The Berry-Copter!!! (Early 2015 edition)

[FeatherFeather11]

Here we go! Here's to a big Berrie clusterdiff from the other thread and many a safe and healthy baby Berrie arrival in 2015!

bushy Lovely to hear you're all ready and enjoying your last few days pre baby. Besides listening to hypnobirthing tracks a nice book is by Marie Monganwhich explains the whole process etc. there's really not much to it except to help relax and calm you and understand what is going on with your body so you can feel in control enough not to panic. It's very sweet your DH asking the baby to stay put!
Hope you have a lovely day with your friend tomorrow and what an amazing thought that in 2 weeks at the latest you will be a mummy!

lady I can understand how hypnobirthing affirmations might be tough to buy in to when you see labour every day and possibly also the slightly more difficult cases that need EMCS etc. in that respect I am lucky to come for a position of ignorance! The women in my family have also had lovely birth stories - short labours and no intervention (even for a breech birth in one case) so that gives me confidence that it's possible although I am not ruling out any form of pain relief or intervention if necessary just trying to give myself all the tools I can. Thanks for the recommendation of juju's book as well. I will definitely look into it.

pixie lol at me being organized - more like a control freak, which sometimes works in my favour but generally makes me a little bit irritating to others around me . Really excited that you are making progress with the HB - I am living vicariously through you as it's not something I could have but just sounds like it could be so lovely.

rp how much longer have you got to go with mat leave? What are you planning for childcare afterward?

jellie yes having a lunch with my colleagues in the Tuesday. I'm sure it will be a little emotional as I am already getting a bit worked up about being away from work but of course also looking forward to it as it's getting a bit physically challenging now siting all day. Enjoy doing up the nursery! For me having the bag packed early was necessary for my peace of mind (read above paragraph about being a control freak) but I have 2 friends who had twins at 37 weeks by c section so it's certainly possible too go full term.
In terms of hypnobirthing - for some relaxation techniques the book and mp3 might be plenty, beyond that I think it's about how much you want to immerse (brainwash) yourself in terms of reading positive birth stories, etc.

wild how are you feeling following the big news? Is your next appointment the one with the MW?

We went for our first NCT class yesterday which was better than I expected. 8 couples in total and all really lovely so I hope we manage to stay in touch. It's all starting to feel very close now...

gill sorry crossed posts so don't see yours until now. Glad to hear you're doing well! Well done on your run too ! I am sure your bump was apparent to the informed but perhaps you need one of those 'baby on board' pins that commuters in London have.m to make it totally clear.

I started yoga at 20 weeks but the class will take ladies anytime after the first trimester. It's lovely and seems to help with all the aches and pains. There is a (very small) clinical study showing that doing yoga reduces labour time as well - so recommended all round.
Regarding hypnobirthing - while the books say to start as early as possible most classes will take you from 20 something weeks and some prefer you to be in the third trimester. I have really loved it and am at a stage now where I am looking forward to labour rather than being frightened and apprehensive so have found it very helpful.

I am due on the 21st August - so about a month to go now. So excited!

Swinging by to wish bushy good vibes for her DUE DATE tomorrow Ah, can you believe it? After everything....

Lady if you were to decide you wanted to mix feed I have had good success with Nuk latex teats and I was put onto them by another mum at my bf support group. We both were in the position of being about to go back to work and needed our babies to take bottles! Dodo messed about with all other teats as I think the silicon felt too artificial to her after bf was established. But last week I put some warm formula in a bottle with a latex teat, and bam! Straight down without drawing breath. We now do one 5oz bottle of Aptamil as part of her bedtime routine and the rest of the time it's bf.

I am so glad she's on bottles now as I go back to work.....in two weeks' time!! Where has that gone?? She will be 6mos end of next week. She has found her feet and spends a lot of time with her toes in her mouth.

Gill, you managed a 5k run at 16w? I was lucky to make it to the loo to puke up at that stage respect!

Pearl eek, are you next after Bushy?

Thanks everyone. The news has just about sunk in now. It was straight off to work after the scan and obviously not saying anything, which was all very strange. I was just trying to stay calm and keep everything nicely ticking over until I could go home and freak out a bit.

We are delighted, but trying to just take it one day at a time as still a way to go. Although I can't say we're doing too well with that sensible approach. DH has been looking at tandem buggies!

Aw Bushy the day is nigh! I'll be thinking of you and wondering what's going on every time you don't post for a bit!

Hahah! RP yes, yes to putting my feet up! The nurse at the FC told me to just sit down and eat from now on (I don't think she meant it literally). Which brings me to my first question for fellow twin mum Jellie. What have you been told about how much to eat? There seems to be all sorts of conflicting advice and weird high-calorie regimes from the States. I'm often starving and just eat what I want, but I'm baffled as to where I should be pitching it. Or even what my normal calorie intake should be if not pg - at least that would give me a baseline.

Pixie I agree with the others that surely now is the moment to get the hospital bag packed.

Gill I'm awed at your running achievements. How on earth did you manage it? And what bra did you have - now that the girls are getting so big? Oh and I think my two (!)it's surely be known as the wildlings.

RP that's incredible about the colour of the umbilical cord.

Hey Bushy! D- Day is imminent! HURRAH can't wait to hear news of baby bushy! Good luck

Gill - I started Yoga at about 13/14 weeks. I would recommend going ASAP! I love it. Make sure its a Pregnancy Yoga class though as we dont do some of the more standard moves. It really makes me sleep well.

Pearl - Good luck for your last day at work! Enjoy it and don't be stressed - it will all be there waiting for you to return!

Wild - I'm afraid I cant be too helpful on the food front. I am overweight so I have been referred by the midwife to slimming world. Not to loose as such but to maintain (ish). At 25 weeks I have gained 11lbs. I put on 3.5 last week but I think it was my elephantine legs and cankles . They have now unswollen so we will see this week! I have read about some people following diets of up to 3000 cals per day to get weight on the twins as soon as possible... but I'm not sure of the sense in it. Surely they just run out of room faster. Mine are measuring bang on the 50th centile (exactly average) and I can't say that I'm really eating much differently. Perhaps a little less. If you are of a normal weight I wouldn't worry overly much. Just stick to what you are doing and eat a little more if you are hungry. Ask your midwife when you book in. When's your next appointment! Its' sooooooooo exciting It was torture waiting until 12 weeks!

Hello! Yes due date, v strange after the journey we've had but a lovely sense of achievement! No real rumblings so baby bushy must be pretty comfy!!

Pregnancy yoga is ace, you can start after first trimester. I think I started at about 15 weeks. Do make sure it is preg yoga as normal yoga has poses not recommended for pg.

Can't believe Dodo is 6 m o, that seems to have zipped by!

Actually Jellie what you sad is very helpful. First midwife appointment is this week - it still seems strange to even need a midwife - so I will also ask her. But to be honest I think you've already covered it.

Hello Bushy.

Hormone alert
So my Mum & Dad come around today to help me buy & plant some pots for our new patio. It took us a good 2 hours or so and was hot but we tidied up loads of shitty old weedy pots and repotted with new compost & a really nice selection of bedding plants. Looks way better & I 'd been wanting to do it for a while but had been unable to. Got a bit sunburnt in the process too but we were pleased with our work.

Dh comes home (late). After tea I tell him to come out to see what we've done. He's like 'is this where you point out flowers & I'm like whatever?'(
he doesn't appreciate flowers & frequently just says things like they're just flowers). So I point out what we've done & he's just really unimpressed & I get a grovelling yeah looks different. Anyway maybe I'm overreacting but I think for god's sake all you had to do was say 'that looks good' or looks better. But anyway I have got really upset as I feel unappreciated & I feel for keeping the peace all he had to do was show a teeny bit of enthusiasm. Anyhow it has upset me, so am I right to be upset or should I just take the fact that my dh isn't bothered about my gardening skills/ effort & try to accept he's not being an asshole, even though I think he is!! Opinions on a postcard....

Get your revenge slowly over years by training BabyBushy to be a botanist or florist.

Yes Dodo is off to FT nursery as of August 3rd. We have a really good one locally, with its own swimming pool and cook and several take animals I may send Dodo to work and go myself Feelimg quite funny about it. Her sleep is still quite iffy after the 4mo regression and yesterday was a doozy - I seriously thought it would be great to be back at work just so someone else could be sorting out the naps! But then, I think...who will kiss her little chubby cheeks all day, and play our ridiculous Hat Game with her, and read Room on the Broom with special different silly voices for all the animals? Waaaah.....

Wild didn't know that about twin diets! Tbh I had such bad sickness I just ate whatever I could stomach and I thnk most women do the same. Dodo is largely made of plain white toast and Shreddies

Rp love it!!!! Perhaps I just have to accept he's not being horrible, he just doesn't have that much enthusiasm for it but I'm from the school of manners where you should show appreciation, even if you're putting it on a bit. Doesn't cost anything to be nice. Anyway have watered all my new beauties & even got the sprinkler on his stupid lawn ( having a putting style, flat lawn and all neat lines is more his style of gardening.. May I say despite his efforts his lawn is dry, lumpy & not at all like a luxe golf course!!). He's come home from football & washed up ( I'm not sure if this is an appeasement measure but as he's not bothered about showing appreciation I'm not go g to show any- muhahaha!)

Arr bless Dodo starting nursery, sounds really good, can I go too, I like the sound of naps, swimming pool & all my meals done for me. Sounds like Dodo has a lovely life at home Rp. What does the ridiculous hat game consist of?

My sunburn is getting worse! Honestly I cannot take a bit of sun, I think I should be done with it & just wear a bee keepers outfit outside. I can't seem to win. When I coat myself in sun lotion the sun doesn't come out, when I don't, I get burnt. I do hope baby bushy takes some sun resilience like her father, he goes really brown!

Yes you are right, he should be more appreciative. It's only a few sentences to show some interest!

How are you feeling today?

Just checking in quickly to ask how you're doing bushy?

Last day at work for me yesterday which was lovely and very emotional. My colleagues had decorated my desk with loads of balloons and banners and prepared cards and gifts. So kind! Looking forward to putting my feet up now and hopefully a couple of quiet weeks before little one makes an appearance.

Bushy! I think that was really mean! Even if he's not a botanist or plant enthusiast he could have said well done you've made a really good effort there! Esp at 9mo pregnant! I would piss on his lawn if I were you and Yes dont compliment the washing up. I hate it when men do stuff and then expect a blimmin medal. Hope you're still okay! Any "stirrings" yet???

RP - Nursery!!! EEEEEP. Although it does sound lovely - where is it? I may book in for a holiday!

Pearl - I can just see you on the sofa with a box of chocs, feet up and maybe a peeled grape.... not that I'm Jealous NOOOOOO! You make the very most of it!

Had the day from irritation hell yesterday! Nearly every single interaction I had at work, with the hospital (chasing results) and even down to blimmin traffic was irksome. I cried when I got home from Yoga as a man had been mean to me in the car park! All better today though but still looking forward to going home!

Morning all!

Glad you got a good send off Pearl. Did you get some nice pressies? What's on the list of things to do in the next few days?

Wild my jogging is a very gentle shuffle around the course and a bit of walking on the up hill bits. My boobs are probably the biggest issue (quite literally). Although I bought a new 36H sports bra, I find that my older 34E sports bras provide a bit more support although I pretty much need DH's help to get into it! Will see how it goes but don't expect to be able to keep it up once I get a bit bigger.

Bushy it wouldn't have taken much for a nice comment from your DH. Does he not see that by making your environment a bit prettier then it makes you happier. Haven't done any gardening since the BFP. Fortunately we have a gardener to keep on top of things and stop it getting too messy as it's quite a big garden but it looked a lot prettier last year when I was pottering around too.

Got a bargain in Mama's and Papa's last night. Went in to pick up some maternity clothes (which were already massively reduced from around £130 to £50). Anyway we had to wait ages as they wre scattered across their stock room. We got a bottle of water whilst waiting and when the deputy manager came out she said she had found a couple of pairs of leggings in my size in addition to my order and did I want them for free? She also chucked in a £15 gift card. After returning 2 pairs of work trousers (due to my fat thighs) I reckon I got 3 vest tops, 3 pairs of leggings and a pair of jeans for just over £30!

Still felt like a bit of a fraud for being there in the first place though!

Going to try pregnancy yoga tonight for the first time. People do this in bare feet right?

Yep Gillster - some wear socks but I would personally slip on the floor in some of the poses! ENJOY!

Hi, feeling much better. Think 'pot gate' just tipped me a bit emotionally. Mum came up yesterday & we tidied up the beds in the garden. Got a much better response that we had been busy. Not bad for heavily pg lady and a senior citizen with a dodgy back!! jellie your comment really made me laugh!!

pearl yay welcome to maternity leave, I have loved it!! Finishing work is a weird sensation. I found it quite emotional but also a strangely freeing sensation.

gil yes, bare feet for yoga as socks slip on the mats. Just wear stretchy/ loose clothes & things that won't end up around your head exposing your tummy when you're in poses where you are bent over. Good bargain on the clothes too.

Between dh snoring & baby kicking didn't get that much sleep last night so caught up this morning after dh went to work & didn't set an alarm. I rolled over & it was 10am, rolled back over & it was 12pm!! Still in my nightie now!! I have the midwife later this afternoon. Going to ask if they can predict the weight & what is the procedure for being overdue. I'm quite happy to wait for the little lady. Might put a wash on ( have some blankets that a friend gave me), walk round to the shop to get some bits for a batch cook meal. So I had better skidaddle!

Glad to hear MrBushy is behaving! If he does it again get some RoundUp and spray COCK OFF into the lawn.

It's only a matter of days or even hours till you have your little baby cuddled up! :)

Jellie remind me when are you due? Have they said if they want to go in early?

Love RP’s suggestion that you should bring up BabyBushy to be a botanist Bushy! She already has the perfect name for it. Next time your DH says something like ''is this where you point out flowers & I'm like whatever?’ say something along the lines of ’No, it’s where you come and appreciate my efforts to make our home nice and where you’re pleased to see me happy about flowers even though they mean nothing to you because you love me and want me to be happy.’ That should put him on the right lines.

36H Gill! (bows in respect) And the image of your DH having to help you into your sports bras is very amusing. Wow! at your maternity clothes bargain. I’ve never, ever heard of shops giving clothes away free like that.

RP Dodo’s nursery sounds fab, like a retreat more than a nursery. And we definitely need more details on the hat game.

I saw the midwife she was fine. Although she did really bruise my arm when she took my bloods - she’s the only person ever to do that in all the blood tests I’ve had done over the last few years. So she loses marks there. After pondering it so much, in the end I totally forgot to ask her about calorie intake. I really think Jellie's up sum said it all though.

I think given how early we are in the maternity/baby shopping cycle, Mamas and Papas don't want to piss anyone off who's making their first purchase with them for fear of losing potentially hundreds or thousands of pounds further down the line. They had some absolutely gorgeous cot bed linen(?). Had to restrain myself there and then!

Hello!
bushy any stirrings yet?
I know what you mean about maternity leave being both emotional and freeing. We've been so busy with guests I haven't yet had a chance to get into the swing of it fully and start catching up with the things I'd like to do as well as really focussing in birth preparation in terms of hypnobirthing Azande exercise.

gill that's brilliant about the mamas and papas bargains and they do have lively thing including good prams that are not too pricey. Getting maternity clothes on sale us a great idea as you always feel a big silly purchasing things that you know you can only wear for 6 months. How was the yoga?
I did get lovely presses - baby clothes, toys and books, gorgeous!

rp you sound like a truly awesome mum and like you've made the most of mat leave. I'll echo the others in saying that the nursery seems fab, but of course it's understandable that sending D there is a difficult thought at. The beginning

wild in a singleton pregnancy the babies only minimally increase your energy demands all the way up to the 3rd trimester and even then it's only something like an extra 300 calories a day. I have added two snacks in a day in addition to my normal meals (usually fruit and a few nuts, a yogurt, or a naked bar) and that seems to have sufficed in terms of my weight gain which has so far been normal. Obviously this must be higher for twins but again you will be hungry when you need to eat.

jellie hope you've had better days since irritation day last week. The pregnancy hormones do seem it amplify both the good and the bad. I have been enjoying my mat leave lots - though no peeled grapes so far or men in sarongs fanning me to make my cankles go down. The cankles and foot swelling have now reached epic proportions, even my slippers barely fit me!

rp I think it was you who asked who was next after bushy - so it's pixie first and then me a week later.

Hope you all had lovely weekends with respective babies/ bumps.

Apologies for all the typos in the above - on my phone and finding it hard to proof read!

I had my "16 week" check up with the community midwife today who was lovely. I was able to hear the heart beat and it moving around on the Doppler, so that was nice and reassuring.

Glad you're enjoying your maternity leave Pearl. Have you had any major nesting instincts yet? How long are you planning on taking off?

Any news Bushy?

Gill - that's lovely about your scan. Hearing the heartbeat is magical and think in the next month you'll also feel movement!
How are you feeling now? Did you enjoy the yoga?
I remember getting loads of energy and happy hormones round about week 18/19, possibly also related to my anxiety easing a little.

Major nesting here - the baby's nursery is now done and I have a huge list of things I'd like to do over the next few weeks. The only thing holding me back have been my guests over the weekend and ridiculous amount of water retention in my ankles. In spite of that though, I feel really well.