Due in Sept '07 - new thread (ish) until we can think of a good thread name, because we didn't notice the message counter and oops we've run out of room for messages!!! Am lost, here alone, come and find me.. HELLLLOOOOO

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Oooh this bad Boxer has just farted and it STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome kyala!!! Nice to have you on board.

kinki - I'm SO happy your DH seems to have sorted his head out, I was worried about you. LONG may it last.

Pennypops - yay on getting the nursery finished. Can you put a picture of it on your profile???? I'm looking for inspiration! I've had to hire a removals firm to come in and move the treadmill and exercise bike out of the (to be) nursery and into the garage, they're coming tomorrow. Needless to say, I've got a long way to go until it's ready!!! I'm also sweating a little bit as I've been told the car seat I ordered is out of stock until mid August, I ordered it from the Glasgow Pram Centre.

FioFio - thank goodness you're 'ok', hope the injuries mend quickly, look after you.

Laksa - you'd be amazed how many men find the pregnant form uber attractive! I'm sure you look gorgeous.

Floss - that's awful you feeling so unwell at the weekend, no fair.

Purple - sorry you're still suffering at night Have you had any joy about a physio appointment? I too get the odd stitch, I know exactly what you mean. It's frustrating when you want to do more/or go a bit quicker, but it is our bodies telling us to slow down. We've got fairly big passengers on board now!!

The worst bit for me is when I drop something on the floor, I'm finding it SO hard to pick stuff up. I was putting some washing in the machine earlier, and I found the top of my bump to be really sore when I tried bending over!

GTT - they're doing mine because of my history of big babies.

We had a lovely weekend. My SIL and her DH had our boys on Saturday night. We drove into London and dropped them off, at the same time picking up our cot which they have had for a few years for their DD. Fortunately their next door neighbour has offered them their cot. I was feeling a bit guilty taking our cot back, considering SIL is expecting her LO 10 days after mine!!!! Was very funny comparing bump size/symptoms!

DH and me went to the cinema to see 'Tell No-one', it's a French film with substitles, it was one of the best films I've seen in a long long time, I'd def recommend it. You girls need to have a night out at the cinema before LO's arrive!!!

PLP, LOL at the belly button popping out when suffering from constipation!! Re. pregancy constipation, I have one word for you - cherries!!!

Thanks Kyala - you made your own nappies - wow! Thats true dedication, I am v impressed.

Hopey - Glad you had a good weekend. I haven't managed to get the hang of this profile lark but will certainly try. The trouble is at the moment its just a little box room (and I mean little - you couldn't get a double bed in there and get out again) cream walls and skirting and lovely polished floorboards. We have an old house and if we'd put carpet in there it would be the only room in the house with carpet so we went with the boards. The cot is (or rather will be)dark wood with storage drawer underneath - need every cm of space)and I am trying to add colour in via accessories like rug, pictures, bedding, curtains etc. Because we don't know what flavour our baby is we couldn't go with a boy or girl theme!

hello! just managed to catch up with the weekend news.

Kinki - great to read your post, long may it continue (and handy tip about DH reading the thread...!)

Sorry to those in the wars - hope you all feel better and look after yourself. I have to say, now my horrendous cold has finally ended I feel pretty energetic so there is light at the end of the tunnel! Spent all weekend doing up the house, painting, putting wallpaper up etc. Nesting?

PLP - just to say bump bands (mine is a bella band) do seem to hold up my maternity jeans pretty well, although it makes you a bit warmer over the bump, which is fine in this weather but could get a bit sweaty if we actually get a summer. hope that's helpful!

have a good week all.

Hello everyone...

Welcome kyala - don't worry about long posts, that's my speciality!!

So sorry to hear about your rotten weekend floss... You poor thing. I hope you feel better soon.

Pennypops - I'm vvvvv jealous of you with your finished nursery! Ours is going to be painted on Wednesday, a nice pale yellow to cheer the room up a bit, but so far it's still filled to the rafters with dh's junk! We currently have one set of golf clubs, one racing bike, one set of cricket kit, about 10,000 copies of conde nast traveller magazine (wtf?), 70 odd bottles of wine, a wine fridge (with more wine inside!!!) and so much junk it kills me. He can't understand why I need to get all the old furniture out of there (double bed, hooooge tv on a stand, bookcase, and desk) in the next few weeks, he wants to keep it all in there until late August, just in case someone wants to come and stay!! Arggghhh!! Bil has offered us some space in his storage lockup thingy, so I'm working on him. I need the space cos we've got to get some built in wardrobes made up too, and we can't do it with all the junk in there. Does anyone else's dh/p hoard stuff everywhere? Dh has sooo many old travel magazines I can't lift them! He's got empty boxes FFS "just in case"

Ok, deeep breath, calm down!

On the babygro/sleepsuit question, should your LO wear a vest underneath them? I've got a 2.5 tog sleepbag for him, and long sleeved/legged sleepsuits, but surely the poor mite will be too hot with a vest as well? And what about during the day?

And on the subject of eco nappies... has anyone used www.greenbaby.co.uk/pl_NAPPIES_DISPOSE1.htm tushes Are they ok? They are gel free and free of lots of other things, not sure what percentage is biodegradeable, but they look pretty impressive.

HIWBB - I'm so with you on the whole picking things up from the floor dilemma... I'm currently doing a very ladylike spread the legs a bit letting my bump hang in the middle thing.

I haven't had any stitches while walking, I've had some sharp muscle pain in my lower abdomen but I think that's because I've been overdoing it lifting books and stuff on to shelves while moving stuff around the house! I am walking much more slowly these days though, it now takes me 20 minutes to get to the end of the road instead of 10 minutes!

Laksa - good luck with the pushchair hunt, I went for the bebe confort loula which faces front or backwards. My mum was a bit doubtful as it's not really like a proper pram (I think you can buy a pram attachment, a bit like the Bugaboo cameleon) but I didn't bother as the pushchair works from birth. It doesn't recline completely but it does recline quite a lot and it is suitable from birth, so hopefully it'll be ok.

Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts about the redecoration project. The bathroom is finished apart from the heated towel rail, there's some problem with the valve to drain the heating system, so it can't go in until that's fixed. Everything else is done though, and it looks great The painting's almost done, the hall is nearly there, the kitchen needs one more coat, then it's the baby's room. I'm dreading that one as it's so full of stuff, dh is away at the moment so it's going to be up to me to move huge amounts of crap so the poor painter can reach any of the walls But I can definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel :O

Have a lovely evening everyone, take care

xx

ps see kyala.. told you I had verbal diarrhoea !!!

AAAAaaarghh can I have a rant? I know this is nothing compared to the DH/Dp traumas some of you have been having, but I am totally snowed under at work - last week I was in 8am until 11pm every single day and this weeks is proving no better! Because i am self employed I am basically working until the baby is born...

I think I am going to die with exhaustion...

Anyway, rant over, back to work. I am so envious about everyone talking about their nurseries and buying things when I have had no time to do the same... (guess I'll have to stop when I go into labour!).

love to all and sorry to moan.

Hello all!

Well, I've finally done my last bit of work - hooray!! I went in for a few hours this morning then when I got home, I felt all dizzy so I just sat down for a while...

I so empathise with the bending over thing - doing the washing is getting harder and harder and even though we have a dishwasher, I still do the odd bit of washing up and that is getting more difficult with my bump in the way. How did I survive when I had my other 2 DC's!? The worst thing is bathing DD and washing her hair which really hurts my back. I'm waddling around like a weeble all the time now as my hips are really sore - all the family is laughing at me, especially my sound effects lol!

Poor DH just had a tooth taken out bless him. I can't believe it cost £85!!!! He has a proper phobia of the dentist and last time my Dad had to sit on him while the dentist had him in a head lock. He's really proud of himself this time though because he did it without all the fuss. Thinking of getting his work to pay for it because it was a cap that blew off and chipped his tooth in half that caused it so really they should cough up but we'll see!

As far as the nursery goes, it has been an 'office' up to now so we've got to move everything to somewhere else and so far we're struggling!!! When it's empty, we're redecorating etc. Already have the cot bed and mattress and bits and bobs so its just a case of getting on with it etc.

As far as the stitch goes, it sometimes happens when I'm sitting down - should I worry about that?

Have noticed LO is getting much more active and we can now see her moving around properly on the outside - she's definitely getting stronger bless her!!

Lovely to have some new people on the board! Sorry I haven't mentioned everybody but I do send my love and hugs!

PLP xxx

I'm so sorry Holly, crossed posts there and here I am going on about not working any more and the nursery etc! If it helps, I help out my parents with their business etc. and I'll be working there tomorrow even though I'm not officially 'working' any more!

Is there now way you can block out days in your diary so you can have a bit of a rest up at all, or maybe even half days? I know being self employed is completely different but you need to be looking after yourself and baby... Wish I could offer some sort of constructive advice, sorry I'm being useless!!

Big hugs to you and hope things ease up for you ((((((((Holly))))))))

try here
about the cloth nappies, she's really helpful.

Hope you're all getting through this bit ok, i'll be back after bedtime i expect and i'll look properly then..

MrsMar - re the vest question my DS was a december baby so he did wear a vest and sleepsuit at night but i think it depends on the temperature. As a general rule dress lo in 1 more layer than you're wearing!

Holly - rant away - we don't mind at all, what do you do? anything we can do to help?

PLP - lol at your dad sitting on your DH!

Holly29

That sounds awful. I wonder if you live near anyone who could help? I would happily do some shopping or cleaning for you, I live in Norfolk.

Just seen where you live, I may not be much help. I know there are others who live nearish on here...

However, I know of a fab site (Kiddiecare) that is very good and cheap too. One night after work you could order all your stuff for baby off there?

I loved that dd was born in january as I could wrap her up nice and warm, ds2 was july and i hated worrying that he was too hot.
I have always found little socks under/over sleepsuits/babygros a good idea as they have all had chilly feet. I think its easy to forget that as we can acclimatise and we move around we may feel warmer than a newborn who can't and doesn't. Saying that if its a hot September they can't cool themselves either. AAAARRRGGGHHH.

I'm glad i'm not the only one feeling a bit down [i've probably said it before] but I guess we've got about 8-10 weeks to go before things get started, so looking at it like that, its not so bad.
I get stomach muscle cramps all day, nd can't stay in one position at night for too long or i get one. I'm avoiding the leg cramps by stretching leg if i feel one coming. No heartburn, no having to get up for a wee [pelvic floor exercises must work] unless i wake up after a dream or noise or something.
I had to cancel m/w appointment today as ds1 was off school ill, so i'll have to re-book for next week i expect.

Ok so a positive way of looking at it I have found today is that 30 weeks = roughly 3/4s of the way. Now I know we might go overdue/first two weeks of pregnancy don't count but it is making me feeling better and probably will do until I can say only one month left. ok?

Thanks for all your well wishes, I am feeling better. Managed to loose my phone too yesterday although DP has just brought me a new one. Which is very sweet. I just hadn't quite given up hope of finding the old one yet and worry about him spending money! God i must sound like such an ungrateful cow.

Anyone else's hormones still playing havoc?

I didn't have too much of problem last time but at home all day this time with DD going throguh terrible 2's seems my hormones have a lot to answer for!!

Not so much aimed at DD herself but wait until DH gets home and I'm a wreck!! Just can't wait to start ranting/raving/bawling/stomping, you name it I can do it all in two minutes!! LOL

Any advice? Calming soothing remedies etc?

Cheers
xxx

Hi ladies, welcome kyala! Lovely to read all your news today. I love hearing about nurseries and purchases. Our 'nursery' is still an office too.

Re dressing lo: I ditto one extra layer than you are wearing. That seemed to work for me. I used blankets and sheets when dses were small, so not sure about under a sleeping bag. When about 18mths we converted to sleeping bag and then used just pjs, and a vest in the winter. I was told by someone sometime to feel baby's chest with the back of your hand to check for their temperature, if cool add more layers, if warm, less (obviously!). Just to help me establish my routines (mine, not baby's) I would dress the baby in day clothes and change into sleepsuits (same as babygros imo) at night. It just kind of helped me 'peg out' my day iyswim, help me sort out night from day, so that it didn't all roll into one endless slog. Hope I make sense.

Update on dh: now I'm not getting too stressed or depressed about it, but the miraculous change lasted for about 24hrs. Ever keen to look on the bright side of life I'm taking the approach of it's better to have been supported for a day than to have never been supported at all. (And no matter what, that sodding washing machine has gone and that has to be a good thing!). But seriously, it does help to see that the old dh is still in there somewhere. Gives me hope.

Had anti-d and gtt today. Anti-d didn't hurt too bad at all. Getting gtt result tomorrow, but it doesn't look too good - the pre-drink pin-prink test was a bit high. But they did say that the steroids I'm on could have affected the result and I'm not to panic until the proper results come back tomorrow. The really good news though is that I got chatting to the mws about my struggle to get maternity leave. They were fab. They printed me out loads of information that could help me and offered some practical support. One of them is a member of unison and their colleague is the hospital's unison trade union rep. They suggested I meet up with her and if it comes to it maybe even join unison to get this mess sorted. They were so so lovely. So I'm feeling quite positive today.

Well done all of you thinking of / already using eco friendly nappies. Bit ashamed to say that I've never. I do my little bit in other ways, but never been brave enough to tackle the nappy issue.

Hope the commuting is better this week for those of you in the big smoke, thinking of you. Better sign off now, this is getting long. (Although only half way through, I'll miss this thread when its full, because every time I add a message I have to smile as I'm reminded of Hopey's visitor with the stinky farts.)

Hi Kyala, cross posts there. Yes my hormones are a little frayed just lately. I've got a terrible 2 too! My gp related it closely to pms, in that when pregnant you are most likely to say the things that are bubbling under the surface, rather than suppress it like we do most of the time. The way she descibed it, it was a very positive thing to be - 'homonal' in pregnancy. Can't remember all she said now but essentially, better out than in. Oh, I'm babbling again.

A friend of mine once described being pg like having a layer of skin removed so you're extra sensitive to everything but in a metaphoric way iykwim...?!

Morning everyone!!! I'm up bright and early, I can't believe it... trust me, for me this is EARLY!! (oh and I don't have any children to wake me up) Had a fantastic nights sleep last night and feeling pretty good, I'm sure I'll flag by midday, but so far so good. Mustn't tell dh, he does get upset if I say I've had a good nights sleep without him, bless!

Holly - I'm so sorry to hear about work, I'm in south London so I'm happy to help in any way if I can. My one big tip is internet shopping, not clothes and stuff, but food shopping. Ocado is my lifesaver!!! My mum thinks I'm being pathetic, but it's 36 years since she was pregnant last, she was ten years younger than I am now, she wasn't working full time doing shifts she didn't have to park half a mile from her house thanks to useless residents parking scheme and doesn't have to heft her shopping up three flights of stairs so ner! Seriously though, not having to do crummy supermarket things have saved my sanity.

Thanks for the advice about dressing LO everyone. I just hope it's not a scorching September like last year, our poor sweaty babies!

I haven't had too many hormonal moments, I did have a wobble a few weeks ago when I felt really fat and ugly, and was really down about not being able to live it up, and yesterday I had a "moment" when I got so frustrated about being big and not being able to rummage under my bed properly I flung shoes and clothes all around my bedroom! I can recommend it as a good frustration beater, though the tidying up afterwards was less fun!

One of the reasons I'm up so early is because I had cat nightmares last night. Her litter tray is on our roof terrace, and what with all the rain that has got inside and filled it up and the fact my dh has been rubbish about emptying it, she won't use it now. I had to run around the house last night trying to stop her squatting in just about every corner she could find. She peed four times in the kitchen, she tried to squat in countless plant pots, she was driving me crazy! Anyway, as dh is away, I'm going to have to change her litter tray. I know it's not good, but I know the risk is only if you get dirt on your hands and in to cuts or injest it (so no finger licking then, ewwww!) so I'm going to put my biochemical suit on, glove up and clean her litter tray, then stand under the hottest shower ever and scrub every pore. Wish me luck!!

Have a great day everyone, lets hope for less rain today, it's really starting to annoy me now!
xx

Anyone else having problems sleeping,? If its not heartburn, its because I am too hot, can't get comfortable or my bladder keeps telling me I need the loo, but when I get there its only a very small amount. Fell knackered today [yawn] Also Ds's sleep pattern seems to have changed, he used to sleep till 7-7.30am, this past week its been 6am pretty much on the dot... and I really need that extra hour and a half

Regarding nursery, I am lucky that I don't have to do anything, ds moved out of it 3 weeks ago, so its already to go for the next one

Oooh anyone else watching GMTV - they have got twin girls on that were born 4 months early they are one now I think they said and are gorgeous.

Good luck with the cat tray MrsMar but just wear gloves and you should be fine

When my ds was born in June 05 it was a scorcher, he spent his first few weeks just in his nappy

Ds aged 10 days

I have awful heartburn but unfortunately its not stopping me eating I have put 2 stone on

Thanks to everyone for all their lovely messages! I just felt so tired last night and overwhelmed but you're all right, the internet is the way to go. I also just need to learn to book time out of my diary!

Thanks to those who offered to come and help, can you start for two weeks after LO is born?

Thanks for listening to my rant!

My life is being ruined by indigestion, restless leg( only on the left) and lack of sleep, i only got about 3 hours last night !

To top it all off i went to my first NCT meeting last night and am trying to lean forward when sitting as i am terrified of a posterior back alignment ! not sure i can keep this up for another 9 weeks it quite uncomfortable ! but if you miss the engagement point whoa-be-tide-you