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

[LackaDAISYcal]

Better, No? less cheese-tastic

PinkyMinky So sorry to hear about your cat . It is like losing a family member when you lose a pet. I know for a fact my sis loves her 2 dogs more than most humans (possibly including her DH)...
ChocGal - cool photos! They really are amazing. I was too much of a skin-flint to fork out for the 3D/4D scans. Credit crunch and all that!
Vbabs - your DS is such a cutie!!!
ChocO - what a trooper your DH is! There is no way in the world mine would have the foresight to arrange something as lovely as that. Good on him! And hurrah for more tea and scones! LondonLadies it really was a fab, fab afternoon.
Autumnlady - I can't believe no-one gave up their seat for you!! Grr.....! When I got on the tube it did take a minute or two before anyone got up - but I always glare at people whilst sticking out my bump in the hope of intimidating them into standing up for me. The buggers.
Hana3Scones (tee hee!) Knitted boobs? What a weird pressie! Having said that, it's given me inspiration as to what to buy DH for xmas since mine will be out to grass so to speak.
Now then - there's lots of people on-line today who need to make a scrabble move. Come on - don't be shy!!

Cricri - I'll start a game with you now, since it sounds like you may not have much time left!!
Hope everyone is feeling well.
P.S. Had a fab weekend - knackered after hosting dinner party Sat.night.

Thanks everyone for your kind messages about my Phoebe. Tis very sad, but she was not happy, so it was for the best.

lacks It's funny to hear your reasoning behind having a VBAC, it's so similar to mine.

merry I am a bit about you having to go in the night before. I just had to fast from midnight and take the antacid pills (ranitidine sp??) the night before the night before my elective, then I went in at 8 oclock in the morning.. as it was I didn't have to wait long as I was taken to theatre ffor 10 am. I can only think thye want you in early so you will be first, I dunno. I only stayed in hosp for 2 nights, had shower the day after my cs. I might have had it that evening but I had to stay on the recovery ward for ages because of a slight issue with my BP, so didn't get on the post natal 'til teatime.

I had a morphine suppositry immediately after the delivery- worked really well much better than the drip I had with my emergency, and then had the usual cocktail- voltarol (fab stuff) paracetamol and codeine.

Those who are considering an elcs, I must say that it was so nice and calm I am noit worried at all if I end up with another cs now.

Monkey, you nutter, what have I said to you about hosting dinner parties in your delicate condition? I am so impressed as I argue with DH over whose turn it is to phone the takeaway order in at the mo. You put me to shame, missus - tonight I will make food from scratch and everything!

Pinky, I don't know if this is at all helpful but Phoebe is the name we're giving our baby if it turns out to be a DD, so in that case her name will live on. Hugs.

just a quick hello from me before I catch up.

Appointment went really well this morning; head is partly engaged, prodding feelings and hanging undercarriage fine....as registrar sais, "third baby, everything a bit looser as a result, and well let's face it, you're not 19 any more" . It was said in jest and she was older than me, so I'll let her off . Discussed lots of things about the VBAC and am a lot happier about minitoring than I was. She was pretty adamant about me having continual monitoring but suggested a scalp clip on the baby rather than the belt so that I could be mobile....not keen on me not having it at all though. She was also quite happy to let me go past 41 weeks provided all was well and I attend the day clinic for monitoring. I'm seeing them again at 40+4 provided nothing has happened by then.

I had a huge BH as she was examining me and listening to baby; it was weird as his wee heart really speeded up during it, and then all calmed down as it passed. She seemed quite happy that all was well and that "baby is a good size"; although she did say that if the BH get any more troublesome to come in for some monitoring at any time. If only all registrars could be that nice. My consultant has left the hospital, so I have a locum in the meantime.......if I never see the locum and only deal with the registrar, I'll be more than happy

Right, off to catch up.

Saurus - Phoebe is a brilliant name. Love it!
Re. dinner parties - I do actually enjoy cooking, find it relaxing etc. Except when I've been cooking all afternoon, I never really fancy it. Which is a bugger!
You've been well below par, so you have very right to dial that takeaway girl!
P.S. When I met my DH many moons ago, he had his local Chinese takeaway and pizza place as his top 2 "Friends and Family" numbers....you have to laugh.

Okay, even I'm not that bad! DH was saying how unhealthy my diet had been during my pregnancy but shut up when I pointed out which of us had been getting about 7 portions of fruit and veg a day and which of us was still drinking and smoking.

He very nicely didn't point out which of us has a bum the size of a VW minivan, though, bless him.

MIL came round on Friday with a harvest festival of veg from her allotment so tonight I will be mostly making veggie soup, stew, curry or something nutritious like that.

Does anyone know what the hell you're supposed to do with swiss chard? It looks ace but I'm a little stumped by it and it would be nice to use it for something rather than just steaming it and having it as a side veg. Plus I have nothing to serve it on the side of, so it has to be a main thingy.

could you use the swiss chard like spinach and make a swiss chard and ricotta lasagne or something? or a potato and swiss chard curry?

We grew it, but went on holiday and it had all bolted and was unuseable by the time we got back, but it looked like spinach.

Pinky...sorry about your cat . They are real characters and it's always sad to see them go.

hanascones....I would love a copy of the knitting pattern for the knitted breast for when I get around to doing my breastfeeding counsellor training.

christenings, the church where BIL and SIL had their lot christened has a little kiddy corner in one of the naves and the vicar encourages parents of fed up children to let them have a little play halfway through the service; it works really well.

you know, I've forgotten everything else now...need to start taking notes I think!

Baby shower sounds lovely ChocO, what a lovely and thoughful DH you have

this looks tasty, and the only non store-cupboard ingredient is walnuts which I'm sure it could manage without.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/eat/recipes/fettucine_swiss_chard.html

Hello again

Just had my MW HB appointment - was very exciting. She also did my 36 week check and all is looking good. Baby is 3/5 engaged now - sh**, can't believe this baby could be born next week!!!

Saurus - I'm not sure about swiss chard, but check out this link.....
vegbox-recipes.co.uk/ingredients/swiss-chard.php#recipes

Re. bum sizes - my was looking at my bump and commented how large it was. But that it all looked in proportion since it was balanced out by the size of my arse.
Nice!

Saurus The BBC food website has a number of recipes which use Swiss chard here The gratin of chard and new potatoes sounds yummy in particular.
Choc Glad mw appt went well - it all starts to get very real now doesn't it when they start telling you the head is 3/5 engaged - I had the same thing last week.
Lacks Glad your appt this morning went well too - when do you see your doula?

Only just managed to read all messages and catch up.
My secret stork arrived. I have posted on stork thread. Thank you so very much.

Heads engaged? Goodness. We are getting near. This is good.

Thanks for all the chard ideas! I am really looking forward to my tea now.

How can you tell when the head has engaged? Is it one of those pregnancy things that you just know, like the first kicks and BH contractions that when it happens you go "Oh, right - that's what it feels like"?

I am in curiosity mode today as my own head is so empty and eneds filling!

Hello Obs - welcome back! Shame we missed you at London Meetup - but we will most definitely be doing it again. Twas fab!
chocO - glad your MW visit went well! Wow - it's so scary that you might be popping out the Bambino any time soon!!

Sorry, empty head as can be seen by this:

Hi Obs, glad to see you back and hope you're feeling better, hon.

Cricri and Choc - 3/5? Right, you're on. Who's doing that sweepstake?

Hello everyone, can I join you? Been lurking for a bit and posted the occasional question on other threads, but only 4 weeks left at work so starting to wind down now...

First baby, due on 20th November, don?t know what flavour but we too have been thinking of Phoebe for a girl!

Generally feeling fine but getting quite breathless today ? sounds like it?s a common feeling in late pregnancy, and being stranded in an office for 8 hours a day probably doesn?t help matters!

Didn?t think I?d put on too much weight (other than bump) until I foolishly tried to fit into old pair of skinny jeans at the weekend ? looks like my calves have expanded even more than my tum!

Hi MildWest and welcome! Good on yer, Phoebe is an ace name. You brave lady, trying on your old skinny jeans! I've binned mine in tears and bought a secondhand tent instead...

Saurus I think my bump has moved down slightly and I asked the MW so she felt for baby's head and said it was engaged. I think when baby engages you can breathe a bit easier and eat a bit more but your bladder takes the pressure more.

MildWest - hello! I tried wearing my knee high boots at the weekend - normally they are slightly loose around my calves - but now I can't zip them up!!

Oh, poo. Still not engaged, then. I have enjoyed this whole pg lark, don't get me wrong, but I'm starting to feel a bit "get me out of here". I would quite like to be able to put my own socks on, for example. Last time I tried I threw up.

I would like to be able to sit on a sofa! Have to sit on the floor at home as can't get off the (usually very comfortable sofa) without a winch DP. And it's really not that easy to get off the floor....

Saurus, could not tell when head was engaged last time. I've never heard of Swiss Chard, sounds like rhyming slang for something!!

Obs, when is your cs date? I wanna send you your book - I think you will enjoy Cloud Atlas. Please mail me your add on facebook.

Welcome to new mums, incubator and the other nice lady who's name totally escapes my pg/ cold-fogged brain.

Pinkee, so sorry about Pheebs the cat. How old was she?

ChocO, baby shower sounds cool! I was given one for ds (after he was born) organised by friends, and it was really nice too. I know it's American, but they do have some good ideas!!!

MonkeyM, my bum seems to have been drawn into my belly, it's non existent (maybe just compared to belly). I'm worried once babies are out all that skin and flab is going to relax right back into my bum and thighs .