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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

Thanks makecakes - am at my wits end about what to wear at the weekend. Jeans that need hitched up are way way too much effort and I am absolutely loathe to go and try and buy yet another pair with only 3 months to go. There doesn't seem to be any great alternative of 'bottoms' to buy that would do for now all the way through to 'summer' weather apart from jeans.

Hope you had a good weekend - didn't you go away?

Makecakes sorry can't help you with either as didn't experience either, breastfeeding had no milk du to previous op and labour didn't happen even after inducement, but warm baths help. If you can trundle back to 15th March, I put a link to a website that my community MW's told us about, it is how to sit/lie to get baby in the optimum position to come out, they found that once they told their mums to be bout it there natural birth rate went up and intervention went down and labour was shortened. And also bizarrly I didn't have BH last time but getting them this time, if a tightening of the stomach and a feeling that all your breath has been taken away is BH

And keeping mobile, and not lieing on your back

DQ - sorry your day's going wrong. Hope it picks up before bedtime!

Ernest - too bad about your teeth. Not exactly what you need is it? How are the move preparations going?

Makecakes - that's great about the house but how awful that you need to use a stick.

I've been getting BH the last few days - they feel like period pain but can also feel like a tightening across your belly.

I don't know what to suggest about labour and bfeeding really, apart from the cliches about expecting the unexpected! A lot of the "marketing" about bfeeding being easy and painless if the baby is latched on correctly is, IME, complete crap - it can hurt at first and take a while to get used to even if you and baby are doing everything properly. But lots of people take to it like a duck to water. It's worth persevering though. I found my first labour quite frightening - it was just such an unknown for me (no sisters, first of my friends to have children, mother had c-sections under GA and anyway she'd died before I had any children).

DH was very sweet and I'm so pleased he was there, but he wasn't much practical use. I think there's a high expectation on husbands/partners to fulfil a role that many of them just aren't able to fill (that's one reason why I'm having a doula this time - to take the pressure off DH so he can focus on being with me and holding my hand).

Afternoon all. Just been grinning like a loon through The Princess Diaries. Even becoming a mum won't make me grow up!
Makescakes - a,m a first timer too, but have found New Active Birth by Janet Balakas very helpful - goes into a very clear description about what happens to your body in the various stages of labour and makes the whole thing much more understandable. Her water birth book is also very good on a clear explanation of what's going on with your body. If you're concerned about pain it's also worth looking at hypnobirthing/ natal hypnotherapy books and CDs. They claim to massively reduce the stress and pain of labour - I'm not convinced they'll erradicate it completely, but it's worth a go imo!

Re support belts and jeans, my top tip is put your overbump jeans on, then put your support belt on, on top! Not only will it hold your jeans up, the fabric seems to stop my support belt shifting.
I have read you shouldn't wear them all the time as your muscles will get lazy, but mine deffo helps with the underbump stitch I often get from walking.

Having been making hot cross buns this afternoon so let's hope they rise!

Have a nice evening :-)

makecakes sorry to hear that you now having to walk with a stick - sorry, I missed your post earlier cos I think we posted around the same time and then we were on a new page so I didn't see it. Hope the chocolate compensated for heartburn .

Rolf feeling a bit better now thanks. Me and DH both just feeling a bit stressed and got upset (not with each other, just in general). Feeling uncomfortable in jeans was just the final straw.

Greenfairy hope your hotcross buns turned out ok!

Makecakes - so sorry to hear you're having to use a stick now, roll on June eh? Great news about the house though, have you found another to buy?

Now - tips for labour and bfeeding. Labour - I was very much head in the sand about my 1st labour until I was in labour and it came as a bit of a shock, 2nd time was much better, quicker but I still remember thinking oh crap I remember what this feels like now.It's so difficult to advise because labours are so different from person to person. I ended up on all fours with ds1 and that position worked for me but not the most dignified - but what do you expect in labour, with ds2 he came so quick I was on my back and I ended up with no stitches and only had gas and air. I've been pretty lucky so far, who knows this time? Just be open minded about labour and go with the flow!!Also make sure that you have something packed for you to eat afterwards - I was starving!! Oh yes - just remembered, when I was in labour with ds2 I wore an old cheap nightie which wasn't pure cotton, some mix and as dh tried to massage my lower back he kept giving me terrible electric shocks from the static. And if you're planing on taking slippers make sure they're big enough - my feet swelled and I couldn't get mine on!!

Breastfeeding - I bfed both boys for 12/13 months despite suffering mastitis with both of them.I agree with Rolf it can hurt at first and I think that puts lots of Mums off it as they don't realise that it gets so much easier, but those 1st few days, when the milk comes in and your boobs become these strange unrecogniseable things bfeeding can be hard work.I can remember feeding and the toe curling feeling. But it's well worth it imo, I found it so easy, tips - eat enough, drink loads and try not to do too much at the beginning when you and baby are getting used to the whole idea of it. I'm looking forward to the time I'll be spending in hospital to get those initial days over with before coming home to the boys!!

hope a little of this makes sense

Dramaqueen I'm with you on the jeans, I had a pair with stretchy panel and adjustable elastic but I have had to hitch them up so many times I have made holes in them. Went out to friends today so I put some new ones on, they felt quite good this morning, by this evening they've started too - it's driving me mad. I walked upstairs with things in both hands, by the time I got to the top I'd almost lost them!!I'm hoping for some lovely summer weather before this baby arrives and have just ordered a summer dress which should be bliss to wear - no waistband!!

def wear bump support belt over the jeans - no hitching up problems.

yep belt over jeans here as well.

tips dont panic 1 freaked with my first couldnt breath and was so tense i made the pain worse. 2nd i actuall sat on a chair at the side of the bed between contractions and stood up leaning on the bed swaying hips during. as for breast feeding i was usless failed bismally with 1st and struggled though 6weeks and surrendered with 2nd, giving it another go this time though hopefully be more successful.

Makecakes - Great news about the house and you can use the stick to hit anyone who trys to grope the bump! Seriously, I went to a wedding on Saturday and I have never been so mauled in my life...

At the very end, one guy who I'd met earlier came over and asked if he could feel it. What a polite chap I thought (after all the mad older ladies) and said, yes. What I didn't realise was just how drunk he was and he wouldn't 'let go', he just kept stroking it and going on and on about how miraculous that there was a baby inside of me. Which of course it is, but by now (11.30pm) I'm knackered, my feet hurt, everyone else is drunk and dancing and I'm stuck in the corner with someone who's never seen a pregnant woman before...sweet, but I just wasn't in the mood.

DebIA - Thank you for the warning re: static nightie! Due to cheap mat clothes (sorry DP), I have been getting/giving so many electric shocks. Perhaps it's a DIY TENS machine.

Dramaqueen - Bump band over jeans helps me. They still fall down, just a bit more slowly... I also bought some mens braces today (£12 Debenhams), will let you know how I get on with them. For weekday wear (ie: at work) have decided it's dresses all the way from now on. Bit of a change from black trouser suits, but woe betind anyone who questions it tomorrow!!!

This may be TMI, but is anyone wearing maternity knickers? I'm finding my usual pants keep falling down and sitting under the bump and that's not particularly comfortable...

Off for my 28 week midwife check up (at 29 weeks!) and the Rheus Negative injection tomorrow morning. Has anyone else had this jab? I'm not needle phobic at all, but have been warned I will have a sore bum for a while...

Wow - I don't post for ages and then you just can't shut me up!

Hi everyone

Hope you all had nice EAsters and weren't too snowed on. So hard to find stuff to do with DS in this weather.

Make cakes - good news about the house.

Ernest, did I miss some house news with you?

Re teeth, isn't there an old wives' tale about losing one tooth per pergnancy? I've been advised to go every 6 months.

Roll on better weather so I can find more clothes to wear. Will be ordering bras from Bravissimo

Snow? what Snow? we were in the pub garden today having lunch and letting DD go mad on their climbing frame and slide and all my nephews were outside yesterday playing cricket.

just to share - my boys, especially ds2, have been really wonderful today. They are currently all obsessed with star wars. They have been so great today

My top tips for birth - don't watch clock thinking it's been going on x hours, just think of each contraction as 1 closer to meeting your baby. (Obv. you need to time contractions for deciding eg when to go to hospital, but don't fixate on it) Try to stay in the moment and just breath through each one, take each one as it comes. Stay positive - you can and will do it Keep calm!

I guess I was very lucky with bf, it didn't hurt as such, and in 3 babies, only got mastitis once, when ds3 had a bad cold and couldn't feed. It was also a bit of a feeling of unbelievable release when you're breasts are so full to bursting with milk and lo drains it - ahhhh, like when you're dying for a wee and have to hold on for ages and it's grows to a real tummy ahce, then you get to go, ah the relief, but x 1000! As for technique? Well, I was told, remember it's called breast feeding not nipple feeding. Get as much in lo mouth as possible. Maybe stroke cheek to get lo to open up, and as soon as they do, shove your breast as much as possible in quickly. They shouldn't be chomping on your nipple - ouch, that will hurt! but sucking on the wider area. Don't assume it will hurt, tho clearly for some it does. It never hurt for me, and I can't be a total freak. Can I?

Sophie - lucky you! You're in Dorset, aren't you? SW London had endless snow flurries and DS could only go outside and marvel at them once a day!

U-cake, no. You didn't miss any house news from me No news. not a sausage

Make cakes. am very , but of course, delighted at same time for you. Believe me, I can appreciate how relieved and pleased you must be. Just hope I will be able to share soon. Don't relish moving to Munich with house unsold. Will really complicate the emigration, tax, etc etc situation.

Sorry, Ernest. I'm keeping everything crossed for you. When do you move?

will be in Munich within 5 weeks !!!!!!!!

morning all. Off to doctors soon to see my bag of snakes. With ds3 in tow.

Deb quick Q - we still have our winter tyres on - had appt to have them changed last week, by some miracle, postponed the appt to this Wed. Now we'de had loads more snow, what with it being spring and everything. Anyways, driving Friday to München via Austria - do you know if roads near border likely to be clear or snowy? WOndering if need to postpone appt again?

Ernest - I may be too late but I would say , looking at the forecast it's due to warm up at the weekend but you can't be too sure, I would change the appointment again to be safe.

Good luck this morning

Hope all ok at the docs this morning ernest.

Thanks all for the suggestions and empathy re: jeans. I've tried the bump band over my jeans without success and so far haven't even purchased a support belt. Haven't felt the need for one yet and had also read to be careful not to rely on them too much (unless of course you really need to wear one).

A few people have recommended dotty p jeans for me so I might go and trying some over the bump ones from there (on the basis that they are probably not too expensive). (Unless anyone already has some and thinks they are just as bad?)

Have been ok for work trousers - my jojomamanbebe ones stay up just fine and they wash and dry really well so I pretty much wear them every day to work now. I'd love to wear a nice skirt or dress but sadly dont have the legs for it; dont mind with boots but my boots are now far too much effort. On the subject of too much effort, have decided its pedicures all the way from here on in .

Well better crack on with some work - start my NCT ante-natal classes tonight so will let you all know how I get on! Have a good day everyone.

Morning all-

and thanks for all the advice. Keep it coming, I say. Am trying to extract my head from the sand- it's proving hard to get anything done and I don't like getting sand in my ears...

Have had to interrupt our holiday for DH to do a hearing today so will be watching stuff I recorded on SKy plus and trying not to think about the surveys that are being done tomorrow. Had I known I could have seen mw today and not next Tuesday.

It's dawned bright and clear, though there is more slush on the way, which means that not wearing socks and winter shoes is still a few weeks off. Grr. I want it to be warm, and summery and May/June!!!

Hope all goes well today Ernest.

HAve been wearing maternity pants for quite a while PP- when I bought maternity bras at about 5 weeks (bloody huge sore boobs very early on[ouch emoticon])I also got maternity pants because pre-pregnancy I only had matching underwear and couldn't bear to split it up [super sad woman emoticon] (I am a 'well built' person so instead of being obsessed with clothes and fashion, I became obsessed with expensive underwear and pedicures!!!) They are deeply unappealing, but I am used to them and looking forward to wearing my pretty stuff in the summer

Just seen a bit on the breakfast news about a man- I use the term loosely as he looked about 12- who slept through the birth of his first child whilst his girlfriend gave birth next door....WTF??

I missed the 'slept through birth' story on the news this morning, but the headline did make me go

DQ - Dotty P jeans are just as bad. My overbump ones from there are rubbish - an elasticated top but no pull tie, so they just fall down in five mins, hence wearing the support belt over the top. I had to relegate my last underbump pair to the 'no longer fits' bag this morning as they're still digging into LO and making her wriggle even completely unzipepd

As for whether support belts are good/ bad/ helpful, I've only had mine a few days. It helps with the stitch when walking, but I had a stitch/ligament twinge really badly this morning while walking to the train station and had to catch the bus the rest of the way there, so I don't think they eradicate these things completely (I was marching v fast - late as usual, so that probably didn't help!)

PP Got my 28 wk MW appt today (also at 29 wks!) and am going to do some serious tackling over booking a homebirth.
Have excused DH as I think I'll be able to be more assertive without him squirming, plus it's bloods today and he's needle phobic, bless him

Goodness, you lot have been chatty.

Makecakes - brilliant news about the house - thank goodness our quiet congratulations last week didn't spook anything.

Can't remember who asked about BF, but did it for 5-6 months. Never felt it was the easiest, most natural thing in the world, but lots of pillows and lasinoh gel did wonders. Also, reattaching the babe if the latch was wrong - immediately. BTW lasinoh gel/cream is also great for cracked heels (assuming you can still reach them)!

BTW what's the guideline on contractions - having read one of the other discussions on MN about having a second child, in theory everything happens a lot quicker. Therefore, when should one be speeding to hospital?

Had a crappy night - have started getting hip pain when I sleep again which is a real pain in the bum, litterally. Luckily DH is well versed to this from DS1 when I spent much of the night with my bottom in the air and his hand on the bottom of my back.