Where's that bloomin' Carol Vorderman when you need her as the August '07 Countdown begins....

[tokentotty]

Whaddyathink ???

I know what you mean about looking back over photos, there is one of me in a Bright Yellow Tshirt, look like a overripe melon!!!!!

I'm going to have to learn to post pictures... if only to show my DS wearing my night shirt, with socks on his hands doing the "washing up" !!

I'm so proud of him - he's jsut learning to ride a bike.... he's only 2.6 !!

Havent een my midwife for a few weeks, last time i saw her she told me this one was bigger/chunky then ds, he was only 7 11, now im really scared [shocked] why do they do this to us!

Hello, hello all. Been up to all sorts lately so not been about. Glad all well and that we're still on for Wednesday. I too shall endeavour to be outside the inside doors of M&S at 10.30am. I can also guarantee I'll be late because I always am....
Guessing I'll be recognisable from my pic on my profile (and no, I don't mean the one of the cocoa butter face!!)

Bagpuss, Hopefully things will work in reverse this time?

I forgot to mention before that I woke up in the middle of the night and DH was dreaming and talking to the baby in his sleep! Soooo sweet, he was grinning from ear to ear and cooing away - what a big softy! He's clearly getting very excited about the impending arrival!

Are you all meeting up tomorrow then? Def some groups pics in order as us MN out in the sticks (or just outside the SE!) don't feel so left out...

Itchy, can't remember how far gone you are. Yes, will def try for vaginal delivery regardless of whether baby stays breech or not, but will have to be in hospital. In many countries they don't consider it a problem at all - they just see it as an alternative rather than an abnormal presentation. If you do go for a vaginal labour, many independent midwives insist on a 'hands-off-the-breech' approach as the safest method of delivery. Ie, you'd need to say you don't want an augmented labour - eg drugs to speed up contractions, forceps etc - as this seems to be where probs arise. Mary Cronk (indie midwife with a lot to say on breech births) reckons that the probs occur when breech babies are 'delivered' in this way. She reckons if they have probs coming down the birth canal then it's way safer to have a c-section at that point, rather than be fiddled with. I had this written on my notes today in case I go into labour...

Sorry, long post for Itchy! You can see I've been a bit pre-occupied with all of this

afternoon everyone- just fell asleep listening to my hypnotherapy CD so feeling all groggy (and still sunburnt from Saturday)- happens every time so no idea what it says. I should really try and listen to it as soon as I get up.
Have great meet up at Lakeside- or maybe it's Bluewater- haven't got enough energy to read through posts again.
MrsShuvel- spoke to Lullabys this morning. Apparently they have the car seats and the Bugaboos are en route from Holland. Sort of wishing had gone the John lewis route now as at least you can see they have stock on the website. Still nearly 5 weeks left hopefully so should be OK .
Don't think have accomplished much on my 2 days of maternity leave so far. Just going to go through my cobbled together list for hospital and see if I need to get anything else- def do and then brave Kingston tomorrow. Had a few things delivered today like cot bedding, monitor and changing mat. All getting a bit scary now!
Am finding it increasingly difficult to walk as really painful in the 'down below area'. Feels totally swollen although DH says it isn't (ah the romance) but it really hurts especially by the end of the day. Am I unusual?!

oh Jem - join the varicose veins brigade.....!! think of it as a good excuse (anohter one) to sit with your feet up. Lying on your left is good too, as it takes the pressure of teh uterus, andthe troublesme veins..

sorr typing crap, 2 yr old trying to clamber on top, and some not usubtle braxton hicks...... blimey..

right, I've uploaded pictures, but they are really small, and it took me ages to get them to do, so I'm not doing them again and they will have to be Good enough... grrrrrr

Didn't know that about the formula in hospitals growingbagpuss. My sil has given birth in 3 different hospitals and has always been supplied with formula even though she chose not to bf. BTW - cute picture of your ds.

I really should start packing my hospital bag. I guess I've been putting it off cos I really want my home birth. I've also got to get my sister to find out where the local hospitals with maternity units are where she lives. I'll be 38 weeks when I travel up for her wedding and I really need to be prepared for anything.

annie and sweety- I think I'm on the side of glad to be breech if I can have an elective c-section. Otherwise I'm also epidural in red capitals across the birth plan.
In fact if babe does turn and a normal delivery is expected I'd like to be at the hospital as early as possible to be sure I get that epidural. With ds I started immediately strong contractions 3-4 mins apart and waited an hour or so before going to the hospital. Mw's told me it was too late for epidural although I had another 3 hours before ds appeared.
And I can recommend Emma Jane maternity bras, I bought 2 on figleaves website only £15 each and so comfy and supportive I'm wearing them already. Beware Elle Macpherson's La Mere lacy collection, first I had to snip the irritating ribbon off and the lacy cup is still itchy. (actually despite my name I'm not a normally irritable skin person!)

and growingbagpuss - your lad is adorable! what a cutie

he's even more cute at 3.00am!!

Hi everyone

End of last week had the joy of a night in hospital as thought I might have a DVT, luckily scan was negative. Was sooo bored but has prompted me to start thinking about packing my bag... Flip flops were invaluable too! Meant I missed my last day of my main job and baby shower! Need to go back to sort out my desk and a couple of loose ends so something informal may happen.

Thanks itchy for the tips about fig leaves for nursing bras. Hadn't decided what to do as not finding my M&S soft cup ones very comfortable. Also unsure how long to wait before buying, nearly 35/40 now.

Have finished washing baby clothes we have been given and cot is hopefully being delivered tomorrow although need to sort the mattress, blankets etc. Still feels like lots to organise and instinct (probably completely unreliable!!) tells me LO might be early, plus her head is quite low already.

Hope you all have a fab day at BW on Wed, would have been good to come but working then MW appt in afternoon.

Hi, I've been lurking for a few days, have got an infection in my bladder so have been feeling too poorly to post. At least now though I know whats causing all the pain and discomfort, I kept thinking I was going into labour . And another good thing is that the new tv arrived today, hooray!

Growingbagpuss, your DS is so cute!

All this talk of looking like ripe fruit reminded me of when my mate was pg with her DS and we went to a halloween party and she dressed up her bump to look like a pumpkin, he he.

Have got an appt with the MW tomorrow, hopefully it won't be the one that the Consultant put in a complaint about. Has anybody got any tips in case its her?

Pengy, sorry to hear about your stay in hospital but glad you are ok. There's nothing like a few hours in hospital to get you motivated into getting all that packing and sorting done eh?

Ooh sorry to hear about the bladder infection, mum2george, they're bad at the best of times but you must be feeling pretty awful with baby resting on your bladder too! Hope you feel better soon.

Well, I just went round to visit my father for the first time in about 4 months (he hasn't let me go cos he said he "needed to clean up") and omg I was so shocked, it was literally something out of "How Clean Is Your House?" I hope he doesn't think I'm taking my newborn there!!!

Ooooh call Kim and Aggie quickly Banana !! Especially if that's how it looked AFTER he'd had a tidy round...
Mum2George - that must be really unpleasant for you. Is there much you can take to ease it or is it a job for gallons of cranberry juice ? As for what to do if it's the bad midwife again, all I can say perhaps is stand absolutely firm and say exactly what you want/think/need to know etc and take no sh*te from her. Is there a tough friend you could take with perhaps who'd find it easier to stand up to her if you're getting stressed out by her?
Also, poor you Pengy, sounds like a worrying time but am glad to hear they didn't find anything too bad on the scan.

Right, you lot have motivated me yet again and I've got out all Peanut's stuff which I shall be washing today. I shall also (cankles permitting) be attempting to pack bags for hospital.
I may be some time....

Pengy - sorry hun, didn't realise you were another local (well - thta could cover most of the s/e!!).

Bladder infections...oooh nasty - had 2 with DS, ended up o/night in hosp with first as I was having such strong contractions. I was only 23 weeks then - never been so scared. Keep peeing girl - and get those fluids down you.

I'm afraid I'm back off for a snooze today. Awake from about 1-4 am. absolutely sparko when DH's alram went off at 6, so I've had some sleep. I've turned the F/F off ready to deforst it later, once I feel more human..

...oh yes HOMEBIRTH WINDOW OPEN!!!!..... [GRIN]

Hooray for Growing's open homebirth window !!!!!!

How exciting! Hope it all goes well for you, bagpuss.

I've been invited on a bit of a pubcrawl this weekend for my friends birthday, not sure how I'm going to be feeling but I want to try to show my face since it may be the last time in a while.

No idea what I could wear though- everything's getting a bit comedy now, my one remaining skirt has stopped closing, my tops which I thought covered the bump actually flash an inch of bump when I walk and if anyone catches sight of my elephant feet right now I'll die.

Wonder if any of the lurkers have had their babies yet?

Do you have a bump band Bananna?

No! Might just have to tuck in a long vest top and hope for the best. I've heard they're good for bf afterwards so you don't expose your wrinkly stretchmarked stomach to the world! lol

To be honest I'm harbouring secret hopes of my belly looking fairly normal (for me) afterwards since I was already fat. If it doesn't I'll be doubly gutted (still recovering from finding those stretchmarks on my side)

I can't wait til afterwards though so I can go back to slimming world, I feel like I've put on quite a bit now towards the end and it feels manky.

Morning Everyone

Thought for the day - Why are guys so rubbish?

Well, realise that not all guys, just mine. He was running round the house like a lunatic this morning and shouted up to me asking if we had any money, i shouted down yes as i had been paid. He cursed loudly under his breath and shouted up happy birthday before slamming the door! He better be sitting at his desk planning something good for later or ELSE .

Feel for you mum2george, bladder infections are really nasty. I'm sure it's the last thing you need with all the other pregnancy ailments we suffer with.

Unplanned hospital visits are great for kicking you up the bum and getting you organising aren't they Pengy. glad everything ok though.

I think i'm gonna give Lullabys a ring Jem. The 5 weeks since ordering ends on Friday so just want to know when I can expect delivery.

Lovely Moses basket arrived yesterday. My relatives in Ireland ordered it for me. So at least baby has somewhere to sleep now. DP was quite teary when he saw where his little boy would would be sleeping. Aww bless.

Bagpuss - your DS is soooo cute and woo hoo for window opening

oh dear mrss - happy birthday. hope he sorts out something really nice for you to make up for that.

had midwife today - the head is 1/5 engaged so still a bit to go, but she said it might only move right down when labour starts, so not quite resigning myself to being 2 weeks late just yet.

had tour of the labour ward at parentcraft last night. seems nice enough - definately glad we went despite some of the screams we heard.

only this afternoon and tomorrow morning to go before ml starts. still a lot to get through but the end is in sight at least.

hope you all have a great time tomorrow at your meet up.

Happy Birthday MrsShuvel!!!

Mine's useless with birthdays/christmas etc too, you get used to it!

Well, my supersoft fleece dressing gown just arrived and it's like wrapping yourself in full length cotton wool, not sexual but as good as sex. mmmmm

Also ordered some pyjamas and comfy jogging bottoms and tops for afterwards, everything's fab so I'm really chuffed. Off to pack hospital bag, again!!!