*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?

I don't know about a new mattress. i always thought you needed a new one per baby because they get dented etc.
We are getting a RAF cot with a new mattress as dd is still in her cot and I am not moving her until it is entirely necessary. I like knowing where she is. Then my mum has bought a cot for when we go back to the UK which will need a new mattress to so I guess yes we are getting a new mattress...

Redhead - re the bebecar carrycot - if it's got the british safety standard certificate for car seat safety then it must have passed tests? Hope you find some good news about it. That's so interesting about putting babies outside - I've never heard of it - sounds good!

Pink - sorry you're feeling so big and cumbersome ~i'm sure you don't look it though! I've really slowed down thank goodness, over the last few weeks and haven't put much weight on at all lately. I'm 8st 2 now. I know you're supposed to put on about another 9 lbs before it's over, but I'm hoping not to not go much over my original desired weight of 8.5....Seemed impossible during my first trimester as I'd put so much on then. Have to wait and see I suppose. I;d be so p'd off if I got to 39 weeks or something then in the last week suddenly got stretch marks/muscular splitting/thread veins etc.

Coop - I am still considering the swivel version of the Mountain Buggy. I'm stuck to be honest. Just don't know. You've reminded me I need to buy a monitor - I'll be able to use it when Pod's snoozing in the garden

Charley - . Didn't realise you were so petite.
Don't get hung up about the weight thing. There is a reason midwives don't weigh us any more.
How much are you supposed to gain overall???
I hadn't weighed myself at all until last m/w appt when DH and I tried to guess my weight. DH got it spot on to the kg .

Charley - I was under the same impression as you that you had to have a 'proper' seat for the car - we would prefer a convertible lie-flat option as well (i.e. which is also some use outside the car) as we may be getting rid of our car soon after the birth as it's 13 yrs old and is beginning to cost more to maintain than it's worth. We're too poor to buy a new (or even 2nd hand) one right now but we thought we'd manage with public transport until we could afford one again - we live right by my work and a bus stop so it's actually OK.

Pink - sure you look lovely! I'm finding pg women (incl myself ) the most beautiful women in the world at the moment. I've put on about 12 kg and weigh just over 60 now - am not really monitoring my weight gain, as long as the doc says it's OK. Yes, I am getting very tired (see my previous post on sleeping all morning!) but am otherwise doing OK - have scoliosis and am absolutely astounded that I haven't had any back trouble yet. Have I got that to look forward to??

Mrs W, I'm not buying a new mattress, dd's one is in perfectly good condition and was brand new so we know it's history.

Charley, you mentioned something about Pod's position, let me go and re-cap... Oh yeah, what is the knee to chest thing? I musta missed the post on that. And what on earth is ECV?? Something to get a breech baby to turn? It was me who mentioned the crawling, I think. I'm not sure it helps breech babies though?? My mw recommended it because dd was lying posterior i.e. her back to my back, not her back more against my tummy (anterior). I suppose when your tummy is hanging down, it makes it more comfortable for baby to lie back on it, rather like a hammock..? That's my 'theory' by the way. It made sense to me because I spent many an exhausted hour after work lying flat on my back. Anyway, dd didn't turn until I think her head was poking out, the little madame!! And I had the horrible, long 'backache' labour everyone speaks about

RedheadMum, are you thinking of coming to the London meet this weekend? Cool! It's at a restaurant near Green Park (?), called Diverso (Italian). I think Uwila booked it ages ago, might be worth checking that they wont be fussy about extra people, I don't know if anyone else has signed up since she made the reservation a couple of months ago. I don't think so, don't let it put you off anyway

I need to rant. I know I'm not the only one who isn't 'organised' I tend to ignore posts from people who have been preparing and decorating . But I am SO fed up with this loft not being finished after, umm nearly 3 months.

I would decorate the 2nd bedroom (which we haven't done since we moved in) and get dd's old room, baby's room ready, but I can't!! Apparantly, we need the ceilings in there to be fire-proofed, so chances are there will be mess at some point in those 2 rooms Because they are doing our neighbours house too, atm it seems that while work is going on in one place, yes you guessed it, it completely stops in the other

I'm trying to be cool about it and keep telling myself it will be done in 6 weeks, but, that's cutting it pretty fine! Not to mention, when you see absolutely no progress being made at the end of the day, I find it hard to believe.

I think I'll have to get dp to speak to them tomorrow. I know it's pathetic, but I think I'm too emotional to do it and will lose it in a very unproductive way. Plus, I'm afraid, decent enough as they are, they like talking to men given the choice. They just pay more attention

God. The more pregnant I get, the less I can do. My parent's will come up and help re-paint, so it wont be a terrible job, but WHEN???

Fuck a duck, excuse my language, but I am so sick of camping in the basement It's pissing with rain today too.

God, that was such a long post, sorry

I can't help being a little bit obsessed with my weight - I used to be really overweight/unhealthy and depressed and don't want to get like that again. I know it doesn't sound a lot, but my frame is so light I'm still pretty rounded. I was getting worried in the first few months because I put on a stone really quickly. Don't they say you should put on between 1 and a half to 2 and half stone or something? I guess it's all very relative though. My neighbour put on 4 stone (and she's a dance teacher and normally very thin and athletic) and my friend put on 5. dp's sister in law actually lost a stone with both of hers though!

Oh Lippy - poor you with the builders. I so know what you mean about them not communicating well with women - been there recently. It's so infuriating I agree - best leave your dp to speak to them. I hate it when they've "finished" a job, only to go round seeing all kinds of niggling details that they've not bothered with. But you live and learn I suspose. I will know a lot more for next time that's for sure. Especially insisting on very detailed invoices!

The knee-chest position is where you go on all fours then lower your chest to the floor (or bed, whatever), so your pelvis is above your chest, it's supposed to help turn a breech baby. It keeps popping up if you do searches on correcting a breech. Although I have seen opinions that it doesn't really work. Not entirely convinced about it myself for some reason (and it's not pretty comfortable). ECV is where a doctor manipulates your baby with his/her hands through your abdomen to physically turn it around. it's about 50 - 70% successful, but it sounds too stressful for the baby for me, being such a softie. You're dead right about creating a "hammock" with your tum - as baby's back and head are the heaviest bits, they are supposed to gravitate downwards, so I imagine would be very good for back to back. Today Pod's in a very odd position - I can feel his back is in a crescent shape under my chest. So he's currently a lateral breech.

Hmm I think I will try some of those positions in front of Eastenders tonight, will be my excuse when dp gets pissed off with me for watching it

Ahhh! ECV is an 'external version'!! What does the 'C' stand for I wonder? Have you considered acupuncture as an option if and when needed?

I'm just waiting for dp to come home, so I can cry and moan... here he is right on cue!

Lippy - god I know how frustrating it is. I keep calling the agents about painting and its getting to a point where I wonder if they'll turn my flat upsidedown just as I'm giving birth I want it done now not to mention the washing machine which needs to be fitted - there is a big gap in my kitchen where there really needs to be one and I'm sick of paying for the laundrette Not to mention I have about a million nappies that need prewashing before the baby comes along. Damn them - with all these hormines they should be jumping to it. Don't worry about ranting

Charley - Oh I stopped getting on the scales a while ago or I knew I just end up doing something mad like trying to loose weight. I figure I'll be so busy afterwards and being vastly on my own that the weight will just drop off specially with breast feeding. I'll not have people to go shopping for me to pick up the essentials so I'll have to haul arse myself. I am a lazy cow about shopping and if I can't be bothered to carry it I'll just get essentials like fruit and baked potatoes. I have nutritional suppliaments on prescription so I don't have to worry about being malnourished. I figure I'll be a cow when I give birth but it isn't that bigger deal to loose weight. I don't really want to worry because the baby's health is the most important thing. I think the reason why I'm so big now is because I can't walk as much as I used to. I used to walk for at least 3 hours both weekend days and three one hour walks in the week. I think thats what kept me fit and its not surprising I've got so squashy around the edges. When Bubba arrives it'll be summer so he'll be going in the buggy and I'm off walking again. I love being outside on walks, I am a real hippy - I need to feel close to nature Also they say if a baby gets natural sunlight they'll sleep better. Did anyone else hear that? I couldn't stand being stuck inside.

I doubt very much if your dp will get p'd off with you in the knee chest position

the C stands for cephalic

Oh Pink - you sound liek you're being bombarded relentlessly with stressful situations at the moment Stay strong! Harrass the landlord - if you're a pain in the arse to him, he'll sort it out. Why don't you shop on line for your main shop? It's a fiver delivery but could be a real break for you when you need it. Also you can save money by hanging round the special offers pages which you wouldn't necessarily notice if you go there yourself. I know what you mean about being near nature - I'd live in the middle of a vast forest if I could!

Charley, I think we aren't allowed to discuss such things (even though that's how most of us got here in the first place )

Pink, yeah you're in simialr position to me. God, you have to have a washing machine. For goodness sake! You poor girl. Have you got internet access at home Pink? If so, you should try online shopping, obvious solution, but it would be perfect for you. Either that or what about getting it delivered? Don't most supermarkets do that (do you have a car, not sure you do) I know M&S does, for women who don't want to get the boot of the Merc/Freelander dirty or smelly SOrry all fancy, posh car drivers!! So does the Co-op, you should explore those options.

Hello
Just popping in to say hello and that my Mum arrives today so I prob won't be around much over the next week. (I think I have posted more than enough recently so I am sure you won't forget me in the meantime )
Charley - I put on alot of weight at the start of both pregnancies (big bum and thighs and hips now) but weight gain tailed off towards the end and my gain was spot on what it should have been last time (can't remember now) so try not to panic. I know weight is an emotive issue so sorry to raise any demons from your past. This time I decided not to worry about it. I lost some but not all my baby weight in between pregnancies and thought that I would just worry at the end about losing it all . Incidentally I found b/f really helped my weight loss (I didn't do much else!), but it was not a quick fix as you need to eat lots to feed IYSWIM. But over the months it worked.
Lippy - Grrr at your builders. I hope that your dp is able to sort them out. So frustrating knowing there are things to be done and not being able to do them.....unlike me who is just being to lazy to get organised and shop .
Pink - If there is one thing you do before this baby arrives get that hopeless landlord to fit you a washing machine!!!! Good Luck. Hope you have some good news about things soon. Keep us posted about the doula too.
Have lovely days everyone. Have too many jobs to do before my Mum arrives so will run off now.

LOL about the knee to chest position comments too.

Message deleted

Mornin' everyone! I can't possibly even consider reading all this to catch up. But, as I am aware that London Meet is this weekend... yippee!! thought I should re confirm things.

1- I think we might have a few additions to the table (thankfully my DD won't be one of them). If anyone is planning to come, but is not back on the original list, please CAT me so that I can (hopefully) amend the reservations accordingly. Also, if anyone was on that list but can no longer atttend, please also CAT me with that message.

2- Does everyone know where it is? Pink??? Are you sorted now? If not, I assume you are taking the train to London. What station do you come into?

3- Charley, I'm thinking of driving to Hounslow, and then taking the tube to Green Park. That was I don't have to mess with changing trains and lugging my fat arse up and down the stairs/esca;ators at Waterloo. If you want to join me, you are more than welcome. Anyone else would of course also be welcome but I think Charley is the only one anywhere near Sunbury.

Any other questions/comments regarding Saturday, can we PLEASE post them on the meet thread because I doubt I'll be able to keep up with this one today.

Hope everyone is otherwise well. We transferred DD to her toddler bed this weekend and so far it has gone off without a hitch.... YIPPEE!!!!

Oh, and I know you all let to be kept up to date with the nanny games. This morning I left DD in her high chair with some ham, cheese, and a sippy cup of juice and left the house before nanny came down to see what I had done. DH was there so I didn't leave DD unattended. I'll bet nanny threw the food away and made her toast. But, I will have gotten on her nerves so it was fun for me.

Hi, just a quick post to answer KVG before I hoover the house.
I choked dd with the milk spurting out at such a rate not with my nipple . If you squash the nipple back into the boob it slows the milk flow down so she could cope with it. Poor little mite. I don't remember this prob lasting long but everything is a bit hazy TBH.
Have a great time at the London meet. Wish I could join you. Hopefully another time.

mornin' - just taken me 20 mins to catch up from yesterday!

charley - thanks for the advice about the car seat safety thing. I'm going to investigate further as I'd really like baby 2 to be able to lie flat in the car

Lipstick - will come to the meet if our weekend doesn't work out! Left MIL with Dd this morning and she looked rather nervous! Here's fingers x

building work - v stressful. Once you get them finished mobilise all parental and friend help to decorate and offer them beer in return! This should get it all done quickly and hopefully in time.....

Pink - yeah I heard that there had been some research done that babies sleep better outside, s omething to do with the sunlight. I put my Dd outside in the pram once we moved to a house and she slept v well. The HV told me I had to put her in a cot when she went to a childminder and day sleeps all went a bit pear shaped....I'll be getting hands on advice from my neighbour...

Hi everyone

I'm in slightly better spirits this morning, dp and I ranted about the builders last night and it made us both feel better. He's going to speak to them today and play the "my dp is (obviously) pregnant and could go into labour in 6 weeks time" card Ironically, they seem to be working on 'our side' today which is great, I think the talk still needs to happen, just to remind them we do actually want it finished!

Pink, KVG ( I think it was her) is right, you should check back to your contract and see what it says about 'amenities' and take it from there. I know you have a lot on your plate atm, but no washing machine, that's crazy. I lived without one when we had no kitchen for 3 months, I've been there

Coop, have a great time with your Mum!! We shall miss your chat and input

Oh, pregnancy and weight What a minefield. I haven't done much reading this pregnancy, as you know But, I seem to remember reading last time that the amount of extra daily calories needed amounted to something like a banana. Not, a banana smoothie, a twix, 2 packets of crisps and some sort of pudding as I had hoped

I don't want to pile on the pounds un-necessarily this time either, I think that's fair enough, I'm not obsessing 'Posh-like', but I'm not going crazy like I have. It's the usual boring stuff, eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg, a well balanced diet etc I think you'll be thankful once baby is here.

I got my figure back very quickly (holiday, bikini deadlines!), thanks to breastfeeding, Pilates and watching what I ate. It is slightly easier not to over-eat in the summer, for me anyway. I still wasn't drinking because of the bf-ing and alcohol has a big, hidden calorific value. There was a time though where I was 'pass out dizzy' because I wasn't eating enough to sustain myself and produce milk. That really brought me to my senses

Still, plenty of weight support groups on MN

Morning all,

Feeling v miserable today because I woke up at 5 and couldn't get back to sleep I think I will try and have a kip this afternoon to make up for it in preparation for our trip to Amsterdam tomorrow.

On the upside, my first ever pair of maternity trousers arrived from Next just as I was typing this message, hurrah! They are rather odd but I am so pleased to have something else to wear I don't care

Also v cross that everyone else's parenting classes are starting so soon, whereas I have two flipping months to wait for mine.

I had read that time outside in the afternoon helped a baby sleep. If we stay in the flat, I don't think I can very well put the baby out in the carpark to sleep, tempting though it may be! But a walk to the park in the afternoons will definitely be in order, as prescribed by my mum in any case.

'Morning' everyone! Slept all morning again (remember I'm an hour ahead of you!) - but was up for 2 hours between 6 and 8. Trib, I know how you feel - I never get an unbroken night (good practice I suppose!), always seem to wake up between 3 and 6 am and sometimes I just can't make it back to sleep.

Have to share my dream with you - D-Day was here, nothing was happening and I was desperately trying to find something to do to kick start it . Wonder if that's a premonition??? Have been so anxious all pregnancy I'm not really keen on the idea of being overdue, although I know it's more likely than not (although with my cervix, maybe not).

That is, at some point between 3 and 6 am, not always solid (thank goodness)