*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?

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Ah no, Lynny, good good mummy. Mummy eats all nasty choc choc, mummy gets the fat and the spots and the clogged arteries, DD gets healthy veggies and fruit instead and grows up big and strong and healthy

Ah the excuses you can use in pregnancy!

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Charleypops, I've been trying your name game. I keep starting with A, thinking of the name Adrian then losing interest!

You forgot to say that you're saving your child's teeth by eating all the chocolate. That's the excuse I use anyway.

Glad you are back Cooperoo.

Hello again,
I missed you all so can't stay away for long now.
I was confused about the raspberry leaf tea too and thought you were only supposed to have it from wk 36 or something, but I have no idea where I have got that from so I defer to your book Red.
I ate dd's Easter egg too!!! My reasoning was that she is only two and it is bad for her as well!! Glad I am not the only one Nogger and Lynny.
Lynny - I sympathise on the horrid maternity underwear prob. I tried on some awful maternity bras that made me feel 65 so depressing.
I have not had kick charts mentioned to me either pregnancy. This is all new to me. I am happy that the baby moves alot though so I guess this is why I have never asked. Nogger I seem to have a nocturnal baby too. Perhaps we will be able to keep each other company on here in the small hours after the babies are born. In the nicest possible way I hope not really. I would prefer daytime comms .
I am glad I am not the only one not to have waxed 'down there' Welshie. I have always been worried about how much it would hurt. I had an epilator once and only used it once on my lower legs and swore never again! Aren't things like that supposed to hurt more during pregnancy too?? Eeek! To be fair I have yet to find a satisfactory lasting alternative so maybe I will have to bite the bullet. Thankfully I can still see to deal with things myself at the mo (TMI ). I am sure midwives have seen all sorts before anyway....or so I am telling myself.
Charley - I don't think it was the pain that made me strip, more the fact I saw the water and was in my own little world at the time. Plus I had been so hot in the other room. Sorry to hear your baby is still breech. Little tinker. Hope it turns soon. And sadly I do think exercise will have to be done on the cellulite issue. Depressingly. I announced to dh that I was going to be fit and slim by my 30th birthday. I have been backpedalling ever since as my 30th is alot closer than I thought. I swear I still think I am 24 half the time not 28. My 30th will be only just over a year after this baby arrives so I see it as quite a challenge now. I think 31 is a bit more realistic. Well I am off to watch our video of 24 with DH now as it is our only chance. He is very busy with work and training for a big rugby game this weekend so we haven't as much time together as usual. I am having lots of Braxton Hicks again today. On the sleep thing I can sleep great on the sofa, but not in bed very well. I am tempted to start to tell DH just to leave me there but know I will regret it.

Linny/Nogger - you are evil! Oooh I'd lurve some choccy now, but daren't til after my GTT tomorrow (if it's ok..)

I'll have to do those "turning" excercises that I've recommended to everyone. Again, think I'll wait til after tomorrow - I'll see if I can get someone to have a professional feel to confirm he's still breech first. I've heard that sometimes if a baby turns over in later pg, then it can actually make you sick it's such an intense feeling, so you got off lightly!

MrsW - it is so boring, that's why it works for me! I think it helps if you try to set yourself a goal - for instance at the moment I'm doing girls' names beginning with "S". This is a popular letter for names to begin with, so I've set myself a goal of trying to think of 60. I've been on this letter for months, and don't think I've managed to get past about 18. I have invented various systems - ie, if the name begins with a consonant, go through all the vowels first as 2nd letters - SA....then going through the alphabet for the 3rd...

Booked him into the Golden Lion - thanks

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Hi there everyone. A quick update from me...

have been back working this week - it's the week before the start of semester and I've been teaching a 'compact course' i.e. instead of having a session every week you do it all at once over a few days. It's been pretty tiring, but I've been feeling amazingly fit and coping well, and the course has been fun - it's a good group. We've also had inductions for new students etc. I'm taking it as easy as I can - sitting down with my feet up to teach, not doing any rushing around, etc. Was at my gyn this morning and my cervix is just fine - big relief! Little one is fine too - everything is just as it should be. After this week I feel a bit better about carrying on with work - usually my timetable won't be as packed as it has been this week, and I'll only be at uni three days - have been every day this week and have to go again tomorrow.
Am having a Group B Strep test next week - have to pay extra for it, but I think it's worth it. Gyn said he doesn't think I need to have my blood checked again for chickenpox - in a way he was a bit blasé about it, but OTOH I do trust him and also - as the contact was over 10 days ago and I haven't got ill yet - I think everything should be OK.

HI all

Raseberry leaf tea is meant to be really good, my yoga/midwife/advisor to all pregnancy issues (even the correct way to sit on the toilet)person. Recommends it from week 34 or 36 i have to ask her again, i have it in the cupboard but knew it was a while off before i needed to take it so promtly forgot when to take it.
Some people and even the pack says it's fine all the way through pregnancy> i guess it just depends how cautious you want to be.
Oh i caught the train the other day first time in ages and everyone was standing couldn't get through the doors, but when my mother, girlfriend and I went downstairs there were all the school kids taking up seats, with their bags everywhere. I just stood over them and said "Don't you think you should get up" and they slightly moved across a bit, then i said "AH actually i believe you have to get up and there are a few of us that need a seat" they couldn't get up quick enough, and deserted a nice 6 seats for us, my girlfriend couldn't stop laughing and said i was the real schoolteacher. I guess it's esy with kids, but don't know if i'd manage that on the london underground?

Morning all, well done Uki on taking a stand (or should that be seat?) on the train And good to hear that you are doing well berolina, hopefully you'll be able to carry on so as to maximise your post-bub time.

Did everyone (well, everyone who's UK-based) watch the baby film last night? I must confess that I was far too knackered from our trip to Leeds and so was asleep by 8. I think putting a programme which is specifically of interest to pregnant women on at 9-11 is ludicrous myself. Unfortunately we couldn't record it as our DVD recorder has given up the ghost, so if anyone has it recorded on hard disk or DVD I would be most interested to CAT you to see if I could get a copy. (We have no VCR, obviously!).

Still, 12 hours of sleep seems to have done me the world of good, hurrah! Did do charley's baby names thing, girls' names beginning with S. I was reduced to including some things like Salamander though just to make up the numbers a bit

Is anyone else getting grief from parents about baby names? My Mum knows we are thinking about Toby but wants us to choose Tobias with Toby as a nickname. At some point if she keeps banging on about this I am going to tell her the more she pushes for Tobias the less likely I am to choose it. The MIL doesn't even know that, but keeps telling dh she has a baby name book we can borrow. I am thinking about declaring a complete ban on the subject of baby names and just telling both grannies we won't be discussing it with anyone.

Tribpot - you are very brave admitting potential names to anyone, let alone parents/in laws! my experience from DD1 is to keep you mouth firmly shut, as everything we suggested was met with a swift "that's horrible" or "I knew a girl a school with that name who was a real bully" etc etc. My mum in particular had very fixed views on the three or four names she deemed acceptable! I also found that even when we did agree on a name, as soon as mum started saying it regularly it put me right off! So, this time we are keeping shtum.

Hello all
Bero - Glad all ok with your appts. It is reassuring isn't it.
Uki - Good on you for getting the seats. I am intrigued though that there is a right way and a wrong way to go to the loo when pregnant.....Would you elaborate? Would hate to think I am doing it wrong .
Trib - I have a policy on names whereby I do not discuss with anybody apart from dh. (ALthough I did do a list on here ages ago too). I mentioned one name last time to my SIL and she didn't say anything and that was enough to put me off. So no-one will know our names until the baby is here and named. We still haven't chosen for def though. I keep changing my mind and DH seems a bit disinterested. It is hard. I like Toby and Tobias for what its worth. My mum won't like our current number 1 boys name as she likes traditional ones (it isn't that unusual) so I have warned her of that and that she is not allowed to say anything detrimental. She is not worried as she is sure bump is a girl anyway.
I am tired today. I have done a fair bit of walking this morning running errands and I am worn out. This baby feels very low as well which is quite uncomfortable. I am worried I am beginning to waddle which will look silly as I am still having people come up and not realise I am pregnant . I really think my bump has come on this week though so I think the maternity tops will make it out of the wardrobe this time round after all. Then I really will look pregnant! Hoorah! Right I am off for a rest and to watch my vid of Desperate Housewives while dd is still in bed. Byeee.

Have you all had the Strep B test? What is involved? I think I should make some noises about being tested for it too.

I haven't had Strep B test and no-one has ever mentioned it - are other people being offered this as routine (wouldn't surprise me as, at 33 weeks, I've only actually had 4 antenatal appointments so far)? this is my second baby and DD1 was fine, so does that mean I am not a carrier or was I just lucky? Have to admit that I know very little about this....

Gab gab gab... REally, how's a girl supposed to keep up?????

Sorry, but I've only very briefly skimmed the thread. Picked up on Rasberry Leaf tea and Strep B screening.

The NHS does not routinely screen for strep B. This is because of the cost. There is another mumsnetter who knows a lot about it. I'll ask her to come on and type some info.

Rasberry LEaf tea. Well, I read when I was pregnant with DD that it's suppose to help set off labour -- which turned out to be a load of rubbish. Perhaps it does more just to strengthen the muscle and I would guess that means stronger and more productive contractions. And that brings me to a question about those who have had a caesarean. I know that induction is generally not advised for VBAC because a drug induced labour brings on stronger contractions and that can lead to scar rupture. So, does that mean that people going for a VBAC would be wise to avoid rasbery leaf tea? Or will it help to protect the scar? Anyone have any idea?

Oh yes, and my cheery news is that my maternity wardrobe is getting too small. And with 7 more weeks to go, does this mean I am going to be buying bigger maternity clothes? Oh, parish the thought!!

Ah Uwila, the most depressng day of my life was the day after giving birth to DD1. Due to leave hospital, I anxiously threw off my nightie and pulled on my maternity combats ..... only to find that I could not get them even half way up my enormous thighs, let alone over the bum and tum area. AFTER the 9 and a half ppund baby had come out! I then had to do a stop off to Asda on the way home to buy some jeans 3 sizes bigger than normal! Ho hum....

Yes, please let us know what you find out about Strep B Uwila, all news to me. (Well, it's probably in my book but I didn't read it in case it was too close to the pages on labour!)

Incidentally, a friend of mine this morning whose wife had a ds in Jan tells me that 'everyone' who has an epidural has experienced back pain as a result afterwards. Any views from the second timers on this theory?

No news on my job yet either, although the HR woman called me this morning and had quite an indepth chat about whether I'd move to Leeds before the baby came, how long I wanted off on maternity leave and stuff like that. Quite weird. If they come back and say no now, it will look very much like it's because they don't want to accommodate my mat leave requirements. (Bear in mind I asked for six months off, and not the 1 year plus that my Swedish friends are taking!)

Names - I can see I am going to have to clamp down. But I can't believe anyone would be so rude as to say 'oh, I don't like that name' when you tell them what you've chosen. Anyway, I think I shall issue a general edict saying I won't discuss baby names from now on. That'll teach them!

KVG - can't believe you are going camping. I hope you are taking a very very comfortable mattress type thing to sleep on. Even the Hilton was too much like camping for me to cope with.

Coop - forgot to say, good to see you back!

No sooner said than done Uwila - thanks for the invite. I attended a meeting with the Health Minister at the House of Parliament and there are still no plans to offer this test routinely to pregnant women. The current test that is available via the NHS is 50% accurate. The private test (that I initiated) is based on colunisation of GBS and 100% accurate. Its done around 36 weeks. Check out the gbss website for details - you can download leaflets as well.

The status at the moment is that pregnant mums are advised on gbs in their pregnancy packs - this is only for first time Mums though. A lot of hospitals are changing their gbs policy to fit in with NICE standards and there is a study being undertaken to see if routine testing of gbs offers any benefit. Hopefully, this time next year it will be offered routinely but don't hold your breath.

Do you need any more information? If so, let me know or email me - Uwila has my address.

Oh it is a very common infection and around a third of all men and women carry GBS in their intestines without symptoms and roughly a quarter of women of childbearing age carry GBS in the vagina at any one time. Unfortunately, because it only affects babies there is not a lot of research out there on it and gbss does not have the funds to undertake such a project.

No pain experience for me from the epidural. Sounds like a myth. In fact, I've never even heard that. However, I do know that if they punture into the spinal fluid and some of that drains, it can cause a headache. This happens because the release of some of the fluid causes a pressure drop, and that for some reason can apparently give you a nasty headache. I have yet to meet anyone who has had this happen to them.