*Due in June 2005*

[PinkArjuna]

The thread was getting far too long and taking ages to load.

London meet is a week away. I don't have to get the train until 10.30 this time Could someone tell me which tube line to get from Paddington?

just got back from the MW appt - baby all fine, growing OK, heartbeat etc. Just my blood pressure is up (no s* sherlock) so MW talked about doing relaxation and rest!!! Hmm...she's right of course. I've ordered a yoga tape from amazon so will at least try and do the relaxation bits from that if I don't get round to doing the other bits.

Wonder if I could go AWOL to somewhere sunny.....?

WM: how's all yr tests going? I missed that bit of the thread.

KG - glad yr feeling better!

Mrs W - thanks for the sympathy (and everyone else). Yes hope the cleaner will be a godsend. Had to resist the temptation to clean up for her though! ( how mad is that?)

I'm starting on the old aches and pains thing now....got hearburn for england. So far been drinking milk and that's working to an extent. Go to see my homeopath next week, so hope to get something for it

Afternoon all,

Katz glad you're feeling alittle better, at least dd is keeping herself amused so that should help too

RHM - sorry you had to cut short your trip away, hope all is ok now.

Welshie, ha ha ha I was going to make comments about 'legally' having someone else grope your boobies but you got there first! It was the only perk I had for all my cardiologist trips - however my current cardio is a woman, and that's definitely not the same!!

Charley/Jonah have fun tomorrow in your classes - I remember being horrified at the video's and yet strangely drawn in - poss cos they were 70/80's films and with all the soft lighting, muzak and blue eye makeup they managed to come accross abit like 70's porn films, he he he

Uki - I love the circus theme, colours sound great too - they're supposed to like all the primary colours aren't they?

Pink - you never know you may be lucky and get a fantastic sleeper, fingers crossed eh!

Going to offload now, sorry Had a really shit day today. Plumber still hasn't finished - and bill is slowly escalating . Mum has been made redundant as her company's just declared insolvency and had a less than successful meeting with the boss about why I never got a pay rise and bonus along with everyother member of staff who did...and even though it's not legally allowed I've been told it's coz I'm going on leave and he's going to decide in the next day or so if they have a role for me going forward ...but the two glasses of wine at lunch (with my solicitor best friend) has lessened my anger abit!...I'll wait and see what he decides and then go from there....sorry to dump this here but need to offload before I become emotional preggie woman again and start blubbing once more ! Hey ho maybe it's just a power thing - (big generalisation here...) short men are like that aren't they

Anyhooo better look as if I'm working - don't want him to sack me coz I'm on the internet

Katz - quickly - logged onto the Yahoo site - saw the tv show message - did you ever get a response?? Is it for real?? Always been interested in hypno, but didn't want to respond if it was a joke thing...??

RHM - glad beans all ok it's always a relief to hear that little heartbeat

Glad you are feeling a bit better Katz, hope you can take it easy while you recover.

Pleased your appointment went well Redheadmum. I have a recurring dream/wish of a few days lying on a sun lounger somewhere hot, next to a pool, with a big pile of books to read and no DH or DS. Ahhhhhhh...heaven. Oh well, will have to make do with ten minutes reading in bed on an evening instead. Not quite the same.

Have spent most of the last couple of hours reading the due in April thread - it's so exciting, we are all getting close now! Exciting and scary.

RH - glad you're bump's doing fine, sorry to hear about your stress levels though. I do tidy for my cleaner and i've learnt little useful tips, like hide the cat combs when they come, otherwise they use the combs as carpet brushes and i find little bits of carpet stuck in the teeth (the combs teeth, not the cat's) . I've been getting really bad indigestion too, I sympathise. Gaviscon, although it is truly revolting, does seem to do the job.

I'm off out for a meal tonight with a friend. Bless him, he'll ferry me to and from my front door, and usually insists on paying. Sounds like a perfect prgt evening....

Tea, sorry, I wrote my message before I read yours. Can he do that? I thought legally he had to give you your bonus for work already done? What did your legal friend say? Poor you!!

Tea, sorry you've had such a shitty day. Is your boss allowed to do that? Sounds outrageous.

Have to say, I managed to avoid watching any birth videos at all...ignorance is bliss and all that. It's not as if we get to actually 'see' the birth anyway (unless people are going to tape their own and watch it later?). Not sure whether it would have helped DH to watch one or not - I have a feeling it might have put him off!

Oh, Tea. Can you get that conversation in writing. He is on dangerous ground on both counts. The first one being not giving you a raise. And, the second one being not sure if he'll have aposition for you at the end.

You should take every last penny of maternity leave, and THEN he has to pay to make you redundant. During maternity leave, you still accrue benefits like holiday and pension contributions just like if you are working.

Oh, and you don't need to be pregnant to have something like discrimination piss you off. Don't let anyone reduce their illegal action down to consequences of your hormones. I hate when people blame their assinine behaviour on my hormones... but YOUR the one acting like an arse so how can it be down to MY hormones?????

Gosh, I'm all ticked off on your behalf. Now THAT could be MY hormones... but probably not.

Hi girls, thanks for all the concerned replies

No legally if everyone gets a pay rise he's on shakey ground by not giving me a rise either as I'm still here when the rises are effective (which was 1st April)...and although the bonus is discretionary as absolutely everyone else got one, and my appraisal had nothing but glowing comments and he had no reply about why I didn't get one I have to assume it's coz I'm pg. My friend was v.v. supportive and will help me if necessary. I'm going to wait until he comes to a conclusion in a couple of days regarding how he will utilise 'resources' in the future, before I decide how to proceed...as I said he's a short man and not the overall boss (he's the CFO and Human Resources guy) and he likes to exercise his perceived power over us mere mortals...so if I don't get a postive response I will then make a trip into the actual boss' office and ask outright 'if my work and appraisals are ok are they trying to go for constructive dismissal?' and see what his response is!!

I just hope poor dh will make it through the next few days as he's having to bear the brunt of my good and bad moods...bless him!

tea - i did reply to that email and they sent me an offical sounding email with a contact phone number hang wil post their reply now, have removed the phone number. Was debating ringing but decided against it as i'm sure ti will involve trips to london, something i'm not overly keen on plus i won't want my birth filmed:

Thanks for your email, Hypnobirth is a form of hypnotism that helps with people wishing to have a natural childbirth the hypnotism is used to relieve the pain of the birth. Rather than using drugs a special type of hypnotism is used called hypnoanaesthesia. It is quite new in this country but has been used quite a lot in America. If you where top take part in the documentary you would go through a number of sessions with our hypnotist Paul McKenna, and we would like to be there at every stage - this does not necessarily mean we would attend the birth itself.

I would like to know when you are due as obviously 35 weeks is quite far along, and this is not the kind of thing that can be done overnight - so we would have to make sure that you had enough time to take on the therapy and where happy with the whole project your self.

If you have any more questions then do give me a call

Evening! - finally stuck the last tile in the shower cubicle. Hurrah!!!! been doing that all day and was determined to finish it so had to keep a wide berth of MN

I'm very of all your cleaners! I'd love one - even a rude one would do Simply cannot justify it though - believe me I've tried - but never get anywhere because I'm a kept woman.

Jonah - I'm going on my own too and I'm also scared. rolf at you trying to ignore the giving birth bit - so true!

Glad you're feeling better Katz Thanks for the laundry basket tip!

Glad to hear all's well Redhead - which yoga tape did you order?

Earghww Tea - porny chilbirth vids! your filfth knows no boundaries! Speaking of which - when "Julia" got her kit off in 1984, which I watched tonight, I made a funny - I said to dp "I thought we were watching 1984, not 1974!" Well he thought it was funny..... It's his birthday today and he's sulking because he's been celebrating his birthday all weekend and yesterday so has been suffering all day today .... I have no sympathy. Aren't I awful?

Sorry you and your mum have had such a shit day I've learned some very important (and expensive) lessons just lately about plumbers and their escalating bills. Your boss sounds like a shit - is he a power freak perchance? - surely it's illegal to say such a thing to you, implying you might not have a role "going forward"? I'm sure your friend can help advise?

Katz - I'd love to have a hypnobirth! Don't believe in it really though. No way would I want to be filmed though Curly Watts once tried to hypnotise me. Really.

Hi All
Yes Charley the women in video were all naked, and the midwife said most women think that looks strange, exposed before birth but when they are in labour they don't care how they look.

What do second timers think, I now i at least want to wear a top or short nightdress. Is this unrealistic??? I guess also depends about bathing /showers during labour. One of my books said to just have people you are comfortable being with. I think one midwife and hubby is enough for me.

Oh yuk! Naked childbirth is not for me. I think I was wearing a hospital gown when I was induced. But this time, I'm keeping my pants on.

You won't beliee this but I have the Yehudi Gordon (I think that's his name????) pregnancy and childbirth book. It's a bit touchy feely for me, but it also has a lot of straight forwards facts about development, which I like. And, everytime I look at the pictures of naked women in labour, I think... God, this is a real person who agreed to be photographed AND PUBLISHED in this state. What a fruitcake!

Oh, there is a fantastic idea on the May thread for all of us second timers. Someone bought pressis for their older one from baby which he/she will recieve from new baby after arrival.

I think it's a brilliant idea and I definitely plan to pinch it. So, now I just have to decide what Alex would like to give to DD.

Ha ha ha Katz, that was the otehr reason I didn't follow up the message yet - I don't want to be filmed either...I wasn't happy about dh being at the blunt end last time and that was without a camera in tow ...on the other hand the hypnosis appeals to the needle phobic side of me!

Uwila - yep it's a great idea - my sister recommended this to me a while ago...dh decided to get ds a little 6v motorbike (his friend has one and he loves it, and they're on special for £29) unfortunately he hasn't thought about the practical side of how we give it to him in the hospital when he meets his new sister!!!!! so I can see us buying an additional small pressie - blokes eh! never the most practical of creatures - well at least not my dh anyway, bless!

Uki - tbh, I've tried wracking my brain and I can't remember what I was wearing when ds popped out I'd not long had a bath, so my guestimate would be a hospital gown??? How bad is that - obviously it's true you really don't care

Charley - hurrah for the finished tiling - that feeling of having completed a job men normally do yourself is so so satisfying - it's sad isn't it but I always feel inordinately proud of myself when I complete a dyi project!

morning all

well I've decided to take a day off sick as I'm feeling like vomiting this morning and the midwife did tell me to take it easy......

hypno therapy sounds interesting although not being filmed... Apparently my hospital does something where you can go and get hypnotherapy of sorts to help with labour - gonna investigate. Will post info on here cos there was someone at the same hospital as me? (King George)

Last time around I wore a big baggy T-shirt (Dh s) no knickers (!). Afraid it came off by the end - I was just so hot and didn't give a damn by then as long as I was comfortable. Then when I had done the deed I had a gown. I DID have a home birth though so I'm sure that makes a difference? I was surprised how uninhibited I was as I'm really very shy about my body, I won't go topless on hol, but when it came to it I didn't care...

pressie - great idea Uwila....but what to get for a 2 3/4 Dd? she's off quite a few things that she was obsessed about (ie noddy) and doesn't seem to be 'in' to anything new particularly (except potties!). Was thinking of getting a book called 'I'm a big sister' but wanted to get something fun. What are other people getting?

I was wondering about getting dd a nurse's uniform from the new one... I remember getting one when my brother was born and just loving it. She's quite into her doctor's kit. Either that or another baby doll of her own - something so she can play along.
Charley - well done on the tiling
Red -hope you have an enjoyable relaxing day with no more vomiting.
Tea - I want to punch your boss - let me know when is a good time.....

Hello all!

I've been away for ages! I have been trying to avoid mumsnet cos I had / have an assignment to do for my MA - and it is just too distracting. I have sorta been keeping up with the gossip - but not religiously!

Congrats to Charley!

Am on holidays at mo - but am still working hard for school. Am tryinn to "get ahead" so I don't have to do as much at home when I actually go back for my last few weeks - well thats the plan!

I have been trying to think of a pressie to get dd from the baby as well. I know loads of people who treated it as like an extra Christmas and went totally OTT.-I am not going down that road.

Teabelly - where did you see the bike at that price? What a bargain!

Yeah, that's a bargain, Tea. Might get one for myself.

So, what are you going to do whe DS uses his cool new ride to run over new little sister? OR is he going to have a little seat on the back to drive little sis around?

I have no idea what to get yet. Maybe a little play computer as she is always trying to type on mine.

Info for King George hospital

every wed 10-11am

relaxation and birth classes - includes breathing exercises, hypnotherapy, pelvic floor exercises, perinium massage.

just have to drop in, no booking necessary. 4 week course. Go to the Physiotherapy dept.

DD is getting a doll from the new baby one that wriggles and sucks it own bottle, i got it in the jan sales at a bargin price and it now in the bottom of my wardrobe.

When i had DD i wore a shortie nightie, couldn't have taken it off even if i'd wanted to during labour because i had a drip in my hand!

I can't quite believe that it could be as little as 6 weeks to the birth (DD was 3 weeks early) or even a max of 11 weeks!! at least the nursery is nearly finished although still waiting for the furniture which is due on the 20th! also haven't got back my newborn clothes from my friend yet either!

Feeling human again now - tummy bug has past, and baby as wiggly as ever so not worried anymore either.

Hi ya Megi, welcome back - you know you're gonna become addicted to MN again!

Ha ha ha Welshie - anytime will do!! Infact I'm considering getting my friend (the Witch) to make me a voodoo doll...probably wouldn't work but will make me feel much better !!

The bike was in Maplin's (the electrical store), they had blue, pink and silver ones and they're fab coz they're smaller than the usual ones at toys r us, so ideal for 2-3 year olds. He He Uwila, didn't think of that...maybe I could get a little side car attachment and he could take her out for a spin too

Shudder at the thought of the nurses costume - but that's because my niece is really really really into playing doctors and religiously watches Casualty every week - cute when she was a tot, but she still does it now at nearly 16 - will point out that she's Down's and doesn't know her own strength sometimes so it's dificult to argue when she decides you need be resussitated...still this is better than the dentists phase she went through, when she was adament the only treatment was tooth extraction!

Katz, great you're feeling more like your old self. Getting abit scared here too...7 1/2 weeks to go, but getting loads and loads of twinges below to suggest body getting ready and longer and more powerful BH twinges...of course now I've said that she'll be late and I'll have to be induced

Hi everyone,

Welcome back Megi Sorry you couldn't make our lunch last weekend, and you too RHM, it was great! Also, felt a bit significant, since it will probably be the last one before the babies arrive

Does anyone still go onto the yahoo web thingy that was set up? I never quite got the hang of it, or what it was...

Tea, doubly sorry to hear your plumber is taking ages and charging loads and that work are giving you the run around. The work thing sounds highly suspicious, I can't believe the bollox employers will try and get away with!!!

At my NCT class 2 years ago, we didn't watch any 1970's birth/porn video's Thank the Lord!! Tbh, I don't think there is any point whatsoever. Every birth is so different. You know you'll be in pain and you know you'll look like shit (for the most part)!!!

During labout last time, I also wore an old t-shirt of dp's. Not sure about knickers, I expect not, not much point on insisting on wearing them is there?? Ah yes, they were off when I was in delivery suite because the mw giggled when she saw what to her looked like 'my best' undies! Because I had an epi, I also had to be catheterised as I couldn't feel to pee. So, knickers were definitely off!

This time I'd quite like to labour in the pool, so I expect I shall be naked. It's obviously your choice, but certain practicalities will prevent certain things being worn/not worn depending on what's happening. It's easy to worry about it in the cold light of day, hopefully in the heat of the moment you'll be too busy to give a toss what you're wearing!!!

Having said that, I'm still having as much waxing as possible done for the ocassion !!

I haven't decided what to get dd as a present from the new baby, it will be just after her birthday so we'll have to see what she hasn't got!!

Off to check out some of the other threads...

Afternoon everyone,

Busy day here - the girl covering my maternity leave started today...makes leaving feel really close (yippee!). I feel the need to pretend to be really efficient and organised. She'll find out soon enough that I'm not.

I wore an old nightshirt to give birth in but I took it off at some point because on my one (truly awful) immediate-post-birth photo I'm not wearing anything. It survived the birth - DH washed it and I still wear it, so I'll probably wear it again this time round.

Good idea about the present from baby to older child. No idea what to get DS though. Tea, you should get your DS a blue dinosaur I think, unless you are really going to give birth to one.

Charleypops, congratulations on finishing your tiling! Intriguing Curly Watts story by the sound of it...