Due Fab Feb 2009: crossed fingers (and legs) we'll get through another thread without welcoming any early arrivals!

[MarkStretch]

Welcome.

Please feel free to add yourself to the list.

TinkerBellesMum - DC3 (girl), due: 01.02.09 (not expected to get far into December) (age 27, Birmingham)
Laidbackinengland - DC4, due: 23.01.09 (age 34, North Devon)
Nkweto - DC2, due: 30.01.09 (age 35, West London)
Mamagoose - DC3, due: 31.01.09 (age 32, Spain)
Questionkid - DC1, due: 03.02.09 (age 33, Wallington, Surrey)
PinkTulips - DC3, due; 04.02.09 (age 24, Roscommon, Ireland)
MsLucy - DC2 (a boy), due: 4/2/09 (CS a few days early)(age 38, North London)
Swampster - DC3, (a boy), due: 06.02.09 (age 40 , London)
Rosieposey - DC4, (a boy) due: 06.02.09 (age 36,Swindon,Wiltshire)
MarkStretch - DC2, (a boy) due: 07.02.09 (age 29, Norwich)
onwardandoutward - DC2, due: 07.02.09 (age 35 South West)
LittleMissNorty - DC2, due: 08.02.09 (age 40 in a couple of weeks, Kent).
KT1983 - DC1, due: 09.02.09 (age 25, London)
KazzaL - DC2 (suprise flavour), due 10.02.09 (age 35, Cirencester, Gloucs)
herbgarden - DC2, due: 11.02.09 (CS 02.02.09) (age 38, Berkshire)
TheHouseofMirth - DC2, (a boy) due: 12.02.09 (age 38, Wimbledon)
Littlesez ? DC1 (a girl) due: 15.02.09 (age 28, Manchester)
America - DC2, (a boy) due: 16.02.09 (age 32, London)
Rachrox - DC4, (a boy) due: 18.02.09 (age 28, Cheltenham)
Catstar - DC2, (a boy) due: 18.02.09 (age 36, Chessington)
Dinkystinky - DC2, (a boy) due: 19.02.09 (age 32, London)
Pluto DC2 (gender unknown), due 19.02.09 (Age 38, Kent)
DizzyBrummie - DC2, due: 20.02.09 (age 36, Berkshire)
Calico1 - DC2 due: 21.02.09 (age 40, West Herts)
mrsy - DC1, (a girl) due: 22.02.09 (age 24, Maidstone, Kent
Scubagroover - DC1 (a boy), due: 22.02.09 (age 31, London/ Kent)
Winemakesmummyclever - DC2 (a boy), due: 23.02.09. (age 35, Manchester) expecting cs @ 39 weeks.
Spottyshoes - DC2, due: 24.02.09 (age 28)
Lardybump - DC2, due: 24.02.09 (age 34)
Chilledmama - DC2 (a girl), due: 25.02.09 (age 32, Southsea)
Cocodrillo - DC3, due 26.02.09 (age 34 at the mo, London) expecting a CS at 38-39 weeks.
mumoverseas - DC4 (a boy), due: 28.02.09 (CS 2 to 3 weeks early) (age almost 41 Arabia/Crawley West Sussex)

Ooo er.

catstar we used canesten for the thrush and Metanium to seal it on and protect her from her urine (both from GP). We were using real nappies so we switched for awhile and when we went back she got it again (I don't have a boil wash on my machine so I need to take them to my parents before the next baby). We left her nappy-less as much as possible too but she was happy to potty train at that age so we just left the potty in the living room for her and she went when she needed too. She's still in nappies but goes when she thinks about it, at home it's all the time but I don't think her grandparents give the same option.

Agreed laidbackinengland, I use a wrap sling (my own creation) and I'm a 34H with a premature baby so I think we did quite well.

I think I got a little bit carried away with the music on my ipod - Was more of a jog rather than a run, but feel much better for it
trying to make the most of my spare time, as im sure once baby arrives my running & other me stuff will go well out the window!

DP has promised that I can have a couple of hours in the evenings to get out the house when she arrives...but in reality im pretty sure it wont work like that.

I was reading the Gina Ford contented baby book yesterday - has anyone tried it?? Its VERY strict isnt it?? You would have to be SO disciplined to stick to something like that.

KT - have friends who have used Gina Ford and found it worked v well for their babies. I read it and it really wasnt for me. Also read the baby whisperer which gave me ideas (eg eat, activity, sleep routine) but again didnt follow her regime. I think its just a case of finding what works for you when your little one gets here - some babies love a routine, other babies are just more live by the minute....

yeah, I guess its very much trial & error. See what works & what doesnt.

I just know that im a very organised person, so i like the idea of routine, but even that routine makes me wonder how on earth people could stick to it.

I am SUCH a child, I read littlesez's unfortunate typo on the other thread about 10 minutes ago and I'm still giggling now! My colleagues must think I'm mad because I keep snorting at my desk. Made my day, thanks littlesez.

I've got a question - I'm going to my Mum and Dad's (in Devon) for xmas with DH. He'll have to come back to London after 5 days to go back to work, and as he works 12 hour shifts (some of them nights) I'm going to stay in Devon for another 5 days to be looked after (!) by my parents rather than being home alone, very pregnant and bored in London. Should I take a packed hospital bag to Devon with me, given that I'll be 34 weeks when we go?

KT1983 - I used the GF book as reference (i.e. didn't stick to it strictly) and used the principles, and it really worked (and still is working) for us. Also found the Baby Whisperer useful. We really just went with the flow for the first couple of months, then read the books and worked out what seemed to fit DD. However, I know that all babies are different and there's no guarantee that our next baby will play ball!

Thanks TBM - I have been guilty of DD having no nappy free time since being back at work . Will get down to Boots at lunchtime to see if I can get some Canesten - have had so much time off work for doctors/illness that I feel guilty!

QK - make sure you take your notes with you. Wouldnt worry about a hospital bag at 34 weeks (if you're having a v straightforward pregnancy - if you are like TBM, then would say definitely have a hospital bag with you!) - your parents can always pick up stuff from supermarket/boots/mothercare if they have to at the time.

QK definitely take your maternity notes.

I have a friend who tried to follow Gina Ford with her baby and it was a disaster - 2 hours of screaming at every sleep time! If the routine works for you and your baby, go for it - if it doesnt, adapt; and make sure that following a routine doesnt mean that you give up having a life/doing lots of fun mummy & baby things (eg baby massage, swimming, music classes, mum & baby cinema outings, lunches with friends etc) which if you religiously follow GF or other routines would be the case...

QK - take the bag to Devon. My theory is, if you have it, you won't need it!
KT - I bought that damm GF book after all my friends raved about it. Quickly came to the conclusion that the only way to get DD to sleep using the book was to knock her unconscious with it! (also came to the conclusion that GF hasn't got kids but sure that isn't right!)
All the recent talk about deliveries etc has made it seem very real to me and I'm now starting to have 'wobbly' moments ref it. I'm back in the UK from tomorrow night (yay!) until end December when the plan is to return to the land of sand and have baby here in mid Feb. Starting to think I don't want to come back here though and want to stay in UK and have baby. I had DD here and that was ok but I never felt comfortable in the hospital and was very anxious when having the spinal block prior to CS and also the bloody paperwork was a nightmare. Had to jump through all sorts of stupid hoops to get a birth certificate then passport then problems when back in UK trying to do simple things like opening a bank account for DD as birth certificate has place of birth Riyadh on it. Sorry, know I'm rambling but can't talk to DH about it. Tried just now and got the 'you have a wonderful life here' talk! I guess I am lucky, I don't have to work (CAN'T work) here, have someone to do housework etc, BUT, I want normality! I'm actually very jealous of a lot of you talking about work etc, I miss work and having adult conversations etc! Miss my friends (and bacon!) sorry if I sound like a toddler! Will go find some chocolate and pull myself together

Thanks ladies, I thought a hospital bag probably wasn't necessary but it's good to have it confirmed. I'll def take my notes, I pretty much already carry them with me everywhere after my bleed a while ago. The MW in the hospital said I should always have them in my bag so I'm always prepared just in case.

Thanks for the handwashing tip too dinky, I'm now being a paranoid handwasher. It'll be worth it if I can avoid the bug, it sounds nasty.

Thanks for all the advice, I think as its my first baby, im very much in denial about how my life is going to change in a few months.

Im pretty certain that the first few weeks il just want to try to get to grips with being a mum & doing whatever I need to make sure baby is happy as possible.

all this talk of hospital bags & deliveries is also making me feel nervous/anxious about it all - but I am SO excited.
I cant wait to meet my baby girl

We cross-posted there MOS, I like your thinking and that's the way I usually think, but I reckon if something does happen my mum would love having to go shopping for all kinds of baby stuff to make up a bag if need be.

Sorry you're feeling a bit homesick - just think, in a matter of hours you'll be over here and can get a dose of Blighty for a while. I'm sure after a few weeks of grey skies, wind, rain, traffic jams, leaves on the line & complaining Brits that you'll feel more positive about SA! Oh, and add Xmas stuff to that list, it's already started here with a vengeance.

My tip with all the routines is strap the books to the proverbial rocket to wait for the first six weeks, do everything on demand, if baby cries stick the boob in/ change the nappy/ pick them up etc. After 6 weeks babies generally start to settle into a routine (it's when the milk supply adjusts and they're aware of that on an instinctive level and even if they have a bottle they will still follow breastfed patterns) of their own. Wait to see what they're doing a 6-8 weeks and hopefully you'll find a nice routine coming in that you can work around. For the first six weeks you're not going to want to do much anyway.

MOS - are you on a compound in Riyadh? My Dad was a captain with Saudi Arabian Airlines and lived out on their compound in Jeddah for about 10 years! Then my sister became a flight attendant and lived out there too. She got married to an American and had a little boy, and they all now live in America. She was nervous about having her boy out there so came back to the UK for a few months. I think she did one of the few jobs allowed for women - flight attendants, nurses and teachers are allowed, or something like that?

Sorry you are homesick - but thank goodness for the internet eh?!

I have no interest in work at the moment and just keep coming back to this thread every 30 mins! I'm getting all excited too with all this talk of hospital bags etc. KT1983 - it's the best feeling in the world when you meet your baby! DH caught it on camera and Little O and I are just gazing into each other's eyes - me looking all elated, her just looking suspiscious!!!

Right - got a tedious premium adjustment to do now so must concentrate.

I cannot get comfortable today.

I feel like I've eaten a massive roast with all the trimmings followed by pudding.

In reality I have eaten two bits of toast with marmite.

catstar, yes we are on a compound here. I suppose I'm lucky as I have a friend here who isn't on a compound. I'm just getting bored and fed up with the stupid restrictions. I think Jeddah is much nicer than Riyadh although I've not been there yet but understand it is a bit more relaxed and western. Riyadh is too extreme although I guess when you go out in public you don't have to worry about what to wear. Its always the big black number! (which is starting to gape a bit! need a bigger tent!)
You are right about the occupations. Sadly, not much call here for female divorce lawyers!
god, MS, you are always eating! I bet you are a size 8 too! not fair.(maybe you are still full from that yummy bacon sandwich!) I cheered myself up earlier by eating some ferrera roche (can't spell!) and a crunchie! Haven't been able to get those here for ages but DH went and found them! bless him!

No I'm not always eating! I said I feel like I am really full but I've had two bits of toast all day!

I lost my appetite with DS1 and had to force myself to eat - not having that problem this time - guess it's cos of the extra-bump stretchiness of No2

was only teasing MS! Maybe you are a bit run down after a busy/stressful few days? Hope you manage to relax a bit over the weekend.

I don't think GF is a mum...

And I think I win the prize for planning to tandem feed with the oldest older child (if you want to ask me more, come and message me on FB, but I'm not comfortable putting it all out here in public )

Oh yes, forgot earlier, GF doesn't have children, neither does her friend (CV) trying to remember about the other vile one (CBC). Have to be nice so sticking to initials

O&U we'll have to start a support thread on our group for the tandemers amongst us.

mumoverseas I can't eat any form of pork when pregnant as I can uber-taste salt! Same with sugar, ever had bread that tastes like someone sprinkled it with sugar?

swampster - I;m very excited as DH has just called to tell me that my 2 trial nappies for DS have arrived - the bumgenius and the itti bitti - will report back as soon as I;ve/DS has done some thorough testing.

DH was also very pleased to tell me that my hens laid 3 eggs today (one of them has been broody for a month and not laying), but then he had stood on the 3rd one as she had laid it on the lawn - he also told me that he had done all the jobs on his list for today - why do i feel like his mother sometimes

anyway alsmot hometime for me, so need to finsih off the piece of work I'm doing

MOS you are right, I AM always eating! But unfortunately a curvacious size 14, not an 8.

Anyhoo, DSD is here, DH is making dinner and doing the childcare and I am going to a place called the P.U.B. Apparently it is a fun place where grown up people drink beer and socially interact.

The excitement is palpable!