Due in March 07 - in the immortal words of "Europe": It's the final countdown....!

[boredwithwaitingforminiMOSSY]

NEW THREAD!!!! Could this be the last one before we all start to drop???

mossy, wish I was too... however still plan to eat chocolate. and have just bought lots of shortbread for the hospitalbag. just been stressed trying to sort out tens machine. they are all so different and the call centres are all so crap. am still in mess with it- baby care said theirs is best but won't arrive up to 5 days after my 37 weeks. boots put me on hold then through to a complete moron, then a nice chap who clearly hated his job, the someone who promised to call me back as she didn;t know anything about tens. apparently tesco do them but its a secret as it doesn;t say so on their website. also hate tesco as people shout at each other in there- its like jerry springer live. what a crap day i'm having

Oh poor you you're having a crappy day aren't you. {{{hugs}}}

I often cheer myself after bad call centre experiences by writing a letter of complaint.

I rarely send them, because by the time I've revised the letter several times, I've calmed down!

(Did once though with NatWest, and got a lovely bottle of wine by way of an apology! But the guy did put the phone down on me so I think I was justified!)

You can tell I don't have kids yet can't you? Too much time on my hands!

Just a thought about the tens, would anyone be selling one on ebay do you think?

Morning All

Well the thread is moving along quickly again I see!

I went up to the hospital yesterday for my growth scan, head is just above average, but abdominal circumference is above top limit, I said that pot bellies were a family trait

However, there seems to be more moves towards 'persuading' me to go to hospital to give birth, but I have got my bolshy head on and am resisting at the moment

I don't think that the consultant/diabetologist/diabetic midwife quite know what to do with me, as I have carried out extensive research and query all their responses , so they have told me to come back in 3 weeks for another scan (I'm hoping to give birth before then, as I'll be 39 weeks...)

My community midwife is still supporting me with the homebirth but is a bit concerned that the consultant hasn't made any sort of a plan yet, and isn't intending to until I am 39 weeks so she has requested more information from the consultant, so we shall see

Hope everyone is well, agree with Mossy has anyone heard from Bethoo recently? I wonder how Leo is getting on too? It's very exciting I have a maximum of 27 days if I agree to induction on due date as suggested by consultant if I don't go into labour before then...bit nervous

Mossy - yes I went into labour during the tests (which were timed so I had to do them as quick as poss) - first I felt very sick, then got "period pains". It was only when they intensified I though - OMG this must be what labour feels like!!

Luckily I was nearly finished the tests by then. When I'd finished, I tried to page DH but couldm't contact him for 4 hours, as he was in the pub watching the World Cup!!!

Unfortunately my "labour" lasted five days - on and off - before it gathered enough momentum to produce a child!!!

Sponge - agree with Kitty that it would be worth making a complaint if you can be arsed. Your MV sounds very unprofessional

hom hum, pigs bum - a few more hours at work.

I want a pressie but don;'t think they've done a collection for me . My team (i.e. those who I manage) have arranged to take me to lunch and have done a card, but its my boss's job to arrange a collection and presentation and I don't think he's done one.

In his defence, we have a huge inspection pending which he is leading on, plus his partner has suspected breast cancer and has been under going tests the last few weeks, so he is somewhat distracted, so I forgive him

Wonder whether Leo has had her babies???????

Magpie - well done you and stick to your guns - makes me cross when hospitals try and discourage home births with no sound reason

Magpie good on you for sticking up for your rights!

Foxy hope you have a good last day. I'm off out of here in thirty minutes. After today I will have only one Thursday left here!

Morning all - or rather afternooooon! Hope everyones days are going ok. I have just got back from taking DD to playgroup. Havnt been to this one before and everyoe was lovely. Have been to some in the past and noone talks to you at all, but i was 'welcomed' into the fold, so to speak! i love to see DD interacting with new people/kiddies, its such an event!
Anyway, going to see my brother and my new Neice this afternoon, so am looking forward to that, and having a cuddle!

DH suprised me last night, organised a babysitter and we went to the pictures and for a drink afterwards. Saw music and lyrics with Hugh Grant. I think though we really went as DH's 'girlfriend' is Drew Barrymore! He also bought me a lovely Tiffany braclet....he can be the best sometimes

Does anyone know anything about Leo yet then? and its been well over a week since we heard form Bethoo, guess we will find out in time!

I had period type pains last night for about an hour, nothing else, but i do remember getting them about a week or so before i had DD, so maybe its the very early beginnings huh?

Right off to have some lunch and read the thread

Foxy, enjoy your last afternoon at work.

I am sticking to my guns as they haven't told me anything that I believe is a valid reason for needing to go in

They tried to persuade me to start taking insulin yesterday, but I said no (as they would try to stop me having a home birth, put me on a drip during labour etc etc!)

I had only had a couple of high blood sugar readings, and I knew why they had been high.

Next time I go in to see them I'll be 39 weeks so there is very little point in them trying to get me to start the insulin then !!!

La la la la la la! Still here! Had lots of stong contractions all day yesterday and in the evening last night, went to bed and slept well and today now, nothing again , once an hour maybe and a fairly persistent lower back ache. So frustrating!

Afternoon ladies. Didn't post yesterday as it was a packed day.

After being less than knocked-out by the Kings Labour ward, DH and I decided to look into a home birth. My NCT teacher gave me a good book and a leaflet for a company that hires/sells birth pools (with next-day delivery), and I talked about it with my GP at my antenatal appointment yesterday morning.

She was very supportive, and told me to call the Community Midwives. I did, and DH and I are meeting them next Tuesday. All being well, we'll order the pool Tuesday afternoon! Obviously, if I go into labour before then I'll go into hospital, but I'd really rather not. Much more relaxing to be at home, I think.

Anyway, I feel much more in control now I've decided that. Almost looking forward to the birth, in fact!

Had a friend over for lunch who got very excited about the packet of Newborn Pampers in the hall , then DH and I went out to dinner in the evening. I was knackered, but it was lovely. Card, roses and chocs. Hooray! It was quite special, as it's probably the last dinner out we'll have together before we have the baby. I got all mumsy and made him some heart-shaped cookies to take into work. Methinks nesting is kicking in.

Very exciting about Leo! Hope all's well.

Callie: hope your mastitis has settled down. Have you been given antibiotics? You poor thing.

Have read everyone's posts, and will respond more fully later.

EDD 3/3
37+4
Boy

X-posts Leo. Get twiddling those nipps!

Blimey - busy morning
I've been for my antenatal class and a tour of the labour ward. Bit scruffy round the edges but very clean which is all I care about really. And the rooms hold a max of 6 but mainly 4 which is much better than where my sister had her baby so all in all a good experience.
A woman asked what formula they supplied and the mw said that they encouraged breastfeeding. The woman replied 'I don't do breastfeeding'. She'd be lynched on MN
Fundal height - as far as I know, they measure it because it gives a rough indication of the size of your baby and also allows them to tell if you have poly/oligohydramnios (too much/too little amniotic fluid) or if your baby has not made any growth since your last scan. It's a bit rough but it was the fact that I'd gone from measuring 25cm at 25 weeks to 38cm at 32 weeks that alerted them to the polyhydramnios.
Ooh foxy - last day! I'm loving being on leave - I'll be interested to see how much my blood pressure has come down on monday.
And I'm convinced that leo is having her babies!

Damn - xposted with leo. There's my mystic meg credentials out the window

Diva - That pineapple should be ripe enough today (they don't sell ripe ones in the shops here!), Saveloy would be great right now, but in the evenings when I am so uncomfortable I just don't feel like it. Oh well its almost the weekend, then we can have saveloy for lunch !

Fox, I had a tough time accepting giving up work and handing my project to someone else, but I soon forgot about it ! Enjoy your time off and forget about work until you have to think about it again.

Been reading some of you saying you had contractions and were in labour for several days before your babies were born, i guess that is what I am experiencing. I have a hospital appointment tomorrow and I am really worried that they will suggest i take medication to speed it up. I am frustrated, but I would prefer things to happen in their own time (or with a little help from pineapple and saveloy !)

Boobeedoo, fantastic decision on the homebirth!

its going to take me hours to read all the posts,so i'll post first

appt went ok,bp was up slightly with a + of protein in wee,so no cause for concern yet but sofar am still getting induced.i had to have a scan cos the baby's heartbeat was irregular and the consultant said it can occasionally be a sign of a heart defect,but everything was fine.

AND the baby has turned to a ROA position(so the yoga ball must have worked)and is still 2/5 engaged so will hopefully stay there.

just got to go back next week so she can keep an eye on the bp.

going to catch up with the posts now...

36+1(still refusing to reveal anything!)

Leo, I saw my friend today and she was due yesterday with her third.
She too has been getting niggly contractions that are strong enough to be painful and are regular for a while then die away. I had this last time for at least 2 weeks, bloody annoying, but it's a really good sign that your body is limbering up ready for the starting gun

That's good news Diva. You know I've either been a + or ++ wee with this preg, no one seemed bothered though. Bet you're pleased you still get the induction.

Just a quick point. You guys (we) average about 100 + messages a day
Message limit of 1000 that's just 10 days.
With 13 days left of Feb and 31 in Mrach, add in one or two late arrivals
Gosh we could be another 3 threads under by completion
Esp as everyones EDD approaches we get more and more and more obsessive and as maternity leave kicks in....
And then all the congrats messages

Hee hee too much time on my hands that's the problem
Piff
34+6
A boy with long legs, chubby cheeks and a penchant for handstands and bladder wringing

Callie sorry to hear about your mastitis, I suffered with it several times with ds, (once ending up with an abscess and it makes you feel really really ill.)
Make sure you rest up loads and take the paracetamol.

Also exciting news about Leo and your impending arrival of twinnies!

Boo, homebirth Yay - I'm planning one too, but no pool for me, I tend to give birth before they have had time to fill it!
Hope everyone else is feeling ok as much as one can

Is anyone sleeping through btw?

i started reading then the man turned up to (finally)change the electric meter(been trying to get it changed from a prepayment to a quaterly meter since we moved in as i dont appreciate paying £25 a week for electric).

i'm getting excited about these early labour niggles that are starting up with various people-we really are all going to have babies

i didnt get given a scan report this time but from what i saw all the measurements were around 37 weeks(i would be 37 weeks on saturday or sunday according to my last af and when i reckon i conceived)apart from the head which was small for some reason.

sazzy-i dont do breastfeeding either,but have never been lynched.saying that,i wouldnt go near a thread where it was being debated anyway

Well I had my mw appt, and my usual mw (the nice but ineffectual) one was off, so I had a different one who really peed me off by talking over everything I said and being rude to mil.

Mil wanted to take a photo of me on the bed having the heart beat measured and the mw got all funny and said "not with me in it you're not," and so mil just took a random photo of my bump instead!

And it turns out the other mw, the usual one, has completely stuffed up the antenatal classes so I won't be going to any of those, unless I want to go to afternoon ones. I don't want to go to them at all! I just want dh to be able to go to something!

I was so glad the appointment had finished that I didn't even ask which way lo was facing!

Sorry, just had to rant. Will have a brew, sit down, then come back read everyone's posts and say something more chilled

Diva - glad the scan etc went well for you

Piff - I'm shocked at those stats but it explains how easily it is to get behind on all the chat!

I am having a productive day, I've placed my screwfix order so our bathroom may get fixed before the baby arrives. The shower broke about 9 mths ago

I've been looking at buggies (again). I still want a Phil & Teds but it looks as though there will be a new version out at the end of Feb. Lots of places are advertising them but nothing in stock anywhere yet.

Hello my beautiful pregnant friends

Am in an excellent mood as have finished a load of work and am waiting for courier to come and get it. I can now treat myself to a couple of hours fannying around before I get DD from nursery.

Hello Callie - how are your boobs? Have you tried expressing in the bath or putting hot flannels on them? Get some ABs if it carries on my love, as you don't want an abscess .

Glad all well at the hosp Diva.

Moss - haven't forgotten your bras, will post next week.

Morocco - i often get a stabbing pain in the fanjo. I had it last time with DD and it could be the head itself bouncing on your pelvic floor. Bloody hurts though, doesn't it?

Foxy - cheese and wine sounds like the ideal midnight feast! I was just wondering if it was too early for a celebratory sherry just now ? Nothing like turning up at nursery smelling like a brewery. I've already been called irresponsible this week for admitting I colour my hair when pg. I'm so grey though that I have to - otherwise I might look even older than I do already

Spongecake - they take the measurement from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus, but I think there is quite a big margin of error on who is doing it. If you are measuring large, it could just be a whopper . Very exciting though.

Booboo - was it Dr Bruml you saw? I saw her first thing yest morning and we talked about my elective section! If you saw her too, she will have had 2 very different births on her mind. I am so glad that you are thinking about a home birth - hope it all goes really well.

My friend had her baby yesterday afternoon at 36 weeks. He was very poorly when he was born and is in NICU now but is making good progress. We were trying to remember how to hand express this morning - can anyone help? never got much out by hand. Needed to be in the bath with the flannels thinking milky thoughts which isn't ideal when you are trying to catch the milk.

Sorry to everyone I've missed. Hoipe you are all well today .

Leo get twiddlin' and suckin' (on the saveloy, that is!)

Booboo that's brill about your home birth. I bet you're dead excited now!

Sazzy glad your ward was okay. Whereabouts are you again? I've forgotten!

Diva glad everything went okay, and what great news about lo turning round! I was too at my appointment to ask today about lo's position. Will ask next time in two weeks when the nicer mw is back!

Piffle, I get up loads to wee but always manage to get straight back to sleep again, does that count as sleeping through? Still manage to be really tired though. Maybe once I'm on mat leave I'll feel more energetic.

Diva that's great news about your meter. Our last place had gas and lecky on a meter and it just gobbled down those little blue cards. Our landlord refused to change it because his last tennants messed him round with final bills.

Good luck with your bathroom The Blonde.

Right I'm off to clean the microwave. We got given a really good one by sil so dh is taking ours into work. He didn't think his interview went amazingly well, but I think tbh they will have decided whether or not they wanted him in the role before the interview, as he's the internal. I think that it was more a formality, one way or the other.

He finds out tomorrow anyway...