Due August '07 Part 5 - Whizzing into our third Trimester !

[tokentotty]

Hellooooo !!

Hi Kite! Congrats on entering the third trimester . Glad you're more comfortable now with the birth centre.
How's work going? Like your revenge tactics!! Hee hee!!

Just a quickie as hometime and need to cook for my nephew. Poor boy is doing work experience with my DH this week and he's working him hard!
Any advice on best place to buy birthing ball and also what size- bit of a bewildering away if I google- thanks

'array' not 'away'!

65 or 70cm - Babymadwithbump found a bargainous one in Boots - otherwise try Argos or cheapy sports shops

I got my birth ball from Argos for £4.99 (put "gym ball" in the search box), and it's fine but a lot smaller than the one we use at yoga (think it's 65cm). Still fine for leaning on but it's hard to get my knees below my hips when I sit on it, without stretching my legs out completely! Not sure we'd have room for a bigger one though.

Annie, thanks for all the tips. Your day sounds lovely, enjoy it! I want to keep it really informal, I'd happily have no speeches etc, but DP isn't keen! Maybe I should make him plan it all. Having LO to puke on my dress will definitely make the day less formal anyway. Just hope I can wean him off bf by then.

Kiteflying - glad the Royal Free was lovely and you've finally seen a mw!! Love the garlic plan. I've been doing lots of hip rolling on my gym ball and I'm feeling less achy. I'm seeing a chiropractor tomorrow, will wait to see what she can do before I book an osteopath.

Bananabump, so glad the consultant was nicer than the sonographer, silly moo.

TT - love the dresses and the bump!

I have to share a funny story - which has convinced me of the urgent need to find a bravissimo shop. I went into M&S for a fitting as I am over-dependent on bra extenders at the moment. I am normally a 34B and have been living in my 36B and 36C sports bras for a while. The woman put me in a 36 DD bra, (which had big pockets of air where my breasts should have been filling out) and told me I "would fill it out before the baby arrived". I protested that I wanted a bra that would fit me NOW and give me support. I have used proper sports bras for years now as a preventative against saggy breasts. I am not going let things go to ground now. Anyway she told me that they "would pop back" after the birth. Is it just me or does this sound like utter tosh?
Oh and by the way the bra she suggested still needed my extender to get around the back.

Thanks Babylovesmuffins! I am determined to enjoy this trimester, and my revenge.

I bought a gym ball from Lilywhites and it is the same size as our yoga balls (and cost £5) Not sure what size it actually is but if you are not easily embarassed maybe you could sit on one in a shop and make sure that your knees are level. Then it should be high enough off the ground to use as a birthing ball. Or kneel in front of one. If you have done the poses in class you should know whether your pelvis is tilted the right way.

x-posts with lots of better answers than mine!

Thanks katybird - Let us know how the chiro goes.

at M&S bra lady kiteflying! Although they've always been rubbish in my experience, I'm a 32E normally but they try and put me in 36 or 38 bras because their cup size doesn't go high enough. I'd love it if they just popped back afterwards but I think it's unlikely! I've started going to Rigby and Peller - free fittings, they know what they're talking about and they stock big bras (I'm up to a 34G already...). The bras are expensive though. I've bought from Bravissimo online before and they're really good, they're happy for you to order bras in loads of sizes and send lots back.

Might have to go to Lilywhites for a bigger gym ball.

Kitey, you are in London hence have no excuse not to go to R&P!

Ha! Yes, I've been subject to lousy bra fittings for years before realising that they were always giving me a bigger back size rather than a bigger cup size. I've found Freya the best make for me while pregnant. It does generous cup sizes. Most dept stores seem to stock it. I've given up on the non-underwired ones - they make me feel frumpy and un-supported. Mind you, R&P are lovely bras too, if you can afford it. I had one once and it lasted me for ages.

Hi everyone!

So much to catch up on, I'm pretty much the same as everyone. Feeling huge, but tired of people telling me!
Had a few days away and packed in some spa treatments, lovely massage, pedicure and a long overdue facial has improved my dodgy skin and made me feel a whole lot fresher.
DP gave my legs the once over with epilator so now it's just the lady garden...no idea what's going on down there!!
I'm currently trying to order bras online and followed the M&S sizing guide but they don't have a great choice of non-wired/ maternity. Is it really so bad to wear underwire? I agree with you Annie I hate feeling unsupported and need a strapless too.

I think it's poorly-fitting ones where the underwire squishes the breast tissue rather than sitting flat against your ribcage that are the problem.
(MrsApron also gave me a great tip for underwired nursing bras made by a company called Anita.)

Annie- also congrats!
Tokentotty- lovely pics in lovely dresses, the cap sleeve wrap dress is very cute
Bananabump- outrageous sonographer, i also agree they she be reported. Doesn't sound competent and has no right to be so bloody rude!
Enjoying reading everyone else news too! I still haven't bought a single thing for babe, waiting till July as now plan to return for birth about 34 weeks. Would feel calmer if I knew for sure if can go NHS in Leeds or must be private in London. I'm scared of not being able to plan birth I want.

Where is R&P? as also having a nightmare with the bra situation. Have had back extenders on my 38Ds for weeks now and today it finally gave in and pinged apart. Had to rush round to my friend in the office and get her to pull me back together! Getting serious back ache from them aswell.

Know what you mean about the grooming itchy. Had to get DP to hack away at the legs and lady garden the other night. Haven't been able to see down there for ages and didn't want to turn up to aquanatal sprouting .

Spa treatments sound lurrvly too. Just what i need at the moment, seem to have broken out in spots. Not sure why, don't normally have them.

They're interviewing for my maternity replacement today. Just went round to have a sneaky peak. She looks very professional, with lots of portfolios and things. Hope she's not too good or they won't want me back!

ooh thanks mrsB I'll do a search for those

Itchy is your DH planning to return with you? As i seem to remember you saying there could be problems there before?

MrsShuvel, your spots will probably be baby's fault if you're having a boy! I've had the pleasure of developing a hairy belly since being pg with my little man, and apparently it's what the male hormone does to the female body! They say the hair is temporary, I'm really hoping so!

Probably being a bit previous here but I'm thinking about getting my hospital bag sorted in the next week or so since my sisters first baby was early and FAST (only 3 or 4 hours start to finish) and she's been on at me to get prepared just in case. I'm not entirely sure what to pack!

On the subject of bras, I went looking at nursing bras on a few websites and was gobsmacked at the prices. My regular catalogue has TWO choices (black and frilly or white and flimsy) and they were £32 each, which just doesn't seem practical when you consider that I'm going to need a few.

Soooo, trying to be thrifty as ever, I have ordered a 4 pack of soft comfy cotton bras for £15 (because I'm worth it! lol) which I'm going to modify into feeding bras myself as apparently it's fairly easy to do.

Hi MrsShuvel- this is another worry! At the moment plan is I'll go to UK at 34 weeks and DP will join about 38 weeks, just hope babe's not late like ds1. We're trying to put together a plan to be away from the business but it's all a bit stressful, August is our busiest time.
Although I made mistake of showing dp the link to utube birth video, he was horrified and asked whether I might not be more confident with sister or female friend!

You have my sympathy with spots!
I've had a plague of pimples since early days and they've spread onto chest and shoulders. It's been so horrible, can't use any zit creams and all my regular anti wrinkle skincare just makes them worse. That's why I was so desperate for the facial I have terrible dried out spotty skin eugh!! The facial really helped though.
I just can't wait to return to the chemicals and botox! I don't recognise this spotty lined woman I see in the mirror!

ooh Banana - Very Blue Peter, let us know how you get on. You'll have to start taking orders.

Itchy - Let us know if you're coming to London. Do you have family or friends here? Would hate for you to be alone.

hmm good link bananabump...I'm sure I have a needle n thread somewhere!

Morning all. Itchy, welcome back. How lovely to have a few spa days. I am just pleased when I am able to make it around the corner to my local beautician of a Sat morning. You must be pleased to have made the decision on returning - can understand it is still nervewracking though. Surely if you simply arrive at an NHS hospital when you need care they cannot turn you away. You are British after all.

Thanks for the tip on Freya Annie75. And Anita, Mrs Badger. I will look into these as I do really want something tempting for my DP as well as all these sensible bits. After the disastrous fitting, I went and bought a 38B and a 36C from the total support and the cross over ranges for the sake of a few pounds that might be wasted (M&S clearance prices so £5 each) The total support one in 36C is perfect but cannot be worn with a low neckline! The cross over one is fine - way better looking than the mothercare ones and a better line. Downside is it is not cotton but I will worry about all cotton when I am closer to the big day.
You might want to look out for these on line Itchy. The total support ones are meant for bigger cups and are quite generous with the back clasps (no need for extender on mine even though it is close to my normal bra size)

Bananabump - kudos to you if you convert all your bras per those instructions. Seems very fiddly to me (and I used to sew for fun...). I don't think it is premature of you to think about hospital bag. I think a few of us had intentions in that direction a couple of weeks ago, although I still only have intentions. I looked at granny size pants in M&S but wasn't sure how many sizes up I should go. I also have belly fuzz but was told this was a sign of a girl - how bizarre.

MrsShuvel- Thanks luv! No family or close friends in London but I think would be nicer to spend the summer there, parks/galleries/shopping... if I can still move around that is! DP's first time in UK too. Just trying to find a furnished short let.. shocking prices.

katybird, I don't think my ball is bigger than 65 cm as it is the same as someone showed a link for (everlast in a pilates kit) When it is pumped up well it is definitely the right height but we have to pump it once a month or so.

Hi there everyone..Sorry to butt in here but... I have recently registered for event 3 in the Cycle India Challenges which takes place Jan - Feb 2008. This is the same challenege which Fern Britton did through This Morning last year along with Professor Robert Winston for the Women for Women charity.

Information about the event can be found on my fundraising page below.. with a link to the women for women charity within the intro profile on there... so please please dust off your small change and .. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO DONATE
Part of the challenge is to collect a minimum amount, then there is the getting fit, and finally the cycle itself.. after which I will probably not be able to sit down for weeks

many thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope you will go on to donate even the smallest amount...

I wish you all the very best health and happiness xxx