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

sheldon please can I have that recipe? Sounds fab :)
sundae I get sciatic pain, left sided only. There isn't a lot that can be done but it eases when baby shifts position and try to not sit in the same position for very long periods at a time. There are some lower back exercises listed on the NHS website for back pain/sciatic pain. Might be worth trying x

tramp I think 4 weeks off before due date would drive me nuts just sat around waiting. Bit excessive if you have a desk job with a relatively easy commute and you are healthy. Plus with just 6 weeks statutory maternity pay at 90% this is not really affordable for many people unless you have generous employers so it equates to 4 weeks (possibly even 6 weeks if you go to 42 weeks) less time off to spend with you baby which is surely the main point of maternity leave. Of course makes sense to take time off beforehand if you have medical issues.

Love hearing everyones christmas preparations - can't believe how fast December has gone given how slowly the rest of the pregnancy has felt. We have been working towards Christmas as a goal for so long now that it feel so odd to have almost reached it!

Tramp my Samson-cat likes to sit on my lap and use bump as a pillow. Bean will definitely recognise purring when she comes out!
sheldon don't blame you avoiding the weather,it's grim! Can I come round yours for supper, the stew sounds great!
We have a Zanussi washer, had it 7 years and it is reliable and fairly quiet. Can recommend them!
sundae I found lying rather than sitting good for sciatica, also acupuncture and Pilates. Not had it for a few years but had a spate a while back. Hope you feel better soon!
stormy must be so nice to be moved. And lanny sorry to rub it in over holiday. Hope Christmas period isn't too stressful for you.
tramp I've read similar about maternity leave and am finishing at 36 weeks. I guess it is one of those 'very individual' things but I'd like some mental preparation time as well as the physical rest!

Lexi - am not sure how our grumpy old cat duo will cope with baby, but I think purring can only be recognised. My cuddly cat not a fan of the bump, apart from at night when she likes to snuggle up alongside and purr away. As she is effectively a nice hot water bottle this is grand for me. The shoulder thing, not so much.

Washing machine - we bought an LG True Stream, Direct Drive 8KG. Delicate wash, on cold = hand wash. There is a steam wash for refreshing clothes rather than washing them. It can cope with a duvet. It has an allergy wash, which is really handy as we have cats, but also great for bedding, towels etc. It was right size to fit the hole we had for a washing machine in our kitchen. AND it sings a little song to us when it has finished washing. I LOVE IT. Buy from John Lewis and you get the two year guarantee and you get the great customer service. Oddly we bought from Boots because I got lots of bonus points, which I thought was handy. Anyway, I am v happy with it.

Mat leave - no criticism or judgement intended anyone, I am just fascinated by
the fact that unless you're medically unfit in some way advice & norm seems to be keep on going til you drop, which does seem counter-intuitive when you think on it. At very least, just walking about at the end of pregnancy is a chore (based on observation rather than my experience) and if you have a busy job some time where you can sort out house for pre baby etc seems handy. Anyway, I'm opting for month prior to birth I work from home office and no meetings unless v v important. So I will be working but not commuting. Which seems like a good half way strategy to me.

Rhinitis - if the sneezing and bunged up ness comes with clear liquid rather than nice green snot (tmi perhaps) then it appears that yep, that is rhinitis. Doesn't mean you don't also feel headachey and achey mind. So all in all, can be exactly like a cold but isnt. (sigh)

Hurrah for comfy new homes and for nice restful days. I am planning on a feet up lazy boxing day and all I should need to do on Christmas day is sit and chat, which is doable.

Just had a little nap.. only it wasn't that little. Oops. I am not getting nearly as much done as I need to. We have a few wrapping issues too, mostly because MrM forgot to buy more paper. He keeps insisting we can use the wrapping paper that he has downstairs. Think 8m for 50p to get an idea of how cheap and horrid it is. I like nice stationary, I have a "plan" for black or red tissue paper with a contrasting ribbon and gold pen. He is subverting my plan. This is treason!

Mince pie and a cup of tea before attempting anything may be wise....

Yes I don't feel finishing at 36 weeks is 'excessive' as I am doing 2hrs driving a day commute and with the anaemia and a fairly busy job (although desk based) I am exhausted! I don't want to go into labour already shattered. Also with the early births family history, although it's not a guaranteed indicator MW thinks I am sensible to prepare as if LO may be a few weeks early. I have lots to do to prepare for the Bean and DH's project is due to be manic Jan/Feb so suspect I won't be bored as he won't be available to give me much help with it. Does make finances a little more painful but with a tight budget I shouldn't be back at work until next Nov.
Cleaning day today - still getting rid of stuff from the loft, putting the rest back and preparing the house for DH's Nan. Need to get off the sofa and get on with it :)

I'll be just over 36 weeks when I finish work which feels just about right to me. I'm desk based but it is definitely the commute and long hours out of the house that do it. Can't wait to finish.

Thanks for all the washing machine recommendations. Ill be investigating once the Xmas rush is over. Does anyone have a Miele? Are they worth the extra? The one with the steam function sounds interesting, I like the idea of the extra features. Unfortunately I think our dishwasher is on the way out too.

jojo I'll put the recipe on fb. It turned out pretty well.

Loving all the cat stories. Wish we were an allergy free house, I would definitely love a cat.

Right, off out to meet MIL for lunch.

In working Lexi, well trying to. Cold has moved from chest to everywhere, so whilst hacking cough is less frequent head feels underwater & most stuffy. Grr. All I needed were two days ail free gosh darn it!

Lemsip and a pretend bacon sarnie have helped. But am def under kosh when really want to be under duvet.

Oh get me, moan moan moan. Sorry ladies, these are all minor ails really I'm just fed up with seemingly endless continuation of them.

Enjoy tidy day!

Shel - I looked at Miele because so many people rave about them but as MrM pointed out, the cost to use ratio really does mean you need them for a v long time before they pay for themselves and after 5-10 years tech should've moved on enough that a new wash machine using less energy and water is worthwhile. Which is a fair point.

Tramp I have also had that sniffly/bunged up feeling for ages now. Also getting loads of nose bleeds which I have never had before which are very annoying. I finished work at 36 weeks with ds1 and loved the time off beforehand. You never get it again when pregnant because you have other Children. I remember it being a really lovely time, meeting friends, having massages/reflexology/getting ready for baby etc.. I worked in Central London and had to get the Northern Line everyday and it was in the middle of a heatwave so I was very glad to stop!

Sheldonella We have an LG washing machine which is fab. Has a massive drum and good quick cycle option. It also has a hand wash feature so I put all cashmere/woollens in it too and they wash really well. It's like this. I have just seen that they do a 12kg capacity one which looks amazing! We do serious amounts of washing in our house so the bigger the drum the better. Mine is on about 4 times a day and it's 3 years old and still fab. We also have an LG condenser dryer which is also brilliant and very efficient. My Mum has the steam one, Tramp mentioned, and she loves that too.

Sundae Chiro can definitely help with sciatica.

Lots of Christmas prep here today. Wrapped all the presents, Made Jamie's get ahead gravy which smells incredible, red cabbage braising in the oven. I have made the butter for the turkey (dried cranberries, sage, rosemary, thyme & clementine zest). Collected the turkey from the butchers. All of my Ocado shop arrived. Love Ocado so much, no substitutions so no need to go to the supermarket. Trying to do as much prep as possible so that I don't spend all of Christmas day in the kitchen. Also, went and had my nails done so they look Ok for Christmas and the wedding we have on the 27th. I got gel ones so hopefully they last. Now knackered so lying down on the sofa! 30+2 now and movements are so strong. Combined with BH's the pressure is incredible sometimes. I can't believe I have got at least 10 weeks left (probably more if she follows two of her brothers in being 8 days late!)

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas if I don't manage to get on here much over the next week.

I've been Xmas prepping today too. 2 layers of my pudding done. 3 loads of washing, cleaned the fridge ( made dd2 do all the up/ down bits) dd1 has been fetching & carrying & playing with dd3, dd1/3 & I made a gingerbread house which is interesting , am making mash for tea & extra for Xmas day.

Anyone given up on the whole concept of sleep, I'm stuck in a horrendous cycle of bladder, sore hips, heartburn and baby moving.

4.30am this morning, thank the lord for iPods I say!

I was up at 4:30 this am too. Went downstairs and the budgie got annoyed at me Dd3 woke from a nightmare at 2am and was really yelling which seemed to wake baby, was getting battered which stopped me sleeping for a bit.
Hips are actually better in bed. They just don't hold me when I stand!

Hi Everyone! Haven't been on here for a while, I just seemed to catch up and then something would come up before I could write a post :)
I know it was ages ago but thanks everyone for asking how my ankle was, its fine now and still no idea how I did it. Just limped about for a few days and was all alright in the end. Then I came down with the cold from hell, in bed for a week and had an ear infection in both ears so was fairly painful with only paracetamol for help. Got to use my prescription exemption card though for some antibiotics so that was exciting :) was worrying for a while as my temperature was all over the place but by the time I got to the doctor it was back down to 36 degrees.
Can't believe we have a Marchers arrival already, congrats to confuddled, really glad you and Bryn are doing well x
Got my GTT tomorrow, thought I'd get it done before the Christmas excesses but I seem to have started those already - met up with my mum and had Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, was soooo good. Our house is strict veggie (DH is strict veggie and I don't think it's fair to use the kitchen for cooking meat when I'm not that fussed) so that will be my only traditional Christmas dinner, very glad it was a good one as it can be a bit hit and miss when you go out for it can't it?
I'm having to start my afternoon naps again, they're proper all out naps too, no dozing for me! I'm out for the count for at least two hours and struggle to wake up. I hadn't taken my multivitamin for a couple of days so may be an iron thing, or just the third trimester catching up with me!

Hope everyone is generally happy and well, sorry not to name check but sending you all festive hugs!

I'm officially on my Christmas break. Arrived at the IL's at 5pm and have been beaten in the abs for about 2 straight hours!!
I've put together the crackers and wrapped the cracker presents, I'm just awaiting the rude cracker jokes my BiL is supplying!
I'm feeling very festive now. Though my head is telling me that today is Christmas Eve. I'll be so disappointed tomorrow when Santa hasn't been :)

I actually managed to finish the work doc, to cook dinner, to iron clothing (although I dropped iron and broke it in process), do washing, clean kitchen and throw away food etc that may go manky, get automatic cat feeder to work, order food delivery for new years, sort out what I am packing and cut a few of the cats claws. All that is left is some wrapping and actually packing things.

Phew!

Of course I feel and look like hell and the cat is no longer talking to me... roll on Christmas!

Hello Marchers! Hope everyone's had a great weekend. I think it's fab having a weekend and then Christmas Eve etc. Feel so relaxed going into tomorrow ? this may have something to do with the fact that for the first time ever we're not rushing around the north-west like nutters trying to fit everyone in

My side of the family came last weekend and we had MiL come down for yesterday evening and a chunk of today. Went to a festive concert in an Oxford college last night, and today was all about finishing the shopping and wrapping, calling on neighbours and catching up with local mates. I can't wait to hibernate through Christmas! Feel so chilled and supremely happy to be spending the next few days with DH alone - first and last time.

We're now back on track with the kitchen plan, but the two hours (!) we spent with the John Lewis kitchen peeps yesterday resulted in a £2.5K set of kitchen units costing in total £9.5K. This included £3.5K of labour (ouch) and £700 max of appliances, but otherwise we chose the cheapest units, the cheapest (laminate) worktop and eschewing all sorts of non-essentials. The guy was very hazy about breaking the remaining £2-3K down. I really wanted it to cost about £6K in total, but £9.5K was a surprise, to say the least. Not sure what the next move is, though DH now on board, again, at least.

Congrats to those who have finished work (whether just for xmas or mat. leave too!) and started winding down and celebrating! I'll try and write a piece for our project blog tomorrow, and I've still got the notes of my last tutorial to circulate to my OU students, but those are fun and fine things to do. Tomorrow also involves making apple sauce for DH's turkey and nut roast for me, yum. After a couple of days rest and slobbing and eating DH and I will get on with finishing decorating the nursery and start making LISTS for the arrival of our LOs in a mere SEVEN weeks time! Wow oh wow ?

Sorry not to name-check but just wanted to say - re rhinitis - that my consultant says it's fine to take antihistamines. I take about half a certirizine a day. Happy Christmas Eve to one and all!

Manda it was a lovely village called Wallingford (I think) where we had lunch. Had a meeting with our Finacial Advisor to discuss wills and guardianship for LO in the event that something awful happens to me and OH. Grim but had to be dealt with.

Confuddled massive congratulations on the birth of our first March baby - he's really gorgeous and I love the name .

Eigmum and Zoey we are all due on the same day!! I am really hoping LO comes on this day too as 13.03.13 is such a cool date! Slightly scared though as midwife said I might come early since I am measuring three weeks ahead .

Tramp I suffer from Rhinitis every day when not pregnant but have had it worse since being pregnant because I can't take anything for it! The only thing that works for me (and I've tried everything including nasal rinses) is Sudafed nasal spray which I haven't taken for nearly 29 weeks and boy do I miss it. It's going in my hospital bag, I don't care! I am awake every day around 4am and you can guarantee its because of my nose. I am beyond fed up about it now.

Sheldon unfortunately I still have my double bump which I can just about get away with when I'm stood up but is obvious when I'm sat down . I am starting to think that it'll never join up to make one bump!

HEARTBURN - since Saturday it's stepped up a notch and not even Gaviscon helps now (wtf)! I have taken to drinking it straight from the bottle to try and get some relief but the heartburn just lessens rather than goes away. Any tips?

Maternity leave - haven't worked it out yet but need to do that before I go back on the 2nd. I have a two hour commute each day and a desk job (graphic designer) and have no idea how I'm going to be feeling as my pregnancy progresses. Am thinking about leaving end of Feb but now my midwife has worried me by suggesting I may labour early as in my mind I was always going to be over due as this is my first! I guess I should be prepared!

Still haven't bought ANYTHING for LO...

Emus Wallingford is lovely. We've occasionally been turning our thoughts to guardianship. We think we know which v.v.g. friends we'd like to ask but it's a big ask, isn't it? I think we've mentioned it very much jokily and in passing to them, but we will need to address it properly at some point. We'd love them to say yes. But what if they say no?! Yikes...

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all ok and getting excited for Christmas. We had a lovely weekend visiting friends and meeting my best friend's new little tiny baby! Back home now, just watching the flumps with DD before getting dressed and making a start on the days preparations. Got my DM and SD arriving at some point and then off up to Cumbria on boxing day, so need to get organised really!

Will be working til just after 37 weeks, same as with DD. Have a long commute and with added 'value' of a three year old, frankly, the end of Feb cannot come quickly enough for me! I remember after finishing with DD I realised actually how tired I was!!! Anyway, each to their own.

Great news on confuddled's arrival.

Anyway, better get on and do something useful. Hope you all have a wonderful time. Will try to check in at some point. Love to all.

Ooh ethelred where abouts are you going?

Stopping with ILs on their farm near Penrith.

Merry Christmas everyone Hope you all have a lovely day and get lovely presents. That reminds me I must get wrapping before MIL arrives later. We have a quiet day planned before we go off up north to visit my family after my GTT.

I've been very good today. I got up and had breakfast with DH before he went to work and I then cleaned the kitchen, hoovered the house and sorted out the dishwasher. I have barely got up from my comfy seat since :) Right, off to make some lentil soup.

Happy Christmas eve!

Merry Christmas guys. We're OH's just packing up the car and we're off to mum's for a few days. Hope you all have a good one x

Have a very Merry Christmas, lovely march ladies :)

Merry Christmas everyone, have a lovely relaxing break, put those weary feet up and eat some mince pies!
Thanks for all your support and look forward to catching up after Christmas.
xxx