Pina- sorry, I'm on cable but it is Discovery Home and Health, and the homebirth programmes were 9 am and 9.30, so probably that every weekday, and there were the screamy hospital births on from about 8 am! Sorry about your rib/bruising thing, not had that (yet!).
Asics- I'm in Halifax, going to see my chiroprac in Hebden Friday (she's Debbie Dinc and can recommend her if you ever feel the need!). Have you found whiterose babywearers om Yahoo? There's a Hebden meet every month for mums who sling. I met up with a couple of ladies from there in Halifax last month, but I'm waiting for bump to land before I go to the Hebden meet (DD is 2.5 and walks now, haven't slinged her in months!). Last time we were on the midwife led unit too, was fabulous- used the pool (though its broken and getting fixed at the moment, there is a temporary one in the same room but the midwife says it does affect the atmosphere of the room. Glad these midwife biscuits are good for a laugh! I've had to ask DH where he's hidden them- he doesn't trust me! I'm trying to get ahead with baking bread so we've got some in the freezer- I usually bake my own (But only since being off work), but we do tend to eat it all and have to cope when we run out (for 4 or 5 hours till the next batch is done!) but that'll make it hard for 'tea and toast' for midwives!
GCG- for childcare I'm really lucky, my childminder has become a friend, and lives across the road- literally shouting distance (the other night her phone rang a 1 am and she looked out the window to see if any lights were on at ours, just in case!). She's our main standby for night time as she could be here so quick if we do have to transfer into hospital. My parents live 20 minutes away, so they're who's having DD for the longer haul. My friend/childminder is in her 50s and does before-school care for another child, so don't want to wear her out too much! So, if things kick off durng the day we'll get my parents to get DD from childminders and keep her until we give them the all clear, and if things have started in the night then childminder will call my parents at a more reasonable hour (also considering traffic, rush hour can take 40 mins for them) and they'll get her for the longer haul.
I'm hoping DD will sleep through it all and just wake up with new baby in the house, but I'm not sure how realistic that'll be! The bathroom is next to her bed, and I hope to use the shower or bath. I wasn't loud with her, and hoping hypnobirthing will be even calmer, but you never can tell!
Otter- glad you've been given positive news about active birthing, that must be a relief (and, with bump growing ok and your other tests doing ok, hopefully you won't even have that drip!)
mumblesmummy- so glad you got checked out, and everything is ok. You can have contractions you don't feel, or are 'just' brackston hicks (but for some people BH can be really painful and vile) if you're not feeling them then they'll just be the warming up your uterus'll have been doing all along, just enough going on now to register on the machine.
Raspberry leaf tea- Holland and Barrett or independant local whole foods shop. You can get tablets or the tea (never tried the tea, not a hot drink fan but sounds like you love it or hate it! Tablets are ok though IME). If you get the tablets I was told 1 week 1 a day, next week 2 a day, next week 3 a day and continue until bump lands. Some people told to start 32 weeks- 36 weeks, advice varies (in fact I think Gowrie Motha says start earlier) but the only clinical research I've found was done in Australia about 8 yrs ago, just a small study that seems to suggest it helps labour go a little quicker, but I've forgotten all the details!!
OK, the unusual thing I've noticed for today (apologies if this is TMI or just weird!) but my areolas have DOUBLED overnight, well since last time I noticed them, which I'm not exactly sure when that was . I got out of the shower today and looked down and whoah- large norkage I'm used to, but what are these saucers??!! I've just peeked again now and they still look HUGE, definataly a recent change! I've got what I've always had in terms of nipple and areola, then this extra inch or so around the edge that's a little more patchy- this looks new. Is it just me? I've seen a thread in pregnancy or childbirth recently, but I think they were talking about changes earlier in pg (I think I'm 38-39 wks now). I'll got and look there now, but just wondered if anyone here had noticed anything like it!!
Right super mammoth post, wonder if this is the longest ever??!!