Due in June 2009: The final quarter - packing our bags and remembering to squuueeeeeeezzeeeee!..

[Ineedmorechocolatenow]

Here it is!

hello all

just had a quick read to catch up, but am not well. have a horrible cough and headache. When I lie down at night I cough and cough till I taste blood and had to sleep partly upright last night.

So, I am a little unhappy at the moment. Currently counting down the 'minutes' until dd goes to bed so I can collapse in a heap.

I was in Holland & Barrett today. They had no raspberry leaf tea and said the minute stocks arrive, they 'fly' off the shelf, so it's usually out of stock. You'd think they might order a little more.

Have the baby wardrobe basics but holding off spending more as we got so many clothes as presents last time. It's hard to know how many we will be given second time around.

Did a tour of the hospital and it's a little bit more homely than the last one - the staff seem very friendly, so that's nice.

6 weeks to go. Would love to come early except have my final year photography assignment to complete in the next six weeks. littlesarah - when do you finish? Good luck with selling your article. Starting out is always so tough. I guess it is a little easier once you have a few more contacts and a reputation under your belt

doris - I was reading about cystic fibrosis in the paper at the weekend. I didn't realise what an ongoing challenge it was to keep the lungs cleared. It was an eye opener for me, and I was pleased to read that there is some exciting research being done.

better go - time to run a bath.

see ya.

do like the photo insywinsy - something always to look back on with a good feeling, instead of remembering how sick/achy/tired etc you were

Daisy - Got about a month left. The dissertation is due on the 8th May, then an assignment due 15th and final presentation on the 20th. Cannot wait til then!

I hope you get better soon. I know what you mean about Holland and Barrett, sort out your stock levels people!

evening all hope everyone had a lovely day!

Been trying to catch up but thread moving so fast now...

Went to glasgow today with DH and BIL and had a great time, only thing is now my hips are killing me from all the walking we did today. Saw some lovely clothes for baby but didn't buy any
Past few nights not been able to sleep well due to hips hurting and pelvic pain been a total nightmare but being off on hols/mat leave does help as thinking about it there is no way i could sit at a computer feeling the way i do for 8 hours a day.

Slowly gutting my house, only really got me and DH's room left to get done, just need to build the motivation to get on with it.

Hopital bag is packed, just need DH to pack a change of clothes for him and we're ready As for raspberry leaf tea (can start taking it on sat as 32 weeks then ) everytime i go into Holland & Barratts I can only get the tea bags so I have a box, but will need to find the root stuff as supposidly that is better to use.

Just want to say:
insy what a lovely photo, wish i was brave enough to get something like that done, but there is no way I could hide my stretchmarks

mrsmcjnr where about in scotland is the company that cleans ovens for £15?? I bought this stuff from Tesco called Oven Pride and god was it great, never knew the wire racks in my oven were silver in colour always thought they were dark thank god i wont have to clean oven for maybe another month or two

Big hellos to rest of juners hopefully when DH goes back to work on monday i will keep up with everyone ...God that was a longer post than i thought

Hello all!

Another sunny day in Guildford. Got to pop over to SIL's as she has some glasses DH can use when he's running the marathon on Sunday. Got my best friend and a mate coming up to watch it with me on Sunday. I feel a bit guilty for not going along too, but 8 months pregnant with a toddler and SPD, I don't think I'd cope too well. He's hoping to run it in 4 hours 15 mins, so hopefully he'll do it. He just wants it to be over now as he can't even think properly of this little arrival (or the 'marathon' we'll both have to do once it's born!) with it hanging over his head.

My brother finally got a job after 7 weeks out of work after redundancy. I'm so thrilled for him, not least because he'll be moving out of London and moving 30 mins drive away! Hooray! He'll be on a pretty good salary too....

Daisy - I hope you feel better soon, that sounds really rotten.

I got some teabags from Holland and Barrett. The tea is foul and makes me gag so much. I do get lots of Braxton Hicks afterwards though so it's obviously toning up all those uterine muscles . Don't want to up it to two cups a day just yet, I don't think I'd keep them down!

Laura - Sorry to hear about your achey hips and pelvic pain. I'm suffering too, and some nights my hips keep me awake, they're so painful.

Hello to the rest of you. Hope you are all well. I'm 34 weeks today (only 3 weeks til my DS was born!) I hope I hold on 'til after the marathon!!

Morning all!

Okay, the more I hear about the tea, the more I think I will take my chances! I refused to drink anything that might make me gag!

Trying to decide what to do with my day off. I should run errands, but going for a decaf coffee at my favourite cafe and then buying baby clothes sounds much more fun!!

Everyone have a lovely day!

Morning girls!

Tee I quite like the raspberry leaf teabags - if you like fruit teas you probably would too - but it's the much stronger and less tasty root stuff that's supposed to do the trick. I don't mind it too much actually, but then my taste is all over the place at the moment.

Ineed good news about your bro's job esp in these Difficult Times. Must be a huge relief for him.

lauraloo I'm finding hip pain an increasing problem at night, even with my enormous cushion. But as long as I don't sit down for too long in the day and keep flexing muscles it's not too much of a problem. I remember it disappearing pretty quickly after the births - along with heartburn, reflux, nausea, walking like John Wayne, the lot - can't wait!

daisy and littlesarah good luck with getting your assignments finished. Having thought I'd signed off my book, a publisher is very interested but the editor wants certain changes. I'm so not feeling like working but am going to take the ms outside now and see if I can bear it. I'd love to have a deal sorted before I drop.

Hi Juners!

Not sunny here yet, let's hope the sun pops out later

Daisy I'm so sorry you have a nasty cough, I hope it's better soon. And yes, you'd think they'd sort out their stock orders when they notice RLT selling like hot buns I'm glad you're pleased with your hospital

littleS yay! Not long to finish!!! Good for you!

Laura you had a good time in GLasgow but so sorry to hear about your pain. As if sleeping was not hard enough already, huh? I find some nights worse than others, hope you had a good rest last night.

Ineed So happy for your brother, such great news! Not long now till the marathon is over and your DH can focus on all of you, then

Tee definitely the second plan sounds much much better Enjoy!!

Ermin Great news about your book!! A publisher is interested in it so that's brilliant!! Do tell us how everything goes

Question, when are you supposed to start with the perineal massage? I think you're not supposed to do it too early in case that starts things too soon

Right, back to work now, I only have a page left of the nice abrasives translation (yay!). Tonight some colleagues from DH's work are coming with their partners for an Argentinian meal (meat is in the menu, of course) so that will be fun! Back home it's very common to get together all the time with friends and colleagues, have them over for dinner, etc, but we don't get to to that here too often, so I'm glad!

Have a lovely day, Juners! (((waves)))

Hello!

I came across this site today, it's an online tool to time your contractions.
Could be useful, I was already trying to locate/work out the timer on my phone and it's quite fidly. (dh and I don't wear watches).

Saw the midwife yesterday and she was nice (if a bit shaky and nervous-looking for a midwife). Baby is fine and measuring ok for dates. Next time I see her I'll be in my 36th week!

I asked her all the questions I had about the birth centre and she took time to answer everything. I think I'm going to go for a water birth.

I can't help but think mw only tell you what you want to hear.
When I asked about episiotomies she quickly said "that's very rare, I can't remember the last time we did one here"; when we met someone yesterday who had one there less than a month ago.

How is everyone feeling about the place they chose to give birth in?
I keep going back and forth in my mind about it, but it's not like there's masses of choice. This is the closest one and I don't know if I want to compromise on the distance or the confidence in the quality of service. (I may feel the same way about any other BC, maybe just being overly anxious.)

I think the problem I have is that some of the mw are really helpful and nice, some of them are utterly useless and dismissive. Who you get when you give birth is a bit pot luck, is it the same everywhere?

Maybe I should looking into getting a doula.

Morning!

Daisy - take care and I hope you feel a bit better today. Hopefully there is nice weather were you are and that that helps...

LittleSarah - your "work" end date is getting so close, too!

Bigcar - you are not alone in not exactly being ready! The weather here is fantastic - 2 sunburns in a row. Can't wait till I have a DC who can enjoy the sun, too!

Laura - my hips were sore after my canter waddle around the park yesterday. Its hard work at this point, isn't it?!

Ineed - good to hear raspberry leaf tea works, and doesn't just taste foul. I must get thee to the shops, although perhaps have a back up plan in case Holland & Barrett don't have any in stock... Which sounds like a great excuse to seek out a Neal's Yard. I think I am 34 weeks today, too. I was grinning when I read you saying that, till you said you had your DS 3 weeks later [panic at lack of bunny preparation emoticon]. I really need to find my hypnobirthing CD, too, so I can think positive thoughts. It got lost in the move! [stressed]... Forgot to say - congratulations to your brother!!

Tee - coffee and shopping sounds like the best option for the baby

Ermin - LOL re John Wayne walk - so glad I am not the only one! I heard someone speculate how pregnant I am yesterday, as I waddled towards them

Naat - hello! Good luck w tonight's dinner! My sister and her boyf are coming over tonight post dinner and am doing pavlova (so Aussie!) and champagne. Hope it won't look back as I inhale deeply to enjoy the fragrance of booze before each of the 4 sips I seem to be allowed

Off to try and assemble IKEA drawers while DH is at work. Can't resist!! Have a lovely day, Juners!!((waves))

Hi all. Sorry - not had time to catch up.
After posting on here yesterday I have been in agony....the haemorrhoids are a nightmare.
Please everyone, drink enough fluids and try to avoid these things as much as you can. I honestly thought that I would avoid them this pgy but they are the worse I have EVER had.

Collected kids from school yesterday and as soon as I got home I had to get into the bath. Then I went to bed and had to leave the kids playing upstairs until dh came home to help. I was not able to cope

I spent all afternoon in bed and the pain did not let up, not once. Awful awful awful.
Anyway, after another completely sleepless night and dh taking kids to school I have finally managed to get downstairs for something to eat and try to get back to normality before I collect kids from school. It's times like these that I really miss my family support...feeling very sorry for myself.

On the plus side - I can walk a bit now . Yes, thats how bad they are. Think of a tennis ball and you might be close..... Not fissures, no bleeding but very large and painful.

Will stop talking about myself now and try to get back upstairs to shower. Hope everyone is well and hope to catch up later xx

choccie even if not bleeding or fissure, you should call your GP. The can give you more powerful medicine than what you can get over the counter at Boots!

Oops, I mean "look bad" rather than "look back"...

Choccie, just saw your post. Agree w Tee - do go see your GP - this is not an acceptable level of pain! Hope they can get you something to help ASAP!!

June - you are not the only one w doubts about where to go. I am in London and am booked in one hospital (UCH), but thinking of changing to another (St Thomas). When I finally got through was told "you aren't in our catchment area, computer says no". Not in catchment area anymore of original hospital, so quite unsure about what to do. Am going to register w and speak to a local GP and see what they can do and recommend. Not ideal at this late stage!!! Must say that having a doula is reassuring for us, and have only heard good things from others who have used one. But it seems plenty of people don't use them and have good birth experiences.

Better run to get groceries then sneak in a bit more IKEA "construction"...

Choccie oh my! Please please call your GP, I agree with the girls, it's not ok to be in such pain all day! He might be able to give you something stronger, you don't deserve to be feeling like this...

Afternoon all

Choccie, another vote here for getting yourself to the doctors, that level of pain is not good, there are stronger painkillers they can give and hopefully you'd only need them for a couple of days.

tee, happy shopping

june, I'm not happy with my hospital but have decided to stick with it on the grounds of better the devil you know! The other hospitals I could go to have equally bad reputations but are also that much further from home. At least this one is 10 mins in the car from home and only 5 mins from mil and the dcs school.

ineed, wish your dh good luck for sunday!

bunny, I love being able to sit in the garden watching the dcs, can't wait to have our lo out with us in the pram!

Not long now ladies

choccie - please go and see the doc. That sounds so horrible, poor you. I've never had that pregnancy symptom, but know people who have and it's not right to be in so much pain.

Hello to the rest of you.

Had a lovely morning in the sunshine at SIL's and we had lunch. DS is napping as we speak.

I got my 190 quid HIP grant from the government today... hooray!

bunny May I ask why you would like to change from UCH? It's another one I could go to (but around 40 minutes from us).
Someone in my an class is planning to go there and her and her dh seem pleased with it (appart from the fact they'd rather have a doctor than a midwife look after them).
It's supposed to be all new and modern.
I went there for a further scan to our 20w scan and I must say the people there were wonderful compared to Chase Farm.
Someone else from my group is going to Royal Free (she's a GP, maybe she knows something we don't ;)

I thought you could go to whichever hopsital you wanted, didn't know about catchment areas.

choccie I definitely would ask the GP for some help.

Louise How are you keeping up?

Hi to everybody else! We're probably going to finish this thread before it's time for a baby to show up!

You are all so good on here

I visited the DR this afternoon and he examined me . They are most definately "pregnancy piles" and big ones! I am relieved though that I do not have any blood filled sacks?! and therefore do not need them interefering with. Can you imagine the pain of that?!!!

Dr told me that hot sitz baths only give temporary relief and that they can make the piles worse so no more baths for me. I have to spend the whole weekend in bed and dh must be on call 24 hrs! Going to be an interesting weekend.

He said if I don't stay in bed they will not go away . Can't believe I am in this sorry state after having such a wonderful and action packed holiday. I am waiting for dh to come home now to take over the kids etc. I need to get my frozen peas into action!

Maybe when I am feeling better I can have laptoip upstairs and catch up with everyone properly.

I am glad you went to the doctor choccie. Do listen to him and stay in bed!

Oh Choccie, so glad you saw the doctor today!! Please please please listen to him and stay in bed, if that's the only way they'll go away then, enjoy the rest I'm sure your DH will help you in whatever you need, and luckily it's the weekend so he might be able to take them out and entertain them? I really hope you feel some relief soon

June I had no idea about catchment areas either hope you and bunny can find the right place soon. Thanks for that link!! ¡Genia!

Bigcar I loved what you said about us all having our DC in the pram outside under a sunny day Can't wait!!!

Bunny don't be embarrassed, sniff that champagne all you want, lady! I've never tried pavlova, I should get hold of one of those soon

Tee hope you enjoyed the shopping trip

I finished the translation, yipee! Now it's a matter of proofreading and revising everything, but well, at least it's done. Hope you have a great evening, Juners! And have a great rest tonight!

The vacuum cleaner is calling me now (((waves)))

Oh, I meant to say:

Tibsy How are you, sweetie? We haven't heard from you in a while.

Loouise Thinking of you, we know this week was going to be a hard one. ((hug))

thanks all. My dd has come down ill and temperature up and down to 40 so we had a rough night and day. Strange both of us being in bed this afternoon will water and medicine looking at each other feeling sorry for ourselves.

Just going back to bed now.

choccie - that sounds awful. You poor honey. I hope you manage to spend the weekend in bed and they ease up. I know nothing about these things but I hear they are no fun at all.

bunny - I am having a minor panic about birth and can relate to why you might want to suddenly change hospital. My worry is how quick it might be and there being a good chance I will have to do it alone, as dp often away and I cannot stop working until baby born. The midwives recommendation was to come in when around contraction every 10-15 ring 999 for an ambulance with a paramedic if I think it is coming on fast.

My daughter is crying again, and calling me so better go.

In a months time one or two of us will have probably given birth - food for thought!

Yesterday I told the mw my ankles were slightly swollen, I can see the socks marks when I take them off even though they're not that tight. She said that's to be expected, nothing to worry about.

Well today I came out of the shower this afternoon and my ankles had doubled in size!!
It totally freaked me out but I put my feet up for an hour and it's gone down a bit.
We're going out tonight so I hope it doesn't get worse.
I can't remember if they were like that before I got in the shower or not.

Any tips about how to avoid that?