Due November 2009: Second trimester thread!

[turtle23]

New thread for you as it was geting a bit big...

Morning all!

sleepless at all your shoes and make up!

I've just done the cleaning. I hate housework (not that anyone likes it). I usually do it at the weekend so I can reserve child-free time in the week for freelance work but the DSs and I were in Wales and DH 'ran out of time' to do any cleaning on Saturday before he joined us on Sunday. Humpth.

Ohhh better go get DS2 from nursery. Byeee.

thanks for all the advice, maybe will try the bed earlier because she is such a little hyperactive maniac by the time she goes to bed she is crying with tiredness, but she deos go to bed around 6:30, maybe should try 5pm has 40min/hour nap in middle day
no 2 better be a fantastic sleeper!

criminal to have to be at work in this weather, wonder could i start maternity early....

I am officially too hot now. Shrewsbury is just too hot today. I do feel sorry for those of you in offices though but I bet you have nice air con to keep you cool

weston my DS used to get up at 5am when he was much younger. It was a nightmare and I feel for you. I tried everything but in the end it was a phase and sorted itself out. DS is now 3.8 and he's started to wake early again, but I'm sure it's down to his bedroom blind letting in too much light. DH has the job next week to put up blackout blinds in the bedrooms. If that doesn't work, then we're going to try the bunny clock. But, DS now has a TV in his room (pls don't tell me off!!), so he can watch a Scooby Doo DVD for an hour before I have to get up. It's worked wonders, esp since I fell pg and don't have the luxury of DS having an afternoon nap. Your DD sounds like she is getting a full 10 hours if she is down at 6.30, maybe trying 7pm and a warm bath might help - good luck!

It's lovely and hot out there. We went out first thing to the park and it was aleady getting too hot for the kids. Hope you're all having a lovley day

Hello everyone!

weston my ds has started waking up early and we have black out blinds! The thing is they still let in light around the edges and I am sure it is that that is waking him up. Last night dh bluetacked the blind and curtain so that it is pitch black even in daylight, it seemed to work this morning as ds woke up at 6.30am in stead of 5.30am so fingers crossed this will do the trick!

My two Isabelle Oliver dresses were delivered this morning but I don't like either of them they made me feel frumpy not pregnant so think I will go shopping at the weekend, I've got a wedding in two weeks and have nothing to wear!

I am loving this weather, have been to the beach 4 days in a row! Am going to buy ds a paddling pool this afternoon and sit in the garden with my feet in it whilst he splashes about, heaven! Hope everyone is having a nice afternoon, am off for a nap now before ds wakes up. Is anyone else still incredibly tired or is it just me?

What is it with our dh getting so generous recently? Sleepless and scarlotti might be usual for yours but mine has surprised me recently by agreeing to buy £100 laundry basket, bit more for ghd hair strengtheners and much more than that for a spa hen weekend! No comments and no ?cheaper alternative available?? questions. Very impressed! Wondering what I should be wanting next?

Bbl no aircon in our office its busted they have been trying to fix it since last winter when the heating didn?t work for a change! City?s been boiling for weeks. You should see how my legs! Feet, ankles the works are now massive so swollen ? I am now in flip flops all day every day. Now am thinking of buying some trousers and couple of nice tops for the 2 weddings in summers as will not be able to wear any dresses with legs like that!

Ds now gets up around 6.30 or earlier if weekend?grrrrrrr I too think its too much light two early and only blinds in his bedroom. in the old flat we had blackout ones so need to buy curtains on top of that this weekend or the week after that or that I meant to do this months ago!

We've got a paddling pool in the back garden for DS - we had him and another toddler dancing about in it starkers on the weekend. They loved it. Do wish we lived nearer the beach, though...

I just got back from the midwife's - she was running late, and seemed knackered, poor woman (they've extended clinic hours, apparently - I suppose that's the 36 year high in the birth rate the newspapers are going on about). She told me that some of the mess re. my anomaly scan appears to be because the initial referral letter got lost in the system. Gah. Just as the GP's first referral letter got lost?! She advised me to just keep ringing the hospital and asking them for a date, especially as apparently they don't like children at the anomaly scan. I have no idea how I'm supposed to find a babysitter on the couple of days' notice that they're planning on giving me.

She did say brightly that all my blood tests had come back okay (yay, no syphilis ) and I asked about the chickenpox test. My mother can't remember if I've had it or not, and so I asked especially to be tested at my booking appointment. She couldn't find the result. Possibly the lab has lost it.

Why oh why do they lose things?????????these are very important things that could make a huge diff..Having said that..DH and I really wonder how we could have had free medical health in the UK..Its incredible when you know how much tests cost..Here in Geneva every time I go to get my bloods done its 600 francs..thats about £400...and the scanning is another 400..i know we pay lots of tax but still free health care is pretty good. However they are all overworked..I hope you get your results Tamlin koumak must be something in the air...maybe its pregnancy thing! I just think mine was fed up looking at me in the same shoes all the time and because I'm a skinflint he knew he HAD to do something..

PS Ikea do great curtains that block out light and sound!!! bought some for DD and they work a treat..but due to hot nights I have to keep her door open which lets in the light

Afternoon all

This week I've started to fine that my feet get really tired and achey walking distances that really shouldn't cause problems. Unfortunately I've got quite a lot of walking to do and then I'm on my feet for most of the day at work. Don't suppose anyone knows any magic comfortable shoes that'll sort this out? I always wondered what it meant to put your feet up. Now I know!

I'm a bit worried cos we're taking the students on a trip next Tuesday and it's going to involve a lot of walking.

koumak it's a rare occurrence in this household to get such a lovely surprise gift, but am not complaining

weston your poor dd, sounds like she is over tired but also sounds like she's not a sleeper as it's a short nap in the day. My ds went through a phase of waking at 5/5:30 too a few years ago - it did pass eventually.

Have to go, my tea is ready!

Hi all,

Tamlin how annoying that they have lost the letter!!! That is so, so annoying. Also I am jealous of your paddling pool!! I want to go in!

Trikken absolutely cannot believe your DH's boss. THat is absolutely outrageous. What a pig.

Soooo hot and it is making me so so sick and faint. FAintness/lightheaded really getting me down and scaring me that something is wrong... Rang the midwife and she said to go to the GP. It is when I am stood up or when I get up quickly - surely this is normal??

Also, (another whinge) has anyone felt tugging/pulling sensations low down? Like ligaments maybe?

Hope everyone's OK and enjoying the heat?!?!

Hope you could all enjoy the sun at least for a while. Today I would have got my IO dress(es) but I was not in. I am supposed to pick it up at the post office between 7.00 and 13.00! Do they not expect people to work? What a short period is that? I won't be able to go there at all as I will start to work at 8 probably every day of the week. And anyway, I want that dress now! (And I am desperately trying to ignore your experience helips)
Well, I hope my husband is doing me the favour to pick it up for me. End of rant.
Katster - That sounds excactly like anaemia. I'm sure your GP will tell you the same. How were your iron levels when they checked your blood? I think, it will be really easy to find out if it is just that and then even easier to treat it. Do you think you are getting enough iron through food? Or do you take any supplements? I'm eating lots of meat and vegetables because I'm a bit obsessed with it... just because I don't want them to take more than the minimum blood tests.

kaster I am getting a similar thing, the heat gives me a headache and makes me tired plus I get lightheaded when I get up quickly. It's nothing to worry about although get it checked out if you're worried. It's a side effect of low blood pressure, which can be a side effect of pregnancy. At my last mw visit my blood pressure was 90 over 60 - it's been that before in my life and I got the dizzy thing then too!

Ligaments stretching away this end too, was a bit worried at first but am sure now it's stretching. I'm also getting a bit sore at the top of my bump, think maybe I'm getting a bit of a kick from inside, or my insides are all shifting around. Other than that though I'm feeling well.

Very of all you enjoying the sun and in paddling pools - I'm stuck in the office all day

You lucky people with generous DHs! I wish we could get our DHs to talk so they could give each other ideas

About early wakenings - I can offer no advise as (prepare to hate me - I'm expecting it) my DSs have both always been late risers (and dream sleepers) and on school days I have to get them out of bed like reluctant teenagers at 7.30am. At the weekend they sometimes get up as late as 8.45am! They are not normal!!!!

No aircon? Ahhhh that's not on! I'm sure there is some EU rule about temperatures in offices so you can walk out if it gets too hot, esp being pregnant.

We've been messing about in the local outdoor pool after school today. I'm just not a summer person by nature. I'm glad to be back in our nice cool house (sitting here typing this in just a t-shirt and pants!).

HI guys, loving the idea of the heat but find it is wiping me out! What with more drinking water - need to pee non stop!
I am getting head aches too. Reflexologist says try B6 vitamins - where do I find them,????
Hair falling out - happened with dd but not ds so am thinking its another pink one! Anyway led to radical hair cut so now feeling very glam with short hair - and its straight and not in ringlets as usual - Pregnancy!!!!!!!
When will I start to bloom!!!!!!

Hi Scarlotti my BP was also 90 over 60 at my last MW visit, so maybe it is also that. Just feels really scary, especially when a short walk up a hill gets me out of breath! Usigurke my iron levels were really 'good' according to the blood results so I don't think it's that, although I am trying to eat lots of meat and veg just to make sure. You must be so cross about your dresses!! Stupid post people. I don't get how they expect people who have to work to actually collect things. It's so annoying. Hope your DH gets them for you.

We are lucky (!) at school in that our building is freezing cold whatever the weather - so you might be lulled into thinking you can wear short sleeves because it's 27 degrees outside, but NOOOOOO, you will be shivering by the end of the day!!!

Urisgurke when I worked full-time back in the dark ages before people had blackcurrents and the like I used to get stuff, clothes, amazon books, etc, delivered to me at work instead of home - but working in publishing meant I was always getting strange couried parcels anyway so the post room didn't seem to mind!

kaster am the same with walks up hill too I'm sure it's just your body working overtime to make your little one so try not to worry.

BBL there's no upper limit would you believe! When I was pg with ds, it used to get up to about 34 degrees in the portocabin-esque place we worked. We kept searching for a limit but there's only lower ones. I used to have a bin upside down under my desk to put my feet on as the heat made me swell.

joycey vit B6 tablets will be available in places like Boots or a health food shop.

lemontop I know some magic comfortable shoes!!! Unfortunately they cost a fortune if not in the sale but they do good clearance pages and weekly offers so you may be lucky. They're called Earth shoes and are a bit weird, but I absolutely swear by them and really avoid wearing normal shoes now. They are on a slope so your heel is lower than your toes, which takes a bit of getting used to but I NEVER get aching feet any more (and I teach, so am on my feet most of the day). Dead comfy. You get them here. Alternatively Fitflops are pretty darned comfy too. They all have the added benefit of working your leg muscles harder and apparently helping with cellulite.

weston our DD (2.5) is also rising earlier and earlier with the light mornings despite blackout blinds and blackout curtain lining. We considered the bunny clock at about the same time as you, but were put off by bad reviews and almost opted for a night light on a timer plug. However, it started getting too light for her to be able to see whether it was on clearly and we didn't want it waking her op on the offchance that she was asleep! So we just opted for putting her toybox in her room and at bedtime asking her to play when she wakes up instead of poking us in the face and demanding her cup. It worked ok, but she still comes into our room and hangs around quietly of a morning when we're trying to lie in. She also then shuts our door quite loudly before going to play in her room. Not ideal, but a good compromise we reckon.

Paddling pool-tastic weekend! It's been ace. This is the one time I'm SO glad I live in the frozen wastes of the North and don't suffer silly temperatures in the summer like you lot down there. It has been just perfectly gorgeous up here - really nice and warm but not too stiflingly hot (well, except my classroom!). Perfect for splashing around in the pool and having tea outside.

Oooh - my right ear has just started ringing for no apparent reason. Weird.

I was finally allowed to admit to my pupils that I'm pg today - unsurprisingly they took the 'surprise' news very well

Grrr for someone's DH not being allowed to appointments. What soul-destroying nonsense!

Grrr for everyone's DH's being lovely. I'm a grumpy golf widow these days.

I'll second lots of ligament stretching at the moment. Things are growing fast, my SPD is really kicking in and I'm already waddling as a result. Attractive.

Can't believe it's only 3 weeks to the next scan!!!

Have had a lovely day but paying for it now as have had to do a load of paper work and have only got half way, just too knackered and now I'm starting to write rubbish so going to stop (paper work that is).

Went swimming today then round to a friends for lunch that lasted until 7pm. She had a mc just as I found out I was pg but still looked after me because I was bleeding quite a lot at the beginning.

I'm huffing and puffing and generally feeling pretty rotten when I walk any where. Maybe its just because I'm getting quite fat now?

One of the boys I was teaching last week asked me if I was pg! "I knew you weren't just fat miss" - cheers mate.

Night night all, I'm off to turn into a pumpkin x

Lemontop - forgot your shoe question. I really like Geox shoes (Birkenstock are great too), they are very comfortable and can "breath". At the moment I am constantly in their sandals. I might look like a German tourist (at least I am not wearing them with socks) but it is really worth it. For a more fashionable thing, I could imagine that some of those Gladiator sandals are not too bad.
I personally wouldn't trust those Fitflops hobnob suggested (sorry) as I have been told that in shoes with an open heel your foot can not relax. You always have to slightly cramp your toes. (and I think that is true)
BBL thanks for that advice, I was actually considering it but I hoped I would get it last week, when I was more at home in the mornings and also it is a bit tricky on my workplace. It doesn't really matter anymore, my husband promised to pick it up for me.

Urisgurke let us know what the dress / dresses are like I've got 'the pink one' that we were talking about earlier and although I'm not sure how to put it on yet I hope it'll look nice - I did a dummy attempt and it looked nice (just need to put it on properly). I need a hair cut and some shoes now...

Just checking in to say 'hi' before rushing off to school so HI!!!!! It looks hot out there again today.

Hey all!

I'm also getting faint/dizzy in the heat and stay in as much as poss..but we have a beach a stone's throw away so feel bad not letting DD go and have a play.. Also I hate drinking water as it makes me really sick.

katster my blood pressure is very low too and that is the reason for your dizziness too..its just one of the pg things..also am getting all kinds of pulling and tugging everywhere...must be the organs moving around making room for the alien. Better low than too high a blood pressure.

becky would swap all my shoes for LOs like yours!!! sleepers are a joy..

B6 is meant to be good for headaches and I'm taking them for mouth ulcers which I am getting lots this pregnancy! normal health food shops or chemists have them

Urisgurke what are your dresses like!???

Anyone having really strange dreams?

Morning all! Another lovely sunny day up here. I have a million and one jobs to do this morning, so just popping into say hi (if I hang around, send me away again! I am the queen of procrastination)

katster and scarlotti I'm also getting a bit breathless walking up hill, and I normally walk everywhere. I'm finding it particularly hard pushing DD in the buggy when on even a slight incline. We are trying to stop using it anyway as she hates being in it and can walk quite far these days.

I'm hoping we won't need a double buggy actually, so it's good to get her used to not going in it. Has anyone else on No2 (or more) decided what to do? I've looked at buggy boards, but they do look quite cumbersome. I think maybe a sling and a single pushchair is the solution?

On shoes, I spend the summer in Birkenstock sandals, which are very comfy (although they did take a while to break in) The ones I have are adjustable at the front, so will be good for when my feet get all puffy too! Nice.

beckybL your strange parcels at work comment reminded me that in my last pregnancy I shamelessly told a few PRs I was pregnant (I was working on a magazine) and got sent loads of lovely bits in the post, including this fab Mum to Be massage set from Mamas and Papas. No such luck these days! Maybe we should all send each other a little present to keep the spirits up. (Bagsy I receive from sorryforgottenhername who didn't like the IO dress )

Morning all

I had to buy a pair of shoes a size bigger when carrying ds as my feet expanded! Was so happy to bin them at the end as they'd got so worn and grubby. Hoping this time my normal sandals will suffice for a bit. I bought a nice pair of hush puppies in Brantano which are smart enough for work but so comfy as they're padded inside

Laugs we've bought a bugaboo from eBay for this one as our old buggy was far too heavy to get up and down our stairs now we've moved. Getting a buggy board for ds to stand on when he gets tired of walking. I did the sling thing for a while with ds, but they do get quite heavy quite quickly - ds was 8lb10 so a fair weight to start with! Just watch your back if you go down the sling route.

Well, after all that talk of blinds etc. ds woke up at 6am this morning. I think I'm going to try the toy box idea and see if that works. He can read his numbers so we have a clock for him in his room, and I've printed off a clock face and drawn on 6:50 so he knows what the hands must point to before coming out. Still comes out though so must be firmer!

Sun is waking me anyway so it's not the end of the world, but does mean I'm almost snoozing at my desk come 4pm!

Very of all you ladies in the sun.