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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Expecting in Oxford 2012 (inc. late 2011 too)

786 replies

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 10/05/2011 15:26

Hi... so just been confirmed I'm due 10th (ish) of January and would love to get chatting to some others in the same area who are also expecting... As I said In the title that includes those of you due late 2011, as well - it's a very inclusive thread - as long as you'd be able to make some meet ups in Oxfordshire and you're going through some stage of reproduction then you'd be welcome :-)

I know there's at least one more of you out there (ghost - you there?)

Stats time:

MakesCakesWhenStressed - expecting #1 EDD 10 Jan 2012

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ghosteditor · 15/08/2011 09:41

I'm more of a baker whereas DH is a much better cook. I tend to end up being all sous-chef when he's in the kitchen. Our new oven went in over the weekend! We didn't have time for anything fancy last night but I have a huge list of foodstuffs which require the oven and we're planning on indulging this week. Veggie lasagne wohoo!

I can do cake (especially loving spiced pound cake these days) but am totally hopeless when it comes to scones - just can't make them. My mum is good at them and her mum is great at them, but somehow the gene just passed me by Sad

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 15/08/2011 10:32

Scones are easy - what troubles you with them?

Can I have the recipe for your veggie lasagne? I have a great meat one to do, but wouldn't mind a variation on a theme :-)

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ghosteditor · 15/08/2011 11:12

The family theory is that my hands aren't the right temperature for scones! I'm not really sure - they just come out all dense and flat; I think I might be overworking the mixture a bit. I guess I should keep trying but DH has become good with scones in the meantime so I just give an imperial wave and demand a fresh batch Grin

Will PM you with the lasagne recipe lest this become a food-based thread instead of a baby-based thread...

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 15/08/2011 11:38

That's rubbish - I always have hot hands, but my scones come up fine. I think the key is just to not keep rubbing for too long, and apparently a really good dusting of flour over the baking sheet and the scones before bunging them in the oven :-)

But they are a bugger to clean up after... so if I could get Dh to make them instead of me, I doubt I'd bother either ;)

Bah. Just had my evil MiL (as opposed to my lovely MiL - one of them is a step) make the following comment on a pic of me on FB - "That is a rather large 18wk bump, not to be the bearer or bad news but you know how heavy its Daddy was"

Is she calling me fat or just trying to scare me - I'm not particularly impressed either way and posted a rather snotty reply. Hope there's no fireworks.

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ghosteditor · 15/08/2011 12:02

That's brilliant! I think it sounds like a bodged attempt to engage with the pregnancy but people can be so insensitive! If it's any consolation I'm pretty huge right now and when I was about 12 weeks my mum cheerily said 'oh, I'm sure I didn't show with you until I was about 7 months'. Fab mum. Thanks Hmm. (to be fair, mum was five years younger, a bit taller, and is a much slimmer build than me with no muscle - but still!)

If it were a face to face conversation I would cheerily say 'oh, not to worry, I'm sure it's all fat anyway' thus leaving her no-where to go, but not sure how I'd deal with it on fb. Have managed not to leak my news on fb at all at this stage so have been spared any unfortunate comments, but acquaintances are definitely starting to notice without being prompted.

I have the anomaly scan on Wednesday morning - can't wait!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 15/08/2011 12:33

Oh I just said "None of the scans have shown any indication of a large baby. It's probably just got a nice big swimming pool like I did."
Very restrained I thought. Esp since I suspect a good dollop of it is just pre-preggie weight anyway - ho hum. Dh thinks she was just scaremongering and trying to make it about her - a fairly typical tendency of hers, so I'd have to agree with him. Even so - bit cheeky.

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ghosteditor · 15/08/2011 12:37

I think that dealt with it nicely! Very classy Grin

ghosteditor · 15/08/2011 17:12

Speaking of things that make you Angry - i'm waiting in town for DH to pick me up so that we can zoom off to ikea again. I'm waiting by the main road and a bloody big van whizzed past and a man leaned put the window and yelled "how much?". AngryAngry little fucker!!!!

It happens quite a lot here - almost always when two young men are in the car. I suppose they think it's funny... I didn't deign to respond but still...

Rollersara · 16/08/2011 07:01

I heart veggie lasagne too :)

My OH invited our neighbours for "afternoon tea",which sounds like a lot of baking to me. I'm assuming, as he did it without asking me, that he's doing said baking...

ghost, how annoying! Used to happen to me when I lived in Leeds. Particularly frustrating as it's impossible to give a comeback, grr!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 16/08/2011 08:06

You could always go with "You couldn't afford me, loser"

And I reckon afternoon tea would be fine with just a victoria sandwich and some chocolate crispie cakes, which aren;t actually real baking, but always make guests go "oooh" :-)

x

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ghosteditor · 16/08/2011 09:43

I just wanted to add that I was actually waiting by the side of the road, still, when I sent the last post. Am still a bit Angry. DH reckons that scathing silence (and no reaction at all if you can help it) is the most fitting response. He does actually get heckled a lot on the road as he's a cyclist, but it's not usually sexist banter aimed at him, more general abuse! If I'm in the right kind of mood, I generally just flip them the bird.

On a much cheerier note - ooh, afternoon tea! I second the advice by cakes - I love those marshmellow crispies as well as the chocolate ones but can't eat them as they're not veggie. Why not go the whole way and have cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off Wink?

Last night we went to Ikea to return loads of unused kitchen stuff and switch the handles we'd originally picked. Since we could only get a gift voucher we decided to pick up the poang chair which I've seen recommended for nursing - not quite a rocking chair but a very soothing action. The cover comes off I think and you can buy a new cover for £15, so it doesn't really matter that it might get grubby! Anyway it's intended for the baby's room but I think it may get some use over the next few months. Having insisted that I wouldn't buy anything before the 20 week scan we have now acquired a crib and a chair Blush

Now, where were we on the meet up suggestions? Was it Sept 18th, possibly in Didcot?

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 16/08/2011 11:02

Sep 18th, definitely. Didcot would be easier for parking and am happy to pick anyone up from the station who doesn't have a car...

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Rollersara · 16/08/2011 18:18

Is it bad form to buy the Victoria sponge?! Chocolate crispies is a good idea though, even I can manage them!

I'm planning a trip to Ikea for the post Christmas sales. It will be a nightmare but hopefully worthwhile financially!

Didccot is fine for me, can offer lifts from Oxford if necessary!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 16/08/2011 18:29

Victoria sponge is easy - if you have the tins I can talk you through it step by step?

6 oz Stork margarine
6 oz caster sugar (I like the golden sugar, but plain old Tate and Lyle white stuff is fine)
6 oz self raising flour (or plain flour, but add 1 heaped tsp of baking powder if using plain)
3 eggs.

First use a pencil to draw round the tins onto baking parchment. Cut out two circles and sit them in the bottom of each tin (trim to fit neatly).

Using electric egg beaters beat the sugar and margarine together until they go a bit paler and is smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one by one, beating each one in thoroughly before adding the next. Tip in the flour (and baking powder if using) and use the beaters to mix in thoroughly, using a knife or spatula to scrape the sides down occasionally.

Now divide it between the two tins, roughly smooth down so the mix is spread evenly and make a little dip in the middle.

Put into an oven pre-heated to 180 degrees and cook for about 20 minutes. When they're done they should be a lovely golden brown all over and if you press lightly with a finger it'll spring back.

Leave to cool, then run a knife round the edges. Put a plate over the top of one, press the tin and plate together and invert. remove the tin and peel off the paper, then spread thickly with red jam (strawberry, raspberry whatever). Now place the flat of your hand over the other cake and invert onto your hand. remove the tin and paper, then place the exposed side down onto the jammy cake.

When you're ready to serve just dust with icing sugar from a sieve.

It really is easy, I promise...

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Rollersara · 16/08/2011 20:31

makes note to buy tins

Do I really need electric egg beaters?!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 16/08/2011 20:35

well... they're not essential, you could do it all by hand, but a) it's bloody hard work and b) less reliable. You can get a pair for about £7 in the supermarket I think... I use mine a lot.

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ghosteditor · 16/08/2011 20:42

Mmmm cake... I love my electric beaters, make everything much easier! Mine were cheapish ones from the supermarket.

Just waiting on first proper meal from new oven... Veggie lasagne [drools]

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 16/08/2011 20:43
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Rollersara · 16/08/2011 21:57

Right, will try and get out of work on Saturday and get baking!

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 22/08/2011 08:13

How did it go Sara?

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ghosteditor · 24/08/2011 09:25

I have been a bit oven-tastic in the last week Grin So far: veggie lasagne, spiced pound cake, veggie moussaka, vegetable crumble. Om nom. I think it's a bit food-focused and I need some more cake!

I didn't make brownies yet cakes as DH loves them and I'm waiting until he gets back - he'll need feeding up after six days of cycling in the Alps!

ghosteditor · 24/08/2011 09:31

By the way, what handy Oxford-based hints have you picked up so far?

I was looking into reusable nappies as I heard some councils give a cash incentive, but it looks like Oxford just gives trial packs instead. The council website has some links, but I wondered if any of you would fancy going to one of the 'Nappy Shed' monthly nappy demos?

I'm also going to a 'buddhabellies' antenatal yoga/birth discussion class (at least I hope I am) which sounds really fun and is very local to me. Expensive though.

I also found out last weekend that south Oxford has The Oxford Pram shop (helpful people!), and a Mothercare [shudders a bit]. East Oxford has a Babies R Us (and I've resolved never to go in there again), while north Oxford has a JojoMamanBebe. John Lewis in High Wycombe does not have any baby/nursery stuff whatsoever!

I know cakes lives really near to BabyWorld in Wallingford and I plan to go there at some point too! Oh and New Look in Witney has a fairly decent maternity range in store.

MakesCakesWhenStressed · 25/08/2011 12:09

Wallingford is well equipped with a bunch of free groups and classes, the Nappy Shed is based here, so have arranged to go over to hers for a demo some time in Sep, but we did buy a bulk load of cloth nappies on Ebay, so it'll just be for some user guidance and top up nappies (newborn size, swim nappies, one or two extras just to make sure we don't run out etc)

Freecycle is excellent round here with lots of child/baby stuff on it and there's lots of breastfeeding friendly venues in the area, but I haven't got as much useful info to add as you managed ghost :-)

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ghosteditor · 25/08/2011 14:42

oh cool! Let me know how the Nappy Shed thing goes. More importantly... how was the scan?

Moobee · 26/08/2011 08:32

Hello everyone!

'buddhabellies sounds a fun course, I need to sign up for something like that.

I'm looking forward to the 18th - who's going?

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