Jingle Bells, Mysterious Smells, Fab Feb 2009 babies will soon be on their way - Oh what fun it is to waddle around like an overstuffed turkey all day.

[dinkystinky]

Hello lovely ladies, the new thread is open for business

Hahaha MoS Do you think they ask at application stage? Are you capable of being one of the rudest people on the planet?
And then a disclaimer at the bottom of form.
You need not apply if you can crack a smile or if you have heard of the words please and thank you.

calico - at DH having to take baby home on his own. Must have been so hard for you both. Made me smile about the babygro though.

A couple of quick questions while I get the chance - just chatting to a colleague in the ladies (as you do!) she's had 2 girls and 2 boys, for each of the girl pregnancies she got a linea nigra, but not for the boys. I had one when pregnant with DD but not this time (and I know it's a boy). Just wondering if this rings true for anyone else?

Also, for some strange reason I want DH to video this birth (if no complications etc) - anyone else done it? Will I really ever want to watch it? I have read that it's not recommended to watch it for quite a while after the birth because it can interfere with mental recovery, or something like that.

Really must go now!!!

catstar I heard that the dark line stops at belly button for a girl but goes all the way up to rib cage for a boy. I've had all the way up for both, and both boys (we hope or if this a girl, she'll be dressed like a boy!)

Don't know about videoing birth, dp asked last time but I assumed he was joking.
Although now, I regret not taking a mirror or something with me to see what it looked like.

Ooh Catstar that's interesting. I didn't have a linea nigra at all last time with DS and not this time either (and I'm pretty sure it'll be another boy).

I banned DH from videoing anything.....the photos were bad enough and they were all from the waist up!

I was in the middle or writing my epic post when the man from Sainsbury's arrived. He was 20 minutes late so I got a tenner back .

DS2 was a pound heavier that DS1 and too big and fat for most of the really cute little baby things that DS1 had - I had to send DH home for more clothes as the ones I'd taken to hospital didn't fit him .

I won't be letting a video near me for AGES let alone during the whole event!!!

LBB, I thought your letter yesterday was ace - make sure it is copied to a few of the relevant places - your (ex-!)GP needs a good kicking.

My friend had her boyfriend video her when she was in labour with their first but he stopped as he said it was too difficult to watch her being in labour. How does your DH feel about it Catstar? Good to hear the kitchen is nearly done - hopefully everything else will fall into place now (and fingers crossed you fend off whatever bug is lurking around you).

MoS - sorry your DD is still ill, that's awful. Hope all goes well at the hospital today.

I had a linea negra with DS and one from fairly early on with this one (which is a boy too) but am dark skinned so may be the reason why it show up quicker on me.

MOS.....the receptionists at my GPs fit that bill perfectly!!!

catstar... i had a bit of one with ds but nothing at all with dd.... nothing this time either but i didn't get it til right at the end with ds.

i think it might have had more to do with the fact that ds was born in a heatwave and i wads on the beach every day than anything else though... it is melanonin after all so sun exposure would have made a differance.

i had a cute little babygro for dd to come home from the hospital in but she exploded poo from her nappy onto it within 5 mins every time she wore it and it was newborn size so she grew out of it really quickly... ds never fit in it!

is anyone else who's not had the sex confirmed getting annoyed at the lack of choice for newborn clothes that aren't white, pink or blue?! it's driving me bonkers, i do love alot of the boy stuff but i'm not certain enough it's a boy to pay for the more expensive bits i've seen and there's nothing unisex that i like the look of at all.

btw..... HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD DID I FORGET ABOUT THE CROTCH PAIN??!!!!! bloody hell..... i'm walking like a freaking cowboy on top of all my other aches and pains. i know it's good as it means kung fu panda is dropping into position but feck me i'd forgotton how rotton it is.

dd's was back at playschool today after her bug but it's short lived as after the xmas party tomorrow she's off til the 7th of jan [sob] [wail] [moan] honestly, it'll be fun

ung fu panda is all knees and elbows again today... i think i worried people in the supermarket by constantly flinching and grabbing the bump

Hello everyone! Have given up waiting until I actually have time to post and am taking 10 mins away from my 37 point To Do List.

I hope everyone who has been feeling poorly is on the mend now and will be fit for the big day next week. I remember one Christmas when we had Christmas lunch on trays in my parent's bedroom because my mum had 'flu so badly she couldn't get out of bed. We've all got the dreaded fluey virus here. DS has had it for ages and is moany and whiny, DH has sloped off to bed and I'm pretending I haven't got it as I've still got the aforementioned To Do List to contend with including present shopping, food shopping, house cleaning and several hours of paid work to find time for. Oh, and my MIL arrives tonight for her extended Xmas stay...

LBB I feel EXACTLY the same as you about the new arrival. So much so that I spend a fair amount of time denying it's actually happening. I feel so run down and worn out at the moment that I can't comprehend how I'm going to cope with a tiny, needy baby and like you I have got used to a child who is fairly self-sufficient and independent. I also feel quite sad that I feel like this and although it's been problem-free I don't feel like I've enjoyed this pregnancy like I should have. I think I just need to give myself a good talking to and count my blessings!

Also now have to get my head around the idea that it looks like I'm actually going to have a naural delivery too. Had my Obstetric Consultant appointment today and totally contrary to what the Perineal Consultant said, he sees no reason why I should try for a VB (had 3rd degree tear with DS). Although I am delighted as I did hate the idea of a section (sat in waiting room today silently sobbing whilst reading my list of questions!) thinking a section was inevitable I haven't prepared myself for it at all and need to find all my active birthboks, book a TENS machine and start sitting on the birthing ball. Help! What else do I need to do?

Dinky, out of interest, did your linea nigra totally disappear afterwards (i think we are prob similar skin tones)and my line is all the way down my tummy...

i've got less hair than in first trimester though!

And, weirdly (but pleasingly), less hair all over body through out pregnancy!

Nadsss - yes, it totally disappeared after the birth of DS. Am pretty sure this one will totally disappear after this baby is out too.

HohoHOM - best of luck with your to do list. If you're so minded, apparently waterbirths lessen the possibility of tearing. I tore pretty badly last time round - am going to try perineal massage from 34 weeks to see if it helps stretch the area in advance this time round (though dont really relish the thought of it...)

HOM phew, glad I'm not alone then. The guilt is mad isn't it? Doesn't really make sense. I haven't done half the things for this one that I did for ds...
It'll all be ok once they get here and we'll forget all of this.
Sorry you're all unwell. Always happens at christmas doesn't it? My family too.

Hi All

Welcome back Jelliebaby. LBB sorry you have been having such a rough time. As others have said it's normal to be feeling unsettled before the birth of a baby....it's almost a primal response I think to get you mentally tee'd up for a new arrival.

KT - glad you are feeling a bit better about your baby. I am sure she will be just the perfect size for you.

Catstar - no videos for me. I want DH to be supporting me not trying his hand at LA Law style camera angles !! No linea nigra for me this time - I had one with DS1,2 and £, but this one is a girl - so totally opposite to your friends experience.

PP The crotch pain has started for me....on the homeward stretch now - 35 weeks tomorrow if I go by scan dates and EDD of 21.1.

THOM I had a 3rd degree tear with DS2 (big bugger) , but went on to have natural birth with DS3 with not even a graze. Just take the pushing bit really slowly and if you can let your body do the work without you pushing yourself if that makes sense. I would call it 'breathing the baby out' but that makes it sounds ethereal and almost pleasant . I also have a tens machine you can have/borrow if you like. I didn't bother with it last time so it is all complete, just needs some new sticky pads which apparently you can buy from boots. Let me know if you want it.

By the way, did I mention, TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY AT WORK !! Yay ! Was nice to get everything tied up before Christmas. Saw Midwife yesterday and he is Mr Casual. He assured me that someone would come to to my home birth, but that in reality DH would probably be delivering the baby. Fanbloodytastic !

Hello all hope everyone is feeling ok (ish) sounds like the lergy is making the rounds with everyone at the moment. Still utterly crap here. I did venture out though to buy some Christmas cards for half an hour and it just exhausted me so i think im just going to have to take it really easily till the weekend at least. Am glad ive got mostly everything done though apart from food shopping and ill do that early next week.

Cant sleep at night because of sore throat though and just keep waking up to sip water but is bloody agony and lips are cracked and sore because of only breathing through mouth. Cant wait to get better! Will feel alot more like Christmas then

Im really fair and ive never had a linea nigra which is a bit sad as i expected one from my first pregnancy onwards!

HOM thats great news about you being able to avoid a CS as if your adverse to it its not very nice to contemplate - get your birthing ball out and youll be ready in no time at all

Ooooh crotch pain. I had that start today, I just thought it was because I had been sitting down for ages doing admin.

I've never had a linea thingy but I have grown my pubes. Does that count?

Rosie - try gargling soluble paracetamol (and swallowing a wee bit too).

I am counting your pubes right now, MS...

jellybaby I notice your from up north, where abouts in cheshire do you live? Im in North Manchester.

Had a good cry this morning, only over something silly, because i had to take the cat to the vets! (only an eye infection)

LAST DAY AT WORK TOMORROW! Ending wwith a party/show for 300 people wow that has taken every ounce of energy to organise!

Congrats Laidback on your last day at work. Your midwife sounds unbelievably laidback - how does DH feel about the prospect of delivering DD?

LittleSez - best of luck for your last day tomorrow.

DH is out tonight - wasnt meant to be but had lunch with his team this lunchtime which is still ongoing... dread to think what state he will be in when he gets in.. oh well, guess he is drinking for 2

DS ate most of his dinner tonight so am hopeful he'll let me sleep tonight (so will only have drunken husband waking me up when he stumbles in) - think will be heading to bed in around half an hour to try and get some shut eye as am exhausted today.

Dinky ....your DH sounds like he is going to be in a very sorry state. Is he working tomorrow ? My DH seems quite keen to do the delivery - midwife arrived at the same time as the baby last time, so he thinks it will be quite 'straightforward' but hasn't done it by himself since medical school in 1995 ! Also every birth is different . We will see. The midwife was just being realistic and said he would rather I give birth at home than at the BP garage/layby or in a footwell. He and me both ! (mind you might be quite interesting for a film project Calico !! )

laidback... think i'm with your dh on that one... i'm an hour from the hospital so i have the choice of a) going in early and spending god knows how long on a ward with 5 other labouring mothers and moms with new babies. b) leave it til later and risk the very real chance of not quite making it to hospital... not to mention being in hard labour for an hour in a car with seat belt on. c)staying home and ringing the doctor or ambulance when i know i'm close.... cheeky but possibly the best option all things considered!

tomorrow has turned into an absolute nightmare of a day... i have dd's xmas party at playschool (have to be there for it as ds is going too and i'm on the committee), have to bring dp's car to the garage to have the door fixed... i can barely drive his car, it's a horrid little beast and i'll have to park in the centre of town before that to draw money out to pay the mechanic, our friend who we haven't seen since last xmas has just rung to say he's coming up for the weekend so at some point i'll need to drive 15 miles to another town to collect him (again in dp's shitty little car) and i need to do the food shopping and find a present for him somewhere between the garage and that.

dear god.... can i call in sick?!

Good god, I'd rather go to work......sounds like your in for a fun day PT.....

did I mention, its my last day tomorrow for 11 months

dinky...hope DH isn't too bad....when my DH had his leaving do a couple of months ago, he had a huge curry and spewed the whole lot across my bathroom at 2am (sorry, didn't make it to the toliet ) and tried to clear up....and I had to go in and clear up properly ...and I had my mother staying....

My outlaws are over, I am having a day off tomorrow [smug]. AND I slept for two hours this afternoon [fsmug]!

God I just popped in to say Hi and see swampy being all smug about sleep and days off. My dh is off work and supposed to be helping out but has man-flu and a throat infection and I haven't had so much as a lie in all week! (To be fair he has actually been to the doctors having never even registered in the 8 years we've lived here and he's missed a work xmas meal, so it must be bad!)

Anyway, hope you're all well. Enjoy your day off Swampy. I'm off to bed now which is usually baby's time for trampling me like a herd of elephants

Haven't read anything else (it's late!) so sorry for barging in and blathering! Night all!

I'm living in a house with 2 monster snorers. Gonna log onto iplayer, or 4OD see if there's anything I can watch, might catch up with desperate housewives......
Have got a frozen pizza in oven too, and when I'm on here moaning how tired I am, remind me I didn't have to get out of bed at 12:30am.
I did go to bed at 8 as dp annoyed me.

WOoP WOOP WOOP it's FRIDAY!

The last day of my last full week of work!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!