Due in November 08: Missing - 2 feet, last seen somewhere under bump in late August. If found, please massage and trim toenails before returning.

[ruthosaurus]

Hi ladies, new thread as we seem to have outgrown the old one!

Ceebee - is it possible for you to have an afternoon power-nap later on before you go out? Just 20 mins can really make all the difference! And I'm sure once you've dolled yourself up you'll feel more up for it.
Vbab - you should try and have a small snack at least every 2 hours to keep your blood sugar levels steady. A banana, cereal bar, piece of toast or yoghurt are all good (sure you know this!). Are you eating a decent breakfast? I woke up this morning feeling really nauseous and didn't really fancy eating, but after eating my muesli and a nectarine felt better. Scrambled egg on wholemeal toast keeps you going.
I've got my gaybours (Gay Neighbours) coming round for dinner tonight - they always go to loads of effort so I'm going to have to trawl through my recipe books in a minute. Hmm....

morning all, cant possibly remember everything I have read as not been on for last couple of days so sorry not responding but hope everyone is doing ok

Sorry ceebee and daisy have had disturbed sleep last night , I have had bad nights for the last few nights not because I cant sleep but because of dd, since moving her to a bed I have lost the good sleeper and she is waking up several times a night , I am so tired I am considering putting her back in the cot as she would sleep 7-7 in her cot no problem! Did any of you who moved your DC to a bed have this problem at first? vbab I think its you that has recently put your DS into a bed how has he taken to it?

I cant quite believe I only have 6 weeks and 1 day until due date now, its passing so quickly! Although I am getting more organised now and DH has next week off work so hope we can get most things finished next week then I will be just about ready (if you ever can be ready, there is always something!)

Morning! Hope everyone's feeling better than previously. Vbab, poor you. Sounds like you're having a really cack time - I'd
get to the GP/MW, hon (Actually, get to the MW - see previous on GPs ). Don't worry about what your parents think, you need to think about you at the mo'. Also, if you can face the mess, porridge is ace first thing - I'm getting through to 12 without getting woozy. Plus you don't have to chew it if you really can't be arsed, and it keeps you regular (thanks, gran). If I have toast I need to snack mid-morning and eat apricots.

I had a fun time last night - not like that, Obs, mind out of the gutter! - when I went to the loo and the pain of going for a wee made me cry (sorry if TMI). Cue making DH take me to the late shop for cranberry juice and getting up 4 times last night because I'd drunk 3 pints of the stuff. But OMG it was painful. Plus, I couldn't eat my tea for ages (which I cooked from scratch, and made apple and blackberry crumble, so ner) as the baby had one foot in my lung while headbutting my cervix and the only way I could get comfortable was propped up against the sofa like a plank, all rigid like. I have never felt so glamorous.

Then (speaking of rigid) got woken up this morning by DH, not with a cup of tea but with a whinge about lack of sex life. Explained that having a head on my bladder combined with cystitis/UTI/whatever that was last night were total passion-killers (plus, I think I look scary and gross and am not feeling like getting naked in case someone sees me and recoils in horror) and said he was lucky he was getting any at all. Cue sulks all round. Told him that if he was really lucky it would eventually atrophy, wither and fall off, like an umbilical stump, and stop being a trouble to him . More sulks.

MM - I cannot recommend takeaway highly enough. Just arrange it on nice plates and dim the lights. Having said that, I know what you mean. I have friends like that - when they cook it's always fabulous, when I cook for them it looks like student food.

North/Midlands ladies - sounds like we need a girly afternoon. Any more ideas? No pressure as I know everyone is up to their eyeballs and feeling a bit crap at the mo'. 'Tis grim up North.

IHi hana. It seems like it's gone away again now but it was just like really nasty cystitis. So what am I doing about it? Wearing tights and sitting at my desk drinking tea - d'oh! I kind of don't want to bother the MW about it (GP is a useless sack of poo and prescribes paracetamol for anything not needing amputation) cos I keep thinking I've got a UTI, then they do a test, then I haven't got one, so I feel like I'm timewasting.

You still getting morning sickness? That is so unfair. Especially on porridge . That would definitely put me off.

MMMMMMMM hot chocolate. That's another one added to the shopping list for tonight.

Goodness Daisy, those BH sound strong. Plus the clicking aswell. I am not gettting any of this at all. Mind you, not that I want the hot flushes, thank you !
I had very very swollen feet for atleast last month, with ds, and could barely walk. So far, not too bad. A bit puffy, nothing major.
Sorry to her of Routhosaurus pain - UTI ?
i hope this is not too much info, but I smell very strong. Not bodily but urine. I must mention this when I go to Kings on tues.

Am off now. Am in middle of baking a cake. My best friend is coming up from Devon on sat pm. She asked that I make her a cake - a chocolate, orange and vanilla, swirly one. Never done one of those before. Off to do the chocolate flavoured butter cream filling.
Don't know how I am going to stop dh AND ds from scoffing it, before her arrival tomorrow pm

I am still being sick every morning. As soon as I get up. Bloody MS. Nasty.

Hi girls

Great thread title RuthO! - but gosh 4 pages already girls!!

I got my first night's sleep last night since I went back to work! Sympathy for ladies who didn't get proper rest, I firmly believe it is the worst form of torture, esp when at work and have other DCs!

I am going for a scan next Tue to check for sure if DC2 is really breech - have been told by girls at work that they were told same when in fact it was head down...

Anyway feel that if I know what I am dealing with I will be able to look on bright side of it all.. After all an EC would mean I would be prepared in advance (was having wee panic of baby coming and DS witnessing my primal screams haha!). Also at end of day as long as baby ok can't really complain, was just looking forward to being more prepared for a VB this time around... C'est la vie.

Sorry can't remember all I have read but I did send some sympathy vibes to all of you suffering when I read the posts if that helps???!

All these meet ups I can't go to and to make it worse DH is going to be in the North (of England) next week and in London in October so HE could meet up with you all! How unfair is that?! xx

Saurus - poor you. Nothing worse than stinging wee bits that make you yelp in pain. You might want to avoid wearing tights for a few days? And you shouldn't feel like a time-waster getting tested for UTI - as hana says it can lead to premature birth etc - get yerself checked out girl!
Re.sex, take it as a compliment that your DH still wants you (mine seems to regard me in a different way somehow - and not an object of desire any longer). But don't beat yourself up about conjugals. He can always have a Tommy Tank, non? Maybe you could oblige him! (Sorry - TMI!)
On the impending dinner party front, I'm WFH (wasting working from home) today, so after perusing my Aldo Zilli fish book (it is Friday after all) I've just been down the high road and purchased some sardines from fishmonger which will be accompanied by a mustard and lemon butter, followed by a king prawn linguine with chilli/white wine/lemon/garlic (done lots of times before - a sure fire winner). DH is doing pud - it's a Nigella recipe, blueberry and necatarine galette - it's delish! I was feeling cheeky so also got some M&S Cherry Liquers for afterwards.
I also got my Secret Stork gift so feeling smug!
Plus, I really need a cardie now it's getting chilly, and went into Benetton as they normally have decent/affordable maternity gear. But they've stopped doing it! However, I got 2 really nice cardies/cape thingies, non-maternity, which I can wear now and after! So a much better investment all round me feels.
Obs that really sucks that you puke every day. Is that purely the MS, or is the MS combined with pregnancy?
p.s. porridge rules. Love it.
Just eaten a BLT - yum yum. Going to walk the dog now. Back in a bit.

P.S. Obs your cake sounds YUM - can I have some please?

rutho....drink lots of fluids, especially cranberry juice, and if no better tomorrow...see the out of hours doctor.

DH has taken DD out with him on his business trip this afternoon (buying up the competitor's products to see how they can do it better!) so I have just finished off a cup of tea and am going to have a nap before the school run.

Didn't get any cheap nappies or wraps . No price reductions at all in Northern Waitroses apparently!

I can still see my feet. Now i have bump envy...

Ceebs - my employers have now admitted their legal responsibility and have said I will get my vouchers whilst on maternity!! Could tell by tone of the email that they were seriously p'd off at being proven WRONG!!

Afternoon ladies. Just after your opinions please. DH is going into London (2hrs away) on a stag night the week before baby is due. He has suggested that me and the dcs go and stay with my mum (also 2hrs away) so at least I'm not on my own and it also makes his journey back from London somewhat easier. I feel a little uncomfortable at being so far from home so close to my edd (DS was 5 days early) but I don't know what is worse....being home alone or being with my mum and if I happened to go into labour, visiting an unknown hospital. What would you do?

Argh! I read all the posts from last night and can't remember even a smidgen of what I have read!

Lets see:

Ruthosaurus, I am sorry to hear you aren't feeling too good, lots of fluid ect and I agree a trip to the dr's isn't out of order.

Oblomov, sorry to hear you are stil getting MS

MM: Good luck with the dinner party, sound fab!

Daisy, sorry to hear no bargains were to be had at Waitrose. OUr nearest one is too far away for me to get to. I do however have my nappies on the line.....I think I am in love! They are just so darn cute

Well, after all my mad cleaning yesterday, I could barely move last night, which serves me right ofcourse. I slept better than I have in a few weeks though, only getting up to pee once and had several hours between each time I needed to wake up to roll over. I actually had a dream that I gave birth last night. I got my home birth, gave birth in my bedroom with midwife while dh was at work! I didn't bother to tell him or call him, just waited until he came home and for him to ask where my bump had gone (could tell it was a dream, I was back in pre-pregnancy clothes, lol!). I had a beautiful baby boy who looked alot like ds2 at birth and the bit that I hope is a dream rather than a premonition...... he weighed in at 9lb 12oz!

MonkeyMargot, I have just tried some of my cake, becasue I needed to skim a bit off, to get it flat, and even though I say so myself, it is scrummy. Come on over
By the way, when I type MS, I mean morning sickness, goodnes,I hope you didn't thinkI had MS = Multiple sclerosis.
Its only sickness that I have. And sore hands. Nothing compared to the ladies who have SPD. Which incidentally, I had never heard of until this thread. Someone was asking the other day, admitting they had never heard of it. Lots of you poor ladies, on this Nov AN do seem to have it. It is more common that I thought ?

Ooh Obs - would kill for a slice. But got to start cleaning the house and then cooking ready for the arrival of the Gaybours. They have extremely high standards!

Betti, tricky one. Agree Hana, yuo must explain to him how important it is that he is contactable. I don't think my dh understood my irrational/rational feelings of abandonment( a bit strong a word, I know) that I felt when shortly before ds was born, I couldn't get through on his phone.

Secondly, my PERSONAL opinion, is that I would rather be close to home, at home. At the hospital that has been dealing with you. Saying that, how good is your relationship with them ? With the MW's and any Obs team that you have met, so far.

If there no chance that mum can come and stay with you? Or best friend/friend, - there is a bit of time to arrrange atleast someone to be with you.

I think I would prefer that, to going up to my mums, but this is just ME.

Whats your gut/ first/natuaral instinct telling you to do ?

Betti - definitely a tricky situation. I am not sure I would want DH to be away on a stag weekend so close to the delivery tbh. But if it is a situation you are both comfortable with, then I think the best solution would be if someone (mum?) could come and stay with you? But, really, if it was me, I would be putting my foot down and saying DH couldn't go (is that really terrible?)

Sparks - RESULT!!! Great news - and it just shows they should be more up-to-date with employment law doesn't it?? I also got a result today - we got some minutes through from the meeting my colleague went to a couple of weeks ago where the issue was discussed and it states in there that everyone in the voucher scheme will now be told that they either opt out at 17 weeks to protect their maternity pay, or they stay in and benefit from the free vouchers but they can't do both - however it did state that as this guidance will only be issued in the next few weeks, they cannot stop anyone who was in this position before the guidance is issued (i.e. me) from opting out at 17 weeks and then re-entering and getting the free vouchers and I now have that in writing

Another busy day on here ladies!

Its a tricky on regarding DH going to a stag do I think I would rather stay home but ensure he is always contactable.
My DH is in the emergency services and he has programmed the numbers of Control, Headquaters and even fire engine mobile numbers for if and when I need to contact him! Can't imagine what would happen if he was at a big job!

Gosh all the cooking that Obs and Monkey have been doing sounds good. I have got a ready meal lasagne tonight and DD something out of the freezer as DH at work especially as my mum took me food shoppng today!

I have found that the only way to roll over without causing to much pain and making to many clicking noises is to hoist myself into sitting position and then change sides! Not very dignified and feel like my 75 year old nan! Told DH this is what its going to be like when we are old

Are there any people in the midlands area that fancy meeting up? I am leicestershire way.

Hello! I am SO jealous of cakes and king prawn linguine and sardines. margot and obs, get these recipes on our november thread! I can post my prawn (pref king), lentil and spinach curry in return, but it is a quick and easy not a glamorous dish. Obs, I know you are a curry queen too, maybe the next meet up could be a curry in brick lane (no vested interest in that it's really near me or anything!).

Betti, that's a hard choice. I would 'risk it' because I like doing that/ live in denial of reality most of the time, and I also have no relationship with people at my hospital...but totally understand that most people are more grown up/ realistic than me. (I haven't even packed my hospital bag yet ).

Saw doctor today, just routine check. Blood pressure is fine. I asked her where babies were and she just said, "Well they're definitely not head down!". (Ahhhh.. the difference between a mere doctor and a consultant). But she was sweet about giving me info about the birth in different scenarios, although it was very general and not really tailored to my particular circumstances. She also asked me the million dollar question: will you have a 'natural' (ie. vaginal, but for some reason she didn't want to use that word) birth if you are able? Hmmmm...I said I will cross that bridge when I come to it, since I currently have no choice, and am not anticipating they will move. She was also vague about how late they can move, but my friend who is a midwife with about 30 years experience said they will not move after 34 weeks, so 2 more weeks to go till 34 week scan and then we will know.

saurus, glad pain is better today. Do you think it was infection or baby doing some weird acrobatics on you?

Lacks, sorry for your hard time. You are good to dh. I would have turned over!

I hadn't heard of SPD either! I've been so lucky with this pregnancy, no pelvic probs, back probs or thrush (had thrush constantly with ds and never get it otherwise).

OK, skyping my sister now...

Thanks ladies for the advice. My last labour was only 4 hrs but I do have friends around to call upon (not sure my friend promoting the fact that she's birthed lambs before is a reason to have her as my emergency birth partner!!). I think I would feel happier at home. Chances are the baby won't come anyway but being pregnant does make you think of every scary scenario.

I have to keep him sweet merryM, otherwise he wont want to be chief cook and bottle washer anymore . Like I said though, I'll get mine (I have bound him over to administer mercy shags when virgil is overdue and they are threatening me with the surgeon's knife)

Yay....big result on the childcare vouchers

I can't believe how chatty this thread is. And iirc, my June 07 thread got insanely busy once everyone was off on maternity leave. This one is going to go mental

betti...meant to say I would also be at home as well.

ooooh, and while I remember, DH had an email from the employment agency yesterday whi arranged his recent interview...the paperwork is being finalised, but it looks like the job is his . Yay.....hubby's coming home . We are fervently hoping that he will be put on gardening leave so will have three months off right over the baby's due date. It probably won't happen though, unless the retailer that his comapny produce products for get wind of the fact that he is going to a competitor (and a competitor who is the only grocery retailer actually making any money at the minute).

We are very excited about the offer and what it will involve