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!!!!!

Re: nursing bras....I can't remember who recommended La Senza for mat nightwear, but saw that they also do nursing bras. I have no idea how good they are, but they are cheap (about £16) and don't look like nursing bras IYKWIM. Once I've been measured, I was planning to order a couple and see what they were like...

Peartart I will have homeopatic remedies too. And it looks like I will have to go to hospital now, so I can always beg for antiemetic drugs!

Essie I love Neal's Yard. I am only getting over my addiction as there is no NY shop here. All their stuff smells so nice..

Right photobox is definitely more user friendly and so quick thank god!

GF I hope you hold on at least until your ECV tomorrow. Sounds like things are getting reading for you!

PP that is absolutely dreadful. Poor you I am so so

PP that's awful, poor you.

TGF - hope the ecv is successful tomorrow. You're being so brave about it - I'd be terrified.

Thanks for all the hospital bag advice. I'm halfway through packing mine - will try to finish tonight.

I think the homeopathic remedy for vomiting is ipecac.

ooh, I think I'll be popping into Neal's Yard next week...

PP - that's awful! Can you contact the actual owner of the property to complain? Let him/her know that you will completely withdraw your cooperation with them unless you get a full apology and 24 hours notice of tenants.

TGF - on my to do list is writing a list of last minute things for the bag - so snacks out of the fridge, CAMERA, maternity notes, mobile phone i.e. the kind of stuff that's not too easy to pack in the bag but can easily be grabbed enroute to the car.

Had my mw appt today and not too sure how I feel about it. Firstly, this mw was much better than the usual one, much easier to talk to. We talked about third stage of labour and I said that I thought I'd want to wait until I'd given birth before I even thought about whether I wanted the injection. The student mw, jumped straight in, pulled a face and said if I did that I'd still end up bleeding a lot and I'd have missed the optimum chance of having an injection. (I told her that sticking me with a needle mid-delivery might be the optimum moment but I was well aware that it wasn't the only moment). The fully trained mw agreed with me, talked through the pro's and cons and explained that would be fine, although it would be good if I was open to changing my mind in case of emergencies, long and hard labour etc. All good.

When she felt the baby she said I was 4/5ths, so not quite engaged. However, re: positioning she said that I'm not quite back to back but the baby is leaning that way slightly. She did say not to worry though.

Then I told her about my ongoing undercarriage pain following fall so she wants me to speak to the physio in case I have SPD.

So, I know its nothing compared to some people's troubles but after everything being generally ok, I now might have SPD and a back to back baby. .

On the photo's front, someone shared an album with me (cant remember the website) but it was google's photo sharing website. I'm going to try that out for ease of use next week so will come back and let you know how I get on.

PP that is awful, some people are just jerks and are beyond help. there should be some way to show them how ugly they are being in a magic mirror or something!

tgf best of luck, i really hope you end up with the birth you want.

midwife just came round (i can't make it to clinic with ds anymore) and did my 38 week check. head is engaged (what does this really mean?? i can't remember with ds) apparently. i'm drinking raspberry leaf tea like mad and praying i go this weekend... sunday or monday would be perfect!! if only it was that easy.

has anyone tried to use accupuncture to induce labour if you're overdue??

I read this when pregnant with ds and trying to kick things off as well - read the blurb about sex.

Don't tell your DH and DPs though!!

Grrr at that lady PP i hate people like that. telephone and cable companies are normally the worst.

TGF Im 37 + 3 according to scans, 38+4 according to last period. Keep smiling! you can still have time And just think that whatever the situation your baby will come out one way or another!

I actually sat here last night and said to DP OMG that means natural labour now!!!!! so that means pain!!! He said "before you were saying shame i might miss natural birth and now you miss poss of having CS"!!!! yes but now really have to have pain!!!!!

ihave mist spray from body shop in my labour bag its really good and refreshing

Birth story....with apologies for the length!

Induced on Wednesday night and given 8mg of Prostin in five doses over 48 hours, none of which worked and all of which, because of SPD increasingly painful. Had a big chat with the (Indian Dale Winton-esque) registrar on Saturday morning about next steps: go home, start again or C-section, and given 24 hours to rest. DH bought in Chinese food that evening to cheer me up and whilst eating it, felt I needed the loo. Made it just in time (using Zimmer frame to walk by this point in pregnancy) and felt a gush that I just knew wasn?t wee. I actually laughed at the implausibility and called for mum to tell midwife. Waters continued to gush- gross sensation- but no contractions after two hours so I was dispatched to the delivery ward to get hooked up to Syntocin drip. Sent DH home to sleep and got the first epidural, which four hours later we discovered wasn?t working when they had to peel me from the ceiling (SPD pain- so strong I was vomiting when I wasn?t screaming). The second one did work but after such a stressful two hours it was hard to get back to sleep. I was 4cm at 7am, and S came in, then fully dilated by 11, given an hour to sleep and started pushing at 12. She was born at 12:55. I am very proud of my pushing ability- they were worried because her heart rate kept decelerating, so I had to get her out fast, and was given a Ventouse and episiotomy, which meant I had to use the stirrups. She was delivered onto my tummy then whisked away as she was quite blue and not crying very well. DH held her whilst I was stitched up then I finally got to meet my little girl. Sadly she was then whisked away to SCBU because of her low Apgars and blood gases, so DH went with her and I was transferred to my room. Thankfully she came back pretty soon, though with a catheter, but after 24 hours we got to go home.
It probably sounds odd, given that I had a lot of intervention, but I am really happy with my birth. I genuinely don?t feel I would have chosen a different way of doing things, and quite frankly the end result was the most important thing.

Thanks for posting your story. It sounds long and drawn out but so glad the baby came out the natural way! I have been told that will go straight for 4 hours of synto and then C section if interventions don't work this time. You look very well and I'm so pleased that she is healthy!

PP, what a rude woman! You're the customer and have a contract about landlords not coming in or has she forgotten?

DS much better now, although as DH says that he looks like he came off badly in a fight with a porcupine!

Must go, am being told, 'Stop playing the computer, mummy!'

Things I found useful in hospital:

lots of big pants
lots of food- wasn't allowed to eat on the drip so was starving when I delivered. DH had his bag though so was feeding me things whilst I was stitched up!
TV and radio- I really couldn't concentrate on anything during labour!
My own pillows
Several pairs of pjs
Baby blankets- the hospital wrap the babies in scrag- end towels!
Lots of cold water- DH bought some froze so they slowly thawed in time for me to need them.
Anything to keep you cool- it really was hot.
Really nice shower gel for afterwards.

Am sure there were other things, but these are the ones I remember!!

Katyjo - sorry your baby isn't in the optimum position, fingers crossed that baby wil turn.

Amberc - I also have some lovely newborn stuff from Matalan

Paro - re tens, I found it was just something to do iykwim. It didn't help with the pain as such just provided a distraction, especially when the pads slipped in labour and I was getting shocks in my bottom.

Essie - glad all is well with baby, have you got that paper finished yet?

PP - no wonder you're ranting, what right has she to shout at you like that - I'd have cried too!!

TGF - good luck tomorrow

Makecakes - what a lot you went through, but as you say the end result is the most important thing.

Paper finished so I'm allowed back on mumsnet now!

Thanks for your support, feeling much better now. I really shouldn't be moaning it isn't a big deal esp when others have more serious problems. Its just mw reckons baby is already bigger than ds and I could go another 2 weeks plus if I go over my dates, I really wasn't expecting an op baby as well.

makecakes you did so well to push the baby out in 55mins esp when you had gone through so much over the previous few days, you must have been knackered, I guess when your worried about lo you find the strength from somewhere?! Hope the bf is going better, it is so draining in first few weeks, but does get easier - I promise!

BQ thanks for the info about babies head size, didn't know that, hopefully extra fat means more padding - maybe it will slip right out!

congrats on finishing your paper essie

Good luck for tomorrow greenfairy sending positive turning vibes your way.

PP I can't believe she spoke to you like that esp if she knows you're pregnant. I think you should write a letter saying that they have to give you three days notice of any viewers and the need to give you proper documentation regarding your leaving date. Very on your behalf.

Hi there, it's taken me an hour to catch up again!

Well, ta da, that's it, I am now on maternity leave! Had a good last day - lunch out, lovely pressies, cakes, and no last minute panics. Feels very strange though, I can't quite believe it.

Makecakes, sounds like you had a rough time, you did well!

PP, what an evil witch! No wonder you're cross and upset. Nasty cow!

Don't know if this is of interest, our local Neal's Yard do a low cost clinic on Sundays, I'm going to book in for reflexology soon, and if you have a treatment at any time, you get a 15% discount on anything else you buy.

Might do a little light bag packing tomorrow, and must gird my loins and book in for a bikini wax. Not for delivery day, I don't care about that, DP and me are heading off to hotel with spa, etc on Monday, and even though I can't see it properly, I KNOW that I have a bush like Brian Blessed's beard..... Don't want to scare anyone else in the swimming pool!

Oh, good lord whinegums. Brian Blessed's beard. That mental image means I must, must, must do something about my bikini line. (Bikini, btw? Hahahahaha, not in my case, the line is nowhere near where a bikini would be...)

Makecakes - you sound really cool about your labour and birth which is excellent. I had a hideous experience with my first but afterwards all I cared about was that he was safe. For future reference - my second labour was ace!

TGF - are you sure you are going to last those 10 days? Don't eat pineapple/have sex/or curry in that time will you? The contractions in the toilet sound really scary actually - maybe you need to take things easy.

Paro - great news that your baby has turned.

Hoggle - thanks for the link, I have just ordered the blue/brown stripe. Hopefully it will come soon so will have time to practice!

Too many posts to respond adequately to you all, but greetings and hugs to those of you who need them especially PP.

My cleaner came and cleaned today. Hurrah!!!

In addition to what has already been listed for the hospital bag - I am still planning to hunt down some ear plugs after Puddock's (I think) recommendation the other day.

House of Fraser have bonus time on Clinique at the moment. I needed some facial soap, but as my second item I bought facial tanner. Then went and bought cheap Rimmel nail varnish is a very trashy shade of neon pink. Questioning what pregnancy hormones are making me want to resemble a trollop on the pull in Ibiza. On the up side the freebies from Clinique are quite good for hospital bag - mini soap, mini moisturiser etc.

Re: Wet belly when washing up. I have the same problem except when cooking. I end up with lots of tomato sauce splodges on my belly as the belly is virutally in the wok in order for my arms to reach the spoon. Have remedied this by buying an apron today (how domesticated).

MW appoint today. All good and uneventful. She persists in laughing at my belly though . I think it is because LO's bottom sticks out a bit just under my rib cage. DH has quite a big bottom so considering whether LO could have picked up the big arse genes!

Makecakes I'm not a great one for coo-ing at babies, but the photo of CJ swaddled in her spotty blanket on your blog is SO CUTE.

No Ernest today. Hope she is okay after the stresses of the rash and DH.

Hello All

Paro great news your lo has turned

Makecakes cry away...I didnt have the crying day with my 1st and it led to trouble,I cried uncontrollably with DD for 24hours and was fine...sounds as though you didnt have the best of times but you did really well,be very proud!

Katyjo with dd my 2nd it was her head engaging that started labour off for me she was sitting 4/5 and kept spinning, hopefully your lo will change and drop and pop soon.

AH I had a horrific show with ds after a sweep and nothing with dd a tiny jelly discharge after I felt her head drop but that was all I saw.

PP for you I would send a letter to the other directors advising of the disgusting behaviour and you would inform prospective tenants not to deal with the awful woman and under no circs has she to contact you from now on please insure someone else does...if prem labour occurs due to stress she has brought on you will be claiming against them....nasty bitch she is either that or wait for her to leave the office and through cold water over her!!

Alipalli PMSL at Ibiza trollop, sauce belly and your DH having a huge bum.

Well DH left for work this avo gulp thankfully he will either be home Sat of Mon though think I can hold on....I had to go and collect my syntroetrin to store in my fridge today....its all getting a little bit in my face that the baby can arrive anytime and although id love to have it over with I still seem to be head in the sand that Im brotching my due date.

Whinegums, congratulations that you are now on maternity leave!

Josie57, I have one more week left till I go on maternity leave (at 36.5) but I'm working at home, which makes it easier.

I have been advising on the writing of review of the 2007 floods, and it has been pretty intense workwise. It's amazing to think back to last summer and the impact the flooding had on people. I think my work is finished for the moment, but they are threatening to ask me to do some more next week.

Allipalli, your poor DH! Have you discussed this theory with him?

Josey, fingers crossed for you this weekend!

Whinegums, PMSL re BB's beard. cannot get the image out of my mind of him on Have I got news for you the other day ...

Dramaqueen, sorry you are feeling a bit miserable. I hope the physio says it's not SPD.

katyjo, hope your baby turns round. Mine was OP last time too.

Greenfairy, good luck for your ECV tomorrow. I'll have my fingers crossed (and upsidedown!) for you xx

I've decided. I'm not doing my hospital bag until my maternity leave starts. Anyone else still not packed ... ?

Am going out tonight with my NCT friends from last time. Looking forward to a girlie night out.

Thank you everyone - your support means a lot to me! Not so angry now....but think I will still complain to owner and other directors once we've moved (owner in Dubai). Altho I am tempted by the cold water idea Josey. I've come up with lots of evil ideas along the same lines, but she really isn't worth it! In a month's time we'll all have wonderful bundles of joy and she'll still be a 50 year old wizened old crone! (Why she felt the need to tell me her age, I have no idea. But it helps when imagining her as a complete witch anyway).

Have said I will only deal with one person from their office and that correspondence should be via email if possible. All viewings now should be arranged 72 hours in advance as per contract - no more flexibility from me!

Well done on the paper Essie.

Welcome to ML whinegums - BB's beard is a very graphic image! As long as you're not as loud as him....

Enjoy your goodies Alli - I ended up with orange toes (which I love) and green fingernails (which I don't love and have no idea why I got them painted that colour) after my manicure and pedicure yesterday....pink sounds nice and normal to me.
I did get around to cleaning the kitchen floor and the oven though. Took all my anger out on them and they are spotless. Although my knees aren't thanking me and LO is still back to back (I demand instaneous results!) Treating myself to a take away tonight, DH has said we can only have indian if I have a korma!

Good luck Green fairy!

Makecakes - thank you for sharing your birth story. It doesn't sound like much fun at the start, but well done on your pushing and of course your LO. She is beautiful. You and Neenz should feel free to post more photos, we won't get bored - I can't get enough of baby pics at the mo. A very sweet person told me to expect at least a day of crying if not more in the first fortnight and told me it was all the water retention of the last 9 months being released...

Dramaqueen - I have been told not to worry about the back to back thing as lots of babies turn when you go into labour apparantly. I'm stull trying all the tricks tho. Is your undercarriage still sore?

Paro - LOL at the 'opps, now it means pain' thoughts.

Cross those legs Josey!

Evening Everyone

TGF- I'm wishing you super-good luck for ECV tomorrow

PP- I think you should appeal to the owners of your rental property- they should be thoroughly ashamed at the way you've been treated.

Dylan'smum- re oral prostins (gulp!) I'm surprised that the most direct route to the cervix is via the digestive system- wonder if a man wrote that article?
FWIW, my MW (who's really into natural methods) suggested taking Evening Primrose Oil per vagina to ripen the cervix, when I was desperately overdue with DD1. Lots more prostins than semen- you just pop a capsule or two when you go to bed at night...
I never actually tried this BTW but have since seen info on it.

Makecakes- thank you for your birth story. You did really well and I'm glad that you had a positive birth experience in spite of the interventions. As you say the end result is what matters.

Makecakes - just seen CJ on your blog - what a gorgeous photo - does she like to be swaddled through the night too? Looks very professionally swaddled too - all that training you had!

Whinegums hope you have a great time at the hotel.

Allipalli - I already had the apron but I have to wear it most of the time now in the kitchen and then you can just keep it on whilst eating and avoid messing up all the clothes from where you spill on bump. I've taken to cutting everything up, then holding my plate on top of my bump and eating one-handed - so much more comfy than bending over bump to the table. Also having a problem getting things out of the oven as it opens at bump height!

Evening all,

Sat here drooling over all the gardens at Chelsea, will have o work hard once the beach ball appears.

Upsidedown - will be packing bag Monday week, the baby will not come next week.

TGF good luck for tomorrow.

Paro - good news about baby

PP - rant away, she sounds awful, our agents are really nice (well they are to us and seem to be to our tenants)

managed to get a lie down this afternoon and a bit of a snooze and feel a bit better for it.