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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you all got lots of chocolate to eat today. DH bought me a massive egg from Thornton's so looking forward to that later.

Planning on having a bit of a 'nursery' day tomorrow - last bits and pieces of decorating, putting up some pictures etc so really looking forward to that. Got the drawers from ikea the other night so no easter monday trip there (DH very relieved).

Anyway, family commitments beckon - have a great day everyone.

deb sob at thought of pregnancy muscling in on my favourite pastime of shopping .

Well we might not have had a white xmas but we sure have a white easter!
Mum picked up the kids yesterday lunch time and is taking them back in time for dinner so we are enjoying a peaceful relaxing time together while granny does the easter egg hunts in the snow

Went out for a lovely meal last night but the drive home was pretty hellish

The bra extenders are great for the last few weeks when your ribs go out of sorts, but i always buy bras in M&S.

Enjoy your easter everyne just thing this time next year we will have little chubby babies covered in sticky milky bar chocolate eggs

Ooh, meant to recommend bravissimo for fitting (even if you dont buy bras from there) - aimed at girls with big boobs so ideal for pregnant ladies!

Josey -where can I get some bra extenders from? Have fairly expensive bra which is digging into my ribs but it fits everywhere else, so loathe to replace it with a new one at this stage.

DQ i know they do bra extenders at la senza and i think most online maternity shops have some kind or another. you can even get them on amazon or of course ebay!

i've just discovered these Food Doctor seeded bagels and they are so so tasty! i have them toasted with a bit of butter and then ripe avocado spread on them and i'm totally addicted! really filling to, great breakfast or lunch.

we had loads of snow this morning, ds was loving it... oooooh, mummy, look look snowing!

Happy easter!

I've been away this week and it has taken me ages to catch up, just skimmed through as there was such a lot to read. Can't believe we have nearly filled up another thread!

I tried Mothercare for bras and decided I must be between sizes there as none of them fitted me so ended up getting one from M&S. I bought a bump support from there and was shocked to find I needed the largest one, I'm really not that big!

Do bump supports really make a difference? Never tried them but I am suffering with backache at the moment if I stand too long.

I got last lot of extenders out of avon but cant find them so glad dylansmum has said where else has them as its always the last couple of weeks tha are bad and not worth buying new bras for.

Debs yep they are fab pain in the bum at times but I can only walk of go shopping with mine on if not im crippled they stop the ripping feeling of the ligaments as well. I only wear it in the house when Im ironing though.

Debs I got mine for the muscle pain I was getting when I walked for too long, like a stitch round the bottom of the bump. Think it does help a bit with that, I can definitely walk for longer but maybe the muscles are getting stronger!

Happy Easter everyone!

Am nervously awating father's arrival, he should be here about 4pm. Tonight I am cooking garlic and rosemary roast leg of lamg, sauteed carrots and mange tout and potato gratin followed by white choc and mint mousse...mmmmm...wish you could all come to Scotland and join me

My best friend (who has moved to Munich very inconsiderately) has sent me a posh Mamma Mio It's Time hospital kit to cheer me up about having to go to hospital this time. I'm going to wait till 30 weeks till I open it though, I love having things to look forward to!! Am total suspense freak...

We're not doing anything nursery wise till Baby Basil arrives as it all depends on gender. A girl will be getting DH's study converted into her room (ha ha) but we think if it's a boy we'll evenutally put our two wee lads together in DS room, it's big enough and I have a major fantasty about two little boys in a bunk bed

Love and spring time vibes to all (almost wore some open toed sandals today and then thought "Nah it's still feckin baltic...) BB xx

happy easter everyone - am debating whether to have any more chocolate or if it really will make me sick.

DH gone out to find my dad who is meant to be visiting us (we're at our holdiay place)... I sincerely hope baby doesn't inherit teh lack of common sense gene from grandad that means you come away to visit your daughter without asking where to go when you get there and without a mobile that works abroad...

I've just ordered some bra extenders from Blooming Marvellous (as well as 2 pairs of trousers - DH still not picked up my maternity clothes so have been shopping ). I have a bump support from BM as well and although by the end of the day it digs into the bottom of my bump, it really helps with bachache and that feeling that it's all just going to fall off.

We're having a nice Easter. I went to the Easter vigil last night which was lovely and a treat to go on my own. DH took the boys the Mass this morning whilst DD and I prepped the lunch and we've got some friends and my father over.

We had the first sugar high/sugar crash quite early today. DS2 has refused to eat anything else so he's not having any more easter eggs now - don't want him to be sick. DD is asleep and the boys are watching Doctor Who.

It is so cruel that queasiness/heartburn has set in so strongly just before Easter - usually I would be scoffing the children's eggs when they aren't looking! Didn't have even a sip of champagne. It's making me even more sympathetic with people who suffer from morning sickness.

ktpie - your bump support -does it help any when you're getting up/sitting down or does nothing help once you get beyond a certain stage of growth.

poppy - I'm not too bad at getting up and sitting down yet, unless the chair is really low, so I haven't noticed it helping with that. I try to only wear it when I know I will be walking around for ages so that my muscles get chance to strengthen without it on. Sorry not much help!

Thanks for suggestions on bra extenders - def going to get some ordered this week. When's best time to think about nursing bras (for those that have done it before!)? Cant imagine will have much time to go bra shopping in first week or two after LO arrives but how do you know what size to buy before birth? Sorry, I'm probably being a bit thick .

Had lovely Easter but have been feeling very uncomfortable over last couple of days. Particularly uncomfortable under my ribs at one side. Away to put my feet up and make myself sick with chocolate!

Sorry you're uncomfortable DQ. I think the time to get nursing bras is about 36 weeks onwards (may be wrong) and they usually recommend a cup size bigger than you meaure.

If you buy a few but check out the size of one of them when your milk comes in (about day 3), you can usually exchange any that don't fit. I've usually got mine from John Lewis. Be warned - unless you are a fairly small size, they aren't pretty!

Good morning everyone. How's your snow?

Makecakes, sorry about your physio. Can they at least tell you positive news about post natal recovery?

For those asking about bump belt support thingies, I was gives a real industrial one in my 1st pg (or second, I forget?), anyway, I wear mine every day, pretty much all day. It can be a bit irritating, and makes going to the loo a bit of a palava, but so far, touch wood, no /very little backache - only when i get up, 1st thing. And I clearly had it a lot before as I had to see physio, but had no probs thins time.
I also find sitting in a hard wooden bench better than the sofa, so spending much more of my time at the table and very little monging on sofa, this also helps. Had terrible coccyx pain last time(s) so really hoping to avoid this.

wombat - how annoying to turn around and find a stretch mark covered bum! IS this bad luck, or a testament to the fact that all your creams do work, given you've not got any on tummy?

AH - I've also chosen a hotsling I just wanted something easy and pop in and out, no straps. Just need to wait a few days so I can give my German address, as if I get it sent here I'll be liable for import duty, but not to Germany apparently.

DM; i had the same re not joining ante natal groups and not ending up knowing anyone. It's really hard isn't it? I obv. also can't join an ante natal group now, so hoping I still manage to meet people in Germany. Can't believe fromt he other thread now only did I get some great info, but also found a mner who lives just round the corner! Fingers crossed it's as friendly as she says.

I've got my next doctors appointmet & scan tomorrow. May be the last time I see my doctor (and my baby before birth), really hope I can find one so good in Germany, as this one is wonderful.

I can't believe how wriggly this one is. This is my 4th pg, and I cannot remember any of the others being this active. I swear I've got a bag of snakes in there. WIll make sure tomorrow.

And lastly, a word of advice. GO TO THE DENTIST! I went on Thursday, just a regular check up (with the dental hygienist) . I was very shocked to be told I've got peridontitus and badly and my teeth are all going to fall-- out not in a great way. I've had no bleeding gums, pain, swelling or any warning signs at all. I of course brush regularly etc. She also told me that the dmage is irreversible, and that the pg hormones causing the gum problems won't go away till after finishing bf, so that's at least a year! God, I really hope I don't lose my teeth Honestly I had no warning signs at all of any problem (cos apparently it's all infected above the gum line, so my teeth and gums are being attacked inside, with no external signs. SO get 'em checked. I think it's still free in UK during pg and 1 year after birth? At least it was when I had my 1st 8 years ago. Even if it costs an arm and a leg, which mine will ( ) you still gotta do it.

YOur up early Ernest, we have a family dentist appointment for a couple of weeks but very worrying for you what she said.

One more day of obnoxious guests and then a night of before the next lot arrive tomorrow.

we finally have snow here this morning - it's gorgeous out but I fell twice on my walk to work (on my knees, no damage done except to my pride).

ernest - free dental doesn't help when you can't get a NHS dentist - the waiting lists here are two years long and even then I've known other people to get bumped up through the list - which will mean a longer wait for us.

I did go to the dentist in September though - are we supposed to go more than once a year if we're pregnant? Does anyone know?

I hope you'll love your hotsling - I am excited to get to use mine again!

I only went within the last year and he said my gums were fine then. Am really about my teeth, esp as I do look after them. I would really recommend going I was told max 6 months apart, and also see a dental hygienist if possible.

Am very much looking forward to my hotsling. I had a wilkinet which was a pile of crap 1st time, and last time I had a baby bjorn, and think I'll be able to borrow sil bb too this time, but am v. keen on hotsling. was looking at a wrap sling, but def want the simplicity of the hostdling. Also see myself using it quite late. Last summer I ended up using my sarong as a hip-carrying sling for ds (then almost 4, but small) so if this one's alos small, see myself using it literally for years. AM looking at black ecru. if anyone's al all interested, or the solstice one.. How big are you AH? Ws not 100% sure bwn size 3 & 4? WHat've you got?

hmm, I think I might make a dental appt. then.

and I had a wilkinet and thought it was crap too, far too fiddly and DS wasn't comfy in it!

I'm a size 12 top (small chested but I have a wide back from years of swimming) and I fit nicely in the size 3 hotsling, I tried a 4 and it was too big. The solstice one looks really nice - I have a blue paisley one which they don't make anymore and I still love it. It was fine for carrying DS on my hip until my hips disappeared this winter!

ernest - how worrying about your teeth. The other night when I brushed mine there was loads of blood, not just a spot literally mouthfuls but they have been fine since, no blood at all. I went to the dentist just before I got pregnant but I think I should probably go again.

Hi everyone

Ernest thats scarey about the teeth, MIL lost all hers with my DH and she still hasnt forgiven him.
I have blood lashing from my mouth all the time but my dentist checked me a few weeks ago and said everything was fine it was just hormone swelling and extra blood in body so breath a huge sigh of relief.

DQ joining you in the uncomfortable steaks hoping the head engages in the next couple of weeks to give my ribs a break but not holding out much hope to be honest I just dont seem to have the room for this one.

Better think about what to make for lunch easter egg sandwich should do it lol!

First thing I did when I got my maternity exemption card was go to the dentist...mine is private but I showed them the card and they didn't charge anything....so sorry for you ernest. As if you don't have enough to deal with.

I have had 4 bump supports- was given two by the NHS- very industrial but bugger all use as they kept riding up and giving me backache. I got two carriwell bump supports and thus far they are working well. They don't give as much support but they don't give the backache either. I do find them helpful.

I can't believe the weather- although it did mean I got to spend all day yesterday on the sofa eating chocolate (cue heartburn and SPD but who cares??) I am onto using a walking stick now, which was/is a little depressing but I came home to see a SOLD sign up outside the house! And after everything it's taken, I know that it's a small price to pay for our beautiful baby!!

I wanted to ask you 'experienced' mothers if you have any tips, either for labour or breastfeeding. I figure that there's only so much you can learn from a book. And what do Braxton Hicks feel like?

RANT ALERT - I give up on bloody maternity jeans!!! Will it please stop snowing already and get warmer so we can wear nice comfy light weight drawstring trousers please!!!! Grrrrr. Sorry everyone, am completely fed up of having to hitch my jeans up every five minutes and it being too cold to wear anything else that fits me. That and the fact that putting the border up in the nursery went disastrously wrong, me and DH both got v upset about one thing and another and I'm now having a lousy day .

Thanks for the reminder re the dentist ernest - I'm overdue a check-up; sorry to hear your prognosis wasn't so good.

Thanks for the advice Rolf - sadly 'small' is not a word usually said in the same sentence as my boobs, but I gave up on pretty underwear a few months ago .

Aberdeen - hope your pride ok after your fall!

Right, off to do some housework and ironing. Hope everyone else is having a much better Easter Monday!

DQ- rant away. I'm gong through a rant phase myself- you may have noticed. Agree about maternity jeans...even if you use a belt, the stretchy bit ends up rolling down over it. Can't wait for warm weather either...getting fed up of only being able to go out when DH is around to tie my shoe laces...