Due in May- 2007 is officially here 01/01/07

[ShowOfHands]

We're having babies this year!

Oooh, I meant to ask if Naomi Wolfe is a feminist writer? I seem to recall her name as a feminist writer from somewhere but I haven't read anything of hers. Maybe she was writing from a feminist POV?

Creena at your mil. Does she know she's not in High School anymore?

She is a feminist writer, which is why you can take her opinion with a grain of salt.

Aaah, I thought so - cheers, MKG.

Sorry for moaning on yet again about my MIL - it's just that I really don't understand her behaviour at all. It really is like she's back at High School! I can't understand why she doesn't want to know about the baby at all either. Surely it must be eating her up inside? I mean, my mum was brilliant when I was having DD and DS. She was really interested and always wanted to know how the pregnancy was going and by this stage, she'd have knitted a teddy, a shawl, several blankets and a million tiny cardigans! Sadly, she died a few years ago and I'm really missing her during this pregnancy. I'm going to dig out the tiny cardigans she made from the loft soon, so that this baby can have something from his/her lovely grandma too. If I have a girl, I'm going to name her after my mum. That's bound to annoy my MIL but I'm not bothered about her feelings again. Plus, if she carries on like this, she might not even find out about her new grandchild's birth.

Aaaaagh I've done it again, haven't I? Sorry to moan - I'll stop now!

It's good to moan sometimes. You know, she may not like you for whatever reason, but you are carrying her grandchild for goodness sakes! Tell her to get over herself.

Oh Creena, you moan away all you like. Your MIL sounds like a child and it is her that will miss out. Just carry on doing the fantastic job you are doing so far and I'm sure your mother would be so proud of you. I'm sorry to hear about her death, what a terrible thing for you.

Don't ever worry about talking on here, I know we're all virtual strangers but I'm happy to listen. I certainly appreciate all of the support I receive on here.

here, here, SOH nothing to add from that post. Except
{big virtual hug} for you creena, it must be so tough not having your Mum around at this time. Your MIL does need to grow Up.

I think I've had the crappy end of the stick reading about antenatal care - saw my GP to tell her I was pregnant, got weighed and BP done then. Had a scan at 11 weeks, and saw a midwife and briefly met my consultant. Nothing since. I have my scan on Tuesday but I am not seeing the midwife AFAIK. I think there is a 24 week appointment with the community midwife after that at the surgery, and then presumably monthly/whatever.

I used to work in the NHS and in the area I worked in (about 20 mins drive from my house) there was a Thursday afternoon "drop in clinic" for the community midwives at the practice. I suppose I wouldn't have gone in much anyway, but I had heard the heartbeat loads by now with ds1 and I haven't at all yet with this one.

I know I can make an appointment with the GP if I'm concerned, I'm not, it just seems a bit spartan really. I wonder if JonahB has had the same experience?

Awww, thanks ladies. That's so kind of you all. I feel ok about stuff, honestly. I mostly gape in disbelief and shock when the MIL gets up to her tricks these days! And you're right, she's only cutting her nose off to spite her face after all.

I've been feeling the bobba moving and kicking a lot more recently too! I was having some peppermint tea earlier (which always seems to make the bobba move like mad) and I had my hand resting on my bump. I actually felt this one big kick from the outside - DS said that next time I have peppermint tes, he is going to sit by me with his hand on my bump so that he can feel his little brother or sister. Bless him! I think he'll make a great big brother.

That does sound quite spartan, Shoes - I can't believe that you haven't had more check ups nor heard the heartbeat by now. You'd think that there would be some sort of minimum standard that would have to be observed nationally and that everything in addition to that would vary from place to place but I don't know if that's the case - it doesn't seem to be. Doesn't sound fair to me, Shoes.

Thats lovely creena, my ds(4) has tried a couple of times to feel baby, and has been kicked but he says he didn't feel it, I supose he wouldn't really know what to feel, maybe when it's bigger and he gets a real boot that he can see too then he'll know he's felt it. It is so lovely though, he is really interested with this one being that little bit older, he is very excited.

FSF - how did the tidying go ?? All the shelves are in and i have managed to gain a whole cupboard that is empty, or was until i fitted in my bread maker, juicer, steamer and cooking books! Managed to unpack 3 more boxes (mainly the kitchen bits i just mentioned) and got a whole load of crockery taken out to the garage to store in there.

Its very interesting to read about the different levels of ante-natal care between countries. I love watching the birth programmes on Sky and am always interested in the great number of caring staff the hospitals in the US seems to have. The mw i had when giving birth to ds just stood at the end of the bed! That was it, said nothing except asking me what i would like to do.... er duh have a baby! Didnt say when to push or stop or pant or anything - totally hopeless!

Creena - MIL's who'd have 'em! Mine can be such a cow, but seems to be ok at the moment, although not sure how long that might last! Thats the thing i love about MN is that you can come and vent as much as you like to people that have no idea who you are or whos in the right or wrong and give you their totally unbiased opinion. it can be like lifting a huge weight!

What do you mean AM unbiased, we are always on you side,thats what so good about it. lol

I did get all my tidying done, just, dh hasn't moaned yet. He's just informed me he's going for a ciggarette and then he's going to start his list of jobs. lol Glad you got your shelves sorted, paint brush in hand will follow.

Has he seen your list yet or will he need several more fags whilst completing said list Hoping to do more sorting in the spare room tomorrow whilst dh is working on his train set!

My cat (Rascal) is sat on the sofa with her eyes glued to the tv watching Ice Age! What a weirdo! although she has just spent the last 5 mins chasing her tail like a mad man/cat.

He has seen the list, although I shall keep adding to it, he won't go for too many cigs, he has to go out side and it's raining and cold, so that puts him off.

SOH, don't you mean FSF would say a loud "NON!" to the examinations? I was impressed FSF, you managed to agree the article to the noun (trousers) IF it had been in French. THAT'S clever.

Sorry about you MIL Creena. I would move surgerys too, if I were you.

I'm hoping for a home waterbirth too, SOH. Was looking at pools today on the interweb. DH was laughing at me. Think I might buy an infatable one like a La Bassine instead of hiring a rigid one. Don't think I can be doing with having a pool constructed for possibly a whole month and cleaning up round it. Have you thought about it yet?

Agree the adjective, even... Oh who cares?

Just been out for a meal. T'was very nice indeed. It's no wonder some poeple can't keep up with this thread. There were LOADS of posts between this morning and just now.

I'm eating an entire sauteed onion right now. I'm so weird.

Probably no more odd than me sitting on the sofa eating pickled onions from the jar, which I have been known to do. Evening MKG.

evening to you. I'm glad I'm not alone. I was making dinner and I said I want to eat an onion. I think this baby likes veggies.

i think my baby actually might have got sick of junk food over Christmas, because I started craving fruit and veg recently.

Any word on whether your DH will be able to come to the scan wiht you? You mentioned the other day that he might.

Oh dear, I suddenly got very tired. Better go to bed. Night MKG. Enjoy your dinner. x

Nope he can't come, he could take the time, but he would spend 3 hours 2 of which would be on the road.

good night

Twelve I've been reading some of the old messages on MN about home waterbirths and have read some great things about La Bassine. They have been used by quite a few MNers and have had good recommendations.

I'm pleased that you're planning a homebirth too, it'll give me somebody to compare notes with. There's a recent thread about what you need for a homebirth and I've been reading avidly. I think dust sheets or a shower curtain are top of everybody's homebirth list. The more I think about having a homebirth, the happier I am with it- my own bed, own food, heating on, warm bath/shower afterwards. My two major concerns at the moment are preventing mine and DH's parents from turning up during labour (if they find out I'm in labour they'll be straight over) and endeavouring to move house before the birth. This house buying process is still rumbling on, highly complicated by the fact that the vendor didn't get planning permission for any of the work he had done. Makes the process quite tricky.

A whole onion sounds lovely. I've become mildly obsessed with corn on the cob- rapidly becoming my staple diet, but healthier than previous cravings for salt and vinegar crisps I suppose.

Quite envious that people can feel the baby move from the outside. I now know that with an anterior placenta it's unlikely that DH will be able to feel the baby move. I can only feel the low down movements.

Going for a 4D scan on Wednesday and the clinic have never not seen the gender so I'm quite hopeful!

Morning all

Thats good new about the scan SOH.

I'm still not sure on where to give birth. I would have liked the local midwife led centre but DP wants to go to hospital. I have said I will look round the hospital. Anyway, have a midwife appointment tomorrow so maybe will discuss it there.

DP currenly making his first ever Sunday lunch (he is 40 FFS). I don't think I'm too popular at the moment for calling his sainted mum. I only said she hadn't done him any favours by not teaching him to cook! His Dad also hasn't done him any favours by not teaching him any DIY either but I haven't got round to telling him that yet!

Note to self: make sure DDs can at least boil tatoes before they leave home! I am no Delia Smith myself but have been surprised at his lack of knowledge. Anyway, we are working on it!