December 2011 - She Canna Take Much More, Cap'n...

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Betwee 8 and 12 weeks to go...and we're giving it all we've got!

I have lost a stone, but that's par for the course with me:)

Off to double check dentist appointments in a bit. Being without a phone is proving so irritating. Roll on Friday!

Cheep thanks for the link, will have a look when I get in:)

By the way, I had my flu jab on Friday, and have felt no adverse effects. Nothing at all. :)

Thanks Oi - I have mine on Friday - was starting to worry!
I have been getting sorted for hospital bag today, getting last bits. Does anyone know if breast shields are a good idea or just breast pads? I'm getting confused by all the stuff needed...
Also anyone have a view on night time sanitary towels vs proper mat towels?
I have my 32 week check up this week - where the hell is time going?
DH still no closer to signing off on my John Lewis wishlist (incl. Crib, Moses, in fact everything apart from hospital list which is absolutely my territory) - I just have to hope and pray I'm not early...

tyel how is work going today? i've raised the subject of starting to hand over some work as i'm knackered and spending half my 3 day week at antenatal appts is not really reducing my stress levels and they just came back with suggestions for me to increase my workload to finish off all the work so it doesn't need to be handed over and basically i have to man up. lovely

Bad luck hawthers - you must be really annoyed. I'm not being replaced - but only taking off 21 weeks. I've told them in writing that my team needs extra resource for existing work, and have told them that with some of the projects that we have identified to fix problems, I don't know when it will happen, as I won't be here... it seems to fall on deaf ears.

Just had 32 week appt. sample showing traces of glucose, but they don't seem overly concerned. Tensmachines she says you can't hire them until 37 weeks. (Is it me, or is everyone so much more relaxed about this than they should be? Don't they realise that some babies come early?!)
I measured 33cm today - which is odd because at 28 weeks I measured 34cm - and I'm lots bigger now. Baby is still head down, and little heart beat sounding good. :) I asked if weather affected movements as all our lo's had gone bonkers this eekend. She looked confused... I didn't push it.

Well I think I'm 'winning' on the weight front. I've put on 2st 3lb so far, but not too worried. I'm quite tall (5ft 10in) so guess I will put on a bit more. Also, I put on 3st with DD and it all came off again pretty easily, so fingers crossed it'll be the same again this time

oi am just fed up that they have all this lip service about being a great place to work and how much they care about their employees but at the end of the day apparently i just need to work harder

glad all sounding good re little one. am guessing your mw is rather old school but my lo is doing all sorts today - the moving is very odd - its like having a pet up my jumper!

The first of my company's "values" is Respect diversity - and we're always saying how our employees are our competitive advantage - a strength that our competitors can't replicate. Yet still, maternity leave is the UK legal minimum. Which is downright sexist, given I'm the breadwinner in this family and £128 per week doesn't pay anyone's mortgage! Grrrrr!!!

Just put in a higher offer on the house. Est agent thinks it will be rejected again, but I may hold out this time... It'll be tough convincing the mortgage people's valuers when they see it's a project... hmmmm. Exciting, scary times. I must be mad.

oimissus I think if your baby is born before 37 weeks the hospital won't let you use a tens machine, no idea why though so it might be worth trying to find out if there's a good reason if you're planning a home birth.

hawthers sorry you're having a crap time at work, I'm sure your employers care loads on paper. Apparently it doesn't get any easier once baby is here, my sister has just gone back after maternity leave, her employer has changed her role and kept on the person covering her maternity leave, needless to say she's not happy!

jomouse I used sanitary towels last time but have since discovered that stitches can get caught on them (though none of us will need them!) and that they can make it more difficult to detect an infection.

I bought 3 packs of 10 in boots last week, will that be enough for the first few days? How many has everyone else bought/is buying? I was planning to just use them for the first few days then use sanitary towels once the worst is over. We're probably 8 miles from the nearest place I can buy them rather than just sanitary towels so don't want to run out, but don't want to have far too many!

oimissus it sounds like you have a really good job, I can't believe you're only entitled to the minimum. I honestly don't see how they can expect anyone to survive on that a week, we've had to put some money aside so we have the equivalent of DH's weekly wages while he's on paternity leave, with me being a SAHM we just can't survive on that amount a week.

Good lick with the house bid oimissus. Hopefully they accept this time. v exciting times!

I still need to go back to the old thread and copy that hospital baggy thing. My hubby wants me to start packing the hospital bag now just in case !!!

it's so annoying. We're incurring all these extra expenses in preparing for the baby (nursery, pram, cot, hospital bag paraphernalia, etc etc etc, and we want a bigger house - so we're trying to save for the maximum deposit/to work on the house we buy, and then I'll have to keep some aside or find some way to pay the new mortgage for the statutory pay for 12 weeks. (I'm not even thinking about Christmas!) We'll find a way, we'll be fine, we'll struggle, it'll cost us. It's just so annoying that my company aren't prepared to do anything to support me. I've spoken to the CEO (my boss) in the US about this, he doesn't give a rat's arse, frankly. We don't have a global HR or a UK HR officer. Anyway, I had my week of upset about this a few weeks ago. There's no point getting angry about it now. I can hardly threaten to leave, no one's going to take me on in my present condition! And that bloody lottery win keeps eluding me!

If you company is American that explains it a bit Oi as most women there do go back after 6 weeks, no idea how that is possble though.

I have a few more packs of pads, maybe 6? I had a big tear and piles last time and found normal pads itched. I found some more expensive pads in mothercare, called natracare which were lovely and soothing but they don't seem to stock them now. The big thick pads also give a bit more cushioning whilst any soreness settles so I would buy plenty.

Hi all, gosh this thread moves quick you prolific posters you!

Just had my flu jab and hoping I won't feel off colour like some of you have. It didn't hurt anyway which is a bonus I suppose!

oi best of luck with your house, sounds like exciting times!

I've also had major probs sleeping, my hips are getting sore in the night and the pain wakes me up so I've given up sleeping on my side. Instead DH and I have constructed an elaborate pillow mountain so that I can sleep half sitting up. Sounds weird but it seems to work...

Weight-wise I've put on just over 1.5 stone although bump is still fairly compact, but am sure will explode soon enough when lo gets the next growth spurt!

Actually, has anyone found their appetite has dropped off recently? I'm not half as hungry as I have been, but thinking it's probably down to the shrinking space in my belly.

Def going to investigate those TENS machines on eBay, and starting natal tonight. So many things to do!

Right, back to the DIY/ ironing for me...sigh.

TTFN

I'm 5'10 too and was a size 12/14 within a healthy bmi (just) so keep thinking 2 stone not too bad but based on my starting weight I'll be about 15 stone by time I'm finished which is horrifying. Ah well not much I can do now apart from laying off the wispas and moving about more.

I am only 5'4 and I have put on a stone and I think 2 lbs. I had put on weight before I got pregnant though as I think I've said before, due to a combination of comfort eating when on fieldwork and then a leg injury which meant I couldn't walk for ages. So I am feeling like a proper blob and like you figgy have never been heavier. Sigh. I hope breastfeeding a) works for me and b) actually makes you lose some weight like they say (didn't happen for my sister, she didn't lose the weight until she stopped the breastfeeding, bizarrely).

Had the flu jab on Saturday and no side effects except a slightly sore arm in bed that night. But nothing major.

Hope the house works out Oi. It must be a bit stressful but also kind of exciting!

To make you feel better (?) I am a PhD student and get no maternity leave at all. So I am going to have to just be very frugal! I am working like mad at my PhD at the moment, having had a few slack months mainly due to those awful migraines, trying to get as much done as I can before baby gets here so I can finish as soon as possible afterwards and then try and get a job and an income!

I have put on 8lb so far this pg. I'm trying to keep to a stone only as i'm already overweight. I think running round after my toddler helps

I've put on a stone and a bit (but half of that was in the first 6 weeks!!). But I don't eat that much as my appetite is never great when I'm pregnant. I fully expect to put piles on when breastfeeding though, am kind of resigned to that, and then will hit the healthy-eating-and-exercise-DVD bender to get it all off when I've finished BFing. Unless by some miracle this one consumes twice as many calories and takes the weight off for me (not gonna happen!!)

And tomorrow is my sorting-the-attic day: wish me luck! Also More dropping in on my dad (who fortunately seems fine since getting home from hospital: he's a tough cookie.)

Good luck sorting the attic aethel - and be tough with yourself, no sentimental browsing through old stuff, otherwise you'll have spent two hours emptying one box in a big circle around you on the floor without actually achieving anything. (happens to me everytime!)
Good to hear your dad's making a good recovery too.
I'm hoping my day goes something like this:

1. Offer on house is accepted.

b. Mortgage phonecall application accepted

1. Solicitor instructed
2. Do some work :)

e. Get home with the motivation to start sorting through all our cupboards to get thinner for the move (without sentimentality interference!) DH is away for two nights, so I may be able to get something done.

Morning!

Great that your Dad is doing so well aethel erm, enjoy the attic! I need to swop DD2 into the next size clothes but have no motivation.

My plan for the day has gone out of the window as DP has gone to work with both of our bank cards for some reason so I can't get to home ed group. Not bothered though really, I'm utterly exhausted today. Revised plan involves cabbaging on the sofa drinking tea and ignoring the children.

He he he! Nice plan, msbuggy.

Morning ladies! Sorry I disappeared for a few days & thanks for thinking of me Bluebells :) Everything went fine with the scan. Placenta is clear of the cervix so I'm all go for a homebirth :o but orthodontist visit was pretty hardcore & wiped me out which is why I haven't posted. Also, baby changed position after ortho flipped me waaay too far back in the chair (still head down but back is now on my left side rather than right) & new position is very uncomfortable, at times quite painful :(

Scan was great though,we could see LO's face & wee balled up fists, so cute :) Everything measuring fine; weight is allegedly 4lb 10oz

I've been getting loads of BH which are fine but give me really nasty back pain. The only way I can seem to get rid of them is lying on my side but I can't do this all day I have to work...anyone have any advice on getting rid of them? I've found the hypnobirthing Surge Breathing gets me through them but they're so frequent & long lasting I just don't have time to stop & do this all the time

Glad the scan went well honey, great that you're allowed a home birth now.

Good luck sorting the attic aethel, be ruthless!

I've probably had the worst night since DS was a baby, up every 15 minutes, he couldn't sleep because of the wind. At least newborns only require getting up every 2-3 hours! I plan to do nothing today.

honey great that your placenta is clear! I can't help with the BH though, when mine are bad I just have to stay still until they go away again. You can imagine how well that goes down with the small people!

i've just suddenly this week lost my appetite. i'm not sure if its after affects of the flu jab (only just feeling human today) but sunday and yesterday i just felt rather queasy and not at all hungry - a bit like the morning sickness i had. very odd. not too sure if its a virus i've picked up from ds or if its just that the space for my stomach has got smaller. am rather paranoid about making sure i'm gaining weight as i didn't with ds and i'm figuring its a good indication that this one is growing.

also sleeping is a total pain in the arse (pretty literally). so uncomfortable - i've been awake between 2 and 3 for the last couple of nights with general niggles everywhere - kind of glad its not just me but also sorry to hear that we are all suffering - seems like the toll is being taken on our bodies for the last few weeks.

athel very impressed you can even get into your attic - i wouldn't even want to try to make it up there at the moment and hope your pa continues to be on the mend

oi i like your plan of events and i'm sure it will occur today!

pully TENS TENS - i keep forgetting to look at those... in denial? moi?

ms buggy def a feet up day for you

hmm right really should get on and do some work over here