**August 2010** Part 6!! Starting to show with gusto now ladies.

[CherryPie3]

Thread 6.

You lot talk too much.....

Happy chatting

pamplemousse - would love to see the weblink on help towards reusable nappies

I feel much better this afternoon, no pains since early this a.m. Going home in a minute to lounge in the garden!

Just found that Leicestershire council give you £30 if you keep your receipt, and also they have a talk on once a month at a coffee morning called Nappuccinos! So the next one is this Saturday, might have to go! I've gone nappy mad!

OMG kcoffin27 - 8 lbs? I've put on about 18! Had my wedding dress fitting last night and even though it's a beautiful dress and I love my new shape, I was a bit underwhelemed at how the dress looked on my new body. I guess I always thought I'd be a trim and svelte bride but seeing me with no waist much larger than I've ever been made me feel a bit strange and I had a little weep afterwards .....sorry to moan, I am so lucky to be carrying this little baby I know and can't wait for our wedding but I guess I need to get used to my new look.

Also, I'll be 27 weeks on the big day - is it possible that my boobs might leak into my wedding dress? OMG! It's made so that I don't wear a bra but I don't want wet patches!!

I never leaked any milk before the twins were born so hopefully you'll be same for your wedding day LCR. How exciting for you.

If anyone is worried about whether leaking milk has anything to do with whether you'll be able to BF it makes no difference - I didn't leak a drop and exclusively BF'd twins .

I have finished reading The Politics Of Breastfeeding (great book), and have already emailed NCT and The Breastfeeding Network to ask them if I can become a peer supporter. I feel really inspired by the book, not just about the BFing but also the stuff about how damaging capitalism can be. I am going to find more books like that to read as I enjoyed it much more than I usually do novels.

My dream would be to open my own drop-in centre for women to come for info about childbirth and BFing, and maybe train as a doula too. My DH has quite a well-paid job so if he gets more pay rises I could do it voluntarily I think. Dreams, dreams...

When I first asked my council about nappy grants they said they didn't do them, but in the next financial year they did, so it is worth asking again even if they say no the first time (even though its only start of the new financial year just now). Just keep your receipts, I claimed for nappies I'd bought six months previously .

Hi guys
Glad everything is ok with you and the wee one Cherry . Very tempted by the sale mrs zac! LCRLCR you will look so beautiful on your wedding day but its natural to need time to get used to your new shape
I heard the babys heartbeat for the first time yesterday when I went to see the midwife- was so amazing!
My mum has been visiting over the last few days and we have been doing a lot of baby stuff shopping! I think we now have pretty much everything apart from a changing mat (my boyfriends brother gave us tons as well as their little girl has just turned one and doesnt need them) ! I think we may have to get rid of some things and a lot of booksto make room!Trying not to stress though!

LCRLCR I'm leaking small amounts (not enough to show) at 22 weeks. Maybe have some kind of discrete breast pads you can use if necessary?

warning customer service related rant coming so I've just been on the phone to Mamas and papas, my 11th communication with them to resolve a single order issue.

I placed an order for £90 worth of stuff including a maternity pillow two and a bit weeks ago. The pillow was delayed by longer than I'd been told but no-one let me know. In fact it had come back in stock on their website and they were processing new orders before mine went out.

Then Parcelforce claimed not to have been able to find my house, but didn't let me know this, wasting 2 1/2 days of my time waiting in. Never had this problem before. 3 emails and four phone calls that I was promised would be returned weren't.

The goods arrived properly bashed around (probably from sitting in the back of a van for three days).

And I'm told... they'll give me a £10 gift card to compensate. I've spent that much in phone calls as inevitably I'm left on hold with the 'we're experiencing an unusually high number of calls' (I get this every time) for 10-20 minutes before someone bothers to answer. But i'm told they don't compensate for calls made, even if it's because they're too bone idle to ring back when they say they will.

I was intending on spending £500 ish on a set of drawers and changing unit to match my cot at the weekend. Seriously doubting whether it's worth the hassle!

Sorry for the moan, I hate bad customer service.

Pample, I would tell them you were thinking of spending the £500 but have now decided against it! I am sure they will come round to your way of thinking. Were the goods damaged or was the box just a bit battered? £10 comp doesn't seem much for all the hassle.

neenz I've already told them what I was planning on spending!!! Battered box, ripped outer plastic packaging and dirty blanket........
They've raised it to £25 now, which I've accepted because it's semi-reasonable and I can't be arsed with any more rigmarole!
Ah well!

Hi all,

Just a quick post to say I'm so glad you said that neenz about leaking!

I havent leaked a drop yet & I didnt last time either, I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding last time though & was sure that was 1 of the reasons! I only managed it for about a week

I really would like to try again this time though & you have made me feel a bit better saying that so thanks

glad you are ok cherry x

cherry glad to hear that things are okay! Hope you're okay in yourself!

Thanks girls for all the comments about the sonographer - it's hard when you're feeling hormonal to realise that she is just a miserable moo with nothing better to say rather than being struck down with suicidal tendancies!

As elusive said if she can't sit on a ctool properly then she isn't exactly qualified to talk about my emotions!

Is anyone else still suffering from MS or is it just me?

That would obviously be stool..... TYPO

Hi Gals

Been work, work, work for the last week for have just skimmed the last 20 pages or so...Cherry, phew that you're ok. I know that we can't wait to see our babies but I don't think we're quite ready for our first baby yet...even if it is our Head Girl

I have one more day to work and then I think that's me officially on (my own) maternity leave (although, I'll need to wait 4 more weeks for official Maternity Allowance to kick in). Hurrah - although I'm in good form, a 4-5hr commute each day on top of a hectic day has been pretty tough these last few weeks. I don't know how you full time ladies are soldiering on...much respect.

On the prep front, its been a great week - my sister passed on a barely used Maxi Cosi car seat, I managed to spend £80 on nappies, sterilisers, wipes, etc at Asda and best of all, an old aunt of DH's has given us a beautiful old Danish rocking chair - its simple, elegant and so perfect for a nursery I almost cried because it was exactly the sort of luxury we would normally have scoured the country's antique shop for and bought but were going without because we're skint. I'm just off now to look for a sheepskin for it - the yummy mummy lifestyle of my dreams is back on temporarily...at least until I think about doing a big shop.

I noticed my nipples were a bit crusty this am so it looks like I'm joing the colostrum gang soon. However, I guess progress comes at a price - I caught a glimpse of myself in a shop window earlier & practically didn't recognise the puffy whale-sized reflection of myself. Feeling a bit grumpy about my looks now - think I need my hair done or a pedicure to snap me out of it.

Evening hunnies Thank you for all our get well wishes - I'm feeling much better now. Still a bit crampy and lower back hurts like hell. I'm terrified that it's all going to start again in a month or so...the w's at hospital made me feel as though labour was imminent - hence the overnight bag nicely packed in the corner - just waiting for a nce new towel to pop in and thats that.

Head girl weehector...I'm honoured . And I quite agree - it is too early for babies right now - are you listening babycherry?? Too early, find yourself a comfy spot and stay!!

Vix How you doing honey? It's scary to have any sort of cramping - it's possible you may have a UTI too I guess (then we can both be on blue torpedo anti-bi's ). Hope you're ok.

Sparkle Your sonographer sounds like a bit of a troll to be quite honest. Ignore her - you got to see you beautiful baby and I'll bet you're not the only one who has had tears in her eyes. Maybe she's jealous?

Have I missed any list updates?? I'm very sorry if I have - would you re-post please? I don't want to miss anyone. My saved list is at work on my desktop and I'm going back in tomorrow so I'll be able to update it properly then.

Off for a nap now before dh comes home. Just put kids in bed and I'm exhausted. And I just took my 5pm antibiotics. Whoops - just a little but late with that then....

TTFN xxxx

Hi girls!

You sound quite good in yourself Cherry - although I can't believe your considering going back to work tomorrow! There is only two days left this week, go back Monday!

Impressed by you ladies planning to use washable nappies. Don't flay me, I do care about the environment really but there is no way I'm considering washables. I just think I'm gunna have enough to be getting used to e.g. being a Mummy for the first time, sleepless nights, baby feeding and routines etc. without adding another burden to the list. Haha I struggle to get the washing done now without a baby, without throwing in baby clothes of which I expect there will be hundreds and then nappies. Will be sticking with disposables I'm afraid for ease of life.

Went to see another nursery tonight - did not get a good vibe at all so we'd decided against it as soon as we left, even though it would be our cheapest and best money saving option. We'd already discussed that we'd go with the nursery we liked the best and not worry to much about costs if baby was only in for one day, we'd like her to in the nursery we were most comfortable in rather than the cheapest....

However, I've spoken to my Dad since and where we were expecting Mum to be having Belle 2 days a week and only 1 day nursery, (Mum redundancy/early retirement end of this school year), it has now come about Mum has been offered redeployment so she's not sure how this affects her previous monetory offers of the redundancy/early retirement package if she decides to turn down the redeployment offer. So its all up in the air again now about how many days nursery I'll need. I'm being totally selfish, but I'm gutted! We'd gotten our heads around the financial aspect of one day nursery and being able to choose one we really liked instead of it being all down to the cheapest. Looking at how much 3 days would cost us it really scares me how we would get by...

I must try not to dwell on this now though cuz a) it might not even happen and Mum will still have her the two days as previously planned. b) me going back to work is a whole year away, so I don't really need to worry until Easter next year!

LCR and hector (and anyone else I may have forgotten to mention from posts!) - sorry to hear your having a down day about your new shapes! Think of the beautiful baby you are growing and how beautiful you are because of it! Personally I'm loving being pregnant and the changes, but I do sometimes look in the mirror and can't believe that it is me!! I'm feeling quite massive all of a sudden and loads of people have commented this week on how I'd suddenly "sprung out". I however don't appreciate the comments such as "you must be growing a big baby".... I don't think I'm that big for 24 weeks, I certainly don't think we can tell how big baby is going to be yet!!!!

Anyway, I've gone on long enough! Relaxation time now! Much love to all!

I'm not leaking anything at 26 weeks, so to everyone worrying about lack of leakage - please don't! As neenz said earlier - it makes no difference.

neenz you go girl! Glad you enjoyed the book .

LCRLCR i bet you look absolutely stunning in your wedding dress. But you know, a lot of brides feel a bit meh about their dress before the big day - I did and totally panicked. I didn't get that "omg I'm a bride!" feeling until I'd had my hair and make-up rehersal and when I put my dress on, on the day, I fell in love with it again. I know you're going to be different shape from what you'd dreamed about, but you will look AMAZING - I promise!

weehector I had a pedicure today and it was worth every penny - my feet are bloody gorgeous now!

pample for you! Poor, very poor.

neenz I've just started a course to become a bfing peer support person, it's really interesting! We're lucky here because we have a lovely bf support group
babyducky I didn't leak a drop before DD arrived and we bfed for 11 months (til she dropped it) so there wasn't a link for us!
Glad you're ok cherrypie
I'm itching to get my HiP, seeing the MW for my next checkup on Monday and she'd better not have forgotten the paperwork, I've already picked out some nursing tops I'd like...and that bag of course
I'll be 27wks tomorrow - eek! Time flies! I'm crossing fingers and uncrossing legs for a 37 weeker cos can't be thinking about moving house with a week old baby...

Hi ladies - popped on this morning and saw all was well with Cherry (thank goodness) but no time to post.

Just checked and my county council is giving £25 towards reusable nappies. Was pleased as I had already tried the district council some time ago and they don't so I only tried County on off-chance. I have a friend in Hebdon Bridge which has a fab nappy shop so feel a visit and a shopping trip coming on.

Busy busy at work and it looks as if my mat leave start date may get pushed back at least 3 weeks which will only give me 1-2 weeks before my due date max . So I'm eating Banoffee pie and trying to come to terms with it. At least there's some good (bad) telly starting at 9 for a couple of hours to take my mind of things and I'm off work for the rest of the week (except I will naturally end up taking some calls tomorrow).

Hey Cherrypie, thanks for checking on me I feel fine tonight not had any pains since this morning. Its very confusing since I have had bad IBS as well this past day or so and it is hard to work out where the pain was coming from.

I certainly feel like there is pressure on my bladder, and my bump feels really heavy and cumbersome right now. Even DH says I look big all of a sudden, so I think the pains were either IBS or 'growing pains' if that makes sense.

Hoping for a good night's sleep tonight, that should help make me feel a bit more comfortable.

Feeling sad tonight as a friend of mine has just miscarried at 7 weeks, I was only telling her yesterday how wonderful pregnancy is and she was so excited, and now this has happened.

I've been taking all the labels off the baby clothes just as an excuse to go through them again. I'm starting to get soooo excited now at the prospect of having an actual baby! I am so ready for him now (or I think I am - what do I know he's my first!!!!) and these last 16 weeks can't fly fast enough for me. Although I still have a house to sell, a house to find, a house to buy, business premises to find and move into and countless other projects that need to be completed before August.....

Haha Vix - yeh you've got a lot on your plate before August arrives! But I know what you mean about being excited, I so can't wait to meet my little girl either and feel really ready to by a Mummy! Loving this whole pregnancy business! All I'm desperate to do before August is somebody do my bloody attick soon so I can sort out my babies nursery! Grr I'm getting so impatient to get moving on that! Only 15 weeks to go! So I can't imagine the selling/buying houses and business buildings!!! Looking forward to more shopping too, role on HIP grant (car seat) and money from our weekend doing respite for DHs step brother over Mayday (bedroom furniture and other bedroom stuff).

Sorry to hear about your friend though.

The whole changing shape thing is all a bit strange. Some most days i love looking pregnant with my lovely lil bump to stroke but then other days i just feel absolutely huge! Normally my weight goes up & down by about a half a stone depending on summer / winter & thats it about it & has luckily been like that for years. So suddenly putting on 15 pounds (& rapidly counting!) is a bit shocking. i was only going to buy staple maternity clothes & try to make do but have really found what i wear really helps me feel better about my new shape so have splashed out a bit & i dont care if thats vain! Happy mummy, happy baby thats what i say
i also have had virtually no MS & so been eating heartily since the beginning, but have often been so exhausted that my normal amount of exercise has been drastically cut. Just depends how your body reacts to being pregnant i guess, not something we can completely control.

Im with you on the nappy front CazEM, ive just been given over 100 nappies by my SIL as her DD has grown out of them & they bulk-bought too many! So no washable ones for me, not that id really considered it really as im feeling the same about first-time bubs, just want to make things easy as possible for me, esp as DP lives 270 miles away during the week & things will prob be like that for the next 2 years until he gets a new posting
Curious to read up on that website tho... Love our thread, really gets you thinking about lots of different things!

Talking of MT, i'll have nearly 4 weeks left at the end of term so was feeling okay about it. However recently there seems to have been a trend of people who have kept commenting on how i 'may not make it' until then & have to leave earlier. I will prove them wrong, I will!! Unless bubs has other ideas i guess! i have had a few dreams about going into labour whilst at work Hope that doesnt happen!!

Waffled for long enough, sweet dreams everyone x

morning all

Just heard from my nanny friend whose boss was due yesterday with her third dc.

She woke in the night feeling constipated and gave birth 25 mins later on her bathroom floor with her husband on the phone getting instructions from 999 crew

Baby fine all good but now am panicking in case same happens here.....

Aaah! How scary! I had a friend who had a very quick labour at home and she went into shock because it was all so quick...not always the best option.

DD slept really well and is full of beans so I'd better go and feed her and see if I can't slow her down a bit. Happy thursday

Okay now thinking I might be mad seeing as I'm taking no maternity leave and have to run the home and 2 businesses as well as have a new baby.... but I genuinely don't think the washable nappies will be that much harder than disposables. I'll let you all know if I am mental once I'm actually doing it

My baby is 5 today. Cant believe ive been on MN for over 5 years lol

vix you're not mental at all! I found it really easy to deal with real nappies - much easier than lugging home huge amounts of disposables from the supermarket! Napisan, lavender oil and a bucket with a good fitting lid are all you need