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

Happy Birthday Watercress and Stoofadoof!
About the NCT classes I had them last weekend and they are really good. Though I have to say that receiving all the information in just one intensive weekend was a little bit overwhelming. I got home on Sunday night and started crying out of nothing. Or probably out of the stress of getting to know all the decisions you need to make.
It was also good from a social perspective as you get to meet other couples. I felt a relief when I realized we were all with the same concern of feeling too lonely while we are on maternity leave. So it's good to know we'll be able to see each other every now and then. NCT trainers encourage you to meet. So she asked us to organize a lunch meeting in 2 weeks and DPs or DHs are also meeting for some drinks in 2 weeks. Then we've also been asked to organize a meeting bet all the couples. So we'll all keep in contact.
Anyway, I'm 35 weeks away now, still lots of pending things to do.
I got the cot mattress today and some blankets.
This weekend will be a hectic one as I pretend to finish most things. We are supposed to have everything ready by week 36, right?
I'm still working, but today I've been offered by HR to work once a week from home if I'm starting to fell tired but still want to carry on. I'll do Fridays from home now, which is good. I will carry on until I feel I can do it. It's just that I don't want to stop working and start the countdown this early. I think I'll get really anxious and won't help me at all. While by keeping working I feel distracted. But will see how long I can carry on with this.
Still going to yoga on Saturdays and having a spa pedicure this weekend. Still don't know where I get the energy from as I'm exhausted and haven't been sleeping properly in the last 4 months!!
Hope you are all feeling fine and happier with that fact that streets are getting better. The thaw is coming.
Take care!

Me too immaculada I have never come across anyone who admits to cleaning arses manically before! Or maybe it's just that our minds are in the gutter......

Glad everyone is doing well. Hope mawbroon is recovering well.

I have had a rubbish day and am in a bit of a state, which is not like me at all. I had one of my monitoring sessions today at the hospital and was told that one element of my liver function test was high (the bilirubin). I had lots of blood taken so they can rule out lots of lovely diseases like Hepatitis. I also have a liver scan booked for Monday and an appointment with a consultant next Weds. So the lovely position I am in is I either have a potentially horrid liver disease, or if not, the doctor today said they would assume the problem was obstetric cholestasis, which can lead to sudden death in utero, so I have to really observe babies movements. I am 37 weeks tomorrow and thought that meant I was pretty much in the clear as the baby is classed as full term. Turns out my problems are just beginning.

On the plus side the snow is finally melting here and I could get dd to nursery for the first time since xmas. I have actually managed to make 2 lasagnes for the freezer and am quite chuffed with myself. Still really need to pack that hospital bag though...

Happy Birthday watercress and stoofadoof!

been to our first antenatal class today, felt like i was a pregnant teenager! im 23 nearly 24 and dp is 27 but felt seriously sneered upon!- cud quite possibly be my hormones, but i cud not see myself making any friends from that group, little disappointed as i hoped to have a few friends with babies the same age. compare stories and problems and the like...

the snow has also really annoyed me!! the lady who was meant to do todays class couldnt make it as she was stuck in the snow, so we had a lady cover for her that went over feeding (so much to bloody remember!!) when it was supposed to be about labour. and now the labour class is postponed till next week, the one date dp cant make it to!!! the one class i feel i really really needed him to attend to make myself feel more relaxed and calm about the whole thing. so now starting to panic a little!! even chocolate isnt helping this mini meltdown!!

For those of you first timers worried about not meeting other new mums, remeber that there are loads of postnatal things you can do. There's NCT and NHS postnatal groups, and usually local things like play groups, nursery rhyme sessions at local libraries, baby cafes... your health visitor (who you will see at baby clinics for weighing and advice) should be able to point you in he right direction, or your GP surgery or local clinic will have stuff advertised on the wall. And that's before you think about more focused activities like baby swimming, baby massage or baby cinema!

So please don't worry, I'm sure you'll be amazed at what there is on in your local area and how other mums will feel the same way as you. And if one group doesn't suit you and you don't meet people you get on with (my postnatal group wasn't as good for me as the antenatal group), you can always try something else.

It's worth having a look round before the baby comes to see what there is - try the NCT website for "bumps and babes" and have a look at the notice board at your surgery when you go for check-ups as a starting point.

Westlondongirl hope your asthma is better. Sounds like a nasty experience.

Chinook, chin up. Not long now. As you say, you are considered full-term now so you could always be induced or have a section if the docs consider that the safest option for both you and baby. Better they discover this now than a few weeks ago when you would have had to sit tight.

Angela sounds like you had a worrying day but it all worked out. And Abs you certainly need a different MW - sounds like the one you have been assigned hasn't undergone any special training in water births (which I think she needs to do), but if that's what you want and there's no reason why you shouldn't, then get foot stamping!

Goodness me you lot have been busy, I've missed about 5 pages in a coupe of days!! Welcome immaculada we have the same EDD - hurrah, been waiting for someone to join me on the 21st for ages

nati I'm not going to have everything done by week 36 that's for sure. Our bathroom is currently stripped bare awaiting tiles, the nursery is still just a spare bedroom and my cot isn't delivered until 12 days before my due date... This is not like me and sure fate will send me an early baby to serve me right!!

Took part in a GBS study yesterday and got the chance to see one of the 'birth suites' at the hospital. Wow! Almost got excited about giving birth, what a great room. You only get in there if you are low risk and don't want drugs though so not counting my chickens.

Just out of interest, anyone else found their local branch of mothercare to be staffed by muppets or is it just me???

Chinook - how awful, how do you proceed now? Will they just monitor you or will they think about inducing you?

The only member of staff we have ever really spoken to at Mothercare (asked advice about car seats) was a real fool.

Big news - I slept right through the night last night without even having a wee!

Chinook, what a worry, hang in there [big hug].

Ktpie now that is a miracle, all night! Can I have whatever you've been drinking!

I've had a couple of really good assistants in mothercare, and a few awful ones too. I suppose it depends what shift you get...

Abs you need to ask your midwife who will be at your birth since she can't do it for whatever (silly) reason. If she goes all vague on you I think the next person to speak to is the supervisor of midwives, or the person in charge of the birthing unit. They've told you what's available and you've made your choice. How they staff/ support that is their issue to sort out.

I've found a new stroppiness confidence in dealing with anyone who may impact my unborn child's health. I used to be quite laid back and take whatever they said but now I'm finding I stand up for my wee one much more than I would for myself.

Mawbroon, hope all went well yesterday and you (or your DH) can update us soon.

Ready at 36 weeks, not a hope in hell here

Hi,

Congrats ktpie on your blissful sounding night, I am very jealous, just not sleeping at the moment.

Last day of work, hooray! So pleased I have made it this far and able to finish up properly despite a few minor problems along the way.

chinook so sorry to hear you have problems, a friend of mine was told the same thing but much earlier on in her pregnancy and was really anxious. It then transpired her liver was fine and she had been put through the stress for nothing. I hope it all works out ok.

Btw I never made it to the NCT classes last time due to hospital admissions and must confess to feeling very left out when I came across cosy groups of new NCT mums having coffee together or in the park. My social skills seemed to go awol after having my DD, I think I was in shock with hindsight! So I found it difficult to meet other mums straight away, though much easier later on, and have met two through a baby music group who have become good friends. I guess I'm trying to say don't worry if you don't meet other like minded mums straight away!

I have come across a consultant at my hospital who was so awful I am getting nervous about her being on duty when I give birth. Any ideas what to do about this? I want to complain but don't know if this will make it worse if i come across her again, and if I do can I insist on another dr? Silly I know but she put the fear of god into me, though all the others have been brilliant so far.

Hang in there all those with BH, I was up all night with them the other night but they seem to have gone away again. Still talk of induction as my BP has gone up a bit more

mawbroon I hope your surgery went well and you are doing ok.

Sunnybump - I think perhaps I haven't been drinking enough, hence the no wees!

I've found the whole making friends with other Mums thing hard, I think if you find yourself talking to someone and feel like you get on quite well you have to take the plunge and suggest that you swap numbers and meet up. There have been loads of times I have chickened out then regretted it later, and the few times I have plucked up the courage they have always been really keen to meet up too.
Somehow the new Mum thing seems like an odd social situation to me, I'm sure in other social situations I am better at making friends. Unfortunately I think there may be some correlation between amount of alcohol consumed and my ability to make friends, which is probably not a good thing. I don't tend to have had a drink before going to baby groups

ems147 i know exactly how you feel, I'm 22, and DP is 25, when we went to our NHS classes, everyone else was over 30, so decided to ignore us. Where abouts do you live?

pjbabe, I'm finding all shop assistants to be unhelpful at the moment, it has nothing to do with the fact by pg brain can't seem to explain things very well, lol!

As for sleeping issues, I'm one of these 'up every 2 hours' person, wee, gaviscon and back to bed, get myself perfectly comfy and think that thats it, back to sleep, and my SPD kicks in and my hips ache like hell! What I would do for some Nurofen right now...

Talking for meetings for new mums, is anyone on here in the Manchester/Salford/Bolton area? I know a lot of people are pg around my area at the mo, but mostly are 2nd timers, would like to meet another 1st timer in my area to get depressed with

Marbroon hope the op went well, wishing you a fast recovery

nikki87 we live in chester, not far (40-45mins) from manchester. not sure how far that wud be in relation to you guys? i think my other problem is that i look about 12!! ive been id'd for lottery tickets recently!!!!!!! very sheepish assistant when she saw my drivers license.
everyone always say i should take it as a compliment, but feel very sensitive about it at the moment, was cooing over a brand new lo in marks and spencers few months back and the father said i shouldnt be getting broody at my age!!! i made a huge point of opening my coat and showing my bump and the look of shock on my face was priceless! needless to say it didnt help my complex that people think im to young to be with child. and that man had alot of death stares for the rest of his shopping trip!! and my mum was ready to push me under a bus to shut up my moaning!!

think i went off on a bit on a tangent there needed a few minutes to think about what i was originally moaning about!! sorry!!

mawbroon sending all my get well soon wishes!!

I found the opposite at NHS classes, and at the hospital tour last night - i feel REALLLY old (i'm 30, so hardly ancient!) - ems, come to the northeast, clearly mums are younger here! The NCT classes are the ones where I feel much younger! we're ancient there which is reassuring.

Mothercare - like most people say, a mixed bag. The worst muppetry I've had was in toysrus pram section though, and will never darken their doorways again!

Hope, mawbroon is ok, and no news is good news. I can't imagine getting on the internet for a few days after than much stress, so hopefully we'll hear beginning of next week.

Right, must stop surfing web needlessly and do some work.

Oh - if you're a) a modest, shy type of person, b) planning to BF and c) someone who sews, here's a link to a tutorial for a breastfeeding cover. I made it last night and feel all chuffed with myself (and weirdly, in the same fabric she used...) and slightly more ready for birth now!!

Right...work

Hello All,

Blimey, can't leave this thread for more than 5 minutes without missing shedloads!!

Belated Happy Birthday to Stoofadoof and watercress - hope you both had a lovely day ladies!

I too have started NCT classes - yesterday was day 1 of two, have to wait till next week for the next installment! Absolutely loved it and feel much more equipped to cope - like many of you I'm now looking into the whole birthing pool thing as the NCT lady was saying that, in terms of pain relief, recent research has shown that water is the next best thing to an epidural...! Think I can hire a pool from my community midwife team. DH found the whole thing really helpful too, despite dozing off a little bit in the afternoon .There was only one other Dad-to-be though, which was a bit of a shame.

Chinook, fingers crossed that everything goes OK - what a worrying time.

Get Well wishes also to Mawbroon and westlondongirl

Hugs to all!! xx

Gllod luck chinook

A bit of an odd question - can I wash the bottles and teats now and sterilize them in 2 weeks when I'll need them? Or wash ans sterilizing have to be done one after the other?

Sorry 1st timer question who doesn't have a clue!

Nice cover Woowa, and lovely funky fabric. May put that on my to do list, well done for being so prepared!

Haven't a clue about the sterilising I'm afraid GuernseyFrench, but I'm sure someone will be along in a mo with more of a clue than me.

Nicki & Ems sorry you've had such rubbish attitudes towards your ages. I'm 31 and guess I was in the middle of the ages in my classes. That said I'm really rubbish at guessing and ended up asking people in their late 20's for ID all the time when I worked in a wine shop as a student job , so I could be completely wrong.

Been to the physio today for my pelvic pain and got a lovely tubigrip to wear. I think it's helping already to make me feel more supported, plus it's good to know everything is in place again, just a bit sore from having so much baby resting on it. She also been told to avoid hoovering if possible! Yay!

Hi Everyone,
My manic arse comment seems to have been taken the wrong way! I just meant I'm a manic cleaner... and those of you (not to mention any names chinook and inmaculada) that have filthy minds.... no comment!

Very jealous of your night's sleep ktpie. I woke up this morning with swollen glands and a really sore throat!!! Managed to fight off all the coughing and sneezing commuters the entire pregnancy, and now that I'm working from home, caught it from my DP!!!

pjbabe our local Mothercare is a NIGHTMARE. My DP and I were in shock, this woman walked out with all these bags (obviously having spent a fortune) and the alarm kept on going off when she tried to leave the shop. It turned out the assistant hadn't taken off a single security tab!!! What a complete ! That and the music was so bad that my DP and I got into an argument... I know it sounds ridiculous, I can only blame the hormones... AND the first time I went to buy maternity wear, the changing room lock had broken so there wasn't one (long story) so I had to try on clothes in the Ladies which had just been used to change a very nasty nappy, so I was standing semi-naked in a room full of shitty wipes and dirty nappies! Sorry, that was a huge rant and I'm sure you're all thinking, better get used to that!!!

Anyway, better get on with work!

Thanks for all the advice on changing MW, I have my next appt on Monday and will see if I can talk to the supervisor of MW...

absB - but the shitty wipes and dirty nappies you'll be surrounded by will be produced by your baby, so they will be much lovelier. Other people's children's poos aren't nice at all! No need to get used to that!!

woowa you are SO RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about that Abs, couldn't resist

chinook keep travelling hopefully - chances are it'll be nothing and if not, they've probably picked it up before it does your baby any harm. Sending you soothing vibes.

Thanks for the welcome pjbabe - race you, then!

Hope the asthma's giving you less gyp now, WLondon - look after yourself.

Anyone fancy being REALLY alternative in their birth plan? Check out this woman who gave birth to her third child in the Mediterranean Sea....

I can guarantee it's a bit cold for that kind of malarkey on the Spanish coast of the Med at the moment..!

Thanks for the well wishes. Not much improvement on the asthma front. Went to the docs again today who has given me antibiotics and increased my inhalers. Said to go back to hospital if it gets worse this weekend. By the way thanks to whoever it was who suggested taxi money for the hospital bag - meant I had some cash to get back from the hospital on Thursday! Just need to replace that money now.

The good news is that after weeks of fighting I think work may actually start on my flat next week.

InmaculadaConcepcion tried to look at that link but wouldn't work, may be just me being crap. Sounds amazing though. Wonder if I could make it to the maldives in time?!

Hmmm mothercare. found out that they shouldn't have even tried to fit a maxi cosi isofix car seat base in our car as it isn't approved...not impressed. Glad we didn't buy it. Will hopefully get the correct one this weekend if I have the energy.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. Only a few left before the screaming and pooing starts!

westlondongirl - i know what you mean about making the most of weekends - we don't have weekends, but thursdays off from DH's work, and we totally squandered yesterday. We feel like we should go to the cinema loads, but tbh, the thought of sitting in one of those seats for 2 hours (or more) fills me with horror. So, we've not done anything! How much are we going to look back on the last few weeks and think "argh! Why did we do so little!?"

I've been eating non-stop today (crunchie nut cornflakes, then ham and philadelphia sarnies and grapes, then toast with nutella, then green and black's white chocolate = a balanced diet!), and jut starting to remember why that's a bad idea. Feel the acid...urgh.

Very excited about antenatal class tomorrow. I love hanging out with other pg people! It constantly amazes me how much there is to say about being pregnant, and now, about birth, hospitals, and babies!

Must stop posting so much...

woowa - nutella is my downfall. I have a atendancy to skip the toast and just eat it straight from the jar

Just managed to look at that link InmaculadaConcepcion - don't think I fancy carrying the placenta round in a salad bowl!

Hi all, hope those of you feeling rubbish for whatever reason will soon be well again.

Chinook - I was monitored carefully last time for cholestasis as my bloods came back funny. Bizarrely, they righted themselves at the last minute and I had a natural delivery at 39 weeks when DS was ready. However, they tend to suggest induction at 37 weeks. I found the extra monitoring quite reassuring really (and the reasons for induction seem a bit flakey - worth researching before agreeing) Hope all is well for you.

Mawbroon - hope leg is mending by the time you feel strong enough to read all this.

Toddler update: by 8a.m yesterday, DS1 had managed to bolt himself in the bedroom while I went to get a facecloth! The bolt was put on by people who lived here before us and, as the door is virtually impossible to shut anyway, we had never taken it off. Of course, he used his superhuman strength to close it and apply the bolt in the 10 seconds I was out of the room! Luckily, his godfather (who lives 5 doors away) was still at home and came over and barged through the door for me. DS1 completely unharmed and oblivious. Me? Shook for the next hour and consumed more chocolate than was perhaps necessary. DH (on phone at work 20 mins away) had the audacity to laugh - gggrrrr!!

p.s. have now taken locks off toilet doors (and bedroom door obviously) so the next update will no doubt be about the MIL being disturbed mid-poo, but still preferable to having to ring the fire brigade to rescue DS on his next mission of mass destruction!!