Due in June and entering the home stretch - keep the creme eggs rolling!

[makecakesnotwar]

And the Revels, the Greek Yogurt and the curly fries....

Welcome LH

I have my Drs appointment , glucose test(so no breakfast - I feel very sick now)and scan , wonder if baby will be revealing all today or have it's legs firmly shut? I'll be back this afternoon and will let you know if I have any news.

We had about 25 cms of (much needed)snow yesterday but thankfully not much more last night so the roads aren't too bad and we've not got too much digging to do, dh and ds1 did most of it yesterday.

Good luck today Debs.

Welcome newbies...anyone know where the list is? We should updatde it...

Baby woke me for breakfast at 6, so am ready to go back to bed now. Have been monitoring my belly button of late. I had a lovely innie...had my belly button pierced when at uni (but not now) and can now see both scars (inc. the one that is usually hidden 'inside' the innnie). Belly botton now suooshed all flat so don't know yet whether it will pop. Don't care either way so long as it goes back.

Shock news...MIL gave first indication she is actually excited about our baby by sending a parcel of pink things from John Lewis.

Still trying to find a cot top changer for my lovely cot and worried about whether I should buy a new mattress...ours is second hand. Thoughts????

Good luck Debs, I have got mine in 4 weeks, maybe today we can carry on with chocoalte/girls theory

Makecakes - it is reccommended that you should change mattresses for each child, we are getting one from kiddicare.com, could website for products cheaper than in the shops they may have a changer for you aswell.

My belly button's popped out already - earlier than last time - but it went back in nicely after the birth so I think it's kind of fun.

I had my mother's exact birth (20 hours) - and the second time around she was only three hours shorter so I'm not expecting anything different this time!

What is the guidance on a new mattress based on? I know it's supposed to be a SIDS risk but why? We have DS's mattress that is entirely wrapped in a waterproof coating that I'll wash and then there's a mattress cover than goes in the washing machine. I can't really understand why a new mattress would be safer than a very clean old one! Now if it wasn't completely sealed and I couldn't wash the cover, maybe, but it feels like a money grab from the stores to me.

I found this on the FSIDS website re mattresses

''What kind of mattress should I use?
It is very important that your baby?s mattress is kept clean and dry. Ideally you should buy a new mattress for each new baby. If you are not able to do this, use the one you have, as long as it was made with a completely waterproof cover and has no tears, cracks or holes. Clean and dry it thoroughly. Check that the mattress is in good condition; is firm, not soft; fits the cot without any gaps; and doesn?t sag. Never sleep your baby on a pillow, cushion, bean bag or waterbed.''

It seems as though there is a risk if dust gets into the mattress.

That's very interesting....the mattress has a cover that has been washed. I have anti-bacterialised and disinfected the mattress, put cover back on, in addition to a seperate mattress cover, waterproof hippychick sheet and sheet. Think that's enough? Maybe I should hoover it too to get rid of dust...

Morning ladies - thanks for your info about belly buttons. I have no idea why it is bothering me so much, it just is! I'll let you know if mine pops out at any stage. It is a lot flatter now and I can see my scar properly for the first time since I had a laparoscopy when I was 17.

Also, no stretch marks yet, but I have heaps left over from puberty, so am hoping that's my quota full

My mum had three fairly quick births - 8 hours, 4 hours and 2 hours (I was the 4 hours). Once she got to my little brother she was worried about a 1 hour labour, so they decided to stay with only 3 DC! The doctor didn't even make it for my little brothers' birth.

I've found bananas or a glass of milk help with heartburn if anyone is still suffering.

The Feb 2007 Department of Health leaflet recommends mattress with a waterproof cover but doesn't mention new ones: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4123625 and even the FSIDS site doesn't mention it in their main guidelines www.fsid.org.uk/babycare.html. The place where I found the info about new mattresses on the FSIDS site also has mothercare branding on it - so I think there's a bit of commercial interest there! Anyways, mine doesn't have any tears or holes so I think we're going to use it again.

Ahh - a bit of googling and I've found the initial source I think!

"A new finding was an increased risk of dying of the syndrome for infants who slept at night on a mattress previously used by another infant or adult (odds ratio 2.51 (1.39 to 4.52)). However, this increased risk was not established for mattresses totally covered by polyvinyl chloride."
Case-control study of sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland, 1992-5, BMJ 1997;314:1516.

A 2002 study says you need a new mattress but doesn't distinguish between waterproof or not waterproof mattresses:

Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland: case-control study. BMJ 2002;325:1007

An interesting comment on the above study which suggested a link can be found at:
www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7371/981

Anyways, after wasting my morning with google instead of working, I think we'll use the old mattress!

Debs, you not back yet.... I'm curious.

Re matresses, ours also has waterproof/antibac cover. I used the same one for ds 1, 2 & 3, but will get a new one now for ds 4, just cos it looks old and saggy and you're supposed to change a (normal mattress for normal people) them about every 10 years or so anyway. I reckon after about 10 years continuous service I'l go crazy, esp as it's a cot bed, so anticipate this baby using it for the next 5 years or so. But not for SIDs risk at all.

mc, you say 2nd had, but how old is it and how many kids have used it? If it's just a coule of years old/just been used for 1 child I wouldn't worry.

Hospitals don't provide brand new mattresses for every baby that has to stay in.

Morning all. I was wondering if any of you are having Braxton Hicks and do they hurt? I think I have been having them (I hope that's what it is anyway) and they're a bit sore - like very mild period pains. I didn't think they were supposed to hurt, or is that yet another fabrication...?!!

Mine don't hurt, just feel uncomfortable, really tight, hard and uncomfy. but not painful.

Morning all
CRAZY night. Our shower pump burst and flooded the (empty) flat below us! We could hear water pouring in and it was half an hour before we managed to turn off the water (landlord didn't know where tap was ) and start to fix things. With his permission (he owns both flats) we broke in and spent hours mopping up and making the electrics safe. In the middle of it all I managed to slice my hand open really badly on a broken glass (decided again A&E but should really be stitched I think...).

Anyhoo, we have no water in our flat so the only upside was I 'had' to have a bath in the downstairs flat this morning . Every cloud and all that!

As for belly buttons/ mattresses - I had an outy till I was in my teens as I had whooping cough as a baby and it popped out! Is now deffo on its way back out but am not that bothered as long as it goes back in later!

Mattress - this is our first so we're buying a new one. I've got a handed on cot (v good John Lewis one) so am getting a super luxury organic, chemical free mattress with the money we would have spent. V chuffed.

Right, back to typing one handed with my poorly hand. Later!

PS. DEB - well? Any news?

Whinegums, mine are sort of uncomfortable, with a little pain - mostly just very tight and sore across the front of my belly.

I feel your pain greenfairy - we've only recently had the landlord out to fix the washing machine which was leaking into downstairs kitchen. Luckily he owns both flats, but our (newish) downstairs neighbours were not impressed!

gf, sounds like a nightmare night. better now than after the birth I suppose. Hope your hand heals. You be sensible now.

Well, Deb. We're all waiting. drums fingers impatiently....

whinegums... i wonder if you aren't describing the stretching/growing cramps rather than braxton hicks. i was shocked with ds how much it actually hurts while everything is making room down there. seems to be milder this time around.

it seems now the heartburn has started it has no intention of going anywhere. have tried all suggested except celery (dh hates it so we never buy it). haven't been out of the house yet but when i go out this aft will be hunting down celery and gaviscon just in case. i forgot how horrid it is, ugh.

i was the exact opposite with the stretchmarks, none on my belly but loads on my boobs! i thank my nan on my dad's side for her skin as far as the belly goes. i think the boobs just got so big so fast... much faster than bump. i can also see my laparotamy (sp?) scar inside my belly button now.

greenfairy glad you're looking at the bright side about the drama! i can't imagine not being able to have baths, i'm addicted.

who was thinking of making those slippers i posted? i've found a small error in the pattern so if you're going to make them let me know.

deb can't wait to hear!!!!

Growing cramps - who knows?! I'm freaked out a bit by all these things happening and I just don't know what they are - or why! Eek! I've had rotten heartburn as well - my midwife gave me Mucogel, which is brill. Tastes vile, but you get used to it. Before I had that I popping Milk of Magnesia tablets, which I found easier to take than medicine.

greenfairy - I'm just really impressed that you sorted out the flat downstairs! Am I being grumpy thinking it was the landlords responsibility? Anyway, glad you're feeling positive about it!

Something really wierd is now happening while I type this post... every new word is starting on a new line then jumping up to the line above. Just to warn you in case it appears funny .

Dont think I've had any braxton hicks yet, whenever my tummy feels tight its usually been preceded by a substantial dose of chocolate!

Deb - also waiting to hear your news!

Oh, it looked ok. And this post working properly. Very strange.

I'm back and....................................................................................... the Dr couldn't see any boy bits, BUT he couldn't see any girl bits either. He said he needed the baby with it's legs open and fluid between but it wouldn't budge so he said he thinks it's a girl but he couldn't be definite as he hadn't seen any proof .So, Ernest just like your scan!! So, there's still hope but I'm not getting excited and certainly not buying pink yet!!But everything was Ok with the baby.

Bloods have been sent off for testing for glucose(when I reminded him, I wasn't going another morning without breakfast)and he's prescribed magnesium - something to do with stopping the uterus contracting early - anyone heard of this(I'll google it soon)

He did give me some disappointing news - no thermal baths, apparently I can get an infection from the water - Ernest - any idea about this? Messes up my holiday plans.

Deb, glad everything's okay even if you don't get to find out yet! this LO is really keeping you in suspense!

Did manage to get dh to look at prams on the way back and we've made a decision to get this one but have yet to decide on colour - scroll down the ebay page for colour options

Then brought home a lovely Chinese takeaway for lunch so no cooking today!!

AH - think we'll be waiting until June to find out!!

Debs- not the definitive answer I was hoping for but glad everything is OK.

Debs - sorry you didn't get a definitive answer - how frustrating.

Re the flat catastrophe dq - the landlord lives in bristol but was in southampton and couldn't get back. So it was either let gallons of water sit on the floor downstairs for hours or do something about it. I wouldn't have felt right leaving it. And he's not a perfect landlord, but he's better than most - we get on pretty well.

DMPO - it was me! re the slippers. What's the blunder on them?

whinegums - sounds like growing pains to me as well, but I'd ring your mw - that's what she's there for after all.

Right, back to work. Ho hum.