January 2012 - Will any of us deliver before Father Christmas? The race is on!

[MakesXmasCakesWhenStressed]

Hope you don't mind the slight tweaking of the thread title :) I was feeling creative! Not that it matters, at this rate it won't last more than a week...!

my mw said they do minimal exams - one on admission, one before you get in the pool... I doubt you'll get one at a clinic appt

red if you don't have any in labour how do they know if you are in established labour or if you are progressing? When I went in with DD I had one on admission, one 5 hours later to see how I was progressing and another about 5 hours after that. They said they do them as infrequently possible especially if your waters have gone.

yes i've been disinfecting everything like a bastard!!

ooops x post, didn't see the others!

frilly i'm not going to worry about how I'm progressing, my doula said she and the midwives will generally be able to tell what stage I'm at. I might have a check to make sure theres no anterior lip thing going on, but to be honest i'm likely to be in a pool at that point if all goes to plan, and i prob won't want to come out... so we'll see...

i think i'll only let them in there only if the labour is taking forever or I'm worried about something. i HATE HATE HATE internal exams and they give me panic attacks, so it's not ideal.

red - did I send you the link to the freedom from fear hypno track? Sounds like it might be something worth listening to just to stop you fretting about the possibility of its happening.

Had a good chat with my MW today. Am desperately hoping Sproglet holds off until she's back from leave and that she will be on call when he does decide to put in an appearance. She's just so lovely and very supportive of my choices.

OMG!! YAY YAY YAY - My complaint appeal paid off! They've granted me the full amount of maternity allowance! That's an extra £50 a week!!!

Yea! Well done for complaining appealing cakes

yay cakes I'm so happy for you. I know that feeling very well indeed.

I'm yet to actually see any money come into my account but 5-10 working days took it up to 28th from when I got the letter.

be nice to get a bonus just before xmas though.

I just cried on my reflexologist. Daft mare I am.

Cakes - congrats! Wonderful news.

Oeisha LOVE your dream!

hello everyone,

Haven't been on for yonks, so sorry for everything I've missed!

Re bathing with baby - I tried it once with DD and she pooed (new born poo too - goes amazingly far in water), so I've not been a great fan since!

Had my 34 week MW appt today - I'm so behind you all! Anyway, after measuring 4cm small last time, bump was 2cm over this time - different MW though so different technique. Anyway, hoping it's not all the chocolate I've been over indulging in. I was also told off for not having my bag packed - I'm trying not to read too much into the fact that she said that after she'd felt baby.

Re the pool, I do quite fancy giving it a go, but I know a few people whose contractions slowed down/stopped when they were in there, but just see how it goes. Everyone's different. I think a few ladies found the shower better.

cakes great news!

red I got away with just one internal last time - mainly because I left it so late I was already 10cm. Not suggesting cutting it perhaps quite so fine, but leave it as long as you can to avoid unnecessary poking!

Had a very odd dream the other night - I was married to Stephen Mangan (Dirk Gently/Guy in Green Wing) and he somehow racked up a £7k parking fine, and I was furious as it meant I'd have to pay for it out of my maternity pay. I want a divorce!

Hope you're all well!

I spent most of my labour at home in the bath. I love baths. I can easily spend hours in the bath. I agree about leaving it as long as possible before going to hospital. Labouring at home is nice. I went in and found I was 6cm. I probably could have lasted longer at home but I was too impatient, after speaking to the maternity ward before I went in I was also expecting to get sent home.

I'm sure my bumps gone down today! It doesn't look as big as it usually does.

fish what felt like my MS returned when I became bunged-up, so it's probably that. Def. increase the lactulose. If it's any help I'm on 10ml 3x a day, so you could double you intake and still be fine, but run it by dr first.

red Here's hoping you don't get it. I've managed to avoid a puking plague and a cold that my neice had (poor love, she was so tired and as grumpy as I've ever seen her - which was not at all by normal toddler standards). I'm waiting for karmic payback...and to have the flu in labor...

cakes congrats on the upped MA.

Must stop multi-tasking (dealing with laundry, on MN, on different website looking up soap flakes, making lunch). It almost went totally tits-up...putting a potato in the tumble dryer isn't gong to cook it now is it...

Afternoon ladies!

Another one here hoping for a water birth but it doesn't seem a very popular choice at our hospital. I know they have pools in the MLU but of the many people I know with babies, none of them have used the MLU! Don't know if this is a sign that they're always busy or just not an option for the majority. Hmmmm...

Should get round to putting more than just a nightie in my hospital bag... at 38+2, I may be cutting it fine Denial maybe???? Lol

I've come down with a horribly stuffy head today Feel all foggy and cotton wool headed - yuck! Also had some terrible bowels last night (sorry, TMI) and went 3 times in the space of 3 hours- very unusual for me to go more than once every 2 days to be honest

Still, am trying not to veg on the sofa so have stripped the bed, put the plastic protector sheet on at last "just in case" and am going to do some serious housework.

Enjoy your day ladies x

Oh - does anyone have a copy of 'Mother & Baby' lying around?

Am so proud of myself. Made cinnamon sugar cookie dough last week and today I rolled it out and cut the cookies out - they're just chilling in the 'fridge, then I can cook them! I honestly thought I'd never get round to it.

That sounds yummy cakes - can you post a recipe???

Basic Sugar Cookies
200g soft unsalted butter
200g caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
400g plain flour, plus more for dusting

You can add seeds from a vanilla pod for vanilla cookies, finely grated zest of 1 lemon or 1 orange for lemon or orange cookies or replace 50g of flour with 50g cocoa for chocolate ones. I improvised the cinnamon flavour and probably ended up putting about 1 tbsp ground cinnamon in - you can always just add a little, then taste the dough until it's right for you.

Cream butter with sugar and chosen flavouring until well mixed and creamy in texture. Do not overwork or cookies will spread during baking.

Beat in the egg until well combined. Add the flour and mix until a dough forms. Gather into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for at least one hour.

Place dough on floured surface and knead briefly, roll out to 5mm thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Lay on baking tray lined with baking paper and chill again for about 30 mins. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Bake for 8-12 mins depending on size until golden brown round edges. let cool on wire rack.

Oiesha that made me chuckle. don't stress too much about the soap flakes-you can use a tiny splash of ordinary unscented baby bath as well to make wipe mix.

Hope you feel better soon redhead and fish

cakes brilliant news!

I'm hoping for minimal examinations - I've not put it on my form because I want to go along with whatever is the best practice, but I'll ask if they're necessary (or will have DH briefed to ask).

I had a busy weekend, went to in-laws for a Christmas meal on Saturday and then cooked a full Christmas dinner for my family yesterday. Trouble is, I'm not sure I feel like another one next week... DH said he wanted salad. I think he wasn't serious as he said our plan of beef wellington was fine, with sprouts etc. I dunno, I might try and think of a posh alternative which still feels very special.

Hey talking of food, I started a thread in the food section to ask what we should be packing in our freezer. If anyone is feeling creative in the kitchen, feel free to join in:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food/1366450-Meals-to-save-in-the-freezer-before-baby-arrives

Ooh - just did the taste test and they're delicious - could even have taken more cinnamon I think. Now I just have to let them cool and then tomorrow I could ice them :)

I'll try the link again...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food/1366450-Meals-to-save-in-the-freezer-before-baby-arrives

pasta bake
curries
chilli
shepherds pie
spag bol
meat balls
stew
casseroles
pie
lasagne

Hrm, bit of a mince theme there...

I have cottage pie and chilli so far! Will have some bolognese tonight to go in the freezer too. Possibly some kind of pork casserole tomorrow.

Cakes - will be making some of those cookies, they defo sound yummy and very versatile in flavouring too :)

Freezer meals:
I have the slow cooked pork and cinnamon dish, some beef ragu which can be used for chilli, bolog or shep pie. I have 3 fish pies, 3 batches of the chorizo chicken and chick peas dish i made and 2 of a beef stew. Tonight I have made a double cottage pie, one for today one for freezer.

I still feel sick, this is not good, wondering if I have picked up a bug. I just feel awful but I haven't been sick since this AM and the reflexology worked to clear my bowel so I do feel more comfortable. I am having quite strong HB's and I have wind :( I just want to sleep but i gotta go pick up dd.

I think that's my problem cakes, all my freezer recipes seem to involve mince. I like it but DH doesn't. I'd like non-stodgy recipes but
I'm not sure that's so easy.