10/10 ... 9, 8, 7, 6 - It's The Final Countdown!

[AbFabT]

Last chat thread for October 2010 babies until we head into POST-natal.

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Thanks for the link AbFabT, they look great! The pads I was talking about are the one LilMiss linked too. They're pampers ones, and are meant to be quite handy in general, so I thought I'd give them a try. Although they won't seem very eco and right-on next to my huge pile of cloth nappies, so I may try to force the hormonal mush that is my brain to think of something else. I'm sure someone said there are some good mattress protectors on the Nappy Lady site that can be cut down, so I'll look there.

Congratulations on day one of maternity leave Elsa, you just wait, by the end of the week you'll be sleeping in til 9.30 and wondering how you can ever get out of bed in time for work again :o

Congratulations to BionicEar too! I'm so glad I decided not to go back after the summer holidays, I've been zombified for weeks, and I can't remember any Latin, let alone teach it to anyone

(to be fair though, I only taught a few hours a week, but just before summer I worked enough at the school that it turns out they owe me SMP, yay!!! Although they're very reluctant to sort it out and give it to me )

I'm spending about 10 hrs a night in bed (obviously getting far less actual sleep than that) and I'm still exhausted. I think at some point I may just take to my bed permanently.

tiredfeet I'm a medical student, within my own trust, and one of my driving factors for not going into hospital was that I know a lot of the year group currently doing obstetrics, and couldn't face the thought of suddenly having one of them appear in the room. And that if I ever do make it back to medical school, I'll still have obstetrics to do, and don't want to have a horrible moment of recognition with the doctors lol. Also, my local hospital has terrible reviews. But normally I have no issues with hospitals at all.

LilMiss My flat is also a tip, but I've got til Friday, when the midwife comes, to whip it into shape. I think that'll be the last time for many months after that :o

• Biggest Bump! Definitely a medal hopeful :)
• Biggest Feet! Runner up
• Slowest Walk!
• Fastest Walk!
• Most trips to the loo in the night! 6
• Most indigestion tablets consumed in one day! 0 - I've dodged a bullet there.
• Fastest Hospital Bag Pack! Did it ages ago, then remembered I had to wash everything, so can I have Fastest Hospital Bag Unpack :o
• Best Baby Clothes Folding! I've even ironed the muslins, but see above for why there is no longer proof.
• Worst Memory! See above for proof
• Fattest fingers! I cried on my first wedding anniversary because I hadn't managed to keep my wedding ring on for a year Good idea about putting it on a necklace! Rings have been in a bag since about 32 weeks, and fingers are now so swollen I sometimes can't type - the horror!

Off to start my baby clothes and baby bed linen washing (and ironing, I'm sure) marathon!

Have a lovely day everyone :)

Hello all, Nursery is now finshed down to the mobile bove the cot so feel more prepared and excited now!

I don't know anyone else who is having a baby in RL so can't meet up with anyone bionic might scout out a class/coffee morning after the baby is here.

Fingon you teach LATIN?! if you only knew how many times I got thrown out of latin...o my....LOL at your reasons for avoiding hospital - I know someone in RL who works with her obstetrician - I mean, she works in a hospital and knows him at work or he's her boss or something, anyway, something dreadful! My Mum knew the mws who delivered me but said that really helped, I think that's different tho.

Roo you can look at Mumsnet local for coffee mornings or something maybe? Where are you based?

North yorkshire Dilly (very north - bordering County Durham)

Quite a few MNers up that way I think. I've seen yorks/ NE meet ups

Oh yes, meant to say I'm actually very jealous of your baby shower Bionic. I told everyone I didn't want one, but now would love a chance to sit around eating cake and being silly with friends before everything gets turned upside down . AND you got pressies :)

Roo I'm so desperate to put our mobile up, it was one of the first things we bought. But dh says I cant til we actually have the cot etc, which we're not planning to get until after Christmas. Hoping the baby will last in our room til then.
Oh, and have a look at your local library for things to meet mums at. Ours has rhyme time twice a week, and the one a wee bit further up the road has a toy library for under 2s. I'm planning to be there way before baby will care about rhymes and toys lol.

Dilly, well I try to. It has mixed results with teenagers :o I think the only reason I have any classes (it's extra-curricular) is because the G&T co-ordinator told the kids that a degree in Classics/Latin is one of the ones that MI5 and MI6 like to recruit from (yeah, which is why I get to spend my time hanging out with sexy, Aston Martin-driving, James Bond types ). Technically he's right, and all my students are convinced I'm a spy, mainly because I keep denying it apparently Whenever I can't make a lesson (MW appts etc) they think I've been sent on a "mission"; it makes me laugh anyway.

I'm not remotely bothered by the thought of bumping into MWs again later. My mum was also friends with the MW who delivered me, and I agree, it's somehow completely different. It's the doctors and my friends/acquaintances seeing that bothers me lol.

Here are the other waterproof sheets. I think maybe the changing mat size would work in the Amby

here

I'm going to measure the mattress when I get it out later.

AbFabT and Elsa have either of you got the snuggler for it?

No worries re the Brolly Sheets, those who are thinking of getting them.

FTV, thanks for the link to the waterproof sheets for the baby (and lilmiss for the Pampers link, though I think I'd prefer reusable).

Haven't got the Amby snuggler, because we bought a little nest thing for when we are co-sleeping, and it came with one.

What are you Amby people doing about cot mobiles? Not really much space for one to dangle off the rail, is there! And hanging it from anywhere else would mean it was obscured by the hammock. Hm. What to do!

Bionic, lucky you getting a baby shower. I've had no such thing. Never been to one either.

Re the homebirth preference, it's not that I don't like hospitals (LOVE the smell!!!), just the homebirth idea seems to me to be more about making birth seem like a part of nature, as opposed to a medical thing - of course, we have to have hospitals for when it's not always possible to have a 'natural' birth, but if possible, I'd like to make it feel as homely as possible.

Is anyone going to the baby show in Twickenham (London) this weekend?

Oh, and I am 37 weeks today, so officially full term! Yay!

congrats abfab thats 3 wks away for me!

good thinking about the library fingon that wouldn't have crossed my mind

I like the idea of after a home birth just getting in your own bed! I'm too wimpy regarding pain though so even without a section I dont think id have doned it

35+5

Fingon another spy! That's amazing, Elsa is a spy too....

Friends were nagging me about a shower but really someone is supposed to organise it for you and I didn't have the energy to organise my own so...

Just seen MW - Baby was head down, clever boy, tho not engaged but at least we know he can get head down. Got the number of the acupuncture people for pain relief for SPD, and birth centre assessment is booked for 38 weeks which seems awful close to the main event.... (I have informed bub he can come along from day 1 of maternity leave onwards which is 38+2). Fat feet are within the range of normal, bp good so all in all a good visit.

Moany & grumpy alert. Couldn't get anywhere near school to pick up dd2. Hobbled on crutches to school then back again. By time we got home dd1 was waiting and she'd walked from same school

wow fingon so we have two spies on our thread now . can totally understand that it would be quite hard to get your head round the idea of a friend/ acquaintance potentially attending your birth!

I wasn't meaning to sound critical of homebirth I can see why they could be attractive to people. I was just thinking it interesting that to me I think I would be less relaxed at home; but possibly its just because I grew up expecting to give birth in a hospital if that makes sense. I will report back after as to whether that is actually the case! I am considering opting for the midwife led birthing centre in the maternity hospital though, as it seems like a nice compromise

feel better (in a weird way) that I'm not the only one worrying about the journey. I think I'll discuss it with the midwife at my next appointment and see what they say. I've done the journey in an ambulance once though and it wasn't a lot of fun, very bumpy roads and it seemed worse not knowing when the bumps were coming, so I would rather get it out of the way early on in labour and in DH's car.

glad he's head down dilly

nymph poor your it must be hard work with two dd to look after already.

It's not the looking after them I'm finding hard but the logistics of car parking at home/school/hospital etc. My car is currently 2 blocks away which is about my max. Shopping is impossible on my own too.

oh I see nymph, what a pain :( I know parking is like that where my brother lives, makes it impossible when your not very mobile :(

could you do an internet shop? I did that a lot when I was poorly. even sometimes for smallish amounts of things as it just seemed better than really struggling. but even then I guess that would only help with one aspect...

Bionic your baby shower sounded lovely, i have never had anything like that.

Nymph Really sorry you are going through so much pain atm.

Abfab congrats on your 37 weeks, im almost there, its scary :)

Been to the hospital today for monitoring as babies movements had slowed right down and i was ill with dizziness and struggling to breathe. Baby i fine though and they did a blood test for the breathing and dizziness.
MW explained better what the consultant had done aswell, apparently the placenta was checked and working well thank God and she doesnt think ill be kept in on Weds. Im feeling alot more relaxed now and back to enjoying my pregnancy

Dh is doing big shop but there is a limit to how much bread/milk/ice we can fit in the freezer. Usually I take dd2 but realised too late I was out of ice.

Tyson scary! But at least they relieved some of your worries for Wed

Sorry for all the frustrations nymph not too long (!) now...sort of.

tf I think as long as you go to give birth wherever you feel the most relaxed, that's the best thing, there's no right or wrong way. I'm too shy/nervous to give birth at home in case I annoy the neighbours as we're in a rented flat - how daft is that? But it is what it is so hopefully I'll be at the mw-led birthing centre providing all is well and there's a room free.

Tyson that is scary but great news about the placenta and good on getting the explanations. Hope Wednesday will be a good appt.

Its not daft at all Dilly , I live in a rented house in Bucks and there is no way I'd want to give birth in it! I would actually like to give birth in my own home, but I am happy with the JR at Oxford..I think!

Nymph- you're getting there, not long now.

Had a nice day at my parents and have come away with a pair of shoes for the do I'm going to on Thursday as my mum is a size bigger than me, so her shoes are perfect for my swollen feet.

I've just been to Tescos and got back to my car to discover someone had parked too close to mine and I couldn't get in the passenger side either. I had to squeeze in through a very small gap and now feel like I've bruised my pubic bone. Great!

Ouch Elsa! Tesco used to let pg women in the toddler parking. We parked there the other day and no one queried it so worth asking.

Good point Nymph I shall ask. I went into the shop with my coat on and I don't think I looked that pregnant because of it as one of the workers just barged straight into me. Come to think of it, I do seem to have a please hit me magnet in my local tescos as people are always barging me. I think I'm going to go in next time wearing a tight top and rubbing my bump!

I didn't interpret you as being down on homebirth at all, tf, don't worry! And I am not down on hospital births - it really is what is best for YOU, and we are all different. My preference is homebirth, but I am grateful for a decent NHS and hospitals in case it comes to it.

nymph, sorry you are struggling so much - but not long now, hang in there!!! You can do it! Have the same problem with a lack of space in the fridge freezer, I've just defrosted and cleaned up the freezer to make a bit of space for a delivery coming Wednesday, have stocked up on food and drink so we hopefully don't have to shop for a while, but it will be a squash (as is everything in this place!!!!!).

Tyson, sorry you had a dizzy spell, but glad they checked you out and all is well. Take it easy!

Elsa, silly other drivers parking so close! Agree maybe you need the baby/toddler parking! You have GOT a baby, after all! It's just inside!

FINALLY my baby has had hiccups! What a lovely feeling!

Oh, and I've ordered our carseat! That's it now - last of the big essentials. Feels quite a relief - I've been faffing about with carseat options for MONTHS!!!

Hi ladies!

Long time no post! Hope all your tums are swell and everything is ticketyboo.

I am 35wks exactly today. All ok so far and all signs still predicting a "normal low risk birth" though will all know that can change in the blink of an eye.

NCT started last week and initially i wasn't sure but having met everyone again I did enjoy it a lot more. I am certainly learning a log as well as making pals with other mums to be. Tho scarily if my dates are correct I am due first.

Nursery is still in progress. Some baby washing has been done. Still got to do Moses basket linen. Didn't get round to packing hossie bag today. ML starts end of next week and I cannot wait to escape focus on my new role as a parent.

Soooooooooo what's new and what have I missed???

ABfab- MIne is full of lasagne as I've been obsessively cooking it & freezing it. Its a full height one but one drawer is just for ice & one for lasagne. We also have loads of garden stuff in there

You know that thing when people look at you and go 'oh can you just do this for me please?' and give you that sort of soft pleading look. Well someone did that to me at work today and I ended up driving for four whole hours!! It really really really wasn't my best moment and I'm now very very tired and achey. Stupid guilability!! I did think in the back of my head, 'this might not be the best of plans' but I still went ahead and did it anyway. Oh well, can't really blame anyone but myself.

I also ended up at the hospital again last night, I keep getting migraines that accompany bad rib pain. I've had it twice now and both times nothing has been wrong with me. I'm going to go to my GP this week about it, but I felt like a right ninny sitting there all healthy. I know that it's better to be healthy, but I sort of felt like a bit of a hypochodriac. Oh well, better that than the other really at this point.

Elsa Oh I'm so at your lovely lay in.

Bionic You know what, a lot of the church leaders/Vicars wives I've met tend to be more of the homebody types with a huge brood of children. My church leader's wife has five children. I have to admire her just for that simple fact, she's a whiz at organisational type stuff and can fix a meal for ten out of a tin of beans and a few left overs.

Sam I feel your pain.

Dilly Have you got a friend who may have one that you can borrow?

Flingon Colour me impressed at your medicalness!! I wish I had your brains, when I was younger I really really wanted to be a Doctor but soon found that I wasn't really clever enough (I'm ok with that BTW, I have a niche which I'm very happy with). Anyway, I'm always impressed with those that do commit to that route. You also taught latin as well. Wow!

Abfab I love the smell of hospitals as well. The only place I could think of with the mobile would be a lightfitting, my SIL did that with hers.

Nymph Try Tesco online, I've been doing that since I got SPD. It's made life so much easier and now all our favourites are saved to the sight so it's literally a couple of clicks and I'm done. It also helps with my meal planning drive as I can just get up and go to the kitchen to check what I have in.

Elsa I now have to make sure I park the car in a very wide space so I have room for the bump.

Also I noticed Tesco have a baby sale on at the moment, they've got lots of stuff a third off at the moment. I don't know if this is nation wide though. A question for those who've given birth before, how many packs of maternity pads do I need. I've got some of the big cushion ones and some of the ultra thin ones, how many do I need of each?