Due May 2010...the final thread??....unless the thread bursts before we all do!!!!

[AnAngelWithin]

Hope you don't mind ladies, the last thread kept jamming up on me!!! We are a chatty bunch!!!

THE NEW ARRIVALS

11 April LuckyC, GIRL MATILDA, 14.47, weight?, first baby
15 April ForcesSweetheart, GIRL, MOLLY, 10.27, 7lbs 6ozs, 2nd DD
16 April Littleowls, BOY JOEL, 14.40, 4lb 8oz, first baby
16 April Memorylapse, GIRL, OLIVIA GRACE, 6.17pm, 6lbs 11.5ozs
27 April Brightredballoon, GIRL, ?, 10am, 7lb 12oz

THE WAITING LOUNGE

27 April (just brought forward a week)- Pagen, 36 #1 (unknown), G&A & water birth (I hope) Bulford, Wiltshire
03 May - hormonalmum, 33,#3
03 May - Lizzie9442, 23, #4 GIRL
04 May - Squirtsmum, 27 #1, Belfast NI
05 May - Sweetkitty, 34, #4 3DDs, BOY, Lanarkshire (nr Glasgow)
06 May - DorotheaPlenticlew, 35, #2, GIRL, Edinburgh
07 May - hobnobfanatic, 38, #2 GIRL, Wye Valley/Forest of Dean
08 May - Sassles, 31, #1, BOY, Nr Glasgow
08 May - LittleOneMum, 36, #2, GIRL, planned CS, central London
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
12 May - slipperthief 34, #2, BOY, Cambs
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 - newmomma, 31, #2 GIRL Reading, Berks
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
22 May - Mollybob, 37 #3, Gender unknown, Bangor, Northern Ireland
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

Hi all, I was also up from 3am until 5am, mainly hungry ! I had some crunchy nut cornflakes and a pint of water and was fast off by 5am. DH let me lie in (again) until 9am!! Still feel very tired today though. Off to the in laws today, they having DD overnight for us so nice leisurely evening and morning tomorrow - probably the last one for a while

Morning all had a horrendous night last night, DD2 now has the sickness bug so she was up being sick from 3am this morning. I took her into bed with me and DP went into her bunk and one of the times she was sick she vomited on my face and hair. Lovely just what you want a 4am in the morning when you are 39+ weeks pregnant and have bad SPD. She's still not well today and has chosen not to go to Toyrus with her sisters. It's only the second time she has been sick ever, we are just not used to sick children in this house. One of the times I was up with her I started to get horrible shooting pains and thought "baby don't you even think about coming today I am far too tired, will be off for a nap later" I am supposed to be doing a Sainsburys online shop for Tuesday morning so the house is well stocked next week.

pigley - I do that all the time wake at 4am and start thinking about things, I am constantly stressing about our extension, today it was "oh they will be digging big foundation holes, better watch the DDs don't fall down one!" As I said on FB I think the playhouse is a fab idea and will last them for years and years.

mustbemadno3 - I think your DSs will be fine once the baby is here, they will probably be all protective and adore him/her.

hollyoaks - I was going to get a teddy for the baby from the DDs today, may get one tomorrow I think they would like to give him something. I also have no energy to do anything today, poor DP I think he is gong stir crazy in the house though hence he has taken DD1 and 3 out.

Gils - sorry you had a rough night, these false alarms are horrid aren't they? Enjoy your blessing today too.

Squirtsmum - had to have a think what VVV was poor you sounds nasty. Have you had an ask on MN or google maybe you can get creams or something to ease them a bit?

Right best go and get this Sainsburys order done.

Hi ladies. Sorry, no personals really, I am having a very bad hormonal day today. Feels like I've been hit by a steam train. Worried about the depression hitting me again DD2 managed to mess herself this morning and rag it all round the toilet and over herself, so that was a nightmare to clean up. My back is agony today, my legs and feet hurt and I have got a horrid heavy and dragging feeling in my tummy. Today is the first day I can honestly hold my hands up and say 'thats it, I've had enough' 37 weeks tomorrow.

FIL just been, he's taken the 2 boys to the park. DDs didn't want to go. Think DD2 is ill. DD1 said she will look after her bless her. FIL did try and perk me up bless him, said that I am doing so well and he doesn't know how I manage to keep going with all the others as well. Telling me that I've just got a bump and no extra weight and that even though I look a bit tired, I actually look great. Bless him. Sure it's lies lol.

Had a day at home yesterday doing a few jobs, a friend brought me some baby clothes and some nappies she didn't use which was nice. Made a pizza from scratch and a chocolate tray bake thing (pigley it's your fault!!! ) Today I have just washed the clothes and nappies my friend brought me and tidied round a little bit but thats it. My back hurts too much

hello ladies!

angel sorry to hear your feeling rough...hope you get some more help and feel a bit better soon. and bless your dd saying she will take care of the other.

sweetkitty hope DD feels better soon...i remember DS being sick for the first time...2 days after i got my new bed and washing sick off the covers in the bath at about 4 am.

well ladies in 48 hours i will be able to relax as my exam will be over... just shitting myself about not passing or getting in there and not being able to remember anything. my aunt is atking Ds to the shop in a bit so i can do anotother hours revision, and then they are hopefully gouing out tomorrow so could have a few more hours. i can see myself being up at 4 am on tuesday morning doing some more revision...but at least the end is in sight now.
ive been having backache and period pains all night and couldnt get confortable, but havent been getting any tightenings that i can feel, so took some paracetamol and had a bath this morning...keeping up with the mantra of not until after exam! i wouldnt even be bothered if i went over, as i could fill the time doing all the things that i have been putting off so i can do revision...like finishing my curtains for the bedroom and possibly putting up some shelves and giving eveywhere a good scrub down.

question when do you all plan to put cots up?/ have you put your cot up? ill be 39 weeks on tuesday, but im very supersticious so thought about leaving it as long as possible, but dont want to end up like i did with Ds and no cot got put up untill he was about 5 weeks and we were co sleeping by then so he wouldnt go in it.

pamelat when do you get the results of your exam? i wont get mine till week of june 21st!

sorry for the long and selfish post ladies just had to get it all out of my head!
take care hope all are havinga good bank holiday weekend.

Aaw angel and SK you do sound down/fed up! Hope your weekend gets better. And good luck on your exam, itshappenedagain - watch the backache and period pains, they might just turn into something more!

We are bored with being stuck in in the rain, so off to do some last minute shopping and take ds to a play area. I think he's finally realised we are having a baby as when we have a big family cuddle he says mummy, daddy, (his name) and baby sister??

Also we think we have finally decided on a name, I thought we'd have an epiphany and find one we really loved, but it turns out the slow burner we liked all along has won out, however we may see her and think she looks nothing like the name we've planned so we'll see! It's not an unusual name but when it came down to it we just wanted a name I could say comfortably 100 times a day without feeling pretentious.

I have decided that since I've been panicking like an idiot about the birth, that I'm definitely going to ask for an epidural as soon as we get there. I do have the tens machine, and can use water, gas n air and diamorphine, but they're more of a backup plan now for if there's no anaesthetist available. I know epidurals have their down sides but I'm so anxious I think it's the right decision for me this time round.

Are any of you decided on whether you'll have pain relief in labour or not, or are you all keeping open minds?

Having glimpsed the few previous messages, I am sorry to hear everyone seems a bit down today with one ache or another or with ill dc. (Sk - poor dd2 & you, hope she is better soon)

Itshappened - not put cot up yet - we have a moses basket that we will use, then dh will put cot up in our room and moses basket will go in there so lo can get used to cot. Our room is small so not much room for me to squeeze round a cot with bump. Goood luck with your exam.

Congrats to any new arrivals I may have missed.

I am also fed up today - been having contractions every day since Wednesday - lasting a couple of hours but not getting any worse.

Friday morning, I thought this what it. Rang the midwife, she came to see me. Bp ok, lo's heartbeat ok. I asked her to examine me and see if I was dilated - 3 cm she said. I was hoping I would be more than that. Did say head was very low and should help when it comes to pushing.

My back is horrendous though and mw seems to think it is the baby moving around slightly and causing me lots of pain in my back.
All the midwifes I have spoken to say 3rd babies and labours are unpredictable. I was very upset last night and was crying again as
I so fed up. My poor dh, do not know how he puts up with me. He has taken dc out this morning to give me a rest again.

I am thinking about asking the mw about a possible induction as I am struggling to manage with the pain, childcare and my dreadful mood. I do not have many people to call on for the children and feel the more false alarms I have, the less I can ask someone again.
Obviously this will impact on my planned homebirth

Fingers crossed lo arrives soon.

Have a good bank holiday weekend everyone

Sorry to hear everyone's feeling low.
Me too. I have a cold and my feet are swollen! I have fat feet!

Sorry to hear so many people are having a hard time. I actually said to DH yesterday that I thought things were building and then nothing happened and today I feel fine.

James by the sounds of it you have to go with what is going to make you feel most at ease for labour regardless of what anyone else thinks. I personally know that I won't be able to have any pain relief beyond G&A as I want to go to the MLU rather than the hospital. That's my choice though as I think I will be more relaxed (and therefore better able to cope with the pain) during labour in the MLU environment. All my friends think I'm mad given that I had a high-intervention labour with DD but I just feel it's the right decision for me.

Itshappened we haven't set up the cot yet either. We have a moses basket that we can use in the early days but we haven't even worked out yet what the sleeping arrangements are going to be longer term for the two DCs so it seems pointless putting it together til we've got that sorted.

I'm doing a good job of sticking to my no-caffeine regime but I would love a hot drink but am getting bored of peppermint tea. Anyone got any suggestions for non-coffee/tea/chocolate/coke drinks?

Carikube Rooibos/Redbush is my favorite tea. It's naturally caffeine free and if you take the teabag out at the right time and drink at the right temperature its much more delicious than ordinary tea IME.

Hormonal - hope things kick of quickly for you - tomorrow's meant to be the big day right?

James, as a first timer I'm probably being naively optimistic, but I'm hoping to at least see if I can get away with a home water birth. I'm reserving the right to change my mind and make a run for the hosptial 10 mins away and demand an epidural once the contractions start to kick in. I've got no idea what to expect. You hear such widely different reports - some people compare it to period pain and don't even know they're in labour, and others laugh at that idea. No doubt you know yourself well enough after one labour to make the right decision.

Itshappened - good luck for your exam

SK/Angel - hope things brighten up for you both

I have a plumber here turning a ten minute job into a two hour one

littleonemum congratulations glad all went well, and welcome to the world LUX!

Pamalat my sympathy with the DH - mine is normally good too but sometimes he just doesn?t get it. I had to laugh at his 'joke' that the pregnancy has been going on too long. I just read that out to my DH (we had been having ?words? too).

RE dummies - we didn?t use one with DD and she used her thumb, then when teeth came through (at 3 months!) she changed to 3 fingers. Not too worried about weaning her off it as I used to suck my thumb, stopped age 5 or so and then was told by orthodontist that it might have helped the problem I had with my teeth (bottom jaw overhangs top jaw - that sounds terrible but it?s not really noticeable). Anyway, I think she?s inherited same so??? But obviously you still have the hygiene problem.

sweetkitty poor you and DD - the thought of being puked on at 4am is just too much! Hope she is feeling better.

Itshappened good luck with the exam!!! Our crib is already up - it was my own one - we collected it recently from my brother who used it for his DS, so can?t help you with the cot question. I know what you mean about tempting fate - I often do same - , but if you are planning to use the cot from the start I would just get it up and done with. I tend to think if something bad happens I won't care about cots/ clothes etc.

James I know what you mean re name - we are still with our slow burner option. But we still need middle name. We do have a reserve in case the slow burner isn?t right when it comes to it. I think you?re right to have epidural if you are really anxious. I am trying to keep fairly relaxed and hoping to do without like I did last time. I can?t decide if it?s better knowing what to expect (if things go the same which of course they might not) or better to be in the dark about what it will be like! I was quite chilled about it last time so am trying to generate same feelings. But then I?d done loads of yoga, pelvic floor exercises, had lots of sleep, etc etc. It?s all been a bit different with DD around this time!

hormonal good luck with potential induction - sounds like you need something to happen!

carikube has your DD always slept badly? Only ask cos my DD has all of a sudden not wanted to go to sleep at night anymore, and I can?t help but wonder if it?s because she knows change is afoot with the new baby etc. She used to be very good at going to bed but has now taken to protesting at going, then climbing out of her cot or calling out or crying for a couple of hours. She does still sleep through though thank God!!
And re drinks - what about raspberry leaf tea? Only joking, tho it is what I am currently supping. Actually have you tried redbush tea - the vanilla version is very nice and you can have it without milk or with. I think it?s made by dragonfly tea but you can get different brands.

It?s miserable weather here? trying to take advantage and have cleaned the carseat, checked all the bits etc. But we did paint the garden wall yesterday and it?s now looking very grimy?. grr. Inspired by all your baking etc I made a banoffee pie yesterday the thought of which is cheering me up somewhat .

Booboo DD has always been a really good sleeper which is why it is so unusual when she does have a bad night - she's slept through since about 8/9 weeks old and apart from phases when she has been unwell or jet lagged, has been pretty good. I do wonder whether she knows that something is about to happen - as she's only 13 mo we obviously haven't been able to explain anything to her about a new baby so it will be interesting to see what she makes of it when it arrives...

Also thanks for the suggestions re rebush tea but I'm not a fan of that. I might just have to invest in some caffeine-free tea bags or else just live without caffeine for now and hope that the baby doesn't wait too long to be born so that I can start to drink it again!

Oh dear, you poor girls are having a terrible Sunday. Mine is OK, DP is embarking on a little DIY and my sister is going to help me paint the lounge this week when he's back at work Tuesday.

Still feeling queasy most of the time, every time the baby moves (a LOT) I feel really quite sick. ALso, my pelvis is in agony. Two weeks to go, but can't help wondering if it's all getting ready to kick off?! Got 38 week check on Wednesday so we'll see how close I am I guess. Though two weeks to go seems awfully close and I am starting to freak out a bit!

Itshappened- We put our crib up now in the bedroom, I washed all the crib bedding this week and made up the crib on Thursday. The damn cat keeps getting in it, though she is very aware that she is not allowed.

Anyways, hope your bank holiday weekends improve. The weather here in Chelmsford is miserable so we have abandoned plans to go to medieval joust (!) at Castle Hedingham and a BBQ at SIL's. Old movies and crochet hook all the way today!

itshappened - it's bad luck to be superstitious

ML thanks for the tip, had a bath and then sat with some frozen veg mix in between my legs last night - really helped, swelling is down and things feel alot more comfortable

James I keeping my options open as my MLU is within the main maternity unit at the hospital so all pain relief is an option for me. In an ideal world I'd like to get to the unit after spending as long as possible at home, a bit of G&A and a lovely water birth - but I'm a realist so it'll be get to the hospital demanding an epidural at the first sign of a bit of pain

itshappened DM is buying a cot bed for Squirt when she comes over so for the min we just have a moses basket in our bedroom and then when the cot arrives we'll put it up either in our bedroom or Squirts room

sweetkitty being puked on at silly o'clock in the morning is something I'm going to have to get used to I guess - really hope your DD gets better soon

Sitting at the PC today as its too uncomfortable to be on the laptop at the table. Pains have started again but always tail off to nothing after a couple of hrs, beginning to wish I'd bought a gym ball to see if bouncing would help
Had nephew's birthday gathering earlier - all the close family were there and we had nibbles and cake, it was a lovely couple of hours but topic of conversation was Squirt - it seems the family are more impatient then me!!

Due in 2 days and truely see no light at the end of the tunnel

Carikube - I second Schipo's suggestion of redbush tea, I love it.

Angel - you sound like you're having a tough weekend Hope things improve

SK - hope your DD gets bettr soon.

Not much happening here, have been going a bit mental sorting out house stuff today. Think I may have overdone it now Have been eating some yummy chocolate fudge that I made on Friday though, took less than 10 mins and is delicious. But very very unhealthy I think.

SquirtsMum - hope you're feeling a bit less uncomfortable. I'm sure it will all be over soon

Hello all well the 'red button' comments have started from my parents!! I called them twice this weekend and straight away got 'is this it??' I still have almost 3 weeks to go! (probably more!) 2 of my NCT group are more than a week overdue now and having sweeps galore but doesn't seem to be doing anything.

I'm getting backache, nausea and period-type pains still.

itshappened we've had the cot up for about 3 weeks not an iota of superstition in this house! It's on my side of the bed. We think lo will go straight in it & not moses basket at night as it's a bedside cot (the side comes off so it can be pushed right up against our bed)

james glad you made a decision about the epidural and hope that's helping you feel less anxious! Did you have a v traumatic birth with ds then? I am also hoping for tens, g&a and water birth but like others have said, open minded about further pain relief. (Am delivering on MLU within hospital)

Sorry to all those with ill dc must be so hard. Liking all the decisions about names being made though we have been set on one girl's name all the way through but as it's technically a shortening of a name we are totally undecided about whether to use the long or short version
Almost hoping it's a boy now just so we don't have to decide!

x-post heff hello
Choc fudge in less than 10 mins?? Tell us how! Loving all the indulgence in baked goods on this thread we deserve it I feel!!

afternoon all. Feeling a bit better now really for not doing a lot today. FIL took the 2 boys to the park for a bit so me and the girls had an hour to curl up and watch a dvd. Baby is on a (very painful) wriggling mission now. Tummy keeps going hard and my hips feel like they are going to split in half. Sigh. Not long....not long.....not long.....

We haven't got a cot up yet, I don't know whether to put it in the boys or girls room anyway! baby will be sleeping in the carrycot in our room for a few months anyway.

Heffa I was like that a few days ago, just went mad doing everything. I can't be bothered now, but then it doesn't need doing now at least lol.

Squirtsmum there is light. Not long to go. Honest.

Itshappenedagain good luck with the exam.

Congrats BRB littleonesmum and Pagen!!!! Another Bulford Baby. Are you home yet?
Pagen did you ever meet Zoe, one of the Bulford med centre community midwives? HV told me she died last week. She was only 32, apparently something cardiac related. She was MW who came out to us on first morning after we got out of hospital.

LuckyC Glad to hear you and LO are home and she's on the mend. Hope you're enjoying the weekend at home with her.

sk hope DD2 is feeling better and you got to catch up on some kip!

When HV weighed Molly on Friday she'd gained another 1.5oz, so happy with that, but she's still very yellow and sleepy and I'm having to give her top ups after every feed coz she won't wake for them. So DH had to take a blood sample up the hospital to have a split SBR test done to check her bilirubin. Came out OK, 207, cut-off for treatment is 370 they reckon. I think now though that the problem is vit B12, I am defficient coz of the bypass - got letter the other day telling me and have to have 6 jabs this fortnight then once every 3mths for life. I googled b12 abd bf'ing and lots of recent studies show babies of bypass mothers are defficient in it causing lethargy and poor appetite. Gonna ask mw to have her b12 tested when she comes on wednesday.

sorry to hear everyone is having a crap sunday..must be something in the water..my mastitis is back again..have a temp,agonising boob, fluey etc..it sucks...do not understand why its back again..DH is back at work tomorrow and I feel so poorly

Afternoon,

Sorry there are so many of us suffering today.

Forces - glad Molly is putting on weight and her bilirubin levels aren't too high.

ML - that mastitis has returned, ouch!

SK - hope your dd is feeling better.

Heffa - 10 min fudge, do tell

Itshappened - the cot has been up for about 4 weeks now, but lo will be in a moses basket for the first few weeks I would imagine. However, dh has a superstition about the buggy so thats at his dsis in its box.

James - hope the epidural decision starts to calm you down. I'm hoping to get by on g&a like last time but that's only because I'm scared of the needle in my back . I'm also trying to convince myself that it will be easier and quicker second time round.

Been to party and came home totally annoyed. DH has been at work so went with dsis and her ds who was also invited. Our invitations said 3-5pm but the party didn't start till 3:30pm so we were sat by ourselves for 30 mins. The birthday boy's mother then forgot to tell the playplace owner that her ds's were allergic to fish and couldn't eat any of the food that had been prepared near the fish fingers. Cue the playplace having to re-prepare all of the food and the party running till 5:30pm. So, ended up sitting there for 2 and a half hours with a very sore back . Ok, rant over, time for a hot soak methinks.

eek - 222 messages already - no way this thread will see us through! I'm convinced this baby is going to be (very) late!

ML - poor you, mastitis is rubbish
Sorry to everyone else who is having a tough day. I felt really sick earlier but a bit better now. Hit my foot against the dog's bowl earlier though and it blooming hurts.

James - hope you feel calmer now. I am hoping g&a and tens only as epidural was no good for me with DS but time will tell

No sign of the cot being put up here either but DH will be doing it this week

Heffa - need that recipe for afterwards! (still following low sugar diet although no sign of my sugars going up since I finished work so I could indulge a little...)

GWS to all the sick DCs

glad the vvv is a bit less sore squirtsmum - ice is wonderful stuff - really helps my back pain too

Yeah I didn't enjoy the birth first time round even though it all went ok. I just had gas and air but I don't have a high pain threshold (and they made me lie flat which makes labour hurt a lot more) so I found it very painful at the end. Wish I could have a water birth but the consultant wouldn't like it unfortunately.

If it's not that bad this time round I will try and stay upright, use tens etc but I'll still put my order in for an epidural when we get there, I figure I can always say no later if I decide I don't actually need it.

The cot is up and I've washed the moses basket bedding, just need to iron it and get it set up tonight. No superstitions here! Mil just told me she leaps a foot every time her phone rings, bless her.

hi all, i'll add myself to the crappy sunday list, couldn't sleep through the night with pains, neither let dh sleep, 40 weeks + 3, i am really ready for this baby bow.
cot- and everything else for that matter ready and checked.
itshappen- really impress you are revising and doing exam, i won't get back to uni till october
carikube- what about camomile tea, is nice, can have it with honey or lemon, and is also good for relaxing and calming stomach upset, helps with my reflux and heartburn, maybe you like it, or the fruity teas...

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to sit here and write a nice long post full of responses, but I realise that I have 9 pages of posts on this thread showing and my last long one was on page 2, so probably can't respond to everything I wanted to! My brain is a bit frazzled tonight! I'll do my best!

MDM so glad to hear that your DSis had a good experience at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, that makes me very hopeful that I will, too!

I have packed some formula in my hospital bag. I did really well with breastfeeding DS in the end (after a 6 week struggle, mind! ) but I am not going to leave anything to chance. My DS had moderate jaundice whilst we were in hospital and had to be under the phototherapy lamp for a day - I was instructed to feed him every 2 hours without fail or he'd get dehydrated, but my milk hadn't come in and it was horrible. Luckily one of the MWs gave me some formula to give him, just fed it to him out of a little cup and he drank it, and he and I were both much happier.

James I will also be putting in my order for an epidural first thing. Hopefully I can labour and give birth in the birthing pool without anything more than gas and air, but if I get too overwhelmed or if the pool isn't available then I will definitely want the epidural asap. My contractions came so fast and hard when I had DS that I just couldn't take it - was having 6 to 8 contractions every 10 minutes in the second hour of labour! So if this labour is similar I think the epidural will be needed. It scares me to death to think about wanting an epidural but not being able to have one for one reason or another!

Sorry to everyone feeling rubbish and those with poorly children. ML that's terrible that the mastitis is rearing its ugly head again!

Itshappened good luck with your exam next week!!! I have had the cot up for about 6 weeks now. Will probably put LO in the moses basket next to the bed for the first 2 weeks or so (if he fits in it!) but the nursery is right off my bedroom so it's practically like having the cot in my room, just separated by a door.

Forces poor sleepy Molly, I hope they get to the bottom of what's making her seem poorly, sounds like the B12 thing could be an accurate conclusion from your research. It's great she's putting on weight though!

Carikube I don't really care for redbush tea, but I really like the Twinings "A Moment of Calm" Orange, Mango & Cinnamon and the Camomile, Honey & Vanilla teas when I need a break from peppermint! They smell and taste so delicious!

Squirtsmum sorry about your VVV, I don't have that, but my piles are really flared up (TMI, sorry) so sitting is quite uncomfortable. Makes me wonder what they'll be like in a few weeks' time!

LuckyC was it you that asked about the dummies? I gave one to DS at night, he was such a sucky baby, and I am of the school "do what you gotta do, sort it out later" when it comes to sleep deprivation! He took the dummy for about 8 weeks and then rejected it on his own, so fortunately I didn't have to worry about it after that. But the comfort it gave him (and us) in those early weeks would have been worth the trouble IMO. I hope you're enjoying your weekend at home with your little girl and glad that she's doing better. How are you feeling?

Heffa now I want to make chocolate fudge! I have a good easy recipe I do at Christmas, but might have to break it out!! DH made THE MOST ENORMOUS TRIFLE so have been scoffing that, we had friends over today so have been eating all day as the mummy is pregnant as well, we sat in the dining room eating and talking whilst the guys and boys watched the footy. Quite nice as my DH went to university with the couple and she and I had our DSs 3 weeks apart last time, so being pregnant together seems so natural. I hope you're feeling a bit better now, how is the SPD and BP now?

Pigley thanks for the recipe!!! Will be trying that!

SK Yuck! Poor you! Hope your SPD isn't too bad today and you get some rest!

AnAngel I can relate to you about the fear of depression creeping in. I also really hope I don't get PND with this one, it was not easy last time around.

Hopefully everyone will be feeling better tomorrow! I have felt very emotional and tired today as well, so really relate to the rest of you! 38 weeks today, seems a bit surreal. MIL arrives Friday so looking forward to welcoming her to the household for the next month. I'm not really feeling any symptoms that labour is imminent, not even braxton hicks now, but even if I did I wouldn't trust it! I think I'd be ok to wait another couple of weeks before labour kicks in, I want to finish these damn curtains!