Due March 2008 - for our early arrivals and the loooooong 3rd trimesters

[merryberry]

Hello all.

Hello everyone
One of my intermittant posts - thanks from me for all the baby essentials / hosptial bag lists. I thought i was sorted but now have another huge list of things to buy, but at least THEN I'll be sort of ready.

On the BH question from a couple of pages ago, I started getting them much more regularly a couple of weeks ago and they are getting more and more uncomfortable, not painful just like mild cramping. I wasn't worried at all as they're completely normal till a couple of nights ago when I was getting them pretty strongly every 5 mins. I kept saying to DH, 'I can't be in labour, I haven't done NCT classes yet'. Ended up calling labour ward at about 11.30pm and the midwife sounded pretty unconcerned and said to call back in an hour to let her know if they were geting increasingly painful. I was so exhausted and in complete denial about the potential reality of labour that I went to bed instead. Happily they went away! Made me realise just how not ready for this I am. Must start getting my head round it soon.

On another note - and a minor NHS gripe - kept mentioning to midwife about extreme tiredness for about a month to be told to 'go away and enjoy your pregnancy' (her actual words!) until I finally insisted on a blood test. Turns out I was seriously anaemic and went straight onto iron tablets. I feel great and full of energy now - wish I'd started them weeks ago. I'd recommend a test for anyone who feeling that low on energy, if you haven't had a routine one.

20 days and counting till maternity leave - I can't wait!

Thanks for the sympathy modsaluk! I didn't know GP's could give anything better/stronger so will go along next week and see what I can get my hands on!

The ointment she has prescribed for me is called clobetasone butyrate. Seems to have made mine easier.

We went our and bought the pram today and did get the Graco Quattro Tour Duo both very happy with it, not sure how it will measure up when we actually come to use it though found it such a hard decision.

Just catching up.....

Great to see you ladies on Saturday! Really interesting to put alias', to names, to faces!

turtle23 loving the scan pics.

glamamma My next visits to our lovely hospital are 29/01, 12/02 mornings and 07/02 afternoon. Let me know if you are around and maybe we could meet up for a coffee/tea/icecream!!!

Right, need to go order me a ball......

Sorry I missed the outing Saturday. I was ready to come when my DH texted to say his plane would land at 3:30, so there went that idea. I say we plan another meet up in Feb....Something with posh cakes and taxis to take us home.

Cute photos, turtle! It's so surreal to see a real person in those photos, IYKWIM. And his flexibility is quite impressive!

Merry glad you've sorted a MW. I had a look at your other thread and it is so anxiety inducing, and it's not even me who's going through it! I hope this has taken a bit of your stress away.

Ordered our pushchair and carseat yesterday. Very exciting! Got the Micralite Toro Newborn in orange. Really happy with our choice. Hope it performs as expected! FYI, Lilliput in Battersea has 10% pushchairs/prams at the moment. Not sure how long it will last, but it was on this weekend.

Hello!

Feeling proud of myself this morning- I've knitted 8cm of a little baby hat all by myself! And it only took me all weekend

Doup, I didn't realise you were a RLer too! Do you live nearby?

One Monday down, two to go. Hope everyone is well...

I definitely second the idea that there is another meet up before end of Feb. I start 4 day weeks next week - only 16 working days to mat leave, hurrah. Understand why most people don't work to 38 weeks, I'm exhausted now let alone by the 15th Feb. A friend of mine had a baby boy yesterday - 3 weeks early! Terrified me as I will still be working at that point and didn't think first time babies were early that often.

I was in the Embankment area on Saturday and I poked my head in Starbucks at about 2pm and couldn't see anyone so I ended up going out for lunch with dp instead. Probably looking in the wrong one, I'm sure I couldn't have missed a group of heavily preggers ladies!

Well done on the hat e14 - I wish I had the time to even attempt making some homemade stuff.

I would love an opportunity to meet you all too, so defintaely up for a pre-feb end meet up.

I only have 7 more days of commuting to the city and I'm so relieved - I hate commuting right now, it takes me more than half an hour to recover.

My pram (Mamas and Papas Ziko Herbie) has arrived and I have assembled it much to DP's disgust - he can't understand why i had to even the babay isn't due for 6 weeks.

I did point out that my midwife Aunt, amongst others, say that the baby can come any time after 37 weeks and that really isn't that far away. (I'm sure we have all had that conversation on here already.)

I'm so envious of the named mid-wife care, I'm meeting a midwife for the second time this week and it is unlikely to be the one I have already seen. But compared to Merry I know I'm lucky.

Thanks all for the other tips on uses for top and tail bowl.

Went shopping with mum at the weekend - she loved that! DP is away skiing this week. I bought more bits and bobs (inc. mats for my bed in case waters go and ruin matress!) - not the puppy kind I stress to add

Also got a tankini - think I might start swimming soon - like the idea of weightlessness (I did play golf on Sunday with a support band on, but struggled by the end - think I might have to give up soon until after LO born!)

Good for you E14 on the knitting - time is one issue for me, like MissingMyHeals, but think my main problem would be the fact I don't know how to knit

4 more weeks of work - glad I don't have to commute each day, mind you, I do need to come up to town soon, but 1 day out of a week I can manage. Have a good week everyone

Hello ladies - I'm new to this site today, so great to read your messages. Bubs due March 22nd. Derah - take your hubby up on the spa offer - you've earned it! SpaceHopperHayles - I'm with you on the sudden energy loss - was managing the gym and normal-ish stuff until last 10 days - now feel whacked much more often. Plus hv gone into major nesting mode early - my poor hubs!

Hello MrsHorgro!
Just had last antenatal class! Yikes!!
Got really scared last night thinking that it's only 6 weeks or so till LO due and I am not ready mentally or in terms of 'baby stuff'. Still, only 4 days of work (YIPEEEE!!!!) to go and then I'm going to make lots of lists and do some serious internet shopping and try to finish knitting baby blanket. Wish I'd started with a little hat too!
Has anyone else got dogs? I'm starting to wonder how mine are going to react. I've told them about the baby - but not sure if they got the message! I'm wondering if they should go to kennels for a week or so when LO arrives, or maybe that would make things worse. They are very gentle but quite big (labs)!

Hi piggy
I have a shih tzu and he is very clingy at the moment, think he knows something is up. My friend, who had a baby last year and has a dog, recommended putting a baby grow on the baby (one that you don't mind loosing) and then giving it to the dogs before you bring the baby home, that way they will get used to the scent.

I will try and remember to do this but it depends how long I'm in hospital. Hope to be in and out as quick as possible.

My friend said the dog wasn't bothered, just came up and gave the baby a few sniffs and then wondered off. Hope mine is good like that.

hello MrsH.

i have found of way of making raspberry leaf tea palatable!

1. have a stinking cold and/or
2. steep it for 5 minutes alongwith a peppermint teabag. Strain leaves out, add 2 whopping great big honey teaspoons. Yum.

Apparently if you make a batch of this you can freeze it into cubes/popsicles and it's nice enough/useful to suck on in labour.

Was persuaded to use by being given some by evangelical friend who was actually able to tell me how its supposed to work (erm, try to recall, an alkaloid called fragine smooths the uterine muscle making for better muscle tone).

or fagrine. Or some such (she meandered non-scientifically).

Apparently, pregnant cats eat the leaves!

But i know nowt about dogs, sorry

Hmm, dogs and baby. I've got two, and have been complaining about them all week.

I'm not sure about how to introduce them to baby. I wouldn't think we will put them in kennels or such - I think that's probably more disruptive in the end.

Was watching the Dog Whisperer (love that show!) the other day and it was a couple with a new baby. Cesar recommended not leting the dogs get close to baby or baby stuff until they learn the boundaries. He said the dogs can smell the baby/their stuff/toys/etc without having to touch or get near it. Basically, he wouldn't let the dogs go in the baby's room, or too near the baby until dogs could remain in a "calm, submissive state".

My dogs are rarely calm or submissive but I can see the benefit of implementing that plan. As dogs can be unpredictable (I have a puppy that still jumps up), I'm of the mind that they can get only so close at first, until they get used to the idea of the scent and sounds of baby.

I don't think there's much way of preparing the dogs for the event, apart from making sure they are well socialised with babies/kids. I'm sure it will be an adjustment, as much for them as for us! Personally, I hope they just ignore the baby!

Hi merryberry and welcome MrsH

Does taking the tablets not have the same effect (without having to endure taste for those of us who don't drink fruit teas, let alone fruit leaf teas)....?

i was sniffed at and told they had some potency, the tablets, but that the dried-this-year-growhn-organically-in-her-smallholding leaf is more potent. as they were as i said evangeliically foisted on me. Oh well, gift horse/mouth. Its lovely that she cares.

hmm now i hope not this homegrown stuff isn't too potent!

Whatever you do, don't ever tell anyone that you have no rotten pregnancy symptoms. I gleefully said that this morning and like magic...piles. Bollocks.

hi everyone and welcome mrs. H

m27 - I was tested at around 27 weeks for iron levels and when I got the result they were fine, but in the last couple of weeks I've got really, really tired. I'm working pretty hard right now, but that's literally all I have the energy for. All weekend I just want to rest and when I get home in the evening. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so perhaps I'll tell her how tired I am.

did anyone have a camera on saturday? I want to see you all bumpified! I'm jealous that you guys will get to keep meeting up. It will make all the rest of us really left out

mmmmm, risotto just made by DH. chat later.

hi all
isn't fatigue supposed to be normal for the last trimester again? I know one of my friends used to nip out to her car at lunchtime to have a kip in peace, and i find myself flagging completely before lunch rather than it being a post-lunch carb fatigue attack!

Can't wait until 6th feb, only 11 more working days to go We're hoping to go on a pamper day with the team, lucky we're all girls Don't think we'll manage it before mat leave but sounds like a good idea. Just trying to persuade them that the Celtic Manor is good as I don't have to stay out for the night watching the other 4 get drunk then .

Have got some of the rasp.leaf tablets as i tried the tea and was disgusted....i normally only drink herbal teas, but this one had proper tea in the combination and that was all i could taste!

missingmyheels early babies - 3 weeks is nothing compared to preggers
I saw my kinesiologist for another muscle rebalancing session today and got her to ask my body when the baby would be ready to pop out...got the answer that at this particular moment, he's planning on putting in an appearance between 4 and 5 weeks away, so a week or so early......

Lodger asked for clarification on when mat leave starts, still hoping to move into new house rather than have to look for other accom in the meantime.

belated hugs to marchmum hope you're feeling better now. And hope all our aches and pains are little ones now we're on the final stretch!

piggyp dogs - have had various advice on this as we have a rather nervous rescue dog who'll be 10 next month. For hospital births, have been told the baby-scented clothes works to acclimatise them, also (for those not too grossed out) letting them sniff a dirty nappy . Most dog-owners i know with offspring have just brought the baby home and put him/her down on the floor in the carseat and let the dogs have a good sniff. They're unlikely to try anything boisterous as they know it's a tiny living thing, if anything they're more likely to keep out of its way.
I'm fairly confident ours will be ok while the baby's at the helpless stage, other than be a little jealous of lack of attention, so we've been trying to de-humanise the pooch so that he doesn't assume he can go everywhere in the house as his normal habit is. HAve also got to attempt to stop him sleeping in our bedroom, but need to get rid of the lodger to do that as it'll involve a few nights with our bedroom door open and babygate across so pooch can still see us without being able to get in. I'm hoping that the homebirth option will be good for the dog so he realises where the baby's appeared from, rather than us just arriving home with a new face from somewhere! This should be ok if it's not a noisy distressed birth, hence have also done the hypnobirthing to keep things as calm as possible.

We got advice from the behaviourist at Dogs Trust where we got our pooch from, they were very helpful as they obviously don't want to see any dogs back with them, but spotted that the main prob isn't with our dog, just with me and my constant giving of attention to him...after all, he was my baby until i got pregnant!

Main concern will be when the baby gets to toddling age and pokes/prods, so have also been advised to have a quiet place where the dog can escape to, don't block off any escape routes and consider getting a dog crate/cage to put in a quiet corner to get the dog used to his own space before the baby arrives.

Oh, and most embarrassing bit was being advised to get a doll that cries and give that lots of attention. Horrible doll thing, cheapest i could get from toys r us, and of course the dog can tell straight off that it isn't real and it's just me being very strange

hi everyone, i've not posted in ages... just been reading up on how the rest of you are getting on. last time i looked i'd been deleted from the dates thread so i thought i'd make an appearance!
we're moving house in a couple of weeks and not planning on getting internet back up and running when we get into new house. saving our pennys now! so jealous of all of you getting nursery's done and buying all your baby bits and bobs! i can't get anything done until i'm in new house!

marchmum msg for you on my AIBU thread x

Have just had 5 chocolates and a vat of gaviscon - the highs and lows of the third trimester!

Spent some time tonight snuggled in bed and getting caught up on MNet which was fun! I am game for another meet up when we're all ready. Third week of Feb maybe?

Tonight I noticed the front of my stomach was read and blotchy - is this normal? I thought it might be just increased blood circulation or the placenta being pushed to the surface as I grow bigger?

LO is making v. human like movements now and I am keenly aware that there is a person inside of me - I was happy to have a fetus in there but a proper human should be kind of enough to be on the outside, don't you think?

Ps Thanks MB, will shoot you an email in the morning. For others, have posted my hospital saga on mb's other thread. It's not very interesting, just a bit of NHS ranting :.( Good news is I am feeling better and everything with LO is on track.

turtle - i started that thread last week on how much i love being pregnant and piles were my reward less than 24 hours later...

i'm v. excited as the builders started our extension yesterday. well that makes it sound very grand - it's actually a glorified lean-to for keeping washer, tumble dryer, recycling boxes, prams etc. and means we'll be able to fit a freezer into the kitchen so we can actually have some decent home-cooked food without the hassle to keep us going once the baby arrives. They say it will take 3 weeks, so we're banking on 6 to be on the safe side - so should be done in time before the baby arrives [fingers crossed]

I'm quite knackered today although this has a lot to do with a long swim on Sunday and then lots of walking between home, doctors and hospital for check-ups yesterday - i totted up that i walked 7km yesterday and my pelvis and hips were screaming by the end of it! Off to yoga tonight to work off the aches and pains then resolutely sitting on the sofa and not moving for the rest of the week

Only 15 more working days to go - doing 4 day weeks now and finish on Valentine's Day when exactly 34 weeks. So all being well I'll have time for a nice rest before the baby arrives. I find out on 1st Feb whether I have a job or am redundant (the saga that has been going on since October) and if I'm redundant I can finish a week earlier and if I have a new job I get to do it for 4 days