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

[Fruitpastels]

Hope everyone can find us!

Hello! Katster good luck with the midwife visit today.

Kyte bag packed!!!! Wow! Impressed! I have horrible heart burn too - sleeping is a nightmare, isn't it? I've got it now because I had OJ with my breakfast.

It is so strange isn't it how EVERYONE feels they can comment, quite personally, about your size when you are pregnant. Yesterday DS's reception teacher said 'where have you been hiding that bump?' She was totally serious too. She really hadn't noticed. Yet I've been having the 'no way you've got 2 months to go yet, you look ready to drop now' comments for weeks! I have thin arms and legs so I look deformed I think as my bump is huge. But I was like this before too. I look like I could topple over and some random bloke walked past me the other day and said 'that looks painful'. Huh?

Sorry for everyone having niggles with size etc.
I don't think pg can be a one size fits all event. At the hospital I measured 31wks when I was 29wks. A friend of mine who is very slim measured small the whole way through, was kept under close observation but baby was fine. We like our babies are all different shapes and sizes.
Although Pav I can understand with dd slowing/stopping last time it is an extra worry for you. Was dd ok when she was born? Do you just finish cooking them at 37wks?

Dp ran me a bath yesterday with lots of nice candles and bubbles and things and I realised that I really don't want to have this baby under hospital lights. What are the chances of candles being allowed in a delivery suite? Nill I imagine. Is there any other form of soft transportable lighting do you think I could take? Delivery suite has big halo light like a dentist which is very white/blue. Ok, I sound like a freak now. Going to stop. I'm sure there are better things to worry about.

Hope your all well. I've not eaten for 48hrs so a bit delirious. Probably best ignored for now

erika glad you're ok after your scare. It's good to know that the hospital is always there for us to be checked out if needs be. My baby has been moving a lot less recently since it moved to a head down position.

I think when docs / midwifes do the measurements it's only an estimate. I was measured by a consultant at 31 wks and he said 'hmmmm about 36 weeks?' when I was really shocked and said 'no 31!' he just said 'oh yes I'm not doing it properly!' and measured me 32. He was a bit of an old eccentric though. I think only scans can be used for accurate measurements and even then everyone grows at different rates. Got my growth scan next Friday and am keeping everything crossed cos the main problem with GD is the baby grows too big and it can cause birth probs.

katster I'm not getting seats on trains either. I was standing on a packed commuter train the other day and was daydreaming about living in the country1 I've been going into work late for the last three weeks but am back to rush hour on Monday morning.

Might do a birthing bag shop today although it may be online if I'm feeling lazy.

I need to post a me, me, me moan about DH post? It is our anniversary on Wednesday and we were emailing each other and I said 'your parents have offered to babysit on Wednesday evening'. His reply was 'I'm in Leeds on Wednesday' (translate as: I'll be back late). We are going away at the weekend next weekend (not for our anniversary but to a party so we'd be going to be away anyway). He then said he thought we'd be celebrating at the weekend. I said 'well I thought we'd go to the cinema or something on the day itself'. He then sent me a link to the local cinema website and said 'not much on at the moment'. So I replied 'oh well, not worth bothering about then I guess'. He took me literally and couldn't seem to understand why I was in floods of tears when he came to see me ten mins later! He didn't know what to do so he's gone to Sainsbury's with the DSs without saying anything. Is this just a men are from mars, women from venus moment? Am I being unreasonable or hormonal? Where's the romance? Is it such a big effort to him to do anything? I understand that he's in Leeds and that can't be helped but to just think 'oh well not worth bothering with then' seems so sad. I just feel like an inconvenience. Grrrrrr men. I guess it'll be random food for tea in front of the TV as usual on Wednesday! Sorry for moaning - just had to get it off my chest!!!! Perhaps I am expecting too much.

Ninja I feel the same about lighting - my NCT teacher said all the rooms have dimmable lights and that they won't offer to turn them down - you have to ask. So maybe put it on DH's list of things to do. I doubt candles would be allowed but I am really hoping to have dimmed lights if at all poss.

Lemontop also daydream about the country quite a lot! I was in tears on the tube platform the other day, and waited for 4 tubes 'til I saw one that didn't look like it would squash me to death on the way home. It's awful. BTW I am meeting a few other MN-ers for lunch tomorrow in London Bridge if you fancy it? Or anyone else? Not sure we'll all recognise eachother but it should be good to all meet up!

BBL You are not being at all unreasonable. I don't think DHs think sometimes. Could you do something on Thursday night instead? Have you told him how sad it made you feel? I bet he didn't mean it like that though, he probably felt it was midweek and therefore tricky, rather than 'it's not worth bothering with full stop'. I hope you sort something out when he's back from Sainsbury's. DH is like that with my brthday, I always say 'oh I hate birthdays' and he takes that to mean 'oh I don't have to do anything then', but I only hate birthdays because he never makes an effort and it makes me sad, so it gets worse every year! I suppose I really should say something different next year!

I was in tears this morning too as am convinced DH doesn't fancy me anymore. I feel so unattractive, and how will he ever see me in that way again once he has seen a huge baby pop out of my bits, and probably poo-ed everywhere, bled everywhere, puked, generally looked like a huge labouring beast for god knows how many hours???!

Erika glad you are feeling a bit better. Is DP back?

Kyte yay for bags packed! Do you mind me asking what you put in each?

Katster thanks for your kind words. I feel a bit better (helps that they are all out of the house at the moment so I can have a good cry by myself and get over it). Thursday is out too as he is in London. But thing is, if it were me, I'd work around the problem and not just give up. I'd do something like romantic candle lit fish and chips or Chinese take away but perhaps that is just because we're different and we think differently. He'd not even think of that. DH thinks in a very linear fashion and he rarely surprises me with anything. Sounds like your DH is a bit like mine with your birthday. They are funny sometimes. I feel sad on our anniversary for the same reasons you do on your birthday! Last September we didn't do anything because it just wasn't convenient and we were too busy. I cried last year too! Try not to worry about your DH not fancying you. He does and will afterwards I am sure. I had the same worries with the first one and still do now feeling like a beach ball that I do. My DH will soon have to put my knickers on me too as I am struggling - so romantic! For better and for worse and all that, sickness and in health. You DH will still fancy you and probably more so after watching you do something amazing and incredibly clever such as producing his first born child It is an incredibly bonding experince.

I'm sitting here watching Corronation Street omnibus on ITV2 - comfort TV!

Hope everyone is having a good sunny Saturday.

Becky comfort tv sounds like a good plan. I suppose you just have to remind yourself that just because he doesn't think in the same way as you doesn't mean he doesn't care as much as you. That's what mind said to me, anyway, when I was upset about somehting we had not celebrated! Romantic chinese takeaway sounds lovely. Could you do that anyway and let him know that even something really simple can still be romantic?Think romance is dead in our household at the minute!Am hoping you are right about after the birth, and the bonding. I am sure it must be incredible, sharing the birth of your child together. I just hope he is not too freaked out!

MW was fine. She said I was 'obstetrically boringly normal' which is good. I asked her about my vanishing blood results so she rang the hospital lab, got some results under my patient number/name, but I have just checked my diary and I had them taken on 28 Aug, but these were from 20 Aug, when I definitely didn't have any blood taken??? So god knows what they are!! Anyway, the ones I got showed low iron but everything else normal. Not sure if they are mine though so will not take them too seriously!

Hope everyone else is having a good weekend.

erika so sorry about your scare, I had a similar experience with ds2 and ended up on a ward for monitoring followed by a scan and then more monitoring, after nearly a whole day they said everything is fine, and he was! I can understand why you are worrying though, its hard not to.

BBL Poor you, I hope dh brings you home some lovely flowers and that you can sort something nice out. I always end up making arrangements for our anniversary. (this year I bought some of our favorite foods and got dh to cook them!)

Arnica tablets I've never seen them where do I buy?
do they really help?
Are they safe whilst breastfeeding?
Thanks
well done kyte on the bag packing

Today I have cleared out the bottom of the wardrobe in the nursery, it was full of rubish (ds2's new baby and christening cards too!)
I've also repainted the play house in the garden.

Evening all - had 24 hours without internet and it felt like a week!!

Think i've cuaght up on mos things, not much happening here, tho have more energy since taking the iron tablets.

Tigger - you can get arnica tablets from boots, holland & barrett & places like that. I think they help, but don't know if everone does and yes the are safe whilst breastfeeding.

Can't remember who was asking about lighting - i don't think many places would mind if you took a small lap in with you for mood lighting - ikea do some cheap good ones. My yoga teacher actually reccommends taking one or two, but check with whee you're giving birth. Both places I've been t have been pretty good on the dimming lights etc thing. I think hospitals are catching oto it all now.

Erika - sounds like yu had a bit of a scare, i remember having similar with DD and heading across to the local hospital which is opposite my work - everything was fine. i think when you're waiting for them to move cause you're worried they can be little buggers and refuse!! Also if you are busy often you won't notice the movement, which like someone else said will prob be getting less now due to lack of space. Apparently we could gain around a pound a week in 3rd trimester & baby is gaining aout 1/2 lb per week (tho think this slows about week 36).

Katster, I agree with Kyte - the male libido appears to be remarkably resilient. I don't even want to think about what DH saw when I gave birth to DS, but we've still managed to conceive another.

Ninja, I'm putting that I'd like the lights dimmed in the birthing plan. I did find it really discombobulating to be in so much pain under blazing white light with DS, and I still remember the relief of getting transferred into the birthing pool room where the lights were already turned down - brilliant. I wish we'd known we could ask for them to be turned down earlier.

I am just feeling hugely, wildly uncomfortable at the moment, and as if everything is stretched to the limit. I can't believe I could still last another ten weeks...

Lots to catch up on but just wanted to say thanks for the reassurances all about baby weight. ninja DD started slowing in her growth at about now. She stopped for no apparant reason by 37 weeks and was under the charts, they could not identify the cause and wanted baby out. So I was booked for induction and 2 days before induction she decided she wanted out her self and out she came! She was 5lbs exactly, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. Well, she had low blood sugars for a little while, and was slightly jaundiced, but nothing found to cause her low birth weight, she was strong as an ox!

So, I think yes it is just what was meant to be. She is a strong and small toddler even now. She is stronger than her male toddler friends a year or more older

Good evening all, internet is finally working again.
BBL, sorry to hear about your anniversary. I guess, you just have to accept the romantic level of your husband otherwise you will always feel hurted. And you have to tell him that you would like to do something nice, just for the two of you. Men are so bad in guessing other peoples feeling or wishes. I hope you will spend some nice time together eventually.
Sorry to hear as well, that some of you never get a seat offered. I actually thought Londoners are quite good in it (usually not the person in the priority seat though, they are just very good in pretending not to see you), definitely better than people in Vienna. I always try to get to the space in between the seats and not to stay near the doors and then someone usually offers me a seat.
Kyte, your list scares me... I'm 33 weeks today and am so not prepared. I really have to buy loads of things tomorrow as soon as the shops open.
Broodzilla, sorry to hear about your MIL, especially about her ignorance regarding the bilingualism and what a big gift that will be for your child.

My parents have been over for the weekend, just from Friday night until tomorrow morning. They always stay in a hotel (which I couldn't understand in the beginning, but I really appreciate it now, it's so much more relaxing for both sides). They admired my round shape and the size of my bump (I really don't know how many pictures my dad took), told me how pretty I looked and asked lots of questions,... we had a really nice day.

Wow I so need to get sorting my bag out!! Scary that we shall soon be needing them

I realy need to check through all the baby clothes too but with all the other washing I have to do and sort out the baby things have kind of just not had a look in. I sorted them into ages and stuck them in drawers but didn't really look to see what we have/don't have.

I booked a very last minute 4D scan for yesterday. I got my HIP grant through and thought what the heck I'll spend some of it on something I want for a change lol! More so because I have been really worried about measuring small so wanted the reassurance that all is ok and it was only a bit dearer to have the 4D rather than just the normal well being check.

She was in a fab position to see her face etc, plenty of fluid around but she had her hands over her face, when they did move her cord went in front of her and then after some juggling about she decided to stick her legs straight up in the air so her feet were touching her head!!! Looked so funny but not very good for pics. But we did see her yawning and smiling and unsurprisingly enough she is the absolute spitting image of dd and ds, so another minature of their Dad on the way Oh and she said all measurements are fine, just about average maybe just above and estimated that she weighs about 3lb 9oz atm!

I have put some pics on if anyone would like to see..... HERE

Another reason I'm glad we went is that it comfirmed she is breech and her bottom is well wedged into my pelvis hence the reason I am measuring small and also I have a very low placenta, she said it isn't previa but it is only just out of the way and very low for this gestation. Apparently I should have been rebooked at my 20wk scan but they didn't even mention it

So she is booking me a scan appointment for 34wks to see if it has moved at all. I am now paranoid as to what this would mean if it hasn't. Shall have to wait and see.

Thanks for all the advice re the thrush too, will be going to stock up on natural yoghurt later. It's been about a week since I last treated it with the meds and it's already back again. I am not impressed.

BBL so sorry about the anniversary situation. I had a very similar thing with dp over my birthday. I sarcastically said some flippant remark about not bothering and he took it very literally. Men just are from a different planet grrrrrr. I hope you have a lovely weekend though and he tries to make it special for you both.

Can't remember who asked, sorry but dp and me seem to be getting on fine, he is being so nice I keep wondering what he wants or is upto, but I'm not complaining Even got a back massage the other night without asking! Fingers crossed the novelty doesn't wear off for him

Right I'm off now for another round of washing/putting away and hoovering, what fun. Hope you all have a lovely relaxing day and hopefully I can catch up soon x x

Woo hoo! I'm back, with a shiny new laptop

erika sorry to hear about your scare. I had a similar thing last time and it turned out to be nothing. I never found out if she actually had stopped moving so much at the time, or if I'd just not noticed it and then panicked. They were very good in the hospital though and even sent us for a scan to reassure us (after they'd felt movement, heard heartbeat etc).

kyte your list scares me too! I have a list of things I need to buy for the baby, which is literally:
moses basket mattress
cotton wool
nappies

and yet still haven't got round to buying or sorting anything out. For about 3 weeks we've been saying we need to get all the baby clothes down from the loft and wash them, but we're still putting it off.

speaking of which, lemontop I am stealing your saddo award of the day. Yesterday I put a load of washing and actually said to myself 'aah, happiness is an empty laundry basket'.

beepbeep have you been having any luck with iron/ no constipation? I had it just about under control with Fybogel and have been taking iron for 2 days and the constipation is already back.

ninjacat that's a nice idea about having dim lighting. Our hospital has a birthing room which is lit by those bubbly lava lamp things, no bed - mats on the floor, etc. I guess you've been to your labour ward so many times now that you'd have seen one of them if they had it. I'm not sure if hospitals would let you bring your own lamps because in lots of places all electrical equipment needs to be PAT tested. You could try these solar lamps though? We use one as DD's nightlight and it produces a nice soft light without electricity (might not last a long labour though!)

OMG everyone is so organised, even those who say they still have to do this that and the other are more organised than me .

I have for the baby:
2 packets of baby grows/sleepsuits
cot - from DD
some bibs
a teddy bear

I got a lot to do eh?

I have a pilko p3 pushchair and a car seat from DD, I really wanted to buy a new one as it was second hand to start with, and I lent the car seat to a friend, so its been used well. Do you think I should get the pushchair from the loft and just use it? I am mostly going to be using a sling (hopefully) so it is for DH mainly.

Anyone have a good list going of what we need for the baby as my mind has gone blank with all the goings on here...

I shall put what I think I need:
pushchair/carseat
sling/carrier (x2 for me!!!)
moses basket
sheets for moses basket
blankets
steriliser (? do I need this if I am not intending to bottle feed? DH thinks so)
baby monitor
breast pump
nappies
cotton wool
baby bath
baby changing unit of some kind
baby grows
sleep suits
gro bag
winter jump suit thingy for going out
hats
nipple cream

Anything else? Feel free to add

pavlov by saying that was all I had to buy, I didn't mean I'd bought everything else! I meant that they are literally the only things we are buying new. Everything else we'll reuse from DD.

Pav I have the Pilko pram as well which was DS's. I would have liked a new one, but couldn't bring myself to spend out when the Pliko is in good condition. I don't forsee the baby being in it that much as I drive and will be doing pre-school runs every day in the car, sitting in playgrounds watching DS burn off his energy and won't have much chance to push baby around for any length of time during the week. I am buying a new maxi cosi carseat with isofix and using a second hand Quinny frame to attach the carseat to for quick trips to the shops etc, not using it for long periods of time.

Making a start on my hospital bag next week. So much to think about!

EasyEggs Good to hear you and DP are back on track. I have a feeling baby is breech as well at the moment. I get most of my kicks and big movements down below and none near my ribs, I have a big gap between my bump and bust line, I'm carrying very low. Don't have midwife for another 10 days, so I'll have to wait and see what she says.

I'm going to brave Ikea and mothercare world today and hopefully I'll feel a bit more organised by the end of the day. Pavlov don't worry. I'm way behind in the organising stakes.

katster have fun today. Sorry I can't make it (ikea beckons) but keep me updated. If not there's a few of us on here who are very local so maybe we can sort another day / time to meet.

Pavlov I am on a par with you! Someone said to me the other day: 'you won't even be able to get the baby out of the hospital because you haven't even got a car seat yet!' Hmmm.

We need:
Car seat / pushchair
Cot
Clothes
Nappies and all those sundries
A name!!!!!
Changing table and mat (although have just agreed to buy former off facebook friend)
Sling
And much more I am sure...

Easyeggs what lovely images!!!! So real. My HIP grant is due soon - hmmm, very tempting!

Thanks everyone for your kind words about my grrrr at DH. Thing is, before we were married (sorry to sound like such a cliche) he did loads of romantic stuff and very spontaneous too - for our first anniversary he secretly booked us a holiday to Washington! We couldn't go in the end because September 11th happened the day before we were due to fly, so sad (we went to Norwich instead). I realise I shouldn't expect him to do all the organising of these things but now when our annivesary comes up he just says 'what do you want to do?' as if now we're married it's my responsibility because it is only me that wants to do anything! But ho hum. I accept that's just the way he is. He works in IT what more can I say! Just kidding (don't want to offend anyone who works in IT here) - at least I can get my computer problems sorted out quickly

BBL I work in IT!!! My dh is rubbish at the romantic things too most of the time, I get the odd surprise but in the main I think guys just aren't that good at it ... unless they're recruiting!!

Am going to start thinking of packing a bag next week I think, or at least just try and get straight in my mind what we need.

easyeggs glad all is well with your dp.

Am having an odd day today, can't type properly or get my words out. Feel a little odd, as though my body has taken over and things are afoot. Can't explain it really, if I was further along I'd think that maybe he was on his way but it's still too early.

fruitpastels that is pretty much what we were going to do - in fact exactly! Were buying the Quinny Zapp frame, cheap as chips and then a new maxi cosi car seat. Like you, we use the car an awful lot, DH prefers this idea. I am really not a big pushchair fan, so we might follow your lead and keep the pushchair for when we need a 'real' pushchair and use a sling and car seat for the rest.

laugs - well done for keeping everything! Thing is, with DD we were given a lot of things from others, as you do with a first, and as such it was second hand, things like sheets etc, so as they got used lots I then used them as rags and now have none left . DH microwaved my breast pump, and the monitors we had broke as they were also second hand. I had not considered at the time the whole 'having another baby' business, otherwise I might have bought more new, so it could be re-used . Well, it means if I am buying new for some things then DH will just have to accept we are having another baby

Thanks all of you DP is away until Tuesday night, but he's been texting me occasionally. He's hired a boat Bryn has of course been moving constantly since I got back from the hospital. Little bugger

Kyte You?re packed already?!? Eek!!!

Katster hope the MW appointment went well. And as for your worries about your DH, I?ve been thinking exactly the same thing. I?m really concerned he won?t want to come anywhere near me after he?s seen me give birth. He says I?m being ridiculous, but he?s not even watched a birth video yet?

Ninja from what my MW has said, and the doula that runs some of the classes, you can ask for the lights to be turned right down or even off, I think. Bright lights are irritating the hell out of me right now, so think I?m in favour of softer lighting, too!!

Becky Hope your DH decides to do something after all. Men are totally on another planet sometimes ? well, most of the time. Occasionally they have human (female!) moments and thinking rationally

Easyeggs awww what wonderful images!!! I really really wanted a 4D scan but DP said they were creepy? And I couldn?t afford one by myself sulks And now its too late really. Ah well. Next time

Only remembered this morning its my Dad?s birthday tomorrow, so preparing for a mad dash into town ? really can?t be arsed! Need to get some tracksuit bottoms anyway. And possibly a gym ball. And a giant hoodie. Thank goodness my money has just gone in!!!

Baby is stretching out ? can feel him under my ribs, and right down as low as my bikini line, and then round level with my hips. Crazy little thing.

Just wondering ? did anyone taking iron tablets find they made them feel sick? Please say yes, or I?m going to have to accept that the morning sickness is back and that would really be sucky!!!

DP woke up at 9 this morning, kissed me good morning & left me in bed while he went to paint the baby's room.

I also asked him if he'd still fancy me after seeing me mooing and screaming and covered in bodily fluids... His answer was probably not at that particular moment in time but that he'd love me more than ever.

He's doing well today! Think my not so subtle hints have worked!