June is approaching, the end is in sight, time to sort our lady gardens so the midwives don't get a fright - Due June 2010

[ConservativesShouldWinSurely]

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
30th - Monthlymayhem, No.2, BOY

Thanks CSWS for the lovely new thread. How's your Sciatic? I've also developed this and am limping / hobbling about.

Finally put my new double pram up. Wasn't keen on it at first but it's growing on me.

Contratulations Sunshineday glad to hear you are home and that Faye is doing well. Hope you get her home with you soon.

Lots of list writing of things I need to do when I start Mat leave (3 weeks and counting). Not much chance to nest at the mo but am also itching to get cracking.

Welcome baby Faye and congrats sunshineday, hope she continues to gain weight and comes home soon.

mampam plenty of undies and drinks with straws, tissues,vasilene/lip balm,
i had a 2nd towel with me that DH rolled and stuck under my swollen feet/ ankles.

im also suffering with swollen feet and ankles today, they are so heavy and achy
and look like giant sausage feet
DH is trying to not laugh at me everytime i say giant sausagefeet

Just popping in to mark place, got ds off school today with earache and sore throat (joy!)

mampam- more knickers! Hope that makes sense and doesn't sound too random

I have now added more knickers to my bag! Also a big carrier bag for all the dirty clothes, def lipbalm. Last time I had a little foot spray, my feet were all hot & swollen & not too fragrant despite frequent showering. Forgot all about snacks & sweets etc, trouble is my bag is full to overflowing already!

Thanks for new thread csws just marking my place.

Congrats sunshine!!!

Congratulations sunshineday! I too remember us discussing the name Faye earlier in the thread - it's a beautiful name. Love to all of you as you wait to bring your little girl home. ...

I am 37 weeks today and still in denial about preparations as both my DSs were late. The back pain has subsided somewhat after taking it relatively easy over the weekend though, so I'm hoping to get alot done this week. Have International week at DS1 school and on Thursday we have to bring in a treat for snacktime from our home country - can anyone think of something English or Irish (that isn't laced with alcohol)? It needs to be suitable for 3yr-olds..

Does anyone else feel they've got enough in their hosptial bag for a summer holiday? I've started throwing some things in the direction of my flight bag and it's brimming.

Mind you last time I WAS nearly two weeks in hosiptal, so DH had to ship in even more supplies.

37 weeks DIMB!

Babies are soon going to start coming thick and fast. I can't wait. I'm not quite 33 weeks even yet.

I can't complain though: this has been the easiest bit of my pregnancy yet

I think DD and I are coming down with something though. She fell asleep in my arms as I was singing her her naptime song and I think I'm going the same way!

DIMB - If English is ok, fudge? Scones? Both pretty easy to make. I was going to say soda farls, but you need those toasted with lashings of butter (now how many of you are making your way tot he kitchen right now )

DIMB how about a pork pie? .

DH passed his driving test just now, so the hunt for a car begins in earnest!

Had a go at packing my hosp bag about a week ago - so much stuff I realised I needed 2 bags . I'm letting myself off the hook cos I know that I'll be in for about 3 days, and I've got an array of baby clothes for 2 little 'uns in diff sizes... Plus DH knows that he'll be bringing in back up supplies when I realise I've forgotten half what I need! And I've got one of those v-shaped pillows which I'm going to take in, which kind of needs a bag of its own........... hey-ho

Feeling a bit low today - seem to have mat leave blues. I think it was inevitable, finishing a FT job and then just pootling at home. Dd in FT childcare for 2 more weeks, plan is for me to sort out everything that needs doing before babies arrive, which is what I'm doing, but I'm missing not being in the office environment. Trying to hook up with friends/acquaintances who are in the area but you might remember from earlier in the thread, I was pretty much dropped like a hot potato when I went back to work FT. Going to a bumps & babes TAMBA meeting on 20th May which will hopefully help. Need an official MN kick up the pants...

Well done to your DH LaTrucha - bet he's feeling really pleased with himself

DIMB - at the risk of reigniting a theme from an earlier thread, I was going to suggest scones and clotted cream.

Another thing I remembered for my hospital bag last night is pen and paper, mostly for making lists of things for DH to bring in! I'm quite proud that my bags haven't got completely out of control this time yet. When I had DD I packed more stuff than I had taken on holiday to australia earlier in the pregnancy, which was more than a little bit ridiculous. After lots of hormonal tears DH managed to convince to cut back a bit, but I still had a huge suitcase in the car with extra bits "just in case". It took us weeks to get it all unpacked afterwards

Congratulations Sunshineday, sorry you didn't have the easiest start to things but I do hope you are now enjoying your time with your DD

I think 40 breastpads might be a leetle excessive Mampam, but they're not heavy, so may as well take them!

Working/stopping times are quite subjective Notgrownupenough so please don't let other people's reactions phase you. I worked until 39.5 wks before ds was born (and the only bad bit was the last 2 weeks when he was late and I was bored stiff!) and until 38.5 wks with DD. Stopping at 37 weeks this time, but only because I'm shattered, I have a crappy journey to work, I've got a load of annual leave to use up, I have 2 dcs under 5 and I'm woefully under-prepared for the arrival of this baby!

I'm trying to figure out the whole cs/vb option WWISA, although mine weren't as big as yours (8,11 and 8,9) but big enough to not be fun. If I'm offered a CS I will think about it quite seriously, as I've had some pretty major issues after both my previous vbs....

Sorry you're not having much fun with the stretch marks & itching GG - if it helps, I always find that out is better than in....although admittedly I haven't experienced twins !

Playftse, I can't remember where in London you live, but I know its hard to make new friends, esp when massively pregnant...try not to stress about it - I def found it easier to make new friends and stuff 2nd time around as I was more 'plugged in' the the childcare thing already. Does your DD have any friends with younger siblings on the way? Their mums might be a good bet I'm so relieved that loads of my good friends are expecting/dropping babies from now until October time as it means lots of people I like to hang out with

Batch cooking is now well underway here, especially as dh contributed 2 batches of soup whilst he was off work last week (12 portions of leek & potato, and 8 of pea) and I've done a spinach and watercress soup this weekend. I baked an enormous fruitcake, a madeira cake and a date & walnut loaf last sunday too. Trouble is, we're now running out of freezer space (or so dh tells me; I need to conduct a freezer audit this weekend as with 2 freezers in the garage I find this hard to believe) and I don't feel like I've done enough yet.....

Aargh...hospital bag packing....nope, nowhere near, not even started, determined not to think about it for a bit longer....eek.....panic...panic....panic....

Congrats to your dh LaT . How is the car search going?

Another vote for scones DIMB (although I wouldn't bother with clotted cream for 3 year olds - just a bit of butter and jam). I bought some spelt flour today in anticipation of making some from a new recipe (from 'the book' meggy) to scoff myself.

I really must finish my hospital bag soon, and split it up into one for stuff that I'll want in labour/delivery, and one that I won't want until afterwards. First timers - just in case it isn't obvious, separate out the first clothes that you want your baby to wear and put them in a clearly labelled little bag that your dh/birth partner can easily find, as he will probably be asked to get them out once the birth is imminent, and you will be in no position to help at that point!

Sorry to hear that you've got sciatica too herewegrow. I'm bearing up with mine I suppose. Have some days better than others, although all are painful!

CSWS I was just about to say about having 2 bags - 1 for delivery and 1 for after - it's also the only way I can see fitting everything in

Greensnail on the pen and paper theme - I'm going to put in a sudoku book either for passing the time if I go in too early or for after the birth when I'm waiting to go. I like the idea of list for DH too!

I haven't actually started packing it yet - but I've got a list which is more than I had last week!

LaTrucha Congrats to your DH on passing the driving test

DIMB Scones sound yummy and I have no better suggestions than everyone else

35 weeks on Wednesday and have midwife appointment tomorrow. I'm going to mention all the period type pains I keep getting in my bump and my back as I haven't had them in previous pregnancies. Also need to arrange for a home visit so I can plan the home birth, get my sheets/tarpaulin etc ready - hopefully I won't be using my hospital bag!

NizzyNoodles sounds very similar to me! I have been getting the period type pains but these seem to have subsided a bit. I am also preparing for the home birth. We had Alfred, our midwife, come over on Saturday and go through some bits and bobs, all seems very common sense and put my mind at rest about certain things like how early they are happy for me to have baby at home if it's before 40 weeks.

I was cheeky and asked Alfred to bring his doppler as my parents were visiting from Norfolk so they could hear baby's heartbeat. We ended up turning it into my 36 week appt very handy! last time I saw him he couldn't find the head but luckily did this time and baby is pointing the right way, head down, phew!

My mum has been an absolute star and completely sorted out my garden for me as I am now incapable but for her it's also respite as my dad has a rare form of dementia called Pick's disease (he is only 61) so we could keep him amused whilst she had a bit of 'me' time. Dad was very sweet trying to help me out of chairs and he does seem to understand about the baby in my tummy giggling when I complained about his grandchild kicking me so much.

Alfred popped round on Sunday with the kit for the midwives, I'll be honest I am not going to look at the contents in any great detail, it is all looks far too scary!

Finished all the NCT classes as well so I am feeling less scared about the whole thing but still apprehensive.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with funny pains perkster and hopefully mine will disappear too!

Nizzy and Perkster, I'm also getting period type pains. Have been having them on and off for a few weeks now, but they seem particularly intense this evening for some reason. I love the sound of your midwife Perkster, Alfred's quite a nice name isn't it!

DD's at her grandparents' house tonight and I just terrified DH by saying how handy it would be if I went into labour when she was already with them (I wasn't really meaning tonight, but maybe next week or something!) I think its safe to say he's not quite feeling ready for this baby

Right. I'm bored of waiting for baby now.

And yet at the same time, I've got lots of jobs to do so the time is useful.

Thanks for the advice GibberingGinger & Fillybuster, just though i'd let you know i've sorted it at work so i'm now taking one or two days annual leave every week now until i finish, I feel so much more positive about the rest of my PG, to be honest the lack of sleep and back ache plus work were all starting to get a bit much.

I have to add i think you ladies who are going for the home births are very brave

All this talk of hospital bags - so far ive thrown a few items in as I REALLY want a homebirth. But I fear the baby has spun again and is transverse!!

Have also been doing some batch cooking - I think I may continue with it at some point, as it's great knowing that you have so many dinners prepared.
Have done: Shepherds pie/lasagne/chilli/spag bog.
Turkey casserole/pork casserole/sweet and sour pork/ - I think there's 9 dinners so far - but agree on the freezer room point.

Anyone have any experience of a Volvo S40 - am thinking they look quite nice and second hand seem quite a good price? Could I fit 2 car seats and a tall 15yr old in the back??

Hello earlyonemorning I think we're all feeling a bit wobbly and exposed right now. Bummer about not seeing your maternity unit now - do you think your midwife stands a chance of being around during your labour? A familiar face at least might help? Or can you get a lot of friends/labour support to come in with you?

PlayFTSE I know what you mean about that feeling of isolation when you start maternity leave...I thought it was like the least effective sick leave of your life. And adding 'make new friends' to the 'to-do' list is probably a bit of a big ask at this stage....with any luck when you start visiting new baby groups you'll find a better set of friends who are a bit more tolerant of your unorthodox working lifestyle

No cooking here yet, and not much room in the freezer even if I do. I shall have to have a serious sort out of the stock/frozen breadcrumb mountain that is taking up much of the room, even if it means a week of breadcrumb soup!

I'm impressed with all the organised packing going on for those of you at hospital. Terrifyingly long lists developing - LaT I think you're right about packing for every eventuality, but I'm hoping to avoid this. Having said that the midwife dropped off the list of stuff for a homebirth this afternoon and it seemed amaaazingly long. I'm going to have to go get myself a tarpaulin or two I think - the old ones have been used for building projects and I don't think the holes and cement splashes are really the right look for labouring on.

A good day today, babywise. The consultant scanning me this morning found no problems, and we agreed that there was probably no need to do any more monitoring until Madame arrives, when she'll get a full check up. Just as helpful, she is now head down, and I had a lovely chat with the midwife at home this afternoon, including listening to her heartbeat with DS1 and DS2 clustered around, staring at my tummy with utterly rapt expressions...soooo sweet.

Good Morning all,good news on positive scan gizmowelcome all newcomers and big congratulations sunshineday on the birth of baby Faye,lovely news

at all who have started batch cooking yes filly and justbeme i'm looking at you!

Itchy skin sufferers, i have just started using 'Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalising Gel oil'its lovely,very soothing and leaves a nice sheen on the skin,added bonus is that it smells like holidays

justbeme i dont know anything about cars really,but we just bought a Vauxhall Zafira and i love it,also can easily fit 2 babies,a dh,and a teenager due to the optional 2 seats in the massive boot,it also means teenager+ipod is a happy distance away from parents and babies! I think you can get a good second hand one from about £1500? Happy car shopping anyway

Morning everyone, I have just perplexed DH as he was leaving for work by randomly bursting into tears- who knows why?! I am feeling a bit low though, can barely move and have so much to do so am feeling v frustrated. Awaiting huge mothercare order arriving though, which may cheer me up

Congratulations sunshineday. Wishing you all the best and hope that little Faye is home with you soon.

playtse today is my proper day home alone on mat leave. Last week we were on a family holiday and I don't work Mondays anyway, so had DD1 with me all day like usual. So, although I finished work more than a week ago, today is wierd!!! Do you have a local aqua natal class you could try? I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and haven't made it to one of these classes yet because it's too far away from work, but think if I even make contact with one local-heavily-pregnant-lady, I'll feel a bit less isolated.

I also have plans for batch cooking, so have a very full fridge which is making me feel guilty for not having started every time I get the milk to make another cup of tea! May start this afternoon, after I've conquered the mountain of post-holiday ironing