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

[Veggiemummy]

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

Hi all, did a long post earlier, but lost it due to MN being down, grrr.
Went to see the Diabetes consultant yesterday and I am not having much luck controlling it so am now having to inject myself 4 times a day. Has got me over my fear of needles though!
Also had a scan and baby is already 6 1/2lb so there go my chances of having a smaller baby this time around. They are taking me a bit more seriously about opting for a C-section though, but want to wait until 36 weeks before we make a final decision. This scares me a bit as they usually induce diabetics or do C-sections at 38 weeks, so will only give me a couple of weeks to prepare myself!
DS is being really sweet with the bump, keeps hugging my tummy and kissing the baby through my (non existent)tummy button. I think once baby arrives it might be a different story though.
Sorry for the 'me' post, but can't be bothered to retype my whole post.
Off to find something to do with DS to make up for him having to spend 3 hours at the hospital with me yesterday.
Shame I am no longer in London so can't doany of the meet ups, am very jealous. Hope you have fun and have a drink for those of us who can't make it.

Effie - I'm a bit of a doofus, but what's this email thing? Feel a bit out of the loop!

I've got a question... One of my friends has a sort of yellowy coloured fur mattress cover in her pram and I really want one - does anyone know where I can get one??!! Does that make any sense?

PD and Turnip - one of my old friends from uni, who I used to live with when I first moved to London is also an alcoholic. She has been in rehab about 8 times, but I don't think she wants to stop. It makes me really sad as I have, to all extents and purposes, lost one of my best friends. She first started rehab at 28 and we're now 33 and she's no better. I used to try to help her, but now I just don't know what to do. I send the odd email or text, but it's become impossible to maintain a friendship with her. I know it's not the same as it being your father, but I do know how difficult it can be to feel sympathy. In some ways, it is the saddest thing in the world, but I can't help feeling angry with her for not being able to ditch it. And it's just a long slow way to destroy yourself. It makes me so very very sad for her, but at the same time, really cross. Does that make sense?

Turnip - one of my best mates has just found out she can't have children naturally, after 10 months of trying and has just started her course of assisted fertility. She now has a 20% chance of getting pregnant. so you're right, let's celebrate our big fat tummies and our big wiggly babies and enjoy them being there, despite the pain, the piles and the poo straining! And everything else. Physically we might be a bit ruined, but in every other way we're so lucky! Hurray for us!

Effie - happy with a test message!

Beans - Are you thinking of a sheepskin? We have one in DD's buggy which makes it a bit comfier. They sell them in all kinds of places, John Lewis included. They're a bit of an indulgence, but lovely - maybe a good present if someone wants to treat you?

poisondwarf - your friend's experience is just what I am afraid of. Don't want a section, but feel like I may be bounced into one as they don't really inspire confidence! Am hoping to get some sense out of a consultant at 35 weeks, but that may just be wishful thinking. Will also try and get my doctor sis on the case - she is pretty good at ferreting out answers.

Katie - poor you - needles 4 times a day does not sound like fun, but I guess the important thing is that the diabetes gets under control.

DD is also almost 18 months and I am pretty sure is clueless about what's ahead, so if there are any tips would be happy to hear them! My mother managed to get me worried, telling me about my brother going on hunger strike when my little sister was born - wouldn't eat for about 10 days and had them all very worried. Apparently he was in mourning for the loss of his mummy. Age gap between them is about the same as it will be between DD and the LO...

Beans: I think it's a sheepskin/lambskin: you can get them for buggies or to use as playmats or even in the cot (the last is not recommended due to SIDS risk, but we resorted to it at one point in our valiant efforts to get DS to sleep). You can get them from all kinds of places, there are (pricer) organic ones which are supposed to be good because of the chemicals used to cure the skins or something. You can also get darker ones: we have a dark brown one which is great for not showing any stains!

some here

www.greenbaby.co.uk/pl_SHEEPSKIN.htm

Email: I suggested an email list for those who might not be able to get onto MN or who would find email easier for circulating news. Email me if you'd like to be added - no need to add RL details if you'd prefer not to

Beans do you mean a sheepskin rug for the bubba to lie on?

The secret stork thing the way we worked it last time round was send all our addresses to an independant mumsnetter that one of us new and she then chucked names together and sent each person an email containing the recipients address and RL name if you were happy for people to know RL names. I do have someone in mind on my orther reg thread that I can ask. If you are happy with this and she is happy to do it for us will get her to post her email on this thread and those interested can mail her.

PD & Turnip how sad for you but sounds like you know what you are dealing with and are coping admirably .

I have no idea how to try and explain to DS about this bubba, he is 17mth and has relatively good understanding gives my tummy a cuddle and seems ok if I am holding other babies but he is just to young to get it.

Big ole wave to all.

Beans: I think it's a sheepskin/lambskin: you can get them for buggies or to use as playmats or even in the cot (the last is not recommended due to SIDS risk, but we resorted to it at one point in our valiant efforts to get DS to sleep). You can get them from all kinds of places, there are (pricer) organic ones which are supposed to be good because of the chemicals used to cure the skins or something. You can also get darker ones: we have a dark brown one which is great for not showing any stains!

some here

www.greenbaby.co.uk/pl_SHEEPSKIN.htm

Email: I suggested an email list for those who might not be able to get onto MN or who would find email easier for circulating news. Email me if you'd like to be added - no need to add RL details if you'd prefer not to
Katie: sorry to hear about the injections (ouch), hope thigns settle down soon.

Shame about your friend Beans - makes total sense to me that you can feel sympathy & anger at the same time (I've just come to the conclusion over many many years that anger is easier for me to cope with so I try to stick to that). I think your situation is different in that your friend is so young and there is time for her to turn herself round, which will make you feel worse cos you're essentially powerless to help - only she can be the one to stop. All you can do is support her in her efforts.

Invisible don't like the sound of that hunger strike business! I'm hoping that it won't be quite that drastic with DS. Apart from the fact that he's an easygoing little chap (so far), DP is his main carer and will probably continue to be for a while, hopefully enough for us all to get used to the new arrival. You never know though do you? Friends of mine with similar age gaps have told me that their older children were fine when the baby arrived but it was months down the line when the baby was starting to be more mobile, more vocal and more demanding (e.g. when teething) that they started to really seethe.

Katie that sounds like a pain - have they given you any indication of what the long-term situation might be or do you get the impression that it should sort itself out after the pregnancy?

Thanks for the book recs, will investigate what they have at the library

Surestart is means tested but so long as you are getting more than the basic family element of CTC you will get it (also WTC, unemployment and more). It is def worth applying. For anyone with no children yet you have up to 3 months after birth to apply so if you make sure you register the birth quickly, get your child benefit number and apply for CTC then as soon as that is through you can get the surestart money. I had to do that last time as being a student and living off a student loan didn't class as being low enough income for the grant!

The fruit and veg thing will come through automatically if you are entitled to it and have got all the other things you are entitled to like your CTC and surestart money. Don't know what the threshold is for it though, think it is pretty low, I know we stopped getting vouchers once dh started working.

oli your first day on ML ? I hope you get plenty of rest now and lots prepared for baby. Very of you being off work already! And enjoy buggy shopping today

turnip you?re so right about us being lucky to have those babies growing away inside us, despite the problems they?re giving us. And I?m sending good vibes to your friend for her implantation today.

poisondwarf what a difficult task you?ve been set at work, really hoping someone senior realises how daft they?ve been allocating it to you.

verso great news on having a date, sounds like your appt went well as you sound very upbeat

veggie pleased to hear your DH arrived safely, but of the weather out there!

katie sorry to hear about your diabetes, but it sounds like it?s under control (and well done on getting a grip on injecting yourself, I don?t think I?d be very good with that!)

Thanks to indith, turnip, pd, veggie and co for the swaddling links and info ? already printed both off, and think I?ll borrow a doll to get practising!! I?m surprised at how long you swaddled for, but if baby likes it then why stop? I?m getting more enthusiastic for it by the minute, so will definitely be trying it out now I know some more.

Thanks chutney for the surestart link, I?ll take a look at that as I didn?t know anything about it. And this has also brought to mind the child tax credits (or whatever they?re called) ? do I have to apply for those, or just get them automatically? (hope this isn?t a very dim question!)

zj you apply for CTC, once you have your CB number you can fill in the forms.

What's a CB number? (sure that is a dim question )

Blimey a fair few of you are going through it a bit. Big hugs to all.

Sadly I cannot make tonight but for those who can enjoy.

I should be able to make the lunch on 17th Nov. How exciting, lots of lovely ladies and bumps meeting up. Fab!

Feeling very unmotivated at work today and am secretly counting down the days until ML.

Looking forward to the weekend and am setting aside some time to shop for more baby bits. Must try to get a bit more organised.....

Child Benefit, the one that everybody is entitled to. You can apply online or via the form that you will get in your evil bounty pack when you have the baby.

Thanks Indith

Hello to all. it has been ages since I have posted a message. Hope everyone is ok- just spent the last half an hour catching up or trying too. I can't believe we are almost at the end of this thread.
Went to the midwife last week only to be told my bump is small (only 26cm) and so have to go back again next week. DS was 7lbs 11 oz so was expecting a similar size again. So have spent the past week eating loads of Cherry bakewells!!
Must be quite small as lots of people only realised I was pregnant when my maternity post was advertised.
Keep having loads of cramps in the night- bananas do not seem to slove the problem. So will try not walking as far but quite difficult in my job as a PE teacher!!
Have 6 more weeks to go before ML starts and so quite of those enjoying ML already.
Pregnancy brain is hitting me quite badly left the gas hob on all night the other night and only noticed when I came to make ds lunch (oooppps!!)
Sorry this is a very me post. Have really enjoyed catching up and will promise to post more regurlarly now. Have a good time those meeting up tonight.

Hello again to PreggieJane and Katie.

Beans, have you got the Bugaboo Cameleon? Have you got the instruction dvd?? I haven't had a go of it yet as it's at DP's but it looks a bit complicated. I mean...a flippin' instruction dvd, I ask yer.

Turnip and PD, thanks for posting up the details and see you later. I'll be there a bit before half six (I hope) and will have to go about 7.45. Sorry about this. If you want to have supper together afterwards there's a Pizza Express next door or a lovely little Turkish place called Ozer, which is quite glam but not too dear at the same time. Arti, if you are reading, do come! I don't bite. (Well, only people who don't give me a seat on public transport). Sorry not to see Verso - amazing we are having our sections on the same day!

Indith, you have answered my question; I was wondering about how to apply for Child Benefit. And I will hold you to that coffee whenever I come up to Durham!

LadyBaby was still for hours on end this morning so all a bit of a panic, even through my breakfast and my driving lesson, when she usually kicks for England. But all ok now - I suddenly felt a whole foot poke out and now she is back to normal.

Oh, count me in for the Secret Santa. Right, must email Effie now.

Gosh simmo you are a PE teacher, I was only saying the other day it must be hard work to be pregnant and be a PE teacher! Impressed you are working so late into pg!

HI LT - I do have the cameleon - it does look a bit complicated, but think that practice makes perfect... I hope anyway!

Yeah, it's also quite heavy which is what I was worried about before I got it. I got the dark denim one (at DP's insistence - he seemed to feel anything else compromised his masculinity ). I have to cut down my mentions of him actually, he is a bit down on Mumsnet and I think he has checked out what I have been saying once or twice...

My DH is the same re Mumsnet, thinks it's a bit strange to be chatting to people I don't know about private stuff. If only he knew how much it helps and stops me being down!

We got the dark blue base and off white other stuff. Looks quite funky. Quite masculine, but figured that even if we have a girl, it doesn't really matter too much. I like it!

MY DP calls it witches net! he has actually met a couple of the girls from DS thread.

Have a fab time tonight am so of you girls who dont have other LO's and can go out for a cheeky drink. Wish I had made the most of that bit before DS.

Hi all, am like Jam and a bit I can't make tonight! Oh well, have a nice time everyone!

Am very excited, we've just bought our pushchair after dithering about whether or not to get one for months

Oh yes, second comments about There's a House Inside my Mummy. Ds does love it and it has made him understand why I can't lift and carry him that much anymore, but I think I need to find some books about life afterwards now!

Speaking of ds & babies, I put up the moses basket in the living room and ds has put some of his teddies in there under the blanket. Apparently we have to be quiet because the babies are sleeping. Made me quite tearful

Sorry, I've just realised that's a very me post, hope everyone else is ok and feeling a bit happier

Very jealous of you all meeting up tonight - wish I was still in London! Have a lovely time!

DD's have had vomity bug the last few days so have been on changing sheets and pyjamas ten times a night duty so not had much time to catch up! The only good thing about it is that they want to just sit quietly and cuddle or sleep during the day for once, rather than running around like duracell bunnies! So I have had a more restful few days than for ages!

Will sit down for a read through. Hope everyone is okay.