December 2011: We've got big bumps and we cannot lie (down comfortably)

[LittleMissFlustered]

:o

Shake those bumps ladies.

And squeeeeeeeze

lottie no Christmas presents bought wrapped or even thought of and Dh has a massive family do millions to do. Oh well amazon will get a hammering this week so hopefully that should box it off.

Having stressed and worried about getting to 35 weeks the thought hit me yesterday that if I go overdue i could be pg for another 7 weeks... Given the current comfort levels am not sure I can face it! Then again I could feasibly be bringing home a baby in 2 weeks time which seems completely bizarre - hmm think I need to get my head in gear and fast. Anyone else in denial?

Morning all, hope you all slept well.

lottie no presents here yet, not a sausage!

Hawthers will join you in denial, I know there is a baby in there but haven't quite got my head around the fact it is coming out soon - eek!

Is all foggy here this morning. Going to cheer on the runners later as there is a race going past our street, then hopefully snuggle on sofa with DP, chocolate and a film. Hope you all have a good Sunday.

I was firmly in denial until yesterday and then suddenly I was ready to have baby and it was all very real (which at 38 weeks is just as well really). Maybe it was the hrs of batch cooking, the washing or the fact that baby squirmed downwards on Friday and exerted loads more pressure - def feel the head is more than 2/5ths engaged now. However, I moved so completely from 'haven't quite got my head around this' to 'baby is coming' that I announced confidently to dh last night that baby is going to arrive in the next week. Probs will never happen!

As for my suggestion of next Sat for birth. DH said yesterday that he is covering entrance examinations in school and then has a school's bridge tournament to take pupils to on Sat afternoon so should be home around 6. I pointed out he may need back up plan just in case! Was also thinking wards tend to be shorter staffed at weekends so might move my hopeful date forward to 24/11/11 or back to 28/11/11.

Oi hope you enjoyed your anniversary.

Morning all! Reading up on homebirths (having a manic clean before they do home visit) and came across this nugget 'Have some freshly ironed sheets nearby in case you prefer to deliver on the floor if the time comes' Ironing sheets?! Whatever next!

Oi, hope you had a great anniversary!
hawthers, I'm in denial too although DH is acting like a kid just before Xmas, v.over excited. Makes me feel like the Grinch!
Pully, hope IKEA wasn't too mental!

Quick question:

Does anyone know if labour pains start at the bottom and goes up towards top of bump or start at he top of bump and go down?

Ironed sheets for home birth! What?! I do cheap shower curtains covered with old towels for around the outside of the pool and the midwives bring those disposable inco pads if you decide to deliver elsewhere...I pushed DD2 out hanging off my doula who was sitting on the sofa!

cheep neither for me, they are an all over sensation. I realise that that isn't helpful!

2 presents left to buy here, but I know what they are!

cheep they were all over for me too last time. Do you think you're in labour or is it a general query?

I thought I might be going into labour last night after a couple of more intense (though still not painful) contractions, it turned out my BH were just stepping up a notch :(

More nesting going on here today, and I'm celebrating after living here for 9 months I finally worked out how to get the top off the nursery radiator. There was about ten years worth of dust inside it, the previous owners lived in flea-infested squalor weren't the cleanest of people.

Kitty, if you are taking black cabs, it's probably most practical to bring a pram/stroller (whose wheels you will lock in the back of the cab, and which you will secure with a wheelchair "seatbelt") and a sling (for comforting baby). The stroller will help you carry any paraphernalia, but at the very least I reckon:

• blankets and pramsuit/snowsuit (it will be Feb)
• inflatable pillow (for feeding), which squashes flat in a change bag. If you are breastfeeding, a small bottle of water to prevent you getting dehydrated.

OR any bottles/formula, hot water, etc. you need.

• change mat, nappies, wipes
• muslins for sick/posseting
• 2 changes of clothes (poos can go right up the back if explosive)
• wet bag for dirty clothes
• dummies if you are using them

Babies can sleep in prams with flat-reclined seats, so no duplication with aforementioned pram required.
Hope that stripped-down list helps! I have drawn up a travel list, which I keep as a document on my computer desk top and refer to it when travelling.

Presents are sort of happening here, although I'm making a lot - rather slowly. DH took DS out yesterday, and I wasted a the present-preparing time by fannying about on MN, eating, doing a bit of shopping in town, and finishing DS's nocturnal-creatures duvet cover! (owls on one side, hedgehogs on the other, a pillow slip of white stars on a blue background). The nocturnal creatures will look after him while he's asleep - good thing, too, as he had another screaming nightmare last night - about my eating some "green bar" of his! It was a bit off-pissing that it wasn't anything more scary than that.

cheeptrick, have you something to tell us?

plu you are far too organised!

I'm sat on the floor trying to get my home birth box organised, but my brain will not work and I keep crying!

Afternoon ladies & bumps :) Do you realise we're a third of the way through this thread in just 5 days

I am feeling much better today (less needy); DP has just popped out to play a snooker match & when he gets back we are moving from our bedroom to spare room so that we can redecorate ours in the new year. The room is smaller but it's freshly painted & will be a much more welcoming for new baby...feeling very positive about it :)

AWCH I had a good laugh at your freshly ironed sheets If I don't iron the sheets I sleep on I'm hardly going to iron sheets that I plan on making a mess of

For those of you in denial I'm right there with you...it hardly seems legal that with my complete & total lack of experience that I'm going to be allowed to care for a baby Shouldn't I have had to go on a course or something?? Really hoping that nature steps in once LO is born & makes it all really obvious because I haven't the foggiest what to do with them once they arrive

I had a clear out of books yesterday. Have three of those huge tesco blue bags full of trash fiction (chick lit, archaological mysteries, Ludlum etc. I should not be allowed in charity shops with spare change >_

Oh, don't cry, msbuyggywinkle! You'll be high on your new baby before you know it, and you've done far more Christmas shopping than I have! What I mentioned was just displacement activity (you know - tidying your room when you have a massive essay to write)

LittleMissFlustered, that sounds very determined. Sorry it's not quite enough to make you happy, but at the least, it will allow you to feel content, I hope?

HoneyLovesCake, I'm sure everyone has the Oh-Lord-I'm-not-competent-to-manage-a-baby thing. What really helped me was a several-week postnatal course run by a local GP's surgery, which had sections on first aid, benefits, weaning, language developement and all sorts of other things. It was a damned sight more useful than my antenatal classes for that, got me out of the house, and allowed me to meet some new people, whom I still know. I found out about it through my health visitor (who comes to everyone after the birth), but your GP practice may also know.

Thanks for all the travel related feedback - I don't know why I focused on that to panic about last night!!

The freshly ironed sheets thing is hilarious, although I must admit that I have just ironed 18 freshly washed muslin squares. Bet that never happens again.....

Plu Thanks for the info, that course sounds good, I don't think they do one here; I shall ask HV though. I'm not really worried; I research everything intensively & I'm sure this will be no different but I do find it kind of bizarre that I'm allowed to take care of a baby unsupervised when a nursery worker or a nanny would need qualifications . Just keep telling myself I am made to do this, I am programmed by nature to do this I hope

Nearly nine years ago now a midwife handed me a wriggling bundle of girlspawn. I was quite young, just 22 and actually said "I don't know what to do." She smiled and said "that's good, you can all learn together."

Might sound twee, but she had a point. No matter what knowledge you think you are taking into motherhood there is always something new to find out, a discovery to be made and many many realisations to dawn. Take it one step at a time. I'm on my third, and I'm sure there'll be a fair few surprises along the way x

Thanks plu have cheered up now, the feeling of disorganisation is basically because I'm sure I should have more jobs to do but I don't because it is baby number three. So I've found myself jobs to do instead! Just ordered a load of essential oils and am going to browse baby clothes next.

I was 21 when I had DD1, I had no idea what I was doing, she was the first baby I had ever held! She is still alive! I did find having a list of 'things to try when the baby is screaming' very useful as I could go through them all in order and if she still yelled then I could assume she had a headache/stomachache/something else I can't do much about and just keep cuddling and comforting without feeling hopeless!

msbuggy glad you've cheered up. What is it with the hormones this weekend?

I was 22 when I had DS. I was still panicking when I was in labour whether I was really ready to be a mother. When he was born looking after him just sort of came naturally and I found that I just knew what to do. And the best advice is to ignore everyone else's well-meaning advice and follow your instincts.

I wake up at 4am today with period pain in lower bump that went up to the top and a huge craving for ovaltine

I got so excited i was in labour it lasted for two hours every 10 mins and lasted for 3 seconds each. I could feel my bump harden then relax but now nothing

I feel like crying.

After every pain the baby would move/kick then settle down and i had another. Its so disappointing.

DH got up with DS at 5.45am and i stayed in bed and slept hoping it would get worse but no.

Son being a little monster last night and now as his sleep is all over the place and DH trying to take care of him more but has not got the hang of it yet

I have got the online shopping delivered today and i still forgot all the important bits , if anyone finds my brain can you give it back to me please?

I'm off to try and get son to sleep and then have a bubble bath.

Hope everyone has a good day

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Am having a productive enough day (for me) got up early and finished DD's curtains. Went through, washed and put away all baby clothes. Hospital bag is now completely packed except for going home clothes, I am going to have to chuck that in at the end as there aren't enough clothes that I fit into these days.

I had no idea what to do with DD either. I remember the panic when DH went back to work after paternity and left me on my own. I used to take her from room to room even when she was asleep in her basket, i.e. when I need to pee, make a sandwich, whatever in case she "needed me" during the 2 minutes I was out of the room . Oh and I used to give her the boob even if she squirmed as I was petrified of her crying, I had such a painful oversupply, could have feed the whole street. Sigh, good times. Weirdest thing is this time it feels like I am starting all over again, can't even remember how to hold a newborn.

Afternoon Ladies,

Kitty glad you've had some advice on travel, as I'd have no idea tbh.

Plu Your very organised.

MsBuggy Good to see your cheering up

Well DP let me have a lay-in this morning so didn't get out of bed till 10:30 was just what I needed tho. DD and DP sat and played with her Lego. She's has a few tantrums and decided she isn't going to eat her dinner and that she won't go hungry! She'll soon change her mind lol.

I only need to buy 5 more Xmas pressies and then I'm done, so going shopping with my mum on Saturday to Chichester to finish it all off, done half the wrapping it's just the other half to go now!

I had DD at 22, and motherhood came naturally. It also helped that my best friend had her DD about 18mths beforehand so had alot of practice lol. Not sure I'll remember how to do it this time around tho as DD is almost 7 now

Had some pain this morning as the head was right in my pelvis but seems to of moved up now.

cheep hope you feel better.

I could have swore we would have had one baby in the past week!

I read somewhere that the baby needs to learn how to be a baby as well as us learning what to do with them. Plus each baby is different so whatever worked with ds might not work with the new one. Second what someone else said is having a list of things to work through and after that there's not much I can do.
Other good tip was to agree a plan of action with Dh before the night began if we were having a tough time so you don't end up arguing about what you should do at 3 am.

Getting a bit exited now!

Hello all, just checking in. Had a lovely lie in this morning as DH fed the cats who were the loudest most annoying mew bags at 6.30 this am.
Went to B&Q and raked the leaves out of the garden while The man of the house re felted the shed. Mopped the floors and now chilling in bed with the Glimmer Twins (cats) before drinks at the neighbours. Lovely, lovely day.
I wonder who will be first to pop!
I went for walk last night and I can so feel that the head is much lower now, almost feels like its ready to drop out. I really want this next week just to do nothing. Then, I will be ready.
Come on oi, I think you and ginger baby will be first. Sending you some labour vides but looks like this are also coming along for cheep.

I had bath, now cooking korma for tea

In my first pg my waters had gone now 37+6 weeks and son born at 38+2 weeks

Tomoro i will be 38 weeks pg

Baby kicking and i'm still getting some pains low down in bump, but nothing to suggest labour anytime soon.

Bump shot is now on my profile

Cheep I had all my contractions in my back with DD

I'm swinging from not feeling at all ready for this baby, to feeling like I just want it out. Still have no clue how I'll cope with two little ones, but know I'll have to just get on with it when this one arrives so I'm trying not to think about it too much!

Have had another fairly weepy day. I think it's mostly due to lack of sleepp - only 4 hours again last night. Not sure how I'm supposed to have the energy to push this baby out when it won't let me sleep!