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

[Veggiemummy]

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

veggie hope you find your sling. I've been trying to find loads of stuff I know we have but its not where its supposed to be, very annoying!

verso sounds like a lovely day with your dd.

hotmama hi, sympathies to you with dh being away. How much longer until he's home?

I'm into a proper nesting mode now. Am cooking a huge meal every day to be frozen, also baking and scrubbing down one room a day. Dh thinks its great, especially as I never really had a nesting period ds!

Hi All

Welcome back LadyT.

Re slings - I just got the Kari-me. It looks great. I have the Baby Bjorn as well because we used it for DD but she got too heavy very quickly.

This is a very quick message as I am off to the hospital for an appointment with the consultant to check that there are still no signs of pre-eclampsia. I am quite nervous so wish me luck! I really want to go to the midwife led unit for the birth but unless my BP is OK at this appointment then I have to have consultant led care for the rest of the pregnancy. Just the thought is making my BP rise.

Will check in later.

Good luck arti!

goodluck Arti think calming thoughts, don't rush o the appointment, hey i'll send low BP calming thoughts to you.

Good luck this morning Arti - hope it's all okay.

I have until 3pm off as not working for once and DD's at nursery. Have faithfully promised DH I will not spend day on computer so had better dash off.

I have 11 weeks to go today and still have not bought lots of stuff - is this totally disorganised?

arti good luck! spent a couple of restless hours last night feeling sproglet move v far down towwards my bladder (unusual for me), and then some kicks on the right and the left and it suddenly occurred: i might have to have a cesarean. it's something i hadn't even thought about at all, but who knows, i just might have to... it's not like it's the end of the world, obviously, but it has only just occurred to me. my friend's obstetrician in new york kept saying to her: keep an open mind. am trying.

v impressed with the cooking and cleaning, rosmerta - our freezer is so tiny, i daren't start yet.

and hattyyellow - i am also 11 weeks to go today and haven't bought anything - i did mention a great book a couple of posts ago, which i found wonderful for knowing hwhat to buy and what not to bother with, if you're a first timer.

WG: do you know what position the baby is in atm? It's hard to tell from movement alone if they are in a tricky position or not. Pplus they have plenty of time to move - if you're worried, look up the fetal optimal positional stuff - think someone linked to it lowet down on the thread. That said, a CS may well be the best and safest option for any one of us, depending on what happens. Personally I'd prefer to have a planned CS rather than an emergency one, but who knows?

Hope you;re feeling better after your scare: make sure you rest loads and get back to the mws if you experience any other unusual symptoms.

Good luck for today Arti: hope that BP stays down.

Noce to see you back LT and the holiday sounds great . Good luck with the driving school - at least you'll be getting it out of the way quickly.

and and SLINGS: I'd recommend a wrap one - stretchy great for small babies, woven suitable for bigger ones as well. When we met in Clissold Umlellala had a gorgeous pouch that looked great for the early weeks - just pop 'em in and go. Am tempted to order one myself

Hi all - fingers crossed Arti that everything's gone ok.

hatty - we only did our first bit of proper shopping yesterday. Local NCT sale, my goodness it was mayhem but we came away with 7x allin ones, 7x sleepsuits, 3 sleeping bags, changing mat, snow suit, coat, socks, "my first Christmas" tshirt and a few other bits for £20. Well worth the battle!

rosmerta - cleaning one room a day, just how big is your house?

Re baby positions, this one keeps shimmying up and down, one minute the head's under my ribs then it's by my navel. I'm wondering if/when it's ever going to settle in. Have to keep sitting up very straight to be able to breathe...

DH spoke to the inlaws yesterday and they're cool with booking at short notice once junior has arrived. So phew, stress on that one is now gone, and thanks everyone for your advice

aaay! LadyT is back. We missed you. Hols sound great, but know what you mean about your body / own bed / french people! Sad about the Swiss high altitude, sounds scary.

Best of luck with the driving - you go.

Veggie how annoying about the sling. Did you lend it to someone and forget? (I have a habit of doing this). In my case I always find said item at just the moment the child is too old to use it - but hope you have better luck.

Summer - glad you enjoyed NOT doing tghe bike race...! Weather here was grim all day - but my sister was up doing the Great North Run and I couldn't get over the blue skies. She did it in 1hr 54 and I am very proud of her! (she only started running a year ago and used to be the world's biggest couch potato).

Pix glad you had a good sunday. Enjoy that roast!

WG - how scary for you. Hope all remains well, sometimes the body does odd things but good to keep an eye.

I have just done a classic pg brain. Ordered pizza for collection from new trendy pizza place round corner. DH went to collect - no sign of it. Turns out I had rung Chelsea not Crouch End. Durrrr. Had to ring Chelsea and shamefacedly say I would not to be in to collect what with being 8 miles away and so on....They were very nice about it and didn't attempt to charge me.

The above was written last night - haven't had a chance to read todays posts!! Catching up now.

Just caught up -

Arti really hope all ok and that you stay M/w led. Whatever happened about that lovely house you saw?! I loved it.

jump glad you got your plans sorted out. The less stress the better, eh.

hatty enjoy your day off.

verso sounds like a great idea with the maternity nurse. It's amazing what some decent sleep can do. Don't feel decadent - it should, as Veggie says, be a state-funded thing.

I am getting a temp nanny in to help with my two DC and the new baby from 17 Nov til March (assuming DH doesn't lose his job - hmmmm). Yes, I could do it all myself but we are in the lucky position to be able to afford it (for now) and would like to be able to enjoy my last little baby and also take time to have one-on-one with my DS and DD. My DH may not be able to take any paternity leave so it makes sense for me to try and have an extra pair of hands.

I may speak to her about doing the odd night shift in exchange for a day off once b'fing is establised and I can express! But otherwise I fully intend to go back to bed for an hour or so during the day.

I'm back. BP was lowest it has ever been so that was great news. However I have some protein in my urine which they have sent of for further analysis. if it is above a certain level I will have to do a 24 urine collection on Friday. I had to do one of those last time and they are horrid - you have to collect every drop of urine you make for 24 hours (all in one big jug). Yuk.

Overall the consultant was optomistic. She measured be bump at 35cm which is rather big as I am 30 weeks. She did not seem that alarmed though. I, on the otherhand, am now rather worried about monstorously huge baby inside me (DD was 9lb 4oz and that was quite enough).

WG - don't woprry too much about the position of the baby yet. I thought this one was breech or transverse as most of the kicks are in my side or down below. But this morning the doctor said she is head down. She also said that it does not matter at the moment and they are still flipping all the time.

Turnip- I am doing the same re nanny. I am keeping DD's nanny on for 3 days a week when I stop work. She will be flexile and either take DD or the baby but it will give me a bit of a break.

Hatty - make the most of your freedom today! By the way Dh wants to call teh baby Hetty (Hester) and it always reminds me of you.

Glad your BP was OK arti . Hester is a lovely name as well.

arti about protein and your lovely jug o'wee (thank goodness it's not summer eh) - hope its ok. about your BP - yay. Will they give you a growth scan (not that they are that bloomin accurate)? I am due one at 34 weeks.

Hetty is a lovely name. Really like it! You will have go hippy and give her the middle name Yellow! If we have a girl, we may give her the middle name Joy - as it's my MiL's maiden name. Either that or Aveen after my friend who died last year.

Good news on the bp arti. About the measurements - last time I saw the midwife I measured 35cm at 31 weeks so looks like we will both be having giant babies

Hi all, hope you all had good weekends. I got called in to see the consultant on Thursday after my GTT test and it turns out I have gestational diabetes. I had to monotor my bloods all weekend and then call in the results this morning, the upshot of which is that I need to go on insulin urgently as my sugar levels are 'extremely elevanted'. They have said that this type of diabetes is unlikely to be just gestational, ie. it will probably continue after the birth. At least they have caught it now and can hopefully get it under control so that I don't end up with another massive baby, and it does mean that I am more likely to get my elective caesarean .
We went to look around the local schools on Friday for DS and it all felt ridiculously grown up. We are both agreed on our first choice, which is unfortunately outside our catchment area, but can't decide on second choice. One of the second choice options is in our catchment, but I am worried that if we put that down then he will automatically be sent there and our first choice will be overlooked. Does anyone know how it works?
On a happier note, my best friend had a 7lb 12oz baby girl yesterday, called Neleda. I'm hoping to meet her on Wednesday when I am in London for work for the day.

katie: sorry to hear about the GTT. Have they booked you in for extra scans? It might be that after the birth you can control it by diet (or it might even go away). There's lots of useful info on the Diabetes UK site - read up on it when I had some dodgy blood sugar results back in the 1st trimester.

sorry about teh GD I meant to say

Hi all did my first bit of organisational baby / postnatal shopping today .. picked up my free changing bag from boots (if you dont have one register with boots parenting club and you get a voucher for a free one when you buy some newborn nappies), also cotton wool, maternity pads, breast pads and something to give birth in. As im starting my new job in two weeks im trying to get everything (baby and christmas) organised before then well ill give it a go anyway.

WG your dizzy spell sounds very scary make sure you get yourself checked out by midwife and take it easy.

LT lovely to have you back and good luck with your driving course.

Katie sorry to hear about your diabeties. I know it can be different for everyone but my MIL has it and she has, to date, managed to keep it under control with diet.

Arti glad your bp is looking good and hoprefully the protein will prove to be something minor (fingers crosed for you)

turnip very jealous re maternity nurse and agree it should be compulsory! We will have fun jugling all four children once this LO arrives, but i am lucky i have real life nanny (my mom!) living only 5 minutes away who is a constant and invaluable support. (MIL not too bad either but obviously not as good as my mum )

Back at hospital tomorrow for another scan will let you know how i get on.

reban very best of luck for your scan tomorrow.

katie sorry to hear you have GD. Fingers crossed it will go away once your lo is born or be controllable by diet as others have said.

Katie i'm sorry to hear about your GD but you seem to be taking it all very well, good on you.

I was just thinking it isn't dumb that hiring a nanny CM, or sending DC's to nursery so that a mother can work is not seen as decadent, but hiring a Mat Nurse or nanny post birth or postnatal doula is seen a decadent, it is such a good idea, it makes life for all the family so much better and ensures a good postnatal recovery.

Hi everyone, lots of news on here from the weekend.

ladyt glad you enjoyed your holiday, it sounds so lovely. Good luck with the driving school

beans happy anniversary, I hope you had a lovely weekend in the Lakes

jj well done on persuading the ILs to come later (and at your inn joke ? I liked that!)

majormoo good to hear your nephew is doing well, despite that nasty birth. I read that, cringed, and then realised that its good to hear that despite a traumatic birth (that I hope not to have but have to be realistic that it does happen) a healthy little baby is still the end result.

And good luck to those of you starting in a new job ? its all I can manage to prepare some handover notes, so I?m impressed with you guys.

And those of you with unhappy tales ? hugs to all of you.

verso can?t believe the train lady, I would have been so mad and bet you were too.

poisondwarf well done for borrowing your notes, I think you need the right thing (if I?d thought of it, I?d have done it too!)

oli glad to hear your SIL?s new baby is improving, but I don?t understand how difficult it is to diagnose tongue tie ? 3 of my friends last year had babies with it, and it wasn?t spotted in any until they?d either lost worry amounts of weight or, in one case, it was too late for a little snip so had to be a bigger op under anaesthetic at 6 months. So ridiculous.

veggie grrr at your SIL, but bless your DS (and also rosmerta?s DS too), they are so adorable and I can?t wait to have a LO who is so caring towards me.

wg scary story, hope you?re feeling much better today?

Katie sorry to hear about the diabetes, but you sound positive that you?ve been diagnosed, so I hope that frame of mind continues and helps you lots.

Phew ? think I?ve caught up now ?

I had my 28 week check this morning, blood taken etc. The MW had a feel of babyZJ and listened to the heart beat, but when I asked her which way round it is she said ?I don?t pay any attention to that at this stage, as it?ll move anyway, so you don?t need to know?. Is that odd? I?d like to know, so if it is breech or something I can start crawling round on my hands and knees. And I got a list of dates of antenatal classes ? either end of this month or end of Nov. DH is going away at the end of October, so will miss some of them. Should I go alone, or wait til November, when I?ll have less than 4 weeks to go? Vote now please girls ?!

And I?ll finish this essay with a mad tale ? I picked up a brochure about environmentally friendly baby tips at the MW?s and one tip is madness. ?re-use large maternity pants by sewing up the leg holes and hooking the top of the pants over your buggy handles to make a great baby day bag?! Now I?m all for a bit of re-cycling, but surely no-one wants a baby bag made of old, big pants ? do they?

Right, off to find hotmamas Christmas tips thread now, have a good evening all

ZJ that is priceless re the maternity pants!! you are not alone in thinking that is disgusting!! I am sure anyone who is dying to reuse a baby day bag can get one off ebay or freecycle easily enough, no need for one made of old pants!

and about the pants!!! Was is a serious leaflet??!

ZJ - my birthdate buddy! 11 weeks to go...your maternity pants thing is hilarious! My Dh said to me "if you wear these things after giving birth I will divorce you" but I don't know that making a bag out of them would be that great either. TMI alert but - I make sure the ones for after the birth are really really cheap so I can chuck them if they are very bloodstained. No matter how many times you change your pads the first few days you do get leaks and frankly I am not going to spend hours getting blood stains out of enormous knickers. Not very environmentally friendly, but hey. And as for disposable pants - they are dreadful, I never wear em.