TTC 6 mths+ GRADS THREAD

[Biscuitsandtea]

Afternoon.

I thought I'd start a Grads thread for those of us previously on the TTC 6 mths+ thread. I've been lurking on the ttc thread recently to see how everyone is getting on (having only very recently qualified to move off it!) and a few people were saying what a nice idea it would be if there was a grads thread so we don't lose each other.

Anyway, would be lovely to hear from other lovely ladies that were on that thread - or even if you were never on the ttc thread but had a sticky time of it getting your bfp then come and settle down with a decaf cuppa for a chat.

Just popping in to see if mini doll has arrived on Halloween?!

Waves and luffs to all. Will catch up properly later x

art so good to hear for you and sympathies on the limpet baby - Hamish is quite a content wee soul, but DS1 only really took naps on me or in the buggy so generally I didn't really get much time (and as you say, there is always laundry and dishes - always!)

Definitely try a few brands of the real nappies to get the one that suits you. As I've probably mentioned earlier we got a sample pack of 6 nappies (one was a simple fleece one that you used with a wrap, and i really liked it (was so soft and quick to dry) but I felt it'd be a bit of a pfaff if I had loads of them - although in hindsight I think a separate system would probably be fine) of the other 4, I liked the itti bitti primarily due to looks (if I'm honest!) and the other 3 always leaked, I just couldnt' get them not to leak. I then tried the bumgenius vs3 and that worked for me and my son, but might not work for everyones baby - definitely a case of trial and error and if you can get to try some second hand rather than buying new (in case they don't work out) I'd do so.

Boring (probably patronising nappy tips coming up as you probably already know all this) Are you making sure you're only using a 1/4 of the washing powder when you wash the nappies? And are you using powder rather than washing liquid? Real nappies can get bunged up when too much detergent is used, it affects their absorbency (same thing happens to towels which is why some towels start to smell fusty).

You can 'strip' the detergent out by doing 3 x 60c washes with no detergent or for a one off measure (you might want to check with the nappy manufacturers for the nappies you're using) you can wash them with no detergent but with a dishwashing tablet and then rinse thoroughly, that also strips out the detergent if you've accidentally used too much.

Not sure how much time you're getting on your nappies before they leak, but with bumgeniuos I can get 2.5-3hours (3 hours maximum) before I need to change - as long as I change every 2.5 hours I'm fine (I'm sure I used to get 4 hours out of them first time round, but well, that's how it's working now). And as I say, I use a disposable at night as we had also bought bamboo soakers but they made the nappy to bulky it was ridiculous and there was no way was disturbing sleep to change wet nightclothes
:-D

So glad you and mini art are doing okay and it's great to hear from you.

doll make sure you post as soon as you've given birth just to keep us in the loop...

Dear all, I'm so sorry to have disappeared off the face of the earth, its all been much tougher than I expected. Our wee man is now 15 weeks (how did that happen!) I think the last time I checked in was about 8 weeks of age or thereabouts and I was still struggling with sore nipples perhaps? The breast feeding is now v easy, he continues to gain weight and is much more grown up. He's not a great sleeper - we had about a week of amazing sleep (10-6) but then he had a cold and vaccines and it has been rubbish ever since! Ah well, at least I know he can do it! The 12 week mark did see an end of the awful screaming for no reason if anyone has one of those babies... that at least was true.. but it didn't result in an amazing sleeping baby...

However, since then I've had lots of concerns about him not making eye contact/engaging/smiling at me, but was reassured by lots of people. Also my NCT group all had babies between 2-5weeks older so when I compared him to their babies, I kept thinking, 'but they are older'. However, I finally went to stay with a GP friend of mine for a few days a couple of weeks ago. She has 4 babies, including one who was blind at birth, but developed vision late at 3 months. She confirmed my concerns that our baby was not seeing. So we managed to swing an appointment with the ophthalmologist last week who agreed he wasn't seeing. He does seem to see light if in a dark room, but otherwise nothing. As his eyes are normal in structure and he is growing normally, and is otherwise developing normally, it is likely to be something called delayed visual maturity. But it is a wait and watch thing (bit like being sent off to TTC for another 6 months.. ) Patience is not a virtue of mine. I'm devastated and cried solidly for 48 hours last week. Now I just cry off and on. Especially when I go to baby groups and see other babies interacting with their Mum's. It is very hard to not have your baby smile at you. He does actually smile lots - mainly in response to touch/voice, but never when looking at us. Hopefully he will start to see in the next 6 months, but my heart is a bit broken currently. It all feels a bit unfair - as if it wasn't rubbish enough not falling into the 'sniff and fall pregnant category' but to have all this anxiety now

It has been lovely reading the thread, but I'm so far behind! Few things jumped out (and I can't remember who said what, I'm sorry!). We live on the fourth floor - there is a lift, but the buggy only fits in collapsed and I do have to cart it up stairs into the building. We have a babyjogger mini city. It is super easy to collapse and quite light - certainly possible to carry in one hand and have the baby in the other.
We have a Beco carrier - like an Ergo - and love it! Best buy ever (it is the only thing we bought new - everything else was passed down or second hand!).
Position/engaged head doesn't seem to have any relation to labour.
NCT nearly new sales are amazing for bargains!
I only have 2 breastfeeding tops (from jojomaman etc) with slits in- hate them, particularly in the beginning when you feel like you need 8 hands! vest under top or shirt is the way forward, one down, one up... keeps tummy covered. Also a bebe-au-lait scarf in the beginning, - now I just flash my boobs and don't care - nipple usually covered by baby head!
I will go back and read the thread more thoroughly but hope everyone is well.

Oh mellow I am so sorry you're having this worry about your little man's sight. I'm sure it's really hard playing the waiting game for his eyes to catch up. I have heard that it's a real milestone when your baby smiles at you, after all the slog of having a newborn, and I can imagine it would be incredibly painful not to have that response from him yet. I'm so sorry honey, I wish you didn't have this worry, and I hope that his vision normalises soon.

princess sorry you've had a rough week - you are always welcome to come on here and chat to us. I think sometimes because we're so grateful to have our babies, we feel bad about talking about having a tough time, but you know we understand! I'm sure having a baby and breastfeeding plays havoc with your hormones.

eleth you are the font of all baby wisdom and it's awesome to have your advice on all the baby nappy stuff and the SPD. Thank you. Thanks also for the advice on the sacrum pain- I will definitely tell the midwife at my next check up. Glad H's cold has gotten better - I hope he gives you some sleep too!

art good to know about mini art's nocturnal nature. The midwife told me I was anaemic and your story has pushed me into getting some iron supplements which I'd been too lazy to do before. Having just seen a newborn the other night, I was amazed at how tiny and creature-like they are. I did read about the 'fourth trimester' and how they're basically almost not designed to be out of the womb yet when they are that small. I don't know how people manage when they have toddlers as well. Mini art's hair is awesome, by the way.

gin hope you're doing ok and that your little lady is on her way to turning tail up!

doll thinking of you and hoping you're ok and mini doll is imminent.

Love to sar, teu, buzzy and others. Hoping we get lemon and madness on here soon - and all the other amazing 10 plussers. Please bring us some more long awaited BFPs!

All well here apart from the bum pain, which seems to have coincided almost exactly with the start of the third trimester. I passed the gestational diabetes test and had my shot for being Rh negative. Work still super busy and they haven't sorted out a replacement for me yet, but hoping things will be all sorted out by Christmas in terms of ongoing projects. Can't wait for things to be a bit calmer. I keep on feeling stressed by things and then stressing that I'm passing on that stress to the baby! I guess parental guilt starts early.

I'm only here very quickly for now, mellow I'm thinking of you, worries about such things are so very difficult and do put other things into perspective. I wish you strength and a good outcome.

Tiny Doll did not make Halloween, but did arrive at 4am this morning. Nothing went to plan, of course, but he is here none-the-less. He is one of those old-man-baby types. And very cross. I can't write more right now because my fingers are too weak I'm nil by mouth (and don't know why) my average time between contractions during active labour was 2.5 mins and I just couldn't eat. I've had nothing now for over 24 hours.

OMG! doll congrats!! Am so pleased for you and your family. I'm sure he's a cutie. Hope you aren't feeling too shitty and knackered. Over here I think they insist on you eating during/after labour. Lots of luffs xx

doll that's fantastic news!

How amazing - you must be over the moon!

Sorry about the nil by mouth - I sympathise with the hunger, I managed to eat a bar of chocolate during my labour (was feeling weak during the contractions and very tired so figured a sugar rush would perk me up), it gave me lots of energy, but sadly my body puked it up just before the hard pushign started - i was then taken to the ward etc, and realised I had no food with me and didn't want to bother people at 10pm etc, so didn't get anythign until morning - I was ravenous (24 hours without food is hell to me :-D

Hopefully they'll feed you soon - (hamish was also a bit of an old man baby - in fact in one of his first baby pictures he looked like a wise old man of the desert (probably something to do with the way the midwife had wrapped him up :-)

mellow I'm am so sorry about your little boys delayed sight - I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be. However, on the positive side, whilst waiting for good stuff can be crap (we're all testament to that) from reading your post it does sound like it might rectify itself? (really hope I've not misread that) And if he is smiling in relation to touch/noise that must be a good thing and means you can still communicate with him? - although that's probably small consolation :-(

Really hoping you get your first eye contact smile soon. I do feel its unfair that any of the grad babies on this post have problems especially after all the heartache it's taken to get here.

Yay doll! Hurrah! November 1st is a fab birthday, sorry about the nil by mouth but so pleased he is here at last. Lots of love.

mellow sorry to hear about your little boy

doll yay at last he is here :)

Doll - congratulations, so pleased for you.

mellow - I can understand the tears and heartbreak. How unfair, but it sounds like it will sort itself eventually. I will stay positive for you. Xx

Doll woohoooo! Tiny doll is here at last! He's sounds super cute. Look forward to hearing all about him. What does his big brother think? Huge congrats to you, Ken, mini and tiny doll xxxx

Mrs M I'm so sorry. It's really, really unfair. Lots of love to you and Mr M. I'm keeping the faith, like the others that everything will correct itself. Crying is totally normal and you sound like you're being amazingly strong.

gin your picture on the other place is gorgeous :) you look really happy and glowing. I hope that you put that up somewhere in your house. It's testament to a lot of hardwork and tenacious-ness working off.

Right, I'm glad it's the weekend and mr p can be hands on. I've has not a lot of sleep as mini princess is favouring all night dining and all day playing I was toying with taking her to the Royal Pavillion (I've lived in / near Brighton for 8 years and have never been) - well more for me really - and then I read about 70 course banquets !! Better not give her any ideas!

Waves and loves to all xxx

Congrats Doll! Hope all is going well! I remember the hunger. In fact there is a cheese shop across from Chelsea and Westminster where I delivered and my DH was sent there the after labour to get gooey 'unsuitable for pregnant ladies' cheese - the best meal ever!

princess weekends are amazing aren't they - I'm usually so excited by Friday lunchtime to know there'll be another pair of hands and someone to chat to all day soon!

Mellow - love the gooey cheese story. This reminds me I need to have well stocked kitchen cupboards if I get my home birth so I can choose what random foods I want and plenty of 'em. How are you feeling now? Really hope the shock of little mellows vision problems have worn off. Are there any websites or support groups you can access? Really hope this resolves and from what you say hopefuly it will. I am thinking of you.

gin - gosh that really is a beautiful photo. Might try and get mr sar to recreate one for me. Nice maternity top too. When can you next get the midwife to palate and check for position? If little gin is kicking your ribs I wonder if she is now head down. Often you can feel the head and back yourself if you press firm. That spinning babies website critter recommends is really good and teaches you to work out position plus how to encourage movement in to head down position. Birthing balls are also good for this. But either way there is still time. Baby sar is head down but not in the birth canal I dont think so in theory could still flip around.

Artemis - lovely to hear from you. Little art clearly loves her mummy. Thank you for the sling advice. I might be able to meet you and the little one for a cheeky coffee and cake in about 3-4 weeks if you are able to? I didnt realise you had been anaemic in the early days, that sounds tough.

critter - hooray for finding a doola who sounds like they will fit right in. I think you are going to be a very confident and instinctive mother.

eleth - fab to hear from you as always. You are a real source of knowledge. Does the limited use of washing powder extend to all baby clothes?

Doll - I noticed on the other thread that you are a bit poorly and in hospital. I Do hope you make a speedy recovery. Not fun to be in hospital when you have a new born. Sending you and the little old man big hugs.

buzz- hope you are well and mat leave is in sight??

princess - so glad the house finishes are in sight. It all sounds idyllic but we know how hard you worked to get to this point in more ways than one.

All fine here. I havent worried any more about the baby's slightly dilated kidney which I guess puts an end to if I should do anything. The cramps and searing pains have eased off so whatever they were cant be too significant. Had a big shopping trip this weejend and now nearly ready with baby paraphernalia. Work is still incredibly stressful and I am very involved in sorting out my mat leave cover which has been left dangerously close. Even been working on my days off / weekends. But on the upside, i am learning loads and feel far morre confident around bitchy lazy senior colleagues.

My energy levels are phenomenal. Like nothing I have had before. Im like a duracel bunny but I know im going to crash and burn if im not careful. Bought some raspberry leaf tea this week to start next week. Sometimes I get multiple (painless) braxton hicks in an hour but I hear this is good and can help to speed up the time you are in labour. Anyway waves to all, wishing you alk a good week.

Quickie from me.

sarlat no the 1/4 washing powder rule only relates to cloth nappies, you can use the normal amount for baby clothes.

It does affect towels too though as a build up of detergent stops your towels absorbency and bacteria can build on them so that even through freshly laundered, once they get damp once they smell fusty. I've recently had to treat my towels with baking soda and vinegar to strip out all the detergent and stop them smelling (works a treat).

I'm amazed at your energy levels sound like a proper late pregnancy boost (due to the m/s I always found I had way more energy in the third trimester than the first two - although my achy groins did get worse - ah well, swings and roundabouts). Try not to do too much though (easier said than done, eh?)

How long do you have left at work before you finish up?

Thanks eleth. So that's why towels go funny!! I do need to slow down, just feel like things are getting thrown at me from all angles with high expectations. I realise some of this will be in my head. got 2.5 weeks left to work. Mentally I am ready to go now. Although I suspect I will need time to wind down before it all feels real.

Midwife yesterday confirmed head is down but free. The period pains accompanied by sharper lower pains are the baby's head nuzzling down and thinking about moving in to the birth canal she thinks. But none of this relates to timmings of the birth, just baby exploring.

sar love the expression ' baby's head nuzzling down' made me feel all warm and fuzzy :-)

2.5 weeks isn't long to go at all (I have to say I was the opposite of you in late pregnancy, I found work motivation very hard to come by as I was so obsessed by the idea of that baby first time round - worked slightly harder this time though :-)

Do you have much time to relax before your due date? With you being lost in your work it probably will take a bit of time to step back from it when you're off and wallow into pregnancy. Mr E treated me to a pregnancy massage and my family got me a pregnancy beauty session for my maternity leave and it was great, really helped me chill out and relax (and it was lovely to feel pampered - also you don't get much chance to do it once the baby arrives so if you can manage it, I'd totally recommend something similar :-)

Congrats Doll! Nil by mouth can't be fun. I thought my 67ml water per hour for the first 48 was bad enough. Treated it like the finest Pinot
Mellow That is a hard thing to deal with on top of everything. I hope that it resolves soon. Hugs.
I have read so hi to all, but haven't had a chance to add anything as a small boy usually wakes just as I'm about to.
Cloth nappy debate, I have TotsBots but mini Teu has a keen sense of clean and objects vociferously as soon as he is wet in them (even with the fleece liners). I'm persevering, not too bad if round the house. We were using Naty (same issue but a little time lag) and now use an NZ brand of bio nappy (also same issue but with a time lag). The disposables get collected and composted so don't go to landfill.
Fair to say I've not had the best of time adjusting to this new role and am still struggling. Relevant parties have me on a watch for PND. My folks have been here for the past 3 weeks but fly home Saturday. Not looking forward to being on my own again next week. Mr Teu isn't as engaged as I had hoped. Improving, but still not great. My brain freezes with indecision when faced with a crying lad and I feel pretty stupid most of the time (even though apparently I'm doing a good job). So I continue to have mini Teu at arms length and do this job because I can't resign from it. And it is sad and upsetting that I feel that way because he is the most perfect little boy.
Anyway, we are booked to fly home for Christmas 8 December, hooray! 28hr flight with 4mth old (not so hooray). Hoping his tooth has come through by then - yep, he's getting his first tooth!

teuchter so sorry you're feeling a bit overwhelmed just now. Glad that you're being watched for PND, to be honest if I were you, I'd go and speak to someone about it now as (from your post) you sound as if you might be heading down that route and while I have no first hand experience of PND, a scary number of my friends have had it, and all of them have said that even having that first conversation with their GP/HV where they talk about how their feeling was a huge weight off.

One of my friends has been on medication for it the last 4 months (the lowest dose available) and she says it makes a huge difference, even though some days she still wakes up knowing it will be a hard day. Another friend wanted to stay off the medication (she has been on anti-depressants in the past and wanted to stay clear) but she felt much better being able to talk about it all and had regular appts with GP for a few months until she felt she was over the worst (which wasn't until her maternity leave was over and she went back to work, and she looks back now and thinks that she 'wasted' her maternity leave as she spent it filled with anxiety.

In both cases, my friends were great mums (one had 3 boys under 3 and is still an inspiration to me on how she copes) and did the job great, but their joy of their little ones and maternity leave was tainted by their own feelings of anxiety and worry.

I don't want to scare anyone into seeking help they don't need, but both friends said they wished they'd spoken to someone about it sooner.

Fantastic that your nappies get composted - that's brilliant and makes eco-disposables so worth while.

Hope you're okay when your folks leave and at least you have xmas to look forward to (i'm sure the flight will be fine - okay, I'm lying, I'm sure of no such thing, but wanted to offer some kind of reassurance :-D

Teu - im sorry things are feeling bleak and hard work. I have no doubt that you are doing a terrifuc job as mini teu seens to be thriving and certainly knows his own mind. But the sad feelings / possible pnd must be reallly really hard to deal with especially when you are so far from home. I dont know much about pnd but I know its common and there is loads of help and hope. These feelings wont last forever. And im sure mr teu will get in to the swing of things soon. Maybe a good break away will do you both good. As for the flight, lots of feeding is the way forward I understand. My friend who is a flight attendant tells me she and her colleagues love babies (she does long haul) on the flights and will often offer to hold the baby and let the parents have a little rest. Hang on in there. Get all the help you can. Lots of walks out in the fresh air. Maybe book a massage / facial before or during your trip home. Take care honey.

The wayward womb strikes again. Yesterday I had 7 in a row contractions which lasted a minute ish over the space of about 40 minutes. They peak and trough and like period pains but I can talk through them. But really they still dont mean anything. My stomach does harden during these contractions but I also get plenty of regular and not painful braxton hicks at other times which makes me think these are different, practice labour maybe. Anyone else get these early? I am 34 weeks but had them on and off for 2 weeks.

Hi sar, that's funny, I had a load of braxton hicks yesterday! I had a tiny bit of period pain, but they were more the tightening ones, which also felt a bit stabby, like I had stitch. I'd had a busy day and think they were brought on by being on my feet too much and possibly a bit of dehydration. Some time slumped on the sofa when I got home got rid of them. Do call your MW if you are worried though. I was told they shouldn't be painful or that the pain shouldn't get increasingly worse.

I can't believe your energy levels! Makes up for the months of crappy MS you had. I have nooo energy at all and can't wait to finish work a week today, so can do bugger all :)

teu sorry to hear you are feeling overwhelmed. ele has offered some good advice. It must be so hard being so far from family. Hopefully the Xmas break will be just what you need and you can make DH take charge of the baby, whilst you have a good rest.

ele I've started to get an achey groin/pelvis now, though it seems to ease with some movement. Am hoping it's the pelvis opening up! How's your not so little any more man doing? How old is he now? Is he on the weening stage?

princess did you go to the royal pavilion? I've never been either and heard it's v good. Ha ha at it giving mini P ideas about feasting. She'll also be demanding a gilt crib and furs :) Sorry to hear about the anxiety creeping back in. With the exhaustion and lack of sleep, I'm sure it's very normal to feel that way. I know I'm a wreck without enough sleep next few months could be interesting

doll I really do hope you are ok lovely. Sorry to hear you aren't well (on t'other Fred) and hope you are now recovering. How's tiny doll doing?

critter hope that work has calmed down a bit. When will you be finishing up for mat leave? I'm sure you'd have to be super super stressed for it to pass onto the baby. Will your parents come over for the birth? My mum's coming to ours. As I have to have antibiotics as soon as my waters go, I could be in hospital a v long time, so extra company will be appreciated and means Mr G can have a break raid m&s

mellow so sorry to hear about the possible problems with baby M's sight. It does sound like it should resolve itself though? Although I know that wouldn't stop me worrying. I love your gooey cheese story. I have to admit to having bought some pink champers for the hospital bag.

Waves to everyone else.

All ok here. At a gp antenatal check, the dr said the baby is lying diagonally across me. Her head is lower than the bum she thought, but it's still a transverse position. She has about another week to get into position before they start talking about other means of delivery.

The dr also said something about growth at the top of the bump not being quite what it should, but she didn't appear to use a tape measure at any point! V odd, esp as when I measure it, the bump is huge and there's no baby at the top, as she's transverse. Anyway we have our scan booked from when they thought I may have blood flow issues next week, so they'll be able to check out position and size then.

Am looking forward to a weekend of sorting out the spare room/nursery. I have soooo much stuff (as does the baby now) and nowhere to put it! Mr G has been cramming it all in the attic... Hope you all have nice weekends x

teu big hugs, it is hard to know how you will actually feel when the baby arrives, when I was really ill a few weeks back I worried how I would feel being totally fatigued and having to deal with a baby and how I would feel about her, sorry about Mr Teu, he really does need to support you. ele has offered good advice, best to be supported then try and cope on your own, not long till you come home too :)

Gin - I guess these cramps / twangs are normal at our stage and even a bit reassuring. I think your bump is beautiful! So little gin is lying sideways. I reckon its worth trying a few positions ( getting on all fours is one) as the spinning babies website recommends just to see if a little nudge will get her in to position. But I think some babies are also destined not to turn and like to do their own thing. Either way as long as she is happy and healthy. Good luck for next weeks scan.

I found a spot of dark red blood last night. Midwife isnt keen to rush me in but need to rest a bit more - suits me. There isnt a clear reason for the blood ( no intercourse etc) but im wondering now if its a small bit of mucus plug, especially considering the 7 x contractions the day before. Sure it will mean nothing overall as baby's head isn't engaged.

Buzz - wanted to say its brilliant that you are feeling better overall. Long may it continue.

sar I'm sorry about the spot of blood and the contractions - I'm sure that's scary even if it is only a spot, given what you've been through to get here - it's great that the midwife thinks you should rest more and doesn't seem too concerned. When do you start maternity leave? You're really on the home stretch honey and your baby will be here before you know it. I hope you're going to have a decent chunk of time off. Thank you also for what you said about thinking I would be a confident and instinctive mother. That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I was really touched. Also jealous that you and art might have a northern meet up!
I'm very impressed at your energy levels - sounds like you are killing it at work! I feel like these past few months I've worked harder than I ever have too, there must be something psychological about wanting to prepare to have everything done before the baby arrives. I am going to bed at 9pm though!

buzz are you feeling a little better? Hope all's well - you've had such a rough ride with this pregnancy but you seem really happy and it's so lovely that Barry is looking forward to meeting mini buzz so much.

teu oh honey, sorry to hear you are feeling blue. I hear that postpartum hormones go all over the place, and what with being so far away, I bet that compounds things. I am sure that you're an amazing mum to little A - you must feel isolated being so far from your family, and I know I often get sad when mine come and visit and then leave again. I am sure I will have similar feelings once my baby arrives, as a fellow ex pat. But you're doing a fantastic job, and you'll get a lovely Scottish Christmas, which will be wonderful. I totally second eleth - get all the support that you can, even if you think you don't need it. New mums are vulnerable and need people looking after them!

doll I saw on the other thread that you'd been ill - hope you are ok and being well cared for. Thinking of you and tiny doll.

gin definitely try some cat and cow stretches. Little ginster may still wriggle around! You must be getting really close now - are you 35 weeks yet? I'm so excited that you and sar will be having Christmas babies - my birthday is in early December and I always loved it as a child. The whole month was exciting and sparkly and wonderful. I hope you can finish soon and get some rest and serious nesting done. I loved the photo of you on the other place, you look absolutely stunning, so serene and so happy. Like sar you inspired me to try to have a picture done while I still have a bump!

mellow I love your gooey cheese tale too and plan to replicate it with some raw milk cheese, pate, fruit and a bottle of really nice red wine when the baby arrives. Thinking of you lovely and hope your little man is doing well and that you're ok.

eleth I've been taking notes about the nappies and the washing powder! I have got a bit obsessed with washing stuff recently as I have managed to make our white sheets yellowy in patches due to using chlorine bleach instead of oxygen bleach. I'm still a washing novice, even in my 30s! Hamish sounds like he is super cute and growing a storm.

art loved the picture of you on FB with mini art - she is SO cute and you look really beautiful and glowy.

princess thanks so much for the book recommendations. I am definitely going to get some of those to read on my Kindle during December.

All well here, am going on a work trip tomorrow to a Latin American country for a week (will be just sitting in a hotel conference room, nothing exciting!). I will be 30 weeks on Wednesday. I'm going to be working right up to my due date, but I may ask to work from home for the last week or so if I get too uncomfortable, as I have to walk 20 mins to the bus stop and back every day. Hoping to get the big projects wrapped by Christmas, when I'll be 36 weeks, have a week off until New Year, and then just spend the last 3 weeks in Jan doing handover stuff to the two girls who're going to take over most of my work. I'm looking at daycare options which mostly have waiting lists of a year - boo. Hopefully will find somewhere we can afford that also isn't terrible, as the ones I've seen so far are a bit depressing - in office buildings with no windows - and you have to pay a big non-refundable deposit just to get on their waiting lists. Still, we will figure something out!

Quick question for eleth - my friends are asking me about a baby shower (I know, I know… but they're all American and horrified at the idea of not having one, which is really nice) and I was looking at the bum genius nappies you mentioned. What do I need to register for with them? They seem to have different kinds…. also what do you do with the dirty ones? Do you have a special bucket for them? I literally have no idea what I'm doing!