Due in Sept '07 - part 5 - '.... Half Way to Heaven......?'

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Hope you all don't mind about the new thread. We've been AGONISING over the name

Hello All, I had my monthly scan this morning, I am HUUGE so was very surprised to hear the Dr say The Bump (don't want to know the sex) is only 1kg! The other kgs I've piled on must be the icecream .. But we are otherwise ok, I'm taking a normal pregnancy multivitamine, two thyroid tablets and omega oils. They seem to be making a difference, re energy levels, thanks god.
Kinki - at least you know about the c-section, you can get your head round it and plan a bit that way. Much better than having one sprung on you when you were all geared up for a 'normal' birth, or worse, were in labour and the Drs change they mind. I had a c's and it was fine, very quick and no troubles at all.

I am so jealous of all your maternity leave, ladies! I am self-employed so I am going to work right up until the very last minute (or as long as I can take it) so that I can have time off after the wee one is actually here. Maybe this is crazy...

I really do need to look into self employed maternity benefits - does anyone know about this? May post on the main pg thread.

heya Laksa,
I just read your post, and I'd not worry too mucha botu the weight, if you BF you use 500 extra calories a day (that's more than if you ran hard core for an hour)and the weight will melt off you. I'm not saying you'll be back to your pre-baby weight in 3 months, but you should be on your way, and anyway, support unders are wonderful, that's what I used for our DS's Christening photos and that was 2 1/2 months later. Good luck, but don't get hung up over the weight and when it will come off

Hello everyone... phew! I'm flagging today! It's so hot and muggy here and commuting on the tube is hell on earth. Luckily today I'm on a later shift so no rush hour to contend with, but yesterday was hell doubled. I ended up shuffling up the road, having bought a ready meal at M&S (something I never do, can't stand them) and collapsing on the sofa when I got home. Dh was a bit shocked to see a panting sweating red faced person gasping on the sofa (just a little rehearsal of labour for him!!)

I am starting to feel a little bit tired now, I think it must be to do with the heat and heading towards 3rd trimester. I've got a lot on my plate the next few weeks too, new bathroom going in on Monday so masses of distruption there, then the decorators are in for a fortnight to paint the whole house. At the same time, I'm working down at Wimbledon during the tennis, which is always a bit chaotic. Plus Thames Water are starting to build the world's biggest hole outside our house on Monday, their working hours start at 7.30am (eek!), not so bad for mortals, but for us poor shift workers it's hell... and they're going to be there until after the baby is born!!! EEEK! BUT... I'm putting my leave in for our week in France today, so that's something to look forward to!

Welcome Dal... you'll get used to my wingeing, feel free to join in!!

Laksa - great news about your sister, I'm sure you won't be fat at all!

Hannahsaunt - great to hear the blood wasn't anything too bad.

Edie - I hope the move goes ok. I haven't been too emotional so far, but this morning I was watching the news about the birth rate rising and the strain on midwives, there was a woman who'd obviously just given birth and she was crying her eyes out (with happiness I'm sure) It totally set me off, not good as I was trying to put some mascara on at the time! Made me laugh because the Friends episode on E4 last night was the one when Phoebe is pregnant with triplets and she has these massive mood swings starting out laughing at a joke and ending up sobbing. I think I'm starting to be a bit like that!

Kinki - I hope you manage to sort some decent time off soon. LOL at the idea of you working your shift and then popping off for your section!!

Fio - I hope you feel better soon. I'd see someone if it goes on antoher day, you don't want to get dehydrated or anything else!

Have a lovely day everyone xxxx

Hi everyone

Time is ticking on! 27 weeks tomorrow, so 13 to go.

Holly29 - you will be entitled to Maternity Allowance through Jobcentreplus. Here is a link to the info for you.

Enjoy the rest of the day. I have a dodgy tummy today, so don't know what that is all about. Might be a bug because my DH woke up with it this morning also.

It's my birthday..

Feel SO alone

keep crying

Bloody pregnancy hormones.

Right, got some lovely RL friends, need to sort my life out!! Being taken for lunch in a minute.

Sorry to bring a downer on the day, but I think today has hit me, how close we came to losing DH in motorbike accident in November, with DH being away in Finland, it's a bit of an insight into how life could have changed for us. Silly because he's alive, and we're blessed with a new baby on the way.

Sorry girls, will stop it now. Just feel like I need to 'get it out'

I'll come back on this evening.

Hope you're all well. Palpatations seem to have stopped to that's good.

happy birthday hiwbb. Why not not try and have a bump and you pampering session tonight to cheer you: bath, candles, goodies to eat?! Thanks for advice on dh - I just hope that he'll be okay.
kinki - midwife told me to drink ovaltine to boost iron. Gone off tea so have replaced it. You can get just water variety too if hot milk thing is as bad for you as me. It takes a bit of getting used to but is better than nothing and good for us.
I'm still off building up to a mega day tomorrow as got parents evening. I've just managed to bok in to the Ivy for August so I'm really chuffed. Seeing Grease too as dh's dad is coming to stay and hasn't seen him for about 15yrs and I've never met him. Hope to god we ge on ok
I would like an idea of baby size but no one mentioned it yet. Hoping it's huge so it makes me have more of an excuse for being like a whale!
ps. welcome dal I find this sofa great too!

bye for now

Aww, Hopey, shame you're feeling so sad on your birthday. Hope you have a lovely lunch with your friends and fun with your dc this evening. Is there anywhere you could take them out for tea tonight? Do something special for all of you maybe. It's probably natural to think what might have been, especially on more emotional days like birthdays. And especially when you're on your own, and when you're pregnant as well. I'm sure those feelings will eventually pass. Glad those palpatations have stopped for you. I know its not nice when you get them. If it happens again, try to occupy your mind with something so that you're distracted. But do mention it to the mw if it troubles you.

Don't envy your dodgy tum Lou. Hope you get over that quickly. Thanks for that link you did for Holly. If I don't get anywhere with my claim for maternity leave or smp, that info could be really helpful to me as well.

Blimey Mrs M, you've got a lot on your plate at the moment! Don't know how you manage it! Especially the tube. How hot does it get on there?

Lux, I've had an emergency section and a planned one in the past. Definitely definitely definitely would go for a planned one over an emergency any day. Not for any other reason than it was calmer. Seems such a little word, but a calm environment made all the difference to me.

Wow, laksa, very organised and productive. Do you live near me, because I think I could make good use of you and your excess energy. Priority is my humungous pile of washing. Fancy helping me with that? Got about 8 loads and I really can't be bothered to do it.

That's something they never tell you about before having a baby - the amount of extra washing you'll end up doing. Oh the days when it was just the 2 of us and a couple of loads a week. You can forget that. Mind you, little babygrows on the washing line look so cute! Thanks for the tip Edie, might go have a look at some of the supplements. Just back from the chest clinic. Still on steroids, and been given ANOTHER course of antibiotics. This baby will look just like a little pink capsule when its born I reckon!

cc, are you seeing Grease and going to the Ivy in one evening? Wow, what a night! I'm envious. I went there once, and had a great meal, it was gorgeous. We didn't book, we were just walking by and I said to dh that I'd love to go there one day. So in he goes, walks up to the maitre'd and tells him that he wants a table for his wife as its our aniversary. He was told there was no room and it was advance booking only. But he didn't take no for an answer. He told him he REALLY wanted to treat me, and that I REALLY wanted to dine there. So the maitre'd said well in that case, why didn't you say, bring her back at 10 and we'll make sure there's a table for you. I couldn't believe our luck. As they say, if you don't ask, you don't get. Thanks for the ovaltine tip, but I've never been able to drink it. I'd rather eat a wheelbarrow of spinach. But thanks anyway.

Happy Birthday HIWBB. For my birthday in March DP was out at a work do so i had the girls round for a takeaway. Sorry you're feeling lonely - you definately deserve some special treatment to make up for it!

I'm dropping work to 2 days a week as of july but won't stop until 38 wks! Did the same last time and i'm sure it will be hard with the hot weather - work for me is looking after another 2.5 yr old!

Welcome Dal21

kinki - that sound fab. Well impressed with your dh. We're doing pre theatre dinner then Grease! Something fabulous to look forward to. They might have to roll me out off Ivy into seat though

HIWBB- Happy Birthday and sorry about how you are feeling. You have been through an awful lot though and it's not silly.

MrsMar- All that DIY sounds stressful! Our house is on the market now but because we haven't put it at a cheap price, I think it will stay on for a while which is OK with us as I would rather move when we have had the baby (quite a bit after). We are only moving to make some dosh.

Kinki- Def have a look at the Sanatogen Pro natal. My iron levels are fab but I think it's probably due to taking this for so long. I do like my veg and meat though!!

Laksa- SPD is horrible I hear. Can you really not go swimming?! I am glad to hear you are full of energy!

Holly29- Good luck with mat leave info. You have as much right to decent leave as anyone.

Hello everyone,
i haven't been on in a while as i have been so busy hope everyone is well. I have a question, for some reason i decided to join the gym last week feel like the pregnancy is catching up on me. Is it safe for me to go and excercise? i go swimming but i haven't yet done a work out in the gym?

Welcome Dal and Happy Birthday HIWBB!! I hope you have a lovely day and evening.

Looby - as far as I know its safe to do as much exercise as you like as long as you feel ok. Things like swimming are recommended just because they take the weight off you for a bit! I think you need to be careful about overheating though.

Edie - moving house is enough to drive anyone to tears never mind a pregnant woman! Hope you feel less overwhelmed soon.

Fio - Hope you feel better soon too hon - I am due 5th Sept as well but am planning on stopping at the end of July. There is no way I am soldiering into London from Reading every day in August heat. The tubes are a nightmare now and its barely scratched 23 degrees.

I had my 28 week check today at the hospital (because of bleeding episodes I had to go there rather than midwife). Saw incredibly dishy and very sweet doctor who informed me that my lo is quite big (30cm - apparently this is a quite a lot for 28 weeks but I don't know what its meant to be)but wouldn't give me a predicted weight. Poss a good thing as I prob would have freaked. The baby is also head down which is good news although I guess he has plenty of time to change his mind on that one. Don't know why I keep saying he.......

Happy Birthday HIWBB!!

Hope you get some spoiling.

I may be wrong here, hopefully someone can correct or clarify, but I think the measurement goes as follows: they measure from the symphysis pubis (bone at bottom of abdo just below top of pubes) to the top of uterus - this is felt as top of baby I think. This is only done after 20 weeks and the result in cms should match your date in weeks. Ie, I'm 25 weeks now, so my measurement should be 25cm. Penny, if you're 28 weeks, typically you should expect a measurement of about 28cm, so if you're measuring 30cm this could indicate a larger baby. Please don't take this as gospel, its just something I've heard, and needs clarifying really. Also I don't know how much latitude is acceptable either.

Happy Birthday HIWBB - hope you had a nice lunch and are feeling less weepy now

I've had a lovely day but am now completely shattered. Went to the dentist this morning and took ds for the first time to start and get him used to it. He sat in the chair and the dentist made it go up and down, ds wasn't overly impressed, I think he was just shy though

Then went to Boots and they have little trolleys for the kids so ds was in his element pushing it round. Then met a friend and her lo for lunch and had a picnic in the park, followed by paddling in the pool and time on the swings etc. Sitting down now for the first time today (bar driving) looking forward to my bed

To all those that have to work, my thoughts are with you, especially MrsMar having to brave london and commuting in this muggy heat.

Looby - as regards the gym, make sure you see someone who can talk you through what to do. I started off going up until 4 months but then just have not had the time and now I get tired so easily I don't think it is worth me going. I have Davina's pregnancy workout DVD though and am going to start doing that.

Swimming is the best thing you can do, and also use the cross trainer rather than the treadmill, it is easier on your limbs Also light weights on your arms and legs should be ok.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Kinki I think you're right about the measuring of the belly. I am almost 27 wks and measuring at 25. (OOhh, small baby.) But in the past it has been exactly spot on.
Out of interest my biggest at 8lb 5 was the easiest...
This one is transverse at the moment.
The birth seems so far away, but we are all starting to feel uncomfortable.
which is why some of us are feeling a bit down at times.
Personally I hate the period between now and about 34 weeks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIWBB!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

....For she's a jolly good mumsnetter, for she's a jolly good mumsnetter...for she's a jolly good mumsnetter

and so say all of us !

I have been VERY quiet for what feels like MONTHS. I went into work today (I had been signed off for two weeks and have opted for early maternity leave starting next week - long story !) and I had written your birthday in my diary - I remember you mentioning your DH would be away a while back. I really hope you had a good day -

sending extra special birthday vibee to you....

awww HIWBB - sorry you were so down earlier, hope the lunch was great fun and you're feeling better Happy Birthday!!!

I must admit I'm quite of those who don't have to commute too much or at all but at least I don't do it in rush hour, and get a lovely airconditioned car home in the evening! Mind you, I don't know what's more exhausting, doing the crummy commute or being pregnant at home with a toddler all day. At least I'm sitting down for most of my day! Respect to all those doing this pregnancy thing with other LOs around, I'll be employing the services of a nanny for the next one (ie my mum!)

Penny, I think the thing kinki was referring to is fundal height (if you want to google it) I had mine done at last midwife appt, at 18 wks I had fundal height of 18cms. I was quite pleased I was bang on but the midwife said it wasn't an exact science so not to be too proud of my total averageness!

Looby - I'm well impressed at your energy. I'm starting to flag (sitting here at work trying to think of valid excuse for a sickie tomorrow!!) I like the idea of swimming though, must get myself a nice maternity cossie. Don't over strain yourself now!!

Edie - it is all a bit daunting, but I'd rather do it now than later. I've been waiting 10 years to get the money together to do nice things to the flat... already did new kitchen thing last year and totally loving it. I'm really looking forward to having shiny new walls with no chunks of plaster missing (done by builders putting kitchen in!!)

Kinki you a pretty much spot on with the fundal height measurement. same number of cm as weeks with a 2 cm allowance either side. Some trusts have individualised growth charts now based on your height and the average for those isn't always the same as 1 cm a week. Also it is very easy to measure a few cm different with the tape measure depending on who is doing it. Basically it shows a change over a period of time ie that the baby is growing but is only a rough estimate. If they would worried they would scan you - but again that is not an exact science and they can be a pound out with their weight estimates - but again can plot the change in size on a graph.

this website has some good explanations for reasons your fundal height may not exactly match your pregnancy stage, eg position of baby (fundal height measurements can be affected if the baby is breech or transverse)

Thank you all SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for my birthday wishes.

I love you

Aw, bless you! don't cry now (sniff!)

Hi Everyone hope you are all having a good week ?

HIWBB - Happy Birthday to you ! So sorry you were feeling down on your birthday hope your friends cheered you up!My DH will be flying back from Hong Kong on my birthday so I am taking the DD's to see High School Musical at the Wimbledon theatre with some friends - should be fun !

PLP - welcome back - I was wondering where you were !

Looby - I have been going to the gym now and then and got a new programme from the trainer suitable for pregnancy. I'm sure they will advise you at your gym as to what is best.

MrsMAR - take care on the tube ! I was commuting when pregnant with my DD1 and it was awful. I did get people offering me seats which helped.

I have my 28 week check tomorrow so will ask how I'm measuring up !

love to you all xx