Due Sept 08: Come on babies, 'cause we are running out of space.

[kiskidee]

New thread here.

Daft name cause we only have 4 more before we hit 1000.

becaroo Good luck today. Hope they help you.

flumpy our NHS antenatal classes were a total waste of time. Now I'm a sucker for attending all these things anyway, but I actually learned nothing. Good books, tinternet and friends taught me everything I needed to know. And a subscription to a baby magazine! Hope you make the right decision for you.

jearund your dh sounds a bit like mine. My labour was nothing like yours, but when things did get a bit hairy and out of control, instead of 'being my voice' he just shut up and let the midwives get on with it 'coz they're the professionals'. He just didn't have enough conviction in his own opinions and was so terrified by the whole thing! I don't know if its coz in his business he does know more than his clients and wishes they would listen to him more! Anyway, I'm having my wonderful friend with me this time who know knows waaaay more, and knows what I want, and what different protocols are in different situations, and isn't afraid to ask stuff. TBH she's a midwife's worst nightmare, and that makes her perfect

I was really proud of dh on saturday though, my friend's waters broke but the contractions didn't start, she texted asking how to get it going and he replied 'curry, fresh pineapple and sex. But probably not sex if waters have gone due to risk of infection'. Bless his heart he's learnt a lot in the last couple of years!!!

I haven't had any BH at all, should I be worried? Last night was the first time the little octopus actually woke me (and kept me awake) with its incessant activity.

mumiyumi Caleb was our fave boys name until a family member used it. I'm not convinced by our new choice though...and dh has gone off the girl's name!!

Sorry for long post.

flumpy,

I'm taking the parentcraft classes at the portland and it's kinda fun. i'm the biggest idiot in the class .

i've learned how to tell when the baby is too hot or too cold (when to take clothes on and off)...and different massage techniques (my husband has learned these)... but other than that nothing else. so maybe not really worth it?

Re: parentcraft classes....NCT classes were fine, but very focused on natural birth, no pain relief etc which may or may not be for you and didnt really cover c sections.

NHS classes were ok, but didnt tell me anything I hadnt already read in the books and I missed the last one on labour because I was in labour

TBH, mumsnet (and the wonderful ladies onn this thread!) are and have been far more helpful to me than any book or class I have been to - wish I had known about them 5 years ago when I had ds!

Not gone to any classes this time round - doesnt seem much point and you learn by doing anyway!

PS: I am due on 18th too!

dh's and my over-riding memory of the NHS classes were the midwives going to great lengths to not express an opinion. One of them 'slipped up' and referred to a 'nice natural birth' (by which she meant no pain relief) and apologised, and apologised again when she realised the flashcards on breast/bottle feeding bore the logo of a formula manufacturer coz she thought we might all get indoctrinated. It was fun trying to make her slip up

Hi guys,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and for all of your kind words and advice.
I feel a bit happier and reassured now as I'm always reading as much info as I possibly can and like you say Becaroo, you learn by doing anyway!
I also have a lot of people around me who have had or just had babies so I also have a good support/knowledge network there.
I will also make sure I have all of the BF phone numbers with me in my hospital bag like you recommend Hopefully.

I've been reading the Bounty leaflet on 'How to BF' and this has helped too.

I will definately stick around Potxola now I've made the jump from lurker to poster in this thread and I'll continue to benefit from all you worldly-wise mum's and mum's to be!

Here's to a trouble free rest of pregnancy and beyond for us all.

Thanks!
xx

this booklet is better than the bounty leaflet.

You can print it out on the 'Draft' setting and in B&W so as to conserve ink. My PCT gives it away in the Antenatal Pack maybe show it to your MW to see if they have it?

SL about the Edgeware Birthing Centre, I think about 2 yrs ago it was being threatened with closure. You may want to ask if that was so/still is the case and add your support.

Starlight - I was going to recommend Edgware to you - a colleague gave birth there a couple years ago, although she and baby then had to go to Edgware General as the baby had an odd fit just before being discharged. Three weeks later he'd had every test going and they concluded he just wanted to play with all the machinery - nothing wrong with him at all!

I'm right the other end of London now though and giving birth in a traffic jam is definitely not on my list of preferred options! And gods know how I'd get any postnatal visits then! At least I'm getting good antenatal care now, which is the main thing.

flumpy Hello! I'm a first-timer and found that antenatal classes were useful to put facts into context and calm us all down, reassuring us that scare stories were a load of crap, but I didn't learn that much new stuff.
Key points were stay at home until you're desperate for hospital pain relief, keep moving around in labour if at all possible, if breastfeeding hurts at all keep calling helplines until someone helps you, and accept that you won't be doing any housework for 6 weeks after birth. Actually looking at lots of pictures of newborns was useful too - it's OK if they're purple, squished, and have gunk of all sorts of colours all over, apparently!

hopefully you do burn more easily when you're pg, something to do with the melanin (is that the right thing?) levels changing in your skin.

I'm suffering in the heat too. Esp at night when it's been so muggy and sticky. Even though I've been living in South of England for 5 years I think my body is still acclimatised to Scottish summers so doesn't cope well with muggy days.

Went swimming this morn with ds, nice to get out of the heat for a bit.

DS's 'big boy bed' came today so fingers crossed for tonight (if we get it made in time) being a fine nights sleep.

Hi everyone, hope you're all ok and for those experiencing the 30C heat (like me!) hope you're hanging in there.

Can't write much, too hot...but just have to get this off my chest. I'm 33 wks, finish work in 2 weeks. I've been doing the same working hours (normal office hours) but have sometimes been taking 15 mins less at lunchtime and leaving abit earlier which my (male) boss has been fine with. Today, I asked him if for my final 2 weeks I could leave 15 mins earlier still, as I?m starting to get more uncomfortable, back ache, tiredness etc. He agreed, but said ?let?s keep this as an informal arrangement with a view to contributing the 'lost time' at some point in the future on your return.? WTF? I?m furious, what a damned cheek, he?s talking about making up 2 hours or so ? what about all the extra hours I?ve worked and not got paid for!! I feel so insulted. He?s such a dinosaur, where do these men get off?

Sorry for the rant but feel (abit) better now!

Thanks for the link Kiskidee I will check that out at home later.

Thanks for your warm welcomes and great advice Starlight and notcitrus.

I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty which is suprising for me. I've always been a bit obsessive over stuff like that but for some reason, the nearer my due date gets, the more relaxed I feel about the things that would have stressed me out before I was pregnant if you see what I mean.
So if I do manage to put the first nappy on back-to-front and we have a poo leak, hopefully we'll just be able to laugh about it rather than getting stressed

Those key points were also really useful notcitrus. I'm hoping to stay at home for as long as I can and moving around in labour lots if possible. So it's good to hear that we're encouraged to do that.

Edgware sounds like a great place to give birth, but not ideal if you run the risk of being stuck in traffic jams on the way.
It certainly sounds like your midwife is being really helpful notcitrus so hopefully she'll make sure your hospital support you just as much during your stay.

xx

Urgh mama2bee that's so frustrating! I can't believe he actually said that. Like you say it's like all the previous extra hours you've done without extra pay have been forgotten.
Work can be so short sighted and narrow-minded sometimes!

If your boss ever mentions you making up the time then you should make mention to the fact that you have already made up the time by working 15mins less on your dinners in the run up to your finish. Either that or mention the extra time you have put in as and when needed, which you weren't paid for.

I finish work in just under 3 weeks and I am counting down the days already because it's so flipping hot!

Thanks for the sympathy flumpytigger! Counting the days too. Everyone keeps saying, oh you must be so hot, definitely leave work earlier, and all I can think is why can't my boss be nice like normal people!

Hi all - Back home to London after a weeks holiday in Scotland - Can't believe the heat! And I had to stand for 5 stops on the tube this morning! Anyway good to get a little break in before a couple of hard weeks before I finish work. Can thoroughly recommend a v child friendly hotel up there-Crieff Hydro, especially if you have an older child as they have a kids club which is free for over 2s... as DD is not yet 2 we paid for a creche which was still great! Stressing about a wedding outfit... wedding is 6 days after due date (!) and is approx 4 hours drive away... if anyone has seen any good breastfeeding formalish dresses or tops pls let me know!

I started my maternity leave 6 weeks before my EDD because I knew I'd never manage in the heat, in the end I also had a week of A/L to take so it's worked out well, thank God. I am waaaay too hot today mind you, even though it's just rained on two loads of my washing.

I was originally cross at being forced onto leave (work were going to pay me in lieu of annual leave, and are now making me take it), but now I'm so relieved to be stopping at the end of this week. Don't actually start maternity till my due week though, so it works out quite well.

I was going to work until the August bank holiday (22nd), but I'm stopping end of next week, and the last 5 weeks have been working only from home, and taking 2 days each week as annual leave. Then I take my leftover leave which neatly takes me to the 22nd anyway.

I'll worry about the finances in 8 months' time...

mama2bee - any chance your boss was making a bad joke? Still, he's hardly going to remember two hours in a year's time, is he? Or is he?

flumpy - in our last class we played with dolls and nappies - people who'd never changed a nappy got to change them! I've changed a few for SIL2, so have figured out the importance of having everything to hand including the unfolded nappy, so you can do it all ASAP. Tutor's hint was expensive disposables have a picture on the front so you know it's the right way round...

Right, back to the work project of ultimate boringness...

Just caught up with thread - I'm feeling the heat too and just can't sleep at night so permanently knackered (good practise for a newborn...?!)

I've found a fab 100%cotton maternity nightie from M&S that opens down the front for bf - bargain at £9.50!! Such a good buy, I've bought 2 and will use one for labouring in. At that price, don't mind chucking it.

StrepB - I have no idea if I am a carrier but just in case, I've got a private test kit online. It's free for kit and then costs £32 to send swabs off to clinic, results in 3 days. Just in case, you know?

Becaroo - have you considered pre-eclampsia with your upper chest pain - my mw told me it was a symptom. Don't want to worry you - sure all is OK but again, just in case....

Finally - had a fab BBQ yesterday, though knackered me today! All our relatives came from all over the place, which was great, and my sister's kids got on really well with DP's nephew and neice, which was a joy to watch.
Only drama was DP's DD came with her boyfriend. This was a good thing as she avoids me as she blames me for DP and her mum splitting up 5 years ago, so I always like the chance to build bridges and relationships. They stayed to end and then told us they are getting married in 2 years time and 'look at my lovely ring' - DP's DD turned 18 in May just gone and bf is 21. They have set a date in August 2010(I'm not invited, though our LO will be of course), booked a hotel, cake etc all in the space of a few weeks. DP was speechless. Twas only a few months ago she was throwing tantrums as a stroppy teenager. They're not even going to live together before they marry (though stay the night at each other's houses, so it's not for reasons of virtue!)

I worry she's seeking a stable 'family' life as she doesn't have one at home (I did same at her age and ended up getting divorced after 7 years).
Sorry for long post but good to get it off my chest. Nowt I can do anyway - what will be will be.

I am sooooo hot I have every window open and the blinds shut, but I am still hot.

I have my 3 yr old son at home and I just don't feel like going out in this heat. So the TV has been on all day and I feel a bit of a failure as a mother.

I wish I could go to the park and run with him. I am not being much of a mum a the moment. Anyone in this situation?

About sleeping, forget it it is imposible at the moment.I am a walking zombie.

Starlight it is a good thing I did not buy a new changing bag. I have just put the carricot on top of the much used pushchair, it is a travel system, and with the buggy board attached, there is really no room for a changing bag, so rucksack it is.

Very at people starting leave - I finish on 22 August, whe I'll be 36w. Do alot from home, so not too bad but even so, would love to just do nothing for a bit!

I see my new midwife on Wed.

I am still waiting for a response to my last stroppy letter. (2 wks ago.) don't think any remember what it was about but IMO 2 wks is long enough to get an official response on their 'staffing issues' wrt my home water birth. No?

been to hospital and they are just btaxton hicks but if they get any worse or i lose water have a show etc i have to go back

the doc offered to do an internal no thanks your ok just wanted to know that it was normal to have bh for so long

am still having them now and am in agony not sure about another 7 weeks of this!!

one thing though if i went to the midwifes on 17th july and she wrote in my notes that i was 32 weeks and 3 days after checking the wheelie thing. how on earth can i only be 33 weeks plus 3 days today either this will be the longest pregnancy in the world or someone cant add up!!
if i am due on 12th sept how long is really left

also looked at my notes when i got home and the midwife on 17 th july measured me at 35cms, then the midwife in the hosp tday measured me at 34 cms and then the doc measured me at 33 cms before i left - confusing or what?

Mustsleep I make you 33+3, Im due 18th and am 32+4. Glad everything is ok.

I am soooo hot. think I might get in a nice cool b agth and sleep there tonight, its about the only way I can see of getting any sleep!