The sequel - Fab, Sparkly & often Moany 40 + : Preggie or New Mums - come say Hi!

[jeanjeannie]

We've now filled up the last thread - and the two before that! Seems that there are a lot of us old girls out there getting ourselves into trouble

So - if you've just found yourself to be with child or have a LO and you've hit (or about to hit - we'll let you sneak in just under the radar!)the big 4 0, then come say Hi!

There is always a spare comfy chair - plenty of cake and many old ladies to listen to your moans! Think of the lovely ladies knitting shreddies - only we're not sporting a blue rinse, but wearing cashmere and kitten heels

Hello regular ladies. I avoided putting FAT, F*cked or Knackered in the title - tempting as it was

Very well thank you ladymac, doing my bit for caffeine intake by caning bar after bar of chocolate (apparently just as bad, blah, blah).

That was on the Mirror website, the Rick Parfitt thing - once saw him and said wife having a bit of a domestic in the street - he is one of life's shorter men, I have to say.

Tee2072 try not to worry too much about food - if you got listeria/salmonella, you would soon know, tis very rare. Cooked ham is not forbidden, tis raw stuff.

Hello all, may I join you? Have just joined the June antenatal thread (3rd dc due 20th June) but I'm 41, and rather concerned that some of the younger mns may begin referring to the hit parade and I'll get all confused...

Did anyone find their early symptoms much worse in 'older' pregnancies? With my dd (10) I threw up at least once every day until a fortnight before she was born but felt amazingly well in spite of that; with ds (6) I felt sick all afternoon til 6 mths but rarely puked. Now I feel atrocious all day throw up at least once a day. What's going on? Have I just misremembered or is my poor old system protesting at this indignity I'm putting it through??

Hi ermintrude, welcome!

I think it may just be your constitution. I have only ever been an older pregnant person (42, and now, at 44), and was sick once with my son, and twice this time round (am 13 weeks now and kind of hoping that is that).

Good Afternoon all.

Me and the LO are still here!!

ladymac I love the cardigan - when are you due? I was there looking at a payroll computer system - I know how to live!!

Johnworf, yes we are a step family, it has it's advantages, every other weekend without two loud hormonal boys for a start. Bury - I had a friend who lived in Edenfield - it's a nice part of this bit of the country. Really good news about K.

Hedgepig - sleep - woo hoo!!

Can someone give me an idiots guide to reuseables? In my day it was a terry cloth, a rubber thing going over and something along the line of a tissue for a liner

I fancy the idea but am not sure on cost/convenience.

I have made an 'esential buys list' and it's frightening me. What would you consider to be absolutley esential?

Oh and I bought a Blooming Marvellous top in 1988 and only threw it away last year, it did three pregnancies and after tht I decorated every room in it several times.

JW Awwww...sorry about the possible surgery. Good it's not now,but awfully stressful for you all. x

hedgepig you're doing a grand job....back to birth weight...fab Please, please don't stress about FF. I did with Iris - got myself all worked up, tired, miserable and looking back it wasn't worth it. And I think it's all so much harder 2nd time round when you've got another LO to look after.

ladymac two words - Morrocan Lamb. Chuck in anything...onions, mushrooms etc. Fry up add corriander, cummin and cinammon plus any dried fruit like apricots, dates or sultanas. Throw in can of tomatoes....boil and serve with couscous. Iris loves it especially with creme fraiche or sour cream

Just rushing about. Had Iris's 2 yr check. She's fine and speech therapist reckons for every four weeks prem you can be looking at about 2-3 mnths behind - so she's ok

Off to get bad back cracked into shape see you later!

Hi ermintrude!! I am on both boards as well, as I will be 40 when my first child is born in June next year.

We rarely speak of the hit parade over there, but often speak of Daily Mail over here!

I've actually not been sick at all, but I am just waiting for that to change!

Glad to hear that Iris' check went well JJ. News to me re the development delays. Not heard that time given but you live and learn. That would make K ...hmm.....about a year behind so far!

Thanks for your good wishes. We're not out of the woods on this one by any means yet. Back again for more poking at end of the month. As I've said before, it comes with prem territory I think.

ermintrude I felt no different on my last one (at 42) than the other 3 I had..they're 22/19/17 now. It's just pregnancy and there's no hard and fast rule as to how it makes you feel crap! There's just variations on crapness I'm afraid. I felt better in my last pregnancy in many ways than I did when I was 20 years younger. Apart from the GD, oh and the premature birth, everything else with super duper

lillibet I'm part of a step family too. DSS lives with permanently and sees his mother every other weekend. She's a harridan and would like to drag us through the court every 6 months just in case things have changed and she can get custody but they never do change and she never gets him. I do my best to cover the role of wicked step mother Also my daughter's father has remarried. They have no other children and the step mother is as anal as anal can be. I don't think you're actually allowed to breath in their house for fear it won't go with anything

As for cloth nappies, they're not really much different in time consumption than disposables. I mean you still have to shop for disposables don't you? Anyway, I'm a convert. I think the tide is turning and it will soon be fashionable to be a luddite. Mangels will be back, along with rug beaters and dolly pegs (actually dolly pegs are back at Lakeland). We're all going retro. HURRAH!

Don't have pins, rubbers (we used to call them, now wraps) anymore. Cloth are more akin to disposable shaped nappies but made of cloth. They come as a nappy (sized or birth to potty),which will need a wrap (think rubbers but funky and with velcro/poppers). Or, you can have an all in one which means exactly what it says on the tin. If you'd like to look at what I have at the mo; I have Motherease one size with motherease air flow wraps. And I also have the Bum Genius 3 which is an all in one. I also have some size 1 Tots Bots and some Little Lambs - also size 1. She's nearly grown out of these though and I'm favouring the one sized Motherease You can google these as they're very popular.

JJ good luck with your back my dear. Have a cracking time!

ermintrude welcome ahh the hit parade, when I'm up in the night feeding the LO i do flick to the music channels but have no idea who these people are. On the sick front I think it is probably tiredness rather than age I was sick 3-4 times a day for the 1st few months easing off as the pg progressed but when ever I got tired I threw up. so I just had to go to bed and rest a lot .
goodish news about the hosp JW is there still a possibility the valve will close? or is it just a case of monitoring to see how she copes?
do you think there is any possibility I can peel a potato one handed? Oliver is asleep in one arm but wakes up when I put him down and I need to get on with tea

hello all

blimey - I can't turn my back for a second and you lot have run up pages of chat! Just been to TKMaxx, - which I hate, because OH thought we might get a cheap baby monitor there. We didn't but I got a couple of nice outfits - and Darragh's first item of clothing which isn't white or blue!

welcome ermintrude and congrats. I felt fine with no sickness in my recent pregnancy - only threw up twice at about 35 weeks - and was less tired than I was when pregnant twenty years ago. Only problems I had were some pelvic pain issues and GD both of which were related and not helped by me being overweight.

jw well, could be better could be worse I suppose - at least there is the possibility of that valve closing in the next three or four weeks.. I don't bloody blame you for wanting to cry - I would be in bits if D had to have an operation. At least you are not looking at that prospect right now

Thanks mrsb OOOh retail thereapy. Luvverly. I got my baby monitor from wherelse, but Ebay but I've seen them on Amazon (reduced and free delivery) and kiddicare at a good price. We've got the Tomy Walkabout Premier doo dah something or other. I can hear her in the office from the other room which is all I want it for

What the consultant said was that there are a few deciding factors on whether the surgery goes ahead or not. Basically, now she's post term this duct should be starting to close but it's of reasonable size. However, her O2 requirement is coming down and the pressures in her lungs are ok - just - at the mo. If they operate she'd go back on a ventilator (def no no no no no) as she's still on oxygen. The ventilator itself causes lung problems also and she's already coping with chronic lung disease. Consultant is reluctant to do this (I'm with him). Also she's growing and they do have a habit of closing with growth...when? Who knows. Sometimes they don't so it's a wait and see. Basically if all stays the same at next visit, he'll leave it and monitor. If it gets worse i.e. her lungs are suffering, he'll operate. If it closes then it's a done deal and we're outta there. So, no answers really. Consultant is fab and lovely and tells you everything directly and as it is.

Anyway hedgepig I've never managed to peel a spud using just one hand. It sounds like a great thing to do if you can! Almost as fab as JJ being able to bend over double to treat her OH...oh but wait...her backs knackered now

I'm off to buy a new nappy bucket. Oh! the excitement of it all

I opened the cupboard and the shopping fairy had put new pots in there so no peeling needed hurrah and I conned Ben into scrubbing them... what a result
so it is a wait and see with the valve then, which is good I think much better than we have to do an operation tomorrow but the uncertainty is hard I'm sure so here is a large calorie free CAKE to cheer you up.

Mrs B is you are buying a monitor get one with a rechargeable parent unit, we didn't with the one we had for Ben cos they were more expensive and I thought a con but we must have put a zillion pounds worth of batteries in the thing over the year (well more than the price difference anyway)

hedgepig that's the one I've got. Mine has a little pod that comes out of the parent unit so you can take it with you from room to room or go in the garden etc. I haven't put any batteries at all in it (although i think it does take them). I can't believe how much they cost when they're new!

I've eaten the best part of a walnut and date cake today and I know for a fact it ISN'T calorie free Ah well, back on the diet tomorrow.

Dates are fruit so count it as one of your five a day.
I have just had some chocolate marble cake uumm and some chocolate I have to stop eating, but if I hang around the house I just keep snacking. .

I myself just had a lovely juice jaffa orange. Although, here's a handy tip...if you bite into an orange section in front of your monitor, it will get sprayed with orange juice. HTH!!

Fruity pc huh tee?

hedgepig not sure my GP would accept my plea that cake with dates in it is good for me!! haha. worth a try though

Oh god, just watching John Prescott programme on Beeb2. It should be renamed 'Scrotes united'. Jeez...was even some footage of a place in Rochdale (north of m/cr) where it was truely dire.....full of council house benefit wallahs. Never worked a day in their life. Have no time at all for them especially when the family he visited (who were on benefits natch) had 9 kids......oh no! I feel a daily mail moment overcoming me swoon

Am having a terrible eczema outbreak at the mo on my arm. Think it might be stress related. Anyone got any good tips for getting rid of it (apart from the obvious hydrocortisone which I don't like using).

K is absolutely mesmerised by this black/white/red stuff. I've put one up over the changing table and she's transfixed by it. Marvellous. I'm putting a little radio in there tomorrow so we can have classic FM on when I'm doing her bum and getting her ready

the black/white stuff is brill. I made Ben some when he was a smidge with a black marker pen and white paper just drew some squiggles that and the crisp packet (crunched to make a noise by us not him) were big faves and very cheep.
did not watch prescott as autumn watch was on the other side, but it drives you mad doesn't it. the welfare state was set up as a safety net not a lifestyle choice!!!

Gosh - busy board. Evening all

OOooo, that's better my back's feeling luverly! Although had to drive to Eton and back - but the man is well worth it! jw I'm back bending double again - DP is thrilled...

Hello Erminturde and welcome to our merry thread No idea about morning sickness being different when you're younger. I didn't start till I was 41! Had DD1 then and DD2 at 42 Lively in my old age!! Worry not about the hit parade here....we're more interested in cake! Mind you my MIL has an ipod She says she's listening to Radio 4 podcasts - but I suspect that it's ganster rap...they're like than in Conservative Maidenhead

hedgepig glad to hear sleep is back on the agenda And that Oliver is bouncing back up that weight scale....atta boy! I definately can't peel a spud with one hand!

lilibet hi - glad you and LO are still here. Think JW has summed up re-usuables nicely. Thing is there is sooo much choice out there.....mind boggling.

ladymac bit late in the day but my two words to you are Morrocan Lamb! What did you end up making in the end?

hahahaha tee that pesky orange juice. I find biscuits are evil things that get under the keyboard!!

Hot choccy AND hot water bottle on back..nice

UGH...JW I'm watch Prezzer.......we were shrieking at that thick bloke with 9 kids who didn't want to do donkey work....huh...he couldn't read or write...what's he expecting....NASA to call and offer him a placement?

nods in agreement with hedgepig about welfare not being a lifestyle choice while stuffing face full of more choccy!

Working class John - the clue is in the name Need another name for all those folks who he's allowed to live comfortably on benefits and not need to work. WHAH!!! joining you on the DM rant there. God Jodie Marsh is very odd looking...

JW eczema tip...well, it's worked for me.
Get a muslin (one of Katherine's - ask her nicely first!) pop some porrige oats into it. Tie it up and drop it in the bath....eh voila!
I find it really soothing.

Probably stress related - with good reason, bless yer. Also I find central heating - beginning of the cold season. I know the front of my shins are as dry as Dubai!

JW sudocream can work well on mild excma I have found, and you may even have some handy I'm currently using my nipple cream on my hands that are trashed from washing bottles and dipping in and out of the sterilizer (waste no want not).
hot choccie sounds lovley JJ i shall go and make some too. glad the back is feeling better

JW Fab news about the valve (for now) I'd be close to tears too ..crickey, I'm filling up now at the thought of Alexs mmr tomorrow...I'd be a total water spout if I had to watch him going through all that Special K has endured!! I hope things improve over the next month. My tip for excema; Bachs' Rescue Remedy Cream.

Welcome Ermintrude. Personally I was only sick in weeks 5 & 6 with one of my pgs (all post 40th birthday)and I think that was something to do with the fact that I was on holiday in Margarita with temperatures over 40 degrees!

lillibet relieved that you and lo are both still doing well.

hedgepig wonderful that Oliver is gaining weight. I'm sorry that bf hasnt worked out for you but the benefit of more sleep is a major bonus.

I've just polished off the last of the halloween choccies that werent claimed by trick or treaters... the diet really must start again..once bonfire night and treacle toffee is over with...

Good morning all. Yep, up at 4:45 again. Of course I went to bed around 9, so it was actually a decent nights sleep!

Today is my booking in!! I'm just a bit nervous...

Wow, you lot have been busy. Had an early night last night like tee but the K-ster got up at 6am so twas good forward planning methinks

I'm just looking at the tips on eczema. Many thanks and all worth a punt. It's probably a combo of heating on and stress. I've bought some humidifiers so I'll have to get them going.

Jodie Marsh's nose; me and DH were debating that very subject last night. Is it plastic surgery gone wrong? She seems to have some kind of bill - like a duck. I know Jordan aka Katie Price has ranted about it and with good reason now I've seen it close up. Don't you think people like her are charicatures of real people...or is it 'what men fantasize about' made into real life? I've no idea myself. I asked DH what he thought and he said 'old troll' so there you have it!

hedgepig I'm having the same probs with my hands in and out of water plus washing them each time I pick K up and when I change her. Honestly I look as though I have OCD. They're cracked and bleeding over the knuckles and it's rather embarrassing when I'm handing money over at the checkout and such like. I'll put my gloves on next time

Tee good luck at your booking in. I'm sure you'll think of lots of questions...on your way out! We all do Be sure to write them all down for next time. Can't exactly remember my booking in. Think it was something like 1 million questions about your family history/previous pregnancies (which was a nightmare for me as mine were so long ago I could hardly remember). Also you'll have bloods done and they'll ask you if you want the HIV one done. I had it done although must say, was thrown when they asked me (yet a new thing from the previous times). You'll get an armful of leaflets/booklets and your antenatal record to take home (may differ in locations). At my hospital the scan was on a different appointment as I recall. Although I'd paid for one at 7 weeks anyway. Don't be nervous, they don't do anything much to you.

Yours might take longer than usual as you'll probably see the diabetic MW and also the endocrinologist attached to the clinic. Oh, and they may throw in the dietician This is what happened to me when my gestational diabetes was uncovered at 16 weeks.

Good Morning all

My a and s aren't working properley, so I hve to really press down, if I miss one or two letter please bear with me!

Welcome Ermentrude, I'm on my fourth pregnancy but very early days yet and have felt a bit queasy but nothing more, have never had morning sickness. I had my other three at 25, 30 and 33. I'm now 45.

mrsb, I know wht you mean about the colours of babies clothes, I try and make it rule never to buy the 'traditionl' colour but it i so difficult.

johnworf, when was K due? Many years ago someone I knew (our vicar's wife!) had triplets who were prem, and the girl had a problem imilar to K's, she never needed urgery, but I know tht things were touch and go about it for a while.

Tee Good Luck, I wnat full report a I think I'm going to be a couple of weeks behind you. I'm going to ring the drs this week, but have a problem with our antenatl clinic. I work in the health ervice and the antental clinic is about 5 minute walk from our offices. I jsut know I will bump into omone one there and at the moment hve no intentions of breaking the new until after Chritmas.

How do reuseables and disposables compare cost wise?