April 2011 - we'll shop til we pop!

[GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh]

Continuation from our old thread here

So maybe this thread we'll see some babies?! And definitely lots more shopping

Hello April ladies - I don't post much because I tend to mn on my phone and it's a faff! But I do read regularly and try to keep up.

Glad there are no major problems since I last posted. Can I ask you all though, how often you are/were seeing your midwife? I'm 30 wks now, I saw mine at 29 but won't again until I'm 34 wks, which seems quite long now it's all getting interesting. This is dc 3 but I really can't remember from last time!

I'm also now under the care of the consultant because my hyperemesis hasn't completely left me so i've lost quite a lot of weight... Hopefully as everything else is ok, it won't prevent me from having the baby at our local midwife led unit.

Labour with my Dd was textbook really, but ds was back to back and quite intense - but I'm not dreading it - to second everyone else, I can't wait to not be pregnant again! Ooh and to have my lovely little baby to snuggle. Not long now though. This is definitely our last one, dh has made the drs appt to start the process of having the snip! Eek!

As I type this my rather large black cat has plonked himself on my bump. Baby and cat are now jiggling around, cat is lookin less than amused!

Sorry I haven't namechecked anyone, there's no room on the phone to scroll up and check names and events, but it goes without saying good luck and great health to everyone.

My friend had her very healthy baby 4 weeks early two weeks ago, so we're entering labour territory ladies... I wonder who'll be first?!

Managed to leave work a bit early. A bath and yummy dinner have made me feel far less hormonal and the headache is finally gone.

DP out at rugby so am lazing in some super comfy pjs with the cats, bliss!

Sounds like some babies have finally got the head down idea! A friend didn't go head down until about 36 weeks, she was desperate as she had a home birth planned. Was all fine in the end, baby finally got in the right position and she had a wonderful home water birth.

Good luck with HR Liv x

Notanother really glad you got things checked out and all is well.

stuffed good luck for tomorrow.

Cycle glad you're feeling better.

I'm pretty exhausted - I think the accumulative load of poorly twins, knackered back, work, and general rushing around flattened me yesterday. I think I need to slow down a bit as I'm only 33 weeks and potentially have another 7 weeks of extreme knackeration ahead of me.

Baby is technically still head down since my scan last week but there has been some snakey activity again so I wouldn't be surprised if it has decided to go horizontal/breech. Again. My consultant said that a baby can and will flip up to 37 weeks so there is scope for all of us with stubborn breechers.

Bra-wise I've been buying some nursing vests and have quite a few normal underwired in giant sizes as well as some maternity bras. I'm a bit of a weirdo about bras and matching thongs, which isn't the easiest to track down in nursing ranges but I've found some nice ones. I'm also going to take myself off to be measured at around 38 weeks. Rigby & Peller have said they'll be able to size me to take into account my massive expansion when the milk comes in so we'll see. It's things like this (and the massive pile of maternity pads in the nursery) that make it all seem quite real.

I'm still in denial. On a plus, I've done all my washing of babygros and bedding so feel quite pleased about that. Just a few little bits and pieces to get now. Next thing is to pack my hospital bag....

SHOTGUN!!

Thanks Lou!

Mat Leave countdown: 12 working days to go!

Ha ha Petal. I'll call whetever the opposite to that is. I'm the tail end anyway, and my other babies were both two weeks late! Plus we have loooooooaaaaaads to do!

Having lots of very strong braxton hicks though, which I've never had before...

Hi all

Good to hear everyone's updates. It does feel that the first birth could be any day now. Hopefully not mine as I'm only 32 weeks.

I've already started mat leave but it's been a rough week so far as DD has been sick with a virus and up every couple of hours through the last 3 nights. So between her and the baby pounding 7 shades out of me I'm getting 5 hours of broken sleep a night if that. Can I just say to all of you about to start on mat leave who are having baby number 1 relish every moment you get to yourself because it is not going to be like this 2nd time around.

On a practical point can any of the 2nd timers tell me the dos and don'ts on mattresses. Due to various mishaps we have 3 good quality cot mattresses. It seems a waste to go out and buy yet another for the baby but I've heard that part of the advice on preventing cot death is to use a new mattress for newborns. Does anyone know if that is right. I know I should just go and look this up on SIDS website but I'm feeling a bit weepy and emotional from lack of sleep and can't face reading up on this sort of thing just now.

On the plus side the garden is full of snowdrops and Spring is coming. A lovely season to be born.

Thanks for all the bars of chocolate

Jaylar - I'll be getting new mattresses for the moses basket and the cotbed. The advice is to get new ones for each child and i'd rather spend the extra money than have the worry.
I remember seeing a discussion on "mattress wrapping" on MN sometime ago (sorry can't remember if it was our thread or a pregnancy one ) it originated in new zealand and involves wrapping the mattress in a type of plastic and drastically reduced their cases of SIDS. I don't have a specific link but just google "mattress wrapping SIDS" and you'll get plenty of hits.

Hi guys wanted to pick your brains re: weightloss in pregnancy.

I weighed myself today at work (old pre-pregnancy habit that I can't stop!) and I appear to have lost around 4lbs from last week, which I thought a bit odd?

Pre-pregnancy I weighed around 10st4lbs and last week I'm sure I was around 12st2lb as I remember thinking I was nearing the "2 stones on mark" but today when I weighed myself I am only 11st12lbs.

I can't quite figure it out, I know 4lbs isn't a huge amount but at 30+4 I would imagine baby is growing a lot and therefore I'd be putting on a bit of weight too or at least staying the same!?

DP and my mum certainly say I don't look as tho I have lost any weight and if anything bump is getting bigger by the day (also measured 1cm ahead at 28 weeks altho doubt this is relevant) Any thoughts would be appreciated. :)

Ooh, Petal, I may be on to beat you.

If they decide on the ELCS baby will be coming on around 21 March! Eek!

MrsWajs I haven't put on that much either. I've gained just over a stone and am now just under 34 weeks. I've certainly not restricted my diet

I have 11 working days left as I have Monday off (hurray!) and am determined to be less moany and depressed! My mum's home from France for a couple of days this weekend so am hoping for mum-time and relaxation :@)

Oh my goodness cycle you might give birth before i even go on maternity leave!

MrsWajas - I wouldn't worry too much, although if you've lost more again next week then I would mention it to your midwife.
I've only put on 8lbs so far at 34+5 and 5.5lbs of that I've been told is baby already - although I was overweight to start with which I think means you tend to gain less.

Petal - I may be queue jumping too! If I have an ELCS (which is looking increasingly likely), then 18th March is being mentioned as a possible date - 4 weeks tomorrow, argh!!

I am shattered today. SPD is really bad and I can hardly walk, I obviously slept in an odd position. 1 more month, 1 more month, 1 more month.....

I know, is way scary and VERY soon. My EDD is 4 April and I had it in my head that if they went for the section it'd be in week 39, but I found out at my antenatal that it would be week 38.

My mode of delivery appointment's not til 10 March either so I'll only get about 12 days' notice! told DP about the possible week of section and he wasn't too fussed (just excited) but this morning he casually asked when they'd decide. When I told him how little notice we'd get he suddenly got all and realised it was actually not that far away.

I'm in two minds about it. If it's the safest option for us both then it's the decision made but it's not what one thinks of as 'birth' when you imagine having babies.

Jaylar mattress issues are to do with all the crap that 'lives' in a mattress i.e. dustmites, etc. Just as if they analyse adult bed mattresses they're ALIVE with stuff, the same goes for babies' mattresses. Plus if a baby has been sick in the cot at any point (pretty likely) then even if you've got a mattress protector some residual gunk may get through. It's not a nice thought.

A new mattress dramatically reduces the incidence of SIDS so I do think it is worth doing, however galling it is to chuck out 'perfect' mattresses. But I think you've just got to look at it from the point of view that they're perfect only to the eye - under analysis and a microscope they'd all be pretty ropey.

I too wonder who will pop first. Definately not me I shouldn't think. Due date of 6th April and I've a gut feeling I'm going to 'go over'.

Wowsers Cycle, looks like you might be the first April popper!

I haven't posted for ages either, busy exhausting myself training my replacement, v annoying to be so damn busy when I was looking forward to a nice wind down to mat leave, but I'm catching up when I get the chance with everyone.

Around weight gain, I deliberately haven't bothered with the scales, I'm enjoying myself so much that I can't be worrying about it - I was on a diet for two years before the BFP trying to fit the criteria for IVF so eff it I say! People are funny though, I'm getting the 'oh aren't you huge' and the 'oh aren't you small and neat' comments in equal measures so who the heck knows.

I'm not due until April 25th but am super tired and seriously wondering about the wisdom/reality of working up to the 1st and, I have a question for the experienced ladies on here also (sorry for constantly doing this, I seem to always have a question....) ...is it normal for your lady bits to feel achy and bruised, along with the insides of thighs? I've had this for the past week or so but my GP says it's just weight of the baby?

Also, I'm having to have a gall bladder scan next week because of high right top of bump pains, anybody else got any experience of that?

So, I'm having a blissful, but achy time of it so far, teeth are gritted but I promise I'm smiling!

PS kit I'm freaked out by the maternity pads too, I could only bring myself to actually buy one pack so far, and then got even more freaked out by the message on teh side of the pack which said 'you will need 600 of these in you first week' or some such - yikes!

I have found it really difficult to get good advise on mattresses, but here's my take on it.

Don't get plastic ones - I don't know about the health dangers/benefits arguement, but would you want to sleep on plastic? It could be really hot in the first few months of our babies lives.

Getting a new mattress for every child - there is a theory that each person has their own baterial, fungal and viral emittances, which can be ok for them, but not for another person/sibling.

It really seems to be a case of looking at the information and making your decision on that.

I had the most evil BH yesterday evening. I was painting and came over a bit wobbley (low iron count had something to do with this) and then the BH came along. Well, bloody hell, they had me on my knees rocking and puffing. DS2's labour then started flashing before my eyes!!!

I've got an appt with the Osteopath tomorrow as I can feel my sacrum is slowly moving. The pain from it is becoming more frequent and I want to sort it out before it gets painful to walk. No great surprise really as it happened with my previous pregnancies.

I can't believe people are going to be having their babies so soon!! I keep giving mine pep talks and telling him he CANNOT be earlier than 40 weeks

Sarah LOL for the 'oh aren't you huge' and the 'oh aren't you small and neat'

I get this too, every day. So far every measurement of the baby at scans and of my bump at midwife appointments have come out totally average! :)

SJ - I haven't had the tops of the legs/fanjo pains, but it's normal. I think it's to do with blood flow. The baby's weight/position puts pressure on the major vessels around there so they have to work a bit harder - which gives you the achey feeling.

Maybe keep and eye out for varicose veins around that area too - don't panic, it may not happen, and if it does, it's very common.

Thaney me too with the measurements! Bang on so far. A bloke said to me today in the canteen 'ooh you get bigger everytime I see you' I gave him the youareaw**ker eyes a bit obviously and said 'yes well that is what is supposed to happen you know' and he grunted a bit and walked off, people are knobs, honestly.

Iliketo ha, frickin veins in my lady along with everything else? Jesus lord how will I cope with the glamour of it all? Will get my mirror out and have a check though, i feel like I want an ice pack in my knickers really. Thanks loads for the explanation though x

One of the consultants here asked me if i am having a baby yesterday! I thought he was joking. I am 4ft 11 so have quite a bump! No he meant it!

Kitty !!! I think we should just start randomly swearing at people who say these things, like just turn around and say 'you know what, f*k off knbHead' and see how they like them apples!

Ps sorry for the swears, think am getting them all out now before I have to be all demure and mumsy...

lol sarahjinx. I put it on FB and all the girls from work were asking who it was. hehe. {evil laugh}

Ha! Given that I screamed 'Motherfing C!' when my fractured wrist was moved without warning in the summer I reckon if I'm allowed to labour the air will go a deep shade of blue...

Mattress wise I'm torn over my pram mattress. It's an eBay second-hand one. The mattress is in a waterproof wipe-clean cover thing. Do I need to replace it?

cycle I do love the odd MoFo C bomb, time and a place for those, defo and they've surely heard worse in the labour room?!

And I have the same question about my Crib, it's my sisters barely used one - her now two year old was to long for it almost straight away, new mattress?

lol @ MoFo C bomb, that really made me smile!

Mattress dilemma - it's up to you. I would, but if it's a case of not having the money to replace them, then there's your answer.

I think other things to take into consideration when it comes to SIDs is a family member smoking. I think it is something like 75% (pls don't quote me) of SID's cases occur in a home where a family member smokes.

You have to weigh up the risks don't you? If you are all non smokers and you have a used pram mattress that is used for an hours sleep a day, is the risk lower or higher than if you both smoked but have a brand new mattress? I don't have the answers, but that is when you have to try and come to the best decision with the information available. The start of many many decision to come

PMSL @ MoFo C bomb! hee hee! I really dont swear very much, but recently the rage has been getting the better of me! I am becoming a she devil I'm sure!! One minute I'm fine the next, I could actually inflict harm on someone! Usually DH, because I see no one else.

I'm offically on Mat Leave (I may have mentioned that already, can't remember ) and started getting BH on Tuesday! Ouchy!!! I did think I might be in Labour at one point!

I obviously haven't shown too much rage to DH, he's booked me in for a Mum to Be spa day at the Peebles Hydro next month. I've never had to many nice treats in my life! guessing we better make the most of it while we can, once Buster arrives we will be poor have to cut back on treatlet type things.

Jaylar did you say you were near to Peebles?

On the new mattress subject, it's quite an emotive subject for me. Friends of our lost their 8 week old son two years ago to cot death. They had done everything right, there was no reason found. I think if there is anything I can do to reduce that risk, no matter how small I would do it. Although, the advice on this website doesn't say you have to have a brand new mattress. Sorry if this is a bit too much, but it's a subject close to my heart.

Right I'm going to go practice my MoFo C Bombing :o!!