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?!?!?!?!

upsidedowncake, I'm based in berkshire - how about you? And, no, you weren't the only one with a filthy mind!

dramaqueen, I had alot of stretch marks in my 20s cos I put on a stack of weight in a very short space of time. I think the took about 6 months to fade to silvery and now you can only see them when you look closely. Advantage being of course is that during pg I've developed no new ones!

I was going to say, with the bf, you just need to suck it and see . . . sorry, very bad joke!!

I agree with breastfeeding marathons. Frankly though I didn't feel much like visitors so pulling a boob out was quite a good way of making people go away!

Thanks folks. I had a feeling you were going to say bf took a while. Suck it and see, indeed splodge .

Thoughts on dealing with visitors in hospital? Hoping wont actually be in very long (early discharge is top of my birth plan - or it will be when I write it) but worry that GPs come for first look at new grandchild just as said grandchild needs feeding? Would be awful to send them away, but equally awful having them hanging around when trying to figure out bf'ing? Dont know why I've suddenly started worrying about this. (Anything to avoid thinking about my exam I think!).

Envy your lack of stretchmarks splodge. I thought I'd escaped them but only really got them in the last week . WAatch out they dont catch you out when you least expect them . Evil buggers. DH says he cant even notice them. Bless. He's a rubbish liar.

Morning all. Thanks for advice. Will send ds3 to the playgroup. WIll consider cm too, maybe take him 1 or 2 to see. Unfortunately, as ds1 & 2 in IS, their school holidays vastly different to what ds3 will be in German system, eg ds1 & 2 no holidays now till summer & break up end June. Ds3 about to have 2 weeks' holiday (well, if he were in anything he'd have hol), then doesn't break up till end July - so a whole month overlap.

dh appeared, grr, so might have to go.

boys had good 1st day school, - ds 2 class coincidentally had a 'ball' so he seemed to spend most of the pm eating chocolate and dancing, so no compliants from him. In fact, when I went to collect, they all wanted to go to the playground, and took me half an hour to prise them away, then spent ages stuck in traffic.

Sorry for the stretch mark sufferers - I'm 1 month from the end of 4th pg and so far none, so really hoping I get away with it, but been crap this time about creaming up, so wouldn't be surprised. Just too busy.

Neenz - how are you doing today? Try not to look too far ahead, esp when labour kicks in. Just take it each chunk of time at a time and focus on getting through that sanity intact.
My washing machine seems to be behaving and am seeing a cleaning woman on Thursday, so domesticity is rearing it's head

Good morning, wow Ernest - now you're moved and settled you're competing for the 1st spot of the day!! Glad the boys enjoyed their 1st day, bugger about the overlap of the terms. Glad you've made a decision about ds3, and good news about the washer/cleaner -saviours for domestic harmony!! But no stretch marks -

Dramaqueen - If the bfeeding is worrying you see if dh can let you know rough times of in-laws visits then try and get baby fed beforehand if possible. Getting baby latched on is the trickiest bit when you might need boob exposed, so visitors could avert their gaze(which most people do, especially men) or pop out for some chocolate reserves for you from the hospital shop.Then when they return baby will be latched on and happily feeding and you will have covered up bits you don't want to show!! Luckily I just had dh visiting when with ds1 a very forthright MW climbed onto the bed with me to get baby and boob intimate. Her method worked though!!
Good luck with the studying today.

Rolf - lol at the gift bag(or so you thought) from the prison - wonder what sort of things there'd be in a virtual prison gift shop

Sophie - Enjoy the peace and quiet without guests

Upsidedown - don't know if I have pregnancy eczema - but I do have 2 patches on my shoulders which came after I wore a nightie with thin straps and I think that irritated them - they're still red and itchy every now and then.As for the spots - don't know what they are but no new ones this morning.

Busy day here - shopping, ds2's speech therapy, then looking at the hotel where sil wants to get married to check the room etc...

neenz - my cascade of intervention didn't happen - we stopped at the first step and another friend of mine had the same experience. I'm sure that sometimes interventions can escalate, but the majority of the time they don't, so don't panic or worry too much! (Else they'd go straight to the c-section and not bother with the in-between!). I'm way more relaxed about interventions this time - because we're not expecting the worst the minute we deviate from natural birth.

bitofadramaqueen - my DS tended to breastfeed for a maximum of about 20 minutes when we were in the hospital, if I remember correctly, but often they'll just go for 5 minutes if your milk hasn't come in yet (first few days after birth). It actually is pretty easy to breastfeed discretely once you get started, you could simply ask them to leave while you get set up (cover up with a muslin, it can help to have an extra pair of hands to arrange pillows at first) and then they wouldn't see anything. They are very unlikely to see nipple in any case, as you've got the baby right there. I'm more concerned about flashing my jelly-belly, but that's what bump bands are for!

Also - I'd be concerned about the state of my nipples if I let my newborn suck on for hours! I had a rough time last time and really recommend the lansinoh nipple cream (not any other kind). Bring a tube to the hospital and put it on after each feed.

Neenz- Good luck for today, hope it all goes well.

I can remember saying to my DH a couple of months ago "Look I haven't got any stretchmarks at all", famous last words, next thing I knew my tummy looked like a tiger with sunburn! Not too worried though as I already had loads that I got during puberty and once they had faded I never noticed them.

Last 4 days at work now, we are planning to go away for a couple of days beginning of next week as well so looking forward to that.

It's a lovely day here, shame to be at work!

Neenz - more good wishes from here.

what a lovely morning, may just sit outside and read.

Someone please tell me that it's perfectly acceptable to have cravings for crisps before 9am in the morning

There's been so much talk over the last few days that I don't know where to start on the responses. Probably just easier to say hi to everyone, including the newbies and that I hope all the aches, pains and illness has disappeared over the weekend for everyone else. Except Neenz I guess as she is probably welcoming every twinge and hoping it's the real thing. Go Neenz, Go!!!!

Morning all,thanks for all the bf comments. Have no idea why I've started worrying about this! I've got some lansinoh cream so I'll make sure that goes in the hospital bag.

at your lack of stretchmarks Ernest. I started off well re: lotions and potions but I read so many articles etc that said that ultimately, stretchmarks were down to genetics I didn't bother maintaining it. I also got loads in puberty so figure I am genetically pre-disposed to them. Grrrr. ktpie my puberty ones have faded too, so I know these ones will. I just hate the way they pop up overnight! You should have seen the state of me in the shower when I spotted them - then I was trying to check out any other hidden locations - not a pretty sight .

Although, trying to cut my toenails wihtout squashing the baby yesterday was probably more amusing... Definitely getting a pedicure booked in now.

Right, breakfast and then need to hit the books. Have a good day everyone. Makecakeshope all well with you.

Good morning, everyone.

Lovely sunny day - shame that I actually have some work to do, and my appraisal. What a wimp,eh? DH's chairman has arrived in Oz and announced the details of the merger so DH is expecting all hell to break loose when he arrives at the office.

Ernest, glad washing machine OK now and that schools went fine.

Debs, pregnancy excema (sp?) apparently very common with girls, and aggravated by contact. Mine is dying in the sunshine, but was really uncomfortable for a while.

Spoldge, , you'll keep us in stitches. We're in Wandsworth - I wondered if you were in London as it sounded like you had a good NCT group.

Josie, perhaps you need salt or fat? Mmmm. What kind are you hAving?

Rolf, LOL, prison gift bag!

Makecakes, hope everything goes well for you today. Am keeping fingers crossed.

No news yet today from Neenz ...

heloo peopleeee i had a shock last night! my boobs have staarted leaking i had to keep wiping it nightmare seems strange seeing them leaking like that i know its normal but hey first time mom here so its all new to me lol sounds sad but oh well.. nice day here today im nesting haha preparing stuff ready and sorting baby clothes. i feel like when i do one thing another crops up and im just never going to be ready for the babys birth. i have a scan at antenatal today at 34 weeks i have them every 2 weeks because im diabetic but i love it i get to see me baba often.. im feeling pressure on me pubic bone and it stings sometimes any one else having this problem?? hope ur all feeling well i managed to finally sleep last night! xxxxxxxxxxx

Morning all,

Just caught up from the weekend - welcome to all newbies and good luck to Neenz.

Went to a friends BBQ yesterday and was treated like Lady Muck - not allowed to get my own drinks or food - and was waited on hand and foot! It was lovely.

Only 3 weeks left of work and I am interviewing someone this afternoon to take over my position - I hope she is good, because I really can't be bothered to do a whole heap of interviews!

nettiehay- I will miss all the special treatment us pregnant folk get. I went to a family thing last week and the big comfy chair had been saved for me. However, I wont miss the constant 'how are you keeping'...

Good luck with the interview today. Fingers crossed. My mat cover has already been working for over a month so I'm quite lucky on that score.

Good god you lot can talk. Has taken me ages to catch up - but that was also becuase I started reading one of the old threads and it took me 5 pages to realise that all the comments were dated April. Definite preg head day today.

Neenz - best of luck. I was one of those people who had intervention after intervention following an induction, but didn't get as far as a CS. Found an epidural very helpful and then really didn't care what happened to me.

On the BF front (scuse the pun), the latching on thing does take a bit of getting used to. Big piece of advice, do not, whatever you do, just leave the babe on the boob for hours - I did this and have a permanently knackered right nipple which never fully recovered and meant that DS always preferred the left one which then produced more milk to compensate and as a result was always bigger than the other one. Made shopping for clothes post natally, very difficult, not helped by my mother proclaiming very loudly the fact to the whole shop.

Only 4 days left at work - thank god. Am going to take it very easy and gently hand over clients and clear my desk. Can't wait to be at home, espec. now the weather appears to have turned. .

Hello all- finally back from the hospital, hurrah!!! Thought for one horrid moment that they were going to make me stay but BP has come down and after 40 mins monitoring babycakes (her heartrate was very quick) they let me come home, as I only have ten days to go anyhow, and will visit me to check. I'm absoutely exhausted though...had to laugh as when I checked over my notes the mw had put I was experiencing good Braxton Hicks (she deduced this from monitoring). I wasn't aware I was having any, and am still none thwe wiser about what they feel like!!!!

Can't believe how organised you are Ernest...

Hope the hotel is nice Debs...maybe you could add wedding planning to your business if SIL all works out well?

And who mentioned stretch marks? Have been trying to deny their existence for weeks but now that my trousers magically roll down over le bump and the tops magically roll up, I can't avoid them. Grrr.

Oh, and evrything crossed for Neenz.....lots of positive vibes

Morning
i am here ! Busy day yesterday blood tests, monitors, swimming and then shopping and then i passed out in bed til 6pm dh cooked dinner watched tv and then bed!!!

This am been busy finishing hospital bag now how everything in it except mobile phone and its downstairs next to DPs who has actually packed one!!!!HIMSELF!
Thought best to get all ready as had another scare on Sat night BP shot up, this time had a lie down and it went down, so thought better get all ready as only 4/5 weeks to go.

Now im writing list of contact numbers and burning a labour cd!!! Yep in my hospital you can put on any music you like so all through pregnancy ive been listening to certain songs and LO kicks at them so got them on my mp3 for pain relief!!! (haha) and on cd for delivery room. I must say think im strange in someways as id prefer it not to be quite, think some MW ans Drs going to be surprised bout choice of music!!!

Morning all,

DD2 has stopped being sick and is very happy to chill out in front of the tv which means a nice peaceful day for me.

I'm gettting fed up of my braxton hicks here, some of them are really toe curling and I just wish I either didn't have any or they would turn into labour!! Just over 3 weeks left whioch really isn't ong especially if it turns up 2 weeks early. Everything is ready and I have wriitn my list of emergency phone numbers which was the last thing I had to do.

Para what music are you putting on? If dp had his way we would have Nine inch nails, metalica and queens of the stone age - I'm going for silence as I can't bear noise whn I feel irriatable which I am bound to be when I'm hot and sweaty in pain!!!

Neenz - how are you ?

Makecakes - glad you're home again, sounds like your bp is calming down too. Did you feel your bump get hard when the mw said you were having a BH contraction? Off to the hotel soon, we know it's lovely but just not sure how private the wedding will be as they don't have a separate function room.

Paro sounds like it's best for you to be so organised with another scare for you, rest now.

Mellymell, only 4 days left of work - lucky you

Aberdeen - I have my lansinoh packed!!

Ktpie - we're hoping to get away next week too, it's Mother's day here on Sunday so I'd like to go away then!

Josie - how were the crisps? I just had to buy custard filled doughnuts today even though I'm the only one who likes them!

Dramaqueen - how's the studying going?

Upsidedown - how did the appraisal go?

Paro - I am also curious on your choice of music. Is it going to be heavy metal in order to drown out your shrieks of anger at your DH during contractions. It'll certainly make a change from whale song which must drive all the midwives mad.

Have been listening to the natal hypnotherapy tapes - god the woman's voice is irritating and she says the most stupid stuff about being relaxed is very 'beneficial' - of course it bloody is, but if she says it again in her poncy voice, I'm going to scream. Find listening to DS's winnie the pooh tapes (read by Alan Bennett) much more relaxing - might take those into hopsital instead!

makecakesnotwar - yeah! glad your results from the doctors were good!

I got waited on a bit by friends without kids this weekend and it was lovely. My friend did most of the jumping up after DS and I really really appreciated it! It's one of the first times anyone has given me that kind of help!

I've told DH to bring whatever music he wants as last time I have no recollection of what he played at all (although I do remember him jumping up to change the CD). But he promised to bring stuff I like anyways.

Hehe! yep im afraid i couldnt stand any whale music or hypnobirthing cds if they speak silly and say things like relax, think.... No offense to anyone using these but its just not me!

When i study i study with music full blast and it always relaxes me after hard day so... here is my choice!!! and i havent paid attention really to words or titles just songs i like and have listened to throught pregnancy

How to save a life - The Fray
Canon Rock (pachebel canon electric guitar) - JerryC
You are my Joy - The reindeer selection
Who knew - Pink
Tell me baby - Red hot chilli peppers
In the shadows - The rasmus
Manda un señal - Mana
Le Roi du monde - (from french Romeo and Juilette)
Het is een nacht - Guus Meeuwis
About you now - Sugababes
Look after you - The fray
Holding me back - The deltarays( freinds group from Nottingham)
Antes que ver el sol - Coti y el canto del loco
Fallen leaves - Billy Talent
Als de morgen is gekomen - Jan Smit
Seul Garoe
Somebody told me - The killers
What it is - Mark Knopfler
Wat zou je doen - Marco Borsato
All or nothing - Westlife
Brabant - Guus Meeuwis
Everything - Michael Buble
Angels - Robbie williams
Us against the world - Westlife
High - Lighthouse family
Free Falling - Tom Petty

and apologies to everyone I didn't respond to - I'm way behind on mumsnet and at work and keep forgetting to comment on what everyone says.

studying going so so deb. TBH will be glad when its over. At least I'm not stressing about the exam (which I normally do). Obviously my body knows that I'vegot more important things to worry about just now...

Dont know if its the weather or being pregnant but I've got a real thing for ice cream at the moment. Ate loads of the stuff over the last couple of days. I even had some for lunch the other day! .

I've been wondering about music too - dont like too much 'gentle' stuff but not sure my usual tastes appropriate! DH loves classical so I wont be leaving the playlist in his hands.

makecakes glad you ok and upsidedowncake hope appraisal all went well.

Back to studying. Oooh, I'd love a Mr Whippy from the ice cream van but not allowed .

bit of a drama queen - look at my post above!!! i suppose some of my tastes arent normal birthing stuff but they keep me happy!!