Thanks all, I do feel better today. It's my birthday this week and I keep getting caught up in 'this time last year I had...' basically I'm not very good at dealing with change and I've had a lot of them in the last 6 months, with the biggest to come!

Pixie - you reminded me that my auntie taught my cousin to say 'thank you mommy darling' in place of 'thank you', was especially funny when she started nursery (She's now 18 and no lasting damage done)

Siamese - hope you're feeling better today. I also had a similar experience a few weeks ago and was really scary at the time. I filed it under 'miscellaneous pregnancy crap' and took to the sofa with ice cream. Sure it's nothing 'serious' but doesn't make it any less scary xx

Pacific - Yay for an extra scan!
I have become more and more impressed by the NHS recently, having accessed them more in the last 6 months than pretty much any other time in my life! I know some people have had not great experiences but I've been really struck by their 'just in case' attitude towards prenatal care. Not what you would associate with a public service in times of recession! I forget how lucky we are sometimes.

Tlc/Siamese - I have swollen bits and def not bedroom related! just glad my bump prevents me seeing what feels like a complete mess and no-one else going to be scared off either!

Went shopping for a party maternity dress today, braved the Birmingham bullring (There is no way I'm going back this side of February!) and I was completely appalled at the selection available
M&P - 3 sparkly dresses - probably lovely if you started at 5'8 and size 8, made me look like I was wearing a sparkly binbag...
Next - 1 rack of summer t-shirts, jeans and synthetic black trousers. I am actually going to complain about this. This is their biggest store in Birmingham...
Red Herring - lots of sequined t-shirts (bleurgh) 1 black jersey dress, 1 flowery monstrosity and a queue 20 deep for the changing room...

So finally mothercare, where I was so delighted to find ANYTHING I ended up getting
this AND a really pretty silky blue sixties stylee dress that very annoyingly I can't find on website but was reduced to £19!!

Now at some point tomorrow I must start making all my xmas presents as too too close now... lovely weekend all xxxx

siamesecatwoman I've had this happen to me too! Had it two weeks ago (when I was 23 weeks preg) during a handover in work, I felt that I had to leave the room to get a drink or a bite to eat and I collapsed into a chair! Felt so stupid

My boss found me slumped on the chair, I felt all sweaty and she said my face was really pale and clammy.

She made me something small to eat and once I'd eaten, I felt much better.

When I was a teenager I suffered from low blood pressure and had blackouts/faints quite often, and that's exactly how I felt this time. I didn't faint, but it was almost like I was willing myself to not faint, I had to focus on staying conscious!

It hadn't happened since, but I have felt a bit dizzy at times.

I also felt swollen down below recently! I thought it might be thrush, so put some thrush cream on it and it went away. Have had quite a bit of 'bedroom activity' recently, but not sure if that was cause of swelling. Also, not sure if it was thrush, but the cream did soothe it.

Hope you feel better soon; isn't it good to know we don't feel these physical and emotional pains all by ourselves?!

Hello, all, hope your weekend is not quite as damp as ours! And very sincerely hope none of you got flooded - I can't think of anything more soul destroying than finding your house filled with dirty, cold, wet mud.

IWCAS, and any other first time mum-to-be on here : I so understand your concerns about isolation etc. And it is not like they are not justified... Life does get considerably more complicated with a baba in tow and I know I struggled quite a bit from that rather sudden loss of independence (and I do not mean trekking in the Himalayas or raving til 4am; just being able to go for a wee without DS1 either screaming his head off or having him sit on my lap - yes, baby on mummy's lap whilst she is having a wee <double blush>...).
Personally, I think the reason why 2nd and subsequent children are often perceived to be "easier" is at least partially because by then mums have learnt to roll with it more, remind themselves "this too shall pass" and having given up a fair bit of self...
I certainly found DS2 inspite of all the worries and special care he needed because of his prematurity much easlier to look after, and DS3 is just joy .
The absolutely Most Important Thing whilst on mat leave was to get out of the house at least once a day, it almost did not matter where we went: Bfing group, friends, toddler group, park, shops etc...

Baby gear: I would also say if in doubt, go with the lighter/easier to move/cleanable option. Expense aside, there are things I just cannot get my head around like cashmere jumpers for babies - I am sure they are lovely and soft, but how much handwashing does one need when looking after a small child?? Or is that kind of merchandise aimed at those of us with staff ? Well, I can always dream of those Euromillions...

siamese, that sounds like a scary experience. Glad you are ok. You could maybe just have had a rather low blood pressure? 'Tis quite common in young women, worse when pregnant and different people tolerate different levels of "low" IYKWIM. Also you can feel more symptomatic if your bloodcount is also a littly bit low. If you keep not feeling right, it is really worth it to have your midwife check you out.

I got an appointment through for a 30 week scan after Christmas (growth scan) just to check that bubs is growing as my ancient body cannot be trusted to make a decent placenta... Looking forward to the scan, but just having that appointment stuck to the fridge has now made me worry more about LO's growth, gah... EMLouT, you and your bump are in my thoughts, hope all is well.

Hi everyone, just wanted to say thanks to everyone who recommended the NCT, I had my course this week, it was excellent. I've got loads of great advice from them and made some new friends in the process.

anna totally agree about highchair, in fact it applies to all other baby items, big bulky expensive ones (pushchairs, high chairs etc) often get changed later on for more simple, lighter easier to use models, really wish I'd known that with DS1

rebecca thanks for sainsburys idea, I've also joined their baby club, I think you can get extra nectar points if it's your 2nd child too

We are in the midst of potty training here, so not much time to post, just popped in for quick update.

xxxxxxx

hi Ladies
so glad you are ok Caitni i was reading the thread with my heart in my mouth..

ICWAS Im constantly concerned about isolation and not coping and like you Im quite an independant woman - like someone said - it shows - I hope - that we will be ok as we are thinking it through..

I had the weirdest thing yesterday - I felt like I was going to collapse in Sainsburys (where incidently lots of baby things are 1/2 price). So I went to the checkout, had to take off my coat as was so hot and started panicing about fainting or something in public and making a dick out of myself. Managed to pay for shopping and go to car and then drove 1 hour home freaking out that I would pass out or couldnt concentrate properly. I know it isnt the best thing to do but I didnt want to give in to it, if it was 'just' a panic attack, which Ive had in the past while driving (just 3 or 4) and I found the best thing is to not give in otherwise Id never drive again..! So when I finally got home and took stock of myself I realised I was really dizzy, fairly steady pulse so not a panic attack, and completely freaked out. Baby thankfully seemed ok. DH came home at 9pm and I went to bed. Woke up this morning feeling slightly hungover but fine now, but with the unusual sypmtom of a swollen fanjo - it actually feels bruised! (definitly not caused by bedroom activity .

So they might not be related but any ideas?? I think maybe yesterdays dizziness could be related to work (inspection bollocks that upset me last week) but didnt have my classic panic attacks symptoms.. or do I have some kind of weird pregnancy thing that again I was in ignorance of???

hope you are all having a less swollen weekend..

Just to wish you all a lovely weekend.
I had my swine flu vaccine yesterday afternoon and my arm is very sore. But apart from that I feel fine and the baby has been moving and kicking.
It's very dark outside so I have no excuse for not to work on my thesis

Take care

your post really made me smile pixie!!!!

hope everyone has a good weekend!

First up IWCAS, you are never alone or isolated - there are people on MN night and day if you want a chat, and so many opportunities once you've had the little one - mother and baby etc, which you can make sure you're part of.
If I, in my hopelessness, can be a half decent mother five times over, then I'm sure you'll be more than capable. You always seem like a lovely, caring, sensible person to me! {grin}

Sitting watching Children in Need with the DC here. The twins are moving quite a lot this evening, but they've been pretty quiet all day, so I'm glad of it!

Plaster cast well and truly off - DD's leg is all puckered underneath, and closely resembles what I imagine my stomach will look like once I've given birth!

I've ordered best of friends twins who have distinct personalities and will play together for hours on end without falling out from their second birthday. They will also potty train themselves at about four weeks and keep all their clothes immaculate. They will eat all foods and thank me for my effort after every meal. <Pixie reminds herself to dream on?!

Anyway, DD2 and DS want me to dance with them (although DD1 is hiding her face and saying, "Don't Mum, please.") so I'd better go and 'dance', although these days this just involves waving my bump in vague time with the music!

Good evening, ladies, I am just checking in and marking my place .

We had a power failure last night (2nd one in a week) and therefore no internet!! Today busy and loooooong day at work, dinner for DH and me is alsmost ready.

Read all your posts. Lots of stuff happening by the sounds of it and most of it good thankfully.

Anyway I am too knsckered to contribute anything meaningful.

Take care .

Thanks - Sariska that does help, I guess forget everyone worries first time. I've generally felt quite positive but felt panicky today.

Smac - I am having a moses basket next to my bed, if that doesn't work I'll get a co-sleeping cot but am trying to avoid the expense unless necessary. Am happy not to drink and am as sure as I can be that I won't smoke again...

Think starting NCT in Jan will help me feel less isolated, just hoping there's one other person there with a parent/friend, or at the very least a rubbish husband! Will be difficult for mom to stay with me, but I can stay at theirs if I need to. They're all in politics too so will be a difficult time.

Same for baby clubs and groups, somehow will just have to 'make' myself go out every day no matter how tired. Please Please Please let me pass my driving test before baby!

Think maybe I'm miserable as I'm feeling really sidelined at work and am starting to really resent my fresh out of uni employee who seems to think he can do my job and doesn't realise how crap I feel that everything I've worked for, all the benefits will go to other people and I won't get any recognition for all the long term planning and organisation I put in place. And I'm trying to remember that I just won't care by May. I feel a bit childish

Smac - I'm really glad you had a good debrief and feel more relaxed

ilove - cheers

Thanks for kind words, just one of those days I guess xx