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

My home internet connection cuts out every 3 mins at the moment so I have not had time to catch-up properly. Hope all is well.

I have just returned from my 34 week check. For once my BP and urine were both perfect! I have also been told the baby is 3/5 engaged. I thought they did not engage until labour with second and subsequent pregnancies. Is anyone else partly engaged with a non first born yet?

Well I have the rest of the day off and am off baby shopping. I live very near the new massive shopping centre in London that opened yesterday. It is meant to be the biggest urban mall in Europe. I usually hate the idea of shopping centres but it has loads of baby shops and is so close that I am going to brave it. Wish me luck!

Oh good luck, arti - I'm going there on Saturday to watch new Bond film. already dreading it on its first Saturday - yuck!

How do they check the head engagement? Is it internally?

No, they just prod at your stomach and try and waggle the baby around from the outside. It does not seem v scientific.

Right, I am off to shop. I am scared. What has happened to my life that I would contemplate this as a way to spend a day off????

It'll be fun! don't worry at all - I'm a bit jealous.

can't wait for my mat leave to start, then I can do that sort of thing too!

Thanks re the info on internal or not - I'm dreading the prodding up my fanny when the time comes - not my favourite thing!

Arti I'm so jealous. I saw it on the news yesterday and I really want to go.

DS is being really clingy today. Its really nice except trying to type.

LOL at 'prodding up my fanny' Beans, I don't imagine many women are keen on it ! Only 1 week to go at work for us - woooooohooooo !

arti hurray for a perfect 34 weeks check

we had a shopping trip last night to get maternity bag stuff - stocked up on chocolate, jelly beans, haribo and glucose tablets for energy during labour !! Prob won't be in the mood for them but it cheers me up to think that I can combat the pain with sweets ! I know all you non first-timers will be laughing but let me have my wee fantasy ! Also started buying nappies and cotton wool... all getting very close now - 5 weeks to go !

I also read that article - does it mean I now have to have 35 weeks worth of 1-2 units per week in order to guarantee a genius child...? I guess I'll be getting very very drunk tonight then . I think the intelligence had more to do with the fact that those who drank lightly tended to be from higher incomce families with a better education and more abstainers smoked during PG - they always just spin the bit of info they want to make a headline !

I had to have a laugh at Beans saying "not my favourite thing" too!! I think we would all be worried about it you if it were one of your top ways to pass your time
Lordy I am bored today, I really should do some work, but I JUST CAN'T BE BOTHERED.

Oh, I am jealous about the trips to the new Westfield too! Being an Aussie, this type of shopping centre is 'proper shopping', all cosy inside even in winter, lots of choices of places to stop and have coffee/cake while resting sore feet.

I have two more weeks at work and then I can join the waddling westfield shoppers.

Please post an update on whether the baby shopping is good there.

On the topic of wine now being safe in small doses - is it wishful thinking that there might be a study out in the next week or so saying that blue cheese is ok too?!

good afternoon just back from London. Rosemerta was going to try to contact you to see if we could meet up but DH forgot to take his 3G stick thing so had no internet. Had a nice time anyway went to Natural history mseum with DS and had a great time. have tried to catch up on everything but have skipped the last 2 pages as it's all too hard Aso getting a cold which i'm not happy about. Taking DS trick or treating tonight which we have never done before. We don't really observe halloween in australia so will be something new for us.

anyway it's probably all a it late now but have some thing i did take down from the couple pages i did catch up on.

Arti- i feel your pain, feeling every part of me is massive at the moment, and when i whine to DH about it, he kind of gives me a sympathetic look thats says 'yes you are you poor thing' doesn't help. i am getting the fat face too, which i hate can't cover with clothes.

Kimberley- we use eco balls and drop a few drops of eucalyptus oil into wash for a nice smell. also good for stains, though need a little more and directly on stain.

About the engageing of 2nd babies, my active birth lady said that 2nd babies tend to rest their heads on the 'brim' which is kind of the lower part of the pelvis i think and then engage just in time, something to do with looser muscles.

Also are anyone kids getting up earlier since the change of the clocks. DS used to sleep until after 8am, but now wakes at 6.30am.

Penny- we've had a westfields in derby for a year now and is so cool shopping like back home, it even has a Gloria Jeans. The changing facilities are so good and there is a free soft play on the lower level as well as toddler play areas in all the parent and child toilet areas.

My Bump has actually gone north rather than south and seems to be wanting to compete for space with my boobs.

Went to a neals yard shop while in London and got that arnica & seaweed bath stuff.

kayz-have just read your thread about what happened on the bus. What is wrong with people. I had all the usual stuff in London, but not that bad. i don't think you where over the top. i think you were quite contained i'm sending them all nasty poo poo vibes.

Kayz just read your thread too. If you end up in a similar situation. Take your time. Do not rush. If anyone moans tell them you are pregnant and if they want to help you they can if not then they can hold there tongues!! I'm with veggie and am also sending poo poo vibes.

Yep poo poo vibes are what are needed. Poo poo vibes for poo poo people

Hi all. Is anyone measuring big for their dates? I've got to go for a scan and see a consultant on monday. The midwfire measured me at 39 weeks and I was 33+5...

The doctor told me my baby was very average sized. Average. Tsk.

Oooh oooh, I'm enormous too and feeling every movement like it's actually bruising me on the inside - really sore - ouchio!

Last night DH was in the bath and I was pottering around in my bra (grey maternity one that makes my tits look saggy) and pants (also grey, with nasty incipient pant moustache, but I can't see it, so who cares). I know I wasn't looking my most beautiful, but DH was commenting on how enormous my stomach now is and then said "And your arse is a lot bigger too". Normally I would be offended, but in the end I just laughed... He has a point, it is quite big and actually, if I didn't have it to balance me out, I might fall forwards onto my face!

Allie I was measured as 29cm at 26 weeks and was sent for a growth scan - all normal except they moved my due date forward 6 days. I was then 35cm at 31 weeks which no one seemed concerned about! Last time I saw the GP I was still measuring 35cm at 34 weeks. Again she didn't seem concerned as she said it was to be expected with different people measuring me. HTH

beans LOL at the thought of falling on our faces without big arses to balance us! But the the question is, why haven't I been toppling backwards all my life, without the bump to balance me forwards ...?

Lol zj beans & verso I didn't think what I was saying when I made the 'love the rack' comment

arti I'm close to Westfields as well, will probably try & venture over there at some point. Let us know what its like.

veggie glad you had a nice time in London, I love the natural history museum and the science museum, especially as they're free! And yes, ds is also waking up much earlier, he was usually 7-7.30 its now 6am.

I'm completely wiped out today. Woke up at 2am and just could not get back to sleep at all. Ended up getting up at about 5am so I could at least read. Fortunately, ds was at nursery this morning so I managed to get a bit more sleep and I've just had to have another nap on the sofa while ds watched Cars

AAAhhh Cars what would i do without that movie. Did you know there is a cars 2 coming out in 2012

I'd heard they were making it, didn't realise it was so far away though! Ds also likes Monsters Inc (my favourite!).

I survived Westfield! In fact I quite enjoyed it despite it being rammed full of people (it seems very few people in west London went to work today). It is very smart and shiny. My fav part was the food area ? loads of really different types of eateries. I had a scrumptious Lebanese meze while watching the world go by. The toilets are also very smart but I did not check the baby change or toddler play areas. (Beans ? are you sure you are going to the cinema there this week? Check because it says the cinema opens in 2009).

There are too many shops to contemplate. I am sure there are thousands of kids clothes places but I just visited Blooming Marvellous, Zara Kids, Gap Kids, POP (a very cool Swedish chain) and ELC. I bought the baby the cutest brown and pink knitted outfit and I finished off my Christmas shopping for DD (they had an UGG store and I was sorely tempted to buy her the cutest baby UGGs but they were too expensive).

I notice we have not heard from LadyT for a few days. Might she be off having a bubba already??

Ooooooooh good point re LadyT.

Quick moan. Sorry!

My boss (sits next to me) is ill. She has been whinging all day how ill she is but comes in and spreads her germs. I'm paranoid I am getting it and will be so if I do. Feeling very selfish but really don't want her germs

i hate people who come to work sick. I once worked on a ward with a girl who came in with eyes and nose streaming refused to go home when they told her to go, gave her cold to all her patients who then in turn gave them to me, and i got so sick i crashed my car into a fence!!!!! so Emma, don't drive.

oh i hope they are putting a cinema de lux at your westfield, they have a directors lounge cinema that has massive seats with little tables ad you get food and drinks bought to your table. DH & I love it as we can do dinner & a movie all at the same time. and i feel a bit more grown up sitting in a bar with him before a movie even with a big ol' bump.

Oh my face is sooooo fat.

Rosemerta apparently it is pretty much ready but they aren't putting it out til then. I think it gets them a new generation to sell all the merchandise to. Also a few of the characters voices actors have died, Philmore and also one of the directors. oh my goodness how do i know all this information.

oh getting very excited DH & I are going to see the Mighty Boosh in birmingham tomorrow night bought the tickets ages ago, and have been soooooo looking forward to it. I am a little concerned about all the laughing and my pelvic floor as they make me pee myself even when i am not so continentally (???) compromised. DH half jokingly suggested wearing one of those discreet tena lady pads!!!

oh and that swedish POP place is expensive but great i got a fantastic maternity coat there that has zippy bits for when you get bigger but when all is gone down i can zip them up and it can be a normal coat.

Oh no Veggie I'm supposed to be driving tomo morning over to my SIL's. If I feel like I'm getting a cold I won't go.

Have lovely eve's and weekends all.