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!!!!!

Makecakes - Love your blog, and the link to our website - thanks for that.
Sorry to hear baby blues have struck, what's happening with the breastfeeding? Are you having those toe curling moments when she latches on or is she having difficulty? Share when you have time and I'm sure someone will have some words of wisdom. The 1st weeks are the worst, but it does get better.

Whoever was thinking of Dorothy it was also my Nana's name too!!

Laura - sorry to hear that you've been poorly, hope you feel better soon, any sign of your parents in Moscow?

Poor you Laura. That sounds just horrible.

makecakes - sorry you have the baby blues. Is there anything any of us can do to help with the bfeeding?

UDC - I love the name Dorothy. Love Dorothea/Theodora/Thea too but can't even remember whether DH does (so assume he doesn't ). how nice that she's the patron saint of midwives

DQ - I have a Windows live space which is quite good and you can establish who sees it etc. But now have blogger for LO as its simple for family to access and you can restrich who sees it
Oh and just back from drs................................................................................................. ..LO is head down Yeaaaaaaah going to celebrate with a big glass of apple juice and a choc bar!!

speak tomorrow xxxxx

That's great news Paro but does this mean you won't be helping out with the flooring?

Thanks all for blog info. Am definitely going to use blogger.com as it sounds like it would be the easiest for family to access. (Some family members not all that technically minded ).

UDC - I would quite like to set up a blog for the LO before it arrives, but no idea of gender/name etc so that put me off. I presume its not easy to change the web address of the blog once its set up?

Am going to bump my request for online photo sharing website recommendations too, in case its lost among all the blog chat... I've been using flickr to share photos with family but I dont find it very user friendly and my family find it even less so. Any recommendations? UDC I see you use flickr - do you find it easy? I just cant take to it at all.

Paro that's great news, and Laura sorry to hear about gastroenterisis .

hi all - can hardly keep up - great news para re baby .

laura -sorry to hear your poorly and hope you feel better soon.

dumb question - baby is head down but still 5/5 per my notes (I'm 35 weeks ) assume that this is pretty normal for this stage of affairs? She is a stubborn little madam I can tell so I'm not convinced she is that keen to move (there is way too much fun sticking your foot under your mothers ribs).

Last day in office today ... whcih is good as was getting too much - now decidign if galaxy or chocolate digestives the best way to celebrate .. or maybe both.

Great news Para

Does anyone have a list of what they are packing in their hospital bag? I've finally started packing mine. Thanks.

DQ, a thought. Are you planning on having more than one child? You may not want to call your blog 'Jock's blog' once you have a number two called 'Angus' ...

HAve to confess that DH is the flickr man and he says he does. although admits to not having tried anything else. He also uses Youtube for video.

Paro, f**king fantastic. Chuffed to bits for you. Now got fingers thoroughly crossed for Green Fairy.#

To all those with Nanas called Dorothy. That's very nice to know.

Fabulous news Paro! neenz if you are worried about sanitising I have heard 60 degrees is what hospitals use for most linen and is more than enough for nappies. In fact if you are using a decent washing powder 40 degrees will get them perfectly adequately clean, modern washing machines and powders are really good, though for newborns you might want to stick to 60 for a few weeks or months. I dry pail mine in a bucket with a nappy mesh, then sling them in the machine when the bucket's full. I do wash at 60 with a prerinse, because we have to use Surcare (dermatological stuff for sensitive skin) which isn't quite as effective as most powders. I put 8 drops lavender oil in the prerinse drawer to help disinfect, or tea tree oil if he's had a bug, and 8 drops lavender and a glug of distilled vinegar in the fabric conditioner rinse drawer. The vinegar kills any residual smells and helps all the washing powder to rinse out, the lavender is antibacterial, calming for skin and smells nice. Once in a while I spray the inside of the bucket with Milton spray and wipe out with a kitchen roll to get it clean. I have to be careful how much chemicals I use though as ds' eczema is triggered by almost anything, including nappy sanitisers. Took me a while to get to a regime that worked for us and got nappies clean enough without irritating ds' skin but this works fine.

Laura you poor thing, sounds absolutely awful.

Essie bit late but I love all the Welsh names on your list!

Overdid it yesterday so have spent today slobbing with ds. He is v. happy because he gets to watch as much TV as he wants at the mo, without mummy forcing him to switch it off and do constructive play. I have decided to give up the guilt on this front for the moment! We should have gone to a music group at lunchtime, but we were both too knackered. Plus the group leader has started to get a slightly hunted look the past few weeks, each time I walk in. Today I was having some twinges too and thought it would be just too unfair to sit there gasping every few minutes ...

Rolf I am embarrassed to say my hospital bag is mainly full of food! Last time I was so hungry the night after having ds and the tea and toast I could get from the midwives just didn't cut it ... this time I've stocked up! Plus let's see - I've gone minimalist this time, anything else we need dp can bring in:
a change of clothes for me and some pyjamas, couple of towels, flip flops, v. basic toiletries, Lansinoh;
couple of packs of maternity pads, big cheap cotton pants, a few breast pads (though don't think I'll need them till milk comes in);
baby clothes in newborn and 0-3, just a few bodysuits and sleepsuits in each, some socks for her hands, a top for outdoors and a hat;
couple of muslins;
handful of nappies, cotton wool pads, saline solution in pods (I just happened to have some of this last time and it was useful for cleaning baby sticky eyes etc, or for my eyes if they get dry), Vaseline for her bottom as per Ernest's anti-sticky-meconium tip.
Camera, mp3 player and mini speakers, notebook and pen, Palm, phone, spare batteries, reading-for-pleasure book (I can but dream).
Present for ds from baby.
Wrap for carrying baby (I know they will make me keep her in a fishtank while there, but might walk home if we're OK - it's literally round the corner).
Spare T-shirt for dp in case he gets covered in stuff.

Think this is about it ... I had loads of stuff last time and didn't use half of it! There's a lot more in the bag I've prepped for ds, to cover all the eventualities of the stuff he might need depending on who ends up looking after him.

what kind of food.. think this is a good idea but given it could be hot not sure chocolate the best idea (and lets face it I think all idea of seeds/fruit type nonsense will go out the window)

laura I am so sorry your feeling so bad, I hope everyone is keeping a close eye on you (or do you do that yourself? Must be a pain being a dr who is unwell, I hope your still getting lots of tlc)

poppy 5/5 means they can still feel the whole head and it hasn't disappeared into the pelvis yet, totally normal for 35 weeks with my last birth ds didn't descend until about 37 weeks and was still 3/5 when I went into labour.
I had a melted mars bar after ds and I can say was the best thing I've ever eaten much better than cold toast!

makecakes I had bad baby blues a few days after having ds, I was euphoric and came down to earth with a bang. I couldn't sleep my head was full of everything that had happened. I wrote it all down and then wrote a letter (unposted) to my very insensitive mil. Breastfeeding is really difficult to establish, I got really frustrated. Don't be afraid to keep asking for help and advice that's what the mw,hv, nct etc are there for. Best advice I got is 'Tummy to Mummy and nose to nipple' I kept trying to feed ds while he was lying on his back - must have been a bit uncomfy for him! Come and chat to us if you get a minute.

Hello all,

I've not been on for a few days due to my job change and the fact that both my dh and I have gone into panic nesting mode and are trying to get as much done as possible before the baby arrives. Although I do question my need to polish the inside of our cars???? Yes i really have done this tonight My dh is away in Brussels for a few days for a meeting so I have been instructed to keep my legs crossed until Friday night when he gets home!!!!!!!

Have been desperately trying to catch up with all the posts but everytime I get 5 mins to come on here I find you have written about 300 posts so I can't see me managing to catch up - ever!

Anyway, great news on the baby front - it's so exciting and slightly unbelievable that it is all finally happening.

I had a scan today to check on the amniotic bands and all looks ok as the baby is still free of the bands. Baby was busy swallowing lots of amnio fluid and had a huge bladder. When I saw the consultant they kept referring to the baby as a he - does she know something we don't?????? Anyway, the plan now is to have another scan at 39 +5 and a sweep if I haven't already had the baby by that stage. Gosh it is all so exciting.

Still got 2 more weeks at work but have finally started to chill about it all and am busy trying to set up coffee's and lunches with as many people as possible so that I don't have to do much work.

Hope you are all well - now back to reading more posts!

Hi poppy, there are some chocolate hobnobs lurking in there! Plus a handful of muesli bars, and I have thrown in some fruit / nut / seed mixes (peanut free) - I am not normally a big eater of such things tbh but a friend brought some in to hospital for me last time and they were a lifesaver to nibble on to keep me going. A few pkts of crisps, and I'm planning to chuck in some fruit and yoghurt before we set off, unless it all starts very dramatically of course!! A few small cartons of apple juice too.

Morning everyone, how are you all today? We have yet another bank holiday today, and it's raining BOO HOO. Unfortunately dh and I are too busy to do anything with the boys so they too will be watching more tv, playing on the wii, and on computer, than is normally allowed!! I don't feel guilty anymore, when it's a lovely day they are outside for hours.

So, off to lay rest of flooring soon, dh was really impressed after he'd been laying some yesterday alone and when I went in I spotted a mistake and he had to take a patch up again!

josie Glad everything's OK with the amniotic bands and baby.Hope your last 2 weeks at work fly by.

Systemsaddict - how are you today , any more twinges?

Dramaqueen - we use Photobucket

Rolf - List
for me -
old nightie for birth - barely covers my bottom but by then I won't care
old pants that I can throw away after
maternity pads
slippers/flip flops
lightweight dressing gown
yoga pants, t shirts for days
book
English magazines ( I will be in for 4/5 days)
toiletries
lansinoh
nursing bras
pads
money
phone
phone numbers
notepad and pen
Mumsnet password and details(just in case)
official documents for registration
for baby
1 sleepsuit, bodysuit, nappy (they provide these in hospital)
hat , blanket for going home
scratch mitts
muslin
for boys - a little present for their 1st visit - a small lego toy I think.
For dh -
camera,
money( for car park and more food)
food
t shirt
book

Food list - (in a small insulated bag in an attempt to keep slightly cooler)
Mars bar
Dairy Milk
small cartons of fruit juice
dried apricots to help with 1st poo!!!
more chocolate
biscuits
teabags
fruit

I think that's it

Katyjo - I had a Marsbar and cup of tea after ds1 and it was great!! I intend to do the same again, but will have to take my own teabags this time as Austrian tea is not the same.

Apologies for v long post

Hi deb! I woke up feeling very period-y but it's all eased off again now. Given that last time my cervix wasn't effaced at all even at 42 weeks, these are at least reassuring signs; even if it's all happening slowly at least something is happening down there. But I don't think anything is imminent yet - though dp has a day off, so today would be a good day!

How many weeks are you now SA?

39 on Saturday - that's based on scan dates only though so it could be 5-7 days out either way, so I alternate between thinking 'it could happen now' and 'it could be weeks yet'! Last time I knew my dates down to the hour because of the treatment we had, but that was worse because I fixated on 40 weeks exactly, I'm trying hard not to make that mistake again.

Good morning everyone

Nice to read all the hospital bag stuff - still haven't done mine, but you lot are jolting me in to it a bit.

DQ, sorry my post last night to you re blog was so full of Scottish generalisations, and so bossy. It was a bit late. I apologise.

Debs, sorry that it's raining for your bank holiday. How are you feeling today? How are your BHs?

Josie57, hello! I've got another week at work too. Has it worked out well you moving jobs?

SA, like you, my cervix wasn't effaced (I had Bishop's score of 1) at 42 weeks when I was induced so I get faint-makingly excited about Braxton Hicks' and anything that I can feel around my cervix. WHen are you due?

SA, ooops, Xpost with you and Debs!

second day of maternity leave ... I just walked DS up to the nursery feeling great, but on the way home I was pretty tired (it's about a mile round trip) so I guess it's time for a nap.

I'm 38 weeks today, and starting to get antsy as this is when DS arrived - but I still haven't lost my mucous plug. Can I ask second/third/fourth timers - did you notice losing your plug in previous births? Last time I lost it 3 days before DS arrived.

Photos - we don't share photos online except through the blog and using commercial programs like snapfish.co.uk that let you share your pictures (when you upload them to print them). I know that there were some issues with flickr in the past in terms of people having their photos stolen and used by others - so now you have to password protect them and my grandfather would never figure that out! On the blog, we've shrunk them to a very small size (500 pixels wide) which is too small to print.

off to add food to my hospital bag, I forgot about that!

UDQ my midwife was really surprised they induced me when everything looked so unfavourable, but I think midwives focus less on dates than the consultants do! Wish I had insisted on waiting a bit longer though, I would have had an easier time if things had been a bit readier (though baby would have been over 10 pounds then). Would def. insist on monitoring and waiting now with an unfavourable cervix!

UDC I had to go back and search for the 'bossy, Scottish' post as when I read it first time it didn't register as either .

Anyway, I'm still at work for two more days, just thought I'd check in on the morning's posts quickly.

Have a good day everyone at those on maternity leave.

Aberdennhiker, I lost my mucus plug four days before my first baby but never saw it when I had my second, I think that it pretty common.

Makecakes, I have terrible babyblues on/around the fifth day after birth. Its the hormones changing and usually passes really quickly. I cry for a day and then am ok. B-feeding is really difficult for the first few weeks so don't feel bad about it. It took about three weeks for me to get my ds to feed properly and every day I swore I was going to give in, then he feed really well until I weaned him at 12 months.