Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

[annamama]

... this is a new thread following on from the last one, welcome oldies & newbies ...

Hello all,

Just wanted to check in to let you know that I had my scan yesterday. All is well and I'm having a GIRL!!! I'm really pleased - the avalanche of pink that started with DD1 will continue for some time to come.

DH was a bit disappointed which made me feel a bit sad for this baby. He was so excited first time round - but i think this will be our last one and he was pinning his hopes on a boy. He's coming round to the idea though and I'm sure he'll love her just as much as he does DD1 once she appears. I don't think it helped that he was knackered as we'd been woken up at 5.30am by the cat being sick on the floor... could have been worse - like on the duvet or DH...and then DD1 who has not got used to the clock change decided to get up half an hour later. Tonight will be better I'm sure.

Walnut I was offered the internal scan too. I had it, but I was expecting it which helps. Last time round I was horrified when they whipped out a probe and only agreed because DD1 had her legs so tightly closed we couldn't see whether she was a boy or a girl with the trans-abdominal scan and my curiosity overcome my squeamishness. As others have said it's about detecting the likelihood of premature delivery by measuring the length of the cervix. I'm sure you'll all be relieved to hear that mine is completely normal!

Caitni am very impressed with you doing your driving test. Go for it girl!!!

To all of you thanks for the notes about the long spatula and smears. Someone replied saying height has no bearing on cervix length so please ignore my weird smear story... it is but myth.

Also for those of you outgrowing those normal clothes and not quite right for maternity stuff I really am an advocate of the bump band, worn mine 2 days in a row for work things and it has been a god send.

Off to look up baby names online and their intriguing meanings. Have told friends we are considering "Wolf" for the name. This is a joke but so far people seem to think we are serious. Does that say more about us than them!?

Tigress - how about Ulf? It's a swedish name and means wolf. Or Björn which means bear!

Good luck to those of you who are/will be learning to drive! I think the worst preg brain is gone now (?) so you should be ok!

Manda - thanks! Yeah I'm feeling lucky now that DD is getting a sister. Although I'm sure brothers are ok too... I really don't know how much she understands but she must realise that something is going on. To add to the story, when the scan was over and I put my top down she started crying and lifted my top up again...

Sariska - sounds great that you always got on great with your sister! I have 2 sisters, 2 and 7 years younger. I was never that close to the "middle" one, but we were such different children. I was a tomboy and she was a wimp... So I guess it depends on the children's personalities as well as the sex. But I think my 2 DDs will get on great! The tiger is almost lifesize and it's cuddly. I might put it in a bin bag and check it in... we'll see.

How can people still wear ordinary clothes? Are you all supermodels? Tops ok but trousers no way...

Swings & Surprise - congratulations! Swings I'm sure your DH will get over disappointment, it just takes a little while to grieve for the boy that never was...

Around here it's peace and quiet again, DH's sister & 2 kids have gone home. It was great to see them and the kids played nicely most of the time, but boy was I happy when we dropped them off at the airport!

It's still very hot so I'm hiding inside most of the day, although we did have a really nice afternoon at the beach the other day when it wasn't too hot and the ocean was lovely! I was playing like a child in the big waves, jumping, diving, swimming under the water... I hope the baby enjoyed it too.

GIRLS

Pixie (x2)
Puree
TwoFalls
Don't Try
Lemonade
Hecklephone
Iwonka
Rebeccacad
Sariska
Annamama
Walnut
Swingsofglory

BOYS

Pacific
DrSkid
Becky7000
EmLou
Sarah
Tigress
Scooby
BlueyDragon
Ohwow
Manda
Summer2008
IW CAS

SURPRISE
Caitni
Arcadie
Siamese (involuntarily)
Hedgehog
TMD
Ilovegreenbeens
TakeLovingChances

Arcadie - Yep thats me.

wow! boy girl count almost even!

Driving test - i hope that goes well you guys - one of the things that alerted me that I was pregnant was my inability to drive suddenly - its got better now (thankfully as have 1 hour minimum commute) but I couldnt remember for the life of me how to park..

i found the best maternity jeans in Gap - they are almost as nice as jeans from before but they do slide down every so often. and have ordered this dress for my 30th next week..its a surprise night out from DH but I dont care if we are laser questing, Im dressing up!

oooOOOh Siamese that's a NICE dress!

Annamama I'm not in maternity clothes yet - hoping I'll make it to 20 weeks. quite tubby round the middle anyway so all my 14/16s still fit fine!

IWCAS Congrats on the boy!

Swings Likewise on the girl!

Yay for more boys and girls . Congrats to all those who've had their scans.

I'm with Annamama on this - how can anyone be still wearing their normal clothes . I've been in maternity wear for weeks (maybe 8-9 weeks?) and now, at 22 weeks, my bump is way way too big for anything else (am looking forward to it getting even bigger and actually love looking so pregnant ).

Am with you all on the bump bands though, they were a life-saver for that in-between bit and even now I wear mine every day (they're like my bump comforters ).

Lovely dress Siamese and I may have to check out Gap...slipping down maternity jeans/cords are the bane of my life. Forever hoiking them up (and that's with wearing a belt every day, though think I may need to invest in some elastic belts as getting down to the last couple of notches on my regular belts...).

IWCAS glad to see a fellow learner on here! I only got back into it (after some lessons late last year) a few weeks ago but am loving it.

Manda I know what you mean, I don't think I'll actually use the car much, but it's when we go on holidays (usually to visit family in the States and Ireland) that I really wish I could drive (can you tell I've spent time feeling trapped in my American in-laws house ...people drive EVERYWHERE in the states...to the point where police once stopped for me and my husband as we took a walk at night ). And I've double checked, the emergency stop isn't a requirement on the test. Wouldn't be too bothered if I did have to do it (tis easy) but reckon I'll be mahooosive by then!

Tigress I know a Wolf...and I tell you, he looks like he should be called Lamb . Very meek and shy guy (reaction to his name imho). His sister is called Fushia - we thought they had mad names growing up but these days people probably think they're quite normal! Come to think of it, I also know a Rock and a Bear (anna didn't know Bjorn was Swedish for bear!).

[caitni wanders off to waste the last bit of time at work in the MN Baby Names section]

Congratulations to everybody who got the scan results - I can't believe we're almost even!
Actually, on that note, does anybody knew whether 2010 is supposed to be a high birth rate year, or not? I know it's not something you really think about, but it really can affect school places etc (not that I'm worried about that at this stage, just curious !). . .
I've not been on for three days because DH took us all on a surprise holiday to Oxford, which was really, really lovely! We went to all the Cotswold villages, which really are picture perfect, and I've eaten more than my weight in tea and cake!
I'm also with Annamama and Caitni - I've been in maternity clothing for about 10 weeks now, although I suppose I was always going to end up in it early (although I guess that you are all more fashionable than me - I've been wearing M&S jeans for years!).
I forget who was asking about maternity leave, but it doesn't apply to me, as I don't work! I'm going to start refusing to do any cooking at about 30 weeks, though !
I hope you've all had really nice days? Are there any scanees due to tell us their news today?

Evening all
Interesting talk on the old clothing front, since today i finally sorted out the bag of maternity clothes from the attic and put all the things i can't fit or won't fit shortly away...it was sort of nice actually because i now feel like i have a new wardrobe (sort of?!!). I was in a good mix of normal/mat clothes till this week, and also hadn't put on much weight....til i weighed this morning and it's started...over half a stone put on....

siamese we had similar first time around too (we'd just got married) and people kept saying things like, oooh was it planned?!!!! (i got good at saying "i beg your pardon?" in a shocked voice, soon shut them up)...I mean - how on earth do they know you haven't had miscarriages before this?!!
The next question (bearing in mind i was about 10 wks) was How Long Will You Have Off for Work....("er...I DON'T KNOW IT'S 30 WEEKS AWAY??!!!!")
I have found though that mostly it's the younger less experienced-in-life sort that ask such naive questions... the empathetic ones of how i actually felt were much appreciated though!!

Congrats on all scannees. Mine is tomorrow! Keep thinking to myself it's an Anomaly Scan, so trying to remain clear headed just in case. Please don't think I'm a fatalist!! I'm not, I just wouldn't want to walk in all smiley and then get faced with something awful!! I'm sure it'll be fine and I can't wait to see the little mite.

sarah has got me thinking about mat leave now...like...if i'm not really planning on going back (which i'm not sure) then what's to stop me leaving at xmas too?!!!

Im planning to leave mid jan and give myself at least 6 weeks of nothing before EDD, but you never know it could be 8 weeks or no weeks.. which is why the still dusty study is making me tense as it hasn't magicked itself into a beautiful nursery yet..

Im loving the 'how long will you have off?' question... I know Im not going back but Im not letting on! My commute is too long - i'd never see DC, and any one with any sense at work will work that one out themselves.. eventually! So Im just answering 'A year..'

pixie I think I read somewhere that it is expected to be a high birth rate year due to the recession - people spending more time at home etc..
which reminds me when I told my swedish friend when I was due, her response was that a lot of Swedes are born in March because of mid summer high jinx..

Evening, all!

More scan results, great! Congratulations! One for each team, seems only fair .

My bumpband arrived today, not tried it on yet, but I think will be useful addition to wardrobe.

I had really strong tightenings today on the way home from school: not at all sore, just really rockhard bump. Probable related to running after DS3 trying to prevent him from commiting Harakiri in oncoming traffic whilst not letting go of (empty) buggy!! He does love to walk/run now and it is near impossible to keep him in the buggy beyond a certain length of time, sigh!

I am planning to work to the end of Febuary, will be 38 weeks, and probably stay off 6 months like I did with the others. I am kind of mentally considering not going back but it is probably not realistically possible. Really, really considering an au pair for next spring... DH is looking forward to having a 21 year old Swedish girl in the house to which I reply who says an au pair has to be female??

Evening all

Siamese - lovely dress!! I have something similar in black - not that I have anywhere nice enough to wear it to or awake enough to stay up past the pumpkin hour to justify it!!

Congrats to all newbies and good scan results!!!

In respect of maternity leave - I'm planning on staying until 28th Feb (39 weeks!) if I can cross my legs and hold onto baby that long ( my sis was early with all 3) I just figure if I'm being messed around and bored at work then I might as well do nothing on full pay as waste my measly maternity pay with my feet up at home when I can do it at work!! Don't know whether I'll manage that long or not - have to see how it goes. Hope to have 7 months off then I get one month of part time hours on full pay which will take me to Nov. Then I have a whole years leave to take over the last two months so I should wangle a 2/3 day week (but shifts) until the end of the year. I then hope to go part time. Not that I'm gonna tell them that til next Nov!!

Nursery furniture arrived today. DH painting tthe room next week but we won't build the stuff for a while yet. It's exciting though!!

I too got the mamas and papas voucher - although the small print does say it's 'up to' 30% off so not off everything. Has meant that we have now ordered the bedding and interior stuf though and got 20% off. We wnt for the 'Once Upon A Time' range and like suckers have bought virtually everything. Still, sure it'll look lovely. And yes we know we can't use the quilt etc until 12mths but bought ot now to match.

Well, night night all. One more day til 3 days off!!! x

Just fyi, that 'up to 30%' thing at M&P's applies online too - with no need to print the voucher or visit a shop (my favourite type of shopping! All done whilst sitting on my arse from the comfort of my own home!)

Pacific!! You should tell him it's a Manny all the way for you! Although I doubt you'll be lucky enough to get one as good as Freddie Prinze Jr (reference for any Friends fans there )

Evening all - I wasn't supposed to MN tonight as it would make me late to bed but hey ho, the computer was on and I realised I hadn't said hello in a while. Hurrah for even more good scan news and I hope those with unco-operative babies or placentas get the results they want.

Tigress and I exchanged emails on Facebook prior to scans but the sonographer did give my identity (carefully concealed on Facebook by a motorbike helmet) away by using my RL name to call me in. Must add to my birthplan the requirement to call me BlueyDragon... Anyone written theirs yet btw?

Tigress I'm with you on the bump band - bought one and it's brilliant. I've heard nothing back from the hospital so I assume I don't have MRSA and don't therefore need any version of decolonising. Phew!

MummyElk we stayed in one of the chalets at The Flying Boat Club which was lovely. V expensive at full rates though so whilst we'd go back to the Scillies I'm not sure we'd stay there again.

My first day on leave is 4th Feb and I can't wait. MummyElk, you and I were having sympathetic work traumas early this week, feeling like I can't get anywhere or get anything done, I'm supposed to be training up my cover which is actually creating more work and I was surrounded by whingeing colleagues who were behaving like they were in the playground. Grrrrrr. So I had a good cry on DH when I got home, blamed it all on the hormones and thereby managed to get away with accidentally deleting one of his favourite programmes off the Sky Plus box. He still made me supper and put me to bed early. So every cloud has a silver lining I guess . But, in short, I can't be doing with work just now! I'm going to try and get to work a couple of days a week at home when my maternity cover goes full time in January, but I'm not holding out much hope. Scooby, do you not have to take the holiday you accrue whilst on leave before you go on leave? Will they let you work to 39 weeks?

And I can't remember who said they'd developed an inability to park, but I've come out in sympathy with that as well. I'm not the world's greatest driver in the first place but having to back and fill to get into a parent and child space at Sainsbury's was just .

Long post, sorry, long busy day and pregnancy have ruined my editing abilities. Have nice weekends everyone!

Bluey- I shall be using last times birth plan, so no need to write new. The first line reads: I am not a martyr to pain and expect to need drugs.

Maternity leave: I was aiming for December but SPD is getting rapidly worse so now thinking abut beginning in November! That said, I won't be going back anyway.....they found my replacement the other day. It's made me a bit sad to think that I am replaceable!!

God, there was so much else I wanted to say but the Pocket Dictator stinks. I'll come back later. Sorry!!

Hm, birthplans, never made one, too lazy not organised enough, but seem to have been lucky that my wishes/concerns at the time were listened to anyway. As my 3 deliveries so far could not have been more different from each other (induction with epidural, emCS with spinal, VBAC with G+A) I count myself very very lucky indeed to be able to look back to all of them with a sense of satisfaction. Although there is no doubt that the VBAC was the most exciting/positive experience of them all - so here's hoping for a repeat. New consultant seems sympathetic, so so far, so good.

The Werewolf household is under quarantine as all 3 DSs and DH have succumbed to some horrible stomach bug. I've been up all night, changing bed sheets (I am now seriously running out of bed linen and washing machine is red hot from overuse..), mopping brows and generally doing nursey type duties.
DH is ment to be working all weekend, so doubt he will feel better soon (currently he is apparently dying ) and I will be ill tomorrow when I am on my own, gah!!
Anyway, so far so good.

Hope you are all well.

Hello all

Just popping in to say hi as I haven't been on for a wee while - but been keeping up with everyone's successful scans etc. Am amazed by the evenness of the boy/girl count, although probably shouldn't be, because, statistically, the population is generally around 50/50, right?!

I see that anna and swings are like me - we'll end up with two DDs - are your DHs getting any more used to the idea? I'm sure once they mentally let go of the boy idea, they'll be v excited about having another cuddly wee girl. I know I'm certainly embracing the idea now - I'm looking forward to playing barbies and dressing up and shopping trips when they're older..! Ok, so they might be tomboys, and that'll be great too!

Getting loads of movement now, kicked internally on a regular basis, and quite often in the evenings or in the night/early morning. In fact, I woke up in the middle of the night a couple of days ago and it felt like she was doing somersaults for a good 10 mins or so! I have a horrible feeling this could translate into wakeful nights after she's born . Will be trying to get the bedtime routine into place early methinks!

DD has gone off to childminder/nursery this morning in a fairy outfit - so cute. We're not big into Halloween in our house, but she loves dressing up, so I couldn't deny her the opportunity.

Have a great Friday everyone, looking forward to hearing more positive scan reports

Morning everyone - had my 20 week scan yesterday and they went into loads of detail. They could see fluid in the baby's stomach which meant it was swallowing properly, and fluid in its bladder which meant the kidneys were working which was amazing! Add me to the "surprise" list as we're not going to find out what it is - mainly to put DD off naming it Black Beauty if it's a girl and Pouffles if it's a boy....
Glad everyone's well.

Hello everyone,
I'll try again to post. Just come back from scan, everything fine and HE has very big feet! I was sure it was a girl, have to find boys names that work in French and English. Any ideas? Have a great weekend everyone!

Angouleme, we really like Louis for a boy which works well in French and English. It's an old family name on DH's side so if it pops out a he, then Louis it is! (But I suspect it's a girl, really. We'll have 2 DDs as well then! )

Well it is customary to pop in here after a scan so thought I would let you all know that the face down baby had turned over for today and we got a good look including the lip which is what the sonographer wanted to see.

All is well with my little kicking boy.

Off for a weekend with the girls (as designated driver) so packing my bags now.

Scan this afternoon - mixture of excitement and nervousness - especially as we will have to take the children.

PandP - sorry to hear your SPD is also getting worse. I have gone from mild impairment to using crutches int he last two weeks. I'm terrified it's going to completely cripple me. I just keep focussing on my last pregnancy in which it got this bad but no worse.

How bad are you PandP? How did it pan out for you last time? Is yours really unpredictable - sometime no problem sometimes non-weight bearing

I think March is a popular month for births not just for swedish people! There's something about making love on a hot summer night... Honey I think I might be ovulating, get your kit off!

Pacific - hope your family get well soon and that you don't get the bug too! Hmm a 21-year-old swedish au pair girl? Make sure you get to see photos and choose an ugly one, haha. Or yes a manny would be great with all your boys! I was a teenage au-pair, although I was nice to the kids I wouldn't say I was the most responsible person in the world back then, especially since I had a constant hangover from my adventures in London pubs & clubs...

Birthplans, yes why not make one, but be open minded to changes...

Talking about buying stuff for baby, one of the best items we had was a sling! Sometimes being in the sling was the only thing that would put DD to sleep. And don't get rid of your birthing ball after the birth, being bounced on that was also very calming...

Heckle - yay for 2 girls! My DH never really wanted a boy anyway, he prefers girls. It was me who thought I wanted a boy but I'm over that now. And, maybe we'll have a third one day... which might of course be a girl too. I've heard that certain men have a tendency to "make" girls or boys. (It's the sperm that decide the sex, us women have nothing to do with it.) Wonder if there's any truth in that. Or it could be to do with timing of intercourse as well... Or just coincidence!

Congrats on the good scans!

GIRLS

Pixie (x2)
Puree
TwoFalls
Don't Try
Lemonade
Hecklephone
Iwonka
Rebeccacad
Sariska
Annamama
Walnut
Swingsofglory

BOYS

Pacific
DrSkid
Becky7000
EmLou
Sarah
Tigress
Scooby
BlueyDragon
Ohwow
Manda
Summer2008
IW CAS
Angouleme

SURPRISE
Caitni
Arcadie
Siamese (involuntarily)
Hedgehog
TMD
Ilovegreenbeens
TakeLovingChances
Scootergrrrl