Due DECEMBER 2008 - just over a hundred shopping days to Baby

[LadyThompson]

New thread, people, unless someone else has started one...

Going back a couple... I will NEVER have a brazilian again! I had one a few years ago and felt like she was actually pulling out the inside of my lady garden. Then they got to my bumhole. Oh dear GOD! The mortification! I'm sure something came out when they did that bit. I didn't even realise it was that hairy! I was so embarrassed! Of course DH loved it, so I told him to make the most of it as no WAY was it ever going to happen again! Today am just having a straightforward bikini wax. Phew.

Effie, so glad the scan was ok - and good luck re the cleft lip - a friend's baby was born with one and just had an operation to have it sorted and you can't tell at all now. Joaquin Phoenix had one - you can see a faint scar - and he is hot stuff!

I get so cross with these people judging others on what kind of birth they choose for their babies - of course people are going to do what's best for their baby - how can someone say that your friend didn't give her baby the best start in life - that's appalling and disgusting. Grrr. Our yoga teacher was saying that we must avoid induction completely as it's not natural and not right for the baby. I must admit, having spoken to quite a few of my friends about it, they said that by the time you're 42 weeks pregnant, you don't care about induction any more, you just want to get the baby out as you're so tired and big an in pain! My sister definitely felt like that and ended up having an emergency c-section after induction. So I know it's not ideal, but she said she was just desperate by then!

Lord alive we are going torun out of space again. New thread is needed.

ooh Jam - you're the woman for that! We are so chatty!

Why is Immac not allowed in PG? I used it this morning as have aqua natal aerobics tonight.
On the subject of C-Sections, I did NCT classes last time, and they very much push for the 'as natural as possible' birth. As a result I kept on refusing a C-section in labour and ended up with a very traumatic and long birth with my 11lb 4oz DS. In retrospect I should have had the Caesarean as he had shoulder displacia and was a bit of a mess (as was I) by the time they finally got him out using ventouse.
This time I'm going to go with the flow, and if they reccomend a C-section in hospital then I'll have it.
Not blaming the NCT, but I felt that if I'd had a caesarean then I would have failed at the first test.

Monrning everyone,

Congrats for al the successful scans. effie I hope you get more good news in 2 weeks and from everyone's comments on here it sounds like things will be fine either way.

Morning all! Sounds like all our littlun's are getting into the olympic spirit, I was lying in bed last night feeling like there was archery practice going on inside my tum! I really like it at the moment, makes me laugh to feel the effort Junior's going to - will see how it feels in a few months time though!

Can I ask a question about going on Mat leave? At the moment I'm planning on ML from 38 weeks plus a week and a half annual leave before then. Does that sound like madness? Should I be looking to go off earlier? I'm feeling fine at the moment (touch wood) though obviously that's no indication of how things will go closer to the time.

jj I was planning on going at 38 weeks without any leave beforehand!!!
I realise this is pushing it a bit but my work is quite flexible and I am sure they would let me change my mind. Also I have an easy commute (15 min drive) and a desk job without any travelling.
So I would have thought finishing at 36.5 weeks should be fine. My friend has a commute across london and planned finishing at 38 weeks in the end work had to pay for a taxi for her for the last 2 weeks as she couldn't manage the commute, but I think she got on ok with the work.

My boss pushed me out the door at 36 weeks with my DD, and TBH I wished I had dug my heels in, as I had felt OK and DD was 2 weeks late, so I was twiddling my thumbs for 6 weeks. But like SL I was driving to work and sitting at a desk, so it was easy to stay longer. This time, I'm planning to leave at 32 weeks (because twins generally come a few weeks earlier and I'm already big), and I'm worried about how I'm going to last until then - I'm breathless and exhausted with the commute (now by bike and train or walk and train). So I guess it depends on the circumstances and your health.

I'm doing the same as you, jj, but with 2 weeks annual leave before the maternity leave starts. and my work is quite flexible, so I guess if I need to go sooner, then it'll be ok. I'm struggling to save 2 weeks holiday for then, though - gasping for time off at the moment!

Just on the tummy button thing, which I forgot to comment on earlier - I don't think mine will pop out as it's really deep too, but it is definitely shallower and I even just checked in the loo now and I can see the bottom of it, which I have never seen before! Very exciting. For me anyway. Not sure I'll be telling friends and family about it!

Ooh, speaking of which - small bit of rage incurred last night.... One of my sisters (who I love, but is frustrating) talks about her children incessantly and I have listened to her for the past 6 years patiently and pretending to be interested. She rarely calls me and last night I thought I should call her as it's been about 5 weeks since we spoke. Anyway, listened patiently (again) to the chat about her kids, then jokingly said that my exciting news is that DH finally felt the baby kick last week. her response (splutter, grrr, rage again) was "AND?" as if I'M the most boring person in the world! Good GOD! The cheek of it! I know it's not that exciting for other people (hence saying it in jokey voice), but I've humoured her child chat for 6 bloody years!!! I had to restrain myself from hanging up on her! ROAR! ...

and relax. sorry for rant!

I've got a fairly easy job physically - work in a library and already I've got other people on any heavy lifting duties plus I get a lift in most days, and cycle the others. So I guess swap cycle for walk (in December... brrr! maybe the bus...) should be ok.

Jealous of all these cyclists - I used to cycle in religiously every day across London. But 2 of my friends were knocked off in one week (one was ok with bruised bottom and the other fractured her elbow - ouch). DH suddenly got all protective and wouldn't let me cycle any more and has even dismantled my bike! I can sort of see why, but I do miss it terribly! Oh well, swimming and yoga will have to suffice.

that would annoy me too beans. Mean sister.
Do a really loud pointed yawn next time she starts talking about her kids latest poo or dull achievement at school or whatever, and say "oh is that the time?"
My brother is really excited that husband can feel mine move now and wants a try himself! Little sproglet gets stage fright though most of the time when anyone puts their hand on my stomach so he may have to be patient! He (brother) is training to be a doctor though so I expect he will want to give me some advice (which will probably be wrong, bless him)

Morning all,
Have my scan later today, looking forward to seeing baby again. Hasn't been moving much, yesterday or today, so glad i've got the scan today just to put my mind at rest.

As with the ML I haven't decided on anything yet.. was just going to wing it and see how I felt, My DP drops me to work and picks me up and its only a 10min drive so i've no real commute which is good, my work is pretty flexible so they are fine with it, as long as I continue to feel ok that is!

Me and jj live in Cambridge, everyone cycles here! Though I have been knocked off more in Cambridge (twice) than when I used to cycle commute across london (once). I find cycling in London scary now though!

SL - mine's the same. the moment DH goes to feel it, it goes really still. So frustrating, when I can feel it pummelling away in there! So was extra-exciting when DH finally found it!

Good luck with scan, Purple - very exciting! I want mine again now!

jj where do you live and work in Cambridge? If it is not too nosy . I live on Mill road and work in the science park up nr Milton.

Yes good luck purple sorry missed that in your post!

I'm also going to be starting my ML at 38 weeks, with 2 weeks holiday before that. I'll also have a few days holiday to play with, so I'm probably going to reduce my hours to 4 days a week for the 4 weeks before that (I drive - no effort like biking or walking for me - but it does take an hour, which is more my concern than actually doing the work).

purple good luck today. I felt no movement for a couple of days before the scan, but there it was wriggling away - they must save their efforts for when they know they're going to be watched!

beans grrr to your sister, that too would wind me up

Beans grrr to your sister! How annoying!

Purple good luck with your scan.

I'm also currently planning to stop somewhere between 37 and 38 weeks. Seems an awful long way off!

GBB I stopped at 34 weeks with my twins, but hopefully I won't be quite so huge this time so can go on a little longer with one! By 34 weeks I found I wasn't really sleeping much at night and walking to the shop at the end of the road exhausted me - so I'm glad I stopped then!

Hatty you poor thing i have a mortal fear of GA's. You are brave to be trying for a natural one this time.

Beans that is so annoying with your sister, my SIL is the same and it drives my poor DH crazy, we hear all about their blessed child but our DS seems not to exist, same as now her pregnancy is big news and DH gets a blow by blow description of it every few days but she doesn't even ask about me.

I think it's wonderful that your DH felt the beastie move, it's really nice to know they can feel whats inside there too, it makes then just that little more a part of it. I remember the 2nd thing i looked forward to most when i was pregnant with DS was seeing DH hold him for the first time, and it was as special as the first time he felt him in my belly. As far as when to stop work, i could have kept it up close to the end and many of my collegues did but my tube & DLR commute took around and hour (partially due to my waddle to the station) and was finding teh packed carriages too much. I think it reaally does depend on how difficult your commute is.

I'm also jealous of the cyclists, DS keeps asking when we are going to cycle places again instead of taking the car, from very early on i can't bend forward on the bike it's way too uncomfortable, i think my babies like to lay low, real low.

ps my little one stops wriggling everytime I try and get DH or DDs to have a feel.

I did work out last time though that I was unconciously holding my breath and tensing my tummy in an effort to remain still for Dh to have a good chance of feeling movement - so i guess that probably stops the baby moving!

summerlightning I'm Mill Road area too, the far side of the bridge! Are you named after the Adnams beer by any chance, we're well provided for good pubs in Cam!

Purple good luck for your scan, Junior got into an awkward position for mine so I was sent away to eat some chocolate to try and get him/her moving again

Beans I don't know if I'd be brave enough to cycle in London, touch wood I've never had an accident (well, there was one time I just fell over in the middle of a crossroads when my foot slipped off the pedal, but fortunately there wasn't anyone else around ).

Glad to hear most people's works are being good about ML, and seems that 3-4 weeks is probably quite plenty!

Dh apparently can feel junior bouncing around loads when he comes to bed.

Am struggling today, ds didn't have a nap yesterday & woke up at 5.30am this morning and its all caught up with him I think. He's just so tired, everything is a major drama and cause for meltdown.

new thread

Good luck with scan, Purple, and with midwife, Rosmerta. Hope you get the home birth you want. Funny how people get so exercised about the way other people give birth (not on this thread of course). I just wish all of you to have healthy babies and the experiences that you WANT, whether it's on a tightrope wire in Khatmandu, in a dog basket or the full on hospital shebag.

SO it's a boy for Effie Periiiiiine. I am not surprised (I think this is because you said you thought it was) and how lovely for you. I'm v happy with my girl BUT I do have times where I think it would be nice to be the only girl in da house (my sister has two boys and she is SO worshipped)...also, I think back to what a pain I was as a teenager. I think girls are worse in this respect. But I do love dolls (and dresses, and pink), so I'm looking forward to all that nonsense.

Beans, your sister is a meanie. My DP STILL hasn't felt the baby move and he is very mournful about this, so it is a cause for celebration, your DH feeling it. It's odd, cos I feel her loads. But not on the outside.

Effie, in answer to your question, DP is back from Bermuda tomorrow morning. He is coming to see me on the way back from the airport (we don't live together at the moment). For everyone else, I got a major dose of the hump on Monday when I found out that he'd told his sister the names we've chosen for DD, when we'd agreed not to tell ANYONE and it was just our secret. Daft to get your knickers in a twist over I know, but I felt a bit crap and oversensitive that day, and it made me stupidly furious for HOURS.

Hatty, apparently the trick is to deep breathe. This increases the oxygen supply to the baby and makes them more likely to wriggle around. This is why they supposedly move more at night, as we are breathing more deeply. Haven't tried it yet.

I not even going to talk about the arrangement of my, ahem, lady garden. You really don't want to know