Due June - 'I can't remember my own name, let alone where I put the creme eggs...'

[PregnantPenguin]

For those of us with 3 months to go or less....

thanks for the concern everyone - I have my yoga class tonight which is taught by a midwife (who works at our hospital) so I'll definitely make sure I check with her. She's awesome and I really trust her knowledge. I did swell last time too and was fine so I was sort of expecting it.

There is nothing like phoning up your preferred accommodation on you way there to check whether they have availablity is there

Debs glad you got a good sleep your new cream is maybe helping

Aberdeenhiker and makecakes get to the doctor if your swelling is that bad, can you make your skin dimple by pushing it?
Im am gaining cankles and feet spread but im not very swollen only puff when I have been on my feet for too long.

Had a hellish sleep last night, DH has been pampering dd a bit too much if she wakes during the night(she only wakes when he is home funny enough) last night I took over and super nanny'd her back into submission after I realised DH had been in bed with her for 2 hours Bump has been lying funny and when I did get to sleep I was rudely woken with the farmer poughing the field behind us grrrrr.

KTpie do you think your DS is ready to potty train or is it just something you want to try and get out the way?both mine where 2yr5mth no way would they have managed at 2 but everyone is different-If I were you I would wait till DS was in a routine with new baby and felt comfortable with the new arrival unless he is really ready then dont hessitate grap the chance while you have it.

U/cake. I like the sound of your doula! Also, really like the BRAN thing. Am going to write it into my birth plan so that DH remembers to ask if people start talking about getting the salad tongs out.

aberdeen I should get yourself checked out - it's probably nothing, but sudden weight gain + swelling can = pre-eclampsia. Your mw should be able to diagnose.

Re 37 weeks being term - my BF was still going to work when her waters broke just as she was opening the door to her car to go into the office at exactly 37 weeks. Another reason why I changed my original plan and am now stopping at 34+5 as opposed to 36+5...

Stayed at work til 8 last night, but don't feel too bad for it, and glad to get some catching up done.

Talking of which, must crack on!

Hi there

Well I'm off for another week, and have booked last night's doula. Now to put my feet up!

Did anyone see the news about homebirths this morning? The radio made it sound very scary whereas this article is more balanced.

Hi everyone. Sophie, I'm very jealous - I went to Antigua last year and it was fab. Upsidedowncake, have a good relax and well done on the doula front.

I think there was some sling chat going on a little while ago - hotslings seemed to be popular, but are they easy to put on? I've been looking at a few different kinds, and they all seem to need an origami degree to get them on - I suspect with floppy mummy brain I'll need something super easy - any thoughts sling wearers?

Morning everyone,

I've had a really busy few days and feel shattered now. The house is totally neglected and is quite frankly disgusting so I have alot of tidying to do. DD2 is really not helping as she is maing things ready for her Teddies birthday party so the ham has already been dropped on the floor! I can't beleive that I'm due next month, still 8 weeks to go though.
Does anyone here had gestational diabetes? I had to postpone my last test and have it on the 18th. A few times I have done a fasting blood test in the morning and it's been around 3.5 but this morning it was 5.8 ( I did it because I could smell ketones). I know that's still not high but as it's higher than normal I'm now worrying thats it creeping up!

Thanks Josey, I don't think ds is quite ready, I would have loved to have it all sorted by time baby came but I think I'll wait a few months.

I took wedding rings off as well, my fingers seem to swell a bit at night and my friend had to get hers cut off, so better safe than sorry, feel a bit strange without them though.

whinegums I had a babybjrn for dd2 and loved it, very comfortable and easy to put on. I have heard that it's not good for babies hips but I used it nearly everyday for 6 months and she walked at 9 months so it did her no harm!

Whinegums, I have bought a Tricotti as I had a wilkinet (my sister gave me) last time and I couldn't even contemplate tying the straps and holding the baby. The tricotti is just 2 tube shaped bits off material, so I am sure I will manage - although not tried and tested yet!!

whinegums - hotslings are so easy to put on - you just pop them over your shoulder and put the baby in! Pouches like these are the simplest type of baby carrier - however they are harder on your back for walking so I tended only to use mine around the house or for just nipping out to the shops around the corner.

upsidedowncake - the homebirth study seems pretty meaningless to me (and I'm not planning one, but am a scientist). Why wouldn't they compare transfers to hospital with something similar, like transfers from a maternity unit to a labour room. We deal with the difficulties of comparing observed (rather than controlled experimental) data all the time in my research programme and we'd not be making these types of claims!

Thanks for sling advice so far! A friend has given us a Babybjorn, thought I'd use that for trips outside as it looks like it will be easier on my back, and then get a soft pouch type for around the house - will check out the tricotti as well as the hotsling. Ease of use is essential!!!

Sophie, did you get the thing with the solicitor sorted? haven't been on for a few days so only just saw your message. What was he charged with cos with most offences the defence fees are always covered by legal aid no matter how well off you are (the exceptions being some motoring offences I think) So any up front fees are surprising.

Makecakes, I really don't want to sound boring going on about natural childbirth and hypnotherapy but I REALLY think you'd benefit from the books/CDs! If your mum's labours were long it may have been down to her being a bit frightened - if you are scared you tense up and your cervix doesn't open as fast. Hypnotherapy brings the length of most labours down because it helps you relax and visualise your cervix dilating. Ina May Gaskin's Guide To Childbirth will give you confidence - I would really recommend her book and the Natal hypnotherapy CD - it could be the best £30 you ever spent!

Gosh, it's taken me ages to catch up. Hope everyone that was struggling is doing better now, with plumbing/sleeping/piles/relatives or whatever.

Penguin - sympathy on the leaky boobs front, I've been using breast pads for about 6 weeks already which surprised me.

Josie - glad you don't have SPD but am shocked you had to wait 8 weeks to see a physio, I mentioned my increasing pains to my midwife yesterday and I've a physio appointment for next week.

Greenfairy - top tip for UTIs is drink lots and lots of water, it really does help with all the nasty symptoms.

Alcohol - sounds awful, but I'm getting on well with Sainsbury's own no alcohol cider . Doesn't cause heartburn

Bump measurements - I was measured yesterday but forgot to ask what the results were and they're not in my notes. I'm rubbish

I had to take my wedding and engagement ring off last night. I thought my ring finger was going to go purple . Still couldn't get it on this morning .

Thought about wearing them on a necklace but terrified of catch breaking etc. Not that this ever happens with the necklace I'd use but it would just be my luck! They're both insured but wouldn't want to take a risk.

goingfor3 - we're getting a babybjorn too, on the basis that lots of people use them without problems. That and DH is a bit scared of slings.

Another option to the babybjorn is a mei tai - I have one of these and my DH will use it with the patterned bit turned inwards (not that I bought a girly one!). They're also simpler than many options (wraps or wilkinets for example) and are good for older kids (I carry DS in it still, high on my back with the straps tied above my bump).

Glad others are having trouble with their rings too - I think I've been lucky so far so that this new swelling has taken me for surprise - but it's not that much by any means - you couldn't tell by looking at me!

Thanks Neenz, have established that £1700 is something to do with the house repossession, FIL a bit shell shocked by everything that has happened but DH thinks that it has sunk in that he simply can't afford to give his daughter any more money. She is finsihing a part time degree but refusing to look for any work which would help support her own family. FIL is very blinkered in that she will get the perfect job when she finishes next year. He is desperately hoping that BIL won't go to jail as he will then be asked to help financially, i.e support his daughter.

aberdeenhiker I like that site, these slings look very comfy, might look into it. aRe they easy to use?

Sophie I cannot believe your DH sister! Is she for real?

Aberdeen - those slings look gorgeous and very comfy! Might have to look into those... x

Neenz- will think about it...to be honest not remotely worried about labour, however it goes and have been practicing yogic breathing, but important not to overlook anything. How many work days left??

Re: swelling, nothing major and saw mw yesterday who wasn't concerned. They are also going to do all my appointments at my home now too, so no struggling into doctors!

Have been feeling very unsettled today...madly rushing around putting up pushchair, checking I know how carseat works, testing breastpump (on elbow, not boob!) and nappies (cotton bottoms) etc. Also been testing my baby carriers (I have three ) a Maclaren and Tomy papoose-style carrier and a Babasling....couldn't decide which one to buy so bought all three (on Ebay). Is this nesting? Is it a sign???? Maybe I'm just impatient...

Needahand - she hasn't worked for 15 years, doesn't feel the need to but quite happy to spend FIL on bills, foos, haircuts etc, his wife is furious at him.

makecakes - sounds like a major case of nesting to me but at least you will be super organised when the bub arrives! I know I went into a cleaning mode before my bub arrived but that may have just been because I suddenly had lots of time on my hands once I finished work and thought it was easier to do things now rather than after bubs arrived!

Sophie - your're SIL/BIL sound like a nightmare. Some people just seem to think they are owed everything on a plate and others are prepared to work jolly hard for what they have. As a parent I would hope to help support my dc but only if they were helping themselves. So if god forbid my dc were ever to be in a similar situation I would only help them if they had made the effort to get a job and then been made redundant or something similar. Unfortunately I don't think people change, I know my dh sister fell on hard times a couple of years back when she split from her husband. My FIL was helping her out financially during her difficult times but then found receipts for £150 dresses next to red unpaid water bills!!!! Some people just have different priorities! It's a tough call as a parent but sometimes you have to accept that you can't go on bailing someone out forever and that the best lesson they can learn is to stand on their own two feet.

Sorry if that sounds like a sermon but I think it's really unfair on those who work hard to what they've got and go without luxuries to take responsibility for themselves and their families. I shall get off my soapbox now!

Totally agree with you Josie. My parents have given us ome money for birthdays, christmas instead of presents to put towards a holiday, they do this every year as we don't need/want anything else but they still like to give us something. Other than that, our holiday in November is being don this year with some very careful budgeting, as a family we don't need anything and neither dows the B&B hence the big holiday, next year we want to do DD's room properly and will do a cheap week break somewhere just to get away.

Hiya

Makecakes - rather concerned that you were trying your breast pump on your elbow. Not sure if you have been reading your books properly, but milk doesn't come out there.

Sophie - big sympathies - totally agree with Josie, some people just have no idea. can never understand people who live on the breadline but still have the latest computer kit and sky TV.

To all those using slings - we found the babybjorn fantastic and DS loved it - he thought it was great being at the same level as the grown-ups.

Lol Makecakes -your elbow? Does it bear some resemblance to the shape of your bust??? I tested mine on dh!!! Thought he should see what it feels like!