

When do I need to find out about NCT classes? Is it already?

I know, I'm really annoying with all my questions, but I haven't asked any for AGES!

NCT asap Jenny. I asked when I was 14 weeks and they said they were already fully booked! They don't take bookings until you're 12 weeks, FFS.

Delighted your DH came round MKG. That's brilliant. I love your comment about the pants.

Lupins, I bought a pair of flat leather knee high boots with quite a chunky sole to wear with my dresses. Looks quite funky and is very comfy. The dresses aren't even maternity ones. I got a couple of size 16 dresses in Dorothy Perkins. V-neck ones in a jersey material. They tie at the back so they're not tent-like. They don't have to to be girlie! Plus thick tights of course.

hmmmm good idea 12wks - I might resemble a girl, dp will be pleased

Pinkjenny good luck with scan, mine is 13.50 monday amd nervous as hell, and wil defo be trying to find out the sex - dont these babies realise ther is shopping that needs doing for them

Is anyone else feeling queasy or sick, was sick the other day sick yesterday and feel really like i could chunder now, and apart from my blooming back still hurting (only really pm's) I feel fine - feels like ms is back but not as bad grrrrr - oh also have mild headache - will hobble to kitchen and drink pink of water in case if dehydration

I haven't had any sickness for a couple of weeks now, Lupins. Thank God. I have however got the headaches, swollen calves and aching pelvis instead. Nice.

I felt sick this morning funnily enough. I gagged on my toothbrush. And I wasn't really sick before. Just nauseous...

Seems to have gone now though.

Loving the fact that I'm not the only short arse who struggles with maternity wear. Every pair of trousers I buy costs me and extra £8 to have them taken up ( I really ought to learn how to do it myself) and in 3 pregnancies I yet to find a design/make that doesn't fall down constantly. A feature of pregnancy seems to be having the crotch of your trousers permantly somewhere down by your knees.
I find myself exaggerating my pregnancy waddle just coz it keeps my trousers from falling down. Why doesn't this happen to Heidi Klum, Davina McCall and all the other celebs who've ever had babbies? Perhaps there's a gap in the market for pregnancy braces. Hmmmmmmmmm there's a thought.

Sympathies to all those suffering morning sickness still.
Haven't had morning sickness recently although always find eating branflakes or similar makes me queasy again (doesn't have the same effect when not pregnant) but if I don't eat something resembling sawdust every morning I get soooo blocked up (if you know what I mean) that the queasiness is worth putting up with.
Sorry if this has already been discussed but has anyone had/or is considering a 4D scan? This is my last pregnancy (barring accidents) and it's something I quite fancy. But I don't want to know gender of baby so I was wondering whether it can be avoided or whether seeing its 'bits' would be inevitable

Lol at LL's pregnancy braces - I'd be tempted to give them a go but fear I would end up looking like Christopher Biggins. On a bad day.

I've never had a 4D scan so can't really help out on that one. I'm sure someone else will be along soon who has, though.

Pmsl at Christopher Biggins. You're probably right - looking remotely like Mr Biggins would be grounds for a very quick divorce in our house!
Back to the drawing board......

Lucy Louise, I had a 4 d scan last time and I must admit it was hard not to see the gender - you can ask not for it to be pointed out but sometimes (ahem) it is fairly obvious ! Saying that it will depend on the position of the baby at the time.

Mind you, I could tell very easily on my 20 week scan as well and so no surprises for me either time !

I want to have a 4D scan done. I noticed on some of the cheaper packages I looked at, that they don't "offer" the gender. However, I'm not sure that if they scanned over that bit at 28 weeks that it wouldn't be obvious - best to ask them I suppose.

It might be that babies rarely lie with their legs open so they can be pretty sure you won't find out.

Afternoon all, ive just made beef n beans (borlotti) for tea, it's got a good slug of wine in it and the house smells yummy mmmmmmmm

MKG so glad your dh has seen the error of his ways, freebies hoorah! A preg thong MKG... I think that may look um...interesting on me with the size of my ass!! I love the Ina May Gaskin books, she is fab. Could i borrow it when your done and i will send over some of my prg books.

Im almost 5'4 so regular is quite often too long and petite too short grrrrrrrr

Lupins i have a headache threatening, am trying to ward it off with water but im not sure if thats why i have it. Ive got an aching pelvis too if i walk too much, feels like ive been kicked in the crotch pretty much...nice

Pink, the twins went to a montessori nursery i thought they were fab,they went to school reading and writting. Not sure if it was all down to the nursery (they only went 2 days a week) but it was very good for them.

I have an Ina May Gaskin as well. Yet to be read though... Really shouldn't have bought 6 childbirth books. Will check which one it is LG&T. Prob easier for me to send it than MKG!

I have that hypnobirthing one too MKG. It's so positive. It's great. I might do some classes. Did you?

No pregnancy thongs for me. My sister bought me somewhen pg with ds and they feel down, because there was no elastic. I just wear my normal underwear. I didn't need new underwear with ds either thank god. I don't know how I avoided that one.

I just prefer thongs to regular underwear.

I did a hypnobirthing at our local hospital. It was good. I went in not buying the whole idea, I didn't practice the stuff, but when time came I just remembered what we talked about in class and did it.

Afternoon all

I would lie and say ive managed to read all the posts since i was on here last but im sure you would all find out the truth. My god you lot can talk

I did do a bit of a quick scan through and found out SOH has a shy (or stubborn) bubs like me that didnt want its picture taken, its so annoying isnt it, and congrats 12wks on having a pink one. Ive been looking around for baby things and if i knew the gender of mine there has been so much i could have bought. Dh's credit card has been breathing a sigh of relief that i dont know

After ds1's little adventure on the bus Tuesday night he then decided that while he was at school on wednesday that he would try to break his arm He didnt succeed luckily but it still meant i was stuck in A&E with him for 3hrs until the DR's decided that he had only sprained it, god that boy is accident prone. He has now been told that unless he has limbs falling off, is bleeding badly or has an obvious broken bone that i am not going to take him to hospital, i think him and our neighbours dd are having a competition to see who has the most visits to hospital so hopefully if he thinks it will take him to be in a lot of pain before we go again he may be more careful.

Has anyone found the tiredness has returned. On Tuesday evemning I was expecting a friend round but fell asleep without realising it, it was only about 7pm and I only woke up when he rang me to say he was stood outside my door. He'd been knocking for ages Since then ive needed a nap every day. It may just be the shock of having to get up early again for school. It makes it worse that its so dark when the alarm goes off, i cant wait for summer!!

So you're either naturally chilled out, or more of the class went in than you realised!

I've had hypnotherapy before, so I know hypnosis works for me. Will find someone to give me some classes. Going to do that, plus a pre-natal class at the Active Birth Centre. Seems the Active Birth people were at the forefront of the movement to get the medical profession to stop making women lie on their backs to give birth and all that.

I think I'm naturally chilled out, but the class helped my natural high tolerance for pain and ability to stare into space for no reason and zone out, to both come through.

Hiya, did you miss me??
Jesus you lot can rabbit. Ive been lurking for a day or two and have just been trying to catch up and look busty as boss is sat next to me. I hope you all had wonderful holidays, although now that feels like old news. Congrats on all your scans too. Mines next wednesday, cant wait..
Had some right shite news though - landlady called Wed to say that she is putting our flat on the market in March and selling up as soon as possible. Our lease will run out then too. Booooo. Plus my bosses are still in discussion about my maternity pay and I dont think its going to be wonderful news. Im pleading with them to at least pay me enough to cover my personal outgoings ie rent, credit card and old loan, but if they do thats all they will do, and everything else will be up to my poor DP and I earn twice as much as him. Only the other day I was celebrating that we now get 9 months mat leave, and now Im starting to think Im going to have to get my mum in as childminder and get back to work as soon as I can.
Im trying not to stress too much about it but the thought of having to find somewhere else to live and maybe applying for our first mortgage whilst on Mat leave and with a huge bump or newborn is filling me with dread. But onwards and upwards! At least its Friday and its nearly hometime and Ive got fillet steak, chips and peppercorn sauce. Oh yes. Big love to all xx

RK - welcome back. Sorry to hear your troubles. I know how you feel! If I were you, I would look for mortgage offers now, whilst you're still working full time. I mean, the mortgage companies can hardly look at your belly and say, "oh you're pregnant, how are you going to pay the mortgage when you pop?".

If you start looking to buy now, you might be able to move right in when the lease is up and if the landlady is eager to sell, she might even be happy for you to leave even before the end of your contract (should you find a place) if you discuss it with her. Fingers crossed for you. I HATE MOVING.

Speaking of which... Am about to have a meltdown with DH I think. Have taken all of next week off as we're moving house on Weds and DH has informed me that he can't possibly take "any more" time off as he's just had two weeks (as have I). Arrggh. Plus I think he'll be taking a half day on Friday as he's going to Barcelona on a stag weekend, PLUS his cousin is coming to stay on Sunday and will probably arrive before DH gets back and DH is saying hugely helpful things like, "we'll just take our time unpacking," and "don't overdo it." When exactly does he think he'll be able to help then?

I do over-worry about moving house. God knows I've done it so much maybe I shouldn't. But if he'd just plan it with me properly I wouldn't get in this state.

Right, am going for a coke with some workmates and then picking up DD from the airport. Ciao ladies.

Oh, he is taking the Weds off. He's not a complete muppet... Just a muppet-minor.

Hi Guys, it tkaes so long to read all these posts, I'll never catch up! I didn't really geel like posing last night after reading the awful awful news about ggg so I'm back today.

I agree with what everyone's saying about under the bump trousers - who DO they fit? I ran up the stairs the other day carrying ds and he thought it was hilarious when we got the the top and my trousers were round my ankles!

A book I am reading at the moment is Minus nine to one by Jools Oliver. It's pretty funny and tells the truth a lot of the time. I would recommend it.