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

[Veggiemummy]

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

Haha at the perineal massage. I was at Russell Howard gig so couldn't come last night.

I have a little leaflet on perineal massage, which my friend gave me from her NCT classes. DH laughed at it until I pointed out that I would probably not be able to reach by the stage you are meant to start and he would have to help out. He was not impressed!! .

Also I pronounce it wrong, like the plants that come back apparently (perennial), which makes everyone laugh.

Arti...I was up for a couple of hours last night too. Just couldn't switch my brain off....not that it was anything earth shattering. More aimless pondering about where to put shelves in the babys room!!!!

DH nearly cried laughing when I pronounced it "per-RINN-eum" but FGS, I'm not a medic, it's not a word I've ever had cause to say so why should I know?

One of the girls said she'd been told you should get your DH "or a close friend" to help and another mentioned some professional masseur who does this for the ladies who lunch in London - you hire him and he pops round your house every day and rubs your bits for a while, all sounds very morally dubious if you ask me!

Good point about the NCT classes and meeting like minded mums in your area. Feeling I am going to be a rather lonely mummy in the dark winter months

lol, it would have be a VERY close friend! And as to the professional masseur, maybe I am a bit prudish, but sounds a bit dubious to me!

re: panic and doom and gloom mongers - dh has decided that every sunday morning he is bringing me breakfast in bed with the sunday papers and tv from now until d-day. just to try and make the most of the time left on our own, and able to lie in.

hatty - good luck with PP - thinking of you

rosmerta - take care

artichokes - i, too, am shattered and waking up between 4 - 6.30am every day. it's driving me insane

emmanbump - are there NCT meet-ups or similar that you can go along to? I'm planning on going to drop-in sessions once I'm on ML and certainly when the baby's new. If you've got a Sure Start centre nearby they have lots of things on too. No need to be lonely [hug]

waittinggirl - mind if I print off your message and show it to my DH...? what a star you've got there!

jumpjockey - that's a gigolo, isn't it?

Jumpjockey not sure. There are bound to be mum and baby groups in my area so should be able to meet other mum's that way. Hope I don't turn into some sort of hermit once baby is here.

Sorry to hear about everyone struggling to sleep. Hope you all get a good night tonight.

Don't worry Emmaanbump - as long as you are proactive there are loads of ways to meet mums early on in maternity leave. I would do the following:

• Check with your local NCT t see if they do post-natal groups (where they lionk you with 6 or 7 mums who will have given birth at teh same time).
• Check with yout local NCT whether they run a weekly drop in for Mums and Babies (like a playgroup but the babies all lie there while the mums drink coffee).
• See what classes you can sign up to. I did a baby massage course when DD was tiny and met lots of mums through that. I also did Little Dippers (underwater swimming with your baby - very sociable) and Mother and Baby yoga at my local neighbourhood centre.
• Check out your local SureStart provision.
• Everytime you meet a similarly pregnant woman (or woman with the same age newborn) be ultra friendly, suggest coffee and take their number. It seems full on but it works as everyone is desperate to make maternity leave buddies.

Those are good tips arti.

I fear I've missed the boat as lots of you have had classes already! I just presumed someone would mention it to me or I'd get a letter. Oops, I must be more proactive!

I'm more interested in the newborn care side of the classes as I'm having a c-section and I'm not allowed to breastfeed. I might have to rely on books and MN!

Good grief jumpjockey I nearly choked on my satsuma at the idea of asking a 'close friend' to massage my bits! I'd like to ask just to see the expression on their face

I think I am going to ask my pg friend if she wants to meet up for some 2-way massage...just to see the look on her face! (I know she will be more horrified at the idea than I am so she won't say yes (I hope...))

I'm doing NHS classes but not NCT (too expensive). The midwife asked me if I wanted them at my 21 week appointment and she sent off a form. I just got my letter today (at 32+3) and I'm booked to go to classes at the hospital when I'm 35 and 36 weeks. HTH

blimey - I must admit I didn't do any massage and seemed to escape ruin (not sure what that says about me!!).
On meeting other mums..I did the NHS post natal course (I think it is usually when bub is about 6 weeks old and teaches you about car seats etc). I still see some of the girls and we actually tend to go out without kids more than with so made some lovely friends there!
Also, I second talking to everyone! I have met a couple of really friendly girls from chatting on the train on the way to work prior to having DS. In fact, going to see one of them tomorrow! Aaaand she's pregnant again and due in Jan so she's going to be off the same time as me again. Very handy! And the more groups you go to the more you start bumping into the same faces. One tip (that I wish I'd done myself) is to make a note in yr diary of peoples names, their kids names and anything to help you remember them. It's so embarrasing to keep having to ask for reminders!

Kmp the effect of ametop lasts for 4 hours after you have removed it so you can pop it on when you go into labour then take it off quickly with a tissue and they will e non the wiser, (although they maybe able to see where you put it on cos it makes the skin a bit soft).

I have to 2nd the helpfulness of NCT for the people you meet. I guess in a way you are buying friends but we have made very close lasting relationships with a really lovely group of people and there have been times for each of us that those friends have been invaluable.

I was worried about my DH during the birth as he cannot stand seeng me in distress or pain but i have to say he really rallied on the day and was the most amazing birth partner, so you may be surprised by Dh's.

Right - night girls....going home from the boredom hell hole now!!! Oh well...2 days left!!!!
Take care
Catch up soon x

wow i am so out of it today, i just discovered i had totally not read page 23 of this thread. also a little too much hormones in my body that massuese taht does perineal massage sounds really dirty, is that serious? fans face as having sudden hot flush

also beans i'm sorry your sister feels she has to be like that with you. seriously girl, when you see that little darling in your arms you will wonder how you have managed to live your life up until now without them. it's 3 years on and i am still waiting for the day i 'regret having a child' and waiting for these 'feelings of resentment'. All the things i no longer can do seem so trivial compared to what DS has given me. DH and i used to have some amazing holidays, but i have enjoyed my holidays with he and DS even more, also the world becomes a whole new exciting place when you go for a walk out & about with a toddler. My SIL described her life as 'being over' a few months after she had her DS and still to this day i still don't understand this sentiment. I'm ot saying t's all sweet smelling babies and yummy mummy days but i have done and seen some amazing things in my life but nothing takes my breath away more than DS looking me in the eye and saying 'i love you mummy'

hatty am so about your siutation, but like others have said there is still hope. With any luck the lack of bleeding thus far may mean placenta has moved into a better position - fingers crossed.

Verso delegate woman, you can't be working this hard so late on !

I also have a reasonable chance of a CS as baby is still transverse at 32 weeks (although I really don't want one) - can I ask a dumb question..? Why do we need big pants to hold in big pads after a section, do you still bleed vaginally ? or is the pad over the scar - sorry dim question but am confused.

Beans loving the farmyard theme

kmp LOL loving your preggy brain stories !

will finish catching up later - hometime now !

Arti great advice. Will def try to remember all those great tips!!!!! Thanks

HELLO!!!

I'm just popping on from the library. We should have internet again from the 23rd October. I can't wait!!!

On another note. 9 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!! OMG where has the time gone????

Hope you are all ok!!

Phew, you ladies have been busy. Not been on for a bit as no connection at home and driving in the mornings. Bit sore with inflamed tendons in my wrists. Can only do 2-3 hrs a day stamina-wise, so it's going to take me longer to learn that anticipated. Anyway:

Hatty - you poor poor darling, that's rotten. I am so sorry for you. I actually wanted a cs (and gotta have one anyway, as things stand) but I am full of sympathy for anyone who can't get the birth they want, and I do see that a GA isn't ideal. I am crossing everything for you. I'd flipping well come and see you myself if I didn't have this pesky driving! Jam and Chutney, I read your advice about post-CS care avidly and will be asking for reminders nearer the time.

Rosmerta, for Pete's sake don't stay off here when you feel low. Come on and let it all out! Really, you must. Big hugs to you.

Arti - fingers crossed for protein test. How is your dodgy undercarriage? Mine feels swollen and sore and has done for weeks, and I plucked up the courage to put a mirror there last week (TMI) and it's all veiny, so maybe that's why (in my case).

To Lowrib and all those sleeping badly - I feel your pain. I had the middle-of-the-night-megrims and ghastly thoughts for hours last night, it's really a pain. I'm a cheerful person in the day.

Emma - sorry about the pink sludge (most evocative!) and I hope you have an ace time at your folks'.

ZJ - re: baby personality - I feel that LadyBaby is perverse and wilful. Where might she get THAT from

JJ - the iron supplements are bunging me up. Bloomin' nuisance. Fibogel and Lactulose are the laxatives that are safe in pregnancy (Fibogel is an orange drink that is like wallpaper paste, Lactulose is a sickly sweet medicine). I recomend lots of good old prunes instead, which are also full of iron.

Beans, I am so cross about your train trouble. I'd have had a high-octane diva pregnant lady meltdown. I know this doesn't suit everyone and I don't know whether it would have worked, but it sure as hell makes you feel better

Reban, broadly good news about your scan...

Mibbes, what's Pregaday? I'm not on it, anyway!

Everyone is going to see good stand ups. Excellent. I went to a drinks party last night to celebrate the bursary the BBC are setting up in my late DH's name. Great stuff. Funny how I can't stand up for two mins on the tube, but managed three hours at a drinks party Mind you, I was crippled after. But it was really worth it.

mibbes: yes, you bleed vaginally after birth whether CS or VB: it'a like a massive period, where you lose the extra lining on your womb that's built up over the 9 mo. You get through a lot of pads so would recommend buying tons! I actually preferred the disposable knickers for the first few days as you could just bin the whole lot when you needed a change.

we were wondering where you had got to!

Glad the driving is going OK LadyT, bit of a bugger re the tendonitis. How long do they think it will take before you can sit your test?

I've been struggling along quietly. This pregnancy has been completely different to my one with DS.

I know I'm having a boy so I'm quite excited by having 2 boys.

all those who are bunged up as well as prunes can recommend pears, or pear juice (if you can find it, sometimes in turkish food shop which can be found in various locations around london) or juice your own. A glass a day can help. also when sitting on the loo, put the end of your thumb in your mouth ad pretend you are blowing up a balloon, we used it for constipated kids and works every time. If t doesn't work first go it will at least start things off so have another go a bit later. very important no to sit for too long straining on the loo not good for the innards.