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

Miffster Glad you got all the family travelling issues sorted out, I totally agree and wouldn't be travelling about that late in pregnancy.

Lavita Wow they're both really good weights aren't they! That's really good :) I have another scan at 36 weeks and I'm dreading what they'll say she weighs then; she was 4lb 4 at 29 weeks I think it was! If only I liked Guiness hehe.

C&G Guiness and a little drop of blackcurrant to take the edge off, I am genuinely craving it, could bathe in the stuff honestly give it a go!

Miffster agree about the travelling nonsense, you need to sit back and relax in your own home. 10kgs of meat and veg? that's as crazy as stile climbing

Miffster glad you got your Christmas sorted out. Sometimes all that is needed is for someone to say - actually, it is OK to take care of yourself.

Lavita how lovely to see your babies again. I can't wait for my MW appointment this week (should have been last week but they cancelled again) as I want to know if baby has turned head down yet. I suspect not.

Seven more days of work. Oh thank GOD.

Oh, and on the stile climbing thing - I would like to defend myself...but I can't. Not my finest hour.

Re. healing up after birth and the arnica issue. You might want to try this. Also from Neal's Yard I bought dried calendula flowers and comfrey herbs, which I will make a strong brew of, not to drink but to put into a plant spray bottle to squirt on my nether after births. Also good to place in a muslin tied in an elastic band and used in a shallow bath, which you then rest your nethers in.

I repeat, DO NOT DRINK and treat with respect, as these herbs really work and they work FAST to heal wounds.

Slightly if it makes you feel better about the stile-climbing, never mind me marching about today like a squaddie with a rucksack containing 10kg of food, I also went to Windsor at the weekend, built a bonfire with several small boys and then danced round it, in the dark, followed by leaping through the flames wearing a devil mask in a Holloween/Samhain celebration thingy.

I need to calm the f_%k down, clearly.

You're right Miffster, that has made me feel quite a lot better.

lol miffster at you leaping through flames

Im going to pack my hospital bag tommorow...I promise to do this out loud so I actually do! Ill be 36 weeks on Wednesday, have had one in the night hospital trip and STULL cant bring myself to pack my bag!

C&G I'm hoping for a vbac and the extra appointments are in relation to that - at least they aren't directly related to mine or the baby's current health, but still...

Hello everyone and a huge congrats to PJen so pleased to hear Sophia-Rose arrived safe and sound.

For anyone who is currently breech, LO was breech at my 32 week scan and also placenta praevia and 2 weeks later both have changed (my underweight little one even put on 1 1/2lb ) so back on for induction and will be booking this in with consultant next week. I never felt LO turn either.

I keep looking at my hospital bag...and looking...and looking...must do it one day

@ miffster round the bonfire! Bet those boys thought it (and you) were great!

Following on in the tradition of not putting your feet up - we got a skip this weekend and emptied the garage - it looks great now. Wish the house did! We even parked the car in it momentarily and took a photo.

Hope everyone is keeping well
xxx

Hi everyone
Huge congratulations to PJen and welcome to Sohpia-Rose. Lovely name. Hope you are getting some rest and the feeding is going ok.

My LO seems to be getting more active at night. I was up for hours last night and just couldn't get comfy. Having more uncomfy Braxton Hicks as well.

kelle your mw is definitely a loon. I've put on a good 25lbs this pregnancy! I did with DD too, started off a size 8/10 and after a few weeks breastfeeding was in size 12 jeans without having to diet, so I am trying not to get hung up on numbers.

My doula came round this evening and we chatted about the birth. I'm doing two birth plans, one for home and one for hospital. I am really hoping I can stay home though now, feeling very excited about it. I just need to see what my Group B Strep status is in a couple more weeks.

I've ordered the natal hypnotherapy CD which is coming this week and hoping if nothing else it helps me relax and sleep.

I go on mat leave at the end of next week. I am really looking forward to it and glad I'm finishing then. Will be 35 weeks. Also started to buy stuff in for my labour bags too.

Our bathroom is still a mess, with paint stripped off one wall and dust everywhere. The blinds are driving me crazy. DH has promised it will be done in next week or two. I really hope so.

PJen, didn't have a chance to congratulate you properly earlier, Sophia-Rose is a lovely name, sounds like she was ready to come and wow, 5lb 15oz is a really good weight. Congratulations and enjoy your little bundle and make sure you take it easy, you have orders from everyone here.

Kelle, blimey your mw would hae me strapped to a treadmill constantly and down weightwatchers! 3st weight gain here, which although I'm not too clued up on conversions I do know is a heck of a lot more than 4kg!

£3K average spend really! Even if we'd needed to buy everything new it wouldn't have even touched a grand, what do people apparently spend money on?!

WWSB, I think it's perfectly normal to feel scared/apprehensive etc about being/becoming a parent. Even now, 9 years on I sometimes have to take a step back and think OMG when did this happen? I have plenty of times when I think I just can't do it anymore, but a cuddle and an "I love you mummy" is enough to make you realise it's all worth it and everyone is learning every step of the way whether it's their 1st baby or 8th.

Japh, We haven't even got the base we need yet and I'm 35wks on Weds. We've only made a definite decision on whether to keep our car or get a new one today, but it won't go in until baby is here. No birth plan either, but not done one before now, my only 'plan' is to get baby out as safely as possible.

NidsC, I was told by a few people with my others to get arnica for after the birth, my college lecturer was a massive advocate for it. I did look at getting some and then saw the price, over £8 for a little pot of tablets so didn't bother, but I do know that some women swear by it. Oh and she definitely breastfed too.

Miffster, glad you've got Christmas visiting sorted out, must be a huge relief.

Lavita, glad scan went well, my baby also has lots of hair, sonographer pointed it out to me, I just nodded and agreed with her . Both my boys had full heads of thick black hair too, so glad this one will have too as it would be odd having a bald baby!

I'm 34+5 today, feeling huge-mungous! None of my mat clothes now fit and I've been wearing size 14 stuff even though I'm usually a 10-12. Anti-d appointment tomorrow then normal mw appt on Weds. I cannot get comfy whatsoever, last night I think was the most uncomfortable I have ever felt, so much pain in my shoulders and hips where the weight is on them, don't know how to stop that, only way I'm even vaguely comfy is on my back, but then I can't breathe. Ho hum. I've been pretty adamant that I would like to hold off as long as possible for an induction, but I'm now at the point that as soon as they offer me one, I'll be in! Fingers crossed I won't go that far though!

Huge congratulations Pjen
The name is gorgeous and it is wonderful news that she arrived safe and sound.

The baby still feels so far off to me! I am nearly 33 weeks and I guess I really ought to start getting my head around the fact it could happen, realistically, at any time...

Maybe it's to do with the fact my bump is quite small. People seem shocked when I tell them how far along I am. It would worry me but I am measuring ok according to the midwife.

I too was so sad to hear about Lily Allen. Normally I wouldn't care about some celeb I've never met, but when I saw the news online this afternoon I felt sick and felt my stomach drop a bit. The baby has been so alive and so real to me since I first saw the 12 week scan that losing a baby at 6 months pg is just awful and cruel

I have started to pack my bag but still need to pick up some bits like extra sheets for the moses basket. I'm sure we'll muddle through though. As for the supposed 3K cost - WHAT? - I reckon we've spent about 400 and I feel like we've splashed out! We've got good quality second hand stuff mainly and a few nice new bits like a snowsuit for example. Anyone who spends 3K is crazy (or rich) IMO!

I've been awake for past 2 hours so have resigned myself to being up for the rest of the night DD starts her new school today so I have been sewing name tags in her new uniform jumpers and sports kit.

Seems like a lovely school, positive vibes from DD and DH visit yesterday.

I am in my last 4 weeks of work now and have given my line manager my "plan" for those weeks so he knows what I'm doing over that time, I aim to have everything handed over in next 2 weeks just in case as I have been getting more convinced this one may end up being early. Spent most of yesterday evening trying to convince myself it was only BH not real contractions I was having. Have to say they were very similar to early labour from last time but settled when I went to bed and have definately eased off now. LO is also very active and kicking regularly.

The move has gone quite well so far, my line manager is coming round tomorrow to help DH put some stuff in attic (furniture we have no room for here!). The house is definately smaller than both of our last 2 - we have donated our living room suite to a charity and are using one of the sofa beds as main furniture in front room, we have had to sell the piano as well . We are also having to go through everything and "weed" out any excess we have, a good excuse to downsize but wish we didn't have to do tings like get rid of the piano especially as we will lose a good 50% of it's value. Most boxes unpacked now but still lots of lifting and shifting to do which I can't help with, finding it really frustrating - especially knowing we will have to do this all again very soon.

Nursery is still being used for storage but should be cleared by weekend, I will pack my bags then when the room is ready. We won't put car seat in until we go to hospital, prior practice means we are not overly concerned about it being in yet. DH will throw it in boot when we go to hospital and then fit it once there. Last time we didn't buy pram and car seat etc until a day past my EDD , DD was 7 days late in end

We still have no internet connection so I am usig mobile netbook for this but mostly will be updaating from phone hence brief messages for next couple of weeks.

Hope everyone is reasonably ok and not in too much pain or discomfort.

cherylanntweedy any idea if you still want the filing cabinet?

Huge congrats PJen, glad Sophia-Rose is doing well, hope you're both home soon.

MrsSL I've been up since five the past two mornings, usually DS gets me up at six but since the clocks went back it's been five. Whoever came up with the idea of turning the clocks back and forward was either very stupid or didn't have kids.

I've been getting BH for the past few days and it's starting to drive me nuts. Especially as they seem to get closer together - sometimes down to every 5-7mins but just as I think I should phone the midwife they slow down again. Doesn't help that DH is working away again either as I don't know if I should phone him incase he has to come home. Aargh, I forgot how much the last few weeks of pregnancy drive me nuts.

Pjen How are you and little Sophia? when are they letting you out? I've got a scan at Queen Charlotte's today but don't worry I won't stalk you hope all is going well x

Strix Any advice for my C section? I know you've already had a couple. Is there anything I need to know?

chloesbaby & CherylAnnTweedy - we've spent £2100, so not far off £3K really, although that does include what we spent on DIY. And we haven't splashed out on much - the only new furniture we got (and paid for ourselves) was the cot and some shelves! The biggest single expense was the pushchair as we decided to get a Quinny. It all adds up horrifically - I put it all in a spreadsheet so have kept track of it.

When you don't have kids and don't have many friends/family with babies, there's a lot of little things to buy we've found. When our siblings start having babies, they'll get loads of hand-me-downs!

SlightlyTired - have you tried babymapping to work out where your LO is? My MW also showed me how to tell the difference between head and bum without mapping - heads move a lot more when you press on your bump, whereas bums stay quite rigid.

Baba is head down nearly all the time now. I'm starting to get a bit nervous about how much my own position affects her though - if I'm lying back she rolls to back to back! I'm actually getting shoulder pain from spending so much time leaning forwards (ginormous knockers pull me out of shape! ).

My DH has been trying to kid himself that baby won't be arriving soon I think - he mentioned last night that "we could have a baby in 8 weeks" and I had to point out that with the OC, I'll be lucky to still be pregnant in 6 weeks and may well be having baby in 3-4 weeks. Anyone else's partner still being a bit head-in-sand?

Hi Japh - I read the baby mapping article but to be honest I don't think I can distinguish between heads and bums etc. It was all a bit complicated for my addled brain. May have to wait till I've finished up at work and there is less going on.

I am finding it very difficult to sit at a desk and concentrate at the moment with all the activity going on in the bump. People keep trying to get me to do more and more stuff before I leave...I've only got 6 more working days after this one and I am barely going to finish what I had planned, let alone all this other stuff that keeps threatening to hijack my last week. Grump.

MrsSN - I sympathise with your insomnia. I had a good night's sleep last night but some nights I am up at 2 and just can't get back to sleep. Well done to you for getting your house into some kind of order - you seem remarkably calm for someone who has moved house (isn't it meant to be one of the most stressful things you can do, even when not heavily pregnant?!).

Was at our out of hours GP service at 10pm last night with DD who has an ear infection. Poor little thing. Only good thing is that we were the only ones there so we were straight in and out.

Just had long talk with my line manager. Apparantly the executive have started questioning our depts role in the organisation which does not bode well given the current financial cuts being made all over the place. I was really hoping things would stay quiet until well into my ML. I really don't want to have the burden of worrying about if I'll have a job or not within weeks of the baby arriving.

Hello everyone

Huge congratulations to PJen, your post made me cry, how lovely, glad you are both well.

I am feeling like a whale, and totally sick of people asking me if I'm overdue/having twins etc.
Still being monitored for itching but so far bile acid levels well in the normal range.
I start Physio for SPD pain on Friday, pleased as the pain is getting me down.
Had another growth scan and although the fluid levels are very high the sonographer was happy they matched the size of the baby so nothing to worry about.
The baby is lying very low and at times I feel like it is going to drop out!
Also having lots of braxton hicks/contractions they are quite painful at times and I find myself having to breathe though them. Feeling quite miserable about the pregnancy in general.

Sorry to not post for ages then jump in with a mighty moan, will try harder next time I post.
Take care all.

I think baby has engaged, my bump has definately dropped and sits much lower today, it would explain the uncomfortable night last night! I know they can "pop" out again so I am not overly concerned but I am pushing to get things finished at work. I am not sure how early they engage with 2nd pregnancies?

We have been told we will know which specific branches will have redundancies by Xmas but no firm nos or names until July 11 then earliest leavers Xmas 11 for vounteers and Jul 12 for non volunteers - at least it gives me chance to plan but I think my area of speciality should be reasonably safe.

MrsS After the first pregnancy baby often doesn't engage (and stay engaged) until you're actually in labour.

Anyone know anything about iron injections? I was told they hurt by the registrar yesterday and that if my iron doesn't go up in a couple of weeks I'll have to have them, I'm currently at 8.6.

MrsSL yes please, I did post before but I think it's probably got lost among the many posts several pages back! I will email you now actually. Thank you.

notso I know what you mean. I don't think I am particularly huge but I feel enormous. I particularly dislike the feeling, when I walk upstairs, of my thighs meeting the bottom of my bump. I also get a lot of braxton hicks - I am trying to stay relatively active but every time I go for a walk the bump is BHing all over the place and I have to stop and breathe through them. I feel a bit like I'm trapped in my pregnant body!

The homestretch is physically the hard bit - but it is nearly over. Have you given up work yet?

Sorry for all those facing job uncertainty. The absolute last thing you need right now.

C&G, probably a stupid question, but are you taking spatone or similar every day? I found it helped enormously. If you're doing all of that and still have low iron then I guess there's nothing for it but to grit your teeth and have the injections. Nice of the registrar to tell you they hurt...

Congratulations PJen! So pleased for you and DH and hope you're all settling in well together:)

I'm a fairly relaxed lurker here, but all this talk of baby prep has me a bit panicky! Am 36wks tomorrow and still in denial. Better get it together!