40 + mums with baby tums & those who've already 'popped' with muffin tops - come say Hi!

[jeanjeannie]

Yet ANOTHER thread. Like it says - those of you who've waved bye bye to 39 come and say Hi to us instead.

We think that 40 is the new 20, cyber cake is the new weight-watchers and older mums rock

So, if you fit that description come and play with us. We like cake, gossip an occasional luke warm debate and a good moan! Oh and we're also very friendly and supportive!

OK everyone.....take it away x

MrsB maybe if you set a wedding date (we can all dust our virtual hats off ) then that would be inspiration for you, if you can do it to be a bridesmaid you can definitely do it for your own wedding.

JJ Sorry to hear about your gran. It doesn't matter how old they are, does it? It's still very hard for everyone.

Re birth plans, I'm not sure how I can write one, either, as Little Tab is my first. I was hoping to decide on pain relief at the time, unless it has to be "booked"? Someone told me yesterday to go for an epidural straight away before I'm told that I've left it too late. However, unless I'm in complete agony, then I don't want that, by which time it may well be too late............

I was a size 12...when I was 12, I think! I was down to a 14 before I got pregnant with 12 in site, but hadn't quite made it yet!

Maybe next year!

ahh I'm sure I could hedgepig but we will never know as that ain't going to happen. Me and OH getting married is definitely not on the cards. The subject has never even once been mentioned in the six years we have been together.

Am destined to remain forever a spinster of this parish methinks.

Have decided upon a plan to motivate me in dieting. Intend to dumpahem lovingly deposit D with the grandparents, book a table at that fab restaurant that we went to before and also to see a film (we haven't been to the cinema for yonks) I'm thinking The Loop, plus I am going to buy some buy some nice things to wear and as soon as the lurgy has left me I will commence exercising.

Oh go on MrsB! I want to wear my virtual hat it is lovely and has fruit on it and everything .

Tabitha are you doing any birth classes? I don't think you can actually book an epidural tbh, if you have one too early it can slow everything down. My birth plan said something like "I am aware of the various methods of pain control and I will ask if I need anything", pretty non-committal hey

Evening all. Well I shan't be able to get back into the skirt if I carry on eating hot cross buns

I'm thinking about starting back running a few times a week - it's the only way I'm going to shift this last stone. Not sure if they make running bras in HUGE norks size! Always been a size 10 - and in the 3 years (and two kids) since I met DP I've been a size 10 / 12 / 14/ 16 and maternity Just a ridiculous amount of clothes!

ladymac that buggy is fab - I'm so - wish I'd thought of it.

Am watching some programme about at bloke taking himself off to live on the west coast of Scotland, with his dog and both me and DP think he's marvellous - we both fancy him

DH and I are reliving our youth watching 1.5hrs of U2 videos on 4 music, Bono has had some well dodgy hair cuts over the years

I didn't think you could pre-book an epidural either. Unless you're being induced, when would you book it for? I had one on my first baby and I ended up with an episiotomy (the scar of which gave on each subsequent baby) and a bad back for about 6 months They were all the rage though back in 1986 and you were no one unless you'd had one (or so it seemed). Think the novelty value has worn off over the years though.

hedgepig I can see you dressed as Carmen Miranda. Do you have bananas on there too?

mrsb can't you ask OH for his hand in marriage when the next leap year rolls around? Get on one knee, say the magic words (will you put up with me forever with no escape apart from the expensive way?) and slip that hula hoop on his finger. Ta Da!

HI all
hope you had a good weekend. We've been busy and bought a new car - well new for us. Had a sheddy old Astra and it was pissing leaking oil - the garage said oh my god what a heap it wasn't worth fixing so we went out looking for a replacement ... ALL sodding weekend. Tried to part-ex the shed and one garage bloke was horrified and shocked when he saw the pool of oil under the car after we'd been stopped for only 15 mins. Insisted on topping our oil up and checking we didn't have far to go with DD in car! (Bless) Palmed the old heap off on some unsuspecting garage who couldn't be bothered to inspect it but did leave the 6 months to go tax disc in to asuage our guilt a little.
So have a shiny Vectra now with a huge boot that the Phil&Teds fits in with room for luggage as well... woo hoo!

Shattered tho as fell asleep on settee last night for 2 hours then couldn't sleep in bed til gone 4am!!! So so so tired.

SPOILER ALERT (is it safe to talk about it now?) Glad my favourite won MasterChef. The other two looked like clones and were far too young and up-themselves. Hurrah! Had to laugh though at SHOUTY John and baldy bloke pretending they even had a decision to make out of the three.

OOOoh St Bono. Bleugh. I stopped liking them circa 1984. I just can't take his god like persona and rubbish commercial music.

I've got that programme on too JJ. The man is clearly barking mad. He's having chickens AND pigs apparently

I've got same problem with clothes but they vary from size 14 to size 18 and massive tshirts that you could camp in that I wore when I was pregnant. I must give away my maternity clothes. I have no idea why I'm hanging on to them as I certainly won't be using them again.

I've bought some lovely Monsoon items for summer and if this xenical is successful, then I'll have to sell them as they'll be too big On the up side, I'll have to buy more!!!!! Huzzah

bonzo well done on new car It sounds very racy compared with ours (Doblo or Dobby as it's affectionately known). Will you have the windows down, wind blowing in your hair and REO Speedwagon playing very loudly on the cd player from now on?

A woman I worked with (ages ago) had to be booked in for a CS for some medical reason. They CHOSE the 29th Feb for the CS as it would make her baby's birthday special. All I could think of was what a pair of gits doing that deliberately!

they would have saved loads on birthday pressies Bonzo Congrats on the Vectra we have one too, do you have the estate or one with the boot? We have the estate and it was bought totally for the boot not the car at all.

Hiya bonzo - Oooo, a Vectra, that sounds smart. I'm with jw we've got a converted van thing - affectionately known Berlingo - very little no finesse though. Mind you - so long as you get the Phil & Teds in that's all that matters. LOVE the guy who won Masterchef - such a sweetie

jw Hurrah for Monsoon. I've been looking for something to wear for the funeral - I'm thinking not black....a bit to harsh on me now. Seen a nice skirt in White Stuff. Just looked at the Boden site...MMmmm...nothing grabs me.

hedgepig Oh wow - you kids! I remember seeing U2 (The BOY tour) at some kind of hall in Mansfield circa 82(?) - hardly anyone there!

JJ the Boy tour? That was a lifetime ago for me. Pre-kids. Unfortunately, my memory doesn't manage to go back that far.

How mean having a baby on 29th Feb. But as you say hedgepig, you only have to splash out once every 4 years. And you age v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. A bit like dog years.

morning, although it feels like afternoon as Mr O felt that 5:30 was a good time to get up ugggg. Must make some strong coffee. The excitement for the day is cleaning the bathroom if O decides to have a nap, how will I get all these things dome when I go back to work me wonders???

Good Morning all.

Work sucks. It just never stops around here!

Should I be worried that the baby isn't kicking as hard as it did the other day? Or do these things sort of go in cycles? I'm still feeling movement, just back to the sort of fluttery feeling as oppose to OOF kicks. I'm 24 weeks tomorrow.

Ooh, new car bonzo very nice.

Yes, its fine to talk about Masterchef, so far as I am concerned! I did like who won, but man, there is no crying in Cooking!!

My dad went to school with someone who was born on leap day. The poor kid hated it!

Well, breaks over...

how crap Tee, let me guess you have twice the work today because you took Friday off??? That has always been my problem with working part time,
less hours + same workload = company gets a bargain worker!
not too long now when will you start your maternity leave?

If you are still having movements I wouldn't worry too much the baby has probably just moved around, you still have lots of room in there.

tee I'd say the same as hedgepig that the baby has probably moved around and probably has it's back against your tummy. Kicks to the back aren't as strong.

If you're worried, ring up the ante-natal clinic and they'll advise you.

Welcome to the wonderful world of worry! Better get used to it.

Also, as we were talking about epidurals y'day (I think we were or was it all a vivid dream?), here's something I read about y'day for all you pregnant ladies. Btw I love the title of the article...I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere!

Must dash, decorators requiring more liquid refreshments.

Tee I was told by the hospital and my midwife that if ever I was unsure to ring them. Kez was very good at playing possom and I ended up in with a monitor strapped to my tummy so many times, all was always fine but I was never made to feel like I was a fraud or a problem they were always lovely.

LOL about the crying over cooking ... must have been all the onions!

I know what you mean about the cold pools Hedgepig - we needed an all-in-one thingie for M after we went swimming and she spent the whole time shivering. I mean she is small and thin but you'd think they'd heat the air in the pools just slightly. (I bought mine in an NCT nearly new sale - tiz the season so maybe look out there?)

Also laughing at our car being at all glam... it's a 2001 model so not new and shiny really ... but a lot better than the R-reg astra.

Know what you mean about that headline jw ... women face-down on crack keeps springing to mind.

durr I always forget something ...
Tee - you know to drink a glass of ICE-COLD water to get the little one wriggling don't you. They do move round and the angle can change so they are either pointing away or maybe have their legs tucked up or even are sleeping when you're paying attention and kicking when stuff is going on. If the ice-water doesn't produce a boot in the ribs then ring the midwife ... that's what they're there for.

Hey Tee, my 'kicks' change from day to day, sometime being big thumps that wobble my belly, other times little flutters. As JW says, I think it's to do with what way round the are. Am also getting jabbed high in the ribs and v low down in the groin - it must be doing scissor kicks or something . As long as there's regular movement every day there's no need to worry.

I saw the Masterchef final and it was only the second time I'd watched it in my life. I liked the way the two greedy men SHOUTED all the time as though they were on Top Gear rather than a cookery programme, and how all the chefs sweated with nerves and welled up with emotion like gurlz.

The food looked divine though - I was drooling.

ermintrude I'm dreaming about food at the moment. DH thought he 'caught' me trying to eat some bum cream before but I'm not that desperate. Yet. Weigh in day tomorrow so we'll see just how good these things have been marketed.

More bad weather on the way. Sigh. We all went out to the park y'day and it was blue skies and a chill wind. Was a lovely walk K slept all the way round and I firmly believe that fresh air is very good for young uns. Blimey ermintrude. I'm starting to sound like you now

Oh, talking of which, I saw this article and thought of your parents (from what you were telling us yesterday). Can't you tell I'm just catching up with the Sunday papers today?

tee, at 24 weeks your baby still has quite a bit of room to wriggle around so it's probably changed position and is not kicking against your abdomen. It will probably somersault around tonight and give you a big kick to say hello mum

My baby on the other hand has very little room and keeps getting a foot caught under my ribs. I'm at that stage of pregnancy where people are shocked that I still have 5 or 6 weeks to go because my bump is so big now. I'm quite pleased with my weight gain so far, having put on about 30lbs, although I'll probably balloon over the last few weeks.

jj I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother. When and where will the funeral be? I too struggle to wear black with my fair hair and pale skin and find navy blue a much kinder alternative. Have you found anything yet? I think black can be ageing and drains colour from the wearer's face. It's slimming qualities however cannot be denied so I do have it in my wardrobe but have to go heavier on the make-up and wear warm coloured accessories.

I liked the birth plan with the mascara applying idea. Have to hold my hand up here and say that I have always applied make-up whilst in labour. It's just part of my routine - shower, dress, clean teeth, moisturise, apply make-up. The same as any other day. Even wore it for my 2 home births as it makes me feel better. I never cake it on I hasten to add. Just couldn't leave the house without it. I swear by Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. It would definitely come to the desert island with me. Then a bit of natural looking lipstick and a sweep of brown mascara and I'm ready to face the world.

Anyone seen any nice pyjamas in the shops that aren't too expensive? At the moment I'm wearing my old bottoms under the bump with vest tops or t-shirts but they no longer meet in the middle which is not a great look. I always like a couple of new pairs for after the birth, whether I'm in hospital or not. Don't like anything with slogans or teddy bears and prefer that 'loungewear' look rather than traditional pyjamas IYKWIM. Any suggestions gratefully received.