Feb 2010 part III,

[mamaloco]

Sorry I couldn't wait anymore half of us is in the 3rd trimester and half will followed soon
Welcome sharon I have added you to the list

27th Jan Devotion DD1 6yrs & DD2 3yrs
1st Feb Moth2, 1st but also stepdaughter 3 yrs
2nd Feb Raindroprhyme DS1 8y, DS2 4y
2nd Feb Ktpie DS 13m
3rd Feb sunangel88 1st
4th Feb mothrof2boys
5th Feb chinook Dd 3.6yo
7th Feb grin DS 1 yr 6 m
7th Feb mamaloco DD will be 5y near due date
8th Feb fiziwizzle, 1st
8th Feb gingerkirsty, 1st
8th Feb PinguCarrier, 1st
10th Feb Lovelymonster, 1st
10th Feb T4tastic 1st
11th Feb Woowa 1st
12th Feb Fluffycoo 1st
12th Feb Yummylilmummy 1st
13th Feb mignightsun DS 3y
14th Feb tryingtobemarypoppins DS 21months currently!
14th Feb Clappedout DD 21m
14th Feb Pops78, 1st
14th Feb Glynnispig 1st
14th Feb Threeplusone- DD 12.11yrs DS1 5.2yrs DS2 2.1yrs
14th Feb Stoofadoof, DD 2.11
15 Feb AngelaCarleen 1st
15 Feb flyingcloud 1st
16th Feb GuernseyFrench 1st
16 Feb Watercress DD1 2y 10m
16 Feb esselle - DD 5.1y, DS 20m
16 Feb hannahsaunt - ds1 (8.11), ds2 (6.5), ds3 (23mo)
17 Feb Bethylou - DS currently 16 months
17 Feb Becks130 - DS 3.5 yrs
18 Feb Sunnybump - First
19 Feb Sharon137-
20 Feb Gert ds 22m
20 Feb Cluny 1st
21 Feb Pyjamababe - First
22 Feb Skibelle
22 Feb Scoobydoo
23 Feb 2Happy ds1 4y ds2 2y
23 Feb (twins!!) Insanitybecomesme DS1 9yrs, DS2 7yrs. DD3y 3m, DS3 21m
23 Feb TheOldestCat DD 2.9y
23 Feb Phee96 DD 9m
24 Feb Elebereth
24 Feb TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied DS 15m
24 Feb MidgetGems
27 Feb Westlondongirl
28 Feb Mawbroon Due DS 3.10yo

Dear all, I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling emotional and put upon! Today has been one of those days we all get from time to time: the car wouldn't start, I lost my cheque book yesterday and I REALLY need it to pay important cheques over the next few days, and we also got some bad news via our lawyer about a longstanding legal case which, I thought, was finally moving forwards. (The father of my 13 yr old DD disappeared when she was 2 and paid nothing for her nor the house we had bought together prior to his disappearing act. 11 years on the American Embassy have finally traced him - in BOSNIA of all places - and we have been trying to get a mere signature from him in order to finally be able to sell the house so that my DH and I can finally invest in a place of our own. ANYWAY my DD's father's laywer is proving to be disgustingly ruthless concerning the financial gain of his client if we every manage to sell this house AND IT'S REALLY BEGINNING TO GET TO ME) I don't need this stress in late pregnancy, thank you very much! < pathetic pregnant woman emoticon>

On a much more positive note I had my 32 week scan yesterday and it went really well! I was so chuffed and the doctor seemed really pleased too. I'm relieved and surprised to learn that my LO's head is down but high up so no pending birth, thank God. I honestly thought she was all over the place but apparantly she is pretty well behaved and doing what is expected of her! The amiotic fluid levels were fine and the baby's estimated birth weight is between 3 - 3,6kg (about the same as my DS) so that's fab.

I was so happy when I left that I went for a long walk (or waddle I should say). Come the evening I was in such discomfort down below: as if I was bruised inside. It really freaked me out as the doctor had told me that I had to be careful over the next 5 weeks as the baby's lungs wouldn't be ready for the big wide world. Clearly his advice did not fall on deaf ears as I was really panicked last night especially as there are so many things to deal with over the next few weeks.

FlyingCloud re the French EDD my doctor explained to me yesterday that in France they measure up to 41 weeks which is why they will not allow a woman to go over her EDD by 3 days whereas in UK they calcuate up to 40 weeks. TBH I still don't understand but I nodded in the right places and hope I looked relatively intelligent.

Oh and tomorrow I must visit my dentist for a clean up job (aghhhh bleeding gums yuck) followed by the dreaded midwife visit. I have struggled to 'only' put on 1.5kg over the past 5 weeks but no doubt I will get a telling off for being at 11.5kg (1.7 stone) at 32 weeks. I hope I keep calm when I get told off like a child. Sigh.

Good luck to all of you.

Nikki87 it could just be piles but I would go and get checked out just to be sure. Will put your mind at rest. Plus if it is piles they can give you some advice on treatment. Do let us know how you are

sorry, forgot to mention, the blood came from the front, not back....

Hi Nikki,

I have no advice for you as a first timer, but would probably say get it checked out. Good luck with it and let us know how you get on.

Thanks Jardins - I have tried explaining it to so many people but as I don't really get it myself, I'm not doing a very good job. DH's father is having a large 60th birthday party when I will be 39+2, five hours from where we live and I keep having to explain that even though my EDD is 15 February 39+2 isn't a good time to be five hours drive from the hospital. I have not put any pressure on DH to stay with me and told him I completely understand if he wants to be there - but luckily he doesn't! Your legal woes sound like a nightmare - I would be beyond stressed by this. I hope you manage to get something sorted.

Good luck with the midwife - I am so with you. I have become very blase about the tickings off (I have a gynae, not a midwife).

hmmm - i wrote a message but obviously forgot to press the post button. Can't remember what I wrote. argh. That's called pregnancy brain, I believe!

in brief, i think

nikki call the MWs, and let usknow what happens. My local hospital has a drop in maternity unit - do you have anything like that?

Seeking reassurance re size of baby. at 25 week check I was measureing 26cm, at 30 weeks, today, I was measuring 28cm. Didn't feel too worried til someone later asked how pregnant i was and they commented that I didn't look very big for nearly 7 months... NOW i feel a bit worried. I have a growth scan at 32 weeks, so it's not like I have long to wait, but has anyone else's baby size seemed to be like this? I know that it's still totally in the normal range, but why am i now smaller than the number of weeks?

Sorry...panicking first-timer strikes again..

Oh, and for people in france, i think perineal retraining is a good thing, not painful and scary. Sorry about worrying you bbishbosh x

Oh joy, I've just reach the 29 week mark and I have the feeling to be back to week 1 with MS and tiredness!

I haven't been to work today as I was feel too crap but the thought that I still have 9 weeks to go at work is daunting (11 weeks officially but obstetrician says I'll be induced at 38 weeks or earlier)... I just have to take it easier at work and ask for help when I need some (this is so not me!)

Here is my top tip of the day:

do not go crawling around the soft play when pg as it results in the worst heartburn ever.

My wee bottle of gaviscon was in my other coat too, so I had to suffer the burn til I got home.

And, I can't fit through the rollers at soft play any more!!!!

thanks for the advice guys, unfortunatly woowa you have to go through the A&E dept at our hosp, and they aren't that brilliant, was going to ring through to MW dept before, until my bloody phone broke, so am going to call them tomorrow, I didn't have any pain, or any more bleeding after, so am not worrying too much, but better to be sdafe than sorry ey

oh and woowa a couple of weeks ago I was in Mothercare when a mum asked me how far I was, when I told her 7months, she just looked at me and said 'really... I was that size at 4months'. I think its more a case of other people being bigger, than you being smaller =]

Woowa- don't panic I constantly have people telling me that I'm too small and am I sure the baby is growing properly.

I saw the midwife on Monday (28 weeks) and she said that I am absolutely fine I just have strong stomach muscles and am fit and healthy. Maybe it's as Nikki says - it's other people being big rather than you being too small. People still don't realise I'm pregnant if I wear certain clothes (which is slightly disconcerting as they must think I'm slightly porky instead!)

I think how pregnant I look is very much down to what clothes I am wearing, so I try not to get too irritated or worried when people imply my bump is a bit on the small side! Also, I think people who had their babies a while back (i.e. years ago!) just forget what pregnancy was like at different stages. Heck, I can't even remember what it was like 10 weeks ago.

hey watercress - pants isn't it!?!

i just wanted an open, honest discussion to help me make my mind up (am drawn to vbac, not to reconnect with womanliness etc, but cos of the much faster physical recovery if a straightforward birth - i'm a bit ashamed to say that the section appeals cos i wouldn't have to have the pain of labour again, and i only got to 3cm last time!!!!) But that's the rub isn't it? 'straightforward' and no-one can tell me what the chances of that are....

I've got another appt at 39+5 if he hasn't already arrived!! To discuss further options... like you watercress, i'm going to push for CS rather than go overdue... especially as they can't induce cos of previous section etc

I've been in denial i think about the actual birth up until this point (in fact, i think that's how i managed to conceive in the first place, just not thinking about that last bit before the much desired end product arrives!) 10 weeks left and I really need to start thinking about you know, breathing, positions, to massage or not etc etc.... oh shite, what have i done?!?!?!?!

oh, and sorry, Nikki87 - hope you're doing ok? and everyone else of course!

Nikki87 Please let us know how you get on hun xx

stoofadoof re vbac and going overdue.. when i had my first VBAC.. on my due date apointment my consultant wanted to book me in a for a c-section the next day.. but I really wanted to try for a VBAC.. this was on the thursday... We then agreed that I could have a sweep that day, but still book the c-section for the tuesday if nothing had happened. So I had my sweep then went to see the anethiatist (spelling wrong I know cant think straight..)
I went into labour on the friday morning with mild contractions, went to the hospital that night at 6pm.. and had DS1 at 4.25am and he was OP.

With my second VBAC I again had a sweep on my due date appointment and went into labour 24hrs later, then had DS2 at 4.10am the following morning.

I have been told that they will give me a sweep again this time on my due date so that I dont go to far over.

Woowa.. please dont worry about what other people say.. your bump will also depend on how the baby is lying.. People have told me how I have slowed down oin the growing front, at the beginning of this week.. then baby moved the other night and what a difference it has made to my bump.
However on the cautious side if you are worried then speak to your mw.. I do worry about things like this even though it is my 4th as my first PG, I was admitted at 28weeks, with Premature spontanious rupture of membranes, and Intra Uterine Growth retardation, Placenta Insufficiency.. I did get too 35+weeks before they gave me my c-section That was in St Georges in Tooting.

Hope everyone is OK .. I feel ike crap at the mo.. DH had to come home from work ear;ly yesterday.. I went to bed at 15.30 woke up at 20.15 went back to bed at 22.00 and slept till the alarm went at 6.30 could have stayed in bed but have sent DH to work and told him to try and be home before DS1 finishes school..

Hi all,

woowa, I have been told I am looking small for 7 months too and definately don't feel as stretched as I did last time, or maybe I just can't remember. Babies really vary in weight anyway but at this stage the growth is sporadic and happens at different stages, do not fret! Have also had to contend with my Mum asking why she can't see the baby kicking on demand...grrr.

Had chect infection for the last week following swine flu jab, maybe a coincidence. Being ill during pregnancy really sucks, too busy to go sick too (she says busy typing a post...)Soo over work, 5 weeks to go.

Loving the sex tips , very funny. Glad to hear I'm not alone in lacking time or inclination!

hey guys, thanks for all your concern, me and babi after both fine, rang drs to speak to midwife but isn't in today and can't get through to mw dept at hospital, but babi is still kicking the hell outa me, so taking that to be a good sign.
However, have been given iron tablets to take as slightly anemic, little worried that it will aggrivate the slowing bowels... anyone have any experience of this?

Nikki glad all seems ok- it's so reassuring to feel them wriggling. DH and i panicked this morning when he accidentally kneed me REALLY hard at the bottom of the bump (thus ending attempt at sex!!!). The wriggling in the last few hours is as normal so we've stopped worrying now.

Thanks, all, for the size reassurance. Note to self to never ever ever ever comment on someone's bump size. Or size of anything.

Nikki - i haven't taken iron, but i have read in the bounty book, i think, that if you need to take iron tablets to up your intake of fibre - so prunes, dried apricots, that sort of thing. Anyone else?

well [another thing to add to my list] I have coeliac [gluten intolence] so find it hard to get fibre in my diet, managed to get fibre loaf for me, but that seemed to make it worse... I'm on lactulose at the mo, so may just up that slightly!
at least theres only 10weeks of this left! lol!

Veeerrryy veeerrryy tiiirrredd.... Just a quickie to wish you all well. I'm 28 weeks and got the bump measured yesterday - 27cm, no idea what this means. Also, a nurse took some blood today, again, no idea what for and too tired to ask...Hopeless! What is VBAC by the way? Sounds intriguing... I really should know more stuff about being pregnant shouldn't I?

ps Anyone heard of the chinese boy/girl predictor thing? Is it on the net? Sounds like a bit of fun!

Nikki - Floradix which you can get from Holland and Barrett is a liquid form of iron and shouldn't interfere with your bowels! Also can you eat porridge (and drink plenty of water) re. your fibre intake?

shiregirl have you come across any nice prune drinks yet? the taste makes me feel really sick
extremelychocolatly i have gluten free porridge, but not sure of the fibre content, will have a look, and I've been drinking as much water as physically possible. I'm just getting so fed up, I'm taking Gaviscon, lactulose and iron tablets, all which apperently shouldn't be taken within 2 hours of each other, and the doses i have, i don't physically have the time to take everything!

thanks threeplusone TBH am worried about the pain thing after my experience last time, which i think is what's still nagging at me.. feel a bit of wimp really, but i have no idea if what i had last time was what it would be like this time or if it will be worse and of course no-one can tell me - i know every pregnancy, every baby, every woman, every birth different, but still am worried! only human i s'pose!!

Extremeleychocolatey ta for floradix tip - don't think i can get it here tho, but MW has recommended ferrograd with vit c.... been taking it 3 days now and if anything, it's loosened things up - still black tho! (sorry if TMI!) She has found that the vitC seems to prevent the constipation if this affects you (which it always has with me when i've had to take iron)... anyway, dunno if it's just hte brand ferrograd that has this effect, or if it's the iron + vit C?!? might be worth a look for those bunged up with iron!!

threeplusone what pain relief have you used in your vbacs? have you avoided epidurals? I want to because i'm desperate to avoid instrumental assistance and understand that an epi increases the chance of this!?

thought i was doing well last time without any relief for the first 20 hours (including 6 on synto drip) but then it suddenly went downhill and i was really sick - don't understand why the pain changed really cos I'd been 3cm for about 17 hours and never moved!!

sorry everyone, bit of a ramble that!

pyjamababe - vbac is vaginal birth after caesearian...

stoofadoof with DS1 I used Gas and Air.. they did try an epidural but it malfunctioned and by the time they came to fix it DS was out..
DS2 I had some herbal tablets as they dont use Gas and AIr in Germany apparantley they dont think it works!! I was also given meotid but had the meptid at 3.55am and he was born at 4.05/10am so dont htink it had time to work..

TBH I am dreading the labour and already panicing about it.. and the afterpains.. as they were really bad after numeber 3..
But I know I can do and I always feel so proud of myself afterwards as if I am the only person in the world to have done it!! The decision though should ultimatley be yours.. I personally felt cheated after my C-section.. but I never laboured or anything and it took me a while to let it sink in I had had the baby.. So I was determined to have the VBAC more than anything in the world..
TBH I have said to DH maybe I should just ask for a c-section then I dont have to go through all the pain again.. but I would still have the pains afterwards.

We have had a phoine call from the care dealer in the UK we bought our car from last yeard asking if we want to change the car to a new model.. The only thing is they want to do this in Feb.. so I will be either heavily pg or just delivered, when DH would have to go back and swap the cars.. will have to speak to the dealers and see what we can organise.

We have our Xmas ball tommorrow night and his Squadron Xmas functiuon on Tuesday... I have this mornign tried on an old ball gown I had made when DS1 was 6months old and it FITS!!!! SO I am going to wear that tommorrow and have a maternity cocktail dress to wear for Tuesday.. just need accessories.. and hoping my feet and legs will handle the stiletoes.... We have even asked at the Mess if I can take along my own Non alcoholic wine so that I dont feel left out at the table as you are only allowed to drink Wine or water then after the meal Port.. Luckily they have agreed to let me..

threeplusone thank you! i feel better just knowing that someone who's successfully had three already can still fear the labour!! Ball sounds brill - not really one for dressing up etc, but we've been stuck without a babysitter for 6 months now, and i'd just really like to have a night out!! Have fun!

I had meptid last time - just after i chucked everywhere - they gave me it at the same time as they did IV anti-biotics for infection - didn't tell me what they were doing til it was done! two hours later i was pleading for more!! (didn't get it mind!!)

Morning all.

Glad you're OK Nikki! Apparently my levels of iron are low too (although I could barely understand what the doctor was on about... ), I'm going to try Spatone liquid iron supplement - mainly beacuase i got a shitload of free samples at the Baby Show - apparently that's not too bad re constipation, especially if you mix it with fruit juice (recommended as it tastes weird)

sunnybunp congrats on the move - what a relief to finally be sorted! thanks for the advice re Dr's too - have re-registered with nicer surgery, am back with the GP I had when i was a kid (nice surprise!) and a lovely - MALE! - midwife.

This whole thing of bump size is really misleading isn't it? Whenever i tell people how far gone I am they tend to recoil in horror and ask if I'm sure it's not twins... I'm all bump and boobs though, no extra weight anywhere else - MW says baby is "normal" size. Weirdly - and I'd love to know if anyone else has got this - I feel as though i have lost weight in the past couple of weeks - no change to my actual size or the fit of my clothes, I just "feel" slimmer for some reason?! Am i mental?!

I've managed to catch the most shocking cold, so i'm mostly sitting about feeling sorry for myself at the moment! Coughing fits have wrecked what's left of my abdominal muscles too... nothing wrong with my appetite though, might just go and make myself a big plate of comforting toast