Due May 2009 - Bring on the Creme Eggs, mooing and choo chooing

[Jennster]

Thought I'd better start this soon.

Congrats auntie-to-be pula - fingers crossed the heartbeat is strong and healthy and continues that way.

Re: feet swelling in pg - you may (or may not) like to know that my feet are usually a 5 - 5.5. When PG with DD2 I had to buy a pair of size 8 boots, and by the last couple of weeks of my pg they were too tight! Ended up in flip-flops and mules with a low heel. Attractive. However, am now back in my size 5's (and they aren't feeling tight yet). Probably won't be long though......

I have my scan at Babybond tomorrow at 2.15pm!!!!! I am so excited. If I don't find out again, I will however cry like a baby. We are going to go to Mamas and Papas straight after to buy new things for the baby.

Baby started moving last week and now i can feel movements when I put my hand on my belly. My hubby felt movement for the first time last night. He has been talking to and kissing my belly for ages though. So he was very happy when the baby responded to his voice. My DD loves he book 'There's a House inside my Mummy'.
She now thinks Mummy's belly button is a telephone to the baby

Jennster - You poor thing! That must have been so painful. I burnt my arm last week, taking the cake I had baked out of the oven. I am sure that was nothing compared to your burns. I hope you heal quickly!

SpangleMaker - I hope you are enjoying your day off? I started my baby spreadsheet as soon as I realised I was pregnant! It has Girls/Boys names and their meanings, things I need to buy, how much everything is going to cost etc. So I am a nerd too .

Sausagenmash - Congratulations on your little girl!

HtheH - I read in my magazine that flowing discharge is quite normal in pregnancy. I should know, I have to change my underwear 5 times a day (sorry TMI)

RE: MATB1 forms - You can get these from your GP or call your community midwife or their office and ask them to send you one or leave it for you at your GP surgery. That's what I had to do because my midwife forgot to give me mine. Don't forget to pick up your form for the £190 from the midwife!

RE: Baby slings - I was given a Baby Bjorn sling as a gift with DD. It was lovely, with so much back support. Very comfortable indeed!! I used to put DD in it and do the housework. Momino you bargain lady you. A tenner for Baby Bjorn sling that's so cheap. Well done you.

RE: Cleaning - I am a fanatic abou this too. My towels are always perfectly aligned on the towel rail. There is a colour scheme in each room. I love shopping in Laura Ashley and NEXT for homewares.

RE: Stationary - Yep love it!!!! Can't get enough.

My latest obsession is buying items for daughters bedroom. I am trying to buy everything from the UK before we shift over to the US. Things are more expensive there since the pound is now worth nothing. We are getting free shipping so I am trying to get all furniture and furnishings from here before the big move. Shops I am looking at so far are Laura Ashley, NEXT, Kidsmill, Mamas and Papas and even IKea (Ikea US is more expensive now)

Any suggestions????

Mind you (thinking about the swelling) I did work right up until 39 wks and was on my feet most of the time clambering about building sites so wasn't sitting with my feet up relaxing at home which may have had something to do with it. Luckily the workmens steel-toe capped boots were always far too big for me.....(shudder) - I wasn't wearing the flip flops on the building sites in case anyone is worried about my H&S. Did get some funny looks from workmen though, clambering about with my huge comedy tummy clad in a high-viz vest!

Still haven't had a creme egg......was absolutely devastated last night as texted DH to pleeeease bring me in a creme egg when he came home late. He turned up, delighted with himself bearing two cadburys caramel eggs and was gutted to realise they actually aren't the same thing. (he doesn't really like things like that so had no idea). I almost cried. Boo.

Thanks, I feel more normal now! I'll definitely make sure I'm up to date with all my appts.

Frazzled at foot expansion! Am not looking forward to that... cheap boots from Shoe Express/ebay may be the order of the day.

moonlit there's a company called Aspace which does lovely kids furniture. Also have you looked a the White Company? (both are online)

The only time I went out on site I got laughed at for being swamped with huge high viz jacket & wearing massive boots with lace tights

Moonlit I'm impressed with your spreadsheet esp so early on. Thinking about adding some colour coding to mine. Also considered drawing up a project plan for work that needs to be done to the house... but DH is 'managing' all that and would just ignore it anyway, he's way too laid back for plans and spreadsheets!

RIGHT I must get off MN and do something useful... there's a pile of ironing staring at me.

hi all.
moonlit got the baby bjorn from ebay for £10 by being really patient. most go for £20-30. I just picked my ceiling price (£12) and kept bidding on one until got the right price. took a couple of months.

about your move, good idea to take the furniture over with you since moving fees are paid. i think with the swtate of the economy nothing is much cheaper in the US like it used to be (except some electronic things like computer stuff, ipods, etc).

about Yoga, would love to be in a class but the only classes in my area start at 6.30 but DH doesn't get home till 7.30pm so won't work. might get a dvd then but it's not the same as being in a class, is it? and I'm not very disciplined to keep at it.

anyone's sickness/nausea come back? i've been feeling a bit ill when I haven't had food for a while or if i have too many sweet things... guess my body telling me something! am now tucking into tuna pasta but can't seem to get enough. very hungry lately.

Ooooooh ironing

If anyone is currently in south London, I ate too much lunch and I've now got a spare creme egg in my draw (bugger the dentist!)

Fab news re the heartbeat pulapula - I bet it looks like a tiny bouncing bean!!

Re spreadsheets I also did one while pregnant with DS last time. It was my only way to keep track of the things I wanted, had already bought, had yet to buy and even a list of gift suggestions of various prices just in case any one asked! I haven't done one this time for the simple reason that this time I only need to buy girly clothes stuff as we've got everything else from DS. Although saying that I've been looking on ebay for a babydan play cage den for pick up in our area for our new arrival to be. I think she may need a bit of added protection from not only DS when he's rampaging about but our inquisitive small dog too.

Thats a fab sign PulaPula.. most people just wait until 12 weeks to start saying anything though over the moon for you!

Emma the form needs to be handed in so that your entitlement to statutaory MAternity pay isnt affected.

You CAN get the form from your GP
thats where I got mine because the hospital said they wont give it to me.

Ring them up and see what they say?

oops missed this whole page!

forgot to say emmalina... we had a similar prob with our previous sofa... but it was our old dog with a bladder infection. Sadly our last sofa was a futon which didn't have a removeable cover and it soaked into the wadding which was all loose fibres inside. We ended up claiming a new sofa on our accidental insurance! With your covers being removable that makes things easier. Basically you'll need to scrub/wash the inside cushions by hand...

I had a different problem with our new replacement sofa with removeable covers and foam cushions... but with toddler vomit fest.

1.soak up as much as you can with an old towel by applying pressure (stand on if needed).

1. send covers off to dry cleaners...

1. if not dry cleanable or washing machinable then scrub by hand with a dish cloth/old flannel/brush with a water & just plain old fairy non bio or other gentle clothes washing liquid mix does the trick to make it hygienic. If you have a foam cushion interior & a vinyl floor then you may be able to put another old towel folded up thick under the cushion, dowse area with washing solution and apply pressure on top with another cloth to force wee through into towel below to remove the worst of it & repeat if needed and still smelly.

1. if you've got as much as you can out and it looks ok... then when dry febreeze will freshen it up.

Hope this helps & good luck with the sofa!

Re babya slings - I saw this on the vertbaudet web site - anyone have any reveiws??

HtheH - I used to do a lot of swimming and I always leaked after!! Quite embarrassing!!!

I used disposable nappies for DS as I got swamped ny the choices for reusables. I doubt I'll have any more kids after this one, so may not get the money's worth out of them. Are they expensive - I think the upfront costs amazed me and that's what put me off. Also I'm not the most organised person in the world! Any views/comments/suggestions etc welcome.

Getting loads of kicks now. DH can even feel them against his back when he's sleeping!

Closing shop now - away home for French Toast, PJs and Indianna Jones Wii game!!

Oh re swelling - my feet went up one size. I'm noticing oedema again - especilly at night. Socks leaving marks, rings getting a bit tighter, and some 'pitting oedema' (ie swelling that dimples and stays 'in' when you press down into it) Seeing MW on Monday afternoon, so will get all checked out. I was induced 3 wks early last time due to it and SPD - into hosp for a rest and next day I became a Mum!!

Hi girls - my turn for the mad panic in hospital today - all okay now. Had a tummy virus last week and then last night was awake all night with chronic lower back pain (which is where I laboured with Lottie) - decided it was just one of those things, got a hottie and tried to sleep. Then wallop suddenly I was woken up through lying in huge wet puddle - checked the hottie but was all sealed so went into major overdrive of panic as one can imagine. Went straight to the gp who found blood and protein in wee and on examination (hmm very pleasant) they said cervix was very wet and low and i needed to go straight to labour ward! OMG I was in pieces - rational, sensible woman straight out the window. Anyway after much monitoring, more prodding and poking than one can imagine, the guys in the hospital think it is a bladder infection and that cervix is closed and membranes intact. No explanation of what the liquid was or where it came from (and certainly doesn't smell like wee!!) Just got to wait for urine and swab analysis but am much calmer now and in a lot less pain. No antibiotics as yet as they said will prob make me throw up and they would rather see how it goes than cause more trauma.

Sorry long post girls but good to offload this stuff on here. Fingers crossed all will be okay now?

Sorry off to catch up on the rest of the news now!

Belgian I noticed today a little scribble in the front of my notes - last scan date and a tiny indecipherable (almost) F. When MW was using doppler today she said so another girl then - then she saw our surprise and said or do you not know? HB was avg of 160 so she tried to bluff that she was going by that! Do hospitals make note of the sex on your notes even if you don't ask?

oh detsy poor poor you. That must have been terrifying - fingers crossed all is well and it's just been a bladder infection. Take it easy [virtual hugs]

OMG detsy what a scare, big squeezy hugs and will keep everything crossed for you.

detsy How awful for you, glad everything is better now, I'd be a complete mess if it was me!

have been off work this week as my dd has flu, bless her! never known a 2yrold 2 have flu! shes really struggled with it (as have me and dp)! shes only been sleeping for 15mins at a time and today is the first time since Sunday that she has had a meal, good old Calpol and Tixylix have finally kicked in!

Have a bit of an odd query, this pregnancy the kicking feels really odd, my last pregnancy they were all aimed up into my ribs whereas this time it really feels like baby is kicking the inside of my fanjo (sorry if TMI)it feels so odd that it makes me have to sit up-right, its such a bizarre feeling, like the baby is trying to get out! Does this mean that the baby is breach? Has anyone else got this??

Chocolatebunnies

detsy you poor thing, gosh, you must have been so scared! I know I would have been totally freaked. Hopefully it was just wee (maybe LO kicked you in the bladder??) & it's just a 'normal' urinary thing. Hope it gets sorted soon x

Detsy

What a frightening thing to happen, glad you're ok though.

Re swelling, with DD2, I had horrendous cankles every day - they looked like Yorkshire puddings (yum). I have already started to get the sock-bite now (when I take my socks off at the end of the day, I have red marks where they've bitten in to my cankles). Can't get my wedding ring off, but couldn't anyway, as crash dieted for 2 weeks for wedding so that ring would fit

I'm just waiting for DH to come back from walking the mad mutt so we can have our lovingly prepared chcken stuffed with mushrooms, garlic, creme fraiche and basil with new potatoes and greens. God, I'm starving, it's take me ages to make it and I WANT IT NOW!!!!!

The DD's are at Granny's for the weekend (yayayayayayayayayayayayay!!!), they haven't seen her for a while, so going to sleeeeeeep

chocolatebunnies i'm not sure but i don't think our little ones are stuck in any particular position yet... i think there's still a bit of room to manoeuvre in there. I've been getting the same gymnastics down there not worked out if they're from feet or hands I'm sure belgian will have an idea of what a breech baby feels like to touch from the outside of the belly...

oh and glad your dd is on the mend... is it me or are the bug this winter particularly nasty this time?

Oh Detsy how scary! Glad all is OK.

Regarding the sex recorded on the notes, my consultant told me that when he was training, the consultant he trained with used to record one sex on the notes given to the mother and the other sex on his notes. He would do it very discreetly. After the birth, he would point to the mother's notes (if correct) and claim he had correctly guessed the sex. If it was the other sex, he would point to the less discreetly recorded sex on his own notes and claim he was right from that.

I thought it was a funny story!