Due Sept '07 - This Autumn we shall mostly be wearing stripes!!

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Just thought I'd get the shiny new thread up and running. Well done Twit on the thread name

Thanks Mrsfish - I'm not worried - more desperately hopeful that things are starting to kick off!! I'm seeing midwife next Wed anyway so will waitg till then I think.

MrsMar - didn't know tomatoes had such amazing properties but am happy to believe. DH is a mega keen gardener to we have veg coming out of ears at this time of year!

Poor you ETATLM! I was going to ask who the lady was but then you explained, so sorry to hear about her . I think I may have piles too but they're not too unbearable so far - do I buy cream for them then? Hope your evening gets better xx

MrsMar - have a good time tonight! DH is a pretty good cook so I'm hoping he'll be taking care of that when lo arrives as he'll be taking a week or so's holiday (not entitled to paternity).

MrsFish - I do crave coke and 7up or Sprite but they give me heartburn . I treat myself every now and then but I have to have the gaviscon to hand at the same time lol!

Pennypops - I've been getting bh's that have been getting worse lately but I do sometimes get cramps separately. Not sure if they're all incorporated or not but if you're worried it might be worth calling the mw?

I've just woken up from nearly an hours sleep!!! Should have napped earlier on though as I reckon I'll struggle to sleep tonight now...

I'm off to my parents for tea (glad I won't have to cook yay!) as my auntie has come over from Ireland - have a lovely evening all!!

PLP (356) xxx

Well, ladies, I am not amused. Yesterday, at 37+3, not a single stretch mark. Today, at 37+4, loads of the little red f**kers, all across the bottom of my bump . They must have been caused by the baby moving down, and me being less elastic underneath than on top. So, all of you who haven't had any so far - they may get you yet!!

Chatty - thanks for the reassuring words about bf'ing. I'm sure you're right, but I did really feel for this girl. She said that she'd have put up with anything herself (including the fact that both nipples were bleeding), but she couldn't bear the fact that the baby was really jaundiced and had a horrible croaky cry because his mouth was so dry through lack of fluids . I so hope it's easier than that for any of us who are planning to try.

I've just come back from another trip to Ikea (cushion for feeding chair) and fitting for nursing bras. I went to John Lewis for the latter, and would really recommend them - very professional, and IMHO better than Bravissimo. There was nearly a two hour wait, but I probably could have booked if I'd thought of it.

MrsBumblebee, sorry to hear about your stretch marks - my midwife did tell me that they do tend to arrive late on with some people...so I am fully expecting mine any day now. Great tip re nursing bras though, I have really got to get in gear with that.
I am so jealous of everyone nesting and cooking - I am still at work until next Friday at the very earliest and haven't even taken the cot out of its cardboard packaging yet, yet alone arranged a nursery...
MrsMar, can I come round to your house and have all your fab italian cooking when LO is born? x

I am very jealous of all of you who are managing to cook up a storm. I STILL don't have a kitchen and am looking at at least three weeks before I do have one - I think LO is going to come before the kitchen.

Just got back from shopping and I have to say that Rigby and Peller were rubbish for nursing bra fittings. The selection was very limited and they kept me waiting for 45 minutes - shan't be going back there!

I can't believe all the stuff you're cooking!

I am very .

Sometimes my bh hurt my head lol and I'm finding them increasingly hard to breathe through lol.

Hello everyone - feeling a bit happier this afternoon - i'm sure it helps that the sun is starting to break through! Also my pushchair arrived so i've been playing and DS was pushing it up and down the street!

Willjo - i'm outgrowing maternity clothes too! I'm living in my joggers and a baggy pair of linen trousers. Anything else is unbearably uncomfortable.

ECATLM - i'm having crazy mood swings at the moment so sympathise with you feeling all emotional.

Pennypops - I'm not getting a tight bump at all but really suffering with backache and periodlike crampy pains. So it's not just you! I'm convinced these are my version of braxton hicks - you are not alone! Unfortunately i haven't found a solution but am permenantly changing position trying to get comfy. Sitting on my gym ball does help a bit and it's now my computer chair!

MrsBumblebee - i got stretchmarks for the first time at 36 wks last time and the same thing has happened this time if lo waits until due date i'll be covered in them! i notice more every day

to all those cooking i'd love to join you but no freezer space so can't!

Emj - don't stress about lo (easier said than done i know) This is something i've heard quite a lot and tends to be nothing to worry about.

36+5

lol, I want to be able to play with mine, but have already played abit and can't justify doing it again.

Its been hot here for about 3 or 4 days now. So I shall complain about being too hot.

Hi everyone,
Holly29 - have been hanging off the sofa all day upside down and even did handstands in the pool at my gym which were very unladylike....and did she move? Not one inch!....too comfy me thinks. I have an acupuncturist appointment on Tuesday for that moxawhatsit and so will see how that goes. Let me know if you want the contact details, although it is in Wandsworth which is probably not that helpful for you.

Very depressed about the stretch mark thing Mrs Bumblebee...thought i might have escaped but it seems possibly not. Maybe a positive point about a c section is that maybe I will have that and beat the little lines arriving.....not much of a reason i know but got to look on the bright side!

Getting loads of BH's and it seems to help go on all fours for me. Not something you can drop down and do just anywhere though

Sunny weather not appeared in London yet but supposed to be nice for the weekend. Have a lovely one everyone

Thank you all for your replies, I'm trying not to worry about it too much, a search through the threads on here shows that loads of people have asked about this before and everything has turned out to be fine. It was just a shock to be told that bump is measuring what it should be right at the end of the pg! Apparently LO is already about 6.5lb which made me feel even worse, I'm worried she'll end up being about 11lb by the time she arrives - aaargh. I'll just have to wait and see what the hospital says on Tuesday. It'll serve me right if I have to have her early, it's all the complaining I've been doing about the time dragging on....

PLP, I hope you're feeling okay too, and that you're more cheery today, I know what you mean about being driven mad by things like people not tidying up after themselves, especially when it's hard to bend down and pick up all their junk for them!

EmLouT, thanks for telling us about your sister, I found it very reassuring that all was well in her case and that even if they tell me LO needs to arrive early I still have a choice.

MrsBumblebee, sorry your stretchmarks have decided to make an appearance. Mine are awful from DS but I haven't got any new ones. Three of the old ones have got ever so slightly longer and redder though. Ew.

Willjo, maternity trousers are a pain in the... well, everything really. I had one pair of jeans that seemed to fit okay in the shop but I've barely worn since as they won't stay up for longer than 2 minutes. I'm living in my three pairs of combat trousery things from DP and they don't stay up very well either. Ah well, not long left to go.

Hi guys!

CONGRATULATIONS Amyclaramum on the birth of Eloise!

For all the rest of you - not too long now! Just think, even if you are due at the end of September, You can't be more than about 7 weeks away. Time will fly.

Good news here - Jasmine has been discharged from hospital care. They only want to hear from us if she hasn't become less yellow by Wednesday of next week. Have to say she still looks fairly orange, but her jaundice level is well below the treatment line.

I was in hospital last night because I had a sudden bleed after no bleeding at all, and passed a clot. Antibiotics for me, and a scan today, which showed blood in the womb, but no placental tissue, so great news there.

Jasmine has done so well - 5lb 6oz when born, and dropped to 5lb 2oz on day 3. Now, on day 12, she weighs a whopping 5lb 10oz - 8 oz in 9 days! That's why I'm so tired, lol.

A bit annoying that every time I went to have a blood test for her, the nurses and doctors said "hmm, breast fed, wonder if she's getting enough milk, we don't really know what she's getting".

Glad to hear things are going well for you both

lou - glad to hear that Jasmine is doing well, ignore the idiot doctors and nurses. Small babies really benefit from breastfeeding, you are definitely doing the right thing

willjo - I have completely given up on jeans, there is just no space under my bump for them to hold up. I am now living in full panel jersey trousers which are SO comfy. I also regularly wear my "belly bra" which covers my tummy so I can wear not-quite-big-enough tops without showing my lovely stripes . Thanks for the tip re: spinning babies, I have already checked it out but find it slightly daunting. I am doing a few bits to shift OP baby but refuse to get obsessive about it (there madness lies and let's face it some babies just do whatever the heck they want!)

purplelp - re: UTI, I took my fresh sample into the doctors surgery in the morning and the GP did a dip test to show it was clear; she called me in the afternoon with that result. If they do find something from the dip test then it can take about 5 days to get the exact bacteria IYSWIM. Hope you are feeling better and it is not a UTI. My fluey feelings are gone, it was obviously all in my head .

Pennypops - my BH are definitely getting stronger, they stop me in my tracks quite often and today I found myself breathing through them (which was a bit spooky!!). But mine are the hardening type, different to period pains. I think the period pains you are having are more likely the lower part of your uterus stretching???? Especially if it gives you back pain too.

mrsmar - glad you have got your "baby positioning issue" sorted. Hopefully you will find out your lo is LOA (my current fantasy ).

I am now getting lots of little shooting pains down below, assume this is baby engaging or uterus stretching. I don't really want LO to engage in OP position but I think this is kind of out of my control now .

lou, thank you so much for your updates, it's so lovely to hear how you are getting on with Jasmine. What naughty comments about BF though . You're doing v v well by the sounds of her weight gain!

PLP, I'm really struggling with my hip on the left side now ((let's hug)), I can SO sympathise with what you are saying about living with messy so and sos. Mine are a nightmare, they just don't see it do they. Question, do you find your hip is worse after lying down? I could hardly walk AT ALL this morning when I got up and woke up from a nap at 6pm and am really really sore. (ps think I've probably made a mistake there too, will see if we can get to sleep tonight eh!) It's so frustrating isn't it, because I've been catagorically told NOT to push through the pain but to stop all activity, not easy though. My DS's are fairly good, like you did the other day, I sat on their beds and gave them instructions about tidying their rooms. Amazing how quickly they're messing them up again! TBH I'm scared how long it's going to take post delivery for my hip to improve. It seems to be getting very much worse as each day goes by.

emj, as others have said, try not to worry too much. These growth tests are notoriously inaccurate, as I'm sure you've read all over mumsnet! Will keep fingers crossed you don't end up with an 11 lber though!

EmLouT, You poor thing still not having a kitchen. We've been without a fully functioning kitchen for 5 weeks now so I know how you feel. But by the sounds of it, we're much more fortunate than you because we should be up and running completely by tomorrow.

So far, my old stretchmarks haven't reddened 'yet'. I'm definitely not as big (fat) as I was by this stage last time, so maybe that's something to do with it.

MrsBumbleBee, thanks for that recipe and ideas. Much appreciated

MrsMar, I too used to be a complete and utter diet coke addict, I drunk nothing but the stuff for years . Fortunately I came to my senses and realised that I ought to have some water in my diet! I now save it for occasional treats. BUT, nothing beats a cold can of diet coke ....mmmmmm diet coke (Homer Simpson voice).

Fio, those BH sound awful, are you feeling any better?

Well not much to report from me except moan moan moan hip pain moan moan am never ever doing this again!!!

Have a good evening

HIWBB 35+5 x x

Lou, that is fantastic weight gain, esp for a breastfed baby, well done! brilliant! i know what you mean about hosp staff being dubious but the fact is that Jasmine is getting bigger and bigger - and that's a result!

Pennypops - period type cramps and lower back ache - could be pre-labour according to my 'active birth' book. i think this is not real labour but a sort of practise run or gearing up. i think suggestion is this could happen anytime ahead of the 'real thing'.

None of my clothes fit me now, well, hardly any and those that do need washing so might as well not exist the way i feel today!
As for stretch marks, got through last preg with one really small one and thought i was doing ok this time too but this week every time i look in the mirror i have more. lots of clusters of little ones towards the bottom and a monster one on side, really horrible looking. beware the 38th week! [grump emoticon]

hi all

have been reading all week and keeping up with everybody's antics and highs and lows.

congrats to our new arrivals, really fantastic when you think back to late January when we all started to put our hands up saying "excuse me think i might be pregnant can i join?" - i sometimes feel i will be hanging out on the december thread still waiting for it to put in an appearance.

feel very inspired by tales of cookery. next week i am going to clear out freezer and knock up some casseroles, lasagne etc. If i think of anything good to freeze not mentionned already i'll let you all know.

To everyone with aches, pains, and generally weird stuff going on - i agree with all of you on virtually everything. I don't think there is a bit of me which doesn't hurt in some hitherto unexpected way. And because i have not been through this before I have no idea if any of it is normal or not, so i just spend my time wondering and a-wondering.

i too have virutally no clothes left, one pair of trousers and one skirt and i look a sight whatever i wear.

It was my ma's birthday today so we went and had a teaparty for her, and she loved it. She has been getting increasingly confused of late but seems to have rallied a bit these past few days. Really great to have all the family there for what will undoubtedly be her last birthday. i have decided that i won't travel to london anymore now until LO is here - so odd to think that next time i see my family i will be wearing my bump outisde rather than inside.

Love to you all and sorry for not replying to you all personally - i think of you all when i read your posts and only hope for good things for all the group.

S
xx

(38+2)

sophus - glad to hear you saw your mum on her birthday, but very sad to think she might not be here next year . Hope she gets to see your little one soon!

on a lighter note, nice to know I am not the only one with the world's tiniest wardrobe.

36+6 (1 day until FULL TERM)

Lou - i agree with the others jasmine's weight gain is brilliant you're doing really well

sophus - so pleased that you had a nice tea with your mum.

HIWBB - it's my back that's the problem! But i understand your discomfort and frustration

Wow so many posts to keep up with!
Congratulations to those that have finally got to meet their little ones!
As for the damned stretchmarks i too thought i had got away without them until about 37 weeks and then got a few on the bottom of my bump, i can only see them in a mirror and their seem to be more every day. I got really depressed and cried when i first found them (there goes the end of my bikini wearing days) but now that its so close to the time i get to meet my little girl i think a few battle scars are worth it.

I'm definately in nesting mode, just ran around doing a spring clean and spent the day sorting out all the baby gear... I'm hoping for sunshine over the weekend in london so that i can get all her washing done (haven't started that yet)... Can't believe i'm due in 1 week tomorrow!

Have a great night everyone (i'm spending mine on the sofa in front of the tv!)

Sparks (38+6)

Hello all!

HIWBB - my worst seems to be my right hip ((hugs!!)) so we're a matching pair! Yes, its much worse when I've been lying down - I pretty much sieze up and have had trouble first thing in the morning for a few months now. I told the physio lady that I have to literally drag myself to the loo in the night as I can hardly walk at all . I know I shouldn't hoover etc. but if I don't do it nobody will! As it is, I haven't done anything today and this place is a pigsty! I too am worried about how quickly it will go when lo arrives - I'm also worried about how far apart I'll be able to get my legs in order to actually give birth LOL!

sophus - so glad you got to the teaparty for your mum, I bet she really enjoyed it!? Sorry to hear she's getting more confused though but I'm sure you will treasure these times with her xx

lou -lovely to hear Jasmines weight is increasing, don't listen to those silly ninkempoops!

Hope all those with aches and pains are OK today - I am sooo with you, I ache all over today!!!!

Went to visit my parents and see my auntie and her friend. I swear if anybody else tells me they don't think I'll go another 4 weeks, I'll lump them one!! This baby will come when it chooses to come grrrrrrrrr!!!!! I'm trying so hard not to get anxious about it and so far its working but all these comments are going against the grain iykwim!!?? I've got a bbq to go to on Sunday and I'm thinking of making a sign so I don't have to have the conversation 30 times over!!!!

PLP (35+6)

Just had a thought - what about sausage casserole? I make a mean one and might do a few and freeze them, haven't seen it mentioned!?

Good idea PLP re sign, maybe just pin it on your bump! Has your midwife advised (or reassured) you about what you can do if you can't give birth in a conventionally (legs apart) position? I read in the leaflet the physio gave me about SPD that there are other positions you can give birth in. How are you getting on with the crutches? I wasn't told to use crutches when I saw my physio, but TBH I'm considering digging out my crutches from a previous foot operation I had, they're in the garage somewhere. Are you taking painkillers? I had this right at the end of my pregnancy with DS2 and my hip never completely recovered, I cannot lie on my back on a hard surface without my left hip hurting. Did you suffer with either of your last pregnancies? Hey, do you think we'd get on well in a 3 legged race? Just strap our bad sides together

LOL, I reckon we'd win!!!

At first, I was keeping the crutches in the car and just using them when I had lots of walking to do (shopping etc.) but I'm finding that I'm using them more and more now - they do really help! Hope you manage to find yours! I didn't get it with my other two at all but when I was chatting with the physio lady, I explained that I badly bruised my coccyx last year and she thinks it could be that I aggravated all the ligaments before getting pg - who knows!

I was thinking I might have to give birth on all fours which wouldn't be the end of the world, I guess I just imagined being on my back with legs spread-eagled in the conventional way like I did with DS and DD1!

As far as painkillers go, I was taking codeine when it got really bad (perhaps once a day or every couple of days) but when I went to the day assessment unit the other week, the doctor told me off and said I should be taking them much more often. I wouldn't mind but my doctor was only giving me 30 at a time so I tried to buy them but my pharmacist wouldn't give them to me because I'm pg!! Anyway, I'm now taking them 3 or 4 times per day as prescribed and they do help a bit (managed to up the prescription). Like you, it seems to get worse each day though .

I can really sympathise with elderly people who have problems with their hips and need replacements etc!

The thing I really miss is sitting sideways on the sofa leaning into the arm iykwim - haven't been able to do that for months. Apparently that is normal because of the ligaments etc...

Evening all!
Yayy! DH got home and had not just one bottle but a 4-pack of fizzy water I'm sooo chuffed (although he has said that I'm only allowed on 1.5L bottle per day, max! Oh well, will have to hide some from myself in the spare fridge LOL)
But I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with the water fetish LOL

Willjo: LOL @ your dodgy maternity trousers, I had a really comfy pair of dungees last pregnancy but they were about an inch too short by late stages and DH would pull THAT face! It was only cos I'd pull them up like Simon Cowell LOL

PLP: EEeeeewwww cheese triangles?!! :P Deffo on the sign for the bbq, it would save you having to raise your fist LOL

ECATLM: Ummmm I understand your pain, the hormones are making me angry and unhappy at strange little things too Sorry to hear you've got more stretch marks too, soon you will all be crying that there's no turning back for your bodies, as do I every time I get a minute to myslef!

To get the best out of tomatoes (for those what are intrested LOL) they are best cooked, as this means the anti-oxidants are easier to break down by our digestive system (actually learnt something new from Annabel Karmel!)

MrsBumblebee: Glad someone can stop talking about how they don't have any stretch marks I have been of all of those who haven't got any :P So HA! Welcome to the club! Leave your self esteem at the door!!

Chattyhan: Congrats on receiving your pushchair, now come join us all in putting it up and down every 5 minutes LOL

TinaLC: Can't imagine even trying to do handstands under water Well done you for trying to get LO to move though!

Lou: Congrats again, and well done on 8 oz in 9 days!! As for the BF comment, you can't bloody win can you?! They want you to BF but they can't tell how much your baby gets, bloody docs!

HIWBB: Sorry to hear you're having troubles with your hip (mine's the right, think LO is buried in there!)

*Sophus:8 Sounds lovely, a teaparty for your mum, I want one now, it's reminded me of scones again

Sparks: Well done on the nesting front, mine's kicking in but it's having the energy to get off my fat bum and do more than just one load of washing

That'll do, this stinky monster is off for a quick bath not that I wont be stinking again by the morning anyway
Night night

Ky
xxx
37+3

Got to add PLP it's definately a lot less painful than I expected birth to be when you're not on your back!
Had DD stood up (MW caught her LOL) but had some time on my back which was just hell
Definately a more comfortable way as your weight is spread to both knees and hands, if on all four's, otherwise all your weight is on the bit where the baby's meant to be coming from

Hope that helps LOL
xxx