Due May 2009 - our bellies are getting as big as Santa's

[FiKelly]

It'll be an alternative merry Christmas for us this year ;)

RE- weight gain I didn't gain alot during my last pg about 8 kgs but I was over weight to start off so a good thing and I ate loads and didn't think about it much. DD was 2.7kgs long and skinny as. I put on loads of weight while BFing for some reason and had just started to lose a bit when I fell pg this time. I feel like I have put on quite a bit of weight so far but as I don't own scales not sure how much. Sonographer said LO is measuring small again so I think its mainly down to genetics. Maybe I just have small babies??

I lost weight really quickly last time, although I had so much amniotic fluid I reckn most of it came off during labour!

Unfortunately I ate lots of cake in the first 6 months at various post-natal meet-ups (there are some very good cooks amongst us) and promptly put it all back on again.

I'm still breastfeeding DS1 and someone did say that the last bit of weight comes off after stopping breastfeeding. If I feed DS2 for as long as I have DS1, I'm looking at at least 2011 before I get back to my 2006 weight!

hi all. is there nothing on telly tonight?

re: weight gain, all the food i eat seems to go to baby as in the last pgnancies but babies quite ave: dd1 small at 5lb 10 but 2wks early; dd2 7lb7oz normal. This one seems slightly bigger but can't imagine will be huge though feels that way.

my sister who's quite small, didn't gain that much but had 9lb babies... don't know what determines how big.

i'm eating all the wrong, unhealthy things like pizza, cheese, choc, crisps and have filled out a bit in my thighs. I don't mind though as I was slightly underweight to start (stress/PND does that to me). I'd love to keep a bit of this on since, getting older, i think a bit of weight in my face smoothes out the wrinkles . but i will have to concentrate on eating healthier.

I could be wrong (probably am) but I am sure that the amount of weight YOU gain has very little to do with the size of the baby. (Am sure I have read this before). Also I actually lost weight while pg last time (was 11 stone 7 when got pg and was 11 stone 3 when I arrived home from hosp the next day after giving birth) and DD was 8lb 8oz (3.860kg) - a fair size!) I ate normally during my pg but did eat a lot of fruit in the last couple of months which may have cut down on the amounts of carbs etc going in.
Cote I absolutely see what you are trying to acheive but am concerned that you say you feel hungry all the time. I'm not advocating you eat junk food (obviously) but maybe some additional healthy snacks might be ok?
I have started doing some research into waterbirth and it seems that being in the water during labour is excellent for softening things up 'down there' and therefore you are less likely to tear etc and it stretches up a bit more easily. Have you thought about this at all for labour? Is it offered in your hosp? I know you said they have epidural or nothing in terms of pain relief where you are. A tens machine is also excellent for early stages (obviously pre-birth pool!).
Sorry am wittering on.
Shut up frazzled.

frazzled I think you may be right, although I have been told that maintaining a stable, low blood sugar will ensure a smaller baby. If I have high blood sugar then so will the baby and it will be large. That is probably a feature of gestational diabetes though rather than a normal pregnancy, but there could be some similarities.

I put on about a stone and a half with each of my DD's, they were 7 lb 7 and 7lb 13 (sorry, don't do kg's). I have put on a stone so far with this one. Suspect my final weight gain will be around 2 stone, given that I get very full very quickly now and get horrific heartburn which puts me off eating unhealthy food, or at least this is what happened over the past couple of weeks.

don't starve yourself Cote, I haven't had a tear or anything in labour, so I know I don't understand the pain you talked about, but please take the best care of yourself.....

Cote, Maybe your episiotomy was badly performed, and even if you need one again, it should heal quicker- try not to worry about the babys size- I know of someone who didnt want to eat during pg, and ended up delivery two babies a couple of months early, both small. Might not have been connected, but i basically eat if i'm hungry and listen to my cravings (milk AGAIN).

I had an episiotomy which still didn't stop me tearing twice too, but although it was really uncomfortable the scars healed within 2 weeks or so (although my pelvic floor was shot to pieces). So a year does sound very extreme.

PS I put on 4 stone with DD (8lb 12) and 2 stone with DS (8lb 4) so not sure there is a link between the two. Not dared to weigh myself lately but probably put on at least a stone so far...been eating loads though.

Evening all! Just a quick hello tonight as I need to go and make our bed stripped it this morning then forgot to put bedclothes back on! And they'r unironed, please don't judge...

Re weight gain - so far I've put on 13 lbs, and most of that was over Christmas . I'm 24 weeks now. With DD, I was 2 1/2 stone heavier than pre-pregnancy the week before I had her. Back in my usual clothes by about 3 months, though a completely different shape! I found BF great for weight loss.

We've been looking a double buggies. Saw loads today, OutnAbout current favourite though got a few more to see. Definitely not going to be P&Ts because my knees kept hitting the back of the underneath seat and it was really annoying.

Right, catch up soon. Must dash!

Evening all! Just a quick hello tonight as I need to go and make our bed stripped it this morning then forgot to put bedclothes back on! And they'r unironed, please don't judge...

Re weight gain - so far I've put on 13 lbs, and most of that was over Christmas . I'm 24 weeks now. With DD, I was 2 1/2 stone heavier than pre-pregnancy the week before I had her. Back in my usual clothes by about 3 months, though a completely different shape! I found BF great for weight loss.

We've been looking a double buggies. Saw loads today, OutnAbout current favourite though got a few more to see. Definitely not going to be P&Ts because my knees kept hitting the back of the underneath seat and it was really annoying.

Right, catch up soon. Must dash!

oops, sorry about the double post.

Just braved the scales and probably put on around 1st 5lb.

Basically my weight over the last 5 years has gone from 9st (at my absolute fittest/healthiest) to 13st (with DD) back to 10st a year or so later, up to 12st (with DS) back to 10st 5lb and now i am 11st 10.5lb. So looks like i'm heading back towards 13st by the end of this pg! Lets hope i can get back to something like 10st at the end of this....

Evening all...

I am 25 weeks tommorrow and have put on 14lbs. I thought this was alot, probably due to the fact that I hit my target weight at Slimming World 2 weeks before finding out I was PG. Feel better now that I know this sounds quite normal.

I have signed up for the nhs free courses on offer...Parenting Classes, Relaxation and Breastfeeding workshop. God knows what parenting classes are about. DH seems to think they are for thickos who need to be told which end to feed and which to wipe - he doesn't want to come with me. It's alright for him he has a daughter from 1st marriage so has done this before. Its all new to me. Also have no idea what to expect at birth and this is starting to worry me a bit (all this talk of tearing etc ).

Just been onto the direct.gov website to draft out a letter to my employer regarding maternity leave.

Has everyone done this yet? It seems very formal - I only work for a small company. It also seems a bit odd that you don't put a return date and they just assume you are having a year off. I don't think I'll take the whole year was thinking of 37 weeks which mean I finish on 16th April and go back first week of Jan 2010. Do you think I should put this in the letter?

Sorry for all the questions - first timer.

LoobyLou I wouldn't put your return date in the letter. By all means give your employer an informal, verbal indication but many, many women change their minds or have second thoughts about when to return. Some, like me, intended to take a year, then went back (very) part-time after 6 months. This time I intend to take a year, but again, who knows!

It doesn't have to be a very formal letter. I work in HR and although it has been a long time since I used to see maternity letters, they vary from the very formal to the very informal!

Obviously it is helpful to let them know how long you'll have off for cover purposes, but you may well feel guilty if you change your mind.

Oh, and don't forget that your holidays continue to accrue during your paid maternity leave so factor those in as well. I'm finishing at 29 weeks, having a year off then "returning to work" but taking my holidays and KIT days, giving me somewhere in the region of 13 months off!

Loobylou- sorry - didnt mean to scare people with talk of tearing- not sure how common it is as not everyone does (I only had an episiotomy as they needed to use a ventouse and the tears were probably due to them having to turn my DD as they pulled her with the ventouse).

To help me heal, I had a bath at least once a day for the first two weeks with tea tree oil to help keep it all clean. I would also sit down very gingerly although there are lovely rubber ring type cushions you can buy to make it more confortable sitting down!

I think parenting classes are a good idea, and it would be good if you could get your DH to at least go to the first one with you before dismissing them. One key aspect of having children and being a parent is to support each other, and both work as a team, and understand how the baby changes things in the relationship.

Episiotomy healed in 3 weeks, but the scar was still painful for up to a year. This was hard for obvious reasons.

LoobyLou - Get informed, not only about what to do with the baby (parenthood classes etc) but also about the birth itself. Learn about birthing positions, some of which are much better than others not to tear. Don't give birth on your back, feet in stirrups.

And refuse an episiotomy for all reasons other than baby being in distress.

I'd go as far as getting the hospital birth protocol. Then you know what they have to do or why, such as time limits on pushing before further intervention etc. These obvioulsy exist for a reason, but useful to know why (baby needs v rules) something is being done.

On tearing (nice topic for breakfast) I was horrified at the idea, but I did (DS had his arm up by his head - ow) and it wasn't as bad as I feared and healed fine etc. But there is enough pain in labour to avoid it if you can.

alapala that's a good idea.. i didn't even know there was a protocol.. duh should have realised really.

LoobyLou- I work for a large govt dept so we have an admin form to complete. Basically it asks details such as due date, planned date of start of maternity leave, whether you plan to take any AL before this, possible date of return, whether you plan to take any AL after. However i think for most of the questions you can say "don't know" and you can change your plans as long as you give a month or two notice. One thing that applies where i am (and may for others) is that if you have any sickness within 4 weeks of your due date, they will make you start your mat leave then (which sort of makes sense). I'm planning to start mine 5 weeks before due date anyway. So i think you would be best to keep details as vague as possible, but if you are happy to give them an idea now, and make it clear that if you change your plans, you will let them know at least two months before then you should be fine. This leaflet on the BERR website tells you what you are legally supposed to do (and what you are entitled to) www.berr.gov.uk/files/file34285.pdf

I went to a couple of pram shops on Saturday. I am totally amazed at my response! I actually love the M&P Skate!!! I hate the Pliko, and lol when Emma stated so solidly that she loves hers!! I have read reeviews on loads (as I'm sure you all have) and the Skate didn't get too much of a thumbs up on Which?, but I really like it, so it's top of my list! But I want to go to the new M&P shop in Belfast, cos I want to see the Ziko Herbie before I make up my mind totally. Also tried/demonstrated iCandy again apple and I still like that one, but it doens't fold down as small as the Skate. Babecar, Nurse 'Hello' (VERY light), Streety (didn't look very sturdy to me), Jane (buggy bit doesn't face towards me).

Thank you all too for your support and understanding about my DH rant the other night. It ususally doesn't bother me, but for about 2 days I did feel unhappy with him. He hasn't apologised at all! But I do think he does feel bad. DS was at his Nans last night and we went out to our local. I made the effort - lovely shower, loads of body cream, nice clothes and bling, sultry smokey make up and hair all done (including the use of rollers!!!) - he told me I looked lovely, and by God I felt it too. I also KNOW other guys in the pub noticed me too!!! Anyway, when he said about me being lovely, I (slyly) commented 'yeah, but you don't find me fanciable at the moment' - he told me that wasn't true, he just doesn't find pregnancy attractive, but he does fancy ME! Then when we got home, he couldn't keep his hands off bump, and insisted on rolling into me to go to sleep cos he wanted to hold me!

Nikkie - I am so glad you and bump are OK. Sorry to hear that you are unable to chat with us - but you know where we are when you need us. Take care babe, and if you can pop in around May to let us know how you got on!

I have a laugh at the sounds!!! Moo-moo, Choo-choo - what about Moo-Choo!! Could be the title of a good thread!! The Moo-Chooers!!!

Oh as for cream eggs! I (adictively) prefer Cadbury's mini eggs! I have to buy 4-100g bags rather than 1x400g bag to prevent me from eating 400g at once! Anyone else prefer them!??

As for episiotomy prevention - I undertand rubbing and massaging the perieum with cream/oil helps in the stretch preparation!.

Sorry about long post - losts to say!!!

Oh and another thing. despite all I compained about my DH, he really does come up with good ideas! As some of you know I run our skateboard and BMX shop and have a guy coming in on Mon, Wed and Sats to give me a bit of time off. You may also be aware of hte expansion opportunity that has been given to us to open another shop above an indoor skate/BMX park. We are going ot go ahead with this opportunity because if we don't some other company will! Well my concerns were how the hell do I now revert back to running the first place single handed esp after April/May!! Cutting opening hours was my only solution, BUT then DH got his FAB idea!! We close the first place and move everything to the second place. Now the second place is about 30 miles away and I was concerned that he expected me to start trying to juggle all and work there... but how wrong I was!!!!! No I do only an administrative role - at HOME!! I do the books, approve stock orders, banking etc etc and once or twice a week go to the shop to make deliveres of stock required, pick up till receipts, assess the place etc etc!!! Sounds like a FABULOUS plan to me! Only worried about - why the hell didn't I think of it!!!!

Divedaisy- mmmm mini eggs- can't get enough of them! trying to resist getting my first packet this year otherwise it'll be one a day every day!

Glad to hear that you made your DH eat his words, and raised your own self-esteem too. Good for you. I was very at his remarks the other night. Let's hope he appreciates you more again.

My DH doesn't seem to have any issues about my pregnant body thankfully. He does make comments about me making more effort with my appearance but as long as i do it for the odd special occassion he's happy enough!

Oh I have to go and get a bag of mini eggs out of the fridge..... I cannot resist any more!!