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

I cant sleep at night due to one of the following

• cant get comfortable even with four pillows
• need to use the toilet
• pain in back or legs
• itching????????? does everyone get this??? I cant stop itching my stomach legs hands

everything just gets to me from the bedsheets to my nightie, the other night I layered myself with four different types of creams and was still itchy !!!!!!

Arrggghhh

i experienced the itching for the first time last night i must admit, think I was just so overtired I got ultrasensitive, and my brand new pillow was useless :-(

Hi all

Am due end dec so nearly 29 weeks - getting really tired again. I reckon if left alone i could sleep during day very easily! Thank goodness I work for myself, though am pretty busy right now. Apparently i am slightly anaemic so my drs sent me a presciption for iron tablets - clearly noone read the notes to say i was already somewhat constipated!!! drs!!!!!!!!!! Kittybump your dr sounds like a right arse (hmm)

Don't actually want to work anymore. just want to sort out my home, the nursery and buy baby clothes. Can't concentrate much.

Welcome penelopes to mumsnet. Its a good place to talk. I'd google mum and baby groups and see what comes up in your area as there are bound to be some groups and things. Whereabouts do you live?

I haven't been following this antenatal thread but thought I would come and take a look...I'm expecting my first on 6 December.
I am very excited but find the whole idea of having a baby quite unreal, not to mention scary, if that doesn't sound too strange. Does anyone else feel like that? I find it quite hard to buy things for a tiny new human being that isn't here yet.

It took ages before I felt properly pregnant. I've been lucky enough to have a very easy pregnancy so far, nothing worse than bleeding gums and feeling quite tired. Now I can feel movements (although not loads), have had no less than four scans and have an obvious if not massive bump, I do actually feel pregnant, but have been so focused on pregnancy I sometimes forget about the end result. I can't quite believe a baby is going to come out in 8 weeks' time. Have done the NCT weekend course (at 28/29 weeks as it was that or 37/38 weeks which I thought was getting a bit late) which was quite useful.

I also find there are so many things to worry about especially as my first pregnancy miscarried and I sometimes feel like I've been pregnant for 14 months. Then I probably spend too much time reading horror stories on Mumsnet...

Hi helen and kippers

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to be at work any more - I'm not sure how I'm going to get through the next 5 weeks. And I completely shocked one of my colleagues the other day who asked if I was OK when I was swearing at my PC and I snarled 'no I don't want to be here I've had enough' (at least I'm her boss, so she can't do much about it ha ha).

Re: the itching thing, I've taken to washing our bedding loads as I find I'm less itchy in fresh clean bedding (by loads I mean several times a week) - I'm sure it's psychological but at the moment I'm so desperate to get some sleep I'll try anything!

I've also got a Boots lavender pillow spray that I liberally spray before bed (DH thinks it makes him smell like a granny but I don't care) and I am still sleeping with the windows open and the fan on even though it's now freezing as otherwise I feel like I can't breathe.

yawn...

And I have 8 more weeks of work

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

NidsC and others who are itchy - you must see your MW or GP about itching as it can be the only symptom of obstretic cholestasis (OC) which is serious (meds & early induction can be needed with OC or there's a risk of your baby being stillborn!). They must send you for blood tests - make sure both LFTs (Liver Function Tests) and Bile Acid levels are checked - and the tests should be repeated every 7-10 days if you continue being itchy.

I'm going through this atm and have done loads of research, plus have got a great MW and hospital assessment unit - thankfully! If it had been left to my GP he would never have got the right tests done.

Itching that's worse at night and worse on your hands and feet is typical of OC btw, so don't dismiss it if you feel okay during the day.

thankfully the only itching I am getting is on my scalp but I will mention it to the midwife tomorrow :)

Kelle I agree with everyone else, do what YOU want to RE names etc. I wouldn't allow my family to dictate these things to me. I'm deliberately not mentioning names now as I don't want to have to tell people and have them say they don't like it.

C&G sorry you are feeling crappy and sorry to hear about the injection troubles :(

notso good luck tomorrow. RE people having the baby I just don't understand why other people feel this need to take newborns away from tehir parents for any length of time - even for an hour - iin the early days. I think I would just about be ok with my Mum or MIL taking the baby for a spin around the block but don't intend to leave the baby with anyone overnight until they are much older. Why do other people seem to think these are OK requests to make!?

hi to zahara1 , giddywithgle GoldenKippers

wave to jobobpip08 and helenbalancelife

goldenkippers I have had a really easy pregnancy too, and also miscarried with my first pregnancy so you have my sympathies about the worries which come with that. I can't quite believe that in about 9 weeks time I will have a real baby!

As for work - I am quite enjoying it as I have set myself some little projects and they are making the days go much faster. I start training my replacement soon and then I think I will relax.

kelle I agree with the others - this is your baby and it is your choice of names and nappies - do not let others bully you. Just ignore them. Don't tell them anymore names, make the decision yourselves and then keep stum until baby is born. In fact you ladies on here are the only ones who know our choice (don't tell DH I told you and a virtual prize for anyone who can remember!!) We did the same for DD, made the decision ourselves before she was born but didn't tell anyone until she came out. As for the nappies, it's your choice again as you are the one who has to deal with it every day and don't let anyone tell you they know better, yes you may start on one and change to another. I have to admit I only lasted about 2 weeks on reuseables with DD but then the washing machine was donw stairs and outside the pub we lived in so it was awful trying to do washing, I also learnt this week that even my most eco/ earth mother type friend round here uses disposables for first couple of weeks as she said reuseables don;t work for her in that period.

Hello to all the new ladies who have joined us - welcome - Kippers you and I are due same day but I think I will go over by at least a week.

Welcome back to those that have been MIA for a while - live does get to overtake sometimes! Speaking of which chloesbaby and aimee are you lurking and not posting - haven't seen you around in a while - hope everything is ok with you both?

notso I wouldn't want to leave LO with anyone other than family really unless they were a really close friend and then only for a very short period of time - certainly not for a weekend that early.

C&G I sympathise with the lack of sleep - DD managed one night of unbroken sleep this week - she's 5 for goodness sake!! Last night she must have got up to turn her light on as she sometimes does and then spotted a baby daddy longlegs - she woke my when she was stood at the end of her bed screaming (literally) - I had to go in and get rid of offending (very small) bug but she then didn't get back to sleep until 0230 -aargh! Hope your DS is better soon!

Sorry for those I have missed out on - trying to do a quick catch up!!

I can't believe I'm 28+2 already. If I'm early with this baby like I was with DD and DS I've only got about 6 weeks to go (they were 11 and 10 days early). Though knowing my luck this time I'll go overdue.

I'm with those of you who are tired. Doesn't help that DD and DS have started waking in the night again since DH worked away a few weeks ago. I could quite happily fall asleep now but I've still got washing to hang up to dry, DC's to get to bed, washing up and mine and DH's dinner to cook - if he ever gets home from work.

On names - we're stuck. We can agree on a first name but DH thinks my idea for a middle name is too long. I thought of using both our mum's middle names as DD has my middle name which is after both of my grandmothers and DS has my grandfather's middle name.

If we go with my idea she'll be called Kira Laura Elizabeth. What do you think? Is it too long? I think it is a bit long but flows nicely.

Hi all,

Saw the thread and thought I'd jump in - due on xmas eve, 30 weeks tomorrow and starting to feel sooo tired and hormonal again - its like the first trimester starting all over again! Woke up at 5am this morning throwing a tantrum cos I couldn't get back to sleep then burst into floods of tears, called in sick to work and spent the day in bed. Still 6 weeks left of work tho, aaah - dont know how im going to cope! Maybe I'll ask if I can go part time.. commute is ridiculous, 1-1.5 hours each way..

First rant over!

Hope everyone's doing ok!

Wow, loads of new people! And a new thread! Welcome all the newcomers .

Have read through but SO SO tired I need to go to bed now... Just want to sympathise with the tiredness, grumpiness and swollen legs thats going around. All those boxes ticked in my house.

Work has been manically busy and yesterday we were told they we are losing about 2000 jobs in IT where I work. And my specific team will go from 25 to 12 by Q2 next year. So now I'm starting a selection process (along with everyone else in IT) and need to complete my application form by the end of October. I finish work next Friday so its hardly the nice start to my mat leave that I'd hoped . We find out in early Jan... I'd be gutted to lose my job with a 5 week old baby at home and 2 older kids. Oh well, these things happen and its happening to loads of places now... Just need to keep positive .

Oh and had a big row with DH tonight as well.... Grrrr

Sorry for being a moaning minnie!

Just one thing before I go and snooze, Kellestar - your family sound VERY opiniated. Keep it all to yourself and do what you and DH want

Wow this thread has moved fast! Off to bed in a sec but just wanted to say welcome to all the new and returning people :)

MrsS I feel your pain, DD (2.6) is coming into our bed about 4 or 5 nights out of 7 at the moment and coupled with sore pelvis/SPD pain, heartburn etc I'm not getting much sleep.

Baby seems to be getting more and more active, or maybe it is running out of room now. Still feels like it is lying accross me and at times it is not just uncomfy but actively painful. There's a spot above my left hip where the baby likes to stick a foot and it really hurts! Got midwife next week so will see what she says.

I've just realised I said I was 28+2 yesterday. I should have said 32+2. Bloomin pregnancy brain.

For once I got a decent amount of sleep as DS slept through and DD slept til 5:15. It would be lovely if they'd do that more often, doubt it though.

Is anyone else liking the cooler weather? I love not being really hot all the time, especially at night - one less thing to keep me awake. I love it when it's a bright day but cool enough to not feel like I'm sat it an oven. Having said that I'll probably be the first one to be moaning that I'm freezing coz I haven't got a coat that zips up over my bump.

Mornin!

I went home last night and straight to bed. I kissed the kids and told them to go to bed whenever daddy told them to, said goodnight to DH, walked up stairs, and crawled into bed by 7:30 thinking I was going to get a good long fab night's sleep. I was wide awake at... 3:00am. Laid there until 5:00 and decided to get up. And now... I'm tired again. Bugger. It's going to be a very long day.

Oh well.

Hope everyone else managed to sleep a bit later than I did.

Strix, left work at 4.30pm yesterday because was so tired, couldn't settle, read MN til 11pm, inc. scary birth threads, fell asleep at 12.30pm, DH had to get up at 4.30am to go to work, so have been up since then.

Got to wait in all day for a delivery. Fridge/Freezer is solid with ice and slowly defrosting, we might have to buy a new one, which feels pointless as we'll be leaving UK in March. But also need a fridge freezer that doesn't go solid with ice.

Am scared about home birth going wrong, scared about going mad with lack of sleep once he comes, scared of all the stuff we have to do before moving abroad and scared of moving abroad and leaving all my friends and family and support in the UK.

thousand yard stare

:(

I would say good morning but it isn't. Ds1 is a complete and utter nightmare and I really feel I can't cope with him. He was up at 5am again (usual occurance, he's 8 in 2 weeks....) up in the night searching round the kitchen for sweets and chocolate (another usual one), woke ds2 who is 3 and a half and needs his sleep as he's ill, stole some of his sisters things and totally lied to my face about it plus more and I am at the end of my tether with him. I need to take him back to the drs as I am sure he must have something, what I described is the tip of the iceberg, there is a lot more. Huge sigh. I'm knackered, ds2 was sick in the night again too.

Dh has just taken puppy to the vets as his leg is swollen and he has a drs appt at 9.40 this morning as he's been bleeding bright red blood in the loo (sorry tmi), then we have to pick my grandad up from the station in Cambridge as he's staying with my parents this weekend for his 80th tomorrow! This afternoon I get to go in and speak with ds1's teacher as he also stole the school camera.....thing is, when he's lovely he's really lovely and sweet and butter wouldn't melt but he just doesn't seem able to control his behaviour.

I felt absolutely awful last night again too, I think it was something to do with the sugar from the GTT and then I stupidly ate rolos later on...had to lie down as I felt so sick, faint and just rough. I'm going to give those a miss from now on!

Right, I've been starting to feel depressed lately, I think due to being stuck in for so long and yesterday really cheered me up, until last night/this morning! I'm making an effort now to get out and about again as my chest is feeling a bit better at least.

japhrimel I think it was the lack of water, I was so thirsty but was only allowed to drink half a cup full from 10pm until after the GTT. I usually drink loads of water and decaff tea, milk etc especially before blood tests as it does make it easier. How's the itching?

lauren I sympathise with all the waking in the night, the broken sleep is the worst, at least we'll be used to it for when the baby is born!

helen hello, I'm due on Dec 23rd but don't think I'll get that far

kippers hello, welcome

DF how long do you have left at work now?

MrsS Isn't the lack of sleep awful? I'm really bad without sleep, feel so irritable but I guess I better get used to it.

crazy I think that's a lovely name :)

emza welcome, I'm due the day before you.

chooster hope you don't end up losing your job but try not to worry about it now if you can.

strix I'm having real trouble getting to sleep at night, can't sleep early at all. Hope you're not feeling to tired today, doesn't sound good :(

Miffster hope you're not too tired today too. I'm scared about the birth, it isn't the pain but I'm worried about the actual birth, I dread tearing, her getting stuck. needing to be cut, stitches etc. I'm driving myself crazy worrying about it.

morning all,

Sorry for those of you who had crap nights sleep last night - not wanting to sound smug at all, but I have been sleeping better this end of the week after a lot of tossing and turning in the early mornings.

Had our first NCT class last night and it was really good - she started out saying straight away that unlike the reputation, she wasn't going to bully us all into homebirths or drug free births, but wanted to just give us the facts we need to make the right choices. DH enjoyed it too despite stropping for most of the evening before he went (he is hyper-critical of training and presentations as he's been giving them for the past two years so now feels he's an expert).

Surprisingly of the six couples, two were expecting twins! One of them looked so uncomfortable already and she's not more than 28 weeks.

Miffster - if its any comfort, everyone in the room last night was scared about the birth too. Talking to DH last night and we decided that part of the problem is that people only tell stories worth telling at either end of the spectrum- "my birth was horrific - 72 hours and tenth degree tears and a I nearly died" or "two hours, no pain relief and I was running a marathon in the afternoon". You never hear the stories from the normal births "yes, it hurt quite a lot, but I survived and it was totally worth it". The NCT class also seems like it will be good at giving you psychological tips to get through it - she pointed out last night that although the first stage of labour might last 12 hours, only a tiny proportion of that time is contractions, so its not 12 hours of pain, its an hour of pain spread over 12 hours.

OK, so maybe I'm kidding myself, but it is helping me feel calmer.

Also turns out I have anaemia which possibly explains the tiredness. Which reminds me, must go and phone the doctors!

I woke at half 1 (went to bed at 11 which is early for me) then again at 6am which was a pretty good night's sleep for me.

Had the Midwife this morning - a different one again who was very nice, I think mine was up all night attending a birth. She says I am measuring fine for almost 32 weeks, that the baby is, as far as she can tell, head down but free. I am pleased about that as I had no clue what position it was. Bloods and Urine are both fine, iron is 11.8 - is this ok?

C&G I have 8 weeks left now, and just 5 left in work. Sounds like you're having a tough time at the moment hope that you are ok.

Wholelottalove sorry to hear about the pains

strix hope you get some sleep

crazykat I have been fine with all the different weather but glad I managed to grab a bargain coat on ebay for winter.

Miffster I hope that you're ok. All this change must be scary but I am sure you will cope with it all.

WhatWillSantaBring thank you for sharing what the NCT classes are like. I really hope mine are good and am quite looking forward to them now.

I had a lovely and long chat with DH last night, talking through my stresses with him, he actually made time to listen andwe talked about names and he's really supportive of our choice and isn't worried about the family being pushy, he says tough. Glad I managed to corner him.

We went for growth scan this morning, 31+5, now measuring slim for age but still measuring as a long baby. Different to original advise they have advise that it's likely to be a small baby 6lb prediction. I have another scan arranged for 36 weeks so they can monitor the size. All tests are good, now off the PTU as my TS3 and TS4's are in the normal range. even though we didn't find out the sex, I'm now starting to think we are having a girl.

I am so glad I am signed off at the moment, I really don't think I could work full time, as well as the SPD and being this tired. Still broken sleep, hiccups seem to wake me up more than the fidget.

You gals are so full of common sense, honestly I feel like I am banging my head against the wall with my family and friends. Usually I can cope, but they do get me down now and then.

Hello to all the new and returning people.

Hello all,

Duellingfanjo - think your iron levels are just right, mine are 9.8 i think which is low, so i have started drinking feroglobin which is supposed to be gentler on the stomach than taking iron tablets !

Some nights I have a decent sleep and other nights I just cant sleep all night.. I am sooo glad that the weather has changed and totally agree with opening the windows/having fan on, it makes all the difference.

I also am thinking of changing my fabric conditioner to an ultra sensitive one, or a babys one ?? which may make a change to the itching, its not constant and not every day but it just feels like something is digging into my stomach which makes me itch or my legs...

Anyway roll on the weekend, 5 weeks today is my last day at work and I cannot wait.

I agree with some of the above, I am worried about the pain of contractions but more of the actual transition stage, when she will be delivered, and at our second NCT class last week the MW mentioned crowning also feels like "the ring of fire" - this is ultimately the scariest, when you are likely to tear/rip etc... I just want it over with already..

I am really enjoying the NCT class, its intimate and you can ask all the questions in the world one to one almost which is brilliant... I would defo recommend it.

Has anyone else experienced this? people just stare at you when you are walking down the street or on the train, they stare at you, yes I have a stomach, yes Im pregnant, never seen a pregnant woman before???

Hi everyone. I've had a crap night's sleep too and spent majority of it on the sofa. Been round a friend's house this morning with Dd which was really nice to catch up and as she's just gone down for nap I'm going to take myself off to bed too I think :)

Sorry for everyone who is sleeping badly and/or worried. I think with the birth, I had a reasonable experience. Certainly nothing wrong with me or baby, found the long long latent stage hard to cope with and transition and the last bit of pushing the baby out, but for me it is now also mixed up with the memory of DD being put straight onto me and the absolutely amazing feeling that was. I am so looking forward to that bit again!

I think the thing to remember about transition is that it is fairly short, but intense and not much let up in the pain. I didn't know this and it was at that point I completely freaked out which I think made things more difficult. Pushing wasn't as bad. I would also say as the baby is coming listen to your midwife. I stopped pushing when I was told to and had a tiny 1st degree tear (no stitches) and DD was 8 lb and born with her hand up to her head. My sister kept on pushing when told to stop as wanted to get it over with and had a much smaller baby but tore and needed stitches.

It's ok to be nervous though, it would be odd not to be I think (sorry if that sounds patronising). The really good thing about labour is by the time it happens you are so fed up of being pregnant you kind of welcome it, or I did anyway. And being able to lie on stomach, no heartburn etc immediately after is ace.

DF think your iron level is fine but if it is dropping you could try spatone which is a gentle supplement that won't bung you up! ON saying that I've been back on the iron tablets for a couple of weeks now and I am actually not too consitpated. Getting horrible heartburn though.

Right, sounds like DD definitely asleep so I am off for my kip.

Lol crazykat, I had wondered how 28 weeks + 6 weeks got you to 38 weeks! Glad it wasn't me being dim.

C&G - it does sound like your DS might have ADHD or something else. Any idea why he wakes up at 3am? I'd definitely see the GP about it.

Hope your puppy is okay. It's a nightmare trying to look after pups with injuries as they just won't stay still!

Hopefully your DH just has piles (common cause of bright red blood)! As he's a man, of course he's dying of them though.

I had another awful night with itching and being freezing cold (only way to ease the itching!). Woke DH up at 5am sobbing in exhaustion/frustration.

But things are finally moving on the OC front! I came home from shopping this morning to find a message from the GP saying my latest results were borderline - called them, they still couldn't give out the actual results and I couldn't get an appointment till next week. So I called the hospital day assessment unit and a wonderful MW took my details and called me back - BA levels have jumped from 7-12 in one week (normal is up to 14) so are now borderline and I need to be seen. I now have an appointment to go in there tomorrow morning. I'm so glad I have that unit as back-up as I wasn't at all confident about leaving it to the GPs - if I'd left it to them I never would've had my BA levels checked, let alone rechecked! I have to say, the MWs (CMW and hospital) have all been absolutely brilliant with this.

Lesson for you all - if you're worried about anything antenatal, don't assume your GP will be on top of it as they often haven't got a bloody clue.

NidsC - I really would get your LFTs and BA levels checked. Way better safe than sorry with OC.

I'm a bit sad that this means my home water birth plans are almost certainly out of the question now, but I'm mostly glad that I'm finally getting somewhere and should now get some treatment and specialist care, after weeks of itching and worrying about baby.

Trying to be positive about chances of a natural labour following induction at 37 weeks! I'm also not reading any scary induction threads as I won't have a choice about it (well, I will of course, but I'm always going to choose reducing the still-birth risk even if it does mean a strong liklihood of cascase of intervention and possible EMCS!).

LO still seems to prefer breech if I'm upright (joked to DH that we have an anti-gravity baby!) which may be a problem - if she doesn't settle into head down by 36 weeks I'll be heading straight for ELCS as induction with breech is a no-no.

Okay, positive thoughts, right?

A quick question. Those of you working, have you been sent a breakdown of maternity pay from your employer and also have they confirmed your leave and re-start dates?

I've not heard a thing and just spoke to someone else who is two weeks behind me and she's had all her stuff.