Due April 2007 - No sex marriages here we come !!!!!!!!!!!!

[EllieKwithaHUGEbump]

i thought it was funny, hope it doesn't offend anyone

Hi nuttygirl
Hope your chair helps with the aches and pains.
Glad you're another one who thinks the measuring is a bit pointless (certainly as a one-off!!)
The kebab thing...tell me that's not true?
If anyone had a co-op near them and a sweet tooth I can recommend the brownies

Nutty, [puke] at the thought of sperm in the white sauce - that really is foul! I wonder what the Italians put in their bechemal sauce !!

Hope your chair proves a good buy and that the wee one turns around for you soon.

I haven't a clue what posiiton my bean is in - I get kicked and prodded all over the place - really takes my breath away sometimes.

I heard a similar story about maccy d's... but I guess if you listened to all the stories, and looked in some of the kitchens of the nicer eating establishments you would never eat out again!!

Co-op had a lovely chocolate cake in last week too.. in a dark red box... thought it might have been a bit sickly as it was covered in chocolate buttercream stuff..but it was very tasty!!!

I hate friday afternoons at work.. but.. on the plus side... this will be my LAST FRIDAY!!!!!!!! WHOOOO HOOOOO

GMM, I am at work as well, and this am was fine, but this afternoon is dull dull dull. I leave at 3.30 so not long to go. Been looking at that website that you posted up - it is fab! Can't believe the length of the beans already - must be crowded in there.

I think I am the master of interesting websites... you can tell I have nothing to do all day!!!

Baby monitors - can anyone tell me if I'm being daft?
We tried out the one we bought last night (I tried to screm like a baby then realised I was with the parent monitor ) and we only realised then that the temperature monitor is on the 'baby' one - i.e. in the room the baby is sleeping in. Is that how they all are? We assumed the parent unit would report the temperature that was being monitored by the other one in the baby's room. I'd already bought a thermometer, so the only benefit of the monitor was that we wouldn't have to keep running up the stairs to read it, so we thought.
Hope that made sense!

I have no idea... but guess thats probably the way they all are...

I bought a cheap one a few weeks back, but to beh honest I'm working on the reasoning that for the first few months the baby is going to be with me more or less all of the time, if he's sleeping then he'll be in his moses basket, downstairs with me.. and if I'm out side putting the washing out or something, then if he's crying then I dont suppose I will drop the washing to run inside.. as it will only be for a few minutes.. and I think if you only have one it does them good to be around noise, and get used to sleeping through noise of tv etc.

Having said that I was a terrible sleeper apparently, my mam used to switch the hoover on and just leave me to scream cos the hoover has the only thing that would settle me.

Katy - yes it's true!

Hadn't really thought about the temp thing on those monitors but now you mention it I don't think i've seen one with the temp on the parent unit...which is a bit stupid really, it's the parents who want to know the temp in the baby's room. I just got some cheap ones from kiddicare (think they were £10) but our house is quite small so probably won't use them that much.

Katy - I hadn't really noticed but it shouldn't matter too much should it? I would imagine it's so you can check the temperature i.e. when you put the baby down or when you pop your head in but really there shouldn't be any great deviations in the temp of the room anyway, should there?

My mum bought me a baby monitor and it was quite an expensive philips digital one and now I'm thinking she shouldn't have bothered as I've heard so many people say they don't really use them. Same for the steriliser. Just after we got one loads of people have said it's a bunch of old crap, just wash 'em out with soap and water and be done with it.

Ooo I got the tommy tipeee closer to nature microwave steriliser and 3 bottles on offer in tesco at the weekend for £9.99!!!

Haven't posted for a while - hard to keep up with you lot.

Had another scan today. Everything fine. Was offered a late amnio (my nuchal risk was 1:33). They said if it had downs I could have a late abortion (the thought made me shudder). I've declined the offer.
Oh yeah and its breech at the moment.

Katy - We bought a Tomy Walkabout Platinum Digital and according to the manual (haven't tried it out yet) it relays the temperature back to the parent station.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep up and post more!

Hi girls. Well I'm feeling a bit as my leg is much better and I've come to the conclusion I was just being totally paranoid last night!! I did try to call for a doctors appt, but my GP is on hols till Tues, and they couldn't fit me in today in any case, so I've decided to leave it and keep a close eye on it to see how it goes. Think it might also be related to carrying my handbag on that shoulder - if I take it off and carry it in my hand, the pain seems to be less. TBH, the pain is nothing that would worry me if it wasn't for my previous DVT, and the feeling that I felt something quite similar about 2 weeks before I had that. Pregnancy is last refuge of the paranoid - hey?!

Glad the indigestion has finally gone SOSPL. I hate indigestion so much and have had some really nasty bouts this pregnancy. In fact I'm coming to the conclusion that when my bump feels rigid and painful it may not be Braxton Hicks, but in fact just trapped wind!!

WCL - hope you can get this one to turn soon. It is supposed to be possible isn't it. When are we supposed to start worrying seriously about which way up they are? Mine still seems to be shifting quite a lot (has been head up in my ribs for most of today) - did someone tell me 34 weeks? Or 36?

Another question - I went into Boots yesterday looking for witch hazel for my hospital bag, as recommended by several of you, but realised I had no idea what I was looking for!! Something in liquid form I seem to remember, but where would I find it?? With alternative medicines? First Aid? Or do I have to march up to the pharmacist and say "I'll be having a lacerated fanjo in a few weeks time and wonder if you have some witch hazel I can pour onto it in large quantities?"!

Katy - the measuring fundal height thing is very, very approximate I think. I went for a scan on a Thursday a few weeks ago at which everything was measuring bang on average, and then to the midwife the following Monday where she measured me 4 weeks short (eg. 26cm at 30 weeks). Told her it must be crap as I knew everything was fine. Mind you, I think the weights they estimate from scans are fairly approximate too, but not quite so way out as at least they are working from known measurements for head circumference, spinal length etc. Is your scan to check where your placenta is now?

Up to London for a meeting today, and left it feeling stressed about all the stuff they want me to achieve before I go on maternity leave (in fact they seem in denial about the fact that I am going on maternity leave at all!). Do they not realise that I plan to coast gently downhill for the next 6 weeks, until by the end I am spending most of the day sitting on the sofa eating cake??

Busy weekend planned with 1 set of people for lunch tomorrow, then another set to stay. Then off to Bradford on Avon for a course I've set up on Monday, so may not get online for a few days. Will be back posting on Tues that I am exhausted !! Have a lovely weekend all.

Sorry, that was much longer than I meant it to be!!

33 weeks on Sunday - I can't believe it!!

I had problems finding Witch Hazel - good job mum was there to point me in the right direction. It was with creams and stuff for itching...things like Eurax/canesten/etc. It was right at the bottom tho so difficult to spot! It was also in a bigger bottle than I expected!

Think this is the stuff you are looking for but mine was in a different style of bottle (think it was just not boots own brand) witch hazel

afternoon folks and howa re we all.

hello to you smole - nice to see you back! bit shocke attheir offer to you - i am not sure how i would have felt hearing that.

GMM - you are the bargain hunter!!

superdrug is cheaper for witch hazel - but then we dont get advantage points to save and treat ourselves with!

we got our avent steriliser in a boxed set along with breast pump, bottles, cups/ bowls and something else for £35 from babies r us.

we have our v hunky DIY bloke coming in tomorrow to help out. think dp arrranged this weekend as i am away working - launching a new comic book so will be off site for flirting tho' somehow i dont think i would be up to much of that at the mo'!
read dps online blog earlier - nearly made me weep when i read how hard a time he has been having and hasnt wanted to say as i have been down. bless him - when he talks about the LO - its all warm and fuzzy.

Afternoon all

Lol at the witch hazel my sister works in Tesco pharmacy, and I had to send dh in to get me some more after ds was born, as well as maternity pads My sis said he just said to her in a very quiet voice "witch hazel?" she thought it was quite funny lol. Not sure if it's been mentioned, but a tip about maternity pads - my mw did not like me using super absorbent pads, because they could not see what had been passed so I used value sanitary towels, which worked out a darn sight cheaper. Did use more absorbent ones when I went out though. I went through so many of them.

Hi smole. at what they said to you at your appt. Hope you're keeping well though x

We have a Tomy Digital baby monitor from when ds was little. We found we used it more during the summer, when ds and me were outside (washing car, mowing lawn etc) and ds was napping.

Had a bit of a heart to heart with my boss this morning. He asked me to advertise for my replacement for maternity leave. Did the advert, asked him to double check, and he said put temp position possibly becoming permanent! When I asked him why, he said, ?well there is a chance that you might not come back? Got quite upset, and told him that I hadn?t put all this work in over the past year for nothing, I really enjoy my job, working for the company etc. Think he was shocked at my outburst (tbh, so was I!) But as he pointed out, I cannot say 100% that I will def be going back after mat leave, because no one will know how I feel after this baby is born. True. Anyway, did the advert for someone to work in the afternoons (I work mornings) that way, if I decide to go back, I will still have my mornings, and if I don?t go back, then he?s got someone already in the job. The conversation seemed to clear the air iyswim because he?s obv been thinking about it for a while.

Sorry, its long

Hi folks. Am relieved other people have been getting size comments, was getting paranoid as they were non-bloody stop today. I only work fridays so there's all the inevitable "Ooh, aren't you big now" and "you've really grow since last week" but today I also got the is it twins plus an almost identical exchange to Runny's -

Rude woman - ooh, you look ready to pop - how long left.
Me - 8 weeks
Woman - 8 WEEKS!! You're JOKING. You're HUGE it'll be a MONSTER by then hahahaha!
Me - hoho (supressing overwhelming urge to commit GBH.....)

Your DP sounds lovely, WO! Hope he's just as warm and fuzzy about the wee one when there's 2am crying & poo explosions !! Prgenancy is so overwhelming though it's easy to forget what a huge event it is to become a dad!

PMSL at minty sperm - I've been wondering what the hell it reminded me of! Will never be able to look at a bottle of gaviscon the same way.....

I have to confess I have never once used a room/bath/any thermometer, even in my most loopy Precious First Born days. That thread is hilarious, though and so true.

Afternoon all!

The photo shoot was fine but the boys would not do anything the photographer said apart from run around and do skids on the floor - ahh well! Lunch at friends and soft play went much better - ds2 fast asleep on sofa - decided to leave him there for a bit so can have some peace.

I have never had a monitor - mine are yellers - you can here them in Aberdeen!

I got my witch hazel over the counter at Boots.

I also have the avent starter kit from Babies r us - all seems pretty good to me.

Quiet weekend ahead - dh has golf in morning then is taking boys to Toys R Us - bit of quiet for me! Sunday - we are going to have a family day out somewhere - not sure where yet though!

When I bent over the bath last night to put the plug in I either pee'd myself or lost some waters - not sure which and not sure whether to do anything about it - had some strong braxton hicks afterwards which stopped after about an hour. May go post on pregnancy board and see what lulumama says!

Baby turning vibes for all those breechy babies!

Will catch up later xoxoxoxoxxox

I found constantly staring at my first baby to check for breathing or any sign of distress counteracted the need for any type of monitor or thermometer!

runny - poor you. it sounds like you have put in so much effort to the job and no matter what you decide in the future - it is hard to leave that behind for mat leave - never mind the idea that you have to worry about who is coming in to replace you.

maybe SOPL would know better if he can say stuff like that to you? even if you do decide to not come back - that is a long way off and in that case he could advertise for a permanent replacement then?

someone else (twinkle?) mentionned the realisation of giving their job up for a while and handing it over, in the knowledge that you want it back at the end of leave. i think maveta said her boss had made a few comments as well.

i know who is going to do my cover and to be honest - i am increasingly having little faith in them. they work under me at the mo' so have been doing a bit of shadowing which seems to equate to falling asleep in all meetings, eating all the biscuits and forgetting key parts of the project. i have done out their weekly work plan for the whole 9 months, colour coded info systems, cross referenced etc etc and all he says is - "i dont have to worry about doign anything- you will be at the end of the phone and no doubt would come in for a few days to get it caught up."... ahem - get real and do the job.

anyhow - sorry - rant over. hopefully i wont care JUST as much when the LO comes??

oh - there is a thread about getting cheap (v v v v cheap) ready beds off the vertabaudet site. you need to order the £10.99 one and then use code 0903? this gives you £10 off so it costs £4.44 including postage. had a lok but really only for older kids?
the 0903 code works for everything tho' - have just doen multiple orders for nurdery stuff and it seems to work every time??

just been back to the vertabuadet site - got a cute white bear rug for the postage only - £3.45 usign that code. is this too good to be true?

WO - before I started this job, he didn't have ANY processes in place (e.g. invoices were filed in a tray, and paid when people started chasing payment) It hasn't been rocket science by any means, but he knows that if he asks me to do something, it gets done. I take a lot of pride in my work, and tbh I don?t really like the thought of someone else coming in, although I know it makes sense for the business. Has made me realise how much I genuinely enjoy this job. Think maybe my impending mat leave has actually hit home with him, and he's realised how much I do, which is why he's left it so late advertising for a replacement 2 weeks before I leave. The thing is I kind of agree with him when he says about being 100% certain of returning to work.

i know runny but i do think it is a bit unfair to say it to you know when you are just about to go. my boss has said that my maternity cover is for a period of 9 months with possible extension but due to the work i do - if i wasnt to come back - it would have to go out for full advertisement. my maternity cover couldnt automatically be given the job.
i hope he is getting you a cracker of a baby shower gift!!!!!!!!!!!

is anyoen else having a baby shower???? i have 10 gay men arranging mine - i cant wait!

Runny - it is hard, I have the same thing with my boss and I CAN kind of see that she is just trying to cover her back in case I don´t come back but I know I WANT to go back and HAVE to go back and I don´t want all of my time and effort in this company to have been for nothing. I can´t help feeling like now I will have to prove my dedication etc. all over again just because I´ve had a child and that it´s so sexist it makes me feel ill.

I tried to explain it to dh and he just said ´oh you won´t care anyway, you´ll be so in love with the baby blah blah blah´ and I just said that´s not the POINT. The point is that no one is now revising their plans for you and the future because you´ve had a child. Grrrrrr..

So yeah, I know how you feel

Hiya ladies

Smole, I can't understand why they have only just discussed Downs with you and given you a ratio. Hope you are ok.

Bramshott, glad your leg is feeling better.

Runny, I can't believe your boss. How very insensitive. I don't really see that they can say may become permanent - I am not sure about the legalities, but I will check it out for you.

Weeonion, a hunky DIY guy sounds fab - most of them are a bit rough - when we had our extension done over the summer, I have to say that one of the carpenters was luscious!

Liath, sorry you are getting cheeky comments too - people should learn to keep it zipped!
My boss said to me today that he can't see me lasting and suggested I was carrying twins. I don't mind this as I have a great relationship with him, and it's all said tongue in cheek.

Katy, we have a Tomy baby monitor, and the parent unit shows the temperature - if it gets above a certain temperaure, it beeps and flashes.

8.5 weeks, you were brave taking the boys for a photo shoot. I was going to go with Becky as got a voucher for Venture, but I just knew she would be a pita and I would end up getting stressed!

Sorry if I have missed anyone. Hope everyone is feeling ok. xx