Due April 2009 - Episode 14: Fanjo Warriors attempt to be "clean" during this thread?? NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!!!

[PuzzleRocks]

And so it continues...

Mar
29 Mar : WhatFreshHell, DS 2.4 born on Easter Sunday
30 Mar : BabyBolat: 1st timer

Apr
01 Apr : Rachelinscotland: DD 3 years, and DS 2 years in March
01 Apr : Chickenbalti: DS 4 years DD 17 months
02 Apr : BoffinMum: BOY! dd(21) ds(10) ds(7)
02 Apr : MathsMummy27: GIRL! DD 3 years
03 Apr : skiingone: DC1
03 Apr : purlease: 1 m/c, 1 DD 3 years
03 Apr : Kalikaroo: SURPRISE! (28), 1st timer, lives in Scandinavia (but too shy to say where!)
04 Apr : Bleuravin
04 Apr : Bumpalump
04 Apr : babypringle: 1 DS 2yrs 1 month
06 Apr : ToastnHoney: first timer
06 Apr : Mummyontherun: DD 22 months
07 Apr : Picklelala
08 Apr : LuLuBai: 1 DD born 02 Apr 07
09 Apr : Oddeyes (30): GIRL! DS 17 mths, 1 mc. London
09 Apr : Barbarella: 1st timer, TRIPLETS
10 Apr : hopeful1
11 Apr : mrsfossil: 1 DS 6.5
11 Apr : Bubbaluv: 1 DS 1yo
11 Apr : SpringySunshine: BOY! 1st timer.
12 Apr : Brettgirl, 1st timer
12 Apr : Mumblemumhome4lunch (37, Swindon): DS will be 4 on 11th April, DD 2yrs and 1month
13 Apr : Dungungirl(30): BOY! 1 m/c, DS 4 years
14 Apr : AuldAlliance: DS3.8 BOY!
15 Apr : claireykitten: GIRL! DS 12 months
15 Apr : electra
15 Apr : Sarahmum: DS 10yrs
16 Apr : tristaleejac(25): 1 ds, 3 years
17 Apr : Surprisenumber3(32): DS1 9 DSS 9 DS2 5 GIRL!
18 Apr : gingersarah: 1st baby
18 Apr : salbysea: (28) 1st timer
19 Apr : Kittycatisgettingfat (29) 1st timer
21 Apr : B52s: DS will be 2 and a quarter
21 Apr : Staryeyed
21 Apr : Schulte
22 Apr : PuzzleRocks: DD 21mths GIRL!
22 Apr : soon2befamilyof4 DD 13 months.
24 Apr : conkertree (27): DS 17 months
24 Apr : Bronze (Gawain) - 4th DC
24 Apr : Frekkles
25 Apr : Swaliswan: DD 17 months
27 Apr : Bicnod
27 Apr : Carameli
27 Apr : ilovesummer 3rd dc
27 Apr : purplemonkeydishwasher DS 3yo
30 Apr : Nutty Taff (27) DD nearly 5 GIRL!

oi slow down you lot am trying to concentrate, buddy up and read the thread at the same time

Kitty - Hooray for the homebirth plans. How excitng.

When did the Mat. Allowance rate go up?

I have already eaten 3/4 of a packet of Cadbury's rich tea biscuits hmmm....

01 March will be 4 weeks pretty much so that is when hospital bag will be packed and all systems go for getting this baby out - I don't care how worried DH is about hurting the baby if it helps get it out, I will make him do it with me!!!!

Here's to Boff - just ordered the TPN 200 plus accessories, as prescribed by the illustrious Doctor Boffin...

BB - I have told DH that if he is not forthcoming I will start whipping my clothes off and screaming "If you loved me..."
Bound to get him hot under the collar.

Puzzle - according to the letter I got today, it's at £117.85 until the 6th April, after which it goes up to just under £124. Because they've taken so long to process my paperwork (vvvvv long backlog in Bury St Edmunds, apparently) they're depositing a nice fat whack of a backdated payment into my account this Fri... should come in rather handy, think I'll book some reflexology sessions!

puzzle I have the cake info I'll email it to you later

gotta run

kitty was it west suffolk you looked round? I had ds1 there

BB & Puzzle - whatever advice you get from the midwife about lots of curry and sex try to remember to have the sex before the curry.

Come hither eyes and vindaloo breath at 41+ weeks pregnant is never a good look!

Fantastic, thanks very much Bronze.

Bronze - we've been on the tours of two places - Epsom Hospital and East Surrey Hospital (incl Birthing Centre) in Redhill last night. They were both OK but very hospitally - I felt like a patient the minute we walked in the door, and we were only there for the TOUR - and we weren't really comfortable with the loss of control we'd have in those environments. There is a totally fab birthing centre in Crowborough but its over an hour's drive away, so we decided that HWB was the best option for us, with Epsom Hosp five mins down the road for emergency transfer if needed.

It's amazing - now that we'd considered all options, in a logical manner, with pros and cons and all that, and finally made our decision - I'm SO excited because it's all really happening! I can't wait and at the same time am petrified... pretty normal for a first timer, I think...

Right - I'm off to wallow in the bath reading my Homebirth book and then I'm off to Kingston for some retail therapy. Hip hip hooray for happy days!!

That's great news Kitty. Every little bit counts at the moment.

I will bear that in mind Lulu.

I'm really jealous of you homebirth to be

sory I asked about the hospital cos I saw you said bury S E but I didnt read the whole post. I should be doing other things

I was born in West Suffolk.

Andrew Lansley's on chat btw at the moment. Did you know?

Kitty - delighted that you are feeling sorted about your birth. Do you think you will hire in a birthng pool or anything like that.

I'm sure feeling relaxed has a lot to do with birth going well and if hospital is going to put you on edge then definitely best avoided.

Lulu - I'm going to check one out this afternoon in Kingston... [grin[ it all depends on whether our first floor flat is strong enough for the weight - i THINK it is but am not sure how to check for sure.

Cool

Out of interest - where in Kingston do you find birth pools for hire? I'm pretty sure I'm going to go into hospital but would be interested to know.

And Kitty - if your flat isn't strong enough you can still spend lots of time in the bath. I was in the bath for 4 hours last time (obviously adding hot water regularly). DH hung out in there with me, listening to the radio, reading the Sunday papers and creating graphs and charts of my contractions (he's a bit geeky like that - it made him happy!)

Full inflatable birthing pool weighs the same as 9 adults standing in the same spot, so if you could have a party in your flat without it collapsing, a birthing pool will be fine (unless some idiot's removed a retaining wall underneath and broken building regulations in doing so).

You can buy these on Ebay and my mw recommended them:

www.birthpoolinabox.co.uk/

Good afternoon ladies,

Well done Kitty for home birth - sounds like you've made the right decision.

Booo for DCs waking up at 3am - that's just not on. Do they not even go back to sleep once they are snuggled up in your bed?

Saw consultant today and LO is head down, with its back on the right side of my bump - so in pole position at the moment, hooray. She also told me off for being dehydrated - well obviously after yesterday but am doing my best and drinking as much as I can. Still feeling weak and a bit sick though God knows why I felt I had to come to work!

BB did they say you'd be allowed to work from home for the last few weeks? Sounds like the best plan?

Lulu - it's a friend of a friend who is selling hers privately... It's the Birth Pool in a Box that Boff has linked to! I'm meeting her for coffee and to check it out today. She used it before the birth to relax but not for the actual labour so it's pretty much perfect... otherwise I'm going to try eBay.

Have also just booked the first of five reflexology sessions before the big day... next Thurs - and the lovely therapist is throwing in a complimentary back and bump massage because I've booked a whole course! Today really IS a great day!!!

this is her Based in Ashtead, Surrey, she specialises in Maternity treatments... and she's a lovely lady to boot!

DH carrying me to bed isn't that impressive in terms of physicality, in that it's only a few metres away, with no stairs to deal with. But still, I'm pretty huge, so I was quite impressed - I was worried about him carrying me across the threshold on Sunday, too

I'm so excited about it being pancake day! I'm going to have a lovely bowl of pasta now (just cooking it!) & then pancakes for dinner. I'll end up making them all, because DH is useless at pancakes, but it'll be so worth it. Nom nom nom.

Hello to EllieG - although you bring more news that April babies don't seem to be great sleepers & this worries me! I'm listening more to Boffin's reassurance WRT her DS2 more than you & LuLu

Boffin, so sorry about the SPD - here's hoping that you don't have to tolerate any mooing because of it As for the review, don't worry! Especially if you're always the most reliable - it's obvious that you're in exceptional circumstances!

Ooooh, I so hope I'm around for your live birth thread! Are you sure you trust us with DH, though?

Nutty, I've got my buddy details (hi frekkles! ), so thank you to you & Puzzle for sorting that out! Very organised of you, ladies xx

Great advice from LuLu about the curry there I was really craving curry yesterday, but had to ignore it due to heartburn. I think my body was trying to self-destruct!

I'm currently full of thoughts about what to do about uni. It's looking most like I'm going to do some exams in August (any resits from the Autumn semester, which there will definitely be a couple of at least, as I was unable to submit assignments due to being just too poorly) & then take next Autumn semester off (assuming I pass everything then - otherwise I'll have to repeat it, but I don't think that'll be an issue) & start back this time next year & carry on as normal. Effectively, it'll take me 2 years to complete my first year. It's really not what I was planning, but I think it might be best in a few ways - it'll mean way less stress in August (as I won't have to do Spring semester exams as well) & a few extra months as a SAHM next autumn. Still, I have a few more people to talk to about it all this week before I can make a proper decision. Life's never simple, eh?

Springy I think you are probably wise to take a bit more time about your course. Better to take it slowly and do well in your degree in the long run.

I felt a bit like I was on drugs the first 6 months of DDs life (lack of sleep can have bizarre, almost hallucinogenic effects). I'm sure you don't need extra stress of studying at that time.

Hey schultes - why are you in work??? Go home!!!

Are you feeling a bit better today?
I haven't spoken to work about home yet as I haven't been there but I am planning to! My aim is to be in london 2 days a week and at home for 3.

Kitty my little buddy you are having a good day - am hoping that will rub off on me!!

Springy it's a tough one. You have to do what is comfortable for you - you don't know how you are going to react once the baby is here so take your time thinking about what you want - when do you HAVE to make the decision by?

Schulte - good news on the positioning of your baby. Hope it stays in that position now!

When you say 'consultant' - is that someone at the hospital? I seem to have virtually no contact with the hospital at all. Just my GP and a slightly bad tempered community midwife who I see at my GPs clinic. I felt much more connected to the hospital where I had DD. I wonder if that was because it was my first child, or because they seemed to think she needed lots of extra monitoring or just because I was with a different PCT last time.

I know BB I am wondering too what possessed me to come here, especially as my boss is in a foul mood today. Never mind, 2 days to go and I'm offski! Our office manager has just put a box next to my desk so I can pack all my stuff, am quite tempted to do it right now but that would look a bit to keen