May Mummies, w/c 23th April 07 1 week till May- Woohayy!

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Morning............

Poor thing Befnal...When you've your heart set on somehting like that its devastating to be told you cant have it.. for you...

Hi to everyone else-No time to reply properly but hope everyone is ok..

Drove to parents last night-knackering..Came really on the promise they would help out with DD whislt I did some work..(and so DH could revise in peace).Thus far help provided has been ruddy zero, I may as well have stayed at home..I know I sound like a real child but I desperately need to do this work which they are well aware of, but they have both managed to arrange to do lots of other things all day to day and most of tomorrow, even though they said they would take DD off my hands for the day..feel quite cross..
So it will be a late nighter tonight trying to get some done now she is in bed, which is what I was really hoping to avoid as am knackered by about now and could easily go to bed myself..Am thinking of admitting defeat now and cancelling my meeting with the asessor next week and if I get it done after the birth, (about 4 months after probably) then so what really..its just ive worked so hard on it so far with the aim of getting it done beforehand that it seems a real shame to be so near and yet so far...

My friend who lives in Cape Town called today-and she really upset me-she is an eternal student and has made very different lifestyle choices to me-I accept and support hers, however dubious some of them might be-she has been very rude about me today, being 'stuck' being a Mum and owning a house etc..She has certainly lost some of her manners since moving away from England to say the least..anyway bit my tongue-not worth it I thought-she is commenting on something she has no experience of-then got off the phone and sobbed..

On the bright side have had haircut today, she took about half the hair on my head away with her special razoring scissors and has left me with a nice sleek bob, (well till I try to recreate it tomorow of course) and DD had her first proper haircut as well, and has got a photo and a certificate to prove it!She was very good and sat very still whilst she was being snipped at, and she looked very cute in her little gown..

Is Arlen home yet?!

Have felt crap toady, so exhausted I spent most of the day in bed and missed all my lectures and my tutorial which was important. I just could not stand up and keep my eyes open, felt utterly drained and still knid of do.

Have had a bit of a falling out with Nic my flatmate. I needed to write a letter to my accomadation manager about any damage I have casued in the flat, and also get my flatmates to sign to say that this was the only damage I had caused and that I wasn't responsible for any damage done after I leave. Nic's however refused to sign it cause there has been some damage done and we're not sure who it was. I know that the damage has been caused at either one of their parties or whilst they've all been drunk. Nothing to do with me. Yet she seems to think that it's acceptable for me to have to take part in getting charged for it. I've spent my entire time at uni in my room only coming out for lectures and to cook! I've not been able to go out and get trashed and come back and wreck the place - I'm fuuukin pregnant fgs. I think I need ALL their signatures for my letter to mean anything which means my deposit is gonna get hit fairly badly cause of all the damage that's been made in the flat by them. 2 of the guys have already signed it, I'm sure the other 2 will as well but she won't. That deposit was my dad's money, not mine. I never want to live with other people ever again unless they're family and my baby.

Pebble glad to hear baby has turned

BB so sorry you won't get your homebirth, that sucks!

Scoot ignore your 'friends' comments. She clearly has no idea what your lifestyle involves so anything she says just forget cause she doesn't know what she's talking about.

Want to go and make some food but they're all in the kitchen and there will be an atmosphere between me and Nic. Very tearful, the last thing I wanted was to fall out with a flatmate in my last 2 weeks at uni! Will just have to go and cook soemthing later when they've all gone to bed

Pebble - glad it's good news for you. Any idea what did the turning?

Lwatkins - Poor you, living in shared flats is a huge test of character and I think you are doing pretty well at it. I'm sure if you can get the rest of your flatmates to sign the letter you will be okay.

Scooter - your friend doesn't have any right to question your choices, you are on a very big adventure too!

Befnal, how long have you got to go? as Cameroonmama said, is there any chance you will still be allowed your homebirth if the medication works and your BP goes down. I know I would be gutted if I was told I couldn't have a homebirth, even if having one would be very risky and I and the baby would be safer in hospital it is what I want.

Don't know if the other 2 will sign the letter now as Nic might have 'advised' them not too. Don't wanna ask them to sign it now incase she has said something and they say no.

I hate feeling like I need to lock myself away in this fu**in room. I like to think I'm a pretty open minded person and I'll always admit when I've been in the wrong and say sorry, but I honestly think I'm in the right with this one. It's not being unreasonable to think that I shouldn't have to pay for these damages is it?

No they are the unreasonable ones-to be honest if I was in that position I would sign it even if you HAD caused the damage-just out of compassion for a heavily pg woman..but given that clearly you have had nothing to do with it..wankers..

D'you want me to come down there and have words?Because I will do it..The mood im in today they can bloody well get ready!

I would be tempted to forge the signatures-or else go to the accomodation manager and explain exactly what has happened and lets face it-you have the best evidence ever that you havent been on a drunken bender and messed anything up...

Good God-has no one any decency any more?!

oh LW, poor you, this is stirring up some bad old student day memories, would it help if you called a whole house meeting and just gently suggested that you could resolve it all together, that way you could put your point across and then they might all end up being more understanding and support you? Not easy I know..

Scoot, stick with the studying, look how far you've got already! I did some exams when ds was a month old, it was difficult but I was glad I managed to do it. Ignore your friend, often south africans (I apologise as I generalise here as have met some vvv nice SA in my time!) are quite straight talking and maybe some of that has rubbed off on her. Maybe she is secretly quite envious of you

LG&T, what happened at the mw?

I think you might be right re my friend Cam..since living out there she has become increasingly rude-to the point where I am one of the few people left here who has time for her at all..and after today even im not so sure-its a shame but I think it is possible to grow out of a friendship with someone..Stuff her anyway-she has no idea of the joys of sleepless nights and Braxton Hicks and a toddler hanging on your leg every waking minute..its her thats missing out .

Plus she has never wowed everyone at a Bumps and Babes meeting, as I did yesterday, with the use of a very handsome cake stand to present the fondant fancies on!( erm, I think she might be right about the sadness of my domestic lifestyle-I may need help-but I was SO pleased with the presentation of my cupcakes yesterday that I took a picture of it! )

Have spoken to my Mum and she has promised to take DD to Chatsworth farm tomorrow to free me up a bit..I draw the line at doing work tonight though-am just too too tired-am going to go to bed with Volume two of the Forsyte saga instead-and if needs be I might just have to delay the NVQ meeting by a week-to take the pressure off a bit..that sounds like a better compromise..

TYG-if it makes you feel better my Dad actually reads and believes the Daily Mail..sometimes I think im adopted..

Glad little pebble has turned..good news..

MKG-Did you get the stroller yet?

Am slowly catching up now..little by little..

Oh Scooter I'm jealous about Chatsworth Farm, it's really lovely there. Hope you get your work done!

Whats wrong with fondant fancies on a stand? I think that sounds fab Sod your friend scoot, she has no idea of the bliss we find in domestic life.

Lwatkins at your mean house mate, shall we come n scare her en mass?

Befnal my bp shot up in late prg with ds#3, it dropped again and i gor my homebirth. It was high till quite late in labour and i was having it taken every half hour or so, but it did go down and i was allowed to stay home. Dont give up hope

BB sorry to hear about your section, just join Cam and i on the 11th, it is going to be a good day You are right to feel upset though, it's very hard to get your head round a new birth experience when you have had your heart set on one for so long.

Pebble fab news on the baby turning and the pink baby inside! she must have snuck round in the night

Toomanyprojects i cant believe you will have your little one by the end of the weekend! You must be so excited, are you all ready? Hope you manage to post before you go in, good luck if you dont though!

The midwife was lovely today, i saw the supervisor of midwives i saw before and the one who booked me and looked after me with Hugo. The baby is still in the same place, no surprise there. All well though, bp boring, wee normal, baby upside down.........

SOH glad the HV was nice, she does sound quite helpful for future queries. You will have those...... Gingerbread sandwiches May give it a whirl.

Remind me never to farkin' make anything ever again. Was ready to throw the sewing machine out the window by the end of making the cot tidy. Complicated arse of a thing. It looks gorgeous now it's done, but that's one broken machine needle and two frayed tempers later!

Befnal - I'm gutted for you. Don't know what else to say...

Pebble - great news that the baby has turned. Well done. All that time on your hands and knees!

Cousin came round with her two kids. They're nice, but by Jaysus, they know how to wreck the place. Would you with small kids usually bring toys with you when you visit people avec famille? I always did. Anyway, hers were pulling up the flowers my mam just planted, trying to dig DH's baby carrots up and then when we came inside they were crying becuase I wouldn't let them play with the birthing ball I was actually using as a seat. (I was letting them play with the other gym ball.) I was knackered when they left!

Got my feet up now. They're like balloons. They've been a little puffy, but just now I actually felt them swell more - the skin suddenly felt tight. Ouch.

Scoot- that's disgraceful, what your "friend" said to you.

LW - also very for you. That's disgusting that your friend would let you take the rap for something you haven't done, knowing full well that you're in no position to lose out on money. I mean, aside from her moral obligation to concur that whomever made the damage, it wasn't you. Tsk.

SOH, your HV sounds great.

Oh, my MW said something interesting today. Said that before 37 or after 42 weeks they'd recommend a hospital birth, but "would obviously come to attend if I really didn't want to be admitted". I take that to mean "if you go into labour tomorrow at 36+6 then we won't worry" and "if you choose not to be induced, I'll be happy to help". Anyhoo, Befnal, I would try to keep calm, do some relaxation breathing and that kind of thing, perhaps consider some acupuncture. In a week or so, you might find that your BP is slightly lower and you can "insist" on your homebirth.

Hello lovely. Haven't talked to you in ages!

Well thats the thing Abby-I quite want to go to the farm with them..but cant have cake and eat it I suppose-even if it is off of a very pretty THREE TIERED cake stand!

Glad midwife was nice largegandt..and meant to say how exciting to know that another May baby will be here by the weekend..good Luck Toomanyprojects..

By the way largegandt-11th May yours?Just thinking-I wonder if they do a special baby themed KK?(And if not, they are surely missing a trick-I wonder if I write in to suggest it will they give me a free supply for life?)

Ere, SOH, so whats the best Gingerbread you've found then?Becuase I had a lovely gingerbread person, (it was androgynous as it looked like it might have a wee dress on-am reluctant to call it a man-unless it was a cross dresser of course) from Greggs bakers today..but have found Tescos to be disappointing in texture-too hard..

Must go to bed-am rambling and have just realised have failed to call DH as promised as got distracted on here

night all..hope you all sleep well..(some hope I guess!)

I don't think a large group of pregnant women would scare her to be honest - she's a law student

Think they've all buggered of out tonight without asking me, obviously I'm in the dog house. My birthday next friday and I'm cooking my own birthday dinner for them all!!! Was kind of hoping they'd turn round and say 'don't be silly LW, it's your b'day we'll do the cooking.' Instead they told me what they'd like me to flippin cook!

Have written a very long email to my accomadation manager explaining what's happened tonight so we'll see. Spoke to my mum for a while and she cheered me up too. To be honest I can see where Nic is coming from cause nobody wants to have to fork out for damages they haven't done. But I just think it's nasty of her to know that none of its been my doing and just have the sort of attitude of, if I have to pay so do you. I've spent my entire time at uni in my room, I clean up after myself, I'm tidy, I even eat in my room. I've been sober my entire time hear and haven't done any damage - and she knows it.

Ok I'll stop moaning about it now and wait and see what happens. Back to happy

Befnal is there no way you can recreate something in the hospital if you absolutely have to go in? Is there a midwifery led unit and would they consider it? Is there a pool you can use? Take music, your pillows, a blanket etc. I know none of this is what you want but if you can find a way of making a hospital birth bearable you may still find it a positive experience. Are you under community midwife care and could you take a community midwife in with you? Could you book an independent midwife or a doula? I really do sympathise, I can't imagine having my homebirth cancelled.

Been over to the IL's this evening- they're in Venice though!- and found two baby chicks sitting on the driveway, no parents in sight. We left them alone for a couple of hours hoping that the Mum would turn up as you shouldn't disturb fledglings unless they're obviously abandoned. It started to get cold and dark, peeked out at them and they were flat on their faces and shivering. DH was adamant that they should just be left but I couldn't do it- brought them in and put them on the boiler in cotton wool, syringe fed them and after about an hour and a half of 15 minute feeds they started to chirp and walk around. Took them back outside with a torch and found their nest under the hedge and could hear the mother nearby. Put them back in the nest and hope that they mother accepts them. I'm so about it, hope the mother can look after them. I know it's rare for them to abandon them being a country girl an' all. Even humans picking them up and moving them shouldn't have an effect. Oh I hope they're alright. I've hand-reared enough birds temporarily that it shouldn't make me tearful but I'm hormonal and they were so little and fluffy like this .

Lwatkins have been there with the bloomin' deposit/damage thing. Shared accommodation is a hell on earth. Write to the accommodation office, that's what I did and they sorted everything. I'm not surprised the people you live with can't accept responsibility for anything. And cooking your own birthday dinner? That's farking ridiculous, get yourself round here and I'll cook for you. You like lasagne don't you, it's my speciality? I'll bake you a cake too.

Scoot- the gingerbread AM sent me was divine I have to say, some of the best I've had. I think maybe it's Sainsburys but she'd have to confirm. Birds do good gingerbread too but I've never seen a branch outside of Derbyshire. Best gingerbread ever though is made my Mum's fair hands. Your friends sounds opinionated and slightly jealous imho.

Gotta run, sorry not to chat to all of you individually, will in a general fashion, am contracting and need to lie down a wee bit. No panicking, nowt serious. Sitting in the car for an hour does not agree with me.

TYG, I think 36+6 is good enough if you're happy, a day won't make enormous amounts of difference at this stage!

Hello ladies!!!!! Wow been a long time since I was in the country with working PC...just cannot believe that we're actually going to be having our babies, like, NOW! . I know, I know, shoulda been prepared for this back when DH and I were getting romantic last summer, right? Just comes as a bit of a shock sometimes to realise that another life is coming along, and it could be any day now!! So excited for you all who are ahead of me! (section planned for 25 May).

Will dutifully attempt to catch up but pls forgive me if I missed major news. My stay in Germany was fine, weather superb so made up for the stress of non-English-speaking MIL hostess. And DS has been charming the past few weeks, always helps. Sometimes I almost imagine handling two little ones and (gulp) doing it "well." Only sometimes

BTW anyone seen any proof recently that using no steriliser = harm to baby? Can't bear the thought of dragging all that crap out again and clogging up my precious kitchen space with it all.....

TYG the kids sound like a handfull, but couldn't help but chuckle at the idea of them pulling up freshly planted pansy's whilst you look on wide eyed not knowing what to say Now make sure you rest those poor feet lady, don't go over doing it.

SOH you are a sweetie. To be honest if friday comes round and things are still tense I'll just claim illness, buy myself a new film to watch and eat muffins all night without any of them. That actually does sound more appealing.... Then my dad will be picking me up on the Saturday and taking me HOME!

Notsolilkel welcome back! Glad you had a nice time in Germany, I keep hearing stories about how tedious sterilizing is. Keep looking at mine and wondering if I will learn to hate it!

Befnal--I am very sad for you, but don't worry, you will be fine!

Notsolilkel-Here in the US we are told we don't have to sterilize if you have public water and use a dishwasher. I never sterilized one bottle and ds is still alive, so I say no to sterilizing

I am now the proud owner of Joovy--Caboose stand and ride stroller. It was the floor model so no assembly required, I am very happy and considering that it was only $119 I'm even more thrilled.

My mom cracked and my shower is on Saturday. She sucks at keeping secrets. Oh well.

I will check in tomorrow, but now I have to make something for dinner.

Notsolilkel, I know how you feel about the sterilising. It takes up so much room in the kitchen and I find it quite tedious. Ive heard though that its ok to use a dishwasher to sterilise the bottles in and that you can buy special racks/holder thingymejigs to stand all the things in. I keep meaning to look into it more as i much prefer that idea to lugging ds2's steriliser out again. Welcome back by the way and im glad you had a good time

Befnal I have no idea how why or even when this lo turned. As far as i was concerned she still felt breech but hey obviously i was wrong. I tried almost everything i could think of to try to get her to turn but each time she seemed to settle back into the breech position, maybe she knew how much i was dreading having a cs and just decided to be nice to me at the last minute, expect she will get her revenge by being the type of baby who is wide awake all night when i want to rest and asleep during the day

I have had terrible back pains all night, the take your breath away variety. No matter what position i get in, nothing helps and when im having them i cant move, I had planned on having a soak in the bath but as dh is at work until 1.30am and there was a strong possibility of me getting stuck in there until he came home i decided against it. Ive tried sitting/rocking on my ball, laying down in bed, lying on the floor, etc and nothing has helped. If the back pains are still there when he gets home though i may have to try it. I dont suppose walking the entire length of the hospital and back this morning helped (we got lost looking for the restaurant lol) Ive also been getting strong braxton hicks again and feeling lots of pressure down below. Im not so nervous about every little twinge now that i know LO is the right way up but the pains have been so bad tonight ive suddenly realised what ive let myself in for Im remembering now that contractions bloody hurt, and then theres that horrible burning sensation when the head starts to come out-why on earth am i doing this again?

(Yes i know that after all that pain i will have a gorgeous bundle in my arms and that is why im doing it but i still think im mad lol)

Morning all.
Thank you all for lovely messages re cs. I am definitely going down the route of "better an elective than an emergency" etc. Weird to think that this time in 2 weeks I will have a baby....#
BB sorry to hear about your homebirth - it is tough when what you are planning has to change (as I know!). I think that suggestion about trying to make it feel like home in hosp is such a good idea - own music; using a birthing pool etc - try and see it as a positive thing (which is pretty hard I know) in that you canknow that you will not be whizzed off in an ambulance and can relax and know that you are in the best place for your situation.
Pebble - hooray for LO turning!
OMG - LW - memories of awful sharing house experiences at uni. never never again....
Off shopping with mum tomorrow - am pathetically excited.

PS re sterilising. I bf DS so did not have to worry about bottles. however, was shovelling some colic medicine down him from an early age. Only thought afterwards that technically I should have been sterilising spoon rather than rinsing it under tap/licking it clean (became rather partial to colic medicine) - DS survived although i will rely on dishwasher rather than my own saliva this time....

Been woken up after an already crap nights sleep. It's seems everyone on the court has wanted to start fights tonight and make as much noise outsied as possible. It all started kicking of at about 2. Then it finally settled and was just dozing of and finally getting comfy and in walk all my flatmates shouting and screaming. One had gotten into a fight with one of his mates, wouldn't shut up about it - directly outside my room.

So I get up and open my door to ask them to be quiet and end up supervising one of them for half an hour because he wanted to cook some food and was wankered. Whilst cooking he has destroyed the kitchen and smashed the glass, spinning circle thing in the microwave that you stand things on. So now we can't use the fu**in microwave. Something else that will no doubt get taken out of MY deposit.

I thought they had all gone out, I didn't get an invite. I wouldn't have gone anyway but I still think it's nice to be asked. I feel like all I ever do on this thread is moan about my flatmates so I do appologise. I feel like I could cry but at the same time I'm so far past caring now it's not real. I think I'll cancel my 'birthday' with them all next Friday and instead just stay in on my own. The idea of cooking for all of them after everything that's happened makes me feel bitter and angry, I'd rather have a quiet night by myself with a good film and some popcorn. Ho hum.

9 more days and counting.

Hello LWatkins
Not sure if you are still awake, but sympathise with you for being up - I've been awake for an hour, and have come downstairs for a change of scenery. I think I was hungry (scoffed two slices of fruit loaf) and a bit indigestionny (good word)

Can you not go home any sooner? It seems that you should be in an environment where you are getting some rest and relaxation, rather than having all this stress and being disturbed. I'm sure your tutors would understand, could you not complete any outstanding work long distance?

ITS - hello lady if your still about I could go home and do this work and send it in for marking via post. I have a group presentation to do however on the 4th may so I had to come back after easter soley for that. Bit annoying but agree I could be doing with being at home away from these apes. See my sister this weekend though, so that kind of makes staying worth it - love her to bits I do!!! I'll be home soon enough, in the meantime it looks like I'll just have to put up with this crap a bit longer,

Am going to see my accomadation manager later about all of this, after the microwave incident earlier I'm fairly

Still here!

Shame about that presentation - you've done so well to keep up your course this year throughout everything, sad that the end of it is turning into a nightmare.

Is it just me or does time go more quickly at this time of day?