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!!!!!

Hello all, I am also not yet showered...Hurrah for maternity leave!
ernest I would second laura's suggestion of an antihistamine; from memory most of them are fine in pregnancy, but may make yu a bit sleepy.
TGF I am in a similar situation re:breech.I have an ECV booked for next week. Previously thought moxibustion was a load of hocus pocus, but then found a scientific paper showing a very slight benefit..so if the ECv doesn't work I think I will give it a go. With regards to vaginal breech delivery, its a bit of a dilemma. The research that changed practice ie all breech's having c-section was The Term Breech Trial, published in 2000. Since publication it has been found not to be as scientificaly robust as first thought. The current recommendations from the royal college of obstetricians is in a green paper on their website, basically it says that ECV should be attempted and if unsuccessful c-section has better outcomes for the baby (although not by much), and vaginal birth better for mum. I initially was very much for a vaginal birth (DH very against), and consultant is willing if certain factors right (smallish baby, 5cm dilated on arrival in hosptal and head flexed). However then I read about if the head doesn't remain flexed (baby gets stuck, baby dies) sorry if TMI. This obviously scared the shit out of me..so still don't know what to do...

whinegums - thanks for the tips. I just went to the chemist (sat nav still not working, great, but managed to find it). Anyway, the cream that the horrid doc prescribed cost £20 !!! I thought it seemd a lot when I paid (still not used to euros). and not surprisingly, no difference to the itching That's now the 4th thing I've tried, and nothing's made a difference, except putting cold cloth on it. I tried to get yoghurt, but should it be live? The germans certainly like their dairy, cos there's row after row of yoghurts, but not spotted a full on live one, would be happy to try that.

Am still with dh. Must say, when someone's upset me I find it really difficult to switch off from it. Told my sil about it this morning and it made me cry just recounting it, it was so bloody stressful

Rolf, fascinating reading, how've I got to this age and not heard about St Agatha?

allipalli, sorry about your cleaner hassles, if she's through an angency, hopefully they'll send you a good, and reliable replacement asap

Morning all

debs Don't overdo the flooring!

ernest sorry you are still itchy you poor lady. So unfair!

neenz my friends who use reusables also swear by dry pailing

Re the saints names rolf, am now going to tell DH we should call our daughter 'William of York'

everyone else thanks for the continuing good wishes - you guys are amazing and really make me feel so supported. Have got an appointment with the breech friendly consultant at Bath but can't see him til JUNE 2 (will be 38+5) but have spoken to Bath hospital MW and she said if I go into labour before then to just come in and they'll do their best for me. Have got new birth plan sorted - extremely detailed and specific, so at least our daughter will experience the benefits of labour even if I do end up needing a CS.
Am going to keep trying to turn her until the end of this week and then stop, as it brings on strong contractions and really want to see consultant before labour - don't want to kick start it accidentally!

Found a paper written by the Bath consultant when I was online at 5am today which says exactly what I wanted to hear about not giving up on vaginal breech delivery so I feel like he's the man for me!

Anyhoo, off to do washing up.

aberdeen re mat leave, I've tried to do chores in the morning and then have 'me time;' in the afternoon, including knitting, gardening, shopping, reading and sleeping, if that helps?

Maternity leave?

don't think guests would be too impressed if I served breakfast in PJ/s but never mind.

pyjamarama Re the TBT, agree with everything you've said, but some other points for you to consider about it which I've found while researching:
(1)After adjustment to exclude women who had prolonged labour, induction or augmentation, epidural, or no skilled/ experienced clinicians at the birth, the TBT results for vaginal and CS birth were similar.
(2) The long term effects contradict the short term ones - long term health of CS breech babies is compromised compared to vaginal breeches.
(3) Effect on future pregnancies and maternal health effectively cancels out benefits of CS on current pregnancy (although I find it hard to get my head round that - not planning more children)

It's breech extraction which seems to complicate vaginal breech birth. By that I mean labour on back, epidural, forceps, epi etc etc, which is the way many hospitals have 'managed' breech deliveries. All breeches are slightly more risky but the results for unassisted breech birth on all fours are just as good as CS.

Mary Cronk (nationally renowned MW with expertise in breech) says women who want to try for vaginal breech birth should go for as natural a labour as possible and if they fail to progress should basically move straight to CS, rather than trying to extract the baby.

Also, if the baby's bum is coming out she says heads do not get stuck as birth canal already stretched - if the head is not flexed they can put two fingers inside you and tuck the baby's chin in.

Re moxibustion, it can work - our baby tries to turn after every attempt, and I get contractions each time as well, but it depends how much room you've got for LO to move. I'd give it a go. Our baby is trying to turn again right now, and I last did moxa last night. Before I started moxa she hadn't shifted for weeks but this is her 4th attempt in 48 hours. It's worth a go but doesn't work for everyone - did nothing for a friend of mine at all.

So, I would go with whatever your instinct is telling you. I understand why most women would be happy with elective CS, but it really isn't for me...

Well, I'm now up and dressed and ready to go...with nowhere to go! Still waiting for my delivery of plants (really want to plant them now - my days are quite empty and these little things excite me!) and really want to finish the paper I'm writing but can't really concentrate with my cleaner here. MW appointment after lunch.

Sophie normally I would happily greet people in my pyjamas but strangely now that I'm pregnant - and good and proper preggers too - it seems like TMI! A great time to suddenly become shy...

Hm, might phone the plant company. Again!

Hey Paro - you're late!! I need another lumbering pregnant woman to keep me company whilst dh lays the flooring and I move very slowly on all fours round the room trying to look useful!

Ernest - sorry you're still scratching, must be awful but at least the weather's cool which is a blessing.

Needahand - is this what you wanted?

AberdeenH - how about a trip to the cinema, swimming pool, out for lunch - relish eating hot food with 2 hands!!

Sophie, yes we have guests on Saturday and one of their bedrooms is painted but with only half a floor laid, furniture still needs putting back and then that room and another need cleaning and getting ready. Did 1 bathroom and a kitchen this morning. My maternity leave starts on Sunday when the guests are here - suppose I'll still have to get dressed in case they need something but they're self catering so I won't have much to do, they're in for 2 weeks so I'm hoping that when it comes to them going I'll be in hospital and dh and mil will have to do the cleaning, washing etc... before the next guests arrive - 12th June.

Just a quickie - Sybil, I got a hotsling from here: www.naturalconnection.co.uk/

No idea how we'll get on with it, but it arrived within a couple of days of ordering and seemed reasonably priced...

Hope you're all having a good day, will try and catch up properly later. Roll on maternity leave!

Thanks for the feedback on names everyone, I really like Agatha too & Agnes but I keep thinking of that cleaning woman on C4, Aggie and it kind of puts me off a little bit!

Just had MW round & she was really reassuring in regards to my birth plan & delivery. She's given me lots of leaflets that I'm going to sit here & read over lunch!

does anyone else feel like whilst they are off they should be doing loads of things, like cleaning etc, only I keep thinking that every time my DH comes home I show him I've done something... is that weird? He's certain not put any pressure on for me to do anything!

Ps my husband isn't Dutch, just an English gent that doesn't want his v. hairy wife showing him up!!

I'm still in my pj's as pram still hasn't been delivered. . I bet it comes at 5pm (delivery is somewhere between 8am and 5pm).

Hate it when that happens, dramaqueen. But don't get in that shower - they'll be there, and not deliver for the rest of the week. It's the law!

Hello,

The plot thickens with the cleaner situation. Still no reply from cleaner, so called agency and got number unobtainable . Have emailed agency asking them to call. Initially thought that if they have stopped trading then I cancel the dd, and start getting on with my own cleaning , so no major dramas. Just remembered that the cleaner has a key, so will need to retrieve that. Will call her again to see if she is answering her phone. Wanyway, its not the worst thing in the world in comparison to breech babies, itchy skin, so I realise I am quite lucky.

Amusing night last night. Our NCT group organised a bra fitting party (cross between Ann Summers and Tupperware) for the girls whilst the boys went to the pub. (Alipalli waves to any lurking members of the group although she doesn't think they are on this thread). After 4 pints the boys all started sharing their baby names (so naughty), it turns out we are the only people who still don't really have a clue about names. At least 2 couples are thinking of the same boy's name (out of 5 couples there), and its on our shortlist too. DH thinks that choosing a top 5 boys name is a great idea, I can't convey to him why you might not want have 4 "Bobs" in the same class, he just thinks I am being a snob.

Really pleased to hear that lots of you were in your pjs late this morning too. I thought that I was the only one not running around doing worthy jobs all the time. This week I seem to have group to a halt. AH my day goes quite quickly by:

1. waking up after 9am
2. breakfast in front of "homes under the hammer"
3. shower followed by application of all the creams and oils my skin seems to need to sustain itself these days
4. catch up on this thread from previous afternoon (a good hour today)
5. lunch
6. quick trip to High St for essentials for the day
7. chick flick recorded on sky plus
8. Mumsnet / emails
9. Cook dinner
10. DH comes home
11. TV
12. bed

You're so right Essie - I'm just going to carry on slobbing. Thankfully dont need to go anywhere today. Have a bit of housework to do, and need to do a couple of 'work from home' hours. Cant wait till 5.30pm on Friday and I'm work from for 9 months and 3 weeks - yay!

On the subject of deliveries (last week we were all depressed, this week we're having minor annoyances!) I phoned the plant company. Totally unhelpful. The plants left them on Monday, they won't tell me the courier company, and the plants could arrive any day. Maybe Friday. Maybe even next Monday. (Let's hope the couriers are good at watering etc ). So I can wait all day every day!

debs thanks, yes this is exactly what I wanted.

Hi everyone

greenfairy I'm so glad you've found someone who is open to the idea of breech delivery. I know my mum delivered my sister breech, they are twins and were undiagnosed breech and although it was her third pregnancy she had no problems. I really admire your determination and the amount of researcfh you are doing and think after the birth you might consider a change in profession! Is bristol far from you? and would your current hospital send your notes there?

alipalli we have no idea about names either, well none we agree on! I really like both Harry and Jack but being top 5 names does put me off. At the moment my other favourite is Noah for a boy and Mia for a girl but Dh doesn't like tham!

sorry I meant sisters

Allipalli - Can I swap with you? I want to be on maternity leave too! Your day sounds great and similar to my 1st maternity leave, 2nd maternity leave I was packing to move house 4 days before due date and this time it hasn't started yet - I'm 37+5.

Just tried to explain BH contractions to my 8 year old as he's concerned every time I go quiet and take a sharp intake of breath(twice in the last 10 minutes). I hope I go into full labour when they're at school otherwise I'm going to have to put on a brave face!

Still here slobbing havent moved off sofa yet but have got dressed but only cause spilt tea down my pjamas!!!!

sorry debs didnt make it today been making a blog for Fleur.We have a msn spaces thingy but its so chocca with photos that i wanted to make something for family to see her progress etc. and DQs blog really inspired me (think it was yours DQ) here it is not mauch on it yet but its a start Fleurs blog

TGF - hope you can wait out and see this dr and that she still may turn herself.
Tonight at drs im going to discuss everything to see what will happen here if she is still breech. Only one hospital here so cant swap and no home births,
my friend gave birth here breech, her baby was feet first and was really easy 5 min birth (however she did have a prob with cervix etc)
As i mentioned before unfornutatly we are a bit behind here for alternative therapies, however despite how muchi crawl around etc she still seems to move round and round!!! Think will ask dr if its cause i have alot of fluid as im not that big so dont know how she has the space still!!!

Grrrr for those of you waiting for stuff i hate that when it happens

Hehe Lorettah!

Alipali your day sounds like mine!! cept for cooking dinner and trip to high street!

B**er now ive just moved off sofa and slammed my knee into cofee table !!!!! see shouldnt have moved at all!!!

I'm still in PJs! Still no pram delivery. Think I may have, ahem, a student shower and put some loungey clothes on until the delivery arrives.

After thinking about all the millions of things I'm supposed to do, I decided to go into town to get DS1's First Communion clothes and various birthday presents. I forgot that John Lewis is moving so the old store is virtually empty. The new one opens on 29 May by which time I'm sure I won't be able to face it. So instead of coming home and getting other jobs done I drifted around buying totally random and pointless things (aromatherapy burner???) before coming home and staring at the floor, feeling dim.

I still haven't packed up the attic. But by the time I get to the top of the stairs (they are steep) I am out of breath and need to pee again. So no progress there. Haven't done the taxes because I hate hate hate doing them and am crap. No tidying becuase I am a slob. All I want to do is navel gaze and have my feet rubbed

Anyway, enough about me, how are y'all?

Bloomin norah, away for a few hours, and can't catch up! Just a quicky - Ernest, it won't matter if the yogurt is live or not, as long as it's plain yogurt (unless you want to pick strawberries out of your belly button!).

Hello

Sorry to all of you who are waiting in for things. Cheers to all of you in pyjamas today. I didn't actually get out of pyjamas or shower for the whole of yesterday as chicken poxed DS wouldn't let me leave him for that long! When we (finally) went for a walk, I just put a sweater over my nightie, and shoved on a pair of leggings.

The last time that happened was when DS was first born (he was exactly two and a half yesterday)! All good training for when the new baby arrives, I guess.

Green Fairy, I think you are amazing and you have done such a lot of research. I'm fascinated by moxibustion and really hope it works for you. Also I think it's brilliant that you have found a good consultant in Bath if you do go down the breech route.

Wrote a long post last night and the internet fell over. Will try and put down some of it again, but forgive me if you've already read it and I've got confused.

Ernest, I was prescribed hypocortisone for my pregnancy rash as there is a concern that it could get infected if you scratch too much. Hypocortisone unlikely to get transmitted to the baby if you put use a low strength and put it on after moisturiser. I agree that you should go and cry at your English consultant though. Do you like homeopathic remedies? If you are interested, I can copy out what it recommends in Birth and Beyond for pregnancy excema.

Re getting up time, DS did 7.30 - 7.30 for the first year of his life and it was easy to move him to 8.0 - 7.15 when I went back to work. DOn't forget that if you follow a routine, you have to move it twice a year anyway when the clocks change.

Re alcohol and feeding, I really think it depends on the baby. DS (and I) could happily cope with three glasses of wine in one sitting a couple of times a week. But I had a gin and tonic one evening, which was disastrous the following day! Actually, I fed DS for 15 months and drank a glass of wine most nights, but don't tell anyone on any of the scary threads!

Just looked up Dorothy (planned name for baby). She was martyred but it doesn't say how. She is also the patron saint of midwives - that's got to be a good sign, no?

Pyjama, good luck for ECV next week

Allipalli, fascinated by your cleaner situation.. Am with mine. She has just been laughing at DS's spots. She's Filipina so it's probably a cultural difference, but I can't tell DS that!

Paro, I think you're muddling me and DQ. I was the one talking about your DP being Dutch, but I did have a wry smile when I saw Lorettah's post! Also Aberdeenhiker and I are the ones with blogs. We have one for the same reason as you - to keep overseas family up to date, and people seem to enjoy it, though as was saying the other day, god knows how DS is going to feel when he grows up!!!!

Debs, your BH sound quite strong! Stop laying laminate floors and lie down!