Hi there girls.

Sorry haven't posted for months and months.

Just to let you know I had a little girl on 23rd July - 2 weeks early - 7lbs 13oz and all going very well (apart from the lack of sleep!!!)

Good luck to everyone and hope your birth is as quick as mine - less than an hour start to finish! What a shock!

we're getting rather close to completely filling this thread, so thought someone had better start off a new one - link here

thread title courtesy of scummymummy

Sorry, need to read properly but just glanced at Kitkat's post about that Monty Python scene and PMSL..... 'pick that one up will you love'

Hey kitkat, baby 4'll be just like breaking wind!!!!!!! We wish!

Am putting head down for nap now, will try and catch up properly tonight, although have just realised I'm out tonight, so will probably be tomorrow.

Hi Ladies - sorry haven't posted in forever.

Having a fun time at the moment as am 36w3d and been having increasing pains over the last week but desperately keeping my legs crossed for the following reasons:

- ds2 came at 37 weeks and was poorly for a week in nicu - do not want that again
- c-section is sheduled for 23rd and childcare arranged accordingly
- ds1 has just come out in chicken pox and am fully expecting ds2 to get it too and would like them both to be non-contagious before i have baby

Am so glad the weather is cooler and that my hayfever is not so bad.

Would just like to fast forward the next couple of weeks now and have the baby. Keep joking to DH that i'm going into hospital to have a rest when i have the c-section.

Yank have you looked at skylight by farrow and Ball? Ds's room is painted in that and we love it. It sounds like what you are looking for.

kitkat I guess mine must have been BH as I have no baby to show for them !!! My sore back has thankfully gone as well as i was really uncomfortable all day yesterday.

becksydee your scan sounds like a total bargain!! Glad the mission was accomplished!!

Hi Trixy, TBH I don't know they are BH, I'm just working on the basis that they went away and didn't get overly regular even if the longest one that I couldn't talk through lasted about 2 mins on the clock ( the real ones I had with the other 3 didn't last that long!). Someone described BH to me once as "practice contractions" so as nothing popped out to be caught by another child like on Monty Pythons "the meaning of life" I'm hoping they were BH

Maybe I should name change to "getthatwouldyoudear?"

Mineral mist does sound rather lovely, yank.

Glad the scan went so well, becksy.

becksy, that's fantastic, really sounds like your DH enjoyed the scan!

I went to aqua-natal class today, been meaning to go for ages. There is a nice group there, a lot stay for coffee after, so ended up sitting around chatting for about two hours once class was over. It is also a post natal class, so there were three little babies in their carseats sitting on the side while we were in the pool....so cute!!!! Only one shouted a bit, then stole her mum's foam hand float when she got out of the pool to attend to her--very funny. I really really wish I'd gone earlier in the pregnancy, so nice to do a bit of exercise and have a natter. Next week is the last class before summer holidays, but the instructor is looking into holding the class in the evenings instead if enough people want to come.

Bought seven more tester pots of paint today. Who knew there were so many types of light blue! I'm not quite sure we've nailed it, but DH will kill me if I come back with any more paint. I'm aiming for 'light and airy and suits a baby, but doesn't necessarily scream "baby's room" at you'. I think DH is settled on 'Mineral Mist', but he's been unduly influenced by his geology background.

just back from the 4d scan. something went a bit wrong with some of their equipment (no muzak music and the DVD recorder wasn't working, but the scanner itself was fine) so we asked for some money off and got a CD with loads of stills and some prints for £30! (usual price for the package we'd booked = £149!!!) and they're sending the DVD in the post in a few days when they've sorted the DVD recorder. baby's estimated weight is 5lb4oz already but all the measurements are absolutely spot on, so obviously it's just a bit of a chubster, or big-boned or something

DP was grinning all the way through, and showing the prints to random people on the tube on the way home, so mission accomplished

Hi all x
craftynclothy think my DP would freak if they told him he had to be prepared to deliever it himself lol

OonaghBhuna Cant believe you are so close to meeting your baba now, am slightly that you are nearly at the end lol

Duchesse Baby sounds like a good weight

Babybump2b Bet you are looking forward to finishing work now and how lovely of your friends to be holding a shower for you

Well I am doing ok but starting to get really fed up of not being able to do much I got a strong nesting urge yesterday and did a mini spring clean after a hectic weekend and then spent the rest of the day in agony with my hips (havent suffered with them before) I keep getting BH that are annoying lol and I have got to the point that I can no longer put socks on or do up laces

Sorry for the moan! Just cant wait for these babies to make a move!!

Oh gosh- so know what you mean about mixture of excitement and anxiety, bb2b, and the emotional preparation being the hard bit, Oonagh! I also think I know a bit what you mean about the worry being a help with bonding in aome odd sense.

Sounds like your babies are growing well, Duchesse and bb2b.

Hi All!

Still fighting the lurgy here but as I only have 2 more days of work (including today) not really caring. I can't wait to not have to think about anything but resting and waiting for the bebe.

Almost finished the nursery and my girlfriends are throwing a shower for me on Saturday - can't wait!

Had a placenta previa scan on Saturday and it has definitely moved on and they figure bebe is 5 lbs 10 oz with 5 weeks to go so all good size wise!

Still slightly freaking out about names as I'm still not entirely sure the one we picked is right (and DH doesn't like the one I love) - we'll see what happens when we see her!

Starting to feel increasingly excited and anxious - I can't wait to meet her but that means getting her out of me which still terrifies me!

So looking forward to watching the birth annoucements rolling in!

Just back from my 34 week growth scan. Baby is estimated at 4 lbs 3 oz, so not looking like a whopper, thank goodness. Assuming a steady 1/2 lb per week growth from now till term, that's 7lbs at 40 weeks and 7.5 lbs at 41, which is what my daughters were. I am struggling to understand how that puts the little scrap on the 5th percentile in their charts...

Hello all,

I have been reading the thread but not posting much and have now forgotten everything I wanted to post

Changing bag arrived this morning and it's great - good size, straps v adjustable and plenty of pockets to separate my stuff, dd's stuff and baby stuff

Midwife coming this evening...dh has to be here as she's going through what he has to do if he has to deliver the baby .

Bags still not packed and feel rather disorganised about everything. Feel like I have loads to do and just kinda hoping baby waits until it's all done .

Thanks Kitkat

Trying to find a second hand one on ebay but not easy will keep looking and hope I manage to grab a bargin in time! Thanks for the search advice though really helpful.

Hope all has calmed down now I only have one to look after while being pregnant couldn't imagine any more than that! My BH are alot stronger and earlier than last time no fun!

SM- I am pretty much sorted practically but not mentally OMG!!!!!!!!!!!One week to go. However its weird but after having spent the last 3 weeks worrying about the baby I feel that I have bonded with him even more. I cant wait to give him a cuddle.

BD- enjoy the 4d scan tomorrow, they are fantastic.i will keep fingers crossed that you dont have GD.Try and rest as much as possible.

Hi, just popping in from the Aug08 board to say good luck ladies! My youngest will be 1 on 3rd, no idea where all this time has gone.

If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend stocking up on bogroll in huge quantities ASAP - Waitrose have BOGOF on Nouvelle this week.

hawkmoth - i really do sympathise. i'm not on maternity leave yet but am spending most days working from home, and the amount of daft questions that my colleagues ring me to ask is getting a bit irritating! mostly about computer-related stuff, as i'm the only tech-savvy person working there. god knows how they're going to manage whilst i'm away, i think i'm going to be spending the next few weeks writing a manual for how everything in the office works!

just got back from the local hospital where i met my new midwife. i quite liked her but DP wasn't sure. DP also not sure about local hospital's maternity unit in comparison with UCH - i kind of agree with him cos the antenatal clinic and the labour ward are both a bit tatty looking, but the new birth centre is lovely. going to go on the tour again this weekend and take him with me so he can see for himself, but might yet scarper back to UCH. my glucose load test results were disastrous so i have to go back on monday for a GTT i'm really praying i don't have GD, as it'll potentially throw my birth plan completely out of the window. anyone know if there's anything i can do between now & monday, or is the result already determined? feeling a bit worried about it.

on the plus side though, got the 4d scan tomorrow afternoon

Bloody hell, hawk! You are clearly indispensible. No one from work has rung me, on the other hand! GP signed me off for next couple of weeks today so that's me effectively started maternity leave a couple weeks before I planned. Feel v pleased and relieved. I was actually perfectly happy at work and now feel pretty darn fine, thank goodness, but I really do hate the idea of having any further scares whilst at work and have gone into contented pottering mode, which I'm not keen to give up!

Sounds like you guys are pretty much sorted, Yank and Oonagh.

Someone from work rang to ask how to put ink in the printer today. FUCKING LEAVE ME ALONE!

... and breathe.

Hey everyone!

Finally made it to London to visit DH's parents for the first time since the wedding in January. Had a minor panic when baby didn't move for an entire evening/night, but he made up for it by pushing on my lungs for the entire car journey back.

I think he must be turned differently or something, it feels like he's headbutting my pubic bone, and I can't bend forward or breathe properly.

No Braxton Hicks here either, am with the 'should I be feeling these yet?' crowd! Am 33 weeks tomorrow.

Started NHS antenatal classes last week, and so far the one two hour session we've been to has been more helpful/informative than the 18 hours of NCT. Think that had more to do with our crap instructor though. I did meet some nice people at NCT though, so I've basically paid £130 to make friends

Picked up a cot, changing table, high chair, baby bath, and some more clothes from friends in London, so equipment-wise we are pretty much done. The baby's room, however. . . .

DH took annual leave today and we've finished scraping off the wallpaper (am covered in sticky bits and plaster from trying to help/keep him company). Have slapped four test shades of light blue paint on the wall and hoping one will grab us. We have to cover the walls with lining paper first, but thankfully one of our new NCT friends lent us all the equipment and pasting tables, so we just needed to buy the paper and paste.

Wrists seem to be a bit better now that the heat has subsided. Am just going to keep being positive that the tendonitis and SPD will go away after the birth and I can feel like myself again!

Hope you are all well, and I vote for SM's thread title.

Just back from Asda, bought a breast pump for £10, ok its manual but its the same avent one as I had before which was £25 out of Boots. This is my third Breast pump!!!!!!

Thanks kitkat.

BTW how do you know it's BH you're having? I was having some tightenings last night and panicking that things are kicking off early, before my birth pool arrives on Wednesday.

Trix - even if you get rid of the thrush yourself the baby can still have it because they don't actually need to get it from us on route so to speak Its part of their natural flora and if they have an imbalance for any reason then thrush is usually the result. Personally I have never had the "usual" Thrush, but i've had it in my boobs from the baby's mouth every time

Personally i'm putting a copy of the leaflet in my maternity notes so that if I need it i've got it.

Hi Bunnyhop - I cheated - I bought mine second hand from ebay. I had originally set up a search for kolcraft, but they were all going for too much money - bargain addict me

So I did a complete search of "twins and multiples" on a blank search and found the one that I won. I got it for £185.00. I couldn't justify the import duties and postage from the usa either.

My biggest worry with it before I bought it was how long will my older child fit in the seat? Not a problem, loads of room!

My biggest worry when it arrived was omg its enormous - i'm never going to be able to push it! but actually its one of the easiest doubles that I have pushed, and thats with my 3 yr old and an 18mnth old in it so no worries when the baby turns up.

The only negatives that I can give it at all is that its hard to move about when its folded up - its quite bulky with my bump in the way and a bit tricky in small shops, otherwise buy one I don't think you'll regret it My kids love it! Good Luck!

Thanks kitkat. My SIl had a terrible time trying to get her GP to prescribe the right medication, so I will us that leaflet if I need treatment.

I hope I can have a pessary at this stage so can try to get rid of it before labour.

I too have just realised that there will be a baby here in a few weeks and have loads to get sorted and now don't have the energy for it!!

Hi everybody, just trying to catch up with you all!! Have just realised that there is going to be a baby turning up in 6 weeks or so!! and I have got sooo much to do - no energy, have run out of ice lollies and have been having BH that are strong enough that I can't talk through them! Add to that an internet connection that is totally alien to me - don't ask. Sorry - panicked rant over!!

Trixy - don't stress about thrush - if you think you have it you can print a leaflet from the bfn website and wave it at your gp who then knows what to prescribe - personally i'd rather go through labour on a daily basis than have it again, but it is sortable quite easily once you have a positive diagnosis

Oh and does anyone else feel like the baby is going to fall out at any minute? I was sooo uncomfortable in the car today, every bump was torture.

Aaaaargh!! I'm pretty sure I've got thrush again. Does anyone know whether I can use Canasten at 36 weeks?

Now cra**ing myself about the baby getting it as have a few friends who had a horrible time with thrush while breastfeeding.

Morning all, Haven't posted for ages again - sorry! - due to a mixture of busy finishing work and heat lethargy.

Well, I finaly finished work last Thursday with a mixture of feelings about it; relief that I don't have to drag myself there every day in the heat and sit at my desk with back ache (I don't seem to be able to sit upright for more than about 1/2 hour); and a vague sense of unease about the pending changes in my life and not being part of the working world for while. Anyone else feel like this?

Saw my midwife last week too, who told me that she could feel some lovely braxton hicks - much to my dismay as I think I'm pretty body aware and am now wondering what else on earth I've missed!

Had a go at the old perineal massage, which briefly gave me yet another complex about having short arms. Fortunately my friend told me that she is having the same problem. Tried to rope DH in, but he's decidedly unkeen and quickly changed the subject

We finally have some preparations underway. The spare room is painted and the carpet clean (nothing to put in it yet!) although my lovely brother has bought us a moses basket and my Mum's friend has donated a car seat. DH has bought a sling (without consultation) online - although I can't really complain as at least he's getting his arse into gear, which is more than can be said for me

Oh yes, and the pool is being delivered on Thursday, so I reckon we are pretty well set. Only another few weeks to go [emoticon which registers a look of both horror and relief]

Hi all, reading through this list takes so much effort I can hardly seem to find energy to post! Everyone seems to be really anticipating the arrivals - it seems it will all start kicking off soon, good luck all. I am still here, but mostly lurking. Looking forward to the birth announcements.

Nandos - I have packed 2 pairs of pjs, maternity pads, a towelfor me and a baby towel, Dh boxers as they are comfy, toiletries (toothbrush etc hairbrush, shower stuff, bubble bath)3 sleepsuits and 3 vests for baby.Flip flops.Nappies.Bras.Im sure there are other things but I hope this helps.

BB- Have you tried drinking tonic water for the cramps? I lived on tonic and bananas in my last pregnancy. It really helped me to overcome the leg cramps.I have never really experienced Braxton hicks, so dont worry you might be getting them without realizing.Glad your baby is doing well.

I like SM new thread title suggestion too.

Hi Kitkatqueen

I noticed on you previous thread that you have recently bought a kolcraft contours option tandum on ebay. Was it imported from the US? As I was looking into it but looks like it would be £200ish plus same again for shipping to the UK. Looks like a really great buggy but don't know if I can bring myself to pay shipping worth more than the pram itself!

Also did you get a raincover for it?

Any help would be fantastic. I am looking into double buggies and this seems to be the best inline pram my second is due at the end of September with a 22month age gap.

Thanks

Hi all!

Quixotic - I've had that once and agree with you about the pain factor. I feel that way about the constant leg cramps - my new thing is to pace about telling myself "I can do this, I can do this" which is embarrassing but strangely seems to make me feel better. Who wants to bet I chant this during labour?

Had an u/s today to make sure my placenta had moved as it was too close to my cervix but it has def moved and she confirmed baby is low down. But nice to see her doing well. They seemed to think she was about 5lbs 11oz at 35 weeks!

I've not had any braxton hicks - is that normal? Should I be having them?

I love scummymummy's thread title suggestion too!

Hope you're all surviving the weather - its bloody hot here now too!

forester - i know maxi cosi cabriofix carseats fit into iCandy pushchairs, cos that's the brand i've ordered

a quick google brings up:
quinny
bugaboo
bebe confort
micralite

and maxi cosi also do their own pushchairs by the looks of it. and you know, you might have actually done yourself a favour by narrowing the choice down like that, choosing a pushchair is a very daunting task!

i like scummymummy's new thread title suggestion

just back from doing a spot of shopping, i think i've got most things for my hospital bag now! btw, peacocks are selling a set of 2 maternity nighties with poppers down the front for nursing for £8, if anyone's still needs nighties for their hospital bag (also, multipack granny pants for £3.50 for 5 and flip flops for £3)

PRAM thread people, I mean! They are usually very helpful if you ask them a question on their specialist subject.

I bet the thread people will know, Forester.

Can we have "It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine" as our last thread title, maybe? To reflect the impending mix of chaos and excitement?

Hi guys

Hope everyone's enjoying the cooler weather.

I was hoping for some advice - I still don't have a pushchair / carry cot and realise time is ticking by - particularly as I intend that the baby will be sleeping in the carry cot to begin with. I have bought a maxi cosi car seat and now I want to know which pushchairs it could be used with. I realise I've done this the wrong way round ! Does anyone know a website that will list the brands of pushchairs I could use the car seat with?

Thanks in advance

hi everyone!
sorry for not posting after a long time..
hope everyone here is doing fine
we're nearly there so the title suggested by Uki is not bad i cant think of anything better lol

oonagh hope to see your baby pic soon in 2 wks time and hopefully everything will turn out fine..

am 36wks+ already and so far baby doing ok..as for me, been having a cervix-pain for a few days now..is that a sign of early labour?
i hope not cos' my hosp bag is half empty and theres still baby stuffs to put in the bag(havent washed the new clothes yet)
can anyone remind me of what else is needed to pack in the bag?
sorry am bad at these things
need to go and have an early rest today as cousin's wedding is tmr morning
take care..

valz - my sisters are both in enniscorthy, could get one of them to pick me up from rosslare no problem! <wishful thinking>

oonagh - sorry to hear you're so nervous it's kind of last minute & you might not have the funds, but could you maybe hire a postnatal doula to help you whilst you're in hospital? or alternatively draw up a rota of friends/family to visit, on the understanding that they will helpful (and no snuggles with the newborn allowed until they have completed their alloted tasks )

can't seem to shake this headache, getting rather annoyed now

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone

quixotic LOL you are so funny 'if i can not cope with trapped wind, how will i cope with birth'...too funny, and probably true

I'm convinced that's probably part of my high BP so stressed about the birth part, and pain, I wish i could just skip to the handing the baby to me part

Valz - so exciting can't wait to see pics of the twins, and soon to be2&3's twins, it's amazing to have 2 twim mummies on here

Can you believe I got to sleep in to 10am today, the dc's just got up and played happily amazing, and now i'm home alone, to relax oh my goodness too surreal

bring on the new thread please, this ones becoming hard work....here's my thought of the day for title'we can't wait to meet our babies'

not very imaginative though

Valz_ I am organised, well almost When we found out 3 weeks ago about the babies position and the potential for an emergency situation I headed to mothercare and basically packed my bag. The only thing I dont have is a breast pump. I lent mine to my SIL and she never gave it back and now she doesnt recall ever having it.......

Crafty- I have ordered the bag now too, thank you! I also have a back pack which is very spacious.

I am getting very nervous and I am dreading being in hospital more than the surgery. I hate the hospital and both times have found it all overwheming and dstressing with the lack of help. The MWs are fantastic for the first few hours and then they are just too busy.

DD1 has been asking about the birth and I explained about the c section etc and she said 'Will the Doctor be putting his head inside to look at your bones' She is only 4, so cute and every day now she is asking 'Is the baby coming out today' She is such a little pet.

Just updating the list as noticed I needed to add "girl" to it:
Clairedaz EDD ??? (((GIRL!)))
Clare1234 EDD ????
Flibertywidget EDD ??? (dd 21mnths)
Skydancer EDD 27th July
2HotCrossBunsAnd1InTheOven EDD 28th July (DS 3.7 DS 1.9) (((GIRL!))))
pussface EDD 29th July (DSS 14, DD 6mo)
Uki EDD 29th July (DS3,DS1) ((((GIRL))))
Nandos EDD 30th July (((BOY!)))
Hope88 EDD 1st Aug (First and it's a BOY!)
BumpVLump EDD 1st Aug (first) (((GIRL!)))
Cheekymonkey EDD 1st Aug (DS)
traceybath EDD 1st Aug (DS4, DS14m) (((GIRL!)))
lalaRachel EDD 1st Aug (first) (((SURPRISE!)))
Forester EDD 2nd Aug (first) (((GIRL!)))
Specialoffer EDD 2nd Aug (DS16m)
nellyup EDD 2nd aug (DD3, DS4)
trixymalixy EDD 2nd Aug (DS 2) (((SURPRISE!)))
sheenaisapunkrocker EDD 2nd Aug
faerieprincess EDD 3rd Aug (DS20m)
gemdangracie EDD 3rd Aug (DD2)
itsamiracle EDD 3rd Aug (DS2)
babylanguagelearner EDD 3rd Aug (DS 12m)
Rachel1963 EDD 3rd Aug (DS 3.1) (((SURPRISE!)))
Oonaghbhuna EDD 3rd August (DD1 3.6,DD2,2) ((((BOY!))))
Mellin EDD 3rd August (DD 2.4)
LeninGrad EDD 4th Aug (DS 2.9) (((SURPRISE!)))
Cairns EDD 4th Aug (DS 18m) (((SURPRISE!)))
moosecat1 EDD 4th Aug
Zorra EDD 4th Aug
TaleofTwoCities EDD 6th Aug (DS4,DD2.1) (((BOY!)))
nuttygirl EDD 6th Aug (((SURPRISE!)))
noodle12 EDD 6th Aug (DD 2.5)
PPorgy EDD 6th Aug
Scummymummy EDD 6th Aug
Gorgeous EDD 6th Aug 1 dc 2.5 yrs
fairylights EDD 7th Aug (DS2) (((SURPRISE!)))
Mayl EDD 7th Aug (DD DS)
lifesaboxochoccies EDD 7th Aug (ds 2.10)
Haribosmummy EDD 7th Aug
cakesandchocolate EDD 8th Aug
MammaDani EDD 8th Aug
Hunnybunnyaug09 EDD 8th Aug (first)
BabyBump2B EDD 9th Aug ((((GIRL))))
sweetiewrapper EDD 10th Aug
mama2leah EDD 10th Aug ( DD 9 Mnths)
MrsThePoint EDD 11th Aug (DS age 3) (((SURPRISE!)))
Lyra75 EDD 11th Aug (DS 16 months)
monkeyfeathers EDD 11th August (DS 8)
mamamila EDD 12th Aug ((GIRL))(DD 1.9. DS 16.9)
hencath EDD 12th Aug (first)
fairygirl3 EDD 12th Aug (DS, DS, DD)a
Hawkmoth EDD 12th Aug (DD3) (((BOY!)))
hippyme EDD 12th Aug
Kanuck EDD 12th Aug
Rozebud EDD 12th Aug
longtalljosie EDD 12th Aug ((GIRL!))
Fruitymum EDD 13th Aug DD1 3yrs old
Cazinski EDD 13th Aug
suwoodolf EDD 13th Aug (DD 7, DS 2)
Heinzsight EDD 13th Aug (DS1 12, DS2 9, DD 15 months) (((((((SURPRISE)))))))
Boogiewoo EDD 13th Aug
babycat EDD 14th Aug (DD)
Picante EDD 15th Aug (DD 2.7)
thecollection EDD 15th Aug (((Girl!)))
loopylou25 EDD 15th Aug (DD1 5 DD2 1)
thatsnotmypirate EDD 16th Aug (DS 19 months)
chocolatine EDD 17th Aug
InspectorGadget EDD 17th Aug
duchesse Edd 17th Aug (but I think 9th) DS 15, DD 13, DD 11
KitKatqueen EDD 18th Aug (3 DC) (((((BOY!!))))
Valz EDD 18th Aug
ThePippy EDD 19th Aug
WeAreStardust EDD 19th Aug
Lunaticmamma EDD 19th Aug (1 DC)
Beetlesbugsandbutterflies EDD 19TH Aug(DS3)
Beccylt EDD 20th Aug (1 DC)
motherof2boys EDD 20th Aug (ds1 6 ds2 5 )
MichaelaS EDD 20 Aug <<<<**NATHAN BORN**>>>> 1st May @24 +1
chrysanthemum EDD 20th Aug
quixotic EDD 20th Aug (((GIRL)))
May67 EDD 20th Aug (DD 3)
Cwtchy EDD 21st Aug (DD 15 mos)
HellHathNoFury 21st Aug (Will be DS2)
thoughtforms EDD 22nd Aug (((GIRL)))
Sushipaws EDD 22nd Aug (DD 21mo)
YanknCock EDD 25th Aug (((BOY!)))
rightbobbydazzler EDD 25th Aug DS3 DS6mths
VJay EDD 26th Aug (DS 6) (((BOY)))
becksydee EDD 26th Aug
Makipuppy EDD 26th August (first baby)
fustilarian EDD 27th Aug (DD 14mnths)
Mumof3tobe EDD 27th Aug (DS 5.2 & DD 3.5)
lea1980 EDD 27th aug (DS 19 months)(((GIRL)))
olivo EDD 27th Aug (DD 2.6)
readyfornumber2and3 EDD 27th Aug (DS) ((BOY & GIRL))
Iblamethepenguins EDD 31st Aug

crafty I just bought that bag too, thanks - love it! Also might have accidentally bought a few other items in the sale on there - whoops !

Friday afternoon internet shopping instead of working - love it

HAWKMOTH i think ive had a few of those bh contractions, have had back ache for a good part of today as well. really at uncomfortable stage now.

oonagh how exciting for you, 11 days will fly in. have you all organised?

becky yes you should do just that, jump on a boat and come over here to cool off, what part do your sisters live in?

crafty ive been getting my legs and oxters waxed for years and the last few times ive got me legs waxed because of the bump ive just stood up. i dont find a leg wax that painful anyway but i found its not sore at all when im standing, so i think i'll carry on standing even when my bumps not there! bikini wax i do find painful and im in dire need of one but keep putting it off, must get meself booked in cuz id die if i went into early labour and had to head to hospital with the bush ive on me mind you ive a feelin it will be least of my worries when that time comes.

had first anti natel class last nite, i thought it was very helpful, they went through breastfeeding and then a physio came and explianed how important pelvic exercises are, i asked how long you should do them for after the birth and she told me for life which i was a bit gonked at! have a nice weekend ladies

This is the changing bag I've gone for. Need a rucksack so it's an even load.

I used to have a wonderful rucksack that folded out to have a mat in the middle, but I gave it away.

ooh, nice changing bag crafty i like the green and pink, but seeing as DP is going to be doing most of the childcare (as things stand at the moment anyway), i think i'd better stick with something a bit more butch gender neutral will prob just use the free boots one, unless someone buys a posher one for us.

re: breast pads - maybe buy some eco disposables (naturacare do them & there's a brand they sell in mothercare as well that i can't remember the name of) & buy some washables if it works out ok? i've possibly gone a bit overboard and bought 9 pairs of washable pads, plus a box of disposables for the first few days - was amused/excited to find this week that i've started leaking a little bit, although only out of my right boob!

7th August would suit me.

I'm after killing myself ringing insurance companies for the new car.

Still fuming after our supermarket episode last yesterday, told DH yesterday and he was fuming too.. so glad it wasn't me being hormonal

Lots of braxton hicks here too, and they do take my breath away. I have been having them for a while, but they have recently started to get a bit stronger.

crafty fab changing bag, my SIL has the same one and swears by it as it is the only bag that fits all of her cloth nappies, spare clothes and stuff for her 2 DS's. She said it was essential for having a baby and toddler.

Sorry about those suffering from headaches etc, can;t be nice especially in this heat. Although am much happier today as it is a lot cooler than the 30 degrees plus we have been having here.

thought I would post this that my MIL has just sent through.....

"At 5 minutes and 6 seconds after 4am, on the 7th August it will be 04:05:06 07-08-09"

this will not happen again until 3009!!!"

I guess a 7th Aug baby does have a great date to it.

quioxtic - getting that problem here too.

I'm not feeling BH's but at the 4d scan I had the sonographer said she could see I was having them so I guess I just don't notice them

Happy birthday to your ds ready

Well it's raining here today but still as hot .

Feeling like I really need to get organised. Am 36 weeks on Tuesday and my IM's are happy to do homebirths from 36 weeks so getting a bit real now.

Just bought this changing bag in the Boden sale in the green/pink colours. Hoping it'll be nice. Never really found a changing bag I liked with dd.

Wondering what to do about breast pads? I'm a clothie at heart - nappies, sanitary pads and so want to use washable breast pads BUT breastfeeding didn't work out last time (in part because of the pethidine I had during labour and partly cos of my mental state following the birth) so am wondering whether to buy disposables and see if it works out first or just buy a few washable ones and hope it's enough or do I shout lots at my overlocker trying to make my own????

quixotic - ouch! happened to me a few weeks ago actually, just as the door buzzer at work went. staggering the 15ft from my desk to the entryphone was absolutely excruciating! not had it again since thank goodness, but for future ref peppermint is good for wind - either peppermint tea or a few drops of peppermint essence in some water. at my antenatal class we were shown pics of how your insides get compressed in late pregnancy, it was quite scary, but it's no wonder stuff gets a bit, er, clogged up at this stage!

ready - happy birthday to your DS!

crafty & fruity - am going to give the birth preparation CD a listen on the bus to work in a minute, hope i don't fall asleep and miss my stop!

oonagh - how exciting!!!

hawkmoth - not sure i've had any BH at all, i'd know if i had, right? can you concoct some pointless but time-consuming task for your DH to do to get him out of the house for a bit over the weekend? or give him carte blanche to spend all weekend watching sport/dvd boxsets/down the pub/something else he'd like to be able to get away with doing more often?

i've had a really bad headache this morning, to the extent that touching my scalp hurt i'm guessing it's just this heat or something. thought about calling in sick but am going to slowly and carefully make my way over to the office for the afternoon. it's actually cooler in the office than it is in my flat, although getting there is a pain.

lol, quixotic!

Quixotic... I sympathise! I had that a few weeks back and it felt worse than I remember labour. I was unable to move, with arse in air lying on bed. I could feel it moving round. Oh the relief though!

Makes me wonder how bad colic must feel for our babies...

Oonagh that is so soon and so exciting!

crafty good on you - might book in for a pedi this weekend as cannot reach my toes, cannot face the painful treatments though

ready HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your DS

TMI Alert! I was convinced I was in labour last night - except the pain was constant. Managed to walk to DHs office, then we got on the bus with me bent double. Massive pain in my lower back and inside. Anyway - got home (with people on the bus thinking I was a total freak I am sure). Sat on the loo and let the loudest, most earthshaking f*rt I have ever heard go. Instantly felt 100 times better. Good god if I cannot cope with trapped wind how on earth will I cope with giving birth!

Cairns I swear to god I would have called the police. I can't even answer the phone at the moment because I'm so cross with people. Which brings me onto my next point... anyone care to put up DP for a while so I don't drive him away with my insanity? Thankfully DD is away on holiday with my parents from Monday to next Saturday so I can stay in bed and cry for a few days.

Was worried last night as I had about six strong BHs in half an hour. They're starting to become uncomfortable... anyone else? Plus I felt very crampy yesterday in my back. I reckon I should pack my bag as well, just in case he can't wait 3 weeks for a homebirth. I'm sure he can, and I bet I go to 42 weeks!

Cairns I cant believe that women in the supermarket

Uki Glad you are home aand ok but must have been a fright! x

Oonagh Cant believe that ou are meeting your little baby in just 11 days (good job im pregnant as broody emoticon)

Craftynclothy You are very brave facing all those treatments, hope you feel all relaxed and ready afterwards

Scummymummy Glad things are still good with you and that you are cooking that bean a little longer x

Well I am glad that it isnt sunny today and can have a days respite

This time 3 years ago I was sat on a hospital bed fully dressed pestering to take my 8 1/2 hour old baby home
Happy Birthday to my little man x x
If these twins are half as cute as ds then I will be a very happy mummy

cairns - Stupid cow at the supermarket - I would have torn a strip off her.

Uki - I'm glad you're ok but point taken on the bag. Have packed one for the baby but nothing for me.

And oonagh 11 days is shockingly close!

Having a bit of a down day here - still can't shake this bug and the coughing is driving me nuts. DH seems to get more and more depressed about being out of work the closer we get to the due date. I'm thrilled he'll be around but he hates not working and I can't seem to make him feel better or inspire him to do the long list of things around the house that need doing I just wish I could make him worry less.

Wow, 11 days oonagh!! That is close! I'm sure that things'll be less exhausting to deal with once the baby's out.

Crafty, it is the regular one with all the kit. I nearly ordered the La bassine as it looked like the better deal, but then decided as i am tall I would be better getting the larger pool to be on the safe side.

Woah Oonagh that's close!!!

Oh and wow at only 11 days left Oonagh. (sorry baby brain )

Uki - glad you're home.

Cairns - at the woman in the supermarket. If she'd done that to my child I'd have laid her out

Fruitymum - yay for last day at work.

Becksy - I've got the birth preparation cd but have only listened to it once (never seem to find the time at the mo). Had a friend who used them and thought they were fab.

Trixy - sounds like a great deal on the BPIAB. Is it the regular sized one? We needed the smaller size so went for the La Bassine instead as it was the same size as the mini bpiab but cheaper. Mind you when we've actually got it, there's more space in the room than we thought.

Spd was really bad this morning so thinking maybe I moved funny in bed or something through night. Also suffering with the heat. I am just hot hot hot. Also don't have anything to wear in this weather but don't want to spend a load more money on clothes.

Am booked in at the beauty salon for Saturday...full leg wax, bikini, eyebrow threading and pedicure...but a bit scared it'll hurt like mad. Also no idea how they're gonna manage the waxing with my bump and my spd but they said they get lots of pregnant women.

Only 11 days to go, Oonagh! That's amazing.

Hope you're feeling lots better, uki.

I'm feeling fine apart from tiredness and heat and a kind of hypervigilant desire to check that I'm not bleeding all the time. I feel pleased to have reached 35 weeks today though. Somehow feels a lot further on than 34 weeks!

Fruitymum : I am a fan of DHs boxers aswell I went into mothercare to look for shorts and the cheapest were over £25. iI really dont want to be spending anymore money on hideous mat clothes. I also use the boxers after a section aswell.

fruitymum I have bought a non-maternity maxi dress which will be fine after the baby is born as well so not a waste of money. It's nice and cool in this heat.

Today was my last day at work - yippee!
DD, DH and me all cranky with the heat - the only one who isn't is the dog who can cool off with a swim in the pond!

Becksydee - have borrowed the hypno birthing cd but only listeened to it once and fell asleep before the end
Bag is not packed , baby stuff all still in loft so lots to do over the next 6 weeks.
Whats everyone finding to wear - I am struggling - sitting here wearing DHs boxers as shorts!! Not keen to spend much money on clothes now we are counting down.

Soory valz that should have said that the stiffness went away straight away after DS was born.

cairns at the horrible woman in the supermarket!! I would have been livid, how dare she!!

hawkmoth I can't wait for the cooler weather.

Uki that sounds really scary, glad you're home now. I'm planning a home birth, but will definitely go and pack my hospital bag now just in case.

Valz i got that in my last pregnancy, my fingers were very painful. It wnt away straight away

The midwife came to visit me at home today as I am booked in for a homebirth. I wasn't 100% sure about it but now I'm definitey going for it as she told me that the midwife led unit where I had DS shut 2 weeks ago so there is now no birthing pool at all at the hospital .

So I ordered a birthing pool in a box from Boots. If anyone still hasn't ordered one they are doing triple points on all baby stuff and I found a code for 10% off for parenting club members, so altogether I got £46 off it, total bargain!!

Uki - Make sure you get plenty of rest,glad you are both ok. Baby is a very healthy size!

I had my last scan today, section is still going ahead on the 14th.....which is only 11 ddays away......Baby is still oblique breech aDr is still concerned about it.He is about 6lbs, so he is tiny compared to my Dds, however they were full term, this one is coming out a few weeks early.

Sorry I havent been on for ages, have been struggling a bit with tiredness but also my DDDs have been constantly fighting and boy its been hard work. I felt so low yesterday thinking how will I cope with a newborn aswell

<gulp> ok, i'm going to pull my finger out and get my hospital bag packed this weekend!

uki - glad you're home now at least, hope the coughing and BP calm down & you can rest up a bit.

cairns - good tip about not relying on one person, thanks. the booklet that comes with the CDs recommends making a list of visualisations/phrases that feel helpful as a cue for birth partner(s) and midwife so maybe that will help, & i'll have my doula there as well as DP anyway. CDs cost £45 and by the looks of it i can get most of that back via eBay, so it won't be a complete waste of money if i do end up screaming for an epidural! and & at that woman in the supermarket! although i do think everyone seems to have a much shorter fuse in this weather, there's no excuse for slapping someone else's child.

valz - very jealous of you getting nice comfortably hot weather even the breeze in london is warm both my sisters live in ireland, maybe i should just hop on the ferry and spend the next few weeks with them!

Wow Uki - scary, glad you are home and OK. I am going to pack my bag this weekend now - no more putting it off!

are any of you experiencing extremely stiff fingers, my joints seemed to have ceased up slightly, its actually uncomfortable to make a fist.

im loving the heat, its not too often we can walk about without a cardigan or something so im well glad of it. we've rain here today though and its still warm so for you ladies looking forward to seeing the rain, i dont think it will help much cuz it will be dull and miserable outside but still quite clammy. Although ireland dosnt seem to get the high temps there is in england so maybe thats why im not suffering so bad.

went shopping yesterday evening and got some baby sleepsuits and vests, so cute how tiny they are, im really excited, cant believe in a few weeks im gonna have (fingers crossed) two healthy babies, it still hasnt fully sank in yet!!

Hi All

Cains that sounds full on at the supermarket, why do strangers think they have any rights on your children is beyond me, I had the 2 ds's being bored and naughty at the check out the other day and the woman says to me and them 'boys will be boys' i just gave her a filthy look and said 'girls can be naughty too' i was so pissed her comment was far from necessary or helpful.

Scummymummy- hope you are all better now, so scary.

Well ladies here's my advice it pays to have your bags packed. I ended up in Hospital too on monday night my BP went sky high and I rang the dr. who said do not pass go or collect $200 come straight in with your bag [sock]
I was not ready at all, even though my bag was half packed, i thought I might get induced or C/S or something so i was looking for camera, presents from baby, etc....

My BP was still high and i was having mild contractions, so given medication for that I was also coughing like mad, as i have been for last 5 weeks so given IV antibiotics, 2 IV drips, had baby trace and bloods, no infection but low iron, as i thought, then had ultrasound
anyway I'm home now got to put my feet up for 20 hours bliss, and told to cook baby some more, although ultrasound revealed baby is already about 7 pounds.

been told also to take it easy, so have tried to palm off all work and social engagements, but still waiting for some help from hubby, who is unable to do much for me or kids until he finishes his deadline.

The dr seemed to think my coughing was making me have contractions and send my BP up, still coughing but on more antibiotics now.
Hope everyone else is taking care

at someone slapping your son's hand away, cairns. What a cow. I'm not surprised you were upset. I would have been livid.

Rain can't come soon enough for me either.

Not enjoying the heat here too... thankfully rain on Friday so that should give us some respite. Am finding it wise to get out of the house with DS in the morning and then stay indoors in the afternoon as it is cooler, plus I can strip off a bit more as noone can see.

Had a disastrous morning at our local supermarket... grrrr don;t know whether it is hormones or what... big rant coming.They have moved the mum and baby spaces (so noone can find them) so ended up having to park at the end of the carpark carrying DS1 all the way to the doors (not great in the heat), they'd moved all of the baby stuff aisles around so couldn;t find a thing and had to walk again to the other end of the supermarket and to cap it all off DS1 (who was actually quite good for him all the way around) suddenly burst into tears and screams at the checkout, the lady with the trolley in the aisle next to me had apparently slapped his hand and told him off for playing with the key bit of her trolley I was fuming as I was right next to her and if she had a problem she should have mentioned it to me. I couldn't calm DS down until we left the checkout....grrrr . OK rant over.

Apart from the heat, surprisingly I have been feeling a bit better, I have started taking spatone and I am sure that has made a difference.

heinzsight i really sympathise with the big baby, heres hoping it won;t be too big.....

Becksydee nope not planning on using hypnotherapy, just good old fashioned breathing. Of the three friends of mine who used it, one had a hubbie who was a trained hypnotist (so that worked really well apparently).... the other friend spent £200 on a whole course and screamed for an epidural as soon as she could get one. The final friend could only get it to work if her DH had his hand on her back the whole time (noonelses hand would do apparently) so the poor DH could not go to the loo or eat throught her quite long labour... mmm so apparently if you do go for it make sure that you are not too dependent on one person.

Anyone else holding out hope for cooler weather from tomorrow onwards? If the rest of the summer's like this I don't know how I'll cope. Two pineapples a day from 37 weeks onwards!

Getting a bit miserable being stuck at home with DD all the time. I'm wearing some horrendous shorty pyjamas, and she's naked! And still too hot.

Saw MW yesterday. All well. She's very positive about my homebirth plans, which is brilliant.

scummy - he is absolutely adorable good job i've got one on the way myself else i'd be feeling seriously broody!

crafty - aww, sorry your DH is being so crap i think his heart was probably in the right place but the execution & his listening skills definitely need a lot of work! hope he's made it up to you properly by now.

argh, i'm really struggling with this heat! having 2 cool baths a day, sitting with a bottle of iced water down my cleavage to a) try and keep cool and b) melt it so i can drink it! been "working from home" for the last 3 days but have got v little done as i've had a low-level but annoying headache for over a week. have to go into the office for the next 2 days, ugh

had my "booking in" appointment at the local hospital today (as they've opened a new birth centre & i'm thinking of transferring there). it felt really positive, the midwife was lovely and i've been assigned to a local community team who i can go & see at the children's centre just down the road, got my first appointment with them on monday evening. the set up should mean that the continuity of care will be much better in these last few weeks!

had to have a new set of booking in bloods done - i loathe having blood tests, people often find it v difficult to find a vein & most of the time i end up panicking and throwing up. DP has been with me for all my antenatal blood tests apart from this one, but it was ok! i stayed calm, didn't even feel a tiny bit queasy! this is a big deal for me, hopefully it means i'm starting to conquer my hospital anxiety (just in time). they did a glucose load test - my 28 week bloods showed my blood glucose level was right at the top end of the normal range so i've made an effort to modify my diet a bit in the last few weeks, i hope it's made a difference.

got my natal hypnotherapy CDs through the post today - anyone else planning on using hynotherapy to help them through labour?

Cheers Geordie!! It's my birthday on Monday though so I'm hoping my Mum will take DS so I can go and get my hair cut and have a facial!! Then DH and I are going to go for that meal out we have been planning for ages. Haven't booked anywhere yet though!

<<hijack over!!>>

heinz the heat is making me feel sick too.

Anyone else feel like they are about to burst as well?

Apologies for the hijack trixy there is a meetup planned for next Monday at Kelvingrove if you fancy it?

As you were ladies.

BTW !!!! New thread name suggestions would be a good idea soon, we can only go up to about 1000 posts...

Hi Everybody!! I have just had a scary few days of not being able to use my laptop!!! Virginmedia have a lot to answer for imho!!!!

I've also had a change of email address in the process so hopefully I will be able to email out my new address later when the kids are in bed

There is so much to catch up on, so I will read properly later. Heinz - Don't panic!!! the abdo measurement for J was completely off the scale and ultimatley he was 9lb with a head circ of 36cm, nowhere near as big as they thought he would be. Don't let them get u stressed.

When are you picking up your new car? Does it have aircon? if so go sit in it Makes me feel better every time...

Hi all, have read up on most posts to catch up.

Isn't this heat unbearable!!!!!!!!!!

I had a scan this morning and it looks like this baby is going to be BIG ... great! Like I said in an earlier post, my MN name used to be Hopeitwon'tbebig, think I might change it to Lookslikeit'sgoingtobebig!! The head and abdo measurements were off the chart and the thigh bone is slightly high. My first two were 10lb 10oz and 10lb 4oz respectively, but my DD was 'only' 7lb 8oz, but she was born my c section at 39 weeks.

This heat is making me feel sick

I finished work this week yey , so now I can swelter at home instead of at work! Not much time for rest though, ds starts his school hols tomorrow, so am making the most of today
I think we will all be getting to the fed up stage soon, if not there already, I know I am. Someone asked me yesterday, 'how long left?' I said 8 weeks, and she said she thought I was only going to say 2....thanks!

Hi all - sorry to everyone suffering in the heat. Because of the flu I have taken up residence in my shaded bedroom with the fan on high and it has been ok so far (well the temp not the flu!)

Scummy - glad they've released you and the bleeding's stopped. How are you feeling?

Quixotic - I would say see how you feel closer to the date. I'm amazed at how quickly things are changing now!

My boss has been amazing - ordered me to work from home this week and then 3 days in the office next before I start mat leave officially. Cannot wait. I'm surrounded by women having their babies early which has me convinced I'm going to be late simply because someone needs to make up the odds don't they?

hi all, tired and weepy here..

*big knickers* especially good after c-section are these sexy looking things!

i'll also be stocking up on arnica, lansinoh and savoy cabbage and be cramming the freezer with as many meals as possible so no cooking required for a while

((((hugs))))) craftynclothy it is bad if you talked about it just last week, hope you dont have another row though x My dp is especially good at upsetting me at the moment but he doesnt consider making it up to me lol

I'm just sooo annoyed and I know some of it is hormones but we had a talk last week cos he'd been annoying/upsetting me and he said he wanted to treat me and would get me flowers and I said that I don't like getting flowers and it would be a silly gift for me cos I have hayfever and it would just be wasted on me. It was also £25 (from a big company) for 6 bloody flowers when there's a local place that does huge gorgeous, fresh bunches for a fiver (and he knows that I like ethical, natural stuff and supporting local businesses if possible). It just seems soooo totally not what I'd like

valz My consultant wont let me go past 39 weeks but I am also hoping to only go to 37/38 weeks
Aslong as they monitor ou regularly though you will be fine if you do go over x

craftynclothy can understand your frustration at your dh but also think that maybe you are being a bit hormonal
He was probably just trying to do something nice and didnt think about your hayfever and cost. maybe point out the waste of money but dont attack him too much

After having a falling out with dh, he has sent me....roses. FGS I am already struggling with hayfever (which he knows), I don't like getting flowers (which he knows) and he can't bloody afford to be wasting money on stuff like that.

*twin mums/mums to be* your scaring me with the overdue stories, whilst i dont want to go too early and risk the babies been taken to the neo natel ward, i was hoping by 37/38 weeks they would maybe be fully matured and ready to make an appearance. my consultant believes on letting nature take its course and i was speaking to a girl recently who he hadnt booked into get induced until 3 weeks exactly after her due date, she went herself just a few days before that. i dread to think how long he'd let me sit it out if babies dont come by the due date at least!!

Duchesse, thanks for reassurance. I am huge and its definitely all baby!! As I said before not so worried about baby's size just worrying I maybe early. My mum is going away at the end of july for 2 weeks and will be back a few days before my due date so keeping fingers crossed Ill hold out until then. Felt a bit better after NCT class as we were all due within days of each other (was worried I was late starting)so anyone of us could miss the last class!

Cairns I too have a 6'4 DP and everyone in my family and DP's family have had big babies (9lbs plus) so not all that surprised. I have heard that big babies can make the labour easier - not sure how - but I like that thought.

Waddled into town this am before it got too hot to get some bits form primark for hospital bag. I managed to get all clothing including big pants for £20 - I am so pleased. Just got to pack it all and sort the nursery out now. My DP is getting a bit twitchy and keeps asking when I am going to sort it out - I think he thinks I am being too laid back about it all. I think its just hit him that we really are having a baby very soon.

Heres hoping for cool breezes.

ScummyMummy - glad you are home. Hope things are ok and you don't have any more scares.

Quioxtic - I've just had a weekend away 2 1/4 hours from home at just under 35 weeks but am definitely not going anywhere from now on. For me, I can have my homebirth from 36 weeks so that's a cut off point for me. If I was you I think I'd look into what your options would be for if you went into labour and work out whether you;d be happy to do that (so things like would your birthing partner change? would you still be likely to get the type of birth you want? etc)

Fed up of the heat here too. Can't imagine what it's like for the twin mummies.

Quixotic DS is a yorkshire baby he was born in St james and I feel a little sad that the twins will be southerners (even though I am lol)

Ha ha Hawk I would quite like a Yorkshire baby! My Mum reckons her and my aunt have a cunning plan to ply me with castor oil and pinapple and try and make me have the baby and keep us there! Not sure about how DH would feel about that. I grew up there so know where the hospitals are etc. The pregnancy has been fine, but might make it a game time decision and see how I am feeling at the time. As you say with your scare Scummy you never know what might happen....

Thanks for all the advice. Just went outside and almost passed out - WOW it is hot!

Hawkmoth yu rang your GP? I just got mine delivered in the ocado shop

Quioxtic... I'm supposed to be doing a concert in Yorkshire 10 days before my due date. I think if I gave birth to a Yorkshire baby I would have to leave it there ! No offence... but Lancashire really is so much better!

Hope you are feeling better Scummymummy - scary stuff eh? I'm on sick leave and my maternity leave will trigger in 2 weeks when I hit 36 weeks.

We put a deposit on the car yesterday. A Silvr Toyota Emina stright in from Tokyo. Very nice, and I can't wait to be in a car with air conditioning. Mine does, but I can't really drive at the moment.

Who was asking about pressure down below? My baby has dropped. DD dropped early too. The pains aren't really like labour pains, too 'stabby'. Plus with labour you at least know it's for a good reason!

I dared to hope for a cool day when it was raining at 7am. If I could lie naked on my bed watching the tennis I'd be ok... but I can't! Anyhow, at least people are sympathetic, including the Doctor's receptionist today when I rang for a prescription for pile cream . Just one too many things conspiring to keep me awake! They're not too bad, but since they will get worse in labour I might as well move the starting blocks as far back as possible!

Scummymummy I know a couple of other twin mums who have gone overdue and the thought has crossed my mind as I was 41+1 with DS
It certainly is ironic that you have had a threat of prem labour this time after being so late with your twins

It certainly goes to show that pregnancy isnt straight forward lol

Ready- I'm not sure you'll like my answers- I was nearly 42 weeks when my twins arrived! I had to be induced and had an emergency c section in the end but I think your chances of delivering naturally are much higher than mine as they are not your first babies.

While I was in hospital I was thinking how bloody ironic it is that I spent the whole of that pregnancy with people telling me there was no way I'd go past 36 weeks and then the wee blighters wouldn't budge for love nor money until they induced me v late on. Whereas this time with a singleton, which has been treated as a super low risk pregnancy, there has been a premature labour scare. Go figure!

Quix- I would go, if I were you. Sounds lovely and relaxing seeing your mates and family.B ut I would have in the back of my mind a plan to get dh up there asap and work out where your local maternity hospital would be if you don't already know just to be extra safe.

Scummymummy I keep forgetting you are a twin mummy too! How far gone were you when you had them? Did you have a natural labour?
Sorry for all the questions

quixotic How is your pregnancy going? I think that would be a big factor in the decision. Is this your 1st?
If you did go make sure you took a hospital bag and your pg notes and be prepared to use the local hospital.
With DS I did a 3 hour train journey at 33 weeks with no problems so it really depends on you and how you feel x

I have two friends who just had babies who I would love to visit, and my Mum has space for me to stay whereas we only have a 1 bed flat so it would be a squash for them to come here. I think they would rather save their time off to come visit when the baby arrives.

That's a hard one, quix. I think if you did go you'd need to be prepared to use the services up there. I would have said just go before this scare I've just had but I am SO glad it happened here and not in Cardiff (I was through visiting my sister at the weekend and started bleeding when i got home on Sunday so there was only hours in it!). Could your family come to you or would it just not be the same?

Oh please don't feel guilty- good grief it's so hot that I can only imagine how hot and big you're feeling with twins! My twins were spring babies so I missed being massive in the heat. No heatwave either as I recall! Having this singleton makes me realise how very very huge I was with the boys.

scummymummy I know what you mean, I feel so guilty for wishing them out early

Glad the bleeding has stopped and keeping my fingers crossed that it doesnt start again x

Definately consider starting your maternity leave asap because it sounds like thats what your body is telling you.

And ScummyMummy glad to hear you are home - put those feet up as much as possible.

Morning all, sympathies to all suffering with the heat and general massiveness - I am feeling it too. Decided walking home from work would be better than a stinking hot bus or the tube. Took me well over an hour and had massive hobbit like feet at the end of it. Actually think being at work in the air conditioning is a good thing at the moment.

Still haven't packed a hospital bag or got anything ready, did do an all day NHS class the other week which was pretty good.

I have a question I would like your opinion on. I originally thought I was due July 29th from LMP date which I am sure of, this was adjusted at my scan to 20th August. I would like to go visit my family and friends in Yorkshire when I go on maternity leave (24th July) for a week. This is about a 3 1/2 hour round trip. Am I crazy to consider this as it is right when I thought I was due originally and only 4 weeks from adjusted due date? DH would not come with me as he has to work - and I would really like to have the baby here not up there accidentally! Do you think it is just too close?

Becksy- your nephew sounds adorable, btw.

Thanks, becksydee and yank. That's good to know. The consultant I saw this morning said I should def take this week off and then see how I'm feeling re doing a quiet couple more weeks at work if I want to.

I'm out now- phew. I thought my house was hot but that hospital was something else! I suppose tiny babies need heat but it really seemed furnace like at times. Anyway, home for a rest now and lots of hoping that the bleeding doesn't start up again.

Sympathies to everyone feeling the heat. But keep those babies cooking as long as you possibly can, ready. There were a couple of tiny babies on my ward and goodness gestation age makes a differencnce to babies being able to regulate their own temp and breathe better. One tiny cutie was whisked away to SCBU just this morning whereas the other, only 2 weeks older was doing just fine. Every day/week they stay in makes a difference.

hellhath love the queen termite image. Except I don't seem to have any drones around here.....

But I think it is, unfortunately, normal - at least, I am in the same position and neither midwife nor consultant are the least bit concerned. I, however, am fed up of being the local freak show for being so huge. A few weeks ago most people were saying 'ooh any day' and looking shocked at being told I had several weeks to go. Now on being told I've still got (at least) 4 weeks to go they ask 'is it twins?'. Am quite looking forward to school holidays starting so I don't have to run the twice-daily gauntlet of well-meaning acquaintances.

hhnf I have no advice for you but I do have plenty of sympathy
I am 31 weeks now and never got this big 1st time round.
Even my maternity clothes are starting to give up on my ever expanding bump I am already wearing maternity clothes that are 2 sizes bigger than i am for extra stretch and my over bump jeans now sit half way up bump

I cant afford a cleaner but am training up DS (nearly 3) to be quite good with the polish and duster lol

I actually had a really good cry yesterday because I couldnt cope with the heat I feel like I am stuck in the house because if I go anywhere it has to be icy cold or I feel faint and I cant sit up straight for more than 5 minutes so cant get comfortable!

I see the consultant again 2 weeks on thursday and can see me begging the consultant to get these babies out

Fury- I am so with you on that queen termite feeling.

And as for hiring a cleaner, well I did that years ago!

I am 32 weeks and I am MASSIVE
I am as big now as I was at 43+1
WHY?!

I am so huge I feel like a massive bulging termite queen that just lays there and procreates while the drones do all the work

I have had to hire a cleaner as I am too big to move

I have new stretch marks developing on top of old ones

I am sitting at work - mat leave starts friday thank fuck

But surely being this big cannot be normal!?

oh yank, thanks for the reminder about flip-flops! i think those and some cheap granny pants are the only things missing from my hospital bag now, apart from getting together a few more snacks to take with me.

on the subject of snacks/drinks for the hospital bag, what's anyone else planning to take in with them? have so far got some little cartons of fruit juice and am getting hold of a cool bag so i can take in some iced water and a couple of bottles of lucozade sport as well. snack-wise, i've bought some mini chocolate bars and some mini cheddars & i'm planning to freeze some grapes, but honestly can't imagine what i'm going to want to eat whilst i'm in labour! i'm picturing taking half a corner shop in with me and then not really fancying any of it.

duchesse - thanks for the tip about boots and premature clothes. DP steered me away from mothercare on sunday because he thought i was going a bit OTT & assumed that the NICU would have little clothes that they could lend, but seeing how huge the bodysuit they had my nephew in yesterday was, i think that's probably not the case! not sure when we're next going to visit so might just order a few bits online & get them sent in & "forget" to mention it to DP

oh dear Scummy! Hope you are all right and glad they've said baby is okay. Becksy is right, if you are on sick leave when you hit 36 weeks you automatically start maternity leave. So potentially you could take a week sick, then switch to annual leave?

I decided to start my mat leave/pay at 29 weeks, because I was so sick of my boss's constant letters. Probably not an ideal decision on reflection, I easily would have been signed off until 36 weeks with all the wrist pain and continuing SPD!

hencath, don't worry about starting NCT now. There were two in my class that finished at 39 weeks, and two of us were sort of early in finishing at only 31-32 weeks. It was just when we could get into a class--there didn't seem to be any late July/early August classes going. Am starting NHS ones this week (two classes then hospital tour) so will be done with all of it before 35 weeks. Then will probably sit around and fester for another 7 weeks.

I bought a pair of flip flops from Asda for £2 today--two sizes bigger than normal. They are horrible, and I hate having things between my toes, but I solidly refuse to spend money on something I only need for 2 months! They'll be good for the hospital shower too, so I'm told. It's so weird, I look down, and it's like my feet/ankles have been replaced by someone else's.

ScummyMummy - Sorry to hear you're in hospital but good that everything's ok. I'm pretty sure that sick leave switches to maternity leave at 36 weeks (hopefully someone else can confirm), so if you have 2 weeks annual leave left you could start your mat leave at 38 weeks as planned.

I'm just back from visiting my nephew at the hospital. He's tiny, but gorgeous and doing really really well. Got to have a little cuddle too

Hi all. I'm in bloody hospital after sudden bleed at 34 weeks plus 3. The bairn is fine apparently and my cervix still completely closed but it's a risk factor for labour so they're keeping me in for surfactant injections and observation. Hoping to go home tomorrow as bleeding has pretty much stopped now. I think I might stop work now tho instead of waiting till 38 weeks as I was planning. Don't fancy being at work constantly worrying about whether I'm about to go into premature labour or start bleeding again. Plus as you've all said the heat is just massively oppressive at the moment, which again won't lead to great work on my part, I suspect. Anyone know the rules re when pregnancy related sick leave is automatically converted to mat leave? Did you experience something similar, yank? I do want to put off mat leave as long as possible so I can spend most of it with the baby and was hoping to use at least a few days sick leave plus all my annual leave before it starts being mat leave proper. Mind you will all be academic if the baby really decides to come early I guess. Gulp. Hope this message is readable. I've never mumsnetted from my mobile before and can't work out how to do paragraph breaks. Doh.

cairns I too am using the car for really short trips and am trying not to feel guilty about it. Have been picking my older two up from school in the car, it is just toooooooooo hot to walk, I would melt. Nope, not enjoying the 29 degree heat at all, makes my head fuzzy and everything apart from lying on the sofa is a huge effort. And I truly think if one more person says 'ooh you must be a bit hot' I may just have to spontaneously combust all over their cool white linen clothes.

hencath really don;t worry. I have been having growth scans too and my last one (last week) at 34wks showed the baby was 6lbs too. At my reckoning that is also a 9lb plus baby, they had previously told me the baby was big (they were estimating >10lbs) which is why I was having the scans but that the new measurements bring it into a more normal range. So I am not having anymore scans. my first was 9.10 (the size wasn;t noticed or pointed out until after birth ) and I was fine and had a natural birth which I am convinced was because he was a good size. I am quite tall and DH is v tall , which prob explains the big babies, I am convinced that my body is just made to grow them that bit bigger.

There are also huge positives to a bigger baby when they are born as you get less hung up with feeding issues etc. I also agree with duchesse these scans are only an estimate and are often quite a bit out.

I am sooo struggling with this heat now. I normally walk everywhere but have found myself hopping in the car even for short trips. Really not enjoying these temps..as am also v short on mat shorts/skirts etc (so having to keep doing laundry) hoping it will cool down a bit after the weekend

Oh, and my consultant with number 3 after examining me at 40 weeks told me to expect a 5.5 lb-6lber. I bet her between 7.5 and 8lbs (going on similarities with previous pregnancies). Apparently she roared with laughter when told my daughter's weight (7lbs 9oz, so into my prediction). All this to say that it's not as accurate as it could be. Does your tummy feel as though it's all baby? Or are there still gaps between bits as it were?

Oh, I somehow thought you were 36 weeks (must have misread) Actually that makes it the baby a tad over 9lbs at term, then isn't it? My first was 8lbs 12 at 40+10. He took a while.

Am off for my 34 week growth scan on July 7th. Will be 34+2 by then. Will report back.

Hi Duchesse,

I know its not very accurate but even the consultant said it was a big baby when examining me. I am actually 33 + 5 today not yet 36 weeks!! I'm not overly concerned about baby's size more worried I may not get to finish my NCT classes if early!!

hencath- 6lbs at 36 weeks roughly means 8lbs at 40. Not giant, just normal! Someone on my 40+ has just been scanned at 8.5lbs at 36 weeks 2 days. Now that's quite big. Also growth scans are never 100% accurate. They were out by about 2 lbs with my third (they estimated little over 5 lbs at 40 weeks, she was born at 42 weeks weighing 7.5lbs.). So I would take them with a big pinch of salt!

Hi all,

Feeling weary, sweaty, and huge in this horrid heat. Just wondering when everyone else has been starting NCT/ antenatal classes. Just saw that Yank has just finished. I am 34 weeks and only having my first! Bit worried as have been having growth scans and had most recent today and baby measuring 6lbs . Have been told that either my dates maybe a little wrong or that I am having a giant baby. My last class will be at 39 weeks - not sure Ill make it (either through physical difficulty or will have had baby). When are you normally meant to start them? I was originally offered one which started the following week - am starting to worry that I may end up missing part of it. Wouldn't be that worried only NCT classes dont come cheap!! Sorry needed to rant a bit.

Also has anyone else been having growth scans? I know the measurements aren't as accurate as the early ones but I am enormous too so it would make sense that it could be a big baby. I would be interested to hear about others growth scans.

Heres to another sticky sleepless night - at least Im not working now .

Hi Valz.

I have had the cramp like pains a couple of times and it is not nice
When I had DS he engaged at 36 weeks and somedays the pressure was unbearable so not sure how I will cope this time!
You WILL cope when you are in labour because a) You have to lol and
b) They give you drugs lol

I know its not much of a comfort but you are nearly there now x Hope the pains ease and you can get some rest x

Hi Ladies

the pressure im feeling down below at the mo is unbelievable, woke up with a cramp like pain in the middle of the night, and actually thought this is it, im in labour, eventually fell over to sleep and woke with the same pain this mornin. headed up to the midwife and she reckons its just pressure pain cuz one baby's head is quite low. have had the pain on and off throughout the day but its really worries me now, how the hell will i cope when i actually do go into labour if i think this is bad? anyone else been experiencing this?

Also since im having a moan, the stretchmarks are ever stretching by the day, thought i was getting off lucky with a minor few but im sure they get wider, longer and darker by the hour. i know i know there'll be two beautiful babies in the end up and its a small sacrifice.....but it just aint fair

if you are not sure if you are entitled just apply for it anyway, the worst they can do is say no

we got £90 a month... thats more then £11 a week, is it because dd is under 1? i dont get this stuff at all.sorry

Sorry will try that again!!
If you recieve more than £11/week in tax credits then you are recieving tax credits at a rate higher than the family element

£11/month means you are recieving tax credits at a rate higher than the family element

hiya all

im confused about the surestart grant...
on the website it says this?

* Income Support
* income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
* income-related Employment and Support Allowance
* Pension Credit
* Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
* Working Tax Credit where a disability or severe disability element is included in the award

where does the thing ready mentioned about it being more then 11 a month come in? sorry to be a spaz...

Heinz, brilliant news about your DH's job!

becksy, hope the scan goes well and your DH enjoys it. It's very different from the regular scans, makes it quite clear there is a little person in there. DH is still showing off the pictures on his phone to everyone.

My feet/ankles are swelling ridiculously--DH is commenting on their size from across the room. I was thinking I could just loosen the straps on my sandals, but am already to the last notch and they are still too tight. Not sure what I'm going to wear on my feet for the next two months!

We went to DH's summer work party this weekend, stayed overnight in a posh hotel in the Cotswolds. Thankfully there was a huge bed with lots of pillows, so I made my 'nest' as usual and was only woken by DH falling out of bed at 5am! Am worried about him, his sleep patterns are awful, he has nightmares, wakes up several times a night, falls asleep during the day loads, and is always exhausted. He doesn't think it's to do with baby anxiety or anything, but we can't figure out why it's come on like this in the last few months. Time to see doctor I think. I'm sure the solution is for him to start exercising again and lose some weight--but he's sooooo tired it is just not happening.

Last NCT class yesterday. Most of us went for dinner at the pub afterward and are making plans to keep in touch. Am going to try a 'Bumps & Babes' morning two weeks from now and hopefully some of the NCT group will come along so I will know someone.

Becky- Boots do prem baby clothes for 3lbers+. Somewhere I've seen even had very prem clothing for even tinier babies, all sleeveless for easy access to monitors etc... Might have been Boots, or possibly Mothercare.

VJay - I got mine from birthease - the Bio Health ones have the strongest concentration, although you can get a different brand in Holland & Barrett that contains a lower concentration.

A timely reminder for the RLT! I'm off to Google for some now.

Not looking forward to the promised heatwave, but may have found a 2nd hand (but unused) birth pool that I will set up as soon as possible and sit like in it a whale for the next 6.5 weeks.

Went to a wedding yesterday and my feet swelled quite alarmingly. While pressing on them is vaguely amusing to me, I can see how DP might find it 'disgusting', 'sick', 'frightening' and 'minging' (that last was on the tenth time I left big fingerprints on my ankles)!

DD got overexcited at wedding and woke at midnight bathed in her own vomit. I can't wait for the sweet delights of babysick!

hiya, where do you get the raspberry leaf tablets from? I've got tome of the actual tea and was wondering when to start taking it. I didn't take it last time, but have heard it's not very nice, so maybe tablets is the way to go.

longtalljosie I agree with beckysdee there is alot of different advice but I too am going to take 1 tablet a day from 32 weeks and slowly build it up.

beckysdee hope you get a lovely huggle with your nephew laterand can so understand how that sleepsuit set ended up in your basket lol

babybump2b Hope you are feeling better, I had a cold the other week and it was awful

Feeling a bit better today, I am just so big that the only position I am comfy in is lay on my side which doesnt bode well with my 3 yo I just hope that the next few weeks fly by because Im really not sure how much longer I can carry on

morning everyone! and thanks for the congrats we're going to the hospital tomorrow evening to visit, can't wait! managed to get to mothercare yesterday but they only had the early baby size (up to 5lb) which will be far too big for my nephew right now (but a cute little winnie the pooh sleepsuit set somehow managed to find its way into my basket regardless ) i'll try the big store on oxford st later for some smaller clothes i think.

i also managed to tip half a bottle of water over my iPhone yesterday and now it's completely dead i am so annoyed with myself!

longtalljosie - there's varying advice about raspberry leaf tablets, i've settled on starting them at 32 weeks but only 1 tablet a day for the first week & then increasing to 2 a day after that.

ready and babybump2b - hope you're both feeling better soon.

Beckysdee - congrats to your SIL! So exiting!

Heinz - congrats on the job for DH! We're still unemployed here maybe send some of that positive job energy this way!

I've spent the last few days battling a fever, cough and sore throat. I should have heard today whether the strep throat test came back positive or not but they seem to have forgotten about me so now I'll have to wait for Monday

The good news is that I only have 2 weeks of work left and the midwife has suggested that I cut back on my hours for those weeks anyways so will have more time to nest and relax shortly.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

Hi guys - I'm exhausted too. I've got three weeks left before maternity leave and it can't come soon enough...

Congratulations to your SIL Beckysdee.

When do you start on the raspberry leaf tablets?

Oh brilliant news Beckysdee

I am feeling rather crappy today
I went up town 1st thing this morning to get my raspberry leaf tablets ready for next week and also decided I needed a couple more night shirts for my hospital bag.

Ever since I got back I have felt off, I have a bit of backache and just cant get comfortable,im wondering if maybe its BH.I never had them with DS so not really sure.

I am considering a nice cool bath and seeing if that helps.

Its quite scary because its made it all seem very real all of a sudden and as much as I am ready for this pregnancy to be over I really dont want them to arrive for another coupe of weeks because I want them to be as healthy as possible.

That's great news becksydee, bet you're all really relieved aren't you!

ooh, newsflash!!! MIL has just rung to say SIL has had a boy, 2lb13oz, mother and baby doing well. yay!

well, no new niece or nephew yet - they are monitoring SIL and baby, but they couldn't do the CS yesterday because there was no bed in the neonatal unit for the baby! i'm hoping the fact that she hasn't been transferred to another hospital where they do have a bed for the baby means that they're not desperately worried.

i'm trying to think of useful things that DP & i can do/give that would be helpful once the baby's here - so far all i can think of is some premmie clothes (i'll wash them first so SIL doesn't have to worry about that) & offering to take her and BIL out for some decent food somewhere near the hospital (or taking some decent food into them). any other suggestions welcome!

yank - i have taken your advice and booked a 4d scan! DP seems pleased work have been promising me a small bonus for some extra duties i've taken on & it's finally arrived in this month's paypacket so it won't be too much of a stretch to afford it - phew! couldn't fit it in with DP's schedule until tues 7th, but i guess that's not too long to wait <drums fingers impatiently>

what's everyone up to this weekend? i'm about to head to angel to buy some t-shirts and socks for DP to replace the ones i dyed pink in the wash the other day even that dr beckmann colour run remover stuff couldn't save them. i will most definitely not be going into baby gap or any other of the many many shops selling cute baby stuff on upper street, oh no, not me ... got a breastfeeding workshop at the hospital tomorrow afternoon as well. has anyone been given the pink 'best beginnings' dvd btw? more use for first timers i think, but well worth a watch if it's been sat next to your dvd player for a couple of months gathering dust (as it had been in my house!)

Uki it does seat 7 very comfortably, I posted a pic of the back of it because it's far nicer than the front, which I'm not so keen on.... but it's a bus (w i t h e l e c t r i c s l i d i n g d o o r s ), and that's what we need.

kitkat, loving the flower power Galaxy . Am glad your results came back that it wasn't your waters.

cairns, I'm a bit worried about how big this baby is!! When I first joined MN I was pregnant with DD and my name was hopeitwontbebig! Am wondering whether I ought to change my name back again!! Although DD was a (for me) modest 7lb 8oz my first two, who were boys, were over 10lb! My bump is definitely on par with my first two pregnancies

We need to get our acts together and start discussing names. It's always been so difficult in the past!!

I hope everyone's enjoying their weekend x x x x x

uki I too have been feeling very very tired and have been trying to nap a little during the day. I am convinced it is low iron, my bloods showed it low at 10.5 but they don;t prescribe iron here I think until below 10. I have been taking spatone over the last week and that has started to bring some energy back. Don;t think the heat here in the UK at the moment is helping, last night was so humid it really saps those energy levels

KKQ not so great about the GBS, but great there is no leak, at least they have diagnosed it tho

I had my growth scan on Thurs and baby is now back in a normal range woohoo,so they are not going to scan me anymore. I was starting to get a tad worried about the birth with everyone saying how big it could be. It currently is about 6lbs tho and am only 34 wks, so might be 9lbs at term (which is OK) but thankfully not the 10-11bs it had apparently been tracking to be. I know growth scans can be out but it has given me a bit more confidence. If I can get it I might go for a water birth this time, as have heard it is good for bigish babies and can help with tears, we'll see if the hospital has any free when I get there.

Struggling with baby names this time around, with DS it was easy as we had a name sorted for a boy (if he was a girl it was more of a struggle). But this time am finding it impossible, DH is vetoing everything I like for no reason whatsoever... grrrrr, we have a list now but about 20names on each that we both don't really like, OH well will be 'baby' for a while after its born I suppose.

Heinz- congrat's on dh's job, fab news, like the new car too? does it seat 7?
my BIL would buy your scenic in a flash, doesn't help he is in Australia though.

I'd love a 7 seater car, so the 3 kidies arn't all at each other in one row, also be great to take my mum and dad with us rather than 2 cars

So is anyone else left blooming here?????
I can't believe how rubbish i feel, i had 2 naps yesterday lucky the dc's just played quietly, i really couldn't stand or sit up any longer.
maybe i am low in iron or something, i read antacid tablets reduce iron intake, and i've had plenty of those lately, or does everyone else just feel this poorly?

Only trouble is my car gets spotted EVERYWHERE!!!

dc's love it tho...

Hi everybody, well I did get a call from my midwife today but in spite of the momentary panic that she had bad news it was only to tell me I had gbs again. Which makes no odds as I'm getting abs in labour anyway and there is no leak so YAY!!!

Heinz, that car looks fab - you are so going to be the yummy mummy on the school run

I have to admit that one of the things I love about my galaxy ( aside from the chocolate reference is that it has THESE on it.

wow that link looks odd may not work

Hawkmoth @ your DP laying a 'deposit' on it!!!

DP has his heart set on a Toyota Lucida. I'm sure he got me pregnant on purpose so he could get one! There's one coming into a local specialist this weekend and I fully expect DP to lay a (monetary hahahaha!) deposit on it.

Thank you all so much, I can't express how relieved we are. Funny thing is he got offered two jobs within a week of each other! So we've got one more week together then he's back to work. I'm going to miss him TERRIBLY We've never before spent so much time together, well at least I know we'll be able to survive retirement together without wanting to murder one another

kkq, fingers crossed no news is good news. Have you looked in to moxsbustion. My DD was breech, and in all honesty I didn't try it, but I started a thread at the time and lots of woman had tried it with success.

becksy, good luck to your SIL!!!!!

We've had a productive week this week, we ordered a 'mini bus' LOL on Wednesday, collecting it on Monday. KKQ we looked at Galaxys and were going to get one until DH spotted a Kia Sedona, it's cheaper than a Galaxy and bigger and it has ELECTRIC SLIDING DOORS!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW cool is that! We're collecting it on Mon. Only downside is I've lost 4 and a half grand on my Scenic which I've only had for 18 months. Does anyone want to buy it from me this weekend and beat the Kia dealers trade in price?????

No I'm serious

congrats on your DH's new job heinz! hopefully some of the evident employability on display on this thread will rub off onto my DP who hasn't had a decent paycheck in a long long time ...

hope you're feeling ok kkq. thanks for the tip about the honey - i've always been a bit when people have said 'local honey', thinking where on earth i'm supposed to get local honey from when i live in central london! but a 25 mile radius sounds doable.

exciting but rather nerve-wracking news here - my SIL is having a CS later today at 35 weeks. she has major placenta praevia & her consultant has been talking about doing a CS since about 25/26 weeks so i'm glad she's managed to hang on until now. fingers crossed, all being well, everything will be ok with my SIL and i'll have a new niece or nephew by the end of the day

and in other news, my 4 year old niece opened the main stage at glastonbury this morning by singing 'twinkle twinkle little star' as part of the sound check! <proud auntie> bit sad i wasn't there to see it (any other year and i would be! ) but how cute? hope her mum got some good photos.

Handstands in pool - GREAT! Better if you can have someone to hold you up for a couple of seconds extra! You can feel the baby becoming weightless. The forward rolls were a bit more difficult.

It did work, but only for one day of AGONY as baby's head pressed on pelvis. Yesterday he went back sideways, not sure yet today.

Great news on the job Heinz. Must be a huge relief - we didn't know how much til that first paypacket came in.

My Clary Sage oil that I bought mail order has arrived - one of the few things I've sorted, and only because there was a necklace in the same shop that I wanted!

Great news Heinz.

KKQ - Sorry think I must have missed your stuff when I read the thread . Hope you're feeling better.

Am a bit at the letter I got this morning telling me that my appointment has had to be rearranged?!?!?!?! On reading it carefully (and a few times cos my brain wasn't taking much in!) the letter is telling me that my post-dates appointment at 41+1, at the hospital I'm no longer registered at (have changed to the nearer one), with the NHS care I'm no longer having (that they've been fully informed of) is now the grand total of 15 minutes later

Heinz that is the best news ever!!!!
[g rin]

Am still feeling knackered, but I think thats just about normal for all of us at the mo Am just so glad that they haven't called today. I was told I could go home last night but would get a call if there was any doubt over my waters leaking - as they haven't called it must be ok. So I can chill a bit. Can't believe its taken 3 1/2 weeks of temps spiking to nearly 40 degrees for someone to work out what was wrong.

Am wondering if I can sneak away from dp and the kids for a few hrs over the weekend to have a float in a pool somewhere. Baby is currently back to my back diagonally upright with head under my left ribs and bottom on my right hip. Hawk - how did you get on with the handstands in the pool?? am tempted atm because I just can't bend!!

Hope everyone else is feeling a bit more cheerful -

That's great Heinz, now you can relax a bit! Kitkat - glad you're home and all is ok.

dd went to pre-school today and as part of the potty training I showed her where their potty is. She then had a sit on it and did a wee, so I was pleased about that... she also weed on the toilet in Waitrose and did a poo on the potty but she still doesn't seem to tell me when she needs to go. It's always me prompting her. We'll see but at least so far it doesn't seem such a nightmare as it was with ds who developed fear of public loos, hand dryers and then constipation!

Have nearly finished long overdue paperwork mountain sort out as the baby's room is currently our study. DH is grumpy about the dining room becoming the new home for the computer and the paperwork files...but then he comes along and parks his bike in the dining room (commutes on it at the moment and it doesn't get put away in the shed until the weekend) . Was amused that paperwork relating to the cats was taking up a whole box file including all their insurance documents back to 2001 and collar keys to open the cat flap at our old house....

kitkat, just dipped into thread and saw your post. Oh NO, poor thing. Hope you're feeling better!!!

HEY EVERYONE >>>>>>>> FANTASTIC NEWS>>>>>>>>>>>>

DH has a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After 22 weeks out of work YAY YAY YAY YAY

Valz twin 1 is head down and twin 2 is transverse (well there were last week lol) consultant said aslong as they stay like that I can try for a natural delivery.
I was reading up and apparently the placentas can fuse so maybe thats whats happened with you? Would definately ask them to check though.

You have until the babies are 3 months to claim the grant so make sure you get your tax credits claim in asap lol

Hope you're feeling better KKQ.

I was desperate for some Fanta yesterday... despite the fact that orange juice triggers my migraines. I had some. I woke at 5am in agony and numb down one arm and one side of my face. After convincing myself that it wasn't actually a stroke it only took ninety minutes to get back to sleep. Now in considerable pain, but my pelvis doesn't hurt!

I wonder sometimes why I am such an idiot! But oh the Fanta tasted good.

£1000 yes please, dunno if im entitled though, not sure what my tax credits would be!

just back from scan, (missed last weeks) baby 1 is 4lb 3 baby 2 4lb, both looking good. so im back again in two weeks for another scan. the nurse i had today told me my twins are identical because theres only one placenta, i am almost certain from the start i was told they weren't identical so im a bit confused. will have to get a second opinion next time around.

1 baby is head down the other head up, the one with head down she said is well down so that explains the unbelievable pressure i feel down below when i walk. Ready how are your babies lying and what kind of delivery have you planned?

LOL when I read all your posts. I can echo same feelings here too, and it's not even hot.... it's cold, cold cold.

I had a bit of energy yesterday, went shopping, cleaned, washed, had friend over and today KNACKERED can't do a thing

Think my last post never went though, but wanted to say, that leg**cramps can be avoided if you try not to point your feet in bed, instead point your toes from ankle up towards your legs.

Also if you want to avoid perenial massage, or just don't get around to it, getting someone to hold a warm wet compress on your yoni section in labour really helps relax the skin I avoided stiches outside, but tore inside instead (never thought about that one happening, great huh!)

Hiya hayfever people I know I sound a bit nuts with reccomendations of homeopathic / herbal alternatives from time to time, but I have done this one myself and lots of friends have too. Get hold of some local honey - must be from a hive within a 25 mile radius and have 2 tea spoonfuls everyday.

Because the honey contains the pollen from all the local seasonal plants you will get a mild dose of the one you are reacting to and it desensitises you so the sympthoms go away.

I promise it does work

I have just got home from hospital. My temp has been spiking up to 39.9 again and after spending the afternoon on delivery suite and the ward they have finally let me go home. \I'm still waiting for a few results but hopefully it is just a wee infection. Have also found out that babes is breech so now I need ro turn him...

Bed now...

Forester I know what you mean about never enough time. It seems to take me twice as long to do half as much these days!

Read everyone’s rants and made me feel better to know I’m not alone re. being too hot, DH ‘sympathy’ etc.

To add my two-pence worth re. potty training, we do sticker chart with our 3 yo DS – 1 sticker for a wee and 2 for poo. He’s still not pooing in loo/potty, mostly waiting for his night nappy. But mostly dry during day now, so there is light at the end of the tunnel for those of you pulling your hair out!

Also, thanks for the Sure Start grant tip – will look into that! Cheers.

Hi all

I had my 34 week appointment this afternoon - all well which is good and baby currently in the right position - so obviously hoping will stay that way. Though just remembered that I forgot to ask re the one off grant - they'd run out of forms last time I went.

I'm currently taking a break from cleaning the living room. Looking forward to the time when I don't need to sit down every few minutes to take a breather. Would appreciate more help from DH with housework but he needs to focus on getting the nursery ready - so difficult for me to complain too much. Never enough time!

As to the question re nookie - we're still having it a bit but I must admit I'm less enthusiastic. I'd read that sex could be better when you were pregnant - but I haven't found that to be the case ....

My nose feels like it's constantly blocked - I sympathise crafty. The heat is horrible.

I'm not as bad as I might be - DD has some sort of cold virus and so in the morning she gets in bed with me and dozes for a couple of hours so it's not the usual half-six tornado.

My friend is having a CS tomorrow - she's well overdue. I can't work out quite how jealous I am. For all I know, August might be 30 degrees every day. Argh!

crafty - sorry to hear that i'm not having a good day either - also suffering with the heat & feeling knackered, only managed a couple of hours sleep last night. was meant to be going into the office this afternoon but had already run out of steam by about midday so have stuck to the sofa instead. i've just had an ice lolly & am about to go and have (another) cool bath, but would really just like to climb into the fridge for a while. it's miserable isn't it?

I feel like I'm dying. I am far too hot & drinking water by the gallon. I can't open a window cos my hayfever is already terrible (using an air purifier helps a little). My nose is running with it, I'm sneezing, the sneezing has made my throat sore. I'm also knackered cos all the above kept me up most of the night .

Forgot the full stop after 'ready'!

That's my prob Hawkmoth with the potty training too. I'm still at work 3 days, then on the Thurs she still goes to pre-school which only leaves Fri, Sat, Sun as completely clear for the potty training. Might have a go anyway starting Friday!

Good news ready I'm enjoying handing over at work now. I can see my workload clearing by the minute...

I was suprised too Hawkmoth but lots of other people say that they qualified on such low rates so its definately worth a shot I reckon lol

Didn't know it was as low as that I will look into applying for that grant.

DSD is ready to be potty trained, but we can't do it on two days a week. Her mother sends her in a nappy with knickers on top! You just have to commit at this stage - she will ask to go to the toilet, goes before and after bed, at mealtimes... but there's no will from her mother. Grr.

Hi all x
Hope you are all feeling better for having a good old rant yesterday (I know I do lol)
It also helps that it is alot cooler today
Plus I have just had some fab news which has cheered me up no end, I got made redundant in february and wasnt able to claim JSA due to missing NI payments when I was on maternity leave with DS ,DP and I have just tightened our belts and managed so far.
2 weeks ago I put my application in for maternity allowance and I recieved conformation today that it has been approved and the 1st payment will be made in a couple of days

DP and I were discussing it and as we are used to managing without it we are going to try and save most of it for a holiday next year (havent had one since 2005)

On the matter of money a tip I picked up on another forum is to apply for the sure start maternity grant. If you recieve more than £11/week in tax credits you should qualify and as its £500/baby (so £1000 for me and Valz ) it is not to be sniffed at
You can claim upto 3 months after baby is born.

coon, Sometimes things like that happen and you just have to do damage control and sort it out later - Hoiking the kids out of the bath quick sharpish and dealing with the bath and toys to be cleaned once they are in bed - it sometimes seems to me that with 3 you get about 20 mins of calm and then 10 mins of chaos you then spend the next 20 mins repairing the damage just in time for the next 10 minute chaos burst.

Keep smiling, have you tried a sticker chart or the ultimate - a chocolate button for wee's in the right place? have to admit to resorting to that one with dd1 and she potty trained totally in 2 weeks start to finish

good luck

Thanks kitkat, may go for the potty training in the next few days again and see. We had a go properly a few weeks ago and although put her back in nappies, it obv did some good in that she knows what she needs to do and is dry overnight! She keeps saying 'wee wee coming down the shute'. It's very cute. However, she did poo in the bath last week (some in the potty, then some in the bath!!) whilst ds was in there as well. Could feel blood pressure rising clearing it up and wondering how would cope with the addition of a hungry baby to the situation

I feel so much better after reading your rants! Woke up this morning feeling horribly guilty as I kicked DH out of bed at 2am as he has this hacking cough (only at night) and was snoring. It was 2am and I was still awake. Thought about going to the couch myself but - that's just not fair!

Yay for all the ranting - makes me feel slightly more justified in my misery!

I grind my elbow into DP's ribs when he's snoring or invading my side of the bed. He doesn't realise... but it wakes him up! Grr.

It chucked down here today - it was lovely to have cool air in the house. It was less lovely that DD removed ALL her clothes and ran into the garden to get soaking wet.

We've been swimming today. I didn't want to get out. The effort to de-fuzz led to a painful afternoon, but the pool was instant relief! I did handstands and forward rolls in the pool - can't do any harm. Getting out was HELL, like someone had stapled a week's shopping to my front. I'm seriously considering putting all my stuff on Ebay so I can buy a birth pool and live in it for a month!

Who asked about nookie? DP isn't keen when he gets home from work, I'm not keen at bedtime. Our tirednesses are not gelling. However, I'm going to see how he is now - must be the endorphins from the swimming!

DP will have to do the perineal massage. He trimmed my 'garden' today for the swimming - it can't be MUCH worse than that!

Coonrapids, I'm a voter for pants off trying to bf one whilst lifting another on and off a toilet for a 3rd time is not looking appealing, but oh sooo likely

If I could do the potty training now I would and the floor puddles method is probably the quickest once they get to that point. good luck

Can't resist a good rant! Uncomfortable here too, rib pain mainly and leg cramps in the night plus it's too hot!! Going on holiday next week with 2 dcs and grandparents, leaving dh behind (he chose not to come btw). But then he had a go when I suggested he could spend some of his time sorting out the nursery whilst I was away (only cos I thought he would not have as much work to do in the evenings without the usual clearing up, washing etc.) I did point out that a UK holiday at 35 weeks pregnant with 2 little kids is hardly a relaxing/non-tiring break!!

Anyway, deep breathe, have made up after that argument and now decided to get the nursery sorted myself if he'll do the painting. It's a matter of sorting and relocating a load of paperwork elsewhere...fun, fun. Why did we leave it so late...

Also need to sort the car out. New one needed that fits 3 car seats in the back. Current choice might be the citroen picasso but shocked to find out that we will be losing several grand on selling the car we bought in November just before found out about the pg!

2HotCross, great about the job. And good about the potty training. I now have dd at 2.7 who is pretty much dry at night and wees on her potty when she gets up. The rest of the day, she's variable, lots of puddles if the nappy is off...although will use potty sometimes. so don't know whether to put her in pants and really go for it, or hold off till after baby is born!

Sorry for the long self obsessed posting...
TOTC/Coon - still haven't updated my name on the list...

Actually I am feeling slightly more positive just because its not just me and I can blame all the tears and stress out moments today on being pregnant fat and hormonal with 3 dcs which is perfectly reasonable according to dp. Also dp has just about finished doing the accounts so thats a massive thing off my list of horrible things to do!

and dp came home with chocolate cake, put kids to bed and has told me that wanting to drink orange juice and milk at the same time just can't be good for me no matter what my cravings are saying The paracetamol have finally kicked in and the shop over the road hadn't run out of chocolate - might have done by now...

Hope everyone else is a bit happier tomorrow too - although by tomorrow I may have run out of chocolate ...

Oops, I seem to have set of a chain of ranting!!!

As much as I hate to complain about lovely weather, I am finding it just a tad too hot for my liking. Thankfully DS wasn't that keen on going outside today although I am now worrying that he is sickening for something.

2hotcrossbuns that's great news about your DH getting a job, it gives me hope whenever I hear that there are some jobs out there!!

I think we are the only people NOT enjoying the weather lol

It certainly helps to know that we are all feeling the same

ah ladies you've made my day! Can't even be bothered to add my own rant but it would very similar to all of yours and its just so nice to know I'm not alone. Am going to go off in search of chocolate now and research DVD boxsets for early labour.

Can I add my rant???

If you can't face reading it don't worry just skip this post I just need to get it out

I am Soooooo P*%£ed off. I have spent the entire day trying to sort out financial "stuff" My accounts aren't in any sort of order and I am waiting for a phone call back from radiology (for dd2)for an appt, after finally speaking to a real. person after a week of ringing and leaving messages that haven't been returned. They promised to ring me back today and haven't. I need to make a dental appt for dd1 but daren't until I get the appt through from radiology because sods law says it will clash, I also need to book ds in for his mmr before the baby is born so that I only have to deal with one set of vaccinations.

I have just found out today that a £20.00 fine has been attached to one of my accounts and it has taken me an hour and a half of very persuasive shouting to get a refund. ~I was promised a call back from a very nice man about the form my bank has lost containing all my financial information and he also hasn't called me back. ( since it went missing I have been inundated with phone calls and emails from all sorts of bizarre companies so am worried that the form is in dodgy hands).

And I have another temperature today just below 40 degrees( been getting random spikes for the last 3 weeks ) so now have a doctors appt for tommorow.

I keep dropping everything.

I too am getting the "ooh any day now" comments and I may lynch the next person who says it I really look enormous the baby seems to have come right out of my pelvis and I think is back to back with me upright

I can't bend at all!!!

I feel useless and there is so much that I need to do in the next few weeks...

On the plus side my lovely dp is driving home to come and help me with all the stuff that has totally overwhelmed me. The kids are nearly ready for bed and the shop over the road has never been known to run out of chocolate.

Sorry - rant over

Mamamila Its like carrying an octopus lol, im hoping for a natural birth aslong as the babies cooperate lol

Most days I am absolutely fine but this hot weather is killing me so im having a good old moan lol

readyfornumber2and3- jeez you must really have it worse. how on earth does it feel to have 2 babies moving around inside you? are you having a natural birth or a section?
i shall think of you to keep things in perspective

i'm swelling like mad here too, just removed rings and watch. will probably lose them all now

dh just cooked slimy tasteless stir fry..without veg when there's loads of mangetout, peppers etc sitting in the fridge. that will teach me to nag him into cooking

ah so glad it's not just me uncheerful, i'm feeling like a mad old heffer

and jesus the bed issues! dd still waking and coming into our bed in night but there's no bloody space. dh also moans i don't snuggle up with my head on his chest anymore..

dare i ask if anyone's getting any nookie??

we can't remember the last time, it always seems so much like hard work and not really enjoyable to be honest what with positions/ bumps/ baby movements/ back ache etc but then i start thinking if we don't try a bit there'll be none until at least october- or possibly 2010..

How is it that we are the ones that need the space and yet we end up balancing on the end of the bed to not be kicked/touched?
He keeps moaning because I dont want to cuddle up to him to go to sleep yet cant process that its too hot and uncomfortable !!

I will be so glad to get my body back! I know its gonna be hard having two babies and a toddler but at least I will be able to bend/sit up/walk and breath once they are born lol

I even googled survival rates of prem twins to see how bad it would be if they came early Obviously I want what is best for them but I really need to know the end is near now lol

Also hot here and fed up of it.

Lack of sleep here too and dh is getting that glare when he moans about being tired (the one that say "moan anymore and I'm hacking your man bits off with a spoon" )

Re perineal massage: My mw suggested it (cos I'm worried about tearing again). She showed me by rubbing that bit of skin between your thumb and forefinger - just basically little circular massaging. She said to do that and slowly move around the whole perineal area and to focus on any scar tissue.

Keep meaning to start it but I don't think I have any chance of reaching so it's gonna be up to dh .

Yours doing that as well, eh, ready? I fell homicidal in the middle of the night when mine does it. When I'm right at the edge of the bed to keep away from him and his heat, I just want to kill him and get the bed back to myself. Oh, and take his pillow as well.

Mamamila and duchesse I am so with you in the had enough stakes!! (I am 30+5)

We are having a heat wave today and there is no breeze so its horrible! I am so uncomfortable unless lying down which isnt easy when 3yo ds wants me to play with him!

I havent slept properly for the last few nights as it is taking hours of tossing and turning to drift off and then DP keeps waking me up by putting his knees in my back/bump then I have to waddle off to the toilet and then spend another hour drifting off again!!

I had a row with DP at lunchtime He came home for his lunch and started moaning that he had a bit of stomach ache and I flipped I basically shouted at him and told him that I ached all day everyday and couldnt sleep and felt like crap and he should be more considerate!! I do feel a bit guilty but I also feel that I am in the right too as this pregnancy has been so much harder than my first and yet I am having to do more (childcare, housework,washing etc)and all I really want to do is sleep and MN all day lol

Oops rant over lol I just hope that the next 6-9 weeks pass REALLY quickly lol

Hi ladies!

Glad to know I'm not the only one feeling fed up. Is it wrong to pray for this baby to be early?

Becky - I 2nd what Yank said - having a 3D scan made a massive change in DH and how he sees the baby. He's so excited and focussed now. Def worth the spend!

We've been told to do perenial massage but have no idea exactly how to do it. Have been tempted to google but am terrified of all the vajayjay images that will inevitably come up. Any seasoned pros have some advice?

mamamila- I am so with you on so many of your items, but especially item 2- mine has been away for two weeks but I swear it was easier if more physically exhausting when he was away. I can't say I ever got to the urgh stage with the last three, but I'm there already with this one, and am only 32 weeks.

sorry for extra long not at all quick rant now going to catch up a bit on thread

hi all, my first time on mumsnet since dh returned and all my relaxation began- ha! not!!
can i have a quick rant?? totally p**d off these days!
dh was away for 9 weeks and whilst it was exhausiting i don't feel any more rested since he returned, in fact i cook and wash more clothes and have to listen to all sorts of moaning and nonsense about football/ power tools etc
- he's also undoing all my good work with dd's tantrums/ bedtime and talks very loudly on the phone constantly, never cooks and many many more awful crimes against domestic bliss
-i just want him to do the stuff that i can't do and let me get more sleep, basically just go out places and have fun with dd and leave me alone with my online scrabble and online shopping and cook something occassionally. is that too much to ask??
-he lost my favourite rucksack on the train containing a favourite outfit for dd and my one and only treasured overpriced J Brand maternity jeans and a lovely top
- i bought another pair of maternity jeans on ebay and they're too small (7 for mankind size 30w if anyone's interested..!)so now i'm still without jeans and lumbered with hassle of reselling
- ds is also a teen nightmare at the moment
- i took a week off from osteo and my back is so sore i can't wait till tomorrow's appt
- physio gave me a huge roll of tubagrip and a support belt, does anyone else have this? and i just feel hot and squeezed
- baby's acrobotics making me feel horribly uncomfortable
- constantly need to wee, agonising shooting pain from stretching when i try to wipe (sorry tmi)
-legs feel so heavy, i can't stand for long walk far or with any kind of speed, i'm so envious of the silver racers on their mobility scooters
-and every f-ing person i encounter has to comment on how ridiculously huge i am and say 'anyday now' and comment on how i must really be hating the warm weather etc
-basically i wasn't as p**d off and 'over this' with pregnancy until 38 wks last time and i still have another 7 weeks to go
agghhhhh

Hallo - just been to see the midwife. All seems to be OK, LO is facing the right way (for the moment). Am measuring 28cm, which she said was Ok for my 32 weeks. LOVE hearing the heartbeat and she kept moving to get away from the doppler thingy which was cute.

Re perenial massage, the two different classes we did this week were promoting it. Not sure I can reach down there anymore though - and not sure I am ready to remove the last ounce of romance from my relationship by asking DH to do it.

Hope you enjoy your short time of no nappies 2HotCross - after 4 years you must be a true expert!

Currently 26 degrees and I felt it on the tube this afternoon!

Good afternoon ladies. Posting to avoid tidying away the 6 months plus worth of post/paperwork etc that's lying accross my bedroom floor - I only like baby nesting not general chores !

some good news here - DH has, at last, got a job. All very sudden, he got a call last Tuesday from a former colleague/contact about a possible job, interview at 10am the following day and within half an hour of arrving home they had offered it to him! Pay is not as good as we would have liked but it'sa job at least. And they wanted an immediae start! As we're off on holiday next wek they have agreed that he can start when we get back but he's ging in for a couple of days this week (unpaid) so will hit the ground running. On a very selfish level I am sad to lose my summer of both of us at home, no school, nursery etc so complete freedon for day trips and fun times. Can't have it all!!

Pg wise, all fine. Bloody uncomfortable like everyone else. I wanted to unzip myselfour of my own skin last night I was so itchy, hot, heavy etc.

oh and we have potty trained DS2 - so I have no children in nappies for the first time in over 4 years...well for a few weeks anyway!

Sorry to hear of continued aches and pains of everyone else. Sorry I don't really have any suggestions other than we're very nearly at the end! Becksy (I think it was you) re DH feeling involved - my DH has never once felt any of my babies move etc, has no real emotional attachment to the baby until it is born. However, he is one of the most involved, passionate, caring fathers I know and completely hero-worshipped by both boys. i think men can sometimes feel a pressure to "bond" with the unborn baby hen it's just foreign and weird to them.

Right, might watch some tennis now...whilst tidying up...

becksy, we used to live in London, so I know what you mean about London prices! Our 3D scan was £70, and it was the cheapest package. It was at the local hospital, and seemed to be a lot cheaper than the stand alone scanning services like Babybond. Would it be worth asking some of the local hospitals whether they do it? I reckon hospitals can do it cheaper because they already have the facilities and the equipment and don't have to pay for office space.

sheena, am planning to start perineal massage, and do plan on getting DH involved because of the wrist pain issue. Haven't told him this yet though....nice surprise for him when he gets home at the end of the week! I figure he should make an 'investment' in me stretching easily/not tearing, because it will benefit us both in the bedroom department later if I don't have tearing/stitches/scarring.

Noticed today my ankles seem to be turning into 'cankles' and my feet are swelling. Ugghhh. I hate this heat/humidity!

Afternoon all, it's very warm here. Think I need another lie down... work's not the place for lying down tho

Becksydee - have you got your DH practising his massage technique for your labour? You could also give some relaxation scripts a go (ie he reads them to you to help you relax). Apparently practising this before labour helps you to know what to do when the time comes.

In a similar vein, is anyone doing perineal massage? To my utmost horror I've had 2 health professionals recommend it to me recently to reduce the risk of tearing. I finally had a go last night and all I can say is YUK. Uncomfortable, difficult to reach and just plain bizarre. Trying to work out if asking DH to help is a good idea or not! Any thoughts?

Cock and balls. Just had a mammoth post and this new keyboard contrived to refresh the page. I think I may need to buy a better one - it was five pounds... including a mouse.

Here's to cool breezes and chilly nights!

yank - we looked into getting a 3d/4d scan done, but they are so expensive! stupid london prices - i'm not sure we can afford it without sacrificing something else. it's a good idea though, i'll talk to DP about it later and see what he thinks. possibly another factor in all this is that we weren't TTC - in fact we were taking preventative steps (i had the norovirus a few days before we had a weekend away to celebrate our anniversary, i'm sure you can fill in the blanks!) it took us a fair while to get over the shock, him more so than me.

sorry to hear about your wrists - i'm guessing it must be a hormonal thing if it's so directly affected by pregnancy/breastfeeding? that pesky relaxin that's making so many of us suffer with spd perhaps

crafty - i think you're probably right, he just seemed quite sad about it at the weekend and obviously i'd prefer he didn't feel that way ...

anyway, in an effort to help him feel more involved, i've sent him to south london to pick up a car seat i found on gumtree (£35 - bargain!) perhaps that wasn't what he meant he was talking about feeling involved but ho hum! before he left i asked him to make sure all the clips, straps etc were ok before he handed over the money, you'd think i'd asked him to pop over to NASA HQ and double check their sums the reaction i got hopefully he'll return with something useable and in one piece ...

trixy - sorry to hear you had a bad day yesterday, hope today is better for you

trixy- I think we've all reached that time in our pregnancies where we've suddenly realised that whatever else is going to happen, there's going to be a new baby to contend with. Added to that the heat and our largeness and inability to sleep through the night, and you have the makings a cheerful few weeks. Not. Right with you there sister. Just hang in there.

Fwiw my H is driving me %^&$ing nuts. I can barely bring myself to be civil to him at the moment, and he's only just got back from being away for 2 weeks (was very hard).

Sorry guys, just need to have a bit of a moan, feeling pretty down today.

My first day off work didn't quite go as planned. I had a day of nesting planned, got so much to sort out.

Instead of a lie in DH woke me at 7.30, by taking a work call shouting while sitting on the bed. Then my Mum phoned to say would I mind if she didn't take DS as she wasn't feeling too good. He was a horror all day as his back teeth are coming in.

I applied for that job today. It is a bit of a swizz though as it's not actually where I live but about 40 mins drive away. The recruitment woman was a bit negative about job prospects so that put me on a total downer.

I got my redundancy money today which I thought would be quite exciting, but it really hit home that it would be my last paycheck for a while.

Then I opened DH's bank statements which is never a good idea, I can see why he never bothers, so started cr**ping myself that i was totally deluded about surviving on one wage for the forseeable future.

Then spent the rest of the day crying and feeling bad as DS looked so worried and kept saying "no cry Mummy".

To top it all off DH is off to germany for a week tomorrow .

Sorry, bit of a me me me post .

Great to hear from you Michaela. Hope Nathan continues to improve x

Becksy - try not to worry too much as I'm sure that when the baby is here and is a 'real person' your dh will be fine. I think it's harder for the men to see them as real until they're born iykwim.

Hawkmoth - glad that your dh still has time off with you & baby even though it's not paternity leave.

Heinz - fingers crossed for your dh getting the job.

Think I've started nesting. Was up early this morning and wanting to sort things out. Have made a list for labour bag/baby bag etc and a list of things we need to sort out before baby arrives. This evening we've sorted out the nappies, dh moved the cot into our room and we sorted out all the junk that was in it . Starting to feel a lot more prepared now.

Saw mw this morning and baby is still head down but is now ROA rather than LOA but I'm not bothered as it swings from side to side all day so is obviously moving between the two all the time. Next appointment is being done in an evening though so dh can be there as it's a bit of a talk about emergency transfer to hospital and birth before arrival (i.e. telling dh what to do if he has to catch baby cos no-one else is here - would say but given my last labour was just over 2 hrs I'm a bit scared it might happen!).

Michalea, it's great that Nathan is doing so well.

Poop. Saw GP this morning, and there's really nothing to be done for my wrists since the steroid injection didn't help. He admired my splints, checked for me whether topical anti-inflammatories are allowed (nope), and we had a nice chat. Basically I'm stuck like this until baby is born, then we can look into other treatment options if it doesn't go away. I found a medical journal article detailing case studies of women with de Quervain's tendonitis in pregnancy, and it seemed none of them got better until they stopped breastfeeding. Feck.

I really want my body back. I know it was fat and lumpy, but am so tired of achy wrists/back/pelvis, feeling nauseous, being sick and all the rest of it! And I can't breathe because baby's arse/feet are stuck in my lungs!

Becksy have you done a recent 3D scan? I think that really helped my DH in visualising baby as a little person and not just this abstract thing. He phoned last night from this course he's on with a cute story. He was having dinner on his own in a restaurant and was next to a couple he thought were about our age. Said they were having a discussion/argument about TTC, woman much more keen than man. DH said he wanted to jump up and show the guy the 3D scan pic he's got as wallpaper on his phone and shout 'just do it! it's great!' at him. Made me go 'awwwwww'. I think the scan really helped him to bond, he is just so proud of that chubby little face.

Hi All!

Michaela - so lovely to hear Nathan is fighting on must be so lovely to see him develop! Wishing him loads more strength and growth.

Things here are a bit tough - we took 3 days away to go to Portland, Oregon for a bit of a "babymoon" which was lovely and very relaxing. On Sunday DH called his dad for father's day only to discover that it seems like MIL is having a serious nervous breakdown. Will find out later today whether we need to fly back to the UK this week. Its tough because I can really only fly for 2 more weeks and DH (and I) don't really feel comfortable with him leaving me once we get closer to the due date. I'm so full of anxiety and worry about it all. And all the relaxation of going away has gone out the window as well!

Aside from that baby is def turned and is solidly head down - the pressure on my pelvis is something else! I've been sitting on an exercise ball at work and often at home which the midwife says is a brilliant way to get the baby to turn and I have to say she did turn after about a week of using it!

Quixotic - I know EXACTLY how you feel about excited and terrified. I am flip flopping like crazy.

And has time slowed down for anyone else? I'm 33 weeks and I swear the last 3 weeks have taken 2 months to go by!

yep, same! i've been assured by lots of people that that's totally normal though

whilst i'm typing in this box here, perhaps some of you ladies might be able to give me a bit of advice. over the course of the weekend my DP said a few times that he's not feeling very involved in the whole baby thing, and that he's worried he's not going to instantly love the baby when it arrives i'm trying to think of anything i can do to help him feel more involved. he's been coming to all of the appointments, scans, classes etc with me & he's helped me decide on all the major purchases, whenever i feel the baby kicking hard i get him to feel my belly etc ... any other suggestions for things i could be doing?

I go from being really excited to bl**dy terrified!

"I would like to do the birth thing now while it is fresh, before I change my mind"

PMSL! (although totally know what you mean, i feel the same!)

Nice to hear from you Michaela and happy first fathers day to your DP.

Becky I ordered the Icandy cherry too, we live in a basement flat with steep stairs and a sharp corner and that seemed like the best option - it gets delivered in a few weeks.

We spent the weekend doing NHS classes on Saturday, then yoga birth class on Sunday. Both were good, and I would like to do the birth thing now while it is fresh, before I change my mind. Seeing the midwife tomorrow - I think LO has moved as I am seeing odd shapes at both sides of my stomach at the same time. I will be reading the article on optimum positioning with interest.

Heinz - he got the first job he applied for (it took EIGHT weeks to shortlist!), just coming up to a month now. He loves it, and it turns out he was really lucky because they had two other people on the team, new who just vanished! Plus lucky that education and education services is pretty much unaffected by the economy at the moment.

I miss DP, and hate having the bed to myself after 0630 when he goes to work. I'm also jealous of his job, which is out and about and very exciting. I hope your DH's offer comes through for you, it can be so worrying and it's a weird feeling of being adrift somehow.

DD never moved from LOA from 28 weeks onwards - obviously I'm a bit baggier this time!

Bollocks, just spilt my milk all over the desk. Grr - feel free to point and laugh at the round clumsy woman!

becksydee, thanks for that link about optimal position. My first labour was a posterior one and it really wasn't easy. I definitely wouldn't want to go through that again!!!

Hawk, has your DP got a job? We're waiting to hear about DH's job offer, should know in a day or two, keeping fingers crossed. He's been out of work now for almost 22 weeks I'm going to miss him terribly when he goes back

Beckydee- well done- I was just thinking last night that it was about time to start chivvying everyone on this thread about OFP. Lesson learned for me after two OP labours... Third one was a LOT quicker and more straightforward.

Thanks for the link Baby seems to have moved again! Have got kicks higher up and also more frequent peeing, and less frequent pooing

I dreamt that I could see through my skin and baby was in the right place, so I'm going to take that as a sign!!

DP is sorting out his holidays as he's not entitled to paternity leave due to his new job. With a week unpaid, bank holidays and stuff he can get about three weeks off around the birth, which will be lovely... and we'll still get a holiday next spring.

valz - if you go here you can find out who stocks the iCandy pear. i think they tend to have them in john lewis if you have one of those near you. looks like they have a new twin called a peach blossom as well. all the weights and dimensions of the different buggies are on the iCandy website btw, under 'technical information'

(i'm so glad i managed to display a rare moment of decisiveness early on & got mine ordered, the choice is just bewildering!!!)

hawkmoth (and everyone else too) - someone linked to this on another thread recently and i thought it was quite useful: optimum foetal positioning

i've put a reminder in my phone every day from 34 weeks onwards to do some exercises to encourage the baby into a good position - i'm pretty sure (s)he's posterior at the moment which isn't ideal, but (s)he's still got a few weeks to turn around

yank - hope it goes well with the GP today & that they're able to come up with something helpful. now you come to mention it, yes, wiping isn't the easiest thing to do. the japanese have got this sussed, with their fancy toilets that spray you with a high pressure jet of clean water afterwards - no wiping required! i realise this probably isn't a practical solution for you though. moist toilet wipes might help? (in terms of how much pressure your wrist needs to exert, i certainly find them useful sometimes)

i've had quite a good weekend - spent most of it hanging out with my doula (a good friend who's a trainee doula but also a student midwife - wouldn't be able to afford her under normal circumstances but luckily she's doing it in return for crash space in central london & a few hot dinners ). we went on a tour of the local hospital's maternity unit - it's not the hospital i'm booked into at the moment, but it's just opened a super shiny and really lovely new birth centre, so now i want to transfer! (also, i really want a water birth and they have twice as many pools available as uch) the midwives who were there on saturday were a bit cagey about the exclusion/inclusion criteria for the birth centre, but what they've said i can do is refer myself, i'll have an appointment with a consultant as i'm a late booking and they'll decide whether, all being well, i can use the birth centre. if they say no, i'll just go back to uch & carry on my appointments with them.

stared to get the flat a bit more organised - DP set up the baby's hammock yesterday & we were pleasantly surprised to find that the eBayer we bought it from threw in 4 fitted sheets also got given a box of ferrero rocher by a freecycler who came to collect some deckchairs we were giving away, and my health in pregnancy grant came through, so yesterday was definitely a day of nice surprises! now i've got my HiP money i can order the cloth nappies, so that's another thing off the list.

i realise i never updated you on the unexpected/unwanted referral to a consultant psychiatrist that came through a few weeks ago. well, my upset turned into amusement (or possibly bemusement) when a letter turned up a few days later cancelling that appointment and making one for 31st july (i.e. less than 4 weeks to go until my due date). that was the point at which i stopped taking the whole process seriously, i think. a woman i met at my antenatal class likened the admin/general organisation at uch to a soap opera, which i reckon is probably a fair comparison

anyway, enough of this work avoidance! hope everyone is having a good start to the week.

Thanks for the update Michaela, glad that he's progressing, albeit slowly.

Valz - I'm snoring too, but DP hasn't had to resort to the couch - I would be very hurt if he did He was eyeing up the newly-made spare bed the other day though, after another night of my wakefulness and sheet-stealing.

I think it is definitely a symptom of the pregnancy. not only do you have extra weight and pressure on your lungs, but the mucous membranes in your nose have increased bloodflow and are more swollen (like in your "yoni" or "ladies' area" ). Plus they are producing more mucous, I'm finding that quite unpleasant. It will go away after pregnancy. Have you tried nasal strips? I'm not sure if they would help or not, but it's got to be worth a try.

On the positive side, at least you know your DH is a light sleeper and the baby crying will probably wake him up!

michaela so glad to hear your wee man is coming on as well as he can be, hoping he continues to grow stronger and stronger and you have him home soon.

kitkat thanks for all the info, it sounds as though that kolcraft might actually fit into my boot.

*ready and Becky* thanks for the info, must look into the icandy, the lady in the shop didnt have the twin version on show but said it was very heavy to push, will have to suss out a store that has one ans see for meself!

OK back to a problem i posted recently, it has really upset me this past few days.....SNORING....my husband has resorted to the couch a number of nights over the noise, hes been on the couch all weekend and last night even chanced coming back to bed in the middle of the night but had to get up again cuz of the snoring. ive propped myself on large pillows thinking it should do the trick but obviously it didnt. I thought hubby was exagerating how loud i am cuz he said it actually wakens him out of a sleep now if he manages to doze off before me but he rang my phone(which i switch off every night) and left not 1 but 3 voicemails of me snoring, i cannot believe how loud i am. At first i laughed when i heard it, then i cried, i really dunno what the hell im gonna do about it, has anyone any ideas at all? Also this has only started in the past 2 months or so, please tell me this is due to pregnancy and is something that will go after the birth, or has anyone any ideas why this happens? I cried most of the way to work this morning having seen hubby lying on the couch again, its awful. please help

great to hear from you michaela, glad that nathan is doing well too sending lots of good thoughts your way x

Michaela- So glad little Nathan is doing well xHope you and DH are getting plenty of support and rest as it must be hard on you 2 aswell x

Michaela, it was lovely to hear from you. I am so glad that Nathan is gaining weight, he sounds amazing.I have been thinking of you too. X

Michaela, just fantastic to hear from you and hear that Nathan is doing well. I've been thinking of you loads. xx

Michaela, it's wonderful to hear from you! Glad little Nathan is gaining weight and learning to cry for his food! You must be exhausted with being at hospital and expressing and everything. Hope you and your DH had a special Father's Day with the little guy.

hi Michalea I was thinking of you today, so glad to hear from you and Nathan is doing well

Hello Michaela - how lovely to hear from you - have been thinking of you and Nathan x

Michaela, HI!

So glad you,Nathan & DP are all doing well, it'slLovely to hear from you. Under the circs I think you can be excused for being hideously under-prepared.

Hi everyone! Just popping in as I haven't been onto mumsnet in several weeks. How are you all doing? Sounds like you're getting ready for the birth(s) and preparing your babies new rooms. Well, my baby is 7 weeks 2 days old and we still haven't cleared out the spare room, bought a moses basket or any clothes either!

Nathan's doing quite well, it's very slow going and the bad days are pretty disheartening, but he's having lots of good days and is slowly progressing. He's growing well on breast milk and fortifier (put straight into his stomach with a tube) and he's starting to cry now when he's hungry so he must be feeling better! He's still on his ventilator, but they have been able to wean down the pressure and support breaths per minute settings so that's good. We're hoping they'll be able to take him off the ventilator and put him on CPAP later this week - a bit step forwards if it goes well! Yesterday he was 1080g which is about 2 pounds 6 - a lot more than the 620 or 1 pound 6 when he was born.

Just wondered if any more of us have had their babies early, or is it just me? Today's my DH's first Fathers Day so it's lovely to have Nathan already, despite the circumstances.

Hope you're all doing well and are all blooming in the final stages of your pregnancies - it'll all be over soon don't worry!

love Michaela

Hurrah! I have finally made a start preparing.

Oonagh, thanks for your suggestion to find a thread about hospital bags - managed to find one and now have a list. Don't have owt on the list, but at least the list is a start . By the way, I'm sorry to hear about your predicament; hope all goes well for you.

I've also been sucked in by the clever marketing people at Maman jojo bebe, who kindly sent me a discount voucher, so, much to DH's alarm (still a bit pricey even with the discount) I have ordered 2 vests, 2 sleepsuits, one cardi, one hat.

There, that'll keep us going for the first half hour . Definitely thinking with my yoni now

Sheena - I can't believe you have an antenatal teacher who is afraid of saying the word "vagina". It's like something out of a comedy sketch!

I was convinced I was breech but the midwife says she's definitely head-down. Hope she stays that way...

I'm packing the bag not just as a just-in-case, but because I know DP will be in a flap, and having everything to hand will save him 'man-looking' at a crucial time!

I think my baby is oblique, but will see what MW says a week on Wednesday. He's still very active and squirmy so he obviously has some room in there. I have times when the bump looks normal, and others when the right side is MUCH more forward - it obvious to everyone who just looks at me - will try to take a photo!

Have been away on hols, was nice except for a little poor weather. Been reading about all your plans for getting ready. We are planning a homebirth too, but I am packing a ‘just in case’ hospital bag. I really feel, in this instance, if you have it ready, you won’t need it, but if you have to go in and are unprepared it will make a bad situation worse. But that’s my two-pence worth!

Take care all.

Hawkmoth- it depends on the breech position, unfortunately in my case, oblique and transverse are the two breech positions that are considered to be a risk due to cord prolapse. Also they have taken my medical history ( after having 2 DDS) into account aswell. I have also been told that they will not turn the baby.

So there is still plenty of time for you!!! Keep doing everything you can to get the baby turned, my situation is different.

... which I've already said - and I'm not on the painkillers today! Apologies for baby brain! Meh.

Sorry to hear that OoonaghBhuna. I didn't realise we were at that stage where baby was adopting final positions.

I'm going to go and hang upside down of the couch if that's the case. I've also bought a swimming costume and am prepared to brave it out and do handstands in the pool.

I had a home visit from the MW this morning.The baby has moved from oblique breech to transverse breech. She said that because of this that it is unlikely that the baby will move around to engage, and she also said that even if it did I would still be at risk of a cord prolapse.Great.I have weekly appointments now until I go in for the section on the 14th July.

Cor blimey, I think I've even managed to forget to post on here

Sheena - lol @ Yoni - she's obviously been reading Ina May Gaskin's books.

Not feeling anywhere near ready here. I know that we pretty much have everything from last time so haven't needed to buy stuff BUT think I'd have been more organised if I'd had to go out and get xyz.

Hoping to get dh to get baby clothes out of loft tomorrow so they can be washed and put away. Need to sort out somewhere to put my stock where Erin isn't gonna grab it then we can move the cot into our room.

Feeling a bit tight on money here tbh...was planning on starting maternity leave at 29 weeks but haven't done so yet as too much to do still so not getting the Maternity Allowance yet that I was expecting to have.

Also thinking of packing a 'hospital bag' too. Hoping for a homebirth but should have one 'just in case' but also figured it would be much easier anyway as all the stuff will be in one place then and I won't have to shout at dh for being useless at finding stuff

Thanks Yank and Oonagh, I don't feel as bad now about my total lack of preparation.

Apparently Yoni is an ancient sanskrit word. One of her gems was "in labour, think with your yoni, not your brain" Didn't know whether to laugh or cry - now was that my yoni responding or my brain?

Sheena- there have been some threads on mumsnet about hospital bags, they give great advice on what to pack. Dont worry about buying loads of stuff for the. As long as you have some clothes and somewhere for the baby to sleep you will be fine. The baby will be with you most of the time anyway. We never had a nursery for DD1 when she went in to a toddler bed at 18 months we then decorated the room.
What is YONI I have never heard that one before!!!!!!

Yank- LOL at muslim cloths, you would think that they would do a spell check on the computer.....

Im just back from my DD1s first ballet show,she is in the pre school group and was a teddy bear, she was fab and I could have balled my eyes out. It was a lovely show, all age groups and abilities.

Have a good weekend everyone X

Well I'm the same, but that floppy baby belly was gnawing away at me! I was almost better and totally fecked my pelvis for another three months!

Yoni? Well, at least it wasn't 'front bum' or 'lady willy'.

Hawkmoth, I am guffawing loudly at the idea of me doing situps. I don't think I'll be susceptible to any pressure to 'get back in shape'...the only shape I have to get back to is 'round and lumpy'.

Sheena, I'm doing NCT at the moment and we have the same feeling of underpreparedness. Our teacher made all the men tell one thing they'd done for the baby. The other men said stuff like 'finished the extension on the house' and 'hand made the furniture for the nursery' and similarly giant/complex tasks. My DH said 'I've stripped some wallpaper in the spare room and bought a Led Zeppelin babygro'. Our tester pot of paint hasn't even been opened!

NCT also gave us a list of stuff for our hospital bags. One item is 'Muslim cloths'. I might have snurked a bit.

How did you keep a straight face @ 'YONI'?

YONI

What did she say instead of VAGINA????

Hello all,

sorry I haven't posted for ages - work has been mental (2 more weeks to go; can't decide if that's too scary for words or an utter relief!) and we've been busy with a short sharp shock NCT antenatal course.

It took me ages to get over the woman who ran the classes - she had a problem with the word "vagina". Quite how you discuss labour and birth without refering to the vagina is beyond me . Personally I don't think she has one

The next shock was quite how underprepared we are compared to everyone else in the class. We have emptied the spare room (sort of -save for some charity bags) and painted some splodges on the walls with tester pots. Don't like any of the colours we picked.

We've bought precisely nothing for the baby yet; fortunately my darling students bought me a little blanket with a hood, some mits and bootees, so at least we can wrap him/her up a bit

The midwife hinted to DH that perhaps he should help me organise a hospital bag (just in case - as we are planning a home birth). Neither of us has a clue what should be in this hospital bag - both useless

I think we are in total denial. TBH I'd quite like to be the other side now, then at least I'd be able to work out what I should be doing and what I need to be doing it

And I wouldn't have heartburn, back ache, a numb leg, that difficulty with weeing thing etc etc etc...

Anyone else find themselves in a similar unprepared predicament with 6 weeks to go?

Well done Yank. She sounds as though she is not really suited to community midwifery. Strike that- midwifery full stop. I mean, you need a modicum of empathy in the job, don't you?

Just remember... the SPD will only go away after birth IF you are looked after properly during labour, particularly the pushing stage AND you give yourself time after the baby - don't suddenly start doing housework, don't push a pram or shopping trolley, don't lug a carseat about, and don't think "I feel fat, time to do sit-ups". I did all those things and it took bloody ages to get better!

However... look out for a miraculous improvement when baby engages and is no longer pressing on the rim of your pelvis. I was like a spring lamb in the couple of weeks before I gave birth - went to the pub every night, spent three hours sipping bitter at a beer festival - it was LOVELY!

Hawkmoth, there was a certainly bit of tearing up, and I think my voice went a bit shaky a few times. I was certainly in a puddle right after hanging up, immediately phoned DH and burst into tears. But then had to laugh when he said 'well you told her her fortune, didn'tcha' in his crazy East End geezer voice.

becksydee, thanks for the advice on the wrists! I've got a list of stuff for DH to do this weekend to prepare for me being on my own. Suggestions on disposable cutlery/ready meals especially noted. The worst pain seems to come from <whispers> wiping myself...because of how I have to angle my wrist. That and reaching under the car seat to adjust it after DH has been driving. I can drive in my splints, but wouldn't do more than 20 minutes because of fingers cramping up from the awkward way I have to grip the wheel.

Am seeing the GP again Monday, but am thinking there's not much more he can do other than another steroid injection (which didn't help the first time). I really really hope it will turn out to be pregnancy related, and that this and the SPD will magically go away once I give birth.

YanknCock... how the hell did you not dissolve into tears and hang up? I know I would have done. I am very poor at confrontations such as that, especially over the phone. At least in person I can just about manage a raised eyebrow. Well done!

I do hope it gets sorted soon.

I also second your thoughts on feeling useless. My parents are taking DD away for a week on their holiday so I can have some rest from her. I'll be sooo lonely!

I had an important concert with band last night and I couldn't carry anything, and had to take the maximum painkillers to go, so played and felt like I was in a bubble of warm water! Then when we got home my legs were horribly swollen... I hate doing nothing, but it looks like being the only sensible option

I'm currently on the phone to the ocuncil tax office because I sent my payment with the wrong reference number (second time this pregnancy) and so they're threatening us with a summons! I wish at least some part of my body would work properly!!!

Plus baby is pretty obviously tranverse/oblique - with his bloody head poking out just under my ribs at the right. I'm going to go swimming and do handstands in the pool to get him to turn - it's most uncomfortable!

waves to BabyLady - another due date buddy i think mine will probably turn up in september as well, but didn't want to join 2 threads - spend too much time on here as it is!

- yank - that's awful!!! well done you for telling her why you didn't want any more contact with her though.

also, whilst i'm writing a message, re: the de quervain's - i've had tenosynovitis (which is basically the same thing as de quervain's except not localised around the thumb) in my right hand/wrist for about 8 years now & just wanted to say you're doing all the right things, but try and be a bit patient too (i know it's really difficult and frustrating). IME the first flare up is the worst, it took me a good few weeks to get much function back in my hand the first time, but it did happen eventually.

do whatever you need to do to minimise the impact on your hands whilst your DH is away - if that means paper plates, disposable cutlery, ready meals and cutting down on washing your hair then so be it. i'd also recommend planning your wardrobe so you don't have to do up any buttons or zips - there's very little that's more frustrating than being desperate for a wee and not being able to get your trousers undone!

have just chucked a forkful of paella down my top, serves me right for trying to eat and type at the same time. oh well, back to work - 7 weeks, 2.5 days til maternity leave and counting!

Hi ladies, thought I should do a quick drop in. I am actually on the Sept thread but official due date is 26 August. I think it is maybe 5 days early and knowing how first babies are normally late I am thinking it will be September. You never know though!!

Hope everyone is well. I bought my pram the other day - went with a Phil & Teds Sport as I couldn't handle the thought of forking out for another expensive pram when we manage to get around to the second.

Enjoy your weekends everyone

Have started a new thread about stupid midwife...you know how I've been waiting for the call to tell me who I'd be seeing? Well, the MW I never wanted to hear from again just phoned me, and it freaked me out---BUT, I managed to keep it together and tell her what I thought!

Thank god for antidpressants...I seriously could not have handled this a few months ago.

That's brilliant Kitkat, thanks for all that info xx

Valz,

Dimensions for the kolcraft tandem are...

When open with the seats in a backward facing position:

136cm from front wheel to handle
104cm High
64cms wide (across rear wheels)

When folded with the front seat on rear facing with back seat strapped on after it had been folded and the whole lot laid down:

40cm High
44cms Long
64cms wide(across wheels still)

Heinz I love the Galaxy - had a scare with mine a while back when I had a gearbox problem and immediatley started looking for one the same.

I currently have all 3 kids in the middle row, youngest in the middle - I can reach him from the drivers seat which is useful.

I can actually get in the car and stand in from of the children when i'm strapping them in - even when i'm this pregnant!

My plan when the baby is born is to put the oldest child in the 3rd row seat - easiest to reach that carseat for strapping in - put buggy next to her. Put baby next to me in the front and have dc 2 and 3 on the middle row with a seat for dp when he's in the car with me. Obviously dd1 can go in the middle row when dp is not going to be in the car but actually she loves sitting in the "boot".

The good thing about it is that all of the seats can be removed in any combination, all the seats fold down and flip mostly out of the way if you need them too, they all recline like front seats and slide backwards and forwards. So it makes fitting carseats in them quite easy. Mine has a lap belt in the middle seat but there are several seats by Britax that will fit on a lap belt. Even with all the seats in you can still fit in a cosatto duet lite in the boot space, but they cannot be pushed one handed.

The only negative I can find with my car is the fuel consumption - but the diesels are much better than the petrols which is what i've got

If you are looking at one check that the windows all work properly, that the central locking does lock all the doors, and that the key for the ignition is the same as the doors - if its been broken into through the drivers door you end up with a different key. Also check all the keys will start the car because they have to be coded in if not and probably pay about £50.00 and its hassle

If you are using a Phil & Teds is should have plenty of roomn in the space where seat 7 goes.

trixy glad a decision has been made, are you going to do the lunch another time then?

I started mat leave last week, dead on 29 weeks...but had been off the entire time due to hyperemesis, depression, and SPD anyway, so wasn't a huge shock!

All I keep thinking now is, I can't wait to be not pregnant anymore and get my strength back. I am SO tired of being useless! I want to be my efficient, organised, strong-as-a-pack-horse self. It is so annoying having to ask DH to do everything remotely physical, especially when he's exhausted after long days at work.

DH is freaking out a bit because I'm on my own all next week while he's hours away at a course in Bristol. He keeps saying he doesn't want to go, but his company has paid loads for him to do this so he can't back out (and I don't want him to). Maybe I should get some paper plates to eat off? Damn stoneware dishes are so heavy, I can't wash them without killing my wrists! Must also remember to do a big shop before he goes as I can't carry stupid groceries. Arrgghhh, useless!

Hey biskybat, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha and some more ha ha !! Congrats! Good to hear from you again

kitkat, was just wondering about Galaxy because we're thinking of changing to one, was wondering how well four kids and a double buggy would fit in? Thanks for that link

trixy I'm glad you've got time off from work sorted. I loved my Micralite but need a double buggy now hence selling it.

Already have a micralite toro thanks heinz. I think it's fab, do you not like it?

Well my boss and HR agreed that I shouldn't be in so I was originally going to work from home, but HR then decided that they didn't want to set a precedent by allowing that, so i'm officially off sick next week although it will be down as pregnancy related so won't be counted.

Are all you chatty lot on mat leave now as well?

Hiya Heinz, Yep I've got a Galaxy - what else could one expect from a chocolate addict

I've taken one of the rear seats out so its a 6 seater at the mo and I can get my single buggy in without collapsing it - how lazy am I!!

LOL at the seats facing away too!

I have a material link here

Some very gorgeous patterns Not necessarily cheap tho

Good news from your gp too.

sorry for the hijack!

but just had to jump on here and wish Heinz loads of luck. Was looking in Antenatal clubs and saw your name under due in August. Not sure if you remember but I was biskybat and we were worried about being pregnant...you were, I wasn't. However we had a little accident in march and now I am due on boxing day DH has such bad timing

Anyway hope everything goes well for you, will be thinking of you come August

kitkat, I am LOVING that buggy!! I like the fact you can face both seats either towards you or away from you, towards each other, but this bit made me giggle OR away backs facing each other!! LOL Am I right in thinking you have a Ford Galaxy or did I dream it?

Is anyone thinking about buying a Micralite Toro? I've got one that I'm going to stick on ebay next week. Thought I'd ask here first.

ready, I'm glad your scan went well, SO lovely having a boy and a girl

Longtall and Cairns, I haven't been feeling sick but have been waking at 4am feeling hungry grrrr. Been having to come downstairs and eat toast! Think I might just take a slice of cake up and leave it by my bed. OMGGGGGGGGGG I'm getting SO fat, I know it's allowed, but my stepmum posted a photo of me taken at the weekend on facebook and I was gobsmacked! DH gave me a right telling off for exclaiming at myself

Swine flu scare.... I phoned my GP this morning who was great and reassured me that unless I'm in direct contact with someone with swine flu I'm really at very little risk. He also said that although that poor lady and her baby died in Scotland, had she have not had any underlying condition she would have survived. He also said that swine flu isn't even as severe as 'normal' flu. SO am feeling much happier. LOVELY GP

Hi Valz, The Kolcraft arrived today, I won it on ebay on monday. Thee seem to be as many ways to fold it as there are seat positions, It kind of depends on how many bits you take off lol! I will have a play with it tonite and post the dimensions later tonite. I have to say tho that I am quite impressed with it so far.

It arrived at 2.20 this afternoon completely in pieces, I had been warned I would need a screwdriver to put it together, I put the whole thing together in 20 mins and decided to try it out on the school run, so I put dd2 who is 3.5 in the front seat and ds 18mnths in the back seat and then thought omg I'm never going to be able to push that!!!

It is heavy BUT it's weird because it pushes more easily than any other double I have tried, made it to the school in record time and dd says its really comfortable too.

The car seat bracket fits on the same way as the seats - a button each side and it just pops on/off, then you drop your carseat on and it has a strap to go around the carseat like you get in the trolleys that take carseats.

Very impressed so far I have to say.

Thoughtform I posted this on a while ago on the only baby shower I have attended:

Well - the one I went to they have been doing them for a while as a group. Before they all had small kids they involved a nice lunch and copious bottles of sparkling pink wine for the non-pregnants.

This one was supposed to be in the park but due to the weather was in someones house. She is having a girl so it was all pink balloons, pink flowers, pink cakes and pink sparkling drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Everyone left their children at home and we sat around gossiping, eating and drinking. Everyone brought a present for the baby and the Mum (something small), they were all wrapped beautifully and she opened them all and we ooh-ed and ahh-ed. Just a good excuse to get together I think, girlie and very fun.

the twin iCandy buggy would be a pear, i think (have spent far too long looking at their website it would seem!)

the annoying thing about iCandy is that you can't buy online, but if you e-mail the various stockists and ask for their best price most will let you order over the phone with a credit card. got my iCandy cherry from here, they charge £10 delivery and will hold onto it until you want it, just have to phone them the day before you want it delivered

thanks ladies

kitkat where did you buy you kolcraft? i had also looked at it but the dimensions it gave on the website where so small i assumed they werent in centimetres. im not sure if you have it yet but maybe you know what the unfolded dimensions are? also on the demo video it shows the lady putting the car seat into the frame, does it clip in to secure the seat or does the seat just sit on the frame?

ready im not too bad yet, still manage to lie on me back, bump isnt too big really for the size of babies, im expecting to increase rapidly in the next month. the movements is so freaky to look at, i could watch it all day, would just love to know what they be up to in there. think ive been having a few braxton hicks contractions, every so often i get a real tightening feeling very low down, not painful but a bit uncomfortable. or maybe its just the pressure of the babies, been a first timer im unsure.

Valz We have gone for the powertwin pro as we wanted a travel system and didnt want a side by side buggy.
I saw a mum out the other day with newborn twins and they had an icandy buggy not sure which one though It didnt look as long as the jane so may be worth a look?
Hope the scan goes well tomorrow they have started scanning me with me lay on my side as my bump is so big it makes me feel lightheaded if I have to lie on my back lol

I'm deeply bored now, and unable to muster any motivation. Bah!

Hi Valz, I've just bought a kolcraft contours options tandem duo - bit of a mouthful, Its an inline twin, and comes with one car seat adapter - its like a frame that clips on instead of the seat to plonk the carseat in

You can buy an additional bracket to use two carseats, I'm not sure just how small you need it to go but it does fold up pretty small.

this page shows the buggy (the red one) and the bracket

Hi Ladies

hope everything is well with you all.

ready glad to hear the scan went well, ive another one tomorrow and cannot wait to see my little bambinos again. what pram have you went for?

Went looking for baby stuff yesterday, and ive discovered that my boot although spacious hasnt a deep enough opening and will only be able to take side by side buggies. was really hoping to get a travel system one that the car seats clip into. its the jane powertwin that wouldnt fit, so ive just checked the folded dimensions of the zoom tandem and mama+papa duette and both are slightly bigger the the Jane.

Anyone any other suggestions of twin buggies with option to clip in car seat?

Thanks

Quick update from me..

I think I posted they've started me on Metformin for the Gestational Diabetes, however, I don't know if anyone else is aware about Colostrum Harvesting - something my Midwife brought up in last weeks antenatal class. Anyway, I asked at my appointment last week, and was told that you just express from 36 weeks onwards, store the colostrum (freeze), and the baby gets it from birth - as otherwise potentially the blood sugar drop could mean baby ends up on formula. So if there's anyone here who also has GD, then definitely ask about it. It's being done free at my hospital for anyone at the diabetes clinic.

Thought it was worth mentioning, anyway.

Also, I asked a few pages back, what exactly does a baby shower involve? I don't think I got any replies, but I'm still wondering - I have a couple of friends who keep asking, and to be honest, I've no idea. Any help welcomed, anyway!

Well Im back from my scan and all was good
The consultant agrees with the 20 week scan that they are a boy and a girl but they have managed to swap places since the 20 week scan lol
The boy is now on the bottom and head first (hope he stays that way!) and is estimated at 3lbs 8oz and the little girl is transverse and estimated at 3lb 4oz
I have to go back in 4 weeks for another scan and she said we will discuss the birth then, its really starting to feel real now that we are actually having two babies and that they will be here very soon

Morning All,

Hawk - I totally understand where you are coming from re the replacement not doing the job as well as you - makes you feel like all the effort you put in was worth it and maybe they will appreciate you more now you are gone.

Yank - great news on the scan, very exciting. Would love to see the LO now, but another 9 weeks to go!

Trixy - I would stay away too, not worth the risk.

Someone just gave me a gym ball to sit on at my desk - very comfortable and am hoping it will help with the aches and pains around my pelvis .

Hi guys - cairns - yes, I've been feeling sick in the middle of the night too! The last thing you need, as if sleeping isn't hard enough. On a couple of occasions (just a couple) I've even got up at 4am-ish to eat something. The cat looks at me like I'm mad... Mind you, he'll just have to get used to me being up at all hours...

Morning all x

Trixy You are probably best to stay away although its disappointing you would never forgive yourself if you didnt take the precaution and something happened.

Yank Glad the scan was good and that you got some extra piccies we nearly had one done but I just couldnt bear to part with that kind of money when I have regular scans anyway lol

Heinz Hope you have nothing to worry about, just make sure you are careful and maybe carry round some antibac gel in your handbag for regular use by you and the kids?

Well it was my Birthday yesterday and DP was willing to take me anywhere I wanted but being the size of a house and having the stomach space of a mouse I settled on a chinese takeaway lol DS chose me a Birthday cake and was alot excited about the whole event than myself lol.
The government though bless them saw fit to give me a present- my HiP was paid in to my account yesterday lol I was actually quite impressed as I only sent the form off 9 days ago

Have a consultant appointment today so will get another peep at the little ones and see how much they have grown again also gonna talk to her about the fact I dont want an epidural if I have a natural labour (dont think she will be impressed lol)

Hope you all have a great day x

Yikes about all of the swine flu scares. TBH when the whole pandemic thing was announced that was one of my biggest fears as it isn;t great for pregnant women to even get normal flu. Given the news had decreased I think wrongly assumed it had gone away.....

yank lovely news regarding the scan , and the extra piccies too.

Up late here (for once) although will be hitting the sack in a minute. I too am uncomfortable and have the lack of 'auto-turn' issue anymore.

One thing that seems to have reappeared is nausea, particularly at night and in the middle of the night too, not being sick yet, but I do feel rotten again. I didn;t get this in late pregnancy with DS, any of you other ladies experiencing it (ie MS that went away and now come back again!)Yuck

anyhow, bed is now calling.. night night all

Hiya Heinz, All too worrying for me << heading for chocolate>> Deffo ring gp, If you trust his advice and can get past the "mrs ravens". Let us know what they say, I live in swampyville but we've now had one school shut in the county and one case in the city...

Trix, I know its majorly dissapointing to miss your leaving do after being there so long and you have every right to be peed off, I would be gutted, but in all honesty would it not be better to have a special baby welcoming lunch of some description once baby is born and the whole scare is over?

Rather than thinking that you just left one day and that was that, can you not postpone the do?

Have it in another month or once the baby is born so that everyone gets to see bubs too?

Bet you'd get some gorgeous prezzies for bubs

Yank, Your Scan sounds fab

Yank great news about your 3D scan! Sounded amazing and what a lovely lovely consultant!

Swine flu scare here too....... a friend has been in contact with several people with swine flu at a school she works at just up the road from here. Her daughter is in my son's yr and her son is in my DS2's class! I was chatting with her on Friday and she was saying she wasn't too worried and hadn't been taking the Tamiflu. Apparently yesterday her DD had come down with a fever!

Am wondering what's the best thing to do. There's differing advise on the net about it. I might give my GP a ring in the morning to be on the safe side.

trixy, I'd probably stay away too if I could get away with it.

Scan was great. Baby is measuring 31+6 (though I am 30+1). Consultant doing the scan said he reckoned he'd be at least 8lbs!

Oddly enough, I thought the man doing the scan looked familiar, and once I saw his name (after we'd left) I realised it was the consultant I saw last September after my miscarriage. Lovely guy, wish I could have him for my doctor all the time!

He gave us loads of extra printed pictures and a CD rom with all the pics and little video clips, which was way more than what we paid for (our package was for 4 colour images only). I did say something, and he just grinned and said 'well as long as you don't tell my boss....'.

Baby has a very chubby face and spent most of the time with his hands in his mouth or on his nether regions (that's our boy...). He has big feet and what look to be rather large testicles! His head is down and his back is out, so here's hoping he stays that way. Despite being prodded a lot, he didn't move too much, despite a sugary dessert and diet coke. He just yawned at us and curled up in a little ball. I am so in love.

I posted another thread about it and everyone said I shouldn't go in. I'm going to miss my leaving presentation and lunch though .

I think staying away would be for the best. Could you ask to work from home for the week?

Ok... This is what I was looking for - it doesn't say why this poor lady was induced 11 weeks early, whether it was because of another health issue or if it was because she already had swine flu. But! I am sorry to say I would not want to risk going into work after reading THIS

Do Not Go In!!! Sorry, but in your situation I would ring in sick. Personally I would invent a v & d incident, that would mean you would need to be off work for 72 hrs after the last scary toilet incident - should last you out until your maternity leave kicks in. There probably is some health and safety rule somewhere that says you don't have to go in but I don't know the ins and outs of it. Just going to go and check something that might be relevant - back in a bit...

I would stay away if it's not too much of a problem, I think, trixy. There was someone on the news the other day who said that swine flu (like any flu) is not the best thing to contract in late pregnancy.

Bo**ocks, got into work this morning to find that alcohol hand gel stuff they have in hospitals all over the place. There have been 2 confirmed swine flu cases from my work.

I told my DH and parents when I got home and they were horrified I hadn't come home straight away. It never even occured to me that I shouldn't be at work.

WWYD, I only have 5 working days left at work before I leave for good, should i stay away or not?

Same here becksydee only 10 weeks left, and I know it's going to fly by especially with the school hols looming.
yank you'll be at your scan now, hope lo is moving around for you

god, how rubbish am i? (hypothetical question only, no need to all answer!) haven't been on here for ages!

yank - i find a can of diet coke gets mine moving, especially if it's nice and cold. have fun!

can't believe i've only got 10 weeks to go

quixotic am I allowed to be smug that the person covering for me has been updating the website (part of my job) and has made an arse of it? Makes me feel ever so slightly less redundant!

Good Luck Yank - let us know how you go.

I am SO over being at work - just sitting here counting down the days (26) til I finish and not doing much. The person who is replacing me is here and is doing all my work. I should not complain as it is not hard, just dull!

Hawkmoth, that's soooo weird you say that about 'auto-turn' not happening at night anymore...I was just thinking the same thing this morning when I woke up and realised I'd apparently not moved all night! Yeeouch on the hips....

4 hours till scan time. Plotting what I can eat to make the little bugger move, as he was very lazy at other scans.

<<prods belly>>

Ah, tonight is back to DP cooking sausage and oven chips! My body has turned off the auto-turn at night, so I wake every couple of hours to heave myself over, with subsequent hip pain from being a dead weight!

Have noticed that I'm starting to LOOK better for being off work, which is a small bonus!

Good luck with your scan tonight Yankncock... sounds like fun

Going to ring the AN clinic to make sure they have cancelled my next appointment, and to see if I had a UTI when I went last week (I suspect the +++ leucocytes was due to me being half asleep and using a pot that the MW encouraged me to recycle - I'm minging!).

Hi everyone, back to typing in splints (and getting better at it!). Wrists did not get better with 3 days rest from laptop, so I'll be buggered if I'm going to forego mumsnet. Nothing seems to help, not steroid shot, not arnica, not rest, not splints. Made appt to see GP again on Monday.

Have started NCT classes and was asked to pick something out of a bag that weighed 2 pounds, and I had to let it drop because my wrists gave up! Getting scared now, dropping baby is not an option!

NCT classes seem good fun. There are two of us due end of August, and everyone else is in July so will be waiting a while for that reunion. Haven't quite figured out if we'll be the type of group to meet up later, but am kind of hoping so.

Still waiting to hear from community supervisor of midwives where/with whom I'll be having appointments. Am supposed to be going next Weds.

DH and I finally stopped waffling and decided to have a 3D scan. Called this morning, and they'd had a cancellation so we are going tonight! We went for the cheapo option (£60), really just want to see what position he's in, if my placenta has moved higher, what the hell he's doing in there, and re-confirm it IS a 'he'! Only 7.5 hours to go now, am very excited.

SPD back to behaving itself, so long as I don't walk loads. Didn't go to osteo last week or this week.

Don't know about everyone else, but I've been taken Sanatogen prenatal vits + Omega 3 (purchased in bulk at Boots during their 3 for 2 offer) since the beginning and haven't felt at all deficient this time. If I forget to take them for a few days, I certainly notice the difference. The iron in them doesn't seem to have interfered with my innards at all, so maybe they've reformulated it since my last pregnancy to make it more tolerable?

lol at your dh quixotic and nellyup they just don't get it some times do they

Thanks kitkat I remember spatone from my last pg, 7 years ago.

Had a good nights sleep last night, I drank a banana milkshake before bed and had no cramps all night.

Morning.... I had a lovely time! I had a brow wax and a lash tint and then a makeover. They gave us a £20 voucher to spend and 10% off everything and then forgot to charge me for the treatments, so I got a lovely honey almond facial scrub. She gave me "smoky eyes", did not buy any of the makeup as cannot see there being any call for those types of eyes anytime soon. Had chocolate ice cream for dinner, got home and DH said "what happened to your eyes, have you been crying". Ah well! I did not really feel like me with them on anyway! LOL nellyup sounds familiar!

So goddamn tired!!
Please tell me this PG is nearly over.... <<sigh>>

quixotic hope you enjoyed your evening. Last makeover I had, my charming dh said it looked like I'd been punched in the face

Hi vjay, don't forget that spatone kicks in a lot quicker than iron tablets if you're desperate Hope you're feeling better soon.

Oonagh, I am feeling really uncomfortable too, saw consultant last week who just kept saying baby is VERY well grown. Baby is also doing gymnastics in there! I'm starting to feel really bruised.

Blimey hawk - you're maling me feel guilty for serving up chicken rice and veggies for my kids tonight even if it is their favourite. Sounds yummy.

Hawkmoth I like the sound of honey cake yum! I have man eyebrows I cant be bothered to pluck or wax at the minute.

I am really uncomfortable, the baby is kicking hard and its sore.My community MW is calling tomorrow so I am looking forward to having a chat with her. I walked up to school to collect DD! and it flet like someone was stabbing my in the pelvis with every step. Owwwwwww

Dinner was alright... got cramp in BOTH hands making the cake!!! And had to sit down afterwards!

Have fun tonight Quixotic. Take heart that I spent an hour today ridding myself of man-eyebrows and DP hasn't noticed at all.

I was going to ask how long the tablets take to kick in, I take it it's about a week?
hawkmouth your dinner sounds so yummy, I just don't have the energy to cook like that at the mo.
quixotic have fun tonight,

Ah Hawkmoth being at home sounds so much better than being at work.

Vjay I started to take iron about a week ago and already feel 100 times better, I was SO tired - hope the tablets kick in soon.

Off to an event at the Benefit shop tonight, canapes and makeovers - hopefully I will emerge a new woman ! Last time I had a makeover DH could not look at me til I washed my face as he said I looked like a drag queen (admittedly she did put blue eyeshadow and a lot of foundation, a huge change from my usual no make-up at all look!)

Sorry to hear your sad news mo2b, hope all goes well for you from now on in.

Now I'm off work my daytime SPD isn't too bad. I'm not getting in and out of cars, rushing to get dressed etc. Nights have started to get bad though. Part of me longs for the super kingsize I had all to myself last time where rolling over actually meant rolling like a log and not lift-grunt-roll-tuck-ow-collapse-ow.

DD got stung by a bee yesterday. She won't tell me what happened so I suspect she picked it up and gave it a good squeeze. I honestly have never heard a noise quite like the shriek she let out. Blood-curdling doesn't touch it!

VJay hope you soon start feeling better. It's horrid being anaemic.

Well, back off to the kitchen. Making honey cake and chicken casserole (of sorts) for tea... although considered a boycott when DP texted last night with "Oven on please". Hmm!!!!!

thanks hellhath, I can't seem to pinpoint mine down. It hurt when I went to bed last night . then all through the night plus I had lots of cramps in my legs last night.
Oh well! My mw has just rang to say my iron levels are low, I rang 2 weeks ago to say how tired I've been, but atleast I've got some iron tablets coming now

Vjay, my SPD is really good today.

I think it's different for everyone but I have found if I don't:

push heavy 2 year old in pram
push heavy supermarket trolleys
hoover/mop floors
run
side-step etc
commute on london underground daily

it's actually pretty good and I feel almost normal!!

Morning, my spd is really painful today but I find that it comes and goes, somedays I have it and somedays it's barely there, is that how the rest of you experience it?

It's so nice up here today I'd love to sit outside, but a) I'll get too hot and grumpy, and b) I've got too much studying to do.

Hello

Mumto2boys-- nice to hear from you, so sad to hear of your loss, what a terrible time you've had, so unfair.
Hope you can relax and enjoy your new pregnancy, CONGRATULATIONS,How many weeks are you now? I used to be on the pg after m/c thread, and it was so supportive and helpful.

Yankin-- good on you for getting rid of that midwife, you don't need her. I sacked a midwife in labour, well dh did, she was so barky and rude, and incompetent. you need to find people you click with.

Oonaghbhuna---WOW 14th july you have a date for your baby, how exciting.

yesterday the baby seemed to move down lower, loads of pressure now lower down, and I even seemed to have some contractions, braxton hics but scary none the less, i'm not ready for this baby yet.

Hi everybody I just won the double buggy I wanted on ebay .

I am soooo hoping its going to be alright when it turns up, the last buggy I bought on ebay turned up absolutly minging and smeared in farleys rusk, the woman had put in the ad that she had been using it for her 6 week old ??? I don't think so!

I can't be that unlucky twice

Welcome Lunaticmamma, everybody welcome

Clairedaz EDD ??? (((GIRL!)))
Clare1234 EDD ????
Flibertywidget EDD ??? (dd 21mnths)
Skydancer EDD 27th July
2HotCrossBunsAnd1InTheOven EDD 28th July (DS 3.7 DS 1.9) (((GIRL!))))
pussface EDD 29th July (DSS 14, DD 6mo)
Uki EDD 29th July (DS3,DS1) ((((GIRL))))
Nandos EDD 30th July (((BOY!)))
Hope88 EDD 1st Aug (First and it's a BOY!)
BumpVLump EDD 1st Aug (first) (((GIRL!)))
Cheekymonkey EDD 1st Aug (DS)
traceybath EDD 1st Aug (DS4, DS14m) (((GIRL!)))
lalaRachel EDD 1st Aug (first) (((SURPRISE!)))
Forester EDD 2nd Aug (first) (((GIRL!)))
Specialoffer EDD 2nd Aug (DS16m)
nellyup EDD 2nd aug (DD3, DS4)
trixymalixy EDD 2nd Aug (DS 2) (((SURPRISE!)))
sheenaisapunkrocker EDD 2nd Aug
faerieprincess EDD 3rd Aug (DS20m)
gemdangracie EDD 3rd Aug (DD2)
itsamiracle EDD 3rd Aug (DS2)
babylanguagelearner EDD 3rd Aug (DS 12m)
Rachel1963 EDD 3rd Aug (DS 3.1) (((SURPRISE!)))
Oonaghbhuna EDD 3rd August (DD1 3.6,DD2,2) ((((BOY!))))
Mellin EDD 3rd August (DD 2.4)
LeninGrad EDD 4th Aug (DS 2.9) (((SURPRISE!)))
Cairns EDD 4th Aug (DS 18m) (((SURPRISE!)))
moosecat1 EDD 4th Aug
Zorra EDD 4th Aug
TaleofTwoCities EDD 6th Aug (DS4,DD2.1) (((BOY!)))
nuttygirl EDD 6th Aug (((SURPRISE!)))
noodle12 EDD 6th Aug (DD 2.5)
PPorgy EDD 6th Aug
Scummymummy EDD 6th Aug
Gorgeous EDD 6th Aug 1 dc 2.5 yrs
fairylights EDD 7th Aug (DS2) (((SURPRISE!)))
Mayl EDD 7th Aug (DD DS)
lifesaboxochoccies EDD 7th Aug (ds 2.10)
Haribosmummy EDD 7th Aug
cakesandchocolate EDD 8th Aug
MammaDani EDD 8th Aug
Hunnybunnyaug09 EDD 8th Aug (first)
BabyBump2B EDD 9th Aug ((((GIRL))))
sweetiewrapper EDD 10th Aug
mama2leah EDD 10th Aug ( DD 9 Mnths)
MrsThePoint EDD 11th Aug (DS age 3) (((SURPRISE!)))
Lyra75 EDD 11th Aug (DS 16 months)
monkeyfeathers EDD 11th August (DS 8)
mamamila EDD 12th Aug ((GIRL))(DD 1.9. DS 16.9)
hencath EDD 12th Aug (first)
fairygirl3 EDD 12th Aug (DS, DS, DD)a
Hawkmoth EDD 12th Aug (DD3) (((BOY!)))
hippyme EDD 12th Aug
Kanuck EDD 12th Aug
Rozebud EDD 12th Aug
longtalljosie EDD 12th Aug ((GIRL!))
Fruitymum EDD 13th Aug DD1 3yrs old
Cazinski EDD 13th Aug
suwoodolf EDD 13th Aug (DD 7, DS 2)
Heinzsight EDD 13th Aug (DS1 12, DS2 9, DD 15 months) (((((((SURPRISE)))))))
Boogiewoo EDD 13th Aug
babycat EDD 14th Aug (DD)
Picante EDD 15th Aug (DD 2.7)
thecollection EDD 15th Aug (((Girl!)))
loopylou25 EDD 15th Aug (DD1 5 DD2 1)
thatsnotmypirate EDD 16th Aug (DS 19 months)
chocolatine EDD 17th Aug
InspectorGadget EDD 17th Aug
duchesse Edd 17th Aug (but I think 9th) DS 15, DD 13, DD 11
KitKatqueen EDD 18th Aug (3 DC) (((((BOY!!))))
Valz EDD 18th Aug
ThePippy EDD 19th Aug
WeAreStardust EDD 19th Aug
Lunaticmamma EDD 19th Aug (1 DC)
Beetlesbugsandbutterflies EDD 19TH Aug(DS3)
Beccylt EDD 20th Aug (1 DC)
motherof2boys EDD 20th Aug (ds1 6 ds2 5 )
MichaelaS EDD 20 Aug <<<<**NATHAN BORN**>>>> 1st May @24 +1
chrysanthemum EDD 20th Aug
quixotic EDD 20th Aug
May67 EDD 20th Aug (DD 3)
Cwtchy EDD 21st Aug (DD 15 mos)
HellHathNoFury 21st Aug (Will be DS2)
thoughtforms EDD 22nd Aug (((GIRL)))
Sushipaws EDD 22nd Aug (DD 21mo)
YanknCock EDD 25th Aug (((BOY!)))
rightbobbydazzler EDD 25th Aug DS3 DS6mths
VJay EDD 26th Aug (DS 6) (((BOY)))
becksydee EDD 26th Aug
Makipuppy EDD 26th August (first baby)
fustilarian EDD 27th Aug (DD 14mnths)
Mumof3tobe EDD 27th Aug (DS 5.2 & DD 3.5)
lea1980 EDD 27th aug (DS 19 months)(((GIRL)))
olivo EDD 27th Aug (DD 2.6)
readyfornumber2and3 EDD 27th Aug (DS) ((BOY & GIRL))
Iblamethepenguins EDD 31st Aug

MO2B, so sorry to hear about your loss. Wishing you love and sending you lots of positive vibes for this pregnancy. I hope you've had lots of support on here, there are woman who've been through the same awful experience, I hope they can help you in some way if you need it. Please come back to let us know how you're getting on x x x

MO2B - I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Seding you all my best wishes for this pregnancy.

Was going to come here and whinge and feel sorry for myself but after reading that post am going to go away and count my blessings...

Hi, may I join you?? My 2nd baby is due on the 19th August, all going well so far.

MOTB sorry to hear of your loss

Mo2b

Heartfelt congratulations and deepest condolences.

Keeping everything crossed for you. Hope you will keep in touch to update us on your beautiful babe.

What dreadful news, motheroftwoboys. I am so sorry. I really hope this pregnancy goes super well and brings some comfort.

Mo2b, so sorry for your loss. Wishing you all the best with this new pregnancy.

mo2b- i am so sorry to hear of your very sad loss.Wishing you all well in this pregnancy.

Sorry to hear of your loss mo2b

So sorry to hear that mo2b, wishing you all the very best for this pregnancy.

Sorry to hear of your loss mo2b and hoping that this pregnancy goes well for you.

Mof2B - So sorry to hear your news.

Wishing you the very very best for this PG.

HM

Oh goodness mo2b, how awful for you... So sorry you had to go through that.

Good to hear you're pregnant again. I hope you can relax a bit despite the worry you must be undergoing.

Hi all - just come back to you after sad time. 19 week scan showed baby had just died - end March. Battery of tests showed no reasons so we rely on faith and accept that some things are outside our control and that actually having a baby is a big deal and a miracle that it ever goes right (which of course it usually does).

Am actually pg again already so trying to be postive.

With very best wishes and hopes for you all. August is nearly here.

I can't contemplate wearing anything other than my H&M maternity skirt - I only take it off to wash it. I've got a work trip on Tuesday so I'll have to drag out my black dress which makes me look like I've got a cushion stuffed up my front.

Thanks for adding me Duchesse! I'm nearly at the end, so I'll have all your combined experience to work with..