Due May 2009 - It's all in front of us now!!!!

[divedaisy]

And on we go!!

Rather than splash out on cooling pads for the boobs when your milk comes in, I found cabbage leaves (yes, they really work) were brilliant- store them in fridge and pop a nice leaf in your bra as needed.

Is anyone else still suffering from constipation? I am really struggling. Must improve my diet.

Thanks so much girls! brilliant info. I'll update my list at the weekend. [detsy, would love to see the list, not that I need any encouragement!]

Just come back from a gig. Hope it didn't scare the baby too much... I was quite close to the PA and could feel myself vibrating

pula I never used the boob pad (breastnurse) things for cooling/ soothing - I do absolutely agree that cabbage leaves are the best for that. I used to heat them up quite hot in a bowl of very hot water and put them in my bra - worked wonders for getting my milk flowing when I was really engorged, lumpy and sore. It was also quite cold in our old house (by which I mean bloody freezing) when I had DD2 so they were nice to keep me warm for a bit!!!!! We had an Aga in that house, and unless you were within 6 feet of it (in which case you'd be warm) otherwise you would freeze.
(We have a lovely new house now which is nice and toasty - in case you were worried.........!)

Detsy you just made me snort tea through my nose with your John Wayne comment - thanks and........you're not far wrong!

Better go and do some work now. Byeeeee!

Morning ladies, I don't make it online for a few days as been ill & up the hospital, I come back & never mind there having been a few pages written there's a whole new thread!!

Hope things are going well for everyone. My little man keeps wriggling so much I feel sick The midwife was quite amused by it yesterday as she could see my stomach moving about, they say my fundal height is measuring a few weeks ahead.

morning all.
detsy, where did you get the organic wraparound babygrows? My sis is having a 3rd baby soon and i want to send her something nice but useful that will travel easily through transatlantic post. you can never have too many of those.

had both girls at nursery by 08:05, was at counsellor for 8:30 (still going for PND but getting better - anyone else have this or prenatal?), and back home for 9:45, cheese and pickle sandwich by 10. I feel so efficient today! now time to get to work...

I had PND after ds & have this last week been refered t a counsellor for the erst of this pregnancy due to being rather tearful, they say it's more a precation than anything else, but I'm more than happy to go if it can avoid being hospitalised after the birth (I was last time )

MissyK, hope you're feeling better now. do take it easy. How long were yo in Hosp?

i agree with you - i'm being vigilant as well as was in a very bad way this past springtime as i didn't do anything about PND until i broke down. now talking to counsellor and GP regularly as am terrified it will happen again.

do take care.

Momino I was in hospital over the weekend for severe sickness & am now on anti sickness medication as I was so dehydrated.

After DS was born I spent 3 weeks in a psychiatric hospital as like you I didn't do anything about the PND (unsure I knew & exdp ignored everything, I went from 9st down to 6!!). I eventually broke down so much I literally had no idea what I was doing. I had to stay in so they could monitor what medication would help me & changed it every 3 or 4 days till they found what worked & they needed to ensure I put the weight back on.

I am scared things will go wrong again this time but I now have a lovely DH & my family all live within a 2 minute walk so I'm hopeful.

Kelly Thank you good morning ladies.. feel decidedly better this morning... then I think I have slept way too much!

Its a bit weird feeling better becuase you worry if everything is ok :S

How are you all?

Morning ladies. I'm feeling alot better today, slept really well last night, was only up 3 times in the night instead of my normal 8! About the pushchair, ideally I'd like not to spend £300 on one, otherwise we've got to find money from somewhere to buy the other bits we need. I'm not going to impulse buy this time, and have a pushchair etc thing's that look nice, that I don't actually need.

I'm interested in finding these sleep suits/vests that you wee talking about too, they sound really good.

I had a very vivid dream last night that the baby was a girl, and I was announcing her birth to a whole room of people, her name and everything..

Jael X

Sweetbrody, glad you're feeling better.

MissyK, sounds like a terrifying experience, i do know a bit of what you went through. i'm now so glad for the hindsight in order to do everything to prevent it happening again.

on a lighter note, bump feels a bit rounder today and more bump-y than blobby. still no movement but am anticipating i will soon.

Jael I had a similar dream where I was holding a baby boy and had no idea what to do with it.. it will be interesting to see if these dreams become reality

Good Morning All'n'Bumps!! Momino - I'm pleased your getting councelling/therapy for your PND. MissyK - your PND experience is hard to read - hopefully you will not go through anything like that again. Having family close by is a great help. But also is being aware of having had PND and not wanting it to get out of control again. I'm the same. I had very bad PND and my GP was considering hospitalising me (bug DH took time off instead to help me). I was on antidepressants for about 3 years and had therpay too for 1 1/2 years. It helped a lot, but at times I found it 'reminded' me too much of things I had forgotten! It is hard work. Anyway I keep telling EVERYONE involved in my care about it - i'd even get it tattooed across my forehead if I thought it wuld help!! My consultant too is referring me back to my psychiatrist for a chat!

Also - I keep looking at girly things!! Oh er!!

DS started to cry last night. SO I asked him what was wrong. he told me 'I'm scared mummy'.. of what?..'I'm scared of the baby coming. I don't know how to be a big brother.' OHHHH Bless his wee socks xxx Gave him a big hug and told him we'd learn together!!!
When I told DH about this wee chat he came back at me with 'well you wanted to have kids, so it's all your fault.' What??? He didn't need to say that! I thought he had misheard what I had said, because to me it was totally unnecessary and unappropriate!

Just had a session at physio for my chronic neck problem. Instead of the normal torture therapy I sometimes receive, I got a heavenly neck massage..... Sheer Bliss - thank you NHS!!

Oh not 'bug' - should be 'but'!!

Divedaisy- Thats so sweet. I'm sure he'll be a great big bro!!!

I have a cold again and I coughed so much I was sick last night but on the bright side DD is all better and slept much better last night and the scaffolding for our loft extension is being erected today. Thank goodness with another LO coming we definately need another room.

Febes - poor you! I went through that last week or so too - coughing so much I was sick! I did a triple act once - I coughed, wee'd myself AND was sick all at the same time!! I didn't think it was possible -makes me laugh now!!!

I think thats the sweetest thing i've heard in a long time why is hubby being stroppy though?

Try not to let it bother you - men are weird!

I have spent the morning ploughing through a bag of prunes at my desk!!! I am determined to sort this constipation out. It is so uncomfortable and all the bloating means I can't tell what is baby bump and what is wind!! Have my 16 week doctors appointment on Friday so will talk to her about any other solutions. I have also been made redundant!!!! What perfect timing! My whole division have to be scrapped because there is no money. We are not getting any compensation or anything and I won't qualify for my SMP! I can't believe it. Think I should still qualify for Government Maternity Allowance of £117 a week, does anyone know about this? What am I going to do between Jan and May! Noone is going to employ a pregnant woman! I could get a little bored lounging at home, but at least I will get a good rest before our life is transformed! Money could become a problem though, may be living off cornflakes for the next few months!

HtheH OH my god.. you poor love..

HtheH,

What awful timing to be made redundant now. Really sorry for you.

Do you have a personnel section you can talk to about what you are entitled to regarding redundancy pay and maternity benefits. I work for BERR and we set all the employment legislation. Have a look at our website (i just googled redundancy payments) and it looks like you are entitled to some statutory redundancy payments even if your employer won't provide any. Doesn't look like much but might help you over the next few weeks. Looks like you have to have a minimum of 2 years service though. There are also guides on the berr website which may help you check if your employer is doing things fairly- worth checking.

As for getting another job, how pregnant do you look? - could you get away with not saying?. Legally, you don't have to tell your employer you are pregnant til 15 weeks before baby is due (ie around week 25), so if you can get in a job before then, there is nothing they can do about it (although they might be a bit annoyed admitedly). You can also make a complaint if you think you have been unfairly treated at interview due to being pregnant.

If nothing comes your way soon, then if I was you, I would claim whatever benefits you are entitled to, and make the most of the rest before LO comes- you will never get such an opportunity again (or not for a very long time!)

HtheH Totally agree with Pula if you think you could get a job... i'd go ahead and grab it.. although you probably wouldnt get the normal maternity pay etc. as you wouldnt have worked there long enough? :s I think??

I seem to have an appetite for cereal.. you ladies are a bad influence! every time I come here I go back with a craving!

HtheH what awful timing. i hope you sort something out. I too have to admit to central government which at unstable times, has its real advantages..

On the baby clobber, I would agree to take your time and really think what you need (hardly used bumbo and hippychick come to mind). Though things you use ALOT, or save your life need thought: pushchair, monitor, baby bjorn, etc. And tons of muslins too.

cote and frazzled: let me know what you decide on amnio. today am veering towards no - the bad results shock is easing, I'm pretty sure I wouldnt do anything about it, and feeling very lazy (would need to stay on in London next week, and the logistics of that and travel back with DS wearing me out..)! But I'll probably change my mind again soon. It is stressful.

Madrid is finally cold, and DS was such a monkey last night we have stayed in all day. Thank God its my day off, just had a 2 hour nap!

Thank you everyone. The timing is awful, but there is nothing I can do. Am not going to let it stress me out. If anything, it will be nice having a bit of a rest in the new year!! I am very lucky in so many ways and I will still qualify for maternity allowance so it could be worse. I wasn't planning on heading back to work for a couple of years anyway. I am also a qualified teacher so I could always do a bit of supply in the meantime to keep some money coming in.
Think I am going to pop out to the shop now and get some S&V crisps! And maybe some chocolate...! The prunes were a huge success by the way!!!
x