due Dec 08-the one were we are so brain dead we can't think of a thread title.

[Veggiemummy]

hey there will this be the last one do you think

Beans glad your Lakes trip went well. I know what you mean about things being so immiment - I put an appt in my diary for Saturday 1st November and suddenly realised November really is almost here and that with planned sections and statistics a number of us will be having babies in only a few weeks! Aggghhh!

Praying I can do a few more weeks. My scan to assess my placenta position is on Friday morning and I can think of little else. Keep talking to other mums whose placentas moved so can't help getting my hopes up a little that it will have shifted.

If not it will be a section last week of November for me so it really will be a few more weeks, if I don't have any bleeding prior to that.

32 weeks today and have 34 weeks in my head as a milestone to reach - I think because with my early labour scare with my twins at 34 weeks, the consultant was quite happy that they were unlikely to need SCBU from that stage.

Chutney your DD sounds adorable. Matthew is lovely .

Verso fingers crossed for DH's tests. Sorry to hear that your meeting didn't yield the results you were hoping for. I agree with what InvisibleHand said though about them hedging their bets. Hope you can manage to concentrate on resting and enjoying your maternity leave.

anj I'm so jealous of your maternity leave. My last day is just over 2 weeks away, and I've got just 8 days more left at the office (woohoo) but it's just not going to be the same with DS around. As others have said, make the most of the stuff you won't be able to do later on - for me that would be lounging around with the weekend papers and reading stacks of non-baby related books.

zoejeanne we use plain water as well (most of the time). You will probably be given some baby wash/shampoo stuff in your Bounty pack at the hospital anyway - we are not even half way through our bottle yet and DS is 18 months old. We also have a digital ear thermometer but tbh I don't think we've ever needed to use it. Don't think we had any other first aid stuff either although we did eventually get a snot sucker like Verso mentioned which was really useful if tricky to use. We had baby nail clippers as well (DS's face was full of scratches for the first couple of days) - not essential though as you can easily bite them off.

Effie well done for getting your flat sorted out - we are still way behind & I've resigned myself to still being in London when the baby's born, for a while at least. It's going to be a hell of a tight squeeze. Do you have to wait until you've sold up to move or will you be moving anyway?

Olipops/arti another one here who's nervous about the nighttimes. We only have a double bed & no room for a bigger one. DS comes in at some point most nights (he sleeps in a cot in our room) and it's already a bit too cosy what with my bump. The baby will be in a moses basket but will be coming in bed to feed and probably staying in there for a good part of each night. There's no room for 4! Also because we'll all be in one room when one of them cries it's bound to wake the other up. Any tips anyone (apart from get a bigger house)?

Beans you look terribly healthy on your latest photo. What's your secret? I'm feeling truly hideous at the moment - massive dark circles under the eyes and maternity clothes starting to feel the strain.

pixsix glad to hear things seem to be going okay.

reban hats off to you for getting off to a good start with your new job.

LadyT how did the scan go?

I'm 34 weeks today and IIRC that's the best time to start taking raspberry leaf tea. Is anyone else taking it?

Well so much for me doing an epic catcvh up post at teh weekend. I just dont know where the time goes.

Verso hope the results are positive for you and so v sorry for the stress at work I had to go to almost industrial tribunal a few yrs ago and all I can say is if oyu are really really adamant go the next step as it is draining.

Veggie not long now you must be desperate for DH to come home. I hope he brings oyu some lovely pressies.

Trace I cant offer oyu any advice about your meds but I think lulumama knows a fair bit about what meds are compatible with BF and pregnancy etc.

Effie Oli sorry for your rubbish nights.

I am cream crackered now and DP added the wks up today we have 6wks until D-Day.

So the Jammy household is sort of getting organised went to my SIL at the wkend to pick up the moses basket, crib, bouncey chair and assorted stuff she had been holding for us in her attic. So the washing machine is full of baby bedding etc. Bit tricky to get it all done though as DS has discovered turning the dials on the machine and keeps turning everything up to 90degrees.

Right best crack on will pop back later, Oh LadyT hows the driving going?

Keep meaning to say, for those having sections (or in fact everyone feeling a bit battered after birth) this bath foam was given to me after I had DD's and it was just lovely.

A bit pricey but it contains arnica which is supposed to help with bruising etc. It really helped me with the rather battered feeling post-section. Plus it smells divine .

shop.nealsyardremedies.com/product/467/Seaweed_And_Arnica_Foaming_Bath

Oh yes and my yoga teacher said to start taking arneka from around 37 weeks as means healing afterwards is quicker - regardless of if you have C-section or natural birth. Has anyone braved perineal massage on themselves yet??!

AAAAND another tip - after you've had the baby, if you're doing it naturally and you're a bit ahem, ragged down below, keep a jug of coldish water with tea tree oil and lavender oil in it, next to the loo and when you go for a pee, start pouring the water just before you start, then start weeing, then when you've finished, keep pouring the jug for a little bit longer!

Hi lovely ladies. Time for a huge catch up as per usual (must make more of an effort to do this more regularly rather than bore you all with big posts!)...

MLWfirsttimemum glad to hear you're going the cloth nappy route too, are you doing flats or fitteds? Veggie, Olipop and poisondwarf thanks for the advice on your past experience with these too; Oli I've got some totsbots covers so it's good to hear you used this brand, and Veggie I had heard elsewhere that flats we better for younger babies - is this due to them having more liquidy poos? PD as I'm in Australia the weather is a little better for drying them quickly, so I'm lucky in that respect. Although I think the pockets kind is quite popular for this reason, as you can separate the padding for quicker drying. I was fortunate to be able to go to a sewing workshop a couple of weeks ago (they had something called 'reuseable nappy week' here) where I learnt how to sew the fitted ones, and I've made one in a 'newborn' size. Making a fitted cloth nappy costs me well under £5 each, so it's going to be a huge saving, as well as being able to custom make them for the bub. For anyone else who is interested, I'll put a picture up on my profile here so you can see what it looks like. katie3677 have you decided what kind of nappy you are going to get yet? If it helps, there are is a wonderful Australian website here which explains the different kinds/fabrics etc, and this website has a great forum where you can search for all kinds of cloth nappy-related advice & info. Has anyone heard about 'elimination communication'? I have a friend in the UK who practices this, and it's amazing to see them hold their

Wow Bisou - what a marathon post - how do you do it????!!! Well done you!

How are you doing, though?!!

bisou/poisondwarf I was jsut thinking about raspberry leaf tea this weekend, I'll keep my eyes peeled for any suggestions.

And thanks to everyone's comments on baby toiletries/first aid - I'm going to write a HUGE shopping list tonight and can't wait to go shopping!

beans I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to the Lakes - was this the one you tried to get out of? If so, I'm pleased to hear it all turned out good in the end.

chutney Matthew is likely to be our middle name (if we have a boy), as it's DH name so we like it too

Really daft question, but I've never come across arnica before. What do you do with it? Is it a pill to take, or a cream, or what? (sorry for being dim)

Re perineal massage, I have a go at it last night . It does hurt a bit!
bisou re how to do it: my yoga teacher said you should do the following (sorry if tmi)
Put finger up vagina near the lip, ie not too far in, and pull back towards the bum. She says she did it with one leg up on the loo. Do this about 6 times quite firmly. Then do it to the sides also. Don't bother with going forwards.
As you do it more and more (ie increase how far you put it up day by day) put your finger further up and stretch inside too as well as just the entrance.
Yoga teacher insistent that it works, but I have heard differing opinions on whether it can help! Gotta be worth a try though, eh?
I think I am going to find it quite hard to reach soon!
I haven't read descriptions on t'internet (and cannot bring myself to do so at work) so don't know if it matches up with them!

Actually Beans I think those of you who take the time to post on a regular basis are so much more impressive. I have to take notes as I read as sometimes I have no energy to post and then the thread moves so quickly that by the time I do actually post, I take up way too much space and write big boring epics! I will have to try to check more regularly and do smaller posts from now on, now that I am sort of on maternity leave (I still have lots of music to learn for next year, but it's not like doing a 9-5 job)

But I am doing really well, thanks for asking

zj arnica can come in pill or cream format, it is for bruising, I had heard of it before as lots of mountain bikers use it when they fall off!
I am guessing for having a baby you use the pill format, as not so sure on using cream on, ahem, the affected area!! But that bubble bath sounds good!

zoe I've only ever seen Arnica as a cream, but it might come as tablets, I don't know. I believe it's a herbal remedy that is good for putting on bruises/strains etc. My mum gave me a jar once but I never got around to using any of it. I do remember someone on this thread saying that it was good to take it in advance of childbirth to help with healing post birth? If you google it you'll probably get some more info on it.

Summer thanks for the massage description, how I'm gonna reach down there at this stage around my huge bump though, I just don't know!

Have just put up some nappy pics.

oops beans & hatty just saw your posts above on arnica too (must have missed them whilst I was posting 'the epic')

I'll do a proper post later as it doesn't sound like ds is going to have a nap! But re arnica, you can get it tablet form, definitely don't use the cream! Iirc, you start taking it when you go into labour every couple of hours (tbh, I didn't remember, was more concentrating on trying to get ds out!) and then after the birth for up to 2 weeks I think.

wow Bisou that was a mammoth effort.

the car is actually a lease hire that DH's work pay most of we just pay a little extra each month so we can get the Prius. It is great car esp now with expensive fuel. It is quiet but that can be a problem as pedestrians don't bother looking cos the can't hear a car and are constantly stepping out in front of the car.

yep DH is on the plane as we speak. he lands just before midday tomorrow. he has some pressies but unfortunately he bought me a couple of big jars of Promite but 1 was in his hand luggage (he had gone over his weight limit in his suitcase) and the security people said it is considered a liquid so wouldn't let him take it on the plane, damn airport security.

I didn't actually find any problems with runny poo in shaped nappies. In fact the ella's house ones (and i'm sure other brands) are coloured inside so there is no problems with staining. We are a bit anti washing chemicals so i would just use oxygen bleach based nappy soaks and get them out in the sunshine as much as i could and that was fine.

re perenial massage. I read a hilarious description of it in a baby mag when preg with DS. It said to ask partner to use oil any old sort you have lying around we were envisiging people getting chip fat oil Then asking your partner to place his fingers inside and do gentle but firm stretching movements. We tried it a couple of times but TBh is bloody hurt and I couldnt stop laughing at DP going into the kitchen store cupboard and pulling out our most expensive olive oil.

Also something to remember to have for when you get home. If you have stiches you want them to heal asap so buy a big packet of regular table salt then chuck a mugfull into a bath of warm water just enough to cover your nether regions and swoosh your bits around in it a couple of times a day helps the stiches to disolve and you to heal quicker.

I second the bottle of water for when oyu pee. Apparantley in American hospitals they have a little bath thing which sits inside the toilet pan so that when you pee your fanjo is soaking in water so making it easier. My BF lives in NY and is trying to source me one and post it over can just imagine what she will have to write on the export form.

Arnica comes as a little pill or a cream. obviously in the case of childbirth the pill is what you need. Boots and most chemists sell it, not sure about pre-birth but post you take it 3 times a day. It's a homeopathic remedy and also comes in the Helios homeopathic birth kit. will get more info from my homeopath in a couple of weeks when i have my pre-birth consultation.

The perinneal massage my actve birthing and yoga teacher described is a little less invasive. She said you get some olive oil or something similar and rub the area at the bottom of your front bits that just above your back bit. She showed us graphically by using the web between her thumb and pointer. She spread her thumb and pointer finger apart then drew a picture of a little anus at the bit where the muscle is (just to show anatomically where things are) then she rubbed the webbed part illustraton that that is where to apply the oil. When i was preg with DS a couple of sites on th internet said the popping your fingers up there one but as
my active birth instructor said, your DH/DP's willy would probably do more stretching tahn that. She said it just helps to make the skin more supple to reduce tearing.

In my description i forgot about the oil part!
She said olive oil is fine.

Hello all,

bisou and veggie is Aussie crunch not an athentic Australian speciality?!

Aussie Crunch.

Recipe to fit a swiss roll size tin.

8oz Butter
5oz Caster Sugar
3oz Coconut
2.5 oz Cornflakes
1 tablespoon cocoa
5oz Self Raising Flour

200g Dairy milk (for the topping)

Melt the butter, add to dry ingredients, mix well, breaking up the cornflakes a bit. Press into a greased tin. Bake at 160 for 20 minutes - it should be beginning to slightly brown at the edges. Cool in the tin. Cut into slices whilst still warm. Melt chocolate, spread on top.

Very nice with a glass of milk I think

jolly that looks lovely! Might have to give it a go, especially as ds could probably help!

maybe we just call that crunch, but i have never heard of that in my life, i'm more of lamington girl. mmmmm now i feel like lamingtons.

i can't believe it i got my Ocado shop today and i didn't order any chocolate or ice cream, what is wrong with me!!!!!!

rosmerta I thought the other day it is a good recipe to make with children. Your DS can get stuck in with the mixing.

veggie I don't suppose you would call it Aussie crunch, it would be like us having English Cake, or Scottish Slice! Although thinking about it, we do have welsh cakes

Sorry to be a bit me me me, but can anyone tell me whether it is normal to suddenly start crying at everything? I've certainly been more emotional generally up to now and have shed tears at things which aren't even especially sad but today my reaction to everything has been to cry. Can't get the printer to work = tears. Drop a teaspoon while making a cup of tea = more tears. Reading a not sad at all work document = tears. Please someone tell me it will pass

I think anything is "normal" at this stage!!!
For what it's worth any of my "teary" stages have not lasted that long, a day or two at most.
I was a bit stroppy though at the weekend, DH told me i was "a total pain in the arse"