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

Mine only bleed when I brush my teeth- but I always floss before I brush as teeth are very close with hardly any gap so paranoid about missing things!!

Planned c sections are very calm and relaxed and with twins they can make sure they have enough hands on dec, DS2 was a planned c section and it helped my controlling nature know the exact day to arrange things etc! I only didn't like section because of hyper mobility I have to be asleep so hated no one being there when he was born. With pain etc it was ok and didn't take long to work out ways to reduce it like not trying to tense belly when u move! U sort of try and 'brace' yourself knowing it will hurt but that's just pulling muscles that have been cut! You def don't want both natural and section that just sounds ouch!

All root canal work = OW. And for good measure OW!

Something fishy happening with FB. I see there are lots of comments based on email alerts, but see nout on the page and not only that but my comments have disapeared too. So apologies if I have repeated myself on any threads. All most odd.

I am in good cheer. 1) My GIANT tea pot has arrived. Now as many people as like can come along to coo over Socs when Socs arrives because I have a 10 cup tea pot. That is 1.4ltrs. Whether or not I can lift it when it is filled with tea, now that is a question.
2) I have sorted out MrMs christmas gift, at last. Wahoo! Am buying him a bike. His Mum and my parents are coming in on the purchase. So one nice item that costs a fair wee bit from us all, rather than lots of bitty things he doesn't really want. AND it has a 30 day ride & trial thing, so if he doesn't get on with it he can send it back and use the cash to get what he does want. He's been going on about a bike for a year now and still not bought one. I did 2 hours of research and decided on "just" the thing... of course his research may disagree with mine :) Still, I hope it'll be a fab surprise.

Which means I only have 3 gifts left to get and I am done. One gift voucher for a spa and two little things for friends, just something light hearted & a bit silly. Have plenty of ideas but have yet to hit on "just" the right thing. And then weekend before christmas I am making nougat and will give little boxes of homemade nougat to some of our neighbours and keep a box for my Dad who LOVES nougat. all very Paddington bear.

Sorry, all rather me me me, but I am feeling chuffed.

Although I did sod all of the work that I needed to do. So I'm not doing that well. Ho hum. Still, cold seems to be shifting and Socs seems to be settling down at last. Have had about 2 hours of hyper-active tumbling. My stomach has felt like a washing machine on spin with a cannonball in it.

Hey all!place marking, so so busy and so so tired!! Will catch up soon xxx

Morning, another cold one.

Your presents sound lovely tramp. Dh got a new bike thus year for his crazy cycling habit, cost a pretty penny so we agreed his presents are going to be on the 'light' side this year!

Can't believe its nearly Christmas, think I have been using it as a shield to facing up to march and giving birth.

Yes to getting b hicks. Find them painless but they are bringing back memories of my 17 day latent labour!

Woke up yest morning with wet patches on my top from leaking colstrum (def sp) yuk! It's about only a week to the day I stopped bf'ing a year ago. Who knows where they'll be in 15 months time??

Need to get up now, do love my Wednesday morning lie ins but need to get a head start on toddler!

Gah to leaking colostrum!

Had a crappy start to the day. Ds crying in bedroom as forgot to do his roman challenge homework - only 5 kids from each class picked to do challenge; teacher told us she hoped it would improve his confidence and was going to be watching him. had to hastily print out wiki pages while berating him - he's only 7 but has a head full of films and telly and not enough concentration. Grrr! And this on a morning where we have to leave an hour earlier as I have the last of my intralipids sessions over in Epsom which is miles away, so had to drop him at a friend's house so she could take him to school. And it is FREEZING in London this morning - could do without standing on multiple slippery platforms.

Whine over! I have only 6 working days left before Xmas if you knock off all my appointments for antenatal stuff, which tend to take up half a day each. V exciting. And only 33 working days overall before maternity leave... Not that I'm counting or anything.

Am feeling very Christmassy. I always live Xmas but this year will be esp good as having it at sister in laws with extended family on dh side, who I'm very close to. Only downside is my father who we will visit on 23 or 24, haven't decided yet. All a bit tragic so won't go into it here but badically he has gone downhill massively since mum died two years ago and now lets any old tramp or conman into his house, gives his money away til he is in financial dire straits, is full of anger and doesn't let anyone help him. He used to be the chair of rotary and his golf club and has cut off all contact with them. I've tried everything and now am at the stage where I have to step back and let him do what he's going to do. He's a functioning alcoholic so it's even more difficult. So seeing him is a duty and then I'll try to forget. Sounds harsh but it's the only way I won't go mad. He never bothers to buy Christmas presents for us and I decided that last year was the final time I was going to cover for him forgetting his only grandson.

Gosh that became another rant. I clearly have issues this morning! Hope everyone is keeping warm and comfortable.

Nice to hear your good experience of planned CS, Zoey, and recovery afterwards! Did you get to pick which day/date you wanted to give birth, or does it depend on the schedule of the surgery team?Oh I feel for you having to be completely asleep though. I guess the thing I'm not keen on is the 45 mins or so it takes after the birth to close everything back up again when, really, I feel I should be holding new arrivals, but there's always DH to help on that front!

Hurrah for giant teapot Tramp! Now that is getting prepared! A bike is a tops idea for a present. Are you going for town, road, or mountain bike? Like the idea of a ride&trial as bikes are a really personal thing. Sometimes I've spent whole afternoons trying them to find the right fit and angles and of course it depends on what kind of riding he would like to do. Exciting! I cycle a lot - commuting and touring, but only occasionally racing - and I miss it loads. Can't wait for the day when we can chuck the kids in the back of a bike trailer and go off on adventures!

No colostrum (sp?!) here, but I have developed a non-itchy little rash around my nipples. I expect this is just part of my boobs getting themselves ready for action. Yikes!

I had a really bad night's sleep. When I finally stopped last night and collapsed on the sofa I realised how hugely sore my bump was. I think it was a combination of being on the go since 8am, carrying a lot of bags of nappies and clothes (freebies from my friend!) home from town and the protracted one-hour scan in the morning. It really hurt at times (for the first time ever) and the sonographer could not really get a good shot of Baby 2's head, as it was so low in my pelvis. She kept going over my scar under which there is a tiny hernia and it was agony. But I think she annoyed the bump all over as it was so sore throughout the night. Bit better today so shall stop complaining!

Oh your poor boy, Sarah! Sounds like he felt bad about forgetting, though, so hopefully it may help him think about his homework a bit earlier in future (or is that not how it works with kids?!) Sorry to hear about your Dad too. That sounds like a tricky situation indeed, and painful too. It's hard when you realise that your parents just will not be parented, despite best efforts, and that you have to let them make their own mistakes decisions. I've only had a little bit of this (re health and money) but that is difficult enough. Ultimately what you can be responsible for is yourself and your own little family, and try to minimise the impact of it on yourself and others. Sounds like you're doing a grand job in that direction. Hope your day brightens up, my dear!

manda I had a good c-section last time. I was in theatre about 1/2 hour altogether so nowhere near your 45 mins afterwards! I was stuck in recovery for nearly an hour due to a problem with the spinal but they said its normally a lot shorter. Dh sat next to me with dd3 for the first 5-10 mins after she was born too but then went back to the ward with her while I got stiched up & went to recovery. All the staff made a fuss of me and recovery staff all chatted to me to keep me occupied.

Sarah - sorry to hear that your Dad is struggling. Sadly you can only help if the person you're helping wants it. He sounds like a man in alot of pain. Here's hoping he has an epiphany.

Manda - it's a hybrid, ideal for commuting in London apparently. Saw recommendation on London Cyclist website. Will be no use for off roading but we're Londoners - there is no off roading. To date MeM has been a Boris Biker. I think he's been massively over thinking spec for bike & he's been seeking a "serious" bargain on eBay and oddly enough not getting it (even on eBay you don't get £1k bikes for £300). So this one scored well as an entry level commuter bike. Light but sturdy, enough gears to cope with the hills we have around here and lots of positive reviews. I don't think it'd be much cop with a baby seat on it - but those days are a way away yet and in London, frankly, walking is much safer.

Leakage sounds annoying. I'm seeing a little but def not enough to soak anything.

I'm still full of cold so another day working from home. Have large back log to sift through so away now to get started on that. Eep.

Thanks manda and tramp. I feel like I cope pretty well with dad but it is the thing that keeps me awake at night.

Manda, ds is normally as conscientious as a 7 yr old gets but im a bit impatient when he doesnt try his best. I come from a v academic background and it was drilledinto me from an early age to do well at school - so i find it hard when he makes mistakes. Try to Reign myself in but its hard! Sitting here bored as waiting for intralipids to finish. Usually 2-3 hours. Zzz. Still, good practice for gtt next week.

Has there been any talk of a south London meet up? I think there are a few of us. Would be really nice to put faces to names. Could be a January thing as I'm sure everyone is frantic til then...

Tramp I have much envy for the teapot. No idea what to get DH for Christmas - must look for inspiration!
Ethel, zoey and manda sympathy for dentist/hygeinist woes. I really must book the dentist!

sarah999 with some history of alcoholism in my family I really feel for you, sounds like you are handling a very difficult situation in the best way you can. Very sad for you all.

manda that is awful about your notes and shame that you can't have the birth you hoped for! At least now you can prepare though and do some research about what will happen.

Not much to report here apart from the fact that I am working from home due to MW in afternoon, and the cat stole my blinking porridge! Only turned my back for a moment!!
We also have a new car. In typical DH fashion we didn't get a 2007 Focus, we got a 2002 BMW 320.....he's very into cars and did tonnes of research so I'm nto really phased by the older car, I know it's still safe for the Bean and spacious, but I was a little bit nonplussed when he told me! Have booked it in with our local mechanic for a going over and to get anything fixed it needs. Feels very large and grown up after the MINI but as I do 75 miles a day commute I think I will enjoy the comfort and heated seats ;-)

Lexi - oh no not a BMW! You know what happens to people when they get behind the wheel of a BMW don't you? :)

Sarah - oh crikey I am feeling for your 7 year old. As someone who was always bright but never particularly accademic, I confess I have always managed to merrily muddle along at the top at school (Maths and languages aside - torture both) but I never particularly cared what the grades were, more if I was enjoying myself or not. No one in our family is accademic or made it to A-Level until I got there, so I think I was seen as a trail blazer. To be honest it would have been better if I had been given the odd kick up arse, or some extra inspiration. I think some people love learning and never get accademia, some the other way around and others find both frustrating, baffling and alienating. Grades does not necessarily intelligence measure.

Sorry, wandered way off point there. What I was going to say was, stick with the encouragement and try not to be too hard on your little one. Grading at 7, that is horrendously tough isn't it?!... Or is that just me?

at Tramp - I thought these days that was Audi drivers?!?
We used to have a BMW 330 coupe, but we sold it when we moved out of London and went back to having two cars and doing a lot of miles. I did say to DH that he has ensured I will never get let out at a junction ever again!!

No amanda I didn't get o pick a day as I wanted my consultant to do it and he only operates on a Monday, first he booked me in for valentines day but I got so bad he had to bring it forward! I suppose it depends on who is doing yours- there is always the possibility on the day it won't happen if ou need special care cots r anything though x

A lot of places seem to do two set days a week for elective c-sections, so you may not get a lot of choice especially as you need extra peeps around.

Be careful in the ice and snow in BMW's, they are rear-wheel drive so can be really hard to control in the snow, but the engines are work horses!

Place marking again. Can anyone recommend a good strapless bra? I bought this dress for a wedding and it definitely needs a strapless bra. Needs to be big enough to support my massive pregnancy boobs

Thanks!

manda re C-section days- ours are always a Thursday am so they have about 4-5 a week. Come in at 8am and wait for your turn.

pink think it's a wonderbra I had but it had hand shaped support rather than just under wire.

Sarah the best thing my parents ever did for me was getting rid of our TV when I was 10. It did wonders for my concentration levels and and me and my sister miraculously started reading more and playing more inventive games etc and our interest in our academic work (both school led and independent learning) soared. I only have to compare my school reports at the time to see the massive impact it had on me.

Thanks Ood is it this one - Wonderbra? I saw it on a Mumsnet email. Will go to Debenhams tomorrow and see how it fits. Good to get a recommendation though so thanks very much.

Blimey, if my parents had gotten rid of our TV when I was 10 I would never have forgiven them. We did have TV time rationed. 2 hours a day. It went up to 3 or 4 once we were over 13, although in reality that only applied at weekends. BBC2's movie spot at 6pm is where my cinema love hails from and I think that is a cultural plus. My Captain Caveman fixation may be a little more dubious...

Lexi - oh is it audi's now. I only ever apply it to Mercs and BMWs :)

If your boobs are anything like mine at the mo, namely large bowling balls of boob, I'm not sure you'll need much more than those push up stick on strips, and I believe M&S sell them.

pink yes, was recommended by local bra shop lady. She said not for every day use when pg/breastfeeding but much better than the wires as the pressure is spread. Was more comfy than usual ones and didn't feel I was falling out!

sundae I won't be driving this if it snows, know exactly what you mean. The mini was awesome in all weathers but I suspect this won't be so grippy! .
Just got back from MW. Have been so lucky so far to basically just get waved off but unfortunately today am measuring 31 weeks at 28 so have growth scan on Friday and am now a bit worried about gestational diabetes or a monster baby/nightmare birth situation. With my whooping cough jab on Monday and blood tests Tuesday I'm feeling awful about all the time off work, too.
Anyone else hit third trimester and suddenly really tired? I just want to sleep all the time. I think the cold and dark doesn't help!

Sorry for the me post. Need to go and cheer up!

Lexi - 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimester - tiredness seems to be a regular theme, although 1st was soo much worse.

Big as my bump is apparently it is fine because I am big.. by which they mean tall (protesting wee bit too much there I think :( )
I am POSITIVE you will be grand my dear. I am sure that anything that is outside of normal range is checked as matter of course, rather than because it automatically = bad. So hurrah for check up's and think on fact that you will get to say hi to baby again.

I am taking regular breaks between worky bits. All of which require, it seems, for me to eat something. I am ravennous! Anyone else suddenly got the munchies? Weirdly I am being more productive, so must be good for me on some level.

Just marking my spot - so tired and achey todays. Sorry ladies. Will catch up tomorrow! Hope your all well. xx