Due May 2010 - not long now ladies, is this the thread we get to have our first baby?

[sweetkitty]

Here you go ladies, waddle on over and get comfy

27 April (just brought forward a week)- Pagen, 36 #1 (unknown), G&A & water birth (I hope) Bulford, Wiltshire
29 April - Littleowls, 31 #1 ??? Carlisle,Cumbria
01 May - Brightredballoon, 32. #3
03 May - hormonalmum, 33,#3
03 May - Lizzie9442, 23, #4 GIRL
04 May - ForcesSweetheart, 36, #2, GIRL (CS 22/4/10) Bulford, Wiltshire
04 May - Memorylapse,37 #5 GIRL Chester
04 May - Squirtsmum, 27 #1, Belfast NI
05 May - Sweetkitty, 34, #4 3DDs, BOY, Lanarkshire (nr Glasgow)
06 May - DorotheaPlenticlew, 35, #2, GIRL, Edinburgh
06 May - LuckyC, 35, #1, GIRL
07 May - hobnobfanatic, 38, #2 GIRL, Wye Valley/Forest of Dean
08 May - LittleOneMum, 36, #2, GIRL, planned CS, central London
08 May - newmomma, 31, #2 GIRL
08 May - Asparagusaddict, ? , #1
09 May - alexw, 37, #2
10 May - Sophie2008, 28 #2 & #3 (TWINS!) BOY & GIRL
10 May - Gils, 28, #2, ?, Falkirk (Central Scotland)
11 May - Itshappenedagain, 26, #2 GIRL liverpool
11 May - MarquiseDeMerteuil, 33, #1, South London
12 May - pamelat, 31, #2 BOY Nottinghamshire
12 May - Katnkittens 30, #4, GIRL
12 May - Haribolicious 36, #2, BOY
12 May - Mustbemadno3 35, #3
12 May - LivsHannah 27, #2, BOY
13 May - Cith, 30, #1
13 May - Wibblela, 36, #1, GIRL?, Huddersfield
13 May - TinyVeins, 29, #1
13 May - Mummymunchkins, 40, #3, BOY
14 May - MinnieMummy, 37, #3, ??
14 May - Fiveisanawfullybignumber, 37 #5 GIRL
14 May - Carikube, 36 #2 ?, Southampton
14 May - JamesAndTheGiantBanana, 28, #2 GIRL
14 May - CornishSAMum, 33, #1, ?, Cornwall
14 May - TomlinTowers, 31 #2, GIRL, York
15 May - LuckyMiller, 33, #1
16 May - MoggMum, 38, #1
16 May - schipo 40, #1, BOY
16 May - Vicky204, 34, #1
16 May - Rachelfruitloop 35, #2 BOY, Chilterns Bucks (NW London area)
17 May - TwentiethCenturyHeffa, 26, #2 Devon
17 May - Morph2 36 #1
17 May - KaffaCakes, ? , #1
18 May - 30ish, 31, #2 BOY, cs booked 11th May, Bolton
19 May - Pigleychez, 28, #2 West Sussex
19 May - cupcakefairy, 25, #1
20 May - LolaAnn, 22, #1, BOY
20 May - Aim, ?, #2, BOY
21 May - Suey2, 39, no2, GIRL
21 May - Sweetpeasmum, 38, #2
21 May - Mumofeag, 34, #3 BOY
23 May - Mollybob, 37 #3
23 May - RacquelWelsh, 38,#1 BOY
23 May - Nimk, 30, #1
23 May - myfirstbump, 26, #1, Shrewsbury
24 May - AnAngelWithin #5
24 May - Yorky, 31, #3
24 May - peakyispreggers, 27, #1 BOY
25 May - Den26, 26, #1 BOY Inverness, Scottish Highlands
26 May - booboomonster, 35, #2 GIRL, SW London
26 May - kateyjane, 32, #4, Halifax, West Yorkshire
26 May - AliMouse, 40, #3 BOY
26 May - Glastocchick, 34, #1
31 May - Hollyoaks, 28, #2

just a quick post before I head to bed..I did the night shift last night so am exhausted...

my boobs have gone berserk and think they are making milk for 3 babies so they are like footballs..ouch...

my tummy has completely gone flat..I put my pre pregnancy jeans on..and they are TOO BIG!!!..will wait a couple of weeks then I think a clothes shopping trip is called for

I feel very excited for everyone on the thread..its just a waiting game now..who will pop next?..it feels very strange logging onto my laptop everyday and still seeing my NHS pregnancy desktop telling me Im 38 weeks pregnant

Poor Olivia is still shifting all the mucous out of her passages..every now and then she sneezes and thick yellow and dark green gunk comes out..midwife said its amniotic fluid clearing from her passage ways...we put her on her rainforest activity mat yesterday and she couldnt take her eyes of it..shes very alert when shes awake.Because she has mucous in her tummy..she keeps bringing it up after feeds and she really hates it..earlier I heard an ear piercing shriek from her carrycot and rushed in to find she had brought a load up..she basically frightened herself poor little thing.
TCH..thats hopeful if the airlines prioritise those booked on flights already..we have warned the DCS..but they actually seem quite chilled about it..think new baby sister has softened the blow. We told them if Disney doesnt happen..we will take them to Center Parcs later in the year.

Haven't posted for ages but have now finished work so have time for Mumsnet.

Congrats to LuckyC, Forces, Littleowls and ML, it's really exciting now the babies have started arriving

Good luck to those doing exams (my brain has been steadily deteriorating over the last few weeks so have utmost respect to you!)

Had an ultrasound and an internal yesterday to check my low lying placenta had moved and it has so I can go to the local MLU in town. Also saw masses of baby's hair and long legs (femur was 75mm)!

Is anyone else in the situation where the nearest hospital is miles away? I can go to the local MLU to deliver but in terms of pain relief, pethidine is as far as it goes there. If I get into trouble or want an epidural then it's an hour long journey in an ambulance to the nearest large hospital while in labour. Hm.... Midwife assures me that at the first sign of things not going well, ladies are packed off to the major hospital.

My pituitary tumour has caused me no hassle during pregnancy so far and my consultant has classified me as low risk (until I try breastfeeding which is when it's going to cause trouble if it's ever going to in which case I have to "desist and start bottle feeding and go back on the drugs)" .

Other than that, I've been frantically decorating and we've had my parents and PIL staying and now have our house back to ourselves. HOORAY!

Hope everyone is well and good luck to those next up

Raquel _ yes, hospital is an hour from here, too. If I start while DP isn't here, it will take him an hour to get here, then an hour to take me to the hospital. THink it might be best if I can summon a neighbour to take me and meet him straight there.

I sprogged v quickly last time, and the mw has warned that this time could be even quicker, so I'm beginning to worry about that a bit. Your MLU sounds lovely - I'm sure you won't need to be transferred.

Glad the tumour has been behaving itself. HOpe it doesn't cause problems once you're bfing.

Glad everything is still going swimmingly, ML! James - yes, the calls have started here! Yesterday, another parent took my daughter to school and my absence was immediately noted at the school gate. Within half an hour, I'd had an email and a phone call, asking if I was okay or whether labour had started! It's so sweet that people worry!

I've been given two walking sticks from physio now. Feel too silly to use them in public, but they are a godsend in the house, esp when getting up after sitting or lying down. I can't wait to get back to normal - and nor can my poor dog, who has to rely on DP, not me, for walks now...

Pamelat - the scan pic is amazing! One of the best I've seen.

Hi All

Pamelat - glad you are feeling calm about everything. You are very good at not being annoyed with the consultant going home - I would have been fuming! Good luck with the next steps, whatever they turn out to be.

Angel - I don't know how you manage to the decorating!

Littleowls - glad to hear Joel is doing well, and that he is feeding well. Have they indicated how long they expect him to be in SCBU, or is it a case of taking it a day at a time?

ML - all sounds like things are going well with Olivia.

Whoever it was that was asking about appt times, in the run up to term here, for first babies you get 34, 36, 38, 40, and 41 week appts. For second/subsequent babies, you get 28, 36, 38,40 week appts, so it sounds as if your appointment times are about right.

Just been called by GP to tell me blood results from 36 week appt show I am anaemic so off to collect my iron tablets from the chemist later on. Black poo here I come! Thought I had escaped this time as well......

Hope everyone else is well.

Thanks for mattress advice.

Forgot to mention on this thread, I am selling my medula swing electric breastpump. It is fab and retails for £89.99 It is in brilliant condition and comes with everything you need to express and store milk. I am only selling because my sister has given me her medula double pump and although I found the single more than capable of expressing what I needed I feel I should keep the double as in theory is an upgrade for me. Looking for £40 (which includes 48hr courier service to your door).

Tomlin did you have any symptoms you were anaemic?

Tomlin Me too! My doc called at 8.30 this morning to say she'd left me a prescription for Pregaday as my latest blood results show my iron levels are low too.

She want me to take them fro 3/4 months after the birth too - is that normal?!?

Didn't have this with DS1 - not sure I like the sounds of black poo??

I haven't had any symptoms, apart from feeling light headed occasionally and completely exhausted all the time - but I just put that down to being heavily pregnant.

So I'm hoping I'll get a sudden burst of energy when they start to kick in - was beginning to wonder how I'd have the energy to manage giving birth!!

brightredballoon I might be interested - can you tell me how long you've had it/how much its been used and whether its got any marks/stains etc? Got burned recently when I bought a 'nearly new' one on ebay and it was absolutely knackered when it arrived!

Have been trying to find pamelats scan pic that people keep mentioning but can't access her profile...?

hello all!

justa quick post as im in the middle of getting some revision done.

pamelat- hope the exam went well...hoping that i remembered the day correctly! and that all went well. i have 13 days left before mine! i cant tell you how much i want to pass.

tomlin and newmomma- hopefully the iron tablets work for you and id advise plenty of water and fruit by the tonne! oh and fig rolls work just as well too!

i have been told this morning that i have to have photos taken as they want to use me fopr the front cover of a book about a course that i do, which will be sold to other centres who will be running it...wasnt to pleased at first but will be something to show the baby when she arrives...they also want pictures of her for inside when she arrives!

other than that i went to bed early last night after not sleeping and feeling really niggly, and feel much better...not even pregnant...this morning, so hopefully this could be me back to normal! yeah!!! fingers crossed.

anyway ladies im off to do the school run and to let the gas engineer out! taker care all and will do more personal posts later.

Afternoon everyone it's lovely here so have thrown all the DDs out in the garden. Nothing much to report here, was very sore this morning so started the day with some cocodamol, went for a small shopping expedition as I just needed to get out for a bit, bought some more RL tablets, some Arnica, tea tree oil, slippers (as I don't want to pack my big furry boots), comfy socks, all the birthday cards I need for the next 3 weeks so think I am getting organised. 38 weeks today

itshappenedagain - good luck with the revision

brightred - last time we bought a new mattress from Ikea for the bedside cot that DD3 is currently in, it was the most expensive sprung one so I am not changing it, the moses basket mattress was also new for DD3 and haven't bothered changing it either just gave it a good clean and airing. Am planning to move DS into DD3's cot and buy her a really cheap Ikea one as she already has a toddler bed up the loft but I think she is still a bit little for a bed and also with all this building work probably best to leave her in a cot.

newmomma - I was badly anaemic after DD3's birth as well, I have been taking a multivit and a Spatone sachet but may take 2 Spatones in the last week build up my reserves, I felt awful after DD3 was born and yes I got horrendous constipation and think it contributed to my piles as well so keen not to go there again.

tomlin - your scan pics are great, just trying to remember who is who on FB

hobnob - with you on the getting back to normal front, I don't tend to sit on the sofa during the day but a hard chair as it's easier to get up, in the evening I engage DPs help to hoist me up

Raquel - nice to hear from you again and congrats on starting mat leave

ML - glad feeding is going well, she is such a little darling it's hard to believe my one is the same age as Olivia and he is still inside

littleowls - glad the feeding is going well little Joel will be home with you in no time.

Right had better go and sort out WW3 that is occuring in the back garden

Just back from lengthy hospital appointment. BP still high so I'm now on labetalol as well as methyldopa. Had an unexpected scan in the FMAU and LO is fine, they don't think there's any need to worry. My lovely doctor recommended I have a vaginal birth though. I've been umming and ahhing over it for ages and today he finally said he'll recommend it because he doesn't think I want a C-section (which is true) but that I'm just worrying (also true). I'm really pleased because I've been finding it an impossible decision and have sort of wanted someone to take it out of my hands. They're going to start giving me regular sweeps though to encourage LO out.

Newmomma - I was anaemic in last pregnancy and took iron tablets for about 9 months after DD was born to build up stores again. Didn't have too many problems and my iron levels have been really high this pregnancy.

Racquel - enjoy your maternity leave

Little owls- Glad Joel is doing well. Sounds like you are doing well with the BF.

TCH- Yeah I picked my parents up from the station late last night. Thankfully in a reasonally good mood
Glad you had a good appointment today

Angel- Yay on the pram

Squirt- Send your DP over to my house! Plenty of cleaning here he can do!

Racquel- Enjoy the maternity leave
Hope the tumors not causing you too much trouble.
My hospital is about 30 mins away.

Hobnob- Glad the sticks help... Use them

Happenedagain- Ohhh Get you! Covergirl

Ive had a lovely day in the sun. We met a friend and her same aged LO in the park for a picnic then walked round the nature centre with all the cow,pigs,sheep,rabbits, chickens etc. Was lovely and the 2 girls love playing with each other, but we ended up being out for 4 hours so im completely knackered as its a rather hilly park!
DD has slept for ages and is still asleep now so I should wake her soon or she will be a nightmare going to bed tonight.

Gasmen have been doing thier thing outside today. Have managed to do it without digging up the drive so far ( something about feeding the pipes over old ones under the ground! ) Im just pleased they havent distroyed my nice new drive!
Still have to do the my path down the side of the house so fingers crossed they do that ok too

lovely day today..Id like to take Olivia out but think it might be a little soon..will wait till next week..

MW came and had a look at my poor swollen boobs..she said I should feed as often as I can and massage my boobs as I feed..will try that as they are agony...

DM being a cow..hasnt even been over to see us..no offer of help..nothing

ML - have a nice relaxing bath, lavender and tea tree oils are lovely, whilst in the bath put some hot flannels over your boobs and also express them a bit to relieve the pressure. I always found I didn't need to express they would just gush. I'm not a bath girl but post birth I have one every day, even half an hour shut off from the world, give DP the baby, bliss. The oils are good for post birth healing as well.

I hate that engorged feeling at first, even use the pump to draw some of it off.

Quick one from me girls...
littleowls yay for Joel taking to feeding so well! That's quite unusual for early babies isn't it? You must be chuffed Lovely to read about you so excited to go and see him..and glad you're not missing bump as much as you thought cos I'm worried I'll miss mine loads!

squirt I have no nesting energy either! Forced myself to clean bathroom, kitchen and hoover house today as it badly needed it; hoped this would kick off my nesting but I was just exhausted after it and fell asleep My dh is getting impatient for things to get going too, still 4 weeks yet!

SK I almost bought arnica after you recommended it but reading the pack it seemed weird as it's for bruises.. where do you put it after the birth? Am I being thick?

Can't remember who mentioned cramps but I'm getting them too; like mild period cramps for a while then they ease off. Haven't had any bh yet so not sure if this is start of them

Am also on iron and levels have gone up a bit but so sick of the black poo...meh.

Tried some perineal massage today too and really not pleasant will persevere if it's meant to help though!

Dh and I off out for dinner tonight, planning lots of dates in next couple of weeks

just a quick question....

recommendations for changing bags... and who put up video link to one? cant find it caould you tell me what the name of the bag was! its my last thing to buy...otherwise will just buy a big bag i like!

sorry...thanx ladies!

newmomma I have sent you a PM about the pump.

cupcake and fairy I have the nesting bug really bad but I do think that's because I know I am having a csection so I know I wont be able to lift a finger for a wee while afterwards. Think of it like me building up my cleaning/chore tokens! In fact today I hired a cleaner for the first 6-8 weeks post natal, she is such a lovely lady, very experienced and I think a bargain at £8 per hour. She is going to come in the day I get home from hospital to give the place a once over which will take the pressure off DH (anyone else who has a 4yr and 2yr old never find their house is clean and tidy at the same time?!).

cupcake you have reminded me how much I hated doing the perineal massage as well, but it will be a worthwhile investment if it helps prevent tearing.

Does anyone know if its worthwhile me taking raspberry leaf capsules even though I am having a CS? I figure if they help tone your uterus it might help bring it back down afterwards?

Anyone got any inspiration for meals for the freezer? I am going to make a chilli and a lasagne (x2 of each) and was thinking of freezing some curry but would welcome fresh ideas.

SK..must admit Im not a bath girl but Ive been having a lovely soak in the bath every night...will try the essential oils and flannels..this is new to me as it didnt happen with the others but my boobs seem to have gone mad this time

ml lots of sympathy on the sore boobs. I suffer from that reynards thing, but in my nipples instead of hands and feet. Been better since pregnant as lots more blood flow in my system to stop this happening and it is agony in full boob, not just nipple.Hoping it won't act up when I try to breast feed.

I posted a while ago that I didn't know if I could now go to CMU as consultant said I was handed back to Midwifes. I had 37 week appoint on Monday and Midwife said she would keep my notes to find out from consultant who I should be seeing as he hasn;t written it in my notes. She called me today and she has lost my pregnancy notes!! She did check out the answer before she lost them which is I should see midwifes till overdue and will be CLU when go into labour. Midwife is only open on Monday and they have no appointments left for next week. The folllowing week is a bank holiday, so I have no midwife appointment between now and due date and no pregnancy notes! The midwife is going to see what she do about another appointment. I've said I can go anywhere anytime from Monday as starting Mat leave, so should get something. Not stressed about it tho, or even that bothered really. I haven't had any issues so far, so no real need for notes. If I go into labour before I hear from her again and before she finds the notes I need to call the CMU who all know allabout me!!! Infamous already!!

Other news is that the promotion I have been after for the last year and a half was advertised today with a closing date of May 4th. My due date is May 8th!! I'll need to interview basically in the fortnight of giving birth with my first child. Oh dear! Lots of competition for it too. Can;t be helped. I'll need to speak to HR as they must be able to pospone my interview for a while especially if I end up having cs. Worst timing ever!

ML - I think the essential oils just smell nice and tea tree is supposed to be antiseptic

brightred - I think Raspberry leaf tablets aren't recommended if you are having a CS, I remember my friend saying something about them before she was having her CS, I don't know why though. That's fab about the cleaner, I have someone doing my ironing so cannot stretch to a cleaner as well, you are so right though but it's DD3 who is the worst, the minute she is up she just tips out her toy boxes constantly

cupcake - the arnica is the little tablet things, you swallow them lol will try to post a link but I remember someone telling me that the ones you get in H&B weren't strong enough but I bought them anyway. I believe they are supposed to help reduce bruising and swelling downstairs. Have never done the perineal massage thing either not that it would help me now, there's been a lot of traffic down there lol

sassles - that's a bit rubbish about the promotion interview date

Word of warning with Arnica - don't take it till after the birth. I was advised by various people to take it before a minor op I was having. They said it would reduce the post-surgery swelling and bruising. IN the pre-chat bit with the surgeon and anaesthetist, I mentioned I'd taken arnica and they said it does work - but before an op, it would mean I was at risk of bleeding MORE during surgery and I should only have taken it afterwards.

hobnob - have been researching Arnica (once a sad scientist always a sad scientist) anyway I got the 30c version but it says the 200c version is better. You are right though not advised until after the birth.

Also found loads of useful homeopathic remedies, think I will order the lot lol

Have posted some pics of my bumps and babies on FB, including some wonderful post birth shots so if you are of a nervous disposition don't look at them. Made me all aww and fuzzy looking at my wee newborns. Didn't put up the naked nork shots though

Hi - I realise I am about 38 weeks too late but i have only recently stumbled across MN chat and even more recently this thread. I am pg with dd2, 38+1, due 4th May and would love to join the group? Also, whilst backreading (or scanning because 797 posts really is a lot to read!) I saw Hollyoaks request for advice on potty training? Hollyoaks, DD1 is now 3 1/2yrs and been fully toilet trained for nearly a year. Like you, she completely refused to sit on the potty and any encouragement resulted in an almighty tantrum. However, one day she sat on it and did a wee. The next day twice more. The next day i took away nappies completely daytime and never looked back. She was in knickers and we had maybe 2 accidents in the first week? A Friend of mine did exactly the same and it worked as quick. It had to be when they were ready though. I am quite firm in my belief that playing for the middle ground with pull ups, knickers, sometimes on, sometimes off, nappy when we go to the shops etc can cause confusion and in fact slow down the toilet training process. It really was very easy to train (except the constant knicker/trouser pulling up and down). As long as you have willing family, that will do the same, it should be fine. Also, being heavily pregnant and not wanting to bend down all the time, i would recommend leaving nappies and knickers off with potty readily available for ease of training whilst in your care. A good excuse not to travel too far in final days of pg? Sorry for long rambly post, insomnia kicking in! HTH.

Morning all

Welcome Madcatsazz, never too late to join, congratulations Thanks for the advice on the potty training.

Thanks to the others who have also given advice on the potty training too. We've decided that when she asks to take her nappy off to let her go for it on a night time when we're home. She will now willingly sit on it but hasn't produced anything yet. So, we'll take it as a learning curve for her and leave it totally up to her, when she produces something we might go for it. Thanks for the advise about using treats and star charts etc..., we initially tried rewarding her for sitting on it but went through about 100 hundred maltesers in 3 days and she still didn't really want to sit on it. Little monkey is too strong willed.

ML, Littleowls - glad to see the little ones are doing well. I'm sure Joel will be out of SCBU very soon and well done on the bfing.

LuckyC - hope everything is going well

Sorry for no more personals, but have to go to work , it's killing me already and I've only been back 2 days. Three more weeks after today!!!!! Plus baby is well and truly engaged and I'm waddling everywhere. I'm not envious of those with desk jobs, at least I can stay on my feet where I'm more comfortable if I want too.

Have a good day, and enjoy the sun if you can.

Cupcakefairy - I use the homeopathic arnica pillules after birth. It does help reduce bruising, and you may well feel quite bruised There's the cream as well but you can't use that on broken skin. Re the freezer, I made lots of tomato sauce last time. I also cooked up lots of chopped onion and froze them in icecube trays so that I didn't have to faff around with that kind of thing when I was cooking. Tomato sauce was good because it can be used as a base for so much. I think we had lots of quorn mince as well because it cooks so quickly, but I know lots of people don't like it.

BRB - raspberry leaf capsules do help the uterus tone back down afterwards but not sure whether they're recommended for a section.

Sassles - that's annoying about the job. I hope HR are able to help.

Madcatsazz - welcome to the thread

Morning everyone sun is shining, DP doing the school/nursery runs and I am still in my PJs

Anymore babes in the night, I know religiously check the thread and FB in the morning. My old uni friend posted some pics of her newborn baby boy and aww he is SO tiny and cute, makes me want mine out now. I know that if I weren't being induced I would be looking at going overdue anyway.

The DDs were making me laugh this morning we were talking about getting a little blue first teddy for "boy baby" from his sisters and I said maybe he would bring them a present too, so they were trying to figure out how he could get out my tummy and get to the shops and back again and where he would keep the presents in my tummy. I had to tell them that Mum and Dad buy the presents for him as he can't walk or talk. So far I have ordered DD1 a doll she has been after, DD3 a Waybaloo toy and a book and well DD2 a huge toy snake and a tool set (!) am going to get them a magazine each as well as if SIL is looking after them it will give them something to do.

DP is driving me mad as well, he phones about 3 times a day to see if I am ok, reminds me to charge my mobile, the camera, the camcorder and not to do too much! Suppose it is nice that he cares.

hollyoaks - I had such a hard time potty training DD1 that I left DD2 a long time (2.7yo) as DD3 had just been born as well. I agree that using pull ups sometimes etc is very confusing and maybe that was why DD1 didn't get it for a while. With DD2 we went completely cold turkey and she was brilliant. She refused the potty and went straight on the toilet like her sister. have vowed not to think about DD3 until she is 2.6y at least.

madcatazz - hello and welcome dive on in we are a chatty bunch. Do you know what you are having this time?

heffa - the last twice I have been complemented on my uterus getting back to normal the next day maybe it is all the RL tablets or I have a stretchy uterus, poor thing it will finally get a rest and to hang up it's usefulness it has served me well though

I have never done the freezing food thing (our freezer not big enough) that's what takeaways are for lol