December 2010: Our Christmas Babies are growing but our energy levels are slowing!

[WhatWillSantaBring]

With thanks to the provider of the snappy title (it wasn't me - I think it was Strix)

Link to Stats thread (I hope)

Here

Hi all, thanks for the advice - my friend says she is going back to the doctors and insisting they take her more seriously... it's really hard as she is mega shy and non confrontational and I feel like I'm bullying her/ causing her extra worry by saying her symptoms aren't normal and that she needs to ask for more tests and I think she's easily put off by the professionals who dismiss her. Really I can only leave her to get on with it (I'm not great at doing this though!) on the positive side her scans have been ok so hopefully the symptoms don't mean anything bad for her baby - just a crap time for her :(

Went to Lush today and bought some bits, so lovely in there, I love their things. Looking forward to trying some new bath balls out. Also had to buy some crumpets :o

Does anyone else notice more BH's in the evenings? I am, and they're starting to get painful on and off, really annoying when I want to try to relax. Getting sharp pains inside as well that feel like around where my cervix would be. After all this I hope I have a quick labour! Reading the childbirth forum on here has scared me again today...

Hi kittybump sorry to hear about your friend. You're not bullying her, you are just concerned and as you said you can only give her your opinion.

I'm getting a few more BH in evening C&G I think it is because I'm sitting down so notice them more.

I am feeling quite chilled about the birth at the moment but I suspect I'm due at least one more freak out before the baby arrives.

We've managed to get another coat of paint on our bathroom wall and I am coming round to the colour now it isn't so streaky looking.

I am so excited - I've been contacted by an agent today saying she is interested in my book. I am trying to contain my excitement as it isn't a formal offer of representation yet, but a request to rework some of it and after that she will (hopefully) sign me. I think it is worth doing as it is a large and well respected literary agency, but goodness knows when I will find time over the next few months. Maybe I can do a massive edit in the next couple of weeks... So exciting though

thanks C&G was a bit worried as she's not been on here for a little while. hope your heartburn is settling, I've had indigestion at night but solved that with gaviscon - one of the few sleep disruptions I've actually overcome!

good suggestion MrsS I've found getting DH to rub my feet with some cold moisturiser helps. I'm also hoping the rest of my appts remain positive!

kitty lol at your wedding outfit suggestion

hi betty fwiw I think we all have a wobble about if we'll do a good job as parents and tbh that carries on forever. I'm assuming you're expecting your first?

DH, who is somewhat prone to losing things, can't find the fixings for the cot bed despite being 'absolutely certain' that he attached them to the sides when he changed it from the cot to the bed for DD 2 years ago. I tried really hard but in the end I did find myself saying, 'well you can't have put them there or they'd be there now, wouldn't they?' Didn't go down well.

Went for lunch with a friend of mine who starts her mat leave on Friday. Really nice to spend a bit of time with her before she goes as I imagine we'll both have our hands full for a little while to come.

I feel like my mat leave has crept up on me all of a sudden. Had to start handing over to my manager today - can't believe I've only got another 14 working days to go . Finished interviewing for my replacement this afternoon so it's decision time on Thursday.

WLL cross post - fab news about the book - what sort of author are you?

ooh maxpower you must like your job to have your maternity leave creep up on you - I have literally been counting the days!! 3 left

WLL well done that sounds very impressive :)

C&G sounds like your body is well practised and is getting very ready for your LO's birth :) mine is still completely clueless and denying anything is going on :)

Thanks maxpower it's young adult fiction. I'm not really an author/writer - never had anything published, but always wanted to write. I started this one when I was on maternity leave with DD. Sent it to some agencies a little while ago. It is so hard to get published, so even if nothing comes from this it is really encouraging to even get some interest from an agent.

Don't think I'll ever be quite at the point of giving up the day job though! :)

Kittybump - glad not much longer left at work for you. :)

Oooh WLL - that sounds great!!! What kind of book... I always had a secret fantasy of being an author when I was a child. just dont think I was ever good enough .

Hi betty - Wobbles about coping and what life will be like happen to us all!! Even those who are not first time mums. This is DC3 but I'm still worrying - will i cope with the sleepless nights again, will I have time for the other DC, will DH and I ever get out alone again . You'll be just fine though . Its just anxiety about the unknown. Welcome though .

I'd never seen those blankets with sleeves mentioned on here until an advert today in the middle of 'This Morning'... Genius!!! the advert is so funny... All these things I missed out on when I was working.

Like your description of the nappy stacker Lauren - I so know what you mean about suddenly finding that some things look pretty useful when you've happily mocked them before.

Yikes, forgotten most of what I've read.... Slightly, I think it was you about the radiators. We had a plumber round last week as only some of ours were working and most of them just had air in them or were part air / part water. A few tweaks of the key at the top and we were all set . Hope the same for you.

38 wk check with GP on Friday - hope its a useful one... Went recently with what I think is thrush and the results came back today to say yes to thrush, yes to some kind of bacterial infection, but no to group B strep. So no anti-bios for me in labour . Can't remember who else is waiting for their test? Still need anti-biotics for the infection though .

Night all

japhrimel and notso what a relief that you don?t have PE. Sorry to hear about the horrid MW though :(

C&G How is the heartburn? Mine seems to go from OK to really really bad and seems specially awful in the mornings for some reason.

crazykat and MrsS how are you both feeling now ?

kittybump I am sure that being just a couple of cm out the bump measurements is ok.

Sympathies to all those with snoring husbands/partners or general lack of sleep. I kicked mine out into the spare room many many weeks ago so have been getting good sleep though I wonder if the baby has moved down a bit as I can feel a lot more pressure on my bladder these days and the last couple of nights have been up more in the middle of the night.

wholelottalove great news about the agent.

I am feeling really irritable. DH is downstairs on his x-box and seems to be shouting at people on-line and my last week at work is going really badly as it?s very quiet but I have to look busy in front of the new person in case she thinks the job is really easy (we?re just going through an unusually quiet time) and on top of that she (new person) doesn?t seem to have picked up or retained anything I have taught her. I just want to get this week over with and not worry about the fact that my boss seems to have made a huge mistake. I feel really sorry for my workmate who is going to have to deal with it all when I am gone. Roll on Friday.

Thanks for all the sympathy and advice RE driving, I have been burying my head in the sand a bit because I just don?t know when the baby is going to come so how can I plan, but I feel like I may well have to miss MIL?s birthday and Christmas if I have a newborn ? I am guessing I definitely will have by Christmas day! I feel irritated by the fact that MIL seems to ask DH every time she calls if we will still be able to make Christmas. DH always says to her that it depends but then with me he carries on like it?s actually going to happen.

I had my first cup of raspberry leaf tea today and about half an hour later felt really ill! Is this normal?

I also want to start the P massage but the stuff I got from Mothercare says ?for external use only? so I am a bit confused!

df, snap on the irritability. I have just come downstairs for a cup of horlicks as dh's mere presence is annoying me and in any case Baby appears to be using cervix as trampoline... Tried to tactfully suggest that dh relocate to spare room but he ignored the hint. Argh, feel like I could bite someone's head off.

Sympathies on the handover front. I found it v stressful and even now am having to make a conscious effort to stop myself going over it all in my head. We obviously need something to take our minds off work...new baby would be nice.

chooster I hope our heating issues are as easy to solve. The radiators have always played up but it has only become a real problem since we moved dd to her new room on the top floor, where it gets pretty cold. Something tells me this ought to be a job for dh, but he's just not that practical.

wll big congrats on the agent! How exciting! Do we have the new jk rowling on our thread?!

Welcome Betty. your worries are entirely normal. Re panic attacks...I have had a couple for the first time in my life during this pregnancy. Not about being pregnant...about other apparently unrelated things. In fact I've started cognitive behavioral therapy to help
deal with anxiety. Have found it very useful to understand how anxiety works.

Sigh. Am bored of sleeplessness now.

WLL I'm going through phases with worrying about the birth, sometimes I feel really ready and others I feel like I couldn't cope with it. That's fantastic about your book, hope you get published, so exciting!

max heartburn is still on and off, the minute I lay down at night it gets worse as well as turning over in bed so I have tablets on hand and ready! It happens at random points throughout the day as well so I always carry some tablets with me just in case. Lol at your DH, you're right though, if he had put them on then they'd still be there :o

kitty I really hope so. I'm sure your body is getting ready too, I think mine just over reacts lol.

chooster that's good news about the group B strep, are you being treated for the thrush and infection? Good luck for the 38 week check, can't believe you're 38 weeks almost and I'm only 35 on Thur!

DF My heartburn sounds the same, all of a sudden it comes on and I have to take something fast or else I feel really sick. I know what you mean about feeling irritable too, had it on and off too so sympathies. That would irriate me too re mil, why does she keep on asking? Surely she should be reassuring that she knows baby is coming near then and that she hopes all goes well and understands if you can't make it rather than banging on about it...Raspberry tea, I found it an aquired taste but can't remember about feeling sick, did you sweeten it with anything?

slightly hope you get some sleep soon, can't be nice being so restless.

I'm going to try and sleep soon myself but have been getting BH on and off tonight, I started using the online contraction timer thingie and it's really interesting. I'll post it in so you can see but I'm not really in much pain, certainly not thinking it's labour or anything but it's bloody annoying! There is one point where I forgot to stop it so it looks like a really long contraction and another where I stopped it after 2 seconds and had to start again but the rest are right.

Start
Or tap the S - key to begin

Start Time End Time Duration Frequency
Stopped Stopped Stopped Stopped
11:12:42 PM 11:13:27 PM 0:44 6 m, 35 s
11:06:07 PM 11:07:23 PM 1:16 14 m, 43 s
10:51:24 PM 10:51:53 PM 0:29 14 m, 20 s
10:37:04 PM 10:37:37 PM 0:33 5 m, 45 s
10:31:19 PM 10:32:11 PM 0:52 8 m, 60 s
10:22:19 PM 10:23:21 PM 1:1 5 m, 47 s
10:16:32 PM 10:17:16 PM 0:43 7 m, 19 s
10:09:14 PM 10:16:17 PM 7:2 15 m, 4 s
9:54:10 PM 9:54:55 PM 0:44 28 m, 38 s
9:25:32 PM 9:26:02 PM 0:30 4 m, 49 s
9:20:42 PM 9:21:14 PM 0:31 5 m, 43 s
9:15:00 PM 9:15:35 PM 0:35 5 m, 24 s
9:09:35 PM 9:10:12 PM 0:37 5 m, 23 s
9:04:12 PM 9:04:44 PM 0:32 2 m, 36 s
9:01:36 PM 9:02:26 PM 0:49 0 m, 4 s
9:01:32 PM 9:01:35 PM 0:2 5 m, 12 s
8:56:21 PM 8:56:50 PM 0:29 2 m, 51 s
8:53:30 PM 8:54:05 PM 0:34 4 m, 37 s
8:48:53 PM 8:49:46 PM 0:53 4 m, 37 s
8:44:15 PM 8:44:47 PM 0:31 5 m, 35 s
8:38:41 PM 8:39:23 PM 0:42 ----

As you can see at first I was getting them every 5 mins and then stopped a while and now back again, I hope these are actually helping in some way!

contractionmaster.com/ that's the website in case anyone else wants to try.

slightly forgot to say, I'm with you on the cervix bouncing, it's been awful tonight, I'm getting some really sharp pains that keep on coming :( I've suffered on and off with anxiety and panic attacks but funnily enough I find pregnancy the best time for me as I never get any. I'm hoping it stays away afterwards but if not then I'm going to pay the gp a visit as I can't bear to go back to panic attacks and feeling anxious again.

wll congrats on the agent, how exciting

c&g thanks for the link. Definitely can see how annoying that would be especially if you don't think it's the main event. I am struggling to distinguish bh from general squirming and violence inflicted by LO but I didn't notice any last time either. This pg seems much more niggley than the last if that makes sense, lots of those sharp pains on the cervix you've been describing and other pressure on my back etc. Not sure if that's because dd didn't engage before delivery or because I just blanked it all out.

Sympathy to everyone with annoying dhs at the moment. It is a scary, exciting and frustrating time these last few weeks not surprising that we'll be a bit irritable, you'd think that would be obvious and result in more care being taken

My friend sent me a link to this which sounded lovely for anyone London based and fancying meeting up mid-Jan concert foR parents and new babies

mrssl I start to wonder if something is happening if someone goes AWOL for a day or two in these exciting times

Two very good things happening here - firstly today is my last day at work a! Secondly we exchanged on the new house yesterday so we really will be moving!!

Maxpower we've had a simialr problem with lost cot fixings, if you know the make and model of the cot you could try phoning the manufacturers to see if they sell spares. Ours didn't have them but I've found a website that sells spare fixings you just need to work out which size you need delivered2you.co.uk/epages/eshop159039.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop159039/Categories/16/02

Nothing morre happening here but not sure if that a good or bad thing. I stsrted panicking yesterday that we were'nt ready yet but after thinking this could be it I'm more impatient than ever.

The midwife I saw yesterday told me that third labours can be worse than second, all fine until pushing the baby out. Apparently it's common for third babies not to want to come out. So glad I didn't know that a few months ago - I might have changes my mind.

93pjb, congratulations on the exchange - that's really wonderful. Do you have any idea how long it will be until completion?

crazykat, that's not what you want to hear! You really hope that by the time you get to number 3 it would be like "shelling peas". (My MIL's evocative phrase...)

I get my DD back today from her grandparents! It has been lovely to have a break from the constant 3yo chatter, negotiations and tantrums etc, but we really miss her now, so looking forward to my first cuddle.

Goodness me - just looking at the Cornwall flooding on the news. Hope none of us are based down there - would not be fun to need a boat to get to hospital...

93pjb Congratulations on the house exchange! When are you moving? Hope your last day goes well :)

crazy my third labour was more painful but only because DS2 was back to back, it was really fast though, the fastest I've had so far. An hour and 10 mins or so with 45 mins of pushing. He was 8lb 2 and came out just fine with no probs, no tears or cuts etc. Try not to worry too much.

slightly I bet you can't wait to see DD again although I know exactly what you mean about 3 year olds! My DS2 is 3 as well.

Had midwife this morning and have now been booked in for a homebirth in the space of seconds! Quite surprised really as I mentioned the fast labours and she suggested it. So, big box of stuff being brought over next week but she said they'll plan it as a homebirth and I can still transfer in if I want to. She said better to do that then end up in the car giving birth! If anything does happen really fast though she said to call labour ward and they'd send out an ambulence as they would get here faster than midwives and also faster than we'd get to the hospital.

If I need/want to transfer in then it would be my other local hospital I went to, if I want to keep the same midwives otherwise I can go into my usual one.

Now I need to get the house totally blitzed before next week and also what on earth do I need to get for a homebirth?! I'm really excited actually as I think I'll cope better at home and worry less about things going wrong but I didn't think they'd "let" me have one. I suppose it's better than the prospect of giving birth somewhere random! I know I need to have lots of tea/coffee and nice biscuits/snacks for the midwives but what about for the actual birth?

I'm quite liking the idea of watching dvds all through labour :o I'm guessing a pool wouldn't be worth it as I may not get time to fill it. Can't wait!! Everything was fine at the check, she is headfown, yay, but OP so I need to start sitting on my birth ball more etc to encourage her to be the right way. My placenta is anterior so that doesn't help but I'll do my best :o

HI all, I'm back here having been off this thread for a few months, my consultant was concerned that my baby might be prem as I had a short cervix due to cervical surgery last year, so I wasn't confident about posting here, but my ecrvix has lengthened and I'm now 34wks so I'm back to join you!
I haven't caught up with all the news, but see that lb has had her twins, v exciting!
WLL - potential book deal sounds good.
93 must be a relief to have exchanged contracts and finished work. I finish work next week, was due in today but have cold,sore throat and achey legs, struggled in yesterday and Monday but feel worse today so stayed home to rest (read catch up on mumsnet and do internet christmas shopping!)
I've also had stitch type pains on one side, think its the position the baby is in or ligaments, i know its not bh as I've been having those since 23wks.
I also have spd&pgp, but have a brilliant physio who has been seeing me every few weeks to manipulate my pelvis back into position, I saw her yesterday and it feels so much better today.
I've also had to buy stocking pressies for unborn ds because thats what dd will expect, she 5 and is v excited about her little brother. Not sure if he'll be here for Christmas though, his due date is boxing day, and consultant has said he'll probably be 2-3wks early, dd was a week early, but half of me still expects him to hang on until Jan, would be lovely to have him in time for Christmas thyough.

Do any of you get fed up with the negative comments about having a baby at Christmas? I've had lots of people say that ds won't get a proper birthday, thats really bad timing, what a shame etc. It just annoys me! A few say how lovely it will be. I think you can make it special for them if you want too! I've spoken to a couple of people with birthdays around Christmas/new year and thyey've commented on how lovely it is that everythings festive, they never had school on their birthdays etc. What do you all think?

Consultant appt ok this am, different one but she was equally as nice as other one so no worries there Still happy for me to have natural birth in mlu at main hospital. Won't even consider induction until 10 days over and will let me go to +14 if necessary - not sure I'll make it that far. LO not engaged today so suspect the pains I am getting are him moving in and out of pelvis wish he'd make his mind up - typical male

93pjb Fab news on house, try and take it easy over move I can vouch for how stressful it is - are you able to afford for movers to pack and unpack you? It is definately worth it if you can!!
Sometimes I read but don't post as still on iphone most of time - awaiting internet tomorrow.

slightly Enjoy having your DD back - they don't get any quieter as they get older - my DD is now 5 and I am convinced she does not understand the concept of sitting quietly. She is either, talking, singing,humming or whistling - CONSTANTLY!!! It drives DH and I batty sometimes as we are the opposite - both quiet people who could happily sit with no radio or tv on.

c&g good news about the home birth, things to consider towels, waterproof sheets, what is happening with other children? I'm sure someone with more knowledge will have more to add later

wll Congratulations on the agent - if you need a proof reader let me know! I speed read at over 500 wpm with 80% comprehension - don't ask how it's done just the way my brain works

bettyblue welcome - we are a friendly bunch on here although in RL we may all be axe murderers

Have a day AL today, only 6 wworking days left. Have taken to bed today, sky multiroom now working but heating broken for 3rd day in row engineer was only here last night supposedly fixing it (at 10pm) glad we don't have to pay call out charges!! DD has a friend over after school so I will need to get up in a bit to make pizza bases for them to "decorate" for their dinner Leaving DH to tidy up downstairs as if I go down I'll just get in his way
May have to evict dog from bedroom though - she is snoring and for some reason has a really, really smelly bottom gas problem today

Morning all, chucking it down here, so I'm doing more cooking, nothing else to do I am bored, Wednesday is my childfree day as DC go to PIL after-school and don't come back until bedtime.

LittleB I have had a few bad timing comments about being due so close to Christmas (23rd), but IMO it's only this year that will be a problem as we don't know when the LO will show up so can't plan anything.
My birthday is the week before Christmas, my Mums is the day before mine and my wedding anniversary is on 29th so I'm used to it being a busy time of year, and have never felt I don't get a proper birthday.

C&G great news for the homebirth, not sure what you need though.

Slightly Aww, I always look forward to DC returning too.

crazy I wish I hadn't read that especially knowing this one is going to be big so was expecting a struggle.

93pjb Hooray for last day of work and also for the exchange, at last.

DF thanks. I find if I have any kind of herbal thing I feel a bit weird afterwards, I think its phycological with me. After taking the evening primrose capsules I feel a bit lightheaded, haven't tried 'inserting' them yet god knows how I'll feel after that I think the massage oil will be fine despite the instruction.

chooster yay for no anti-bios, boo for thrush. Ha! welcome to the vortex of daytime TV.

WLL Wow to the book offer, bags I a signed copy I would love to write something.

kittybump hope the last few work days go quickly.

maxpower hope you manage to sort the cot out. We have a lovely cot bed in the cellar, the only baby item we had kept but DH trod on it and broke the sides

Had a crappy appointment with registrar yesterday, he has upped my CTG monitoring to three times weekly despite my bile acids levels being two consistently for weeks and me not itching for five days now.
Then when I said I was really suffering with SPD he said well we won't be inducing you because with the size baby your having you'll be in 10 times more pain after the birth
Went straight back to midwives in day unit and they said not to worry they will sort me out when I have my bloods done next Tues.

notso wow to continued CTG monitoring with bile acid levels at 2 - my bile acid levels were 9.2 10 days ago and they classed that as within normal range and were not concerned

littleB welcome back - glad things are ok!! I had friends at school who were twins born on Xmas day and as far as I know they never felt as if they missed out sharing b'days and having b'day on Xmas day - they did share a bedroom until they were 21 though!

LittleB - my birthday is Christmas Day and it's never bothered me. I've only worked on my birthday once and it's lovely to have all the decorations, etc. My Mum was always very careful that I didn't miss out, e.g. spending as much on me as on my brother's birthday and Christmas presents and getting me birthday wrapping paper and a birthday cake, etc. Personally I love it.

Our baby being due near Christmas has caused comments in our family though because not only is my birthday Christmas Day, but DH's birthday is New Year's Day so it's always going to be an extra expensive time of year!

notso - did the registrar give a reason for the extra CTGs? Are your LFTs also good? CTG monitoring doesn't help much with OC - unless they actually manage the catch the short time between a baby starting to show issues and really having issues. Some doctors will do extra monitoring to help keep the mum calm, but that many CTGs sounds like it'll have the opposite effect! Bile acid levels are by the far the best predictor of risk, so with levels of 2, your risk from OC is very very small. And that's bollocks nonsense about inducing. Some people get induced because of SPD. And if your bile acids were high (over 40) then induction would be the way forward whatever.

NCT again last night - classes going well and although the leader doesn't always answer questions well, we've been impressed at how balanced it's been. E.g. we were discussing pain relief options last night and she actually said that pethidine is a great option if you're exhausted from a long/difficult early stage and have only got to 4cm and desperately need sleep.

LB nice to see you again :) glad to hear that your cervix is longer now and that you don't have to worry so much about an early birth.

MrsS my parents will be having the other children, they only live up the road so that should be fine thankfully! Ah mine love "making" their own pizzas.

notso what have you been cooking? Could you speak to your consultant rather than the registrar because if you're suffering with spd then it is sometimes better to induce earlier.

japh wow a Christmas day birthday! I think it's a lovely thing tbh and very happy and festive time of year for it. I had pethidine with DD, too late for it to work though as it kicked in after she was born! They didn't realise I was so far along and by the time they gave me it (didn't check me beforehand) I was pushing and she was out really quickly. It made me throw up and feel really out of it, quite a strange sensation as I remember talking to the dr but what I was saying didn't register in my head until after I'd said it, if that makes any sense. I didn't like the feeling of being so spaced out but it obviously didn't help that I wasn't in labour when it hit me, I had a half does or 3/4 and not a full one too. I realise that I must have been in transition when I asked for it as I felt so out of control and couldn't handle it anymore, if they'd known they wouldn't have given me it.

Feeling so much better about the birth now and very relaxed, now I know I don't have to worry about rushing into hospital and whether I'm in labour or not. It will be nice to be here in my own home labouring with the freedom to do whatever I want. If I have to transfer in then so be it but at least I can spend these last weeks not worrying now!

Quite tired now, baby kept me up half the night kicking and dc's (well the boys) woke me at around half six. Thinking of popping (I say popping but it'll take hours!) to Ikea tomorrow, get a few more bits and pieces.

Any ideas where I can get a cardboard box from that's big enough for some presents to be posted to Europe in? I need to get some posted off to the dc's cousins (ex h sisters children) as they celebrate Christmas in early Dec and I'm stuck as to where to find one.

Shame about the extra moitoring notso - seems a bit excessive and not nice comments about being in 10 times more pain... Who would ever think that is a good thing to say to a heavily pregnant woman - I mean what is he / she basing that on???

Thanks for the link to the contraction site C&G. As I dont need IV anti-bios this time I'm hoping to do some of the early stage at home so this will be useful. Am getting loads of BH at night too so it might for worth practising by timing these.

DF - My DH has been kicked into the spare room many weeks ago too... I think we are both happier and both getting more sleep. At least it stops the middle of the night arguments because he doesn't think he is being noisy and I think he is . The only downside is my 6yr old DS has taken to sneaking into my bed (on DH's side) at about 5am or so and then going back to sleep. I rarely hear him so only see him there on my next loo trip.... It's lovely really as he's such a cuddly little boy but just aware that I need to try to nip it in the bud before LO arrives.

Took DS2 (3) for his 2 booster jabs today and it was awful . I thought he'd be OK but he flinched at the first one which I think really hurt and then he became hysterical and was screaming. The doctor was stunned at how strong he is and so 3 of us had to restrain him for the second injection. My poor wee boy.... Big cuddles for him.... I think I'm going to outsource that job to my DH for DS3.

By the way what are the general thoughts on Jude for a boys name?

does anyone know how many raspberry leaf tea capsule you're supposed to take? I was thinking of tryi g them instead of tea as i can't stand it but not sure how many to take