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

[OnlyWantsOne]

Hi :)

40 + 2 here

Morning everyone
Cheryl sorry you are battling with ill DS2
Hi Esian , good luck ebrookm & Mamathulu,
glad you enjoyed your walk laziness,
DF glad baba in good position and hope s/he stays put til after MIL appears,
Enjoy your Christmas treees button and WLL
yo everyone else reading but not posting

Went to bed early, which helped because was up at 1am, 2.30am and 4.30am, at which point I gave up and got in the bath.

I am finding being this pregnant quite uncomfortable but nonetheless want to continue being pregnant because

a) I am used to it now
b) It is an easier life than looking after a newborn.

I wish I wasn't so, erm, well-informed about the rigours of birth, what can go wrong, how shite I am likely to feel after birth, and the general grimness of sleep deprivation, PND and looking after a little baby.

I am so over-prepared for the first 8 weeks to be a total hell of leaking, weeping, screaming, sweating, poo dramas and no sleep (and that's just me, not the baby) that even though I can't sleep or walk about, I would still rather stay like this for now.

It's a bit of a shame because in all the gnawing worry about the brutal physicality of it, there has been precious little thought given to how it will feel to actually have Tiny here, a real little new person, made by me and DH out of love. And although there will no doubt be pain and uncomfiness, there will also be love, and pride, and relief, and excitement. But all the focus is on how awful it is going to be and all people seem to want to do is come out with 'Just you wait til...' remarks.

:(

Argh. Does anyone else feel like this? Like they are scared of what will happen after the baby comes out, and how their life will change, and the no sleep and the soreness and the crying and so on?

Miffster I think you are forgetting the most important bit - the overwhelming love and pride you will have for your baby.

I've seen a few of the women from my ante-natal class in the past couple of weeks who have already had their babies and although they are sore, some struggling with feeding, and have bags under their eyes, they are absolutely glowing with love and pride.

Yes, birth is likely to be brutal, and I am trying to prepare for that, but it's really not worth anticipating the worst case scenario.

I hope this doesn't sound patronising - I am a first timer too and want to be realistic - but we are so lucky to be about to have babies. When I hear about people struggling with infertility or losing pregnancies or babies I feel lucky to have this little creature inside me

We're all going to be fine! (I hope)

Miffster I totally sympathise. I think part of what kept me awake last night were the very same worries you have. DH said to me just before he went to sleep that he worries every night (!) about what it will be like. I am worried about the immediate impact it will have on our relationship as well as all the other stuff.

I did finally manage to convince myself that, as Chloe says, the love, endorphins and pride will get us through the tough bits. I am also too informed about all the bad bits but even having read what I have I just know I will never be prepared for the sleep deprivation and the responsibility of having a newborn. Hopefully we will be fast learners and can take it a day at a time.

I absolutely feel the same as you but keep hanging on to the thought that it may go more smoothly than you imagine and this is something we have wanted for a long time. If I feel blue then I will cry, if I feel happy then I will try to share it. One step at a time and I am sure it will all be ok.

Though I do hate those 'just you wait' comments - they are so irritating.

miffster I've been getting those just you wait comments too!the other day someone said "I can't believe how CALM you are" as if she expected me to be hyperventilating with worry over it!I'm just a laid back person and it does seem to be irritating other new mums and advice givers around me that I'm not drinking raspberry tea and hauling myself up and down flights of stairs trying to get something started.

Mind you it's probably because of my refusal to do any of the above that I'm 40+6 today!no signs or twinges either!never even had a BH! Can the person that cooks their baby the longest get some kind of consiloratory prize?

DF if measure is less bump probably has dropped, my midwife told me that anyway, although they have only measured me once: I asked because i could suddenly button coat up again!

miffster I think the 'just your wait' comments from other people are often repressed broodiness! I mean they are never going to be helpful for a soon to be new mum are they??
was finding it v hard to imagine anything positive about nb life for ages, but i literally woke up one morning last week feeling like she was the 'something missing' in my house. and now I can't wait to have her!

I really appreciated getting a lot of sleep last night after my all night 'fake labour' on sunday night! definitly making me think twice about over exerting myself to prompt labour on any given day!

lol lauren re: prize, perhaps that will just have to be label of 'most tender, tastiest baby'!

Welcome Esian and good luck to those who sound like they're on the brink!

I'm worrying quite a bit on how the new baby will impact on our nice little threesome - DH, me and DS. At first, it was murder coping with DS - not because he came between us but because of the culture shock and sleeplessness. It does pass fast though! You just accept that for a few years, you're not going to be able to be spontaneous and go to the pub or cinema on a whim. I believe some degree of spontaneity does come back at some point...

Had a reasonably good night though I think I'm getting a NEW cold! Blending seamlessly with the one we've all had for last 2 weeks. Grr. One thing that's really annoying me is leg muscle aches at night - along the top of whichever leg is on top! I had this with DS but it started earlier with him, so I'm lucky., I suppose. It means I need to turn even more frequently at night.

I'm off to my ECV appointment soon, so wish me luck!

Miffster and DF ooh, those 'just you wait' comments really rile me. Along with the 'enjoy the rest now' etc. Not much chance of a heavily pregnant woman enjoying it that much at this stage. I don't know why people do it, I had it with DD and it just got me even more worried.

It's natural to be frightened and worried and probably more realistic than thinking your life won't change (and in many ways for the better btw). I'm now doing the whole 'OMG how will I manage with 2' panic. Don't forget you've already accustomed yourself to less sleep and feeling crap through the pregnancy! Can only speak from my own experience but having a newborn is a lot easier in many respects than being heavily pg.

My one tip is to be completely strict about resting and sleeping when baby sleeps and let the housework slide. I rushed around for first couple of weeks hoovering every day and trying to keep house perfect when I should have taken advantage of every time DD napped to get my head down too. Don't know what I was trying to prove really with hindsight.

lauren that sounds like a brilliant attitude! Much better to not stress - baby will come when ready. I'm sure average first babies are about a week 'late' by dates anyway. Lol at prize for longest cooked baby. I so do not want to win that one!

I was looking at a lovely website with a video of biological nurturing earlier here: www.biologicalnurturing.com/video/bn3clip.html which has made me all broody for my baby. Considering I had a pretty rocky start last time I'm actually really quite looking forward to breastfeeding again.

Good Luck RWD fingers crossed for you it goes well.

Good luck RWD - I had a successful ECV a couple of weeks ago and it really wasn't bad at all. It was uncomfortable but definitely not painful. Just try to relax as much as you can!

Good luck rwd hope it all goes well for you :-)

Morning all

Hope everyone is ok? I made it to DD Xmas performance yesterday which was great, don't you just love other peoples children!! Little girl sat in pew next to DD - they are all wearing pyjamas as their costumes for show (reception age) - little girl sat next to DD couldn't seem to keep hers up - every time she sat down on the pew they rucked down so you could see her bottom - I couldn't get close enough to tell her to pull them up and she managed to walk all the way to the front of the church, sing the songs and walk back before the teacher noticed she had her whole bottom hanging out

WLL* Agree about really looking forward to it this time, I struggled with BF last time through lack of knowledge and lack of support but still managed 3 months - looking forward to the whole thing this time especially as DH and I will both be at home.

RWD Best of luck for your ECV today, I have no experience so can't give any advice but would suggest relax

laurenium you sound really chilled out and that is probably the best way to be - when others try and provide advice I just nod and smile sweetly as if I am agreeing with them! If you want you can have some of my BH/contractions

CherylAT It sounds like post viral syndrome to me but they won't give a diagnosis of that for 6 months. Is he on a multivitamin or anything? He may just need a really good boost post virus, try something like sanatogen with an iron boost in it, make him rest as much as possible even if it means enforced rest for a week or so then introduce exercise gradually. Lots of fluids, to keep him hydrated - if he doesn't want to eat in the evening try a meal supplement drink, or soup or horlicks to gove him some extra calories. School is probably enough to wipe him out at the moment.

Hello to Esian and good luck to all who are in imminent labour. Wish I was joining you but this one seems to be staying put.

Realy fab news yesterday - entered the local paper competition for a years family pass to Marwell Zoo and won!! We go on Thursday with DD for an afternoon visit with FC to collect our prize - she doesn't know yet so I am now hoping LO stays in until then or comes out TODAY so I can still go

No Christmas tree up yet, no presents bought, no cards written - keep thinking I will do it when on enforced rest post baby but as he doesn't seem in any rush I better crack on

Spending this am trying to transfer all family photos off computer onto disk to free up some space [insert yawn emoticon]

Lol at that little girl having her bum out in church :-)

I've spent this morning on my hands and knees washing all of the floors following the sewer flood,Northumbrian water only just got round to disinfecting the roads and footpaths so it's finally time to bother doing our floors after the dogs have walked it all in!thank goodness for laminate!

poor little girl at the play mrs s! thats the sort of thing that haunts you forever!

good luck reshape!

:( for sewer flood lauren take it easy for the rest of the day probably after that!

"Just you wait" - you are all going to be great mums.

"Just you wait" you are going to be in love like you have never been in love before (sorry DH's).

"Just you wait"- you are likely to have a bad case of PFB syndrome- nothing wrong with that love and pride!

"just you wait" your strength as a woman and ability to cope with anything is about to be proved.

"Just you wait" your life is about to be turned upside down and you will be glad of it every time you tuck your LO in at night.

There are lots more... the birth is only one day...

Happy birth days all those about to pop.xx

franken that's lovely and so very true!
button she was completely oblivious to it even when the teacher told her to pull them up - I don't think she was bothered in any way! Because DH normally does the school run I don't know many of the childrens names yet so couldn't even loudly whisper to her to do it! I think everytime she sat on the pew they got tucked down on the bit of mat on the seat - you would have thought she'd notice a chilly bottom!!

Aw franken thats really uplifting :-) thankyou for making me smiley!!

Hi all,

Just a quick note as back at work today after being MIA for a week thanks to the snow. Still waiting for our phone line to be fixed so no internet at home.

Congratulations OWO , lovely name.

franken nicely put - for the first timers, I think the fear of the unknown is far worse than the reality. I was incredibly lucky and DD was a pretty perfect baby - I genuinely didn't feel sleep deprived, she was extremely contented, fed well etc so I'm hoping you'll all be as lucky. This LO has a lot to live up to!

WLL agree about the panicking about how you cope with 2

36+4 here. Saw consultant yesterday - he was lovely. Totally supportive of the vbac plan and seemed very confident baby will put in an appearance on it's own before 41 weeks. (finger, toes and everything else crossed). I feel like my bump has dropped in the last week - which is weird for me as DD didn't (although they told me she was 3/5 engaged I have strong doubts about that given how my labour went). Getting lots of dragging sensations, pain just at the top of the inside of my legs - which I sort of remember having when I was in labour with DD. Been spending extra amounts of time leaning forwards to try to combat the OP so I'm hoping that's paying off too.

Good luck to everyone who's having twinges, contractions, booked elcs's.

lavita thanks for the update on C&G

Heyy all how are we all doing? Hanging on in there?

Im a tad smitten with little Ruby

I bet you are

Thanks for all the good wishes! I did relax - had a glass of wine beforehand (MW advice!) and listened to my natal hypnotherapy relaxation track on the way in...

...and he was already head down! Best news in weeks! To make matters even better, I realised just before I went in that I already 'knew' the MW who was running the clinic, so that was one less unknown. Everyone had a feel - she, the student MW, my own independent MW who'd come along to give moral support. DH was offered a go too! And then they scanned me anyway, to be sure. Big head bang in the pelvis!

So all that rumpus and pain on thursday night was probably him turning, and that would also explain why I've been peeing little and often ever since!

MW and I then did an antenatal once we'd got home again, and started to talk about home birth arrangements! I feel like I'm allowed to get excited about that side of things now!

great news RWD

Fantastic news reshape it sounds like you have some good mws there!and excellent news about him being head down

Well, the drawer's are done, baby clothes in, bag's checked & packed. Just got to try and get some sleep tonight!

good news, reshape - hope you get that home birth!

OWO :) must be lovely!! Still can't quite get my head around the fact that I should (hopefully,all being well, fingers crossed etc) have mine tomorrow, even though it's DC4!

franken absolutely lovely!! Thank you - has allayed some of my post-op apprehension!!

Right, must go and change DC3's bum - it has that lovely reek of rotten rubbish that only toddlers know how to produce!!

(sorry, drawers'!) Ttt, ttt!!!