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

[BeckyBendyLegs]

A new thread!

raggie how exciting for you! When will you actually be moving in? All those things to do! We've done it a couple of times and it is so satisfying to make your mark on a place. Welcome to Oxford.

I think it would definitely be a good idea to organise a meet up. Whether in the city or in the countryside - we're actually closer to Banbury than Oxford - there are so many lovely places around here. You'll love it.

I tried going to both the playgroups here, but i didnt know anyone there and no-one would talk to me. Tried the baby signing and the only thing i could get him to learn was the sign for food.

Trikken - must admit I found our local playgroup a little unfriendly, so now travel about 5 miles to another which is way better (on friend's advice). Def easier to go to them with people you know.

Raggie - hope the move goes well, aain, Welcome to Oxford. We're just outside Oxford to the West, great place to live esp East Oxford (you're moving to Cowley aren't you?).

Skorpion -have you ever been to Funky Monkeys at Bicester (at the garden centre)? Was there last tues - DD kicked off cause she didn't want to go home!

We're going to the Wychwood Forest Fair on Sunday, went a couple of years ago and it was great so thought we'd try it again, DH likes fact that a local brewery & butchers are there -beer & hog roast!!

Thanks beepbeep and skorpion! It is East Oxford, in that maze of streets between the Cowley and Iffley Roads. Seems like a nice community feel, can't wait!

We're actually moving (as in giving up our flat in London) once I go on maternity leave at half term (23rd Oct I'm freeeeeeee!) so just doing bits and bobs til then, be there every few weekends and DH be there during most of the week from beginning Oct as that's when his PhD starts.

Be great if you can show me around and definitely be up for some countryside visiting. We have good friends in the tiny village of Stadhampton, which is South East of Oxford I think [hmmm]. Love going out there for some fresh country air. Which way's Banbury skorpion?

Wychwood makes me think of beer beepbeep - think DH likes their beer. We were going to do a hog roast for our wedding - so yummy! Have fun

Raggie - it is the Wychwood brewery that go (they are based in Witney (very near us) - they do a great cider!! We were going to have a joint birthday do this summer (DH's 40th & my 30th) and have a hog roast but money didn't allow - maybe another time. Banbury is north by the way (about 25mins from us & prob about the same from Oxford). I went through Stadhampton the other day - can't think where I was going now

Two places we visit alot are the Cotswold wildlife park (i've got a year pass - about £50, but to say we go most weeks and would normaly cost £11, not bad!). Also Blenheim Palace have a nice playground and have the odd event on - if you pay for a full price ticket at the moment you get 12months free - bargain!!!!

OK, I'm going to keep a running list of all the things people have suggested for the bag. I'm sure lots of us won't take everything on the list but it might be useful having all the suggestions in one place, even if it makes the list look a bit scary!

Birthing bag
maternity notes
snacks (including for after labour)
small bottle water & straws
old nightshirt (tho never used it)
hairbands
book (me & DH - tho again these never got out!)
camera - digital if poss, must be charged up!
2 x babygro & bodysuit (in case DC is sick over first right away)
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!!
Magazines / distraction eg iPod or DS

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
earplugs / eyemask
slippers
dressing gown

Skorpion May I suggest you have a look at the Brio Happy? It'll do all the things you want, and we got ours for £199 so in my book that was very cheap. (Not sure how much my car is worth these days though... )

Raggie Happy new house! Think of all the nesting you can do in brand new surroundings!

I had a look at Arnica at Boots the other day and they seem to do little tablets and also spray or gel... so internal or external... what do you reckon? The gel might make sense, but if the fanjo looks like a car crash presumably you don't want to be touching anything any more than you have to?

Has anyone started the olive oil regime yet to "treat" the perineum? There's been no mention of it (that I could see) in the Ina May book, so just wondering if it's all a load of mumbo? I mean, if we're made to birth babies, then why the need to stretch things before hand?

beepbeep haven't been to Funky Monkeys - what is it? We did go to the Forest Fair two years ago, too, but missed it last year. It's great fun. Damn, can't make it this weekend either.

raggie Banbury's north, towards Birmingham. We live in a village just outside. I commute to Oxford every day, though.
It is so nice here, lots to do, many villages in the Cotswolds have fab events throughout summer. If beer's what you're into, I'd recommend Hook Norton - a beautiful little village with a brewery. All the pubs sell their beers around here. If you'd like to venture further away, Stow-on-the-Wold is gorgeous. Ooh, you'll have so much fun exploring.

beepbeep just reading back, you can tell that we've led the childless life so far. Oh, things are about to change.

broodzilla - noted, thank you. I'll be definitely back for more info when I'm ready to face this.

Skorpion - Funkey Monkeys is a small play centre (good for yung toddlers), but is at a garden centre where there is an aquatics centre, pet shop and craft store amongst others - DD loves seeing all the fish. Hooky beer is DH's favourite - the brewery is a strange building isn't it?

Last time I went to the Forest Fair I did actually have a child, but wouldn't have known it - she was in a sling and slept through it - had stopped breast feeding her mind, so enjoyed a bit of cider!

skorpion I'm going to stay very near Stow-in-the-Wold in a few weeks, beginning of October. My flatmates from uni and I are staying in a little cottage for the weekend to celebrate 10 years since we met . 3 of the 5 of us are married and going to include a one yr old baby boy and my mahoosive bunp too. We always joke about how we are all getting to be very grown-up ladies indeed, tehee...but we always manage to be silly like 18-yr olds when get together!

DH is very much into his beer, yes, and being an Oxford boy he's looking forward to reacquainting himself with all the fun to be had.

To nesting and exploring and a new non-childless way of things! Your way of that (cider-swilling) sounds one I could get along well with beepbeep

Hi, Can you lovely ladies send mummy2be2009 back to her style and beauty thread from a few days ago, have just added to it, but thought she probably wouldn't see it

I take DS to two playgroups at the local village hall, and I go to the Toy Library and Baby Rhyme Time sessions at the local library regularly. I did try Music with Mummy classes, but found they were a dreadful waste of money - after that, couldn't face Baby Yoga or Baby Signing. Have heard good things about Baby Sensory classes, but by that stage DS's social calendar seemed quite full enough...

I do miss Oxford very much sometimes, but suspect that living there as a SAHM would be considerably different to living there as a student... Weirdly, I think I miss the smell of my favourite library most of all. It was very peaceful in there, and very QUIET. Sigh. (This morning, DS climbed onto the headboard of our bed, balanced there until he could crawl onto the bracketed bookshelf which we thought we'd put up well out of his reach, and then brought the whole thing down with an almighty crash...)

Brodzilla - I've not seen the gel or spray, but have always used the tablets and cream (don't find it hurts too much, but suppose it depends on if you tea - maybe the spray would be good - don't think you can 'overdose' so perhaps tablets with one of others?)

Can't remember who asked re perenial (sp?) massage, I'v never done it and never torn (despite DS beng over 10lb and DD being over 8), my yoga teacher swears by it, I suppose it can't do any harm, but I'm not very good at remembering to do these things. Personally I think a controlled 2nd stage (pushing out) is far more important.

What's the arnica for? Is that for afterwards? I have used a few drops of tea tree oil in the bath and it works wonders.

As for perenium massage, am not convinced it works. Am with beepbeep, I think if you have a controlled push then all is good.

Tamlin at the bookshelf - hope he's ok. DS comes in every morning and wanders around the headboard too nothing like being woken up by having your hair stood on!

Morning

I'm getting all excited now - the kids go back to school on Monday lol!

It's funny how you bawl your eyes out on their first day then by the time they reach this age you can't wait to get them back there, it's been a very long 8weeks

Erika sorry you are feeling this way, hope the doctor was helpful and sympathetic. Fingers crossed you're feeling back on top of things soon x x

eeyore Good idea for the list. I must have taken everything including the kitchen sink with me the first time and then not used about 90% of it! 2nd time I scaled it down, then for the last 2 I had HB's so randomly chucked some bits into a bag "just incase" Planning to go to hospital this time so will need to start looking for a bag to take, I do 2 small ones, one for me and one for baby. Will be checking the list later to see what I have or not.

I'm in agreement with beepbeep & scarlotti on the massage/tearing/pushing. I have never done the massage and never torn (ooh what does that say about me !!) And my 4 ranged from 7lb 6 to 9lb 4! I think if you have a good MW and a controlled 2nd stage then you're more than likely going to be fine. Saying that though I'm sure it doesn't hurt to try the massage if you fancy it.

I have got to start planning a party/parties for the 3 ds's. ARGHHHH. Their birthdays are on the 1st, 2nd and 19th of Oct so am thiking it is going to be a lot easier (not to mention cheaper) to just hire a hall and a bouncy castle and invite all their friends. That's 2 class fulls of 6-8yr olds and a bunch of babies for ds 3. Sounds like my idea of hell Will be almost 35wks so hope I get some help!

Anyone else finding it impossible to get a decent nights sleep? It's driving me mad. I go to bed then lay there for ages trying to get to sleep and when I finally do I constantly wake through the night then get up in the morning feeling awful. Hope it wears off soon

Hi easyeggs, good to hear from you.
It's very encouraging to read about controlled 2nd stage helping to avoid tearing. This is my one niggling point about the birth. Well, this and the unmentionable bowel action
I manage to sleep OK, although for less time. Only thing is the weirdest, most vivid dreams. Last night - must have been all the talk about maternity pads - I dreamt that a lady in Boots was showing me their choice of pads and they were the size of a single blow-up mattress. How the hell, I was thinking, am I going to fit two of those in my knickers?!?

at skorpions dream, do find it hard to sleep at the moment, it doesnt help that dh has had to be up at 3 am for the past week but that all changes from today as he has a weeks hol then starts a new position. yay.

Just to quickly add my 2 pence worth re Arnica - better to use tablets/pillules as they help to heal any internal bruising as well as external bruising. They are FAB.

OMG eeyore what a great list! I can only think of a couple more things to add - highlighted them.

Birthing bag
maternity notes
snacks (including for after labour)
small bottle water & straws
old nightshirt (tho never used it)
hairbands
book (me & DH - tho again these never got out!)
camera - digital if poss, must be charged up!
2 x babygro & bodysuit (in case DC is sick over first right away)
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!! (charger) change for carpark
Magazines / distraction eg iPod or DS
Blanket for baby
Music and speakers!!! (my midwife was very pleased last time!)
birthing ball

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
earplugs / eyemask
slippers
dressing gown

good one with the change Pav, altho we didnt actually need to pay for the whole time dh was there as the midwife gave him a signed carpark notice so we didnt have to pay. I dont know if this is standard practice tho.

Gaaahhh, I've just been hit by my first serious bout of indigestion. My gawd, it's awful! I had twinges before and thought - this isn't that bad....... Owowowow! And I left my gaviscon at home!

trikken not in this area unfortunately . We can wing it for a couple of hours. There is urgent parking for dropping off women in labour but can only stay here for like 20 mins(can blag an hour) then 45 mins free in main carpark, which we can blag probably 2 hours. They are hot here. Money grabbing b's.

skorpion oh no, feel for you. Do you have access to a pharmacy? If so, Rennies tablets are good and don't taste to bad (i personally quite like them) and you can take them when pregnant I hate indigestion, sometimes get it so bad it makes me physically sick if I do not take something quickly. I hope it passes quickly.

*trikken - saying that, I am not anticipating being in hospital for much more than a couple of hours this time I am thinking, say 6 hour labour, 4 of which will be at home, 1 hour delivery in hospital 2 hours recovery, home! (yeah right, like it will be that straightforward!)

skorpion try some hot water?

If that doesn't work go somewhere quiet, get on all fours, stick bum in air and wriggle about! Can help get things moving in your gut (apparently ).