Still blooming and getting bigger

[littleoldme]

Decided we were getting to full. Hope this works.

Rant away RG - better out than in, as they say. I'm sure teenagers are preprogrammed to know just what buttons to press. I know DD's priorities and mine rarely match. We've been at loggerheads too lately over when she's actually going to do some sorting out & get some stuff together for uni - her stock response is "I've got it sorted, there's plenty of time - just chill mum" (she's currently at the Big Green Gathering then off to London for a week & has loads more stuff planned before she goes! ) and I could rant for hours over the state of her room - the 6 loads of washing that appears at once when she decides she needs to see where she's walking and the general mess she leaves behind in her wake - worse than DS! So do rant, if nothing else it makes me feel better

FCH - I bought a second hand pool to have DS in (later sold) and we had a "test-drive" in the dining room. I had visions of floating upstairs in my new PJs (another excuse for new PJs) with new baby to a nice freshly made bed in my tidy bedroom to relax & bond whilst everyone cleared up downstairs. Plus, I figured that it would be easier to avoid stairs if there happened to be a blue light dash I think the main pool constraint is getting the water in and out without soaking everything.

RGPargy, your lad sounds like a typical teenage stereotype with his laziness. I guess those stereotypes have to come from somewhere though, right? I'm really looking forward to the whole baby and little kid period of my dc's life but haven't a clue how I'll deal with a teenager??? You are a brave woman!

My MW is very supportive of my plan to have a HB. When I saw her on Monday she was knackered as she'd been up all night at a HB, so she certainly has the experience! Aparently they are really popular in my part of the city as I live by the sea (coincidence?). I don't know about a birth pool though, as our flat is tiny so we'd have to seriously shift things around to get one in. I'm planning on getting DH to run me a bath if I need some watery relief.

A great book I've just finished reading on HBs is by an American midwife called Ina May Gaskin and has lots of wonderful first-hand stories from women who have had their babies at her hom birthing centre. There is also a great picture of a baby coming out face first that has to be seen to be believed! I don't know if the book is available in the UK as I borrowed it from a colleague who has just trained to be a doula and comes from that side of the pond. Scratch that, I've just found it on Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=pd_bowtega_1/202-0732478- 3032668?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186058242&sr=1-1 - highly recommended!

Well SGK - I've had the hosue upside down and couldn't find the bits I needed for the cot. I nkew EXACTLY where they were in the old house but since the move I had no idea.

Emailed mothercare anfd they told me to contact my local store- I decided to have a final look in a couple of drawers before I did that and LO AND BEHOLD there they are- right at the back of the drawer ina plastic bag nice and handy. I've put them on mmy dresser now- somewhere a bit more obvious. Have no idea if I'll remmeber how it all goes together again- can sneak a look in mothercare when I'm in buying the mattress.

RG- rant away although probably better if oyu don't for the baby. Teenagers can be aright trial can't they

Glad you found the bolts Pixiefish!!

Yeah i think i should rant away on the teenagers forum so that i dont stress the rest of us out in the process!! I must admit baby has been rather quiet today since i got majorly (and tearfully) stressed about DS earlier. I'm sure she'll make up for later tho.

My mum has offered to have him out in Spain with her (she lives out there) but i really dont see that as an answer or indeed a punishment! I think it gives out the message that if he's a little sh1t, he'll get a free holiday to Spain! I declined her kind invitation and told her i would be moaning at him and banning him from the net instead. Much more suitable! mowahahahaaaaaaa!

but if he went out to your mum it would give you a break RG- wha's your mum like discipline wise? I only ask cos mine just lets dd have all her own way and then says that I have said she can't have/do something so if I was having problems I have to admit my mother wouldn't be my first choice either

Good luck to all of you planning HBs. My mum was telling me the other day about her experiences, she had 1st baby in hospital and tghe next 3 at home. This was in 60's and early 70's but she agrees HB was so much better. Mind you hospital sounded awful then! You were kept in for 10 days (she said she was dying to get home) and the baby was whisked away from you after the birth and kept in a nursery with all the other babies (great for bonding with your newborn!). Baby only brought to you at feeding times - which were set times and if the baby was hungry before then, tough. One day they brought my sister to her and said "Ooh, she's been crying for ages!" my poor mum. For the first five days you weren't allowed to pick up your own baby in case you dropped it!

I know hopsitals aren't like that now, but she was just so happy to have HB's. After her fourth (me) was born they told her if she had any more she'd have to go back to hospital as she was 35, she told them the only way they'd get her in there was in a coffin!

I'd look into a HB but my pg is classed as high-risk because of my high bp (though all going great so far) so not really an option.

I'll second the "BF if you can" stance. I'm hideously lazy so it really was the easiest option for me (though I'm not saying getting going wasn't without it's hiccups!) I just couldn't bear the thought of having to get up umpty ump times in the night for the first few months to fetch/make/heat a bottle that may or may not get drunk! Also, all the sterilizing malarky, buying bottles, etc.. you get my drift The fact that it's best for the baby was neither here nor there when I made my decision, I'm ashamed to say (though it was a long time ago and I was very young )

I'm not even entertaining the thought of a homebirth - we live in a terraced house and I just don't think it would be fair on my neighbours bearing in mind the noise I made with DD! Hoping for a waterbirth though, wanted one last time but couldn't have it because of complications during labour. The lovely MW who was with me for a lot of the labour did run me a bath which was fabulous and definitely helped with the pain.

Also, the hopsital visiting hours are very restricted and I could do with some proper bonding time without the inlaws arriving

We haven't bought anything yet, though I suppose we ought to start thinking about a double buggy soon. Perhaps when I go on mat leave I'll decide to get a few bits, but until then I'm concentrating on sorting out DD's 2nd birthday which is in 3 and a bit weeks.

RG your post made me realise that one day my beautiful, sweet, energetic little girl is going to be a teenager - that's a scary thought

I owuld love a HB but with my helath problems I know it would be ridiculous.

evening all

Pixie - my mum is softer than me (and i'm not that much of a push over!). She said he would not be allowed to go to anything that costs money, i.e. foam parties, water parks etc but could only do what was free and that apparently did not include the contents of her food cupboard. thing is, I know what she's like and she will eventually give in to him.

So many home births!!! Brilliant! Deffo gonna hire a pool tho coz i have trouble fitting my fat bum in a bath in normal conditions, let alone 9 months pg and trying to move around in it!!! LMAO!!

Hello

Having to eat humble pie tonight.
Firstly, DH is just acting out of concern for me. Discussed his attitude with him and he explained he just didn't want me to be at risk.

Secondly - Had an appointment with obstetrician today and the news is a bit strange. Apparently I have slightly borderline liver function test results. They said not to worry too much but they are redoing tests and seeing me again in a fortnight. If level of this enzyme doesn't come down they will need to monitor very closely and it could mean I become high risk.

Also have step kids here for summer holidays and have a very upset 11 yr old girlcrying herself to sleep. DH just had to tell her that her mum had rung to say her kitten had been run over and killed

Good news though - I visited my colleague today in hospital who had the car crash 2 weeks ago. She looked very beaten and bruised and is emotionally fragile but is doing very well. It looks like she should be on the mend and may get back to normal in 6 months or so.

Silk -- good to hear that your colleague is on the mend, even if it is a long process. The bruising and stuff will probably look a lot better in another week or two. Also, I hope your liver kicks into gear, so you don't get high risk.

It's sweltering here, 29 C at 10pm, which is ridiculous. I have my feet up, and a cold drink, but still sweating. Tomorrow is going to be just as bad, too. I am normally pretty good at coping with the heat, but not in this condition!

Silkcushion - glad your work colleague is on the road to recovery. So about your DSS's kitten tho. Hope your liver is ok too!

Sorry, i meant DSD not DSS

Silk - glad to hear your colleague is getting better. Hope your liver starts behave itself soon.

RG - hope you are feeling calmer after DS's lapse in home security.

Thanx littleoldme. I am feeling slightly calmer this afternoon. I have made a massive long ranty thread in the Teenagers section because i am trying to keep DS off this thread.

On a brighter note, i had a play with a couple more prams last night and am now favouring a Britax model that comes with car seat too. It seems much better made and lighter/less bulky than the Graco one i was going to get and folds down really snazzily too hehehe. I think we are going to opt for that one. We wont be using it for public transport or anything so we just need something to get out the boot or stroll up the road with.

We also bought our first baby items last night. Just a cot blanket and two body suits but it kinda makes it slightly more real.

Have a lovely break Loopy!!

Hi all ! How is every body ?

Loopy - hope you have a lovely holiday in Cornwall. Thaks for the tips re: epidural and BF too - unless really have to transfer, can't have an epidural anyway, so am prepping myself to be big and brave ! Gonna go for it with BF, so may well be after tips from you, purplepants (hello ! sorry haven't said hi properly before) and anyone else ! The main reason people have told me they gave up BF was because of pain apparently....

Littleoldme and bearus - found this link about SPD - dunno if it might be useful ? Has other links on it too: www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/physicalhealth/pelvicpain/
I've had pains in that area and just thought it was 'another of those pregnancy pains' until I read about it from you gals on this website and went on a bit of a hunt about it !

RGPargy - hope your cat is recovering OK ? Am just getting some more baby stuff too ! Saw a brilliant nightlight at the Baby Show and have decided to order one - it's a v cute tortoise that projects constellation patterns on to the walls and ceiling and comes with a book about them too, so they can read about them if they like when they're older too !

Silky - am v glad your colleague is on the road to recovery. How are you feeling today and how's your DSD ?

hi Zoke

i'm a bit nervous about BF too (although weirdly less so since i found out i'm having a girl ) but i'm determined to give it my very best shot for as long as possible.

My cats are both now back to normal thanx - they had a bit of a scare the other night when they both shot through the cat flat and skidded around on the floor (we have laminate flooring), which was quite funny to watch but obviously the big black moggy was on the prowl again. They are fine now tho, no trips to the vets at all! Phew!

Have you got any plans for this weekend? We're just going to do more work in the garden preparing the base for our shed that's coming next weekend, do a trip to find a portable clothes rail til we get wardrobes and i think that's about it!

Hi RG

Glad the moggy's better and no vet trips ! Tee-hee re: the laminate - that's what happens to our lil black dog when he runs in too fast from the back garden too - brilliant trying to watch him corner on it - straight out of a cartoon !

This weekend - right now, I should be catching up on some cleaning, but I'm actually printing out more info about HB, waterbirth and the pool we've chosen - going to M+D's this evening and out for a meal - so we can go armed with loads of facts ! Am hoping they'll be fine, 'coz gonna do it anyway....!
Am getting ahead with a bit of work too, 'coz got an optician's appt on Monday morning which may take a while (am v v v short-sighted, have contacts, haven't had specs for aaaaages, now have to for convenience re: getting up at night etc).

Tomorrow, if it stays nice, DH and I should tackle a bit more of the garden really - we planted roses last year - result = lovely, elegant flowers - and then we randomly sowed a load of mixed seeds between them this year with no gardening nouse at all - result = mad, mass flowering and can't distinguish flowery weeds from nice flowers...can't actually see the roses that well now either !

Got a busy work week next week ? Am finding myself gradually detaching from it more and more - only got 8 weeks left - and just want to think about my baby girl ! How about you ?

Hi ZoKe

I hope your M&D eventually come round to the idea of having a HB. Haven't really discussed it with mine - mum lives in Spain and i dont talk to my dad much and he certainly wouldn't be interested!!

I should also be catching up on cleaning. I didn't go ANY last weekend and the place is a shit hole! I will go and do the dishes in a sec and then tackle the place. Not looking forward to that! /

Good luck for the opticians! It probs will be much easier to whack on a pair of specs in the middle of the night. Dont think i'd want to be fiddling with my eyeballs at 3am when i cant even open them!

Ugh, gardening. I hate it! I always admire a nice garden, but i cant stand doing all that hard work myself! I'd rather pay someone to do it for me!

I'm not busy at all at work lately. I work for an American law firm in London and you'd think i'd be flat out but it's sooooo quiet! Spose it's coz it's a different area of law (i'm used to doing property work, which is manic) and it's so much quieter. It gets to the point where if they give me work, i find it inconvenient as it interrupts my web browsing!!

8 weeks left at work?? That's no time at all! I've got 10-12 weeks left, depending on when i leave, if i take holiday etc etc. It's not long at all is it?!!!

Seriously cant wait to meet my daughter now. We're both getting sooooo excited about it!!