Due May 2009 - There's a bun in my oven and it's making me HOT! HOT! HOT!

[FiKelly]

Shiny new thread already!

Another thing. Ladies. Anyone Londonesque, to steal Sausagen's word, who misses the taste of real coffee as badly as I do (I thought I was craving it but will have a sip and can't drink it and realised its just because I really like the taste of good coffee) - DP came home the other day with a bag of Monmouth's decaf - its unbelievably good, neither of us can taste the difference between the real deal and the decaf. Its better than most home brew coffee. They use this special filtration technique that means the flavour doesn't leave with the caffeine and neither are chemicals used. Whatever. It tastes wonderful.

I wouldn't worry polony - I cried watching ER last week, and it didn't help that dp also sent me a picture of a boxer dog puppy thats for sale. Not that we can get a dog, or anything, but our family has always had boxers, and they are so lovely. Anyway, there you go.

flippineck I have just rung my Midwife Team to ask them that very question as I am not due to see them until 34weeks and they told me that I don't need to make any formal arrangements, otherthan just letting midwife know at next appointment so I can be but in my notes, other than that I just have to ring up delivery suite when I go into labour and tell them Im having a homebirth and they will contact my "team" and sent them onver and they bring EVERYTHING with them! The midwife I just spoke to definantly sold it to me, she said that she and another midwife did a homebirth yesterday morning, in a lounge with cream carpets, sofas and walls and left not a drop of mess! She also said its cleaner to birth at home than when you birth at hospital!

pulapula I got your email and have replied!

dandy I have really found being on here and "meeting" new people to talk to has
helped me so much, your all supportive and theres always someone lurking when you need them, in fact, you guys are more reliable than my mates in RL!!!! I have just spoken to one of the midwives on my team to ask about homebirth and she was lovely, i hope she comes to my homebirth!lol! not sure if you can put in requests tho!

llare I'm so happy your MIL sems to realise that she's done something wrong and wants to start over again. Well done to your DH as well. It must have been a hard time for you.

polony I stopped watching the news, because it makes me cry and I cry over the silliest things, soppy adverts are a favourite. It's normal. Since I entered motherhood, I can't watch anything where children get hurt/die or loose their mum without bursting into tears either, something that I never ever did before children.

re: homebirth. I think each trust has their own way of doing things. Where I'm booked, they're very strict about doing home visits for the booking and for your birth plan. So I suspect that all the final arrangements for my hb will be done at that point. I do know from people who have had a homebirth in my area, that the birthing pack gets dropped off at your house once you're term. I suppose that's to make sure it's all there and ready. And of course the mws clean it all up. It'd be a bit unfair if you were expected to clean up any mess within an hour of giving birth!

I took my dh to th GP's today. Apparently it is nettle rash caused by an allergy. Now I did change to Ecover detergent from using ecoballs around christmas time, so I didn't think it would have been that, because that's 2 months ago, but it's the only thing I can think off. So I've gone bought some Fairy non-bio, which I had always used up until last march when I thought I'd give the Ecoballs a go. I'm now in the process of washing all his clothes and hopefully he'll be OK now. They've also given me some anti-histamines, which seem to be doing the trick.

Belgianchocs - hope DSs rash gets better soon. I had an allergic rash in my 20s which was SOOO itchy and hot and couldn't think of anything which might have triggered it- strange really. Worth trying the fairy non-bio again though- i always use it as it seemed to be the only one which wouldn't trigger DDs ezcema (sp)

chocolatebunnies- I've authorised a payment through paypal so it should show up on your account (fingers crossed). No immediate hurry for you to post the sling- whenever you are next near the post office.

Ses - the lower abdomoinal pain was very bad this morning! I could hardly get out of bed. I put on my spd 'girdle' support belt and after moving about for a while it seems to have settled. I am still sore throughout my pelvis and hips, but that one 'hot spot' has eased. The baby may have been in the process of shifting position because when I saw the MW this afternoon she informed me that head is now down rather than lying in the place where I was sore. I have taken my painkillers, but dont really like taking them because they make me very sleepy and give me a dry mouth! So I take them at night-time.

Dandy - sorry to hear you're feeling so low. During pregnancy everything gets turned on it;s head. Hormones are rampant and worries start to grow into mammoth proportions! Out minds can really play havoc with our sanity - look at the dreams some of us are having. In my experience my Anti-natal Depression was diagnosed postnatally when I saw my therapist!!! My feelings during the pregnancy were that the pregnancy was surreal - it wasnt realy happeneing to me - other females got pregnant! I did want a baby, so it was a bit of a contradiction! I was over anxious and paranoid to get things 'right' - baby thinking really took over my life to a point where I was obsessive about it! My emotions were up and down - all over the place! Now a degree of all the above is also normal during pregnancy - it all depends on how it impacts on your ability to cope and how it affects your life in general/ Post Natal Depression was totally different - I couldnt think, concentrate, make decisions, had really horrible dreams and hallicinations etc -and worse, I felt I couldnt explain to anyone how I felt because I didn't know the words to explain it! It was a case of total desperation... yet I hid it fairly well (or at least I thought I did!!) for about 2 months. What I have found now is that by chatting here it has really helped calm me down and the support here is second to none!

regarding nursing tops - I BF my ds for over 2 months before I had to stop (because I was being put on Anti-depressants) and I didn't use nursing tops. One of the things I always put into the baby change bag were muslin cloths and I found they were good at helping to cover up - also handy is a baby blanket - looks like you're having a cuddle!! Practice at home if worried about exposing too much of yourself, but to be honest it's usually only another mum who has bf herslf who knows what you're really up to!!! I cant wait to get it going again! I also wore shirts with a T under it - open the buttons and raise the T. This time I'll be using my belly bands too.

OK away to get the dinner on the go then DS has his JuJitsu!!

Belgianchocolates - maybe your sons allergy has progressed over the 2 months since changing powder?? Hope he is rash free soon - did your GP do bloods to test for allergies??

Fairy Non-Bio user here too!! And fragrence free conditioner.

No. They didn't do any allergy tests on him. I only ever used to use Fairy Non-Bio because other detergents set of his exzema, I can't use any softener at all, but the dryer balls do a good job at softening laundry instead. Him being older I didn't expect his reaction to a change of laundry detergent (if that's the cause) would be so much worse though.

Divedaise hope that pain goes soon. I suppose it could have been baby moving around couldn't it. I keep trying to palpate my own belly to see which way lo is lying, but I just can't seem to be able to do it on myself. I keep having visions of having a breech baby and having a C/S. It's my biggest fear for some reason.

I've been very naughty today. I went into town to return those Next jeans and popped into H&M to look for light or 3/4 sleeve mat tops and came out with £115 worth of stuff I bought a tunic, a blouse, a short sleeved and a 3/4 sleeved top, a pair of black mat trousers, a pair of mat leggings, a stretchy belt (for my sinking jeans) and a pair of pumps. Which is actually a lot of stuff for my £115! Something isn't right with H&M's mat sizing though: the trousers are a size 18!!!! I'm normally more like a 10 at H&M and if you ever saw me in RL you'd know I'm nothing like an 18!

By the way that link you posted last night at 23.11 (sorry don't know how to copy it again) belgianchocs really moved me to make a donation. They aren't eligible for NHS treatment as the husband has grown up kids from previous relationship, even though his sperm count is now very low. And the wife lost her daughter from her last marriage at the age of 11 months from a degenerative condition which was only diagnosed at 7 mo .

It reminded me of a friend of mine who's son died aged 18mo from a condition which was only diagnosed at 12 mo. He died on Christmas Day a few years back . Luckily they took a chance to try for another baby (they both carried the "dodgy" gene) and their second son is 5 and at school and such a lovely boy. Don't mean to get anyone down but just makes me thankful for my 2 healthy kids.

llareggub i'm so glad your MIL wants to start afresh... hopefully things will calm down for your ML.

chocolatebunnies The Home birth cd is in the post... 1st class recorded just in case the post office try and lose it

re feeling low... my turn today. Just so exhausted from DS having 2 disturbed nights over the last 2... combo of bad dreams the 1st night and noisy drunken neighbours to thank for last nights disturbances. Had my 28wk mw app today for the bloods so dh took the day off as i have been known to pass out with bloods and not a good idea to be on my own. I went a bit woozy but didn't pass out thankfully & DH took me and DS for a drink and cake after which really helped. By the time we got home late lunchtime we were all shattered and DH fell asleep 1st on the sofa & I didn't want to disturb him as he's up at 5am for work tomorrow. I headed off to bed dragging DS with me but he wouldn't give in to a snooze so i spent a few hours resting while he watched telly. Really wanted to sleep but couldn't as DH was already and DS would have been left to his own devices at 2.5yrs. Got out of bed at 4pm when DH woke up and burst into tears... After a bit of a cry I felt lot better but going to head off to bed v early tonight just in case DS wakes again. All well with me at MW appointment... blood pressure normal, no protein in wee, LO's head down & has def been on a bit of a growth spurt as now measuring 29cm for 28wks. Get the results on friday so hoping to not need iron tablets as having probs enough with piles! I got my grant claim form today too YAY!

belgian great to hear doc thinks DS has just an allergic reaction & fingers crossed it was the change in washing stuff. Nice to have some new clothes too... why not!

divedaisy hope your pains are much better tomorrow... fingers crossed.

Sausage- I cried at ER last week too. It was so sad seeing Mark again and her poor son. I cried at Home and Away a couple of weeks ago when Jack died .
My back is feeling better tonight thank goodnes. I have been asked to work an extra day this week which I think I'll do as the extra money will help but the thought of a 5 day working week is horrid.
Llareggub- Glad everything worked out with PIL. Mine live in south africa so no major problems but they are a strange lot.

Thanks pula will try and post it tomorrow or wednesday, but will of course let you know when its on route!

fi thank you, cant wait to listen to it!
sorry your feeling rubbish aswell, theres a few of us feeling this way at the moment, maybe we should all arrange a meet up for a coffee! glad everything went well with MW.

Need your votes, DP is running me a bath, making me a hot chocolate with marshmallows, do I risk taking my laptop in with me?! Hmmmmmmmmmm

Sorry to raise the old hospital bag thing again, but I was just browsing the Boots website and came across this I guess I am probably a bit paranoid but I did get an infection post c-section last time so I'll definitely be buying one of these!

hi all.
llareggub, glad your MIL wants to start fresh. I hope things carry on well with your PIL.

about crying, I can't watch news especially about children/parents dying/cancer/Jade/etc etc. I just can't handle it. On a lighter note, I cry at happy things like close friends having babies, my mom telling me she loves me, etc. hormones. sigh.

about coffee/caffeine: Idon't know about Monmouth (can I only get it in London?) but have been drinking half caff/half 'decaffe' from Taylor's of harrogate who use the 'water filtration' (non chem) method. it's a bit pricier than most decaf but good. I also haven't been regulating my caffeine intake and have a couple of mugs a day, have also had a few small glasses of dr pepper. am I terrible? I wouldn't say I'm excessive, but should I be more careful?

chocbunnies love the sound of hot choc with marshmallows. don't know about laptop in the tub ...

I got an infection in episiotomy area last time, and will be taking antibiotics this time.

I will also take some potent painkillers to hospital. There is little worse than being offered several paracetamols per day, none of which even touch the pain.

I heartily recommend taking both with you to hospital. This stuff is much more important than nappies and nipple cream.

(Sorry I haven't read the thread - it moves fast!)

llareggub,

I just bought the handwash stuff last time, although there was a bottle at the end of the bed anyway. Was really thorough with the handwashing and got visitors to use it to. DH really liked the smell and feel of it.

cote I so agree! Post c-section I was in agony and called the midwife. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when I told her I needed pain relief, and told me that there was no way I needed anything stronger than paracetamol.

Luckily another of the midwives saw sense and gave me some great painkillers, which enabled me to get out of bed, sit up, that sort of thing. You know, the kind of things you need to do to take care of baby.

I had an IV drip giving me antibiotics and I will be doing my best to avoid another infection. I will be irritating the hell out of the health care staff, as I witnessed some terrible practices last time regarding cleanliness and hygiene. Still, it might mean they let me out a bit sooner this time!

fikelly sorry you are feeling low. It doesn't help being so much bigger now, does it? Everything seems like such hard work. I hope you feel better soon.

Oooo hospital bags, does anyone know whether I should have one prepared just in case? when I am planning a homebirth??

llare didn't know that sort of thing excisted. I'd feel a bit silly starting to spray the curtains though. Nowadays all beds tend to have their own hand gel and there's hand gel at the enterance of wards too. Infection control has become a major issue and all hospitals have become much stricter, still I suppose you can't be too careful. Our hospital now even has disposable curtains!

fi the only problem with all those new clothes is that I actually promissed myself not to spend too much from now on as this month I need to pay the balance on my pram and I'm going on mat leave too, leaving me with less money in the bank. On the other hand dh is having a pay rise from next month, so that should balance out my shopping spree I suppose

Momino you're so going to hell... I would probably cheat more myself with caffeine, but since the very early days of my pg I can't stomach it - the caffeine really gets to me and I feel dreadful. Hence only managing a sip or two. There are recommendations on how much caffeine is ok to have - I think a couple of cups a day is not too drastic from memory. I seem to recall that Cote uses it to um get things moving of a morning... As for Monmouth, they are just in London, but if you're a coffee nut you could probably order it. The coffee they sell is done with the water filtration method and I'd say the only thing about their decaf being special is that its their coffee which is just particularly nice coffee.

Chocbunnies - I think its time to step away from the computer...enjoy your bath (beware the bath hands!).

llareggub I saw that pack too and have been thinking about it... going to wait until after i've had a tour of the new hospital we're going to before I make a decision.

chocbunnies I'd not risk the laptop in the bath... if you dropped it/it slipped out of your hands arrrrgh! water/electricity def not a good combo! Have a good soak with the hotchoc etc then back to mn after

I too got an infection in my cs incision last time and needed anti-biotics... cote an episiotomy infection sounds sore yeouch.

chocolate I'm going to have a "birth bag" ready. Everything will be together easy for dh and mws to find and if I do need to go into hospital I can just pick it up and go. I'm not calling it my hospital bag though, I'm determined not to go there now that I'm finally away from the place!

I can't believe some of you were given just paracetamol after a C/S. We've always got morphine ready if you can't have anything oral as yet (they tend to give a big dose of voltarol and paracetamol in theatre, so for the first 12h or so you are restricted a little with what you can have). The only time I've ever had it that I can only give someone paracetamol is if it's an asthmatic woman who is allergic to codeine! Oh and if after an epis/tear you find that paracetamol is not strong enough: just ask the midwife if the drs can prescribe you something stronger. It's not that the mws don't want to give you anything, but just that the only thing we're allowed to give without a dr's prescription is paracetamol and unless you've had surgery your prescription chart is generally quite empty in terms of pain relief.

Dandy Divedaisy got it pretty spot on as a description of AND. My problem is a lack of control (I am a complete control freak) as this was an unplanned pregnancy and I didn't want a boy either, so with the way that this pregnancy is taking over my body I am feeling really out of control and don't want to face what is going to happen to me in 10 weeks or so. The AND makes me feel very low all of the time and kinda takes the edge off everything. I just don't feel able to cope. But I'm wallowing now. Sorry. Big hugs to everyone feeling pants at the moment.

Another vote for crying at ER from me. I bawled at the very beginning when Dr Benson talked about Michael Criton, let alone at the end. I can't believe it's the last season - what am I going to watch now?! Good job Desperate Housewives starts again soon

llare glad things seem to have settled down with the outlaws.

chocolatebunnies yes pack a hospital bag... if only so your dh can find everything in the one place after your home birth... If things don't go as planned then at least it's all ready to go. I packed a hospital bag at 38+3wks thinking... i'll never need this for my home birth but wouldn't hurt to have everything together. As it turns out i went for my antenatal check up 2 days later and was rushed to hospital from doctors in ambulance with pre-eclampsia. So having packed my stuff turned out to be a godsend for dh who was able to just grab it and bring it in. Can you imagine your stressed out DH being able to follow instructions of what to pack if you've not done it?