Nov 2011 - Feathering our nests and buying baby vests

[PamSco]

Taking liberties again as there are only 5 posts to go on old thread. Hope everyone is well this morning!

voodoo Sounds like your week was crowned with good times (shopping is always good times). Glad I could help with the mattress :)

Watching Mad King George (what, what) on Film4 - I love period dramas! DP is cooking dinner and oh, what a lovely Saturday!

Well, I am going to be a bit contradictory here, but its really good just to read those last few messages of pma. I, however, have no pma to share, just winge. My fanny hurts - went to the emergency doctor today who basically said, yes, looks like it might be starting up again, but at this juncture, just watch and wait. Not happy. I mean, happy its not currently worse, but not happy its happening at all. Hmph. And I am worn out and exhausted, and like others, having work worries - not work per se, but I am doing a training doctorate, so I do the job, and have to do various submissions for uni too. So I have six weeks left IN work, but the uni stuff, well its just too big and too much and getting me down. AND our new car is havin problems which may prove terminal to do with an old automatic gear box and I feel a bit lost cause my parents, who usually dont live in the UK, came to visit us yesterday for one night and they both have such bad backs right now my image of all the help and support they might be able to offer is, well, disintegrated. And my son is lovely, truely, but I am so tired and feel so busy I just kind of want not to have to spend any time I am NOT at work looking after a very demanding toddler, but getting on with stuff. We too have not prepared a bedroom - nor have we inititated a needed loft conversion - we're not so worried as she will be in with us for the first six months. BUt we havent done all the needed shopping either. And my fanny hurts. Which I am aware I have mentioned but it aint half nagging at me.
Sorry. It seems so many of us have so many troubling health niggles and stresses and such, it feels daft to dredge the same ones up again - and to all those others who have been feeling like me and kind of at the end of copability, I hope there is improvement soon, for all of us.
On the plus side, 4d scan yesterday - she is doing ok it seems, though completely breach the little trouble maker. GOd I hope she turns.
Caz - you must have been going through hell the last few days. Just keep going, this time will be over and this time around you have the medics keeping watch and things will go very differently to last time.
Right. I have to go and, to be honest, move one thing out of the microwave and put another in, before sitting down to eat with a tired, restless toddler I then need to put to bed and frankly I feel sick and tired and its all seeming a bit too much.
Here goes.

Juststarting - Ouch! Ah not good. I am sure though that this is a bad week for most of us and that it will get better. Hugs though :( Treat yourself to something relaxing or indulgent if possible.

I just won a baby bjorn carrier on ebay! Is my luck in today or something? Well at least I will have purchases to console me cos I can't eat. The heartburn/reflux/indigestion/whatever is actually crippling me. I am so hungry but cant eat as the heartburn/reflux/indigestion/whatever is agony when I eat and its no fun having this go on day in day out. I shall drink milk and chow down on rennies (Gaviscon is the devils wastage as it makes me puke!). But I have a new cot mobile, new baby bjorn, pram and cot all in one day!

well, while all my friends seem to be at parties tonight, I am in doing some freelance work for a client while my DH plays God of War on the PS3 that I stupidly bought him for his birthday. Not that I would be up for going out anyway, but still.
The dullest day at home today because we have nicht money after being stung by Danish tax. I did work on our "spreadsheet of life" with all the stuff we have to do. Its good to cross things off but so much of achieving things requires money, money, money.

voodoo and cep - well done for the big purchases/acquisitions

the babyjoggers look really good - and neat compared to the massive mountain buggy. Can you actually jog with them?

And now my son has done a little sick. Which when you're major problem is emetophobia, is a massive deal. I feel so frigging pathetic panicking like this. Fed up with myself.

My parents handled me throwing up really well... "Oh well, that's breakfast tomorrow sorted" - to this day I don't throw up - I've mastered the art of holding it in.

Get your DP/OH to handle it?

Just it's nearly a self fulfilling prophecy, hate feeling rubbish but the more u feel it the more u feel rubbish! I've just got into bed, it's 10.20, I'll be awake fRom 4Am but at least for the next few hours my legs ache less and I don't want to throw myself at OH and sob cos I miss food and would kill for lots

Of wine! Sorry am on phone and it's too easy to hit post by accident. I'm done in being pg and would like a few days off!!

My partner did handle it. All I did was bring a drink of water. Rubbish mother. Spent the last hour and a half or so shaking so hard I could barely type. Ridiculous. hate this phobia so much. You know why I had no pain meds in my four and a half day labour? I was scared they would make me sick. My biggest fear about labour was that I would vomit. And I need not describe how hard it is for me to me a mother. Eugh. Tired of myself.

Caz glad things have settled down a bit. Xander you stay exactly where you are and stop terrifying your mother!

Ah I hate 4am! I hate seeing it, the feeling when you are awake and you drag your eyes to the clock and squint, praying for at least 6.30 only to be faced with 4.00 AM!!! Yes, I was awake. I don't like it. My sleeping pattern is all over the place and I can't decide if I am tired half the time or not!

Never mind. Juststarting, you know sometimes there are just things people CANNOT do and that doesn't make you a bad mummy! You broght water and I bet that was difficult enough but you still did it. Fear is not rational. Don't be too hard on yourself.

I have to admit this morning I have had a sneaky look at my pram, my cot, my baby carrier and my mobile! At 4.30 I was considering starting to move my bedroom about to make space for the cot. However I have been given a second moses basket and am tempted to use that upstairs. My house isnt very big. Would prefer to have some difference between night and day and think the cot at night and moses basket downstairs might be a good start.

Ah well, I shall stop remabling on. Hope everyone is ok. Have a lovely Sunday. Off to sort out the online shop now. :)

Oooh voodoo I like the Sola. I said to my OH yesterday, if we were buying a new one that's the one I'd want.

We went to Mothercare were I held an OH educational seminar, this is a snow suit, but this is a sleep suit.

I don't want to spend a lot on clothes that are too small so OH will be sent out while on paternity leave to buy the right size.

I get the Bugaboo on Thursday when the purse stays shut (except for a pram & a cot mattress). For the cot I'm going for a wool and coconut fibre. This place gives a good price www.cotmattress.com/products_natural_crib_mattress.php

I didn't press post! Got my next growth scan on Tuesday, I am determined not to get upset and wound up with the over medicalised knife monkeys like I did last month. Calm thoughts all day.

Aah Just that sounds really horrible - phobias are terrible things. Your biy wasn't left on his own so don't beat yourself up. It's better you stay out the way so you don't pass the fear on - that sounds harsher than I meant!!

Cali that is yuk LOL! I had whooping cough when I was about 7 and got very adept at the ancient art of purging. I can chunder at will, not a great party piece granted.

Pam Well, it's useful as I'm very good at staying clear headed when too drunk - just concentrate on not doing the deed, and it sobers you up!

I'm lol-ing at those mattresses - my mum told me that when she was expecting me she went down to the "mattress maker" (how old am I!!!!) and had a horse-hair one made to measure for me and the cot my dad built. My response was "Bloody Hippie" and she just laughed and said "Well, you turned out quite well, so I guess all the alfalfa and natural fibres did you some good".

voodoo I hear you on the being done with pregnancy! I love Sprout, and I want her to stay in and get big and strong, but by Jove, I'm tired of numb hands, achy hips, stupid appetite...

Sorry, thread spamming... I was supposed to have a MW call me at 8.30 to arrange a home visit - when do I start thinking they've forgotten me? I rang in last night about my third bout of RFM, which is really starting to worry me, and the midwife snorted and told me she'd put a note on the community mw's desk to call me first thing...
I'm so fed up with the different advice on movement I get - some say 10 times in 12 hours, others 10 times in 10 hours, others again say 10 times in 2 hours...

Sorry so for all those that are struggleling with the work, life, pregnancy balance... I have to admit I was feeling like that, it wasn't so much the work but the continuous of it without a break. Since finishing work I've been feeling 100 million times better not trying to rib it in just promising that it will end. I think I've learnt this past week that we are not superheroes no matter how much we try!

voodoo try lemonade when it's bad it was a tip my mum gave me and whilst it makes you the most antisocial person in the room, and doesnt make it totally disappear it does make me feel soooo much better and does allow me to eat more!

Tightenings reappear every time drug wears off... Not as intensly as wed and Thurs but still there. So anyway drugs have been stopped because they only like to give them while steroids have a chance to work. My last dose was at 8 so just being observed over the day now as it wears off to see if things remain settled on their own or whether it continues like it has with tightenings starting again. Down to nature now and it could go either way.

part of me would love him to come now, but my sensible head knows he would b better staying put a bit longer. So scared of everything. Still planning seeing my consultant tomorrow to make a plan of action for the next two weeks, we wanted to push for early delivery anyway, but i guess that also depends now on what happens when these drugs wear off again.

cali if you are worried as you haven't had a call like you were told you would do then I would phone. I know that when I work a weekend I prefer to get a phone call from my patients to ensure that they are on my list than them sit and worry then phone late in the day (esp as if they not on my list then they call late I have to go out & end up working late - IYSWIM). Hope all is well xx

caz I can understand your worries both ways; if the tightenings re-start then you have your answer, Xander will be here. If he does come now at 32 (nearly 33) weeks with the steriods he has a really good chance of doing well, esp as he is a good weight (a friend has just had her twins delivered at 32wks (both about 4lb) and they are both doing really well, just needing help with feeding). Hope things go well for you xx

voodoo I like the Sola, it was on our final list but as the M&P switch was our prefered (but too expensive) we managed to get a really good deal on an ex-display one. Also agree with you re: 4am, my time to be up is 3am until at least 5 :( good prep though.

just don't feel guilty about not being able to manage when your little one was poorly - not everyone is able to. The important thing is that he had someone to clean him up and that you were there to comfort him after. As someone else said it is better not to be there to not pass on your phobia.

H007 I agree with you re: work stress. When I got signed off nearly 2 weeks ago I was still concerned about work, I have spent the time resting and doing things at my pace as opposed to other people's and I feel so much better. I now have the dilemma whether to be signed off for another 3weeks until my mat leave technically starts or to go back; I know I can't manage to go back full time but should be able to manage part-time but is it worth it??

TJuice the city mini is not recommended for jogging. If you go to their website and click on ?Compare Our Strollers? under the Products tab you can see which ones you can jog with.
However, I have seen people here jog with the City Mini with bigger babies (6 months+)
HTH

just sorry you are having such a rough time. Hope it gets better soon

voodoo I am fed up too :( Want a break. DH can carry this heavy baby for a while, no?
But yay for all the shopping :)

Cali are you aware of your baby having a particular pattern? Ie active in the mornings, then quiet followed by active around 11am, etc?
I found that working out baby?s routine much easier and better than sitting rigid counting kicks. I will then choose a time I know he is active, sit down with hand on bump and count. As long as I get the 10 movements I am usually easily getting around that time within 10 minutes of the previous days, I am fine.
For example, I count kicks at 4pm. Normally bubba will complete 10 kicks within 10 minutes. Sometimes it can take up to 20, so that is fine. If I didn?t get 10 within 20 hours from 4pm, then I worry and call the labour ward.

caz stay strong. You are doing so incredibly well. There is nothing wrong with being scared, or worried. Take it minute by minute, hour by hour.
Hope that you consultant chat goes really well tomorrow and that the tightenings stay at bay

Having read what people say about work stress, I will try to reduce the worry I am under over the next 2 weeks. Only one more weekend in the middle and then it?s done. Can?t wait!
Yesterday I even edited my FB work thing to say that I leave in September. I am well and truly over work :(

Went shopping today for bubba and now have some towels, nappies, blankets, etc. I think we are getting there slowly.
Washed all the baby clothes yesterday. So cute.

Oh, btw, does someone know if a flat sheet for a crib/cot should be able to fold over on all 4 sides? The ones we bought seem to only fold over on the sides of the mattress, but they aren?t long enough to go round the top/end?

Hope everyone has a good Sunday :)

Merlioness That's what I started doing but this one has no routine - I can mostly start her off my lying on my side after something to eat, though, but she was very quiet yesterday.
The problem comes when justifying why you want to see a midwife - they usually ask you how many times she's moved, and they all seem to judge differently. Oh well - I'm seeing my normal midwife tomorrow - and Sprout seems to be a bit more awake today.

Caz - hang on in there - he'll be with you in your arms safe and sound when the time is right!

Cali I have never been asked how many kicks I've felt when calling about RFM - I always call the hospital day assessment unit rather on call midwife and have been asked to go in even when I have said I am feeling some movements just not as strong etc - they then monitor heartbeat as well which tells them more I guess. Don't be fobbed off - DD not moving for 3 hours resulted ultimately resulted in my being admitted and her being born by CS the following day. Be confident and get monitoring if you feel you need it - unlikely to be anything but best to get reassured.

Caz and more importantly Xander - hang in there. You're doing a great job, thinking of you.

Will post more later as off to a 1st birthday party

Cali you should be able to tell them that bubs has been quieter than usual and they should ask you to come in to get monitored. I have never been asked, though it could be very diffeent here, how much the baby has moved. I only say it's less than usual.
My antenatal class said that Mums have a very strong instinct and hospitals should always trust that instinct

Anyway, sometimes they do have a day or two where they are more quiet. Usually when they have a growth spurt. Hope your appointment tomorrow goes well and if worried, do what alicat said and call the DAU.

Just what an awful phobia, poor you, must be hard work with a baby/child.

Voodoo I have been walking at 4am too, it seems to be my routine time to need the loo. I've got some audiobooks on my ipod so I hop back into bed and listen to a story till I nod off again.

Cali I hope the midwife puts your mind at rest tomorrow. I haven't been counting kicks because my baby seems to wriggle more than kick so I wouldn't know exactly what to count.

My moan is that my spinny head has come back really badly and I can't understand why because I've been talking lots of iron. Even just turning over in bed or leaning forwards sets the room spinning - does anyone know if this could be anything apart from low iron? I can't believe I'm not getting enough iron.

Thanks for baby jogger basinet help Folic I think I have found the bassinet - is it the same as the hard carrycot? Its so difficult to find dimensions on the web so can't visualise how big the hard carrycot is compared to the compact carrycot. You're right about the sleeping though - not suitable to sleep in.

Can i ask for more help from everyone who has been busy shopping please - I'm going shopping with my mum in Leeds on Thursday for some smaller bits n bobs like babygro's blankets etc - where's best place to look? Mothercare, House of Fraser, M&P??? Thanks for any advice.

Caz best of luck today and tomorrow with consultant.

Mothercare and Marks and Spencer (if there is a big one) - also check out H&M for cheap, cute outfits.

Just had a call back from the Midwife (7 hours late) - she wants me to go in - see what I mean! Completely random depending on who you speak to.