Summer holidays are over, the PESH are bringing their bumps and baybees back to school

[TheOriginalWinkly]

Pack your giant pants in your satchel and maternity pads in your pencil case, it's the antenatal thread for BESH graduates

CRESH

Faith - pinky faithlet arrived 14th April 2013
Pinkr - suitably pinky one arrived 25th August 2013
Jethro - blue one arrived 23rd September 2013
Noks - pink one arrived 12th January 2014
Frankel - large pink one arrived 10th March 2014
Merks - pink one landed safe and sound 21st March 2014
Sinky - Stubborn blue one arrived 26th March 2014
Driz - blue one arrived 12th June 2014
Kat - pink one arrived 21st June 2014
draf - pink calf on 1st July 2014
winks - a pink one dragged out kicking and screaming on 4th July 2014
euro - a pink one in a hurry to see the world, born on 17th July 2014
dor - a pink one born at speed on 28th July 2014
ginge - completing the ESH Summer of Pink on 23rd August 2014

PESH
Buggerlugs - Buglet due 20th October
Fankle - ESHlet expected 4th January
Cunty - Minichops expected 7th February

Fanklet is clearly a rascal fank, trying to get a sneak preview of the world. Glad you're doing well other than lightning cervix and baby brain (personally my baby brain led to me leaving the house without shoes. Not just once).

I started with a Moby wrap, MiniWink adorded being in the stretchy but I was never a confident wrapper. I moved onto the ergo, which is fab (though if I lived closer to a sling library I would haved liked to try the similar but arguably superior tula). The ergo is very comfy, easy to use, easy to adjust for feeds, and L will even nap in it. Plus she goes on my back indoors now when she's clingy but I need to get things done.

Oops to the baby brain! I hope you have managed to get the muddle sorted out.

I have the Hana. It's great because it's suitable from newborn. I found the layers of fabric very hot in summer even though it is bamboo, so it is probably better for a winter baby. I tend to use the ergo more now as it is easier to get on when out and about, but the Hana definitely has its uses.

I should be doing more house packing but I'm still coldy and not feeling motivated...

Wotcha Hags! Sorry for being AWOL! Time for an update and to get us PESH going again!

You're back MissH! So glad you seem to be in a better place and starting to believe its real. It took me until about 22/23 weeks...which was I guess when I started to feel some light movement. Also glad you seem to be lining up the necessary help in advance and are being taken seriously. Preparation will help you no end.

I think there are just 3 PESH right now - you, Cunty and me. It has gone very quiet in here though... We SO need fresh blood! The BESH are gearing up for cluster diffage in the new year after an honestly rubbish year of continued disappointment.

Thanks Euro and Winks for the replies re slings. There are so many to choose from and some are v v expensive, so glad to have a local sling library near me.

Hope the packing went a bit better over the weekend and you got rid of your cold Euro.

I'm feeling good at the moment. Had a nice weekend with the in laws. Now planning a day at home with a bit of washing, present wrapping and lounging...then drag myself to Pilates this evening.

Likewise apologies for being AWOL. I'm having a really shit and busy time at work at the moment trying to get a massive pile of marking done before I go on leave. I'm really struggling to get work done once I get home from school as I'm so shattered I can't concentrate, and my boss has been fuck-all help.

On the plus side, I'll be starting leave this Friday! 2 weeks off for Christmas holiday and then mat leave starts in January.

Glad you're being listened to and getting the support you need MissH. Any idea when you'll hear about the CS request?

Not long to go now Fank! How is late pregnancy treating you? Any tips on handling what's to come?!

Well Cunty not sure I've got any tips apart from get in plenty of panty liners. I've noticed quite a bit more cm in these last few weeks. I'm feeling pretty good apart from a few twinges in the general vicinity of my cervix since Fanklet dropped into my pelvis about 3 weeks ago. My last 2 mw appointments have revealed that baby is 3 fifths engaged. I've also been having tons of Braxton hicks the last few days. Not sure what that means, if anything. I really ought to straighten out my hospital bag and make sure I have everything I need in there, ready to go (I say that being fully aware it could be another 4 weeks)!

Hags- I nearly throttled MG last night. It seems he's really quite naive about the effects of labour on my fanjo and just thinks I will ping right back after a week or so! "You might not even need stitches" he said!!! I told him it could actually be a total car crash down there for at least 6 weeks and he asked how I knew that and if that was true for the majority of women, or just the horror stories you hear of more often. So hags, can I ask: how much of a wreck was it down there and how long did you take to heal and feel normal again? I know it depends on whether you tear, need stitches or have a CS...but would appreciate hearing your fanjo healing experiences....and of course any tips. I worry about being in serious pain for weeks with swelling, bruising, stitches etc, whilst struggling with exhaustion, hormones and feeding troubles all at once. I don't have any illusions of grandeur for the first couple of months, which seems to be at odds with MG's head in the clouds, it will all be fine attitude.

But alas, what will be will be. At least today I get to be pampered- having a back massage and facial at the fancy spa in town. Lucky me!!

Only 2.5 more days of work Cunty. You can do it!

Gosh - quiet around these parts of late! I have no news but thought I'd drop by and say hello. I'm trying to become festive but so far it hasn't kicked in although we are getting a tree this weekend. SW is coming to see us over crimbo hols for panel prep but nowt else happening on that front. Work were getting a little twitchy with me leaving next year and worrying about replacing me but I can't give them any reassurance because realistically I could still be there this time next year although obviously I hope I wont. I'm also conscious that I'm getting nobbled for a lot of longer term projects at the moment so I'm trying to word some emails and requests very carefully so as not to raise expectations! It's difficult though, like a pregnancy with no end date . I have a book to read with a whole chapter on this very topic so I'm going to read it over Christmas because it's starting to niggle at me a bit.

How is everyone? Only three PESH at the moment then?

Fankle - not long to go now! Well done on the Pilates! I'm not looking at any of that! Working 7 day shifts takes enough energy anyway, pregnant it's a bit of a nightmare! Looking to start reducing my hours in january (if a GP signs you off for it it doesn't reduce your pay - ThankGod!) and go to 8 hour shifts only, feels a bit early though I'll gradually reduce that further as I get closer to having the baybee! Don't have any experience of fanjo healing myself but I have to say I don't know anyone who hasn't had stitches or other problems, sorry Another reason for me pushing for a CS!

Cunty - Lucky you! Only 2 weeks before you go on leave! Brilliant! I'm hoping to work right up to dropping! More leave on the other side then!

Still just waiting waiting waiting, there's an awful lot of waiting in this ttc/pregnancy process! Starting to stress about the scan normal menkul But keep remembering that whilst I'm now 20 weeks I'm still only 20 weeks so shouldn't be expecting too much yet

My GP sent a letter to the consultant team re my concerns etc and request for a CS but to the wrong hospital so was expecting to take my copy (plus advocate letters) to my scan on monday and for them to get everything rolling from there, however I have just received a letter from the "wrong" hospital with an appointment for next tuesday with their consultant/doctors saying to take an FMU sample and to discuss family history and have blood tests so I'm a bit confused! I'll call tomorrow to check that they've been in touch with the "right" hospital and that they all know about each other! If it gets me a CS I'm more than happy to change hospitals! My preference if purely on the name of the hospital rather than any actual preference! shallow

Snow - See, more waiting, crap innit It's a never ending (seemingly) process, for me, by the time it's here it'll have been 28 months so I am envisioning a very very long break from ttc! We're not festive at all this year, we're having work done on the kitchen and it's just the 2 of us so we're not bothering! We both actually only have Christmas and Boxing Days off so all seems a bit pointless! NExt year will be a big deal, like last year and the year before were supposed to be!

Yes a BESH clusterdiff is definitely needed! I might go over and fling around some encouragement and woo vibes!

Anomaly scan today, all good, measuring bang on date, anterior placenta but starting to feel something anyway! 21w on Wednesday with probably a pink ESHlet!

Consultant appointment tomorrow to discuss mental health stuff!

Hello peeps, I am still here just finding life a little tough at the moment. Had quite emotional weekend I am missing Mum loads.

I also seem to have manage to put my back out which isn't go great :(

dor sorry to hear that you're finding it a bit shit right now. This can be a tough old time of year in so many ways. Made even worse when you've hurt your back I expect. Hope you feel better soon.

MissH that's bloody wonderful!! So chuffed for you.

Rasp good to hear from you and glad things are progressing. Potentially v exciting year ahead year ahead for you. Hope you get the work stuff sorted and that they accommodate your leave. Exciting though that it's THIS real that you're having to think of work and potential leave situations.

How are the rest of you luffly hags? Is it just the busy time of year or wot? My mum's arrived. Let's hope Fanklet doesn't choose to put in an appearance before the 29th or my mum will be a bloody nightmare with her extreme worrying. So lovely that she's here for Christmas but she is such a nervy walker round our house, she takes her walking stick with her everywhere and holds on to the walls for balance. She can't even walk from one room to another with a cuppa in her hand! I can't imagine her being comfortable moving around very much with a baby...she will just have to sit on the sofa for cuddles. It sounds awful to say this but I don't think she will be much use on a practical level with Fanklet. Cuddles and doting for sure but actually doing stuff to help round the house or changing/bathing/carrying will be pretty much out. This makes me sad. I expect it makes her sad too. I'm so lucky to have the mum I have but I have wished many a time that she didn't have a disability. As I'm sure she has too.

Merry Christmas hags

It's oh so quiet!

Oops that was me before! Name change failure!

Yes, it's extraordinarily quiet round these parts Dor

Bugs thanks for sharing your fanjo experiences. V reassuring.

Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas?

A lady on the jan thread announced yesterday that her baby boy was stillborn on Christmas Day. How utterly unbearably sad.

I'm 39 weeks today. Still got lots of movement, twinges and BH...that must mean my Fanklet will be born alive. Yes? Oh I hate to hear of such distressing news. It fills me with irrational fear.

We had the same on the August thread. Very sad.

Well, I have survived Christmas. Just. I feel shattered!

bugs I'm really pleased that things are looking sunnier for you at last :) How is she 13 weeks already?

MissH yay for the good scan and another pink eshlet! Hope you get the MH stuff sorted promptly.

fankle you are firmly in any-day-now territory. Eeek! Have people started pestering you with 'any news yet' texts, fb posts, phone calls etc? Then cunty you're up.

rasp always lovely to hear from you :)

I have had a delightful Christmas. MiniWink is getting so big so fast. She's loaded with the cold but is such a cheerful, busy wee thing.

Happy New Year chaps! Hope 2015 is peaceful and happy for us all xx

Happy new year to all ESH! 2015 eh...it's going to be big! I can't quite believe I will be a mum this year. Only 3 years since my miscarriage in January 2012. Was just thinking how strange it would be if Fanklet decided to show up late, coinciding with the anniversary of my mc. But that is a quite possibly too morose a thought for the first day of 2015.

Yes Winks I have had a couple of those "any signs yet?" texts. Not many but still quite annoying all the same. I woke up with period type cramp pains and BH this morning. Went back to sleep but 25 mins later awoke with the same thing. I actually thought "is this it"? But it totally tailed off. Still, I'm taking advantage of MG's kindness and last day off work by staying in bed and letting him do some housework. He's being v lovely to me- brought me a glass of Buck's Fizz and a cup of tea in bed this morning and made bacon and eggs for breakfast (I then had to return to bed to sleep off the feast) .

Need to start sechsing again somehow to try to get things going, but it's been about 2-3 months and we are both a bit weirded out by the prospect.