Due in June - Creme eggs are long gone and our own eggs have started to hatch. Who will be next?

[Upsidedowncake]

We are two down and have another 30-40 to go. Makecakes and Gemma have probably popped by now, then G43! It's all happening!!!!!

Conversation between my DH and a Friend's DH (DH2) who has just had 2nd baby days ago:-

DH: "Congratulations, how did it go?"
DH2: "Oh fine, but they had to call me out of a (cricket) match when she went into labour"
DH: "Oh no, you weren't in bat were you?"
DH2: "No it was alright- I was fielding by then"

I echo that peartart.....

my DP "What was the birth like with your first son?"

friends DP "It was amazingly messy and at the end of it, the room smelt like the giraffe house at Twycross Zoo"

Hospital appointment - had a scan by the unfriendliest sonographer ever, who instead of reassuring me about the baby just berated us for not speaking more German than we do. She continued to speak very fast and made no allowances at all. Not a nice experience.

Then talked to a young Dr who had been in the room at the time and he was really nice , I apologised for my German and he said it was fine.

So then I went up to the labour ward to have monitor put on to listen to heartbeat - 1st time we've heard it this pregnancy, chatted to a really lovely MW (in English) about the birth,previous births, pain relief etc... She said that they like births to be as active as possible. I said I'd like to try again for a water birth so she showed us the room and it was great, bed, various cushions, medical things hidden away, and a birthing pool, also en-suite .

So, I've come away feeling more relaxed about the birth but I don't have another appointment until 6th June - day before my due date . And on the way home I realised that they hadn't checked blood pressure - thought that was the norm! So I feel quite happy, she said she didn't think baby would be early , but I hope he comes before my next appointment so that I don't have to see scary sonographer.

Ernest -

Sorry you're still itching - what did the skin Dr say?

Birth certificate - we get an Austrian one, I have a big list of documents we have to take in to hospital for the registration. Then we go to the consular for a British passport. When baby is born we also have to go to the foreign police before getting babies e-card, and we have to show proof that we have the means to support ourselves here. Which is quite ridiculous as we are already residents here in Austria and being a part of the EU we shouldn't have to do this but apparently it's the new rules.

Hi to everyone else, sorry to hear about dh's being a pain - they all seem to be in their own way.

Makecakes - huge congratulations, she's lovely!

Deb - at the sonographer! Glad the labour ward looked good though.

My mw appointment was fine today - although slightly weird mw! Monster is in a good position - let's hope he stays that way.

Laura - new ice cream place sounds fab, deffo one to check out when I'm on mat leave! We need the calcium!

Makecakes - CONGRATULATIONS. CJ is beautiful and what lovely names. Well done . So pleased for you.

Essie - DH was on one of the HL cases that The Times reported yesterday. So not exactly beaming out of the spreadsheet but I'm very excited nontheless. He does a funny mixture of general chancery/commercial, pensions and proceeds of crime (the HL case was proceeds of crime).

On our Seldon Society newsletter (doing paperwork today) there was something about the speaker at their AGM in the summer - sounded very like your subject area. I BET it's you - is it?

Deb - glad you're feeling happier about the hospital.

My liver function tests came back normal, thank goodness. Off to the hospital soon - I'm putting off going as I'm really tired. I was going to go to town on the way to get DS1's First Communion clothes but just don't know if I can face it.

lol at all the dopey DHs . I was rambling at DH last night about the blood tests and he just didn't get it. Eventually he said - but does any of that stop us having a baby? Honestly!

Hahaha, Rolf, yes, you've tracked me down! I am the Selden Society speaker! Ah, such a small world.
The whole talk hinges on the baby being (a) not late, (b) well, and me in a good state. But it's written!

Makecakes - Huge congratulations. What lovely photos and name. You don't look at all knackered, just extremely proud and protective of littel CJ.

Well DS disgraced himself at the clinic. He had to have the Hib booster and MMR booster. The first one he just said ouch, but then he watched the 2nd go in and screamed the place down. Wouldn't mind but MIL helps out at the baby clinic and was in there with us and the nurse and she'd been singing his praises to the nurse about what a brave boy he was etc etc and then he literally screamed the place down. Still took him to Maccy D's for something to eat and now he is sat on the sofa watching Roary feeling really sorry for himself - typical man!

Debs sorry about you sonographer.

Ernest any news on your rash yet?

Who will be next to pop?

Gemma any news on your possible induction?

No news from TGF yet either!

LOL on the conversation between 2 DH's and being disturbed during a cricket match. Reckon that could happen with me. Must show it to DH later, but obviously not the posts where I;ve been moaning about him.

Congrats makecakes.

Sorry about your appointment deb.

Just back from ante-natal class which overran by nearly and hour! Both DH and I starving!!! And we have the last NCT class tonight so ante-natal overload for us.

Have a good afternoon everyone.

How about Splodgesmum - is she also missing???

I want a baby now! I had a dream last night that my baby came, and I tucked him up in my bed between the pillows (!) and just stared at him - he had black hair and smiled all the time.

Isn't a day a long time without a toddler or a job to deal with?! So far today I have dropped ds off, dropped car off to be valeted, quick trip to supermarket for a few bits, tottered home via the bus (took a LONG time with my sore pelvis and back), arranged a chiropractor appt for this afternoon, done and hung up a load of washing and some washing up, vacuumed living room (OK so Roomba vacuumed living room but I still had to set it up - does that count? ), prepped bathroom for Roombaing, done loads of mumsnetting and email, eaten, listened to birth prep hypnosis CD, slept, picked up NON-valeted car with more slow tottering (the car valet guy was injured by a horse last night and couldn't do it - bugger, that was my special treat! He will do it next week if I'm available and he's recovered), planned another piece of writing, and ripped post-natal hypnosis CD to mp3 player - and it's only just gone 2! And I feel like I've had a good rest!! Loving this maternity leave business it'll be a shock when I have ds all day tomorrow though!

Systems addictm very jealous of all your achievements.

Today is a very long day ... very whingey mummy coming up. DS is miserable, and nothing is right.

He wants me to go away, to come bcak, to rub his back, to rub his back again and again and again. I couldn't get him to drink anything ... until I made up some chocolate milk. He's had about 8oz of it, and some Medised and seems to have calmed down somewhat.

I keep on telling myself that this high-maintenance bit is all good practice for having a newborn.

oh my so many new posts again.

A big hooray and congratulations for Makescake, her DP/DH and little Cecily. You both look absolutely gorgeous and not one bit tired.

Ernest Sorry about the continuing rash. I hope the skin doctor cracks it!

U/cake your poor poor DS. It so miserable when they are unwell, you just want to cup them into your harms and take the pain away don't you?

I went for my booking in appointment at the nice hospital with my second IMW. Both seemed to be of opinion that hospital would probably be best because of Group B Strep. I am really glad I changed hospital thought. The consultant was absolutely lovely, she really took time to answer my list of questions, was very approachable and not one bit patronising and she agreed to me having a water birth and wrote so on my notes which means the MW won't be able to tell me I can't because of hospital policies etc... Then we went round the labour ward again because there were a few things I wanted to check again. They weren't too busy and showed me round again and the MW who showed us round was lovely lovely again and took time to explain everything, answer questions. I then went to see another two people all lovely. So even if I have to go to hospital,I feel much reassured and am so so glad to go there.

With regards to my DH, I am blessed with one of the "put your feet up darling" type of husbands, except when he is very busy at work. The icing on the cake is that my husband doesn't like any sport! Doesn't play and doesn't watch any and I am sooo grateful for that!!

I am having a bit of a medical day today. After the hospital this morning, I have to go for the doctor for DD. She is in pain because her "bottom and her weewee hurts" (UTI?) and her eczema flared up last night and she was in a lot of pain. I also have to go for me (TMI alert) for bleeding piles whick prevented me from sleeping last night!!

No news from GF perhaps she is next?

Makecakes welcome to the club!!! Huge congrats, the pic is lovely - of you and CJ. Here's to many happy days and nights (good luck with the nights!!)

Theo and Esther have actually slept better the last two nights, they had been very restless between midnight and 3am-ish and my sister suggested a try Infacol. So I did and they slept wonderfully. I have also started putting them to bed upstairs after their 7pm feed. I didn't think the lights and TV downstairs were a good nighttime routine so I am putting them down in their cot and it has worked well. I think if I had just one baby I'd be reluctant to 'abandon' it upstairs but cos they have each other I am always leaving them on their own.

We tend to sleep in till 9.30am, then I change and feed them and have a couple of hours where they stay in their cot and I have a shower and potter around sorting washing etc. Then I bring them downstairs at about midday, give them a bath and feed them again - and they go back to sleep!

I have even put them in cloth nappies for the first time today. I only have enough terries for one day - I have loads of totbots and onelife nappies too but they are too small to go in them yet - so I am just going to do today with the terries, put them in disposables tonight and wash the terries and then start again tomorrow. It is going well so far but obviously it is a bit more hard work than dispaosables but I am sure the more I use them the easier it will be.

LOL at Peartart's cricket story - men, don't you just love them?

When Theo was born, my DH turned away toward to window - the MW thought it was cos he was about to be sick. He confessed later it was actually cos he was crying. Bless!

I went out to the shop with the pram yesterday - very exciting.. but I need a parasol.

Can anybody recommend a good one?

When I say the twins slept wonderfully, I don't mean all night! They slept from 10.30, waking at 1.30 and 5.30 - which I think is pretty good!

Not so good last night - Esther fed a lot until 2am but I think that is because she didn't feed so well in the day. She is doing better today.

Gosh Neenz, you are an inspiration. I mean, you have two! I'm at a loss as to how I'll cope with one!

What is Infacol?

Hello!

Just got back from MW appointment & shopping, apparently baby has its head down but is back to back, so I'm currently on all fours typing this (v. uncomfortable)willing the baby to turn around!

Went shopping into Manchester & managed to spend over £100 in Boots - I'm still unsure what the heck costs that much!! My feet are killing me & have swollen up so I'm thinking today is defo a sitting on the sofa / on all fours - although I have to admit it actually hurts a little - maybe it's the typing!

Anyone got any other positions for turning the baby?

UDCake your poor ds. Medised is wonderful stuff - we don't use it often but I would never be without it in the house, there are times it is essential!

Neenz I'm so impressed at how well you are doing with the twins. I am definitely planning to put this one to bed from 7pm from early on. I didn't with ds1, thought it seemed too cruel to leave him on his own, and it was a big mistake! It took us till about 8 months before I realised he needed to learn to get to sleep on his own in his cot, and needed an early bedtime - we were both much happier from then on! (Of course I say that now but maybe this one will have terrible colic or something and I will have a velcro baby from 5pm-midnight ...!)

Essie Infacol is for colic, you give them a little before feeds if they get windy - worth having some in in advance, as a lot of people find it helps and it's safe from birth I think.

Hello im back

Makecakes-congratulations. LO is lovely

Ernst- Has it been hot over there lately? Could be hives or something heat related? Hope you get it sorted soon. Re passport etc i thinking same thing, you can apply for British passport with the countries birth certificate you just have to register birth at local consulate. you can also apply for british birth cet however it is expensive and i still have to look into whether it is necessary for anything.

Debs - sorry sonographer was horrible but hospital sounds nice

Needhand - hope you both get sorted and have to say im blessed with one of those DP too.

Well re me: all fine
At monitors heartbeat good
Blood tests and BP with dr fine (have damaged kidney from reflux op when i was a baby so checked out lots and could be why have high BP)
Nurse from monitors couldnt tell where baby was but as i was lying there my obstretician comes in after a shift in the labour ward last night, so she has a feel and she thinks................................................ baby is head down!!!!!! Will have to check when go tomorrow on scan and she is still moving round loads so lets hope she is and stays that way too!

well off to have a siesta as completly shattered appt for dr was at 10.45 i got seen at 12.50!!! so didnt get home til bout 2

Either on all fours like you are or on your knees, bum in the air put your forearms flat on the floor and rest your head on them. Also try a sitting on a birth ball as much as you can if you have one.

Systemsaddict - thanks!
I'm also interested in the sleeping business. DH reckons we should try to put the boy in his own little cot from the start if poss although we're not set in stone on that and will see how things pan out with feeds etc. Is this a shocking thing to do? (I won't be putting the baby between my pillows like in my dream!)

previous post was for Lorhetta's benefit

We had DD in our bedroom in a cribe until she was 2/3 months old. Then we put her in her bedroom. First night we put her in her bedroom she slept through the night!

Thanks Needahand I think I'll get DH to blow up the ball as I think it might be more comfy!

Thanks Needahand I think I'll get DH to blow up the ball as I think it might be more comfy!

Essie no it's absolutely not shocking to think about putting baby to sleep in their cot. Sleep is one of those issues that raises lots of hackles on MN and in RL but I really feel there is no single 'right' way to do it. It is recommended to have them in your room for the first few months, but this recommendation is just one of many factors that you will be considering, and as you say, things often pan out differently to what you expect anyway. My best mate planned to have her baby sleep in his own room from 7pm from day one - but they were both much happier co-sleeping, and are still co-sleeping, happily and successfully, eight months down the line! Whereas I really wanted to co-sleep but dp thought it dangerous, so we have a small bedside co-sleeper crib as a compromise. It's all a process of experimentation as to what works best for your family.

The only thing I wished someone had said to me in advance was that it can make life easier if the baby can learn to go to sleep on their own, once in a while, wherever they sleep - ie not fed, rocked, cuddled or sung to absolute sleep, but put down when still slightly awake. Ds was fed to sleep pretty much every time for the first few months and did end up frequently waking in the night, as each time he woke up he needed me to settle him, it wasn't till he learned to settle himself that he started to sleep longer. But then I'm not sure I would have wanted to give up a single one of those early, milky, sleepy times ...