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

Thanks for that FluffyCoo and sunnybump... I read about the bananas and milk trick before bed and I'm trying that tonight as well as flight socks, very sexy I know!
I seem to be having completely crazy moodswings, laughing hysterically to the point of crying and then feeling really down.

I am really dreading work tomorrow too, maybe just Sunday blues and before we know it, we'll all be resting at home with our feet up and work will seem a million miles away . DP and I start NCT classes on the 4th of Jan which should be good.

bethylou I'm intrigued by the whole hypnobirthing thing, will have to look out for that as it sounds like a good idea. I've opted for a home birth on my birthing plan but my sis who is a doctor keeps telling me I'm mad and will be needing that epidural! Then again she lives in America where every birth starts with a good ol' shave down there and an enema! ...

My legs are so swollen too. I can't even zip my boots up over my calves...

Anyway, off to bed, banana and milk done and flight socks on... thanks ladies, hope you all have a good week!

Hey comeonbishbosh just saw your post! You are so right about the sitting and typing all day being bad. It's definitely my circulation and I do make a point of stretching at work but I think the extra weight is probably taking its toll on posture and the baby may be pinching a nerve. I think I might make a point of asking for more breaks and also putting my feet up!

I know what you mean about the relatives. Every single day until New Years eve is chockablock with work and commitments! And yes, the xmas relative thing is just too much... I'd quite like to go into hiding for a while! I'm beginning to think ML is going to be BLISS even if I only get paid £126 a week!!!

Thanks for all your help - off to bed

What a success! No cramps last night at all... still have a painful calf but slept relatively well... so thanks, the banana and milk thing works and is pretty instant!

Time to get into work mode and face those bastards with a big grin on my face, not long til ML...

Wishing everybody a great and festive week!

Hi Abs, I get cramps too, and they are horrible, especially the pain that lingers over the following days. Milk of magnesia should help (I think you can take in pg, not sure though) - have a bottle by the bed and swig back when you get a cramp!

I just can't concentrate on work at all! I am working from home and achieving nothing except baby-related stuff. DH and I had a good think about how we're going to reorganise the house. I really wanted to keep the spare bed in the baby's room, as we live far from our families and I want to be able to have people to stay, but it just seemed impossible to fit any extra furniture in there with the spare bed in there(a queen size bed) and I resisted the idea of a sofa bed for ages - a) because our sitting room is upstairs and it is a nightmare to move sofas up and down the stairs! and b) because I really don't want my mother, who is not a spring chicken, to have to sleep on a sofa bed. I want her to come and stay as much as she'd like as she is a widow and this will be her first grandchild, so it means a lot to her. However I caved in and we went to Ikea yesterday and bought a sofa bed - so we have to now get rid of one of our current sofas and a queen size bed! We also bought all the baby furniture needed in Ikea, so I am happy that we are making some progress on the baby's room.

Ikea was a strain though and I was very grumpy waddling around behind a manic DH! I am not sleeping as well as I was either so am a little tired. Anyway, I should really try and do some work, as it's Christmas week and there'll be a whole lot more excuses to not do anything at all!

I had awful cramp in the night last week and in my shin which was weird, it's normally in my calf, and the pain lingered all day. Lots of sympathy to everyone else who is suffering.

There are quite a few things I am sceptical about whether they actually do any good but did last time so now don't want to not do in case it turns out it did have an effect. Hypnobirthing is one of those things, I managed to stay calm throughout labour and just had a bit of gas and air at the end, but I have no idea if that had anything to do with the hypnobirthing or if that would be how I would have been without it. I also used a TENS machine, not convinced it did much, although having the button to press made me feel a bit more proactive, but I've ordered one for this time, just in case. I can add to the sceptical but doing anyway list, raspberry leaf tea and arnica tablets and probably a few other things. My opinion is if it doesn't cost a huge amount and there is a slight chance it might help it's worth a shot.

I didn't feel like I got any breastfeeding advice when I was in hospital with DS, the night I spent in there was horrible, baby was awake and wanted feeding constantly, if I put him down he cried and as there were 3 other mothers with sleeping babies on the ward I didn't want to disturb them. The night midwife was fairly unpleasant and although I asked her for help just glanced at me and said I was doing fine. I was out of there by lunch time and got a lot more breastfeeding support from the community midwives, although they were hit and miss as well, some were brilliant others useless. I guess it is luck of the draw and if it had been a nice midwife on duty that night I might have been happy to stay in hospital a bit longer.

Sympathies to those still working, got to say I've been really glad this pregnancy that I didn't return to work after having DS. I found I totally lost motivation at work the last few months before maternity leave and it was a real drag.

Hi bethylou, I too am thinking of putting my DD into a bed to vacate the cot in plenty of time, how old is your DS and was he trying to climb out of his cot? My DD has definitely gone off her cot and now hates it so I'm wondering if this is a sign. Not looking forward to the night time antics though. Is there a book or website you can recommend for this??

Hope all the cramps and puffiness have improved, I had realy bad cramps last pregnancy but been lucky this time so far...really painful though.

Have just had the ok from my consultant to fly tomorrow to Edinburgh for Christmas and looks like we'll be lucky to make it as the airport is buried under snow!

Hello, it's been a while! I've been reading and loved hearing everyone's news, but just haven't had time to post...

Sorry to the cramp sufferers. I had this last time and it is sooo painful. I found that upping my calcium intake really helped (I switched from toast at breakfast time to cereal and it did the trick).

Someone asked how long you are kept in after the birth - last time I had to stay in for two days (ventouse delivery and third degree tear). It was awful, with really unhelpful staff on every count (including BF). If you can get into a birth centre, do!

Bethylou, hope the big bed transition is going a bit better. DD took to her bed straight away (aged just under two years), but I can imagine what a hassle it is to keep putting a child back, especially when pg. How exhausting.

Hope those with swelling are feeling OK. This is another problem I had last time when I was pg at the height of summer (I also had low BP so it was never anything sinister) and it made me feel rubbish. I assume I've escaped this time thanks to the awful weather!

I have my 32 week scan tomorrow to find out if the placenta has moved up, and to discuss with the consultant my delivery options. Well, I'll be seeing some medical student in the consultant's clinic anyway...!

Hope the scan goes well tomorrow watercress; let us know how it goes. I'm sure it will have 'moved' up - happens in 90% of cases. I've got my scan in mid-Jan (also a low-lying placenta), although it might be brought forward if the baby doesn't move from its position across the middle of my tum...

Is anyone else realising that they've only got through the sometimes-stressful run-up to Christmas in the past via a relaxing drink or two? I'm missing beer for the first time in this pregnancy! A sober Christmas, most odd.

I've descovered that Christmas isn't Christmas without mulled wine . I think I'm going to find the whole festive season quite strange, and probablly quite difficult, without a stiff drink or two! I love spending time with my family but they will all be sinking it like it's going out of fashion and I'm bound to feel a little left out, I think. Ah well, all in a very good cause.

I'm so tired today, I keep waking in the night to wee (so what's new) and just CAN'T get back to sleep. So I've been up since 5am today. Only one more day of work, thank goodness. Bring on the afternoon naps!

On here while DS (20 months) is supposed to be asleep in the big bed! I didn't read any books I'm afraid Clappedout (and now wishing a) i had and b) I'd opted for a cotbed!) At least reading these posts is keeping me calmer than during the 2 hours it took me yesterday afternoon. I can't really complain as DH spent those two hours doing battle in Sainsburys - which makes me feel faint half way round! DS wasn't trying to climb out of his cot and has been asking for it - along with saying, "Mummy...not nice!" It's heartbreaking, especially when tired and emotional!! The night times are fine once he's gone to sleep but he has regressed on the potty training before sleep - he's been filling his nappy as he knows we have to go in and sort him out! What fun! Have a good week one and all.

Oh dear to those of you trying to get older children to go into bigger beds. DD went quite happily, but was a bit older - about 2 and a half I think. We went shopping together for a duvet cover (I steered her away from too much pink...)and I kept emphasising all the 'what a big girl you are!" stuff. Seemed to work.

We also put a bed guard on as she's quite active at night - again, this seemed to do the trick.

Good luck!

And seconding those saying they got most breastfeeding support from the community midwives rather than those in hospital. I also had a very supportive health visitor, who spotted I had thrush (in my nipples - ouch) and helped me sort it out.

Oh my god!! I've just realised my baby is due in 42days this is really happening!!!
I'm 34wks 2moz and have appt early jan to see if baby has turned if not it will be a c-section!!

DH keeps falling out with me, cos i have bought everything but it is stored at my mums! I've bought a few bits home today to wash so as i can get our bag packed but otherwise have left everythink there!! I have told DH that once xmas is over and we have our scan and consultant appt i will feel happier and let him bring everythink home and put nursery furniture up!!

I can't wait for my little boy to arrive now, and find myself thinking about him more and more something i haven't let myself do till now.

I hope everyone is feeling well.

Found it! Welcome, climberchick

27th Jan Devotion DD1 6yrs & DD2 3yrs
30th Jan Jardins
1st Feb Moth2, 1st but also stepdaughter 3 yrs
2nd Feb Raindroprhyme DS1 8y, DS2 4y
2nd Feb Ktpie DS 13m
2nd FebBusymummy22 DD 6y, DS 3y
2nd Feb Dee2009 1st
3rd Feb sunangel88 1st
3rd Feb verylittlecarrot, 1dd 2y4m
4th Feb mothrof2boys, Musicalmummyjules DD 7
5th Feb chinook Dd 3.6yo
6th Feb ems147, 1st
7th Feb comeonbishbosh
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
11th Feb MarieKL 1st
12th Feb Nikki87
12th Feb Fluffycoo 1st
12th Feb Yummylilmummy 1st
12th Feb binzle 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
14th Feb CocoK - DC3
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
17 Feb Mrsjeff - First
18 Feb Sunnybump - First
19 Feb Sharon137-
19 Feb Extremelychocolateymilk - DD 2.3
20 Feb Gert ds 22m
20 Feb Cluny 1st
20 Feb Rainbowsprite
21 Feb Pyjamababe - First
22 Feb Skibelle
22 Feb Scoobydoo
22 Feb Enoko, 1st
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
25 Feb AbsB, 1st
25 Feb Climberchick, 1st
27 Feb Westlondongirl
28 Feb Mawbroon Due DS 3.10yo

Has anyone else read "Baby Catcher" by Peggy Vincent? It's about an american midwife and the change from birth being obstetrically driven since the 1960s in the states. Makes our system look 800 times better! Only 25% of births in the states are cared for by midwives!! Otherwise it's a really doctory thing. Anyway, I started reading it saturday night and just can't put it down!! Excellent book, read it! It's very hippyish, and I'm not sure I'll be humming and swaying during labour, but it's very thought provoking anyway. My cousin gave it to me, as she found it v helpful before her 2 DCs.

First antenatal class was lovely too! Lots of laughing and chatting - just what I needed!! Even DH found it bearable, and it was nice to see all the dads to be chatting about stuff together.

Cramps - get out of bed immediately and stand on the leg on the floor. this won't necessarily take away the pain the next day, but will help a lot. When you get up in the morning, try to walk normally on it, as this helps (me, anyway) the pain go quicker and life gets back to normal. I've had night cramps for years, so i know how awful it is!!

On the subject of immac/veet - i'm not using it, but my skin has entirely changed - the plaster the MW put over the blood test made my skin go bright red, which is totally out of the ordinary, and my entire bump is covered in a VERY itchy rash. Consultant prescribed wonderful cooling menthol cream, and tests have ruled out anything wrong, it's a just skin change thing due to pregnancy. How bizarre - has anyone else had this? DH thinks it's the effect of the stretchy bit of the maternity jeans constantly being on, but it must be more than that. Now i want this baby out to stop the itching!

I've rambled long enough.... xx

woowa I've heard that skin can itch in pregnancy, haven't experienced it (touch wood). Aren't all these symptoms wierd and wonderful?!

I'm getting a strange pushing/pulling sensation in my pelvis whenever I walk, I wonder if it's the baby engaging (I'm 33 weeks)? Can any one with experience tell me what it feels like?

My last day at work today, HURRAH . I'm feeling a little as I've been here 2.5 years, and I tried to organise a little goodbye lunch on Friday but hardly anyone was in due to the snow, and so it didn't happen; and so far as I know there's no surprise goodbye arranged today. I don't particularly expect a present (my team's all male so I suppose it hasn't crossed their minds), but I've worked for my boss for 2.5 years, it would be nice if he suggested lunch or something. Oh well. I have enough to do before I leave today anyway.

Woowa, I've had super-sensitive skin in pregnancy as well. I had terrible itching at about three months, then realised several weeks later that I had become allergic to my normal washing powder. Last weekend we changed duvets, and it happened again - I had forgotten that I had washed our duvet in the old stuff, so had to change it! Still, at least it wasn't anything sinister.

Had a horrible three and a half hour journey from work last night (I left early to go to DD's nativity, but ended up getting there just in time for final pick-up). I was terrified for at least an hour of the journey as the snow started blizzarding down and cars were slipping and sliding all over the place. At one point I saw a lorry skidding towards me and thought I was a goner.

Then I couldn't sleep last night as every time I closed my eyes I could see the lorry again.

Still, only three working days left. I may hibernate after that.

On a lighter note, did someone mention mulled wine? When I was BF DD, I made non-alcoholic mulled cider using apple juice instead of cider and it was lovely. I also did mulled wine using alcohol-free red wine (usually the stuff of the devil, but fine for this kind of thing). I can also highly recommend Marks and Spencers range of bubbly stuff - the bellini is particularly good, is only 4 per cent and is currently on offer. There's no need to feel deprived!

Hate to say it but I've found my skin is itchy just before the dreaded stretch marks appear.

Watercress - what a horrible journey and the lorry sounds terrifying.

Fizi - I get some odd sensations like that, I'm starting to waddle a bit now, great.

I agree that Christmas isn't the same without a few drinks. I'm afraid the non alcoholic versions just don't do it for me.

Got my midwife appointment this afternoon, going to pop into Tescos on the way back, we have most things now, just need a few fresh things. DH is going to be dragged along to share the pain.

This will be my 5th Christmas as a tee totaller. I gave up when pg with ds in 2005 and just never started again. I do think I was a dependant drinker though, so I have found in general that my life has improved vastly through stopping, and social events like Christmas etc are no bother for me to go without. I just have to think of the hangover I would have had!!!

I have been putting up the Christmas decorations this afternoon. It's one of those jobs that I feel ds ought to "help" with for the fun of it, but I have ended up so bloody stressed about it that I burst into tears when the effing fairy lights wouldn't stay up. Poor ds, he was the one comforting me.

DH and I are doing the christmas food shop tonight, wish us luck. There will probably be more tears in Sainsbos tonight.....

I tell you, if we weren't so skint, I would have been off on holiday somewhere warm over Christmas....

Hello everyone - I can't keep up with this thread!! Ah well, nearly off on maternity leave when I'll have all the time in the world to stay on top of it!

I was just wondering, have any of you - instead of having beautiful, glossy, healthy hair - had hair that has turned into something Wurzel Gummage would be proud of? Mine is AWFUL and seems to be getting worse - any top tips?! And my bump aches...getting to the point where I'm looking forward to getting my body back...!

Mawbroon - hope you survived the Christmas shop... ugh.

Watercress your journey sounds horrible. I had a similar experience when driving back from Luton airport earlier this year, when I'd been visiting DH who had already relocated to France. It was in the big snow at the end of January - I wasn't even pregnant and I found it the most stressful journey of my life.

Mrs Jeff - my hair is normal for me but I found that for most of the first and second trimester I had horrible skin and greasy hair. It is only in the last four weeks that it has turned out ok - probably for the last time in my life.

Got another bollocking from my consultant about weight gain yesterday. Only one more appointment to go and I know there is no hope of me slowing down my weight gain in the next month. He can't get over how well I am generally so I am sorely tempted to point out that the vanity issues of weight gain in pregnancy (restricted to France, funnily enough) are just that and it's not impacting on my health at all, although I don't want to jinx myself!

heyy girlies, just spent almost an hour catching up on everyones posts, been so busy sorting xmas things out, not had a chance to come on.
i really don't envy the ones of you that have to work, not only being pregnant, but travelling etc in this weather?!?! mad
fizi i've been getting them for the last couple of days, but my midwife told me about a month ago that babi was already starting to engage, and now i'm getting tightening in my lower abdo, which is confusing me slightly, its very(!) painful, but only in my very low abdo, not my whole bump, and its about 3times a day, but figured its not anything bad, knowing my luck its prob to do with my digestion (lovely, i know, lol)
on a seperate note, I've finally got my physio appointment to check for SPD tomorrow.... that will be fun as i don't know what buses are running, and i don't drive.... we shall seeee
glad to hear that everyone is mainly ok, and to you who are having a few troubles, hope it gets better soon

Hey everyone!

Properly bored of the snow now - looks pretty but just causes such utter carnage! DH's family in Scotland have been sneering at our rubbishness in the face of a couple of inches of the stuff - DH (being the sort that will drive through a highland blizzard and has been known to carry a snow shovel in his car) is also incredibly impatient with us nervy southern drivers!

Nikki hope all goes well tomorrow. I had my appt with physio today - they do this weird thing at my local hospital where they invite loads of pg ladies with pelvic pain to a group session, give you some literature and show you a couple of stretches, then give you a kind of "voucher" for an individual appt if you're still hurting in a couple of weeks time!! Kind of wondering why I bothered, although I did pick up a couple of tips for labour.

Very of you ladies already on Mat leave - I still feel fit enough for work but my concentration is shot to bits and I would MUCH rather be feathering my nest! Hey ho, Xmas holiday 1.5 days away!

Hello all,

Just back from my 31 week midwife appt. Bump is 30 cm, heartbeat sounded good and baby is in an oblique position apparently - what that means I don't know but the MW didn't seem bothered so I'm not.

Asked about the SF jab and was told they aren't doing them at the moment, but I can phone in January if I like and see what's happening then! Chuh! Also asked about writing a birth plan and she said I can do one (on my own) if I like. So settling down to the laptop now to do some outrageous piece of creative writing involving dimmed lights, aromatherapy, gentle whale music, massage etc. Let's see what she makes of that shall we?! [fhmmm]

We've been away at a wedding for a couple of days so really need to get on with present wrapping now but my MIL is coming round later for a 'catch up' - aka feeling my bump a lot and asking me tonnes of questions I don't really want to/can't answer... wish me luck

Oops! To many mmm's!!