Due Feb 2009- Posting Queens, See The Bump, On The Facebook Screen, oh yeahhh...

[MarkStretch]

TinkerbellesMum DC3 (3rd baby. Lily-Hope born 20 weeks 28-29/9/05, Tink born 31 weeks 17/7/06, age 27, Birmingham) Official due date 01/02/09 but expected from early December
florrieandme DC2 26/01/2009
laidback DC4 27/01/2009 (age 34, North Devon)
nkweto DC2 30/01/2009 (age 34, West London)
oooggs DC4 30/01/2009 (age 34, Cornwall)
MamaGoose DC3 30/01/2009 (age 32, Spain)
MissMitford 31/01/2009
Plethora 31/01/2009 (age 37, East London but moving soon)
Ethelredtheunready (age 40, 2nd Baby, Tilly born 19/2/06, DC2 01/02/2009- Currently Chichester, soon to be Epping)
AngelDoll DC1 01/02/2009 (age 31, Sheffield)
Supersteph DC2 01/02/2009 (age 24, Torbay)
jenandbean DC2 02/02/2009
ruthmollymummy 02/02/2009
Tummytrouble 03/02/2009
jamescagney 03/02/2009 (aged 33,Clare, Rep of Ireland)
Pregnantpopcornprincess DC3 04/02/2009 (pregnant with twins)(age 31, West Sussex)
MsLucy Boy 04/02/2009 (age 38, North London)
PinkTulips DC3 04/02/2009 (age 24, Roscommon, Ireland)
Davidsmom DC2 04/02/2009 (age 39, Cheshire)
MissDelighted DC1 05/02/2009
m2alyssa DC2 05/02/2009 (age 30, Isle of Man)
idontbelieveit DC2 06/02/2009 (age 31, Leeds)
Jelliebelly DC2 06/02/2009 (age 37)
Swampster (HasAWarmFuzzy) 06/02/08 (age 40, south London)
Guitargirl DC2 07/02/2009
Aila DC2 07/02/2009
Littlemissnorty DC2 08/02/09 (age 39, Kent)
Biscuitytrousers 08/02/2009 (age 31, Thames Ditton)
MarkStretch DC2 07/02/2009 (age 29, Norfolk)
KT1983 09/02/2009
Tinasan DC2 09/02/2009
Herbgarden 09-11/02/09 (age 38 Berkshire)
Ewemoo 07/02/2009
Singingintherain DC3 10/02/2009
KazzaL DC2 10/02/2009 approx (age 34, Ciren, Gloucs)
littleboyblue DC2 due early-mid Feb (age 27, Surrey)
Jenniferturkington DC2 11/02/2009
thehouseofmirth DC2 11/02/09 (age 38, Wimbledon)
Clarabumps DC2 12/02/2009 (age 27, Glasgow)
BumpVLump 12/02/09 (age 29, Surrey)
Louisebunny 13-15/02/09
Mapleleaf 13/02/2009 (age 38, Cambridge)
Nadssss 13/2/9 (age 29, living w. london)
Jelliebaby DC2 14/02/2009 (AGE 29, Cheshire)
Loopylula DC2 14/02/2009 (age 28, Sussex)
Francesrivis 15/02/2009 (age 38, Devon)
onwardandupward DC2 second week of Feb (age 35, south west)
Americas 16/02/2009 (age 32, London)
MrsThreads DC1 16/02/2009 (age 36, Cheshire)
shubiedoo DC3 17/02/2009 (age 37, Canada)
NervousMouse DC2 17/02/2009 (age 36, Berks)
Pluto DC2 18/02/09 (age 38, Kent)
Fruitstick DC2 19/02/2009 (age 32, London)
Imaginewittynamehere DC2 19/02/2009 (age 32, Cambs)
McDreamy DC3 19/02/2009 (age 37, Cyprus but will give birth in Bucks)
Dinkystinky 19/2/09 (age 31, London)
Rachrox DC3 20/02/2009 (age 28, Glos also!)
Calico1 DC2 21/02/2009 (age 40, West Herts)
Mentalpup DC2 21/02/09 (age 30, Glos)
Rosieposey DC4 21/02/09 (age 36, Wilts)
Winemakesmummyclever 23/0/09 (age 34, Lancs)
Neeerly3 DC3 23/02/09 (age 31, Mansfield)
LardyBump 24/02/09
Spottyshoes DC2 24/02/09 (aged 28)
Chilledmama DC2 25/02/2009 (age 31, Hampshire
Nellstar TBC
zikel DC2 TBC (23, Coventry)
Cocodrillo DC3 26/02/2009 (age 34, south london)
MrsBick DC2 26/02/2009 (Age 25, living in Surrey)
charlie7 DC2 28/02/2009 (Age 33, living in the Inner Hebrides)
dd1ofcolandgerry DC2 25/02/2009
theSuburbanDryad DC2 (age 26, living in South Bucks)
Babyignoramus DC1 27/02/2009 (age 27, Brighton)
Blinamouse
Elkiedee
Questionkid DC1 3/2/09 (age 33, living in Wallington, Surrey)

IDBI- thinking of you. Fingers crossed everything will be ok xx

IDBI . I sometimes feel we are able to get far too much information now, especially as the risks from the diagnostic tests are so high. And if you get a bad diagnosis the choices are unbearable. Thinking of you - it sounds like everything is most likely to be ok, the odds are on your side.

I am off work with a cold.

Tea- check

Pyjamas and DH's fluffy hoody- check

Sofa- check

Portland Babies- check

Where are all my fab feb friends?? Yoooohooooo?!

Hey Markstretch. Having a cold when pregnant is horrid - hope you get better soon. I noticed you didnt have chocolate hobnobs on your checklist - essential cold treatment item!

Am feeling all empowered this morning - kicked a man off a priority seat on packed tube (he just beat me to it) by saying "excuse me, this is a priority seat, so which are you? Elderly, disabled or pregnant? I am pregnant" and proudly putting humungous bump in his face till he moved....

Ha! Well done dinky! Was he suitably humiliated?

pmsl dinky. good for you

the penny has finally dropped with dp that my back is in bits.... he's done all the hoovering for days and even mopped the other night! he's hoovering right now i'm sure normality will rsume before long though so am trying to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

our oil went on friday and stoopid me had been procrastinating about ringing and electrician so we had no hot water, heating or electric shower all weekend. am waiting for electrician now but it will be mid october by the time we can afford oil i'm shivering already.

idontbelieve it, i'm so sorry you're having all that worry. 85% really is a good chance of everything being ok though, try to cing to that. {{{hug}}}

littlemissnorty, i hope you gorged on chocolate and are feeling better now, sorry you had such a scare.

welcome to all the newcomers as well

Pink that sucks. Can you get a referral for some physio?

And the oil- boo! I have told DH there is NO WAY the heating is going on yet. However yesterday I was clutching a recently boiled kettle for warmth.

My DD appears to not feel the cold. She was out on her trampoline yesterday at 8am wearing a swimsuit. It was about 6 degrees. She REFUSED to get dressed. Brrrr.

Yep - man was suitably humiliated, muttered something about not seeing me (odd as he pushed me out the way to get to the seat...) and shuffled off. Feel like have struck a strike for bumpdom!

PinkTulips - how horrible about your back and being without oil too (bet the cold is making your back feel worse)! And you dont drive either so its not like you could pop the kids in a car for a drive to somewhere warm, with hot water, for the day. Hope the oil gets sorted soon.

markstretch - feeling better?

tink - talk to me about wraps - I saw one in Tesco this morning and asked the lady about it (her baby was 2 days old) it was a Moby. I don't know anything about any of them so need your advise please

Come to work for a rest today and the sun is shining outside my window....joy - save that I have to now go into a booooring internal meeting for an hour and a half over lunch and I can't find a way of getting out of it. At least I can gorge on the free lunch (although have already had to eat the sandwich I brought in as I'd forgotten said meeting....I'm HUNGRY!). Every time I eat, I can feel the baby start to move - I suspect (s)he might start complaining about the menu soon

Sorry MS you've got miserable cold - I usually dose myself up with lots of things which make me sleepy but you can't do that in our condition can you. So unfair. PT - sounds grim re no oil and bad back. Hope the electrician arrives soon !

Dinky - yeah right, sure he didn't see you...it's amazing what they don't see when they don't want to. At least we're coming in to the colder months so even when it's hot down there on the tube it's not quite as bad as the summer.

How's everyone else ?.......

Argh - too much talking. ws only away for a weekend and feel like I've read half the thread to catchup!

I was in Portsmouth looking after my beautiful neices 6yrs and 14 months. MAN! Up at 5.30am!!! Sat and Sun. Not happy. I'm having loads of problems with sleep at the moment - wether it's pg insomnia or just not being comfy on my side I don't know... Went to bed at 8.50pm on Sat night hehehehe! Had a miserable ten minutes thinking that I'm not prepared to be a mum as I kept snapping at the eldest 'cos of sleep deprevation and then my mum went into raptures as I managed to get the younger off to sleep really easily! Maybe I'll get used to the sleep thing!

My back is completely killing me - either I need a foam mattress topper or regular trips to some back person. Wonder if being with bump speads up waiting lists?

Sorry to those who have requested to join the fb group - I can't get on fb at work, but it should be done by about 4.30...

Speak to you later...

Hello everyone

Can I ask about FB group.....cos my message on the due date discussion has been deleted

and there are 27 members but only 19 officers?

Not quite sure what is happening?

Off for my anti-D at 3.30pm

dinkystinky - thank you so much for standing up to the man on the tube and getting that seat. I had to travel on the packed northern line the other night and despite having a 'baby on board' badge (admittedly pinned to my bag, not my coat, but still on display) no one offered me a seat. Men are the worst, the age of chivalry is well and truly dead.

I've just come back from a weekend in Suffolk babysitting my best mate's 18 month old while she and her DH went to a wedding overnight. It all went swimmingly so I've reassured myself that me and DP are capable of looking after a child without any mishaps!

Got my scan on Thursday, feeling a bit nervous actually. It feels like quite a big milestone and I can't help worrying that there'll be problems. I'm definitely a glass half empty person, need to work on it being half full!

Mrsy - well done you on babysitting over the weekend: always terrifying when pregnant with precious firstborn! Dont worry - you get used to the early starts/sleepless nights and it does get a heck of a lot easier when you have a little baby cooing and smiling up at you at 3 in the morning! Also, some people are incredibly lucky and get babies who like sleep and snore away merrily until 9ish (cant say DS was - or ever will be - one of those and pretty sure this one wont be either, but am used to sleep deprivation now and quite like early starts in a perverse kind of way...)

Questionkid - northern line is the pits. Had to use it when pregnant with DS and switched to getting the bus instead (which took MUCH longer) as was less likelihood of getting bump squished on it.

Fortunately travelling on the tube is fairly rare for me as I'm able to get the train from central London to where I live (airconditioned, plenty of seats usually). Every time I'm on that tube I thank goodness that it's not something I have to do every day.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's nervous about the scan. I haven't seen my midwife (or a GP) since 16 weeks (am 21 weeks tomorrow) and it's very easy to think of all the things that could've gone wrong in that time. I managed to convince myself last night that I hadn't felt any wriggles for a while, fortunately that's not true and am getting some today.

Honestly, I'll shut up now, I shouldn't be saying anything until after the scan when I know these things for sure but it's easy to panic.

I'm sure a chocolate biscuit will help me feel better.

markstretch, i got a physio referral... i think that's what caused dp to realise that i am actually in alot of pain as he's been great since then for helping. should have the physio appoinment in the next couple of weeks.

got the letter about my GTT today... bloody 8.30 in the morning on a day when dp is at work the hospital is an hour away so that means having to ask my friend if she'd mind me dropping off dd at 7.30, eek! she's alot like me with regards to sleep so not sure she'll be impressed with me after that. will have to bring ds with me as i don't want to take the piss by asking her to mind him all day too, at least dd she can dump at playschool with her own girl so she'll only have an hour and a half of her in the morning! and that all depends on my car being insured because i can't risk taking it on a long drive like that without insurance.

must go out and turn the engine over tonight actually, i keep meaning to do it and forgetting... it's been sitting idle for weeeks now all the practice i've been getting you see

well done mrsy and questionkid on the parenting practice. trust me, it's alot easier when it's your own kid... i never quite know what to do with other peoples children but with my own i'm capable enough (says she sat on the pc ignoring children plonked in front of peppa pig!)

well

Chocolate biscuits are the cure of all worries - and cold related woes ....

Dont worry Questionkid, its perfectly natural to worry about everything going and feel like you're about to sit an exam... just try and relax and take each day as it comes. Life is too short to spend it all worrying!

questionkid.

I worried myself stupid about the 20 week scan because the nuchal was dodgy (had cvs and given all clear for pretty much everything you can mention).

20 week scan went absolutely to plan, though being the nervous idiot I am, I kept my eyes shut until the very end when they told us all was find and gave us a beautiful picture.

If you can feel lots of wriggles, had no worries at the last scan and haven't had any weird symptoms there is no reason why anything should be wrong (not that anyone could have told me that 2 weeks ago).

Once you get over the stress, the scan is actually quite exciting, esp if you want to find out the sex.

Have a look at my profile, I have quite a few pictures on there.

I'm a wrapping addict, only make my own which works out a lot cheaper They can be used for premature babies and for as long as you want to. Theoretically you could carry an adult in them, but I wouldn't want to try! Because of how they cover your body they distribute the weight between you and the baby so there is no weight in anyone place, if there is you know that something isn't right! I love the fact that if baby isn't comfortable you won't be either so you can always work out where the sling needs adjusting.

I know that people who use other types of slings will mix and match and say that different ones suit different people or situations, but I find the wrap is the best all rounder - any situation, age or size of parent or child. One of the things I like is that I can take her out to put her in the car, leave it done up and put her straight back in.

I could rave all day about wraps, but if you want to know something imparticular just ask.

but i'd tie it wrong and my baby would fall on the floor and crack it's skull! seriously, you have no idea the stupid accidents i've had in my life, this is so possible it's not even funny

i am so incredibly useless at stuff like that i'd have a nervous breakdown even thinking about using it and there is no way in hell dp would trust my tying ability either!

quite like a few mei tei's i've seen but even they need tying

Go dinky! I have one of those London badges with Baby On Board on it. I like it anyway, but if it helps my case, I'm pleased.

MS your DD sounds like mine! She hates to be dressed and is always a little radiator. I have Raynaud's so I get lots of sneaky cuddles in

mrsy, it's different with your own children because you learn them as you go along. Unfortunately the current guidelines for back care is rather hands off. They used to do physio, give you exercises and tell you to keep moving but physio only helps for a few days then you're back where you started or worse. Rest as much as possible, watch your posture, sit on a cushion to keep your hips higher than your knees and don't do anything that hurts. Speak to your MW or obstetrician for a referral to a physio who can give you detailed advice and some basic exercises, if you need it they can also either prescribe or direct you to belts and crutches. If you go to a specialist you have to pay for they probably will give you exercises and that but only because they know that you will have to come back!

QK, I think it's not so much chivalry is dead but too many women would rather stand than have a man give up his seat. Feminism works against us sometimes. I have a saying "we have equality in our inequality" if we try to be the same as men then we're not being equal, each sex has it's own strengths and weaknesses.

PT, I don't normally even do a double knot. They're really secure, once you've got the hang of it it's easy.

Alexander Techique is another means of combatting back pain - a lot of back pain in pregnancy (probably not if you've got SPD or something) is to do with balance and posture changing and us adding all sorts of tensions to the way we move and stand and sit in order to try to compensate. Only it hurts.

There's no substitute for lessons, but you might find it helps your back if you can think (without doing iyswim):

allow your neck to be free
allow your head to balance freely on your neck
allow your back to lengthen and widen - be aware of yourself as 3-d (most of us think of our torsos like flat stanley)
and then as you walk, just think back into your back - not arching it, but just with your spine being like a strong tree trunk, and the focus on your spine being strong and supple and free to move.

Might help.

But like I say, lessons are really the way forward

Physio/massage treat the pain and tight muscles, but then you go away and tighten the muscles all over again. It's needing to find different ways of using your body rather than curing the pain caused by misusue (and for lots of us, pregnancy is the time when misuse first catches up with us).

Other useful ways to the same sort of physical awareness and ease are pilates, body balance, yoga...