Due Nov 2008 - PMA - our tums & bums are growing but we get an excuse to wear big knickers - now that's a stroke of luck!!! x x x

[ChocOrange05]

Hope you like the thread - minds not working so well at the moment!

afternoon ladies!

its been a chatty day! its reassuring we are all going through the same moans/worry/stress about our DH's/DP's,hormones, etc etc!!

i had my consultant appt today and feel soooo much better about everything now!
he straight away sent me to get scanned again, babys kidneys dilation is now 7&8mm, he said if they stay this size at birth baby will need no intervention, not even antibiotics.
i will still get another scan at 34weeks.
they checked everything else over with baby and all looks good, except he is measuring BIG!! lol!! i know this is a good thing but a little scary at the same time!

thanks to everyone for their kind and reassuring words on this

it just goes to show tho, my MW on mon thought his growth had slowed down and was slightly under what it should be so everyone that is told that by their midwife please be assured it is not exact, they are measuring a bump and not baby!

away to catch up properly on all todays posts

Thanks for sympathy, and especially you, obs - means a lot from you, when I only have 8-10 weeks more of this frustration. I think I would feel ok 'sacrificing' if it were having any effect whatsoever, but it just doesn't and I don't understand what's making the sugar go up and up and up when I am trying hard. (The worst time is overnight when I am not even eating anything). Anyway, today I had an egg and bacon sandwich on brown bread (oooooooooh! High GI) and a ginger and chocolate biscuit.

Obs, was it you who ordered a ring sling? Have you got it? Could you let me know:
Do you have to do the ring bit every time or can you just slip it on and off and then chuck the baby in? Do you need to adjust it with the baby in? This is what I found hard with my other sling and want one I can adjust 'once and for all' and then put the baby in and out, no fiddling.

MrsR, Dozy - I think I AM your other halves! I am a hoarder. But not of financial stuff. I have a bad memory so everything for me is a memory trigger and I hate throwing stuff out as I will look at some size 8 garment and think: I remember I wore that to amd what I was doing ...and those were the days...and...but chucked 'em all out earlier this year because there is no way on this earth that I will ever be wearing them again. I do have a rational side too.

MrsR, Thomasina. Don't stress too much about getting it all done before the baby. It is easier, but not necessary - and more important you stay relaxed . We completed on a nightmare house the day ds was born. I had to pack and move when he was 3 weeks old. His room was not decorated till he was 7 months, but that was fine because he was in our room anyway. We have done the house a little at a time as we could afford it. And yes, annoying things were always taking priority like a bad roof leak, a radiator bursting and causing kitchen ceiling to collapse etc. Needless to say, Dh was rubbish at DIY but is now quite good!

I haven't had many irrational tears either, but I am definitely more moody (and I am pretty moody at the best of times) . I did cry TWICE during 'In her shoes' which is a fantastic movie (I never cry in movies, so this was an achievment for me ).

Choc. Hope you feel better soon. Apple glands don't sound good. Sleep, sleep and sleep.

Last post should have started Kudos, dunno what a kudon is. Dur.

Big hug to MrsR and Dozy - just out of interest, how is this man managing to live with all 3 of us? Does your version of him do that thing where you think you're having a useful discussion about what needs doing and you think you've agreed what needs to be done - and pronto - and then he goes and plays on the computer instead because all this talk of decorating has stressed him out? Alternative versions are clearning the cellarhead out instead of the baby's room. It's honestly like he thinks the baby will wait if its room isn't ready, or something, and I will tell his mum on him if he doesn't sort himself out soon - he's really scared of her!

Since getting pregnant I swear I have taken on most of the shopping, cleaning and tidying, I have booked and organised two holidays (I know, what a bind, eh?), I have got someone in to revamp the bathroom and now it looks like I'm stuck with the bloody decorating as well . I don't think it's hormones. I think it's him. And his pants. Grr.

Wish me luck - I've arranged for Remar to come and take the old bedroom furniture away on Saturday morning, so I'm off home to pack up the contents of the wardrobes into binliners so we can live out of them for as many weeks as it takes him indoors to get the bedroom decorated. Maybe it'll encourage him to get on with it when he has to remember which binliner has shirts in! also, I may rearrange or hide them for my own amusement when he's out...

On a lighter note, that indigestion/heartburn thing got me for the first time last night at the end of teatime and it was so surprisingly painful I thought I was going to throw up. I ended up propped up with cushions drinking milk on the sofa, waiting for it to stop, and was just thinking "gosh, that hurt" when it occurred to me that if I thought that was painful, I'm in for a bit of a shock in November when I have this baby. Ahem. I'll need more chocolate to cope with this.

afternoon....my it's been chattier here today

twinkling, I have decided on a close baby carrier (I think ), but will ask Sputnik what she wants for her sling. It'll be coming from Italy, but postage isn't that bad from mainland europe I don't think.

sorry about the diabetes MM; I hope you can get things settled soon.

ruthosaurus, I don't think I said Hi to you the other day so.........Hi . Re the decorating, as long as you feel fit and able, anything goes, but I would just take care up and down ladders as your balance can be a bit wobbly at this stage and it's common to get a dizzy spells as well. I put up some blinds (in my very high ceilinged flat) when pregnant with DS and nearly toppled off the ladder as I came over all wozzy at the top.

chocorange.....most hopsitals will supply the first nappy, then you're on your own.

My labour bag will have: a couple of big t-shirts, a couple of pairs of woolly socks, tens machine, flannel, lip salve, flask of ice (hopsital water is always hideously warm), some snacks for me/DH, something to tie my hair back, ermmmmmm some pants and pads and a vest, babygro and hat for the baby.

After birth bag will have: a couple of pairs of black PJs, dressing gown, flip flops, a bit of slap, bath and hand towel, baby towel, two vests and babygros (DH can always bring in more), pack of nappies, unscented/no alcohol wipes or the biggest make-up remover cotton wool pads I can find (those little balls are next to useless for meconium; all they do is stick to the poo), my own baby blanket, alcohol hand gel, toiletires for me including maternity/super pads and something to read....oh and some big knickers. I hope to be in and out in the same day though, so that will stay in the car until needed.

erm can't remember all the posts I've read, but Hi to everyone else

My friend came over with a load of the tens machine she bought when in the throes of early labour. She had hired one and the connections were a bit iffy, so her DH dashed out to the shops and bought one. she is a life saver as I was thinking I might need one if I'm actually going to give birth myself this time

it was me hana. i don't think Margot and myself would EVER get mixed up in RL !!
I got them from 2 different shops and they were both good. Just look up muslin squares and it will bring up a whole lot, you can filter just new ones. (But I think they were all new anyway, no-one is THAT scabby!).

hana, i though financial was 5 years max. I googled it a while ago and it is however long the inland revenue can chase you up, but don't think it was 7 years.

good idea to have to bags lacka. More or less taking the same stuff as me...I found the TENS the best pain relief (apart from epidural ). It worked for me and gas and air did nothing, but unfortunately you can't wear it while being monitored, and as baby was a little distressed they took it off me just when I needed it most .

Chocolategal I'm so pleased everything went well with the consultant today, you must be so relieved. It gives me hope as well that I'll get the go-ahead for a homebirth after my 34-week scan as my baby's kidney dilation was less than the figures you mentioned when I had the 4D scan the other week. Fingers crossed!
Welcome ruthosaurus by the way
Sorry to hear some of you are having difficult times with DH and are feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything that's going on. I must admit I admire all of you who already have LOs to cope with on top of the pregnancy, I don't know how you do it. I'm struggling enough to come to terms with the fact that I can't bend down easily to pick things up off the floor and that I now have to roll out of bed On a positive note all the lists we had on earlier threads have been very useful (thanks Misdee and others). I've been gradually ticking things off as I buy them. I've started adding stuff to the weekly shop as some of you suggested. I also bought wicker baskets yesterday for storage so now I can go through all the clothes we've been given and start getting them ready. I'm still a bit panicky about everything that needs to be done but feel a bit more in control now. However, I haven't started thinking about the birth or afterwards yet... I'll keep my head in the sand for a bit longer on that front I think
Where has the sun gone by the way I'm sure that would help cheer us up!

I got some lovely patterned muslins in IKEA. £3 for a three pack, but they are really thick and bigger than average. I'm going to use all my old ones from DD as newborn nappies, and the IKEA ones for top end protection

re the hospital bag, maybe add some sucky type sweets as all that panting/shouting/mooing (delete as applicable ) really makes your throat dry. The lipsalve is invaluable for the same reason.

Virgil has been sitting on my bladder for a few days and it's driving me nuts (but good news is the heartburn is better). No sooner have I gone to the loo than I feel like I need again, and no matter how much I wipe (TMI ) I always dribble as soon as I stand up. I've also had to start wearing tena lady or that ilk all the time now as I've been leaking wee if I stand up from sitting. Looks like my pelvic floor is shot to pieces already . And if I ever leave it until I'm desperate......

cricri just the dr said anything under 10mm they wouldnt treat so fingers crossed your little girls stay the way they are and you'll be fine
x

fingers crossed for your DCs kidneys cricri.

WOW you ladies have been busy chatting.

Been for my 30wk midwife checkup & bloods ... baby & me are both fine. Apparently my strep infection as of my last urine sample a couple of weeks ago has gone . But because I have been known to have had it they recommend I still have the antibiotics in labour in case it did return.

My bump is spot on at 30cm and baby is (she thinks) head down. But the midwife said this obviously at this stage can change all the time due to there still be room.

So all good so far ...

chocolategal and crici - fingers crossed for both your baby's kidneys but sounding positive so far

Can I just stress the importance of lipsalve to you first timers particularly if you are a bit of an addict like me!! DH had put my little tub of vaseline (that I have to have with me at all times!) in his pocket whilst I was in labour and kept supplying me with it when I needed it.....only to go home with it the first night after visiting hours were up. I think I panicked more about that than I did about what I was actually meant to do with this baby creature lying next to me . Luckily the MW took pity on me and gave me a tube of it that they have in their kit (no idea what for)! So, if you are like me, pack at least 4 in your bag which is what I should have done first time round!!

gosh,should have said chocolategal as well there.

my keyboard is wonky and spacebar not working (well workingintermittently)so apologies if some of my words run together this evening.

I took the key off and tried to fix it myself, but think I've made it worse. It just doesn't "feel" right iyswim.

Apologies toany posts I've ignored.......I must catch upproperly before I start Posting [bluash]

lacks - no need to bluash .

lol vbab [gruin]....I mean

Can't blame my dodgy typing on a sticky space bar can I?

i'm sorry if you ladies have already discussed this many moons ago but was wondering if you could help me with the topic of reusable nappies?

I was all for this type of nappy with DS then after he was born just ended up keeping with disposables. Sort of wonder how I could of got them dried if I had done it. Just that now thinking about it again for this baby purely from a £ perspective .

Recommended makes & amounts needed? After the cost of purchase, powder & washing is there any real cost saving? Pro's & con's etc from a mother point of view?

Any help is really appreciated. Just started thinking about it again because £ is tight now but once I get SMP then no pay it will be bad so anyway of cutting costs would be great. Especially fingers crossed if I can get DS out of nappies.

vbab, cone and join us here for nappy chat and advice. Loads of great stuff on there. TBH though, lots of people use terry squares with great success, and they are cheap as chips if money is a concern. I bought cotton terry ones and kept them as a back up with DD if her other nappies were still in the laundry process), but you can get bamboo ones now which are a bit more absorbent. You can also get them in funky bright colours too.

Average spend on dispos is about £1200 iirc over a three year period, more if you consider night nappies. A set of terries and the wraps to get you from birth to potty would set you back around £120, and the washing isn't that noticeable ime. I do two or three extra washes a week which is nothing really considering I can do two loads per day sometimes!

i have managed to get my dh to agree to a homebirth. now i have to ask the midwife abou5 it on monday!

eeeek!!

vbab I use Fuzzi bunz and think they are just fab. Mainly cos you can take them to pieces and they can dry overnight, and cos they are nice and neat.
The choice is just crazy and there is soooo much more out there than when I was looking 2 years ago. It cost me about £300 to set up but that is cos they are sized and I had to buy 2 sizes.
I might look into other options but would have to sell all of mine first or DH would have a fit.
I was happy to spend cos I knew that I would be using them for at least 2 children, so money spent did not seem ridiculous.

Any answer from sputnik, daisy?

twinkling, I have decided, upon consultation with my financial advisor (ie DH) and some other women who have used that carrier to just go for it........sorry

A friend was telling me about a sling company that has a section on it's website for slings that people have bought and then didn't use/like/need or whatever selling at bargain prices. I'll get a link for you

I've also got fuzzis and love them, but pockets can be a bit hit and miss depending on the fit. Bumgenius V3 are supposed to be good as a birth to potty option and are a pretty good universal fit (I have a V2 which we like, but have only ever used it on the biggest setting) and reckon you could set yourself up with them for less than £200.

they might be a bit scant on a chubby toddler though.

b*gger!
Ah well, can't blame you. It looks like a good un!
I have looked on bigmamaslings, but nothing took my fancy like the tricotti (and none of them were reduced. £42 just too much for a sling! IMPO).
Now I will be on the look out for ....what was it again? Baby buddha?

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