May be Babies - The Third Trimester

[SirCharles]

A new thread as the other one was ready to burst!
Thanks *Mikocat" for the new name.

I will definitely catch up a bit later with all the posts, just logged to say i had a lovely and crap day at the same time lol! We went to the beach in the morning, had fish n chips and a nice walk but when we got home i started feeling ill ( nausea, cramps, braxton hicks) all i could think was "am not having this baby on aprils fools!!" went to bed at 2 and didn't get up till 7 (didn't sleep a lot though) In the end i think it was just dodgy fish and chips but it did scare me a bit as i don't normally get lots of braxton hicks. Seems to have settled now but i think i will take it easy for a while! Am nearly 36 weeks so if she would come she would most likely be okay but i'd rather she wouldn't just yet!!

anyone seen this www.treehugger.com/culture/let-sleeping-babies-lie-chilly-temps-build-tough-nordic-tots.html

brrrrr - character building or plain madness?!

Bluecrane thanks for the M&P link. will take a look....

EPIC POST ALERT!! And yes, my bum does hurt after sitting down this long to catch up on everything...

Hello again,

I've just had a lovely break down with my parents - it's so nice to be able to scoot off to their place and not be the one responsible for constantly thinking 'what's for dinner?', 'do we have enough milk?' etc just for a few days. I still take care of DS but if I need to pop out for something chances are one of them is home to babysit and they usually want to take him to the park or something which gives me a chance to have a nap or just browse a magazine. Love it!

To top things off - when we got back home on Sunday morning, DH had been excelling himself, tidying up generally, sorting out the 0-3 mountain of clothes I'd washed and doing a few other chores I was hoping he'd get on to. Hoorah!

So I know I've got 4 weeks or so before baby arrives - we're going to be induced (or have an ELCS if there's no sign an induction would work) by 40 weeks. EEEEEEEEK! I don't think DH has quite cottoned on to this fact. I think in his head it's still a couple of months away.

I told my mum about the estimated size of my baby currently and she sucked her teeth, but I'm feeling fine about it again. I did a bit of reading and saw that we're in maximum fetal growth period until about 38 weeks - that is about 200g per week - and then from 38 weeks it decreases to about 70-100g per week until 44 weeks by which time the placenta would normally have failed and growth stopped completely. 200g is about 7oz.

LittleSarah you've inspired me to do something about the Debbie Bliss book for my bub, your comment about them being quick to finish was the key - I've got plenty of yarn lurking so think I'll give the little socks a go.

cupcake's tip about the camis is a good one. I did something similar with boob tubes from H&M, they don't even have the straps to push down, but keep the midriff nice and covered when you're out and about. It's been such a long time since I thought about the practicalities of breastfeeding, got to have a bit of a look at my wardrobe and see which items will work best in terms of opening. I do have a few BFing vests which I wore over nursing bras and under wrap cardis in the early days. I seem to remember they ended up being what I slept in mostly too with pj bottoms - they had enough support to hold tender/engorged breasts and breastpads in place while I was leaky.

Mythical fingers crossed those pics do the job and the house is sold quickly. No waddling here either, although embarrassingly my butt muscles are sore from a really un-taxing walk yesterday, think I must have been doing a bit too much relaxing at mum & dads, need to get back into some activity. looks guiltily at unused davina dvd

SES woop woop for fantastic review!! that's great. What is toluca acid? re: braxton hicks, I think some people either don't get them, or do get them but don't feel them! For me, I had tonnes earlier on but not so many now, but they're quite distinctive. It's like the top of the bump clenches up and this spreads to the whole bump and just stays tight and taut for a bit. It's not painful, more 'weird'. Like it's pushing up or outward all by itself. Happens most often when I stand up after sitting down for a bit, and especially if I'm hungry/thirsty. It happened really noticeably at my last A/N appt just as MW was about to feel my bump. She had a 3rd year student with her, and was v excited to ask whether student could feel it too as it gives a good impression of a what a contraction might feel like without having a lady in pain to try to feel . I had them a lot with DS too.

I'm a bit about them being related to positioning though, as this baby has been head down, well positioned for absolutely ages and I'm still getting them.

Gawd, I still haven't done a bag, for me or for baby...did have to find the baby clothes first but now that's done I suppose I'd better get on with it. And write the what to do list for DH.

SirCharles you do sound like it's going to be a busy next few weeks, but that's probably a good thing isn't it? Keeps you occupied. I have a very serious list of stuff like - get haircut, eyebrows, pedicure. Good luck finding a suitable flat and a doula who will work out for you!!

MyWeeAngel - ok, so not such a 'wee' angel . Don't panic!!! easy for me to say, after panicking at about my 6lb estimate at the same gestation, but give it a few days to sink in and I'm sure you're recover your equilibrium. Not much that can be done about it anyway, so concentrate on what you can change - your attitude, confidence in yourself. Maybe spend a bit of time reading the positive birth stories on www.bigbaby.org.uk, they helped me feel better about my VBAC following the estimate last week. I'm quite risk conscious and averse, because this baby comes after 3 early miscarriages, and with my clotting/GD I have to admit I've had a high risk pregnancy. BUT my MW and doctors are all quite happy with the prospect of going for vaginal delivery at this stage and I am listening to them. If everyone changed their minds after another scan, I would listen to that too. Sounds like your HCPs are happy with what's going on, your background etc - so that's a vote of confidence. I guess the main thing is positioning with a big baby, so maybe check out the optimal foetal positioning stuff?

About diet - mosts of stuff I've read relates big baby/macrosomia primarily to undiagnosed/uncontrolled gestational diabetes, or insulin resistance which would cause you to have higher than normal levels of glucose in your blood. If that happened, the glucose would be being passed over the placenta to the baby, who would get bigger for two reasons:

• baby needs to make lots of insulin to process the excess blood sugar, and insulin is the baby's growth hormone, so more insulin = more growth.
• baby processes whatever glucose it doesn't convert into energy into fat.

But there is an increased risk of big baby if you put on an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy, even without gestational diabetes, presumably it's for the same reasons - too much sugar circulating in your body and being passed to baby? I guess excessive would be in relation to the guidelines relating to pre-pregnancy weight: 25-35 lbs if you were a healthy weight; 15-25 lbs if you were overweight; and 11-20 lbs if you were obese pre-pregnancy. Here's a link to one study

Dreaming congratulations on starting the maternity leave - lovely to get the cards etc from your class.

Nice article!
I think the babies being left outside in those prams are obviously suitably dressed for the elements, and it makes more sense to be wrapping them up warm for the outside while you're walking along, and keeping them in those clothes while they sleep outside, if observed and regularly checked on, than constantly having to take them in and out of the many layers as they go in and out of airconditioned cafes/shops etc. Presumably the parents don't feel there is a risk of the babies being taken - which is probably about right! DS always slept very well in his pram outside in the garden but I'd only leave him there while I was out with him gardening or hanging out washing (or reading a magazine and having a cup of tea and enjoying the break). Our mothers/grandmothers probably stuck us outside in our prams and left us there to get fresh air on a regular basis - I'm sure I remember this being a recommendation in an older parenting advice book . I guess in our paranoid times most people wouldn't feel comfortable leaving babies unattended outside, but that says more about our society's perceptions of the dangers of strangers than anything else.

LadyMaybe a huge thank you for taking time to reassure me but also to inform me! Not one of the professionals had taken time to explain anything to me. Had Glucose Tolerance Test about 6 weeks ago, all clear, it's to be repeated tomorrow, hopefully all clear again.
Glad you had a chance to relax a little at your parents'. Oh, and your DH sounds MARVELLOUS! Could I borrow him for a week...?

Got my little lamb - wee sophia looks so cute and tiny.
Myweeangel - my sister spent half of her pregnancy having scans every 1/2 weeks as the doctors insisted the baby was far too small. Eventually they induced her two weeks early and the baby was 6.5lbs. Perfectly normal so all that stress for nothing. I know thats the other way round from you but hopefully its still reasuring.
I am just recovering from terrible flu I have had for the past week or so, DH had it first then DS and me at the same time. Has been terrible being ill and pregnant and having to look after cranky ill toddler at same time.
Today I went back to work fo the morning and after sitting in office chair for an hour starting getting very sore pelvic area and what seemed very like early contractions. Am now feeling a bit shaky and shivery and have had these tightenings all day on and off so am a little bit freaked out. I am 35 plus 3 just now so quite early but quite possible too. I am going to go to bed soon and try and rest but what with work and running after ds1 there is not much chance of a rest during the day. Really would like this baby to wait just a little longer as I really want to give birth in midwife unit instead of mainhospital as last time it was really good (water birth). Also I do not have a bag packed, have loads of work to finish off before I go on Mat leave and the babies bed is still in the attic of my sisters house.
On the plus side I would get rid of all the pregnancy aches and pains. And I have managed to sort out the babies clothes and find space for them so I am a little bit organised now
Oh I had sciatica up until recently and it has gone away as the baby moved head down (well I presume its head down, it certainly feels like it) so there may be some relief ahead for anyone elsesuffering with it.

Just been catching up on the thread after not posting for a few days - everyone sounds very busy!

We had a busy weekend with DD1 doing her dance show - it was very cute! We made a bit of a start on the nursery, but have just got to the emptying things out and taking things down stage (so it looks awful right now) but have not got to filling holes and painting / papering yet!

I have come down with a foul bug of some sort over the weekend. The glands in my neck are enormous (visibly bulging :() and I feel like I swallowed a couple of ping pong balls (as well as just aching all over and exhausted). I went to the GP, and he asked me if I'd had glandular fever... I have, as it happens, but I know it is possible to get it again, and from what I remember this does not feel dissimilar. He has given me a 10 day course of antibiotics (8 tablets a day - grim!) in case it is a bacterial thing. Of course I looked it up on Dr Google (I know, I know...) and now I'm stressing in case I have toxoplasmosis (we have 2 cats, and I've been gardening a bit over the last couple of weeks). I'm probably being stupid, so am hoping it starts to clear up over the next few days, especially as we go on holiday next thursday... Am taking hope from the fact the GP didn't order blood tests. DH is away until thursday night, and I've already slipped on the wet bathroom floor bathing the DDs, so am feeling very sorry for myself indeed!

Feel like a crap mother, as I had such nice plans for the easter holidays, and have only just started the DDs easter bonnets with them today (papier mache egg shaped helmets is what they are meant to be - for easter bonnet parade on thursday). I had them sat in front of cbeebies for a big chunk of the day, and of course there was the exciting outing to the GP and midwife this afternoon, rather than the planned trip to the park. Poor children!

Sorry for everyone else who has also got aches, pains and pregnancy tribulations! Hope we all feel better soon!

Until Sunday we had: one pair of baby uggs (from my bro in Oz), one NB white baby gro & one swaddle cloth (from DH work colleague) but we had tea with friends & now have loads!!! A changing table, bottles, breast pads, sterilisers, baby bath, box of clothes, a vibrating chair..... WOW! Am stunned by their generosity. Seeing sil next weekend & have been warned to bring a van.
Feeling so much more organised already, although still no where to live:)

No more contractions so far, think its all settled down
Sir Charles I am amazed at how much stuff has been passed on to me but I can imagine just wanting to get rid of it all again once the baby has grown out of it and its cluttering your house up.
Catsycat, huge sympathy, its so tough feeling ill with wee ones about, thinking you are doing well coping at all never mind easter bonnets.

goodname - Sounds like a close call there with the labour pains! Phew. As much as I'm looking forward to this wee one arriving I really don't want him to be early. At the very least need to finish up work (hopefully by the 20th April), plus want to finish bits of cleaning and sorting, etc, etc. You just never know though!

Ladymaybe - Doing a cute tank top now from DB Essential Baby, definitely want to try and do some socks at some point but will have to see how the time goes. Still working on blanket too. What about you cupcake?

SirCharles - Glad to hear your friends were so generous. I've had one friend donate quite a lot but I think most of mine have given theirs away or still need it. But then we have so much anyway there isn't much need. You always get lovely presents when little one arrives too!

Yorky - Hope you got some more sleep! Wow, can't believe you are so close to on call time, mine isn't as long as yours, 38 to 42 so doesn't begin until the beginning of May, exciting to be getting there though. I can now say baby is due next month which is a nice milestone!

Dd off now with Easter hols so working is a bit harder. However dh is off Fri and Mon and then dd is away with her dad for a week so I should be able to knuckle down then and get loads done before ML.

Got my cousin visiting today but she has just texted to say she will be an hour late due to mad weather. Only annoying because they are coming for lunch and I am starving already. Have some potato bread ready to go into oven and I feel I could eat it all myself.... still at least I have more time to clean.

That's lovely SirCharles - people can be so generous when you're pg. Hope you find somewhere nice to live soon too!

goodname, glad the contractions have gone away again. It would be nice if babies waited until we were ready, then popped out painlessly and on time!!!!

littlesarah you seem to be steaming through your knitting. I still haven't finished DD2's jumper - might have to pull it out and knit the next size at this rate! Hope your cousin has arrived and you're both enjoying the potato bread!

I'm feeling a bit better today, so am hoping it is in response to the antibiotics and will soon be gone! Slipped on DDs bathwater (all over the floor again ) last night though, and have hurt my back / bum - so it's a bit of swings and roundabouts really. Feel like I might just make it to the end of this pregnancy in one piece if I'm lucky

goodname glad the contractions stopped, bit scary to think of them coming now! Having said that, I'm also super excited to start hearing birth announcements on the thread, can't be long before we start popping!

Of course we have our first bubba already, littlelamb I think I forgot to say your pics are just gorgeous & as someone else said, so mad to think all the babies inside us are that size! How is she doing now? Any hint of when she might be able to come home? Hope you're coping ok.

sarah I've v nearly finished the hat, planning to get to john Lewis for blanket wool this weekend.. really need to get a move on!!

catsy know what u mean about feeling like a rubbish mum.. ds been watching lots of cbeebies & today I actually fell asleep in the middle of reading him a book but we have to look after ourselves or we really would be no good to them so don't beat yourself up.

Saw midwife yest who said baby is 4/5ths engaged.. have definitely been able to feel that in my pelvis this wk! Just hoping & praying it means it's getting into a good position & I won't be going ridiculously overdue again!

Glad to hear you are feeling better catsy, I'm sure you'll get there with the jumper, and if not, well lord knows we all have enough to be getting on with

cupcake - I will be at John Lewis tomorrow trying not to buy wool! Need to get some wee bits, and want to look at little girl patterns. As I got a couple of balls of this lovely stripy wool for dd I'd like to knit her something and I think a hat will only use up about half a ball! Was hoping to find some kind of shrug cardi pattern as I never tend to finish anything that takes more than 3/4 balls of wool! Still trying to make her a tilda doll for her birthday, it isn't that hard but you really have to pack in the stuffing and it is a dull dull task.

Feel exhausted this evening. Up a depressing number of times to pee last night and busy day today as my friend who is taking over my job came round to talk about what to expect. Tomorrow off into town to meet with same friend and one of my bosses. It is just an hour meet and chat really but will mean driving into town (takes an hour or so) with kids, dropping at my dad's, driving into town centre, parking, going to meeting.... blah blah. Still getting to go to John Lewis makes it all worthwhile!

Looking forward to Easter weekend however, hopefully will get some rest in.

Ooh funny quote from dd, she referred to my boss today as 'your master'.

Good news on being so engaged cupcake - hope you haven't too long to wait. I am really struggling to put DCs shoes on them now as bending doesn't work anymore!
Impressed by all the knitting progress reports - DH built us a new shoe rack at the weekend - does that count?
Has anyone got any snow? We've just had ridiculous amounts of rain and the back garden is waterlogged so DC inside and hyper - although little 2 were at nursery this am so DH let me go back to bed for a 2hr nap :)
DH cousin is expecting her 1st anytime now and has apparently been bleaching and painting anything that hasn't moved out of her way :D where I've done so little nesting as its so uncomfy bending just to put clothes in the washing machine! At least my mum has sorted through the clothes in her loft and washed and aired them ready for when we see them next week - she had 3 DC similar spacing to those I have now so understands that I want extra laundry like I want extra ironing!

Thanks for the sympathy, and sorry for being such a whinger!

cupcake, I don't think I ever got to 4/5 with either of the DDs, so I'm very impressed! This one is head down (having been transverse and then oblique for a while), but the head is still free at the moment, so I don't think I'll be getting any early surprises!

LittleSarah, loving the idea of "your master"!

Yorky well done to your mum for being so helpful - very jealous of those with non-bonkers parents!

I'm going to see the osteopath tomorrow, hopefully she will be able to effect repairs on my back. Glands are now fine, so hurray for penicillin and my GP! Also hurray for DH coming back tomorrow night - it's felt like a long week!

The DDs have finished their easter bonnets today, and look very funny cute (like little birds with crazily painted / decorated eggshells on their heads!). They have also decorated ceramic eggs for the egg decorating competition at nursery tomorrow. DD2 had a big tantrum because I wouldn't let her cover the entire world in pritt stick (just the entire table top, her hands, my hands, and the egg). She wants to glue, but not to stick anything to the glue, so it is very messy. She also enjoyed sticking her ladybird stickers onto the egg, but eventually just wanted to stick them all on top of each other (looked like a ladybird orgy ). I managed to encourage her (finally) to spread them out a bit, though she did complain at first!

I have to do the ironing now, but not sure how far I'll get... wish me luck.

Hi everyone, just checking in to say hi as I've been a bit quiet the last few weeks. I am still reading and catching up with all your news nearly every day though!
I can't believe how close it's all getting now, especially for some of you who are a few weeks ahead of me. I'm still putting off quite a few jobs that need doing as I'm in work right up to 2nd may. But we ordered a new wardrobe and some bunk beds for DD's last night. They're not coming until 19th April at the earliest so I can't get the baby's clothes washed / out of garage / put into drawers until late April.... Little one had better not come early!
Like a few of you, I'm feeling a bit lazy when I do get a few hours at home with DD's. I seem to lose all my energy if I don't have to be somewhere with a specific job to get done, and I think there's been too much cbeebies going on! It's lovely not having the school / nursery run rush in the mornings this week though...
Looking forward to hearing the birth announcements starting up again after Sophia. Wonder who'll be next?!!

Hi catsy, just cross posted with you. So glad u r feeling better, those glands sounded painful in your last post!
Feeling even more guilty now i've read about your creative bonnet making activites today. I did take dd1 to a dance rehearsal and did a few jigsaws with dd2, but I don't think that really compares on the effort levels!

No snow here either and mostly just drizzle, felt pretty cold down by the water this afternoon but due to get a bit better later in the week thank goodness. Have to say though, it's quite nice when the weather gives us a good excuse to slob at home a bit with the tv on . I am also feeling a bit like a crap mum at the moment but I'm telling myself I need to prepare DS for lots of time at home with me on the sofa (and baby attached) so it's actually a good thing!

Really starting to get fed up with all the aches and pains, have just started to get a bit of pain in my pelvis and I have no idea how those of you with spd have stayed sane all this time! I've found wearing my support belt does help a little bit with it thankfully. This baby is still stubbornly staying transverse, it likes stretching right out which can be really uncomfortable and sets off a load of braxton hicks that leave me winded. Oh well, the end is nearly in sight at least.

Egg decorating sounds lovely catsy. We made shredded wheat Easter nests earlier but I can't remember where I put the mini eggs to go into them! I know I hid them to stop me DH from eating them but I don't know where! So the nests look a little strange being empty, I shall have to buy some more mini eggs then .

DS seems to have decided to do some potty training! I really didn't want to do it this close to the baby arriving but he's just started getting himself undressed to get on the potty! So we're going to run with it as long as he's enthusiastic, he's in pants at home but he wants to wear pull ups when we go out. He's obviously not quite confident yet. He did three wees on the potty yesterday with no accidents and about six wees and a poo today but one accident. He just takes himself off to go, I heard him cheering upstairs and found him wiping his winkie with a wee in the potty. He's an independent little thing so I knew that 'sit them on the potty/remind them about it every half hour' wouldn't work on him. He is getting a sweet when he goes which motivates him a fair bit . Will just have to see how it goes over the next few days.

I had a quick look in the Bounty book the other day and all the remarks about this being the time to relax before the baby arrives made me laugh- obviously aimed at the first time mum!

evening!! We found a 2 bed flat to rent in Battersea - yay! Hoping to move in next week - if all the moons align and we can get the Storage people to deliver at a time we can get a permit to park the lorry and the landlord has completed any painting etc AND our references are sorted.... so much to do but still exciting to think we should have enough time to settle before this LO arrives. DH is returning to SA though so I hope LO knows s/he can only arrive on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.......

interviewed doulas on Sunday and think there is one I could work with. If DH fails to make it in time at least I wont be on my own :)

We started hypnobirthing sessions this week - all good. Woman seemed lovely - quite normal (ie not a mad hippy) if in fact slightly manic - but reminded me slightly of me so my thinking goes "well if she can do it so can i"!!

went to st Thomas' Hospital today too - 4.5 hour Labour workshop for free on the NHS - how amazing is that?! Was good - just reinforced stuff i had read already but was good to hear the MW viewpoint from that hospital and get a feel for how they approach birth. It was also lovely to have DH with me and see how he responded to the advice and info - he was very good at the practice positions and massage.

Attended a tour of the MW led centre this evening. They call it a Home from Home but tbh definitely still very much a medical environment! Lovely views of the House of Parliament though and DH can stay over if we are in the MW led centre - they kick all 3 of you out 6-24 hours after Baby arrives.

However the Birth Centre, which is around the corner and is led by doctors, quite frankly scares me - i hope i dont end up in there but if you want an epidural you have to go there and then the risk of further intervention starts to shoot up.... ditto if you have to be induced.

Fingers crossed I get the hypno birth we are preparing for!

Hi lucky. The creative stuff wasn't that impressive - tbh I did do a bit of telling off a couple of times, and had to collapse on the sofa for a (very) short rest this pm with cbeebies to distract!! I think your jigsaws and rehearsal compare pretty favourably actually! :)

wriggle I had lots of BH when this one was transverse a couple of weeks ago - now it's moved head down, they seem a lot less frequent. Hope the same happens for you! Your nests sound nice. What a shame you'll have to buy more eggs (and of course eat the original ones when you find them!). DS's potty training sounds fab. We started DD2 over feb half term, and she is pretty much there now, just the odd accident (once or twice a week). We did have a bit of a disaster this morning, when she went on the potty at about 6.45am (on her own), and the potty somehow got stuck to her bum and tipped all over the floor when she stood up! Didn't enjoy cleaning that one up!

SirCharles Well done on finding a flat! Very pleased for you. Excellent news on the doula / hypnobirthing / MW led unit too. Are you taking some kind of energy supplement that enables you to get organised super quickly?????

Have finished the dreaded pile of ironing, unfortunately that revealed the pile of mending I'd hidden underneath - but I'll leave that for another day. Think I'll go and have a bath before I fall into bed!

Hoping you are all keeping well, ladies. The countdown is well and truly on.

Wrigglebum - us too with the potty training. A month ago I would have said DD (2 and a half) wasn't nearly ready but all of a sudden is asking to do pees in toilet, and managing it! She has been sitting on potty routinely in nursery two days a week for about a month now so something is sinking in. Tomorrow is "into big girl pants" day - the point of no return. I'm nervous. Just no idea how she'll react when there are accidents. She gets upset when she spills her cereal! Shall stay pretty housebound for a couple of days although due to go for family dinner to my mum's on Sunday.

cupcakefairy four fifths engaged??? Wow. Lucky you!

knitters! jealous of you all. Wish I could knit. The domesticity and relaxing repetitiveness of it really appeals at the minute. Might do a crash course.

I just started my maternity leave today and was well ready for it. Not so much tired but the stress and go-go-go of work was leaving me drained mentally. Glad to turn my attention to getting house and baby stuff ready. And these will be a precious few weeks with DD. Getting nostalgic and emotional thinking about how we'll only be a family of three for a little while longer. How silly is that?!

Been showing DD loads of pictures and "bideos" of herself when she was a baby and I do think it's helping. She's beginning to understand that Baby won't be able to do much for a while but then will learn to crawl and talk and walk. She told me tonight she would share her pizza with Baby and I told her babies don't have teeth. She then asked me if babies had eyes? And a nose? And ears? Funny.

Wish us luck with the potty training. A more demented, frenzied, frustrated me could be posting soon again...

evening - the downside of having done so much this week is that my BP was higher than the doc would have liked today..... best try to keep it down as i dont want to be listed as high risk or be induced.... she kept talking about the risk of PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension). grrrr.

have a lovely long Easter weekend ladies.

Goodname hope you're feeling better and not panicking too much about getting organised. Slowly and steadily I think is the way. I haven't packed my bag yet either - DH suggested I do it this weekend, but I still feel it's a bit early. Not sure what to put it in anyway - for labour I can't really think of much, lip balm, drinks, snacks, etc. I was pretty much planning to wear hospital gown or a nightie, oh I guess my TENS machine. Ok, maybe I should make a list
Catsy pleased to hear you're feeling better on the ABs, great news.
Lord Cupcake, 4/5 engaged - I haven't been given a number yet. They don't do handheld notes here so I don't get to see what MW writes down, but I'm sure she hasn't said anything like that. I AM getting an awful lot of 'pressure' though, which is an interesting feeling and the old buttock/nerve twinges are going crazy. Soooo embarrassing when I walk and leg stops working.

LittleSarah what do you do? Is it going to be odd having a friend take over your work or is it going to be fine. I MISS John Lewis.

Yorky I'm one of those nesters who is very aware of what I'd like to do - see the dust and bits that need cleaning - but don't actually get down on the floor and do anything. It's quite depressing really, my expectations and my reality don't match at all.

Wrigglebum & MyWeeAngel that's fab about that potty training, sounds like they're both doing really well and with a bit of luck, will be super confident by the time the baby arrives and you're starting to head out and about with them both. That's actually one of the things about potty training I found the hardest, suddenly having to be aware of where the public toilets were and trying to get DS to go when a toilet was available. But then I guess with a new baby you develop that awareness of where the changing facilities are as well, so it should all mesh together.
SirCharles, phew! you make me feel tired just reading the posts, but do try to make sure you take some time now to relax properly, especially if that BP is starting to creep. Congrats on finding the flat - I lived in Battersea years ago, it was totally convenient and lovely to have the park so close - should be great for getting out with baby and there are lots of cafes around about for meet ups.

Ok, time for bed..I've started listening to my natal hypnotherapy, but haven't actually heard the whole thing yet, keep falling asleep. At least the lower leg cramps have disappeard, now I'm just getting 'stuck' in one position and finding it hard to roll onto the other side. Tomorrow I will definitely make a start on the bag. I swear.

Well, potty training is still going pretty well! Our play group had a family session today and he felt confident enough to wear big boy pants there "because they have teddy potties" . However he did have a poo accident, he was too busy playing I think, then another tiny poo accident at home. Wees are going well though, we're getting in the habit of taking him before we go out or when I go to have a wee race! Daddy has taken him to the shops in his pants so fingers crossed all is ok, he did a wee and poo before going and came to tell me how proud he was of himself . Only problem we have when he's trained is what to wear- he's so skinny all his trousers fall down without a nappy! I just sewed up the waist on some track suit bottoms so I think we need to get a whole load more and I'll get busy with the needle and thread. I hope yours goes well myweeangel, your dd sounds very sweet.

LadyMaybe, I did natal hypnotherapy last time- I always fell asleep but the cd said that was fine, it still goes in. I found it really helped- I did have a difficult birth but I was relatively calm and DS remained calm until the last minute despite the struggle he had getting out. Without it I think it would have been an emcs. One thing- I found the gas and air made me so spaced out I couldn't focus on the breathing so I did get a bit panicky after that but I hate feeling out of control (I don't like getting blind drunk).

For the labour bag I recommend you remember your birthing partner! Pack plenty of drinks and snacks for them, and possibly a change of clothes. DH was really glad to have a spare tshirt and pants to change into as it was a long labour. I packed an old tshirt to labour in but towards the end I was in the buff- I was so hot I couldn't bear anything on me and the portable fan I packed got a lot of use .

Glad your bh have got better Catsy, this one doesn't seem to be showing any signs of turning yet. It seems quite comfy laying across kicking me in the waist and pushing against my hip bones. I've tried the inversions on spinning babies but no progress yet. It's annoying as I guess the longer it stays across the more likely it is to remain like that as it runs out of room. I've got a hospital appt on thurs to book me in for the elcs and the midwife said they'll most likely arrange a scan if the baby is still transverse.

SirCharles, do try to take it easy! I know it's hard when you've just moved but don't make yourself ill. Sofa based planning and Internet shopping can help. A hypnotherapy cd might be good too to make you relax, I guess you have one if you're planning hypnobirthing?

Hello to everyone else I haven't mentioned, I hope you're all getting a nice Easter rest. I've given up caring about my weight so I shall be thoroughly enjoying my Easter eggs , hope you all get loads!

Happy Easter Girls
Can't believe it's April already and our babies are coming NEXT MONTH !!
Well hopefully anyway.. I've had an interesting few weeks, BH coming thick and fast they usually last for 5 hours coming every 5 minutes, I've actually stopped calling the midwife now because they seem to stop, I had my show 2 weeks ago and the midwife reckoned I'd got 3 weeks before she made an appearance which is far too early so I've been keeping my feet up which as well as helping my spd it seems to be doing the trick
I've got the consultant on Thursday to get my ELCS date and also have a growth scan because my fundus measurements are 4 weeks behind (they were 3 weeks behind with DD1 and she was 5lb12oz which isn't that tiny) and ive also eventually got the physio
I've kinda packed the babies hospital bag but I've left all the stuff I bought for mine at the inlaws by accident and they live 4 hours away damn it haha they are coming down the look after DD1 whilst I'm in hospital so DD2 has to hang on until they deliver my nightie and things safe and sound haha..
Hope you are all ok...

I've just found another scan appointment letter - thank goodness before the actual appointment . I guess that makes sense, I was wondering whether they'd do another one closer to the end.

I used a birth pool for much of my labour with DS, and was obviously naked for that. I had a couple of primark nighties which I used as well (still have them) so will use again. And the TENS I expect I'll stick on at home. I'm struggling to think of what to take for myself TBH. Hairband. Contact lens solution and specs. Face-cloths and wheatbag. Drinks/snacks.
The bag for after and for baby don't seem so hard to think of. And the maternity hospital that I'll be discharged to for postnatal care supply all nappies, pads, etc.
Hmmm....might do a search for bag threads.