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

[tokentotty]

Whaddyathink ???

Oh TT, is the "C" supplement black and blue Cohosh? I've heard that induces labour, according to birthingnaturally.com and I've seen them both at Holland and Barratt. I'm not buying any more supplements since I haven't been remembering to take my Raspberry Leaf tablets.

I had a curry earlier, and I have a big fat pineapple in the kitchen with my name on it.

So, Banana - did the pineapple and curry work?? Guess it'll make sure you're regular if not ... Your petrol station drama sounded awful - how mean of them not to give a pregnant woman a break! I've decided that it should work in my favour at least now and use it to my advantage while crossing the road, getting through crowds etc. Glad your DP has seen common sense and has decided to postpone MIL visit. Phew... I was going to suggest that you protested by not cooking or cleaning and moaning a lot about the pregnancy (invent some piles). That would get them heading for home pretty quick.

Anyone got advice about nursing bras? I haven't bought any yet and am unsure of what size I'll be once the milk comes in - but feel a bit nervous of waiting in case I end up stuck in the hospital/house for the first few weeks. Is it fair to assume that my back size will go back to normal but my cup size will increase at least one size? Or more? I don't have any decent underwear shops near me and the dept store is always staffed by reluctant teenagers...

I'm not the last on the July thread. I think there are about 6 of us left but I'm the last one due. The longest one is two weeks over at the moment but I think she has delivered but not had chance to get to a computer yet.

Annoyed with DP at the moment. He went out with his mates and had to be carried home at 1am. How inconsiderate. So much for being at the end of a phone if I needed him.

Oh Banana, glad you have managed to come to some sort of agreement re MIL. I don't think I could cope with that kind of invasion of privacy; I didn't even want to be bothered by DH when I was in labour, never mind anyone else.

Annie; my midwife told me it was fine to be measured for nursing bras from 37 weeks as your size is unlikely to change - I did this last time and didn't have any problems with the fit of them. I liked the (not so stylish but comfy) Emma Jane ones. I would get it done by a pro rather than guess work though, as a good fitting bra is really important in the first few weeks (you don't want it too tight pressing on your tender post-birth breasts after all).

I just got a couple to start with to make sure the fit was OK and then sent DH to get me some more (along with washable breast pads) after the baby was born

Ooh, hang on - where's Banana? Maybe the curry and pineapple worked after all...

Thanks, Washy for bra tips. Relief to know that maybe I won't get massive boobs after all...

And welcome Typhoon How are you feeling? Re your DP, I'd give him a couple of phone calls when he's not at home and make him think you might be in labour - just to get him thinking...

Washer, I'm glad we (kinda) have it sorted too. I was dreading what would happen when I went into labour with mil there. I intend to be in and out of the bath, and I don't want to have every door in the house closed and getting fully dressed after every time!

I still don't know what the plan is regarding her coming down, I think dp wants to go and get her as soon as he's born which is a 7 or 8 hour round trip. I don't understand why she has to come here rather than us going to visit her after a day or two, so ALL his family can meet baby, it'd make more sense since we're going to have to make that trip anyway a few days later, and money isn't exactly abundant. (But if I ask why, he'll just say "you don't want my family visiting" as I think it has become more of an issue with defeating me rather than deciding what is most practical)

Annie, no the curry definitely didn't work, but it's probably because it was a really mild veggie biryani. You probably need a really hot one to get things going. Going to have the pineapple today if it's ripe enough. Dp wants me to go into labour tonight so he doesn't have to go back to work! lol

Typhoon, your dp isn't being very considerate. I'd be very tempted to wake him up at 5am and tell him you're in labour, to show him how he'd cope sorting you out with a big fat hangover! (He might not be impressed with you when he found out you were joking though!)

I have converted two soft ordinary bras into nursing bras, with the plan of going to M&S afterwards and buying some when I know what size they're going to be. From what I've heard, your nursing bra size goes up in cup size and down in back size (from your pregnancy size) but yeah, probably best to get measured, no point in being squished, I think that's what brings on things like mastitis.

lol, sorry, took about an hour writing that mammoth post, didn't mean to get you all excited. Biryani's don't work!!!

I thought you'd had your Bananalet, for a moment! It might happen tonight - you're so close to your due date now, aren't you?

I've got slight crampy period-type pains but am scared at the prospect of going into labour at the moment because baby is breech and I'm holding out hope for it turning... So, gonna cross my legs and go into town for a bit of a look round .

Ooh, Annie! You never know, he might yet turn, loads of mumsnetters have had it happen at the last minute. Fingers crossed that whatever happens you have a nice easy time of it. No action going on here that's for sure, apart from little enraged feet kicking my laptop!

Good morning ladies!
Had a bit of excitement this morning, after having BH most of last night, bad back pain, after going to the toliet this morning had a small gush of water , so i thought wahey here we go, rang hospital and they asked to go in, which i did, but alas NO -Nothing, not my waters nor am i Diliated in anyway! got all excited for nothing! they did have a good look and "feel" around so hoping that may kick start something ?? - Never mind!

How is everyone else today!

Aaw, poor pink, how disappointing for you! That's SO common though, the number of women on MN alone who say they went into hospital after what they thought was their waters breaking, only to find it was a leaky bladder (doesn't help when baby punches it!) My midwife said they are used to it happening, that's why they have those litmus paper thingies that can tell the difference between amniotic fluid and wee. I've heard true broken waters smell sweet, and not anything like wee.

But it's so easy to overinterpret every fleeting sign at this point, isn't it? Every odd sensation I get I'm checking my pants and jumping on contractionmaster.com LOL

I say it again: Nobody warned me pregnancy makes you mental!

Hi all, just had a catch up of past week, took me 2 hours, we've been decorating and computer out of bounds.

Congratulations Jem, great news that all well with your little one.

Banana, be as selfish as you can, its all about you, not any in laws and not your dp. You are the one who's going to do the most fantastic thing on earth in a few days time.

Am horribly aware that my overstretched belly now starting to resemble the one someone posted a photo of with gorgeous concentric circles, delicious. Gutted cos only got a few little ones last time. So now started rasperry leaf tea, pineapple etc even tho am only 35+5 or 36+4 depending which midwife I talk to.

Lots of good productive breathing vibes to all those due early August and hope to post again soon.

Annie -hate to tell you, but my boobs did get absolutely massive - only really for a few days, but my bra was nowhere near big enough! This time I am currently wearing a 38C, have got 36D x2 for huge boob time (compared to my usual 32AA!!!), and then my old 36C's for later. Once everything had settled down the C cup was fine.

Pink......... what are you doing Love? It is SOOOOO not your turn yet!! You cross your legs and wait until you are a bit more due - some of us are infront of you in teh queue!!

Well I spose my boobs were rather on the extreme size for the first couple of days after birth but a properly fitted nursing bra should be able to cope with that - mine certainly did last time

I've been saying 'Oh, definitely late, probably two weeks over' in the hopes this will stop people ringing / emailing to say 'Have you had it yet?' on the due date. Some hopes .

Just thought I should recommend Bravado nursing bras. They're great for coping with changeable sizes and even for the larger-norked lass too.

Thanks for the nursing bra advice all - and link, Treacle. I hadn't heard of them before. It's on my Tomorrow list along with ordering up a TENS machine. Found a leaflet for Babycare tens - anyone else used 'em before? Lordy, I'm having a hard time making even the simplest decisions about anything at the moment .

No more arrivals then since I last logged on. We have had 2 weddings a christening and a 4 yr olds birthday party since Thursday I was hoping the dashing up and down the country would give junior plenty of inappropriate moments to make his arrival but alas no. Still waiting few twinges today and just swollen ankles!!

We have had my DH's family over from New Zealand since June 23rd.They came for my BIL's wedding and are staying on for baby's arrival. We've managed I think 3 nights at home alone since then and the last few nights where we have been away at weddings. It's been a revolving door of parents in law and sister in law swapping over. We are back to sister in law on Tuesday only salvation is that she is a midwife so at least I have someone on hand to confirm when it's happening.

Busy old few days then, stretchmarks! Usually sods law would have had you contracting in the aisle at one of your weddings. Maybe baby knows you're eager to meet him/her so they're being stubborn!

Boobooma, I feel bad now as I was the one who posted that pic of the lady with the bright red stretchmarks! Didn't mean to rub it in, if it's any consolation I don't think many of us have been spared at this point, mine are creeping in steadily, and I was plastered in them as a teenager so if you could actually see all of them I'd look like some kind of wobbly zebra!

Well, I managed half a pineapple and some strawberries for after my tea, so far all I have is a raw tongue... a pineapple smoothie might mean less tongue damage for those of you who want to try it.

Nothing happening so far anyway.

Hi Ladies stil no baby yet, I've had two big "show's" today one having a pink streak though it and this morning I had bad "bad belly ache" for about 2 hours and some more tonight (and even afew now), so maybe soon, DH keeps getting his hopes up bless, he really really doesn't want to go to work tomorrow, bless, off to bed in a min, need my sleep!
Catch up tomorrow!
Babymad with bump still!xxxxx

Ooh, exciting, babymad! Still no signs here, it would appear that pineapple doesn't work (unless perhaps consumed in far greater quantities than I could manage)

In other news I have woken up with the beginnings of a coldsore. I am absolutely gutted- if baby comes in the next few days I won't be able to kiss him or put my face anywhere near him, and I'll look shit in the first pics with him! I'm not impressed.

Boobama - I have the same stretchmarks sadly - I only got a few last time, but this time they are huge, and really itchy and actually quite sore sometimes!

I have developed horrible hip pain, nothing like anything I had earlier in the PG, and now it is really beginning to pee me off.

Last night I discovered another joy of being up at 3.30am - I sat n the half light in the kitchen eating a nice cold ice lolly. . Ive had a sore throat on and off for a few days, and the ice lolly was lovely. Cooled me down too, so i went upstairs and had a nice sleep til DH's alarm went off at 6.

And if 1 more person says "haven't you had that baby yet?" I will NOT be held presonsible for my actions. I already emailed a sarcastic response to my nepheew who asked THE question - "yes of course we've had the baby... weeks ago, we ust thought we wouldn't tell anyone....." DURRRRRRRRRR

banana - can't remember if you can use Zovirax in pregnancy or not, but if not try dabbing the incipient cold sore with neat vodka or surgical spirit - it speeds up the drying-out process so you may be presentable for the photos after all!

Morning all,

very relaxing weekend here as I was sooo tired I could barely scrape myself off the sofa.

Had our last NCT class on saurday morning and one of the couple didn't show up (Saturday was their due date) but half an hour later the husband dropped in and said 'Ante-natal classes - don't need them any more!!' - they'd had a little boy the previous day. Cue 5 very excited ladies as we heard about her 3 hour labour !! 3 Hours for a first baby - we were all very jealous.

Then went back to another couple's house for a BBQ and we all spend a very enjoyable 5 hours getting on really well. Was really funny when we all departed as 5 heavily pregnant woman walked out of the house to our cars a man strolling past remarked Blimey, is there something in the water round here?

Banana - I so know how you feel re your MIL - as I have mentioned my mum is planning on coming for 2 weeks from 4 days before my due date unless I can put her off and offer to pay for changes to her flights. DH is well pissed off. Re the pineapple thing - apparantly you have to much through 6/7 fresh ones for it to have any impact. I couldn't possible do that as it seems to be soo acidic it's opening up cuts on my toungue that are really sore.

babymad - more excited news. Looks like you should be the favourite to pop next.

TT - thanks for the recipe. Think I missed picking it up before I left the office of Friday by 1 minute so will have a bash next weekend. Consoled myself with a sainsbury's eccles cake yesterday afternoon and very nice it was too.

Good luck all August ladies as we approach our month - should we have a new thread in honour when August comes?