Fab Feb Fourth Thread: are we blooming yet?

[onwardandupward]

Here we are! This should do us for a few weeks...

Ok, pregnancy yoga exercises for back:

(1) Needs partner. Go down on knees on floor (knees under hips) and put elbows down on floor and rest head on elbows. Partner puts their hands (one on top of the other) on your sacrum - the bit just above your tailbone in the middle of your back and presses - gently. Is absolute bliss and really unlocks the sacrum.

(2) Kneel on floor. Put hands down under shoulders and bring your left foot to sit just outside your left hand. Gently push weight forwards to left (so left knee approaches being in line with foot) and then backwards towards your rear foot. Great for loosening up hips and releasing any tension there. Repeat on other side. Dont make the moves too big.

(3) Hip circles. Stand feet shoulder width apart and knees bent - gently make circles with your hips to right. After minute, do to the left. Again, helps loosen up your lower back.

If you experience any pain doing any of these moves, stop and speak to your midwife about physio/chiropractor.

Hope they help.

KT - I was the same at the beggining (wont need to buy much) but got so bored wearing the same clothes over and over I decided to treat myself every so often!

Also, though havent actually bought any of their stuff, Gap have started stocking maternity wear in some of their UK shops. My US friends swore by their stuff when they were pregnant - may be worth a look.

Hi all -

For thrush, do the natural yogurt thing, and also go to Holland and Barrat, and get capsules of acidopholus plus, it's basically live bacteria that gets rid of the bad stuff. If you want to use medication, don't buy over the counter as it has to be quite strong but still baby safe, so get a prescription (especially as that's free!!!)

I've been really lucky and inherited a lot of maternity stuff, and my mum has bought me a few bits from GAP and JoJoMameBebe, but I have gone to Topshop as well. Nice stuff. I bought a couple of their Bump Bands too, anyone else tried them? They're really good for supporting the bump, and have relieved my bad back. Would definitely recommend.

topshop maternity is fab - love it.
but also check out ebay - you can get some lovely brands for not too many £££.

There's nothing more depressing than having to spend a small fortune on clothes you know you will only wear for a few months.

I'm wearing one of the Topshop dresses I bought about a month ago and already feels a bit tight!

Morning all,

I'm excited today because I think I finally felt a flutter last night, and as I'm typing this I think I might have just felt another one. Feels lovely, I need the reassurance as being DC1 for me I'm a bit paranoid about everything being ok.

rosieposey - we had the same kind of night's sleep, I think I was up 5 times too and my DP also snores so getting back to sleep is never easy. I was almost at the point of sending him to the spare room but then obviously fell asleep as I don't remember anything after that! Thank goodness for earplugs, that's all I can say.

thehouseofmirth - nice to know there's something nearby, I know no one locally who's preggers so am looking forward to making contact with some people.

My maternity clothes have all been New Look and Red Herring at Debenhams so far. They both do larger sizes that seem to be pretty comfortable. I thought H&M came up a bit small for me.

Is it wrong to already be wishing for my working day to be over?

Whoops, just realised I've referred to you (thehouseofmirth) as 'something' in my last post instead of 'someone'! Not concentrating on my typing as usual.

I know what you mean about wishing the day over....

I start work at 7am, so im up at 5am....it feels like it should be lunchtime already!

My bean was very active yesterday - also baby number one, so was the weirdest feeling, but very lovely...I cant wait until my DP can feel it too

I also noticed this morning that my belly seems to have expanded over about a week,It was slightly rounded last week,but now a far nmore prominent. Bean must have had a growth spurt

Thanks for the yoghurt tip. Does it need to be live natural yog do you think?

Topshop stuff not widely available where I am (SW London) Oxford Circus when you're pregant, anyone?! but it is on their website. H& M stuff is more available. If anyone finds any over the bump maternity leggings that they think will actually stay up please let me know. Have decided not to even bother wth jeans this time they just don't stay up, do they?

Questionkid you are forgiven! Re snoring when I was pg with DS I used to take my pillow down the foot end of the bed in the middle of the night so DH not snoring nextto my ears!

Talking of Maternity clothes and things not staying up...

I saw two ladies on sunday - very very pregnant, wearing dungarees...I thought that pregnancy trend died in the 80's?
But then I guess....its all about comfort when your so big with your bump!

thehouseofmirth - I didnt think about that with leggings staying up...as a first timer...Im going to have a big reality check when my bump eventually grows, it still doesnt feel like im very pregnant ( apart from the lovely flutters yesterday of course )

I know Seraphine does maternity leggings - their trousers stayed up when I was pregnant with DS, so maybe their leggings will too HouseofMirth. And agree, Oxford Circus when pregnant is no fun - though evening shopping (shops open till 7 or 8 on Thursdays) is much more civilised and generally when I plan my Topshop maternity raids if am out that evening anyway and have time to spare...

Give it a month or so and Oxford Circus will be manic with Christmas shoppers!

I have just bought two pairs of maternity leggings from H&M and they work fine. Also wore those when pregnant with DS and they were v. comfy. I also bought chunky long knits and floaty short dresses that seem to be fashionable this year and hope that they'll do. My old maternity wear is still too big but my proper suits and other work stuff is way too small. I wish I had told my boss already and could stop trying hide the bump!

And yes, I wish it was Friday afternoon already too!

Is it bad that im already counting weeks until I leave work??

Im due to start maternity on the 2nd Feb ( due on 9th Feb) I keep wondering if maybe I should just not go back after christmas?

Whats everyone else doing?

I'm a SAHM so I'll never go on maternity leave this time! I would say KT1983 that I started mine with DS as late as possible thinking I would be going back to work and that I'd rather have extra weeks with DS but in hindsight I wish I'd enjoyed a bit more "me time" before he came along.

I worked until 38 weeks when pregnant with DS - and I was horribly busy for the last 3 weeks of it. I took 2 weeks holiday so my maternity leave started the week DS was due - and then he ended up being v overdue....

This time round, am going to work until 37 weeks, take 2 weeks paid holiday and start maternity leave at 39 weeks - and then enjoy spending time at home with my DS before the birth of this baby.

I'm also counting down the weeks. I got a letter from work last week saying I could take my maternity leave any time from 25 October onwards. If only I were rich, I'd be out of here like a shot! My current thinking is that I'll be in the office until Xmas and then hopefully do a couple of weeks from home in January (due 3 Feb). That depends though, if I've had enough by mid-December then I'll definitely stop at Xmas. Money's a worry, but I've decided we'll just deal with that, the health of me and the baby is much more important and I can't imagine having to do the commute to work every day whilst 8 months pregnant.

PS Houseofmirth - yes, does need to live natural yoghurt to give you the benefits (is the live stuff that sorts out the thrush).

OMG - KT, I was just gonna ask if anyone knows who does maternity dungerees. Jeans don't stay up, as they're too loose around the hips/bum, and they look so comfy!

Speaking of work, I lost my job a few weeks ago (I think cos of the pregnancy) and am actually looking for a job while all you guys are thinking of stopping work!! I feel lucky to be at home resting, aspecially as I'm still being sick, but the money situation is pretty pressing!

I'm also actually really bored!

Oh mrsy, how horrible. I've always wondered if there is something you can do if you are made redundant because of pregnancy, working flexible hours as a working mum etc.? My friend thinks that you can always successfully sue the company but I'm not so sure. The redundancy "package" in our company is one week pay/year worked for the company so really nothing.

We were just budgeting a bit for the life with 2 children and am dreading the last months of maternity leave (am planning to take 9 months). I will try to start my maternity leave as Questionkid to get as much money I possibly can.

Mrsy - sorry to hear you lost your job. If it was pregnancy related, that is sex discrimination - it may be worth getting in touch with your local citizen's advice bureau - or your union if you are a member of one - to find out what your options are there as you should get a decent pay-off at the very least. Good luck with the jobhunt too.

KT - truly depressing to think that people will start their christmas shopping in a month or so! I hate the crush in the shops at that time of year...

Rosieposey - I think you were wondering about what to do for a winter coat while pregnant in winter. I was pregnant over the winter with DS too and invested in a capacious coat that flared out slightly at the bottom a couple of sizes larger than my usual size which lasted me the whole way through pregnancy - and was also v useful when carrying DS around in his sling afterwards. A couple of people I knew got by with lots of big chunky cardiwrap things.

Today I am feeling pregnant.

I have got in a mood with DH, done lots of hormonal wailing, had a hot flush, and I've just eaten an entire tin of baked beans, half of which was straight from the tin cold while I was waiting for the other half to cook.

Bleuurghhh.

Well, i was at the end of my probation as i had just started the job, but i'm convinced it was pregnancy related. i could take them to a tribunal, but not sure if i want the stress of it...

markstretch - i know the feeling. one minute i feel full, then i think of food and all of a sudden, i need to eat now! haven't resorted to cold baked beans yet!!!

laidbackinengland - yes it will be boy/girl/boy/boy

markstretch I will try fb again tonight

I just read a very interesting MN thread on maternity leave and childcare vouchers in employment section. Am now working out with HR to see how to max up my SMP.