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

Hello all!

Absb how embarassing but... There are a few of us on here who are planning home births, but it's absolutely up to you - if you would feel more comfortable going to the hospital then tell that midwife so!! I'm hoping for a home birth on the basis that the familiar surroundings and lack if medical gubbins might might me feel more relaxed, can eat when i want, snuggle up with baby and DH after and not have to worry about being discharged etc. DH would rather we went to hospital, but I think I'm winning! The other major plus with home birth is that you get the full and undivided attention of a midwife the whole time, on the minus side, you'll have more limited pain relief options (i.e no epidural) and might end up in hospital anyway if there are complications (this may not bother you if you're only 5 mins transfer away from the hospital). The best piece of advice i've had was from my friend who had her 2nd baby at home 5 months ago, she said that your best bet for planning the birth is to just plan to have a healthy baby - keep an open mind and just wait and see what must be done to make that happen... wise words I think! Sorry bit of an epic there!

On the subject of fanjo topiary, are we allowed to use removal creams?!

Fluffy - don't remove your fanjo! Baby will have no exit route...

im very jealous that you have been able to have extra scans! especially as i have been starting to doubt what sex the baby is now!- was told on our second scan, but been told by a few people how they know of people being told the wrong thing, and we have bought a fair few pink things!! so recently back tracked and bought a few neutral things to!!

i still dont actually feel like im on maternity leave yet, i suppose it has only been a few days so far, also feeling conscious that my dp is going to feel resentful that im off and he isnt.. he works long demanding hours and doesnt get alot of time off. he does talk about how im not going to be doing anything for ages! am i being silly or is this just a normal thing to be feeling?

Thanks for the tip Fluffycoo. I think we're going to opt for the home birth especially since we get two midwives and DP will have a job to do like fill up the pool, make cups of tea, walk the dogs, play his guitar, I think he'd be completely lost in hospital, far more useful at home! AND I had my appendix out just a month before getting pregnant and tbh as nice as they all were, I couldn't wait to get out!!!

Pjbabe Sounds like your other half needs a lot of extra attention and you'll be nursing two babies! Maybe you should prop him up with some pillows while he rests his feet

ems I had extra scans because I'd had biopsies on chunks of my cervix years ago so I had to go to a premature clinic every two weeks for a transvag scan and begged them to let me see the baby every time. I've now been discharged from there as all good. My next scan is at 34 weeks because I had a low lying placenta which has apparently moved up, but I'm keeping the scan. I agree it's nice to see the baby as much as possible but I'm starting to want to meet him/her!!!

Better get ready for work... so much for going in late because of being snowed in... there are only a couple of inches here in West London...so I have no excuse!!!

Hi all,

mawbroon I too definitely have a smaller bump than last time, I thought it was usually the other way around as the muscles have alreaedy been stretched. Maybe just more room in there to hunker down? Your theory about having to rush around more makes sense too.

ems I second others, don't be jealous of extra scans. I've been having monthly scans to check the arteries/blood supply to the womb which so far is fine but they also check size of the baby. It is reassuring but I too just want to have a normal pregnancy now and wait to meet the bubba. Also I have had so many hospital appointments, now checking blood pressure which has shot up, sometimes as many as two a week. Luckily I have a very relaxed boss but it could have been way more tricky getting time off.

Also your dp might feel resentful but you are carrying his future pride and joy, all 3-4 lbs of it (so far) and he should remember that! Don't feel guilty, enjoy the peace and daytime tv, he'll get over it.

Skidded all the way to the bus stop this morning. Now wondering what I am doing at work when I am one of the few muppets here...

Morning all, I've made it into work (in London from Surrey) and it's DESERTED!! Looks like most people took one look out of the window and decided not to bother this morning. To be honest I'd have done the same, if I wasn't going out to panto in London tonight...

ems you are doing a LOT, you are growing a whole new human, if your DP has forgotten that poke your bump in his face!! I'll be on ML from next week and I can't wait, I've been working at full tilt and rushing up and down the country; everyone has been telling me to do less and relax more, but I really haven't been able to, and I am so looking forward to slowing down. Yes my DP will be working and I'll be at home, but I am GROWING HIS CHILD and I think that entitles me to a few weeks of lie-ins and afternoon naps before the baby arrives... And for a few years apparently I won't know the meaning of the phrase 'lie-in'

Happy Friday everyone

i dont think my dp thinks being pregnant is alot of work tbh! the pit falls of being a man and never having to experience the whole body changing, aching, exhausting experience. my body has just decided that its going to give me every horrid pregnancy symptom imaginable. there is so much that u dont get told about pregnancy until you actually get pregnant! not that im ungrateful im most certainly not. just maybe wish i was a little more prepared for it all.

and fiziwizzle as for being told i wont know the phrase 'lie in' iv had that drummed into me kindly by mil on a regular basis, which also extends to never having time to shower, wash my hair and generally scratching my bum!! if im honest i really dont mind. just being able to meet the little gymnast is all i care about!

i feel a bit sheepish now for being so jealous of you all having more scans i didnt realise it may of been because of complications just thought my hospital may of been rubbish.

Hey all, it's good to catch-up with everyone. how are you all today? Taking care not to slip in the icy/snowy conditions, I hope. I waddled sl-o-o-o-wly to the post office in my lunch break and it took 45 instead of 20 minutes!

I think Angelacarleen was asking about how long you're kept in hospital after the birth? Obviously it depends on lots of factors - but I was in for two nights because there was meconium in the waters and they wanted to check DD didn't have an infection. Many of my friends were discharged a few hours after the birth, depending on the time of day.

My news is that the baby is in a 'trasverse' lie (at 31 weeks) - meaning it's lying across my middle. So my bump isn't huge out front, just at the sides. Nice. The midwife says if it hasn't moved by next week, I'll need to bring forward my scan in January (to check the low-lying placenta has 'moved' out of the exit route). I wonder if the two are connected?

I can sense my longed-for homebirth winging its way out of reality. Ah well, first law of parenting - expect the unexpected and be prepared for all eventualities...

Anyway, have good weekends all.

PMSL at PJbabe - fanjo removal... can you imagine?!

Hope everyone has stayed safe today ad managed to avoid nasty snow-related slippage incidents. I too "braved" my 45 minute commute this morning, only to be told that I needn't have - my (entirely male) colleagues were freaking out about me being stranded somewhere "in my condition"! Bless them for their concern but ! Did hear something on the news which made me though - apparently where people had been abandoning their cars in local country lanes they blocked the route for emergency services to get to a pg woman in a medical emergency - paramedics had to enlist the help of a farmer with a 4x4!

Yoga is cancelled tonight and DH is at his works Xmas do... nice long lazy evening with crap telly/book (and maybe the odd ) for me!! Yay!

I envy the few of you who are already on ML. My will start the day before my EDD but I'm taking a week annual leave before, so I still have 5 weeks to work! God knows I now regret making that decision a few months ago. Ah well I can get sign off if I'm too tired... I will see.

Fluffy I wasn't told not to use any removal cream, I have to say that without it, it will be pretty messy down there, but I'll advise you to exfoliate after as the regrowth may get itchy (I forgot to go so and now regret it!)

Out tonight for my work due, and I'm dying for a drink! Only a few weeks to go and I will be reintroduced to alcohol!!

Have a good weekend

Guernsey - same here - I work until 2 weeks before my EDD, which being France is just over 39 weeks! Although I am working from home and I am pretty certain next to nothing is going to get done from after Christmas...

As for removal creams - I have read a few threads in Pregnancy which say you shouldn't use them, but I am VERY willing to be convinced otherwise as it's a fright down there (and I think they deal with it as a matter of course here when you go into hospital, not so keen on the indignity of that!). What do the instructions say?

slipped on ice today - didn't go over, but the mini-splits I did has left me with aching pelvic symphosis [spelling?] and a half. ouch ouch. So i second the advice. Be careful! I should have worn my walking boots, but i'm too vain. From now on, vanity out, pelvic-safety in. Still took me 3 times as long to get to where I was going as usual. overtaken by teenagers - this NEVER happens to me!

Scan, again, today. Baby growing properly - hooray! But consultant STILL has me down for high dependency birth. Have another apt and scan at 37 weeks, and she says she'll make a firm decision then. I know I need to be flexible, and I am totally prepared to have the works if I need them, but i'd like to try for naturalish.

Scary NCT class starts tomorrow. Starting to think that maybe I don't need to think about labour that deeply.

can anybody tell what to look out for with preeclampsia apart from swelling, i havent been able to wear my rings for a month or so but got up this morning and feet / ankles are like sausages.

i keep being told its normal to swell, hands,wrists, ankles, feet and knees all been swollen for sometime now. But if you have swelled up over night then would be worth calling your mw or day assesment unit so they can check your blood pressure!?! other things to look out for are headaches, spots n front of eyes/blurred vision or flashng lights. But prob worth just giving mw a call to be on safe side!

All this talk of snow and cold sounds lovely! Honestly I am not taking the piss.

It was 39c here on Wednesday and shitty! DD had her kindergarten concert and 'graduation' that day which was very cute and thankfully they had the air con up high. I did feel a little sorry for the kids dressed up in furry reindeer costumes though.

Our house is built now and we will be getting the keys on Monday. Moving in is really not exciting me at all but I am slowly packing boxes up. I am hoping to rope in as many people to help as possible. Fingers crossed the weather stays coolish - low 20c's!

All is good with baby, still measuring 2wks bigger but not to worry. Have a MW appt on Tues so will listen to the heartbeat.

It is really starting to dawn on me that I have to go through this whole birth business again soon and I'm really not looking forward to it at all. The others were fine and I was very lucky to not have any complications, tears or stitches (bucket fanny????). And most importantly perfectly gorgeous DC's. It just hurts...

I then have the fun of a 5yo, 2yo and a newborn. I think my fantasies of having DC4 are well and truly over!! Too hard!!

Anyway I hope you all have a lovely relaxing Xmas with lot's of yummy food and pampering!

Oh man. Just when I thought I was quite neat and doing ok.....

The past two days in a row, I have had to let out the elastic on my maternity trousers. My bra is now on the last hook and looking decidedly too small My ribs are starting to flare I think (or that's how it feels anyway)

How can this happen in the space of 2 days???????

esselle SNAP! tho thankfully only 30 here! I'm really not looking forward to the whole birth thing either... i was in the library earlier in the week and as i headed for the kids section, i saw Ina May Gaskins Childbirth sitting on a shelf, so i picked it up and have actually been reading it - anyone else?! starting to feel a little bit better about being bullied into a vbac (which is actually what i want... i just don't want it to go the same way as last time, and i feel like the consultant hasn't listened to me and hasn't answered my questions...) still, i too have a m/w appt on tues, so am going armed with an enormously long list of questions! bless her!

Mawbroon and Clappedout i too think i'm much smaller at this stage than last time - I seemed to get huge earlier, but then i've barely moved for weeks! tho, i see from your last post M, that this could change overnight! i'm still enjoying being able to cut my own toe-nails, which i'm sure was out of the question at 32 wks last time!

hope everyone's able to enjoy the weekend... already sunday here and I'm not looking forward to DH going back onto late shift tom... ho hum

Just thought i'd take the plunge and introduce myself, only just discovered mumsnet and this thread. Am expecting my first on the 25th Feb. Since i go part time in the new year, i imagine i'll be spending quite a bit of time on here.

dee,
thanks, I spoke to birth centre and they said it should be all okay and see MW on Monday if
no change as i don't have any other symptoms and have had low BP so far.
Bizarre that it completely happened overnight (cant even fit slippers on) guess its one of the many joys that the pregnancy fairies bring us

Hi ClimberChick, welcome, I have the same due date as you! Very excited indeed! Welcome to the thread, it's really fun, supportive and helpful. Lots of great advice on here, sad bits and funny bits so enjoy it!

Can I ask? Last night I woke up SCREAMING because my right calf had seized up completely, and I've been having trouble walking on it today. Still big knot in there even though DP has massaged it, I've had a hot bath, done stretches, etc. I'm terrified of going to bed because I've never felt pain like it before. Has anyone else had this? I've read up on other sites that leg cramps are normal, but this has been going on all day...

I'm starting to feel so despondent about my job. They seem to completely ignore the fact that I'm pregnant, and are piling on the work. I sit from 9 to 6 typing without hardly moving and by 4 o'clock I am so tired. Last week, I went home crying on the tube because I feel so low about it. I managed to persuade them to let me work from home from the 11th of January until my EDD, but I'm finding it really difficult now, and wished I had just opted to start ML then.

Someone please cheer me up! Having a complete low...

Hi Climberchick welcome to the thread!

OK, so I just consulted my bottle of Immac, sorry VEET (why do they do that?!) and there is nothing to say that you shouldn't use it during pg... I guess a patch test would be a sensible precaution though, just in case sensitivity has developed?

Just found out today that one of my closest friends is expecting a baby in July (she thinks - not 100% on the dates yet bless her!!) so I shall have a buddy to hang out with while I'm on Mat leave... Reeesult!

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend and getting all geared up for the festivities!

Hi all, especially Climberchick.
I haven't been on for a few days as we are trying to get DS into his 'big boy bed' so that DS2 can have his cot in a few weeks' time. We knew it would be a battle, and it has certainly been that! Generally spending two hours each evening doing the supernanny 'putting him back into bed repeatedly' routine - even more tiring with a 31+4 week bump!

Anyway, still reading about hypnobirthing and amazed by the amount of science contained (amongst some 'psychobabble in my humble opinion) I'm still not 100% convinced, but felt that I had been unhelpfully tense last time round and thought I'd read the book as my friend has had two 'short, comfortable labours' from it! It's written by Marie Mongan - I can't remember now who asked for that as my brain is fried!

I remember reading the other day about some of you saying about breast feeding help after the birth. I got quite a lot in hospital and would definitely say don't go home until you are confident, unless you have a friend/relative that you are happy to get your boobs out in front of and who you think would be able to advise. My friends who have had homebirths for DC1 have had no additional help with breastfeeding after the midwife leaves - I think it might be the one downside to having the baby at home - some of you might be able to reassure by giving examples where you have had support for it after a homebirth? Maybe depends on area of country/how busy midwives are at the time?

I'm off to eat junk food and lick my 'big boy bed trauma' wounds! Sorry for long post and hope you've all had good weekends.

Hey Abs Cross posted there! I haven't had any pg-related cramps yet (fingers crossed) but I have experienced them before - absolute agony eh? Apparently it's something to do with potassium and calcium levels - extra milk and bananas should help! My friend who recently had a baby got hem a lot and she swore by a banana and a glass of milk just before bed! Sorry to hear you're at a bit of a low point, boo to work!! I just worked out that there are only 12 working days between now and the 11th of Jan... if you have any hols booked deduct those, plus any MW/ante natal appointments... you'll hardly be working at all!! Hang in there x

Hiya folks, just catching up

Mawbroon, I had to do bra shopping again recently... it's getting silly how many I have and how few fit. I'm also completely knackered and very emotional at the moment. I know what you mean about work Abs, it's getting me down too. I don't know how folk manage to work up until their due date. I'm dreading going in tomorrow already...

My feet and ankles looked like elephants legs last week, and that was with trying to keep salt intake down and drinking loads of water. Only a weekend of lots of rest has made a difference. Been getting the night calf cramp too, and indigestion...

But on the bright side, not long to go now...

Take care everyone x

Hi AbsB, bad news about the cramp. Just so bloody painful! I got it really bad in the second trimester, and as you say it knocks into the following days and starts to affect your walking. I tried a number of things and it's got a lot better now.

Advice I got when I posted on MN included milky drinks and bananas, and also tonic water (high quininne content). I was so desperate I tried them all and seemed to help but don't know which! I was referred to physio as well and she gave me some good stretches to do (general calf and hamstrings)... I think this was probably the single most important thing and I do try to do ever night before bed. Also, wonder if you are sitting and typing all day that also doesn't help. The only time I've had it in the last few weeks has been when I was very stationary for a day, so maybe making sure you are stretching / walking / up down stairs as often as you can.

The only other thing I can advise is if it does come again the best thing to do immediately is to try and pull your toes up towards you so your ankle is at as much of a right angle as possible.

Am feeling fed up and overtired myself and already too much in the way of christmas relatives having seem most of DH's family in one day including two hour drive across snow each way. Just too much. After new year, that's it. no more relatives.

Am thinking of moving my ML start date a week earlier to mid Jan. Difficult to know whether I'm just feeling end of term exhaustion, or whether this is as good as it's ever going to get in terms of energy levels.

Right, off to down my nightly pint of gaviscon.