Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

[annamama]

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

Morning all, and especially to all who are not well. My cold is better now, has just become a bit of a chesty cough. Lovely.

smac How do you feel today?
Scooby Contractions so often sounds scary. but at least the scan went ok. Perhaps you can get time off, 'fraid I don't know.
hecklephone - Pink pram - NOOOOOoooooooo! If I have a girl there will be no pink, and preferably no stereotyping of any kind. Ditto for a boy. Both sexes will be encouraged to play with Meccano, lego, cooking type things, etc. That's the master plan anyway. Mwah-hah-hah-hah-ha.

Good morning all,

MummyElk, I've been taking codeine since the beginning of my pregnancy (I'm 26 weeks now) to control my IBS (for one of its side effects - it can cause constipation) and it's perfectly safe. You can also try some cold pads on your forehead and some breathing exercises.

I think I'm also going to take some paracetamol or codeine today because I have this terrible backache. It's getting harder and harder to sleep and to find a comfortable position in bed

Hope you all have a good week

hello ladies sorry to hear so many are suffering with illnesses hope you all get well soon, xxxx

we have had a lovely weekend, spent sat with my parents and dd whilst dh was at work with ds!!!! who was mega excited about going out in daddys lorry!!!!!(he is a mechanic on diggers and dumper truck and other dirty horrid machines, !!!!! you can imagine the mud my 4yr old bought home from a building site!!!heehee

we went to dinner with some friends sat eve whilst my parents baby sat and yesterday bough my last 2 xmas pressies and then we all pu thte tree up!!!!!!! my house looks very festive!!!!(i know its early but we wont have time next weekend or the weekend after as we have such alot going on atm)

ds is so excited now bless him!!!

hope you all have a good day xxxx

Hey all.

Smac, as Eeyore might say: thanks for noticing me or as it were, in this case, noticing I was awol. Luckily no more visits back to the hospital but have been incredibly wiped out. However, I started to take two spatone sachets per day on saturday and although I've stayed in bed all day I defintely feel somewhat better (of course, I'm approaching the end of my ab's too so that could also be playing a part).

Naturally, feeling a bit better means I must jump up and do something fun with the kids because I feel guilty haven't done anything with them for some time due to one thing (oh, three months of morning sickness) followed by another (repeated illness/hospital admissions). Of course, they're not babies, and understand but still... so I won't go crazy but we're going to see Nativity! tonight and will grab something to eat out either before or after. Quite looking forward to this film as we are BIG fans of Love Actually in this house and it seems as if Nativity! follows in that same tradition: brit com with a christmas twist. Plus every time I see the trailer with that guy imploring to a group of kids to 'Make sure you've done a poo and a wee!' I laugh. I feel it may become a new catchphrase here after we've seen it

Really hope your bug was 'only' a 24hour thing... and that DD isn't inflicted.

annamama I hear you on the 'other activities' (and of course it was indeed stamp collecting that sprung to mind ) but in theory I'm on 'pelvic rest' which means no... um... oh, why so shy now, Amanda? No orgasms for me. Therefore any 'other activities' would be allllll about DP. That's not to say it hasn't happened, but I feel a teeny tiiiiiny bit resentful . Oh, and... confession time. We've had sex four times since the ban BUT not for two weeks after the bleed and very gently so. Sure, I couldn't get to the finishing line but I just needed the contact. The intimacy, I guess. And four times in four weeks IS virtually a ban to us! Oh, I feel terrible confessing now I've typed it... but we'd been having sex twice a day! Part of me even wondered if so much semen was having an effect on my cervix with the amount of prostaglandins it was getting doused in. Hmmmm. Anyway, I'm extremely happy to report those four times haven't resulted in any harm and as I said I am still careful to not 'enjoy' it properly I'm weak and reckless aren't I?

scoobs I do hope you're fully recovered after your fall and the BHs have settled somewhat. I seem to still be having quite a few so here's hopin there's some truth in that theory that plenty of BH's make for a strong uterus = labour's a breeeeze!

ICWAS Yay for discovering a new sense of 'you' and loving how you look. I'll be thinking of you this week (having attended my grandmother's funeral when pregnant with ds1 I know it makes for an already emotional time being more... intense).

mummyelk do hope you've had a productive visit to the GP (ie that you're now brandishing a presciption to ease your misery). I know most of us will rather put up with feeling rotten over taking meds but sometimes we just HAVE to. Feel better soon.

shroomer glad the cold has eased off - here's hoping the lingering cough also tails off really soon.

heckle I think you know the general concensus already but I'l also chime in that you should Just Say No to a pink pram . The fact I plumped for charcoal/red combo probably says what I prefer - and it seems most of us here champion black and/or red! That said, if you personally love the pink, get the pink and be damned with what's fashionable or popular, particularly if you manage to get a real bargain.

So I've got my appointment with my consultant tomorrow. Must remember to ask about managing my labour because of the GBS (and super quick labours).

Have a good evening, all. I'd better start to get ready for our trip out.

Just a flying visit from me - so many posts to catch up on after the weekend! - but just wanted to reassure Manda about the prostaglandins in semen as this actually came up at our NCT class on Thurs.

The midwife teacher told us that the pessaries used in inductions contain as much prostaglandins as in 30 normal ejaculates (I LOVE that scientists have investigated that!). So I know twice a day seems a lot but compared to 30 times a day it's fine

Waves to everyone else. I'll be back to catch up properly soon.

PS Sarah bet your DS was loving the day with his dad (and all those engines!).

PPS Anna glad you revealed the "secret" of the multiple windows - I was at the idea of being organised enough to ever have a pen and paper handy...

pixieOnLeaf - 'by not stereotyping your DC aren't you stereotyping them anyway?' - ah yes, the old 'objectivity is a form of subjectivity in itself' thing. If a stereotype is taken as a prevailing, predominant way of doing things which society seems to have adopted, unquestioningly; then I guess I just mean that I want to rock the boat a bit and not bring up a pink girl who only sees dolls, or a blue boy who only play with Meccano and never sees dad cook ... Actually, you know what? You can SO tell I'm a first timer.

shroomer I had similar good intentions before my DD arrived... it didn't really work. I very much hope I'm not bringing her up to be a 'princess' for want of a better term. However, in terms of the pink stuff I was sabotaged by the rest of the family (particularly the in-laws) who thought I was nuts and bought her pink clothes at the smallest opportunity.

It's fine though - I'm not so bothered anymore. I still avoid buying pink stuff cos I know it'll come from elsewhere but i don't mind her having it. I'm confident she'll still be her own woman (one day).

Having said that I did pick up a second-hand pushchair with pink covers at some point. In my defence it was very cheap. My DH refused to push it around as it wasn't manly enough (!), so I had to get some second-hand black covers for it! Still cheaper than new and actually much smarter in black.

Hi, all, hope everybody is feeling better or good.

Re the pink/blue thing: it is the lack of choice that really winds me up! Ok, so you can buy other colours for both sexes but you have to be on a mission know where to go for them and make a bit of an effort/pay more money usually in continental kind of shops/brands. Although it clearly does not make any difference to the young baby what colour they are dressed in.
In older children I see a different issue: the incessant pink for girls is such a weak colour that just yells "I am cute but pathetic, will you take care of me?". Ok, I am quite possibly mad overinterpreting, but it just gets my goat!! In the same way as navy/khaki/camouflage for young boys is just wrong: I do not want to see by son in a miniversion of a uniform, gah!!

OTOH, never thought I would say this, but there are things my boys do that I have never ever seen/heard from girls. Now I know I don't raise girls myself but certain things just amazed me how some gender prejudices are confirmed by all my boys: they are v different from each other, but in other respects v sameish and daddy is just as bad .

However, they also embraced BFing (we have great photos of the older 2 Bfing their teddies on the sofa next to me BFing DS3, LOL) and love to push toy or real pram around, so all is not lost.

Sorry, I came over all hot and bothered on that subject

As you were.

Evening all,

Still getting strong BH but had a nice clarins mum to be treatment none the less. Very bizarre lying there trying to relax with BH and being kicked!!

Hopefully Manda will be right and it is a sign of an easy labour!!

MUMMYELK - really hope you feel better soon.

PIXIE - glad all went well at ballet and you were suitably proud.

Manda - let us know how 'nativity' was - could do with a laugh!

Off for tea xx

Thanks for all the kind wishes ladies.
I am feeling a bit better today. Survived the morning on the sofa with Cbeebies on for DD then took to bed while DD napped. DH did the dog walking and now I'm trying to get rehydrated as my head is aching. Baby in the belly is going nuts with all the sugar in the lemonade I'm drinking, water is just so bland and I wasn't getting enough in me so sent DH out for lemon fanta but he failed.
As for gender stereotyping I've asked for trucks, cars and stuff for DD's Christmas from a few people as she's got lots of dolls etc but if we go to a boys house she is straight into the cars, trucks, tractors. She does love her toy buggy though. I like to give her choices and that for me means not all pink stuff and not all dolls. I can't tolerate the pink fairy/princess stuff so when I eventually get round to doing her big girls room it's going to have an elephant theme.

Right then. Evenin.....
at shroomer's level of intellect "If a stereotype is taken as a prevailing, predominant way of doing things which society seems to have adopted, unquestioningly; then I guess I just mean that I want to rock the boat a bit...." You go girl!! Love it!

Me, well, I don't care really. DD wore way more pink than I thought she would (bearing in mind it was me dressing her you might wonder why the surprise) and now she's bigger i think i probably veer away from the candy pinkness, but, oh, i don't care really. she's cute in whatever she wears. and she has NO hair so even at 21 months we get "what's HIS name" if the outfit is a bit macho but hey, bugger it. and pixie i can't wait till she does the ballet thing so loved your story, can't blame you for getting teary!

As you may have noticed, i'm slightly perkier, so yes I am brandishing the aforedesired prescription. Amoxycillin and co-codamol, lovely job.. it's the waning ebb of the headache that is really making the difference - i was pulling some hilarious poses whilst coughing - bent over, hand to head to stop eyes popping out, legs crossed to stop wee coming out, and a sort of BARK as the cough hit home and my head exploded!! oh i do love being a woman sometimes.... I know I've said it but thankyou ALL for mentioning me, i know it's an ego thing or whathaveyou but it def made me feel better

oh, and for manda and caitni, re prostaglandins...love the statistics of the 30 ejaculates....thought i'd add my own (not personal) research from my last pg which was....that actually swallowing semen is the best way to get the prostaglandins working to bring on labour..... ...i think i read it here on MN!!!! (so it must be true)?!! I can't see how it is but i CAN see how you might get to the point at 42+ wks where you might consider it.........

On that bombshell....i'm off to bed....

I'm sure the whoel swallowing thing was a myth devised by a man....
They don't make you swallow the pessary now do they?

Haven't been on for while so hello to everyone. Sorry that some of you have been unwell and big condolences to IWCAS.

Work has been hellishly busy - I really can't wait until X-mas now. Then its only 6 weeks to mat leave!

Sympthy to those of you commuting - I had to go to London last week and was amazed to have to drag a suitcase up and down stairs at every station without a single person offering to help. I haev a huge bump which was clearly on display and crutches for my SPD. I really was shocked.

House stuff is moving on - we hope to exchange byt hte end of the month. Just getting middle of the night sweats on the huge mortgage we're taking on. hey ho.

Really ought to get on with some work now!

I just can't understand the logic behind the swallowing theory although I've heard it a number of times. If it's the cervix that needs ripening for want of a better word then surely a pretty direct hit is better than going via the stomach which is full of acid.
I remember watching 'This Morning' a couple of years back and the resident doc there saying that pro biotic drinks are pretty much a waste of time as the stomach acid kills them before they can do any good and to buy a probiotic multivitamin tablet instead as it had a better chance of doing some good and I don't know if that is right or not but it has stuck in my head so I can't see how swallowing is going to help!
I did chuckle at the very scientific comparison of a pessary being 30 x as strong as an ejaculation! Thanks Caitni I'll keep that in mind! Do you not have to eat the equivalent of 30 pineapples to get the same effect - must be something magical about the number 30!
Manda hope 'Nativity' was good. I've got my head so much in the clouds I didn't even know about it but it sounds good. I loved 'Love Actually' so it would probably appeal to me too. Although last time I went to the cinema I had really restless legs and couldn't get comfy at all.

Agree that that's definitely a man's myth!

at all those uncaring commuters, BPM. People can be so thoughtless at times. Hope I have never been like that but I suppose it's all too easy to wrap yourself up in your own little world, especially when negotiating the hell that is London Transport.

Re gender stereotyping: yep, I'm another one who rails against it. Perhaps it's futile: my DS is currently obsessed with diggers, lollies (lorries), cars, aeroplanes, helicopters, tractors and the like. He does, though, like Pacific's DSs, love pushing his (toy) pushchair around. And he has a doll (which we are only allowed to refer to as a "doll", not a "baby". The real baby is in my tummy; he has cottoned onto that ).

Mummyelk, we get "what's her name?" and when I say, "his name is...", the response is usually something like, "Oh, it's the hair" (long enough to show that it's wavy) or "Oh, but his eyes!" (don't 'get' that myself). Perhaps I shouldn't have bought him a red coat. Although it does go nicely with the red pram....

One reason for not buying a pink pram (or tonnes of sex specific clothing) is that, of course, scans can be wrong. That happened to friends of mine a couple of years ago. The very first pictures of their DS show him wearing a very fetching pink patterned babygro.

I hope all the coughs, colds, stomach bugs, bad backs and asthma are improving. Am staying healthy here so far (famous last words) although getting to and from nursery this morning was an icy obstacle course that seemed to threaten a broken limb.

anna, you are right that I need to think hard about the BFing issue. My midwife and GP are both very supportive about the idea of tandem feeding but I am not sure it is for me. And, if it isn't, I have to do something about it sooner rather than later.

Wish I could namecheck more people but I really had better stop waffling and get working. Hey ho!

I spoke to soon on the house front. Just had a call to say that our buyer is pulling out. With Christmas coming etc this was our last chance to move before the baby. We've really set our hearts on the one we're buying as well.

Think I need to go cry somewhere.

Oh... BulletProofMum

I'm sure you'll have more people viewing your house and put an offer.

I know it's easy to say but don't get too stressed about it. Try and do something nice to relax( go for a walk, shopping, bath, etc.)

xxx

Morning ladies

Big sympathy to all of us suffering with colds/headaches/falls. Hope you all feel better soon (and hope it means a germ free Christmas!).

BPM so sorry to hear of your buyer pulling out and also for you.

It's interesting to read about the pink/blue debate. Like Pacific it's the lack of choice that annoys me. I want lovely bright colours rather than wishy washy baby pink/blue/pastels so I suspect our baba's going to spend a lot of his/her time in red/lime green/orange/purple and other vibrant colours . This is even after the birth, as others have said I expect a lot of the gifts to be pink/blue so we can provide all the rest. I'm keen on any baby stuff being useful for future children (should we be lucky enough to get them!) which is another reason to not go too gender specific straight off. On the nursery front, I'm currently loving this rainbow set for inspiration - I'm thinking Elmer the elephant colours. On the buggy front, we're going down the black route too, brightened up with a lovely colourful cosytoes/buggy snuggle type thing. Course we've not actually bought any of this yet (although our car seat is black and red)...I just like browsing online and thinking about it all .

Pacific I agree on pale pink being such a weak colour and I'm also not a fan of mini uniforms for small boys. Am I right in thinking you're German? I've found my German friends to have much more gender neutral clothing for their children (along with my Scando friends) but "gender neutral" in a bright, fun way rather than in a pastelly way. LOVE the story of your older boys BFing alongside you - super cute!

Mummyelk glad to hear you're feeling better . I think I agree with BPM that the swallowing thing could be a convenient myth dreamed up by the daddies

Smac fanta lemon - yum! I love that stuff...in fact I may have to try and find some this morning (does the work canteen sell it I wonder?). It's just what you need after such a horrible bug. Glad you're feeling a bit better now though.

Scooby how scary with all the BHs though at your clarins treatment. I like Manda's theory that it's your womb limbering up for the big day. I've not had any BHs but it is hard to switch off fully when baby is moving loads, especially now it's getting to the stage where I can see my bump move too.

Pixie so lovely to hear your ballerina did so well . When's your next scan btw? Bet you're looking forward to seeing the girls again.

Manda hope Nativity! was fun and hope the consultant app goes well and you get your questions answered re managing the GBS with your history of super-quick labours.

Evitas poor you with the backache. I had some sciatica around 16-18 weeks and it was quite debilitating. I now swear by my dream genii pillow, as without it I think I'd be suffering instead of sleeping. Have you tried anything like that?

Heckle I think it's the idea of changing accessories that appeals to me most about a black pram/buggy. It's like why I love basic black clothes but am a sucker for colourful shoes/bags/cardies/scarves

And big waves to everyone else. It's been a busy morning, so I've been typing this message for far too long. Need to close my MN window so I can get some work done

Hi Ladies,

thank you for your support. The backache continues, but it's not getting worst...

Caitni: yes, I do have a dream genii pillow and it does help. I'm going home (Portugal) for Xmas and I'm already thinking that I MUST take the pillow in my luggage (not sure how I'll fit everything ... )
I also like the rainbow combination, it's a good way to have lots of different colours and lovely colour schemes. However, I must say I'm in love with GAP's organic baby bedding but they only sell it in the US (I need to find a way around to see if I can buy it).

For those suffering with one thing or another, hope you all get better soon!
xxx

Hi all,

sorry, long time no post. Been very busy potty training - now on day five and DS is clean and dry (except at night). I did it the Gina Ford way and was amazed at how quickly he got it.

Sorry to hear so many of you are suffering in various ways. DS is really poorly with a hacking nightime cough which means he has been waking up moaning on and off and needing settling. DH is away so at 5 am I finally gave up and brought him into my bed - not planning to make a habit of it though!

Hope you all hold up ok

Hey all - for BPM

for EmLouT and the potty.

ROFL at the pessary or blowjob dilemma!

and ??? Pacific's German? Who knew!?

Hi everyone,

Been trying to catch up on the posts but overwhelmed. It's great everyone is so communicative (unlike me...) Loads of tips!

IWCAS - so sorry about your friend. How awful. And Bulletproof - what a blow about the house...
Hello to everyone else and hope all the sickies are feeling better!

I've had a cold and also got married yesterday, so got busy. The wedding was just a formality - nothing special. We will celebrate the baby with a party back in Cork next summer - much more important to us.

Worried about the anti-D injection at the moment. Am rhesus negative, so they give "just in case" shots at 28 and 34 weeks (so first one next week). But I'm loathe to get blood injections with babs still inside me when I mightn't even need them. Anyone got any thoughts? I'm off to the doc on Thursday to discuss.

Been reading May Gaskin book - tis very good!

congratualtions on your wedding donttry hope you had a lovely day, xxxx

i too am RH neg and have the anti D-had it with both my other two pregnancies and will be having it again on 14TH !!! its nothing to worry about a bit pain ful but fina all the same,

i have a really busy week next week
TUES 8th- DS's school christmas play
WED 9th- SCAN 9-30 am and consultant appt
THURS 10th- swine flu jab
Fri 11th- Glucose test (have to have as my mom is a diabetic and i have a raised BMI)!!!!(all fine with previous pregnancies)!!! how will i manage to fast for 14 hours though!!!LOL

Mon 14th- anti D jab- i am going to see if i can have it on fri after my gtt to save me having to return on monday!!!LOL

don't know how i keep track of it all!!!

hope everyone is ok,

bpm so sorry your buyer has pulled out, how rude!!!!! hope you get another buyer soon xxx

off to docs a little later as i have real bad lower back pain thats goes down my butt cheek and thru my leg so think it may be sciatica again!!!! very sore atm,

Congratulations donttrythisathome a wedding is a wedding!
Don't worry about the anti D jab. I had it for my ectopic pregnancy and then again when pg with DD however I have since discovered that DH is also Rh Neg so I've declined it this time. It is a bit sore but doesn't last long. They make you wait for about 15 minutes to check you don't keel over after wards but apart from that very straightforward. After the birth I was given the choice of finding out DD's blood type or having it again anyway. I chose to wait and surprise surprise DD has exactly my blood type so no need for further jabs. Do you know your DH's blood type, if you are anxious about it then I would recommend you find out as it might not be necessary.
and bulletproofmum how frustrating for you that the buyers have pulled out. I think the English system of buying and selling houses is totally daft (I'm a Scot living in Wales) it just seems so unfair that your hopes can be dashed so easily when you have been led to believe that all is going well.
Waves to the rest of the gang and goes back to glugging Spar Cloudy Lemonade - managed out the house for the first time in 2 days but couldn't track down Lemon Fanta without heading into a large supermarket and I wasn't feeling strong enough for that!

Hello, all!

Congratulation on nuptuals, donttry . Formality or not, it is a step, but your post-baby party sounds fab!!
Anti-D: having Anti-D injections now is really to protect the next baby against antibodies you are likely to form during this pregnancy/delivery. So IMVO it is really rather important you have them.

BPM, I was going to offer my sympathies regarding rude/uncaring commuters, but the buyers pulling out will have overtaken that as a concern, I am sure . I suppose it does mean you won't have the stress of moving before Christmas??

Caitni, gosh your are clever: I never thought my preference of primary colours for kids would out me ! I've been living in the UK for more than 16 years and although I have not changed my nationality (and on a purely emotional level cannot imagine ever changing it) I cannot see myself ever moving back.
I love the idea of an elephant themed room, BTW! Go for it and then post pictures on your profile

I told DH about the 30 ejaculates necessary to ripen cervix: he is still in shock, LOL. However by the time I will no doubt be overdue again (I am trying to prepare myself for a 42+ week pregnancy like the last couple of times) even ONE ejaculation anywhere near me will be too much to contemplate!