for mums2b moving on from the pg after mc thread.....

[Katherine]

I'm hoping Wills and the other mums I spoke to on the Pg after mc thread will join me here (along with anyone else of course) as I really miss chatting to you but no longer feel it is appropriate to post on a mc thread now that I'm almost half way there. However I find the "anyone due..." threads to have mums due at other times than me and I miss my old chats. So come on guys how are you doing now?

I am now 19 weeks and have my major scan on Friday. Baby has been really kicking properly and DH can feel him/her too. Some days are very active and others are very quiet which worries me. I don't remember such eractic activity with my other 2 but hey they are all different. Still struggling with Sciatica and my nose is incredibly dry and sore all the time but otherwise I feel great and am starting to get my energy back - spent the last few days sorting out a neighbours garden.

Had flu a couple of weeks ago which really wiped me out and left me with a terrible cough which totally defeated my pelvic floor muscles so I had to wear towels. Spent most of my time convinced my waters were leaking so I guess I'm still pretty over anxious.

Hope you are all OK.

Yesterday got even worse, can you beleive it. DD is now feeling very sorry for herself. DS woke up in the middle of the night with earache and woke DD too. Wouldn't have minded so much but it was the first time in 3 nights that I'd slept. Yes Wills I hate to break it but the bad nights have arrived. My theory is that its to make it seem easier with the night feeds once you give birth! Can't get comfortable and baby seems to go bezerk as soon as we turn the lights out.

Oh well DS has gone on his school trip today and DD can't go on hers so no nursery run so lots of time. Can't choose between a shopping trip to John Lewis (determined to get curtains in the lounge this weekend if I'm going to be giving birth in there!) or poking around in the loft to get the crib etc out. Think the shopping trip is winning though and at least DD will sleep in the car.

Ghosty - give DH a big hug. Its horrible when you squabble but not surprising when you are feeling stressed etc. Better to get cuddles though.

Oh good, more sleepless hugely pregnant girls...glad to hear I am not the only one heaving herself round the bed then staggering off to the loo. As ds1 was transverse from 24 weeks and Tom only made it to 22, I am experiencing my first ever head-down, no-nonsense, mindless pummelling of cervix/diaphragm pregnancy and boy is it uncomfortable! With ds1 the way he was I was still trilling away in a choir with unsquished lungs at 39 weeks...
My maternity leave got off to a crusty start with ds1 developing the most unsightly case of conjunctivitis ever. So not much rest for me either but nice to bond over the eyedrops. He's better now and I hope your dd soon follows suit Katherine.
We've had some unexpected potential good luck in that a local nursery which we have always heard good things of turns out to have places for Jan 2004 if we book now. It has also, to my amazement, REDUCED its rates for 0-2 because of "local competition", apparently, so we can also probably afford it now. Am off to inspect it soon, but as a confirmed believer in the benefits of good nursery care (never had much luck with childminders locally) I am feeling cautiously optimistic...

Oh girls, I remember those sleepless uncomfortable nights well. Poor you. I am in day 2 of sickness though with a mountain to climb until I get to where you are. At least you will meet your little ones soon. Sorry, feeling a bit fed up.

Hope you all have a better night tonight.

hello, glad to see everyone in here as hot as me. I bought a childs paddling pool and got in it. Luverly. Back to to foetal heart monitors. I had absolutely no problems finding heartbeat from about 13 weeks onward. I also found other peoples babies heartbeats and have never not been able to find one. My midwifes doppler was not as good as mine, neither was the hospital one. I think that they get worn out with use.

HAHAHA, blooming dopplers!!! I went for my 26 week check and Dr couldn't find heartbeat...panic rising all that. She had picked up the one without the battery!!!!

Anyway I'm back at the obstetric medicine dept tomorrow to find out just how ill I am. hopefully not more than I already am, but we'll see.

I finally decided to go and get my "indigestion" checked out. Glad I did. Since burping relieves the pain a little I've always assumed it was indigestion, but its wierd because its bought on by straining my tummy muscles i.e. if I pick up anything or lie without supporting my tummy etc. GP has told me that whilst I may have backround indigestion I've obviously done some muscle damage however this can't be rectified/looked at until after the baby comes out. She's advised me to take pain killers and for the first time in ages the pain has subsided . After all you don't take painkillers if you think you have a dodgey tummy - well I don't anyway.

Hilary, I do understand where you're coming from. Our concerns must seem terribly minor compared to the sheer fear of carrying past the first three months. . Not sure it helps but even now I still worry.

Katherine - how are the spots? Is dd feeling any better. Crap time of year to get chicken pox, the hot weather and all - how is she coping?

Ghosty - whilst I remember did you see that I'd been asking about whether or not its worth doing a birth plan. As the thread developed I asked about cesarians and skin to skin contact and breast feeding immediately. Have a look, CheekyGirl (a mw) stated that as long as all is well there is no reason why baby can't be delivered straight into mum's arms and breast fed immediately. She stated that this does need to be discussed with the consultant - Not sure whether you'd seen that or not but you seemed to have a similar concern to mine so wanted to highlight it to you. HTH

Wills ... did anyone tell you that you are a lovely lovely person??
It's so nice of you to think of me like that ... I will go and hunt down that thread right now!!
Thanks darling ....

Blush. Not really ghosty! Buts its nice to find somewhere that I can share my fears and joys.

Hi Wills. DD is doing OK. Absolutly covered in spots so she looks horrible but the only ones she's scratching are in her hair so I'm letting her, better than scratching the others anyway! Shes full of beans and quite happy after a few days of obviously feeling a bit off. Just a shame she had to miss her trip.

Counting down the days now till I can relax about a homebirth. One more week to go - MW is bringing all the gear next Thursday. Still trying to pack a hospital bag just in case but my hearts not in it so settling for a list instead.

Put the crib up yesterday - to keep DD entertained as much as anything. Makes it seem more real see it there - to think there will be a baby in it in a few weeks time. Gulp! So uncomfy now though. Can't beleive how active this one is at the moment and I feel like a zombie from lack of sleep. Looking forward to the end of term - no more school runs hurrah. My only concern now is how to keep the lounge tidy enough to give birth in!

I'm currently tidying the lounge (again). Think I'm going to have to let go of my tidy house fetish.

Currently packing, but struggling because I can't seem to get to the end of any job. My pregnancy brain is now if full swing and unless its in my current line of thought then its forgotten. For instance I'm supposed to be wrapping dh's pressies (birthday tomorrow (first day of holiday)) but I've tried 8 times this morning but been distracted that many times as well. Some of the time its dd but most of the time its because I see something else, like tidying, or packing or the computer..... So am now going to get off mumsnet and make a valiant effort to go and wrap his pressies cos he's home half day so haven't got long to do this!!!!

Oh Wills I know the feeling. I hate packing too. The first bit is usually OK but then you get to the little extra bits and suddenly your pile doubles and you just can't face any of it. Never mind just keep thinking of a lovely holiday ahead and get those pressies wrapped. I'm a big fan of lists in cases like this. Be tough and force yourself to work down it one step at a time. Mind you I can happily spend ages putting my list together which kind of defeats the object. Have a lovely holiday. PS don't forget to pack a hammer in case you end up around Lyme Regis/ Charmouth - I bet DD will love cracking rocks for fossils and they charge silly money to hire them.

Gosh I can't believe how close you all are Katherine, Wills and Marina. Its such an inspiration

I just had my obstetric medicine appointment and all my blood tests came back normal, though they have now told me that they will be testing me every 4 weeks. I swear I never want to see the inside of a hospital again. I also had the most painful internal exam of my life. Dr was worried that my pelvic ligaments might have collapsed in which case I would have to have a c/s at 36 weeks. So she prodded and poked and I was honestly crying it was so bad. Then she said all was fine for now though I have alot of internal SPD inflamation.

She said that I had was having a really horrid pregnancy and that the baby was like a parasite literally sucking the life force out of me as I was so poorly. She was 6 months pregnant too. I just said that I wouldn't go as far as a parasite, still I think she was just trying to be sympathetic.

Poor DD has developed a fasination with all medical programmes...and keeps asking me when the Dr is going to pull the baby out, and why can't she come out of my belly button?

Anyone else feeling ridiculously emotional?? I keep crying over nothing, even adverts.

I have been silently following this thread and it is difficult to believe how far you have all got - just thought I would take the opportunity to wish you all good luck - Katherine - re. your hospital bag - if your heart is really not in it could you not just have the stuff that you would probably take (and that you would need soon after the birth anyway) easily accessible in the new nursery - maybe on top of a chest of drawers or something - at least your dh could just shove all that into a bag if it is really necessary. It would be easier to say to dh - put everything on top of xxx into a bag - I could just imagine my dh with a list in that situation - he would be hopeless

Mine too Jaybee.

Why is it that when I pack for me it takes a maximum of half and hour, for dh and me, three quarters of an hour but as soon as you put dd into the equation I have to pack the kitchen sink. We're packing wet clothes, dry clothes, wet activites, dry activies - infact the whole house !

Pie - what a horrible sounding examination - you poor thing

A nursery now theres an idea..... And if DH would just put the chest of drawers together..... hopefully this weekend. But preferably AFTER he's put the curtain pole up to presernve my privacy for when I deliver. Not a bad idea although to be honest most of the baby stuff is in a box anyway so could just tell him to bring the box. BUT DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO THERE ANYWAY. Hopefully this little one will stay put at least one more week and then pop out here so I won't need a bag at all. Hurrah (well everything crossed anyway.)

Pie - sounds horrible. Give yourself a treat this weekend to make up for it. Failing that heres a few cyber hugs {{{....{}}}}

Oh, I hope I haven't missed Wills to wish her happy hols and a happy birthday for her dh for tomorrow...hope you all have a good time. The weather forecast sounds bad for ankles but VERY good for a week by the sea, enjoy yourselves.
Nice to hear I'm not the only one who is quite busy but only for five minute bursts on several different unfinished chores. Strewn around the sitting room are half-finished birthday thank-you letters for ds; unpaid bills (not overdue - yet); three lots of knitting, finished but not pressed or assembled; pile of mail order catalogues, also only half-read. I can report that the ironing has remained magnificently untouched and if piled up properly in one basket would probably reach my chin. Much better to allow it to slump over the bedroom floor for ds to hide in.
Tomorrow we are off to John Lewis to buy a puchchair (order it, anyway). First "real" purchase for Baby Boo, as ds has nicknamed the bump. It dawned on me last week that we only have THREE weekends to get ourselves organised in all probability, it's really crept up on us after what seems half a century of worrying. So Jaybee's kind post struck a sudden chord!
Pie, as a bigger than average pregnant woman myself I thought I had enough to worry about regarding stretch marks, avoiding diabetes, keeping weight gain to minimum etc, but then I read how resolutely you are dealing with a high risk, high-monitored pregnancy and I am so impressed with your stamina and determination. Your consultant sounds as tactful as mine! Although I did not believe people when they predicted it to me, the third trimester does fly by - it has gone much quicker than the first two for me and I really hope it's the same for you. Goodness knows you deserve a very nice break from all this aggro.
Katherine, fingers crossed you make it past that home visit deadline from the mw and v. pleased to hear your dd is feeling better.
Hilary, I well remember feeling especially blech in my first trimester this time round and the feeling of climbing a mountain really sums it up. Big hugs to you and Ghosty (hope you two have made it up over in NZ, I nearly strangled dh on Tuesday but it is now all blood under the bridge as they say) and hoping you make it out of the most hostile terrain soon.

Well feeling v. chuffed after a productive weekend. DH put together the second set of drawers so now have all my kids clothes neatly put away including all the things for the new baby at last. He's also put the curtains up in the lounge for me. I've been campaigning for curtains for about 3 yrs (DH wanted to wait to make shutters). Honestly if I'd know all I had to do was have another baby......

Anyway this means the room looks loads better and is now private enough to be my birthing parlour! Just got to cross my legs till Friday now (Bet this little one ends up being 2 weeks overdue after all this).

Feeling very washed out in the heat though and my fingers have started swelling. Hope everyone else is doing OK.

Marina, don't do the ironing! Can you hang essential stuff in a steamy bathroom instead? It works with lightweight things. Katherine, I'm sure you'll make it to Friday, especially if you're willing it to hang on, keep telling that babe to wait! I thought of you this weekend as we slept in a tent in the garden on Sat (as ds said "we're just practicing camping aren't we?" ) - blimey it was uncomfortable! Although we didn't have beds, just the ground so I don't suppose that helped. You're a braver woman than I anyway. I too am thrilled to see how close you all are. Marina, I think of you often atm since I'm 22 weeks now (I hope you don't mind me saying that) and I really can't wait to hear birth announcments from all of you on this thread.

Ghosty, you're nearly at 12 weeks too aren't you? Thinking of you too. Pie, I sincerely hope you don't have to see the inside of a hospital again once this one's born

Not at all, www - I am always inwardly willing everyone I know to make it safely past that marker, it's almost subconscious. Glad to hear you are well on the way
Katherine, you sound busy and prepared - well done for getting so much done in this revolting heat. I spent much of the weekend in Bluewater (titter ye not, it is air-conditioned and most of Kent must have been soaking up rays by the sea as it was also quite quiet) or slumped on the floor building a Playmobil pirate ship with ds, who is beside himself with delight.
We will certainly explore alternative ironing strategies as I cannot face going near any hot appliances at the moment, thanks for the tip www.
Have a good week everyone. If the weather breaks and news reports are filed about an enormously pregnant woman dancing for joy in the rain in her front garden you will know who it is...

Thanks Marina - you know it is really hard sitting on the sofa barking orders and handing out screws

Phew know what you mean about the heat though. DS's sports day this afternoon and feel seriously sunburned despite DD smothering me in cream all afternoon. At least they let me off the mums race. I threatened them with an extra pupil otherwise

The best ironing strategy I have found is just to lower your standards. DH has to iron his own shirts and apart from that we all just look a bit crumpled. Stay away from fabrics like linen and go for the "fashionably dishevelled" look instead!

I've lost track, how long have you lot all got to go now? It can't be long for you Katherine.

5 ginger biscuits later, I feel slightly better now and can move about and talk and things. A definate improvement!

Hi Hilary. Hang on in there.
I've officially got 3.5 weeks to go but reality is anyones guess. DS was almost a week old by now and DD arrived at 38 weeks. Would be nice to think this one will be similar but everyone keeps smirking at me and saying 3rd babies mess about more so who knows. Can't help but be hopeful though - getting bloomin uncomfortable now and would like to be able to spend the holidays doing things with the kids rather than just being a blob. But only baby knows...... All set though now as long at it waits until after the end of term

Helloooooo everyone!
Just can't get over how close you are Katherine ... after all you have been through with m/cs and all and here you are on the home straight ... go girl ... I am so looking forward to an announcement!!
Wills ... are you having a nice holiday?
Marina ... when are you due again? Are you before or after Katherine? Just can't keep up ...
Hillary ... hang in there ... I wish I could say that it will pass soon but I am now just about 12 weeks and unfortunately there is no let up on the sickness front ... but bizarrely I feel happy when I feel sick as the last time I didn't feel sick from 9 weeks and it was all over at 12 so I am not complaining!
I am now 11 weeks and 6 days ... exactly point that I started bleeding last time. Today I have spent most of the day running to the loo either to throw up or check my knickers! The latter, of course, is so silly as I am deep down pretty confident that there is nothing amiss (due to the sickness, concrete tits and the fact that I can't fit into my clothes anymore ...) but I can't help it!
Only 15 hours and 9 minutes to go until my 12 week scan ...... I am champing at the bit .... just so want to see that everything is ok ... like, yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will post again with news tomorrow ......
Love g xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS ... Pie ... your examination sounded horrible ... you poor thing ... you are a very strong and brave lady ....

HI All . Ghosty - this must be such a hrad day for you. But it will soon be over and its good that you are "quietly confident". I know the conflict so well. You hate feeling sick but you know you should be glad. Can't wait to hear from you tomorrow.

Well I'm really suffering with this heat. Went all dizzy shopping yesterday and my feet are so painful. Last night I discovered that my ankles have swollen for the first time ever, to such an extent that the part of my foot pressing on the floor is a bit which would normally be part of my arch so no wonder its hurting. Having to walk on the sides of my feet today

Mw has just been with my HB kit though - just a few plastic backed sheets. Was hoping she'd bring the gas and air like last time as my old MW said she thought I'd need it before she got there (and I did) but this one obviously plays by the rules more. She does seem a bit more fussy too. She's away from the 28th so she's told me to get on with it now (37 weeks tomorrow). Baby hasn't grown much since last visit (33cm when I'm almost 37wks) but she wasn't worried as she thought it was cos the head was so low in my pelvis. I know that. When I go to the loo it feels like its about to burst out! Still at least I've got the green light now. DS finishes school today and DD finishes nursery tomorrow then we can just sit around and wait.

Better go - huge thunderstorm this morning so paranoid about pc being on. Still so hot though. Must dig that paddling pool out (for my feet )