We're now halfway and it's PMA all the way - Nov 2011

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Halfway there now ladies. on the countdown.

H007 sorry things are so shit right now. Mortgage companies are being so tight these days if ws the same when we bought our house. It gets so frustrating when you think they have everything they need and then they ask for something else, like Columbo and his just one more thing as he solves the case no wonder the baddies always slip up! Just hang in there and concentrate on studying. Remember you can only do what you can do.

H007 big hugs, we bought last summer and I know how stressed I got without exams and being knocked up. You have my every sympathy. Try to find time for yourself amongst it all just to be calm.

Poppet I think you should be in or just finished now so I hope it was brilliant! I am starting PPC on Monday, I was Aditi for the last month but being on holiday meant I couldn't book. May do both next month.

Hello all
I am back from a long hiatus due to being away in Hamburg and New York for work. Jet lag, a waking 3 yr-old and pg insomnia are kicking my ass this week! Does anyone else find that when their sleep is disrupted for any reason, they can't drop off again? I can deal with meetings and stuff but its hard to be creative when you are utterly knackered.

We had our scan monday - everything looks good and we are having GIRL no.2. I feel like a meanie, but a part of me is a wee bit disappointed. I have always wanted a boy, and I really and truly doubt that I will have three. But still, a healthy girl is amazing and will get use out of all the amazing clothes my mum bought for elodie! She seriously played dolly with her first grandchild ;)

My dad is the one who is pitching in with ridiculous name suggestions - they all sound so lame and Lord of Rings-ish but I've just accepted its just part of the fun - everyone likes to make name suggestions. I think I will keep my shortlist to myself though, because people can put you off names with all their opinions...

Re. breastfeeding - I also had a nightmare - with "difficult" nipples, soreness, nipple shield, pumping and all that and had to give some formula before I even left the hospital. But I persevered and ended up b/f for 10 months or maybe you would say mixed feeding as from the get-go we gave the last feed of the night as a bottle. The Danish system is really on you to b/f but I also found it really convenient in the end.

H007, I completely feel your pain. When I was pregnant with my son, we were moving house, and I was doing my doctorate (which now I am pregnant again is going to drag on FOREVER) and then I failed my first ever piece of academic work the day I also started bleeding, and yes, I felt completely utterly at a loss as to how I could cope with it all. And I am not for one second saying its going to be easy. But I am saying that that is behind me now. I had a rough time, and I survived it. And yes, some things gave. I managed to get the essay rewritten and resubmitted, but the bottom dropped out of my thesis and I still have to do that now. You may well end up with more problems down the line, but you can only tackle them one at a time.

Babies 1st outfit do we prefer....

www.next.co.uk/g364608s4#445507g36
www.next.co.uk/x473856s1#749334x47

www.next.co.uk/x473856s1#749334x47
www.next.co.uk/g364608s4#445507g36

or
www.mothercare.com/Boys-Humphreys-Corner-Layette-Sleepsuit/dp/B004S327VA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_9&nodeId=492179031&sr=1-9&qid=1309463674&pf_rd_r=0HE81SV8GS2TA71AXAF6&pf_rd_m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=492179031&pf_rd_p=231490867&pf_rd_s=related-tab-3-5
www.mothercare.com/Boys-Humphreys-Corner-Layette-Bodysuits/dp/B004M8TTIA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_10&nodeId=492179031&sr=1-10&qid=1309463674&pf_rd_r=0HE81SV8GS2TA71AXAF6&pf_rd_m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=492179031&pf_rd_p=231490867&pf_rd_s=related-tab-3-5

www.mothercare.com/Boys-Humphreys-Corner-Layette-Sleepsuit/dp/B004S327VA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_9&nodeId=492179031&sr=1-9&qid=1309463674&pf_rd_r=0HE81SV8GS2TA71AXAF6&pf_rd_m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=492179031&pf_rd_p=231490867&pf_rd_s=related-tab-3-5
www.mothercare.com/Boys-Humphreys-Corner-Layette-Bodysuits/dp/B004M8TTIA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_10&nodeId=492179031&sr=1-10&qid=1309463674&pf_rd_r=0HE81SV8GS2TA71AXAF6&pf_rd_m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=492179031&pf_rd_p=231490867&pf_rd_s=related-tab-3-5

Oh my am on hormonal cloud nine! Saw my beautiful darling daughter and just feel my family's complete now. Such an amazing connection and vision of our future. Just gorgeous and very bendy - at one point she was kissing her own knees! The scan was amazing, lovely sonographer took us through everything she was looking for - so full facial frontal to look for cleft palate, close up on her heart, kidneys, spine, looking at her full tum, checking her bladder, major veins and arteries, her whirling hands and feet - at one point she had all her fingers laced under her chin and looked like such a poppet! Sizewise she's average or below average - unlike DS. Wahoo!!! And as soon as they got to the bits I thought 'hello they look veeery different indeed from DS, three clear white lines and no tackle in sight! Was strange I welled up, there was an instant of goodbye to our 'Duncan' and then this wall of love for my daughter. I miss my mum so much that this means such a lot to me. I want to have a relationship with her that I never got to finish with my mum. We'll just have to hope she likes toy cars, choo choos, jeans and dungarees. Off to buy some bright pink wool to complete her buggy blanket.... and maybe look at some gorgeous girlie clothes on eBay, and then contemplate looking at names. Annoyingly my consultant was on holiday so I'd built myself up for a chat but it came to nowt, however had a really supportive mw (again) who suggested rather than talk to the registrar who was here to rebook with the head honcho as my plans are 'away' from protocol but she was all for them - she used to be at the midwife led unit, said she's delivered lots of VBAC women using the pool (!!) and apparently women come from as far as Edinburgh and all over Fife because Forth Park has such strong VBAC knowledge and good practise - little things like no internals to check dilation before pushing to ensure you stay focused, one to one care for all labouring women and mws who get into all sorts of funny positions to monitor you rather than insist you haul yourself out of the pool. She said while the consultant will really push to have me under her care because of my big bleed she'd be delighted to see me in the MLU! Oh and I'm right I do have a rare left lateral placenta, high but wrapped around both the front and back. Unfortunately she suggested I probably avoid sleeping on the favoured left side because of it, so argh, the back for a couple of weeks more, then just the right side til November.

www.mothercare.com/Boys-Four-Piece-Mummy-Daddy/dp/B004GY1K1E?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_3&nodeId=42764041&sr=1-3&qid=1309463992

The jungle stuff!! You will get so much pale blue but those animals are super! Ooooh now I've got to go first outfit shopping. TBH am thinking bright canary yellow sleepsuit and a funky hat :D no way she'll be left cold and undressed like DS was.

poppet & tjuice congrats for good scans :)

H007 sorry you are having to deal with so many things at once...never easy juggling but even worse when so many negative things happen at once. Keep at it, you'll get there x x

Had a great evening at aqua tonight with baby joining in- the random kicks kept distracting me which meant I kept losing balance!!
Baby has continued to be active tonight, DP put his hand on bump & baby kicked it no end so DP moved his hand & baby followed - it was so great to see baby interacting already :)

Poppet - you've put a huge lump in my throat. Just lovely :)

I want bright colours really but DS had Humphreys Corner (but less insipid than current version)

Have also learned I breed em wee so will be well stocked with tiny stuff so LO can actually wear what we've chosen (DS was straight into hand-me-downs- from the hospital as you can't put a 5lb 5oz baby in a newborn outfit!)

Poppysmum - sound like a beautiful scan - yay

sorry, that was an incomplete post, I was summoned to complete a failin bedtime routine. Now I cant recall what I was going to say. Except that I havent had a headache for three days! Brilliant!

Found you all! I haven't caught up yet. Ridiculous week. 3 nights of 3/4 hrs sleep, travel on planes, trains and cars. 37C in Zurich..... my ankles swelled so badly I had chubby toddler rolls!! I have carpel tunnel too. Anyway I had no idea a low lying placenta was an issue. Mine is low too but consultant said 98% move up so no need to worry right now.

PMA, I will be nice and not shoot the people at work asking me really stupid questions, I promise!

Durr posted too soon. I'll try and catch up but I hope you are all OK.

Just got myself all teary thinking about getting out all my baby clothes to sort out - DS's to re-wash and iron ready for bump (and to sort those that'll hopefully be too tiny for this one) and DD's to give away / sell.

This is my last baby and I feel sad that there are going to be a lot of last times as well as excited.

PMA - cherish every moment of this special time, as I won't experience it again.

My mother needs to stop sending me beautiful emails sending me into tears!

I'm 31 next week, and called my self and "old lady" in an email to her. Her reply?

"Firstly, when you plan stuff to buy for the baby, I just wanted to let you know that I'm bringing a baby duvet, pillow and bedsheets (as well as some small things that will fit in my suitcase). Secondly, as for being an "old lady", you're starting the age where all the fun starts - you've got experience of what life offers, and you're starting it with the kindest man in the world and a brand new little person. You have your best years ahead of you and being an "old lady" is something you choose to be"

My mother and I were never close as I grew up, and this is probably the most "mumsy" she's ever been with me, even since my dad died 12 years ago.
Funny how little babies can change lives so much!

Oh Cali that has got me in tears. So squishy :)

H007 sorry you are having such a rough time. I agree, get something organised to look forward to when this is all over.

Congratulations on good scans too :)

My Mum responded to my email saying that baby looked all healthy, etc, but is actually a boy with "Well, you finally got what you wanted. Thank God!" and that is it..? I think she means that bubs is a boy, but I don't really care, as long as baby is healthy and growing well. I was more than happy with it being a girl. Anyway, so she annoyed me, but I have opened the dorr for communication, now it's up to her.
Oh...and no response to the 27 scan pictures I sent. Oh well, her loss.

I just feel sad for bubs :(

Working from home today, as our HK office has a holiday and it would just be me on my own in the office in Singapore.
Also waiting for Mothercare to deliver my crib. Can't wait! :)

And then I have 2 weeks off work, which is great.

DH and I are also planning to go back to our honeymoon island in the maldives when I'm roughly 29 weeks and I can't wait :)

Hope everyone is well

Alicat,

definetly the next stuff, it's very cool :)

Cali, that was a lovely thing for your mum to say and so true :)

Morning all,
Just on my way to work, checking in to mark my place for later, don't want to lose you all again!

Will catch up tonight.

Happy Friday everyone, hope its a good end to the week.

PMA We're at another Friday! Only 13 more to go til I finish work!

Good luck to all the scanners today.

Morning everyone :)

After what seems to have been a slow week I cannot believe July is here already!! Really not long until november will be here :o

15 fridays until I finish work though most of those weeks are 3 or 4 day weeks so much prefer thinking in work days which is only about 60 (even then quite a few of those are half days & some are training days!!) Is it bad to be almost starting to wind down at work already??

Hope all scans today go well x x

I am posting in the hope that it will stop me crying hysterically all over the AA man... Our new car (a 2nd hand Honda - they're supposed to be reliable) has broken down for the 2nd time in 24 hours. Last night I was trying to take DS to doc so had to get a neighbour to help and re-fit 2 car seats in her car.

And now it is dead again so I have got AA starting it but then I will have to take it to the dealer and then struggle back on the bus which takes an hour with my 2 toddlers. And we'll prob miss DD's gym class which she adores and my pelvis is really sore so I could do without all the walking and I'll be without my car seats as I won't be able to manage with those on the bus so won't be able to fit them in DH's car for the weekend. DH is hVing his 2nd busiest day of the year at work so can't help and won't be home til midnight ay least.

Sob sob, woe is me. I am aShamed that this minor thing is upsetting me this much - grrr hormones