Due February 07 - New Thread!!

[Tommy]

there we go...... that wasn't painful at all

thanks so much plumpbump for all ur advice and concern i will try my midwife again when i finish the blood was like the begging of ur period was red and a fair bit of it no spotting

My goodness Mondays are busy on here!

Becs - I would call the hospital/labour ward that you're going to be giving birth in directly and ask their advice. They'll likely see you tonight. I'm sure it's all fine but it's best not to take any chances with bleeding. I was seen quite a few times in the last month or so at the labour ward... all for pretty minor panics! But they're usually quite happy to help out and luckily they're also 24 hours.

Plumpbump - I have the standard cabrio as the cabriofix didn't exist when I bought. I have to say that I can belt it in in a matter of seconds. Probably as quickly as I could clip it into a base. It's really quite straightforward and after a few attempts (practice before you are coming out of hospital lol) it's very quick. Even my mum can do it reliably and quickly which really says something .

I'm seriously uncomfy today. Moreso than normal. Feeling huge and stretched and having loads of braxton hicks...

Oh, my babyworld antenatal club (anyone here a member?) has seen the arrival of it's first Feb07 baby born at just 29 wks! When I was pg with DS, a girl had her son at 27 wks... really freaked me out! It's freaking DH out that in as little as 6.5 wks we could have a full term baby here!

Becs everyone else on here seems to have given you good advice I hope it all goes well.
Feeling very tired at the moment and don't finish work until the 19th, have decided not to go to my swimming class in order to pace myself for the week.
Has anyone else been having massive rows with their DP/DHs. We have had some corkers recently especially in the car which is not the best place. The big one yesterday started off about the car seat as DH didn't understand how it was going to get to hospital for the taxi to bring us home (DH doesn?t drive which is a bone of contention but never mind) I had to tell him several times he has to bring it and he was shocked about the fact that a midwife would probably escort us out of the building and may not let us home if they are not satisfied, he just kept saying but how is the seat going to get to the hospital! All our argument then turn move to being bout my parents coming to stay or his mum making judgements ( I am worried about comments if I cannot manage the breast feeding (she once told my SIL who was BFing, that she fed Dh and BIL for 6 months 15 times over a weekend )
Sorry if I?m having a bit of a moan.
Sorry also to hear about your buggy worries current bun, I have seen negative stuff about two left feet on mumsnet before.
I?m also finding it hard to settle at night and although I have a small V pillow I am still finding it comfiest on my back and often wake in that position, maybe I?ll have to buy a better one

Apologies as it's a long one

lol Peachy - we're having the stupid arguments here too. I just can't tollerate DHs potentially narky comments the same way and take them to heart a lot. Latest one is about how the fuel economy on the car has gone down since I started driving it instead of DH. I'm now all worried about how many miles to the gallon it'll get next fill up and am considering sneaking topups in without DH knowing just to save a comment!

As for the breastfeeding thing... I was worried that I wouldn't manage with DS - more for my beliefs than anyone elses. Although I swear I boiled the kettle for formula several times a day for the first 8 or 9 weeks. But if you go into it with a bit of aggression that you will get there I'm sure that helps. I would suggest that you maybe turn your MIL into your best ally. She's obviously passionate about it and experienced too. So tell her that you're worried you won't manage and don't want to feel a failure and see if you can get some support and help from her. My mum was an enormous support and help to me. Although she didn't really understand the modern things of attachment (she did it with pain and gritted teeth with all of us!) she was really helpful with the emotional stuff.

Suzi thanks, But I just couldn't ask MIL for support BFing It would just be too weird. I don't think she is passionate about it she just talks a lot. We saw MIL on Sunday and she talked non stop for 90 mins about a wonderful carol concert she had gone to (blow by blow details) and we had to interupt her to tell her about the new house. She is lovely but.... ( you know how it is)
I also wouldn't want to do it as it might be difficult for my mum - who did not BFeed us - (explantion in a other post lower down the thread)
Glad to hear we aren't the only ones arguing!!

lol she's sounds just like my mum peachy! I'm sure you'll be fine anyway and the ladies on the support forum on here are quite simply the best if you do need some help!

Peachy, You might be suprised at both your mother and MIL. My mom didn't breastfeed me or my bro. When we talked about it when I was pg she actually said she didn't want to be tied down to the baby (me)! But she really supported me in my decision to feed ds. My MIL has never been my best buddie so to speak and did feed DH - for six months. She also had lots of good tips and was encouraging and it felt like for the first time we actually had something in common. I breastfed my ds for 16mths in the end but the first six months was agony. My sheer stubborness was the only reason I went on and miraculously the pain vanished overnight around six months. I reckon now it was attachment problems but at the time despite lots of advice from NCT counsellors we couldn't see anything wrong. I'm not sure if I'll be able to put up with it again now I already have DS to look after. I think now that I can make plans but will just have to see waht I can manage when the time comes.

LoL, at all the arguements with DP's! Not that I was EVER passive before but I am now taking NO prisoners and furthermore I'm loving it, hehe! Poor boy, NOT!! The way I see it, if I'm suffering so is he! My darling baboo daughter has been kicking the same specific spot on my belly since Friday night and I'm sure it's bruised inside, most unpleasant. However, aside from that, I feel the best I have since discovering I
was pregnant back in June 1906, (well it feels that long ago!) Just got xmas to get over and done with then, I can get down to some serious nesting.

tlb.x

Becs, hope you're OK. Definitely try to get hold of your midwife and if not, get on the phone to NHS Direct. Sod work - how would they feel if you had a serious problem and they hadn't let you leave early or make a telephone call?

Sorry to hear everyone's been arguing with their DH/DP. I have to say I'm the complete opposite - DH and I are getting on as well as we always do - maybe even better. We rarely argue (although we do bicker occasionally) but both of us are quite non-confrontational so generally do all we can to avoid an argument. He's being very protective of me at the moment which I thought would really irritate me, but I'm loving it! He did tell me off yesterday when I was getting stressed at the prospect of being late for work again due to Piccadilly line problems on the Tube, but he was right as it was beyond my control and not worth risking raising my blood pressure over. It's just that I can't bear being late for anything.

PlumpBump, your link to the Watchdog website yesterday prompted me to do a web search for reviews of Two Left Feet. 128 negative reviews on Review Centre! I have cancelled our order with Two Left Feet and will be contacting our credit card company to get our money back. Apparently TLF refuse to refund anything in less than 30 days, which is ridiculous - they have our money but we have no goods nor any indication of when they might be delivered. They completely fail to respond to any emails (which is the only means of communicating with them) and I basically wouldn't touch them with a barge pole after reading some of the online reviews.

Now have to find somewhere else to get our Quinny Buzz - what a pain when we thought it was all sorted.

currentbun
kiddiecare seems to always have good press on mumsnet. I think that's where we will buy our pram + carseat from. You can request when things are delivered and according to the website they have lots of stock

currantbun, www.glasgowpramcentre.co.uk have always been good for me and they'll generally price match other places (online or otherwise).

Sorry CB - they are obviously upsetting people even more than I thought!

Kiddicare are indeed great, though out of Buzz at present (they Zapp and Speedi at mo). I thought the Glasgow place looked ace too and would have bought there until we found a great deal in an ebay shop - it was £379 for Black Reflection Buzz, Mauve Dreami, Mauve Cabrio and Mauve Nappy Bag. Plus £20 P and P. It was from a company called Baby Pages who had sold thousands of stock on ebay, whilst retaining 100% feedback. They had loads of different deals and were very competitive. I ordered mind at 2.30pm via ebay on a Wednesday and it arrived 10.30am on the Friday. And I love it (I mooch around nursery unpacking accessory rainhoods - sad woman). They have a non ebay independent website and I think P and P is free if you go via it and pay over X amount. here

Or via ebay here

Suzi - great news about ease with the Cabrio - am well chuffed that it's so easy! And if it works for your mum, I reckon it will for mine!!

Thanks all for alternative suggestions to Two Left Feet (funnily enough, haven't heard a thing from them about either my cancellation or refund ... won't hold my breath either). I think we're going to buy the pram from John Lewis or Mothercare where we can easily take it back if there are any problems. We'll order all the other bits (car seat, carrycot etc) from the Glasgow Pram Centre, Kiddicare or Pramworld as they'll work out a bit cheaper. Even if it costs a bit more doing it this way at least we have peace of mind if we buy from a renowned retailer like John Lewis. If we order online there's always the hassle of having to pack up the pram and send it back if it needs repairing/replacing.

Will have a look at the eBay link too - thanks!

I did a 3-mile run yesterday and felt ridiculously pleased with myself afterwards for managing it at nearly 30 weeks. I hadn't run for over a week and bubs has moved position since then. Now it's head-down it was a lot more comfortable as didn't stamp on my bladder as much, and didn't seem to press on the nerve in my groin it was pressing on previously when I tried to run. Really enjoyed being out in the fresh air and felt really energised and invigorated afterwards. I find it REALLY hard to do nothing as I'm so used to a high level of exercise. Now it feels a bit more comfortable to run I'll aim to do something every other day - will be sensible as don't want to overdo it but it does make me feel so much better (mentally as well as physically) to be active.

CB you put the rest of us to shame with your running! Good for you though, and I completely agree with fresh air and exercise being great for livening up. I do a lot of walking most days and find I get less wriggly in the evening and sleep much better than on the occasional house- or car-bound day.

Generally, things are starting to feel a bit more real for me now. The pile of things brought down from the loft and washed & ready is gradually getting larger, and I've finally decided on the pushchair (M&P pramette) so ebay willing that should come through soon. We went to a couples antenatal active birth class at the weekend too, which was a really good refresher about what's coming up.

Hope folks are generally feeling well this week and not getting too stressed about Christmas etc.

Blimey currantbun Running?!

I can hardly walk at the moment - I get a stitch if I walk faster than snail's pace, my back aches and my piles and veins start playing up after about 10 minutes

Just to say that I have had very poor "service" from Mothercare delivery and that if I had to choose between them and John Lewis I would go for JL.

Hope everyone is OK - I am trying to take it easy but also supposed to be clearing out 6 years of clutter in our bedroom ready for decorating (needs to be done before baby comes along or it will probably be another 10 years )

Before you all get the idea that I'm some kind of superwoman (which sadly I'm not!) I should add that pre-pregnancy I was running about 40 miles a week so the odd 3-miler here and there isn't really much comparatively (although I can't manage a lot more as it all gets a bit uncomfortable). When I'm off over Christmas and when I start maternity leave it'll probably be walks instead but I can't fit a decent walk into half an hour at work whereas I can still manage to run 3 miles in that time so it seems a better use of it somehow.

Tommy, thanks for the feedback re. Mothercare - JL it is then! (They're a pound cheaper too!!)

Changing the subject completely, did anyone see that "Pissed & Pregnant" programme on TV last night? I've been partaking of the odd glass of wine since the start of the second trimester and have probably averaged half a glass a fortnight, but this has really made me think about whether I should have any more alcohol at all whilst I'm pregnant. Only another 10 weeks to go so is abstinence really that much to ask? I was looking forward to a glass on Christmas Day but now I'm not sure I'd be able to have one without feeling guilty. I know I've had a few already and can't do anything about those now, but if I thought I was harming my baby in any way there's no way I'd have gone there.

Tommy...glad to see that my exercise level and clutter level is matched by someone elses!
With regard to the alcohol thing. I think there are an awful lot of pregnancy police out there, ready to condemn if you so much look at a peanut or walk past a pub! I am completely unaware of anyone who has damaged their child in any way by having a very occasional glass of wine etc during my 15 years in the maternity unit. (Binge drinking is obviously another kettle of fish.)... and as far as anecdotes go my nan was ordered to drink a pint of guiness a day to 'enrich' her blood plus a glass of sherry before dinner as an appetite stimulant! Her children were all high flyers and in astonishingly good health. (ok...one has become a senior official at HM revenue and customs...so maybe there is a link...)
Everything in moderation I think...in a few years there will be a piece of research out to suggest that small quantities of alcohol stimulate a hormone crucial for brain development and brie has an essential link to the central nervous system and it will be all change again!
Personally I will be having a small glass of champagne with Christmas dinner and raising a glass to you all

sallyally - 15 years in a maternty unit? That was a long labour

Didn't see the programme and haven't read the thread about not drinking at all in pregnancy. I've been sticking pretty much to the "one or two, once or twice a week" which IIRC is what I did with the DSs - and that's wine or the occasionally little lager - not exactly binge drinking on alcopops or spirits!

I'm sure I've mentioned it before here that when I was 40 weeks with DS1 I had an appoinment with the consultant on Christmas Eve and she told DH and I to go home and have a bottle of wine .

That christmas I drank more than DH cos I was so fed up of being pregnant and he had to stay sober just in case he had to take me to hospital!

I didn't see the programme either, but during my pregnancy with DS and again this time I've done a fair bit of reading on FAS. With DS, I probably had 10? small (actually measured out as 100ml!) glasses of wine or a half a bottle of beer in the whole pregnancy. The advice at that time was that no amount is safe. But I didn't feel that one or two units every few weeks was unsafe. This time around I've been a bit more cautious, not sure why really. Anyway, I've had 2 bottles of beer and 1 small glass of wine so far.

And about 101 bottles of Cobra 0% beer! It's really good as last time I thought most of them tasted crap. But Cobra is nice.

I will be having a wee glass of something at Christmas if the heartburn allows it. And will hopefully be having some champagne when in labour like last time And then will be back to enjoyng a glass or two of wine a night. With DS, I stupidly thought I couldn't drink and breastfeed... finding out that I could at about 4 wks saved my sanity lol.

Yes...hoping this time round the labour will be quicker...say 7 years or so

Hey all, any news on how Becs is feeling?

On the alcohol front, I have averaged about 1 small glass of wine a month in pregnancy. I figured that for "special occasions" like birthdays, celebrations etc, I could have one glass and worked as if I would be driving that night. I agree re changing advice. Only yesterday my mum read me an article about how avoiding eating peanuts stops your child developing immunity to nut allergies! I have studiously avoided peanuts for 30 weeks and am DESPERATE for a peanut butter sandwich on white bread !!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

I think it's about common sense, isn't it? I ignored the advice about avoiding Mr Whippy ice cream and prawns (unless from local dodgy takeaway. But then, DH has been the Tuna Police (one can a week only!) and I've avoided smoked salmon. Who knows?!

Incidentally, someone just told me that a glass or two of wine or beer within 48 hours of the birth helps to bring the milk in and doctors say that amount won't affect the milk. My mum swore by a small tot of brandy before the late evening feed and I'm ok (I think!!!). Anyone know differently?

Hi interesting food / alcohol talk, I've only had minimal alcohol at a wedding in September and no more and quite frankly I am gagging for a cold glass of white wine, especially today as my class have been vile! So at Christmas I might indulge. As an alternative I've recently had some lovely elderflower presse.
I've also eaten prawns and had a few peanuts (in a snickers bar/m and ms) but I have eaten smoked salmon. I made sure I bought good stuff - from M and S.
Hoping Becs is feeling OK.

Weren't women encouraged to drink Guinness at one time because of all the iron it contains?

I too hae not had much alcohol - but was never a big drinker before I was pg. I have had a few sips of beer, a glass of wine and a taste of Baileys as I was feeding the christmas cake!!! I have put an order in for a new bottle from my lovely contractors for xmas - and will crack it open in Feb after the bubs is born!

My sugar levels are stil all over the place - but spoke to the diabetic nurse and he said not too worry, as they are not too high, and the fact that I am full of cold and a sore throat will have raised my levels slightly! At lease I don;t have to go the the clinic tomorrow (but now rather wishing I was as it is a few hours away from work!!! ). Anyway, only 26 more working days left!!!!!

I think alcohol helping bring your milk in is a complete myth. Best thing to bring your milk in (usually happens around day 3-5) is frequent, good feeds. Alcohol is at its peak in breastmilk at about 30 mins after drinking it. But less than 2% gets through. So 2% of whatever percentage alcohol is really tiny amounts. Some people do find that their babies are affected by things they eat or drink but it's usually so hard to pinpoint it would drive you mad trying to work it out or worrying about it. Even still, you might want to avoid drinking for a few days . Generally, there is no need to stop breastfeeding unless you're REALLY pissed! At which point you probably shouldn't be holding your baby and trying to latch them on anyways! Most people I know have a drink or two once they know their baby is just fed and settled for an hour or two.