May 2017 #11 Not long to go until the first baby shows!

[PeachIcedT]

It only took us two weeks to fill up the last thread!

Link to previous thread #10:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2875150-may-2017-10-to-be-prepared-or-not-prepared

Link to the May data sheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KVJO4NGD6JrcGRGQuYnx87mLaadV5ytrP4lDfdqLrUQ/edit#gid=0

Welcome back mighty and sorry to hear about really difficult times. Hope the chat on here helps.

Jenny what a shocker of a night. Perhaps your DH might face up to the consequences of a full on hangover all the sooner when you sit him down and explain that he's welcome to join in the celebrations but given that that means that you are doing full childcare when he is out, you will have some 'me time' the next day and leave him to the child care, food preparation etc the next day, regardless of what state he's in. Mean it and do it every time - go (with no little ones in tow) swimming, for a loonnngg coffee with several magazines whatever... Sounds like he needs the message to drop for himself? This is not about your preferences/ rules this is just reality for both of you now. And though he happened to be the one that did it last night you are certainly not alone, I've seen lots of threads on here about partners who are slow to grasp the concept of sharing when it comes to nights out.

This weather is soooo lovely, got the fake tan out last week and went to work on Friday with no tights on. Bliss round the middle of bump (though to be fair prob a little bit my fault that I'm still making do with primark XL rather than proper maternity tights as my pointy big toe eats tights).

Babysat last night for friends year old gorgeous boy. First time either DP or I have been in sole charge of a baby for more than 3 minutes. Still, we've got about 5 weeks too go before we need to know what we're doing

Just spent about an hour and a half building this beauty Admittedly the majority of the time was spent putting the colour pack on the pushchair....

Welcome back Mighty. I completely feel the same, thought I could work upto 39 weeks but am now really struggling as well and rethinking this decision. It's getting so difficult to commute and I can barely move at the end of the day. Doubling maternity leave sounds great, but you should listen to your body and see how you feel and don't beat yourself up if you find you can't cope.

NurseB and Cox my stretch marks starting showing up about 2-3 weeks ago. They are all on my lower belly and only from the left side to the center (where baby likes to hang out), not that many yet but weirdly my bump feels like it stings a bit because of them.

Poor you EsmesBees sinus infections are the worst, rest up.

My freckles and linea nigra are pretty dark. I also had a scar on my tummy from a childhood scrape that was barely visible before and is so dark now that it looks like a surgery scar. Weirdly the sides of my neck also seem to have darkened a bit. I wonder if skin pigmentation increases if you're having a boy...

Teainbed I definitely am having more "i don't want to be preganant anymore" moments-especially when it involves trying to find a comfy position in bed or even just trying to get out of bed! I find even just washing up or cooking tires me out really quickly. I've also suggested to DH that he tries strapping on a 13kg pack to see what i'm going through, which he firmly declined :-p

Jugoo28 my baby is also measuring off the charts. Hoping baby stays in until at least 39 weeks! Savage our measurements are plotted using the US readings and compared to statistics for babies at the same gestational age. Everyone tells me the fetal weight estimate can be very far off what the predict so i'm feeling less anxious about my estimated 7lb baby measured at 34+4. Also they haven't changed my due date despite the measurements.

Hope you managed to get some rest JennyMac sounds like a rough night. If it were me DH would be getting the silent treatment lol

Cox i've also spent at least that much on amazon on stuff for my maternity bag and pretty much the same stuff too! My maternity pads arrived on Friday (delivered to my neighbour !) and bottom spray, nipple cream, disposable undies, and sleep bras arriving today, waterproof mattress pad/protector hopefully by Tuesday.

So I tried the perineal massage. DH helped me the first time and I tried it on my own the next time. My conclusions are that it really takes some getting used to, and probably gets easier with practice. As much as I appreciated DH trying to help I think i'll try manage it on my own as he wasn't sure of how much pressure to use (sometimes I barely felt it and other times it was painful), also his fingers have a lot of calluses from bouldering which it made it quite uncomfortable despite using oil. I tried it right after a bath which I think helped relax me enough. My bump is so big now that I had a really hard time reaching, and finally the only way I could manage was bent over with one leg up on the edge of the tub. The hot water/steam really helped make it a easier to massage and stretch.

Our first NCT class yesterday went quite well. I really like that the instructor didn't push only natural birth options and gave a lot of info on different pain management techniques. The other couples were all really nice too, but it may be too early to tell if any of us will remain friends afterwards (one of the partners offered to set up a whatsapp group which hasn't happened as yet). Apparently we're supposed to do a shared lunch for the next session-not really sure what that entails!

It's like the crapness of today cannot end! Was waiting 30 mins at station for train to arrive only for it to be delayed, as someone decided to jump off a bridge a few stops before. Now got another 35 min wait for next train with sleepy hubby & toddler.

raspberry my line hasn't got any darker yet... hoping it doesn't cause it's kind of weird!!
We are going to rebuild the pram this afternoon and maybe even give it a trial run... am looking forward to spending time at home cleaning sorting and maybe even doing some gardening over the next few weeks... not sure if it's the nesting instinct kicking in or just a reaction to the sun coming out!

Has anyone else reached the CONSTANTLY STARVING phase? It's crept up on me over the last week.

I definitely need to improve my snack game, as I've had three breakfasts today and I don't want this baby to be 75% kitkat

My success this weekend apart from eating three breakfasts is tweaking my banana bread recipe to be healthier and more filling so I can eat large slabs of it! Might be useful during midnight bfing too

What other suggestions do you guys have?

Cox try flapjacks, nuts, or healthy brownie recipes

Banana bread is already healthy @Cox! If it contains fruit it's basically one of your five a day. What did you do to make it more healthy? I love baking and always up for trying new recipes.

350g ish peeled bananas (4 small / 3 big ones) smashed up with two eggs and 60ml veg oil (instead of melted butter)
Add 120g wholemeal flour and 60g white (instead of all white) plus 2tsp baking powder
Add 100g ground almonds for extra protein, good fats and squidginess
Add 80g sugar for something you can eat for breakfast or 160g for something that's a teatime treat

The veg oil substitution you don't even notice; the whole meal flour you do notice because it makes a denser loaf but as the almond makes it squidgy rather than light anyway, it's all good

I'm feeling inspired by flapjacks - might try a recipe I found for savoury ones this pm!

savage is there a particular healthy brownie recipe you'd recommend? I googled and a lot of them sound a bit weird (black beans and avocados??)

I think fat and protein are going to make you fuller for longer than carbohydrate.

On the basis that fruit makes it healthy - I can highly recommend Nigella's clementine and almond cake. Seriously easy. Full of citrus and nuts. Lots of egg and sugar but no flour or butter/fat. And lasts for ages - actually tastes better after a couple of days ;)

Is anyone else's husband still waiting for things to go wrong with the baby? I finally unpacked the pram and he insisted on keeping the boxes "in case we need to return it". It's really taking away any excitement what so ever, and it's not like I don't spend half my time worrying anyway if I haven't felt the baby move as much due to being busy....

Talking healthy snacks and banana bread here's my banana muffin recipe. Easy, pretty healthy and freezes well :)

• 4 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup brown sugar or 1/2 cup pure maple syrup or agave syrup
• 1/2 cup vegetable or coconut oil, preferably organic and cold pressed.
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat or spelt flour
• 1 cup white flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A large sprinkle of walnuts and raisins
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F
Grease or place cups in tin for 12 muffins.
Mash bananas in a bowl.
Add oil (you will need to melt coconut oil first on a very low heat.), sugar or maple syrup/agave, salt, cinnamon and mix.
Add flours, baking powder and baking soda and mix.
Add a sprinkle of walnuts and raisins for extra fibre and yumminess!
Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes until muffins are done and slightly browned on top.

I usually swap the oil for full fat Greek yoghurt in banana bread! Works a treat, but does need to be the full fat variety.

Also coconut sugar has a lower GI so you don't get the sugar crash :)

Wow all this talk of cake thanks for the recipes

I could just eat some cake... My diet has been awful lately. Need to get it sorted really.

Lots of sympathy Jenny. Train delays and toddlers do not mix. Hope DH is suitably chastened.

Feel utterly exhausted. Taking the tube with the toddler, a far too long lunch (but she was as good as gold) trying to keep her entertained and see my relatives, and then walking for ages to try and get her to sleep, which obviously she didn't do, on my own with a sinus infection, is now, officially, too much. We are now crashed out in front of In the Night Garden and might have to stay here until bedtime.

Did post in Fb but not sure everyone sees that, I have 4 tickets for the toddler and baby show that I got free but don't think we can go now 🙁 Anyone able to make use of them? They are for next saturday

Cox I second teainbed's comment about the protein and fats. One of the upsides of the GD has been having to figure this out as snacking constantly isn't great for it (blood sugars don't have a chance to level).

Not eating carbs alone will help (toast or cereal for instance).
As some of the recipes here suggest, mix in seeds, ground almonds, coconut flakes, and coconut oil to any baking, porridge or cereals to slow the absorption of the carbs and the hunger cycle.

Slather things in nut butter or cheese. Get a pack of babybels and some hummus for when you can't face another nut, and maybe try some of that Skyr yoghurt (more filling and less lactose than Greek) with fruit or some really high cocoa content choc grated in. Add some seeds if you can face anymore!

If you can make your main meals proportionally weighted more to protein and 'above ground' veg than starchy carb you'll notice a reduction in the relentless hunger too.

Although frankly I really miss toast and marmalade, hot cross buns, and just ramming a flake down now and again : )

Totally agree on the protein and fat! I will look out for coconut sugar and skyr yoghurt, thanks guys.

I don't usually eat all that much by way of carbs, meals are mostly veg and pulses/eggs/meat (plus lots of potatoes for DH!), I've been keeping almonds in my handbag throughout the second trimester and lots of hummus in the fridge... Thought I was doing so well but the new level of hunger this last week or so is driving me towards the biscuit tin! Hence looking for new snacks that might have more value and less sugar than a kitkat

Wonder if I should pause my attempt to eat less meat/animal fat for the next few months though... Been doing it for eco reasons but I've not yet got the knack of making veggie or vegan dishes keep me full for quite as long.

barnes my DH isn't worrying / waiting like that, but I am. Very reluctant to pack bags / wash newborn bits / get car seat in. No idea why. I seem to have a near constant niggle that something will happen or be wrong with the baby. Its making it very, very hard for me to get excited. I mainly feel aprehensive and worried. I also keep worrying I won't like her, or she won't like me - that we won't bond. I just don't know how or what I'm supposed to feel.

I feel bad even writing this down.

sipper me too and I worry about stillbirth even though everything is low risk at present.

teainbed, mighty, and others increasing tiredness also doesn't help me with resisting sugar

cox glad its not just me. Sometimes I think I'm going mad!

Come back after back lemon drizzle cake, to loads of different recipes, definitely going to try them whilst I'm off!

Sipper, could you wash things and put things together and see if it helps you relax? I do know how you feel, but I'm sure your baby will be perfectly ok, and you don't want it to be a massive rush when baby comes!

bright that's a good idea. I'm on maternity leave now so no rational reason not to crack on! Maybe it will help me feel a bit more comnected too.

sipper there is no one way you are supposed to feel. It's a scary, once in a life time event expecting your first baby, and it's natural to feel apprehensive. I felt very similar to you the first time. The pregnancy was high risk and I had the constant worry. We didn't get the pram delivered to a week before due date as I didn't want to jinx things. This time, I feel a lot more relaxed and am looking forward to it much more. Remember that the chances are that everything will be fine, and you will bond with the baby, and you will adore each other. And if you need help, you know it's out there, and that there is no shame in asking for it.