Still blooming and getting bigger

[littleoldme]

Decided we were getting to full. Hope this works.

waste of money for the nappy thing. All it does is putt hem in one big sausage of plastic- and it smells after a while

Cool - thanks, pixiefish. You going for washable nappies ?

Another question !! Some clothes' sizes say 'Newborn' and others '0 -3 months' - is it better to go for the 0-3 months, to get more wear out of them, please ? Thank you !

Yes I'm going for washables- I did with dd and so still have them. I'll buy 1 packet of disposables to use in the hospital.

Regarding the clothes.
When dd was born I'd bought 0-3 month white babygrows adn they absolutely swamped her- both her little legs use dot go into one of the legs of the babygrow.

Dh went and bought 6 newborn vests and 6 newborn babygrows and they did us for about 6 weeks iirc.
Depends ont he size of the baby though- a 10 pounder wouldn't fit into newborn clothes but dd was 7lb6oz and was in newborn for a few weeks

Revel - I'm with the other no's on this one. Having said that, I planned my parents 30th wedding anniversary party 2 weeks after my due date with DD, totally convinced she would be two weeks old by then. She was 11 days late! We still went as it was local, and a very small do (my mother doesn't like a fuss) with just a few relatives so it wasn't too overwhelming for me or DD, but there is no way I could have faced a trek and definitely not a hotel as I had had so little sleep by then that it would have finished me off. Did first trek to in-laws when DD was about 6 weeks old.

I'm with ZoKe on Christmas too - banning all relatives for the first time ever and it will be just us four - I get so excited writing that!

On the clothes thing, we bougth 0-3 months as loads of people said it would be a waste of money to get small things. However, DD was so little we ended up buying some early and tiny baby things for her the day after she was born as she looked so silly in these ginat clothes!

Purple - I even got to wear dangly earrings which are just too hazardous to wear around my little girl, and I know what you mean about being covered in various child-related stains. You almost feel like a normal human being for an evening, don't you?!

We had a milestone today - DD did her first wee in her potty! I am desperate for a few nappy free months before the next one arrives.

jetgirl- you have mentioned the C word so that has opened the floodgates now.

What's everyone else doing for Christmas?
Last year was our first in our new house 12 miles away from my paretns where we had previously gone every year. dh wanted to break the tradition while we could and while dd was young
Invited my folks over but they only came for the morning. had MIL and Sil over for lunch.

Thinking of doing the same this year but #2 will be at nmost a month old

Last year we got married on Christmas Eve - eloped to Australia and just had a couple of friends as witnesses. Was a fab day.

Year before wse were in Oz too with a whole bunch of people., was good but looking forward to just staying at home this year. Have a few friends without family here so may invite them over for Christmas Day but will be very relaxed anbd DH is a good cook and will do all that stuff. It will almost certainly end up being a barbie anyway which is always pretty easy.

sounds fab anna. I had a friend who emigrated to NZ and they had a barbie for Christmas dinner

Thing is even though dh is more than willing to cook he is self employed and the run up to christnmas will be hectic for him so all the shopping etc will be left to me plus the prep so I might as well cook it as well

Revel, I wouldn't dream of going to wedding 2 weeks after due date but that is just me. Lots of women seem to just get on with things in a very 'matter of fact' manner and seem to cope with allsorts just after birth. I'm just not one of those women!

Thoughts:

a) Officially, your due date is plus or minus 2 weeks so you could be giving birth VERY close to the wedding day.
b) 2 weeks after birth, I was still getting through the days hour by hour, not even day by day. I could barely have contemplated arranging to meet anyone for a coffee, never mind an overnight hotel stay (but like I said, that was just me). I would struggle to get a shower every day - never mind get dolled up.
c) Regardless of whether you have had vaginal birth or a section, you will be physically and mentally exhausted. Lots of hormones buzz around the first few days after birth - one minute you're buzzing with exhiliration and the next you're feeling inadequate and overwhelmed.

On one hand, having a baby is no reason to stop living your life to the fullest. On the other hand, you do have to adapt your life to fit around your bundle of of joy and there is no point trying to carry on as you did before.

You have to be a lot more organised and a lot more flexible.

Hope I haven't scared you off but I do want to give you a proper insight. It all came as a bit of a shock to me and I know I would have benefitted from a few harsh facts being thrown in my direction!

d) It is quite possible you will be so enraptured with the baby that you won't have room in your head to think about weddings!

Hope you get your appointment sorted littleoldme. Didn't make it to yoga last week - was too tired!

I am going through a major growth spurt right now - bump is getting bigger and bigger before my very eyes. Getting rib pain like I did with DS (apparently the baby moves ribcage up so ribs dig in just below bustline).

Baby kicks loads and makes the bump wobble.

Feel like I need the loo 24 hours a day.

I can't bend from the waist anymore - if something falls to the floor, it might as well be a million miles away.

Other than that - feeling quite jolly. If this baby lasts 9 months - she'll be here in less than 13 weeks.

If she pops out the same time as DS did, she'll be here in less than 4 weeks!

Sparkly - are you getting nervous about baby arriving very soon?

P.s. you are all very organised with your baby preparations. When you've sorted yourselves out, please come over and organise me as well!

I know what you mean about bump growing before your eyes Choudru - I have expanded massively over the last 2 weeks and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Please tell me I'm not the only one with stretchmarks . I have religiously rubbed gunky stuff into my tummy for months now and it seems to have made no difference whatsoever.

Christmas - I thought we'd decamp to parents for a few days. Mum will do all the cooking.

But I have agreed (before I knew I was pg) to host my parents ruby wedding anniversary at my house beginning of December. Will mean 2 brothers, 2 SiLs, 4 nieces and nephews (all under 4) and 2 stepkids staying at ours overnight. Plus about 30 others for a lunchtime into evening buffet thing. Catering by Waitrose probably. LO due 7th Nov. Am I mad?

Probably Silkcushion, probably!

Glad I'm not hte only one whose bump is growing fast, it's just getting a bit uncomfortable trying to tie my shoelaces! I've just realised that virtually all my shoes are trainers, I pretty much l9ive in them and they all have laces! Will have to invest i8n some slip-ons. Can still bend over at mo but is getting more difficult and picking up kids at work definitely getting to be a PITA, but less than 2 weeks to go.....till I go on matrenity leave, not till the birth!

Stretchmarks... I hadn't thought about it, but I looked and there are some that appear to be starting up on my right side. Oh well. But finally, my bump is sticking out more than my boobs, so I'm looking more pregnant and less square-shaped, which is fine with me.

I got another load of free things from a friend on Friday, but they'll all need major de-hairing, as said friend keeps 3 indoor cats. I got a baby bjorn, a baby gym, and loads of clothes. All the used stuff is a bit depressing, though, I want at least some new things.

The heat here is not as bad as it was last week. Lukewarm showers helped, and washing feet in cold water was good, too. Basically, though, the thing was to go to someplace with air conditioning.

Silkcushion -- can you beg off hosting the party? Or, could you get your brothers to take charge of most of the work, so that you're just providing the space? They should chip in some, more than usual, because of the new baby, and could they maybe stay someplace else, or at least bring their own bedding, so you're not making beds for days?

Sorry if you all scream at me but i've no stretchmarks yet...I've read that a lot of it is genetic, regardless of how much oil or cream you rub in. I asked my mum and my sister (both have had 4 kids) and they didn't get any so maybe I'll just be lucky.

No worries for me about the heat, in fact I'm getting a bit fed up of getting up to go to work in the dark. Looking forward to having a spring baby when it will be a bit lighter and warmer.

Hi Anna,

I'm with you and have no dreaded stretch marks either. Only got about 3-4 last time around my belly button which have faded to nothing.

I'm having trouble with shoes too, bending over is a hassle and laces are a pita! It's not too cold here in Melb so i am tempted to get some slip ons, crocs or something like that. I am a SAHM so I have been wearing my slippers too much lately!!

I am realising how behind I am in my shopping as the only thing I have bought for this poor little boy is 2 pairs of socks. We car booted all of DD baby stuff before we moved to Oz. I am basically starting from scratch.... Plus all of my favourite baby things that I did ship over are DD's and pink.

you are lucky ladies to not have stretchmarks, mine haven't begun to do anything this time but I have plenty from my last pregnancy. I'm waiting to see if anything does happen as last time it was twins. I'm hoping I won't be anywhere near as big!

I've got a proper bump now and am amused by the strong kicks that make it wobble. She can even kick so hard that my boob(sans bra!) moves! No mean feat as I've got pretty big ones!

Am still a bit blue as yesterday I had a glucose challenge test which didn't go well. I'm having a home birth so this is a big set back. I've now got a glucose tolerance test on the cards which i umm-ed and ah-ed about attending but have decided to do as am hoping GCT gave a false positive (can happen). DP and I have decided to push the boundaries a bit and still try to go for a HB even if I do have gestational diabetes. Am gutted though as clearly what you want is an easy ride.

Oh! for yesterday morning when my only worry was the fact that every non-floor surface in our house is to be stripped and replastered prior to LO's arrival!

Glad I'm not the only one up at stupid o'clock in UK!! LO seems to be getting into a cycle of 3am major kicking sessions

The predisposition to get stretchmarks is genetic/age related isn't it? According to a MW friend you're more likely to get them if you're young (she said she's seem some awful teenage stomachs )and even more so if your mother got them. (I thanked my mum the other day as I only have 1 small one on my bikini line which I got delivering DD)

Bad luck about the test Easywriter. I've got my second GTT in 2 weeks time. I had to have an early one as I had GD last pg - it was borderline so I'm bricking in case I get it again. That said, my sugars were fine during labour so even if I do get it this time I'm just going to stay at home (unless I have to inject - different ball game, for me anyway) I'm trying to stick to a low GI/GL diet at the mo just to be on the safe side.

I managed without any stretch marks last time but not sure what will happen this time

Hi all hope you are all well, glad everyone else is expanding rapidly - I go back to work after 3 weeks off next Monday and I'm dreading all the comments even tho I love my bump. No stretchmarks yet but I'm sure to get them - already have some on my hips from rapid growth as teenager!
You all sound so organised! We are planning on moving to a new house a month before the due date...if it is built by then... eek!

p.s. Purplepants - 4am is my LOs preferred kick-boxing time, regular as clockwork - will be interesting to see if he wakes up at that time after he is born!

p.p.s - anyone doing their pelvic floor exercises yet?! Sure it is only a matter of time before I have a little accident .

Hi everyone!!

Bloody hell, you lot done 'alf gossip!!!

ZoKe - didn't manage to get hardly anything done in the house at the weekend - it was far too hot for my liking and i even had to build up the courage to go out in the sun to get the washing in!

I'm with you lot on doing up shoes! I've also only got trainers (apart from flip flops) and i've noticed that it's getting a bit of a chore to do them up. I really dont want to have to ask DP to put them on for me before he goes to work at 6am. I can imagine that it wouldn't be that comfy in bed with trainers on!

My bump is starting to grow too. I think i'm starting to look slightly less like a pie eater now, but it's still dependant on what tops i wear to emphasise my bump.

As for stretchmarks, well I had a ton of those all over my tummy from when i was a teenager and also from my first PG, when i was 21/22. At the moment, it looks like my tummy has alot of "give" so i dont think i'll be acquiring any more stretchmarks just yet. I'm not so sure about later on tho. I'm sure i'll have more to add to my collection! It doesn't matter whether you put on cream that costs £1.50 or £150 - if you're gonna get stretchmarks, you're gonna get them, regardless of creams! It's all in the skin type/genes.

We bought a couple more things last night for the baby. We bought our first pack of nappies (awww such a tiny pack). We bought the newborn size, 7-11lbs. I'm convinced i'm not having one bigger than 8lbs so i'm gonna be keeping everything crossed that that's the case! We also bought a bottle brush and two little bottles (for expressing later on). There's just sooooo much that we need to buy but the nursery's a building site atm - literally - as it has no ceiling, no wallpaper/paint and the floor is coming up soon too i think. Eeek!! I'm starting to get a bit nervous about it not being done on time now and about the fact that we have nowhere to put all this babystuff while the room looks like it does. I'm sure it'll suddenly all come together.....

I counted it up last night - i've got 10 weeks left til i leave work in Mid October!!! I've decided that i'm going to start my mat leave at the end of October, but take my remaining two weeks before that so i can go a bit earlier. Cant wait - i'm finding working such a chore at the mo, especially as i'm totally not busy and spend 99% of my day on the net!! I know it's great to be paid to be doing nothing, but i'd much rather be at home!

Sorry about the really long post!!

Sarahloumadam - I try and remember to "pull up" when i can but i keep forgetting to do regular pelvic floor exercises.

PS - My LO keeps kicking me right on the top of my fanjo!! I dont get any kicks in the tummy yet coz of my anterior placenta but it's a really weird feeling to be kicked up there!!

Hey peeps
goodness what a lot of chat, good job i'm at work and have time to join in bet you when i'm at home with DS1 and LO time will be even more precious

anyhoo - RG Pargy, i'm with you on Nursery / building site scenario, my DS came at 32 weeks, so i woke up this morning in a panic thinking s*t this one cld be here in like 4 weeks and i have absolutely nothing prepared. At the mo the babies room is full of computer,printers, old bits of furniture, pots of paint, half a ton of DH crap. But in order to clear it DH needs to finish off alcove in l/room, then we can start getting room together, paint, carpet upsatirs then finally get all the baby stuff out of attic...panic....panic...panic, to be fair i appreciate that baby will just be in our room for first few weeks, but I still need a room to put all its stuff, and to mentally prepare myself. DH is an absolute star when it comes to DIY but obviously only has w/ends to do it, and takes a long time as he's a real perfectionist

Easywriter -
I had glucose tolerance test
last week and am assuming that it was ok as hospital said they wld get back to me last Fri if prob. Thing is i drank a bottle of lucozade before a routine urine sample and it all escalated from there, so hopefully you will be fine too, fingers crossed, as you say you don't want added complications..whatever they may be

Choudru / SparklygotKat -
Am maintaining positive head 'ah baby will stay put until due date' but then every so often it could be here in 4 weeks like DS ahhhggg, i not at all prepared for that eventuality

Stetchmarks - didn't get any with DS1 as he came 8 weeks early, but fully expecting them this time, as i have quite bad ones on hips from growth spurts, and mum got em' too. Quite big already so will be size of small country by time LO comes along