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)

DS have spent a happy afternoon cuddling on the sofa, watching The Lion King and both crying in the most pathetic way.

I am now fighting off the dyspepsia which has started to kick off around this time every evening. I'm even having to give up cups of tea, which is most upsetting!

THM. I feel your pain - quite literally.

I'm chomping my way through Rennies and Gaviscon tablets like they're going out of style (can't face the liquid as it's too repulsive).

Even the most innocuous foods - like toast - give me a belly full of burning acid. It's very, very dull. I am preparing a dull meal of baked potatoes and sliced turkey after the pain I suffered after a plate of spicy pasta last night.

Peppermint tea is boring but tends to slip down less painfully than the real deal.

I had this with DS - you just forget all the crap bits until they happen to you again.

Sympathy for the heartburn hom and mslucy....I find certain things set it off and have been on the Gaviscon liquid although twice have puked after taking it.

Tonight I just feel sick and a bit irritable. DH is acting like Kevin the Teenager so I am tempted to take myself off to bed with a good book once DS has gone to bed and leave DH down here on his own....he's tired, I'm tired but he's had a fairly good load of time off this weekend from DS and is still moaning .

6 more weeks at work and counting !
2 more weeks til DH and I are off to a friends 40th without DS for a whole weekend - hurray !

Hi lovely ladies! Thanks for the welcome! Who's sister do I chat to Swampster? Is it someone on 10/10?

I might pop in occasionally with my pregnancy woes! Nice to meet you!

Gaviscon liquid also makes me sick and for some totally irritating reason I've had a total aversion to anything vaguely minty this entire pregnancy (with DS it was the smell of lavender!) so it kind of limits my options. Mslucy potatoes can actually set off heartburn etc in some people (my MIL can't eat them at all) so just be warned! I know the main culprits but like you some days it seems the most innocent foods start it off. I guess it's just that everything is so squashed up inside it's forcing the acid up. I think mine kicks off early evening because I forget to eat between lunch and dinner time and there's nothing to soak he acid up so it turns on me! I also hate the fact I feel full when I'm still hungry!

You're right about forgetting the crap bits though I have never forgotten the elephant ankles I got last time and am so hoping I won't get them with a winter baby. I am extremely skinny normally but had the kind of ankles that fat old ladies get, where you can't see where the ankle ends and the foot begins. Pregnancy is soooo glamorous!

The secret sister will have to fess up herself - if she wants to!

Once we hit 28 weeks do MW appts come fortnightly if everything is progressing normally? I seem to recall this being the practice when DS was born. I'm trying to work out how many half days I can take for antenatal appts between now and Xmas I don't feel guilty about this at all as my previous MW appts have all been after work. I've only had 2 hours off work due to pg so far for the 20 week scan. 5 more weeks until Xmas hols, 2 weeks off for Xmas, back at work for a fortnight then maternity leave starts. Not that I'm counting or anything....! Actually work is fine during the day but I have at least one parents' eve / theatre trip / open eve a week now until Xmas. I don't think I'll be feeling so great with these kind of late nights.

Welcome back to Blighty MOS !

Heartburn sounds horrible - am hoping to escape it again this time .

Had "one of those days today". Dh has been away since Tuesday (back after midnight tonight ) and I have been on my own pretty much. Was really looking forward to my Mum visiting today when she called to cancel because the trains were replaced by bl**dy buses. So another day all alone with DD. Started feeling all sorry for myself cos I live away from family and best friends... sniff sniff. Went into Kingston instead to look at the Christmas lights and ended buying some Clarins stuff for me and a Ponitpine for DD!!!

My mum also says she can't guarantee she'll be able to come and look after DD while I have this LO as they might be stocktaking at work . Feel really fed up that she can't arrange something with work and now I don't know what to do about child care. Am thinking of looking into a doula in case DH needs to stay at home . Has anyone else given birth without their DH?

Sorry for moaning. The good thing about DH being away is I get to watch Strictly without having to shut myself away upstairs!!! Right, off to drain the pasta for tonight's concoction!

Take care all and catch you later.

Pluto I've got a MW appt at 28 weeks then it's supposed to be 34 weeks and fortnightly from then. My schedule's a bit messed up as all my appointments are usually on Thursday and so is Xmas day and New Year's Day so that's thrown things out a bit.

If you fancy some extra time off I'm pretty sure thngs like La Leche League meetings, antenatal classes, pregnancy yoga, relaxation classes etc are all covered under the time you're allowed to take off so maybe you should make book something up!

Pluto - I think my appointments go fortnightly at 32 weeks, but it might different depending where you live. You're a better person than me - I've been making all my appointments as early in the afternoon as possible in order to get as many half days in as I can .

Not long to go now to hols - am that you get Xmas off!

the potatoes have set it off

had my appt with midwife at 28 weeks, then nothing until 34 as all fine and dandy.

I remembered more appts in the later stages - apparently they used to give you more a few years ago.

Hello all. Sorry to hear about the raging heartburn ladies - I find that I have to eat something small midafternoon to stave it off; camomile tea and fennel tea also help (maybe worth trying those THOM if you're off peppermint?)

MsLucy - at the risk of setting off your heartburn again, yes the mum to be involves curry galore - had indian fish cakes and veg chops to start, then rice spinach and aubergine curry, dhal, butternut squash curry and lamb curry followed by mango kulfi for dessert. Delicious but really did resemble a Weeble by the end (well, more than I usually do). Also got sent home with world of curry left overs so that is dinner for the next 3 nights sorted...

MOS - glad the baconfest has begun and you've arrived safely. Sounds encouraging about your DH and giving birth in the UK possibly...

Markstretch - you night owl! I'd be suffering for days afterwards following a 2.30am finish ...

Catstar - sorry your day fell apart on you. I've engaged a doula for this time round but hope, fingers crossed, DH will be able to be there too. Could you look into local friends maybe looking after your DD if you go into labour? Would one of your best friends be able to come help out instead of your mum? (I know I'd be honoured to be asked by one of my best friends and would move heaven and earth to help out) I had a postnatal doula last time round and really recommend them (they sort the housework, look after baby, help with breastfeeding issues etc, whatever you want really, for as long or as little time as you want) - may be able to help with your DD/baby and let you have some sleep/quality time with DD or baby.

G'evening girlies. Heartburn is the worst, I had it bad with ds but don't remember it being this bad!! I keep a travel size tube of toothpaste on me as I'm finding it helps more than gaviscon. I probably look a bit odd at the bus stop though!

I find icepops help more than Gaviscon - I haven't felt heartburn as much this time but I do get the acid/sore throat/feeling sick though not as much in first pregnancy.

Catstar think we posted at the smae time earlier so I miseed yours but just to say my friend, who will be 2 weeks overdue tomorrow, and who lives in Motspur Park has booked a fab sounding Doula. Once said frend has given birth and Doula is tried & tested woud you like me to get her details for you?

Laidback, I started eating it for my DoE when I was in St John but I loved it and buy it when I can. Don?t go past so many camping shops as I used to so have to hope my corner shop gets some in soon (and the marzipan bars I crave).

Thanks mslucy

Dinkystinky, that sounds great, but why when you?re so pregnant and not able to fit as much food in the stomach? I can never eat a full meal at a restaurant but when cooked for properly I can eat loads. I do love my curries! Wish the crying had worked for me! They just called the doctors in from the hospital opposite and kept a closer eye on me. I struggled to get pain relief out of them too. I had a choice four hourly of straight paracetamol or oramorph. If I had oramorph I couldn?t have any more or paracetamol for four hours and if I wasn?t on ward I couldn?t have anything till the next four hours (including if I missed food I?d have to wait till next meal, not that I?m just out and about, I was on the NNU looking after my premature baby). I had to cope with just paracetamol, might not be as strong but at least it lasted longer.

MOS, glad to hear you arrived back safely and hope you are getting lots of bacon now!

Catstar, have you thought about contacting Sure Start? They?re keeping me in childminding so that Tink can be looked after by my parents. They said at the start that they?d help where ever they could.

I have another scan tomorrow morning, hoping the baby has come above the 10th%ile line, but I?m not holding my breath I?m glad we?ve got to 29 weeks now, hoping I can get at least one more week out of the pregnancy then I?ll be happy for each extra day/week that I can squeeze.

Morning all!

Dinkystinky - all that food sounds amazing! But where did you squeeze it -usually my eyes are bigger than my stomach but they're getting a run for their money currently. Lucky you having dinner sorted for the next few days .

Thanks for all suggestions re. doulas. THOM - I will be talking over with DH later today hopefully but will certainly bear in mind as Motspur Park very close to us here in Chessington.

TBM - I hadn't thought of SureStart so will also consider them.

Dinkystinky - all my very good friends live in Essex and now have young babies/children themsleves so it's a bit tricky for them to arrange the childcare/travel at the drop of a hat etc. I have met come lovely people here through antenatal/toddler groups, but again they all have young children and I suppose I wanted someone to be able to come to our house to look after Little O. Maybe I'm being a bit precious about her (PFB and all that!!!) and she will be a bit older by then so could probably go to soemone's house....

Managed to keep myself awake worrying about it all last night! DH got home around 2 a.m. so looking forward to seeing him when he wakes up. I'm sitting at the kitchen table and can see a Toblerone through one of the Duty Free bags .....

Morning all.
I'm seeing a consultant today about the possible size of this baby. They expect him to be over 10lbs and I'm scared! Not sure what to expect from today, surely it's still too early to get a good idea of uspected birth weight?

dribbles at thought of curry then clutches sides at the thought of its wind inducing qualities

Morning all ladies.

Littleboyblue - how do they know the baby will be over 10lb at such an early stage? I really find that hard to believe. I was told ds was about 7lb a week before he was born and he was 9lb7oz so am very sceptical about such things.

Don't be scared and big babies are gorgeous even if he is a whopper!

Was totally taken out by the acid indigestion last night and ended up crashing out at about 10pm (very early for me).

Have evening class tonight and am dreading it will strike again.

Other than that, all is well, though ds did wet the bed and I was washing sheets at 7:30 this morning.

Oh well.

Morning all.

TBM/MsLucy - not sure why they do the feast once the mum to be has got into the third trimester (is ritual so must be a reason somewhere lost in the mists of time) - managed to fit it all in by just taking little portions of everything and not much rice (curiously for an indian, am not a huge fan of rice). Sorry to hear you were up at 7.30 washing sheets MsLucy - am putting off the potty training for DS until after xmas (as none of his playgroups/classes will be on at that time) - not relishing the thought of wet beds, but hey, its a stage all must go through...

Littleboyblue - how can they tell the baby is going to be big so early on??? Do you have gestational diabetes or other markers for big babies - or was your last one a big baby? DS was 9lbs and am expecting this one to be around the 10lb mark (and am huge already) but nobody has even mentioned size worries to me yet. I guess they'll keep monitoring the baby's size for you - try not to worry about it. My friend was told she'd have a 11lber - he was 8lbs when he came out!

Catstar - sorry your friends are so far away from you. Surestart sounds a great idea - if you can get your DD settled with a local babysitter/childminder in advance of the birth (so she knows and trusts that person - shouldnt take too many sessions), maybe they'd be able to come and look after your DD when you labour?

That's what I thought it was too early. I had to change my midwife as the one I was assigned was rubbish and the new one asked if she'd discussed the possibility of early delivery by c-section, which really put the frightener on me.
Ds was 9lb 10 so they must just be going on the assumption that this one will be bigger? I'm measuring spot on for being 28wks so bit confused as to the point of today, but we shall see. Glad everyone else thinks it's early too though

Morning all,

Hope you have all had lovely weekends - mine was nice, but due to the squirel living in my roof at the moment I didnt get much sleep at all!! Our landlord is not very efficient at getting the builders in to cut through so we can see what is up there & get rid of it!!

I just have question for you all...
We have decided to move out of London before the baby arrives. Closer to relatives, more friends, family support etc. DP will still be commuting to London everyday, but our standard of living is going to much better.
We have found a lovely 3bed house in Kettering which is half the price of our one bed flat in London! Very excited...

anyway - I will need to transfer hospital/doctors/midwifes etc.
We are moving on the 2nd Jan ( so 6weeks before im due)
Im booked in with St Georges at the moment. Can anyone give me any advice on how I go abouts transfering? Is it going to cause me a lot of hassle? Im worried I will miss out on AnteNatal classes now, as ive had them booked in tooting since the very beginning ??

Any advice much appreciated {smile]

Morning KT, talk to your midwife, she should be able to sort it out for you. I'm about to change my hospital booking I think as hated where I had ds, had quite a rough time and luckily got a good m/w that will sort it if I want her to.

Thanks lbb, I see them on Thursday for my 28week appointment, so il have a word with her then.
Its a bit nerve wracking moving so close to DD, but easier doing it then rather than wait for baby to arrive.

At least i have an excuse not to do any hard work
Sofa, Kettle & TV in First - Katie in second