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?!?!?!?!

LauraT If you are employed under the terms and conditions of agenda for change, it makes no difference how may trusts you have worked for as long as you haven't had a break in service. I had similar problems with my last baby, as I had worked for a private company for 2 years, but was on honourary contracts with the NHS. My trust had told me I was entitled to the full maternity allowance, only to discover on month 3 of mat leave they had only paid me SMP, with 2 days to go before my mortgage payment was due!

Good luck!

Rolf - getting a Mitsubishi Outlander, not hugely green (sorry greenfairy) but the best of all the big cars, and emminently more practical to fit 2 kids, pram, huge dog and get up rough tracks on.

This thread is moving way too fast for me now!

Re: homeopathy, I've had my consultation with my medical herbalist today www.nimh.org.uk and she's coming up with things for my birth. (I suppose it's a matter of taste - what you believe in and all that!). I'm getting a tincture, so a (nasty tasting) 'medicine' to take from now until the day. That will include raspberry leaf extract etc, stuff to keep me regular (although nothing too severe), and herbs to make good effective contractions. Sorry, rather vague on the science behind this, but my herbalist isn't a hippy type, she's more like a nurse really. Then I also get a tea to drink which is raspberry leaf + other stuff. Apparently I can even drink it during!!

But, the most interesting thing from the consultation was that she was not anti epidural. I'm actually quite keen to have one, but everybody keeps saying it's a shame etc. But despite being a natural health practitioner, Claire thought it was nonsense and 'natural childbirth' is what they do in the third world... I suppose she can't make up a tincture to beat an epidural

MW appointment not so great - I still have protein in my urine, but no other pre-eclampsia signs. However, if it's still like this next week, further steps will be taken. Not sure what that means.
On the plus side, the other nurse gave me a freezing treatment on my wart. This wart has been growing with my bump and has been treated already, but this time she really went for it... the wart might go but so might my finger!!

Sorry this is such a mememe post - I just can't keep up and almost considered starting to take notes as I read to answer everything I want to say! LauraT - full sympathy. I've got a hellish situation at work and I'm terrified because the press are quizzing me about it now. Gulp.

Sorry about the German contraption everyone.

Am very interested in how many of you having homeopathic treatments. I am definitely going to get some arnica.

Poor Rolf, having to revisit Garlic-gate

Essie, my doula says that, although it sounds counter-intuitive, you can get protein in your urine if you don't have enough protein in your diet. The day that I had protein in urine was after 24 hours when I hadn't had any protein except a yoghourt. I've since made sure I've eaten half a cow or so before having my urine tested and it's fine. POssibly worth considering? BTW, have you read 'Travels in a old tongue', by Pamela Petro. She travels the world (eg Argentina, Japan) looking for Welsh speakers. V interesting.

Hope you're OK, Needahand.

Sophie, exciting re new car. You qualify properly for a 4x4! Sorry about bank account.

Wonder how Makecakes is doing.

needahand - I've tested positive for GBS in a private test. If you have tested positive before though I wouldn't bother trying for a negative too hard now as my friend who was +ve last pregnancy and then went -ve found that she still had to stay in for 48 hours after birth to get the baby tested. If you have to stay in anyways, then the antibiotics aren't that big a deal in my mind...

oh - and I've just sorted a homeopath appt for post-birth. I had a hard time recovering and sleeping afterwards so I thought I'd try something different. I hope it works!

ah, if you're still there, could you have a peep at my reply re sizes and see what you think pretty please? I am really borderloine size 2 & 3 even pre preg, some measurments say 2, some say 3. I'll go for one with stretch, so as I'm right on the border, dunno which side of the line to step to? I mailes a seller too but they didn't answer, and due date is getting close, esp with int post

Evening ladies. I've just come on here to try and catch up and realised I haven't been on this thread AT ALL until now and well, as much as I'd like to catch up with all the messages, I can't go through nearly 800 posts!!! What I could really do with is an overall update of what's been going on with everyone lol.

Anyway, I did notice the twins have been born MANY CONGRATULATIONS Neenz You must be so proud, sounds like you did fab and they are just gorgeous!!

Well, I don't know about everyone else but I can't bloody wait to start maternity leave!! It's getting a bit much now, especially with waking up every single f'ing hour to go to the toilet!! Luckily I have one of my 1 year olds on holiday now for 2 weeks so the 2 days I've usual have her, I've only got the other 1 year old, ds (5) and 4 yr old mindee. The other 3 days it's the same but with the extra 5 month old but she's so tiny, she's easy to carry etc.

Just hope baby doesn't come early, I'm looking forward to having 2 weeks of putting my feet up before he's due!

Went to the midwife yesterday and everything is good. All tests back clear so I finally got rid of that nasty infection plus the kidney screening showed no damage thank god Actually, the appointment was quite funny because when they checked baby's heartbeat, they spent ages. First person tried and tried and although I could hear it, she obviously wasn't happy so got the main midwife to check who had the same problem (baby's heartbeat was over 190). Then main m/w said she thought it could be due to the baby mindee crying (had started crying as tired, she's only tiny bless). Anyway, 2 m/w's trying to cheer baby up then when she calmed, one very quickly went to check again and laughed and said 'your baby is responding to mindee as it dropped to 170 as soon as baby stopped crying!!' I was amazed by that!

Anyway, midwife coming for home visit tomorrow to talk about the Home Birth - I'm excited but nervous as feel I should be asking lots of questions but don't know what to ask.

Who else here is aiming for a home birth? Have you had your 34 week chat about it all yet? Advice?

Well, that's it really (apart from having a nightmare thinking of boy's names ). Just been busy, busy, busy moving furniture, washing baby clothes etc. getting everything ready (currently no where near ready!!)

Hope you're all doing well and can't wait to see more graduations

LT x

sophie I have no issues with your car! 4WDs are made for the country after all.

It's when people have huge pimped up 4WDs in cities for status that annoys me. Sorry if am offending anyone, but living in a big city with serious traffic and pollution probs and an average speed in the centre of 14mph, seeing 4WDs with a flash git on his mobile in the driving seat and chrome rims etc makes me . Rant over!

Have also got arnica tablets for labour and after the birth(can't remember the strength). I already use the cream if I get a bad bruise but I splashed out on an arnica SPRAY from Boots as well as I thought if I ended up with stitches I wouldn't want to touch them. Have also got tea tree oil in my first aid kit already for bathing with afterwards (diluted obviously!), and lavender oil and a burner to use during the birth for calming.

I think LO's head may have engaged as have had a few days of occasional sharp pains and cramps and now my bump is deffo more at the front and sticking out more.

MW (the mad one...) coming to our house tomorrow to do home birth plan - v exciting. Currently hunting through old thread for Neenz' as it was almost exactly same as I want and saves typing it all out [thank you Neenz!)

Green fairy - quite agree with you there and there are a few people in the country who don't need them as well.

Looney - good to see you again

thegreenfairy - oh SNAP then Have you got anything particular you are going to say? I haven't go a clue!!! All I know is that I have this birth pool I've been given and I'd like to use that in my lounge and would like the gas & air to be available IF I need it but hopefully will do without. Not sure on all the other stuff Just been so busy with other stuff on my mind, I've only in the last week or so started taking it all seriously. That reminds me, I really ought to pack a bag in case I end up being transferred, and have another bag for baby when he arrives.

So exciting isn't it

Hiya Sophie - how's little 'Elvis'? Any joy with names yet?

Think we are going with Sebastian - it is the only one we both agree on that isn't used by every other child down here.

Nice name My friend has the same (Sebbie for short).

Right, off to bed. Last night I had 3 trips to the toilet in the first 20 mins then the usual hourly visit once asleep. I soooooooo want to sleep through for longer!!!

Night night x

You are all very much into your natural methods - I was planning on stocking up on nurofen

Greenfairy sorry if you already know this but you shouldn't use arnica spray on broken skin.

upsidedown that has made me sudder I dont have much left to stretch down there after ds but my oh my the lovely Germans can keep there toy!!

I have MW coming next week to do home assessment and drop off the kit along with gas and air to be stored in the garage!!MW has gone through lots already at other appointments so dont have much to ask. As Im RH- if I give birth at the weekend DH will have to take blood tests into the blood clinic at the hospital...I also have to contact house insurance re having the gas in the house/garage. Also if I want pethidine I have to arrange the perscription for colection and if I dont use it I have to return it..but all these things could be different.

Been nesting a bit today which always worries me lol as im not usually good at clearing out wardrobes and cupboards etc!!!

josey - very useful info there, thanks I'm also rh- and didn't realise that about weekends, will make sure this is covered when we chat. Oh, and gas and home insurance - I'm not sure what gets left with me here but will make sure I know all about that too I've been nesting like mad the last week or 2, hence me being even quieter than normal (as all spare time has been spent sorting, washing etc. ds's old baby clothes, moving furniture about, cleaning cupboards etc. I'm also NOT like this at all (apart from normal cleaning have do due to my job but I hate it and wouldn't normally choose to!). I keep trying to explain to dh that the nesting urge can take over and I just can't help it! lol

Right, really am off to bed now. Back hurt so was leaning over birthing ball but going to go up now so catch up soon.

G43 with you on the Nurofen infact that will be something Im asking the MW can they supply me something at home for the afterpains they were hellish last time so gawd knows how awful they will be this time. Will use arnica though as does help with a battered fanjo

Upsidedowncake - you might have the answer there on the protein - I'm vegetarian!! Will eat lentils and chickpeas and tofu before the next test next week. Hee hee, might have a good side effect too!

Greenfairy - arnica spray, perfect use of bold there and I really want to get some now!

Goingforthree - natural to some extent...I think I'm more of a combination to be honest. Herbalism has worked for me in the past when conventional medicine didn't (and it was a hormone thing, so birth + hormones...makes sense). I'm not natural on pain relief - dead keen on an epidural, and wondering whether codeine is allowed in the early stages (and afterwards when/if I'm breastfeeding and bruised) because I had it when I broke my foot and it was good .

Sorry, hadn't finished but the phone went!

Slight problem - tonight I put on my jeans so that I could wash my one pair of linen maternity trousers. Jeans were clean on, not ironed , but, shock horror, rather tight on the thighs!
Now, I know it's not diet time, but I've not really been gaining masses of weight (I've been too sick!) but should I be getting bigger in the thigh area now - or should I give up on the snacking (it ain't fruit )?

Please, jeans, be shrunk in the wash!

rolf Antonia is a lovely name, my neice is one although everyone who knows her calls her annie, my sister didn't like toni either.

Wow, lots of homeopathy going on. I'm with greenfairy had stitches last time and didn't touch them and they healed really quickly and I didn't have much pain.

g43 thanks for the arnica tip. I didn't know that about not using it on broken skin so you have saved me from myself! Am sure it'll come in handy at some point anyway.

looney Good luck with your HB visit. Am going to go through my birth plan with MW and also see if a particular student MW at my clinic who I've really clicked with may be able to attend when I deliver. She has just the attitude I'm looking for, but am not really sure how feasible it is - always worth asking I guess and no doubt she needs to attend HB as part of her training [wishful thinking emoticon]
Apart from that I guess we'll discuss practical stuff like where the pool will go and who provides what and I guess I'll get some gas and air maybe?

Will let you know how it goes - she's coming at 3ish.

Night all - hope you're sleeping debs and gemma!

essie my jeans are always tighter when I don't iron them. Try ironing - bet they're looser.
Fwiw, my thighs have definitely grown a bit, but it'll fall off afterwards so I wouldn't worry about it!

Right, now really am off to bed. Bad backache tonight - going to find out about local pregnancy yoga classes tomorrow which I hope will help.

Morning all - no breakfasts today yay.

Green Fairy - your student MW should jump at the chance of coming, I knwo a girl who had her second at home and had a student MW, they really take all the opportunities they can get.

Ernest - sorry I'd gone to bed! I've no real clue about the sizing as I've not seen a size 2 before. What about just going with your t-shirt size? I would never get an XS t-shirt, which is what the size 2 is listed at, would you be more likely to buy an XS or a M size?