Due in June, I am going to start charging you rent soon, you little *****er

[sputnik]

here

Hi Rabbitbreath....by retired does that mean you're not going back...ever...lucky you if that's the case. I would love to be a SAHM.....although I did it for two years after I'd had my DS and did get bored enough to go back to work.
My ideal would be part-time...so I could do the school run at either end of the day, but don't think my employers would be too sold on that idea. I will be asking them though...

re making friends - DH insisted we go to antenatal classes (we have been reading a lot of books - but I must be honest, the information the midwife gave us was invaluable!).

Being South African and believing when you pay for something you get better value, we went for private classes. We were a total of 10 couples, 4 of whom were also South African!. They were all lovely!

I am not sure whether we will stay friends with any of them, but I sure hope so as that was my main motivation for attending these classes.

We have each other's contact details and a reunion in July - so let's see what happens!

LOL Daisy - am just trying to picture me, in the throes of labour, asking my midwife - "and while you're down there..."

Hi Rabbitbreath, welcome back. Are you enjoying your maternity leave so far??

hi Daisybump - retired yes - as in not going back to work - or that is the current plan.

I am a secretary at a big auditing firm here in London and even though my salary is very good, it is not worth paying someone to bring up our children and sitting at work for £200 - £300 a month, missing out so much!

We stay in London and therefore child care is very expensive - I must admit I haven't done too much homework around this but I do know it is over £1,000 per month in certain areas!

I am also very worried about being bored at home - I was an Au Pair when I was 19 years old and I remember how little you grow as a person just being with 2 small children - but then I guess it can be different if they are your own - I don't know!

And also, making friends and getting hobbies are very important for me. I have been at home only 2 days now and am already feeling bored, but the physical energy is not there to do too much and also, going out is a bit of a challenge these days looking for a loo every 10 minutes!!

One good thing about the company I work for is that they are keeping my job until June 2008 and then I can decide whether I want to go back full time or parttime or not go back at all. Now isn't that a blessing!!!!

I'm feeling really glum today....bawled my eyes out earlier for no particular reason, and even exercising my spending muscle gave me little pleasure. Poor DH, he couldn't get any sense out of me when I phoned him earlier and thought something awful had happened.

Think I'm gonna go for a swim..see if that helps to lighten my mood

Enjoy your swim Daisy - I think some days it does just hit you - sending you lots of hugs and happy excercising vibes...

They sound like great employers....you might find that part-time is the right thing for you. Some of my friends work for what amount to very little after childcare, but say they'd rather do that as it gets them out of the house for their own life for at least part of the week. I found it can be very isolating being at home all the time, especially in the winter....summer was great though as I could get out and about a lot more.

bugger...just checked the timetable at the local pool....they're only open for another 20 mins then shut for lessons all afternoon and not open till after school chucking out....definately tomorrow...

....better tackle some ironing then.....

shame Daisybump - that happens to me too and for no specific reason I will just start crying - you just feel so emotional / vulnerable most of the time and I think it is good to just let it out!! Of course not all the time as baby picks up on our emotions, but there is nothing like a good old cry to make you feel better!!

I have not been sleeping so well lately as I have to get up for the loo every half hour during the night and also end up lying awake just staring and some pain in the tummy and pubic bone areas (midwife says it is good pain as body is preparing for birth!!), - anyway - this has not been too great for my mood as I need a lot of sleep. But thenagain, I guess it is nature's way of preparing you for sleepless nights once Bambino arrives!

Caught up on some sleep yesterday afternoon and this morning, so feeling much better!

I have also been looking at swimming classes or just swimming to relax at our local pool -it's just down the road from where we stay - it is so hot at the moment I think it will be refreshing to go swimming.

I am not too much of a swimmer (or a health freak for that matter!) but I guess it will be relaxing!

I bought this very sexy (NOT!) new swimming costume of E-bay and I look like a wine barrel in it - hahaahahaa!

Oh - someone mentioned shaving - I shaved my legs this morning with difficulty - standing with leg on the bath's edge while rinsing in the hand basin - except for a bit of blood here and there it went ok I guess!

But then I tried the bikini line - but I could not see what I was doing - just did as much as I could - I am sure nobody will anyway be watching my sexy body as I get in and out of the pool- hahahahaa!!!

Toe nails are a different story - DH has been doing it for me - so patient and loving with me!

Re poo while giving birth - that is one of my biggest nightmares - I have told DH to clean me and not let me lie in my own poo, but other ladies have told me that is the last thing on your mind while you are in so much pain! Oh well, at least I have given DH instructions to clean me up, so let's see what happens. The indignities of giving birth ;---))

Hi all - got my shower gift today - hooray hooray!!! Totally needed it today, as DS screamed his head off all morning (teething, what a joy...)

Waxing prep - really avoiding it this time. Just too much of a wimp!! Normally I'm good about these things, too. Someone please encourage me to care more!

London picnic - excellent idea. I'm running out of time though only 24 days to go. Well 23 if you don't count the day of my section actually. OMG OMG OMG!!!

OOh also big style news. The Kate Moss collection is apparently The Sh*t. Anyone seen any of it themselves yet? Methinks a trip to Kingston is necessary tomorrow. Plus there is a Krispy Kreme counter there. (as if I needed excuses - hello gain of 2stone!)

At least you have a firm date Lilkel...and know that you will have your LO in your arms in another 24 days

Don't forget to post on the secret shower thread so Mars can pick it up...

thanks for welcome Annobal!! I know 7 weeks is a long time to be at home before baby comes, but I tell you it is better for my sanity to be at home now already as being a secretary for 22 people is not always so easy - especially as everyone wants wants wants wants - but hey, that's part of the job!

Daisybump - re parttime work - I believe what you are saying, hence me not resigning yet - and the company is indeed amazing by keeping my job until June next year, so I have lots of time to decide what to do!

At the moment all I can think about is Bambino!

re the poo during labour - and yes it's way TMI sorry but - there is a helpful natural impulse to save us some indignity involving a giant emptying out shortly before labour kicks off. It's one of the unofficial signs of labour beginning actually. Just keep the dried/fresh fruit coming so you're always ready for it

right. off to buy more choc.

Leave the ironing Daisy have some chocolate and watch neighbours.

RB - they do sound like great employers - mine were prettty good as well but it had a lot to do with my boss being totally un-pc and I think they were afraid I would take some of her comments further

LOL at the winebarrel RB....

Don't worry about pooing youself...the MWs have seen it all before and as they usually have you on pamper bed mat type things, they just whisk the whole thing away and replace with a clean one.

I must admit it was one of my fears, but once the whole thing was under way I didn't give it a minutes thought...so don't honestly know whether I did or not....must ask DH if he can remember

hi notsolilKel - check out Tesco's - they now sell Krispy Creams too!! You now have a good excuse to pig out - hahaaha - I'm being naughty as I am the one who have been telling people women who say they need to eat for 2 are just using it as an excuse to pig out!!

Re waxing and shaving - apparently they don't shave you anymore at the hospital so I guess the hair doesn't bother them, but for hygenic reasons I would like DH to trim that area just before my due date!

Someone mentioned in this thread inducing labour - DH and I chatted about it and if I go over 13th June, then I want to have acupunture of reflexology done as both of these are natural, non-invasive methods to bring the baby down if done correctly.

The midwife gave us a contact who does this and I had acupuncture done to fall pregnant, so have another brilliant contact who will be able to help with this.

RB - you won't worry at all about pooing during labour - you don't even think about it. Lilkel is right in that you do 'evacuate' and apart from that, you don't even know you are...

Lilkel, how exciting that you will have your LO in your arms in 23 days!!!!

oh notsolilKel - midwife did mention something about a runny tummy being one of the first signs of going into labour if I remember correctly!!

I have been very fortunate - I haven't been at all constipated or had heartburn - actually totally the opposite - I go to the loo for number 2 so often since I fell pregnant - I guess it can only be good for the system (and avoiding getting those dreaded piles!!!)

...OK boss...feet well and truly up...(as if I needed an excuse)

In fact I think I could go another snooze...yawn..

hi everyone, I'm not a regular poster, but do check in every now and again to see how you are all doing, and read all your post with interest and a .

I'm due on June 14th and live in North London, I already have a 3 and a half year old little girl.

Rabbitbreath, i live very close to you in Alexandra Palace, I also feel I don't know enough people with new babies, so if you would like to meet up after the babies are born, that would be great.

Its so exciting now, can't wait to read all the birth announcements.

Anyone having theirs at the Royal Free?

now this is TMI....but my sister said it was her piles popped out rather than poo during her 2nd labour [gross face emoticon].

Thankfully I don't have any...that I know of anyway

Hi Claire....glad you could join us

Is that smile in a "what a funny bunch they are" kind of way, or an "oh, bless their poor soft heads" kind of way

oh god Piles. Yes. Be certain to put some dried fruit and Anusol into the labour bag - I had to send DH for it after my last birth and waiting for it was like waiting in the Gobi desert for a cup of water!!

To add to the labour experience bit - if you did happen to poo I can honestly say you will probably never know it, because there are so many other things coming out (the waters, blood, baby, etc) and it's a right old messy affair so don't worry at all about that bit!

BTW my 23-day-countdown is assuming this one waits till 39 weeks. With my first arriving 3 weeks early I'm not sure I'll make it!! So why am I sat here calmly eating a Twix? Denial, denial, denial...