July 2013 - thread 7 - and we're still talking as we enter the 3rd trimester

[Persuasion]

We've managed to fill yet another thread, so here is a new one to keep chatting away on...

And the stats list is here

Hello ladies.

Re early births, my 3 were all born at 38 weeks and all weighed the same so I am hoping this one will follow the same pattern. That said it will probably be the polar opposite and be late and a whopper!

Currently having a lazy day after a hectic start trying to nit comb DD, get breakefast and three unenthusiastic children dressed, fed, teeth brushed and to school. Could have done without the nitty noras making an appearance - got all the buggers though!

My youngests teacher has just announced her pregnancy- which is lovely and ds is being very loving and gentle with her and rubbing her back and holding her hand!

I had my swab results back from my bleed just over a week ago, and all is ok, no gbs but do have another infection but apparentlyno antibiotics unless symptomatic - note to self: dont speak to dr on hands free in car with friend in car unless you want to run through the colour and smell of discharge in front of them! Thankfully mine is ok but im not sure who was more embarrassed her or me!

Also, what do I actually need to a home birth, have read so many different list, but what do I actually need? Lots of peopletrying to sell stuff thati dont really think I will need!

Is anyone starting to get nervous knowing that term is no further than the time it would take to get to the 12 week scan?

BigBelly Glad your results came back okay.

I'm having a homebirth too. I will be buying a waterproof sheet for the bed and stuff to put on the floor to protect the carpet, my pool, snacks for MWs and stuff and making a CD of music to listen to and candles and I have spotlights as well. Packing a hospital bag just in case, sea salt and tea tree for the bath afterwards etc.

schro oh god i never thought of it like that

Icing Makes you panic, doesn't it!? I only started thinking about it the other night when I was thinking how quickly this time has gone in.

I actually find it a reassuring thought that from Thursday its only 10 weeks away till term for me - makes the humungo bump less ridiculous.

Bigbelly - nitcombing in the morning. That's a rubbish way to have to start your day. Hope you got the buggers. Glad your swab was ok but LOL at your discharge conversation in front of your friend. My friends who had homebirths had waterproof sheets, towels, birth pool, snacks and emergency bag packed just in case.

I have no idea when mine will actually be...if it all goes like DD, will be 4 weeks from now, if I get my ELCS, about 11 weeks..... if I go to term, 14!

I am packing bags and finishing the room just in case!!!

Bigbelly The only consolation I found for nits was buying all the damn nit lotion from Boots so I collected a zillion points on my Advantage Card...and could spend them on something nice to make up for the nits!

Bah, have managed to mess up dyeing some baby stuff...all come out streaky and rubbish. Serves me right for putting too much in (but am still miffed). Back to painting for me!!

My SIL is having a CS on Wednesday (tomorrow) as the baby is breech.

I think they have all they need regarding the baby, so does anyone have any good ideas for presents for her (not getting my brother anything as he hasn't done any of the hard work!).

I've been in denial that we are having a baby but i think them having theirs will make it all too real!

Hey notprincess what sort of photography training you looking for? What sort of camera you have is it point and shoot or DSLR? Depending your location meetup.com has some great online hands on courses or maybe your local photography society. Always welcome to message me with any questions. The lovely thing about babies is that you always have a little subject to clickaway and get better :)

I still feel like the birth is ages away. I think because my due date just got chaged (only by a few days) it feels like I've been about 26 weeks forever Now 26+4 so still over 13 weeks to go (unless baby arrives early or I have to be induced for cholestasis). Still, I finish work in 5 weeks so I'm counting down to that at the moment!! Not even thought about packing my hospital bag or washing baby clothes. I plan to do that when I'm on mat leave. Fingers crossed baby doesn't have other ideas!

Ooh this talk of photography reminds me about my poor attempts at trying to learn how to use my DSLR (bought last year). Had a really enthusiastic few trips out with DH to try to put what we read in our photography book to good use, and then life took over and it has gone on the backburner. Hopefully wanting to get some half decent shots of the baby will spur us back onto it!

Any other runners/joggers now finding it hard going? I have been going for the most pathetic of jogs down the canal towpath (nice and soft underfoot) but even that is now getting a bit uncomfortable. I just feel a bit stitchy really low down and it seems to set off the braxton hicks. Really would have liked to have kept on going but considering switching to speed walking instead (along with pilates/yoga/stretching and weights when I can be bothered).

Its slightly better as most of us were already 5/6 weeks pregnant when we found out. I think 2 and a bit months away sounds longer than 11 weeks. I still need to find a house

schro and others planning a HB, last time round my MW said that a good floor covering is a 'value' shower curtain i think that they can be picked up really cheaply in supermarkets. also an anglepoise lamp / headlamp etc in case of stitching. also a cheap sieve if you are having a pool. apart from that i dont think that any 'special' equipment was required at all. feel quite jealous of those of you planning a HB .

quin not sure about presents for your SIL - after my CS what i really loved was when my mum came round and helped with ironing / hoovering etc as wasnt allowed to do that for a while and being stuck on sofa just had to look at the mess! i didnt use any of the lovely 'smellies' that people were kind enough to buy me - they felt too pefumed / fragranced for using with the scar and also wanted my baby to smell me. what WAS fab though was the expensive hand cream that work bought me - you will be amazed how often you wash your hands with a little one. oh and lots of glossy magazines to flick through whilst you're stuck feeding.

realised today that if i go for a CS, only have about 8 weeks left of being pregnant

Re homebirths, I picked up 2 shower curtains from Ikea for about £1.50 each! Also got some big waterproof pad things from Boots.

Quin - lots of homecooked meals and someone to do the cleaning (especially laundry)will probably be well received! Other than that, if you live near, offers to run errands that need to be run will go down well. Nice handcream

BB01 - I stopped doing combat a couple of weeks ago as was getting aches below. Definitely need to listen to your body and switch to something else if its getting uncomfortable.

BB01 my biggest advice is spend a week shooting with your camera in AV mode (aperture priority) So you only adjust the iris (how much light you put in the camera). Take a photo and at 5.6, then drop it down to 4, then lower number and it makes the photos brighter. Then go the other way 7, 9, 11... but always base it off 5.6 or 4 to start. The higher the numbers the less light getting in - darker the photo/more depth of field.
AV mode lets the camera do all the hard work but you adjust the aperture to get better photos. Better than if you were in all AUTO settings

After a few weeks then you switch to TV mode. Which is shutter speed. This adjust the range there and you will see your images get blurrier or sharper. Slowly you will understand both AV mode - setting your aperture and then TV mode, setting your shutter and you are ready to go to manual :)

shelly (hugs) I hope they can give you some answers, look after yourself!

Thanks for the info photographer I have a DSLR, which I like to think I'm reasonably competent with, although I might just use your advice to BB01 as well, to get back to basics, not really sure what I am looking for to be honest, I should join the local photography club, but I'm too much of a scaredy cat .
All good with the midwife today for another week, with the exception of the diagnosed muscular skeletal pain, which in fact is shingles ouch, double ouch that the usual things given seem to be a bit of a no no in pregnancy, unless it gets really bad.

Lovely stuff notprincesskate I am teaching my DH to use my DSLR and I put him on AV mode, its really the best way to get images that aren't all blown out (too light and not depth of field) which AUTO mode tends to do. He has taken some really nice photos in AV mode and is starting to understand why the camera is then presetting the shutter and ISO for him. Nice thing is if you nail an image and it looks nice you can also press the info button in preview to see what the Aperture, shutter and ISO settings were.

DH after a new DSLR, the CPU on his died.... he's currently borrowing a friend's..but I do want to get him a new one, he loves photography, and given a good camera, takes beautiful pics you just can't achieve with my point and shoot... Also this time I'd like some pictures of me and my LO, there are hardly any of me and DD as I was always the one behind the camera!

I hear you BadmissM I have no photos of me hehe. Time to train up those Partners.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun, I've had a day off work, MW appointment this morning and teaching medical students this afternoon. Just about to go and get DS from nursery and get an ice cream

30 weeks exactly today!

Thank you so much Photographer! This is really helpful. Will definitely try your tips. I've generally used aperture priority mode since I got it unless really in a rush then I've reverted to auto! But altho in theory I know how it works, I always forget what to do in practice. The way you described it makes sense though!
Thanks again :-)

Thanks Shelley although no head lamp for me as I'm not allowed stitches.

26+4

Hi all
shiv lovely to hear that Oliver is doing so well, I was thinking about you today hoping improvements continue.

Sorry to hear about those who have had trips to hospital over weekend, hope you are all resting and recovering now.

Interesting to hear about how late/early everyone's babies have been- all 3 of mine were overdue, ds1 +13, but ds2 and ds3 only 3 days over. Had to be induced with first 2 but not third. I don't mind if I go 3 days over again as that takes us to start of school holidays here so I wouldn't even have to think about school run with 4 kids for 6 weeks or so!
I kind of think every woman has a natural gestation and for some this is 38 weeks and for others nearer 42, but I don't know if there is any evidence to back up my theory??
30 weeks today, 6 weeks left at work, kind of feeling like I'm on the home straight now, but really 10/11/12 weeks is quite a long time