PART 3!! Sept-2012 Baby Bus!! Christmas-and-New-Year-Shaggers-all-aboard!

[TinkerMaloo]

Cant see another one anywhere on the board and part 2 is full up (finally) so here is part 3! (unless I'm just being a moron and missed it?)

Chat more please ladies, we are too fat and useless to do anything else! ;)

I wish I was off work! I'm so hot. 37 plus 3 now and getting really tired. I'm supposed to finish at the end of this week, one part time now but I have to go in one day next week to get my replacement sorted before I'm officially off. I think I'll manage to MN a lot more after that. I have big swollen feet too and am really hating the rib pain. Seems like the baby is trying to get out by pushin up with its feet and spreading my rib cage to stupid widths. Getting loads of BHs as well.

Anyone who has finished work already, did you find you got a lot more done after you finish? I don't have much ready for a baby at all yet which is getting a bit drastic. There are some clothes and some nappies but nothing big and even those haven't been washed yet. I need to get birth stuff in as well and make a birth space. Maybe think about a hospital bag just in case I need one?

I wish I was off work too, I'm working till 39 weeks (36wks on Thursday) but I'm off sick today as some scrote hasn't given me a horrid cold and sore throat, and of course I can't take any medication, gr.

I think we're doing quite well with the preparations, we have everything we need - thanks to generosity of family & friends we have nearly 40 first size baby gros and 30+ 0-3 month ones which means the baby officially has more clothes than me in terms of drawer space! And although I still hope for a homebirth we have an emergency hospital bag packed & DH has all important numbers/lists of things to grab on the way out so I'm feeling pretty calm. For now anyway!

Im 38 weeks today and have been off on holiday for past 2 weeks, mat leave starts officially next week. Couldnt handle the commute any more. Ive been getting a lot of cramping pain under my bump off and on. Especially at night time.Lots of pressure too. This is my first so I really have no idea what to expect at this point. Got midwife tomorrow so hopefully baby is becoming engaged.

Struggling with the heat and Im in scotland where it hasnt been as warm! Getting new bathroom this week so if baby could hang on in there until its finished on thursday that would be great!

So I'm 38 plus 1 today, haven't bothered with any raspberry leaf tea (I don't like herbal tea) though was thinking I could pick up some capsules but can't find either anywhere. Have looked in all shops and nowhere does it.

misscoffee I haven't worked from middle of may and only started to get things ready at start of August. Have all my tiny baby, newborn and 0-3 clothes washed. Still have to put them away. Have baby's cot in room but not put up and mattress has arrived for it. Still waiting on our crib (not sure when we getting it) and still have a mattress to get for it.

My Mw says that the later you finish work the longer you have to wait for labour, as it can take your body weeks to relax after finishing. I don't believe this as my auntie had her first child the Monday after finishing work at 38 weeks. But I'm hoping cause I haven't been working in a while it will help me out. wishful thinking

I would be very happy if baby came before due date, I'm dreading the whole possibly going late and everyone texting and phoneing.. Schools here work different and the cut off is in July for next school year so it doesn't matter if he came now or in September he'll still be in same year.

Have Mw appointment today and hope it goes a lot better than last weeks.

I took mat leave from 33 weeks last time as it was a very physical job with very funny hours and I was really struggling, plus I knew I wouldn't go back so wasn't sacrificng time with the baby. I didn't go into labour until past 42 weeks so I'm not sure about your MW's theory Rachel! Mind you I didn't get much ready last time either, I find it a lot easier to get stuff in and do stuff and get to the shops and choose stuff when I actually have a baby I know needs it.

I am thinking about a hospital bag, but I have no idea what to put in one. I'm not even sure which hospital I would go to or what they have there, or which part/wings of the hospitals have the maternity bits. Makes me sound terribly disorganised I fear. What do you pack in a bag you're not planning on using? I can't put clothes in, I need everything that fits me at the moment and only have one pair of shoes I can get on! I can't put toiletries or medications in there as I need them daily. I can't put the baby's first outfit in there as I'll need it out at home when it's born. Can't put the camera in I'll need that when it's born too. It's a minefield, think that's why I didn't do one last time either.

My next MW appointment is the 31st, last one was the 3rd, so 4 weeks between appointments, is that normal at this stage?

I got loads done when I stopped working misscoffee in fact really we are done now and I have not a great deal to do! Just got to finish putting baby's hospital bag together and that's it- soooo exciting!
We've got a wedding next weekend when I'll be 38 weeks what on earth am I going to wear??! And how am I going to last a whole day of social activity without my afternoon nap that has now become a daily feature?!

misscoffee speaking as someone who wanted a home birth last time and ended up being rushed to hospital in an ambulance, i would recommend packing a bag even if you hope to not need it. If you've packed your favourite first outfit, it won't really take your other half that long to unpack it if you end up staying at home. Whereas if you don't pack unless you need to, half what you need won't end up being packed. We had 2 minutes between the midwives phoning for the ambulance and it turning up outside. Just long enough for me to get dressed and for a few things to literally be thrown together. DP then spent days going back/forth from hospital as i needed things. In hindsight if i'd bothered to pack "just in case", it would have been much better!! Have you seriously not bought anything for baby? i was the opposite, i wanted to know i was organised and had everything we'd need, and made the most of the income we had pre-DS to buy things ahead of when we needed them - such as we had a cotbed, highchair and clothes and nappies to last him till age 2 before he'd been born!

I've got things packed well in advance this time. just have a shortish list of things to add at the last minute that i don't have duplicates of, like brush/comb/toothbrush/phone charger...

Re raspberry leaf, i took capsules with DS, but haven't this time as someone said i shouldn't as had previous CS. Clearly they didn't help me last time though! (bought them from holland and barrett). Also did perineal massage last time (well DP did) but we haven't done that this time either.

Thanks Loopy. I am pretty clueless about what to pack. I think a MN search might be in order.

I can't think of anything to buy for a baby, I think I'm having brain freeze. I guess I'm tight minimalist It has some clothes and nappies and BIL is bringing over their DS's old crib next week and a sling. DD has put aside a stack of toys and books for it. I can't think of anything else it might need so urgently we can't just go and buy it if we want to?

Problem with the just get the OH to unpack the bag thing is I'm preparing for birth as if I have to do it all by myself, whilst hoping I don't have to!

misscoffee if you have it at home, the midwives will be quite happy to pull an outfit from a bag for you! i'm sure they'd rather you be packed in case you need to head to the hospital.

If you go back a few pages on this thread, i put a list of what i'd packed for me and baby - i've packed more clothes than others as i was kept in 5 days last time, and likely to be in at least 3 days this time, so i'm trying to minimise DP having to go back and forth, to maximise the time he can spend at the hospital with me as the visiting hours are longer now than they used to be.

(have just checked, go back to 21st July)

and i've added tens machine to the list!

Last consultant visit; Done!

Induction booked for the 10th September (Yay I got my due date not theirs!)

OK my little man you have almost 3 weeks to get yourself moving before they drag you out!

Miss Coffee I am a bit of a minimalist too, I am only taking one cardigan , one hat and babygrows and vests enough to last a few days for little one. DP can pick up other vests etc if needed, there are more in babys drawer. I cant see the point in a "coming home outfit" he is only travelling from the hospital to the house which takes all of 5 mins and no-ones gonna see him on the way so he doesnt need to be dressed in his sunday best!? I would rather he stayed comfy in a babygrow. I have a towel, 3 nighties, cheap slippers, thin dressing gown and a sleep bra and knickers and pads etc packed and I will grab whatever maternity clothes I have clean at the time to shove in there, along with toileteries and snacks, dont forget the snacks!!! Think thats about it :)

I nearly bought some newborn size things today as I only have 2 babygrows in that size from DD (dyed blue now) but as he might be knocking on the door of 8lb they might be too small for him, so I'm leaving it til hes here then I can grab extra if neccessary. Shops dont close when babies are born and DP is good at getting whats needed as long as he has precise instructions ;)

I'm planning as if I'll be completely by myself, no midwives, no OH, just me or just me and DD. And hoping they get here or I labour at a decent time of day so that doesn't have to happen. I'm sure it won't, but I never thought it would last time either and it was a very close run thing. With community midwives who arrive on average 90 minutes after being called and a OH an hour away at work who knows what could happen. I've only ever done labour all on my own with noone to send to fetch for me so I am trying to plan to have everything I need in grabbing distance and hoping for a longer labour this time. This is another reason I don't want to rely on the grab the last few important bits and put them in the bag at the last minute idea!

Interesting what you say about baby size Tinkermaloo, how are we supposed to know what's what? All my newborn size things say up to 10lb or up to 11lb - then I have something called First Size which is up to 9lb, Tiny Baby which is to 7.5lb - then up to one month? and 0-3 months? What? I should remember this shouldn't I - but how can you guess by weight, surely it's length that matters for babygrows? And foot size, DD's feet didn't fit in any of them! I'm not fussed about a special outfit but DD has picked one out for the baby to wear first. I have no idea if it will fit!

Off to look back in the thread Loopy thanks

Good morning all, iv just had a consultant visit didn't actually see him just a doctor and c-section is booked for 10th sept and pre-op on 6th sept just need one more MW apt before then (they'r going to squeeze me in) and to see GP for my eczema again.i know this option isn't for everyone but I'm happy.baby is well and oblique lie x

4 weeks does seem like a long time between appointments Misscoffee . Mine has been every two weeks from 32 (either mw or consultant) and it moves to every week from 38 weeks.

Hats off to all you who are still working. I don't know how on earth you are managing. I'm shattered after 3 hours out of bed and I'm only 36 weeks tomorrow.

I don't have a special outfit for baby to come in. Don't really see the point tbh as there will be no-one else there and I know I will change her to a babygrow as soon as I get home. I'm a firm believer in babygrows all the way for as long as possible, they just look so cute and comfy in them. I really don't like proper outfits for babies but each to their own. I'm waiting for my growth scan next week before deciding what what size to bring with me.

What do they do at the pre-op appointment cjbk ?

Off to the dentist now for two fillings. Joy. Really gonna have to say to him about not putting my chair back at all. Makes me feel really breathless and dizzy leaning back even slightly these days.

They said the pre-op will be with a group of ELCS ladies and talk about the procedure and meds and so-on, not very clear but I'm sure they'll be more taking BP and blood and weighing x

Wow! It sounds like there'll be lots of early Sept. babies arriving! It'll be v ironic if I end up going til 14/15th when DD is 1st and so many others have been brought forward! :) don't really mind tbh as am teacher and would quite like a 'comfortably' Sept baby but hey go no control!

Been having pretty strong BH and pressure in lower back/bottom at night the last 2/3 nights. Feels quite uncomfortable like she's literally head butting her way out!!! Can Raspberry Leaf Tea make BH stronger or is it just common at this stage?

Also TMI probably, but, has anyone else had really variable discharge (and lots of it)? In one day, it'll be creamy/lotion like, clear like egg white or slightly yellow egg white!! No infection just having a 'glamorous' final stage I guess!

I think it depends on how far along you are, I don't go back to mw's at hospital until 7th September which is 4 days after my due date, but I'm going weekly to community midwife. It seems to be the norm where I'm from.

ballroom I had a scan Friday past and from all the measurements they took, it said baby is roughly 6lb 10 oz.. Consultant says baby is nowhere near that weight and is way smaller. So I'm still not sure what clothes to bring in with me..

I'm looking to have a wee outfit for bringing him home in, but I'm looking for a really cute baby gro outfit.. That way he will be comfy and I don't have to stress about changing him when I get home. Plus most of mine and Oh's family will be up. Anyone have any good sites or shops that I could get something like this from? As I've looked everywhere and cant find anything cute enough.

ballroom good luck with the dentist, I hate going to them. Luckily I don't have to go back until baby's born. But only cause they can't do whatever they have to do until im not pregnant :( dreading it.

I'm on the countdown to due date and I'm really really hoping (and fingers crossed) he will come early or on time what are the chances sick of feeling like theres a melon between my legs when I go to move or get up.. Just want my little man here so I can hold him and not just get kicked in the ribs.

My MW asks to see me every two weeks at this stage (35 weeks onwards). I also have scan tomorrow to check whether low lying placenta has moved but the midwifes only know about that from my notes; they don't seem to deal with the ultrasound team direct.

I have not had any BH at all which is good in terms of pain etc but I hope it doesn't mean my uterus is failing to warm up properly!

funchum This is my 3rd pregnancy but the first with any BH at all. And my womb dmanaged to do its thing ok with the first 2, dont worry!

Rachel M&S have some nice babygrow type outfits, still soft and comfy, but not quite a babygrow. Not sure how cute your cuteness requirements are though lol

My midwife is off on her hols next week so I wasnt going to see her til the 5th for a cheeky sweep, but the consultant that booked the induction says I MUST be seen every week now, so I have had to make a GP appointment instead for next week.

Hi ladies, as usual have been watching the thread and following everyone's posts but haven't written much! I've been on leave for 2 weeks already, (using up holiday) and maternity leave proper kicks in on Friday. I have been SOOOooo busy, been overdoing it really. I left too much to do until my leave, including a major room reshuffle. I haven't enjoyed the time much until now, but am now feeling a lot more organised and starting to do the things I was looking forward to (sewing, baking, having my hair done etc). Have done loads of washing and getting on top of admin etc. Hospital bag mostly packed, just the odd last-min thing to throw in! We still aren't sorted with names!! Have a long list, not a short list and certainly no final choices! Bit worrying. Doesn't help that we don't know if the baby is pink or blue!

Have got plenty of neutral 'newborn' clothes and 0-3 months (which are probably too big!) ... hoping that between those, something will fit the baby, and once we know what gender it is, we can stock up on more.

I think I had my first BH today... haven't really felt any until now I don't think. I haven't been feeling at all ready for the baby to come so been desperately hoping it won't decide to come out early. Won't mind so much after this week I think, tho would still like a little more time (due date is 7 Sept). :) I have had raspberry leaf tea in the cupboard for a while, but haven't been using it as didn't want to bring anything on prematurely. How silly is that!? I'm sure its not a magical contraction inducer!! I think I should start it tonight!

Like someone said, I think I am going to really miss having this wriggly baby in my belly! I've grown quite attached to it and its such a special time (despite all the accompanying discomforts!!) Will be so different once its out! Will never be quite so close/attached again!

Trying not to be too apprehensive about the birth. Its scary not knowing how it will be, or when it will happen! We tend to think of it as something really painful but think the fear adds to the pain (if you are tense!) so am trying to keep relaxed and calm and remember to trust my body (and the baby) - friends keep telling me nature knows what to do and people have been doing it for thousands of years (without medication!). Yikes!

Can't believe our journey is almost at an end ladies! :)

It was me thali who will miss this little wriggler inside, glad you know what I mean! I saw my consultant again today (literally the nicest man on the planet aside from DH) and if I don't go into labour before and so long as nothing changes I'll be induced or ELCS, haven't decided yet, on the 6th sept- eeeeek! Can't believe this little one nearly has a birthday! X

Also ladies here is a lovely birth story from a girl in the NCT group before ours. She gave birth 3 weeks ago to a gorgeous baby girl, labour started during lunch at a pub at 2.30 ish she got home and gave birth by 6pm and only needed two paracetamol and it was a first baby! Sounded perfect and gave great comfort to nervy first timers like me!

Well I need a bit of hand holding now. Not been well for a couple of days so went to the doctor today. He thinks there is a slim chance I could have pre-eclampsia so I have to go to the maternity ward to be on the safe side. I'm sure everything will be ok as it's only a slight chance (blood pressure is fine which is a good sign) but I'm still slightly concerned I might get this baby before I'm ready!

Hope all is ok Mrs Hels! even if you do have it, as long as they are on top of it, you and baby will be ok :)

In my exp I am never ready for them when nomatter they come, that includes the induction at 42 weeks lol

Hope you're doing ok MrsHels.

Anyone who can't get hold of raspberry leaf tea I'd recommend Holland and Barrett mail order - I ordered mine a couple of days ago and it arrived this morning.

We haven't got names sorted either Thali. I think that's probably because I'm too picky though. We've got 3 or 4 alternatives for boy and girl but none of them feels like 'it'. I think we might decide once we finally see the baby. I know I keep saying this, but I REALLY can't believe we're nearly there now! It will be September next week - how crazy is that!

Smallgreenone a lady from our NCT class last time had an amazing birth a bit like that - she had some bleeding so drove herself to hospital not realising she was in labour at the time. She gave birth naturally with no pain relief about 40 mins after getting there! And she was an older mum, high risk, booked in for a section, so not quite what she was expecting!

I missed the wriggles after DD was born - I really felt empty. However, it was nice to be able to bend down again, and fit through small spaces!