Due in Nov 05 - Hooray for the third trimester - part VII

[Enthusia]

Right then here goes.

Morning girls,

Had a productive day yesterday, finished cleaning the through lounge, so that just leaves the kitchen and the bathroom to do next week, then the house has been cleaned from top to bottom and baby can come when it wants then.

Chacha, you're right I do feel a lot better now, the blues have gone again now thankfully. It really bothers me when I get down as I suffered so badly after Ben was born that I get frightened it will happen again this time.

Loved your Madonna image, I think you should post up a picture for us!

Nova, sorry to hear the classes really were that bad, to be honest you'll get by without going to them, read the labour pages in a couple of the baby mags and you'll get the idea and on the day it will all come naturally enough I assure you!

Have a friend coming over this afternoon that I haven't seen for a while so hopefully the boys will play nicely & we'll be able to catch up on a good old gossip.

Hope you all have a good day, does anyone elses week seem to have speeded up, I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow. Speak to you all later Beks (32+4)

I was going to post about dark lines and belly buttons today!! My dark line has been really noticable for about a week now, and my belly button is completely flat.

Enthusia, I'm waving the white flag on the shopping - you are the queen .

My pushchair has been sat in a corner for a month now. I'm hoping that if I keep stuff around the house the cats won't get too freaked out by lots of new things arriving. They like their routine.

ChaCha - I'm giving the seperate sterilisers a miss this time round and using dishwasher! If it's good enough for American mums it's good enough for me.

Morning Beks

Could everybody PLEASE stop being so organised!! Ooooooh! Have just gone through MUM's bag checklist and BABY's and..em...got a bit of shopping to do i'd say.

Nova, at least you have an excuse as to why pushchair in corner. Ours is STILL in the car! Wonder if the cats can sense new arrival.

GO - That's interesting. Call me thick (I don't mind) didn't know you could do that. Would certainly save a few pounds.

I agree with you Beksmum, I thought the classes would benefit DH more than me, but he gets just as bored. I usually spend the car journey home explaining everything and filling in the gaps anyway. I feel quite about it actually.

Examples from last night:

She did a demonstration with a ventouse, except she announced before showing us that they don't use the one she was showing us anymore. I would have thought that a place like the Portland would be able to afford to show you the most up to date equipment that they use.

The class was about complications, yet I had to raise the issue of episiotomy as she wasn't going to mention it. Sure enough one of the women in the class asked 'whats an episiotomy?'

No mention of breech babies.

They have a really knackered difficult to make out picture book - again you'd have thought that a place with as much money as the portland could afford something a bit better (that really isn't supposed to sound as snobby as it does ).

Also, I think it makes a huge difference that the teacher hasn't had children. She's just regurgitating info from books. She's also managed to panic every woman in the class, and says things like 'so is anyone changing their mind about having a baby?'!!! To a class full of women about to have babies WTF!!!

Oooo I could rant for hours.

Nova your mw at the classes sounds a nightmare, it really is annoying when someone who hasn't had a child tells you they are the expert - they're not! Until you've felt the "burn" or had a cs you have absolutely no idea

It does seem odd that such an up to date and well financed hospital should be so behind the times. It must be quite frustrating really.

I think all I can say is the scariest part of giving birth is the unknown, once it's underway you are so busy trying to get it over with you just go with the flow.

I'm still worried even though I've done it before, this time I'm worried I will go into labour naturally so there's always something to worry about.

If there's anything your dh wants to know tell him to log on and ask us, we'll tell him all he needs to know

Nova - it doesn't sound snobby, I can understand that you are disappointed, having paid all that money you expect something better than the good old NHS!Actually she sounds a lot like the woman who took the classes i went to.......

Cha cha - you sound in good spirits and no you are not boring!

I see several of you have cats - how do you go about getting teh cats used to teh new baby? Just curious as we dont have any pets

BAM - OOOHHHH respect for that nearly 9lb baby Makes my eyes water just thinking about it

Kristina, we're trying not to have too much change going on in the house at anyone time, hence why we're bringing in new furniture, painting the house and moving things around now. Our cats are very much creatures of habit, so we have to try not to disturb them too much.

You can buy CD's of babies crying to get them used to the noise, but I think thats more relevant for dogs than cats.

I've also read that it's good if DH brings back a blanket or something that smells of the baby to the house, so that the cats can get used to the new smell.

My other aim is to get them to associate the baby with nice things, so maybe everytime I feed it or it cries they get a treat. Our cats are ruled by their stomachs.

I am a bit nervous about how they will react but I'm optimistic.

Amazing, they are so much like children.

What is everyone doing today? We are going over to a friend's for dinner tonight so the evening is sorted as is tomorrow & weekend but not sure what to do with myself this afternoon. Hmmmm...

did anyone see super nanny last night?
what if our babies turn into such a horrible children?

how can we make sure this does not happen? is there a book called how to bring up confident, reasonable and happy children thta i could read...

feeling a little bit low today. i had a row with my partner last night (before watching supernanny - supernanny only made me feel worse) i felt he was backing up someone else instead of me on a subject I feel quite anxious and stressed out about. Anyway, he stayed calm while I got more and more upset and stressed, i think my tantrum was almost as bad as the little boy on supernanny's. i ended up staying up until 1 am due to baby bouncing about inside (he obviously also became very stressed out). Then I woke up four times with leg cramps - once i had cramps in BOTH calves. what a KILLER.

Hi ladies, off to the midwifes today for my 32 week check-up , she is still useless, see her every 2 weeks now, think we do the birth plan next time, has everyone done there's yet ?
I've joined the boots parenting club a few of you have mentioned and it's really good, got some vouchers for 'free' products and money off ones, also got a huggies starter pack which includes a nice holdall and little changing mat inside (which is now packed full of baby things ).
I didn't realise until my very expernced younger sister told me that you have to take your own nappies into hospital too - something I hadn't thought about !!
Off for some lunch now, take care x x
Sharon 31+6

Jenjam - I didn't see super nanny but am glad that i didn't. I watched something similar (can't remember the name) when first pregnant and it horrified me. Felt really sorry for the poor mother. Hope you're feeling better and that it all blows over quickly. As for your cramps, I get them occassionally too, usually on waking, they are a real killer indeed..ouch!

Sharon - Let us know how you get on a m/w appt. How many working weeks left for you then?

Am sorting through makeup/toiletry bags and having a clear out. Where are you all today? Boooo!

Cha Cha i think the tommy tippee steriliser thingy is the samw as the one that MAWS used to make ( but don't anymore). We had the MAWS one with DD and it was fine, i've got an avent microwave one this time but you can't use it for cold water sterilising if you are in a hotel or whatever but the tommy tippee one you can!! Hope things are going ok.
Not long now really for any of us, i've got 2 weeks left at work then i'm a free woman although i think i get more tired when i've been at home all day with DD than when i've been at work!!

34+5 wks ( OMG )

Jenjam, you'll be relieved to know that Supernanny herself has written a book .

I've just been looking through some old pictures that we have on disc so I can finally get some printed to put in albums. The discs weren't labelled so it was just a case of downloading them to see what was there. On some of them I thought 'who's that girl with DH - grr' only to realise it was me!!! lol - I didn't recognise myself in some of the pics from a few years ago.

Off to get 200 pics printed now and buy some albums. There's still a few holes in our photo history but we're getting there...

Sharon - I've given up on the birth plan idea, with CS and GA I've run out of 'choices' - this time round they can do what they like to me!

Nova - agree with you on inexperienced midwives. I get really hacked off with the ones that 'pretend' to be experts.

Have to say my twins classes were good. Midwives really pushing getting organised and getting babies into a routine ASAP.

Completely different from the 'refresher' parentcraft classes (aimed at parents who already had a child and had another one on the way). These were all about being relaxed with baby, feeding on demand, let the baby lead you, and so on..............

Interestingly, the twins classes did not exclusively push breastfeeding 110%. It seemed to take the line that with two you need to be realistic about what you can do, set small milestones and not set yourself up for failure, i.e. small targets of breastfeeding for a week at a time, and just taking it on a week-by-week basis, and giving yourself a pat on the back for what you have done, rather than giving yourself a kicking for what you have not.

JenJam - sorry you had a bad night with your DH. Men can be a complete pain at times.

I love watching supernanny. Always makes me feel good as my ds is not and was not ever as horrid as those kids.

Cramps - push out your heel, not your toes, always works for me.

Don't forget about the meet next week Friday girls.

Karma - what can diabetics eat at Wagamamas?

Oh yes, just Asda are doing 4 pairs of (non-disposable) big pants for £1.00 - just the job for the hospital.

oooo I've eaten too much is it bad to eat a whole ball of mozzarella to yourself, it doesn't look like that much when its been cut up into a salad .

I'm glad I can enjoy food again though, there was a time when I thought i'd never like anything again.

How is everyone else with their sickness, anyone still suffering? I've been 6 weeks now without it, really hoping it doesn't come back

Hi all,had a very tiring day today very sore tummy, just like Chacha yesterday. She is stretching out a lot (Baby, not chacha!)& it's bloody uncomfortable. I've decided that I'm not going back to work - couldn't be like this again tommorow. I was going to work for another 3 weeks but I have a heavy-ish job so I'm calling it a day. Yay!! I'm on my hols!! Won't be long before I'm back at the end of April.

KristinaM - I'm not sure about the frozen peas working on a transverse baby. There is a thread on here about turning a breach baby by using different positions, could work on a transverse. Its worth trying, I suppose.
My SPD hasn't been too bad lately as she's breach so I can walk a bit better. Getting out of bed/car still very painful. My friend's a physio & she recommends walking backwards as it's supposed to be less painful. Not very practical!

Goldenoldie - you should be ok in Wagamamas if you stick to protein-based dishes. Protein & fats don't affect blood sugar. However, isn't sushi one of the foods to be wary of in pregnancy? I've had smoked salmon a few times whilst pg & I've never had food poisoning from it. Have you started tesing your blood yet? I was watching Multiple Mums yesterday & it showed a twin mum with GD. As she showed her card with her blood sugar levels on it to the MW, I leapt (well, shuffled) up to the screen so I could see what they were. There were a few 9s & 10s in there so she was started on insulin. Boo.

JenJam - I have to be in the mood to watch Supernanny. It actually raises my stress levels just by watching it! However, it does put your own child's behaviour into context when you see what it could be like.

novadandypowder - I'm gobsmacked at the Portland & their antenatal classes. That doesn't come across on the telly. I agree that MWs who don't have children just don't have that extra knowledge that mums do. They might know the theory but as we know from MN, that's only half the picture.

Off to have a lovely warm bath. Catch you all tommorow.

Evening ladies!

Why do I always post on here when no-one else is about?!

Nothing much to report from this end. Bought a few bits for my hossie bag, got some newborn pampers for my hosital stay which I've had to resist ripping open to see how cute they are!

Spent the morning at a soft play toddler group this morning with a couple of friends and their little ones. One friend has a gorgeous little girl of 10 months who Joe is madly in love with! He hasn't stopped talking about her all day!

Agree with other mums on here about Supernanny and Little Angels, you just think 'Thank God ours aren't like that!'

On the cat front, mine's really laid back, I'm sure she'll take the baby in her stride. The children are lovely with her though which helps('Be kind to animals' is a set in stone rule in our house - I don't even let the children kill insects!) and she'll lie in the middle of the lawn while they have a football match around her! And if she does ever get fed up, usually when I won't give her anymore food, she hops of to see the man next door! Cats are fickle creatures!

Speak to you all tomorrow

34+1 x x x

Karmamother, sorry you're feeling so poo, but hooray to giving up work! It was such a relief when I finished! How many children have you got? I'm sure you've mentioned it but I must have missed it! And is this one a girl? We're a teeny bit boy heavy on this thread! Not that's a bad thing of course!!

hi everyone..haven't been around for a while as my spd flared up so I couldn't face our office chair!
DP left our laptop in a friends car too..otherwise i'd have been on here ranting as usual from the comfort of my bed..teehee
so not much news from me..unless you want any updates on daytime television..hehehe
sadly DP didn't get the great job he applied for..he's really dissapointed, but it was an excuse to get a nice new suit anyway..hehe.
He has more interviews lined up for next week as he can't bear his current job.
The level of stres and ridiculous hours just aren't worth it for the meagre wage he is recieving.
i've finally been told i can recieve incapacity benefit..yey! i applied at around 22 weeks..it's taken a long time!
Will be nice to be contributing somewhat again!
hope you are all okay..i'm just going to settle down and finish reading the multitude of posts I have missed.

good morning all,
Im after advice again from anyone who is a teacher or has a child in yr2.I think that ds who is 6yrs old has way too much home work,what do you think .Last night he had:-
1 sheet of addition/subtraction
1 sheet of 10 spellings
1 sheet of rap lyrics to practice
1 hard reading book 10 pages
1 easier reading book 5 pages
His reading also comes with strict instructions to only read what the teacher perscribes no more no less.I am now a at my wits end,poor ds is starting to see reading as a chore rather than a pleasure which i hate and he has no time to play or just be a litttle boy!!!
Am i been unreasonable????? in thinking that this is way too much for him???? I am going to see his teacher tonight and could do with advice/support.
His teacher is also the deputy head and not very approchable
twinkle
31+1

Morning all,

twinkle1 , my daughter is in year 2 also (of very reputable London State Primary School with top of the borough SATS percentages), she brings home a reading book each night with record journal so you can write down if/when you read together, they ask that you try & read/listen each night but it's not a strict regime. My son in year 5 gets more, equal to what you have listed for your son, but it's for the whole week. Your son's work load sounds more like my eldest son's.... but he's in year 9...... you're not being unreasonable in the slightest, good grief!
My advice for speaking to teachers (esp. scary ones) is, if you're annoyed, or need to discuss a serious issue.... don't smile (not as easy as it sounds for us women) and don't fill the silent gaps the teacher leaves, ask direct questions with few words and listen (i.e. show that you expect an answer), treat it as a business meeting, avoid any displays of emotion. (Sorry if I sound hard, I have learnt these things over time...it's an art to be mastered!)

I really HTH and good luck, even if deputy refuses to budge on homework policy, you'll have done your best for your son and he will feel your support.

thanks londoner,
I wanted to raise the issue with the school, as it would be easy to just sign the homework book but not do the homework .I am not like that, we enjoy reading in our house and have lots of books but we consider reading to be a pleasurable activity.The kids go to a good school which is small 200kids infant &junior and is generaly very good & family friendly.
Well i shall try and be very calm (not at all pregnant and irrational
will let you know what happens tonight
twinkle