Feb 2010 part III,

[mamaloco]

Sorry I couldn't wait anymore half of us is in the 3rd trimester and half will followed soon
Welcome sharon I have added you to the list

27th Jan Devotion DD1 6yrs & DD2 3yrs
1st Feb Moth2, 1st but also stepdaughter 3 yrs
2nd Feb Raindroprhyme DS1 8y, DS2 4y
2nd Feb Ktpie DS 13m
3rd Feb sunangel88 1st
4th Feb mothrof2boys
5th Feb chinook Dd 3.6yo
7th Feb grin DS 1 yr 6 m
7th Feb mamaloco DD will be 5y near due date
8th Feb fiziwizzle, 1st
8th Feb gingerkirsty, 1st
8th Feb PinguCarrier, 1st
10th Feb Lovelymonster, 1st
10th Feb T4tastic 1st
11th Feb Woowa 1st
12th Feb Fluffycoo 1st
12th Feb Yummylilmummy 1st
13th Feb mignightsun DS 3y
14th Feb tryingtobemarypoppins DS 21months currently!
14th Feb Clappedout DD 21m
14th Feb Pops78, 1st
14th Feb Glynnispig 1st
14th Feb Threeplusone- DD 12.11yrs DS1 5.2yrs DS2 2.1yrs
14th Feb Stoofadoof, DD 2.11
15 Feb AngelaCarleen 1st
15 Feb flyingcloud 1st
16th Feb GuernseyFrench 1st
16 Feb Watercress DD1 2y 10m
16 Feb esselle - DD 5.1y, DS 20m
16 Feb hannahsaunt - ds1 (8.11), ds2 (6.5), ds3 (23mo)
17 Feb Bethylou - DS currently 16 months
17 Feb Becks130 - DS 3.5 yrs
18 Feb Sunnybump - First
19 Feb Sharon137-
20 Feb Gert ds 22m
20 Feb Cluny 1st
21 Feb Pyjamababe - First
22 Feb Skibelle
22 Feb Scoobydoo
23 Feb 2Happy ds1 4y ds2 2y
23 Feb (twins!!) Insanitybecomesme DS1 9yrs, DS2 7yrs. DD3y 3m, DS3 21m
23 Feb TheOldestCat DD 2.9y
23 Feb Phee96 DD 9m
24 Feb Elebereth
24 Feb TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied DS 15m
24 Feb MidgetGems
27 Feb Westlondongirl
28 Feb Mawbroon Due DS 3.10yo

Can I ask a nappy question hopefully without sounding to thick as I am a nappy-novice! I read somewhere that barrier cream prevents disposables working properly. Is that true? Should you use barrier cream at every change and if so what type? I know some people have recommended sudocrem but is that for if baby already has nappy rash? What about zinc/castor oil or vaseline? Any advice appreciated.

Good find Gingerkirsty!

Flyingcloud - try not to panic. My little boy has only just got a vaguely decent bedroom and he is now 16 months and it still needs loads of stuff sorting out in there. He was in our room for the first six months, then his cot got put in the spare room, surrounded by spare room junk poor thing. Then we moved house and he got his own room but it was unpainted with bare floorboards, we've just started decorating that room for the baby and he has been moved into a room with painted walls and flooring, luxory!

Shiregirl - I've stopped going out socialising to that sort of thing, my friend keeps inviting me to gigs but having to stand surrounded by drunk people doesn't appeal at all. Sitting on the sofa then having an early night is more my cup of tea these days.

Stressheaderic - I have my head firmly buried in the sand when it comes to christmas shopping this year, had a crazy idea that I would make things to save some cash but not getting very far with that so no doubt will have to go shopping in a panic at some point.

mo2b - hope it all sorts itself out.

Hi all,

Third trimester here we come!

Sorry to hear some of you are having hassle about the weight issue, it really shouldn't be worth mentioning unless there are medical concerns and particulary not anyone else's business. We have enough to worry about, butt out pesky rellies!

I am very lucky with very chilled liberal in-laws who would hardly notice if i couldn't get through the door, much less say anything. My Mum is less helpful with comments like 'why can't I see your baby move yet?'-grrr.

Managed Oxford Street at the weekend, truly horrendous, I will not be going again before xmas, amazon.com is the way forward.

I have been getting terrible pelvis pain in my lower back after lunchtime over the weekend and finding it very painful to walk. My DP has found this hard to take on board insisting on walks etc so I ended up hobbling along behind him and DD feeling very sorry for myself! I had quiet bad SPD last time so hope this will not get worse, sympathies to those suffering.

Nesting overdrive has officially begun, bought those wrap around vests from H&M, they are brilliant as you don't have to put them over your little baby's wobbly head-top tip to all first timers!

Thanks KT. I don't know why I lost it yesterday, I cried hysterically for about half-an-hour. I just want to organise our home a little bit more as we have too much stuff for our little cottage (I have SOO many books that seem to be scattered everywhere) and whenever I make a suggestion to DH he vetos it or says, leave it to me. He's usually pretty good, but "leave it to me" just doesn't cut it at the moment!

I think I just had a moment of feeling so out of control of everything and a few family members have rung me to offer advice and question my back to work/childcare arrangements and rather than feel reassured by their kind words I felt horribly undermined, like they are all talking about me behind my back (How is she going to cope? etc).

DH and I both work 6 days a week, are both in the first year of new jobs and both work strange hours - I travel a lot etc although the rest of the time I work from home. We have no family close by either. I know it's going to be hard but it's also going to be fabulous - we're starting a family!
And even though France is s**t for the fact that I have to get on the scales once a month and justify my weight gain to my doctor - childcare is awesome here and we will be able to afford it, unlike if we still lived in England.

Sorry rant over, I think things get me down at the mo with raging hormones and increasing fatigue.

Good morning all (is it still morning? Just).

Really sorry and surprised to hear that some are having their weight gain commented on. Everyone keeps telling me not to think about it. I'm my own worst critic but if I stopped weighing myself I think I'd feel fine about it, as I think I look fine... Just find it shocking that I've put on 1.5 stone already. Still, I'm growing a baby, and that requires plenty of cake

I haven't given Christmas shopping a single thought... It's not long now though is it?!

Got my first session of pregnancy yoga tonight. A chance to meet other mums in the area - I'm a bit nervous...

flyingcloud you lost it because you're pregnant and full of hormones! I wept at the Sunday papers yesterday. I'm sure you and your DH will cope just fine

flying cloud - having similar house-sorting difficulties! Ended up having a big row with dp yesterday as I've been nagging asking him to take a load of stuff to the tip for weeks now...so finally flipped and started loading up the car myself, to which he went mad as I'm not supposed to be doing any lifting at all (low-lying placenta issues, had bleeding) - but no other bugger's gonna sort the spare room out are they!

Also he is asking that I now put all my lovely and cherished books (about 200) in the loft rather than out on shelves, his words "you hardly ever read them"...that's not the point!

Suppose he possibly has a small point though...I do have a lot of stuff. We've managed to fill a 3-bedroomed house chock full of stuff in only 2 years, I could possibly dispense with a few (unworn) pairs of high heels and a few dresses which will likely never fit again...

Seriously. This weight thing. Bollocks to it.

I was kind of surprised at how little I'd put on when I weighed myself last Monday, then lots on here about how much everyone else has put on, so I weighed myself again on saturday. Big Mistake. I lost weight last week . Now in my head I know it's all because I had a particularly difficult week last week with work, so my already not great eating with MS just went up the spout, I missed so many meals - yes I know it's a really bad idea, but I feel bad enough as it is, don't rub it in! I hope this week will be less stressful and I'll be able to make myself eat even when I don't feel like it. But much as I try to rationalise it, I still can't help worrying that I am harming my baby by not putting on weight (though bump definitely growing). I also have horrendous constipation - it's like giving birth just trying to poo, and have a pile the size of an asteroid. So for all those tw@ts out there trying to make you feel guilty/self-conscious about your weight gain, trust me, not putting on weight freaks you out more

"Seriously. This weight thing. Bollocks to it." Well said that woman! Try not to worry though 2happy, in the first trimester I was so averse to just about everything edible that I was barely eating, my MW said to me that LO woud just nab everything he/she needed, and I would get the leftovers, so essentially it would be me missing out and feeling like crap - not Bubs!

Can totally relate to flyingcloud and stresshead - DH has taken my house to bits too! All I want to do at the minute is wash baby's clothes and put them away in a nice, clean babyfied room all ready for him/her - my nesting instincts are kicking in so much it hurts!! Sadly said room (among others!) has no radiator or carpet and an inch-thick layer of plaster dust everywhere... no sign of it getting sorted any time soon either as our plumber (my Dad) has put his back out, poor old thing. Can't afford to pay someone to finish the job either ... . DH is doing his best, but I can't see all of the work being finished by the time LO arrives - what worries me the most is potentially having no functioning kitchen! Nightmare!

BTW, if it makes any of you hormonal ladies feel any better, I had a hideously cringey moment today! I randomly had a teary emotional meltdown at work in front of my NVQ assessor - just because he was being really nice about the fact that I'm struggling to get my work done!!!! How embarrassing!! Poor bloke didn't know where to put himself!

I love mumsnet. I came on to ask if anyone else was feel more than a litle hormonal at the moment, and it seems we all are! I had a meltdown yesterday because I had to go to 3 different shops before I could find skimmed milk. I just stood in front of the chiller cabinets muttering in a loud voice about obviously being a freak for not wanting to drink fat milk. Oh dear.

I have had my swine flu jab this afternoon and feel so relieved not to have to think about it anymore. My GP and the practice nurse were really pro the injection which made it easier.

westlondongirl I never used a barrier cream with dd. I just used sudocrem or metanium (sp?) when she had nappy rash, which wasn't very often.

I cried for half an hour (with snot and everything ) after dinner when dh told me one of his newborn calves died at work because he couldn't get it out of it's birth sac in time...Emotional? Moi?

Still sad when I think about it in fact. Perhaps chocolate will help?

I have my own pregnancy weight calculator (only without any mention of weight):

number of weeks pregnant x number of times cried that week = number of chocolate buttons allowed to eat

What do you think???

Loving that equation pyjamababe, deffo makes sense to me, have just inhaled a whole box of Cadburys Festive Friends... (why oh why do I buy early for Christmas - EVERY year, I eat them months before the big day)

Just had to share my bargainous bargains as am so happy with them....nipped into Dorothy Perkins this afternoon for a present for someone, and there was a bit of a Maternity Sale rail in the corner - got a pair of skinny fit stonewash grey jeans with the elastic side panels, £25 down to £7!!!! And an electric blue smart empire line dress with small studs on the sleeves for a fiver!!! Was SO pleased - even the till lady was happy for me. Ooh I still ♥ Dotty Ps

Argh damn heart symbol not working...you know what I meant.

all this talk of baby rooms has got me thinking... this time 3 years ago (DD will be 3 nxt week) the only room in our house that was anywhere near really habitable was her room... this time i've not given it a thought !

haven't even started to think about christmas, tho have sent our cards - last posting date monday!!

Can I shoehorn myself in on this thread please, ladies?

3 Feb verylittlecarrot, 1dd 2y4m

I lurk but haven't introduced myself on this thread properly yet, I don't think.

Re: weight gain, in my first pregnancy I went from 8st6 to 12st12. (I was originally at my absolute skinniest though, for my wedding) Yes, you read that right, a gallumphing 4 and a half stone gain.

This time I suspect that despite having started at 10st4 I will still end up somewhere around 12st12 again. I honestly think we are each kind of predetermined to end up at our own particular 'birthweight' regardless of what we do. I moan occasionally about whether it is strictly necessary to be pregnant on my face, but tbh, I'm not really sweating it any more. Now, where did I put that tiramisu...?

Aaahhh... just back from the doc's and I got a big bollocking. I was tempted to tell him bollocks to all that, but he is quite nice generally. I just don't like being made to feel so crap about it, like I am smoking a pack a day or something (or smoking at all - plenty of my French friends smoked two cigarettes every evening after dinner during their pregnancies, which is considered less of a crime than enjoying my food).

He told me that I will be put on a very strict diet afterwards.

I have stopped caring though. Apart from being hormonal and having pain in my coccyx when I sit down too long - I have no other complaints and my baby seems to be developing normally, so WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Bloody French doctors! (sorry only a temporary blip there).

I'm kind of relieved to read that other people are teary too. Though mine might be a bit extreme - I cried the other day when Laila couldn't finish her dance on Strictly Come Dancing. Do I need sectioning?

Though seriously, I am really really struggling at the moment. For the last month, DH has been working really long hours (leaving home at 7am and not getting back until 9ish, sometimes later, and working weekends as well), so I've been on full-on mum duty to DD. Which wouldn't be so bad if I didn't work 30 miles away, and my commute means that I can do both ends of the nursery day, but only by the skin of my teeth, which is incredibly stressful. I'm in constant pain with the SPD, which is worsening by the day, and a couple of weeks ago I was told that my office is moving just after I go off on maternity leave. The journey is going to be even worse, I don't get any compensation or pay rise for the inconvenience of the extra travel, and I can't look for another job as I'm going to go off on mat leave then have to return to work for at least six months or have to pay all my maternity pay back.

Sorry for self-indulgent rant, I'm just so tired and stressed and in pain, and feel like I'm having to cope with everything on my own.

westlondongirl you don't need to use barrier cream unless baby gets a visibly sore bum or rash. For weeks and weeks with my first baby I didn't use anything except boiled & cooled water and clean flannels for nappy changes. No baby lotion, no baby wipes, no creams, nothing. I think we used saline solution and sterile dressings for cleaning his belly button and gungy eyes as they were a bit gross but everything else cleaned off easily with just water.

The current advice is less is more when it comes to products, it's possible to overstimulate a baby's sensitive skin and trigger allergies or eczema by using too many potions too early.

Yesterday I just chucked out the bottles of Johnsons' baby lotion my mum gave me before my son was born, he's three and a half now.

and forgot to mention how delicious the pure "new baby" natural smell is, especially their heads I don't know where it comes from or when it goes away but it's heavenly. Save the creams and lotions for when you start weaning and the poos get decidedly more sticky and minging in odour.

watercress is there anyone who can pick your DD up? I would be collapsed in a heap if I had to do what you are doing. I pick up and drop my DD most days, but only have a short commute and find that tiring enough. I have also been getting SPD pain which I had last time and the only thing that helps it with me is rest, can you sit down all day at work? I got hold of a foot rest too and it makes a huge difference. I hope things get better for you, not surprised at the rant!

PS I am due to have my swine flu jab next week, has anyone had any reactions to it, or side effects?

clappedout had mine yesterday and am feeling no side effects at all. The top of my arm where they injected is sore though and I couldn't sleep on that side last night.

Welcome verylittlecarrot and I agree with your thoughts about weight gain. I think if you are underweight to start with you put on more. My SIL is a personal trainer with a very unhealthy weight obsession who almost certainly hasn't eaten properly during her pregnancy and still runs. She is now 35 weeks and though she is still extrememly slim, from behind she has completely lost her waist and like me, is square from her hips to her shoulders. You just can't fight nature so don't bother trying I say. (ponders if 10 am is too early to tuck into big box of Thorntons fruit and nut toffee)

Morning ladies!

New member here - been lurking for a couple of weeks but thought it was time to get stuck in properly.

We're pregnant with a baby girl due 17 Feb - 1st baby and have recently gone from denial to over-excitement and compulsive shopping (by the way - better to buy newborn or 0-3? I have NO CLUE). parents being fab, in-laws being a bit odd (par for the course really) but otherwise all fine, just starting to get the dreaded tiredness back again... Sorry I haven't had a chance to read through posts but I will do - it's better than finishing all the work I only have 5 WEEKS TO FINISH - aaaarrggh!

Hi all - I'm new too. Am 27 weeks and due 14th Feb with no.3. Currently stressing out about swine flu jab next week - to have it or not to have it... blah blah boring!

As for buying newborn or 0-3, MrsJeff, it depends on how big your baby is, where you buy them and how much you care about putting her in slightly too-big clothes. IME normal sized babies (around 7lb) outgrow newborn clothes very quickly, but they do fit better at the very beginning. If money is an issue I'd just go for 0-3. Brands like Mothercare and H&M have fairly big sizes I think, while Gap and anything French/European tends to be tiny.

Thanks for the tip CocoK - sounds like the Europeans like to keep us Brists paranoid about our size from an early age, then...!

Re the weight "issue" though I'd love to be able to say "bollocks to it" (nicely put!) it's so hard to ovderride years of keeping an eye on the old waistline even though I know there is a very good reason for the disappearing waistline. I'm just buying clothes to cheer myself up - think I've got a better maternity wardrobe than I had pre-pregnancy now! I think the difficult part will be post-baby - at the moment I'm happy to let things happen and then try and get back into shape ASAP, but there'll be so many other things to worry about it'll be very easy to let it slide...