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

lovely to hear all the good news!

Pjen I think that there is some research that says that the size of the baby is mainly determined by how good the mother's body is at growing a baby and that the father's size only affects the size of the baby downwards. So basically we've evolved to grow babies that are a size our body can cope with. That said if you are very slim there's nowhere for the baby to hide so it's bound to show more.

jools hope today was okay

Must go, howling from upstairs where dh is giving dd her bath....

lovely news ladies

Lovely to read about all your scans! Had my 16 week appointment on Tues- was great to hear the heartbeat. I have to wait until 21 weeks for my next scan- seems like an age away. Haven't had any migraines this week- WAHHHHHHOOOOOOO!!

Have felt baby's movements the past two days-weird little flutterings- especially in the mornings. Still doesn't feel quite real- wonder when it will??

DH and I have been discussing names- can't agree on anything! I hate all his suggestions and he hates all mine- great! Oh well, am sure we'll come up with something. A friend of mine recently gave birth and they took 2 weeks (after the baby was born!) to actually agree on a name- so she was just 'baby' for the first two weeks of her life. Hopefully we'll agree on something before then!

Just a quick post - I'm due in December and am already getting a bit of a tummy. Not baby, my tummy muscles seem to have given up the ghost already!

I have found some really cheap things in Blooming Marvellous (google for website) - could not get my size online, but telephoned the shop direct and got them to post them on (as in stock). However, apparently that store is closing on (I think) 26th July. I get the impression all of them might be closing as the prices are amazingly low. Just thought I'd mention it. I am not connected to BM in any way, just v.happy with their stuff first time round (why did I freecycle it all, I could've done with it now).

Congrats Squistle & Ebrookm!! Wow a boy n a girl.... Woohoo

DF really pleased that you got all clear. The new 40 is the old 30. I am planning to have another one after this and by then will be for sure over 40. I don't regret that I didn't have kids when younger. I had time for myself and needed it! I lived in 5 major cities around the world, travelled and pushed my career. I wasn't ready earlier. I am ready now and don't feel a bit older than 28! ;)

pjb that is an interesting hypothesis. I will read about it more.

OWO the secrecy thingy doesn't apply to us! We actually don't know you. ;)

Hooray for boys and girls Squistle & Ebrookm - very exciting that we're starting to find out. I love the gentle ripple of everyone going through each stage in turn. There's something very beautiful about it.

DF Congrats on the result. Re: checkout lady I love it when things like that happen. I was IDed for booze (I'm 30) in Waitrose a couple of weeks ago and it made my weekend!

Welcome KarenHL - pleased to meet you!

Anyone got or thinking about yoga DVDs? I ordered two, which have now both arrived: Pregnancy Health Yoga and Buddhabellies. The latter has three difficulty levels but all three were a little disappointing as I was looking for something a bit more challenging. I found it. I was absolutely wiped out by Pregnancy Health Yoga yesterday! Both are good though and I'd recommend them for a nice was to get your dose of exercise at home.

Don't think I mentioned already but we finally found a home in Bristol and it seems to be located in hippy heaven. The house backs onto a park and we have a city farm, a veggie cafe, a bike shop and not one but two organic supermarkets within spitting distance! We move in on 31st and I can't wait

"a nice was" guffaw

greenGeekGirl very jealous of the new house, it sounds great.

I want to start doing Yoga, either at home or at a class. Wonder if there's anything for the Wii?

Todays comments:

"Blimey love, you're gonna struggle" - ds1's friends mum

"Ooh, not much longer for you" - a random woman coming out of a neighbours house.

Eek!

I'm feeling lots better today, going to do a few bits then try and catch up with you all.

blimey! how rude

a bloke I work with said to me yesterday 'I wish I could get pregnant and then I could have a year off doing nothing' !!!

jools, hope it goes well today.
GGG glad you can go for your homebirth, your new house sounds like its in a great spot too.
So exciting for those who already know what they're having. When I have my 20wk scan dd (5) will be with me as shes desperate to find out if shes getting a little brother or sister, dh and my mum are also coming.
Mrs snaplegs, I don't think i will complain now, have spoken to midwife who apologised and also said consultant is normally v good. She was lovely and also works at the hospital and I'm worried about getting branded as a trouble maker. I think I will just be more assertive at my next appt.I want to find out more about the risks resulting from my treatment. I heard the babies heartbeat with the midwife yesterday, lovely and clear, but have been told to snack more as I had ketones in my urine! She has also booked extra appts with me as she could tell that I'm concerned and wanted reassurance, she made up for the hospital visist the day before.
Re sex. like many of you, I'd be up for it more if I wasn't so tired! But still having some!
Right I'm off to look at Blooming marvellous and Moby slings - thanks for the tips.

Oooh DF, what a 'bleep'. OK, so I'm not working atm, but I always see work as time off! If only these people knew! DP has been shocked at how much hard work it is looking after a house & 2 children all day.

I saw women at C&W on Wednesday whose bump was so big I thought it was goiung to drop off there and then. I wanted to go hold it up for her. But, instead smiled and pretended not to notice.

I think she is having quadruplet giants.

Has anyone looked into what happens with childcare vouchers when you go on maternity leave?

strix am not sure about childcare vouchers but thre was a big thread on here I am sure about some loophole which was actually beneficial to mums on maternity leave. I'll see if I can find it...

here

and here

Thank you, DF! That's pretty much what I thought but need to find some better evidence than (look here HR, it says so on MN"

But, it confirms what I thought. IF I find a nice credible link I'll post it here for everyone else to also make use of.

Thanks DF, thats really helpful, have just posted on that thread for more info!
And bought lots of stuff in the Blooming Marvellous Sale Also love the moby slings but might wait until we know what colour to go for!

There is a bit here about salary sacrifice benefits:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/sml-salary-sacrifice.pdf

DF what an ar$e! I'd love to be one of those people that could reply quick as a flash "well, if you could can get a watermelon out through an opening the size of your nostril, you probably could" or "yes, and I'd love to be a misogynist dinosaur, but we can't have everything we want in life".

What always amazes me about people like this is that they probably have wives or sisters who have children and you really wonder what they would do if someone spoke to them like that. I usually (silently) wish 8 children upon their wives to ensure that the husbands get their commupance (unfair to the wives, I know, but they should have married such idiots).

Thanks for the childcare vouchers link, DF and Strix for asking. I've just worked out that 90% of our childcare costs could be covered by the vouchers, and as we're both higher rate taxpayers, it will save us about £2400 a year. Sadly I'm not sure we'll be able to afford to save up vouchers while I'm on ML this time round, as we're only just going to manage (I'm the higher earner).

Its funny, but I always thought I would become a SAHM, but as my husband will be leaving his job in three years time for sure, and I'm in a fabulous job that I actually enjoy, I'm plannign on going back to work. Any other first time mums decided what they're going to do yet? And did any of you wise and all-knowing other mums change your mind about going back to work?

Sorry, they should NOT have married such idiots, of course.

Fortunately for womenkind I have a feeling this man is destined to remained single for ever, he doesn't have a successful dating past and is full of wise cracks about women in the work place.

I am going to come back to work, we have a really good on-site Creche where I am. DH has said he would like to be a SAHD but I get the impression he thinks it will be an opportunity to play more call of duty (!!) so I've put my foot down about that, I don't want to be the only one bringing in money!

Like you whatwillsantabring I am the higher earner and planned to go back 4 days a week after the DS's and thats what I did! With DS1 I went back when he was 9 months old and DS2 I went back when he was 13 months old. To be honest I dreaded going back after DS1 mainly because I hated the thought of leaving him . But once I realised that nursery can be a very nice place and they dont leave them crying / wet / upset / bored (all the things my imagination was going wild about!) then I relaxed into it. He liked nursery and I liked having something else in my life apart from nappies .

I felt less upset going back after DS2 although I did find that working 4 days meant that I struggled to fit everything in - I've now got homework / after school clubs etc to plan in for DS1 and it wont be long before DS2 will want to be doing more activities. So after DS3 I plan to drop my hours further. Maybe to 3 days a week so Ive got more time to get involved in the kids lives. I stupidly thought that life would get easier once they were at school age but it becomes so so much harder! Early finish times / holidays / after school activities / homework / school lunches etc!!! Aaaaarghhhhh!! The amount of paperwork I get from them every week about stuff I have to remember is ridiculous!

Enjoy the nursery / early days as a working mum while you can

Great to hear all the good news!
\o/ \o/ hurrah!

NEWS: Blooming Marvellous has just been bought out by [spit] Mothercare: there are some seriously ACE bargains to be had whilst they switch stock - pretty much my entire maternity wardobe is from there. First I got 20% off, then about 40% off and now they are selling 35 quid cardigans for a fiver!

Is anyone else getting an achy bump? Mine goes hard when I am tired (could this be Braxton Hicks?) and it also has a tendency to horizontal aches in a band just above my pants.

Thanks for the tips on Blooming Marvellous- have just bought loads of stuff.

Had a horrible experience this morning- I completely blacked out on the tube. Was standing up and was feeling a bit weird- felt a bit sick then all my vision went blurry and I was thinking 'I really must ask someone for their seat'. Don't remember what happened after that but next thing I was on the floor with people picking me up. Very embarrasing but felt awful- all clammy and spinny. Am sure people must've thought I was drunk or really hungover or something. Have booked in an appointment at the dr this arvo to make sure all is okay with baby and me.