North of the border: the all-new bumps and bairns thread

[midnightexpressmwahaha]

We've now vacated the pregnancy threads - hope everyone can find us here!

Hello Ladies,

Am new to the thread, kindly pointed in the right direction by midnightexpress and vio. I'm 38, live in the east end of Glasgow, not orginally from Scotland, been here just over 2 years. Am in the very early stages of pregnancy, my first and just trying to get my head around the whole thing and the fact that my relationship was very new and have no idea whether daddy will be sticking around.. I have a very supportive family, unfortunately not close by though... just be nice to meet mums-to-be and mums for support through the coming months.

Best
TJ

Hi there TJ - weeonion lives in the east end, but I haven't seen here here for a while, will try and lure her back .

Your situation sounds hard - hope you're coping OK. It's overwhelming enough at the best of times. But do fire away with any questions - we're a friendly bunch.

Where are you from originally? Quite a lot of us aren't from Glasgow originally.

I don't know of any specific groups in your area (Weeonion might though) but we meet up sometimes (when we can get our act together and you'd be v welcome to come along.

Hey TJ,I'm not in the east end but not that far from you (Uddingston). As you can guess from my name I'm not from Scotland either - fact most of us on here arent - its like united nations at times!

Hope you are keeping well, its a very difficult time and is made so much easier with support of those that love and care for you. You just need to remember to look after yourself and that baby!!

Thanks for the note midnightexpress.

I'm originally from Manchster, many many years ago though, lived abroad for a while with my work, then decided to move back to the UK and just picked glasgow as family are all spread out. My sister lives over on the east coast though.

To be honest the last 2 years back in the UK have been difficult ones with family losses and a dodgy relationship, I just feel constantly on an emotional roller coaster - and now my current situation. I guess we all have an ideal of how pregnancy and the whole family thing will happen - and this is totally the opposite I guess of how I expected if would be. My mum and aunt are over the moon, as is my sister and they are being totally supportive and will continue to be so throughout - I just have this overwhelming sense of sadness, and I feel bad for not feeling as happy as my mum and sister etc. I just keep crying, in the car driving home from work, cooking dinner, sitting on the loo ! Just where ever really. Termination was not an option, so I know I have made the right decision, and know I will get by and things will be fine - I guess I just want to feel an overwhelming sense of joy at being pregnant and the future, but its just not happening right now.. I guess I shouldn't be beating myself up about my feelings..

Hi Geordieminx, thanks for your reply too

...Does looking after myself and baby include sneaking to the fridge now for a tiny bar of chocolate

Unfortunatley a tiny bar doesnt count - only massive bars will do.

Roughly whereabouts in the east end are you?

No, you shouldn't, but it's an emotional time anyway, without loads of other stuff to deal with, and sometimes the weight of it all can get a bit much, can't it? Not to mention those pesky pg hormones. I used to regularly have to pull over to the side of the road when I was pg (both times) and a sad song came on the radio. I used to test myself every now and then with 'Little Green' by Joni Mitchell, and dissolved into floods of tears every time.

Like Geordie says, it's great that your family are supportive and you have to look after yourself and the baby.

...and yes, the mahoosiver the better. And make it Green & Blacks.

Hi TJ70 and welcome. I think it is quite common not to be overjoyed during your pregnancy though people don't like to admit it. I would say I mostly felt ambivalent last time even though baby was planned & this time I fluctuate between shock & terror (definitely didn't plan for twins) whilst everyone else is delighted, full of how wonderful or else hilarious it is. It's hard to know what you should feel esp if you've never been pg before & then you feel guilty cos you're not reacting as everyone else expects you to. All changes once bub is here though - suddenly it all falls into place ( though not necessarily straight away). Just try to go with the flow. Is a very hormonal time too & you are in a difficult situation.

Thanks all for the reassuring words ladies..

unfortuntaley no Green & Blacks in the fridge so will have 2 small bars to make up the bigger one

Geordie, am in the carntyne area..

PS .. apologies for all the spelling mistakes... my laptop keyboard is terrible!!!

Hi TJ, my DH is originally from Manchester! Well, i remember when I was pregnant with DS1, was a bit emotional too, something to do with the pg hormones maybe.

I dont know what to say, I am due in Nov and getting increasingly nervous, now that DH working away during the week doesn't help either but everyday i tell myself that I should feel thankful for having another chance to be parent again and I am thankful, just very worried though.

I hope you are well and pls look after yourself.

Hi Vio

Wow, November, will be here before you know it . I can imagine its a worry for you, but am sure all will be fine .

I have started looking around for yoga classes - has anyone done them and did you find them beneficial? There is an 8 week class that I am looking at attending at the end of Oct thats run at Charing Cross.

TJ I went to the pregnancy yoga classes at Balance in the west end with both my pgs and the classes were fabulous. Maureen's a really great teacher (and a midwife). I think you have to be 16 weeks before you can go and they are in blocks of about 5 or 6 weeks iirc. They also have a separate class now for women who are after 30 weeks with more birth-related stuff.

The thing I liked best about it was that it gave me an hour and a half of head space - just calm, lovely time for ME, so I think you might really enjoy it. No idea if it helped . She does loads of stuff for birthing, and I ended up with two crash sections so so much for all that breathing and what not, but I'd recommend it anyway.

There's a hilarious post-natal class too. I used to go with ds1, who would spend the entire time screaming the house down, and then I'd go home again. So didn't bother with ds2, who was even more of a banshee.

Thanks for the info midnight, i will get in touch with them

I like the sound of the post-natal class too.. can imagine that it must be a challenge with all those new healthy lungs in one room

Well most of them seemed to be perfectly angelic, they just lay there and gurgled sweetly while their mums did a bit of downward dog. It was just mine . I take it as a sign of character, bless 'im.

It's quite a good way to get to know other mums though.

BTW, where are you having your baby? PRH?

Yes, it will be the PRH - I have all the leaflets they have sent through, but it all just feels to strange to be reading them right now, I guess once the first appointment has happened I'll be able to read them and know this is happending to me and not just reading for someone else.... does that sound strange?

TJ - I did the Balance classes too as did Loulee ( where is she btw?).I thought they were really good although completely forgot the birth stuff when the time came. Didn't try the post natal, no way could I commit to getting out the house for a set time in those days even tho I only lived 5 mins awat from the yoga centre. You have to pre-book too & tis not particularly cheap .

hiya anyone southsidey around...kingspark/cathcart/langside areas?

Would anyone on here like to buy a chicco dj baby walker? I have one going cheap... well it doesnt go cheap obviously, it plays some rather annoying after the millionth time nice tunes!

Any interest let me know - or anything else baby realted really - I have a garage full of stuff, keeping thinking about doing a car booty but never get round to it.

Actually does anyone know any decent ones round here?

Geordie - don't want the baby walker, not ken on those things but obviously there is a fair bit of baby stuff I am after esp as DD not finished with hers. Am hoping to borrow a lot but would be looking to get the rest 2nd hand. Twins gonna be an expensive business. Will have a think & let you know what I'm after, see if its something you're looking to get rid of. Double buggy/ tandem is top of my list but don't expect you've one of those!

Do you know whether you are having boys/girls yet?

Not yet. Don't know if I will find out anyway, just that my mum really doesn't want to know & would be hard not to let it slip. Or to start telling other folk who would let it slip. Though I would quite like to find out, I'm not good with surprises. Always open my Xmas pressies early, wrap them back up & open again on Xmas Day.

What happened to your mac btw?

I think it would make it easier to get a bit more organised, pink and blue and all that . I'm rubbish with surprises too - we found out with C - it certainly didnt detract from the whole experience of having a baby

Got rid of the mac as someone was snooping on me... twas ages ago now though.

Are you stil working F/T? Well as full time as you slackers in the education service ever do