Due in July - Part 3- we are a chatty loy...

[twoplusone]

Thought would start a new thread...

Hello folks hope everybody is wellish.

wrt pain relief I bought a maternity tens off web for about £40. Found it very good. Was told though it's very important to have the electrodes in the correct positions and put it on early enough as the effects are cumulative. To be honest think it worked a bit like a counter irritant, but it DID feel like somebody was rubbing my back vigourously, which is exactly what I wanted.

I had a home birth so wasn't cooped up on a ward and then delivery room. I found being upright and mobile very helpful. The 'birth' ball or exercise ball (much cheaper in Argos about £4-5) was the LAST thing I wanted to be sitting on.

I used gas and air (wonderful stuff ) for most of the first stage with the tens, and then just gas and air when in the bath (obviously). Make sure you turn your tens machine off before you rip the electrodes off......VERY TINGLY FINGERS.....2nd stage I was too busy to concentrate on the entonox.

Can't recommend perineal massage highly enough either. No rips or tears just a graze, but more of that later. You don't need to start doing that 'til thirty something weeks.

Oh yes Kyte. Relating to mums (of every age including elderly mums) is suddenly much different andfor the better. I am more tolerant of little ones... to a point. I still don't understand why mums allow their kids to wreck my shop while they stand there saying 'don't do that forsythia' in a pathetic unauthoratitive voice. Anybody remember baby reigns? imo they are NOT cruel and will be getting some for dd as soon as she is walking! (I'm not a fire breathing dragon honest).

I think I'm a more sympathetic person too now-a-days. I'm not putting myself across very well am I?

Jennster, dh and I were having the reins debate this morning over ds - have decided for now to go for the "hold my hand or ride in the buggy" approach, which seems to be working OK (long may it last!). I agree though, must be very annoying when you have a shop and toddlers running riot in it.

There is an alternative to reins that I use for my little guy who is 2 1/2.

Its a little backpack that he wears that has a strap that clips to the top of his back pack and has a handle at the end which i hold onto.

We got it in John Lewis. I will check the name tonight when I get home. Could be Little Trek or something like that. Cost about £10-15.

Gives them more freedom of movement than reins, but the comfort to us that he won't go out under a car or something like that.

He wears it every time we go out walking around shops etc. Often he will hold our hand. But on the days that he is being very independent we have this as a back up.

Plus I wear my a little back pack handbag thing so its a case of mummy putting on her bag so you put on your bag...and my hubbie wears a back pack commuting to work so he is quite accepting of the whole concept.

Hi all, I haven't been on here for a while so just wanted to say hi.

Twoplusone, I can't believe your DH is almost home!! I remember when you were counting weeks not days - it just goes to show how far we've all come eh?

I've used the backpack that trimum mentions - Mine (or ratherm my DS's) is called Little Life and I got it from the Great Little Trading company website. I've seen other types along the same lines but it's a great idea. DS used to carry his own nappy and wipes in his backpack and it really made me feel like I had control over him. Would really recommend it too!

I am due on 25th July and my jeans no longer zip up does anyone have any tips as to where i might find some interesting maternity clothes (over the internet is probably best for me) that are not hideously expensive. I have a DD 15 months. I was so fed up with my maternity clothes last time round that I bagged them all up and took them to Oxfam when DD was about 6 weeks old, sort of post natal tidying frenzy..... I wish I hadn't now!

What's wrong with a playpen? Don't have one personally but loads of my mates do! My mum used one for my sister and me, only my sister was such a bu""er for climbing out, she used it upside down on her!

It's not the running around the shop that does my head in, it's the picking everything up and knocking everything over and opening stuff! They're MEDICINES FFS. Bet they don't let them play with medicines at home! And then just standing there flipping well watching them do it.... There are of course some LOVELY children out there who sit where they are told to sit and do as they are told.

Caroline, NewLook and Topshop are pretty good for high street mat stuff.

Just peed myself coughing again so please everybody when you read this do some pelvic floors RIGHT NOW.

Hi all,
Enjoying all the toddler tips - esp the upside down playpen - hilarious!

Kyte - I haven't suffered from itching thank goodness, but I have been using bio-oil as a supplement to my moisturiser. I have used it sporadically for a while for various moisturising needs, however been told it's a gem for avoiding stretch marks etc. I have to say I have been religious (sorry, couldn't resist!) about putting it on after my shower each day. Think my tum has never looked/felt better!

I second the recommendation of New Look etc. for mat clothes Caroline1852. Some really nice and quite cheap stuff about. Don't throw away this time!! My stuff is so comfy I think I may never return to structured waists etc. Elasticated rocks

Glad everyone seems to be doing well. Twoplusone, I'm very excited for you!

Kyte I have been using some fab stuff called bio-oil. It's a bit more pricey than cocoa butter but smells heavenly! With DS I had quite a few stretch marks by 18 weeks (am prone to them) but have hardly any this time. It's available in pharmacies and supermarkets.

Caroline1852 there's a long post in the pregnancy area about maternity clothes with loads of advice in. I've found Next, H&M and DPs good and quite reasonable - Mama's & Papa's have some nice stuff that's a bit more pricey - they have a lovely black and white dress in at the moment which will be great in the spring (can you tell I am tempted?)

dress - this is a piccy of the dress I like.

Have been meaning to ask if anyone had a c-section with the previous DCs? How are you finding your scar? Mine has starting to pull a bit but only occasionally, do feel it when I cough or sneeze though...

my next clothes still havent turned up I phoned up yesterday, but one pair of jeans has just come in but i doubt they will be here for when DH gets back!! Not that I suppose he will be interested in my clothes...,,,lol

Whilst out yesterday my bump became rock solid, babs must have moved right to the front.... it felt weird.. but really made me feel pg.

need to get ready to take ds out for a walk but i really cant be nothered quite comfy in my jimjams.. need to take him for a haircut though.. might leave that for daddy to do....

2+1 if your ds is anything like my next door neighbour's son, I would say that going to the barbers is DEF a daddy/son bonding job you can do without!

he is genrally ok when I takre him i bribe him with pringles!!!lol but daddy can still take him and I can sleep...lol

That sounds like a great plan twoplusone. Its Thursday your DH is back isn't it? Just one more day and then you can say "DH will be back tomorrow" - Hooray!

I've got quite a few mat clothes from H&M, and they are pretty cheap and VERY comfy - I totally agree Cyee that elasticated is the way to go - The trousers I got from H&M look perfectly normal just with stretchy sides. I think I'll carry on wearing them for years

The bio-oil sounds good I may try to get some myself. An alternative which I picked up as a recommendation on MN is for AVEENO lotion. I'e used loads of things on my DS for his itchy excema and this has worked a treat - Its oatmeal based and leaves his skin (and mine) feeling really soft. Its quite pricey though...

Re c-section scar ... Not had a section but I had an appendectomy about a week before I got pregnant and I can feel my scar starting to stretch and I occasionally get some shooting pains in the muscles at that side. My consultant said to expect some discomfort and pain - so far it's not too bad though.

Hi all,

Welcome to the newbies and good luck to all with 20 week scans coming up (wow isnt it going quickly!?)

I don't have the brain capacity today to answer you all individually but Twoplusone -I am so excited for you!!!! Not many sleeps now! Its better than waiting for Father Christmas isnt it!

Well, I have no idea what is going on with me. I am praying its hormones because I seem to have turned into someone I really dislike! I have cried, shouted, cried, screamed and cried most of the weekend! Why? I have no idea. I have picked fights with my DH who has mailed me to ask what is wrong with me! DOH!!!!!

I am also now in panic mode because I havent felt anything yet...I am 15+ 2 should I be feeling anything yet?

Pleased to see that someone else has spots too! (sorry!) but I also seem to have broken out like a teenager!

Hope you are all feeling fine today!
x

On the itching subject, I was recommended E45 Itch Relief cream and it seemed to clear things up in about 3 days.

Well, one problem stops, another one starts. I went out on Sunday for a late lunch with friends (first time in months) and had fish and chips in nice restaurant. About 11pm started getting the most excruciatingly painful stomach spasms and was convinced I was going into labour. DH phone NHS direct while I was rolling around on the floor in agony, and by the time they phoned back, all hell was breaking loose in the bathroom IYKWIM . I have never been so violently ill in my life. Anyway, this went on until about 7 the next morning and I was completely empty. On the phone the doctor said it was food poisoning - I was sooooo scared I might have harmed the baby and couldn't feel any movements or anything. Doctor advised going to A&E where I'm sure they thought I was overreacting, but I saw a consultant and they checked the baby's heartbeat, which thankfully was ok and I have a scan booked for Friday anyway. My doctor recommended that pregnant women, if eating out, stick to food on a menu that has no question of poisoning.

The thing is, my bump has all but disappeared. It's very disconcerting and I can't help still being worried. I'm sure it's because I'm completely empty inside and have only just started eating. I'm never eating fish again!!!!

On the matenity clothes subject, I had a bit of a splurge in New Look on Saturday and got some great bits from their Bloom range - just need my bump to come back now!!!

catstar how scary - glad to hear that the heartbeat was OK though and will keep my fingers crossed for your scan on Friday. Am being v careful regarding food poisoning, last night chucked out a load of mince that DH was about to cook with as I thought it smelt a bit dodgy - was going a kind of grey colour too so decided it was better to err on the side of caution. Would have thought fish and chips was OK though and had it for tea last week!

justaboutmanaging we don't have a playpen for DS but do corden him off in the lounge with a stairgate across the doorway, so kind of like a big playpen. I bought some reins for him last week - he's only been walking for the last month or so but refuses to hold anyone's hand now so reins are a good way of keeping him under control.

myfairone you definitely sound hormonal and I would recommend chocolate asap ! I was seriously grumpy on Saturday until I sat down with my cross stitch in the evening and felt like I was relaxing for the first time all day!

Have just been interviewed for a film on examinations processing - the interviewer was Sumit Bose who often does work for the BBC - he presents Inside Out London (if anyone lives round here!)