Due November 2009 - we just can't stop chatting!

[BeckyBendyLegs]

A new thread!

Did I mention that you're all fab? Thank you for your support, ladies, don't know what I'd do without you lot!!!

Still feeling very low today, but working on a countdown methord which is helping a little - seeing the doctor at five. Still no one on duty at the unit Will be complaining when I feel up to it, I think.

DP text me at half five this morning (Lucky I was awake or I'd be slightly pissed..!) saying that he's sorry he can't be of more use right now, just that he's having a hard time too and doesn't know how to comfort me. Which is fine, I get it. But then I checked his facebook and he'd changed his status yesterday to something like "Doesn't understand women at all and is tempted to just give up"... Thanks babe, really appriciate it... I dunno whether I'm angry at him or not, feeling kinda numb today.

Good points - ordered a sleep support pillow last night, so that should hopefully be here in the next few days. Suprisingly, Mothercare was the cheapest place to buy, including postage, so that was easy, as already have an account!

Letter from the physcio referal came through this morning, am rather impressed as it was only sent off Tuesday. Called them, and have arranged an appointment for the 22nd.

Skorpion - Although I don't intend to do much hiking (!!!) I second Trikken's suggestion of the Detour. Its a lovely one to push, very sturdy, and the wheels would most certainly cope with it - think my brother is planning on stealing them for a go-kart when I'm done with it

Oh my goodness, parties at that far gone is something I wouldn't do!! You are brave ladies!!

Erika hope you are feeling better today and seeing the GP will help you too.

I had my consultants appt this morning. As expected, they won't make any decisions yet but am having a growth scan at 34 weeks and seeing the consulant straight after that when some decisions will be made! Saw little baby again (and was told again it's a girl so pretty sure it is!!) on a quick scan. Head is down so that's probably not helping with the pain in my pelvis!

We'll need a new thread by the end of the week at this rate!

Erika Please check in and let us know how you're doing, was thinking about you last night. I really hope you've managed to get some help! I know nothing at all about ADs, but was just wondering whether the pregnancy hormones might affect the dosage somehow? (The damn hormones seem to screw with everything/anything else...) I second whoever said that you've been so committed to Bryn, I'm absolutely positive you'll be a fantastic mum - and he needs his mama more than anything else in the world, don't ever lose sight of that!

Wook I think hiking (with cake afterwards!) sounds lovely - need to get out in the fresh air, and exercise while chatting to other mums must be great.

Lemon I've packed my "bag" and it is ginormous. Could've easily filled a carry on suitcase, but decided on a bag instead as they're easier to squeeze into small spaces (the lockers at the hospital are really not very big...) Boots are doing these massive bags for breast cancer at the moment, called Gorgeous (£3) and while I was there doing the babygear shopping I got one of them. It's now my hospital bag. You could park a small car in it!
Also, re: the weight... I'm 31 weeks and 3 days but I've gained double the amount you have. I don't see the issue with 6kg - you're not meant to be LOSING weight while pregnant, and the baby, placenta, amniotic fluid and extra boobage probably add up to about 6kg all by themselves! Also, it does seem that the weight can plateau - I've not gained any at all for nearly 4 weeks now, despite eating like a horse. If it wasn't for the fact that DH is heavier than me, I'd think the scales are stuck as they won't budge from 80kg.

Crossed posts Erika, glad you're only a few hours away from seeing the Doc. I'd ignore the facebook status thing completely, you've got enough on your plate at the moment. Don't give things like that any head space.

Southernbelle Congrats on the girl-news! It's exciting to hear that so many babies are heading downwards - we'll be getting ready to welcome them to the world very very soon!

Congrats on the definate girl, Sourthernbelle Got my next scan on the 21st, and I can't wait to see him on the screen again!

Thanks Broodzilla Just under four hours till my appointment, got to keep busy till then... Thank you x

Weight wise - I haven't been weighing myself MW doesn't seem to mind, she's never done it, and none of my hospital appointments have included weighing. Don't know if this is because of my history with eating disorders or what, but they don't seem concerned. Surely if you're okay, and baby seems okay, that's what matters..?

ErikaI havent been weighed at any of mine either, the only time ive been asked my weight was at the booking in meeting, and i gave it over very begrudgingly then! Im not worried about weight as long as everything seems ok.

Erika - the facebook status sounds like such a bloke thing to say - my DH is happy to admit he doesn't understand women and gave up trying to ages ago - best way I think!!

Re the hospital bag - I have always (sounds like i've done it tonnes!?!) taken 2 - one for birth and then one for the actual stay which i leave in the car for DH to get when the baby's arrived and things calmed down abit (both times i've quite enjoyed a few minutes to compose myself and stare in wonder at my new son/daughter).

Birthing bag;
maternity notes
snacks
small bottle water & straws
old nightshirt (tho never used it)
hairbands
book (me & DH - tho again these never got out!)
camera
babygro & bodysuit
baby hat
2 x nappies
nursing bra
4 x maternity pads (use 2 at a time)
old pants!
breast pads x 4
towel & showergel
pjamas
change for payphone / mobile or phone card!!

Hospital bag (enough to see through 24hrs - DH can bring whatever if needed);
2 x babygros
2 x bodysuits
nappies
spare hat
cotton wool balls & tub or wipes
2 x nursing bras
breast pads
pack of maternity pads
5 (or more) old pants
2 x pjamas or nightshirts (poss spare bottoms)
towel
toiletries
arnica
parametamol (nice not to have to ask)
magazines / book
chocolate / pack biscuits

am sure there's more stuff I pack in mine but this is what I can think of at the moment.

Jesu Beep you're organised!!! I have a vauge idea of what I need but think I'll just print off your list instead I think you're right and he's just being a typical man... But surely he KNOWS I'm going to see it..? Again, typical man... restrains self from making very sexist comments Trikken glad to hear its not just me I think I guessed at the booking-in..!!

thats a really useful list beepbeep,
ok this may seem like a really stupid question but then i'll admit to not always being very intelligent, when you say use 2 maternity pads at a time, do you mean length ways or one on top of eachother?

pads = side by side but overlapping quite a bit - otherwise wouldn't be able to walk!! I was quite shocked by how much I bled after the birth for the first few days. Even with 2 I found they needed changing alot! I moved onto night time sanitary pads asap as bit less bulky.

By the way, the bags aren't actually packed - just what I remember putting in last time! Not THAT organised!

Erika - the comment was possibly meant as a bit tongue in cheek and you were MEANT to see it?! - bloody men (and they think women are hard to understand?!)

thanks for that, makes sense to do that actually.

id advise bringing a digital camera if you have it, or a reliable one, not a disposible one, as this is what we did last time and the disposible one couldnt be developed so we were very upset to lose all our pictures of ds at a couple of hours old.

Trikken your pad question was brilliant! (In my case with ds I reckon I needed to do both for the first couple of days!) I would echo Beepbeep - I was amazed at how many pads I needed, poor dh and mum had to run back and forth to Boots to buy new packs several times.

Beepbeep - thank you for this very useful list! And Tricken good point about the digital camera.

I was talking about what to pack with a friend who has a 10 month old baby on the weekend and she said to make sure you bring whatever you would take to keep you occupied if you knew you were taking a long flight with a layover or the possibility of getting very delayed. Although she did say that it was hard to read an actual book, so magazines to flick through might be better. Her top tip for food to eat during/after labour was cereal bars, I think I'm going to buy a pack of my favourite peanut tracker bars to take with me.

Beepbeep Hmm... I don't think so - the comments posted on it suggested he wanted to get away from me for the weekend Ah well. He's since text me asking if I can go over Saturday instead of Friday as he has to work late, so think I shall pretend I haven't read it. Though I might promise to bake him a cake and then eat it as revenge I'm not a child, honest...

Do you really bleed THAT much after birth? I'm bad enough when I'm on my period, I'm terrible with blood... Kinda ironic, I know!! How long do you tend to bleed for after? No one has really mentioned it to me...

I think I'm going to take my DS with me... That way I can at least kick DPs arse at Mario in between contractions

I bled for ten weeks afterwards, but I gather that's not typical. I think six is normal.

I'd add extra babygros - poor DS swallowed some meconium, and then threw it all up over three different outfits. When I asked the midwives for another change of clothing, I got told off for being so poorly prepared, and treated as if I were mad for thinking a maternity unit might have a spare babygro around. Still cringe thinking of poor DS in a vest and blanket...

I'd add: snacks for afterwards (they may be a bit rubbish about feeding you when you're hungry), and earplugs/eye mask if you're likely to be bothered by noise and lights when trying to sleep. DS was very quiet and never cried, but I kept getting woken up by everybody else's shrieking babies.

I think DS is probably not getting a birthday party for his second birthday this year. I'm going to be thirty-six weeks pregnant, and our house is tiny - the original plan was to book a soft-play area party, but now most of my mummy friends are boycotting such places as havens of the dreaded piggy flu.

broodzilla thanks for tip about the bag in Boots. Will have a look out for those.

beepbeep thanks for list. I got some really comfy memory foam slippers from primark for £3 that I'm gonna put in my bag too.

Have spent the whole morning at the diabetes clinic. Saw a doctor, a dietician and a consultant. It was a bit crazy and a lot of information to take in but I get the general idea. Got a little machine to test my blood sugar 6 times a day and have to do this for a week and go back to see docs again. I'll have no feeling in my fingers by then! Got a growth scan the week after & appointments with consultant etc.......... I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time between now and baby arriving in that clinic! It wasn't as scary as I thought though. Just need to be really careful what I eat and drink. No more nice snacks for me.

Afternoon ladies

great list, will have to think about sorting out stuff for a bag soon.

It's DS' 4th birthday 5 days after my due date and I don't know what to do about a party. Was thinking along the soft play lines, or at least somewhere where it's all done for you as that's the hardest part ime. I can't work out whether to do it early, so as most likely to still be pregnant, or a few days later and likely to have a newborn.
Any suggestions? Ds' birthday falls on a Wednesday so could easily do it for the Saturday after, and it would only be for 1.5 hours. Thoughts?

Erm, I've actually packed babyfood for snacks for me during labour... thought that pureed fruit is easily digestible and bland enough if I'm feeling sick but still should give lots of energy. (I've been known to have babyfood for snacks at other times too...) but I've already got visions of the MWs confiscating it all thinking I'll be feeding them to the bean when he's born!

Also got some lollipops incase I end up wanting to use G&A as it's meant to dry your mouth. Someone suggested pastilles or lozenges, but I figured a lollipop is easy to get out of the way for more G&A if required.

I really have got to get myself to Primark!

Forgotten the slippers!! and a dressing gown if you can fit it in.

Every so often Sainsburys do a 1/3rd off baby stuff, this is when I stock up on maternity pads (if unopened they'll take spares back, but get what you think, then add 4 packs!), breast pads etc.

Tamlin - def snacks for when on ward (I took a couple packs of Nice biscuits -they didn't last long!) i never fancy the toast after giving birth, but then am starving an hour later! I think I put some energy bars in for snacks for the labour (as well as fruit gums and stuff that wet mouth a bit). I' find that having a straw for bottle of water is great, as leaning over bed (DD) or in pool (DS), trying to swig from a bottle isn't the easiest!

I think I bleed for about 6 weeks, but first couple are worst, I find it then just goes to period like bleeding and eventually tails off to not much.

Erika - DS is good idea, I've always laboured fast so never had chance for the book/magazine I've taken, but will still pack it this time, otherwise will be tempting fate and have a 24hr labour!!

Thanks all for being so positive about the walk/cake idea- you galvanised me into emailing the local NCT person to renew membership and suggest it as an idea for their next newsletter hopefully.. so I'll wait and see!

Laugs those pushy mothers look very well organised- if there was one near me I'd probably be tempted to have a go, but the cost is quite prohibitive isn't it- especially when added to baby music, baby swimming, cake costs etc... not to mention tumbletots, baby signing, baby yogabugs, chinese mandarin lessons - and so on forever!
(only did the first three with ds but I do think they were worth it- music especially)

Laugs again- parties!- well, I did ds a vaguely space themed party for him and six friends in the back garden last weekend- I was 31+2 last Saturday and the whole process, from buying space stuff for the party bags to when we waved everyone home, was bloody knackering!At the end I felt like someone had stabbed me in the pubic region repeatedly!! But I made it much worse for myself by making the cake in a rocket shape and wrestling with that roll out icing and some food colouring for hours on end, swearing like a loon!! I reckon buy a cake and don't buy any food that needs cooking and you may be OK doing a party later in pg. But woe betide you if you try to do anything remotely Nigella! Or organise anything more strenuous than pass the parcel!
Lots of friends have had parties at playbarn type places recently and they have been really great fun for the kids. I have a phobia about those ball pit things but fortunately the soft play places round here don't have them. These parties were most noticeable because the host parents actually got time to chat and chill out!

Hospital bags: it's great to have a reminder Broodzilla. All I know for sure is what I am NOT taking this time and that's my box of Neal's Yard homeopathic remedies for childbirth. A relaxing remedy may get you somewhere if your baby is less than 9lb9oz but the whole kit was of no use to me whatsoever except for a good laugh afterwards!

Great to have a list of things that are needed - thanks.

The mere thought about starting to research the prams is giving me the heebie-jeebies... There's soooo much choice, I get a bit strange when presented with too much of it. I really just want one pram that does everything from birth to walking. All terrain, not too bulky or too heavy. I think I need it to have one of those cot lie flat thingys deep and built up enough to keep her warm. And rear and forward facing modes for the pushchair. And not cost the price of a car! Is that too much to ask...?

erika thinking of you, hope your appointment goes well.

Wook - I've been given one of those kits too - somehow don't think it'll be coming with me!! The only thing I think i'd use in it would be the arnica tablets afterwards, but i have a load anyway. If you're into that type of thing fair play, a friend used it and she said it gave her and her DH something to concentrate on, but I had my tens machine that kept me going. Maybe if it's a really long labour may help?

I know what you mean aboutall the baby clubs adding up, partic when you're off on maternity pay. The best thing i've found are the play groups - they are cheap (ours is £1 per family) get a cup of tea, good natter, kids play and they all sng songs at end. I did aot with DD and poor DS didn't get much poor mite.

Woo! Chat chat chat today!

First proper day back at work for me today - how did it go for you katster? Well, not really proper until the kids are back Monday but still enough work to feel tired. My INSET went well and everyone seemed to think it was useful and interesting Was nice to be back and putting mind to stuff. Like many of you have been saying, I really enjoy my work and being productive and was beginning to get rather bored on hols! Sure I won't be saying that by the end of next week.

Erika-Maye been thinking of you and glad to hear that you sound a little chirpier today. Keep us updated lovely lady.

wook and skorpion I would def be up for some postnatal walking agree that the word hiking would put me off a bit... and if it's near Oxford I'm there! We get the keys to our new, first ever HOUSE tomorrow.
So excited. Once it is all real and we have the keys in our hand I will be able to think about telling school that I am definitely NOT coming back Makes me sad just to think about it - I love my school and colleagues

Beepbeep definitely agree on the playgroup front, the one in our church hall was lovely. And the library was always a brilliant place to go and cost absolutely nothing! Some people swear by baby signing but I could never quite see the point, whereas with swimming I could see that the teacher was getting ds to learn things he wouldn't have done if I had just taken him to the pool on my own.

Erika hope GP was of use!