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

Morning all. Big hugs to MOS (sorry to hear about the self injecting - am sure will become easier and good to avoid any DVT risks), Rosie (hope all stays under control and your tummy is better soon), HohoHOM (drink lots of fluids, lay off food - try some dry toast and banana when you're ready to eat again) and Oooggs (lovely to see you back but sorry to hear about worries of late and your weekend - fingers crossed mini Oooggs stays put) and Pinkbabybump (I had this last time - was just discharge, but really watery - definitely worth checking out though) and welcome to Ihavenewsocks (presumably you'll be "Ihaveevenmorenewsocks" after the obligatory xmas presents of socks ). Copy and paste list from beginning of thread and add yourself in. Catstar - sending you big love; just focus on that lovely brand spanking new kitchen you'll have on the end; it will all be worth it when the dust settles and little O is better. Lots of hugs to all other mums who are down/ill and with little ones who are ill too - seems the time of year for it.

Had lovely long weekend in Copenhagen - v christmassy and kiddie-friendly but eye wateringly expensive due to the awful exchange rate (Still, guess is last trip abroad we'll do for a while). DS LOVED it especially Tivoli (the huge amusement park with xmas theme) and hasnt stopped talking about it since - which is amazing as on the Friday (on the flight as we were landing) he came down with diarrhoea (same thing Rosie and HOHOHOM have by the sounds of it - was over by the next day) - NOT something you want to have to contend with when pregnant on a city break away (thank god I'd taken lots of bananas and bread rolls with us for his snacks, he basically lived on those for the rest of the weekend) - and yesterday came down with his obligatory xmas cold. He's spending the day in with his nanny eating chocolate, watching the muppets xmas dvd I bought him and being plied with medicine and fluids. Poor bunny.

Calico - glad you had a lovely day in London but what a pain about your poor DS being so upset, honestly you'd think between them a fully grown man and a grandmother woudl be able to figure out when to change nappies and stop feeding sugar to toddlers! Well deserved rant in my opinion.

well, you'd think so wouldn't you. Can't believe they couldn't smell him!

Let us know what happens PBB, have heard troo that hind waters can leak and then re-seal.

I'm staying away from commenting on the injecting as it makes me cringe. I have big fears, not being rude

I think I have a foot in my ribs, a bum trying to push my bellybutton out, 1 hand pushing my back and the other hand punching my special place. Don't know what I think the other foot or the head is doing!
At docs tomoz for check-up, right in middle of ds's nap time so hopefully we'll have a better night tonight........

Got busy day on today, so don't plan to log back on til this evening. Have a good one, and take it easy everyone.

P.s. Rosie - check out Bravissimo for soft cup bras if that's what you're looking for (good for the bigger boobed lady, do styles which arent crop top like) or M&S soft cup stretchy lycra sports bras are nice. If you're looking for nursing bras, think you'll need to leave it till late Jan before you get them as your back size may change again.

Calico....I have a DH who only thinks nappies need changing when they are dirty or says "oh I forgot to check" .....bit suprised at MIL though.....your poor DSs bum ....

you're very brave doing shopping in London...I went into my (small) town on Saturday and it was mayhem and the queues ....luckily I wasn't present buying.

Now I know why I do my shopping on-line.

Latest list of due dates

• copy and paste from here and add yourself in ---

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)
Sorkycake - DC4 (girl), due 10.02.09, (34, NorthEast)
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)
Pinkbabybump - DC2 (a girl), due 25.02.09 (age 36, Cornwall) CS booked for 20.02.09
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)
Munteria - DC2 due 11.02.09 (age 37, Putney)
stacysmom - DC1 due 08.02.09 (age 36, Kent)
ihavenewsockson- DS2 due 26.02.09 (age 25, Surrey)
- end ---

Thanks guys..

rosie- would defo recommend Bravissimo- I was measured there last time and they have nice bras.

cross-my-heart are also good if you don't like the crop top effect.

morning Ladies,

Iv not had a chnace to read all the threads & whats been going on since Friday, but I hope all is well with those who busy weekends with waters/hospitals etc...??

I am 31 weeks today so on the final countdown. Keep having very anxious dreams about having the baby - Think I watch too much Eastenders.
DP is getting very excited at the thoughts of our new arrival - He keeps trying to get the pram out to have a 'play' with - But is under strict orders from me it is to stay put in the cupboard!

Finished all my christmas shopping this weekend, other than a few easy bits - Cd's alcohol etc...
Going to get our little christmas tree tomorrow & get the flat looking festive.

Am i the only sad one here - but did anyone watch Take That last night?? I thought they were great!

Hi ihavenewsockson - welcome thanks for the advice girls, i will wait till later on i think, i need a fairly big back size (44/46) and probably an F cup but never sure as it changes all the time - think lots of the bra makers go up to a 42 ish back size then stop so i will look at both bravissimo and cross my heart for nursing bras ... owch they are sooo expensive too!

Dinky really jealous about your lovely weekend trip to Copenhagen ... sounds amazing and all Chrismassy, said to DH that next year i really want to go to the Christmas markets in Germany if we can - i used to live in Stuttgart and it just smells and feels so Chrismassy

MOS spoke to a friend of mine last night who had a c section a month ago and she has just finished injecting (i think its heparin) but dont quote me on that - anyway the stuff that you have to inject from the day you have your C section to stop you getting a DVT - she would only do once a day so had to do it for a month but was gutted when her DH told her that if she had done it twice a day it would be for only two weeks thanks! Anyway i was talking to her about her injection sites and she has to do her stomach too and like us lucky laydees has plenty of padding but she said like you that it really does sting quite a bit and i can tell you that even though injecting the insulin in that site 3 times a day isnt so painful sometimes its possible to just cop a dodgy one and it stings (and itches) for a good half an hour or so afterwards. i noticed a whacking great bruise on the left hand side of my tummy yesterday so i think there is either a very clever technique or its pot luck hun only a few weeks left though eh? (thats what i keep telling myself) midwife yesterday also said that the fact that i am needing more and more insulin is the sign of a healthy diabetic pregnancy as if i needed less id get loads of hypos because my placenta has stopped working effciently and i wouldnt need the insulin as the placenta would stop taking it as it is atm (iyswim) None of it makes that much sense really just like you will be really really glad to stop sticking things in me! (i mean that in a bad way of course

Oh god have just reviewed my list of things to get for bag for hosp and the button down nightdresses alone come to 80 quid! Its not only going to cost ooodles but im sure i have too much anyone know anywhere where i can look at a comprehensive list (but not over the top 3 weeks in Barbados type suitcase load) of stuff to take for a C section stay in hospital for me and lo ?

Rosie - take a look in Primark for button down nighties (think they come in at around £4). I just lived in oversized shirts from DH and tracksuit bottoms (black of course) for the first few days in hospital rather than invest in new nighties. There are lots of posts in childbirth on stuff to take in for a section (as you're in there for a bit longer, would definitely recommend earplugs, your own pillows, nice dressing gown and flip flops plus some nice toiletries for shower and some dettol wipes for the bathroom if its abit grotty, lanisoh, breastpads, bras, feeding pillow if you're using one and flannel to massage engorged boobs with - on and as have said before ENORMOUS pants (Primark again) and lots of pads and changes of nappies and clothes for little one) so may be worth doing a search on there.

LBB is right, Tink was breathing for herself at birth (no steroids either [fproud mummy]) the only problem she had though was she was breathing too fast so after about 10 hours they helped her for 12 hours just to teach her the right rate. 33 weeks they can suckle (another reason we think she was older as she wanted to at 32 + 3 or 33 by our dates). As soon as you have a 3 in the age baby will do really well (if it's all natural, obviously if they have to be brought out then that can affect them. I'm counting Tink as natural because I just went into labour, not the mode of exit) and will just be about fattening them up and teaching them to be on the outside (guess how wound up I'm getting at EastEnders!)

Rosie (without reading up) I however manyth Bravissimo! NCT also have some nice large ones now (I'm sure they didn't last time). I'm 34H (although judging by how long it took to get this one on me I may already be 36) and always find something nice from there. It will be Heparin that your friend takes, it's supposed to be for six weeks afterwards, so not sure what her husband was talking about, playing her up maybe? There is no reason for it to go into the stomach, I think it's a school thing TBH, some say you should, some say you do it into fat. So far I've not met any HCP who's told me stomach only. The other problem with the stomach which you've reminded me of is that you can't swap sides. I have a lump on my bum from Saturday's injection, it's almost gone now and by the time this evenings injection comes round and I need to go there again it won't be so bad as it was yesterday.

ihavenewsockson you'd think of anyone I'd be packed and ready, but I'm not I need to be because I'm fed up of wearing hospital gowns!

Thanks MOS, today is our date for Tink's birth and everything is looking quiet - I'm finding it rather unsettling that in the last couple of days I've hardly had any contractions! Heparin hurts more than any other injection because it thins your blood so where it's gathered (ie your site) it will cause bleeding (bruising) and ache until it's dispersed. It disperses better in fat than muscle which is why you want to use the fattiest parts. Are you using the new style ones (they're fat like a pen)? I'm finding they hurt more because I can't get them in as deep. I know people who are diabetic and refill old insulin syringes because they hurt less.

ImDreamingOfANortyXmas, it always hurts more when someone else does it! You're fortunate they use your thigh though, that takes longer for them to do than an arm so they don't usually go there. I've shocked women who are post section when they've seen me doing my own, they're usually covered in bruises from it and I'm not.

Oh dear Calico Bloody men hey. My dp's the same, he never smells a dirty nappy and I can smell them from the next room!!

rosie WTF?? Are you seriuos £80 for a nightdress? I went to primark and bought a load for £4 each, they have about 5 buttons which was perfect.
I took a massive hold-all filled with absolute crap all the really useful things I'd need for one night stay.
If you having cs and will be in for a bit, can't you pack essentials for yourself and babe now and get dh to bring more stuff up with him as and when?

I've started washing stuff for my bag but as I think I massively overpacked last time, don't know what I'm taking this time. Although being as out of it as I was, I only changed ds's clothes once in 2 days.......
Gonna call the hospital and double check they are still supplying nappies, wipes, cotton wool and san. pads as that'll save tons of room.

Look at me after saying I wasn't coming on today. I'm clearly hooked, how sad!!
Off now to hunt out bank statements as hoping the council will help with the council tax payments and then to job centre to hand in my CTC award form so I can claim Sure Start Mat grant, oh what a fun afternoon. Nap first though

TMI alert - To the ladies who've been having problems with leaking and not feeling hugely fresh down there, I had the same and went to my GP about it as I was starting to feel very self-conscious. It turned out I had thrush, so I've been having to use the pessaries for the past two weeks which isn't pleasant but has really helped with the problem.

But the other thing the GP said (apart from the fact that a bit of leaking of various fluids is normal in pregnancy) is that I had got myself into a vicious cycle by being too clean. Basically I'd been showering twice a day and washing myself with shower gel and 'intimate wash' (tee hee, that just sounds funny) 'down there' because I was so paranoid about not smelling good and I'd just made the problem worse by upsetting the bacteria balance, which then causes you to smell worse. So she said to stop using any kind of soap and wash with water only. Two weeks of pessaries and washing with water seem to have completely sorted it. I do still have to use pads though, must get on with those pelvic floor exercises.

My DH has got man flu. I'm trying so hard to be sympathetic but I just want to tell him to try being pregnant if he wants to really know what feeling tired, unwell and uncomfortable is REALLY like.

Sorry to hear about the leaky ladies and horrid injections. Dinky - glad you had a lovely time in Copenhagen.

I woke at 4.30 this morning and started to panic about what I need to buy still and how christmas is just around the corner (although nearly done) - must stop it as I couldn't get back off to sleep.

Having a horrible morning at work. My secretary (in her 50's) has called in to say that her older daughter (late 20's single mum with 2 kids one of 10ish and the other 2 and a half) died on Saturday night - apparently she just collapsed when she was at work on Sat night. My secretary also has a younger son of about 13 so she's now left with a 13 year old son and her two granddaughters to look after and really struggles emotionally and financially as it is. I can't stop thinking about it and got a bit tearful. Those poor kids

Lol LBB nooooo not for one nightie - i am plus sized and need something fitting around a size 24 - primark will stretch to fit me when im not pregnant but there is no chance at the mo, Evans and the other fat shops dont do anything button down at the moment so i am reduced to crappola mothercare who go only up to a 20 but its a big 20 at least, i bought two packs of two online for 22 quid each then two at the shop for 16 each so with postage it was nearly £80 hence why im shitting it buying the bras as they are a pretty penny too.
TBM my friend who i was talking to last night said that she only had to inject for a month and kicked up such a fuss that she only did it once a day but was told subsequently by her hubby that if she'd done the injections twice a day it would have only have been two weeks - i dunno how they d it at leeds im just not looking forward to it as it sounds alot more bloody painful than insulin! Anyway had a look on the NCT website last night for 'proper' boob separating bras and whilst they were expensive and ugly didnt seem to do the nice ones that dont give that shelf effect. Ahhh bugger i wish i could fit some of that hot milk stuff ... Right on the agenda this afternoon is: black bath towels (fairly cheapish in Matalan i believe, massive nappy type sanitary towels as everyone has told me not to waste my time on always nightime (was going to) as the after birth flow might be a bit much for them - mothercare here i come again. Does anyone know anything about Arnica? what dose and when to start taking it?
LLB you lucky thing if your hospital does supply pads, nappies and things - that'll save a fortune! Hmmm even if i wear nighties ive just thought ill be wearing those sexy arsed white dvt socks ... maybe i can wear nightshirts and leggings? no getting away with it - gonna look grotty either way - good job ill have gorgeous new lo to keep me occupied!

Aww shit herbgarden ... thats bloody awful poor poor lady and kids

OMG Herb....that is so

thanks for the kind words all.... i emailed stgeorge and she was lovely about it. she had some donaters in reserve anyway for just such an eventuality so the family will still receive. still feel so rotten about it but at least the family i was supposed to help out won't know any differance.

brought the kids to see santa yesterday at the craft fair by my parents and they were both too afraid to sit on his lap... although dd opened up a bit after he complimented her earrings, lol. she's madly excited as he told her she's definitely going to get her doll's house as he received her dummy in the post my mom was mad to spoil her rotten and brought them to the chipper afterwards as well as paying for santa so the 2 of them were shattered and full of grease last night clutching their cheap tat that santa gave them my mom has offered to loan us some money if we're stuck this week too so at least we won't go hungry if i can't stretch the bit of cash we have.

ooogs, sorry you had such a rough weekend.... at least baby is still safe and sound where he/she is supposed to be for now..... if you can get through chrsitmas it would be great. you must have been so stressed leaving the dts.... i know i went half mad in hospital having ds as it was the first time i'd left dd overnight (actually... the only time come to think of it!).... funny how many disaster scenarios the hormonal pregnant woman can come up with when she's sat on a bed with nothing to do but worry

pinkbabybump.... hope it's just a minor leak and nothing too serious. your mw should be able to reassure you either way though. fingers crossed for you

herbgarden, that's so awful about your secretary's daughter..... she must be absolutely in pieces. the poor woman having to take on young kids at her age as well..... does she have much family who can help out a bit or is she really left on her own with the 3 kids now? shocking to think someone in their 20's can just drop dead like that

rosie..... trust me, no one looks glamourous on the maternity ward so you'll be in good company and yes, you really, really, really do need the maternity pads.... sanitary pads don't even come close to cuting it. i'd suggest getting thescary thick mat pads too... they look revolting but they feel lovely against sore bots. vaguely remeber reading on MN once that some women stil get sore down below after a cs... and either way the plasticy covering is revolting when you feel pants anyway...the cheap papery stuff is much nicer.

Nope no-one to look after the kids - I was just talking with a colleague about it.

She works here at our place and doesn't drive. Her daughter would pick up my secretary's son (so the daughters half brother) and her own daughter (they're almost the same age) from school each day and look after them til my secretary got home from work. Then the daughter would go to work and she would look after all the kids (including the little one) at her house.

She's now left with an okish paid, but not brilliant job, two school age children to work out how to get from school each day and a 2.8 year old who needs full time care. There is no way she can afford full time care for the little one and maybe a childminder for the two to be picked up from school. I don't think the girls dad is involved in their lives much (if at all) nor what his circumstances are. I also don't think the daughter owned a place. She also doesn't drive......There must be someone/some organisation she can turn to to get some help (me maybe I'm being naive)....I think she likes working to save her sanity but being left with the kids maybe she won't be able to afford to. God its awful. I'm thinking that I might pop round and see her in the next couple of weeks and even offer to take the little girl off her hands for an hour or two and she could play with my ds (they're pretty much the same age) just to give her a break.

OMG herb that's awful - especially for the kids at this time of year. A similar thing happened to someone I knew - it was a blot clot in the brain - and her two little boys 'couldn't wake her up' in the morning. I'm sure there is support (even if just in the short term) as I remember the boys had some emergency child-minding paid for - Citizen's Advice is probably the place to ask.

sounds like a good idea herbgarden... she'll need all the support and practical help she can get and it might distract the wee one a bit to play with another child his own age for a bit.

it's a horrible situation she's been put in work wise... it's not a nice feeling to realise you'd actually be better off on benefits.

might be worth giving surestart and some other organisations a ring on her behalf and seeing if there's anything they can do for her.... i doubt very much she'll be able for practical considerations like that for the near future but the sooner she gets some support and help the better... things could quickly get on top of her otherwise. she must be shell shocked poor woman

Rosie I earmarked this thread a while ago about what to pack in your labour bag...

Herb, that's awful news

It may be six weeks for me because of my autoimmune disorder, but the risk is still high for awhile later, it wouldn?t matter how much you get a day, it only stays in the system for 12 hours so it won?t be working for two weeks afterwards. (Can you tell part of my OCD is researching everything? I don't like there to be anything about me I don't understand so as soon as a doctor mentions something new I have to look it up ) They?re honestly not that bad, my diabetic friends say it is worse than insulin, but if you follow my tips further down it doesn?t hurt as much, often I have to have a good prod around next day to work out where I stuck it yesterday!

I highly recommend the pink bra with silver (can?t remember what it?s called) that both Bravissimo and NCT sell. It doesn?t look much in the catalogue but it?s lovely on and (looks down to check boobs) doesn?t look too mono either. I?d avoid the wired bras because even when you get the right size your boobs will change through out the day and the wires can still stick in you which isn?t good for your milk ducts.

Avoid sanitary towels with a mesh as it can melt against the stitches and get caught in them. So they can be quite uncomfortable. I wouldn?t bother with PJs in the first few days either as they will most likely get messed up.

Oh Herb that?s terrible the poor woman and kids. Suggest to her she speaks to Sure Start as they may be able to help with the youngest.

MS, love the Christmas name