Due Dec 08 - Braxton hicks, baby kicks and leaking nips!

[Veggiemummy]

that was Disenchanted's idea for a great title not mine

i have the opposite problem verso this baby is so so sooooooooooooooo low down i think it is using my bladder for a pillow, which i have to admit is better than reduced lung capacity, but between that and some atomic reflux, going to bed is becoming a useless endeavour.

I have just read that around now veggiebabys testicles are descending, i wonder if that is why i was so aggressive and completely irrational today. I know i have done it before but growing a willy can be quite an emotional rollercoaster.

Reban - seem to have put on more this pg than with DS but I don;t think that is all on my bump . GP said I was measuring OK for dates at my last appt, but I know the fundal measurement isn't that accurate. There weren't any concerns with the baby's actual measurements at my last scan, but there was a risk his growth wojuld slow later because of the umbilical cord thing. Not sure when - UI'm just entering the 3rd trimester (nearly 28 weeks) so have got a while to go yet.

PD: well done for walking off with your notes! I doubt very much they would notice. I've been lucky so far in that my mws and the GP I saw have all been nice, but they were all at my lcoal surgery. Do you have your appts at the hospital?

Those of you with older DCs, I'm worrying about juggling time with the baby and DS as well, esp as DS is very much a mummy's boy at the moment and is getting really clingy (poss cos he senses something is up!). I worry that he'll be really upset when the baby turns up (DH and I already refer to DC2 as 'the usurper') and hate him . I guess you just have to manage with whatever comes up.

Verso: what an unpleasant woman . I hope the journey wasn't too long and you were OK. I am now a complete wuss about standing up and prob would have had hysterics!

On a shallow note, HAIR. Mine is getting ridiculously unkempt, but I quite like the idea of trying to grow it and take advantage of the pg hormones. Suppose I ought to get it tamed a bit though. No idea what to do - I've had variations on a layered bob for most of my adult life...

Turnip Yinka is our guy too!! He is a great guy we like him a lot. My next appointment is with him on the 9th of October. I think that'll be my 28 week scan. I can't seem to keep up with what week I am! I blame the hormones!

effie I would advise caution, hairwise, during pregnancy. I had mine chopped off when I was pg with DD and ended up hating it. Luckily it grew back quickly, all thick and glossy (no such luck this time - it's unbelievably dry and unmanageable) but I still had a few months of hating it.

veggie v interesting theory re growing boys. I've had some major mood swings recently and if one more person tells me I'm having a boy because of the shape of my bump... (which is, quite frankly, a completely insane piece of folklore)... we shall see!

Having a busy day today. DH has a school event all day so DD and I have quite a few things planned. Only problem is I have a big thing at work tomorrow that I haven't quite finished preparing for... but I hope I'll be able to get things finished later in the day.

i know what is this crazy stuff about shape of bumps being rounded or pointed???? it's a bump, it just looks like a bump!!!!! I am having a bot this time and i have already had one boy and both times it just looks like a bump!!!

just had a really funny turn. this morning dh brought me breakfast in bed, read papers and watched tv - ended up snoozing until midday (apols to all those with dcs already), got up, did a spot of cleaning in the bathroom and kitchen, and then suddenly, with no warning, started to feel dizzy, shaky, sick, needing the loo, weak, hot, clammy etc. called dh who got really worried - took my temperature and it was a good coule of degrees too low, although i was feeling hot and shaky - apparently i went completely white and had massive bags under my eyes. the dizziness then made my vision go blurry (although had taken off my glasses by then). got qutite worried - but after 15 mins it started to get better. rang midwives and after asking lots of questions and ascertaining i was beginning to feel better, they said not to worry, unless it happened again and to take things v slowly today. anyone else had this? i've had a really easy pregnancy so far, so maybe due this, but it was quite scary for a while. getting back to normal now, but still weak and a bit dizzy.

oh, and bought a fantastic book for first timers this weekend: What to buy for your baby by Liat Hughes Joshi & CAroline Cosgrove. was really sceptical about buying a book about buying, but it really makes so much sense about all the stuff out there. just thought i'd pass it on to all those like me who haven't got a thing organised yet.

WG hope you are laying down now, sounds a bit scary, may have been a sudden low blood pressure or maybe the baby laying in some important artery for a couple of minutes glad it has passed now.

DH has been bringing up bags of baby stuff from the basement i am busy sorting through it all and washing the clothes and pushchair accessories. Unfortunately after some exhaustive searching we don't seem to be able to find DS' hugabub sling, it was the one item of baby thing that was more invaluable and that we used more than anything else in DS' first 3 months, and it cost £50. so hoping that we can find it!!!!!

Yay Veggie I've just finished some serious online baby shopping and one of the things I ordered was a hugabub sling!

WG you poor thing, your funny turn sounds really scary. i hope you are resting now and that the rest of your day is uneventful. Take care.

Sorry, Veggie, meant to say I'm glad yours was so useful as it makes me feel like it was a good choice and I hope you find yours soon.

Hello lovely ladies!

I have missed you all but I have been checking in on my phone now and then, just to check everyone is ok. I will try to do a Bisou-style post later when I have completely caught up, but she really has raised the bar

Back after over a fortnight off the board, driving through France, Switzerland and Italy. The whole thing has been something of a last hurrah and very indulgent - well, gluttonous - Michelin stars and truffle regions and champagne tours...Lots of ambling around too and drinking in wonderful architecture, but otherwise completely culturally void, which makes me feel a bit guilty. Weather was good for the six days we were in Italy but simply dry everywhere else (excluding last couple of days when we were in Champagne and it was rainy, but we were busy in caves and vaults anyway...) I averaged one glass of wine per day I think, and DP kept his lip buttoned. That or his mouth was full.

Scary episode in Switzerland - we stayed one night in the highest hotel in the Alps, next to the Matterhorn, and I've been having breathing probs anyway because LadyBaby is so flamin' high, but the air was so thin up there I just felt like I couldn't get my breath in the night and had a real panic attack and was hyperventilating like an idiot. I felt like I had a small man sitting on my chest the whole time we were up there, which was a shame, as it was lovely (and minus five degrees!)

We had to use the ferry because of Eurotunnel being out of action, and coming home last night we got stuck in a force 10 gale and tug boats were having to bring in the ferries (but not before we'd hung around just outside Dover for two whole hours, rolling and pitching). I am not a good sailor at the best of times and my dear girls, if I'd had a gun I'd have shot myself, I felt so ill. I can laugh now though, at the sheer hideousness.

So, 32 weeks on Tuesday and I feel like a blimp. The Italians treated me like a mama-goddess and the French as if I was a sideshow (big generalisation there but I am sure you can imagine) and though it was lovely, I am glad to be home in a PROPER bed. I slept badly all hols. And now I am looking forward to sitting with a mug of coffee and reading properly about how you've all been. I know some things from peering at my phone - Reban's being monitored, Verso and Beans have had nasty episodes on public transport, PD was trying to see her notes... Check up with obstetrician tomorrow morn. I shall be asking her about my purple ankle/leg (varicose veins? Phlebitis? Who knows, but it looks GROSS) and then my driving course starts on Wednesday. More time in the office before that (but then that is really IT) but I am dreading the driving lessons as I feel quite physically uncomfortable with backache and all the usuals, and the thought of concentrating for hours on end, day after day (I am not a patient learner either) fills me with dread.

Anyway, more later or tomorrow. It's great to be back on here. And on to the home strait...On a very very very superficial note (and I know people have serious problems and this is just a pathetic whinge) I miss GLAMOUR. My body looks like a giant lumpy Stilton and two weeks of gazing at impossibly chic French and Italian women has dented my morale

Welcome back LadyT! We missed you! I'm so glad you had such a (mainly) wonderful time. Enjoy your own bed, that's one of the only good things about coming home from holiday I think.

Oh LT i love being either pregnant or having a small child in tow in Italy they are so lovely there not overzealous like Greece just treat you as if you are special. oh and there is the whole issue of eating loads of great food in Italy, it's Veggie heaven!!!

Still no luck with the Hugabub sling, i have been through all the drawers, cupboards and general storage places upstairs now as well and nothing. I did get a bit depressed going through my sports clothing drawer wandering if i will ever fit into it all ever again, and daydreaming over my cycling tops of touring trips we did in Italy before DS arrived on the scene. Oh well i did manage to find some of my breast pads so not completely fruitless search.

Veggie could you have leant it to someone?

Hello everyone!
Welcome back LadyT, glad you had a good holiday, it sounds GREAT, very jealous! Can't believe you are still working though, we were all so jealous when you said you were stopping work weeks ago!!
wg hope you are feeling better, that sounds scary, take it easy! I quite like the idea of that book, I know what you mean about buying something about buying, but if it's good then sounds useful!
verso that lady on the train sounds like an arse, I went to London on Friday night to see some friends and the whole experience was exhausting even though I got a seat! I think people still don't notice I am pg, even though it should be obvious, so I was worried about the whole thing...I don't know how all you lot do it on public transport!

jumpjockey I think you should either book in the in-laws for the second week in Jan, if they definitely want to book something now, or tell them that "sorry it will be expensive but if you want to come at new year, you're just going to have to wait"

on the subject of hair, mine seems to be growing more slowly, odd!

Spent the weekend at an overnight mountain bike race, 12 hrs from 8pm to 8am, first year in 5 years i have not ridden it, and for the first time the weather was awful!! Haha, it rained and galed all night was sooo muddy and I came home and had a little sleep and came back to see the last couple of hours, I did feel smug! DH has only just woken up and is feeling v sorry for himself. And I got to do a lap of the course before the race and before it started raining, nice to ride my bike!

ladyT joining you on the blimp stakes thought I was doing ok size wise even DP and other family members commented on how I looked much more trim than when preggers with DS that was until I got on the scales this morning and they tipped 12 farkin stone!!!! Lovely to have you back by the way.

What a pain veggie, I am desperate to try out my sling again didnt quite get the hang of it last time round and I have the most beautiful sling that someone sent from NY so it must be used this time round.

rosemerta I have that book but not got round to reading it must try again.

waiting were you lying on your back as sometimes the monsters can be a bit heavy on a vein which restricts the blood flow? Take it easy I prescribe DVD marathon and lots of chocolate.

We have had a fab Sunday long lie in well 7.30 but with a 16mth old thats a lie in then a lazy morning reading the papers then DS went back to bed for a couple of hours cue us lying on the sofa watching trash then a lovely healthy walk with the hound. Now my leg of lamb and roast potatoes are cooking away nicely. yummy!

we have been racking our brains Pixstix to try to work out if we have lent it to anybody who has had a baby i the last year or so but can't think of anyone. DH is going to go back down to the basement and go through all the crap down there again to see if he can see it. fingers crossed.

Veggie how frustrating! Good luck to your dh in the basement.....

Welcome back,LadyT! >waves< Good to have you back - and good luck with the driving.

On the subject of slings (I know there was a big thread about this earlier but I wasn't in a buying 'zone' at that point ) - which is the best then? I had a Baby Bjorn and it was worse than useless - but I really like the idea of a proper sling for baby #2 if I can find a good one. All recommendations (substantiated, of course) welcome!

waitinggirl that funny spell sounds really scary. I'm glad you checked with the midwife - and although I am exceedingly at you getting a lie-in (what's that?!) I think it was medicinal and most definitely deserved.

Had a fab day with DD today. DH was off helping out with a school thing so we had some quality 1:1 time today . Was lovely - apart from the weather. She's such a sweetie >heart

Verso i have been reading the Ina May gaskin childbirth book and she highly recommends a maternity nurse or postnatal doula, and believes it is so important that it should be a state subsidized thing. Apparently the have them in the Netherlands. She believes they should take care of everything for a few weeks, housework, walking the dog cooking caring for other children. Hope your lady that your meeting is what your hoping for, is good if she comes with good refs.

verso - my pregnancy yoga teacher recommends kari-me slings - you need someone to show you how to wrap the metres of fabric, but then it is fine. one of her ex-students came in with her baby and he was so snuggled up inside it, against her body, it was lovely. by chance it was also recommended by a lovely independent baby shop we went to on the weekend. think we are going to go for that. a friend is, though, insisting she buy us a wilkinet, so maybe that one is good too.

feeling much better, so thanks to everyone for the concern. i hope it was a one off.

i think any of the slings that are basically a long piece of stretchy material are good, they are really fine to use once you do it a couple of times, some come with a DVD to show you. Very comfortable for both wearer and baby. I wouldn't be able to live without one, if we don't find our hugabub one we'll have to buy another do'h. I recommend the hugabub but that just cos i'm Australian, i think they are all fine.

Hi girls - sorry haven't been around much but will try to keep on with the posts.

In case you haven't spotted it, just to let you know that I have started a thread in Christmas 08 about being due at Christmas and asking for top tips etc! Has been very good and helpful so far - so have a look if you think it will help!

Feeling very tired at the moment and need to put my feet up - fat chance though with me working, 2dd's and dp being away for a month (hence me not posting!)

Hope to speak to you soon.

Hope you are well - take care.

veggie I think we are all allowed the odd melt down at this stage of pregnancy. Hope all OK now.

Verso I am just starting to feel uncomfortable-the indigestion is only just kicking in for me.

Thought after I posted it, hope it wasn't insensitive retelling my sister's horrible birth story on an antenatal thread. I think she was very unlucky-my own births were fine. Turnip thanks for the tip re cranial oesteopathy-I will mention it. They came home today and are doing much better. His head looks much better!