December 2010: no, it's not an autumn pumpkin up my jumper ...

[Miffster]

...and we're gliding towards the third trimester, draped in suitably flowing attire.

Notso the more I check out the Quinny Zapp Xtra the more I like it... do you know anyone actually using it in person? This is too good to be true... has all I need and around 250ish for new!! getting super excited now.... :) thank you for sharing!!

Train? Car? NOOOOOOOO..... If I'm going to get up at 4 o'clock (yes, really) I am going to have my breakfast in the BA lounge in terminal 5.

I know I sound like a spoiled brat. But, hey, if they want me to get up THAT early then that's the way it is. There is a big cost saving excercise going on, but I have declared that I will only leave on the red eye and only from Heathrow (which is quite close to my house). I do this often enough that my silver card get me into the lounge so the ticket is not business class, but that's okaybecause business doen't really get you anything on this flight anyway - same seats, same food. I just want my porridge, cappucino, and wifi. That way, I can get started on the days work en route and still put in a whloe days work by 5:00ish.

I don't suppose anyone on here is in Aberdeen? I usually go out on Wed/Fri and like to find a friendly face to join me.

lol notso I remember being totally freaked out at the thought of touching the baby until it was out eeewwww. When we went on our tour of the labour ward, the midwives were saying how great it was that there was a mirror in each room so you could see what was going on down the business end. I was so horrified at the thought I made DH pack some sheets of paper and blutack so I could cover them mirror up

lol maxpower - how funny taking stuff to cover mirrors up. I don't like the idea of actually seeing down there either!

is anyone else cleaning like a lunatic? Im sat in a shiny clean house and still cant relax. Im actually annoyed that there is nothing left to clean now :-( I've even had the stepladders out and cleaned all the plastic on the outside downstairs windows and the front door!

No inclination to clean here. My DH will tell you I am the biggest pig there ever was (which is a bit of an exaggeration). But, def no urge to clean. I'm so tired from moving and travelling and working and the existing children that I really couldn't give a rats arse what the house looks like.

The good news is somebody else cooked my dinner tonight.

Yay PJen I'm glad you liked the suggestion.
I don't know anyone who has the xtra version AFAIK they have either only just come out this month or are not out yet hence the recruitment of Quinnycasters.
There is one pretty good review somewhere I'll try and find for you.
I do know lots of people with the regular forward facing version and it is lovely to use and very mini when folded. Dorel the umbrella company for Quinny and Maxi Cosi are also doing an option to buy just the xtra seat unit so if you wanted to make it an even cheaper option you could buy a second hand zapp or frame only from Ebay or Gumtree and the buy the new seat unit whenever that becomes available. Zapps seem to sell for about £40-£50 on Ebay.

Hi all,

notso - did you tear or need an episiostomy with LO#? Curious as to why they're on your no list now (sorry - not JUST being nosy, trying to decide if I'd rather have one or not?)

Strix - I did my sentence in Aberdoom a few years back (and given where you live in London I'm 99.9% certain it would have been at the same company) and actually really like the place. Its just a shame its so blinking far away! I got the redeye many times ... and curiously think that the BMI flight and lounge is better (though if you're a BA silver card holder, it obv makes sense to use them!). Oh the joys. I've slightly changed industry now, so Birmingham is the furthest north I have to go.

Feeling a bit calmer about work now, thankfully - people seem to have noticed that I'm being overloaded and are doing their best to protect me from the worst of the clients (eg the aggressive w**ker who sent five emails, four voicemails and a text message in 48 hours despite having seen an out of office saying I was off-site for two days!!) They're also looking at getting in more help on a permanent basis which makes me more optimistic about long term prospects here - one of my big concerns was that it would get so bad I would not be able to face staying (life is too short to be miserable at work), which would be really sad as I generally love the work and the location AND DH is going to lose his job in 3 years time...

Right, I still have to get back to the aforementioned w**ker so better get on.

Oh yes, am I the ONLY one who has not yet bought a single thing? Am I being crazy to leave it till November? (EDD Christmas)

I have been doing a bit of cleaning but am a complete slattern so looking forward to getting the urge to do more to be honest. It's a complete pain that I will have in-laws coming over near the birth so will feel like I need to keep on top of the house.

Am fed up with my workmate who tells me 'You look big today' if I wear tight stuff (my preference) and then says 'oooh you don't look so huge today' when I wear baggy stuff. I feel like she's trying to force me into clothes she thinks look better. Shame as we've worked together for over 10 years and never had a cross word ... yet!

ok Santa, am now very curious to know you you used to work for. But, I suspect you may be thinking of the local operator who is currently in a b it of hot water over their safety record. I work for a very small company. Our clients are oil companies / operators.

If I find out you used to work for my company I will be very surprised.

Although I was once on MN and "met" someone who was sitting in Dubai and as the conversation went on discovered she had not only worked for my company but the very same department of the very same project before moving to Dubai. Mumsnet is indeed a very small world. (as is the oil industry)

Anyhoo... have probably bored everyone else with shop talk so I'll shut up now.

Regarding prams, I still have my sights set on a bugaboo bee and am still ponder which colour is my favourite. I have really bought anything. I am still trying to sort through our house and work out where to stick another child. As it stands now (and unlikely to change), all three kids are going to squish into one room. WE have downsized in an effort to clear our debt before we retire. The idea of ever actually buying a house is looking rather grim.

Ho hum... (sigh)

Anyway, better do some work today or I'll find myself unemployed.

WWSB I had a graze when I had DD which needed no treatment, when I was pregnant with DS I found out about an episotomy and how sometimes it can be better to tear rather than be cut, I figured that given I had had one baby with no need for one then I could do it again.
When I was pushing DS out I was offered one or rather the M/W told me she was going to do one because I was having a large baby, I refused and she pretty much said then you'll tear badly so don't complain about it however I didn't tear at all or even graze despite him being 9lb5oz and having his hand up by his face and was most triumphant.
I would definately recommend massaging your perinium as often as you can from about now until you give birth, I did this first time round but only a few times and every other day second time.

notso where do I get the oils to massage my perinium?

And without wanting a graphic description here, is there a guide somewhere on interweb that tells you what to do? (I'm too scared to look incase it takes me to the sorts of websites that would get me fired :o )

I think the stitches (whether from a tear or an episotomy) are the bit that are scaring me most about the birth. That and the lochia (sp?). And the relieving of my intestines infront of DH. But then I'm not scared about the pain as I'm 100% in favour of (ab)using the wonders of modern medicine and having an epidural!!!

strix I guessed wrong. I actually was only on secondment to same said big company but have many friends who work there FT. Its a very small industry... but I'm not working with oil anymore though!

laurenamiumyou can come and do mine. I have only managed to clean the bathroom today as I have a stinking cold and just want to sleep.If you like ironing there is a huge pile of that as well.

WWSB Personally I would find doing all my baby and Xmas shopping two weeks or so before the due date to stressful, but TBH there is a lot of hype about being prepared. If you are reasonably close to any shops, even a local chemist they will have nappies and baby clothes. That and a carseat to take baby home is pretty much all you need if you breastfeed and co- sleep. I do know people who had babies premature or early or only on a weeks notice (adopted) and managed to put together a lovely baby package in next to no time, as everyone was desperate to rally round and help. If you want to spend ages choosing the perfect items and decorating a nursery better get cracked on soon though!

Speaking of nursery, ours is a space at the end of our bedroom but to fit soon to be 6 people into a 3 bedroom house we have moved into the ex- garage and it is very cold. I am worried that baby will be too cold in there. Does anyone have any idea about ideal temperatures and how many clothes/blankets is too much? I have co slept before but due to space this one will have to sleep the other end of the room.

DF You can buy special fanjo oil from Mothercare I think but I just used almond or olive oil.

WWSB here is a good guide. It is easier said than done, especially as you get bigger but well worth persevering.

franken the grobag temerature guide gives a good idea of temperatures and layers.

Someone asked me if I had had the baby earlier as my bump looked deflated! Not sure if thats good or bad tbh.

lol at notso and fanjo oil, no idea why but this made me chuckle.

Unfortunately as much as I've declared war with dust I hate ironing with a passion franken so I will leave you to it!

Thanks for the reminder notso, I keep forgetting to go into Holland & Barrett whenever I'm down town. Must remember to do that.

Is anyone else feeling a little bit swollen 'down below'?

I am so pissed with the peopole designing prams!!!

I found where carries Quinny Zapp Xtra and dragged DH and drove all the way to Baby R US in north london to figure out that although it says it is from birth, the baby actually can only sit in it for a max of two hours as it is not totally flat... Everything else about this stroller is absolutely fab and Now I am in love with it but honestly what's the point if I have to hug and carry the baby after 2 hours!!! And the two hours is shortened if you drove in a car seat before using the push chair!!! grrr... grrr... grrr... to all those designers, who are stupid and never have had a baby! Why the hell not making the seat a bit flatter???? another grrrrrrr.....

But Notso please share if you find something else similar as I so do appreciate that you told me about this. I hate buying somthing with closed eyes and I love to know all my options before making a decision....

which part of fanjo do you rub with oil? sounds ermmmmm....

I can't walk anymore. I wobble... due to sciatic pain in bum cheek. Guess what? I have 12 more weeks to go and the pain is supposed to get worse! yayyy... viva pregnancy and all the pain.....

can I wallow in feeling fat and teary and frankly fucking shit please?

thank you, that is all... as you were :(

Hello everyone! I'm now married :o it went soooo well, even the weather held out, it was a really lovely day :o I'll stick some pics up soonish, still waiting on the official ones back though. It was really fantastic and special for us, we had our close family and friends there with us and then a do back at our house with a bbq and buffet for food.

Had such a lovely time and then spent the next night at a hotel together while my parents looked after the children. I have lots of catching up to do!

Hope everyone is well

C&G - good to hear from you, so glad you had a great day, you deserve it.

I'm in so much pain, see mw on Tues for anti-d, fingers crossed for a physio referral. I have a good mind to go back to gp to ask for a prescription for paracetamol. Wish I'd thought of it at the time. The pain is so unbearable that I'm spending a couple of hours a night in tears and a spell in the afternoon too. Not good.

OWO I'm sorry you're feeling like that, it's pretty much how I've been feeling the past week or so, thankfully I'm starting to feel a bit happier now. I hope you feel better soon, you can always unload on here.

Congrats C&G glad the weather held out for you. I'm stil waiting to have DH to myself for a night or two and we got married over a year ago!

Cheryl I've got that too, I think it's normal but there's no way I'm going to ask anyone in RL - way too embarrasing.

Had a glucose tolerence test and 28 week bloods this morning, my arm is killing as I now have a scratch and bruise from having two lots of blood taken from the same place. Then had anti-d this aft in the other arm. Feeling a bit sorry for myself. I've got to eat more protein as my ferratin (sp?) levels were a bit low, which could also be the reason I've been feeling really tired the past few weeks.

Thankfully baby seems to have moved so I'm not in as much pain as over the weekend, getting on hands and knees is supposed to help if baby's laying awkward. I'm defo going to try that next time I get that pain.

Crazy I'm 26 weeks and had my 28 week bloods taken yesterday and also had to do a glucose challenge test. They couldn't get blood the first attempt (which was also really painful) so tried another vein...thankfully that worked but I have 2 nice bruises now. Should get results tomorrow or Monday.

Ferritin is iron btw so you'll need to eat more foods with that in. It's the iron stores rather than circulating iron in blood, my stores have been low since the beginning along with B12 and I've felt rough for months because of it.

Cheryl I've finally seen the physio today. From their advice I shouldn't return to work, but me being me, I want to still keep my hand in for a few more weeks. i made the suggestion of two or three days from home, but they weren't keen, however personnel gave me a different story. I am seeing the Doc's next tuesday to get signed off otherwise. If I am still signed off 4 weeks before my due date, work will start my mat leave then. my 6 weeks annual leave and time off in lieu will be paid to me. I feel really crappy as I want to continue to work, but the pain of getting to the office/toilet and people expecting me to run, quite literally around for them, is what is holding me back. My MiL has made me feel like scum and if I can't take a little pain then I shouldn't have got pregnant. She's had three boys and never had any pain apart from labour. She even had the cheek to say that now I'm off work I can keep up with the housework/shopping etc. DH is very understanding and wishes his job wasn't so busy that he could support me more. Bless Him. They've given me crutches and advised paracetemol to help with the pain. They did mention that delivery may be induced early and in extreme circumstances c-section, I have GTT on Monday so will ask MW for advice. I have another appointment for physio friday next week.