Due in June and entering the home stretch - keep the creme eggs rolling!

[makecakesnotwar]

And the Revels, the Greek Yogurt and the curly fries....

bitofadramaqueen I didn't feel like I had grown much between 5 and 6 months but certainly feel very large now at nearly 7. Suddenly you will feel huge!!!!

Thanks G43 - only 2 weeks ago I was fed up with everyone talking about how much I've grown and now I'm worried because I haven't!!!

My boss today commented about how my bump was really 'out front' (it's not really) and then asked me what that meant I was having. I told her it didn't mean anything as that kind of stuff was just old wives tales. She was really offended . The other week she was quizzing me about names and looked really put out when I said we wouldn't be discussing it with anyone. Last night my brother was lecturing me about childbirth options and what I'll think/change my mind on(being the father of one, he's clearly an expert on the subject) anyone else feeling like other people trying to butt in on their pregnancy ?

Hello everyone

Have been working really hard - and not posted for so long that this thread had disappeared from the 'Threads I'm on' section!

I've had a quick read through.

Sorry that so many people have been udner the weather. This winter seems to be going on and on and on, doesn't it? can't believe it's Easter and it's going to be snowing!

Nettiehay, Mothercare are great for car seats - and I'm sure you'll find plenty of good ones for a large car like that, even with funny seat belts. Also, I believe there are more seats that fit your car than on the website - it's just whether they happen to have checked it iyswim.

G43 - wow! I may have missed this, but apart from the shock at the baby being different from the other scan, given that you have two DDs, do you feel nervous about having a boy? I know when I discovered this one was a girl (OR IS SHE????), I was worried about how to manage a girl.

Just thought - if this is a boy and not a girl, a boy called Dorothy is going to sound a bit odd, isn't it?

Very jealous of all of you who look pregnant. I still hide it "well", though am well into maternity clothes and elasticated waists. Doctor says the baby is right on target, it's just that I'm tall and wide myself. (Also my enormous boobs probably distract the eye - bump is only just bigger than them now!)

Hi everyone

Getting some very painful kicks today and BH are getting more frequent as the kicks come I started stressing today about going early as I just cant see myself getting any bigger.

Not really that organised with Nursery decorated cause dd was getting hers done at the same time also I have to take into account that my DH is away at least 2 weeks in a month so I have to half my time for getting things done when he is as home, so I could be looking at only 5.5 weeks to do stuff IYKWIM

Dramaqueen you have probably got the the stage where you dont notice the growth the same.

Doing the hellish task of sorting out dds clothes I hate doing it but must be done, better get back or the rest will be left on her floor.

Thanks for the support - I've come to the conlcusion that the well-meaning lady in John Lewis was wrong and simply gave us the wrong end of the stick. Hopefully Mothercare will tell me what I want to hear, so I can get the car seat and pushchair that I want! DP has told MIL that we need to go to Mothercare World on the weekend, and apparently she was in raptures! It's next to Ikea, so that's her two favourite places in one go! I think that's a pretty good easter present!

I've also been having some painful kicks as well as the 'stitch' feeling that apparently is the baby playing with my liver. It doesn't seem to go away at all now, so I am beginning to wonder if there is anything I can do about it...

Roll on weekend!

Afternoon all
DramaQueen - who hasn't butted in on my pgy?

My mum "I do hope you're not going to use dummies [pulls face]." "Why don't you use terries? They were great for me"
MIL "Of course, you'll want to use disposables for a few weeks. Babies get worse nappy rash with washables."[not true]

My bf (mum of one) "You'll definitely need gas and air"
My mum "You won't need gas and air."

My mum "I carried my babies side on because my hips are so narrow . Of course, you've got your grandmother's hips so it'll be different" [totally got DM's hips and, surprise, am carrying the baby side on]
My mother in law "You should be fine with the birth because you've got big feet"??????!!!

My other bf "Read this [bloody awful] book about 'what every pregnant woman should know'"

Yet another friend "Tell me the names then" (Me, errr, no, only DH knows) "Well, yes, but it is me, go on, tell me."
And another friend "Tell me the names then"
(Me, errr, no etc). "Just as well really, I told someone the other day the name they've picked is rubbish."!!!!!!!!!

Various people "You're enormous"
Various people "You're hardly showing"
Various people "How long have you got left? Are you sure it's not twins?"
Various people "What are you drinking?You're not drinking are you?"
Various people "Of course, it's fine to drink"
Male work colleague "Are you going to breast feed or bottle feed? Where are you giving birth?"
Male friend "Take all the drugs"
My mum "Don't take any of the drugs"
Various people "Let me tell you this horrific birth story" (Me, err, no thanks). "No really, you need to know this."
Various mums "You're having a home birth? I/ my baby would have died if I'd had a home birth. Let me tell you exactly why you shouldn't have one at extreme length [go on to quote a bunch of wild inaccuracies and extreme circumstances]."

After a while I've learnt to
(a) Be jokily rude back and make it clear I'm offended when people tell me I'm enormous
(b) Refuse point blank to discuss names and when pressed say only DH knows, not even own parents
(c) Answer breastfeeding/ intimate questions with a jokey 'It's none of your business'
(d) Tell DM I will not be judged for the various ways I want to do things which differ from her
(e) Tell the anti-homebirthers and other horror mongers I want to keep a positive frame of mind and do not want to hear their stories.

It is all bloody annoying tho!

hi greenfairy :-)

You sound like a Strong Minded Lady who doesn't need any reassurance from me but still would like to say that even as someone whose home birth attempt went Spectacularly Wrong, I still don't regret it.

There is no way I would have coped with 17 hours of drug free labour if I hadn't had total freedom to move, shower, eat, drink, sing as I pleased.

So even if plans do change, it is so much preferable to labour at home and not in a corridor full of other laydees strapped to beds, screaming...

In fact this time round I am PETRIFIED of having to labour on the ward (was in theatre within 15 mins of arrival last time but this won't happen to you as you have big feet )

I would say the only down sides if you have to transfer are the inevitable feelings of "failure" after you have fought your corner for so long against all and sundry (eventually you realise this is Bollox and get a grip!) and I won't lie, the journey to hospital contracting every 2 mins was the worst 30 mins of my life

But still, GO FOR IT

GreenFairy - and don't think the advice and comments won't continue once your DC has been born. And, don't expect any sympathy when you're pooped having been up half the night - you'll get a lecture about how your mother/friend/aunt/MIL had it twice as bad and how you/your brother/your sister were twice as awful when they were little.

WRT to sizing issues, my mother's only comments when I told her I was pregnant a second time were: "I did wonder, since I thought you were a bit 'broader in the beam' than usual" and the classic "Now don't put too much weight on".

Just repeat after me "you young people of today have never had it so good ..."

Greenfairy - we are living parallel lives! The ones that amaze me the most are the ones from (invariably single) men 'Are you breast feeding? It's best for baby you know. Don't give up - it's not that hard.' WTF? How do they know?
I've also had the 'Aren't you brave for using reusable nappies.' Brave?? brave?? Again can I just say WTF?

LOL GreenFairy.
I've tried "now you've stroked my bump can I squeeze your boobs"

All well with the midwife this afternoon. The baby was thrashing around like a happy eel and is head down. Even after 48 hours of no food, my urine and bp were fine

DM - hope you're feeling more comfortable. Must be horrid for you. I'm getting a bit nervous about looking after my children over the next 11 weeks, and I'm not in pain the way you are.

Oh, I've been getting all that crap too GF...bloody annoying. Why are people so obsessed with knowing the name? Why does my mother think I look enormous (have seen pics of her pg and she was much bigger than me)? Why does my MIL think that dummies/baby monitiors/my mothering skills are terrible? Has she raised a child in the last 30 years??????

Grrr.

Physio was a disappointment-they've discharged me as here's 'nothing more they can do'. They have put a note on my notes to say that my hips only open to 16cm so no way will I be giving birth on back or side...and seconded mw opinion that I should speak with obstetrician about early delivery. Am now banned from walking the dog, walking anywhere really, doing up shoe laces, lifting anything, getting in and out of bath/car unaided...what am I going to do for the next ten weeks???? {only ten weeks- how exciting!!]

I am so bad, by the time I come to write I can't remeber what I was going to say - must be baby brain!

Congratulations G43! Thank goodness you are getting regular scans, otherwise you might not have known until the birth poor ds would have had to come home in pink!!

Poor you dylansmum, finding it hard enough with a toddler without any other problems, hope you feel better.

bitofadramaqueen, I felt like I wasn't growing last week then this week put on 3lbs and baby was moving all over the shop last night and this morning I look huge!! So don't worry baby is probably tucked in.

Nettiehay - so stressful buying pram/carseat I couldn't understand why people kept telling me this buggy etc wouldn't fit into my - I mean what type of cars to most people drive!! I found mothercare really helpful, so I'm sure you'll be sorted, although mil will have bought most of the shop by the time you're through!!

I have been fine this week and decided my episode of leaking last week must just have been my pelvic floor, back seeing midwife on tues so not too far away.

what a nightmare day. i'm soooo glad dh is home for 4 days as i'm having a meltdown. took ds for his haircut and he was actually pretty good (he's so active getting him to sit still for anything is recipe for disaster) but when we tried to leave... he was happy with new toys, etc. and didn't want to go and threw his biggest fit to date. he banged his head on the floor, kicked, kneed and headbutt me, and screamed and cried so much he was gagging. just to help things along the (child's) hairdresser said lovely things like, oh my god, be careful, he's so strong he's going to hurt you and then, when's the baby due, how are you going to cope? i could have strangled her. and she has a 2 year old boy as well?!???

on the bright side my SPD is feeling manageable, i didn't even splurge on a taxi home and managed to take the bus okay. we'll see how it is tonight as it always seems to be worst around bedtime.

DQ that would be lovely but i'm very embarrassed to say he doesn't have any friends. i never did any antenatal classes with ds and by the time i realised how important it was to make other friends with babies (i'm the first of all my mates here to have one) it was too late - all the cliques were formed! i chat to certain mums at playgroups etc. but have never really connected with anyone. it's a good msg for first-timers that only have single/childless friends - you NEED mates with children the same age as yours! it's very lonely without, and you think you'll be just as close to your old mates but you won't be.

i also (foolishly) thought we'd be moving house before ds was 1 so thought i'd meet people in new area, then it all fell through and i was just kind of stuck in limbo.

greenfairy i know just what you mean about people butting in, it's tough to ignore sometimes. i don't know why people just need to get their opinion out when it comes to pregnancy, especially if they have no basis for it, but it seems everyone feels they know something about it!!

LOL greenfairy!

Anyone else just feel like spending the whole Easter weekend on the sofa?

If I have my way Neenz...

Makescakes - sorry to hear of your woes. Boo hiss.

Am deffo spending Easter either in bed or on the sofa. CANNOT WAIT.

oh makecakes just read about your physio. how awful for you. i can't remember where you're located but maybe you should try out an osteopath?? they're meant to have a lot more success than physio...

makecakes that sounds really crappy, is it NHS ? I bet a private or as DLM said Oesteopath could really help. One of my friends got to the point when pregnant with her dd that she could barely walk, so she saw an oesteopath and said he was a mirical worker after even just one session she was able to walk again!

DLM, people really can make a stressful situation much worse can't they! I hope you have a relaxing few days. I am hoping to as I have managed to fill up most of the days of the holiday already and have even had to write stuff on a calender so I can remember what I'm doing every day! On a positive note for you I'm very envious of your very cute bump, mine is misshappen, pale and covered in old stretch marks - YUK (but I love it!!!!)

LOL greenfairy! I could go on for hours about people's annoying comment. On the dummy front my childless (and never planning to have a child) pulled such a judgemental face about dummy use and was horrified that I might actually take into account guidance that babies should have a dummy at night.

Dylansmum - sorry there isn't anyone to help out with entertaining DS; but I'm sure that you'll do a good job of entertaining him even with your current constraints.

Makecakes - sorry to hear of your woes. Nothing for it but to put your feet up and tuck into the Easter eggs .

Makecakes - sorry about the physio. Mine is paid for via works PMI, so they're never gonna to turn away free money, but honestly not sure he's made that much difference. He told me that it's not possible to 'fix' backpain in pregnancy, we'll just try not to make it worse. Seriously, is there any other condition in the world in which pain is considered so acceptable....!?

Aberdeen Hiker - Hot slings look lovely. Most stylish ones I've seen so far. However we already have a Tomy one (donated from a friend), a kari-me (off ebay) and baby bjorn (another freebie). Think I should try them before getting another! I wonder if the cat will play along....

Dramaqueen - I like your thinking...'how are you?' 'Well, let me tell you about my pelvic floor, back ache, piles, burning indigestion, trousers falling down, etc, etc!!!' Hee hee.

Bought some mens braces today to hold my trousers up.

Makecakes - Remember, scales are for losers, chocolate is for winners! (Although that may be why I am feeling huge)

Rolf, Dylansmum & Nettiehay - hope you feel much better over the weekend and enjoy some time off.

Greenfairy & other comments back - LOL - shame it all rings so true...."Step away from the bump, NOW!"

Do you ever feel like having a t shirt printed with "if you have nothing nice to say F**k off or the bump will explode"
MIL is top target for stupid remarks her best at the moment is bumping her gums about how hard my SIL works with twins its so hard with 2 hmmm and three of different ages will be a piece of piss!some folk just get on with it and dont expect a certificate

You need to be careful with the SPD when I was expecting DD a girl on the anti natal thread ended up in a wheelchair and a friend of my neighbours go so bad her pelivs broke and is now registered disabled. Shit I sound like one of those people sorry

I dont see how they cant help with backache in pregnancy, I have been seeing a holistic theapist specialised in maternity massage and she works wonders If i could afford it I would go everyday.

Hello everyone, taken me ages to catch up,

well i have been covering myself in creams and oils and no stretch marks - until i turned around and realised they are all on my bum, didn't think about that lol!!

People can be such a pain, early on coz i sprouted quite quickly everyone kept saying are you sure its not twins. When i visited my nan to tell her the news she said i kind of guessed - why? well you look pregnant - No, you just mean i look fat! I have one friend that has a one year old and she has told me her whole birth and not to do this, don't let them do that, DON'T breastfeed?????? why have i bought this when she thinks that is better? and parents at work think they have the right to start touching my bump and then moan saying they hated people touching there's - hello!

Josey - love the t-shirt idea

I hope to stay at home as long as possible before going into hospital on D-Day coz i just want to feel as comfortable as possible, and i know i will panic as soon as i get through those doors, but i am just not brave enough to have a home birth i need to know there is an epidural if needed!!!! In my ideal world i would go in have the baby, and get a six hour discharge and home again - but i doubt it. My cousin managed it in january and shes only 19.

Hope everyone is feeling better and this horrible weather changes soon, coz i bought some lovely dresses from blooming marvelous and feel like i'm never going to get to wear them!!!

LOL at Wombat's stripey arse

(I am allowed to be unsympathetic as I can't tell the difference between my old stretchmarks and any new ones.)

My dilemma this evening is: I am ready for sleep but have really bad heartburn (didn't really get it with the others) so am more uncomfortable when lying down. DD has just climbed out of her bed and climbed in with DS2 so I think things are going to get noisy.

This baby hasn't stopped wriggling all day. It's sooo lovely.

Morning all-

hope you got some sleep Rolf, and sending sympathies to the stripey Wombat!

Off to the coast this weekend, though suspect that given the weather forecast, I'll be spending most of the time vegging on the sofa eatng Creme Eggs!

Happy Easter, to you, your families and your wriggly babies.

Morning everyone

How are you all today? I also have a very wriggly baby too!! 29 weeks today

Off to the airport today to take Mum home , then few days on our own then mil, sil and bil arrive for a week which we're looking forward to as they are very easy guests and do loads of things with the boys.

Snowing again here which is great for the last skiing guests who arrive tomorrow. Sophie - enjoy your weekend with your 3 day guests, we have the last big changeover to do tomorrow, 14 out and 14 in.Lovely English family arriving though who also came last year so will be nice to see them again.