Due in June 7 - the one with all the boys!!!

[katzguk]

yeah new fresh and clean thread!

Uwila, I took arnica after delivering dd. It's meant to help with bruising. I liked it, but you have to know how to use homeopathic remedies, there's a knack. SOmething like, you take them regularly, say every 2 hours, for X amount of time and if it doesn't work, it is unlikely to iykwim. So I guees ask a homeopath or read the instructions.

okay everybody cross your fingers DH has found his dream job tonight, part time teaching at a private school, mostly A level 15 mins walk from house to school!! so just waiting for application form and loads of luck!! so much less stress than where he is at the moment.

Uwila, thanks for sharing that with us. What a terrible experience for you and your DH. Its good (in a non-gory way) to hear the realities so us 1st timers can be prepared for all eventualities.

I'm a bad mum - as we are planning on moving in the near future, I wasn't planning on decorating a nursery as I've had probs selling my house in the past and I want to make it as saleable as possible (I dont think big murals on walls, which i am itching to do, help). I was going to just get the cot, drawers, nightlight, mobile etc and hope that the wee nipper forgives me when they are older.

The baby/DH kicking thing works both ways. My DH looks at me in horror whenever I grab his hand to feel a kick. He keeps making references to Alien and that he's glad it's not him carrying a little person around. I'm glad too. The human race would have died out a long time ago if it was left to men like my DH .

Good luck Katz - i'll keep those fingers crossed. Now about that madras......

Aw, Jonah, you are not bad at all. The truth is babies don't give a rat's ass what their room looks like. Let's face it, we decorate the room because WE think it is cute. You can always do stuff with the room that doesn't permanently alter it. Like you could get a bright colored throw rug at IKEA, or Disney Store or something. You can hang pictures on the wall, get bright colored sheets. You can do a lot without changing white walls.

I have an extra challenge. One room for girl and boy. So, I have to stick to unisex colors. But, I have some ideas with alphabet letters, and numbers. I'm going to pain them to match the colors in DD's duvet, and then stick them up on my white walls (which I am mildly considering painting in spite of renting). Oh, and I'm going to buy a cheapo pine dreser and paint it to match the duvet as well.

Oh, oh.... I forgot my favourite part of the story. When I woke up in recovery, I was shivering and kept complaining the I was cold. The midwife said she could give me a shot for it and I could wait or have now. I said "Yes, now." She then turned to DH and told him I wasn;t cold, but the shivering was withdrawl from my rather impress combination of drug cocktails. She also told him that the shot was morphine... (best that was tasty in the breast milk). She a while later he told me that I was very brave through it all and strated calling me his heroine, and I said no honey it was only morphine. So we now have a running heroine/morphine joke.

My typing skills are loody sh1te. I'm going home now... ta ta.

Thanks, you're making me feel slightly better for not smothering my first born in lovely new things.

I'm doing the cheap drawers idea too. Hence the trip to Ikea-of-hell tomorrow. We're going to look at what their cots are like to see if any of them meet up to my fussy criterias. Otherwise, its the Amelia for me (that nice one with the beads on the headboard)

I know it. We have the Amelia. It's been good to us.

Hey speaking of cots, are any of you second timers whao are reusing the cot buying a new matress? DH tells me it's a cot death risk, but I think he worries too much. Am I the only one who thinks a new mattress is overkill?

Uwila - we're being given a second-hand cot, and will be getting a new cot mattress. I think the cot is nearly brand new, bought when youngest of all nephew came along this time last year when second youngest nephew was still using his own cot. They've now moved up a notch (second youngest nephew now in a bed) so the little cot has become vacant, and I have my eye on the bigger cot for later too Anyway, I was in two minds about buying a new mattress but a paediatrician friend of mine, who has a small baby of her own, said she thought I should, so I shall.

Katz - fingers crossed for your dh.

Jonah - remember Ikea is open late during the week, it might be somewhat less horrendous then? I may need to face it at some point but not sure how dh is going to cope, if only you could order online like you can in Sweden (Mind you, my nearest Ikea was some 130km away on a single lane road through snow-covered pine forests - I'm not kidding! Obv no snow in the summer though).

I haven't had any luck getting dh to feel kicks / movement either yet. They are quite faint - and I guess they might remain so for a while if I do have an anterior placenta (must phone the mw about that!). At least now he's not the only one.

The only one to feel the baby is my DS2 - when we were in the bath together!
Suprisingly he hasnt rubbed DS1's nose in it too much and made him jeleous. DH is not so into having to feel the kicks - it is never real to him apart from scans and labour then baby in arms
Katz - good luck to your DH with his job!
Uwila - havnt had time to read your birth story yet - but will do soon
Lippy - you sound back to normal now - it must be nice to just know one was or the other - i know that i am sick of thinking what it might or might not be - i just need to know! Dont know what i will use all the extra thought on once we have found out!!!

I know, Tessie, I am so glad we found out for this one.

Gosh, I expect you lot are all off having your delicious curries and stuff Think I may just tell dp I couldn't be arsed to cook and he has to get a take away I am, actually, exhausted, completely out of steam and motivation this evening.

I keep thinking about the huge tasks looming ahead of us regarding this loft conversion. The work itself is going well, but it has impacted quite a bit on the house. Hall, stairs and landing will need re-painting, they are filthy. main bedroom which has had a bit cut away for new stairs might as well have new paint, as we haven't bothered since we moved in, still have kids murals on the walls!! Then I want to phaf around with the 2nd bedroom... When it's all done I think we'll move

Oh Uwila - what an ordeal! You poor thing. Had to smile however at you telling DH he had to leave and "He was delighted". But seriously, "Bloody Hell" indeed - what could've happened had you laboured at home. It doesn't bear thinking about Thanks for writng that for us. As far as I'm concerned the more stuff I read, the more I'll be able to understand if things don't go according to plan when the time comes.

KVG - I think yellow's a lovely colour for a nursery. Might do ours a really pale yellow myself, but I'm doing the bathroom yellow so might be overkill?? Like Jonah, we're hoping to sell the house in the not too distant future, so can't do anything too mad.

Hi Scraggy - sounds like you're overdoing things a bit there! Can't you take a couple of days off next week until you feel better?

Katz, my fingers are crossed - that sounds so handy!

Lippy, we had a loft conversion in our old flat. What a nightmare - all the walls were absolutely filthy, crap all over the place and horrible workmen. Would have it done here though, but for some reason since then (about 5 years ago) the price of a conversion seems to have almost doubled and I don't think we'd be able to recoup the cost when we come to sell.

I've sent dp to the pub with his friend so I can watch the soaps in peace then I'll meet them after Easties to go for the old curry

Well, I obviously was exhausted, because I closed me eyes for a few minutes at 645 and woke up an hour and a half later to the smell of dp cooking. Vaguely felt a kiss when he came in too, ahhhhh

Anyone having their 2nd or 3rd got any advice on beds??? Not sure if I should get a toddler bed for dd (which would be ideal for our small rooms and would get used by her siblings after her...) or a full size one? Thoughts? Suggestions?

I've got a weekend pottering at home planned, my favourite Oooh and dd needs new shoes, I love buying her little shoes !!! Too cute

Ok, well it obviously was a little after 645 that I went to sleep, right after my post at 647 perhaps!!!

We have a toddler bed (which we have yet to set up). We got it because it will take up less space in the room, but also for the transition to bed it is lower to the ground. So when she falls out she won't hurt herslef too much. The one we have is from Ikea and it grows as the child grows (gets longer not wider).

I think when DD out grows the toddler bed and DS is ready for a bed, we will probably get some kiddie bunk beds.

Uwila - I've now read your birth story, awful (Although obviously with a happy ending). It epitomises everything I'm worried about for my birth - not the emergency c-section per se, but the being trapped in an over-stretched hospital with a constantly changing staff and no decent support. We've been through some frankly awful times with dh and the health services in the last year, and going another few rounds with them whilst simultaneously giving birth doesn't sound like my idea of fun.

Hopefully things will be a lot more straight-forward for you this time around.

Lipstick -Re beds. We bought a cot (which was used for both DS's ) Not a cot bed. WHen DS1 went into a bed we bought some nice wooded bunk beds where the beds could also be used seperately. THey are still being used seperately at the moment and they have been ideal because the bed for the top bunk has got a built in bar so that the child doesnt fall out. SO when they first goes into a bed there was no need for a bed rail as there was one already there which went right along the bed. When DS2 went into a bed we just swapped the beds around so that DS2 had the bed with the bar

Hi All,
Well, Ikea-of-hell wasn't that hellish, which was good. Bought a set of drawers, but didnt really like the cots. AND we survived the experience without having a bicker (an achievment for any couple in Ikea).

Uwila, not sure this will be of any interest to you, but in my latest Lakeland (sorry, I admit it, I read lakeland ) brochure, there is a humane and cheap mouse catcher. It's basically it's a tin lid, which you attached to a normal tim of food. The mouse goes in and can't get out again. If you want more details, let me know.

Good evening ladies, hope everythings fabulous with you all this lovely weekend

Those mousey traps sound good Uwila - you could catch Free Pets!!

Any, about me!!

Well I started off having a lovely day. Sun was out (for a while anyway). Dp and I took doggie to Hyde Park and wore him out so he'd be ok for a couple of hours in the car (we have a dog-friendly, private day van thing). Then found somewhere to park for free (!) just behind Harvey Nicks. Had a quick reccie in ladieswear then nipped upstairs for sushi (obviously nothing too severe for me) Was looking forward to having a good look round Shoes, nursery stuff and maternity jeans (not many in HN by the way) and moseying over to Harrods to look at same. Unfortunately a few mins into maternity jeans I came over all peculiar and had to go back to the car. Developed a tremendouse tummy ache and dp had to drive us home. I felt like someone had punched and winded me. Got home, crawled up the stairs to bed and puked . Fell asleep. And that was it. Just got up now.

I had this sort of thing before a few months ago after eating nachos, I think I have issues with mayonnaise or mayo with avocado as I had a California Hand Roll today. Does anyone else have a thing with mayonnaise?

It's such a worry isn't it being poorly when you have a little bun to look after isn't it? Hope he's ok

Ooooh Charley, sounds nasty. I don't have problems with mayonnaise, real or jarred. Was it real? Could it have been a raw egg thing?

I'm incredibly jealous about the first part of your day though. I think I have been into Harvey Nicks once and was so intimidated, skulked out . I'm impressed that dp went with you too

I had an impressive day's bargain shopping. Got a zilion tops in Dorothy Perkins, of all places! I think I got 3 tops and a black, stretchy pencil skirt, incredibly comfortable. Then I got some jeans in Next (have given up on my designer quest as I really don't have access to them round here), doubly cheap as I was returning a present that didn't fit so got them for about £7.

Have decided to go for a toddler bed for dd by the way. Less scary than a real 'big bed'.

Hi,
Just thought I'd look in. Been a bit tired and things. Went to Ante Natal on Friday. It was ok. I'll be going back every month to see the consultant there. Bubba is fine. I'm just really tired and they want to make sure stuff is ok.

Does anyone else feel really stupid ringing the midwife? I dunno, they don't really have much to tell me. If the baby is healthy they don't seem to care about much else.

Anyway I'm going back to bed. See you soon. I can't stand the baby kicking anymore I never get any decent sleep and then I get up and the dishes are still unwashed. I wonder how it will be afterwards

Hiya Lippy

Don't know what my system has agains mayonaissey type stuff. I don't think (fingers crossed) it was proper food poisoning though because I didn't get a temperature. I just seem to be unable to digest it. It just sits in my tum waiting for expulsion . Dp had to come with me because he's got the dosh , but I have to give him a good talking to on the way there to warn him not to sulk, otherwise he does . You certainly shouldn't feel intimidated in HN Lippy, (apart from some of the prices perhaps, that's allowed!), there were some right hounds in there today in their over applied fake tans and nasty crotch munching jeans. Oh - Dev Allerhan (from Corrie) was in there too Sadly I was feeling too ill to stalk

Well done for buying jeans at last and all those tops! I think tops are easy right now, there's loads of nice preggie-friendly smocky type things around, so when my sis comes next weekend (first time she's ever visited, I'll drag her round. Don't want to subject her to jeans shopping though. I'm actually very close to buying some Sevens on Ebay.com. Which is a bit scary, but they're about £160 over here and there's nowhere as near much choice

Pink - I'm so pleased they seem to be taking care of you, seeing your consultant regularly's amazing! As far as I know, most of us don't get to see them at all. I wouldn't feel stupid calling the midwives if I felt like it. You're a young single first time mum! I know what you mean though about them not being able to tell you much as long as baby's ok. They had no idea about my urine crystals the one time I called them! When you're tired and stuff, really you don't need to worry about your dishes - they're only dishes, you'll clean them when they do your head in - usually best to pop the radio on and do chores first thing in the morning, that's what I do

Looks like it has been a weekend for shopping. We've just been to John Lewis where we got a fantastic 20 minute demo of the bugaboo pram/buggy. It looks absolutely fantastic (although I felt a bit sorry for John Lewis lady as we will get it cheaper on the internet) and by the end there were three couples all mesmerised by the display. Think we're going to have to get one if we can afford it......

Big thanks to Uwila on taking the time to tell us what happened. So sorry you had to go through it, but selfishly, I agree with KVG - the more I know about what might go wrong, the more I (or more likely DH) can be assertive about making sure that all possiblities have been thought of if we have trouble. Particularly because we are going to try for a home birth, it is really good to have some idea of what might go wrong and how soon you might recognise it.

Just read your birth story Uwila - poor you!!!

• DS1 had the cord round his kneck when he was born (was blue but fine) and that was the reason his heart rate had been dipping all through my labour - not as bad as your babys though. DS2 was no problem and came out really quickly and really fine - probably (the midwife said) because my body had done it once before and was used to it. The thing about the cord seems so "pot luck" though - there seems no way of knowing. The only thing is though i have NEVER heard of a baby that actually got strangled by the cord befor it was born - but who knows??? TOTALLY understand why you are going for a planned section. THIS time you can be awake for it and in control

Afternoon girls,

Had a fab weekend catching up with old friends and then capping it off with their little one's christening...but it's nice to be back in my own home again...having proper tea, not weak (almost show the water the tea bag tea)!

Lippy - so glad all's ok. Definitely don't feel bad about your thoughts, I had those thoughts when I was told ds was a boy, but you move on very quickly and I bet like me by the time your new babe is here it won't even occur to you

Scraggy, sorry you're feeling so sh*te...hope you feel better soon.

Re the beds, we have a cot bed which will go to this new one, and we're going to get a full size single for ds as we have the room for it and he's a tall boy so it would be a false economy to get a junior. We're keeping the orginal mattress for the new one...would only get a new one if we got the bed second hand from someone else. As for nursery colours haven't really thought too much about that yet...ds's room is orange, and new bubba's room is currently yellow, which is quite warm and will match the baby bedding we have so will probably keep it as it is and let them decide on a new colour scheme when old enough to choose...

better go, was only supposed to be on the pc to check emails, he he he