February 2014 - all our bags are packed, we're ready to go...

[sunflowered]

Well... we're getting there at least, and definitely ready to meet the first thread baby!

champs, marzi I get nudges both side of the bump but one side is 'fatter' that the other side's punches which change position more. I think at this stage my baby's bum is under my ribs on one side and it's legs and arms on the other side. I can only tell the difference in kicks off I have my hand there. If that makes sense?

I'm enjoying my day in London other than having no seat for part of my train journey orthodontist was fine, she was very excited that next time she sees me I'll be a mummy! I've been seeing her every 6 weeks for the last 18 months so it's really sweet

I'm now having lunch after a very successful nursing bra shopping trip! I've got a big gap between 4-7 to fill though, I might make myself v comfortable at a Starbucks and eat cake for 3 hours

This morning's pains have gone, phew! It was probably the shock of getting up at 6

Sat here at work basically doing sweet FA... sooooo bored! I've handed over all my workload, all I'm doing is filing 2yrs worth of project emails into a file store

Did get a giggle in the canteen though when the lady who has been serving me my decaf latte every morning since my BFP asked 'so are you pregnant then' ?!??! Ummm, yes and my last day at work is Friday!

I'm scared about baby making an appearance early but actually quite ready to get on with being a mummy now. I think if I go overdue I'm going to go insane with boredom/cabin fever. Ideally would like it to be post 3rd Feb but really thats just so I don't have to faff around with maternity pay.

Aw mum has bought me another hamper full of baby things! Starting to run out of room now though! Will have to go to ikea and invest in some vacuum bags for larger baby clothes to go in for now!

Lots of activity on the forum today!

Eeyeore Enjoy your time in London :) love that city. Try to smile and look very "I'm open for a chat" kind of face, it tends to get seats pretty easily, atleast that's what I find when not pregnant!

Harlem 5 weeks behind sounds a lot, but yes, different people measuring could surely make the measurements incorrect! And omg, you're tall enough to be a model ;D hehe. Feeling short now :P

I'm at 48-49% percentile I think, just a tiny bit below average. Hopefully it stays that way, as I was quite a small baby at 6lbs :)

artistic will cross fingers for you to not have to have another drip!

I keep having rather sore pokes at the cervix (I think), it's really not very nice! Also feels like a large bodypart is on my ribs. Hope it's bum and not head! Really just want to get the pregnancy finished now, want to meet my baby and have cuddles, and get back to normal hormones so my mental state can get better. Though he needs another 3 weeks!

Kalevala glad to hear everything was well!

As for average baby sizes:
www.babycentre.co.uk/a1004000/average-fetal-length-and-weight-chart
says that UK average birth size (week 40) is 51.2 cm / 20.16 inches, and 7.63 lbs / 3597 grams.

Slightly confused - it says that they measure crown to heel length on there, at 34 weeks = 17.7 inches / 45 cm. My MW says she measures uterus size, which for me was 30.5 cm at 34 weeks - but said it was completely normal so :)

I thought I was going to be so productive on my maternity leave but I'm finding it very hard to do anything!

I've got our head of department and someone from hr visiting me at home tomorrow to discuss the restructure and my job. I will fight tooth and nail if they try and get rid of me. Basically my job has been renamed and changed from full time to 4 days a week with more responsibilities added of course! I have an idea of my rights but have been given no info from hr and am feeling less than confident they are dealing with me correctly.

Anyway, this is the last thing I need and it's sapping my nesting energies!

So happy for misskat I'm full term today so am planning some hot curries and dtd!!! Watch out dh

Phew! Electricians come Thurs, carpets fitted Fri and woodburner installed on 28th Jan (one day after my due date!). Are we mad? Husband has 3 days off starting tomorrow so hopefully we can get a couple of bedrooms painted before the carpets are fitted.

Been having fun buying baby things online, just looking forward to having somewhere to put them! washing machine on constant - done one load of baby things, now dying curtains!
Can't stop buying baby clothes but have so many as been given loads. So can someone else buy some stuff from H&M for me please? As in, you get to keep them, I just want someone to have the joy of buying so I can stop! They are so cheap and cute there, and if you google 'H&M promotional voucher' you can get £5 off and free delivery, and everything's 3for2 anyway! So I have a basket full for about a tenner! Do it for me!

Stinking cold, horrible coldsore, not leaving the house today!

Been up since 7 marking the last set of books so they could be dropped off at school, then mum came over, now she's gone and I think it may now be nap time... Think I'm quite liking this no work malarkey!

Also pram and car seat are ready in store, although hood and footmuff set not in yet, but at least if baby arrives earlier, oh can get hold of car seat!

Tomorrow will do some shopping for lounge wear and ikea'ing, then start on some nesting... At least that's the plan!

sounds great cubano - enjoy!

ch1134 I'm very much the same way about sticky toffee pudding and vast quantities of wine / margaritas - so long as I'm not sat next to someone eating/drinking that, I'm happy, but someone has to keep on top of the potentially vast surplus of puddings/booze now that I'm not doing my bit! Fortunately my friends are very supportive, and help out wherever possible

...goes to look at H&M...

Thanks champagne I will see what happens on wednesday. I tried to ring the maternity action advice line yesterday but they are only open on weds and thurs afternoons!

I finally got the energy to go to the local ahop and they had nothing I needed. Waste of time and energy!

I have totally gone over the top with buying baby clothes. I'll be changing him 3 times a day whether he needs it or not!!

Baby clothes are just sooooo cute tho! I didn't realise how many I'd got till I started washing them all. My new plan is starting to buy 6-12m ones although it feels a bit wrong. Some lovely xmas stuff in the sales tho...

Next mission is real nappies.

I'm on mat leave and super unproductive as well. Tey to do one thing to leave the house each day tho...sometimes is so hard when sofa/bed are so . comfy.

LO being quiet today :( still get some movements but not like other days. In many ways will be glad to have her out where I can see her! Not for a couple more weeks tho.

Hope you're entertaining yourself in starbucks eeyorish and your London trip going well!

Tiny - good look with your meeting. I can't believe they're putting you through that at this time, that's appalling. X

winter you're doing better than me getting out of the house, it's a real effort isnt it. I Need to try harder especially when the baby is here or I might struggle.

Is everyone still driving? I am but trying to avoid it whenever I can.

Thanks sassy I'm pretty disgusted at them as well. I'm going to be putting my point accross v clearly tomorrow. Basically I don't think I should need to worry about any of this and it should be up to them to tell me what's happening, not for me to find out myself.

Hope I can draw a line under it by the end of the week.

I'm cooking cottage pie for the first time ever tonight, with the idea of freezing some. Hope it tastes alright!

I'm still driving, find it gives me more freedom and also when its so cold or places are a bit further away more incentive to go out. But after cycling everywhere for the past year it's still a novelty!

Am shocked by your work tiny I always understood that your job should be protected whilst on mat leave, or tht you should be able to go back at the same level and conditions. Good luck tomo!

I'm definitely still driving and will do right up to the end, public transport is pretty much a non entity where I live so wouldn't be able to do anything without my car.

Eeyore that does make perfect sense and I have the same thing most of the time but when she moves her whole body it's unmistakeable - spine goes from sticking out down my left side to across the front of my tummy. She always settles back into the head down position but I'm just nervous of water breakage while she's still on the move!

Winter mine is very quiet today as well. She was quiet for most of the day yesterday then really active after dinner, so I'm trying not to worry too much and seeing if this is just a different routine. But it's impossible not to worry a bit.

I'm driving, otherwise ds wouldn't be going to preschool!

marzi I just lay down a bit and ate some chocolates and that seems to have woken her up some... at least there are some benefits to pregnancy hope your LO does the same as well, am like you in that I tend to think it's just a different routine or even position but there's always the worry!

tiny hope you find a solution to your job problems. Can't be of any help unfortunately.

I've not bought any baby clothes since buying a few items nearly 2 months ago. Got so much given, I just try to save money to buy other things instead! Though it's very hard >< Finished cleaning it all however, need to buy an ironing board so I can iron them all nice and soft for baby!

Made caramels today. Yuuum.

Doh, my forum didn't update properly so didn't see loads of the messages.

tiny I am still driving, but can't wear my coat, feels like I can't fit then! Here's not much public transport, so it's either drive or be housebound! Also cooking cottage pie :) Done in about 5 minutes actually. Yum!

Tiny, hope you get your job issues sorted within though too much trouble. Not the kind of stress you need right now, is it?

I'm loving this completely unproductive time off work I'm off sick this week so feel it's justified. Annual leave next week and the week after, then ML. Have spent the last 2 days snoozing and reading, it's lovely - and I slept really well last night as well so feeling much more rested.

I'm still driving too; like others, I'd be housebound otherwise as there ain't a lot of public transport round here. Not that I want to go very far at the moment anyway though.

Thanks winter, she picked up after dinner. Phew. It's a mother's job to worry, right?

tiny thinking of you and your job issues - but thought they can't make you redundant whilst on ml? (Only upon your return) I may be wrong though..

I'm still driving as I have to in order to get to work but on e I'm done (Friday!) I will be mostly on the sofa/in bed and DH can be my taxi driver. The 2 hr drive home today was most unpleasant and now have horrendous cankles.

Baby was breech on thurs at mw appt but yesterday and today it seems to be all out the front, high up and lying left to right with it's back out. Hoping this is a sign it is trying to turn ahead of next weeks mw appt?! Feels bloomin uncomfortable, never felt bump so rock hard before. Feeling bit teary as phoned mum for a bit of support (I was a breech baby) but all she said was 'no way on earth would I let them try to turn you, far too risky, much better to have cs'. I did point out that was 28yrs ago and things have advanced and she just sniffed and said 'on your head be it, it's your baby'. So now I'm petrified of a possible ECV. Turn baby, turn!

Am so glad i decided to stop work this week. Don't think I could have done another week. I'm so tired and also feeling like a spare part in the team now. I feel bad for clocking off early when in the office but tomorrow I'm working at home (and making flapjacks post 4pm!)