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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gasp!!!! my naughty supermarket delivery people gave me a free gift with my order today.... a tub of Haagen Dazs!!! Oh the temptation!!!!!

Hee Hee I get that all the time LOL Do it!! You know you want toooooooo

Thanks for all the messages about the diabetes. Tink, I forgot to say that I did try to keep to the low gi diet generally, but fell off the wagon a bit. Fortunately, since being pregnant I've not really wanted sweet things (though I could be tempted with Hagan Dazs Mrs M!). But I know I've increased my carbohydrate intake lately.

I've read the information sheets of the meds I'm on and two of them say that they're not to be taken if diabetic because they contain lactose and sucrose, and will increase blood sugar levels. (It makes sense now why the chest physician wanted to make sure I had a gtt booked - I didn't question why at the time.) I've got an appt with the diabetic team on Monday so will discuss it further then, and with my gp tomorrow. I wonder if there are different meds that I could take that don't affect blood sugar levels, and then be re-tested. I know you get referred to the diabetic people if you score over 8.0 at the gtt and I scored 9.3, that doesn't seem too high considering the meds.

Also Tink, re the spelling of Ciaran, I see what you mean; both dh and I are of irish descent, so this spelling feels more 'right' iyswim. We're still a long way off deciding, my favourite at the moment is Liam Jude, but am very likely to change my mind. Maia is a pretty name - is she my-a or may-a, I ask because I've heard (and like) both. Will is very distinguished, I like that too.

Penny, I like your choices too, Freddie is great. I know a smashing lad called Freddie, he's 10 and very cool. His name isn't abbreviated from anything, just Freddie. William shortened to Billy is just as good too. Choosing a baby's name has got to be the best part of being pregnant!

Hi everyone
On the bloods thing just had my 28 week appointment yesterday and had blood taken. Asked and told it was for checking blood group again, iron levels and blood sugar levels. I was slightly low on iron last time so they are most concerned about that. Does anyone know the latest advice on eating iron rich foods. I have read that although there is a lot in things like spinach and brocolli that it is hard to absorb and animal based iron is the way to go. This means red meat and whilst I am not a veggie I am not madly keen on red meat so would have to make a bit of an effort. Before I go out and buy a juicy steak I wondered if anyone knew if I could just go with trying the veggie iron-rich options? (Also heard that dark chocolate good or am I just dreaming!

Holly29 - am also working hard (although not that hard - your hours sound truely knackering!) and so have bought absolutely nothing yet. However really endorse Kiddecare web site recommendation - their customer service has been fab and I have ordered a couple of things but delayed delivery until I am on maternity leave. On the flip side Mothercare has been terrible!

MrsMar - eat that ice cream or I might drive over from West London and wrestle it off you! I don't have a sweet tooth apart from ice cream....but I justify it to DH by saying at least it has calcium in.

Sorry one last question to experienced mothers - how many layers do Sept babies need in the day and at night? Is it a short sleeve vest and a sleep suit at night and just a sleep suit in the day (based on the fact that everyone has said do NOT try and dress yourself and them so it is sleepsuits most of the time) I am trying to work out how much to buy and don't want to go overboard.

Sandwich eaten so better go but have a fun day....the sun is shining a bit here in London so hope everyone else is getting some too

Pennypops - my brother is frederick but he either gets called fred or freddie. It suits him down to the ground and none of his friends have the same name.

ccpink - my NHS antenatal classes were called parentcraft too. Maybe it's some pc term? I can't believe they won't let DP go that's the only reason my DP knew anything!

I sympathise with all you others who have difficulty with blood tests. I used to have a real nightmare but now i suggest where they prod! I've got lots of veiny marks which they get no success with but i now know one which is good and i've had no problems since.

I got my blood test results yesterday. My iron was a bit low but the doc said not to worry as i'm already taking a multivit that includes iron. Interestingly my white blood cell count was up which normally means your bodies fighting something! Doc also said not too worry as it can be quite common in pregnancy and if i've got no symptoms chances are my bodies coping!

As for fundal height measurements i was 27cm at 28 wks but with last pregnancy i was 31cm at this point - i'm now getting really curious as to why! Is the lo smaller (i wish) or less fluid? or maybe i'm just not as fat? Also not getting kicks in ribs and i suffered really badly at this point last time? I really want another scan!

The ice cream is caaaalling me!!!! Help, feel free to come over to Battersea and relieve me of it Tina!!

I'm so sorry about the diabetes probs Kinki, prob not helped by me going on about ice cream! It's horrible stuff really, disgusting, foul...

Tina, I used a vest for my los most of the time, except when it was hot in summer. From memory I used (in size 0-3mths) a pack of 7 vests and 5 sleepsuits (but I did use 'day clothes' too). If I ran out of anything I would use something from the next size up, rather than having too many of the same size. I'd put on a clean vest and clothes every morning and use a sleepsuit for 2 nights (if no spillages etc). I used a lot of muslins to cover them when feeding and to catch the positting (?sp) and sick, in order to protect their clothes.

Chatty, maybe just as kids do, unborn babies grow at different rates, and yours is due a growth spurt soon. I've also got a feeling the fundal height measurement isn't an exact science, ie subjective according to who measures you. And maybe he's not head down yet which would account for lack of rib kicks.

Mrs M. Fortuneately I'm not too bothered about ice-cream at the moment, so don't you worry! Are you one of these amazing people who can actually eat half a tub of HD? Or are you like the rest of us and can polish it off in one go? What flavour is it?

I have to eat the lot so I don't buy it, although I did by some chocolate mini gems today at the supermarket and they are lush

I just bought some ben and jerrys halfbaked and am planning to eat at least half a tub. My excuse is that I went swimming this morning and need to keep my energy levels up

Our thread is going to have some of the best named children out there, we all have such good taste

xx

I still haven't touched it... I must be coming down with something!!

The funny thing was that I'd ordered some low fat ice lolly things (like own brand Soleros) thinking if I get a craving for some ice cream I can have something that's not too fattening... urgh!

AAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGHHHHH

My boss is driving me nuts. I could use a complimentary tub of HDaz/Ben and Jerrys right now I can tell you. Enjoy yours MrsMar and Laksa.

Today has just been unmitigated chaos at work involving new starters, constantly changing training plans, press photographers, shortage of meeting rooms, deals collapsing, a CEO with an ego the size of Texas and NOBODY COMMUNICATING.

And now I have to prepare to be a team captain at our Summer Party School Sports day and officiate a game of rounders.

I so don't need this sh1t.

Sorry ladies, felt the need to vent. Thanks for listening xx

Oh and the only reason we are having this stupid school sports day for a summer party is that our marketing manager is a perv who wanted to see pics of all the women (admittedly there aren't many of those at my company) in their school uniform.

Aw, poor penny! Hope things improve, can you manage to get ten mins out to do something nice (which for me would usually involve eating something )? Then deep breath and plunge back in! Good luck x

Oh God!! I just realised the school sports day was a work thing.... ewwww pervy boss! Just act like children, that'll give him a real taste of a school sports day, throw a few tantrums, refuse to participate and then puke everywhere!!

A choc brownie just took the edge off my pain although it was shovelled down at the same time as marshalling 5 hapless trainees into their next presentation. And then finding someone to do the presentation.

Aw Pennypops. Your boss sounds disgusting! How many weeks have you got left at work?

Hmm, I reeeeeeeeeeeally fancy some Ben and Jerrys right now, Phish food is the flavour for me . Oh god, I've realised just this exact moment in time how BADLY I want some. I may have to pack kids in the car, brave the rain and get some. HOW SAD AM I???? No I'm pregnant, and the baby neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeds it!!!!!!!

HIWBB - round here we have a food delivery company called deliverance which does loads of different varieties of take outs... chinese, indian, italian you name it and they deliver tubs of haagen dazs too... how's a girl to cope??? Campaign for one in your area, no packing children in the car to get some, let them bring it to you!!!! Hmmmmm... ice cream

What a day Penny! And what a pervy boss. I like Mrs M's suggestion. Act like kids if that's what he wants. Reckon you deserve at least 2 brownies after all this!

Hi everyone!!! Hope everyone is keeping well. Think I am the only person not wanting icecream during this pregnancy? where are my calcium cravings??
of all things I want - have been eating watery porridge - with nothing else added and it is heaven!! i think there is something not quite right with me

TinaLC - try dried apricots - loaded with iron and easy to snack on over the day. Also no idea on animal vs vegetable protein - I am not a big meat eater at all and couldnt even face red meat right now! The indigestion! Calcium does help absorb iron so whatever you do eat that is iron rich - have a glass of OJ or something with it.

Aside from that am starting to get a little impatient - only 27+6, but because i dont know what we are having, I am DYING to know - but have to wait til LO decides to make his/ her grand appearance into the world!

hi All

i never get to check up on here from mon - wed and then it takes me ages to catch up. i'm almost asleep now - not cos you're dull but cos i'm on our new bed! it's so comfy. i can't bear to get off it. you know that feeling when you're pg and swimming and you climb out and go from being weighless to twelve ton tessie? just like that when i climb out of bed. why bother?!

PLP sorry you're not feeling great - sympathise on the either sick/indigestion/starving front. does get you down.

Pennypops you're organising what!? surely that's so naff and sexist it's illegal in some way, shape or form?

Tink - I love the name flora but dh brings on the 'no child of mine is going to be called after a margarine' argument and just won't budge. infuriating. i think it's a lovely name. huh.

best name advice i ever got was to try the name you like in the following three sentences;

"is (x) coming out to play?"

"i think (x) is ready for her/his next promotion"

"i love you (x)"

if it sounds good in all three of those, you're onto a winner!

On babies and what to wear; it all depends how warm the room is. if you buy a grobag (ie that brand) they give you a chart of what tog to use and what to dress the baby in for a range of temps. i found it v useful first time round as is dangerous for babies to get much too hot. i've been assuming this baby would have a 1 tog bag and very little else - or maybe just a vest but then i was thinking of last summer. maybe she'll need a 2.5 grobag after all this summer!

and on real nappies. we use 'motherease' and they're great. never had any problems with them. and real nappies are very little bother, honest, and imo so much nicer than disposables with all their horrible disney characters and naff advertising (yes, i have a 'thing' about disposables). we did use disposables for newborn as real nappies swamped dd - we went for the nature baby care ones which are less chemically than main brands, more biodegradable and readily available in sainsburys.
it is true when they're quite little you need a bit more room in trousers/leggings but as a general rule, the cheaper the clothes the roomier they are (beware lovely french clothes - always small!).
if anyone is interested in real nappies i found

nappy lady

very helpful. you fill in a questionaire and your very own advisor gets back to you with a range of nappies to suit your circs. she also tells you how many to buy (20 is plenty) and sells things like boosters for overnight.

lumme what a long post. suppose i should haul myself upright and sort out dinner. lazybones coming through...

hi All

i never get to check up on here from mon - wed and then it takes me ages to catch up. i'm almost asleep now - not cos you're dull but cos i'm on our new bed! it's so comfy. i can't bear to get off it. you know that feeling when you're pg and swimming and you climb out and go from being weighless to twelve ton tessie? just like that when i climb out of bed. why bother?!

PLP sorry you're not feeling great - sympathise on the either sick/indigestion/starving front. does get you down.

Pennypops you're organising what!? surely that's so naff and sexist it's illegal in some way, shape or form?

Tink - I love the name flora but dh brings on the 'no child of mine is going to be called after a margarine' argument and just won't budge. infuriating. i think it's a lovely name. huh.

best name advice i ever got was to try the name you like in the following three sentences;

"is (x) coming out to play?"

"i think (x) is ready for her/his next promotion"

"i love you (x)"

if it sounds good in all three of those, you're onto a winner!

On babies and what to wear; it all depends how warm the room is. if you buy a grobag (ie that brand) they give you a chart of what tog to use and what to dress the baby in for a range of temps. i found it v useful first time round as is dangerous for babies to get much too hot. i've been assuming this baby would have a 1 tog bag and very little else - or maybe just a vest but then i was thinking of last summer. maybe she'll need a 2.5 grobag after all this summer!

and on real nappies. we use 'motherease' and they're great. never had any problems with them. and real nappies are very little bother, honest, and imo so much nicer than disposables with all their horrible disney characters and naff advertising (yes, i have a 'thing' about disposables). we did use disposables for newborn as real nappies swamped dd - we went for the nature baby care ones which are less chemically than main brands, more biodegradable and readily available in sainsburys.
it is true when they're quite little you need a bit more room in trousers/leggings but as a general rule, the cheaper the clothes the roomier they are (beware lovely french clothes - always small!).
if anyone is interested in real nappies i found

nappy lady

very helpful. you fill in a questionaire and your very own advisor gets back to you with a range of nappies to suit your circs. she also tells you how many to buy (20 is plenty) and sells things like boosters for overnight.

lumme what a long post. suppose i should haul myself upright and sort out dinner. lazybones coming through...

oops laptop playing up apologies for double post!

hips and thighs are stiff
knackered from school run
skin dry and itchy
asthma playing up
missed blood letting on mon as ds1 was ill,
will have to have it another time.
am bored and lonely at night
am worrying about blood pressure with s/hols fast approaching
However I sleep through still, as baby is transverse have very little heartburn if at all, can eat what I want when i want it
Have unpacked baby clothes, they will get washed some time in august.
was given a moses basket and stand, which is currently being used as a bedside table.
have a jane tandem three wheeler lined up, and a cot so hopefully that is sorted now and I can collect them some time august.
need to go again as i am hungry.

ooohh! Just remembered I'm having my hair done on Saturday. Yippee!