November 2008: October are popping like peas.......it'll soon be our turn to moo on our knees!!

[LackaDAISYcal]

Better, No? less cheese-tastic

Morning All,

Choco My sisters wasters broke as she turned over in bed. She had a big towel down but said it was acutally ok as it is clean water (hopefully). I'm off to get some big pad things from mothercare ( or was it babys r us?) that you lay underneath you. A bit like a puppy toilet training pad iykwim? Otherwise you could get a crinkly waterproof mattress protector that children have? DH just keeps telling me that we're getting a new mattress anyway, but I keep on trying to explain that in the meantime we don't want to have to live with a wet mattress should the inevitable happen.

Our heated blanket is going back on this weekend so am thinking perhaps we need something asap. I could be frazzled if waters broke .

Another awful nights sleep last night! woke up at 2am and couldn't get back to sleep. If you remember i told you that we sacked someone a couple of weeks ago, well we are looking for another full time member of staff so that DH can have a little bit of time off when baby arrives. Well we thought we had found someone but he wanted to start at 9.30 as he takes his kids to school (i think this is great) BUT not for a small office where if DH was out and our other part timer wasn't in NO ONE would be in to look after the office. I AM SO cos at the moment I am having difficulty understanding when i will have time to a) have the baby and b) look after it. Plus I want to DH to enjoy the first few days not be in the office. Anyway we tried to accomodate the guy we found by saying yes to 9.30 start M - W but not T - F but he wrote back yesterday to say no can do. I feel quite stressed at the moment. What wonderful timing we have!

Good morning all. It is a beautiful sunny day here. Hope you all have the same

My first question of day - is anyone else experiencing a swollen face? When I wake up these mornings my lower face seems swollen and I have a lot of fluid in my lips. (very unattractive) When I saw the midwife the other day she asked me if I had any swelling and I said not on hands and feet but mentioned the face and she just nodded and took a note. I suppose that means it is ok but I don't think I had it last time.

vbab I think the others are right. The little ones pick up on everything and your ds is probably reacting to the changes he knows are coming. I notice that dd has started talking in her sleep and crying out a lot more in the last few weeks. I'm sure they can sense the anticipation that we and dps/dhs are feeling and it is unsettling for them.

Big hugs Pinks - poor you. One of my mates is 32 weeks and at this rate will give birth in the office, bite through the umbilical cord and carry on working as both she and her DH are the only ones who can do their jobs (and tbh she is doing a lot of his job as well) - she has worked out that she can only have 18 weeks mat leave total and he will not be taking any pat leave. It's so hard, isn't it?

Hi Suiledonn, sorry for x-post. Did your MW write in your notes? I think you need to get checked out if your face and hands and feel swell up suddenly and dramatically as it can be a sign of high blood pressure or something. I had a bath with my feet up on the wall at the end of the tub and my head mostly under water last night (picture the scene if you will...) as my poor ankles had an actual waist where my socks had been and my toenails looked so tiny on the ends of my huge fat toes!

Hi ruthosauraus - I only have the swelling on the face, so far hands and feet are fine. It goes down a bit during the day although when I saw my sister the other day she said 'What's going on with the Angelina Jolie look?' I didn't know what she was talking about til I looked in the mirror and saw my extra plump looking pout.
I had very swollen feet and ankles on my last pregnancy but this time they are fine. I have put on less weight though and am more active because of dd.

sorry to hear about the employee situation pinkali. Could you offer the job to that bloke and then hire a temp for a few weeks to cover DHs paternity period just to keep the admin ticking over etc and man the phones should no-one be there?

Or could he be a bit flexible just when needed?

I am less tired than I have been. I didn't go to bed until 2:30 (noticed obs was flitting about on and off facebook as well!) but I did manage to sleep until 7 with no waking up. So four and a half hours sleep in one stretch which is more than I've had for ages. If I go to bed early I sleep for 40 minutes stretches and seeing the time on the clock every time I wake up makes it seem like a very very long night.

I'm meeting one of my June 07 ladies today; am very excited.

suiledonn....I thought facial swelling was one of the things you should be aware of as a symptom of PET? Is your BP OK?

I had BP checked on Friday and it was fine. Never had a problem with it before but it might be worth checking. I think MIL has a blood pressure thingy so might get her to bring it down.

Lacks so funny you should say that abouut the long nights, that's what I find. I used to love sleeping, and going to bed and now I just dread all the waking and clock watching. It does seem to go faster after 4am!

My waters broke in bed, but was more of a slow trickle, like a constant wee which you have no control over, so just put a pad in and went back to bed for the rest of the night (didn't sleep a wink though ) and then went to hospital next morning. I was only 1cm dilated anyway and in no pain. Not gonna bother with a protector this time - I quite fancy a new mattress! .

suiledonn - face sounds odd! I've got hands and feet swollen, never had before.

Well, off to go scrabbbling!

suilledonn Yep i also thought this was one of the things you needed to be aware of (sorry mean MW needed to be aware of) as it can be the first signs of Pre-Eclampsia??? I would ring your MW again or assessment centre.

Lacks can't get anyone in to do the job as DH is the actual broker and can't get temps for that, however we are getting a temp to fill in for thurs and fri to just answer the phone and type letters. Then if phones are covered I can have some sleep time! Plus I need to practice my scrabble skills!!!!!!

maternity/paternity must be a real dilemma for sole practitioners.

Can he at least have a few half days here and there or some time off to let you do things you need to do. You will be like the receptionist in the Brittas Empire with the baby in a filing drawer

On a similar note, one of the very useful things that the ante-natal class mw did last night was to get us to make a 24 hour timeline with activities for a newborn baby and its mum and to then say to the blokes in the class "So this is what she'll be doing - doesn't your lovely working day look nice in comparison? So you should make her a cup of tea when you get in from work and take the baby off her so she can have a bath! And don't ask her if tea's ready!". All the pregnant women in the class worship this woman and all the men were a bit scared...

Not helping you at all, Pinks, sorry. But it was interesting the way the DPs in the class suddenly went "hmm" in a "I'd never considered that looking after a small baby could be quite time-consuming" sort of a way.

Morning All - haven't finished reading everyone's news yet, but wanted to post to vbab before I forget (having just read about her son and bedtime). My DS2 is going to be 2 and 4 months in the middle of November and ever since we have moved him to a bed (4 months ago) he has been an absolute nightmare....He was such a good sleeper 7-7am and went down like a dream...Now he goes to bed ok but ceys for anyone (apart from me) who isn't there - eg Daddy, Nanny etc etc He also wakes up in the night, and we have stupidly been bringing him into bed with us. this has been going on a month now and he expects it - otherwise there are huge tears and screams in the middle of the night. I have had to put a lock on his door as I am terrifed he will fall down the stairs (as we are on the floor above him, 3 story house). He can see out of the door as it is part glass but I still feel very cruel for doing that . We really don't know waht to do....it could be because things are changing, although he is very very into the baby coming so not sure.....Maybe an age thing????/

BTW - that post makes it sound as if we lock him in his room and leave him cry - I promise you we don't as we go to him straight away and bring him up to us, it is just as a safetly measure so he doesn't leave his room in the middle of the night and go exploring! i DON't want anyone thinking I am cruella de vil!!

Oh dear this thread is moving soo fast!!!

Funny how I thought I'd get so much done once on maternity and it is now almost 12pm and have done nothing except put a wash on! Haha it is good tho.

Lacks was it you who got the Wii? Like your way of getting round DH! We also own one and I really fancied the Wiifit for post PG fitness. Won't be as easy to go to the shape up classes at the hospital as they only allow babies to come too not toddlers!

Like sound of your ante-natal MW Rutho! Have to say my DH was fantastic last time around and kept telling me off if I did any housework! I did make his normally sallow skin go very pale last night tho when I told him to remember his trunks for accompanying me into the birthing pool! Poor thing just said in small voice "are you sure I'll be allowed?". I did fess up and tell him I was joking. He did admit tho that he felt like a second class citizen last time as obv all focus was on me, made me feel for him so will try to make conscious effort to include/involve him more this time...

Really interested in the mattress protector talk as it did cross my mind that it may not be just a trickle at first this time!

Feel for you Pinkali over the work issues, must be very difficult but some good suggestions already made I think esp the one about asking this guy to be flex in your time of need.

Hi sparkle, I know what you mean about men feeling left out - I bought DH loads of men-orientated books including the Haynes Manual about babies and Marcus Berkmann's book "fatherhood - the truth" as all the other books are aimed squarely at women. The Haynes one is really good on feelings, especially negative feelings like being sidelined and irritation.

Not being funny, but there is kind of a reason it's all about the mum and baby as they are the ones with interesting medical needs! Poor DHs, it must be like being a 3yo on their sibling's birthday...

Pinkali what a dilemma for you - it must be so so hard when you run your own business. I agree that it might be worth meeting this man and trying to come up with a compromise - even if it is just a short-term measure. IME flexible working is as much about compromise as anything else.

Dozy (or should that be Cruella ) what you have described is my worst fear about putting DS in a bed (or at least taking the bars down from his cot). He is (and always has been) a fantastic sleeper and it is tempting to leave things as they are but obviously we can't keep him in his cot forever.

Saurus your ante-natal MW sounds fantastic - what useful lessons you are being taught - am about it!

Suiledonn I would definitely ring the MW and check although if you mentioned it last week and she didn't bat an eyelid then maybe it is ok??

Sparkle lol, am exactly the same as you. So far today I have put some washing in, hung it outside, read the paper, read Closer, had a shower, ate some popcorn - all really useful stuff when the house is a tip and I need to clear out some drawers in DS's room for the baby clothes asap!!

Right, lunch beckons - egg mayo in pitta breads - yum!

Haha Rutho yes there are good reasons for the sidelining esp in delivery room! I did get impression he felt most like a spare part when they started to prep me for the possible EC. This involved moving to theatre and him being made to sit outside for a bit whilst everything went on. So I can see why he would feel a bit lost at that point...

Hopefully that won't happen again tho but I was so grateful he was there so he could remind me what happened and when (as I was desperate to go over it all afterwards & couldn't remember certain things). For this reason I don't want him to feel so left out this time as he was brilliant support (as I am sure all your DHs/DPs/BPs will be on the day).

men can be such big babies can't they? so the focus should be on the mum and baby; his bit was over and done with months ago remember . At least with secind and subsequent babies they have a more defined role in things....like keeping the older ones entertained.

My DH is such a star when it comes to new baby stuff; well he was with DD as it was all a bit of a novelty (we weren't together when DS was little so he missed out on a lot of it after the frist two weeks). Hopefully he'll be just as keen this time around. He used to get up with me for night feeds and change/burp/resettle her as required when we were done. He also does the bulk of the houseowrk at the minute. Mind you, I did have a CS last time and a nasty infection so was limited in what I could do......no doubt if my VBAC is straightforward he'll have me out digging up the old tree stump in the garden in no time

I love that time line idea rutho, a great one for first time dads.

Glad I am not only one Ceebee!! Altho it does sound like you have done loads more than me! My washing is at least out in the sunshine now tho...

I have been researching MaxiCosi infant carriers. I have the cabrio model and a girl at toddlers said she would give me her easyfit base. My seat is not Cabriofix tho so don't imagine it will be compatible?? Did notice that Misdee posted about a cheap cabriofix from Kiddicare. It is girly tho so now wonder if I got it would I be able to swap the covers? Anyone know? (trivial I know!!)

Hurrah I am on maternity leave!

Got up late this morning (have a feeling this won't last!)

First NCT class last night, lots of good tips for getting the baby to turn the right way round (it's posterior at the moment)

I had been thinking about the mattress pads too. Must add them to the list!

Sparkle I'm getting the cabrio but not the base as it doesn't go in my crappy car, plus it looked harder to fit than just using the car seat! I'm only getting that cos it's the only one compatible with the Bee...

I've just googled to check for covers and it seems to be possible to buy from loads of places including [http://www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/CabrioFix-Car-Seat-Summer-Cover/70pol751p.asp].

Ceebee I am really really going to miss the Antenatal MW, she is ace. Given that DH's stepmum seems to think that he could hurt himself putting the kettle on it's a nice change. Also I have been very sensitive to his stress levels re preparing for the baby as he is under a lot of strain at work so it is great to have someone else tell him to get his finger out!

Sorry, Sparkle, meant to be a link: www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/CabrioFix-Car-Seat-Summer-Cover/70pol751p.asp

Afternoon ladies!

I admit to not having the chance to catch up on all the chat, but did glance throguh the last page so have an inkling of what you have been chatting about.

Weight: I am not much heavier than I was pre-pregnancy, have gained 5.5kg according to the 2.2 per lb and now weigh 62.6kg or 9st 12 (started at 9st). Then again, I am only short with a medium sort of build.

RLT: I started drinking the tea on Sunday. With my other pregnancies I took the tablets, but they didn't have any when I went to buy some. The tea isn't too bad in a small cup with a spoon of sugar. I honestly have no idea if the RLT does much of anything or if it is a coinsidence, but my BH have definate stepped up a gear in the last few days. They can now be strong enough to stop me in my tracks and I have to breath them away. I may have had identical labours without the RLT, but the way I see it, is it can't hurt for me and it has not been suggested that I don't take it, so here I am.

Misdee, good to see you back.

Pinkali, I may need some advice from you as it looks like we are going to have to get a court order for access to our neighbours propery (why can nothing ever be straight forward for me?!) Do you have CAT?

Right, I was in the midst of a massive cleanup that i started yesterday. I am pretty sure this isn't nesting, more like I am expecting a home visit from my midwife tomorrow of Friday and I don't want them thinking we live like slobs, lol! It is very hard to keep it looking nice with my 2 whirlwinds destroying my hard work behind me. At least thier mess is easily put away and it is actually properly clean underneath!

Oh and did I mention I am classed as full term....TODAY!!!! 37 weeks today. Mind you, I bet the little bugger will still be here 5 weeks from now