Due November 2008 - some know the flavour by now but rest of us relying on the folklore...

[sparkletoes]

Ok I am guessing this thread will last about 2 weeks!!

Is anyone else finding they are uncomfortable sitting down for long periods of time (desk job!). My bum seems to be aching when I sit down and I was wondering if it was due to the extra 6kgs I am now carrying??

Yorky I am so glad you mentioned homeopathy first! I have researched some threads about its usefulness in childbirth and been frightened right off from posting anything (if you look up the post about Homeopathy in Childbirth - objections from midwife you will see what I mean!). Anyway, I used arnica after birth of DS and it was amazing, I had extensive bruising (from forceps) anyway it cleared up in days. I bruise like a peach and they never go away quick! Also DS forceps scar disappeared in a day or so as I BF him. Anyway I am thinking it sounds good and is not known to be harmful, has anyone else used the other remedies and found them good? (Have to also say my sister tried it for her eczema and it didn't work but she didn't try it again but my mum swears by it!)

Now I know any "scientific-minded" among you may be tempted to mock/scorn this question but please can I also say , I KNOW it is supposed to be ONLY water and I don't care if you think me Naive, Dumb or Uneducated to consider it so u need not reply! (I also know that none of you would be so rude as the those on said thread tho! xx) Any experiences....?(good/bad or indifferent - I am not expecting ALL experiences to be good here)

P.S I am SO glad your son found relief from using it Yorky!

ChocO I would reckon anyone secretly wanting a girl/just found out they are having a girl would also relish the thought of buying pretty girly things so would NOT consider you superficial at all - just normal!

Pinky your comment is sooo true! There is SO much more to being a mum than childbirth AND BF! But I would also add in the same vein that there are SO many more issues to feel GUILTY/BAD/WORRIED about being a mum too! Those are just the start of it... Thing I realised is that it is mainly others who impose this guilt on you but then surely that is THEIR issue not ours??!! We should all just do what you feel is right and don't worry if you are a first time mum you WILL know (gut instinct) what is right!

Sparkletoes I'm very much in favour of homeopathy and have been seeing a homeopath regularly for the past 4 years. She was great post-mc and with ttc and she's also been giving me remedies to support this pg. I think if you can find an actual homeopath to consult then that's better than self-medicating because he or she will tailor the remedies to you and they will be more effective. The first consultation usually lasts an hour because they go into a lot of detail about your medical history, personality etc. If you've got a complementary therapy centre near you then there will probably be a homeopath there. Alternatively the websites professional bodies for homeopathy should have a database you can search.

chocorange, am having a girl and a boy, or so I've been told. I was VERY EXCITED about the girl...some of it was definitely pretty clothes...and a lot of it was the thought of living with 3 BOYS was just too much testosterone for me!!!

I restrained myself for a week before buying some lovely girls things in Mothercare sale! Then in France, there was a great market stall with matching girl/ boy things for the twins and I had to indulge in a couple of outfits as they were really cheap. Can't wait to see them on! Tbh, with ds he was in babygros most of the time (winter baby) and then v occasionally he would get dressed up to go out, but when he was older, 6-8 months over the summer, it was such a pleasure to dress him and he looked soooo cute.

sparkle, interesting what you say about the bruising. I had forceps with ds and 3rd deg tears, took a long time to heal...it may go that way again (if I can have a natural birth), so would definitely be interested in something supplementary to 'savlon' which was all the hospital recommended.

Thanks Cricri, that is really good you have had a positive result too. I was def thinking about a proper consultation first but just wondered if anyone had actual experience of it before I go ahead...

choc, I am much more uncomfortable walking around, but never get to sit for ages. Sleeping is uncomfortable though.

Sparkletoes a good friend of mine recommended Arnica after DS was born but I never tried it. DH used it when he broke his cheekbone and fractured his eye socket 2 WEEKS beofre our wedding and all of the swelling and bruising had gone!
Pinkyminky I would be interested in a copy of your vbac hypno CD if poss, I discussed it briefly with the MW yest and she said because it was my BP that was the prob last time and I got to 7cm then she doesn't see why I couldn't have a VBAC this time round. The thought scares me a bit I have to admit!!

Aww MerryM those clothes sound adorable. I went to Markies one lunchtime to have a 'look' as I really want a cuddly pram suit for the LO when it leaves hospital. I got loads as gifts for DS but he was a height of summer baby so was too big by winter to wear any of them!

You have one of each so can indulge yourself either way, I don't know, so will have to stick to white/cream/yellow!!

Re: Arnica, my mum honestly swears by it, she used it before an operation and the nurses thought she hadn't been yet as she did not have a single bruise!! One of the MW asked me who told me about it too as she was astonished that my own bruises faded so quickly.

I have heard it is safe to use before birth but chose not to try it as DS came on his DD so I didn't have a chance to consult anyone beforehand! Know of people who used caulophyllum (to make contractions stronger if they start to wear off) and found it worked but I would be interested to hear more...

Sorry girls! I did not read over my previous (long) post before I sent it, it does seem a bit... well OTT but if you had read the thread I mentioned you would see how I don't want this to turn into a hoo-haa!! I have pretty good feeling you guys would NOT react that way so should not have mentioned it. D'yknow it seems to me there are 3 topics to be wary about on MNet threads- children's names, money and homeopathy and I SWORE to myself I would steer clear!!! But u r all too cool to get het up/offensive about stuff.

merry I am the same - am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited to be having a girl

My house is a heaving pit of tesosterone already and the boys aren't even 5 yet! It is all Rugby this, football that, fighting the other....I NEED a girl!!!!!!

Was thinking t'other day how lovely it will be to have a daughter so that when DH takes the boys of on "manly pursuits" I can induldge my little princess!!!!! (that is a joke BTW...being the first girl on both sides she will be thoroughly spoilt as it is)

autumnlady we are waiting for your news!!!!!!

Bubbaz I was TERRIFIED of giving birth! I mean waking in the night in cold sweat petrified of it. That is why I got the hypnoCD and if anything else it calmed down BEFORE the birth so I wasn't sooo... "yes but HOW sore is it!!". I think it just retrained my thoughts to think about relaxing & coping during childbirth so when it happened I wasn't nearly so terrified about it all and for that alone I am grateful.

I just listened to it every eve for 2-3 weeks in the front room on my own, didn't fall asleep to it. But not really sure if there is a better way to do it. That was enough to get over my fear of it all.

Yeah Hana I use the arnica cream too but have to say the homeopathic form seems to work a lot quicker for me!

Merry I'm really pleased to hear about your boy and girl. I know it has nothing to do with me but if I were having twins I think I would like one of each - then you get the best of both worlds!!

As a first timer can I request that we stop talking about bruising, forceps and anything else pain related!! I am still living in blissful ignorance.

From your regular optimist!

afternoon all
Haven't had chance to catch up on the thread yet as just got back from scan.

Everything is fine and where it should be, and........

we are having a ...... BOY

Am very pleased and excited and have some amazing pictures which I will try and upload to show you.
We had no idea what we were having and are just sooooo pleased!!

Can't stop smiling

Congratulations Autumnlady great news for you x

Aww congrats Autumn lady!!

Autumn Congrats on a successful scan!! Is this your first baby??

Thanks guys and yes, it's my first so am very much in the same state of denial as ChocOrange at the whole pain thing!

It has just made it seem so much more real as we now call it 'him' and 'baby boy' - does that sound stupid???

I can now start doing some nursery shopping so thanks for the mamas and papas sale page whoever put that up - ChocOrange, was it you??

xx

Congratulations on your successful scan Autumnlady Look forward to seeing your pictures when you get a chance. Another boy I think the boys are still (just about) in the lead at the moment aren't they?

Autumn yes I put up the mamas and papas sale stuff - I've been buying too but lots of yellow and cream for our baby!!

Blooming Marvellous has a sale on too and there are some cure babygrows on there.

I've been good and only bought some red and white socks and a couple of pale grey hats in the Gap sale so far, but now I have all the excuses I need!!!

Oh I also found out that I have a posterior low-lying placenta and have another scan booked for the beginning of October to see if it's moved. Not too worried about that as I know a few people here have the same and it's not a problem (hopefully!)
xx

autumnlady yyyyaaaaayyyyyyy - CONGRATULLATIONS on your scan!!! Another boy, I am sure boys are outstripping girls by a fair bit now. are you excited??

I definately think finding out makes it easier to bond as that way your baby has an identify and you are waiting to meet him or her.....that's just my opinion by the way!!!!

are we going to discuss names on our thread??? or are we all taking a neutral groound on that for fear of offending??!!

I think we should discuss names because I NEED IDEAS!!!! I have absolutely no ideas yet!

Discuss away (anything you like) I am sure u lot won't offend...