Due July 08 - Third trimester - we're on the coundtdown YIPPEE!!!!

[minipinkscottish]

Couldn't fix the title so thought I'd start again - hope this is okay now!!!

Yes - and no! I mean, if this were the countdown to a big holiday that I'd been looking forward to it would seem like a lifetime away.

But, as I'm also scared sh*tless at the prospect of what to do with a new baby 8 weeks seems like a really short time too! It doesn't feel like that long ago that I was thinking "ooooh, I'm a whole 15 weeks pregnant!" so I reckon these last weeks are going to fly!!
xx

I have 9 weeks to go and it feels like forever....I can't wait for it to happen so I can meet this little person

I've got 9 weeks to go too, and it doesn't seem nearly long enough! Got so much to do before the baby arrives!
Also, loving being pregnant and my bump so don't want it to go yet

Oh, and Hi to shazaboogle - welcome!
Sorry you're not having a good time of it at the moment, just think not long to go & it'll be so worth it in the end!

Thanks for the tip about the Baby Whisperer, I'll give it a try! I have to say that I have found 'The Contented Baby's First Year' by Gina Ford quite good which is more of a 'how-to' book about swaddling, bathing, massage etc. I've found it quite useful as a very simple overview of what to expect each month and how to do basic things. Its not very prescriptive either and doesn't have as many controversial opinions (from what I gather anyway).

Oooh, and welcome Shazaboogle! Sorry to hear you're having trouble with high blood pressure - I am too, and it's driving me mad.

at horrible rude people. I hope they all get pregnant! I find what works is to breathe really shallow and hold the bottom of my bump on the train..someone is gonna move.

Saying that, this doesn't happen in Texas. I never open doors, and have never had to wait for a seat. Same in France and Germany actually. Viva la chivalry!

Well the flat is shiny clean all but the office, which is er a shambles. We had one estate agent come just there and another one due at 2pm. I'm hearing an average of 5-6 weeks to sell so it's gonna be cutting it close. I don't think we'll be having too much bother selling the flat realistically. swollen fingers painfully crossed.

Lovely bump and baby pictures ladies!! I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow so maybe will muster the courage to post photies then. Looking like poop today from the weekend's cleaning efforts.

On the baby book i find i can buy a whole lot and only use a hand full of tips from them. I had Gina Fords one for DD1 and could never master strict routine. So i went it alone and did my own thing. It is no harm to read these books and pick up the tips for later on when baby turns to toddler. All info is a must when you are having your first baby and it still is for me and i am on my third..

Going to have a shower as DD's are in bed so will get ready for scan now! (DD have so taken over) Will be back on here with the news as soon as i can, to let you all know the outcome. I am all excited and cant wait, like a child in a sweet shop

Boy Girl what will it be

Welcome Shazaboogle, and sorry pregnancy is troublesome. Near the end now so hang in there.

I'm another first timer who thinks the baby whisperer methods sound fab- I found her second book (BW solves your problems) went into more detail about the early days and was more useful.
Amazed that some of you are managing to have sex still- I'm actually quite horny and am having quite a few orgasms in my dreams which has never happened before but I'm too uncomfortable/lazy to share with DH at the moment. I suppose I really should make the effort as it won't get any easier after the birth.
No leakage yet but have a hairy tummy!
Have booked a bump photography session at FYEO boudouir photography in high wycombe- has anyone else done this- I had a pre wedding package done there and they managed to make me look pretty and sexy(which is no mean feat!) and I'm hoping they can do the same for the pregant me.

Gilly you look lovely. Not huge at all. I think I?m about the same size, but not looking half as relaxed and beautiful. What lovely wedding photos.

Jodie that clip is great.

How about this. For you first timers ? you?ve got it all to come.

Tjuice ? every week is a marvel. SK, I am astounded! It?s not just being pg, it?s your 2 LO?s. It?s been about 3 weeks for us!

As for the pigment. I get it too and am just staying out of the sun. It?s a bore with this lovely weather, but sun protection doesn?t seem to stop it.

Hi there shazboogle. Welcome. Hope all your checks are not getting you down.

Pigley ? scan is lovely.

Libra ? still ages to go, but nowhere near long enough to get ready! I agree. Fed up , yet panicing is how I would put it!

Very of lily2theb for loving pregnancy. I HATE it!

No actual leakage yet, only if squeezed! Another hairy tum here.

Headache and tears here yesterday. Determined to be better today.

hi ladies, and a big hello to shazaboogle. Sorry to hear about your bp. Mine went up towards the end of my 1st pregnancy and I ended up being induced, hope everything remains stable for you.

Libra and Peanut, I feel very similar. I'm a bit down about having so long to wait - especially as the spd has really gone up to another painful level - but at the same time I don't really want this baby to come too soon. I haven't packed the boxes for the home birth, or an emergency hospital bag, and ds2 has his birthday party when I am 37 weeks so I really don't want the baby to come before then.

i agree with minnie about books. I have read a few but after a while felt confident enough to do my own thing, just using techniques from here and there.

From the Baby Whisperer book I liked the fact that you work out what 'routine' suits your baby rather than trying to stick them into a more rigid structure. However she really is unhelpful if you have a baby with reflux (like ds2). Also she allocates 'time for you' when the baby sleeps. This doesn't work when the baby gets older, or if you have one who doesn't sleep for very long anyway. In the end you have to get on with doing things when the baby is still awake. Especially when you have more than one! This is where a sling comes in really handy...

After your baby is born, I would really recommend 'What Mothers Do (especially when it feels like nothing)' by Naomi Stadler (or Stadlen). If you're used to a fairly task-orientated or target-orientated work environment then looking after a baby all day can feel like you've achieved nothing when really you have been working very hard. Looking after a baby is so different from having a list of things to do and then ticking them off as you go. It made a big difference to me and my best friend reading this book, as we were finding the life of a mum very disorientating. I wish I'd found it earlier.

Jocesar, I haven't had any sex for a while either. I have been feeling horny on and off but mostly at the wrong time for dp . Plus the spd and the hairy belly don't really help.

As I get more and more housebound I'm looking forward to using one of the vouchers dp got me for my birthday, from a company called 'Return to Glory'. They offer a variety of services in your own home. I am hoping to get a full leg and bikini wax and maybe a pedicure. If I still have some vouchers left after the babe is born I might take advantage of the Pilates instruction or even the wardrobe consultants. I remember being very fat and frumpy when ds1 was little... and I can't remember very much at all from when ds2 was little so I probably looked even worse!

Minnie, hope the scan goes well. I'm feeling excited for you too.

EEC that song is pretty accurate. I especially liked the 'are you even listening to a word I say' bit and 'if your friends all jumped off a cliff would you jump too?'.

I would like to think I say 'please', 'well done' and 'thank you' a few more times during the course of a day though.

EEC - I think I'm loving my pregnancy so much as it's my first and so don't have any LO's to run around after. Also I'm not working, so am pretty much just relaxing every day, I'm very lucky I know!

Am getting a bit stressed though as still not got exchange date for moving and only have 9 weeks left - aaaarrrghhhh!
I'm sure it's going to get more difficult soon!B

Mummypig - That 'What Mothers Do' book sounds fab. Liking the idea of the Baby Whisperer too, might have to go book shopping soon.

B.b.b.b.ut you can't drink!

I can definitely relate to the getting pushed out the way whilst pregnant commuting into London I did it until 36 1/2 weeks with DD1. I foudn the worst were midddle aged men who would look you up and down spot the bump then turn away and pretend they hadn't seen you yes you do literally get shoved out the way too.

I remember DP and I had to go pick up our new car all the way across London so we were on the tube with me huge (as it would happen the day before I went into labour) and I was standing on the ube and announced to DP "it's amazing you can be invisible when this big and pregnant!" DP was mortified.

Anyway I digress. Physio went well she said the whole right hand side of my pelvis was out and my whole pelvis is unstable. She did some exercises to try and align it again but she said it's still not straight so I have to go back in 2 weeks. She was really nice told me to rest as much as I can but as I have 2 LOs she knows thats not possible.

Can't believe how many of you are waiting to move house, I did it at 5 months and that was bad enough, hopefully it will all go speedily for you all.

My advice is read all the baby books you can then throw them all out the baby doesn't read them. I read GF before birth and found it too restrictive, my parenting style is make it up as you go along and do whatever you can for the easiest life.

DD1 said this morning that she wants the baby to come out really soon (she also thinks theres a Bratz doll in my tummy as we have told her the baby will bring her big sisters a present each).

Best be off DDs are tearing each other apart.

SK - my DH is going to shoot me for saying this but have you tried a chiropractor? I know some pregnant women who swear by them.

You are right the baby hasn't read the books but I'm worried that my parenting style might make the baby worse (i.e. too fussy and worried) so I'm hoping it will make me a more relaxed mother.

Just been sat out in the local gardens (couldn't make it to the albeit nearby park!!) reading The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. I've read Gina Ford and think I'll take bits from each. I'm sure it's a challenge to remember anything at all when they're first born but it's interesting to get differing perspectives.
My boobs aren't producing anything at all, they haven't even grown yet, thank God!!
Going to try and get my 22 week scan pic up on my page when DH gets home cos it's really clear, everyone has an opinion of what sex they think the baby is, I'd love to know what you lot think as I consider you the experts!!
Hope everyone is having a good day and that pregnancy illnesses go away, homes get sold, people get to sit down on the tube and our babies are healthy and happy in there for the time being (please don't come out too early, I've still got a mound of stuff to shift on Ebay!!)

Just thought I'd ask, is it normal to laugh out loud whilst in the middle of a Braxton Hicks contraction?!!! Been getting them really strong today and giggle uncontrollably or wail 'way hey'. I'm normally such a level-headed individual, maybe this is just the beginning of me losing my marbles.

Ha ha ha, lol Gilly . I only seem to have them in the middle of the night and they don't seem to tickle me! However, I have been known to jump when the baby kicks me near my right hip! Not sure how it manages it but is really sensitive.

Glad to hear that I am not the only one reading the books on bringing up baby. I am with you Libra...I would like to make sure that I get it right if I can where possible! I didn't even know what swaddling was...thought it was one of two things: what we do when us pregnant women walk OR some sort of biblical thing!

Have been out and bought my breast pads. Didn't realise they were so padded...makes my boobs look fabulous! Top tip for non-pregnant small boob ladies. They could keep a couple in their handbag and if they spot a hot bloke they can nip into the toilets and pop a couple in and hey presto, instant knockers!

Not being a maternal sort of person and never really having had anything to do with/any interest in babies/little people, I have been reading loads of baby books and have found them completely invaluable. I had no idea about any of this stuff. My most shocking discovery was to find that babies only eat, sxxx, cry and sleep for the first few months- i think i was expecting to be teaching him to read and do sums .

I've been reading loads of baby books - everyone keeps telling me off for it, but I like having information. I've picked up loads of ideas that I had no idea about before (like swaddling) which I guess may or may not be useful. It's not like I'm going to have time to read it then anyway.

I'm feeling really left out since my breasts aren't leaking and I'm not having any BH. Or maybe I am and I just haven't noticed, have been really dopey lately!

Good luck all you people moving house!

jocesar - I'm the same, I've never really been the maternalkind, and never been around babies, so don't have a clue what to do with one!

Have you read anything good that you can recommend?

lol jocesar I remember I had high hopes of teaching ds1 to read before he was one . My dad taught me to read very early on so I knew it was possible, and I had digested the whole of Glenn Doman's 'Teach your Baby to Read' book and thought it would be straightforward. But in the end (especially after a rocky start to his little life) I realised I would be satisfied if he was fairly healthy and happy for most of his life.

Watch out for competitive mums at post-natal classes, or mother and baby groups, though. They'll want to know which 'milestones' your baby has passed so they can show off about their little darlings being a couple of days or weeks ahead of yours. And stacks of baby classes that are marketed as essential for your baby's development. You have been warned!

hello all

Libra for rude folk
you look pretty btw and your wedding dress is lovely.why would your dh not recommend chiropractor??

Minnie - i think its a boy! good luck and let us know!

Heffa - no bh's or leaking boobs for me either we could form a clique!

re 'oats' dp is getting lots - he loves a pregnant form so makes the most of me!

very tired today as dp went to work at 5am to do a caesarean

ds3 school were going on a trip to his work so the puppies made a fantastic treat for them all to see at a couple of hours old

worrying a wee bit about post birth baby /toddler/four others -rang nursery to see about a couple more sessions for my very forward very active 2 year old is that awful?

ordered my p and teds today!! hooray and dp is going to fish out my huge coach built for me to freshen up-what fun!

mummypig is right about the competitive mummy thing! Beware the mother whose child can smile at 4 weeks, sleep through at 6 weeks, communicate fully in sign language at 6 months, passes an A level in maths at 9 months....just smile sweetly and remember she is more paranoid and neurotic than you!