Due May 2009 - Childbirth is getting closer and it's giving us the (blue) willies!!

[SpangleMaker]

In honour of llareggub's DS's painting experiments........

Can I be bold and ask if you've seen the popular names lists at all...some of the names mentioned above are top of the pops right now. They are very beautiful names, but their over use has really put me off. I really liked the thought of "Ginger Rose" (DP has very dark chestnutty hair, but gingery brows, and his niece who looks a lot like him in female version, has the most exquisite silky, ringlety strawberry blonde hair down to her waist...) if we end up with a girl, but "Rose" loses its shine for me if there are 5 other girls in her class at school with the same name.

And I know loads of people make fun of red hair but I love it!

i'm quite nervous/excited at having a girl... but absolutely love having DS so it will be a new experience for me too...

DandyLioness - sorry to hear your uterine arterial stenosis has increased, but it is great that you are getting fantastic care. Iespecially love the fact you are getting the support/ressurance/confidence in your birth plans. Your MW sounds like an angel!

I was at the anti-natal clinic this morning. BP was all over the place!! Up for the MW 148/93, but settled for the SHO who examined me. I've been referred to physio for the SPD. I was scanned, but the scanner being used was somewhat antiquated, so the bits couldn't be seen clearly!!! So it's still a suprise for us! Also I've been re-dated! Now due around 14th May!!! So I'll find the latest list and ammend myself! Hey ho - I've to do this week again!! And I've to go back to the clinic next week to get my anti-d jab - and I'll be cheeky enough to ask for the chance for another scan!! Also, my MW on monday got the position of bump totally wrong! She was convinced the head was up under my right rib cage - but it didn't really make sense to me cos of where I was being kicked hardest. So it turns out bump is head down at the left and bum's under my ribs!

Away to rescue my bread out of the oven - yum yum!! Hot bread with butter and cheese!!

dandy i glad your consultant said they'd not let you have an experience like last time... mine was saying the same kinds of things and sounds like they're really looking after you

divedaisy bad luck about the scanner... fingers crossed for next week and hope the physio doesn't take too long to contact you. Very of your hot bread and butter etc. I'm taking my mum to do her food shopping in about 40mins so will have to see what yummy things I can pick up then...

I thought it was time for taking a few more bump photos to compare to the ones i took on 29th jan. Had thought the bump was looking bigger and from the photos I think it's been on a growth spurt! See what you think?! Have uploaded them to facebook... think this link will work

todays ones are of me in purple on page 2...

Also DS has been having fun choosing interesting outfits lately... I had to persuade him to add an item or 2 before we could go out

Wow Fi- you have definitely grown a lot- i feel the same too. I wondered if my new found energy was due to little one having a rest after his spurt, and not draining me completely of all nutrients! However, it was short lived (3 days) as I am now feeling tired again. I might take some photos of bump- mines not massive but no mistaking it now.

If i had a girl it would be Emily (Millie) Jane, as Emily/Millie isn't quite as popular now as it has been, so not too many around. I agree that Rose/Rosie is getting popular, but it is very pretty.

oooh yes please! would love to see photos of everyones's bumps

Would you believe a few people I know at DS's toddler group on tues this week only just noticed i was pregnant?! i'll be 27wks tomorrow so they must have been thinking i was just really fat!

Dandy - I'm glad you're getting regular scans and it sounds as if your medical team and pretty well on the ball and taking good care of you. Fingers crossed all proceeds normally for you. Nice to see you back here by the way!

Just a word about the popular names lists - it could just be that I live in Scotland but I have to say that I don't know any babies called Jack (and hasn't that been the top name for boys for about 15yrs?) Also I don't know any Isabella's (except my neice and she's in Gloucestershire) and that's meant to be incredibly popular. Plus the Rosies I know are not babies either - one is 14 and the other is 8 and I don't know of any others at all (and I know a lot of babies through toddlers and nursery etc). I know masses of Ellies, Eve/Ava/Evie types, and a couple of Rubys. But other than that the name choices seem fairly diverse.
(I do know a Kia, a Pebbles, a Chelsea-Lee and a Shiloh (boy) through toddler group. No Isabellas, Graces or Rosies there though I don't think!) Although I do know a baby John, a baby Jane and a baby Helen! All a bit retro ?

Wow Fi, those are great photos. I promise I'll get one on of me. My bump looks really similar to yours, I think. Somedays, though, I feel really huge.

went looking around at mat clothes and now just can't be bothered to buy anything maternity related.

oh, Grumpy, I'm getting nosebleeds as well. yuk.

more yuk... piles have acted up today so that it actually hurts to walk far distances(chaffing ). but i still have a dog walk to do today, hope i don't irritate them more.

back to work again, hope you're all well.

Hey dandy sounds like things are ok for now then. Its great to hear that you're feeling good about your care. Its too long a
story for here but I totally know how you feel. I'm nearly there myself, I had a hospital marathon yesterday, but the more I get to know UCH the more comfortable I feel.

I am having a great pg, having scans every month but everything is fine. I have few pg niggles, no back pain, no problems - my risks are all academic at this stage and all to do with having this rare condition that nobody's seen before so its hard to sort anything out and part of me wants them all to leave me alone and let me just do it my way! But I'm really glad at how they're doing things, its all been very sensible and logical and so far they've all listened and explained things well. Actually I think they might be a very good bunch over there.

I wish you could get all that ideal care stuff sorted out much earlier. It would be such a load off. I am still waiting to find out if I'll be allowed to labour with a pool at the birthing centre.

BTW my Mama Mio stuff arrived today - delicious! Would definitely recommend. And I know it's pathetic of me but the packaging is lovely!

And I've had to phone Isabella Oliver to complain as one of the tops I bought from them has started to get small holes in it on the front as if it's worn away! It's been washed as per the instructions and never tumble dried. I've only had it since December and it cost about £90 so I wasn't very impressed. When I phoned up this morning the girl said they wouldn't replace it until the fabric technologists had inspected it and she'd send me out a label for return postage to send it back to them. I said NO, I'm going away next week and was planning to wear it so I need another one immediately and I'll send the faulty one back once I receive a new one. Couldn't believe she agreed to do it but she did and there is a new one in the post to me. I must have had my assertive voice on! Am glad though as I do wear it quite a lot as it's comfy although disappointed at the quality (it has also gone a bit bobbly). Oh well.

Frazzled- well done on being assertive- that does sound pretty poor quality though and I wouldn't be happy at that price.

I have gone a bit ju ju be bag obsessed and have 2 due to be delivered. They better be worth it (1 new, 1 used from ebay).

I do know a baby Rose/Rosie and for under 5s, there are plenty of Evie/Grace/Lily/Alice/Isobel and the like around these parts (and for boys, lots of Joe/Oliver/Thomas/William/Jack/Dylan/Connor/Ben). I also know a baby David which I thought was a bit retro. I like names like Jason/Scott/Lee which are also a bit retro (DH isn't keen) but maybe they just remind me of my youth and the boys I used to fancy so maybe not the best names for my DS.

I do like all the names everyone is mentioning.

The most popular name i like is for a boy, Henry.

here are my other choices:
Boy: atticus, balthazar(but can't think of a good nickname), Cassius... and still thinking
Girl: Harper (for those who know, see the 'Mockingbird' theme?), honour, arianna... still thinking.

our list is really dry so I need to scan the books/websites for more ideas.

I am very at all the Evie's, as I knew of no others when I named DD2 'Eve' and she's still the only Eve I know. By the by, her middle name is Rose!

Also, from a purely selfish point of view, am very too at all the Isabel/Isobel/Isabelles out there now, as I'm an Isabel and was always the only one and therefore felt rather special amongst all the Joannes and Claires and Nicolas when I was growing up.

by the way, I love 'Ptolemy' as well but DH won't have it - reminds him of the Restoration man (didn't bother me!).

Oh and Frazz

'Chelsea-Lee' - really? Pebbles - REALLY?

dandy glad you are getting good care. I was also allowed a 60hrs+ first stage, so if this is not acceptable according to a consultant midwife, why was it 2 years ago? Mind-boggling.

What effect does it have on the baby if you're labouring in first stage for that long?

So many messages!

I've just finished my last but one week at work, just next week to go and then I'm free! I am definitely de-mob happy.

I have another growth scan on Wednesday, as bambino was on the 10th centile which caused the consultant to order a repeat scan today. I've got plenty of movement and have been controlling my sugars well, so as far as I am concerned there is no need to worry. DS was on the 100th centile, which the consultant thought was significant until I reminded her that they'd all concluded I had undiagnosed and therefore uncontrolled gestational diabetes last time. So no need to worry, right?

DH loves the name Ptolemy, and so do I, but having considered that, together with some Welsh names, I think we are going to go with George, as it has had the thumbs up from DS. It "goes" with DS's name so I think we are pretty much decided.

We picked up our new car this week, and it is huge in comparison to my little Fiat 500. It is a 4x4 so has come in very useful this week in the snow. It's so much easier to get DS in and out too, it was the right decision practically.

Llareggub, i have a 4x4 too and its really great in the snow- I wouldn't have risked driving to Manchester in the snow without it. Also agree it is easier to get kids in and out as you don't need to bend over, although do need to lift them up sometimes.

I thought i had it bad labouring for 30 hours at home with contractions every 10 mins apart, and then another 12 hours in hospital before the birth. Hats off to you ladies. Its the sleepless nights that did me in.

llareggub we're starting our mat leave at the same time! I've got 2 shifts left this week and then all next week and I'll be free to enjoy myself. Can't wait.

I went to the aquanatal today for the first time. It was OK, but to my big surprise the teacher was my dd's swimming teacher. I also has a slightly embarrasing thing happening. We were standing I line and I broke some wind in the water. I hadn't felt it coming, so I couldn't stop myself. For a second it seemed a bit like a jacuzzi, all these bubbles coming up . The lady behind my seemed not to have noticed, but maybe she was just being polite. I had to stop myself from bursting out laughing and seeming like an idiot.

It is cruel isn't it that they don't acutally count you as being in established labour until you're having a good 3-4 contractions in 10 mins and/or if you're 3-4 cm dilated. If you're having 1 in 10 that's the latent phase and that can last for days. During the latent phase you're better off at home in your own relaxed environment. It doesn't harm baby as the contractions aren't often enough to distress baby, though it does often distress mums as it's too early for strong pain relief, yet often enough to stop you from sleeping making you absolutely exhausted and reducing your pain threshold. So you might have had a latent phase of 48 hours, but then progress quickly from 3-4cm to 10cm in say 4 hours, then unfortunately your labour will have been counted as a 4 hour labour. As I said. It seems a bit cruel and unfair to just dismiss the latent phase like thatm but that's the way it is. So alapala, the mws would not have counted your labour as being 60h I'm sure. A 60+h established labour would be very unusual, I've never seen it happen. Never even seen a 24h establised labour.