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.

C&G - I agree, most women with antenatal anaemia do no have an excessive blood loss, however, most units still adhere to the RCOG greentop guideline 52 and offer intravenous access from women with a Hb

notso that's exactly what dh said to me! Hehe. I told him he better be prepared to deliver the baby himself whether we stay at home or head in to hospital just in case! I had the torch test after 20 week scan because of the echogenic bowels. I'm just on the upper limit for fluid, I think 1 away from the max so I didn't need anything done at the scan last week. I also get a lot of BH and had them whilst on the monitor but when they checked me there was no change to cervix so they weren't too worried. Did they check your cervix to make sure it wasn't changing? I'm thinking it being my 4th explains my BH's and also that I had loads with all my pregnancies, doesn't make it any easier though and you should definitely take their advice and rest. My GTT is also next week, I thought it was Thur but the letter today said Tues so I guess it's then. How are you feeling after the scan? I think my little one was on the 85th or 87th centile, can't quite remember which now but with a big head! Noooo.

malteser I can't profess to know what the RCOG guildline is but I was happy refusing after doing research before labour, each to their own though, everyone needs to make their own decisions based on what they think and what their risks are. From my experience with breastfeeding, I have a huge supply. I've never had a problem with having enough milk, I could express about 5oz in 5 mins with a manual pump and my let down reflex was too strong and squirted at the poor dcs! If a anything I had too much! So, ime, I had the complete opposite. I had a very good supply from day 1 and feel lucky that I didn't have any problems with feeding at all.

I am so fucking tired.

That it is all.

Hope you are all blooming

OWO hope you get some rest tonight and over the weekend, far from blooming here :o

hi malteser Thanks for that I definitely need to see her and ask more questions! Im useless, I just listen at appointments, forget to ask any questions and never question Im told until after!

Well back from my dinner £14 dress from Matalan was perfect! Got recognition for organising the dinner in front of the very top man in my "company" - interesting speech from him afterwards most of which was v positive. Staying over at best friends house and home tomorrow on train. Bump achey and in need of a lie down!

Hi MrsS congratulations you and bump did ace and hope you are now enjoying a well deserved lie down.

I am just back from the teenage party run after which a long discussion ensued covering teenage drinking, university choices, politics, life the universe and everything. My head is done in. Me and bump are going to have a long lie in tomorrow or I will have to kill someone.

homebirth someone was asking about? I am booked for one and had a waterbirth last time, but I tend to have long labours with difficult 2nd stages. Water is great for ensuring you can move positions easily and your weight is supported upright with little strain, conserving energy and helping baby move down. Though if I had very fast labours I'd save the birth pool money and put the DH on an emergency midwifery course instead! I think it would reassure me to know there was all the relevant equipment in my home just in case the trip to hospital or midwife attendance was not in time.

cheryl am glad you seem a lot more positive :)

umm, have also been stalking a bit as couldn't really keep up as have dodgy eyes, however I seem to have got to grips with looking at the computer for short times, so I'm hoping it will be ok to join in!

Am due Dec 15 and totally fascinated by what everyone else is going through...

Welcome glitterjo and malteser and waves to everyone else.

I have spent all day resting and feel a bit gilty as I am sure lying down isn't good for the baby but I have been soooo tired. Hope to have a more productive day tomorrow.

hi glitterjo

Ive done nothing all day today and loved every minute of it :-D feel all relaxed and happy for once.

I have to admit I did do a little online shopping today and bought baby all her christmas presents

Hi folks,

Sorry for everyone who has got the horrible colds and flu, mine is easing off a bit but as I work with the public I don't think it'll be my last before Dec :( maybe the flu jab is the way to go, though I think I only had a cold.

Anyway, quick question, I recently saw a friend who lives in Bristol, she is 14 weeks pg and has been told she has Strep B, from her tests at her booking in appt. Now... is this a standard test in Bristol? I've looked through my notes and I don't think I've been tested and I was going to ask to be tested at 35 weeks. She is having an IVF baby and may be considered high risk as she is 47 so may have been given extra tests? Just wondering if some PCTs do this as standard now, I think they all should really (sorry if this has been discussed before)

Also, if anyone is interested I bought a Babasling at TK Maxx today and it was £28 (usually around £50) it looks pretty good, but hard to tell with no baby to put in it and a big bump in the way :) also got my first 'is it twins?' this week

I got my cot delivered on Friday :) but I'm hanging on for another 20% code for Mothercare before getting the mattress so if anyone has any tip offs please let me know

hello malteser and glitterjo welcome aboard

I have been awake for almost 2 hours :(

first woke up for a pee, then couldn't sleep because of DH's snoring even though he is in the spare room, then our new neighbours from accross the road decided to have 'play' fight in the street at 5 am!

This isn't the first time they have kept me awake and I am not happy. might hold the baby by their letter-box when it's born!

Kittybump, I don't know muh about Strep B but do know I've not been routinely tested and I am having an IVF baby.

Morningdf you're not the only one up! DD wet bed so one up all up! She has been dry at night for over 18 months so a bit of a surprise!

Morning, only had about 4 hours sleep as I couldn't sleep properly and then ds1 (almost 7) got up at the crack of dawn yet again to sneak downstairs looking for sweets, went into dd's room and messed it all up and other things. Really at the end of my tether with him lately as it never ends, had the same conversation about 50 times at least with him... Sooo tired and still not feeling well, my chest was starting to hurt last night when I breathed but hopefully the anti-biotics will sort that out.

Dh is supposed to be going into hospital overnight to get a cpap machine sorted out as he has sleep apnea but he isn't feeling all that well himself, not sure what he's going to do yet. I'm half hoping (selfishly :() that he decides not to go so I'm not on my own all day, night and tomorrow. Has to be in by about 1pm if he goes.

I'm not planning on doing anything today, took dd out to the shops with me yesterday and was really struggling to breath after only being out for 5 mins so had to rush round trying not to faint. Think my body is still recovering.

Morning DF and MrsS both up early too. Hope you both get some rest.

C&G hope hubby gets his cpap sorted - the noise of that can't help with trying to sleep at night! I guess you bulk buy ear plugs
We are playing pirate treasure hunt with DD - she hides the "tokens" by saying don't look as I'm hiding it in the "wherever"

MrsS he hasn't got one yet, that's why he's going in, are they loud then? He snores which is caused by that and so we've been sleeping apart as I just can't sleep through it :( Wouldn't want to wear ear plugs either in case I didn't hear the kids at night/morning. Treasure hunt sounds fun, I need to wake up properly!

KittyBump - routine testing is not offered on the NHS. but many women who get a positive test had a swab done for some other mundane reason, such as having suspected thrush.

Routine testing for GBS is not offered on the NHS because there is yet no evidence that a screening program would actually improve outcomes. A lot of people would be given IV antibiotics when they don't necessarily need them with a national screening program (as a positive vaginal swab doesn't mean you or your baby will have issues). And that would carry the risks of allergic reactions to the antibiotics, reduced immunity in the baby, increased risk of asthma in the child in later life (all potentially life threatening) and significantly increased risk of thrush in both mother and baby which can often lead to quitting breastfeeding earlier (with the loss of the health benefits of bfing).

Personally I think a national awareness program on the risk factors with GBS (e.g. fever when in labour, long time before birth after waters breaking) and the signs of GBS infection in babies would have most benefit with least risks, so that pregnant women and their families know exactly what to look for and when to demand immediate treatment.

The GBS Support website says IV antibiotics are a must only if you have a positive test AND other risk factors (or risk factors such as fever in labour).

Okay, off soap box now.

I had a bad night with needing to get up to pee lots and then the dog refusing to let us have a lie-in. But I wasn't too itchy so I'm happy! Itching now though.

Morning all,

thanks for the info japh and df I don't know much about GBS but a few people have told me recently that they have it and are pg or had it when pg and had to have IV. I'll have a look at that site. Sorry about the itching :( and about just reminding you about it

df lol at you holding the baby to the neighbour's letterbox

anyone with snoring DH/DP do you have any earplugs that actually work? Mine are rubbish - I know you can get wax ones and wondered if anyone has used them.

Just 'handwashing' (in the machine) some second hand baby stuff as it looks like it might be sunny enough to dry it outside today :) I love this nesting malarky,

happy sunday everyone, MrsS enjoy the Pirate Treasure game - your DD sounds brilliant :)

welcome malteser and glitterjo

Sounds like lots of us had a bit of a crap night last night - my hip pain returned with a vengance and the only way to relieve it was for me to sit bolt upright with my back perfectly straight, hardly an ideal position for sleeping in! Then DD woke me up on the second occasion spilling a drink I had on my bedside all over the place!

Did mammoth hoovering of my living room yeaterday which I think resulted in the hip pain. Need to do some more today but I can't face being in agony again tonight if I do.

Off to choose mattresses and a carpet for DD's bedroom today. Also bought some new bottles and bottle bags for the baby yesterday - it cost less to buy new bottles and teats than it did to just buy new teats - go figure

have a nice day everyone

Hi everyone and welcome to malteser and glitterjo

Sorry people have had bad nights and hope the itching isn't too bad for you today japh I was up and down a lot last night as well, although did get a lie in until 9 as DH got up with DD.

My Mum was given a bread maker ages ago by some friends and has never used it so she brought it round yesterday. I'm trying it out today so hopefully it will be nice!

I threw bit of a hissy fit yesterday that there are so many unfinished jobs in our house so DH has been in bathroom stripping paint today. It was a horrible brown colour when we moved in and we stripped a load off weeks and weeks ago, then it sort of got left. I can't help though as he's using paintstripper and I'm not sure my pelvis would be up to it anyway.

Got a homebirth support group to go to tomorrow run by the community midwives where I can go and ask questions. Even though I am still not sure yet about HB, I figure it is best to plan for it and if needs be change to hospital as I can do that any time.

I have tested positive for Group B Strep but it isn't a routine test here - I had a bleed and they tested for infections and picked it up. However, subsequent swab was negative so I am now going to pay to get test done privately via the labd on the Group B Strep Support site at 36 weeks before making my decision about HB.

In terms of position, the baby seems to be on the move, hooray. I think it might be oblique now - seems to be taking its time.

SIL got in touch with us to arrange some sort of Christmas get together. Just for some context, IL's are all Christmas and 'faaaamily' mad and she rearranged her summer holiday so she'll se away over new year. I'm due 31st Dec and quite frankly, the idea of travelling any distance (they live about 30mins away down the motorway - PIL are an hour away) that close to D-day to have loads of noise and fuss does not fill me full of the festive spirit. DH is working nights over Christmas as well so I don't quite know when they expect us to go anyway. He thinks it's a crap idea and doesn't want me to have to make the effort. She's trying to show understanding by saying well if the baby arrives early we'll understand you can't come, but I don't think she's considered the fact that at 9 months pregnant (she had her twins at 7 months so without sounding unsympathetic and obviously I appreciate she was doing twice the work, she's never been pregnant full term) working until 37 weeks pg, with another DC to look after etc I might just want to be left alone. I'm tempted to say well you organise something and if I feel like going on the day then I will. Only problem is, all the IL's are really touchy overreactive people and I worry they'll interpret it as 'I don't like them@ (belive me, it wouldn't be the first time!)

Hi all, sorry to hear your still itching japh

I just bought THE most amazing pillow like this I hope it works! If it does I may never need a man for snuggles ever again!

Maxpower, I'd do what you are thinking tbh. ILs can be so awkward at times it's infuriating, but I really don't think you'd be being unreasonable to say "If I'm up to it, I'll come". In fact if they didn't accept that and understand they'd be the unreasonable ones.

WLL - hope the HB meeting goes well and you get lots of answers. I'm surprised from reading threads on here how relaxed htey are where I live about HBs. All you need to do is let them know at 36wks(ish) that you def want the HB and that's it! I had a few questions at my last mw appt and have one more that I must remember to ask at next appt.

I've got loads of appointments coming up - MLU tour next Sat, mw following week, scan & hospital tour week after, then the next 2 weeks I have Parentcraft classes. Hopefully they'll all make the time go quicker!

My main worry with the HB is mw not getting to us in time. It all depends on where they are based (that's my question for them). If they are based at the hospital & MLU there then they are only 5mins away whatever the traffic but if they are at the MLU at the old Mat hospital then it's anywhere between 10-30 minutes depending on traffic. So I need to keep my legs crossed at 5pm midweek or as football is finishing if it's a Saturday when Pompey are at home that I go into labour. (If that's the case it could be even longer than in rush hour).

Had our Surestart Mat grant paid yesterday, got a few bits from Tesco online, couple of bits to get from Toys R Us this week and we're all sorted and all ready for babys arrival (well apart from the car issue and deciding on names, eek!). Going over to in the week as well to get Christmas shopping all done and then it's just the long wait until Dec!

Hope you've all had a good weekend.

maxpower I feel your pain. I am still having moments of anxiety about the expectation that I attend a big family Christmas with the in-laws. MIL is flying over specially for her birthday which is a few days after my due date and staying until New Year. The plan is that her three sons and their partners will all rock up to the place she's rented for a big Christmas get-to-gether about 1/2 an hour away, which would be lovely if I weren't pregnant/about to give birth. Due date is 11th so there is time for me to give birth and recover sufficiently to attend but if I am late then I am just going to have to say no. Part of me is hoping that I give birth around the 20th just so I don't have to make the effort but I do feel guilty for thinking like that.

DH took me away for a nice relaxing weekend down in Ilfracombe. Was in tears the first night as my SPD was agony. Took the solpadol to get me through the night. I wanted to go home. The B&B was lovely, the other guests in considerate twonks. Who thought it hilarious to come back hammered at late O' clock and make lots of noise. Was on the verge of getting out of bed to deal with it. The nicest thing was the huge bed, DH was so far away his snoring didn't bother me, and having a loo only 20 steps away. I must say I'm really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight, even with DH's snoring.

Feeling rather heavy now, got MW 31 week check up tomorrow and scan on Friday, excited to see LO again.

Movements are getting less wriggly and not as often I'm starting to think that space is at a premium now and getting limited.

I bought some bits in mothercare, the first bit of baby related shopping I've done. I bought a cute 8 piece set in lemon and green. Feeling like I am getting organised now.

Hello to all those that are new and hugs to all those in need. Will try and catch up over the next few days :)