Charters Anonymous Graduates Volume 2! – No more temping!

[Iwish]

A nice cosy place to accommodate our growing bumps and little wrigglers.

Hi everyone!
I am still here, just been a busy bee so been reading but not posting.

split bet you are so excited now! The feelings youve been having are all very normal from what I've heard. You will love being a mummy. :)

lady I can't believe baby will be arriving soon! Sending you lots of lovely labour vibes hehe.

mrsp how are you doing apart from being v busy?

mrsa oooh what flavour?!

raven hope you are doing ok, good luck for your scan tomorrow!

nix sorry you have had a crappy time with work. Bet you just want to tell them to sod off!

getdown how are you doing today?

I hope I havnt missed anyone, I'm on my phone so takes ages to try and scroll through and type lol.

Well we are now the proud owners of nursery furniture!! Woohoo! I have put some pics in my profile if anyone wants a nosey. I love it. Keep going in just for a nosey

Lol lady at shaving the cats!!!

Evening all.

Lady oh how exciting! Do you hope it all starts by itself before Sunday?

DD is driving me mad and glad atm - IYKWIM. I'm feeling a bit bad actually as DD's pg and birth was soooo medicalised and this time round it's so different. Even though I'm classed as high risk, I've managed to keep below their radar and it's going well, and I'm very hopeful for a natural birth.
I do feel bad as DD never had any of this and I hope my bond with this one isn't closer, as I'll feel very guilty as DD didn't have this (although we have a great bond now).

Spilt I think it was you who was having last minute nerves. I felt totally the same (and hadn't been through what you have of course) and i worried alot about losing my 'life'. And yes, going out is hard, it's hard work and damn frustrating but without sounding like a 'smug parent' (eek!), until you experience the ups and downs of taking care of a little person you seem to focus on the negatives (the royal 'you' IYKWIM)

I really had trouble bonding with DD. It took me about 10 weeks before i really loved her (not proud) but now it's amazing.
And once you've got a routine, you can do stuff again - they grow up (too fast) and you sort of get your life back after 18m or so.

So, had scan today and (keep it quiet - it's a secret) we're having a boy! I'm a bit amazed tbh and a bit miffed cos i have lots of gorgeous dresses going spare now ;)
But she said she saw a willy so I'm thinking - one lot of periods and bras to deal with..gotta be a positive right?!!

OOh and one more question lady - I got my report back from nappy lady but she didn;t give any tips about dealing with nursery and reusable nappies. DS (gulp - first time I've written that) will go to nursery around 10m. Any tips about that or would we use disposables then?

Another boy to add to the board! I thought I was the only one having a little man! From what I remember there are a few girlies on here and some team yellow.
One of each for you now

My nursery were absolutely fine with reusables, Mrs A. I just sent 4 or 5 along with him each day all set up with the liners in etc and also a waterproof bag for them to come home in again. Not a problem. I think when I was looking round nurseries every one I asked said they were fine with them too.

Yeah, really hope it kicks off on its own but don't think it will to be honest. We'll see.

Lovely news on your boy, MrsA. Little boys are great. Apart from when they turn three . But largely they are great .

Nursery is looking fab, Iwish! As are you.

yey on the team blue MRsA - boys are ace!!
goood luck on the sweep lady
Team yellow here too mrsp.. for now anyway!

heading home today from having 2 weeks in the sarf with hubs. DS very sad :(

catch up properly realy soon x

I'm impressed Lady, sounds like you've been immensely organised in the last 2 weeks!

MrsA congrats on team blue, how exciting

Iwish I am a bit at your nursery, it's beautiful. No wonder your credit card had to have some time off sick

Sodding cat has brought me a blackbird today. Cat has blood from paws to chin and is now swearing in the other room (for the last 2 hours!) where he has been shut away from bird.

And I SOAKED my T-shirt this morning Well done left breast, evidently you know how to do things!

I'm making baby steps towards making some mummy friends. It's like the first term at university all over again! Started to do some lunches and coffees with various antenatal folk. Of course they will all start to drop off the radar for a bit very soon as the babies arrive. Come on little girl, I want to meet you now!

Thyroid bloods done again and I've just got the results - TSH unchanged now since 18 weeks when they started me on thyroxine. That's a relief because at least it means I can discuss birth plan/location with the consultant on Monday knowing that the thyroid is totally stable and very well controlled, so it puts me in the strongest position for pushing for a MW led birth & pool.

Right, I am going to haul myself down to the swimming pool now for a bit of half arsed exercise.

Let us know how things go this morning Lady. Fingers crossed for you.

Sweep much more succesful this time. My lovely case load student did it so hope she did it right. But she reckons I am 2-3 cm dilated and soft. Cervix not entirely forward but was at least reachable and baybee is now engaged. Wasn't too sore, just reminded me of VE's in labour.

No twinges or shows or owt yet so will wait and see. Had toddler with me so had to set him up with Angry Birds on my phone and listen to a running commentary about killing piggies while she was up to her elbows in my fanjo. Told him she was looking up my bum.

Ah Nix. What happens when labour starts then? Will DH just have to drive up? Have you got other people on standby?

Glad thyroid is all under control, Spilt. Hope you can get the birth you want. And good to know your boob is all working. I am lucky in that I never leak. In 2 and a half years of breastfeeding. So have tons of redundant breast pads!

Thanks lady v nice of you to say. Feel like an elephant tho! Just had to stop myself from laughing in the middle of our packed canteen at the 'Told him she was looking up my bum'. Hilarious!! He will be telling everyone now that 'the nurse was looking up mums bum today'
Hey to being 2-3 cm! Might have a baby gaga soon

split thanks v much, I love the nursery. I like to keep going in for a nosey :). credit card is poorly now tho like you said, having a rest from buying, I'm dying to buy something!!
Yey on the leaky boob! It's practicing for when baby split arrives. My right boob has leaked 3 times but only a tiny bit when I'm sleeping so have had nice marks when I woke up. Freaked DP out lol.
It's fab that your thyroid is behaving too. Mine has been stable and have been on the same dose from about 16 week. I have my bloods done every 6 weeks.
Hope you enjoy your swim.

How long have you got now nix? sorry my memory Is crap.

I had a appt through for physio for my SPD - 29th august!! Baby is due 3rd October!! Is there even any point?!

I've made my first reusable nappy purchase! For today Natural Nursery has 10% off all reusable nappies (incl any nappies already in their Summer sale) so I gave into temptation.

I have some Flip stay drys on their way and a wonderoo pocket nappy.

I've found my council has a deal with Close parent on the Dream Dri nappies which are supposed to be ace, here, so I'll get some of those too.

And I've found a local shop selling some slightly used nappies so will be hopefully picking up some Bumgenius v3s and maybe some Thirsties from there when they get back to me to say what colours etc they have. Only £6 each for those.

Starting to get bitten by the bug!

About 3 days solid of reading about the bleddy things and I think I have a rudimentary grip on what's on the market, what's definitely shit and what's supposed to be good so worth trying! And what's a good price when I see it...

DH thinks I have slightly lost my mind.

Hello all - sooo tired, been gardening for about 5 hours today in preparation for my 30th birthday party tomorrow. Sorry not been on much but I am stalking you all

Hope everyones weekends are well.

LadyG where are you?? snuggled up with a lovely baby I hope

Sorry to post and run but wanted to say thanks for all the good luck wishes for the scan. I had it today and all looking perfect so far. So relieved I can't tell you. I know it is only until I find the next thing to worry about but feels like a great milestone!

Will do longer/ personal messages tomorrow.

Awwww, raven that's wonderful news.

Hey iwish, I'm good thanks. Your nursery looks beautiful, I hope mine will look that good when its done.

Congrats on team blue MrsA!

Good to hear of well behaved thyroids, fingers crossed they will continue to do so.

Got very busy day tomorrow so going to wish LadyG lots of good luck now for Sunday. Oooh and I had a random dream that it would be a girl!

Lovely news, Raven. Hopefully you can relax a bit and enjoy now. At least for a while.

No snuggling going on over here. No twinges. Oh well, not much longer to wait now.

Excellent news raven, congratulations. Did they take some good pictures for you?

Well if labour doesn't take off today Lady then I hope you have a lovely day with DP whilst your DS is away and make the most of the last adulty day you'll have in a while.

Hello terrys glad you're well. Did you find out at your scan what you're having or not (can't remember what you'd planned to do?)

Blinkin heck lady if you were 2-3 cm dil when you posted, are you progressing now? FX for progress x

Urm labour is a little bit complicated here,. not really sure. DH will be 4 hours away, mum/IL will be on standby and friend and sis there to take me to hosp if needed. They are round the corner but mum is 45 min away. Having a couple of twinges at the min, and had v wet pants earlier.... not sure if things are starting - prob not!! Had a house viewing here yest so ILs and Parents and friends rallied round sprucing up house and garden for me whilst i was still down south... will see! Will be sods law to get lots of viewings around labour time!! took DS to see cars 2 today... hmmmm jurys out... bit violent!!! :(

Raven - fab news on the scan
Spilt - fab you are getting to know other mums & that you can share your story with them. I hear the reusables can be pretty addictive but i will just use nature babycare like last time. I didnt get on with washables last time... DS hated them. :(
MRSA - team blue did i hear you say?!
Terrys good to hear all ok and happy 30th v soon xx Hope you have a great time!
I wish well done on the nursery :) i still havent done much... oh well!!

Love to all xx and good luck lady xxx

No progress as far as I can tell, Nix. Been having Braxton Hicks but have been having these for months. Hopefully will turn up to hospital tomorrow in labour already but who knows. Anyway, the more dilated i am the less intervention (I hope).

Twinges sound interesting. How long was your labour last time? You reckon DH will get there in plenty of time? Hope you get a sale soon - must be really hard for you being apart from your DH right now.

Hope so lady :))

Not contraction twinges, just very sore down below and have had some strange fanjo pains! Quite a bit of pressure but have had that for a while. Shot pelvic floors i think, not helping... And the swelling....!!!! Dear god! I have a perfect pair of pinkie ring sized diamonds in my engagement and eternity rings... and even they are tight!!! I so hope the swelling goes down soon... my legs are like pork sausages!

How are you feeling generally Lady? I feel like crap today, horribly short tempered with DS and have just burst into tears reading him puff the magic dragon My labour last time was 7 days from show to delivery. 17 hours established labour at the hospital. Hopefully it wont be like that this time. x

So how will they start your induction Lady if you're already dilating? Is there a chance that ARM would do the trick without having to start on the syntocinon? Hope you get a decent bit of rest tonight. We'll look forward excitedly to your announcement soon!

Well with 7 days last time nix it sounds like MrNix will have more than 4hrs to spare for his journey!

I know just what you mean about sore down below, dragging ache in the lower bump and some sharp twinges in the fanjo area. We're all getting close
Actually it's a bit bloody scary. I think I've been drifting along in the assumption that I will be permanently pregnant... but actually one day soon pregnancy will be over and a small person will arrive Quite stressful having no idea when!

Good luck for tomorrow lady! Hope you arrive at hospital nice and dilated.

Hello everyone else - quick pop in and out as have 91 year old grandma staying. She told DD if she didn't stop running around today that mummy and daddy wouldn't love her anymore!!! Arrgghh - I just ignored, she is only 9 yrs from a telegram (but is also shockingly racist and old fahioned). Sigh. She goes tomorrow and for some reason DD adores her.

Hi everyone!

Lady will keep checking for the birth annoucement. I expect you have had a very eventful day. Can't wait to hear all about it and the new arrival.

Iwish I had a look at your nursery photos and it looks amazing! I look at our to-be nursery which needs so much done to it to get it looking anywhere near that. Good job we have got lots of time, as a few more things to do around the house before we get anywhere near that.

Terrys happy 30th and how was the party??

MrsA congratulations on finding out you are having a boy!!

Spilt hope your last minute nerves are ok, you will be an amazing mum to your little one. Got some really good pics of each of them at the scan, although not one of them both together as one is laying along the ways and the other up and own so not about to get a 2D pic where we could see them both clearly - I have one of 2 head shapes!

Nix hope you are feeling better and less puffed up - guess the heat isn't helping at the moment. Not long to go!

Hi getdown, pip and everyone else

Here I am really starting to show. Was in town today shopping and I found that my (loose) dress was tight around the belly and I could see in shop windows this pg person looking back when I completely relax. I think I can still suck it in an disguise it - but not sure for how much longer. Got Bio Oil for stretch mark prevention, but might be fighting a losing battle - plus I am crap at remembering to do that sort of stuff.

What a weekend with the tragedy in Norway and Amy Winehouse's death - difficult to get head round the events of the last couple of days.

Iris Mary, born 10.58 on Sunday night weighing 9lb8oz. Managed on gas and air and only a small second degree tear despite the fact her elbow was up by her head. Much less medicalised than was expecting. Will do full story later but she is beautiful with full head of hair. Feeding like a trooper catch up soon. Post natal ward seems to be quiet now so maybe I can finally sleep. Oh her blood sugars doing great too.

Fantastic news!! Congratulations Lady, so pleased for you
Looking forward to hearing the full birth story when you get the chance. Hope you can come home soon.
Welcome to the world little Iris xx

HUGE CONGRATS Lady

Sounds like it went really well for a hospital induction. So glad she's feeding we'll (tips once you're settled please!)

Take care :)

Congrats lady that's fab!! Hope you are feeling ok and hopefully will pop on later too get your update.

Hey lovely ladies! Will try and pop on later, off to work now unfortunatly :(