Mumsnet Talk

The Not-list:

BESH BAYBEES

dontrythisathome, girl born March 25 2010.
Cheggers, twinz girlz, born April 2010.
FannyPriceless, boy, born June 8 2010.
CurlyCasper, girl, born June 24 2010.
CUNextTuesday, boy, born June 29 2010.
AlpinePony, boy, born 1 July 2010.
Carrots, boy, born July 2010.
IggyPiggy, girl, born July 2010.
Cosmosis, boy, born Sept 5 2010.
Backinthebox, boy, born Sept 7 2010.
Skatergrrrl, girl, born Sept 10 2010.
VAG, boy, born Oct 2 2010.
Silversky, boy, born Nov 1 2010.
SomethingSuitablyWitty, girl born Nov 2 2010.
Honeymoo, boy, born Nov 11 2010.
okiecokie, girl, born Nov 12 2010.
ReginaMonologue, boy, born Nov 13 2010.
Lightspaperstandback, boy, born Nov 14 2010.
Maswera, boy, born Dec 24 2010.
PollyPoo, girl, born Jan 5 2011.
MrsFC, boy, born Jan 7 2011.
ChoChoSan, girl, born 6 Feb 2011.
Ginhag, boy born 11 Feb 2011.
Muser, girl, born 15 Feb 2011.
CluckyKate, boy, born 18 Feb 2011.
Perfect Dromedary, boy, born 23rd February 2011.
Casserole, girl, born 19th March 2011.
Medee, girl, born 26th March 2011.
StiffyByng, girl, born 17th May 2011.
Scorpette, boy, born 21st May 2011.
Rocketleaf, girl, born 23rd May 2011.
TwinkleToes, girl, born 7th June 2011.
Laurielou, boy, born 9th June 2011.
Orchid, girl, born 24th June 2011.
Ginfox, loving the new mega-boobs, due 12th July.
LadyGoneGaga, girl, born 24 July 2011.
Mrbitey, boy, born 29th July 2011.
Macaroonmum, boy, born 28th July 2011.
Owlbooty, boy, born 18th August 2011.
Ocarina, girl, born 6th September 2011.
Mountie, boy, born 27th August 2011.
Truffkin, boy, born 25th November 2011.
Islegrin, boy, born 14th December 2011.

Need dates:

BarbiesBeaver, can't quite believe it, due Christmas Day
BrownB, Baybee passport-grabbing bitch, due 22nd January 2012
AlpinePony, Greedy Double-Esh Baybee Boy Grabbing Bitch, due 19th Feb 2012
Rollerbaby, No pink here, expecting boy due March 20th 2012
KitandKat, third time lucky baybee, due 12th April 2012
IveBeenExpectingYou (CockDodger), A very active baby girl, due March 28th 2012
Silver, hoping for an easier sneeze, due mid-July 2012
Starryeyedmole, regretting recently investing in scales

cakeandcava (32), approaching walrus proportions, DC1 EDD 21/10/12
blonderthanred (36), no sugar I'm sweet enough, DC1 EDD 6/11/12
FriendofDorothy (36) DC1 EDD 16/12/12
LauraPalmer (38) DC1 EDD 9/2/13
Queenrollo (37) DC2 EDD 10/2/13
CamelKnees (34) fat and fatigued DC2 EDD 22/04/2013
HaveALittleFaith (31), head down toilet, DC1 EDD 26/4/13
fertilityFTW (34), weepy and whiny, DC 1 EDD 21/5/13

Welcome to our new home!

Oooo looks snuggly in here!

<waddles in>

Well well well, a nice new thread. Thanks faife!

<tries to get comfortable> <fails>

ahem....yes there may have been a little typo at the end of the last thread....I am not 937, though I feel pretty ancient some days....

Oooh good job faithy

I like it in here. I particularly like the mini magnum vending machine (and I wonder why I weigh as much as a small hatchback already )

You're all welcome

<installs a milk dispenser>

Eurgh I feel rubbish. I rang into work to say I won't be in again tomorrow but should be back Thursday. Been left feeli crap because I'd agreed to cover a meeting a 2pm yesterday and obviously was in a&e instead. I am very tired and hormonal (the symptoms aren't as bad thanks to the antibiotics but I just feel rubbish. Reassure me please....?!

D'you know Faith - it took me a while to get my head round the fact that it's not worth feeling guilty if you can't work because you are ill, and I mean properly need to rest ill.
Before I was self-employed I worked for a right git who never appreciated me working through migraines etc. One day I requested light duties and he moaned - so I said 'alright, I'll do what i should do which is go home..you can cover my shift'.....and I went home.
That day I realised that it was really OK to be off sick when it's genuine.
You're bound to feel a bit bad that others have to cover you, but that because you are conscientious.

I give you permission to rest and get better without feeling guilty about it.

I hate hate hate being sick but yesterday I did realise that it's not just about my own Heath but the health of the baybee now. Clearly if I was that dehydrated and hadn't realised I had a UTI I wasn't looking. After myself well enough.

Thank you queenie

You're absolutely allowed to be sick and feel ill and be home! Don't feel guilty at all.
queenie that's a brilliant story -what did the git say when you left?

Day 2 of maternity leave, and I need to get myself into some kind of routine. This could go on for many weeks still, and today I didn't get dressed until about 2pm . I am decluttering a bit, but haven't done nearly as much as I planned (I am a champion of procrastination)... I'm also stuck in the house this week waiting for numerous baybee-related deliveries. At least when that is done I can go out and about a bit more next week...

Thank you both of you. I do feel bad about leaving them in the lurch but I could barely stand! I am so tired today, all I managed to do was run the dishwasher and do one load of washing and out another away. And see the midwife. Actuallly that's not bad!

cakey perhaps a week stuck at home is what you'll need to feel like you want to get out! Undefined amount of time to do stuff is the procrastinator's dream!

cake he didn't say anything......then a couple of months later I phoned in sick at 6am (was a paper shop, he was in early marking up rounds) to tell him i'd been up all night ill and wouldn't be in for my 8.30 shift. That meant he would have two hours to find someone to cover me. He hung up on me

The next time I was in was the following week, when I went in at 5.30am to help with the paper rounds.....come 9am it's obvious that his kids had mucked up their rounds and he's giving them a telling off. Still in 'dad' mode he turned and had a go at me about something. He got a very blunt reply about talking to me the way he did. He was very sheepish about it.
The thing is I was one of three competent staff he had on (and I should point out I was in the depths of getting my own business up and running so I was working a LOT of hours aside from this crappy job) and he couldn't afford to lose me, so I could be as blunt as I liked and if he wanted me to work the busiest three days of the week he had to keep me sweet.

I've not worked for anyone else in that capacity again....I'm not a good employee if the boss is taking liberties.....

DH has been a bit 'meh' today because he's got no work to keep him busy and has struggled to get going. I pointed out that's how I feel the three days a week when Ds is with his dad and I am home alone. I find it very hard to get motivated....

Ooh new fred! You have all been busy bees.

Work's a right old nuisance having to train someone, no time for sneaky MN checking or even just space to think. I keep having to explain myself - well obviously as I'm training someone - which is exhausting. Will be nice to finish in a couple of weeks though.

Good on you QR for making that decision when you needed to - something we don't always do.

Ooh shiny!
<marks place and settles in for the long haul>

I am off for 3 hours+ of GTT testing and my 28 week checks this morning. I have my patchwork and my Kindle with me. That should see me through.

Good luck Dor. When I had mine the nurse said after the drink, now the baby will start disco dancing and she was so right. I found it so hard to sit still! Hope you get a good result.

Nosey question, do you have to pay for that as well & is it expensive?

oh bum....I am fed up of feeling so damn nauseous in the mornings. It comes back for a few days and I feel awful....then it goes and I feel great and get loads done and have a brilliant appetite. And then it's back and I don't know what to do with myself....

Hope the GTT goes well dor and that you get a good result. What a bore all that sitting around is though....

Ice lollies queenie! Tends to help me get on top of the nausea.

Good luck for today dor hmm I wrote 'lick' initially which is rather different! good to hear you've got stuff to entertain you. I really want the new Marian Keyes book to hear about the last Waslh sister!

Sounds like are work blonde but I guess in some ways it's easier to be busy than bored at work when diffed.

I am glad again I have the day off. I'm just so tired and my kidneys ache. Chilled out day at home. Might just go to the village shops to the butcher and have plans to bake some scones.

Baby is definitely wriggling!! This part of the antenatal care is free. Thank goodness!

Hooray

GTT results all fine

Bollocks! They have just cancelled our flight

Will there be another one dor? Is because of bad weather?

That's great news, both the (quick) result and that it's free. Not so good about the flight though, what's happening?

I think from t'other place there was a technical fault with the plane but she's boarded another one hence the radio silence!

May I ask, are you all friends on t'other place or is there a secret ESH group?

There is or at least was a CRESH group... I am friends with bugs, queen, dor and norf in t'other place.

I am in London! At a friends house. Knackerd and starving but good!

Oh, glad you're ok Dor. Hopefully you're now having something to eat and they have a nice comfy spare bed!

Dor glad you managed to get to London, that the baby is wiggling, and that the results were fine! Excellent news all round.

I'm achey all over -did pregnancy yoga, so hoping it's a good ache. Time to toddle off to bed perhaps...

I am sleeping on a moderately comfy futon. Not sure if my back is going to like it tho! Night all x

Night night all - I'm also aching from either pregnancy yoga last night - or maybe just generally pregnancy. Hope you all sleep well.

Hmmm...I lost the Fred - couldn't comprehend the word 'baby' as PESH only have baybees...



If ya couldn't tell I'm a busy bee at the moment but I'm a happy bee except when I've got the differs grumps.

Hope all is swimmingly with everyone.

Welcome FTW!

Oops what an error!

I am back at work but (tmi) have already seen breakfast again and the casing of an antibiotic. I just hope some of it got into my blood stream! Eurgh.

Ooh I had a cheeky look on the appointment system and my scan is booked for 17th October. That seems like forever away! MSB is talking about a private scan to put our minds at ease in the mean time.

I had a private scan around 8 weeks. It was very much worth it. I'd had an earlier missed mc though, so was finding it difficult to handle the situation. Scan showed a healthy jellybean with a good heartbeat -was wonderful
I think you're almost at the 8 week stage now, right? I wouldn't really recommend doing anything before then, have seen too many heartbreaking is-it-or-isn't-it threads on here with people being scanned very early. At around 8 weeks it's much easier to get a clear idea of what is going on.

Yes according to my dates I'm 9 tomorrow. We do know of somewhere that does them so we'll get a price. I'm happy to wait for the nuchal til the NHS scan, I'd just like to see the baybee wriggling!

I appear to have hit a wall. So tired I can barely stay awake. MSB is working late. I may crawl into bed t he gets home,

I'm waiting for HOLB to get in. Was expecting him ages ago and then got a text to say he is sat at the scene of an accident with someone who was involved, looking after her until the ambulance arrives.
I really hope it's not too bad.......

Oh bless him! What a nice fella

MSB is now home, eating scones and watching football. I gave thrown up and feel a little better.

My doctor booked me for an 8 week scan just because of the problems we'd had - and we'd only been ttc for a year which is nothing compared to some of you. Is it worth asking your doctor Faith?

So... Had my consultants appt and they are pleased with my blood sugars... And... They've booked me in for Induction on 23 October! Aargh! So scared and excited and quite unable to think about anything else. So all being well I should have my baybee by the end of that week. Can't quite believe it!

the lady was alright apparently but in shock and couldn't stop shaking so HOLB got her to sit in our vehicle with him and kept her warm and talking. The police arrived, then a paramedic car - and HOLB said there was no ambulance even when he finally left so he thinks they probably weren't going to send one out as it appeared no-one was seriously hurt.

blonde oooo how exciting....mind you I'm awkward and would have insisted on the 29th or 30th hoping for a Hallowe'en birthday, but it's an important spiritual date in my calender.

faith you sound much like I did up until about halfway through week 10. I was SO tired.....10 hours at night, then wanting/needing to sleep int he afternoon. It's so hard, but hopefully you will start to feel a bit brighter soon.

I have my 20 week scan a week today. It feels very odd indeed to be saying that. It seems like time drags to 12 weeks and then starts to fly by!

This week I've been having to give serious thought to that thing at the end of Dec, because I find more than an hour walking around shops is my limit now and so I need to be prepared so i don't stress doing it all at the last minute!

Oh help I'm trapped in the office with a very annoying preggo woman! I'm now hiding elsewhere! it's a good job I'm diffed or I'd be ready to shoot myself! She's been off sick with SPD and come back on light duties. She talks about pregnancy and babies about 90% of the time!

Anything I say she replies with You wait til you're pregnant etc. I don't really know her but there's a temptation to say Actually I ruddy well am!

Wow blonde you'll be seeing your baybee really soon! How exciting! Do you have a birthing plan?

I can't believe you're 20 weeks now queenie! Are you going to find out what flavour you're having?

That's really nice of him Queenie. I thought they might suggest the 22nd which was my grandmother's birthday, and I nearly asked if it could be that day but then I thought, I don't want to get to 11.45pm and be stressing out about hitting the auspicious date, so maybe it's best if there is no pressure. Are you a pagan or is 31st of personal significance?

Faith did that woman know you'd been ttc? Either way it's pretty insensitive, sure people talk about their pregnancies but to say that is a bit off.

Previous conversation along the lines of: her 'Do you want kids?' Me: 'Yes but it's not always that simple is it?' so really insensitive actually. She's just in a pregnancy bubble. Bet she's a hun!

What a lovely fella HOLB is! bet she was glad GF was there for her.

blonde you're probably right re dates. DSis was due end of August and was induced in the end, she got keen on him being born 09/09/09! She was induced 08/09/09 and he was born the next morning! But the main thing is that baybee arrives safely.

Your man sounds lovely Queenie -what a scary situation to be in! And wow about 20 week scan coming up -time does start to fly after 12 weeks! Are you going to find out the sex?

Faith she sounds completely in her own world, but not sure if that's an excuse really -and really quite rude! Harping on about pregnancy and babies when someone has said 'it's not that easy' is so out of order!

blondie -exciting times! How does it feel to have an actual date? I can imagine in some ways it's quite nice, but in other ways, very scary. My due date is the 21st, so you may very well queue-jump me The not-knowing, it-could-happen-anytime feeling is starting to make its mark, although it is still a bit early, technically. At least the hospital bag is nearly ready now!

I am absolutely knackered! Sleeping on a futon is doing my back no good whatsoever. I had a complete meltdown at about 4pm yesterday because I was so tired. The Mister is being a star though and a determined I will take it easier today.

We are having coffee and cake and then going to explore the Science Museum before hitting the big Mothercare on Oxford St.

blonde yes I'm pagan but in a very freeform way. DS gets very excited about Hallowe'en and I cook a special meal for Samhain. I kind of quietly observe the turning of the seasons by myself generally.

I'm not going to find out the baby flavour, I didn't with DS....I like the element of surprise.

faith hope you have survived super annoying woman...

Now somehow that doesn't surprise me queen! I am trying to embrace Autumn this year - traditionally I resist it. However I am curled up by the fire, the thick duvet in on the bed and I will delight in watching my bump grow as winter approaches

Yes I have survived! After 11 I didn't see her again. Hard work though! I did want to tell her to shut her up but somehow I imagine she'd be competitive about diffedness.... abd since she's got SPD she'd win. Also I don't really know her so I don't want to tell her. So I didn't!
Mmm sofa is lurvely right now.

dor I hope you had a nice day pottering round London. I slept on a futon in my sister's house for a year. It wasn't brilliant! How long are you there for?

We go home tomorrow.

The Mister really isn't feeling very well though and has severe stomach cramps which are scaring me a bit

On a particular side? Does he feel sick?

Dose him up on painkillers but if they don't help you might need to get him seen. He might have digestive upset...imminently!

No he says it is just cramping. No nausea. Is easing a bit now but is very odd.

I hope he's not updiffed Dor!

<Twirls>

Phew. He is better this morning. We are off for lunch with the gays today.

I did some epic shopping yesterday. I bought this gorgeous green and white spotty dress from mothercare and even The Mister said 'oh that looks gorgeous' so I had to have it.

Also bought nighties suitable for breast feeding as well as a fab new pair of check trainers. The Mister also bought new shoes. An expensive day yesterday but a good one!

Sympathy symptoms maybe?
Hope he's feeling better this morning and you have a nice trip back.

Anyone doing something exciting this weekend? I'm cleaning and decluttering -how fun. My mother is coming to visit next week though, so needs done...

Oh, x-post.

Sounds like you had a successful trip then -I like the sound of your new loot!

DS woke us up this morning with the most amazing treasure map! He was up early and so spent ages drawing it and has got endearingly cute spelling mistakes. It made me well up a bit because he's been so resistant to learning to write, and he's tried so hard to figure some of the words out and he's done really well.
We're going to attack it with old tea-bags and a lighter later to make it look 'olde worlde'

I've reached the stage now where I don't feel the urge to wee in the morning until I actually get out of bed.....then I have to run to the bathroom. I nearly didn't make it this morning....

Oh I'm glad it's settling. Can you do a link to the dress? (just cos I'm nosey!). Sounds like a good haul indeed! Have fun with your friends.

We're in charge of our nephew while Sis and BIL go to a wedding. I'm picking him up in a bit, taking him to a party. Fortunately I'm friendly with one of the Mums going so I won't feel too weird! He's staying overnight too. He luffs MSB very, very much so he will be very excited!

I will do a link when we are back home.

Off for lunch with The Gays today and then home

Oh this thread is moving fast now! I keep missing stuff from having to concentrate on work... So glad it is the weekend, I've always worked Saturdays until this job so I really do appreciate them, every weekend feels like a long one (oo-er).

I feel so disorganised compared to some of you. I get really anxious about buying the wrong thing or wasting money and end up buying nothing. We have ordered the car seat now thank goodness. But I'm faffing about procrastinating about the hospital bag as I can't decide where to start, what to buy & what to take from home (I've made a super list tho). I'm likely to have at least a 2 night stay as I'll have to stay there 24 hrs after the birth because of the GD. What nighties did you get Dor? More links when you are back from your gays please!

It is quite scary and exciting to have a date, I don't think it's really sunk in yet. Maybe we'll have 'twins' c&c!

Queenie, I have a friend who is quite an extreme pagan, she takes great offence at anyone referring to Hallowe'en or any other 'appropriated' festival for that matter, your celebrations sound much nicer as I always think it can't be much fun for her getting so annoyed about it all. I find it quite interesting as a subject but I'm not personally religious in any direction.

Was downtown yesterday and saw a child (barely into her teens it seemed like) with her child in a stroller, puffing away on a cigarette over the baby. Had to fight back tears over the strange mix of emotions. Still feel like crying, not entirely sure why.

That's your maternal instincts and hormones kicking in FTW! She could be big sister?

I survived the party. We are now chilling watching Dora.

blonde I so get the working weekends thing. I have luffed the last two years not having any weekends or nights! I'm hoping with doing long days it won't be every weekend....

I'm waiting for my haul before I rush it t buy anything. The main thing we'll need is a pram and car seat but I will be looking for a Combo thing for that I think. We'll need some furniture like a wardrobe and chest of drawers for baybee too. Official scan date letter came through today

i've had a major meltdown today. It was so bad that I threw my lunch on the floor (it was a sandwich) and stropped off into another room. I'm just sick to effing death of never being able to sit down to eat without a million and one questions/requests/interuptions from DS and DH and today I just had no tolerance for it at all because I felt so ill and needed to EAT damn it.

Then I went and wrapped myself in the duvet and did the full on snot bubble crying for ages.
Just feel like I'm totally out of control of my hormones and emotions today.

Oh queenie maybe when you feel like this you should send your DH with your DS for a bit? Get a bit of peace? You need to tell DH you need that space. I hope the duvet snot bubble has helped you feel better.

faith I can't complain on that score because usually (and even pre-diffment) if I look tired or frazzled HOLB will take DS off into the garden/out for a walk etc and let me have some down time on my own.

I'm obviously just hormonal today, I'm crying at all sorts of stupid things.

Have baked some cakes, got dinner ready in advance and DS is currently at dance. Going to slob in front of the TV and eat chocolate all night.

Sometimes I think we just need to explode from all the hormones! I just slept for two hours! I haven't even really done they much today, I just suddenly collapsed!

I bought these nighties

and

this dress.

I think the dress looks better on me!

Ooh the dress is gorgeous! Do the nighties have buzzwam access then?!

I am vairy tired despite the 2 hour kip last night. Munchkin is tucked up in spare bed so I'll be crawling under my duvet in a bit! MSB has fallen asleep on the sofa next to me already!

Yeah the nighties have what The Mister calls 'side access'.

We are home safe and sound and I am knackered. My back is so bloody sore!

Well I hope you sleep well in your own bed

Oh, they're nice. I am looking for some nighties of that genre.

However today I bought some maternity pads which is slightly less glamorous!

I wore one of the nighties last night and it was very comfy. The only this is that the inbuilt boob bit seems quite shallow and therefore I had a boob escape in the middle of the night!

It was soooo good to be back in my own bed though!

The nighties are lovely! I could do with a few of those.

blonde I bought a packet of maternity pads the other day too -was quite shocked at the size and length of the things... Slightly worrying -glamourous days indeed!

Oh the other thing I bought in London, and it even took me into Primark was some ginormous cheap knickers! £2.50 for 5 pairs. Thought they were be much better than disposable knickers. They look like the sort of thing my gran used to wear!

I also bought these pumps which I love!

i just bought cheap cotton granny knickers for my hospital bag, and was so glad I did. They were much more comfy than the disposable ones the hospital gave me immediately after DS delivery.
And yes maternity pads......if i recall I ended up using Kotex Nightime pads. My friend (on her 4th child then) recommended them and I found them as comfy as it's possible to be with something the size of a brick sitting in your knickers.

I may have to treat myself to that dress too dor because I have a thing about green.

I think yesterday's meltdown may have been indicative of impending head cold. Woke up this morning feeling rough....it's eased up now, after two paracetamol, but I'm definitely ailing proper rather than just good old pregnancy tiredness.
This morning I've finally taken up the hem on the back door curtain, and this afternoon I think I will sit at the table and chop the stuff ready for making mincemeat and then get on with making the advet calendar. Yep....I decided I'd make a spectacular one this year.....and now am beginning to regret it.

Is it really bad that when I read 'pumps' I thought breast?! Those are luffly dor. What a good shopping trip you had

I'm still resisting buying anything although having had a look on the Mothercare website I must invest in some nice maternity bras. MSB is getting turned off by the sports bras and I think my buzzwams are growing at an alarming rate!

Sorry to hear you're poorly queenie but in a way I find it a relief when I feel awful emotionally and then realise its because I'm about to get ill! I hope you feel better soon.

You know you're diffed when you burst on to tears just because your OH agrees to cook tea - sausage, mash and veg. Perfect Sunday night tea

I bought these bras - not the most glamorous but exceptionally comfortable.

I have spent the last hour having a complete nightmare about the house. I just know we aren't going to be in there before the baby is born and I am really gutted about it. I just feel like we are waiting on people to come back to us with quotes and I want them to get the fuck on with doing some fucking work.

Rant over

well i've perked up a bit as the day has gone on. I've not got near doing advent stuff though....but we've pottered about the house and garden and it feels like it's been one of those slowly productive days.

All I've bought so far is some Sloggi bras (but i've had a huge increase to a C cup so they're all I need), and a pack of long sleeve newborn vests in primary colours.....I've done nothing else at all. Have been looking at options for bedside cot for co-sleeping and still no nearer making a decision.....still haven't decided what sort of car seat to get, which has an impact on which pushchair I get.

I burst into tears yesterday when HOLB was looking at our wedding photo on the wall and said to me 'you looked absolutely beautiful that day you know'.....but I've not cried when he offered to cook me dinner. Not yet anyway.....

Glad you perked up a bit queen! How are you feeling today?

dor I'm sorry you're struggling about the house. It's understandable to fe upset - I really struggled when the quotes were slow and I didn't have a bun in the oven then! At least you will have a roof over your heads, even if it's not ideal and taking your baybee home will be a wonderful experience.

I'm so tired. I've not been sick for a few days which is good although it seems to come in waves for a few days. I'm not naïve enough to think its gone for good. Worst thing is I got a good night's sleep. It's exhausting growing a baybee isn't it?! Time to get a cup of decaf tea I think.

Sorry the house is a stress Dor. Try to keep yourself a bit protected from it all, it will get done one way or another and as long as you and the baybee are ok that's all that matters. That's what I've been trying to persuade myself whenever something has been troublesome during the pregnancy.

I got some Mothercare bras and an Emma B one from Amazon, mostly worn the Mothercares. Super comfy but still supportive.

Last full week of work, suddenly feel very much on the countdown. Got really stressed yesterday about how unprepared we are but today a calm has descended - hope it lasts!

I know that the house will get done, I just didn't still want to be living with Mum and Dad when the baby arrived. I know it won't be the worst thing in the world it's just a bit disappointing. However, in some ways it might be quite nice. I will be able to sit on the sofa breastfeeding and watching Christmas films!

That sounds luffly dor

Pliz to be reassuring me PESH? Today I feel awful, really sad presume its the hormones. I am scared because I have stopped throwing up (should be a good thing and probably just because I've adjusted my eating habits - no tea, one slice of toast for breakfast) but for some reason I have got fixated on the idea of an MMC....3 weeks 1 day til my scan....

faify I've had days of quite intense emotion, where I've crawled into bed and cried. And I was exactly the same when I got to 9/10 weeks and suddenly the nausea wasn't crippling me. I was terrifed that something had gone wrong.
Those first 12 weeks were just rubbish - feeling rubbish emotionally because you are so physically ill, and then feeling rubbish emotionally because you stop feeling ill.
Week 9 onwards I seemed to gradually build up to a burst of energy and feeling much better. At my 12 week scan I can remember getting to hospital at 9.30 and eventually walking out at 11.30 because I started to feel ill because I needed to eat. Before week 9 I would 1/have forced myself to eat to get rid of the worst of the nausea and 2/ had to keep snacking to keep it at bay. That two hours made me realise that my body was settling down.
I read that up to week 9/12 your body is working hard to build the placenta and that from week 9 onwards the placenta starts to work properly so your body settles down.

Cheers dor.

Grr. Bollocky arsing buggary! I told someone at work 2 weeks ago I was diffed because she could tell I looked really ill. I oh so stupidly thought she'd realise I didn't want her to tell anyone since its such early days. She had told someone else who came up directly to ask! I went so couldn't deny it but did say Please don't tell anyone, it's top secret because it's early days and have emailed the original blabber mouth. I just hope she hasn't told anyone else...

Ok she replied to my email - she said she just assumed I was telling everyone and she's only told that one person. Hopefully they'll both be able to keep their mouths shut for 3 more weeks...

I accidentally told 2 people at work really early (well one of them used my phone and saw I'd downloaded a pregnancy app), made it clear they weren't to tell anyone else and I was lucky that they were good and didn't. That's very bad manners of your colleague but hopefully they'll have got the message now.

Yes her rely was a bit funny but I think she was just trying to cover herself. No-one goes public at 7 weeks do they?! Well I've only got 1 more week in this job then 10 days leave. My scan is the Wed I go back to my old job so hopefully I won't have to see them much after this. I did say to the other woman who has been a pita for the last 18 months anyway! that it was top secret and not to tell anyone. She's the one who got baby when she added two and two back in April when I came back from being sick and was really fat!
She said in front of another colleague who fortunately knows - she's the one I told when I went off to A&E. Hard work though innit?! I just can't wait for my leave.

<waves>

Hi all, sorry for my lack of presence - it's been particularly busy in the Palmer-TOM house and I've currently got loads of work on. Otherwise everything is boom-tickety. Grub is quite active these days, which is really quite a wonderful feeling.

I'm complete crap for not name-checking everyone and commenting about your goings on (which I have been following faithfully during my insomnia-laden nights) - please forgive my lazy updiffedness!

<leaves a large plate of cinnamon chocolate cake and a jug of milk>

Oh I like I name change LP+1!

I am like a bear with a sore head this morning. Grumped at TBI for bringing me tea too early , then at the work cleaner for parking across the back yard so I had to drag the bins out of the way to get in , then sent a shitty email to Biffa about their shitty non-collection of said bins (that one was quite deserved), then cried in the office because a work colleague who I used to be really close to but has cut me off returned a book I gave her with a really cold note, then barked at the cleaner again for nearly breaking the gate so I had to get on my hands and knees to fix it (he was so nice and apologetic so again).

I've only got 2 hrs at work before the antenatal class so I hope I cheer up by then and get some work done. My cover person has been off sick all week so instead of training her I've had to get everything done. It's not her fault but adding to my irritation.

D'you think it might be time for me to go on maternity leave?!

blonde yes I think you're ready! Can you tell me exactly what poor you're doing the leftover holiday/mat leave starting? I'm trying to figure out what I'll do.

I am totally mizz. Today I start handing over the job to my colleague. She is very bouncy about being back, everyone is excited to see her. I feel like crap and they have clearly waited for her to come back to discuss things with her rather than me I know I'm not very popular (never have been) but with this and the hormones it all feels massively reinforced and I want to cry! In addition I'm not on the rota for the ward when I officially go back so I feel like no-one wants me! <sad sack emotion>

I still felt UTIish so I dipped my wee at work and it's positive so I'm off to the docs after work for yet more antibiotics I presume! Sorry for the whine...roll on this time next week when I'm on leave!

lp+1 luff the NC, glad its nice stuff that has kept you away.

queenie how are you feeling now?

<<runs around, does several cartwheels and lands gracefully>>

I've been to the osteopath. I luff him. He has made my poorly back go away. I'm back next week for him to check how my back is doing and to start trying to fix my neck. I wasn't sure about the expense, but given how great I feel right now it is perfectly justified.

The downside to today is a traumatic morning on the loo dealing with consequences of my bowels slowing down <<eyes water>> Have stocked up on fruit and wholemeal bread, and going to make sure I drink even more fluids. To be honest if this doesn't work it will time to see the GP for something on prescription.

What is wrong with your work colleagues faif? Never mind....I want you. Shall I come over there and poke them all with a sharp stick?

blonde def ready for mat leave - but in the meantime make the most of being able to justify grumpy/stroppiness on hormones

I have found the only thing that works to keep my bowels moving is one sachet of Fybogel a day.

In other news, my back is fucked. Physio not due until next week

Oh sorry to hear your UTI is still hanging around Faif. And of others' bowel related woes. Plenty of water is all I can suggest but I am fortunate not to have had much constipation.

Faith that is shitty but maybe your colleagues are just trying to make the returner feel welcome and get her back in the swing of things. And you may not feel popular but I'm sure you'll still be missed.

I am not 100% clear on your question but I saved up 18 days holiday which gives me just over 3 weeks pre-birth. One advantage of induction is that I know I won't be going overdue, but if the baby comes on day 1 or 2 of induction, official mat leave will start and I will lose a couple of days hol unless they let me tag it on to the end of the mat leave when I return next year. Hope that makes sense!

ps am in much better mood now having bought half of sainsburys.

Doc has given me more antibiotics, different type. Prodded my stomach which was rather tender. Sent a sample off too to check what its sensitivity to.

Work is just awful - to explain...there was one person doing the job, age had a permanent contract. They got funding to have two more for a year, I got one of those jobs. At the end of the year the original person went off to do her MSc. I got her job for the year. Now she's back and I'm handing back over to her. Colleagues are obviously happy to have her back - she was around for a long time before me! It's just hard to give it all up and go back to a job I really don't enjoy

I am planning to take 1 weeks leave from this financial year (last week of March), then 2 weeks from next year, then start mat leave a week before my current due date, I think!

queen I'm glad the crunching has helped your back dor I hope the physio sorts you out next week!

I'm sorry about your work situation Faith. I hope it helps to think it will only be for six months. But shitty in the meantime.

It's only 6 months. I'll be alright when I get into the swing of it. The tough part is handing it over. Then I have lovely leave where I intend to catch up with friends (and meet queenie in person!) and I'll adjust back.

Had our next Relate session tonight. Really tough to start with but now st the point where I feel we're able to try to start to move forward

Good that you are sticking with the Relate sessions Faif, it must be tough but I think it will stand you in great stead for the future. I think TBI and I should have done them, you don't get 14 years into a relationship with no issues and I think we both have a tendency to shy away from facing harder times even though we talk and communicate very well in most ways. Hopefully we will weather the changes a new baby will bring but I do sometimes worry. Mind you I am too irrational and hormonal to talk about anything sensibly as yesterday's tantrums will have told you.

Religion is a big issue and I hope you can come to some peace of mind, whatever MSB decides on that front. Hopefully you still feel you have the same outlook on life, moral guidelines etc?

Hope the new ABs start to have an effect soon...

I feel like a massive heifer today!

I can't sit down in my favourite jeans anymore! I'm only 10 weeks!

I've buggared off my work early. They were having a meeting abd quite frankly I feel like a spare part now I haven't told my colleague I'm handing over to that I'm diffed. I dunno if I will or not. Currently I'm watching X Factor USA and having a Frijj milkshake

I wish I could go home right now. Got half an hour or so to go.

My sister and I are off to an NCT sale tonight which should be fun!

I had my 20 week scan this morning. It was great all is well, little one was very active. Not found out what flavour it is.
And the midwife was quite happy that I've declined any further hospital care, unless my Community Midwife suggests it in the next four months.

That's fantastic news queenie! 20 weeks eh?! I'm rewound glad you can stay under the midwife's care too

really, not rewound!

I have caved and jammied up on the bottom half. Soooo comfy!

Morning all PESHlas! How you all doing? What are we up to today? I've got my flu jab this morning and then I'm getting my hair done think I might head into town, possibly buy some nice maternity underwear!

Hello Faith and other PESHs, it's a beautiful morning but I am still in bed reading the paper. Yesterday felt very last-day-at-workish so now I feel like I'm on maternity leave even though I still have to go in on Monday. I've cleared my desk and put my Out of Office on though so it should be mostly a case of doing the final bits of training with my replacement.

I had forgotten about the flu jab until the other day when I went to pick up a prescription, now all the stuff has come out about the wh cough jab, not sure if I should wait till hospital appt on Thurs or call someone sooner. I'll be 35+2 by then. Rather a worry that this has suddenly come up. I had wh cough as a baby due to being born at the time of the big wc vaccine scare.

In other news TBI made me a somewhat undercooked poached egg for breakfast (not just runny, actually bleugh) which I ate to be polite because I was such a bitch last week. Silly blonder.

Ah, you should be fine blonde as long as it was lion stamped? Lie in sounds luffly. Whoop whoop mat leave time! Do you have nice things planned? Last bits to get?

I didn't get my flu jab - she didn't think it safe with me being on antibiotics so going back Wednesday. Hair is done and pretty though. I've popped to see my granny in the nursing home before going into town (it's near the hairdressers). She's fast asleep though so I'll leave her in peace. She has Dementia. I'd say she's pretty end stage. It's very sad and I really struggle with it home staff are luffly though and she is well looked after.

Off to meet my mate for coffee. Well, mine will be hot chocolate!

Haha yes last bits to get - also quite a lot of intermediate bits and a few first bits too. Looking forward to having the time to focus on it though.

Sorry about your grandmother Faith, mine had Alzheimer's and died in 2003. It was a terribly painful time and you have my sympathy. Dementia is such a cruel thing and I don't think my family has ever been the same since. Wish she and my grandad were here to see this little one, I hope they'd be pleased to know their house (where TBI and I now live) will see in the next generation.

Have a lovely day and enjoy your hot choc, have a sip for me too.

Afternoon PESHes. We had a busy morning of visiting the building site house and then going and doing some wallpaper/paint/house stuff window shopping. We went to the local tearooms for lunch and had to go to the pub instead. It wasn't as nice as the tearooms would have been.

Now I am completely knackered. I had to have a 15 minute power nap before managing to get up and get on with trying to make a curry.

I have masses and masses of ironing to do tonight too

Oh I am knackered too dor! I went to meet my friend. Twad luffly but exhausting! Just got in so been out for 7 hours! Friend knew of our TTC woes so I told her I was diffed how is the curry coming along?

I got measured in Debenhams and despite only being 10 weeks and not gaining any weight I an already a back size and cup size up! Got a couple of quite plain but functional (and slightly less ugly than sports bras) bras! I also got a fluffy Gilet in the size up which is gorgeous.
Now crashed out watching Grease.

How nice that you're in your grandparents' house blonder! Yes it's sad that that generation won't know our children My Grandma will might turn 92 in November. I very much doubt she will live to see our baybee and she won't really understand even if she does. On a weird but amusing note, one of the carers commented that I'd lost weight! Not for long!

Yay for the happy 20wk scan Rollo! Even though you decided not to find out, do you have any inklings about the gender?

Ironing, Dor?! Should be outlawed.

I have loads of work I need to be doing right now but have spent the last few hours propped up on the sofa watching Grease and eating chocolate. Grublet is doing happy dances inside my belly.

Question re. flu jabs (not the whooping ones, just regular old flu jabs) - do I need to reach a certain point in my pregnancy before having one? I'm booked to get one on the 9th when I'll be 22+3 - is that safe?

Ha! Just realised that you're also watching Grease Faife! I've been singing along...

I realised I pretty much know all the dialogue too Fun but in retrospect what a terrible message! Change yourself for a man to luff you...

I will place my money on girl for queenie. Lots of ESH boys lately!

lors I am pretty certain it's safe throughout pregnancy but I would just check when you book in.

Sooo......'Mumsnet Guide to Pregnancy' and 'What to Expect When You're Up the Duff' arrived today. They are currently living in the shadowy world under the stairs so as not to jinx bean before scan on Tuesday. Eee.

I have been dipping into What to expect and the what to expect app. Will not buy anything (but the bras which were desperately needed). Only 18 days til my scan now!

I think you can have a flu jab at any point. I will definitely be getting one if it is offered.

Yes here you go Tis fine as long as you don't have a UTI!

I shouldn't have done it but I couldn't help myself. Will rip off packaging the second home from hospital, providing all is well. If not, I guess they can hang around under there in hope!

Well my copies are sat by the bed. They have advice on the early stages of pregnancy week by week which have helped is this far. I won't buy stuff for the baybee because it would be too sad to then not get to use it but really, it's not actually going to affect the pregnancy is it?! Buying books etc! (I am trying to keep any horrid thoughts of MMC at bay). When I get my scan there will be a wriggly baybee waving at us. There will!

I feel like it's a girl. Trying so hard not get set in that mindset, but I felt DS was blue right from the beginning.

So what you're saying faith is that I wouldn't be risking the wrath of the capricious fertility gods were I to sneak a peek at the little book stash?

My sister was so convinced DNephew was blue we'd have been gobsmacked if he came out pink! I still have no idea what I'm carrying

ftw, Honestly, I don't think you will. I really think its out of our hands unless you get plastered, smoke loads, do crack or eat all the wrong things I guess

I started the ironing but my back hurts too much tonight! Fortunately I have an appointment with the physio on Wednesday and I hope she will be able to help

Haha! Oh faith that made me laugh so hard I have a stitch to add to all the all the other twinges and pings going on in there! And you're right of course

I know it's difficult not to tempt fate etc and I am very, very aware that many ESH have had losses over the years and obviously I don't want to detract from that at all but it is not their fault and definitely not because we opened a book! it's because sometimes the universe is just crappy there's no rhyme or reason to these things.

dor you shouldn't be ironing on a Saturday anyway! I hope your back improves with the Physio.

Oh I just felt a bit panicked because my wee was pink. But then I remembered I ate loads of beetroot earlier!

True enough. I have to say that threads on MN though have really blown me away with the magnitude of what women go through and how much they are capable of - so many inspiring ESHs out there. I guess generally people tend to keep most things to themselves, everyone carries their own universe around with them and you don't even realise. I hope the universe chooses to bless this thread with good health and happiness (and wiggling baybees).

I have tried not to talk about my diffage too much on the BESH thread, only really post to offer support. They seem to be having such tough time lately and I'm particularly conscious of drizz having had a due date close to mine. As it approaches I will certainly have to keep my distance. I don't get why it's so tough for some people? Our journey was bad enough but nothing compared to some people's.

I have been the same. Whilst I haven't avoided the BESH thread I have tried hard not to be on there too much. People were very supportive right at the beginning though when I thought it was all going wrong!

It's very delicate isn't it? You want to be there for them and also encourage them that people actually do get diffed and have ok pregnancies but you don't want to rub faces in it. <gets a bit weepy> I luff them all so much!

It's very hard, but I know that I appreciated people who came back so I could see it is possible for things to work out!

Exactly dor. Delicate balance.

Mmmm milk.i luff milk. Tis the drink of the Gods

i feel the same about the BESH. I find too that the thread can move so fast and I don't like to comment without reading back properly.

I have started having awful dreams. Was woken by one in the early hours and couldn't get back off, then DS came in and woekme up early (after I'd finally nodded off into deep sleep). I feel utterly dreadful.

Might be going up the castle over near faith later today as there is a big Heritage Crafts Fair on and a friend is working it. Will see if I perk up or not....

I still read all the BESH threads and still commented in the first months of my pgy but in the last few months esp with those who came here but sadly had to return, it would sound too hollow for me to chip in.

Still think of them all every day though and check in hoping for a win. Although not sure anyone would want me nekkid dancing round them right now.

Well I had a major meltdown this morning. We had a miscommunication about what we were doing about breakfast. That became an argument, then we argued about the argument I style find it disconcerting because MSB shouts at me when he never used to (presumably its the testosterone?). Anyway we have talked it through, I have calmed down but I feel wrung out! We are having a quiet day at home, currently watching Avengers Assemble.

aww faith I blame the big harvest moon that was looming in the sky last night. I'm always very teary and operating on a shorter fuse when the moon is big.
I had a meltdown last night, build up of stuff really. Justified on both sides, but when you are hormonal and tired etc it's harder to keep a rational grip I think. I took myself off to the bedroom and had a good cry.

Aww, hope you're feeling better now faith - Avengers is surely a cheer me up movie!

DH has hardly slept all night (gaming!) but has clearly been feeling some sort of guilt/had some sort of epiphany as he went into a rage clean mode today (presumably due to my mumbling and bumbling about for days on the need for a serious clean around here and how some help would be nice!) - he was in such a state that FTDog and I have been quietly hiding in the outhouse and staying out of his way - can't complain though, starting to smell awfully fresh and clean around here. Hope he decides to take a nap soon or he'll crash and burn. Eep. What was that about women and their mood swings then...?

I did but then he came in again! We talked things through. A lot of it relates to how I feel about work- not really needed, unpopular, unwanted! - and realised some of it harks back to childhood! I had a hard time making (and keeping) friends. Much as I loved (and miss) my Mum, she was a bit blunt. Once she admitted that while she always loved me, age didn't always like me I wonder why I have self-esteem issues!
I try to focus on the friends I do have now (true friends) and recognising that at work they are colleagues, not friends, but it does hurt when you find out people have been bitching about you being your back (especially when it's hypocritical!). All of this makes me feel vulnerable at the best of times, let alone now I'm diffed. MSB has suggested I request counselling. I've thought about it a lot. Maybe it would help.

I am enjoying chilling on the sofa under my slanket. Do you feel better now you've had it out and had a good cry queenie?

Well at least it'll be clean ftw! Poor dog though. I will be cleaning when I'm on leave. Seriously, can't wait!

Yes these hormones - irony being I said I MSB this morning I don't think my mood swings have been that bad

From all the trails you've left on MN, I'd say they're all jealous faith - you sound absolutely luffly! It's hard if you're an introvert when the world seems to reward the loud ones banging away on their drums, but there's a lot to be said for depth and sensitivity and being able to offer a word of comfort and suspend judgement - all of which comes across in your posts. I think your true friends are very lucky

Aw you've made me well up! That's really luffly of you to say.

Honestly? I guess I can be about blunt - in some ways MN gives me time to compose and think through my posts in a way I can't do in RL! But I think some of the people I work with are just unpleasant people! I did progress quickly at work which some people were a bit about but frankly, I saw an opportunity and went for it. I never actually expected to get it! I struggled with one in particular and wasn't sure if I was me or her. As soon as my colleague came back, she commented on how aggressive she was. I recognise she is very aggressive but it's up to me how I take her. I've let her be like that with me, my colleague was like Well I'm not bring treated like that! I think I'll ask the GP for a counselling referral while I'm on leave.

I had CBT for a while, (clinical depression and anxiety in my 20s - all tied up to self esteem issues and trying to please all of the people all of the time) - it really helped to talk out loud in a considered way with an unbiased observer, you don't even need them to say anything really, just having the chance to give voice to your thoughts and work them out openly brings a lot of perspective. I do envy people who think like your colleague though and don't stand for it - kinda why I love the ESHes so much!

Interestingly, she isn't hugely 'popular' and had private counselling for a long time to get to that state of mind!

Rather conveniently the physio appointment was brought forward to this morning.

She has confrmed that I have Pelvic Girdle Pain which is related to Hypermobility Syndrome. My pelvis was misligned by about an inch and half so she has put that back into place, but it hurts more than ever now - she said this is normal and it should ease.

She has also ordered me an attractive looking back brace type thing.

Oh my colleague has that dor (you know, the one who talks about being diffed all the time). I'm impressed you've been carrying on at work - age had about 3 months off! Sorry it's ouchy now but hopefully it'll ease soon.

I feel a bit better today -- damn hormones-- just looking forward to my leave!

Ouch! That sounds painful Dor - I hope the brace helps. My carpal tunnel seems to have magically disappeared no doubt to come back with a vengeance when I least expect it!

I understand how you all feel re. popping in on the BESH fred - for some reason it makes me feel guilty. Although I read it religiously I didn't post one comment on the Woo fred. So today I forced myself to visit the new one - but I still felt off, you know?

Okay - here's something really weird, but Grublet's squirmings are actually kind of freaking me out - it feels so strange at times! Anyone else think it's a freaky feeling?? (Don't get me wrong - I love it because it's him and now that I feel him regularly I no longer need to obsessively Doppler his heartbeat every day but it's such a strange sensation!)

I am determined not to have time off work. I really don't want to have to start mat leave or anything too early.

I am absolutely wiped out today and I still have a choir practice tonight!

Just popping in to stick my two pennath in as a BESH who has been a PESH twice and sadly never made it to CRESH.

Please all keep bobbing in to say hello and don't feel you can't give us update of your diffedness just not all the time

It is hard as a BESH having people wang on and on and on about their pregnancy but none of you do that as sadly you are not insta differs and have all been where we are and we know how hard your journeys have been. Please don't feel you have to hide in here but obviously maybe keep the discussions re piles, stretch marks, sore boobs etc in here and bring the gin, swearing and humor with you.

LP You are me, only 12 months in advance. You have been EXACTLY where I am now and your story gives me hope.

Hope this comes across as i intended

x

Oh the back brace doesn't sound fun Dor but hopefully that and the physio will help.

I am WELL poorly sick. My mum had to bring stew... I may as well wallow in it as I guess it's my last chance to be a baby myself! Do feel rubbish though. Cotton wool head, razor blade throat. Was supposed to go in for last day at work but had to put off till tomorrow. Annoying as need to get on with baybee stuff.

Aw bugs <grabs face with both hands and plants a big smacker on the lips>
I get what you mean. I think we all want to keep you posted and abreast of your news without rubbing faces in it or whinging about the side effects like the copious puking, piles, ever growing buzzwams I think it's nice especially to say hello and mark places at the start of a new Fred

Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly sick blonder! How rubbish. Good old BlonderMum bringing stew. That's what Mum's are for.

I am very sad to be giving up my job - one day left! But I've started writing a business plan for a possible new role so we'll see what comes of that. My sister gave me all her old maternity clothes today - a good haul! She had an August due date so not all of it will be ideal but lots will I was a bit funny about taking it but concluded if this pregnancy is going to be....unsuccessful? Jinxed?....then it is regardless of whether I take the clothes or not! Trying to remain positive too. Only 16 days til my scan!

I feel like a new woman. Not quite sure exactly what that physio did but I certainly am not in so much pain this morning and I slept really well!

at the physio action Dor - I think my feet are unaligned (been wearing my shoes out crooked my whole life) and lately the little stab of pain at the base of my spine has been getting stabbier. can one ask for physio on nhs? have always thought about it but was always more of a niggle than a full blown issue so never pursued, but definitely getting a bit out of hand now, sat down on the couch the other day went into a spasm of pain right there and was terrible!

I would definitely ask and see what they say.

yes, definitely ask for physio referal. I've bypassed the NHS and gone straight to paying privately to see and Osteopath and after just 20 mins with him last week I feel so much better. The two days after I was feeling worse, but in the tops of my thighs rather than than where the pain had been and it's normal to feel 'worse' immediately after manipulation. When it settled down though the difference is remarkable.
I am back tomorrow to have my pelvis checked and for him to have a look at my neck problem, which I cannot manage with painkillers right now so having to take a different approach.

Glad to hear the physio had such a good effect Dor.

I'm really pleased it helped dor! I had a massage when my abdo pain had got really bad and was causing backache, I felt like a different woman afterwards!

So I have finished in my job I managed not to cry too much! I told my predecessor and the consultant I work with about the baybee and I was a bit because she was delighted for me! Turns out she felt really guilty after I'd told her (after one too many jokes about crossing my legs!) about our fertility ishoos. She actually started crying when I said I was diffed because she knew what it meant! She's a bit woo and said it was all about "the universe's timing" I said that the universe had taken it's bloody time! But I'm glad that they know. I also got a couple of cards and beautiful flowers. I realised I will be missed, maybe not by everyone, but by people I care about. It's about quality not quantity!

aww faith I'm pleased that you had such a lovely 'farewell' from them. I get the impression you are conscientious about upholding your professional standards when you are at work.

anyway, more importantly you have some time off and so we will finally get to meet!!

Well it did but now I have pain again. Bugger

Aww, faith! That sounds like a luffly last day of work - and I'm so glad that they've left you with a warm feeling. I knew you'd be well loved!

She has just texted me to say she's been thinking of me and how happy she is for us That may become my new mantra - quality over quantity when it comes to friends!

That's lovely Faith. So nice when people understand why it means so much to you.

My friend who took over 12 years to have her twins told me yesterday that this was the first time one of her friends was having a baby when she would be totally, unequivocally happy for them. Of course she loves all her friends' babies but it was always tinged with a bit of sadness (as we can all sympathise). It was a very touching thing to say.

How luffly blonder! I can imagine feeling like that in the distant future

I am now vaccinated against flu - bit of a farce though - pitched up at my local practice and they said it was at the practice a few miles away! The nurse didn't tell me that when she booked it in! Ah well, all done now. I'm on holiday, yay!

Yay for holiday Faif!

I'm starting to feel human again, just need a hot shower and then I have my 3rd antenatal class on THE BIRTH.

Will still need to go back into work and do some finishing off stuff, probably tomorrow. Then I can finally feel like I am on maternity leave.

Is it ok for me to have done naff all today?! I'm going out for lunch with Dad and I are going out for lunch then to my Grandma's care home for a funding review (I know lots about that so I'm going along). I feel I should have done loads but I've done little! I've got plenty of time to do stuff though, right?!

erm....you're on leave. that = holiday, which = lounging around doing naff all.

I have managed to do washing. Been out to lunch with my Dad. Must now bake cake for dinner tonight!

I slept beautifully last night. The Mister and I went to ante-natal last night which was all about the actual birth process. My Mister should be fine, he is not massively squeamish and is quite fascinated with the.... er... technicalities of how things happen. My cousin on the other hand looked a bit peaky as soon as they started mentioning bloody stuff. All the more amusing as his mother was a midwife and the ante-natal teacher know this (and her) so tends to pick on him for answers!

Still juggling a huge load of work this week...all while playing toilet roulette. Which will it be today - constipation or the runs. Ah, the glamour of diffedness.

Bugs if you're reading this - thank you for your earlier post. It made me quite emotional. You will get your baybee, dammit.

Hello to everyone -sorry I'm dashing through on my way to the loo. I can't wait to go on maternity leave so I can finally keep up with the fred. (How sad is that?!)

Ps. Hope you're enjoying your holiday Faife!

Ah dor I'm glad you slept well! Sounds like the Physio has made an impact. <sticks fingers in ears> la la la la not thinking about giving birth yet!

Lors when are you going to finish? I've foudn probiotics have helped my unhappy digestive system. Cannot face yoghurts but can manage the little drinky ones.

I didn't set an alarm and I woke up at 9.15! Bliss. Dreamy I dyed my hair blonde and it did not look good!

I had another appt with the osteopath yesterday. he properly bone-crunched the part of the spine between my shoulder blades. He did loads of cranial manipulation too. Setting the groundwork for properly aligning the top part of my spine and loosening up the muscles and tendons.
I cannot begin to explain how much better it feels this morning. If you have ever suffered tension in your neck/shoulders/between your shoulder blades - well I have had that permanently for years. This morning it feels so loose and free. And I woke up without the niggling headache I usually have. I feel even more that the expense is justified.

In bump news - over the last few days it has got huge.....i have those funny dimples you get at the top of bump/ribcage....

Hi all, sorry for going AWOL for ages - my mum's been visiting and we've been doing lots of baby shopping and cafe going. Luffly.

Hope you are all well -sorry to read about physical pains and and physio treatments -it's just one of those things isn't it? I have to say I'm looking forward to not being pregnant anymore -although I'm sure I'll miss the kicking.

I'm officially at term now! (37+4 today) But minicakes isn't making any immediate signs to be interested in vacating the premises... Most first timers go overdue according to my midwife -she's already booked me in for an appointment at 40+1, saying 'I'm pretty certain I'll see you then'. Ah well...

Faith do you think it was my blonde influence? Or could it be one of those dreams where you do stuff you know you're not meant to? I had lots of dreams about drinking, smoking and other substances earlier on in pregnancy, then would immediately think, oh no, I'm pregnant, I'm not meant to do that! Or maybe it's just seeing yourself in a new way?

Cakey that sounds luffly, glad to hear all is well. Do you have a birthing ball or similar? I am determined to get this baby as ready as possible before the induction so I've been bouncing on mine all morning.

Possibly blonder! I have been thinking of dyeing it myself because I really can't afford to get it done at the hairdressers any more but I was going for more red than blonde! Bounce away blonde!

cakey! Welcome back to the fold! How luffly to go shopping with your Mum I am a tiny bit since I won't get that but my sister works hard to do fill that gap a bit
You are term now! Wonderful! Anything left to purchase? <lights fire under minicakes to smoke it out>

Now, is it bad that I'm still in my jammies?!

Ooh you can be redderthanblonde!

I am in my jammies. With a fetching hooded woolly cardie and pink slippers.

I might get dressed before my hospital appt later. We'll see.

Faithy you are positively obliged to be in your jammies at any conceivable opportunity when you are pregnant! I hope you're enjoying your off-time work interlude. Is it next week you go back? And your sister sounds lovely

blonde I do have a birthing ball -I'm not that great at remembering to bounce, but try to get a little ball-time each evening with the telly that sounded a bit dodgy

Don't tempt me! ah glad I am in good company with the jammies. I did manage to dress in scabby clothes and do a butting of gardening. It was actually quite nice out there, I was able to ditch the jumper. I have done one long side chopping back overgrown crap and will may do the smaller side after I've lunched. I did find a dead...something matted fluff and bones. Grossness.

Yuck! But well done on the garden. Ours is a total mess, but I've given up on it until next summer.

Oh, and I don't think I have any more purchases left at least not of the necessary kind We are technically, although far from mentally, ready and prepared for go!

I don't think anyone is ever really ready cakey. I think it's a case of hitting the ground running!

Stoopid Stoopid NHS! I've had a letter today rearranging my pre-op assessment! Despite confirming with the secretary that my op will be postponed til after my pregnancy, then me ringing pre-op assessment to explain why I didn't come to the appointment! So I've got a DNA against my name, communication is clearly crap and because I didn't see the letter til 4pm no-one is answering the phone now! They wonder why the NHS is in financial strife?! it's because they don't talk to each other! Grrr.

Ps wheelie bin is full, garden hacked back. I flung mud in my mouth so I'm off to bath now

I AM FINALLY ON MATERNITY LEAVE!

Just got home after longer evening than planned, my replacement is a real talker. Think we got through all the important stuff. I started having really odd pains very low down so I joked that I might be going into labour but that didn't seem to faze her. Glad to be home.

Congrats on the maternity leave blonde! Enjoy! Time to get your feet up, drink lots of tea and watch lots of nonsense telly

Faith that's really annoying -will you call them up today to get the DNA removed off your name? That would really bother me. I had tons of mess-ups with the infertility clinic and IVF waiting list when we were on that -they seem completely unable to communicate anything to eachother and do anything that falls outwith normal routine, making it so difficult to sort out mistakes...

Hooray for official mat leave blonder! Have the pains settled?

I have spoken to a human being (!) and explained the situation. She had taken me off the waiting list. I have already emailed to complain about the farce of the last one and also the time in April (gynae clinic) when they sent an appointment letter that arrived at 2pm for an appointment at 10.30 that morning I got a DNA then and was removed from the waiting list! I got another appointment but I checked the system and there's still a DNA against my name. I'm a good patient, I keep my appointments! So I want them removed. Humph!

Well my Dad was meant to be helping me with the garden today but its very soggy! I think I'll try to get the house clean, if he still comes over I'll task him with vacuuming, I find that hard work

The appts thing is so ridiculous Faith. And you can definitely do without it.

Yeah I had quite a few pains/tightenings last night. Maybe all that prodding from the mw & docs yesterday put the baby on the move. Was a bit worried and got a tiny glimpse of what things might be like in a few weeks. Hope I can hack it.

Hope you're all enjoying the beauty of Autumn, everything has taken on a lovely hue in the last couple of days. Or is that my hormones?

The thing that wound me up was I couldn't do anything about it yesterday cos no-one's there! Ah well, Tis sorted now. I'm still tempted to ring on the day and confirm my appointment is cancelled!

I do believe its the most beautiful autumn I've ever experienced! Possibly because I look forward to autumn turning into winter. Normally I hate it - summer is my favourite season (never fails to disappoint!) but this year I imagine the baybee growing in me and its exciting!

I am gradually cleaning. Kitchen is gleaming but I needed a rest before moving on to the living room!

Seriously?! I've now received a letter from the consultant saying I didn't turn up for my OP and they were unable to contact me! I've fricking fuming!

Call them up and give them an earful. That's completely ridiculous. It might be that these letters are just sent automatically, even though they know your situation, but it's a bit insulting really!

I've just had my whooping cough and flu jab. Both in the same arm, a bit sore now, but should be fine. Very much a last-minute thing in terms of the whooping cough, as it has to be done before 38 weeks, and I'm 37+5 today, but I think it's definitely worth it.

My practice nurse said its more about protecting baybee for the whopping cough.

I think it's the secretary's oversight rather than automatic letters asit implied they had me booked in and I didn't show up and they were 'unable to contact me'. Er I had two missed calls and no messages!
I rang to talk to his secretary, left answer phone message but I doubt she'll call back today. I talked to a luffly secretary at the GP who said it happens more often than you'd think (working for the NHS I am cynically aware!) and they will write a letter on my behalf. I will still endeavour to talk to the secretary because I feel the fault lies with her and also I need to absolutely confirm that my operation has been postponed!

Cleaning progress is slow but gradual.

Well I'm absolutely shattered and the thought of doing tea makes me want to cry (!) but it's clean. Rooms wiped/polished, kitchen cleaned and mopped (including cooker top etc), bathroom cleaned and all vacced. Pooped is the word!

faith i refused to speak to anyone in the NHS about appts over the phone and moved to doing it all by e-mail. That was to cover my back with proof that what was said had actually been said.

c&c I had my WC today too but having flu next week as I am just getting over a cold and thought it might floor me a bit. It all went fine and I don't seem to have any side-effects.

As I'm 35+3 but being induced at 38w I was in the same position as you as it takes 2 weeks for the antibodies to pass to the baby.

Practice Nurse was fixated on smoking, she asked me if I smoked, I said no but I'd had the occasional one in the past. It felt like she didn't believe me and I was trying to cover up this huge smoking habit. And I'm really not!

In other news TBI & I went to the Baby & Toddler event at Bluewater and got LOADS, including lots of stuff we didn't exactly need but is really nice to have. TBI got the Cuddledry towel he's been coveting. Which is quite cute.

Faith that is beyond crap about the letter. Grr.

Happy Mat Leave+1 Blondie!!!!

When do you finish lors?

So good morning PESHlas! What are we up to today? MSB is working this morning and then off to the football 'for work' this afternoon - they get turns to have the box and invite customers. I have a facial booked for 12.30pm I'm tempted to buy a curry kit from Tesco for tea.

Ooh is the cuddle dry towel one with a little hood?!

Morning all My arm is a bit sore from the jabs this morning, but nothing major.

Curry kit from Tesco sounds like an excellent idea Faith. I'm going to have a potter-around-at-home day, maybe make some stew this evening. It's quite lovely out, so might even try to go for a little waddle round the park with MrCakes if I feel up for it later

Yes Faithy, sort of bathtime apron that gathers up into cow print towel with hood. Completely unnecessary and overpriced but cute as anything and TBI has been obsessed ever since he first saw one.

Sore arm here too, didn't realise till I rolled over and said ow.

Your days sound lovely! Facials and curry, yum. I've been ordered to stay in bed an shift the last of my sniffles. Which is nice. TBI washing up & then going to paint nursery, makes me feel all wriggly.

We are scraping of sticky horrid wood hip wallpaper this morning. Nice to be actually doing something to the house tho!

with wood chip on the wall/ and when I came round the call/ you didn't notice me at all/and I said...
Or is it just me?! Yes I believe wood chip is a nightmare to remove.

No facial cock up with the booking. Going Wednesday morning instead, will be glowing when I meet queenie.

Hey has anyone heard from jewels lately?
camel are you still lurking?

every time I hear the words woodchip wallpaper i am 1/ transported to my childhood and moving into our council house and 2/ get that song stuck in my head. It was playing on the radio a little while ago actually

today has mostly been rubbish. I'm properly hormonal and teary at the moment. Not helped by the fact that I had to phone my papa yesterday as he's behaving out of character. Phone call confirmed that the stroke he had in July has done more damage than he likes to admit. He sent me an e-mail yesterday morning. When I spoke to him last night he asked if he'd sent it or not, because he feels vague and isn't sure what he has and hasn't done

Oh queenie how tough for you. Is he being monitored for the stroke?

no he isn't....and he's refusing all meds, or pain relief. The polite way to put it is that he has an addictive personality.....he's in Spain, and there is nothing I can do. Though if he was here there would be nothing I could do.....

I feel dreadful. HOLB attempted a trip to the loo just before 5am without putting any lights on and knocked a candelabra off a table...so even though I had stirred I was drifting back off. That damn well woke me with a bang! Then 15 mins later DS appears in the room having had a nightmare. Two nights in a row.

I have been UP since 5am. DS came down at 8.20, said he'd got a spot under his chin. Hmmm thinks I - looks like a blister actually. Check the spot he scratched under his arm last night. That's a blister too. Take his top off.....about ten of the things. Yep.......he's got chicken pox.....

Oh queenie, it must be tough for you being such a distance from your Papa. I guess all you can do is talk to him on the phone and be there for him. Chicken pox eh? Have you had it? That may well be why he's been having nightmares - it's one of those conditions where you feel rough before the spots appear. Get some calamine lotion in!

i have had chicken pox. I can vividly remember having it! Sending HOLB out later for some calamine and glycerin cream (it soothes without drying it out) as recommended by a friend who had it with all four of her kids in succession in the spring.
DS asked fro Calpol two days running because he had a headache.....I was a bit concerned by this, but there's not much you can do until the illness becomes obvious.
He's been dosed with Piriteze and is watching telly.

Bless him, not fun, but better to get it young than older. My uncle had it in his 40s and before the spots came out, he thought he was going to die!

Oh Queenie sounds like a rough time. Your poor dad and DS. Glad you have already had CP though. The hormones make everything so strange anyway, it's hard to deal with additional stress. Wishing all your family the best.

I am tired today. Can't believe that I still have 8 weeks at work before I start maternity leave. Not sure how I am going to cope!

Wow queenie you've been landed with a lot of tough stuff at the moment. Hope things will get better very soon -must be very hard for your dad. Chicken pox is no fun either, but it's true that it's probably better to get it while still really young...

Dot can you take a sneaky nap at some point? The tiredness towards the end of working was really tough. Hang in there though, it does go quite fast!

I'm just back from my 38 week appointment. Everything's fine, baby down and head is engaged, but that doesn't have to mean things are going to happen imminently, apparently they can stay engaged for weeks. Think I might head out for a walk and some cake...

I just had a sneaky 10 minute nap on the sofa at work and rather embarrasingly woke myself up by snoring too loudly!

Oh there is nothing like waking yourself up by doing a big snort and then realising you're in a public place...

Oh bless you dor!

I am shattered. We took our new camper and went to see my Grandma who moved into a care home near my uncle in the summer. She really enjoyed seeing the camper - we sat in it and had toasted tea cakes and tea, the kind of thing we had as kids! It was great DNephew dealt enjoyed it too! But it was a bit chilly in the back of the camper and I had no seatbelt so my core stability was worked hard.

Oh grr I pysched myself up to call work for my shifts for next week and I'm still not on the rota! What on earth?! I feel like my new boss refuses to accept I'm coming back! Believe me, I don't want to go back, I'll be knackered, but she's known for weeks! [grr]

Your work are crap Faith.

It makes me really anxious! I was shaky and hyperventilating! That can't be good?! Ok I have talked to her and got my shifts. Got scan date off (good) and split days - generally not he preference but since I haven't done 12 hour shifts for 2 years and with being diffed I don't mind actually. Phew, now I can relax a bit.

Well I'm glad they've sorted the shifts out but you shouldn't have to feel like that.

Off for scan shortly, I've been worrying (for no reason) that they'll find some issue and decide I have to have the baby right away. Which would be a problem as I'm really not ready! I've left the hospital bag by the door just in case.

Nope sadly it's about my relationship with my future manager and the fact that I don't really feel happy working on the ward. At least I know what I'm working and can mentally prepare! Also I only have to do one shift before I get my scan.

Good luck with you scan blonde - last one? Sure it'll be fine

Scan was fine, baybee still measuring about 2 weeks ahead so sugar control is working. It's towards the top of the normal scale but not over it, they said currently 6lb9. Saw its little face, it looked very squished and grumpy. She printed off a picture but I was slightly freaked out.

Then went and wandered around Boots feeling slightly shellshocked and teary, think the reality started to hit. Picked up some bits and got my free changing bag and Emma's diary bags.

Hope you've all had good days with non-snorty naps...

That all sounds good apart from grumpy squishy face I'm sure it'll look very different when it arrives!

I've had a nice, if emotional day. I went to see my friend who lost her baybee in July (stillborn). She is as well as can be expected - she said she's had a good couple of days. She talks freely about her daughter which I think is very healthy. She is so gracious really, I admire her lots. She asked about our fertility troubles (she knew we'd had problems TTC) and I felt able to tell her I was diffed. She was very sweet and gave me a big hug!

Since I came home I have been gardening. Jeepers it's hard work! But I've cleared all the weeds from the side passage and down the side of the drive so I feel I have achieved something! MSB is currently watching YouTube videos on how to build a shed base

Oh Faith that is so hard. Stillbirth is something I just can't contemplate. Just so horribly unfair. It's wonderful that she was able to be pleased for you but then you are an extremely worthy baybee-winner.

I don't think we can contemplate it - too scary! She was always of a sweet disposition but she's very gracious. I admire her so much! I'm glad I saw her when I did. I wasn't someone close enough to her to really support her in early days - though I did send a card.

Only 7 days til my scan! Woo hoo! I can't wait to see out bean

I remember reading last Summer a thread on here where a woman had had a stillbirth and the blanket that some MN people were making for her (sadly I've just seen another blanket is being made for a child who has died of SIDS). I know the 'nest of vipers' label is sometimes deserved but the support on here is incredible, the blanket thing makes me cry just to think about it.

After I became pg I was looking through some of the pgy threads and saw that the same woman was pregnant again, which also made me cry. I think she must have had the new baby recently. I hope your friend has similar happy times ahead.

Can't wait to hear about your scan and for you to see your lovely little bean. You have been far more patient than any of the rest of us on this 'ere fred!

Morning all,
Glad your scan was fine blonde! And so sorry to hear about your friend Faife.

Not much to report chez moi -just pottering around waiting, doing a bit of thumb twiddling as well... Am meeting the women from my NCT course later for coffee, one of them has had her baybee already, just six days ago, and she's coming along too, so I'll get to sniff a proper new'un

It's so sad isn't it? I feel for the ladies on the rainbow babies/TTC thread in conception. My friend said they've had some discussion and they definitely want a family in the future. She was very clear it's not a replacement for their daughter but a brother or sister. ATM she's terrified of being pregnant but they will closely monitor her. She's under a really supportive consultant and can stay under her care for the next pregnancy. I am motivated to start knitting - I've never had much success but I'd like to try! It would be nice to knit stuff for the baybee but also donate to blankets when needed.

Yes I am very impatient about the scan! However we aren't technically in a high risk category and I've not had any bleeding so despite the desire to rush out for a private scan (which MSB was all for til he discovered the cost!) we have patiently waited. I've tried to keep thoughts of an MMC away. In the last two weeks I've concluded I got this far and if it is an MMC there's nothing I can do but wait for the scan anyway. No reason to think it is!

That sounds like a nice morning cakey. Snuggles with a new born and that yummy smell

Sounds luffly cakey. Are you, er, leaking at all? The newborn smell might have that effect. I'm not although can see something there below surface, the other women on the due in Nov thread all seem to be spouting about all over the place. I might start watching YouTube videos of babies crying next week (apparently that's actually a thing, like a kind of lactation-porn).

I have been for a scan today. Saw more lovely pictures of the baby. He is growing well and we could even see that he has hair, not to mention lips just like The Mister! His hair was all sticking up at the front so we think he might be called Jedward!

The sonographer reckons that he weighs about 3lbs 14oz already but he is growing perfectly within the normal parameters. If he carries on growing at 1/2lb a week that would give us a 9-10lber! Eeeek!

Oh dor, how exciting! Sounds like your boy has more hair than DNephew did til he was about 18 months! Does it feel real now? How is the house coming along?

It kind of feels real, although I think I still feel a bit detached. I still worry about all the things that could go wrong. I think I am a bit fatalistic in that way

The house is coming along slowly but we are getting there. They think we might be able to start decorating the bedrooms next week or the week after

We were talking about the fatalistic attitude in our Relate session last night. I'm terrible for it. It's something I've had to work hard on the last few weeks because its not good for our relationship. After some discussion we realised I'm like it because (sadly) people grew to expect the worst of me as a kid! I was clumsy, lost stuff, broke stuff, didn't excel like I could/should have academically and now I expect the worst from myself and from life! I wonder if there's a book that might help. Maybe Paul Mckenna's I can make you happy?

dor it's exciting that things are progressing have you got colour schemes picked out?

Oh Faith, reading that you could be me. I always expect the worst from life and myself. One of my infant school reports read 'does not live up to her full potential' and I think that's stayed true all my life. It's good that you're addressing those issues.

Dot that is absolutely fantastic that your scan went well, amazing that you saw hair! I know what you mean about that strange detached feeling. Strangely I felt most connected to the baby when I was doing things like going to the Olympics, things I could imagine telling it in the future. A lot of the time it seems almost unreal. Last night was the first time I turned to TBI and said, "we're having a baby!"

We have started to pick out some colour schemes... well I have and The Mister is gong along with it!

I just can't wait to move in now

Ha we have that dottie! Occasionally he'll say what he doesn't want - like pink or purple but generally goes along with what I suggest! What's the time scale for getting in dor?

blonder it's kind of sad isn't it? I've had counselling before but I kind of feel like it wears off after a bit...

It's funny you say about going to the Olympics and it feeling real, our baybee was conceived when we went to see the Olympics!

I was hoping we would be in for Christmas but I suspect New Year is more realistic.

Happy 12 weeks Faife!

Need to catch up on past week - still behind in everything (including MN.)

I've got 10 more days of work...but it's all spread out between now and the end of November. I also have that little thing called a PhD that I'm supposed to be slaving away at but instead I'm completely ignoring...

Hope y'all are all having a luffly Friday!

No leakage blondie -I was wondering if I should be worried, but have had enough signs that something is happening to my boobs (including stretchmarks -nobody mentioned you get them there! ) that I think everything is reasonably functional...

Faith is it 12 weeks for you? Congrats! Huge milestone, and not long until scan now...

Dot at least you can then spend Christmas just relaxing and enjoying the baybee, not having a house to tidy and decorate. And Jedward is an excellent name!

@ leakage and boob stretch marks...these are the things you just don't consider when you're trying so long for a win!

Btw, today when prodded TOM said that his favourite name at the moment is the name that I've already decided on is my absolute favourite. He still thinks it's 'too early' to commit to it but as far as I'm concerned we've found The Name.

What's going on with everyone else's naming game? Any winners?

Aw how exciting to be picking names laura! Just have to hope and pray no-one steals it in the next few weeks!? We only have what do you think of.... We have a few in theory on the list but nothing agreed.

Thanks for the congratulations, I'm excited to be 12 weeks now! Sadly I am at that point where unless you knew I was preggo you would just assume I'm busty and a bit chubby! I feel quite large Most of my clothes are too small but I'm not ready to go into maternity stuff yet. I did buy a luffly big jumper (hoodie type without a hood) today in the size up which covers my bum and will be wearable for a while so I'm pleased with that!

The Mister doesn't really like my favourite name.

We have a few names we like but have not yet decided which one we will go for.

Congrats Faith! And Laura on finding the name and making TOM think he thought of it (sort of!)

We have 2 boys' names and 2 girls' names at the ready, all of which we love. But we do pretty much know what it will be. It will also have a middle name from my side of the family as it has DH's surname, those are fixed for either sex. Now I'll have to have 3 more children to use up the other names! (unlikely at 36)

we have one name for blue and a couple of possibilities for pink. DH picked the boys name, and we've suggestd one each so far for a girl. We've not really been thinking about it though.

I've had to crack out the Tena lady. Sneezing and coughing are not my friend right now...

Oh crap, I'm spotting, we're an hour from home and the bloody camper van is overheating! I have an appt with out of hours at 2, my sister is on her way and so are the AA but I'm bloody terrified! Reassurance pliz?!

Faith, I had two early scans because of spotting and I know Dor had loads of spotting too. I know how horrible and awful it feels. But it doesn't necessarily mean anything bad. Bright or brown blood? X

Pinky within discharge. Not even reaching my knickers, just enough to share the shit out of me!

That sounds like what I had. I know there are no guarantees but it's not uncommon. It could be old blood or a little cervical erosion. It's the horrible feeling in your tummy that you can't do anything about. Don't try not to worry, that's impossible and will only stress you more.

Holding hand. Hope van keeps going and gets you back for 2.

My sister has collected me. AA man had seen van and is bringing MSB home now. Van to be collected later! Thinks its the head gasket I've just done a knicker check, it's definitely lessened. Just hoping the appointment reassures me.

MSB has arrived so we can get to the appointment together.

Yep, that's what I had. Pinky discharge on paper when I wiped. Hang in there... how many weeks are you now?

12+1 today. Trying to tell myself and MSB it'll be fine. At OOHs now. Really hoping they scan me to reassure me! Have drunk lots of water just in case!

OOH? What time are you due to be seen?

Fingers crossed and tons of positive vibes being sent your way Faith

Appointment was 1.50. Bursting for a pee!

Ok, been seen. Doctor says its either - MC (but thinks its unlikely) or another Blardy UTI! Got a script for antibiotics and urine sample sent off but he's referred me to EPAU for early scan so waiting for them for them to call.

oh faith i've been busy and missed this. sending positive energy to help keep you calm.

Thanks queenie, well all of you. Have started the antibiotics and am home chilling on the sofa. Spotting seems to have stopped. OOH doc has rung having spoken to the gynae reg and is happy with management plan. I assume I'm still waiting for a call from the EPAU for a scan but they're only open til 6 so it might be tomorrow.

So MSB rang the gynae ward who cover early pregnancy at weekends. The OOH doc was talking crap or maybe misleading not quite accurate. They don't scan on the weekend so it'd be Monday at the earliest, which leaves me in a dilemma since I'm meant to be working 7-7.30, my first day back. MSB and I have agreed we will see how I'm feeling - if the spotting continues or gets worse, I'll call in sick. If it settles and I improve on the antibiotics, I'll go in but explain I may have to leave. My head is screwed!

Oh that's so annoying they won't scan at the weekend. Sending oodles of luff and good thoughts in your direction. Given the previous UTIs it's maybe hopeful that that's the cause.

Yes, the doc seemed pretty certain it wasn't an MC and was UTI related, I'm holding on to that. We are keeping ourselves busy. I've started doing a cross stitch of Tigger

Oh that is very adorable of you. Hope the spotting has lessened now and glad you are home. Good work Faith's sister.

My little sister threw me a baby tea party today. I didn't want a shower as it seemed a bit grabby but she luffs organising parties so it seemed rude to refuse! Lots of games and nice scones. She is a sweetie.

Well knicker check revealed still spotting but its not got worse, maybe a bit lighter so I'm trying not to worry too much. Going to eat comfort food (chunky chicken and jacket!) to line my stomach so I can have another antibiotic.

Aw that's luffly! A tea party No I don't think I'd want a shower either but a tea party sounds very civilised!

It was nice, just a few friends and mums.

Glad the spotting is easing, just rest up. Work etc doesn't matter - if you have to rearrange, so be it. You are the most important thing and your bean!

How are you today Faife?

Spotting appears to have stopped overnight <phew> so fairly confident doc was right. Will have a chilled out day but try and make it to church this morning.

Phew! I had a good dream that it had so I am relieved it was right.

dreaming about me?! How sweet! Yes, phew indeed.

I have had several dreams about the ESH, is that weird? I guess it is a bit.

Feel really off and anxious today. I don't think I should have parties, I just spend the next few days worrying that I said the wrong thing to people. Not helped by the fact that my mum had a go at me for not seeming grateful enough to my sister. Which I was. I obviously don't express things very well when I am feeling anxious.

I've been away and missed all the drama - really glad to see you're in good spirits Faife. I'm so sorry you've had to go through a stressful 48 hours and that the whole UTI issue is still such a bugger.

The tea party sounds lovely! (And now I want some scones!) Being one of those dirty Americans, I would never consider a baby shower to be 'grabby' but I understand that it's different over here (& on MN), so it sounds like your sister found a wonderful way to celebrate your pregnancy (which, in the US, is what showers are about anyway!)

With the bad rep showers get on MN, it's funny that in all my many, many years I've never been to a US wedding or baby shower where people play games though...we sit around chatting and drinking champagne or tea! And many of the showers I've gone to include partners. It's really just a social occasion to celebrate!

I am finding that I am doing a lot of sleep talking. I seem to be having very vivid dreams and and then waking up sitting up in bed and talking. I actually shook The Mister awake last night. I was really distressed and sleep talking. My poor Mister didn't quite know what to do!

Glad you are feeling better today faith. Fingers crossed. X

Yeah I guess it's funny LP, we're happy to do hen nights and so on but baby showers are still seen as a bit of an oddity. Maybe it's the term shower? I've only been to one other and that was a dinner and chat.

My sis looks after children for a living and all her parties have games or themes, she's famous for it and if you come to one of her bday parties you know there will be Pictionary involved somewhere! I am a ball of anxiety and embarrassment most of the time, I'm sure I'd be a lot happier if I just let go a bit. Hope I don't pass it on to the baybee...

Scones were luffly. Ginger ones. Yum.

I actually LOVE games! (Pictionary being a particular favourite.) I'd get on well with your sister!

I've been having weird dreams, too. Most of them are really really sexual - in very strange ways. Not sure what that's all about. And the other night I had a really sad dream where I woke myself up crying!

Pictionary is very fun. She even had a quiz at her wedding which was good too. And Father Christmas came!

Where did you go to LP? sorry if you've said, I can't remember.

I'm reassured that the screaming in your sleep thing is normal. Not so reassured that it continues for so long!

I luff games too. Such fun! I guess in Britain you get gifts for a wedding but we wouldn't have a shower beforehand, same we wouldn't throw a shower to get stuff for a baybee.

We made it to church. I'm glad we did. We sent up some pretty heartfelt prayers yesterday! MSB was keeping a baybee entertained. After a point the baybee kept looking at him expectantly like come on, keep entertaining me! it was very cute

We had board games on the tables at our wedding.

My cousin Stef and I are lying on the sofas catching up on last nights x-factor. What's everyone else up to?

So glad to read you're doing better Faith -scary stuff. Will you get a scan on Monday instead now?

I luff board games too -am a bit of a board game geek actually My brother and I often play intricate strategy game-style thingys whenever we meet at Christmas and holidays -it's a sibling bonding thing.

I'm finding it harder and harder to sleep -last night I was lying wide awake for hours before I finally calmed down. I wonder if it is some subconscious restlessness or summat. I feel ok and prepared, but I'm sure there are tons of weird emotions going on at some deeper level. 39 weeks today...

Wow cake not long to go. Are you doing any pineapple shagging or just waiting to see what happens?

I am in a bit of a blue funk today. Anxiety, tears etc.

Pineapple, raspberry leaf tea, spicy food and walking, yes. Shagging, not so much. I am the walrus. But might give it a go if we get desperate in a few weeks' time.

Hope you feel better soon blondie. Your emotions just go overboard towards the end I think (well, technically the go overboard throughout the whole damn pregnancy...). You'll be there soon -just a few more weeks until you get to meet your baybee!

I don't know re the scan. I'm rota'd on at work so I'm going to go in but tell my boss about everything. My ward is close to the mat wing do I may just have to leave. If they say Tuesday it'll be fine because I'll be day off.

cake 39 weeks! Poke that baybee out! Do you have a burfing plan? Sorry you haven't been sleeping well. Guess your brain won't switch off?

blonde would you like a cuddle with the cod of comfort? The BESH gave it to me but I'm happy to pass it on!

Have you guys ever played Rat race? It's the favourite game in our house. Made by Wadfingtons who did monopoly. Never got as famous as monopoly but we like it because even if you go bust you can start again! There's always an outright winner too. you can get it quite cheaply on eBay

Thank you for the fish Faith, I am feeling a bit better. Just suddenly got convinced I wasn't going to be able to look after the baybee. I think having a row with my mum made me feel a bit crap and useless. I know I'm very lucky to have her around and have such a close relationship with my family but we can get a bit touchy with each other.

TBI has been to buy his hospital supplies - 8 cereal bars and 3 packs of extra strong mints! Hard to believe the baybee will be here in less than 2 weeks. No wonder I'm having a meltdown. For some reason having the cot and all the baby stuff made it seem less instead of more real, like I was playing at being a grown-up.

Cake I have bought some RLT and a kind MN-er sent me some clary sage to help bring on the labour, v effective apparently. We could still have twins!

ps I remember Rat Race but I can't think how it worked.

I think we all have that's thought blonde! actually I don't really think much about having a baybee yet, I need to see it first! Mums are great and awful in varying measure. Obviously I miss mine a lot but she was no saint! Some things I recall her saying and I want to turn round and say No, you're wrong! For example, she was quite funny when my BIL's sister (if you get me) had an MMC. She said effectively how ridiculous, her symptoms would have diminished. Now I know a lot more, I know she's wrong. It's an MMC - even the body hasn't realised so you continue to get symptoms! For some reason I want to correct her! I do get that love you/you drive me mad dynamics!

Rat race - you all own a business with spaces on the board. You start on graduation day, work your way round lower class warming money and buying status symbols. When you get enough (or a society marriage!) you move up to middle class and then again to higher society! You earn money by selling status symbols to the other players. You can play on the stock exchange and go to the race track to win more money. There's a set financial target and the first one to reach it and declare wins. Tis awesome!

Rat Race is a great game which often comes out at Christmas in our house, along with a truly awful game called Masterpiece!

The main game that we play is Scrabble though!

Ah yes I remember RR now. These days we play Scrabble too, and card games usually. This Christmas might be a bit different though! We are planning to host it here which may feel a bit strange as we haven't had it here since my Nan was alive (I live in what was my grandparents' house). Hopefully it will be the start of a new era, with new traditions and happy memories to be made.

How are you getting on back at work today Faith? Any news re spotting & scan? Thinking of you.

Hello. Work is...hard work! It's so busy and I really don't luff this type of work been asked to consider moving wards too, something to consider. MSB rang about scan (no time for me!) and they can't fit me in so its wait til Wed. At least I'm days off.

Sorry they can't fit you in sooner. Has the spotting stopped or eased since you started the new antibiotics?

Hope you're enjoying some feet-up time now Faife. How are the antibiotics treating you? Looking forward to hearing about the scan on Wed -not long now.

I'm having a bit of a tired-and-fed-up moment...

I gave my first MN cookie tonight. She deserved it.

*biscuit (sometimes I forget I'm in England...)

Who to who to?

Ooh linky please msP!

No more spottage since Saturday night - about 12 hours spotting in total. Antibiotics seem to be helping. Doesn't give a seating pain when I pee anymore - I really should have realised that was wrong, shouldn't I?! Put it down to constipation

Bit pissed off that a colleague congratulated me on my pregnancy. No idea who told her, she 'forgot' who....love the idea of people talking about me behind my bank, especially with the scare on Saturday not I told her I wasn't announcing yet and asked her not to say anything and if she remembered who told her to tell them to keep their mouths shut! Grr.

I don't know how to link on my phone! It was a non step-parent who started a Step-Parenting thread to bitch about her exH and his DW who've just had a baby. The woman was bitter and sad wanted things both ways - a hands-off step-mum who treats the DSC's like her own children. So the step-parent is yet again in that all-too-familiar position of dammed if she does, damned if she doesn't.

Much more importantly, I'm so glad there's not been any more spotting Faife! And only one more sleep til your scan.

Yes only 29 hours to go!

I can imagine that would rile you LauraP! Sad to say its all too common I don't think any Step Mum wants to 'replace' a child's mother but to have a positive relationship. It's sad that divorce/separation causes bitterness to the point of people not bring able to be happy when their OH's move on

laura if it's the thread i'm thinking of I gave up reading it at the point it became obvious the father was a selfish, misogynistic twunt who left the s/mum to do all the childcare.

I'm SO fed up. Lots of things all adding up.

Hellooooooooooooooo
So sorry for going AWOL. Have had a horrendous time. Baby still in there but possible complications. Still waiting fir some results but feeling a little better. At work on my phone so won't do the full essay now but promise I'll be back later.
Hope all well

ooo hello camel sorry to hear you've been having a grotty time though.

I've just had my flu jab. The nurse was lovely, she even let me sit down . Really...it's so long since I had a jab, and that was SO painful....but the nurse said 'you'll feel a sharp scratch' and I was waiting for that and then she said 'you can go now'.....all done in about 4 seconds.

Hope the whooping cough jab will be the same....

Oh camel I am sorry to hear of the possible complications. I hope everything's ok. And Queen I'm sorry to hear of the fed-up-ness. It's never plain sailing is it.

Hi camel, I thought you'd been very quiet! I'm sorry it's been complicated. Glad to hear bean is still hanging in there - hope the test results are good news.

queenie you know where I am if you want to chat.

I am alright although stressing because of a possible change at work - got an interview for a promotion tomorrow morning (busy day!) that I don't think I've got a chance of getting (politics) and offered the alternative of changing wards (with I think I might do). Ah well I'll be leaving for a while in 5 months anyway Oh and I moved into maternity jeans, under bump, today and I'm so comfy!

blimey - the actual jab might not hurt but my arm is killing me now. feel like someone punched me hard. Clearly eating copious amounts of chocolate is the best way to comfort myself

hello Camel! Lovely to hear from you, but sorry to hear that things have been rough. Fingers crossed for positive results -when will you hear?

Queenie my jabbed arm hurt pretty good and got a little bit of a rash for a few days -but it's totally worth it, and it passes soon enough.

Faith ah, the maternity jeans! It's so comfy once you get into them... Just a few hours and one sleep until your scan now!!

Yes, 20 hours, one sleep (and one job interview) til we see the bean which MSB has nicknamed Pickle

Thanks for nice welcome backs ladies. Must confess I haven't caught up on the thread yet so sorry for not name checking.

Will try and be brief so here goes. Midwife here was not helpful re booking me in for 12 week scan and would only book me in for when she thought I'd be 13weeks. I was worried that if my dates were a bit out I'd be too late for nuchal screening but she didn't seem bothered and wouldn't change it. Ended booking a private nuchal scan so I could get the testing done 2.5 weeks earlier and the results immediately. We had a private scan with DD and the place was brilliant. Stupidly chose a different place this time and the sonographer was just not helpful.

Scan showed nuchal fold of just over 3 and also a larger bladder than is typical. Sonographer took the opportunity to give us her condolences (purely based on those 2 things) and told us she was worried about a condition called Meckel Gruber Syndrome which is basically incompatible with life. To say we were heartbroken is an understatement. However the down's risk was 1:186 which isnt amazing but also not considered high risk. Unfortunately all this happened at 5pm on a Friday so there was nothing we could do contacting midwives etc until Monday morning. That weekend was the longest weekend of my life.

Spoke to wonderful midwife on Monday morning who listened to me crying and booked us in to see a consultant. Consultant told us that nuchal of 3.2mm is the high end of normal but nothing to worry about in itself and that you can't diagnose an enlarged bladder from 1 single scan (as it would need to be enlarged permenantly to be considered problematic). He ordered us an urgent scan there and then and the sonographer was unconcerned. Baby looked normal, bladder was empty, but obviously nuchal is still a bit high. Still waiting for NHS nuchal screening results which are due later this week.

Feel completely wrung out and terrified about what might happen next. Haven't been on mumsnet in weeks as a result. Slowly trying to come back to life but also not get hopes too high. I feel like I've aged about 20 years.

Camel what an awful weekend you must have had and you must still be on such tenterhooks. It sounds like the private sonographer was really unprofessional and unsupportive. Very strange to jump to conclusions that may well be unwarranted.

We're all here while you wait it out and hoping you get the news you want.

How awful that your private scan meant to provide reassurance actually caused you so much distress! I really hope the results are reassuring and you can move forward with this.

Thanks

faithy hope all goes well today (x2!) and that pickle behaves and gives you a wave

faith hope all goes well today.

I have had the most horrendous night's sleep. I had just dropped off when The Mister came to bed and woke me up, then I couldn't go back to sleep. Then my cousin who lives with us scalded her foot at about 1.30am. Poor thing, it must have been really painful but she managed to wake the entire house. Of course it's alright for her - she works part time and can stay in bed. I have a nightmare day to be tired today as I have to see a potentially difficult and violent client for assessment. Bugger, bugger, bugger.

Oh, and I have been sitting here panicking that I can't feel much movement. Winston is probably jusy asleep!

Good luck with your double big day today Faith. Will be thinking of you.

Dor that is annoying as you must be pretty wrung out already. Hope you get through your day ok.

dor hope it's an ok day. Maybe see if you can sneak a nap?

I'm at work for my interview at 10 - like to be early! Quite nervous (not a bad thing) but thinking I'm mad to go for it since I haven't got recent ward experience!

Camel that sounds horrendous -I'm so sorry. The first sonographer sounds very unprofessional. So glad the second scan was unproblematic -hopefully the full results will give you proper reassurance.

Dot I think you're getting to the stage now where they start to have more defined movement patterns (early 30s weeks?) -I remember spending quite a bit of time freaking out about lack of movement as well, but it's just that they spend longer sleeping, and then waking again. It's better once you start getting an idea of how their cycle is...

Faith huge good lucks to both your appointments today! Hope both go really well!

Hope your interview is going well Faife and enjoy seeing your wriggly little pickle!

Sorry to hear it has been rough going Cam (but glad to see you on here!)

Dor - did I miss that you'd found your name?! Winston is a fantastic name - I love it! And my phone spellcheck changes it to Einstein, so that must e a good sign.. I had a similar experience regarding lack of movement this week and MW told me it was most likely that he was facing inwards and kicking my guts in a way that I couldn't feel.

Interview is done. It was ok - I've had interviews for a higher level so I know what it's like to be grilled! It was only half an hour. I answered the questions ok but really don't think I'll get it and not sure I really want it!

Yes only a couple of hours to go now!

dor I assume Winston is a nickname, are you not worried it'll stick?! I'm sure yes just snoozing if you had a busy night

Is it Winston because of the theory that all babies look like Churchill when they're born?

Right, ok, how long do I need to hold my wee? It says to drink 1 1/2 pints an hour before. When can I last pee?! An hour before the scan?

I like Winston too! I may have even thrown it out there as a suggestion when we were discussing names, but mrcakes vetoed it. Oh well.

Winston is just a nickname. It's a very cool name but it seriously wouldn't go with our surname! However, if we can't agree on a name then we might stick with it at this rate!

Keep holding it Faife!

Ok I'm downing the pint!

I think it's a groovy nickname dor

faith are you jiggling in your hospital waiting room seat as I type? Hope they don't keep you waiting too long!

<twiddles thumbs>

Hold it Faith! (although bearing in mind your UTIs, don't suffer in agony)

Oh it was agony - apparently I had a very full bladder! But yes, definitely got a baybee in there! It was wriggling, gave us a wave, couple of back stretches and put its arms above its head couldn't get the nuchal fold because it was sat on its bum. Phew! Been moved forward one day so 12+6 according to her/25th April. Hooray!

I'm doing a little happy dance here faith we've been through so many ups and downs together in the Hut and on the Besh threads over the last couple of years I am SO happy for you.

<<wipes a tear away>>

Suddenly seem to have something in my eye...

Oh that is very beautiful news. I am so utterly delighted for you.

Yayyyyyyyyyyyy! I'm doing a little happy dance for you and Pickle!

Hurray! Well done fee. Lovely news!!!

Hurray! That's brilliant faith - I am so pleased for you

Finally saw consultant after a 2 hour wait she just said take less codiene if I can, have a GTT because my BMI was 30 but she said otherwise low risk and she's quite happy!

Wonderful news Faith -another victory for the ESH! <wipes tear>
Also really glad to hear you're low risk. Exciting times ahead -time to go maternity clothes shopping methinks?

More like time to put all the maternity clothes my sister gave me in the wardrobe! I don't think I need much else to be honest . I might start buying bits for the baybee now.

Soooo, last night I had a bloody show, been having more show ever since. Also spent most of this night awake with period-pain 'surges'. Not sure if they are contractions, as the bump didn't tighten or feel harder, but definitely a case of fairly strong period pain coming, increasing, and then going away.

Could this be the start of things? Seems to have calmed down this morning...

Oh wow cakey sounds like you are on your way! So exciting.

Finding it hard to believe actually -I've been totally convinced I'd go massively overdue, have been reading up on various induction policies, etc.

I'm still having the odd period-pain wave, but not frequent. I guess we'll just wait and see, but it does look like things are heading in that direction

Of course, when I put 'bloody show' into the mumsnet search box, the first thread that pops up is some woman a few years ago complaining that she had her show 11 days ago and where is her baybee!? I guess nothing is certain when it comes to these things...

We're all on Cake-watch now...how exciting!

Hopefully this and Faife's good news will help me stay positive today - because up until this moment, this morning I've been in the most cunty-est mood I've ever known. . How can I have such a lovely life, and the joy of growing my own little baybee, and STILL be a horrible, foul mood, angry beast?!

Hormones.

Laura I've had some terrible moods since being pregnant some would say since longer but also lots of euphoria and occasional hysteria often while reading MN.

I have my hospital appt at 4pm and should be having a sweep. Have convinced myself this will immediately kick me into labour so have gone a bit loopy with nerves and lists. So probably what will happen is they'll have a quick look and tell me I'm not ready yet.

Can't work out baby's position now, it seems to have two bottoms. Or a really fat knee. Hope it is still head down anyway.

oh bah! before I found out I was diffed we booked tickets to a gig. We booked standing tickets, bypassing the seated option because - well, you know after two and half years you stop thinking 'what if i'm pg' - we now can't swap for seated because they have decided not to have seating after all. I'll be 33 weeks and no way I can stand for a whole gig.
Can't find anything else to do that night so have cancelled the hotel. Fortunately hadn't booked train tickets yet, but no refunds on gig tickets so hoping we can sell them on.
I'm actually really fed up about this.

I'm in the same position Rollo - standing only tickets to see one of my favourite musicians (Cat Power) when I'll be 32wks.

On a happier note, how thrilling that we're on double PESH baybee watch! <offers super spicy curry with a side of raspberry leaf tea to Blondie and Cake>

Ok, had sweep, oh it was not very pleasant. I hope I can manage to be a bit braver in the next week.

Baby is 3/5 palp and cervix v slightly open. Doc said they might see me tomorrow...

TBI making chilli. Sort of want things to progress naturally and sort of fucking terrified.

Sorry about your gig Rollo, who was it to see?

was supposed to see The Damned, with The Dickies in support. At the moment we're going to see if we can sell the tickets but if not then possibly HOLB will find a mate to go with. Possibly our friends who live near Oxford, then I can go and stay the night and have a girly evening like a beached whale on their sofa

laura HOLB really likes Cat Power.

We've got tickets to Glastonbury next year......not sure if that was a move of braveness or stupidity. We did promise DS that we would take him though (it usually our child free festy) and he hasn't forgotten.

how exciting that we're now waiting on babies arriving imminently.

Ooh we're in sniffing distance of baybees coming out! How exciting! It's just like a sneeze, right?!

My friend said on Tuesday when she was giving birth she did a big push and asked Was that the head? and they answered Er....no! She has never lived that down (luff a good pooing in labour story).

I have officially agreed to move wards. Didn't get the promotion I went for but did well at interview. Quite happy just to move instead. Don't need extra stress at the moment! back for next scan Tuesday morning. <shouts> Lie down Pickle!

Sorry you didn't get the promotion Faith but that sounds like a good move.

I am clinging to the sneeze idea. Having some BH contractions so hopefully my body's getting into the right spirit. Nice and gentle does it please body!

Night all, hope cake is doing well and all of you.

Queenie and Laura how annoying about your tickets! I saw the Damned a couple of years back, was brilliant, but couldn't do it standing at 30+ weeks upduffed...

Blondie exciting times! Hope you're feeling ok and fingers xed for that sneeze!

Faith congrats on move -sorry about the promotion, but you didn't sound very hopeful in the first place, and glad you sound happy with this

I think I am officially in 'latent labour' -have been having a period pain like contraction maybe once every hour for the past 24 hours now, or since I had my show on Wed eve. Didn't sleep great the last two nights, as it is painful enough to wake me up, but it's not unbearable at all. Unfortunately from looking at Dr Google, latent labour can last anywhere from a day or two to a week or two, so it's still a case of just waiting...

Ooh cake the race is on!

I feel fine this morning, was expecting some kind of drama last night so went through everything with TBI, practised TENS etc. Fell asleep to Hypno CD and woke up feeling calm! Still having BH I think and bleeding but quite mild.

Moment of hysteria as looked in loo after morning wee and saw small, pea-sized object. Gingerly fished it out in case it was something important... It was a pea. Must have hidden in my PJs during dinner last night. Oops.

blonder your pea escapade has really made me laugh

I can't believe there are 2 PESH baybees actually on their way out Holy shiz!!!

Faithy exciting times re getting to see pickle again

Results letter arrived today and we are officially low risk. Didn't give a number but in some ways I think that's a good thing. Positive mental attitude and a fair bit of being shit scared until our 20 week scan in 4.5 weeks.

Sorry about gigs queenie and LP. I can safely say that it is one of the few upsides to being as deeply uncool as me when it comes to music - take that and girls allowed always have seats

Talk about pea-ing your pants!

I'm so excited about impending baybees! Squee!

I popped into my old gym today - I'd been there 3 years so they'd been very supportive - they were so luffly and excited about Pickle! It also turns out the manager is due 4 days after me! It's her DC2 but they'd been TTC 4 years and had almost given up so that's great I have a due date buddy!

Sorry about the gigs. You stop imagining you'll be diffed for these events, don't you?! <imagines trying to take a folding chair into the gigs>

Oh completely missed that camel, what wonderful news! You must be so relieved!

Definitely feeling relieved. Have been holding my breath for weeks. Better get on with being pregnant I suppose. They moved my due date actually to 16th April. Have somehow lost a whole week. Eek.

Gosh that must feel strange! I find it funny that I don't really have a due date yet. The sonographer said she thought I looked about 12+6 which is one day further on than I thought but hopefully Tuesday will be clearer for us.

I really should get on with stuff like tidying and floor mopping. MSB will be home in a couple of hours. I'm just too tired! I'd forgotten how tired I was after days off though I expect It'll get easier with time.

That's great news Camel. I was so worried about that and the relief was incredible. Didn't help everyone saying, you'll be fine. You must be delighted.

Trouble is, no-one knows you'll be fine! I'm really glad it's all ok. Are you considering putting in a compliant against the horrible woman for causing you unnecessary distress?!

Oh it's me by the way, I did an Ickle NC now the scan is done

Oh I love the namechange!

Thanks I'd planned it for a while but wanted my scan first! I was too worried about an MMC to change it beforehand!

Fantastic news Camel! Must be such a relief

Love the namechange -very cute actually!

How are you getting on blonde? I've been having regular period-pain surges all day, but I still can't make up my mind as to whether they are contractions or not. They hurt a lot, but only on my front lower abdomen, there's no backache and no bump tightening. I thought you were supposed to just know these things (in which case I guess they're not, because I'm confused...)

Love the name change Faife!

Blondie & Cake - please to remind us of your wks+days dates so I can begin to wonder about when and what it might be like when my turn comes...

I feel the same cake! I am getting tightenings but only brief ones and the same kind of periody ache and sometimes stabby "oof!" cervix moments. But it doesn't feel like there's been a progression. I'm guessing I will know when there is.

Curry tonight... If nothing happens tomorrow I'll step up the bouncing and try some oils etc. Have just taken it easy today doing some sorting out of baby stuff. Are you trying any of the woo/alternative stuff? Or old wives' tales?!

Faith that's completely understandable. Lovely that you are having such a nice response to your news.

Laughing about the pea

And Camel, well done you for knocking off a whole week!

LP I am 37+4 but baby is measuring a couple of weeks ahead so I am feeling pretty full! Would have been finishing work today (in fact right now) so am glad that happened early.

Oh, don't frighten me - I've got my PhD upgrade viva in my 37th week!
[idiot trying to do it all emoticon]

Wowee! Well mine is due to the GD so there's no reason to think you will be in my position (all fours, swaying).

Will you be requiring the baby to call you Dr Mum?

(or Dr Mom?)

I think I'll be a Mummy.

And unfortunately, it's just the upgrade - I will still have another 2 years of work/writing, then the final viva before I'm a proper Dr.!

Ah, I see. Well Mummy is more than enough for now!

Ooooh periody pains sound promising kids - that's how it started for me with DD.

fee I love the name change - was hoping you'd go for it after the scan

Thanks re all kind words. I did wonder about whether to say anything about unnecessary distress caused by unprofessional sonographer but I'm not sue I've got the emotional energy to revisit it all. Maybe later when we've had an amazing 20 week scan

And jeez Louise re PHD business! That's pretty impressive going at a time when just getting your knickers on in a morning is hard work!!

Yes I'm impressed too! I have a PGDip, was contemplating applying to complete my MSc in August but then found out I was diffed. In fact it's kind of nice to have taken a step down work wise. Come in, do job, handover!

Oh my days, my life is changed forever! My skin is very dry at the best of times and my fanjo has been dry since getting diffed (trying to avoid thrush treatments). I have been prescribed Dermol for hands for 4 years after they started getting sore at work. It's specifically prescribed for hand washing but I looked at it tonight and thought Why can't I put this in the bath? My skin is singing with joy! It's so smooth and hydrated I used it on my fanjo too. Changed for life, I swear!

Ha! All hail Fee and Her Joyous Singing Fanjo

And my tilted uterus - so said the sonographer! - I'm just like Imogen Thomas

faith when I meet you i'm going to be expecting a quiet-but-definitely-there celestial choir emanating from your Singing Fanjo

My skin is singing! My fanjo isn't convinced as yet!

I like your singing fanjo Faith <resists temptation to make bad song suggestions>

I might have had a show.

Eek blonde you're on the home stretch! Do you feel ready to have your baybee? Is your bag packed and everything? I'm so excited!

I'm not sure. I was ready to have an induction on Tuesday... I suddenly can't remember anything about natural labour! I did the wrong homework!

I'm going to have a bath. And remain calm. (possibly)

Evening all. I am bloody knackered. I have had such a busy week and I feel like a cabbage tonight.

Went to my final ante-natal class tonight which was good. Haven't been feeling loads of movement so they agreed to put the monitor on and check everything was OK. Of course, it was all fine, but I just think I am really insensitive to movement!

Hello, Dor. Glad the AN class was good and you got to hear the heartbeat. Always gets me more than anything else, hearing that. Beautiful.

ugh......two hours sleep thanks to being up all night with DS who had a fever.....I could NOT get his blasted temp down. He's thrashed around all night.
and he'd been sick in his bed/room so we had no choice but to share the spare bed.

I am done in.

Sorry to hear it Rollo, poor DS and poor you. How is he today?

I'm still here, no new excitement. Should really go and do something active to help things along but hard to resist the urge to curl up in a ball.

I now have an image of the singing fanjo in my head...

Sorry to hear about DS rollo -hope he gets better soon.

LP massively impressed that you're tackling a PhD and pregnancy at the same time!

Not much to tell here either. 39+6 today -my actual due date is tomorrow!! This magical date in the calendar that's seemed so long away for ages, and now it's tomorrow! I'm still having regular-ish period pain contractions, but they don't seem to be ramping up in frequency or level-of-pain. I think I'm destined to be one of these women who is in early labour for weeks...

Oh cake I was sure you were going to reappear later with a baybee! I feel the same except I feel like nothing will happen till Tuesday and then I'll have to have the induction. D'you think it's worth me calling on Monday to see if they'd do another sweep?

I secretly want to have the baybee on Monday because it was my Grandmother's birthday. But trying to put that out of my mind.

I left HOLB in charge and went to bed for three hours. I feel something approaching human now. DS under a blanket on the sofa watching endless crappy television, and declaring he's not hungry. Trying to get lots of fluid into him and going to make him some nibbles in a bit so there's light stuff to eat if he feels like it.

Sending out positive energy for these babies to put in an appearance.

I didn't go overdue with DS so can't offer any advice really...

Glad you got done rest queen.

I am oh so tired after a long work say but it was a good day. My belly is very firm now I so I feel more 'pregnant'.

I'm so excited that we should have baybees here within the week!

I still feel really paranoid at the moment about lack of movement. I am feeling some but it feels less than it did last week. Maybe he is just a bit more squished up in there. Did anyone else find they got less movement as time went on?

Hope you had a better night's sleep Rollo.

Dor I have found that movement has changed over time, from sharper kicks to more of a rolling movement. As long as you are still feeling movement it should be fine but I can understand the worry. Is it worth making some notes on what type of movement you feel at different times of day so you can see if there's a pattern or explain to your mw more clearly?

Weird night last night, woke up at 3am bit sweaty and went for a wee but suddenly had this huge 'shiver', don't know how to describe it without being overdramatic but it kind of wracked my whole body. Teeth chattering, shaking, felt like I was going to vomit and poo. Dived back into bed, DH woke up and tried to ask what was wrong but thought I was saying No as my head was shaking involuntarily. Kept coming in waves every 30 secs or so. Eventually died down after 20 mins or so. Got some more sleep but kept waking up drenched in sweat, however if I took a layer off it felt like the shivering would start again.

I googled and apparently some women shake in early labour or transition due to hormone changes but I am still not contracting or anything, just mild period pains. Anyone heard of this?

Today I have a had a lot more movement. You are right that the movements vary. At the moment it feels like he is doing barrel rolls!

Good to hear Dor. I was always surprised to find that the baby was in the same position at my appointments as it feels like it rolls all over the place.

So, any news. Anyone nearer to laying yet? I am getting excited now!

Sorry about sick DS rollo. Hope he's on the mend

blondey how you doing love? Shaking sounds like a very unnerving experience but good to know others have it too. At the least it hopefully means something is happening even if not as quickly as you'd like. Hope things pick up soon.

cake how you doing kiddo?? Any news?

dor glad the movement has picked back up again. It's scary shiz all this isn't it?

Hi fee know about you mean about sudden tummy firmness. It's a good job I'm finally coming clean at work tomorrow. Seem to have had a massive growth spurt over the weekend and look very obviously pregnant all of a sudden. Am actually quite nervous about telling work. Hope all the senior bods are around first thing so that I can just getting out of the way and get on with my day.

It is really scary. I thought it got easier, but clearly not!

dot I've heard it gets a tiny bit less scary once theyre here and they're about......45 so err only a lifetime to go then

I've been wondering how cake is getting on.

Nothing much else has happened so I have gone totally barking and started trying out old wives' tales (well I am an old wife).

In the last 24 hrs:
Curry
Sex
Evening Primrose
Warm bath
Clary Sage oil
Walking (a bit)
Birthing ball
Halfhearted amateur reflexology
Nipple tweaking...
... While watching breastfeeding videos

Eyed up the castor oil but instead currently experimenting with a glass of Prosecco. It's the (2nd) most enjoyable option so far.

Oooh exciting! Maybe it will come down to the induction after all blonderer?! At least you've done your homework for that. I read your post and thought oh you have to be careful with reflexology, it can bring in labour!

I have had weird stretchy pains tonight - MSB is convinced that it was baybee movement! I think it's my uterus stretching! cam we're at similar dates and you've done this before - what do you reckon?! I went public at church this morning, 'twas luffly and I got lots of hugs and joy

dor I'm glad Winston is wiggling more, must be reassuring

Hope lickle rollo is on the mend now and you've had some rest!

blonde you might want to watch the castor oil. At our parentcraft class the bonkers midwife was telling us that she had a lady in labour or took some before delivery and the birth was characterised by her liquid shit throughout. Gross!

Oh how mortifying! Like the idea of doing a normal poo isn't bad enough?!

blonde prosecco and sex???? I'm well jel! Good work on trying to smoke the little tinker out before the induction.

faif yes have also stretching this week. Have had what I think is round ligament pain low down like before but also some funny muscle twinges much higher up sort of on a line with my belly button. Normally when I get up from lying down or stretch in a funny way.

Have also some a few flutters that I think probably are movement. They're very faint and feel like what I think people used toe describe as the quickening in the super old days. Not discernible movement but very much butterflies in my tummy very low down. I recognised the feeling as soon as it happened. Can't wait for proper kicks and pokes.

Liquid shit???????? Fecking hell!

Ps faith how nice re coming out at church. I took DD this morning (which I've not done for about a year as she's far too much of a handful now to sit still). She was actually pretty good. My fave bit was her declaring as soon as we'd sat down "oh mummy church is like a show!" (she loves anything involving a stage dahling)

I started to get some ligament stretching around your stage Faith. It could be very unnerving at times.

Dor I think I am going to leave the Castor oil in the cupboard having read some scary shit (sorry) about it - I don't mind having a tummy upset but apparently it can cause the baybee to pass meconium and I am not up for that.

I'm still having mild contractions but only for a few seconds at a time so I think Tuesday might happen after all. At least it might mean the pessary takes effect more quickly if I am on the way.

Camel I love the term 'quickening'. TBI and I were discussing earlier how archaic many of the pregnancy terms sound - midwife, confinement, show. And I still find it hard not to giggle when anyone mentions the ripeness of cervices.

That is v true goldilocks, although the term ripe cervix make me want to vom a little bit. Always makes me think of over squashy fruit! I quite like the idea of confinement - all that peace and quiet and dark just waiting for something to happen

Yes I think it's ligament stretching. It was quite intense at work yesterday! I had one little jerk Friday night could be bowel! but no discernible flutters yet.

Still 36 hours, could go either way blonde.

I luff the 'church is like a show'! If there was a like button I'd press it yes it was wonderful. One lady said she'd been praying for us for years. She said she prayed for one couple who thought they couldn't have kids and they had five - based on that would I like her to stop praying now?! I said yes! Two would be luffly but one would be enough!

Oh fee that's lovely. I really really love the sense of family and community that comes with church. How wonderful of people to keep you in their prayers. Makes me feel a bit teary. Your fertility fairy has obviously got a pretty effective hotline to The Big Man - I'd be asking her to stand down now as well. 5 is too many for any normal woman!!!

DS is better thanks for all your thoughts. He's a typical kid, while us parents are still trying to get over the sleep deprivvation of nursing them they bounce straight back. Yesterday was hard work....I was tired and he was FULL of energy. But still...it's better than seeing them ill.

Oh dear, just dissolved a bit. Think I had really got my hopes up about persuading this baby to arrive before the induction - and today would have been my beloved Nana's 92nd birthday.

After a busy day having another sweep, going for a walk and monitoring every twinge, I fell asleep on the sofa, woke up and burst into tears. I don't think I had realised how much I had hoped I could do it. Now I have to get my head together and get ready for tomorrow.

Sorry for poor little me post but I am suddenly realising this really is IT.

blonde you are perfectly entitled to feel a little er....disappointed? that it didn't happen when you hoped it would. These last few days before you make the transition from pregnant lady to mummy are quite frankly a headfuck.

I even felt odd when I found out I was PG and realised I wasn't going to have a Piscean baby.....because oddly I had my heart set on one

Thank you Rollo, I think I am a bit of a hormonal version of an 8-strand plait loaf (in case you are watching Great British Bake Off).

I'm glad your DS is much better, hope you have caught up with him!

I think the enormity of everything is catching up with you blonder. Most people don't know when their baybees are going to turn up, Tis unusual to be in your position. Your baybee will have its one birthday. A special day. If its Wednesday it'll be my Granny's birthday! What time are you going in?

I am tired from work and my ankles are swollen from being on my feet all day! Day off and seeing Pickle again tomorrow.

Thanks Faith. I'll be thinking of you and your pickle! Just had another big cry about the Moses basket. TBI and DBro being very lovely.

I keep saying to my bump, I really hope that you know what to do, because I haven't got a clue!

blonder it goes: eat - sleep - cry - poo - cry - sleep - cry - eat or thereabouts. They're quite simple to start with! you'll be fine!

at faith's description of what life is like with a newborn.

I was in hospital for 4 days with DS. I remember coming home, putting his car seat down on the floor and sitting and looking at him thinking 'oh fuck.....there are no nurses or midwives to ask. What the hell do I do when he wakes up?'

My doula is coming round for another chat tomorrow. Sounds like we all have busy baby-oriented days tomorrow.

I have a midwife appointment tomorrow and hope to get my Whooping Cough vaccination done.

I feel huuuge at the moment and like I have an arse stuck up under my ribs. Not very comfortable!

I was more hoping it will know what to do tomorrow and which way is out!

It sounds like we will all be very babified tomorrow. Did you have a doula with your last birth Rollo? Hope you get the WC jab ok Dor. I was a bit coldy when I had mine and it did space me out for a couple of days so take good care of yourself.

Your response is perfectly understandable Blondie - it's all so exciting and overwhelming and scary.

Good luck with all the babyee appoints tomorrow - we had our 24 week today and all is good. Measuring bang-on for dates and apparently the reason I've been having upper rib pain on my right side is because young MasterPalmer is laying diagonally, head down, with his feet up in my rib cage!

Sorry to post and run, but I'm absolutely exhausted and must sleep!

<hands out copious bags of Skittles>

Thanks LP, glad to hear things are progressing well, although hope Junior finds somewhere else to stick his feet!

In case I don't get to check in for a while, luff to all and thanks for the Esh-cellent support.

I didn't have a doula last time. I had a hospital who refused to accept my dates and considered me in premature labour when I was NOT. It meant that I got bossed about by midwives, and while the labour was pretty serene actually it was not the way I really wanted it.
As I only live 5 mins from the hospital I'm hoping to have this one at home, and it will be my last baby so I decided to have a doula and be strong about having the kind of birth I want.

blonde good luck for today
LP i was like that with DS, fully expect to end up the same this time round though DS was long when he was born (top centile) and I think that's why I was SO uncomfy. DH and I both short(er than avergae) and so hoping this baby isn't as leggy and therefore I will have more comfort.

Hope all baby appts go well today - wish I had one. Off to London for boring old work.

blondie and fee - good luck, will be thinking of you both!

I caved this morning and phoned the number on the results letter we received last week. The letter just said we're low risk for down's but didn't give a risk factor and it's been bothering me all weekend. My heart was in my mouth waiting for the midwife to dig out the paperwork but it was good news 1:4400. Which is a zillion times better than our previous result. So so so relieved (for now anyway).

Oh poo. TOM and I had a huge fight this morning. We're feeling stressed out about money as we're in the process of buying tickets to visit my family after the baybee arrives and they're really expensive (£2300, bloody hell,) To add to the stress mess I've been feeling particularly emotional over the past 2 days that I won't get to see a single family member during my pregnancy. And to top off all that, yesterday we had to deal with (yet another) a yucky situation with TinyTOM's cunt of a shit biomum which has been extremely depressing, especially for TOM. So basically everything exploded this morning as we were in the process of buying these tickets (online), culminating with me screaming 'Shut the fuck up' multiple times at the top of my lungs and him leaving the house.

Now I'm on a train to London for a long work day, feeling shitty and sad and like I just want to throw the proverbial towel in and pack off.

Not a fun moment to be in while 6mnths updiffed.

I'm so sad.

Good luck blonder, see you on the other side!

LP the stress must be massive. Have you contacted him to try to resolve things?

My scan was ok - Pickle's still being a monkey lying curled over upside down! But she got the measurement, now due 23rd April, 14+0 today. Nuchal was 1.6 so although we're waiting for the bloods I'm not worried more photos going on t'other place later!

LP then will it reassure you to know that i completely lost my temper with HOLB about something stupid at the weekend and told him to 'fuck off then'....and I stormed to the spare room and cried.
Stress affects us so muc more easily when the hormones are flowing.

Glad the scan went well faith

I've spent a lovely couple of hours with my doula . Though it got a little interesting when she asked what i'm planning to do with the placenta. I said I was going to bury it under a fruit tree in the garden. She has suggested that I eat it......but not in a fried live kind of way. She can make a tincture or capsules and if you take it postnatally it helps with milk production, and keeping PND at bay. As i'm prone to depression I'm going to look fully into this as something I may do.
I think my woo credentials just hit the roof...

fried liver <<facepalm>>

Super woo!

MSB was annoying me so much last Wednesday being impatient waiting for the doctor I was tempted to take my show off and throw it at his head I'm not normally a violent person!

Glad to see I'm not the only stressy, bitchy differ on the Fred!

<admires Rollo's woo>

I'm a bit worried about PND - and capsules sound far better than 'fried live'! . Do you know how much it will cost to...process your placenta?

Evening all.

I have to say I still think that eating your own placenta, whether it be fried or freeze-dried, is gross!

I had my 32 week ante-natal appointment with the midwife today. Everything is fine and my blood pressure is perfect - I think it has got better over the course of my pregnancy! I also had my whooping cough jab and now I feel like someone has punched me in the arm.

The midwife also told me why she thinks that I might not feel lots of movement, apparently my placenta is anterior position which means it lies like a cushion at the front of my belly. It makes sense to me as any movement I get is usually very low down in my pelvis or up under my ribs. I just wish someone had told me earlier as it might have stopped me panicking so much!

The other thing that happened at this appointment was that the midwife told me that she has organised for me to have a private room, presuming that I meet their criteria. This is mainly because I am a social worker with drug users and I have two clients due to deliver about the same time as me. I have been quite worried about having to be on the ward if they are there. So, now I can stop panicking!

Hello? Who are you all? Where is everyone I know? And I got bumped off the list at the beginning of the thread

So I had a little boy in September 2010 and I am accidentally up differs again

Hehe auto correct. Updiffed.

If you've been knitting recently then I recognise you from your recent announcement.

Welcome back!

Ummmm...just discovered you're not who I thought you were Bess - please ignore my cryptic message!

But welcome back anyhow. How far along do you think you are?

Hello bessie, nope no idea who you are either!

Hello Bessie! Did you have a hard fought win with DS only to get accidentally diffed with DC2 then? When are you due? We can update the list (sorry you got bumped!) with DS and expectant DC2.

I'm Faith. Started trying to win a baybee December 2009, 1 year fruitless TTC, 1 year of investigations - revealed reversible male factor problems. Started reversing December 2011. Told to lose weight for IVF July 2012. Got diffed August 2012 - Olympic baybee conception! Due 23/4/12 with a baybee that's already a rascal not getting in good positions for scannage!

I wonder how blonder is getting on? Push!

Hello and thanks for the welcome. I joined one of the first BESH threads in 2009 ttc dc2, which was a bit of a struggle. I had a little boy in September 2010 and have just got pregnant with dc3. It was a complete surprise and we are still in shock. But I have mc before so I'm not counting my chickens. Only just updiffed so due early July. Was told as a teenager would struggle to have children and would prob need ivf, 3 dc was not exactly expected

July due date? That sounds like ages away! So you're only a few weeks diffed? (I still think of myself as relatively newly updiffed!). Well here's hoping its a sticky bean

I am tired today but not as bad as yesterday so I have been doing a but round the house.

I woke up at about 5am crying because I was convinced something had happened to my lovely Mister Nothing had happened of course and he was right next to me but it was so real and vivid and it took me ages to calm down. I still feel tearful this morning.

bless you dor i know how unsettling that is. It'll be normal underlying anxiety processing through your brain though I suppose.

Hello all, hope you are doing well. Have been in hospital since 7am Tues attempting induction. Despite contractions since 3am Weds I've made v little cervical progress so unless things change overnight I will be having a CS tomorrow or Sat, depending on when they can fit me in. Am shattered sore and a bit disappointed but looking forward to seeing my baby when I can.

No 3G or Wifi in hospital but have popped escaped to my Mum's for a nice shower so I thought I'd update.

Oooo good luck blonde. How exciting!

I was a bit freaked out today when someone on our December antenatal thread had her baby. It made it all real!

Aww sorry you're sore blonder. That baybee doesn't really want to come out, does it?! Just think though, within 48 hours you'll be a Mummy and it'll all be worthwhile! hang in there!

He's here. 4.50pm, CS, 8lbs. Blissfully happy.

Oh, oh, oh!!!!! Congratulations!!!!

How wonderful!!! What's his name?

Oooh I've been waiting! Congratulations! He's here! so happy for you!

Yay!!!! Another ESH boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations lovely MummyBlond !!!!!

Hi everyone. DS was born this Monday after a marathon labour that started with painful pre-labour contractions on Thursady evening. Was in established labour by Saturday, had DS Monday morning and was then on post natal ward until Wednesday. I literally didn't sleep for a week. Hence no mumsnetting until now.

I didn't get the natural labour I had hoped for, he came by foreceps in the end. But it was a really good experience, and I felt well looked after. My fanjo is carnage, but I'm healing well. The cut was clean and well done, and I didn't tear too badly.

Blondie, massive congrats! It's incredible, isn't it?

Oh that wasn't next question if we had heard from cake. Congratulations lovely, yes it really is the most amazing feeling, wherever has gone before is obliterated by the rush of love, I felt my heart burst and have been astonished by it ever since. Oh I am so happy for you.

Slept with my hand in the cot and Junior holding my little finger. Well, I say slept...

was my not wasn't

Oh my, TWO ESHboys! How lucky is this Fred! Congrats to you, too, CakeMum!!!!!

It's so wonderful to hear both of you describe the amazing feeling you have for your new sons and I'm ignoring the bits about difficult births...

i was waiting for news too. This has set me up for the day, so SO happy for you both and hope that you have lovely snuggly babies that let you sleep. Feeling a bit teary eyed now and going to give my hulking 7 year old boy a squishy hug.....(while I can still get near enough to him to manage it)

<sneaks in following Laura Palmer's invitation>

Massive congrats to both of you!

Hurray hurray hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrray!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done cake and blondie! Totally totally thrilled for you both

Hello cake! Congratulations! I'm glad to hear that although it was hard work you had a positive experience! Brilliant. Two ESH baybee boys.

Congrats cake and blonde

Oh it's so lovely to read your messages thank you. Can you tell I am in a bit of a hormonal fog? A good one though for a change! But it does mean a lot.

So nice to have a bit of 3G reception in this ward so I can potter about on my phone and be in touch with people.

I think you're allowed to be a bit hormonal at the moment! I can't quite imagine how it feels to meet your baybee after so long?!

Hurray! I am so excited, and now I am a bit scared!

Yes, won't be long dor! I am still not thinking about having to go through labour!

Just popping in to say a mahoosive congratulations to Blondie and cava - Amazing news laydees!

I'm assuming the fanjo of doom is totally worth it? Yep, thought so

Thank you so much lovely ESH. Wishing the same for you all.

Yay! Congratulations both of you and a special ESHly welcome to the two babies.

Thank you all so much. The ESH are lovely and have always been amazing support.

Fanjo of doom is totally worth it! It really is amazing, unlike anything I've felt. Hoping you will all have it soon!

Gosh I came very close to the 'rush of pure love' line yesterday didn't I... Mind you it's pretty accurate and I don't claim it for the conception, that was more like a rush of oh-we're-quite-tired-but-better-do-it-anyway-just-in-case (we probably won't ever mention this to our son).

Just waiting for my blood test results and for the paediatrician to check the baby and then we might be able to take him home this afternoon. Physically I'm still quite reliant on help getting up which made last night quite tricky doing all the feeds and changes on my own so it will be amazing if I can be in my own bed with TBI. REALLY wish we had a bednest instead of a Moses basket now, started looking them up on eBay about 4am.

As he escaped from the emergency exit my fanjo's ok but the first day of blood really was like the last 9 months' periods all in one go. Mmmmm.

Massive congrats to both cake and blonde. Welcome BESHboys! Enjoy it.

So how are the remaining PESH doing? We need to update the 'not list' really!

I iz tired. These long days are hard but I really think buying new work shoes would help!

I am tired and on a serious countdown to maternity leave. 24 working days to go now!

i'm finding it increasingly difficult to get up off the sofa and yesterday went into town to do some shopping and it is quite obvious that 20 mins is about my limit before bump gets really uncomfortable and the Braxton Hicks become really intense.
This pregnancy so far has been much better physically than with DS but I have 3 months basically still to go and am not sure just how I'm going to cope physically the bigger I get. Thankfully most days HOLB is now working from home.....

I feel absolutely massive already and I have such sore hips. I am just hanging on in there. Working full time means I am just knackered.

I am quite worried about how I'll cope on long days when my bump is big!

Happily I have today off but then have to do two together currently residing on the sofa! We have recliner sofas but I did comment to MSB that in the future I'd probably wish they were riser/recliners!

It is hard isn't it. I think I felt throughout my pgy that I had to tough it out and keep up the appearance that I was having no trouble at all coping with work and life. Now I'm not really sure why I felt like that.

The best advice I was given was to make sure you take some time to enjoy your pregnancies, the pgy yoga and our trip to Brittany with the PILs were the best things I did. Slightly different for you Rollo I know but hopefully you can still do this a bit.

I am due to start a 5 week pregnancy yoga course on Saturday. I would have gone earlier but unfortunately all the classes were full.

I worked right up until the week before DS was born, long days and 6 days a week. The only reason I didn't work that last week was because I had a compressed nerve and couldn't walk properly. I really have a lot of sympathy with those of you working through pregnancy. I'm trying to be positive about this pregnancy, it's my last go and I want to really embrace it - but my hormones occassionally conspire against me.
Everyone has started telling me that I have got the 'bloom' though, and I have to admit I do seem to have a glow about me this time round. No doubt it'll last a couple of weeks and i'll be back to looking tired out.....

dor enjoy the yoga

Happy Halloween PESHlettes!

The antenatal yoga has been great for me - I have so many back issues and have been doing it weekly since I was 18wks. That said, my back pain is getting worse by the day and sleeping is near impossible. [grumpy cunt face]. But we're looking at getting one of those Homedic chair massagers so TOM won't have to rub my back every night.

The other weird (& not very wonderful) symptom I've been experiencing is something like acid reflux. Basically it feels like my food stays lodged in my throat. Gross. And irritating. And mucho uncomfortable.

This is my last week of full contract work - next week it all drops down to one day a week through the end of November then I'm officially on work maternity leave. Unfortunately, I've still got the full-time PhD work that will continue through the end of January...Roll on, 2013!

Btw, is anyone doing an NCT class? Ours starts next week. Seems awfully early, but Xmas gets in the way and the class doesn't finish until the 2nd week in January. (It's for 'early Feb' baybees.)

I was so grateful for nct when I had dc1; the women I met there formed the bulk of my social life for about the first 6 months of my mat leave and I still see some of them now, nearly 5 years on.

That's exactly what I'm hoping for Bess!

Is Gaviscon any help LP? I had bottles of the stuff everywhere.

I like the notion of your [grumpy cunt face]. Ah the image that sprang into my mind.

laurapalmer your baybee is due on my birthday

That's a good Bday!

Well, I finally put something up on FB. No announcement per se, but I posted a picture of my very preggo belly AND used it for my profile pic. (And this is big business for a girl who religiously avoids putting anything too personal on my page!) You can't even see my face in the photo...just a lot of belly with a cute skull tshirt stretched over it and a comment that says 'Boo!'

I thought it was a fabulous way to make an announcement!

That's been fun!!

I saw it via dor, tres bonne lppo!

I'm so tired but I have to go and do it all over again tomorrow. Emotional day too (patient died) but family were luffly which was nice.

I want to do NCT but MSB is being tight and saying we should just do the free NHS one but I want to really know what I'm doing in labour and meet naice mummies since I only know one person due around the same time as me! I have emailed to ask about costs. I will also be looking into preggo yoga. Sounds like fun. Mostly my exercise is currently tearing round a ward for 13 hours 3 days a week!

We decided not to do NCT classes, but that was partly because we have good health service classes over here.

gulp... I have just realised I will be having a baby next month. How did that sneak up on me!?

Crazy, innit, Dory?! 29 days and counting until MAT leave...

I sent you a PM from the secret bat cave Faife

My hips and back are so painful today that I am finding walking difficult. I had a TOIL day and loads of stuff to do for the house - I have managed it but it has been a struggle!

Evening PESHlas! How are tricks?

dor how are the hips? How is the house coming along?

I've enjoyed a day off doing very little! Hung out with my Dad and DNephew (cheeky monkey by his own admission!). Currently watching the second Sherlock Holmes film whilst trying to master the concept of knit one/purl one!

Hips are still pretty sore at the moment and my back is killing me.

The house is coming along albeit slowly. We went to look at wood-burners yesterday which is really exciting! Hopefully Mum and I are going to go and do a bit of undercoating tomorrow. I am just hoping it doesn't make my back/hips worse.

I went to an NCT sale with my Mum tonight which was nice. Bought some lovely clothes and bits and pieces

Really sorry about the hips Dor. I was lucky only to get a bit of hip pain at night. I did get a new mattress (well overdue after 10 yrs) which helped a lot, as did yoga and the dream genii - am I right that you have one? I used mine sort of upside down so the propping up bit was down at my ankles if that makes sense.

Good news is it disappears straight away! I also suddenly realised the other night how wonderful it was not to need the loo every 3 minutes. I loved being pg but I do not miss that.

Yeah the Dream Genii is brilliant. Hopefully the physio will fix me on Monday!

Now the mothercare one is reduced to £15 but is that false economy and I'll end up paying out again for the dream genie?!

Dunno what the mothercare one is like. Have you got a link?

Ah its back up to £30 probably not worth buying that only to find that I should have forked out the extra £45 for the Dream genii, right?!

I am starting to think about prams. Budget is between £300-400. I want one that switches from pram to pushchair, not too heavy, small enough to fit in the back of a polo. Any suggestions?

I would actually have been fine with that one, I never really used the back support bit of the dg. But I know lots of people do. I'm using it as a bf pillow now.

My pram arrived on Fri eve so we took L out yesterday for a walk round the block. First time I've left the house too which was weird. We have this one . Too early to review but I love it so far!

If you do go with dg it's usually on special offer somewhere, mine was £35.99 but don't pay more than £40.

I also have a straight pregnancy pillow which I think is similar to the mothercare one and I found it too far. I preferred the shaping of the Dream Genii.

My lovely husband is on night shifts at the moment. He got into bed with me this morning, gave the bump a kiss and a stroke and then took one look at my lady garden and said 'By God, I think Winston is going to need a machete to get through that lot.' Cheeky sod.

Too fat rather than too far I mean!

dor my baby is going to need a machete too....it's very dense undergowth now!

Can't actually remember the last time my lady garden had a trim....hmm yes August on holiday IIRC

We have made baybee purchases! Some muslins, baby grows, teeny booties and a 'teddy' like DNephew has and loves - its a teddy with a soft blanket attached Rather exciting!

i've got a pushchair, car seat and 5 long sleeve vests!!

Little by little! I've just signed up for Boots parenting club, Emma's diary, cow and gate (though planning to try the boob) for the freebies! Where else must I sign up?

There is Bounty but be warned, they will sign you up for loads of other stuff - some of which is fine but overall it's a bit much. I have has a couple of cold calls to my mobile by companies I'm sure they've passed my details to which I was very cross about.

I also signed up to Sainsbo's little ones and Tesco. The babycentre emails are great if you don't already get them, forums are very Nethuns-y but can sometimes be useful. Avent will send you a free bottle if you join their due date club (again this happens via Bounty). If I think of any others I'll let you know.

Have had v stressful week as L lost 65g more than the NHS-approved 10% of his birthweight and then 35g more again. Today he has put on 5g so I am no longer being pressured into topping up his feed with formula. Very happy and relieved; keep up the good work, son!

I wouldn't sign up for Bounty.....DS is 7 and I still get stuff delivered to my old address that was through Bounty selling my details on. I've asked to be removed from databases etc to no avail.
If you have baby in hospital the Bounty people will sometimes try to tell you that you have to signup/take the pack to get your Child Benefit claim form but that rubbish.

Oh arse have just signed up to Bounty! But I didn't give my phone number

they never had my phone number thankfully. For me a lot of the annoyance came down to the fact that ethically I wasn't interested in 95% of what they sent me. I got two useful things from Bounty - a free muslin and a little pot of Sudocrem! You do get lots of money off vouchers for nappies, wash powder etc (i passed mine on to friends who would use them).

Are you super Eco-friendly then queenie? In my head you're definitely veggie, if not vegan!

Well done little man on gaining the weight and well done blonde with th fattening booby juice

I signed up for Bounty before I realised that I can't get most of the offers because I am in Guernsey!

i'm not as eco-friendly as I would like to be! but I use eco friendly wash powder (you got lots of vouchers for Fairy/Persil/Ariel with bounty) and i'll be using washable nappies (you get lots of vouchers for well known brand nappies), and I try not to use products with parabens/sls in etc.
I'm not veggie, but just about everyone I meet thinks I am! HOLB eats fish but not meat, so our diet is quite veggie because of that except that with this pregnancy I've been craving meat so I've been indulging that.

I'm no Eco-warrior myself but I keenly recycle (been known to fish out MSB's erroneous binning) and really want to use washable nappies

My life is too short to spent it picking shit out of reusable nappies.

End of conversation for me!

We are doing reusables but at the moment L is a little too tiny so he's in the free sample disposables. Can't wait to put him in the lovely soft cloth ones!

I try to be eco friendly but don't think of myself as a hippie type, however we do have a sling and a bednest, so with that and the ebf and nappies I would probably be classed as such.

Do you love your bednest Blondie? Please tell us what you think. We're converting a cot for bedside attachment, but I think we've decided to get the bednest for the first few months as it's portable and the resale value is ridiculously good! I'd love to hear an opinion from a first time mum in her early days of mumhood...please to, if you would?

Faife - re. pushchairs: we've got a Polo, too, and are getting the Uppababy Vista.

M&S have an offer of 20% off children's clothing - just ordered some little white sleepsuits and vest-suits. The sleepsuits all have those tiny fold-over hand cuffs...Love it. (TOM grinned and said I'm 'cute' when I get excited about my mummy shopping! )

I plan on using sleeveless vest-suits under sleep suits. Question - Can you lot tell me what the heck long sleeved vests are used for/good for??? (All I'm thinking about are those poor cold little legs...!)

Well LP we just used the bednest for the first time last night as we only decided to get one after I came home from hospital.

On the basis of that first night, I LUFF it.

Several times when he stirred I just held his little hand and he soothed straight away. I can see gaze at him and reach him easily, he seems happy in it and I feel much happier too. We've all slept well (although that varies day to day).

Sleeveless/short sleeve vests + sleep suits that open all down the front are definitely the way to go and fab if they have the scratch mitts too. So many cute things to buy but keep it as simple as possible. I will try and make a list of 'luxury' items that have actually been brilliant so far. Top is Aden+Anais swaddle cloths, expensive but we've used them every day.

Uppababy Vista is ace, that was on our shortlist.

Looks great LP but a little out of our price range! Probably looking at maximum of £400.

I am currently researching exercise for preggos in the area. Have enquired about pregnancy yoga but suspect its a no-no because I can't do consecutive weeks due to shifts. There's a leisure centre locally so I've emailed to see what they offer. Not back to work til Thursday - lush!

Ooh going tools round a nursery today - this is getting very real!

to look, not tools!

Ok, loser writes 4 posts in a row but I am freaking out! Gign round nurseries was a terrible, teribble idea! I am now at that place I assume all expectant Mums reach doing the whole, 'how the hell can we afford a baybee'/ 'how we going to pay for childcare'/ applies to nurses what am I going to do shifts wise to minimise childcare and still see my kid? Type thing.
There is a nursery near where we work. It's not brilliantly brilliant. Quite small, limited outside space but opens at 6.45am which would be great. The one where DNephew goes is beautiful, tonnes of open space, lovely purpose built baby unit but opposite direction to MSB's work and doesn't open til 7.45am which might be tricky. Going to see if I can look round the sister place to Dnephew's tomorrow that might be a better option/ideal compromise - opens at 7.30 but MSB could get into work for 8.....I'm typing my rambling thoughts out! Tell me you've all had this freak out too?!

Faith you are way ahead of me, I haven't looked at anything like that! I am not surprised you're freaking out but if no one had a baybee until they could properly afford it, we wouldn't have a population problem. Assuming you are planning to take at least a few months off (?), you have lots of time to work something out. It sounds like you do have options but need to work out which compromise is most acceptable to you. Does this have to be the place they will stay for several years, if not does outside space matter so much at the beginning? Or if it does, then maybe the priority is minimising travel time or inconvenience? When I was born my mum was on her own and the only nursery opened at the same time her nursing shifts started... Talk about trying to be in 2 places at once. But you do have time to work it out.

Mind you I did have a minor panic about catchment areas for primary schools a few months ago.

Faith you are way ahead of me, I haven't looked at anything like that! I am not surprised you're freaking out but if no one had a baybee until they could properly afford it, we wouldn't have a population problem. Assuming you are planning to take at least a few months off (?), you have lots of time to work something out. It sounds like you do have options but need to work out which compromise is most acceptable to you. Does this have to be the place they will stay for several years, if not does outside space matter so much at the beginning? Or if it does, then maybe the priority is minimising travel time or inconvenience? When I was born my mum was on her own and the only nursery opened at the same time her nursing shifts started... Talk about trying to be in 2 places at once. But you do have time to work it out.

Mind you I did have a minor panic about catchment areas for primary schools a few months ago.

I just posted that twice to make you feel better about your multiple posts. Er, probably.

Yes planning to have 6 months off so looking for this time next year. I was a but worried about waiting lists but it's not a dire as I anticipated so we have sme time. Might be easier after Wednesday - MSB has a job interview so really hoping that's a goer (no more Saturdays!) and that would mean I could work some Saturdays. Decision, decisions....
Schools should be ok, we have a really nice C of E village infant and junior school.

Fingers xed for him. I am also taking 6 months but hoping not to go back ft. I start late and TBI finishes early so we haven't got too many hours to cover.

I am hoping to take 6 months off too but hoping to go back to 4 days a week and The Mister works shifts so he and Mum should cover the childcare. Hopefully.

I'm not going back to work. At least for a few years until I've gone stir-crazy! This will be my one and only baybee, so I want to stay home with him.

Try not to worry to much about the childcare situation for the moment Fee - spend some of that energy rubbing your belly and being generally excited that you're about to be a mummy!

*too

Wow, not going back to work? How lufflly LPPO! MSB said last night now I'm diffed with one, he would like more than two! I have never wanted more than two and I think we'd struggle for room. I said I'd like to have this one first!

I think we'll see what happens with MSB's work in the next couple of months and talk to my current boss about staying there (that's what I really want) and what regular shifts would fit in with other regular shifts and come up with a plan with her

<rubs belly>

I would give anything not to have to go back to work. Sadly a new house and a fucking expensive mortgage of 2 grand a month means it's not possible.

Well as it stands I'm the main breadwinner so not only do I have to go back but it's pretty likely I'll be back full time! C'est la vie.

faith you will have to get used to difficult childcare options, I think it's inevitable. It is expensive and awkward to work and have children but you will manage and you get used to working it out.

It is hard Faith and tbh we're not in a great position for me to go pt, apart from saving on childcare. I have no idea yet if my work will even consider it as I'm in a management role but I am going to talk it through with someone soon.

Of course right now I find it hard not to be in the same room as L so I am not yet in the right state to think rationally about the options tries to block out memory of running downstairs and shrieking Give Me Back My Baby at TBI on day 2

Oh bless you blonde! Blame the hormones?!

The challenge currently lies with working times Bessie, both if us start at 7, or if I do nights I won't finish til 7.30 and most child care won't have them that early. If MSB changed jobs/start times it would make life easier so we'll see.

He was crying. I had been in a different room for at least 5 minutes. I believe there may have been some hormones involved.

faith we pay one of the nursery workers for our of hours care, maybe you could do that?

Oh, Blondie your little 2-day old Mummy hormonal rush is just as endearing as it is crazy!

Last night PlusOne kicked me in such a weird way that I actually jumped up and let out a little yelp of surprise.

Bless you blondie, I think it's only natural

Yes Bessie, it's an option. Been thinking about shift patterns rat might work for us.

Been for 16 week appointment as heard the little heart beat! So flipping awesome!

Oh my goodness that is wonderful that you heard the heartbeat. For me it seemed even more real than the scan. Did you listen to see if it sounded more like horses or trains? Not that I could ever remember which meant which sex.

I'd say horses - I think male is meant to be faster so maybe horses for a girl? - but I'm not convinced either way. Managed to record it for MSB as he couldn't come but its really clear!
Yes I cried a bit just because it all makes it feel more real!

I just thought it sounded like a heartbeat!

I have another antenatal appointment today. It feels like I have appts every week now!

I got an email from a doctor I used to work with who had IVF. Her baby girl was born at the weekend at 38 weeks. I am so happy for her!

Yeah I had no idea what mine sounded like, apart from archangels and cherubim obviously (really need to get a grip on these hormones or else bottle them to sell in nightclubs). Wish I had recorded it though, great idea.

Mine alternately sounds like a horse-shaped train or a train-shaped horse...

Don't put too much faith in being able to determine sex via heartbeat sounds or speed. Depending on the position/angle/distance of the Doppler and the baybee, PlusOne sounds like both within a short time period. Same with BPM - his alternates wildly depending on time of day, what I've been eating and how much I've poked at him.

I am putting 99% of my faith into the 20 week scan for gender and that's it! I keep changing my mind about what I'm having but when I imagine baybee I imagine a pink baybee would be quite happy with blue though!

I imagined you with a girl Faith. Although maybe just because we have so many boys on the PESH thread.

I thought that too blonde, so many boy baybees! And the next few due to come out are boys too!

Me, too! I also think pink for Faife!

I am trying to prepare and be brave and am watching OBEM!

dor I was looking at the mutual friends with all the BESH luff going on - you have a friend Pete who is friends with someone I know from doing Christian summer camps! Small world!

I watched 3 back to back episodes of OBEM...I wept (like a baybee...)

I watched Gavin and Stacey when Nessa gives birth last night and cried! I remember watching it the day after I got my BFP and proper belly sobbing because I realised I was going to have a baybee! Hearing the heart beat made it seem more real too.
I actually wonder if its the song - Gravity by Embrace - that makes it so emotive!

faith which Pete - FB message me and tell me!

I am feeling really upset and emotional today. My Dad upset me over dinner tonight - he didn't really say anything too bad he just pissed me off.

So, I went and lay in the bath and cried. I think I suddenly feel really vulnerable that we are still at Mum and Dad's and have nowhere to put anything like the crib and his clothes. I feel like I should be nesting and I can't even do that.

I know I am being unreasonable but today it just feels shitty!

Oh poor dor. It just be tough not bring able to set your home up for your baybee! How are the house renovations going?

I am very snuffly today not great. I may inhale steam to try to clear some of it. Going to take it easy today, bs j at work tomorrow/Friday!

I know it's very stressful and upsetting for you now, Dory, but try to focus on the fact that you are setting up a wonderful home that will benefit your little family for years to come. Key your eye on the prize!

(How's that for an annoying American pep-talk?! Can you tell I'm feeling happy about the election results )

Blondie - those Aden & Anais wraps you're using and luffing - are they the bamboo ones or the cotton muslin ones?

My SkipHop Pronto 'changing station' arrived this morning. Ridiculously excited to open baybee related packages. I've decided to forgo a 'proper' baby bag in favour of throwing this mini changer into a very cool bag that I already own and that won't embarrass TOM

*keep (not 'key')

I feel a bit better today. I have just been to the house and I am feeling like it isn't insurmountable although I still know how much work there is to do.

Hormones are odd things though. The fluctuations are vile.

Glad you feel a bit better dor. I agree hormones are vile and the pregnant meltdowns come out of nowhere! As much as I hated PMS it was predictable!

I have found a yoga class that can be suitable for pregnant ladies - there's one at 2.15. Do I get the courage up to go?!

Do it!

I went! I feel good for it! Was a very basic beginners class anyway and only one pose I couldn't do due to diffment. I feel stretched out and more relaxed so I'm really glad I went

Glad you're feeling better Dor - and I totally agree re. the hormones. They are really more wacky and upending than I expected.

Good for you YogaFaife! Sometimes it can be such a struggle to get up and out the door towards exercise, but I always feel better for it.

Hope our two new little ESH boys (& their mummys) are doing well.

Fanks LP, I was a bit nervous but the class leader was luffly. I have recognised I will not want to leave the bat cave house after dark so I will pick classes in the day time and go to one or two a week on my days off.

How are the quieter PESHlas? Are fertility and camel lurking?

They are these ones LP.

Faif I'm glad you went to and enjoyed the yoga. Best thing I did during pgy (as I am prone to bang on about...)

fed up today. Sick of being lonely, but fed up with being the one who always has to chase up local friends. It's my phone bill and my bloody petrol all the time. I gave in and went to see my longest standing friend last week.....I last saw/spoke to her the week after my surgery. Her excuse is that she couldn't phone because she hasn't got my number....which was the exact excuse she gave me when I bumped into her in town and gave her my effing number as well as pointing out that her grown DD has both my numbers anyway.
Beginning to think there is something wrong with me....i've lived in this house 3.5 years and not one of my local friends has ever been round for coffee....

Sorry to hear you are feeling crap Queenie. It's horrible when you get the feeling you are always the one making the effort, it's the sort of thing that snowballs inside and really knots you up inside. You seem to be a lovely, friendly intelligent person but most people really are a bit crap at making the effort or end up only seeing the people they are in the habit of seeing.

Hopefully having the baby will put you in touch with some other people who you have something in common with? Even if its just a starting point and most of them turn out to be losers, there are bound to be a few new, local people to get to know and who will be a bit more give-and-take than just take.