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

Barbeasty so funny to hear your DH's expectations. It'll all be so exciting for him when the time comes and so lovely that you can even have these conversations with him. I remember my DH being completely switched off each time I tried to talk to him about planning for labour and afterwards with DS1 and DS2 - you can imagine how much focus I am getting from him re: our expected DD.

I too have been shying away from waxing as I do remember it being very painful at this stage in last pregnancy. I will have to tidy up though, because as somebody said it is much easier coping with the bloodflow etc afterwards if you are tidy down there.

I've had a cold for a week and thought I was on the mend, but took a real turn for the worse yesterday with proper sore head, eyes and dizziness etc. Tough that I can't prescribe the usual medications for myself (i.e whisky) and now it looks like the 2 little ones have it as well - so my plans for us to have as much fun as possible before the arrival of DD will be out the window for a few days. Still - nothing like the SPD, insomnia and flutters that some of you are suffering. Hope everyone manages to have a lovely bank holiday weekend

Hi all, I'm new to this and wondered if I could join your list.

My first baby is due on 13th June, we've chosen to have a suprise on the day and I'm currently get to a very grumpy stage of working from home!

We moved to a new area 4 weeks ago and I'm keen to talk pregnancy with those going through the same things as I am as my girlie mates are all now 200 miles away!

Had a lovely day in the end yesterday and even managed to 'get some stuff done'. And went for a swim. Hurrah!

Part of my 'getting stuff done' was a lovely pedicure (at one of the super cheap vietnamese run nail bars that have sprung up all over north london over the past few years)...was so fab and my feet look nice for the first time in ages. Quite a relief, since almost the only things that fit now are sandals...

I also made it into Boots and did a massive pre-baby shop, including all the nappies, wet wipes, cotton wool, nappy sacks, baby bath, sudocreme basics...and lots and lots of always ultra pads . Brilliantly, they were doing triple points yesterday and, even better, they got someone to help cart my stuff to the till and then out to the car as well, which was quite a because 2.5 years ago they were amazingly unhelpful before DD was born!

And I continued my enthusiastic batch cooking that began on Wednesday night. I now have 6 double portions of bolognaise sauce in the freezer and 3 double portions of a mild moroccan veg and chickpea stew. I've already done one load of veg pasta sauce, so now I need to do a large batch of (non spicy) veg chili and a couple of enormous vats of soup and then I can start to breathe....

So, a good day

Totally overloaded at work today, as a result, though, and could barely breathe but, in the middle of a barmy workload managment session with my boss I did a quick count up of remaining work days....and there's only 10 to go!!!!! OK, there might end up being a few more, but I've basically decided I'm not working much past 37 weeks and have made that very clear to my manager

Loving the lady-gardening info - must admit I had a proper wax before I went on holiday 3 weeks ago and it was surprisingly un-painful and I've had no regrowth/pimple issues at all. Will probably do it again in a couple of weeks and then leave it alone - tidy is fairly important but I don't think a couple of weeks minor regrowth is the most pressing concern...Normally I would deal with it myself with my epilady but there's no way I can do that when I can't see below the bump! Amazingly, I'm managing ok with defuzzing my legs, although obviously not attempting it on bad spd days

Thanks for the lists - I'm just starting to think about bags now that I've bought some of the basics. I think my 2 critical items are:

lip balm
water in sports/sippy bottles

although some spare knickers
nice shower gel
shampoo
conditioner
frizz ease
towel
hairbrush
hairbands (lots)
handcream
body lotion

also loom large....

Hope you all have lovely bank holiday weekends, despite the crappy weather

Sounds like you've been very busy fillybuster. Puts me to shame as I'm seeming to spend more and more time sat on my bum the last few days.

Thanks for all the bag suggestions everyone. I'm feeling happy now as I've found my lansinoh. It was in one of my handbags so it must have been me using it as lipbalm

Welcome WaiteH

Hi,

Just thought i would say some more details as this is quite a quick thread and its hard to keep up!
Saw my name on the list and no, we dont know the sex - much to my mothers annoyance!! Enjoying pregnancy apart from a torn muscle (??!) on the top of my bump which is an awful awful pain which is pretty much constant!! Also got GDD which is under control with diet (fingers crossed so far)

Really nice hearing other peoples journeys!!

Hi WaiteH. Nice to see you. Hi Bubs1 too.

I'm struggling to keep up as I'm spending most of my internet time obsessing about carseats and trying to get some luxuries cheap on ebay.

Filly - Would you post your recipe for veg pasta sauce and veg and chickpea stew. I'm totally bored of the things I cook ATM. Also what kind of soups do you like. I have a pretty large repertoire as Sabela like sthem and DH and I usually have a soup and salad for our evening meal but I'm in pregnancy malaise when it comes to food and I don't really fancy them. I'd be happy to reciprocate soup ideas!

Barbeasty I think your DH needs a quick trip around the local maternity unit to set his expectations! . Thinking about your SIL I seem to recall that you do have a dramatically increased risk of PPH after about your 5th or 6th child, but actually doing a search on the research isn't turning up many stats, so it's hard to judge just how appropriate it is to be cautious.

I think sausage and mash sounds like perfect freezer food, ponymum. Nigel Slater has a particularly good onion gravy recipe which elevates it into the ultimate comfort food. Sausages braised in red wine, that's also a good 'un.

Very envious of your productive day Filly - Boots is normally last stop before labour for me to pick up a TENS machine so I've got to the point where I'd rather avoid it over the last three weeks of pregnancy in case it triggers premature contractions . It must be nice to have smooth, shiny feet too - I think it's unfair that I can't see anything in the fanjo region but I can still see my feet (just) which are just as unkempt and it's just as hard to reach them.

Mampam great to hear David C is just as effective as sleeping tablets...confirms many of my suspicions!

Nice to see you WaiteH: make yourself at home, add yourself to the list...what part of the country have you moved to?

Anyway, what's everyone doing for the long weekend? I considering options for tearing myself away from my ebay habit although I'm not sure spending the bank holiday mumsnetting really counts as a much more productive way of spending my time.

Just amending a few of the ages and other recent amendments - thanks for adding the newbies gizmo .

30/05 GoodName, 31, #1 BOY
31/05 RnB, 31, #3
31/05 dinosaurinmybelly (DIMB), 37, #3 GIRL
31/05 - mampam, 30 #3
31/05 - minimoonumbertwo, 33, #2, BOY
1st - Appu, #1 Girl
1st - ELM, 29, #2
1st - whenwillisleepagain, 42 #2
1st - PogueMahone, 36, #3 SURPRISE
1st - madamefreckle, 34,#2 GIRL
2nd - meggymegmegs, 31, #1 SURPRISE
2nd - Justbeme , 41 #3
2nd - AlwaysHopeful, 35, #2 SURPRISE
2nd - roundabout1, no 2,
3rd - nickytwotimes, 35, #2
3rd - Jenba, ?, #3
3rd - Flossysmum, #4
3rd - marmiteaddict, 31, #1 SURPRISE
7th - MrsC09, 29 #1 SURPRISE
7th - perkster, no 1, SURPRISE
7th - Zeel, #1
8th - LittleRobbo, 35, #3 GIRL
8th - Saucepanman, 31, #4
8th - MrsAlwaysRight 31, #2
9th - greensnail, 28, #2 SURPRISE
9th - Boobz, 30, #2 SURPRISE
9th - Petitfilou, ?, 1
11th - shipsladyg GIRL
11th - woofie, 33, # 2 BOY
12th - Georgee, 38, #1 GIRL
12th - Elena67, 43 #1
13th - sobloodystupid, 34, #3
13th - WaiteH, no 1
14th - Fillybuster, 36, #3 - NOT TELLING!
15th - Ponymum, 41, # 2
15th - Millymollymoo, ?, #4 BOY
16th - NizzyNoodles, 35, #3 BOY
16th - Flossie69, 40,#2
17th - Bluesnowfalcon 28 #1 BOY
17th - Summerhols, 31, #1
17th - Barbeasty, 31, #1 GIRL
17th - chestnut100,30 #1 GIRL
17th - LateforWork,#1, SURPRISE
17th - Plum100, #3, SURPRISE
18th - Virgo1979, SURPRISE
18th - theperfectbaguette 34 #1
21st - Gizmo, 40, #3 GIRL
21st - Bubs1,?,SURPRISE
21st - Sunworshipper, 36, #1
22nd - gaelicsheep, 33, #2 - NOT TELLING
23rd - Bobolana, 29 #1 GIRL
24th - GibberingGinger 34 #2+3 BOYS
24th - lifeinthesun #2 BOY
25th - Ilovemyterrier, 38 #1 BOY
26th - herewegrow 31 #2 GIRL
26th - imkeepingmum, #1, SURPRISE
27th - muchchocolate, #2
28th - Wheredidmyfeetgo 32 #3
29th - CantSleepWontSleep, 36, #3, SURPRISE
29th - MrsDmamee #3
29th - playftseforme, 36, #2+3 BOYS
30th - MonkeyMargot, 36, #2+3 SURPRISE
30th - LaTrucha, 36, #2 BOY
30th - NotGrownUpEnough, 29, # 1, SURPRISE
30th - EssieM, 37, #1, SURPRISE

Barbeasty - can't help but at your dh's innocence!

Greensnail - Arnica arnica arnica!! Although you may of course have not put it on your list because you'll have it about your person at all times beforehand, as best to take for a week or so before the birth too.

Bubs1 - I have GD too, diagnosed at 12 weeks this time (had it at 17 weeks last time), but am also controlling it through diet.

Lots of people on here with SPD, but is no-one else suffering from sciatica? Mine is getting worse and worse so that I'm pretty permanently uncomfortable from it now.

Oh, I never took arnica last time, maybe I should. Then again I have to take vitamin K every day, so that should help with bruising too.

CSWS, I wondered if I could ask you something else. Did you find it difficult last time adapting to feeding a newborn again when you're used to feeding an older child. I got an invitation to a breast feeding workshop in the post today, and am wondering whether its pointless me going as I'm already breastfeeding anyway, or worth going to brush up on feeding a newborn. Would appreciate your (or anyone elses) thoughts.

I had a little panic about 'what if i can't remember how to feed a newborn' last time actually gs, as obv by then dd really just did it all herself, but I watched a little dvd that I got from lll (it wasn't made by them, but it was new out and they had a load of copies) and that helped to reassure me, plus knowing that I knew where to go if I did need any help.
In fact ds fed fine, my milk came in v quickly as I was still feeding them both, and all was well. The odd thing, and I know a few other tandem feeders who have been put off and stopped because of this, is that it feels very different feeding an older child to feeding a baby, and you can feel a bit on edge at first feeding the older one. That feeling does pass though.
I can't actually remember whether you said that you've stopped feeding your dd, or if she's still going? Sorry - rubbish memory .

greensnail are you going to be feeding 2 kiddies at once?

CSWS I had sciatica with my last 2 pregnancies (thank god I haven't got it this time). I can remember it being worse at night, so much so I had to hold myself above the loo seat with my arms because it was so painful and bending over was agony too, I used to get stuck in a position and exH had to come and pull me out of it as it was too painful to get myself out of the position (if that makes sense).

I'm in quite a lot more pain with the SPD now, I seem to be squeeling again at night when I turn over and when I walk up the stairs too. I just wish this pregnancy was over, tbh I've hated every moment of it. I've come this far without any major painkillers but think I might have to give in and get some from the GP next week

My mother's driving me around the bend again. I tried telling her about my iron tablets and my palpitations but all she was interested in was when I had to see the consultant to get the date for my C'section no doubt so she can start playing the doting grandmother again (to others not to us).

Warning! Avoid any shoes with heels! Avoid toddlers!

Yesterday, I realised my flat shoes were wet through from the previous day's rain. All I had was a court shoe with a small heel. I was in absolute agony walking in them, and the feeling has stayed. It's not been helped by DD playing kitchens with my tupperwear, which I trod on with one foot while cooking. I thought I was going to split in two.

I'm hoping it will go away soon and not develop into full-blown SPD (which was niggling before). I just can't afford another trip to the osteopath.

Have spent the day obsessing about carseats. Any preferences out there. I don't think we're going to get an ISOFIX, btw. I know it's easier but ATM I don't see the DCs going in the car very much.

Nothing firmly decided on the car front (for those who remember) but it feels like we're seeing trees now, not the whole wood.

Barbeasty - Your DH! Bless him!!

Cantsleep - Is it ok to start taking arnica while still pregnant then? I took it after the birth last time and not sure if it helped. When do you recommend starting and what dose?

LaT- Let us know which car you decide on! Carseats - I love maxi cosi - have used all stages and all fab - v. secure in my car unlike many others. Most older cars won't have isofix capability. Hope your niggling SPD doesn't get worse

I'm very glad to hear I'm not the only one with the muff dilemma. Something needs to be done with some degree of urgency - I have slight concerns over birds nesting etc. Meggy Thanks for your graphic description! LOL

WaiteH - Hello!!

Just spent quite a wad on Bumgenius nappies (but reduced as Real Nappy Week) -tried to do real nappies last time but gave up...now I'm determined to try again. Really hope they do the job well and are fairly faff-free. I've read loads of good reviews. Have any of you tried them?

LaTrucha we've bought this one as it lasts from birth to 4 years and we didn't want a travel system. One of our cars has ISOFIX but the other doesn't so we needed something that would fit in with just the seat belt. Got a good discount on it from Boots online a month ago or so - if you shop around or wait for the discounts to come up you can get it for under £100.

madamefreckle also considering bumgenius but as we are first timers very much in the dark! So welcome any recommendations on her.

Thanks CSWS, that's exactly it. I'm just a bit freaked out that I won't remember how to feed a newborn. Yes, DD is still feeding and seems to be wanting to feed more and more over the last week or so (maybe she's developed a taste for colostrum!) so I can only really see it increasing more after the birth so yes Mampam, looks like I'll definitely be feeding the two of them at once.
Sometimes when i'm having a real panic, I have visions that I won't be able to feed the baby and end up bottlefeeding the baby while still breastfeeding my toddler, which obviously would be completely ridiculous! I think I have a similar DVD to the one you mentionned hanging around somewhere so will have a look at that and maybe pop into baby cafe if I get the chance to have a chat to someone about it. Don't think I'll bother with the feeding workshop then, I might scare off some of the newbies with my worries about tandem feeding

Mampam go and get the painkillers definitely. You've done amazingly to get this far without them, but time to start putting yourself first for a few weeks before the baby arrives.

LaT if the kids aren't going to spend very much time in the car, I wouldn't spend too much time obsessing over carseats (speaking as someone who spends hours obsessing over car seats and has a rearfacing group 1 seat for DD). The most important thing is that whatever seat you choose is properly fitted in the car and the child is properly strapped into the seat.

madamef Have never used bumgenius myself but know a few people who do, and they seem to either love them or hate them. Hope you fall into the love category, but if not I think they have good resale value. I personally prefer 2 part nappies, but all-in-ones can be good especially if you're going to have people unfamiliar with cloth changing the nappies.

I'm going to a christening today, but feel like a fat frump as I couldn't find anything decent to wear. At least DD has a pretty new dress to wear so she'll have to look like she's made the effort for the whole family.

LaT We just love the Maxi cosi. We didn't go for the Isofix base, but went for the (cheaper, more flexible) Easybase. It is so easy to click the seat in and out so tbh I'm not sure what the fuss over Isofix is all about. The Maxi cosi also goes in our other car with just the seat belt fitting, so it's very flexible.

greensnail I feel like that most days. I'm so focussed on making sure DD has clean clothes and nicely done hair, and then I trail along behind like a fat frump with manky hair and my "leave me alone I'm just trying to survive the last 6 weeks" pregnancy clothes!

MadameF - We love Motherease birth-to-potty here. I'm not great at pocket nappies as we started using cloth when DD was already a toddler and I couldn't get used to frequent nappy changes again. I've never had a problem with Motherease. I've also tried Popolini AIO (but only work on a real skinny minny like my DD), Fuzzis - (another pocket, so not for me), Totsbots Fluffles (Fine. Very quick drying. I prefer poppers to nippers though) and random other ones. My advice would be get some cheapies on here first and see what you like. Everything I've bought on here has been immaculate. I've got Motherease Sandy's and a few little lambs to try out on DC2 while he's tiny (I don;t think a birth-to-potty is going to be great on a newborn. You can always use a pre-fold or a muslin in a wrap at first though).

Someone was selling some Sandy's really cheap on here a few days ago. I bought a couple of wraps from her which she described as 'worn' but they looked totally fine to me, so she's pretty trustworthy. She says the Sandys are in good nick. here. I was tempted myself.

Thanks for car seat advice. I've realised it will be far more sensible to actually buy a car first and then get the local Halfords to check they fit properly.

I'mkeepingmum - I had a look at that online. Do you thikn it looks snug for a newborn? Difficult to tell without seeing it.

You ladies are going to hate me, but I've been thinking that actually, I look really ok ATM. LAst pregnancy I looked terrible, truly. But I got some clothes I quite like on ebay, and my skin looks nice. I've caught myself in the mirror a few times recently and been pleasantly surprised! (ANd put a couple of outfits on ebay which DH was really right about - they didn't suit me!) Although, we've only just got a full-length mirror, so maybe I always look fab

I do have a friend who is great though. She always says, 'You look nice - feeling better? / You look rough- are you ok?' so I can pretty much trust her!

As for pubic haridressing - I'm far, far beyond caring (alhtough you guys have made me a bit anxious ). I'm doing my toenails and that's it!

Oh, and you ladies going for a c-section. Don't bother with nail polish or make-up - they'll have it off you for the op.

LaT I'm really glad you've said that as I secretly feel like I look quite nice ATM too but didn't want to say so. I'm normally quite prone to breakouts but my skin's feeling great and I think that this pregnancy has really quite suited me. I keep thinking that I'm going to look quite rough with tiredness etc when the baby comes so making the most of it!

Welcome to the new ladies

Thanks csws and gizmo for updating the lists.

Having a lovely weekend so far. Fab (free) meal out with dh last night, Sunday lunch at the in laws today and shopping for all the last bits and pieces with dh tomorrow. Then 4 days in work and I'm on mat leave . Can't come quickly enough!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

Oh and, I hate to bring it up but I think we should start thinking about a new thread name, noticed we're well into the 900's...

Latrucha the car seat has a padded newborn insert which looks very snuggly for a newborn - the manual says to remove the insert when they reach about 5.5kg (12lb ish).

thread name...hmm will have a think

Feeling at those who are looking good at this stage of the pregnancy. My DH, for some reason, really seems to like the way I look when I'm pregnant and is always commenting on it, but even he's started saying I don't look so well, so it must be bad!

LaT I hope you get on with the little lambs. They really seem to suit DD well and I think they're quite underrated. Their wraps are pretty rubbish though, I've found.

Just typed a huge long post but somehow managed to lose it! Will try to post in short bursts instead.

Ref nappies, i prefer lollipop bamboo two part nappies. Also have one-life for size two upwards, but dont like them as much, mainly because i prefer velcro to poppers. Having just potty trained dd (who still struggles to not poo in her knickers - any advice welcome!) I cant get my head round starting again, but just over 4 weeks to get my head around it!

Am giving up posting for tonight. Just lost another message and am too tired and emotional to try again. Will be back tomorrow. Night night ladies!

Yup, sciatica going on nicely here, too, CSWS, alongside the SPD....its fun, isn't it? I get it really badly on my left, so was advised to sleep on my right hand side through the second half of my pregnancies...except now I find the spinning babies website suggests avoiding sleeping on your right if your baby is posterior (which mine is, again), because that can aggravate the problem. So, help me decide...less pain now or (maybe) an easier birth in 6 weeks time?!

Very impressed by all the dual feeding advice, from CSWS and greensnails plans...makes me feel like a total wimp for only managing about 5 months each time! Good to know we've all got somewhere to come for help and support

I'm not sure which camp I fall into on the looks front. Definitely with ponymum and greensnail in feeling frumpy and trying to keeps the dcs looking smart to balance things out. But then other people (including my mother and dh, neither of whom are known to mince words) tell me I look good at the moment. So a bit ...I think my main problem is that most of the clothes I feel 'good' in (like my topshop skinny jeans) no longer fit comfortably because of my oedema (and probably the unecessary part of my weight gain ), so my wardrobe options have shrunk. But I think that always happens to me in the last 6 weeks and I'm obviously not going to buy anything new now - I've got plenty to wear, I just don't feel quite as 'me' though.

Anyway....have spent the afternoon moving DD into DS' bedroom...to the huge excitement of both children (although it has utterly buggered my SPD again!). It took about an hour for the squeals and giggles to stop tonight, slightly concerned what time they'll start again in the mornning....somehow I think our regular 8.30-ish starts might have gone flying out of the window for a while!

I'll try to type up the chickpea stew and mail it to you LaT, alongside soup ideas...I'm not that inventive, so it tends to be my staples of minestrone (a meal in a bowl!), leek & potato, asparagus, celeriac and then whatever is in my veg box and hasn't been used by the end of the weekend...I should probably try to do more inventive things with lentils and pearl barley as I've got them in, they freeze well, are fairly substantial and dh and I really like them I've got an excellent dhal soup recipe from Gordon Ramsay in the times, a few years ago, but I vaguely remember it being really faffy and I no longer have the patience...!

Hope you all have lovely rest-of-bank-holidays. London Zoo for us tomorrow, if it isn't raining....fingers crossed!

Hope the bank hol going ok for people. Ours has been pretty dull - don't feel I'm dealing well with 3 yr old DS, and have been clutching my copy of Penelope Leach (I know she got some bad press recently, but I love her original book). DS is very clingy, wants mummy to do everything, and is going backwards fast with things like using the toilet and just wants to be babyish - all perfectly normal according to the book, but a bit wearying. I'm also beginning to feel panicky about how I'll manage with two children, I know this must sound totally pathetic to those of you who seem to cope so well with more, but I found having a small baby made me unbelievably anxious after DS was born. However, with really good timing, after being referred a few weeks ago, I have been seen by a counsellor at the GP practice for an assessment session - and am due to see her again next week. It's all solution-based stuff, which I think could work well for me.

Meanwhile I offered DS' old cot on freecycle and got loads of requests for it. Really hope I have given it to someone who needs it rather than some salvage dealer who'll rip off a needy family - but there's a limit to the amount of moral decision making I have the energy for. It also made me think I've been extravagant in buying the new bedside cot for the baby, but am justifying it on basis that anything that makes nightimes better is worth it.

And then DH has come over nauseous in the last few hours and has just started projectile vomiting. I am trying to confine him to one part of the flat and doing lots of dettolling, not my usual style but we could do without it spreading any further. Better go and see how he's doing. Will catch up with everyone's news again during the week. Found the hospital bag lists really useful BTW.