Fantastic 40+ Mums To Be

[10000fireflies]

A lovely shiney new thread for us to keep chatting on.

Exexe, glad your GP was reassuring re toxo. And re BFing, I thought about giving a bottle too for the night feed, but I seem to have lots of milk at night... Well we will see if tiredness takes its toll or not !
Eagle, hope you will get some rest in the next few days. How sweet from your mum to start knitting !
A week has gone since I gave birth and although my bump has decreased I still have a 3/4 month pg belly ! My DS1 keeps asking if there is a second baby :(
The sad news is that there is no kicking, I must say I miss it. Ladies, enjoy the fluttering and kicking on my behalf.
DS1 is on hols with my DH parents for 2 weeks. He has been given a bike ! And on the phone he seems to have some good time. I miss him a lot though. Feel guilty not to be able to cope yet with a 1 week old baby and a 3.9 yo boy...

Hello (here I am Midget ),

Just stopping by briefly using my phone so will comment on your posts in more detail later when I'm able to sit in front of my computer for the first time in ages! Spent the latter part of the week at FIL's unable to get on the laptop (DSD1) & on Friday took the ferry over the fjord for scheduled 28 week check up w GP (at 29+5!). Had had a torrid couple of days of bad behaviour from DSD2 & was feeling pretty stressed. Turns out my BP was creeping up so have just been for follow up BP & urine this AM. Good news is my urine, both times had no protein. 'Not sure if it's good or bad news': BP is at least steady (at 130/88). Bad news is sugar in my urine so GTT later this week. Feeling a bit pessimistic about that as had a weird sleepy spell last night that almost felt like passing out. Don't know that much about GD but used to work in renal medicine/transplantation so know it can be the beginning of kidney problems/failure - which is terrifying :-/.

On the upside, Norway just won their QF in women's handball, which I've got rather into and, in one hour, I'm off to the morose gynae for a scan. I've instructed LO to start kicking/waving/making faces as soon as she feels the rolly pressure - just like she did at the doc's with the Doppler (have the Doppler a big kick hello ). Hoping she's still very well as had bad crampy diarrhoea on Friday night and her movements have been a bit less ever since :-/ although they're still strong when they do occur. Anyway, must fly & will catch up with you all later on after my gynae appt.

Hello everyone!

eagerlay your new name really made me laugh How excellent I'm so glad you have made it through your awful week so well. That's such good news about your initial results, and its lovely to get a boost from sharing your happy news with family. I'm sure sharing it with your dad will be a real comfort for both you and him in coming days, so lovely that he can see your scan photo.

hpbp so glad you are still hanging out with us - gives me confidence to see people safely out the other side. You are clearly doing brilliantly - please tell us more about what it's like

exexe I saw your poo thread and sympathise - exactly the kind of thing that I freak out about too but my rational side agrees that you will be fine - I'm very sure GP wouldn't have taken a risk about this. Thank goodness for dettox! We had cat poo in our garden yesterday, and thinking of you, I made DP clear it up with disposable gloves. (yes, I keep some in for jobs like this now I'm pg, so I'm much worse than you) neighbour's incontinent / territorial (?) cats drive me mad, but at least they keep mice away.

fjord no wonder your BP is high! I think you need to be prescribed a break from DSD when poss. for what its worth, mine is higher than yours, even on BP meds, and they don't seem to be panicking. (like you, my urine / blood shows no sign of PE) Sorry about the GD possibility too - one worry after another sometimes, isn't it? I have visions of your stylish norwegian life - cabins, cool scandi-nursery furniture, tall neighbours

midgetm I told DP we would be following your 'me bf / him nappies' division of labour -he had a slightly scared face, but didn't actually object :) - sounds like the perfect plan LRM vaseline birth sounds like another good plan - or at least worth a try? why are the mechanics of birth just so hard? Makes no sense to me

VQ how are foot and dd?

AFM still no home for us! Looks like 'sorry mum and dad, we're moving in ...' Only joking, we'll find something, but I can't face another day of househunting so have my head in the sand about it all today ... its keeping me up at night, though - or it does on alternate nights, after which I'm just so sleepy and can't even stay awake for olympic events (isn't it just great? and I'm the furthest from being a sporty person you can get - I was utterly perplexed about everyone's talk of gyms on this thread a while ago, thought you were all mad) btw NCT class turned out to be lovely - really glad we're doing it. Think I'll be majorly judged by the teacher if I have a cs though. Well, its her fault for scaring me even more about vb! There's no way they're coming near me with forceps... and I just don't believe her when she says normal delivery shouldn't really hurt - who exactly is that true for?
Some more teeny vests arrived today from debenams sale - aaah I'm just going to go and stroke them again :) Already-mummies: how many of each size do I need? Is about 8 of newborn and 8 0-3 enough just now? Same with sleepsuits? We've got a dryer and do a wash everyday. I'm not going to spend money on proper outfits, but definitely want enough basics. Wow I'm impressed with myself.
Baby kicking like mad all morning (just had a hot choc) - I'm choosing to believe it has nothing to do with slack tummy muscles.

Scan was nice but gynae had a lot of difficulty getting a good view because of my fibroids. Also was weird only being able to see a bit of baby at once; either feet, or folded legs, or fists, or head. She had a good old kick about while he was scanning as I had instructed her too and kept sending a knee or something up through my skin like aliens do in Dr Who when they come bursting out of skin?but I digress. Gynae now worried about my GTT happening ASAP as baby is now measuring BIG , although he had put due date back nearly 2 weeks from my original 12wk scan due date so she may have just caught up with her earlier progress? ? clutching at straws ? don?t want to have GD or a big baby? . He has told me he wants to take over all my ante-natal care and see me at least once a week . At least I?m being well looked after. Baby had a slightly more complicated than usual Doppler type thing and has been proclaimed ?really healthy/really good? so it?s just me and my ability to be a healthy delivery vessel that is the worry. One robustly healthy LO bashing away inside of me?

LRM - how was yours? News? We didn?t get any pics this time but then a pic of her bent knees/back of her head isn?t one we?d be putting in the family album I guess?

eagerlay eagleray - so glad to hear the preliminary results of your amnio and tests are good. I?m so glad that you?ve been able to tell your dad. You have given him something wonderfully positive to focus on. Sounds like it has been an emotional and slightly exhausting journey for you. I also want one of those sleeping babies :). My DP and his 2 brothers apparently all were. Sadly my mum can?t remember much about my early weeks. She didn?t meet me until around 48 hours after birth after a GA EMCS (then she wouldn?t believe I was hers ). She has never moaned about me keeping her awake at night though so here?s hoping I?m quids in for a placid/dozy baby!

bytheseaside - I may have to pay for the birth bit of the care here because Norway are being difficult about registering me as an ?official? resident (for some reason it?s harder to move here for love than as a non-eu jobseeker). The E111 covers most care abroad, and all pregnancy appointments are free here anyway, but E111 does not cover ?choosing to give birth abroad? which is what I would end up classed as. Norway is happy to treat me but may have to charge me for that inpatient care episode.
VQ - I guess I could visit the UK nearer my due date but would have to go through the birth probably without DP or anyone as he wouldn?t be able to get indefinite time off to come with me. I?d also be left living temporarily with my mother after the baby is born, which is not tempting on top of the fact that I wouldn?t be able to get in at my first choice of hospital and might have to get myself, when labouring, to a hospital not very near home. Don?t fancy waters breaking while I?m driving or on the tube . How?s your ankle btw? Still in cast? Still in awe of how you?re managing that, being pregnant and 2 kids!

Re: DSD2?s behaviour: some long chats with DP, and some observations/input from the ILs and her older sister have led us all to conclude that she is having issues with sugar (hyperactivity/poor impulse control). DP has agreed to reduce the availability of glucosey snacks/drinks and acknowledged that her behaviour was getting out of control. So we have made strides. She is so much calmer when she eats well at meals and has limited access to fizzy drinks/sweets/ice cream. It's only half the story but getting DP to acknowledge a problem and agree to take action (rather than freezing and sticking his head in the sand) is a huge stride.

MidgetM - I knew what you meant :) and I?m curiously attracted to ?spud alike? as a slightly derogatory nickname for DSD2 when she?s being a junior nobber . Your horse feeding DD sounds absolutely lovely and has obviously been brought up very well. If I manage anywhere near as delightful a LO I will be beside myself with joy :). So glad to hear things are looking good on your scan. Am now joining you in the ?close monitoring? camp ? due to my creeping BP, probably GD and now (apparently) ?big baby? . Also super glad to hear that amniotic band has made itself scarce as hoped. Don?t envy your decision re ELCS. I?m so up for natural delivery now and it?s sinking in, as my complications appear, that the likelihood of that happening is decreasing by the day. I've convinced myself today I'll have to have an ELCS. Better I prepare for the inevitability than dream about a natural birth then become anxious nearer the time I guess...I'm not sure I'll end up with a choice and I'm not sure I'd find it an easy decision if it was left to me.

Hpbp - your birth experience sounds great! Also fab to hear you sounding so serene and feeling so well :). Please stay on the thread. A core of us will soon be catching up with you anyway and it?s really nice to hear your experiences :).

firstbubba - I?m right with you on the carpal tunnel (I?m figuring the tingly hands are probably a mild version of this) and cankles! I think sometimes they go together as symptoms, as sometimes certain women tend to retain more water/get inflamed tissue than others. I?m 30 weeks but have had both for a large part of this pregnancy.

somewhere - welcome :). Neurose away! Those first few weeks are a very anxious time if I recall (seems so long ago now!).

Hope I haven?t missed anyone ? doing my best to catch up.

41, 30+2, #1

Sorry for epic-ness of previous post . Wanted to add bytheseaside - enjoyed your idyllic vision of Norwegian life :). It is a bit like that but the cabin's not that stylish smells of wood and mustiness and you have to risk ticks and horse fly bites to get to it; at least half our neighbours are short and heavily tattooed ; and whilst we do have some nice Scandi-pieces for the baby, they're all secondhand and our cot is actually from Pottery Barn in America (nice, but isn't that somehow the antithesis of Scandi-style? ). Not complaining though - there is plenty that is utterly fabby about life here!

Hi everyone.

I finally feel able to come and post on a "pregnancy" thread.

Im 42, 14 weeks pregnant with number 2.

7 mcs, ttc this baby for a total of 5 years.

Ive booked amnio today for 2 weeks time. Would love to chat with anyone with experience in a similar position.

Thanks x

can't keep up with these pregnant ladies! you are quite verbose dearies! I'm sure it will get to me when i'm further along [touch wood].
MidgetM yes you are inspiring - 10 MCs? Have you told the ladies on the over 40 TTC thread?
I'm watching out for sickness - didn't feel any today until i had a nap (unhuh, here we go) and then i woke up and ate 3 slices of toast.
i'm hoping when i get further along i'll be able to have low carb lunches and stay awake but the hormones are powerful!

feeling quite chilled actually.

fjord great to have a scando on here. I really want to go to norway - my DP went there once with an ex to the fjords and his descriptions have really made me want to go.

hi eagerlay big chuckles - sounds a bit like my parents when my sis was the first to get prego in our family aged 41 - they were ashen - their faces went grey!

by the time it happened to me they had got their head around it. my dad's first words were 'remember you're very likely to have a miscarriage'. his career was as baby doctor so it's not as bad as it sounds.

anyway I dread telling them about no 2 [touch wood hail mary] because guess what - we are living with them! because we have no money!

Hi Nosleep - good to see you here!

Just been through the amnio thing a few days ago (and had the all-clear) - will pm you as soon as I have stuffed some dinner down my neck

I laughed at Eagerlay. Great name So nice that your mum and sis have got so excited.

Hpbp Its only a week! it takes a while for belly to go down. I've been looking into belly binding. I'm v keen to have my baby here with us. I'm positive I wont miss anything about being pregnant. Dont feel guilty. Ds is having fun and youre getting rest.
In my culture, women are expected to take it easy for 40 days. Family rally round and bring food etc (although it never last for 40 days really!) but the mother gets proper rest and recovery time.

Fjord good luck with your test. I have one tomorrow. If theres no sugar in my urine is it still worth having it done? Mines at 8.30 and I have to hang out at the hospital for 2 hrs. I can't be bothered if I don't need to.

Bytheseaside poor you and your house situation. It must be hard but fingers crossed! I'm sure it'll work out.

Welcome nosleep and congratulations.

Somewhere I'm sure your parents will be happy for you.

I've still got no tickets. Boo.

I only have 2 weeks to go til mat leave! I'm so happy. I don't think my colleagues are - My cover starts on my last week which isn't enough time to train up. Oh well. I'm not thinking about it and will put my feet up - well as much as I can amidst renovations and entertaining 2 boys on school holidays.

Hi ladies
welcome nosleep - congradulations honey, look forward to hear all the news each week how you and little one get on.

Eagerlay - hahhahah sounded just like some of my friends . Noooooo! You !!!! What a baby!!! some of my younger staff tried and failed to hide their shock at a 40 year old still have sex . Yes my lovelys its still possible . Returned from holiday Monday and they are stunned at my massive bump, Had to change my work uniform for the most horrible tent like blouse ever. Wish I could attach a picture it is massive. Its a size 20 and the bump bit fits but the top half is like a bloody boat sail. I have no boobs. Gave everyone a good laugh.

Hpbp - Hey twinkle you made my day with your lovely thread. You sound like you are having such a lovely time. i love how chilled you are. Pease continue letting us know how you get on.

Midget - Holiday finished and returned to work BOO! So tired the last two days and roll on Mat leave to put my feet up. You watch I bet on my first day I go into labour.

Fjord - Thanks for asking about scan, yep all ok no issues. We are twins again, I did not get a picture either! He kept playing with his feet. Size and growth fine so says the midwife and scanner. Consulation was fine, he just said they would induce me at 40 weeks due to placenta breaking down after that. I have shocking hip pains and much worse when I sleep and on my feet 40 hours a week at work are starting to take its toll. I have been refered for physio. I have my frist session next week. I walked out the hospital and thought holy crap in 8 weeks I will be a mum. Strange how things came and hit you like a truck. Baby Dylan is in full assualt mode this evening, getting a right kicking. Glad yours went well and is great you are getting looked after so well. Birth wise I am going to go with the flow, sods law I will plan it to the bitter end and it goes tits up so I will just hope for a happy lovely baby and if they need to bang me over the head with a hammer to get the job done so be it.

I am crap at doing pelvic floor exercises and have to keep reminding myself about em all the time. I can seem to get it right either. Only manage it when I have been to the loo.

Question for you all. I am starting to look at books for 1st time mum and wonder if any of you have read any that you found useful, My main worry is sleeping and breastfeeding so any thoughts would be grand.

Silly thought of the day, We get vouchers for nappies and baby stuff etc, but Tiolet roll companies are missing a trick. I have never used so much loo roll in the last 6 months.

I feel the need for a bowl of coco pops so night night and hope you all have lovely sleeps xx

LRM I liked this book
www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-The-Baby-Whisperer-Communicate/dp/0091857023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344366591&sr=8-1

Exexe - Thanks honey will have a look , kind of you to reply xx

exexe thanks from me too - I need to do some reading up about what on earth to do with a baby ...

Forgot to say hello to new ladies earlier - welcome to the oldies thread!

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wonder-Weeks-Magical-Forward/dp/1579546455

I like this one

god nosleep you have waited till 14 weeks to come on this thread? you should have been on the ttc thread! Good luck with the amnio.

I should take note and go back on there - a bit early to be on here

somewhere - I'm not actually a Scandi, just a Brit who has immigrated here for love :). My baby will be a bonafide Scandi though .

exexe - hmmm different situation here. They don't give you a GTT at all unless they see something in your urine. As I understand it in the UK, they are likely to give one to 'elderly gravida' or anyone a bit overweight as a matter of course without urine testing first. It's not a fun one but I guess in your position, I'd probably go through with it to put my mind at rest. I'm going to have to sit in the GP surgery for 2 hours feeling (I imagine) pretty peaky (as I usually can't function without immediate breakfast on rising) so am planning to take a good book to take my mind off it all . Am also a 'Baby Whisperer' fan btw :). LRM - other than the general Miriam Stoppard book that someone recommended me, that's what I'll be referring to.

LRM - glad to hear your scan was all fine! :) Interestingly, my LO has also been on 'full assault' ever since - it's been constant for like 5 hours; wriggling, squirming, big kicks, punches...even started to wonder if she had been a bit 'spooked' by all the pressing? Her heart rate did suddenly rise during the Doppler/ECG thing. She seems to have calmed down now. Was on the verge of 'going out for a walk' to try to rock her to sleep. Almost like she's actually already born!

Hi everyone! Back from holiday, and I promise to do a proper catch-up later, but I hope everyone is well. Had my 20 wk scan this morning and they are 90% sure it's a girl! We're calling her Rosa. Must learn how to do hair etc.

Welcome back Knotty and hello Rosa! DD is nearly 5 and I still cant do hair so you have a lot of time to perfect it.

Fjord Sorry GD seems to be hanging over your head. My best friend has just had that with her first and it annoyed the shit out of her as she had to eat healthily near the end when she least wanted to! Baby had to come a little early and it was on the large side but not huge. I spent a lot of years working in Diabetes and it is true for most that it goes after birth. It can be an indicator that you are more likely to get it in the future but there are many things that can be done to stave it off. I know you have always wondered if you would get it - fingers crossed that it won't rear its head though. Laughing at you thinking of taking the bump for a walk to get it to sleep - mine is the opposite today and worrying me from not moving enough - bloody kids eh?

LRM your new uniform sounds sexy. I am a bit rubbish about books - I found ones that were practical the most useful (What to Expect the First Year is ok if you can ignore the irritating tone of it). Baby Whisperer is ok but didn't really do it for me and the times I struggled with parenting the most is the times I tried to do what a book told me too. I preferred to rely in my instincts but I know this is a terrifying prospect for some.

Exexe feel bad that I have had such a glut of tickets, off to the athletics later today again and was there last night again. It is knackering me. Going to have such a come down when it is all over though. Have you tried just going to the parks to watch the big screen? They still had tickets for Victoria Park and you can just rock up on the day. I know it's not the same but... I have still not been offered GTT and have been told unless there is sugar in my urine I won't be. Always assumed age would trigger it but they seem happy to just leave it.

NoSleep Welcome to the board. I have your experience of MC's but I have not had an amnio but there are ladies on here who have and I see Eagerlay will fill you in on her experience.

Somewhere Good luck on keeping the carbs down - so not an option for me in pregnancy - this is what the baby wants. My carb consumption has trebled since a BFP. Doesn't seem to have negatively affected my weight gain she says wiping the cheese off her chin from pizza

HP Sounds like you are coping rather well and that DS1 is having a whale of a time. How is the BF going?

Bytheseaside I am blowing raspberries at your NCT teacher - I can imagine a sucking on a lemon face about other peoples birth choices. The woman at my antenatal class (who was a midwife and should have known better) was so unhelpful when I had DD. I had just been told I had to be induced the next day - there was really no choice as the Consultant thought the baby was in danger and as it turned out she was right as the placenta was failing. Anyway I told the midwife and she just pulled this sucking lemon face and said 'oh you don't want to be induced'. err no I don't but, I wanted a live baby. She then went on to tell me how much it would hurt and all the things that could go wrong. It was almost funny - and she was wrong on many counts but these kind of people really get on my tits! Anyway needless to say at the time she terrified me but I laugh about it now. Any luck on the house front?

Right I best go - loads of work, need to walk the dog and clear up his sick and get ready to head off to the Olympic Park. Sorry not had time to name check everyone - I actually need a nap after the ones I have done.

Take care.

Well I had mt GTT this morning. I had to drink a whole bottle of lucozade on an empty stomach. I hate too much sugar so really didnt enjoy that!¬

Knotty Yay for little Rosa :) I have 2 boys so will have to learn all about doing hair too. I am really looking forward to it :)

Midget please dont feel bad! Enjoy your tickets. I just want to take the kids to the olympic park and see it myself. I'd be happy with just a ticket to walk around. Oh well.

exexe trust me Lucozade was better than the warm icing sugar sludge they gave me. The last bit slid down in one big lump. I do like sweet stuff, but I nearly vomited.

Eurgh! Sounds revolting. I shall count my blessings :)

At 14 weeks too, so still suffering from major MS!

i put on some perfume today and the smell made me feel sick sick sick. hurrah.

somewhere that is encouraging

Yay somewhere! Sorry you feel rough though!