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

NidsC - I've only had a weight estimate when I had a private wellbeing scan at 26 weeks. My MW checks my fundal height and just says that it's okay. I think you only get growth scans if there is cause for concern.

emmaxmas - it may just be that your LO is lying pressing on a nerve, but I'd try a specialist myofascial release massage therapist if it were me. I know a fab one in Berkshire, but that's probably no help at all!

My MIL brought us the blanket that DH (and his siblings) came home from hospital in. Soooo sweet.

Congratulations on the house mrsSnaplegs

thank you for all the sympathy. I managed to get some sleep, still feel rotten but better than earlier. I had to drive across town to pick up some re-usable nappies I had bought from a woman online so at least it got me out of the house. She was lovely and I really wanted to ask if she is a mumsnetter! I feel like by being pregnant I am joining some kind of special club, everyone I have met so far through my quest for second hand re-usables has been so lovely and helpful.

I had one paracetamol last night which helped my head but am trying to stick to honey and lemon. DH suddenly came down with some manflu symptoms when he got home from work but I suspect it's just because he wanted to get out of driving me to the nappy woman hrrmph.

I don't have a nursery yet but will be clearing the spare room out and dismantling the spare bed, not least to head off those people who think they will be able to stay overnight at our house after the baby is born. The baby will be in our room for at least 6 months though.

nidsC I haven't ever been given an estimate of the baby's weight, just been measured so far.

PJen great news about the hospital change.

Miffster lovely that you are back to loving feeling pregnant.

Waves to everyone else.

It really has dropped off cold, I'm surprised at how autumnal it feels now. I was so cold I put the heating on this afternoon. I did layer up first, but there's only so many layers when you need to pee quickly :)7

I spent my afternoon getting annoyed. NHS Parentcraft lessons in our area run on a friday 9.30-12.30 with tea/coffee break. I booked on ages ago [20w] and got one of the last places. They are the 4 weeks leading up to my due date so first session starts 19th Nov. Unfortunately going to miss the first one to have another growth scan as LO looks small [but long] and I'm going to miss the second one to see the specialist the following week. I tried to re-arrange these for later in the day, but no chance 9-12 on friday for growth scans and the specialist only had a clinic between 9-12 as well, which is why the two appointment. Missing both the labour and breastfeeding session. I will be able to go to the ladies aftercare and babies aftercare which is two days before I am due. With no NCT classes I'm resigned to the fact that I'm going to be completely in the dark apart from mumsnetter advice. Sobbed to my MW and she tried the local area parentcraft sessions and there's no vacancies anywhere. I'm going to try again tomorrow as it's my first, would like to meet local mums to be and connect and learn about what's going on. Argggh. DH bought me some chocolate buttons home to cheer me up, he's in the garage eating them for me as I'm off chocolate but he forgot. :) or did he.....

kellestar - if you haven't already done so, I'd get some good books. Miriam Stoppard's book has some info on positions for labour. New Active Birth has loads of info/advice even though the photos are very dated (and a bit scary at first glance!). The NCt also has leaflets on various aspects of birth and after - check their website.

TBH I'm not thinking I'll learn much, apart from perhaps specific breathing techniques, at my NCT classes. But hopefully DH will learn lots and it'll be fun to be part of a group.

I've got tons of books, but you know what it's like, little nervous and have questions that I keep forgetting to ask midwife, it would be nice in a group because as I think of them I can ask. I've got some NCT leaflets as I had tried to book in their courses locally with no such luck [not enough interest], the only courses I can attend for December babies is in South Gloucestershire or Yeovil both an hour's drive.

I'm feeling completely miserable today. Didn't sleep well for a start, but no real change there. I've been subjected to paint fumes all day long which have left me with a slight headache, nausea and a sore throat. The chip in our car window which was alledgedly repaired yesterday looks exactly the same as it did when it happened. DH is driving me to distraction with his obsession about painting the sodding hall stairs and landing - when he's ignored the fact that it's been half decorated for over 4 years yet I've never moaned or nagged him to do it. Now it's suddenly turned into the be all and end all of his life. If I ask him to do anything that deviates away from it he gets the raging hump. He's harrassed me into choosing some paint as it absolutely must be painted tomorrow so we picked some testers but I don't like any of them and I know that god forbid I say this (given that I'm at work tomorrow so can't be out choosing paint) he'll start huffing and puffing and I just can't face it. I'm beginning to stress out about the amount of money I've had to spend on DD's new bedroom. Top it all, apparantly no shops stock unisex newborn clothes in any colour except white/cream now. I'm thoroughly fed up.

kellestar sorry to hear about your difficulties with parentcraft classes. When I was expecting DD we ended up having to go to classes run the other side of the borough we live in (rather than the hospital near where we live) and as a consequence, we were geographically nowhere near the other people who attended so I didn't forge the friendships I had hoped to. Hope you manage to sort something out.

DF sorry you're suffering with your cold, you were right not to struggle in to work.

re nurseries, DC2 will sleep in our room for the first 6 months but the nursery is ready for him/her and it gives us somewhere to keep it's things.

nidsc last time round my bump was measured regularly - this time no ones been near me with a tape measure!

Off to wallow in self pity for a bit

Sorry you're having a bad day maxpower.

If its any help, I choose Laura Ashley Emulsion and Farrow & Ball undercoat and eggshell to paint the nursery and they really have been minimal fumes as I'd hoped - and normally I always get a headache from painting! The F&B stuff is expensive, but getting the eggshell was definitely worth it as it has all taken way longer than we'd hoped and help promised has not materialised so I've ended up doing a lot, which I would not have been happy to do with gloss.

kellestar - do you have any NCT groups near you even if there aren't courses? We've found the local group very helpful and friendly and they have support for breastfeeding.

31 weeks today, off for monitoring at 12:30, I have my own belts now.
Had a nightmare morning with DD, I burst into tears as soon as I got back from School. She is like Jekyll and Hyde at the moment, and yet at her Parents Evening last night her teacher couldn't speak highly enough of her, he couldn't believe we have been having trust issues with her.

japh they will be re-doing all bloods inc bile acid next week when I have monitoring. Is your itching localised or was it all over? My palms, arms, bump and back are worst, I'm pretty sure bump is down to tightness of everything though as the menthol cream the doctor gave me really soothes there.

kelle thanks for mentioning the joggers have been undecided about ordering those. My mat clothes are all getting too small, I wish I could stay in my PJ's and night shirt all day.

DF Hope you are feeling better today. DH, and DC are all full of cold with bad throats etc, obviously DH is suffering the most

spanish also a chocolate monster atm, have had to limit myself to treat sizes as I get full really easily.

PJen they have said the baby is about 3.5lbs, although he/she is on the higher centile, it is excess fluid making up the largeness of the bump!

miffster, Cheryl, lauren, Nids and emma I also have no nursery, the baby will be in with us for a long time I think until we decide whether to move, convert the attic or split our bedroom into two rooms.

maxpower sorry you are having a bad day, me too! I sympathise with you about your DH, mine also seems to obsess over things which at the moment seem non-essential, like varnishing the porch door which has beeen unvarnished for a year. I am more concerned about the fact that we have no hospital bag ready even though the hospital has told us to prepare for the baby to come early.

I have to fill in a kick chart now and so far have not got passed 10 o'clock, this LO is v active.
About 6 Mums from school have now told me they work on the labour/ante natal wards and they are going to look out for me, very nice and friendly but I'm not sure I want an audience of people I only know to say hello to during the birth!

notso - my itching started in just my hands and feet at night, but then spread all over. Itching in your hands and arms is far more concerning than itching on your bump as that's almost to be expected at this stage I think! It's good they're going to redo your bloods.

I'm worrying about my hospital bag(s) too as OC can mean baby arriving early, either naturally or through necessary induction. Definitely packing those this weekend so I can relax a bit about it.

DH and I were also discussing when to put the carseat and base in the car and get the fitting checked. Atm it's all in the attic!

Has anyone thought about what clothes to pack to come home from hospital in? I'm figuring I'll still need comfy maternity clothes, but I don't want to pack my only pair of maternity joggers and I can't think of anything else suitable. I still wear some non-maternity leisure pants but if I had a C-section the waistband would be right on the wound, so I don't think they'd work. Seems daft to buy another pair of maternity joggers just for the hospital bag! If all goes well I'd like to get discharged asap after the birth so I'd prefer not to have to wait for DH to go home, find me clothes and then go back to the hospital.

Any of you Mums got any useful advice?

I think I'm worrying about the trivial stuff to take my mind of the not so trivial stuff!

Japh I've bought two pairs from next, I'm so used to being able to wash and dry quickly, if I end up staying in I did think I'd need a few more pairs. Luckily I've also bought some second hand joggers on eBay as well, so at least if I do I've got some extra's and it doesn't hurt if I don't and they get relisted when I have the time.

ikwym about worrying about the less trivial things, I'm just nervous as it's my first as well. I'm planning on packing my bags this weekend. If LO measures up small on the next scan may be kept in, so would rather have my bags handy in case.

Hi all, just wanted to check in and will try and catch up properly later.

japh I went home in maternity skirt last time and was in maternity clothes for a good few weeks after the birth. I would just pack your most comfy pair of trousers and lots of big knickers - get some cheapo ones from the supermarket. I didn't have c-section so can't advise on that, but I think something soft and over the bump would be ok.

Had midwife yesterday and all ok. Baby is now head down and has shifted so not as painful on my pelvis which is great.

We discussed the birth and have agreed to go ahead with home birth booking and I will make final decision pending another GB Strep swab at 36 weeks. However, even if that swab is negative they would like me to go to hospital to have newborn check with peadiatrician the following day. I said I would think about it all. As she said to me although they would advise me to have antibiotics, they won't stop me having a HB even if GBS + with the later swab. We talked about the additional risk factors (PROM, fever in labour etc) which would mean I'd transfer in for anti-biotics. Still undecided what to do, but happy keeping the HB option open for now.

Hello everyone, sympathies to everyone who is having a crap day and feels down, itchy, coldy, cold or sick.

Here is a pic of my bump at 32 weeks! I don't have any pics of me pregnant apaprt from ones I have taken of me quickly in the loo at work on my phone! I really want to have some good pregnant shots but there never seems to be time.

SO so so indescribably bored at work, I have nothing to do and am clockwatching. Time crawls by. I finish next Thursday. At home I have heaps to do so it is a kind of torture being here.

I worry I will get bored on mat leave but it really cannot be as bad as being here.

Hi Miffster

Lovely picture, you look glowing !!

Are those toilets pictured, based somewhere in London around perhaps Fleet Street?? It looks so similar to a place I used to work...
Sorry if its not !

I am soooo bored at work, I have another month left and I just dont have the motivation to get up in the mornings and come to work.

We are also having trouble finding a replacement for my role, did find one then she pulled out so still looking

I suppose I should forget about it and leave it to them..

Thanks all for replying re the bump and the weight size, thats me taking a sigh of relief that they dont check !

Its so cold I hope everyone is wrapped up

oh Miffster you look great. I too have very few pictures of the pregnant me, apart from the ones I get my DH to take of my bump.

I am off work still but definitely feeling a lot better.

notso I wish I had a really active baby, I think being in bed for two days has sent mine to sleep! However I am about to get up and tackle the kitchen so maybe I'll kick-start it into a bit of action

japh I was just going to pack my maternity jeans and something warm with buttons.

hope you are feeling better maxpower

The loos are in Southwark!
The cold is good, it wakes me up when I go out at lunchtime, the office is so stuffy i feel like sliding under the edsk zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

desk, even....

Oops got that wrong.... they look so similiar !

Is anyone else thinking of using a TENS machine for early labour ??

I thought I recognised those loos too Miffster and I think that I know where you were referring to NidC, the loos in the big offices of a well known grocer?!

Anyway, moving on...

Hello ladies - I've been absent for quite a while - I just couldn't keep up with the pace of the blog and since we moved house in July we've had no internet at home so can't get on this very easily. I'm 30 weeks now and getting very excited about impending motherhood.

Sending good luck wishes and hugs all round x

Hopeful1980 - spot on ! hahahaha at least its not me with my pregnancy brain

Just got back from monitoring, took longer than expected because LO kept booting the thing off, I had to hold it down really hard! Had a massive tightening again but only one this time, I really felt like something was going to pop!
Bile acids level back it was only 1, having them redone Monday though, had to ask M/W to take my shoes off while having the trace done my feet were on fire with itching!

japh with DD I wore DH's trackie bottoms to go home in as thats what I was wearing to go in, had to really tighten the waist band though. With DS I thought mat jeans would be ok but my bump went down v. fast and they fell down so DH got me some pre preg joggers.
This time I fully intend going home in my PJ's!
WRT car seats practice, practice, practice! When we bought DS home DH spent ages putting the seat in and he'd done it the wrong way round, also beware that the drive home is possibly the most stressful journey ever, you will be convinced that your L.O will combust in the car seat and that everyone else on the road is a loon who shouldn't be driving and as a result you will travel about 2 miles and hour, oh and you will whisper. Your baby will however be completly oblivious to everything and will sleep the whole time!

wholelotta glad you have still got HB option.

miffster you look fab, love the dress.

DF glad you are feeling better, I find a really cold drink wakes LO up.

NidsC tried TENS when I was in labour with DS but didn't really get on with it so wasn't going to bother this time, though have had friends rave about them.

[hgrin] at all the loo recognition!

Hi hopeful.

Was just thinking I don't recall hearing from Lavita recently,or have I just missed her? Lavita hope you are ok.

WLL I'm glad the homebirth option is still there for you, I've wondered about that myself.

Miffster you look lovely :)

NidsC I used a TENS with my first labour and whilst it didn't really do anything afterwards I had awful tingling up and down my spine for a year due to it. It's really put me off using them and didn't with my other two.

notso I've never been given my own belts, just all share the same ones there. Did the monitoring all go well?

Feeling like I can't breathe again today, it's been really bad and making me feel quite faint. Also feeling quite fed up, ds1 is really driving me insane...sigh didn't sleep well last night so I'm knackered today too now. I really hope I don't go to 40 weeks, I'm finding it hard enough now at 31 weeks...

thanks japh , notso , miffster & DF

feeling a bit better today - although we all (including DD ) slept in this morning so I was massively late for work

miffster your look gorgeous in your picture! If I looked anywhere near as good I might be inclined to take a picture of myself

nidsc I used a tens machine last time round. My labour wasn't entirely textbook so I can't really say if it helped much or not, but it wasn't unpleasant to use.

japh I ended up with a cs last time and was fine wearing a pair of maternity trousers home.

C&G sorry you're feeling poorly again. I can't stand the breathlessness you get with late pg and I don't have the added complication of asthma.

Was just getting myself a bit down that I seem to have lost touch with various friends and panicking about being on my own on mat leave when not one but three friends I haven't heard from in a while all texted me in space of an afternoon!

miffster that's a lovely pic of you, you look glowing :)

c&g I sympathise, DD was up loads last night. She seems to be reverting to baby behaviour as well - e.g. wanting to be carried, crawling, wanting her cot back etc - she's 2.6. I know she must be feeling threatened by the baby so I am trying to indulge her and give her extra attention and cuddles but it is hard work when she's up and down all night and I'm knackered.

WRT car seat I was laughing reading notso post because it is so true. We couldn't thread the stupid seat belt through ours, and then I remember driving home sooo slowly (in all fairness my perinium couldn't handle sharp corners or bumps either). I wonder if I'll have forgotten how to fit our baby seat or if it will all come back.

DH drove that is, not me! I think I was still fairly drugged up and probably not in a fit state to do an emergency stop...

I think I am going to have to give my DH a crash course in car-seats and prams

DH had his mum on the phone asking about names, apparently she hates the nick-names I have suggested for the girls name I like and anyway there is already one in the family. Tough I say, I've never even met this distant neice of my DH's and am unlikely to. On the plus side she says she likes the full name I really want if it's a girl, so maybe this will work in my favour if I have to convince DH!

Mil also asking if we will be able to find out the sex now, even though I have always said I don't want to and so it's not really relevant. I think she wants to get something relevant to the baby's sex.

Anyhoo... feeling well enough to go to work tomorrow and I have a tour of the MLU in teh afternoon. YAY.