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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

Lm - How lovely to see you, how are you? Did you get away on holiday?

Hi girls,

Am a bit worried and could do with some advice.

DS was small and sickly at birth (5lbs at 41 weeks, placenta abrupted etc) so I am a bit edgy about size of bump. Midwife measured me at 23 weeks and said I was 22cm. I have been sure things weren't growing quickly so now I am now nearly 26 weeks I measured myself last night (MW had shown me how to do it)and I have only grown 1cm in 3 weeks. The average growth is 1cm per week

I have another MW appointment in a week's time (27 weeks) and a growth scan is already booked for me at 30 weeks.

I was wondering if I should ring midwives and tell them I am not growing very fast or whether this is completely pointless as all they could do would be to book a growth scan at 30 weeks anyway. Consultant said if there is a a problem with my placenta this time again, there is really nothing they can do (i.e. premature delivery if it looks like baby would stand better chance out of womb than in it) until 30 weeks minimum and then obviously, even then, it's a really hard decision to make

My husband has been reading up on Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and declared this morning that I need to rest more and that I never stop rushing about. But then don't we all? I only "work" three days a week but looking after 2 year old DS the rest of the time is not very conducive to long afternoon naps!

And I've just had Mum on the phone saying my plan to work up to 38 weeks is utterly ridiculous and I need to go on maternity leave earlier.

Does anyone think they're just fretting or whether they have a point?

Good news is Bean is definitely very wriggly so I know he's still there, he just doesn't seem to be growing very fast

Hi bb, sorry that you're a bit worried.. Cant really give any advice due to lack of experience... but if it was me, I'd give the mw a call just to see what they say. They might reassure you after all.

I'm finishing up a month before my EDD - everyone I've been around who's been pregnant has been knackered for the last month so I'm determined to put my feet up for a bit before the LO arrives.

If you are being far too busy, perhaps you and DH can look at all that you currently do and work out a plan about how you can take it a bit easier. Is your mum in Fife too - could she help out a bit?

Anyway, sorry, not much useful advice but just thought I'd respond in case no-one else was about for a bit.

Littlemy - what size of motherease wraps did you start with? I was advised to go with the medium wraps for the stage 1 totsbots, but I've seen small wraps on another website and wondered if I should get one or two of those just in case?

I was really excited when my totsbots arrived. So teeny and cute (obviously I'll not be thinking that come the winter and the washing is piling up ). We got the bamboozle ones and they're v soft.

Sorry you're worried, Basilbrush. Given your history, do you regularly see your consultant? Even if there is nothing they can do other than monitor you, sometimes even that can be very reassuring.

Dylansmum - may I have that recipe please? Shall I CAT you or do you want to post it on here? Thanks

BB _ I would phone the MW - just to get some reassurance, and I would also try to stop work at 36 weeks at least if I were you. I stopped at 36 weeks with both boys and was really ready.

Hi bb, I would call if you're worried, a telephone call isn't a waste of anyone's time and might reassure you. Remember it's pretty hard to measure yourself accurately so the bump may have grown more than you think.

You could also check with midwives whether resting more really would make any difference. Dh's and mothers have a good way of making us feel guilty about things that aren't our fault. It's probably their way of trying to do anything they can to help, but doesn't help you to have just one more thing to worry about. I've just skimmed some IUGR sites and none of the maternal risk factors say 'working a few days and looking after a child', they're things like drug and alcohol abuse. Of course rest is good for us but not something that should turn into a guilt stick to beat you up with!

I'm working till 38 weeks too, hopefully. Stopped a month before last time, then ds was 2 weeks late and I felt like a lot of that 6 weeks was wasted time. But my job is a flexible desk-based one, so I'm lucky that's a realistic option for me.

Try not to panic, though I know it's hard. I am sure they will keep a good eye on you this time and pick up on any problems quickly. And a wriggly bean is definitely a good sign!

Hello all

I hope to use reusuable nappies as weather over here is great. But you cant buy them over here at all so will be buying them in bulk from internet which site is best that delivers abroad ie cheapest deal etc. How many nappies, wraps should i get? and should i get washable liners or throwaway ones? (bearing in mind would have to order throwaway liners on internet all the time maybe washable better? how many would i need?) Thanks for help!

Regarding bumps sorry for all those that get the oh my gosh you are huge comments I get the opposite!! which also annoys me! I get oh how far on are you? I say 6 months and the typical reply is gosh youre not very big are you?!!!
Asked the dr in the end cause it was worrying me but baby is measuring exactly right weeks she just said somepeople carry diferently!

apart from that pregnancy going fine except for huge ankles and knees (which are also ok according to dr) but means im not looking forward to hot weather which has already started here as my legs look awful at mo in a skirt!!

Partners mum is at home now and has good and bad days, according to drs and family she is looking forward to being a grandma and seems to be hanging on til then. Lets hope she makes it.
Saw baby on scan yesterday have posted pics on profile as you can see tongue out just as cheeky as her dad!!

Gosh long post off to soak feet in foot spa and eat a choc donut!!!

rolf i'm so sorry i hadn't checked on here today - if you still want recipe let me know. you could send me an email to susieq_cdn at yahoo dot com and i'll forward it to you. do you want the risotto torte or the nut roast?

rolf it has pretty basic ingredients so hopefully you can still make it:

Broccoli Risotto Torte
Serves 6
225g/8oz broccoli, cut into very small florets
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large yellow pepper, sliced
30ml/2tbsp olive oil
50g/2oz/4tbsp butter
225g/8oz risotto rice
120ml/4 fl oz dry white wine
1 litre/1 3/4 pints stock
salt and ground black pepper
115g/4oz Pecorino or Parmesan cheese, coarsely grated
4 eggs, separated
oil for greasing
sliced tomato and chopped parsley to garnish

1. Blanch the broccoli for 3 minutes then drain and reserve.
2. In a large saucepan, gently fry the onion, garlic and pepper in the oil and butter for 5 minutes until they are soft.
3. Stir in the rice, cook for a minute then pour in the wine. Cook, stirring the mixture until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Pour in the stock, season well, bring to the boil then lower to a simmer. Cook for 20 mins, stirring occasionally.
5. Meanwhile, grease a 25cm/10in round deep cake tin and line the base with a disc of greaseproof paper. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.
6. Stir the cheese into the rice, allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes, then beat in the egg yolks.
7. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks and carefully fold into the rice. Turn into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour until risen, golden brown and slightly wobbly in the centre.
8. Allow the torte to cool in the tin, then chill if serving cold. Run a knife round the edge and shake out onto a serving plate. If liked, garnish with sliced tomato and chopped parsley.

I've made this a few times and had it hot and cold, i prefer hot but cold is nice too. it is extremely more-ish even though it's quite filling. It's a bit of effort but I bet it impresses any veggie!! hope you can still make it and it turns out nice.

Hi everyone

I haven't posted for three days and there is such a lot to read!

I have a few reusable nappies (Fluffybunz) which are great for short periods of time, but on DS, leak even with several layers of liners at night. But I still use them quite frequently if DS does a poo an hour or so before bathtime and I don't want to waste another disposable.

DH sent me some flowers randomly on Thursday - and then realised it's MOthers' Day tomorrow and has to spoil me again. (It's a different date in the USA so he's not used to thinking of it in March.) So I get to be very pampered.

Paro, glad DP's mum is at home, and I hope the next few months aren't too hard for you all.

BB< I would definitely call the MW. They may be able to reassure you.

I have a set of Cotton Bottoms nappies I plan on using (will be SAHM) though DH and I have already agreed that if away/travelling, will use disposables for convenience.

CAn't offer any advice BB other than to say if in any doubt, call your mw. Mine told me I should never think a call a waste of time.

Busy watching Pierce Brosnan- a la American Civil War- take a bullet out of his own arm. Nice!

Happy Dydd Gwyl Ddewi (St David's Day) one and all.
Are we all looking forward to Mother's Day tomorrow?

In Austria Mother's Day is celebrated in May so that's my Mother's Day, tomorrow we're going to see some English friends so that will be nice, been baking biscuits and a cheesecake to take so bump was aching from standing for so long - or was it from eating too many biscuits straight from the oven?

Speak to your midwife BB am sure she won't mind you calling and can put your mind at rest.

I cannot stop eating, am starting to resemble a back to front S, my bum is growing faster than my bump! DS is thankfully better as i've spent all week in the house with a sick toddler and am feeling very hormonal at the mo, a man beeped at me when I was driving and I burst into tears and cried all the way home !

Am hopefully working till 35/6wks so can have more time off after the birth, anyone received their MATB1 forms yet??

Oh yeah, and we've pretty much decided on the name Isobel Megan for our DD

Help i feel so FAT.x it is quite amusing when i cant get up if i am on the floor and been doing decorating today... got stuck up a ladder! Anyone else suffering from uber fatty mummy syndrome? I seriously think im going to stop breathing if i get any fatter!

Hey Charlotte, I think i am just growing wider now, feeling very fat! And I have acquired a taste for sweet things, I just want to have a biscuit or chocolate or something in the evenings, it is just laziness and boredom and thinking of it as a 'treat'. But I am resisting the temptation to buy biscuits etc in Tesco - it is dangerous to have it in the house. I would just eat it all the time even when I didn't really want it! We have a shop about five mins walk away so if I really want some I can get some, and a bit of exercise! I think that is the best way as I don't want to put on loads of unneccesary weight that i can't shift afterwards. (2st 5lbs gained already but I am pretty happy with that)

Paro, not sure which websites are best for delivering overseas, but try www.thenappylady.co.uk/ and www.cuddlebabes.co.uk/. I have to say I have a few trial packs of shaped nappies but the terries seem to me to be the best option, at least for small babies. They fit really snug cos they are not pre-shaped and they dry loads quicker! Not to mention they are about a quarter of the price. They are easy to use with nappy nippas. Get good quality wraps though, Motherease seem to get the best write-ups.

Paro - the nappy lady website lets you fill in a questionnaire then gives tailored advice to suit your needs. Its very useful and no obligation to buy. I found the clean green nappy website good for discounts on a wide range of real nappies but no idea about overseas delivery.

bb - how you feeling now?

Am feeling a bit less stressed. Lots of lovely folk have pointed out that the placental abruption thing is very unlikely to happen again and that most second babies are bigger than first ones. Also have been thinking that no one on either side of my family has ever had a baby over 7lbs as far as we can gather so I'm never going to produce a whopper. Hopefully, this one's placenta will be healthier and it'll be a massive 6lbs or something (cor...)

i do have quite broad hips so I think the baby is well tucked in and judging by my Permenent Rennie Habit, it is certainly squashing my stomach to buggery

I am going to phone MW tomorrow but I think she'll just tell me to wait till my scheduled appt as long as I can feel movement etc

Re work, I will just wait and see how I feel nearer the time. Trouble is I'm a teacher and I have exam classes relying on me. If I could carry on till 38 weeks they will be going on study leave which would be ideal. School is not providing suppy until the new academic year in Sept so the longer I take off before the summer hols, the more my overworked colleagues will have to do extra classes to cover me which is v. unfair

Happy Mother's Day to all xx

Hello sorry didn't check MN for a while after posting!

debinaustria - we did get away, went to Gran Canaria for a week and had some really nice weather. It definitely helped, since we've been back it's been very up and down, some days I feel fine and some I just want to cry all day, but not too bad. Back at work, yuk!

bitofadramaqueen - we started with small Motherease wraps and then went onto medium. DS is only just now going into large ones, but he's small for his age (he'll be two in April). Same with nappies, you can start with the size two fluffles and use them all the way through, but they're quite bulky so I found it better to use the size 1 to start off with. Although Bamboozles are a lot less bulky than Fluffles.

parofleur - we bought 18 nappies for size 1, and that meant doing a wash about every two days at the beginning, and then about every three days later on when he didn't poo as much. Now we have 15 size twos and we wash about every three days. really useful also is a waterproof nylon bag for putting wet/dirty nappies in when you're out and about, and also for nursery/childminder later on. And we used the Perfectly Happy People disposable liners, but my friend uses the fleece washable ones and thinks they're brilliant. You can actually wash the disposable ones, but only a few times before they disintegrate.

And for websites, we used www.thenappylady.co.uk, and www.totsbots.com, and www.plushpants.co.uk - not sure about delivering abroad though. The Nappy Lady were brilliant.

hope this helps!

[waves at everyone]

LM x

Littlemy, glad to hear the holiday helped and being back at work however dull ( unless you have an exciting job!) must help in getting back to normality.

glad you a bit less stressed bb. If you are going to try and work on till 38 weeks I would definitely see what else can 'give' so you can get as much rest as you can. I know that will be easier said than done when you've already got one at home!

LM - thanks for that; I thought the motherease medium wraps seemed massive compared to the stage 1 bamboozles that I've bought so I think I will get a couple of small wraps in case I need them. Oh, and glad you had a nice holiday!

Paro - I think I'm going to look into eco-friendly disposable liners but my friend used washable ones and very happy with those. Again, the nappylady questionnaire is really good for recommending stuff like that too.

Hope everyone else well. DH bought me a mother's card today from the bump and it made me cry .

We switched to cloth when ds was 15 months, and have used them from pretty near the start with dd (now 18 months). I reckon i'm really going to start saving money the third time round! I use totsbots and motherease wraps. I have 14 size 2 tots but only 6 size ones and lots of terries and 2 fluffles that I LOVE! I wonder how having 2 in nappies will be?! I figure in that I'm washing dd's anyways, then any cloth that I use for the baby in the early stages will be a bonus.

I'm almost out of my coats too. It's been ridiculously wet here in central Scotland and I'm not sure how I'll cope doing the school run in an open rain coat! Dont' think dh's is much wider, will have to pray for better weather. (I see you're in Scotland too bitofadrmamequeen, where? I'm guessing aberdeenhiker is too?! I was in Aberdeen from 1993-2004, loved it!)

I'm in Edinburgh tassis - so over the weather! what about you?