July 2016 (7) We're halfway to meeting our little bubs

[allthegoodnamesalreadytaken]

Hi all started a new thread as the old one was getting almost to 1000. We're a very chatty bunch! Happy Friday

Lovely pics ladies

Its if you dont qualify for smp thom... as ive only just been put on a contract by my school from being a supply teacher i haven't worked for long enough to get smp. Theres so many qualifying weeks/week milestones etc etc i cant work out whether it needs to be in by the 25th week or just before baby comes or anytime after the birth!

Primary noodle - that makes sense, thank you. I will qualify for SMP. I need to get my head around it all.
Hope everyone has a good week. I am feeling exhausted & it is only Monday! I work very long hrs, on call one wkend in 3. Wondering if it is time to start to see if I can try to cut back after Easter. The problem is, it puts more pressure on the team. Is anyone thinking about doing that?

Love the bump pictures ladies! Scase slushies in the summer sounds amazing.
So I didn't do anything all weekend then had cabin fever yesterday so we went shopping, pictures of my purchases attached
Back to work today boo - hope everyone's Monday goes quickly!

Thom I'm similar with work, on call 24/7 but luckily no calls last 2 weekends, can work very long hours . I won't really be able to cut back as we're a very small team but I'm trying to rest as much as I can evenings and weekends. Using a couple of days annual leave so easter weekend will be a 6 day weekend for me

I need to claim maternity allowance. Just have to hope it all comes thru ok. Can someone clarify how many keeping in touch days I can use?

Indians - carrot cake with cream cheese icing from patisserie Valerie if you've got one! Or mini egg cake, which is what I'm thinking of baking soon

Minie I think every1 can have 10 but your work doesn't have to provide you with work - check that though I only read it briefly on gov website.

It says on the gov.uk website that you can claim it once you're 26 weeks.

Lovely pics, Indians and Scase. The silhouette idea is really cool - might try that!

Baby is very kicky this morning - my tummy keeps being bounced and pushed around rather visibly! I feel lucky to not be uncomfortable yet; I am really enjoying this part of pregnancy. I said to DH yesterday that I'll be keeping the baby in as long as possible if it means he continues to be so lovely to me!

Got to sort out my maternity pay forms this week. The ones for school are miles long - ugh!

24 + 6

And mini, how do you make mini egg cake? Sounds amazing! I am craving chocolate at the moment which is unusual for me...!

I will be making my breakfast for tomorrow in it for sure

I have two bump pictures from today, one of which OH felt left out haha and I tried a silhouette version which Ive seen people do on other groups Im on on FB

Dunno why it keeps making me post twice -.- sorry

Ahh thank you ladies!

Yes it was at Christchurch quay this was taken!!

Haha I wish he was my husband still awaiting for him to pop the question!!

Lovely bump pictures to everyone whose posted

I loved the silhouette idea so had to try it for myself you should try it :)

Gnat that's exactly how my hips feel really tight. I'm sleeping with a pillow between my knees now as I get awful hip ache.

Cookies yes my boobs are the same. I feel like they look odd in all my tops. Although it's probably time I invested in some more new bras.

Eliz I did a huge wardrobe clear out as we are moving. I have thrown away/given to charity all my 8s & 10s. I haven't worn them since just before I got pregnant with ds3 and he turns 3 in May. I hope to get down to a curvier size 10/12 eventually.

Scase we have a nutri bullet and I love it. I haven't used it for a little while but hoping to use it more in the summer when I'm hoping my appetite will decrease. Love the silhouette bumpie.

Indians you look great. As for cake DH made two at the weekend. We went for Sunday lunch with the in laws yesterday then cake back at ours. We had a Victoria sponge and fruit/but/chocolate cake made by DH and a lemon meringue that mil bought.

Primary I'm claiming maternity allowance. I will get my mat b1 at my 28 week midwife appt as soon as I have that I'll print off the form and send it.

I can really see my stretch marks now but they are old ones. Hope I don't get lots of new ones. Surely my tummy has stretched far enough before.

23+3

beautician did you just say that your DH made cake?! I am have the wrong husband!! All I want today is cake. Same on the bra front. I spent loads on sports bras and only have 1 normal one that fits so hard to contain them though...
ah scase thought I recognised it! I took the DDs there a few months back, it's one of my favourite days out- especially on lovely sunny days.
Lovely purchases kaytee , I have the nautical babygrows from Next too, love them! I so need to invest in some more rompers like yours- I have none! Baby will be a sweaty one knowing my luck. You must be feeling very organised now

I want to get in touch with someone about my maternity - I'm both employed and self employed, and I'm worried I'll miss out on entitlement if they base it on 90% of employed wage. I'm not sure who to speak to?!?

mini I LOVE Patiserie Valerie, the strawberry tarts are my favourite. I've never had a carrot cake, must sample! Talk to me about this mini egg cake?!?!?

Lovely bump pics scase and indians

indians it's my birthday this week as well. Planning to get cupcakes from hummingbird and heading to the theatre to see curious incident of the dog in the night time.

I've downloaded two new apps this week. One to remind me to do my pelvic floor exercises and one to start counting the kicks (I know at 23 weeks it's early but just wanted to see if there is a pattern emerging)

For all those suffering aches and pains I had a really bad back a couple of weeks ago and I found the large U shaped pregnancy pillow absolutely amazing. Since I've started using it I haven't felt another twinge since. Hoping it stays that way

scase very early on I had a couple of stretch marks appear on my boobs after they seemingly doubled in size overnight. I had a mini meltdown then went out and stocked up on shea butter, coconut oil and almond oil. I made a homemade concoction with all three ingredients and they seem to have almost disappeared - no new ones have appeared yet either even though I've got quite a sizeable bump now and can feel the skin stretching and feeling quite tight. Hopefully it continues to work

We put the wall mural up in the nursery at the weekend and it looks fab so feeling relieved that the nursery is almost done. We also bought the baby monitor ( I know it's really early but I prefer the get the big purchases/projects out of the way as soon as possible). I was born two months prematurely, my brother was a month premature and my DH was 6 weeks premature. I know that doesn't necessarily mean I will give birth early but it's just made me a bit anxious about having everything in place early on so if it does happen I'm prepared. I might even start packing my hospital bag soon

Only working 1 day this week (being forced to use all my annual leave before April) so v. happy to just relax on the sofa and "potter" around the house. Might head to the shops and pick up some babygros etc. thanks to the lovely lists everyone has provided.

Hope everyone else is ok and had a good weekend!

Cookies yes DH made cake. He is great at baking & cooking. He's also a builder so does loads around the house. I'm very lucky.

Don't know what to do with myself today. I have had bad tummy pains for the past two hours and feel really sick. It feels like I need the loo ( constipation) but I don't need the loo if that makes sense. Do you think it's s bug? I have ds home today so really struggling.

Beautician - I had pains that sound similar low down my bump around my pelvis on Friday. Better now after shifting some wind and resting and I think baby was kicking low too . It was really painful so I sympathise.

Mini egg cake is going to just be victoria sponge with buttercream icing any then plonk mini eggs all over. Might fill with chocolate buttercream. What will really happen is that I eat all the mini eggs while cake is baking so end up with a normal Victoria sponge lol.

I'll catch up Properly later.. But just v quickly beautician I had this last night and this morning. I've been being sick since 7 with no end in sight. Hope it's not the same for you but can you get some childcare lined up
In case? I can barely move and DD still ill do my wonderful mum has taken the day off to have her as DH has very important day at work!

beautician sorry to hear this sounds rubbish. it sounds like it could be similar to what I had last night. I literally shouted out in pain and felt funny ( wa me after dd was sick so automatically assumed I was) It was all down low on one side of my bump, thought it couldn't possibly be wind.. Turns out I think it was hope it buggers off soon for you. Can you have some sit down time and put a DVD on?! (All I ever seem to do ) wow your husband is definitely a keeper. Mine has never made a cake in his life. He works for a building company but spends all weekends at work or doing things for other people so we end up never getting stuff done. When I met him and got married etc I thought he would be much more useful (wish I could input the crying laughter emoji from my phone here!)

Hi all, I'm new here. Had a bit of a read through the last few pages and the pics all look great! Sorry for all of you who aren't feeling great at the moment. I think I've been quite lucky so far! Started yoga a few weeks ago and don't feel like it's doing much good. It's not bad, but I think I expected to feel either more relaxed or like I'd done a bit of exercise. Any advice for making it better? It's not something I'd ever done (or had the inclination to do) before. Thanks.

Warning- maternity pay rant coming on...

Because I am entitled to maternity pay through my employer (only just) .. It means I will get 90% of my weekly earnings paid as maternity. However, I earn several hundred pounds a month more on top through being self employed in my second job. After being on hold for ages HMRC say there's nothing they can do I will only get 90% of my weekly employment pay. It's ridiculous - I got paid more last pregnancy when I earnt a lot less than I do now. I got a full £135 last time which was more than what I earnt in a week. How does this add up?!?!? I feel like I deserve the full £135 a week I feel like this is now going to effect the amount of time I can take off..

Sorry everyone feeling ill, tuck yourselves up warm and snug and make sure someone looks after you, can toddlers be trained to bring snacks? can you tell it's my first?!

Lovely bump pics everyone! I thought I had a much lower bump compared to your photos, but have taken my own bumpie and I think it must just be the angle I'm used to looking at it from!

tams I was quite underwhelmed by yoga too so won't be any help, I've been doing aqua instead.

Don't forget your PF exercises (should probably take my own advice )

24+0

Beautician and Anna, sorry you've been feeling so ill. Hope you feel better soon

Cookies, I had a similar thing to you the other day!

Loved all the bump photos, mine too feels like it's suddenly popped a bit.

*Cookies#, totally understand your need to rant, that's unbelievably annoying about your maternity pay. Seems so unfair! There should be some sort of top up system for people in your position.

I'm going to be short because I work in a job share, but then bring my hours up to full time by working a lot at weekends. However, apparently the weekend work does not count towards my maternity pay. I will be getting 90% of far less than my usual income. Grrr. I am somehow hoping my DH will get extra work and make up the difference, as I was really hoping to take 9-12 months leave.

Tams, welcome to the thread. I was fairly unimpressed with pregnancy yoga the first week I went, but actually it's grown on me. I do find I'm more relaxed after it, and feel more stretched. I've also learned useful tips about breathing, labour positions and ways to prevent and deal with hip and pelvis issues. And I've got to meet some lovely local pregnant women, it's nice to compare bumps and experiences, and I imagine I will keep in touch with one or two. I think it depends on the group and the teacher, so perhaps I've been lucky.

All the cake talk is giving me serious cake desires, I'm craving cake and chocolate so badly in the past few days! I went and got a Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate today on my lunch break, they've just opened up a little cafe nearby. Soooo delicious, it really hit the spot and warmed me up.

I can also recommend Patisserie Valerie - my friend got a delicious cake from there for his 40th last month. It was a kind of summer fruit cake with loads of fresh cream and creme patissiere, mixed through with blueberries, raspberries and red currants, and chocolate batons all around the sides. Divine!