First-timers this year . . .

[TJuice]

I was just wondering how many are there of us . . .

I am due end of June and love my antenatal thread as there is so much good advice there but thought it may be nice to share a little with others who are new to this whole thing too.

Anyone interested?

I too am glad to say that i had most things on the list i had made.
Im a bit of a list freak im afraid!

DH found out today that Sainsburys have Half price on all Baby care products. Apparently includes babywipes,creams,shampoos,oils,cotton wool as well as Maternity products.
I'll be stocking up on friday. Offers on till 12th.

I'm in the "not sure if it's wind" category as well. 17.5 today and not convinced that I am really feeling anything.

Welcome newbies! There's a lot of us now.

Pigley I have nothing on my list. I've been given two gifts..a baby shampoo bath set, and a set of bright green baby socks with a swaddle.

Other than that, I have nothing. We have a list on amazon.co.uk to help us remember, but certainly have not gone to the efforts that you have. The good news is that I just bagged a contract and will be starting that on Tuesday for a few months. I had to do something to supplement the fact that I will have no SMP.

Better get dressed..ugh work..boo!

Cheers for that Pigley- I'll be stocking up too! I'm normally more of a list freak but not sure why not with this- still a bit getting used to the idea that it's actually going to happen!

Mcchesers- I'm eighteen wks and I'm not really sure if I can feel the baby or just my organs moving around and the wind moving through! I have the odd moment where I think ....'is that...it??' but not entirely sure yet! Good news about your contract too.

congrats on your contract, mcchesers. so nice to get some work and try and build up the coffers isn't it.
I am also more concerned with getting more freelance work in, then buying stuff right now but i have a nice bagful of cute clothes. My mum though, has been hitting TK Maxx on the regular and has bought a monitor, two sleeping bags, a pump and god knows how many clothes. She is so excited - love her!

Am starting to think about prams. They love those enormous silver cross style ones here in Copenhagen but the I live in a big old apartment in a house owned by an old lady and she won't let anyone leave their prams in the hallway (there is a lovely bit under the stairs that would be perfect!) so I will have to take up one flight (actually its just a few steps) and leave it in my own hallway. So those victorian huge things are out. And we don't have a car, so something neatish that would could go on a bus would be good too. Maybe a bugaboo, but there's something weird-looking about those small front wheels.

Danish mums leave their kids outside in the pram ALL THE TIME. Its so strange . . . you walk past cafes and see these kids all bundled up sleeping peacefully while the mum does her shopping or has a coffee inside. My friend even left her kid outside in the front garden yesterday for two hours (he just seems to prefer being bundled up in the fresh air and sleeps so well out there).

They also have this fab thing called BabyBio at the cinema. Its in the morning, they screen a film and you can leave your baby in its pram outside with a number on it, with a child minder. If your baby wakes up or starts crying, someone comes down and walks in front of the screen with the number, so you can get up, get the baby and breastfeed or whatever, in the cinema! And its all mums or dads so no-body minds!

Now we know its a girl - the naming thing is becoming an issue. Everyone is pitching in with their suggestions and its a bit overwhelming!

Ok, off to have a butchers at this newborn list thing . . . .hope i won't panic.

sHOP - the book is just called The Secret and I think there's a website too. Its totally cheesy but there must be something to it (I hear its a massive hit in the US).

one question - anyone got any tips on how to remember to do pelvic floor exercises? Should I set myself a reminder on my phone or something (I do that for my prenatal vitamins every night cos i am so forgetful). Whenever I see the word "pelvic" I start doing them so maybe i need a special program that drops them into my emails or something . . .

its a real balance isn't it, between being obsessed with imminent motherhood and wanting to still have a life and be yourself. i boguht a bargain vivienne westwood coat and some ankle boots last week. that made me feel normal . . .

sorry about the essay below

can someone show me where the newborn list thread is please?

TJuice LOL that's exactly what I did after seeing 'pelvic' in your post! It is really hard to remember...
I seem to remember to do them in the bath, and so have been having more baths than showers recently if that helps...still haven't done a huge amount though!

I am having huge problems trying to get DH to think about baby - he seems to have a mental block on it. It's starting to stress me out a bit to be honest, he refuses to think about anything to do with it. I wouldn't mind but it was his 'oops' in the first place that got us into this situation!!

Feel like the only support I am getting is MN and my mum at the mo...

I will try and find that thread now...

don't know how to do fancy links but I will give it a go... newborn thread here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/49/471041?discoday=hp&rn=1202256145161

here

Congrats on the contract mcchesers! Dont worry if not feeling anything - v common for newbies not to feel anything that early apparently.

Tjuice - I tell myself everyday I need to start my pelvic floor exercises. Suffice to say I haven't started yet.

I find them quite hard to do while sat at desk - always seem to end up doing 'butt clenches' instead

Hey everyone!

Hope you're all doing well today. Congrats on the contract Mcchesers.

TJuice - you might want to check out the latest bugaboo (bubgaboo bee) it has four small wheels which means that you don't have to worry about squeezing them into tight spots. It also folds up pretty neat too - DP and I had a demo at John Lewis at the weekend. It doesn't have the carrycot bit but it is suitable for newborns and for "city-living"!

LOL re the "pelvic" issues. I find that I'm doing the same thing!

Went to see the MW today - got to listen to the heartbeat. It's v reassuring to hear that the LO is alive in there!! I was a little concerned at first as it took a while to find it but MW said that sometimes it's still too early to hear at 19 weeks.

Hi,

I'm due to be a first-time-mum this year... Due in May!

Really enjoying being pregnant... haven't had ANY of the 'bad' things - no morning sickness etc!!

I've bought a few things - REALLY want a Bill AMberg papoose, but can't afford one but have bought some clothes and a buggy and a rattle (oh, I SOOOO have my priorities the wrong way round!!)

REALLY struggling with the more functional side of motherhood - still haven't thought about breastpumps or anything sensible like that!!

But, SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to meeting my son...

Hi all,

Just noticed this thread so thought I'd add myself to the list:

Loobyt, 32, due Feb 9th, Somerset
Fluffsuptheduff, 29, due 2nd March London/Herts
turtle23, 36, due 23 March, London/Surrey
Annieroo, 36 due 21st April, Monmouthshire
Missvicki, 24,due 1stMay, Launceston/Cornwall
Yimmy,34, due 1st May, South Yorkshire
Yellowflower, 30, due 4 May, London / Middlesex
Mumblesmummy, 22, due 11th May, Cumbria
Fleurie76, 32, due 23rd May, Kent
PregnantPenguin, 30, due 12 June, Wimbledon
tallbirduk, 33, due 20 June, Surrey
bitofadramaqueen, 35, due 22 June, Edinburgh
Tjuice, 32, due June 28th, Copenhagen
MissChika, 31, due July 1st, London
CarrieHD9, 35, due July 7th, West Yorkshire
McChesers, 32, due July 12th, Glasgow
Pigleychez, 26, due 12th July, West Sussex
Gillythekid,34,due 14 July, Hackney, East London
BorgLady, 30, due 15 July, Essex
MrsHOP, 30, due 21st July, SE London
Frogger77, due 26th July, Edinburgh
miamla, 32, due 29th July, NE London
Gracie14,26, due 1st Sept, Berkshire
PrePG, 31, due 27 Sept, London
ThePFJ, 30 soon, due 1st April, Chesterfield.

Will be 28 weeks tomorrow - getting more nervous by the day and also have decided to switch my ears off whenever someone decides to share their birth story with me as they scare me silly I'm working up to 37 weeks, already finding it hard as I have to commute 120 mile round trip every day and am really tired when I get in. I'm looking forward to having 6 months off (though I will be working my 10 KIT days for some extra money) as my DP is out of work at the moment and is feeling frustrated about the whole work things and my impeding maternity leave. Hopefully things will turn out, in the meantime, we're both looking forward to welcoming our little bubba and have lots of love to give him/her.

Glad to see on here that everyone else is experiencing similar things - I wonder about lots of things at the moment like can the baby have formula at room temperature, and also realising that at some point, I will have to unpack the baby gear I've bought over the last few months and read the instructions !!

Have also got my GTT tomorrow (Glucose Tolerance Test) so fingers crossed for that - glad to say its been plain sailing to now

Right, stop waffling on now !!

Hi KacyB and Yimmy- glad you found the thread.

Yimmy, I'm much earlier than you (eighteen and a half weeks) but also wondering about whether I'll be able to work up till 37 wks- I have a fair bit of driving also (not your commute though, blimey!) and work is pretty full on. Hmmm, keep us posted with how you're finding it. Also very excited about welcoming this little person in to our lives, though think they might want me to have a bit more practical knowledge than I do at the minute!

Kacy- can't believe you had no morning sickness- I'm so envious!

Is anyone planning on (or hasn't) not finding out the sex?

Hi to all the newbies to this thread.. Welcome aboard!

TJuice- I had forgotton about those pelvic floor exercises untill you mentioned it. Really must start some

Congrats on the contract mcchesers

re movements: I have felt a few odd feelings lately (17 weeks) but have no ideas if thats movement or just odd grumbles etc. Being a first timers its hard to know exactly what your waiting to feel.

KacyB - I too have had no morning sickness! Gag most mornings whilst cleaning my teeth but been lucky really.

I thought i had my Maternity leave all sorted but begining to wonder if i can last that long.(Mid may)
I have a pretty stressfull job and it feels like no one seems to even have noticed im pregnant (dispite the bump!) So much for taking things easier.
Seem to be giving me more and more stress every day!
Sorry to moan, just hate work at the mo! Wish i could start maternity leave tomorrow!.

Have a midwife appointment tomorow so hope to hear the heartbeat for the first time.

Hi

I am a first time mum-to-be as well as you can probably tell by my ever so non imaginative and depressing user name!!!!

I am due in 5 weeks!!! EEEEP! so am also on the March thread a lot. Everyone on there is great and give BRILLIANT advice.

Anyway, I have thankfully got through all the early worries along with a low lying placenta which has more recently moved out of the way so no cesarean for me!!! I'll have to grunt it out the usual way in a few weeks time!!! I guess I have kinda just accepted the giving birth part now and once the 28 weeks mark passed, I had severe panic attacks about the actual birth but I think my brain is busy now with the whole new human to be responsible for for the rest of our lives!!!! That is the part that I hadn't really really thought about until recently strangely enough!

My best mate had a really hard time immediately after the birth of her first baby because she had sooooo focused on being pregnant, giving birth and getting her body back that she actually hadn't really thought about still having the baby 24/7. She had the impression (in her head obviously) that once she gave birth that was her and she could go back to her old life. She did suffer from PND and her GP thought perhaps it was because she had planned every little thing up until the actual birth but not after (obviously she had the cot and pram and everything) but hadn't mentally prepared at all. All of her baby books were pregnancy books and nothing went any further than birth so she was saying to make sure all new mums take time to visualise your new baby and everything.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that - didn't mean to post such a huge saga!!!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!! [GRIN]

Oh, I'd LOVE to be on maternity leave... I don't finish work until 16th May and am due on 30th May... plus I am on contract work and my company have made it clear my contract won't be renewed now... so can't even get SMP.... I did try calling Citizens advice to see if I might be eligible for MA, but they won't talk to me over the phone and can't give me an appointment - I have to 'drop in' and wait... but of course, I can't do that BECAUSE I'M AT WORK

Not sure how long I'll be able to take off, but I need to find work sooner rather than later!!!!! Maybe I'll win the lottery tonight

hi paranoid and yimmy

that's interesting para - i mean, horrible for your friend but its true that you can be focussed on the process and not the whole other bit.

good luck yimmy with the sugar test.

Pigley - I am also disillusioned with work at the moment. They are giving me bare minimum maternity leave (ok, its quite good compared to the UK but below danish standards) and my pay rise amounted to really nothing after danish tax and yet they try and milk as many hours out of my time as possible. i feel demotivated really and I didn't want to be a lamer who gets pregnant and slacks off but I just feel like jacking it in today.

must use Secret, think positive thoughts - brainwash, brainwash . . .

MissCheeka - I've ordered the bugaboo bee, I so fell in love with it when I got the demo. We've ordered the 'baby nest' to make it suitable for new born - a lot lighter than a carrycot which was a huge selling point for me.

PigleyChez and Yimmy- are you working fulltime at min? I'm wondering if the answer might be to use up some of my leave to go someway part time for those last few wks before maternity leave proper starts? i planned to work till wk 37 but not sure how realistic that is fulltime.

TJuice & PChez- sorry you're both feeling hacked off with work. Feel lucky with my fairly generous mat leave, benefits of being a drone in a huge organisation!

Morning All!

Welcome to KacyB, Yimmy and Paranoid1stTimer!

Dramaqueen - you'll have to let me know how you get on with the bugaboo bee. We've still got a bit of time before we need to sort out our buggy and we are pretty set on that one.

TJuice and Pigley - am in exactly the same position re work. My company does offer really good maternity leave so I'm really lucky (CarieHD9 - I too am a drone in a large organisation!) but am feeling v de-motivated at the moment.

I'm going to be going on mat leave at 35 weeks (takes me up to the end of May) - my manager, who has two kids, advised me to have a month before just in case ...

Btw Carrie - DP and I aren't planning on finding out the sex but we may feel differently at the scan!! I was surprised at how many people do find out the sex for the first one though.

Will do MissChika (although I'm not due till June so just a bit organised with the pram buying).

I had my 20 week scan this week and didn't find out the sex. Me and DH hummed and hahhed over it for ages but only for practical reasons. We then ruled it out because there is so much nice neutral baby stuff out there (that you can use again if you have another). Once the baby is here we will no doubt be innundated with plenty of pink/blue outfits anyway.

I do get jealous of people who already know though!

Afternoon all

back from the GTT - will get the results this afternoon, was starving when I got in, but at least I got to see the ward where I will be in 12 weeks or so and swapped numbers with another mum to be who's due on the same day - we shared third trimester mood swing stories

TJuice and Pigley - I think I got a good deal with work (yep CarrieHD9 - yet another drone for a large co)- they've been pretty supportive so far - I can work from home one day a week. At the moment I feel like they're trying to cram everything in before I go off on leave on the 7th April, and its hard enough trying to concentrate with pregnancy brain (been forgetting things and feeling like a right airhead). Some days I just want to go home and wish my leave was starting tomorrow - Parking at work is rubbish so they let me book out the parking space right next to the front door which is brilliant as I'm not having to cart my laptop for long distances, and it stops me getting so stressed when traffic is bad on the motorway and I get delayed as all the spaces round the building are gone by 8.30 (I was having to leave work at 6am). Not sure how I will feel when I get to 30-odd weeks, already know I might have to go to Bristol for a meeting in march when I will be 30+ weeks and thats like 4 hours drive away. I was maybe thinking of asking if I can work from home a bit more as I'm not sure I'll fit behind the steering wheel for starters .

Oh CarrieHD9 I'm also taking a weeks leave before maternity and three weeks hols after the 26 weeks to pad it out a bit, did think about having 5 fridays off leading up to leave but I thought it would give me more pressure at work to get things done in four days instead of 5.

As for finding out the sex of the baby, I went through emotional turmoil weeks before my 20 week scan as I couldn't make my mind up whether I wanted to know. Most people & my DP thought I was having a girl anyway. At the scan, I decided last minute I wanted to know and........baby had its legs crossed. BUT the sonogrpaher said if she had to put money on it she thinks boy (as she thought she could see some boy parts). WELL....I wasn't prepared for how I felt after - didn't realise how much I wanted a girl as a result of everyone saying they thought I was having a girl, and I was surprised at how disappointed/annoyed/guilty about how I was feeling if the baby might be a boy. Don't get me wrong, I love my bump and baby to bits, and now I don't care was the sex is as long as he/she is ok, I'm just glad I got those feelings out of the way and am glad in a way I DON'T know as I can't wait to find out when baby arrives and I get one of those "Its a Boy/Girl!" moments

GTT results in - everything is ok am really chuffed!!

can i be nosy and ask maternity leave people what a good deal is in the UK these days?

good companies here pay six months full-time and then you get up to a year on barsels which is about 1,200 pounds a month gross.

my company has insurance which means they will give me the equivalent of 15 pounds an hour recompensed for full-time. i get 31 pounds an hour normally but they have bumped it up a bit (insured me for fulltime although i only work 100 hours a months). This effectively means that I will get six months at about 2,000 pounds a month gross (bear in mind that Danish tax is OUTRAGEOUS - at least half). its not the worst deal but i am taking a hit of about 500 pounds a month.

knowing nothing about uk law - i am just kind of interested.