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

[Veggiemummy]

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

Ooooh I would love to join a lunchtime meet-up! How about Weds 19th Nov?

can i come?! I finish work next friday so can do lunch almost any time after that!

yay! let's do it! 19th No at CJ - brilliant!

I haven't had a date in years!

We can wander slowly up to Banana Leaf or something on Battersea Rise! Hurray!

Sounds great Beans although I think we'll be wandering VERY slowly by then!

veggie/rosmerta the swaddling blanket I've got is one of those with flaps and velcro and stuff - supposedly in all the right places, but it looks darned complicated! But my Mum has since dug out the (normal) blanket she swaddled me in. I think I will try it, once I get the hang of folding and wrapping, if babyZJ doesn't like it I'll just unwrap him/her again. Thanks for the advice

Veggie - how long did you swaddle your DS for? Is it just for the first few weeks (assuming babyZJ does like it)? And did you do it everytime he went for a sleep? See - you've unleashed a barrage of questions now!! (sorry)

Glad dh caused amusement

Turnip so sorry about your dad

WG and other insomniacs I hope things improve. FIngers crossed for sleep tonight.

Kayz, Beans and others struggling at work. How do you do it? Respect to all. I'm shattered enough and at least I can sit the boy down in front of cbeebies and put my feet up. Not that I do that, ever. I am a good mother and would never use tv to get time off

ZJ I swaddled ds a fair bit when he was small, not for daytime sleep as he just slept on me but at night. It did help him settle as the startle reflex wakes them up when they are little. I have some fleece swaddles but to be honest a cot sheet or something is just as good if not better. this is useful for how to do it

My surestart grant came through kind of odd getting it this time as we have a pretty good income but if the powers that be say we can have it then it is welcome.

To return to purple cauliflowers, and with a TMI warning....those of you with experience of them, I know that unless they are very, very bad it is fine for labour etc but what about sex? A lot of friction going on there......not that I am up for it at all at the moment but if I were.....Last time around I was jumping on dh every 5 seconds even when I was overdue and not just to get the baby out!

at londoners with their meetups. You sure none of you lives oop north and close to Durham?

Oh lordy...I have just read solidly for about 3 hours!!!!! And have just caught up!!! I am not going to do a massive post just say hello to everyone and send out comfortable, happy vibes and hope you are all ok.
I've had a bit of night waking too but nowhere near as bad as the first time.

Now I probably shouldn't rub this in but I finish work in 55 minutes!!!!!! Thats it....for 15 months...can't bloody believe it!

So I'll be up for the 19th Nov...Effie, I'll email you too.

Oh you lucky lucky beggar OLI - I'm sooooooo jealous ! Lucky you! SOB!

I know - I am sorry!! If it's any consolation, being a 'scumbag part timer' people have barely noticed so I don't think I'll be getting much of a send off....more like a sneak out the door.

Very excited...going to buy my double buggy tomorrow...that feels like accepting that there is actually going to be somethign to put in it! I still haven't got my head around that!

oooh and just had an email saying that my feeding chair will also arrive tomorrow! Is it a conspiracy!!! I think I may have got the one you were talking about Rosemerta.

NOT FAIR
I am dozing at my desk today.

My John Lewis delivery arrived yesterday - oh yay! So exciting! I now own a bugaboo and all sorts of other bits and pieces - hurray!!!!

Hello girls, I think we are all getting a bit fraught. Hmmm. I didn't bargain for feeling like this. How naive can you get!

PoisonD - is it just us who are up for tomorrow night (ie Friday?) What I was thinking was that I could do a compromise, ie go to the country tomorrow night but get a much later train (there's one about half eight) and meet at 6ish for early drinks or supper. I appreciate you might not want to do it if it's just me but if you do I belong to a private members' club in Soho and we could go there. However, if the group is much bigger, that might not be an option as I think I can only sign in a max of two guests. I must find out and will post on the meet up thread. Lunch on the 19th - hmm-kay, though I am having my cs on Tues 25th Nov so that's about the limit for me.

Speaking of which - Verso, did you get your cs date today?:

Turnip - I'm just really sorry for you. It must be incredibly disappointing to say the least. I also feel a tiny bit sorry for your Dad though, as I bet he feels really down on himself. I wish I had something clever or useful to say, but I can only send you a ton of sympathy...and I really do.

WG - I've said it before, those dark thoughts in the night SUCK. Two things have helped me with them recently though. 1. Get a notepad and write down everything that's bothering you, right there and then. Put it down and resolve to deal with it all in the morning. When you read it back, it will either seem out of proportion, OR you can take a tiny step towards doing something to alleviate them. Anyway, 2. when you do get back into bed, imagine you are somewhere else. Come up with a fantasy (you are in a cosy nest underground, or up a tree, or on an island - ANYTHING. Force yourself to focus on it and it will be comforting and will clear your mind, enabling you to drop off.

Beans and SL - I'd be grumpy and tired if I was still at work too. I certainly feel grumpy and pretty furious learning to drive. Even sitting in chair has the capacity to make mne feel uncomfy and cross, tbh. Be kind to yourselves.

Arti - Music therapy? That can surely only be Mr D.R.? If so, he's a pretty good friend of mine. How weird!

Veggie - night vomits? It's a new one on me, sounds ghastly! Your poor thing!

Oli - enjoy the maternity leave. Hope it's a bit more relaxing than mine! 15 months, hey? Wowzers!

Effie - I am far too thick to imagine how an email mailing list works, but count me in. I will email you on that address. I too haven't been looking on MN much now I am not at work, this is the only thread I look at. I think my blood pressure has definitely gone down as a result

Indith, I have a little mate who has just gone up to Durham to do his Law degree. He's at Univ, so in the castle bit (v nice). I will visit him at some stage, probably early next year, so perhaps we can have coffee then.

LadyT - It was D.R! How strange that he is a friend of yours. He is a very good friend of my oldest friend and I have got to know him very well over the years. Hmmmm. Now I am feeling weird as I always get paranoid about MN/RL cross-over. Nobody in RL knows I come on here. Shall we agree not to tell him we know each other from here? (I have suddenly figured out who you might be - I was too thick to even start to figure that out before).

Maybe I should drop the paranoia and come to a meet-up... I could do tomorrow night if it were very central and early. I am still at work on 19/11 so I couldn't do a lunchtime meet then.

Wow LT - BIG POST!

Does anyone else find that they can go and have a really satisfying pee, then the minute they get back to their desks/away from loo generally, then need another one straight away. THEN if I give into that urge, which is usually quite pressing, only about 2 drips come out? Oops, TMI, but still...

beans yep!! Most annoying. Can't go for a big wee directly before bed as otherwise just before dropping off will get the urge to go for the 2 drips wee and won't be able to sleep until I have!

Arti, don't be paranoid. I am the most determined secret keeper in the whole of the capital. Just like Fight Club, what goes on in MN stays in MN! I won't breathe a word to him. Besides which, I want to feel free myself to say whatever I like on here without fear of RL reprisal - cos that's sort of the point, isn't it? I am amazed you know who I am because I am far too dumb to think who you might be, though I have probably met you at one of DR's parties over the years. Ironically, if I'd checked all my email addresses instead of just one, I'd have seen his email and would've been at the recording on Tues. Aww, come out for early drinks tomorrow night, do. I want to meet somewhere central anyway (ideally), if I've got to be at Padders by 8.30.

I know Beans, I'm a bore aren't I? I always let me fingers run away with me.

You are not at all Ladyt I got a nice distraction from work with your big post!

Hello all - sorry for those that are feeling fraught! I think it just starts to get on top of you at this point (or me anyway)

Turnip - many happy returns to your DCs. Must be so disappointing about your Dad - for everybody really. Not much constructive to say other than hoping for the best for you all.

LadyT - you are a very brave lady to be doing driving lessons at this stage - much tougher and more exhausting than work IMO!

Beans and SL - I know what you mean about work! Feel the same here. Aiming to work till 38 weeks and am totally lacking in motivation, whatever is going on. Was flat out until the end of last week and unreasonably tired, now have not much to do and am unreasonably bored. So no pleasing me at the moment...

Olipop - enjoy the leave!!!

WG - those dark moments in the middle of the night are really rubbish. Not fair when you can't sleep through them.

Indith - Enjoyed your tales! I don't think I dare look, much less persuade DH to!

effie - will mail you

All fine here, had a pointless morning at the hospital to see the docs and get bloods done. Can't get any sense from them re what to do for the birth. Doc (registrar, never met before) decides to initiate elective cesarian section versus regular birth discussion. She tells me (supposedly reassuringly) that they monitor very closely if you've had a section before. So ask if the monitoring doesn't interfere with mobility and chances of a successful outcome? So she back tracks and tells me that she doesn't know what the monitoring policy is in the hospital (!?) I ask some questions about the pitifully low success rate for VBACs at the Royal Free (less than 20% and well below national average). The only explanation she can offer is that a lot of women change their minds and go for the section. (Does that mean the women of north London are particularly feeble???) Anyway, no sense there. Left feeling that I really don't know what to do. Would much rather have a VBAC for practical reasons like being able to handle DD after the birth, but hardly seems much point trying if its all so half hearted and my chances of getting one are pathetically slim. Ultimately, was totally OK with a section last time, so it wouldn't really phase me, but I just found the whole thing so irritating! Sorry to rant, just had to let off steam somewhere.

Oh yes beans, all the time! SL I just cannot go to sleep without a couple of trips - just to make sure .

I asked at the hospital (I was worried in case it was a bladder infection or something, duh!) and apparently it is because the baby is sometimes laid on your bladder pipe but once you have had a wee there is more room for the baby to move so it shifts off the pipe, you then feel like you need to wee but in reality there isn't that much there. I hope that makes sense!

It is damned uncomfortable that's for sure!

Oh and chutney - so glad to hear your DD is on the mend.

Sorry I cross posted with everyone there! I must remember not to go off and put my tea on whilst I'm halfway through writing a post.

turnip I'm really sorry you are having a hard time with your Dad. I can't offer any words of wisdom except that if he managed to stay on the wagon for 20 years before then there sounds like there is a good chance of him sorting things out.

waiting It is awful not being able to sleep . I hope things are better tonight.

chutney Your poor DD. Glad things are improving.

for emma and anyone else feeling a bit low.

invisible How very frustrating! Maybe you should ask to speak to a consultant. Hopefully they should know what they are taking about.... I'm sure they do!

DH is out tonight so I'm making myself M&S crispy bake, chips and peas - I love them

Beans yip I'm another one getting really annoyed at having to go to the loo 2 mins after having apparently emptied my bladder - no matter how long I sit to make sure it is all out I still need to go almost immediately afterwards and it is for a dribble ! I figured the baby was quite literally taking the p!ss out of me by waiting until I got back to bed then releasing the final drop

Jollybear - will definitely try to see the consultant next time! In fact, I wasn't even planning to have the discussion today - doc started it, but in those circumstances, you'd hope she would know what she was talking about...