October 2013 - Are we neary *there* yet?!

[MrsHoratioNelson]

Welcome, welcome, sit down, put your feet up.

Spreadsheet here

Can I ask you wise ladies for some advice? I am going to need to tackle tidying up my nether regions pre birth and not sure how best to tackle it. I can't get waxed as I get terrible ingrown hairs.

Pre DC1 I managed to epilation my legs and bikini line night I went into labour, had very small bump and hyper mobility so found it quite easy.

With DC2 I had a small bump and managed to have a scissor trim and shaved legs & bikini line.

This time my bump is shaped weird and I cannot easily see to attack with scissors and a razor so thinking about investing in a bikini trimmer. Has anybody used one they would recommend, all reviews online are terrible.

Love DH to bits but he's not getting near me with scissors and a razor after kindly sun creaming a hand print onto my back with facor 50 years ago, I tan very easily and took ages to go away

Have you got a mirror that you could use jelly this is what in going to try with hair removal cream to make sure it doesn't go too close to places it shouldn't be!

I too could reach perfectly well when pg with dd, now I'm a whale!

I do but not most co-ordinated person in the world so still an accident waiting to happen if I try trimming in reverse. Can't use cream as I'm allergic and can't stand the smell

Clapham the SAH mums with full-time nannies do sound faintly ridiculous, but tbh if I had that much money I'd probably do exactly same! (and no doubt have a cleaner, gardener etc too)

Been daydreaming about their lifestyles ever since your post - I hope they appreciate their good fortune.

Textbook basically they take your placenta dry freeze, grind it into powder form it and deliver it to your door in tablets 48hrs later.

I will copy and paste the health benefits. Sorry to anyone who thinks I so raving weirdo having to read this:

What Are The Benefits Of Placenta Encapsulation?

It is believed that consuming the placenta can:

Help to balance your hormones
Replenish depleted iron levels
Assist the uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy state
Reduce post-natal bleeding
Increase milk production – this has been proven in a study
Make for a happier, more enjoyable post-natal period
Increase your energy levels
Baby blues can effect up to 80% of women within the first week of birth. Women who consume their placenta report fewer emotional issues and a more enjoyable babymoon. Who wouldn’t want that?!

“I didn’t get the day 3 blues which usually has me in a blubbering mess, and my post-partum bleed was less. I had my mum here staying with me so that might have helped, but I felt happier in myself and my milk came in quicker. Overall, the first 2 weeks after my baby was born just seemed to sail by and my hubby had no time off work this time around either. So I was here living far from town with 5 children and I coped better than when I had my second!” — Rebecca

“The placenta pills helped me greatly. It lowered my depression, it boosted my iron levels, boosted my milk supply and lowered my post birth bleed. I use it while I have my periods too, it helps to control my bleeding and mood swings and helps me boost my vitamin intake. Tt’s currently helping me to support my current pregnancy – no need for vitamins here.” — Kathryn

“I healed quite quickly and felt like I bounced back from the birth quickly as well. Haemorrhage is something that runs through the family, mum and my grandmother both had that problem but I didn’t and that could possibly be due to the placenta. It was hard to take the first few tablets, just the thought of what I was taking put me off for a moment but, in the end I was quite sad when I took my last few.” — Emma

It costs £165 here in the north west.

flyer sounds like sense with just a hint of madness

Thank you all for the virtual flowers. I bought myself some glads over the w'end so they're my real ones. And I got a voluminous jumper when shopping with DS yesterday so that can be my present. It's not the most flattering but it'll keep the autumn chill off and work throughout bf.

And to add to the impression that I'm a shopoholic... My Zulily Hot Milk bra arrived this morning only for me to realise a- I ordered a size too small, and b- they don't return/refund underwear, so I'm stuck with a diddy nursing bra. Rats. Should have stuck with fig leaves.

Better go- I'm supposed to be at a picnic with DS's friends. oops!

Pink some more for your anniversary.

Have a nice day. Lots of men forget these special days, that's the male pea sized brain for you

Jelly and Hayle is it safe to use hair removal cream? I somehow managed to trim myself a few weeks ago but I saw a glimpse of myself in the mirror yesterday and growth has spread beyond my bikini line by a long way and I'd like to tidy it up a bit. I don't think I could manage a wax at this stage so cream seems to be my best option.

Ladies, I'm so bored of being pregnant now. The first 6 weeks of pregnancy dragged and now it seems that the last 6 weeks will also drag! I don't want to wish this time away but went to see my friend yesterday who has a newborn and just want to be there now. 34+3 today...

Just wondered as well, do any of you have back to back babies at the moment? Anything we can do to encourage them to move round? Been going on all fours before going to sleep, and trying not to lie on my back but not sure it's working.

roofio def go with the sprung one. DP and I had a debate at the time as the mattress cost more than the cot, but I have a big boy who could still comfortably sleep on it until 2.5 (and beyond but moved to bed). Where a friend had to move her just 2year old out of his cot to a bed as he wasn't at all comfortable anymore on the compressed foam.

badger how's your bp? Mine is up again 165/103 :S Going to take it in a min, so 2 hours later fingers crossed its back down!

clapham sending you hugs. Do they still do the class email lists? Could you try and call in a favour from one of those mums? You can return it while on ML I guess. That's the only problem with that area, it's very cliquey (sp! ?)

orange you are shaming us all with that domestic godliness :P

flyer it does sound interesting. I suggest you not ask to see the placenta. I would consider it but hate taking pills at the best of times, so know I prob couldn't stomach them.

Mattress wise ikea do a good mattress protector for cots only £5. I bought one recently. Bought a good spring mattress with a removable washable cover. But didn't realise only one side is removable n ds got non removable side dirty.
Now using ikea protector as its easier to remove n wash.
Protectors from other stores are quite expensive compared to £5.

Also for those watching the pennies. Home bargain store had whitchhazel for £1.50 compared to tesco which I think is £1ish more. Lol. I used 2 bottles last time. So got some.
I prob wouldn't go out of my way to save £2 but I was in matalan nxt door and popped in to buy other bits and happened to see some. Also calpol sachets were cheaper.

Which came in useful yesterday at my mums as ds went for a nsp and woke up with what sounded like a sore throat and this morning has come down with a cold and is very snotty

My BP is driving me insane! For no reason, perfectly rested at both times my BP 2 hours later is now 122/64. Wtf. I just wish it would do one thing or the other!

Could it be eating or stress changing it? Not sure what BP numbers should be but assume that's to high?

Happy anniversary pink and ! Seriously though, if I didn't remind my DP every year he would def forget!

roofio, we were told ages ago by bed specialists and various others that if we have a fixed bed budget, get a cheap bed and the best mattress possible for our money. So I have assumed the same applies for the baby. I reckon it's better to scrimp on other things, as the one place both we and baby spend the most time is in bed! So we've gone for Little Green Sheep mattresses.

Food wise, I've packed isotonic sports drinks, some cartons drinks, dried fruit. Am inspired by you guys to put some cereal bars in there too!

Blue, if it makes you feel better, I have cried many times in front of various health professionals about fear of childbirth. They are used to it!

flyer, re the placenta feast, I think it can't do any harm! DP would run a million miles from me and never kiss me again if I did it though!

tarlia, sorry to hear about the BP probs. It can feel totally random. And sometimes the stress of waiting around and having it re-checked makes it go even higher...

Thanks for all the jab feedback. I decided not to get it today. I'm going to have more of a think about it and speak to my midwife at next week's appointment.

I don't like the fact it hasn't been tested and the NHS website also seems a bit off to me.

I've been feeling pretty poorly over the last few days, tired, sick, and with an upset stomach. I went to work this morning but am taking a long lunch to see if I can digest my food ok, I'll probably go back in this afternoon.

I'm tempted to start mat leave now though as I'm sure i'll probably keep feeling icky until the baby comes. I kind of need to stay as long as I can for the money though.

Hope you're all having a better Monday than me!

serious I would have thought it was ok to use? I did so at 29 weeks before I went on holiday and no after effects.

I am ridiculously happy today, I'm having a tax rebate of £256!! Brilliant timing since I have everything for baby in going to try and save it for some clothes post baby. Yay!

Tarlia that second reading is good.

Dp suffers from high bp as does his father. DP takes his bp daily as his father had 5 strokes last year so he is paranoid if it goes high. And often this happens to him too. First reading can be high followed by a normal reading hours later. Totally bizarre hey! Fx it stays in that normal range now.

Smitten I'm in the same position as you - I work for myself and will only be able to claim maternity allowance so trying to work right up to the birth! But I'm really struggling to get work done at the moment.

Thanks Halye - I will give it a go!

Had another day of running to the loo all day yesterday and had a tiny bit of blood stained mucus discharge late last night. I decided that if it happened aain I would phone the hospital but nothing else so far.
Today is Linah's first full day in school so I'm taking the opportunity to rest. She was so excited about taking her new lunch bag to school for the first time.

Dp came home with an e-cig pen on Friday that he'd bought on his lunch break and he hasn't smoked since so it looks like it's working. He was smoking between 60 and 70 roll-ups a day previously and since I don't let him smoke in the house it meant I always felt like I didn't see much of him at night. I really hope it keeps working for him.

My ex husband is Iraqi Kurdish and when I had our dd he came to the hospital with Almonds and a jar of Kurdish honey complete with honeycomb. I suppose if nothing else it provided me with energy.

You are nuts Flyer but I hope it does work for you.

Happy anniversary pink

Hope your Bp settles down Tarlia

DD2 had her first morning at school today, very excited and happy to go, she goes full time next week which will be better than 2 trips there to pick the DD's up separately.

Smitten I've been putting off the whooping cough jab as well, just can't decide what to do, my mw didn't really push it and I haven't heard anything separately from gp.

Blue my friend had a horrid birth with her 1st dc, got knackered as it took days to get to 9cm and ended up with emcs, it nearly put her off having a 2nd child! She spoke to a specialised mw who went through her birth with her, subsequently has had dc2 and with a fairly easy vbac, definitely talk through your worries with someone xx

This is a great reading tarlia! Hope it stays low now. Fingers crossed for you x And about my area - yes, you are right and you know it... it's very clicky... hope I will find some normal women to become friends with though... I have low tolerance for princesses I'm afraid

bridget I certainly won't be getting any nanny to help but I agree, at least a couple of days would be lovely! London seems to have these bubbles where people live completely different lives

smitten I didn't respond earlier as 1. didn't want to influence you and 2. didn't have time. I also haven't had the WC vaccine. I've done a lot of thinking about it and just don't feel comfortable... I'm also a special case I guess as I had a really bad vaccine experience when I was 18/19. In many European countries they still give a TB booster vaccine when you are 18 (not sure they do in the UK). Anyway, I had it and my vaccine "leaked", got infected and I ended up with a massive infection with super high temperature and quite a big operation to remove it when I was 19. This is a really unusual and rare reaction but I had it and it made me a bit paranoid about vaccines. I still have them but I do a lot of research and give it a lot of thought. I had all necessary vaccines before going to India and DS also had all prescribed vaccines including the previously controversial MMR vaccine. The only one I didn't give him was the BCG vaccine they recommended temporarily in some (only some) London boroughs. They don't give it anymore so I'm happy I didn't put him through it. It helped that my ex FIL was one of the top Professors of Infectious Diseases in Italy and actually specialised in lung diseases. He advised me against the BCG vaccine (although recommended by NHS) as it was not very effective and likely to have complications. So I felt I had a top specialist to advise. Now I don't anymore... but I'm really tempted to text him and ask him about WC... but it feels so awkward when I'm pregnant with someone else!! Arrrgh... I just know he knows this stuff outside out and is the specialist in this area... it's killing me. We still really get on, I see him all the time when they come to the UK and help with DS. They still text me for my birthday and we even went for lunch together a few months ago. Shall I text him or no...? So awkward... For now, my decision is not to have it but I would love to have his opinion. We are all trying to do our best for our babies and these choices are so hard... and I feel that in this instance it's particularly hard and everything on NHS sites, even what mws say is a bit contradictory and vague to say the least

MoN really hope your discharge is not start of early labour. Baby cooking wishes coming your way.

After birth of dc1 I asked DH to bring me some magazines to read as she was being moved to SCBU, he brought me Nuts and Zoo! For dc2 I packed my own magazines

MoN it might be worth giving your midwife or day assessment triage a ring just to see if they want to check it out even if it hasn't happened again. How many weeks are you now?

I'm trying not to worry too much Jelly but every little niggle now had me worrying. A healthy baby arriving at this stage wouldn't worry me too much but I don't know how she'd be considering the fallots tetralogy.

I'm worrying about my older dd too. She was being bullied for the last 2 years of primary school by a group of boys but never really let on to me how bad it was but since starting high school last month she is self harming.
I spoke to the school today and they are going to arrange for her to see the school counsellor and threaten the boys with expulsion if it doesn't stop.
I feel like I'm always on her back about her behavior but perhaps a lot of it is because of what's been happening at school.

I'm 33+4 Orange. I've had some spotting in all my previous pregnancies and no cause was ever found and this was much lighter than those other occasions.
I have an appointment at hospital on Friday so I'll mention it then and stay on the look out for any other symptoms.
I think she moved head down yesterday so maybe just the pressure of her head causing the discharge.