December 2010: Our Christmas Babies are growing but our energy levels are slowing!

[WhatWillSantaBring]

With thanks to the provider of the snappy title (it wasn't me - I think it was Strix)

Link to Stats thread (I hope)

Here

Ah, Strix, you made me paranoid, as I too am knackered and constantly thirsty. However, a quick google search of GD clearly points out that tiredness and thirst are normal pregnancy symptoms anyway!

In normal (pre-pg) life I go to bed at 10-10.30 and up at 7am and always have - anything less than that and I get tired, much to DH's frustration. So I don't think your sleeping requirements are that unusual. Although this is DC1 for me, friends have all said how much more tiring second and third preganancies are, so I shouldn't worry about it too much, particularly as you're on the radar for a test anyway.

I feel so guilty moaning about pg symptoms (I have had friends with some conception problems and I'm v conscious that I'm the lucky one whose had no problems so far) but its really hard going. Its so tedious not being able to to do much - my sis wanted to go out in town for the day on Sunday, but I knew I couldn't go as it would make me feel horrific. Roll on ML I say (six weeks to go :) )

NCT class tonight... bit nervous as I'm rubbish at making new friends, especially when I'm tired as I usually just want to sit in a zombie like state not make polite conversation.

WWSB, I guess my concern is really that previous two pregnancies were not like this.

Oh, and also was reading about GD effects on baby, and jaundice, low blood sugar at birth, and breathing difficulties are all on the list. And DS had all of these things when he was born, when I was not tested for GD. Makes me think hmmm... maybe this was an issue that went undetected last round.

Oh well, as you say, I will find out after Monday.

Meanwhile I think i have to back out of Sunday's playdate so I can sleep in on one day of the week.

yay, new thread! marking my place.
Re. sciatica
Apparently what you get when pg is not actually true sciatica. What happens is your pelvis separates a bit, due to the hormone relaxin lossening you up, and then your core muscles in your bum/lower back/hips/etc go into spasm trying to hold it together. This can cause pressure ( from the spasming muscles) on the sciatic nerve.

So getting someone to massage/use ultrasound on your core muscles and tight ligaments, especially around your hips can really help.

Also doing core stability exercises, sitting on a ball and flexing your pelvic floor muscles. You should be able to get physio advice from your booking-in hosiptal, some hospitals run clinics for pregnant women.

Finally, I bought one of these, a 'Nada Chair backsaver'.
It really helps - it's like suddenly having strong lower back muscles, or someone supporting the small of my back.

Re. tiredness - am tired, but can't sleep very well.
Need to stop reading MN threads til 10pm.

Has anyone got swollen ankles and aching legs?
I can feel fluid pooling in my legs, it is scary. But sitting with my legs up is bad for my back.
:(

I ahve just had to cut the elastic in my socks as it was cutting into me. And unloosen my trainers. I can't wear my winter boots anymore because my legs have swollen.

Yuk yuk yuk. Is this normal?

OnlyWantsOne - we haven't ordered our pool or got anything else yet. I'm now a bit unsure about when to get it because if I do have OC, I won't get to use any of it. I can send the pool back, but it's hassle and some expense - plus I don't want to get excited about the pool and then find out I can't use it! When are you getting yours?

PenelopeS - do your local NCT branch not have any groups? In our area we have Working Bumps and Bumps & Babes. Working Bumps is mostly for first-timers but there have been some second timers there too.

Strix - I'm exhausted and always needing a drink (think I just drink enough fluids normally!) and my sugars and iron are fine. Think my sleep quality is shot to pieces. Hope your GTT is okay.

WWSB - hope NCT went well. We find at Working Bumps that asking about where people are booked to give birth or if they've bought a pushchair yet are two great conversation starters. We made it to Working Bumps last night and ended up having a great time chatting to a couple we got talking to because they'd also bought a Buzz!

Miffster - what's up with your back that means you can't put your legs up? I find it helps my back because it stops me sticking my bump out so much. Have you mentioned the swelling to your MW?

I think swelling is normal, but still not nice. Drink lots and move around as much as possible.

Sounds like my tiredness might just be normal pregnancy symptom. But, I'm still fed up and still bloody cranky.

Ok I am officially on my lunch break - quite getting into this working from home malarky! Especially as DD is at school now FT and DH has gone to do the shopping.

Strix I think the tiredness is normal, I am suffering a lot more this time round, I guess partly because I am not so well with my Me this time and I am 5 yrs older. I am having an afternoon nap most days

Swollen ankles I think this will be normal for most of us, it is due to the slowing down of the blood flow back up your legs because of the increased pressure on your vesels from the baby. I would only be really concerned about it if it seems very excessive or spreads to hands and other places as this can be a sign of pre eclampsia. I have stopped wearing socks and tights where possible and I am really struggling with tight things round my waist - like clothes It is worth trying to put your feet up (literally) when you can and also try and get someone to gently massage them upwards at the end of the day. Try lying down with your legs elevated on a pillow if sitting with them up hurts your back.

Well heard from the housing people yesterday - the chap who is currently in the house they want to offer us does not move out until next Tuesday and they can't make us a formal offer until then. There is now a 2nd house in the same row that becomes free on the same day so I am going to look at that as it looks slightly "tidier" from the outside. They are then going to ask for a "waiver" to get us in ASAP so may be moving the following week

Right DH back from shopping better go and help unpack!

strix I am more tired but I fight it which is probably stupid of me; I am up beyond midnight most nights and wake at about 4 for a pee and then find it hard to go back to sleep so I am shattered in the morning. Am getting through the days ok though. I have the midwife tomorrow and will have blood and urine tests so I guess she will be able to tell me if there's anything wrong?

I wake up thirsty at 4am too, though I think that's because I try not to drink too much before bed.

WWSB good luck tonight, can you come back and tell me all about it as I am the same as you and find it hard to make friendships.

miffster I had swolen ankles a while ago and I get the thing with the socks but I do think it's normal to be honest. I try to raise my feet as much as I can and take regular walks around work.

WWSB I am so shy around new people, especially with DH who is very shy, I hope that when I do go to my antenatal group it's going to be local people all due at the same time so should have something in common :)

My friends are all sick of hearing about Little B. The ones that are expecting are quite different in their attitudes, we started off quite similar, but it's freaking me out some of the things that are being suggested. She suggested one weekend we have the LO's and the next weekend they do to give us a break and some couple time. A whole weekend as well, not feeling to keen on that, as she was suggesting what weekends in January they want to be free'd up. I wouldn't mind the odd hour or two but not sure about that much time. I mentioned my worries and she told me I'm being sensetive. It's both our first, and worry that maybe I am the daft one.

I've also had very negative feedback from family and friends about names and re-useable nappies. A few friends that use them swear by them and I see them being used successfully and at a small cost. My Mum and MiL are flatly refusing to use them if I go that way, going as far to say that they won't change a re-useable nappy as it's too much fuss. I've shown them the bumgenius website with the variety available and the videos on how they are used and they are being so unsupportive. I am planning to use disposables for the first couple of weeks, whilst we get into a routine, and also to figure out what ones are best for us. DH is interseted but says we can't force our parents to follow the pattern, so he suggested that we stock them with disposables to use when LO is with them and they will be in disposables when they take them. But I don't see why we should provide them with disposable nappies, and why I should change my routine.

With names we like Bea [Beatrice] for a girl, middle name still to be arranged DH likes Joy, but I'm not keen on the initials or Bea Joy Brookbank. We are also bee keepers and thought it quite cute and the bump has been referred to as Little B all along. I was talking through a list of names with my mum and sister and they were really rude about all the names, my mum is really angry that I am not continuing the tradition in her family of all first girls being named Ann, but I wasn't an Ann, it is my middle name though. But with all the family names, we decided to ignore everyone.

My Mum's Dad has cancer and wasn't expected to last as long as he has, he lives nearby but I haven't seen him much as his new wife is a psycho and doesn't want anything to do with us and dotes on her family. He doesn't do anything about it. She wants me to name my baby if it's a boy after her Dad [Desmond]. I had to invite him to my wedding, though I refused to invite her after she was really offensive to DH and his family. But before that I hadn't seen him since I was 16, when she was really rude to me. When my mum told them we were expecting he was undergoing chemo and I couldn't visit him in the hospital to tell him. That woman said, finally, I thought she was barren or a lesbian. I was 28 when I fell pregnant, her eldest granddaughter was 13 when she fell pregnant and only because she went overdue was she 14 when she had him and she thinks that is acceptable compared to me. I don't like the name and don't think she should force it on me, she said she will call is Des even if I don't. This is why i don't normally get on with my mum, she would do it as well. My mum always follows through with her threats, as a know so well.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just getting wound up trying to come up with names that are nice and individual but not too freaky and standing by my morals. I know I'm not loopy but it's so frustrating and I really wanted to throw a tantrum, a full blown on the floor paddy with screaming as well.

Hello everyone!

I am new to this thread and my first baby is due 5 Dec. I have 3 weeks to go until I start my maternity and I just can't wait!
Feeling rubbish all the time now...can't sleep well, can't eat well, moody and can't beleive how close I am to the end now!

I feel like I have been pregnant forever and I am getting so big, I can hardly put my own shoes on. Measured my wasit line yesterday and am at 41'!!!!
I don't think I can get any bigger or I will pop!

NCT ante-natal classes are starting in November so I am looking forward to that. Have ordered almost all I need for our little one and I feel so emotional whenever I look at her little clothes etc.

Anyway just wanted to say HI and good luck to everyone with the last few weeks.

xx

kelle at your family. What are they on? Totally unacceptable to try and bully you about nappies and names. I think Beatrice is a lovely name and Bea a lovely nickname. I also like Joy as a middle name too. How strange your Mum is kicking off about a family tradition she didn't adhere to herself. And as for your step-grandmother, she sounds like a loon. I would just try and ignore her. If there are any issues with the name after the birth, just keep firmly reiterating what your baby's name is until they get the point.

The cloth nappy thing is ridiculous. They're not that much harder than disposables, and if you are going for shaped all in ones the process to change is exactly the same and won't take any longer. I would send the baby with a stock of bumgenius and a load of nappy sacks. All they have to do is take one off and put in nappy sack in change bag and you can sort it out yourself if they don't want to us a bucket etc.

I used cloth and DD was in cloth at nursery - and this was terries and wraps some of the time. It is honestly not that hard!

Your friends idea about each sitting for the other is a bit odd as well IMO. I personally think a whole weekend, especially in the very early days is completely unrealistic and clearly impossible if breastfeeding. They may feel differently when their baby arrives as well.

Hey kellestar - On the nappies point, I think it would be acceptable just to provide reuseables for LO but say that you don't mind if they feel they need to get some disposables themselves. Having said that, my friends who swear by reusables have resorted to taking disposables with them when they go out or away as they thinks its so much easier.

As for names, remember that neither parents nor parents-in-law can choose the name - you could always claim that you love the names "Desmond" and "Ann" but sadly its the name of your DH's first girlfriend/ schoolbully and you just can't bring yourselves to use them. My SIL had one of her name choices rejected by our MIL - she's still bitter about it, so we are not telling anyone our choices, even to you lovely ladies (though I really really really want to!) When you present them with a baby and a name, they're hardly like to kick up a fuss there and then - hopefully the charms of the baby will win them round (and they can bitch about to their heart's content afterwards). Remember, its your (you and DH)prerogative to choose the name, and yours alone.

Also, remember that many people don't get on with their parents. It must be very sad, but remember that your family is now you, your DH and your LO, and that's the important thing!

Jeez Kellestar, your family is totally unreasonable. I think you should pick a name you and your DH like, then tell them about it after the fact. It's none of their business frankly. And if I felt strongly about using reusable (as it happens I would never ever even consider it) but if I did want to, then I would expect everyone who changed the baby to do the same.

What other decision do they think are theirs?

Have they picked the baptism church? Told you what to bring to hospital. And,,, oh no... I fear they have opinons on breast vs. bottle as well.

So glad my mum doesn't act like this. I had a chat with my mum about family names and what were thinking of using and so on. But, never did she tell me what to do. Although at one point she wrote me back and said "It's a good thing this baby has a 9 month gestation or he'd be born before you have decided on the name." Bloody cheek

Hi Zahara and welcome! Just wanted to say we have the same due dates :) I will work for another 5 weeks though :( Do you know if yours is a girl or boy?

Thanks for the reassurance on swollen ankles... I remember it being a common pregnancy moan but couldn't remember any of us having it yet...my wedding ring is leaving a mrk too and last week it was loose. Am ratty and tired like lots of you but am leaving work at 4pm today, woo hoo.

Kellestar your family are being complete tw*ts and need to get over themselves!
Welcome zahara and other new joiners.
Hope the house gets sorted soon MrsS

Hi everyone I can't believe another new thread - this is so busy and I have to confess, not that I don't love you all but I really struggle to concentrate reading anything, just as well I'm not working as I think I would be making loads of mistakes!

Kelle I too am at your family and friends. Talk about pressure. I would say don't tell them anymore names for starters and call LO whatever YOU want. Altho it is hard to stop people calling them what they want - when DS1 was born we called him Bob - didn't stop my brother and his family calling him Bobbby [cringe emoticon] but at least that is fairly representative of his name.

Nappies - I suspect it is fear of the unknown and the memory of 'their day' when it was a bit more tricky. Disposables have their own smell which I don't find pleasant. We used Motherease for DS1 and found them really easy, but did use disposables for a little while in the beginning as I had a EMCS. Using cloth napies again this time round means they are costing just about nothing for nappies! (PS - I put them dry into a bucket and they washed fine and no stinky water to lug to the loo and tip out).

And as for letting someone else have the baby - I just couldn't! I am a complete control freak and don't trust anyone! Perhaps when your friends have theirs they will realise they are too pooped to go out. My SIL bullied her sister into letting the baby stay overnight when he was about one month. And it was just that - bullying. Not nice.

I hate getting wound up by family - it can consume your days sometimes. My SIL used to does this to me - I would tortue myself over what she'd say or do to pee me off and never look forward to the occasion. I don't see her at all now which is lovely! So rant away whenever you need (((hugs)).

welcome zahara1 busy thread this one! I have slip on shoes now its so much easier!

Strix I am constantly thirsty and my lips crack from thirst if I don't drink constant water..... And I am sooooooo sleepy.... Gosh if I don't have a cup of coffee at 2-3 I fall asleep in my one hour drive home

Hi all, can't believe we have another new thread already. Well done on the title strix.

Kelle poor you having such an unsupportive family.
Just remember that you only have to do what you think is best for your baby despite what anyone else thinks, you do however sometimes have to compromise a little for example my DC eat things at PILs house I would never let them eat but I have (eventually) learned to let it go as it's not very often and I am always welcome of the break when they go to PILs.
WRT nappies I only sent mine to GP's with disposables if they were taking them away to stay somewhere, where it would have been a nuisance with reusables.
Other than that I sent reusables and a wet bag and if they wanted to use disposables they bought their own, I didn't expect them to wash them though just wack them in the bag and send them back.

I am also having offers from SIL and BIL to have the baby overnight (we have looked after DN overnight from 8 weeks at their request) but I just say I will be BFing exclusivly at first so it won't be happening.

GTT tomorrow woo hoo, midwife has warned me to bring plenty of magazines as there are non in clinic. I am concerned about sitting in a plastic chair for two hours without being in SPD agony.

Likewise, falling asleep at work..just counting down the weeks now until maternity leave...

Does everyone have a I couldnt care less attitude now about everything, or is it just me? Is it the pregnancy hormones thingy or is it just pure tiredness that doesnt want to deal with anything apart from partner, baby things and thats about it !

Also is anyone having problems showering now or is it just me.. I can hardly bend down anymore, and have to sit on the bed to get dressed..

I'll try to catch up later, had an awful night with ds2, poor thing has a d&v bug and was sick all over his bed during the night and needed changing etc, same this morning just no sick. I made it to my GTT and omg I felt awful. The first lots were fine but the last lot of blood I had started to feel faint and fuzzy, the lady taking blood commented that I looked as though I was about to faint and I think I nearly did! I think it was the sugar so we'll see what the results bring.

Still feeling crappy now after that. Had to have 4 needles too, couldn't get blood from the first one and said my veins are not only tiny but they move! She said she'd need to use a pediatric needle. Back later.

kellestar - you're not being unreasonable with your colleague. She sounds mad. Just tell her "no" or say you're not making any plans before baby arrives.

On nappies, if family won't use them, then I would have the attitude that either they won't be looking after the baby or they can buy disposables - but if your LO gets nappy rash from the disposables they get then I'd put my foot down anyway. We're planning to start on disposables but would then like to use reusables at least some of the time.

Put your foot down on names too! That pressure from everyone sounds awful!

Welcome zahara1. I've given up on shoes that need doing up and am living in shoes I can slip on!

notso - take a cushion to the clinic to sit on.

C&G - I've found that if I need a drink or my blood sugar is low, I have real issues with blood being drawn and will always get faint. I now have a bottle of water and something sweet before every blood draw which really helps. Hope I don't need a GTT as they'll have to stretcher me out!

I had a bad night, either waking up hot & itchy or freezing cold & stiff because I'd thrown the duvet off. I need to sort the heating out so the house doesn't get that cold as blankets on me at night just makes the itching so much worse. Shattered today as a result.

Had my flu jab this afternoon. No side effects at all so far and my arm isn't even sore - it was the easiest jab I've had in years!

Hi All! I'm due 13th Dec and have just realised it's actually really near.

Nursery is almost done, and we've started our antenatal classes (which are oddly terrifying yet reassuring at the same time - how can that be?!).

DH is heading off to Asia at the end of the month for a week and I'm a bit anxious about it - not that the baby will come early but cos I'm so knackered and not just a little bit forgetful. Plus I got stuck in the bath the other night. I have this vision of him coming home and me not having been able to put my shoes on for a week, and the floor covered in things I've dropped but can't pick up...

Anyway cherylann, I read recently that rather than bringing on labour, studies show that sex can delay labour!

Kelle I meant to say - my Mum was talking about baby names and managed to completely slate the name we're giving our DS (I didn't tell her what we were thinkign of calling him - she just managed to come up with it!) - but I love the name, and it's not up to my Mum what we call him. I told her last weekend that we are calling him it and she said that she thought it was lovely (I think she'd forgotten all about the name conversation). At the end of the day it's your choice - don't let them bully you into having names you don't want xxxxx

Hi zahara Ive been wearing pull on knee boots over leggings as I cant breathe to fasten laces...They arent a of the lady of the night sort though

strix i felt so tired today I rang in work and had my shift covered. I woke up 6 times last night to go to the loo and couldnt sleep for ages each time after so was exhausted this morning!

Hi giddy!

lauren completely get the being knackered thing - I'm working at home today because I haven't had a good night's sleep for weeks - I can't get comfy and I need to wee loads. Plus I get really cross with DH for managing to sleep - how dare he?!