Not yet November but already three babies down! Ooooh oooh nearly there!

[BeckyBendyLegs]

New thread...

Comma big hugs to you

Erica Everyone has given you really sound advice. I really hope you can move out asap though, as I went through a similar situation with my parents when I was 18. It wasn't due to being pregnant but I had met the boy who was to become my DH when I was 17 and realised that I couldn't leave him to go to uni, completely crushing their dreams for me I think. The arguments became worse and worse until we found our own place together (a hole but still...) and made things work. We've been together for over 11 years now and married for 5 1/2 and I have a wonderful relationship with my parents, which we slowly rebuilt over the years. We just all needed space from one another. In the meantime, big hugs and make sure you keep venting your frustration with us rather than keeping it in or reacting to your mum. xx

Comma Bloody MIL's! I think my MIL took it as a personal afront that I didn't have the baby when she was visiting last week but since she's full of parenting ideas that I really don't agree with and states all manner of stupidly obvious things to me like I'm an idiot, I was so glad the little tike stayed put! I hope you can rise above it all and like Erica, let off steam with us when you need to.

Well, I'm lying in bed feeling very poorly after taking my mum and dad all over the place today. I know they want to spend time with me but I had to call it a day and just woefully crept up to bed once they'd gone. They're leaving to go back to the Isle of Man tomorrow and I'm going to miss them but I don't think they understand just how tired I am. DD has kindly passed her cold on to me so I'm lying here typing and feeling rather sorry for myself.

I'm off to sleep now before DH comes home with DD from nursery later and just hope that he can entertain her until bedtime because I don't feel like I can right now. Also, we tried having sex to start things off last night and aside from it being logistically challenging due to the huge bump in the way, it was officially the worst sex I've ever had, as I was so uncomfortable that I was willing DH to just hurry himself up and let me get to sleep... which I wasn't able to do due to feeling ill, being kicked by the baby all night, my tiny bladder needing emptying every 45 minutes and painful hips when I lay on my side for too long. Oh the joys of pregnancy! If DH attempts to come near me with hopes of the same again tonight, you'll see me splashed all over the tabloids tomorrow for smothering him with my bump pillow or stabbing him with one of my many urine sample bottles...

Just to let you know I have added some pics on my profile. Don?t really have a decent family one though I think it must be the second child syndrome...
Olivia is one hungry girl she was feeding for hours this morning now asleep! She cannot wait for my milk to come in. I hope it?s soon as don?t like to be chewed so much!
Nope, mattress still not dry, will it ever, and so using her buggy carry cot instead!
I will try to catch up with all the new arrivals soon when I have time for cup of tea. I miss HOT tea.
Good luck to all of you still queuing!

Never ever talk to mothers or mothers in law while pg, I think. If it makes you feel better the forst things my Mum said to me when I told her I was pg this time was "Thank God, at least this means you'll stop breastfeeding that poor child of yours." He was 11 months old at the time. Made me very sad that I doid end up having to quit as my milk dried up when I was about 18 weeks...
I can tell you that (for me) breastfeeding was one of the nicest experiences of my life, but you do (unfortunately) have to put up with a lot of criticism. I imagine you would get the same if you choose to FF a there will be those that disapprove of that too.
Well done for knowing what you want.

Comma, oh my word. How about YOU cook, lady, while I snuggle my newborn?!

My mother is fairly awful for putting her foot in it - when I had hyperemesis with DS, she kept saying 'I never had sickness with any of my pregnancies! Never! Except for the one I lost at thirteen weeks, I was so sick and it was dead all along!' Fabulous, mater, now SHUT UP. She's also brilliant at ringing me up to let me know the latest maternity ward horror story in the newspapers, and then when I request that she please stop it, I get an offended 'Oh, you're always so touchy!'

My MIL is in the US, so doesn't have much chance to irritate. She's still let me know via the phone that she's disappointed I didn't have a girl this time, and also informed me that she was racing around a week after her caesarean, driving and lifting, sans any painkillers. I assume that in her spare time she has foxes gnawing on her innards for fun.

No hot drinks for you, Koumak, what are you thinking? (I'm making up a pot of good coffee every morning, and then microwaving myself a cup when I get the chance...)

OMG OMG Dp has just rung to say he's had a text from MIL when should they come up to watch ds1 for the birth! WWHHAATTT! When they came in september it was absolutley horrible, one of the worst moments of my life (well maybe a slight exaggeration but still not nice) I'm just in total shock, i mean i wouldn't mind someone looking after ds1 so i could rest a bit plus i was planning on being by myself at the birth and was a bit dissapointed dp couldnt be there but aarrggghhh I don't hate them but i don't really like them as visitors as we have to do everything their way

I was feeling a bit down as it was today, i now have to go to the hospital every 2 days for a check as my 40wks was today (although my dd is next week) Had cramps, contractions and pains "downstairs" all night and basically NO CHANGE when the MW checked me out still 2cm!! OMG what if the baby decides to stay put and MIL comes up this weekend they may stay for WEEKKS!!!

One good piece of news my new boiler should be here any min, yeah having contractions all night when its only 15°C in the house isn't fun

Erika Big hugs and echoing what everyone else says. If life had a set plan for everyone I would def ask for a fixed date and time for babys arrival

Plus wanted to say thanks to everyone for posting about early bottles when bf. I had a total nightmare last time after following the 6 week "rule" all i can remember is constantly sobbing whilst the doctors and MW told me it was my fault as i wasn't ready to let go. This time round i'm smiling politely and doing it my way.

Marathon post over, must get on ds has to do his holiday homework for tommorrow - He's 3 years old and has holiday homework!!! The french are MAD!

I'm having a frustrating afternoon thought no fault of my own. I got a phone call from MW asking me if I'd had a letter inviting me for a swine flu jab - er no. She said that regardless, it was for the 21st Nov, but that there is a clinic this Saturday and to phone the GPs if I'd like to attend. So I read up some more about the vaccines on MN, decided to make an appointment (which I can later cancel if I get the heebie jeebies about it). After 20 mins on hold I got through to find out that they weren't even sure that they had enough vaccines for the existing appointments this Saturday, and would I like an appointment for the 25th? They told me to contact the MW again. I did, and they reckon that there is a reserve supply for pg women, and that reception just don't know about it. I've to wait an hour to hear back from them, and then probably another half hour on hold to make the appointment again later. Grrrr.

Poor health professionals don't seem to have a clue what's going on - the government and media seem to have hijacked everything.

Oh man, thanks for the support girls. Got me giggling in the end, they are all just too awful with their foxes and insensibilites. I send mine out to walk the dog which she did, a bit resentful, then came back to say I looked very tired and why not go to bed whilst she watches over everthing.

She really is one for stating the obvious, especially on bodily things, and it is so annoying and stupid and such a disrespect of one's privacy. Yuck. And then she talks at EVERY meal about how she needs only one kernel of grain and half a draught of water to keep her happy. Oh pleeeeease. For 10 years now. I get it, I get it.

Laugs thanks for what you said, its reassuring to know that others have had these thoughts and are still alive! I did wonder if I should talk to someone about it... it was me that had the panic attacks in the summer, I was also on anti depressants when I first discovered I was pregnant and was seeing a councilor until a month ago. My gp has said that I can go back and see her anytime I feel I need to, so maybe I will book in and have a chat. (am crying again now just thinking about the whole thing)

Koumak, Olivia has such perfect and dainty colouring - she's got a Snow White complexion! (Mine came out an interesting shade of purple, and then promptly went orange with jaundice.)

Comma I feel your frustration! MILs! Oh gosh that should be a thread in itself. I am very fond of mine but we are chalk and cheese. Mine came round yesterday for a cup of coffee commented that the pushchair looked huge (huh?) and didn't take her coat off the whole time she was here, ie hint hint PUT THE HEATING ON FOR YOUR GUEST. If I went to her house and sat in my coat she'd be most offended I know! But then their house is always so hot I should go round in my swimmies or something. Sigh.

koumak what a gorgeous wee dote, and so much hair! I'm in awe - our family breed baldies.

Don't get me started on MILs - but I do think we get over-sensitive to them around childbirth too. Mine asked a totally innocent question today about whether we'd thought about names yet, but it felt like it was a invasion of our privacy. I'm dreading being a MIL myself!

Erika I know I've said this before but having a baby really is a comma in your life rather than a full stop.
I was pregnant at 18. I planned to go back to college but my step mother made me feel very bad for having such dreams. I later came to realise it was only jealousy because that had not been an option to her when she had her children that she was so vile to me about it.
Any way, I went to university when I was 21 and my son was 3. I had to push myself very hard to prove I was doing the right thing and got a first class degree. My son gave me the focus I needed to get through and stay on track.
He's 12 now and a really beautiful confident person. Together we have overcome a lot but I would not have it any other way. Having him even at such a young age has made me a better person which is more important than any of the things others perceived I missed out on.
Life does not have a set path. Some doors open and some doors close but that's just the way the world turns. And it keeps turning no matter what.

Oh tigger . Sorry if I upset you by bringing it up again, I just wanted you to know you are not alone. I know what you mean, it feels like the fact that you've thought it makes it more likely to happen. This isn't true though! It sounds like the counsellor might be a good idea if you found that useful before. I finally started talking to DH about my panic attacks (this was after the birth though) and it did seem to help. He's not the most delicate of men, to be honest, more like an anti-counsellor. Sometimes it annoyed me that he wasn't taking my concerns seriously, but it did normally snap me out of it (then I could focus on being annoyed with him instead ). Other times I found his straight-talking quite helpful: after all, there was nothing physically wrong with me, no reason I was going to die etc. Sometimes you just need someone to say that.

Sorry I do ramble on sometimes.

The pram has arrived!
I have washed and Ironed the baby clothes.
I have the bag essentials (but still not packed)
The nappies are in the dryer
OMG it just got real.

Oh and I even found the time to oggle the pics of Koumaks baby. Ahh such a sweetie.

My monster baby is now measuring 42wks. I will be 38wks on Monday.

koumak: isn't she lovely! What a pretty girl

What a gorgeous baby girl koumack you must be so proud! I just showed DH, hope you don't mind, just to remind him what is on the way! He was very complimentary 'what a pretty thing' he said!

I am still here, with no baby and no contraction, jus painful belly. I now need baby to hand fire until after 10am tomorrow as our printer broke when we were printing off the final draft of our report for court and tomorrow is the deadline, had wanted it in today. So, it cannot miss tomorrow. DH went and bought a new printer so we can do it.

I am finding the only thing that is helping the sore belly is Phish Food. I have eaten 2/3 of a pot since last night oh dear, time to put weight on yet

koumak Olivia is absolutely beautiful!

Maybe you should ask for one of those thermos cups for a 'baby' present?! I got one in preparation and as a souvenir when I was at Harvard this summer.

God, that feels like seriously A G E S ago now...

Giggling (in a sympathetic way, honest!) at the MIL stories. I am very lucky with mine on the whole, it's my actual mother who is the problem. She does those passive aggressive things, BBL, like sitting in her coat rather than actually just saying 'ooh, I'm a bit chilly' or being tactful about it. And she acts like I'm a total control freak, when actually it is her who is weird like that. E.g. one time early evening at our house she said when I came back into the room with tea 'I was going to close over the curtains as it's getting dark but I wasn't sure how you like to do it.'

WTF?!

How many ways are there to close curtains?! Just because there's a certain way at your house? (Don't ask..)

Or are you trying to 'discreetly' tell me you think the curtains should be closed by now because it's getting dark?

Who would know...? Not me. Just say what you MEAN! Grr!

koumak Olivia is beautiful!! Congratulations again.

Mothers and MILs!!! that topic is can of worms.. my MIL is great, apart from the fact that I don't like her washing up and she's not very tidy. My mother is super tidy, loves washing up but is a complete nightmare, drama queen..She doesn't approve of my "draconian" ways with DD and really spoils her...

Oh my god we are going to be MILs too! Esp those with boys (I think the relationship between MIL and daughter's partner must be different). I really, really want to be a nice MIL!!!!

Love the curtains thing Raggie Koumak ahhhh gorgeous!!!!!

Ninja yes it is real. Ahhhhh. It is real! Ahhhhh!

Sleepless I have the opposite with my MIL. Her house is immaculate, a palace to cleanliness, everything is in place and perfect, whereas ours is chaos full of children, cats, toys, rubbish, post, and those things that just don't have a home. You could lick her kitchen floor. You certainly wouldn't want to lick ours and that is even after I've cleaned it. What makes me laugh about my MIL is her 'tolerance' of our cats. She eyes them up so suspicously and gets really flustered if they try to sit on her lap. So funny. You'd think they were flea infested or something (well not often anyway).

Wizzy thanks Did your relationship with them improve once you moved out? I don?t want thinks to always be this bad with my family, and it often crosses my mind if we weren?t around each other all the time we?d probably get on a lot better. I went to Australia the October before I fell ill for the majority of the month, and the time after that was probably the most peaceful in the house. Wow? That was two years ago now? I hope you feel better soon.

Koumak she?s so gorgeous

Turtle how mean of her to say that I guess you?re right. If I?d decided that I was going to FF then I?d probably be getting grief for some other reason!!

Tamlin that your mum said that, just what you need to comfort you!! Though I did smile at your MIL ? I think yours and mine would be the bestest of best friends She?s still set on us calling him Jack, and is still going on about the fact we?ve put the surnames the ?wrong way round?; we?re double barrelling, and mine is going first, simply because it sounds better?

Hobnob sounds like your GP knows exactly what they?re doing Hope they sort it out soon!!

Tigger do go and speak to your GP if you?re feeling crappy about it. I?ve been worrying about the same thing (amongst many others) for a while. I even sat down and had a big chat with DP about what to do if X, Y or Z should happen. I spoke to my midwife about it as well as my GP and they were both fantastic, and set my mind at ease. big hugs I hope you get some comfort, and that you feel better soon.

Ninja thank you I do want to go to uni at some point, and I?m sure I will ? if for no other reason than DP would drag me to lectures and steal my crutches as he is probably more determined than me that I still have the things I want from life. And at measurements.

Pavlov of your Phish Food supply. I?m totally going to buy some to eat at DPs this weekend. Only ?problem? is he doesn?t have a freezer, so will have to eat it all in one go

I have my new phone working, yey! It?s a partial touch screen though My old one was dying just a little so should be glad the upgrade came when it did, but virtually all the phones out seem to be either hideous or touch screen now, and I struggle with touch screen!! This has still got a keyboard at least.

I must say this especially in reference to what Mum was bitching about last night. My brother has just come up to me and said totally out of the blue, ?If you?re ever too tired after Bryn gets here, and [DP] is tired too, I can always feed him. I don?t mind. Well, I can?t feed him feed him, but?? I smiled a little and asked if he wanted to feed Bryn, to which he said, ?Well, you know, if you?re tired and stuff?? Bless him I did smirk to myself a little as Mum must have heard!!

Erika what a sweet thing for your brother to say that's lovely.

He's acting reasonably human today..! Though he does tend to take my side if Mum is acting like this, actually. Either that or he's found someone else who is much more fun to irritate this week!! He's just gone out to the park to see his girlfriend, awww...

I am really fed up with being overdue and it's only been four days. Maybe tomorrow.... I think I am going to have to resort to the sex but my attitude to sex at the moment is that basically I would prefer to watch Spooks instead

Erika I think Scarlotti definitely said what I would have about where maybe your mum is coming from.
As for your dad- mine has also never said in 35 years that he is proud of me. The solution: just be proud of yourself anyway! After all, pride in yourself is not actually something anyone else can give you.
You'll be feeling VERY proud of yourself when you see the beautiful boy you have made

Many people have a very bizarre attitude to breastfeeding as well- well, I think it is bizarre - how anyone could find it offensive/sexual/taboo/to be hidden away in any way is baffling to me, but many people do. Though I have to admit, I went upstairs to feed ds when I was at MIL's house, but only because I wanted to (don't like dh's odd brother and felt strange feeding in front of him)

Well, I guess it must be all happening for Ursi? And KOumak, I am sooooo