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

964 replies

annamama · 02/12/2009 16:56

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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MummyElk · 09/12/2009 14:38

hi all
haven't had a chance to read up on the pages i've missed - but i will do...
suffice to say i also took a trip to hospital yesterday following a bigger trip up at work! looked like a right nob tbh but it was a spectacular fall, and i promptly went all white and funny and everyone sent me home... where i then remembered i'm rhesus neg and needed anti d. So 6 hours later i manage to get said shot. i'm not sure i would have bothered if my mw wasn't on hols and i'd known how long it would have taken!!
Certainly not as scary as your trip evitas, you take it easy and rest up, that baby needs to stay where it is for a bit longer please!!

Did i see someone has mentioned hospital bags already?!! surely not.....

AfriBaby · 09/12/2009 14:52

Poor you evitas - hope you make a full and swift recovery from mystery ailment and go on to have a lovely, calm Xmas.

Arcadie · 09/12/2009 15:05

Evitas for you. that sucks - especially the mystery part.

Likewise Mummyelk ( I'll forgive you for the yellow snow) so sorry about your hosp trip too....

People. Keep well. That's an order from the deputy head girl!

AfriBaby · 09/12/2009 15:27

and MummyElk on your fall - glad to hear you're also ok.
Worst that has happened to me today is eating raw garlic at lunch - am now a bit whiffy.

PixieOnaChristmasTree · 09/12/2009 15:40

Evitas and MummyElk I hope you're feeling a bit better today! I'm sending you virtual cotton wool to wrap yourselves up in!

Two names to go together is a nightmare - we can't have names which both end in the same sound because they sound wrong together, and we don't want alliterative names. We've decided that we want the names to be of similar length and them same 'type' IYSWIM in the interest of fairness!

I'm watching Alan Titchmarsh now, and they're discussing girls wanting the colour pink. It's quite interesting, but they haven't covered anything we didn't in our debate!

Rindercella · 09/12/2009 15:57

Evitas, so sorry to hear of your illness. What a worry that must have been. Keep warm, snuggle up and mumsnet rest.

MummyElk! What a fall. Very pleased to hear your colleagues had the good sense to send you home.

I'm just back from the doctor who has prescribed drops for my ear and ABs for my spot! I did say that if this is the worst I'm going to get, then I am very lucky!

No hospital bag packed yet. Will probably leave that until February time. IIRC, I just need lots of big knickers and about 500 brick-sized maternity pads, plus stuff for the baby of course! I am half considering a home birth at the moment, not least because DD arrived so quickly - first contraction 3am, phoned hospital 6am they said come straight away, got there at 7am to be told I was 9cm dilated so of course I couldn't have the epidural that I was screaming asking for, DD born at 10.17am...should've been about an hour earlier, but I was a bit scared to push Soooo...they say 2nd births are usually faster I will of course pack a bag though

MummyElk · 09/12/2009 16:04

ha i often think that pixie i'm not sure why the entire media pack don't just head straight to MN for opinions on, er....anything?!!!
Have finally caught up, give or take...

IWCAS you deserve a nice easy labour, a loving baby with an easy latch....have everything crossed for you my lovely. and as for that twunt..........

EmLouT · 09/12/2009 16:16

Hi all,

needless to say I haven't had time to read all of the posts which i have missed in the last week or so but things have been so hectic my feet have barely touched the ground!

Ihad a terrible tummy bug yesterday and couldn't stop being sick - am better today but utterly exhausted and could really do with some "me" time.

Have a scan tomorrow to see if LO has done a better job of growing in the past few weeks. I am so nervous!!!

Hope you are all well and surviving despite the various dramas - keep yourselves warm and safe!

mumbot · 09/12/2009 16:30

Sorry to hear of poorly folk, I've been off sick today, just feel awful, not sleeping and it's catching up with me

wishing everyone speedy recoveries xxxxxx

Arcadie · 09/12/2009 17:53

Mummyelk just facebook messaged you re your name. I'm an unbelieveably nosey cow intrigued.

Arcadie · 09/12/2009 17:54

ILGB LOVING the name Hero. Didn't think of that as I didn't realise the character was female don't know the play very well. FANTASTIC name though.

pureedchestnutsonanopenfire · 09/12/2009 17:59

Hero is an awesome name. DH didn't think so though so we are calling ours Annabel Oh, and that's confidential BTW .

Evitas- sorry about your hospital stay but I bet your Christmas will be fab!!

scooby26 · 09/12/2009 18:36

Hi all

Donlt know how you all keep doing it. By the time I'm getting home form work and read your posts I'm too pooped to stay up and actually write one!! In a bit earlier tonight so here goes:

Labour Bag - Plan to pack sometime in January be maybe about 33 weeks then Sure that'll be early enough. If not I only live ten mins from hospital so I can always get things brought in really easily.

Size - I was measured at 26 weeks and measured 27 weeks. Whilst I'm definitely getting bigger - almost before my eyes - its still seems just a bump rather than fatness everywhere so trying not to worry.

IWCAS - you continue to amaze me with you relative calmness. I couldn't be doing with entertaining having him anywhere near me and my child for a long time let alone at the birth/ days after!! Good for you!!

Names - lots of nice names being suggested on here - I'm very impressed. We are going for 'common'!!! Likely to be Oliver if he looks remotely like one when he pops out - maybe Ben or Josh if not. I had a crap time at school and am happy that if my child doesn't stand out at school (for any reason - let alone I've saddled it with an unusual name!!) then I see it as a good thing. Neither myself or my husband are creative souls so middle of the road, reliable 'sensible' names seem good. Now if I lived somewhere funky like London I might take a different view. My sis lives there and has friends with all manner of funky kids names. It seems to be normal there and thus kids won't stand out as it's normal to have funky names. Up NORTH anything too unusual could be mkaing my sons life difficult. People up here need to get out more - but still not fair to my son to do it to him!

Evitas - sorry you've had a crap time. If nothing else it may encourage you to put your feet up, take care and have faith in the great staff you have met that will be looking after you in 13 weeks. My sis went into early labour at 27 wks with DS1. Hospital managed to reverse it and she went full term with him and the next 2 although she had the joy of staying off work for the next 12 weeks- silver clouds and all that!!They think she had an irritable uterus.

MummyELK- Silly Sausage!!!

Who asked about being clumsy?? Think I have the prize on that one!!

Pixie - Me and my sis have very very different names. Mine is more old fashioned, can shorten and is 4 syllables whilst my twin's is 1 syllable, mopre modern of it's era and not shortenable. Don't know my parents theory - can't say I'ver ever asked actually. Sure that whatever you pick will be fine.

Rindercella - I want a first labour like yours

Emlou - good luck for tomrrow.

DH is at work til 11pm so think I'll have an easy tea, followed by giant choc buttons for pud and nice bath and baby book (maybe Gina Ford?)

Night all xx

PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 09/12/2009 21:01

Evening, ladies!

Right: can you all please STOP being ill/falling over/going to hospital with scary symptoms - I cannot cope with the pressure as your resident GP !
Evitas, I am glad you are back home, look after yourself.
Mummyelk, how about Michelin-Man suit to go on top for better bouncing back when falling ??

I have survived another looooooong Wednesday (8 til 8) - too blardy long! But it the second last of extended hours Wednesdays, phew !

Have a nice evening, everybody.

SmacOnTheLipsUnderTheMistletoe · 09/12/2009 21:04

sariska I'm still drooling at your list of banana bakery items. . . . .
I am such a sheep. I know I don't need to pack my hospital bag yet, I told you lot yesterday I'd do it after Christmas yet when I was in the supermarket today I felt myself being pulled by an invisible magnetic force to the baby aisle and buy some newborn nappies, some maternity pads and breast pads. I did resist, I need my money for Christmas not new baby stuff quite yet!
scooby totally with you on the sensible names. If I chose something whacky everyone I know would be WTF !!!!! I do like traditional names anyway so it's not a problem. I can safely say that Hero sounds ridiculous with our surname (beginning with an H) so that one won't be on our list!
EmLou sorry to hear about the sickness bug - I had it last weekend and it wiped me out. Hope your scan goes okay and bubs is gaining a bit of weight.
evitas sounds like you have a had a scary time too. I know a few people who have chosen St John's in Livingstone over ERI however I do know two of the consultants there (personally not as a patient) and I did get scanned there at the EPAU and the staff were fine. Glad your trip although worrying has reassured that they will be looking after you well. Sorry to hear you won't get home for Xmas but best to be safe.
IWCAS sorry I hope my swine flu comments didn't offend you. I realise the death of your friend was very tragic but in the grand scheme of things the death toll seems to be much smaller than previously anticipated and I personally don't feel at high risk despite being pregnant. In RL I only know of 2 people who have had swine flu and they live at the opposite end of the UK to me. I like dbs advice to you to think of yourself and not the others, you and your baby are the priority after the way that your ex has treated you his bonding with the baby would be low down on my list of priorities.
mummyelk sorry to hear you've been making a fool of yourself tripping over. Glad you took the anti d although it was inconvenient, better safe than sorry. Does this mean you won't need it again at 28 weeks or not?
pixie all your ballet talk has got me interested in finding out about ballet for DD. I never went to any ballet or dance type classes when I was wee but my DD loves music and is always prancing around. When did your DDs start? I found somewhere locally that does classses but they don't take them til they are 3 so we will have to wait a while.
Only other exciting news is that today DD did her first poo in the potty! Think she gave herself a fright though as she screamed afterwards! even though I was cheering and smiling and saying well done! Hope she's not been mentally scarred by it!

Arcadie · 09/12/2009 21:15

Smac Just had a mild hyperventilate at the thought of buying newborn nappies... I... going.... to... have.... another.... tiny..... baby.....

PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 09/12/2009 21:29

Oh, Arcadie, I just saw friend's 2 week old baby and all I could think was "Crap, she's small!". And she had been 9 lbs at birth !!
I had to remind myself that I had managed to not break 3 newborns so far including 3lbs10oz DS2 (inspite of dropping him one night ), so chances are this one will also survive my ministrations !

BulletProofMum · 10/12/2009 10:12

Gosh all this talk of hospital bags! I'll pack mine at abotu 38 weeks!

You'll all think I'm mad but I'm planning a busniess trip to the US at the end of Jan! Assuming I still feel fit and healthy. Hey but I haven't felt fit and healthy for 25 weeks.

Pacific - how many weeks did your teeny one hatch at?

PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 10/12/2009 10:23

BPM, good luck with your trip to the States that late on ! Do really really have to go, though? How many weeks will you be?
Personally, I do not think flying is a problem but I'd be put off by the possibility of having the baby whilst away - but then again if he/she is born on American soil he/she would have the right to stand for President, so there's something to aspire to !!

DS2 was 31 weeks by emCS. I had Grade 4 placenta preaevia and had bled several times during that pregnancy. Had a big bleed at 25 week and he came very close to being delivered that night. I had a few very scary chats with neonatologist re survival/healthy survival chances.... So I feel v lucky that we made it to 31 weeks . And he is fine now, in fact he is my chunky one .

PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 10/12/2009 10:23

BPM, good luck with your trip to the States that late on ! Do really really have to go, though? How many weeks will you be?
Personally, I do not think flying is a problem but I'd be put off by the possibility of having the baby whilst away - but then again if he/she is born on American soil he/she would have the right to stand for President, so there's something to aspire to !!

DS2 was 31 weeks by emCS. I had Grade 4 placenta preaevia and had bled several times during that pregnancy. Had a big bleed at 25 week and he came very close to being delivered that night. I had a few very scary chats with neonatologist re survival/healthy survival chances.... So I feel v lucky that we made it to 31 weeks . And he is fine now, in fact he is my chunky one .

PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 10/12/2009 10:24

Sorry, pressed button twice as elbowed by DS3 - he is "helping", gah!!

Caitni · 10/12/2009 11:42

Morning ladies

All this talk of hospital bags - aaah!! I've actually got some bits and bobs (including newborn nappies) but then I'm an anal type who likes to have things well in advance . Haven't bought any actual baby clothes yet though (am saving that for after christmas as I do have some restraint ). Although I'm planning a home birth, I'm packing a hospital bag anyway, both in case I need to transfer in but also cos it would be handy to have things in one place (so my DH can find things!). Don't know who mentioned learning what to bring in antenatal class (Shroomer?) but we did discuss it - our midwife's tip was to have your DH/birth partner pack it, so that they know exactly what's in there so can hand things out during labour without having to bother the labouring woman too much.

Evitas poor you with your hospital stay . Hope you're feeling better soon and I think you'll have a lovely Christmas with your DH - your last one just the two of you

BPM gosh, you're brave planning a trip for then . My only advice would be have the best travel insurance you can find, as that way in the (unlikely) event anything happens you're not going to be financially crippled by the US medical system!

Pacific it must have been so hard to deal with the bleed at 25 weeks with your DS2...I love hearing how well he's doing now. A reminder that pregnancy and birth is a huge deal but just the start of the journey...

EmLouT hope today's scan went well and that your bubs is growing well

Smac the nappucinno was great - it was in a room in a "healing arts" centre in Muswell Hill (seems to be a place that does accupuncture, reflexology etc). She started with a bit about the benefits/downsides of reusable nappies versus disposables (with the emphasis on the benefits of course ) and then went through the different types available - sized nappies, pre-folds & wraps, AIOs, birth to potty ones, inserts/boosters - handing around samples for us to play with and going through the upsides and downsides of each (eg bamboo - super absorbent but takes longer to dry). I ended up buying a bumgenius, a fuzzi bunz and a tots bots bamboozle and a wrap with a bamboo insert and some bits and bobs (roll of liners, wet bag) and am going to wash them and see how they dry etc before choosing which to buy. She had twins and used reusables from birth with them (and with her next child) and had lots of tips and advice about how easy they are to use. I'm now hearting my nappies big time already - they're so cute and in such lovely colours

Big waves to everyone else. Hope everyone's doing OK (and am passing around some more of Pixie's cotton wool to help avoid falls etc ).

Nothing exciting with me. Is anyone else monitoring their baby's movements? My midwife didn't mention it specifically at my 28 week check (though did of course ask about it), but there's a page in my notes to record movements from 28 weeks. So I've decided to monitor it (see above about being an anal type ).

MandaHugNKiss · 10/12/2009 12:46

Gah, I wish I had a reason for feeling so blimming blah at the moment, but I don't.

Really sympathise with you evitas - sounds kinda simiar to my last stay in hosital (athough only two nights/3 days - but I did fib a little to get out; they didn't want me to go until my pain was completely gone so I said it was even though it wasn't... it wasn't an awful lie though, I was reatly improved and knew it wouldn't be long so why take up a bed). Here's hoping that was your one blip and the rest is plain sailing!

Thinking of you EmLou - hoping for some good news!

BPM aren't you mad brave?! I don't think I'd want to go transatlantic at that point but more power to you if you're a) wanting to and b) healthy enough!

pacific thankgoodness those long-ass killer hours are almost at an end. Having done 'high pressure' shift work myself I can't really imagine trying to cope with it in our current condition. You dropped teeny tiny ds?! Heh. They really are sturdier than we think. I also had 'an incident' with my first; I was trying to get out and had put her in the pushchair then turned to grab something before strapping her in and in that moment she arched her back and fell face down onto the floor... which was stone. Her, unscathed (if a little shocked). Me, a meltdown bag of nerves convinced I was a horrible parent. Eh, it made for a good learning curve. Never again did anything like that happen with her or DS.

waves to the newcomers

ICWAS Indeed the moral highround isn't necessarily the most 'fun' spot... but I know as I've gotten older that I find it easier to live there in the long run than I any short term satifaction I get from dishing out some sort of 'take that' retribution. Of course, I'm looking forward to being very old when again I won't really give a monkey's about how I'm perceived and will Act Up and Speak My Mind willfully and often Also happy the service is over with and it sounds as if it was a fitting tribute to your friend.

Argh, what's all this talk of labour bags?! To be quite honest, I can't really remember packng anything much other than nappies and coming home outfit for the baby. Probably the huge passage of time has made my memory misty but I KNOW I didn't use anything out of a bag during labour as I a) didn't have time and b) actually slept through most of both my labours (pethidine). I wish I coud predict how things are gonna go this time - instinct says it will probably be quick again but what if my body has forgotten the ropes after over twelve years? Or what if the fact this baby has a different father plays a big part (the big part meaning perhaps a huge head, or a baby that doesn't get into the optimal position or, or... wow, I didn't think I was concerned about this until I started typing it!).

Anyway, haven't started packing the bag. Uh, I don't actually have 'the bag' to pack (although suspect I'll use a nice weekend bag i already have). But I have lots of nappies already, quite a lot of clothes, plenty of toiletries, etc. I have no clue when I'll feel to actually put stuff in a bag so stop making me think about it!

Right, better eat something. A granary bagel, 'nice' ham, vine tomato, salt and pepper methinks.

designerbaby · 10/12/2009 12:47

Just a quickie...

BPM... Are you sure they'll let you fly? I know I wasn't allowed to fly to SA on BA at 28 weeks for my SIL's wedding...

(Not that I minded as an overnight flight in cattle economy class wouldn't have been top of my list of "must do's" at that point as it turned out...)

Maybe there's different rules if you're flying business class though... (If you're that fortunate!?)

Travel insurance my be an issue too ? I know when I looked that even if I could have found a carrier willing to let me fly, I couldn;t have gotten insurance for love nor money...

Worth checking it out before parting with cash/making promised to clients, I reckon...

db
xx

Sariska · 10/12/2009 12:52

Smac, I could do with some chocolate & banana based confectionary products right now. (Apologies to the banana-haters among you.) Sadly I am at work and have only a banana. No chocolate. Did have baked banana and chocolate last night (courtesy of Pacific's reminiscences a couple of days ago). Felt I deserved it after 2 hours spent "persuading" DS to actually lie down and go to sleep. Not that it lasted. He was up again at midnight. At 1am I cracked and took him into my bed. DH got home from a Christmas meal at 2am-ish and, sandwiched between the two of them, I got zero sleep. (Q: How is it that a one year old can take up over half of a king size bed?) At 4am-ish, I decided DS was deeply asleep enough to risk a return to his cot. Mission accomplished I turned my alarm off (deciding to sack early morning meeting) and got a whole 2 hours sleep. Feel marvellous now. Marvellous enough to have sold on my theatre ticket for tonight (work trip - was really looking forward to it but can hardly keep my eyes open now and cannot face the thought of loud music tonight (it's a musical) and then not getting home until after midnight. God, I sound about 85. I cannot believe there was a time - and not so long ago really - when I'd have thought nothing of a late-ish night after very little sleep the night before.

Enough of my moaning: EmLouT, I hope today goes well for you. And Evitas, glad you were well looked after in hospital: my sister had her DD at the ERI and her account of the post-natal care made me a bit . So I hope that also augers well for you.

Caitni - I don't monitor my baby's movements as such. I do think, "Oh, you're busy today" or, "It's a quiet day today" etc and I do feel there is already a recognisable pattern, which runs over two or three days.