Due May 2009 - There's a bun in my oven and it's making me HOT! HOT! HOT!

[FiKelly]

Shiny new thread already!

matthewandbumpsmummy - goodness, reading some of your post was like reading my mind! I can't say I know just how you feel, because I don't, but I can really empathise. I've got my MW appointment tomorrow and am going to speak to her about how I feel, because even though I have lots of happy bouncy buying-things-for-the-baby days I too can feel so crap on some days. Dp moaned about me spending x amount on the swanky new pram we have on order, but then goes on about how he needs a new laptop and wants a wii thingy. Hm.

Big hug for you - it was very brave of you to share what you're feeling, but please take a bit of comfort in that you are SO not alone, your feelings are NOT abnormal, and there are people to help. I do echo everyone else's advice on here... am definitely going to chat to my MW tomorrow, no matter how much of a berk I feel.

A nice day of studying ahead of me - and its nice and sunny outside. Bugger, arse and poo

Matthewandbumpsmum ditto what others have said. Do talk about it, with GP and or midwife, with whomever it feels right to, and certainly I think you shouldn't hesitate to use this thread. I'm a bit more up and down, but theres definitely bits in what you've described that I can relate to. Let us know how you get on.

Bloody hell, hospital bags? NOW?

alapala, really sorry to hear about your friend. I can't imagine what a shock that must have been for you and everyone involved.

Dandy, thanks for your kind remarks last week. I hope things are going better with your MIL. Same with you, llareggeb. MatthewAndBumpsMummy, sorry you are feeling so down. I can't realy think of anything to add to the good advice already offered but just wanted to offer some support. I do think talking to your GP or midwife is good idea, and talk to your DH too. Hope you have a better day today.

I'm feeling a bit better than I have been - the indigestion I was having a lot hasn't been so bad lately and my moods have been a bit more stable. I keep getting backache though it's not so bad today and I've got a little lavender cushion for my office chair now which seems to be helping. I am so tired though - doesn't matter how many hours I stay in bed or if I get up early. I'm only up between 2 and 4 times a night for the toilet, so don't know how I can get some energy really. My diet is pretty good - I could probably eat more fruit and veg but I eat fairly healthily most of the time. Does anyone not feel knackered all the time?? I haven't even got children already. It does make me worry about how I'll cope once the baby's here.

Can't believe it's March already - hopefully, our baby will be born the month after next! (Though I bet it'll be June - due May 29.) It feels like spring is on its way now. We planted lots of flowers last autumn and the crocuses are all coming out now - looks lovely.

xx

Obviously, I meant llareggub* - and I still haven't got the hang of the asterisks, have I?!

MatthewAndBumpsMummy You've had brilliant advise from all of the lovely MN'ers on here so far. I just want to add that

1. Lack of sleep can make everything seem like a huge and insurmountable task. Get working on getting some sleep in. Get your lo in his own bed at night, with your bump you need more space. Ours come into our bed, but as soon as they're in and asleep I tell my DH to move them back. That usually works. To help with sleep it's useful to learn some relaxation techniques or even buy a relaxation CD. I find that always helps me off to the land of nodd if I'm feeling tense.
2. There's not 1 pregnant woman out there who hasn't had any doubts about how she'll cope with an extra child on her hands. All the way during my 2nd pregnancy I remember being convinced that there was no way that I'd ever be able to love no2 as much as I love no1 and that really really worried me. How wrong was I
3. Definitely tell your DH how you feel. You need his support and if he doesn't know how low and tired you are feeling now, he can't help and support you either.
4. Get your mum/MIL/a friend to babysit while you have some me time. It'll give you time to relax and you'll feel much much better about everything
5. See your GP/MW and tell them how low you feel, like someone said, there is such a thing like ante natal depression

Hope you feel better soon MatthewAndBumpsMum, until then lots of hugs

Well, I've been to my 1st pregnancy yoga class. As was to be expected, she'll cancel the lessons after next week for 6 weeks due to low numbers and she'll be back when I'm 37 weeks That's exactly the sort of thing that always seems to happen to me. Not fair! I can't do the evening one that is still running, due to DH working away from home and me not having anyone to look after my dcs at night.

Ha, DH has just called me. He's agreed for me to buy the wardrobe I liked, as long as I promis not to buy any more furniture . Hurray.

matthewandbumpsmummy I hope you are still reading these and are feeling a little better today. The sun is shining where I am and that has made a real difference to my mood, so get out in it if you can.

belgianchocolates great news regarding your wardrobe but sorry about the yoga class. That sort of thing always happens to me too!

MsG I was feeling exhausted last week but I'm not so bad this week. I think it is down to being off work (hurrah!) so can take things at my pace. I'm also lucky that DH works shifts so was around in the morning last week, so he gave me the chance to sleep late and recuperate a bit. He is working early this week so I've had to get up with DS at 6am, but we cuddle (I snooze) in bed until 7am, so it isn't too bad. As I said above, the sunshine makes a massive difference to my energy levels. Things are getting better with my MIL, thanks for asking! We had then over for Sunday lunch yesterday, which was fine and we also popped in on Saturday to see them unexpectedly, so I hope we are getting there!

sausagemash my DH went out and bought a Wii during my last maternity leave. I nearly threw the thing at him when he walked in with it, having spent weeks carefully planning our budget to maximise my time off work. I did (rather sneakily) enjoy playing on it however! What are you studying?

pulapula not long to go then! Are you excited to be finishing work?

DS is fast asleep after being tired out by nursery. He really loves it there, and I struggled to get him out of there. I feel quite bad now because he was never so enthusiastic about going to his childminder.

Llareggub- its still really 7 weeks, its just i only work a 3 day week, and wont work good friday so it makes it 20 days altogether. Not sure i'm excited yet- i feel a but guilty as work can't afford to get someone in to replace me (as my maternity pay must come from our unit's budget and we dont have any vacancies so no spare money). So my team will have to take on more work in my absence. My boss keeps joking about my 3 lots of maternity leave whilst i've worked for her and that she'll book my DH in for the snip and get my kids to do work experience to make up for it. Although its a joke, it does make me feel bad. Once i'm off i'll be OK.

I like the few weeks off before baby arrives, for doing shopping, getting the house in order, getting my haircut and meeting up with friends for lunch (or at least i can do all this on the 2 days each week DD and DS are in nursery). Not much of a rest on the other days!

matthewsandbumpsmummy hello, we've not really "met" before but I wanted to acknowledge your post. There's been some wonderful advice from the other ladies on here and there's nothing I can add to that, but I hope you know you're not alone, and that you feel better soon. Oh, I do remember reading an article a couple of Sundays ago about ante natal depression. I think it was either the Mail or the Express. Anyway the jist of it was the depression lifted from this lady as soon as she gave birth. The symptoms she described were very like yours. I'd try and find a link to it but I've never managed to get them to work!

llareggub- I'm also planning to have a go at potty-training DS- he'll be nearly 2, but I thought it would be a chance to see how he goes and if it doesn't work, I can then wait a few months til we've got through those early months with the LO.

Any advice on whether this is worth the effort? I've heard boys are harder to train, it's just that DD was in pants at 16 mo (with the odd wee accident) and did all her poos in her potty from 10mo so it would be nice to have less nappies to deal with....

pulapula my advice re potty training....leave it!! Boys are renowned for being later than girls. When I contemplated it for DS at 2, all those with older boys said leave it till nearer 3 - start at 3, finish at 3: start at 2, finish at 3 was the phrase oft repeated! So I did DS at 2.8 and it was a breeze. He got it within 2 weeks. So I would leave it unless you think he is ready - is he aware/telling you that he has weed or pooed? In which case go for it! The other thing I think would be that if you did it now and then new baby arrives, it can set them back as happened to a friend with her DD.

matthewandbumpsmummy

All I can do is repeat what others have said, I would think you possibly have AND. Just talk to someone, it may help you loads. I've suffered from depression several times in the past (family trait ), I always found talking to someone (preferably for me not personally nvolved) helped more than any form of tablet.

The other thing is, you're not alone. I spent the weekend before last sitting crying, wondering why I was having a 3rd baby. I was knackered, in agony, the 2 DD's were being absolute shits, DH was being a twat........pregnancy is such a rollercoaster. Everyone thinks you should be on a permanent cloud of bliss and joy but it's not like that!!! The pains, the worries, the weird sensations.

To all who replied re my ML, thank you for your support (and llareggub, I don't think all HR people are hags, just my current one and possibly my MIL sometimes.......). However, I've taken my ML from today as I was kind of backed into a corner, I was pretty much told that I couldn't really get signed off sick after the conversations we'd had - I think this is twaddle, but crumpled and gave in for a quiet life. I have lost all assertiveness of late...... I have decided to make the best of it and spend as much time as possible with my 2 DD's before the LO is born. Also, I will go into DH's work a couple of times a week to admin him and keep the old brain ticking over.

The dog's happy anyway

By the by, I have had the strangest craving - I've been unable to get the idea of chewing on a bath sponge out of my head , haven't chewed one yet, but find myself looking at them, thinking about what they would taste like.

Yes, I am a fruitloop.

pulapula I'd second ladyhelen. I've potty trained 2 now and the trick is to simply wait until they're ready. Funnily enough my ds was dry during the day at 19 months, but my dd was 3. It is tempting to try before they're ready, but beleive me, it wont work. I remember finding this really helpful at the time. Summer is the best time to try the potty, they can walk around half naked in the garden, so you don't any accidents in the house!

Going to get that wardrobe now before the offer finishes tonight!

grumpy! you're joining me and belgian on maternity leave. Welcome! What a shame you felt pushed into it though.

pulapula I've had limited success with DS, to be honest. When he is naked he uses the loo or the potty and will clear up after himself. As soon as I put him into pants or trousers he thinks it is a nappy so wets himself. It is very frustrating and I'm leaving it for now. My nephew (aged 3) was dry until the birth of his little sister when he started wetting himself again, so I'm going to wait until after the baby comes I think. Good luck if you go for it though!

Grumpy at your craving for bath sponges. It's called picca (sp?) apparently. Wonder what's in them that could make you crave for them.

Thanks LadyHelen,

He doesnt say much yet, but i wont be starting for a couple of months but I agree it would be good if he can say wee and poo, as that was the hard thing with starting DD so early.

He did do a poo on the potty quite a few months back but he doesn't seem to like sitting on it (DD was always fine with a book to look at) so we haven't encouraged it.

Dry or wet Grumpy?

It's funny- my DD regressed when DS was born (she was 2.6 and had been dry for AGES) and starting having damp pants (not full accidents) every time she needed the loo. I did think maybe if I got DS trained just before he might be still finding it exciting and novel (new pants and everything) and not regress, but maybe i should just wait til he shows some signs. I used to know when he was pooing but now he seems to take himself off to another room and do it in private so i never know he's done one til i get a whiff of it!

Grumpy- enjoy the special time with your 2 girls before all hell breaks loose! Sorry your employer/HR made things so difficult for you and you were pushed into using ML early, but it must be nice not to have to go in anymore.

I meant to say that I know I'm lucky being able to go on ML now, I am sure there are others here who would like to but can't. This is why I am going to make the best of it and do lots of lovely cooking (and eating) and I am quivering with excitement at the pile of washing I've piled up, ready for folding (I do love to fold, I am saving it up for a couple of days)......Plus I finally get time with my DD's after working full-time for 17 YEARS (not including the 6-8 months off ML both times).

Polony - wet but I do like the smell of them dry . Honest, I have no idea why, I cannot for the life of me think why I would crave chewing on a sponge (and a man-made one too, not interested in sea sponge/natural ones). I told DH and he said 'I always knew you were strange'.

Anyway, off to get DD2 from school and hear all about her exciting day wiv all her fwends

grumpy - looks like you are not alone with the sponge thing - see this article news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7370524.stm. It would suggest that its smell and texture of the sponge which is appealing to you, rather than wanting to eat it!

Grumpy you've really made me smile with your sponge craving! Having a bit of a poo day, can't write for toffee (can't remember who asked a few pages back - ?pulapula - am doing a doctorate in healthcare) and even cried listening to the Jeremy Vine show. NO idea why. Also thought dp was being an uncaring, shitty knob. Then someone knocked on the door when I was mid wee (on the loo, I hasten to add) and I was going to ignore it, but changed my mind and a nice man delivered me a huge bunch of spring flowers (daffs, freesias etc) from dp, saying how much he loves me.

I SO wish I was on mat leave!! Am v 7 and a bit weeks to go... and counting...!

Grumpy, thanks for making me laugh out loud with your sponge craving! That's brilliant. I thought I was bad eating a tin of rice pudding cold every afternoon...

Sorry you felt pushed into your ML, but it sounds like you're going to make the most of it which is great. x

I've got 9 weeks to go before ML.....

Bit of a funny one, but i got some pre-prepared melon in my food delivery today from tesco (I am being super-lazy!). The DCs love melon. However, when i opened it up there was a lot of liquid (juice?) which i poured away, but the melon smelt of vinegar and tasted "fizzy". Best before date is tomorrow. Even my DD thought it tasted fizzy and DS pulled a bit of a face but didn't stop him eating it. I want to email Tesco and try and get my money back as I think i will chuck the rest, but there was nothing in the food order which could have leaked vinegar and surely they will just think i'm mad! Anyone know what it might have been to contaminate it? It wasn't totally airtight as some "juice" leaked when i got it out of the fridge so guess i could get my money back just for saying that?

Oops better get off the laptop and get ready for my MW appointment at 3.30. 28 week blood tests. I'm a bit anxious about how DD/DS will react to it but no-one around to take them (MIL is visiting FIL who is in hospital still but recovering well after his heart valve op last Thurs).

pula Sounds like that melon was off and had started fermenting. We had that once with fresh OJ. It became bubbly and dh said he really liked that new sparkly OJ. I went , took a sip and it tasted like alcohol!

grumpy Maybe being hot and pregnant, the tthought of chewing on a nice wet sponge strikes you nice and refreshing?!

Dd was pointing at my belly when she came out of school and showing 'her' baby to one of her little school friends. The other lo of course said he couldn't see a baby, but she quickly explained where the baby was. Aaah, she can be so cute.