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

[Ineedmorechocolatenow]

Here it is!

[lauraloo09]

daisy nope not fainted again...touch wood after saying that I'll probably faint tomorrow knowing my luck blood results came back today - normal for anemia and diabeties

tee not sure if you can take anything for piles i'd ask MW

How's everyone else been

[loooouise]

Yup Tee, I'll own up. I got a tube of the alluringly named Anusol cream from Boots. Paid for at the self-service till. It's fine to use in pregnancy.

Ineed very sorry to hear about FIL's turn for the worst. Fingers crossed it's a wee blip and you get good news soon.

Interesting to hear all about your experiences about where to put baby down to sleep. This is relatively easy for me as I only have a one bedroom flat!

MrsMcJnr my best friend had two days in hospital after induction with NOTHING happening. I felt so sorry for her. She ended up with an elective C at 9.30am today and guess what? Baby boy was 10lb 4oz!!! Poor Katherine, she's only 5'3'' and a former ballerina, so glad she didn't have to squeeze him out. He's absolutely gorgeous and looks about 6 weeks old already!

Naat sorry the conversation with your dad was so difficult, I totally understand your guilt. I finally hinted I'd like to actually deliver in London and have mum in my flat for the first week and then go up north...she went mad, accused me of being 'arsey', I could hear Dad muttering horrid things like 'well maybe we'll have that summer holiday instead' in the background. Bloody hell. I can't believe they expect me to leave my life, my friends, my flat when surely you'd expect your family to rally round YOU and YOUR needs when you give birth to your first child, no? Her three main arguments against spending a week in my flat were:
I don't know where your shops are.
We wouldnt' have a car.
There's nowhere to go.
I have never heard anybody complain that there are no local shops, or places to go, or public transport in London.
It's actually quite comical thinking about it.
Ach well, the family dramas go on...

[Tee2072]

Morning all.

Thanks looouise. Does it work?

Off to buy shoes today, since I never got to do it yesterday.

Have a nice day all!

[LittleSarah]

Who asked about where to get raspberry leaf tea? I am also pondering this, I don't remember mine being 'sludgy' last time you see. It did taste horrible though so seemed right at the time...

Tee - Good luck with the shoe shopping! I went the other week to get some nice flats, have too many heels sadly, and I just couldn't find any I really liked. It was very disappointing!

Naat and Daisy - I'm sure you're right about skating. Just hadn't even occurred to me it might be a bad idea until my dad mentioned it to dh. Honestly, the family grape vine in action there, invited my sis and she mentioned it to my dad who saw husband and put fear of god into him... lol. Not to mention my mum phoned and said she had also spoken to my sister too and had said she would come along!

looouise - Sorry your parents haven't been more understanding, certainly I think they should be trying to help you out, unless very elderly and infirm or anything! I've been lucky with mine as they are great and live in Edinburgh, but if I had to rely on my sisters it would be a different story! As my mum always says 'respond don't react', think through all your arguments and be calm, you are right, don't forget that.

And also although I am not religious I love "god give me the strength those things I cannot change", people are always things you can't change, you just need to deal with them as well as you can knowing what they're like.

Not sure my cliches are going to help you but thought I'd offer them anyway!

I'm finishing up my articles soon so if you wouldn't mind sending me those contacts (in fact ANY contacts! ) I'd really appreciate it (sarahhunterargyle at hotmail dot com)!

PS. We also have no choice with where will baby sleep, I'm sure you'll be fine with wee one in your room. It certainly helps with breast feeding to just be able to lean over half asleep when night feeding.

[daisy5]

littlesarah - of all the things everyone I know tried to bring on labour, the most successful seemed to be a really strong curry. Raspberry leaf tea hasn't worked for anyone I know - and I hated the stuff. Did it work for you first time?

louise - oh no, poor you. Would a long letter explaining it help at all? You could explain that as time has gone on, you have realised how as a single mother it is so important that you get to know your hospital, the local midwives, the other mothers in the hospital at the same time giving birth, and that you would be 'lost' if you went up to Yorkshire and then had to return to London at 3 months and start from scratch.

My dp is really unwell. Came down ill during a meeting in London and is so sick he cannot get back up north. He refuses to let me go down in case it is gastric flu and is catching. He sounds so weak and so unwell and I just want to be with him - poor thing.

[Tee2072]

Oh no daisy I hope he feels better soon. Its so hard when things like that happen and you're apart.

I, personally, have decided against the RL tea. Sounds horrid and I am uncomfortable enough without drinking something horrid! If babe doesn't come on time, I'll figure something out.

[Naat]

Morning Juners!

Tee Hope you enjoy your shopping and manage to find what you're looking for

Daisy good to hear the fainting spells have not bothered this week. So sorry to hear about your DP Hope he gets well soon!

LittleSarah Glad you're not going down the skating road . Enjoy your day out with everyone anyway!

looouise I'm so to hear about your parents' response... As LittleS says, you must be calm and always remember you're right on this one... In my case it was sad because I felt guilty but my Dad was so supportive and really understanding, and that's what your parents should be doing too.

As you say, in LONDON excuses like "no shops, I won't be able to move around, and there's nowhere to go" DON'T APPLY! If it were the other way around, I'd probably say "ok, it's possible" but anyway, this is not about her and about staying for 3 months, it's just ONE WEEK and it's about helping YOU and BABY.

Honey, I really think you have to keep to your guns on this one. As Daisy said, as a new mum (and single one) you need to feel AT HOME, in every sense, know the hospital, the MW, the people, have some contact with other mums that are giving birth around the time you are... And that support is SOOOO important. Most importantly, you have to feel at home, and London is home for you, honey.

As other Juners said to me when I thought my parents were going to react badly, don't worry, you're doing the right thing, and if they want to help, they'll come anyway for that week and be glad to see the wee one. Worst case scenario, from what you have told us, you have a network of friends all up and ready to help you, don't you?

We're here to give you any extra support you may need, if you're feeling a bit blue, don't forget . Chin up, hon!

Lazy start of the day for me, but must go to Tesco and work as I have a long contract to translate.

Thank you all experienced Juners for the advice on sleeping arrangements! Hope you have a lovely Saturday!

(waves)

[LittleSarah]

daisy5 - I didn't drink it to bring on labour although if it does that then maybe it does work, dd was four days early! I can't actually remember why I ended up drinking it, something to do with speeding up labour? God that is terrible. Anyway MrsMcJnr corrected me (if I recall correctly!) and said it is sometimes considered good for strengthening contractions...

Anyhoo, I did have a fairly speedy labour and strong contractions so I will drink it again just in case it did help at all, despite the fact it was probably just luck!

Naat - Enjoy your lazy day! I don't have dd as she is with her granny so I am able to have a lazier day than I expected. Still doing work but I should manage some relaxing too (dh is at work).

[Tee2072]

shoes!!

[lauraloo09]

hiya everyone quick question - I have just paid off credit cards and have £150 left to pay on cot which needs to be paid for end of April. Should I buy it now on my credit card or hold off another month?

[Naat]

Hi Lauraloo!
Well, if you have to pay for it at the end of April you won't be able to hold off another month and pay it in May, so maybe it's the same to pay that 150 now? (or maybe I understood something wrong ).

If it makes you feel better knowing everything is paid for, then go for it .

[lauraloo09]

hiya naat

Thanks for your advice think I will just pay it today, regardless if its this month or end of April I still need to use credit card for it...originally the in laws said they were going to pay it but low and behold they are not anymore, just like the pram they said they would contribute to, this is the third thing they have told me not to buy as they would and now they tell me they are not paying for it...just makes me

[chocciedooby]

Oh I am getting so fed up with this computer. Just spent ages typing up message for it to be lost again. Very frustrating.

Will try to do it again....

Tee - I have vast experience of piles during pregnancy . Anusol is definately the best thing I have found that is safe during pgy. The cream is good but if you use it a lot it can make you sore and itchy. The suppositories are excellant and far more effective as they shrink the piles from the inside.

Loooouise - sorry to hear that your mum is being so hard on you. The excuses that she has made about London are simply that - "Excuses". Try not to worry. She wants things her way or no way. She will come around as I cannot believe that anything will stand in her way of meeting her new baby grandaughter/son.Stick to your guns girl

Hi Naat and Littlesarah.

Hi to everyone else I may have forgotten.

Didn't get a good nights sleep last night.Woke with stomach pains again. No "event" took place in the bathroom although I wished it had at the time.(sorry if tmi). I had shievers and shakes for about 10 mins and then it passed. The pain was agony though and reminded me of the pain we all have to come. (sorry ladies).Have to talk to OB about it as it keeps reoccuring every week or so and I just don't get what it could be. Maybe I am eating something I shouldn't be?!

[bigcar]

Afternon all!

Had a great holiday! Keyboard is really playing up argh!!! So will be short and sweet!

Looooise, stick to your guns, you've made the right decison, we'll all be here for you.

tee, will they not induce you early? Any, mention of diabetes here and they don't let you get to term.

Hope you're all having a good weekend!

[Naat]

(I guess by now you can tell I'm home alone and boooored by how much I'm posting)

Tee congrats on finding the shoes you wanted!

Bigcar you had a good time away! Do come back and tell us more

Lauraloo at how your PILs kept telling you not to buy things only for them to say later they were not buying them... So strange... I mean, it's not that you guys asked them to, they offered and then just said no? I'm similar to you on the credit card front haha, always "planning" when to buy and pay for things. Now I'm waiting for it to be Wed as April begins and then things get paid in May

Choccie to hear you couldn't sleep well because of this pain you keep getting. It does sound odd, because if it hurts like that you probably expect to "go to the toilet and let it go" (sorry TMI) but it doesn't seem to be the case. I agree with you on asking the OB next time you see him. Have you changed anything in your diet? Anything you were not eating before that you're eating now? From what you say, the pain feels "intestinal", right? Hope you're not feeling any pain now and maybe have a nap this afternoon to recover a bit?

Right, I should start translating, it won't get done by itself

[Tee2072]

Welcome back bigcar. No, they will not do anything early unless the situation warrants it. It is very common for a diabetic to delivery early, as the placenta can erode late in pregnancy, if sugars are high. But if everything goes along as normal, they will let me go naturally.

laura how annoying your ILs are being! And really, quite rude! I mean if they don't want to buy anything, okay, but don't keep saying you will!

choccie do be sure to tell your OB about that pain. Maybe even ring them before your appointment to check on it? Does sound a bit odd to me.

naat GET TO WORK YOUNG LADY!!

[dreamydowler]

Hi everyone hope you are all well today.

MrsMc Im not sure of the name of the villas I will check it up with my sister who booked it As for your fears over the group B strep thats what we are all here for to help each other out so Ask away.
I was told as indeed I have been told again this time to not delay in coming in when in labour as they prefer to give you 2 lots of antibiotics via drip which have to be so many hours apart.
you have to be monitered when you first arrive to ensure you are in labour and then the drip is set up Often you can get a mobile drip which enables you to move around the room but you cannot have a water birth or a home birth.
The antibiotics themselves didnt have any side affects on me or baby who had observations every few hours for two days after the birth. Ive heard they have reduced that to 24 hours I hope so as I prefer to get home asap. It is more of a hassle but its in yours and babys best interests so you just have to accept it Im afraid.

[DorisIsAPinkDragon]

Hi all,

I have been reading and started typing the other day but then the computer lost it all and I gave up!

mrsmc and dreamy- sorry to hear about the strep B hopefully as you both know and were tested things can be helped. I'm another advocate for standard testing for this in the UK.

Littelsarah - I had to at the thought of skating with a 30 week bump... glad you've been talked out of it!!!!!

Louise- stand your ground your mum's trying it on. Only you know what's best for you and the baby but from here it looks like London is the place you need to be, to get your support networks going if nothing else.
If you realy don't think she is listening or taking you seriuosly I would second a letter, explaining calmly and rationally the reasons for your decisison and how much her support would mean to you...

Lauraloo- my dsis had a MIL like yours who forever says things but does not follow through, take everything she says with a pinch of salt, get what you want (but keep the receipts), so if she does turn up with something you don't end up with 2

That's al I can remeber offhand (think I might need a notepad to keep up in future.

Well I had the day from hell yesterday, dd1 was playing up, why mummy but whhhhhy???? arrrgh. Went to pick up a friend for a coffee with a diferent friend and speant 10 mins trying to fit her carseats into our new car, eventually got the car onto a flatter bit of road and the seatbelts (finally) worked. By which point I was red faced and mildly frustrated!!!

Got to friends to find fluid leaking from under my bonnet.. arggghh frinds looked after dd's whilst I took car back to the garage(fortunately v local!) and yes it is engine coolant and no they could fix it till monday as they don't have the part.... ( but they are coming to collect it as I can't transport the dd's without a car

Got up this morning to got to our local NCT sale (and was secretly a bit excited at the bargins to be had) told one of my frinds about it got there to find it was last week at which point my friend turned up with her 2 dc's so I felt vvv bad fortunately she's a very good friend so we went fpor coffee in Tesco instead!!!

I hoping my luck changes for tomorrow as I'm going to a mn meetup, and I don't want to make a complete tit arse fool of myself!

well wish me luck girls and remember to change your clocks!!

Night all
Doris

PS sorry for the Me me me

[lauraloo09]

evening all

has anyone been having cravings? I thought I had escaped them but think I have clicked onto a craving I have had for a couple of months without knowing. The one thing I could eat all day is ice poles/jubbly ice poles it's not really the taste of the ice its the actual crunching of the ice I love and could eat all day...not the most out there craving but silly

Not even the lure of a cream egg is stopping me chewing ice

[MrsMcJnr]

Hey girls, hope you have all had a good day I am shattered after a long seaside walk followed by a big meal and should really be in bed by now especially with the clocks going forward but hopefully no one has told DS and he?ll get up at the usual time! I?ve started on the ABs and no bad reactions yet, fingers crossed that continues.

Poor you with the piles Tee hope you get some relief soon! Very sensible shoes I bought some silver flaties from Zara the other day.

Naat ? hope you enjoyed your pizza last night

Daisy ? I had DS in with us in that position too I loved it too I have to admit. There is no way he?ll lie down and sleep with me now maybe he will when he?s older again glad to hear you have been fainting less but sorry to hear DD has been hard work. I really do think the RLT helped me last time ? my contractions were certainly effective! As I understand it the hot curry and castor oil work in the same way, they put your bowel into spasms and get the baby moving, I?d be a bit concerned about the rumbling nature of the bowels to be honest!! Your poor DP, hope he feels better soon.

Littlesarah ? hope you decided against skating! I ordered my RLT online last night from Neal?s Yard, get yee to Frederick Street hon, that?s where I got my supplies last time too

Laura ? that?s good that your blood results were fine get the cot now I?ve heard that about craving ice before, something to do with increased body temp I think.

Loooouise ? wow, your friend did have a big baby glad both are ok though same thing happened to a friend of mine, her cervix did absolutely nothing, must have been awful. Sorry to hear about the ongoing family dramas. It sounds to me like your parents are being very selfish though, this is not about them, it is about you and your baby so don?t let them beat you into submission. It sounds like your Mum has created an idea in her had of how she?d like things to be and is being stubborn about things as a result. Daisy?s idea of a letter is a good one; I have often done that to get through to my parents.

Choccie ? I can?t believe you have been feeling so unwell again, I wonder what it is, poor you

Hey Bigcar good to have you back, have fun?

Thanks for your responses Dreamy I know that the Abs are in the baby?s best interests but I also worry about the effects of Abs on a baby and hate the fact that I am already taking them, I hope she?ll be ok. I?ve heard that there is no way in Spain that you get away with giving birth without a venflon so I guess I might as well be making use of it. They had better not try and give me anything else through it though .. I am a bit mistrusting of their paternalistic attitude at the moment I thought if you are allergic to penicillin you only need one dose of the other stuff as it lasts you 8 hours instead of 4? (presuming of course that labour is less than 8 hours).

Doris ? hope you have a much better day tomorrow!!

Off to bed???sleep well

[Tee2072]

Morning all.

Well that was a total crap nights sleep. Luckily I was wrong in thinking I had to go to work today!

laura crunching ice is usually a sign of a mineral deficiency. Its called pica. Down the bottom of the page is the word for ice eating!

You should probably let your GP/OB/MW know about the craving, because you might be anaemic.

doris what a day you had! Hope you have a better one today and enjoy your meet up!!

[MrsMcJnr]

Ok, thinking about wht I need to do and have done so far for this baby and thought I'd post my quick check list to see where you all are

? Buy double buggy ? it?ll be here 7/4!
? Bed and clothes for baby ? done!
? Hospital bag not yet
? Birth plan not translated yet (or amended due to Strep B )
? Hypnobirthing refresher not yet ? must listen to CDs
? Pelvic floor exercises ? ? squuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeze
? Food in freezer for the crazy first days waiting for the move
? Move house ? less than 2 weeks away
? Get baby?s room organised waiting for the move
? Buy change station
? Wash baby?s clothes and sheets
? Write out DS?s schedule for helpers

seems I have been doing lots of thinking and not much doing!

[Tee2072]

Great idea mrsmcj!!

My list:

? Buy buggy ? order! Should be here in about a month
? Bed and clothes for baby ? Have some clothes purchased, but probably need to take an inventory for more. Cot is picked out, planning on purchasing over Easter.
? Hospital bag haven't even really thought about it!!
? Birth plan haven't even really thought about it!!
? Hypnobirthing refresher probably not using.
? Pelvic floor exercises ? hmm ? squuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeze wink
? Food in freezer for the crazy first days waiting until I go on leave in 6 weeks
? Move house ?not moving!!
? Get baby?s room organised waiting until I go on leave in 6 weeks
? Buy change station not buying one, putting secure pad on top of bureau I already have.
? Wash baby?s clothes and sheets waiting until I go on leave in 6 weeks
? Write out DS?s schedule for helpers I have no other children, dear or otherwise!!

[chocciedooby]

Hi Everyone. Mrsmc here is where I am with the list: -

? Buy new single buggy ? check
? Bed and clothes for baby ? check
? Hospital bag not yet
. Maternity Pads - check
. Birthing nightie - Must get.Hate the purple 1 that I have even though I know it will get wrecked.
. New socks for giving birth to keep my feet warm - to do
. Tea tree oil - check
. Baby Monitor - check
? Birth plan - not bothering. DH knows what I want.
? Pelvic floor exercises ? ? squuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeze
? Food in freezer for the crazy first days - Need to do this but need a bigger freezer
? Get baby?s room organised - halfway there.
? Buy change station - Have old one.
? Wash baby?s clothes and sheets- check.
? Write out DS?s schedule for helpers- must do this asap.

I am sure there are many other things to add to the list but can't think right now. Good idea to put it down on paper though.

[daisy5]

Just wrote up my 'hospital bag' list yesterday.

Unless Thumper is in a breach position or there are any other hitches, I am probably destined to have a short labour and so, thank goodness could shorten the list a lot.....so (this time) not taking cd player, fan, food (aside from sweets), water spray, inspiring photo to keep me going, kitchen sink etc.