'Due in the new year the next generation - who ate all the pies'

[Bettymamma]

I hope you all find this. I'll write a proper message once I see it works!xx

I really need to get my NCT stuff sorted - we've only moved recently and I don't know any other people having kids other than a colleague at work, so it will be nice to have some contacts!

Its a fairly rural area, so hopefully won't get fully booked too fast.

Hi all

Am a SAHM at this end of the week hence you don't hear so much from me cos I'm not bored to tears at work - apologies.

mixedmama - read about your in-laws with interest. Mine are very similar and they are from Somerset! They know best - i know nothing. I'm thinking it will be easier this time because we will be more confident. Can I come to Istanbul with you?! Sounds fabulous.

MotherofZ - It was me and John Prescott (and the Pope).

Beller - have a lovely time in Cowes - we are off to devon in 2 weeks with my parents who will just take over (but do things my way!) so i will be able to relax.

Cazzybaby - met my best best mum friend at my NHS ante-natal class. We were very lucky we have loads in common and we are very good friends. So good having someone go through the same things at the same time - a bit like you lot really! She's expecting and due in October which is great.
ps can't believe your in-laws! that's outrageous!

MrsMcJnr - HR lady should be shot. I agree with whoever says shes at home alone with cats. Probably hasn't done it for a few years too.

Everyone else - keep well xxxx

oh and cazzybabs - NCT nearly new sales are THE BEST! Loads of bloomin' designer stuff at mine for a £1!!

All this talk about problems with surnames, in-laws, culture clashes and work problems is making me so very grateful that my life seems so simple and straightforward.

As for antenatal classes, I would like to go to them as this is my first baby and I have recently moved to a new area so could do with meeting people. (Anyone in Lincolnshire?) It does say in my pregnancy book that the hospital do classes but they get booked up quickly. I am going to ask about it on 20th August when I go for my 20 week scan.

About the frequency of seeing the midwife point that was raised, I saw the midwife at 16 weeks when she simply tested my blood pressure and asked if I had any questions. Next time will be 25 weeks. Unless I see a midwife when I go for the scan but I don't think I will.

I?ve just had lunch with my MIL and am feeling so bad for all the negative things I say about her and feel about her not only did she pay for my lovely lunch but gave me an envelope full of memorabilia from DH?s birth like his tags and her bed card , it was so sweet of her, I told her that I felt bad having them, that maybe she didn?t want to part with them and she said that I should take them for the baby?s book (which I have shown her) and she and FIL have also drawn a family tree for the book too plus she gave me £50 to buy myself ?something nice? and hardly asked me about the baby. I feel guilty, I know how excited they are and I don?t mean to rein it in but sometimes their excitement scares me to death. I hope I am not a disappointment as a DIL

Beller ? sounds like you are both going to stay Bells I think NCT classes cost about the same here. I heard about a weekend thing called goodbirth or something, the locations looked lovely and it sounded like a nice weekend but they cost about £600! so that?s out!

Cazzy - I saw the MW for the first time at 9 weeks. We didn?t finish my form and she took bloods, tested urine, BP and weighed me. Next time I saw her was at 16 weeks and she tried to tell me that as I was under Consultant care, I didn?t need to see her anymore. I put my foot down and told her that no, Consultant said it was shared care and she was responsible for all the usual things. She took my BP, listened to the baby?s HB and tested urine but didn?t finish my form or weigh me. Next appointment is at 19 weeks. I asked about AN classes and was told they?ll start around 28 weeks but no other detail at all she clearly doesn?t realise what a control freak I am (or what my work diary looks like! ) I?ve looked into NCT but had no response from them yet. I thought you had to apply really early as they filled up I started a thread a while back in the Pregnancy section on whether or not NCT classes are worthwhile. Got some valuable info www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=357506#7288033

Hello MrsBiscuit ? thanks for the empathy.

Bettymama I never get on much when I am at home either! PMSL at your comments about HR ? I feel much better

Hello LouiseSJ

Mrsmcjnr- sounds a fab lunch and that was really sweet of her....im sure your not a dissapointment as DIL xx

MrsMcJnr - that sounds like you had a lovely lunch. ahhhh.

My midwife told me antenatal classes not until 34 weeks consequently as the weeks went by the numbers dwindled as everyone went into labour before finishing. When we went for the tour of the hospital one of our group had actually given birth a few hours earlier

Mixedmama ? my sis had my nephew before she had the class on how to look after him he was 4 weeks early though!

I was just looking at the NCT website and they have just published a report to ban formula advertising.

Have to say I dont think that is right. Didnt read it all but it claims that by advertising they are confusing mothers in terms of feeding - altho surely it is a choice. We all know breast is best, but to ban advertising, not sure if that is counterproductive, especially for women who may have problems with feeding... i think it is good to know what is out there.

Mmmm... bit strange as I guess there are other ways to know what is available, but still.

www.nct.org.uk/media/pressrelease?prid=97

hope that worked.

Surely the solution here is for the government to up their spending on breastfeeding awwareness.

Bettymama - a threesome with those people. Double YUCK!!! Am shocked that you are corrupting the thread with your dirty thoughts!

Can I just mention my experience at NHS antenatal class, when I was pregnant last time - noboody was really into talking with each other, everyone just sat down listned to the midwife, watched the video and went home. DH and I made an effort to talk to a few people, but everyone seemed really cautious to get to know each other. So made no friends . Feel a bit silly signing up to antenatal classes when I already have a toddler!!

Mrs McJnr - your MIL sound nice. How kind of her to give you money to spend on yourself.

Whoever mentioned frequency of M/W appointments - I went last when I was 15 weeks and not due to go againt until 25 weeks. M/W mentioned it's because we are checkd when we have our 20 week scan which falls in between the two appointments.

MEant
Feel a bit silly signing up to antenatal classes now that I a toddler!!

I am not sure whether to go this time either.

Nobody really talked at ours, we didnt even get intorduced, only in pairs hence i knew one persons name. i did bump into the same people at baby groups once LOs were here though, and of course kept in touch with the one person whose name i knew, altho bumped into her in tesco rather than exchanging numbers at the classes.

Mixedmama ? I haven?t read it but noticed there was a thread on here about banning formula advertising. Noticed from the card that MIL gave me at lunchtime that DH was a formula feed baby from the start. I know I was a BF baby.

MotherofZ ? I am lucky with my MIL she is really sweet to me (even if her excitement about the baby scares me half to death!)

Good afternoon ladies. I kinda skimmed through the thread. Glad everyones ok. My boys went back to their Dads yesterday so its been relitavely quiet here again
Was asked by my ds3's new nursery teacher if Iwas expecting today. She took a step back in case I said 'no Im just fat'. Bless.
Feeling pretty tired today but Ihave been cleaning and mopping and washing all day .
Apart from that all is well here.
Any more ideas about a meet up yet ?

Whereabouts in London are we so we can find somewhere that is relatively easy for everyone to get to.

I am in Kent but can get into London in 40 mins on the train!

Cazzybaby my parents live in Kent. Deal. Its lovely there but a bit quiet for me

North London here but quite happy to travel on the tube. Have a free pass curtosy of dh being a tube driver

Good morning ladies! Work has been just crazy recently hence me reading the thread but not contributing - sorry!

I'm very envious of those who can feel their beanies - I'm still waiting for mine at 17+5... but I think it'll be worth waiting for.

I don't have much interesting news - certainly not compared to some of the things you girls are going through with ILs, scans and surname choices. Our only news is that we hope to move in a few weeks so I have to start opening those scary cupboards where I've just lobbed something in and slammed the door shut so it doesn't fall out. Been here 10 years so there will be alot to sort out.... Hmmm... I may need some Maltesers or Jaffa Cakes to fortify myself before I start!

Anyway... I just wanted to check in, say hello, and wave at you all to say Hi! xxx

Hi girls, been busy in a trial and hadn't had time to post but really enjoyed catching up just now - you've all been so opinionated and outraged. Am horrified by in-law stories - poor poor mixedmama and cazzybaby. Am so impressed at your forbearance and continued promotion of these people in your children's lives. My dh is an orphan so no problems for me on that score but I do get nervous that my mother and I, who've had a deliciously easy relationship since I became financially independent, may return to waging war for control if she does not approve of the way I parent. Am probably searching for worries where none exist and she is a 2 hour drive away so interference will of necessity be limited but we've fought so little in recent years I'd hate to return to the bad old rants of yesteryear.

And then the HR demons - poor Mrs McJnr - but does this woman know what she's taking on - a fearsome adversary judging by station rows and other signs of determination and efficiency. She will need all the fag breaks she can get. Go get her girl. And of course you cannot be a disappointment as dil or she wouldnever have passed on all that lovely baby stuff to you.

Wd LOVE to meet up - am Nth London but at vast expense have annual pass so can go anywhere up to and including Southampton!!

Was formula fed and am a porker with hayfever. BUT strongly resent other people telling me what to do - whether it's the government, health officials or Katie Price! will try for breast at first but don't intend to feel like a failure and make me and LO miserable if it doesn't look like working out for us.

Have signed up for NCT classes for all the reasons given efore but heard nothing as to when they are actually going to take place in my area. MW mentioned something about a day course they do but little said so far. Saw her a week ago for the first time andseeing her again in 3 weeks time. Frankly the fewer the better as my diary like the McJnrs is unhelpful.

Big hugs all - have lovely weekends.

Ooh, Chief Exec has asked me to go to Australia on a short secondment, which my immediate boss politely declined on my behalf as he didn?t think it was feasible, being pregnant and all (my view entirely ). To which big cheese said he thought pregnant women could still fly so why would it be a problem?

How do I put my foot down without sounding like a wuss? I just don?t want to be away from home, literally on the other side of the world, at this time, especially if the job is as stressful as I think it would be.

Mmmm... congrats about the offer of Aus, but that is a long way away when pregnant me thinks. I guess you just need to be up front and say that you dont want to be that far away from home at this stage.

Thanks for all the sympathy re: ILs ladies.

Re: Meet up. I am in NE London so i guess somewhere centralish. I can travel, but am a bus girl as me tube and DS dont get on. Has anyone else got other children as well would a picnic in somewhere like Regents park be a good idea???

Morning ladies TOTALLY choked with the cold and feeling very sorry for myself, especially as I need to use by brain today oh well, DH is taking me out for dinner then we are going to a show in the Festival so I hope I feel better by then. Otherwise, nice quiet weekend lined up, just what I need

Gingeme ? for once, I?d rather be at my desk than cleaning, mopping and washing but it would be better if I had no work to do don?t think I?ll make a London meet up I?m afraid not fair, you are all so far away from me!

Beckyau ? every night I lie in bed concentrating to see if I feel anything but I fall asleep within minutes so never do I am 17+3 today Hope all goes well with the move and that LO gets the urge to move soon too

Hey Barristermum ?opinionated and outraged? goes with the pg territory doesn?t it? you?re right of course, opinionated and outraged and in the know of my legal rights is a dangerous combo for any HR assistant! I was BF and have hay fever ? DH was bottle fed and also has hay fever that said, I grew up in a country with no grass really, no wonder we are adversaries! I actually quite admire Katie Price?s stance on why she is not breast feeding, at the end of the day, her boobs are her livelihood and whilst breast may be best, she is right in saying that feeding her baby formula is not the worst thing she could do. I have a friend who?s had a boob job and she can actually only BF from one of them and she gets very lob sided! an interesting look. I would like to BF and will try my very best but I don?t expect it to be easy

MrsBiscuit ? a real compliment but I think you could argue that whilst you can travel for a little longer, you would prefer not to take the risk and that you have AN appointments and commitments here and therefore would prefer to stay for the health of yourself and your baby. The stress of it all probably wouldn?t do you any good either unless you wanted to go. PBirdy could help much better here but I doubt they can force anyone on secondment, pregnant or otherwise. Am a bit have to say, worked for an Oz bank for 3 years and never got near the homeland!!

Mrs Buscuit Oz is a long way to go!!

Picnic in the park that sounds like a lovely idea!

I am off to Liverpool today to attend my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary party. 60 years sounds like such a long time. I am a little scared as it means all the family being there and not too sure how this pregnancy has gone down with some of them. I belong to a large catholic family and me and DP are not married!!