Due Sept '07 - Loving this weather - yes WE WILL make it through the summer thanks!!!

[PurpleLostPrincess]

I did it (slightly adjusted the wording - is it OK?)!!! Now all we've got to do is a link from the old one to the new one - I'll leave that to somebody a bit more competent!

By the way, I just go laalalaalalaaa when you guys talk about epidurals/pain relief etc. I really didn't enjoy having one when I had DS but I had to as they had put me on a drip and all sorts and I had lots of complications. Ended up with even more severe migraines for years afterwards too. Didn't have one with DD1 and much preferred the whole experience. If I can get away with it this time, I'm going to try and avoid having one (obviously can't predict how things will go!). Gas & Air me up all the way!!!

PLP xxx

Hello everyone, I've been away for a while but am back now. It's lovely catching up with everyone's news, though it took an age to read all the posts! Thinking of you especially, Sophus and MMooMar, I hope things go as well as can be for your mums. I lost my mum 12 years ago, and remember how draining it can be supporting an ailing parent. And I wasn't pregnant back then like you are now. So do try to get your rest when you can, and spread the load around if you can.

Dal, I hope I'm not too late to email you my details, I'll do it in just a minute. Thanks for organising us all.

I love hearing the names for our babies. Dh and I have both really liked Liam for a few months - but ds1 hasn't been so keen on it at all. So we have been trying to talk ds round. Finally, 3 days ago, he anounced he now loved the name. And then, 5 minutes later, dh decided he's "not so sure anymore". Typical contrary dh. So it looks like we're back to square one again.

I had my anti-d today, and while I was there I mentioned my puffiness. Turns out my bp is high and I've got protein in my wee. They took loads of blood to rule out PET. I've got ANC tomorrow so I should find out more then.

Hope you're all well, its nice to be back! And its exciting waiting for news about Lou isn't it, anyone heard yet?

Hi ladies

Been enjoying your posts but not had time to write til now. Love all the names - PLP, Cerys is one of our options and I like the Welsh connection (my dad is welsh). But at the mo have too many to choose from. Think I might wait to see the baby although it's hard to imagine how that will make a difference!

Sophus - Great news about your mum coming home - loads of luck.

Moomar - really sorry to hear about yours, but hope prognosis is good. Lots of luck too!

Dal you were describing bulges across your tummy - well 2 weeks ago the midwife said my bump was breech, and since then I've noticed quite a bit of horizontal "stretches" as it were, and then today the midwife said it was cephalic (hurrrah!) and that the bump on my left was the back/ bottom, and the bump that sometimes pops out on the right was the baby's legs? dunno if this helps but your description sounded a bit similar.

Also had a look at the breech watch on preg thread - and I have to say I've not noticed a difference between when it was apparantly breech and now when it's apparantly cephalic - I conclude from this that it is either a) hard to be sure that it is breech or not OR b) hard to tell that it has moved (- at this stage at least, I'm 34 + 4.) Don't know if this makes sense or is helpful, but the kicks etc all seem to be in a similar or similarly undefinable place...

Also - re cramps - I was given some advice that was very helpful - when you want to stretch out in bed when you think you might have a cramp, don't point your toes, but rather flex them while you stretch. It really works - I found when I pointed I went into a total cramp, but a flexed foot seemed to avoid it? ?

Lucky you ladies who can get a private room, as far as I'm aware there is no such thing as St Georges (though some of you - Mrs Mar and co might be able to correct me on that??)

Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather - lovin the rain?.
Xx

PS also outraged at fat comment - my stupid (harry potter lookalike despite being at least 45) boss implied that I resembled jabba the hut when I was wearing a pink top the other day. I just walked away speechless, but some people eh? Just no manners!

Rin - I'm not 100% on what the availability of the private rooms at St Georges and how many there are, but they definitely have some. The midwife mentioned them at our ante natal class a couple of weeks ago.

Loving all your name ideas. I'm quite jealous of the pretty girls' names, because I was sure for ages that we were having a girl, and we had a name picked out right away, but since we've known we're having a boy it's been much more difficult. I think it can be tricky to find an interesting boy's name that doesn't sound a bit daft.

PLP, I can't remember where I saw the maternity mat things, but it was definitely either Boots or Mothercare. I think Boots.

ahhh. I will enquire. thanks!

I'm going to do the tour as soon as I finish work.. might have to do it on a saturday morning so dh can come along, I'll report back as soon as I've got myself organised and done it!!

I'm going to go when I finish - though it will be beginning of september by the time we are free. Fingers crossed for the flash new birth centre to be ready!! and that it is indeed flash...
Do report back though.

Hello everyone, I'm going to start doing this properly now LOL and maybe I'll actually get to know you all a bit better so here it goes, starting from my last post LOL, which was on Monday!!:

Flossalump: How did the valuations etc go? Hope that all went well, so does it mean that you're expecting to be moving quite close to baby's birth or does it take ages to sell a house in your area? (If I'm all cafuddled just ignore me LOL)
Hope your plans for HB go well too and you've got a good call out team, mine were great last time and might be doing the same this time (depending on GBS test result). And how was DS's first nursery session? Bet you were more nervous than he was eh?!
I get stars every morning, more due to being very mucussy (TMI sorry) and having to get rid of it.

Also, Q about the RLT (I didn't take any first time but. . .) do you really start taking it this early? (I haven't got another MW appt til next week so can't ask her til then) I want this baby asap, and DH "wants his break from work" (Although I suspect it's more to do with having a baby around again, bless him, he's such a big girl LOL)

Dal21: Hiya (again) how's that bump of your's? LOL Still reigning champion on the size front? You'll have to put a pic on your profile then I can really start competing LOL
My LO's still a wriggly little monster (hence already decided on nickname "Squid" along with Monkey we could start up our own mini zoo!) This one get's hiccups about 3 or 4 times a day and starts wriggling when I eat/lay down/sit down, whcih is most of the time now LOL
DD was quite a calm baby in my womb but MW says this one has more room to move, and is obviously making the most of it!!
Maybe LO likes being in that certain position, if you're upright it'll lie head down and when you're lying down it'll be sideways on your bod, that's what mine does!

MrsMar: Am with you on the pain thing, My legs and hips feel really weak at night and I have to put my feet up on a 4xfolded duvet to stop them feeling so achy, which doesn't do anything good for the SPD but it's either that or sleep sitting up and I'm no good at that, I slide down the headboard until I'm lying down LOL
So, is today your last shift (or do you work odd days) either way, Congrats! You can now sit back and read for weeks on end LOL
And you've just reminded me that we still need to book the tour!!! Arrrggghhh bbay brain!!

hayley2U: Glad your results were clear! My friend had the test and actually liked that drink!! LOL She is a bit odd though LOL
Not too impressed with your rellies! What a horrible thing to say to you! I'd've lamped them! Don't care now, I'm in quite an agressive state and anyone in my way doesn't get warning now LOL
Ooh get a pedicurist to do your feet before you give birth, that way next time you see them you'll be even more pleased to see them (rather than realising that they need to be seen to, you'll wish you couldn't see them again LOL)
Hope the cold stays off for a bit though, not a good time to get a cold, unless you stock up on the Vit C and get rid before baby comes along!
Sorry to hear you lost one of the twins but I reckon you'll love the LO enough for two!! My DH would've been one of twins and he spends a lot of time thinking about his brother.

emj23: Yup go with that I would too if I had people telling me I look like I've lost weight

Sophus: Oh that's good news, congrats.

chattyhan: How did your scan go? Hope all was well

amyclaramum: I feel for you and hope everything goes to plan for you but if this LO comes along soon I think you'll cope, you wont forget your other baby and this one wont be replacing it in any way so there's no need to feel bad/down about it, if it happens it happens, and everything happens for a reason, right?!

PurpleLostPrincess: Thanks for the sympathy hun, I'm not bad enough to be using crutches but then I just make sure I'm always within reach of a good perch
Ooh bet you can't wait to get your hands on the nursery!! ATM our cot is actually full of baby stuff (had 2 baby showers at the weekend so has eased my concerns about not being able to clothe LO when it comes along!)
Also sorry to hear about your DH, mine's had depression for over 10 years, he managed to go cold turkey on his meds (the week of our wedding of all times, without telling me) but started re taking again when we moved in here a couple of years after, and I'm not entirely sure he's been put on the right meds, as he's still very very stressed and his job is one of his favourites in years, according to him!
I say "we're having a baby" to DH on a regular basis! He's so excited but it's really weird for me this time (I've had a few emotional probs with it) and so I say it cos I'm actually in fear of it all but he's soooo excited that his reaction takes me back even more! He goes along the lines of "I know! Isn't it amazing, you've got a baby inside you right now. . .blah. . .blah. . ..blah. . ." and I'm left thinking I just shouldn't say it anymore LOL
Yay! Give your LO as many names as poss, she'll love it when she's older, being different from everyone else, but not in a totally obvious way like having ten names rolled into one for her forename LOL

MrsFish: I'm sooo jealous at your 3D scan, it's sooo clear! We couldn't afford one either last or this time but it's always good fun to look at other's' pics!
Although you putting on 2st 5lb has cheared me up, I've only put on just over 1 st, according to MIL's scales (which aren't exactly in this decade!!) but my BMI was 31 when I first got pregnant so it's a bit of both worlds for me LOL
I love the name Benjamin but DH's brother and cousin are both Ben's and so we just can't do it LOL

MrsBumblebee: I keep meaning to go into Boots and get one of the mats LOL, only heard of them when the MW bought some with her for the birth of our DD, we did get a plastic sheet but it was like sleeping on a crisp packet!! So this time we know what we need LOL

Kinki: I keep changing my mind on the names too, the boy's name is set at Oisin but I keep changing the girl's name (typical too cos it looks like it will be a girl too) but we're on Erin or Lucy ATM
Good luck with the ANC, and welcome back!!

Rin23: Can't believe your BOSS was so disgustingly rude!! I'd've quit on the spot (due to overactive hormones LOL)

Right, now that I've (finally) caught up with you all, how the heck can anyone afford a private room?!! LOL It's not even in my vocab where Hospital is concerned, the words "private" and "hospital" are to be used on separate days, let alone sentences/converstaions!! LOL

Hope I haven't left anyone out, either way hope you're all good and for those having troubled times, I am deff feeling for all of you, in amongst beating my DH's ego to a rather mushy pulp and glaring at random strangers in the street (I love these hormones I can do anything LOL)

It's taken me just over 2 hours to finally catch up, in between feeding 2 yo DD and other little odds and ends LOL But I finally did it and I'm so proud!
Have a good evening all
xxxx

Kyala, wowser impressive post.
I did feel like punching him but the result might have been the same as resigning on the spot and I need my maternity pay too much! I think he thought it was funny. Tw*t!

Glad to hear about your mum Soph and Hayley glad your GTT results are ok. I had my second test today and Thurs I have a scan to find out how big the baby is.

Some lovely names on here.

Some of the prices for private rooms sound quite good, I haven't looked into this myself.

I keep meaning to write my birth plan...

...ATM can't stop playing with my new mobile phone

kyla
thanks for your post. yer i'm still so looking forward to meeting my daughter. thats facinating about your dh thinking about his twin, i wonder if my little one will be like that.
yer i really di think about swinging for them, by end of night i must have been pretty much snarling at anyone that came near me. mind iv just een shopping and felt like snarling at my um she kept loking at all clothes and shoes how rude when i am loking like a rhino, and my feet are swelled.
yer think i might treat my self to a pedicare if i can put with the shame as someone touching them minging things. think i'll defo get my hair done though even if ends up in one big tangle i'll feel better for it.
yer the drink was horrid, but worst of all sorry to be grosse about it it just kept repeating on me all day, yuk yuk yuk.

well done on your catching up, hope you are well too xxx

Hi kyala! now that's a catch up!

I do work funny shifts so I've got weds and thurs off and then Friday is my last shift, yay!! I can't wait. It feels really wierd to not be working for the first time since I was 16. I feel a little apprehensive, I've always supported myself, so the few months I'm on smp (after my period on 90% full salary) will be scary. Thank God for savings eh? Not sure I can face asking dh for money! I'm such a working girl... brought up by a working mother who always earned more than my dad. It's really hard to think I may be dependent on dh at some stage. Oooh the feminist in me is screaming

Rin - I will definitely let you know how the tour goes... We'll probably end up going on the same day... I'm quite keen to see the new birthing centre too, so I might put it off until it's open.

Haven't read everyone's posts yet.

I am currently sitting with a neck brace around my neck, don't know what I've done, but I AM IN AGONY. Doc has prescribed me Diazapam to try and loosen up muscles that have apparently gone into spasm. Been in bed most of the day.

Will catch up properly when I'm feeling a bit better.

Hi everyone. PLP and Kyla - Thanks for asking! Think yesterday went really rather well in general. Valuer came and was really off to begin with them warmed up, which I hoped was a good sign! Got a phone call today to say the house is worth 40k more than when we brought it 18 months ago. Amazing. We've done virtually nothing to it.

The valuation was for a huuge loan we are taking out, which is very much needed right now as I'm skint already half way through the month. Feel so annoyed about it as I've been so good with my money this month, shopping in lidls, no frivolous spending at all. As it stands we'll barely be able to afford to eat for the rest of the month let alone make the most of my mat leave and have a few days out. Not to mention the fact of hiring tens machines/getting nursing bras and the other couple of odds I need to sort. Feeling a bit disheartened. Can only hope the rest of the loan goes through ok and in the next week or so... Whinge over I do apologise!

On brighter notes the chat with the midwife about a H/b was very positive and am feeling much better about it now. Must remember to sort out a bulb for our lamp thinking about it! And DS trotted (well sprinted) happily off to nursery and didn't look back as soon as we entered the building. Was very happy to be there and was far too busy playing to even acknowledge a goodbye from his parents! He's always been the same with the C/M so I wasn't too anxious about it all. More worried about the huge tantrum he'd throw when it was time to leave but even that went very smoothly! Looking forward to a couple of hours peace tomorrow afternoon now!

Kyla the RLT is supposed to be from 36 weeks. I don't believe it has a quick reaction time IYSWIM and some people will tell you it doesn't work at all. But you can get the pure stuff from neal's yard for about a pound so I don't see the harm. Not so keen on the ready made tea bags, they tend to be cut with other ingredients which stands to reason in my mind might dilute the effects!

MrsFish - Benjamin is definately probably almost certainly one of the best little boys names there is .

Kinki, hope all your bloods come back ok.

I wonder how things are going with Lou?

OH no HIWBB! x posts. Anything to do with the looser ligaments pregnant ladies are supposed to have I wonder?

HIWBB - you poor thing I hope it's not too painful and gets better soon! I hope you're able to get some help coping, esp as your dh is still recovering from his op. Take it easy and try to relax.

Floss - so sorry to hear about your money worries. I do know where you're coming from, dh took out a huuuuuge load just after we met to consolidate loads of debts and it cripples us each month making the payments. I hope you manage to get your loan sorted soon. Great news about you HB though!

Hopey - what a disaster. i am sure it is all the topsy turvyness your body is going through. all the muscles and ligaments working at odds with each other just to try and balance the bump and then it sends everything else off whack.

MrsMAr - totally understand the independence thing, i have never asked anyone for a penny, always earned good money for myself and suddenly DP is getting excited about supporting me and LO - stirring something primordial and masculine in him - unfortunately don't think he realised just how much i cost to run - tee hee.

Went to MW today as bump has suddenly gone v.v. hard and having constant BHs. Apparently LO has started to engage and i could carry on like this for next three weeks. Am definitely entering the "zone" - it's all so exciting.

xxx

My goodness! everyone has been chatting away this afternoon! Havent read all the posts, except HIWBB - oh no! what have you done to yourself.

Well my check up went ok. Bub is defo breech (so hiccups in cervix are not indication that LO is head down). The scan i had showed that whilst the rest of the growth has been spot on - the abdominal circumference growth has slowed a little. Blood flow was checked and fetal heartrate was monitored for a little while and both were fine - but have to go in weekly now. Am not too worried at this stage as read somewhere that it could simply mean I am having a skinny baby. Has anyone else had this?

Anyhows, aside from that, tomorrow is my last day at work - going into the office to wrap everything up then lots of r and r for me! Cannot wait!

heheh sophus.. I think my dh is going to get a shock too!! Esp as smp kicks in around January, sales time... hopefully I'll have lost enough weight to do some spectacular clothes shopping... been really missing out for the past few months! Ooooh can't wait for all those nice new clothes!

I hope the baby is ok dal and he starts gaining a bit of circumferance! sorry to hear you're still breech... I think I still am too... I never did believe the whole hiccups would be higher up if he was breech line... I'm still getting low down hiccup movements. I actually think it's his feet twitching as he hiccups. I hope your baby gets turning soon!

oh and enjoy your last day at work... how exciting!

oh and sophus... (blimey I'm forgettful!!) how exciting about your baby being engaged and things starting to happen.

BLIMEY!! It's only been a day....

instead of buying maternity pads for the bed why not just use old towells?
Lots of nice names being mentioned, I particularly like Eloise.
One of our boy names is Oisin as well, although it isn't our first choice, mainly because we can't think of any really. Possibly Ryan or Jack. I like Ben as well but dp doesn't...

The countdown for me really starts on Friday, as ds1 was born at 36 weeks, and both my ds's are going away for two weeks from Monday...

Rin23: Thanks
Yeah, I know how that feels, although when I was working during the first pregnancy I was only going to get SMP anyway, so I slcked off as much as poss

hayley2U: I'm sure, if you tell her quite early on it'll be something for her to think about, even might become a comfort to think that there might be someone real looking out for her aswell, I thnik I remember my DH saying something along these lines.
Yup I'm good thanks, as you can probably tell a little tense with all the hormones and have had a huge laff at some of the teddies that have been given to us by a Freecycler LOL Some were really weird looking and I've been driving my DH crazy with a puppet that I've nicknamed "Bulemia" the Lion, cos I can make it stick it's hand in it's mouth LOL (V weird SOH over here!!)
Sympathise with the repeating thing also, I've got constant indegestion ATM, living on Gaviscon and avoiding acidy things (which is very hard when we can't really afford for the only thing for me to be drinking being MILK, so it's water then :P )

MrsMar: Wow must be a big change coming for you then! LOL I wasn't too bothered about the whole SMP thing, I was only on, practically, minimum wage anyway when I left work and knew I'd have to give up work to look after DD too, as travel costs etc would cancel out my wages and wouldn't be entitled to any help but hey-ho, it's actually not too bad! Also I used to be a bit of a feminist but got over it when I realised that we weren't going to have any sort of help if I did go back to work, what a strange way this government works eh?! You don't get help if you're married and responsible, but happen to be on a small wage!! LOL

HIWBB: Aww poor thing! Hope you feel better with some rest, and also that you're being looked after
I had a random neck spasm when DD was a few days old, I couldn't do anything but sit on the couch while DH ran out to get some pain killers, poor DD thoguth she was being ignored and started screaming as soon as he went out the door Typical eh?!

Flossalump: Well done with the valuer! That's great news, especially as you said you've done virtually nothing to it too!!
No need to apologise, totally sympathise, it's hard being skint, and you end up living day to day, let alone month to month/ week to week!
Congrats on DS's first nursery expierience being so clean cut!
"they tend to be cut with other ingredients " lol sounds like you're talking about hash!! Thanks for the tip, will be off to Neal's yard at some point this week then!

Sophus: Wow!! Good luck!! Finger's crossed for you, if it's soon hope it goes really well

Dal23: Oh no I was hoping you'd say the opposite as my LO's hiccups have been low in the right hip Will have to wait til next Monday now for rather harsh prodding and poking from heavy handed MW :P
Good luck with the regular checks etc, and have a good last day tomorrow

Seamonster: One of the names DH wanted for our first pregnancy was Jack, but I was picky with him about it, mainly cos I wanted a name that the LO could play around with when it was older, you know kids they want to be the same/different depending on their peers etc :P
But I quite liked it this time round LOL and DH ended up saying we should pick something different LOL

Right, I'm off for a nice soak in the tub, with DD, her hair's manky and we're off shopping tomorrow.
Have a good evening all
xxxxxxxx

Old towels instead of mat pads? eeermmm... each to their own, but if I'd not changed mine VERY regularly I'd have been chucked out of the ward (leakage - not good). And who's the lucky person who gets to wash them?
Names still undecided - we're down to 5.
HIWBB -Ouch! Take it as easy as you can!
Bit of a this evening - my MW team of 2 is going down to 1 for the next 10 days or so and they have no cover, so I've been told 'If you get the slightest leakage or twinge, phone/go to hospital immediately.' Great for morale.
Has anynoe tried moxibustion? Could I do it completely at home?

erm, I meant to sit/lie on in case of leakage at home, don't wards give you the other ones to use while you're there?

Not meaning maternity/sanitary pads lol