Due in June....scream if you wanna go faster!!!!

[lynny70]

Message deleted

Message deleted

Charley, Sophie is v. long haired (see pic on Yahoo site). We think there's a chunk of Persian in her, but we're not absolutely sure as she's rescue. I do brush her virtually every day, but it doesn't seem to correlate to when she is sick. She goes through phases, nothing for a while, then a couple of times in a week. Doesn't seem to faze her at all though. If I thought it distressed her, I'd whisk her off to the vets. After all, surrogate children need looking after .

Lynny, ooh, it's all going on in your area isn't it?? What an awful woman. I always think that when someone makes unkind and bitchy remarks, people judge the commenter far more than the commented on IYKWIM. I do know exactly what you mean though. These things happpen, but show them enough respect not to tell everyone. Still, I guess in that case, it didn't matter who she told as it became rather obvious........

G-d, sorry all, I realise for anyone who isn't a pet lover, they REALLY dont want to hear about my cat being sick.

Sorry, sorry, sorry.....

Mother and Baby article about Group B Strep link ici.

Cat vomit - am pretending I couldn't read those bits

Slings - amazing there can be so many variations on a big piece of material. I am thinking about going for the Tricot Slen (not the Tricotti, I can't get my head around the two big loops of fabric - not literally!). The Slen's main claim to fame is it's 5 quid cheaper than most of these slings and I can buy it in my newly-found shop in town. Also looking to avoid one that comes with instructional video (like the Hugabub) cos we have no video player!

Message deleted

i've got a wilkinet which once its on is very comfy but does take a bit of learning!

Hi there,
Yes the Wilkinet is a faff to put on and take off due to very long straps but I have managed on several planes and in the car as well as in the house at normal times. It does need a bit of practice.
Charley - I love all your questions. Made me laugh. I haven't had any internals either and didn't last time. I don't expect to until I am in labour either.
Group strep B seems to be ignored out here . I asked my midwife about the test and she said nearly everyone carries it and it was rarely a prob and was quite blase really.... She asked did I want the test and I said did she think I should have it and she said if I wanted to...... Confused. They did a swab when I had dd when I went to have my waters checked and this was neg and so she felt there was no problem. I have an appt at the hospital tomorrow though so will see some different midwives so I will ask their opinions too.
I am feeling quite anti social today. Very moody!
I spoke to a lady last night who delivered at Limassol eight weeks ago. It was not awful but not what I wanted to hear. She was offered an enema and to be shaved and said no but did end up with an episiotomy. This was her third baby! She had epidurals with her other two and of course had to have this one with no pain relief at all and said that although she is OK she panicked alot and her husband is still quite traumatised by it all. (This is not the first time I have heard this, perhaps this is why they don't encourage the dads to attend!) She actually stayed in for three days and they took the baby away from her to begin with and when she asked for it back it was a right palaver and baby arrived covered in sick as they had given it a bottle. She was breastfeeding!! She was very calm telling me this as i would have gone mad. She was also told that she and the baby needed testing for diabetes as the baby was so big. The baby was 8lb 13. Big but not huge!!
I am concerned again now and have lots of questions. The stuff she has told me is stuff that I was told had been resolved. She said the language barrier is offputting as people just came in a did things without telling first ie. the first she knew of the internals she had were when they were in there etc. I guess there is no point me doing a birth plan then .
I also feel under even more pressure to leave the hospital as soon as possible which I always intended to do but what if I really don't feel well. I feel I have to be questioning everything and not let the baby out of my sight etc. I am quite stressed about it today. I know I am imagining the worst but that is what you do when you are a hormonal 34 weeks prgnant woman!! Help. Hopefully I will get my rational head on over the next few days. They are still talking of this private clinic for us but it should have been done by now so I am not imagining that happen in time for me. I just want the baby here now as then all the main things I am scared about will be in the past. Sorry for going on. Needed to get this off my chest and DH is at work. Have to go now and wash up before getting dd from creche. She cried when I left today and yelled Mummy Mummy. Broke my heart and I wanted to just go back and get her. Of course she was settled 5 seconds later but even so I felt horrid.
Sorry to be on such a downer.
Hope everyone's sickness is better.....

cooperoo - hope you get the birth you want.

Well my bosses wife has had her baby a bouncing 10lber!!! OMG!!!

Morning all!

Ohh, Coop , I can see why you are concerned. It is probably as you said, mostly due to cultural differences and language barriers. I was thinking that perhaps a cypriot doula could help?!?!?! Do they exist there? If not, just someone that is a good interpreter and have a strong personality to make sure they hear you, IYKWIM.... Can someone help you right a short but to the point birth plan in greek?!
I was just lecturing DH last night on how things will be the opposite here (IN US his job was to ward off nurses and DRs., here I have the feeling he will need to be chasing them for me!), and what he needs to do during birth. I confess though, that I am hoping my sister will be there too. She and I don't always get along, but I know I can count on her to get ANYONe to do what she wants!

Morning girls!

Coop - I feel so desperately bad for your situation...maybe as KVG says this other lady wasn't really prepared for the two country's diferences. Also I had an epidural with ds and can honestly say it was a fab experience...sitting up laughing as I was told when to push, no pain at all...and my biggest fear this time is being too far gone to have one when I get to hospital...having had two such births before maybe this is why thia lady had such a bad time?? If you are that worried about the whole process is there no way you would consider coming back here to have bubs??

Megi, your poor dd, hope she recovers soon - hope you can enjoy putting your feet up for a day or two!

Lynny/Mrs W I'm a crap cook so either one of you is more than welcome to bring your slow cookers over and practice on me and mine

Charley yup forgot about your boob tube tip to cover unneccesary exposed flesh...will try out your new tip as soon as I can heave myself down to Tesco's, you clever little thing you!

I think a couple of you mentioned braxton hicks...I've been getting loads and loads for a while now, getting more pronounced as we get nearer and stronger too.

Mrs W - thanks - had a great lunch yesterday - so much so that the boys kidnapped me and refused to allow me back so we stayed out all afternoon , and I've been given a stunning necklace for me and a whole host of vouchers for bubs, so even if my bosses are jerks the people I work(ed) with are absolutely lovely ...and I have another leaving lunch today, so it just gets better and better!

morning!
coop-poor you.
ive found that when ive spoken to various people about the hospital where im going i have had the horror stories but also good ones too,so lets just hope that this woman had a bad experience and you'll be fine when your time comes to go in.i know its easier said than done though and i am absolutely petrified with a capital P-i just keep thinking wouldnt it be great to be knocked out and given my baby to me once its all over
tea-that epidural you had sounds great.did it really take ALL the pain away completely? ive just watched something on discovery health where the woman had an epidural but was still screaming at the end
glad your lunch went well-hope you enjoy today also.
isnt it nice to be made a fuss of,sometimes?

Message deleted

Message deleted

Thanks for your kind comments and support ladies. I knew I could count on you to help me feel better. I think the fact this lady had epidurals before and was therefore underprepared was a big factor on her panicking, as I think she too would admit. We def have differing views on the whole labour experience as she did say that regardless of everything she was always going to have gone to the hospital asap as soon as she had the first signs of labour not hang on at home for as long as poss ie exactly what I want to do .
Tea and KVG - Glad you are being spoilt.
I had a parcel today from my friend with a b/f support pillow thing I had leant her and also some 'labour spritz' to help destress and calm me during labour. It sounds like exactly what I will need. DD and I popped over to see dh at work and got to watch the RAF Falcons parachute display team practicing their jumps. They are all PTI's like DH and so he knows some of them and so we were allowed right up to their landing zone. They are quite impressive. DH went up in the plane with them to watch them jump yesterday so he has been having an exciting time. They are here for our families day on Friday as they will be doing a display for us along with the Red Arrows who have been out here practicing for the last four weeks. DH said that one of them had to cut away this morning from his main chute and then dived after it before pulling his reserve and landing on the beach somewhere. How scary! I am glad DH chose to do rehab therapy as his specialisation rather than parachute training. I was mildly entertained by the fact that the lads have to repack their chutes to jump again and it appeared compulsory to take your top off to do this . Can you tell I have had my mind taken off things quite effectively???
I have a frined coming round for coffee in about half n hour too and then this evening DH and I are going to draw up a list of our concerns for the appt tomorrow. Thank you again ladies for your wise rational words.

Kat - 10lb blimey! Was it her first??
Lua - I forgot to say that a basic birth plan in Greek is a great idea even if it just says no bottles for dd and no episiotomy for me! I will think about speaking to my cleaning lady to see if she can help.
I feel more rational already thanks to your sympathy and it was a good point too that all births experiences are different and we have different expectations too.
Incidentally there is another good GBS link on pregnancy with interesting links to more info on different sites... More reading I feel.

Oh and Braxton Hicks, yes have had LOADS and they can make my muscles ache like I have been doing situps etc (like I can remember ). Have had them from 20 odd weeks and seem to be having more now too.
Not everyone gets them though so don't worry Lynny.
Sorry for the multiple posts.

Message deleted

Cooperoo, the other ladies have had very wise words of advice, but I didn't want to ignore your message. It's not the sort of stress you need with only a few weeks to go. Lucky you've got some fit half-naked men there to take your mind off things .

Ouch to the 10lb baby.

Lua, you are so right about your DH's role. That's exactly what my DH did - went to find people when I needed help, because otherwise they seem to just let you get on with it.

Jonah, after reading about your cat problems I went home to find a pile of the same on the only cream carpet in our house. DH had managed not to see it - oh to have 'man vision'.

Tea, that's the thing about slow cookers, no cooking skills required! Just chuck it all in and hope for the best. Glad you had a lovely afternoon yesterday, hope today's lunch is just as nice. This time next week I shall be out on my own leaving lunch....yippee!!!

Well I got my broadband connection up and running again last night, logged on to mumsnet then went upstairs to make tea. Came back half an hour later and the bloody computer had packed in working!!!! I was in such a sulk about it last night. Lynny, I've actually posted the pork in cider recipe on mumsnet so I'll find the link for you. Would like your chilli recipe too!

Here you go Lynny:

pork recipe

I'd echo the others, Coop - a Greek birthplan is definitely in order, Mumsnet is bound to have a Greek speaker or two if your cleaning lady can't help. I still wonder if there's any way you could get one of your midwives to come as an independent doula-type, I guess the tricky thing would be if she was meant to be on shift when you go into labour ... (I wonder how doulas manage this in general, 400 or so quid is not that much to go on retainer for an entire c.2 week period or something ... but I digress).

Lynny, I haven't had any braxton hicks (hickses?) either. With that plus the lack of boob action I am beginning to think I am having a very lively phantom pregnancy.

Feeling a bit strange today. My best friend is in Leeds on a training course at the start of next week so I hoped we could meet up whilst I am there in the new job. But she seemed adamant she would have to go straight home each day (she lives in Manchester). I know the course may have a lot of homework but I get the impression her main concern is that she not miss any time in the gym. I also have a vague suspicion that she finds the whole idea of pregnancy so repulsive that she doesn't want to see me when visibly pregnant. (I have to apologise before so much as mentioning the word 'breastfeeding' to her).

This is probably just pregnancy madness/oversensitivity - I know aspects of life with kids which seem perfectly routine to me with my enormous family are completely alien to lots of other people who have no contact at all with babies from one year to the next. She'll have to learn to deal with it, I guess!

Damn..... damn damn damn. I almost caught up yesterday. ALMOST! Then I got to Charley's novel and thought, I'll come back to this. And now I'm so far behind again. Oh well, can't really rad it now either.

Just thought I'd say hello. I have a scan tomorrow. Yippee. I like scans. They are fun. I get to see my little man again. I'm not sure though how DD will like him. I've been trying to explain the whole baby in my belly thing. And the only result I've gotten is that she is really quite offended by the site of my bare belly. When I watch telly and am feeling oh so uncomfortable (as if I have time for telly -- that was an imaginary example), anyway if my shirt rides up and the belly shows in a moment of slouching, she says "no belly" and runs over to pull my shirt down where it belongs.

So, back to the scan, tomorrow is my big day. I get a scan to check the placenta location, a think a midwife appointment, and then a chat with a consultant to convince him to book me in for a caesarean.

I went on the hospital tour yesterday which was more of a sales pitch for the birthing centre. Couldn't see theatre. She wasn't prepared to address my questions about consultant staffing numbers. Couldn't even see recovery or the ward. But I did learn that the ward has only 4 beds per room so I'm glad about that.

Now, I need to start worrying about my birth plan. Oh, I hope they grant me my planned caesarean... Wish me luck!