October 2011 Baby Bus... PART 4

[happymummytobe]

A new thread for the bus!

Morning all!

This thread really does whizz along!

Congrats to everyone who is now on maternity leave. Hang in there for those still at work.

Can sympathise with the random aches and pains everyone is experiencing (and glad I'm not the only one, feeling a little less panicky now). I keep getting a random pain at the top of my bump - was really worried it was my liver but a blood test came back normal so guess it's just one of those things. It's spread round the side to my back now which makes EVERYTHING really uncomfortable, but hopefully not long to go!
Hope you all manage to get some sleep and that the aches and pains start to subside soon.

Isn't speaking to the midwife sometimes really frustrating?! I'm lucky in that both my midwife and Dr are really lovely and seem really competent but sometimes they contradict each other which is really confusing! The Dr reckons the baby will be a few weeks early as his head is already so far down (and boy, can I feel it!) but the midwife thinks that's nonsense! I'm just taking it a day at a time and making the most of being able to relax while I still can :)

I'm also totally confused about baby clothes and sizes, but seem to have a mixture of everything so figure we will muddle along somehow. I don't live in the UK either (I think someone asked about non-UK people above) and the shop opening times here are different - everything is closed on Sundays, no 24 hour supermarkets but I think we will be ok!

Morning all!

Loved catching up on all the posts this morning ;-)

sound I'm so excited for you - wonder if you'll be the first?!

I've just put my first ever load of baby clothes and sheets into the washing machine. Looking forward to seeing them all drying and putting them away.

We put the cot up yesterday. DH and I were having a (very gentle) bicker and my DsD (who's 4) said "Why are you two married?" Was so funny - she couldn't understand why we laughed for so long!

I had my 34 week midwife appointment earlier in the week and burst into tears as soon as I sat down. Nothing is wrong really - I just get so overwhelmed when I'm at the (enormous) hospital. I never know who I will see, haven't yet been able to see the labour ward or birth centre (because of security but should be able to see them on Saturday when I do an antenatal day there) and it just all suddenly felt really scary.

The midwife I saw was lovely and so kind to me and I feel much less emotional about it all now. But it does make me want to stay at home for as much of my labour as possible!

Loved reading all the baby clothes posts I have just got plain white short sleeved vests, plain white babygros (with feet!) and have tasked my Mum with knitting a few cardigans. I do have one or two other non-white babygros too but I think that we'll be given some clothes too and I just want to wait until I know how big he is! Most things are in nb size but I got a couple of tiny baby vests just in case.

Feeling completely overwhelmed and terrified but so excited and positive too. Really looking forward to the babies on this thread starting to arrive.

Hope you're all feeling ok. For everyone not sleeping well - I feel your pain!

hey everyone haven't posted in sooooo long!!!! it's so reassuring to hear such similar stories from everyone! i'm 36+3 and having the full, can't sleep as my hips are aching, waking up with heartburn, waking up with full bladder, type experiences like most of you seem to be having! Thankfully i finish up at work next week and I'm not ashamed to say, i'm absolutely knackered!!!

This is my 3rd DC and i am hoping that beans makes an early appearance as i'm not sure how much longer i can remain sane without a decent night's sleep, but who knows.... oh i've also just discovered the other day that i have piles, it just gets better and better!!!!

Oh, and we live very close to a big wood and my DH has got the baby a brown snuggly coat with bear ears Very sweet. I also want to buy an all in one outer layer for taking him outside in the winter - where is the best place to find one? I don't even really know what they're called - not a snowsuit I'm guessing cos they're water-proof aren't they? Hmm...

Apologies for small random posts I'm posting from iPhone so can't scroll! pebble I have great mw (who is sadly leaving this week but going to hospital where i will give birth so not all bad!) but it does annoy me when they can't seem to e consistent. One person says yes to steroids, other no, one says cs at 36 the other 38! Just wish they would agree!

happy lol at your DD - bless her xx

Sorry later not pebble!

happy I second staying at home for as long as possible I was admitted early on in my labour because waters had broken and was horrible being stuck in hospital for early labour. So my advice to everyone having vb stay at home, bath, drink tea and nap until you feel you have to go in!

Hey sunface glad work is almost done for you!

Leo you have a lovely little bump and my what a difference from 20 weeks! I've put up a couple on my profile and been really brave and shown skin! Hope i make you all feel better about your sizes with my ginormous, translucent lump!!!

Penelope, where are you? We're planning on moving at the beginning of March (all being well with the visa), so hopefully the wee yin won't be too wriggly on the flight! I am excited about it, but keep veering between that and feeling 'oh my god, I'm emigrating to a new country with a new baby and no apartment sorted until we get there - I must be insane!' I worry we might be short-changing her by spending so much money on the visa application, flights, brokers' fees, etc etc - but then, it has to be done...

sound, not that I'm trying to rush you into labour or anything , but excited for you - do you feel like you'll be the first baby on board?

Aw, where is Leo's bump? I can't see it.

Penultimate day at work today. Yay! Can't wait to be at home even though next week is PACKED with stuff to do.

Has everyone done their birth plan yet, if you are having one? I'm hoping to finish tonight, filling in the NHS online one.

I'm back at work after a week's leave and I conclude it is easier sitting at my desk than staggering around after toddler DD! Perhaps I should put my maternity leave forward from 37 to 38 weeks?

On another thread people reassured me it was easier having toddler and newborn than toddler and being in late pregnancy. I hope to goodness that is true! I can't help thinking it is going to be exhausting having DD and newborn DS! Though at least my body won't be trying to grow a baby while I am looking after them both, I suppose ... Any words of encouragement/reassurance from ladies on here expecting no.3 plus?!

I'm getting on for 35 weeks, haven't washed anything, haven't packed anything. Though I have got all DD's newborn/0-3 stuff out and got it READY to wash, so that is progress of a kind!

Happymummytobe

Re snowsuit type things, I'm planning on getting one of these for baby, in 0-3.

Or rather, his grandmother is buying it for him !

mpops I only finished my birth plan a couple of days ago- there was one to fill in in my hospital notes, and I've written sone extra bits out too.

I'm hoping I am the first baby- still having tightenings and they're getting a bit more painful, although still 7 minutes apart. I'm going to ring the midwife in a bit to see what she thinks, but from googling it looks like pre-labour.

I've added some bump pictures to my profile- any excuse to show it off while it's still here, the thought of having the baby soon is making me want to enjoy mybump while I can.

wow, it really has taken me all morning to catch up on the thread!

thank you to all the experienced mums for the clothing advice, i really felt like i had no idea and my DH thought i was crazy for packing so much in the hospital bag, but now that i know that everyone seems to do it a bit differently i don't feel so bad.

had a strange day yesterday, a lot of tightening, bump was rock hard and had some back pain. freaked out a little bit, until some crazy googling about braxton hicks convinced me that we're ok. still too early for real contractions!

35 weeks today!

ooh lovely lots of posts and news! Feels like we're all on a rapid move towards the babies - how exciting! Am going to pack hospital bag this weekend: got everything except a nightshirt to wear and I also want a bikini top in case we get our waterbirth (I know it seems wierd since the rest of me will be hanging out, but there you go, trying to maintain some degree of dignity!)
Have decided after this week to work one day a week from home at least for final two weeks, so only 9 days (max) left in office: hurrah!
xx

another forum I go on has today had it's 3rd October birth! 4 weeks prem, yikes, we are SO CLOSE!!!

soundofherwings, HOW EXCITING! How many weeks are you? Sorry if you've already said, I'm totally overwhelmed by the size of this thread. Good luck to you! Your bump is beautiful!

And Bumpsadaisie, those snowsuits are so pretty. Aaaah! I really shouldn't buy more clothes, I really shouldn't buy more clothes...

It is a lovely bump sound I for one won't be sad to lose mine when the babies are here...

bumpsadaisie Thank you for that link - I have seen these and they're great! I love the rainbow stripe

My first lot of baby washing is drying and making me smile. Off to start packing my hospital bag now while I've got an hour or so free. Lovely.

Nice snowsuits Bumps I really like it. I've got a white one from M&S kind of velour type of fabric to take the baby out of the hospital in it instead of cardigan/blankets and i think I paid about £18.00 - it is a newborn size tho (like everything else I have!!).

I had mw appointment today and am worried now. I haven't seen my mw since week 24 as she has been on holiday and now she has broken her wrist. I got measured twice before by the different mw (the same one both time but not my 'main' mw). Today I saw a different mw and my growth on my chart is gone down considerably so she called the hospital to book me a growth scan - she sounded quite 'urgent' on the phone and said that the scan needs to happen in the next 7 days! They ill phone me on Tuesday to let me know what time to go in for. I am so worried now, my bump doesn't feel smaller than 2 weeks ago, I think at 34 weeks I was measuring 36cm and now it's 34cm, but on the chart it looks like a really big drop. Does anyone have any reassuring advice/similar experience. I don't know how to relax now until Tuesday as am really worried. On a positive note baby's heartbeat was good, my bp was good, baby is head down although not engaged... How long before they start getting engaged so I need to worry about that too?

Sorry I'm being so overly dramatic, but am now worrying about the growth scan :(

Bubalie, I'm sorry you're so worried. I hear measuring can be really inaccurate and that different people can measure differently. So try not to panic and be reassured by the fact you'll be checked at the hospital soon. It's all going to be OK. I'm 36 weeks too and my baby is not engaged. She's starting to get in there, I'm told, but could come out any time. I think we're still OK engagement-wise though.

Good luck with everything and let us know how it goes.

Bubalie

I think its just a precaution - we were worried that my bump was measuring too big and my brother in law (doctor who's done some time in obstetrics) said that the bump measuring is a very imprecise science - its really just a screen to see whether they want to have a proper look on the scan and find out what baby really measures! Bump size changes a lot depending on baby position etc. They cant afford to scan everyone in late pregnancy so the bump size is a sort of screening. Its very common for people to have growth scans of this sort, I know loads of people who have and there was nothing wrong.

Chances are your baby will measure totally normally. If s/he is a bit on the small side, I guess they will book you in for regular scans to check that the placenta is continuing working properly. If there are any signs that it is starting to fail, then they will look at getting baby out sooner rather than later. And you're around 36 weeks aren't you, so almost full term!

All placentas start to fail as you get towards term but lower growth/lower fluid can mean that the rate of failure is increasing so its something to keep an eye on.

Chances are baby is growing normally and placenta is normal - bump measurements are so random. And if growth IS slowing, then great that it has been picked up and they can keep an eye on it.

Just keep in mind the 10 kicks a day thing, and if you feel any change in movements (esp dramatic decrease) then phone up and get checked out.

Also Bubalie re head engaging, don't worry about that. It'll happen when it happens. Some babies don't head down there till in the middle of labour! If you start feeling like you are trying to walk round with a watermelon between your legs and that it is about to fall out, then baby has headed south!!

Thank you mpops and Bumps I think I just needed a little bit of reassurance. I am a big worrier, so this will just play on my mind until Tuesday. Baby is kicking, although mostly stretching and having bh where my tummy goes very solid for a bit and then relaxes. I had a private scan done at 28 weeks as I had a problem with the fibroid earlier on, and everything looked fine, but it has been 8 weeks since then, so things can change. I am 35+5 today, so will be 36 weeks next week for the scan...