Due in Dec 09: counting down until the Xmas puddings arrive

[GoldenSnitch]

Oops, no-one made a new thread before the old one got full, hope everyone finds this one...

I've decided not to have the swine flu jab. I've only got 8 weeks to go and as a SAHM, I'm not in contact with loads of people everyday. DS isn't at school either so I think we're pretty safe. I'm worried about it being untested and the effect it might have on the baby too.

I'm thinking I should probably check our choice of name with a friend of mine called Catherine... I know her because she was in my Antenatal group when I had DS and we see her every few weeks. I can't see her minding but I feel like I ought to check that she doesn't mind us using her name... What do you guys think?

Just been to see midwife. Blood pressure up a bit and swollen hands/feet etc, but nothing too bad. head is down and baby is in right position - thank god all that sitting on the bloody ball is paying off!!!
no mention on swine flu jab.wasn't my usual MW though. only 6 weeks to go til DD. oh my god.

Im not going to bother with the jab either. Im with the same reasoning as Snitch, I doubt im going to come into contact with anyone with it.

Snitch I dont think you need to ask your friend about calling the baby her name, but if it makes you feel more comfortable then do it.

Will have the usual flu vaccine - don't know yet if I'll have the swine flu vaccine. Lots of kids off school with really bad sore throats & usual flu or heavy colds. Have four kids in school & one at a creche a few hours as week so hoping they'll be ok.

Also really really tired could sleep at anytime (if I was able) apart from the early hours when I'm awake as can't get comfy, heartburn, leg cramps.....

When does anyone suggest starting using a birthing ball to sit on? I've read that it can help to ensure that the small person is in the best position for birth - does anyone have any experience of this.

And how on earth are you meant to sit/stand/lie on them?? My sense of balance/co-ordination is not great at the best of times, let alone with the current shift in gravity .

Hi cairnterrier, I have just posted a few above you about this. My NCT teacher, MW and yoga teacher all reckon that optimal fetal positioning really works. n terms of using a ball, you just sit on the ball, making sure your knees are lower than your hips, or go on all fours and lean on the ball. When you do that you can wag your bum (like a dog - i know it sounds ridiculous!!) MW reckons that you should start it at about 32 weeks.
type 'optimal fetal positioning' into google and you should get lots of info there...

Thats very useful to know Bex thanks, was wondering the same myself.

Anyone doing/ considering doing perineal massage? I havent started yet but plan to start soon, im keen on VBAC this time but worried about tearing as had em cs last time.

Bex,

thanks will do so, I start antenatal classes in a couple of weeks so I guess it's something that they might cover there. will google it though beforehand, don't want to be the only one who's never heard of it.

Although perineal massage was a new one on me as well - thanks Annie. Might not immediately google that one, the mind boggles as to what sites might turn up

Is anyone on the rasberry leaf tea yet, I know this has been asked but I cant be bothered to look back through the pages!

i wanted to thought i should try perineal massage, but don't think my arms are long enough! ha ha! will have to try again. I have got a couple of worksheets on that and OFP from NCT classes that I can email if that would help people.

I think RLT and all other potential labour starting things are supposed to be left until 37 weeks just in case they start anything a bit too soon!

I've been having some very sharp pains today, on my old antenatal thread we called them KNUFs (Knitting Needles Up Fanjo) and they're really quite painful! They take my breath away for a second and make me wince and say OOOWW! My ribs are sore too (and 3" bigger than 8 months ago), and if I sit down for too long, when I stand up again I have a strong pain under my bump on one side and I can hardly walk - MW says it's nothing sinister and is just muscle/ligament strain but that doesn't help it stop hurting!

I've never done perineal massage, it's one of those things I think 'maybe I should' but never get round to thinking about properly. I had a large episiotomy with DD1 and a very small tear and some grazing with DD2 which didn't need stiching but did result in some nerve damage that took nearly a year to stop hurting so perhaps I should look into it this time?

I wasn't keen (on p.massage) but after hearing about your nerve damage with DD2 Moosy I'm starting to rethink! I had episiotomy and forceps with DS as he had a large head. I'm guessing its not that easy to do though? How do you lay??

I'll probably get the help of DH was the P-massage, between that and lady garden grooming its the closest he'll get to my fanjo lately!

I think you can have raspberry leaf tea earlier than 37 weeks (e.g. - this says 32 but not sure how reliable). The woman in Holland and Barrett where I bought mine said 34 weeks and I've been having the odd cup (am 34 weeks). Am starting slowly and will build up.

I did p-massage last time and though I needed an episiotomy (had ventouse) I did heal very quickly. No idea whether that helped but I'm planning to do it again... will start tonight.... Not the most dignified thing to do but can be quite a giggle to do it with DH!

Not sure who asked about being knackered a couple of pages back but yes - am completely wiped out after doing anything at all. DD moved into a bed last week and is really enjoying 'lets pretend to sleep' games so am encouraging that!

Arrghh was it you who had lost weight? I was chatting to a friend the other day and she happened to mention that she'd had an overactive thyroid that had come on in pg and she lost weight - you've probably looked at these things already but thought of you.

Just popping in to wave and say hello. I've just bought a hotmilk bra on a Brand Alley sale that's closing today. Very cheap but all of their lingerie is non-returnable. Worth a look if you think you know what size you are.

And if you do want to buy and aren't already in Brand Alley then could I introduce you??? or is that just being really cheeky ?

Thanks for thinking of me catz, Ive stopped panicking so much because even though my legs, arms and face is shrinking my bump is still expanding and baby is still very wriggly so I just think the baby is leaching all calories and what not off me, not too much of a bad thing, if she wants them she can have them!!!

(plus ive just eaten a huge bowl of hot chocolate cake with cream, yes, at this time of day, it was there, I fancied it, I ate it, it felt goood! )

Hi just wanted to say hello! I am expecting a baby boy around 12 Dec! it's my 1st, so a totally new experience, but am so enjoying the fab advice & tips on these threads!

oooh will check out the hotmilk sale bits!

Back down from the North having had a lovely weekend.

DS loved the enchanted garden thing we took my Mum to (once he got over being out in the dark) and was totally in his element being the center of attention. He was even well behaved for all the driving we had to do. Grandad seemed to remember us all and looked heathier than I was expecting. He even gave me a kiss when I got there and held my hand as we walked him to the dining room for his lunch which was unusual. Nice though

Got back to find my voucher here from Arghhh Thank you sooo much I'll send DH in tomorrow to pick up the Windmill if you managed to out one aside? Good luck for your last week at work. Hope it's an easy one...

Hi to Newarrival too

Hello everyone it's Devongirl here - haven't been on for ages but I'm back now for the final bit! Glad to hear everyone is as knackered as me (had quite a drop in iron levels last MW visit so have been packing spatone in me everyday which seems to have helped.

Moosy - glad you mentioned the KNUFs - I've been having that pain too ouch ouch ouch. Also bad back and legs that suddenly don't work properly making me look very odd walking along the road!

I feel like a right whinger here, but I don't think I'm very good at being pregnant. Don't know how some people love it so much, think I'm not built for it!

Welcome Newarrival

x

Hello newarrival. Pleased that you had a nice weekend snitch.

I've been browsing the mat wear websites again. Either tell me that I am mad, only 8 weeks left until d day, or show me some long sleeved tops that I can wear for feeding too, ie buttons at the top etc.

how is this one meant to work, does anyone know??

No idea but it looks nice.

There are some other long sleeved nursing tops here I just got the Jojo Maman Bebe cat through the post so I've been having a look.

I just stayed home and hid while I got breastfeeding sorted with DS but I'm not going to be able to do that with a 2 year old so I'll need some feeding tops this time.

I got a top at h&m that says it's for bf as well - organic cotton, long sleeves - very nice to wear at the moment. Will just lift it up for bf though.

Hi all. Just started a thread with this message but hope you don't mind me posting it here too so I can ask you girls what your views are:

"ARGGHH! - Sitting here happily at 9am on first day of maternity leave planning what I need to do with the last few weeks, thinking about going to a nice gently aquanatal class, a bit of shopping and lunch out. DH has just phoned from DD's nursery to tell me that there was a confirmed case of swine flu in her class last week. Should I pull her out?

Details are: I'm 34 +3 pg - so peak stage for problems - but no other health issues. No vaccine yet, no idea when it's going to arrive and not 100% sure whether to take it anyway. DD is just over 2 and goes to nursery all day Mon/Tues. About 12 children in her class on any day, most full time. The ill child was in on Thurs when symptoms developed so could have infected other children who could be in with DD today but not yet fully showing symptoms. Child diagnosed on Fri.

A very large part of me just wants to get on with having time to myself and sorting things out especially as most cases are mild and it's impossible to avoid possibly ill people if you go to toddler groups etc. But then again there's no real need for her to be in nursery now I'm on ml and we are both in higher risk categories so it may be better not to take the small but serious risk....

What should I do?!?"

Thanks!

As it's only mon/tue I'd take her out but that's just me. Think I'd worry too much having my DS at nursery if I was in your situation and wouldnt be able to relax anyway.