Due October 2008 - getting bigger by the day!

[accessorizequeen]

Can't sleep won't sleep's List copied here for usefulness

29th Sept perkypopsy first baby smile Surprise
29th Sept WombFor1More 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
30th Sept Aubergenie first baby smile Surprise
30th Sept sambrads 1 ds 28th May
30th Sept buttercupbabe 1 ds
1st CantSleepWontSleep 1 dd Boy
1st accessorizequeen 2 ds's Twins shock - one of each
1st loulou33 1 ds Surprise (or home testing kit!)
2nd MrsBish 1 dc
2nd snowymum first baby smile Boy
2nd 1sttimer80 first baby smile Surprise. Hydronephrosis discovered. Extra scan at 28 weeks planned.
2nd Jane7 first baby smile
3rd SydneyB 1 dd
4th minervaitalica first baby smile Surprise (unintentionally!)
4th hedgepig 1 ds Surprise
4th pistachio 1 dc
4th annwoo 2 dc Surprise
5th myjobismum 1 ds Surprise
5th rosebury 3 ds's 2 dd's Boy
6th Bethoo 1 ds Girl
6th fairydust2 1 dd
6th iuseantiageingstuff 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
6th ronshar 2 dd's Surprise (with dangly bits wink)
7th belgo 2 dd's
8th kookiegoddess first baby smile
8th Alexa808 first baby smile
8th Ksal first baby smile Surprise
8th f1nut 3 dc
10th Lozza70 first baby smile Surprise
10th emkay 1 dd
10th pepperrabbit 2 ds's 6th June
11th Sprogstersmum 1 dd
12th chicken78 1 dd
12th star6 first baby
12th milfakamonkeymonkeymoomoo 1 dd
12th immo first baby smile
13th Lesley21
14th tedmundo 1 ds 29th May
14th twinklytoes 2 dd's Boy
14th BubbaAndBump 1 dd
15th mum2jakeyroo 2 ds's 28th May
15th fanvampbooks 1 dd
15th toomuchtimeonline first baby smile
16th moodywren 1 dd 2 ds's Boy
16th bigmouthstrikesagain 1 ds 1 dd 9th June
19th MrsTittleMouse 1 dd
19th rach010 1 ds 3rd June
20th 07mumstheword 1 dc 10th June
20th AandMsmum 2 dd's 3rd June
20th KnickersOnMaHead 1 dd
20th jenwa 1 dd 5th June
20th firsttimer08 first baby smile 16th June
21st hansnava 1 dd
21st rowanmac 1 ds Surprise
21st caramelbunny 1 dd
21st jess1996 first baby smile
22nd SmudgeyDoodle 1 ds 16th June
22nd ellensmelons 1 dd
23rd Sallypuss first baby smile 17th June
23rd Emmsy1 3 ds's 1 dd 9th June
24th sparklesandnowinefor9months 3 ds's 1 dd 13th June
25th Flum 2 dd's
26th gem1981 1 ds
26th oliviaelanasmum/4andnotout 3 dd's 16th June
26th born2twinkle 1 ds
26th mariekg 3 dc 4th June
28th UmSami 1 ds
29th Ekka 1 dd 23rd June
29th BabyDubsEverywhere 1 ds
30th Jambers99 1 ds 10th June
30th ChilledBunny ?? 12th June
Nov coolkat 1 dd

Snowymum. I have been at the delivery of at least 30 babies. Two of my own. Everyone looks different, everyone has different size legs. Noone is looking at your body as a personal thing, you simply become a birthing mother. That may sound a bit cold but ultimately they are only interesed in whether you are stretching ok and if the baby is ok. I felt almost an inconvience with my first DD. The hospital staff made me feel a bit like I wasnt doing it well enough as it took ages! My home birth was perfect.

To be honest if you are having a homebirth you may well end up on your knees. So all you have to worry about is your ass sticking up in the air.(or is that just me?)
You dont have to be naked. I wore a very long Tshirt for DD1 & DD2.
Dh was firmly away from the business end. I did want to have sex again in this life time!!

Dont worry too much it will all work itself out in the end. Just do what makes you comfortable.

Firsttimer08 - I found that what the government gave in child benefit and tax credits if you get them went a long way to paying for everything (think we may have even made money out of DS1 in the first year!) Now we live in Peru we don't get that money so have to pay for everything ourselves makes the NHS seem like a huge blessing too!!

bethoo so agree about pregnancy mags. The first one you buy you learn loads and then every other one just doesn't seem as good value!!

In answer to the couple of ladies who asked (sorry, can't see your names as on wrong page at mo!) we live in Lima, the capital of Peru in a place called Surco. Non-Western countries never seem to be as stable as Western ones in terms of government and stuff, but day to day we don't see many problems here - just lots of poverty (we work in the shanty towns). In regards to terrorism, it is mainly isolated now in the jungle areas, so you just have to ask around before you go to certain places to get the latest info (which will probably be unreliable anyway!)

Back to scans - we were convinced that this time we were going to have a girl - had chosen a name and everything, and then the scanner clearly showed us dangly bits several times, so had to accept the facts!! Still coming round to the idea, but looking forward to DS1 having a play mate in a year or two!! (My husband's comment was 'well, at least two boys just hit each other and that's it- girls get catty' - hmmmm...great!)

hullo all, welcome newbies apologies have no time to scan down for everything!

I've had 6 scans thus far with 3 pg's star and have NEVER been able to see what I'm meant to be seeing/other people can see!

Re: expenses - I was thinking about using cloth wipes on the twins this time, I didn't get into them until 5 months with ds2 but thought it wld save huge amount of money, just stick them in with towels if you're not using cloth nappies. Disposable wipes are extortionate and you use hundreds of them with newborns! AQ's money saving tip Cannot wait until NCT sale next week when I shall be snatching up piles of bargains

btw, if using sposies, tesco's are really good and much cheaper than huggies/pampers! I used them all the time with ds1, excellent And don't bother even buying nappy cream as you get free samples (which will go a long way!) in bounty pack at the hospital etc. Although I do like my earth friendly baby calendula cream for ds2.

Has anywhere found any good cheap maternity clothes? I went to H&M recently and was shocked at how frumpy the clothes were (not sure about the amount of horizontal stripes dresses/tops either!!) I was enormous at the end of my pregnancy with DS1 and would have felt far too self concious to sport lime green ruffly affairs! also anyone found any bump minimising tops? Am fed up already at the 'gosh your soo big already' comments

Am typing this wearing a stretchy beach type tunic over my vest.

any suggestions?

opps meant anyone...

Afternoon all,
Just got back from our scan, everything fine, we didn't find out the sex but couldn't see any clues - baby looked so cute!!! Rubbing his/her chin with their hand in a Hmm, what's going on here - kind of way
snowy, I've had 2 babies and dreaded the thought of people staring at my bits but yu really don't care by the end. When I was induced with DS2 the midwife very sweetly pointed out that I really really would have to remove my knickers soon, or she would have to do it for me......
Wheresthe aupair - welcome! I am living in people's cast offs at the mo, but favouring the very cheap stretchy vest tops I got in Peacocks in a huge size under a more conventional maternity top, that's working well at the mo. Also you have to accept that you are whatever size you are when you're PG. I spent 2 PGs with people going -ooh look how huge etc, there's nothing you can do about the bump really! Tho I did get cross on yesterday on the tube when people kept poking handbags at it and elbows etc

CSWS lovely choice of name by the way. Stuff in laws, they had their choice when they had your DH! Why cant people be nicer, its your child and your choice.

We told parents the sex last night and I got the impression in laws were dissapointed although they have 2 boys and our DD so another girl would be fab. Think that their family consisits of boys and maybe they were sure it was another boy. Who knows, anyway we will check that it is a girl with MW as she has full amnio results and its included in that!

WheresTheAuPair - New look have some cheap maternity stuff although did have to get my mum to stich my top back together as hem came down and thought it would only do it again if I swapped it. Cheap £5 top and got another for £3 in the sale!

Thanks jenwa- I didn't know New Look did maternity...can feel a shopping trip coming on! Sadly my budget is more New Look then Isabella Oliver and the like!

nautical is on ladies for fashion so i am wearing alot of normal tops with stripes as they give and because they are long it means when my bump growns they will be shorter but still cover bump!
today bumped into a lady and started chatting, started off talking about our dogs! she is due in Aug/Sept and i mentioned i only had 17 weeks to go and she did not even think i was preggers! even though i can clearly see a bump when i look down! i thnk i still look like i ate all the pies!

gave ds beans on toast for tea and just heard a thump behind me to find plate with toast and beans on the floor! thank god for my dog!!

Had scan on Wed and all well, was hoping for a cheeky peek between legs to guess, but the screen was turned away from me so definitely a surprise baby. Got really clear photos. Have also started to feel definite kicks, quite low down but make me jump. I'm in Manchester, not many northerners out there! Glad scans are going well for everyone.

Am worried that I'd look like Mr Bump in stripes!!!

Question is... does wearing fitted tops look more flattering when pregnant or is it better to lurk in baggier numbers?

baggier are cooler and more comfy but fitted makes it clear there is a baby inside and you are not just a pie addict
I have a similar problem to beth boo I tend not to show too much I am reasonably tall and have ridiculous sized boobs which my bump didn't catch up with with my 1st pg, so I don't look very pregnant even at 23 weeks.

good news, caramel, and I know exactly what you mean about jumping when they kick!

I think tighter fitting definitely more flattering, I get more comments when I wear a wrap top than anything else and feel properly pg (from JoJoMamanBebe but sorry not as cheap as new look, still I have worn it in 2 pregnancies). I do have some good things from h&m but it's hit & miss really.

hedgepig sounds like every mans dream (tall with big boobs!!!)

WheresTheAuPair think tighter fitting as baggier can make you look frumpy, think anything that you may have worn pre pregnancy style is best option. I enjoy shopping when pregnant as I know I am limited to only afew rails!

caramelbunny glad all went well with scan.

I had some fab stuff from H&M last time round and have managed to recycle some of the not-too badly stretched stuff for this PG. I was just dismayed last week when I went there in the hope of finding some nice tops-they had purple velour ruffly ensembles- I just couldn't picture who they would look good on as they were so short and shapeless!
Never tried a wrap top- may have a scout about online later...

Those h&m trousers with roll down waist are soo comfy btw although I suspect a bit hot in heat of summer (if we get one). I have no tops to speak of as last 2 pgs I was big in the colder months. The wrap one is a godsend although as I'm quite well-endowed without a vest I think the cleavage is fairly challenging . Ebay's probably full of them. I have them in pale pink and peacock blue, the blue is gorgeous. They do short sleeved ones as well now.

I worked full time last pregnancy so never had much so ended up buying more this time. Am due same month so am lucky with what I already had but then like you say it depends on wether we get a summer

Fitted is better for me, my norks are HUUUUUGE this time so I look very fat with a baggy top. Fitted one, especially low cut gives me a fabulous cleavage and I look pregnant

Just going to post a quick stats update, as we have gained lots of extra info recently.

29th Sept perkypopsy first baby Surprise North Herts
29th Sept WombFor1More 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
30th Sept Aubergenie first baby Surprise
30th Sept sambrads 1 ds Girl
30th Sept buttercupbabe 1 ds
1st CantSleepWontSleep 1 dd Boy North Herts
1st accessorizequeen 2 ds's Twins - one of each
1st loulou33 1 ds Surprise (or home testing kit!) Southern Scotland
2nd MrsBish 1 dc
2nd snowymum first baby Boy Near Oxford
2nd 1sttimer80 first baby Surprise. Hydronephrosis discovered. Extra scan at 28 weeks planned. Edgware (Royal Free, Hampstead)
2nd Jane7 first baby
2nd FranMum2B first baby Surprise Kingston
3rd SydneyB 1 dd
4th minervaitalica first baby Surprise (unintentionally!)
4th hedgepig 1 ds Surprise
4th pistachio 1 dc Secret
4th annwoo 2 dc Surprise
5th myjobismum 1 ds Surprise Poole, Dorset
5th rosebury 3 ds's 2 dd's Boy Bristol
6th Bethoo 1 ds Girl Salisbury
6th fairydust2 1 dd
6th iuseantiageingstuff 2 ds's 1 dd Boy
6th ronshar 2 dd's Surprise (with dangly bits ) West Sussex
7th belgo 2 dd's
8th kookiegoddess first baby
8th Alexa808 first baby
8th Ksal first baby Surprise Hitchin
8th f1nut 3 dc
10th Lozza70 first baby Surprise NE London
10th emkay 1 dd 5th June
10th pepperrabbit 2 ds's Surprise
11th Sprogstersmum 1 dd
12th chicken78 1 dd
12th milfakamonkeymonkeymoomoo 1 dd Boy Salisbury
12th immo first baby
12th star6 first baby Boy Surbiton
13th Lesley21
14th tedmundo 1 ds Surprise Bristol (Southmead)
14th twinklytoes 2 dd's Boy
14th BubbaAndBump 1 dd
15th mum2jakeyroo 2 ds's Surprise Near Lancaster
15th fanvampbooks 1 dd
15th toomuchtimeonline first baby
16th moodywren 1 dd 2 ds's Boy Lincolnshire (nr Spalding)
16th bigmouthstrikesagain 1 ds 1 dd 9th June Mid-Beds
16th WheresTheAuPair 1 ds
19th MrsTittleMouse 1 dd
19th rach010 1 ds Surprise (but dp knows!) Lincolnshire
20th 07mumstheword 1 dd 10th June Bristol
20th AandMsmum 2 dd's Surprise Bristol
20th KnickersOnMaHead 1 dd
20th jenwa 1 dd Girl Worcestershire
20th firsttimer08 first baby 16th June Greenwich
21st hansnava 1 dd Luton
21st rowanmac 1 ds Surprise North Scotland
21st caramelbunny 1 dd Surprise Manchester
21st jess1996 first baby Surprise
21st GirlWithTheMouseyHair first baby Surprise SW London (St Thomas)
22nd SmudgeyDoodle 1 ds 16th June Newcastle (Gateshead)
22nd ellensmelons 1 dd
23rd Sallypuss first baby 17th June
23rd Emmsy1 3 ds's 1 dd 9th June The Wirral
24th sparklesandnowinefor9months 3 ds's 1 dd 13th June
24th Personanna 1 ds Boy Peru
25th Flum 2 dd's 5th June Wiltshire
26th gem1981 1 ds
26th oliviaelanasmum/4andnotout 3 dd's 16th June
26th born2twinkle 1 ds
26th mariekg 3 dc 4th June
28th UmSami 1 ds
29th Ekka 1 dd 23rd June
29th BabyDubsEverywhere 1 ds
30th Jambers99 1 ds 10th June NW London (Hillingdon)
30th ChilledBunny ?? 12th June
Nov coolkat 1 dd

Anyone around the Kingston upon thames area - please join fellow MN mates at the Costa Coffee in the Market square in Kingston town centre tomorrow at 12noon. Anyone is welcome!

it is after midnight and i am officially 31!!!

Happy Birthday Bethoo.

Happy birthday Bethoo