March 2011 - The final countdown!!

[1Catherine1]

I hope you all find this thread easily enough. This is the latest list we had on the thread. Keep it updated people - looking forward to seeing due dates turn into birthdays! :)

24/02 Sam26Oscar DC2
25/02 Spilttheteagain pg#1, baby Bobbie, a girl, born sleeping on 09/10/2010 at 20 weeks, RIP xxx
27/02 Muser pg#1
27/02 Mendipgirl pg#2 (DD1)
27/02 StrangewaysHereICome pg#3 (DD 5yrs DD 4yrs) Worcester SURPRISE
28/02 BramblyHedge pg#3, (DS1 4, DS2 2)
01/03 BunderTheBonnet pg#2 (DD3) Kent.
01/03 Snapdragon3 pg#9 (MMC, DD 3, DS 2, 5 MC)
01/03 MummyGeorgie pg#1
01.03 rfata Expecting TWINS!!
02/03 AfterIVF pg#1
03/03 Celia76 pg#3 (DS1 5 & DS2 almost 3)
03/03 cherub59 pg#3 (DS 3 & DD 20months) expecting a boy
03/03 TooImmature2BMum pg#1, BABY GIRL
04/03 Larty74 BABY BOY
04/03 Bluebeach pg#1
04/03 Jeffily pg#3,(DD1 angel baby, DD2 15months)
04/03 Carriebadshaw pg#2
04/03 Superpenguin pg#1
05/03 Hattie05 pg5 (DD1 7, DD2 3, no. 3 mc, DD3 7mths) Baby boy on the way
05/03 NowPanicAndFreakOut pg#1
05/03 Bollandbear (ds1)
07/03 Toota pg#?
07/03 Mixedmama pg#3 (DS1 4.5 and DS2 2.5) London. BOY
07/03 Lauzifer pg#1 expecting a girl
08/03 Clucky31 pg#1
08/03 Polkadottytotty pg#3 (DS1 5.5 and DS2 3.5)
09/03 Sittinghippo pg#2 (DD3) BABY on the way
09/03 Penguindreams #1 & 2!
09/03 Pushmepullyou pg#4 3MC, DD20 mo BABY BOY
09/03 gem3225 pg#1
09/03 DramaMama pg#3 (BABY GIRL) DS now 4 + 1 angel baby.
10/03 EvianBaby pg#2 (DS1 Oct 08)
10/03 Coraltoes pg#1
10/03 Sevenbubbles pg#2 (DD1 23.5 months)
10/03 Mama2LeahandAisha pg#3 (DD2, DD1)
10/03 LovelyKatie pg#1
10/03 spaceal expecting first- baby girl
11/03 Rayeraye pg#4 (DD aged 3, two angels)
11/03 am988 pg#1
11/03 Sarahscot pg#2 (DS aged 3) BABY GIRL
11/03 chny1 pg#1 expecting a boy
12/03 Medee pg#1
13/03 Gemmasetters pg#2 (DD 2.5)
13/03 Doubleshotlatte pg#2 (DD 2.5)
13/03 HeadingHome
13/03 katster37 pg#2 (DS 10mo)
13/03 MJM86 pg#1
14/03 ZafNoodles
16/03 Honeymoonmummy (was Campervanfan) pg#2 (DD born Nov 08)
16/03 Sharu Expecting a baby girl
17/03 KateandEmsMum pg#5 (DD 3, DD 10 Months)
17/03 MrsMullen pg#1
17/03 looblee pg#1
17/03 edeluna pg#1 It's a girl!
17/03 Niknan pg#3 (DS3,1MC)
17/03 Coco29 pg#1 (1MC) Its a BOY!
18/03 EvaLongoria pg#2 (DD 3 on Thursday)
18/03 Oceanbreeze pg#1
18/03 JeelyPiece pg#3(2MC)
18/03 Jenchandler Expecting baby #1
18/03 Purplefan pg#2 (DD 4.5) Baby girl on way
18/03 Rockchick1984 pg1 baby boy
19/03 castlegirl pg#1
19/03 angelbabe1982 pg2 (ds 2.9)
20/03 Kagey pg#2 (DD Sept 08) SURPRISE!
20/03 Haloflo pg#1 surprise
20/03 nancydrewrocked
20/03 1Catherine1 pg#1 expecting a baby girl
21/03 Jupiter118 Pg#2 (DS 3.5)
22/03 NoSleepTonight pg#3 (DS1 5.8, DS2 15months)
22/03 jammiedodger2 pg#3 (DD9 DS6)
22/03 Niamh29, DD1 4, DD2 1.5, DD3 on the way
23/03 Me23 pg#2(DD 5)Baby boy on the way!
23/03 Lozario pg#2 (DS 15 mo)
23/03 Katystar pg#2 (DS 4)
23/03 Lia66 PG#10, (dd 15, ds 13, ds 7, dd 5, dd 3 (4 angels)) BABY GIRL
23/03 sac55
24/03 Snotdroolanddirtybums pg#4 (5, 3 and 2)
25/03 Darnsarfupnorf pg#1 (DD on the way)
27/03 KPidgeon pg#1 (changed by 1 day)
27/03 FuzzyWuzzwuzz pg#1
28/03 Chickiewoo pg#2 (DS 4)
29/03 Emma31177 pg#7 (Ds 14, DD 19 months +4 baby angles) Baby BOY on his way
29/03 PipPipPip pg#1
30/03 pettyprudence pg#1
30/03 JoJoB77 pg#1

copy latest list, paste, edit, post

Medee mine only took 2 weeks and I applied in December and had it before Christmas. They've probably lost the form.

So jealous of all this ML starting!! I really didn't feel like work today and even considered pulling a sickie (which I never do). But I didn't and dragged myself into work, interestingly on the radio on the way to work they said that this was the most likely day for employees to pull a sickie since it was the first Monday in February. Glad I didn't now - I don't like to be predictable.

Glad you all choosing names. I've accidently started referring to LO as Anya in conversation so even I'm failing to keep it a secret any more. It just comes out so naturally now.

Can't wait for my antenatal class tonight but I've realized I've nothing suitable to wear, I suppose going in my none maternity jeans won't look good. They still fit though but are a tad tight if I do anything other than sit on a chair. Anyway, I did no work yesterday so I'm making my lessons up as I go along today. That means I need to plan something for my next class now in my lunch break :(

Hope you are all feeling well and healthy. Speak to you all later x

Catherine I've just finished my nct classes and the women were all in totally different types of clothes - some straight from work and in pencil skirts others in big slouchy jumpers and leggings - didn't matter at all. Hope it goes well - mine was v useful.

It is all getting v exciting. Good luck everyone - not long to go!

that's my fear, Catherine - more hassle than is needed.

Look after yourself Catherine- if you're really tired and need a day off you should take it. I love the name Anya by the way. We're having a boy so I won't poach it!

Success - called back, they have my form, money coming in 5-7 days. Phew! Now, just to make sure my MA is in place before I finish work.

oooh coraltoes you've got me excited to see my midwife on Wed and find out where he's at. I'm also 36!

Medee - glas £££ is on its way, but that's a long time to make you wait!

Random question : has anyone bought a breast pump yet? If so, which brand? I cannot decide! Just napped for 2 whole hours..very lovely but very lazy! xx

Have part sorted baby clothes, but there is a whole bag missing must still be in the loft (guess where DH going) think M basket covers and sheets etc must be in there along with car seat Cosy toes?? Who knows.

Quite full of energy today sure it won't last, but seems advantage of breech position is can sleep for 7/8 hours as much less pressure on bladder.

Breast pumps did buy a avent one but couldn't get it to work ( user error I am sure) then borrowed one in hospital (DS refused to feed and ended up in neonatal - lazy) I then hired one a medela double (moo cow) one. It was great - did 4 weeks at a time on hire, but gave up after 8 weeks as was enough of struggle to bottle feed and medical advice was to call it a day. Am going for another go this time and hoping it works out better! Know lots of others who really liked avent one though.

Hello again. I've not posted for a while so thought I best catch up before I get really far behind with all you chatterboxes on ML!

Am very excited that the top of the list are hitting full term and this thread will get its first arrival sooner rather than later.

I got myself to boots today and bought maternity pads & an array of sanitary pads for afterwards. Also bought some lovely looking under sheet things to pretect the mattress should my waters break in bed. Also got some nappies so I could get my hands on the free changing bag they give out to parenting club members. (If anyone isn't a member & wants one you just go to the store or website, fill a form in and wait for the voucher in the post.)

As you might gather my aim for this week is to pack my hospital bag. Having a few stretching pains low down today and some pain in the pubic bone area so thought I best get organised . I wonder if the twinges might be the baby starting to engage? Am 34 + 1 so possibly a bit early yet.

Hope all are well and others get to start ML soon. 2 weeks 1 day to go for me!

With names, we are still struggling. It feels like the biggest decision of our lives!

jenchandler I've not got a breast pump and don't think i'll buy one until the baby is here. I hope thats not a mistake - any thoughts anyone?

catherine Enjoy your AN classes. My NHS ones started a couple of weeks ago and i'm enjoying them. I wore jeans the first time, a tshirt and skirt second. Casual and comfortable was what was needed when sat on a wooden chair for 2 hours.

I am having the same breast pump dilema - to buy now or wait. I was just recently at a breast feeding course and the midwives suggested beyond a shadow of a doubt a Medela. It's just a lot of money when you don't know how things are going to go, so maybe hire one?

Well now I'm really jealous of all you on ML - found out OFSTED are in on Wednesday and Thursday - just what I don't need right now. Now not looking forward to antenatal class because tbh I don't have time to go and do all this work too. Writing out REAL lesson plans for 2 full days teaching, marking all my books that are well and truly behind - better go... things to do, wish me luck! Its my first ever OFSTED too so don't really know what to expect.

As for breast pump - I got a tommy teepee electric one just because it was on offer and looked compact. I thought just in case I didn't use it in the end I wouldn't be overly bothered. It also got a good review in "pregnancy and birth" mag.

Oh catherine what sh*t luck! So close to your ML as well. I really feel for you. Am so pleased to have got out of school before the call came to us- we were due it and heading for only satisfactory as well. I'll be thinking of you over the next week. At least it is all over and done with quickly now, not the weeks of run up and extra work. Don't let it stress you out too much, remember that they are looking most closely at the management and the structures in place. You might not even get seen and your books might not even be looked at. Of course, best to be prepared in case, but remember that your health and that of your LO are the most important thing.

I had a avent manual breast pump and it always worked well for me. Have to say though that if you are planning to BF you are probably ok to wait and see if you really need it before investing. I did express and try bottles quite a lot with DD (plan being that then DH could feed her sometimes and I could go out!) but it was all so stressful finding the time, her refusing them anyway, storing it correctly. etc, etc. This time I am planning to just BF and not worry about any of that- in fact gave my breast pump and bottles away the other day so really hope it does work out or I'll be most annoyed!

Name wise we have been the same all the way through - if she is a girl she will be either Rosalie Hope (DH's pref) or Esme Hope (my pref)- if either of them suit her that is! A little boy will be Stanley Arthur. Hard to believe that someone who is called that will definitely be here in the next 6 weeks!

Keep well ladies. x

GOOD Luck Catherine! OFSTED - eek! try not to worry too much, I went through my first one last year and wasn't too bad. Was nervous, but still myself and went about my day as usual and it turned out great!

I;ve got an Avent electric pump (can be used manually too). Like Jeffily describes, i have bought it in the hope of DH doing some night feeds. I do know it isnt straightforward though, so keeping fingers crossed bubba likes bottles as much as boobs!

I used an Avent manual pump. It worked well for me and I found it easy to clean and be portable enough for work. I know it might not be the best for everyone but I wonder whether it was because I have a small cup size. It's possible that ones breast shape/size could affect which pump is best.
Meanwhile had a couple of durhhhhh moments today. First was realising I missed a dentists appointment and second was that te ACTUAL birth pool wasn't in the first box as it arrived today.
Have located breastpump, steriliser and Moses basket but cannot find stand. I am daunted by the volume of newborn/young baby clothes we have though.
So things to do now:

Get more pads!
Bed sheeting
Paper pants (size 14 min)
Pack bug out bag
Moses basket stand
Paint DS's room
Plant tomato seeds
Fennel tablets ( increase milk supply)
Nipple cream
Ikea! (boxes and DS's new room)

Also has anybody done milk donation? I'm curious as would like to try it this time round.

What is milk donation Geeklove?

Is everyone here breast feeding or is anyone going straight to bottles?

Just popping in to say hello as I realized I've been silent for a while! Hope everyone's doing well as our big days approach.

I was a little confused and disappointed after my MW appointment last week. The MW at my antenatal class at UCLH indicated that despite my monstrous fibroids (12cm), I could still have a water birth. I had pretty much ruled it out, but hearing this got me excited. Then when I ran it by the MW at my 34-week appointment, she said the birth centre wouldn't take me and I'd probably have to go to the labour ward because of the risk of bleeding in the third stage. I'm going to speak with the person in charge at the birth centre and see if I can find out for sure. I don't mind going straight to the labour ward if it's the best/safest option, but the idea of a water birth is just so nice.

I am definitely planning to exclusively breastfeed. I'm looking at the Medela Harmony manual pump, which a nurse friend of mine recommended. I think Boots has it on offer at the moment, so may swing by there tomorrow so I check that one off the list. Was told at my breastfeeding class on Sunday that if you're breastfeeding, you shouldn't introduce bottles for the first six weeks, but I want to have the pump to hand just in case I need to express; then I can then freeze the milk for later use.

Also sorted out my TENS machine today; it should arrive in a few days. So exciting!

Niamh feeding reserving judgement, but if it goes as tits up (pardon the pun) as last time will probably move to mixed or bottle feeding quite quickly. DS seems to have not suffered tbh apart from initial drop from 7lb 3 to 5lb 10 at day 4 - is now 50th centile 4 year old. Would be nice to have a baby less lazy than he was though (live in hope)!!

Catherine I just wanted to say good luck for Ofsted - the last thing that you need right now!!! The last ofsted that I went through I wasn't seen at all - which was possibly more annoying than being watched because of all the detailed lesson plans and stress etc... Will be thinking of you though!

Hi to everyone else - we're so close now!!
5 more working days for me - only 3 of which are with the children... not that I'm counting!!!

I bought a Medela pump and will be using it for this 3rd baby so spread across 3 babies has not been that expensive.

One thing I really liked about it was that I found that over time (I BF both my other 2 DSs for the best part of a year) the breast shields deteriorate (this is the bit that attaches the pump to your boob!) and it can a bit distorted meaning it doesn't pump so well. You can get spare breastshields quite cheaply online, and can also get the right size/rigidity for your boob rather than the "one size fits all" mentality...

Would also recommend the storage bags - and you can store in small 1-2oz sizes or larger in the freezer, and then you will be able to make up whatever the appropriate size feed is as your baby grows without ever having to pour any of the precious white stuff down the sink (which is demoralising if it took ages to express!). DH always jokes about the freezer full of "mini milks"....

And go automatic with your pump - with practice baby can feed on one side whilst you pump on the other AND watch TV!!

KPidgeon
There is a milk bank at Birmingham Womens Hospital for sick and premature babies and they are always the lookout for donations. I think that your baby has to be 4 months or less otherwise your milk is not suitable for newborns. I will check with the midwife though.

Also this assumes I will have a big supply like last time.

I have the avent manual breast pump and always found it fine. Don't think theres any rush to buy them, because you're supposed to breastfeed for the first 4 weeks to ensure baby gets used to it and your supply is steady. So may be worth waiting.

Catherine - good luck with OFsted! - poor you.

Tube users - my friend was telling me the other day, that she is always afraid to offer pregnant people a seat in case she's wrong - as she once witnessed a v embarrassing situation involving non-pregnant person being offered a seat and getting very offended. I know it sounds crazy to us who are pregnant, but i know what she means, i never assume anyone is pg until they tell me for fear of offending.

Coraltoes is this your first or subsequent pg? I've been engaged since about 34 weeks i think, and was hoping it might mean an earlier baby, but i've become really confused now as apparently first babies engage early, and subsequent ones don't (this is my 4th) - so does that mean we could be early? who knows! heads about 3/5ths engaged apparently and boy can i feel it! Needed a sit down this afternoon whilst i could feel the head grinding in the pelvis and babies bum swinging left and right in my stomach. then up jumps my four year old, my cat, followed by my one year old all for cuddles with mummy when i least needed it! i was in so much pain and trying to grin and enjoy their company.

congrats to all those starting maternity leave! i'd forgotten about newborn hats so off to buy one or two tomorrow - thanks to whoever reminded me about them in this thread.