Graduated elderberries - 30+ and looking forward to DC1! (Thread 5)

[Alexandra6]

Hi everyone, hope you had good wkends, I'm looking forward to my holiday next Saturday (although won't be the usual sunbathing with wine flowing!), still can't wait just to relax especially as I'm feeling a bit rough and sick today! Work are piling on the pressure ahead of my hols but who cares, in one week I will be off for two weeks woop!

Just wondered when the really preggers people started to get lightning crotch/cervix pangs? So I can be prepared and not go into cervix panic!

One less thing to worry about - they don't do sweeps here.

Frog I have regular battles with my own guilt at my reasons for getting pregnant. I am having one at the moment because Glastonbury is coming up and I would love to be going rather than sitting around in pain feeling like a whale wondering if I will ever go to a festival ever again? I have been to one or two festivals every Summer since I was about 20 as well as 2/3 decent holidays a year, weekends away, regular gigs, etc., all of which will have to come to an end, at least for a while. And then there's the work-related guilt... we could afford for me to be a SAHM but I want to work for the sake of my own sanity and because I don't want to live off DH, so it makes me question if this is selfish that I don't want to stay at home with my child? People keep telling me that all this worry will disappear as soon as I hold DD in my arms and she makes me melt so here's hoping I can enjoy Glastonbury on the TV without any regret while holding my baby.

at dog eating homework. Mine ate my work BlackBerry, but they're too cute to get annoyed at.

I need to have a talk with my dogs, they are refusing to eat the work Blackberry

I'm not feeling gulity about going back to work though. Sure, if I was still living in Estonia, I certainly would take more time than those pesky 14 weeks here, but I could not be a SAHM for years and years. Not saying there's anything wrong with it, if that's what you want, but it's not for me. This would not make me a good mother. My own mum always worked and she loves her career - she would have been a very bored, frustrated SAHM and in no way better for us.

Alex we've got a load of renovations still to do too. On the long-term list is kitchen overhaul and possible loft conversion, but before baby arrives we've got living room and small bedroom to decorate, storage to build, doors to hang, two windows to replace, loft to insulate (possibly involves asbestos removal) and maybe bathroom floor to retile if I can work out a way to do it cheaply. Having only just recovered from all the work we had to do when we moved in I am dreading getting all the DIY stuff out again.

Hazle - send the phone here, wolf dog would happily munch it for you, she's rather partial to

Phones. Must have fat fingers as well as fat feet - keep hitting post before I've finished!

Eek quod we've also found out we've got to do damp proofing downstairs (as they didn't do it properly 5 years ago) which apparently is major building work and will mean moving in with MIL for a couple of weeks! Then redecorating! I think with the loft, it's the length of time, the dust (can't be good to breathe that in when preggers) and also the fact it might get in the way of me working from home as much as poss! But would that be any easier with a child if we're going to end up doing that anyway?!

Wonder if my cat can eat my work laptop so I can put my feet up today?

I'm feeling guilty already about the fact I might need to be a SAHM unless I can work out a good way to work alongside it, financially and work hours-wise. It's more the fact I would feel bad not bringing in money and DH being the only breadwinner.

Ahhh Glastonbury... Am so gutted we're not going this year - especially as Vampire Weekend are playing (worth entry price alone, almost) but then aside from the whole being 37 weeks pregnant thing, the forecast is for horrendous mud again, which makes me feel a little easier. Will properly bawl my eyes out when I watch it on telly tho i can blame hormones as all my family are there again!

Me too Brave

They have midwives at Glastonbury you know... You have to check in with them and give your tent location if you are over a certain gestation, as they get the occasional festival birth...don't fancy it?

I don't mind a few years off the festivals (DP and I both do a lot of festivals through work so they've become a bit of a busman's holiday) but the loss of potential to head off backpacking somewhere exotic is beginning to make me feel a bit glum.

On that note - we still haven't booked our holiday for September. Where can I go at 26 weeks? What do I need to think about?

at 26 weeks, you can go anywhere. Just get proper insurance.

I might be tempted Quod if I wasn't so bloody knackered! And I haven't got a ticket - I would have to get one off a tout and take a big bag of wigs, glasses, etc. to make myself look like the person on the ticket. A friend of mine is a Dental Nurse and always 'works' at Glasto for about 2 hours a day then gets pissed for the rest and she has told me about women giving birth there. She said one hippy women carried on dancing while in labour then just wandered off to see the midwife to get the baby delivered, popped the baby on the boob and went off to carry on dancing.

Re holiday, just go wherever you want to go. I felt absolutely fine at 26 weeks. I guess the only things you need to think about is feeling too uncomfortable if you get too hot, or getting tired easily if you choose an active holiday. And if you're flying back past 28 weeks many airlines will ask for a fit to fly certificate. And I second what Hazle says, get good insurance as soon as you book as if you need to cancel for any reason relating to pregnancy you should get your money back.

We are going away when I'll be 24 weeks, we have travel insurance through our bank (although I need to check the fine print). I am considering getting the european health card (new e111) just incase too. You have to call them to apply though which is a pain.

I plan on veging out for a week.

Oh and re glasto our council are showing it for free on huge screens on the main lawns so anyone can go down and watch/eat/drink/sing along/picnic as they want. Sounds good to me

So somewhere in Europe? September is a good time, still warm enough but not too warm. Portugal or Spain?

Hi mother my European health card has just arrived and I only had to do a quick form online. DH says my pregnancy is also covered on his Barclays insurance so am hoping he's right and has checked properly!

I'm not missing festivals that much but am going to really miss my exotic holidays! Although when I went to the Maldives in Feb I was praying it was my last exotic holiday for a while as ttc was really getting to me so have to remind myself of that!

I'm not planning to miss exotic holidays, babies are portable. My niece has been travelling all over since she was about 2 months old.

September - head to Greece! Had the most amazing holiday there last year in Kos. Temperature was perfect 24-28 every day. Not too hot but lovely. Am jealous

I'm with you. By the age of two my nephew had been to California, Borneo, Singapore, Thailand, Sydney, France and Langkawi. Money permitting I fully intend to ensure baby Janey is well travelled!

Just got back from seeing consultant midwife. She was a bit of an old boot. Outrageously told me some stats about elcs which were wrong/outdated so we ended up having quite a discussion! Just seen she wrote in my notes that I am "extremely well read" She clearly hated me for being a know it all having done my research

Anyway decision for cs isn't up to her but she agreed I shouldn't go past term with BP issues, and said it sounded like the consultant has already made up their minds if I'm
booked in. She did say to ask about putting it back a few days just to get past 39 weeks so will ask about that next week...

Oh and re travel insurance, I had it included with my bank acct (HSBC premiere) which covered everything BUT I had to be able to prove I'd asked the doctor if I was ok to travel for the insurance to be valid. That was an interesting appt - crazy doctor asked me if I was planning to drink lots or take any illegal in Thailand

Anyway check the small print on your policies - Alex I would def make sure you have private insurance too, I saw in the news last week that some hospitals in Spain have (illegally) been refusing the e111/ehic and only accepting patients with private cover. Sure you won't need it but worth knowing you're covered!

Going mad...

When I said "I'm with you" I meant to say "I'm with you hazle". Doesn't make much sense without saying who I agree with!

janey that sounds like my anesthesiologist - nooo, of course the labour won't be slowed down with an epidural! No, no higher chance for interventions.
And I was sitting there like beause obviously there's plenty of research telling otherwise.

How far along are you now, what would just past 39 weeks mean?

It means instead of next Friday, it would be the Monday or Tuesday instead (1st or 2nd). Selfishly wouldn't mind another weekend at home beforehand!

What I don't understand is why they say these things? Are they just misinformed (worrying) or do they think we're all idiots (also worrying).

DH says he spoke to the bank and explained and they said I am covered (apparently covers both of us) and for pregnancy-related stuff too. So he's saying I don't need private. He didn't say anything about getting doctor's approval but then I guess they wouldn't mention it! I might call my doctor tomorrow and ask if she can easily just do me an approval note.

Depending on my work situ, I think it's cash flow that might hold us back rather than the baby not being able to travel. There definitely won't be any luxury Maldives holidays for a while! There will def be holidays though, in fact where I'm going in Spain will be perfect when we have a baby/toddler.