Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where my toenails is - Due June 2010

[greensnail]

Ok, here it is ladies. Nice new thread for us all to enjoy

He is!

I'm going to have a proper catch up alter as lots of interesting discussions but I just wanteed to say that I saw a thread recently about matresses and there is some suggestion that the chemicals in them can break down and may contribute to SIDS. It's not firmly proven, but I too think £15 for a new moses matress is worth it.

Mind you, DD is still on her cotbed matress after two years, so I don't know how that works out.

CSWS - That's what I would go for in that model. May go for the green in the city mini. Do you know if there's any guidance on how long the same child can use a mattress?

Nizzy - I have thought about it. Frankly, I'm not convinced either by buggy or buggy board ATM. I'll have to supress my natural impatience and wait and see.

GibberingG - Weight it the factor with me too. Nippa and Baby Jogger are about the same though.

Very tired here too. I feel almost normal today. DD was up at 6am so DH took over and let me go back to bed until 12 . I'm off for another lie down while DD is asleep though. Seems foolish not to get as much kip as possible.

We're supposed to be travelling on the trains tomorrow. If any of you go intercity today, can you let me know if it's a nightmare. Radio says the trains are chocca because of the flight cancellations.

LaTrucha From what I have read, there does not seem to be any problem with one child using the same mattress for any length of time. The problem main problem, as far as I understand is when a mattress has been reused for different children. I think this is due to bacteria in the mattress from one baby, causing problems for the next baby. From what I remember reading this is thought to be less of an issue between siblings which is why I was more worried about our moses basket mattress, which has been around the family, than the cot mattress which has just been used by DD.

I really don't think you have very much to worry about, cot death over the age of a year is extremely rare. If it is worrying you though, I would call the FSID helpline on 0808 802 6868 and check it out with them as they'll have the up to date recommendations. Or you can email them on [email protected]

Hi, not been on for a while because I am have been too tired/lazy to write anything. Have been reading it all though.
My DH washes etc every day although he was not so good when we first got married. Now he smells lovely .

With regards to mattresses you can brand new decent ones very cheaply on ebay. Bought a crib mattress for £8 somthing today and prob going to get this sprung cot one for £37 also. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120507363900&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT. Seems exactly the same as the much more expensive ones in baby shops. Is it worth buying sprung mattresses by the way or is foam just as good?

Have so much to do at work just now but it is so hard to concentrate. Have 6 weeks to finish all my work and teach someone else what to do while I am off and just cant be bothered. Am working on all the year end tax/paye stuff just now, just adding up lots of figures - not at all exciting.

Struggling a lot with lack of sleep here, mostly caused by head going crazy stressing about totally unimportant stuff in the middle of the night. Yesterday I woke at 4 and did not get back to sleep. Still I guess it is good preperation for when the baby comes.

Was at a farm park with my nieces (2 & 5) this morning and am shattered as they do not get that this bump means I cannot ride go karts and bounce on giant pillows as much as normal so I just get dragged on everything just the same. My sister bought me a yummy lunch when she picked us up to make up for it though (keyline pie yum). Now I must get on with some work

Goodname - I know it sounds obvious but I've been struggling with insomnia too and the best thing I've tried is ... hot milk! Followed by a glass of milk when I wake up. I started a thread about it in 'pregnancy' if you want to know what other people suggested.

Greensnail - I'm not really stressing about it. It just occurred to me as I was writing that post!

Goodname here.

We have a sprung mattress for DD, purely because that is what I would prefer to sleep on. I did find it really hard, though and have put a quilt on top of it under the sheet. Not strictly regulation, but it seems to work. We have the Tutti Bambini one (you can find it on ebay too. We bought it from supplier though).

Oh dear...I came back to chaos at work and despite my best intentions this afternoon is the first chance I've had to even look on here since last week. And of course having caught up on a weeks worth of posts I now can't remember any proper details about anything.......

...except I absolutely cracked up at pogues story Brilliant!

Right then, first things first: I regret to report that the filly household has seen limited "action". This is mostly due to my crappy back/spd pain which came back in force over the weekend We did manage to get a nice vibe going, which has definitely left us both a bit smilier/more lovey, but we didn't get close to the real thing. Sorry to disappoint....!

I finally saw a real doctor (not a GP, a proper grown up consultant ) for the first time 3 pregnancies on Tuesday. Was worth waiting 2 hours for my appointment (and being embarrassingly late for a customer meeting afterwards) as they didn't tell me off for time wasting and agreed I should have been referred sooner. In short, I have fine (although not enjoyable!) pregnancies but crappy labours and awful post-partum issues. We had a good discussion about what the hospital can do to provide support/damage limitation and she has written some great instructions on my notes (like: admit early (from 1cm), epidural from 3cm immediately on request, prophylactic antibiotics straight after the birth, senior reg on hand during delivery and for stitching etc). I appreciate this might sound a bit over-medicalised for lots of you (and I wish it was for me) but after 2 back-to-back labours, awful deliveries, bad tearing, infected stitches etc etc I'm just relieved to have a safety net in place...

Only 20-ish days of work left, but I've just found out that I don't automatically get maternity cover. So we're frantically working on the business case to get someone in...bloody irritating as its hard to see how my role will still exist in 12 months if no-one keeps stuff going. And they will only pay my pro-rata'd salary for the post, which will make it hard to find someone with enough experience to deliver the role full time . I feel like this is underhand corporate bullying to make me come back to work early.... (And it won't work!)

Cant remember who asked (Nizzy?) but DD has just moved into an Ikea bed (the one with the animals)...it was DS's - he has moved into a new full size bed with steps and stuff.

Might buy a new cot mattress as the current one is fairly old but the crib mattress has been stored, unused, for 2 years. I reckon a good wipe down with Milton and a thorough airing should be enough...my previous dcs were only in it for about 9 weeks each.

DH shaves every morning, brushes twice/day, flosses every night, showers/baths in the evening (or straight after sport) and generally smells pretty yummy. It helps that I like him a lot

Slightly nervous though, as he has got his new job (yay) but looks like he's going to be let off the 3 month notice for his current position so can start really soon. Must admit that although he's happy about it, I'd have preferred him not to be starting a brand new job (which requires him to work really hard and long hours) just as this bump is due. But that's nothing compared to some of your dps relocation issues, so I'll shut up about it now!!

Right, time to put the dcs to bed. Hope you all have relaxing evenings....

goodname I just bought the cheapest foam mattress I could find for DD, figuring she wouldn't be using it for that long before she moved into a bed and that I'd want to replace it for DC2. She's always been a good sleeper, so it seems to have been fine for her.

fillybuster glad your consultant appointment went well. Sounds like you have a very good consultant who listened to your concerns and has acted on them. I'll sure it will help you to have a good labour, just knowing that there is a plan in place to deal with the issues you have had in the past. I know medicalised labours aren't for everyone, but these facilities are there for those of us who need them, and we shouldn't have to justify our choices to anyone.

Filly - Your consultant appt sounds positive. Just good to go into the whole thing with a sense of control - whether medicalised or not.

Result on the mission-to-de-stink-the-dp front: He has bought some deodorant! Apparently DS chose it and it smells pretty good. At least one of the boys in my house has a decent sense of smell. I have also relayed some of your responses to him - think he feels appropriately humbled but that's not to say he'll take action long term to combat his smells. Mampam - Your dp's dog breath made me snigger! Breakthrough that he noticed himself I guess! It does amaze me how little effect my comments have but if dp ever catches a whiff of himself he leaps into action. Also I find it faintly miffing that before meeting loaded clients he really polishes himself up (and even shaves ) but he rarely does it for me - guess i'm too much of a given.

I have to say, when I met him I seriously thought he smelt of roses after my previous 'hippy'/dreadlocked bf! Gizmo, interesting what you were saying about hormones, body smell and compatibility. I saw a program on that some time ago. Perhaps when pregnant my receptors just change dramatically as I no longer need to find his scent attractive for reproductive purposes! Bummer!

Mattresses: I bought an expensive 'natural coir' one for ds which cost quite a bit - also had to have it custom made as our cot is a weird-shaped family heirloom. So I will not be buying a new one for the baby. My parents used the same awful plasticky one for all three of us and still have it now for when we take our kids to stay. I balk at it slightly but it does the job!

Just to let you know that DH has seriously redeemed himself today. He came home from work with a bag of goodies from Sainsbury's.
2 x bottles of Schloer (sp?), Radox bubble bath, Scones, clotted cream and a bunch of flowers

He said it was to cheer me up as he doesn't like watching me go through all this. Bless him.

So my belly is full and I've had my relaxing bath (he surrounded it with candles too!) so here's to (hopefully) a good nights sleep.

Hope you all have one too

mampam - not long to go now

LaT - what greensnail said re mattresses!

I suffer from insomnia sometimes too, but hot milk absolutely not an option for me!

Glad to hear that your consultant appt was constructive filly.

Glad we have helped on the de-stinking mission freckle.

Anyone else suffering almost constantly with heartburn now? I seem to have taken to swigging gaviscon direct from the bottle on a roughly twice daily basis.

Yup Cantsleep heartburn is definitely a much more regular visitor here. Not constant, but frequent enough to put me off curries at the moment, which is a bummer. I seem to recall it getting better in the last 2/3 weeks of pregnancy as the baby drops so hopefully we'll only have to endure a few weeks of the process.

Hope you're sleeping peacefully Mampam: that was really sweet of your DH.

Filly good to see you. What a bummer about the maternity cover - I had exactly this issue in my first two pregnancies but fortunately don't work for the sort of sussed large corporate that would see it as an ideal moment for headcount reduction. I had thought, though, that there would be statutory protection for the role while you're on maternity cover? Or doesn't it work like that?

Anyway, pleased to see that you'll be getting some safety nets in place for managing your labour. Here's hoping that now you've got them you won't need them

Yep, I also have heartburn. Its not as constant as when I was pg with DD, but more severe when it does come on. Considering buying a cow as I'm getting through so much milk to try and control it!

I had a horrible really vivid dream last night that the baby had died in me. Was really terrifying and I woke up believing it was true at about 4am. Was just about to go and wake up DH to tell him about it and was seriously wondering whether I should go to the hospital to get checked out when he/she started giving me a good kicking! I've never felt so relieved to feel the baby moving.

madame and mampam, nice results on the dh front

Cantsleep I'm (touch wood) not suffering too badly with heartburn yet. I get the occasional disgusting acid reflux that makes me feel like I'm going to be sick but it's rare at the moment so I'm feeling quite lucky there.

greensnail Your nightmare made me shudder, how awful and thank goodness the baby was awake and kicking straight away so you didn't panic too much.

Doing an office move today at work and have spent the morning packing up my desk and moving 5 year's junk. I must have overdone it a bit and started to get seriously woozy so my lovely work colleagues made me sit down with my feet up while they fed me cakes, water and tea to help my recovery .

filly your consultant sounds great, good to hear your history being taken seriously.

Horrid dream greensnail. Funny how anxiety shows itself in dreams.

meggy your work colleagues sound lovely

Am sending virtual screams to CSWS
Just had a thought, those of you carrying twins could give birth sooner rather than later!! Could those ladies please cross their legs and make sure they do not give birth before me as I may have to do more virtual screaming

Felling a bit about something that happened today. DC's stayed at their dad's house last night and I had to pick them up after my physio appointment this morning. DC's wicked step mother took them swimming first thing and we'd arranged to meet in a nearby car park. When I came out of the hospital I had a text to say that they were at ex MIL and SIL's house so to pick them up from there.
When I pulled up DC's and SM were waiting in the parking area for me and exSIL was standing in her front doorway, she then closed the door and only openned it again as I was driving away.
I have known her since she was 6 years old and now she is 20. SIL got friendly with DC's SM last summer (after her brother, my ex and SM hadn't spoken to his family for 2 years) and she hasn't spoken to me since.

Stupid thing is I don't really know why I'm so surprised as a couple of our mutual friends (mine and ex's) won't speak to me now after getting friendly with his wife, they even had the cheek to ask mutual friends not to come to mine and DH's wedding.
Although I'm used to this kind of thing happening, I still find it so

On a lighter note I had a wonderful sleep last night. Shame I had to get up early and take DH to work, who only had half a herd of elephants with him this morning when he got up, so at least we're getting there

Bloody SPD Back in force and ow-ow-ow!

Although nowhere near as bad as Mampams I must admit I'm thinking "I can't believe there's still 8-9 weeks to go"...and I'm also ready to snap at the next person who says "only x to go" to me....grrrrr!!!!!

Sorry. Rant over. Not too sure what came over me there...

...oh yes, I know - the fact I've been sitting really carefully all day and have done abso-bloody-lutely nothing at all (apart from work at home) and I'm still in pain with constant spasms....

What a horrible dream, Greensnail, so pleased that the 4am kick-fest was welcome for once Hopefully there'll be no more like that....

I'm amazingly tired and grumpy and hormonal and vile to be around at the moment - I warned dh last night that if I get remotely broody in approx 2 years time he is to put his foot down and remind me how much I haven't enjoyed this pregnancy. He responded "yes, you're going to take that really well when you're in full-on broody hormone flight, aren't you?" . Oh dear. Anyway, promise to self: 3 is enough

Hope you all have lovely weekends and manage to get some sunshine....I was hoping to plant up the tomatoes and carrots this weekend and move all the strawberry plants out of the greenhouse to make space for the toms but somehow I don't think that's going to be happening. Will have to boss dh and ds about instead...

Evening all. Am completely knackered today. Ds had us up for half the night and an early morning. We have no idea what's up with him really, unless it's the same canines that we've been blaming for ages (still not actually through) or just the confusion for him of being in a strange place. Ah well, back home tomorrow.

On a brighter note, I had a lovely pregnancy massage tonight, and only had to go to a room a few paces from our cottage for it. The therapist reckoned that an experienced reflexologist can predict the sex of the baby with around 95% accuracy by checking the bladder bit of the foot. My two feet were apparently quite even, making it harder, but she was drawn towards thinking that it's a boy, which concurs with my suspicions. Well I guess we'll all find out in 11 weeks or so!

Thanks for your responses re heartburn. Particularly because reading them just now reminded me to go and add another bottle of gaviscon to my ocado order for tomorrow night!

Can you add me too??? Im due on 21st June

Hi everyone, uust catching up

filly glad your appointment went well
greensnail I had a dream last week that the bump (aka dd) was stillborn, it was horrendous

I have had 24hrs in hospital this week, started bleeding for first time ever during a pregnancy on Thursday, not much, so I wasn't too worried, but rang delivery suite and they asked me to go in. Having wondered for the previous few days how long it would take to pack a hospital bag urgently, now know anwswer, 2 mins. Anyway, all is fine, and having done my usual weeping as soon as one of the maternity care assistants was nice to me, I then calmed down as soon as heard baby on monitor. Got moved to the antenatal care unit, where I was just grateful to see that my concern was totally minor compared to what other women were going through. And after the predictable night of no sleep, got discharged yesterday.

At least it was a bit of a practice run for the real event and I packed my back a bit more efficiently last night and it was bliss tto be back in own bed. And thankfully DS was at nursery when it all happened and DH was able to look after him yesterday with back up from MIL and FIL. Phew!

Interested in mattress discussions. A friend is lending moses basket, must ask her today wwhat the make is so can order a new mattress.

Hi everyone

Sorry to hear about your bleeding and admission whenwillisleepagain. Hope you're taking it easy now.

Welcome bubs1

Much sympathy for your lack of sleep CSWS. Surely you're due a good sleeper with baby no.3! Although you might have to change your name if that happens. DD is also a bit under the weather, which I'm putting down to the fact that she's got her canines coming through too. I probably shouldn't tell you that her version of feeling poorly is to be grumpy when she's up, but generally just sleeping lots. Interesting about your reflexologist. My friend's accupuncturist was able to tell she was pg before she knew herself, and also accurately predicted the sex.

Hope everyone's got lovely things planned for the weekend. We were hoping to go to The Living Rainforest, but DD seems to be planning on sleeping all day, so I'm going to indulge my nesting instinct and sort out all the baby stuff.

Glad your ok now whenwillisleepagain Did they give you a reason for the bleeding?

How are you getting on sorting out the baby stuff greensnail? As I'd given everything away, clothes and blankets etc, that I had for DC's I've had to buy it all again. I stuck it all away in the packets/wrappers and last weekend DD got it all out, folded it all up really neatly and put it away in order of what I will need to take to the hospital with me She's also informed me that she will be packing the baby things into the hospital bag and I can pack my own things! At least someone is organised in this household. Quite odd though being told what to do by your 10 year old DD and even worse when she seems to make more sense of things too.

Had a bit of a fright last night, I had the most excruciating pains on the left side of my bump going into my groin too. I was upstairs when it started and I think I only made it down the stairs because it was DC's bedtime and I didn't want to frighten them.
I was bent over double and shaking/shivering too. DH made me a hot water bottle and I took some paracetamol. We agreed to give it half an hour before calling the hospital but I fell asleep in that time. Woke up in the night feeling absolutely fine
Don't know what it was but baby is fine and is kicking about just as much as normal. Could have possibly been trapped wind???? Felt a bit like something was twisted.

All's well now and I've been to the cinema today!! I have to say my Physio has done a wonderful job on me with the acupuncture because 2 months ago I couldn't have even contemplated a) travelling 50 minutes in the car to Plymouth and b) walking into and sitting comfortably in the cinema for a couple of hours. Today was like a normal family outing, the first we've had since I've been PG

Getting on well with the sort out thanks mampam. Just have a couple more loads to wash as I ran out of clothes pegs for getting it dry. Have been marvelling over how tiny it all is - can't believe DD was ever that small! Your DD sounds like my niece, she spent ages sorting out all DD's clothes for me when we were staying with them last year as she thought how I had them was too disorganised (she's 7!)
That pain sounds scary, glad all seems ok today and hope it doesn't come back. Make sure you get it checked out if it does though.
Great news about the cinema trip too, must have been great for you and the dcs.

Hello bubs1!

mampam - Ouch, that pain sounds a bit frightening. Have to admit I am sometimes doubled over with wind pain really low down on one side so, as you say, it could've been that.

Filly - Sorry to hear your SPD is back with a vengeance. . However, you sound like you're doing much better on the veg front than me. Our allotment seriously lets the side down next to all of the other perfectly ordered and weed-free ones. So far we've just stuck in some onions and potatoes. Think I'll just chuck in a load of seeds (to our v. weedy beds) in May and hope for the best!!

Cantsleep - Hope everything's ok after your bleeding scare. Packing hospital bag in 2 mins is pretty impressive. Glad to know it can be done if necessary!

Greensnail - What a horrible dream. Good work on the clothes washing. - I'm beginning to feel very behind!

I'm getting really worried about the birth and about DP being there. It probably sounds ridiculous but there is no real intimacy between us (and hasn't been throughout this pregnancy). I'm going to feel so exposed and vulnerable baring all (and then some). I'm not so concerned about the m/w being there but with dp I don't feel like he finds me attractive anyway and this is going to be the final straw! I was worked up and crying about this last night and mentioned my worries to dp but he just said 'stop getting so worked up' which didn't make me feel much better. I feel like we are so disconnected in that way . Sorry to keep ranting about my problems with dp.

I then found myself awake at 2.30am, aware of my breathing and sort of feeling a bit short of breath...this obviously concerned me but then turned into a panic attack with my heart pounding, head spinning etc. I managed to control it after about 10 mins...but horrible!

Oh, really sorry, I got mixed up with the sleepless people - the message above was meant for whenwillisleepagain, not cantsleep.

whenwillisleepagain - This must be prime time for scary baby dreams. Poor you, must have been awful. Hopefully you'll have some more positive ones. A few weeks before ds was born I had a dream that he came out chatting fluently about where rabbits come from!

Cantsleep - What do reflexologists look for on the feet to work out the sex? 95% accuracy is just about as accurate as a scan!