**AUGUST 2010** happy days as 3rd trimester comes our way

[CherryPie3]

New thread

We really are getting through a thread a month lol!!

Am happy to take charge of the card Alice and since my due date is quite far along it probably makes sense? How's best for me to get my address to you.....?
Will also sort out the rose; it's all a bit complicated as I'm trying to get a picture sorted and a pot co-ordinated with another company. All will be revealed asap! I'm afraid what with a weeks holiday and rubbish iPhone reception and my last week in work it's all a bit hectic here....

Lovely. Are you on FB?

BH are really taking my breath away tonight - and bump keeps going all funny shaped...not comfy, might have to go to bed and hope for some sleep!

Hi all,

Just stopping in to say that I forgot to add a message when I donated to Caz's fund, but my initials are CT so you know it's from me...

Having an up and down day here. Down: I've STILL got my cough and I think I've either cracked or seriously bruised ANOTHER rib, because it now hurts even to breathe or move. Finally decided to make a dr's appt for tomorrow to see if there's anything they can do.

Up: Nursery went really well again today. And, even better, my NCT friend who was due with her second baby the same month as me but had a MMC at 8 weeks has just announced that she's pg again. She waited until after her nuchal scan to tell us this time, and she's had a really low Down's risk (she's approaching mid-40s), so she's very chuffed .

Ooh, and my scaffolders are arriving on Weds or Thurs this week to start the loft conversion. Not sure whether that counts as up or down news .

Alice yes my initials are SF in the facebook group....

Hello all!

Glasto was brilliant! Mega hot but it's my summer highlight and had so much fun. Hung out for a bit with the Radical Midwives in the Healing Field who were really fascinating and inspirational. Plus they were able to tell me that baby has moved from being transverse to head down yippee! They also told me about something called a Lotus Birth - not something I would personally every consider but there you are, something for everyone.
www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jun/27/glastonbury-pregnancy-women-midwives-surviving interesting.

Wanted a belly cast but DH wasn't keen

So I'm still struggling with whether I should have a private test for Strep B or not - have anyone of you made decisions either way?

I have also donated to the fund.. no idea how you can tell if its me..but anyway I have

LittleMissSnowShine I think that's what I'm going to put in my birth plan too - I want to try to manage using hypnobirthing techniques, gas and air and birthing pool, but am keeping a very open mind and will be open to all the other drugs if I need them! What was the one you mentioned? I don't think I've heard of it.

Hi all. Been following via iPhone but not posting much as I'm pretty uncomfortable just now and unable to actually sit in front of the pc for any length of time.

Sleep is just impossible again because of the evil burning feet, peeing, restless legs, heartburn combo but trying to stay positive...my body must be playing crazy tricks because I would never have believed that I could stay sane without any more than 3hrs sleep at a time, tho it's currently more like 1.5hrs and not at all before about 6am (getting sleep in bursts between 6am & 10am). I keep telling myself that it's good training for the months ahead and thanking my lucky stars that I don't have to work just now.

Anyways, bouncing I too covet a Cath Kidston oilcloth. I seriously believe a couple of metres of the taupe with white spots would complete my bonne maman lifestyle...I really have been off work too long, on top of the compulsive baking I have been
contemplating sewing up some lavender scented
drawer bags. Which means (a) I really have to get a grip as I'm completely useless at anything with a
needle & thread (b) I'm going to have to steel myself
for my housekeeping to fall back to it's previous
dysentry levels once I have more to keep myself
occupied.

But for the moment, I do have a clean house & was even disappointed that the MW didn't want to see the
nursery, etc when she did her home visit today. I did
get full marks for my birth plan today

Lol weehector you poor thing! Your post made me laugh though I've got to re-do my birth plan, it's rubbish at the mo, just don't really know how to write one!

I'm finding it hard to sleep too, I sleep alright til about 2 and then I toss and turn for the rest of the night til morning when I'm fast asleep just in time for DD to wake up. Not long now though, we're getting there steadily!

at your 'normal dysentery level' of housework, Hector. That's what my house is like at the moment, so god only knows what it will be like when the baby's born. Particularly given that my friend who's also just had a loft conversion said that you need to hoover the entire house at least twice a day just to keep the dust under control .

Morning girls

Rather short-tempered this morning, despite a semi-decent amount of sleep last night . Dishwasher finally arrived late yesterday afternoon and it's a joy! Although fell out with dh this morning when I caught him washing up breakfast dishes . FFS! What's the point in having a dishwasher if you insist on doing it yourself? That's his bloody father's influence

Anyway, elusive hope the doctor gives you something for that cough - cracked/ bruised ribs don't sound like much fun.

weehector I ended up ordering some oilcloth and cotton fabric in a rose chintz pattern - it's the grey one on this page

My feet are roasting too it's so uncomfortable!

Taking ds swimming today though, so a nice wallow in the pool should help cool me off a bit.

Have a lovely day everyone!

Emster30 - Yes, hope I manage to keep my mind open when the contractions start to up the ante!! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remifentanil That's all a bit wordy and medical tho, but remifentanil is basically a mobile drip which means you can still move around when you're on it and you self-administer how much you need by pressing a button during contractions. Unlike pethidine it's not supposed to enter the baby's blood stream and it wears off immediately unlike an epidural. Some hospitals offer it as an epidural alternative but it can't be administered by MWs so not suitable for birth centre or a home birth, cos you need to have your oxygen levels monitored while you're hooked up the drip...

weehector - lol, at least you're baking things! I'm washing a lot of clothes and getting obsessed with clean table tops and work surfaces in the kitchen but while I usually really like cooking I am really struggling to summon up any enthusiasm to bake/cook/chop/peel anything! Even with my Cath Kidston apron on

LCRLCR yeah I saw the guardian yesterday and I was thinking of you when I saw that story! Glad you enjoyed Glastonbury - think we might head to All Tomorrow's Parties in May next year, feeling festival-deprived!!

Morning

Another crap night here. Think i shall just have to accept that there will be no more sleep from now on.

My spray water fan is pretty good though, was using that last night.

This baby is still moving around so much, at times it feels like i have a nasty stomach bug, without actually being ill, with all the moving it is doing.

Spent all of yesterday in the sitting room doing nothing, while DD watched cbeebies. Really must do something with her this morning, then hopefully we can both sleep this afternoon.

Oh, and the bathroom is FINISHED!!!!!!!

Group B strep - I've heard you can be tested for it one day and be clear, but then next day be infected. Which is why they don't routinely test for it iirc. Difficult one, but I think even in women who have it their babies have a small risk of being infected. Unfortunately I think those that are affected are affected quite badly. Difficult one - is there a reason for you to think you're at risk?

Loving the radical midwives! I don't think I'll write a birth plan this time - I am having a home birth anyway hopefully so I think the MWs know the sort of birth you want. I wrote a mega 2pg birth plan for the twins and I think it was so important because it let everyone know that I didn't want my birth to be like a normal twin birth where you have an epidural and get monitored continuously. The MWs were very respectful of what I wanted. I think this time even if I go into hospital I can tell them at the time what I want and don't want. But generally I think birth plans are a great idea.

Anyone worried about BFing - you can buy the La Leche League book The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding on ebay for just a few pounds older editions but still everything you need to know I would recommend it - preparation is key!

I'm sure i had a GBstrep urine test at my booking appointment.

I am going to see a BF counseller on friday at our childrens centre.

Just back from my 36 week growth scan (only had it because the sonographer was a bit confused at the 20-week scan!). Anyway all the measurements were where they should be - the estimated weight is on the 72nd percentile at about 6.5lb. The baby's in the optimal position for birth and all's looking good!

The scan room had a screen on the wall in front of the bed so I could see what was going on, so that was nice. She showed us the baby's face and chubby cheeks, and said the baby was doing practice breathing!

All good stuff - plus I had to get another blood test done (midwife gave me the form yesterday) so I popped into the outpatients department while we were at the hospital and only had to wait 10 minutes or so, unlike the last time at a local surgery when I had to wait 2 hours for my number to come up.

A friend of mine has just given birth a few weeks ago to her second child, and she had Group B strep. She and the baby both had to be in hospital for 10 days, and she said it wasn't much fun at all (and very hard on her other child, who's only two).

Speaking of which............quick question for all you second-timers. Is anyone else starting to panic about how on earth you're going to do the whole newborn plus toddler thing? I've been re-reading a couple of baby books recently (all mostly aimed at first time mums) and they all make a big deal of saying that you should prepare to totally dedicate your life to your newborn for the first few weeks - you won't be able to do anything other than feed, make sure you forget about housework and everything else, sleep whenever the baby sleeps etc etc. Which is all very well, and very good advice for a first time mum - but how on earth do you manage when you're trying to look after a toddler as well ? Just wondered if anyone else had any thoughts/fears about this (or whether any 3+ timers had any great advice )? I think it doesn't help that I had such a colicky/screamy baby the first time round. So far I've been telling myself that I can't possibly have another one as bad, but I met someone at the weekend who'd had two exactly like this (in fact, the second was slightly worse...). I just don't know how I'll possibly manage if that happens to me .

Hi everyone, I've been too lazy to post anything of late. Just about sums it up really! 17 days left in the office today and I cannot bloody wait to be out of here!

Re the puffy feet - my yoga teacher has a couple of things she recommends for this. When you're sitting, make circles with both feet, first in one direction for a bit, then the other. The other one is stand up straight with your feet shoulder space apart and rock forward so your heels are off the floor, then back so you're on your toes. Hope that helps!

Saw my MW on Friday for my 31 wk appointment. I don't have one now for five weeks - is that weird? I thought they got more frequent as time went on. Also found out that my excruciating rib pain is because the baby is breech. Hope the little dude flips round soon!

Elusive i remember reading somewhere that when you have a toddler and a baby, if they are both needing you at once, to sort the toddler out first, as it won't do the baby any harm to wait (providing it is in a safe space) but the toddler can throw a tantrum that lasts hours and play up if you put the baby first iyswim? Thought that was quite good and not something i would have thought of.

Think this baby is transverse again

Chulita Sorry it's been ages, but I just haven't been feeling well. I have finally managed to send some money for the Caz fund, I hope I'm not too late.

I know I shouldn't moan, but my DH is driving me around the bend. I have been pretty well throughout my pregnancy apart from very low blood pressure. I know I should be thankful that it is not serious and the only side affect is that it makes me even more tired than normal. My DH has been working away alot and then last weekend he went away on a stag weekend, coming home on Sunday afternoon. Since coming home he has managed to put the cot together and moan that he is tired and he thinks he should get a medal for putting up the cot. I am so sick and tired of cleaning up after him, he just leaves the house in a mess and expects me to clean up after him. When I mentioned it to him today, he replied that all I did anyway was sit on my bum all day .

Plus now I've got swollen feet and fingers, both of which are painful. I just feel at a loss and so tearful all the time.

Sorry for the whinge, just needed to talk it through with people that will understand unlike my DH.

Vix206 How are you managing to stay at work. I finished 2 weeks ago and I'm so glad I did. Hope you manage to get some chill time. Good luck.

Emster30 I've been doing the hypnotherapy CDs too and I attended one of their workshops last week. Managed to get DH to go with me so he could understand what kind of birth experience I would like to have. I am just hoping it does exactly what it says on the tin!!!!

Had my 33 week scan today (the germans do scans at whatever intervals). My boy is 4.4 lbs and is already in the correct position for birth, at last something to smile about.
Hope to feel happier next time I log on.

Hope everyone is well xxx

You're not too late dogwalker, we're not getting anything just yet, it'll be a while before the rose is ready anyway!

I'm a bit worried about the toddler and newborn thing, especially cos DD was an awful sleeper til 4 months and I'm not sure how I'll live if this one's like her!

All these people getting weight estimates, I asked if LO was on track for size and the sonographer (grumpiest woman alive) said 'we only measure them in small, medium or large' so I asked which one this was and she said 'chunky' Well that's not S/M/L then is it you grumpy mare!

Cheer up dogwalker not long to go!

Oh and SALE30 on this website gets you 30% off til end of the month.

alice mine was transverse til 36+1 and is now head down, fingers crossed he stays there!

Puffy ladies I'm feeling your pain. I have cankles that would make the michelin man proud by the end of the day. Will be trying your tips Nat.

Only 2 days left at work - woooohooo! I really must start clearing my desk have 18 years worth of crap to sort through.

Saw midwife today for 35 week appt - all fine, but baby not playing ball with regard to being in an easy position to hear the heartbeat, but she was happy with what she could hear and the moving about the baby was doing.

Talked to her about home birth so she's booked me in for a scan for 2 weeks time to check position is OK to go ahead with hb. Really hope we don't accidently see any dangly bits (or otherwise) as we really don't want to know what we are having.

My regular midwife will need to come to the house to do an assessment (check we have tea and biscuits?) next week, but we're only a few minutes away from the hospital so I don't think that will be a worry for them.

Tipped it down over night here last night for the first time in weeks, so things have freshened up a little and there's a nice breeze blowing, blessed relief at last.

DH is going to put up bunting in baby's room tonight - thought of his 8 month pregnant wife wobbling around on top of a step ladder when I said I would do it myself was too much for him. I will be there in a supervisory capacity - left a bit, up a bit etc

Hugs to all, especially you tired peeps with other babies that need your attention.

Hey ladies!

Thanks neez have you done hynobirthing before? can't remember you sound very organised I feel quite excited about the whole thing, I do my relaxation and affirmations every day (give or take a couple) and I have a picture of baby in the correct position by my bed DH is dragging his heels with the hypnosis but to be honest I'm not sure how much of that we'll do, I'm probably a little more comfortable relaxing with my ipod.

elusive that sounds painful! hope your feeling better soon, yey for your NCT friend

Emster I can send you a copy of my Birth Plan if you like? I have no idea if it's good or not but you sounds like your aiming for a similar birth to me so it might be of some help?

poor weehector sounds like your having a rough time of it, i use a birthing ball by my computer now instead of a chair, seems to help somewhat but I get sore legs can't win can we!

got my moses basket through the post yesterday from the little green sheep, love it, such good quality all very exciting, shame I can't leave it up as we still have the bed in the spare room/office/nursery - how I wish someone would buy our flat NOW so we can move to a lovely big house.

Anyone get bad cramp in the night? I got really bad cramp in my right leg last night and couldn't walk on it this morning! luckily DH was still home so gave me a lift to work but he's away now for 3 weeks, and 3 weeks of work to go walking 1.5miles each way, lets hope for no more injuries!

x