May 2011 - The Home Stretch!

[sesamesmith]

Old thread here: The Rosy Glow Before the Storm

Stats thread here: Due May 2011

I'm awake! Have been since 5am...hip pain, needed a wee and can't get back to sleep! You'd think mother nature would allow us to sleep and rest in preparation!
I'm a bit worried...got bad swollen ankles/feet and dipsticked urine at work and have protein too...could be nothing but gonna get BP checked today.
I've got a week off now so hopefully get a bit prepared!
Gonna ask midwife again about pethidine I think.
Thanks for the advice loopy...very good point about having nowhere else to go.
I'm gonna register this one at different surgery...all 4 HV I've had from my clinic have been awful, and in hindsight a massive contributory factor in me getting PND!
Anyone else not having their partner at the birth? People think we're strange but it's what's best for us...he'll be coming at the very end or if I ask for him but he will make things more stressful lol...he gets bored and tired bless

Omg I'm so tired :(
Dd3 has had some awful gastro bug, we ended up in hospital with her getting fluids as she was even vomiting water. Shes keeping stuff down now but has screamed the past 2 nights, think she must have stomach cramps or something as it's all coming out in her nappy now :(
Coupled with spd agony and a 35 week bump 'tis not nice. DH got up at 4 so I could grab a couple of hours before he went to work which was nice of him. Hoping she goes back to sleep after I drop dd2 off at school so I can too but not holding out much hope.

Midwife appt last week showed baby is head down (shows how much I know after 5 pregnancies) and head is down in pelvis so all good. It's bloody typical that she was running late when I had a later half 2 appt so I didn't get in until 3 and had to totally rush through as dd2 needed picking up at 3.15.

Hi all,
Had physio yesterday who gave me more exercises and said she felt my SPD and lack of core control may lead to posture issues in the future. I have to go back in 3 weeks to be assessed again but at the moment im coping better with the belt and pain killers and she advised mroe rest! LOL
Today im sat on my gym ball and determined to get my TMA done....a report on safeguarding children! JOY
Had a rubbish nights sleep, my tummy all round the middle (where waist used to be) feels bruised and im not sure if thats due to physio yesterday or because stretchybum just has no space anymore! Have midwife tomorrow so will check then i think.
DH has decided we cannot have this baby without buying a new people carrier! So tomorrow morning we are off out to look at vauxhall vectras and fiat multiplas! will be good to drive a bigger car where the steering wheel wont rest on my bump! LOL

Right am going to grab some toast and crack on with this TMA.....it needs to be done!

OOPS.... DS'S easter egg appears to have fallen in my mouth!

Loopy - can I ask you a sling Q?
I have a baby hawk mei tai - do you think that is OK for a newborn or should I get something more stretchy?
www.babyhawk.com/Instructions/

thanks!

Yes, sleeping is an issue - some nights are good (the ones where I only have to get up once to go to the loo), but others are not (hip pain, leg/foot cramps, breathing problems, cats jumping on my bump, turning to the other side being an olympic effort, not being able to get back to sleep after the aforementioned incidents). I thought we're meant to bank up on sleep now in anticipation of the things to come!

I finish work tomorrow (yay!) and think I will explore the possibility of daytime naps very seriously.

I'm dying to paint the nursery and do work in the garden, but I really don't think I can do it anymore... DH works away from home Mon-Thur, and our weekends are currently taken up with NCT classes and relatives visiting. My mum will be here next week, but I don't think that I can/should make her do any painting !

Can anyone recommend a changing table? The ones from Ikea look quite nice and are affordable, and they transform into an ordinary chest of drawers... Don't want to spend a huge amount of money (ah, Stokke changing table, how I would have loved to have those - with the bed to go with it!), but then the idea of going to Ikea... DH refuses point blank, maybe I'll drag my mum.

Morning (that's mean yawning btw). Went back to bed at about 5.30 and think I got to sleep sometime before 6. Alarm went off at 6.15! Obviously not go to work and DH said this morning that he wants me to finish early - I only have this week and next week left so not sure if I can do that without getting signed off by a Dr and I don't feel that there is anything really 'wrong' ifyswim.

Anyway, have slept for a couple of hours now but feel like I've got a hangover (without the fun beforehand!) so am just going to sit and watch tv and do some knitting. I think today needs to be about sitting about doing nothing and I'll see how I go tomorrow.

perpetuallypreg poor you, I hope your DD3 is on the road to recovery and you get some more sleep and rest for yourself too.

Bonkerz - enjoy the car shopping! For some reason the multipla always reminds me of a frog which makes me smile :)

loopy having one DD and being a total non-dainty lass myself I am petrified at the thought of ballet recitals and the like - did do ballet and tap briefly myself but think of the fairy from magic roundabout and that was me! Not sure I even know how to French plait :o

jbrd can recommend the ikea trofast changing table if they still do it - we've got bits of the other matching furniture too which is good as it is easily moved and put together and the top comes off and it is just a normal unit. Oh I managed to put it together while 35-36 weeks last time but you'll definitely need some help getting it to and from the car if you do go there. There are some other nice ones too.

Ooh I want some chocolate eggs now too!

I started off loving the multipla and saying it was the only car i wanted BUT the practicalities are hitting home now and i like the idea of a zafira as we could always have one seat down meaning more boot space and also have been told by some friends who have them that work on them is cheap and parts are very cheap as its basically a big astra!
Slight concern with multipla is that the seats are not standard size and that my large arse the babies car seat/DDs booster seat wont fit on the seat safely!

Bonkers what bout a lovely Rav4, cant complain about mine!

Jbrd: I have my mum staying this week helping doing most of the paining when I sit on the ladder or dip the brush when she is up the steps. DH is on nights all this week so not seeing much if him.

PP: I hope all feeling better soon!

I am also 'treating' her a drive to ikea tomorrow so she can help me load the car! We are getting the Lesvick (?) it's the dark wood one.

Will have to sort something out as nice thank you for her. It's our wedding anniversary on Tuesday so will have to get some plans other than putting flat pack furniture together!

Just popping in to say hello im in work so jyst a quick hi will do my best to update u on my busy fe days lots of painting involved. I finally seem to b gettin somewhere on my list of things to do tho :)

bonkerz we have a grand scenic and it's amazing. The boot space is massive.
loopy thanks, she went back off for a couple of hours today so I got some sleep but shes basically cried all day. She stopped now we have picked dd2 up from school because she adores her :)they are sitting watching spongebob together so I can get some peace.

I'm still looking for a double buggy if anyone can recommend one? Sorry I know nothing about slings or changing tables for those who asked.

thanks for the input guys. We actually had an 8 seater ulysses which we bought when i was childminding and was a brill car till it died in May 2010 and we replaced it with a small escort and then ofcourse i fell pregnant! Sods law!
We dont want to go back to huge van like people carrier as its only at weekends when we have DSD that we will need the 6 seats hence looking at the multipla and Zafira but i have just looked at the RAV4 and there is one at one of places on our list for tomorrow so we will have a peek. BIL has a previa and had a galaxy so we know them MPVs too but will just have to see whats best value really!

Just finished at three schools, been there at least five years. Not one goodbye, good luck, card or anything from any full-time member of staff. Plus, boss appointed his wife as my replacement in one place, without interviewing anyone else, and lying about availability of my suggested candidate. Been crying all the way home, and feeling about as low as possible, not helped by stinky cold. Sorry to moan, but just so upset!

Small good bit of info: swapped from physio to osteopath, and hip pain seems to have subsided, plus back bit better - I recommend it!

Hope everyone else is coping xxx

sesame At least maternity leave gives you a chance to do a bit of job hunting

Have been in total agony today. Hurts to move. Hurts to stay still. Yes, it's SPD. Grrrr. Went to chiropractor on Monday which helped a lot, and am going again tomorrow. So expensive, but worth it if it can help.

Just fed the DCs and am wondering when I can reasonably put them to bed so I can order an Indian take away . Need something really hot.

sesame that is truly crap! Mind you when I went on leave with DD I was a bit as no-one really said goodbye but then when I actually had her, I had a lovely card, some flowers and JL vouchers so maybe they are waiting for the baby to arrive?! Yay to being on ML though!

ilove hope you have got your take away by now :)

perpetually I've just got a Maclaren twin techno. Its a side-by-side but narrow so will fit through most standard doorways and can be used from birth as it lies flat on both sides. As mentioned earlier in the week I got mine off ebay for under £50 so am v pleased with it. Lots of them seem to come up there if you are looking to buy 2nd hand. A friend who is due just after me has just bought an Out & About Double Nipper which also looks fab and is really really light and manouverable. Again its a side-by-side suitable from birth which will also fit through most doorways but is big enough to hold her sturdy 22mo DS. Again she got hers off ebay but for not much less than it sells for new.

Sesame me neither but then I finished earlier than planned due to being signed off. I was a bit 'hmm' but after a few days I was well into 'whatever' stage and enjoying not going to work (and the fact that I won't till May 2012).

Have had a rough few days with a VERY sore back/pelvis despite seeing my chiropractor on Monday. Had a very easy lazy day today and seems to have eased it a bit, just praying I can sleep better tonight as I haven't managed to nap today (find it hard to sleep in the day).

Got all the baby clothes and moses basket out a few days ago and have given it a wash and sort out. Have an obscene amount of 0-3 clothes from DS1 which were barely worn so no need for any more to be bought.
Pushchair and carseat covers are next on the agenda and also think maybe I should put a birth/hospital bag together and under the stairs..

So hoping all goes to plan with the hb. Definitely know it's what I want this time even over our new, beautiful, New Forest birth centre which is my fall back option but only with a fast discharge.

Currently working out when to order the birth pool and whether to go for the aquaborn or birth pool in a box... Not much diff in size (i'm 6ft 2 so size IS important ;) ) and the aquaborn comes with more 'stuff' and currently has 40% off so is cheaper than bpiab... But bpiab is the one everyone talks about... hmm

Having lots of cervix twinges at the mo thanks to a head down baby enjoying butting my cervix and bladder. cringe
It's wierd to think that the baby could be here between 4 and 9 weeks time... Definitely getting closer now.... Anyone else getting a bit of last minute jitters about labour etc... I feel positive but it's suddenly getting close!

Anyway, need to go to bed, plan to read through and 'namecheck' more in the morning, I really do struggle to keep up with posts even tho I am a lady of leisure now!
Night all

seasame: Thats not nice at all and I hope you enjoy your time off even more now.

loopy: Glad you can cope with it as many would have cracked under the pressue by now!

I hurt after too much painting yesterday so I had a more relaxing day today and went to TK Maxx and had some bargains: Grobags for $6 each, mobile $12, cot set including bumper/blanket/cover $15, 3 hooded towels for $3! (sorry no pound sign) Even DH was pleased with my bargains!

Off to Ikea in the morning so all coming together now

Quick post to cazzr re birthing pools - not sure how much the aquaborn is but you can get 15% off the BPIB if you order it today - I've got a code for the NCT website which runs out today. Already posted it higher up but let me know if you can't see it and i'll find it and repost it. So that would bring it down to £85.

Great bargains cowboy! Unfortunately the Tk max near me doesn't do baby stuff

I'm also suffering from lack of sleep and getting very annoyed (to put it politely) about it. I can't wait to go on leave in 2 weeks time. Not sure if I'll get much of a goodbye either since I'm out on client site right til the last day - was very disappointed they actually want me to work til the end :). I think I'll just be happy to be on leave though!

loopy well done withstanding all the pressure - great to have an acknowledged plan. My great day last week (when scan showed placenta out of way and baby head down and ME said iron levels up so hb looking good) has regressed a bit - got a letter this week asking me to attend consultant appt this am, no explanation why! So called them, apparently they're worried about my high level of amnio fluid. Sonographer did mention it was a bit high but MW said nothing to worry about. Spoke to different MW to check of I really needed to go today - she was adamant yes and said high amniotic fluid can result in cord prolapse and usually means hospital birth.... will see what consultant says later this am.

Sesame that is crap of work but wait until the birth - as someone else said, they could come up trumps then... and you soon won't care at all anyway!

Sorry for limited name checking - on phone!

roller that does make a diff... decisions decisions! Is 33 weeks too early to order? I have s scan next Tuesday so was thinking after that..

cowboy I've never seen bargains like that in tk and being part Scot I am very envious of you! Now umming about a trip to IKEA now as it's only a 20 min drive for me.. not sure there's much I NEED but a browse is very tempting... and meatballs!

cazzr before I ordered mine, I checked that you can return them - you can return them to the manufacturer if unopened according to the NCT woman I spoke to, so I don't think it's too early on that basis.