Pregnancy post mc: Totally's grads continued part 5...

[SamanthaB123]

Our new thread to take us through the Chrisnas season. Pull up a chair, grab a mince pie and join us for support in pregnancy post miscarriage. All welcome!

Ola ladies!

Happy how's Ciara doing now? I hope you're both getting the hang of feeding and looking forward to your first Christmas together.

Ivy I am at your awful symptoms! Hope you are firmly on the mend and woot woot for midwiffing!

You too Moo - the getting better, not the wiffing! Am very interested to hear you can take paracetemol, I assumed it was cold turkey all the way and I have just come down with a stinking cold so that's useful to know. Hope your sinuses get sorted soon, must be getting you down that it's gone on so long.

Delighted to think of Malteser cuddling up with her newborn today. So pleased for you that you got your homebirth, and before Sunday so presumably extra gas and air were on hand if needed? Great timing! Big proud hug to you.

Re homebirth, can you (anyone) reassure me that I'm not bonkers thinking I can do it without a pool? Hoping to use bath when possible, but for some reason it just hasn't seemed right to have a proper pool. Don't know why I felt reluctant over it, I do love my baths. Please feel free to lie and tell me I will be fine even if you think I am mad. I am starting to brick it a bit now.

Buffs how's everything with you? Feeling better in the middle? Any readier for Christmas?

Redhead I may be wrong but as low risk I think you can probably decide you will try a homebirth if you want to as I don't think the health services can refuse to come out to you. Best to give them a bit of warning though! I have towels, shower curtain, blankets and an anglepoise lamp at the ready, oh and snacks for mws. MW homebirth kit a bone of contention still as it's not here. They will bring with them if I go into labour before it arrives. (Malteser I don't even have a decent way of getting hold of them to complain, just an answaphone number where someone should call me back within 3 days). Crap!! And if the snow's not melted by Tuesday I'm not driving so won't be able to get to my appointment to pick it up either )

Zayja sending you positive vibes and happy thoughts to LuckyBear, Bunny, Alba, Sparkles and Toomt

Magic hoping you're feeling more comfortable you poor thing.

AAARGH I HATE SNOT!!!!!

Hi all hope you are well. Have just got back from a lovely carols by candlelight service- Which would have been more fun if ds hadn't decided to make a dash for the pulpit... We won't be getting a reference for schools from the vicar at this rate...!

moo I took amoxicillin in first pg with no probes had a bad kidney infection.

ivy that literally sounds like something out of a horror film!!! Urrrgh you poor thing! People with headaches have you tried 4head the rol on stick? It's quite soothing.

gilda i too love my baths! I mainly laboured at home in the bath and got to 8cm before heading to the hospital and then got in a birthing pool at the hospital. Benefits of the pool are that they are deeper so water goes over your bump and helps you keep warmer (you can't have very hot water) also you can labour in them in a more optimum position eg on your knees hanging over the side of them. In a normal bath you're more likely to be in your back which isn't the best posture to help things along. That said understand why you don't want a pool at home- my friends flooded their whole downstairs!!! I'm sure if the lovely lia is around she'll be able to give you some great advice as to what she's seen work!

Congratulations Malteser, looking forward to hearing more about your little boy :) (and that he has arrived!)

Ivy that sounds terrifying but well done on the midwifery!

Not a lot to report here, still odd twinges and stuff but I reckon it will go on for weeks. Feeling slightly festive now we've done our tree but also not that bothered by Christmas stuff. Bit fed up that everyone is assuming we don't want to/won't do anything over xmas (PiL being the classic example- they live 3 miles away yet 'we can't make any definite plans, can we?'- NB usually quite like them): no-one seems to appreciate I might want to do something not just sit around waiting for a baby who'll probably won't arrive until 2011 anyway. And no, I don't want to travel miles and miles or have to entertain loads of people but I am still a human being! Meh. Sorry for the rant there!

Hope everyone else has had a nice weekend. Planning to eat chocolate and watch the Apprenctice later, life is so exciting xx

Congratulations Malteser - fab news and just in time to celebrate Christmas with you!

Ivy my DD buddy - well done on the midwifery and I hope that you are feeling much better soon. And you too Magic.

We had our first Christmas dinner on Saturday with DH's family - made it there and back in the snow.

Starting to feel much more Christmasy now - shopping delivered last night, presents wrapped, logs delivered for the fire so bring it on now!

Malteser congrats - that's great news . Delighted to hear your good news. A wonderful Christmas present for you.

Gilda your getting close now! great you are having a home birth too.

Sparkly your allowed a rant!!

We are doing well here although unfortunately have a c section infection now. Bit worried about what it means for breastfeeding etc. Collecting them shortly so will ask the pharmacist although MW said it would be fine. So we'll see.

THinking of everyone at the top of the list - hope you are all doing well and looking forward to the good news!

Louise thinking of you too, hope you are doing well

I haven't had chance to read the thread so apologies for the self centred post, thought all of those who are planning home births might appreciate my lovely birth tale.

I had niggles on friday morning, nothing too uncomfortable, and at 39+6 didn't think I would be lucky enough to labour. Spent friday cleaning the house, I suppose in retrospect that was the nesting! Contractions mild every 10 mins from lunch time, more regular from 10pm friday night, much stronger and every 5 mins from midnight, put on my TENS and called my mum. 2am contractions every 3 mins, Gilda at this point I soaked in the bath - just as good as a pool for me. 4am called midwives 4 cm dilated but OP. I had terrible backache but thanks to the fabulous midwives who supported me through every contraction and my ultra fabulous fabulous mum and DH and the really rather nice entonox and TENS I was fully dilated at 11.30am. I laboured in every position in every room in the house to try to turn him, and it did the trick as after an hour of pushing he was born at 12.30 in our bed all 3.8kg of lovely chunkyness. He is a gorgeous booby mad little boy and I still can't believe he is mine. And on his due date!!

Good luck to those at the top of the list, I hope your bundles of joy arrive before santa!
Catch up soon,
Malts xx

ps Ivy good luck, being on the receiving end of midwifery care for the first time has made me realise just how lucky I am to do such a fab job. I hope you have secured at place x

Aw Malteser that sounds wonderful, congratulations again, and a much appreciated inspirational birth story. So delighted for you xx

Being quiet here as have been horribly ill with a cold. Feeling a little better today but now hoping little one stays put for a while till I can beathe again!

Best wishes to one and all x

Happy sorry to hear about the infection, hope it's not too sore and gets sorted out quickly.

So I know I wished for snow when I was still at school, I really wanted a day off... but now it needs to go away. I missed my girls only antenatal class yesterday because we couldn't get out of the village. We've run out of milk. I have to make a bid for freedom today or I'll go crazy, but it's still soooo snowy. And it's our last proper antenatal tonight and I really want to go. And I'm ill. Can't stop blowing my nose.

On the plus side, there's no sign of a baby here yet. But if I sleep this badly for the next two weeks I don't think I'll actually manage to have one. Seriously, nothing is comfortable!

Lovely story malteser, it sounds wonderful. Sorry to hear about the infection happy, but hope you are enjoying things otherwise. And hope you're better ivy, sounds awful.

Huge waves to the 37+ team... who will be next!?!

Tuesday's List

Zayja - baby#1 41+3 wks EDD 11th December
Goodluckbear - baby#1 40+3 wks EDD 18th December
Gilda - baby#1 39+3 wks EDD 25th December
BunnyBaby - baby#3 39+3 wks EDD 25th December
sparklyrainbow - baby#1 38+5 wks EDD 30th December
AlbaDeTamble - baby#2 (1DS, 3yrs) 38+1 wks EDD 3rd January
toomuchteaching - baby#1 37+6 wks EDD 5th January
Redheadgal - baby#1 37+5 wks EDD 6th January
WestYorkshireGirl - baby#1 36+1 wks EDD 18th January
Dorcas111 - baby#1 34+4 wks EDD 28th January
Ba8y1 - baby#1 33+4 wks EDD 4th February
Clareanna - baby#2 (1DS) 32+4 wks ADD 3rd Feb
Lotta123 - baby#? 32+4 wks EDD 10th Feb
Muser - baby#1 30+2 wks EDD 27th Feb
Northerngoldilocks - baby#1 27+4 wks EDD 18 March
Magic8ballhastheanswers - babies#3&4 27 wks next scan 21st Dec
Lia - baby#6 26+6 wks EDD 23rd March
Hopefully - baby#2 25+4 wks EDD 2nd April
stuffedmk - baby#2 25+2 wks EDD 4th April
Osch - Baby#3 24+2 wks EDD 10th April
Ivysedai - baby#2 22+5 wks EDD 21st April
PenguinsMummy - baby#3 22+5 wks EDD 21st April
VivClicquot - baby#1 20+6 wks EDD 4th May
Loopymumsy - baby#4 20+5 wks EDD 5th May
Tigerbear - baby#1 19+1 wks EDD 14th May
Caribou - baby #2 (DD, 3yrs) 18+6 wks EDD 18th May. Next scan 5th Jan
appleblossoms - baby#2 15+3 wks EDD 11th June
crochetcircle - baby#1 15+3 wks EDD 11th June
LittleMiss - baby#1 13+3 wks EDD 24th June
Wobblewatcher - baby#2 13 wks EDD 27th June
Inbetweener - baby#3 10+2 wks EDD 17th July

emmywoo - about 8 weeks
Purplehibiscus - about 7 weeks
Nicksters mum (in Chrissy cossy)

The babies are arriving! Huge congratulations to:
Totally with daughter Faith Juliet, 9lb5oz born Tuesday 16th February 2010
Amyboo with son Matthew James, 4.714kg (10lb3oz) born Tuesday 30th March 2010
Hoops with son Benjamin Scott, 7lb4oz born Friday 2nd April 2010
Memorylapse with daughter Olivia, born Friday 16th April 2010
Jacanne with daughter Lotta Eliza, 8lbs 5oz born 20th April 2010
Becky78 with son Thomas Christopher born 22nd May, 9lb 1oz
Meita with son Ianto born 23 August, 7lbs 4
Boodleboot with daughter Alice Elizabeth born 10 Sep - 8lbs 2oz
LeeWT with son Andrew Anthony born 28th Sept 7lbs 14oz
TFLS with son Charlie born on 30th September, 6lbs 8oz
SamB with daughter Ruby Mae born 19th October, 7lbs 10oz
Effilump with son Arlen born 16th October, 8lbs
Sarahlou8 with daughter Emily Isabella born 21st October, 7lb8oz
Unbuffy with son James Anthony born 3rd December, 6lb8oz
HappyGirl - with daughter Ciara born 10th December, 8lb2oz
Malteser1981 - with son born 18 December
(Find us here too!)

In our thoughts and prayers:
Louise with daughter Georgie born asleep on 10th October

We share the pain and mourn the loss with:
Jollster, Cheepz, Freezing, BarrenBrook, MsJL, LadyBee, Banana87, BatteryHen, HairyTriangle and Waterplate.

Oh the postgrad link doesn't automatically work when you copy... sorry!

Hello Everyone,

Congratulations Malteser, what a fab birth story!

TooMuch Chin up hun, you're having a tricky time. The snow is so debilitating. When we first had snow here in November I stayed 'snowed in' religiously. This time I've been a bit more adventurous and realised that all the main roads were clear, it was just getting to them that was the problem. Hence I was at Sainsbury's at 8am yesterday and did all my food shopping while the rest of the people were still sleeping. Very successful. I was really uncomfortable at the end too, have you tried leaning over the birthing ball? I found that nice and relieved some of the pressure.

Crochet It?s really understandable that you are still grieving for your lost baby. It can take ages to overcome those feelings. I only really felt ?better? after Ruby was born ? if I had had that baby I wouldn?t have had her and that would be truly terrible. I still wonder from time to time though. At the 16 week appointment my midwife listened for the baby?s heartbeat. It blew me away, tears everywhere. I recorded it on my iphone and emailed it to dh. It is possible that it will be difficult to find, depending on the positioning of the baby and the placenta ? just thought I?d say so that you were prepared just in case it isn?t easy to find.

Gilda I was thinking about your pool worry and I think it?s ok. If you don?t fancy having a pool then if you got one you probably wouldn?t use it. I laboured at home for a bit, using the ball, tens, breathing and visualising. I like walking around in between contractions and being able to ?potter? a bit. In honesty, I just carried on doing more of the same when I got to the hospital but with much less room and comfort. I liked the idea of getting in the birthing pool at one point but I wasn?t ?allowed? (don?t ask) but if you felt like that you could always jump in the bath (jumping is obviously what you will be doing!). I did find the hypnotherapy cd that I had been listening to the most useful source of pain relief actually. What I hadn?t appreciated about it though was that you really need to remain ?in the zone? the whole time to have the full benefit during a contraction. It meant my labour was quite insular and that I found it annoying when I had to be examined as it detracted from focus. Overall though it was brilliant. I think that homebirthing is a brilliant idea and would have loved to if dh wasn?t so against it.

Sparkly You?re fine to have a rant, it?s par for the course! There is nothing like being surrounded by people who just ?get it? is there? When my mil came to visit after Ruby was born she did all the things that I didn?t want and yet I couldn?t explain what I did want, if you know what I mean. It was a really difficult time and I was quite frustrated through it all. You are really close now and should just do want you feel that you need to, only you know what you really feel like. Actually that goes for after the baby is born too, look after yourself, dh and your baby and let everyone else fit around you.

Alba How are you for snow? Are you clear if you need to get to the hospital? We didn?t have the snow forecast for yesterday at all so just have the snow that is still lying from the weekend. We missed skating at Bluewater on Saturday due to the weather which was a shame.

All this talk of midwifery (congratulations Ivy!) reminded me that when I was thinking about going back to uni I had wanted to be a midwife myself. My ex dp wasn?t prepared to look after the children when I needed to work nights though so I had to abandon that idea which is how I ended up in teaching!

I had a message from Louise a couple of days ago (Louise if you are reading I am going to reply to you) explaining the results of the post mortem and basically giving the explanation of why they lost Georgie. I?m not going to relay it here as I don?t want to get it even slightly wrong although she did say that I could as I thought appropriate (if anyone would like me to either post or message them the details please let me know). Louise hasn?t been posting as she is just feeling sad. I do think that she will still be reading regularly though. I am at such a loss to comprehend what she has been through. I find it really humbling to look at my baby in all her innocence. I am just so very fortunate.

A very quick note about post natal matters; all very well, Ruby is so interested and engaged by everything, I find her to be so alert. Yesterday I was cooing at her making an ooh sound. To start with she just copied my mouth shape (which was just so so cute!) which spurred me to carry on. Then she started making a little sound after me and finally she made the same sound. What a moment. Tears aplenty! It?s our new game ? I am teaching her all manner of sounds now! There is nothing to compete with being a mum.

I hope that everyone is safe and well in this cold, cold weather (and that no-one was heading anywhere oversees this Christmas) and that all our babies are safely snuggled up whether at home with us or simply inside us.

hello everyone, just popping in so you know I'm still waiting... and to comiserate with Gilda and Toomt on the colds, I have one too, DS kindly shared. I'm a day behind him and he's now bounced back and is outside building a snow family with his granny and big sister whilst I have a much needed day in bed... hoping I'll be better tomorrow like him, I'm over the worst of the cough and onto sneezing now, my tissue mountain probably challenging yours Gilda . It really is no fun, I've switched from being really keen for baby to arrive to giving him stern talkings to to stay put till after xmas! I'm probably in a rare minority to actually have turned down the offer of sweeps this week (I'm old, my only risk factor just now, but makes them keen to get my little one out by due date hence early sweeps). Lovely midwife also pointed out that as well as not really wanting to labour with a heavy cold, there'd be no homebirths in this weather and she's keen I get a nice relaxed homebirth if possible... Malteser your fantastic birth story is all the more encouragement for me on that, thanks so much for sharing your story.
SamB since you asked, we did get more snow yesterday, roads reasonably passable, but also have really great back up plans, friends with a 4x4 happy to drive us any time of day or night (he's also been volunteering driving midwives to the local hospital!) so if I want to get to M not P, which is my preferred hospital should we need to go in but further away, he says also fine to get us there instead! I'd far prefer a homebirth next week.... but I know what babies are like, whatever happens will happen... It sounds like you are having such a lovely time with Ruby, really happy for you.

Gilda, I had the pool ready to go last time (it's still in its box waiting for this time) but couldn't use it as I was induced instead. However, did use the bath on the antenatal ward for a few hours in early labour and that was fantastic, so I think it really is a good alternative.

Louise, if you're reading, please know we're still thinking of you

Waves to everyone else, I need to go back to sleep now...

And on amoxycillin, meant to say, I took it at 5 wks for UTI. It seems to be in widespread use in pregnancy with no ill effects and I reasoned that not getting rid of the infection could do a great deal more harm than the antibiotics...

Also wanted to share the cutest thing I just overheard... DSS heading out Xmas shopping just asked everyone what they wanted and 3yo DS said 'I want my little baby brother to come out of mummy's tummy'
How sweet is that! (I'm sure he'll be changing his mind on that once said baby appears, but bodes well for now!)

What a lovely post SamB it keeps me going hearing how much you are loving being a mum - I need to keep focussing on the post natal aspect of all this! Ruby sounds utterly spellbinding.

Thank you for labour / pool / bath reassurance Clarea, Malteser, Alba and SamB. Can I have the bath quite hot in early labour? (Obv not at pre-duffers scalding lava levels!)

Homebirth Kit Ongoing Saga. MW rang me this morning (I can't ring them directly) to change the time of my appt today. I said given bad driving conditions I would prefer to come to the usual, nearer, place tomorrow instead as I can walk if the roads are still crap (main roads fine, but side roads like ours not salted/gritted). No problem. Then I said, but of course that means that I will not be driving to you today to collect the homebirth kit. Oh well she says you wouldn't have got it anyway as I didn't drive in myself. . Then said she would speak to one of the other mws today to see if they can drop it off to me (have heard nothing back), and added slightly snarkily - well don't worry, we can bring it with us if you go into labour.
For heavens sake, I just want it here so we are prepared, and given how unreliable they have seemed so far I will go absolutely postal if they don't deliver it then use it as an excuse to make me go to hospital.

Alba bit that they said no homebirths in this weather. Have they said what the parameters are for supporting them? Really hope you get the birth you've planned.

Huge sympathies to Alba, Toomt and anyone else battling awful colds - and you too Moo - any improvement with the sinuses?

Magic - how are you doing on the Itch Factor lovely?

PenguinsMum look at you all prepared for Christmas - well done! and Sparkly I hope you get the right balance of seasonal chilling out and festive razmatazz, as you say, with no idea when things will kick off it is hard to plan, but no point on missing out completely!

Also thinking of Louise and family, it must be such a hard time right now. I can only hope that the new year heralds a fresh chapter for you and DH, and that you will be welcoming Georgie's brother or sister into your lives soon.

Well wishes to all of you xx

Thanks Sparkly,glida,happy,alba and Samb

It is a very very difficult time.Congrats to happygirl and Malteaser xx

gah - just lost an immense post.

louise I'm glad to hear from you - I understand why you haven't posted, but please know that we've all been thinking of you. I can't imagine the pain and sadness you're going through, especially at this time of year x
thanks SamB for letting us know what's been going on

congrats malteaser on a lovely birth story - you'll be an even better MW now having tried every position on the chart!!

Virtual lemsip to all of you with bad colds

Virtual pineapple curry and hot sex to all at the top of the list!

gi1da hope you get your birth kit soon - hell hath no fury like a heavily pregnant woman who doesn't feel fully prepared! I pity the poor MWs
I seem to remember the advice is warm not hot baths (don't quite know what the official definition is of warm vs hot though?!)

I had my flu jab yesterday, had put it off, but there is a sad case reported in the papers at the mo who is being treated in my local hospital so I wanted to be protected. A cold is bad enough, I couldn't imagine having the flu and being pg.
winding down (ish) at work - last day on friday - CAN'T WAIT!
Am now hoping all my internet shopping turns up....

Clareanna Hi...Yes its absolutley horrible at the moment.Xmas is all about kids isn t it? So, we re on countdown to boxing day.It ll all soon be over, thank god.

Hope you re keeping well? XX

hello ladies, sorry haven't been on for a few days been feeling shit and extremely grumpy....... Thanks for all your well wishes xxxx

Firstly hugs to Louise at this difficult time I hope you get lots of love and support over the christmas period x

Gi1da I hope to god your kit turns up miraculously tomorrow, that is a poor response from MW - get on the blower tomorrow and give them pregnant lady HELL!

Alba Aaaaaahhhhhh bless!!!!! That is co cute!

Lovely to hear how Ruby us getting on Sam x

Toomuch did you make it out? Thankfully we have had a thaw today so the roads are clear but freezing fog has set in so will be back to rinks r us tomorrow

Congrats again Malt great birth story :)

Clare at losing your post! Well done of having your flu jab and fingers x'd your shopping arrives......I am still waiting for a few bits PLEASE come tomorrow!

Hugs to all of your with colds and snots and infections, I hope you all recover in time for Christmas.

I had my full day at the hospital today (cramming in loads of appointments instead of making 4 trips!) had growth scan and twins are estimated 2lb 8oz & 2lb 7oz which is fabarooooooo and both head down although this doesn't matter as they are coming out the sunroof! Had GTT this morn too - yuk. Saw lovely midwife who made me a cuppa while I had my appointment :) Hemogoblin as I like to call it is down to 10.1 so they have sent me home with the delightful iron tabs. Might explain to some extent the tired/puffed out and twitchy fidgit moody pants I have become although it's mostly to be almost 6lb of baby and all that goes with it! Thankfully OC results are normal :) So I am just a manky itch bag LOL!

I've been thinking of you louise, it must be so hard this time of year.

Malteser glad things are good, that's a lot of baby you're carrying around!

I'm currently in a good mood as turns out I have enough holiday left to go down to 4 days a week in January. I'll have 5 weeks in the office when I go back, then I'm off. That's only 20 days!

Wednesday's List

Zayja - baby#1 41+4 wks EDD 11th December
Goodluckbear - baby#1 40+4 wks EDD 18th December
Gilda - baby#1 39+4 wks EDD 25th December
BunnyBaby - baby#3 39+4 wks EDD 25th December
sparklyrainbow - baby#1 38+6 wks EDD 30th December
AlbaDeTamble - baby#2 (1DS, 3yrs) 38+2 wks EDD 3rd January
toomuchteaching - baby#1 38 wks EDD 5th January
Redheadgal - baby#1 37+6 wks EDD 6th January
WestYorkshireGirl - baby#1 36+2 wks EDD 18th January
Dorcas111 - baby#1 34+5 wks EDD 28th January
Ba8y1 - baby#1 33+5 wks EDD 4th February
Clareanna - baby#2 (1DS) 32+5 wks ADD 3rd Feb
Lotta123 - baby#? 32+5 wks EDD 10th Feb
Muser - baby#1 30+3 wks EDD 27th Feb
Northerngoldilocks - baby#1 27+5 wks EDD 18 March
Magic8ballhastheanswers - babies#3&4 27+1 wks
Lia - baby#6 27 wks EDD 23rd March
Hopefully - baby#2 25+5 wks EDD 2nd April
stuffedmk - baby#2 25+3 wks EDD 4th April
Osch - Baby#3 24+3 wks EDD 10th April
Ivysedai - baby#2 22+6 wks EDD 21st April
PenguinsMummy - baby#3 22+6 wks EDD 21st April
VivClicquot - baby#1 21 wks EDD 4th May
Loopymumsy - baby#4 20+6 wks EDD 5th May
Tigerbear - baby#1 19+2 wks EDD 14th May
Caribou - baby #2 (DD, 3yrs) 19 wks EDD 18th May. Next scan 5th Jan
appleblossoms - baby#2 15+4 wks EDD 11th June
crochetcircle - baby#1 15+4 wks EDD 11th June
LittleMiss - baby#1 13+4 wks EDD 24th June
Wobblewatcher - baby#2 13+1 wks EDD 27th June
Inbetweener - baby#3 10+3 wks EDD 17th July

emmywoo - about 8 weeks
Purplehibiscus - about 7 weeks
Nicksters mum (in Chrissy cossy)

The babies are arriving! Huge congratulations to:
Totally with daughter Faith Juliet, 9lb5oz born Tuesday 16th February 2010
Amyboo with son Matthew James, 4.714kg (10lb3oz) born Tuesday 30th March 2010
Hoops with son Benjamin Scott, 7lb4oz born Friday 2nd April 2010
Memorylapse with daughter Olivia, born Friday 16th April 2010
Jacanne with daughter Lotta Eliza, 8lbs 5oz born 20th April 2010
Becky78 with son Thomas Christopher born 22nd May, 9lb 1oz
Meita with son Ianto born 23 August, 7lbs 4
Boodleboot with daughter Alice Elizabeth born 10 Sep - 8lbs 2oz
LeeWT with son Andrew Anthony born 28th Sept 7lbs 14oz
TFLS with son Charlie born on 30th September, 6lbs 8oz
SamB with daughter Ruby Mae born 19th October, 7lbs 10oz
Effilump with son Arlen born 16th October, 8lbs
Sarahlou8 with daughter Emily Isabella born 21st October, 7lb8oz
Unbuffy with son James Anthony born 3rd December, 6lb8oz
HappyGirl - with daughter Ciara born 10th December, 8lb2oz
Malteser1981 - with son born 18 December
(Find us here too!)

In our thoughts and prayers:
Louise with daughter Georgie born asleep on 10th October

We share the pain and mourn the loss with:
Jollster, Cheepz, Freezing, BarrenBrook, MsJL, LadyBee, Banana87, BatteryHen, HairyTriangle and Waterplate.

I am an idiot.

We finally made it out yesterday, so did a big shop (16 pints milk etc. ), went to mothercare to panic buy all the things I'd talked myself out of, finished the Christmas shopping, made it to our antenatal class and went out for dinner with everyone afterwards.

I have therefore ruined my hips with walking, and am staying in bed today. They hurt on the inside so you can't even rub them better. Then again it's snowing again, so it's probably wise to stay put.

Good to hear from you Louise, we've all been thinking about you and hope this week goes quickly for you and that 2011 is a happier year.

SamB like you I'd quite like a homebirth, but DH is dead against it. I've already started dropping hints about any future ones though, but we'll see. Malteaser your story is just so lovely. Lovely to hear your Ruby updates SamB, she sounds utterly gorgeous you lucky thing! Do keep them coming when you can (although I'm hoping to join the postgrads thread soon of course).

Gi1da I think I would be going nuts if I were you... I'm quite an person though! Seriously, this is crazy, they must know that pregnant woman are a bit obsessive about being prepared... I think it's really crap. Get on the phone. I too am building a snowy snotty mountain to rival yours and Alba's, so swift recovery wishes to all those with colds.

Good news magic16, sorry you're still itchy though. But glad it's not more serious.

Happy hope you're doing ok and that the treatment for the infection works speedily.

Crochet I think everything you're saying is totally normal and we've all been there. The due date is a tough one, I wasn't pregnant by mine and I just found it really hard thinking about what should have been going on. Take your time to grieve properly, whilst I'm totally excited about this baby, it doesn't replace our first one, but with time I do feel settled that things are going to be ok now. You'll get there.

Sparkly hope you've managed to make some (not too strenuous) plans for Christmas. Our goose arrived yesterday. I am a bit nervous about MIL coming to stay, but hope she'll muck in and turn a blind eye to the dusting!

Waves to everyone else. Hope Christmas preparations are going well.

And a final rant from me. Went to mothercare as I said, and got measured for a nursing bra. Had to wander around and look for someone to measure me, at which point a teenage girl eventually rocked up, got the tape measure out and said "If I were you'd I'd go for a 36C". I don't want to know what you would do lady, I want to know what the right size is to buy. So I looked at her expectantly and she said, "Just go pick out one you like" and then walked off leaving me to it. So I got redressed and went to get a 36C, bearing in mind I'm in a 36B at the moment, with an extender between the hook and eye. It quite clearly didn't fit. I ended up remeasuring myself, getting a range of sizes, trying them on and just guessing. How is that what's supposed to happen!?! So I've only bought one just in case... it's really hard to judge exactly how Pammy they're going to get! Have had crap service at mothercare every time and yet still I go, because there's just nowhere else around here. Oh for a John Lewis, or boobs big enough to warrant Bravissimo !

Rant over. Have a lovely day!

Just back from the mw (and I saw one that I liked this time) - I HAVE MY HOMEBIRTH KIT!! Yay!! Am now instructing bobbins to come on Boxing Day when the nice midwife is on call.

Toomt sorry you're feeling the aches from overdoing it, but does sound like you got a lot done. We will have to be early birds in the morning to go and do our food shopping. At least the snow has melted this morning so got the car out today.

Absolutely sympathise on the bra dilemma. I finally got measured in JL some time ago, she reckoned I'd gone from 36A to 38C, though they didn't have any much bra stock in that size - none of the nice mat bras - so she ended up giving me some massive generically sized black thing which looks like a sports bra. Oh well it has been comfy enough, though such a shame that having slightly more than a handful for the first time in my life and having to wear somthing which looks like a pair of granny support pants strapped to my chest. Not making the most if the occasion I feel .

Magic glad to hear all is blooming with the spiderbabes, hope it put your mind at rest and that the itching abates. Personally, and I will admit this is not a wholely unbiased choice, but I have used Neal's Yard Mothers Balm throughout and my skin is doing really well (no fragrance, just a combination of organic coconut oil, beeswax plus 3 vegetable oils). Is expenny, but a little does go a long way. Alternatively just get yourself some plain coconut oil (NY also sell and is MUCH cheaper, or you can probably find in health food shops, or poss even supermarkets. Just make sure is 100% pure coconut oil, not something called coconut cream or lotion with loads of crap in plus some synthetic coconut fragrance!). Plain almond oil also a goodie for sensitive skin and itches. Sorry, off my soap box now. Hope you find something to ease it. Good luck!

Muser hoorah for 5 weeks left, especially short ones - damn good plan!

Alba [hug] to DS - how adorable!

Clarea well done on getting the jab, I wish now I had done it a while ago. I don't usually go for vacs, but was not aware of the extra duffers risk, have read some scary stories on other threads. Feels a bit late for me now though! Happily my cold is marginally better now and apart from food shop tomorrow, intending to stay inside for the next quite some time!

Wondering how WestYorks is doing? Can't believe how we have all come so far and that vertiginous top of list is beckoning! Eek!

Hope everyone is warm, well and wallowing in pre Christmas confectionary! x

Zayja [hug] to you if you are still waiting. xx

AARRGGHH at Firefox's new Reported Attack Page warnings!!! Don't you f*ck with MNetters!

gi1da not too late- looking after a newborn whilst battling flu not much fun either!!