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

[Veggiemummy]

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

Hatty: thanks for reminding me that we need to get childcare organised for when I go into labour! We don;t have room for anyone to stay, but our lovely CM volunteered for 'emergency' childcare some time ago - must ask her if she;d be OK with picking up William to stay overnight if necessary (esp as I may go into labour at Xmas or New Year).

we bought a good change mat with a belt (thought didnt use that much and put it on top of our chest of drawers which was a perfect height for changing. Changing on the floor is ok at first but gets hard on your back.

feelin very rough today had a big weekend in London catching up with friends and DH's race then had a big dinner lastnight then drove home late got home at 11.30pm and went straight to bed but woke at 1am and was really sick, don't know if it was just too much dinner in my squished up tummy or some tummy bug but feeling seedy this morning have managed some sweet cereal so will see how that goes.

Thanks hatty that sounds good, maybe I will get a changing table then, and hopefully a tall chest of drawers as well. Need to see what there is room for!
I would like a changing table that has drawers underneath, not just open, as I am scruffy and messy and think that it would just end up looking a mess with an open one!! But maybe it is easier to find stuff...hmmmm....

I think I am "nesting" getting worried about all this stuff. Had a big fight with DH at the weekend about where to put stuff that is currently in the baby room!! Was a proper mad, crazy, me throwing stuff around job, he was not happy. The thing is he has the 3rd bedroom as his office as he works from home, and he is defending all the space in there to the death, and refusing to put stationery, etc, in there from the baby room, which I think is unfair!! (I have to admit I didn't approach the argument in the most reasonable fashion though ) and he is moaning when I throw things out without checking, but moans like anything when I ask him to tidy out stuff and decide where to put it.

oh and re: changing mats, due to no space we have always changed DS on the floor. Can be tircky for the back BUT very safe - they can;t roll off the floor! DS hates changing tables, poss cos he wasn;t used to them.

Random question - when are people finishing work??? I am planning on working to 35 weeks so not far to go but am just so tired....can't come soon enough!

9 Dec for me - but I'm one of the last due

daisy I am finishing on the 3rd Dec, as my birthday is the 4th! that is 2 weeks before. I was really looking forward to it, but now I am not sure that I want to finish work!!! Am I weird??

Summer we used storage baskets from Ikea to keep it tidy - can't find the exact ones but a bit like this, you can get them anywhere I imagine..

www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70028048

Your nesting argument sounds very familiar! I think men often just don't get why you want to get things done in advance and my DH hates it when I start trying to clear out his stuff!

Veggie you poor thing, hope you feel better soon.

Effie your childminder sounds ideal, particulary if your LO is already very familiar with her.

I'm starting maternity leave 1st Dec, will be 37 weeks (unless my placenta hasn't moved and I'm booked in for a section earlier).

Big higs to those under the weather: bad combo of autumnal bugs and compromised immune systems I think. Hope you get plenty of rest

I start maternity leave on 7th November and it can't come soon enough! I'll be 36 weeks then, but I'm ready to go now. Suddenly work is manically busy and I just feel so exhausted by it all!!! Never mind, sure it'll get easier.

Summer - I keep having similar arguments with DH. He's away all this week, which is quite nice - so I'm going to organise our nursery how I want it! hahaha!

We had a big row at the weekend about money and how much this baby thing is costing. I know it's not cheap, but I also think that we're getting away with an awful lot of free stuff: ie. cot from sister, loads of clothes etc. PLUS we've got £1600 of vouchers from John Lewis, so we're not actually spending any of our own cash. That sounds awful, as a lot of them were wedding list presents, but I also win awards at work, where they give us vouchers. I have always asked for John Lewis ones and in the last year have earnt £900 of vouchers myself - so I've worked hard for them!!! So I think it's not actually that expensive. We are buying a (2nd hand) car, which is costly, but we need to anyway as our old Daihatsu is dropping on its wheels! I know he's just nervous and scared, but I really don't think we're spending that much compared to a lot of people I know.

PLUS (whinge, sorry), we are booked up every single weekend until November now and travelling out of London. And I'm so TIRED! This weekend will be lovely as we're going to the Lakes just the two of us for our anniversary, but then it's various other places, including back to the Lakes for a walking trip on 25th October, which I just don't think I'll be able to manage, as I'll be nearly 8 months pregnant by then (34 weeks). It's with his whole family including cousins - all of whom I get on well with and like. BUT I really don't want to go. I know he'll be hurt, but I think I'll just need to put my head down and rest. Mum is offering me to go home that weekend and just relax with her and Dad and I'm soooooo keen to do that. Hum. It's going to be a difficult conversation to have as he'll be upset. Oh dear. Sorry. Me me me me me me me me.

Oh beans I love the Lakes but the thought of a walking trip at 34 wks sounds awful - far too tiring! Surely DH will understand. Although my DH has told some friends we are going to a Halloween do (at the end of the month and its strictly fancy dress What the hell am I supposed to go as???? I'll be almost 36 weeks.

I do think men struggle to grasp the whole pregnancy thing

I'd cry off the Lakes trip too. Point out that you don't want to make other people feel they have to stay and entertain you when they could be off tripping through the hills or whatever they're planning

Re the money thing, I think many men get freaked out byt he responsibility of it all, esp if you're going down to one income for a period. Be nice and he'll come through eventually

daisy: lol at fancy dress while heavily pg. This is the only option, isn't it? But how could you sit down?

I cried off weekend before last, was meant to be going to DH's uncles 60th in remote scotland, a 9 hr drive each way, would have taken a day off work but still!! I just told him I wasn't going as I'd just be shattered when I got there, and wouldn't even be able to cover up the shatteredness by getting drunk!

He didn't really mind though. I would've liked to have gone, but it was just too far.

The lakes can be quite a long drive from London if the traffic is crap surely? I would not go, or see how you cope with the travelling this w/e and if it's tiring tell him you're not going!

daisy can't you just go as a witch or something? With a long dress??

Sorry to hear of everyone who is feeling poorly. Also had a dodgy tum yesterday and feel like I might be getting the lurgy today. It has to be a weakend imune system. Eating lots of healthy things and drinking plenty to flush it through.

I'm finished work at about 35 1/2 weeks last day is 28th Nov (not that i'm counting )

Starting to nest too. Also had a big of nagging session at DH yesterday. Felt mean but had to be done.

Thanks guys, I feel better to know that if I cry off it's not going to be so terrible of me. Normally I would love to go, but lugging round baby, plus extra weight and general tubbiness, think it would be total nightmare. It's a good 5 hour drive, or 4.5 hours on the train. We're training on Friday, which is a bit easier.

Ooh, does anyone know if we get to go 1st class in our last trimester - I had heard that that was the case, but could just be wishful thinking!!!

daisy I'm resisting suggesting you go as a pumpkin . (Sorry - couldn't resist!)

beans a walking trip would definitely be too much for me at 34 weeks. I'm sure people will understand. Mind you, I've sort-of agreed to a meeting in Geneva when I'm 34 weeks which I'm now going to have to back out of. After Brussels last week (and again next week) I think that's my work travelling done for this pregnancy.

My last day is October 24th - I'll be 35 weeks. I would have stopped the following week, but it seemed daft for DH to be off on half term, and my maternity leave to start the week after. In actual fact, my maternity leave itself doesn't officially start until the following week - I've got annual leave to use up for half term.

I've got another three days which I think I'm going to have to forfeit too as there just isn't time for me to take them.

Re nappy changing things - we had a cot top one as in our last house the baby's room was teeny tiny. It worked really well so we'll be using it again this time.

Am nesting too - but it seems to consist of me browsing online shops for hours on end .

Beans: you get upgraded on a season ticket, not sure about random journeys.

i've heard you can get upgraded too but not sure if your DH can go with you. If you book far enough in advance 1st class tickets are actually quite resonable. I usually get them for train trips to london (from £19 each way) as i am guaranteed a seat for DS then and loads of room for his toys and drawing stuff. plus free coffee and bikkies.

oh and Beans you could always warn DH that walking up hills can bring on labour & not good to be too far away from your booked maternity services so close to EDD.

Ooh, that's a good one, Veggie! I will definitely use that one. I hate upsetting him, but think I'm being rather nice so far in this pregnancy and do need to put my foot down on this one...

Fingers crossed he doesn't have a hissy fit!

And fingers crossed about the train tickets - would be heaven!

Oh dear it is like a hospital ward on here today with so many ill ladies May I join you ? I have been up at mat triage again today as had another bleed this morning. They gave me a scan, checked baby's heartbeat, took blood from me and did an internal. Same as last time, abrasion on cervix causing bleeding, nothing to worry about except that am rhesus -ve so have to go back later for more anti-D. Also my last lot of bloods showed low iron so am now on pregaday - anyone else taking this ? Does it make you feel weak and queasy ?

hatty you have had a lot of good advice and I'm with the others in that you need to get this sorted to give you peace of mind, then you can relax {{hugs}}

SL yes you are wierd ! I can't wait to get out of here for 12 months ! Mind you, maybe you're the lucky one who really enjoys their job I am the same as you beans finish at 36 weeks at the end of the first week in Nov

Beans, sounds like you definitely need to relax and pull out of anything you think will be too much for you. I keep having to remind myself that am almost 7 months PG and really need to rest more and do less ! I went for a 2 hour walk yesterday as was absolutely exhausted at the end of it

We have spent the weekend getting the nursery furniture built - all done now and looks lovely we got a set in a really good deal so have a cotbed, changing unit and a wardrobe - am quite looking forward to getting wee clothes on wee hangers to put in there , sorry am an overexcited first timer ! I'll post pics of nursery tonight in case anyone wants to see

Had first NCT antenatal class all day Sat - was very good and DP learned a lot ! He was telling friends over dinner on Sat night what a 'show' is, lovely ! He is very proud of his new-found knowledge ! I learned a few ditties but TBH it is just reassuring to know that what I knew already was accurate. Oh and there was a lady there who is expecting twins through IVF and is going to alone - very brave ! 1 parent to 2 babies makes my 2 parents to 1 baby situtaion seem so much easier .

mibbes: sorry to hear you have had another scare but good news on the healthy baby . Could the low iron be making you feel queasy? Make sure you get plenty of rest.

floradix is high iron and easy on the tummy.