Due May 09-Weddings,Inductions,Births & C-Sections - Its all going on this month!

[Grumpyoldcaaaaaaaa]

Here we go lasses

Gosh what a lot of differences in monitors! We have one of those Angel type ones so blinks with movement as I was freaked out about how still LOs are when they are asleep

So looks like we will end up with 2 as well - ho hum that will please DP no end!!

Frazz i have my boots tens but I'm scared of it - ridiculous I know and I need to have a practice! Didn't have one first time round so opposite to you

Belgian - for 10% off figleaves and free delivery use code SUMCAT (only valid until midnight today)

Dandy so sorry to hear about schools. What a PITA

Grumpy thanks for bump compliments. I personally would also let DH go on Alfa day. I have found in the last couple of weeks that letting DH go off and do some things that made him happy has helped enormously in preventing too much shouting at each other!

frazzled best deal I could find on tens hire was at www.tens.co.uk/ same prices as everywhere else, longer hire period, no charge for going over the hire period includes free test electrodes (lots of sites charge for these) and next day delivery is only £4. Plus you can get 10% off using promo code TEN

I'm Welsh but havent' lived in Wales for over 10 years now, so don't know about popularity of Seren - wan't popular whilst I was at school. We are giving our girls welsh middle names Carys and Bronwen. (Don't tell DH I told you, it's a secret, but surely that's what MN is for?)

There do seem to be an awfully large number of people in the world who think 3 children is a bad thing. Why can't they have the 1/2 children that they want and leave others well alone? I can't tell you the number of people who've made the assumption that we won't have any more because we've got twins 1st time - someone even asked DH if he'd be getting the snip! They might be right of course. Tthe consultant started going on about how I'd probably be able to have a VBAC for my next pregnancy whilst booking my elcs and I was thinking 'what next pregnancy!?!' but that's beside the point - not their business is it?

Bottom butter eh?

While I'm on a roll with voucher codes, £5 off Mama Mio purchases from mamamio.com with code pb5off - valid until tomorrow.

If anyone is interested, I have a TENS machine complete with spare batteries, pads, wires etc. Not planning to use it as having ELCS (unless i have an Emmalina unplanned VBAC [gulp emoticon]) so would be happy to post it out to you, as long as you post it back when you've done with it as i plan to lend it to my SIL who is due in July. I hired it when i had DD and they said for an extra £10 I could keep it so i thought i might as well!

I feel woefully unprepared for my (fingers crossed) VBAC!

Until last week I was uncertain and thought I'd end up with a c-section anyway so assumed an ostrich-like position.

I am so regretting it now.

I have no TENS machine. I have not taken raspberry leaf tea. I've never even looked at a hypnotherapy CD. I have no idea what the breathing/panting thing is about and the only thing I am sure of is that I want lots of drugs. I have had several morale-boosting calls from friends who have been through several births and my head with buzzing with instructions.

Still haven't looked inside my hospital bag to check what is missing, although I did throw my medication in there earlier.

What will be, will be I guess!

Dandy so sorry to hear about the school situation. I must admit I agree with everything Spangle said about parental involvement. Certainly if you have time to be involved in the school then it is probable that you will be able to make a difference. Things can change very quickly in schools. When we moved here in 2005 our local primary school was dire but the new headmaster has really turned things around and it is now rated as outstanding in several areas.

1stMrsF I love Carys and Bronwen!

Blotted I love your blog...and your crafts!

Storksak I love mine, it is the first changing bag I've actually enjoyed using.

baby monitor I can't remember when we stopped using ours. I'm not entirely sure why we ever used it. DS has a cry like a banshee and we've never not heard him. I think we all slept a lot better without it. I suspect we ditched it when he was about 10 months old. In fact, I really must find it!

pula great bump, but like the others I love your bathroom.

I feel so left behind with you all! After spending 3 days in hospital and getting out on Friday I had so much to catch up on. Then DH spent most of hte weekend with the laptop on his lap so I didn't get the chance to catch up... That coupled with feeling so tired at the moment too... so I hope to pick up as I go along...

If anyone has had a baby recently - congrats and Who!!??

Blotted - what has happened to your neck? I've scanned through the past few pages to find out but can't locate it. Hope it is OK. though pity about your HB... Because of my neck I'm (finally) seeing my consultant on Wed regarding a date for induction at 38 weeks (on Thursday)!!!

re monitors - with ds I had an Angel monitor which I found invaluable to me to be able to get a good nights rest without sleeping wiith 'one ear open'. It has a plate that goes under the baby's mattress to sense breathing and heartbeat. If it doens't sense these it alarms - I had lifted dss a few times without turning it off and believe me it works well! I have it still and although this baby will be sleeping in our room (ds slept in his own room from the moment we got home) I will be using it again.

Thanks all for the tens feedback.

ooh ooh 1stMrsF you are a star with your discount codes. How did you know I luuuuurve Mama Mio and ran out of shower gel this morn? Might just go and order some more.....and also thanks for the tens link. Will go look at that too, although I have to say I am feeling very, very twingy at the moment - as in take-your-breath-away type pains and backache. Maybe there won't be time for a tens machine to be ordered after all........
[wishful thinking emoticon] - surely I couldn't be THAT lucky? ............
(don't get excited though, expect it will all stop in a minute). Off to bath my dwarves now. Catch you all later x

oh and should probably put some more things into my hosp bag just in case. Don't think some nappies, a pair of pj's (for me) and some toiletries is really enough is it?

I was woken last night at 3:30 with contractions!!! They came regularly every 10 mins, lasting about 1 min each, and continued for about an hour and a half before stopping at 5am! Damn!!! And since I've had a sweep on Friday morning I have been noticing the 'show' which is exciting too. The Community MW did a house call on me yesterday and my bp was ??/85 which she called 'the low side of high' for me and I go tomorrow to see her in the Health Centre in the morning (lso had a trace of protein in my pee and some pitting oedema). ANyone else feeling nauseaus again??? I think I'll get into my pyjamas and get ready for an early night.

Frazzled - if it came to it, what you've in your bag probably would do!!

Hello ladies!

Boy we are chatty today! Just been trying to catch up, but DD is being very difficult today so at the moment I have toothpicks holding my eyes open and I am trying desperately not to fall face first on my laptop...

Pula I am so so so interested in your TENS. I did not even think to order one until the other day! I posted on freecycle but nobody has one, so I would love to have the chance at yours? I would be happy to send you some money via Paypal if you want...but of course would send it back to you!

Sorry for those of you who are finding things difficult. I have noticed my hormones are all over the place so most days I do not even recognize myself. I am sure my DH thinks this baby has me possessed...

I am impressed with the cooking that seems to be going on in some of your households. I managed to make lasagne today (as I was craving it) and had the genius idea of making 2 while I was at it and putting one in the freezer. Just hoping it will last until after the birth

DD screaming...again...so that must be my time to myself up then I think she knows in a few weeks it will not just be me and her...so she is trying to get every second of my attention and every ounce of my energy while she can...poor DD

Hope to be back on later with something more to add lol

llareggub, when I had an induction, I used the hospital's tens machine. when you go tomorrow, ask if they have one available.

divedaisy, sounds exciting about the earlier contractions... do you think something's happening?

btw, i've been feeling nauseous as well and didn't have a great appetite today. still wondering about the mysterious 'show' i had 9 days ago with nothing following. have had more dc but baby just doesn't seem to be coming. has been very active as well (though not today, ironically). if nothing happens by my 40wk appt on Fri, i'll prob go for the sweep [big whooooosh sound].

kitchen fitter should be here in 5 min to fix all our problems . will check back with you later on how all of you are.

Momi I am glaring at your kitchen fitter to make him fix your problems. And I'm stood with my arms crossed. I can look quite unpleasant and scary apparently. According to my kids

DD2's best friend's mum has just offered to have her when I go into labour if need be. She's lovely!!! DD1's friend's mum has offered too. I like people, they're great!!!

Grumpy - am in Ossett, near Wakefield - centre of the world...?!?! And, yes that is Chris Camara with the shiny hair. Have actually seen him many times in the local drinking establishments. He's not as enthusiastic in real life, was disappointed with his shy quiet voice when talking to the cashier in the post office.

LO is trying to escape, I think it thinks it's going to come out of my nose and seems to be burrowing upwards.

My wrists are really weak today - have I read something about this being pregnancy related?

emmabsmom, i'm impressed at your lasagne! maybe i'll try to make some tomorrow whilst i'm still child-free.

the only reason i'm very chatty on here is that girls and dog are away so I actually have time to chat .

grumpy, fitter is here and at work. i've transmitted your grumpy look over to him and he's scared shtless . [momino wonders if grumpy can teach her how to do that look... could come in handy.]

Oh momino - so llareggub is being induced tomorrow!!! That's very exciting!! When I was induced with ds (at 37 weeks)I was examined at 8:30m (just after having my breakfast!) and 'swept' then told I was gonna have my baby today! Then I was taken to the labour ward/delivery suite a 10am - waters broken and hooked up to the drip thing to get me going. But when I was in last week I was interested to see the different ways induction can happed - with 'gel' or 'pessary'. I don't knwo what the difference is between the 2 types. I do know where they go {hmm]!!! and that you can get up to 3 doses at 6 hour intervals! So some of the ladies were actually labouring on the ward, which was a suprise to me... and also for some not very private . It was a bit embarrasing to hear girls getting examined who didn't have a high threshold of pain, and also getting the gel or pessary inserted; or in the early stages of labour - I was at the other side of the curtain when a mw was examining a girl when the girl asked about how her waters would be broken; the mw said I have your sack in my hand at the moment; Oh dear when I remove my hand there is going to be a gush cos your waters have just gone! Not very private eh??

One thing though is I didn't understand why I wasn't induced this time. When preg with ds I was admtted at 37 wks with pre-eclampsia symtoms which settled overnight then I was induced. The signs and symptoms were all the same this time (again at 37 wks) but not induced... weird!

Gert I used to work in Tadcaster with loads of people from West Yorkshire ('Wezzers', obviously!!! I was 'The Smoggie'). A few described themselves as being from 'Cleckhuddersfax', which I've always liked (I was looked down on as I was not only from York (not proper Yorkshire), but then moved to Middlesbrough (hence 'Smoggie').

Grumpy - aahhh, Tadcaster the home of my favourite brewery - Sam Smiths. Dreaming of pint of Sam Smiths lager...

One of ds's friends mums has gone into labour this morning. She was due 2 days after me... so mamybe not too long to go now for me!

And I am getting very tetchy. My temper is very short and I have shocked myself at how quick I am to get very cross and angry. Mostly at peoples incompetences... when I was discharged on Fri I was told I was gonna get an appt to see my consultant on Wed. So oIi phoned the ward clerk this morning whose job was to make the appt. She told me there was an appt for 13th May!!! What-the-$%&@???????? I went for the poor woman down the phone - no it was for THIS WED!!! Oh yes I see it now.... ARGH!! ANy wonder my BP is up??? I'm normally not that intollerable - maybe it's my animal instincts coming out... And DH kept asking me had I calmed down and to take things easy!!!! what a bitch I am...!!

Anyway if she ever reads this - I'm very sorry!

gert, I'm right next door to Tadcaster. I'll join you in a virtual pint of Sam Smiths .

Momino or 3?

Can't remember who asked what so here goes!

For everyone who commented after my last post - thank you for your thoughts.

For those of you wanting the jaffa cake loaf recipe, it's up on my blog now (thanks for posting the link Fi!)

Divedaisy My neck - No idea what the hell happened, I woke up last Tuesday and it was a bit sore but by teatime I couldn't move my head and it hasn't really got any better. GP thinks it's muscular but I (and my midwife) think it's to do with my pelvic problems. Either way, I can't rotate my head, can't lift the kids, can't drive and just feel thoroughly sorry for myself!

Llare Thank you!

Don't fret too much about your birth - loads of people go into the labour room with absolutely no idea what to do and when, but that's what your midwife is there for. If you can get into a waterpool even for a little while jump at the chance - I had DD in the pool after being induced with prostin and it was such an empowering experience. Also like someone else mentioned, the labour ward may have a TENS machine you can borrow - I got one from the physio on labour ward last time

Blotted my mouth is watering at the jaffa loaf. I need one now. I have no flour in house.... oh no.

divedaisy don't forget to post your mobile no on our secret fb group if you've not done already.. we can keep you updated by text if need be