December 2010 - good-bye flat tummies (as if I had one... ha ha ha)

[Persnickety]

Right, I've done the honours. This is our new thread.

And don't forget the stats thread

*busy on here today! damn s key keeps sticking.

oh, and can I just poit out that things like these are by far cheaper than the ones you can buy in mothercare etc...

owo this is my 3rd baby and i have never bought muslins. what are they used for?

I'm with you there mumatron. What are muslins for?

I've also been thinking today about what I'm going to do in winter. Both times before my pregnancies ended just after the end of summer so need to worry about winter clothes. I guess ebay will be the answer.

I wish I could bear to be waxed in pregnancy. It doesn't hurt an ounce normally. I epilate my legs & don't flinch at a hollywood. Yet it comes to pregnancy and I can't stand it at all.

I used them all the time for putting over shoulder while winding baby, um, used as bibs - used to mop up sick / food / milk...

to swaddle baby when its warmer weather

I used Muslins for nappies when dd was tiny and normal cloth nappies were too big. I think back in the day when we were all in Terry squares they were used as liners. I found fleece liners much more effective though. I think most folk use them as burping/wiping cloths but I guess it depends how sicky your baby is.

Had a crap day at work, got really emotional about nothing at all and made a complete fool of myself. As the programme director that looks really bad... I haven't told any of the team yet as I wanted to get maternity arrangements in place first - that got so rte today but now I erally don't want to say anything as I'll be forever defined as a silly hormonal woman. Hmm I guess wait until Monday and hope they've all forgotten.

Anyway, def no christenings here although my church elder dad still hasn't quite given up hope.

I found I could still reach to shave but got distinctly less interested later on.

Another question, any recommendations for antenatal DVDs?

pjen sorry to sound like I think I'm your mum but it sounds like you should take it a bit easier at work. I worked some ridiculous hours when pg last time including a couple of allnighters and really regretted it. Dh was so worried about the risk to the baby although I felt ok and it put a lot of strain on our relationship. Tbh when I went back after mat leave no one remembered. They'll be coping without you soon enough so let others take more of the load now -it's not for long. Sorry, lecture over.

Evening ladies, just checking in before bed. It was DD's 4th birthday today and the first one I have had to go to work on. Still, she had a nice time at her cousins' 1st birthday tea. Very tired today as I was awake for 2.5 hours in the middle of the night. Why is it you always get into a nice sleep just befoer your alarm goes off? Grrr. Hoping tonight will be more restful.

Ah I see, I've always just used hand towels for mopping up sick & protecting clothes from baby sick.

Hope you had a better nights sleep last night maxpower

wow busy couple of days on here loads to catch up on!

couple of quick items from this mornings news (Daily Telegraph - there i've come out to you all now )

So which one of us is Autumn Phillips then? apparently she is also due in December althougyh lives in Hong Kong so I'm not sure it is one of us - anyone going to invite her to join us/

According to research in America eating chocolate during pregnancy reduces your risk of pre-eclampsia bring on the family sized galaxy bars!

Anyway - a quick catch up - only ever got waxed once for my first wedding - never, ever , ever again - horrendous experience.
cherylanntweedy - be careful in this heat it's going to make you more susceptible to fainting, make sure you drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated.
Christening - yep we will as well, did for DD1 - i believe it is my responsibility to my child - when they are older they can decide to continue with their faith or lack of it by being confirmed or not if they wish. One of DD godparents is an aetheist though and we did run that one past the vicar - she was fine with that once we explained our reasoning. He is a good man who will be there for her if we cannot and will help bring her up with an open mind i.e. she will get the other point of view from someone else she trusts.

I am mostly wearing - maternity uniform - provided by my employer - a nice plain navy blue shirt dress, knee length, buttons down front and plenty of room to grow! Weekends and evenings normally just shorts and t shirt or trousers and shirt. all maternity wear saved from last time or borrowed form friends this time with a couple of new items (2 pairs of trousers and 1 shirt plus new swimming cossy)

Still no sign of a house move, getting really frustrated with it now. Am going back up to London on a Greyhound bus this afternoon as it is only £4 one way and takes the same time as the train. Wish we could just be allocated a house so we could start planning the move, can't even register DD for a school down here yet as we don't have an address. Luckily she got a place where we are currently living but I really hope we are not all still having to live apart in September!! I will miss her first day at school

Oh well better do some work as it is a half day finish for me today

Hope you get a house soon MrsSnapLegs. I have very strict orders from DP to sto being stubborn. That's like telling Lewis Hamilton to drive slower!

What's the Greyhound like? We've thought about getting it a few times, but the cheap tickets are always the wrong way round!

93pjb I know what you mean but believe me it is impossible to slow down after being stamped all life as workaholic and nothing gets really done if I don't do it. DH doesn't have a problem with it at all as he is twice workaholic as I am and is constantly travelling for work and happy if I am busy and not noticing... I cut on travelling although even after cutting my peanut has been to Vienna, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Crete, Lisbon, and Rome so far (Crete and Lisbon for fun) and is planned to go to Sweden, Canada and Denmark in August. Not bad for a 19 week fetus but boy travelling for work when pregnant is harsh! There was once that I was giving a talk while struggling with a nasty MS thinking shall I throw up or not?!? And I take my own ziplock bag to planes for just in case!

CherylannTweedy

not sure what it is like will tell you later as it is my first time - you must live somewhere close to me then at one end of my route or other as it only goes to a few places

I've been told it is really nice with reclining leather seats, wifi etc. It takes the same amount of time as train, I am guaranteed a seat (can't always get that on train) and it is only costing me £4 one way with the money off code I got given. Even if it is only as good as train at least it is cheap! I only got a one way ticket as I thought if i didn't enjoy it I could still come back on train on Sunday and it will still only cost me the same as a return would have done anyway so I have nothing to lose

Oh and stop being stubborn

PJen
My employer wouldn't let me fly for work once I declared I was pg - they weren't willing to take the "risk" - are you self employed? Often those who are work themselves very hard - do try and slow down a little otherwise you will make yourself ill!!

MrsSnaplegs I wish my employer was the same. No I work for a big company and they love me to travel!! I was just told that I am booked to present in Germany in September and I actually announced to them that I will NOT travel for work after the first wk of September and that this would be my last!! Standing my grounds... besides, I need to buy pregnancy suits for these meetings and I don't want to buy bloody pregnancy suits! They are expensive and useles!

On another note, Miffster I just was reading on your thread about pregnancy books and I am in such similar boat as you are!! I am alone in London with all family including PILs in other countries. I have good friends but most of them are single or have no kids. I feel as lost as you do and am wondering what do I do with a new born?!? Let me know if you find that ONE good book. I am inclining towards getting "what to expect"... I had the link to the free ebook sent by a friend but somehow managed to delete it and now am too shy to tell her that I deleted her email...

I've got 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' and although it's a great book with lots of sensible advice, it's a bit American (it's assumes a far more medicalised approach than is typical in the UK) and it doesn't have much information on how to look after a newborn, only on stuff like getting breastfeeding started.

One thing to do might be to join a local NCT group and/or attend their classes to meet other Mums or Mums-to-be. I don't think there's much to beat seeing a few different people doing the practical stuff like changing a nappy...for one thing you find out that there is no one way to change/bathe/feed a baby.

PJen - blimey. I'm sure there's no point in telling you to slow down in work, but I hope you are at least getting time to relax outside and can gradually drop a few things at work and take it a bit esier.

MrsSnapLegs - I think you said in an earlier post some time back that you are in the Forces, so I'm guessing you are now in the same place as I live, as the 'other' place down the road that Greyhound runs from just has cruise ships. Chloesbaby is also local.

I was completely clueless 1st time around. I'd never held a baby except my nephews, and that was years before. All of my friends were a bit older than me, but all were single and either still living at home at almost 30 or in a flat on their own, so I didn't have any friends to share anything with. Mumsnet would have been an absolute godsend then. I spent months afterwards looking for places to make friends online but forums just weren't popular then (or maybe I was looking in the wrong places). I really wish I'd had somethig like this then. I think books can help to a degree, but nothing will prepare you for having a baby in your arms. It's amazing how quickly you learn!

PJen I just got 'the baby book' by William and Martha Sears after reading a recommendation or two on miffster's thread and I am really enjoying it. So would recommend that alongside 'what to expect when you're expecting'

RE my weight - I was probably about a size 10 at my wedding but in the year I have been married I went up to a 12/14 so I think when I got pregnant I was already pushing 11 stone, hence the large bump I think it'll be a long time before I see size 10 again!

Girls, I forgot to mention something strange... I felt awefully heavy last night - like a giant bloated whale... So I went on scale and oopppsss I was 6 lbs heavier than yesterday morning!! So again this morning after waking up I weighed myself and I was 6 lbs less than the night before!!!!! I lost 6 lbs in sleep?!?! What was this 6 lbs and where did it go???? Was it all water? I did go to washroom twice at night BUT this is really unusual..... I could not have peed 6 ltr of pee, which would weigh 6 lbs!! How strange

DF your bump looks great!!! You look fab at your wedding and the new pics... Who cares about the numbers, your bump is gorgeous... Mine is as big now...

japhrimel I will order that book too... sounds great...

cheryl I do go out with my girls thursdays and weekends to unwind... I am not a person to relax and am always doing something.

I am worried about losing friends now that I am pregnant and soon mummy and they are all single enjoying their wine I am hoping to find some mummy friends on NCT and yoga classes too...

PJen - ha! wonder if you're presenting at the meeting in Germany I'm going to in September. I doubt it though, as no-one in my team does as much travelling as you do, unless you're a slightly balding man in his fifties???!??

DF done exactly the same size path as you. I look at all my honeymoon clothes now and wonder how I will EVER fit in them again.

Really wondering where MrsSnapLegs and Cheryl live now!!! I should stop being so nosy.

Speaking of moving, looks like we're going to be moving when I'm, ooo, about 8.5 months pg! Whoopee!

I just won a Moby baby sling on ebay! Hurrah!

Hello ,

Missed loads in just a few days!

Still not sure about buying anything so soon, am 16 weeks now. Have been offered a coco bloom baby lounger for £20 it would look lovely in my sitting room but not sure if it's very comfy looking.
Other than that I have bought a peanut shell sling in TK Maxx for £4, and four nappies.

Will be having a Christening, I haven't been Christened and was brought up without religion but Dh's Mum is an Elder at the Church and was really gutted when I said I didn't want DD Christened. So I eventually agreed on the condition that she took DD to church and Sunday school now DD and DS go, I even go with them to Carols by Candlelight at Christmas and always help at Fundraisers. The church has been very good to my Children and although I'm still not religious but feel less hypocritical about jumping on the whole Christmas/Easter bandwagon. I couldn't get married in Church though despite MILs best efforts.

Clotheswise, I have bought a few pairs of jeans from New Look and Red Herring all £7 in the sales, and just non maternity floaty tops, leggings and maxi dresses. I got a bargain Maternity coat from ASOS in the sale and will probably just wear dresses tights and boots when it gets colder.

Still no clear name contenders, how's everyone else doing on that front?
Cramp has started in my legs when I am in bed much to Dh's amusement.
Having our work leaving party tonight, being treated to a 3 course meal then hitting the town, will be missing Wine and Gin when I am sipping a lime and soda!
Seeing Midwife on Tues for bloods for Downs Syndrome etc, hope to hear the heart beat then too.
Have a good weekend all.

Hello! Haven't updated for a while but have certainly been reading all the posts.

Splashed out on a few clothes for me last weekend but didn't go crazy- just needed something to replace all my trousers which no longer do up.

Have also been getting a few babygrows in the sales etc... but that's about it. Don't want to go too crazy.

Bought Gina Ford's The Contented LIttle Baby Book yesterday and have made a good start on it. Was just interested to see what she was saying and recommending but still undecided as to whether I'll give it a go. Sounds pretty daunting but then good in the long term. I must admit to being quite a routine person myself and like structure but then am likely to get a bit stressed if it all goes pear shaped. Any one used Gina's routines before? Would be interested in feedback.

Migraines have been a complete nightmare again this week- roughly every 2nd day I have been getting them- so exhausting. Also had a very emotional day on Wednesday spent most of the evening bawling my eyes out- DH was out for a work thing and it hit home that I have no family over here (all in NZ) and PIL's live four hours away and I don't find them the easiest to get on with (MIL took 9 weeks to phone me after DH had told them about baby) (insert angry face)- let's just say I don't find them particularly supportive. No friends in this country who have kids so am freaking out about a lack of support network. Am just keeping my fingers crossed that NCT classes are good for making new friends in similar situations. Got myself in a real state (hyperventilating etc...) - not good! Have been feeling much better the past couple of days though so maybe it was hormones making everything seem so much worse? Anyway, this post is long enough so will stop now. Have lovely weekend all.

thanks cheryl I slept much better last night. Had to go to the closing event of a course I've been on at work today - late start and an early finish so not too bad for a Friday! BTW, I had a episode when I thought I was going to faint on the train the other morning. I had it in my last pregnancy and it was put down to anaemia, but this time, GP reckons it was the heat.

MrsSL hope the house situation gets sorted soon.

I can sense a little first time mum panic brewing in the more recent posts . Honestly, don't worry. It's amazing how instinctive parenting is. We were shown how to feed, change, dress and bath DD while we were still in hospital, so the practical stuff was covered, as well as getting lots of bf advice. You'll be amazed how quickly you 'learn' your baby.

I've missed about three weeks on here! We were away on holiday for two of them and have been looking frantically for a house to move into ever since we got back - as the estate agent managed to sell our house within a couple of days of it going on the market! I am still pretty shell-shocked about this, but all my energies are currently going into looking for houses. We've seen 9 or 10 this week, I think. Phew. Currently agonising over whether to settle for somewhere impractical (3 floor townhouse) in the village we currently live in, which has GPs, lots of shops, library etc, or somewhere bigger, larger garden, but in village with v few amenities. Oh well. I'm having a weekend of it all!

Welcome to the thread newcomers!

You lot are ever so much better organised than I am. I don't know if it's the moving-house issue, or the fact that this is second-time round, but I'm not really doing anything to prepare for this poor little NSC. (Neglected Subsequent Child) I do think we'll treat ourselves to a new (or ebay'd) buggy or pram. We were given a Mamas and Papas travel system by a friend, which did for the first few months but was heavy and clunky. I wouldn't get one again. Then we had a lightweight McLaren after 6 months, but I don't really want to put a newborn in one. I really like the Baby Jogger City Mini, having tried out a friend's, though the handle is a bit high for me. But we could put a carrycot on that. Probably wouldn't buy new though, I'd get one off ebay that someone had tired of! Chooster, we have a slightly tired Graco from America that I refuse to get rid of, despite the collapse function freezing sometimes. My brother brought it over with his 3 yr old and left it with us. Apparently it was a cheapy one. I love it! It has so much space for bags, and I agree with you, those little pockets and trays are very handy.

Haven't even approached doing anything else. I think we need a new Moses basket because t he old one is now stretched practically circular, storing baby clothes in the loft! Clothes we have plenty of. I've got some slings lined up. I'd like to try washables (we failed miserably with DS) but haven't really started thinking which ones. Most baby things we have already from DS. I reckon that if it's a girl, she can go in his babygros (none of them proclaimed 'I am a BOY!' after all) and when she's ready for other clothes, I can have some fun shopping.

I'm just so bogged down with house-hunting, it's taken my mind completely off being pregnant! God knows what it's doing for my BP...

As for movements, I think I've been feeling vague writhings since week 13 or so, but definitely now at nearly 16 weeks. I had a distinct kick the other night - felt like someone had flicked me inside with a finger.

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=dr+harvey+kar p&x=10&y=20

the link above is to a book we used - read it before the birth, really helped with settling DD and she slept through at night from 6 weeks until she started teething. Agree with what to expect when you are expecting as to not giving much post birth advice - that is what the sequel what to expect in the first year is for!

cherylanntweedy Bus was great if a little chilly with the aircon. Definately as good as the train and worth £4!!

maxpower I agree as a 2nd timer it does come instinctively even though you think it won't - I didn't do anything other than local antenatal classes the first time and seemed to cope ok.

don't ask why I am up at this time of night - can't sleep and didn't want to wake DH tossing and turning so watching TV and browsing on here