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)

Yay Markstretch - enjoy yourself!

Right, off home shortly to get on the gridlocked motorways to go see my parents in Nottinghamshire this weekend - fun, fun, fun.

Will catch up with everyone's news on Monday - hope you all have a great weekend.

Whee, new thread, very exciting! Have a safe trip dinky, wish I was getting out of London this weekend, horrid motorways or not. Instead, will be gloss painting all the woodwork in the lounge while taking regular fresh air breaks..

KazzaL, big sympathy on the WoW; my DH is unemployed and I'm not far off testing the PS3 to see whether it is warm when i come back from work. I feel like such a witch but some days, just some days, being the breadwinner / cook / cleaner and main decorator really, really pisses me off. (he does do his fair share, he just sometimes has crap days, which sometimes coincide with my grumpy days, in which case, take cover...)

Anyone watching any of The People's Hospital on BBC1 on Thursdays? It's Whipps Cross which is my local and one of the areas they've filmed in is maternity. It's positive stuff but feels like TMI at the moment (I'm hoping for a homebirth anyway). The one last night had a midwife saying 'women having their first babies often think it's easy'. I think I am guilty of that. I don't think it will be easy but i do think "women have been doing this for centuries, I'll just go into myself and work really hard and there you go, ta-da, baby". You experienced ladies out there - did you go into No 1 childbirth with any thoughts like that?

here's me on the list:

Don't forget the February Mum's Map - email TinkerBellesMum @ ymail.com

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)
idontbelieveit - DC2 (girl), due 02.02.09 (age 31, Leeds)
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)
jenniferturkington- DC2 (girl), due 11.02.09 
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)
eejaykay - DC1 (a boy), due: 24.02.09 (age 34, London)
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) 

~~~ End Copy Here - Please Include ~~~

eeejaykay - switched the People's hospital over last night - I think they were performing a c-section - it was far too close to home for me....

KT - I've walked an hour round kew gardens today with a non-pregnant friend (so was trying to keep up without moaning) - and am now KNACKERED and my sciatic nerve is really playing up so I am v.v. impressed with your 5 mile jog (I don't even think i could run pregnant or no!).

I read GF too. I'm a bit of a control freak if I was perfectly honest so liked to think at that time (before ds) that I could also run my new life with baby in an organised manner. Of course your baby is a little person with a personality and not a robot who comes with a manual and no-one can tell you what's going to happen. I remember just doing what I could for the first 12 weeks - you really can't do any more - and as soon as things settled down and I found my feet, I found our routine and fitted my life around it - I just kept busy and went out lots and tried to enjoy it rather than get stressed about when and where baby was sleeping but I had a loose routine of putting down for naps morning lunchtime and afternoon and DS really got on well with it - so it worked for us - but I think you could drive yourself mad with too many "manuals" telling you too many things - just use your instinct and you'll soon work out what suits you.

All that fresh air and walking has made me very sleepy. Me thinks I'll be in bed early tonight.

Hello! Can't stop but just wanted to say have started a thing on FB for all us would-be tandemers

Yay to nappies Kazza! [blows raspberry at herbgarden]. I got some second hand Ella's House and the are gorgeous and fantastic and saw us through the night so it is goodbye, smelly Fluffles! Though I guess I'll be hanging on to them for emergencies for the mo.

Evening all. I finish work tomorrow so wont be on very much until I can get a computer and telephone line sorted for home...

Hope everyone is well. I am feeling a bit down but to be expected. I am leaving a lot of friends at work and probably wont see them very much now as they are all based in London..... Still its not that far really but you know how it is when you leave everyone says they will stay in touch but very few actually do...

Hi ladies! I'm due in Feb too but never joined as I have another 'regular' thread so didn't have time!

Anyway just wanted to catch up with spottyshoes who seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet this week! Hope you're ok! See you on Monday?

Thanks THOM , have posted on FB

At last - the weekend has arrived. Our bedroom is all ready after DH's decorating marathon and tonight I can sleep in my bed for the first time in 3 weeks rather than the futon in the spare room. Hurrah!

Pack hospital now?? No way - that would involve admitting to self that there is going to be a birth and a baby. Surely I'm just going to be pregnant for ever? There are some hilarious threads on here about the things that people packed in hospital bags for delivery of first child. This time I'm leaving it until 37 weeks and determined to travel light

Hi pinkspottywellies

3 reasons to join us:

You are due in Fab Feb 2009;

You can come over to our FB group and I can cheat play you at Wordscraper;

You are busy chatting to the sister of one of us on another thread - yes, I have just been stalking you!

Pluto on the subject of hospital bags (which like you I am ignoring) I have a nattily organised 3 column Excel spreadsheet from when I had DS. It includes things like crosswords, playing cards and my hair straighteners... what WAS I thinking?!

I am going to an NCT sale tomorrow so there must be a bit of me that knows she's going to have a baby.

Swampster, are you in fact buying all the nappies on the planet?! After much confusion and deliberation I have finally decided to play safe with Tots Bots organic cotton, some Teddies and boring but much recommened Mother ease wraps.

I have found the ultimate day nappy, now my quest is for the ultimate night nappy! I think I may have found it.

THE most important item in my hospital bag is my ipod and some travel speakers. And my fleecy red blanket. And my Familia Swiss baby muesli (for me, obviously, not the baby). And my straw bottle. And my BIG pants - don't snigger, MarkStretch!

im glad i ammused you questionkid i amused myself too!

mumoverseas where are you, for how long and why? just being very nosy hope you dont mind x

I have friends who have raved about gina ford, but i dont think they actually stuck to the routines as they are in the book. You would just never leave the house! ever. Their kids seem very happy to me so dont believe that she is evil or anything. I also have friends who are think it is totally wrong to put small babies in routines. I think its just upto each person.

Dont know what the ? ill be doing see when i get there!

Hi everyone. It's been a while but we're finally back on line so thought I'd come and say hello. Been off since July so can't even begin to catch up.
Found out we having another boy and due on 10th.
Second time around is so different!!

Morning all.

Hello LLB! Long time no see, let's hope you're back with us now!

Pinkspottywellies- we don't bite, well swampy does but she can be tamed by waving a nappy in front of her eyes.

I had a fun hour at the pub, met with work friends who were already well oiled. It was amusing watching them slur their way through conversations.

Then I left and walking home DH rang me and said 'Er, was I meant to feed the children?'...Yes dear.

I got home and made chocolate brownies which DH and I scoffed. The sugar, combined with the fact he has just finished 5 night shifts meant we had a very broken nights sleep.

Tonight I am off to the pub again! My dad's band are playing a gig and we're going to watch them. Means I will be driving a lot of drunk people about but dd is going to my mum's so I get a nice lie in tomorrow morning before I have to pick her up.

Oh bugger, sorry I mean LBB!

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)
idontbelieveit - DC2 (girl), due 02.02.09 (age 31, Leeds)
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)
littleboyblue - DC2 (another boy), due 10.02.09 (age 26, Middlesex)
jenniferturkington- DC2 (girl), due 11.02.09
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)
eejaykay - DC1 (a boy), due: 24.02.09 (age 34, London)
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)

I have added myself back to the list.
Can't believe some of you are thinking about hospital bags! With ds1, I had everything done by now, even had the cot up and this time I haven't even thought about it! Brain up my a**e I think. Probably a good idea to start getting organisec though

afternoon all hope you are all well...

I've just had a cleaning frenzy.

DD is going to a birthday party this afternoon.

I'm going to bed

I haven't even thought about my hospital bag yet but I remember last time being ill equipped for me and ds for a three night stay and didn't have as many baby groes/vests etc as I should have had nor enough big knickers or pads post c-section which I hadn't anticipated - he was also 3 weeks early and I just wasn't prepared.

This time I might even take myself a travel kettle/a decent mug and some nice Tea bags !!.....I managed to get a private room off the ward last time which was fab when you have to be in for a few days and I claimed it back off health insurance as it was an emergency, which was a result. Hadn't thought about ipod but that is a v.good idea - maybe I'll download some books or something too?? and even take the portable DVD Player (I know I know I'm not off on a spa break !). I really wanted a few "treat" things to eat when I was in last time so remember a few nice choccie bars if you're so inclined.....

If you're swaddling remember your swaddling blanket ! I used a miracle blanket with ds and he loved it. They do resemble a child from one of those eastern european orphanages when they're wrapped up in it but
ds was forever waking himself with the reflex action and slept sooo much better when swaddled.

Also, don't forget money for those extortionate phone cards/Tv if you're there for a while. I found the days quite long and lonely as ds slept so much.

I'm sitting on the sofa with ds post lunch - dh has gone off to play golf and I've got an electrician upstairs putting in a load more sockets (1960's house with one socket per room !) so it's v.v noisy and the mess (all the floorboards are up) is awful. I'm waiting til dh gets back and he can clear it up. I'm too knackered and that's his penance for buggering off and leaving me for 5 hours with ds on a saturday....

Hello PSW!!! Have just txt you. Thought i'd mentioned at the Party that I was caring for mum all week so wouldn't be around? Or maybe not - sorry Tempted to come and join in over here yet?
Oooh who's got a sister on 1010 then stalker Swampy?

I haven't thought about bags yet either. Still have a nice big list from last time that did me well but I knew I was going in for a stay and I didn't have any of the actual stuff to help with a labour, this time it's a bit more unknown

Did you all know that you can get private rooms due to certain jobs? I got one for my whole 5 day stay (that and the fact that one of my clients was due to give birth at the same time ) Social Workers, Police, Probation etcetc. I'm sure it would be the same for the Solicitors of you out there?

Finally having a day off, my house is a wreck and my 'always sleeps at 11.30' DS is still up. It has just gone quiet so fingers crossed I can finally go and have a nap!

Thanks THOM, I tried to post on FB yesterday but it kept crashing.

LOL pluto, oddly I feel the same! I know that I'm in the last days of my pregnancy but I can't get my head around the fact I'll actually go into labour and have a baby in a few weeks!

I had an odd comment on the bus yesterday. Someone was telling me about her DIL who has had a similar obsetric history to me, she started telling me, I'm not into revealing everything to people on the bus. I told her that it was similar to me and I've been having contractions for the last four weeks. She said she can't understand why they don't give women like me and her DIL a section Maybe because they want to keep the baby in there as long as possible? Maybe because a section isn't the best option when you're premature? Maybe because not everyone wants one?

We've just had a photographer over for another magazine article. Supposedly it's going to be out in February.

Don't forget the February Mum's Map - email TinkerBellesMum @ ymail.com

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)
idontbelieveit - DC2 (girl), due 02.02.09 (age 31, Leeds)
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)
littleboyblue - DC2 (another boy), due 10.02.09 (age 26, Middlesex)
jenniferturkington- DC2 (girl), due 11.02.09 
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)
eejaykay - DC1 (a boy), due: 24.02.09 (age 34, London)
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) 

~~~ End Copy Here - Please Include ~~~

hello all, hope everyone ok and enjoying the weekend.
I'm all packed and ready to leave the land of sand! 6am tomorrow will be HOME! yay!
Littlesez, I'm in Saudi Arabia. Been here just under 3 years (came for 2 years and my DH came for 2 years 9 years ago!) why? because I'm mad/money etc! Really had enough though and can't wait to go home. Stuck here really until next summer as DS has his GCSE's next May/June but then there is nothing stopping us! Just been out for dinner with DH before I go to airport and had the conversation about whether to have baby in UK or whether to return here as originally planned to have baby here in Feb. Suprisingly, he seemed to take me a little more seriously than in previous conversations! woo hoo, watch this space!

Good luck with your trip MOS. Who do you normally fly back with ? When we moved back from Sri Lanka we flew with emirates and they let me fly at 34 weeks, but I know other airlines have more stringent restrictions. Time to get working onyour DH decision making !

Als just got back from a childrens party. I am all " entertainered" out ... and hoping for 5 minutes peace today !