Due August '07 - Part 4

[tokentotty]

Welcome all !!!!

Oh - are TT and Hersetta off on hols at the same time? Have a lovely time, both. I'm orf to France in a few weeks' time and can't wait for a change of scene.

TT - meant to say I think I've started getting Branston Hicks now too. Feels slightly weird and the bump goes solid? Reckon it must be that. Have felt loads of activity over last few days which is lovely Keep trying to work out which bit is which at night...

Off to Vegas tomorrow Annie. Got a phone call from DH at about 10.30am this morning "Hey, it's me !!! I'm in the nightclub at the Bellagio - it's great. I've been up for 28 hours now so I don't think I'll be calling you later... Oh, got kicked out of a strip joint as well because I wouldn't have one of the girls dance for me, how funny's that ?"
Yes, think DH is having a terrible time...
Anyway, BH - feels very much like you're describing. The whole bump sort of tightening and tensing involuntarily, passes reasonably quickly but does feel very odd (and makes me waddle if I try and walk whilst having one !). I've given up trying to work out which bits what, haven't a clue.

have a fabulous time, everyone jetting off!
A week in Wales over the bank holiday will do for me (mmm, Brecon Beacons!).

I can tell where the feet are when they kick right down in the corner by one hip, but other than that I have no clue which bit's poking me where...

Hello, I'm grand today, have a fab holiday Hersetta! When are you off to Vegas TT?

I'm heading off to my parents this evening as one of my schoolfriends is getting married tomorrow. I had a right mare finding a dress but finally went with this one in chocolate, think someone else spotted it a few months ago. Then had a panic about finding a suitable bra (I'm now a 34G and they're not exactly attractive with small straps at that size ). Luckily Rigby and Peller came through for me, I'm justifying the expense because it's baby-related...

Crosspost TT, serves me right for taking ages to write a post! Have a fab time too.

DP went to Vegas for his brother's stag do last year and swears he was the only one to refuse a lap dance, hmm...

I can't tell which bit is which yet but I'm getting some good strong kicks now. DP is convinced he's going to be groomed for footy stardom (but he supports Southend so not aiming too high).

Thanks love, can't wait now. I know DH of old, he's always hated strip joints to be honest as is very much a drinker. He knows he doesn't have to lie to me as I've always worked with all men and know exactly how things are and it just doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Am so glad that kicking is now in full swing all round it seems. Peanut drives me nuts sometimes with his efforts so I know DH is thinking along the same lines as you Katybird.

Angie - have you found us?
Ladies, we have another August Mum - just trying to direct her to this thread. I'm really bad at links .

I'm not pregnant, but wish all you August'07 Mummies well.
19th Aug is a good date
From an August'06 Mummy
xxx

Thanks Evil,
Any advice for coping with the heat?
I think we're all dreading labouring in the heat of Summer!

Apart from try everything you can to keep cool, you just have to bear with it Last year was stupidly hot, hope its no so bad this year!

Has everyone seen that Mummynat has just had her baby girl at 26 weeks!?

Yes I just saw mummynat's news, very scary indeed to be so early, glad baby is doing ok, and hope she keeps growing bigger and stronger.

TT- glad dh is getting is his going out night, out of the way, Have a fab time.

Not much news from me atm, just cruising along, which is nice.

Hope everyone else is well

26 weeks? wow, scary stuff. Hope she and the baby are doing ok and continue to do so!

How's everyone else doing? any third trimester symptoms yet? The heartburn has started in earnest for me, I'm guzzling rennies, milk and natural yoghurt to keep it at bay!

Hi banana. I'm not too bad. Definitely getting a lot more heartburn now. Luckily it's not keeping me awake at night yet though. I'll have to stock up on the Gaviscon and start bringing it to work with me.

I hadn't realised that mummynat wasn't due till we are... golly!

I don't think I have heartburn but it feels more like I have, well, reflux. Unless I'm sitting bolt upright it feels like stuff has trouble staying in my stomach. Makes drinking water in bed feel most peculiar!

Hello all. Hope weekends weren't too much of a wash-out.

Yes, having yucky heartburn too - and a v strange sensation when I bend over to do up my shoes of everything threatening to erupt via my windpipe Good excuse to get DH to do up shoes.

Also, have discovered that I have a violent reaction to any red berry juices. Suspected it when I've been sick after drinking, say, a nice apple and blackcurrant pressed juice, but realised for sure at the weekend when I was suddenly ill after drinking a red grape and cranberry juice. How strange is that? Never had it before.

Ventured to my NCT sale on Saturday. Was an enormous queue to start off and a violent jostling of elbows once inside. I wasn't quick enough to snap up the good bargains, so ended up queuing for ages for some overwashed babygrows Reckon they are best if you get there 15 mins beforehand and make a strategic strike...

OHHH HEARTBURN

I have one natural rememdy for you all, My midwive/nurse/yoga guru swears by grating apple letting it oxidize (go brown) and then nibbling on it through out the day. You can keep it in a container and much away a little at a time.

I find i just can't eat much at the moment, my stomach feels full really quick, so I think that's my body saying don't stuff me right now, things are a little cramped right now.

Annie i also find I can't handle really sweet drinks, especially in the morning makes me feel "yuck"

brown apple would make me vom.

But I did stew an eating apple with a little brown sugar and cinnamon yesterday in the microwave and had it with natural yoghurt. Tasted like apple crumble without the crumble bit (could have eaten it with a biscuit I spose!) and stopped the heartburn in its tracks. Bliss.

Hi everyone - I have probably missed TT and Hersetta but just in case, have a great time on holiday.
Thanks to those who replied on the "how to handle strangers' comments" issue. My suggestion to anyone who is still not getting a seat on the tube - go to the ticket window with a doctor's letter and get an official bump badge.
I am incredibly ill with yet another cold - feels exactly like the one I had before I left London on holiday. Am I ever going to get to enjoy this pregnancy?
Also, just had my appraisal and was told to think seriously about my future, as by the time I got back from mat leave I should expect people much more junior than me would have well and truly caught up to where I am and where did I want to be in five years time etc etc. I have never felt so bullied in my entire life and there is not a thing I can do about it. I tried to defuse the tension by saying that for the sake of my sanity I could only really think about how to get through the next three to six months. But there you have it.
Sorry I missed you all on Friday. Hope you all had good weekends.
Love the dress katybird - how did you go? I had my eye on it but have no events planned to justify a lovely dress now. Also I have maternity things I have not yet worn - so am strictly not allowed to buy anything more except those lovely pyjamas (here I go...)

I don't think I'll ever have a career to speak of Kiteflying but wanted to offer my support anyway. It's a lot to heap on you when you're pregnant and not well, do you think they're trying to dissuade you from coming back? Do you want to go back? They have no right to make you feel bullied, mean sods.

Kiteflying they sound most unpleasant . You're in law, is that right? Not an industry that's especially pregressive IME.

I think the only way to handle it is to be utterly calm and professional - say that of course more junior people will gain experience in the meantime but on your return you expect to be judged on your own merits, skills and experience etc just as if you hadn't been away.

They're canny enough to know that anything that smacks of actual (rather than implied) discrimination could land them in serious trouble.

yes, I do think they are trying to dissuade me from returning as there are all sorts of return bonuses involved in ML here. Unfortunately they suspected me of trying on IVF last year, as I had some surgery the year before and then again in May and a cycle in July and the usual checkups etc appointments, and so in light of all that they have been pushing since. At least that is my perception. "Performance issues" that had not been raised ever before suddenly were presented to me when I was just six weeks pregnant. It has all been most unfortunate as I have been so ill (and worried periodically) with this pregnancy, I had no hope of suddenly turning into a golden girl. I am lucky I have an entirely unambitious man at home who reminds me that it is only a job whenever I get wound up about my "career" being ruined.
Sorry this is way TMI isn't it. I am just a bit upset and really struggling with whether I am wasting my time here. The problem with having been ambitious is your self esteem is way too wrapped up in success at work.

It's understandable why you're upset, they sound like a load of mercenary buggers, and targeting you after you've been through IVF and with everything you have going on right now is just horrible. You may feel like you can't do anything about it, but bear in mind that discrimination against pregnant women IS a big deal and you can do something about it if you feel you have a case.

I'm afraid I'm the unambitious one in our set up, but if your career is important to you, your partner should at least try to understand where you're coming from. But then again you've probably been through a lot going through the IVF and it inevitably takes its toll on your emotions and body, perhaps he's just trying to take some stress off you?

You're obviously good at your job and that's why their words have got to you so much, but try to keep in mind they may just have ulterior motives. Does your boss have any family or friends in the company he/she is trying to give a leg up?

Sorry, not very good with careers advice. But just remember, if it all goes wrong and you do decide to leave, wee in the watercooler before you go.

Things like this make me so cross.

I know what you mean about having your self-esteem tied up in a career though - it's a great way to get external validation right up until they stop validating and start udnermining you [grr].

They sound like arses to be honest. If I were you I might consider changing firms once you've been back for 6months and grabbed all your bonuses - if the current practice are making a fuss about pregnancy they're not likely to be sympathetic when (eg) the nanny is ill or DS has chickenpox etc.
Just envisaging it might be easier to take a new post with a Career Mother hat on rather than try and remain the childless careergirl your current place is used to...

Hi kiteflying. Sorry to hear about your situation at work. Stick to what you want to do. They have no right to make you feel like this. It sounds like they're just picking up on insignificant issues to try to make a case against you. You shouldn't be made to think about what you want to do in 5 years time when you've got a baby on the way. I've been worrying about missing out on developing at work while I'm away but I can easily catch up. (It sounds like it would be much more difficult for you to do this). When I got back from ml last time I felt like if I wasn't there then no one would really care. So I told my boss and she was really supportive and I felt so much better. Do you have anyone that you can confide in?