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, looking forward to hearing how the scans have gone today!

I've been feeling really sicky the last few days and today seems worse than ever. I think its because I'm tired from not sleeping and also I've been running the house since DH got a job. I'm not complaining as I'd rather have him working but it's taking some getting used to! After a little while, we'll start to share jobs again but I've committed to doing as much as I can while he adjusts (he hasn't worked for nearly 6 years!).

As for cats - we find mice all over our house!!! More often than not, she leaves them dead on the stairs but sometimes if they're alive, the dog kills them. (after much chasing around the house!!). Yesterday topped it off though - the cereal box was moving around on the kitchen side so DH put it in the cupboard (thought it was vibrations from the fridge). DS went to pour his cereals only to find a little face looking up at him - needless to say, he didn't get any cereals yesterday morning!!!!!!!! AARrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!

Can't wait for my ebay delivery - want to see how much of it is purple

Have a lovely holiday laksa!

xx

Can I just add that rhubarb 90 is not me? I got the shock of my life when I read posts congratulating me on my pregnancy!

Hi everyone, hope you are all well.

Laska I went for the Avent ISIS IQ (electric) breast pump for my last pregnancy, brilliant as it matches your personal pumping rhythm. However, I have to say that I expressed much easier and faster with the manual pump than when I had the electric attachment on. About 3-5 mins to get 4 oz.

Re. breast pumps, I had both the Avent Isis manual one and the Medela mini-electric and, contrary to other people's experiences here, I had far more success with the manual Avent. I did have both on the go at one time sometimes, which really cut down on the expressing time but made you feel like a milking machine

I had the advent manual which was fine. But by far the easiest way for me was hand expressing. I also used little cups over the other nipple while feeding which would collect leaking milk. I'd pour this excess into a sterile pot and by the end of the day I'd have enough to fill a bottle/bag which could then be frozen. That was even easier than expressing.

I had the avent one last time and had mixed responses to it - alot depends on how chilled you are lots of tips are around on MN if you do a search, like keeping baby near you etc.

I'll be naughty and use disposables I'm afraid.

Planning to get a sling rather than a carrier this time - anyone have any experience of which one is best?

Good luck to all those having scans today - I hope all is well. It is an emotional day.

Chattyhan, I would have felt much the same as you I think. I'm still not totally convinced the sonographer was right about it being a girl, but I found myself so worked up about it the night before as I too really wanted one. ANd I was convinced it was a boy. Logically I know that all that is important is that it was healthy and I found myself thinking all sorts of awful things that I never thought I would.

I have always said that if it is a boy I would like maybe to try for a third several years down the line - I am young still so should be able to do that. DP lot less keen on that one!

My DS is lovely, I love him to pieces and agree that little boys are much more affectionate than most of the little girls I know. I get the best kisses and cuddles. But I always thought I'd have a girl! It is true that you have several weeks to get used to the idea before you meet baby and you will love him just the way he is and never want to change him. But having DS1 you know that. Just take your feelings slowly IYSWIM.

I'm rambling and probably not helping. I'm so sorry your DH is being so unsupportive though, that is the last thing that you need atm. Does he open up eventually?

MY BACK oops is starting to get very painful. It was the same last time and is basically at the site of an old injury. Tis making me rather miserable. Need to try the support belt thingy but as it is at the top of my back not sure how much it will help. Will try and attend next months physio session too. Ah well. The joys eh?

Chatty, I am so sorry you're having problems with dh still. My dh isn't too bad about talking about his feelings, but sometimes the deeper ones do stay buried longer than they should. My BIL is absolutely terrible at bottling things up, it drives my sister mad because he never talks about things like that, which is totally alien to us, because we're a loud Italian family with lots of women who usually share all our woes and foes around the dinner table! However, I always think of that book "men are from mars, women are from venus" in these situations. Most of it is psychobabble, but one thing that rang true with me is the idea that when men have a problem, or something they need to sort out in their heads, they need to retreat to their "caves" to think things through. I think your dh might just need more time. We women are wired differently to men, the bits of our brains that deal with emotions and articulate those emotions are much more developed than mens, so we are much more able to communicate how we're feeling. Men need a little more time. Plus, men and women bond in different ways, men will talk about interests and such like as a way of bonding with each other, whereas women tend to talk about their emotions as a way of bonding with each other. In fact we're so different it's amazing any of us manage to keep relationships going! It's important to bear in mind our differences, and try giving him some more time, he's still working out his feelings. In the meantime, don't talk pregnancy things to him at all and keep coming on here if you're desperate to talk. It's what we women do! We're so much better at these things!

That's enough phsycho bull from me, I do hope the situation at home improves soon. Take care xxx

sorry Laksa, I've got terrible pregnancy brain. Enjoy wales. Gower is gorgeous, and it looks like this rain will stop this weekend, weyhey!!!

I know what you mean about forgetting you can't do things, it hadn't even occurred to me that I couldn't ski at 15 weeks until lots of people started saying nooooo! Did I listen to them? Did I heck! Have a great time whatever you do!

xx

I'm having another BOY YAY! so excited

Flossalump, I'm not sure of the difference between slings and carriers, so I may be recommending the wrong style for you, but I loved, loved, LOVED my Baby Bjorn - it was brilliant. If you're looking for something to last a little longer, my friend swore by the Hugababy Sling and she carried her son around in that until he was really quite old, at least 2 years old), which I couldn't do in the Baby Bjorn.

Congratulations MrsFish, that's great!!!! xx

Hi all. First of all, can I just say I'm really sorry to Rhubarb? I should've checked it out first before I chose my screen name, I didn't know it would cause confusion. Many apologies.

Thanks for everyone's good wishes, the scan went really well, everything that needed to be seen was there, all the right measurements and everything. We think we may have seen the sex of the baby but can't be sure and didn't ask in case they got cross. Anyway, I was terrified in case anything was wrong but I feel much better now. I hope everyone elses went just as well too.

Congrats Mrsfish and rhubarb90!! More good news, hurrah!

re: breast pumps, I am feeling rather sorry that I trashed the manual ones as so many of you have clearly had good experiences - I guess it really does depend on the person (and the boobs ) I guess the best thing to do is try a cheaper manual one first and if it doesn't work then move up to an electric.

kinki - hand expressing worked well for me at the beginning too - sometimes all this technology is useless

So the idea was that I have my scan and then go baby stuff shopping but something is still holding me back.... I guess I am being superstitious. But I have made a lovely long list AND bought a big blue birth ball - great for sitting on in front of the computer.

Chattyhan - glad to hear you're starting to feel better
Flossalump - like Tinkjon I loved my baby bjorn sling and can't wait to use it again!
givememoremash and Mrsfish - congrats on the scans

When is everyone starting their mat leave? i've only got 6 weeks left at work not that I'm counting the days . Is anyone else leaving as early as me or am I a real wuss? although to be fair am movng abroad the week after I finish work, hence starting mat leave as early as pos!

congratulations mrsfish!

the sling i have my eye on this sling here . One of my friends had one, baby was sleeping peacefully and looked really comfy and cosy! It is either that or the baby bjorn, as everyone always seems to love theirs!

Flossalump - I also loved the idea of this sling and bought it before I got a babybjorn one, however I had to take it back to the shop as my DD hated it and screamed every time I tried! Although I do know several people whose babies have loved it...

Filbrit - My last day at work is 28th June and I'm counting the days!!! I'm trying to save up all my 'nesting' for then and want to enjoy summer at home. Also, DH is working now so I'll need to be at home for the kids in the summer holidays - can't wait!

Re pumps - I'm afraid nothing was successful for me with my previous DC's and I wasn't able to express at all - hope you guys are more successful!

xx

Hi everyone.

All good

10 fingers, 10 toes, everything where it should be

My placenta is lying a little low at present but will hopefully move up as the baby grows. They'll scan me again at 36 weeks to check. Hopefully it'll behave or I may risk losing my home birth. Still a safe delivery is all that really matters.

Told the girls tonight and bought them a present from the baby which they were far more interested in than me showing them the book - 'All About Babies' and talking to them. All Lottie kept saying was 'boob, milk' over and over again!

Awww, that's brilliant ThomCat - congratulations!!!

LOvely news TC - fingers crossed your placenta does as its told!

I've decided to wait until my 28 week app to discuss the whole homebirth thing. They know I wanted one but I haven't been 'booked'. I'm feeling a bit nervey about the whole thing so would rather discuss it properly again and if I'm not able to book in at 28 weeks then it wasn't meant to be! Weird logic I know but one I feel comfortable with for the time being.

Filbrit, I'll have to check out my friends opinion on it - the day I saw her with it was literally just after she had brought it!

Flossalump sorry hope I didn't sound all "know it all" about the sling, I'm sure your LO will love it!

God no, I didn't think that at all! In fact I only thought I'd probably end up doing the same! I'm sorry I made you think I'd thought that iyswim!

I have just spent the last hour looking into baby slings and am still none the wiser as to which one to get.

Congratulations on the brilliant scan results!

Still having problems with DP MrsMar i agree with what you're saying i told DP i would like to talk to him when he feels ready. He said their is other stuff bothering him too and he'll sit down with me tonight - so i think thats positive.

Getting slowly used to being mummy to boys and thinking about the great friendship the brothers will have!

Really hope this thing with DP blows over soon as i hate that he won't come any where near me. I could really do with a hug!

Can't comment on the slings as i have a baby bjorn carrier! But breast pumps i had avent isis manual and got on fine with it.

Good morning all. Lovely news on the scan fronts (sounds a bit like a weather forecast).

We loved the baby bjorn and plan to use it again having had a disastrous experience with the Tomy equivalent first time round. Avent manual pump was fine and the madela electric one awful but that was partly due to cracked nipples at the time and didn't persevere due to ds2's extreme antipathy towards bottles anyway.

The day is being punctuated by someone drilling very loudly directly underneath my desk. I keep anticipating some kind of cartoon sawing around my seat and that I will disappear suddenly into oblivion...

Quite of all those who have shopping to do! We have 2 boys and with a 3rd on the way there isn't really anything we need (beyond a new stroller in a year or so). Which reminds me - still need to check out mattie clothing policy as I have a feeling that it has changed and I need to take all that the baby will need rather than just the going home outfit.

Mat leave won't start until 1 Sept! Ages and ages and much work away (which reminds me - should really be writing a strategic plan...)

Have a lovely day!