The Continuing Adventures of the First Time Frolicker Graduates....

[Hermya321]

Right (plonks self down and breaks out the biscuit tin and tea bags), I've stuck the kettle on. Whose joining me?

ARRIVALS:

Fulhamgirl - EDD 30th May - DOB 9th Apr - Girl - Lily Ann - 4lb

CURRENT__GRADUATES:

Trying4Baby1 - BFP 21st Aug - 25th Apr - Girl
Kaystar - BFP 27th Aug - EDD?
Pepperonipizza - BFP 12th Sep - 24th May - Boy
Ladyemmalou83 - BFP 13th Oct - 23rd Jun - Girl - Erin Elizabeth
bluesnowfalcon - BFP 14th Oct - EDD?
DesperateHousewife21 - BFP 3rd Nov - EDD 18th Jul - Boy - Dylan
Spirael - BFP 7th Nov - EDD 25th Jul - Secret
Curlycasper - BFP 11th Nov - EDD 21st Jul - Girl
EmsieRo - BFP 16th Nov - EDD 20th Jul
vix206 - BFP 8th Dec - EDD 22nd Aug
HypotheticalMummy - BFP 9th Dec - EDD?
Ozziegirly - BFP 16th Dec - EDD 24th Aug
NovemberAli - BFP 24th Dec - EDD 2nd Sep
Eleanora - BFP 28th Dec - EDD 4th Sep
WhiteRoses - BFP 11th Jan - EDD 15th Sep - Boy
hamsterlover - BFP 11th Jan - EDD?
Hobnob - BFP 17th Jan - EDD 26th Sep
MadameG - BFP 17th Jan - EDD 16th Sep
pixiestix - BFP 18th Jan - EDD 24th Sep
ceebs05 - BFP 22nd Jan - EDD 29th Sep
addie81 - BFP 28th Jan - EDD 8th Oct
chancewouldbeafinething - BFP 1st Feb - EDD 11th Oct
WorrisomeHeart - BFP 29th Jan - EDD 12th Oct
Hermya321 - BFP 12th Feb - EDD 24th Oct
fudgecat - BFP 19th Feb ? EDD 28th Oct
Pidgin - BFP 27th Feb - EDD?
Honeymoo - BFP ? - EDD 1st Nov
YorkshireTeaDrinker - BFP 1st Mar - EDD 6th Nov
DrewsGirl - BFP 4th Mar - EDD?
bunnygirl80 - BFP 12th Mar - EDD 19th Nov
Mumnerves - BFP 1st Apr - EDD 8th Dec
Spanishlady - BFP 3rd Apr - EDD?
luckyseven - BFP 8th Apr - EDD 17th Dec
Capricorn76 - BFP 12th Apr - EDD 1st Jan
Homebound - BFP 30th Apr - EDD 8th Jan

FUTURE_GRADUATES:

aly323
Ariesgirl
Bellaby
calligraphy82
Calyx
CaveMum
chalky3
cher rycobbler
claireinthecommunity
Dinkytinky
evilgiraffe
FelicityFlick
haloflo
Kaloki
kkas
kurl yvoice
misshoohaa
MrsWajs
Muser
Papertiger
pinkiePoo
pipsicles
seablue
Sevans
Stiffybyn g
Wannamummy
Zippys

lucky I forgot about the raspberry leaf tea in my last post.

I does not induce labour, it makes the uterus more effective at contracting, so when you do eventually go into labour it should be quicker. I've got a number of frinds that swear it was responsible for their quick labours, but I suppose they'll never know how long it would have taken without the tea. It can't do any harm to try it though

Thanks Ozzie, its good to know that the worry subsides a bit after the first few weeks. I'm not even bothered for myself/ my diet iykwim, I'm just so freaked out by all the statistics for stillbirth/placenta failure/traumatic delivery etc. If someone could give me a cast-iron guarantee that the baby would arrive absolutely fine then I would happily eat nothing but gravel for the next ten weeks!
Thanks for all the tips too. Its a week before I see the dietician and it feels like an age. Its not helped by the fact that DH completely blames me for this situation. He thinks I should have been eating a completely carb and sugar free diet from the start of my pregnancy. I don't know that that would have even worked - especially as you say to eat a small amount of carbs with every meal - but he is really taking it out on me at the moment. That makes him sound like an arse, and he is usually lovely.... but actually at the moment, he is being an ARSE!!

Also LMAO at Bunnys hypnotherapist -
"You are feeling sleepy (om nom nom)"

Hi Ladies,

Just need to catching up as been without internet for last 3 weeks or so.

Went for our 20 week scan today and wow! Was amazed at how much detail the radiographer could pick up! heartvalves and everything!!

Everything is well with LO and in good health, we haven't found out sex as I wanted a surprise. It was a bit scary when I had to book in for my 2 week overdue date

Just going to spend this evening catching up,
but fudge just so pleased Splodge is hanging on, what a superb little fighter!!! I was dying to find out how you were both getting on

Have a good day everyone!

As promised a proper post from me

First of all a huge thank you for all your kind messages and support ? it means a lot to myself, DP and Splodge. It?s sometimes hard to believe I?m still pregnant after everything that has happened in the last 5 weeks or so. I think some of the doctors are a bit shocked too

pixie sorry to hear about the GD ? don?t blame yourself for a second tho!!!

chance good luck with the MW and hypnobirthing today. Let us know if the hypnobirthing people talk with their mouths full

aly glad to hear that your MS is easing off, good point about new grads ? there must be some due this way soon...

OneOf8 I doubt you look like a fat arse

hermya sorry that the docs appointment didn?t go too well, it may be worth asking to see another doctor as they all have different attitudes towards pregnancy issues. Over the last few months I have seen most of the GP?s at my surgery and it?s quite obvious which ones are parents and which aren?t. The list you posted is great ? I understandably haven?t done any shopping yet but if we get to that point I will print it off to use as a check list.

bunnygirl lol at the hypnobirthing man eating

ozzie you seem to have got the hang of managing the GD really well

mumsnerves 3 weeks without internet Glad the 20 week scan went well

Has anyone seen whiteroses?

Amazing news Fudge - Splodge is obviously made of tough stuff.

Hi folks,

fudge FABULOUS news re splodge's growth and the blood flow, that's absolutely brilliant!

addie I am officially joining the big baby club too - at the m/w yesterday Mr (Not-so)Teeny was measuring a week ahead. Have you seen this website? I especially like the bit about big babies being efficient feeders!

bunny fab re getting the pram - if I remember correctly you were after a bugaboo cam, right? Did you get the style/colour you wanted?

ozzie am loving the sound of your oils - yum! Not good re your wrists though - do supports help at all? Not the most stylish of night attire, but if it helps the pain?

hermya hope you get a better response from your doc re the work situation, how frustrating. Any word from your bridezilla friend?

superpenguin I will echo the comments re not worrying about the weight loss at this stage - these little ones are such parasites that he/she won't be feeling the loss! Hope you start feeling better soon.

luckyseven Actually, knowing we were having a boy made it harder - we've really struggled to find a boys name we can agree on, but we had at least three girls names lined up! Ah well, next time! How are you finding the mat trousers - I bet you're comfier than you have been for a while, I love mine!

pixie so sorry to hear your GD results. Chin up and just focus on the fact that now you know you can get it all sorted and take notes from aly and ozzie (they can be your guinea pigs! )

chance how was the hypno birthing class? A friend lent me her Marie Mongan book but it's a little too 'woo' for me, so I'm planning to get the natal hypnotherapy cd's in the hope that I will find it easier to listen to than to read. Although if it's like bunny's eating man, it may not work...

aly glad your ms is calming down and you're starting to feel more human.

oneof8 lol at your training for a career in taxidermy comment - I know how you feel! Hope your ms calms down soon.

mumnerves fab news re your great scan and welcome to the second half - it's all downhill from here!!

Have a great week all!

worriesome - glad to hear its not just me - there are a few of us on the thread I think. The woman who did the scan told me that the average weight for a baby these days is 8.5 pounds, which presumably means that if she says our baby is above average she is on course to be bigger than that? OUCH!

Hi guys,

Just breezing through really, I've been to the Docs now and they've given me a fit note for work asking them to reduce my hours. I'm hoping that this will mean that I'm able to stay at work a bit longer. Strange I know, but I've come to the conclusion that at the moment working is good for my mental health. The Doc suggested to go off early and the thought of leaving work so soon had me in tears in the car park. Of all the reactions I could have had, I didn't think that would be it . Huh well, at least I can point out to work that I am very dedicated.

Also had an interesting adventure with my sat nav this afternoon. It took me down a dirt track road which had flooded and had a bemused cow stood in the middle of it.

Fudge I'm so so happy to hear that your little Splodge is still going strong, everytime you update with news it feels like your LO is giving a big 'in your face' to the Doctors. You should be so so proud, we all are!

Mumsnerves I can't believe you're 20 weeks already, congrats on the scan. I'm so glad it went well.

Bunny I'm going to be drinking that stuff in buckets when that point comes. Although my friend said that even though she'd had quick labours, she wasn't so sure that it was any better than a more drawn out one. At least with a bit of a longer labour, you have time to get used to it. But with a shorter labour she said it was like everything all at once and you sort of hang on and pray for it to be over. Mind you I expect it'll be like that whatever happens.

pixie can't believe that your DH is blaming you for the GD It's in no way your fault - you could have lived off lettuce leaves for the duration of your pg and still have developed it if your body works that way. At least it's been diagnosed so now you can do something about it.

mumnerves congrats on the scan.

worrisome I did get the cam....and in my preferred colours as well. It's chocolate and sand, which just happens to coordinate with all of the other things I've bought for LO so far. I spent yesterday afternoon pushing around the house and practising putting it up and down. It's so lovely and shiny it almost seems a shame to put a baby in it who might mess it up

hermya hope your work manage to reduce your shifts. I think being able to go to work and think of non-pg stuff for a few hours each day is definitely good for our mental states.

I've also heard that a very fast labour can be quite a shock, but I equally want to avoid a really long one.

I went out for coffee with my friend and her 4 month old yesterday. He was soooo cute and cuddly, and definitely at that stage where they start to be a bit more interactive. He's just learning what his little hands are for so he spent ages grabbing my fingers and pulling them Apparantly he's got loads of expensive toys but much prefers to play with people's hands

Pixie, according to my endo and dietician, it's really bad to skip carbs. I tried it very early on between my pos hpt and first appointment to keep my numbers lower. They weren't too happy with me.

Sorry, I'm on the iPhone, so can't type a proper post. I'm having a fun day- work publicslly posted my transfer to an easier position and now everyone knows I'm pregnant. It's both fun and scary! Also had people say that I've got a little bump. Funny how happy that made me.

pixie there is nothing you could have done to avoid developing GD if you were destined to have it. My endocrinologist has confirmed this, and the diabetes educator. It's just to do with the hormones that your placenta is making blocking the effect of insulin - it's really nothing at all about what you did or didn't eat before.

I had a pretty healthy diet before and I still got it.

I know exactly what you mean re eating gravel. In the early days I said to DH that I would be happy to just eat exactly the same thing every day if it meant the baby would be ok.

I do still worry about placental failure, but I feel very well monitored and I keep a vague watch on foetal movements - although I don't need to do counting as he seems to be wriggling about in there all the time!

I'm sure you'll feel calmer after seeing the dietician, mine really put my mind at ease. My sugar readings still go high now and then, but I have been told it's sustained high readings that are the problem, rather than the occasional higher one.

bunny your friend's baby sounds so cute. I reckon tha 4 month stage is where they start to really seem like a proper little baby, with cute smiles and co-ordinated movements.

fudge I"m so pleased that Splodge is still hanging on in there. Really wonderful news.

Hermya pleased to hear that you're feeling better and can reduce your hours, seems like a very sensible compromise.

I am so puffed up at the moment. My feet are like puffed squares by the end of the day (I refer to this as "Shrek foot"), and my ankle bones almost totally disappear! My rings don't really fit any more so I am wearing them on a necklace!

Apart from that though I'm actually feeling surprisingly good and energetic. DH had to leave at 5am yesterday as he was flying to Sydney and I was totally awake and refreshed and didn't even bother to go back to sleep! Very unlike me. I haven't even been that tired in the evening, although I do often feel weirdly restless, like my legs want to just move around and my clothes suddenly feel too restrictive. I think it's either pent up energy from sitting behind a desk all day, or its preparing me for night feeds!

EIther way, I'm quite enjoying it

Pixie How can your DH blame you for developing GD? Thats a bit backwards isn't it, it's like blaming you for the weather being bad.

Bunny Awww bless your friend, it's always the way though isn't it. I'm already starting to think about Christmas and mine, I might just get him a box full of wrapping paper and let him go crazy. Well as crazy as you can go at 2 months old.

Ozzie Glad to hear you're doing well.

ozzie I went shopping today, and Myer are having a 3 day sale (at least they are in Sydney). They've got some pretty hefty discounts on baby clothes - not sure if they change the discounts daily, but today it was 50% extra off anything that was already reduced and $10 off loads of the full priced stuff.

I picked up some super cute stuff for LO and a new maternity bra for me. Did the try it on my head test and I was to find that the cups are now too big to double up as a hat for me

Ooo, thanks for the tip bunny, I'll head in tomorrow. I need another maternity bra, and I can always do with more tiny cute clothes!

Impressive hat measurements too

Thanks for all the reassurances that I couldn't have done anything to prevent the GD. I can kind of see where DH is coming from - you are more at risk of developing it if you are overweight, so if I had tackled this before getting pg then I would have lowered my risk. Plus, as it can be managed hugely by diet, he thinks that by following a better diet all along it would never have got to this stage. So I do understand his point of view, but it still makes me feel like shit Oh well, only 4 days until my hosp appointment, and as Ozzie says, that should make me feel heaps better.

Congrats on the 20 week scan Mumnerves! You are on the downward stretch now!

Glad you got what you wanted out of the docs Hermya. I agree that finishing work this early would probably drive a person stir crazy. And it would be miserable to have to go back that much earlier when the baby is actually here. That said, its only two weeks until my Mat leave starts and I am SO EXCITED!

Keep shocking those doctors Fudgecat!

Roses - if you are lurking, I hope that you and your LO are ok. Usually when you leave us for this long it means that you are back in the hozzie for something horrid! Hopefully you are just slobbing on the sofa with a big bar of chocolate!

Hooray for your little bump Aly! I love my bump so much, its one of the absolute best bits of being pg.

Sorry for the Shrek feet Ozzie, but wow, how lovely to be full of energy and up at 5am! It feels like a whole other world for me. I can't imagine ever having any energy again! Hopefully the dietician will sort that out and I will be bouncing about in a few weeks. Interesting about your legs - there is actually a pg condition called "Restless leg syndrome" you know? Its in my What to Expect book.

Very of you guys in Oz and all your sale goods! Shopping for the baby is so much more fun than shopping for my own big fat bum and legs!

Someone told me that with short labours you don't get any less pain than with a long labour - its just all concentrated into a few minutes rather than a few hours! I don't know if that is true, but I really dread the thought of a three day labour, so I might wish a short labour on myself anyway! At least I could cope with the trauma with a big glass of champagne in my hand, rather than endless gas and air!!

Hee, if you think the bra sizes are bad during maternity... Wait until your milk comes in! I was a 34D to start with, a steady 34F during pregnancy, and now I'm a 32H. (I have no idea how/why my ribcage has apparently shrunk...)

Anyway, they'd better deflate again after I'm done with the Daisy the Cow routine. I can barely squeeze them into my tops!

I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year. There haven't been any children at my family Christmas celebrations since my DB and I were kids! I think some of the magic of the season is lost if there aren't children around. Mindy will be nearly 6 months by Christmas.

I agree that fast labour can be a bit of a shock to the system. I went from thinking I was having a stomach upset to holding a baby within three hours. Two hours after that all birthing evidence had been tidied, the MWs were gone and DH and I were left in a bit of a daze with our new family member!

Having said that though, I think I preferred it that way to having labour drawn out over days!

Anyway, I'm glad to report as the voice from the other side that things are still going well. Mindy is gaining weight at a good rate (phewf!), she's back up to her birth weight now. She's nearly grown out of her newborn clothes already though, by length rather than weight. Looks like she's going to be tall and skinny! I blame DH for that.

BF is going fine, it doesn't hurt now and the feeling of closeness is lovely. I'm getting used to discretely feeding in public, it is a lot more convenient than hauling bottles around and having to heat them. So stick with it, those wanting to BF! Once you get past the first two weeks it seems to be a lot easier.

I must admit though I am still giving one bottle of formula per day in the evening, as my supply just can't keep up with the constant demands of the little milk monster at that time of the day! Rest of the time, it's fine.

Only new tip I have is that muslin squares are every bit as useful as people say. I always have one in reach now! Useful for mopping up little dribbles, to putting over the baby to protect her while she breast feeds and you try to eat your dinner one handed over the top of her... And inevitably drop bits.

I was even using a muslin square folded up as a makeshift pillow for the baby seat in the shopping trolley at the supermarket earlier, as it looked hard and uncomfortable with her head just against the plastic. Multifunctional!

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all doing well.

This thread really is a wealth of useful info for first-timers.

pixie I had to confess I had to look up what GD was and even after I found what the initials stood for had to admit I had not heard of it before. SO many things to worry think about!

Glad to hear your news fudge sounds like things are getting better every day.

and spirael I don't know how you find the time to post all these brilliant tips!

Still early days for me, am 7 weeks + 3 today, so don't want to think toooo much about baby-stuff yet, although can't help it!

Thanks to everyone for their reassurances about weight loss and morning sickness.
I have managed to eat a lot more this week, almost back to normal amounts, which I think is helping. Making myself eat a little even when not hungry as otherwise I never feel like eating.

I have already had to buy a new bra! Was only an A cup to start with so quite happy to be a B now!

pixiestix so sorry to hear your DH is being an arse. It really was unfair, do you think it's just a knee jerk reaction from him? I don't see how it can be your fault either.

Bunny thanks for the tips, will keep my eyes out for the tea when I next go past the health food store!

spirael like everyone has said,don't know how you've managed to give us so much info, but THANKS! Aww 6 months is a lovely age for a first christmas, She'll be able to enjoy attention a lot more then

Hermya glad you managed to get the outcome you want at work, I think I'd feel the same as you, it would be about holding on to something that I personally built up(career) and something that makes me feel in control of my personality
Sat nav sent me down a dirt track a couple of years back too, I almost drove into a stream!! Scary!

I've had to buy 36G bras over the weekend my shoulders are killing me!! I really hope they don't grow that much more

I was lurking on the ttc thread and halo has got a BFP

Morning Everyone!

Being cheeky, and doingthis at work despite the mountain of work building up besides me!

Hope everyone is ok?

Just had a really quick question - when the "growing pains" stopped - the intial cramp sensation etc, I remember someone said not to worry and said when they started again.

I can not find this so was hoping someone could remind me? Had a couple of somethings - not sure how best to discribe - but this has now stopped completely. When (on average) does the moving all start up again?

I am sure something is going on in there, as cant do my normal "big stretch" in the morning without feeling a pulling - so not worried, but would like to know tho! x

aly congrats on making your announcement at work. I think it makes everything feel so much more real and exciting

ozzie sorry to hear about the swelling up. It's great that you've got lots of energy....perhaps this is the start of your nesting phase

pixie maybe your DH could go with you to the diabetes mw so he can hear the info on how your diet won't have caused this from them

spirael it's great to hear that things are still going well with Mindy. I have to admit I'm not relishing the prospect of having huge BFing boobs - I'm in a F cup now so goodness knows where they'll end up.

It sounds like you'll have a lovely family Christmas. I'm starting to think Christmas will be a quiet one for us as LO wil only be 4-5 weeks old, so not exactly going to be aware of it. Might save all my festive cheer for the bizarre Aussie tradition of Christmas in July when he'll be able to enjoy it a bit more

oneof8 I think I started to get stretching pains again around the 13-15 weeks mark. Not sure if that's average or not. I seem to have had phases where I get alot of discomfort and my bump expands and then nothing at all for a few weeks.

I had my 22 week obs appointment yesterday. Got a very slight telling off as I've gained 5 kilos in the last 6 weeks Turns out that's what happens when you pig out on holiday while pg. It's a good job I was skinny before and my weight gain previously was a bit below average. Have promised to be good and eat healthily from now on

Got to see LO again, which is nice. He's head up at the moment, with his arms and legs pointing to my front. I had my suspicions he was lying like that as I've had the feeling that something has been tap dancing on my cervix for the last few days

Hooray for Halo!!!!!!!! [dances around thread]

Today I feel like crap. Nap after work tired and nearly constant nausea. Am delighted!

I will see you all asap as soon as I feel more confident.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Halo thats brilliant news!!!!