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

HIWbb - I am putting factor 15 on my chest (upper chest ) every day because otherwise it burns if I get the slightest bit of sun. This is definitely not normal for me.

lou - glad things have settled down, hope you are able to put your feet up.

I bought a maternity support belt today because my bump has been so sore at the end of the day. I didn't have this in my last pregnancy but am really noticing it this time round. Other than that I feel fine and my gherkin neck injury has healed!!

Roll on August! Loving the sunshine but can we please stay below 25 degrees until October ????

Rin - at our last antenatal class the mw said the new birthing centre at st georges will open early september, the first week probably. I felt very sorry for most of the women there as they were mostly due in late August. There was one woman who's due a day after me and we did allow ourselves a smug grin I'm probably going to end up on the labour ward anyway, so I probably won't see it.

With regards to tanning HIWBB... I have found myself tanning much more easily and much darker, however I do have some crazy blotches. I had this when I was on the pill, so I think it's how my body reacts to progesterone or something like that! I have billions of large freckles I didn't have before too.

p.s. severe envy at all of you enjoying the sun! managed to have one of my meetings off site and in the sun short while but otherwise in the office all day!

I'm another stickler for routine, but I think ds is better for it. He goes down to bed with no problems, doesn't get out or shout etc, and he pretty much sleeps the full 12 hours and just waits/plays quietly in his room till we go and fetch him :smug::D

Also I stopped wearing my wedding/engagement rings weeks ago, it seems that as soon as I go past 12 stone they don't fit anymore.

As I am always freckly and always cover up and use f60 I have never noticed any difference, so I am very jealous of anyone who goes brown at all!

Apparently proper dark chocolate has iron in it, so finally an excuse. Do you drink caffeine at all as that can stop absorption, but I think orange juice helps. Or milk, sorry can't remember which one, although orange juice would be good as that has iron too doesn't it?

Bless you plp!! at least I won't get any more sun induced blotchiness!! I finish work on the 17th August, but that's only 7 more shifts (after this one) so not too bad! I can't wait, I have stopped commuting on public transport now. As it's the school hols it takes me 30 mins in the car as opposed to the 1hr 15mins it takes on public transport, with a mile and a half walk to the tube and two tubes to take! Such a relief!

thebigsea... i think it's orange juice that helps iron absorption, or vit c at any rate, because on the spatone packs they recommend taking it in a glass of OJ as it can help absorb the iron more.

yup i take it in a little oj. and caffiene does prevent absorption.

still have not dated venture near a pair of scales! no idea what i weigh, but rings still fiting although think i am behind a lot of you!

mrsm - our last day is the same day! are you as excited as me? cannot wait!

MrsMar - what has happened about the cases? did you take my advice as of 11:47 this morning?

oh, yes, I hope you haven't been playing silly buggers and doing it yourself

How do I know what my iron levels are then? I happened to see the mw when the results came through and she has filled in my notes but I can't work out which ones they are? She said they're fine (from 28 weeks) but I'm up for anything that might increase my energy levels. Only thing is, chocolate and orange juice give me heartburn (well, pretty much everything does these days!).

MrsMar - sooo pleased you're not having to do that awful journey any more! Roll on maternity leave for you!!! (any everybody else of course!).

canadianmum - glad your injury has healed! I got a support belt from the physio lady but have put it somewhere so safe I can't find it - must have a look as I really think I should be wearing it in the evenings too!

How do I know what my iron levels are then? I happened to see the mw when the results came through and she has filled in my notes but I can't work out which ones they are? She said they're fine (from 28 weeks) but I'm up for anything that might increase my energy levels. Only thing is, chocolate and orange juice give me heartburn (well, pretty much everything does these days!).

MrsMar - sooo pleased you're not having to do that awful journey any more! Roll on maternity leave for you!!! (any everybody else of course!).

canadianmum - glad your injury has healed! I got a support belt from the physio lady but have put it somewhere so safe I can't find it - must have a look as I really think I should be wearing it in the evenings too!

Sorry about that - don't know what happened!!??

Does anybody get sudden pangs of:

"OH MY GOODNESS, I'M NEARLY 33 WEEKS ALREADY - NOT LONG TO GOOOOOO!!!!!!"

???????

It keeps hitting me and I either panic or get all gushy!?

PLP - not sure where it will say on your notes. but i am getting the same excitement. I cannot believe that aug is already here! In jan it seemed so so far away. I havent done panic yet - only more and more excitement!

Glad I'm not the only one! I'm only panicking because we're not ready yet - soooo need to get the nursery ready but got everything else... Deep down I'm really excited and can't wait to hold this lo in my arms! DH cuddled me earlier and we were talking about him holding her - can't wait to see them together too!!! Funnily enough, I'm not worried in the least about the labour bit, but I'm sure that will come at some point!

PLP I'm not sure where it'll be on your notes, but cos I've had so many tests done as part of this pre eclampsia study, I've got a sheaf of papers with each individual blood test result on, the iron ones were abbreviated as Hb if that helps.

I too get moments of OMG!! 7 weeks sounds like nothing! The baby's room is still a mess, the old furniture is being removed this saturday, so that'll give us a bit of space, and the carpenters starting on the new wardrobes the week beginning the 13th Aug, so they'll be done by the end of that week. Then it's mucho unpacking!

MrsFish and thebigsea - I've been at work all day and evening so no chance to go up to the loft today. I promise I won't do it tomorrow either! I've just got to work out a way of persuading dh to do it while making him think it was all his decision. He's got this mule like stubborn-ness to being nagged! Hmmm, I like a challenge! Actually we've got friends coming over for drinks on saturday so I'm sure he'll do it by then, but I just want it done before.

dal - I noticed we're finishing on the same day. I'm sooo excited, I'm rubbish at work now cos i'm totally demob happy! My manager has ordered tea and cakes for my last day. Yummy!!!

Thanks MrsMar - apparently mine is 112 - is that good or not!? You'd think by my third child I might have an idea by now lol! Glad you haven't been up in the loft - hope you find a way of getting DH to do it sooner rather than later! (stubbed my toe 2 weeks ago and it still hurts so know how annoying it is!)

xx

Morning All!

What's this spatone stuff? My iron levels are 9.6 and have to get it up to min of 10 so i can labour at birth centre. But all they have told me to take is two iron tabs a day with OJ.

Hope you're toe gets better PurpleLostPrincess. Anyone else finding they are a bit accident prone?

Really clumsy at the mo and the underside of my bump is covered with bruises where i have miscalculated my hugeness! Accidently leaned over a super hot baking tray at 20 weeks and have seared a line into my stomach looking an awful lot like a c section scar!... OUCH!

Doubt my body will be sporting a bikini anytime soon so doesn't really matter!
x

Morning everyone, hope you all enjoyed your evening and enjoying the morning sun! :D

I cant believe it's the 1st August today its so crazy. Everyone is betting in the office when my baby due and the earliest is the 18th AUGUST!!!!! i would be no where near ready for that. lol. they have been kind though and its the latest of the 11th sept thank the LORD! Getting anxious and excited now its come over me all of a sudden got Mw tomorrow so looking forward to that find out whats going on..! i can't believe its real im having a baby! OMG!!!

PLP - 112 is fine (anything of 110 and above is good).

Vicx (hi - welcome!) - my iron was down to 970 and I take 3 x iron tablets per day. And lots of fruit/veg/raw cereals for maximum fibre to offset the side effects . Are they rechecking at 34wks? They are for me but it's all to do with minimising the consequences of a pph as it would seem that I am of higher risk of a pph this time round. Spatone is iron in a liquid format that you dilute with juice (pref orange) and it's meant to have fewer side effects than the tablets. You can buy it over the counter from pharmacies.

Let my nearly dry washing out overnight on the basis of the weather forecast, expecting fully dry laundry this am. Instead, it tipped down all night and is still raining . Will now take an age to dry...

Have complete head in the sand mentality about the imminence of said child esp since the first two came at 39 wks and so this one probably will as well. Working until 37 wks so life is just trundling on as per usual rather than with any sense of should be getting ready for something...

Still chuckling at the thought of arriving on holiday a week early - just as well it wasn't a week late!

I'm firmly of the head in sand school of thought at the moment, even though mine have all been early, ds1 was 36 weeks and thats about 2 weeks away now...

Having iron rechecked on monday at 34 weeks check up. Last checked at 28 weeks so hopefully will have gone up past 10.

Am def gonna ask MW about Spatone as still completely exhausted and keep randomly noddin off! Passed out of the sofa yesterday while baby was having a nap and got woken up by my toddler three hours later asking for lunch!... at 3pm!!!

Completely in awe of those of you still working!!!!

i know, they are my heroes. I'm enjoying lazing around watching lo's play [definition;argue and fight] and sleeping when dd does after dinner!

I wish i could have a snooze. Im working got 2 weeks left well this week and finish next friday!!!

Hired my TENS machine just now-feels really close now!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonder how HIWBB is?