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

Ohhhh... reading all these posts about food is making me want to eat, but LO has clearly decided that my stomach is taking up too much of his/her space and must be destroyed... I feel like i couldn't even fit so much as a peanut in there this evening!! Damnit, I love eating!

Bethylou that is a cautionary tale for us all - I am constantly amazed by the fiendishness of toddlers!! How do they manage these things?!

Right, off to put together a shopping list for tomorrow - braving IKEA, as apparently their v. cheap shower curtains are just the thing for protecting carpets from amniotic fluid/blood/poo/placenta and all the other great stuff that puts the fun into home birth! I shall keep home birthers posted as to how much of a bargain they are...

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

...and to finish the day? half a tub of haagen daz, straight out of the tub. yum yum. good for indigestion, i'm sure. Off to bed now, safe in the knowledge that the next bowl of crunchie nut is only 11 hours away!

Hi sunnybump, it is the CD you mentioned. Still trying to get through it. Are you finding it helpful?

WLondon, my reaction to that video was a mixture of "woah much respect" and "those crazy Russians!!"

The way she tossed that newborn around by its various limbs was quite an eye-opener - don't think I could bring myself to be quite that cavalier, somehow...

Still, reassuring to know he's now a healthy, strapping teenager. What a beginning to life!

mawbroon, hope the recovery's going okay.

I'm typing this on knees and elbows as part of the ongoing campaign to encourage my offspring to do a headstand. Stubbornly breech at the moment - anyone else got a wrong-way-up'en? I'm wondering if having an anterior placenta is impeding progress?

hasta luego

Wow, now that is an alternative birth Thanks for sharing! I think I'll be sticking to the more conventional carrying methods with my little one - oh and I'll pass on the salad bowl ;)

Yep Pickle I'm using the same one, I've found it really good when I'm having a hormonal meltdown. I can go from Crazy Crying Banshee to Mellow Mama-to-Be in 10 minutes! That and the yoga breathing and I'm definitely more confident at the thought of labour! It's all very unknown though.

Wow FluffyCoo, good luck in Ikea today, you're uber brave!

Imaculada my little guy is head down but seems to like doing the headstand spins from breakdancing so I'm doing cat stretches and pelvic tilt to try and persuade him into optimum position. What is the attitude to breech birth in Spain?

Mawbroon fingers crossed for you.

Hi girls,

Not posted in a while, but have kept up with all your mid-wife induced rants, weather induced ailments, Mothercare induced teary outbursts and mumsnet induced giggles.
Quick summary of my world at the mo:
The snow's GONE!!! thank fcuk.

Chest infection almost gone. Coughing and leaking all last week til the Amoxillin kicked in. Must do more PFE's.

First NHS antenatal went well enough, have more hope for meeting others at NCT in 2 weeks. Although, some of my yoga class are planning coffee/lunch sessions, as most are on maternity leave. I'm still working part-time til end of month. Coping fine, except for back ache if I sit or stand for too long. Baby is head down, which is encouraging.

Been informed that if you're induced you can't have a water birth - that'll be lots of vindaloos and bouncing on birthing ball/partner on the due date then!!

Watching/shopping like a mad-thing on ebay to find nursery stuff. Ooo and if anyone can recommend a baby sling, that would be fab.

Searching everywhere for nursing bra's in my size - 36A - NOWHERE sells anything under a B cup for my maternity needs. Not everyone balloons to Katie Price proportions during pregnancy. Please help if you have any suggestions...

Have started massaging my perineum this week, which is a very odd thing - slapping olive oil over my bits and struggling to reach round my bump to stretch and area that feels like it couldn't pass a golf ball right now, let alone a baby!

Have great weekends all ...ebay's calling... T4xx

Well, so far the only option that's been suggested is CS, but I'm going to ask next time we see the tocologia (obstetrician) if they offer ECV here - I know it doesn't always work, but it does sometimes and it may be worth a go.

Meantime, yep - I'm trying the various positions suggested by spinningbabies.com and my preggy yoga book and hoping for the best. Acupuncture seems to have quite a good record (anecdotally) at turning babies, so might give that a go - can't do any harm, anyway!

My LO has basically been lodged in this position for at least the last six weeks or so, as far as I can tell, and doesn't seem to want to even try re-orientating herself into the correct position.

C'est la vie, meanwhile I'll keep up the encouragement and try and remain philosophical - as long as she makes it out with both of us still in reasonably health, that's the main thing.

Good luck encouraging your LO to leave off the breakdancing, sunnybump!

Hey, T4

I've been doing a load of research into the whole babywearing thing (sounds like an excellent idea to me!) and decided to go for a wrap carrier in the first instance: see this thread for a discussion on the merits of different babywearing techniques. Also, I highly recommend the MN forum dedicated to the slings and carriers to help you make your choice. Also the product reviews on MN would be useful.

Enjoy sussing it all out, but beware - I've developed an obsession about the subject now!

Sorry, must stop yapping on...

Hi girls

Haven't read the whole thread yet. Will catch up a bit later once things settle down a bit here and I have hours to kill on my own!

I am home. The surgery went well. I now have a metal plate and 6 screws in my ankle which will probably set off the airport metal detectors any time I go through security!!! Apparently I will get some sort of card to prove that I do indeed have metal in my leg, and I'm not really trying to blow up the airport...

Everything fine with baby, I could feel him wriggling about during surgery which was reassuring. I did have to turn the volume up on my iPod when I heard the drill and the suction thinggy though.

I am so pleased it is over. Pain wise I am not bad at all. I have had paracetemol, the odd dihydrocodeine (or whatever it's called) and i had three shots of morphine to help me through the worst of it. Stitches out in a fortnight, no weight bearing for three weeks and then can do weight bearing for another three after that. So, that's six weeks in plaster altogether. And guess when I am due? 6 weeks today. Ah well, will worry about that when I get to it.

Hope you are all doing fine. Will catch up on thread later.

Mawbroon! Welcome home. We're so glad you're back home and not suffering too much. Phew! We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. I had wondered if you'd be asleep or awake through the surgery. Ipod sounds like a VERY good idea!

How is DS coping? Are you still able to nurse him?

Well one for getting through it, are you hoping for a slightly overdue baby?

Hello T4! I can strongly recommend the Wilkinet baby carrier. I used it for both my DD and DS and we have now purchased one for baby no. 3!! I promise you that I had a good look at the MN sling reviews as I thought it might be nice to try something new but my DH and my happy memories of our Wilkinet swayed me. You can use them from 0 months to 2+ years and is so comfy! There is a good website.

Welcome back Mawbroon really glad the surgery went well!!!!!!!!

I am a huge fan of the Ergo baby carrier I had a Baby Bjorn style one and a ring sling but both gave me backache after about 15 minutes once baby was a couple of months old. I could wear the Ergo for hours, literally, because it sits so snugly into the body and seems to be designed to spread the weight evenly. Worth a look.

Hello everyone.

Mawbroon welcome back and great to read that surgery went well.

I keep losing track of everyone. Hope everyone is ok and surviving.

I am stil amazed at how well I feel in general (which is what I am going to say to my gynae when I see him this week as I know I'll get a ticking off for all the weight I've put on). I'm 37 weeks and it's my last appt . However saying I feel good, I am tired and my back is killing me. We went to see Invictus last night and I really struggled to stay sitting down, I kept contorting myself into strange positions but it was painful.

Had a tour of the maternity unit today and it was great, all new and looking clean and sparkly. Nearly all the rooms (for afterwards) are single rooms and as we get three/four days then it should be ok. DH and I did freak out a little bit though - can't believe that we are going to go through the whole process in a few short weeks...

Got friends over for lunch tomorrow and that will definitely be the last time I do any serious entertaining, from now on friends will have to put up with plain pasta if they come round.

mawbroon glad to hear you are home and well. Was genius to take in an ipod to cover up the noise of drilling. Maybe I should take one in when I am labour so I can't hear myself mooing like a cow!

Thanks to everyone for your kind words about my potential cholestasis. Your story in particularly has given me hope, bethylou. Had a bit of a panic today as I hadn't felt my little wriggler move. I was about to go the hospital when he started up. Must have been having a weekend lie in. At least it got me to pack my hospital bag.

Sling wise I loved my Baby Bjorn Active and didn't find that I ached at all with it. I think it depends a bit on your size and shape which you find comfy. This time I have also bought a Babasling, hopefully so I can feed and tend to dd at the same time. I like the fact it is a bit structured as I have an irrational fear of the wrap around ones. Loads of friends love them though.

Am very of those of you who can fit in loads of food. I can only manage half a sandwich at a time, though the plus side is I have only put on 1 stone 3 lbs. I hope I don't do what I did last time and undo my good work by using breastfeeding as an excuse to stuff my face.

Have a good weekend.

I can't believe that in 2 weeks will start having babies!!!

I'm book for my induction in 17 days! [scared smiley] I have put the final touch to my hospital bag, which is nice and easy as the hospital provides every thing for the baby. We only need to bring the going home outfit, a soft towel, scratch mits and brush and comb

Good to hear everything went well mawbroon

Glad all has gone well mawbroon

Finished work yesterday hurrah! Got the carpet properly cleaned in the baby's room this morning... it really was a state. Also been a good deadline for getting all my old stuff out and now we can start making it a bit more nursery like, or, at the very least, have a place to deposit piles of stuff! Tomorrow braving shopping for a strange mix of new baby clothes and B&Q for birth pool kit (hose, buckets and the like). Have put a call out on freecycle and will see if we can get donated some old sheets for floor and sofa protection.

A question for the mums among you. My SIL has offered to get us a battery operated vibrating baby bouncer. Somewhere I had in the back of my mind that these were highly controversial and the work of the devil, but looking through the mothercare catalogue I see there are lots of variations on these for sale so I'm guessing they can't be actually harmful. Am I just being a 'don't play my baby crap tunes' snob? Anyone any views on whether they are the good the bad or the ugly?

yey mawbroon phew! glad all has gone well - here's to a speedy recovery!

slings/carriers: we didn't bother with a sling last time, but used a Vaude back carrier for hillwalking etc from about 8 months (DD was big!) Would have gone for a macpac but couldn't afford one - the Vaude i think was about £120 on ebay and still got it now for when LO is big enough (DD has insisted on walking everywhere for the best part of a year now!)

this time, i reckon wearing LO will be a good idea (especially with having DD to sort too) and have done loads of research - especially amongst friends - a query on f/book resulted in 23 different 'got to get this one, you can try mine' offers!!!... we've settled on the Close Carrier mnet review here as best suiting us and our needs - we did wonder about the ERGO but as we're v happy with the Vaude as a 'proper' carrier for later, don't really need its versatility, (and can't really afford it either!)

comeon not sure about the vibrating bouncer thing - not something we've had, or know anyone with one either... your query has reminded me though that every health visitor i saw when DD was tiny told me on no account to use one of those 'walking frame' things - the ones on wheels with a seat in... apparently very bad for causing problems/damage to posture and legs/feet etc (they sell loads of these at m/care etc too, so dunno that things being for sale necessarily means they're 'safe', if that makes sense...)

woken up to a lovely cloudy sunday here - first time it's been below 30degs for a few days (hurrah!!) hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend!

Hi all, had a full day at NCT covering the labour day. I echo other comments on here - it was very good, has helped to put my mind at rest and overall very enjoyable. 7 other couples who all seem lovely. Likewise, we were told water was 2nd to epidural which was a big surprise and now has raised the dilemma of going to my 2nd choice, consultant-led hospital for water birth as they can only offer a standard bath at my first choice. Have always found the idea of water birth appealing as like a lot of others, i find being in a water really relaxing and all I'm learning at the moment, is how crucial relaxation is to an easier labour. However, the 2nd choice only has 1 birth pool and so high likelihood we turn up and it's taken.

Evening girls.

Just a quick note before I attempt to go to sleep!

HOMEBIRTHERS... IKEA's cheapo plastic shower curtains are a mere 79 of your English pence each and they are just shy of 2 square metres - oh, and they also do that plastic protective stuff to stop LO chewing the paint off their cot rails for £2.99 a length (bought my cot from John Lewis and couldn't get it from there, so was thinking it might be a bit of a challenge to get hold of!)

Mawbroon, so glad to hear that the op went well - take it easy! x

comeonbishbosh the vibrating bouncy chairs (we had a fisher price one) are often a total eyesore but can be a godsend for getting a cranky baby settled if the alternative is walking around jiggling him/her yourself for hours at a time. We didn't use the vibrate function much as had quite a chilled baby but other friends I know who had more sensitive and colicky babies said they would have been lost without them. You won't know until baby's arrived whether you need it or not, of course, but you don't have to use the vibrate function, it's handy to have a seat you can safely and comfortably strap a little baby into and take him or her around the house with you while you do what you need to.

They're certainly not dangerous, I've not read any advice against using them anywhere. Some mums might be tempted to switch them on and shove them in front of the telly for hours a day I suppose but that's to do with the parent not the equipment...

A neighbour has bought me an electric swing this time, and it is exactly the kind of thing I shuddered at before I was a parent. Now I am just grateful for another option for soothing a baby and think it may well provide me with some precious moments to do things exclusively with my three year old.

lol at shuddering at plastic stuff and being averse to terrible and tinny tunes coming out of said plastic stuff. I am totally averse, and imagine I will be changing my mind when I really need in a few weeks' time!

Water births - am more and more convinced I'd LOVE one. Just waiting to see consultant on friday and cry til i get my way about low risk birth (I AM low risk, i'm not making it up!! Not that I'm a doctor, of course!) Also have last scan on friday so will be spending the week on my hands and knees to make sure it's head down.

Only 14 days til february! eek!

I am amazed nobody has given birth on this thread yet! Though I haven't heard about those listed who haven't posted very recently... maybe I should have a look at the January thread.

I keep expecting us to have had the first birth as well watercress.

We've got a vibrating bouncy chair, there were a few occasions where it was a godsend for calming DS down. The vibrations did seem to sometimes make him sick and once the batteries ran out we didn't replace them, so I'd watch out for that. A bouncy chair is brilliant though for putting baby down somewhere safe.

I now live my life surrounded by plastic toys and tinny tunes are the soundtrack to my days. The worst things are the ones without an off button.

I have loads of slings and things but didn't get on too well with them for DS, he was a heavy baby, didn't really like being in a sling, plus he was born in July so it used to make me really hot carrying him around. Hoping it's more successful this time.

Mawbroon - glad to hear the surgery went well.

KTPie - know exactly what you mean about tinny tunes and plastic toys - my DS has a particualr thing for Thomas the Tank Engine and he tends to set off his Thomas toys in succession so that the tune plays together but at slightly different timings which sounds hideous and drives me nuts!! Now he has a Thomas DVD too and would happily dance to the tune all day every day. I've even learnt how to play it on the piano for desperate cheer up/distraction moments!! How sad is that?!

Thought I was going into labour on Friday night but was only a false alarm. Has made me even more glad to be finishing work tomorrow so that I can pack bags etc.. Have managed to wash and iron baby clothes over the weekend so feel I am finally making progress. Still have no name and have not decided on double buggy though!! Midwife tomorrow so hope she will tell me how things are.

Someone asked about turning breach babies. After 6 weeks of mine being breach, I crawled round the floor on hands and knees for an evening, much to DH's amusement, and that did it. Now paranoid about posture and tilting pelvis to help stop it changing its mind!