Due Sept '08: We're halfway there part 2....

[LittleConnie]

Come on over!

Haven't caught up yet after weekend so will post as I get to things I want to post about rather than wait till the end.

sassafrass thanks for the explanation on Friday about the odds of having children all of the same sex thing. I knew all the science but hadn't thought aboutt he fact that the man could have more of one sperm than another and so he could cause the woman to keep having the same baby.

There is also some truth in the male sperm being stronger (although I'm sure its nothing to do with the extra bit the female sperm are carrying) and being able to live longer. So in theory (and I'm sure there's a book about this) if you have sex before you ovulate rather than when you ovulate you are more likely to have a boy as the male sperm will be the only ones still alive. How well that works in practice I don't know.

Hi everyone, hope you all had a lovely may bank holiday day. I spent most of mine with my daughter in our garden. We just recently moved to a new house which has a nice garden compared to our old titchy little house. So Becky and I spent the day planting flowers, sweeping and playing. It was really lovely. I'm looking forward to the end of the summer when I'm off work and waiting for the baby. We'll have lots of lazy days in the garden hopefully =)

Adding myself to this list too. I have been slightly wondering about a home birth (would help with the childcare issues is main reason I've thought of it although would still need back up plan I guess). We only live a 15 min drive from the hosp so not far to go if anything went wrong. But dh isn't keen at all and I do wonder about the mess.
I though last time that a water birth might be nice but going in a bath didn't help at all, I needed to be walking about, and my labour was so fast that they wouldn't have had time to fill pool I don't think.
Also last time my bp was very very high so I don't know if they'd let me have it at home if it went up again.
had no probs with being in the hosp last time apart fromt ehm lkeeping me in linger than I wanted after the birth so I'll prob just go for hosp again.

Womb - Home
Mustsleep - Home (hopefully)
LouiseAnn - hospital
Carrieon - hospital (waterbirth if pool is free)
EandZ - Hospital (with lots of drugs).
Sassafrass - Hospital either vbac or c-section
Ellideb- Home and waterbirth
Lollyheart - hospital waterbirth (gbs)
Barnpot - hospital waterbirth NO EPIDURAL!!
Splishsplosh - prefer MLU at hospital, but bet have to do general labour ward. Hope no epidural
Meglet - planned c-section (but would have home birth if cervix wasn't broken!)
slinkie - hospital, no epidural. NO CFM please!
LittleConnie - Birth Centre, hopefully with access to birthing pool
Talia1 - birth centre with birth pool
izzybiz- Hospital, would love waterbirth!
Lollipopmother - Hospital (first baby)
jearund - Hospital (planned c-section unless consultant talks me into a VBAC!)
DebitheScot- hospital, no pethadin

We've just got back from a fab weekend in Cardiff. It'll prob sound like hell to some of you (except starlight) though! 4 games of rugby league in 2 days. Could have gone to 6 but ds wouldn't have been very pleasant if kept up late enough to have seen the 2 evening games. The rugby was good (apart from Quins losing), the atmosphere was great and the hotel was quite nice too considering it was just a holiday Inn.

sorry for being thick but whats VBAC?

sounds like a battery vacuum pack? am I way off the mark?

vaginal birth after c-section. LOL at battery vacuum pack

that sounds much better, battery vacuum pack more like an instument of torture? possible future birthing aids?

I love acronyms! Vbac certainly sounds like something to go with a hoover.

Dh and I are disagreeing a bit about the birth. I'd like to go for a natural birth if my consultant gives the green light whereas he thinks we should just go for an elective c-section this time around. With my emergency c-sectio though it took me a long time to recover and I hated ahving to stay in hospital for so long. I really don't feel sure what to do. In a way I'm almost hoping the consultant will say that I have to have a c-section again just so I won't have to make the choice. Got a detailed scan coming up beginning of June so will hopefully get some answers then.

Happy Bank Holiday! It's been such a lovely three days. DH did a little bit of DIY and I went and bought the fabric for our curtains. Then we checked out the Maclaren we want at Mothercare. We're definitely going for the Techno XLR. We even bumped into an old acquaintance of DH's who said 'yep everyone does it, we did it, buys an expensive buggy for the first three months then stops using it when it gets too heavy and buys a cheaper lighter model'. But they didn't have it in stock so we're waiting for it to come in online. We did, however, make our FIRST BABY PURCHASE! Two bottles, for expressed breast milk. Hooray! It's real, we're actually preparing!
Then yesterday we went to look at beds (we need a new one), and today we looked at cars (ditto). I think we'll be getting a Ford Focus...feels so weird buying a family car. Oh well, I suppose the Porsche will have to wait till my mid-life crisis.

My dad popped by with some baby things (the benefits of having little half brothers). So we now have some clothes, a playpen, a carseat, a walker and two stairgates (for later). He's also going to get back his cot he lent out. So we'll only need to buy a new mattress. He's saving us a fortune.

Big week this week. My scan tomorrow!! So excited. Then Thursday we're having our wardrobe fitted (after 4 years without a wardrobe it will be a luxury). Then the carpet goes in, woohoo.

Next year, we won't have any boring errands to run, cars to buy, lists to check, we'll just be able to enjoy summer in the garden with our little one.

Would love a homebirth, but am also fully aware that I have yet to find out how I will cope with childbirth...so maybe next time, but for this one I'm going where the drugs are (which I hopefully won't need):

Womb - Home
Mustsleep - Home (hopefully)
LouiseAnn - hospital
Carrieon - hospital (waterbirth if pool is free)
EandZ - Hospital (with lots of drugs).
Sassafrass - Hospital either vbac or c-section
Ellideb- Home and waterbirth
Lollyheart - hospital waterbirth (gbs)
Barnpot - hospital waterbirth NO EPIDURAL!!
Splishsplosh - prefer MLU at hospital, but bet have to do general labour ward. Hope no epidural
Meglet - planned c-section (but would have home birth if cervix wasn't broken!)
slinkie - hospital, no epidural. NO CFM please!
LittleConnie - Birth Centre, hopefully with access to birthing pool
Talia1 - birth centre with birth pool
izzybiz- Hospital, would love waterbirth!
Lollipopmother - Hospital (first baby)
jearund - Hospital (planned c-section unless consultant talks me into a VBAC!)
DebitheScot- hospital, no pethadin
digitalgirl - hospital, waterbirth if poss

Hi all,

Glad everything is going well and people are getting bigger (grin). I have my second scan tomorrow (I'm at 22 weeks now) and nervous/excited.

Me and my husband are currently arguing the toss about whether to find out if bumpy is a little girl or boy, so I suppose we have another 12 hours to keep on fighting (wink)

Still have no clue what to do about the big day in September, but so far I think hospital with the aid of as many drugs as I can get (ok I'm a big wimp and keep being told how much it hurts, and that an epidural is the best thing ever), but still a while yet.

In the meantime, take care of yourselves and little ones (grin).
I start the NCT classes in July, so I guess I will be bombarded/brainwashed at that point

Ah, it has been a while since I have posted so the smileys have not quite worked - darn frazzled brain!

Digitalgirl, we have a ford focus (2004) and while an ok car make sure you check the boot. Ours is a very akward size and makes it difficult to get big things in such as buggies.

Leonie - glad you had a lovely holiday, I know it must be hard having your mum so far away.
How did you pick your doula in the end? I contacted a few through the doula website, and found 1 through MN, but haven't spoken to any yet, did you find it easy to choose one?

Morning everyone! Have been away all weekend camping, which was lovely. Have had a quick catch up on the post, congrats to everyone who had good scans.

Was 22 weeks yesterday, really feels like I'm counting down now, even though it's still ages to go.

Re maternity packages, I had never really thought mine was that good, but I get 20 weeks full pay and 19 weeks statutory, so I guess I'm quite lucky. I'm a fair way off being a 40% taxpayer, but I'll still feel the burn a bit if I stay off for the statutory pay bit! Not making any decisions yet, as I just have no idea how I'll feel. We're also preparing for the fact that I may not go back at all and will just go freelance when the baby is a bit older and can go to nursery. All a long time off though!

Leonie

I totally understand. My family lives in Texas. And I miss everything from cheesecake factory to taco bell...i can't even say chicken wings without getting tears in my eyes...but you have a great attitude about living in the Uk... I keep trying but am just not trying hard enough.

Hi all,

Its been ages since I have come on and what do I see loads and loads of fantastic news about scans I am going to try and catch up the best I can.

Have added myself to the new list, but would like to add that although I say birth centre in theory - in practice I'm pretty much open to anything that will get me through Hadn't really thought about the actual birth until recently when somebody told me its not very nice hearing other women in agony and since then keep having nightmares

I'm 23+3 today and getting more excited by the day - looking very pregnant (rather than fat) which I am pleased with and feeling like I have abit more energy and bubba is kicking on and off throughout the day to keep me nice and reassured. Had 3rd midwife appointment last week and heard heartbeat again - still seems amazing each time 13 weeks on Friday until I start maternity leave and counting

Womb - Home
Mustsleep - Home (hopefully)
LouiseAnn - hospital
Carrieon - hospital (waterbirth if pool is free)
EandZ - Hospital (with lots of drugs).
Sassafrass - Hospital either vbac or c-section
Ellideb- Home and waterbirth
Lollyheart - hospital waterbirth (gbs)
Barnpot - hospital waterbirth NO EPIDURAL!!
Splishsplosh - prefer MLU at hospital, but bet have to do general labour ward. Hope no epidural
Meglet - planned c-section (but would have home birth if cervix wasn't broken!)
slinkie - hospital, no epidural. NO CFM please!
LittleConnie - Birth Centre, hopefully with access to birthing pool
Talia1 - birth centre with birth pool
izzybiz- Hospital, would love waterbirth!
Lollipopmother - Hospital (first baby)
jearund - Hospital (planned c-section unless consultant talks me into a VBAC!)
DebitheScot- hospital, no pethadin
digitalgirl - hospital, waterbirth if poss
Gracie14 - Birth centre with pool (hopefully)

morning everyone

has taken me a good half an hour to catch up this thread moves at the speed of light!!

back to work today am going to refuse to do any lifting and if she says anything to me will just say that they should do a risk assessment and if that decides there is no risk involved in the lifting then i will be happy to continue, of course if she is funny with me i will be at the docs first thing in the morning asking for another sick note!! so there !

does anyone know what a risk assessment would say about working up and down stairs when pregnant? cos i would love to just turn around and say that she needs to get someone else to do that

ok 22 weeks already and the rest of the summer to go!! has been beautiful here for the last couple of days and have managed to get a bit of a sunburn going on!!

with regards to the homebirth mess i have been told the best thing to do is to get a dust sheet that you would use to decorate and put it under an old or cheap bed sheet, ater the delivery dh can just scoop it all up and bin it, our bedroom carpet is well past it's best anyway and i never bled loads while bathing in the hospital (unless i have blocked it out) but i just don;t think that we would make it to the hosptial this time!!

now someone just talk me out of starting my maternity leave at the earliest avalaible opportunity!! i have four weeks hols saved but am going to have to use a week unless i take it as sick but i donlt want to do that unless she is a total cow this week!! when is every one else thinking of leaving?

Morning guys
Been away for a long weekend and wedding in the lakes, so lovely. I have had alot of catching up to do on here this morning!
mustsleep I am planning to finish work asap. Like you my job is quite physical and I really dont think I can do it for much longer. I just want to enjoy the summer also. I think I can leave 11 weeks before the baby is due then add on my 5 weeks annual leave. So I reckon this is four months or so before baby is due.
Meaning I have only weeks left to work . However, this has to be agreed by my managers. I have an appointment with them a week tomorro.
The weather is lovely. x

oooh i might do that too will have to work out how old he will be when i have to go back to work though although i went back to work when dd was 4 months so will prob be about the same

mmm let me just look at that calander!!

am excited about looking for a different job afterwards that's for sure didn't realise how much i missed seeing ds straight after school so might see if i can make working during the day work using a nursery will just have to see if i get any childcare credit towards it

ooh am seriousley considering that now could finish in three weeks if i use all me holiday as well and leave 11 weeks b4 due date ...... just not sure i want to give in might see how work goes today and then make my mind up would like to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy really rather than feel like this for the next 10 weeks

aargghh it has just occured to me that i need to take my matb1 form into work before i can leave, and i ha;t actually got it yet so need to see the midwife

also need to sort out whether or not i will be getting smp or ma before i leave so need to save some wage slips over a 13 week period

Jealous of those of you thinking about finishing work already. But have to say i have quite a good deal if I can work right til the end of term in July then be off all summer hols and not start my maternity leave til the 1st Sept. Means i will get paid for being off for six weeks before actually starting maternity leave. The woman in payroll says I have perfect timing!!

its pain in the but isnt it mustsleep

You dont need an appointment with the midwife to get the matb1 just ring her up and she should leave it at reception for you to pick it up.

i cant even think about taking mat leave yet i need a job first but i have an interview tomorrow so fingers crossed i get it then i can get ma ive already worked more than 26wks out of the 66.