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.

That should have been nice cool BATH!

I'm glad everything is ok Mustsleep, hopefully the bh will ease up soon. They all measure differently so I wouldn't put much faith in it =)

potxola you are not alone, our house is so much cooler than outside, and like you I'm not up for walking to or running in the park. I'm so lazy that when we did go outside instead of filling the paddling pool I gave dd a bucket of water to play with .
Because our house isn't stifling, and its quite overcast outisde, its quite deceptive what the weather is doing just by looking out of the window, so we went to the library completely overdressed (and without suncream) this afternoon and both dd and I totally cooked and then she had a massive tantrum when we got back. Nice.

mustsleep it just goes to show what an inexact science it is. I guess this is why people get the GTT coz docs incorrectly think they have big babies. I think it can depend which way the baby is lying at the time too.

carrieon GLAD I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.
Yesterday I did go to the garden and I gave him some compost, nice one, to play with, because I could not bend to play with him.

My dh is taking all his holidays to be with us after the C-section. I hope to recover soon, carry the little one in the sling and have a bit of a good time with ds too.
You gave me an idea, tomorrow we will go early to the library.

mustsleep I just don't care about their dates anymore,as long as you don't have a show, you are ok.

Welcome flumpy!

I barely slept last night either - the temp in our room didn't drop below 29 until about 5am (when it dropped to 26 - way-hay!) despite having the windows open and the fan on. I was too hot at work today - and work is a climate controlled aircon office. No one else was too hot. Now I understand why they say it's not good to be heavily pg over the Summer!

All fine at my 32 week check-up today. But now my bump is feeling sore at the bottom on the left, round where my stitches start. DD was playing up outside the surgery and I was forced to pick her up off the ground and carry her to the car and bundle her in against her will. She was good as gold actually IN the appointment! Little minx. It hurts now when I have to lift her. I don't suppose it harms the baby but can't be doing me much good .

Carrieon I think you've hit the nail on the head about DH. One of the things I love about him is that he is very calm, whereas I am much more emotional. However the downside of this is that he doesn't like (eg) ringing up and getting things done, or arguing with people. That usually falls to me. From that point of view my dad would be the perfect birth partner (I take after him!) as he's great at rattling cages and getting things done, but I don't really want him watching me give birth! I will definitely ask them to talk through my notes with me but prob will wait til the appt now just cos it's easier. I'm not after apologies etc and I'm happy that the c-section was the right decision. I just want to ensure I'm kept informed next time. I think I shall do some rattling of cages myself at the appointment!

V of those giving birth in spanking new units with facilities for DPs and DHs to stay overnight. Ours doesn't even have private rooms, except for very special circumstances (bad ones I guess). I found DH being sent home at night was one of the hardest things of all and if I didn't have the 2 risk factors (previous c-section and GBS) I'd be tempted by a home waterbirth just for that. Mind you, DH doesn't fancy the mess anyway! I figure at least if I have a successful VBAC I'll be going home sooner than if I have another CS.

Potxola I feel the same. I take DD to the park and then feel really mean when I tell her I've managed to lift her on to the swing once, I can't do it again cos she's too heavy and I'm too big. I just want the baby to come so I can start doing things again! I dreamt last night that I went in to labour and have already given birth twice in my sleep!

Mustsleep have you been taking raspberry leaf tea? I took the capsules from about 34 weeks with DD and they brought on really painful BH. When I stopped taking them the BX died right down again. I decided it wasn't worth 6 weeks of unnecessary pain!

Sorry for long post (again!)

jearund the one positive I can see of being on a ward in a hospital, is that they police your visitors for you! Last time we had 12 hours with dd before visiting hour started at 3pm, and they were all kicked out after an hour before being allowed back at 7pm for an hour. Lovely. almost (but not quite) makes up for dh not being allowed to stay the night! I'm already thinking of how to phrase a sign on our front door for this time that essentially says 'IF we allow you to come in, please naff off again after 20 mins'. And most of all, how to make it clear to my parents and in-laws that I include them in that . I'm starting to mention it now in the hope they get the hint!

jearund no haven't been on the raspberry tea - i really can;t stand any flavoured teas which is a bit of a shame as my friend has just done the green tea diet and lost loads - isn't it supposed to bring on labour or is that a different tea?been serioulsey hot up north too!! too hot to sit out - poor dd fell asleep on sat under the rug on the floor in the room at 12 and then woke up just to be put on the sofa and slept till 5 and then went to bed at 6 it's too warm for her!!went to toys r us on sat and had to talk myself out of buying a huge paddling pool that i could fit in with the kids

Carrieon LOL! Are these the same visitors who are supposed to come armed with home-cooked meals for your freezer and insist on doing the cleaning before they leave? I think ours got lost on the way.......

Mustsleep yes they are supposed to bring on labour. I wouldn't recommend them then if you are already having bad BH!

Hello all.

Well, bit of a strange antenatal appointment today....wondered if you all knowing MN oracles can give me some advice?....

Scan ok, baby moving loads and growth wise he is on the 75th centile which is incredibly reassuring due to my ds IUGR.

Anyway, then the sonographer said that my waters had increased again and were now at 99%.

Anyone else had excess amniotic fluid? and what could it mean? I am refusing to google it as I know I will just scare myself stupid!

They have repeated the FBC to check my iron level and also done a blood glucose and a Torch (sp?) screen because apparently diabetes and some infections can cause excess fluid.

Mentioned my chest and back pain and she seemed to think it was either muscle related or reflux

My BP was 99 over 79 so I dont think PET is a liklihood but I am always watching for the signs as my sister had severe PET and had to deliver at 27 weeks.

Then I metioned my ds had a mystery streptococcal infection in his blood at 6 weeks and so she is going to check his hospital records to see if it was group B strep and, if so, treat me with antibiotics.

I am thinking of sending for the postal GBS kit -I know some of you have done it - what do I do?

Sorry for the long ramble, very hot and tired - No air con in the antenatal clinic and I was there for 3 hours

Becaroo I googled on private gbs test and came up with a couple of email addresses and addresses. The one I wrote to was The Doctors Laboratory - email: [email protected]. I sent them a list of questions - as below with the replies:

1. Does a positive result indicate a current flare-up or merely that I am a carrier (which I already know) - it can only indicate whether you are negative or positive at the time of sample taking, and this may indicate a new or existing condition. It would not be possible to tell.
2. How do I get hold of a test? All we need is your address to where we can send a sample pack.
3. Can I get my midwife to carry it out for me? You could do this yourself - many women do or, yes, ask your midwife to take them.
4. Do I then send the swab back to you? Yes - there is a self addressed, post paid return envelope in the pack.
5. How long before I get the results? We will text message the result to you 2 days after receiving the samples and then send hard copy to you and your midwife/GP/Consultant.
6. How much does it cost and what arrangements are there for payment (cheque/ credit card?) There is a payment for in the pack and you can pay by cc or cheque. The cost of this complete service if £ 32.00

Here's the address etc:

The Doctors Laboratory
60 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4EU

www.tdlpathology.com

Direct Tel: 0207 307 7343/5
Direct Fax: 0207 307 7344
Mobile: 07867 518 567

Thanks jearund!

Will sort that out tomorrow.

AFI (?) was 26 cms...is that bad???

potxola i think were all feeling the same, everythings an effort i feel i'm constantly snapping and moaning at my ds...poor little chap! The hot weather isn't doing anything for anyone's patience either, i wish i had the energy to play with him but really can't be bothered...How awful is that i haven't got long with it just being him...should be making the most of it

Hello Flumpy

I hope tonight is cooler!!!!

Hi all- Mustsleep hope ur BH dont cause you too much problems, I dont think I have had any.

This weather is killing me, I love the sun but it is so hard to sleep at the moment nevermind id rather this than the rain.

Do any of you know of a book I can buy which deals with all the problems u could have with bf and solutions, which is really easy to follow. I have been looking at different books and was wondering which one would be best to buy and if any of you had used one which u recomend.

hope ur all keeping well only 6 weeks plus to go

Hi guy and welcome flumpet

I am feeling the same and really havent the energy to play with ds 3. I still sending him to nursery 3 days a week even though I am on mat leave . I have no family local and he really loves it anyway. I feel guilty still.

Totally shattered and cant concentrate on here tonight.

Glad all is well mustsleep

Try to sleep well girls x

yes, so i'd like to get this baby out now. it's really too hot and i can't fit into anything anymore and it's hard to move in bed.

welcome flumpy. Putting nappies on a teddy bear is about as much practise as we ever had prior to the arrival of DS, we did the NCT classes but they only focussed on the birth. To be honest I'm not sure anything could have prepared us for having a baby in the house. We were pretty shell shocked and i was recovering from an EM CS so the first few days were grim. As long as the baby isn't too hot / cold, very hungry or poo-y then you should muddle through! If we did it, anyone can!

Went for a swim today. My dad & stepmum had DS so I had the afternoon to myself. Mum is taking him out tomorrow, he has nursery Weds morning and mum again on Friday. I feel like a part time mum this week . I am getting lots done in the house though, I'm not just watching TV eating biscuits.

Hello ladies I can't believe I've finally managed to catch up - it's only taken me a week!!! Had a lovely long weekend in the Cotswolds where I continously stuffed myself with yummy organic food. Really feel for everyone suffering in the heat... I felt great and full of energy until the temperature started soaring, now I'm just a pathetic lump. Starting to make inroads in the ridiculously enormous shopping list I still have... but it's all such an effort. Wish I'd got organised a bit earlier now.

Thank you for the changing bag tip potxola (I think it was you?) I managed to order the skip hop duo in camel cord for almost half price - total bargain.

Don't start NCT classes till end of August ( will be 34 weeks) but I guess that means less chance of forgetting everything. Still got 5ish weeks of work which seems like an age...

Much respect to all those of you coping with toddlers and enormous bump in this heat!

kel I've got a nice book on BF from the library, 'the new Bestfeeding, getting breastfeeding right for you', link www.amazon.co.uk/Bestfeeding-Getting-Breastfeeding-Right-You/dp/0890879559/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=book s&qid=1217278911&sr=1-2 . Recommended by a friend who also had a distaster first time, but is currently having a roaring success with her second baby. I like it so far -although not had to put it into practise. the amazon reviews are good, I actually like the bossy tone of the book!

mumiyummy that is EXACTLY how I feel. During the day he has been playing with his trains on the floor, quite bored and I am on the sofa looking at him thinking : I only have a month left with you alone, I'd love to feel like reading to you, playing with you etc...

mamamufin I wonder if this guilt feeling we are having it will get bigger when our babies arrive.

jearund I can't lift ds onto the swing either and if we go to the open grass bit at the park, he just loves running so far way that I can't follow him and I panic that a big dog will come up to him and i won't be able to get to him in time!!!!!My ds does not stop when I ask him to, he gets tooooo excited in open spaces (probably because with the problems in the pregnancy has not gone out much
I should take the risk tomorrow and go to the park, but I just don't feel what the airlines call an able body.
I can not even contemplate carrying him like you did with you dd, he is too big.

It is 27 degrees in his bedroom now and I am not looking forward to going to bed today either.

I hope by August 27th the weather cools down, otherwise I would have to forget about the slings. It would be too warm to carry the baby on them.

OK, let's be positive now potxola: we are all going to have gorgeous babies and we will forget about this heat the moment we see their faces.

Little Connie That is excellent news! If they have had the red one, I would have bought it.

Having spent the afternoon with my friend's 7 month old who was just crying coz of the heat, I increased my resolve that I'd rather be pregnant than dealing with a newborn in a heatwave...and that thought keeps me going.

jearund - I'm now considering homebirth for exactly your reason. Keep the masses out except for three visiting hours: excellent idea. Try to enforce a quiet time where partners are expected to go home OR be silent - would be great. Insist I have to be alone without a partner for a 10-hour stretch - no way.

carrieon - good luck keeping annoying people away! Luckily my parents and ILs will be fine - my parents won't want to be around for more than an hour and certainly not go to a hospital, and the ILs will happily make themselves infinite cups of tea and stay in another room if I or Squirmy are asleep.

The raspberry tea apparently tones your uterus to make labour more efficient (ie faster), rather than bringing it on. I plan to try it from next week because I've got a large tub of it, but depends on how it tastes...

Dunno about breastfeeding - it seems to boil down to positioning and then phoning for real live help if that doesn't work. Any better tips from those who've done it??

Littleconnie Boots have a great offer in Skip Hop changing bags in charcoal at £ 28.00 plus triple points. I have succumbed!
Well, the old ones I have don't have a compartment for my things,and in this one they won't get wet. Starlight don't look at this link:
www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1070173&classificationid=1034917