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

[Enthusia]

Right then here goes.

Feel like changing my chat name to Smeagle. Lord of the Rings fans will catch my drift.

Londoner - Your son's bookmark is great Will enjoy using some of those [smug] in the future.

Tessasmum - Thanks for the info. I am keeping a record of everything that is being said. As I have mentioned before 'Everything you say WILL be taken down and used against you'. Think I will go for hiring that TENS machine then, sounds cool.
As for nappies, now that I have a few recommendations will do a bit of browsing and see what's what.

Beks - Thought so. Post no matter how you feel. We miss you

Have just had a drive with DH, a bit of a cry and then a good laugh. My hormones must be everywhere. DH is making us all dinner so will hopefully just spend the night relaxing. I found vegetarian jelly beans in the co-op on way home and am ecstatic!! Aren't i clever?

Sorry just popped on as passing, Nova, hope you know I'm only teasing? Ouch £600 that sounds more painful to me than the actual labour!

So what's a mobile epidural then, I thought the whole point of an epidural was that it numbed you below the waist so you didn't feel the pain or am I missing the point?

Right best go before I offend any one else today!

Speak to you all later Beks

Hi all. Just an update from earlier. Went to see diabetic nurse who reassured me that they would try & keep the delivery as intervention-free as poss. Just did my first blood sugar & it was 5.2!!! Yay! Got to keep it below 8 so I'm feeling a bit optimistic. The only thing is I've been told I must have carbs at every meal which I'm pleased about. Thought it was going to end up a bit Atkins. Anyway, will see the dietician next week who, I hope, will answer the rest of my questions.

On the subject of mobile epidurals at the Portland, is the £600 just for the epidural or the full cost of the stay? I've always wondered how much it cost to deliver there.

Also, for BEKSmum, the difference between a mobile epidural & an ordinary one is they use a weaker solution of local anaesthetic down the catheter in your epidural space for a mobile one. The theory is you lose sensation but not motor function. Having said that, you can still be a bit wobbly with a mobile one so the term is a bit misleading - you still need to have someone at hand just in case.

I had a crap time with my tens machine but that was probably due to the fact that my DH was a physio & erm, "borrowed" one from work which only had 2 pads instead of the obstetric 4 pads. I just found it intensely irritating but in one way it was a distraction. Although not as distracting as having to sit through Countdown in the antenatal ward!!By the time Rikki Lake came on I'd had enough! (this was 8 yrs ago)

Off to gloat in my nomal-blood-sugar-ness. Byee

Karmamother - well done on teh blood sugar
Chacha - how the back today?

As karma said - it's a weaker dose that they top up so theoretically you can still move around, or at least not have to lay flat for the rest of the delivery.

Karma, the epidural alone is £595. To have my baby there with the midwife led delivery service is costing DH £6,500. This is an all inclusive package for a 'normal' delivery. If I end up having an emergency c/section it'll cost an extra £1000, + £300 (i think) per extra night I stay there over the 3 nights already included.

Have spent the afternoon doing a charity collection in the pet dept. of Harrods and have ended up coming back with lots of treats for my cats. Got the kitten a scratch post which has toys dangling from the top and she's loving it .

Hiya, sorry been away for a while

It was the first 'cold' day yesterday...today I feel like rubbish, totally full of cold.

had doc app last week, everything fine, baby head down now

yay

hope everyone is keeping well

xxxx

33+6

Afternoon girls, thanks for the info on mobile epidurals, will have to think about that one some more.

Have had a really great day today as have been wedding dress shopping with my friend and she has bought the most amazing dress I have ever seen. It takes someome with a strong personality to carry it off and is definitely not for the shy or meek & mild bride and she looked absolutely stunning, everyone will be gobsmacked by the dress as it is not what they would expect her to wear and her hubby to be is going to want her out of it in record time!!!

Right best go as have left dh & ds together all dat today and I think the novelty is wearing off!!

Hope you're all having a good weekend Beks.

I actually liked Jordans pink outfit although people slated it as tacky! I like crazy stuff LOL

xx

went and collected my cot today, its lush! im so pleased with it!
Im having a really emotional day today, keep crying etc for no reason and have got a cold which doesnt help. Alex also has cold and is feeling mighty sorry for himself and keeps waking me up really early in the morningsi hate bloody colds and am doing loads of disinfecting/sterilising/and washing everyones towels and bedcovers every day in hope that it passes quickly,which is probably not doing me any good as i feel like ive been run over by a bus im so knackered!

hope everyones having a good wkend x

Liz 31 weeks today!

evening all
Well im feeling very pleased with myself I have just finished painting 3 canvases for the babys room. I have done them to match all the bedding and stuff so i now have a cow,daisies and a milk churn (will prob warp child for life)At least i feel useful,Dh is busy laying floor etc in garage conversion and there is not a lot i can help with.
Anyone have any suggestions on ways to get a good nights sleep???? I would not mind getting up just to use the loo, but im waking up and cannot go back to sleep for love nor money
Plus i think im getting a cold
ok i will stop moaning at you all now,sorry.
Well off to bed,
twinkle
30+2

Seems the sleeping thing is universal Twinkle and I don't have any remedies I'm afraid. I've ended up on the sofa more times than I care to remember recently. I'm hoping that a change of scene will help as we are off on holiday today - a weeks camping outside Bristol, just as autumn arrives
Its a circus/juggling event that we have been to for the past 6-7 years. A good excuse to sit and drink tea/eat cake/catch up with friends and do as little as possible. Even if my sleep is still messed up at night there will be people to around to talk to and I'm hoping that I can sleep a lot in the day too as there will be loads of willing people to play with Tessa.

It will certainly be a test of just how easy our 'easy-to-put-up' tent really is

Have a good week everyone and try not to chat too much, it will take me another week to catch up

33 weeks

i feel absolutely rotten today, my nose is sore now from blowing it, i'm pale and my eyes are red. Was also up all night, coughing sneezing and constant trips to the loo. Having a cold really makes the indegestion worse aswell
Definately not going to work tomorrow, no way!

Hope everyone else is doing OK, not long now

xx

How strange that everyone is coming down with colds at the same time .

Sending you all cyber honey and lemon and kleenex balsam tissues.

Off out for sunday lunch x

thanks for the cyber gifts

i'm off now to try eating something and watch a movie, feel sorry for myself

::skulks off to sofa::

xx

Oh girls, sorry to hear you're all feeling so poorly, how horrible.

Tessa hope you have a great holiday, sounds like Tessa will be thoroughly entertained for the week.

Know what you mean about sleeping I was awake from 4am till 5:30am this morning just thinking about absolute rubbish - why? We could all have had a chat, I was tempted to log on just to see if anyone else was as sad as me!!!

I've just been to Mothercare world and spent a smalll fortune eek, but now have hospital bag bits & pieces and got Ben a new winter coat as it seems to have got cold all of a sudden.

Had friends over last night & had a curry which was really nice, we only get to see them about once a month or so now so it's good to catch up when we can.

Going to pop & see my brother now for an hour or so, so will catch up with you all tomorrow, hope the cyber honey & lemon works for you lot that are feeling rough

i am sorry to hear several of you are feeling shi*e this weekend, i feel dreadful too, have sore throat, feel knackered having spent whole weekend running across the south east, visiting family. am grumpy as hell - a miserable bitch. talked to dp about getting a doula - he is offended/thinks i do not trust his midwifery instincts. poor soul can't do anything right. am overwhelmed with jobs...(removed wallpaper in baby's room and discovered need to replaster...got bloke in friday night and think he is trying to rip us off so now need to get second quote. anyone know a RELIABLE plasterer in north london area? am going to eat comfort food then lie on sofa. hope you all feel better soon

Hello!

Hope you get over your colds soon, Jen, Busy, Twinkle and Pinky!

Hope you have a lovely week Tessasmum, providing you don't freeze!! Hasn't it got cold all of a sudden?

I'm currently upstairs watching Antiques Roadshow, the children and dp are playing some little snooker game and don't want me around watching my boring programmes!

Been to my Dad's for Sunday Dinner and Raspberry Roulade for pud! And the children played non-stop with Dad's 2 springer spaniels, with not a child or dog running out of energy! I fele whacked if I have to heave myself upstairs! Went on my dad's scales too (we don't have them at home) and I'm surprised to see I'm 10 stone 13lbs! I've only put on about a stone and a half! Don't we put on about a lb a week though from now on?

Going to do a final list of things to get for baby/hospital stay tonight, people keep asking if we want anything buying so should get it sorted and also I'm so forgetful at the mo I don't want to miss anything! Thanks for the Arnica thread BTW Busy, reminded me that I needed to get some. Wanted to get some of the 200c potency from helios and someone has put a very useful link on the thread to it - brill!

Want some Lanisoh(?) nipple glue (Well it's not glue but feels like it), some silkwool breast pads and some washable breast pads. Oh and some of those milk collector shield things from Boots, as I always managed to soak through breast pad, bra, t-shirt and through to baby's clothes out of the boob that wasn't being used! Didn't realise what it was to begin with! Any more b-feeding related things you can think of? Getting a electric pump too, and want a couple of the Bravado bras...erm...think that may be it for the boob dept.!

Muslin squares, nappy liners (still have my washables from last time) crib sheets, couple of blankets, cotton wool, toiletries, want my mum to make up some baby massage oil....

Anyone got any more ideas?

Sorry didn't mean to turn this into a post of 'Annie thinking out loud'! Sorry

33+4 x x x

Oh PS Jenjam, I was reading through the posts the other day, think it was when I was having panic attacks about Christmas , and your discription of Christmas made me really smile and look forward to it. Lovely! Well...thanks

Hi all. I'm a bit nervous about posting this as there seems to be a bug going round this thread! Sadly thats one of the lesser known side effects of pregnancy, your immune system is depressed so when you get a bug it takes ages to get rid of it.

Had a very annoying moment last night...did my blood sugar level & it was over 8 for the first time. I was looking forward to seeing the dietician on Wednesday with a perfect record, a bit like showing your homework to the teacher, I guess. When I looked at what I'd eaten (soup & 2 slices wholemeal bread) it came to 60 grams of carb which is way too much for a meal. Can't survive on that! As you can imagine I'm absolutely ravenous for 90% of the time so need lots of sympathy please. Reckon I'll look like Elle Mc-bloody-Pherson by the time I'm due.

BTW totally agree that Jenjam's description made me feel all wistful about crimbo. I remember going "aaarrr, isn't that lovely?" when I read it. Any more little gems like that, Jenjam?

30+2

ughh, havent been up to much today, woke up early again by ds, but he thankfully seems to be getting a little better, unlike me, who in the last hour have just developed weeping eye syndrome!
Went to the car boot this morning, picked up a few good bargains which i was pleased about, mainly stuff for ds for xmas and a few accessories for ds+babys new room.
saw sil as its her bday tommorrow, she really makes me laugh as shes always going on about how skint they are, but theyve just bought a brand new vauxhall vectra and a 2nd car seat for it, also are replastering their bedroom-hmmm,really skint...!?!

bought some lucasade for hossie bag today so i think thats about it,just need to add stuff like p.j's wash bag etc a little nearer the time.

nite x Liz 31+1

Message withdrawn

Morning all

It has taken me ages to read all the posts from Friday - Great to hear all the various experiences of pain relief from those of you who have 'been there and done that' already!!!! Sorry to hear so many of you are feeling unwell!

Well Friday was hectic but great. Spent 4 1/2 hours at my first coffee morning and it was excellent, funny being on other side of fence for once, as all the women there were mums from the school I taught at and the welcomed me with open arms. Had one side of the room trying to convince me to have a c-section and the other a natural birth, it was great to talk to them about the pros and cons too.

In the afternoon also had a great time (5 hours in the pub) talking to friend from working, catching up on all the goss etc.

The middle part was quite scary though as I was driving to try and get some lunch - at 3pm (had breakfast at 7 and a rice crispie square at 11) - when all of a sudden I was sitting in my car in the middle of the road wondering who the hell was beeping their horn. It turned out to be me I had totally lost concentration and was driving down the wrong side of the road, towards and oncoming car, beeping my horn by accident as my hands had pressed down on the wheel. Luckily it was a very slow piece of road with cars parked, so people waiting to go round etc, but It gave the scare of my life. I have never lost concentration when driving before and if it wasn't for the noise of my horn I don't know what would have happened. Anyway I stopped and had something to eat and felt a lot better, but wil definitely make sure I eat regularly etc from now on!!!!!

Saturday was absolutely excellent. The NCT course was brilliant. The teacher brought along loads of props and photos and stuff. The men got to try and fit a baby through the pelvis, whilst we tried to put pictures of a birth in the right order - which was great as you got see exactly what was happening with each contraction - what was happening to the cervix etc. Whilst the men saw just how difficult birth was for both mother and baby. We went through every conceivable position for the first and second stage, and tried them all out - even the very lude ones!!!!! We did breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, the men were taught massage techniques. We were shown how to open up or pelvis and told loads of interesting facts about labour - ie why to twiddle nipples, why being intimate with your partner during labour speeds up the process, what you can do to your delivery room to make it feel more hoemly etc. But as well as all this the teacher also took us through the mental side and got the men together and the women together to discuss the emotional side etc as they saw it to prgenancy, labour and living with a new baby, which was really interestng.

In the afternoon we covered life with a newborn, looking at routines different babies had at different stages, how to soothe a newborn (which including listening to a tape of a crying baby) how the mum would feel, how the dad would feel, sharing of tasks, relationship breakers and makers, how extended friends and family would feel about the arrival etc.

The couples there were also really nice and we met one who we thought were lovely, so the social side was great as well. Would definitely recommend it.

We were also given the chance to borrow books etc, and I have one that lists the pros and cons for every pain relief option, which I though was useful, and one for getting baby into the optimal position for birth.

The teacher concentrated very much on having a positive mental attitude towards the whole birth experience and I must admit it has made me more adamant that I want to try the most natural birth I can - although I am not writing this in stone by any means!!!!!!! So I am just going to go for water, massage, positioning, breathing, focusing, TENs and gas and air. Then if I get there and think 'stuff that' I will change it at the time!

Anyway, better stop rambling on now and let you get to write your own messages.

I'm off to docs this morning so will report back after!!!!

32+3

morning all,ds gave me a little lie in today compared to the past few days-7.30am! he made me chuckle as i bought him a little buggy at the car boot yesterday and as soon as i got him out his cot he ran and grabbed it, and has been madly running around with it since!!dp is not impressed, but im not one for genderising children, and anyway its a blue buggy!

Enthusia- at your near miss with anougher car,hope your ok.
sounds like you had a good informative time at nct course

I was perfectly ok about labour, but recently keep having moments when i think-oh my god, what am i doing???
I planned last time for tens,gas and air and water, but it turned out as tens,gas and air, epidural,near c-sec, near ventuse and episiotomy!
Im hoping to stay at home as long as poss this time watching tv and playing card games to keep me distracted,I would like to use tens again as it was a good distraction from the contractions and will definately be using gas and air again-for those who havent tried it, its bloody marvellous stuff! I was on it for 14 hrs and it was amazing,better than being drunk i thought!
Id also like to use pool/bath this time as i didnt get to last time as i was put on a drip because i wasnt progressing.
I have decided this time i dont want syntermetrine as i feel everything got very rushed, im going to also put my foot down about skin2skin as they put ds on me for about 10 seconds before they whisked him over the other side of room to do his checks and apgar, this time i want the baby straight onto me and for them to check its apgar whilst in my arms.

I really dont want to be induced this time as last time it was horrendous and very painful, i think i would of coped better if everything had happended on its own, but at the same time i want to wait to see how big consultant thinks baby is as i think im going to have problems if its any bigger than ds, my body is just not designed to expell babies that big!

I will be taking RLT from 34 weeks and hope to start perinial(sp??) massage in a few weeks, Im going to try everything in the book this time and am currently researching clary sage and other oils that stimulate uterine contractions, im not sure if theyre safe so i need to do a bit more reading up on this.

well better go as this post is probably quite long now! x Liz 31+2

I've called in sick, and for once I dont feel bad, its not about me anymore is it? I doubt i'll be in tomorrow either, i feel like i've been run over by a steam roller, my tum hurts from all the coughing and sneezing and i feel minging, need to wash my hair and have a nice long soak...but difficult when you feel so rubbishy.

packed my hospital bag (the way i feel right now...could be a good idea LOL) need to get baby stuff together

Pram came last week YAY! and more stuffs coming tomorrow, plus i spent nearly a hundred quid online at boots

just got to get the cot sorted now, but i think dps folks want to sort that out.

Hope everyone else is on the mend...those who arewn't ill...wrap up warm and watch out for idiots that dont cover their mouths when they cough/sneeze in the street, i swear thats how i got infected!!

xx

7weeks and 4days to go to edd!

morning all, hope you are all not too full of cold I feel like i have been hit by a truck, its my own fault as i heped dh install all the plumbing in the garage yesterday (9.5hrs) now i feel like im dying and i think i may be getting a cold.
Yes the weather here has gotten very cold very quickly,it was 5 degrees here yesterday morning.
well must go avon delivery here
twinkle
30+4

Morning!

Good to hear from you Lisalisa, No I'm not erasing you from the list! Although with no 5 on the way (wow - I'd forgotton that!) we'll forgive you for being an occasional poster!

It's great you had a such a positive day on Saturday Enthusia, I bet you feel miles better about things now. I suppose that's what they are supposed to be like for everyone, but that's not always the case, hey Nova! What a scare you had though, maybe you'd just done a bit much that day - hope you are fully recovered!

Well I feel really tired this morning, the baby had a mad hour and a half this morning from 5 til half 6 , couldn't sleep through it at all. Needless to say 'she's' fast asleep now after 'her' over-excertion!

Right I'm going to try and sort baby clothes now so I'll talk later

33+5 x x x