Due in Jan 2007 part 4: Sex?! Don't make me laugh! (When I laugh my back hurts MORE, and I wet myself)

[2Happy]

Whaddya think?!

Thanks for the tips re sterilisers, might have a look at microwave ones and forget the warmer. Just one question, if you express breast milk can you let it go cold and then warm it up or not? Thats probably a daft question-sorry but I'm a first timer

Dh I think you've got a fetish for changing bags only joking, you'll have one to go with every outfit! You've got me wanting a denim and leather one!

My car went in for fixing today and my mechanic let me use his 'coutesy car' I got in the lift at work, at 5ish, couldn't wait to get so had the car key in my hand and I flippin' well dropped it and it fell down the lift shaft!!! My dad had to leave work to go and get the mechanics mobile number so I could ring him to bring his spare key so I've just arrived home soaking wet and knackered. The mechanics house key was on the key ring I dropped aswell!!!

when I had dd had avent steam sterliser (bottle fed from start)but it was bulky and too ages so bought a tomme tippe mirowave steriliser which ame with 3 free bottles and it was half price in sale for a £10! Also got another 3 bottles as DD ones were looking very tired (she didnt give bottle up for a year!) so threw them away and this buba gets something new!

When I go into hospital I have to take my own bottles and formula and they provide me with a cold water steriliser, when I had DD they gave you small bottles of milk made up and disposable teats. Apparently they have stopped doing this now (nothing to do ith cost cutting but they need to teach you how to make a bottle up!) this is all okay but since I am having section and won't be able to get out of bed for 24 hours would like to know how I am going to make bottles up. Also new guidelines are that you should make each bottle as it is required ike hell am I going to get up at 2am and boil kettle and wait for it to cool to make a bottle, I'll sterilise all the bottles in teh morning make 6 bottles up with cool boiled water and add formula when I am going to use the bottle I did this with DD and she survived!

Daisypops - I used to express the milk then either put it in a bottle in the fridge with a lid for the next day or put it into special bags you can get and put it into the freezer. Then warm it up in a jug of hot water.

Ellie, that sounds crazy! They must be going to help you unless they want your baby to be screaming from hunger or you to split you stitches!

Thanks Dh, I prob don't need the bott;e warmer then if I can just use jugs of boiling water. Thanks

lulu - I was (and still am) measuring big using the tape measure, was 30cm at 26 weeks. Had a growth scan and only slightly above average size so that convinced me that the tape measure isn't particularly accurate. I dread to think how many cms I measure now - am fed up with people at work saying "are you really still going to be here in December? You're huge already"!!

Sorry to hear about your gran 2happy

My experience on the 2 'hot' topics ...

changing bags - never had a 'real' one, have always managed with a normal bag.

sterilisers - have Boots one that can be used in microwave or as cold water. Used it mainly as a cold water one last time.

Ok everyone I'm getting stressed out about what benefits I'm entitled to. I will be having 6 months off work and hopefully not coming back at all, but work don't know this! When I'm off can I claim income support or not? My mum seems to think I can but I'm not sure. For 20 weeks I will be surviving on £108.00 per week but I have my mortgage to pay which I am going to change to interest only. DP has his own flat to pay for which is currently on the market, so in effect hes not classed as my partner as we don't co-habit. My mum seems to think for the time I'm off I can claim income support to 'top up' what I would have been earning on full pay? Is this right? The internet sites are just so confusing and I'm at work so can't ring the jobcentre or CAB to find out. Please help!

I'm not sure daisypops but you will be able to claim child benefit, child tax credit and possibly working tax credit (depends on your annual inome if you qualify for WTC) if you get above the minimum child tax redit or you qualify for working tax credits you will also be able to claim surestart maternity grant of £500 we didnt qualify as we only get the minimum child tax credit. I got the application forms for hild beneift and tax credits before dd born and filled in as muh as I ould espeially tax creit one as wouldnt have wanted to do that after she was born. You ant claim the tax credits till you have your child benefit number so make sure you send that off asap as they can only be backdated for so long (think its 3 months)

Think you'll need to contact jobentre/cab re income support

seem to have a problem with my 'c' key hope that made sense below!!!

Hi All
Dragonhart kindly pointed me to this thread. I am Wriggler (baby wriggles all the time and my hubby as made up a song about wriggler)and due on the 07/01/07. Not sure of gender and it is my first. Ante natal classes have not started yet so i am working my way through Miriam Stoppard...noticed there is a warning out against her. Any thing i should know about?
I have started to devise a christmas list and add new baby items on for baby, to avoid friends and relatives feeling they have to buy twice etc..
Your best buys page has helped me enormously re push chair etc , as i do not really know what i am looking for in a good quality push chair.
I have also started to think about a birth plan and items to take to hospital.
The worst of it all is telling my family a big family i dont want visitors at hospital perhaps just a week after i come home. How should i do this?

Hi everyone, this is new to me, but it seems like fun, and useful for chatting things through. I am expecting my first on Jan 4th, and so far I have had a reasonably smooth time of it - although frantic with worry on more than one occasion .

Very disorganised at home, no decorating yet, no furniture bought - although it has plenty of things to wear....it's mothers child it seems

welome wriggler and ladywithababy seems quite quiet on here today but somedays it gos manic somewhere there is a stats thread but I can't do links!!

wriggler think you may be getting confused with Gina Ford as she is the one not to be mentioned (explanation on the home page) think miriam stoppards ok!

ladywithababy mine has lots to wear too mainly beause I am having another girl and since I already have daughter all the things in the loft have been washed ready! I'll try and update the due list with your names xx

Right updated list with the new addtions if you are posting an you remind me of due date and I'll put them on as well

Ladywithababy
Wriggler
Podmog
Kaylasmum
JodieG1
Blueydragaon
Shimmer
KatieRocket
Mrs worry
TrinityRhino
Raindog
Elliepmummy edd 16/1/07 setion on 5/1/07
Becks5109
LadyThophamHatt
Magnolia1
Looshkin
Motherbeaker (formerly JaneNZ)
Laughalot
Jessdibs
The UrbanDryad
Dragonhart
2Happy
Nemo1977
Hattie2
Saltcod
Sleepycat
Poppynic
JoJo30
lulu25
Coffeebeanz
Daisypops
Muppet3
Sazisi
Michelle24
Carrotcake
MrsPeacock
Loubie37
Posyparker
El23456
Tweedledum

Hello all. Been away for a week (but hadn't posted much before then) and just took an hour to catch up with reading.

2 Happy I was very sorry to hear about your granny. It's always tough losing a loved one but when the hormones are raging it must be even harder.

How organised you all are. Ladywitha baby: you are not alone. I've only just started shopping but haven't decorated yet either (we've just moved house). I'm still shifting my clothes from one cupboard to another then back again. Too many I think but that still doesn't stop me from browsing longingly at Zara, Karen Millen, Reiss etc. (though what the hell for I don't know as I can't fit into any of it anymore!).

Wriggler: Re Miriam Stoppard. I haven't heard much about her but she has been an authority in this area for years. I was a bit put off by her book because pre-pregnancy I used to run/jog regularly and wanted to continue for as long as it was safe to do so. Her advice was "do not jog when pregnant". Hardly a can do attitude although I can't blame her for being cautious.

Anyone know how much it costs to hire an electric breast pump and how long you get it for? I want to breast feed but would like to mix after a week or 2 for the last feed (a la the advice of she who must not be named ).

Is anyone else finding their hospital or MW contacts lacking in info? I asked at my hosptial/MW appointment a week ago when I would have a chance to discuss my labour/birth options in our hospital birth centre and was waved away with a: "oh just ask them on your 18th December visit". I'm due 10th Jan and if I'm early... (and they forgot to give me a glucose test).

Sorry for the lengthy posting. Dreading the next 4 weeks as work likely to be really intense and will be away from home for 2 weeks until beginning of December. But hey! No more moaning from me.

One member of my NCT class has already given birth (I'm behind everyone else but she was only 31 weeks!) but at least both she and her baby girl are ok.

Oh, please can I be put on the list too elliepmummy? Ta.

Welcome newbies! It is very quiet on here today isn't it?

epmummy - my due date is 5/1/07

daisypops - sorry, I can't help with benfits aetc but hope you get it sorted. It all sounds very complicated!

Thanks for the greetings

Talking of midwife info, I had my 28 week appt last Tues, and I felt a bit short changed by the person I saw.(Usual one was on hols). She did the usual, but I asked her a couple of questions and she was just a bit vague. Luckily there was nothing that was really bothering me, else I would have been beside myself. My doc however is brilliant, so swings and rounabouts I guess.

whens your due date love2dance?

Right been on 1st stats thread so some of these dates may be wrong let me know if they are

Flibbertygibbert edd 10/1/07
Neolara edd 19/1/07
Love2dance
Ladywithababy
Wriggler
Podmog edd 17/1/07
Kaylasmum edd 18/1/07
JodieG1
Blueydragaon
Shimmer
KatieRocket edd 17/1/07
Mrs worry
TrinityRhino
Raindog edd 25/1/07
Elliepmummy edd 16/1/07 setion on 5/1/07
Becks5109 edd 17/1/07
LadyThophamHatt edd 12/1/07
Magnolia1
Looshkin
Motherbeaker (formerly JaneNZ) edd 1/1/07
Laughalot edd 10/1/07
Jessdibs edd 12/1/07
The UrbanDryad edd 9/1/07
Dragonhart edd 5/1/07
2Happy
Nemo1977 edd 15/1/07
Hattie2 edd 5/1/07
Saltcod
Sleepycat
Poppynic
JoJo30 edd 10/1/07
lulu25 edd 18/1/07
Coffeebeanz edd 13/1/07
Daisypops edd 11/1/07
Muppet3
Sazisi
Michelle24
Carrotcake
MrsPeacock
Loubie37 edd 20/1/07
Posyparker edd 9/1/07
El23456 edd 12/1/07
Tweedledum
UCM edd 14/1/07

Hi all. Good to see some more mums-to-be jouning us!

Daisy, dont think that you can claim income support while still employed unless you are normally entitled to it (ie you do less than16 hours per week). When you are on maternity leave you are classed as still being employed even though you get payed barely anything. Could be wrong though. Gutted if you can as I didnt!

I got statutory Maternity pay which is 90% for6 weeks, then £106 for the rest fo the 6 months(must have gone up as that was a coupple of years ago). I also got the holiday pay I would have earnt if I had been working.

If I were you I would pop to the citizens advice bureau as they can tell you about everything you can claim and where to get the forms to apply.

Had a crap day today. We are decorating the kitchen and my brother has been helping which is really nice of him, but he is so gung-ho that I havent sat still all day and now I have to go and strip the wall paper when I am knackered and also I think I am getting a cold. I hate decorating, when we have finished the kitchen, we have gone around the house once and I am not doing it again for at least afew years!!

Sorry about the rant. Feeling a bit better now. Off to strip, the kitchen that is!!

hi ellie, mine is 03\02\07 pleeeeeease let me stay here

I thought I was January for ages and it's only just february

I have a stinking cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah thanks for including me on the stats thread elliepmummy.
I was on original due in Jan threads but I just lost count of everyone so haven't posted for yonks. I have been lurking though.

Hello all,
Thought I'd add myself onto this list as I have twins due on 6th Jan. Already have ds and dd.
Wasn't sure which post to go for as everyone tells me they'll be here early, esp consultant who wants to induce at 38 wks when it's convenient (ie not going to interrupt his xmas hols).
Am more or less or set for stuff just need twin buggy and have no idea which to go for.
Also difficult not knowing when they may pop out.
So far pg going well except for horrendous SPD which is making moving around agony. But just glad they appear healthy and well.
Looking forward to ploughing through this mamoth thread and getting to know you all a little better.

Hi! I'm new to this so please bear with me. Due first week in January. Not panicking or anyting but I dont know any other pregnant people in my area. (Brighton & Hove) NCT classess were full since May and antenatal swimming classes cancelled in both local pools. I'm on the waiting list for antenatal yoga. Not sure where else I can meet other pregant people due at the same time! Any ideas? x

Welcome to Lizz and Piximon!

Lizz, I met lots of mums at my DS's Parentcraft Classes which the doctors surgery organised. Started about a month before I was due, for 1 hour per week for 4 weeks then a reunion about a month after the births. We then carried on seeing each other every week for lunch until everyone had gone back to work. It was really nice. See if your docs organises them too.

Jess, I have a cold too.