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

Oh dear. I just seem to find that I get much more stressed about things. DH doesn't have much patience with tears for no reason. Doesn't really feel like no reason, though. Sure squeezing a baby out warrants tears as and when you need them! Almost in anticipation!!!

god, I'm getting waves of fear. Just wish I'd decided to finish work a bit sooner. 2 more weeks feels like too long now. Sooooo tired. Sure that's what makes me weepy.

Thanks SL, that is reassuring.

I'm with you there beans. I like my job (in moderation you understand ) but just feel like I'm not giving it my all at the moment. I'm winding down as the work is gearing up. My replacement is going to look fantastic compared to me. Roll on the 28th November....

Oh and thanks to whoever it was that replied to me re jimjams/nighties . I should have taken notes.

jolly bear - I've not cried for ages and then last Friday suddenly couldn't stop! I had to get checked out at hospital for high BP and I just cried on the midwife for no reason! Then I cried at home because I felt I had to do the dusting and then again because I couldn't decide what to have for tea!!!! I'm sure it's a normal hormones thing.

Bisou - thanks for the welcome - for your update - I'm 33 weeks so due on dec 13th and this is number 2 for me - I have a 4 year old girl who is due to start school in Jan, so I will have a couple of weeks to get myself organised enough to get me and newborn and dd1 out of the house in time for school - yikes!!!

going home now. Suddenly feeling a bit overwhelmed!

Bye everyone!

xx

Hi All,

Haven't posted for so long I fell off this thread

Nesting took over this weekend. Did a huge clean on Sat. Felt great afterwards and got a take away for dinner as was too warn out to cook after all my effort. Yesterday after food shopping I made an extra dinner and froze it before starting on our real dinner which was something entirely different. Also caught up on all my ironing etc so feeling rather domesticated. Planing on washing all the baby stuff in the next week or two. Want to get as much done before I get too big. Also don't want to wait until I am on maternity leave to start all these jobs incase I am too tired or the baby is early.

5 weeks left at work and all of them are going to be 4 day weeks.

Hugs to all

Gosh emma make me feel guilty why don't you, where is my bloody nesting gene?

emma I'm on 4 day weeks now as well - they are fab! They seem so much shorter than 5 day weeks. And jb my replacement will also look fab, as I'm winding down too (maybe a bit too early ...) - she has arranged for us to go out to lunch tomorrow (she works elsewhere at the moment, she was an external candidate so is taking time off her work for this), so quiz me on the business plan for the coming year, projects on going and in the pipeline. Her enthusiasm is great, but I'm just worried no one will want me back next year! Oh, and we have a week handover scheduled in anyway - too efficient!

Can't believe it's getting dark outside, don't want to drive home in the dark everyday now - boo hoo!

Ah SL bet that was my nesting and there will be no further sign of it

zj yes stupid clocks. Stupid miserable dark. Don't want to cycle home!

Afternoon all, I may have arrived too late to join in the chat for today but hello anyway! Had a bit of an exhausting weekend, physically and emotionally. We were down in London doing a singing workshop with a big group of friends, including a couple in their fifties whose son died earlier this year. He'd been married a few weeks and it was the adult equivalent of SIDS, absolutely no reason that any doctor can tell, the lad just died. It was very hard, they were happy for us about the baby but it's one of those things that you really pray never to have to deal with Plus I tripped over a pavement and bished my knee in the dark [sob]

Not up to the brain power needed for one of Bisou's mammoth catch-ups, but am off work tomorrow so will have a go then! Had my 34 weeks appt today and the baby's definiely head down which is good, midwife wrote in the "relation to brim" column 4/5 - does that mean it's 4/5 in, or 4/5 out of the pelvis? And what does that mean anyway?! And is it really bad of me to notice for the first time that she's got quite long fingernails - the thought of a VE with those fellas is a bit scary

Jumpjockey how tragic for that couple .

I'm also feeling very tearful - I don't like these dark evenings . I know this is the first one so I'd better get used to it! Am longing for lots of red wine and a home cooked stew and instead will be making do with DD's leftovers from their stirfry at teatime and a glass of OJ! Not quite the wintery comforting vibe I was after. Might go for a nice warm bath instead.

Hey everyone. I still have no internet at home and won't for a bit so restricted to catching up briefly in afternoons when I do my emails at an internet cafe. Not very satisfactory!

Hello our Bisou, glad to hear you are a-ok. So what music have you got to learn then? I don't claim to be an opera buff but I do like it - was fortunate enough to go to La Scala last summer, it was wonderful.

Jam...driving was slightly better today, thanks for asking. Maybe test towards the end of next week? Who knows. But truly, I have never done anything in my ENTIRE life which has put me in a more terrible temper

Verso, I have emailed you, rather belatedly! Hope things went well for your DH at the hospital this morning, fingers all crossed.

PD, the scan was great, all good, and her little profile is suspicously like mine! For all you transverse ladies, my babe has finally gone downwards, so no need for my cs after all (but I am having it anyway, of course!) Was it Summer who's bought pyjamas for her cs? Or wat it Jolly? Anyway, I bought pj's too (doh). I shouldn't think they work well with a catheter so I'll have to get a nightie as well. Still need the big pants, haven't seen any that look right yet (high enough to accommodate a painful scar I mean, I am not holding out for alluring ones).

Arti, hope the house stuff goes well. I asked the obs this morning about the period pain type thing and she says it is definitely ligamental and although it will get worse, not to worry, unless it ratchets up to x 100 and then we should worry as it's probably labour

Ooh, on the arnica front, my obstetrician cast aspersions both on that AND raspberry leaf tea this morn, but lovely as she is I think her attitude is typical of a lot of Health Professionals. I'm still going to get arnica tablets anyway and that bubble bath sounds nice.

Anyway, I have missed tons of people out so I need to read back. More later!

OMFG the baby is trying to make a bid for freedom it is pushing so hard in my hip area I have what looks like a tumor whilst similtaniously pushing its bum I presume, so hard around my belly button it looks like the Alien movie.

wow pretty active thread today. My mind is a mush but it was very entertaining to read all the posts.

hatty sending good vibes for your placenta

Today I had a kind yoga teacher come to my house to help me with breathing, relaxation and a few stretches. It surely did help to calm my anxious nerves. I am happy that people like her exist.

Bisou, I am in awe of your mega posts.
On the nappy front, I think I'm going to go for Totsbots as they look quite good and there is a local distributor who I am going to meet up with to get the lowdown.
Arnica - definitely the pills, I used them last time and don't know if they made a difference, they are supposed to help to bring out the bruising.
Salt in the bath definitely helped with the healing though and think I'll avoid the perineal massage, in fact DH looked thoroughly shocked when I just mentioned it . As I am still hoping for a caesarean it is all academic anyway.
I have a very itchy bump at the moment, and am sure that I have some new stretch marks, although I can't really tell whether or not they are left over from DS. I also have a bruise on a particular area where baby keeps kicking me, very painful.
Emotions - I am irrationally emotional at the moment too. I cried yesterday for about 1/2 an hour because I couldn't get my wellies off!
I still have my obsession with make up, and have also developed a craving for chalk and keep stealing nibbles from DS's blackboard chalk- I thought people were joking about wierd cravings . Probably a replacement for the sweet things I am not allowed to eat because of the diabetes. The recipe for Aussie crunch was very unfair by the way .

LT typical doctor, i think they do courses in how poo poo anything that they can't prescibe at Uni. Arnica is brill, i'm not sure if you'll need the raspberry leaf tea if you are having CS as i think it's for toning up to help expulsion, so to speak. I've bought some although have to warn i used it last time and had 3 hours 2nd stage so not sure if it helps. Although i did have only 12hour labour in total and practically spat the placenta out.

About the driving just wait til you get out there and try dealing with some of the morons who believe they own the road. I have had to curb my responses to them of late as have heard DS saying some choice things from his car seat.

Yeah Veggie, I have heard too many good things about arnica to dismiss it, despite what she says. I will be stocking up.

Summer, your vivid description of perineal massage made me feel a bit woozy - sounds a bit sore!

Chutney - Matthew is a sweet name, my littlest nephew is called that and he's such a nice little boy, devoted to his mother - though he is actually called Mathew which my sister preferred, though personally I think the traditional spelling is much nicer.

Anyone know a good book on Baby Massage? I think I am going to buy one. There's one in the same series as a book Mum bought me at the weekend called Babycare, so I am going to check out that one first. 'Babycare' is great because it has lots of pictures and assumes zero knowledge for complete ignoramuses like me. It has unbelievably basic things that you never get anywhere, like, 'how to pick up a baby' My mother knows me so well.

Ooh, and Jump, just wanted to say that's a very tragic story. How awful. Hope you enjoyed your bath. Bubble bath is one of my best things in the whole world. Which reminds me, obs said this morning that I wasn't to use a hot water bottle on my tummy. It's ok for the back. You probably all know this already but it makes the baby's heartrate speed up so not good.

Hatty - good placenta shifting vibes from me too!

Sorry all. Have just spent all of the Bedtime Hour (CBeebies for those without nippers) catching up with you all.

verso so sorry the work thing was so unsatisfactory. Keep your powder dry and decide what to do apres baby as others have said.

Jumpjockey I am so sad for your friends. The one thing about being a parent yourself is that you do empthasise so strongly with those who lose children - no matter how old - or whose children suffer bad things in life.

Hatty really hope that placneta plays ball and moves in the right direction!

poisondwarf ages ago you asked how DS's birthday party went saturday before last. Kind of you to remember. It was lovely - he had a ball - but I was literally sobbing with tiredness as I cleared up at 8pm after 15 adults and 15 children (and DH was doing loads too). Just get really frustrated not to be able to do what I can normally iyswim. Selfishly, I am glad you are still going to be in N London postbaby! But can see it will be tough being squeezed in. Agree with you about mat. leave with existing DC - it just ain't the same, but fun nonetheless!

ladyT glad the driving going better and that BabyT was turned into a better position for your section. Arnica DOES help. Your Consultant talking through his/her ar*e! .

My other birth bag favourites are;

Witchhazel liquid to keep chilled and put on your pad for sore fanjos;

dried arpicot to avoid post-birth constipation;

camomilla drops (a homeopathic drop that can be used to get wind up from newborns when nothing else will work);

tinted moisturiser - OK, so noone is going to do full makeup post birth, but I took the two secs to put this on, so didn't look quite so much like Haggis McBaggis in first photos

Hope everyone else is OK. I had school friends all down to London at the weekend, so two nights out in a row which knackered me slightly. But good fun. Half-term now and we were supposed to be away for 3 nights. But had to cancel because of DH's work. He is however getting tomorrow off yay!

Wad naughty today. Had thought I would get through the next 8 weeks just wearing my Converse with the velcros straps (my normal boots etc just a bit tight). But at the park today with the Dc and soles of my feet were freezing. Succumbed and bought a paid of Suede Emu boots (basically Uggs - but slightly cheaper!). They are so comfy and warm and easy to get on and off!

Turnip tinted moisturiser is genius. my moisturiser ain't tinted so will be getting some of that in.

i know i have already asked this but i didn't get any responses any advice on what to have around for home birth and should i pack a hospital bag just in case?

LT when you start up the baby massage use unsented oil. I was all earth mother and got some chamomile baby massage oil and wondered why DS hated it so much. 5 months later tried it again and he quite liked it. Wastold then by the baby massage lady that newborns don't like any smell exc their mum so get a bit peeved if some other smell gets in the way of it. Oh and while i'm on the subject tell your visitors to hold the perfume gets the wee one well grumpy, no matter how expensive the fragrance is.

Loving the tips, Turnip. I know that feeling you describe when you were tidying up. I keep bustling about and then feeling incredibly overwrought. Hurrah for the new boots...but...'no one is going to do full make up post birth'?? We'll see, but I am certainly PACKING the full maquillage! I always chortle to myself when I read things in magazines like, 'you may want to take a slick of lip gloss or even a mascara, just for photos' (and think of my stuffed make up bag with glee). If I don't have the whole shebang on pronto, you can assume I am very, very ill indeed, perhaps even in a terminal decline

Thanks Veggie, I will start off with fragrance free then.

But NO PERFUME after delivery? [Swooning emoticon, followed swiftly by shallow emoticon] Never mind the visitors, I use a gallon of the stuff. I can see I have got A.Lot.To.Learn....

evening all, I'm skiving on MN, should be trying to write an essay

jam I'm never sure when they write 4/5 and stuff like that whether they mean in or out. According to a midwife I had a course with earlier this year, it all depends on the mw & what they prefer to use!

veggie not long till dh is home, I bet none of you can wait! Re homebirth, I'm not sure either about a hospital bag. I might pack a small one just in case but just nightie & underwear for me, baby clothes & toothbrush & toothpaste I think.

turnip glad to see I'm not the only one who uses the bedtime hour on cbeebies!

Ah yes - Veggie - I bet you can't wait for tomorrow, how lovely.

Rosmerta, you are putting me to shame with your pared down hospital bag. But I am a vain old bird, I get it from my own mother and if my DD doesn't turn out to be the same it will be a miracle (though my sister ISN'T like it at all)!

LT as long as you always wear the same one you could fool babylady into believing it's your natural sent.

I have always wondered why some women look so amazing in their immediate post birth photos, now i know why, might pop into Aveda during the week for a new mascara and lip gloss. Also i desperately need a manicure & pedi, this may sound very sad but my cuticles seem to be growing as fast as my nails, they seem to take up half my nails.

oh and nasty whoever it was who said her MW had long nails. I do love having nice nails but when i was back doing clinical work i always trimmed my nails low (though nicely filed)