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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

Off work today as my poor ds is poorly with a throat infection and temperature that keeps flaring up. I know he must be feeling poorly as he won't eat anything - he even fed his blueberries to me which is unheard of.

Neenz - lucky you not having to go back to work on a permenant basis. I quite enjoy my work when I am there but it's hard going back after holidays etc so I think it would be easy to adjust to being a SAHM. Unfortunately, we need my money to pay the mortgage so it will be back to work for me. However, I have negotiated taking 12 months off this time round which is great - I am so looking forward to it. Mind you I have got another 12 weeks at work before I finish . I'm going to be so envious of those of you who are finishing earlier as I'm working up until 38 weeks.

the fundal height is measured as:

"Essentially, measuring the fundal height involves the woman lying down (it is not meant to be done with the woman in a standing or sitting position) and her caregiver placing the end of the measuring tape on her symphysis pubis bone. The symphysis pubis bone is situated just below the pubic hair line in the middle. The length of tape is then positioned up the middle of the woman's belly with the measurement taken from where the tape reaches the top of her uterus (or 'fundus'), giving a fundal height in centimetres (cms)."

The rule of thumb is that the distance in cms should be the same as the number of weeks you're at. But it's just a rule of thumb.

josie57, I'm not going off until 38 weeks either, but that's only 10 weeks away for me. Still, 10 weeks sounds like a really really long time!

I'm going back to work for our long term finances, I wont make much money in the short term with two kids in nursery, but the difference once DS starts school will be huge and I'd never get my job back at this salary level. It'd be lovely to be in a career where a five year break was an option - but I'd really struggle to get back into my field after that long off!

afternoon all! i took ds swimming this morning and when i was trying to pay he ran off. i turned around and he was gone. it was the worst moment of my life. i was running around everywhere screaming his name (imagine everyone in the leisure centre staring at this pregnant, screaming woman running around with tears) and eventually found him playing on some stairs. it was only about 2 mins but longest 2 mins of my life!! after that we had a great time swimming but by the time we got home at 2.30 i was so tired i literally could not keep my eyes open and had a kip on the couch.

i've never had my fundal height measured, with ds or this baby. not sure why some places do it and others don't?

we have a 3d scan booked on saturday and i'm so excited. i keep begging dh to let us find out the sex but he's not budging so far.

DQ - that made me laugh because I feel like I really have slowed down, seem to be moving at a snail's pace these days but it obviously isn't slow enough!

dylansmum - that sounds awful, it must have made you really panic.

DLM, sounds like a nightmare but at least you enjoyed your swimming afterwards! One of my firends daughters went missing in Tescos. She had been looking at toys with her mum and sister and suddenly disappeared. She wasn't found for about 10 minutes, she was in the veg department packing some carrots. Her poor mum was really distressed and threw up on leaving the shop which she did as soon as she found her dd. Her dd had no idea of the trouble she caused!!

I've got a midwives appointmet on friday, I'm not sure if the measure fundal height or listen for heartbeat. I did have thoses with my previous pregnancies though at a different hospital. I've tired measuring my own and always get 1 cm above dates which seems right for me as I'm expecting a chunky one!

I had MW today my lovely MW is back she even played games with my DD while treating me.

Im now drained of blood and got a sore arse after getting Anti D that I dont need but they still insist in giving me oh well, DD thought it was great rubbing my bum with cotton wool though Im just a bit scared of her announcing it to someone though lol!

Got to hear the heartbeat this time and she had a feel of my tummy to check fundal height but no tape I dont think I have ever had a tape used on me just the MW using he side of her hand as a gage has just written on notes = dates.

Talked about the HomeBirth as well she has requested I go on the 1st of June as its her birthday and she has to work so she would like to deliver a baby and could I bake cakes as part of my nesting. Also told me to buy the £1 shower curtains from Tesco to go under the sheeting they provide.

I read the website that Dylans mum put on and felt really sick at the idea of using the sheeting as a table cloth after yuck though might be a good diet plan.

Dylansmum how cute of your DS I get called darling and when I give dd her dinner she says its dwishus(had to right it as she says as really sweet.

Debs boke at wet teenage socks glad it wasnt as bad as expected.

G43 when i did find him he was standing on the platform between levels of stairs with his hands clutched in his front with the sweetest smile on his face. i know he could hear me calling him and i think he was playing the where's dylan game!

josey your midwife sounds amazing. it is very unlikely that i'll actually know my midwife when the time comes but fingers crossed. i just hope whoever we get has had a hypnobirthing birth before and doesn't say anything stupid to ruin my deep relaxtion (which i've heard happens quite often).

i did wonder at the using the table cloth again but i think (hope) she meant to just use it around the pool to catch water as pure plastic would be slippery, not if it's covered in, ahem, other stuff. ew.

dm, not fun losing a child sympathies.

Don't have fundal height measured here either, tho I do hear the heartbeat everytime when they do the scan. Deb, have you asked? My doc's scan machine does have volume switch. When he does the scan it doesn't come up automatically, but when he looks at the heart he switches volume on. Maybe you cold ask if it's possible, i'd be surprised if it wasn't?

My best friend has just called. She and he DH (in South Africa) have been trying to get pregnant for a year. She finally is, and her DH has gone bonkers. He's saying that she tricked him into getting pg, that she'll get fat, that the baby is a parasite.

I am so upset for her and don't know what she can do. She's English and lives in a farm in the middle of Afrikaaner country, so she has no friends out there.

He has said that if she comes over here to sort her head out, he will consider that she's left him.

Have always thought he was controlling, but this is extreme (abusive I'd say), and appalling for my bf. When we stayed with them over Christmas, they were discussing baby names fgs. He seemed to have really relaxed.

DLM, glad you found him.

Hope all others OK.

Your poor friend, Upsidedowncake. When did she find out she was pregnant? Do you think her DH could be just panicking (albeit in a pretty horrible way) and will get over it quickly? She must feel so isolated, poor thing.

DM - glad you found your DS. It's happened to me a few times and is so frightening isn't it.

Josey - your midwife sounds great. Our community midwives are lovely - we have the highest home birth rate in the Trust area. I'd love to have one of them deliver my baby but not likely I'm afraid.

My ante natal notes list all the routine appointments and what should be covered at each one. All of them have "check size of abdomen" and "check BP and urine for protein". I always measure big for dates so i suppose would rather they didn't measure me as it makes me feel like a giant slug

Thanks Rolf. She got her bfp yesterday - so told her husband in great joy and he fipped. I think you're right that he could just be panicking, but I'm starting to wonder whether they are doing the right thing having children if he is going to behave like this over something that should be so wonderful.

U-cake that is horrific! I cannot imagine it. I remember each time I've found out I'm pg and shared the news with dh, what an exciting and special moment it's been. But to be actually talking names etc then be faced with that reacion, how terrible She must feel so trapped and alone. even if he does come round, how would you get over that? Keep us informed how she gets on, eh?

Munich development - so dh went to Munich on Monday. Also on Monday we got email confirmation boys school place. Then today, dh went to view 2 houses, and he chose one - and we found out tonight we've got it. He goes tomorrow at sign the contract and will move in 1st April! Just 2 weeks time. It's all happening so fast.

Now he's just asked if I'm still planning to have the baby here so is suggesting I now move to Munich in April. Am a bit shocked/surprised/unsure. pros and cons to both senarios. How on earth do I decide?

DM - what a scary 2 minutes for you.

Rolf - that sounds very odd. Your poor friend. It does seem like a very extreme reaction. Given that they were talking baby names at Christmas I'd be worried about his mental health. Hope it all works out ok.

With all the serious chat today I'm feeling a bit shallow - my pregnancy concern number 1274 is that I dont like the colour of the paint in the baby's room at night-time . It looks really bright and yellow at night. Not like the very lovely pale lemon it is in the day

ktpie - I so know what you mean. I'm used to being really busy 24/7 and even though I've slowed down to a snails pace I'm still shattered all the time. Probably why I keep getting so bored.

Sending virtual creme eggs to everyone tonight - seems like everyone could do with one!

Upsidedowncake - that is truly awful and must be so hard for you being so far away, I hope that something gets resolved soon but doesn't sound good.

Ernest - that's quick, have you seen pictures of the house, as to having a swiss or german baby difficult, would anyone on MN point you in right direction of seeing Dr in Munich and then deciding?

Dylansmum glad you found you ds ok i dont think i would have had the energy to swim after that.

upsidedown your poor friend what an awful thing for her DH to say even if he has just freaked out a bit unless he was sneaking the pill into her cornflakes did he just think they could carry on and never have a baby?she must be frantic being there by herself.

my bum is killing me i forgot how sore these injections are and its on the side my back/hip hurts so im in a right grump now.

Ernest - that's amazing!!! You cant even get a for sale sign put up in that time over here . Have you seen pics of the house?

What's your gut instinct re when to move/where to have the baby?

Ernest, omg, that's wonderful. So pleased that you have a house to live in and schools to go to! I remember that your DH wanted you to move to Milan before the birth. presumably Munich feels more friendly to you than Milan. But what a lot to do ... and pack ...?

Dramaqueen, do you have a dimmer switch? Can change paint colours easily.

Best friend just texted to say that her DH is being more positive, but 'could I (Upsidedowncake) not send any more pg smeses as if he gets them first, he might get even more pissed off' Don't know what to think, but clearly not sending any more texts.

Thanks upsidedown - we do in fact have an electircian coming to instal a dimmer switch downstairs and was thinking of one for the baby's room too. Can't face the thought of re-painting (nor find the time).

Worrying about your friend though - how easy is it to keep in touch with her in other ways?

Ernest congrats on the house hope its what you were looking for and you dont have to walk miles on end for your washing machine. I dont envy you havig to decide where to have the baby.

not seen picture of house, don't know much about it, other than dh likes it. He's not sure how many bedrooms possibly 4.

I guess the actual birth won't be much different here or there. I guess my concerns are leaving this house unsold (dh poo poos this and sees it as irrelevant again, ) I guess if we moved now the boys could start school straight away, so be used to it before baby comes, but then if we stay till after, they'll be able to finish the school year here and spend the time with their friends. Physically, it would be easier to move now ( not feeling horribly tired atm), but if I have it here, I'll have the familiarity of the same doctors, neighbours. Honestly can't say which way I'm swaying. Possibly even towards going before the birth?

dQ - annoying about the paint. Do you think it'll grow on you? You're not thinking of changing it?

Upside down - I don't like the sound of your friend's situation, poor thing, especially with the message from her not to text. Has he always been so controlling?

Ernest - wow - things are moving quickly - too quickly??? Come to Munich and we can meet up and compare bumps then babes!! seriously though I can see advantages to moving now and also advantages to staying put until after the birth. Can you wait until you've seen the house (located the washing machine) then make your decision.

Dramaqueen - are you looking at the room with the main light on? When baby's in there you won't be going in with the light on at night much, maybe a small lamp or a dimmer like you thought.I'm sure it will grow on you. When we painted ds1's nursery lime green you could see it shining out of the bedroom window when you came down the road - like some sort of radioactive glow.

Upsidecake, I really feel for your poor friend. It does sound as if her husband has some mental health issues. I can't think of anyway to help the poor woman.

ernest lol about your dh not even knowing how may bedrooms the house has! I would think that I would move before having the baby as I don't like knowing that I've got big things to do. It's a tough decision but I'm sure you'll be happy with wahtever you decide.

I had really bad leg cramps last night, until now I had very light foot ones. It happened with dd1 and didn't go until she was born so am hoping that I don't have them for the next 11 weeks!

Morning all. Slept ok despite the million and one things about move going around my head. I guess I am erring on going eg May, as still pg and boys ft in new school would be easier to settle in? Don't know so many pros & cons. Not happy about going and leaving house unsold and empty though?

RANT ALERT!!!!!!! Just phoned my mum (who NEVER phones me) We get on ok on the phone, but I can't stand being around her too much (sorry, that's harsher than it should be due to aftermath of phone call). She is like a fucking 80 year old. She drives me mad. Honestly, no exaggeration, when my poor, lovely mother in law was battling cancer, undergoing chemo, loosing her hair, weight and God knows what, she still had more get-up-and-go, energy, humour and fun than my old bag of a mother. Normally dear mil would be the one helping, but now she's sadly gone, she can't, obviously. My mum offered to come over and help with the boys when I have the baby. I know this is a very kind and gernerous offer. I (stupidly, gartefully) accepted.

On phone this morning, she announces (doesn't ask if it's ok) that her husband (who I don't 'not get on with' but don't especially like/have a bond, / enjoy his company, dh describes him as an 'uptight 80 year old fromt he 1950's' - and imo that's sort of accurate and very generous.

Anyway, she announces, that she's bringing him with er to help her in June . OK; I understnad she feels it might be a bit much for her and would like the help, but I've already said dh will be around, working from home, going so far as to hint she doesn't need to come for so long (ie please don't). I am so fucked off. That man made a face and nearly had a heart attack every single time I BF my others. I can't imagine the horrors of my mum being there when I get out of hospital, let alone her uptight pole up his bum husband. So I bravely told her I didn't think I would feel comfortable ( mentioning his discomfort with bf, my discomfort if I'm "leaking everywhere" etc) so she's got the right hump with me.

I just wish she wouldn't come at all, never mind with him. HOw do I deal with that one????

Ernest- tell them you appreciate the offer but feel it would be too many people in the house and would unsettle the boys...or move, and forget to tell her. Great news about the house. I say bollocks to it, move now if you have the energy...I'm certain it'll be easier than afterwards. At least then you'll all be together as a family when baby 3 is born.

UDCake- cannot believe your friend's arsehole DH. He needs to get over it, and quickly. Sendning her positive thoughts and virtual chocolate. And what the hell is he doing reading her txt messages??

DM- glad you found him, but hope you had a hot choc...when I lost the dog I cried for about 20 minutes after I got her back...

DQ-agree with dimmer/sidelamp ideas...it's more important that the paint looks lovely in the day time, and you may yet grow to like it. They do say being pg makes you think odd things!!

God, I sound opinionated. Sorry- crap night, bloody useless dog and bloody useless DH. Feeling very unloved. See what I mean about pg making you think odd things?!!!

Ernest - Tell her the only place to sleep in your new house will be on a camp bed in the bedroom with the 3 boys, it night make her reconsider bringing her husband or maybe even coming herself. Plus you wouldn't be lying at the moment after all you don't know how many bedrooms it has do you.

I can understand not wanting him there when you come home from hospital, doesn't sound like it would be a pleasant situation. You were brave to tell your Mum how you are feeling, hope she isn't off with you for too long.