September 2011 - a month or so to go, come here to share the joys and woes of the final stretch.

[100years]

Now I know the threads we were in weren't finished, but there were 3 threads for the September due dates, and I thought it would be nice to get everyone together and share their experiences.

Stats thread is here If you aren't on there, then get adding yourself.

Hopefully we can all get through the last stint together :)

I'm due 1st Sept, so one month to go, if the LO is punctual.

Congratulations ssmile!

I seem to be in the minority as I don't really want DC3 to arrive before EDD 6 September, which probably means he/she will!

DS1 was 37+1 and that was not a good experience. He got jaundice and we were in hospital for 10 days. DS2 was 40+3 and all was much smoother. Possibly coincidence but jaundice is more common in early babies. Was v happy DS2 was well and truly cooked! Definitely not planning to try to get things started before 40 this time. Also EDD is day DS1 starts reception!!! Anyway, for what it is worth sex and reflexology were common factors just before going into labour both times for me.

Also we never made up that 3 weeks from DS1 that I was expecting to have to do stuff and to relax. I am sooo jealous of all the first time mums on here. I could just do with a day of sofa surfing and old films. DS1 and DS2 don't allow for that at all...Ah well. I am trying to get plenty of quality time with them both before DC3 arrives and thankfully am still mobile and not too many BH yet

Lovely to hear everyone's experiences. I don't have much time usually to do more than lurk but it is quality lurking!

Would agree with louplet that early babies are hard going; DS had jaundice too which made getting BFing established a bit more stressful as the stakes are then very high. And it also meant that we had to stay in hospital overnight which was rubbish and has put me off post-natal wards for life!

Despite not being a first-time mum I'm still managing to get plenty of sofa time thanks to DH being on holiday so I am doing lots and lots of sleeping atm!

Def understand about having to build up momentum when getting up; DS thinks it's very amusing!

Can I join in? I have never posted on any of these before, but I am due 19th Sept with my first baby. Mind you I am having terrible back pains, plus horrid period-type cramps so its looking likely that I won't get that far!

Very uncomfortable atm.

Congrats ssmile! I'm glad everyone seems to be the same with the eating, I've eaten so much today!! I'm struggling with sleeping though, had a few BH last night which kept waking me, as well as the obligatory 15 trips to the loo! I'm hoping I can get a bit more shut eye tonight. My hospital BF workshop was cancelled on Friday so the BF counsellor is doing one to one sessions tomorrow, mine is 10am and I'm quite looking forward to being able to fire her with my many questions without anyone else there!

Hi Cakeismysaviour, sorry you're having a grim time of it atm; you're in the right place to come and share your woes about your aches and pains though!

Huge congratulations on the birth of your baby girl ssmile. Lovely news :)

100years hope your landlady gets the fridge sorted out soon. Good that you don't have to buy a new one but must be annoying waiting for someone else to sort it out.

Conker step away from the internet shopping . It is very tempting though. I bought more newborn sleepsuits the other day despite having loads from DS. They were just so cute I couldn't resist.

Jimmi I was thinking about getting some clary sage oil for the birth. Meant to help with relaxation but not sure if I'll be bothered about sniffing oils once I have the gas and air that I clung onto for dear life with DS. Think I remember someone saying a while ago it really annoyed them having to leave the G&A to go to the loo. I was the same and seemed to be miles from the loo (ok the other end of the labour ward but when you're having powerful contractions it seems much further). This time if I'm in a room without an ensuite loo I'll be asking for a commode to wee in. :o

Meerkat sorry to hear about all the hassle you've been having with arranging your HB. Glad it all seems to be sorted now but something they shouldn't have stressed you about at this stage.

Tiddley that's a real shame about your SIL not wanting to see you. It's a very difficult situation and must be very painful for her but it's not really fair on you to refuse to see you :(. Do you think she will come around once your LO arrives? Anyway I really hope the IVF is successful for them.

Misty yes I have been feeling a bit restless today. Have been hoovering under beds and generally just getting things organised so think the last minute nesting burst is kicking in. Am officially full term tomorrow so maybe it's just the knowledge of that spurring me on.

Sewmuch yay for baby turning. :) That's brilliant news and must be a real relief for you. Not much longer for you to wait now by the sounds of it.

Feral lucky you with the sofa time. Lots of sleeping sounds like a good plan.

Welcome Cakeismysaviour. Sorry you're feeling uncomfortable just now. Hope it improves soon or develops into labour and we have our second baby on the thread. :)

Scarlett enjoy your BF session tomorrow. Great opportunity to get someone to answer all your queries.

I've been having lots of BH's and occasionally feeling quite a bit of pressure on cervix that causes a bit of a sharp intake of breath but nothing to signal anything is imminent. Officially full term tomorrow but I'm happy if baby waits 'til closer the 40 week mark. Just a few days early would be nice. The only complaints I'm really having are back pain and heartburn. Just cracked open another bottle of gaviscon - oh the joy! Was a little bit down earlier in the week as had done a Group B Strep test at 36 weeks and it came back positive. Basically means it's recommend to have IV antibiotics every 4 hours from the start of labour to protect the baby so means I'll probably need to go to hospital earlier than otherwise needed and be a bit more restricted during labour. Just hope the hospital don't use it as an excuse to deny me a waterbirth. But on the positive side I'd rather know that I'm carrying it and I know there are far worse problems to be faced with than IV antibiotics.

Hope everyone else is well and looking forward to the next announcement. Sounding like some of us are getting pretty close now! :)

Gd luck to all on here forgive me for not mentioning u individually have had vluttle sleep in last 48hrs.
Survived 2nd night was better as angel MW took DD off for 2hrs so got some sleep :-) also managed a shower yester &walked short corridor to tea room at 6am my first walk out of room this morn. Hopefully to go home after lunch to bed as more restful......hopefully... than ward. Staff been excellent this time, much more positive experience than 1st birth but I hugely more relaxed and in only 2bed, ensuite room in newer hospital than 4yrs ago!

Ssmile - glad to hear you're getting some sleep, hope you manage to go home lunchtime then. Look forward to hearing more about you're little girl.
Sewtoomuch - great news on baby turning. Yay!!
Cakesmysaviour- welcome and hope you feel better soon.

Another rough night, BH's almost constant now. Starting to want things to happen now but still hoping to get closer to edd of 5th sept.

Despite wanting to eat lots I can't seem to manage much at all - seem to feel full after two mouthfuls.

Hope everyone ok, managing some rest etc :)

Sorry to hear ur feeling so tired, hopefuly it'll soon calm down wen u get settled in at home.
Well clary sage oil, rl tea and last nights sex have done nothing so iv come 2 the conclusion babs just not ready yet. Thing is i wouldnt b so obsessed with going into labour if it wasnt 4 the false alarm the other night-never had false alarms with ds or dd and am now v.glad! Tho if i ever dont answer my phone or reply 2 a msg straight away every1 seems 2 assume im in labour grrr- any of u having that too?

Hello everybody

Have been in my own little world working away for the last few days so have missed out on the last of the conversation - there is quite a lot to catch up on. Was, however, worth it, as thesis is being printed, bound and handed in tomorrow (with 2 days to spare) woohoo.

So here's my little catch up for now, sorry if I miss lots:

Ssmile Congratulations!!!!! A lovely little baby girl. Give the little one a big MN hug from me!

Meerkat and Cake welcome!

Misty and Cosmic - hoping that the nesting will start here next week, as the flat could definately do with some more improvements before LO arrives. Am also very tempted to do some more internet shopping, especially as we only have a co-sleeper cot at the moment, that you attach to the bed and nothing else to put baby down for naps at the beginning. Anybody got any recommendations? Hammock sounds very cute!

BH have calmed down here a bit but therefore heartburn has made a return - hope that doesn't mean LO has moved up again. Next check-up on Thursday. 38+4 now, so hoping for some good news about LO starting on its way.

Hope everybody feels good/better and gets lots of rest!

My top tip to first timers if you like your food do pack snacks. Biscuits, juice cartons, squash, crackers etc. Hospitals feed on a 'routine' but your body might not fit with their routine or the food might not be to your taste and you need your energy pre&post birth. The 'handy' cafe here for partners isn't open at weekends! So make sure partner has stuff too, flask tea may come in handy as even the vending machine has its grill pulled down ere at wend! So nothing easily obtainable for my DH. I in a womens unit separate from main hospital, where I think there are more facilities for partners.

Gd luck who to be next? Should we start a post baby thread?

I think it'd just be you on it for at least a day or two though ssmile! I really hope you're on your way home now so you can get some nice rest and get your new DD settled in. How did her big sister react?

That's the only thing I'm nervous about, is how DS is going to be with the new baby. I hung the hammock up from the ceiling in our room yesterday and DS already thinks it's great fun to fill it with his toys and then swing it wildly back and forth so it bounces off the wall

We've bought DS a present to give to the baby, and a present from the baby to give to DS so hopefully, all the bribery will help?! Any other tips for combating jealousy would be welcome though...

Good morning everyone.

I think the fed up ness is hitting me and my patience is slowly dwindling. Ah well. 4 days till EDD and 16 days till I'm induced if I go over that far so if I think of it in terms of 16 days that's not soooooo bad. Sleep is becoming more and more elusive with a wake up at 3:33 this morning and no more sleep till 8am. Feeling quite fragile at the moment. Ah well, I'm thinking of the lack of sleep as prep, but I would like to have slept more, just in case I've got a long labour in the next 24 hours!!! LO still bouncing around in there, which makes me feel warm and fuzzy, but I would like the scrunchy newborn to cuddle etc now.

The fridge freezer is hopefully coming on Tuesday - keep your fingers crossed. Thankfully the landlady knows the situation and will be here if I am in hospital. So I reckon by Wednesday evening we could have cold food again. :)

I'll try and catch up with everyone now as I'm on the computer.

TP how is your friend? It is all exciting and emotional, a friend of mine who 'was' due the day before me had her baby yesterday, so happy for her :) There is the Birmingham beach at Cannon hill park this weekend over the bank holiday, I'm not sure what they are doing there, but there are posters EVERYWHERE about it! Sorry your SIL is now longer wanting to see you :(

Cbear I don't think you will have a 12lb baby, and I wish I could be the next one, but I reckon I'll be waiting a while, nothing more seems to be happening. How was your walk on the beach?

sebs I've always had bad wind, I've tried to hide it from my OH, but when preg it's much much more difficult. I've been burping loads more than normal. Ooooh to almost constant BH.

jimmi Fingers crossed they get it sorted soon. Saw the thread and hopefully I get to post in there soon :) I've not had the assumption I'm in Labour yet, but I've had a friend who rarely texts me send me a 'have you popped yet?' text, so I replied and asked how she was, have had no reply. Hmm, me thinks she only wants the news, nothing more!

meerkat welcome to the thread. Glad you got the home birth sorted :) Sex for me so far isn't working, although it's not something that has actually stopped through pregnancy!

misty yep, irritable and restless, but too tired to do anything today, I've got the I don't know what to do with myself now!

bumpy I have no nesting feeling either, I've started a new blanket for the LO which is about 1/3 done, but no wanting to go mad cleaning.

Sewmuch Excellent news about LO turning :)

Louplet Lets hope your LO stays put till after 6th then.

feral Glad your OH is letting you have a nice rest :)

cake welcome as well. Hope your pains ease off.

scarlett I reckon I'm wearing out the only carpet in our home, we only have carpet in the bedroom, and I am on the far side of the bed to the bathroom LOL

cosmic thank you, as I said a mo ago I'm hoping it will be here by Wednesday evening. I get that weird pressure inside, think it's when LO turns her head, it also makes me gasp. Fingers crossed you get you water birth, I'm not all that informed on Group B Strep stuff.

Ssmile Glad you had a better chunk of sleep on the 2nd night. Yeah I have a bag of snacks and some cereal and mini milk cartons in my hospital bag, if I get hungry I don't have much kind of time before I really need to eat as my blood sugar seems to dip quite quickly at times. Re the post baby thread, yeah one needs to be started, it'll be a little quiet in there for a few days as the new babies are going to start coming soon, please tell me you will be in the september post natal thread as you are a september ante natal lady. Do you want me to start it, or do you want to do it?

wasps Well done on the thesis :) Relaxation time for you now.

Wow, epic post, hopefully I've not missed anyone. Grand prix time, which normally means I get to watch most of it then fall asleep just before the end!!! LOL

Hello again ladies,
Forgive me not mentioning everyone individually - this doesn't mean I am not really enjoying reading up on everyone's news, in fact I am finding sharing this thread a real support and comfort :)

My friend was brought in on Thurs due to signs of high BP and odema etc and hasn't been allowed home, despite there being no room in the delivery suite for them to start induction! Apparently it is really very busy there at the moment and some women are giving birth on the ward... Golly it seems we are a common sight in B'ham at the moment!

I appreciated loup's advice on early babies the other day - I admit I have been hoping for baby to show anytime now, and yet I am not quite 37 weeks. I need to be patient and think of the best for LO. I expect I'll feel a little more calm after scan on Tues as I can check all is well. Baby is moving still but markedly different to how it used to be a week or so back. Pushing/stretching but no aerobics, and I have a tight and achy bump. Sigh.

Welcome on board cake - we're all a bit tired and fed up from time to time, and I guess it is entirely to be expected! Hopefully the company of other 'afflicted' ladies will help :o

All the best to all of you - who will be next to keep ssmile and her baby girl company on The Other Side...

Thanks for the welcome everyone! Just to update you all, there is no change here today with me, unless you count the fact that I am getting stupidly upset about the fact that I can't get the oven clean enough and I am getting all worried and stressed about all kinds of daft things....

Oh and just wanted to add my congratulations to ssmile!

Oh heck TP. I'd better keep my legs crossed a bit longer if it's that busy!

Hello ladies - sorry for not replying to all your posts but its been ages since I logged onto mumsnet as the Iphone 4 app doesnt work so I dont often manage to get on the laptop these days.
Congrats to ssmile and hopefully all the others who may be about to pop.
Against the odds I have so far made it to 36 weeks and 4 days - not bad seeing I have been contracting on and off heavily since 30 weeks. I have two and a half weeks until csection on 14th sept but am so uncomfortable now and I am convinced it cant be long before something happens. I am in so much pain these days with contractions, back pain and loose joints and just cant seem to sleep at night, I am exhausted so I fully understand how alot of you are feeling. I think tonight will be the last time I will be going out (casual dinner at a friends) - I am just too grumpy and tired to do anything at the moment and the feeling that my waters could be about to go at any moment does not fill me with the desire to be out and about!
Chins and feet up ladies and good luck to you all.

Oh dear, things seem to be getting gloomy round here - we need a boost of something to get us all through the next few weeks - just not sure what. Liked what a few of you said about not being too impatient as the longer they stay in (up to a point) the better for the baby, so am trying to keep that in mind too.

Lots of BH here too - sometimes getting painful but then calming down. Keep trying not to get excited each time, but its hard not to.

Working on a couple more baby kilts which would be good to have done before the baby arrives, so concentrating on that.

has everyone got their names picked out, or is anyone else like us and just got a short list rather than a definite choice?

We have a short(ish) list of names we both like, but I we have been have been adding more....

whoops what happened there???

hi all

Apologies for not mentioning everyone individually....but sounds like we're all feeling a bit uncomfortable/fed up now.
39wks tomorrow and still getting my head around the fact he could come at any point . Going out for meals like there's no tomorrow (which there may not be for that sort of activity!) and busy weekend with family visiting. Which is nice, given that the baby isn't here yet so they're actually coming to see US and not a newborn .
Few period-type cramps and loads of BH, but nothing to get excited about yet. Having a homebirth I want to ignore labour for as long as poss anyway, so I figure I'll know when it really hits and try to distract myself until then. That said, I agree with whoever said it feels like we're waiting now... Compounded for me I think by the fact that I've been studying for the last 3yrs and now it's all almost done my life feels a bit empty... but soon to be full.

Ooh, congrats on the thesis wasps :) that's great going. My corrections are still outstanding.... tra la la la....

Sleeping has been a little better recently - although the pulled muscle in my bump wasn't helping. Thinking I ought to nap whenever I can - just in case I need my energy for any imminent labour! Although I'm sure chocolate cake is just as important...

Oh misty I had forgotten about your pulled bump muscle - I didn't even know that was possible! Owch! I expect the chocolate cake would help provide lots of healing poly-thingamies and is very necessary.

I have just stuck cottage pie in oven (with cheese topping) and have blackberries and apple with cream (AND custard) for dessert, so have cheered up considerably :o

100years I hope I haven't worried you about the Women's Hospital - I'm sure there'll find us a bench in the waiting area... HA HA ha h..um... Things'll have changed by the time it's our turn I'm sure.

conker we have our names! One for boy and one for girl and either way I shall be disappointed not to use the other one! We love them (of course) though we are both expecting a few poorly disguised raised eyebrows - less because they are unusual, more that they are just not very common these days IYSWIM.

Just got an almighty leg stretch-type-kick into my right side - almost reached my hip. Either we have a leggy beast in there or it has shifted position again...

Still no BH here!

Am feeling very restless, which might be the excitement of handing work in tomorrow. However, I think Conker is right - need some more cheery topics :-)

I'm fully planning on forgetting about "waiting" this coming week and have lots of social things lined up like going for cake with friends or to the playground with their LOs. Now that our LO has held on long enough for me to finish up I guess I better allow him the rest of the time in there.

Have even been starting to sleep better the last few days but guess that could change again any time. Not to say I don't wake up 15times for a wee but at least I can get back to sleep reasonably quickly.

Have had names picked from quite early on and keep getting on/off doubts about them. DH and me really like them but they are not very common so people might raise an eyebrow or two. I know I shouldn't care but can't help worry about how it might be received.

Minky, that's brilliant news. Not long for you to go, it's nice to have an 'end date' for you, knowing it won't go further than that when you have had trouble must be nice.

Conker, we have our first name picked out, but were discussing the middle name the other night at 5am, having previously said we would only have a first name. Think we may almost have settled on a middle name too now.

Misty, Yes it definitely feels like we're waiting now.

TP sounds like you have a lovely tea there, like the cream and custard thing! Nah I'm not too worried - she says - I'm sure all those babies will be out by the time my LO decides she's had enough inside me, if not, then I'll just busk it and do what I can.

Wasps, don't worry about the name, I think it has to be something you and your DH like.

I'm hoping I sleep better tonight. Nice to have had a weekend with OH where we have had no real plans and just chilled out and he is off tomorrow too, so possibly heading out in the morning and having lunch out somewhere then more chilling later on.