Due June 08 - Creme egg season is over, summer is now here, so time to tidy the ladygarden before the big day

[bitofadramaqueen]

I wonder how quickly we'll get through this thread?!?!?!?!

hi all! just wanted to get this in my threads i'm on and say hello. we had company round last night for the first time in ages and it was so nice to have some conversation. the wife is preggers too, about 20 weeks, and we managed to barely talk about pregnancy which was good!

she also told a very funny story about her mum walking in on her and hubby having sex and i was laughing so hard i had tears streaming down my face and i honestly thought the baby was going to come he started getting so vigorous, probably wondering why his home was in an earthquake!!

hope everyone enjoys the rest of your weekend. x

Hi all, I'm still here - no babies yet! I have been having some period-type pains and backache but nothing very painful and they keep coming and going so don't think it is labour yet.

I went to the hospital yesterday to have more monitoring and blood tests and the good news is my bile acid levels were back to normal so I may not have to have my waters broken on Tuesday after all.

I am going to go in as planned and ask the consultant to do the bloods again and if they are still normal I will ask to let nature take its course. I will be 36+5 then but better to leave them in there as long as poss if I and they are happy and healthy.

My phone has not stopped ringing though as Debs (I think) predicted! But with three sisters and my mum (not to mention friends) there are lots of people to keep informed. Mum rings me even if she wants to nip out to the shops - just to make sure nothing is happening!

Am I right in thinking that when it IS real labour, I will definitely know about it?

Hi Neenz - yes it was me that said about the phone ringing!

Sounds like you had some good results at the hospital. hope they stay put for a while for you.

Trust me - when you are in labour you'll know, the period pains will get stronger and you won't be able to speak during them, or moving around won't make them stop. With ds1 my waters broke at home so I went in and the contractions built up through the day. With ds2 contractions started before waters broke and when they were regular I went in.

If you are in any doubt call the hospital.

Good luck

neenz - YES! it does sound like very early labour though - mild period type pains and backache pretty much sum that part up. although with twins maybe late pregnancy just feels that way??

anyway when the period pains get more intense and you suddenly notice they're happening more regularly then you're on your way! best of luck.

Cool - hopefully it will happen tonight!!! I just want them to come now, as long as it is the right time for them.

Crikey, I've had mild period type pains and backache over the last week - I hope I'm not going into labour. Although, it would mean I'd get to skip my exam . (I'm definitely not in labour btw, MW said they were quite normal symptoms.

Neenz hope everything happens at the right time for you. Are all the phone calls driving you mad? I'd be tempted to ask everyone to please stop calling, but I can be pretty anti-social when the mood takes me!

peartart - I'm studying for a post-grad diploma in HR. I've got an exam on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I'll be moaning about studying for at least the next two years as I'm doing it by flexible distance learning so it's taking forever. I could have finished it next year if I'd been in better health last year though. Grrrr.

Have been very good on the studying today - if only I could sustain that all year round I'd pass all my exams with flying colours!

ooh, good luck Neenz. Very that you are getting the most attention for being (a) the only one with twins and (b) the first to pop

I have an excedingly dull domestic question. Are the rest of you filling your freezers or planning meals for when the baby arrives? It's a sign of my indifferent housekeeping that after 3 children I still need to ask this question, but we have in-laws and DH's aunt visiting for 5 weeks and I need to think about food. They won't be staying with us - in a self-catering apartment - so I don't really know the extent to which I'll need to feed them but I need to be ready for it. And of course will need to feed my own family. Any ideas?

Hello,

Welcome Gemm - sorry to hear that you're not having such a good time at the moment.

Not much news from me. We have set about converting the spare room from a study to a nursery this weekend. It was decorated about 2 years ago in a perfect shade of baby blue. Not being DIY fans we decided that regardless of whether the baby is a boy or a girl it can stay that colour. The only major drama was trying to construct the cot. I was meant to be holding one of the ends as it was screwed in place, but I managed to drop it and bashed a hole in the other end. I was really upset with myself, but once we finished making the cot we realised that you cant see the dent as it is hidden under the mattress against the wall. So I guess its not so bad. Makes me fed up of being a fat, weak, emotional pregnant person though.

Hope you are all enjoying your bank hols.

Rolf I'm planning a bit of a freezer clear out at the end of May to clear a bit of space for some frozen meals. I'd encourage your inlaws to eat at their own apartment though - you'll have enough to do!

Rolf I would have thought feeding yourself, your dh and four kids would be enough to organise without thinking of feeding other people too! Surely they will understand if there's nothing in.. tell them to stop off at Sainsbury's on the way to yours to pick something up!

I would say get your dh to worry about getting food in but i suppose that is out of the question

I have got a few things in the freezer but it is not big enough to hold loads so i probably have about eight (single) meals in there. What about jacket potatoes, tins of beans, cheese, soup, pizza? All easy things to put together.

Ali, shame about your cot - thats the sort of thing I'd do but don't worry about it. Your baby won't care. I am also fed up of being so big, I can hardly walk now cos I have pulled a muscle in my bum cheek somehow (getting out of the car I think).

My mum rang before to say she was going shopping and I felt so that she could do that - I can hardly get up off the sofa never mind up the stairs or out the front door.

Aw allipalli what a shame re: cot. No need to worry if you cant see it though! If it makes you feel any better I managed to scratch our cot trying to attach a bloody mobile. I was very cross. The mobile is now attached to the wall instead.

neenz hope your bum isn't too sore!

Rolf - I wouldn't even consider feeding your relatives, they have obviously had the foresight to book their own accommodation so I don't think they would expect you to cater for them too.

My advice would be make sure you're well stocked up on tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, cakes for visitors and also for you, and also quick things for meals like ready sauces in jars, meat in freezer, pasta etc... The things I make and freeze are bolognaise sauce, meat in gravy(stewing steak or similar cooked slowly in oven in gravy, freeze batches then you could just have it with jacket pot , frozen peas etc.., pizza bases, home made burgers, quiches and pies. at the moment my supply has gone down so I need to do some serious cooking.At least in the UK there's usually takeaways near you, we have pizza here in the village and that's it.

Neenz- hope things go well- you will know when labour is established. Don't forget to drink water and wee (easily done with all the pressure from uterus).

Rolf- I think if you have people staying nearby they should take care of themselves or cook for you. Try to get them familiarised with your kitchen early on. If you can do big meals and freeze an extra few portions then do. My freezer is too tiny to put much in but we'll do a few extra sauce things for jacket spuds etc, as well as easy things for DD if we're in a hurry. We have used Sainsbury online a couple of times, and they save the list of your "favourite" foods, so we can get home delivery. I'm also trying to set up a meal thing with a few local expectant friends so we can make evening meals for each other in that first week with newborn...

Good luck for Wed Dramaqueen!

Hi everyone

Tassiss, sorry your day wasn't going so well.

Neenz, oh my goodness! You could be nearly there - were you still 2 cm dilated?

Rolf, gosh, I haven't started thinking about cooking yet either. My MIL, who is fantastic , (I am very lucky, though makes up for my own mother), will be here for a month so am hoping that she will help out. I wouldn't worry about you relatives other than tea, coffee, bikkies, etc.

Dramaqueen, I'll keep my fingers crossed for your studying.

Debs, hope you find time to get your cooking done.

Systemsaddict, those sound like big BH. I haven't had any yet though am only 33 weeks today.

Very tired this morning and DH let me have two naps! I guess the LO must have been growing.

Everyone has gone home now after the BBQ. Our impromptu, relaxed parties seem to work much better than the ones we put weeks of planning into! We ended up with 16 adults and 7 kids, (including my elderly great-uncle who regaled everyone with stories about parachuting into resistance France), DH made wonderful BBQ and all the kids ran around with no clothes on! And best of all, I got all the clearing up done by 7 o'clock and we have the evening to ourselves. Why can't one plan easy parties?!!!!

Have a nice evening, everyone.

Hiya everyone - quick post so I know where to come back to next time I log on!

WHSmith are selling a creme egg variation called Twisted. Haven't had mine yet, but will report back... Quite appropriate because I was feeling v hot, bothered, wound up and basically twisted when I found them. Nothing had happened, I was just having a pregnancy tantrum!

Mmmm PP - they look good, will have to get Mil to look out for them for when she comes out here. Know what you mean about the pregnancy tantrums - I have some very cross days, dh knows better than to argue with a pregnant woman!

Upsidedown - glad the barbecue was a success.

UDC I am very and that you managed to host a bbq - I can hardly even get up the stairs to go to the loo! It must have been lovely - it has rained here most of the day though.

I have been told a few times to make sure I keep weeing - why is this?

They didn't examine me yesterday at the hospital so don't know if I was any further thsan 2cm dilated.

Hi Neenz- once contractions get established they can inhibit the instinct to wee and the poor bladder can really get bashed from above and end up quite sore. And a full bladder gets in the way during birth. Once you are in MW's care they will prob make sure you go regularly anyway.

Neenz - I was wondering about the weeing thing, I don't remember hearing about it with the boys.
Sorry you're struggling to leave the settee now, you need an 8 year old - ds was trying to carry the bump today! Hope you have a downstairs toilet, we didn't when I was pregnant with ds1 and I always seemed to be going up and down. We have lots of stairs here and they are a pain.

Thanks Peartart for enlightening me re the weeing, how are you feeling now?

Thanks for asking-not doing great here. Having a midnight hot honey and lemon (small mercies!) for my throat and sipping it in front of pc whilst it cools. DD has been awake teething- all 4 canines coming at once! She's now asleep in our bed looking restless and I'm wondering if she's asleep enough to move back into her cot...

I love the idea of your DS trying to carry your bump- how very helpful.

Hope everyone else is sleeping well- babes included.

Hope you're asleep now, Peatart! I'm trying to quell my heartburn with some fennel tea. I'm getting up about 4 times in the night (at least) to go to the loo, and I need to walk around for a bit as I get really stiff and sore around my hips.

I wanted to check on DS2 as well. He's been vomiting for alomst 48 hours now and looks so skinny. He's been able to keep down a little bit of water and has gone for a wee at least once yesterday so I don't think he's dehydrated - we just need to let the bug run through his system. Poor boy . He keeps retching over a bowl as his tummy spasms - it must really hurt him.

Hope your DD is ok. 4 canines at once is cruel for both of you!

deb - my MIL is great with my DS, but not as interested in taking care of DH and I (fair enough - she and I are pretty similar in many ways). Her role once the LO arrives will be to back me up on the childcare bit, and the house will probably look like crap and we'll eat ready meals for a month. That's fine once the baby's here, but before hand we'll both be sitting around not wanting to make freezer meals (fortunately have a small freezer) or anything!

neenz - good luck!!!!

I'm off work today for a May Day holiday and slept really poorly last night (sore hips) so I'm looking forward to napping when DS does.

We had a bbq last night too - but just with 4 other adults (both couples expecting in August!) and 1 other kid so it was very manageable. I figure we might as well get as much entertaining in now as we can! I really enjoyed the break too, as DH did most of the cooking and running around.

Morning ladies, I imagine it will be quiet on here today being a bank holiday in the UK.Hope you all have a good day and the weather is fine.

Peartart - feeling any better? How's your poor dd with her teething? Did you get some sleep?

Rolf - 4 times a night - you poor thing. How's ds this morning, sounds like a nasty bug he's had.

Aberdeen - glad you had a good barbecue, as long as MIL is great with ds then that's the most important - like you say it won't kill you to survive on ready meals for a month!

It's another lovely day here so I'm going to paint the balcony again once I get some more energy. Overslept again today and woke up 10 minutes before ds1 has to leave the house, managed it in time. I think I will have to buy the boys their own alarm clock.