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

[makecakesnotwar]

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

slept through the birth unforgiveable, he must have some serious making up to do!

Crikey you lot have been chatty! It was a little while ago now but someone was talking about hotslings and what size to get? How do you know? I fancy one but got a bit confused on the sizings and so never actually ordered - give me the benefit of your experience please!

Also bf-ing, I was in agony with dc1 for the first month and thought about giving up nearly every day but persevered and in the end bf until he was 12 months, I think not expecting it to be perfect is the key.

have also had 28 week mw appointment today and it went really well - finally met my mw who has a course most tuesdays which is why i haven't seen her before, but she was fantastic and really positive. She couldn't promise a domino delivery which was my preferred option as community midwives don't get support or pay to deliver in hospital, but she was really supportive about a homebirth and a waterbirth. She also suggested trying for that and then transferring into hsopital at the last minute if we weren't comfortable, and she promised to come too. What kind of pool is everyone else using?

Just waiting for the midwife to arrive for my 28 week check (at 27 +5 unlike most of you 29 weekers). She's been delayed because she has been at a homebirth. My bub has been very quiet over the last 24 hours so I am really looking forward to listening to the heartbeat as I was starting to panic a bit last night.

I totally agree with you all on the jeans front - they are a nightmare but in this weather they are about the only half decent practical trouser you can wear and I absolutely refuse to buy anymore trousers at this stage. I've got some lovely linen trousers from my last pg but I'm still waiting for it to warm up enough to wear them. Today I've had to resort to wearing a skirt despite the temperatures as my ds has developed the habbit of wiping his snotty nose on my jeans -= lovely

Also meant to say, on the chap sleeping through birth thing, there was an article in the paper before having dc2 which suggested having men around prolonged labour (can't remember why, just the distraction probably). So while in second half of labour with her, my dh slept in chair next to hospital bed and I went from 4 cm to 8cm dilated in 1.5 hours, as opposed to the 5 hours the previous 4 cm had taken. Possibly just coincedence but I may be encouraging him to sleep through the middle of labour this time too!

Hi everyone, back at work today, so I've been catching up on the chat. I was going to go to Dotty Ps at lunchtime to check out mat jeans too. I've been wearing my normal jeans up til now, sometimes with a belly belt and bump band depending on how big the bump is, but don't think I can get away with that for much longer.

Ernest, sorry to hear about your teeth, poor you - my gums have been bleeding, and I have registered with NHS dentist - but first appointment not til mid April!! Josey, I got a soft toothbrush for sensitive teeth and gums, and that seems to help with the bleeding.

Makecakes, well done on the house front.

I feel absolutely huge - like I've expanded over the weekend - and it wasn't all Easter eggs either. Go from feeling uncomfortably full with killer heartburn when I eat anything to starving in a matter of minutes. Ick.

Fingers crossed that cold weather passes v soon into glorious sunshine and we can get out our nice summery clothes.

I feel huge too and just got myself wedged sorting out my washing in the drying room where I normally have no problems!!

Ernest - you back yet?

On the subject of being huge and getting wedged (have to lol at the image debs ) does anyone else find that they make weird sort of grunting noises when they bend over to pick stuff up these days. I seem to make them totally involuntarily but my dh is always asking me if I am ok. I'm guessing it's just air in my lungs being forced out but I really can't control it. Must remember not to try and do it in public

Josie, YES! DP remarked yesterday on huffs, puffs, sighs and grunts coming from my direction! Debs - ouch! I've been putting off some more clearing out (under the bed, trying to avoid the dust monster) but I'd better get round to it before I get stuck when I do it.

sybilvimes - it was me talking about ordering a hotslings. I went with the T-shirt size, weight, and bra size rather than the measurement as it seemed a bit clearer. I'd say size 3 is a medium/size 12!

I BF Ds for 17 months, but had the worst start - I think it's because DS had trouble latching and I didn't have lansinoh cream. I think the best thing is to take it one day at a time. I also told myself that if I made it to 6 weeks I could quit guilt-free - and by 6 weeks we were in a happy routine.

I'm feeling huge and have noticed myself grunting too - I hate it, but can't seem to stop! We're flying to Manchester (world track cycling this weekend) and I didn't bother to ask for a note from the midwife two weeks ago as I figured i didn't look big enough to cause the airlines concern. Now I feel like I look huge and I'm worried they wont want me to fly (I'll be 30 weeks, you're supposed to have a note after 28 weeks).

Yes I do a certain amount of huffing and puffing, especially fastening up my lace up snow boots! I was struggling with socks the other day and Stefan(7) helped me to put them on!!

Good Afternoon Ladies

What a morning! Got to hospital and they didn't realise I was having my normal 28 week midwife appointment as well as the RH Neg injection. Anyway as they are preparing everything for the jab, they discovered they didn't have my original booking bloods (which I had late because they 'lost' me) test results. [hmmm] After a very, very long search, they decided print out from my record would be fine if signed by two midwifes. When they printed it out they realised that my record and another ladies had become mixed. They only had one set of results for us both and don't know who the results were actually for!!! In their defence, we share the same DOB, but names and addresses and due dates very different. So after 3(!) hours they decided that they would re-do my booking bloods and do my 28 week bloods today and we'd go from there. So instead of going into work I am now working from home (opps), hoping that they will ring me with my results this afternoon. IF I still need the jab, I'll have it this afternoon/tomorrow morning. What a mess. But thank goodness they found out now before I was in labour or anything!

If it hadn't been for the lovely midwife (and her trainee) think I'd have thrown a strop. But actually it was the best appointment so far, I was treated like a human which was a massive improvement.

Also, despite thinking I was HUGE, (so much so I was looking up diabetes in pregnancy just in case on MN last night), the bump is just 29cm. Exactly as it should be, which means I will be getting even bigger!! I've decided no more creme eggs or chocs for me for a while though. The top of my bump is pretty solid, but the bottom is very much jelly belly and not baby!

Josie - Hope hearing the heart beat is reassurning. The wriggling drives me mad, but I panic when it stops.

Getting wedged - check, grunting - check, sleeping dh - no bl00dy way! If he does, he may not wake up again. {wink]

What a mix up PP - but like you say - good job they realised now and not at a more critical time!!

Wow - after a long weekend away from a computer, I realised how much we all talk! It's taken me ages to catch up.

We spent most of the weekend at MIL's in Bristol, where she bought us our cot, mattress and travel cot from John Lewis. These are our first pieces of furniture, so she is very chuffed to have bought them for us (so are we as it totalled £250!).

We also went to Mothercare and had a lovely girl fit the car seat I want, which goes with the push chair I want and generally calm me down. She had a lovely west country accent, which I love, and I think I must find it soothing as I walked out very happy and calm!

We also spent one night with a friend who is 39 weeks, and has her birthing pool in her front room. They suggested we get in to watch the telly (as they have been doing) but we didn't have our swimming costumes. She doesn't appear as big as I thought she would - but obviously she feels huge! But got lots of tips from her on getting comfy at night and when watching tv in the evenings.

I've had really bad BH all weekend - very painful, and I've also been suffering with pain under my ribs - so much so that I had to pull over while driving to let DP into the driver seat as I couldn't concentrate because of the pain. Not nice

Anyway - happy easter to all

PP - what a nightmare but as you say better to find out now!

I've just had my 28 week midwife check and little ones heart was beating away at 130 - 144 bpm. Hurrah! I was really glad to hear it. It seems that my little one has decided to head south as they have turned from lying across me to head down which might be why the kicks have changed in feeling and intensity as they probably have a little more room now.

Anyway, must get my head together as I have to interview for a position in our group this afternoon and I haven't been able to think about what to ask them as I was too concerned with the lack of movement.

Hi everyone, nothing to report just wanted to get the thread back on my "threads I'm on" after the Easter break! Had very relaxing time though napped in the afts which meant couldn't sleep at night, it's a vicious circle.

MW appt today - 30 weeks. Two weeks left at work!

Afternoon all.
Just to say that, after having resigned myself to giving birth in our flat (nice, but v cold, and not that big really) we found out today that the friend whose house we are supposed to be moving into has exchanged.
So, fingers crossed, we'll be moving into hers a month from now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK GOD. Was trying to stay cool about the whole thing, but really any later than that and we'd have had to wait until after the birth, if at all. This will make everything MUCH easier.

Off to MW now. Byee!

Nettie - sounds like you had a great weekend, how kind of your MIL to get you your cot etc...
lol at the idea of getting in the pool to watch TV.

Josie - glad you've had your mind put at rest now and can concentrate at work!

Neenz - was wondering how you are, only 2 weeks work eh and counting?

Greenfairy - great news about the house.

Ernest - where are you?

can one of you witty ones think of a new thread title for us, can't believe we're on another so soon.

hi all. hope everyone's feeling good today. i was sad to have dh back to work but also relieved as i can start tidying up the aftermath of having him home for 4 days!! Not to mention the groceries - we've gone through 2 weeks worth in that time!

i think i've started nesting in a big way, which is not so good for the spd but it's feeling so much better i may be getting a bit cocky. i've been moving furniture around (not lifting, just pushing) because dh moved it where i wanted it last night and i hated it so had to fix it. i dreamt about it all night. hopefully won't be feeling it tomorrow!

as for bfeeding, fed ds for 4 months but only stopped because he decided he was too lazy. he'd had a bottle only 3 or 4 times when we were visiting family in canada and that was it - he refused to take breast again. he started losing weight and eventually i gave up. i'm going to try to keep it going much longer this time as it's soooo much easier than lugging around bottles, formula, sterilising, etc. etc. the key for me was lansinoh... i was about to give up because i was so sore at about 2 weeks when i discovered it and it changed everything.

ernest really sorry to hear about your teeth. i'm very worried now as haven't had check in ages so have booked in for thursday. lovely to hear about your boys being angels though!

we went swimming yesterday (1st time the 3 of us went together) and it was pure heaven. dh held ds while i floated and bobbed around (i am SO buoyant!) and i never wanted to get out. then we went for yummy meal and i was in a fantastic mood, then ended up in tears because i was so upset that the furniture didn't work in the configuration i'd envisaged. poor dh, i am such a lunatic!!

best of luck to everyone with midwife today. i'm done now until 24 apr... seems so far away!

i can't remember now who it was that was looking for travel insurance at 32 weeks preg but did you ever find it?? mine doesn't cover so a bit worried now, although we did get the european cover card thingy.

also booked Playhouse Disney Live at hammersmith apollo 31 may (1 week b4 due date!!). it's all ds' favourites so i couldn't resist. i did tell dh he may have to take ds with his mum if i'm early or not up to it, but i think i'd be awfully disappointed if i couldn't go.

Glad you've got your furniture sorted now DLM - it's weird how such tiny things to others are so important to us pregnant mums!! Pleased to hear about how lovely it was to swim. I asked my Dr and he said no thermal baths, anyway I haven't hear of anyone else being told no so I asked the thermal baths and they said their physician said it's fine so YIPPEE, next week I'm going here

Neenz - I am so at you only having two more weeks at work. I have got 11 as i am working until the bitter end.......

nettiehay - glad to hear that you found a car seat that works for you!

wow - I can't keep up to everyone today! and I'm definitely not witty so wont be able to help with a new title. It's been exactly one month since we started this thread...

Hi everyone!

Had my mw appt today, baby is head down facing right way and bump measuring 30cm (first time been measured) so spot on as will be 31 weeks on thursday. So quite pleased mw appts every 2 weeks from now on so feels like things are really flying in now.

makecakes - can't remeber an awful lot about my first labour to be honest, my waters broke at 38 weeks but hadn't realised thought it was my pelvic floor! It was only about 5ml of fluid was in local takeaway wearing grey trousers and not enough so anyone would have noticed! It took me another 36hrs to workout I was still leaking and after phoning hospital (they told me it wasn't my waters but to come down for a check anyway) I was induced. I found birthing ball was fantastic, early contractions feel like you've got really bad stomach cramps as if you have severe diarrhoea. I think I forgot most of the breathing excercises once labour got underway and just got really high on gas and air, which worked a treat but made me really unco-ordinated when it came to push. I would say the thing I was most worried about was that I would tear or be cut, but I have to say I didn't feel it, I had a second degree tear but I had to ask the midwife as I wouldn't have known. It was sore being stitched but I really didn't have much pain afterwards.
The one piece of advice I would give is if you aren't having a good time in hospital - leave! I didn't have the confidence to leave but if I had known the mw would visit everyday at home then I would have gone after 24 hours. I was on a ward and didn't really get much sleep and the mw are busy and short staffed and I found it quite lonely, I would have been much better at home with dh for support. If all goes well this time I'll be home after 6hrs!
Good I've gone on a bit! I bf ds until he was 12 months, it is really demanding for the first few weeks as you feel like you are constantly feeding, its very tiring, but it becomes so easy, I blame bf for making me a really lazy mother as you don't have to sterilse or take anything with you. Lasinoh is fantastic, keeping trying breastpads until the fit and all nursing bras are crap! If you go to take baby off breast, break the seal with your small finger, it is amazing how much suction they create! Jelonet dressing great if nipples craked or bleeding.
Wow, so sorry to go on after saying I can't remember much.

Really sorry about the lack of punctuation in that post!!

GF- great news about the move...hoping to follow your lead and get into a new house before CJ makes her entrance...

Neenz- two weeks...I am amazed that we are here, aren't you?? Seems only yesterday we were Clomid pals (BTW- do you remember Lulu- she's just popped her head up on pg after mc!!)

Re: other stuff- grunting away like a pig, snoring all night (apparently) and generally becoming very uncouth...

Just back from 2.5 hours in the hospital...hadn't felt the baby move (she usually wakes me in the night) and MW sent me to day assessment unit. They couldn't find her heartbeat then they couldn't find my BP...monitored me for 15 minutes and all well- could hear her move on monitor just not feel it. Couldn't get comfy on the chair o kept having to rejig and the monitors kept falling off...if this is what it will be like in labour I think I am going to cause problems!! Anyhow, all is fine [relieved emoticon], and I didn't get a ticket, even though I parked in disabled spot (there were no others and I was in a apnic!)