December 2012, 'Christmas rush' has a different meaning for us this year!

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Thought we should have a shiny new thread.

second the clinic at the hospital would only give me 20 (testing 7 times a day ) but I didn't have any problem with the gp tbh. Took in a slip the midwife gave with the info, they photocopied some info from my notes (as I didn't see a gp, just asked the receptionist) and the prescription was there the next day. I'm hoping this will be the case this time. Going to go tonight/tomorrow so I have a few days to argue if needs be. The main problem I had was finding a pharmacy that stocked the test strips and lancets as they were on the same prescription, but everywhere seemed to have 1 or the other!

stacey sounds good although my friends went in Asda last week and she didn't get anything!

stacey 20 for testing 7 times a day wasn't very helpful of them! Good that you've had no problems with your GP. Yes I had a similar problem finding one place that had the right test strips, lancets and also metformin. Although i was prescribed an enormous box of lancets that will last me till the end of time.

cod oh that's rubbish, maybe somewhere a bit more upmarket? John Lewis or something .

seconds I got loads of lancets too, I don't understand why they give loads of lancets but not strips, considering you need both every time! Lol

Oh re pineapple - wouldnt have a clue but think an nct pal who claimed it helped (plus sweep) got a fresh one.

Btw in my foggy slightly panicked memory (i feel weird!) I think raspberry leaf tea can help afterwards too?

I get four packs of 50 test strips each time and I never remember to change my lancet!

Yes clarella'i think the RLT helps after in contracting your uterus back down etc after but I could be wrong!

spotty I get 1 or 2 packs of 25 test strips every time :(
The only way I remember to change my lancet is
If I leave the little bag unzipped the night before - that's my reminder that I haven't done it when I test the next day. Re the lancets, the diabetic nurse told me to just chuck away the paler blue plastic bit that covers the end, when changing lancets, but why on earth wouldn't you keep that to cover the used lancet when finished with it, for safer disposal?

Yay for spotty and felix- glad things seem to be on the up! I feel v sorry for all I you diabetics out there by the way, I won't talk any more about biscuits.
I have 35 wk midwife appt tomorrow, not sure if I will have argument on hands about iron levels and home birth- they were 10.7 a week ago so IMO not that low, but hospital midwife seemed to think I needed iron supplements.
I've been taking spatone since then but I'm reluctant to take anything else (maybe floradix at a push) as I'm already bunged up enough! and, have read various things to suggest that 10.7 isn't that low for the gestation, and that raising iron levels much more than this can actually have a detrimental effect on the growth of the baby.
Anyone got any opinions on this? I don't want to compromise my or the baby's health but I'm not symptomatic of anaemia (sure, am tired, but who isn't at this stage) so I'm hoping the community midwife will be sensible about it. They have been so far, very calm and measured.

Terry - my iron 10.4 (up from 10.2 at 28 weeks, but down from 11.2 at booking in) and I've been told that it's still fine for me to have a home birth. I am on iron, but this is because ferratin was a bit low (not sure of no.s) not just due to hb level which apparently on its own isn't that bad.

The stuff I've read suggests that low iron is quite common due to extra blood volume leading to dilution - I'm rubbish at links but there's a good article on the homebirth.org website. The main risks of anemia in general seem to be low birth weight and prematurity but had with DS and he was 9lb 2oz and born at nearly 42 weeks so certainaly far from inevitable.

I think with a home birth specifically, the worry would be in terms of being more vulnerable in the event of blood loss. I think the article referred to above suggests that your levels would need to be quite a bit lower for this to be an issue though.

Hope you can have the birth you want - sounds like you should be able to based on what you've said.

Just realised i forgot to let you know - went to clinic this morning and he's 10g off his birth weight already :o we walked up with the wrap lazy mummy cba lugging the buggy downstairs as it's only 1/2 a mile up the road. The clinic bit was dull, lots of waiting around and ignoring other people's badly behaved children but the bf group running concurrently was really nice and friendly so i think I'll just go to that in future! Apparently it's important not to worry too much about weight gain in ebf babies as long as they're growing and producing wet/dirty nappies.

R is 9th centile

I want my milk to come in now!! It's so much easier than trying to hand express bloody colostrum! I've decided I'm going to go home tomorrow. Feel really bad but I just hate it here and I'm so uncomfortable the foods shit and the chairs hurt to sit on. If I stay the very most I can do is sit there with my hand on his head plus I need dp to go back to work so he doesn't use all his PA and someone needs to look after dd

Yeah pidj those charts are based on ff babies apparently? As long as he is happy, which it appears he is, I think that's all that matters, it's nice that your HV gets that too! How did you find the sling?

Oh spotty it's better that Felix has a well rested happier mummy than one who's not sleeping or eating properly. If you need to go home it isn't going to have a negative effect on him.

My boobs hurt from hand expressing :( hopefully it will toughen them up ready for tadpole though.

Well the receptionist seemed to think I'd be ok getting the prescription, we'll see if it happens. I've requested 100 test strips, 2 weeks metformin and 100 lancets (was told to change every time so this is what I've been doing).

Oh and seconds I keep the lid to put back on before I put the lancets in the sharps bin. I use a test strip tub as a mobile sharps bin when out and about.

Ispy- thanks for that info, it's reassuring. I'm sure the midwife will not have an issue, must just be me hormonally worrying!

I've been making endless procrastinating lists today, which has at least had he effect that DP has done several of the jobs I have been nagging him to do for weeks just so I had some stuff to cross off my list!

pidj I think it's great the baby F is maintaining his weight and if like spotty says the charts are for FF babies that seems kind of bonkers to use as a comparison

stacey good work on the expressing! Sorry to hear its left you with sore breasts! Ouch!

Speaking of which mine seem to be growing, again! When do they stop? I get sort of sore tingly pains through the breast to the nipple and then at some point a few days later notice they're bigger

I have a question, AIBU??? - Christmas here is a big deal and DP's family have done the same thing, well forever... I've said I'd rather stay at home this year; because I don't envisage being very comfortable. It's a 40 ish minute drive away and generally there are two things to do at the IL's - sitting and eating. Of course you can also drink... If you're not pregnant or the driver . The most important day here is the 24th Dec and I'll be 39+5
The problem is this is also first grandchild (DP's bros are 10 & 12 years older than him so....) and DP's parents are big worriers very excited, so its not as if I'd be able to get up and wander about as I please or sit when/ where I want without being asked 100 times if I'm ok, if I need anything etc etc etc... I think I'm not going to be great company and would rather enjoy a bit of peace and quiet at home...
Those who have been there before and those that are around 39/40 weeks how comfortable and social are you at that point??
Thanks ladies, I said this to DP ages ago and now I don't know if I'm just being a bit mean to him...

Baby F? Silly fat fingers! Sorry Pidj I'm on my phone! Baby R

I'm 5'4", dp is 5'3". Did they honestly think I'd be producing a 10lb bruiser?! I expect it's based on all babies regardless of genetics, feeding method etc. As long as he follows a growth curve it's fine.

Home in peace and comfort is the absolute best place for you, Spotty, you can visit him just as well from there.

Sling is amazing, we use it far more than the pushchair tbh. It goes on and he goes in and out as necessary.

Stacey no more than 10 mins each side then have a break :)

Nutella, have a prearranged signal or time at which dp needs to get you home. Then he can make "Darling, you look tired, let's get you home" noises and bustle you out in a show of concern. You can put up a token protest for politeness sake

nutella i will be 39+ weeks at christmas too and im looking forward to being able to sit and do nothing. i am going to in laws so will get out of all the washing and helping out etc. That said they are not big worriers and so wont be constantly asked if im ok. do they have a spare room, it might be worth pre warning them that you may need a nap mid afternoon, then if you need some space, or indeed a nap, you can pop away without them going into panic mode and they wont think you are being rude either. The thing im dreading is feeling hungry when we eat then regretting it later on when i have indegestion, so will try and not eat too much or pick at the chocolates too much. Could you encorage everyone to go out for a walk, then you get some fresh air and can let your food down and make you more comfortable, assuming you want to.

Nutella, I think I would be inclined to decline!

At best you will either be in labour/had baby or be feeling fed up with being pregnant, anxious in case you start, frustrated by waiting,

At worst you will be in increasing discomfort, thoroughly fed up, pissed off that you are not in your own space/home, panicking in case you start and you are 40mins drive away from home, annoyed with DP for expecting you to be social, and even more pissed off at him when his family twist his arm to have a drink or 3 "oh Go on it IS Christmas!!!"
Then even more worried that after he has drunk said drinks you will go into labour and he won't be able to drive cos he's over the limit!

This year should be an exception you DP and (maybe Baby) with people visiting you.
There will always be next year and the next and the next and so on....

Hmmmm... Thanks ladies, all very good advice! I don't want to be mean to DP but I don't want to get his hopes up and then make him have to cancel ( FIL has no problem guilt tripping DP, whatever the occasion) we were there a couple of weeks ago (the PIL are 68 & 70) and it was boiling! In the end DP asked them to turn the heating off for me.

I know DP would like to be there to entertain his brother too (oldest brother & SIL stay at home) and would feel bad about not being there . Argh... I've also said I would love to see my family next Christmas (first time we'll have managed it in 4 years - but we're pretty chilled so it isn't essential to us that we see each other on the day; but we also need a lot of organising )

We haven't officially been asked to the PIL yet, simply expected... Think I'll have to sleep on it and talk more with DP about it....

Oooohhhh those of you on the brink of LOs arriving... It's a full moon tomorrow! It might help some of you along :o

I agree with Alison nutella politely decline this years invite!

Just been for a 2 mile walk and munched on a lot of pineapple... Come on baby!!!

Nutella, I have insisted on staying at home for Christmas this year too. Unfortunately we invited (thankfully lovely) PIL in the interests of being polite and they unexpectedly accepted
I don't mind really, if things get going I am sure they will make themselves scarce but I would quite have liked to have slobbed in Pjs if the fancy took. Never mind, at least at home we can take ourselves off for a nap or a bath

Could you go for a few hours and then go home, best of both worlds then? And as someone else said, have a signal that means you have had enough.