Lemon top 1st to pop then ensued impatient Brood. Who'll be next? Come place your bets and join us on our November thread!

[Ninjacat]

Because you chat sooooo much!!!

ursigurke dd 31st Oct, 37+2
VenusInfers dd 1st Nov, 37+1
Tamlin dd 5th Nov, 36+4
Scarlotti dd 6th Nov, 36+3
Fubble dd 6th Nov, 36+3
Kyte dd 6th Nov, 35+0 (CS)
Helips dd 9th Nov, 36+0
Sleepless dd 9th Nov 36+0
Southernbelle77 dd 14th Nov, 35+2
Tigger dd 14th Nov; 35+ 2
Pavlovtheforgetfulcat dd 18th Nov; 34+5?
Ninjacat edd End Nov (a little secret, as Lissy)
LissyGlitter dd 22 Nov 34+1
longwayaway dd 23 Nov 34+0
Laugs dd 26th Nov; 33+4
skorpion dd 29th Nov; 33+1
raggie dd 30th Nov; 33+0

Turtle doesn't ring true. Be strong- you'll be fine.

Thanks for reassurances all- I agree, any big worries and they'd have kept me in. Fed up with going up and down to hospital for mystery/purposeless tests, but it's better they are on the case than not, definitely

As for the swine flu vaccine, I think it may be too late here as ds has gone from cough, sniffles and sore throat but basically OK this morning to all of the above, plus copious amounts of vomit in the last couple of hours + high temp. Aaaaarrrrggghhhhh! tears out hair!! Oh well, sofa and duvet day tomorrow, with Disney films on rotation and buckets at the ready. It never rains....just pours!

Weston annoying nurse! I haven't stepped on the scales for many a month but would wager I've put on a good 3stone, and put on nearly 4 with ds. Outrageous weight gain, but it all came off last time and it will all come off again.

Scarlotti We might not have the time on our side to have the vaccine, that worries me. I feel less anxious having the vaccine at this point in pregnancy (full term) than I would say in the first 3 months. Having a DS at pre-school concerns me as he's caught 3 colds since the begin of term and I'm trying so hard to keep these things at bay and not spread it around the family - it's been never ending!

Thank you for all your kind words and support, really appreciated a lot. There's a lot happened all at once, really.

Lemontop can't believe how quickly its flown by!! Glad you're both doing well, though mildly disappointed to hear the whole "advice" thing continues after birth too Enjoy time with him, I hope you get some sleep soon.

Hobnob - dry tampon?! Lovely I really should get round to doing that whole delightful business...

Wook do keep us updated, thinking of you. x

Turtle just wanted to send you some - and say that your H is being an arse and totally doesn't deserve you.

I really am not sure about the Swine Flu vaccine. I don't normally get immunised against flu, and they have stated that this strand isn't much stronger. I didn't even get flu with my ME last year, with my lowered immune system. And with the ME as well, that classifies as an underlying condition... Not sure.

Oh, and talking of people not knowing they are pregnant - there was a girl at my antenatal class a while ago (Had a little boy last week of September) who had only found out six weeks before she was due I really don't understand how people can't know!! Maybe I just have a crazily active baby in here, but I can't contemplate how people would feel these movements and not think something odd was going on.

Cot is ordered All done now... Wow. Kinda lucky though, as I worked out this morning that as they won't let me go over my EDD, I have a maximum of 25 days left. That scared the hell out of me in the best of ways

Scarlotti nappies, I am interested.

Wook maybe you are fighting the same infection as ds? Possibly more effectively.

Turtle

Koumak I won't try the sage just yet then.

Nice article on swine flu jabs and the risks of getting vs. not getting them: www.newscientist.com/article/dn18014-is-the-swine-flu-vaccine-safe.html

I found this graphic showing susceptible age groups especially startling - whereas seasonal flu is overwhelmingly more dangerous for older people, the swine flu is hitting people 25-49 the hardest.

Totally personal decision, I agree, but I would urge people to find independent, accurate sources of information rather than relying on word-of-mouth or rumors to make that decision.

If you do want to get the jab, and you're worried about not getting it in time, I think the best thing is to get it anyway - you are protecting the baby by protecting yourself (they recommend everyone in contact with newborns get vaccinated, not just the mothers) - and you still have a chance to pass on immunity via breast milk. But like I said... don't take my word for it.

Eek, weston, ignore that crazy bat of a MW! Makes me grateful that my MW has not once weighed me this whole time... she asked me how much I weighed at our first appt but there's been no mention of it since!

Erika must be nice & kind of crazy to know exactly how long you have left (maximum).

Off to read turtle's thread... so sorry you have to go through this right now!

ARGH!!! I just started lactating everywhere! I wasn't even thinking about babies or anything, I was just innocently browsing online after a bath with a towel round me, that had slipped down off my boobs, and suddenly they both started dripping!

Methinks it may be time to start wearing breastpads at all times...

why oh why does 7am feel soooo early?

I am off to read some posts and try to respond. but a quick update - went for growth scan (risk of small baby rather than big baby like some uber ones here!) he is around 5.5lbs at exactly 36wks (yesterday), which is perfectly fine, lots of amniotic fluid, in good ceph position, back to the right, head not engaged in the slightest! We got an amazing close up view of his face, his nose and mouth and it was great.

Spoke to the real consultant (not his colleagues who i have seen before). He said he is perfectly happy with everything, and is happy to discharge me to midwife led care, which means I could have a home birth if i wanted, but already decided not to and DH won't budge on it. I asked him to go through notes with me re manual removal of placenta and he gave me the the rote reply, no known reason (bull), just one of those things, slight increased risk of it happening again therefore he recommends a managed third stage next time. Course he does. It is easier for them to have this happen. So, I am going to ignore him and ask for physiological third stage. DH is panicking though, he does not think its a good idea as most of the time it is a managed stage and as such midwives often do not know much about it and do not know how to do it properly, which could increase the risk of placenta not detatching/expelling properly - but is bloody easy - just give me the baby and leave everything else alone! Simples eh?

Question for all those who are experiencing severe sharp stabbing pains in their 'lady garden'...is this your second+child? I am wondering as i do not recall this first time around and the pain is making me think perhaps it is scarring from last time (ep or tearing) beng pulled while everything is getting ready down below for the next stages? Just a theory

Ok, not such a short post of to read some.

hobnob i love you i think, thanks for tip on hotmilk bras...what are the sizes like? Be quick with your answer though eh?

turtle Just read your thread. You sound like a very strong woman. I'm sure once H is out of the house you will be able to relax and concentrate on you, DS and the baby. His story does not sound right to me either.

Pavlov It is my 2nd time, and I do have stabbing pains, but they don't feel like they are related to my tear - sorry! I am having quite a lot of pelvic pain though and have been referred for physio. I was wondering if this is more of a second-time round thing? I'm sure I didn't have it last time and I wonder if the fact that a baby has passed that way before has encouraged the pelvis to separate to early... Just another theory

On swine flu vax: I have started thinking if I have it I could pass on immunity to the baby, but I could also start giving DD some of my breast milk to drink (obviously once it's established and I know the baby is getting enough). I am worried about her: every cold she gets goes straight on her chest. I'm not sure it would work, but I reckon it'd be worth a try.

wook I hope DS is ok. I think a day curled up on the sofa might do you both the world of good.

Bingo - i bought 2 and free delivery! Size did not matter so much on account of there not being much available, so i went for 36B. I am still quite small, chest is a bit bigger but not much, and this will give me room for some growth. Anyway the next size up was like DD, so a bit too big...shame the knickers were not in my size, only hat medium+ and I am defintely still only a small, and will certainly be after birth (unless I get into donuts like i did last time ) so thanks hobnob however, I did not see that you should have recommended me, you could have got a £10 voucher.

Shame i got to wait up to a month for it though, due to arrive up to 20 november! baby might be here by then!

Morning all!

Erika I don't know how people don't know they are pregnant either but a friend of mine didn't find out she was pregnant with her first until she was 6 months gone. She explained to me what it was like: she still had periods, she felt totally fine, and the baby was apparently lying flat out in her belly so she had just a tiny bump. She went to the doctors because she felt strange things in her tummy (the baby moving) and had really bad back ache. They said 'errr, you are pregnant'. She went for a scan and they found out she had just 3 months to go! She was very shocked. It really does happen to normal sane people

Not much to report here. Last day before half term. Halloween disco later so I will be making buscuits today.

Everyone here fine, DSs eating their breakfast, DH working from home, which is nice.

turtle what a w***, i am so gutted for you having to go through all this, especially at this time, but well done for being so strong, your children deserve better than him and you are giving them that. Keep posting, we will help you through, pass you virtual chocolate, hugs, and some reassurances you are doing the right thing (you know that though)

laugs oh damn, that blows that theory then

Pav Good news on the scan . I'm having lots of pains, I don't recall having sharp pains or much discomfort at this late stage with DS. I understand now what my antenatal teacher was talking about, regarding baby head not engaging for 2nd time (or more) mums until labour begins. I can feel the pressure building up from mid morning through the entire day, but first thing the baby has shuffled itself back up -floating I think is the correct word.

fruit i asked the sonographer about that, the head engaging and she said some standard reply 'oh all pgs are different, can't compare yours with others, or this one with last, just because head engaged early last time does not mean it will this time, and even if it did it might not stay blah blah blah' ie, i ain't telling ya nothing!

My midwife said the same, that 2nd(+) babies engage much later on, sometimes not until you're actually in labour.

Morning all

Ninja email me if you are still interested in the nappies and we can sort out details. charlotte DOT mclean AT ntlworld DOT com.

pav this is the first time I've had a shooty lady garden (and it's nowhere near as much fun as it sounds!!) and this is my 3rd dc but 5th pg. I put it down to my body having now had huge amounts of relaxin and so my pelvis has been relaxin too much

As to engaging heads - no chance here for this one. Those contractions on Sunday definitely moved him further downwards but when I wake up now he seems higher up. A day spent more on my feet will get him moving downwards quicker but floating in and out of my pelvis is definitely what's happening.

Re swine flu jab - the thread on mn is really quite informative, some ladies have posted links to excellent research and it's quite a sensible debate. I'll be asking the mw later what she thinks - there was a link to an article in the guardian which was very good. Said it takes 2 to 3 weeks to develop immunity from a jab, so even if I was called in to the surgey today it's unlikely I'll have built up enough immunity before he's born to pass on in vitro, so I'll be asking what benefits there are for him through bf and how long they will last.
I suspect it will be vague information but anything I get I'll pass on.

Lissy sorry that made me giggle!! Mine have only leaked the once, very romantically right onto DPs arm when we were cuddling.

Pavlov thank you for posting that, I have my growth scan Monday and I have been absolutely terrified since they told me. Glad he's okay and you got to have a look at him - how cute!! Also, I'm having pains and this is my first so... Nice theory but I'm going to be the awkward cross in the "No" box

Becky its totally crazy... I don't think I could have handled having any less time than I have had to panic prepare!!

By the way - is baby supposed to be laying on the right? Because he is most certainly on the left...

Popping in briefly to say that baby arrived on Sunday via emergency caesarian (with bonus ambulance ride, lucky me). He was 6 lbs 13 oz, 48 cm long, and about four weeks earlier than I'd thought he'd choose to show up. (He was 37 and 3 days, my previous was 41 and 3 by official count.) We still don't have a name for him, and have told him that this is what happens when you show up early to the party - he doesn't look or feel like a Sebastian. We're thinking of Felix, for its meaning of 'fortunate, lucky' which is certainly how we feel about the whole thing.

Just got out of hospital, and still feel as if I've been kicked by a mule across the middle. I'm honestly not sure which is worse recovery-wise, the bad vaginal delivery or the elective section - both leave you shuffling around miserably and saying 'Ow' a lot. Bliss to be out of the maternity ward, though - there is nothing worse than buzzers and newborns going off like sirens every minute of the night. Everybody else's baby seemed to be a lot louder and more shriekier than mine, and after four sleepless nights, I was about to start doing the rounds of the ward with a handy pillow. (This is the point where DH said 'Darling, I think it may be time to go home.')

TAMLIN!! Congratulations! I was just thinking yesterday that we had seen you since your false alarm. Great news about the new arrival. Felix is a very cute name, if that's what you choose. Hooray! and Well Done

Tamlin congratulations I really like Felix for what its worth - there better be photos up soon!!! Make sure you rest up and take it easy. Congrats again x

congrats Tamlin! wow three boys born so far. hope your recovery is quick and smooth.

Tamlin Congratulations on the exciting arrival of early babe! That's a nice weight, 6.13, so I guess he knew he was ready and just fancied an ambulance ride. Glad you have been sprung from hospital before insanity set in and I hope the aches and pains settle quickly. Congrats again to you all - well done!

Tamlin congratulations. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Enjoy your lovely new baby

Tamlin! YEY! Welcome to baby Tamlin! Felix is lovely, but then if you are thinking of that or Sebastian, I am thinking that any name you pick will be gorgeous as I love them both! I hope you recover very soon, but for now enjoy the lovely cuddles you will be forced to have while not being able to move. You should take a look see if the other two have started a post-natal thread yet...i want the gory details, i love all that stuff . So you did not feel the hospital food balanced out the sleepless nights?

Is that all boys so far? We need a girl, or bets as to how many boys we can do on the trot!