Nov 2011 - almost time to push!

[TerrysNo2]

Last thread was full so thought I would just start this one off - hope you don't mind as I know I've not been a regular but god forbid you guys having nowhere to chat ;)

Right, caz what's happening, I am stalking you all over the shop and need more news :)

Moosey I think I get way too much done! Make a rod for my own back as everyone expects me to keep it at that level! However I am not a tidy person and neither are my dc's so I have to try and keep on top of it. Although have given in on the bedrooms! Plus I think am so used to being at work and I not long finished my degree as well so I get twitchy with nothing to occupy my time. So order of today, I've got a chilli cooking and a bolognese to go in after the chilli. Already done the online shopping and emptied the tumble drier. I'm debating seeing if I can strip the wallpaper off the bathroom...

I have a very proactive list of things to do in my head... it seems to take me about 4 hours to do each one now tho. Even if it's just a phone call. Was quite motivated this morning as I got my most recent payslip from work and they'd missed off a weeks wages!! I usually only half look at my payslip so very happy I noticed that little slip up. I thought I'd completely miscalculated my higher rate of SMP and my planned 9-12 months leave was going to slip to 6-9 months. Thankfully, they'd just cocked up the calculation.

I think I'm going to make a carrot cake today.. can you freeze that? I could bring out frozen chunks for visitors to wow them with my domestic goddessness.

h007 maybe a compromise, suggest doing something in eve when parents have left ie walk

And suggesting he spends x amount of time at niece's party and then go to cinema (or whatever you fancy). Never to late to enjoy one another's company. Even if just a snuggle on couch. Can you tell I love snuggling .

voodoo I have woken up, got DD up, both had breakfast, cbeebies, then DD goes down for morning nap. I shower, felt crap (think bp is worse in mornings), lay on bed playing free cell or Internet surfing. Just about to go have 2nd bowl of cereals. DD should be waking up in 30 mins.

I do have a lot of stuff to watch on sky plus Inc downtown. When I was first on maternity leave I used to go through the free movie channels and record them and watch one a day. Whenred arrived I used to do something three days a week ie baby massage, playgroup and baby college.looking forward to starting these up again . Bought some merrell prevoz snow boots so I won't get wet feet whilst walking.

The only bit I wouldn't be too sure on freezing is the topping. God I could just eat carrot cake.
Where's our overdue Katie?

I know it sounds very selfish but I spend all day on or near the sofa and I expect for x number of weeks after bean is here... I want to go out and do things and spend time with just him.... Grrrrrr men!

Moosey, that's a perfectly reasonable morning! Both my dc's are in school so I have free time.
H007 no your not being unreasonable at all. Tell him you need some attention!

Oh the hunger I have. Have just inhaled what can only be described as Desperate Dan portion of lasagne. And I could eat more. Feels great not to have any heartburn as well. Really didn't enjoy food that much in the final weeks of pregnancy.

Very proud of self today as did first trip in car with wee guy and with me driving. May not sound like much but this is huuuuge after feeling like I couldn't leave the house at beginning of week I'm feeling like we are getting there.

Hope you preggers ladies are all well.

H007, get him told, throw a late pregnancy strop if needs be to make him realise that you want to spend time just the two of you whilst you can!!

Folic, well done for getting out in the car, don't have such a massive appetite tbh but my stomach is shrinking away like there is no tomorrow, I forgot what my waist and ankles really looked like, although it's also a little sad not to be pregnant any more (hark at me, I do remember how much grumbling I was doing about being pregnant in the two months or so beforehand, but if you can't be contary then what have you got left!!)

Poppet, weekend for an Edinburgh meet up would be fine with me, can bring the wee one and DH can meet up with his friend for lunch whilst I see you guys, will be funny to see all those buggies and no bellies!!

There must be some more birth announcements due today I reckon?!?

for Voodoo's nickname of "overdue" Katie. Still waiting.

Fully intended to DTD with DH last night. Now I have a DH I can't complain about, he's amazing. I love him to bits. But no, couldn't face it. It felt contrived. . So no natural induction methods for me. Pineapple makes my mouth blister and hot curry, I just can't eat it!!! Clary sage smells vile to me. Even raspberry leaf capsules just get my bowels going.

Great to hear new Mummy's are getting out and about and Willow, well done, keep woofing Mummy's milk!!

I'm on the phone so cant name check very well but lady with poorly DH i really hope he recovers very very fast and you have real life support.

I'm only +4, repeat 20 times. Trying not to get too frustrated. Sweep booked with consultant next Tuesday. Then daily monitoring from +12 days to try and avoid induction. It might not get to that eh?

No signs of anything though. I thought I felt like I do with a period last night. Achy tummy and thighs. I moved, it went. Oh well perhaps I was just dreaming!!

DH has promised me huge cuddles and back rubbing with no agenda to try and raise my oxytocin levels.

All DHs should be stacking/emptying the dishwasher and the washing machine. Too much bending. My friends DH didn't get it until she vomited by accident whilst bending and cried about the effort needed. He did it after that!! desperate measures I agree.

PMA my DD of 2.7 has finally discovered fresh fruit is nice, especially grapes. It's been bananas, stewed or pureed fruit until now and suddenly she wants the lot! Yippee!!!

Still smiles and says no when we ask if she wants to be potty trained though. She told me yesterday "I do 2 wees on the potty Mummy, no more yet". And that is exactly what she does!!!
Xx

Sorry Katie! Hehe! Only plus 4 lass that isn't late! I was plus 12 I think, both times! Get out for a walk. Climb the stairs sideways and bounce on a birthing ball. I've dtd twice in the last week, none in the previous 5 moths. I was hoping the shock might spur me on but nada.
Folic yum lasagne! Bolognese, lasagne and chilli don't give me heartburn but they are just about the only foods that don't. Hence why cooking chilli and bolognese today and already had lasagne this week or I may waste away. Oh and well done on solo trip! Very nerve wracking indeed.
I've set myself a mission to have my Xmas shopping done by the 20th of nov. Give or take the parents and bro as they get alcohol, food, jewellery.

Moosey my DH is taking me for a hot curry tonight aswell! Bless them!!

We've also been trying the other thing to get baby going! I'm disappointed within half hour of doing the dead when i'm not in labour though! haha!

Katie if you can't dtd or eat a hot curry have you heard about castor oil? My mum told my sister to have a spoonful with her DD and it worked straight away! But i've never heard anyone else say about this, so may have just been coincidence? I'm off to google it now!

Bump hope your day has improved somewhat! What is it with all the men in our lives being lazy articles just now!! We should be the ones still in bed at 10:30am!!!

Folic well done for going out on the drive! I know I will be really nervous about that!!

Hello ladies, sorry for sounding like I was moaning about DH, he really is great and the working this weekend is not a regular thing. I'm doing more round the house since I've been of this week, but ordinarily he does far more than I do I think the only thing that has been a bit annoying is that he hasn't been interested in reading up on anything to do with pregnancy, labour, birth etc and I bought him a couple of books early on to get him started. He found the antenatal and birth centre meetings useful though and even thought the labour videos were useful for him to get an understanding of what is going to happen!

We've had some nice meals and cinema trips lately too so we can make the most of the time we have on our own. I think being far from our families and most of our friends means that we do a lot of stuff together anyway, so we're not people who do loads of socialising apart. I am well aware that makes us sound a bit sappy - sorry!

Today I have done very little - oops! I have a couple of quick things to do this afternoon but am having a bit of a lazy one. The baby is still doing a lot of wriggling, which makes me think it is not getting ready to come out any time soon! When I was at the hospital 2 weeks ago it was 1/5 engaged and I'm seeing the midwife on Monday for my 38 week check (am 38 weeks today!!) so will see what's going on then. I started raspberry leaf capsules yesterday, anything that makes contractions more efficient sounds good to me! If nothing by next Friday I may be turning to the pineapple, curry etc. We've had a 'relatively' active sex life throughout this pregnancy so am not sure if that will help at all.

Does anyone have a Doula? What do they actually do and are they worth the money?

Evening ladies.
Hope you are all well and curry/pinneapple eating /raspberry tea drinking/ DTD /ball bouncing/stair climbing as you much as you feel you need.
Saus Hope hubby makes a quick recovery and baby stays put until then.
Folic well done on the driving. I remember when hubby brought me and our son home from hospital and the main route is a motorway type road which hubby said our son was too young to go on as the cars drive too fast so took us home through 3 villages full of speed bumps, not fun 7 hours after giving birth
I have had another lazy day today and we have been out for tea tonight as I can't be bothered to cook.
Moan for today- I have mouth blisters and am feeling very sorry for myself although it is entirely my fault as I appear to have developed some kind of addiction to a certain type of chewing gum and am getting through the local shops supply at an alarming rate.
Hope new mumies and babies are doing well. I still can't quite believe I will be a mum again soon. How silly of me.
Heres hoping for lots of sleep for mums, bumps and babies tonight.

I remember the first time I got back in the car after having my daughter. Felt like I'd not been behind the wheel for about 5 years! Well done for conquering that barrier.
DH STILL in hospital and likely to be there til Sunday earliest - when they did a biopsy on his appendix it turned out to have gangrene!!! So might have been leaking bacteria into his gut hence 48 hours of intravenous antibiotics. I'm now just relieved that all this has been nipped in the bud before it got really serious.

AND my hip has just gone - I'm guessing this is a pregnancy thing? The inner ligament just refuses to pull my leg up so I can only walk with the outer ligament which makes me swagger like John Wayne...

Sas What a horrible time you are having. Thank goodness your hubby is now on the mend. Hope your hip gets better soon.

Sas, gosh poor you having this stress and your poor OH! Really hope he is better and home soon. Also hope your hip is better too.
I'm up way too early again. Been awake on and off since 5.30. Now wTching the discovery channel home and health. Why do Americans all seem to push and deliver on their backs? Im sure I delivered my dd on my back but this time I intend to employ gravity! Hope everyone is well.
H007 no, no doula here!

Whoever mentioned the mumsnet talk app - thank you - so much easier! Helps my habit of reading posts while BF in middle of night.

Sas what a nightmare - hopefully he'll be out Sunday & on the mend. I think all the adrenalin in your body will stop you going into labour til your OH is home & you can relax & get your happy hormones on the up

Morning all

sas so sorry your DH seems to be having a horrid time, I hope he recovers soon so he can support you through the birth, I am sure your body will wait.

H007 I don't have a doula but have heard good things, MrsA has got an Independent Midwife so she might know more about other support.

Congrats on getting out folic it makes a big difference to get some fresh air!

Katie can I join you in the overdue camp? 40+1 now. I was really sure something was going to happen on Friday after losing lots of my mucus plug (same thing happened with DS and I went into labour the next day) but nothing else since, in fact I had v few BH last night and a really good nights sleep. As long as that continues I am not in a rush to have the baby but really don't want to be induced so in the next week would be good. Are you listening baby??

Terrys, a good sleep is sometimes a sign I think? However I am of the opinion that anything that happens just before you go into labour could be taken as a sign! Like ooo that large glass of orange juice or that full bar of toblerone!! I'm sure that the plug is not its way. Not showing any signs of being bloody though. Sorry tmi!
My OH isn't well now. He has some gastric problems, they resulted in a hospital stay earlier in the year. Unfortunately they have reappeared with a vengeance yesterday/today. Did think I'd be taking him to hospital rather than the other way round. He wouldn't be in a fit state to be my birthing partner at the minute. Crikey.

Gosh Sas and Voodoo you've got a lot going on at the moment. I really hope things settle down enough for you to concentrate on yourself when you need to

Re: doulas, I would never have felt comfortable having a 'stranger' with me when I'm giving birth. I'm a bit prudish (not the right word but ykwim!) at the best of times and am slightly 'worried' about how my husband will be seeing me in labour If you are not like me (and let's face it, most people aren't!!) then I think people find it useful to have an expert there to support, coach, advise etc. during labour.

Nothing happening here, although not expecting it so just getting on with things as normal. DH has managed to work from home today instead of going into the office, which is nice. We're going to the cinema tomorrow and I want to try to get hold of a little cool bag to pack snacks and drinks in! The only thing I need to add to my hospital bag are my slippers and straighteners, which will go in at the last minute so am almost there for organisation I think!

Truffkin, I couldn't cope with someone there like you. Also apprehensive about OH seeing me in labour! The thought of having a sweep on weds with my mw is putting me in the horrors! Yes I know, this is my 3rd you would think I would be used to it but I'm not!
OH seems to be perking up a bit which is definitely good. Waiting for my weekly shop to be delivered and shock horror am going to have a bacon and fried egg sandwich!
This baby is going to fall out if she gets any further down.

Afternoon all. Sas and Voodoo, i hope your other halves get on the mend soon. Mine is (and I do NOT compare our situations here!) actually napping right now. He NEVER naps. Not only that, but he abandoned the washing up half way through and let me finish it when I told him maybe he should go nap. I'm actually quite worried about him! He has had a very tough couple of weeks at work to be fair, but still, most unlike him.
And my belly is crampy and horrid. Kept me up a lot last night. Pretty sure its my gut not my uterus to be honest, but still, not a comfy lady.
Way way way way way back, did someone have a recommendation about swaddling products? With DS we just used blankets, but I am wondering whether a couple of specifically designed swaddling things might make life easier?
37 weeks today. Have put my foulest most hideous old bed linen on the bed ready. STILL not finished packing hospital bag stuff though! Even though I hope not to go, it makes sense to be ready to! And I need me a bucket for the birth pool. And DH cant get the tap connectors working too well either. And you know, I generally need some rest and mental preparation and so forth. Not happening.
Right. Best get DS up before I scupper bedtime completely I guess.

Sas and Voodoo I'm sorry to hear about your OH's, this is the last thing you need at the moment.

I have nothing much to report, DS is doing really well, and I am recovering well too. MIL is doing my head in (she is a lovely lady, but very very overbearing and bossy) but maybe I'll pop over the postnatal thread to compare notes on that one. Anyone with a MIL will probably know what I mean....'well, in my day, we didn't use car seats' , 'well, in my day, we laid them to sleep on their front, wrapped up warm' etc etc. Yes, well, now we don't, why can't you understand and respect my decisions?!!

Will try to pop back later - quick phone post (knackered!). I have an ind midwife AND a doula. Engaged doula first. She costs £200 and will act as my emotional support and advocate wherever I birth. IM is there for 'technical' stuff and doula is there to speak for me and hold my hand and tell me all is ok. She is also there to take pressure off DP. He can help the way he feels ok with knowing he can rely on doula to fight my corner if needed. Doula not so essential know I have IM but got to know her well and she will be a 2nd source of support. If I didn't have IM a doula would be even more essential for me.