Due November 2009 - Remember, remember we're due in November, but not yet quite ready to pop!

[Fruitpastels]

Hope everyone can find us!

Tabby what a terrible time for you and your family. I wish you all the best to get through this together. As said earlier, please take care of yourself, I really think, breathing deeply and calmly, and even if it is just for a couple of minutes each day will help you a lot. Otherwise, just be there for your husband, listen to him if he needs it and try to allow him his own couple of calm minutes. In my experience, when going through stressful or rough times, it helps a lot if we spend every morning and evening, after waking up and before going to bed, a couple of minutes in each others arms.

There were a couple of others I wanted to say something, but I forgot who and what... So, just in general: I hope those with problems will soon feel better.

Had a busy day so haven't had time to write my complaint but I'll certainly do. So thanks for all your supporting words!

And one last thing: I've just bought an 65cm exercise ball, as I'm 167cm (just under 5.5ft I think) and it is supposed to be the right size. I blew it up really to the maximum (hopefully not over) but my knees are just slightly unter my hips. As far as I understood, the hips should always be higher than the knees. So I think, it might be nicer to buy the bigger size. Any advice or experience?

And one last thing: Yesterday everything went really quickly, the offer got accepted, we signed this morning and can move in in two weeks.... except we don't have any furniture yet so probably we will have one week with both flats. That should allow us to get everything more or less ready. I#m really excited about it.

Well, and one really last thing: Just had my midwife appointment, she referred me to the birth centre in my hospital (St Mary's at Paddington), so I'm quite happy about that. And she "thinks" that the baby is in the right position, at least head down. At my last appointment with my GP, it was the same. She "thought", the head was already down. If they can't tell for sure, why do they not offer a third scan.

Sorry for this long post, but so many things happened

sleepless Sorry you were so worried yesterday. An ice cold drink is a good way to get the baby going if you haven't felt it kick for a while. Also try not moving about too much, as walking rocks the baby to sleep. Easier said than done when you are stressed though. Hope your DH gets back soon and you have a relaxing weekend.

ninja I hope you've had a chance to rest up a bit and recover from the other day.

All this talk of cake and donuts is making me crave something sweet. We have a bowl full of fruit that I don't fancy. Some cheap chocolate that just won't do. For some reason I am just sitting here hoping DH will come back with something.

ursi I know you are further along than me, but I think the baby might still have a chance to move around, and that is why they don't scan yet. They can't really do anything about it anyway (except poss book you in for a CS if it's breech), so they will be hoping the baby stays in the same position until your next appointment. I had to have another scan v. near the end last time as nobody could work out if DD's head was her bottom and vice versa.
By the way, I am so jealous you get to go out shopping for loads of furniture. What fun!

Result. DH just rang and asked if I need anything from Tesco. Donuts please!

tabby so so sorry to hear of the sad and stressful time you and your family are going through. I am thinking of you.

koumak I am having girl, yes! I wonder if that's the sweet tooth. I have a bar of cadbury's in the fridge....mmmmm!

broodzilla like your rule about the pelvic floor exercises, am going to try to remember that one and so the same!

And thanks for the reassurance re the (relative) lateness of your antenatal classes, as well as everyone else . If people are going into labour in them I suppose they must be quite late...theoretically. Eek, I am starting to get nervous about labour now. Stupidly watched some videos and now getting bit scared

congrats on ursi's new house! Exciting times! I know exactly how you are feeling right now!

Oh Tabby how sad and tragic. You must be in a state of shock at the moment. Take big care of yourself and your DH. Big hug from me.

Koumak I am convinced I am having a boy though - bump same shape, indigestion, etc. We'll see...

BBL at least you will know what to do!

My dh just fell asleep watching Derren Brown on living room sofa. I am now worried he will not be abble to get up in the morning being hypnotise as he well asleep in the middle of the experiment but obviously didn't hear the noise in the end.. Oh well. Lets hope I wont go into labour tonight. Have just watched some birth videos on YouTube. why am I doing this again?

Oh now koumak, did I put the idea in your head? (like Derren Brown tehee - I was too scared to do it btw!)

Don't do it! Read Kyte's post above, it has reassured me (a bit). Thanks Kyte!

Raggie - don't be scared, it's natural thing at the end of the day and DON'T watch videos - they're only going to show the dramatic ones and the majority of births aren't!! Kyte is right, it is painful, but a different type of pain to say breaking your leg, also, you know what the pain is, it's bringing you your baby and when the baby's out it stops & bizarrely (sp?!) you do forget the pain - otherwise we wouldn't do it again. I have quite enjoyed my births so far, tho both have been straightforward, and find them really quite empowering, you've got to be amazed at what your body can do, growing this baby and then giving birth to it. (My first words after giving birth to DS were 'thank god i'm not pregnant anymore'!!) The birth's nothing in comparison with 9 months of pregnancy!

Hi everyone,

Sorry I have been so useless at keeping up again this week! Seem unable to do anything after work except sleep!
Tabby I am really really sorry to hear your awful news. You must all be in shock. And as others have said, of course you are going think about yourself and the baby, it is natural. I hope the next few weeks go as smoothly as they possibly can, under the circumstances.

Re sweet/savoury - I have fancied salty things throughout, like soy sauce (mad cravings in the first 4 months) and crisps, which I don't normally eat, and am having a boy. Having said that, I am really not sure how the sex of your baby could affect your tastebuds, but it is funny to try!

Raggie am also terrified about the birth. Have got 2 antenatal classes a week at the min (NHS and NCT) and they are not helping me bury mu head in the sand!! Have got childbirth without fear (the book) but so far not brought myself to open it up! Have you tried Hypnobirthing? I have ordered a cd from amazon, but it hasn't come yet. Am worried that all the antenatal classes go on about how fear leads to adrenaline which stops labour progressing - how am I meant to not be fearful???! Am sure I will therefore have awful long horrid labour which then makes me panic even more as it seems inevitable if I can't somehow muster a relaxed approach to the whole thing!! Aaaaaagh!! Wondering if I have a spare £5k for an elective CS....

Scarlotti that would be lovely Yey, cake!! Glad you had a good time at the farm, I always think its really cool whenever people mention they're still it touch with other mums they met at ante natal / NCT.

Usi congratulations That's fantastic news!!!

Laugs hope you enjoyed your donuts

Katster I've been on the crisps too I never used to eat them at all, and now I can't get enough. But I'm also hugely into chocolate now... How curious

Thank you to all the posts reassuring about birth, they're comforting!!

DP is officially out of the dog house now. This morning a surprise order from Amazon turned up - he'd ordered a book I'd mentioned looked really interesting, bless him We're going shopping for baby things today, Dad is dropping my wheelchair round in a bit, I can't wait!! And, as much as I know I was complaining about him going away, he's so much happier - last night we laughed so much I cried!!! Today is going to be a good day

Also, he heard Bryn's heartbeat through my tummy How cool is that?? I know those of you who have done it before have probably already experienced that, but I'm just in total amazement. And a little jealous

Hope you all have a fantastic day! x

Kyte is exactly right about labour pain, last time labour and birth was nowhere near as painful or as scary as id imagined it to be, and i wouldnt say I had a high pain tolerance. hoping to be as lucky this time round.

I have a cold today so not feeling too bright but I know that i can rest a bit later as mil is having ds overnight. (also gives me time to wrap dh's birthday presents in peace and quiet) although really annoyed as one of dh's presents hasnt arrived and it was dispatched 11 days ago, hopefully it'll come on monday, the day of his birthday.

Erika enjoy baby shopping, its the most enjoyable type of shopping ever!

Just got all baby stuff from attic and am gutted as some of my favourite stuff is missing, thnk I must have ebayed it in haste following DS's birth, in particular a snowsuit, however have just trawled the web and found an identical one on ebay and bought it quick at the BIN price!! I loved it as it was red (unisex) and had turn over hands and feet rather than mittens which I personally find so much easier, only prob is had t go for 3-6 months rather than 0-3, but at least it'll last a bit longer!

Off to Next this aft - bought DD some trousers for winter and they are all too big, she's so diddy! Went for 2-3 despite her being 3 in Nov and they are all too big around her waist. Bizarre, she eats for england, but just of small frame.

beepbeep have the opposite prob with ds, he's huge. he's almost grown out of his trousers which i only bought a couple of weeks ago.

beepbeep DS will be 4 in early november and he's still in 18-24 months trousers! Some 2-3 years ones will fit but only if they have the expandable waists with the buttons on elastic. George at Asda do those in their trousers - remarkably good quality clothes for a supermarket.

erika sounds like a lovely day planned will work out when I'm free next week and give you some options. Will have to get dh to listen to my tummy too.

Will echo everyone's comments on birth too. Both of mine have been straightforward so can only comment from that respect, but I've done one with drugs (pethidine) and one with just gas and air. You do go into like a little bubble and your body just gets on with the job. The best thing to do is just try and trust your body as then you will be fairly relaxed. Yes it hurts, but you can have the edge of the pain taken away with the gas and air, or most of it with the pethidine, but it is cyclical so you do get a breather in between contractions and it is definitely all worth it!!!

Thank you for all the lovely encouraging labour stories!

I made DH read some of the pages in the "pregnancy bible" and also the NHS book the other night, and although he was cringing while he read it, it did seem to make him actually think about the whole situation and take it more seriously (ie he's not mentioned the planned weekend a 4-5 hour drive away with his mates 3 weeks before the due date since...)

I'm feeling quite calm about it all, but that may well be due to my usual head-in-sand approach to most things...

A very dear and near friend is now two days past her due date, so waiting for the phone to ring!

Meanwhile, I have some beef with Mother Nature. Couldn't fall asleep until 2AM last night and woke up at 6AM and couldn't get back to sleep. The hours in between felt like I was dozing. Also attempted to give myself a pedicure this morning (mostly out of sheer boredom!) and may I ask why, when it's patently obvious that our toes our out of reach, do they continue to need looking after? Not sure my donut habit is helping that particular problem, but hey - they're 2 for 1 at Sainbury's at the moment!

Hope you're all having a lovely sunny Saturday, we'll be having one last "last bbq" of the year tonight!

Kyte - was it you who had lost all your newborn baby clothes? Just going through ours and we have tonnes of neutral stuff if you or anyone else would like it, must have about 25 newborn babygros and same again 0-3 also white cardigan and other bits. Have been used but be fine as spares. Free to a good home!!!

Scarlotti - the expandable waists are what I look for as height wise she's average, just such a small frame. Tops are find, just the bottom half! We were are nursery the other day and she had on a skirt she insisted on wearing (tho slightly too big)

tabby just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and your family

All this talk about chocolate and donuts makes my mouth water!!! Wish I could have some, but I'm to scared to eat anything. Everytime I eat something I drink some panado for the pain. Stupid mumps. have been back to doctor because this morning I've been in tears of the pain. he gave me some antibiotics, so hopefully it helps.

Must go for 3D scan on Tuesday at hospital, wonder I they will still let me go?.....

Good weekend all!

I just noticed how many mistakes there were in my post last night .
That?s because I am not usually up that late! That and I am a foreigner!

I am enjoying some peace and quiet as dh to ds to the park. Not really relaxing as have several loads of washing to get through and kitchen to tidy etc but at least I have sorted all the baby stuff and put it all away nicely clean and ironed and almost finished packing my hospital bag. Have loads of friends with kids coming for lunch tomorrow so will try to get the flat presentable too.

I saw midwife this morning. She was very nice which was good as I had loads of questions! All fine. Size wise measuring spot on 34 weeks which is a relief but she has already booked me for a growth scan at 40+6 should I go overdue again. Apparently they like to induce at 41+6 so that would mean the baby coming on grandpa?s birthday! Or if it?s only few days late it could be daddy?s birthday present.

I told her about that horrid thrush coming back and she said if I treat dh too then it should probably be looked at as we don?t want to miss any other problem or infection and gave me a swap that I did myself and she sent it off. I asked her about routinely checking for Strep B and they don?t do that but as I am having that swap it would pick it up. Which is good as it means really having 2 tests for 1.

I was having some blood tests done too so mentioned if she could test me for toxoplasmosis as ds got 2 gerbils the other week when he started ?big? school and she said we just get an extra sample no problem.

So glad I asked as now I am having 2 tests I don?t think I would have had done otherwise.

That?s my tea break over back to work!

Hello all. Keep the reassuring and encouraging birth tales coming. Thank you so much. You really are a lovely bunch

Well I braved central London today as I REALLY needed some warmer maternity clothes, current ones just not cutting it.

Got some comfy trainery shoes from New Look, some jersey trousers from M&S (thanks for the recommendations!) and my best buy(s)....I found a lovely snuggly cardigan in Dorothy Perkins which will hopefully keep me warm in the coming months, even after little one arrives.

Here it is: tinyurl.com/dpcardi

Just spotted it comes in teal too, which I didn't see, looks nice...AND...I naughtily got a really beautiful dress from Dotty P too which isn't maternity but actually FITS! And now I can wear it to my mum's 60th in a few weeks. It really cheered me up to see myself looking a (a teeny bit) glam for a change.

Cheery raggie!

hi girls just thought id keep you informed i was taking into hospital today thought my waters were bout to break(not at 32 weeks we didnt) but its all good baby grace isnt bout to arrive any time soon thank god.

anyway ive been writing a list for my bag and the babies bag will you help me out with anything ive missed:

my bag:
pj x2 or nightgown
dressing gown
underwear x4
socks x2
bras x2
change of clothes
breast pads & super pads for pants
book
slippers
pillow
YELLOW NOTES!!!!!!!!!!!!

babies bag:
baby vest x5
baby grows x5
hat x2
scratch mits x3
nappies 1 pack or 10 nappies
bottles x5
booties x1
outfit for leaving the hospital
socks x5
baby wipes & nappie bags

things for partner to remember:
petrol in car
car seat
be loving and caring even when im tell him to f off

anyone think of anything im missing

Tabby I'm so sorry to hear your terrible news. Take care of yourself.

So much to catch up on. I haven't been able to read all the posts.

Mummy2be Sorry you had a scare. Glad to hear all is fine. You sound very orgnanised with your hospital bag. I must get mine packed, I said that last week! You might want to think about getting cotton wool/pads rather than baby wipes. As newborn skin make react to the wipes and be a little too harsh in the early weeks.

Not much news this end. Glad it's the weekend . Need to go shopping for some new clothes for DS tomorrow, he has grown so much over the summer. He has a tiny little waist and long legs, so the adjustable waistbands are a blessing.

Finished my NCT classes. They were great. As it was a refresher course there was a lot more chat and talk about our own experiences rather than a biology lesson! I learnt so much just hearing other mum's stories.

I went to mothercare yesterday and was very drawn to the girl baby clothes, they were beautiful. Have no idea of the sex of this bubba, but I've not allowed myself to think it could be a girl, as I do crave to have a DD, but if it were a DS then I would be just as happy.

Anyone else stuggling with baby names?

Tasja The mumps sound terrible. I hope the antibiotics kick in very quickly for you.