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Due March 2010 - we're halfway there!

973 replies

annamama · 10/10/2009 11:22

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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BulletProofMum · 02/12/2009 09:03

or

Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm a licensed cab driver.

SmacOnTheLipsUnderTheMistletoe · 02/12/2009 09:06

testing out my new Christmas name !

got a busy day today but can't be arsed would rather have another quiet day at home.
Just can't shift this headache moan, moan, moan.

EmLouT · 02/12/2009 09:48

Manda - not sure how you got out of there without commiting a serious crime but I would suggest that you ask not to see him again and to see someone else to avoid the risk of being provoked to murder.

Heckle - don't worry about the chocolate - over the past two weeks I have even more than my body weight in chips - it's the only thing I want to eat and I am having to force down fruit to attempt to keep up with my five a day.

Bulletproofmum - totally understand about not wanting to take the nappy off with the house on the market. I was surprised though how easy cold turkey was for us. We just confined ourselves to one room with towels on the floor for the first day and armed with chocolate buttons and bob the builder for all potty times we got away without too much mess - by day two we were down to just one accident and now (day 6) we have not had any accidents for two days. Thoroughly recommend house arrest and cold turkey for a couple of days as it seems to get it out of the way quickly.

Am very knackered today as DS is still poorly and was up and down all night saying "Pat Me Mummy" and, because he was sick, I indulged and kept patting him back to sleep. Dosed him up with calpol, Tixylix and vitamins today before the went to nursery but am on tenter hooks in case they call for me to collect him as there is no-one to cover me. Roll on a good night's sleep - any suggestions for helping toddlers with bad colds sleep?

Suppose I should do some work!

annamama · 02/12/2009 10:15

Hi again, and guten tag Pacific. I vaguely remembered that you are German! Loved it at school, our (native german) teacher's favourite word was "quatsch!" which means nonsense/rubbish. That's great that your kids at least understand it and can speak some too! My DD seems to get more into talking swedish when we're in Sweden.

Shroomer - there's nothing wrong with having visions when you're a first timer! Some of them come true, some don't. Yes pink flowers/butterflies for girls and blue cars/airplanes for boys is so boring! Maybe I will take some orders from y'all when I next go to Sweden, we have much more fun and not so gender specific kids clothes in most normal shops there. When I was little I was a tomboy and would mostly play with boys stuff while my sisters wanted to play with dolls... I think it's up to the child, give them different toys to choose from! DD plays with anything at the moment (and she wears pink sometimes). Cute to hear about little boys pushing toy pushchairs. And Pacific, that's so funny about your BFing boys.

Smac - the "violent action both ends" sounded awful! Are you drinking plenty of water?

MummElk - glad you're feeling better. at your description of how you cough! Let us know what happens in your Anti-D study, sounds interesting. My mum told me this used to be a big problem in old days before they started Anti-D injections for Rh- mothers, lots of babies miscarried or sick... So I'm grateful for my jab although of course I'd rather not have it if not necessary!

Manda - no orgasms allowed? Why? I thought that was just the same muscles as you use for pelvic floor exercises, are you not allowed them either? Maybe the doc was just jealous because he/she's not getting any...? Anyway, good that you have been able to do it carefully, the closeness is nice too. And that doctor is an idiot, must have been so frustrating, it's not you!

BPM - I feel SOOO sorry for you, I know exactly how it feels to have stupid buyers pulling out. So disappointing and especially when you had already been looking forward to moving into your new house. Well there's not much you can do except keep trying, and thinking it wasn't meant to be and maybe you'll get an even nicer house next time and/or more money for yours... That's what I do anyway, we're stuck here and I'm so fed up! Hoping to move come spring, don't care that we'll have a newborn baby, just wanna get out of here and move back to London!

It was so nice to spend 24 hours in the city and like I said the gig we went to was great. I had 1 1/2 pints of lager drunk slowly over a couple of hours... a bit naughty but my motherly instincts told me it wouldn't hurt my baby. Was feeling a little bit tipsy and it was really nice and got me into the mood for grooving along to the music, baby was kicking lots so hopefully enjoyed it too. Afterwards I was talking to the guy I know from the band, was nice to see him again, although he put a hand on my belly and said that he thinks kids are scary... not in a mean way though, more like sort of bemused. (He's 45 I think.) DH ended up getting quite drunk (he hardly drinks at all anymore either so lightweight), we finally got back to my friend's place and he raided the fridge for a late night snack. In the morning I found big BITE MARKS on the cheese! Lucky I found it before my friend did...

Sariska - don't know if it helps, but I think most people feel a bit worried/sad about weaning and wondering if the child will be traumatised... but usually it ends up being easier than you think. For me it was pretty easy as DD has started to be a real pain (at 8 months), pulling off, biting, laughing, hitting boob, etc, so I thought enough is enough and when we stopped she didn't even seem to miss it. I think once your DS stops he won't miss it either even though he's older. Make sure you still have lots of cuddles of course! I'm no expert at all but I'm sure there's lots of people on MN who can give good advice!

EmLou - well done with the potty training! How old is your DS? No suggestion for making toddlers with colds sleep, but I wish they would make decongestant medicin for children! Think you have to be 6 to take it... Saline nose drops maybe? (Not tried it myself, couldn't be bothered.)

Congrats Don't Try! Red dress sounded cool.

Pacific - I find Photoshop so userunfriendly! Good luck with whatever you're trying to do. Me I use some software that came with my camera, it can still do all the important stuff like making people look better in various ways, hehe, love fixing photos.

Oh, DH who was looking through the fridge (our fridge this time) just said "I know what we can have, I bought these apple turnovers on sale!" Mmm... And no sorry you lot can't have any!

OP posts:
AfriBaby · 02/12/2009 10:19

A quick hi from down south - Christmas music and plasticky tinsel in 30 degree heat - the wrongness of it all!

Hope you are all doing well or getting better, in spite of horrid fellow commuters, unreliable housebuyers and consultants who don't listen.

Oh, and shh....don't tell anyone...ich bin eine Deutscherin too...Wunderschnitzels Anonymous perhaps.

EmLouT · 02/12/2009 10:21

annamama - DS is 26 months - wanted to get the potty training done by Xmas as we are going away and I didn't want to have to deal with nappies on the plane - just hope he isn't like me who has a terrible phobia of plane toilets!

Sariska · 02/12/2009 10:29

On the assumption (or is it just an excuse???) that there's no choc orange left (and no chance of anna sharing her apple turnovers ), I added a chocolate and banana muffin to my porridge and toast breakfast order. Hopefully anyone who noticed will just have thought, "oh, a hungry pregnant woman" and not "hmmm, so that's how she acquired that gut". Still, it does at least distract me from the thought of beer et al, which both Pacific's and anna's last posts conjured up for me. (Pacific, maybe you'll be pleased to hear that the majority of my German centres around ordering - and expressing appreciation for - various things to eat and drink. Although I have decided to banish the words "Apfel Schnapps" from my memory. Oh yes.)

EmLouT - children with colds. Have you tried those Calpol plug-ins? They are my fall-back since they banned medised for the under 6s.

Shroomer · 02/12/2009 11:14

Anna/Sariska - I know that the lure of alcohol will be strong for some of us, more so as Christmas approaches. I started this pregnancy not drinking a thing, but in the last 2 weeks I have dared to have 4 mouthfuls of red wine (and God it was lovely!) in one night (and then nothing the rest of the week). How very daring. I miss wine . I miss it just as much as I miss blue cheese and pate. In fact, when I give birth I am going to have a feast of blue cheese and pate on french bread, washed down with red wine; followed by soft poached eggs on toast; finishing with proper caffeinated filter coffee. I may have a small glass of wine on my birthday later this month, and on Christmas day .

MandaHugNKiss · 02/12/2009 11:24

Thanks for all the commiserations... and pacific really no need to apologise - I get the impression you're a fantastic GP but understand how it can be a bit a embarassing when one of one's own profession acts in a way that may make someone tar everyone with the same brush. I'm not one of those - I've seen it too often in my own careers; some people are great and others are awful. But seriously, how does someone like him climb the professional ladder?

annamama You had me giggling with your 'removing space helmet' post . But in answer to your question, I'm guessing (I didn't ask ) that orgasm can set off BH/contractions too so with a recent bleed maybe they don't want the uterus irritated at all? Makes some kinda sense, I guess. Here's hoping I don't start having any of my weird 'dream orgasms' that I've had in the past.. or maybe I should hope for some Yay for your drunken controlled alcohol consumption, tipsy, gig! It's nice to remember we are still people even though we're gestating

BPM so sorry about the house bad news - I think, really, the only way to 'get through it' is to repeat the matra that everything happens for a reason. Could be that the neighbours in the house you're wanting would have been a nightmare, could be that you'd actually not be as happy there as you think you'll be... oh, y'geddit, I'm sure. I find 'que sera' has kept me (semi)sane on many an occasion - because if it's not in your control, that's the only way.

smac Great new Chrimbo name! Ok, I'll confess... I'm not a christmas fan - Bah humbug! (as opposed to halloween when I happily name changed) so not sure I will change for this season. Not that I can think of anything much anyway.

Em Bodyweight in chips sounds fab. I am now craving 'homemade' chips, lashings of salt and vinegar, ketchup, thick soft white bread. Oh, maaaan. Oh! Oh! The best chips I ever had were from a tiny chip shop in a back alley in Morecambe, Lancs. One of those 'only the locals know about it' places. They cook the chips in beef dripping which, whilst obviously GROSS and DISGUSTING not to mention non-veggie friendly (and artery hardening), tasted absolutely heavenly. I guess it's the chip equivilant of cooking roast tatties in goose fat .

sariska Your breakfast sounds perfectly reasonable to me - a muffin is hardly a big deal! We so need to adjust some of our thinking about food and that is not a gut you have - it's your baby! I'll bet you didn't feel to snack mid-morning either?

rebeccacad · 02/12/2009 11:47

Creeping on here with guilt about my inability to post regularly. Can only hold up my 'working really long hours and too tired to type when I get home' card and hope to be forgiven.

BPM really sorry to hear about the house, but have to echo Manda's good advice about things happening for a reason. We moved in to our new place a month ago. It's just about 4 houses away from the place we really wanted but lost out on due to being out-bid by a first time buyer. It was lots bigger and I had loads of plans for ways to add value and was soooo disappointed when we didn't get it. I now hear from our new next door neighbours that it is riddled with damp, the new owner is also pregnant and in despair about how to afford sorting the problems before the baby comes. I really feel for them, but breathing a big sigh of relief as we really love our new place and so glad we were out bid.

Manda I can't believe your doctor - that's really not the way to treat you at all. I'm considering complaining formally about the nurse who gave me the swine flu jab. Not sure if I recounted that joyful tale on here or not!

Hurrah for sariska, anna et al who are indulging in the odd treat. I had some chocolate buttons for breakfast.

All well here, though a bit irritated as working from home today so I could have my 26 week appointment with midwife, who has cancelled on me. Grrrrr. Was really keen to talk to her today before I speak to maternity cover to sort out her start date, as am becoming increasingly convinced my dates are out by a couple of weeks as am measuring 5 cms over what I should be and everything happened early (showed early, first movements early etc).

Making strides with hiring a Doula and would like to sign up to Caitni's lentil weaver, crystal chanting group. Ah the naivety of us first timers!

Promises to post more regularly and goes off to wait impatiently for Amby Nest delivery...

itwascertainlyasurprise · 02/12/2009 12:06

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itwascertainlyasurprise · 02/12/2009 12:08

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Caitni · 02/12/2009 12:12

Manda god, that appointment sounds truly awful. Amazing how something as simple as communication can wreak things...hopefully your GP can do the necessary blood tests and perhaps you can discuss your concerns about managing your GBS with your midwife? Then you could agitate for an appointment with the consultant only, not any more junior doctor working on his/her team, so you can discuss it all properly.

Pacific it's so funny about the directions for the train station as that too is the limit of my German . And glad to have another German in the form of Afribaby .

Anna glad you got to enjoy the gig, even with all the blackwall tunnel stress.

Shroomer Lovely feast you have lined up for post-birth! I've not been avoiding caffeine tbh as I only have one cup of tea a day and the odd "proper" coffee or diet coke if I'm out for lunch - cutting that out would be a step too far when I'm still missing chevre goat's cheese so much! I've also been having small amounts of alcohol - the odd glass of wine/bottle of beer here or there on weekends when we're out. I'm not missing it as much as I thought I would (thank god) but I have found the pub to be much less fun sober. And actually have found some of my friends to be extremely annoying when drunk ...guess I never realised cos I'd usually have been p*ssed alongside them .

Big waves to everyone else. Feeling a bit moany today...not unwell exactly but a bit rubbish. I had a funny turn on the tube and had to get off a train and wait for it to pass, so was late getting in to work. Then sat through a meeting from 10am feeling roasting and generally icky. But lots of water seems to have helped. And luckily a colleague brought some homemade cookies in today so I've had one as a treat which has also helped

donttrythisathome · 02/12/2009 12:45

Manda that doctor sounds unreal. I hope you bopped him over the head with your handbag,

I have an Amby Just got the delivery of the new sling and baby snuggler this morning (which is pink...arghhhh)! Looks great.

Can anyone recommend any newborn babycare books please? Guess I'd better think about what to do with this little mite once it pops out.

I think melted blue cheese is ok y'know (for all those craving it) . Kills the bacteria or whatever. Also I'm drinking several cups of tea a day - don't think there's any reason not to. Also most goats cheese is pasteurised so should be ok too. Or am I BADMOMMY?!!!

Caitni why not take a sickie - I have today as still not 100% over my cold.

EmLouT · 02/12/2009 12:58

BPM - just wanted to say about the house - our seller pulled out while i was pregnant with DS - it was the day before exchange, we had a buyer and had spent thousands on legal fees and surveys. I was devastated and thought I would never find a house I love but two weeks later we found our dream house and it really is better than the one we lost, it's the place I want to grow old in and I could never imagine feeling that way about a house. We moved in just before DS was born and despite the fact that I brought him home from the hospital to a house where the kitchen was mid build and we had a make shift kitchen in the dining room, did the washing up in the bathroom and only had one running water tap going into a bucket, I would not change it for the world. - The house is still mid build and we don't yet have a room for DS to move into to make room for the baby and we have no spare room for the maternity nurse but hopefully the builders will pull it off before March! When you do move you will probably find it was all for the best!

Having a massive McDonalds craving today - have tried not to put on too much weight with this pregnancy but since they told me I haven't been eating enough and I need to because the baby is small, I can't stop thinking about junk food (hence the chip cravings) can I really justify going out while my class is doing PE and having McD's for lunch?

EmLouT · 02/12/2009 13:00

BPM - just wanted to say about the house - our seller pulled out while i was pregnant with DS - it was the day before exchange, we had a buyer and had spent thousands on legal fees and surveys. I was devastated and thought I would never find a house I love but two weeks later we found our dream house and it really is better than the one we lost, it's the place I want to grow old in and I could never imagine feeling that way about a house. We moved in just before DS was born and despite the fact that I brought him home from the hospital to a house where the kitchen was mid build and we had a make shift kitchen in the dining room, did the washing up in the bathroom and only had one running water tap going into a bucket, I would not change it for the world. - The house is still mid build and we don't yet have a room for DS to move into to make room for the baby and we have no spare room for the maternity nurse but hopefully the builders will pull it off before March! When you do move you will probably find it was all for the best!

Having a massive McDonalds craving today - have tried not to put on too much weight with this pregnancy but since they told me I haven't been eating enough and I need to because the baby is small, I can't stop thinking about junk food (hence the chip cravings) can I really justify going out while my class is doing PE and having McD's for lunch?

EmLouT · 02/12/2009 13:00

Whoops - posted twice - sorry - computer playing up.

donttrythisathome · 02/12/2009 13:05

Maternity Nurse??! Oh now I am SOOOOO jealous...!

Was wondering if I could justify hiring a postnatal doula to come in an hour a day for a week or two...but a maternity nurse...a maternity nurse...

BulletProofMum · 02/12/2009 13:07

Thanks for all the positive thoughts on the house front - it helps!

It's just riduclous that you can end up out of pocket when it is entirely someone else's responsibility.

Ont he positive side we weren't too far into the sale and have only 'lost' a couple fo weeks. Emlou - your sitiuation sounded awful - glad it worked out for you! My DS2 is 27m months - I will go cold turkey at the weekend (or ask the nursery to next week!)

I'm so impressed that all fo you manage to avoid the things your supposed to. With the exception of raw shell fish I haven't changed my diet at all. In fact enjoying not worrying about calorific intake! I figure I've manged not to catch listeria in 37 years - it seems u8nlikely now. I enjoy a glass or two of wine (I do avoid the third!).

BulletProofMum · 02/12/2009 13:13

We really need to decide on the new thread title...

rebeccacad · 02/12/2009 13:18

Amby is a present from normally tight as MIL. I made DH ask her if she'd consider buying it for us (they've plenty of money, but never think of using any to help their sons or treat them to a nice b'day present, something for Christmas etc.), as she'd offered to get us something for the baby, but tends somehow to always get away without buying us anything.

I nearly fell off my chair when she not only said yes but went online and bought it with the sheets too! Daren't tell my SIL as they didn't do anything for either of their 2 babies. Have sneaky suspicion it's because we're having a girl.

Am having to try and be alot nicer about her now (but inside I know she's still totally mad and really mean)!

EmLou many thanks, I now have McDonalds craving too!

MummyElk · 02/12/2009 13:40

hello
had loads to say and it will ALL GO by the time i finish this sentence so am typing v fast (and not punctuating)...
FOOD absolutely agree with BPM on the listeria front, i'm not avoiding anything that might give me it because it MIGHT.... my MW told me last pg to think how many times i'd been ill eating a prawn sandwich and when i answered never she said, well then, get on with it. BUT I have been semi good on the pate front because of the vitamin A front. I shall definitely be eating some at xmas though, bugger it. You can cook with cheeses anyway, surely? I've had baked camembert quite a lot, figure it's in the oven long enough? steak and blue cheese sauce....mmmmm... pasta and blue cheese sauce (really yum)...
but each to their own, would never subject anyone to my lazy opinionated ways.
I haven't drunk in weeks now but hopefully by the time i'm back on form i'll be back on the Occasional Glass of Red Wagon too

v at rebeccacads amby...and pacific has one too doesn't she? hmpf.
loved annamamma's shotgun at the consultant, poor manda...reminds me of the consultant who gave me no other option gently persuaded me to be induced last pg...

Channel 5 are cooking fish curry...yum....puts my toast and jam to shame.....would a maternity nurse cook me a fish curry do you think????????

mumbot · 02/12/2009 13:49

donttrythisathome I would highly recommend Rachel Waddilove's "How To Enjoy Year One', she gives you a suggested structure for sleep patterns etc but has a more relaxed attitude to everything - unlike Gina Ford's regimented routines which can make you feel like a failure

EmLouT 'just say no' to MaccyD

Has anyone had their Health In Pregnancy grant forms through yet?

Also, what would be your ideal baby present for x-mas?

EmLouT · 02/12/2009 14:13

Mumbot - too late just ate quarter pounder with cheese and fries. Whoops!

swingsofglory · 02/12/2009 14:15

donttrythisathome I'd recommend reading two or three different books with different styles. You might find you like Gina Ford - many people do (although not to my personal taste) or you might hate strict routines and prefer another approach. My personal take on it is that everyone is different and every baby is different so what will suit one person won't help somebody else. If you've had a look at a couple of different books it allows you to go back to the one that seems to make most sense once your baby is there.

Personally I liked a lot of Tracy Hogg's The Baby Whisperer - particularly the stuff about recognising the baby's cries and the EASY routine really worked for me and DD. Other books with more regimented regimes did indeed make me feel very anxious and like I was failing. Even the Rachel Waddilove one was too much for me, although I liked her approach before DD was born - unfortunately what DD did just didn't fit with RW's recommendations eg. DD never slept for 3-4 hours at a time as a newborn. Ever. Sigh.

I have to say though, after a while, I put all the books to one side because they do have a lot of targets in them, for want of a better word eg. by three months baby should be in a set routine of 3 naps a day / spending x minutes on their tummy to encourage rolling over etc etc... so I'd continually feel like i wasn't coming up to the mark if DD wanted to do something different. We just muddled through together and as i got to know her better I was better able to see what she responded to. That's me though - another Mum would think that approach was a nightmare. DD seems to have come out of it all OK anyway.

mumbot I sent off my health in pregnancy form yesterday after a visit to the MW. Think you can do it anytime after 25 weeks, but you need the doc or the MW to fill in part of it for you and once they've done that you've got 30days to send off the form. Fingers crossed the money will come in in time for me to get a few Xmas presents. Probably not what was intended for health in pregnancy money, but i guess I've spent lots on yoga recently which would have otherwise gone on presents so it sort of works.

As regards food does and don'ts, I've been much less careful this time round. I've avoided shellfish and haven't been drinking (but I'm not much of a drinker anyway so it's not been difficult) but that's it. I've never had listeria from a prawn sandwich either!

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