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........

Got a vessle of some sort handy Belgian?...

Pregnancy seems to throw up such different experiences for each one of us that the lines get really blurred where disability is concerned - like you say, the PGP and things like it must be challenging, and probably demonstrate just how much we put up without even considering it a "disablility". I have weakness but so far no pain... pain is extremely tiring if nothing else. I don't have anything to complain about. I just feel like I have a big job interview coming up and I have to impress the interviewer into believing in me! When you live with a handicap though, everything becomes about strategic planning so I'd always had it in the back of my mind how I might cope with pg and a baby, hence the health routine. So far its been better than I'd anticipated so I guess i've been lucky. And you're right about the amount of people you know who are handicapped in various ways. Most people I know are able bodied.

Ha! Clothes too short...at one point a tall friend and I decided that it was cool to have wrists/ankles dangling out of clothes so that was one way to deal with the situation. I also used to buy shirts a size too big so they'd fit in the shoulder and then get them taken in. Good t shirts are rare as hens teeth, all end up bunched around the waist (bring back the body suit!). I feel your pain.

Yes, there's loads of things I struggle with: e.g. seems like the corporate world out there thinks tall people don't get pregnant or have children, slim people don't get big breasts and definitely don't breastfeed; Oh and people only ever need extra wide shoes, not extra slim ones, so knee hight boots always swamp me [big sigh emoticon] It's not fair...

Thanks Euromum! There was a great thread running on mumsnet a while ago about home births - whether or not thats the way you want to or are able to do it, I found that thread so inspiring - so many people with positive stories. I can't remember its link but you'd be able to find it through the list of topics. You might enjoy it.

llaregguB that sounds divine, lets hope this is the beginning of spring and no more cold weather!

Us shorties suffer too!! Trousers, jeans - I always have to have them taken up (hurrah for sew-y Mum!) - knee length skirts always end up calf length - in fact, I'm putting on ebay later today a very nice Isabella Oliver denim size 12 skirt - was lovely in the picture, and I wore it once, until I saw myself walking past a shop window - I looked ridiculous! Also putting on ebay some jeans (under the bump jobs) as the crotch bit is too long - was waggling way down my thighs!

God I'm cross posting all over the place.

I bet you look beautiful Belgian - all long and voluptuous. The corporate wear is pretty hideous as far as I've seen. You're finished at work for now are you? Bring on the mu mus!

Hi all, it's been so long since i posted that you probably don't remember me. I am an avid reader though...i just never seem to have the time to respond.

The pace of the thread is unbelievable and with so many of us due in may it's hard to keep up. It's certainly reassuraning hearing everbody's niggles and worries and does make you feel better.

I have been ill on and off for the last 3 weeks, urine infection, ear infection, sinusitis blah blah. I've never been at the doctors so much, it's quite embarrasing. I think my name must flash up when i book an appointment.....hypocondriac!?! I'm hoping that the spring day today is the first of many and will make me feel better. I've also been feeling a bit depressed,and again feel reassured when i hear that some of you ladies are feeling a bit down too. I do worry that it's the first signs that my PND will return when the LO is born but hopefully not and maybe it's just those crazy hormones that seem to take the blame for everything.

I ordered a kari-me sling yesterday, this is my first purchase so far. It's not the same when you already have everything. I'm hoping the sling could be a life-saver in the early months. There are so many to choose from but this seems to be the one that has glowing reports!

I am so lazy with my pelvic floors and seem to have a few embarrasing incidents with coughing and sneezing. I think i emptied the entire contents of my bladder in a series of sneezes the other day. Fortunately i was at home!!

6 more weeks until mat leave and have to say it can't come soon enough for me. I have definately found pregnancy more of a struggle second time around and have to say that at times i've hated it. I always feel bad thinking like that.
Enjoy the nice day!

Hi chocolate frog, I am planning to order a kari-me too - it's also about the only thing I'm getting for this baby, what a change from the first one! I have been meaning to ask though if anyone has used one - I've heard that they can be quite hot in warm weather because of all the fabric wrapped around you. Obviously we might have a crappy summer but I don't want to count on it (God forbid)! Anyone got any experience?

Belgianchocs thanks for mentioning a doula - in fact I hadn't even thought of that as I sort of looked into it last time and wrote it off as too difficult to find. Also my physiotherapist was lovely, kind and seemed into active birthing, although in the end she was advising me to go for the pain relief too. I unexpecetdly clamped up in labour and after 10 hours couldn't bring myself to speak in objection, but I regret it (I must say at the time it was rather a relief, even if I was rather disappointed in myself!). I shall start looking into that right now! If you have any tips on how to go about finding one here, that would be great too - English, Dutch or French speaking is fine so theoretically I have the whole market to choose from. And I think I shall add myself to the list of people who think you'd be great to have as a midwife!

I just wanted to say, please can people keep mentioning pelvic floor exercises in their posts- it always makes me do mine, which is no bad thing as I leak when i sneeze

Someone mentioned travel sickness- i had this quite bad the other day on the train (never usually suffer on trains at all) and thought i was going to throw up. I also thought I was going to be sick when I was stood in a queue at Boots just now- never been sick in any of my 3 pg but feel like i could come close to it.

Better get back to work...

Detsy- I am going to get a double buggy. I am hoping to get one off my friend who is moving abroad with her now 4 and 3 year olds so hopful I can buy it off her. Its a phil and teds. I am also going to buy a Kari me sling as my friend has one and it is fab.
My mum is coming over from NZ for first 3 weeks to help out. She is a midwife and alround legend so I can't wait.
I'm a bit nervous about coping mainly financially and sleep wise but am so looking forward to meeting LO and extending our little family. I'm also looking forward to being a full time mum again as I find my 4 days at work a week hard although I do enjoy it once I'm there.

Hi everyone had a hectic am as I had a pal round with her little girl (4days older than our ds) to play and have lunch. DS now worn out and happy so getting a bit of me time while he relaxes with a bit of curious george on the telly.

Been thinking ahead to LO's arrival again and need an opinion or 2...

We will be using DS's crib for LO when she arrives... do i have to get a new mattress for LO to use or is this not needed as i know where ds's mattress has been?

FiKelly, we used the same mattress for DD2 as she inherited DD1's cot. I don't think there is a problem.

In fact, we'll prob use the same mattress for DC3 when he/she moves to the cot. DD2 will move to the toddler bed and we'll get DD1 a standard single bed (lucky DD1 gets everything new).

chocfrog, hope you're feeling better soon. About PND, I'm worried as well and fully expect it to come back since I don't feel like I ever overcame it. Luckily, I'm getting continued support with GP and Counsellor. Do you still get support?

Febes, you must be looking forward toyour mum visiting. I hope mine can come for a couple of weeks after babe is born. She's 76 and has bad knees so transatlantic trips are a bit trying for her (as well as the steep stairs in our creaky victorian house). but it would be lovely to have her here for mum/daughter chats and she's great at holding babies (she had 12 of us!). i miss my mum .

Hi all,
not been on for a while and looks like I've missed nearly a whole thread!! Am off to try to catch up now.

Momino WOW your Mum sounds amazing - 12 of you!

Back later
xx

Fi,

I ended up getting a new mattress for DS (and for DD too when we borrowed the moses masket from my SIL) and will use a new one for DS2. This does seem excessive but in the end I figured that part of the advice on reducing cot death is to use a new mattress, and that if something terrible were to happen then at least i'd know it wasn't due to the mattress and was just "one of those things". I know cot-death is very low risk now, especially in non-smoking households, but i preferred to know i'd done what i could to minimise the risk.

It's a bit like my stance on drink-driving- some people will have one drink (or maybe more) as they are still within the legal limit, but the thought of something happening and not knowing if it would have happened anyway or was a result of the alcohol is not worth the risk to me so i don't have any.

I should point out (if its not obvious already) that I am a very risk-averse person .

However, i should also point out that DS went into a travel cot around 4m and DDs cot at 6m and i didn't use new mattresses for either as I figured the risk of cot death is much lower in this age group...and he also slept in my bed from birth when he wouldn't settle in the moses basket and there was no new mattress there...

I am not planning on getting new mattresses for LO as they are both only 15 months old now. I have lent my moses basket to a friend who had her little girl in december but I think she is mainly co-sleeping with her so I don't think it will be getting too worn out.
DD has eaten all her meals 90% independently this week I'm so proud of her but she does make a mess and shouts at me if I try to help. At least she will be more independent when LO comes along.

thanks momino and pulapula i was thinking another mattress wouldn't go amiss as it was always tricky if ds vomited more than twice as we'd have no more dry sides left to use! the crib ones aren't massively expensive and i have a code for 10% off with mothercare valid till 1st march (if anyone wants it just shout) so would cost even less. then i can use ds's as the spare.. only really got some kimono wrap over body suits to get for LO as gave all of ds's away.. when i was hunting for bump bands last night i was hunting out those too.. found some v cute ones and if anyone's interested i'll post the links when on laptop later as on phone at mo. off to make ds some dinner.. xoxox

crossed posts.. and thanks febes

I found ebay really good for moses basket/crib mattresses- you can search for any shape or size. So my moses basket ones only cost around a tenner i think. I have a new one (still packaged) and 3 spares to use if this LO is sicky!

With the cotbed, DDs mattress cost over £100 so we were loathed to replace that (DD was never a sicky baby either) and figured at 6mo DS should be out of the high risk age group...

Phew! think that's it all read!

I've missed so much I don't think I can poss catch up properly but there are lots of bump pics, you all look bloomingly lovely. I am not brave enough to post one... as an, ahem, larger lady I'm still thinking I just look fat but DH assures me its not the case!

I've been baby shopping this week and getting really obsessed with looking at reusable nappies, I am going round and round in circles with what I think I might get. Have bought a few single ones to try out but am thinking terry squares and a good quality wrap are prob the most cost effective option on my limited budget.

Re mattresses, I am getting second hand moses basket and cot (well actually they were first used for me in the 70s and have since been around about 10 siblings and cousins!!) Mum is sorting it all out with new mattresses and bedding as her present for the new baby.

pula you're an ebay genius. I have no patience - I get really shirty at having to bid...

Oh yeah, TK Maxx in cardiff had a load of cot and moses mattresses in last week Might be worth trying your local one if you want to avoid ebay!

Ha ha runningmonkey - that was me two weeks ago, completely obsessed with reuseable nappies! I've decided to get some muslin and some terries, plus some boosters and liners, some wool wraps - then when baby is born try a few of the zillions of shaped ones that are out there if we need something quicker/easier. I used to fold my brothers nappies when I was little, I liked it then...don't know how I'll feel about it sleep deprived and up to my eyeballs in it. Mum said she loved the nappies all fresh from the line when we were little. She wasn't much help when I asked how she found it because she said that disposables were so terrible then that she had never considered using them for us. So it was folding or folding. I don't think she was too traumatised by it.

I haven't bought anything yet. I'm not allowed to until I've been to the NCT nearly new sales next month! Says me. Although I finally allowed myself to go to the toy shop on the weekend when we went by...

re mattresses. This is from the sids website.

I used to fold my brother's nappies too and can remember prefolding them when they'd come straight off the line ready for use!

Re stuff: Tesco are doing a 'baby and toddler' fair at the moment lots of stuff half price - I got a breastpump and a steriliser and bottles for half the price I saw them in boots/mothercare. Lots of other stuff cheap too. Between that and a trip to kiddicare and boots, have pretty much got my list sorted now! Just waiting for my bumper pack of eco maternity pads to arrive from natural collection now. Ooh how exciting!