Due March 2010 - "Hello Baby... Goodbye Pelvic Floor"

[Arcadie]

Welcome to the March Preggos. Here's hoping we see nearly 1000 posts before anyone pops!

Good news EmLou!

Henrietta - great that your bleed stopped, that must have been scary. Don't worry about figuring everyone out... all that's important is we're all having babies soon!

Getting quite a lot of Braxton Hicks here too but they are not painful, just uncomfortable, and BH should not hurt according to what I've heard.

Ok I'm trying to not get my hopes up but we had a viewing of our house today, out of the blue! Spent all morning cleaning. It was a couple who have their 1 million house in London under offer and they want to move out here, and quickly too! If we do sell, we will rent somewhere in London. Now, LONDON ladies, I need tips of areas to look in please! Here's what we want:

1. Somewhere nice and preferrably posh & leafy, but not ridiculously overpriced! (I'm not posh though but I'd have to try to look more like a yummy mummy if we moved somewhere nice )

1. Reasonably commutable to the City so I can work again later.

1. Nice high street with lots of charity shops.

1. Anywhere really but for some reason we seem to prefer N or SW London.

And of course I would need to find a hospital to give birth in... IF it happens, it probably won't.

hi all
just popping in to say hi...
and....
emlou phew and well done, you have a nice evening away and Put Your Feet Up
annamamma no idea sorry, the london lot will be along soon with suggestions, but fingers crossed it works out!

can't remember who else I was going to mention, but I would like to know if anyone thinks i'm stiff and sore because a) i've overdone it (two big dog walks in the last couple of days) or b) it's just being 32 wks pg....
If it's the latter....cld someone pls remind me exactly what i'm supposed to do for the remaining 8(ish) wks left pls?!!!!
Today spent much of my time chasing after DD who was loving being in the park, loving the puddles, but NOT loving mummy putting her back in the buggy...

Evening all
just popping in!
emlou great you have had some encouraging news. enjoy your night away and relax you deserve it!

We are having a stair carpet fitted tommorrow so in the middle of glossing the skirtings now DS is in bed! Real challenge to get him there tonight just wasn't co-operating at all!
mummyelk feel for you with the soreness/stiffness etc think its prob just due to the fact your 32 weeks preggers! mind you 2 big dog walks would leave me feeling stiff pregnant or not! am also 32 weeks. the first 30 flew by now the last 2 weeks have gone really slow just need end of feb to hurry so i can finish work!

anyway night night all
x

Hello, hello

REally glad to hear baby is staying put for another couple of weeks Emlou - try and take your mind off things this weekend.

Mummy elk - I'd blame pregnancy!

Now for a slightly TMI question. Has anyone had thrush while pregnant. I've never had it ever before but pretty sure I've got it now and it's driving me mad. Only put 2 and 2 together last night so won't be able to go to GP till Monday at earliest. Do you know if there's anything over the counter I can take (I will go to the pharmacy but they are so cautious about pregnant women it would be helpful to go and say - I hear I can take X). Failing that anything you've found that soothes it in the interim? I am indeed up this early and have been because it's driving me so made I can't sleep.

Roll on bloody March!

Oh no Rebecca, thrush is awful. I would buy a canesten pessary in Boots or any chemist, that should clear it. Found this info on netdoctor.co.uk:

• The safety of this medicine when used during pregnancy has not been specifically studied. However, it has been used by a large number of women during pregnancy without any apparant harmful effects. As with all medicines, you should consult your doctor before using this medicine during pregnancy. Avoid using the applicator to insert the pessary if you are pregnant. Use your fingers instead.

MummyElk - I think it's both: pregnancy and overdoing it! Bless your DD... mine likes puddles too.

EmlouT I hope you enjoy your night away with DH. Great that they are giving you another 2 weeks I can't imagine how stressful these past few days must have been for you, especially with conflicting advice. I'm pleased to hear you have been signed off and now please rest a bit [bossy emoticion required]
rebecca I've not had thrush in pregnancy but I thought I had it after birth, turned out it was GBS instead but anyway I was BF and was told I could take the pessary but not the oral tablet. I think it's the same in pregnancy - that pessary is okay.
Henrietta sorry to hear you were bleeding - scary at any stage of pregnancy!
manda now it's the weekend I hope you are resting up after your jury duty. Are you finished yet or is it dragging on to next week?
annamama no idea about London what so ever but exciting that you had a viewing and maybe a buyer!
waves to pixie so she doesn't have another almost flounce hope you are happy now you are reunited with your DD1.
And I know talking about another thread on a thread is not the done thing but I did chuckle at your baby name thread re Sharon Tracy and Tracy Sharon pixie
oh and BPM my DH is joining yours in the 'just not getting it' couch. He asked on Thursday night if I was going to the shops on Friday and I told him I'd done an online Tesco order and he went off on one saying that we only live 1 mile from the store FGS!!!!
I calmly explained that I had been sent a £10 online voucher so it wasn't costing anything to get it delivered and that I almost fainted in Tescos last week and it has nothing to do with how close we live to the store. He just doesn't get how much I'm struggling these days IWCAS I'm glad you found a helpful member of staff in Sainsbury's and that you took the time to commend her kindness to the bosses. I often think our society is so quick to complain these days and often forget to praise. Well done you!

Rebecca- I had thrush before Christmas (never had it before) and feel your pain. I thought I was going to go mad with the itching. I was on hol so spoke to mw who said Canesten pessary and external cream were OK (not the tablet) but the pharmacist wasn't prepared to sell it to me as it might have agravated my cervix (was 33 weeks) so just sold me external cream. On my return MW gave me pessary.....confusing!!

In short Canesten pessary and cream, wear loose clothing, and I found sitting on an icepack(wrapped in hand towel) very soothing too....they also told me to iron the crotch of all my troiusers/underwear to thoroughly kill infection and get DH treated 'if we've been having sex'. At which point I laughed so hard I thought I was going to give birth.

Too much info? Hope it helps!!

Emlou- great news. Have a lovely night away xx

Jury duty finally over and done with. Thank. Goodness! My final case was burglary (which we found him guilty of). Turns out he had 60 previous convictions (and infact commited this one after being let out from prison two years early on license!) relating to the same kind of offence and this conviction was his 'three strikes, you're out' so he will be sentenced to a very long time (effectively a 'life tarrif' - so, naturally, about 10-12 years )

Anyway, without bleating on about it, I'm glad I did it, and glad it's done.

I don't think I can realistically catch up with everything I missed commenting on/commiserating with over the last two weeks, (although thank you so much to everyone who sympathised with me - I didn't feel such a loon silly hormonally charged woman getting all unecessary over stuff that I shouldn't) so I'll just start from the last two pages - seems realistic and do-able to me!

SO!

annamama Ooooh, it's difficult not to get wrapped up in the 'what if' and possibilities sometimes, eh? Of course, I'm a south of the river advocate and 'tis beautifully leafy/posh where I am (likewise, I'm not particularly 'posh' myself) although all the surrounding areas here are notoriously expensive so... I'm not much help with advice, it turns out! Try and plonk yourself halfway between DB and I so we can have regular meet ups with our spawn.

Poor you rebecca - thrush is not fun once it is kind enough to become symptomatic. Luckily, it tends to respond pretty quickly to topical canestan (you can't take their oral pill remedy, from memory, when pregnant). You could also try eating live yohurt/actimel type thingys as there is evidence the 'good' bacteria migrates from your gut to help sort out the problem. I believe topical application of live (plain! Nobody really needs a fruity fanjo... unless DH is a fan ) yoghurt is supposed to help too but never tried it and can't be more specific (although google, no doubt, can...)

mummyelk I, too, think it's a little from column a) and a little from column b). Particularly as just before christmas I went on two, one hour dog walks and felt absolutely devoid of any energy at all by my return each time. As much as I know it's good to stay active, that was just an indication to me that I'd done too much. So whilst I can cope with day to day travelling, shopping, light housework, I'm just accepting it's best to slow down a bit now.

Henrietta - you and I both with the bleeds at christmas! Not a fun way to sepnd the festive season. Glad yours has settled (mine too )

evitas How's the pain now? Really hope it was transient 'just one of those things' type of things.

Caitni (and skid) brave ladies taking on your driving tests. Lots of good luck!

Emlou Two days of being prodded and poked? Ugh. But at least you conclusively know that for now babe is better in than out. Are 'they' talkin about steriods and preparing for a premie delivery yet? Either way, he's bound to do fantastically and pile on the weight once he's here! Being signed off work is exactly what you need - rest, rest, rest and have a wonderful time tonight.

Sarah Happy Birthday to DS (hope he loved his gift!) and can't help smiling at how ROsie is getting around - testament to the resilience of kids (and I can't help imagining as looking a little bit like an action man...). Ooh, hope the dog is gettin used to her new look too - poor terrified mutt!

ang you mentioning reflexology reminded me I got a maternity package at The Sanctuary for my birthday back in Nov. I just looked at it, thinking 'ooh, I'll book for this week or next and treat myself' to see I can only take the treatments up until 28 weeks. D'oh!!. I suppose I'll have to phone them and get the package swapped for something else that I'll take once ds is here...

Well, I'm pondering having a VERY lazy day at home, mostly in bed, with my laptop and new book club book (which, annamama, is a swedish book! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and various snacks (including the aforementioned scampi fries... these have been the closet to a 'craving' I've ever had - I bought a whole 'card' of them (like you see hanging in pubs) and eat them two packs at a time a day 'tis wonderful, and awful, all in one fell swoop...) or getting myself into town to see if I can get a late appointment/standby to have my hair cut. It's been nearly a year since I last had it cut and long overdue.

rebecca - I have thrush and have taken the pessary which has improved things a lot - I have always had it when pg - a right nightmare. Am also very keen to get it cleared up as last time I passed it on to DS (in his mouth) who then passed it back to me (nipples) which led to 8 weeks of breastfeeding agony Good news is pessary usually works, don't wear tights or tight trousers, waer only cotton knickers etc. Might be worth going to GP as this is your first time having it. Pharmacist told me she would only sell it to me if my MW/GP had said it was OK (lied and said they had - don't worry cannestan will save you!

Thanks Manda - we have actually been looking in your area! (as well as many others) Yesterday we were feeling really positive as the couple were here looking for an hour and the agent told us they will seriously consider it over the weekend... but today we think that they probably won't want it because apparently they won't be able to fit all their antique furniture here, we have too many windows... But you never know. Great that you're done with jury now, well done! Guess which book I've just started...? "Men who hate women" which is the swedish title for Girl with dragon tattoo! Good luck with hair cut, hope you'll look like a yummy mummy!

Evitas - are you ok now?

Sarah - how long will your DD have the cast? Great that she doesn't seem to down.

Puree - I read your blog, very nice, tried to comment but it wouldn't let me for some reason. Looks like you have a few fans, cool! Your DD is gorgeous. I have a blog too but it's in swedish.

anna - have you thought about stoke newington? apparently its the new yummy mummy area and cheaper than muswell hill or richmond/wimbledon. Its also very commutable to the city but on a train line rather than tube. It used to be a bit rough but is now very desirable and trendy by all accounts. Haven't lived in london for a few years now though so I will defer to the proper londoners!

Re thrush - I was prescribed the cream and a pessary but the cream pessary so you couldn't do it without the applicator. I was just careful not to put it too far (sorry if TMI!) I also laughed at the 'if you are having sex' question!

Manda - The different spa's all have different policies, I think it is something to do with certain pressure points being able to bring on labour which is why they are cautious. You could try to swop for a mani/pedi? I can't see my feet anymore let alone reach them!
Glad you got through your jury service.

Thanks everyone for all the advice - I feel cheered up just reading all your tips. I went to see the pharmacist who would only sell me the topical cream without a prescription. Giving that a go to soothe it over the weekend (currently wearing loose trousers with newly ironed crotch!!) and will head to the docs on Monday. Joy! Don't think I need to worry about treating DH though.

Anna we live close to Stoke Newington, though in slightly less yummy mummy bit, and 'Stokey' is really nice. ALOT cheaper than most other nice bits of London too. I love where we live - E5 - loads of green space, great high street with lovely deli and coffee shops and lots of nice period houses, but it's still on the up rather than 'posh'... That's one of the things I love about it, but it isn't for everyone.

Manda hurrah for jury duty being over - now for a nice relax!

Smac I always spend less money when I order shopping online than buy in store - even including delivery. You can check out all the offers, think through your shopping list more, not be tempted by stuff you see. Try and convince your DH that way - we actually do it for budgeting reasons as you can make sure you spend a certain amount each time.

Right off to pick up lovely Ercol armchair we bought on ebay for me to feed in. We have a pair of very chic 50's danish sofas, but they have no arms and I know they won't be comfortable, so found this brilliant chair on ebay for a super bargain price.

Hope everyone has restful Saturdays

Hi all,

saw my GP yesterday afternoon and she sent me straightaway to hospital. I was there for a couple of hours. They checked the baby, and he was fine: nice heartbeat, lots of movements - "a happy baby". I had some temperature so they asked me to stay a little bit longer and had some urine and blood tests done. My uterus was really sore and contracting... but they didn't think it was labour. They gave me some dihydrocodeine and paracetamol, and advise to rest take it easy. I need to and call them if the contractions become painful, if I loose any blood, etc. I've managed to sleep a little bit better. The tummy still sore but I think I'll manage it with the painkillers and the contractions... I guess they are BH.
I'm 34 weeks today, so just need to keep this baby inside another 3 or 4 weeks to have a full term baby. Fingers crossed!

My inlaws arrived yesterday and they will stay a week, which is nice... my mother-in-law is already cooking

Re thrush - I had thrush 2 months ago when I was at the hospital (possibly because of the antibiotics) and the doctor gave me a pessary and some external cream.

Manda I had a massage on Thursday... I was very nice, but I wonder if all the pains in the uterus was triggered by the fact that I had to lie down on my tummy using a special pregnancy pillow... . Nonetheless I also have a reflexology appointment next. The therapist is meant to be very good, and she's specialised in pregnancy reflexology, so try to have some references about the therapist before booking it.

annamama - send us your blog so we can have a look, at least we can see the pictures . I also have one in Portuguese here

Enjoy your weekend!

Gosh, hello all... I've been away a few days as work was crazy, and house stuff (jumping up and down on various suppliers' heads, generally) has been taking up all my remaining time...

NO hope on doing a thorough round up... sorry, but have read everything, honest...

Sarah, glad your DD is coping so well with everything and your infection thingy cleared up of it's own accord. Someone obviously decided you had enough on your plate, eh?

Annamamma - Excellent news on your house - here's hoping it comes through. I'd just like to take this opportunity to big up Wimbledon - OK we don;t live there yet, but have lots of friend in the area. Very family friendly, yet great transport links to the city, and a variety of properties available dependent on your budget - i.e. the areas a wee bit further from the village (but only a 20 minute walk, to be fair) like ours, which are really quite affordable (esp. if you take on a bit of a 'project') right up to £15m+ mansions right on the common - and pretty much everything in between. And, like Manda said, we could all hook up!?!

EmLouT glad you're getting to take it a bit easier - hope your night away os lots of R&R & fun for you and DH and helps to take your mind off things a bit.

Manda - great that the jury service is finally over with and your life can return to normal a bit. Still, part of me thinks if must have been an interesting experience, if a bit harrowing at times... Look slike I won;t be joining you on the labout ward at Kingston though... I'll be WAY down at St Helier...

And sorry for all those others with thrush and various other ailments - liek late pregnancy isn't enough fun already.

I'm just feeling generally knackered, so sholdn;t really compain, but am going to anyway... Work are trying to squeeze as much work out of me as they can before I go on mat leave (one more week yay!!) so I ended up working 'til 1am on Wednesday night... which meant that Thursday I was trying to work whilst having BH ALL DAY... spoke to MW as was concerned that they weren;t letting up, and she said they often come on when you're overtired and I should try to rest more... Likley...

We're supposed to be moving in to our new house next weekend, but it looks like we'll be camping somewhat at first as lots of things aren't finished, despite out lovely Polish contractors working their backsides off all hours... Hey ho. We'll have a bathroom and a kitchen (both GORGEOUS!!) so we can work around everything else... It's still really exciting if knackering and a bit stressful at times.

Have gotten a booking appt. through from St Helier, (2 weeks Monday) so they've been really on the ball, which is a relief, and very nice to deal with... so all bodes well.

NCT class is good, the other Mums seem lovely and all - but went out for a farewell dinner with my North London NCT Mummy friends on Wednesday, which was quite emotional - I know we're only going to the other side of London, but obviously we're not going to see as much of each other as we do now - and they're practically like family and all the toddlers are such good friends

Got my P&T Vibe through (off Ebay, second hand but very good nick). It's HUGE!! Good job the new house has a big hallway! But feels really nice to push, and looks fab.

Anyway best go and mop up the fallout from lunchtime - Tomato soup and cheese sandwiches. BAD idea for a 2 year old...

Love to all,
db
xx

EmLouT, thinking of you and hoping you had a nice time with DH. Please put your feet up and rest as much as you can!

anna, I'd add to the Stoke Newington/E5 chorus. I used to live in Stamford Hill, just north of Stokey, which I wouldn't necessarily recommend as it doesn't fit your profile from a shopping perspective (oh my, I sound like an estate agent!). But Stokey is lovely and some of the areas around are also good if Stokey prices are now too high. Dalston was very up and coming when I left (3 years ago) and is about to get a tube station when the East London Line extension is finished; otherwise in that part of London it's all overground train or bus. There are bits of the area that are very rough, but that's London for you. The other possible downside there are the schools, I have no idea how good they are as we were child free when we left!

Saw midwives yesterday, both of whom were lovely but I get very hacked off with the politics of having had the audacity to choose to go out of area - community midwives will have nothing to do with your selected birth hospital (to the point where I was being told they didn't know what antenatal tests they do there when I know that hospital of choice is a really popular one so it seems unlikely that I'm the first 34 week pregnant woman they've met who's going there); and equally birth hospital are unhelpful as regards community midwife service. I appreciate it's all a bit inconvenient and the local surgery aren't getting a referral payment, but it's not my fault the area hospital appears to be a grime covered death trap with a poor reputation.

Anyway, post rant, BabyDragon is fine, head down, back-to-back and 2/5 engaged! This one might just be early, I guess.

Hope you're all having nice weekends - off for one of our last grown up evenings for a while tonight to eat Thai and see Avatar.

dragon Glad all going well, tis a buga being stuck in the middle!! Enjoy Avatar - we saw it this week and it's fab!

DB Must be so excited to have one week left at work AND move into your new house - so jealous!!

evitas Really sorry you're having a crap time. At least you have had some reassurances all is ok. REST UP!!!

Off out tonight to mexican with DH, twin and BIL. Likely be my last 'grown up' child free night out as can;t think I'l be bothered in another few weeks. 34 weeks today - 6 weeks and counting!! Now officially a pre-term rather than a preemie!!

Hi All - nothing of any import to tell you but thought I'd say hello. DH and I are putting up PAX (IKEA) wardrobes tonight in the DCs room. Then DCs will move in there, vacating nursery for bump. There is no drawback to this plan. Right?

PIxie need too look up this funny thread of yours.

Emlou keep resting up - none of this is your fault so eat chocolate, watch I Can cook until the wash your hands song come out of your ears and enjoy the excuse to avoid all menial tasks. ( very very pleased that you've got a reprieve. Somehow one of us actually having a baby makes it all FAR TOO REAL)

Being a nosey old so and so I did a search and TLC is still about just not posting here!

Ang, Rebecca, DB, Bluey - thanks so much for your tips, they're all right up there on the list of areas to look in. And Pixie & IWCAS get a mention too... Old Street? Love it but WAY out of our price range. You always have to compromise between a great area or a bigger house.

Evitas - I left a comment on your blog, there's a link to mine on there. Great that your baby is ok!

DB - Polish builders are the best, hope it all gets finished soon!

IWCAS - good news that your ex is much nicer.

I've just realised everything I've written is off topic... sorry. Don't have much to add about pregnancy, mine is still like watching paint dry. But I know I'm lucky, I don't have any significant problems like some of you, everyone in pain or discomfort or with worries have my sympathies and I'm sending positive vibes... and peace & love maaan.

2 words....................................

IKEA FLATPACK.........................................
[a ngry][ang ry]

I have only just found this thread. I'm due March 30th. Second baby and possibly more scared than the first.

Welcome Kellze I also feel pretty scared about having this one most of the time ( and it's my 3rd). Anything in particular scaring you?

Oh and the flat pack still not finished but 12:45am was frankly my limit!