Still Brewing a March Baby!

[Carlitawantsababy]

Shiny new thread!

Not including today I have 11 days of work left till maternity leave! the countdown begins! I may start a business selling maternity leave advent calendars, could put pampering treats behind each window! my last working day is 1st feb but I have 4 days of holidays too so really is very close now.
OBEM was a bit better last night I thought. loved the frazzles man, he was great!
The water birth was so lovely looking. I has a recommendation for a pool yesterday from my aqua natal instructor (who is also a midwife and had home water births herself) she recommends 'la bassine, made in water' pools as they have ridges and handles inside which help at the pushing stage which she said made a big difference compared to the smooth pools, she said she has worked with them a lot too and finds them good because they are slightly see through. 'how to be a good mother' turned out to be rather odd, placenta smoothie anyone?

The OBEM babies are nearly all so terrifyingly big! I was going to say that one thing is that they never show anything about the afterbirth & how long that takes/ if there are complications etc- then there was the programme after with the woman boiling up placentas for capsules (my friend had that done!)

Does anyone know much about the afterbirth? (I don't want to eat it!) Just wondering how soon after the birth it is, and if everyone usually has that injection that encourages it out. The placenta's quite big, isn't it? Must need a good push or two? I suppose I should just google it.

Wordweaver, I'm freelance, too (just heard yesterday that my maternity allowance has been approved.) But I'm feeling quite guilty, because I've hardly been doing any work the last few weeks & concentrating on getting the house sorted out (loads of plastering/ decorating etc). This is partially because depending on finances I might have to think about moving in a year or so, so it's financially prudent to get everything in shape, but I should really be trying to earn a bit more before the baby comes- I'm just too brain dead, though. Are you really going to work again four weeks after the baby comes? That's pretty hard going. You're a stronger woman than me!

Milly- my NCT classes are happy for you to go on your own, or with a partner, or a friend etc, I don't think there's a pressure to go as a couple. Like someone suggested above, pregnancy yoga might suit you as it's just the women who go, and it was very friendly and focussed on women & babies, no one mentioned their other halves, or lack of. X

Thanks all for the lovely welcome. I haven't watched OBEM, I don't normally go in for programmes like that, but i am intrigued to watch the water birth. I'll watch it on catch up and fast forward the bits i don't want to see! For those of you planning a waterbirth, i'd really receommed The Water Birth Book by Janet Balaskas if you haven't read it already.

Milly - i have been attening prenatal yoga which is all just mums2be. I'm also 5 classes into a 6 session Lazy Daisy Birthing class, don't know if they do them in your area. It's mainly yoga based exercises and stretches, but there's also really good information about what happens during birth, ie hormones produced and good positions to get in to help etc, plus some breating. It's all just mums so be fine to go by yourself. I paid £40 for 6 1.5hr classes and it's been interesting and usefull.

Kiki, eek! I still need to put my claim form in! I thoroughly sympathise with the brain-dead feeling - I should be working now and I just stare at the page and my mind drifts off . . . or the baby kicks like hell. What sort of work do you do? I am not looking forward to trying to work so soon afterwards, but we can't afford for me not to really. Baby was a (lovely) surprise and it's not the best of times financially, so sadly it has to be.

Carlita, I enjoyed OBEM more this week too. Not sure I like it as much as when they were in the previous hospital though.

Still a month to go until my NCT ante-natal classes start. I could start the NHS ones on Monday, but I think I will probably wait - could overload on it all!

On the increasing symptoms front, anyone else getting leg cramps in bed?

My form only took a couple of weeks to come back, so hopefully they can process yours quite speedily, Word, though you need to get your Mat1B signed by the MW too, if you haven't already. I'm an artist/ curator & run arts events so this is generally a quiet time of year for me anyway, whereas March- October I tend to work seven days a week, including evenings (that was a killer last year, when I had morning sickness and was generally knackered!) My baby was a surprise, too, and financially I don't know how it's all going to work at all. To claim the full maternity allowance (£128 per week) you are only allowed 10 days work in total though- so I guess you'd have to declare what work you're doing, and then you'd get a proportion of the allowance. Sorry, you probably know all that already. It's all a bit confusing, I find.

Milly, I was going to say- me and my 'DP' are on very good terms, but weren't in a formal relationship when I got pregnant, and we don't live together. Although he's brilliant and really supportive in many ways, I'm in a strange sort of place between being in a relationship & having a baby with someone, & being single, which is complicated in all kinds of ways I couldn't even begin to try to explain. I don't know if he'll be able to make the NCT classes, though he's been at the scans, and we both really hope he can be at the birth, but I'm beginning to think about a doula. I find it really hard to try to explain the situation to people, but so far everyone has been really nice about it.

I've been quite uncomfortable in bed, Word, but it's eased a bit since I sleep with a pillow/ pile of blankets between my legs- the yoga teacher said to aim to sleep with your knee aligned with your hip, and that does seem to make a difference...

Must have been tough for you last year, Kiki. Yes, I have the form signed so it should hopefully be quick. My plan - such as it is! - is to work the 10 days over the course of April/May and try to get jobs that are quick but high-paying (I write for children). But it all depends on what the baby is like. We have to work out some way that I can continue to do some work, but it won't be full time. Still, no situation is perfect. I'm hoping that although I need to work soon after the birth, that long-term being freelance will mean I can have more time with the baby.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what life will be like with a baby. One of the things that is a challenge for me is DH's role as Dad. I have never had one (he wasn't interested) - all I know is one parent, so I think there will be a lot for me to learn about how it works with two. Does that sound silly?

I've had very heavy legs in bed word, not cramps exactly, but very uncomfortable like the growing pains I had as a teen. I've been wearing support tights in the day and sleeping with my calves and feet on two pillows with the dream genii between my knees! Poor DH having to share the bed with me and all those pillows! I'm waking up so much to turn over, go to the loo etc. too though slept through last night following falling asleep to my hypnobirthing CD!
Thanks for the water birth book recommendation. Will have a look on amazon now, another good distraction from work as if I need it!

I've been sleeping with the pillows too, Carlita - it's quite a performance every time I want to turn over :) Poor DH isn't getting great sleep either, although we had a better night last night. Perhaps it's all good training for when the baby's here.

Oh I am SO using mumsnet as a distraction from the writing job I have on at the moment. Must. Stop. Posting.

Bought the book, THE single most expensive second hand book I've ever bought - £12.50 with postage so it better be good Jezzabell

As an additional distraction I have copied over the stats from the last thread to this one. We've got a busy couple of days in March!

Jezzabell: DC#1 EDD 4th March 2012
KikiRC: DC#1 EDD 22nd March 2012
Moffit : DC#1 EDD 22nd March 2012
carlitawantsababy: DC#1 EDD 23rd March 2012
Knitterati: DC#1 EDD 23rd March 2012
Sillymillyb: DC#1 EDD 23rd March 2012

Welcome jezebel

wordweaver - I know what you mean about the father role - mine left home when I was 5 so I've only really ever known single parenthood. It's something I've discussed with DH and he's been super supportive (his parents are still together, so at least he has some sort of model to follow).

Hope work speeds on by for those of you still working - I took redundancy just before Xmas and I'm so glad I did!! I have the worst baby brain ever and certainly couldn't face the 2hr commute anymore!

MW appt this morning went well - iron levels good, haven't heard from my GTT test (no news = good news) and the baby is back on track bump wise. 10 weeks tomorrow! Cot also arrived this morning, so it's starting to feel real! Although I shan't be planning on a placenta smoothie once baby arrives

Hmm- just heard about Beyonce's baby 'Blue Ivy'. Ivy was our favourite girls name- do you think there are going to be millions of little Ivy's running about now?

Hello again! Im just catching up with all the messages on here - glad to hear your all doing well, if not sleeping..... me either on that score.... between 3am and 6am seem to be my most perky hours at the mo. Very annoying!

Thank you all for being so kind on the dad score, Kiki especially as I think its the explaining to people that I find so difficult so Im glad someone understands. I want to reassure people Im ok with it, yet equally need to rant / cry / moan some times that being on my own is a bit pants!

Did you all watch OBEM then? I was totally in awe of the mad fashion lady.... thats what I want! But, like the rest of you, Im deffo not up for the placenta smoothie afterwards

Oh, and I love Ivy.... but really not sure about blue.... though I do know a really cool little dude called that. His parents are scarily hip though, intimidatingly so!

I'm so jealous of those finishing work soon. I'm working until march 14th, with DC%231 due march 25 (for your stats carlita) so hardly any time before to take a big rest. However, I am going to three days a week after next week so I'm hoping that'll help - although my hour drive to and from the office may get a bit testing as I get even bigger!

I'd love to go freelance after baby is here - v envious of you word and Kiki - but I'm not sure how I'd cope with the whole pitching for and completing the work itself. We'll see.

I've got OBEM on sky plus to watch tomorrow - everyone at work has mentioned about the water birth lady today so I'm looking forward to watching it. It's defo something I'm going for anyway but it'll be nice to see on tv and how it goes.

That should read DC 1 - not sure what's happened there! Sorry x

Oh kiki, that sucks, I would guess there will be an increase in the number of Babies called Ivy. Gorgeous name! Depends I guess if an increase in popularity would put you off, I've heard there's a big increase in Harper for example but assume it's still fairly unusual. I wonder when the 2011 ONS stats are released? Would be nice to check on Harper to make a prediction on Ivy, have you checked 2010 stats on it?

broody thanks for the date, I meant to ask you as couldn't see it on the end of the old thread but promptly forgot (as with just about everything atm) I'll add it when I'm on the computer. It's funny how we're (all but one) so clustered on this thread! Must've been nothing on TV that week in late June/early July!

Well, apart from really liking the name, I did quite like the fact that there aren't too many little girls called Ivy, but it still has a feel of being quite current as there are quite a few Evies etc and names from our grandparents generation. I'll keep an eye on the names thread etc. My Grandmother's middle name was Violet which I also like, and Willow is a contender, but I think Ivy is simpler. Maybe it will be a boy, anyway!

We're all clustered around that full moon! I still can't make head or tail of my due date, to be honest. I'm fairly certain according by my dates that I should be a week earlier, but the hospital wanted to use the scan to decide, so I can't be faffed to argue over it.

Lovely bright day by the sea down here, hope you all have a good Friday. X

Gorgeous day here too, looking out over the moors.

Hopefully you will still feel able to use Ivy, Kiki - as you say it is simple and both current and classic.

We are not getting anywhere with names. I haven't found a single one that I feel strongly enough about to fight for, so we have a list of 'possibles'.

It is funny that everyone is so clustered around the end of March! My due date is the 21st.

What are everyone's plans for the weekend? I've got a ton of work and housework to get through.

Jezzabell: DC#1 EDD 4th March 2012
Wordweaver: DC#1 21st March 2012
KikiRC: DC#1 EDD 22nd March 2012
Moffit : DC#1 EDD 22nd March 2012
carlitawantsababy: DC#1 EDD 23rd March 2012
Knitterati: DC#1 EDD 23rd March 2012
Sillymillyb: DC#1 EDD 23rd March 2012
Broodylicious: DC#1 25th March 2012

Is that everyone now?

kiki, if it helps, Ivy was number 227 in 2010 with 220 babies called Ivy
Violet was number 123 with 466 babies called Violet
Willow was number 112 with 511 babies called Willow

I think they're all lovely but Ivy was the most unusual by quite a lot.

word we have lots of evening plans this weekend, seeing different friends each evening, pub, meal at friends' etc. but the days are going to be spent packing. We said on Sunday that we'd pack one box each per night during the week and we've packed a total of one and that was with a recent (gorgeous) donation of baby clothes so stuff we didn't even own last week oh dear!
I just got more stuff to pack too - got all my free washable nappies from the council (just in time before moving!) so am pre washing the bamboo boosters now. Lovely getting deliveries like that, makes me feel like a mummy already!

Thanks, Carlita! That's good to know. Is the move getting closer then, if you're packing?

I'm just doing house stuff too, mainly this weekend, Word. Going up to London next week to raid a family friend's loft for babies things, and shopping for essentials with my mum, so hoping to get things in order before I start bringing new things into the house. Oh, and my tax return!

I feel very smug this year, as I did my tax return back in April, Kiki. But only because we were moving and I had to provide the last three years accounts for the bank's perusal. I am just gearing up to pay my first instalment of the payment in advance for next year. Am going to apply for it to be reduced though - no way I am going to be earning as much this year. Can't concentrate on anything for more than ten minutes together!

Lovely to be going up to raid a friend's loft! At the moment our spare room looks like an NCT sale. People have given us so much stuff. I got a great big bag of baby clothes from Freecycle last week - some of them are a bit too far gone but there are several things that might be good once they've had a wash. Also included a couple of random (unwrapped) breast pads!

Carlita, I don't envy you all the packing. We only moved back in July, so it's all still very fresh in my memory. My recommendations are: expensive brown packing tape because the cheap stuff was a nightmare to use, and one of those packing tape dispenser things. Oh, and lots of willing friends. It's so funny to think that when I was packing and lugging all those boxes around last year, I was pregnant and didn't even know it.

How brilliant that your council gives free nappies! I have signed up to the local trial scheme, where they give you a kit for a month and then you get 20% off anything you buy from them.

Just got back from swimming - first time I have worn the M&S maternity swimming costume, which is BRIGHT pink. It felt lovely to be in the water.

Has anyone got any tips for exercises you can do in the pool? They have stopped the aqua natal classes here so after doing 20 lengths I just did a few stretches and then got out. Would be good to know a few more exercises.

word Mmm, packing is pretty awful. The council gives us a £54 voucher for nappies which is pretty good then Hastings, once I move, were doing a free trial pack but can't find the info now so may have stopped.
All the exercises I know are for stabilising and strengthening the pelvis. Hold on to the edge behind you and bicycle with your legs, then with your knees more turned out. Do strong kicks out to each side (like you're kicking someone). Then, still holding on to the edge behind you, keep one leg on the floor or dangling if deep, then raise the other leg in front of you until your toes are out of the water, move your leg out, straight, as wide as you can (I'm hyper mobile so mine goes to the wall, this is still okay, will make PGP better, not worse) then bring the leg back down into the water and back to the centre, repeat 10 times on each leg. Face the wall and hold on and put your feet on the wall below your hands, tuck you pelvis in (as bump allows) and then push your bum out as far as you can (should feel a stretch in your thighs), repeat 10 times. These are the exercises I do when swimming on my own (twice a week) we do more in aqua natal (one a week) but you need shallow water and long floats and no one watching!! If you have back of pelvic pain you should not be doing breast stroke legs. This is a pain for me as I only swim breast stroke so am currently doing it with just arms which is quite hard work!