Thinking about winter preparations...

[Enfyshedd]

I might be coming across as a bit of a worry wart, but as the long term forecasts for this winter are for more snow and I live up a steep hill, I'm a little concerned about commuting to work while I'm around the 3-6 month period (November to January-ish). Considering on Xmas Eve last year I "found" the icy patch outside my office while leaving to get last minute presents for DSS1 & 2 before going home and was still having some considerable back pain into the new year, I was having a few concerns already before I got my BFP.

Has anybody else got any tips about dealing with the fun that is the snow & ice when it arrives?

Grippy shoe thingies? Saw some people out with them in the last icy period and thought they looked like a good idea.

Hi We live in the middle of nowhere so I am like you making winter preparations - I have bought rock salt for our paths and driveway (as once the weathers forecast it sells out round here) extra food for the cupboards, water and biscuits to keep in the car,logs for the burner, candles and I've done most my XMas shopping on the internet so i don't have to go out and carry it all. Asda Tesco do cheap bags of cooking salt which I kept some in the car last year in case we got stuck. Of course when the snow was really bad and minus 16 we just thought bugger it and sat by the log burner with hot chocolate instead !

Get some good boots that won't be too hard to get on when you're bigger. I just bought these as they have a seriously hardwearing sole and no zip to struggle with. They are really warm as they're fur lined as well. I've got a stockpile of food that won't go off as well so I'll hopefully never be forced to pop out if the weather gets too bad. I need to stock up on things like loo roll and nappies too, I'm going to make sure I'm really prepared this year as I just can't risk falling over like I did last year. It's all a bit new to me as well, I'm normally massively pregnant in the winter. It's made the wardrobe a bit easier though, I plan to get by in maternity skinny jeans tucked into my boots and giant jumpers.

The only thing you can really do is get some very grippy boots or crampons.

I fell over last winter, wasn't pregnant at the time but thunked my head good and proper and gave myself concussion :(

Don't worry too much though - if you do fall you will not fall in a way that will harm your baby. Your body will not let you (comes from one who has fainted in pregnancy, never once had any problems with the baby although has wrenched back and neck)

I slipped on the ice at 35 weeks on Christmas day and landed on my arse! baby was fine though as I felt plenty of movement. I was quite upset and needed a small sherry to calm down! I tried walking with a stick which made me feel better which made me feel a bit safer for some reason