Feb 2011 - The home stretch! Let's see more of those babies :-)

[WanderingInAWinterWonderland]

A shiny new thread for a shiny new year.

Welcome kermit!
I' m v impressed at how organised everyone is. I'm ashamed to say i'm currently doing about 4 years worth of filing to clear the spare room for the baby. I hate it - how many bills etc do you have to keep?
And i'm due in 3 weeks - expect to be late though as was last 2 times - 10 days and 13 days!

Also trying to find out about car seats and airbags - seems to be a complicated issue.
We can just about fit 2 booster seats and a rear facing seat in the back of the car but I think 1 in the front would be easier and safer. The problem is I can't turn off the airbag, it could be disabled by a garage but
it may invalidate the insurance. I have just spent hours on the phone to the insurance company and had to hang up as was left waiting to long to get a definite answer. The claims department said it was OK as long as I sent all the documetation to the service department (who did not answer the phone).
Sorry this is SO boring but I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar problem as we really can't afford to buy a new car?

Meanwhile - enjoy the packing, nesting, massages and lunches - sounds lovely!

worrymummy that's useless re: air bag situation. I was going to get my front air bags disabled for baby seat as we have a small 3 door and thought my back would be twisted too much bending into the back seat but garage were a bit about wanting to do it and made up something about it can be tricky for them (think they just didn't want to IMO). Can't help with the legalities other than make sure you get it in writing if it's OK to do so you have proof if you ever need it, and let me know out of interest what the result is. Could you send them an email rather than wait on hold for ages?

thanks snowangels :) yes I think garages are wary and it seems to be really hard to get a definite answer on this...good idea to email.

Has anyone heard from Prof as I remember she posted a lot and I can't see any recent posts from her?

Has anyone had a baby yet on here?

Welcome Kermit!

I am not quite managing all fours (what are you supposed to be doing while doing this, staring at the floor? I know dh has his own ideas... but everytime I try it when ds is awake he ends up clambering all over me, can't really blame him, poppet.) but am trying to lean forward over birth ball as much as possible or at very least sit bolt upright and not slump back.

No idea if anything is working, something feels like it is up in my ribs now but I can't tell a bum from a head from a foot so lord knows.

Finally finished Ina May book which is very inspirational etc etc one thing I wasn't too clear on is what CAN the hospital make you do and what can't they? Here it is routine to put in a canula, they don't allow eating or drinking. But can I insist they don't put it in this time? And then I'll have to tell them I bloody well am going to eat and drink if I want. But can they kick up a fuss about it?? Very confused. Same re. monitoring, all these books bleat on about the monitoring with belts not being necessary and mw can listen with doppler, but what if they are too busy to do that, do I just refuse monitoring?? - obviously not but I just think its all well and good saying they can't make you do this and they can't make you do that but I'm just not so sure...

Good stuff re. freezer stocking, I will do what i can but we only have one of those little freezers on top of the fridge and it barely holds a week's worth of food mind you once i can eat cured meats again i think i'll be dining on them for just about all of my meals for a few months

Can't help re. car insurance worrymummy, sorry, we have a teeny tiny 3 door corsa but can still fit ds' chair and maxi cosi in the back so don't really need to look into all that. good luck though what a nightmare having to call all those depts!

Afternoon all - hope you are all doing well!
Welcome Kermit!

I feel like ET at the moment...Im walking like him and generally feel like I could be his body double to be honest! Im also suffering with my energy levels & have been told Im anaemic so Im having to take these awful iron tablets. I've slept all weekend and am so thankful that I only have 10 days of work left....I wont miss the commute into the city!

Has anyone else had any probs with anaemia? It does make me worry that my little one may be small or is not getting enough vitamins etc. I hope he's okay in there! Its just with the tiredness I also have no energy to really cook or eat much. I just feel so sick and lethargic.

Some of you may have seen me on the AIBU thread but I chucked my OH out on NYE so I've been on my own since then really. Its been a tough time so that prob isnt helping much either!

Its kind of taken the shine off things for the moment but I cant wait to meet my baby...I feel like I've been preggers forever! hahah Im sure we all feel like that at times though...!

I've got no idea about car seats worrymummy...I still need to figure out what I need. Its just a minefield out there...far too much to consider and Im too tired to make a sensible choice on anything right now!

worrymummy sympathies on carseat issues, this is my 3rd and think we are just going to stick with 2 booster seats and baby seat in the back. Could you move one of the booster seats into the front passenger seat or are you still concerned about the airbag. Putting my fingers in ears about baby moving again, have finally got this one out of its breech lie and I'm just not putting up with it going anywhere apart from out

Met another mum from dd1 school this morning, she had a little boy the week before Christmas, he is beautiful but seems so tiny, he's not but you quickly forget how tiny they are. Girls finally back to school/playgroup today, so a whole 2 hours to myself mmmm what to do???

snowangels glad move going well, my in-laws finally moved last week, its been such a relief, Mr Wiggles has been up every day he's had off, shifting stuff, trying to persuade them to throw somethinig!! anything!! out. You forget how hard it must be - I've moved house loads of times as a child and as an adult, but they have live in the same house since they were married (42 years ago), had all the kids in the house etc, see now my hormones are so all over the place I may make myself cry

ellesbelles sorry to hear that you are having a tough time on your own...brave decision though and I'm sure it's the right one.
When my iron levels were low I didn't take the iron tablets just ate more red meat and also food with vitamin C to help absorb it and it sorted it out. Do you eat meat?
take care of yourself and try to rest - is this your first baby?

What are the feelings about the flu jab?

I had the combined flu jab (3/4 weeks ago), am now 35 weeks.

kermit I'm also due 16 Feb but have a feeling mightn't hold on that long, although dds were both late!!!!

I had flu jab last week.

wiggles your PIL sound like my parents - we have moved into their old house (now ours!) and as they moved out, after 35 years, there was soooooo much junk stuff. I've only ever lived in 2 houses - the one we've just moved into (where I grew up) and the house down the road I moved into 10 years ago after leaving school, so lots of stuff to sort through and not much moving experience. There can't be many people that have lived in the same postcode their whole life [unsure if I should be pleased or worried by this emoticon]

On the subject of prof - did I dream it or did someone say they had pmed her to see if she was OK? Did you get a response whoever that was? I might have dreamt that though

Hi all,
Elle - I've had anemia since the blood test at 28 weeks, luckily didnt suffer from constipation but had the opposite!! I ha another blood test two weeks ago which came back better - could also be due to the fact that Ive been drinking orange juice and eating spinach!! After a few days of intense tummy pains I took myself off them and when I saw my midwife Friday she seemed happy for me to do this and will test my blood again next week. I think the main thing you can do if take the tablets and ask to be tested every time you see your midwife. Also wanted to say sorry ref your OH,I'm sure you've made the right decision for you but it must hurt still.
Worrymummy - I have had the same concerns ref car seat going in the front passenger side as have airbags. My DS sat inthe front seat of myold car until April last year when I changed to a bigger car, I didn't have airbags and really like him being sat in the front with me. I would like new baby to sit in the front but am unsure about having airbags removed. I think garages are unsure due to the legality of it all.
has anyone got any other ideas on what to cook to freeze - I am rubbish with what I can and cant cook and freeze!!
Worrymummy - I've been offered the flu jab twice and have turned it down twice. My own choice, and luckily my DH supports me in it. Was slightly annoyed yesterday when my sister who is due on the same day as me, compared her smoking 20 cigarettes a day to me to not having the flu jab!! i had to bite my tongue.
Hope everyone else is ok. I have only 9 days to go at work and am counting down the days!!

I know what you mean snowangels I couldn't wait to move away from parents/hometown when I was 18, now a sizeable amount of years later I have moved about 10 mins away from my parents, my sister also moved closer and now my in-laws live about 7 mins away. It's like a big, scary, family triangle .

Re prof think someone had pmed her, I've a feeling she may be on the late Jan thread. I've definetely seen her on some threads lately so think all is well.

Hello kermit!

angels so sorry about GD, but hope it means you get an extra scan. I have some info for you from step mum but nothing earth shatteringly different I'm afraid.
How's the new house looking now? Do you feel at home yet?

wiggles that's so lovely about your ILs living in the same house for all that time, made me well up! Must be a nightmare for clearing though! I have the opposite thing to hoarding, I seem to throw things away far too easily and can't bear clutter.
Good to know someone else is brave enough to say they mightn't hold on till EDD, everyone keeps saying to me, 'he won't wait till February' but having never done this before I have no idea, am very fed up with it though and would love him to arrive at 37 weeks.

worrymummy We've had our first birth with jackfrost who had twins. Makes it all very real! I had the flu jab before christmas and so pleased I did, no real side effects other than itchy, slightly achey arm.

ellesbelles hope everything is going well for you, I read your thread on AIBU and you are so strong! I had Floradix in the first trimester to keep my up my red blood cells, it doesn't taste bad either!

delia your DH sounds great! I'd love mine to be a bit more encouraging but he keeps saying he's tired himself.... maybe I should ask him to do my make up

Well, I'm off to polish my halo for all the house work I've done today (back almost back to normal with paracetamol now) although now feel a bit sick and need a nap so that'll teach me This nesting urge is so strong, I'm fighting the need to wash all my suite covers, again! Did the curtains, again, this morning.

I had the combined jab 2/3 weeks ago at 34 weeks. The risks to the baby from the flu seemed greater than the jab so I decided to get it.

angels - glad your move went well. We have nearly moved, now just tidying up the old house. We spent 3 hours cleaning yesterday followed by a couple hours standing in the kitchen at home and my pelvis felt horrible.

We finally bought a car seat this weekend so I think we have everything we absolutely need for the first couple days. Surely there's something really important I'm forgetting that DH will be in Tesco at 2am buying?

I had the combined jab 2/3 weeks ago at 34 weeks. The risks to the baby from the flu seemed greater than the jab so I decided to get it.

angels - glad your move went well. We have nearly moved, now just tidying up the old house. We spent 3 hours cleaning yesterday followed by a couple hours standing in the kitchen at home and my pelvis felt horrible.

We finally bought a car seat this weekend so I think we have everything we absolutely need for the first couple days. Surely there's something really important I'm forgetting that DH will be in Tesco at 2am buying?

ellesbelles, I haven´t seen your thread I´m afraid and I am sorry, even if it is the right thing to do I can imagine it is still hard. Re. iron I take ferplex which is in liquid and its really not that bad.

Something is right up in my ribs today and it is killing me. Am supposed to be working from home this afternoon but am not going to last long sat here at all..

ellesbelles meant to say, haven't read your AIBU but sounds like you've had a really tough time of late. I hope you're OK.

needto glad the back is getting there and I hope you're relaxing now.

americaexpat we haven't yet cleaned the old house but it's not too bad [hopeful emoticon]. But these things always take so much longer than you think.

Speaking of car seats - quick question. Someone from work (who we brought our travel system second hand from) told me we could borrow her isofix car seat base and car seat (which fits the travel system) a few months back (it was a kind of condition of paying a bit more for the travel system than we wanted to - that we'd borrow the seat and base). I've messaged her twice (if not 3 times...) now about if that's still OK and when we can arrange collecting it as time is getting closer and I want to be sorted - pre christmas we agreed that I could do this over christmas hols, which have now passed. Thing is, she hasn't replied to any of my messages. I've offered to buy a new car seat cover so hers won't have any damage/wear and tear from us and I haven't put any pressure on that she has to lend it to us, more of a check if she is still happy to. DO you think she's just disorganised or shall I accept that we need to go out and buy one? Not really sure whether to give up on her or not but I know that we need a car seat or if we have baby early they won't let us go home without it!

angels - do you know what carseat you would buy and would your OH be able to buy one on his own if the baby is early? If so, I'd give her a bit more time - carseats are expensive!

The house didn't seem that dirty when we were living there but it's the bits we don't regularly clean (tops of cabinets and oven) that take the most time. Not to mention the large amount of rubbish and the council hadn't emptied our bin since Nov due to the weather.

yeah we want maxi cosi cabriofix (I think...from memory...). DH could get if needed, but I messaged this lady first about collecting it a month ago so have given her lots of time to reply

Dh just got our car seat out of the loft along with all the other baby paraphernalia, some of the pads are missing though does anyone know where I can get replacements? The ones I've seen on Ebay are expensive! It's for the little maxi cosi one.

Just doing my first laundry load of newborn clothes, they are sooooo tiny They aren't as grey as I remember, some of them actually look really new, so I've decided I can't be bothered to dye them.

Will be back later to catch up on today's posts but just got back from my Growth Scan and my baby weighs 6 lbs 9 TODAY!!!!! I'm only 34 weeks!!!!!!! God help me at full term if it's right! I'm hoping it's inaccurate as have lots of friends told they were having small/huge babies only to come out the complete opposite. Got to go back in 4 weeks time for another scan... Consultant did seem a bit shocked :-s

pdr hilarious.You better get lifting some weights to practice.I am still getting conflicting theories,some mw and drs think its lots of fluid and some think its big baby.
Went for monitoring all ok with tests etc,am on anti biotics for sinusitis which they think are causing my headaches.Was funny cos they sent me to get prescription from the other side of the massive hospital,it was so hard,i could hardly make it back,also parked along way away so walked so much today,maybe it will help me sleep as got none last night.
elleshavent read your thread but poor you.I was a single parent for a long time with 4 dc's youngest was 8 months.I actually enjoyed it once id got used to it.Is ex involved?will he be at the birth?

Thanks all - yes, its been a tough few weeks but nice to have a bit of peace at home now that the useless manchild has gone. Its my first baby and had hoped we could be a proper family but I had to open my eyes some time and I guess its better to happen now rather than things get even worse & he become even more aggressive etc towards me.

I will try some of the things you mentioned for the anaemia ladies. Honestly I could do without the constipation caused by the pills from the doc so maybe I will try and eat plenty of steak this week to boost my levels! My mum also mentioned something called spatone? Not sure how good it is but I'll give anything a try!

I did consider the flu jab worrymummy but decided against it. I've been around so many folk with colds/flu this winter but for some reason I have not caught a single thing...so maybe my immune system is stronger than I thought! haha! I dont know, I just worry about side-effects etc...

snowangels I would certainly keep pestering her - just say time is going by and would be good to know either way so you can plan ahead if you DO need to sort it out yourself. You've been very reasonable about paying a bit extra and getting another cover etc. Good luck!

PDR that is amazing! Im intrigued to know how big my boy is but I dont think I will get any idea until I see the midwife next at 36wks. Try not to fret about the size though as I hear these things arent always completely accurate. As long as baby is healthy anyway...thats the main thing!!

I've tried spatone before, it's really good and doesn't bung you up. :)

hi ledkr...Im not scared to be a single mum and I know I will do my best etc. Its just we have been together for 5yrs and planned the baby...but he was just such a let down. Never paid his way & I knew that in the end he would not help me financially with the baby or help in general. I was falling over with this anaemia, fainting etc and he was bullying me about his dinner not being on the table!

He'll be there at the birth...he says he will change etc...so I will not shut him out completely. But while he is "changing" I dont want him with me...he loses his temper over tiny things & I dont want to be in that sort of set up. Not with a baby coming...