December- The Final Countdown!!!!

[Calmriver]

HI Guys, I am still confused, so please join me on this one.

Ah well, I was with you at the knicker rack in spirit AQ

LOL re dh - you're so right.

I bought a big purple cardi from Monsoon: not maternity, but ties at the chest and falls open so works fine with bump and hopefully will last a fair bit beyond!

Babyshower, AQ is right - start a new thread on Pregnancy, and if you want to even on Childbirth or Health and you should get lots of info/support.

Thanks, AQ and Eli. I've started a thread on pregnancy, so we'll see what that throws up. It's just so horrible getting this kind of news on a Saturday, when none of the specialists are about to answer questions. Would hate the net if it hadn't introduced me to MN (and all of you, obviously!)

Hope you get some answers on the weekend babypowder.
Perhaps I should have gone to Monsoon too Eli, can't find a pg cardie for love nor money but how will I stay warm walking the streets with DS being Gordon the steam train???
CAn't remember who was doing the book club, but I don't think I can read that particular book, one about bad parenting a bit too close to the bone for me

I meant I'm gordon, ds is of course Thomas.

Congratulations Maroon! What lovely news. I hope you are feeling ok and Francesca is doing well. It sounds like she is if she is breathing independently and they gave her steroids pre-op. My SIL had her DD last year at 24 weeks and she is completely fine.

Well, I can't top that for news so over and out and hope everyone sleeps well especially the new mummy and baby . So happy for you!

Good luck, Babyshower...I saw your thread when you'd just started it, hope it fills up fast. MN can be a little slower at weekends, but I know just what you mean about getting difficult info at the wrong time - I had polyhydramnios with dd1, and was told on a Thursdsay night when OB was away till following week: all the tech said was 'you'll have to talk to your OB about this, because sometimes it can mean a problem with the baby's gut' It was all fine in the end, of course, but I scared msyelf silly Googling over the weekend. Hang in there!

AQ, aka Gordon, if you do a good enough impression of said train you will keep warm without a cardi - but they do have rather nice ones (me, I'm Diego to dd's Dora - more my speed!)

Sleep well, all xxx

AQ, thanks for the Ikea rug info on the other thread. I'm going to order one of the 3 you suggest as they look grand Glad to hear you are feeling better. Amazing what a good night sleep does. I better get some Spatone too as the Ferrous Sulphate seems to be doing sweet FA. In fact, I think it just goes straight through me. Every morning I wake up feeling sh*** (literally) and have to run to the loo. Sorry for TMI on a Sunday morning!!

Had to blow out my friend who is over from Oz y'day as I was so busy being ill. I haven't seen her for 15 years!!!!! Hopefully they can make it over to see us today. This is so unlike me but hey ho, not long to go, only 6 weeks or less ... Talking of which, how are you today Maroon? Has it dawned on you yet?? And how come you are hooked up to the net in hospital? Most about that!

Congrats Maroon. Hope you're both keeping well!
Wow! well that answers who'll be first then!!Lovely name!

I've being trying to wean myself off MN at bit. To get out of habit of spending two hours on here each night(the length of battery on my laptop)and I've been going to bed way too late ! But then I miss the birth announcement!!!!And so much shopping. I pondered on buying anything at this stage,mat wear wise,but having bought some essentials for hopital bag, I bought a very plain black top in Mothercare and a black coat in Primark (only £20 and despite my size 8 shoulders,the size 16 seems to still look OK and fitted on top and covers bump at mo.It's sort of military style and I can open up let bump out when I get bigger so a real bargain really.) I was planning to go for my old coat,left open and lots of layers underneath. I realised that as DS1 popped out in Sept I didn't have any useful layers! I'm living in my jeans or work stuff(very boring black trousers and ebay tops!) I also bought some pj seperates (very cheap!) in Primark and I'm living in those in evenings. I saw a really nice jumper in MC too. I very sensibly (for me) decided that it wasn't worth buying at this stage. My built in water bottle(ie Beanie) is making proper warm clothes unnecessary at mo. So I'm going to make do with my cheap coat and jeans! Promise!

Eli, I love the idea of vouchers for DCs birthday or Xmas. Catkins,despite the probability that DS2 will arrive two weeks after xmas(same DD as you!) I was thinking that an early Dec do would be best for us. I'm not sure how celebrating a half birthday would work from a practical point of view. Would it seem like I was asking people to give him presents in July? I had being imagining summer picnics in the garden or park, but is that how it works?

Take care all, especially our new Baby!!

Ps I'm Stephanie to DS1's Sporticus!Although DH said she's much prettier than me.

Poor Castles, sounds like you got the worst end of the Ferrous Sulphate effects...I have the complete opposite, and am giving myself a break from them over teh weekend in order to let the lactulose take effect Hope you feel better today...and get to see your pal....

Spinamum, am very impressed by your mat clothes restraint. The few bits I've bought I'm hoping will come in handy for a few months after Bump arrives, as I'm bound to take that long to regain smaller sizes esp tops! And I have a good friend who has been TTC for ages..I'm really really hoping I can pass some stuff to her, though it may be unseasonal...

Re LOs Xmas birthdays, we're doing a small party for dd on Nov 5th, AGES before her real birthday - but as far as I dare leave it, given I'm due end Nov/beginning of Dec if dd22b stays transeverse. A friend whose DS was born on Xmas eve did do a half-birthday party for him last summer: a teddy bear's picnic, and she stipulated 'no presents please' on the invites - it was just for the fun, the friends, and the party which he missed out on last birthday. That left us all free to give him presents on the actual day, but not to have to double up - worked quite well. dd, on the other hand, knows she is having a 'friends' party on Nov 5th, and a 'family' birthday on Dec 22nd and seems ok with that - she's so little though (will be 3) that she's not bothered, the more birthdays the better

Maroon, thinking of you and Francesca, hope you're getting well taken care of! Sending lots of good wishes your way....xxx

well,i say i'm going to be good clothes wise, but i've got xmas parties to go to so i doubt i'll stay as saintly as the weeks go by.

feeling really poo today. lying on sofa a lot so bad bad heartburn. ended up in hormonal tears earlier. and want my baby NOW but only 31 weeks so must wait. fed up with pg lark. snappy with ds. DH went to have a nap earlier and and i said i'd have one myself when he when he woke up(you can imagine the tone of voice in which i delivered that one) or go for a walk. DS said I'll go for a walk with you. Me: I want to be by myself for a bit. DS: I WANT to be with you,mummy. (how guilty did I feel?

take care all

Hurray, the first baby has arrived! Hope you are both doing well.
Did my shopping trip today with mum and now have pram and car seat ordered and stuff for hospital bag. Feel more organised now thank god!
Thanks for ideas on half birthdays - like the idea of no present summer party, and a smaller family party near the actual date. I suppose for a while he'll be so little he won't even know its his birthday!
Off to lie down watching telly now as worn out from shopping....

I do love this thread. Much as I shouldn't feel happy that other people are feeling poo, its soooo reassuring to know I'm not the only one who gets moments of desperately wanting baby to be here and not wanting to be pg anymore. Made worse by fact that I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have one, let alone two, LOs..

Today wasn't as relaxed as yesterday, for me, but as I had nearly 8 hours sleep for the second consecutive night (in total) I'm feeling reasonably human. And am probably going to blow that by staying up to watch Prime Suspect.

Spinamum, in spite of my selfish gladness at relating to every thought and word on a regular basis, I really am sorry you've had a bad day - heartburn is the pits, and I hope it leaves you in peace for a good night's kip. Xmas parties......I shall be sleepless and sore boobed by then, doubt I'll want to go to any!

Catkins, well-shopped - am impressed,and now wondering what to use as a hospital bag (never mind what to put in it)

OMG, I have totally - but totally - forgotten how to look after/dress/feed a newborn baby [terrified icon]

Congratulations, Marron and welcome to the world Francesca. Hope all is well.

I've had a productive couple of days, I've bought a pram, vests, baby grows and a hat. oh and a cute little musical teddy from marks.

I decided I should stop looking at baby clothes for a while and think about what I'm going to wear after. Have bought a nice pair of flannel pajamas and a nursing tank. I'm thinking at least one more set of these as I'll be in the hospital for 3 days and I felt really frumpy in the granny gowns I packed last time...at least I think I did. Everything is a bit fuzzy surrounding ds's birth. I also broke down and got two more maternity tops.

I thought I posted about my great idea on the belly band, but I don't see it. Sorry if I'm repeating, but the tube top as belly band idea is working really well so I just had to share

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to hear all the problems and emotions you're suffering with - I am too, although emotional crisis was Friday, DD woke at stupid'oclock this morning and asked to come in for cuddle, but refused to sleep so I now have a clanger of a headsache. But a problem shared and all that - big hugs to you all.

I am much better, the sudocreme seems to be continuing to rid my boob of it's third nipple - hurrah. Or perhaps as suggested by AQ it's all the MILO I now drink

Am seeing MW this afternoon - am on weekly visits from now on due to that one incident of high BP - but I don care as I get to hear bump. Also I get to work from home today as apt is in the middle of my working hours.

Treated DD to a Thomas Post Office sorter yesterday but it was really poo! It got stuck everywhere and fell off the track and was too fast for her to correct when it went wrong. Took it back to ToyRUs and managed for another £5 to get 3 wooden playset of Universre of Imagination of trains and a town - which she then spent the rest of the afternoon playing with - as did DH .

Have bought a sponge rest for bump when in the bath, and was about to embark on my final purchase until after birth of a cradle chair for sleeping downstairs during the day when friend came in an said I could have hers! Saves me £30-£40, DH understandably impressed!

Speak to you all later - have a good Monday

OMG!!! Congratulatiosn Maroon, thinking of you and Francesca I had dd4 7 weeks early and she is now a huge 3 year old!!

Haven't been online for a few days and very hormonal so feeling down Half term too!!!!
Dh decided to lay wood flooring in hallway and downstairs loo but it's not going to plan so what with me being hormonal and him being a typical man and losing his rag when things go wrong, my house has been like a war zone!

CR congrats on the dring test hun xxxxxx

Glad it's not just me who's feeling pants, though I wish we weren't IYKWIM. And yes, Magnolia, it is half term so now I have the added stress of GUILT about not entertaining the DCs enough!!

DM is coming up this week to help me with LO's room. I'll have to get my earplugs out/undertake lots of counting to 10 but it should be worth it if it stops me waking up in the night in a panic about how ill-prepared I am, especially when I read how organised you all are!

Castles, lol re the earplugs! Another thing I can relate to

Half-term...part of me is glad, because dd can catch up with all the little friends she's not had time to see for the last few weeks (me too). And part of me is not, because I'm SO tired: I thought I was before, but this is the heavy, end of pregnancy tired I remember from last time. Only with a mercurial nearly-three year old in tow.

Bump seems to have had another growth spurt over the weekend...can't believe I'm 34 weeks on Friday...

Maroon, hope you and Francesca are doing well!

Yes, Eli, this tiredness is overwhelming me too! I know I'm getting on a bit but this is ridiculous. I had 7 hours sleep last night - maybe my body just isn't used to getting so much!! Think I am going to ditch the F.Sulphate and try the Spatone as it seems to be working wonders for AQ. How are you btw AQ, well rested I hope.

And Maroon, keep thinking about you and Francesca. Hope everything is going well

Argh, I like the sound of book club, but I would humbly suggest you not read 'Kevin' right now. I read it earlier this year, before I knew I was pregnant, and found it quite difficult dealing with all of the anti-baby feelings it generated.

I am like Lubella's very drunk zombie in a coma today. I sooo can't wait to leave work. Three weeks now, and counting. The house is nowhere closer to being unpacked, and I had miserable weekend of being too tired to do anything at all and feeling hormonal and weeping. Keep thinking I must sort out hospital bag too, and bought my first ever pack of nappies. Well, it's a start.

And OMG congratulations Maroon!! I hope you're both doing really well.

morning all,

congrats to Maroon, lovely, wonderful news!
gave me a real jolt when I realised this is all actually happening quite soon! I feel woefully underprepared, but I do have a pram & car seat and a 7-pack of mothercare babygros! Plus my sister managed to craftily offload a vast sackful of manky stained baby clothes that her two have already grown out of. Thanks a lot sis.
What I'm having a problem with is a cot. There's millions online to look at, but I can't seem to find anywhere to go and look at a decent selection. Not prepared to buy before I've actually seen in the flesh.. Anyone got any bright ideas? I'm in Surrey, but have spent a lot of time hanging out in mamas & papas & john lewis. It all seems either enormously expensive, or there's lots of vile orange pine!
re maternity wear - topshop RULES!

Eli you've forgotten how to feed/dress a newborn some of us don't have a clue! [even more terrified icon]

I feel wonderful today (sorry!), mainly due to the fact that while I may ache in all sorts of wonderful ways I went shopping the other day after finally deciding that surviving on 2 maternity tops and a pair of jeans was not working and am now wearing a skirt and nice jumper and feel all human again! Stokey, Topshop is ok but H&M rules!

The downside is that the skirt is knee length which involves leg shaving, at least the bit from the top of my boots to the knee anyway!

Oh and Stokey, I like Ikea cots, got the Diktad (or something involving a D and a K). Simple non orange pretty wood.

Stokey, I got DS's mamas & papas cotbed from John Lewis which is fine but I can highly recommend Kiddicare (on-line). I got DD's cotbed from there: much cheaper & nicer in my opinion. Also the mattress is much better. I think it was a Saplings (but I can check if you want me to). I just ordered a new mattress from them last week as Beanie is having DS's old bed and it came the next day!

Hello everyone- my god- leave this thread for a few days and it takes me an hour to catch up .

Maroon- so glad to hear everything sounds like its ok. Thinking about you...you make it seem mighty real!

Just a quick moan about sleep problems (again, I know). I am sleepy extremely badly- woke at 2am and that was it for the night. Driving me insane. And DH has got man flu and moans all the time about how tired and stressed out he is. I want o smash him over the head with a stair gate. But better not.

Anyway, also loved the book club idea but not sure I can keep myself focussed long enough- struggling to get through a copy of Grazia these days without losing the thread of it . Brain in jelly mode.