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

H007 - I had a M&P Pilko pramette and thought it was pretty good but better suited for life in the UK than here in Copenhagen. They tend to have these massive, big-wheeled bathtub style prams here - and I always thought it was ridiculous but over the course of the first year with my pramette realised why. There are loads of cobbled pavements here and then snow and ice in winter (so big wheels are better), a lot of copenhageners may be car-less and live in apartments where you can leave your pram in the hallway - so you don't need a small collapsable one, then with the whole "leaving your baby to sleep outside", you need a big pram with cosy bedding. These "voksi" sleeping bags double as a carrycot and playmat and were the single most useful thing for me here.

Anyway, the thing I loved about the Pramette was how it was a cosy pram for a newborn, then a decent stroller after 6 or 7 months. It handled pretty well for a four-wheeler and collapsed relatively neatly. If I lived in the UK, I would probably just have kept mine for this baby. But I ended up getting a "bath-tub" style pram in the end. And now I have the mountain buggy which is somewhat in between. It sounds like a good deal - mine cost 300 pounds new on ebay.
There are also good reviews here on mumsnet.

Caz - go for it! Wish I could find the money for it somewhere!

Midwife for me this morning - 32 weeks today! Sprout is all fine, and measuring 33 weeks. She's a big'un, I bet. Had a new midwife (yet again), but she was nice and took her time, talking about everything.

Voodoo I worked in Newcastle while I lived in 'Boro :) Just don't let them take the piss - we should all enjoy where we live!

I had a stress moment last night when I realised I had to give birth - and that I may have to have a CS - I woke DP up and gave him strictest instructions on how to handle a CS... He mumbled "I won't let them get you" and fell back asleep...

Cali , thats a canny trek! Boro to Newcastle and back every day, not one I would like to do!

Am trying to get sorted to get moved but at the moment the finances arent stacking up. However I actually won't be much worse off than I am now by being on Mat leave as my work contract ends anyway so i revert back to a part time one on less money regardless of being on Mat leave. In a way Mat leave couldnt be better timed for me. I am not sure I am going to manage working another 7 weeks seeing as I am now 31 weeks.... Whats the general consensus on starting Mat leave? When is best?

Not sure but I finish Friday on AL (30 weeks) till I start ML (38 weeks) I am exhausted and the 4 hour commute is killing me, I so cannot wait!!! I have so much stuff to do in my time off I am going to be busy, busy but figure minus the commute will give me endless energy fx

Oh and Tjuice thanks for that :)

TJuice let me know how the chilli turns out! Sure to be yummy! And glad to be of service with the steriliser tip!

H007 I too was laughing at the picture in my head of the orange dog! (Sorry voodoo!)

Voodoo I'm sure there are rules about lighting bonfires after a certain time at night, as me and DH checked the ruls on our local council website before lighting some bonfires recently. not sure if it's the same for every council, but you should check online and report them everytime as mrsA says. I don't think you need to tell htem who you are.

Snoozle I was going to ask the same about a pram suit... now assuming these are the same thing???

MrsA We've had our reusables delivered today. We've gone for this ...(never posted alink before hope this works) and sure this is defo the cheapest/best value you can buy these nappies at aswell. It's £249 for just the standard kit in tescos without the bucket and everything. We had a demo in store on how to use these and it looked realy easy. We've also checked the replacemnet liners can be bought in the likes of tescos/wilkos/toysrus.

Cali i love that ' i won't let them get you! He sounds like a superhero!

I'm working up to a week before my due date, but the last week will be working from home (hopefully) and the week before that is holiday! Had to take it a bit earlier rather than right at start of mat leave as if baby girl comes early i risk loosing holiday, as we're only allowed to carry 5 days forwards to next year.
But I'm not sticking to that definitely, if I want to have the last week off I will!

Blimey I have a week off decorating and avoiding the computer and another Nov baby arrives! Congrats Poppet, Willow looks adorable and very tiny!

I'm also part of the windy club, currently outranking my OH and Dad :)

Now 30+3, and according to the mw last week am 'normal' in every aspect, weight, fundus height, heartbeat, blood pressure etc, etc... GTT results ok, no MRSA etc, etc... But do have low iron levels so have to pick up a prescription after work :(

Caz I wish we could have a 4D scan of Fidget, but OH has other plans for the money - new carpet!!

i have 41/2 weeks left before leave, i'll be about 35 weeks.

poppet your cuddles sound just blissful! Glad she's doing well.

chip I hope the breastfeeding improves, sounds like she's doing all the right things she just needs to get a bit bigger!

caz your surprise shower sounds lovely, how very thoughtful. I love the cake! I think a 4d scan is a perfectly reasonable idea, and will hopefully give you a little peace. We had one and it was lovely, although I understand you're going for different reasons.

Weeing....OMG I could wee for Britain!! Except half the time when I feel utterly desperate, I go and there is barely a trickle! It's a nightmare if pup is putting pressure on my bladder...or even better booting me in it!!!

And sleep!!! Don't get me started on sleep! Or lack there of it! Finally dropped off at about 6am this morning!!! WTF!!! Utter zombie today, but thankfully could work from home!!!

TJuice I too am completely not ready!!! I still have a bathroom that needs the tiling finishing, bath plumbing and repainting. I've been through and cleared out half the attic (completely busting at the seams and need the storage) So need to do the other other half and then need to fill, decorate etc nursery!!! We've only bought the pram and a steriliser...and various grows!!! So lots to buy yet!!! I'm thinking I have plenty of time..... As long as he doesn't arrive early!!!

cep I'm thinking snow suit, although that link is soooooo cute!!! Just think a snowsuit is more like a coat so you can easily carry him/her in it without it coming loose. I have a snowsuit, although having said that my friend said she didn't use hers -dd born in jan!

I can't believe people are preparing for mat leave!!! I'm sooooo I have 8 wks left (although only 7 working wks) HOO7 I don't envy your 4th comment. Mine is on average an hour each way and that takes it's toll!!!

MrsA I have emailed you the midwive's details, I hope you can get something worked out to have your baby at home.

FWIW I would have continued with a HB if my GTT had come back higher than normal if everything else in my pregnancy had gone fine (no convincing signs of macrosomic baby, no problems with my health).

CEP the holiday (if camping can be called that) was lovely, even at 7 months pregnant. We did come back a day early though because DD was just too lively and we were exhausted! I honestly could not face retrieving my 2yr old from another tree!

collie I am with you completely on the sleep thing. I am exhausted but like you, working from home which - although lots of phone calls and emails etc - means I can relax a bit, avoid the commute and didn't have to attempt any make up. There isn't enough concealer in the world to cover these dark circles.

My DD is a Jan baby and I found it really tricky to put her little bendy arms into a snow suit. Legs were easier but arms, nightmare. Coats were the same. We'll probably still buy one though, I don't know what the alternative would be.

MrsA Have you visited Cheeks & Cherries website? I had some odd nappies from there when I saw them on offer and built up a collection of nappies. The ones I'd really recommend are close parent dream-dri and Issy Bear. Wee Notions also get great reviews but I don't have any of those, they sell them through their own site though. I also had some tots bots nappies with motherease wraps. TBH, I didn't find any of them to be awful. Close Parent were possibly the best all-rounder - no leaks etc, didn't take long to dry after the wash, easy to assemble.

I am 32+4 now and have less than 3 weeks left in work. I cannot wait. My boss (I did ramble on about her trying to pressure me into working up to my due date and coming back a few months post birth) just got worse and worse and has now asked HR if she has to keep a post for me for when I return from mat leave. HR replied that, yes, it is the law. I called them myself and asked if there would be any likelihood of a similar post but in another less sexist team. They have agreed so instead of travelling 30 miles to work I'll only have to go 9 miles. So good news all round.

Has anyone got a birth pool and attempted a dry-run, so to speak? We have inflated but not filled it yet. I think we need to do it to test the boiler and see how long it takes overall. I am not looking forward to it really. Any tips?

Lovely to see Pam and Knocked up at sling meet yesterday- sorry no shout out post from me today- just a quick catch up.

I had an unfortunate incident where I did a tiny little pump at work last week and ended up engulfed in a huge cloud of stinking smell. Two colleagues were two desks away and couldn't even hide their horror. It really was a bad one and it lingered for a long time. We laughed a lot though.

Where are ziggi and terrys? sorry but everytime there is a significant absence now I begin to wonder if there has been a birth!

kellykettle who were you before (before you were hollyholidays or summan?) i mean originally? all the name changes flummox my wee head...

MrsA I started with plain 'pre folds' rather than shaped ones, found they fitted much better on a wee tiny tiny baby bum! But once DD was up a bit, I liked Tots Bots, they were a great fit, and they did some super cute wee wraps. The ones I liked best were made from bamboo, but since then they have brought out a microfibre range, which my sister used on her son and said were fantastic, as they dry so quickly. He is potty training now, so I'm hoping they find their way over to my house......! I never bought a birth to potty set as I was afraid to spend that much money on something that might not suit, so to be honest I just bought a few here and there whenever I saw something that I fancied trying, and it didn't take long to gather up quite a collection. I am as enthustiastic about 'real' nappies as you are about homebirth - its my 'thing' , I found they really worked for me, and for DD, no leaks (well, there is always the odd one, but generally no leaks) and no nappy rash, and were just as convenient as disposables, so I have no complaints at all. And they are so big and fluffy and super cute......

Folic yes, HappyHollydays and DirgeInVegas. I think need to update the stats...

Aaha dirgeinvegas of course!

Afternoon all,

sorry I missed the edinburgh meet, did way too much on Saturday and Sunday and am feeling it now, especially as bump is head down and likes to get right into my pelvis, ouch!!!

I'm finishing up at 36 weeks, was originally going to be 38 weeks, but am tired already and uncomfortable and the thought that I can mooch about at my own pace in four and a half weeks is one of the main things keeping me going at the moment!!!

I've bought a bunch of second hand reuseable nappies from my sis in law and a couple of friends, have a full set of the bambino's, some pocket ones and the other shaped ones, so should be able to try them out and see which ones suit. Am a bit clueless about the whole thing, so have also bought one packet of newborn disposable nappies, just in case I start getting overwhelmed with things!!! There are loads of schemes around promoting reuseables, Perth has a nappicino once a month, which I'd like to go to to see about other types and covers etc.

A while ago I bought an adorable snow suit and now have been given two more, so it better be a cold winter up our way so I can get some use out of them!!!

KellyKettle is my camping name change that I've not been imaginative enough to change

Nappies We've bought 3x26 disposable (but biodegradable!) nappies in the Boots sale, and have borrowed a no-name set of reusables to start when we're a bit more confident that we won't drop Sprout on the head... But that Bambino Mio set looks really good value for money!

Thanks for the info kelly I've dropped her an email, so will see what she says.

We've just bought a load of camping gear on the cheap (end of line stuff etc) and are intending going camping for 3 nights in a couple of wks as a tester to see if we like it. I'll be 32 wks, will be taking 3 year old DD and sleeping on an airbed. Are we mad?!

And having done lots of research, I think I've decided Tots Bots Bamboozle stretch may work for us. Might buy one to see and go from there.

Am super jealous of the camping trip! My beloved tent hasn't had a trip out this year :-( gutted! Roll on next summer! The squidgey one will fit in somehow....
Scary times, my 13 year old son starts high school tomorrow. I'm excited for him and terrified in equal measure! Had an emergency dash to get him new school shoes when he had shoe drama tonight. His shoes are a mans size 9, the boots we bought are a 10..... My god. I'm not very tall (5'4) and he is easily 5'7/8 now. Hope everything is great for him, it's a really progressive school which is ideal as he has language and communication issues and is really dyslexic. They teach differently to other schools in the area and I'm hoping their methods are effective and help him engage! His reading and comprehension age is 15.1 but because of his dyslexia etc he often gets left behind so fingers crossed ladies and bumps if you could be so kind! Another epic post.... Sorry!

Voodoo, best of luck to your son, am sure he will be brilliant at school and love it!

We tried camping last summer but one of our dogs spent the whole night listening out for people walking past and woofing at them - never again, hoping to be able to afford a caravan in the next year or two, either that or specially adopted ear plugs for medium sized jack russells!!!

I want to be in bed... not at work :(

that's all i have to say this morning!

Awwww I'm very jealous of the camping trip, last summer me and the OH travelled around Scotland for a week or so just threw the tent in the back of the car and camped in a different spot every night it was absolutely beautiful. Earlier in the year at 4 months I camped supporting the John O'Groats to Land's End cycle ride not so nice mainly because I needed an air bed rather than a mat so ended up sleeping in the mini bus, didn't have any of my comforts and were up at 6am for showers and working till 10/11pm.... Would love to go on a nice relaxing break somewhere with beautiful views :)

How old do Beans have to be before you take them camping? As I know they struggle with regulating body temp.

Goodluck for your son voodoo I'm sure he'll love it, my nephew was in a similar situation unfortunately his learning difficulties are yet to be diagnosised but he went to a progressive secondary school last year and it's been the making of him, he loves it and has made loads if friends and has been encouraged by staff to join the sports and drama clubs, this is a complete turn around as he found junior school really frustrating as they wouldn't really allow him to get his words out so he stopped speaking as such.

I have my 28 week appointment today so no work :) so in my last full week only doing 4 days hehe. It is also the first appointment OH is comin to except scans I figure he could ask MW questions rather than bug me with them haha.

For our babymoon my OH and me are going on random dates, it's my turn to choose this time and I am thinking about taking him to Longleat for the day, it's somewhere we both have mentioned we'd like to go and it will be a while before Bean is old enough to appreciate it, however I am a little worried about my car haha.

And on the kitten situation as I finish work Friday we are going to view one this evening :) and it's one that OH has choosen!

Staceroo I totally hear you there!! 21 days of work to go and counting!!

Feeling so sick, anyone else' nausea come back with a vengeance in third trimester?

H007 Have a look at these stories about camping with baby: kidsinthewoods.com/

Pandia Sprout is pushing up on my stomach - I get so nauseous! I didn't have any morning sickness though - paying for it now!

Had my 31week appt with GP today; all well with baby :)

Since starting meds I have had a few side effects & alongside generally struggling with work she has signed me off for at least 2weeks. So 2weeks no work, possible 2.5weeks work then 3.5weeks AL, then Mat leave :D

mrsa nappies - with DS I brought 1or 2 of a couple of different types and tried once I had decided which I liked the best I brought a lot of those; It worked well and meant minimal money was wasted on nappies I didn't like (truthfully there weren't any I didn't like but some were a lot easier than others).

caz hope you enjoy your 4D look at Xander, can definitely understand your need to see him. Glad you had a good day with the baby shower, sounds absolutely lovely.

Kelly am looking at having a pool for homebirth (my MW have one that can be loaned) but not sure how easy it will be to fill/empty??

voodoo hope your son gets on well with school

H007 yay for kitten. Baby & camping = whenever you feel ready, friends have been camping since their LO was 4 months but they would have done it sooner if it was a summer baby. If you are sensible with the clothes & blankets and check if baby too hot/cold there is no reason you can't go early on.