March 2009: Beware of TMI . . . we're getting ready to give birth and there's nothing we won't share.

[MKG]

Ok so I'll start it off.

Has anyone else had a huge increase in discharge? It's gone from clear and not too much to thick and white, and copious amounts.

welcome to all the newbies btw! the more the merrier...

I really like Eliza but I have no less than 6 friends named Elizabeth which puts me off.

laweas we have a similar problem, DH is Welsh and I'm half, so if our DS decides to arrive on St David's Day there will be the inevitable suggestions. Except that we each have an uncle David or Dai, and at least 5 Davids or Daves in our friends group!

Wincing a bit this morning, finally got some lovin' from DH (poor boy works nights so is only home and conscious 3 days out of 10). Unfortunately now have a small graze right in the ladygarden! Am using Savlon, any other recommendations?

Laumiere, My ex is welsh so we chose names with welsh connections for my DD1 & DD2. Ella Megan & Carys Jennifer, but at the time found it difficult to come up with boys names. But my sis has just had Dylan which I think is lovely, just the right balance of unusual & yet not unheard of!

All the newbies are coming out of the woodwork!

Loving the welsh influence - the only connection with Wales I have is having been the proud owner of a corgi for many years (I'm Irish/Cornish, DP is English), but despite that, Rhys Patrick is currently edging out Nicolas Joseph in the name sweepstakes.

I've tested the names on a couple of non-involved people (no family or friends - just people in stores, cab drivers, etc.). Unfortunately, Rhys hasn't gotten the warmest reception. But I still really like it!

Am KNACKERED after being in London all week. If I lived there and had to walk/tube to work every day, I'd already be on maternity leave! I don't know how you London ladies do it.

On the positive side, I ventured into Primark for the very first time - what a revelation! So I now have everything I need for my hospital bag except the birth plan (gotta write it) and diapers (a friend who works for Procter & Gamble will deliver some multipacks of Pampers this weekend). Then I just have to pack the thing.

(Is anyone else irritated by the baby books that show women checking into hospital with just a small, elegant, over-shoulder tote bag with them? If I look at everything I need to bring for myself and Cletus, I may require an airlift. )

Oh - and I know it's been discussed on the last thread, but I just had to face up to the fact that my parents want/expect to be in town for the birth, and I'd been having in mind that they'd come a few weeks afterward at the earliest. Uh oh.

Dylan is a lovely name, but we really want Thomas as a middle name (it's for my brother, who is the boys' only uncle) and somehow I can't bring myself to consider Dylan Thomas!

I loved Gethin and Geraint (still love Gethin) but DH vetoed. Boo.

So William or Gabriel it is! (William is kind of nice, my family is Welsh down my mum's side and their name was Williams so it's got a nice tie to my Welsh heritage too)

DS1 is Michael Cian.

I wanted Gabriel, but DH won't let me, because of the potential for p*-taking at school. So, depending on my hormones, the wee man will be named Nathaniel George Brewster Anstead, Cameron George Brewster Anstead, or Lukas George Brewster Anstead. Brewster is a Scottish family name on my mum's side and was the middle name of my very much loved but long departed grandpa. For some reason all my husband's family have 2 middle names, so DD is Verity Emma Louise Anstead. Lukas is not a typo, spelt that way for a close childhood friend of my husband's family who died in his late teens.
I had decided on Romilly Grace (+something else!!) for a girl, but the 20 scan put paid to that idea!!

Laumiere - I love Gethin, it's a fab name. Sounds manly!

btw corgi have you thought about taking a little bag for labour and a bigger weekender type bag for after? that's what I did last time and am planning to do again. only had absolute labour essentials with me, and it made life simpler when we had to transfer wards and rooms twice. have managed to squeeze all my essentials into my babymel changing bag. the other bag will stay in the car and DH will be sent to fetch it after the baby is born.
plus last time i overheard another labouring mum being absolutely bollocked by the midwife admitting her for having an enormous suitcase. actually it was one of those little wheel-on flight suitcases like air-hostesses in cheesy films carry, and was quite small in my opinion, but the midwife was not happy.

Livismum - interesting re the reflexology. I think I am going to have it at 37, 38 and 39 weeks. Hope to make it longer than 37 weeks but they key is going into labour naturally !!

Thanks for the nice words about names. I'm pressing DH on Eliza - he did admit this morning that at least it is a family name on his side (way back, but if it helps convince him....). I also pointed out I thought it had a similar vibe to DD's name which is classic yet not over popular (Anna).... He might be swaying... and then it'll probably be a boy anyway .

I also have welsh connections - my Dad is welsh but DH isn't impressed by any of my welsh name ideas. He doesn't even want to use my grandmother's middle name... I can't think why - its Elvis (yes really)....

I now have everything for my bags bar 2 new outfits for the baby I'm waiting for but non essential ashave loads of stuff from dd (and its not all pink) and nursing bras which I'll sort out in a couple of weeks (am 35 weeks today). Oh and aromatherapy oils which are being dropped off at my house on monday. Just need to arrange it all into various bags. Is somehow want to pack the main bag so that if at any point they say I need to stay in and have a c-sec DH can remove all my hippy natural birthing stuff out.

We';re supposed to be going away this weekend to DH's mums so we can have a last night out with DH's friends from home before the baby comes but its looking unlikely with the weather !!

[thumps self on head for being a dimwit]

thanks, ellie, for the two-bag tip - that's exactly what I shall do.

I love the name Nathaniel. For me, Cameron and Lukas/Lucas have become a bit too trendy.

livismum - lovely tidy bump you have!

Regarding hospital bags, I had roughly packed an all purpose bag even though I was hoping for a homebirth, but at my 36 week check my BP was raisd so was sent for check up at day assesment unit and advised to take my bag. So I had take any baby stuff out so as not to tempt fate! Was sent home anyway. Have now decided to have 2 bags, 1st for me, 2nd for baby.

interesting about the reflexology.
I had an antenatal massage last weekend and she worked on my lower back/hip/thigh/arse muscles, which really hurt at times, she said she had a couple of ladies who had gone into labour not long after their appointments. She's always really booked up but I am going to see her at 38 weeks to get my muscles un-knotted and ready for labour so who knows what might happen!! My bump dropped this week and I am convinced the tiny one will come out early, seeing the midwife on Tuesday for my 34 week appt so I'll see what she says about the position he/she is in. I certainly feel more able to breathe and move.

Ooh yes, I meant to say I love the name Nathaniel as well - it was a real contender if DD was a boy although DH wanted Nathan and I wanted Nathaniel. This time it doesn't go with dd's name so not on the list.

We're kind of lucky in that our lads are likely to be pretty tall (dad is 6ft 2, uncles are 6ft 4 and 3 and both grandfathers are 5ft 11) and tend towards sort of elfin, so the angel connection (Michael/Gabriel) does kind of work. DS1 has the most amazing slanted brown manga eyes, which give him a very exotic look. We're interested to see if DS2 gets them too! Will put a couple of pics on my profile of DS1.

I still like Gethin!

I love the name Gabriel, it was on my list but husband not so keen.
I like Welsh names too - Geraint is a good manly Welsh one!

Ok, a few pics up for you to see!

I think I vetoed Geraint as it's difficult to pronounce for a lot of people outside Wales.

Yay! More good news, Ofstead finally arrived and we did really well. I'm so pleased.

Car is still screwed and will cost us hundreds to fix, but since that's the only really rubbish thing at the moment I can live with it.

DP has a strong welsh connection, but doesn't seem to be all that keen on a welsh girl's name for some reason. (He likes Huw for boys)

Heh I mentioned Gethin to my DH today and got a cautiously favourable response, so we'll see :-) I think we'll just have to see what DS is like when we meet him!

Hedgewitch If we ever had a girl she'd be Arianwen (more precious than riches). I love the sound of the name and it's got lots of possibilities for short versions (Arianne, Awen, Anwen).

I'm actually an Isabel, my dad preferred it to the spelling Isobel, but everyone spells it with an 'o' anyway :-)

Sorry meant laweasel there!

This baby needs to:

-- Shift off my bladder
-- Stop getting hiccups for an hour at night just as I go to bed (the feeling of it gives me the willies!)
-- Stop sticking it's feet under my ribs
-- Stop making me crave curries (have had 3 this week - oops)

Moaning minnie again. God I bore myself sometimes, Gawd knows how you lot put up with me.

But it IS Friday and I DO only have a week left at work. Every cloud.

MKG with you on the feet in the ribs thing! Why do they do it? It can't be very comfortable...........

Morning all!

Well dh has finally come up with a list of girls namesthat he "woudl consider". Alas Eliza was vetoed (I'd been quite liking it).

Can I ask what you all think about this. DD is Emily - if we then had a Lily would that be too similar?

We're also both agreeing on Eilidh (though dh being a kiwi thinks it looks weird!)

I bet it's a boy now!

Can I just rave about reflexology. I didn't have it when I was pregnant but 4 goes of it and I got pregnant with dd (after a year of trying) - I also felt so well after it - so it might be worth a go for all of you aiming for that natural delivery.

Hiccups from teh bump here too - but not as bad as with dd who seemed to have them constantly - and when she came out they didn't stop !

I crave Thai food - yum!

law - you must be feeling less stressed now - hooray!

3 weeks but only 9 days left at work - whoo hoo!

With you re the feet in ribs. Last night it must have stretched cos seemed to have a fist in each groin and two feet in my ribs like it was doing a starfish! very uncomfy!

Good morning, I swear this baby is doing the limbo because she is soooo low it's gross. My bump is literally hanging out of my clothes.

Yesterday I got loads of BHs. My bump was rock hard almost all day. God I just want to be done being pregnant.

Baby has actually moved across the bump - which feels weird since Xmas she has been lying head down with the back to my right hand side and her bottom right up under my right ribs. But today she has suddenly moved and the pain is up under my left ribs but the bottom half of her still seems to be the right so I am very confused. Hope she is moving into a better position and not moving so we are back to back - not fancying the back ache or the more painful labour. Bump still not really dropped although it does feel very heavy. BHs seem to have died away recently, so at least that is a relief.

Have the hubby searching out more names as we speak, but he does keeping coming up with really odd names and I can't decide if he is serious or not.