Due December 08 - time to start blooming and glowing.

[JamInMyWellies]

New thread lovely ladies

Beans, I think the old Audi sounds good. Big old good quality cars feel so safe somehow. My DP has an old Merc, which sounds very flash but isn't as it's only worth about two or three grand, but it is so big and comfy. This particular model is known as the 'Beirut Taxi', for its robust qualities!

Glad you are feeling a bit more positive Beans.

In terms of cars we have a saab 93 and really regret not getting an estate, tis a nightmare when we try go anywhere last yr I went to Scotland to visit the rellies and by the time I had my buggy a suitcase and travel cot the car was packed to the gunnels and couldnt have squeezed anything else in. Now we have a dog too its a nightmare trying to go anywhere. I would reccomend getting an estate type car we cant wait till we hand this one back and get something with a proper boot. Thank god we didnt get the convertible as that was our initail choice Archie would have been sitting on teh roof and the dog would have to run alongside.

Anyone still suffering from headaches I have the mother of ones today have tried taking paracetamol the first 2 times it ended up down the loo and then managed to swallow tablets but still feel crap.

Jam, I'm still getting headaches though I have gone two whole days without one. Paracetamol are rubbish, let's face it. I wouldn't give them the time of day ordinarily! However, a combo of those and one of those 4head sticks (buy from the chemist), applied to my temples about once every ten minutes (!) made Monday's headache, which went on for about eight hours, about 10% more tolerable...

Hello everyone,

I honestly did LOL at veggie's comment about wheat crunchies sounding healthy! I'd never considered that they had such a virtuous name. The scampi ones smell like cat food I think! I think chipsticks are the best wheaty/corn snack! Mmm salt and vinegar.

Thanks mibbes, I've just seen their thread. I'm so happy for them

beans I'd think about fuel economy and tax bands and stuff if I was getting a new car, boring or what?!

I've been into town for lunch and have been pram watching! Some seem very bulky and everyone with a child older than 9 months seemed to have a lightweight pushchair . It is going to be a very tricky to make a decision methinks.

Anyone got any advice on slings? I think that's going to be the way forward for me with a 3 year old, but as he wieghed over 11lbs at birth, and this one will probably be the same I'm going to need somthing pretty sturdy.

I'm probably going to go sling route as well!

Yes, I keep hearing how brill they are and plan to get one, but probably won't be able to use one for yonks with caesarian

Lady T you will be able to do slings with a c-sec my old boss had major c-sec and other stuff and stil used a sling from the second week post op.

If you chuck sling into the search for messages thing it will come up with loads. I wish i could remember but there is a website that you can hire them from so you can get a taster of what you like, think if you pop sling hire into google it will prob come up.

Ok so have just mainlined some coke and a bar of chocolate and my headache is easing wish I had done that this morning.

oops obviously that means have drunk some coke looks a bit dubious saying I have mainlined coke.

oh gosh, I didn't even know slings existed.

And hello - what's this about stages of labour? No one told me about them! Do you have to pass an exam to get from one to the next?!

I've just heard the heartbeat at the doctor. Busy little bee in there! Everyone thinks it's a boy. I have no idea at all.

But hurray the heart is going hard and fast!!!

That's good news Beans. Jam - I am sure mainlining coke probably would see off a headache ...You are obviously suffering from the same dappy brain as me. I was talking to my DP about my night out last night and said about something "Oh, I was so pissed I can't remember..." Well, I wasn't pissed AT ALL, I didn't even have a drink. I meant TIRED but somehow pissed came out. All very Freudian. Trouble is I then made such a fuss about protesting my innocence I think he only half believes me

lol @ mainlining coke

Beans, generally speaking 1st stage is when you start having contractions, 2nd stage is pushing & child born, 3rd stage is placenta delivery. Theres nothing to say how long each of these stages will last though, my 1st stage was 4 days, 2nd 2hrs & can't remember for 3rd as too busy cooing over ds!
Are you booked onto an antenatal course?

LT, I've got pg brain atm too. Went to get some strawberries & raspberries for ds, got them out of the fridge, got the sieve out, ran the sieve under the tap to rinse the fruit, oops no fruit in there !

love these preggy brain stories - hilarious!

rosmerta - thanks for your words re labour - I've got a lot to learn, but am putting it off a bit as get nervous when it comes to reading those pages. Ostrich syndrome!

Are you going to do an antenatal course? It might really help, they're not scary I promise (or they shouldn't be anyway!)

Yes, thanks - off to NCT, but not til November. So a while yet. Plus doing pregnancy yoga, so talk about it there (that's where I heard about the stages last night!). Honestly, you'd have thought one of my friends/family might have told me about it!

hello all had busy day, had dental hygienist appt then actually got my pregnancy yoga DVD out and did the 40min session, the lady on it said i would feel very energised latter in day which i thought would be good as a friend and i were due to take our DS's to one of those farms where you pick your own fruit.

Then picked up DS from nursery, went to pick up friend and her son, this took twice as long as usual because i kept forgetting where i was driving and taking random turns in the wrong direction. Picked up friend drove to farm, i had never been before so depended on my friend to direct me. She is also pregnant (30weeks) so a 15min trip took 40mins because she couldn't concentrate on talking and giving directions. a few dodgy right hand turns from left hand lanes later we finally arrived. After much toileting of DS's and settling them down (and trying to explein that fruit farms don't have animals) we decided we needed a cream tea from the farm cafe to turn on some synapses. Sat down to tea and i proceeded to fall asleep over my cream tea. so much for stimulating yoga.

finally got to strawberry patch and picked loads of strawberries, but had to make quick exit as my friends DS decided to stand in the middle of the strawberry field pull out his willy and do a wee. My advice if you go strawberry picking don't eat any of the booty until you have gotten it home and washed it. My friend and i suddenly regretted sneaking a few cheeky free ones.

Beans glad you feeling better, me too generally happier and can feel this little lady doing somersaults too. You can lie on your back until the 3rd trimester and even then as long as just put a pillow under you right hand side it is fine. I actually found in 3rd trimester if i did rolled onto my back i woke up, and belly was more comfortable resting on the bed on side or on a pillow (or several pillows as was the case).

Jam i have also had about 2 full days free of headaches and found that paracetamol was useless, either a coke or a decaf coffee (there is obviously some coffee in them).

oh slings we had a huggabub for DS they take a few minutes to learn how to use but are really good for your back, good support for bub and very comfortable. DH loved using it and thought he looked quite cool in it. Oh first timers if your husband is wearing the baby be prepared for him to be major chick magnet. If i left DS and DH for a few minute while out i would come back to a swathe of women hanging around, who would look visibly unimpressed when i turned up.

Beans i know what you mean about not knowing about the stages. No one told me you have to actually push the placenta out too, i thought it just kind of came out with the baby. Luckily mine after all the effort of the 2nd stage it kinda just fell out with one contraction.

Jam your DS's name is Archie? I love the name Archie i would have loved to call our DS Archie but DH didnt want to.

I think i am craving Wheat crunchies and i have never tasted them, we had a lot of spicy tomato snack things back home which i love so think i am going to have to find them. We are driving to Wales tomorrow for a long weekend camping so surely one of those roadside places will have them.

veggie, if you do find wheat crunchies definitely go for spicy tomato or bacon, they're the best flavours!

Looking forward to my 20 week scan tomorrow. Got results of triple test this morning and everything looks okay.

Can't wait to see the bubs in all that detail

Looking forward to my 20 week scan tomorrow. Got results of triple test this morning and everything looks okay.

Can't wait to see the bubs in all that detail

oh i still have 2 weeks to wait.

Veggie - my DH was just the same with DS in the sling. He was majorly chuffed and thought he'd suddenly got popular with the ladies . Mind you he did 'wear' DS around the house in the evenings for the first 6 weeks ish so that I could get some kip, which was great.

We have a Baby Bjorn, which I would not really recommend as DS was too heavy to carry for long after about 3 months. We also have an ergo which we sometimes use now to back carry (DS is nearly 2 and 30lb+). Definitely interested in getting a proper soft sling this time.

Yes, def tomato or bacon flavour. I got mine in Somerfield I think.

Slings: I would go for a wrap sling to start with, they look really fiddly but easy once you get the hang of the different carries and really really versatile. I have a Didymos - they're a bit pricey but worth it. Or you can even make your own. Loads of sites with info on slings - try googling 'babywearing'. You start off with a cradle carry (you can bf like this) then when they are bigger you can move to a cross (front) back or hip carry.

The main thing to look out for is something that supports the baby in the 'frogs legs' position - i.e. not just dropped into a carrier with the legs sticking out straight - and something that distributes the weight across your back. Am def planning on using the sling more this time, as I didn't get into them until DS was a bit older (3 months?). Material: stretchy ones good for newborns and small babies ( you can pop them in and out easily), tougher material better for older babies (more support).

I also have an Ergo which is a bit more structured, but only suitable for newborns if you buy a separate insert.