due in jan on the home stretch now!! on the 1st day of christmas my true love gave to me a baby up in a tree,2 babygros,3 teddy bears,4 waddling mummies and five smelly nappies

[tinkisallreadytositonthetree]

hi ladies thought i would be organised and start a new thread

Largeginandtonic - [Shock] [Shock] at # 7. You must have some VERY well behaved children, pateience of a saint AND 8 arms! haha. My hat off to you... and there was me worried that OH wants FOUR!

missjackson at the glass of wine. When i first fell pregnant i decided tee total was the route i would take (never been much of a drinker anyway) and i've come this far, i'm sure i can last a few more weeks. But i'd love a glass of Mulled wine. Also jealous of a good nights sleep..... I LONG to sleep well! Good luck with the move, that one i don't Envy you for!

Is anyone else reading/going to classes for hypnobirthing? For what i've read so far, it makes ALOT of sense. Fear of something is bound to make you tense.

finished my Chirstmas shopping & all wrapped under the tree!

rrrayray i'm soooooooo with you on the mulled wine - not too bothered about drinking the rest of the time but a mince pie just isn't the same without a glass of mulled wine... I have to admit - I have watched some hypnobirthing births/labours on youtube - they're amazing - so there has to be something in it. I've been thinking about looking into it but don't know where to start...

thanks for all the reassurance ladies - it really is good to hear that its worth it, at the end of the day. and that there is still time for my little man to move into the correct position .

lol @ felt

Tink - similar worries here. Am sure it will all work out ok though. DD had a tantrum on me today cos we put another car seat in the car (were picking someone up). "No like seat" screamed repeatedly at top of lungs. Think I'm going to install the baby car seat tomorrow to get her accustomed to it. She's not the best of travellers anyway but I wasn't expecting that funny what upsets them.

Have good weekends everyone

newmomor here is a link you may find useful about hypno birthing. It explains what it's all about.

Exciting about Heathersmummy on Monday!

I am really fed up and just want this over with now. It's driving me crazy not knowing when it's gonna happen, all these twinges and movements making me think allsorts! Never thought i would say this but bring on labour!

sorry newmomma i completly spelt your name wrong there!

oh gtab, come and join the festive whinge on here then. DD has given me her tummy bug so I've had 3 days of the squits getting me up all night as well as the wees and DD waking. Panic attacks are a nightmare. I did find the breathing thing helpful but its not until you really believe they are nothing that they stop. I've had to run out of some HUGE work meetings because of them, and not been able to tell anyone why. Hangovers and tiredness made mine really bad, so do rest up if you can.

I do recommend the hypnobirthing cd's if you can find them and can't get to classes, they really helped me last time and I'm convinced they help you deal with the massive amount of work that labour is. That and Ina May whose stuff is all about working with the contractions, seeing/feeling them as cresting waves which you ride and then they retract. It seems imagery that works with the breathing really does the trick.

Must confess I have had some mulled wine (gave it a boil to take some of the alcohol off) but if you don't want any alcohol, mulled apple juice is a pretty close second.

With the whole wine thing- there is so much info saying its fine, but then i rememeber reading something saying if your not big on alcohol, then why take any risk at all. so i havent had a drop. to be honest i don't actually like the taste of alcohol, i dont mind a baileys with ice, or some chilled Rose in the summer, i think i only want the mulled wine because its THAT time of year, and you always want what you can't have/ Aren't allowing yourself.

Thats a thought. What are you ladies MOST looking forwards to being able to eat again? Since i've been pregnant, everytime we go to a traditional pub, i'm dying to have ham, Egg and Chips, with Runny Yolk. Thats NEVER been a dish top of my list, but i've REALLY wanted runny yolk, so i'm going to have to have that, although i'm sure it wont be nearly as good as i've hyped it up to be!

The hypnobirthing method i am reading is the mogan (sp?) method. i've only got through as far as history of it and such, but its already inspiring me. i know that sounds cheesy, but it makes some really good points, especially about how little fuss women in less advanced countries make about labour. Of course this only applies to low/no risk pregnancies, but i'm thinking, heck why not!

Have been giving myself big pat on back for having presents wrapped all day! to be honest, i've been wrapping them as i buy them, rather than doing them in one go. That way you get much less ticked off with the constant wrapping!

oh, and has anyone else been really itchy recently? i'm REALLY itchy... boobs in particular, but i seem to be scratching everywhere. havent changed anything powder/product wise... wondered what it was?

have heard of bumps being itchy, but i'd say thats the least itchy place!!! Hmmm

Hi Ladies,

I was on the previous thread until October, also due in January. Only, I have had my baby already! I had a bleed at the start of November and stayed in hospital for a couple of days. Then the bleeding stopped and I was sent home again. I didn't go back to work and took things very easy over the next week. The next weekend I woke up with a bit of a tummy ache, but all tossing and turning didn't help. When I went to the loo I started bleeding heavily, and minutes later the pain eased off, then came back with a vengeance. The hospital told us to call an ambulance, which we did, only it took them over 40 minutes to get to us! By then, I had contractions every 3 to 4 minutes, and when we arrived at the hospital, I was 6 cm dilated. Once they broke my waters, she was out in 4 minutes. So, overall things took just under 3 hours! She was 11 weeks early, weighed 2 lbs 15 oz and managed to breathe on her own, thanks to the steroid injections I had received the week before when my first bleed happened. She is still in special care but is doing brilliantly.
The whole thing was very scary, and our day-to-day life is very stressful at the moment because of the hospital runs, expressing with a pump for weeks on end, household etc, but it is managable. But anyway, enjoy your pregnancies and your big tummies, however exhausting they may be, I do wish I could have carried my girl a bit longer!

jokat - congratulations on the arrival of your daughter! sorry it has been so stressful, i hope that she continues to do well and that she can go home soon.

rray - i am also pretty itchy for no apparent reason. bump is itchy too, though. it's really irritating - but i think i am just getting really irritated with being pregnant now. not had that good a day though: cat had some sort of accident - hit by a car maybe, so started it at the vet's and it hasn't picked up yet. poor cat has to be kept in a cage for the next 6 weeks, broken sternum. should make a great combination with a new baby.... but i guess the cat has had a worse day than i have.

just a quickie as off to bed. ds woke at 330am to start his day and only slept for an hour. what the hell?!
hi jokat and congrats. great to hear things are going well now. must be hard leaving your little one in scbu.
stripey your poor cat. lol at the worse day than you bit. you can pad up the box and hang some decs to make it festive and homely.
rrayray keep an eye on itching. if you google it can be due to lots of things from just stretched skin to kidney problems. not to freak you out but if it gets worse go to docs. had it v bad at start but tunrend out to me hormonal. what a surprise!
dh and i back on track and he is being lovely. worth the row .
sad i missed night out tonight but def right decision. girls have rung and have some pressies for me which is very sweet. mum came down and looked after me and ds so very few twinges today.

rrayray and other itchers... you MUST get a blood test for OC (obstretic chloresis which I've spelled completely wrong) I only know about this because that's what they tested me for with my rash way back at week 24, but one of my friends also had it, and they induced her straight away symptoms are severe itching but no rash, often concentrated on palms and soles of feet.

Sorry if I've worried you!

Just got back from yet another xmas party, and have somehow managed to be out of the house for 12 hours with various social engagements and a haircut! Had to pop into baby gap for a little fix too - bought the cutest cuddly snowsuit. Boden also have a sale on from today, so just bought a few things there too! Now I really must stop! OH is getting worried, especially as we have so many hand-me-downs from his two baby nephews.

Glad to hear you're all loved up again qumps!

Jokat congrats and oh my goodness. very happy to hear that all is well.

loweeza congrats to you as well.

thanks everyone for the congratulations! the last few days have been so f*&%@£king amazing... sorry for the language, but i am really high. i was in denial that i was in labour and actually said to DH that this must actually be the BH's but then i went to pee and noticed the show. i called DH into the bathroom to show him and we both calmly shrugged our shoulders and called the midwife. the moment of looking down and seeing dd's head sticking out of my vagina is burned into my brain. i was laughing so hard during those last few moments that DH looked into my face and reminded me we weren't quite finished yet. its such an experience giving birth. after i passed the placenta, (i didn't even tear) the midwife help me take a shower and put me to bed. DH gave me huge piece of quiche, (i was so hungry) and then we fed dd, who took to right away. then she slept with us and slept for 6 hours! she is so on our schedule. we are getting sleep and chores done. i can't stop staring at her. she only gets a bit fussy when she's gassy, but don't we all. we have been blessed with the best baby. DH went back to work today but has phoned twice... he can't wait to get home tonight. the only problem is that i'm finding watching the news gets me crying so i won't be watching it anymore... for now.

life is grand!!! i'm so grateful to be so blessed.

congrats 2 jokat , sounds like you are doing great cheswife

gtdacp - hope that u have a better day today

flsf - poor you hope that you are feeling better

rray - cant wait to eat pate,runny egg plus soldiers,blue cheese

Just checking in. Congratulations Jokat - glad your DD is doing well and hope you can take her home soon. Must be very hard.

Chefswife - glad you are enjoying the early days, they are very special and make the most of the new baby high. I'm looking forward to that lovely sleepy time at the start, and being able to spend some time with DD without lugging a bump around.

Stilton!!!! And red wine. And prawns... and and and..... I'm veggie (except for the odd prawn) so pregnancy really limits me. Can't wait. But last time I completely lost my appetite for about 2/3 months and then I was dieting so not getting my hopes up just yet.

Birth Annoucemnets

looweeza - 4th of dec - kit - 7lbs130zs
cheswife - 9th of dec - 2:25am - violet - 6lbs7ozs
jokat - girl - 2lbs15ozs

jokat Massive congratulations. Hope all continues to go well & that you'll be at home with your little girl soon!

Qumps/Miss J Oh, it hadnt even dawned on me to get itchyness checked out. Do i need to get it done ASAP, or just mention to my midwife at wednesday appointment?

Qumps Glad you & Dh have kissed & made up

Chefswife what a LOVELY post. So glad your on such a high & enjoying being a little family together!!!!

Am off to brave the shops on a Saturday (eeeeeeek) to meet a friend for a mooch & some lunch & then having a snuggly night with X Factor final tonight!!! We'll have to see whether my OH's info is right & whether JLS have been set to win from the beginning. I'd be very cross if it was Fixed!!!

Hi all -- horrible, horrible weather here in London - rainy and windy AND cold.

Chefswife, wow, what a lovely post, thank you so much for keeping us up to date - sounds like you are having the most perfect, lovely experience. Hope mine is half as good!

Rray not sure about how asap the blood test should be - but prob worth giving the midwife a call? When my friend self-diagnosed OC, she called the antenatal ward and they told her to come in straight away. I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about though, but it's probably best to make sure.

Jokat congrats, hope your DD is home with you soon - must be exhausting going back and forth.

As for stuff I haven't eaten -- I must confess to not having cut anything out at all except oysters and raw fish, and have had the odd glass of wine (weirdly enough been craving beer more than wine). But can't wait for a big sushi platter!

I've been listening to a hypno-birthing CD called "peace at birth" before I go to sleep at night -- unfortunately I keep missing out on 90% of it as I fall asleep at the beginning. I think I am supposed to sit in a chair rather than lie in my bed, but my hope is that even if I am asleep something is going in! Lots of people have recommended the natal hypnotherapy CDs - let me know if you need a link.

Right, must get on with some packing!

Hi - I haven't posted in AGES as have been on washable nappy thread obsessing there, and then been ill and then husband has been made redundant [how to cloud and postpone your maternity leave in one easy step].

So looking to hear from anyone working later, I'm till 37 weeks, on a night finishing Christmas Eve and then long day Sunday after Christmas.

Need moral support here!! But very late to thread - 34 week gate crasher! Due 19th Jan

P.S. congrats to all who have delivered, will have a good read through thread as I remember some names from before.
Rray - do get yourself checked out, the obstetric choleostasis is generally totally rash free and very much on your hands [palms] and feet [soles]. My old job involved managing cases of it so am happy to help if can. YOu can take piriton once you know it's just the pregnany itchies. Yak

Jokat - Hi & Congrats. Any idea when you'll get your wee one home? Hope it's soon.

RRay - itching usually a combination of hormones & stretching skin. My GP has given Piriton for it & I also use aqueous cream with menthol which cools & soothes. BUT it can be a sign of obstetric cholestasis which is pretty serious so you need to get a blood test (LFT's -Liver Function Test & bile acids check). Especially the case when you are itching in other places, particularly palms & soles. Sorry if repeating everyone else haven't read whole thread yet.

jokat congrats! its fab news that she is doing well and you are coping with it; can't be easy. Your poor cat stripey. One of ours got hit by a car and had to have a cast on its leg. Lots of cuddles for the poor thing and nice christmas salmon.

Still have yucky baby bug, which is a nightmare as I feel hungry but can't really eat. Baby very active though and stretch marks finally making an appearance (thought I might get away with it again, but have heard second children can make them appear). grrr. loaded on the oil too.

must confess to eating anything and everything bar sushi. I have a friend who got severe food poisoning from vegetarian sushi, which would be funny if it wasn't so serious. Does go to show that its the rice thats more likely to make you ill though. I went on a food hygiene course and they told us there had been more cases of listeria from salad than from cheese and meats so have gone for it this time!

I'm finding the hypnobirthing cd's good for learning to relax again, and it does seem to help me sleep/get back to sleep and thats after only 2 sessions. Maybe I'll sleep through labour after several weeks practice?