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

[tokentotty]

Whaddyathink ???

I have another two weeks in the lab, but my team is ploughing on without me like a well-oiled machine to prove how well they'll cope in my absence, so I'm mostly shuffling paperwork and drawing pretty graphs, which isn't too taxing...

Hello everyone. I've not been on for a few days and it's just taken me an hour to catch up. I finished work today and it's such a relief to be able to relax. I got in this morning to presents and flowers on my desk. It was a really nice surprise. It was so hectic trying to get everything finished and handed over to my colleague that I haven't had any time to check the posts.

I had a scan on Tuesday and the baby has grown 12oz in the last 2 weeks. The estimate he's 5lb 11oz. That's less than a lb less than dd was at full term and I've got another 5 1/2 weeks to go! I think boys tend to be bigger - I'm just hoping he's not too much bigger. I'm seeing the consultant in 2 weeks so hopefully I will get the go ahead for my home birth. It's all looking good though as the worry was that the tummy was growing at a faster rate than the rest of the body but it is now following a line. The sonographer certainly didn't seem that worried.

TT, growingbagpuss and MrsShuvel - sorry I haven't responded about the meet up yet. Wednesday 18th is still good for me. A morning start would be best for me as I get so tired in the afternoon and I'm not sure how I'd cope with dress shopping later on. I'll try to get a picture of me uploaded to my profile at the weekend. I've looked at TT and MrsShuvel's pictures - you both look great. I'll have to try and make an effort! I agree that walking slowly and lots of loo/food and drink stops are exactly what we'll need. I'll also be child free. I'll try to persuade dh to take dd to mum's on his way to work so I can get a bit of a lay in and some time to get myself ready. Let me know time and place to meet - I normally park by Marks and Spencer so we could always meet inside at the front of M&S and then go straight for a coffee and chat. If we check each others profile pics out we should recognise each other.

itchy - glad you're here now. It must be a relief. Sorry to hear about the nightmare plane journey. Re: your question about breat pumps. Last time I got an Avent manual pump and couldn't get anything out (may have just been me though). This time I'm getting an electric Medela. It was recommended in a pg magazine in one of their tests.

i have 3 1/2 more days to go - can't wait and starting to get very excited. a little tear came to my eye when reading the explanation for the stabbing pains - makes the lo seem much more real if it is trying to suck its thumb and losing it.

am actually looking forward to being able to spend the day doing washing and cleaning the bathroom etc - sure it will only last a day or so, but will be nice.

aaw didn't mean to make you tear up, conker! Are you going to post an eviction notice this week too? I'm 37 weeks on saturday but I don't think I'll attempt to get anything moving til 38 weeks, if only so everything's done.

Personally I think hes getting fed up in there anyway, during dinner he did the most MASSIVE kick he's ever done and really made me shoot up out of my chair. Oh, and lots more cervical headbutting, which is lovely. At this rate he'll break my waters by accident, little sod.

Bananabump - that is a fab website - which would be even better if I actually had a bra that would fit around my ribs!

I've gone braless this pm, as I had such bad heartburn, as I know I need the next girth up...... and the heartburn went. I feel so FREEEEEEEEEE

GillL - a.m good for me... gets me out of bed. Good too for Pink as I know she is childminding in the afternoon.

ERm.... does that mean I have to find a picture of me? oh cripes.... is it not enough to say i'm tall, thin and blond with a fat tummy? "Pea on a stick" is the favoured work description.

Wow, it's taken me hours to catch up with all the posts today!

I'm at work for another three weeks Annie, but I've got so many antenatal appointments and classes I'm hardly going to be in the office. Need to get broadband set up at home so I can keep up with mumsnet when I leave.

GillL/Itchy - I'm getting the medela electric pump too, but I'm a first-timer so no idea if it'll be any good or not.

Had my 34-week appointment this morning and was mostly positive, good heartbeat on the LO, normal fundal height etc. But she couldn't find the head! She wasn't sure if he's breech, so I might need a scan to check in a couple of weeks. Hope not, they won't let me go to the birth centre if he's head up .

Like the idea of posting an eviction notice!
Had scan today to checkon low placenta, it is 4cm away from cervix and they like it to be at least 5cm away so have return trip next Thur.
Good news is that LO is no longer breech but not too impressed that he is currently measuring 7lb 10oz. With 4 weeks left til due date he could potentially be 9lb + , trying to reassure myself that they aren't always accurate with measurements.

Hi Katybird and others, yes, definitely get the medela pump, its really easy, though quite noisy, you can just sit there like a prize cow, but have to turn the tv up a bit.

Good luck with the next scan Augustbride. I don't think the measurements are always accurate, and they can't predict how much LO's going to grow in the next few weeks, so hopefully you won't have to worry!

LOL at the prize cow image boobooma!

Woohoo! I'm officially on maternity leave! (quite scary really!)

Lucky you! Enjoy it.

There's a medela breastpump going cheap (less than half price) here if anyone's interested. I'm not buying a pump just yet because I want to see how I get on first.

I just cried watching an episode of the Vicar of Dibley, ffs. I'll be glad when these preg hormones are out of my system!

I was the as GillL with the Avent ISIS, it was hopeless for me. Will be trying the Meleda Lactaline this time.

Itchy, so glad you are ok!

Augustbride, good new about the baby no longer being breech. Just hope your placenta moves now too.

and I can't remember who posted about slings sorry, (so many posts), but they both look good. The Freedom Sling was one of my favourites until I realised that I'm such a weed that I would need one that goes over both shoulders.

Oh, and Itchy, have packed Early Baby, Newborn and 0-3 but did have all those sizes in. Tesco are very good and quite cheap. Last time only took in 0-3 and they were huge on DS, we had to buy early baby stuff and then he grew into newborn.

Bananabump, I didn't buy anything first time around either until I knew what I was doing. I didn't even tell anybody, including friends & family, that I wanted to bf as I didn't want anybody trying to put me off.

thanks again!

I've been shopping online today, well yet to order much but a lot of saved baskets now printed to see if what we actually need has been covered.

I keep finding so many lovely things.. look
babylegs!!

cute bibs too

did anyone buy a tummytub?

itchy - glad you're ok after your eventful landing - it's scary at the best of times when something goes wrong withplanes never mind when pregnant!

about the pains in the vicinity of the bladder - i'm still getting them at 36+ weeks, don't remember getting them last time.

i think that i'm also starting to feel braxton hicks, which i never got last time either. when getting CTG last week it was showing regular tightenings but i didn't fell them.

i'm starting to feel a bit more organised. DP got all the baby stuff down from the loft - so the moses basket and sheets etc, the car seat cover, newborn and 0-3 month body suits and sleepsuits have all been washed and are ready.

off to have an early night - DD kept me busy this afternoon (went to the local supermarket wtih her this afternoon and standing at the checkout she did a wee burp, however she shouted at the top of her voice 'i just did a big daddy windypops burp') just wait all you fist timers till your LO's start coming away with these types of comments

myweegirl,

At least your dd is polite, my dd (3 1/2yrs) shouts "that was my bum" as per her daddy.

Heh, kids are funny.

I actually just bought a tummy tub today since I saw one for under a tenner on ebay, I've heard they relax better in them than being lowered backwards into a regular baby bath. Although part of me thinks it's a bloody expensive bucket still.

DS has just discovered the joy of burping and does it quite a lot.

Surely a tummy tub IS just a bucket by another name??? I used a summer infant baby bather thing with DS which was really helpful as I am rubbish at holding on to slippery babies and washing them at the same time!

Unfortunately the cover has mildew on it and Summer Infant won't supply me with a replacement one. Apparently I have to throw the whole thing away and buy a new one, which is not very eco-friendly IMO

Love the baby leg warmers itchy. Not sure about the tummytub, although I know a lot of people swear by them. I'll be using a baby bath seat that I had for dd. They lay there securely in the bath leaving your hands free to wash them. Will also be good for bathing the baby and dd at the same time.

Off to Legoland tomorrow. We thought we'd have one last big trip with just the 3 of us before the baby arrives. Apparently the weather is supposed to be quite good.

My wee girl -out of interest -how was your first labour? I had v strong braaxton hicks 1st time round - as I have this time too - and had a v short sharp labour. My RL friend and I were going to do a survey to see if women who have noticable braxton hicks have shorter sharper labours, than those who don't ever notice them.....

anyone else feel free to add your tuppence worth....

DH is another step nearer to a divorce today.. He came in pissed last night after 4 pints (bless him) - and it only occured to me later that if I had gone into labour he wouldn't have been able to drive me anywhere. . then he snored - and his pissed snoring is even worse than the usual... he sort of blows raspberies as he exhales. I tried sleeping on the sofa (yes thats ME sleeping on the sofa), but couldn't get comfy, so had a glass of milk, a piece of shortbread, did teh soduko puzzle, and the finally managed to fall asleep next to him.

I don't know if he is scared witless at the idea of having another baby ( he is an older Dad with no other children) or whether he really doesn't care. I'm continuing to hope that its the former.

LOVED the post by your DP, Bananabump - if you ever get fed up with him.. pass him over - sounds a sweetie!!

Aw, those baby legwarmers are soooo sweet! And the tie bibs - nice website. I've found it hard to find stuff that's a bit different - though I love the Lula Sapphire website.

Was worrying last night that I had the symptoms of pre-eclampsia. I'd noticed in my yoga class that my ankles and feet suddenly looked really puffy and had a few spots swimming in front of my eyes yesterday - sort of floating bright lights. Feet look a lot better today - still swollen, but no where near as weird. So, I'm hoping that it was just that I was sitting at a pc at work all day and cutting my circulation off... anyone else had similar symptoms? I might work from home today and see if moving around helps.

Honestly, I was thinking the other day that this pregnancy has been one stupid worry after another. Not that I haven't been well, cos I've been lucky enough to have a really nice pregnancy with barely any sickness and generally feeling good. But first it was the AFP levels thing which led to me being scanned loads and under consultant care, then they were worried about my amniotic fluid levels and now it's that the baby is breech. I thought if, after all that, I get pre-eclampsia, I'll be really p*ssed off!

Glad to know I'm not the only one left working! Gill - sounds as though you had a lovely last day with pressies Kite - how much longer for you? And MrsB, am really intrigued by your sciencey-job. Are you investigating anything v exciting?

Ah, one last ting in this massive post - need to get an electric breast pump (my mum said you need one to relieve engorgement even if you are breastfeeding). So, Medela is bestest?

Annie - need a breast pump - NNNOOOOO! May make life easier, but not NEED.

Nothing wrong with squirting the stuff manually if it is only to relieve engorgement!

If you are planning on expressing to enable DP to feed- fair enough, but it's really not worth it simply for the few days when your boobs feel like ginormous melons that will explode

sorry... was that a bit militant for this time of the morning? [blush