Due in October 2012 Part 7 - towards the finish line, going for Gold!

[Planktonette]

On your marks...
Get set...

GO!

Heh heh, busy, funny thread today.

Planktonette not even sure where to start here - I get food science, I get a drying rail review AND... I get a new inspiration! Love the idea of the sock monkey :o Also glad scan all well

Crazypaving am :o at your surreal, deep and meaningful dream. But also sending and sympathy on the DH thing. Glad you finally got talking about stuff - why do they bottle it all up?! Mine is the same, usually in a bid 'not to worry me'. It is a bit freaky hearing the measurements, God knows what size our bean will be now, probably about 9lb!

• we are popping up everywhere now :o

Londonmrs thanks for tip off about book ie avoiding it. Sounds like the kind of thing that would make me blow a gasket at the minute. I just have to accept that for people like Ina whatsit I am a terrible failure for not wanting to give birth to a monster sized baby and be ripped to bits in the process thanks to surgical history... Somehow I shall struggle on in the face of Ina's disapproval of my desire to remain continent... :o For a more balanced view I am still recommending the Leigh East book (although worryingly I have packed it somewhere when I really need to start re-reading it )

CWest hurrah for date! Yes, let's be CS buddies! I won't be on FB but we can PM all the gory details :o

Huffle hope the course was good and useful and thanks for an alternative view of the Lakeland dryer thingy...

WantanOrange well done on surviving move and enjoy your new home :o Don't worry about the house feeling big, I hated our house the first few nights as the rooms felt fecking enormous and felt like I was rattling around in it. Feel totally at home now.

Smilie I wouldn't dare watch OBEM now

Now, for first timers like me - a washing baby clothes tip. If you are washing little things like scratch mitts / tiny hats etc put them in a laundry bag / net thing. They were so tiny they pinged out of machine drum and escaped under rubber seal on washing machine door, had to be peeled out dripping wet instead of spun. That's the new thing I learned today!

Velo hope scan goes well - and congrats on the 37 week mark!

EDD - Estimated Due Dates

Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1, Angelico DC1 by ELCS, CWest DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1.
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Velo DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1, Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1.
Oct. 17: Smorgs, DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1, Zara1984 DS1.
Oct. 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MickeyTheShortOne DC1

Have updated CWest - competition for the first baby looks intense.

Hi ladies, took me ages to find thread, been on and off since the beginning. Eek it's really happening!

My stats 37+2 Due 1 Oct DC 2

Feeling all weird today, did way too much at home, but then had to get house ready for my parents who arrived from overseas, thank goodness not a moment too soon! Feel like I am going to drop any minute!

velo thanks for updating list!

Have a feeling squid is going to get gold though then its between me and angelico who gets silver and bronze.

But anything can happen as we all know and after all we have been through, we ALL deserve the biggest prize of all, our happy, healthy babies. :)

Love to you all xxx

huffle for purposes of comparison, I hung out on a normal clothes airer (ie not heated, a tenner from argos job) last night at 10pm. By this morning some of the muslins and some of the vests were dry. By the time I got home from work (730) everything was dry, even the towels. We have a modern, well insulated house though so that might help? Sounds like the lakeland thing isn't quite living up to the marketing.

Oh and we had NCT breastfeeding lesson tonight. Man that was confusing. I feel even less confident about it than I did before.

Information was...
-baby will feed approx 6-12 times a day
-each feed will take between 10 and 60 minutes.

• you'll know you're doing ok if baby is gaining weight and having wet nappies
• baby could poo every feed, every day or once a week. Each is fine.

-it shouldn't hurt, but latching on might make you wince (but only for 10 seconds or so). And so on. Incredibly vague. Nice woman, don't get me wrong, but I'm a planner. An organised kinda woman. And the utter vagueness of what it might involve frustrated me.

CWest, so happy and relieved for you that you finally have a date! And Angelico, so exciting!

I can't believe that there will definitely be babies born in less than 2weeks, if not before!

Please don't all disappear off to a postnatal thread too soon though, don't want to be left here talking to myself.

Sympathies to all who've had meltdowns recently, I haven't had any as yet (though did just nearly shed a tear at Ryan getting star baker on GBBO ) but I'm a good few weeks behind most of you so I'm sure my turn will come. Probably when you are all serene, calm new mothers....

Glad you got things out in the open with your DH Crazy, sounds like it was worth the meltdown. Hope things are better from now on.

Yes, I was thinking about 10 pairs of pants Londonlivvy. Definitely will be getting cheap and cheerful with a view to throwing out afterwards. Even if they were still useable, I'm more a low, skimpy, totally-unsuitable-for-after-childbirth kind of girl, so will have no use for granny pants!
Didn't make it to the beach as it was cloudy and bit rainy (still stupid-hot and humid though), definitely going this weekend though, rain or shine. It's a 3-day weekend, we have 2 in a row.

Londonmrs - "they should all take their clothes off and menstruate over each other" - hilarious!

Get you with your freezing knowledge Plankton!

I got an amazing care package from one of my friends the other day, crammed full of smellies, makeup, book, chocolate, cigar for DH and the cutest little booties. It was the best surprise and must have cost a fortune to post, really made my day. She had her daughter whilst living and working abroad, and I went to visit and try to help out just a few days after her CS. Such a great experience and made us really close.

Had my once-a-fortnight checkup this morning - I'm still measuring small (now 27cm at 33 weeks), but she's still not worried as baby is still big (2300g/around 5lbs I think ) and very active. Still head down, on my left, facing right - probably got no room to change position (though it kicks and stretches like a cat in a bag), poor little buggar. How can I make my uterus grow?!

Easy pooing and restful sleeping to all!

Can't be bothered today, but thankfully finish work at lunchtime. Enough time to get home and quickly run the Hoover around before I get a visit from the local "maternity care assistant" - no idea what to expect, think it's more talking about what to expect in the first few days out of hospital. Will post any interesting nuggets of info.

gah have had a banging headache since Monday. Thankfully work in a GP surgery so have been getting the nurses to check my BP. It was up yesterday (147/83) which isn't too horrendous, but my normal BP is around 120/75 so going to keep an eye on it. No other symptoms (no swelling, no sparkles/blurry vision) so am hoping it's just a headache.

32, 33+3, #1

Have just thought - only thing I've been doing differently since weekend is taking raspberry leaf tablets...wonder if it's those?!?

Hmmm, that bp sounds a bit on the high side especially if you've got a headache too, please make sure someone checks your bp and dips your wee today kyrria and take care of yourself! Glad youre finishing work today, enjoy the rest xxx

Thanks smiley - will get my nursey pals to check again this morning. All was ok when I saw midwife on Friday (urine dip was -ve and BP was 130/74) but you can't be too careful. Head was fine until I sat up in bed this morning and then bam.

Made it sound like I was finishing work completely at lunchtime...no such luck . I am a half day on a Wednesday,buton the plus side I finish for mat leave 2 weeks on Friday with a couple of days hols and last week of mornings only so it could be worse.

Morning kids

Keeping myself busy and distracted, but it's getting a little bit harder to be honest. (Probably because I started maternity leave so early, but oh well.) Still have had a nice couple of days. Got lots of jobs done around the flat on monday, had a nice swim, went to the theatre with boyfriend in the evening. I wore this pretty maternity dress (it's MUCH comfier than it looks, lovely and stretchy) and boy assured me I looked lovely and was being very touchyfeely actually but I just feel so ENORMOUS and SLOW in the evenings. Still the play was ace and I got a few smiles. Walking there and back took an age.

Yesterday I had a quieter day, did some cleaning, read a bit. Had midwife appointment, not my usual midwife but she was very nice and I may be getting her for home birth so glad I've met her. Everything was fine, babs still measuring small but not concerningly so, 3/5 engaged, good position, BP fine, heartrate fine. Next appointment is my due date! She said they wouldn't do a sweep until 41 weeks or at least a few days after my due date. Went to pregnancy yoga in the evening and am kind of the celebrity there as the next furthest girl along is about 32 weeks. They keep saying "ooh we might not see you next week" - but I keep reminding everyone first babies tend to go overdue.

I made the mistake of weighing myself, I've put on nearly 2 stone, not sure if this is good or bad. La la la I won't think about it. Shouldn't be much more, could be another few lb if I go overdue I guess.

I feel a bit pressured to keep a daily presence on texts/facebook so no one starts bloody asking me if I'm in labour or had the baby yet - think I'd scream! Getting a few "any signs? any twinges?" texts - I'm not even due yet! I always promised myself I would assume he/she wouldn't come before October but now I'm here, i can't help thinking, oooh but what if...

I am nearly fully prepared - still need to pick up pool from hospital, am waiting for a call from them. I want to try out my TENS machine and just go through a couple of last hypnotherapy things with the boyfriend so he's got some useful things to say during labour... but nothing major.

I had four poos yesterday and am have had continuous mild period-like pain since yesterday evening and feel quite nauseous. This could mean tonight, this could mean nothing! Keeping on as usual, going to do some yoga now and then into town in a bit for a stomp around and meet a mate for lunch.

I know there's a range of due dates - how are the late sept/early oct girls coping with the waiting game? Send me tips! DEVASTATED to find out I have not one but TWO rivals for my due date with guaranteed babies on that date - talk about pressure - only kidding!!! Cwest and angelico you are both very much in my thoughts.

squid. x
38+1

Morning all!
Only a quick hello, prolific posters!! Congrats to those with a date!! Significant like to know what is happening planner that I am, would LOVE to know when baba coming!! This whole vagueness doing my head in!!!

Brilliant, great for u! 25th Sept here we come!

Course was v good. Managed to stay all day til 5 tho I was beginning to get funny looks trying to balance self on v front of chair to give pelvis and hips a wiggle. This morning not only r the hips and pelvis fecked, coccyx away with it too!! Lovely! It was however a business inspiration type thingy and the likelihood of implementing anything dramatic within 2.5 wks is erm, zero!

And no Angelico not a scone in sight.....
Was a free course sort of, no sponsorship and delegates did not pay, so tea only, not even a Which was a shock as usually well fed at such things!!!!!!!

Interesting views on said drier. Hmm. Our new house is super well insulated and warm due to DH using every conceivable kind of insulation on every conceivable layer!! So disappointed in this, might just hav to use tumble for now. Don't doubt it brill for some, given reviews. Perhaps my expectations different?

Off to what can only be hectic day as not been in since Friday.......

Have a nice day all
Xx

Have read that back and think I sound really pathetic! Here is a list of things I have planned for the next 3 weeks:

night walk for charity (don't worry it's short)
Food festival this weekend
3 mates up to stay next weekend (just for one night, they are aware I could cancel!)
River festival, grand opening of new park next to my flat (MY park, obviously)
Pregnancy massage booked for day after my due date
Richard Hawley gig day before my due date

SEE. It would be terrible to have to cancel all that, wouldn't it!? [fails to convince self]

Hi All... I am due on 10 Oct too, seems to be a popular one. Going on mat leave next week at last and just about finished with all the DIY in the house.

Saw the midwife yesterday who keeps on telling me my baby is back to back, when the other midwife does not agree....

Sometime within 3-6 weeks: CWest30 ELCS DC2
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1, Angelico DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Velo DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1, Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct. 7: crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1, Iwishiwasalittlebitfitter DD1
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle
Oct. 17: Smorgs, DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1
Oct. 21: dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1
Oct. 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MickeyTheShortOne DC1

Oh My god Ryan got star baker? Damn you Cherrycopsticks I am watching it on catch up today. [Grin] I have made a huge Bruce Bogtrotter chocolate cake which DD has decorated and I intend to have a huge chunk of it with a dollop of cream and watch it at my leisure today. Pregnant women + bake off + cake = heaven. Fact.

Big news on here - Angelico and Cwest I doff my respect hat to you both - even I am thinking blimey that is too soon so god knows what you are thinking. I am off to get some stuff for my hospital bag today, inspired by your imminent arrivals. Not bothered about packing it as that only takes two shakes of a lambs tail but do think it may be prudent to have some actual stuff to go in it. I had to have the baby monitored on Monday and the midwife inquired in those intense contractions are normal for me and they are.And they have been for ages so I suppose I shouldn't ignore the signs that this baby may get evicted early. (or is this wishful thinking). Cwest that is a lot of important dates you have coming up - you make sure you take it easy lady. DD has started school and despite my reservations that the changes were all too much for her she has taken to it like a duck to water - kids are so darn flexible. unlike this paranoid worrying mother

Squid 2 stone sounds perfect to me - about the same as what I have put. Granted the baby is most of it (how the hell am I going to get this baby out of me???) but I keep getting told I am all bump. I find this hilarious as I feel like a grounded whale. Difficult to think I am still growing - I think I am going to be in real trouble if I grow much more - I may fall over. Seriously - I am like a weeble. All those signs sound promising though - you are on the home straight now.

Kyria Hope you feel better but like Smiley says keep an eye on things. Having had PET with DD, I can vouch for how suddenly it comes on, so worth being extra cautious about warning signs. I was sat at home having my home birth check when mine was detected. So I went from having the most straight forward pregnancy to pack your bags lady. Not saying you have it or trying to scare you - I am sure you don't. Just worth being vigilant - although you are in the right place to be well looked after so I am sure you don't need my advice/nagging.

LondonMrsS at that book. Also sounds like the kind of thing I would avoid like the plague. So far I have good intentions of reading up about hypno nonsense but then never get round to it. Maybe when I finish work I will have time.

LondonLivvy Sorry you found your BF class a bit useless. Having attended BF class and having BF I am have often thought that there is very little worth learning in a class. It is such a different experience for everyone I am not sure how much looking at knitted nipples and talking about it helps. Also a babies patterns for feeds changes as they have different stages of growth so really difficult to plan even when you think you have it cracked. The best advice I had was to just stick with it, as for most I think it has challenges but they are challenges worth riding out. The second best advice was don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work. Because no matter what the NCT and the breast feeding police tell us for some it doesn't. Those messages are the most important - the rest is trial and error and expecting to get comments about the shape of your nipples/boobs and getting midwives squeezing them Here endeth the midgets masterclass in Breastfeeding.

to all your term ladies - hey what harm can it do? Velo, Milk, Plankton and the list goes on. We really are all getting there aren't we. I still feel like I have yonks to go but I think that is what we call denial.

wantanorange feeling a bit that you are more organised than I am and you have just moved house. Shame on me. Congrats on the move though.

Still envious of the prolific poohers amongst you. I know someone else here has mentioned varicose veins in unpleasant places but I can't remember who it is - I expect another second timer. I want to share a little TMI here. If I strain at all my area around my perineum gets really swollen - and I mean really swollen. It goes down again but it is really uncomfortable for a bit. I think this may be bastard VV's. It is really scary and makes me want a VBAC even less as I know they can bleed if you need intervention (and I have a massive baby). Trying to deal with it with a combo of diet and powders and the like but it is more the birth that bothers me - if I get like that with a pooh what the hell is going to happen with pushing. Any words of wisdom to be had from any of you? Apart from god midget that is gross

Right over shared, off to hide in a cupboard...

Proof that this thread moves too darned fast - just cross posted with 3 bloody people...

Morning peeps :)

On the due date thing... I reckon a surprise contender could come up the inside...

squid I am making the days pass by looking at my to-do list and panicking. Time flies when you're panicking!

If anyone is feeling bad about their preparedness, may I offer the salutary lesson of my mate who is 6-7 months:

Her new flat needs major work done. The builders are coming in soon. They are due to finish the work on... Her due date.

And she is TOTALLY CALM ABOUT IT.

Deluded or not, I think we can all take some inspiration from that.

(yeah no she is totally deluded.)

Thanks for all the concern ladies. Got one of our practice nurses to check BP again this morning as head was pounding. Up slightly on my normal (135/88) but down on yesterday. She made me do a urine dip to be on the safe side which showed a trace of protein so one call to hosp and I'm currently at the pregnancy assessment unit being checked over. BP closer to normal on their machines and no protein detected on whizzy lab tests which is reassuring. Waiting for Dr to finish ward round so they can come and check me over. Just wish I could get rid of this bastard headache!

Kyrria you are in the best place - hope all is well x

Good luck kyria, hope you are home and reassured soon.

Hey Kyrria glad u in being checked properly, was getting worried by that BP and headache. Best to be on safe side. You take care and do what you are told (bump currently kicking or butting phone here, baby obviously agrees!!)

Hugs, x