December 2010:where we await the best Christmas presents ever

[Miffster]

Stats thread here

Hmmm...just read miffster's weather link. Live in village, on hill, about 20 min fast drive from hospital. Anyone else think it might be a good idea to get some snow socks for the tyres?! DH poo-poohing the idea but quite frankly I'd rather not have the baby in a snow drift if I can help it.

Hello, can't sleep again. Very much hope all of you are soundly in your beds.

Miffster weather link very dramatic! Hopefully after last year, maybe country will be better prepared.. ie have enough grit to go round!
would not fancy living on a hill slightly and WLL. But it is managable to drive in snow.. particularly on big roads that are more used, if you are able to avoid rush hours. make sure to let LO's know that!
MrsS good luck with the weekend plans. Hope LO stays in till a more peaceful time!

Cheryl sorry to hear you have had a crap week. Any possibility of someone watching DC's this weekend so that you can have some time for you?

C&G good luck with Ikea! its only going to get busier and busier now anyway.. and lure of krispy kreme should help. I love their poster I saw in the shop 'why not buy twelve?' well why not indeed? :o

I haven't had anymore in terms of labour signs apart from BH so happy about that as still have things that I want to do. Feel much better prepared mentally for a gorgeous baby turning up now though, and boss has been fine without needing any gory details.

Looks like next week will be my last week at work pretty much, and only doing mon- weds. Some of me is sad, particularly with the reduncancy threat and things, but i'm just so tired. I think its the whole thing of acknowledging that a part of my life is over and won't ever be the same again. I am happy about it and know its right and a good thing, but I have never been very good with change

Morning Button - I've been up for an hour as well

So many posts i can't remeber what everyone has said!
WLL you sound like me dumping your pizza dip on the floor, I keep knocking things over and off things, then have to try and pick them up which is a pain with spd (who recommeneded labouring in water? sounds great but my hospital hasn't got a birthing pool, its so old the floors isn't strong enough! but will definitely be in the bath lots)
C&G whats bad about op? I knew back-to-back was bad and was pleased when my littleun turned from back-back to op, is that no good either? Can't remember what dd was! I also have an anterior placenta so I guess that doesn't help much.
Sorry about all the people who are feeling so rough and tired. I get fed up with my spd and I'm hoping my consultant is right and that ds arrives 2-3wks early, really don't want him to go over. I had cervical surgery this time last year so thats why they think he'll probably be early, but no guarantees, would be lovely to have hime here in time for Christmas though, but not just yet as I'm not quite 35wks yet.
Think you've all put me off raspberry leaf tea though! Isn't ahem - (sex!) - supposed to work - I'd heard that it was the only thing that might speed things up if you're ready anyway?

well done with the new thread miffster

congratulations heidipi

cheryl sorry to hear you're feeling so fed up. FWIW I think pg when you've already got a DC is much harder than first time round. Second the suggestion that you find someone to take your LO for a bit this w/e to give you some down time.

Bizarrely, this week, I've felt like I've had a bit more energy. I'm sleeping a bit better so that's probably helped, but it's more than that.

Assuming my labour goes to plan (fingers crossed) I actually wouldn't mind being snowed in at all - I'm going to be subjected to monitoring and all sorts when I get to hospital so if I had to stay at home, I'd avoid all of that!

WLL I hope so too although at least mine was short, bloody painful though! Was the worst so far, praying for a short and painfree labour this time :o Think I'm hoping for too much? Hehe

MrsS Lovely comment from your consultant!

Button Lol at 12 :o Decided to give Ikea and miss and go shopping in Cambridge instead. Will be heading out in about half hour or so. I want to try and get everything I need for homebirth sorted today and then I can relax.

LittleB OP is back to back, it stands for occiput posterior, better positions are loa or roa.

max Maybe it's nesting?

Little one is very active this morning, kicking me constantly. Awful day out, cold, foggy and light rain. I slept OK at least, could do with more though, had about 6 hours. Hope everyone has a good day.

I was wondering that myself C&G not sure I've quite got the motivtion to do any cleaning yet but maybe a few more days of feeling like this and I will enjoy your shopping

Thank you for making me feel really welcome ladies :) Feeling very stroppy and hormonal today, especially with DH and DS who didn't sleep at all last night.
Tightenings have increased but still nothing regular!

I just got my Group B Strep test back and it is negative!! Hooray!! Feel so pleased, as now I don't need to worry about the antibiotics in labour and can carry on at home without having any little niggles as to whether it would be better to have the antibiotics or not. :o

Hurray! that's good news WLL
A dull cold grey day here and I am not very motivated to do anything at all, after a crap night's sleep.
I need to clean out the poor fish, and make carrot and lentil soup, do yoga and natal hypno thing, and buy pyjamas for DH present.

DH has gone to Twickenham to watch England and I can't be arsed to do much at all.

That's great news WLL I'm glad you are closer to having the birth that you want :)I've pretty much convinced myself not to do the GBS test as my MW said if it was positive I would definitely be given the antibiotics even if there were no other risk factors present and from the vast amount of reading i've done there doesn't seem to be much to back that up. If I go into labour early (which is doubtful as I am 37 weeks tomorrow) or if my waters break ages before I deliver or if I have fever then I will ask to have the antibiotics anyway. It's so hard making these kind of decisions especially when pregnant!

Hello brady and congrats heidip

good title miffster makes me all emotional :) as do most things at present!

Had my last day at work yesterday so pleased I can now sleep whenever I like :) it's very strange leaving but not leaving a job IYSWIM, I haven't fully decided if I'm definitely going back and it suddenly dawned on me that that could be it! very strange...

Me and DH are off for a hospital tour this afternoon - I hope there aren't too many screaming women around, I know that sounds rather selfish but it will do nothing for my ongoing denial :)

mrssl blimey your consultant must have gone to the same school for bedside manner as my GP!! Why are these people allowed to even speak to the general public

maxpower if you are anything like me you'll definitely know when the nesting has kicked in! I normally hate cleaning but I was up mopping the kitchen floor early this morning, my DH thinks I've lost my mind :) especially as when he woke up the first thing I said was I'll need help moving all the furniture later so I can vacuum behind it :)

have a nice day everyone, hope you get all you need C&G and congratulations on the start of maternity leave df

Hello all, just got in from the hospital, went in at 2 yesterday for monitoring and while I was waiting to go in started having contractions every 10 mins.
As day unit was closing bt the time I was seen I had to go up to labour ward and they ended up keeping me in as they thought LO would make an appearance. Contractions carried on until 3 or 4 this morning and then stopped.
Midwife said it seems like my body is preparing for labour, but my cervix is still high and long, though she could get her finger through it, lucky her.
The Doctor said that if I do go in the next week they would not try to stop anything and LO would not really be classed as prem which was reassuring.
I did get in a panic as not prepared to bring a baby home everything is still in various boxes and bags and we are still waiting for the moses basket and cot, but DH was great so reassuring, I was actually gutted when everything stopped I had prepared myself for labour.
Knackered now as had the worst nights sleep ever, what with the pains and excitement then the general noisiness and brightness of the hospital, and I was lucky enough to have a private room.

good news on the test result WLL

Blimey notso sounds like yo had an eventful noght - let's hope things either settle or get going properly - this is it/isn't it stage is awful. Make sure you get some rest.

kitty I don't remember having a great nesting urge last time round so I'm not entirely expecting one . DH has sensibly suggested we spend tomorrow getting our bedroom in order so at least LO has a proper place to sleep before s/he arrives. Maybe he's nesting??

Talking about raging hormones, I was fighting off tears when the Samoan national anthem was being played at the start of the rugby

Really wish I hadn't looked at that weather link. The day DS was born it started snowing that night and it was a nightmare coming home the following day, there was snow everywhere and the roads were icy I was a nervous wreck when we were driving home. Hope it's not the same this time round.

notso that sounds like an eventful night. It's hard when you think this is it (even if you don't feel ready) and then for it not to be, especially with contractions that close and regular for so long.

Braxton Hicks aren't supposed to be more than uncomfortable, are they? Or how do you tell the difference between BH and early latent labour?

The past 2 nights I've had contractions that have been actually painful, along with backache and period-type achiness. But there's no pattern to them, they're not all properly painful (e.g. I'll have a painful one, then an uncomfortable only one) and then they just stop after half an hour or so. Any insight as to what's going on?

Notso thinking of you, not the sort of night you really want to have at this stage, hope you get some rest.

japhrimel not sure but the more I find out, I think it is just not the case that labour follows a set pattern with women dilating 1.2cm every 60 mins blah blah, and that a warm up of labour and a testing of the gears, so to speak, is quite normal and can go on for days - weeks even - and is perfectly okay, despite the fact that it doesn't 'fit' a medical model.. And that BH actually can be quite challenging in the last weeks. But it varies so much for everyone, I guess.

I am feeling sooooo ratty today, really quite angry and aggressive.
Odd because I have been so happy this week.
Good job DH is out at the pub after watching the rugby, I don't want to snap at him because of pg hormones and right now just want to be left alone to watch Strictly etc.

Am a bit achy and crampy and Tiny is wriggling a lot. Had huge appetite yesterday and not very hungry today. Am a bit cold as well. Feel odd. Did natal hypnotherapy, that helped a bit.

Thanks for that C&G although its now confused me as twice they've put op in my notes but confirmed that ds isn't back-back, but his back is to my right, although he is more to the back than front, if you see what I mean! I guess what will be will be, I just hope he doesn't try and come out with his hand on his head like dd did.
Japh sounds like your body might be warming up for labour, I had several days of contractions of varying strength, regularity and duration, in the end I had to be induced as my waters started leaking, not sure if the'd have settled in to a pattern anyway though, I just hope it'll be a bit quicker this time round.
Notso, sounds like your little one will be along soon, hope you get plenty of rest at home.
maxp, I also need to tidy our bedroom, need to make room for moses baskets etc!
Kitty how was your hospital tour, I've got mine tomorrow.
Glad you're neg for GBS wll, they tested me for it a few weeks ago when i had an infection, thankfully all cleared up now, for infection and no gsb either.
I'm off to hunt for a moby sling on e-bay now, reall want one to snuggle my new born in!

WLL great news on the tests :)

Wow notso hope everything is ok with you now?

I am hoping more and more that my baby will arrive early. MIL called the house earlier really upset because her other son has had a go at her for booking flights over for March when SIL is due. They had expressly told her (And SIL's parents who also live abroad) not to book any flights until after the baby arrives as they wanted 2 weeks on their own as a famiy without having to cater for family.

DH is quite upset with his brother I think for upsetting their mum but I have tried to explain that as they asked her not to book anything she has ignored their wishes. It did give me an opportunity to talk to DH about my fears and I told him that ideally I want the baby to arrive early to take the heat off me re Christmas. He is still saying that if I can't make the Christmas dinner he will go for a few hours on his own. Not really sure what he will be expecting me to do? Heat up some leftovers and sit at home on my own with the baby!

Ah well.

Still don't feel like I have given up work but I am sure I will realise it on Monday when I don't have to get up for work.

That sounds really complicated DF. I'm sorry that DH can't seem to see what it must be like for the women with impending birth knowing that MIL is going to swoop in and add to the stress load. Well done for talking to him about how you're feeling though. Maybe the birth will bring the fact home that its you and your new family that needs to come first this year, especially at christmas. Know mothers and Mil's can be very controlling over sons especially though. Hope it sorts out

hello

late night for me - will be off to bed soon though.

DF i'm [shocked] at your MIL, its one thing to be completely insensitive and assume you are welcome but to be told not to do something and just go and do it anyway is completely out of order.
I went on my hospital tour today and we were all told just to bring one person with us and one woman turned up with her partner and both parents and they just let them all in then when they were explaining visiting hours they said it's strictly 6pm - 8pm for family and friends and the parents got all arsey and started saying it seems like its hospital policy to not like grandparents blah blah blah, it really annoyed me - just imagne if every woman on the postnatal ward had 4 or more grandparents visiting at any time it would be complete chaos! Some people are just really selfish

littleb the tour was good, it was useful to learn how to get into the hospital at night time and know exactly where you need to go on arrival etc. I don't know why but I was shocked at how clinical the rooms were (I know this sounds ridiculous!) but I'm glad i know what to expect now. Also the midwives were lovely which is comforting :)

Also they said if you want early discharge you could go after 6 hours if there were no complications but usually they keep you in for at least one night to help establish breast feeding etc. and I said to DH that I'd probably want to stay to get that support and he was fine with that but said 'oh but that'll mean I have to leave you guys here' i don't know why but it nearly made me cry thinking of me and my baby being 'you guys' and DH not wanting to leave us :)

notso sorry about your false alarm, I can understand what you mean about getting yourself all mentally prepared and then having to go home :( bet it won't be long though :)

miffster hope you're feeling brighter after a bit of strictly

jahrimel hope you're ok too, any more strong BH?

right - must get to bed, see you all tomorrow x

kitty at your DH. I had quite a tough time of it when DD arrived and DH coped brilliantly throughout - until he had to go home after she (eventually) arrived - that was when he suddenly came over all teary!

Got most of what I wanted yesterday so I feel a little more ready now. However, my bp has been up and down since yesterday...I have a home monitor as I had PE before but it's been fine so far, usually around 110/60 or so and last night it went up to 136/88. Up and down again today and I'm not feeling well, had a headache so I'm keeping an eye on it basically.

Doing a roast today so going to get started on that soon. DH being arsey today, he asked me to help him with a personal statment for his pgce he's applying for and then just arsey tbh. Can't be bothered with it so I'm in the living room on the laptop now watching tv :o Worst night's sleep last night in a long time, kept waking up with BH's (they were waking me) and I thought I was going into labour, was quite scarey but nothing's happened. Nightmares and waking all the time, yawn.

Hope everyone's OK today.

*WLL that's great news about the test result :o

notso sounds liks things are starting to happen for you! Glad you're home now though.

japh the answer is really that sometimes you can't tell the difference! BH, in my experience, can be painful at times. Until they get worse it can be quite hard to tell if it's early labour or just BHs.

Miffster hope you're feeling a bit better today.

LittleB it could be that your baby is lying rop so it's half OP, not fully, if that makes sense?

DF that sounds like a really crap situation for you. Can't believe DH is planning on leaving you for a few hours on Christmas Day! That just isn't right, I'm sure his mother can manage without him...

DF I would stamp my feet and make DH stay home for your own little christmas dinner this year!

c&g Im getting nightmares too last night was particularly awful, a woman was chasing me because she wanted my baby, after I tried to explain the baby was still in my tummy she said 'no problem' and whipped out a knife i woke up shaking!

C&G hope your DH gets over himself and that your bp settles

DF I can only hope for your sake that your DH has a bit of a reality check about things once your LO arrives. Seriously, it sounds like he and his DM need to cut the cord! I can't believe he's annoyed at his DB - as you said they'd told her they didn't want visitors so she can't be suprised they're p'd off.

your nightmare sounds horrid lauren

Well we've rearranged the furniture in our room and put the crib together. In the process we've filled up a bin liner of clothes to give to the charity shop. Got the pram and car seat base down as well. Next on the list is the sterilser and bottle warmer. We've got to pop out in a bit but I might even start packing my hospital bag this afternoon.

I've got a massive cold sore come up which is really painful. Plus it's really difficult trying to remember not to kiss DD as I don't want to infect her with it.

had a bad nights sleep so got up early and curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea and some cheese and my book. DH came to check on me, as the light from the lamp in the lounge was getting through upstairs and woke him. Plus boiling the kettle woke him. He sat with me a bit and then went back to bed and was snoring his head off in a minute of two. I also think I had my show this morning when I went for a pee.

LO is moving like bonkers at the moment, feet are flailing around in there and I'm so tender and a little crampy.

And I'm grumpy as sin. MiL is driving me insane and I've told DH to tell her to back off, but everything she does winds me up at the moment. Like today she called to find out if we are home, but she would only talk to me through my 4 yo neice, she was whispering to her and then neice was saying randome words from the conversation to me, I tried to play along, but neice is scared of the phone and she's very very very shy and it's hardwork trying to get what the message was. I gave up thinking she'd call me back if it's important. She did, to tell me off for not playing the game. She knows how tired and grumpy I am anyhow, why call me.

DF I completely agree that your MiL is also a pain in the behind. DH's are very protective of their mummy's. No matter how near or far away their presence is always known.

notso oooo exciting, poor you being all prepared for arrival and no sign. Once you get your head around it and get prepared it's really hard when things change.

c&g smiling at your DH worrying about his personal statement for his gttr application. Tell him to make sure it flows well and is original, try to get a few friends or work colleagues to read it through. I managed to start my maternity leave with only 4 applications on my desk, which I have left for my cover.

DH has the nesting instinct. He spent all day yesterday cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, considering I'd done it two weeks ago it was filthy, but I think he can reach higher and can bend lower than me, as the middle bits were fine :)

He spent this morning fixing my car that's broken - again and another flat tyre with two nails through it. I think there is a problem with the automatic choke, but he's trying a few things first.

He's wrote such an epic list of things to do before LO arrives, it's rather daunting. Most of it is things that have been on my list since I was 12 weeks. Things he has been putting off for months and months. Problem is he spends his weekends doing as much as he can and then grumbling in the evenings during the week as he's got paperwork and things he's brought home as well as the list, which makes me feel guilty but they are things I cannot do, even when i wasn't as bumpy as I am now.