Due May 2009 - Childbirth is getting closer and it's giving us the (blue) willies!!

[SpangleMaker]

In honour of llareggub's DS's painting experiments........

Chocolatebunnies that's crap. Can you get some advice about help with rent from CAB?

chocolatebunnies so sorry about your nan i hope she's feeling better with the hospital's care & on the road to recovery soon..

re your rent.. how about housing benefit would you qualify? worth a shot..

Chocolatebunnies- you are having a really rough time . Hope your nan is on the mend and in good hands.

Is there any way you can keep up the rent payments in the short term or would it push you too far into debt? Is it worth checking with your jobcentre whether you are entitled to more benefits? Sounds terrible to be forced out of your home at such a time. I know your landlord may be struggling financially too, but they may find it hard to find someone else to rent the property so he'd be better letting you stay.

Hope things get better for you soon.

chocolatebunnies, i don't have advice but just wanted to send you a hug... i'm sorry things feel really awful now and hope it gets better soon. get a good night sleep at least and give yourself a break.

I'm so sorry chocolatebunnies I'd echo what others have said. Can you get yourself to the CAB for advice? Or housing benefits?

Were you 25 weeks when you were made redundant? You should still qualify for statutory maternity pay regardless. Sorry if we've already discussed this before, I know I did with someone on here.

llareggub, before i go to sleep wanted to wish you a happy last day tomorrow. lucky you!

heading off to bed soon and am i the only one wearing less and less to bed these days? little bun in the oven sets herself to blast furnace output every night at the mo!

hang in there chocolatebunnies. I hope your Nan is going to be okay, but that is very sad news. I don't know what to say. Things will get better, believe in that and just take each day as it comes.

With the division of labour thing - its not expected of me but I know it makes DP happy if things are done a certain way and because its not expected I feel all the more compelled to do those things. That wasn't meant to sound kinky...I was referring to stuff like cooking etc. But I guess it could extend to the bedroom...I think it doesn't matter whose doing what as long as its not taken for granted.

Shucks grumpy...you sure know how to deal a compliment!

Fi I've given up on pjs none of them fit anymore and if I wear DPs t shirts i end up all tangled up in them and yeh then theres the whole on board furnace and scratchy skin thing...was looking for somenice new pjs then decided it'd be much cheaper and more comfortable to give em up.

chocolatebunnies You've certainly had more than your fair share (if there is such a thing) of bad luck. I echo what the others have said - get yourself to the CAB for advice, particularly on any benefits you may be entitled to. I hope your Nan recovers soon. Sending you

detsy yep Sunday is fine. I'll come over to Sandbach, since you travelled further last time, and in the interest of broadening my horizons Just let me know when/where.

Re division of labour.... Both DH's and my families followed the traditional stereotypes, particularly PIL: in fact FIL had never set foot in a supermarket until MIL was very ill & incapacitated DH is fortunately a little more modern in his outlook, although I still do the vast majority of cleaning, cooking, paying bills etc even though we both work FT & make an equal financial contribution. This is my choice, mainly because he works 6 days and me 5, and by doing the chores while he's at work we get more quality time together. He's also very good at sorting DIY type stuff, fixing things etc. I do get a bit fed up & resentful from time to time though. Anyway I've told him we'll need a re-think when LO is here (esp when I go back to work) because when he's at work I'll be occupied with childcare. He is very fair-minded (if a little bit spoilt!) so I think we'll get there in the end.

Morning ladies.

my new (second hand) freezer arrived last night!{smile] It's great in mint condition, so now I can start thinking of what lovely meals to bulk cook and freeze for when LO arrives.
Sad I know but it takes my mind off the crap at work (no pay, etc).

Must get my pasta machine out and make a batch of ravioli me thinks it hasn't been out of the box since I got it at xmas .

chocbunnies so sorry to read about your woes.. I'm not too good at this sort of advice so can only reiterate what the others have said - get as much advice as possbible re: benefits, etc. Hope your nan gets better soon.

Incidentally the people we bought the freezer off are also expecting (due in 4 wks). They were on their way to parenting class last night, they'd already done the NCT one and were off the the NHS one. Apparently tho someone had told them that the just sit you in front of a video to watch. I hope this isn't true - I've put our name down for it and DH doesn't want to go as is it.

I know these will vary from area to area but does anyone have any experience of these? I only really signed up cos I thought it would be a help to me as this is my first and cos you get the tour of the labour suite then.

Re: getting warmer in bed. I don't wear much (just bigger knickers at the mo - much to DH annoyance)

But I must be getting warmer. Normally if DH gets up to go to the loo in the night he gets back in when he's cold and gives me a cuddle to warm up but the last couple of times he's greeted me with blo*dy hell you're on fire!!

Morning ladies,
sorry i didnt reply last night, decided it was bedtime, can remember the last time i've got myself so upset.
I spoke to job centre and all im entitled to is jobseekers but i have to be avaliable to work, at 27 weeks gone I dont think thats possible.
I will try and speak to the council today but it is unlikely they'll be able to help because Im not a single parent, it winds me up that I would be "better off" if I were single and had two kids.
I do get my maternity pay but work have well and truly f**d me over, my maternity pay wont start until end of march, so Im not getting paid in February at all, when I was expecting normal full-time wages for Feb and March. Im feeling really bitter about work now and feel like they have really taken the piss as I dont get any redundancy, its especially worse as my MIL was my boss, but wasnt responsible for my redundancy.
My nan is getting better but they have told her shes not allowed to drive anymore, its going to be so hard for her.
I can't see us being able to move somewhere else, I live in Devon and properties are expensive and few and far between, we were very lucky to get this place and I don't think I could just give it up.
The last two weeks ahve but such a dampener on everything that Im no longer excited about new baby, just feel really bad that Im bringing him/her into all this mess.
Re getting warmer, I haven't had this problem yet, in fact im the other way round, always bloody cold!
I am not getting on with this stupid support belt, its damn uncomfortable, but can't decide whats worse!
Argh Im ranting again, sorry, wish I had someone in RL I could off load on rather than bore you lot!

chocolatebunnies when are you due? SMP can be paid from week 29 of pregnancy.

llareggub im due 22nd May, which means my pay will start beginning of March but they are paying me monthly "like everyone else??"
so I have to wait till the end of March before I can have it, and then at the end of every month after that. They refused to pay it to me in one lump, so god knows how Im going to get through March with no money! Looks like we'll be living on co-co pops!

Does anyone know of anyways I can make so extra cash? and whether this will effect my maternity pay?

Hi everyone,

Got 2 5yo and 2 7yo to look after today. My SIL phoned me late last night and was in a pickle with childcare. I've got the day off, so off course I volunteered. She's helped me out in the past too, so it's only fair. The only problem is that they're fitting the new floor today, so I'll have to take them all out somewhere.

Chocolatebunnies: I'd also say got to the CAB. They were really really helpful to my friend who recently separated from her dh and was on her own with young 4dcs, childcare costs, a mortgage and x amount of debts. They almost completely sorted out her finances for her and made life much easier. I hope your nan will get better soon and I hope you'll feel better soon too. I have a giant tubigrip type support belt. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but because it hugs my whole bump it's not all that uncomfortable, just very hot. It does work though, but as I'm getting bigger I can feel it's effect less and less. Anyway, only about 10 weeks to go and counting

Re getting hot in bed: yes it's happening to me too! I've been waking up soaked in sweat and so I've decided it's time to ditch the PJ's. I had exactly the same happen with the other dcs and remember sleeping naked for the last 2-3 months as well

polony you're looking good! Nice dress and nice bump too!

Hello everyone...

Blimey, I can't believe how much catching up I had to do! Thanks everyone for replying about my name choices... think it might be all go for Harriet Elizabeth!

DP took some bump pics at the weekend, but quite frankly, they are awful, so there is NO way they are going up on here!

I've been having a poo time too. Not pregnancy related. Am doing a doctorate part time (as well as working full time) and we handed in our research proposal in December. Which I failed. Had to re-do it, went through it with my tutors on Monday, they said its like I've taken 5 steps backwards! I won't bore you with the details, but its so disheartening when someone tells you your work is crap. Spent the evening crying my eyes out, wanting to quit. Have got a deadline of 6th March, and I just feel I can't concentrate on nice baby things (and wedding things too - thats happening in October) until this f&%*ing thing is in. Once its in, then I'm taking a break in my studies until I return to work (a year!) so thats keeping me going. Was meant to be in work today, but rubbish heartburn last night kept me coughing, which made me wheezy... think I am STILL coughing up all the crap from giving up smoking in September (when I found out I was pg) (so big pat on back for that - I went cold turkey and everything). So woke up this morning feeling like I have shards of glass shoved down my throat and a thick woolly head. So no work today, just lying on sofa with laptop trying to do some studying. Which is hard, as pip inside me is squirgling away and I want to play with her instead of concenrating on research methods!!

Am soooo tired as I think I may have caught this lurgy off dp, who is all bunged up and therefore snores like a big snorey thing, keeping me awake. Waiting for my delivery of earplugs from the British Snoring Association. They actually work like a dream..

Boo hoo. And to top it all off, when dp came in from work last night he said "hello fatty" THEN my brother called and said "hello tubs". Gits.

Anyway, enough of me moaning. At least I got some roses last Saturday. They're nearly dead already, but still.

Roll on 6th March, when I don't have to study like a loon!

Ladies - thank you all so much! I appreciate that you appreciate my updating the lists! And it has been interesting reading all your views over men and housework! I'm glad you'd all marry me!! Though I am by no means Anthea Turner (GOd NO!!!) because I am so unorganised! I read all you lot making an freezing food in preparation for B-Day!! I can hardly decide what to have tonight - Oh I did leave out some mince last night to defrost (WOW!!!) cos I'm making a pasta thing (& if there's extra I WILL FREEZE IT!!) LAst night me & DS had toast.... BAD MUM!

Polony - it wasn't a T shirt this morning - it was no trousers!!!! And they were in our bedroom where I supposed he threw them when he didn't put them away!!! I DID ask him last night if there was anything he required for the morning and because he said 'No' he has only himself to blame! He did have loads of undies, so I'm assuming he just put on 2 pairs of those to wear to work cos I don't know what he wore!!!

Oh I do love him!!! Warts and all!!

I got my anti-d jab this morning - OMG It hurt!!! Still unable to sex this bean - it is meant to be a suprise! But I keep calling her 'her'- see I did it again!

re stereotypes - my ds will choose his own clothes (uniform is left out for him the night before) and usually his choice depends on whether he's being Indiana Jones 'desert disguise', 'army desguise', or 'professor' at the time!!! He is good at getting his Ju-Jitsu kit and Beavers uniform, and can even find his own undies in the drawer without detailed directions! he will fold his clothes up really neatly and will make his bed (sometimes I have to remind him) and he'll occassionally rememeber to put his PJs into the PJ case. He'll be helpful when he grows up!

My DP says, "you're not fat, you're bulbous" which always makes me feel so much better...

saus you've taken on a lot - good on you for quitting cigs thats brilliant. I should be working not mumsnetting myself so I feel your pain there. I have an interview thingy with a gallery tomorrow and am feeling slightly nervy that I'm so obviously pregnant and they'll just think, well theres no point getting involved with this one...In some ways I've found having pg to focus on (not that it gives you a choice) has helped the ideas process as now theres something else that absorbs the pressure there but I don't know if this would apply to a doctorate, obviously you need everything you've got there...but maybe you will find a way to make it all work for you. Try not to feel too put out by having to redo the proposal...just take it as a sign that your institution is a good one that will push you and help you make the most of the project. Is there anything you can take to ease the breathing? I was going to suggest taking a deep breath and having a day doing nice relaxing things to re charge a bit but the first part of that seems a bit tactless. You've probably saved loads on cigs - would a massage be a nice treat?

dandy I'm in London (Haringey). My email is [email protected] if you want to get in touch.

belgian thanks, and the question I've been meaning and keep forgetting to ask you is if you've used a sling for your babies and is there one you'd recommend ergonomically for taller women?

Chocolatebunnies - I agree - you need to go to Citizens Advice. The last thing you need right now is the added stress of financial worry. I don't know how you could make some extra money to see you through... try selling stuff on ebay??? What does your DH say?? Are you gettin his support too?

Re night time sweats - not really experienced those, although DH says I am hotter than usual. (No girls not in a kinky way!!)

Do any of you have a water proof cover on your mattress yet??? I'm thinking of getting my ds's 'hippychick' protector and putting it under me! Is it too early???

Anyway - I'm off to get some lunch - starving and rumbly tumbly!

Thanks polony - they are such lovely words to hear . You're right, I've saved a small fortune since giving up smoking AND going out boozing all the time! All the saving is going towards nice things for baby! But you're right, I was thinking the other day a nice massage would do the trick. Think I will book one the day after my proposal is in. That'll be something to look forward to!

And yep, my uni is known to be hard markers (Kings College London) - I know no-one said it was ever going to be easy but still!! Am seeing a friend over the weekend who's a lecturer at uni, and he said he'd go through it with me. Hurrah for brainboxes!

Hope your interview thingy with the gallery goes ok!