Still blooming and getting bigger

[littleoldme]

Decided we were getting to full. Hope this works.

Seabiscuit -- Do you jog, or think that you might take up some exercise like speed-walking through the brush after the baby comes? I don't know where you live, but after a lot of shopping around I decided that the best thing was to get one of those all-terrain strollers, like the Bob Revolution (or Phil&Ted) which is still expensive but about 1/2 the price of a bugaboo. I don't know if you can get the Bob over there, but I've decided that's my favorite (still haven't bought it, though).

w.r.t. christening, is there a nice Unitarian or pagan officiant in your area who could put together a non-sectarian, not overly Christian baby dedication or naming ceremony? I got a Master's degree in religion and can do that kind of thing when asked... but I'm in the US. You can also scour the local area for liberal Catholic priests, and probably find one who is willing to talk to you about alternatives. I wouldn't go ahead with a standard christening if you're not planning on raising the child in the church, but you might be able to do something to appease the inlaws (if they're the sort that can be appeased, that is).

I have not packed the hospital bag, and won't until at least a month and a bit from now, when I get back from my trip to Ireland. I still need to move house first! Bleh!

Also, I am thinking a lot about the fact that at this point, the LO could theoretically survive outside the womb with a lot of medical technology. Pretty freaky thought for me, but exciting, too. It makes it all feel real in a whole new way.

Good luck with your impending move, Aikigypsy!! Been there, done that. Ugh, what a mare!

A couple of links to MN threads regarding hospital bags:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2290&threadid=198478

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=49&threadid=204123&rnd=1184566063371

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1365&threadid=341924&stamp=070619185118

Would summarise them all into one list but then it would be huge and anyway, i think we'll all just pick and choose the stuff that suits us individually.

Aikigypsy - my sympathies as well about the impending house move. So stressful!

oohh, just got on here finally after some nasty work deadlines to find all your considered advice re my wedding trip. ta muchly. as you guessed it wasnt exactly what i wanted to hear, but i did ask! very useful to know the reality... i have mailed the bride to explain my doubts and offered to back out now to make things easier. will see how flexible she wants to be... i love weddings, and dorset and hotels but yes i guess its feasible i might love staring at my bambino more...

youre all scaring me with talk of hospital bags. i havent even managed to buy half of the basics. i have got til november right!?

sarahlou- ta for the repeated mentions of the pelvic floor exercises! every time i see it written i remember to do a few so you may be solely responsible for my (i hope) continence in future! can we all just drop the phrase in from time to time to remind each other? like post its on the fridge but less disturbing to visitors...

Aik & Easywriter- like me you'll prob find the second glucose tolerance test shows up normal. think lizzie0 had the same experience which ended up being fine?

prams- im pretty sure its gonna be the jane slalom pro. the carrycot is also a carseat so im just getting the chassis and the carrycot off ebay to begin with, thats pram & carseat in one. then see what personality of the bub dictates... i like the idea of these travel systems til i see the price, and also the nagging feeling that its a bit of a gimmick, how are you gonna know what is suitable for your baby right up to 2 years or whatever it is they promise? well maybe. im a first timer so maybe more experienced mners can put me right.

Seabisuit -

Forgive me if I overstep the mark here but I am a hardened expert in dealing with family members who are expert in pushing their own agenda. Equally well I respect the fact that I have no idea what your relationship is with them.

1- If they want to give you money that's great but it doesn't buy them the right to have your baby christened.

2- If they are actually saying you should have the baby christened so it doesn't go to hell that is an unloving and unchristian to treat anyone let alone the mother of your grandchild.

3- If they want you have a bugaboo why don't they just buy one instead of guilting you into doing what they want. Remember, you can always decline the cash or suggest they use it to start a trust fund

4. If you do what they want now and you are not comfortable with it - well it's the thin end of a bloody big wedge. Why should even consider appeasing them when they should be bending over backwards to help you unconditionally.

Like I say - sorry I'm being to pushy but this sort of thing really touches a nerve with me as you can probably tell- I don't often get so grrrr that I have to rant in bullet points

Choudru - thanx for those links. Very useful!

Littleoldme - i take your (bullet) points completely and think you are deffo right. However it's very difficult to deal with pushy in-laws in real life sometimes - they can be very daunting and over bearing. Either way, i hope seabiscuit does what SHE wants to do....

RG - Yeah I really do know how hard it is but the benefits are def worth it. I hope SB manages to do what she wants too.

Today I supposed to washup, tidy the bedroom and do the ironing. Instead I got up and 11 and have so far read 300 pages of Harry Potter. I'm so slovenly!

Tsk tsk, littleoldme. Anyone would think you were pg or something!!

Yeah that's right: pg, fat, lazy and proud

Ds2 is ok and has grown in line with the last measurement. I went with my sister (lisad123) who is 31 weeks and she had her scan just before me and I saw my new niece Anyway we both have been diagnosised with Protein S deficicity (sp?) (which is Sticky blood symdrome) and are both on Clexane injections now

Well at least it's good that the baby has grown, Sparkly!!

yes, but scared of the injections, have to see my midwife tomorrow to be shown how to inject myself, and I am crapping myself...

must admit i wouldn't like to do that either. Thing is tho, if you HAVE to do it, you'll just get on with it and do it. You'll be fine, dont worry.

Hospital bag list - I'm sure there's no way I'll take all this - but this is what people on threads about it have suggested

T-shirts/shirts for labour
Going home outfit (maternity clothes still)
PJ's/Nighties and slippers
Maternity pads
Frozen water and juice (for labour)
Snacks (glucose drops, dried fruit etc for energy)
Facial spray
Newborn nappies
Clothes for baby
Money for phone etc
Mobile and charger
Camera
Toiletries
Arnica for healing
Books/magazines
Notepad and paper
Socks (apparently feet get cold during labour)
CHeap dark knickers
Dark towels
Nursing bras
Dressing gown
Facial wipes
Nipple pad thingies
Lip balm
Own pillow (some people say hospitals don't have them or they're not v nice. Some people even suggest taking own duvet but I think this list is long enough without that!)
Ipod or little radio
Hairties

I can't believe I'm going to have room for all this stuff without taking several large suitcases! Also, I will be giving birth in hospital but they move you to a place called Birthcare about 5 mins away as soon as you are able to be transferred after birth, you can spend 3 nights there recuperating and getting help fromm midwives etc. So I (no, not me, DH!) would be cartign these bags around. Will have to do a trial run of packing a bag to see how much I can squeeze in.

Like someone said, it's not the end of the world if yiu dont have everything, hospital would prob be able to provide stuff.

Purplepants - to answer you question from ages ago, we're 11 hours ahead of UK. Until whenever it is that the clocks change, then yours go back, ours go forward and we're 13 hours ahead!

OMG I actually had a full night's sleep last night What a difference!!! I feel absobloodylutely marvellous this morning (...floats off on little fluffy purple cloud of happiness to wake children up... )

ps thanks Anna

Anyone had a CS?

I'm getting worried that with all these health complications I have got that my labour will be worse than it was last time and last time was pretty horrific.

What is recovery like?

My sister had an emergency cs with her second and then elective cs's (recommended by her drs) for her 3rd and 4th kids.

She swears it is the best way to give birth (the elective ones, that is - she was quite freaked out by the emergency one an had to have a general for it). I think when you know you're oging to have one you're more prepared psychologically. I know the physical recovery is quite long but then I've heard some pretty bad tales of recovery from natural birth too. Works both ways I suppose.

SGC - I'm glad the baby is growing well. Let us know how you get on with the injecting.

Well I'm feeling very smug as I seem to have conquered the mighty NHS bureaucracy and finally got a physio session. Hurrah.

Pixie - my mate recently had an elective CS whcih went well and has recovered fine.

Purple - glad you had a good had a good kip - floating on fluffy clouds.. think someones been spiking your cocoa

littleoldme, finally the physio! god that took a while..

SGK- good luck with the injecting. you'll be fine

Silk- what happened with your osteopath? did you ever make it and was it any good for your back?

SGK - glad your baby is thriving, crapola re the injections how often do you have to do them?

Aikigypsy - good luck with the move, we are waiting for (a) our house to be built and (b) a part-exchange offer on our flat so moving seems a while off but I will be interested to hear how you get on. Everyone keeps telling me I'm mad but don't really have a choice.

Revelyell - glad to be of service but now feel slightly weird for continued mentioning of you-know-what (hup two three four...)

Got told in one day that I looked small for 6 months - like I had just had a big dinner(can I say we are 6 months now? Am 25+2.) Then got told by MIL that I was growing b4 her eyes, implication being I was huge. Poor baby will have size issues before it is even born! In the meantime I have discovered cellulite on my calves! Hoping to grow some more belly so will be cheerfully oblivious to spread of lumpy bits.

Isn't the sun lurvely!

You have no idea how long it has taken me to compose that last message and it is still full of rubbish "can I say we are" - what?! My brain is full of holes, no idea how I am going to go back and teach A levels for 6 weeks

SGK -- injections sound horrible. That's the main reason I'm dreading the GTT, I don't want to be shooting myself up with insulin for the next ... ack!!!! It's only another 3 months!

I am planning to move not once, but twice. Next week, then a couple of months after the baby is born. I am insane, I know, but that seemed the least crazy of all the possible crazy plans I could come up with (short of ditching baby's father immediately, which seems unfair all around, as he's very sweet and really looking forward to all this).