Due May 05 part 5

[logic]

I think it's time for a new thread! The old one was getting huge...

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myermay, about TENS machines: I agree with Brighteyes. I decided to spend a bit more and buy a machine, knowing that I can sell it afterwards on eBay if need be. Also I won't have the worry of whether I'll get the machine in time, or having to return it in a hurry. My machine was £39.99 from www.tens.co.uk and arrived very quickly in a nice case with various free samples etc. It has buttons to press to increase intensity instead of dials to turn, which I've heard are better 'cos you're less likely to turn up/down the intensity by accident!

Yes myermay, I am trying to hold ds off on the potty training. It is a tricky one as he knows he wants to do it, but he is not quite ready physically. Occassionally he will ask me if he can wear pants instead of a nappy, which is awkward. You can't say no, as it gives the wrong impression, but there is no way I'm going to potty train him while heavily pg/with a newborn!

I hired my TENs from Boots again, felt like less effort than buying one!

I bought my maternity TENS from Boots. The only downside is trying to get replacement pads. They usually have to be ordered in especially.

Yes, I'm desperately trying to get everything ready now, myermay! We are going on the big hospital tour on Sunday, just in case we have to go there. Bags are almost packed. I've decided not to bother with a nice going home outfit for the baby this time, because I'm not sure of the gender and I don't intend to stay there overnight. I'll keep the nice stuff for when visitors come round.

yep, another potty training procrastinater here. Really can't be bothered at this point in time. Actually there's a bit more to it than procrastination. I have a nanny, and am planning to remain working full time until 13 May. Baby is due 29 May, but my planned caesarean will be the week before (so at most as much as a week after I stop work). So, if I were to potty train before birth, then it would be largely up to nanny. And nanny and I differ on discipline techniques. So I'd rather do it when I can make the rules and control the situation.

Has anyone looked in to how to go about potty training. I'm thinking about following Gina Ford just because it seems easiest to have a set of rules to follow, and I suppose this will happen around mid-late June after DH has gone back to work and I have recovered from childbirth and (hopefully!) settled into something of a routine with new baby...

Just thought of another item for the hospital bag: a packet of antibacterial wipes. Maybe I am overly concerned about germs and mess but last time I took some and cleaned the delivery room bathroom after me. The midwife was appalled and clearly thought that I was barking mad but it made me feel better. There I was, 1 hour after giving birth, scrubbing the floor pmsl. OK, I was barking mad but they will come in useful I'm sure.

No worries Uwilia

My friend told me to take some bathroom cleaner with me and said a lot of her friends wished they had too, so not looks like you're not alone logic! I'm certainly going to take some to at least clean the bath!

DP & I looked round the labour ward today during our Parentcraft class and it was lovely and relaxed. I'm now swaying towards requesting a water bath so will put it in my birth plan and see how I feel come D day. Well it was relaxed until we heard a lady in the throes of labour and that really hit home

Oh, I ordered my TENS from Mothercare, never thought about buying one though.

Preggars - hope I'm not being really thick but what's merconium?!?!

Don't worry about hearing other people in labour, fashill. You won't think about it at the time. After I'd had ds I heard another woman screaming in the next room and I thought 'Poor thing! Must be having an awful time.' even though I'd just done it myself and hadn't had a bad birth at all

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Fashill, meconium is babys first poo! Totally 100% vile and toxic, it is all the guk he/she has accumulated during development. Not pleasant. My ds was in scbu so I didnt have the pleasure - but the girl next to me couldnt move after painful cs and begged me to change her baby for her so I had to deal with somebody elses - even worse

myermay, my sister in laws first dd was born almost 3 weeks early and her second dd (just born on monday ) was 4 weeks early, so who knows!

Good morning Ladies,

Just managed to get DH off the computer so I can check this thread (addictive isn't it)! I'm not sure what to do about pottey training. My DS even does his poos on the pottey, but I thought I would wait until after the 22nd April, when I finish work. My DH share upbringing, and like Uwila and her nanny, my DH and I can't help but differ slightly in the way we do things, so I'd thought I'd wait till its just Mummy. Be darned if I'd be wasting my time though.

I had my first birth dream a few nights ago. It was weird. It was all about deciding if to have an Epidural or not. Can't remember the outcome!

We're quiet today. How's everyone doing?

Hiya Preggars (and everyone else). I'm okay. I started packing my hospital bag this weekend (thatnks to lasks week's reality check from Logic). Speaking of which, how are you, Logic?

I got 2 cute little outfits from the Gap. One for when the picture lady comes round and one for going home (just in case he poos or pukes on the photo outfit). Both are quite cute. Too bad he'll wear them for about a week or two and then they'll be too small.

I got some arnica too? Does anyone have any experience with arnica? Can you recommend a strength? When did you start taking it? And when did you stop?

Hi Uwila

My friend took arnica a week before due date and for about 3 weeks after. She said it really helped.

I used arnica cream on bruises all the time and it is so good.

My friend has twins daughters (8 months) and she's just called to say she's been putting stuff in bags for me. I think my DD will be very spoilt for clothes.

Uwila, I've posted a new thread on the pg topic about how I'm feeling at the moment...

I've finally got the nursery sorted out anyway so that's a weight off my mind. I have somewhere to change the baby's nappies! I found ds' baby photos the other day and I can't believe that he was ever that small.

Went on a tour of Wexham Park Hospital on Sunday which was very reassuring. The place was spotlessly clean and the staff all friendly and nice.

Did I tell you that i am modelling at a fashion show this friday? Maternity Wear of course!! I have just been in to pick out some outfits - standing in front of 3 full size mirrors is NOT to be recommended at 36 weeks pg
It is a fund raiser for the play school, the only reason why I am making a total prat of myself. The other model is tall, slim and 20wks pg.
HELP!!!

You are very brave, northstar. There is always a tall, thin girl with a perfect bump and not an ounce of extra fat around when us normal people are pregnant. You just have to hope that the gods of pregnancy are fair and that she has horrific piles or something

And just to add insult to injury I have been told not to wear much make-up or any fake tan or even tinted moisturiser incase i damage the clothes AAAAAGH!

Wow Northstar!

I had a scare yesterday. I went out to pot some bedding plants and had to come in to lie down five mintues later. I kept this up for a couple of hours - five minutes before the bottom right side of my bump hurt so much that I had to lie down. Eventually I decided it was getting ridiculous, so I rang NHS Direct. They gave me a nurse straight away who said to ring Delivery. Delivery said to see if my GP would see me and if not to come in. I was of course stuck at home on my own unable to walk! While I was trying to persuade GP to send someone out my neighbour arrived home, so I crawled to the door and yelled to her - she's got 4, and immediately went into helpful mode, giving me a lift to the Dr. And yes, I'd simply strained a muscle. So a day in bed with a hot water bottle and lots of pain killers. Feeling much better today, although it still hurts if I walk around. And I certainly won't be lifting anything or doing any gardening!

I am so pleased for Charles Kennedy, but sooooo jealous of Sarah - her due date was the same as mine!

Well I had my first parent craft class yesterday. I nearly fell asleep!! 2 hours was way too long!! Had a quick nosey around my hospital and I am definatley only going to stay for a night. Staff seem friendly but it doesn't look the smartest of hospitals!!

I didn't ejoy parentcraft, and was so excited about going to classes, but none of the Mums and Dads really spoke properly to each other.

However, a must for all new mums. Definately enquire about joining a PostNatal group. I still meet mine regularly (for dinner with babes as well as to do things like going to see Tweenie in concert last week!), and get on so well with the Mums. One of them is a best friend of mine now and I speak to her everyday. It's also brilliant for the kids now that they are 2+. My DS is always going on about his friends, which is great as he doesn't go to nursery. My doctor surgery at the time was very small and didn't mention about any groups. Fortunately, two of my friends had recently had babies and told me about PostNatal groups, so I registered my interest at a much larger Health Centre (Mums can go to any)...

Hope you feel better soon, fisil! I think it's easier to damage muscles when this pg because they can't move about.

I remember that, SamCattie. It's always too warm in the parentcraft room isn't it?

I've got my first parentcraft class on Saturday. Dp is working away all weekend and I haven't really got anyone else to drag along.

Really don't know if its worth going, don't especially want to go on my own and I've read up so much on the pg/labour/baby stuff I don't know if they just going to be repeating things I already know.

Its not even like I need to see the hospital. I've visted there when my sister give birth and I stayed on the ward next to the labour ward when I was admited in the first trimester due to sickness.

Think I've already talked myself out of going. Does anyone think that its vital to attend?