Due May '09, a Spangle-tastic start, who will be next....anyone, anyone........?

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Starting new thread ladies, in honour of Spangle.

Mine will be 18 months apart and although i do worry about how I will cope with two so young, I think it will be such a wonderful thing to see them grow up. I only have a half sister and she is 18 years younger than me! DH also has a sister but they are 7 years apart and hate eachother lol Would love to see them bond and both being girls it will be interesting!

Jael Thanks so much for the info. Based on their figures for CTC we should be able to get it. I am sending it away tomorrow as it took until today to get a MW to fill in her bit. I am praying we don't fall into the tax review period and then have to wait ages! I am the same as you. We don't get any help except for Working Tax (which is a big help!) and although my DH makes enough for us to get by it is hard to find the extra sometimes for things such as a double pushchair (why are they so expensive by the way??) So, in my position, we could really make good use out of it so I am keeping my fingers crossed! That is one good thing for me seeing as this one will be a girl (so they say!) but because of the age gap DD#2 won't be able to make use of summer clothes because it will all be the wrong size! Ah well...we will all get there!

Afternoon ladies. It all got a bit real for me (again) this afternoon as I had my HB Booking appointment, and it is green for go ! There is a pool sitting in my kitchen which will drive DH nuts as no instructions, and I am starting to panic as heard all sorts of scare stories like the MW forgetting the G&A. I mean, seriously

I had lunch of supernoodles and cheesecake - all your fault emmabemmasmom

Well done Chocolate I'm proud of you

Pula surely the fruit juice content of jelly babies = 1 of your 5 a day?

Dandy and Fikelly I also have a similar predicament. I am planning on going to John Lewis in a couple of weeks to get measured (not sure they do bras in with enough material to cover my baps) and then will probably get an underwired Anita one from Figleaves.com which I have heard come recommended

Hope Belgian got on OK today.

The bloke buying my car is picking it up today, sniff sniff. I am sure I will have a small cry when it finally leaves... what a saddo I am

emmabemmasmom It's always a touchy subjuect talking about money isn't it lol we get working tax credit at the moment based on DP's wages from last year, but from this month (the start of the new tax year) we'll hardly be getting anything, just basic CTC DP works fulltime, and I stay at home with DD. It sucks because I've had to stop working to look after DD fulltime, because we can't afford to pay the childcare so I can work, if you get me. It's silly really. I really hope you get it. Is it just your DH who works or do you too, if it's just your DH who works your more likely to get it, but of course I can't say for sure without knowing whether you get CTC at this higher rate, whatever that may be, I've never known lol £500 is alot of money though, and it helps alot!

tummum Ha all my fault eh?

Well I am suddenly feeling very down and I don't know why. DH came home from work and then left for the dentist and I started crying for no good reason. I don't know what my problem is but when this happens there is nothing I can do but wade out the storm. DH kept asking what was wrong and I can't even tell him cause I don't know! I hate when this happens...

SO, just made myself a chocolate milkshake, with chocolate chips as if it were not fatty enough, and I don't feel the slightest bit of quilt (yet). DD is also enjoying having sips from mommies special 'feel better' drink.

boohoo

Jael
It is a touchy subject lol It is just my DH that works as I am home with DD. I started looking for work in the summer once she was 6 months and started working at a temp. agency in hopes of something more full time. Then I found out I was pregnant again and nobody would hire me

DH works full time as well but he is on a low income (but not low enough to get any help from elsewhere iykwim). I am not sure how our WTC will be effected this year as he did pull in a little extra with all his overtime but we will see! Maybe it will balance out with the new addition? It is a lot of money! However, I know we would manage without it as we always do. It would just make things a little easier the first few months when you don't need to worry about things like money.

just typed a long post and hit a wrong button and lost it! grr. Sorry can't face typing it all over again so briefly...

Delighted chocolate that your morning was such a success even though it wasn't exactly as you'd planned

dandy I'm currently wearing the nursing bras I bought from having DS. There is hardly any choice when you get to my massive cup/small rib size combo and none of the shops had anything remotely resembling the right size for me. They are a 34K and I have a small amount of the cup left to fill so i'm hoping they'll do when our little girl is born. If i get bigger again then i have found a company that an alter/make nursing bras for unusual sizes so i'm bearing that in mind. I could only find Royce and NCT own brand nursing bras in my size and the NCT ones have been the more comfortable out of the 2 brands. The Royce ones come out small in the ribs and their 'L' cup seems to be the equivalent of the NCT 'K' cup in size. I'm a 36 rib with royce and a 34 with nct. The NCT sizing has been more normal in comparison to my normal bravissimo choices before pregnancy. My royce bras stay in the drawer all the time and it's the NCT ones i've always found comfiest. This is the NCT one i've got not v glam i'm afraid. If i need a larger cup post birth this time i found this new one by bravado which i'm bearing in mind. Envie who sell it are the company who will alter/make too. They have a great selection of Hot Milk stuff too but none of their bras will fit me. I do have the hot milk slip into seduction nightie which DH has been very impressed with! It's very comfortable and does hold in the bosoms (i had to get the XL to have a chance of fitting them as the cups are not made of stretchy fabric) but sometimes find when i wake up in the morning my boobs have slipped out of the bottom of the cups a bit IYKWIM? I also have the hot milk induge PJ's which i bought in size M. I think i maybe could have done with getting the L though as although they stretch to fit my cup now... when the milk comes in they might be too tight?! Both hot milk purchases give me awesome cleavage which DH loves! Have to admit they are v comfy and not having to wear a nursing bra at night will be a major improvement from having DS... I was so uncomfy at night with my bra on all the time. Envie give you 10% off your 1st order as a new customer too i discovered Currently i measure 46 inches around at bust level and 35 under my bust if that helps any?!

Fi, great bra info! Ihate maternity and nursing bras. most don't have much padding so can't wear a t shirt or thin top without feeling the need to wear a jumper/cardigan to 'cover up' my nips - do you know what i mean? or is it just me?

IKWYM momino but i found that with a breast pad in place they're not so visible and even less so if using lillypadz. if it's a hot summer i'll be wanting to wear as little as pos

Saw the head MW at York Hosp today and went through notes from labours of dd1 and 2 which helped me understand and realise that i wasn't a 'wimp' like I've believed myself to be. She did admit, though, that 5 hours wasn't acceptable to wait for 2nd deg tear to be stitched . in any case, i feel a little better and along with the other prep I'm doing (eg refresher course, hypno CD) I feel confident I'll have a more positive birth this time.

physically feel tired today and nearly fainted on the walk to hosp (2 slow miles) so took the bus back home. having some vit C (juice) right now and a short lie down before I pick up DDs.

Not looking forward to my usual MW appointment tomorrow: couldn't find a baby sitter so have to drag the 2 girls in a double buggy across town. very heavy. will figure an hour for the walk so we can stop and rest halfway!

oh about space btween siblings - all of mine are/will be 20 months apart. I did find it tough with having a new baby and a toddler on the cusp of terrible 2s but then there are plus/minus' for any age gap. my two girls are now good friends (yes, they do fight alot as well!) and it will be interesting to see how baby3 will fit in.

Fi, forgot about the breastpads... better go out and buy some!

Dandy, I found the cheap tshirt dresses from H&M or similar were good for giving birth in. and easy to lift as you say for feeding. well, i preferred to button down ones as I felt more exposed in the button ones.

it may be personal preference...

dandy when working out your nursing bra rib size you will indeed get smaller than when we're at full 9month stretch. you want to go for a bra that fits very tight on outer hooks when trying on before our LO's arrive.. that way you can use the tighter hook settings after birth. my pre pregnancy size was either a 28rib or 30rib depending on brand and cup was a HH or j again depending on brand! so totally different now!

for labour I've bought a big cheap t-shirt with a lowish neckline that I can tug down. you can lift your night shirt but you will be exposing your lower fanjo area completely to get it up over your boobs. for straight after birth I wouldn't worry as you might have ditched the clothing altogether by then!

I'm a G cup and to be honest my size didn't change at all when pregnant or when my milk came in. I've tried on the nursing bras I had with DS and they are fine. I'm going back to Bravissimo to get a few more pairs, and will probably wear a vest with support to bed, as I find bras to restrictive at night.

I'm going to pop over to Mamas and Papas tomorrow to see if they have anything suitable. I had two from Mothercare which were fine for bed but a bit too short in the body. They didn't fit overly well but were fine for bed! I'm reluctant to order online because I feel like I have lost quite a bit of weight during pregnancy due to GD and hardly any of my maternity clothes fit, so I really need to try things on.

I find Bravissimo great, even though the scoundrels subjected me to the most humiliating job interview of my life which I blush about now!

oh and you have to make sure the cup size is bigger than you need at mo in for one cup size up..than you are at mo.

emmabemmasmom If you and your partner get WTC, I think you should have one of those cards for free prescriptions etc, for both you and him, not the pregnancy one, it's the same thing, but it's given to parents on low income etc, weve had one for this year, but it runs out the end of the month for DP, obviously I've still got my pregnancy one for another year, yay! If you do get that, then I'm almost certain you should get the sure start grant. As for me working, I'd like to once baby's born, I'm thinking of like doing a night or two in a supermarket etc, just to get me out the house! That way we don't need to pay childcare as DP will be home from work, and it'll give me a little "treat" money lol. Some people must think I'm really lazy, DD is 3 and I haven't worked for over a year since we gave up our own business, but we honestly couldn't afford for me to work. X

meant go for one cup size up.. stupid predictive phone text!

Daizydoo - ta for the tips of the other shops - was in sainsburys in Sydenham earlier. May have to do a Bromley splurge soon. Found a button down sleeveless summer t shirt which will sort of do as a nighty which I bought in a bigger size. Momino - will have a look in H&M too - were they maternity ones or regular ones?

Dandy - M&S told me to go back and get measured again around 36 - 37 weeks for nursing bras. I've gone from a regular 34C to a 36E, so God knows what I'll be next. Whoosh! I'm like you though - PITA trying on bras - hate trying on clothes in shops at the best of times.

Emmabemmasmum - sorry you're so down. Hopefully the chocolate will help?!

Had estate agent around this afternoon to see about renting my flat out She reckons it would go like lightening as its a garden flat and right opposite the park. Booohoooo. Dp has given his tenants notice, so looks like we are set to move to leafy Herts in June, with a very little LO! Eeek! I can't bear to think about the move..

I had a t shirt type nighty for giving birth but ended up starkers as you get v v v hot

I've no idea what I was wearing after my c-section! It must have been the drugs or euphoria but I can't remember. I was keen on getting skin to skin so might have been naked...hmm.

chocolatebunnies - so glad to hear you had a fabulous day out with your dd. More pleased to note that you still managed to enjoy it even though the original arrangements had changed - so see girl, you can cope!!! As for the feelings of protecting your dd - I think I'm right in saying that most parents feel like this to some degree. I sometimes wonder, when I see a pre-school to year 2 or 3 child run ahead of their parent, how the parent can NOT be anxious??! I have my ds (age 6) beside me. IMO he's still too young to recognise the dangers, but I see a lot of mums who do let their kids off... that really stresses me out! Saying that, if it's in a controlled and safe environment I'll let him try anything! Bottom line is - I know some of how you feel, and you're doing a fab job at relaxing a bit more so that it is manageable.

flippineck - for last child I slept in night-time nursing bras worn with regualr nighties or vest tops. This time I have bought 2 pairs of bf PJs - Next has boob support and the MotherCAre ones are horrid, but will do and I'll have to wear night bra...

I prefer button down nighties cos its a bit warmer than lifting your nightie up - you might as well wear nothing!!!

My cardiology appt went well - heart nice and healty, and no siign of any abnormality. He's happy for me to progress with normal delivery, but to keep an eye on any arythmias that may pop up if I'm under too much stress. Saying that nothing to worry about... soo I'm not!

Bought some size 18 BIG PANTS in tescos last night - good idea I think so thanks for the advice. Need to rememeber to pack a dark towel and some shower shoes.

Showed DH the girly clothes i bought yesterday with ds's help and advice! OH they are so cute. DS pleased that girls don't have to wear pink all the time! I told my mum today... dh wanted to keep it a secret... but he told some of his work colleagues after I texted him with the flavour!!! So if he could tell them, I could jolly well tell MY MUM!!! lol!! I'm so excited now I jsut want to meet her! But still haven't seen THE name yet. I've gone off Victoria and Sofia.... what about Charis, Susannah, Aryanna, Bethany, Cara...??? OK I#ve only got through A, B &C!!! ANd Susannah is a variant of my middle name....

I need to go and get DS dinner, but can't think what to make him. That coupled wiith the sheer truth that I cannot be arsed!