40+ mums-to-be and those who've 'popped' - come say hi, pull up a chair and have some cake!

[jeanjeannie]

Hello everyone - yet another thread. I'm expecting a call anyday soon from ITV - as I imagine we'll be prime candidates for taking over the Loose Women slot when they need a break

So, for anyone interested in joining in with us - just jump in and say Hi - we don't bite - unless you're disguised as a chocolate sponge cake

Ladies..................Take it away

JJ I am not surprised you are frazzled after all the vomiting and poo in your house and a funeral, hopefully you can get a bit of feet up time. I had a nice lunch and the bathroom is still a state
MrsB I haven't tried a Kegel exerciser but I did read that there are various different machines that do different things so it is best to see a physio' how specialises in ladies health to get the right thing (so a GP referral I'm afraid). I did find even after a cs my pelvic floor was not what it should be, which reminds me SQUEEZE

right where is the Jiff ....sorry Cif

Hahah - SQUEEZE mrsB, SQUEEZE!

Now, I belive there are egg-like contraptions you can pop-in (conviently, for places like the Supermarket or going to work!) and attempt to hold in there I'm not sure if this myth or legend but I belive this is the way those nice young ladies in Bangkok train in order that that they may hurl ping pong balls out of their nether regions at an alarming speed

Hedgepig It'll always be Jif to me

Gorgeous photos Tee, and what a setting! Rather different from our wedding...still, Brent register office had pushed the boat out for us and arranged a nice vase of crysanths...

mrsb and JJ a friend of mine had one of those contraptions - looked like a torture device - which she had to insert and squeeze against and she said it worked. I got some of those little egg-things from Boots after having DS (9lb 7oz, 2 min second stage) and did graduate from the biggest one with no weights added sliding straight out again to being able to keep the small one in with almost all the weights, if I walked in a very strange way. I think they do help you focus where to sqeeeeeeeeeeeze. God, who'd be a woman? However, if it's orgasms rather than stress incontinence that's the issue, let's not forget we do have a magic button as well as a fanny .

Hope JW and Floria's suspicious behaviour doesn't cause suspicion - wouldn't like them to end up being caught by the fuzz!

Okay, one of you very intelligent ladies tell me what to tell the annoying co-worker who keeps saying 'but why were you out for 2 weeks? What's wrong with you?'. It was severe depression, which is none of her business. Hell, if it was V&D bug, it would be none of her business. Her attitude is 'I've had 4 kids and never missed a day! Why can't you?!?'

DH says I have to be nice to her until she actually gives me the car seat. He has a point.

tee how about saying "It's personal" and then not elaborating , it will drive her crazy!

Afternoon All!
Well I'm home again without getting arrested and I'm sure the lovely JW will be along soon, she was very good and resisted the delightful array of cakes for the wonders of a peppermint tea while I scoffed a sumptuous tuna sandwich bought ostensibly for Alex (who tore his piece apart and smeared it over the table). Bumbo hand over went quickly and surreptitiously in the car park before a delightful chin wag ..I'd still be there if ds wasn't such a party pooper and JW hadn't got a wonderful evening out ahead of her. Looking forward to doing it again sans bumbo soon JW.

What a gorgeous wedding and a beautiful bride...... makes me want to go through all the hell of organising it to do it all again...properly.

'ello all. Floria many thanks for the lovely company and hopefully Alex got to see the cows/sheep and mummy's boobs

Still mulling over ermintrudes suggestion that we both got caught by the fuzz. Wouldn't that be really painful?

Off to get one of the older brood and I'll catch up with all the posts I've not had chance to look at then....although I did see Tena Lady and am intrigued

Tee If that were me, I'd think of something that would ordinarily, if it were true, be very embarrassing. I'd then tell her in a very loud voice in front of everyone. No one will believe you are suffering from said complaint, but it'll get the message across that what you really mean is off. But, yes, get the car seat first .

hmm you could go on the net and get a picture of a huge haemorrhoid (cos you know there will be one) and then when she is eating her lunch march over and shove it under her nose and say "I was having this removed" That oughta do it!

Hello everyone!
Well we're installed in our lovely new flat. We moved house on Saturday, packed everything in the crappy old van we bought for the journey, hopped on the ferry and drove to Berlin! Yes, it was very easy, although maybe I say that because I didn't have to sit behind the wheel for 15 hours through the night and then carry all our worldly goods up 97 steps! Poor Dp. I did do some unpacking though!

Last night I read a few pages of the contented little baby book then had awful nightmares about cotton blankets fighting fluffy toe comforters. She's a bit Victorian to say the least. I think I might go back to Miriam Stoppard.

Hope you're all well, I'm going to have a read through of the thread and find out what I've missed over the weekend...

Well done Peachy on the move, so what are you doing with the van? Or is it you eccentric transport for Berlin, you will have no problems with fitting in all the babay stuff. I found The contented Baby not really to my relaxed parenting style you may like to look at the Baby Whisperer which had some nice ideas.

Bonzo sorry I forgot to sya something earlier and I forgot. It sounds like you ahve a pragmatic consultant and all you can do is see how things go at the head scan.

NMrsB LOL @ the haemorrhoid idea

The bathroom is clean an Ollie is still asleep, 2 1/2 hrs so far I think I best wake him soon or we won't get much sleep tonight.

peachy wow - that was quick work! Already you're getting into the German vibe Hahaha - yes, The Contented baby is indeed very Victorian - I still have no idea what a 'draw sheet' is....

MrsB The haemorrhoid pic is genius - but obviously after the car seat has been handed over

Pleased you ladies had a lovely lunch/peppermint tea/smeared tuna sandwich jw have a fab evening with the brood

jeanjeannie yes, the draw sheet thing bothered me, and why must I put up a floral pelmet in the baby's room? Most strange. Thanks for the tip on the baby whisperer - sounds much better.

Hedgepig we bought the van very cheaply especially for the journey! We had a lot of stuff, mostly for DP's work, that was going to cost a fortune to either ship or store, or we would have had to hire a van then drive out and back then fly out, etc. The van ended up being the cheapest option. The idea was to get rid of it over here but I can already see DP is getting attached. His personality quite changes when he gets in. And it's great for chucking things in the back! No room for a baby seat though (although there is a roof rack ).

I've had a quick scan through the last posts and its all Tena lady and haemorrhoids. Glad we're getting the, er, bottom of the matter, ladies.

Wow, the conversation had gone right down hill and it wasn't anything I said! Huzzah Makes a change. mrsb glad to see you've been taught well and showing promise

Yes tee you must hold your tongue until you have the baby seat and then you can tell her mind her own $"+%ing business

Bit apprehensive about going out tonight. It's K's first official engagement so she'll either scream the place down or be entralled by all the faces together in one room. At least it's not far from home so I can bring her back if she really doesn't settle.

Despite my virtuous efforts resisting the cake over lunch, I've had a bit of chocolate this afternoon. I note that one small bar of dairy milk uses up nearly all my fat allowance for one meal. BUT...(take note mrsb) I've discovered that fruit pastilles contain ZERO fat so I've scoffed a load I've not had my tablets for 2 days in readiness for eating out. I am hoping that I can get away with something not too fattening without accidents.

Btw, weight loss this week was just the 1lb. At least it's off and not on though.

Congratulations triggles on your scan and the news that you are having a little boy

bonzo glad your scan went well too and not to worry too much about a second CS, all my 4 births were and my pelvic floor hasn't suffered one bit as a result

Congrats on the weight loss jw JJ hoping you're bug free now.

neddie we had the icandy pear, sold it a few weeks back on ebay to a couple having twins, you can ask me if you have any questions.

hope you all enjoyed mothers day... I was very spoilt, had lovely bunch of flowers from DH and lovely cards and gifts from DC including chocolate and body shop cocoa butter products then spent the afternoon in the kitchen cooking triple choc chip muffins and orange choc cookies to show my apprieciation

mum41 how did you find it looking after the older children with a CS scar? That's what I'm dreading with DD only going to be just 2. That and having to be in hospital for 4 days or so instead of home and mobile straight after.

hedgepig - yes much thought it grieves me I have to agree that if baby 2 is a fat-head then it's just no-go.

Tee - can you say to nosey coworker "oh it's a bit too personal - I don't want to talk about it" and look down at your nether regions suggestively ... then if she presses it further you can be justifiably openly annoyed with her as she knows the score. (and cheeky nosey woman - can't she just take a hint??)

jw and florida jealous of your meeting! Glad it went well. And no fuzz to be seen!
(ermintrude you're on top form today - making me snort in the office!)

peachy congrats on the move - woo! You seem really chilled about the whole thing - good on you. Hope you settle in quickly. Don't know if I mentioned before but I really didn't like the Contented Baby. Should have been called "shut up I want a life" or something. Not in line with my more laid back approach to life. To be honest - you'll work it all out when the baby arrives we don't really need books to tell us how we feel.

bonzo when I had DT I had the CS on the Friday lunchtime and I went home Monday morning so was only really 3 days and that was due to twins so may have only been 2 days if not, I was lucky in that DH had a month off so did have help but I have never been a person able to rest for long or let others help so it wasn't long before I was up and taking over again
My first was an emergency and I did seem to take much longer to recover but all following 3 were planned and I found recovery much quicker, I was always back to see my GP before 6 weeks so I could get back to driving again and besides diclofenic works wonders for those more uncomfortable days

peachy congrats on the big move! Sounds like it went like a breeze. I think I will avoid the Contented Baby. Thanks for the warning!

JW good on you 1lb is 1lb! Glad you and floria had a good meeting and that there was no fuzz around!

As for my coworker, she also made another comment today about why I was off and I just ignored her. She is neither my boss nor my mother. I am holding my tongue until I get the car seat, then all bets are off. I am thinking I like mrsb's idea best.

In other news, had antenatal appointment today. Was only suppose to be diabetes, but since they wanted to check my blood pressure (which is now fine) after last time, they went ahead and did the OB thing as well. The one good thing about being diabetic is that I get scanned at every OB appointment! So I got to see the baby today. And it is measuring right on and the fluid levels are fine.

Tee lucky you having another scan; glad all is well. I love the johnny giles suggestion. Or you could just mutter something about warts. Can't people take a hint and not be so bloomin' nosey though, talk about insensitive - she's obviously so thick-skinned, explains a lot.

Mum41 sounds like you had a chocfest and a half on Sunday - in solid form, toiletries and muffins, yum.

peachy well done for that impressive inter-continental move and hedgepig well done for the only slightly lesser achievement of bathroom cleaning. I can soooo not be arsed to clean our cloakroom, shower room and bathroom - count 'em - that they are v dusty and the toilets only get a good clean when I've thrown up in them. We should have used our filthy London money to buy a small house with a bathroom and a downstairs toilet but no, we had to get somewhere we can't afford to heat and that I can't be bothered to clean. I really need that best-seller

JJ Draw sheet. Eh? I read one page of that book and knew it wasn't for me. Should be called the Neurotic Little Mother.

JW (whispers) I believe that some makes of marshmallows are completely FAT FREE

draw sheet

How does that pertain to a baby?!?!?

Definitely skipping that book!

no idea Tee
but I am a bad parent who brings my baby into bed to try and get some sleep rather than sitting up for hours patting it (I know I will pay the price for this later but life is too short)

WHAT??? Marshmallows are fat free??!! OMFG. I'm off out to buy a bag...in my nightie! Oh, that's so made my day

A draw sheet sounds like something from ye olde nursing manual

K made it through the meal but was bored silly even though she had lots of cuddles from everyone. She was tired and hungry and as any baby worth it's salt will gurgle, the party's over once you're there. Had long enough to see DS#1 blow out his candles. And the caterpillar cake went down a storm. He was very pleased. lol.

peachy you're one brave lady. Or bonkers

jw that sounded a nice eve - glad you got to stay long enough to see the full caterpillar cake appreciation! I see K is already finding out that being the centre of attention can be such a bore

ermintrude Swap you. I'd love some more room and ar*e to the cleaning! I need a best seller too - knock one out for me would you?

hedgepig Snap - me too - can't be bothered to pat Veirty back to sleep, straight in with us. Sometimes I wake up in a blind panic when I reach out and she's not there....and then I realise that I've got up in a sleepy stupor and put in back in her room.

Am watching Mad Heston....he's making pig's nipple crackling and custard made from brains......

We used draw sheets under difficult to move patients that were bedbound and could not assist in repositioning themselves. But I can't see where that would help with a baby - unless they're looking at it from the "changing the soiled bedding" angle. But it is a bit odd - not really needed with a LO.

glad you had a good night out *jw and the K had a good début in society -I'm not sure I would chance it with D just yet - although looking forward to taking him out to a restaurant soon(ish)

Ehm yeah - bout the marshmallows - no fat but ALL sugar!!

Am not watching Heston as I can't trust him to introduce insects out of the blue. Watching a thing about Holloway prison which is v interesting. They are doing the younger inmates tonight and they are surprisingly girlish - you would expect hardfaced little harridans but they are not. Mind you they have a gym and a pool

pat them back to sleep - D would laugh in the face of any pathetic patting attempts. Its straight into the bed with us.