All those online for NZ timezone!

[buzzybee]

Hi all. Used to be a regular on MN when I lived in London but since moving back to NZ have found it harder to make the connections due to all the brits being asleep when us down under are online! So if anyone is keen to start a thread for those of us in this predicament please reply! My DD has just turned 5 and started school last week (scary). Have just found out I'm expecting number 2 - due roughly Xmas day...

I think the midwife/Plunket system is good, compared to the UK HV system - but it does depend on the numpties individuals involved...

Both times, I've really enjoyed that feeling of being super-light on my feet just after the birth - definitely something to look forward to, buzzy.

We don't do a turkey dinner - it just feels wrong. And we've no family in this country so it's always a small celebration for us. We're developing a brilliant tradition here - for the last 2 years we've asked a chef friend of ours to prepare us a smoked salmon, which we eat on th evening of Christmas Eve. We justify this by invoking my Scandiwegian heritage but I suspect that even if I were Malaysian we'd rationalise it somehow as it's such a treat!

Thinking of you, Anna. Will they be posting the video out to you or could they send it online?

Just spoke to my sister and brother, the DVD will be ready tomorrow so should be with me next week. They both said it went really well - about 150 people and about as celebratory an atmosphere as you can have at something like that. They said they were less sad than at my dads funeral, which is odd as he hasd been ill for a while so it was much less of a shock. Sister said people kept coming up to hug her and looked like they would cry and she just felt really at peace and wanted to say, isn't it wonderful how much mum is being appreciated and celebrated. 3 addresses given (by uncle, vicar and family friend) and me, dh and Amelia mentioned in all of them.

Really feel quite at peace about the whole thing. Know i will miss her so much but glad she had such a wonderful send-off.

That's lovely.

And I know this sounds trite, but, if I had to choose how my life would end, it would be along those lines I think.

That sounds lovely Anna, and glad you managed to get some sleep last night.

I'm quite used to the whole kiwi Xmas thing. When I was growing up my parents separated when I was 6 and the deal was that I spent alternative Xmases with each. Fine in concept except that Xmas with my father (who incidentally I'm no longer in touch with) was a pretty lonely affair with just the 2 of us whereas with my Mum it also involved her partner, his 2 kids as well as his ex-wife (their mum) and her new partner (modern family personified!) so was much more lively. We used to move around between houses and what food was on offer depended on the cook but was generally quite British as my step-dad's from Yorkshire and his ex-wife Scottish. In later years, this was extended to include partners and kids of all us kids so got bigger. This year however I'm the only "kid" out of the 3 living in New Zealand and without the other 2 there, it will probably just be me and Mum and step-dad plus Issy and baby, hopefully!!

Oh and just a quicj update on hospitals, scans etc. Had another today and the consultant has "released" me back to the MW. They still want me to come into the hospital pretty much as soon as I'm in labour (and immediately if my waters break) but they seem pretty happy that it should all go normally now with just a few checks from the paedeatrician after she's born. She's partly engaged (I thought so!!) and if she stays that way it should all be fine - but did warn me that with extra fluid she could pop back out again at any time.

I think its relief all round and also had a quick look around the delivery suite and rooms at the hospital while I was there which was good. Like the look of the spa-pool type baths!

I suspect I may need a couple of books in my hospital bag as I can see myself ending up in there for quite a few hours with not a lot happening.

oh Buzzy that's good news
The pool I had was absolutely lovely (apart from the fact that it slowed my labour to a standstill, but that's beside the point).
I felt fab after giving birth this time (DS was 10 lbs 5 so I really felt the difference) but I did actually miss my bump in a funny sort of way.

Anna, that sounds like such a lovely funeral - and there really is such a thing. YOur mother sounds wonderful

SHells - this will be my 3rd NZ Christmas (2nd since we moved here) and I just think it's weird and can't be doing with it at all. As DH's office shuts for 2 weeks, we're just going to treat as an enforced summer holiday I think rather than focus on Christmas itself. Will also be seeing lots of family at New Year so will make a big thing out of that. BUT in a funny sort of way it is lovely not having it rammed down your throat and we seem to have a nicer, less hectic time which is good news (and no battling your way through packed shops and assorted drunks in the rain)

I'm glad you said that MRsJS (new name?). Despite being a kiwi, I did end up falling hook, line and everything for the european way of mince pies, fairy lights, red wine etc. But I will be with my kiwi family here which I haven't been for years, and there will be quite a few kids there, so that should be good fun. Am determined to have a xmas tree and do the whole father xmas thing as the kids are still into that. When I think of xmas as a kid I think Christmas lillies (which my Gran used to grow) and strawberries. So I'll get those in and we'll see what happens!

Good good news Buzzy. You'll be lounging in that pool with your novel, relaxing those muscles and DD2 will pop out nicely I'm sure!

I've got less than 2 weeks til due date now. DP pissing me off as refusing to engage with anything except his job (which is quite stressy) and not even vaguely interested in what we need to do for baby etc. Grrrr.

No job can be as stressy as having a baby IMO! Let me know if I can help with any of the baby stuff.

Have a rotten cold tho, worse luck. Took day off and can see I'll be spending much of tomorrow in bed too. Hope to shake it a bit by Sunday so can take DD to my work kids Xmas party at the zoo.

Happy to help too, shells. I'm sure DH will pull his head out of the sand quick enough when he sees the actual baby!

Get well soon, buzzy...

We have a scary round of Christmas parties for the dds - they have a far better social life than we do. We just want to sleep....

He'd better! I'm sure he will too, and he is excited, but just can't seem to see that there is stuff to do and think about. Of course I am obsessive and think of nothing else. This morning I said 'I think I'm having twinges, I wonder what that means'. And he said, after a pause - 'I'm going to be really annoyed if John Howard wins this election.'. Great communication eh.
Thanks for your offers of help. Being able to have a moan is as good as anything really. Hope your cold is not serious Buzzy. Take care.

Shells, my dh didn't seem that bothered til the baby was born - he was excited but not as much as me - now he's besotted - I hear him saying "Hello, my gorgeous girl" and think he's talking to me, but no, it's Amelia. Seriously, I am glad he's so into being dad, it's a bit hard to tell with blokes how they will be!

Buzzy hope your cold is getting better.

Went out to our local mall for about 3 hours today, I worked out it's the first time I've been somwhere other than the house, hospital, park or dairy in about 5 weeks! I never thought our mall was that exciting but after weeks stuck inside it suddenly seemed like the most amazing place in the world. Even Foodtown looked fantastic - all that stuff on the shelves to look at! Really, it was almost too much excitement for me...DH took Amelia off for an hour so I could go and look round clothes shops, bought 2 tops to celebrate being back in normal clothes (well, some of them, I've a way to go before I get into my little singlets again). Amelia slept through the whole trip.

Oh and the mw came again yesterday and made a big fuss about needing to weigh her again "as she hadn't done very well with her weight last time" (grrrr) and to my delight she had put on 90g. Mw almost looked disappointed she couldn't give me a lecture about feeding!

You're having twinges, Shells?!

So anyway, about the election....

Thanks all. Think I'm a bit better. Forced myself to stay in bed til 4pm and try and sleep as much as possible. Not easy when its nice outside and neighbours mowing lawns etc but determined to kick this as quick as poss.

Great to hear you had some ME-time Anna. I remember the feeling of liberation.

Anna/Shells - "thelady" gave birth last night! Baby girl called Frances - see Dec thread.

Shells - what sort of stuff are you worried about? I have about 5 bids in on Trademe at the moment!!! Cot mattress, Grobag, some baby toys... (gave away Issy's ages ago when her toy box started over-flowing)

Nice to get out tho isn't it Welliemum? I actually like it this time of year for all NZ Xmas is a bit topsy turvy!

I agree, it's fun, and it's nice not to be traipsing around to parties in the cold, wet and dark.

Glad you're feeling better Buzzy, and Anna, I know how you feel! For the last month of pregnancy with dd1 my car was off the road (long story to do with classic car bureaucracy). When the baby was born and I got my car back it was like being let out of jail. I was insanely excited about going anywhere, including the supermarket.

Oh, and well done Amelia! With luck, that impressive weight gain will keep the worrier midwife at bay now.

what excellent news re the weight gain Anna. Well done!

Yeah I was tempted to put lead weights in Amelia's nappy to fool the mw, but I didn't need to

Shells, your DH should be happy! Looks like Howard's lost his seat as well as the election.

Hope that MW gets off your back now Anna

Yes! Maybe we can talk babies now. Have had an awful night of leg pain. Kept getting up every hour or so and pacing the hall trying to get it to go away. I'm now up at first light, listening to the birds which is quite nice. Hope everyone is having nice weekends.
Clever Amelia - must have known the panicky MW was coming.

Oh no, poor you Shells. That sounds ghastly. Haven't been sleeping that well the last few nights with this wretched cold - but at least I can "happily" cough and blow without worrying about waking anyone up!

Had a very weird conversation last night with my stepfather who rang from Lowry Bay to check on me on instructions from my mother (currently staying with my step-sister in Dubai) - while she was on Skype to him!! So I could hear her relaying questions to him but don't think she could hear my responses. Not sure why she didn't just ring me - although I don't have Skype (laptop too old) so a bit more expensive...

Bought that new cot mattress on Trademe! So picking up this afternoon. Don't really need yet but good to have one more thing sorted.

Shells have you tried eating a banana before going to bed? It's meant to help prevent leg cramps - potassium in it or something. A friend of mine in the UK swears by a glass of tonic water before bed to stop them.

Buzzy, Trade Me is so fab isn't it. I got loads of Amelia's stuff off there, ijncluding a Baby Bjorn front carrier thingy for 30 bucks, I thinbk they're about 150 new.

Shells, hadn't twigged you meant leg cramps?? Occupational hazard IMO. Lying on your side seems to make it worse (cuts circulation I think) but lying on back really not an option so Clayton's choice! Have found that the more water I drink the less cramps - but then I just get woken up for the loo!!

What's really hacking me off is the inability to eat ANYTHING without getting burps for 4-5 hours afterwards. Yesterday this was even triggered by a small pot of strawberry yoghurt - up til now yoghurt's been OK (carbs really bad). I haven't tried Gaviscon because I think of that as being more for pain/heartburn but maybe worth a go, waddaya think?? Am a bit afraid I'll become addicted to the stuff too!

Well, gals sad to admit but finally gave in and put the Xmas tree up today. My excuse is that I may not have the energy or enthusiasm come next weekend...have a few pressies purchased via Ezibuy which I need to wrap and put under too. Probably wishful thinking that Xmas is just around the corner and so is this baby!!!

Christmas tree! Well I'm impressed. Do you feel Christmassy?
Thanks for all responses re. my ailments (I feel like a hopeless case!). Anna - I have tried the tonic water and banana to no avail, but I may try again, as pain slightly different now. I can only lie on left hand side (as you say Buzzy, back is awful) so my arms and shoulders get all cramped up too. I have done Gaviscon for relentless burps and it does help a bit, I have to say. Although mighty expensive.
This is going to be a big trade me/second hand shop week for me, getting last bits and pieces. Despite discomfort, don't want baby to come this week as my neighbour who is going to do the middle of night shift with kids is away til sunday. Must sort out a plan B just in case!

shells, re the leg cramps, are your iron levels OK? Low iron can make leg cramps/twitching worse

I remember all too well the hell of trying to sleep/rest in the last few weeks of pregnancy. In the end my dad bought me a huge beanbag and I slept/sat on that as I was getting hardly any sleep at all. I couldn't get out of it very easily mind you, so I just sat there sulking and swigging Gaviscon. Happy days!

No I don't want her to come this week either!! My mum gets back on Thur and also have a visitor from the UK at work arriving Wed who I'm supposed to accompany around to various meetings at the Treasury, Regional Council etc on Thur and Fri. Any time after that would be absolutely fine tho!!!
Have MW visit tonight and will be interested in her opinion regarding head engagement. If that is confirmed, will be even keener...we are 37 weeks on Friday so officially full term medically I understand (yay).

Shells I have suffered badly from foot/leg cramps for years and years. Even now and then I cave in and get a Quinine prescription and it works wonders so can testify to the efficacy of loads of tonic water if you can stomach the taste. Personally I can't stand the taste - and of course haven't been taking the quinine either.

How are you going MrsJC? Your LO must be about 9 months old now?

Sorry Buzzy, only just got your text now. How is your cold? I've just sent DP out for tonic water!
I'm still getting lots of twinges...