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....

Thank you so much Makecakes - they're great. (I love lists, it makes me feel organised...even when I'm not!)

makecakes could you email me your list too? I'm going to do some list making this weekend (while taking a break from studying!).

Morning everyone.

Sophie hope your not suffering too much.

Had a busy few days here doing bits of decorating etc so worn out.

Raspberry leaf tea is ok but the tablets are just as effective I used the tablets with DS and tea with DD.

Another handy thing for a hospital bag and then baby changing bag is....you know the anti bac hand wash you get which you just rub in your hands and dont need water? I have loads of tubes from AVon not sure if they still do it but boots do...sorry dont know what it is called.

I have got/done

Pram/car seat/changing bag (though still in shop)
Cot and bedding
Crib and bedding
Clothes washed and put away
Blankets washed and put away
Old muslins washed and put away
Bought new towels as old like cardboard
Grow/sleeping bags
Bath seat washed
Cheap shower curtains (for carpet)
Waterproof mattress sheet for me
Sterilizer
Bottles just incase
Dummies just incase
Boobie Pump
Changing mat for downstairs
Upstairs changing mat was delivered yesterday and was the wrong one
Wipes
Sudo cream
Shampoo/bubble bath etc(My uncle working for Johnstones as a summer job till Uni starts so gets everything for under £1.)

to get
nip pads and cream
matnity pads
big knickers(I look out for tesco packs in sale got 5 for £1.75 which can be chucked)
More muslins
present for older siblins
looking at buying cheapy sheets for bed and paper mats to try and protect sheets.
Nursing bras
Nappies

Tip on the arnica start taking it 2 weeks before your due date its more effective.

Ok Boob question my right boob which was damaged with DD and ended my
feeding has been producing less than my left which has gone bigger and is full on tap at the moment...Do you think its a sign of things to come or Iam I being paranoid?

Ok im away before I add another chapter

HI everyone, keep the lists coming! I have forgotten everything I needed with the other two and have picked up loads from the lists. I had completely forgotten about the breast pump and steriliser, both of which I had thrown away after dd so have just picked up the Tommee Tippee ones half price from Tescos.

I received a letter from the hospital today to tell me that I need iron tablets. It is such a pain as I was feeling really pleased with myself for not being anaemic this time around, and also I now have to make a special trip to the hospital some time next week to pick up the prescription. Why you can't just get it from the doctors surgery I don't know - grrrrrrrr.

Right, have been motivated by you all to crack on with getting stuff ready and am off to get old baby clothes out of loft. Will probably spend hours oohing and aahing over them and drive dh mad...

We did NCT classes with our first child. The classes weren't very good but it was still worth going as we met lovely people. The teacher wasn't very good at gearing her teaching style to her audience. Apparently she taught ante natal classes at a prison and she gave us a big speech about respect and shouting - all very well at Holloway but not so necessary in a room full of TV people, lawyers etc (actually, on second thoughts... ).

The best thing the teacher did was, at the last session, got us to exchange addresses/e-mails/phone numbers and arrange a date and venue for a post-natal get together. It was then that we all really began to get to know each other and were able to laugh about the dozy teacher. Apparently every single couple had a row each week about the husband not wanting to go to the class

Gorgeous day today - so lovely to get outside.

I'm on iron as well. My blood count came back at 10.2 but I am symptomatic so got a prescription. I asked for liquid - that's what my consultant gave me last time as it wasn't as bad for making you constipated. But I couldn't remember the name and the one I've got is so revolting. Not so much the taste as the consistency - it's like drinking a rusty puddle. I'm a bit too embarassed to go back and say I don't like it and may I have another one!

I'm going to try a thrilling 3-night course of garlic-clove pessaries leading up to my GBS swab. Just though I'd share . Apparently you wake up with garlic breath as well as an unspeakably gross garlic clove to retrieve and dispose of.

Enjoy your Saturdays, everyone. Anyone watching the Grand National?

Rolf I have to ask but what does the garlic actually do? would also add very scared face if I could find one!!

of your nice weather we have had horrid snow showers today.

I watched the National I also won - scurries away to order Chinese

Weather pretty rotten here too josey. At least your grand national win is a bit of a bonus! I was lulled into a false sense of security by bright weather this morning so washed all lovely new baby sheets - been raining/hailstorms this afternoon .

Waiting with interest to hear more about Rolf's garlic...

Rolf/makecakes thanks for tips on NCT ..feel bit better now -am sure you're right that can manage to make some new mum friends even if I do miss a day.

but Rolf... what are the garlic cloves supposed to do apart from frighten away vampires/other people with the smell ?

Also when are you meant to start taking raspberry leaf tea/capsules?

I think the theory is that as garlic is antibacterial, it destroys the GBS bacteria. I'm seeing my consultant the week after next (to check my placenta has moved) so I guess I'll get a date then for the GBS swab. I reckon there's nothing to lose by trying (apart from the garlic ) and if it helps me avoid IV antibiotics in labour it will be worth it.

Hope I can go through with it - I'm very very squeamish.

Poppy - sorry, forget to mention - I think the usual advice is not to take the rasberry leaf until term in case it stimulates premature labour. But I think the alternative therapy bods say to take it from around the stage we're at now.

Rolf - can't do any harm (apart from smell) to try and can

Have been doing a bit of reading on net and you're right re raspberry leaf tea starting in a few months time. Might ask consultant what he thinks next time I see him.

Hi everyone, hope you're having a nice weekend.

Thanks for the replies about the birthing ball, decided I will get one as I remember it helped during labour with ds plus sounds like fun before and after birth too

makecakes - if I could get one of these pillows for £5 then I'd definitely get one. It's just £25 is a lot of money if it DOESN'T iykwim. Your poor friend, hope all is ok and sorry about your dog

dylansmum - hi I can't wait to get the Amby Nest, they sound fab

debinaustria - thanks and hi to you too

poppy - lol at constant constipation although I must say mine has gone recently and I'm actually going a tad bit too often now

bitofadramaqueen - pleased everything as should be at your appointment but that would really annoy me if my MW went on like that!

thegreenfairy - I have no probs falling asleep as I've been going to bed too late and I'm knackered, have my cup of ovaltine then I'm off but I do get up quite a lot, last night I was on the loo every 2 hours!! grrrr

PP - sorry about your friend

Josie - I've got 9 weeks left too. Can't wait to stop, pushing these kids around and rushing on the school run is really taking it's toll now. Much easier when I was pg with ds and working in an office!!

Sophie - sympathise with the SPD I can highly recommend seeing an Oestopath though. Mine turned out to be more that my pelvis had been knocked out of place (probably from my fall at 12 weeks pg) but she fixed all that and I've been SOOO much better since. Been told it's great for normal SPD too.

Well, I had a nice morning/early afternoon of having hair cut at home then off for highlights at the local hairdressers so had some 'me' time and feel better for my hair being done. But then stressful afternoon thinking about all the stuff I need to do for ds's birthday party tomorrow.

Gosh, aren't a lot of you organised. We're in a right mess here and loads to do. Our spare room is used for naps for mindees and baby will be in our room for first 6 months but then realised recently that we have no storage for baby's things!! So we are now clearing space and going to have to build a wardrobe on top of a certain area so we have somewhere to put things. It's the only way I can still have 2 cots for mindees in that room as if we put a wardrobe elsewhere, the room will be taken up. I'm majorily nesting atm and find I'm getting stressed out at looking at all the mess (dh also been decorating our bedroom), I need it all sorted NOW!!

Trying to think of what we still need for baby.

Car seat - have ds's but also been given lovely newish one from a mindees parents
Pram - got 5 but being given a quinny from a mindees mum which has carrycot bit so can lay flat
Muslins - have loads for childminding but going to get some blue ones which can be just for my own
Nappies - I want to try real ones but am yet to research!
Cot - ours is 10/11 years old and was handed down from my sister. Used for ds but really not suitable for using again so will get a new one before Christmas when we transfer him. In meantime, parents getting us an Amby Nest

Gosh......just scrolled down and looked at the lists Think I need to make a big list and get organised. We should have baby bath etc. in the loft but I'd hate to leave it to last minute and find a problem!

Right, best go and Total Recall about to start and I want to watch it.

Bye for now x

Hi Looney, ggod to hear from you, I have friends who are osteopaths so will call them on Monday for some advice.

Randome thought for today - tis very difficult to outstare a sheep through your kicthen window.

Morning Sophie - hope all your guests have gone now and you can put your feet up for the rest of the day.

Not much to report from Austria apart from being inspired by lots of you to get these baby things washed and ready - 1st lot's in and 2nd's waiting!!

Have a good Sunday everyone

Breakfast done, one room to do, DD going to GP's for a couple of hours, while we get to do something else.

Hello all

Happy Sundays!

Well dp is back and is "ok", now concentrating on the home run of the baby is keeping him busy.

Re water problems- after a whole week of no water except in tiny bathroom downstairs where i can hardly fit in now and no kitchen really as gaping hole in floor with sewers exposed to all.....

We now have all restored, after having ALL and yes i mean all the street in and out my house all week (they are all over 60!!!) humming and haaaing about what the problem was, they finally got a professional company in to do the job as they realised that it wasnt just me who was blocked. So on Fri day after poor dp came back they blew the sewers literally cause at one point the force of the blasting blew quite literally loads of crap all over my kitchen cause pipes were open!!!! So now all has been cleaned and dp says lots of other houses had put toilet paper down their toilets and apparently the old people were mortified to see how many condoms came from the young bloke next door!!!! hehe!

On baby front i only need:
Hospital bag and stufff to go in
Baby bath
Bottles etc
Breasst paads and pants etc
learn how to use my new quinny buzz (parofleurmapu swoons for a mo ....)
and think thats bout it !!!

well thats me done ill be on here more now all back to some kind of "normal"
Thanks for all your support and nice comments they have helped through the last few weeks

Morning all. Flying visit as got loads on. Ds has his birthday party this afternoon but we've been delayed in sorting things due to the excitement of the snow - been out building a snowman and dh and ds having snowball fights . Dh now shopping for last min bits then we'll be rushing to get all food and party bags etc. ready!! Just hope the weather doesn't stop loads of people coming!

Parofleurmapu - I've been away so not sure what's been going on. Are you ok?

Right, best spring into action!!

Have a good day everyone

p.s. anyone else planning a Home Birth? If so, you packing a hospital bag too, just in case?

Paro, glad dp is back and "ok", sound slike you've had a complete nightmare with the water problem - the only saving grace is that it all happened before baby - can you imagine how awful that would have been?

Looney - good luck with the party, how many are coming?

Cheers. Should be 24 but one of my mindees has conjunctivitis so just her big sister coming so that makes 23. All I can do is do everything as if they are all still coming and keep my fingers crossed. It does seem to be clearing a bit now so hopefully they will come.

Snow? what's that then, brilliant sunshine down here

Sun out here now but still bloody cold. Was out in vest tops last couple of days....shades and all! Have you seen the snow pics on my profile? We just don't get snow like this is Berkshire, it's mad!!

Snow here too! It's supposed to be springtime . I really hope this is all a blip and we get a lovely summer with our summer babies!

Paro - that sounds awful! LOL at your neighbours and the condoms though.

Hope the party goes well looneytune!

Hi All - mad snow here in South London. Dh had to put my timberlands on for me this morning so we could go for a walk in it. It was lovely.

The top of my bump really aches today, as if it has become a lot heavier overnight...? Has anyone else had this? Although it may be because I tried making some of the cake recipes from this site yesterday, yum-yum.

Very tired, didn't get up until 9.30am (enjoying weekend lay ins whilst I still can), but might go for a nap soon anyway.

Re: Raspberry Leaf tea, I found this:
"Raspberry leaf tea also contains the alkaloid 'fragine' which is said to strengthen and tone the muscles of the uterus, helping them to contract more efficiently during labour. Research has found that taking raspberry leaf during the weeks prior to delivery helps to shorten the second stage of labour by making contractions more effective. Some studies have also found that it reduces the need for an assisted delivery (i.e. an emergency cesarean or use of forceps or ventouse).

Sipping raspberry leaf tea during and after the birth is also said to help the uterus contract back down to size, reduce after birth bleeding and help initiate the let down of breastmilk.

It is advisable to wait until the 32nd week of pregnancy before trying raspberry leaf tea as there is a concern that consumption before this time in the more fragile, earlier stages of pregnancy could lead to problems. Once you have reached the 32nd week of your pregnancy you could begin with one cup of raspberry leaf tea a day and gradually increase up to 4 cups or tables a day (although this may vary in accordance with the strength of the blend and the manufacturers instructions)."

Enjoy your Sundays!!!

Hi PP - this snow is a bit mad isn't it? Its actually all started to melt away round here (I think it was too wet pre-snow to lie) but its fairly unususal to see daffodils peaking out through the snow!

Thanks for the info on rasperry leaf tea, someone gave me some ages ago so handy to know when I might start thinking of using it. Only 29 (only, she says!! 11 weeks to go OMG!!!!) weeks so got a wee while yet before I start on that.

Hope you enjoy your nap - spending the day revising... looking forward to May when I can do something else except work, sleep and revise...

Debs- yes it is lucky for a while they were saying that if it didnt get sorted they were going to re route the pipes which would mean diggin up the house and definitely us moving out! Oh my god dont even want to think what that could have been like!!!

Heres to the future! and no more probs hehe!

Looney: dont know if you remember but dp mum was very ill with terminal cancer and she sadly passed away last week so been a bit strange over here lately and had major water problems which threatned with us moving out 9 weeks before baby due but we are "ok" now and are keeping strong and looking forward to LO.

And for all you who have snow im actually jealous!!! Its bright sunshine here which is nice but i havent seen snow for 4 years!!!!