October 2013 - only 3 months to go!

[roxvox]

Baby due dates/sexes/name choices here

Congrats on the outy belly button roofio and hope your midwife appt goes well Caz

Well, DD does have impetigo (only a tiny patch on the back of her leg) but it means she's now off school until Wednesday. Our doctor was happy for her to go back in tomorrow provided the sore patch was completely covered (it's only about the size of a 10p), but school are having none of it.

Sod's law that school has special end-of-year events planned for today and tomorrow (picnic, play, leavers assembly) that DD will miss out on. Feeling rather sorry for her and for myself as now my plans are shot to pieces too. I was so hoping to make the most of my last 'child-free' week before the summer holidays.

Dog is also under the weather and threw-up this morning.

We certainly weren't planning it that way (and after 1 miscarriage and 1 chemical pregnancy a take-home baby would be a blessing any time of year) but I am pleased to be having an autumn baby as far as schooling goes. I know there are lots of other important factors at play but DD was emotionally much readier for school at nearly 5 than she would have been at just turned 4.

Right, I'd better go and stick some washing on..

Damn it Bridget I'm on my way to work and that just reminded me that my washing is still in the machine!!!

Congratulations roofio! I was so scared about getting an outie that I have decided to celebrate it when it happens, and treat myself. So far it's half out and half in, so on average I've decided it's flat.

favellio - I'm jealous! We have lots of bits and pieces (all sweetly bought for us by relatives...although it means I can't do what I like to do and spend hours on the internet researching the best brands etc) so about a 10 different weaning spoons (!?) but no actual furniture e.g. cribs, car seats, pushchair etc.

Sorry for the reminder roofio at least you know you've got some more good drying weather ahead.

Oh, could really do with some advice from you lovely ladies - do you think it would be bonkers to book another driving test at about 36/37 weeks pregnant?

It's the earliest I can get another test slot and thought it wasn't really viable (not fitting comfortably behind the wheel etc) but then a mum at the school gates said I was being silly and she was driving right up until she gave birth.

Do you want to do it Bridget, or asking because this mum suggested you were being silly? Frankly I would not put myself under the pressure of preparing for and sitting a test at 37 weeks - when you might be feeling fine and really up for it, but probably will be pleased if you can simply get your shoes on in the morning

I would do it bridget besides look at it like this if it gets closer to the date and u don't feel up to it If your area is like mine u can re schedule it xx

just be sure you can cancel/re arrange if u need to. my friend broke her collar bone 2 days before her test and they wouldn't give her her money back!!!

Re Summer/Autumn born babies - my dd was born on 26 August (and was 3 weeks early too) so started Reception when she was 4yrs and about 8 days. She absolutely loved it, was totally ready for school, and is now doing very well and performing above expected levels at the end of Year 1 in pretty much everything. I really think it depends on the child.

I'm very interested to see how this (hopefully) Autumn girl compares, as she will be nearly a whole year older when she starts school.

Also - it's bloody hot

My preggo massage at Champneys today was INCREDIBLE. I recommend you all book one immediately

Bridget - I think it depends on how much the thought of the test stresses you out. If it will be making you anxious, then leave it. No point in adding extra stress when you're nearly at term.

bridget......... The baby could be here at 37 weeks. I think that's leaving it too close to your due date. What does your instructor think? Are there no other test centres close by that could offer you a better date?

Mw was all good - had a student mw there who was a bit worried about taking bloods in front of the dc, but was very lovely.

Measured 28.5 cms, gtt back all fine, BP fine, slight glucose in urine, but she said not to worry as gtt had been fine.

all looking good, and heard the heartbeat again , bloods taken, and see her again at 34 wks.

I would not Bridget personally, by 37 weeks with DS I was going to the hospital every day for my BP to be monitored, and he was with us at 38 weeks exactly.

Cazboldy......was it worth the wait? It's silly how long the gap is between appointments isn't it? My last was at 16 weeks and I have my 28 week check tomorrow. I'm rather excited.

Feeling really down today house is a tip im a mess too feel hot sweaty and tired although i slept okish last night and was only up twice.
I am so upset as I think i will have to rehome one of my dogs she is only 10 months but she is a constant barker at any little noise and frequently wakes us and DS up not sure i will cope one wee one is here with her too :( I should not have took her on but I had no idea i would be pregnant and i kid of hoped she would get better with the noise (I live in a downstairs garden flat)
I have had to rehome dogs in the past and i hoped i would not ever have to do it again but i really don't have the time to train her out of it
I give up :(

hi everyone :). I've been reading but not contributing I'm afraid as I have been a combination of extremely moody/bad tempered - Thursday night - Saturday morning & feeling rubbish/ill/lethargic since then.

If I had had a machete on Friday I think I would happily have decapitated my partner,not that he did anything particularly heinous,rather that he didn't do anything while I was at work Thursday night,so I came home to a messy kitchen,washing needing to be done,blah blah blah.

Anyway,fortunately I couldn't lay my hands on any large & sharp objects so he is still in one piece. Lucky for him.

Since then,I have just had no energy (might have had a tummy bug that's been doing the rounds locally,really wasn't a very happy tummy on Saturday).

Dp is out collecting our nursery furniture as we speak. It is second hand but in great condition & a bargain I found on a local fb buy & sell group. £95 for cot bed with large drawer underneath,chest of drawers with a changing unit bit on top & a three quarter height wardrobe. I am so excited! It is going to have to live in my parents' garage for a little while as the bedroom hasn't been built yet... They are away (I still have their dog...) and hopefully our room will be sorted before they need the car space in use again. Or if not we have a load of kingspan to sell that should free up some room in our own house...

I can hear the van coming up the driveway,so I'll go & drool over my new furniture. Perhaps be back later if I can summon the energy. :)

Oh Falcon sweetheart, sorry to hear you feel so down The dog situation sounds really, really difficult - I can totally understand the worry and stress about how you'll cope once baby is here too.

I wish I had some wise words but I find dog ownership hard work too

Don't feel bad about the messy house - I think there are pregnant women up and down the country struggling to keep on top of things in this heat.

Glad all went well caz and thank you for all the driving test opinions - I'm still very torn over what to do..

Also been keeping up but not posting, feeling ridiculously lethargic in this weather and all of my energy is spent on entertaining DS.
Glad midwife appt went well caz and that you got the all clear on your GTT.
Exciting about furniture tucking but sorry youve been feeling ill especially with tge weather how it is.
Also sorry to hear about your dog falcon but am sure youll be able to find somewhere lovely for her to go to with someone who is able to train her and give her the attention she needs, is so difficult but it sounds like your doing whats best for you as a family and her.
Nothing exciting to report here, just ticking along and being hot. also have ridiculous tan lines thanks to sensitive pregnancy skin. might have to try and squeeze myself into a bikini just to get rid of them.

Also bridget I am planning on booking my driving test for very close to due date too. im able to reschedule on my area if I give them a certain amounts notice though so think if Im struggling will just do that. may be worth checking first

Read everything then made dinner so forgotton who said what, sorry!

Glad to hear legally is ok, I have been thinking of her too.

Thanks for the massage recommendation in dulwich. I have booked "the dulwich touch" but will keep in in mind.

Re summer born babies, the government did some research about 6 years ago that said even up to GCSE it makes a difference, and teaching year 1/reception children for the last 6 years I definitely notice a difference in children's levels at this age both academically, maturity/attention levels and physically in PE/handwriting etc. A year's difference is a big chunk of their life at such a young age. However I agree it isn't good for predicting how well a particular individual will do and there will always be exceptions. It is just a general trend and one of a few factors that impact on performance. Clapham I too am 30th July baby but was always top of my class and have a first from Oxford (really hope that doesnt sound like I am boasting, I deleted it but then remembered it will be on my Facebook page anyway). We planned to start trying for an autumn baby but knew it might not happen straight away and would have been happy with whatever we got!

Bridget I agree, I would only book it if you can cancel and get a refund. How important is it to you that you can drive before baby comes? Could you get by without?

Glad today's appointments went ok.

Sorry about my early morning / late night post about DH snoring. Got so bad that ended up sleeping on sofa last night so have been a tired grump all day. Trying to pack for our holidays on saturday now that dc are sleeping but have zero energy. If I hadn't laid clothes all over my bed I would be leaving it for another day.

Now to decide a relaxing bath not at all like Bridget's baths or suitcase packing......

School debate is different in Scotland and we try avoid winter babies but dd (jan baby) started school the youngest in her class and finished top in P1 and this year, P2, got class prize for most progress in all subject areas so I don't think it has a huge academic influence. She is emotionally a lot younger than her peer group though and tired easier at the start, partly due to her having SN but mainly because she was a year younger than some of the kids.

I've caught you all again, sorry some pants days with bp and headaches. However great scan today, the computer says baby expected to weigh 1.1kg, so that's fab as they can be smaller with high bp etc. discussed CS and epidurals etc as last labour was out of control (not me I was perfectly calm, coping and ignoring everyone with a lovely cold wet cloth on my eyes) but the staff were running in and out.

Here's a test of pain threshold - lean against the wall and crouch to sitting on a chair height and see how long you can do it, used breathing to get through it. My antenatal woman swore that those who could go the longest would cope better, however I have up first and was the only one who coped with a drug free labour haha. Think my joint hyper mobility helped, but it's really not an ouch i feel so poorly, my legs dropping off sort of pain, it's a steady pain that gets more intense the closer you are to meeting that gorgeous new person and is forgotten in an instant. You CAN all do it, use which ever means you have to, but really, you'll be fine!

Marathon on labour, sorry I still have more to say :P

Re washing baby stuff, I've started and I'd suggest others do too. So long as you have draws or cupboard to palace it into it'll still be lovely.

Uml I personally wouldn't use the royal baby name, but saying that after naming my son heard a very famous singer used the same. Typically they've recently had second and have used another name I like!! I still love my sons name, and nobody has even mentioned the person. I think this is more likely if its not a mainstream name - call him Apple or Pixie etc then might be different.

Roo we had to change nappy at each feed during night of he would leak. Marathon pee'er.

Ana we only have a shower too. DS still fits in his Flexibath at 2.4, but from 1.5 (standing steadily so could be put down) has enjoyed a shower with one of us, now he often goes in alone too (obv us in the room).

Nursing bras - ladies with big boobs, fear not www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/ sells underwired which are fine so long as properly fitting (no wire on breast tissue) and in my opinion much better than having a poor supporting non wire. I used wires throughout pregnancy and breastfed DS (with wire bras) for 2.3 years.

Phew, hope you are still awake!!

I'd do your test bridget if you don't think it'll stress you out. You will fit behind the wheel, don't worry about that! I drove right up to having ds at 36 weeks. Maybe make sure you can cancel it though as others have said.
Ordered a chest of drawers for bump today so that's all the furniture bought now as we've least got a changing table, the cot has arrived and they will share the wardrobe which is in ds' room. Slowly getting there!

falcon sorry to hear about your noisy dog :(

Jelly you crazy lady ! Def boot DH to the sofa tonight, you need comfortable rest. My DP was the same Friday night, I don't think either of us got much sleep as I spent the night poking him and rolling him about the bed haha. Needless to say, nothing worked!

Oh yes falcon, sorry to hear you might have to give up the dog. Did you get it from a rescue centre?