Due August '07 Part 5 - Whizzing into our third Trimester !

[tokentotty]

Hellooooo !!

Hi TT - how was the concert on Saturday - still terribly green with envy !

Will defo try the kick chart yet when i eventually get to 32 weeks - 29 weeks today so far so 32 weeks seems like ages away.

Had a good weekend - put the decorating finishing touches to the nursery - got a pack of those removeable stickers (peter rabbit) so the walls are covered in bunnies - looks very cute. The cotbed was delivered this morning so I really think we are just about ready apart from a few bits and pieces.

Going to Spain this weekend to see my Mum for the last time before LO makes an appearance so when i get back I'll start thinking about packing my hospital bag so will look for betty's list with interest TT.

Being lurking on the bounty pregnancy forums this morning and loads of the due in August mums on there have had bags packed since the end of April/ beginning of may!! Scared the life out of me to be honest!

Went to an NCT nearly new sale yesterday - god it was busy to start with and a bit unpleasant in the hot weather. Did get a couple of nice bargains though - a pack of 6 sleepsuits for 60p and a nursing pillow for £10. For some reason I couldn't bring myself to buy a baby bath which seemed a bargain at £3.50 with a top and tail bowl. I've bought a new washing up bowl to use initially but don't really know what I'll use afterwards - suppose a baby bath is the best thing and will kick myself later for not getting it.

Hope everyone is well.

He's also got an extra finger on each hand. I think it's a genetic thing that's related to smoking (if that's possible). Mil didn't smoke when pg with dh and he didn't have any but she smoked when pg with sil and she had 2 extra fingers. Sil smoked when pg with her ds1 who had extra fingers and didn't smoke with her dd who didn't have any. She smoked with her ds2 (which is the one who had the extra toe as well). They don't have any bones so they're easy to remove apparently.

We actaully had a really nice w/e -the first in ages with no arguments, and DS was a dream!

We went to see Thomas the Tank Engine at Tenterden yesterday - 6 adults, 2 2 yrs olds and a babe in arms. amazingly, not only did the boys behave beautifully - but the adults did too more or less. Enjoyed a lovely glass of ice cold wine with the picnic (I'm sorry -there is no way i am going through an entire pregnancy missing out on the best things!) and now looking forward to going to France on thursday for a few days.

I can sympathise about the "other peoples children" thing - my SiL's children are all grown up - but we recently had the 18yr old D to visit - she's earning, her G/f paid for her trip here, and she sat on her arse the whole time monaing that we didn't have Sky, or reading her trashy mags (no offence - I read them too). She ASKED to come down to play with DS, then expected me to take holiday, and DS out of PAID FOR nursery so she could play. I'd go for the 2yrs olds at any time!!

Well done on the bargains Hersetta. I think April/May for the hospital bag seems a bit early. Unless you have any problems I think 36 weeks would be early enough. If I remember rightly I took mine out with me in the car everywhere I went from about 38 weeks. Before that I just kept it in the hallway. I've got my sister's wedding when I'm 38 weeks. She's 3 hours drive away and we have to stay in a hotel for 2 nights. If it's not enough having to pack for the stay I've also got to pack some baby essentials 'just in case'.

Glad you had a good weekend growingbagpuss. It must have been something in the air. We stayed in for the whole weekend for the first time in ages and dd was really good, despite not having any naps.

Definitely with you on preferring the younger kids. I'm just thankful we didn't have to have them overnight (sil had to stay with the baby in hospital). Fil rescued us.

Again - I'm with you on other peoples kids - they are so annoying and mine are perfect . I've turned into a really shouty mum and I don't want to be. I think it's because I'm stressed about the next week - dd birthday (sun)/ moving (wed)/ holiday in Cornwall (Sat). And being big and fat and not being able to to all the things I want to.

I've got really swollen fingers today and hoping it's the heat and not high BP. Seeing MW on wednesday so will have to wait and see!

Gill - can't beleive your SIL has 2, 1 and baby - how does she cope! - guess that's why she went back to smoking!

Afternoon to everyone and congrats to loler on finally exchanging and to MrsB on having selected with much difficulty her LO's first means of wheeled transport!
Hersetta - you deserve bargain hunter of the year. V. impressed with your venturing to one of those sales on such a hot day.

We spent all weekend in a yoga room at the Active Birth Centre doing Janet Balaskas' preparation for birth course, and I have to say it was fantastic. I am so glad we went and would highly recommend it. She is very down to earth and teaches you not only how to have as natural a delivery as possible but also how to deal with interventions when they are necessary, and to keep an open mind - so not an all or nothing approach at all. Even though I had read her book it was extremely enlightening, and I think DP was well educated in what he needs to be aware of as my partner in all this! Our hospital bag list has grown exponentially though - suddenly we are wondering if our car is big enough.

afternoon all- lovely being back in a boiling hot office today- I CANNOT wait to get out of here. Roll on July 12th...
Seeing GP tomorrow so will check out blood pressure as it tends to be on the low side which could explain woozy feeling (only seems to happen in the office..)
Finally bought a couple of things at the w/e- a half price gro bag and some very sweet vests from M&S. LO's room is half painted- happy with colour and JL have just phoned to say they will deliver cot etc on Thurs- eek.
Feeling gulity at moaning about how uncomfortable everything is and can't sleep etc etc when some of you have to deal with other kids as well and I only have to look after myself. Can't imagine having to look after others as well!

kiteflying- any top tips for the hospital bag?

cheap cushions to save your knees. 2 yoga mats - which your DP can sleep on if it all goes on a while. Ball, which I think we had all decided to take in anyway on this thread. Antiseptic wipes for hospital bathrooms and loos. Sign for door to tell people to knock - to prevent being interrupted if sleeping in transition or otherwise, and during third stage. This last one we had not thought of at all but it seems so obvious!
I have a funny story. I volunteered to demonstrate one of the birthing positions and even though it was a fake cloth baby that was delivered, when J asked me what I would do next and I picked up said fake baby and held it to my chest I could feel myself welling up. I kid you not. It must have been the dress rehearsal effect but I felt like such a muppet.

Oh Kite - that's lovely that it made you go like that. Imagine what you'll do when it's the real thing !!!

i don't think my birth ball will fit in the car-Especially if we're in the 2 seater for the last time ever!

Cushions is such a good idea!! Even at home, with a duvet on the floor, my knees were killing me!

Can i add the daft things like lollies, cartons of juice, flannels (PLURAL - don't want to mix face and bum) - also i looked after a lady once who wanted cold flannels on her tummy between contractions (wierd, but it worked for her).

Hide anything you don't DP/DH nicking -DH stole my drink of juice while I was in labour - and it was the end of the last carton in the house!

Are you going to be delivering yourself a new car to go home in as well then Jem...

Jem - how easy is it to get into yuor 2 seater? I can't remember if you said there was another option? If there is - go for that - you are SOOOOO not gonna want to climb into or out of a 2 seater in labour !!!!

well said TT !!

We are thinking of sweet talking our local taxi company into sending one of their airport transfer estates. Lots of room for goodies and no crouching to get into the car (my DP still can't understand why I think getting into our car might be tricky in labour)

don't worry- we have another car! I can just imagine DH thinking it will be nice to have 'one last spin' though! Once you're in it it's actually much more comfortable than pur other car-it's just I foresee the getting in will become harder and harder.
The other car isn't really big enough either (small RAV-4) but everything on it runs out at the end of October so that's our deadline for getting a new one- have reached a bit of a deadlock about what to get though.

Hiya Kite. The birth course sounds great - I can't read enough of all that stuff at the moment. My main worry is that the midwife I end up with won't be confident enough to let me labour at my own pace (there aren't many home births here). Any more tips you picked up? Is Janet's book worth reading?

I've been reading Naomi Woolf's book, Misconceptions, which is v interesting as it challenges the view that motherhood is necessarily an instinctive and happy process - also a lot to say on the medicalisation of birth (particularly in the States). She had a very sad labour story of her own where it was just a cascade of medical intervention, despite her aiming for otherwise. Made me realise we're pretty lucky here in the UK to have such strong midwife representation. My sis-in-law is pregnant in Oz, and they don't see midwives there, only obstetricians (who give them endless internals, from what I can remember from her first pregnancy) .

Hahahahah I think labour is possibly not the time for nostalgia.....!!!!

I'm actually starting to put my hospital bag together as we speak, I know it's a bit early but everything seems to be coming along so fast. There's just over 7 weeks left for me, and if he's early...

I've gotten as far as two nighties, two towels, a pack of maternity pads, a tiny bottle of shampoo, a small tube toothpaste, rescue remedy, etc

I had a giggle at the thought of you all struggling into the hospital laden with gymballs and cushions and yoga mats! I hadn't planned on taking anything like that (knowing my luck I'd burst the gymball mid bounce and knock myself out)

Hi Banana. Has your sharp pain disappeared? Am getting tumps of Branston Hicks at the moment, but hoping practise makes perfect...

Yeah, just thinking about writing a list for my DH just in case I need him to pack it for me in the event of an emergency. Better show him what big knickers and nipple pads look like .

Gymball is great for standing positions if you put it on the bed with DP supporting it from the other side.

I realise that I need to do much much more strength work on my legs if I am going to be able to deliver standing up!

As we are at the Heath Birth Centre, a lot of AB kit is already available but for some reason I am a bit squeamish about using someone else's ball.

Jem, I really hope that when we are all a post natal club you regale us with the story of how you drove in your sports car to the hospital out of sentimental attachment, and took a photo to show the baby...

oh, I really enjoyed Misconceptions as well.
Looking back I can't get over how many I've read - glad I got them from the lib rather than buying them!

Christ, breast pads. Forgot those, ta!

Thanks for asking, the sharp pain isn't gone exactly, it seems to be happening about once week but I mentioned it to the midwife and she said it was probably just a muscle pain as everything feels a bit strange when baby starts to fill the whole of your abdomen. She also said it could be baby pushing against my ribs with his feet, it's hard to tell.

I've been having a few braxton hicks too although they sometimes last longer than the books describe them (had tension and pressure for an hour one night) Midwife didn't seem worried anyway, as baby is still very active. She just said next time something happens that I'm worried about to call the antenatal unit and speak to a midwife.

Do we all have to do kick counts or is it for a reason, TT?