Due in Jan 2009 - Grumps, bumps and heffalumps (the 3rd thread)

[LenniEd]

He he Loved that idea FLF!

Warning rant alert!
Why is it that a) hardly any high street shops have maternity ranges and b) most of the ones that do only sell it online and c) whatever does make it into the actual high street shops is pretty awful and none of it fits?

Just because i'm pregnant doesn't mean that my legs have grown 3 inches in length, that I only want to wear black and white, and that I am quite happy to buy clothes online without trying them on and having to fork out for delivery and return charges.

Last week I tried on all 3 pairs of maternity black trousers that I could find in the shops - H&M size 10, couldn't move my legs once they were on; Dorothy P size 8. crotch down to knees; Topshop size 10, trailing along the ground. Just got some from Next Directory and they are also huge - inspiring current rant. I wasn't expecting to look like Angelina Jolie but I didn't think it would be this difficult to find something decent.

I do know this stuff isn't important in the grand scheme of things, but it makes me so mad! I will put it down to hormones and my insatiable appetite

Sorry for those of you that are feeling yuck, apart from whinge and said hunger i'm feeling pretty good but almost 19 weeks so further along than most of you.

Evening all,

I second New Look. Went in there today and bought 2 maternity tops, one was only £6 and they are really nice. I went to Blooming Mavelous when they had a sale on and got trousers marked down to £8! I don't bother online because i like to try things on to make sure they look right and so don't want the hassle of returning stuff.

Also, why is it when i try and buy bras they never have a 34C? It seems the world and it's mother buy up all the 34C bras before i enter the shop! I got some in the end from M&S. They are proper maternity bras and really comfortable!

I have my scan on Thursday, how exciting!

Poorbuthappy- i assure you we are very much in the UK... The sun rises the side of the bed i sleep, and we have one of those "juliet balconys" so a lovely Floor to ceiling window for the early morning sunshine to Dazzle me with..... Shameful thing is by the humaine time of day i get up, the sun has of course disapeered behind the clouds.

As for your sickness, my actual sickness has thankfully finally eased, but i retch numerous times a day, and sometimes at relatively mild things.

misshairspray i am lucky enough to not actually be into maternity stuff just yet, i have however had my eyes peeled trying to stock up before the time comes. But like you, having the SAME problems. Its absolutely AWFUL looking accross the board, and despite being told you should always buy your pre-pregnancy size, they look about three times the size!! The only purhcase i have made is while i was visiting a friend in London i went to Topshop maternity section, which i have to say was HALF the size i expected it to be, and picked up some Skinny black jeans, which actually fit me perfectly now, so they do what they say, are the pre pregnancy size, but i assure you stretch out like Clowns pants! perfect!

If you arent lucky enough to live within distance to pop to london for a day, they do online, i guess thats your best shout?

Wow, this must be my longest post ever. I'm taking my sniffling self off to bed for a long night of sore throats and noses, involuntary weird noises, and no sleep before the sun rudely awakes me in about 6 hours. joy.

the early potty training thing is called elimination communication, and there are loads of useful threads on it on mn.

MsSparkle 34C is most popular size in UK, so they always go first!

DD keeps calling my maternity trousers 'special baby trousers' rofl.

hello all, been away for a few days and just spent my evening catching up and eating ice cream and chocolate. Found I've put on a kilo in the last week ! Just been staying with my mum and DD at my Granny's on holiday. A real shock. 4 generations together is quite amazing, but the difference in living ideas was very difficult. As was co-sleeping in a single bed. Have never co-slept before. Very cute that DD wanted to be either spreadeagled, or so glued to me that I was pressed against the wall. Not much sleep on my part but lots of cuddles .

My DD's middle name is Violet . Everyone comments on it (positively ).

Very tired so off to bed.

MissHairspray, can't help you on the delivery charges but I don't think it costs to return to Next. Don't they enclose some sort of return label? You can return Next Directory orders via a branch of the shop if you have one anywhere convenient for you as well.

Oh, and I meant to mention I won a competition on mumsnet for some nappies (cottontails - they are birth to toddler) and the woman phoned me today encouraging to get some wraps for both the 15 month old and the newborn. Never tried washables before but will let you know how I get on. Am scared.

morning

i have just purchsed these bits for winter in sale

blue cardy

www.vertbaudet.co.uk/baby-nursery-maternity-clothes/Colline-Maternity-Cardigan.aspx?ProductId=V01111 3012&DocumentId=V617&CompanyId=V&Path=2922/2935/2951&source=#

cream cardi

www.vertbaudet.co.uk/baby-nursery-maternity-clothes/Colline-Maternity-Cross-Over-Cardigan.aspx?Produ ctId=V011113013&DocumentId=V617&CompanyId=V&Path=2922/2935/2951&source=

these jeans

www.vertbaudet.co.uk/baby-nursery-maternity-clothes/Maternity-Classic-Jeans-Inside-Leg-76cm.aspx?Pro ductId=V018043023&DocumentId=V617&CompanyId=V&Path=2922/2935/2950&source=

these tops in pink,grey and white

www.vertbaudet.co.uk/baby-nursery-maternity-clothes/Maternity-Classic-Jeans-Inside-Leg-76cm.aspx?Pro ductId=V018043023&DocumentId=V617&CompanyId=V&Path=2922/2935/2950&source=

miss hairspray it is hard to find maternity clothes isnt it i 2nd you on that one. i find mothercare really good got some good summer tops and trousers for summer in there sale. thought i would risk getting winter bits online as wont beable to afford to get them full price in say mothercare.

we have decided to go with graham and co to eel the house he is coming around tom morn to measure rooms for floor plans and leaving contracts to sign, the ball has started rolling

Thanks for the tips all, I do actually live in London for half the week but haven't been able to face Oxford Street especially as the public ransport out my way is always off for engineering works at the weekend so it takes twice as long to get there (will stop before have another rant!). The other half i'm up in Newcastle where I usually do my shopping, but there just isn't the same range. Anyway am going to check out New Look and vertbaudet and see what I can get.

Good luck with the sell/move tink, we're in the process of buying our first house which is a bit scary but good too.
Have a good day ladies

Hi all, I've not had time to look on here for ages but hope everyone is well. I'm just so busy with work and looking after DS, and DP works at weekends, and we're having an extension on our house and a new kitchen so house is a bit chaotic.

I have no idea when I'm going to have time to go into town to buy some maternity clothes - I'm fed up with wearing trousers held together with a hair bobble! I want to go on my own so I don't have the pushchair - our TopShop doesn't have a lift and the maternity clothes are on the top floor - not sure I can face getting a pushchair up two escalators!

Has anyone else not had their results from their screening blood tests for Downs, etc? I'm 17+4 weeks now and phoned for my results yesterday and they said they're still not back. Not sure how late you can have an amniocentisis if there was a high risk.

Iwouldgoout, I think you'd probably hear sooner if the results are high risk, and I don't think there is an upper time limit on amnio, as I've heard of people having them later eg after 20 week scan

rrrayray we had the same problem a few years back when we moved into a new house - I used gaffer tape to hold up a blanket against the window; didn't look pretty but kept the sun out!

Ok folks, am feeling seriously in need of some support and/or advice.

I know its the school holidays and things can get a bit fraught at home when you are stuck in with the kids but things have been really going downhill around here and I have finally just lost it with the boys.

Thing is I think its all my fault. I've been so crabby and short tempered over the past couple of weeks that I keep raising my voice to them. Now they have started doing it to each other. They are usually such lovely boys and play really well together but now they just seem to be constantly screaming at each other and telling tales and the youngest has started really screaming like an angry baby (he's 4) rather than crying at the slightest provocation.

I really feel as if I am at the end of my rope today. DH came home for lunch and they were both warned about their behaviour and told if they had one more fight today then they would lose access to their computer and be put to bed for the rest of the afternoon. (Now it turns out this was a foolish threat as within 20 mins they were fighting and screaming and now I have had to put them to bed at 2.00pm.) On top of that DS1 is now sobbing his heart out because he's lost his computer. I am in the living room and it sounds really heartbreaking. Poor things look so confused half the time at the moment and I'm sure they are wondering where their nice mummy has gone. I'm also worrying that it won't be long before they put 2 and 2 together and start to resent the baby.

Thing is I think they are really just reflecting my temper and unless I can do something about my short fuse, its just going to be a viscious circle.

DH and I have just been under such enormous stress recently with other things that I'm finding it very hard to keep calm, between that, my hormones and not being able to sleep I honestly can't see how to improve things.

A few weeks ago everything seemed really on the up we had plans to do up the house, 2 holidays booked and DH had a load of freelance work lined up which was going to pay for it all. Now the freelance work has fallen through and so as a result have most of our plans. Our 1st holiday was a disaster and it looks like we will have to cancel the second one as we won't have the money to go now.

Future feels pretty bleak today and I'm feeling like how the hell will I manage with 3 children when I'm obviously a useless mother to the 2 I already have.

I want to to and hug the boys and tell them I'm sorry and everything is going to be ok. But truth is I don't really believe it myself and I know from bitter experience an apology from your Mum doesn't really make things better because you're still always wondering when she's going to lose it again.

Sorry to rant on, tried calling DH and Mum but both in meetings, sister has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer so don't want to bother her and everyone else is away on holiday.

Moosemama - you poor thing. I don't really have any advice as I only have one DS who's only 2 so I've not yet had to cope with looking after two older ones, but I do know how tiring and emotional can be when pregnant. I am a bit calmer (so far!) this pregnancy but last time I got really anxious and short tempered (recently someone kindly told me what a horrible person I was to be with last time I was pregnant!) so I do sympathise. And that was before I had another child to look after!

Can anyone look after your children for a while so you can get away and do something nice for yourself, have a massage or something? Or just go for a walk on your own to get away from it all?

I was quite depressed after the birth of DS and i'm worried if I'm like that again how he'll cope with me like that but, as people keep telling me, children are more resilient than we think and they will be fine and probably won't even remember you being grumpy with them for a few months once the baby is here.

On another note, I have finally got the results of my screening tests, the risk is 1:630 which is classed as low risk so I am relieved.

Moosemama, sorry to hear you're having a rough time. My memory as a small child is that it did make things a lot better when my mum was angry if she made up with me, I wonder if the fact that my stepdad wasn't so good at making up meant that our relationship got pretty bad for a lot of my teens and probably before.

If you haven't already done it, I'd try and make up with them. Does anywhere local to you have a holiday programme of things you can go to with the kids? As well as quite pricy stuff, our local council offers wonderful sounding summer holiday programme, I hope Leeds is half as good (as I hope to move back there when ds1 is about 3).

Thanks for the support guys.

Yes, have been and had a cuddle, talk about grumpy mommies, sorrys and a few tears, now they are both happily tidying their bedroom.

My Mum did call back and has now arrived to rescue me as well, so am feeling a lot calmer.

elkidee, we missed all the best holiday stuff around here, but there's some stuff in the library centre I will probably take them to and am taking them to their favourite cafe for lunch tomorrow, so we will be escaping.

Mum has offered to have the kids on Saturday so that will be a help too, think DH and I could do with some us time.

I love them both so much, I hate it when we fight.

I'm glad to hear you've brightened up a bit.

hi mm -

sorry that things are going abit down hill your end i am sure that things will sort them selves out

iwouldgoouttonight when i had my bloods done i was clearly told that i would not hear anything if the results were OK, AKA not high risk. That said, i did recieve a letter in the end saying i wasnt. But my point is, i think most places practice the no news is good news idea. So easy for me to say i know, but i wouldn't worry.

Doh, i've just seen your later post that says you DID get a letter! Hurrah!

Moosemama, i'm so glad to hear your mother is helping you out a little at the weekend, i'm sure some "you" time will do you the world of good.

Aw sorry i missed you earlier Moos, i was yelling at my lot

Honestly it is entirely normal to shout and yell at the children, the older they get the louder the shouts have to be. Please dont feel bad about it, yuo will torture yourself for the rest of your life if you worry about it.

They really will be ok and have probably forgotten all about it. I do explain to mine when i am particularly on edge and tired, it does help as they understand a bit more. Even the younger ones appreciate being kept in the loop.

I am sorry about your sister, how very sad. I hope they have caught it early and are giving her the full treatment. No wonder you are extra stressed.

I hope you manage to get a break and breathe a little on your own, it makes a worl of difference.

My dh is home Thursday and i am so ready for him to take over. Just to have someone else to change a nappy or emty the bin, think of something for tea.. bliss!

They are all still up excpet the baby and my patience is running out. It will be lights out soon in the gin household!

Hope the rest of you are ok, flf where have you been???

I don't have my scan date yet but see the midwife tomorrow so will ask then.

Sounds like you've got things under control moosemama -- like elkiedee, I always remember an apology from MUm made me feel okay again after she had lost it! Also made me remember that she used to take ages when using the bathroom and later I twigged that she was reading novels in there! Good tactics...

How's this for "babybrain" I booked easyjet tickets to spain for september, and managed to book completely the wrong date! Have managed to change them, but to the tune of 80 quid 'administration fees' would have had more fun literally burning 80 quid with a lighter.

Glad you're felling better moosemama, I agree that some time out would probably do you good but it's often easier said than done. LG&T how do you do it all on your own without dh? I am in awe....

missjackson I am with you there - left my handbag in a community centre the other day along with countless other things. If we weren't so forgetful we'd remember that we had 'baby brain' and check everything twice.

By the way we got given a 'baby countdown' clock the other day that dh has stuck onto the fridge door - reading 163 days to go I think (don't dare look)- eeeek!

Thanks LG&T

I do always apologise and explain but somehow it never seems enough to excuse my behaviour - after all I should be setting the right example. How can I justifiably tell them not to scream at each other, when I am just as bad.

I know everyone has bad days, but I think I do give myself an extra hard time about it, mainly because I had a particularly difficult childhood relating to my mother. Its something we have, thankfully, both worked through and got past now. (She is a fantastic Grandma btw.) I guess I just live in fear of turning into her - I never want my kids to have to feel like I did.

Anway, after the DSs had a session of running round in wellies and waterproofs in rain, followed by Mommy hiding on the sofa while Daddy did the tea and bedtime stuff. Calm has once again returned to the Moose household! For now ......

BTW, I too am in awe of how you do it on your own and with more dcs to boot! If I were you, I would need to sleep for a week once dh gets home!

Tis all relative, i found the twins hard work and couldnt fathom having any more. You just get used to noise/washing/mass catering as you go along.

I am watching Nine Months, so funny! Have you all seen it? That and Parenthood are a must when pregnant. Father of The Bride 2 also very good and great to pull out when you are feeling a bit low.

Glad you feel a bit better Moos, some days are worse than others, all will be fine and in a few months when you are holding the LO you will wonder why you were worried