The PESH Deli - The drinks might be virginal, but that's about all...

[CurlyCasper]

Come in, come in to the new haven for diffed BESHies. I think a group effort is needed here (and I'm being a lazy preggo), so please add to the deli whatever you crave/love/can stomach.

Nominations are also open for sexy fathers we can hijack to serve our mouldy cheese and cured ham

And the best mocktail recipe wins...well, bugger all to be honest

ski I hope you insisted he kept it there all day as a punishment...

vag fear not about it being totally incomprehensible. I was sat up in bed this morning thinking I feel like I'm telling massive lies to people - like it's one of those things you make up when you're a kid (my dad's an astronaut with NASA, my mum's flown solo round the world using only a batwing jumper). Hom hugged me yesterday and said he could feel the bump, and honestly that is the first tangible 'symptom' I have had, you know that couldn't be attributed to anything else (e.g. feeling hungover, pooped after a long day at work, constipated, etc) - other than a really hard tum there's been nothing that I could say was uniquely preg related.

It makes it very difficult to comprehend and come to terms with. And feel like you're doing any bonding.

My belly sticks out beyond my tits (making the increase to a D cup barely visible), and it hurts like crazy! If I hadn't had scans etc, I would believe I had some sort of serious illess. Thank fuck it's "just" pregnancy. vag the realities will be with you soon enough. I was scanned at 7+5 and it was the first real sign of pregnancy. It's actually quite a breakthrough. Left SFF and I sitting in silence in the car afterwards, eventually saying "oh shit, we've really done it now..."

SFF is going to photograph bump as it grows. I said fine, as long as he doesn't get my face, fat upper arms, or thighs in the shots.

Curly My bump was hurting last night too and I was a bit worried for a while - is this "normal" then? As far as us PESHies can ascertain at least? My tummy is huge at the end of the day and I'm sure it's exacerbated by tiredness. First thing in the morning it's still (relatively) flat - but by the time I got through the front door last night I looked like a fucking space-hopper with tits. I farted about 500 times (on conference call which I couldn't mute) but was still enormous.

oh I wish I could fart - then the pain would ease. Round ligament pain - which can be sharp when you sneeze or achy like period cramps is normal. In my case, the agony seems to build and cripple the front of my belly/hips if I have farts/poo that need to, but will not, come out. All fairly normal I think, but will be explaining all to widwife when I finally get booked in tomorrow.

Just found out a colleague of similar age is diffed and due a week after me. Hmmm, wonder if she's on the July thread? If she is, I have prob said enough to out myself. Think I'm safe with PESHes though - seem to know most of your whereabouts!

casper You need to use the patented Magic Farting Method. Lie on your back and lift your knees up towards your chest. Slowly move your knees from side to side.*

I was seriously taught this technique by a guy at a party when I was about 20! I opened a door to one of the rooms and here's this guy lying on bed doing this. He said, oh sorry, and then proceded to explain what he was doing. Talk about weird! But it actually does work. Still think it was a very weird encounter though.

*not so useful later in pregnancy as it is physically impossible to get your knees anywhere near your chest.

Oh yes, I'm definitely getting the pains when I sneeze - and I'm sneezing about 50 times a day.

I can't fart at work (except accidentally ) - but they start coming out in the car and I'm very careful to make sure my diet is "colon friendly".

So what is everyone up to this weekend? Takeaway curry tonight then I'm going for a ride tomorrow - first time since early december and I'm really looking forward to it. Then home and sofa for pretty much the rest of the weekend.

My fart technique = also on back with maybe a cushion or two under the arch of your spine - the idea is to elongate your tummy, then you start massaging your lower abdomen in circular motions. It's just like yoga!

Thanks for the fart tips! Will be trying them out this weekend, but perhaps best to wait until after the house viewing tomorrow morning

Other than that I will probably spend a good while hunting for all the various bits of paper to take to the MW in the evening, and drawing up a list of questions for her. SFF is being sent off to pick up baby stuff I won on ebay . Otherwise - relaxation!

Hom and I are going to stroke each others chins ref refurbing the bathroom, then off the Dorking to look for some art deco double glazing (don't ask) and then off to ma soeur's for some grub and shiz.

Sunday hopefully a nice long walk, some lunch out somewhere and then a snooze in front of the fire/darts/rugby/snooker/whatever.

Just come back from a nice 4 mile walk in Richmond Park to make up for the total crap I'm going to stuff in my mouth for lunch . Then thins afternoon I'm going to start a painting for the nursery. Can't decide what to paint though - any ideas?

cunty you read my mind! I've been thinking about nursery canvases this week. Been googling for inspiration and not getting far beyond Under the sea, jungle, teddy bears and other normal, soppy baby stuff. Or blatant plaigarism of Disney characters etc. If I could paint the walls I would go to town, but we're hoping to move, and might spend some time in rented while I'm on maternity leave.

It's also not easy when we don't know what it is yet...

Seaside might be nice, as that's where I'm from but we now couldn't be more land-locked if we tried. Oh, I don't know

Biscuits! yes! how about a sweetie factory theme. Nom Nom (or even a cheese factory )

spinning seems to work pretty well re farting.

Am I the only one not doing a nursery and ergo I don't love my baybeee?

Spinning - ouch! (I love my Dr's rules about exercise )

Farm animals or safari now getting my approval, having just been shown the JustJellyCat website.

Our "nursery" is a junk room. I'm sure we'll squeeze a baybee in there somewhere.

VAG the waking is most definitely a symptom, still happening to me. Every day at somewhere between 3.30 and 4.30 I wake up. Get back to sleep about 5.

We're not going to find out what it is, although it prob wouldn't make a difference if we did to the decor. I had a very non-specific gender upbringing and I'm going to strive as far as possible to be like that with mine too. I was the last of 3 girls and I'm sure my dad secretly wanted a boy (well, wanted someone to do boy-type things with, not necessary a shouty, smelly, noisy boy per se!) so I can't remember over doing girl stuff at all - my childhood was very rough and tumble

hehehe vag calm down - have a cocktail for your nerves.

Cossie I'm thinking "broom cupboard" with a stuffed toy in the corner...

ski that's about right.

So who is planning on finding out gender? We don't want to as we don't care either way.

I keep thinking gender neutral - I shared with my bro until I was eight, then had a hideously girlie room which I liked for all of, oh, five minutes (until I remembered I preferred climbing trees to dolls)

But then I see some really cute stuff like this that is very girly/boyish and I think "maybe we should find out"

Then I think about having some sort of modern chic nursery - but what's the point when I know everyone else will flood it with cutesy stuff? so I'm quitting while I'm ahead, and now getting carried away with ducks and pigs and sheep and chickens and cows and puppies and... [saddo face]

we've still not decided. i don't mind which we have, but name wars is raging on, so knowing might reduce the number of battles and prevent divorce. And I'm quite addicted to, obsessed with partial to shopping, decorating, accessorising and all sorts of things that would be hindered if I didn't know.

But then again, the surprise would be nice...
(Though, TBH, I'm an impatient little madam, so we probably will - even though it will cost)

We want it to be a surprise and I want Hom to be the one to tell me when he sees it delivered. I think I just want that one big unknown excitement at the end of the long haul, so if nothing else I can concentrate on that being the end product, if you get me. I haven't explained it very well.

There are few big mysteries left in this world, but this can be one of them. And also sometimes they can get the gender wrong, so that would be a bit pants.

Yes, we very much want to know the sex. It's going to be quite odd as we're always referring to it as "he/him" - so if it's a girl it'll obviously not be unwanted, but we're going to have to change our mindset.

I've got another midwife appointment on Monday where she'll be doppling me and I intend to ask (and remember) what the heart rate is as I've read on mn that 150+ = girl,