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! ...

scooby as one who has also gone for the signed off option, i think you have done the right thing. not read all the back posts, but i think i get the general idea.
your priority has to be the baby and your health.
i tried to come to some compromise with work such as working from home for part of the week etc etc, but they werent playing ball.
as lots of people said to me, you wont end up being any better thought of for struggling on for another few weeks. take advantage of the extra time and get some well earned rest!

Hello, thanks for all the sympathetic virtual ears !
I will just carry on and hope for the best. A watchful wait approach suits me juuuust fine.

Yep, fed up with snow. It has been thawing here for a few days with no new snow, but freezing over night, so slush turning to skating rink in time for the school run. Honestly, ice skates would be safer than anything else - if my balance and centre of gravity weren't all over the place...

Hello, 74, hope you'll find a "home" here .

I don't think that I have confessed on here yet that all 4 of my boys will have March birthdays . They were all planned and v much wanted but NOT specifically their birth month...

sarah, so sorry about your predicament. It is important you get this UTI treated properly. Pseudomonas aeroginosa is not normally a very aggressive bug, but can cause trouble in pregnancy. Antibiotic injections are only required because it is often resistent to oral antibiotic "allowed" in pregnancy.
Surely, it should be possible for your hospital to communicate with Rosie's, and have somebody there give you the injections? I hope you find a solution to this dilemma. Of course your daughter needs you. Hope she sails through again.

scooby, glad you're signed off. Hope the enforced rest does you and bump good .

Arcadie, I hear your 2 weeks over and raise you 15 days ! But I don't think I'll make it into April - mind you, that would avoid the embarrassing "4 children born in same month" problem...

Group B strep - tricky one, I for one would rather take my chances , but then again head in sand seems to be my preferred coping mechanism...
And I do NOT want to hear about manky birthpools as I am hoping to use one, gay!
Have own rather dusty ball in garage though, I could resurrect!

I am running out of steam. Have some recoreded CSI to watch .
Night-night, and apologies to all of you I've forgotten.

evening all
just posting to say poor you sarah i'm sorry about the pseudomonas, i only have experience with it as pneumonia so I was hoping pacific would get to you first and luckily she has!! I do hope Rosie's op goes well tomorrow and that you manage to get the various drs talking to each other - try and get treated as soon as you can though.

all ok here, nice day with DD, couldn't be bothered with the Half Hour layering up, Ten Minutes outside, half hour delayering effort that generally getting DD out in the snow takes...does that make me a bad mummy? i think we'll go tomorrow with some friends but it meant we had a nice day playing together which was good. interesting on the babying front, she's definitley more cuddley etc...weird isn't it? nice too but...

Sorry about various work issues for people, scooby et al, it sucks but the good thing is, in two months time work will be the LAST THING ON OUR MINDS!!!!

DH has gone to bed, i'm off to join him in a very unsexy way, he had That Twinkle in his eye but, er, it's a No from me....

night night all

Oh Sarah - what a crap thing! Try to drink loads and loads of water and go to the loo all the time, to try to flush it out and then maybe maybe you won't need any treatment. I know I've said this before, but it always worked for me (even though I probably didn't have those nasty bacteria with the strange name). Of course you have to be with your daughter, lots of luck to you both.

EmLou - at mini croissant bribe. Don't they say that in love, war and childcare everything is allowed?

I let DD take all the wet wipes out of the packet just so I could eat dinner in peace today instead of having her on my lap or listening to cries of "mamma mamma". Hmm maybe extra clinginess is brought on by arrival of baby sibling approaching, like some of you said, didn't think of that.

Arcadie - I bet you won't go over this time! But yes don't forget to turn the lights off will you, think of global warming. (or maybe you should leave them on then...) Of course everyone should at least post something saying that we have gone over to "the other side". My birth story will of course have no gory details, not due to censorship but to the fact that it will all be lovely, smooth and easy!

Scooby - great that you are signed off, even though all the unhelpfulness must have made you feel a bit upset. It was me who said about other people having Strep B without knowing and using the pool, ridiculous policy, grrr!

Pacific - you and your DH clearly have a habit of getting horny/broody in June then, hehe!

Beanzmum - I get excited about snow too! But I'm glad I'm not due this month... Sounds like a great trip to Paris, and interesting to hear they cope better with snow than here.

MummyElk - I'm just about to do the same, ie join my DH in bed, maybe I'll fart in front of him or something as I'm not in the mood either!

This, just to reiterate, will be my birth announcement:

I woke up after no labour at all to find a beautiful healthy sleeping feeding baby next to me. I am not tired or sore in my fuzzy areas. My older children are playing happily with some ethically farmed natural wooden toys, pausing only to offer help to me change a nappy or rub my feet. Baby doing well. Name of Hepsibah.

Scooby26 - the MW's observation was a general one. Hopefully the RVI is ok. You should ask on your tour if the balls come sterilised, then shrink wrapped (or whatever it is they do). Obviously your not expecting a new ball for each labour, just a clear one. I suppose it's also important that the floor it will be rolling on is clean. My RVI tour is next month. Looking forward to it. Enjoy your tour!

The pile of stuff for my hospital bag is getting quite big - so I'd rather not take in my birthing ball if I can help it. They'll think I want to live there. I will have to ask on the tour how much stuff I can take in. It may only be whatever fits in the little bedside cabinet, i.e. not much.

Just popping in with 2 quick things:

Pacific- glad I'm not the only one with a very fertile June! (Really hoping this one does not come on dd's birthday!)

Arcadie- DH LOVES the name Hepsibah. Have had to veto it both times now.

ttfn!

Morning ladies,

Gosh, no way I can catch up on everything - I'm just sorry so many of you seem to be having a bad time with health, mat. leave etc.

I can't wait for my mat leave to start - and I'm starting it early, beginning of Feb. Decided I just can't face the commute any more - the early mornings are killing me after the three-times-a-night wander to the loo...

Re: birth toys - am I alone in not really wanting to use anything, pool, ball, interesting if somewhat torturous-looking stirrups...? So far my birth plan consists of "Go to hospital. Have baby. Leave." (although I really like arcadie's concept in her birth announcement!)

Also, the hospital bag is bought, but has nothing in it except some Tigger socks for babies that I bought on a whim in Asda and a Mothercare catalogue. Oh well, it's the thought that counts...

Take care everyone

Hospital bag - what hospital bag - I figure I will have enough time to grab a few bits if labour comes unexpectedly. Due to be induced on 27th Feb or 1st March so will pack closer to the time.

Re mat leave - I am desperate to take mine but can't until 12 Feb when I will be 38 weeks - Not sure how I will cope as I am so exhausted and DS is being so trying but I'm sure I will be fine.

Have just had the inspectors in my classroom observing my teaching which is always hellish but at least it is over and they have gone!

Hope all the various aches, pains and illnesses are not getting you down too much. Re GBS - I had it with DS and was treated with antibiotics at 38 weeks - had swab at 39 weeks and it had gone so I was free to do what I wanted in labour (went for flat on my back with an epidural anyway).

re birthing balls - last time round we were advised to take some sterile wipes into hospital to clean off the balls if in doubt about it's cleanliness. Sadly that won't work on birthing pools!

Manda hope the jury service is going well. I remember doing it a couple of years ago and ending up on a case regarding child abuse. Sorry yours is dull but sometimes dull is good.

pacific and ilgb - isn't there supposed to be some theory behind being fertile at certain times of year and that it runs in families. As usual my brain has only retained part of the information but for example I've got an october birthday, so's DD1 and so does my mother... although it's blown out of the water by this one turning up in March, so maybe it's rubbish.

annamamma to go back a while - sorry haven't been on in a bit - I do know a few Isabel's (and variants on the spelling) round here in toddler groups etc and have two friends who have recently used the name. However, what does it matter? My DD1 is called Olivia which is about as common as it gets right now - we didn't know that when we chose it and it's not like we've met thousands of others, so i'd just go with a name that you like.

Hello to everyone else - I have never been so happy to see rain this morning. it's washed away the remains of the snow - hurrah! Sorry to those of you who still have snow. It's miserable trying not to fall over - particularly with a toddler in tow.

Everyone is asleep at the moment - even the cat - apart from me. I've got DH at home with me today as I keeled over yesterday with a particularly lovely D&V bug. Thankfully DD doesn't seem to have got it (yet). DH thinks he felt 'a bit sick' on Monday so that was probably where I got it from but to compensate he's taken the day off to help me out. I have managed to eat some rice today so am on the mend although my stomach has been making scary noises ever since and my bottom hurts. Oh the joys...

Hi everyone, just been to see midwife, baby lying sideways, so he's measuring small for dates.

Anyone else experienced this? I know he can move but anyone got an engaged baby yet?

33 weeks today - yay

Mumbot - my LO not engaged yet but head facing down. DS moved round and round until nearly the last minute so not expecting engaged baby yet.

I am 33 weeks tomorrow. Ten weeks ago that seemed so close to the end but now the end feels like so long away - I am only going to 39 weeks and am then being induced but even 6 weeks seems so long - think I am just tired and miserable and desperate to be on Mat leave. The builders are still all over the house - DS's new room and the spare room still look like bomb sites and I am getting very worried that they won't be ready in time - fed up of builders huffing and puffing all the time - the fact that the old plaster is crumbling and needs skimming is not my fault - why don't they stop moaning about it and do something to solve the problem (sorry that was a bit of a mean moan but I need to vent somewhere.

DS still being a real pickle and screaming at DH "I don't want you I want my Mummy" all the time - refusing to go to bed and sticking to me like a limpit - anyone who has more than one child please tell me that this will pass soon!

Anyway being a miserable so and so this pm so will say goodbye.

Pixie - I forgot to ask, did your DD like the "big sister" t-shirt?

Hello everyone!

Can't believe I've left it another month or two before managing to check in and now we're on the home straight as well.

Have had a quick scan to check no-one has actually had a baby yet (no-one has, have they?) but I'm afraid I can't possibly catch up properly after so long away.

Isn't snow and late pregnancy an awful combination (especially if you throw in a toddler and pushchair) - still not clearing here and sick of it.

How is everyone doing for horrible pg symptoms - I have varicose veins , reflux and insomnia - I have never had any before - just waiting for the stretch marks and then I will officially be the most grotesque woman in Britain If anyone has any advice/experience re varicose veins I would be very grateful...

Glad to hear you aren't all being ultra-oragnised with hospital bags etc.

Poor you sarah hope you're OK

Love your birth announcement arcadie - I'll have one of those too please (especially after listening to two mums talking about their 4th degree tears, prolapses and reconstructive surgery this morning at toddler group - just what a nearly 35 week pg woman likes to hear )

Well, as we reached a verdict today and have been released until monday (as no new trials starting until then - hurrah!) I am able to give you info on the case.

There were three counts to consider - sexual assualt, sexual assualt, and sexual assualt by penetration (namely with the fingers). (these in the front of the car, although two more incidences of sexual assault were relayed to us that happened in the back of the car, yet these were not bought as charges which was very ) Allegedly perpetrated by a man who is a minicab driver against a woman who was fourth year degree (so getting her masters).

She'd been drinking all night, although admitted that she regualrly, heavily drinks (and was on the womens rugby team, who often socialised with the male rugby team... anyone who knows anything about rugby culture knows it = heavy drinking!). And because she'd drunk so much (despite the toxicology report the next morning being effectively 'negative' and, working back, the expert confidently says she couldn't have been 'grossly intoxicated' and was probably 'moderately intoxicated') a LOT of her evidence in court comprised of 'I don't know' 'I don't remember' and 'I 'probably' said no, or 'must have' tried to push him off'

My inference from all the evidence we had was that this guy, when he's finished work, picks up girls whom have already been drinkingg, to try his luck with. There was absolutely NO inference of coersion, violence or force. Infact, both of their accounts agreed on a time when she had said 'no' and he had stopped . My gut kinda says she may have sleepy/sleeping and awoken to find him touching her in a way she did not consent to or encourage, but the problem is that as the law stands, I can't convict on my gut feeling - I can only convict on the evidence. The evidence, such as it was (basically, her being called as a witness in court) just didn't form a strong enough case to convict.

About ten of the twelve of us felt this - and if we were in Scotland, I'm POSITIVE we'd have been deciding 'not proven'. It's really difficult to have a good idea of one thing, but not be able, in law, to find a judgement that corresponds with that.

So we had to find him not guilty. It's quite a weight on my mind this evening, and my heart feels heavy that we may have wronged this woman, although there was nothing else we could do within the directive of the law.

Mumbot I'm another who's isn't engaged - baby head down but still free (am 33+2). My midwife thinks it's still early for engagement, even on a first. And plenty of time for your little one to turn but Spinning Babies has good tips on how to help your baby into a ceph position.

I just wanted to ask about baby movement. I'm definitely still feeling movement every day but in the last few days it feels different and it makes me a bit nervous. Baby is less active and the movements are much more internal (as in my belly doesn't move as much as it did even last week). It started freaking me out last night (actually started crying about it during another bout of random insomnia) as the baby moving was the only benefit to these bouts of middle of the night sleeplessness. Anyone else noticed any changes to their baby's pattern?

Waves to DrSkid - hello . Sorry to hear about the varicose veins. No experience of that but have got some stretch marks and just hoping I don't get anymore (wishful thinking on my part I think).

manda god, that sounds like awful case to sit through but beyond reasonable doubt does mean you have to be 100% certain. Uncomfortable as I am typing this (based on my own gut feeling) I think it's the right decision. When I was juror one of the cases was a child abuse case (was v ) and similar issues came up during deliberation. Although we had much more concrete evidence to go on (but the guilty verdict was a 10/2 majority rather than consensus).

Hello everyone

Manda glad the trial is over and wasn't too long. Sounds like you made the only decision you could but understand how it could play on your mind.

arcadie well done for describing my future birth so accurately!

caitni my baby's movements are certainly different - I can tell she has less space.

mumbot little rebeccacad is head down but not yet engaged (32+3) or 3/5ths engaged depending on which midwife I listen to! - they say there's loads of time yet...

Sarah thinking of you and Rosie

Been a bit of a stressful few days here. I had some bleeding and what looked like mucous plug come out on Tuesday night. I'd been having a lot of braxton hicks, which were increasing, so I rang the midwives who told me to come straight in.

I was on the monitors for a bit, had an internal, blood tests, urine test etc. I have a UTI which they said can sometimes trigger things off in the cervix., make braxton hicks stronger and could begin the labour process early!

They wanted to admit me for rest and monitoring, but knowing it wouldn't be restful I managed to persuade them to let me out with antibiotics (and my 3rd anti-D injection) and monitor things at home as I live so close to the hospital.

I'm not supposed to be finishing work for another 4 weeks, but they said rest was v important - the braxton hicks come on much stronger when I walk about, I need to fight off the infection and also try and grow the baby quite a bit just in case.

I made the decision that there was no way I could do that and still work - I have a manic schedule - loads of evening events and outside meetings and lots of stress. I'm really upset about it - I don't want to leave them in the lurch and selfishly wanted to start mat leave later for financial reasons. However I think I really have to listen to their advice - I don't want to have this baby yet. I want her to arrive at home, healthy after 37 weeks.

My boss is trying to get some cover and I've agreed to do urgent stuff from home next week, after a couple of days doing nothing this week. I do feel super guilty though.

Do you think this was the right decision? Should I have just toughed it out and hoped for the best?

Sorry for long, selfish post.

Hi, all, just checking in.

Don't really have the mental capacity after a long day at work to write anything much, but feel compelled to answer your post right now, rebeccacad: of course you did the right thing to take time off now and NOT hope for the best . If you can (and are willing to) work from home, fine, as long as you are still physically resting. Hopefully your UTI will settle down and the BH contraction will get less active again.
I know I get considerably more tightenings just with walking the length of myself, and your schedule does sound a bit frantic...
And here is another cheerful thought: if you were run over by a bus tomorrow, I suspect your work would be covered - somehow, by someone, in some way, and the world would continue spinning.
Now is the time to be selfish, in a good way, and look after yourself and Bump.
.

Manda, I am sure you must be glad that case is over. Does not sound v pleasant . It must be really hard to make decisions based on evidence and to ignore gut feelings - I know they are worthless in a court of law, but...

Re fertile June : well, DS1 was due on Valentine's Day (induced 15 days over), DS2 was ment to be a May baby (delivered at 31 weeks), so there could have been a bit more of a spread ... However the dates for DS3 and expected DS4 are identical: same LMP, same due date .
Both my dad's siblings were born on the same day 5 years apart, and his birthday is within the same fortnight (August, not March). So maybe it does run in families...
Anyway, I see years of mahoosive joint birthday parties coming my way !!

Evening

manda believe me I know fro experience that sadly there is nothing you can do to convict without actual evidence. Sadly a hunce is not enough- although often right!!

rebecca You have done the right thing. You must think of you and your baby. Not too disimilar to the position I have found myself in- same threat of strong braxton hicks starting me off and now on enforced rest. I do associate with your work guilt tho. That said Pacfic is right - work will manage without you. Rest and try to even enjoy your last few weeks of peace!!

Arcadie, I'm loving your birth announcement. I'll take one too please! I'll add it to the assertion that this bub will be an angel child, will not scream unnecessarily and DH and I will be able to gel with the bub as a seamless family unit with no stress or trouble whatsoever. There's no harm in wishful thinking, is there?

I hope everyone who's been signed off sick prior to ML starting is doing ok and getting plenty of rest? My ML 'started' 4wks early 'cause my company decided to close my department, so made me & my immediate colleagues redundant. Have to say I'm glad it's worked out the way it has. Think I would have been joining in being signed off early if not.

Manda, the case sounds like Not Fun. Unfortunate that the evidence wasn't more conclusive one way or another.

Caitni & rebeccacad - funny you should both mention changing movements today. DH and I were talking about the same thing this evening! My bub's in a head-down 'oblique lie' position, meaning that it's not engaged, but it does have the space to swing it's bum side-to-side, and I'm getting little feet very close to my ribs & sternum! I can tell when it's vertical (bum towards my ribs) ... I suddenly start getting out of breath, even if I'm just sitting on the couch. There're serious space issues starting to happen!

Oh heavens, I was sure it had only been a couple of days since I checked in, but it seems I've missed yards of posts...

Am knackered and determined to get an early night as have to get up at like 5.30 or something equally hideous as DH is away with a work thing so I have to do the whole morning routine on my own, get DD to nursery and self to work in time for a very stressful 9.30 presentation (which means I probably have to try and fit in blow-drying my air and putting some make-up on...). I'm dreading it and convinced I'm going to be horrifically late. That's quite pathetic, isn't it?

Short catch up - Manda your juror duty sounds heavy - and probably just what you didn't need. The guys sounds like a total slime-ball, but unless he's actually and categorically broken the law I guess there's not much can be done. I hope if he ever tries it again he gets a good kick in the knackers, at the very least... Here's hoping he chooses to mend his ways or I'm inclined to think in a very Old-Testament kind of way about such people.

Sarah You've a lot on your plate honey - I hope the hospital sorted out something sensible so you could get your meds and be with your daughter - it doesn't sound like it should be an impossible thing to achieve, does it, but I imagine in involves negotiating yards of red tape... Hope you and DD are holding up ok.

rebeccacad - think you've absolutely done the right thing, work will cope and you have to put you and your baby first. Make sure to manage to enjoy your mat leave a bit and don't spend it feeling anxious or guilty about work ? 'tis not worth it, however lovely your employer might be.

I've probably missed loads of important stuff, please forgive me, I had to skim and am tired... I do recall lots of health grumbles, and feel for you all. My SPD seems to have plateaued at the uncomfortable and disruptive to sleep stage, and it really kills when I've been walking a lot, but since it's a way shy of the crippling pain many people seem to get, and I'm not suffering with anything else, particularly, I'm couting my blessings and keeping quiet.

I went to my first antenatal refresher on Monday - seem like a nice bunch all in all - but my gosh, what a spectrum of first borth experiences with the lady who had a 'silent' labour at 31 weeks, didn't knnow until her waters broke, went to hospital to discover she was 10 centimeters and ready to push, but that the baby was breach and so ended up having an emergency CS (she's worried because she doesn't know what a contraction feels like...) to me with my 42 week monster baby and literally everything in-between... We had GD, IUGR, 2 hour labours, PPH, nearly giving birth in the car en-route to hospital, the works. Quite an eye-opener. It has made it feel all a bit more imminent, I have to say...

Speaking of which, can you all please stop talking about hospital bags please? I don't even know where the bag is, let alone have anything to put into it... suspect all pertinent items are in the storage unit (helpfully). But anyway, this baby is not permitted to come early as we have to move house first, so it's not an issue. OK?

House is coming long, but it's going to be a race to the finish and the last bits seems like a logistical nightmare - everything is dependent on everything else so as soon as one thing slips it all comes down like a house of cards...

It also seems unlikely that I'll manage to get booked at Kingston, which is where I'd hoped to go ? apparently they're really busy and unlikely to accept me at this late stage. . Also couldn't self-refer, depsite what The Whittington said, so have had to register with a GP locally so they can refer me - it's all a bit palarver.

So I have been officially discharged from the Whittington (although still have growth scan there on the 29th ) and am not booked anywhere else, so am currently without hospital - which makes me a little anxious if I think about it, so I'm not [head in sand emoticon].

Don't want to go to St Georges (especially after hearing horror stories at antenatal on Monday) so may end up at St Helier, which I now little about, but apparently has a brand new, (literally just opened) birth centre which is getting rave reviews. We'll see, I suppose.

Bit gutted though, as I kind of had my heart set on Kingston... .

Anyway, very much looking forward to finishing work at the end of the month, as the commute is killing me, but a little daunted at the propsect of moving into a probably half-finished house the same weekend and trying to make it habitable for us, a toddler and a newborn...

But I'm trying to think of it as "nesting on steroids"...

Oh, and clingy toddlers? Have re-named DD 'velcro girl'. Still wailing when I have to leave her at nursery, and otherwise never less than about a foot away from me. Doesn't want to go anywhere: "I jus' wanna stay in da house wiv you Mummy. And hav cuddles and watch Shek". It's kinda cute, but y'know, there's also stuff to do, and it's becoming quite tricky with the constant hanging off my legs and "Up! Up!" pleasding... And she's quite heavy, actually, so I can no longer stick her on my hip and carry on regardless - not least because I can no longer accurately determine exactly where my hips are...

Right. Bed. Now.
Nighty night.

db
xx