so here it is, a new home for us newly updiffed ladies or still seeking that golden egg after a mc part 3

[mrsb33]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1170413-Coffee-lounge-and-bar-for-MI5-interviewees-little-friends-and-other-CM-studiers-post-MC-Part-II

ladies here it is our new home, ive tried my best, im not very good at the witty banter so hopefully this will do, get yourself comfortable it could be a bumpy ride with me at the helm!!!

Congrats on your ML Worm! The shower sounds lovely, it's nice when people are so caring. It's my last day today, my team are slightly unprepared and are blowing up blue balloons around me but it's the thought that counts We're having a buffet and the whole floor has brought in cupcakes and things, it's really touching. I hate being the centre of attention but it's also someone's 30th so the limelight is happily swinging more to her as she's an attention-seeking harpie. My boss came up from London yesterday to take me out to lunch; she's very un-maternal and bought me a Jo Malone candle and a box of matches which I thought was hilarious. When I said 'Ooh, candle for the baby!' in a jokey way she said 'Oh I didn't think of the baby!'

Anyway Worm, less talk of 'failing', it's your choice if you want to breastfeed but if it doesn't work out then it wasn't meant to be and sure baby will not suffer; of the 4 new-ish mums I know, not one has made it past the first couple of weeks, for various reasons, so I'm under no illusions that it's easy (but still hoping to fall lucky and have baby latch on like a limpit )
Wombat, you ok chickadee? Appreciate you're probably taking some time out to reflect, but we are here with hugs and cupcakes (and a sneaky jam donut, hom). I'm prepared to mental next week when I have time on my hands, I haven't thought things through too deeply yet so am prepared for a major freak-out!
Funny how we are all feeling pressure to tidy our gardens! I'm opting out, I had a moment when I thought I had an ingrowing hair when I pondered who am I doing this for anyway; Monts is not going to notice, I can't see down there anyway, and dh doesn't get close enough any more So I'm going to embrace my hairy hippiness, and groom several months after the birth.

I've just stalked wombat on facebook, she went to see Tom Jones on tuesday and had a fab time, I've left a note to say hello. Thinking about it she has her parents over just now so is probably busy with all that.
Have a wonderful last day at work sparkly I think the candle is lovely, it's all about the baby when it's here so it's nice of your boss to think of you, albeit unknowingly!

Yoohoo ladies! Sorry I've been so quiet of late. Everything tickety boo here and in fact, Tom Jones was a real tonic and made me realise that I have been taking life far too seriously of late, making it all about the bub and leaving no room for fun so my new resolution is to make time for a bit of fun every day! Thanks for all your lovely supportive messages and food (nom, nom!)

So absolutely no sign of junior and I honestly don't feel anywhere near like I'm going to drop any time soon which I'm fine with (for now anyway!) but famous last words and all that!

HAve to dash to a surprise bday party now but will update properly tomorrow.

Lots of love to you all and thanks again for your concern x

Right - a proper catch-up at last!

Great to hear from you kool although sorry you're stressing a bit about movements - totally understandable though, I was def the same. It seems every time one gets over a certain stressy perioid, there is something equally stressy right around the corner! I think you need to have seen an awful lot of scans to know what you're looking for so don't worry about not being able to see much - a good size is v good to hear!

I did speak to a m/w last week who suggested vits B6 and B12 now which should also help with pnd, should it arise. I haven't tried too hard to get it though as I have been feeling so much better since my resolution to have some fun every day. Had a great 3 hour gossip with 4 other mums to be over lunch today which was v funny - I think we managed to clear the restaurant by the end of it - not quite the same as talking with you ladies- only general talk of lady-gardening mentioned! ALthough apparently if you don't have it all off before you go in here and you need a c section, they do the whole lot for you - can't believe that's really true though....

Congrats on your mat leave worm and sparkly and how lovely to get so many gifts etc. I do hope that you don't end up like me and letting your mind go into overdrive when you don't have work to focus on.... I'm sure you'll be grand. I think your colleague was lovely giving you something for you sparkly, especially Jo Malone stuff . Good question re: whether I'm nervous about the birth, I'm actually more curious than anything, it is the post stuff that I'm most anxious about - i.e. will I love this baby? - crazy I know, but it is a real fear. I'm sure the curiosity factor will wear off after about two, or maybe three contractions

I know we haven't see you for around for a while wellie but we do still think of you often - really hope you are enjoying the swi action and life in Aus in general as you come up to the summer time.

Interesting re: not having tried b/feeding your 2 other dcs worm - was it not pushed so much back then? I hope it works out well for you and you get some good support. Was it you that recommended that bump to breastfeeding link? They actucally showed that at our last ante-natal class and I felt quite smug that I had seen it already, but putting that aside, it's obviously a good one if they shipped it out here. The one workshop I went to was 2 hours but the time flew by yellow so I'm sure it will be the same with your one. The best thing was all the questions everyone asked so don't be shy in holding back with those - it seemed to encourage everyone else too. Will be interested to hear how you get on with it. Is work likely to calm down for you, or just get busier? Hope you're not letting it stress you out too much.

And harassed - how are you doing m'dear? Have seen your updates on fb so know that you're still out there!

Oh, one other thing from this end - I have group b strep.... they do a vaginal swab as routine here at 36 weeks for it and it's good to know as it means I have to have a shot of antibiotics as soon as I go in and possibly again if I'm in labour for ages. I have done some reading / research on mn on it and, as usual, you get everything from don't worry it's totally manageable to some poor lady's baby getting meningitis as a result.... I feel informed enough now not to worry about it, particularly as neither the m/w nor my ob/gyn seemed too concerned. worm is right - the parentals are still here which makes getting access to the laptop much harder! Mum came with me to the latest appt and got to see junior on the scan so was very happy about that. There is still much debate as to whether she will stay on after the 25th which is when their flights are booked for. Dad is definitely going back and mum may depending on junior's arrival or not.

Oh - quick tip - do try out your car seat before it's too late. DH and I had a real tussle with it yesterday - turned out we were both being complete thickos (after we had been to a baby store and given the proper instructions) but it was a bit stressy at the time - DH said he'd never heard me swear so much! Oh and earlier in the day, we'd had a bit of a time with one of those belly casts - have you seen them? We weren't overkeen on doing it but some friends had given it to us as a present and we felt obliged to use it. So, we start off standing (me starkers, parents out the house obviously) but DH thinks it much better if I lie down while he does the plasterning so to speak. Got about half way - think of it as damp strips of goo over your boobs and belly and all the goo leaking behind you onto the tiles - and then DH's phone won't stop ringing. Tell him to to and get it and it is a real emergency at work (he's in aviation) so he's on the phone for the next 15-20 mins sorting out various bits and pieces while I am lying quite beached in a pool of damp goo unable to move for fear of ruining the cast! Gave up in the end and bloody glad I did too. We have a v flimsy half cast to show our friends, but at least we gave it a go and looking back it was pretty funny!

Right, think that's enough to bore you with for now. Sticky toffee pudding with extra caramel sauce for all! xx

Bf wasn't pushed at all and I don't remember seeing anyone on the post natal ward bfing. I hadn't decided what I was going to do and after failing at vb I didn't give it a thought when I was handed a bottle. I was so much younger then (23) and didn't do any independent research. Basically I just went along with everything !
Now I have the internet to tell me what to do! And a more mature and in control mindset.
A plaster cast of your bump and boobs? I have no desire to be reminded how awful my body is looking !
Great that your mum came along for the scan ........ I bet you a lemon cup cake she stays after the 25th!
Don't forget we need to know the second anything starts happening !

Don't worry worm - you guys will be the first (after DH!) to know

Good luck with the b/fing - I reckon you'll be a natural.

Feeling very low again today - I think it's just hormones and tiredness and general irritation with everyone. Just want to curl up into a ball on my bed and not be disturbed - difficult with parents around of course..... I did get some vit b6 and b12 today on m/w's advice - hoping that and a couple of good night's sleep will do the trick. This is so un-wombat like, I can't tell you

hello ladies

wombat sorry to hear you've still got the blues, hope the vits work for you. I know that personally I get very teary and negative when I'm tired. I was feeling very tearful Thursday morning but after my visit to the acupuncturist felt much better. Also was feeling a bit nauseous, tired and tearful on Sat am but went for a maternity massage followed by a 2 hour nap and felt very good afterwards. Can you tap into any 'alternative' therapies like that over there? Might be worth a try? And of course please come on her and chat to us and we'll do our best to be supportive and cheer you up. How long do you have to go now? (sorry, not sure where the spreadsheet has gone) You are our pioneer, leading the way........how exciting you'll soon meet your baby. I can totally understand your concerns about loving the baby but either it'll come as a rush or gradually build up but I'm sure either way you'll get there. The cast things sounds very funny, sounds like a slightly odd present to me (if that doesn't sound rude) what are you meant to do with it afterwards? Re the car seat, we've ordered one but don't have a car so not sure how we'll practice, sounds like it'll be tricky though. We might end up having that problem the first time we go to France, stuck in the airport car park for hours!!!

worm breastfeeding class was excellent today. They'd made a mistake and it didn't actually start until 11am which was annoying as we'd got up early to get there at 10 but it was just 2 hours. There was a bit about the benefits, seems to do everything from preventing asthma to ovarian cancer! There was a lot of detail about how much they feed on each day and how many wet and poo-y nappies to look out for and what colour etc as well as lots of advice on latch and how to know if you're doing it right. If your interested I'll type it all our for you here, let me know. She did recommend someone called 'jack newman' who apparently has useful stuff on the web/youtube, I've not looked yet but that might be helpful. DP found it great too, the midwife was really good and knowledgeable, I didn't realise how much I didn't know. And I second what wombat said, you didn't fail.........giving birth is complex, lots of different factors and as long as you and the baby end up healthy that is a positive outcome.

Hurrah for ML sparkly and worm sounds like your teams/colleagues gave you a good send off. I am officially jealous!

Work for me is totally mental, next week and the week after will be more of the same. My cover starts on 12th Dec and that won't really help either cos training someone is so time consuming that you don't have time to get the actual work done. But having said that things will have calmed down quite a lot by then, I just need to make sure I prepare some notes etc before then. The next 2 weeks should be the hardest, esp as next week I have antenatal on mon and tues and yoga wed........but i do have acu on Thurs which normally perks me up! Am trying hard to remain calm and not think of the mountain of things I didn't manage to do last week.......

Did i tell you we did a big online shop and ordered loads of stuff. The cot arrive yesterday and we've realised we've got no space in our small flat for all this stuff! I have to do a LOT of clearing out which is something I hate and am not good at. I'm sure a hoarder. Added to that I need to do the final accounts for my company which is also going to take some time as of course i didn't keep the invoices/receipts in any kind of orderly fashion.....arrghh, too much to do! I always think I'll get stuff done at the weekend but am usually so tired from the week I just end up sleeping.

I'm off to cook dinner, I'll just leave this lemon drizzle cake.

"Re the car seat, we've ordered one but don't have a car" Eh? What's the deal, Yellow? Dsis is giving us a seat, just waiting for dniece2 to fatten up a bit more and grow into her grown-up one. I can see me and dh having huge arguments over fitting it so might just ask dsis to pop it in the car and it can just stay there for a year
Well I am officially on mat leave, and cannot sleep! Woke up all excited like it was Christmas Day, my head is full of things to do and stuff I still need to buy. I might get the mince pies in the oven and do some Christmas wrapping The cot went up in our bedroom yesterday which was quite a moment, thinking our son will soon be wailing sleeping in it! The cats kept plopping in so I've propped the mattress up, not an option when Monts arrives so will put up one of those Ikea mosquito net thingies to keep them out. They're quite cute, we've got the blue one with the fluffy clouds.
Yellow, I need to watch some clips of women actually breast-feeding I think, can't quite picture the positions and as I am hoping to leave hospital quite soon after the birth if all goes well, I need some knowledge behind me. Thread on MN earlier about scooping poo out of the birthing pool, some women relaxed to such an extent that the pool had to be drained and refilled! I am hoping I don't notice, but dh will so need to arm him with the sieve and prepare him mentally! I hope work eases off for you, I know about 2-3 weeks before my mat leave I got so tired and despondent as it still seemed ages off. Your therapies sound blissful though and really helpful.
Wombat, I hope you are feeling better today. I've lost the spreadsheet too, when is your actual due date? Would you like some white bread toast and creamy slightly salted butter with a ?
Waves to everyone else lurking, toast? x

Morning Ladies
sparkly I posted a link further up the thread with breastfeeding vids on, you will probably have time to look at them now [unappreciated emocion] its here

Try to rise above the work stress yellow once baby is here you really wont give a toss if the place grinds to a halt! you sound very positive regarding your alternative therapies, and I am certainly alot less cynical about them given that I believe they are responsible for your up-duffed ness.

Hope you are feeling brighter today wombat regarding the rush of love when the baby is here, I never got that at all. Not to say I didn't love them but it was more like I was so focused on the practical stuff I needed to do and my recoveries from CS that the emotional stuff just fell into the background

Loving how we are all in full on nesting mode, I have yet to order my cot as I wanted to wait until the carpet was fitted and being that i am tight watching the pennies I have been looking out for a bargain roll end. Think I may have to bite the bullet and order one this week. Worse comes to worse baby will be in our room anyway in the moses basket for a bit. I have ordered the magic nipple cream and am going to start putting that on everyday as soon as it comes, it can't do any harm.

Right I must get started on my list of jobs and not turn on discovery home and health and watch back to back baby programs like I did yesterday!

i know, I know, I really wasn't going to get a car seat (due to not having a car) but everyone and his dog thought we should. They said we wouldn't be let out of the hospital without it and also if you go to coffee meet ups and stuff you often need to leave the buggy in the hall/outside and if babs is sleeping you don't want to wake them up so if they are in a car seat you can just pop if off the buggy and bring them in with you. Plus when we go to my parents/france we always get picked up in the car so we'd need it then too. I think the videos will really help sparkly but at my class they also said to have the b/f specialists numbers handy as they can help you. I've got the national no. I can give you and apparently they'll route it to your local office. Apparently in my area there are volunteers who'll come to your house and help and about 10 b/f cafes where you can just pop in.

What magic nipple cream worm? i might need some of that. So jealous of all this mat leave going on and you'll have your babies waaaaaaaaaay before me. I'll have some of that toast and some danish pastries too.

Hello wonderful ladies and thanks v much for your lovely messages. I really was having a down day on Sunday but I am def lots better now. A friend described it as being hostage to your emotions and once I accepted that, rather than trying to fight them, life has become much easier.

Thanks for the reassurance worm on the loving thing - another friend of mine said something v similar to you, which has made me feel far more normal and not some cold-hearted witch.

Lovely and toast sparkly - thank you v much. Love how you are into the mince pie making before anything Monts related - throw some over this way when you're done would you?! Like yellow, would def recommend the videos. I also bought the NCT breastfeeding for beginners book which is lovely and straightforward. (GBP7.99)

Work sounds horrid yellow - please do take it easy where you can - it's very easy to think we are super-women and can do it all and then it comes and bites us on the bum.... Thanks for the suggestions on alternative therapies - a massage is prob a v good idea. They do have alternative other stuff here too but I'd like a recommendation first. And you're right about the cast - very strange present and apparently you're supposed to mount them on the nursery wall afterwards - it's really not us at all but we really felt obliged to do it - I don't think they're cheap....

So, the spreadsheet - I think we need to start a proper list as I am losing track a bit too - I think it's me, then sparkly, worm, harassed, yellow, marathon (where are you?!), star, emma, kool and of course wellie will be with us very soon. I could have that order all wrong and huge apols if I have missed anyone off. I think I might give you all a shock to know that my due date is..... tomorrow! Can you believe it?! - still planning on aquayoga tomorrow and have booked in my lady for normal yoga as normal for tuesday. REally don't think wombatjunior is ready though (or maybe that's just me!)

Maybe you could all add your EDDs and we could do a proper list.

Waves to all and leaves mountains of pancakes - French and Scotch with heaps of toppings (I need my strength you know!)

Morning Girlies

Worm ELCS to be W/c 3rd Jan

I think harrased is before me with a due date of boxing day-ish?

So good to hear you sounding brighter wombat your due date is tomorrow ! I have just gone goosebumpy all over!! We have all come so far in just over a year.:) Our various MC anniversaries have all been and gone, I was very aware of mine as I was paraniod that Ds in L would have her baby on that day, fortunately there were a few days between it! I didn't like to mention it and bring everyone down. We need to hear all the details...... my first labour symptom was that I went all "lubricated" down below, so much so that I thought my water had broken and called the midwife out to check. Couldn't believe I had made that mistake when my waters actually did break............it was like a damn bursting! sprayed all over the midwife. Have fun at yoga.

You will definately need the car seat yellow the nip cream is called Lanisoh and comes highly recommended on the BF threads on here, it is pricey though. You are lucky having so much BF support. Here we have one BF cafe, and that is it as far as I can tell. Thats what you get for living 25 miles away from the nearest city.

So I am on day 3 of ML, and yesterday I was wishing I was at work! I felt so lonely, ended up going over to my neighbours for a chat. I am ploughing through my list and at this rate will have it done by the end of this week! Todays job is to collate all the photos we have on various computers and phones and organise them all onto a portable hard-drive. I may even name them all and there are 12 years worth!

Speak soon :)

You're right worm - we have all come miles and miles on this journey and it really has been so fantastic to share it with you brilliant people . Thanks for the info on your labour starting - good to know. I have been feeling a bit frisky over the last couple of days so I guess that may be something....

I am also pleased to report that I had a frisson of excitement today about the thought of bringing wombatjunior home. I'm a little that it's taken me this long to get excited but now v pleased to experience it . In celebration of that, toffee doughnuts for all!

Happy due date wombat sending love and postive vibes for an easy birthing experience.

Ok so I need to vent............... DM in L has come up to be with her daughter since her baby was born 10 days ago, now firstly I want to say I really like her, and her partner (in small doses!) they have been staying in their camper van whilst visiting Ds in L daily. Dsin L has needed the help too as she is young and this is her first baby, and has really appreciated having her mum here for her.
So we have had them around for tea a couple of times, it's nice to see them, but I have had on my mind what their plans are to be when our baby is born so tentatively broached the subject last night.
They are planning on doing exactly the same for us when my baby is born!! I am so pissed off!!!!!! I don't want them around every day, we won't relax at all and I will be recovering from surgery. DH wont relax either as he likes to be a good host and will be running around after them.
Now I don't want to stop them from seeing their grandchild, but at the end of the day if they hadn't buggered off to the other end of the country we wouldn't have to be having this situation and I neither need or want the same level of help that Dsin L has needs.
The other thing is the breastfeeding thing....... I need to learn how to do this and do not want to do it in public until I know what I am doing. I can just see myself appearing rude while buggering off all the time to do this. In fact no why should I have to bugger off upstairs, it's my bloody house!!
How am I gonna deal with this without looking like the Din L from hell??!!

Worm, you have my sympathy, may I vent alongside?

My PIL are flying in on Christmas Day morning (they live in Florida), ostensibly to see their elderly mothers but really it's to see the prodigal grandson. They didn't consult us, just booked up which pissed me off, and I know they'll want to be round nearly every day and are hardly the types to whiz a hoover round on their 'holiday' so dh will be running around entertaining. I am trying not to be churlish as it is their first grandchild, of course they are excited, but I too want to get to grips with feeding and am not whapping the baps out in front of them. I've been getting really stressed about this, but it's not constructive.

I have come to the conclusion that I will try and be a lovely dil but with hormones, sleep deprivation and possibly a level of physical discomfort a week after giving birth (if that) I will be in no mood to entertain. Do what I intend to do, stay in your pj's and when babs needs feeding poilitely excuse yourself and retire upstairs until-you-hear-the-front-door-go

Try and get them to ring ahead and if it's not a good time, dh needs to feel comfortable to tell them so Don't worry about appearing rude, it's not; make your bedroom a cosy little sanctuary and try not to let it spoil things. Can they take your dc's out for the day instead, give you time to hunker down? A campervan in late November, crazy il's!
Wombat, happy due date! Are you at aquayoga? I've been feeling frisky for weeks, apparently it's a hormone thing, though poor dh is not seeing much action. So glad you're getting excited, and feeling better about things. I wobbled yesterday, spent 2 hours in a soft play area with dnieces and did wonder if I was cut out to be a mum, I was so tired I had to go straight to bed when I got in, and I hadn't really enjoyed the day which made me feel evil, as they are such sweethearts. I am so irrational when I'm tired, which is starting to worry me as part of me thinks I will never sleep again and that I will therefore lose the plot at some point.

On the plus side, the health visitor popped round the other day and was lovely, also confirmed that I don't need to provide my own sieve for the birthing pool which was good news
I will have a toffee donut thanks, even though I have opened a box of Thorntons for breakfast

Thanks ladies for the well wishes.

I wish I had some more advice on how to deal with tricky in laws..... what I think is essential is to manage expectations up front - it will be far easier to have the difficult conversations now than post birth when you're sore and more tired than you are now. Flatter them perhaps and say that you're being honest with them as you know they'll be supportive and understanding. I know this is easier said than done, but if you value your space and sanity, then be brave!

Sorry to hear about your wobble sparkly but well done on taking yourself off to bed - and you should continue doing the same once Monts arrives too. Where does one get cheap sieves from as I assume you won't be re-using it?!

Well, should have been at aquayoga this morning, but..... I ended up at the mall as my best friend here had her baby 5 weeks early last night and so didn't have all the bits and bobs she needed like nursing bras, breast pads etc. and I went shopping to save her husband. It was all a bit traumatic - she was at home fortunately as she thought her waters had broken but in actual fact she was gushing blood..... cue emergency ambulance and c section. He weighs 2.6kg (about 5lb6) and is doing very well - in NICU and will be for a week but that is apparently standard practice for early babies here. I saw them today and they are really up beat but not a little shell-shocked. Seems quite surreal as she should have been well after me. Wombatjunior still very comfy!

Waves to all x

Morning all

How are we all feeling today? Any babies popping out wombat? I can't believe you're past your due date.......amazing. I'm so excited for you. Let's get started with a selection of fresh pastries and homemade smoothies. And a bacon sarnie and some toast with honey. Gosh I'm hungry today. Have been feeling a bit tired and run down all week but had a good 10 hour sleep last night so am feeling a lot better. i have just started to get swollen fingers which is v annoying. They go up and down a lot during the day but are generally quite stiff which is making typing harder and also the gripping of things......my calves are bigger too so the not gripping well plus having to tug hard on the zips of my boots combo is not a good one. I don't think i'll be able to wear them much longer but I don't really just want to buy bigger boots for a just a couple of months. Ditto winter coat........

Sympathy to you all re in-laws, it does sound like a bit of a challenge. I haven't asked the question directly but I don't think that they are planning on visiting at all. I was surprised at first as I expected that they would be if they don't want to then that's fine by me. My Mum will be around anyway. I'm hoping to have a couple of weeks without seeing anyone, I'm not certain if it is a good/bad idea but I think I'll start from that point and then call my Mum if I need to. I think wombat's advice about setting boundaries is excellent but can be easier said than done. I did also feed into the in-laws (via SiL) that if they did visit they would be expected to help ie wash up etc and she was surprised but did pass the info on. So I think I'm all covered on that front, and DP isn't keen on them coming over either. We will have to go and stay for a couple of weeks in the summer. I'm quite nervous about that due to heat/mosquitoes/cat and lots more besides but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Wow re your friend wombat I'd be totally in the same boat if I went into labour 5 weeks early, I'm nowhere near ready. We've ordered lots of stuff which will be delivered in a couple of weeks but have realised we really have no-where to put it all. So I've been trying to sort stuff out and make some space but I'm naturally really messy and a total hoarder so it's a nightmare. Where is the nesting instinct when I need it?

you have a more generous nhs trust than me sparkly it def says you need to bring your own sieve on the website, I'll confirm when I do the tour. I thinking of doing it in a couple of weeks. Did you guys do a tour, how far along were you? I'm almost 31 so will be about 33......not due until end of Jan, I feel miles behind you guys. Not frisky at all, I think that there may be cobwebs up there. Has anyone else been doing the perineal massage? I'm thinking I'll give it a go but I'm not at that stage yet.....and tell me, who has been doing their pelvic floor excercies, how regularly and how many? I know it's v impt I just don't seem to get round to it........

big hugs to all, hope you're having a lovely relaxing day

Sorry, getting so lazy at posting! Got distracted by the'poo'ing with DH in the house' thread, and there are 17 enthralling pages on how often you wash your shower towels (some people, after one use. One! )
Having a busy day bossing DH around, getting him to put up hooks and move heavy things and grout the shower, poor thing! I've bought him a bottle of Tanqueray as a bribe surprise for later. I think this is our last weekend with a load of housey prep to do, so next week can be decorating the tree and making mince pies (she says hopefully, frowning at bump).
My due date is 14th Dec and no longer feel like Monts will be early, he seems quite settled in there. Wondering how Wombat is doing without wanting to pile on pressure, and also Harassed, I hope we haven't offended her, I see her around posting about shagging things occasionally
Yellow, think my hospital tour was around 34 weeks, it was useful and put my mind at rest that it was actually quite tranquil, clean, well-staffed and well-protected in terms of weirdos being unable to stroll off with the Monts (think MI6 stronghold). I'm now doubting myself as to whether I do need a sieve..... I attempted perineal massage once, don't think I did it properly at all though enjoyed the almond oil I have been very lax with the pelvic floor exercises too despite needing the loo practically hourly, I just seem to loaf around watching crap tv and eating far too much chocolate.
Everyone have a great weekend, stay cosy x

I've just heard from wombat on fb as she is on blackberry and cannot get on here:

Please tell the ladies that I'm on my way to be induced.... Just had routine appt with ob/gyn and tacograph and baby sleepy ( heartrate is around 140 but not moving as up and down as it should be) and they think he's better out than in hence induction.... Am trying not to panic but it's a bit difficult.... Lemon drizzle cake to all! Xxxx

I've got my fingers and toes crossed

Yoohoo ladies! Thanks for doing the update for me yellow.... in actual fact we were back home last night still fully pg! It was all a bit of a palaver in the end... went for routine appt with ob/gyn and we set a date (next sat) to be induced. She tried a sweep but cervix completely closed. They then sent me for a tacograph which showed the baby very sleepy (normal heartbeat of around 140 but no spikes which they would hope for) so was then told to go straight to hospital for immediate induction.... do not pass go, do not collect 200 quid etc! Needless to say I was a bit panicky thinking something was really wrong with junior. DH was brill though. They hooked me up again when we got there and perfectly normal readings. They did it again 3 hours later and again perfectly normal so I was discharged - agh! We think the clinic where I was in the morning over-reacted a bit and junior was genuinely just having a snooze - fair enough! Not the best way to spend DH's bday but a good practice run I suppose! Off again for another tacograph on Tuesday to check all ok.... this will be at the hosp though so fingers crossed all ok, otherwise we're all systems go for next sat - eeeeeeek! During our 3 hour wait between graphs, we were able to go out the hosp to the one just across the road where my friend who delivered early is and we had a lovely catch-up with them. Baby should be out of NICU today which is brill.

Oooh - I'd love to come to your house for Christmas sparkly! Interesting that you think Monts will be post 14 Dec and glad that you are making the most of your resting time. Mum and I are heading off to the ladies club for a full-on relax day by the pool soon and nothing major planned for the rest of the week (oh, another than giving birth at some point ). How did the tanqueray go down?

RE: pelvic floors - I keep forgetting. I have been so sporadic and am of course wondering if it's way too late now - it def gets harder as you get bigger - more to "pull up" I guess. HAve also been v poor on the p massage front - only done it twice and both those ended up with more friskiness than anything - can't believe we're doing it right!

Good news re: the in-laws yellow - any more thoughts from you sparkly and worm on that front. I think I did the hosp tour around 36 weeks and it's a good way of making things a reality - I thought I'd panic, but it was actually quite calming. Am sooooo jealous of your 10 hour sleep! I manage 2 hours max in a row with all the peeing - I hate it!

Waves to all xx

Morning Ladies.............I got all excited there thought we had a baby wombat! Grr at the worry wart yesterday, you must have an extra cumfy womb where junior is nice and happy. :)
5 Weeks early hey, hopefully your friends baby will soon be home. How is friends CS recovery going?

Sorry you have the same in-laws problem sprkles you will have it before me too, so I can get advice from you on how to cope with it I have decided I am going to set up breastfeeding camp in my dining room, the visitors can have the lounge while I'm feeding, and I will just be blunt and bellow through the closed door that we are busy feeding. (i'm not going up and down the stairs all day long and risking bursting my cs wound (again) because of everyone else.)

I now have another In law issue which is threatening to have my hormones explode all over sister in law. This time its DH's brother wife (hearafter named bitchsil to make the story less complicated to follow). Here is the story ............we had our 2 dc's at around the same time, she breastfed, I didn't it wasnt ever discussed at that time. Anyway when other s in law got PG I was telling BSIL how she was hoping to breastfeed, BSIL pulled a surprised face and said oh I doubt that will happen as though she is the only person worthy of BFing. I then said how I wished I had breastfed my DC's and if I got PG again I would try I got a similar surprised look.
So I was chatting to MinL who had been talking to BSIL about how well Bfeeding was going for Sinlaw, and how I was planning on Bfeeding and apparently BSIL said " Well thats not very fair...........she didnt bf the other 2!!" I am absolutely livid!!!! who the eff does she think she is???
Does she have the rights on being the only one to bfeed?? Silly cow bitch face snooty hag!!!!!! takes breath

I havn't been on the tour yet yellow it is the same hospital I had DC's in 10 years ago, and I don't need to see the labour ward but am interested in finding out about the possibility of booking a private room post-birth and on what the breastfeeding support proceedure is. Im nearly 34 weeks and think I will go next week its on a sunday, so nearly 35 weeks.
Take it easy, swelling is definately a sign of over doing it yellow wags finger in a condescending fashion

Well we are now all ready if baby comes early. Nursery done, bags packed etc and I completed all my jobs list in the first week so have now made another one which includes decorating the dining room and turning it all zen like ready for it being my breastfeeding sanctuary.

Here are some topped doughnuts for brekkie............

Hello all

wombat boo to the stress of yesterday but it is good that they are monitoring you closely. Probably good to wait another week if your cervix was 'unfavorable' what did the sweep feel like?

worm she does sound most annoying, I cannot think of anything to excuse her behaviour. The only thing you can try to do is ignore and try not to let it get to you - easier said than done. I often find that if people are being mean it is to do with their own insecurities, maybe she feels jealous of you having another one and so is hitting out?

sparkly that all sounds v organised, how did DP get on with his tasks/gin?

Looks like we're all going to end up incontinent old ladies judging by the lack of pelvic floor action. Tena lady here we come!

Mcflurrys all round ( I have ice cream obsession) any flavour you like

come and say hi! Same to wellie, kool, Emma, star, how you guys getting on?

Couldn't agree more yellow and worm - wombatjunior clearly wants to stay put for a while longer. Sweep was fine although as she couldn't get near cervix apparently, perhaps it would be more uncomfortable if she could.

Friend is recovering well from c section worm - she was very shuffly the first day I saw her and in quite a bit of discomfort (but that was only about 16 hours after she'd had it!) and yesterday was quite shuffly but lots better. She described it as being quite sore rather than painful and she;s surprised by how everything you do seems to involve using your stomach muscles one way or the other.... I've read somewhere that the quickest way to recover is to get walking normally as soon as possible.

Oooh worm - on your behalf at bsil. The only thing you might want to consider is if she said that word for word and without wanting to cast aspersions, I wonder what your mil thought she would gain by passing that comment on to you..... best thing may be to rise above it all as yellow quite sagely says - easier said than done.... Well done on completing all your jobs - I still have a couple outstanding and have had 5 weeks to do them

Thanks for the mcflurrys yellow - I'll take a crunchie one if they still do them

Morning all! Well what updates! Wombat, don't do that to us! Sorry you got panicked, I can only imagine the fear that Junior wasn't completely well, made me go all funny. Glad he is just snoozing away, getting ready to come out and perform ('Tada!')
Worm, I too wonder why mil passed on the comment and was it verbatim, or in mil's own words and just badly phrased; maybe bsil thinks you regret not bf'ing lovely first genius dc's (they don't seem too adversely affected ) and feels just a little smug that she did, and it came out wrong. I don't know, people do say the most tactless things and it does stem from their own insecurities as Yellow pointed out. I sometimes find myself saying quite cruel things about my pil to dh, almost to goad him into an argument , and it's only because I don't feel on entirely solid ground with them. Rise above, you are a great mum and bsil clearly knows it and feels insecure in some way; good luck with your dining room revamp aswell, your hallway looks fab by the way!
Had a lovely day yesterday with dp's and dsis and family, we had a family pub lunch as it was dp's Ruby anniversary; was a lovely cosy pub full of happy families and next to us what looked like an nct group gathering, one woman had clearly cheated and popped hers out early , but interesting to see her comfortably breast-feeding, and made me realise life won't be irrevocably changed once Monts arrives, I can sit in a pub with a glass of wine and me baps out! Gave me a different point of view and made me more positive that I can and should get out and about with Monts rather than the hibernation I thought I had wanted, and which I had thought was inevitable.
Dsis has been lovely and passed on the lend of a pram, some massive Icandy thingy which is bigger than the Micra, and also a 'First 12 months' timeline for babs - on this she states '0-6 weeks, 16-18 hours sleep' - so why are new parents so shattered? Someone please explain, and tell me this is no lie and I shall actually sleep more than ever before!
Got the midwife later so looking forward to hearing the heartbeat, and finding out where Monts is lying - don't think he has moved down yet, felt period-like pains this morning but think it was just wind.
Croissants and salty butter for all x

Afternoon lovelies, sorry not been around for a while, my blackberry just wont allow to log onto mumsnet so my only means of updating is if i get a monday work from home day! which i have today yipppeeeeee.....

sounds like theres been abit of excitement on here whilst ive been away! and due dates passing and moving ever closer!

me, ive offically reached 20 weeks!!! yeyyyyyyy..... still on the anti nausea and being sick daily and suffering from a majorly bad back but apart from that, aparantly im glowing????

got my scan wednesday next week, all in time for my 34th bday on the 10th, and were going to find out if its a Flossy or Bert!! im so excited...

babies been kicking away quite deeply over the last 2 weeks and then today bang!! i got a huge kick! it was strangly scary and reasurring at the same time.

Waves and big sloppy kisses all around, mini mince pies and hot chocolate is the flavour of the day, so feel free to help your self.