June Just around the corner now...

[petitech]

Will this be the final thread?!? I somehow think not, with more and more people starting on maternity leave, we have time for a good few more methinks!

Joannezipan - we had all the hoses and connector taps for our birthing pool but DS was 11 days early and we'd not even thought to check the connector tap fitted our kitchen tap which to DPs disappointment - it didn't so whilst I was upstairs with the midwife, he was downstairs filling up the pool with lots of washing up bowls worth of water! You will need a semi decent water/bath thermometer as the water has to be 37degrees before you can get in. xx

jasmine I'm in that area and as far as I know, Kingston, St George's & St Helier all seem to have similar reputations so I'd go wherever is nearest to be honest. I've done a tour of the delivery suites & midwife led units at St George's and seemed clean, friendly & well-equipped to me but I've also heard good & bad things about all 3 - I think people have very varied individual experiences. So wherever is closest would probably be best in a hurry!

Citizen is Kingston a MLU? I cant make it out from the website. I think a MLU would take one look at my notes and freak out so it would need to be a full consultant led unit which I think would be Epsom?

Star how exciting...good luck!

Jasmine i think kingston is consultant led but don't quote me on that..its a new big shiny unit. Epsom is def consultant led, that's where I'm booked in - it's a lot smaller than the facility at Kingston but much nearer to where I live..

Do let us know how you get on with the nappies Perpetualprovocateur - never tried those ones.
Everyone said that to me too joannezipan - it's just about finding a good system that works for you and getting into the habit.
I honestly don't find it a hassle - some extra washing of course, but you really do get into a good rhythm with it all, and it is very very rewarding to see fresh clean nappies on the line, knowing that you are saving a fortune.
It's also nicer to know exactly what is next to your baby's skin

Well, the midwife said the baby is DEFINITELY head-down and DEFINITELY OP so I'm ok with that.
I would prefer not to have another back-to-back labour but the main concern was the possibility of breech so I'm really relieved about that.
I'm not going to stress about the OP-ness - maybe my pelvis is just more comfortable for them that way, who knows.
I'll assume the Christine Keeler pose where possible, and use the birthing ball but I'm not taking it any further than that, and am just going to forget all about it.

Heartbeat still in the middle of the slow/fast range apparently so no sneaky inklings about boy or girl either

Joanne - hmf at the nay sayers - you'll prove them wrong! BTW I can recommend Nature Baby care nappies, these are made from corn and you can get them from Boots and Tesco. I have them to start off with before I switch fully to cloth.

Barbie - lovely to hear from you, glad all the exam stress is out of the way. How long have you to wait for your results?

No news from Moufflon, hope she is okay

Got a 'phone call from Baba me - they have now taken my credit card details(for the P&P) and my free BG is on the way!! Woohoo!!

Jasmine, I've heard good things about Kingston, which has a MLU, but also other maternity services. Have a look here: www.kingstonmaternity.org.uk/.

Millie, it sounds like the natal hypnotherapy worked, for better or worse! I like the idea of zoning out, especially as I will (hopefully) stay at home so won't need to transfer to hospital. I didn't get the set of four disks, as it is a bit late to start the pregnancy relaxation CD, and I don't think I'll want to do the postnatal CD, so I just bought the home birth preparation CD (which I haven't listened to yet) and the birth music CD. I'm not sure whether it will work for me, but I thought it couldn't hurt!

Joanne, DH and I had a talk about the accessories for the birth pool and decided to order them even though they were a bit expensive. Our main concern was emptying the pool after the birth, and we really didn't want to have to worry about hauling away buckets of water with blood and bits from the birth! If you do decide to order the accessories, you can use that NCT code (NCT12) to get 15 percent off here: www.nctshop.co.uk/Eco-Birth-Pool-in-a-Box-/productinfo/4302/.

I promise I'm not on commission for the NCT, I've just bought loads of stuff off of them with the discount, which really helped!

By the way, in case anyone doesn't get the e-mails from Mothercare, here's the latest round of vouchers I've received: www.mothercarebabyandmeclub.com/vouchers/2_Vouchers_EMAIL.pdf

Yay for the head-down baby, Sasa!

Perpetual - keep us posted re. the nappies!

sasa - thanks for the advice re. tumble dryer. I need to get my head round the different nappy types now - job for later this week! And congrats on head-down baby! What is OP??

Moog I very geekly did a washing test as I don't have tumble dryer either...my findings were that terry squares dry fastest with the pocket ones second and the all in one nappy and extra paddy bit a very distant last! Some of the add in extra bit for big wee occasions take forever to dry. I haven't done a cotton vs bamboo test as we didn't manage to get any bamboo ones from the NCT sale. But as they are more absorbent I expect they take much longer to dry.

Haha - excellent Joanne am VERY impressed by your geeky findings - thanks for sharing the info!

jasmine I'm sure Kingston has consultant led too - it's a big hospital. I haven't been to look as it's a lot less convenient for us (esp as we have no car) but I know it's a popular choice locally.

If anyone is still stuck for names or wants to check how popular their choice is here is the link for you

Thanks perpetual - just hired mine :)

millie I'll try to bear that story in mind when it's my turn!!

Congrats sasa on your non-breech baby and star on your baby arriving next week! How exciting :) I reckon there might be a few of us popping from next week on!

Just had my line manager at work email me to say he can't do my appraisal (which I have to do to pass my probation) until the week beginning 27th June. PMSL - I emailed back and said that should be fine as long as he brings plenty of hot water and towels! EDD 26th! Don't think I'll get one now until after ML. Hopefully that won't matter....

3 days of work to go ... 3 days of work to go ...

Haha joanne I love it. I have also been met with some pretty negative comments from some friends of mine when it comes to cloth nappies. I think it just one of those things you get used to doing and it becomes part of the routine? At least that is what I am hoping.

jasmine my friend very recently gave birth at Kingston. She said they were very good and she had a few complications along the way. I have heard not so good things about St Georges in Tooting but I don't actually know anyone that has delivered there.

perpetual Thanks for code for the NCT. I'm going to have a look at the multi pack you bought.

sasa so glad to hear that baby is head down. I was of the same opinion as you too that I shouldn't worry too much about the back to back thing.

moog if you get your head round the nappies before me please let me know :)

Oooh cross post kara. Our daughter will be Isobel Edith. Quite surprised that the first spelling of the name is 25th (Isabelle), then 59th (Isabel) - guessing that the Isabella's (in 13th) will mainly be nn Bella, as that's popular now, and Isabella seems to be going up in popularity while the Isabelle/Isabel/Isobels are going down - so I'm treating it as a separate name! Our spelling is 81st, on a hasty counting - so not as popular as I thought. And Edith nowhere to be seen :)

Can't believe it says 1/5 parents regret the name they've chosen! That's sad :(

woo reached 37 weeks today! three weeks till baby crazychic! lol! Went back to the doctors this morning to get the results of my latest blood test and the doctor wants to speak to a specialist about them - not good but have no idea what he needs to talk about!

Also found out that i have another medical ailment which im not going to go into detail about but the doctor said it cant be treated before the baby is born and it might mean that i have to have a cs which i am not best pleased about because it is one thing i really did not want to happen!:(

How exciting Stargirl!! Are you all prepared then?

Sorry to hear that Crazychic, I hope you don't have to have a cs. Didn't the doctor mention what he wanted to check with the specialist? Way to make someone worry waaay more than is necessary!

Can't believe so many of us are having babies already, I've got a whole MONTH :(

Someone mentioned that they're an aromatherapist (sorry can't remember who it was ) Do you use certain oils during labour?

Hello Everyone,

Haven't read through yet, will take an hour or so so better put the kettle on first

I am 37 weeks on Thursday and getting a bit nervous of how close my due date is! The cot etc are still in boxes but at least its been said that they are definately being asembled Friday - have roped in unwilling volunteers!

Haven't even packed my hospital bag yet, I think I am in denial! Better get sorted soon though, keep getting awful stabbing pains in my cervix, they make me squeak out loud lol

Hope you are all well

(PS, its LJG with a new name, discovered a few family members on here!! But hopefully they wont be nosing in here...!)

Joannzipan LOL at your geeky nappy testing - sure you should be getting paid handsomely for such research!

Jasmine I'm south-east London so I'm afraid I don't know much about Kingston etc, though I have a feeling I've heard good things... let us know what you find out.

I'm a bit peed off right now, as midwife appt this afternoon revealed she has now turned a bit back to back - midwife said she could feel knees up front. Boo. So have to lie on left (v unnatural for me), sit on edge of sofa, backwards on upright chairs, scrub the floors, get walking, do more gardening etc etc. Hmmph. And I thought I was now allowed to take it easy on maternity leave. She was encouraging though and said that even with just 2 weeks left, there's plenty of possibility of her turning, and she can even turn during labout. So please, and tips, pass them my way, or just keep fingers crossed for me.

Thanks for all the replies re Kingston - thats the logical choice then although DH would prefer Epsom because he knows where Pizza Express is CMH my parents live in Ewell.

I am guessing it is wishful thinking but Im having real trouble walking today because of the sheer downward pressure which is going down my legs and giving me cramps in my back passage (tmi). Anyone else got this? Is it significant? I would be excited but my LO is supposed to be breech which means any pressure like this is just the little blighter trampolining on my lower bits.

You OK PrisonerZ?

That's annoying BPrincess but she probably will turn back again :)

Forgot to say, well done for getting through your exams Barbie and yay for finishing work :)

Hello ladies, very quick message to say I'm still here and no baby :( (for those that read my other thread). I had an internal exam on Friday that has crippled me due to being lay on my back with SPD (despite me trying to insist that I was examined on my side). Well long story cut short, I could have a c-section as the pain is now so severe, but I am going to try for a 'normal' delivery (I am possibly mad but sure it is the right thing to do). Will try and catch up when I can sit comfortably for more than a few minutes.

Am 40 weeks on Monday but despite all the signs I now think I will go overdue :(

Hope everyone else is ok.

prisoner - been worried, you ok?