DEC 2010 the final countdown ~ merry christmas ladies, hello babies ~

[OnlyWantsOne]

Hi :)

40 + 2 here

Congratulations mamathulu

Names are such a minefield! We're sorted for a girls name, but boys names we have no idea. The nname I've always liked and wanted both ds's to be called and was hte only name on our listI now don't like and neither does DP! We have very different tastes too - DP likes names I hate (the what I call old fashioned, but have made a real comeback in the last 10 years). PLus I don't like anything too popular. If it's in the top 20 I don't want it. We did come up with Howard before I was even pregnant and we both swing from liking it to not liking it. Plus I don't like names that can be shortened. So we're pretty stuck!

Please help me make a decision do I have my sweep or not?

Morning all

Congratulations Mamathulu.

I thought the last few weeks dragged on, it seems to be dragging even more now I'm overdue. It feels like I'm weeks over not jmust days. Original EDD (using dates) was supposed to be tomorrow so DH is convinced she'll come then, the sooner the better from my point of view.

DF If Stevie is to masculine for your DH how about Stephanie with Stevie as nn.

I keep getting really strong, painful contractions but only seem to get a few then they stop.

We've been telling DD that her baby sister will be here soon (DS too young to understand) and she keeps asking how she's going to get out of my tummy. No idea what to tell her so we've just said that we have to go to hospital for her to come out. She's buying it for now thankfully.

Morning ladies

Congratulations mamathulu on the safe arrival of little Reuben, gorgeous name,

Congratulations pitterpatter on the safe arrival of baby Jasmine, also a gorgeous name and my favourite flower scent! I am always burning Jasmine essential oil because it is so beautiful and calming.

Wonderful birth story of Hugh MrsSnaplegs thanks for sharing - and hwo reasurring, hope we all labour as efficiently!

Great news that you hand DH have talked through your worries DF

I have had a bloody show! And am getting period pains in lower belly and all round my lower back! So I think I am in early labour...which I am pleased and excited about, but the timing is all wrong...

Rant follows:

My DH came home at 5.30am last night - he has been working later and later all week. He has resigned from his firm, with their insane and inhuman work demands, and officially he leaves work today.

He has already had to miss his leaving dinner and his leaving drinks this week because of having to stay at his desk and work in the evenings. Last night, his client sent through a demand for something else to be done at 6pm last night, so he had to stay all night and do it. Yes, until 5am. It's taking the piss, it really is.

Both of us so angry. When we spoke last night at 12am and 3am I said I was tempted to say I was going into labour so he could just get home to me and stop having to fulfil these ridiculous client demands. (Me being in labour being the only acceptable excuse to release him, apparently. Never mind being 39 weeks 5 days and all alone and reasonably needing my husband with me at night, not at his desk)

Actually, I wasn't sure that I wasn't in labour. And I thought I might be soon, and it all got too much - I am sick to death of having to take the chewed up-spat-out exhausted dregs of the man I love once the Firm have finished with him: every holiday, every weekend, it's always the same - he arrives at the last minute, utterly exhausted after working stupid hours, and too tired to be fully present with me.

And now here we are, and it's happening again. How will he cope with a long labour on so little sleep? I think it will be this weekend and instead of being excited I am worrying.

Plus last night I was up every 2 hours, waiting for him to come home, keeping in touch with him so we are both tired.

Anyway, I got up at 7.30am because of the pains, and had a bath whilst he slept. I felt excited that the baby was coming, although I would have liked more time so DH and I could sleep and catch up and he would officially have finished his job.

Then I heard DH waking up so went into the room and said 'you are not going to work today, you know'.

He said he had to.

I said I was in early labour - as far as I could tell. Pains, a bloody show...

I don't think he believes me.

But I think I am. Oh it's so hard to know what to do. I just want to get on and accept the labour starting and relax into it, not have to stop because I am stressed and upset and having to let him leave my side because of his stupid pig of a client with their unreasonable demands.

If he won't stay at my side because of work demands, and says he has to go back to work to do his last day, even though he has been there all night and late every night this week and they have no moral claim on his time, surely, and I am having pains, then I REALLY HAVE FUCKING HAD ENOUGH.

And -breathe-.

I am going to do natal hynpo and then I'm going to call my doula. At least I have her to stay with me if he does have to go back to the damn office.

But oh :(. All I want is for him to stay with me. I have put up with enough crap because of his job and I think he should let his client and his soon-to-be- ex employer go whistle, because his wife is having his son soon and needs him.

Sorry, that was a huge rant.
I expect the signs of labour will grind to a halt now, and DH will feel justified in going to work. Even though it is the stress of thsat decision that is making me feel unsafe to labour.
Argh.

Oh Miffster that all sounds so crap. What are his work playing at!?

Sounds like a good idea to call the Doula and try to let go of some of the stress if you can. Try not to be too angry with him I guess? It's his work who are ultimately to blame, though maybe he should just stuff them and stay home to support you :(

Wish I could do more than say 'just relax', hopefully getting it out on here has got rid of a little bit of the tension. Really hope that you manage to get through this and have a relaxed birth x

miffster yanbu and it sounds likehejust wants to finish and clear out so they haveno hold over him, hoping that your little one won't arrive just yet. Some employers can be ridiculous with their leaving requests. Hopefully today will be the last of it and you can both rest recover in time for little ones safe arrival.

And if you do go into labour your doula can confirm this and he can rush home.

It's a horrible thing for his employer to do, as something you have both been excited about for so long has been made tense by their actions.

Mamathulu and pitter patter - fab news and lovely names.

I'm off to the specialist in Bath now. Going to ask for a sweep. EDD is also Sunday.

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been AWOL lately. I am just too tired to keep up with nativity plays, various other kiddie activities, work, home life, etc. So I basically declared about a month ago I would go to work and come home and that was about all I could promise.

On the up side, today is my last day of work and I can't wait to sit around and do nothing next week Mon/Tues/Wed. And, Thursday is baby day. Yippee, can't wait to meet DS2.

I have contracted a miserable cold, but I am very thankful that I have caught it this week and not next week, when coughing will be extremely painful. So here's hoping it passes quickly.

I see babies are popping out left and right now. Very exciting. Six more days for me!

Miffster, I would be very too. I would call the doula and tell DH that if he misses the birth he is not likely to be forgiven. And all for a job from which he has already resigned?

Congratulations mama and pitterpatter, gorgeous names too. Your birth story is great MrsSL, really hope I'm in and out that quickly!
Dd is getting very impatient for the arrival of her little brother - she wants to meet him and cuddle him NOW!!! Shes also worried he'll come Christmas Eve and it might make things tricky for father christmas, I've reassured her things will be ok, if I do go into labour Christmas Eve or Day, dh will stay with dd, my mum is my birth partner anyway and I'll manage without dh for dd's sake. Hes not good with hospitals anyway, my sister was my birth partner for dd, although dh was in the hospital and came in as soon as dd was born.
Slightly sorry to hear you're having such a rough time of it, I hope you go into proper labour soon, you must be very fed up.
Miffster - sounds like your dh's firm are a nightmare, at least he is leaving, sounds like its about time, I hope he manages better work/life balance when he has his son to care for too, I hope you manage to get some rest before your ds arrives.
DF sounds like your dh will back you up re visitors which is good, I need to chat to my dh about that too as some of his family are prone to linger longer than we'd like them too, although my dad is worse than anyone - I'm just going to have to be firm.
Like you were saying I think one of the hardest things is lack of control, particularly when you are used to being in control and organised at work, to not know when your baby will come is very frustrating!
Reshape, my due date is the same as yours - Boxing Day - really hoping he is here before Christmas though, but dh mentioned his grans birthday was 30th Dec, and dd was born on his grannys birthday in May, so perhaps we'll go for the double!!

Oh miffster that really is too much. Sounds like your dh is possibly so sleep deprived that he is getting tunnel vision. He is being unreasonable though, I'm sure this is just one more client demand that in months or weeks even will be completely meaningless, the birth of his son now, that's a bit more special!

Hope you manage to relax and not let it affect you. Really excited for you at the same time about what sounds like Tiny's imminent arrival!

I have woken him up and explained that I have been having contractions since 3.30am and they are going from 2 an hour to 2 every half hour and getting stronger.

He was all for going to work for an hour to 'tell people he was out of there and the clients would have to manage without him' and 'look the partners in the eye' (think we had a bit of a need for closure going on there ) but now he has woken up properly and decided fuck it, and he is all excited and has told work he is not coming in on his last day because labour has started and he is all focused on me and the baby now.

Yay!

Let's just hope this isn't a false alarm or I will feel a right goose! I said, well, i think the baby is coming this weekend and the weekend starts now.

Fantastic miffster fingers crossed baby comes today

Oh good, Mr. Miffster has come to his senses.

Thats really good Miffster really hope baby comes this weekend for you then, and that DH manages to sustain enough energy to be a proper support. Definitly symapthise with drained DH and its definitly not funny at such an important time! Company sounds like a nightmare so hope you'll all be better off when thats done and dusted.

Happy finishing work Strix! Thats a really good effort lasting so long!

I'm contracting loads on and off.. i'm carring on assuming that they are BH after my disapointing 12 hours every 10 min false labour on sunday night.

People who have had both types of contractions before though is it true that real labour feels totally different from the false times, and I will definitly know when this is it??!

Good luck, Miffster! Well done on convincing DH to stay. Sounds like he had an arse of a job/boss and had been brainwashed into thinking he needed to kill himself for work.

Great news miffster

Enjoy your few days of rest strix

Congratulations mamthulu!

Congratulations mamathulu :) I lvoe the name Reuben and glad everything went well and you weren't kept waiting for too long.

Miffster good luck, sounds like things oculd be kicking off for you. Glad your DH has decided to stick two fingers up to work.

button sorry you are going through frustration of on/off contractions. I had this with DD, and yes I did know the difference once the real ones started, but at first I think they can be very much the same. General rule is real cx start to get more rythmical, closer together and more intense as time goes by and don't change with moving position. On saying that my early cx with DD were not regular and varied in intensity in terms of pain, but she was OP. FWIW I am now having the same thing and was convinced this was it last night! If you are in any doubt, call in and speak to someone who can talk you through things and try and get as much rest as you can. It is knackering though as your emotions are up and down and the lack of sleep/continuous low level pain gets very wearing.

I am also feeling frustrated today with stop/start cx since 3.00 last night and quite a lot of back pain. Feels a bit like sciatica. No show yet though, and just had a little nap whilst DD sleeping and realised cx have stopped although pressure in back still there. So could be days, even couple of weeks. Trying to think positively that this is my body limbering up and a good sign things are getting ready, but it is tiring.

Congratulations mamathulu, Reuben & family! :)

Miffster Glad your DH has come to his senses - that was prety outrageous to be honest. I would told work to go fuck themselves long before that if I as him ... or you!

Just had a peek at the stats thread and (wow) there are LOADS of us due on Sunday! I make it:
Buttonazure
Frankenfanny
GreenGeekGirl
Kellestar
Kittybump
Littlesnoo
MrsWilliams1510
Wildlilac

back from the specialist, obs offered me a stretch and sweep while I was waiting and took them up on it. Painful and achey, but hopefully may kick something off. Cervix is still a little long and they've suggested it could be a week before anything happens, but we shall see. Pain wasn't as bad as expected, but it was a little 'unpleasant' and really cold hands.

After 2 hours of waiting I asked how much longer and they said at least another 2 hours as they are behind. I decided to come home as I'm already off the medication, BT results still show fine and they've given me notes of what to do once LB arrives and what appointments/test need to be ordered and didn't want to hang around for them to tell me the same thing. They quickly confirmed that there was no change so home very quickly.

MIL was meant to drop me off for the appointment and I'd get a taxi home later, but she hung around and wanted to come in and support me. I had to call DH to tell her I am fine on my own, which I was. But she kept talking to everyone in the room, and trying to get me involved in conversations with them. Lots of 'My DiL...' like I was some prize winning persian. V embarrasing. Was glad when I was called through and could leave her terrorising everyone.

well things are going well here, been for a walk round the park and a bit of cake, popped into the Chinese acupuncturist clinic on the way home, had some acupuncture, going to do natal hypno again and chill out with Toy Story 3. Cx about every 20 mins or so, lasting about 30 secs. Make me go 'oof' but perfectly copable with.

:)

Good luck everyone!

Good luck, Miffster. Sounds like all is going smoothly.

miffster woohoo for you and your DH. Glad it's all working out. Fingers crossed tomorrow sees you snuggling with littlemiffster

Thanks for that WLL sorry you are experiancing same thing, not so nice.

I just sent DH out to buy a clock from shop as realised that we didn't have one in the house, and just too frustrating trying to time contractions on a phone!

Has been four hours this time round now so will see. Had 1.5 hours in bath and left hot water on for later :)

Keep up the good work Miffster!

I love the 'popped into local Chinese acupuncture centre on way home, had acupuncture'! Very sophist. Hope it works!

I feel absolutely flattened with exhaustion today. DS is keeping us awake at night and we're not eating until gone 10 because bedtimes are late and protracted too. I stuck on a Charlie and Lola dvd and tried to doze on the sofa but it's not a great way to get some rest, and DS was all over me anyway.

That aside, I'm into major nesting mode/trying to spend time with DS doing things I know we won't be able to do together. Yesterday we attempted to make fingerprint robins for Christmas cards (not sure it they will actually be recognisable!) and today, for some mad reason, saw us painting a cardboard Christmas tree that will slot together for his bedroom. There is green paint everywhere. Why do I do this??

button sounds promising. Hope it is things moving for you at last. If it is any consolation when I finally got going with DD into active labour it was very quick (about 4 hours) just took a long time to get there.

RWD with you on the exhaustion. DD has had two DVDs today. Unfortunately, one was Ice Age and I forgot there's a scary bit with the baby nearly getting eaten by a tiger. DD was hysterical. I let her loose with some glitter (God only knows why as well!) - really powdery stuff which has now been trodden all over the house.

DH is in the dog house as he wasn't keeping an eye on his phone like promised this afternoon and missed/didn't return three calls from me. Considering I'd said things could be moving and I needed him to be contactable, I'm not massively impressed.

Plus I thought I was going to get some help from my Mum today but she was distinctly not keen on coming over, so I said we were ok. Sister who is supposed to be 'on call' to have DD when I go into labour has arranged to have friend down for weekend and is planning to get pissed tonight and tomorrow I don't think it would've been too much to stay sober now I am 39 weeks. Also means she is not around to help with DD and DH is working all day tomorrow. Cx are back agfter dying down, but no sign of anything moving along so I'm hoping I don't stay this uncomfy for days. Feeling quite sad and neglected really :( :( And bloody knackered.