November 2012 - reaching the six-month mark

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1518656-November-2012-baby-shopping-time-has-really-taken-off

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

I wish I had the dedication too... I spend long enough grooming one's self as it is takes 60-90 mins on a good day to get ready I don't have the time for additional procedures! Shaving my legs makes me want to cry. And it only gets done for summer dress wearing, or swimming! Anything extra that requires doing just frustrates me.

Goes something like this.... shower, wash hair, wash body, wash face with scrubby shit if I think it needs it, get out of shower, wipe off yesterdays make up (that'll be the mascara/eyeliner!) moisturise if scrubby shit was used, make up on (longest bit - consists of foundation, blusher, vaseline on lips, mascara if not in work and if I have time liquid eyeliner which takes an age!). Then I dry and straighten the wig. And deodorise and get dressed. Oh and swap handbag contents as required to coordinating bag!

I hate mornings. So faffy. Then there are beds to make/children to sort/dp's to nag. No wonder I skip breakfast!

I wish I was a natural beauty queen!

Only started moisturising this year

Oh and I'm not related to yellowraincot - clearly an imposter!

Just looked at my maternity notes. Really strange as I have that graph thing in there. It was printed at last appointment. She measured my bump. But the graph hasn't been filled out . do they keep these records on computer as well. As I have no idea what she said measurement was. Not fair. Don't like incomplete things!

I think I've got a graph in my notes but nothing plotted yet but then they haven't measured it yet.
It also has ds' measurements at birth in there too :)

I get a Brazilian bikini wax every couple of months. Last time was end of June just before we went to Spain.
I can't really get to it to shave it now and I'm starting aqua natal soon do need to sort it out!

YW I'm a Scientist and also went to Oxford. Haven't read the supernatural thread though.

Right today I am shattered. Have been all week and my hips are troubling me.
I'm thinking of changing my maternity leave, would I be stupid to do that?
I'm currently finishing at 36 weeks with two weeks holiday and then may leave kicking in at 38 weeks. I've got another 9.5 days holiday so I was going to use that to take odd days cutting my weeks down to four/three days from September.
However, I'm 25 weeks and I'm really feeling it but don't know if I'm being a wimp. We have to walk quite a distance across the facilities. There's 2 flights of stairs up to my lab, a flight of stairs up to the locker room and 2 flights to the canteen. They're killing me. Then when I'm testing I stand quite a lot and the lab can get up to 32degrees. I'm planning on spending my last few weeks on paperwork to help but there'll be my replacement to train up.
So I'm thinkin of bringing mat leave forward a week, and in turn the two weeks hol so I'll finish at 35 weeks. Is that too early??

Sorry for the huge moan

No measurements in my notes either, except BP.

I kept them guessing detective I worked in a male prison and the Officers were very cheeky!

In the last four weeks I have got dressed three times. Getting dressed again today to go to Hospital. Hope stuff still fits!

fatima that sounds about right to me for your job. You can stop when you want after 29 weeks, and none of us know how we will be. Do what you feel you need to do. Do not be influenced by super-mums who work full time until they are 9cm. Follow your instinct, which is there to protect you and your baby.

Id say go with what you feel is best. I'm working until 37 weeks. Yes it's a good walk to my office, but I'm currently ok with this. I also know they'll kind of let me work reduced (ish) hours if I want. My other job I plan to finish prob end of sept but I don't really need to give notice.

9 weeks left at work!!!! 28 weeks today and into the third trimester!!! It's flying!!! I'm very scared!!!

To whoever was asking about the graph, they measured me twice, didn't record it yesterday but they did have the trauma of the student failing to get blood out me!!! I was just going to mark it onto the graph for them in pencil then tell them in three weeks.

Fatima you should finish whenever you feel like you should. If your body is telling you to slow down then listen to it. A healthy baby and well rested mother is far more important that working to 36 or 38 weeks.

I am finishing work tomorrow and can't wait. Have 2 weeks of my holiday to tag on and my maternity leave starts officially at 31 weeks. My body aches at night and I am sleeping so badly. I have to do what is best for the babies. We will struggle financially but have just enough to pay bills etc and no luxuries. A few people have commented that I am finishing early, I just remind them that my bump is measuring 8 weeks ahead so 31 weeks officially makes me 39 weeks.

garden you also have two babies in there, and they will be early. I am glad you are finishing now.

Fatima the only reason I worked until nearly 37wks with DD & nearly 36wks this time is because I don't get annual leave as a teacher, so if I start before a holiday, my maternity leave starts on that date, but if I start at a break, it officially starts from the first working day back. If I hadn't felt ok & started taking it easier towards the end with DD (I stopped taking books home for marking, & would sit down to teach more etc) I wouldn't have been able to finish so late. This time I'm hoping the timetable will be reduced so I have less contact time & obviously only do part time now, so less time in work, even if its more tiring with DD!! Do what feels best - 35wks doesn't seem too early to me.

Hello, you have had me chuckling reading the last few pages.

I am glad too! Also with that hospital scare a couple of weeks ago I am sure I have done the right thing. I have to keep them cooking until at least 32 weeks at the very earliest.

Have had a horrid week last week. My cousin's DD2 died of cot death at 7.5 months. I has been so difficult and really affected me and my sleep. I keep having these horrid nightmares and find myself crying for almost no reason. I think being a mother is going to be the most rewarding but also the most challenging thing I will ever do.

Mine took measaurements briefly but didn't write them down and mumbled they were fine when I asked what they were - so I'm clueless! The only think she did write was blood pressure (109/67) which I thought seemed quite low - then again I used to have scary-fainting-low-bp as a teenager and she didn't seem at all concerned.

I'm not much of a beauty queen either. I like to think I am and if I'm going out somewhere special will make an effort but in reality I crave my days off where I don't need to be anywhere and can forget the faff of doing make up in the morning. My hair was the only thing I kept well maintained pre pg but don't want to dye it just now (my mum freaked me out about chemicals...) so kinda let that go a bit just now as well.

Got the dreaded dentist today. Let DH take the car to work to prove we only needed 1 car as I can function perfectly well without it then saw the rain and now my mums going to take me. He doesn't need to know. I've left dentist paperwork in back of my car though along woth exemption cert so hopefully they don't ask for it!

Met our new neighbours last night. They are beyond lovely. Although one is also a landrover enthusiastic so don't see the green deathtrap going anytime soon now, grr. His wife asked me if I was only a 'few weeks' - her face when I said 6 months was a picture! Clearly wasn't having a fat day yesterday (DH said she was just being polite?!)

24 weeks today - I feel like I've hit another milestone :-)

garden how awful for your cousin :( you think it's safer by that age I can't imagine how she must be feeling.

garden such sad news. puts things in perspective that life is far too precious and can be taken away any time. my thoughts are with you and your family xxx

That's so sad garden. Sorry to hear it.

Oh Garden that's awful! Lots of sympathy to your family.

Fatima - hello fellow Oxford bod!

MissMummy - you are still so lovely and slim with a neat bump - you'd only have a fat day if I force fed you my diet cake for a month

What awful news garden. I can't imagine what they must be going through. I am not surprised you are finding it difficult to sleep. Something so close to home must be very upsetting indeed.

Missmummy I am glad your neighbours are great - good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. Good luck at the dentist.My last blood pressure was 100/64. I asked the midwife about it - she was very relaxed and said it wasn't an issue. High blood pressure is much more of a concern.

Fatima I am another one who thinks you are the only one who can judge how you will cope at work. I can't remember if I said before but my MIL told me that she had to apply to stay at work after 26 weeks. I am finishing at 36 weeks with 2 weeks holiday before mat leave starts. I have absolutely no idea how I will get on. I spoke to my boss who said that he felt my gap was ok as actually earlier than many people take. We had one person very recently who tried to work up until their due date. It was hard on everyone concerned. I am not sure I could do the driving past 36 weeks as I have an hour commute each way and the thought of going into labour in class gives me the heeby jeebies.

Oh, and my notes say almost nothing. My measurement at 22 weeks was 21cm. There is nothing else really - certainly nothing about the scans. I think they keep most of it on computer now.

So sorry Garden its unsurprising you are finding it difficult to sleep. With parenthood comes great joy & great responsibility and sadness.

I've not had my bump measured yet, but assume I will at the nxt appt (28wks).

Have an appt at 28wks, then 34, 36, 38, 40 & 41, but then I'm on #2.

BP was 120/60 last time so not particularly low but I think generally your BP should be on the lower side of normal as your blood volume has increased & your blood vessels are more dilated. It's only an issue if you're getting dizzy spells.

Don't forget to copy your notes - they take them & file them in the deepest darkest recesses of the hospital when you have baby(ies) then charge you to see them/get a copy. I am quite sad not to have my DD's notes.

Sorry to hear your news Garden and you're right to finish early if that's what your instincts tell you. In my opinion that desperation to have every last possible week with your newborn before going back to work isn't as essential as people think. I had 14 months off after DS1 but only 6 months after DS2 but I have a closer bond with DS2 and have to work harder with DS1 to make sure both children are treated equally (I had PND and failure to bond with DS1). Your relationship with your child is lifelong and they need you in different ways as they get older. Working with my DS1 to get him through his grade 2 trumpet, and working with my DS2 on his reading difficulties are perhaps even more vital, rewarding and important to me and my kids as being with them in the first year of their lives.

Asked mw today about lack of measurement. N she said mAybe last MW would only record if there was concern. But she then recorded today's measurement. So she must be concerned! Lol or she is just covering for her colleague or is just not that big a deal

Just drank my lucazade. It was warm. But not to bad. But am so hungry. All I got in my bag is M&Ms ! Really hope my bloods come back clear so I can eat them!

On plus side have my antenatal class booked for 1st September. So happy about that. Nxt one would b 7th October n don't really want to leave it that late.

Also I weighed myself n I lost a kilo! Woop woop. Some ppl may frown, however I think when u have a "high BMI" it's not a concern. N MW didn't even comment.

In terms of mat leave, I have given last day as 38 weeks. Which is LATE. But I think it's easier at my work to change mind and leave earlier then stay extra. I'm due during half term holidays, but think leaving it until 39 weeks is deff to long. Plus I know my cover teacher is willing to start earlier and b flexible.

Right another hour to wait before nxt blood test. Lucky I bought some work with me.

garden that is such sad news, how awful and tragic. I'm so sorry

Garden that's awful news! It happened to a friend of mine, they had twins and one of them died of cot death at 7 months old. It's an absolute tragedy so my thoughts are with you and your family ((hugs))

Mad pregnancy dreams again last night. I'm not doing too bad with dreaming about smoking though, all through my last 3 pregnancies I dreampt that I was smoking (haven't touched one for 13 years), think they were just classic anxiety dreams, seems I'm extremely chilled for this one though; hubby thinks I'm a bit too chilled

Have now got a 7 seater car, am totally refusing to drive it yet as I still love mine and won't need it until November, and we have names!! I have totally got my own way on the girls names, hubby really doesn't like it but the compromise is he chose the boys name which I don't like but know I will as soon as our child is called that. So, just to see which team we fall into now in November..........