Due June 08 - As we start nesting will the creme eggs start hatching?

[bitofadramaqueen]

Another new thread! By the time this one runs out we might have some babies!!! Although, we do chat a lot so maybe not...

Rolf - re double buggy - I'm sticking my head in the sand and refusing to think about it! While I'd love a P&T, it's a lot of money and I keep wondering if I could make due with a buggy board (honestly unlikely but you never know).

Morning off swimming in a bit and then shopping cause like debs its bank holiday here tomorrow.

Dramaqueen I have cankles but only on one leg really!!! When you go to midwife id mention it to her so she can check our BP cause as UD cake said it can be BP related.

However mine actually dont seem to be despite having high BP! it is the heat and walking standing too much, also i was told that some people can retain lots of water during pregnancy which causes it too.

Sorry! realised become a bit of a long post but kind of become expert in BP and ankles!!!!after all my troubles!

Speak to you all later xx

Hello all-

golly- taken a while to catch up on all the news....welcome littlelamb and hope you can keep up ...have saved your website debs to show DH later. If you are 45 mns from Salzburg, does that mean I could do the whole 'Sound of Music' thing?? Enjoy the shopping...glad to hear Ernests move went well....neenz I can't believe you might have your two babies next week. Is it coleastatis (sp?) that they think you have?

Feeling a bit brighter today...the midwife kind of sapped all my happy vibes this week. I told her about the induction and she sort of turned on me saying that in all likelihood I'd end up having a c-section if I go forward with an induction. Then she said that the baby was back to back- she has been the right way round until now- so the whole appointment felt like a double blow. And now for the first time I'm worried about labour.I have put a thread up for stories about inductions, and am now doing everything to get babycakes the right way round, and to work out how to get a baby fromthe induction.....

Sorry for the long post, but feel better for getting it out of my system!!

Hi

Aberdeen, your blog is gorgeous - I love the video of DS racing around the track! We have also have one.

Rolf, we have splashed out on a P&T's - as the journey to DS's nursery is over a mile and I didn't fancy doing that with a buggy board. But if you have a sling and can cope with that until your buggy is suitable, perhaps that will be OK? Fingers crossed re chicken pox - the worst is that they are quarantined for a week or so, but at least she would have had it and the newborn would miss it.

hi all, i just have no energy to keep up at the mo so will try to pop on when i can but might disappear a little bit. SPD is too much to bear and everything hurts (i.e. breathing). i need to go back to osteopath but in too much pain to get there with ds and she doesn't do weekends. i took ds to gymnastic playgroup yest (big mistake) and the bus pulled away really abruptly before i sat down and knocked me about and although already sore i am now broken.

g43 i know what you mean i am a total control freak about touching my baby and even got agitated when the in-laws held ds. i have a photo of mil holding him and his head totally not supported properly when he was 2 days old and i could have cheerfully killed her. be strong, and if you're not happy say so! don't suffer in silence, it's your baby after all! poo on what everyone else thinks!!

deb i think your boys have lovely names. aidan was on my short list for dylan but dh doesn't like it anymore. i think it's less common than ethan and goes with the other boy's names better.

we've shortlisted Jaxson (spelling still under discussion) and Myles. it's not much but 2 names are better than none!

Morning all, you have been very chatty again!

littlelamb welcome to our thread. It is always nice to have new joiners

U/Cake is your appraisal today? Good luck with it.

Neen I hope your results stabilise and the everything goes smoothly.

G43 I think it is normal to be a bit protective at the beginning and it is in our instinct isn't it. They are your kids and you have to do what makes you comfortable.

morning Debs did you sleep last night? And did you decide between Aidan and Ethan (and if so will you tell us?

Dramaqueen as the others have said I don't think cankles are a problem on their own. I think it is called oedema and is just water retention. But it can be an issue if you have high blood pressure (and I seem to recall you had a pb with blood pressure recently?) as then it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. I think it is fine to wait until tomorrow to see your MW, but if you feel in anyway unwell I would just call her to be on the safe side.

As for me this is my last day of posting for two weeks (tomorrow I will be in the office and won't be able to post) and I can't fathom what the catching up will be like. I don't know how I will cope with the MN withdrawal symptoms. It is very exciting though to think that perhaps by the time I get back the first baby (or babies if Neen is the first to oblige) will be born on this thread, how exciting!!

I had a pop at DH yesterday when he came back from work to inform me that he was going to go and see his sister on Friday. We were supposed to travel on Friday and when I asked him when we were going to travel he said "we'll just leave after you come back from work on Thursday". I was absolutely fuming as he has put in his head couple of weeks ago that we would do that and I have been resisting all along and now he uses his sister to go back over this again. I said to him there was absolutely no way I was going to travel for 6 or 7 hours after having spent a whole day at work and 4 hours of commute. I was absolutely fuming especially since I haven't slept more than 3/4hours every night for 10 days and between the stress and the tiredness I am having braxton hicks like mad and considering last time I went in labour at 32 weeks (which I am this week I am not going to tempt fate and travel 10 or 11 hours on top of a day's work. On top of that with everything that has happened this week I haven't had a chance to start packing yet. So I said to him that we would leave as planned on Friday and that he would go on Saturday. So that is the first two days of our holiday ruined already because on Friday we are going to his other sister and we are only going 10 days

No news from SIL has yet but at least she is safe in hospital now.

dramaqueen hope all goes well with the ankle swelling - needahand is right, it's basically water retention and called oedema, and while very common in pregnancy it can be assoc with HBP. If you have swelling elsewhere, hands face etc then get to your dr sooner. otherwise, it's probably just a case of put your feet up for a bit and that should help reduce the swelling!

dylansmum I like Myles goes well with Dylan I think! sorry to hear you're feeling so shit at bus driver.

makecakes boo to the midwife for sucking out all the happy vibes, hope baby turns back again. get on that gym ball!

whinegums totally agree, Debbie Bliss stuff is lovely and not as twee as a lot of knitting patterns! I'll look out for the other one you recommended! made more breakthrough with my shawl last night, have now done nearly 2 whole pattern repeats. woo. 15 to go!

Needahand. Sorry your DH is being so insensitive - good for you for sticking up for yourself. It's amazing how men can just totally forget we're pregnant sometimes!
On Sunday we were clearing out the last bits from our old flat and giving it one last hoover and DH was moaning and whinging ('I've got a headache, I'm sick of doing this' etc etc) and I had to point out to him that I WASN'T ENJOYING IT EITHER BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE. It's like he thought I was enjoying it or something!

And later on in the evening he used 'needing to help me because I was exhausted and had been working so hard during the move' as an excuse to get off the phone with his dad and then promptly went upstairs and played on his computer for almost two hours!!!!!!!!

He is getting the worst nappies for that one...

DQ - good luck with the ankle swelling. I noticed this morning while fake tanning my legs (so sick of being bone white) that I now have fat feet. Ick!

My DP seems to forget sometimes that I am pregnant too... when I need stuff put away on top of the cupboard he gets cross if I get a chair out to stand on and insists he'll do it (have been waiting 4 weeks for him to put ski gear away), but he thinks I can help carry bags of rugby balls from the car up two flights of stairs ...
Then he complains that I need to drive, as he is too tired... I can barely reach the pedals because my bump is so big next to the steering wheel...
I agree with greenfairy - he's getting the worst nappies for that...

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I think my main problem is my inlaws holding the baby and not handing him back the moment he starts crying because 'he has to get used to them'. I can't bear to leave my babies to cry yet my inlaws all happily leave babies to cry for ages. They are probably going to come over once a week and I do have to let them hold the baby as it's thier grandchild but I will have to be strong and grab the baby back the moment it starts winging which will probably be straight away if mil is holding him as she's not confident with small babies and I'm sure they sense it. Got to the root of my problem! I have no problem with health proffessionals or friends holding my babies ( I know my friends will respect my wishes and hand the baby straight back) just my inlaws!!!

DLM, DD1 would have been Myles if she was a boy!

DQ, hope you can see your ankles again soon!

Hi everyone

littlelamb I've benn having period cramps on and off for a few days, I think it might be braxton hicks or the way the baby is lying. Babby is moving fine so not too worried.

makecakes I was induced with ds, and I know he was the wrong way at somepoint during labour as I can remember the mw saying but he was facing the right way when he came out so turned round. I wouldn't worry too much about statistics, and likelihood everyone is individual at the end of the day, just make sure you know the hospital policy on induction so you can say no if your not comfortable. I had my waters broken and contractions started but they still hooked me up to a drip as it was hospital policy, ds got a bit distressed, can't complain about labour as it was only about 5 hrs but I wish I had asked them to wait a while before putting me on the drip. I had quite a good experience of being induced, don't worry too much you can't really plan for how things will happen, take it as it comes, you'll have your dh there and it won't be long til you see your baby, very - 2 weeks tomorrow!!

I'm all relaxed now from seeing the doula. She was showing me how to try to get the baby to turn. It's been moving madly so I'm looking forward to finding out tomorrow what position it's in.

Sending vibes to the baby not to come before 38 weeks. The doula is away when I'm 37 weeks and my inlaw arrive at 38 weeks.

Now I'm going to undo all the lovely relaxation and do some revolting paperwork for DH!

DLM - you sound really miserable, I'm so sorry. Wish I was local and could help.

UDC I used a sling all the time with the boys but jsut didn't get on with it with DD. I think my stomach muscles are so hopelessly weak that they don't support my back properly, and weight of the sling was very uncomfortable. I think I'll stick my head back in the sand now

Yes that is a good idea. Awful nappies and projectile poo/wee as a punishement ha ha! [grin wickedly]

G43 - if that helps with DD I wasn't keen on other people holding DD either. My mum was just rocking her too harshly IMO which I hated. Some people kept DD for hours and I just wanted to shout "give her back". And when I reluctantly handed the pram to my dad for a walk, my mum tripped and my dad let go of the pram, it was on an uneven pavement and the pram starting to trip over and fall on the road with DD screaming and I had to jump and catch it before it hit the ground with DD in it. She was 10 days and I was scarred to this day my dad still denies he let go of the pram and doesn't understand why I don't entirely trust him with DD. I had not been bullied into handing over the pram, it would never had happen, so trust your instincts and don't be too hard on yourself.

GF - I am so glad your move went well

DLM didn't see your post earlier. Sorry you are in so much pain. Sending you hugs. I love Myles for a boy.

G43 - can you ask your DH to tell his parents how you feel? I think it is entirely reasonable for you to want your baby back when s/he starts crying. Your hormones will be all over the place so it might not be the best time to 'just be assertive' but if you can just say 'please give me the baby now' when you want him/her back then surely they can't say no (although in-laws are strange creatures). Hope it works out - in laws are very hard to deal with. Unfortunately for those of us with sons that will be us one day!

Makecakes, unfortunately it does seem to me that many inductions do end up with a section but it is not a given. Are you having the induction cos of SPD? I can completely relate to how you are feeling cos when the MW said yesterday I might have to be induced I was thinking 'that sounds quite nice actually' cos I am struggling a bit now, even though induction is not what I want at all, cos one intervention often leads to another. Have you thought about trying reflexology to try to start labour? That is what I am going to do next week if they want to induce me - try to get it going naturally a few days beforehand with some reflexology or something.

Yes it is cholestasis that they think I might have. Thanks for the reassurance about 16 not being too high. I am half expecting that I have it but it is just as likely I don't. I will probably be hooked up to the monitors for a bit which will be nice to reassure me they are both doing well.

Hi everyone - thanks for the reassurance about my puffy ankles. Uurgghhh, they're so horrible looking As my BP was perfect last week I think I'm just going to wait to see my MW tomorrow. Also, I'm in a grumpy mood so if she starts going on at me to take it easy then I'll only get cross - not good for BP!!! I finish up at work tomorrow lunchtime for about a week (exam leave - eek) so I'll be at home studying and can take lots of rest breaks.

Sorry to hear about everyone elses troubles. here is a link about acupressure which I've been researching as a possibility for pain relief. There is a downloadable booklet which I think includes some tips for encouraging labour!

Lets hope the week gets better for everyone!

Oh, on the names front, whoever was thinking of Jaxson and debating spelling. I haven't seen that spelling before but I would have thought that the 's' was surplus to requirements as the 'x' gives the 's' sound anyway? As in Klaxon?

Hi everyone, busy again here today! To whoever was worried about baby being back to back (I think Makescakes?) my first baby was like this a week before birth and turned before labour. I spent a lot of time on hands and knees trying to get him to turn. My kitchen floor has not been as clean since!

Saw my mw today for the homebirth booking. She is going to retake my bloods at 35 weeks as my iron levels were low last time but doesn't think it will be a problem. So I have bitten the bullet and ordered the liner for the birthing pool. She did say that the pool is only really effective for around two hours as far as pain relief is concerned so said we shouldn't jump in there asap. I now need to buy cheap towels etc so if you see any on sale - let me know!

Long post ahead - we all talk far too much!

Deb - Forgot to say last night, the pics of your boys on your website are lovely. Even DH made an umprompted comment saying the same! Re: MN withdrawal whilst you're in hosp, you won't just be missing posting you may be missing birth announcements. I really haven't made that any better have I? Sorry!

Dramaqueen - it was the loss of my ankles that finally tipped me over the edge! As long as your blood pressures not high as well, you're fine. However I do think it's particularly unfair to lose ankle definition at the same time as having to wear flat shoes.... Losing my knuckles now.

Aberdeenhiker - Your pics are gorgeous too. I'm know it's completely superficial of me, but I have this nagging worry in the back of my mind that I'm going to have an ugly baby...!

Makecakes - A couple of days ago, the bit of my bump just below my belly button went concave. LO still moving so I didn't worry, but when I asked MW yesterday, she said it meant he was back to back. Guess what's happened again today? Move LO, MOVE!!!!

Dylansmum - Sorry you're having such a hard time - bl00dy bus drivers!

Needahand - at your DH for you too!

Hadn't considered being protective over baby before, but I get protective over people stroking my cat too hard so I will be looking hard for any tips you guys can pass on.

sybil - try the supermarkets for cheap towels. I picked up some dark ones from sainsbury's to pack in my hospital bag.

sybil If you have an independent dry cleaners near you they will probably sell ex-hire towels. These are normally just hotel ones - they always get rid of them after a year.
It means you can get a luxury Egyptian cotton thick towel for the same price as the cheap supermarket ones. Just a thought. I also get my sheets this way - beautiful Egyptian cotton high thread count double sheets in pristine condition for £1.50 each!

Re the pool, have you read The Water Birth by Janet Balakas? It gives a lot more detail about how to get the best out of your pool, but the main thing is not to get in too soon or you can end up struggling to get to second stage. If you get in when you're in establishing labour (5 to 6cms they say) then it normally speeds up the rest of the dilation and you can get to second stage very quickly.

Oh dear, it's taken me ages to catch up as usual.

Sorry to hear about folks having family difficulty, aches, pains and SPD, and good news about the moves going well.

Not much news here - SPD isn't going well, but has eased off a little since last week now the baby is engaged (I still think that's a combination of good and terrifying news, makes the whole baby thing seem very real!)

I've also been having period-type cramps for about a week, but am putting that down to the baby being in a new position (I really need a head-in-sand emoticon...)

Ooh, is this the June antenatal club? I think I have to face up to the fact that I'm a member - I've been in denial about having a first baby for most of the pregnancy! I'm due June 12th, and fed up of being pregnant.

Welcome Essie!

On the towel front, I got some lovely but cheap towels in Primark for the hospital - the plan was to just chuck them if they're all manky, but they are surprisingly nice so I might pop back and get some more.

On the weight front - am in awe at all those just putting on a few pounds. I've put on a full 2 stone, and still have 8 weeks to go. We don't have full length mirrors at home but were away for a couple of days recently and I caught sight of myself in the hotel mirror and burst into tears. My bump isn't too massive, but my thighs are just huge . Am going to blame the SPD, which makes it just so easy to comfort eat and so hard to get any exercise...