Nov 2011 - Mat B forms are in and time is flying not long now

[PamSco]

Sorry just went for a new thread as I couldn't see another.

Hope you are all well this morning

Poppet, have posted on our Facebook group but just wanted to add that Willow is beautiful and I love her name!

Now, will the rest of you kindly keep your legs crossed!

poppet congrats on little Willow, she looks gorgeous & is obviously a little fighter. Hope you both make a quick recovery and have a smooth ride through NICU.

chip so glad Sylvie-Rose has graduated to lower level of care, hope she continues to do well.

lk what you describe sounds as though your iron levels are low, definitely get MW to do bloods to check.

1st trim tiredness & nausea has hit here again (though iron levels ok here, just).

Hope everyone is managing a good bank holiday weekend. I've worked all of it so not managed to enjoy it but worth it for a 5day weekend next weekend :))

What the monkeyness??? I was already to say good night wish everyone well and complain that falafel is repeating on me.

POPPET what a turn up! Best wishes to you all and especially Willow.

I guess you won't be over for the sling meet

Welcome nells

chip I am so pleased that Sylvie-Rose seems to be doing so well. Hopefully that means many more cuddles soon!

GTTs gosh, you all have me worried now! I will try to do mine on Wednesday morning (apparently it's walk-in), as I have the day off. Can't say I am looking forward to that now. I have gotten used to drinking so much water, so have no idea how I would not faint without it. I barely manage not to faint after eating when I have to go for a walk, or stand for a little while.

lk yep, me too. Though it has not gotten worse. It's stayed pretty constant throughout. I am just unlucky I guess

caz congrats on the amazing amount of money you, Jon and Belle raised. You must be incredibly proud

Poppet congratulations on your gorgeous little girl! She is beautiful. Sending best wishes and thoughts
I told my DH this morning about our second November baby being born. Tomorrow is a bank holiday here, so I will get my hospital bag packed and ready. So my task for today is writing a list of what I need.

Yesterday we went shopping and bought a baby thermometer, maternity towels (the glamour!), baby nail clippers and a baby blanket.
We have sat down and made a list of "essentials pre-birth" and are slowly going through it and ticking off. I still feel so woefully unprepared!

I am spending my last day in the office today. Then I have 16 working days left , which I will be at home for. Really looking forward to working from home, because the commute is knackering me out.

Hope everyone is having a good bank holiday Monday

Congrats poppet hopefully Willow will be out of hospital soon and you can bring her along to see us all :)

Been away in Glasgow doing my last big shopping for the bub, only waiting for the cot bed to arrive, good cos we are ready, bad cos I don't have much else to entertain myself with now :(

Not much else going on, very very hormonal and a bit worried about the birth, but also impatient to get to see our bub now, six more weeks of maternity leave, which cannot come soon enough now, no bank holiday here so off to work this morning.

Hope everyone has a nice day, whatever you are up to :)

Hello! Please can I join in on this thread - am 28 weeks with DC2, due on 19th November, and am reading this thread with great interest!

Nice to see another newcomers nells, I am also wondering whether to invest in an nct class, a one day refresher class, as I only had three NHS classes in my last pregnancy 3 years ago, and can't remember much - despite the fact that i have actually given birth before I don't feel very prepared..!

Congrats to poppet too :)

Welcome mrsduff :) we do have a stats thread somewhere in this forum - take a look and pop yourself on.

I'm going to do an NCT class, but this is my first - hoping to meet some other friendly mums as I'm fairly new to my town. Can see why you might think about a one day course, but I'm also sure it will all comeback to you, don't worry.

Everyone sounds so organised, especially twojacks and merlio. Baby nail clippers and a thermometer ! .

TwoJack I join you on the hormonal and a bit worried wagon. Glad that you got everything sorted for bubs.
I keep pausing when buying, because I am scared I will be stuck with nothing left to do when I astually leave work. With little Willow joining as well though, I think I'd rather be ready than not.

Welcome mrsduff and congratulations.

poppet wow, congratulations on baby Willow, she's so sweet.

welcome mrs duff and congratulations.

i'm tired as well as i'm just not sleeping through the night anymore, i just keep waking every time i need to turn over, which is a pita.

Are there going to be any ladies still pg come nov??

have a fb bh ladies.

Wow Poppet! Congratulations to you all. Am gobsmacked! My OH is getting slightly more panicked now! I bet she is beautiful and I hope she carries on growing strong and comes home soon. Am pleased to hear Sylvie-Rose is moving to the next level of care too! Such inspirational babies and mummies we have!
Welcome Nells and Mrsduff, you have managed to join at an exciting time!
I'm tired today but it's more to donwith doing too much than iron levels I think. Yesterday OH was doing the Great North Bike Ride,57 miles from seahouses in northumberland to Tynemouth, so I was up before 6 to drive him there, me back, collect children and then head to Tynemouth to collect a triumphant OH! This was after going to the evening do of a friends wedding which I drove to again! Had totally lost my appetite this weekend as well so not been eating enough I don't think either. However I feel alright if a little tired still today and fancy making a roast dinner to boost the energy levels and as a little treat for OH who will be utterly stiff and tired today! The wind was very strong yesterday which made the ride harder.

Hope those that have a bank holiday have a nice day off like I plan to, start of a weeks holiday for me. Hope everyone is well after car crashes, broken down cars, tiredness and baby shopping!!

Poppet I can't believe another Nov baby has arrived! I hope Willow is doing well. Can I ask, did your first baby come early too, or was this totally unexpected?

I told DH that another Nov baby had arrived, and was sternly told that I need to keep my legs crossed until the rugby world cup is over!

We have had guests over from England for the weekend, was lovely to see them, but their six month old was grizzly all weekend and it was a stark reminder of what I am going back to - I must admit that when I heard them up in the middle of the night trying to settle a screaming baby, I breathed a sigh of relief that I have a few weeks of 'normality' left before the madness starts again. Or do I?! Going by this thread, maybe not! And if baby arrived today, I'd have to put him/her to sleep in an emptied out sock drawer, as I have no moses basket, no cot, no anything. Time to get organised, I think....

CONGRATULATIONS Poppet and Willow!

I am all teary at your story, esp. emotional husband but its so brilliant, she is so lovely.

But yes, panic is starting to settle in. All we seem to do is spend the weekends at Ikea or sorting out the apartment - its like the biggest clearout ever, we were going through old paperwork and stuff until after midnight last night. We've emptied cupboards, cleared the basement, sold old clothes and stuff but it just goes on and on. My list of stuff to do, buy and achieve still has painting rooms, recovering chairs, organising the kitchen, replacing fridge etc - NONE of it is really to do with the baby. But at the very bottom, I have my list with the stuff for my maternity bag ;)

I am doing my dodgy "working-from-home" today and once again, the time is whistling by and I haven't done much. Too many little domestic things to do and time to waste online;)

Poppet my computer has finally let me look at your pics! She is lovely, so small but looking good on it! Right thats it am off to wash things. Baby sized things!

OMgoodness! poppet congrats and I hope lovely Willow has a swift and healthy stay in the premmie unit. 2 babies before 30 weeks - wow.

I had my GTT this morning. Didn't feel too bad - the community midwife came to the house and did it, so I got to chill a bit. The drink was ok, although she left before I finished it saying she trusted me to finish it! In the 2 hour wait we went for a stroll around the block. She didn't say I couldn't drink any water, so I did as I need to. Once she'd come back and taken my 2nd blood, we all went to Weatherspoons and had a slap up fry up! Off swimming later.

We really are not prepared for this baby, tho as No2 I know we'd cope. Almost finished DD's new room, bought curtains and new duvet set. Once she's in there, we can change her room back to baby's and get the stuff from the loft. Need a new moses basket mattress and reusable nappies (got some Pampers for newborn but pretty much set on reusables). The one item I can highly recommend is baby nail clippers. They grow like I don't know what and DD is 3 in 2 wks and we use them still :)

Can't wait to meet this baby now!!

Mrs A I just bought a new moses basket mattress from Amazon, was quite reasonable.

1st size baby clothes are washed and waiting to go on the line, doing moses basket blankets now. I know that it is unlikely I will need them and I will probably wash them all again in my 2 weeks mat leave before EDD but hey, wheres the harm!

I wish I was going on mat leave soon. I'm not though. 8 weeks to go after this weeks hol. I am seriously regretting saying I will work longer! Never mind think of the money eh and the fact that technically I will have longer after the birth. Poor OH is experiencing omg 10 weeks to go.... yawn. I tried to explain that actually these 10 weeks have nothing on going overdue!

I'm still a bit shell shocked today...thinking of all the things I haven't bought. May have a trip to boots this evening for the hospital bag.

I saw moses mattresses o amazon too- pocket sprung better?

Oh and welcome to nells and MrsDuff! we had a discussion about NCT classes on the thread before this one I think. I think there is a mixture of people doing them and people not bothering as have other ways of meeting people locally and also cost factor.

Just back from a supermarket trip - bought the basics for the boy - nappies, clothes, stuff. Just a few of each - feel a bit more organised now.

Got a streaming cold starting, boooooooo, that will be the 3rd week of missing yoga - gutted.

Welcome Nells and MrsDuff sorry didn't say it earlier.

Edinburgh folks - I'm presuming my cold will be done and dusted by the weekend so will definitely be going to the sling meet at the PPC. Anyone else around?

Yo! No one starts anything with Yo! anymore. i was just suddenly overcome by the need to use it. Its passed now. Like my annual desire for a donut. I tried to eat one when the desire wasnt on me a couple of weeks ago. Dire. Donuts are actually so gross. Except when I want one, then they are fantastic.
So. We've spent the day on the internet looking at cars. Woo! Love cars! I wish I did. I am so completley disinterested in cars, and I am one of those people who find them deeply mysterious, treachorous things. But we need one so badly! Every time i find one I think is going to work, I send the info to my brother who tells me why its shit. Thing is, he's right every time.
Sprung mattress - we got one for DS, but because we bought a cot bed, so we wanted the mattress to last. I really wouldnt bother particularly unless there is scant price difference for a moses basket.
NCT - some classes seem to be much more expensive that where I am, but I went for my first pregnancy and am glad I did both in terms of information and meeting others in the same place as me as it were. I am doing a four session refresher this time, so I would recommend them if they dont cost TOO much.
I too am wiped out much of the time, which sucks. I am also still bloating something horrid. BUt I had my midwife appointment the other day, and was NOT bloated for once, and she measured my bump for the first time and said it was JUST on the lowest percentile line on the chart, and if it didnt pick up we should do a growth scan, but now I am freaking out a bit, cos I realised that while my weight gain overall is normal, my weight gain over the last two months has really only been a few pounds, when it should be about a pound a week. I cant recall when I last weighed myself or what it was, its true, but I fear I have possibly only put on 2lb in 2 months. Hmm. NExt midwife on the 12th. Ugli Fruit is still moving about in there - though much less than her brother did. Worrisome.
Eugh, heartburn.

Hello all, hope everyone is well.

I'm a little lost on where we are on the thread - other than with 2 babies and 2 newcomers welcome

Are the southerners still wanting to arrange a Bristol area meet up???

lizzy you are lucky to get full pay for 6months, with the NHS it depends on length of continuous service. I am entitled to 2months full then 2months half + SSP on a 6month rolling basis & as I was unwell at begining of pregnancy I only have 2weeks full pay to take if I get signed off sick.

cali thanks for your comments the other day, found them extremely helpful. After having had a tearful day I spent that night thinking things through and thought I had developed a plan until it all got side-swiped on Friday.

Anyway, my plan to get through until Due date is as follows:

• due to potential side effects to baby I will not take the meds (Dr said there is none, blurb in packet says possibility)
• I will see GP tomorrow (if can get appt) and ask her to request shorter working days at work
• I will speak to manager and ask to be put onto admin only (3 days & over 40 visits has wiped me)
• if needed in a couple of weeks will ask GP to sign me off work completely until mat leave starts
• will speak to & see MW as much as needed to keep anxiety low

Need to start getting organised regarding baby bits now - I think we have everything we need but it is all stacked up in baby's room and needs to be washed & organised. May need a few more labour bag bits though....hmmm...will get them soon.

DS came home last night & I got lots of big hugs from him as he missed me :) tonight though he was so tired that by the time I got home from work he was starting to misbehave and has been sent to bed early. Hopefully we can have more time together tomorrow evening, then I have the rest of the week off after having worked all weekend!!!

Also meant to ask re: Braxton Hicks - has anyone had many?? I've been getting them since quite early in the pregnancy but the past few days it has been silly the number I have had. I get 3-5 per hour for a couple of hours and then have a rest of a couple of hours before they start up again, pretty sure it is nothing as they aren't painful but annoying after 4days!!

Thanks so much for all the kind words. Really appreciated more than you'll ever know. We're having a night off visiting the unit as we've been there all day but I have a date with the sofa and the breast pump so I won't be on long. Seriously does anyone know of a handsfree double breast pump??
Willow's had a great day, first up she's been moved to HDU from ICU, they're trying to reduce her nutrients given by long line so in the coming few days they can remove it and she can have all her food via gastric tube and the boobs of yours truly. I swear pumping milk is keeping me sane right now, the mindless chasing of droplets with pipettes is very soothing and we're slowly slowly building up from it taking 20 minutes for me to pump 0.2ml on day one :( to me getting about 30mls or so from a 25 minute session on the machine. The staff have been incredibly encouraging - acting thrilled even when I pumped my 0.2ml - and for me building supply is a matter of nerves and optimism. We WILL get there, although my heart does sink at 4am when my alarm goes off for the night pump.
We've also had a repeat brain scan showing no change which is good, and she's been off the si-pap machine again for short periods.
Snoozle nope DS was (depending on whose dates you believe) either three days late or a good two weeks late. He was also a huge 9lber so I'm just in shock at how wee my Willow is. Just tiny.
Bag panic Honestly, if you do have your baby early - you won't need anything, they'll pile you up with maternity pads, paper pants out of sympathy and your wee one doesn't need to wear anything (other than the minutest nappies I've ever seen which they supply on the unit) so no rush on laundry either, they've even given us a first outfit for her for when she's big enough - although I have just had my tummy lurch remembering all her tiny, but at this stage far too big, things sitting unwashed upstairs.
slingmeet sadly I won't be there, I'll either be in the hospital or attached to a breast pump for a good few weeks. However could someone ask one of the sling gurus there about thoughts on a good choice for a tiny premmie baby/breastfeeding mum? Once that child of mine is out of her incubator I don't think I'll ever want to put her down ever again.

No problem Poppet - I'll ask for you.

poppet there is definately a specific sling for premature babies - can't remember which but the guys at the sling meet will know. Close wraps are ok from 5lbs (I think). Hang on in there, pumping is soul destroying sometimes. The Medela pumps do a double hands free one (I have the single one and can highly recommend) but I think it's pricey as it's hospital grade. You sound like you're coping though - good for you.

Don't NCT rent out electric ones? Or am I mistaken - or off on a tangent?

www.nctedinburgh.moonfruit.com/#/what-we-offer/4539327974

In Edinburgh they do - maybe worth seeing what the price is?