Any chinese mothers out there???

[blossom2]

I was just wondering

DH is english and DD is a wonderful mix of both of us. people say she looks english/white when out with Dh and chinese when she's out with me!!!

Hope you put your feet up with fav drink, some nibbles and a good movie/book/music, SW. Some "you time"!

Hurray if baby is soon to arrive. Midwife checked on Thursday and said bub was 3/4 engaged.

As a matter of fact SF that is exactly what I did do.

Can we start a wager? I reckon you'll ago in to labour.......6th August

Hello everyone, especially hope you expectant ladies are enjoying these last few days. MAke the most!...
MIL and SIL are OK. Not too phased by the bombs etc but we have probably gone into town less than we wd have done otherwise.Its exhausting enough just all being together without adding in too much sightseeing! My Mum came down from Scotland for a few days, v momentous as it is the first time they have met and we have been married for 18 years! It went OK for all I think, tho the culture chasm was HUGE! MIL asks me evry day about my Mum as she lives on her own (fit and well and extremely busy) and MIL wont believe me that it suits everyone that way!
My dd and ds 2 are having a lovely time with their aunt despite language gap as she is a very lovely and child-friendly person! Ds1 is 13 so does his own thing a lot of the time but is reasonably friendly and polite I think (hope!).

Have had to educate them slightly about not staring/making comments about people/spitting into a neighbours wheeliebin/ ...SIL takes it allin but not MIL really, still cant blame herat her age.

I sure am glad we dont live with them permanently, I absolutely could not do with my every move being scrutinised and analysed and discussed, however friendlily.Dont think DH cd either, tho he isloving having them here.

And they love Primark and are buying all their gifts to take home there! (5 prs socks for £2, trainers reduced from £8 to £2 etc!)
Must go, hope you aer all having a nice w/e.

SW, I'll pay You if bub arrives by 6th August. I'm glad you got a bit of you time.

Tummy's been getting hard for up to 5-10 minutes regularly for the past 2 weeks with crampy period type pains. Is it like that in the few weeks leading up to baby's birth?

DH told me earlier that he has been feeling anxious and tense for the last couple of weeks. He hasn't been sleeping well and keeps having nightmares. I thought it might be because he's worried I'll go into labour in the middle of the night. He said it was the afterwards part that was making him tense. The big unknown with a new baby. Gave him a big cuddle and said we'll be alright. Anyway, I can always call on you ladies for advice.

SB, I had to smile just reading about your MIL and SIL spitting in public. A lot of the much older generation still do that - I asked my Ama (grandma) once why she spat so much and she told me it was to rid the body of toxins.

I know, its felt that its healthier in than out, which I can sort of see, but hope so much that the neighbours didnt see their bin being used. Theres so much for SIL and MIL to get used to tho, and so much is incomprehensible to them. We had a lovely day at Broadstairs yesterday which was their first ever time at the seaside so v exciting.
SF its so exciting but I do remember how nervous we were before the first baby. I had a dream that I left the baby on the litchen table and went out, forgetting it was there, but was told that that is a very common drema to have!
I hope it wll goes really well for you, does sound like the arrival may be imminenet!

Hi everyone

SB, i hope your neighbours didn't see either! We're pretty excited and also, at the mo, I am feeling rather down and worried.

I've just had a call from community midwife saying I tested positive for Group B strep - I just started a thread in childbirth section asking for advice on whether I should now rethink my birth plan but no responses so far.

Have any of you had Strep B in pregnancy? I realise it is quite a common occurence and yet, reading about all the possible risks makes it worrying. We've been waiting for 3 years for this little one and feel crap hearing about the strep thing.

SF

SF - hope you get some useful responses soon. I have no experience of it so can't really advise. Was the midwife any use in explaining your options?

I have been having a rather long chat with my MIL today, she has a friend of a friend who has a son who has recently married a woman from china who speaks little english, and she thinks it would be a good idea for me to make friends!!! I tried to point out the fact that I speak cantonese so would not be able to converse in mandarin, and am not sure I would have anything in common as I am in many ways much more british than chinese! Not sure she will take no for an answer though!

SF, sorry to hear that. any further news?
soyabean, glad to hear your sil and mil are enjoying their stay. can't remember ... how long will they be here for?
dimsum, did you survive the confinement?

Thanks, CSA - how's you? I've had replies from MNs on the childbirth thread now and they are reassuring. DH will still insist that I get the antibiotics IV as soon as labour starts because my hospital seems rather blase about it all.

Yingers, Mandarin and Cantonese are pretty different dialects as you said! Hmm, awkward isn't it? MILs. How did the wedding you had to attend go and did you manage to get some good maternity wear for it?

Hey all,

SF - yep let your hubby do the insisting, as midwives are rather adept at bullying/conjoling mothers. I only managed to get pain relief because my hubby insisted I wanted it even if I did not in my midwife's opinion need it!!!
MIL still pushing issue, the silly thing is that she does not even know whether this couple want or need to make new friends, oh well.

wedding on sat, have skirt but no top, will have last ditch shopping trip on friday and will then opt for black bin liner or perhaps nudity!!!

Hehehe, Yingers. Now THAT is one way of outshining the bride. Amazing how little the fashion wallahs cater for pregnant women, isn't it? What sort of a wedding is it, BTW?

LOL, yes that is one way of looking at it. It is a civil wedding, have no idea whether bride will be walking up aisle or anything. It is on an island in the thames and once there you have to stay for the whole event as the ferry won't come till the end! Am sure it will be good fun though.

Sounds lovely Yingers, hope rain stays off. And hope you find a top (any top!) As for the friend of friend's daughter, maybe she would just appreciate a contact here even if there is a language barrier? Mind you, you are going to be pretty busy and it may be the last thing you need!

SF, I dont have any experience of strep B so cant help there, but hope you can get some useful info/support from your midwife.

CSA mil and sil are here till 12th Aug. Much as I love them I have been finding it hard just having extra people in the house, and though they are cooking nearly every night, which is particularly great when I get home from work, it just is strange to be ousted from my usual routines. (I am a bit of a control freak I suppose).

I have spent time with them in China so did know what to expect, but it is tiring nevertheless. I suppose I like my privacy too much and am not used to being quizzed or commented on all the time! However, on the whole, it is good and our youngest 2 kids in particular are really enjoying their company despite language barrier. (oldest is 13 so keeps out of all adults' way most of the time)

Dimsum and Blossom how are you doing? Hope you and your babies are well. (You are probably posting on other threads but I get solittle time on mn that I am almost only checking this one these days!)

SweetFudge have you tried looking at the Strepb website www.gbss.org.uk? My neighbour is due in 3 weeks and has Strepb and the same worries as you.
Soyabean sounds like you are coping well with the inlaws.
Went to visit the parentsIL last weekend and it was the first time that I left the baby. I actually managed to observe the confinement period (apart from two trips out).Anyway came back from shopping to find the MIL had smothered the baby in cellular blanket, fleece blanket and sleeping bag. apparently my baby is cold.I'm not sure what she will wrap her in when winter comes.

Hi everyone,

Ohhh, Dimsum. Confinement period. Feeling envious. Were you served chicken cooked with lots of ginger and warming wine? My mum looks back on her confinements with misty eyes - My dad did all the cooking for her. Unusual but they couldn't afford a confinement woman and also, Dad is a superb cook.

Part of the reason why I really wanted to give birth in Brunei where mum and dad are. But it would have meant DH missing the birth and we can't have that.

Yingers, good luck with finding a top on Friday and let us know if you do get one in time and where from.

Soyabean, I can see where you're coming from with having your personal time and intimate space filled with more family. Plus the constant scrunity and comments. It can be trying-I give up any semblance of privacy whenever I am in Brunei and every aspect of how I live my life, wear my clothes, do my make up, pluck my eyebrows, is open to comment. Not by my parents but lovely, obliging relatives and family friends. Used to just grin and bear it but older and have less time for BS now so I give as good as I get.

Thanks for all your advice - I've scared myself stupid reading the info on the GBS website and have decided to not think about it. A lot of other MNs who are gbs+ve have warned that the website is rather OTT. I am frustrated that a waterbirth is now out of the question but I'll just concentrate on letting nature do its work once bub decides on an arrival date.

My sis rang up earlier and I told her about the gbs and she said "How on earth did you get it?!!" This, coming from my sister the cardiothoracic nurse. I think she was worried about risks and hence her reaction. Still, honestly. It is a natural occurring flora in a quarter of the population. Grrr. I told her I went down to the local GBS takeaway and asked for a portion to go. She were not impressed.

lol SF, thought that was good guess your sis is probably too worried for you to see the funny side. how can your mum have enjoyed her confinement period?!?!? i hated every moment of it. yucks! but then i am a control freak so being confined just did not suit my otherwise sweet nature.

yingers, have you tried m&s for tops? they do large sizes so a normal top may just fit and they do have some nice tops at the moment. my sis who is pg bought a really nice skirt the other day (a size 16 - she is normally a 12). hope you have loads of fun and remember to wear sensible shoes

SF - LOL about your sister, I am pretty sure I would have got a similar reply from my mum and brother.

After much wondering in oxford street, am knackered now, managed to get a top. Not sure it totally matches but no longer care! And CSA, will definitely take your advice and wear sensible shoes.

Have a good weekend y'all
will let you know how it goes tomorrow

Quiet on this thread - Hello ladies!

Hope you're all having a good weekend. I'm restless so am baking jam tarts though I detest making shortcrust pastry. What's betting DH will make an appearance in the kitchen when the first batch comes out?

SF - mmmm, sounds yummy!

The wedding I went to was lovely and I was surprised at how much fun I had. The hotel I stayed in was lovely and it was nice to enjoy such a happy event - makes you all fuzzy inside!

Sounds like it was lurvely, Yingers. I had to smile when you said you were surprised at how much fun you had. I always feel slightly circumspect about weddings beforehand - Will we be seated with people we have nothing in common with? Will the food be delectable or detestable? Will the wedding photographs take so long that I start hallucinating food?

And OMG, if it is a Chinese wedding banquet like the ones I frequently attend at home with my parents, it is best to bring your own reserves of nosh. Inevitably, it will be nigh on midnight before bride and groom make an appearance and cue the serving of the first dish by which time the guests are ready to riot.

And the trend for karaoke during the banquet. Shudder. Guests BELTING out old time melodies which are blasted out of super sonic speakers invariably positioned a metre away from my remaining good ear. (Other eardrum sadly wilted after years of neighbour's karaoke sessions whilst growing up)

So all guests sit at their tables, smiling politely at one another because conversation is out of the question what with the karaoke and resultant temporary deafness.

I don't know about Chinese wedding banquets in Britian? Are your experiences the same?

SF - LOL, no the chinese banquets in London tend to be a bit more quick off the mark, and you have to be fast when your favourite dish comes otherwise you could miss out as everyone just goes for it! There are as you know tonnes of courses so on the whole most of the time you leave nice and full. It may have something to do with the restaurants themselves as most want you out by the time the evening rush begins so you generally start between 1 and 2 and leave by about 5.30ish once photos are done. When you are the bride and groom it sucks a bit as you have to do the whole going round to chat and drink, which in our case meant that we missed every single course apart from dessert and fruit at the end!!!!! Once it was all over we had to go to KFC to eat as we were so hungry!

chinese banquet... hmm... yum.... drible drible...
[doing an impression of homer simpson thinking of food ]

Yingers, the weddings here sound so much more sensible. Agree about having chopsticks poised and ready with bums half off the starting mark when dishes arrive. Sometimes, it feels you're sharing a table with piranhas. And poor you! having to feast on KFC afterwards rather than your own banquet. Mind you, I hardly tasted any of the food at our wedding. Too nervous and all that.

Csa, my fav is the mixed cold dish for the first course which has jelly fish..hmmmmm.

I am so fed-up, girls. I want this bub to arrive NOW! Got my TENS machine yesterday and cot mattress arrived as well. Mum calls me everyday from Brunei at the moment and panics if I am not in as she thinks I have gone into labour. DH keeps reassuring her and Dad that they will be the first people he'll call once the show gets on the road.

so have I lost my stake money for august the 6th then SF?

Are we making predictions about SF? Hmmm I am going to go with Friday then, which I think is 12th!

I have heard good things about TENS machine so keep it handy, SF. Good luck with everything when it does start. I am very excited for you!

My fave dish at weddings tends to be Lobster (if they have it) or the sweet bean soup - largely because I never ever get it at any other time so it is quite a novelty. But to be honest I like it all!!!!!!!

CSA - I also do the homer impression when I think of wedding food.