May 2013- boys , girls or the unknown? Over half way there!

[scooby26]

Hi all, new had for may 2013!

I love the name Theodore/Theo/Teddy - DH isn't keen though, and one of my colleague's has a DS named that, so don't want to copy!!

I'm only packing my bag now because I am having regular monitoring and if anything is slightly wrong, they will deliver the baby immediately, due to my history - obviously I'm hoping that we can hang on until the planned section at 36 weeks, but would rather be prepared, and I can then leave my bag and notes in the car ready. I've got loads of white basics in 0-3 months that people lent us for last time, but this baby is going to be early so likely to be small, so I have just ordered a few bits in newborn & tiny baby just to keep us going.

Am also having the GTT at 28 weeks, didn't have it last time as I was a 'normal' BMI when I 1st got pg, but then piled it on during last pg and didn't lose much of it before getting pg again! I don't mind though, will just take a book with me!

Have also booked in for whooping cough jab on Friday am before we go to the hospital for scan & consultant appt!

Just checking in all.
10 so pleased things have settled down for you. every day must feel like an accomplishment.Ng great news about your amino. I have been so stressed and worried lately and was miserable all weekend but hormones seemed to have settled and a couple of issues resolved so I feel much happier and have even given more thought to names. We have our girl names but after 2 DSs I've used up the boys names like or they have all been taken by friends and family. I love Cole but it wouldn't go with our surname. I like Freddie but I can feel doubts setting in. My DH is impossible to please re names.

I was 11 days over with DS1and 8 with DS2 both induced, both sections so I have had to reluctantly agree to a planned section. This will happen last week of April. I won't be packing a hospital bag til 37 weeks and even then it will sit there mocking me as it did with the last two

dS1 5th birthday on Saturday and its a 2 hour red Indian, campfire/tipee/treasure hunt so please say the weather improves!!!

seven I can't click on you either? If I pm someone else do I just tell you my name on fb? I've also got my privacy settings on really high being a teacher (although somehow the kids still find me).
Good luck for tomorrow.

jen maybe a little mad-but still doable! It'll be lovely if it all falls into place and worse case scenario is that you'll be off to 'oversee' the renovations.

Who was it with bad back? Mine is killing too. Last few days. Also whipped out. But, fingers crosses I've had no swelling or anything yet. Sure I had started by now.

Sick of thinking of names. It's just getting me angry. Ha! It's annoying me that some of you have picked names I love and DH has vetoed! Going to try and take a break from it.
Anyone booked a 4D scan? How much roughly?

And as for packing! No, I'm not that organised. The house is in such a mess from piles of 'stuff' everywhere, I can't bring myself to get the baby stuff from out of loft.

Hope the hospital stays are tolerable.

Sounds like an awesome party for your DS bood.

beaut I also love Theodore/Theo.

maybe I've PM'd you re the Facebook group

Is anyone else going to have a baby shower? They are quite popular where I live now.Thoughts/opinions please

No, not my thing at all Beaut - my friend had one last time, we were pg together at the same time. Her sis organised it and it was really nice, but I would hate it.

I'm not sure.Lotd of my friends have been asking to help organise mine even though I haven't said I'm having one.Ive always seen them as a bit tacky but I did enjoy the last one I went to

I can't imagine the French women round here going for a baby shower, plus stuff is so expensive here it is difficult to buy for someone without spending a fortune!

I am not on Facebook, feel like I am missing out now

Thanks seven. I've found you on fb. Tried to reply to your pm, but it doesn't appear to let it send properly? Hope you get the reply to know who I am!

Beaut I'm too superstitious for one. I did however organise my friends one a couple of years ago. But she is American. I quite enjoyed doing it especially as it was a surprise and on her birthday.
The whole thing that puts me and my friends of is the obligation to buy 2 presents. One for the shower, and then another after the baby is born. Or do people in the US not do the latter?

I think someone has to throw a shower for you don't they. I doubt people would be expected to get two sets of gifts for the baby. I did a thing for my pregnant cousin that wasn't exactly a shower but more of a get girls together and spoil the mum-to-be. I got her a basket with baby themed or feel good movies, bath stuff, creams, chocolates and everyone got similar style gifts. It was really nice to be able to make a fuss of her before she becomes all consumed with the baby.

Evening all, happy birthday for yesterday beaut.

Still poorly here but doing a politic at work where my boss is off with stress and I am gliding through the extra work like the proverbial swan even though I am ill and 24 weeks pg (24+6 actually). Just don't look down at my giant paddling feet and I'm pulling it off well...

So here's my name thing today - DS has DP's surname but I'm pretty certain I want DC2 - will be DD but it's not the deciding factor - to have mine. We named DS for lots of reasons, DP being the only one left was one having lost his dad the year we got pg, and also it seemed important to me to be able to give my child his dad's name (I'm a bit of a chav so don't have my bio dad's name, have 7 siblings but only 3 that I know, only one full sib - there might be more halves I don't know of since I don't have contact with my bio dad). But at the same time, my own surname isn't my bio name but it was hard won, also my SF's name is the name of my real family, and also I like it, and also am a feminist. So I'm thinking to give DD my surname. Would it be too weird to have two children by the same parents with different surnames? There is a sort of elegance that the girl will be named for me and the boy is named for DP but at the same time it totally reinforces the idea (primarily to my own DC!) that gender is the ultimate social category, which is a bit anti-my-sort-of-feminism. Should say, there's no way that we'll consider a double barrelled thing. The barrels don't match for one thing but I'm also vaguely and irrationally resistant to it. WWYD?

bood that sounds lovely! I'm undecided on the shower; my mum mentioned having one ages ago. If people want to throw one for me then that's ok but I wouldn't organise one for me lol x

Hmm Sparkly, that's a tough one. In Spain everyone has 2 surnames, one from DM, other DF. Would it be an option to use one of the surnames as a middle name (I think Milk is planning to do this)?
How do you & DP both feel about surnames?

Hello everyone, have been offline for a few days as we are on a little pre-baby holiday in Verona right now :)
10 have been thinking of you every day, hope it's all going well.
beaut hope you had a lovely birthday
seven I am quite private about my Facebook, but if it's a group with good privacy that would prob be ok. Had some weird experiences with Facebook and colleagues/ex's/ random audience members before so my privacy settings are high!
Re baby shower, bood it sounds lovely what you did. Definitely wouldn't turn that down if a friend wanted to do it. They aren't really my thing but we are planning on having a Sunday afternoon/evening in nice chilled pub yay-we're-engaged-and-having-a-baby sort of relaxed getogether in about a month or so. Obvs a non-alco party for me but we thought it was nicer than anything formal and don't want anyone to feel obligated to do pressies etc.
Mega impressed with the packed hospital bags, definitely not there yet. We bought a changing bag and got ridiculously excited, bought a bedding layette, little newborn hat & scratch mitts & one babygro but still haven't bought the cot yet. Am travelling all over the UK in March and last out of town concert before stopping work is in Chichester at the end of March so am hoping he doesn't come early, don't fancy going into labour somewhere random. 5 weeks before sounds sensible though right?!
There are some lovely names being floated around here. My list of girls names is long and quite out there, but boys names are proving hard. We both have one absolute favourite, it is also my brother's name (he died when I was 19). In the past I thought it might be too hard for relatives etc., but it's 15 years ago now and I just keep thinking that my brother would be nothing but thrilled to think we are using that name. Apart from the family connection it's just a name we have both always loved. Very happy and friendly and approachable. It's so much the top of our list that we are having probs thinking of others. Ned, Elijah, Sam, Arthur & Finley were up there too, but it's hard when you see loads of kids around with a name you like. Quite a few if those are suddenly massively popular in North London and I'm not keen on him having the same name as 4 other kids in his class. All the girls names we love are quite unusual. Gng to have to hope the next one is a girl so we can use them! Middle name is easy, it's connected to how we met, and my surname is also a boys christian name so he will have essentially either 2 surnames or 2 middle names depending on what he wants to use.

christ sparkly that is complex. I don't see any issue with siblings having different surnames. But do think you have to think about what the DCs will think and feel when they are older about not having the same name.
As Elly said my surname is being used as DCs 2nd middle name. (we're the same about d-b and so have decided to go with BF name) Could you stick DPs surname as a middle name? so they had some name in common. Or stick yours as a middle name (thats the scottish thing anyway I think)
I think it is hard if you are trying to be 'feminist' about surnames whatever way you look at it as women we have male surnames

errr showers (sorry) I really don't like them. Apart from tempting fate. You get presents after the baby is born (not expected but that is what people tend to do) and a shower is (basically) asking for presents. I can't stand them in any form and every part.

maybe me with the back. I have a congenital back problem which pregnancy is not helping (add on pregnancy back pain) and they can't make their minds up what to do about it. Hopefully tomorrow they will (thanks elly ) Hopes yours doesn't get worse.

hello once more jen and pie

Hi everyone, good to hear all your news. I'd like to claim the prize for most-disorganised-expaextant-Mother please. Between March and May we'll be:

1. Moving our lives back to the UK from Singapore;
2. Searching for a flat to buy;
3. Securing a mortgage;
4. Moving into / renovating said flat;
5. Buying a car;
6. Starting a new job (or at least DH will be, fingers crossed, I will just be changing offices and departments);
7. Slotting into the NHS system (no contact as yet as have been in Singapore); and
8. Buying whatever we need for the baby...

So no, I haven't packed my hospital bag yet. I've probably forgotten stuff but those are the highlights. I know we're nuts, and sometimes I get upset at the thought of everything we have to do, but we'll be ok.

I've discovered that I have mutual friends with three of you on FB - THREE! That's amazing. Small world indeed...

My pelvis really hurts (left hand side, deep in my buttock (sorry TMI) and shooting down my left leg) and physio doesn't seem to be helping - any tips please? It's getting quite hard to walk...

10 thinking of you, hope all ok!

Sparkly - I just wonder whether the children would find it odd having different names to one another. If, God forbid, you and DP were ever to split then the children may come to really want the sense of identity as a family with a family name shared by all the kids. I do see your point of view though. I grew up with mum's surname as my middle name and really liked that. I even used it as a surname for a while. My DCs now have her surname as their middle name so it's passed down a generation.

Wirra - that's lovely that you may honour your late brother by naming the baby after him. Have you run the idea past your parents? I bet they will probably really appreciate it. My DD1 is named after my late mother. My father is dead too so probably this boy should be named after him BUT he was an Alan and I can't bring myself to do that to the baby! Enjoy Verona.

Sea - Don't panic about your to-do list, you don't need much prepared for a tiny baby it's just people like the feeling of preparation. Babies are v portable sp even if you have to move after the birth it will be fine. Sorry to hear about your pelvis, I have the same. Try and keep your knees together as you roll over/stand up/get out of cars etc. and never swim breaststroke. Basically try not to open your pelvis at all.

Beaut - I've never had a baby shower and wouldn't want one but have been to a few and I'm not against them. I have given presents at showers and not again when baby is born. Maybe a shower with a no pressie rule would be nice. A pampering day with friends. I'm doing that with two preggers friends in late April.

Jen - nice to see you back. Sorry work is so busy.

NG - I didn't know Framce was so expensive. Do you live their because your DP is French? Do you like it? I love the fantasy of a rural French life, especially as I trog around heaving icy London, but I'd miss my friends so much if I ever moved.

10 - I hope all is still quiet in terms of your placenta. Is the snow melting up there? Might you get to go home?

Reeny - I hope you are OK too.

Millk - I meant to add that I love the names you are considering. Would Ludolf be known as Ludo? Ludo is v sweet. Sorry to hear your BF is annoying you at times and going off in huffs. It must be hard starting a relationship and coping with pregnancy hormones PLUS big life decisions. How is it going living with your bro?

Seasalt, I was 36 weeks' with DS when I moved to Brussels. We'd already rented our flat though. I managed to get everything sorted with about 2 days to spare (he arrived on his EDD). Belgium is a bureaucratic nightmare, no problems with the medical side but it took four weeks to get the car imported, registered, serviced and then, finally, get the parking permit. Don't worry, you'll get everything sorted.

Wirra, I'm going to be in Chichester (well, West Wittering) at the end of March too. I was planning on getting all my baby stuff then.

Artigene I never realised how expensive it was here until we moved, although not as bad as Switzerland which is where we lived before that. That place was eye watering and I could never justify buying anything nice there!

We live here because my DH works across the border in Basel and as it is cheaper to live here than Switzerland it was a no brainer. Plus it is kind of comforting to be in the EU and know my rights (I am a former lawyer after all!).

We do struggle here, mainly because there is bugger all to do with young (under 3s) kids. The plus side being they go to school from 3 so then the social thing cranks up a bit. But there are no mother and baby classes or such like, leaving me bored to death most days .

And the weather is tough here, mainly because of where we are of course, the summers are amazing but the winters are bloody cold, we have had snow for weeks and no sun, mainly fog.

Bah!

10 so glad you are home and being looked after, let's hope baby wants to stay for a long while yet.

Seasalt1 we moved to Switzerland when my DD was 6 weeks old so you are doing the right thing moving before, it was one of the toughest things we ever did. Good luck, things do have a way of working out .

Just a quick update that our scan went fine, it looks like we're probably having another girl, though its legs were crossed so we're not quite certain. Will try to catch up later

Glad all is well, seven. Looks like you're maybe in the same boat as me-a second DD? Will you have another scan to check or will you leave it to fate?

Do you think we could maybe do some kind of list perhaps added to our stats thread to say what sex of children everyone had already and for those that know what they are expecting.Or is it just me that keeps getting confused and forgetting.Ilk update mine now.

10 Glac to hear you are out of hospital.I hope you are resting on the sofa and indulging in all your fave foods.It will make me feel better about the amount of choc I'm consuming

23+6