January 2011 - New year, new baby! - 2nd Trimester

[mummychicken]

Got there first - thanks Sarrita for the suggestion!!

Oh mummy chicken my heart goes out to you! Good luck!!!

33 weeks on Monday, one week to my next scan, hopefully my placenta has moved away from the bottom of the womb, currently blocking the babies way out! That combined with a sideways baby has meant that I've secretly believed that i'll be having a c-section. However, on weds I felt movement above my belly button for the first time! This gives me hope!

Have had to walk lots this week, car broke down (again!) which has meant my pelvis has been hurting more! But besides that things seem to be ticking on nicely.

Hope the snow doesn't block any of you in!

Belated happy last day at work jobi1 - I cannot wait to finish, although have to wait to hear back about MA before making a final decision about when to stop
hannah - I think my dh is going to have to take a day off to help with Xmas shopping too! Have double buggy to get around as well as bump and had forgotten how busy and cramped the shops get this time of year!
mummychicken - good luck for tomorrow, hope it's all ok [hugs]
beijing - haven't actually packed my hospital bag (I'm always unorganised!) But in it will go: pj's, dressing gown, slippers, cosy socks, nursing bra, breast pads, muslins, lots of big cheap dark knickers, maternity pads - 1 pack, loose comfy outfit for going home, snacks, bottled water, straws, lip balm, back massager and oil, tinned sweets, inhalers, baby vests x3, baby grow x3, socks, cardigan, hat, blanket, teddy, nappies - 1 pack, cotton wool and small bowl, vaseline, camera, phone charger. oh and breastfeeding pillow We are planning a homebirth though so this is just in case need to be transfered, and we don't live far so dh can always bring more supplies if we had to stay in after delivery.

I'm full of cold/cough/sore throat...ouch. A little snow here, the boys are VVVV excited! Could really do with a boost of energy, off to drink some more honey and lemon!

Hospital bags - pack something to eat as I was BLOODY starving afterwards. DH thought I was joking about the McDonalds - I WASN'T!!!

Looking for a baby to observe

Dear mums and mums-to-be,

I hope you are all well. I though I would drop a line here as it seems a relevant place to look for a baby..

I started a course in Psychoanalytic Infant Observational Studies this academic year at the Tavistock Clinic. As the name of the course suggests, the course offers the opportunity to learn about the emotional development and communication in the early years through weekly baby observations. This course is essential for a further training in child psychotherapy.

The observations take place in the participant parents' home, weekly, usually on the same day at the same time - from the baby's birth up to the baby's 2nd birthday.

The Tavistock offers a letter that explains what it is about, but the responsibility is mine to find a baby for myself I can observe. This is the reason why I am writing to you..

By any chance do you have anyone in your network of friends who is pregnant and due soon and would allow me to observe her baby? Someone who ideally lives in North or Central London, or not a long commute away from NW3.

If you have anyone in your mind, please let me know - I am happy to talk about the process in detail and I can forward more information about the course if needed.

Thank you so much in advance. Your help is greatly appreciated.

I wish you all the very best with your baby!
Judit

mummychicken hope all goes well tomorrow. Don't drink the Lucozade too fast - it's very fizzy! And take something to really occupy yourself with as 2 hours is a long time to hang about when you are hungry.

hope you feeling better mamasunshine and the boys enjoyed the snow

mamasunshine, what a helpful list! I've packed my bag and that was a perfect checklist!
Have had a day of toddler tantrums...dd is usually pretty lovely and have found this TOUGH!

Hi all

mamasunshine that's great news, it's amazing how everything can change so fast!
I asked about the bf peer support after you saying how good it was and the next training course round here runs in Jan so I think I might wait for the one after - not that they'd have any objections to bringing a bump one week and a baby the next but I think it might be a bit overambitious for me!

mummychicken best of luck with the GT test tomorrow, fingers crossed the glucose is just a random one off.

Hope all the babies and placentas are moving in the right direction for everyone. ladybuzz I hadn't realised babybuzz was breech, is there still time for her to turn?

Starting to feel a bit Christmassy at last as I've been looking at decorations and been to a tree display but still not managed to do any actual shopping yet. We haven't had any snow down here yet but the cold is certainly making it feel like December already

mummychicken hope all goes well with the GT test.

wondersnuffle there is still plenty of time but I'm having an ELCS so it isn't a massive deal if she doesn't, DS2 was transverse until 37 weeks and then he turned so she still might.
I keep dreaming that I go into labour and have her naturally - fat chance but hey you just never know!

I was off to shop for my hospital bag this morning but changed my mind when I saw the snow - I must get organised!

mammasunshine thanks for the list, just copied it out for me! 3 weeks to go and then I can go home. I get to go home earlier if I fail exams, but then I might get picked for redundancy! So I'm trying hard but finding it hard to concentrate.

mummychicken fingers crossed it's all good for you this morning.

I seem to drink gallons of water and still feel dehydrated, think I'll turn the heating down a bit. Was getting frustrated with the permanent transverse position of the Prawn but now she's suddenly sitting up like Buddha, with her head right under my ribs and I can barely sit upright. I'm only 34 weeks, so still plently of time for the turn, just wish she would do it soon!

I don't know if any of you are banking cord blood, but we have decided to as grandparents wanted to do it for us. We are going with cells4life.

Feeling very Christmassy with the snow. This year, Father Christmas will be delivering via Amazon - sofa shopping the solution!

How have you got on mummychicken?

36 weeks.

hello kiwijesta I want to jump in the water too to ease the pain of early contractions and I was worried about what to wear - I've packed a sports bra. I hope your placenta moves up out of the way for you.
mummychicken - still an innie bellybutton but it's all stretched and does not look like my bellybutton anymore.
beijingaling I'm bored of being pregnant too. the home stretch seems to be draaaaaaaaaaagging. Thought I'd do loads on maternity leave but I feel really tired although I am going for a -waddle- walk every day and I've started drinking raspberry leaf tea in preparation for labour.
Hannah1890 I'm delighted your blood pressure has decreased. I hope it stays low :)
mamasunshine My maternity allowance took about a month to process. I wrote on the form that I was starting maternity leave this week but they've somehow calculated that I started maternity leave about six weeks ago and have promptly deposited back pay into my account
Thanks for the hospital bag list - spot on - i've packed mine now but I can't fit my dressing gown in the case. And what snacks are you bringing? I've packed some lucozade sweets...

Because I'm due over Christmas and my sis is my birth partner, my sis said she and her family would come and cook for us on Christmas Day. But now she's changed her mind, so it looks as though it'll be just me and DP. I'm a bit :( about it as she only mentioned it when I asked her what food she wanted me to get... when was she thinking of telling me???

Anyone really thirsty all the time?

Glad the list has been useful It was just off the top of my head, and missed toiletries for mum (obviously!). Snacks that are good to last for weeks in bag such as mixed nut and dried fruit/snack bars/chocolate/biscuits etc...not neccesarily healthiest, but as mummychicken said, you will be STARVING after having the baby! Especially if bf, you'll eat enough for 10 men a day!
deedee - I'm with you with toddler tantrums, my ds1 2.8 is usually lovely but has some shocking displays of anger occasionally!
wondersnuffle - great news that bf course will be on by you, and very sensible to wait til the next time, youll enjoy it much more when you're getting more than a few hours sleep a night!
ladybuzz - do you knwo the date of your ELCS yet?
macmomo - have you looked at the spinningbabies website, worth a look on changing babies position. I'm very thirtsty too, drinking lots of water.
stenogirl - I wore a cheap string nighties from M&S when in labour with ds2, laboured a lot in bath and just jumped in naked. It is very true that you leave your dignity/inhibitions out of the room! Maybe a tankini top or something? Thanks re info on MA, only posted it a wk ago so maybe working a while longer . I have a very thin dressing gown like a towelette type thing to take. It is VVV warm in maternity units! With snacks think high energy ie sweets/chic/nuts etc. about you sis...that's a shame, how annoying!

Well off to catch X-Factor results with some chocolate Quiet weekend here, still full of cold, and work tomorrow, but a break from childcare

Also, forgot to add, if any of you have the time/money to treat yourself just before baby arrives to things like manicure/eyelash tint/hair cut etc, definately worth it Especially as the first weeks you really don't have time to put mascara on, and yu have to be in LOADS of phtos! I love looking back at my pics with ds1, I'd been really poorly with preeclampsia, so mum booked me in for the works! My pics after EMCS are fully manicured/hair done etc Different story with ds2! (I hide those ones ) !!

hi all

thanks for the what-to-pack-in-hospital bag list - v useful. i will make sure i pack lots of snacks! Looking fwd to baby moving down in a few weeks as i am heartily sick of these sore, pinching rib-pains. skin at the top of my bump also feels very tender - like sunburn. weird! Had NCT breastfeeding info session the other day which was pretty useless! The woman didn't answer any of our questions properly and it was all very wishy-washy AND drawn out over 3 hours. not v impressed! DP and i off on a little spa wkend this wkend - can't wait. we haven't managed to get away since the holiday we had in april where we conceived LO! weird to think this'll be our last holiday just the 2 of us! Gosh it really is getting near the end now - wonder which of us on the list'll be first to pop? Exciting stuff x

splodge how lovely i hope you have a fab weekend!

mama I have my consultant appointment on Dec 15th so I should get my date then - I am going to ask for 11th Jan - Just because it would be a cool birth date 11/1/11!!!
I really doubt that will happen though

Just a point re phones, make sure your mobile is charged as most hospitals won't let you plug your charger in because it isn't tested!!

Hi everyone! 31 weeks, 8 weeks today until CS!

Have been pretty snowed in for 5 days (Newcastle) and running out of ideas to entertain DS now, funnily enough I can't really manage pulling the sledge for too long - have stashed some pine cones somewhere which we can cover in glitter later for christmas! He can manage about 40 mins digging in the snow before cold hands halt progress but that is much longer than last year. He is quite happy to watch repeat DVDs of Balamory but I am not so keen, I am sure we will be doing enough of that once the baby arrives

I have my hospital list too but planning to pack between christmas and new year when DH off work. Will need to take a bit more for CS as probably a longer stay but have found some useful threads on what to take.

Our neighbours have a christmas tree up already! Looks quite nice in their window actually but a bit early for me!

mamasunshine glad everything was fine in the end. Agree with pre-birth eyelash tint, makes you look awake in photos at least!

splodge spa will be fab I am very

mummychicken hope everything OK?

MacMomo which exams are you doing? I had to go away for 10 weeks to do accountancy exams but was not pregnant at time! Hope its progressing well.

Hannah glad you got the all clear too!

Hope everyone is excited about finishing work soon. Make the most of the free time, it will never be the same again!

I'm jealous splodge - enjoy your weekend away.

I'm liking your grooming ideas mamasunshine! I slapped some hair removal cream on my bikini line. OMG _ I can't even see past the bump - it's difficult doing it in the mirror!

Week 36 + 1.
Breaking news!
Last night at around 4.30am I woke up in absolute agony. My stomach was a weird egg/oval shape and was rock hard. I had strong period-like pains at the bottom of bump and in my back. It was on and of for about 40 minutes. I thought the babby was coming early! :)
I'm still a bit crampy today and baby is wriggling and kicking like mad.
so I've been finishing off my work and sending off invoices and cleaning just in case...

Although knowing my luck, I'll have four weeks of this

stenogirl, sounds like it might be all-systems-go for you soon!! Keep us updated!
Am hoping mummychicken is ok...am keeping an eye out for her updates.
7 more days at work...though ridiculously spaced out! Does anyone else stagger in the front door holding their bump up??

loving the spiningbabies.com!

stenogirl how exciting keep us posted.

mummychicken any news, hope you are ok.

deedee yes I can't stand for more then half an hour without being in agony. The till lady in Morrisons thought I was in labour

FUCK!!!!!

Bloods came back with ridiculously high sugar - they are not even bothering to monitor me and have put me straight on insulin. (Obviously will be monitored from now on)

Have got to prick finger 4 times a day and inject insulin 3 times a day. Fuckity fuck.

Good news - I've had this less than 3 weeks so baby hasn't got fat and I will be induced so no worrying about waters breaking in weird places. Only 4 weeks to go !!

Cannot believe how brilliant the hospital/midwives have been - I only failed the wee test on Friday and have already been treated today.

It is REALLY hard to stop thinking "what could I have done to avoid this?" I'm not oevrweight, eat well, excercise etc.

Thanks for all keeping an eye out. It has been a VERY emotional day.

Sorry to hear that mummychicken,. glad you're getting sorted quickly. Take care and try not to worry xx

I have started my mat leave with a massive yucky cold. Joy. hey ho, beats working I guess. Still not been shopping for baby bits though. Not sure I'm up to a big retail centre shop so may nip to tesco and make a start on nappies etc. Saying that, will need to do proper shop for usual weekly delivery tomorrow so will just add them to that. Oh dear, that's got to be a serious case of prego brain + cold!

Got midwife on thursday, not been for 8 weeks! And physio friday, appt came through really quick. So fingers crossed for all that. Not long now! Scary!!

Omg mummychicken, thank goodness they caught it fast!! That sounds GRIM having to do all that injecting, you must feel so shocked. Sounds very full-on. How many weeks will you be when they are planning to induce you? Were you induced with your first baby? I was and honestly found it quite good, all very 'managed' and I shouted EPIDURAL early on and the rest went fine!! Pre- or post-Christmas baby???

deedee DS was induced and was 15 days late. This one will be at 38 weeks (although I said no to that as it is christmas day! It will be between Christamas and new year.
I found DS very easy- 2.5 hrs labour - no time for epidural!
The injecting insulin is okay (although the nurse wouldn't let me go until she had seen me stick a needle in - I was in floods of tears for about 10 mins) but I am finding it REALLY hard to do the blood tests - my fingers are all bruised.

didn't want to read and run - sorry to hear your news mummychicken but as you say at least it was discovered quickly and you are on treatment already.