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 boobs started leaking a kind of clear stuff a few days ago but today it's bright yellow!

A friend of mine said she started expressing at this point (34 weeks) so she had some good stuff in stock in the freezer - is that weird or did others do that? DD1 came so early that I didn't have leaky boobs...

bright yellow is normal - just colostrum

Not sure about expressing - I know it's advised if you have diabetes and specifically want to avoid formula supplementation but otherwise I'm not sure why you'd bother - it's incredibly hard to express colostrum and the baby only needs it for the first 2-3 days - not sure how much topping up you could do in that time?!

Hello all - haven't posted for a while as sickness came back for a bit. Such a pain. So now worried about size of baby and whether she will be too small for me to have her at home. Am having growth scan next week.

Also anxiously watching the weather as we're having our roof replaced. Nesting this time seems to involve projects on a grand scale. All I remember doing last time was cleaning out the kitchen drawers.

Am so sorry some of you have been having a miserable time. Beans I'm glad your MIL is getting better. Must have been awful for you.

I can't remember all of the things I was going to post on (terrible pregnancy brain at the moment).

Waitingirl Isabel Oliver are brilliant - and even returned some stuff for me that I'd bought to wear for work weeks after the 28 day limit. I bought this dress for a wedding we went to earlier in the summer and I loved it. I've only worn it once though and it's languishing in my wardrobe. I'd happily pop it in the post if you liked the look of it.

On passports - took me 4 attempts to get one for DS and in the end we set off on holiday without it. Managed to get him out of the country but got severely told off by immigration on the way back in. Would second Veggie's advice to lie them on a white sheet on the floor. And that in the end snappy snaps were brilliant.

Will also be staying up tonight to watch the elections. Have been totally distracted by them all year really and am such a sad case that I stayed up for 1st democratic primary. Am slightly alarmed that it's today though - as I've been thinking all along that the baby will be born soon after. And am so not ready. xx

May have duffed up the link - it's the ruched tank dress in electric blue (sadly not quite as 80s as the name suggests)

Lal sorry you have been ill again, yours is way worse than my minor heartburn at least i am keeping most of my food in.

i don't think expressing this early is a good idea as you might fool your body into thinking it's the baby and when it comes time for he/she to have the high protein colostrum in the first day or 2 it ay have already moved onto the milk with the lipids etc. Also unless there is a reason (baby in neonates, or you have to go away for some reason) you should avoid expressing for 1st 6 weeks.

WG i meant to say earlier well done for rising above your friend, she def sounds a bit loopy, whats with the Obama thing. Oh and congrats on your DH's award very exciting etting to dress up etc for it, you must be really proud.

thanks for that veggie. I will just leave it. It hadn't crossed my mind to express it until my friend suggested it - think I'll let nature take its course!

hey has anyone ever hired a tens machine, are any better than others? i have found a couple of online places that do free delivery etc but thought if anyone had recommendations i would go with those.

oh also Traceface, i know you said you had your first LC early so didnt experience the leaking, i only had a little leak with DS about 2 weeks before he came, but this time i have been have a few little leaks for about the last month. not sure why and only a tiny bit so far so no need for pads, but just weird that it is happening more this time than last.

What a mixed bag of activity and emotion we have here!

I am sorry for those having rubbish days - gazing at cute newborn sized babygrows seems to make me focus on the excitement of a new baby rather than whatever is stressing me at the time.

bisou - thanks for your work on the big list. I am due on 3 December and its baby number 1.

I am trying to write a business case for why I should get promoted when I return after maternity leave. These things are hard to write anyway (I hate saying that I am good at this and good at that and add value here etc!) but with seven working days left before maternity leave, its just torture.

For those interested in the Clapham Junction catch up - there has been another flurry of activity on the posting today with people confirming whether they are still interested in meeting up and preferences for venue etc.

Thanks penny - think I have put a clearer view of what's happening in there - hope it helps!

meet up link

Hi all, been struggling to keep up so am just posting to say hope you're all ok!

Had a mw appt today which was fine though my iron levels are very low so need to get some supplements and start taking a double dose every day. Apparently that's why I'm so tired & lacking energy recently.

Anyway, will try and catch up properly later.

HI all I haven't posted for ages - been really low energy, and feeling huge and lethargic, But I have been reading, and getting a giggle, and (trying) to keep up! I hate to be a lurker, though so sorry all. I would def like to come to the meet up lunch so will check over at that thread.

Veggie this is the one I had last time tens-hire. Was easy to use and they were pretty flexible about me giving it back late. Am going for them again.

thanks Lal, that looks perfect the one i had looked at sent it out 3 weeks early too but it was only 4 weeks hire so didnt give much room for late babies, but 6 weeks is great plus the free extra week option. Thanks for that.

veggie - in case its of any help, I used these guys for tens hire "mamatens www.mama-tens.info/". It was also all pretty straight forward. Not sure about the relative effectiveness of different machines though!

hey invisible i was thinking about you the other day, you are having babyinvisible at the royal free aren't. You mentioned the M&S there, it is good for food, but there is also a great Italian deli on Fleet road called Giacobazzi's, at the back of the hospital. It's just around the corner from the M&S they do amazing sandwiches and rolls, i used to love their stuff, they also have other savoury and sweet stuff and loads of italian frozen lasagne and fresh pastas it is only a small shop but if DH or yourself or your visitors fancy something fresh and yummy while your in, or if your visitors want to give you something to take home to pop in the oven, freezer etc to cook for after the bub is born it is great. mmmm my mouth is watering thinking of their mozzarella, tomato,avocado & pesto ciabatta... yum.

Afternoon ladies. RRRRight, so:

Mibbes - so, any special plans for your ML?
Beans - fingers crossed that your MIL improves - I do think that pneumonia is a 'turning the corner' sort of illness, and once you have started to turn, things may improve quite rapidly. Oh, and yes, I am only learning in an automatic. All this ridiculous fuss over what amounts to a bumper car...shameful really
Invis - I have pigheadedness in spades (she said, mixing her metaphors horrendously) so let's hope it sees me through. Six weeks until your ML?? (faints). You poor poppet!
Pixsix - get making yourself lots of nice drinks, lady!
WG - find anything? If you are stuck I've got a long black ruched silk DKNY skirt you can borrow. It has an elasticated waist (I can still only wear it underneath my bump, but still.) Could bring it to the lunch if you are coming, though that might be too late.
Effie and others who have asked - I am doing a test sooooon (adopts mysterious voice) but I won't say when until after. Next few days. I am hoping to give you my theory dvd and driving manual afterwards so you can be the next. But I doubt I will pass so you might not be getting them for a bit...
Lal - glad you are feeling a bit better...
Kayz - worried about you being thirsty as that's a sign of diabetes as I am sure you know.
Thanks, Bisou, for your sterling work with the list!
ZJ - so with you on the cheese. Cave-aged cheddar - mmmmmm. I got very excited at the w/e because I found a pasteurised version of Mimolette (orange cheese from Northern France) in Waitrose. I did a jig of joy in the aisle. Sadly, when I got it home and unwrapped it I realised it tasted of naff all. Zippo. All the unpasteurised gremlins must be what give it the taste, darn it.
Arti (thanks for your words of encouragement and it's comforting to think that my driving ineptitude might be pregnancy related if you have noticed a difference and you are an ace driver normally) and Traceface, I am with you on the smells. I have to actually prevent myself sniffing nail varnish, and the hall in my building is being repainted today and I have just been GLORYING in the fumes, it's quite disgraceful.
A general legal word for those unmarried girls who are first timers - your DP won't automatically get Parental Responsibility in the eyes of the law, which he would if you were married - UNLESS he is named on the birth cert, which of course is fine, but it means that he can't go and register the birth without you, you must go together. Still, it avoids him suddenly deciding to call the child Regeldis on a whim, or worse, spelling your chosen name incorrectly. I know someone who is called 'Briget' instead of 'Bridget' as her father couldn't spell. Furthermore, Karren Brady, foxy lady of business, is called 'Karren' as her father thought it was like 'Darren', which is her big brother's name.

invisible i just looked at that mama website, the pelvic floor exerciser is intriguing.

Impressive post LadyT! Good luck for your test, whenever it may be.

My Dad's surname (and so mine) is spelt differently to the rest of his family because my Grandad registered him after a couple too many pints of Guinness. That or they were keeping options open for disowning our branch of family...

Lady T if you go to Neal's Yard Dairy they will furnish you with some lovely lovely strong tasting cheese that you can eat even though it's unpasteurised because it's been aged for long enough to kill the lurgies (keen's cheddar or linconshire poacher my current favourites). Can't wait until I can eat soft cheese again - another plus of December babies - Christmas such a good time of year for gorging on cheese and pate.

Evening,

I'm feeling pretty crap today. I feel really tired and a bit sick. I feel exactly like I did the day before I had DS. So my fingers are crossed that I just feel under the weather. My friend's little sister did have a sickness bug at the weekend and she came round last friday so maybe I have that.

LadyT I really admire you learning to drive. I really want to learn, I had a few lessons earlier this year and I'm not sure what it is but something scares me a bit. My brother booked his theory test today!!

Veggie You have made me really hungry reading about that deli, shame I'm so far away I can't pop there for a sandwich. I'll have to write it down for when we next go to London.

Hello to everyone else, Hope you are all feeling well.

Thanks for the tip off, Lal. Veggie made me all hungry as well.

And Kayz...I hope you have got someone to cook you something for supper. When you feel a bit off, sometimes there's only one thing you fancy (in my case, usually omelette for some reason.) Have a good rest.

Cheerio ladies.

I wish LadyT, DH is at work until 11. But I did have a cheese and tomato pizza which was gorgeous and I could easily eat another 6!!