May 2011 - The Home Stretch!

[sesamesmith]

Old thread here: The Rosy Glow Before the Storm

Stats thread here: Due May 2011

Morning everyone :)

Going for my feet nibbled today at happy feet. Not sure how i will cope as i won't even go in the sea without my sandles on for fear of creepy crawlies but heard good things about the fish pedicures :o Anyone else had this done?

Getting so nervous about impending birth and safe arrival of bubs. Really worriyng that something will go wrong and struggling to sleep on a night for thinking about it. Dh has asked me not to give birth before Tues (39 + 6) because he is too busy at work and has just informed me that he will have to go in on Bank Hol Monday too just in case. Bloody men, he says the week after will be more convenient when i will be 41 weeks +

Eek Yorkstar I'm not sure I could handle having my feet nibbled! Let us know how it is!

Re weather, I'm with Loopy on this one, I'm really enjoying it! Apart from anything else, I'm SO sick of all my winter maternity clothes and this means that I've actually got to wear some of the lovely summer ones I bought with DS that I thought would be completely wasted this time round! Though most of my tops don't entirely cover my bump any more - I've got one generous vest top and the rest are being frequently tugged down, which is quite annoying...

Linzi Great news re social services! Bet you feel incredibly relieved.

Bizzee that's good news about the gas and air - I can't believe the usual policy of epidural or nothing - ridiculous!

Hiya all,

DD having an early nap so thought I'd check in. Luckily she seems to be on the mend now but is stlll a bit tired and cranky.

yorkstar not sure how I feel about the fish thing as I have a bit of thing about feet but have heard good things about them so hope it is enjoyable.

I'm also enjoying the weather although I think it helps that I haven't really been doing much beyond sitting in the garden with DD :) For all those struggling with too short tops - I found H&M mat vests excellent as they are really long. I wore mine to death after having DD too as flab hiders for bf :)

linzi great news re SS :)

bizzee good news re G&A for you too

ginger another who is of that lovely sounding break

cowboy sounds exciting although I can understand it must be frustrating to be stopping and starting like that. As others have wisely said, its all going in the right direction :)

Hello to everyone else I've not mentioned :)

I can sympathise with all those in a grump/feeling low. I am feeling v sorry for myself today as it is my cousin's wedding (we are really close) and I am not there as it is in W Wales and I took the decision that I would be too uncomfortable to travel 4hours each way by car. I know the decision was for the best but still feeling :( about missing out on her big day and seeing all my lovely family. Been wondering whether I should just put on a dress and some make up to feel part of it even though I'm only going to tesco this afternoon :o

Went for a walk around the block last night to get some fresh air - was only out about 30 mins and ended up waddling like I was about to lay an egg... then up every hour last night for a wee so lo is definitely v low down now which can only be a good thing. Lots of BH this morning when doing the dusting - for some reason decided that the skirting boards really needed doing so really really hoping I don't go to 42 weeks again!

Hope everyone has nice plans for the weekend. My Mum is coming Sunday for a few days so am really looking forward to that and maybe getting out somewhere nice in the sunshine for a picnic. Its DH's birthday on Mon too so Mum is babysitting so I can take DH out for dinner - something spicy most likely to try to get things moving :)

I've got a question for the sling experts amongst you! We'd really like to get one, but are a bit hesitant because they are rather expensive... Has anyone ever tried making one themselves? I do seem to remember reading in this thread that someone was making her own sling(s), but can't remember who! And am too lazy to work my way back through the thread
Now I can't sew to save my live, but my mum is really good with things like that, so I was thinking of asking her to make me a sling...to me they look like long pieces of cloth that are slightly wider in the middle and taper off towards the ends...But what material is best? Should it be slightly stretchy? DH surprised me the other day by saying that it needs to be cut in a certain way, so that it stretches in the right direction - he's an engineer, I hasten to add, I don't have a clue what that means! Anyone got any advice?!

I've just been sitting in the garden, having coffee with some friends, and almost got to the point getting the parasol out! I really hope the weather will hold over the summer, as it's only April now! It'll probably start raining on May 9th and then continue all summer... Ah well, we can still hope.
Off now to choose laminate floors for the nursery! I bet that the first date they have for fitting will be the week before/after my due date!

Hi again all :)

linziluv so pleased to hear you don't have to go through the conference :) and good news for you bizzee :)

ginger i am - bet you will have a lovely time

cowboy hope everything keeps going for you

I saw someone getting the fish pedicure yorkstar it looked kinda good but in a weird way! Hope you like it :)

runningmonkey go put a pretty dress on - its not just for Tesco, you know why you are wearing it. Sorry to hear you are missing the wedding, but hope you have a nice weekend.

I am doing ok. Midwife confirmed me as '4/5ths above brim' and she said he definitely feels lower (which was what i thought). He was still wriggling away from the doppler when she was trying to listen to the heartbeat!

I like this weather, as long as i don't have to do very much (), and as miserable as it sounds, would really like it not to get any warmer (i much prefer spring to summer).

Off to see Peter Kay tonight with DH and some friends ao am making the most of doing nothing all day and painting my nails and trying to make my hair look half decent! Think it will be the last time 'out' for a while!

Take care all xxx

Saw my own MW today and she said the contractions I have been having are probably my body trying to get baby to engage rather than go in to labour as she keeps coming back up. Been told not to get to many small clothes or worry about birth weight but to know she's big and with a big head but is trying her best to get into the best position for labour which is apparently the most important thing I really love seeing her as she always knows what to say in a way I will understand and not get scared!

Will be back later to catch up with the news x

loopy both DCs have been under 7lbs, so are too small for Size 1 as newborns. Quite liked the Sandy's extra small which fit them for about 2 months and then they went into Size 1. The Council scheme can include items that are nappy related and managed to get a ton of liners with DD.

Am so exhausted today. Went for lunch with the DCs, got DDs hair cut, walked to the park and met up with DH and DS, and suddenly everything was a struggle, am breathless and my tummy is horribly uncomfortable.

Plus the splinter in my foot that the GP was going to remove, turns out I need to see a chiropodist. He gave me the referral forms, but can't make a telephone appointment. I have to send the forms to a central location where all the chiropodists are coordinated . I called the GP back and he said he would try and expedite it. Grrrr.

Well I am pretty much shattered, been to Ikea today for quite a few things - we got life home off friends (not being drivers ourselves) so were able to go "wild in the aisles": chair & footstool for BFing - although DH may commandeer it until LO arrives for playing Xbox, wardrobe & chest of drawers for LOs room, and of course the ton of other junk you pick up on your way around. Who knew cushions could turn out to be so expensive ?

yorkstar I would love a pedicure at the mo... is a fishy one less embarrassing than having to show pregnancy 'trotters' to a beautician ?

running ah, such a shame about the wedding Perfect weather for them too

Jbrd I ordered a Baba sling from Tesco in the Clearance- £29.90?
direct.tesco.com/q/R.208-0389.aspx

But I did read in The Food of Love the author makes her own slings just out of 5m of cotton jersey fabric, which I suspect is what my Moby Wrap sling essentially isz

loopy is the sling maker btw. :)

On the subject of pedicures, I had one today after seeing the chiropractor and now have pretty toes. :D

loopy bought 5 eco bumbles from them in the end, couldn't not for 15 quid and already have boosters and terries to stuff them so not bothered about them not coming with boosters.
Incidently, the nappy lady came back with some suggestions for me, one of which was the bambini so currently umming about getting a couple of these to try.

Also was offered advice about a cloth nappy for DS (nearly 5 and NOWHERE near dry at night). Currently umming between the motherease bedwetter and the minki standard yoyo. Fed up of the drynites or underjams leaking!
Anyone tried either ones?

Have actually sent DS to bed with nothing on tonight to see what happens. I gave him the option, not overly convinced but wanted to see if he was just being lazy about getting up. Obviously not the best time in the world to try to get dry at night with a baby on the way but hey ho. We have a bedmat under the sheet and plenty of clean sheets so if it doesn't work, it won't take long to change (will pop a nappy on if he's wet b4 we go to bed).

he's home and has just celebrated that fact by producing a nappy full of lovely yellow poo - showing feeding is well and truly established.
I played the game and got him out eventually - WOO HOO!

Good luck to all of you struggling with the heat - it is rubbish being pg in hot weather.

linziluv I'm really glad about the SS news that must be a huge weight off your mind. I hope you enjoy Wales! Where you staying?

pistachio I know what you mean about the clothes rotation thing, i am running out of bangles and beads trying to make the same things look different.

Yorkstar how did you like the fish feet? I went last year and thought it felt like jets of water at my feet some how? Thinking about it I might book again next week. Think I have earned another pedicure by now?

running that's rubbish that you missed the wedding, it's hard knowing what's for the best late on.

I have no idea about cloth nappies so can't offer any advise or info but reading interest.

Collected the pushchair and car seat today so excitidly unpacking it now and can't wait to take it out for a little drive around

Read through but haven't retained much. Just can't muster much energy these days. Baby keeps me awake with so much movements all night long.

linz Glad to hear about not having to hear about conference. Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Querty If you are feeling hormonal, maybe the advice about waiting till babe comes is a good idea.

I'm actually a little freaked out now about SIL, MIL and niece coming for visit just after baby is due. DH thinks they could stay here for a couple of days, but we live in a 2 bedroom condo. SIL and MIL in our bed, niece on couch and DD, NB, DH and me in DD's room, her in her bed, us on the floor on our camping foamy. Easy for DH to say, he hasn't just pushed something the size of a watermelon through a hole the size of a grapefruit. MIL has an uncanny way of saying extremely inappropriate and outrageous things to me and I don't think I could manage to keep my trap shut. When I was on the phone with her last, she told me I should be smacking DD when she's misbehaving. At least I put the kibosh on them using our car... DH actually said, "What are you going to need it for? You didn't need the car when we had DD"... um, I'm not staying cooped up while you all galavant around, and we only had the car, (we have a motorcycle for him to go to work on now) and we lived on the mountain and were snowed in for almost a month. Bloody hell. Anyhow, this is eating away at me right now. Usually I would welcome the visit and love being overcrowded with family and such, but I think its just MIL TBH. And having just had a baby. Ok,,, I'm also a little freaked out about DH's work. Although he is planning on taking 3 weeks off, there is a few people that have put their notices in and others taking vacation at the same time and I have a feeling that DH is going to 'have' to go in to work while the in-laws are visiting, which I'm finding stressful just thinking about. Just a whole lot of worrying over here.

linz I meant, Glad to hear about you not having to do the conference.

Thanks everyone...it's a massive weight off my mind!
cowboylover I'm staying in prestatyn at mum and stepdad's. Is great coz my mum really looks after me!
Taking DS and my niece to the Mickey Mouse Music Festival in Liverpool tomorrow...so excited as they're gonna love it!!
My DS is 3 in 2 weeks...where the hell does the time go?!
36 weeks today! Nearly there now...so excited but scared of giving birth again lol

GotArt can you persuade MIL, SIL and niece to stay at a local hotel instead? My parents arrived yesterday and are in a hotel (2 minute walk away) and it's bloody marvellous! All the benefits of their company, but after dinner last night we waved goodbye to them. Just waiting for them to show up this morning, so no bathroom queues this morning. And their hotel room has a little kitchenette so I have provided the supplies for them to be able to make their own breakfast which makes things even more relaxed for us at home.

Enjoy the long long weekend, especially those of you who aren't on maternity leave yet!

Ooo Oo loopy u've reminded me I have a body shop party to go to tonight!

Well our experiment with DS last night was too optimistic so gonna order 'something' cloth today. Umming bout yoyo now as a) cheaper and b) quicker to dry. plus can get one with fire engines onwhich would probably keep him happy, tho no doubt he'll balk at it to start with.

Might pop a post on nappy board for opinions first. :)

linzi forgot to say earlier that I'm pleased to hear your news, you can hopefully relax and enjoy now.

gotart I agree with loopy, I would not be bunking on the floor of my kids bedroom so soon after giving birth. Can't they bunk in there?

All the sling talk is making me want to buy another, definitely in spend mode right now! Have a 6m calin gauze but now thinking I might want some variety!

Had rubbish night sleep last night after 3 good nights. Think I strained my back having pedicure so turning over in bed was more painful than norm, I was roasting hot and ended up waking up with bites ALL over my legs cos dh left window open and bugs had a good munch on me! Ahhh! Itch itch scratch!

So think I need to kick dh out of bed to provide me with breakie in bed. :)

Gotart I agree with others - I don't think you should be leaving your own bed so soon after giving birth and no one should expect it of you. Either refuse the visit, make them stay in a hotel or make them sleep in the less comfortable surroundings!

Mslucy hurray, how exciting! Hope you have a lovely first few days at home.

Loopy hope you have a better day with DD1 today.

I don't think baby is going to go properly head down until labour - let's hope she does then. At the moment, when I wake up (after a night of sleeping on my LHS), she's clearly head down as there's a big lump beneath my chest and from the shape of the bump, it's obvious she's vertical. Within minutes of getting up, she's completely transverse again. I think she just prefers it that way round! So frustrating...

Loopy re: shopping. I was reluctant to get a whole bunch of new maternity clothes so close to having the baby, but found a lovely pair of gypsy type loose leggings at H & M. Also Gap Maternity are doing tank tops that are 2 for £12.00. Not exactly cheap, but they cover the tummy

GotArt Why on earth do people invade visit so soon after a baby arrives? I really don't understand. Fine, if they are going to help, but doesn't really seem that they are going to be much help to you at all. Probably what happened is that MIL suggested visiting, and your DH offered for them to stay at yours. He probably thought he was being practical.

Cazzr we used the Bedwetter pants for DD, but they are more pants than nappy. Night nappies are tricky, but for DS we use either a Tots Bots Bamboozle boosted with a ton of bamboo boosters or a Baby Beehind. I have an order for the new Baby Beehind night nappy which is supposed to be brilliant. I live in hope for the miracle night nappy!

Anyone got their box sets sorted in preparation for middle of the night feeds? Am getting seriously addicted to True Blood...

What lovely weather! Almost too hot for us preggie people...!

Managed to persuade dh & dss to dig the allotment this morning - the persuasive power of the bump :)

The toblerones moving around in my belly are most amusing (if not v v painful from time-to-time.)

GotArt I think you should firmly put your foot down, no question! My Dad and Stepmum wanted to come, and they're coming from Canada so would normally have to stay. Much as I love them (although sm would be complete nightmare, and tell me I was latching on wrong etc), I have insisted they leave it a month, and they are happy to respect that. They are also staying at my sister's, otherwise it would have been a B&B. Dh happy to support this decision. They stayed here during our wedding weeks last year and I really was ready for a nervous breakdown! At the very least, could they camp in someone's garden or something?!

Rollercoaster my friend is now trying the moxibustion, which totally worked for me - worth a try! I'll let you know how she gets on. (See moxibustion

GotArt YANBU. I don't think I could handle that and I know even te stress of thinking about it would drive me over the edge at the moment.

linziluv I love Prestatyn, be nice to be spoilt and you have earned it! My Mum is being so nice at the moment and dont know what I would do without her around sometimes.

Loopy Will have a look at that site again as have recommended it to people with Breech but will see what they say about encouraging her to engage if possible. Love playing with the pushchair and can get it up really easy but folding is still not as slick! Hopefully DH wont have to go in on Tuesday so we can have a go at getting the car seat in the car, looks easy but you never know!

iLove I have not seen True Blood but I think I would like it as seams like my sorta thing so muight go on Amazon later and treat myself to a few new DVD's.

Rollercoaster Did your DS engage before you went into labour?

DH is now doing overtime all weekend coming home in time tomorrow for a BBQ he has organised at our house for about 10 of our mates so I dont know how the hell the patio is going to get sorted, house cleaned and food bought?

GotArt if someone told me I was sleeping on a camp bed after giving birth I'd assume they were telling a bad joke! Can't they sleep on a camp bed in the living room? I'm sure it's know you insisting that they visit at that time

Congratulations MsLucy! I'm very happy to wait 2 more weeks til my due date but it must be great knowing he is ok and safely home

Thanks to whoever it was that mentioned the baba sling was on sale at tesco direct. I've now ordered one as I was starting to get worried about the (second-hand) Baby Bjorn carrier that I'd bought from what people have said about developing spines etc. I have to say it's worrying being a new mum and he's not even born yet!

I'm loving this weather but definitely running out of clothes. I never expected to be pregnant in 25+ degrees and I hardly bought any tops anyway so I'm also rotating my (non-maternity) H&M tank tops. They're going to be so stretched by the time I've given birth!

Treated myself to the best facial today so feeling very happy and relaxed :)

Loopsy DD is driving me mad too. Must be something in the air. She is such a whining little cow.

cowboy Nice to have BBQ and DH doing overtime but what the heck with loved ones quietly assuming you want to do any sorting of stuff. OK... I guess I'm making assumptions on your DH.

The family are arriving in Vancouver from Ontario, they'll travel around in the interior a bit before coming to the island. Apparently, they have made arrangements for a B&B but DH can't get a hold of SIL right now to confirm (I don't think he is making much of an effort TBH) and MIL is just saying she thinks its been arranged but now that she's been told by DH they could stay here a couple of nights, she might just pass that on and then it will be too late to find accommodation. If MIL slept on the floor, there would be no way she'd be able to get up... actually, that might be good. lol. No, she'd complain the whole time she was here about it. We have an en-suite bath but still, the hot water tank won't let 4 people get showers in the morning not to mention we'd have to move all our stuff into the other bathroom, which only has a shower and I love bathing with DD when she was NB. Also, what if I have a little PND or just want to have a cry but the house if full of family and I have to put on a stupid grin. Too many variables. I might just be over-reacting and hormonal. It just drives me mad that I don't know for absolutely sure. I just want to be able to develop a routine with DD, NB and me and its going to be hard with them here. DD still naps too and I don't want that disrupted for obvious reasons. OK... I gotta stop!

Have a great Easter weekend Ladies. [bugrin]

Hello everyone. Sorry have read but on my fone and struggling to name check.so much has happened

i am with the club of misbehaving dd's she has bin a rite madam all wk
she was 2 last wk and boy does ut show when i tell her off she points at me and tells me to.shush the otha day asked her if she was gettin in the trolly she sed no.shook her head and pushed the trolley away lol

Today i had mini meltdown i cudntfind anythin summery to.fit and felt like a huge whale ive put on around 31 pound :( im 5'1 so it really shows its weird how one day u can b fine and then u feel soooo low

mslucy. So glad your lil one is home with u

hope everyone else has enjoyed the weather and had a gud day x