Due September thread 10 - On the downhill slope...

[Kiwifruit]

Here's the new thread ladies - may it be as chatty as the last 9!!

[beatie]

Hi everyone

Sorry not to respond to anyone else's messages personally. I've just skim read and quickly forget who said what.

I had my hospital appointment and growth scan yesterday. I'm 31 weeks and 4 days. I measure around 26 weeks and the baby measures ....... BIG!

Unbelievable but true. The baby is measuring around 32 weeks and 4 days. BUT, the abdominal measurement is beyond that and on the 97th percentile. This means I have to have the glucose tolerance test as it could be a sign of GD. Some people here had that test... is it OK?

So, I have no idea where I hide my babies but I really don't loook 7 months pregnant.

Other news - we still haven't exchanged contracts but it should happen today. Our buyers have had the most incompetent solicitor who must have held up the process by about 4-6 weeks. My solicitor says our case is unprecedented! I'd rather be unique for something else!

My stress levels don't cope well with this wait to move. The completion date we're working towards is 22 July. If it doesn't happen then I might just have a breakdown

[LadyLazarus]

beatie - the glucose tolerance test is fine, they just gave me a bottle of lucozade to drink, and then I had a blood test 1 hour afterwards. Good luck with it all...

Andif - have just had a look on the internet for homeopathy kits for birth and you can buy them online, without a consultation (with instructions). As it's not something I know a great deal about, I might read up on it all a bit first, just to make sure.Let us know what happens in your consultation next week.

[franch]

Hi all, Active Birth Centre sells birth homeopathy kits here .

SIL had extreme pain last night but they're at Zeebrugge so no driving today till they get the ferry this evening. My poor brother keeps texting me, he feels so helpless - there's really nothing they can do but see it through. She just wants to be in her own bed poor thing. And they were so so happy when they got on the ferry to France a few weeks ago

And here am I, packing to head off to the States with no medical insurance for anything pg-related ...

[Piccalilli]

Hi all

Blimey you lot can talk! I didn't log on yesterday as I spent the morning at the hospital getting emergency scanned and the afternoon in bed with a stinking cold/temperature. It's all go. I had to go to the hospital yesterday as I realised I hadn't felt junior kick for about 24 hours - all turned out to be well but it was a haert-stopping wait at the hospital for a scan especially as dh was in court (he's a lawyer) so couldn't come with me.

Gina Ford - I bought the book recently, read it cover to cover, thought 'well that's all very well but I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone' and have put it in a cupboard not to be read again. As a first-timer I've found it helpful for a few hints and tips (e.g. about getting black-out blinds for baby's room, only buying white sheets so you can wash them at a high temperature) and just to give an idea of what's really involved in looking after a baby but I would only read it if you think you're going to be able to take it with a HUGE pinch of salt and not allow it to make you feel like a lousy mother if you're not in the GF routine by the time your baby's three weeks old.

[franch]

Piccalilli, so glad your scan was ok. Must have been horrible to go through though. Very sensible approach to GF

[andif]

picallili - beware of black out blinds they can make you obsessed!!!!!! I got to the stage of sellotaping them to the walls as light got in round the edges!! Then gave in and realised that my children are 'larks' rather than 'owls' - ie they were always going to wake early, but were (and still are)fantastic at going to bed - irritating early in the morning, but at the end of the day, when I want to spend time with dh and pretend to have a life still, I can!

[franch]

You're right, andif - also if you 'train' your little one to only be able to sleep in pitch darkness, you'll have problems any time you want her/him to go down for a nap or for the night at someone else's house, away on holiday, etc.

[RedZuleika]

Surely this black out thing is an individual taste thing, anyway. I personally prefer now to sleep with the curtains open: I can't sleep in complete darkness. My grandmother was exactly the same. And I was like this as a very small child - which might have been problematic before I could communicate the fact.

[Redhelen]

RedZuleika & andif - lack of sleep is really getting to me too. I cap nap initially as baby is quiggly, Im uncomfortable and hot I fall of the sleep nicely at around 3 ish - just in time for ds who gets up at around 5-5.30! So sleep limited to 4-5 hours all told - not very sucessful at day sleeping (too noisy) although I do try to rest! Feeling very emotional today! Not sure I have the strenght for another 7/9 weeks - I'm 31 weeks but have a scan at 36 weeks to see if I need a cs at 38 weeks - small pelvis and back to back baby suspected!

My son has black out blinds abd a black out curtain - but is always up before 6 in summer - he's a lark as you say!

PS I like to keep the curtains open too - for the light & as much air as possible! (my husband moans thought!)Doing my own toenails etc. DH would not entertain this!

[LadyLazarus]

We did it! Have just returned from Mothercare + Babies'R'Us after having broken the bank slightly. Now have pretty much all the big stuff... bought cot + mattress, baby bath set, some sheets + a blanket (have a couple of gro-bags as well already), a pack with steriliser + breast pump in (went for the manual one in the end), some BF nighties, blah blah... Feel uber-organised now Only thing is, we might have to totally rearrange the bedroom to fit the cot in... aah that can wait til another day! Was considering black-out blinds, but winter mornings will be quite dark, and hopefully by next summer we will move to somewhere a bit bigger anyway ...

Picalilli - glad everything went ok, I can imagine how worried you must have been though, esp on your own.

Franch - when do you leave for the States? how long you going for? sounds like it'll be a nice break, but as you say with no insurance... saying that, when we went to Kosovo we didn't bother with insurance (hospitals over there are sometimes based on a 'who-you-know' basis anyway!) and everything was fine.

[moschops]

anyone else having strange dreams? last night i dreamt Brad Pitt came and swept me off my feet, wined and dined me then he panicked when somebody stole his shoes because he thought i wouldn't like him anymore............woke up with a smile on my face anyhow.....but what a very surreal thing to dream about

finding it impossible to get comfortable.....i'm 5ft2, very small frame and think i'm running out of space to put this growing baby. have to sit bolt upright or i can't breathe and my stomach has been squashed so small i can hardly eat anything.....gaviscon is becoming my best friend too!

[Redhelen]

moschops - really Brad Pitt!! No I have crazy dreams about chasing an enormous plum around Tescos - can we swop!!!

Know what you mean about not being able to breath - I'm 5'2 as well and I've been stuggerling for abot 5 weeks now.Also forcing my self to eat now as I have no space and every thing except Ice cream and pinapple is horrid!!! I love Gaviscon little cool pastle thingies. Are you having to sleep sitting up?? - I've tried this with no luck - but if it means I'll dream about Brad Pit - I'll try again!!

[franch]

LadyL - we're off to the States on Sat, for a week. The wedding is on Wed. Looking forward to the trip itself, actually, despite my waning energy, but of course dreading the flight with bump + 18mo DD. And feeling less and less relaxed about the no-insurance thing (we do have travel insurance, of course, but no insurers cover you for pg-related claims after 32 weeks - I turned 32 weeks on Monday - eek).

[Redhelen]

franch

Have great trip to America - your due on the 12th September like me! Have you got some of those support socks? - I read that pregnancy can slightly increase the chance of a problem. Hope your dd is good on the flight too.!

[franch]

Thanks RH, altho I'm actually due on 5 Sept - I turned 32 weeks 2 days ago, you'll be 32w this coming Mon, isn't that right?

Yep, got the lovely sexy support socks - an old pair, altho I recently found out you can get them in diff 'strengths' now and wondered if I should seek out some super-industrial ones?

As for DD being good in a confined space for 8.5 hours .............

[bubbles2904]

hi everyone, sorry haven't really caught up yet. enjoy your holiday franch. just got back from my 3d scan, feel a little peeved though as it cost us £65 and the little monkey had her face to my back so we couldn't even see her or have a pic of her. got to go back in 2 weeks, but i shouldn't moan, at least it's healthy. the heat is doing my head in today, had to peel my uniform off after work, stillonly 7 more working days to go, or 42 hours as i like to keep reminding everyone LOL
lady l, can't believe how organised you are
moschops, that dream sounds fab, but believe me,it wouldn't be his shoes i was interested in LOL
picallilli, glad all was ok at your scan
kiwikate, welcome

[andif]

Franch, have you considered drugging your daughter?!!! A friend of mine travels to the states with her 4 kids regularly, and gets something from the gp to make them sleep! Might be worth having in reserve if the outbound flight is a nightmare, so you don't spend the whole trip dreading the return!

[franch]

Forgot to say welcome kiwikate - don't forget to add yourself to our stats thread Kiwifruit, kiwicath, kiwikate ... what is it about the Sept thread?!

andif - drugs definitely a possibility - flight out is daytime so not the end of the world if she doesn't sleep at all, but as you say, that'll mean we're forewarned for the return flight which is a night one, so we'll be packing the Medised ...

[Redhelen]

yes franch - I see my maths is out!

Your a week ahead - which makes me jelous I am so keen to have this baby!It's been such a struggle and then dh, my mum & mil - can get involved! Can't wait to dress her in the cute clothes I've got for her! 7-9 weeks still feels like a life time!!! Never been known for my patients!!!

[ych]

Franch - sorry to hear about your SIL, she must be dying to just get home. Hope you have a good trip.
Piccalilli - glad everything went ok with the scan.
Welcome kiwikate
Moschops - Last week I dreamt that I was making a film with Tom Cruise! We were running down this stream together and then my alarm woke me up, I was gutted. David Beckham also popped up in one of my dreams but don't remember much about it.
Well I had a crap day at work. I work for a bank (in the office) and we were told that due to re-structuring they're getting rid of half the staff. Going to be a nightmare as the new structure is effective as from 1st Sep, so I'll be on maternity leave. Just means I'm going to be off for 6 months knowing that I don't have a job to go back to. Could really do without the stress just now. Also my bump keeps going really solid and uncomfortable, think it's braxton hicks, it doesnt really hurt but makes it hard to walk about, it's lasting a lot longer than it used to. Also I'm so hot feel like my head is going to burst. Got home from work and just burst into tears, feeling a bit sorry for myself today and very emotional. Sorry for the moan.

Good to hear everyone's comments on GF. Don't think I'll bother buying it.
Re breastfeeding - didn't know you could do other things at the same time! This is a whole new concept to me. I still feel funny at the thought of doing it infront of my step dad and brother in law!

[PiccadillyCircus]

I would rather not be awake now. Why is it as I have more problems sleeping, so does DS (who used to be a lovely sleeper?)

Contemplating doing some ironing (think the lack of sleep is getting to me .

[Boompi]

Franch - Have lots of friends who swear by drugs for little ones on long haul flights. Sure your DH has some ideas!
Just one word of warning - give it a trial run with your DD - my Mum didnt when my brother was 18 mo and he was one of 5% of so who where stimulated by Phenergan. That flight lives on in the memory of the entire family!! Have a great trip.

Had another trip to hospital yesterday - midwives not happy re my very swollen legs/headache combo and ongoing glucose in urine so had to have CTG monitoring. All fine with baby but I have to see consultant again tomorrow. Which means that today is my last day of going into work!! Have a few more weeks of working from home but not too bad.

[LadyLazarus]

Boompi - hope all goes well with the consultant when you see him/her today. Enjoy your last day at work , you'll not know yourself when you can be at home - finishing work early was the best thing I ever did (esp in this heat)!

Had a very strange experience overnight. Was woken up at around 3.15am by hubby running up + down the stairs and then overheard him on the phone to the police saying 'there's a drunken man in my car', so had to get up and investigate. I thought he'd got it wrong, that there was perhaps a drunken man leaning on the car, but I looked out the window and sure enough someone was in the car, tooting the horn and with the radio on full blast. The police came, and clearly found the whole thing very bizarre and amusing! It turned out that the guy (in his early 20s) lives a few doors down from us, and had somehow, in his drunken state, thought that our car was his, got in, and thought he was waiting to pick his girlfriend up (bit odd, as he drives a BMW he said and our car is a Corsa!). Hubby thinks he must have left the window open a bit, and he's just reached in and pulled the button up to unlock the door. The man was quite rightly extremely embarrassed when he realised he was not sitting in his own car. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen tho!! Needless to say I'm shattered now from being awake half the night, but it was well worth it !!

[RedZuleika]

Sorry to be a bit smug here, but I'm sleeping really well. I am having really intense dreams though. Last night was something about being desperate to get a red birthing pool shipped over from the States. Now - red may be my favourite colour, but I'm not that much of a fruitloop.

Now - if Johnny Depp had been delivering the pool, that would have been different...

Irritatingly received my maternity allowance claim form back from Social Security this morning, saying I'd sent it in too early. Having rung them for a quick savaging, they've agreed they can't do their sums properly. Useless.

[andif]

Very funny experience last night. Dh got in from work saying he'd had lunch with a colleague who has a 4 month old who told him all about this fantastic book they've been using to train him into sleeping all night....Dh said he couldnt remember the name but he'd searched on Amazon and was going to buy it today...I said, could it possibly be GF? Oh yes, he said!!! At which the poor bloke got a half hour lecture on why I never want that book in the house!! Very ironic after all the chat on here about it recently. I think he got the message......
V bad sleep again last night. Feel like I'm getting sinusitis again, just to add to my moans!
Franch, have a great time in US, Boompi- good luck with consultant tomorrow.