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!!!!!

Katyjo huge congrats to you what a lovely birth by the sounds of it xx

AH Im feeling pretty crap 2....if we are both still baby free and fed up in a few days I will try take a run through!

Ernest glad to see you posting hope things sort themselves out for you it must be hellish.

Makecakes glad you are feeling a bit brighter.

Debs hope all the false starts and doing something down there

Im an emotional wreck just now dont know how many false starts Im having just now....its 5years today since my dad died and ive been terrifed of baby arrving today and its my birthday tomorrow I get so stupid at this time of year the last thing I need is going into labour!!

My bump is also hanging down so low that if you saw me with a doughnut in my hand you would mistake me for Homar Simpson

Josey goes off singing Do our bumps hang low can we swing them too and fro

Josey - sorry about your father, must be a very difficult and emotional time for you.

Josey, how sad your dad dying the day before your birthday Must put a permanent shadow over it.

Hope you manage to have a happy birthday anyway.

If you haven't gone into labour yet, I'd say you've got away with it.

Am now back from the doctors & hospital update. The good news is all test results are normal, so baby should be unaffected. Bad news is, no one can do anything about the itching or the (complete lack of) sleep, so tbh, I feel thoroughly depressed and miserable and horrified at the prospect of 2 more weeks (or more) like this. I'm assuming that at least in 2 weeks when I've had it, they'll be able to give me some drugs, even if limited, cos of course bf is a big limiter too.

Am feeling very miserable. And tired. And itchy. But I won't bring the birth forward at all. If it had problems due to being prem I'd be blaming myself forever, wouldn't I?

Just need to find a way to get through the (suddenly seeming eternal) next 2 weeks.

At least my mum doesn't have to worry about changing her flights

Hi all - I have a little problem with BFing - Esther seems so fussy sometimes. it's like she doesn't realise the nipple is in her mouth and she shakes her head from side to side and then puts her mouth on the breast but doesn't suck. Sometimes she'll go on and feed for a good 10 mins but other times she'll just mess about. I expressed 1oz before to see if she'd take it from the bottle and she did, which made me think she is hungry and just has a problem with the breast, but the next two feeds have gone well and she has had 10 mins each from the breast. I don't want her to prefer the bottle so would rather not express so should I just perservere with trying to get her on the breast, and think if she doesn't go on then she might just not be very hungry. She put on 3oz last week and has fed better this week, so should I just wait to see if she has gained a good weight?

We had a good night last night. They fed at 9.30pm, 12.30, 4.30 and 8am. They settled well after the 12.30 feed so I got a couple of hours sleep. They took a while to settle after 9.30 and 4.30 but DH took over at 4.30 so I got more sleep. One of the best nights we've had actually.

We are doing all the wrong things of course - rocking them to sleep, letting them go to sleep with a dummy, sleeping downstairs in the lounge with them (they just seem to sleep better down here in their carrycot - we have tried taking the carrycot upstairs but it is not as effective). But whatever gets them (and me) to sleep is all I care about at the mo!

Josey, I'm sorry to hear about your Dad and so close to your Birthday.

Allipalli - carrot cake - I'm sorry that doesn't work - it has to be chocolate!!

Makecakes - well done for persevering with the BF

Neenz - I would carry on with Esther, if she put on 3 oz last week that's good. Maybe the problem is that you have Theo to compare her to so as he feeds so well it seems more of a problem with her. And as for doing everything wrong - there's no right and wrong way with parenting - you do what is right for your family and bugger everyone else.

Just back from a music concert at Kindergarten that ds2 was in - he was such a star, v proud Mummy moment.

poppy Thanks so much for the offer, but don't worry. The CD I've been using is part of a different course and I think it might confuse me to changeat this stage, but I really appreciate it. Have looked on ebay and found a couple on at a reasonable price so I may go down that route.

ernest sorry you are having such a hellish time. I know the next two weeks will be hard, but the memory will fade fast once your LO is in your arms.

neenz can you see a BF counsellor? Might be worth it, though it sounds like you are trying everything!

false starters since I gave up the turning techniques my fasle starts seem to have eased. I keep getting two or three really vicious contractions and then they stop, so am thinking I may not go early after all. Have considered using the moxa to try to kick things off, as you can also use it to induce, but am scared that if I force the issue I may just complicate things - is better to wait until she is ready even if it is frustrating! Am on the raspberry leaf tea now so perhaps that will help.

Had a lovely nap this afternoon for about two hours. Have been up for an hour and now I want another one! See you all later...

josey sorry, I meant to say, am so sorry to hear about your dad. Hopefully tomorrow will be a happier day for you...

Neenz - you are doing well, don't compare them together as that will make you anxious, she is putting on weight which is fabulous. Just to let you know that there is research now to give dummies to babies as prevents cot death. And anything to make your life easier.

Neenz - I would also echo TGF suggestion of contacting a BF counsellor. Have you got local contact details?

I wouldn't worry too much about 'wrong' things - you should do what's right for you!

neenz, Have you tried taking her off the breast and trying the feed say a while later or is that a logistical nightmare with twins? Also, obvious things like stroking her cheek while she's daydreaming feeding? Or half undressing her so she's not so snuggly and drowsy? making sure she's wide awake before you start the feed? My ds2 especially was very sleepy and tended to nod off on the breast or day dream. I even took to giving him a bath before the food to try to wake him up. Another thing was if just enjoying nipple in mouth but not feeding, try just putting her down on floor. She might protest/ cry but then she may be more receptive when you pop her back on.

Hey everyone. Sorry we are all feeling crap today. I have really bad back ache and my stomach is uncomfortable, it feels really tight and a bit sore but eases if I put moisturiser on it.

Katyo - congratulations! your birth is the one we all want I think. Can't wait to see your baby and hear what name you decided on.

I can't remember/find who was talking about baby names and worrying that their chosen name was really popular, but I wanted to say that I wouldn't let that put you off. My ds and dd both have top ten names and I think it is much better to have the name you actually want. I am also planning on a popular name this time (James/Jamie). DH is really fussy and only likes 'normal' names, so our choices are quite limited, but I have never regretted giving our kids their names.

neenz and makecakes - breastfeeding in the first month was really hard and while I don't have any advice, I want to say that it does get easier!

josey - let me know what you're up to in a couple days - we could be grumpy together...

ernest I think my friend who had the same rash as you found that it went away within a couple days of delivery - so you'd at least have that to look forward to! Sending you lots of empathy though, it sounds horrible.

I had a great day with DS, including a long 2.5 hour nap in the middle of the day that made me feel really glad I kept him home. I'm in another bout of false labour now - upsidedowncake, I'm crossing my fingers that you're right and this will mean lots of effacement and dilation! That would make all this teasing worthwhile.

Hi Everyone,
We've been nesting today and DH has surpassed himself (all is forgiven after a little talk explaining how important this preparation is for me). He's put up shelves (not wonky either), attached knobs and drawer handles and put up hooks. I can hear him now in DD's room reading "The Tiger Who Came For Tea" to her in silly voices.
We did a super- big cooking sesh last night and stocked the freezer, and made a lasagne for a friend with a newborn. Legs were really aching after that. Also have off-loaded some bookshelf units to mates and started to address the jungle of stuff that goes by the name of the spare room...
I have been cleaning everything that doesn't move in the house.

The bump is definitely lower- cutting toe nails was an exercise in acrobatics and I've lost sight of my ladygarden. I don't want to let the side down...
Foetal Movements have also slowed down and are more stretching or writhing rather than kicking, but this is normal I understand.

We did manage to go for a lovely pub lunch yesterday; there were 6 adults, 3 toddlers and 2 newborns (and a big bump). We lasted nearly an hour and a half (toddlers were the limiting factor) and everyone felt proud of having a semblance of normal life after babies!

UDC- today's breakfast thing was spitting out the strawberries- perhaps they ruined the perfect beigeness of weetabix...

Josey- I hope that you can have a good Birthday tomorrow- it's your day.

AH- I'm glad you're feeling a bit better and hope your DS is OK. Don't you dare hide away!!

Neenz- Keep going with the BF. I echo what the others have said and would add that BF is a new and tiring skill for Esther to learn too. She may have felt a bit too tired to suck on that occasion and just wanted to enjoy the feeling of having your nipple in he mouth. Not great for you unfortunately and you'd be right to try to wake her up a bit or wait until later. I'm sure she'll make a bigger effort next time.

Josey sorry that things are hard for you at this time of year. I hope you have a nice day tomorrow, and then you have your LO's arrival to look forward to.

Deb that carrot cake wont do. I have become strangely addicted to it recently, although have promised DH that the next cake will be something different.

It must be the BH weather here but I am now feeling glum too! DH has been keen to hang up some old photos all weekend. Unfortunately they are from uni days, and it was a bit of a reminder of my 22 year old self looking tanned and thin (groan). After much debate the pictures have gone in the loft, probably not to emerge for 5 years. The silly thing is that if you had asked my 22 year old self what she wanted to be doing at 31, it would have pretty much been this. However nostalgia for what has gone before is a funny old thing.

alipalli - but my 22 year old self imagined my 31 year old self doing what I'm doing but looking tanned and thin... so I don't blame you for not liking the pictures!

sybil, it was me who was worrying about the name being too popular, so thanks for that - I know I'm probably worrying about nothing but dh has agreed to have a more open-minded chat about the whole thing anyway

no tips on BF I'm afraid - never tried so have all this to look forward to

josey, so sorry to hear about your dad - anniversaries are hard enough without it coinciding with your birthday and pg hormones

ernest sorry to hear you're still feeling rough

I'm going to join the feeling low club as I've had a day of the MIL - FIL and dh have been decorating while I have been entertaining MIL. She begun by telling me that her mum was always hyper-critical of everything she did with her kids and said she wouldn't be like that and then, yes you've guessed, starting criticising! She doesn't like any of my name selections (if I have another child I'm NEVER sharing name selections again - learnt that lesson the hard way!), doesn't like the ideas we have for decorating the nursery, criticised my birth plan and then, icing on the cake, started making comments about my mum and her parenting skills! Could have hit her by this stage!

She went on and on about how lucky she was because she had a daughter and a son, and when I said after everything we'd been through we didn't care what we had next as long as we were lucky enough to have a 2nd child, she said that I would feel like that because it must have been hard that my parents were disappointed as I was their 2nd daughter!!! [anger] [anger] WTF?!!

I have NEVER said that my mum was disappointed and it's absolutely not true - my mum has always made me feel totally loved for who I am, plus she had two boys after me so she had the best of both worlds times two!

Sorry for rant, needed to get that off my chest. Just can't imagine what she's going to be like when my LO turns up.

spongebrainbigpants - that's awful!!! I dont blame you for being angry.

Here's to a happier tomorrow for everyone!

anyone up? I'm having more false labour now - or at least it might be false. We did call my friend who's coming by to take care of DS and warn her before she went to bed and then we slept for a couple hours, but now the pain is radiating down through my legs. It's not that bad, just a bit too much to sleep through at midnight... The contractions are really far apart though so if it is it, we've a long way to go.

AH, are you still up? Can't sleep and don't want to keep dh awake so have retreated to the lounge.

Hope you've managed to get some sleep - or that labour has started properly and isn't going to be too protracted.

AH Hope you are OK.

SBBP hope you managed to get back to sleep.

I'm on the July thread as well as officially my baby is due on 1st, and a lady due on the 8th had her baby on Sunday!

Suddenly it makes it all real to me and I am now worried about working until 38+3.

Back to work for me today after my extended break of holiday, extended holiday and enforced sickness due to trauma on holiday. Should be fun - not. Never mind only 15 working days left and counting.

Debs, hope you are OK.

Ernest, glad that the itching is nothing serious although I feel for you having to put up with it for at least another 2 weeks. The fact that you haven't posted here during the small hours hopefully means that you got a better nights sleep.

Morning to everyone else. Better go and get ready for work.

Will catch up later. Good luck to anyone else with false labours, BHs and general uncomfortableness.

libra, hi, no didn't go back to sleep - at least not yet! Waiting for dh to go to work then will haul myself back into bed for a few hours when I don't need to worry about waking him up!

Sorry to hear you're working so late in pg - is this your first baby?

Still here - I've had contractions on and off for the whole night - I haven't been timing them or I think I'd get depressed, but I'm sore now! I did manage some sleep so I must have convinced the LO to move off my tailbone... Off to take DS to nursery (short walk) and then see what happens I guess. My first labour ramped up a lot quicker than this so I'm wondering if this is just more practice...

Hi AH, That sounds really tiring having all that false labour- just when you need the sleep. It does seem to happen a lot more with 2nd babes too. Maybe the walk will get things going- it sounds like you're really tired with the waiting.

SBBP- I'm really shocked with what your MIL said. The crap they come out with is amazing and sometime quite hurtful. my PIL are in Brisbane and sometimes I think that's a good thing! There is a thread in the pregnancy section about classic MIL quotes. I've been laughing and consoling myself with it- you should add yours. I'm determined not to be a crap MIL one day!!.

MOrning everyone, during our room sort out yesterday the radio alarm got fiddled with and failed to wake either of us up this morning so it's been a mad dash!!

AH - Hope you're OK now, did the walk set off any more contractions? Mine have tailed off now.

Spongebrain - at your mil, maybe you should have said at the end of the conversation - calmly and quietly, that she said her Mum was always hyper critical etc etc, then point out to her that she has just been the same with you. If it's possible to do it now it would be for the best otherwise she won't think there's anything wrong with the things she said to you. Or could dh have a word?

LL - good luck going back to work today.

Morning all.

Happy birthday josey have you got anything nic planned?

AH - how's the contractions this morning?

I am still itching like mad and trying not to think about going for 13 more days like this. Also not hanging out too much for it to clear up shortly after the birth. I remember 1st pg I had terrible terrible pg tiredness/exhaustion and was assured it would improve after about 12 weeks. When I realised I was at 14 weeks and still exhausted it was even more depressing, so trying not to think of if/when it'll end.

Dh, in a rare show of solidarity, has suggested we put itching powder in lo's nappy.

He has also decided he's gone off the names we've chosen. Again. Still, on the plus, he actually agreed to my favourite boy's name, which he'd previously vetoed. But we can't agreee on a girl's name. Tho luckily, we're on the same wavelength. It's not like one wants Tracy and the other Hortentia. But obviously we don't want anything with a vaguely religious feel to it

sbbp, it's so irritating when people come out with this crap isn't it? Rest assured, no matter what combination you have, or even none at all, there will be somebody to make an irritating or stupid or offensive comment about it. And as if you get a choice anyway. ffs. Try not to dwell. Irriatating comments + pg hormones + end in sight = lethal combination.