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

[tokentotty]

Whaddyathink ???

morning everyone - last friday in the office for 9 months - yippee - only 2 1/2 days to go after this.

only thing is got an email from out tenant to say he's moving to england in september, so will need to find a new one over the summer, which is not the best timing, but at least i suppose i will be free during the day to show people the flat.

was thinking i'd wait and see with breast pumps - friends and family seem to have had very mixed experiences of hand pumps so might try purple rabbits in the few weeks or so before buying one of my own.

leaving the bath up to dh as he is going to do the bath most nights so its his choice.

Now that is something to celebrate.... do you really need to go in for the other 2 1/2 days?!!!! Enjoy your day knowing that you only have to face the "monday" feeling once more.....

morning all

I had my eye on towelling bath support thing in Motehrcare - as it's not too expensive and doesn't take up too much space, though I can see myself ending up using the kitchen sink...

Re breast pumps - our 24h Tesco stocks both manual and electric so I think I'll hang fire and see how we go and send DH out at 3am if necessary.

at Annie's fascination for my job - we work on gene therapy for cystic fibrosis, which big picture-wise is terribly exciting, but day-to-day means fiddling with teeny tiny plastic tubes with gloves on, wading through swathes of data in Excel and arguing about funding...

Annie, I never needed a breastpump, never got engorgement either. Nature has a very good way of stopping your breasts from becoming too full, its called your baby

Hi everyone

First day of maternty leave. I haven't posted for abbout 3 weeks as had a bit of an issue at work as they managed to see that I'd had a bit of a moan about my boss using the work computer and there was a bit of a hoo har. (spelling?!). Consequently never logged on at work again and although I read all your news at home, was still too scared to write anything. Did explain that it was more a matter of getting things off one's chest when was stressed about this whole pregnancy thing and didn't really go any further. (Was also a bit surprised that they could track these things- bit scary and big brotherish)
Was a bit embarraseed when read back some of the things had said in the heat of the moment but got over it now.
Had a nice send off yesterday-nice little speech and pressies etc so now just going to enjoy my few weeks off and get organised.
All seems to be OK- NCT going well and managed to do a fair bit of shopping with all the same decisions to make as everyone else on pumps, sizes of clothes etc etc
Baby not quite head down but sort of in the right place hopefully. Need to be scanned in a couple of weeks if not properly in the right place but not stressed- just watching lots of TV in the 'optimal' position!

Anyway- promised myself I wouldn't touch the computer on my first day off so will go, but it's nice to be back and glad everyone seems to be doing well.

Mum2George

I have very virtuously just wet n dried DS's new toy box... but killed yself trying to get it in kitchen and haven't energy to drag it back to front room so will have to wait til later to put toys in it. bummer...

lol bagpuss, dp has his moments.

Well I'm off to see the midwife in 30 mins and I can't remember ANYTHING I was worried about to ask her. I was sposed to be organised and write everything down but instead I got distracted by housework last night. D'oh!

I'll let her have a read of my birthplan though and see if she laughs in my face.

Oh that's comforting to know Growing and Washer at least my DH isn't the only one who seems quite relaxed about the baby's arrival!

My DH is taking 2 weeks paternity leave but he runs the company so he can pretty much take off whatever time he wants. He did fill out the proper paternity leave form but didin't have to give a copy of my MatB1. Maybe your DH's new employers are looking for proof that you are actually pg?? Perhaps you should just stop by some day!!!!

Kite - tapas & sangria -mmmm! Happy for you to quote me on the emergency phone. I haven't used it yet (obviously) but I'm not that sure that DH will actually pick up or remember to have it on his person... At least it's there if I need it! DH also thinks that relaxing means sitting in front of TV - until he was taught at Hypnobirthing last week that watching TV isn't relaxing and we need to wind down before bedtime (I disconnected the bedroom TV during a minor tantrum several weeks ago ). DH has also started to drive me to and from work every day (bless them!) even though he does pace up and down and jangle his keys if I'm running late in the mornings!!

Annie - I've had exactly the same problems in the last 2 weeks with swelling in my hands and feet. Don't worry, apparently it's very normal for this stage of pg, especially as the weather has been a bit warmer. My m/w told me to let them know if I started to get bad headaches as well but as my BP is ok, she wasn't too concerned. I've put it down to sitting at a desk all day and not being able to put my feet up. If you can put your feet up at your desk that seems to help a bit but tbh it's a bit awkward trying to get into that position!!

Wow, I go away for 1 day and there are 120 additional posts to wade through !! You girls are getting chatty now - or is it just mild panic!

Had day off work yesterday to go to a funeral (my aunt). My Mum came over from Spain and stayed for 3 days and drove my Dh crackers - he's already seriously got the hump about them staying for 2 weeks when baby is due and seems to personally blame me for my mother being a pain in the arse.

Itchy - am still shocked by the crash landing story. You did very well to remain so calm. Hope you have settled into life in Edinburgh well.

Kite - we are due around the same time and for last 2 weeks I have been getting such strong kicks directly into my bladder that for that split second it feels like I'm going to pee myself - not a pleasant feeling at all! I thought they were punches/ fingers but as baby is breech at the moment they were definitely kicks.

I don't think she has changed positions yet as on Tuesday night she got hiccups for the very first time (so sweet) and they were quick high up (around waist height). I assume if she had turned into a head down position the hiccups would have been felt much lower down.

Hersetta - you'll feel hiccups in roughly the middle whichever way up she is - coz hiccups originate from the (hang on.. brain freeze for a second)....

Diaphragm !! - you will feel her movement rather than the noise of the hiccups -which obviously comes out the head end!!

My Lo gets lots of hiccups, very fast rhythmical ones - one night I thought it was her heartbeat, and I got so worried I thought she'd died when they stopped!! . She soon reassured me by giving me a hefty kick in the ribs when I went to bed!

Blimey, Jem - they were watching your postings on MN or on your own pc? Either way, I think explaining that we need this sort of support network should be enough. It's great to be able to have a moan about work, family or our aches and pains anonymously. I don't know what I'd do without it.

Mrs B - your job sounds really worthwhile. I sometimes wish mine was a bit more 'useful' to the real world... can't get better than working on understanding conditions and illnesses. Guess it's given you a good common sense head too with all this pregnancy business.

Thanks, Muffins, for the reassurance about the swelling. It seemed so sudden that I was a bit weirded out. But thinking about it, my pregnancy jeans which I was wearing yday are a bit tight now and could well have been restricting the old blood flow!

Hersetta - my baby is breech and I feel hiccups low down on my right side. Can't quite picture it's position and I can't really feel its bits because of my anterior placenta, so all guesswork at the mo. Going to try that moxibustion at the weekend. Did I say reflexology seems to help? I def felt the baby inching its way a bit during the other session...

bagpuss - thanks for that.I thought they were kicks at first then I realised they were coming every 5 seconds and weren't half as powerful as a kick.

I've got my hospital tour tomorrow afternoon and all the great questions I thought to ask have all gone completely out of my mind. I knew I should have written them down!

Hi Jem! Good to have you back. What a nightmare about your boss!! Sh*t I hope mine haven't seen anything. Was a bit worried the other day as our IT guy "took over" my system remotely to try and fix something and I was in the middle of chatting on MN - he was working on the problem for AGES!! God knows what he saw - hopefully the talk of bf, veins and piles was enough to put him off.

Hersetta I'm getting a bit worried about my parents coming over too. They need to come over from Ireland but we've agreed that they won't stay with us when they get here. The only problem is my Mum keeps asking what they should do about booking accommodation, as they're going to be arriving right in the middle of the Edinburgh Festival. They drive me mad as well as DH when they stay with us but I feel a bit guilty about it all... Especially as they probably won't come over until they get a call from me to say that things are starting. By the time they arrive DH's parents will probably already have seen the LO - first grandchild on both sides. DH keeps saying that they'll find somewhere to stay but he would go mad if I even suggested them staying at ours... I don't really want them hanging around before the baby's born either, as that would put major pressure on everyone. Decisions, decisions

BLM - I know what you mean - it is making me really stressed as DH has been in a foul mood the whole time my Mum has been here - says he feels like he's staying in her house as she completely takes over. He's also pissed already that she will undoubtabbly say we are looking after the baby all wrong and not doing anything right - which she probably will knowing her!

I asked her to come after the birth to give us a few days to find her feet but she just went and booked flight for 4 days before my due date. i'm now kind of hoping she (the baby)arrives 2 weeks early so we have some time by ourselves but being a first baby she'll probably be two weeks late.

Listening to you guys makes me sort of glad that my Mum won't be remotely considering travelling to see us!!

if Lo arrives early, there is a chance she might be able to visit c/o my sister in early august - but no overnights or anything!

She did suggest that if DH continues being a wally (trying to reamin polite here), I could up sticks and take DS and stay with her. Trouble is, I'd lose loads of pre-paid nursery time and I'm stingy!!

Jem - you poor thing - I never logged on at work for just those reasons!! For ages I cleared the search history on my home comp too - so that if DH ever logged on to MN he wouldn't immediately log in as me!!

Ladies I think we need to lay down some ground rules for parents and PIL's - my problem is I'm not very good at being assertive

DH's parents are divorced and remarried, so we've got 3 lots of "Grandparents", who'll all be clamouring to see the LO.... groan...

I shouldn't complain actually, I suppose I should be glad they're interested

My assertivenss is going to have to be with DH -and our "friends" all of whom appeared at some point or another bearing flowers, and then sitting on their arses while I made the tea.

After last night's little episode I will be reminding DH that getting pisssed is not an option right now......

It all sounds very stressful - am pleased most people will know well enough to leave us alone!

I would take advantage of those raging pregnancy hormones to get everything of your chest now while you can still get away with it .

I did this the other night regarding my disapproval of spending ANOTHER xmas with FIL....and then out of the blue DH suggested last night that we arrange a hol in Florida at xmas instead (my mum owns an apartment and lives there most (not all) of the time), which sounds much more appealing to me

God jem, what a nightmare!

Well, just got back from my fecking useless midwife appointment, I'm really quite annoyed. Bearing in mind I haven't spoken to anyone about the birth since my 11 week booking in appointment, I assumed I'd be able to talk over any late concerns I had since, y'know, I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and he could come any time.

But no, I waited for over an hour in the hot waiting room (no windows) with a family of foulmouthed chavs who all went out for regular fag breaks then declared they were cold and kicked the main doors shut while all the pregnant women in the room sat there fanning themselves and glaring at them.

I finally got called in and she said "we're running late so no time to talk, I'll just measure you and you can go"

I pointed out that I hadn't spoke to anyone properly about the birth, and she said "you should have done that at parentcraft classes" (which were run by a student midwife who didn't know anything about our notes)

I started to get a bit upset, for all I know she could be the last medical person I speak to before I go into labour ffs. She refused to look at my birthplan because "I won't be delivering you so there's no point" and "don't bother speaking to your consultant about the birth, he won't be delivering you either"

Well, somebody tell me who the f**k I SHOULD be asking then!!!

....and breaaathe....

Anyway, the main thing is is everything's normal, but she measured me at 40 weeks and has put him on the 90th percentile for growth, and added "he feels massive" just in case I didn't get it.

No wonder they were running behind so much if it's like getting blood out of a stone to get the woman to do her bloody job, frankly.

wow bananbump i cant believe the difference in peoples experiences - she sounds absolutely useless and its ridiculous that you havent been seen before now anyway.

one midwife i see is totally useless but her holiday replacement was great - dont see how they can go through the same training etc and be so different.

the only place we have discussed the birth i suppose is the parentcraft class - but if it is useless too - then you're stuck really. ah well suppose there is always the mn childbirth thread where you can get answers to most things - but i know its not quite the same as discussing things in rl.

I went to parentcraft classes at our hospital and it was more lecture-like than discussion - cannot see how the midwife taking it would have been remotely interested in my birth plan, as she barely acknowledged that some women might not WANT to be shot up with syntocinon as soon as the baby was delivered to "hurry the placenta out". Hideous.

'Fraid bananabump that some of just don't really get offered ante-natal care without begging for it. I will never forget the GP I first saw telling me what could I expect - it is a free health service (well, yes but it isn't is it - we pay massive contributions towards it every payday, and since when should this mean I cannot expect any actual care and clean hospitals??).

So sorry that you had that experience.

Woah Bananabump - you poor thing! I would complain about your midwife - purely on the basis that if you had concerns about stuff, she has just basically told you she's not interested! Funnily enough, my M/W cancelled my homebirth talk today, as they were really busy, but she's coming tommorrow instead so I'm not worried.

It is scary the way care differs between areas, and sometimes even within surgeries.

Where are you? You shold have a community midwives office number on your turquise book - I'd give them a ring, and ask for a home visit, as your M/w has scared you with talk fo huge babies, and did not spend time discussing your concerns.. worth a try...

ooh banana what a witch.

You should've said as she kept you waiting for over an hour (didn't seem to bother her that much to be running late) that you weren't going anywhere until you'd asked your questions.

My midwife is a completely scatty but she's certainly not unhelpful - not completely confidence inspiring though!

I've calmed down about it now, I was fuming when I got home. Not all the midwives I've seen are useless by any means, but she's very brusque and direct. I was just hoping to get it all answered so I could relax for the last few weeks without emergency sections and botched episiotomies playing on my mind.

Mumsnet is great but you have to bear in mind that people's experiences differ widely and a lot of it is based on opinion and not necessarily fact, plus some women seem to like to scare first timers with their horror stories. I wanted to know what MY hospitals policy was.

In any case she seems to think I should ask the labour midwives any questions I have. I'm sure that whilst having regular contractions I'll have loads of energy and a clear head to ask all my questions...

Anyway, sorry for moaning! Hope everyone else is doing ok today.

I still don't know whether mil is coming to stay here or if we're going there, REALLY hoping we can go visit instead so I don't have to do any cooking/cleaning/entertaining and we can leave when it all gets too much!

growing - my labour. waters went about midnight, but I didn't realise this so went back to sleep . woke up an hour later with more leaking. labour pains started about 10am next day. was pushing for 5 hours (nearly ended up as CS but they managed to get DD out with forceps eventually at 11.45pm. so not the short sharp labour you had! ps have since found out that i shouldn't have been left that long pushing.

banana - that is awful - you could complain to the head of midwifery (if you've got the energy). and remember we're all here to help if we can...though i fully appreciate that sometimes you need that 'professional' advice.

for those of you with parents coming to stay/help - have a list of chores that they can do, even if it's going out and getting shopping etc in. we only have DP's mother to worry about as my parents and DPs dad died years ago. So in some ways you are lucky even though i completely understand that they will drive you mad. MIL lives 80miles away and DP has to go and pick her and take her home on the same day...as she doesn't like to stay over. when she gets here she tends to sit on her bum and do nothing. last weekend she watched me take 2 loads of washing in, on the very last pair of socks she said 'oh, i could have helped you with that' grrrr

sorry that's turned into a MIL rant.

1 hour left to work - hooray!