March 2013 IX: Cruising to Christmas with burgeoning bumps

[Sheldonella]

Thanks sarahs999 for the lovely new thread name :)

Old thread here

No 9, can you believe it

Afternoon everyone

Sorry to hear people had stressfull weekends and been poorly sick! I have woken with a cold and my sinus's are killing plus everytime I blow my nose it gives in to a full blown nose bleed so trying really hard not to but its driving me insane now Have received the end of my rope with this not sleeping rubbish and laying there from 3.00 till 6.00am is just killing me as well as waking up everytime I need to turn over. DH said I could have a lay in Sunday and he would getup with boys but I couldnt sleep so got up at 5.00am anyway and then went downstairs, and just watch rubbish tv and films until boys surfaced!

Feeling very pathetic, hormonal and close to tears at the mo - which I know is just the pure lack of sleep but its still driving me insane feel like a right mess and very close to my breaking point - which I know I shouldnt allow myself to get to that point as I have suffered with PND badly before - sorry rant over x

Me too three he was just being a tinker. I'll forgive him!
I really like the full tummy wriggles he's started doing recently but I must admit the low blows really take it out of me. I'm not sure what he's kicking down there but it stops me in my tracks. Even the rib kicks aren't that painful!

sundae keep it long enough to shove a bobble in. I don't alway brush mine so might not be best person to advise

jojo it's labour ward that do the movement checking here but I haven't a midwife so I guess you should try MW first if you are worried.

zoey Are you still working? take time off and lounge. You should be taking less risks than most with your history.

Ummm yes still at work got Wednesday off this week and a 4 day week next week as well then off till after xmas - but in all honesty can not see me coming back after christams and DH is saying in no uncertain terms I am not allowed to work after xmas!

Re-posting from FB in case there is further expertise here! Doc phoned this morning re blood tests. The only thing wrong this time is v. low potassium (again). So I'm now on quadruple the dose they put me on early in the pregnancy (I took that just for a month). Does anyone know if this deficiency is likely to have harmed the babies? Dr Google says it can be harmful to mother and child, but I can only find info on how it may affect the mother (and I think it explains how easily I get knackered and out of breath the moment I do anything more active than climb the stairs...)

Glad your flumps have returned, JoJo. After a very active evening I've not had a peep from mine this morning. Little so and sos are just getting us worried - practice for the rest of our lives!

Sorry you're not doing so well, Zoey, but here's hoping you feel better soon.

Lauren, I think you are a saint. I couldn't live like that. We strive for 50:50 in normal circumstances and at the moment it's more like 30:70, with him doing more than I can. ALSO we got a cleaner which has stopped a lot of petty arguments we were having. Not everyone can afford it (we pay £20 for 2hrs a week) but if you can I swear it's worth every penny in terms of marital harmony. At first, when I was 'just' tired in the first trimester he baulked a bit, but the bigger I got and the more difficult it is for me to move and the more things are going wrong (low thyroid, low iron, low potassium) the more he understands how the pregnancy is taking it out of me. Now he tells me off for doing too much, and he steps up a lot more, which is how I think it should be. We have had a lot of tense conversations, though, about how we (in my opinion) don't now have much time for our individual hobbies (he is not a gamer but he likes writing computer programmes in his spare time ... erm, as well as in his work time!) when we're struggling to get all the painting and decorating done in time for the babies arriving. He has taken that on board and has cut it down to an evening or two a week, rather than a couple of hrs most evenings. I really appreciate that as I've voluntarily given up a lot of stuff non-work and non-couple stuff that I realised I just couldn't do alongside everything else. Good luck working this through.

Sorry manda but I can't help with the potassium, hope you start to feel the benefits of the dose soon, though!
zoey I hope you feel better soon, these colds are just so miserable! And ood I hope all went well today.
Back at work today and actually bizarrely enjoying it! Think being ill and stressed about work at home was worse than the stress of being in! Actually a bit worried though as it doesn't look like they will have cover in place for me when I leave and the handover will have to be documented, which feels like a whole lot of work. Really hope there is an easy way to do it.
Weird dream last night that my belly turned transparent so everyone could see little bean moving around, like some odd fishtank...my subconscious is obviously a bit frazzled. Also booked tour of maternity unit for this Sunday which should be interesting.
Hope all the aches and pains are easing!

Sorry for those who are feeling poorly it really is awful to be sick at any time but when pregnant and not being able to take much just makes it worse!
I too am blessed to be in a 50:50 house as it has to be I can't handle doing the cleaning, washing and cooking all that and pregnant no way I would go on strike!!!! Lucky as have older dc to pull there weight and do a lot of the chores! DH irons his own shirts and clothes! Dc do theirs uniform and dc18 helps loads with cooking!! When all else fails I order takeaway!!!
Trust me I have been told some stories of other people's partners and I'm so grateful for mine!!! We have all the consoles and he hardly bothers with them!!!!
But I would tell him you need the help or better still hide the flippin game!!!! Or opps reset it!!!!
This baby is using my internal organs as punching bags!!!
Manda - have you seen the image of the twins fighting in the womb? Very funny and just amazing!!! Sorry can't help with your quest clueless here!

Good to hear everyone feeling a bit better. I am ok but Jesus I could kill lots of people today. O2 for being useless. I signed a new contract and ordered a new phone. SEVEN phone calls later and they don't know what has happened my order. Oh and I had to make the bloody calls. Asos cancelled my order nd I can't reorder using discount of 20% which is ridiculous, frustrating and not on! Seraphine order has not yet left uk so probably no chance of being here in time for christening on Saturday. All minor stuff but would make a grown pregnant woman cry.

Got a lovely dinner simmering away, bing white Christmas cd on the stereo and looking forward to DH coming home to decorate the tree. Should cheer me up a bit!

Doctor in morning. Hoping in and out quickly with no concerns as feel well though probably not drinking enough water I imagine.

Oc x

Good to hear everyone feeling a bit better. I am ok but Jesus I could kill lots of people today. O2 for being useless. I signed a new contract and ordered a new phone. SEVEN phone calls later and they don't know what has happened my order. Oh and I had to make the bloody calls. Asos cancelled my order nd I can't reorder using discount of 20% which is ridiculous, frustrating and not on! Seraphine order has not yet left uk so probably no chance of being here in time for christening on Saturday. All minor stuff but would make a grown pregnant woman cry.

Got a lovely dinner simmering away, bing white Christmas cd on the stereo and looking forward to DH coming home to decorate the tree. Should cheer me up a bit!

Doctor in morning. Hoping in and out quickly with no concerns as feel well though probably not drinking enough water I imagine.

Oc x

Got my heated airer! The box was bigger than me, some bloke actually laughed at me trying to carry it to my car, but I managed and got it in.

Have finished shopping for DH, just got to check it all through and make sure I don't need any extra stocking bits.

Exhausted now! I seem to run out of steam quick these days!

Lexi gah, writing handover documents is a massive job. Much easier to do it at least partially in person. What a pain if they don't sort it out in time. Glad you're enjoying being back at work.

My boss just came all the way up from London for a meeting at my house! Mightily impressed. When he was leaving he said this will be the last time we meet in person until Afterwards. I was all set to protest but, in truth, he's right ? crikey! That's a terrifying thought! Methinks I'm a little bit in denial!

Sundae am with you on the running out of steam v. quickly! Hoping the potassium supplements will help me a bit as it's getting to be ridiculous!

OC sorry the world seems a bit against you today. FX the Seraphine order is with you at least by the weekend. Hope you enjoy decorating the tree

We got ours up at the weekend and from some off-cuts, plus holly in the garden and some gold ribbon I made a Christmas wreath! I have never had the inclination to do this before. Coming over all a bit Kirtsy Allsopp in the ensting department ? hmm!

Sorry to hear about people not being well. I had a horrid sore throat/ears all weekend which combined with a visit from the in-laws made me feel terrible. Feeling loads better today though thank goodness.

Lauren you should definitely have a stern word with your OH. Mine isn't the best but we have a cleaner and so I only do the day to day stuff like laundry and the odd Hoover so it's fine. Don't worry too much about lifting. I carry my 2.5 stone ds3 everyday and often my even heavier ds2. It's all very well saying we shouldn't be carrying heavy things but when you have other children you have no choice. I do find the constant getting up off the floor exhausting & I know it will only get worse. Lift using your knees which is much better for you.

Em glad your 4d scan went well, they are amazing aren't they? So nice to have confirmation of the gender too my three boys are all mummy's boys which I know DH finds very hard. It's always "no daddy, mummy cuddle" from ds3 at the moment and I know I would hate that if it was the other way around. My DH is also much harder on them than which probably doesn't help but he gets stressed by things that don't bother me or that I can ignore like whinging etc. ..! I hope things improve between your DH & ds.

Sundae I love Lakeland & my mum lives close to the Bicester one. Your heated airer sounds fab. I am bad and tumble dry everything now. I know it can't be great for the clothes but I love how quick it is.

Ds2 breaks up tomorrow & ds1 on Thursday and they are on school holidays until 9 jan! Seems very early but looking forward to not having to do the school run for a while.

Sorry for no more personals but on phone & so it's tricky. Take care everyone

manda LOL at nesting; DH is convinced I am going a bit potty with the crochet/crafting/christmas stuff! He says it's sweet to come in to the house and see me busily making things!

Know what you mean about denial. If this LO is born at the same time as I was, I've only got seven weeks! Eek!

Seven weeks, Lexi! Let's hope your LO stays nice and snug for a bit longer! Though a friend with twins did tell me to get my hospital bag packed over Christmas. Mine are due to arrive mid-Feb, all being well, as were hers, but her boys arrived early at the end of Jan! Awwww, go you with the nesting and crafting! Have to say DH raised a bit of an eyebrow when I got into the wreath-making at the weekend!

Sorry you're a bit under the weather Pink. Sounds tough feeling a bit poorly with chatty in-laws to entertain, but hopefully they helped to entertain the DCs etc.

Aww I love hearing about all the crafting :) I loved my sewing over the weekend and I really must get on with my knitted blanket. Also on my to do list is making chutney and a christmas cake.
manda It is amazing to think you will have 2 babies in a few weeks! Good that you have done the nursery now. How is sharing a study going? DH and I share ours and were thinking we should clear a bit of space for a play pen or something in future. I have a feeling there is lots of house adapting yet to be thought about.
Lexi I hope yours stays put until March! Have you got lots to document at work? I had to do this when I got promoted a couple of years ago as they couldn't recruit fast enough. It is weird having to write your job down like that.
October That sounds like a very frustrating day, enough to annoy anyone. I get very annoyed with companies when they do things like that. Have a nice evening decorating your tree. Must do mine!
pink You are amazing dealing with inlaws when not feeling well. Glad you are feeling better today.

I have to go to the hospital for my blood tests and Lucozade challenge test tomorrow. Tonight I must figure out how to measure exactly 273ml of Lucozade for it. I'm also going to try my lactulose for the first time tonight (TMI - lovely) I hope the results aren't too scary

One down. New phone should be here by Thursday. Hopefully as current one is cutting itself off or else random calling people. lucky i got rid of a lot of exes numbers. lol!

Two to go.

Sheldon very good luck with the Lactulose but sorry to hear you are still having problems in that department. I think I said before, but it took about three days for mine to work and then it was a gradual improvement till things got back to somewhere near normal. Good luck with the Lucozade challenge - let us all know how it goes. Hope it's not too grim with the fasting. Oooooh chutney. We made rhubarb chutney, with produce from the lottie, for our wedding favours. Meant to do green tomato chutney this summer but, well, I just don't know where the time has gone!

I know, two babies! What have we let ourselves in for? Nursery still needs some woodwork doing and a second coat on everything, then blinds, and assembling the furniture (which our rellies flat-packed for us), buying some storage from Ikea and (the most important thing) deciding on what woodland themed wall stickers to go for! But, it's very good that DH is out and we've made a start on the decorating. A nice xmas project. We've only had one evening of sharing an office - late last night - and it was fine except for the fact that when we both wheel our office chairs backwards at the same time to talk we had some comedy bumps! He's v. much aware that it's quite a big thing for me to give up a third of my space, which is sweet, but in fact it's been a wonderful thing having to condense and re-organise myself as I was due for a bit of a sort through and need to know where everything is before babies come to addle my brain even further!

OC hurray for new phone being on its way!

Evening all!

Thanks again to manda and pink.

I wish i could afford a cleaner haha! I had a word and he has been good today. The washing up from yesterdays Sunday dinner is only just being done but i stood my ground and left it. And he hasn't been on the game today so far. We're getting there. I'll think he'll realise more when babies here, and he can't be doing all this game stuff til silly am in the morning!

Everyone's under the weather atm as well it seems. So all get well soon and hope your feeling better for Christmas.

I'm so jealous of everyone with active babies. My little one is rather laid back, moves in the morning to say hungry, then moves at night to say tired. Very rarely in the day.

I am at the future in-laws for this Christmas. I did make a point of spending this one with them because next Christmas i won't be taking a 9 month little girl on the 3 hour train to Birmingham. I want our first family Christmas to be us 3 at home celebrating it. Plus they go to every relatives house on Christmas day. I mean everyone. The day may as well be spent in the car. I don't think a baby will appreciate that. So we'll go up for new years instead. How does everyone else deal with Christmas day and family?

xx

Maeve Binchy shared an office with her husband for years and said it was the best thing that ever happened to her. She seemed to have a long and happy marriage!

2 babies will be madness for year 1 but so so so fab as they gets older. Have you started thinking of name combinations? Do you know what you are having? So exciting. I love twins. Sounds like you are getting really sorted on the nursery front. Will the babies share a cot for first while? Not a bad plan to get bag sorted wither. A friend recommended on Ds to keep a bag at home with going home outfits so that DH can bring in day going home or night before. That means it won't smell of baby. Was a good idea and meant I had nice fresh clean clothes for all the going home photos! And of course babs was all lovely in his outfit!

DS is tucking into chicken tikka masala. Long are the days of meat. Potatoes and 2 veg for Irish babies!

Lauren yay, glad he's pulling his weight! I think with first pregnancy men must go through a lot of weirdness. So much is changing with their women and so much unknown change lies ahead in terms of the relationship etc. Perhaps it's his way of burying his head in the sand a bit? I think it was that for my DH. But I didn't cut him any slack. I really needed his support and kind of demanded it till he understood and caught up with me! Keep on being strong and telling him what you need.

Re xmas: normally DH and I head north and spend ten days in various spare rooms, blow-up beds and hotels seeing both sets of family and friends. It's exhausting! Lovely to see everyone, of course, but after about 4 days I start getting fractious as I really like my own space and routine not to mention food! Last year we meant to spend Christmas in our own house for the first time ever, but my FiL died in the summer so we went up as usual but, for a break, split the 10 days up with a one-night stay in a really gorgeous country hotel (got a really good price as they weren't going to give the room to anyone else at 6pm at night!) This year is our first at home and we're so excited. I am sure I could go up north and travel about a bit, but it's great to have the excuse of the pregnancy, and those family and friends who want to will be coming to see us. My family are coming down this weekend. MiL will be down nearer Christmas. And possibly some friends if they can get away. But we're really looking forward to hibernating a bit. At age 38 and 41 it somehow feels a bit daft to me for us always to be the ones travelling so much, even if it does make complete sense geographically.

October we are keeping the sex a surprise so will have to come up with four names! We have one of each but have still got some thinking to do :-) We've been given one cot and one crib (and a moses basket stand) so I guess we will have them both in one cot for a few months, after which we hope another friend will be able to spare a cot. Not sure how we will use the crib or whether we'll get a moses basket for the stand but I guess that will become clear in due course! A friend said to me that I should put cheese sarnies in the freezer so DH has something to bring to the hospital as men often don't get fed!!

Hi everyone, just catching up after the weekend - thanks for all the ankle and movement advice. Movement wise she started up as normal the next day, I had what I presume were Braxton hicks for about 2 hrs that night (like bad period pains and bump went hard) but BabyBoo started kicking in response and she hasn't stopped since!
Ankle is still sore, I've had a sprained ankle a few times so ill probably just let it run its course but yes Ood a perfect time to stop all the running about at work! I tried to do just that today but got hip and back pain for sitting for so long. Managed a happy medium in the end of short walks to relieve back and short sits to rest ankle.
I can do fairly heavy lifting still, just not for very long. My trouble is the same as Tramp as soon as I bend down I get pain or discomfort so that rules out a fair bit. Standing for long periods of time is also difficult so rules out my usual day long cooking sessions - I also can't concentrate for that long and have ruined dinner a few times by wandering off and forgetting what I'm doing.
Christmas this year will be me and DH on our own at home, next year all the in laws are staying at a big house for Christmas week so we won't get a choice where we go. I'm really anxious about it, the in laws are loud and opinionated and although I love them all its crazy when they get together and I'm not sure how ill cope with a week of it, especially with BabyBoo. I'm a bit of a control freak and the whole week is going to be out of my control!
manda that's a great point about DH having something to eat at the hospital, I know mine wouldn't even think about feeding himself unless it was quick and easy like cheese sandwiches!

Strange question ESP as on baby number 3 but what do BH feel like, do they hurt? I have never had any I didn't think however I do get stabbing pains round the bottom of my bump but that's about it

For Xmas we usually stay here Xmas eve then go to my mums early morning for breakfast and more presents then stay there till boxing day she is only 15 mins away and my brother his wife and kids come over for a few hours until they go to SIL dads which I have to say I am pleased about as my niece and nephew are far too hectic for me and drive mme insane, I am another control freak Hermione and there none stop noise drives me crazy plus my brother and SIL never move between them so I end up helping mum cook, watching my kids and there's as even getting up to get them a drink or getting them out of kitchen is too much effort for them!!!!! We normally pop to DHs sisters house for a couple of hours too but won't be doing that until boxing day this year as his mother will be there and I refuse to be around her or have my children around the crazy old moose.
Next year DH has decided we will be having Xmas here with the kids and if people want to visit they can but we won't be running around visiting and delivering as we have done every other year - sounds bliss :)

manda how good are you thinking about DH eating when you in hospital, our hospital has a shop and costa that sell yummy stuff so DH can go there and maybe get me something yummy too :)

Hi all

Just a quick post. Busy day again swimming with DD this morning and then cleaning house again in preparation for our weekend of visitors!
Got my lovely dental work to look forward to tomorrow. I just cannot wait! I am WFH tomorrow though so hopefully will get plenty done.

We have Xmas day at home and my folks come over. Both sets of family are invited, but DHs parents are stick in the muds are yet to take is up on the offer... which means that we end up packing up and heading off to Cumbria for a couple of nights from boxing day.
because my parents are divorced and don't get on, we will see my dads side of the family after we've been to Cumbria, so that's basically from Christmas to new year taken up with visiting.

Re:food at hospital,on advice, I think from NCT classes or friends or something, DH made himself a massive pack up when I went into labour with DD. after about 2 hours, it had gone! . But like zoey, our hospital has a shop and a Costa coffee so he should be ok this time. Fingers crossed it won't be such a flipping long and drawn out affair this time anyway!

Hope you are all feeling better today. X

Wow busy day ladies.

Manda - I think potassium deficiency effects Mum more than baby, basically baby is sucking you dry of potassium. Have they suggested you eat more potassium in your diet as well as the supplements? Brazil nuts, bananas, potato & apricots I think. There'll be more of course... & all noted are fave foods of mine ;)

Handover job notes, ugh nightmare I do not envy you.

Christmas : you all seem to have lovely Christmases sorted. MrM and I are together at Christmas for first time this year, seemed important as it'll be last time it's just we two so to speak. Usually we splinter - he's with his family and I mine, then we meet up, which sort of keeps everyone happy. This year everyone seems to be all over shop so juggling seeing everyone is tough. But new year will be chilled, will be me in control & will be with friends and I am really looking forward to it; a mini Christmas in itself!

Re dress not arriving have you had a peak at babeswithbabies? They have next day delivery...

Got naff all useful done today due to stuffed head & nose. So another wasted working day which I really could've done without. Forces myself to meet friend for sinner because I've had to cancel last three times for various reasons. Been a good two months since we caught up, so nice to see her & just gossip. Apparently I'm "huge!". Caught myself in bathroom mirror at restaurant & I'm def bigger than I'd thought.. Oh dear, it'll be tough from Jan onwards methinks.

I've not even considered hospital bag, tour of birth units or anything along those lines yet. New year..

Good luck with GTT tomorrow.

MrM and I are hiring a cleaner ASAP. Sod financial prudence, we're just not coping with it all. Or rather I'm not. Cleaning is not his forte. He'll do as asked, when asked but asking is required and I just don't have energy to spend my weekend scrubbing whilst he hoovers, mops and lugs. So cleaner it is. As Manda said, my experience of cleaners is that they solve a world of domestic hassle and are worth every penny.

Hurrah for another entrant to the Lakeland heated drier gang!

Apols if I've missed anyone. I'm not quite copus today.

zoey mine do! but I'm crap with pain it's like contractions but they tend to be irregular/short lived.