Due July 08 - Third trimester - we're on the coundtdown YIPPEE!!!!

[minipinkscottish]

Couldn't fix the title so thought I'd start again - hope this is okay now!!!

hi ladies

went to my first antenatal yoga class today (this time round I mean) but probably undid lots of the good work by walking back from the supermarket

CilC/Minkus I have started getting cramps at night too, in fact for the past few days my right calf has been very painful (but not hot). I hope your mw puts your mind at rest Minkus, and you can enjoy relaxing with your paper and chocolate. CilC I had a large chocolate bar on Tuesday - one came free with my Ocado delivery and I ate it all while surfing the net .

TJuice I have just started to have a bowl of cereal with banana and yoghurt just before bed. I am hoping it will help with the cramps but it certainly means I don't wake up hungry in the night .

Minnie/minipinkscottish my version of nesting so far has been to make lists of things I'd like to do to the house. And I put a whole load of stuff on Freecycle. Dp and I are terrible hoarders so this is quite a big step for me. Some of our old magazines haven't been very popular though, so will probably go into the recycling collection next Monday.

In terms of getting prepared, I have stocked up on nursing bras from the internet (eBay and here). My sister and best friend are visiting during half term and they have my slings and nb nappies respectively. Dp finally went up into the attic to get down the baby bath, Moses basket, baby gym and another mat for the baby to lie on. I don't have much else I need to get except more maternity pads, and Kamillosan which I find is great for sore nipples and for nappy rash if I have any left over later on.

Tafftaff your comment regarding the pram decision, and you and your dh being analysts, made me chuckle. Dp and I have a habit of making spreadsheets for any joint decision we have to make - often breaking it down into all the different factors and giving them rankings or weightings. We used a spreadsheet 5 yrs ago when we were thinking about moving house; and even before that when we were choosing a name for ds1 (no, honestly ). I seem to remember choosing a pram was a tough decision too! However, at least we end up completely happy with our decisions when we finally make them.

Enjoy the rest of your afternoons everyone. I shall be off to collect the boys soon.

Afternoon, hope all those with appointments have good results. I am currently keeping a list of all the questions I want to ask my midwife next time I see her (monday), the primary one being is it suppose to move this much!!
I am also concurrently running lists for the house, hospital bag and food to buy for DHs birthday BBQ a week on Saturday. I am also an excel fan, when we were looking at houses I had a range of prices in the spreadsheet with all stamp duties calculated, lawyers fees included and various deposits so we could see quickly how much we would have to pay monthly and upfront for different options.

We still haven't bought our pram yet, but we do know what we are getting and from where i just need to dig out the 10% off voucher.

Had a bit of a bad evening yesterday was very tired and got myself all worked up about everything but during this conversation (aka wailing with much snot and tears) with my DH I admitted that I had this overwhelming love for the baby already and it wasn't even born yet and how scary that was. DH admitted he felt the same and that he felt angry whenever he thought about anything happening to me or the LO. This overwhelming urge to protect your children is such a powerful thing. I just don't understand people who abuse their own children.

libra i am a counseler for children that have been abused in whatever manner
i will never understand them
i am a 100% security concious freak
i dont even allow my boys to round there friends houses for tea unless parents have been vetted and how hard is that going to be

on the nesting front i hav e washed all his clothes and arranged them in his drawers
cleaned my study up and that was quite a job
got a bag of dispsable nappies just for hospital
going pram hunting tomorrow all around so i can test drive them
i know they have to grow and its quieter now than when they are here but part of me feels like
c,mon samuel i cant wait to see you and cuddle you

Thanks for the list Isaidno and Gilly! I'll get packing Now that babe's in the head down position it's made me very aware that there isn't that long to go.

DH and I decided on a wardrobe for the nursery yesterday, I decided to put off ordering it till today because I wanted to sleep on it and it's gone down in price by £27.50 overnight. Result!

I make decisions really easily, but DH loves to research everything and weighs it all up. He's an engineer so we ended up choosing a pram on the basis that it all worked around a single pivot (or something) which is apparently very cool. I just liked the colour

Tell me about it Libra. I decided to nip out and have a coffee at lunch time and took 'Birth Skills' with me. Whenever I read about any of the labour experiences I started crying! Think it must be an emotional period for us mums-to-be!

I am in the Excel gang too. You can't be an analyst without having to create a million spreadsheets and then weight every feature until you get the highest score. Am hoping that becoming a mum will beat the nerd out of me but somehow don't think so!

Has anyone found that they are less hungry? I am struggling to eat as much and waking up starving in the middle of the night. To resolve this I bought a packet of cookies to munch on as a midnight snack! Also, may be TMI, but my new found leaking boobs are not overly conducive to good, clean spooning! I keep leaking a little over DP's back but I can't bear the thought of wearing a bra in bed! Bless him though, he doesn't mind! We turned the light back on last night to see what it actually looks like...didn't put our findings into a spreadsheet though

Hi All
Have sort of had a lazy day - got my bananas for leg cramps - will let you know if they work. Bought donuts (have not had these for years and years) instead of chocolate and have read. Got the guilts so put on a small wash and then sorted out my wardrobe.

Sadly I am a bit anally retentive and have purchased everything and the baby room is all set to go.
I have never had to choose a pram really - with DD my parents sent me a pram all the way from Australia!!!! Post office said they had a package that was too big for delivery and when I went to collect it - they were right!!! I later bought Maclaren Techno XT which was fab and then anothr friend who was leaving UK gave me a Phil and Teds (but it is too old and worn for a new born). Asked DH to get me another Maclaren while in US recently and he came home sooooo excited - he had been talked into a bugaboo bee in red. I was sort of shocked - but he seemed so proud...

Libra I had a small car accident when I was 8 months pregnant with DD - not my fault. I remember the rage and anger I had at the person who caused this because it endangered my bump and the absolute overwhelming love i felt for her even though she was not born...it never goes, today I saw her being ignored by her little friend at nursery and she looked so sad and that same love and need to protect them is as strong as ever...this love is what brings you so much joy and also worry.

Time to go and collect my dd from nursery...and finally do something constructive today!

Afternoon ladies well you have been chatterboxes today, I decided enough was enough and blitzed upstairs, took it really easy though bet I pay for it later.

Am so [evny] of all you getting bags packed etc I haven't bought a single thing for my bag yet. Who was it who was having a homebirth gilly??? what I did is pack a bag just incase you never know you may need to transfer and then you can pick it up and go. Also even if you get your HB it's great ot have everything to hand in the one place for straightafter, you cna just open your bag by the side of the bed for eg and you have clean nightie, pants and pads for you and all the babies things ready to go.

butterfly - sinusitis is horrendous hope you are a bit better today and your poor DS as well.

Loving all the stories about Excel spreadsheets, DP is an Excel expert so I leave that all to him.

Today at todders I held a 2 week old baby boy, oh I so want one he was beautiful so tiny, we are going to have our own soon ladies

Leg cramps are a nightmare. I only get cramp in my right calf and it goes away as soon as I get out of bed. It seems to start about 5am and makes the rest of the night hell. I've found that resting my legs on a pillow while I'm sleeping, putting a stretch bandage thing on it and getting DH to massage it every evening seems to help. Having said that, the bandage itches when I take it off and I can't reach down to take it off, I end up kicking the pillow out of bed and DH whines about having to do too much massage so it's not great.

I've found that I'm feeling much more protective recently, I'm not sure why. I'm feeling very maternal all of a sudden though.

Thanks sweetkitty good advice, will buy bits tomorrow.
I've had really bad cramps too and eat bananas in my soy smoothie every morning. It was really bad when I turned in bed till my dad suggested that on waking, before moving, flex both feet a few times to get the blood pumping, started doing this 2 weeks ago and not had the awful calf cramp again. Thank God my dad makes up for my crap mum who, it seems, is trying to put the fear of God into me re home birth. I've zoned out now and have been doing my hypnobirthing practice every day, it's bliss!

DS, working with children who have been abused must be heart-breaking and I am in awe of people who have the strength to hide their feelings so they can help.
also I think the name samuel is adorable. Boys name are so much easier than girls names.

tafftaff am admiring the fact you could keep cookies until midnight. If i bought any they would be gone within 30 minutes. However I am defintely not eating as much as I was.

CilC we are getting a Maclaren XLR

Heffa it's really odd isn't it this maternal thing, I never ever thought I would be and finding out I am is actually quite overwhelming itself. I don't think I have ever really seen a newborn, not to hold anyway.

I have been told once I have actually packed my hospital bag I have to hand it over to DH for safe-keeping otherwise I would just raid it whenever I ran out of whatever I needed and I would end up taking to hospital a bag containing just one odd sock or something like that. I have to say our car is going to be loaded up tho with extra pillows, a birthing ball, a fan (It's going to be July and I'm not convinced the NHS have invested in air-coniditioning), a hospital bag and a baby bag. Plus of course pregnant woman. I should really write DH a list for the occasion......

Cilc - I am anal about preparation too; my nursery is done, and if baby arrives tomorrow (hopefully not!) everything is ready!

would be going mad if I hadn't done it by now! But I pack to go on holiday about a month in advance!

libra - re: your fan - check that the hospital allow you to take your own electrical stuff in. Ours insists the appliance has a safety test certificate or is battery powered.

I'm a bit concerned that I'm going to end up raiding my hospital bag as well. I'm going to look like a madwoman turning up with loads of bags/birthing ball/pillow etc.

Someone was telling me that hospital bags are pointless because the NHS will provide everything I need and it won't go to plan anyway so there's no need to prepare I think I'd still rather be prepared, even if I don't end up using things. And I'd definitely prefer to have my own things around me. Neither do I trust the local hospital to provide anything - one local mum told me that they don't even provide food anymore .

hey ladies

i am still waiting for maternal instinct to kick in. i can't wait to meet lo and i am looking forward to this next stage but maternal? still not sure what that feels like yet. maybe i am but just don't know it.

i am still cycling around like an egg on wheels and people have been smiling, so i think its starting to look a bit weird.

the hunger thing is weird - generally have less appetite but then get absolutely stavished at odd times. just ate two fresh scones with butter (one with chocolate chips and one with raisins) but with my cup of raspberry leaf, so feel semi-virtuous.

gilly - i am addicted to soy smoothies and have one as breakfast everyday. today i branched out of my usual (frozen banana and strawberry) and had frozen banana, fresh mango, ginger, watermelon, bio-yoghurt and honey! it was more tropical and so lush! my friend puts oats in hers but i think it tastes a bit powderly.

re. nesting today - i looked at the crumbs on the cooker and thought about cleaning it. then i came on to mumsnet . . .

but there is a man painting the nursery right now! very very pale yellow - its going to be cute.

TJuice try some nuts in there, it makes all the difference to the consistency. I have hazelnuts for the vit E but brazils and almonds are great too. I've tried oats but agree with you on the powdery texture. I have a banana, handful of nuts and blueberries, soy yoghurt or milk, teaspoon of munuka honey and a dash of flax oil......scrummy!

re: the birth bag - I had it all planned and carfeully packed and when the day came I pulled off my jeans and pants and gave birth! Never used a thing but the afterbirth bag came in handy!

For DD2 I had a cheap fitted sheet, some old towels and some cheap shower curtains for the bed. MWs had everything else. This time I am buying some inco pads or changing mats as we ran out last time. I cannot bear any fuss or anything in labour, if DP approached with a flannel I think it would be getting shoved where the sun don't shine. The only thing I really need is loads of that lovely gas and air.

But I can imagine if you had a long labour you would find drinks/snacks etc handy

Sweetkitty, I didn't realise that I needed a bag for the afterbirth as well ! This baby malarkey is starting to get expensive!

oh tafftaff from now on you will need a bag for everything!

you lot are getting me excited despite having felt rubbish for 2 days now

please please please please.........can you all post links to your hospital bags so i can choose one!! what fun!

was going to get the cath kidston weekender - not that fabric but gawd that wesite is slow!

but its tiny...

need help!

Hi all,

Well what a day!
I rang the surgery this morning to arrange an appointment to discuss my test results. The receptionist said they had no appointments till Tuesday. She checked my file and said that i couldnt wait till then and she would get the doctor to call me back asap.
So I spent the morning at work worried stiff about what was so urgent and what was wrong.
When the GP rang he started talking about my test results say how high they were and how i would need to do a Glucose test where you drink a bottle of lucozade. I explained that that was the test i had done, he said it had been written down wrong as a different test. He checked the results against the Glucose scale and said it was fine. Huge relief! so No Gestational Diabetes for me.
Did mention my blood tests showed that i was slightly anemic and asked if i was feeling well. Said i was and he said not to worry which is good.

Well today was my last day at work! now have 2 weeks holiday before my proper Maternity leave kicks in. Buts its soo nice to have finished!
When i arrived the Nursery was full of balloons and banners. There was a huge sign on the door telling parents it was my last day and wishing me luck etc.
Parents have been lovely wishing me luck and even giving gifts.( Shawls, hooded towels. rattles and outfits)
Had the whole present giving thing in the afternoon and i was very lucky! The 2 bosses bought me some Growbags. And the other girls clubbed together and thoughfully bought a huge wicker basket that was filled with all sorts of bath oils, various creams, hooded towels and booties. They said they knew i had already got most things sorted and werent sure what to get me. Also got a lovely winnie the pooh picture frame and a couple of helium baloons.
Tomorow feels like a days holiday but im sure Monday will feel really strange indeed!

I bought lots of bits for the kids to have a party tea which was great fun! and the staff all enjoyed the Chocolate muffins i took in.

Sorry for the huge me post!

Now to go and catch up on everyone elses news of today.

Pigley - so glad everything's OK for you! That must be a relief I'm slightly anaemic too but haven't had any problems with it. I've started taking Floradix to help with it.

What a lovely last day! Sounds really sweet of all your colleagues and the parents, must have been really special

Butterfly - my hospital bag is this one - the 'Old Bag Shag Bag' which is probably not terribly appropriate but it's a great bag!

Jodie- Lovely bump

Lily- know what you mean about being up all night. I tossed and turned all night.. think the test results were playing on my mind.

Clic- As soon as i start getting a cramp i point my toes back towards me which seems to work and stop it straight away.

Heffa- Think ill start on the hospital bag now im on maternity leave- suddenly feels much closer!

Clic-Im another one who had the nursery ready ages ago!
I only have little things left to buy and most of them arent drastic and could wait till after baby arrives but i want to have everything ready!

glad you're ok pigley.

I haven't got a posh hospital bag - but seeing as I'm planning a home birth it's not likely to leave the house!

I felt a real need to get on with the hospital birth after the MW said that baby was in the head down position. For some reason, it made it all feel much closer and I suddenly decided to get organised.

I had to wait until we had moved to get the nursery done, but it's in progress now. Great fun