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........

I finally didn't sleep up a hill last night, but I think I'll just have to kick out dh completely to get a properly restful night. We were having a duvet fight I think , because I woke up a couple of times pulling it back on me. He's gone back to Kent for work so I'll see what it's like on my own. I definitely felt less pressure on my sides/hips while lying on my new mattress and was less achy this morning. Though agree about needing a ladder to get in. I'm 5'9'' and had to stand on my toes to get my bottom onto the bed.

I had a bit of trouble making dinner tonight. As I've worked an early and dh left this pm, I thought I'd make it something easy and decided to make tuna pasta bake. Cooked the pasta: fine, wanted to open the tin for the tuna and the tin for the sauce and then suddenly remembered it broke last week and hadn't been replaced yet. With the meal half cooked I ended up having to stab the tins with all sorts of sharp things to try and make a hole. I managed it in the end without getting injured too. Another baby brain attack, I think

divedaisy I got Indiana Jones out for tonight too, but I'm keeping it a secret from ds. I want to watch it in peace. But your talk of Magners makes me wish I had a nice bottle of Magners of my own to drink while watching it

re bras: I'm wearing the M&S maternity ones and have 2 mothercare ones that were reduced to £6 during the sale, so you can't really go wrong at that price. I had the maternelle nursing bra with my dd, because after my ds I knew I would BF for at least a year again and I found it worth the money + it is one of the few brands that actually does a 32, mothercare and M&S started from 34 you see. This time around I want to try the Hot Milk bras, they're really gorgeous. I would recommend to go for a cheaper M&S nursing bra and then buy a more expensive bra, like Maternelle, bravado or Hot Milk once your breasts have settled (they're humongous during those first few weeks) and BF has been established.

oh and as for nursing bras... yep! agree with the mothercare ones. I got the last of my size (before they discontinued my cup/rib size) while expecting DS and found them hopeless although I like their vest tops. Still wearing those now...

The nursing bras i did like came from the NCT... when you get to a 34k/l there's unfortunately very little choice out there... the nct comfort ones (which i have and are still going great) and the royce ones which i find come up small on the ribs on me i've just seen they've expanded their range since last time so might treat myself to a new one of theirs! I do find without my under wired bras that i end up with one giant mono-bosom which I find can be quite uncomfortable when the boobs stick together

you know when i see all the beautiful nursing bras out there (esp the hot milk range) it really makes me wish i was a few cup sizes smaller... or that they would expand their cup ranges up to the Himalayas size i need [big sigh emoticon]

Fi I totally understand. Even though a 32D isn't all that huge, not many brands do that size. For some reason it usually stops at 32C or they don't start doing nursing ones from 34. So bra shopping for a 32D can be so frustrating.

Yeh I saw an ad in a recent preg mag (the first one I've bought so far!) for Hot Milk gear - very nice - but she had a gorgeous toned, no bump whiskers in site bump and normal boobs!!

Belgian - I don't know what age your kids are. I have to watch it with ds (age 6) cos there is a bit at the end with the skulls that scares him. But it is a good film! Haven't got my Magners...yet??! wait and see.

I started my hospital bag packing today. Nothing serious at this stage though - mat pads, breast pads, knickers (cheap cotton & disposable), night time nursing bras - just some stuff I already had. But what else should I bring?? OK, wash bag, hairdryer, make up, PJs/nightie, dressing gown, slippers, (chocolates!!), and a magazine - but what else? For baby a few vests, baby grows, nappies, cardigan, going home outfit...?? I thought I had seen a recommended list in one of the book things you get given, but Ican't find the list anywhere! And I feel as though I have forgotten to put something on the list!! What are you all packing - those of you going for a hospital birth?

OK movie over - time to get ds into bath and then bed. then its Casulty for me!!! Sorted.

A dark towel, the darker the better!
Some nice handcream
More maternity pads than you think you'll need x 4
Mobile phone charger

My mother works in a hospital and all of the staff there recommend bathing or showering in tea tree oil the week before going into hospital to kill off any lingering bugs. They recommend the shower gel but I'd be amazed if it had bug killing properties!

divedaisy LANSINOH cream

OK, now I'm talking as a midwife: Don't forget a couple of baby hats, PROPER maternity pads, not ultra thin always type pads and plenty of old/cheap/disposable big knickers. Any one of you going for a C/S: bring enough nappies, a small pack should do it, it's amazing what comes out of such little creatures. Anyone who wants to take a hairdryer, be aware that most hospitals want electrical equipment to be checked by their estates department before you can use it.

divedaisy I'm watching without ds, he's 7, but my dd is only 5 and I remember finding the original Indiana Jones very scary when I was about about 8-9, so I don't want them to watch it yet.

for baby... some washable wipes or cotton wool pads (rather than balls... can't stand the feel of those!)

for you... more munchies... eg.biscuits and maybe bottle of your fav squash if you're not that keen on plain water as we'll be drinking loads of water with the breast feeding!

most importantly a camera

Or buy the cotton wool pleats, where you can tear of as much as you need. For people going to my hospital I'd suggest a nice baby blanket too, we've only got towels for some reason (probably to same money).
Those lists in books always have too much on them, but they're a good guide. I remember I didn't use half of it with ds, because being my 1st I had followed a list from a book.
Oh and some change always comes in handy too.

Oh, and a very thick skin so that you aren't bothered by the inevitable nakedness that comes with labour, the exposed norks and nipples and the medical professionals poking around down there.

Blimey! Hospital bag packing! That's organised. Can't remember what else to pack, I'm sure I didn't use half of the stuff I took with me with DD, even though I was in for two nights. Magazines a good idea - I was so bored stuck in hospital (nothing wrong with either of us apart from DD being breech but not assertive enough to insist on leaving, grrr) that I sent DH to get me some, and he came back with Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan. Not sure either were much help!

BF bras - my favourite for daytime is the Anita underwired microfibre one from Figleaves. No mono-boob and reasonable support, even in a G/H (it's cut small). Never got on with Royce, and the NCT one was good for the early days but the lackof shape quickly annoyed me! At the moment I'm still wearing underwired, but I'm pretty good at checking the fit. I would never buy a bra from Mothercare - they're just all wrong for me.

evening all.
thanks for all your views on bras. i think i'm going to check with NCT first as I know the lady who is the rep for our branch. Someone also mentioned the elle macpherson la mer which I wanted to get last time but didn't. i think i'll use some of my maternity grant to buy a good one. Haven't looked at the hot milk range yet but heard great things about it.

Is anyone doing exercise besides yoga? I used to walk a lot but have slowed down. Also, my only form of transport to the MW has been my pedal bike but it was difficult the last time I cycled there, I don't think I can cycle anymore. Does anyone cycle? I guess I shouldn't even attempt and give in to the bus.

I was walking today into town and it took me so long, baby felt extremely low that it almost took my breath away. i still can't believe i have 3 more months to go, it feels like I'm at least in the 8th month.

there is nothing on telly tonight.

I've just been putting everything I've got in a bag and so it's sort of turning into a labour bag in an unintentional sort of way. I'm planning a home birth, but I think it's still useful to have a bag ready and to have somewhere where everything is nicely together so my dh can find stuff after the baby is born, because he's a bit typical man really.
My dh was just as useless as yours, flippineck, when I sent him home to get me some T-shirts when I went after my waters broke with ds. I wasn't in labour, but feeling really hot, so I'd asked him to get me some short sleeved t-shirts as I had only packed long sleeved ones (it was end Nov) and of course he came back with some more long sleeved ones, didn't he.

momino I'm starting aquanatal as soon as I'm on mat leave. I can't at the moment, because it's on a wednesday afternoon and I'm usually at work. Excercise in water is lovely when you're the size of a whale (couldn't resist that one)

Momino - I cycle quite a lot, usually with DD on the back, but fairly often without (have a slection of bikes ) but I've found it hard going recently. I haven't cycled in the last week because of the weather, and tbh I don't think I'll manage again this pregnancy. It's a combination of the lack of energy and the bump geting in the way. With DD I stopped at about 6 months too, that was a bump thing too. I'm still walking a lot though as I don't drive, but am noticably slower - it seems to have got rapidly worse over the last couple of weeks.

Sorry about the typos!

I loved aquanatal when I was pregnant with DD, but I can't be bothered to go this time - it's in the evening and once I've sat down after DD's gone to bed I just haven't got the enthusiasm to go out again. I really should, it was lovely, and my chiropractor keeps telling me to get in the water more. Don't think taking DD to her 'Ducklings' class counts, does it?!

Momino I feel that baby is really low too. 13 weeks to go and I really wonder what I'm going to be like at the end. You know that feeling when you insert a tampon when your flow is too low? I've felt that briefly a couple of times today too.

momino I also looked at the agent provocateur bras - god I love their website - which is possibly as expensive as you can go I'd say, but they'd probably be very nice... I still think the la mere ones look a bit nicer and when you've looked at AP bras, suddenly the macpherson bras look really good value!

re excercise. Because I have this handicap with mobility/ balance issues and have been expected to possibly be unable to walk the last trimester....I started pilates (assisted as opposed to floor) as soon as I was well enough to go after the first trimester sickness. Its been brilliant - I've maintained mobility but have also increased my strength, which is such a great feeling. It feels like gentle exercise, but it really cuts to the chase and works/strengthens what needs to be strengthened without wasting any of my precious energy. I ought to have been going well before being pg but was always put off a bit by the cost, but as it turns out its 15 quid a class which is not as bad as I thought it would be. If I were able bodied I would go swimming, I really miss swimming but for me the problem is balance on the slippery floors between the change room and the water, so I just won't risk it on my own. I was thinking of using a stationary bike at the local gym earlier on but decided to pick up a second pilates class during the week because I think its a better overall workout and you're supervised so you don't overdo it or whatever.

This past week I've been quite tired again. We did go to Madrid last weekend, but either I'm coming down with something or I'm a bit pregnant. 25 weeks. I really want to keep mobile also because I want to have an active birth; I've had too many scary hospital experiences to feel ok about intervention and drugs unless its an emergency. So the excercise is intended to keep everything working at optimum level to increase my chances. I would love to have a home birth.

Jennster, that's exactly how it felt! a very weird feeling.

Pilates, aqual aerobics - would love both but am restricted as I don't seem to be able to find the time. I would love anything in the pool as I like the thought being upheld in water.

polony, you're right about keeping active and exercising. that's why I'm finding it a bit depressing that I can't walk briskly anymore as my dog walks and occasional cycling have been my only means of physical activity.

off to eat my burger and chips homemade by dh... mmmmmm.

Pros and cons of maternity pads and sanitary towels

I always hated thick sanitary towels when I was younger, and if I had to wear one would always go for an ultra thin one. I was very surprised then when I found the thick ones were the most comfortable.