Due March 2010 - just because I'm pregnant at Christmas doesn't mean I'm a taxi driver

[annamama]

... new thread for oldies and newbies due in March! ...

Aw it's already slushy in here. Perhaps we'll get fresh snow soon.

Pacific Housework wassat?, children to mind ? nope, important careers to pursue ?hah hah hah!, husbands to please ? my partner is easily pleased it seems. What with working from home, winding down for Christmas, fretting about pregnancy - I find that I spend far too much time in this forum. But I do enjoy it

Arcadie ?Badly if number 27 is owt to go by? ? you a Geordie? Eh bonnie lass?

Kicking - I'm a natural worrier, but my baby isn't kicking much at all (25 weeks). Although sometimes there is a burst of definite kicks/moves in the evening, sometimes there's some mild stuff on waking up; but I thought I'd feel it more. I have an anterior placenta, perhaps that's cushioning any kicks. I just don't know how many kicks there are supposed to be a day.

Ok,

housework - I've cleaned the toilets hurrah

children - I played with her for a little while and then gave her an apple

career - I've been trying to trade Forex on my computer for a few months now, did ok this morning, even though it's not real money (yet)

husband to please - eh shouldn't that one be the other way around?

So now I can be on here again!

Shroomer - I think this baby of mine is kicking a lot more than my last one. So they're probably all different and our bodies/placentas are different too. As long as you feel some movement I'm sure it's ok! And it's still pretty early.

Lovely new home (in spite of the yellow snow ).

Pacific how rubbish about the anti-bs not working. Really hope the drinking loads and the second lot of anti-bs work, as the prospect of hospitalisation is not what you need at this stage.

Really interesting to hear about the book recommendations, experiences of newborns etc. I tend to agree about expecting a lot from newborns in regards to sleeping, feeding etc which can then lead to stressed out parents (particularly if there are "helpful" family and friends doing that old Harry Enfield routine of "you don't want to do it like that. You want to do it like this..."). One of my colleagues has recommended this guy - Harvey Karp. Apparently, his theory is that the first three months is really a fourth trimester so babies should be helped to adjust to the post-womb world by swaddling, holding, shushing etc. I've added it to my list along with the others mentioned on here. Let's hope my rubbish local library has them!

Morning, all!

I am back from school swim run: shook myself like a dog when I came in, my socks and DS3's socks changed (he likes a bit of puddle diving on the way home ), jackets hung up to drip dry, and old newspaper stuck in shoes - yes, there is a reason why everything is so green here all year round....

Shroomer, anterior placenta will cushion any movements so you may not feel them all. If you want to obsess count , make a mark on a piece of paper for every movement you feel: 10 a day is a minimum.
I feel bubs a lot more in bed than any other time, I am sure it is because I am not distraced, it's quiet and relaxed.

annamama, oh I am drinking like a lost soul in the desert - I can barely make it to boys' school and back whithout bursting (a round trip of 30-40min) . If I had a decent amount of white blood cells to actually fight this infection... But fingers crossed, another sample went to lab this morning, result hopefully before the weekend.

Shroomer meant to add re the feeling movement - it's really ramped up for me in the past couple of weeks (am now 27+2) - much bigger, stronger kicks but still mainly active early morning and at night, maybe because I spend my day sitting at a desk on MN working, so it falls asleep for large chunks of the day - but if you're feeling anxious then give your midwife a call. I was 25 weeks when I had a light bleed and didn't feel baby for hours. The midwife said to call the hospital, who were happy for me to come in and be checked out (and to see the sleeping baby on the screen ). So I'm now firmly in the "better safe than sorry" camp

Pacific, I hope you manage to knock that infection on the head without needing to become an inpatient. And I wish someone had told me (emphatically and forcefully) what you said about letting your baby train you before I had my DC1. He was the original velcro baby who wanted to be held 24/7 and screamed blue bloody murder if he wasn't. The fact that he had a bad case of silent reflux, eventually diagnosed at 7 weeks cannot have helped - but I thought it was me being inadequate and hopeless. As far as I knew, if they weren't hungry, cold, hot or ill, babies slept when they were tired! (Btw, although I had a metaphorical ceremonial burning of all my baby books, apart from What Mothers Do, the one I liked the most was "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child". Some of it is a bit "out there" but some of it really helped me.)

On the subject of baby sleep, what are those of you with amby hammocks planning to use as bedding for LO? I have an amby too, which we got just after DS was diagnosed with silent reflux (and, yes, it helped. It helped loads. In fact, sometimes I think I wouldn't be here now without it. ) By that stage, he was big enough for baby sleeping bags but he wouldn't have been at birth and maybe many of our babies-to-be won't be either. All I can think of is swaddling (at which I failed dismally last time) as I can't think that sheets and cellular blankets will work. Anyone have any thoughts?

And now I'm thinking about sleep. For myself. Waking up everytime I need to turn over in order to rearrange the assortment of pillows without which I can't sleep is really getting to me. And, to cap it all off, I had to get up at 6am this morning in order to get into London for an early meeting that my boss had deemed unmissable. And, oh, it so was missable. Or, at least, what was said could have gone very neatly into an email. It was extra galling because DS was still asleep when I left the house at 6.30 (my normal getting up time) so I could have had an extra half-an-hour's sleep. Whinge, whinge, whinge. Ignore me. I just needed a little rant.

hi
sick day in bed - but am using opporunity to buy xmas pressies online, and baby stuff!
Cant remember who was making their nursery rainbow colours but Ive just bought this which is £11 cheaper than the exact same one at blooming marvellous!

my mum has requested the Susan Boyle CD for xmas and Im not sure how I feel about getting it for her!! Less about her, more about lining Simon Cowells pockets.

siamese LOL at your putting your new mahoosive bra on head - MIL sent me a truly scary one - 'front loading' with a zip and super thick straps...suspect it can stop bullets, and is certainly adequate as a motorcycle helmet.

Gute Besserung/get well soon to pacific , rindercella, siamese and everyone else feeling poorly.

Looked up the Amby thing...feeling slightly jealous of you all with access to beautiful baby stuff...most of the stuff you can buy in the shops here is a proper "made in China" junk which if it doesn't immediately break, probably spontaneously combusts in direct sunlight. Grrr...whole country is flooded with crap.

Double grrr to feeling fat - which I absolutely wasn't until well-meaning GP let me know that the total expected weight-gain in pregnancy should be around 12kg...and i have already gained 10 at 24 weeks. But apart from not closing over the bump, I still fit into pre-pregnancy jeans...which I thought was a good sign. Anyway, realise the whole 'pregnant lady feels fat' thing is already over-discussed and quite boring at this stage...but there you go. Still feel and about it.

Oh, poor you Pacific - that sounds really, really nasty. I do hope it clears up and you don't need to be admitted.

I am definitely going to be getting an Amby from the reviews I have read on MN and elsewhere. Luckily my Mother has said it'll be their baby gift to us, so at least I won't be spending my health in pregancy money on that!!

Caitni, I am loving the whole "the first three months is really a fourth trimester" theory. Think I may invest in that book.

Really hope I feel all better by tomorrow - my SIL is having a party to relaunch her fabulous restaurant in Bristol. It's been closed for several months being refurbished, and should look great. We have a nice hotel booked, and DD will be coming to the party too, so we won't be able to have too late a night

afri i also laughed at siamese's antics in the changing room.... as a general G cupper, i've sort of stopped doing that, however last year when I was complaining about my weight (we were kitting up for skiing), my 12 yo godson chipped in with "Well your boobies don't help, they must be at least one stone each" and ......

Coveting an Amby now...anyone else find they get completely OBSESSED with things atm?? Last week I read a recipe which demanded an electric beater. Now, I KNOW you don't necessarily need one, but did I still drag my very poorly self and the DH to John lewis to compare which electric beater i should have??..... Did my BP plummet as a result of said efforts and did I spend the rest of the evening in bed?

sariska doesn't the amby come with bedding stuff? and maybe try the swaddling thing again? DD didn't like it first off but actually at about 5 months it was the only thing that made her sleep...i'm intending on doing it from day 1 i think....

Siamese lap up the sick day, hope you feel better and remember to actually REST at some point, it's all very well killing two birds etc with the Xmas shopping online but still.. you need to rest

Wow, I'm really of all of you with Ambys. Wish I'd known about them first time round as I can't really justify getting rid of the crib. Ho hum.

I haven't been weighed since the start of this pregnancy, so I've got no idea how much weight I've put on. I'm eating us out of house and home, especially with it being so cold and rainy here at the moment. DD1 now refers to chocolate as 'Mummy's medicine' too (is that wrong of me - I just don't want to share it!)

Flying visit from me, but just to say that in spite of promising DH solemnly we'd choose a name without me resorting to the Names section, I've started a names thread here. Donttry and anyone else with experience of Irish names, would love your input!

Siamese and IWCAS love both the bouncers, but Siamese you win on the bargain front! Am v tempted (I'm the rainbow lover!) but this is one of those things someone will get for us (have been getting told off for not leaving things for family to buy ).

Pixie 'I'm supposed to be making Chicken Kiev ... this afternoon ... but, as usual, you lot are distracting me!' Yeah - I spotted you over on the Ed Miliband livechat a few minutes ago. You've been distracting yourself

I got an answer from Ed Miliband! (not sure why I should be so elated about that).

Thanks all for reassuring advice about baby kicks.

Hello all! Thanks for the new thread anna. I've been meaning to post for ages, but I just can't keep up with you guys!!

All is well in the ilgb household, I have 5 days of work left (!) until I start my Mat Leave. I am so ready to be done, even though I will miss the coffees,lunch breaks and adult discussion, I have an overwhelming urge to just be with DD and this LO from now on.

I really recommend Babywise for anyone looking for books. It honestly saved my sanity when dd was about 9 weeks old and I just didn't have a clue what I was doing! It's flexible, but will help you to guide your child into a healthy sleeping/eating pattern. That being said, I do like my "routine" even now with dd, so it worked really well for me.

Right, better get back to work. I promise to try to post more regularly- but I am keeping up with the news- just! xx

ps. Arcadie, I am a bit that you haven't combined our dates list with the boy/girl/surprise one to create one big SUPERLIST. Too much? ;)

ILGB Be my guest to compile the superlist. I can't be -arsed-- prefer the simplicity of more streamlined list. Can't believe you're nearly at maternity leave already. Need to remember that a lot of you are a lot closer to 6 1/2 months than I am. I finished at 34 / 36 weeks with my 2. Part of me wishes I'd had longer but in my job the longer I had before the birth, the less I could take afterwards.

IWCAS about the morning sickness. How annoying to be so far along and still puking ( esp in public)

Shroomer Ed Miliband eh? What d'you ask? And no, not Geordie. I grew up in Kent (about as far away from Newcastle as possible whilst still in England). I've lived in York for the last 14 years and apparently have picked up some Yorkshire words ("pack up" not "packed lunch", "owt" not "anything", "nowt" not "nothing". I will not start using "while" to mean "until" EEEEEEEVER though)

Afribaby If you can still fit into any part of your pre maternity jeans then you've got nothing to worry about.

Pacific Thanks for the paracetamol. Feeling fine today thankfully. Hope you and your waterworks are on better speaking terms today.

Caitni That's nto the first time I've heard the 4th trimester theory. I can certainly testify to 3 months /12 weeks old being the time that both of my DCs have really changed. More alert, more awake, more able to "do stuff". And lots of friends who've been very smug about how wonderfully sleepy and perfect their DCs were (unlike mine) suddenly changed their tune at about 3 months when they realised that the delight of their snuggly little bundles just drifting off on their laps at a moment's notice was set to become a major sleep issue as they just wouldn't be put down on their own without screaming blue murder.

FWIW: I was chatting to my good chum this afternoon about my mini soapbox earlier and she said that she wished she'd known that it can take 6 weeks to establish breastfeeding and 12 weeks to establish anything like a routine.

Hi everyone, just looked at Amby's - v nice, I thought a newborn had to lie flat though whereas this seems curved?

Sorry that some of you have been poorly, it's hard enough when you're massive and knackered but being poorly on top just sucks

I keep getting sugar crashes which make me have a hot flush then feel all wobbly. The only solution is to eat something sugary, so at least there's a silver lining in that one!

Been doing more pushchair shopping online - think I may go for Baby Jogger City Mini or Mamas and Papas Pliko Pramette, both would need a toddler step on the back.

Big hugs xxxxxx

My turn for a mini moan tonight. Just feel like I've had a bit of an 'anxious' day. First, meeting this morning about the college teaching job has prompted thoughts of 'agh! What if this is a big mistake??' and am worried about facing the teens after one of the other staff ran through the list, including warnings about the dodgier members of class. Never mind newborns-what if I can't cope with a dozen 16 year olds??

Than this evening DD was playing with DH when she managed to careen head first into the corner of a door. This HUGE bump immediately appeared, complete with dent in the middle, making me almost pick her up and run round the corner to the local gp. Fortunately after the application of some ice it's gone down to a slightly less alarming egg-like bump with definite shades of bruise. Believe it or not It's the first really major knock she's had and I didn't enjoy it much it just makes the irrational me worry about what other mishaps she could get into, even though I know it's all part of being a kid.

Getting lots of BH tonight so think I'll put my feet up and try to switch my brain OFF (easier said than done)

Ps sorry so grumpy tonight, just realised I moaned about having a new job which I never thought I'd get while pg and turned a minor bump into some kind of ER-style trauma. I really need to stop being a moany cow and realise things could be a lot worse.

I blame the pg hormones-think they're making me a bit hyper-sensitive when something a bit negative happens.

hope all the rest of you are doing ok tonight

H x

Hello, all !

As I am having en Early Night tonight just really checking in.

Heckle, bumps going out the way on kid's heads much much better than dents going in the way, IYKWIM . Hope your DD is ok, sure she will be. Have a nice piece of chocolate cup of camomile tea and you'll feel better.

Amby: I was planning on swaddling bubs as long as he was tiny, then move on to sleeping bag type thing. I think getting baby in and out of the Amby is abit of a learning process initially from what I've heard...

All you ill people, be it lurgies or MS, hope you feel better very very soon.

Thought you'd all be dying to know: I had a clear urine result, yeah, so no nasty intravenous antibiotics for me, double yeah!!

Righto, washing to hang up, then to bed .

arcadie - I asked Mr Miliband a very cheeky question about population growth (cheeky considering the mumsnet host!). I've never heard of that while/until thing. Weird!

PacificMistletoeandnoWine So glad that you don't have to go to hospital to get intravenous ABs. Phew.