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........

I've always gone to Bravissimo, and my maternity bras and feeding bras have stood up well to frequent washing and wear. I will be buying new breastfeeding bras shortly, as these current ones are on their last legs after 2 years of use! I don't wear them all the time, I hasten to add, and I'm still wearing my heavy duty underwired bras to work. I can't recommend them highly enough.

DH and I have been busy this evening faffing about getting outfits etc sorted for my brother's wedding tomorrow (we are both last minute people, esp DH!). Very excited I'm hoping I can hold out in my high heels but may have to resort to driving shoes later on when everyone else is pissed and won't notice what I have on my feet.

Belgian of your posh new mattress. Ours sounds like your old one. We're getting a new bed + mattress as we're moving bedrooms but there are a few things that have to be done first so it'll be a while yet. Hoping I can persuade DH not to be too last minute about this one...

will look at Bravissimo.
for breastfeeding, I'm going to need one I can sleep in as well. last 2 babies, I found I had to wear a bra 24 hours.

I can't remember what I bought last time but it was one of those that goes over the head (ie not adjustable). I got it through NCT sales and was happy with it although had to buy the only one left which was leopard print .

spangle have a great day tomorrow

belgian we have that mattress! We bought in desperation as I was suffering terribly from a bad back in my last pregnancy, which I put down to being pregnant. We bought it after DS was born when I couldn't take it anymore and decided it must be the bed. It was! I haven't had a bad back for ages and I actually wake up feeling refreshed on those nights where DS lets us sleep. Bliss...

Monimo I wear a vest with internal support to bed most nights. It is a nursing vest from Mothercare which is too revealing to wear as outerwear and my norks are too huge to wear without a bra, but it is fine for bed.

oh, that's a good idea llareggub. sounds a bit more comfortable than sleeping in a bra.

pizza has arrived (courtesy of Pizza Express/S'bury's and DH's effort to put in oven).

if I'm not back, have a good night all. xx

I've always gone to John Lewis to be measured. They also do a £10 bra too which is handy if you keep growing, although its not the most attractive.

The recommendation is to get measured around 4-5 months and then around 8 months.

must get measured for new bras. mine are exploding - thanks for the reminder! night night all x

I found the Mothercare nursing vests weren't supportive enough, even for night time - and they didn't hold breast pads in place! I sleep in M&S internal support vests (they're not maternity), they're much firmer support than any others I've tried but not ideal for breastfeeding. Bravissimo are great for bras.

We had a new bed about 4 years ago, and I still love it! Hate going away anywhere because I've never come across a bed as comfy as ours. We turn the mattress regularly, and it feels like new again when it's been turned. I am slightly obsessed with my bed though, even though I'm a slob in the rest of the house my bed has to be perfect - very clean, ironed, everything straight etc. DH takes the piss out of me.

I DON'T like Mothercare bras. Their nursing bras only have an elastic strap to hold up the cup when not feeding that stretches and goes all saggy. I like nursing bras that still support the breast a little when the cup is unhooked, with a band of fabric.

flippineck I'm not far off that type either. Its a lot better now than it used to be, it takes a lot to piss me off, but if I lose the plot I'm inconsolable first over whatever it was I lost the plot over then because I'm so angry at myself for losing plot. I've actually been a lot more chilled since being pregnant...an unexpected bonus. I had one barney recently with DP about him binge drinking and not coming home until 4am and making me worry because he had stood me up to go drinking in the first place, stayed calm for 24 hrs before lack of sleep/ hurt feelings etc got too much and I started prodding (albeit tactfully at first) - the worst part was how scared I felt having such a big loud messy fight with a baby in here who can hear it all. (I have this effing acupuncturist who keeps telling me "the baby feels everything you feel". I'm going to stab him if he says that one more time.)

divedaisy and all you others who iron I think your husbands/partners have it pretty good if the worst thing they have to complain of is an unironed T shirt. For crying out loud. I guess everyone lets off steam in their own way.

dandy sorry about your MIL. It doesn't sounds like she can be counted on at all, but it must be disappointing that she's not more interested in spending time with your LO. I'm sorry you haven't anyone about that can give you a bit of help, it doesn't even sound like you ask for much anyway.

Family are definitely strange. I don't have to deal with in laws as my DP hasn't spoken to his parents in well over 10 years and is the most stubborn man in the world so this doesn't look like changing anytime soon baby or not. We've talked about it before but I know that me bringing it up will not help and in any case its none of my business. I've never met them. I just have issues with my own family, who are very loving but stark raving. Sometimes terribly unhelpful and at others generous beyond belief.

spangle I hope you have a ripper time at the wedding.

I'm jealous of the bed talk. We bought a three inch memory foam topper a month ago and I'm nearly ready to admit I don't like it. Rolling over is a mission,its hard enough without it. I feel like I'm drowning in it but desperately want to like it because DP seems happy with it and we spent money on the damned thing.

Sorry everyone you're just too quick for me - I might have to give up posting if I keep on responding to things from pages ago.

Thanks dandy! I like the cut of your jib too. And now that I'm on the same page...I bought a couple of mothercare bras. False economy. They lasted five minutes (the elastic blistered, the fabric sagged) and gave me backache. I bought one Elle Macpherson maternelle bra, I live in that and its great. Its supposed to last all the way through nursing as well but I'll believe it when I see it. They told me in the fitting room that if you can still get your hand in the cup it will last. I can't suggest an underwired bra, but figleaves.com might have one. Underwire is not supposed to be good for maternity because it can damage your glands. I find the maternelle is good shape and support, very comfortable. I hope it does last, I like the look of them as well. The Elle Macpherson nursing bra,I think its called la mere or something like that looks nice too. I had the NCT catalogue sent out recently and they have a nursing vest that looks good - it sounds like it has better support than vests with built in support usually have. Again, its not the cheapest, but I'm thinking its hard to find cheap stuff (esp when it comes to bras) that doesn't cost more in the long run anyway.

More good news yesterday- my sister's pg is progressing well- she had another scan (9 weeks) and baby is growing nicely etc. Looks like the IVF has finally worked. Think this LO may have cost them around £20k in treatment, but i'm sure they will think it is all worth it now. Just a few more weeks til they are through the first trimester, but 2 good scans is very positive.

That is great news, let's all keep our fingers crossed for your sister.

Hello All

Sorry, I fell off the face of the earth, I just found I could never keep up! Anyway, just thought I'd pop my head in and say hi.

All well stateside - found out a few weeks back that I'm having a boy, which came as a bit of a shock as I have 2 girls, but am excited about it now! It will be nice, because even though this is baby number 3, it will all be new sort of thing. I do have absolutely nothing for this poor child though as everything I own is girly!

The 2 girls have just moved in together and I've been busy getting their room done up for them (DD2 was not pleased about losing her room so had to let her pick some new stuff to make the room feel a bit more like "hers"). After that I can get cracking on the baby's room.

Glad everyone is progressing well, I'll try and look in a bit more!

I'll catch up with all your posts later tonight, but thought I'd give you a quick update before DH comes home form the shop.....
His ironing he complianed about the other morning???? OH i got it done last night - all 1x t-shirt and 1x shirt!! That was all that was inthe ironing basket!!! ANd I made a BIG point of it too!!

Hi all. Have just been catching up. its taken me about 3 days to read everything!

TO whoever posted on the last thread about Juju baby bags, thanks! Have decided that it what I'll spend my £190 on as well as a pg massage or two.

I am 28 weeks tomorrow. Last weighed myself at 26 weeks and had put on a stone and half which I was ok about. The only thing is I seem to have grown massively in the last two weeks - everyone has commented on this, but I daren't get on the scales again just yet. With DS I didn't weight myself at all through the pg or afterwards so have no idea how much I put on or how quickly I lost it. I wish I had now.

PIL's are a strange breed. Mine are wierd. They phone infrequently preferring to email ( so personal!) DH. They never ask how I am and having had 3 mc prior to this pg, it would be nice to be asked if I'm ok every now and again. The nearest they came was after they had been on holiday in the early stages of this pg. MIL phoned to let us know they had got back and asked if I was "still in tact". Nice. They were with us over Xmas and FIL didn't lift a finger or even offer to help at any stage with anything, not even reading DS a bedtime story which I would think is the least any GP could do!!! Am sure there are worse ILs out there but mine drive me to distraction.

Sorry for the long post! You guys don't half chat a lot so theres a lot to respond to!!!

Hi All,
internet shopping and watching rugby, what a nice way to spend the afternoon! Have just bought an oioi changing bag, kept switching between the jujube ones and the oioi's and decided the oioi was a bit more me. Can't wait to get it!

pula great news about your sis.

divedaisy Lol, I hope your DH appreciates it!

ladyhelen at your MIL!

MrsEvs good to hear all is going well and congrats on the boy, I guess its a good excuse to go shopping!

Hope all are having a good weekend.

Polony I'm with you on memory foam. I spent a week flat on my back in a French Hospital with Meningitis and I hated the mattress. It takes ages to get cumfy if you shift slightly.

Spangle - glad to hear yuor heart murmer is ok - probably called 'mitral valve regurgitation' - it's where some of the blood seeps back through the way it came in - think if it like saloon doors that are albe to swing out and in. I had to be monitored for ds as I have a heart condition that can give me bad palpitations (up to 300 beats per minute) - but it was OK. I;m seeing the cardiologist in a few weeks time as I've been getting runs of them now and then.

Dandy - Oh your MIL! I think everyone has said it!! I don't have the problem with a MIL as she passed away 17 years ago. It is a lot to put onto my mum - she can be dizzy but never complains about looking after DS. It's my step-father who really pi**es me off. But I won't get mysefl wound up about him......

Belgian - I bought a 6" coil sprung bed that has about 3-4" memory foam on top, and apart from nearly needing a ladder to get into it I love it! DH has a bad back and I've a bad neck and back and it's the best thing ever. Yes it does take a while to readjust to your shape if you roll over, but I think I dont' tend to move as much now because I'm so well supported and comfortable (but how would I know cos I'm asleep - Duhh!!!)

frazzled - who on earth came up with some of those Walkers flavours?? Cajun Squirel??? Chocolate & Chilli??? Maybe duck and hoisin sauce would be ok...? Even your description made me feel ill!!

Momino - re bras - I think I got my night time nursing bras from Vertbaudet or Blooming Marvellous. They're a bit like a short vest top (stops under boobs) but has drop-down clasps that allows for easy bf at night. I foud them very comfy and boobs would be 34F 36E or so. My day time bras were from local bra shop (can't spell lengurie leinguree???!!!) and is by Ballet. I find it very comfy and washes well. Wore this one 7 years ago when preg with ds!!

As fro DH - rehousework - WHAT!!!??? Please don't even go there. I am so envious of those of you whose DH/DP will do dishes/cooking/vacuuming or whatever WITHOUT being asked/nagged. They do it because they know it's 'their job'. I find it easier to just get on with doing it myself!! Eg, the morning of the row he informed me later that he had 'done the kitchen'. Fab!! Anyway when I got home at dinner/tea time, DH came home soon after me, when I was looking for my sink plug. I asked him if he knew where it was?? 'Beside the sink' - no it wasn't... so I had a peep in the bin.... only to find plastic cartons of milk, apple juice carton, other plastic packaging etc all that are re-cycleable..... and my sink plug! Now my land fill bin would not have been emptied if it was detected that there was recycleable waste in it. HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL HIM!!!? And he complains when ds doesn't listen!? So because of his 'help' he actually created more work for me to do. There rant over - but I thought it was funny and got so much pleasure out of informing him that if he 'wants to help out at least do it properly or not at all, and if you can't do it proplerly or don't want to learn how to, don't complain then when things are not done!!!' And breathe......

Away to watch 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' with ds. DH away up to pub to watch Ireland v France - come on Ireland!!! Asked him to bring me home a Magners - but didn't flash my boobs so he'll probably forget!

OH that is a long one!!!

pulapula that's great news about your sister... will continue to keep everything crossed

polony don't be put off posting... Most of us miss a few days and it doesn't matter if you miss multitudes of pages either... it's just lovely to hear how you're doing

MrsEvs Congratulations on your boy!

divedaisy just 1 t-shirt & 1 shirt... I thought the ironing pile had to be everest in size from all that ranting you received . Oh well & good job he said sorry... good luck with the magners again and enjoy the indiana film.

ladyhelen2 grandparents are indeed a strange breed at times... my parents who live v close by are both hampered with MS & really enjoy seeing us/DS etc as grandparents do. They're not v mobile so it's easy for me to accept that when they come to see us me/dh have to carry on as if they weren't there with ds while making sure they're ok. Although I have to admit there are times i would dearly love to have the availability of some help like my friends have... but hey ho you can't have everything.