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

LadyT I so sympathise with you about the driving. I HATED learning, needed about 70 hours of lessons over about 9 months and managed to just pass on my second attempt with almost as many minor faults as you're allowed. Luckily for other London road users, we don't have a car now....

I have a question about the baby's head being engaged. I've just looked at my notes and the MW has written '4/5' in the column titled 'Relation to brim in 1/5ths palpable'. So does this mean she could feel 4/5ths of the head so 1/5 is engaged or the other way round? I think someone might have already asked this, apologies if I'm repeating things!

Have just had a mini packet of chocolate buttons to follow my bananas and custard and am feeling 100x better.

D'oh, 2 posts

LadyT please don't give yourself a hard time about the driving. I have such respect for you learning at such a late stage in pregnancy - I can hardly remember how to tie my shoelaces at the moment let alone figure how you're managing to learn a complex skill like driving!

When I was learning it was a similar life stage in that we were moving out of London and I really felt under pressure to pass because there would no longer be a tube station down the road! I imagine that doesn't help but put you under extra pressure as well.

Is there any public transport near to where you'll be living? How far are you from shops etc?

Sorry to hear about your dad as well, but great to hear that he's doing so well now.

Not sure about the nil by mouth. When I had my c/s, I was nil by mouth from the night before as they agreed to decide the next morning whether I would have an epidural or a GA. I don't know if the nil by mouth was in case I had a GA or would have applied to the epidural as well..

Hi all,

Beans so sorry about you MIL sounds like she is a strong woman hope things look up soon.

Hatty & Trace that is fantabulous news. Now you have to do the pushing bit

Sorry loads are feeling pooy. Hope oyu all feel better soon.

JJ old houses are a pain.

Lady T stick with it my lovely you will get there in the end and when you do and are stuck in the sticks you can head to my sticks for cake.

Poison

Kayz try to take it easy.

Thanks all for the kind words re my wobble I didnt post on here about it as I didnt want to whinge and worry all the first timers out there. I have pulled my socks up now and am feeling alot more positive about giving birth and having the birth that I want without massive intervention.

Not much else going on apart from being thoroughly fed up with being pregnant dont you just love these last few weeks. DP still has a bad back and the only comfortable way for him to sleep is flat on his back which means he snores all night long so if its not DS shouting at 3in the morning cause he cant find his teddy its DP snoring or its my bladder. grrr [ rolling eyes emotion ] I do wish they would do a rolling eyes smiley would com in very handy.

Right onwards and upwards.

I think 1/5ths palpable means the head is 4/5ths engaged - ie she could feel only one fifth of it.

Don't lose heart, LadyT. Learning to drive isn't easy (I sometimes am amazed that so many people take to it so easily as it's such a different type of activity from anything else we learn to do!) - and it's almost certainly harder for you at the moment because you're very pregnant, which plays havoc with hand-eye co-ordination, not to mention being simply uncomfortable behind the wheel! Don't be too hard on yourself.

Sorry to hear so many of you are feeling poorly. Am I allowed to say I had a good day today? (I seem to spend my life on here whingeing so it seems odd to post a positive post!! ). Pottered in the morning and a friend came round in the afternoon. I could get used to this!

Sorry caught up properly now.

Beans I am so sorry about your MiL. It must be so stressful for you and your DP right now. Here's hoping it all works out well for her. Thinking about you and this current set-back resolves itself. Your maternity leave can't come too soon by the sounds of things.

Hatty hurrah for your placenta - this is such good news. Fingers crossed all goes according to plan.

Jump glad you got someone to do the brickwork. I still have a small bit of builders stuff to do in the next seven weeks . Grrrr.

Hugs to Pixsix and Veggie it is a yukky time of year, get well soon.

ladyT hugs to you about the driving. It's so annoying HAVING to do something like that at this stage of the game. If you get the test - great - if not just shelve it. You will cope. Your DOP can just be your chaffeur

Can I just say that my DS is singing "minger minger minger" at me at the dinner table. I hasten to add it's not a word he knows - its just a sound. But so apt at the moment. From the mouth of babes...

My DH is off work tomorrow and Tuesdays are my hardest days with dragging them both to DD's ballet class. DH is about to discover the joy of the 5 year olds ballet class...

Daisydora well done on getting hospital bag packed. I need to get onto that soonish!

chutney hope those twinges don't mean anything and that you are coping with DH away in Africa (lots of very well-travelled OH's at the moment, eh!

Phew Zoe slow down girl on that day off! It's hard to I know!

I've made an appointment to see my MW on Thursday. I'm hoping she can explain better and she can also test my urine again. I had raised blood sugar in my last blood test but after a second one it was normal. So I am slightly worried about gestastional diabetes. Also DH said that might explain why I am so thirsty all the time.

Hi all, haven't been on in ages as have been in serious nesting mode!

beans am so sorry to hear about your mil, she sounds like a strong woman so am praying she pulls through [hugs]

pixsix a mw told me that when they write about the baby being engaged it depends on the individual as to what they mean! So she could mean what Verso said, or it could be the other way round! I'd ask just to be clear.

jump how annoying about the windows! Hope you get them sorted quickly.

veggie hope you're getting better. Well done on the course. I'm still trying to get a couple of bits finished but all my motivation's gone.

hatty am so pleased about your placenta moving, that's really good news!

Everything's ok here, have been shopping to get a few bits, mainly for the birth. I only have 4 weeks to go

Sorry I haven;t been around for a while - work stuff and visiting the in-laws. Another trip next week (to Grimsby, I do lead the high life) then I am planning on plonking my expanding arse on my office chair and not shifting till my mat leave starts!

Beans: sorry to hear about your MIL - hope she continues to improve.

Verso: that's a crappy situation with your mother and MIL, however unreasonable it may seem you EXPECT your mum to help you out. I hope you have friends lined up who can give you a hand in the early weeks. Plus you might get a sleeper this time round (am crossing everything for you). I reckon that after colicky non-sleeping DS I'm better equipped to deal with whatever this newborn can throw at me. I'm off on mat leave from the 9th Dec and DS will be in teh CMs for three days a week so if you need anything give me a shout (as long as you factor in extra time for large pg woman to get moving!).

DS back soon and he has hidden my keys so I need to hunt round for them. Especially as the estate agent needs a spare set. Any idea where he might have stowed them?

oh and a waddly happy dance for Hatty and her Amazing Moving Placenta

beans - so sorry to hear about your MIL - thinking about your extended family.

ladyt - i bet you're better than you think you are - remember, we move from unconsicous incompetence, to conscious incompetence, to conscious competence, to unconscious competence (learned this on my course - i.e. you're bad at something, then you realise quite how bad you are, then you start really trying to do it right, then before you know it you are doing it like it's second nature). it will be worth it in the end.

hope those feeling rubbish start feeling better soon.

can i ask a question? when are we supposed to be measured for nursing bras? and where would be good for someone with large ones? i hesitate with M&S - they are so random in their measurements and while bravissimo is good, it's really expensive - where anyone recommend?

also, we have bought a second hand bugaboo cameleon - does anyone by any chance have the instruction dvd? it is the one thing missing from the pack i got from the wonderful mumsnetter we bought it from. just wondering. thx

WG: avoid M&S and Mothercare. I think you get measured a few weeks before, so about 37 weeks? Bravissimo are good for the large of nork, or try John Lewis or Debenhams if your local one has good fitters. On the larger sizes there isn't much choice, Royce are OK, I liked Emma Jane and there is also Emily B.

Wow, I think this thread is moving even faster than it did before. I can't believe some of us will have our babies by the end of this month, how exciting. I have actually done most of the packing for my hospital bag - in facts bagS, does anyone else have two? Or am I being ridiculous? I suppose I do have more nappies and baby clothes as there's two, but still, seems an awful lot of stuff.

I second avoiding M&S, Mothercare round here is a bit hit and miss. Sometimes they are ok and other times they are useless. Bravissimo are good. Also Jojo Maman Bebe are really good if you have one near you.

Ooh, and on the nursing bras, I'm wearing very comfy Bravado and Cariwell ones. They look kind of sporty and they aren't that supportive but with a Gap vest top with built-in support over the top they're great, and they come in small, medium, large etc so fit a range of sizes and should last after the birth. I'm about a 34H at the mo so they can come up pretty big! You can get them from lots of places but bras4mums.co.uk is great, really good service.

gawd ... dont think I can wait another 4 weeks ... had indigestion all day and cant sleep

seem to be constantly whinging and am in my pjs at 6pm abandoning dd to cbeebies cos dont have energy to do anything!!!!!

all i want is ice cream and mozarella

any tips for indigestion?

I agree with giving M&S a miss - but then my size hasn't changed much so I know what to go for. I've so far got one pretty(ish) bra from mothercare - I promised myself I wouldn't get the greying two-pack like last time (they were cheap, but foul). Am on the lookout for nice ones though - so any tips appreciated!

Thanks for the offer and sympathy Mumwise, Effie. My DD will be in nursery too for part of the time so I feel a bit bad complaining/panicking - but then she was such a high-maintenance infant I get scared sometimes thinking I might have another the same! Am investigating the postpartum doula option... and just hoping I can't possibly be so unlucky again sleepwise! (Also not having a traumatic delivery this time, and also having access to a car - pace LadyT - I am hoping will help make things more bearable too .)

rosmerta nesting has kicked in here too. I was planning on making roast beef and yorkshire puddings yesterday but ended up tackling (voice laden with doom here) the understairs cupboard (echo echo echo). I feel so much better now it's clean and tidy!

GBB I will also have two bags at this rate... my excuse is that maternity pads and nappies are rather bulky! (although I'd forgotten how teenytiny newborn nappies are! sigh)

Beans sorry to hear about your MIL. My dad nearly died of pneumonia a few years ago and it was terrifying seeing him decline so rapidly. He seemed to shrivel up and was hallucinating and telling my mum in more lucid moments where all the documents were that she would need if he died. He responded to the antibiotics and made a good recovery but it was horrible, so my thoughts are with you.

Hatty great news about the placenta.

All fine here-people keep telling me how I couldn't possibly have planned a Christmas baby, but I am actually quite excited about having one!

wg I got my nursing bras on Sat from Bravissimo, prices tended to be around £26. They are really supportive & comfortable.

verso dh is overjoyed that I have been nesting as I didn't really get the urge with ds! As well as tidying & cleaning, I've also been doing lots of baking so his colleagues love me as well!

majormoo, i'm a december child and my sister is also a december, just after christmas child, it's a great time of year to be born. I was just remarking to a friend the other day that the coolest people i know are all born in December. Christmas time is a great time to be born, as everyone is happy and they put out all those lovely decorations for you.

still feeling crap but feeling a little more like eating so have started some light dinner. DH is also sick so not getting much sympathy as of course his manflu is worse than my pregnancyflu.

Donnylass- i am also wanting ice cream, i have no idea why there is none in my fridge. For indigestion i am on a couple of homeopathic remedies and take slippery elm powder in hot milk before bed. Also have found chinese food, anything with a tomato sauce too close to bedtime is not good Someone also said Rennies are good so might pick up some to chew on tomorrow. Oh and drinking milk or rice milk with added calcium. I can't stand gaviscon so have been avoiding it for a few weeks now.

Thanks for all your kind sympathy and words advice about my stoopidstoopidstoopid driving, it really helps. I have actually been laughing at how upset and angry it is making me. I have never been so feeble, EVER. Public transport is almost nil in the village I will be spending most of my time in, hence the rush. Anyway, I have bored you ENOUGH about this today! If I was of a size and shape to throw myself on the floor and bang my fists and scream, I tell you I would.

Verso, it's great to hear you sounding so chipper. Maternity leaves are for REST and ENJOYMENT (I know I am not doing well at that, but I believe that's the ideal).

WG, I have the instruction dvd and you are welcome to borrow it, but it is unhelpful and sadistic and may make you want to kill yourself: it's a supermodel putting the machine into a million different settings at high speed to jazzy music. At the weekend, I will see if I can either copy it onto dvd or email the file to you, but I suspect it's rights protected. In which case I can lend it to you, in case you are able to absorb it better than me (like the driving )

Where are your sticks, Jam? I'm really sorry you had a grotty birth last time and have been worrying about this one. I would love to say something to help but I am an ignoramus of the highest order about these things. My sister's first birth was about as vile as it gets, she was very unlucky (but at least they both lived) but her second one was a comparative breeze. No idea if that's a common experience but I think there are at least a couple of people on here with potentially similar worries to you.

Donny, eat the mozzarella and ice cream. I like Rennies and ice chips for indigestion.

Night night everyone.

LT have you managed to get a date for your test .. i have fingers and toes crossed for you .. i also found it really infuriating learning how to drive as i am unfortunately not a natural driver, i still dont like doing it but do when i have to (everyday!) But im sure with your determination you will be fine

Beans big hugs to you and your dp. I really hope your MIL gets better soon, and please take it easy xx

Hatty so pleased that your placenta has moved and its all looking positive on the VBAC front xx

veggie et al with lurgy i am still full of cold too, spent the day sneezing and coughing at work, but got lots of sympathy too. Except when one of the senior managers asked me if i could attend a training course in london on 25th November .. 3 days before i break up for maternity leave and at 36 1/2 weeks pregnant! I explained it probably wasnt such a good idea as i have quick labours i wouldnt feel comfortable travelling so close to my due date, apart from the fact itll be a several hour train ride there and tube ride to god knows where and back again in one day! Anyway they said of course not and have postponed it till after my maternity break (thank god!)

i cant believe its Novemeber .. argh feel so unprepared .. still havnt sold my car and bought one that is big enough for 4 children .. really need to pull my finger out .. but think i might just go to bed with a bar of dairy milk and think about it tomorrow!

so many posts!!
Beans - so sorry about your MIL - it sounds as if she is fighting hard - please take some time to care of yourself and your DH - so hard to do when you are worrying about someone else, I know.

Hatty - great news about the placenta! The exact same thing happened to a colleague at work - she actually turned up to hospital with her bag packed for admittance at 37 weeks when they did one last scan - and hey presto - it had moved! She had a v good birth so I hope you get the same package

All these people with new carpets you are making me very . Ours are horrible and I was just wondering the other day if I could justify getting a new one before the new baby - and regretfully decided they weren't quite horrid enough and I'd do better to ride out a few more spills. But now you're making me waver...

pixsix - bananas and custard followed by chocolate buttons - you are a woman after my own heart - very much fancy that now