Yesterday I had my first physio treatment and I have Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) and too much of the hormone relaxin so I have been given some exercises to do and I have a follow up appointment next week. My Physio has magic hands though as she worked on my back and even though it ached yesterday afternoon it feels a lot better today.

I have also been to the doctors today as for the last couple of days I have felt under the weather, temperature, nausea, headache and last night a nose bleed so the hubby demanded that I made an appointment as he was concerned it could have something to do with my blood pressure (Bless him, he reads all the pregnancy books and he quite rightly had the symptoms right). So off to the doctors we went  and I explained my symptoms, she took my blood pressure which was just right and then asked what I was worried that it could be, so I told her I have been feeling really tearful over the last couple of weeks and I wasn't sure if that was down to hormones or something else, I am extremely anxious about the birth as I had such an awful time with Amy and feel that my anxiety problem maybe back along with the depression, we spoke about the PND I had after Amy and the treatment I had, I told her if possible I would rather not go back on Meds all the time I am pregnant which she said is fine as she would arrange some cognitive therapy asap. I do feel a little better and I already understood that my anxiety and depression could give me physical side effects hence why I am feeling so under the weather.

I have also been trying to chase up the Sure Start Maternity Grant that we applied for over 2 weeks ago, seems like they could have lost the form so they are sending another one for me to fill out and to reapply, don't you just love the benefits system!

I hope all my fellow pregnant Minti's are doing well.

Take care

Clare xxx

Amy has her preschool teachers coming round today and I am a little apprehensive so lots of cleaning to do (hopefully this will keep my mind occupied) they are due at 11am, wish me luck!

First of all I would like to thank my friends for their wonderful words and support, in the cold light of day I have decided that my Minti is worth sticking by and I certainly will not give anyone acting with malice the pleasure of seeing me hurt. I do feel that there are some members of Minti that can take pleasure in stirring the pot and even though when I met people in person I like to think I am a great judge of character unfortunately that perception can take longer when dealing with people online  but I am pleased to say that instinct has now kicked in and I know where I stand. I do not wish to offend or inflame anyone with this blog, lets just say my eyes have been opened.

Right back to normal happenings, Amy had an awful night and for some reason unknown to me decided that last night was not for sleeping either she is getting me in to training for the new arrival or she is feeling a little apprehensive about starting preschool next week. Added to that not being able to get comfortable and the trapped sciatic nerve I feel like a zombie this morning and I still have a mother and toddler group to run today!

The reason I have not been on for a couple of days is because I was ordered to rest after a little fall and a sprained ankle. On Tuesday by cat got sick and was unable to control where it emptied its stomach contents of course it didn't do this anywhere it would be easy to clear up, no it decided to do this in as many hidden places as possible and as the hubby was at work it was down to me to clear up. I have been avoiding the cat litter tray as advised during pregnancy and the hubby has come to the agreement he will change it everyday if I do babies first nappy! but I had no choice but to clear this up so I donned rubber gloves and tried to keep a strong stomach after a few attempts it was done but the smell was horrific so I decided to go down to the shop (which I live next door to) to get some febreze to freshen up the carpet, Amy put on her wellies and we left the house, I got to the end of the path stepped down the first step and turned my ankle and fell down the remainder two steps my first instinct was to put my hands out but because Amy had hold of one and I fell down the steps I landed on my bump, fortunately a friend was passing and helped me hobble back indoors and by this time I was in floods of tears concerned I had hurt the baby, I immediately called the hospital who took all the details and reassured me that baby was well padded in the bump and not to worry they would call me back, I then called the hubby and scared the life out of him and he rushed home, twenty minutes later he was home but still no call from the hospital so he phoned them I was told to go to antenatal day unit to be checked over. When we arrived there the staff were great and monitored baby  who was fine and then did a scan and all was well.

So as you can see it has been an eventful few days and I am pleased to say that my ankle feels better and I am now able to walk on it and I certainly will be more careful going down the steps this morning.

I have just logged on to Minti after a few days away and I am deeply upset about a genuine mistake that I made and that only one person felt the need to contact me over it. I certainly did not intend to spoil Bel and Kennys joy at announcing the birth of their baby and truly believed that as it was announced on the bulletin board that they had asked a friend to announce it on their behalf.

In no way did I feel that what I was doing was wrong in any way or rude and to those who believe I did this with malice then you are wrong because of comments left on the reporting of mine and the original blog I feel the need to leave Minti. I am in no way doing this for attention but due to the fact that I had thought I had found a place that the friends I had made could be honest with me and I have ridden a very rough ride with Minti and some of the awful bitching that has happened in the past and always forgive those responsible, I can no longer do this. I am almost mad at myself for being so upset about this after all this is just a website, but for those who have known me right form the beginning you will know what a god send Minti is and was to me.

Even though I feel this is no one elses business , I will tell you that I will be Minti mailing Bel and Kenny with an apology.

It is with a very heavy heart and a large tear in my eye that I bid you farewell my dear Minti.

Well another week down and one fewer to wait for the arrival of our second little miracle. I am feeling ok and haven't really got much bigger. Sleeping is still a bit of a problem and I tend to spend most of the night tossing and turning.

I have also been putting my hospital bag together (and I have written a little check list in advice for those doing the same) but the only thing I am having a bit of trouble finding is plus size disposable knickers and after consulting with members on my local Netmums site I have decided just to take lots of pairs of dark coloured granny knickers. Whilst on Netmums I found a link to the British Organ Donation register so popped along there to register my details. I have been meaning to do it for a long time and thought now was the best time, if you are in the UK and wish to do the same then here is a link to their site:

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/registration/consent.jsp

Take care

Clare xxx

The day had finally arrived, I had been thinking about it since Amy's place was confirmed and I was dreading it - Amy's first afternoon at pre-school.

I had to open up the Mother & Toddler group in the morning so decided to concentrate on that, had a great morning, rushed around tidying up, hoping I wouldn't be late for Amy's first afternoon.

I had already prepared Amy for what was happening in the afternoon and she was terribly excited to be going to see her new school - I was extremely anxious. You see we had made the conscious decision when Amy was born that I would stay at home with her until she started school so she has never been away from me for a period of time and even though I would be able to stay with her, there was a part of me that really didn't want this to happen, it means letting go a little.

Fortunately when we arrived and Amy saw the other children and all the things to do, she darted off without a care in the world and I was left standing around, just an onlooker. I chatted to her teacher and the nursery staff then chatted to some of the other Mums. A few of the other children were reluctant to leave their mum's side and in a way I wished Amy had been the same but I suppose it shows that she is a confident, independent child and I am proud of her for that.

When it came time to leave she didn't want to go and when we were on the way home we talked about her going in the afternoons everyday, she said she would like to go. I explained that next time Mummy wouldn't be able to stay and Amy replied that was OK and not to worry as she was a brave girl who wouldn't cry. I love her so much, it is hard to see my baby growing up.

In between her next day at school, we are having a home visit from her teacher so she can talk to Amy on a one to one basis. I am looking forward to this as Amy will get a chance to know her teacher more and vice versa.

I had my glucose tolerance test yesterday and was under the impression this was a fasting test so I had nothing to eat from 8pm the night before till I went to my appointment at 8;50am in the morning, the first thing the midwife did was take my blood pressure and was concerned it was quite low and asked if I was feeling dizzy, i said a little but put it down to not have eaten she asked me why I hadn't eaten and I said for the Glucose test , she then tells me there was no need to fast! She thought it might make the test invalid but went ahead and tried to take blood anyway. She has to try from both arms and eventually got enough to fill the numerous test tubes. Next I laid on the bed and she tried to feel for the top of my uterus, this has been an on going problem, apparently I am too fat for her to feel it and too fat for the measurements from the top to my pelvic bone to be right (it should measure the same in centimetres as I am weeks - 29) I see a flaw in this method anyway as you would have to be the exact weight for your height and not be carrying even the smallest amount of fat around your waist, so I am now being referred to a consultant to be referred on for a growth scan to check that baby is growing well. Babies heart beat is strong and fast so that's good news. I am also being referred for physio as I have sciatica and the top of my right leg is numb all the time and I keep getting a sharp pain in my left buttock!

well have to go now as I have Mother and toddler group and then the afternoon Amy has her first day at pre-school!

Take care

Clare xxx

It is a miserable day here, Autumn is here early. Only one thing to do on a rainy day and that's the food shopping so this morning we jumped in the car and off we went to our favourite supermarket  with shopping list in hand. While wondering around picking up the usual things the Hubby went down the baby aisle, he pretends he's not excited about the new arrival but he can't help but have a browse, he comes back with a car seat under one arm and a big grin on his face. He explains that the car seat is only £24.99 and that it is a great brand which he is sure should be more expensive so I go back with him to investigate the price on the shelf to see it does say £24.99 so I check the bar codes and they are the same then I grab the nearest member of staff and query it they look confused and go off to find  a supervisor, who comes back to inspect the shelf and admits they have made a mistake and we were right it should have been more expensive but as it states the price on the shelf with the right description they have no choice but to sell it as advertised - hooray a bargain. Amy's old car seat has seen better days and even though we were on a tight budget this week I made an allowance for this great bargain and the hubby carries it around like a trophy for the rest of the shopping trip so it paid to brave the rain.

I have been a bit shy about sharing any photos of me pregnant because I am overweight it has taken me a while to feel comfortable enough to show anyone but I have build up the nerve and here is the latest of my bump at 28 weeks:

 I am pleased to say that my cold is getting better and that I can breathe again. I've had quite a few restless nights and so has Amy, I'm not sure if I wake her when I get up to go pee or that she wakes on her own from her cough.

I am now getting regular Braxton Hicks sometimes they hurt a bit but others it just makes my tummy go hard.

We have just applied for a Sure Start Maternity Grant which hopefully will help towards the cost of getting a new car seat and Buggy. We do have a few things that we kept from having Amy but having a new car seat is a must as Amys will be four years old by the time the baby arrives and even though it has never been in an accident and seems to be sound I don't want to risk it being brittle or unsafe.

I have a midwifes appointment next Wednesday and I am having a glucose tolerance test which is a standard blood test done at 28 weeks and I have to drink 275mls of Lucozade which I hate as it always reminds me of being ill.

I hope that all my fellow pregnant Minti's are doing well and staying healthy.

Take care

Clare xxx