December 2011: We've got big bumps and we cannot lie (down comfortably)

[LittleMissFlustered]

:o

Shake those bumps ladies.

And squeeeeeeeze

There is ALWAYS room for a tree mopsy even if it's just a wee 2ft one on a table!!!

I love love love xmas...tis my absolute favourite time of year Bizarre really considering the Eastenders-style xmas' of my childhood but I think it comes from watching far too many cheesey movies. My birthday's the 6th so I usually go & get a real tree the nearest wknd as part of my bday treat then spend an evening drinking xmas cocktails & decorating. I'm currently trying to work out how I can fit the tree & birthing pool into the same room though...hopefully LO appears before this becomes an issue

Had a full nights sleep & I feel miles better thank goodness. MW called last night to say my Hb is now 10.5 woohoo...apparently my folate levels still suggest I'm anaemic but they're happy to continue recommending a home birth. got lots of work to do today but I'm feeling v. positive :)

Great news on your iron levels honey

We're having duck for Christmas dinner too, an M&S oven bung one to remove the effort!

I slept better last night, only woke up twice...but I'm in a very bad mood today as DP buggered up me being able to go to home birth group. He was in such a vile mood when he got home that he was horrible to the DDs and by the time I had calmed them down it was too late. Am still refusing to speak to him...guess that counts as today's lows!

Highs...I lay in bed until 9am while the DDs bounced on the other mattress, I have more energy today, I did the meal planning for the week and put all of my favourites on.

Thinking I need to put some xmas music on and wrap some presents hehehe - I love xmas :)

Morning ladies, Sorry about your pains Kristy, but honey is right, we underrstand and that's what we're here for. As for painkillers, look out for co-hydramol (or something) that was recommended at the hospital as beingthe highest dose of codeine you can get overthe counter. Tesco's strongest is co-codamol. Each tablet is 8mg codeine and 500mg paracetamol (take 2). At the hospital you will be offered a whopping great 60mg of codeine (2 tablets), plus 2 big paracetamol. 2 x 30mg was too much for me, they spun me out, but 30mg was OK. :)
Got a work day planned. My 3 key staff are coming around to the house to do the handover stuff and finalise next years plans, projects and budgets, and then we're going out for a fancy "Christmas-type/end of year" lunch. They should be here fairly soon, so have a great day everyone, and I'll catch up with y'all later. x
cheep sympathies with the BH. - and anyone else - it's bloody annoying going through the pain without anything to show for it!!
High: The girls are taking my laptop away with them tonight to have some work done on it, so whilst that is bad, it means I can't possibly do any work tomorrow, so ML will start this evening!! The laptop will be shipped back to me ASAP so hopefully I'll have it back by Tuesday... which will mean trying to keep up to date here by my phone until then. (Not ideal, but do-able).

KateM77, did you ever find your sellotape?

kri5ty, what a terrible combination of symptoms! Is there anything you absolutely have to do during the day (aside from the physio appointment)? If not, I really hope you manage to pass the time between a weightless bath and sitting on a ball or whatever other comfortable position there still is for you. Then count down while necking raspberry tea!

msbughgywinkle, we are thinking of M&S, too! Only my FIL doesn't eat poultry, and I am quite relieved at the chance to avoid turkey, as cold turkey is nasty... If one has no objections to pork/ham, I think a roast ham cannot be beaten, for relative ease (no giblets), taste, and continuing moistness as cold cuts! Mmmmm... (apologies to any observant Muslims and Jews on this thread!)

Random non-pg related question...DP has been given an iphone...we do not & have never owned an iPod, I know, I know Anyway it's his birthday on Monday so I thought I'd go online & buy him a speaker docking station & maybe an fm transmitter for his car but there's waaay too much choice; I'm baffled (& simultaneously bored) as I usually leave the buying of electrical equipment to DP. Does anyone know which brands are any good...Belkin & Griffin iTrip keep coming up for the FM thingy & I like the Philips Fidelio range for the speakers but that's just because they're pretty. If anyone has one of these brands, or another that they're happy with could you help? I assume everyone but us has these things?? I'd usually just read through all the Amazon reviews but there is so much choice & I don't want to overspend or I'll get into trouble with DP who thinks we shouldn't buy too many presents this year [booooring]

Hello all!!! Just wanted to wish you all the very best for the next few weeks of huge bumps and little ones arriving...

I can proudly update that whilst I won't be welcoming a LO in December I will be in May 2012 we had our 12w scan on Tuesday and beany was happily wriggling and waving away which was such a relief after the traumatic 12w scan with MMC last May when I was on the December bus!!

I may lurk and watch this thread to see how you all get on after chatting to some of you on the TTC and 1st trimester threads earlier in the year - SO excited for you all to have got this far now!!

Bluecrane Congratulations

Congrats BlueCrane!!! So pleased for you

Congrats BlueCrane - what lovely news!

Congratulations BlueCrane - and the very best of luck with your pregnancy! That's great news.
(We must sound like a bunch of whingers with all our aches and pains, - you have it all to come!)
pluI love roast ham, and it's still christmassy and goes with all the usual trimmings (we usually have turkey and ham - but I guess that's normal?) - But I actually rather like turkey too. :) I just love Christmas, and Christmas dinner, and anything Christmassy. :)
My ladies still aren't here... but I guess that means less work. :)

BlueCrane that's fantastic news

Plu No, the sellotape remains elusive so I've been out and bought some more. It's bound to turn up now!

Treating DD to fun things for her to do today, after me being sore and rubbish yesterday, so we've been to Rhyme Time at the library this morning and will go to the toddler group at the village school this afternoon. Trying to summon up the energy to clean some bathrooms whilst DD is having her nap, but I'm sruggling so far - I'm sitting on sofa looking at MN, watching This Morning and having a cup of coffee :)

Love that... you might as well get your lesbian affairs over and done with before the baby gets in the way!

Given this is our first Christmas in our own place - we definately gonna do something... we are getting a tree and a few decorations and will have an amazing fire roaring in the living room... bliss

Plus we are hosting an "orphan's" Xmas at our place with 4 of our mates who don't have any family in the UK and are not going back of Oz. Given that Xmas is so close to my DD - our plan is for everyone to bring a dish... with me serving the pudding. If it is too soon to labour then I guess we will just transfer the party to one of my friend's places.

Hope baby comes on time (18th) coz I really want to on christmas!

bluecrane congratulations! So good to hear.

Congrats bluecrane, great news!
Nice to see you're checking up on our progress :)
I have just finished a go on the epi no. Bloody hell, very weird 10 mins! I hope it does some good, getting used to that stretching + pushing feeling can only be a good thing. But urrrgghhh...I shall have a further go tonight. 6cms not bad for the first one.

Good news from the MW, the beastie has stopped growing and am now 2/5 engaged. Apparently once the head is more engaged the growth rate slows/stops. So looks like its a normal sized baby for my wee frame to contend with. Next appointment day before my due date, it's all very real suddenly.

Honey on your tech related questions. Bose are defo the best when it comes to docking but also pretty expensive. As for car stuff, we have an I trip that's still going strong but check you have ok radio reception, otherwise it can be a pain in the hole having to retune all the time.

Congrats bluecrane, brilliant news!

I rang the hospital a little while ago with reduced movements today, I'm still feeling some but very tiny ones, almost like the first movements they're so gentle. Currently laying down trying to wake her up a bit more before I have to ring the hospital back.

My high for the day though is that the chimney passed which means I can have my first proper fire! Off to hopefully get wood and marshmallows later.

Seven Hope baby wakes up soon :)

jomouse 6cm on your first go you must be made of lycra, I am & here I was feeling smug at my 7cm after a hot bath; at my current 1 cm growth every 3 days I'm hoping to reach target 10cm by the 26th so LO needs to stay put 'til then Tyel how're you doing with your epi-no? Think you were at 8cm? Have you got any further? I'm wondering if it gets tougher the further along you get?

Thanks for the iTrip fdbk jomouse I'll go buy one now. :)

seven I have reduced movements too some days but MW has told me that contrary to what you'll hear/read this is perfectly normal due to lack of space. NOT that you shouldn't get it checked out, you absolutely should...I just want to reassure you not to worry too much. I have a Doppler which I've found invaluable the last few weeks; I'd have been calling MW a lot more without it ;) hope LO wakes up soon though...have you tried eating something sweet...a sugar rush usually does the trick for me :)

Congrats bluecrane!! The best of luck to you & your May bump x

seven, hope LO starts moving about soon, yesterday I didn't feel anything for 5/6 hours so I drank a can of Pepsi (full sugar, caffinated evilness) cold from the fridge (as MW suggested) and it helped, have they suggested anything like that to you?

honey, the BEST home speaker system is B&W Zepplin (not £500, more like £399 atm), it's massive but they did bring out a B&W Zeppelin Mini recently which is just as good (and looks like something out of Star Wars=Mega man points). Although they're both quite pricey...but you're going to be spending so much on LO, that it would be lovely to have one last blow out on expensive selfish stuff
If DP loves an odd looking gadget the Fatman itube is a sexy bit of kit, haven't got one myself, but a mate does. The only downside (and his is an older model) is some of them get very warm/hot.
If DP is really set on getting something alot cheaper then your best bet is someone like Wharfedale (I've got an IS73, which has been discountinued) or Klipsch who make bloody excellent headphones, so their docks should be good!

Those FM in-car transmitters are a heap of shit! We had the Griffin itrip but it went straight in the bin after the first use (drove from London to Cumbria and it was awful quality even in the most rural/remote areas, too much interference) You're better off buying a cable connection thingy (the technical term will come to me soon!) and wiring it into the radio.
I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to this sort of stuff Sorry for the ramble...

AWCH wow, lots to think about. Afraid we have to go with an FM transmitter as the radio is all computerised with no jack for cable just a tv screen & buttons...even the cds have to be loaded in the boot; it's very annoying. The Zeppelin is gorgeous but DP would definitely make me take it back...he actually said he wanted nothing for xmas or birthday as the baby is enough & we've spent so much already this year & I'll be earning less but I refuse to be so miserly. I'll have a look at the Wharfedale ones...thanks :)

Congrats BlueCrane - really lovely news.

Sorry to hear Kri5ty and Cheep still in pain - hope you're having a better one today!

Seven really hope baby wakens up soon. Have you tried a glass of very cold water? Sometimes that works for me. Get it checked out though for your own piece of mind.

I had a hectic day yesterday with final round of interviews, then came home to cook for a houseful of friends who were coming to dinner last night. Didn't get job in the end - was pipped at the post by an external candidate. Happy with my interview so feel the best person got the job and no regrets! Besides, now can focus properly on ML and the baby coming - yeah! It's miserable weather outside so think my plan for this afternoon will involve a duvet, book and newspaper. I guess it better involve some Epi-No as well as didn't manage it yesterday.

Thanks everyone, little madam is wriggling plenty now! I've been having lots of BH today and last night, not sure if it's related in any way.

Sorry you didn't get the job bluebells.

Honey I'm still stuck on 8cm or a tiny bit above - I progressed very rapidly from 5.5cm first time to 6, 7, 7.5...but you're right, it has plateaued now (of course DH is taking all credit ) I haven't tried after a hot bath though, maybe that's what I need to get to the next level (and probably doing it with the full hypno breathing/music/relaxation).

Goodness I feel efficient today - probably because I finally slept through the night last night. Cleaner came this morning and we discussed her coming to do a deep clean next week so we are spick and span for the homebirth, I went to meet the women from my NCT group for coffee, put the TENS machine together so it's ready to go, did a bunch of admin, did laundry, and now going through cupboard staples before putting together an Ocado order for Thanksgiving food. The only thing I've forgotten to do is eat lunch! I think a Turkey ruben is all I can muster today. I'm no good at cooking for one.

You are all brave women using that epi-no thing: I took a look at the website and decided it looked far too much like hard work! As a third timer I'm reliably informed that massage is not going to make much difference either, so I'm going for the ignore-the-blatan-facts approach and drink lots of raspberry leaf tea as my contribution to a hopefully smooth labour.

Today I am wearing the most tasteless possible yoga pants: they are hot pink and I got them for a fiver in a fit of madness in Sainsbury's in the aummer. But all my black yoga pants are in the wash, so it's hot pink or nothing!!!

Just visited my lovely cousin who gave me a ton of baby clothes. That's this evening's activity sorted...

And congratulations, bluecrane, what lovely news :)

I knew it! Damn had hoped to reach the full 10cm to give me confidence but sounds like you might have to wait until the day :( On the bright side, when you go into labour extra relaxin is released to make everything stretchier so if we can't reach 10cm before the birth it doesn't mean you'll tear.

Out of interest, does anyone know if the baby's head stops growing at some point? Head circumference was about 30cm at 32 week scan; I'm wondering if it would've grown since as this is about 9.5cm diameter...I know the soft spots allow for a bit of head squishing but I'm starting to worry 10cm won't cut it :(