Jue in June 2011....... labour here we come!!!!!

[Jer79]

New thread. Should last us a week.

Nomoreheels, how rotten for you that your seemingly decent and apologectic neighbour has turned out to be anything but. Def get the authorities involved now, as that is just beyond a joke. Also hope you didn't have to much of a wait this morning before getting checked out and that you were given the reassurence of what you already knew you needed.

BPrincess I'm not actually sure how much I've posted on this thread about DH (think I've posted more on my other ante-natal thread). I should really post on the Mental Health board, but I get scared by all the sad thread titles in there. Basically DH has OCD. We've had a really tough time with our ex-landlord over the last six months and while that's now all been resolved and we're in a new (and far better) place, a couple of weeks before the move DH's OCD went into overdrive and he became depressed as a result. He also has another condition (not MH related) and he stuffed about with his meds on occasion (not taking them, over dosing - Ah no wonder I've suddenly got a lot more grey hairs!!!). He has been getting crisis help and is getting the depression under control, but the OCD is still out of wack (OCD and house moves aren't a good mix) and he still spends a lot of the day hiding in bed. That's it pretty much.

And if anyone on MN knows me in RL they can now figure out who I am on here, but actually it's kind of a relief just to put it all down. Now I can go back to talking about how Currant Bun has it's feet firmly (and uncomfortably) wedged under my rib cage.

Oh in other (actual baby related) news, I floated the idea of a home birth, with my reasonings to DH this morning and while he was surprised, I don't think he was totally against the idea. Might take him to the MW next week and discuss it further there.

Confessions - if anyone does work out who you are, they will confuse you with me, as my DH also has crippling OCD although it's not terribly bad at the moment. It means that I can't really let him take charge of any household stuff at all, as he will get far too anxious and it will set off a whole load of other problems. I'm sure this will sound familiar to you.
His has never manifested in excessive handwashing, house-cleaning or excellent personal hygiene, much to my disappointment

hello everyone.......
Clarkiee huge congratulations on the birth of your daughters and well done them and you on the progress has been made. As you know we have just been through the same thing and its really hard, emotional and tiring......big hugs to you

Well Florence finally came home on Saturday evening. We spent 2 days in the parents suite with her and then were released at 5pm saturday. Its wonderful bringing her home but it hasnt been easy. The main problem has been maintaining her temperature and after a scare the first night when it dropped really low and took us 3 hrs of skin to skin to bring it back up we now live in a sauna and she has 8 layers of blankets on and a hat. The house is 24'C so huge gas bills as the heating is on 24/7......spoken to outreach today and apparantly we dont have to worry about the layers and just add more. They have had lots of problems with babies temperatures as the weather has been so nice and we are hot.......also you forget how hot NICU is.

She has sort of maintained her breast feeding but thankfully we get the option to NG feed her if she is too tired. We have been very good with cuddles and mainly leave her to sleep so she grows big and strong. Unlike us....sleep is a thing of the past. 3hrly feeds of some sort and we have given her a nickname as she sounds like a cross between a gerbil and a chinchilla and a guinea pig when she sleeps......she is so noisy LOL

Sasa when I met DH I thought, great a really house trained man. How wrong I was. He does little house work as it just overwhelms him when he tries too [boo]. Hence why I've done all the unpacking after the house move (and gave up half way ).

Moomin Great news about Florence being home. So happy for you, even if it does mean living in a sauna (mind you I love being hot, so sounds not to bad). Hope it all continues to go well. Keep us up to date.

Jimper - for you and your DH! How long will it take him to travel back home? How long is he expected to stay out there?

Joannezipan - good list. I can't underestimate the importance of food & drinks for your partner, you could be there ages and you do not want him wandering off looking for food and the staff won't feed him!
I recommend getting some arnica pillules to take after the birth as well to help with the healing, and a pack of moist toilet tissue as well, much more gentle on your sore bits! Baby wipes are not recommended for new borns, but I found cotton wool useless for cleaning up baby's bottom when he is passing meconium, what I would do is cut up some soft towels or flannels and use them instead. I found the cotton wool just stuck to baby's bottom!

79Monical for your friend, she must be over the moon!! How wonderful for her!

Confessions - good news about your DH, that must be a big weight off of both of you knowing he is feeling more positive! I am also dillydallying over packing of a hospital bag, what I will do is have everything to hand and a bag read with a few bits in but just chuck in what I need if I do need to go into the hospital. I think with DS my hospital bag was packed about 3 months before the due date! Yey for considering a HB! I do know a few people who have had them (including my SIL) they have been very encouraging. DH's DB was gushing about SIL's home birth

Almighty - sorry about the rhinitis, I have it as well though it is less about sneezing and more about nose constantly running, especially in the winter! I really ought to by shares in Kleenex I will be posting a picture of the new arrival on my profile!

Newneeps - yes flipflops, good idea. Hospital floors can be cold and are often manky

Curiouselle - sorry you are feeling so down I totally agree about not being able to have it all, I did go back FT after DS was born but it was awful as job was so stressful plus big commute. I ended up resigning in then end as I was an emotional wreck! Not always the same for everyone some people cn make it work but the environment I was in was so toxic (both literally and figuratively that I HAD to quit!). I can understand your DH wanting to know what's going on but you need to sit down with him and explain plainly why you can't as you don't need the additional pressure!

BPrincess - yes I am also having similar problems with aching hips! Have taking to napping in the afternoons when I can to combat the lack of sleep!

Sassa - I dreamt that someone else was about to give birth (not sure who) and told them about Clarkiee's twins. This was after she announced their arrival

NMH - at your rude neighbours! I think you have given them fair warning so deffo think you need to talk to the council! Sorry your MW panicked you as well, I've also been told fundal measurements are not hugely accurate!

TTL - we opted for a sunny yellow when we decorated DS's room, it is nice always looks very cheerful and is gender neutral too.

Nurse - hopefully you got my reply to your PM? I wasn't sure if had sent or not!

Barbie - am keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you to do well in your exams, just think this time next week it will all be over and you can relax!

Moomin - yey for bringing Florence home! I am sure she will continue to grow big and strong - try to sleep when she does!

Have had a good weekend, weather has been lovely and now I need to write a "To Do" list to keep me busy over the next few weeks!

Yes I got it, thanks kara, I thought I'd replied but maybe not

Moomin wonderful news about Florence. Glad you're managing to keep her comfortable and warm, even if you are going to singlehandedly keep British Gas afloat!

Hi all - sorry to hear that so many of you have been having stressful times over the last few days with husbands, neighbours, work etc. I'm so sorry to hear about your DHs redundancy Jasmine, such a worry when you're going through such a huge change, I hope his mood has improved a bit over the last few days.

I haven't packed my hospital bag yet, but I am only 33 weeks and rather laissez faire, as ds was 2 weeks late. I am starting to panic about how disorganised we are though. The spare room is still only about 25% done, and dp was going to tackle it today and yesterday, but has been laid up in a darkened room since Sunday with a scratched cornea (ow), after a drunken embrace with the groom at the wedding we went to on Saturday ended up with the groom poking him in the eye [drunken plonker emoticon]. He has drops etc and has been told by the doc at a and e to rest up, but still can't help but be pissed off that he seems to have contracted some sort of weird man-eye-flu at exactly the most awkward time he could (hmmm, my raging hormones).

I have been having a terrible time as well with ds; he is really pushing me to the limit at the moment with tantrums and seems to be really jealous of the baby already. I have probably commented before about how he seems to have got quite clingy and regressed a little bit throughout this pregnancy, saying he is a baby again and wanting me to spoon feed him and stuff like that, but he has now started hitting me loads, especially before I take him to the childminders or leave him with his Dad to go to the shops / a friend's / yoga. He was kicking me loads yesterday, and whenever I told him off he said "It wasn't me, it was my baby sister kicking" . This morning he came up and hit me in the stomach as hard as he could, and when I told him off for hitting Mummy, he said "No hitting Mummy, hitting baby" . I was so upset and angry I had to lock myself in the toilet and have a good cry.

I try to give him lots of love and special times with Mummy at the moment, but sometimes he makes it so difficult, and my SPD limits me as to how much I can do with him. I feel really sorry for him and aware of the big change that is coming up in his life but so frustrated as well. Hormones, pain, lack of sleep, pita dp and stacks to do don't help... get this baby out!!!!!!!

On a more positive note, I finish work on Friday! Yay! Good luck with your last week at work Barbie, and your exams

PS forgot to say Congrats to Moomin

Nurse I got your reply!

8rd - sorry to hear of problems with your DS, having similar issues with mine too being a bit clinic though he has not said anything negative about the baby I think he is worried about it! Not sure what advice to offer really

Thanks Kara, it has just shocked me because he is such a sweet-natured boy when it comes to everything else

Jasmine sorry to hear your news.

8rd DS also hit my bump recently and is regressing slightly on the potty training. We went to see some friends and their 2 week old yesterday and he was in complete rapture over the baby so I think his frustration is purely aimed at me . It's horrible though and not easy to deal with when you are feeling rubbish.

nomore what a nightmare. I hope the council are able to intervene.

Curioselle I know what you mean about work. My cover starts today and I think I'd quite like to not go back this time but am struggling broaching the subject properly with DH as the main reason for us being here is to save money so when we come back to the UK life would be a bit easier for us. That obviously wouldn't happen if I give up work. I do on the other hand appreciate we're in a pretty fortunate position.

Moomin fantastic news. I wish I could send you a few degrees. Our rooms rarely get cooler than 24 degrees and that's with air-con on .

Barbie good luck in your exams.

My ankles are seriously swollen. They haven't gone down overnight so am seeing the doctor this afternoon as am a bit worried about it. I know it's hot here but I am not sure this is right.

Just back from a week away, our last as a couple (eek!). The Italians seemed obsessed with knowing if the baby will be a "man or a woman"!! I'm hoping the baby won't be a fully grown adult

Despite my worries the airline couldn't care less about the pregnancy and barely read my doctor's letter, so no probs getting the flight home. Feeling much more relaxed now as had convinced myself that the bebe would arrive while we were abroad!
33 weeks today and also thinking about packing a hospital bag, just to be on the safe side..

sorry to hear that so many people have been feeling rubbish or struggling with home things - hope things become easier in the next few weeks. And huge congrats to moomin and clarkiee!! well done! felt quite tearful when reading your posts..

Carpet being fitted in baby's room today and then off to a dress fitting as I'll be a bridesmaid on Saturday... here's hoping the bump hasn't grown too much in the last week!!

Morning! The sun is shining and I only have to get up 15 more times for work :o Hooray! I can't wait. Today i'm going to try and avoid my boss all day so he can't stop me making my perfectly reasonable trip to B'ham tomorrow...failing that I'm going to call him a fusspot and tell him I drove myself that far to the the beach in the week. Stupid man! I have a MW appointment this afternoon...I need to ask her about birth plan stuff. And the chance of actually getting to use the birth pool at the birthing unit. Then I have my NCT class tonight...phew! Busy day. Hope you all have a good one. For those of you already on maternity leave, what are you going to do today?

Aagh, getting out of touch again, but before anything I must reply to Confessions and apologise if I 'outed' you or anything, but I really do sympathise. Mental illlness is a terribly destructive thing, for the person suffering and their partner. My DP has suffered depression for about 4 yrs now, and although it's now pretty much under control with meds etc, he does have flare-ups, where he too takes to his bed and all he can do is criticise himself and be full of self-doubt. So this pregnancy has taken some getting used to for both of us. I really hope he's on an upward turn now though and that things start getting better for you.

Moomin so glad to hear your news!

Kara I heard a good tip re meconium stickiness, which is to put Vaseline on the baby's bum as soon as poss, so the meconium doesn't stick, then keep reapplying

Rubberduckies that must be tough - sympathies to you, too. Hope you find a way round it.

Hope everyone has a good Tuesday. For me it's my first real day of mat leave and I'm going to try and bust that hospital bag!

Morning ladies, hope all is well?

House seems sooo quiet this morning, I am tempted to go back to bed for an hour but it is bin day so I know as soon as I lay down all 4 bin wagons will arrive!

nomore your neighbours sound vile. Maybe you will get more support from other neighbours once council are involved, there maybe others equally upset by this. Hope it is sorted soon.

confessions & sasa sorry that your DHs have been suffering with OCD it must be particularly difficult at a time like now as pg is a huge change in the household & also the time when us women want looking after more too. Hope mr confessions is back at work soon.

moomin great to hear Florence is home :)

Joanne I agree with kara re trying to clean meconium with cotton wool, have read that some people will only use water & cotton wool. Don't know how long that takes them & how sore baby's mum might get but IME it's like trying to clean sticky treacle or leg wax off; a bit of lotion & even a drop of oil can help or use baby wipes. Baby wipes always useful to have on hand anyway so worth putting in the bag :)

Also pack dark coloured jamas if possible to avoid having to do a walk of shame in the middle of visiting hours if your pad leaks or if boobs are leaky, sorry if TMI!

Good luck in exams barbie!

8rd hopefully your LO is getting a lot of it out of his system now before baby arrives, it is awful though for you now :(

Hope your swelling has gone down merlion, so far I have avoided the cankles but there is still time for me yet!

Am shocked at your MW almighty... manners are free, what's wrong with the woman?!

monica I don't think I've been snoring but occaisionaly I have snorted really loud & woke myself up? Or is that snoring?

neenewps I am packing 3 vests, 2 sleepsuits & a going home outfit. Sorry if someone already answered BP but vests are the ones with short or no sleeves & no legs; basically they just keep the body warm . Sleepsuits are the ones that cover whole body :)

Had lovely reassurance scan on sat, only cost £50 too & was worth it as baby's head is downwards although she is still diagonal hence why all movements are low down. Have to say though she looks same as DC3 did when born.... Exactly like DPs dad ie a little old man!! Sonographer also said she can't see much hair either. Am on the hunt for girly hats now as I am convinced that she looks more boyish than my 3 sons did as babies. Maybe baby just didn't like the scan as she had a well peed off expression on Her face LOL.

Thanks BPrincess it actually helps knowing I'm not the only one living with someone with MH issues. I have family members with problems too, but I was so young when it was happening that it's still kinda new to me. That and pg hormones putting me out of wack too

Anyway already having a bad day, so hugs going free here for all how need them.

X posts cmh I was in italy when pg with ds2 & I remember everyone wanted to know what I was having, they seem to adore kids there it's so lovely.

Forgot to say as well that the new birth unit I was supposed to be going to will not be open. It has been built for months but government cutbacks mean there is no funding for staff apparently. Seeing as the trust closed down another mat unit recently I am a bit sceptical about that excuse but am now on the lookout for another birth unit within reasonable distance as there is no need for me to be in hospital but homebirth not an option as I might be alone for the labour if DP can't get back in time. Does anyone know of any birthing units around greater Manchester?

DH has just come in from an early trip out with a present for me....a new toilet seat! Ok so he expects me to fit it and only bought it because my 'pg lady wee has stained the old one' (sorry tmi) but he's actually done something without being asked. Not sure whether to be pleased or insulted..at the moment I'm just impressed he got out of his dressing gown before midday!

Well, it seems pregnancy insomnia has well and truly set in. I was wide awake until 3.30am last night. I also wrote a long post on here only for the MN server to start re-booting and lose it ... I watched Basic Instinct (!), some programme about prostitution with Gail Porter, and something else anout 8 year old girls going into boarding schools. I also tried to do some work, but the uni webmail was down so I couldn't log in to email or to any of my resources. Luckily I didn't wake DH, but I hope this doesn't go on for the next 8 weeks - I'm only 32+2!

confessions and sasa I'm sorry to hear about the OCD. I don't have much experience with it myself but one thing I do know is how little understood it is, which must bring a lot of frustration. It sounds like you are both loving and supportive partners, and I hope when your babies come your DHs are able to settle easily and quickly into all the new patterns ...

8rd sorry about your DS too. Not much advice on that front either. When my brother was born I had just turned 3 and apparently I was all excitement - I had my own doll which I breastfed, and I vividly remember getting my brother out of his cot and trying to carry him down the stairs like a real mum ! So perhaps an excited toddler is just as dangerous as a jealous one! DH, on the other hand, was most put out when he was 2.7 and his twin sisters came along. He rolled them under his mum and dads' bed and told them the girls had vanished . My step-sister was much as you describe your son when her brother was born - very very upset and angry. I don't know why I'm telling you all this except to reiterate, as you have said, what a massive upheaval it probably all is for him, and to say it sounds like you're doing everything in your power to make it easier on him. Is your DH supportive about the situation? Not being a parent yet myself I don't know, but is a bit of tough love in order?

moomin what amazing amazing news that Florence is home :) It sounds like this is the start of another long haul for all three of you but you have come so far and it is amazing to hear that you have reached another massive milestone. Soon she'll be drawing all over your walls, bouncing on her bed, and getting up to more mischief than you can manage, I'm sure :)

jasmine. Men are just so romantic sometimes, aren't they?!

Morning all,

Hope everyone had a nice bank holiday weekend.

Someone mentioned measuring small for dates - was it Takethatlady? I have the same thing yesterday - midwife says I am measuring 31 weeks but am actually 34 weeks. Am not too worried at this stage but will need a scan if I don't grow more by my 36 week appointment apparently.

Moomin congratulations on bringing Florence home - how exciting!

Thanks for the hospital bag ideas - I am hoping for a omebirth but I guess should pack some kind of basic hospital bag i case - is that what other hb ladies are doing?

I had a lovel weekend, despite lots of stress fro my Ex (DD's father) who can be sauch an unpleasant little shit sometimes. I'll spare you the details - I am actuall getting bored of hearing myself moan about it!

Hello everyone, have been trying to keep up but haven't posted in a long while-work had been very busy with a number of all nighters, but have now started maternity leave. Big congratulations to Clarkiee, and Moomin I'm so glad Florence is home and doing well.

I have missed too much to post individually. Supersunny-I was told at my last appointment that I was behind on growth for my dates-I'm 34 weeks now and got next appointment tomorrow-if he's still behind I'll be going for scan too. I'm not overly worried because myself and siblings were all small so probably destined to have smaller baby, but hope that scan will be reassuring more than anything.
Hope everyone that has been feeling poorly starts to feel better soon, and thinking of those who have had recent bad news.