Due April 2009 - Farewell nausea and all things ghastly, our boobs and bumps are growing vastly.

[PuzzleRocks]

LuLu, it'd take more than just a strip of wax & yay for your DH being able to come to the scan! You must be really pleased.

What is that phobia all about, though? I have a really embarrassing phobia too (it doesn't make any sense either), but I still can't understand the bellybutton one. Everyone has one!

Nutty, I've not been eating very well either. I've only been eating what I fancy & I've been struggling to even make an effort with the healthy foods. I've been investing in Innocent smoothies, just to get some vitamins into me, but I'm not being anywhere near as good about it as I should be.

My friend (of earlier baby-related offence) just texted me. She's at the gym (probably because of said offence ) & is reading Mother & Baby magazine. Apparently, our babies are the length of a size 5 shoe, & almost the size of an aubergine.

We're half-way through & that information already makes me want to cross my legs & refuse to let him out

AAAAARGH! I've just changed from pj's into yoga pants (looser waistband!) and guess what I've spotted?

A VARICOSE VEIN on the back of my leg! Oh noooooooo!! What do i do? Can I push it back in or something?? it's soooo ugly!

Those poor 'innocent bystanders'

Well lots to look forward too then! At the moment it's just this clear sticky gel stuff - literally any pressure on them and it just leaks! It's beautiful!!!

On the BF issue (sorry to as but am too scared to go outside our nice little thread!) - do you think the BF'ing classes are worth going along to or do you just find your feet yourself?

BabyBolat, it sounds beautiful! Luckily mine haven't started yet, although they are huge & veiny, so it's probably only a matter of time.

Before I got pregnant, I was really not bothered about breastfeeding at all - my mum couldn't do it (she didn't have any support & I was a REALLY hungry baby & nobody suggested mixed feeding or anything, then she didn't see the point in trying with my sister) so I was fully accepting that 'I'll try, if I don't like it I'll just give up', but having read around on MN I gather that very, very few people like it at first & that it's generally quite difficult & painful for a little while. But I've also grown quite fond of the idea & want to give it a really good go.

I don't know how much use classes would be, though. Again, from my reading, so much depends on the baby's individual latch, etc... I want to be in the best position to give it my absolute best shot, but I also don't want to panic myself with the pressure of attending classes & still struggling... Maybe we should ask over on the breast & bottle feeding topic? Having said that, it's easy to get told off over there, I think

i dont know if a class can teach you all that much beforehand - but i went along and did a few chats after having ds and people seemed to have loads of questions so maybe it helped them.

i am eating most things in sight too so no indications of boy/girl there - but no hairy tummy last time and it was a boy.

LuLu so good about your DH

I think you should leave the hair until post baby and then if it doesn't go get it waxed off - as for VV I don't know - i am petrified of the Stretch marks etc coming! have been rubbing in olive oil cream but still scared! The good thing is they go down after the baby is born don't they?

Springy what is your embarrassing phobia? I am petrified of fish! (particularly dead / cooked fish!)

springy - in my opinion it can be difficult, and it takes quite a few weeks before you feel like a pro - but if you want to do it, almost everyone can.

you will get help afterwards and i think its worth keeping the phone numbers for la leche/other bf helplines as they can help if you dont find your own midwife helpful.

BB, my phobia is far more embarrassing than that. At least people can understand why you may find fish a bit creepy. I have no problem with fish, but I don't like seeing them in a fishmonger's. I was going to elaborate, but realised that you may not appreciate my sympathy if it takes the form of a description of dead fish

To be honest, I'm not that upset about the stretchmarks so far. I had a few on the inside on my thigh anyway (stupid puberty) that have turned into that silvery colour & I have very fair skin anyway, so they're barely visible. I'm more worried about post-baby sagging.

i've read that there is really nothing you can do to stop stetch marks -you either fget them or you dont but they do fade almost to nothing after

See now you have to tell us! COme on, you know you want too...

it's fine I can take it the dead fish!

Oooh we have so much to look forward to

panda is back on form - kicking like a trooper!

Definitely go to classes for some good information on the basics of latching a baby onto the breast. Then go to a BFing group/support place when baby is born for more specific help ifyou need it. I'm going to go to the BF class this time even though I didn't stop BFing DD until I was 8 weeks pg with this LO. I think that I need a good refresh on the basics of latching a baby on properly as they learn to do it for themselves in time.

As for bellybuttons, mine is starting to look a little cavernous. I didn't get an outy last time though, just a horrendously stretched bellybutton with stretchmarks all around it and my laparoscopy scar went very red and itchy.

I read lots of different books on breastfeeding while pregnant with DD. My tip - get loads out of the library and skim them and then buy the one you like most. Personally I liked 'what to expect when you are breastfeeding'.

It was lucky I had swotted up then really as no-one came to help me in hospital so I just stuck her in position and muddled through. We got the hang of it together.

Can't really type anymore as she has woken fromnap and is trying to help me out at they keyboard.

Toodlepip x

Oh yes Springy, I always did my homework on time. I am a proud former geek. Oh who am I kidding, i'm still a geek.
BTW I bloody hate that Stacy's Mom song and now I have it in my head so many thanks.

Conkertree - we need the details of that dream please!!

Swaliswan, you poor thing. Hope you feel better soon.

I have a moist chocolate and orange loaf here but i'm afraid tis far too good to share.

I was beginning to get paranoid about movement but the last 24 hrs have been great. Kitty Cat, I have a Kung-Fu Panda too.

Okay, I'll tell you, but you WILL laugh . Also, just to defend myself in advance, I'm not the ONLY person with this phobia. I mean I've seen at least one woman in the newspaper ( highly important story) with the same thing, so it's not entirely my insanity. But yes... Ahem... I'm rather terrified of peas.

I don't know why, but I really can't stand to look at them & would rather eat most of the stuff on I'm A Celebrity than any peas.

Moving swiftly on...

Glad you're getting kicks again, BB

I'm interested to see that you do think that it's worth it, Swaliswan, especially as you've already BF. You're probably right. I think I want to do everything I can to make it work - asides from anything else, DP's quite keen on the idea (MIL is so useful with her "I was never sick, not once, just man up!" & "BF is so easy & healthy & makes you lose loads of weight!" - I don't care how true it is, she can shush) that I feel I almost need to be seen to be trying my best just in case it does fail.

agree with swaliswan that classes/group afterwards is useful and another place to meet new mums

Oh I have no strong view on what you should or shouldn't do but have been given loads of different antenatal classes and other things to go to and I just want to work out what is worth going to and what is not!

Nutty, I had a nipple piercing that I took out about 2 years ago - do you think that will make a difference? it's pretty much closed up but the marks are still there...

Ah LuLu DD can join in the fun too!

Peas? Really? That's not too bad... could be worse - could be Brussel Sprouts and then you'd be REALLY screwed this time of year!

Only joking dearest Springy - I'm only feeling jealous cos my legs are exploding into little purple and blue bumps and all you have are tiny silvery stretchmarks from years ago... boo hoo!

couldnt possible puzzlerocks - think dh occasionally has a quick spy on here to see what we're discussing - mind you he'd probably like to know too

Oh I don't think that is too bad! I mean there are worst things in the world! I am not a fan of mushy peas because they generally look like bad vomit!

Dh is exactly the same as is MIL - Every time I see her she has something to say about how good BF is! I do want to but I am not going to put immense amount of pressures on myself!

Of course my own mum had no problems with any of us....

Conkertree my DH is always asking what we are talking about - I told him the chocolate body paint story and he looked horrified a) at the pain and imagining himself in that position and b) at the idea that we tell those sorts of things on here, I think he was secretly racking his brains to see what I might have said!! bless x