First-timers due December - new thread!

[mopsytop]

Had to start a new thread, as our old one got too big to post anymore.
yay figgy - your scan sounds great! A wee boy - now you only have to think about boy names. Woohoo.

We've cleared a space behind the small sofa, just as you come in, for this very purpose. It's in a bay window so there's a gap behind it... I've been going round the house analysing where the spaces are, so where we can move things to create space in the nursery, or put baby things like the (sounding fantastic cos it's purple) jogger, or travel system.

I am a list queen, so have been doing all of this methodically: have a special book and pen (I know, I know...) for making lists for each room, stuff needed for the nursery, for hospital, for the baby, etc. I LOVE IT- project baby! Sooo looking forward to actually getting some stuff for the baby/nursery over the next couple of weekends!

On the actual birth front, my list is

• Elective c-section if I can get it (only one woman in my family has managed a problem free vaginal birth: as for the rest, three instrumentals, two emergency c-sections, which also compromised one woman permanently damaged and two babies nearly lost...not for me...). However, round here they are massively pro-home birth whether you as an individual want it or not. Have been refused so far, but am continuing.
• If I can't, epidural all the way, but I'd want a mobile one, as the position they get you in for birthing otherwise (and for the scans actually) sets off the sciatica/pevlic girdle pain appallingly, and I can't move afterwards.

However, the horror thread has terrified me about the post natal ward, and I'll be insisting that my partner's with me at all times, barring when they're chucked out for the night. I absolutely support women's right to give birth anyhow, anywhere, but that thread showed me one of the reasons why so many women want homebirths.

Finding out at 9am tomorrow morning- just hope everything's OK...

Jogger has gone in the porch love it even more now as the handles actually fit onto our coat hooks out there so it hanging on the wall out of the way.

I still havent read the horror thread but there was a horrible story in daily mail today abut midwife services and tragedies ensuing from being short staffed and negligent, avoiding all such stories from now on.

In Bath they allow partners to stay overnight now so that will be good as if i have to do an over night stay dont want to be left alone either.

have just put more pics on of the nursery and DH's monkey collection for those with a similar theme. Still want to see the shoelace vines!!

Oooh, I'd love to see this (and the jungle nursery) and people keep on mentioning they've put photos on...but where are they? Not found that bit of the site yet. Can you direct me?

You're lucky with Bath, as apparently most places don't allow overnight stays at all... but definitely stay away from the thread. I'm trying to avoid all of those types of stories, but it's a bit like when you pass a crash, you can't help but look, and it's soooo not good.

Hi all,

Noticed a few of you are also suffering from back pain. I saw the MW on Tuesday, she suggested a bump band from Mothercare. I have only worn it for one day so far, but it does seem to be making things far less painful.

I have been told that I am going to have to have an early epidural as well, I hurt my coccyx nearly 3 years ago now and the MW suggested I might not have a second if I didn't have the epidural.

Anyone else suffering from carpel tunnel syndrome? I am getting lots of pins and needles in my hands especially at night. Really must get all this knitting done before it gets too bad!!

I've done some more baby item purchasing this week, now have a bouncer (chair thing) and playmat to add to the buggy.

9 weeks until I start my maternity leave. Time is passing very quickly!!

NorthernChinchilla surely given your family history you should be able to at least meet with a consultant to discuss the options.

im having really bad pains in my wrist i think i might be sleeping on it but in the mornings i get shooting pains v weird!!

Northern if you click on posters names if they have an open profile you can see their info and their pics.

I've suddenly started showing and now cannot sleep on my stomach anymore! Finding it so hard to sleep, getting really tired now. I was really looking forward to showing, but it is a physical adjustment. Is it too soon to start waddling?

haha notlettingthefearshow i have been waddling for ages!! it doesnt hurt as much when i walk lol

*figgy the vines arent that good to be honest... the idea was alot better, then reality came ad i couldnt be bothered going to B&Q to get ceiling hooks to hang them from... so instead i just pinned them at the top of the wall going around the room lol) I will put a few pics on when i remember!

londonGirly how long before due date are you starting maternity? I still havent got my matb1 form... ooops, well i have it, but i need an app for the doc to stamp it... my mw app isnt until im 25 weeks, not sure f this is too late??

NorthernChinchilla i hope you can get one :( it seems awful they aren't considering you for one!

NorthernChinchilla good luck today :)
If you click on our names, you can see photos, and there is a bit where you click and it loads the other pics too

I have put some on of our nursery.. but we still have stuff to put up, so it's a work in progress lol

Well, back from the scan and just like (nearly) everyone else I've got a little boy on the way. 1lb 3 oz already apparently! All's in fine working order, and I feel really delighted that I can start thinking about 'my/our son'. It feels a little weird because on my mum's side it's four generations of all girls (bar one of my Mum's cousin's) and even on Dad's side it's more weighted towards girls.

Photos not great...wanted pics of all of the baby, but have 3x head, 1x leg, 1x 'kiss' and 1x willy... I kid you not. That is SO going to be saved for his 18th birthday party!

Will go and have a ferret now on people's pages, get some ideas for our nursery!

Thanks for all the best wishes re. c-section; I've had one consultant appointment where they've said 'no' (in true 'computer says no' fashion) and have another next month. Will keep on trying, and apparently another local hospital has a consultant who's more pro-women-choosing so may end up changing over.

Am going to enjoy the rest of my day off in the garden, posting on MN, catching up on sleep, and going for yet another blood test!

Oh my God just looked at the photos and you lot are so well-prepared! And have tasteful decorating themes/homes!
AAARGH!

Kri5ty the nursery looks great! At the moment I have got as far as deciding on a colour, we are going to paint it and the spare room at the end of August. DH has a week off work, so we can finally finish the last of the decorating!!

On the maternity leave side, I teach, so my last day of teaching will be just past 34 weeks, then it is half term, and I will officially start my maternity leave at 35+4. We've got a wedding the weekend after I finish at school - I am going to be huge!!

I went in yesterday to see my students who were getting their a-level results and spoke to HR. I am giving them my MATB1 form when we go back. I'll be just before 28 weeks then. I got mine at the 25 week MW appointment. DH gave in a copy at work, so we are all sorted from his side at least.

Northernchincilla congrats!! Seems like there are a lot of us having boys in December! Could they give you any idea based off his current weight, what size he is going to be at term?
I've been told I am going to have a tall baby, both DH and I are on the tall side. Already measuring a week and a half ahead....ouch!

yayyy congrats northern another boy :) there must be something in the air!!

Thanks girls, still needs loads of work doing, but i feel better that i have made a start! And it was very cheap too... god bless ebay!!

congrats northern! Don't worry I am totally unprepared! Baby will be sleeping in my study anyway so bar shoving a cot in, I won't be making many changes!

i have no idea how tall/ big mine is... but my OH is 6 foot, but im only 5"4 ... im hoping it will be small to start off with, then have a growth spurt and be tall like daddy!!

My baby is over the average for weight and height but under for thigh bone length - I am guessing it inherited my short legs!

(although not over or under either by much)

Many thanks all! Baby at the moment is, on average, around the 75th percentile for everything. I was a big baby (nearly 2ft long and 8 and a half lb) but am on the small to average side now; partner a broad six footer although scratty baby according to his mum, around a 5lb-er.

tryingnottoletthefearshow I've been waddling for some time. Like with the elasitcated waistbands, I'd just join me and kir5ty and embrace the waddle- it feels so right....

I'm in the same boat as you londongirly in having a wedding late on- last week in October, so will resemble a small planet. But with the maternity leave, I'm planning- God knows if it'll work- to stay til 37ish weeks, end of November. This may well be sheer lunacy, but I'm going to give it a go.

Am going back upstairs to think nursery designs...

I am supposed to be going to a wedding when I am 37 weeks pregnant ... not sure I will be even in the mood! But will wait and see how I feel. Not looking forward to dress shopping for it though, I have to say.

mopsy, you, me and londongirly will have to form a very specific support thread for women trying to find decent wedding clothes when very pregnant.
I don't like having to buy the damn things at the best of times but this is going to be horrendous.

Plus the minor fact that we won't be able to drink and will have to watch everyone else get cheerfully tiddled whilst feeling large, hot and SOBER- gah!

AND we won't get to wear it again probably. Yeah, can't say I am overly thrilled at the prospect of the wedding ... !

I'm planning to buy a massive hat to kind of balance out the bump, so I'll look like Saturn with one of its rings gone walkabout...

Just waiting for DP to land then can show him others' work on nurseries, and drag him upstairs to plan ours.

Back on the Mat B1s, did/will everyone get them at their 25 wk MW meeting? I asked the doc's receptionist just now, and she was less than helpful, so consulted my notes and it says there I should get mine then.

northern I picked mine up from the gps reception... which was a load of rubbish as it needs to be stamped by doc or mw anyway, and can't get app with doc just to sign the form so will have to wait for mw app!

I'm also working until 37 weeks!

MAT b1 - my GP gave it to me but only because I asked. Round here the GP likes to see you at around 20 weeks. I decided not to wait 'till I see the MW at 25 weeks.

I'm working until 38 weeks but as my Annual Leave is in hours I'm planning to use it to shorten my working day for perhaps 4 weeks beforehand. I've not discussed this plan with my boss yet but we've lots of stuff going in over Christmas (I work in railway signalling design) and I guess he'd rather I did it that way.

I've had tonnes of baby stuff donated, although I need to get round to cleaning and sorting it. Pram, Moses Basket, 2 push chairs, 2 car seats (newborn), 1 car seat (older), baby bouncer, cot, baby bath, high chair, stair gate. Also some washable nappies from freecycle which are shaped and I don't understand (neither does my mum) - I was expecting terry squares.

hi YBR, well done on all the freebies! It's great isn't it? Washable nappies have come on a lot since terry squares, not only can you get shaped ones but you can get ones that are basically more or less the same as disposables with velcros flaps and everything! No nappy pins required anymore. I am planning to try using them but am going to get one of several types and see which suits my baby (not all suit all babies). I have heard very good things of Bumgenius though ...

YBR sounds like you have done very well with the freebies! We're getting a fair chunk of stuff (I have siblings still at primary schools and my DP has nephews and nieces of the same age) so really all we're buying is the wheeled contraption of some description.

I've heard that the washable nappies have come on massively since I was wearing them, and like mopsy says they're far easier to use, are all shaped, with liners, etc. Having said that, I'm willing to give them a go but use disposables if they don't suit, but my DP isn't...possibly because his elder sister is sooo militant about the whole bloody thing, and partly because he's so 'urgh' about the whole changing things as a whole he's told me, in all seriousness, he's planning to wear latex gloves.

Please feel free to widdle yourselves laughing at that one, I did!