Due late Jan 2011 - come and join us in the countdown...

[BubbaAndBump]

New trimester, new thread. Here's to us becoming grumpy, impatient, fat and uncomfy while counting down the days... :o [hhmm] :o

Pootle - how funny, I can't believe that he passed out. :)

We've had two NCT classes today, DP is really enjoying them and says he is learning lots, is really pleased I told him we were going.

jjkm - fab news about the twins, so pleased that they are doing well.

Welcome Kelly

Going to go to the office tomorrow, having WFH all last week and only having 12 working days left I figured I ought to!

WOW - I am sooooooo behind on my posts aren't i!

Firstly - Knackered* - congrats - fab news.

And stars WOWOWOWOWOW what a worry with snow - and so pleased Elias and mums are doing well.

bubba sorry about the funeral. your poor friend - how sad - at least she has you to turn to.

and flora so so so so so pleased about "little" flora - maybe he/she can borrow some of my boy's giant legs...

jjkm hurrah for the twins. When are we going to know their names :)

Love the passing out story pootle brilliant....

Kelly - lovely to see you.... keep us posted on the "tiny one" is it your first?

Me - I'm in Devon finally, afetr panics about snow - although had very very relaxing weekend with friend and bought a 2taking baby home from the hospital outfit". I feel like I'm carrying a basketball rather than a baby. Missing DH dreadfully and had awful nightmares in the last week or so.

And had another "odd" conversation with mIL - she thought she was coming down when i had contractions even though i thought we had covered that in previous conversations - then DH says "Oh, would it be that bad?" Grrrr... so finally agreed we'll take it as it comes, and if I feel comfortable enough, she'll come a few days afetr birth - if not, a week after it.

Oh - and on the plus side - re-counted nad i only have 7 baby blankets - not 8 ha ha!

Can't believe the babies are comign already - i'm secretly pooping myself about labour - but I know (i know) the end result will be worth it!

Have a full week lined up for me - school for final bit of assignment, midwife and week afetr dentist and anaesthesiologist and then the week afetr growth scan and then Christmas! And then (at some stage - the birth!!!)

Elias is doing so well - he is now 3 days old! He is off antibiotics, off CPAP, off monitors, and off phototherapy!

He is having just under an ounce of milk every 2 hours, and he had half of a feed from a bottle today - what a good boy :)

He also opened his eyes for the first time today and as he's off all his wires we got to dress him in a sleepsuits - yay!!

Haven't spoken to doctor yet about when he gets to come home, but I've heard from other parents of premmies that it's usually when they're totally off the nasal-gastric tube and having every feed from a bottle.

Thanks for the offer Cupcakes but I'm quite happy with a littleish baby . I am 5'1" and DP is 6'1", so the short-arsitude shows my genes are mighty. Sorry to hear about your MIL; she sounds like hard work.

The friend who I was buying for yesterday actually gave birth about an hour after I posted! Pretty chuffed with self for being quick off the mark posting the pressie.

We washed all Tiny Flora's tiny clothes today. We hadn't put them all together before and were sure we hardly had anything, but it seems DP and I have both been spending crazily snapping up bargains and he has 26 outfits . I think that's plenty to be going on with .

God, I don't check for a couple of days and loads of news. Big congratulations on the excellent progress of the twins JJKM and what a fantastic labour story stars. How exciting and such a quick labour too. Hope mine's like that. I'm pretty terrified tbh.
Hey cupcakes my mil is coming to stay in the first week of Feb and has already booked tickets even though i said i wanted at least first 2 weeks with baby just the 2 of us so if I end up going over (due 22) then she could be here when i get back from hospital :( as they let you go 2 weeks over don't they .
Luckily my mil is lovely but still I just wanted us to have that immediate post birth time. STill, lo might come early so all okay.
Had my babyshower on Saturday which was lovely. Got some lovely presents and now have to go and wash everything but will wait till i'm on maternity leave i think. Ooh so exciting, I wonder who will be next to go into labour. Hopefully not till we're all ready anyway. :)

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

This certainly is my first, ive never been the maternal type, never really wanted kids, but here i am almost 35 weeks and suddenly single.

Im taking the ignorance is bliss approach, midwife offered those birthing classes, I said no thank you, all I need to know is that you know what youre doing, and will give me drugs when i ask, if you do that, i`ll do what im told, when im told. She said, oh I like you, I wish they were all like you

Ive not read the half a rain forest`s worth of crap literature i got in the bounty pack, and im not interested in seeing videos either.

So, here i am, one very grumpy, uncomfortable, suprised to be pregnant 30 something, although having said all that, im a bloody brilliant baby shopper, ive got everything and then some, but if my chap is going to be small, then all of the fab clothes ive bought will be far too big, which means im gonna have to go and buy tiny baby stuff, but i think i can manage that

kelly - I think it's FAB your so positive - and i've red random bits - and it's scared me! My friend gave me her old NCT folder - and now I know what the different shades of poo are that I need to look out for so looking forward to that one - think i'll pass that onto DH to check the poo colours with... ha ha!

flora I think I have as many outfits as you - even if my baby ends up throwing up every day on himself - I don't think i'll get through them all - and i think i only picked out about 30%! Bloody MIL!

When's all your mat leave starting - mus tbe soon right girls???

I'm spending rest of today sorting out all the crap baby stuff my MIL bought, and trying to squeeze it, and all my stuff in my mum's spare room!

I am the last one due to give birth - in theory? My EDD is 30th Jan.

Cupcakes - 30th is a very good day, tis my birthday

I finish work on Christmas Eve, which by my calculations is 11.25 working days as I'm having a nice long weekend this weekend.

Anyone else having trouble sleeping at the moment? I can't get comfortable, I get heartburn, I wake myself up - get a drink and then give the baby hiccups, poor DP is ever patient with me. The man truly is a saint.

Congrats stars and welcome kelly. Great to hear you and twins are doing well jjkm keep us updated.

I've got really behind with getting everything organised having been ill and then snowed in for the best part of last week. I don't have any outfits OR nappies, so really need to sort that out as I want to pack my hospital bag and I'm missing a lot of key essentials!!

Great news on the scan flora I hope that has given you a bit of peace of mind.

cupcakes I think you've got to be really clear with MIL what you want, sounds a bit OTT to come as soon as contractions start!! I'm not sure I'm going to tell anyone until we're actually going to the hospital.

Three weeks until maternity leave starts, woo hoo!!

Wow, I go off the internet for a while and suddenly it all gets interesting and dramatic! :)

Not much has changed over here. I'm still exhausted, and am having issues convincing the government that unless I can get a job I can teleport to, that is entirely done sitting down, and that requires at most three unpretictable hours within the day for an unpredictable number of days per week of being cognitively usefull, that working really isn't an option at the moment. But hey ho.

Oh and my mum said over the phone that she doesn't want to come visit us at the house (cos DP and I are living in sin, dontcha know) but that her and my dad, and both grandparents on mum's side, all want to come down on the same day (practically across the country) and meet us in town. A few days after DS is born. In January.

Having been told by several friends that this is stupid and to not even consider it, I'm thinking I should tell her they can come to the house within a couple of days of the birth, or I can meet them in town possibly two weeks after, but that'll be subject to how I'm feeling at the time, so unless they're coming to the house they won't be able to get advance train tickets as I can't promise I'll be up to going anywhere. (alternatively they can all just not come down at all, but I'm not going to suggest that.)

Some bad news today.

Good news first - he is out of his incubator, into open crib with absolutely no monitors on him.

Bad news - he has to get the hang of this feeding thing. He is on just over an ounce every 3 hours, but so far isn't getting the hang of sucking. He sucked for over an hour today and only managed a half ounce

The doctor came by and said 'Yep he's a boy, so 2.5-4 weeks, probably closer to 4 until he's ready'. So in all probability he won't be home for Christmas.

I'm really upset today, feeling very jealous that all the other mummies get to take their little ones home just after birth, saw a few leaving today in their Maxi Cosi's and feeling right sorry for myself Sorry for the downer. Hope everyone is doing well.

Hi ladies - very crampy and uncomfortable today :(

cupcakes - your MIL sounds like a nightmare! Why would she even want to be there while you're having contractions???! Not my idea of fun!

ryuk your mum doesn't sound much better, but in the other direction to cupcake's MIL. I certainly think you stick to what feels right for you, and meeting in town is just mad with a brand new baby. 1) baby is unlikely to be in enough of a feeding/sleeping routine for you to know what time is good for him/her and you to be out. 2) you're unlikely to be dressed for the first few days! PJ-arama in the first few days. 3) that idea is just mental. Lots of thoughts about how silly your mum is being, but can't put it into words!

Poor you for feeling grumpy kelly - I feel grumpy and mine is planned and expected, but feck me I'm uncomfortable today, so I'll join you in the grump-fest today :)

And poor you stars for not being able to take your little boy home yet :( - I can't imagine how frustrating that must be, especially if you had your hopes up earlier. But he's in the best place for him right now, and you'll have years and years and years to play and dote.

stars The main thing is to get your little boy healthy and putting on weight - and as much as it would be lovely to have him home for christmas - they'll be plenty - and technically he wasn't even due to be here at Christmas, so think positive! And he might surpise you?

Running yep sleeping badly - either have amazing night sleep OR wake up for 3 hours and only get about 4 hours sleep. ugh. Although i'm secretly loving not having DH around so i can have whole bed to myself.

yep bubba's right ryuk - maybe my MIL and your mum could meet up and swap horror stories of selfish children - but all the advice I have had from my long suffering friends, when I whinge about mad MIL - DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU. don't be beaten up into somethign and agreeing to somethign and regretting it later. As for the job - bugger if I know - but poor you!

Off to midwife tomorrow - so I might finally get my Mat B1 form or whatever it is I need to get my £190!

Oooh zippy - i started my "hospital bag" (actually a mini suitcase) - i'm struggling on snacks. I have all my lip balm/mini shampoo bits packed - and the most hideous pair of button up PJs. Awaiting my 2 nighties for giving birth in... can't decide about taking a pillow - feel it's OTT... but

Not too uncomfy today - but it's a bit icy round here - and just come back from pub quiz so had a slow walk home.

bubba - how are your other kids... are they making mummy lots of cups of tea - or helping mummy fetch things? Let's hope tomorrow is a less uncomfy day for us all!

Grrr.... email row with husband, and it's taken until now to stop crying! I'm sick of it all today - I just want to lock myself away with me and the bump and ignore everyone til the baby arrives.

Sorry. Just feeling very for myself!

And also - sick of advice now - my mum keeps going on about swaddling and the sleeping dream-pod bags being useless - and i keep saying - I can try them and if it doesn't work, i'll try swaddling... and they all go on about how it's stupid to keep baby in room for 6 months - and i keep saying - we'll see how it goes. But really - i'm bloody 33 and I know this is my first, but surely I can figure it out a bit as I go along and don;t need to make every poxy decision now???

GRRRRRR sorry - sick of EVERYONE. thank god for having a rant on here! At least if we all decide it's my hormones, that's OK... but how dare DH write in an email it's my hormones. he hasn't seen me for 2 weeks - and know all the crap i;ve had to put up with!!!!!

Poor you Cupcakes - it's not only family who give (well-meaning??!) advice, you'll find yourself wheeling your gorgeous bubba through the streets and some old biddy will come and tell you you've wrapped her up too warm or not warm enough etc etc

Apparently we pregnant women and new mothers are free game for everyone's advice. Can be hard to deal with, especially when hormental

If you can, arm yourself with the SIDs advice on baby sleeping in your room for 6months - scientific evidence is helpful. Also - why does it even bother them?? Are they planning on snuggling in with you instead and are worried about being put out by baby keeping you awake? :o

OMG, just seen your DH called you hormonal!! - they may well think it, but they def. shouldn't say it, and they bloody well shouldn't write it down!!!! Some men are complete divs at times - poor you :(

cupcakes poor you, you are allowed to BE hormonal - but not to be TOLD you are. Its hard being pg!

I agree with bubba ignore them all everyone has loads of 'great' advice but your baby will like what it likes and you will do whatever is best because YOU will know your baby best.
FWIW DS1 detested being wrapped up DS2 loved it and both of them were in sleeping bags - i'm reserving judgement on this one!

The best thing I was ever told and the one thing I will pass on is to store baby wipes upside down as it keeps them moist! the liquid runs to the top instead of the bottom and when youturn them back round and open them seeps back through making them all lovely again and not dry! Excellent advice!!

cupcakes - hugs for you my dear, I can understand where you're coming from - sometimes I do wonder if people think we're completely stupid. I've already told DP that we're going to make mistakes, and some people will tut but it's our baby and we won't always make decisions that everyone agrees with.

I truly am counting down the days at work. I really am uncomfortable sitting on the office chairs now and getting silly backache.

Ryuk, your family sound a bit bonkers too, you can't be taking a new baby out into town on a whim.

FWIW, this is my random family story. Parents are divorced, my Dad lives 150 miles away and is remarried. My baby is the 8th grandchild he and his cow of a wife will have. He's spoken to me twice since I got pregnant. It's not that he disapproves, it's just that he's ambivalent, and his cow of a wife makes life difficult for him when he sees my sister and I. The sad thing is that our brother died last year, and I really thought that might bring about a change in his/their attitude but it hasn't.

Finally, Stars, sorry to hear Elias is not quite there on the feeding front but 4 weeks isn't long to wait now and it's wonderful that he's doing so well.

running poor you - losing your brother and having a dad you feel like you cannot see as much as you'd like. Do you see your mum? And I know your DH/Dp is always in Sweden and running around - so I know it's not just me in a crap situation. And backache and works sounds horrid... roll on Christmas

Saw midwife this afternoon for appt, and had HUGE chat with ehr - and feel a hell of a lot better. I came back and spoke to mum about the whole baby in my room thing/gro-bags, etc. And just said (politely) lump it. But think i'll just do a bit like you from now on bubba and just kind of politely smile and ignore it all!

And Dh - spoke to him and mostly sorted the whole MIL issue. (mostly )

On the midwife front - she thinks the baby might be bigger than it should be - not sure if it's somethign to do with the long legs, btu she said that cos I already have a growth scan organised for the 21st that should be able to shed some light on it. She thinks I might be 33 weeks rather than 32... which means DH mgit have to change his plans, but no need to ponder that yet.

Thanks girls though - for making me feel better.

Oh - and ladybuzz fab idea about wet wipes.. ingenious!

Glad things are looking up cupcakes - if you're due 22nd (I'm due 21st), then you are 33 weeks (and a half!) so get your MW to check her dates...

I had an appt today too, and MW thought bump was head down , but I told her I loved her if she was telling the truth so she said for me not to get my hopes up too much! Trying not to get too excited. I have an appt with the docs at the hospital on 22nd, think they'll be able to make a more informed decision then...

How's the little one doing stars?

Ladybuzz - where were you for the last three and a half years of dried out babywipes??

Aww bubba I really hope she was right!

cupcakes glad you are feeling a bit better, it can really confuse you when people give their pearls of wisdom but you will find the right way for you.

The babywipes thing however is the best advice ever and it means you can buy them when they are on offer and not waste money

Hey bubba I had an appointment today too. My measurement was 32 so that was good as at least it has grown. I was worried it seemed a little small but seems to be okay now. You are due the day before me bubba!

Anyway, my GP said I needed to get the flu vaccine as they had received a memo or something. I said i had swine flu 2 years ago and he said it didn't matter i needed the jab anyway. I decided I may aswell have it and luckily it didn't hurt :) Has anyone else been told this?
Doc also said baby was head down but I guess it could still all change as it is moving around a lot.
On the downside I might have a urine infection so need to do more samples :( Already weed all over my hand once today! Can't see anything anymore.

You've just reminded me that they didn't measure me!!

Though they did say it felt like a big fat bugger

I haven't been offered swine flu or flu vaccine but think it might vary depending on where you live: I'm SW London - whereabouts are you based?

So do I LadyB!! Have to say though, the big lump sticking out next to my bellybutton every evening feels very head-like to me, though she did have a good rummage and knows the issues, so I'd be surprised if she got it wrong at the time.

I only buy sainsbury's little ones multipacks, which are cheap as chips (well, cheaper in fact :o)

bubba - my growth scan is 21st Dec - sorry forgot to put that in...

Feeling better and less hormonal wobbly tonight.

I haven't been offered flu - but didn;t ask - and i'm Devon.

I have a big multipack of sains "little ones" sitting in mum's bathroom.

Also - MWife mentioned baby movements and said if i don't feel 10 movements by 6pm - i should contact her as could be sign of distress - is that usual? I mean the baby moves a hell of a lot, so not worried - but i think on top of whole growth thingy, i was a bit well... you know.

Love the lumpy belly button feeling! Am i wrong for really enjoying that???!