March 2016 Babies!! Thread #7 The one where we all say.... "Stay put Flump!!"

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Stay where you are Flump!!!

Paper our baby's room is a bit like a grotto too! We unpacked and assembled our travel system on Saturday so that's sitting in there, the furniture is all up and the car seat is in the cot!

marmite it helps to know I'm not alone although of course I'm not glad you're suffering too! I'm going to try some sudocream in a bit and see if that helps.

DH needs to sort out his paternity leave with his work too. We've been discussing it and we think he's going to take a week's paternity and a week's holiday to lessen the financial impact! Statutory minimum pay is soooo little!

Hello,

Sending hugs for maybe.
Glad you slept, Ginger. I find a bath always improves my sleep too (as does yoga).

What do people do at home on leave before the baby? Get into some hardcore Jeremy Kyle and see how long you can ignore the filthy house/laundry mountain. Or is that just me?!

Make the most of the time; sleep, read books, get onto iTunesU and study something (keep ignoring the cleaning). By about 38 weeks I found I kind of went inside myself, didn't really want to leave home or do anything. You kind of become at one with your ridiculous body. It's weird.

Lol! TheMShip if you ever name change that has to be it (RaisedByHippies). One of the loveliest people I've ever met is the product of hippy parents. I'm with you on the body hair front.

Sympathy for you Rhu, that sounds so uncomfortable!

Me I think I've had a touch of them too. Never before I had DS, but very occasionally now!

Re maternity & paternity leave - thanks for the MatB1 photocopying tip, I hadn't thought of that. I must put my forms in tomorrow. Although I don't know who to - payroll person is off till after Xmas! (Probably HT via PA)

I've just got back from yoga. I think I am officially too fat for yoga already. My poor limbs can't support me. And far from the relaxin making me more bendy - I'm so stiff I can hardly do anything. (I'm also v tired and all I could think was "I want to go hooome!")

7 more days of work till Xmas. Dread to think how many more weeks till leave.

Ooh me, I feel your pain! I got them for the first time after I gave birth and now I get them whenever hormones go crazy - it doesn't even seem to be linked to constipation, just hormones. I had them badly in the first trimester, and think they're coming back as I had some blood the other day too.

I've been trying to get dh to find out about paternity leave for ages, he still hasn't! Last time I handed my mat b1 in at work without thinking and had to go grab it back when we realised his work needed it too! They were happy with a scanned copy though, so I only needed it back from hr for like ten minutes.

I found going into statutory pay less painful than I thought me, although I guess it depends on your outgoings (we live relatively frugally but we're in the most expensive bit of the SE outside of London). This time I'm not fussed at all as statutory won't be significantly less than I currently have left after childcare, which we won't be needing.

Suz how did you treat yours? Sorry if tmi! I'm thinking I will go to the pharmacy tomorrow and get some Germaloid cream or similar to try and shrink and some Lactulose to keep everything super soft!

On the issue of pay, we live a pretty extravagant lifestyle at the moment tbh - we will probably be able to cut down in quite a lot of areas. We're also in an expensive part of the SE so mortgage costs are high, but manageable on just dh's salary. Just need to make some cutbacks on luxuries!

Rhubarb I missed your post before - you poor thing, that sounds horrible! Hope the steroid creams help. I'm going to give over the counter stuff a go for a week or two as I don't fancy getting my bum out to my GP unless I have to!

missi it's so nice to see Zach doing so well. He is a little fighter!

rosie pleased to hear your girl is active again. Always worth going to be checked out. Fingers crossed she behaves from now on!

I got my MATB1 on Monday too and have a HR meeting later on in the week. Looks like maternity leave will be starting on 4th march for me.

Is anyone else getting leg cramp at the mo? It's certainly waking me up! Eating lots of bananas and drinking lots of water. Any other tips for combating it?

It does sound like we all need a good rest? I finish up for Xmas on 21st and looking forward to spending time with OH. He's been amazing the last few months since I've started my new job.

Has anyone thought about birth plans yet? I have no clue about where to start on this!

I used cream me! Can't remember what kind worked as I tried a few. TMI: make sure you get it inside too!

I think I was surprised by how much less I spent while on leave. I had time to shop more sensibly and I guess I wasn't spending money on food etc on my lunch break. Which was surprising, as I spent lots of my maternity leave meeting friends for coffee and going to mothercare! I guess that didn't add up as much as I thought. And ds was breastfed, and child benefit covered nappies, so only boy-related costs were clothes and toys really.

Hi all,

Ginger I'm so glad you're managing to get some rest. I think like you said having a bath, a chat and then to bed hopefully helped.

I also had some bright red blood the other day, in the toilet on the paper, the lot. Oh dear. I already know that I have a pile and a fissure and I think it may have reopened. Its not bothered me again but it stings like I good un!

I managed to shave my legs a couple of weeks ago whilst in the bath and one leg over the side, I had to get DH to help with certain angles, I'm not planning on doing it again any time soon as I too live in opague tights and DH just finds it funny. He also found it pretty funny the other day when he came into the bathroom to find me crouched over my mirror using his head shaver to trim my lady bits. Feel so much better!

indom its funny about you saying that you went 'inward looking' around 38 weeks - I was exactly the same with DD! Didn't want to leave the house, just pottered around watching telly, knitting and doing a yoga dvd.

me does your partner not get full pay paternity leave? My DP gets the two weeks paternity leave after birth at full pay. So it's no hardship. He'll probably use a weeks leave then as well if he has it, and then hopefully it will be easter so will get another few days off!

DD has been sleeping well recently but last couple of days has woken up at pre-6am so I think we're in for another cycle of early wakings. Sad times.

marmite I've been in bed by 8pm the last few nights, asleep by 9 at the latest - must be a growth spurt going on!
me same situation over here so feeling your pain, midwife appt next week so will be begging for something to fix it hah.
neh I'm luckily only getting cramp when I stretch on waking up on a morning, wrth trying a pillow between your knees to stop the pressure on your legs?

Really wish it was Friday already. Xmas bonus at work was confirmed yesterday though - extra 2 weeks salary in my wages next week, tax man will love that but it's something towards baby things in January.

Thought I'd share my 27 week picture here as not a fan of posting them on Facebook

Q that's a very neat bump. Congrats on your Xmas bonus and thanks for the pillow tip.

ginger glad you got some rest.

I was debating booking into get a wax for my lady bits but then wondered of that's allowed??

How's everyone doing on the Christmas front? Ive still got wrapping to do and a few more presents to get.

Wow good bump Q! And a bit of extra money at Christmas is always welcome. We don't get Christmas bonuses, I got one in September though at the end of our financial year and that paid for some baby things!

Ugh I know I'm making a fuss about what is a very common and probably minor problem in the scheme of things but I'm just feeling really upset about this piles thing! I had a proper look with a mirror last night and I think I've got a little tear too which is bleeding a bit - gave myself a fright this morning when there was blood on the toilet paper after a wee but I can see it's definitely coming from the back not the front! I've just been to Boots and stocked up on cream. It's a very unpleasant problem!

Wow missi Zach is such a strong boy, and what a brilliant job you're doing pumping, skin to skin etc. Must be exhausting avd emotional and you found like you're just getting on with it. In awe of you.

On the piles front, I've been suffering since early on, it is miserable, I'm just ignoring it now, though it's not sore/bleeding any more its still there . me glad you've stocked up on creams, keeping your poo soft and regular is the best solution I've found...gross this isn't it.

I'm also on shaving/trimming strike. Might go for it at the weekend and have a tidy up. I've had waxes until the end in my other pregnancies and was nice to feel neat for the event but my God it was painful. Never occurred to me it might not be 'ok'!

We got a bargain 'like new' changing unit from gumtree at the weekend as I never had one for the first two but the nursery layout lends itself to it this time, it has drawers and a huge cupboard under it. It's sitting in the garage waiting for a clean and this morning DS (5) asked me 'why do babies have to go into a special cupboard to get changed?' Hahaha, reminded me to be more specific in my explanations!

Nice bump pic Q!

me As normal and minor as pregnancy complaints can be its still understandable that you feel a bit rubbish about it. At least piles usually go after pregnancy (if thats any consolation).

neh you can have waxes still but your skin might be more sensitive so it might hurt more. Might be good to let them know you're pregnant when you book the appointment too.

I did all my xmas shopping at the end of November but I'm still looking for something for my dad. Why is there always one person who's impossible to buy for??

So glad I'm not the only one who's exhausted at the moment, I was beginning to feel like a bit of a wimp No idea how I'm going to make it through the next 2 days of work. I have a lot of respect for those of you working full time!

Have ordered a couple of presents but not much else - probably going to do a lot of it last minute in Dublin when we fly back so we don't have to carry loads of stuff travelling over. We're putting up the small Christmas tree in our apartment this evening though :)

Little man spent my entire driving lesson this morning kicking like mad - is my driving so bad that even a 25 week foetus finds it funny!?

I've done almost all of the Christmas shopping for my side but have quite a few still to get on DH's side. I need to write my Christmas cards this evening - must get those off soon!

I'm very nearly done with my Christmas shopping....except for my mother in law!! She has asked for no ornaments or anything that will clutter the house. She's allergic to most smellies/perfumes/make up, and is also allergic to most metals. I have no idea what to get her and DH has left it up to me to sort! We're going down this weekend to exchange gifts (but not open) as we live around 200 miles away and this is the only weekend we will all be off at the same time. Does anyone have any ideas what I can get her?

Does she like having her nails done hayley? My MIL is also difficult to buy for but I'm getting her a voucher for a manicure as she likes that and I think she'd rather have something to do than a piece of tat she doesn't really want.

I'm going to try and get a doctors appointment tomorrow (you can only ring up first thing and get one the same day at my surgery). I am getting blood on the toilet paper even when I just go for a wee now which is panicking me, I'm trying to wipe really carefully. I'm as certain as I can be that it's not coming from my vagina and it's only when I wipe, not in my knickers, so I'm pretty sure the baby is just fine, but I just want to get checked out - I can't contort myself enough to take a proper look down there!

Haley maybe a nice scarf or a new purse/handbag? Something edible/drinkable? If none of those are any good then I think you should make it dh's job to find something since he knows her better .

I called payroll earlier and they said not to worry about my mat b1 form being 'misplaced' or the paperwork not being done yet, as long as they know. The person in charge of maternity stuff has my number now too so she's going to call me if it's getting close to the time they need it by and its still not been done. So one less thing to worry about .

Definitely not worrying about my private bits, dp doesn't even care, just hope the delivery is not too awkward haha I'm sure I'll have other things to worry about!

Me tmi sorry but I recently got piles too hun at 15 weeks, and it's horrible I really do feel your pain, I use anusol it helps to relief the pain. I told my midwife about it as I'm always bleeding when I go for no2 so she gave me Laxido which is disgusting to drink but it helps a little bit.

Oh noooo. Thought I was out of the woods for this but my sickness is back with vengeance. :-( 25 weeks. Not fair!!

mondino I'll join you on the sickness front, 28 weeks today, actual vomiting returned the past few days. Never actually stopped, but was having 10 day periods vomit free! Currently waiting for my stomach to settle enough to attempt sleep. Not being helped by bump attempting to kick box his way out (wouldn't have that any other way).

Sympathy to those with piles.

Think I might have another load of thrush brewing, lost count of how many times I've had it now...

Almost done with christmas shopping. Dh has to organise fil and youngest bil's gifts, but it's okay he knows what we're getting them. I'm stumped with what to get my sister and her partner, they are almost perminantly low carbing (naughty food treats they love out), live with a tribe of cats in wooden 'house' with very leaky roof (nick nacks and keep sakes curently get ruined), cook but have every gadget under the sun already, are traveling to new zeland in the new year (we all brought guide books for their birthdays).

Also over looked planning for two of dh's grandparents, dh doesn't talk to that gmil so on my own for that one, but just needs to be a token gift. Gfil is lovely but has restricted tastes, doesn't do clutter and spends his time working on real steam trains, his life's passion, but 9 years in I think I've exhausted the supply of train/guisnness related gifts.

haley I've got mil a pretty scalf hanger this year.

dobby for your sister what about something for their trip? We had a hire car and suitcases rather than doing the back packing thing when we went but I still packed a fast drying travel towel in my case, hiking socks if they are that way inclined and going up mount doom etc?.. I'm stumped on my dad who is no help with ideas at all..

Why is it when I'm off for meetings all day today i have had the worst night of sleep for ages?! Might need a bit more caffeine than usual today!

dobby I'd be tempted to get your sister and her partner fake hobbit feet but I'm feeling mildly evil this morning. Actually, like vroc's idea - how about seeing if there's something in NZ Groupon that you could give them, an experience to do on their trip?

vroc I'm with you there! Got about 4 hours total last night: insomnia on the front end and 3yo DS coughing from 5am on the back end. I have to survive my work Christmas lunch/afternoon do! Luckily everyone else will be drinking so no one should notice me slinking off to nap under the bar.

hayley if your MIL doesn't go for clutter, maybe she'd enjoy the Marie Kondo book? or if she has a Kindle, get her some amazon vouchers for buying herself some books?

any sign of beautiful? Not seen her in a day or two.