Feb 2011 - The home stretch! Let's see more of those babies :-)

[WanderingInAWinterWonderland]

A shiny new thread for a shiny new year.

I know, this will more than likely be our last which does make me sad. When I look at ds2 and see he is much more "little boy" than "baby" now, I think thank goodness there is another one on the way or I would be broody as hell! But what will I do when this LO gets out of baby gro's?!?

One thing I won't miss is going to the loo every 20 mins.

Onto something completely different; am I tempting fate terribly by wanting to book our summer hol before baby actually arrives? Feels a bit wrong but for practical reasons want it sorted....

Ah yes, summer holidays, has anyone got any plans? We were thinking of France because it won't be too hot and won't mean paying for a flight. I think DH is quite frightened of driving on French roads, though.

What's everyone else thinking?

The same! Looking at ferries into Caen and a gite or farmhouse, french roads are brilliant apparently.

Darling Dh gone to get me a footbath and cream to rub in bless him. And he has just given me his credit card to buy stuff online AND I am watching a young indiana jones take his shirt off. And my new uggs arrived today. Happy days!

No holidays planned (I wish!) all money and time will be spent on a lovely new home! Not had a hol for too long, might make a weekend away!

I'm agreeing with the comments on sadness at the end of the pregnancy as this too is to be my last! It is so special to feel baby's movement & wriggles, that connection is precious, despite heartburn, SPD, general aches & pains & tiredness! I'm starting to feel excited about the birth now, it's finally here!

I posted a thread on Childbirth about homebirth in a flat and got some great feedback but just got one from someone saying it was mental to even consider a hb as she would've lost her baby were she not in hospital blah blah & friends of hers lost a baby in a hb. I'm like - thanks! Way to go in planting seeds of doubt! She has a right to her opinion & I do appreciate how her experience reflects this but I didn't ask fir general opinions on hb! Still I remain sure of my decision, I know from previous threads how contentious this issue is. I notice there are a few of us on here planning home birth, what are your thoughts / opinions on this?
Anyway, continued movement & return to breach may just mean I don't get the hb afterall! Midwife coming over here tomorrow so I'll get more info then.

Xmas decs down too & the cleaning has begun, as much for moving as nesting! Yes moving a couple of weeks after the birth wouldn't have been my ideal choice(!) but it's what we've been landed with so I'll just have to go with the flow! Good luck to whoever it was who is also selling (sorry baby brain & general bad memory has forced your name from my head!) hope you get your bargain house!

Hi earlgrey I am planning a home birth too. WhT floor is your flat on? Would only be an issue if you had to transfer to hospital but then the ambulance team would have to stretcher you out... Which they would do if someone was homebirthing upstairs in a house.

Don't worry about Miss Negative. There will always be one! Nothing is guaranteed, not even hospital births, but they will only let people homebirth if low risk and I imagine it's the same as someone who has been run over telling everyone else not to cross the road!

I have had a homebirth already and can't recommend them enough, so wish you all the best and hope baby turns in time! Xxx

PDR £50 worth of cinema vouchers, lovely present but I'm with you, I'd probably be still spending them when this baby starts school. We went to see Harry Potter, really enjoyed it, Mr Wiggles got to choose as he was also buying the food and it probably would have been cheaper to go out for dinner . Yummy yummy popcorn, I don't get salted popcorn either, why?

Agree with those who feel lucky/privileged to be pregnant. As I said before it took me six years to conceive dd1 and now I'll have 3 within 5.5. years , probably be our last, but you never know!!!

Think we are hoping to head on holiday in May/June hopefully back to Ibiza. Already have the girls primed to ask their daddy "are we going on holiday soon???" They love the whole idea of the plane, spending most of the day swimming etc.

Earlgrey I agree with what 40 weeks said about there'll always be one who says something negative! Most of the stories I have heard of HBs tend to be positive though. They shouldn't have said that you were stupid to consider it!

Wiggles oh no no no! You can't have anymore - 3 is greedy and 4 is just greedier and...well...it's just not fair to me when I have to stop at 2!

Anyone else feeling exhausted? My dcs are playing on the squigglet website as I am too tired to move off the sofa much. Dh has only been away a day. I'm getting a little concerned about his work talking about sending him to China and India. I jokingly said I should have him early and in all seriousness he said yes. Think he's just stressed about leaving me a lot at the moment.

I don't have the courage for a homebirth (nor the insurance probably) but I really you girls for doing it. It is surely your right to give birth where you feel most comfortable. All power to you.

Hi everyone,

Been reading but not posting.

Can't believe there are already three babies!

I have been cleaning like mad, making to-do lists (and actually doing them). I do this every time - just as well - as it's the only time these odd jobs seem to get done.

Not packed hospital bag yet (am 35 weeks) as I'm awaiting delivery of a new chest of drawers in which to put all the stuff stored in the loft. Suppose I could get a few babygrows out.

Main thing we need to sort is a bloody great car/bus in which to put all of our dc! Aargh! Nothing is 'just right'!

I'm kind of looking forward to watching the new series of One Born Every Minute on Monday. Cried a bit at one birth I watched over Xmas on the 'live' shows. Brought back all the pain!

Ho-hum, it's gotta come out somehow...

And still no name sorted!

Morning all....lots of cleaning, crying and general crazy things happening on here i see...and yep i am experiencing it all too

Had a full on antenatal day yesterday. Had MW in which is was told baby is head down, all fine, but i am measuring too big...I am 32+ and measuring 35. Anyone else experiencing this? She is keeping an eye out in case i get bigger and bigger, and then explode (actually feels like i might).

Then had my first antenatal class...was quite interesting, although was trying hard to not think about food and falling asleep for 2 hours.

She then said that girls have faster heartrates over 150bpm, all mine have recorded lower and yesterday at 130bpm, so now i am panicking thinking my baby girl actually is a baby boy!! Which of course i will be just as happy with, but poor boy will have to love the colour pink!!

Is anyone else getting quite painful / stiff finger and wrist joints? I've had to take my wedding + engagement rings off (sob) due to slight swelling, but it's the weird stiffness and lack of grip that confuses me...what's all that about?!

Earlgrey - the negative (and irrelevant) poster obviously didn't have a home birth so you can assume her knowledge is fairly one-sided! Stats on HBs are really good, and the midwives know what they're doing. Good luck.

Have you got carpal tunnel syndrome oneof4?

Am tired and hacked off today. Barely slept last night despite being tired, can't wait till the baby is born. Jus heard a friend had hers a week and a half early, am v v jealous. And DD is being a pain too, is trying to drop her nap (she's only 21mo) but I am determined not to let her, if she doesn't sleep in the day I don't get a break at all.

I did say that I wanted another after this but feel so crap the last few weeks I may have changed my mind. WE'll have to have a break anyway, can't really afford this one and will have to move ASAP as we aren't allowed to put up another room in our flat.

This is a pissed off post, isn't it?!! Sorry!!

oneof4 that sounds like carpal tunnel, I have it too at night. It goes during the day when your joints are more active. It will go as soon as the baby is born. Last time round it really bothered me, now I just try the other hand and see if that one works!!

Debka, I'm in exactly the same mood today, didn't get much sleep and DD is driving me crackers! It's only been an hour and I'm already losing patience. One minute she wants a bagel and then as soon as I make it she says she doesn't like them (not true, she loves bagels). Then she lists about 5 things on Cbeebies that she wants to watch all at the same time.. grr!!

EarlGrey, I hate it when people tell you scary stories like that with no basis in science at all I usually just reply (very sarcastically) 'thanks for the results of your extensive survey'. But then I've been in an awful mood for about oooh, 8 months now

Morning, I have had a terrible nights sleep too....my stomach woke me up at 5.30 saying "FEED ME" so had to come down and make breakfast.

I am in a shopping frenzy at the moment, every day I think of something that I need and simply have to have! Yesterday I decided that I didnt have enough muslin squares so I got ready and drove to the shops to buy some. Then of course they all had to be washed and I am considering iron ing them today! Madness!

Eurouge I loved the link you put on for the ring sling, do you know if that style is any good for breastfeeding in?

suzy, that's what I'm planning on using it for! I never bothered with DD because I liked just lazing around on the sofa but I don't think I'll get the chance this time around! I found this site that's got some tips and videos on how to do it.

Thats a great link- thanks! I think a sling is a great idea for feeding when out and about (to keep everything covered) but also it will hopefully stop me feeling like a prisoner to the couch when feeding at home too.

Let me know if you order one off ebay, I may order one too!

I'll probably get around to it later on, I'll let you know when I do. I quite enjoyed being a prisoner to the couch, I wish I could be now!

Ah gone are the days when bfing meant sitting on the sofa cuddling up. Am also going to get one of the ring slings, and might also might treat myself to a cup holder for the bugaboo. Rock n roll!!!

oneofus sounds like carpal tunnel, I had it quite severely with dd1. Tried everything, the best thing I got was the hot/cold pouches from Tescos, chemists. Think the cold one worked best for me, just stuck it in the freezer and popped it on my wrist. Strangely it never came back with dd2 or this pregnancy

Had such a great sleep last night with girls being at my mums, also had bath this morning, can't remember the last time i was able to spend more than 5 mins getting ready in the morning, so like you 40weeks I am feeling very rock n roll!!

Am now away to get girls because I miss them like mad even though they have been away all of 18 hours the joys of parenthood - you could cry with gratitude when someone takes them off your hands for a few hours, then you wander around thinking "what am I supposed to be doing, why is no-one asking for food, why is it so quiet, is it really sad to put CBeebies on for the company?"

I am so tired!!! On iron tablets but they don't seem to be helping fatigue levels. I guess weeing every hour thru' the night doesn't help.
36 weeks tomorrow - midwife said I could start drinking raspberry leaf tea from then. Woo hoo!
Also nesting crazily. glad it's not just me.

EauRouge thanks for the bf in a sling link. I never managed it first time round, but then I had the luxury of the all day sofa...
I have a maya wrap ring sling - if you look on their website they offer a free pattern if you want to make one of your own - even cheaper than ebay if you have the time and inclination!

I had my mw appt today - measuring 35 1/2 cm at 35.4, baby head down, no nasties in wee. Can't quite believe it is all going so smoothly this time. I have also packed some hospital bag stuff today, so feeling a little less neurotic!

suzym I was also awake at 5.30 with a rumbling tummy. Ended up eating bread and strawberry jam in bed whilst watching the news channel. Might have to have a nap in a bit as I doubt I'll last the day.

With regard to Home Birth, do your own research, and speak to the M/W, if they are happy with you having it in Flat you should be fine. I have had 2 x H/B and plan to again this time. Might be worth mentioning it to your neighbours, (saying that I never did) but maybe you don't wan't their reactions. Some people are so positive and supportive, but there are always 'what ifs', but if you, your M/W and partner are Happy then go for it. For us it was best thing I could have done, convinced I would have had section in hospital

Hello!

3 kings here today so another day of presents etc but thankfully that is now IT and we have taken down tree and decorations and trying to sort the house for my mum arriving tomorrow. can´t wait, when she is here she is all ds wants so it gives me some kind of break.

Sympathies to those with lo´s and napping, we managed to hold on to ds´ nap until he was over 3 but this summer we finally had to drop it, it was taking 30mins-1hour to get him down and then he would sleep for 2 hours but it was just getting silly. We were lucky to get that long I know but my how you miss it, no matter when it goes!

For breastfeeding in a sling I used the calin bleu wrap, a bt of a faff but once you get the hang of it it´s lovely, spreads weight evenly and really comfy. Never really got the hang of ring slings, got one for the summer with uv protection but didn´t like it much.

Summer holidays? Not sure. mostly our holidays involve visiting family in the UK but we are lucky to have hot summers here so there feels like less need to get away as when i lived in UK. Though ds has his heart set on camping and we are (madly?) considering south of france or something for a cheap holiday. Not even close to thinking about booking though.

As for home birth, I like the idea but here you are not offered the option on social security you have to pay a private midwife 2000euros + and my friend that did it recently STILL got transferred to hospital (and still had to pay mw so felt part. peeved about it). Also my dh is far from convinced and I think you and your birth partner need to feel happy and confident in your choice. and in your midwife. i have heard many wonderful stories of home births, given the right situation i like to think i would have tried it but its not for me right now.

Okay, am off to try and tidy ds´ playroom it is bulging with toys he never touches and i am determined to box some up and make room for new arrivals. then later need to throw a second coat of paint at the bathroom walls. Nesting? me?

Oh, I forgot to say about summer holidays- we got a call from DH's folks the other day to say that they'd sold their holiday cabin (to SiL so it stays in the family) and that they were paying for us to go and visit! So we're going to Canada for 2 weeks in May, can't wait. I wonder how it will be staying with the in-laws though, I don't know them very well and BiL lives with them and I've never met him