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

[Planktonette]

On your marks...
Get set...

GO!

Bella I would definitely finish a week earlier if possible and sod the money!!! I was off all summer and planned to go back for 2 weeks (weeks 35+36). Instead only did a week - and was so glad because with bean coming earlier than expected I really felt like I needed the time. It has flown in!!! Can't believe I only have 4 full days of freedom left - and even then on Monday I have to go in for my anti-clotting jab etc!

Evening all,

I have been gone for less than 2 days and I have missed so much. More babies with dates and some of them really really soon.

Squid I am giving you a hug and a stroke. You don't need me to tell you labour is a process not a singular act and your body is doing what it needs to do to get ready. Try not to beat yourself up if it doesn't happen quite as quickly as you want it to. waiting is a bitch You are doing all the right things - it will happen soon, of that you can be certain.

Raising a glass to Angelico for finishing work. and some to Cwest as a get well gift.

Londonlivvy Glad the scan went ok. I had a consultant app today and asked how come bump sizes can still be spot on but babies can be small or big. My consultant said it was one of mother natures mysteries. My bump measured right last time and DD was tiny and it measures spot on this time and yet it is huge and so is the baby. Seems a weird old thing to me .

Right I best go to bed as shattered so no time to catch up more. I am going in for a sweep in 2 weeks time. With a view to getting an induction date 37-38 weeks or if CS then 39 weeks so by 19/10 at the latest I should have the baby here. Consultant seems to think more likely to be earlier though. Gulp. Blimey - will be back to catch up over the weekend. Manic at work and now it looks like I need to move my optimistic finish date as every chance I will have a strapping baby by then.

Big waves to you all - will be checking back in for news on a regular basis even if no time to post.

Ugh, early start this morning. Bean has taken to turning and lying tranverse at night. Must be getting crowded in there. Anyway it hurts and was panicking about stupid What to Expect book mentioning a vertical incision scar for CS According to Dr Google it's very rare to do that, thank God. There seems to be a You Tube video but not sure I'm ready for that at this stage... maybe after everything's over...!

So now I'm awake and tired and grouchy!!!

Mood has been wonderfully improved by the Spinning Babies website which recommends 'standing on my head in a pool of water'. At 38 weeks pregnant.

Oh, okay then. I'll do that for sure.

Fell asleep at 9 was hoping for a good night sleep, but mom and bean are now wide awake and fidgety and restless and it's only 12.

Thinking of velo and squid as well as the rest at the top of the lust. This is bound to be a very exciting week! I'm very interested to hear how the inductions go. ..

To everyone else: is there anyone here workung past oct 12th? I have 13 working days left. I think I have been keeping up with this count down vecause it is something measurable. Lord knows what I will do when done work. Still can't get my head around the fact that it could practically be anytime in the next 1 to 5 weeks. That is a very big span of possibilities.

To those still suffering with ms, hip pain, general rubbishness... Hugs! The end is in sight.. Luckily my spd has been taking a bit of a break. Think the yoga 2x a week is really helping. Now more of a pressuee feeling than a pain. . Could also be baby moving down/change in hormones.

Ok fun fact about everyone: what was your favorite early childhood toy? I had a glow worm that I slept with!

Eurgh. Exhausted.com . V v poor sleep indeed. Why oh why am I working to 38 wks?? This time next wk will be my last day. Cannot quite see it at the mo! Do not encourage self employment in your offspring folks, it is inescapable!!

Happy Friday ladies and bumps! Xx

thanks for the advice angelico. I want to, but am not sure my DH is completely behind it. When you left early, did you just e-mail the head/bursar etc? Were they ok about it? I am glad you have had a wee bit of time to get your head around things-4 days-wow! Hope your LO settles in the right position soon! Mine appears to be doing backflips. Am quite scared that maybe he/she is tiny in spite of bump size as the movements are massive, much bigger than ds at this point. I don't understand how there is room to move this much!

huffle sending you a huge hug! I am a week behind you and finding it hard too. It is so difficult to mentally function the way you need to at work, when your head and your heart are elsewhere. And even harder for you when it is your own business. You seem to have been working really hard to put everything in place for your mat leave so at least you can leave feeling satisfied that you are leaving it in good hands.

beeble i had a little white cat that is now one of ds's firm favourites! I find that so weird in a way, can not believe how time has flown! X

I wonder how Velo is?

bella I've done this before but I am a little worried about the indiginities of labour! The thing that's playing on my mind, and I know how daft this is, is what to wear . Last time I wore a nightie but I would like immediate skin to skin this time, which means I'll have to be naked, and I don't want to be!

wantan I was worrying about this too, so I've bought a couple of cheap nightshirts that button down the front, so if I need can still stay covered but can have baby on chest for skin to skin without revealing everything to everyone... Wonder if that might work for you?

New motto for late pregnancy - sleep is for the weak. At least sleep at night, in bed, which seems a distant memory.

Thinking of everyone v much.

wantanorange I have struggled with the same dilema - don't want to be naked but want skin to skin contact.

I have bought some of these Gownies - you're well covered and the front has poppers so you can have skin to skin or BF whilst still covered up.

32, 34+5, #1

Hello everyone,

it's so nice to read all your posts.. I really like the feeling we are in this together and the support you all give is fantastic.. I am so so excited and impatient for baby news!

I just came back from appointment including scan and the good news is the baby has turned around and is now in the right position (phew) but then they strapped me to a monitor for 1/2 hour (this is apparently routine in Belg and I will have it every appointment (4) between now and the birth) anyway at first the line was quite flat and the midwife asked if I was hungry (which I was - I had breakfast v early) have borderline GD so that might be the reason. Anyway, then she wobbled my tummy and baby seemed to wake up but there were some drops in heart rate/spikes on the print out. I have no idea what this means but she was a bit worried and now I have to go for more monitoring at the hospital tomorrow... Oh God! it seems there's always something...

Anyway I am trying not to worry and hoping that everything will be fine tomorrow - I am also v tired after v bad nights sleep last night so that might be adding to the worries.. I am going back to bed now for a doze to try to get things into perspective.

Hope you are all well... thinking lots of you all especially squid and velo

29, 35 weeks DD1

oh liege that is a pain. Did they not give you any info on why they were worried? I hope all is well today! I was on a trace for a really long period during labour and found it torturous looking at a screen when I didnt really understand what the peaks and troughs meant.

kyria i can't say I am looking forward to it either-I just wanted to make the point that it may not be as some suggest- i.e. 'you wont give it a seconds thought when you are in labour' because I was quite conscious of it, but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated beforehand. I still hate having smears and stuff like that now, but at that time, I was sort of able to accept it. I have also packed a selection of primark's finest massive nighties, including ones to unbutton for bf and a vest type one to wear immediately so that as much skin as possible is on show without having to be naked. I am hoping to have a water birth and apparently most people wear a bikini top and nothing else! Eeeeeeeeeeek! Someone on my water birth class, (who had been brave enough to watch OBEM) said to buy a bikini with a skirt type bottom half and just cut out the gusset part. That way at least my arse will be covered! I have no idea where to find such an item as I have not been a bikini wearer since I was about 14! It is weird as I have always had bad body image and struggled with an eating disorder throug my uni years. But somehow now, even though I have put on weight this pregnancy, I don't look at myself in horror like I used to-it sort of feels like my body has another function at the moment. However-(if any of you first timers are actually bothering to read my ramblings) the immediate pos- baby-massive-wobbly-tummy came as quite a shock to me! So will be prepared for that this time!

oops! Meant wantan not kyria sozza!

bella the advice was just as relevant for me

Just had the midwife round and apparently the John Wayne walk is due to. him being 4/5ths engaged.

Right, planning on an afternoon of pottering and snoozing x

Help....really struggling today. Have some kind of cold/sore throat combo, which apparently DS has too as he was up for a couple of hours in the night last night. I slept appallingly - all joints aching, having to turn every half hour because I was in pain. Shouldn't have gone swimming yesterday but feel guilty if I don't because we're paying so much for my membership at the gym and DH was badgering me to go, saying it would make me feel better. I should know better and should've ignored him.

I am exhausted after such a bad night and feeling poorly, and DS so far today has refused to nap - he really picks his moments. He's being his usual gorgeous high-volume high-input self, and I have no patience. The baby is kicking the absolute shit out of me, and doesn't seem to have slept all morning, and I just want to shout at both of them to leave me alone. I just shut myself in the loo and cried my eyes out with DS outside going "mummy mummy mummy mummy mummy mummy" over and over and over. I can't cope!!!!! How the fuck am I going to cope with a newborn and a toddler???

Oh Christ. Just fielded a call from DH.

I knew, I knew, I KNEW I wasn't going to get off that easy with MIL. (MIL has a suspected personality disorder - 'difficult' is an understatement, she is to normal 'difficult' what 'naughty' is to 'has five ASBOs and might have killed the neighbour's cat'.) I know a couple of you are all too familiar with this type of mum/MIL.

We had a deal. The deal was agreed. The deal was, if you don't come to the UK, we promise to bring the baby to you in Australia in February. That was the deal. It was a good deal. I agreed to this deal.

And now, a week to the due date, she writes DH that she and FIL want to come here after all...

Blood pressure has skyrocketed, feel tense and ready to fight, exactly what I did not need. And God only knows if DH will be able to talk her down... Jesus. At least she hasn't booked a ticket to come as a 'surprise' (that was my first bet, tbh).

ah crazy I so so understand. Pregnancy+ a toddler is bloody hard work and you are doing such a fantastic job. When you have to put him, the baby and often the misguided advice of a well-meaning DH before what you ALL THE TIME, you are bound to have a meltdown before long. I have done exactly the same thing before (ended up in the loo sobbing) and have felt so guilty about it, but it is perfectly normal and understandable. I say put Toy Story or something on and buy yourself a sneaky little hour to sit on the settee. What time is your dh getting in tonight? You need to have a bath and a minute to yourself to chill out tonight. I can not put in to words how much i sympathise and empathise! I often feel like I would give anything to have a minute on my own ever again. (and then ds will say something funny and cute and wrap his little arms around me and i will remember how the world is as it should be and carry on...) you are a supermum and are juggling so much mentally and physically , so please don't beat yourself up. do whatever you can to occupy ds and have a little rest and a cuppa. Big hugs xxx

planktonette I say tell him to do anything not to let them come. Risk falling out if you need to! This may seem like reckless advice when it isn't me who has to deal with the consequences, but believe me, the LAST thing you need when coping with a newborn is anyone who complicates your life. Even your best friends coming with a bowl of something yummy for tea can wear you out after a while. You have made an arrangement and that is what you are sticking with. Can't you say you have already booked and arranged the trip in feb so can not cancel it now? Big hugs x

What is it about men and not-being-able-to-wash-up-fecking-properly. Can they not see the tinyspecks of last nights dinner all over the washed plates?!?! And can they not see where they have not washed the saucepan out properly?!?!
I have cleaned the kitchen twice in three days. Someone tell me this is nesting and that I'm not turning into my perfectly normal OCD clean mother.

Oh god

Crazy I have no experience in having a toddler. But you are a supermum- maybe it will get better when the baby is here? Obviously it will be alot of work, but you will at least have your own body back, be normal, and have no pregnancy-related ailments. Can you hand DS over to DH when he gets home tonight? Have a nice hot bath. That always helps me. In fact so much that DP even knows now when to run me a bath and force me into it... He knows me better than I know myself. Spose I should be grateful he does at least try to do the dishes, bless him!

Planktonette At least she hasn't booked a ticket as a surprise, that really would be a nightmare. Do you have any SIL/BIL's that could maybe intervene in visiting time? So they wouldn't be with you all the time? Or make a deal that they are to leave whenever you ask them too, without argument?
Believe me when DP told me SIL was coming over for christmas I wasn't best pleased either, but luckily they have plenty of people to visit so they won't be with us crowding me all the time. I agree with Bella- Lie and say you've booked it already :o Jealous that you can go in February though- this was my plan before I POAS. Lol!! Big hugs.

Squid I hope you are feeling better today- fingers crossed things are progressing for you, you too Velo!!!

Is anyone else feeling sick all the time? Like really really nauseous? I'm wondering if this is payback for my lack of morning sickness in the first trimester.. eurgh :(

Hello ladies - yes mickey I'm exhausted. Have been having regular two hour 'naps' in the afternoon recently and could barely keep my eyes open past 9.30 last night. Listened to my hypnobirthing cd today while sat on Swiss ball (65cm one for whoever was asking a while back) and almost nodded off and rolled off it Huge respect to any of you still managing to do a productive days' work/ commute/ look after toddlers.

However all my spare time does mean I spend a lot of it thinking about labour and getting more and more scared about it. I just don't want to have to argue my case for certain things while in the throes of labour but at the same time respect the professionals' opinions on what I might need. Anyway, trying to stay positive. Three, two, one... Relax.

It's suddenly turned autumnal here. I can't tell you how nice it is not to be in mid 30s anymore. You have to plan your day so you're not outdoors when it's too hot as you just can't do anything. cherrychosticks I don't even have to cope with humidity like you do Can't wait to be back wearing jeans and jumpers again, it's been 6 months.

velo and squid thinking of you both, hope you're both ok. Hugs to everyone else, sorry I'm too tired to name check everyone but thinking of you all.

Long catch up alert...

Shellwedance, good nesting! Your scones sound lovely, I wish I was good at baking!

Fjord, yes, it's still worth starting pelvic floors and perineal massage now, I think both would make a difference.

Angelico, congratulations on finishing the edits. What with those and your house-related antics, you have thoroughly earnt your 4 days of resting! Laughing lots at the image of you hitting your boiler with a branch in the style of Basil Fawlty! And shame on you for not wanting to go and do headstands in the swimming pool, where's your commitment to this pregnancy?

Get well soon to Kyyria, crazy and CWest, sounds like you are all suffering. Not what you need when pregnancy is hard enough as it is.

MrsConfusion, congrats on finishing work and kudos for your sewing! I have no idea about the paint, sorry, hopefully someone else will. Lol at sleep being for the weak! That may need to be our motto on the post-natal thread! (although am ashamed to report that I slept in till 9am today)

Bella, it was me who was worrying about the indignities of labour, and thank you, what you said was definitely reassuring. I just wish I could go into that "don't care" zone NOW! I was in the same boat re working till 37 or 38 weeks and the relaxation time vs extra money debate. I'm so, so glad I stopped at 37 weeks. I didn't need to write to anyone to give notice of starting mat. leave earlier, I just cleared it with my headmistress, so maybe that should be your first port of call? Not everyone agreed with me going off early - DH was all for it, but bizarrely my dad said I should "suck it up and take the money"! but at the end of the day, I knew I needed to stop earlier and damn what anyone else thought. When your DH sees how much more relaxed you are, he will see it was the right thing to do. That said, if you decide to work till 38 weeks to get the cash, ignore these ramblings and I salute your hardcoreness! Also, is http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product/pa-sw0627/holly-skirted-bikini-brief/ thid the sort of skirted bikini you mean? I think they are a great idea but would want to try one on as no idea how the sizing would work!

Beeble, I so hear you on the "anytime in the next 1-5 weeks" thing. I come from a "self imposed" world of carefully scheduled everything so the concept that this baby could decide to put in an appearance tomorrow or just hang fire for another 4 weeks is very disconcerting! But I guess we need to get used to working to someone else's schedule and demands .My favourite toy was one of these Fisher Price garages with the ramp the cars could go down geek child. That and my teddy bears, Big Ted and Little Ted, both of whom I still have, thanks to the brilliant Teddy Bear Hospital performing some surgery on them a couple of years ago as they were a little worse for wear.

Kyyria, loving the idea of those gownies but a bit at the price! I am going for a vest top from Asda to cover my upper modesty and dim lights and a birthing pool to cover my lower modesty . Have bought a button front nightie in case I have to go to hospital but it is quite thick and everyone says labour is very hot so I think I will boil in it and end up naked anyway.

Planktonette, gah, horrible situation for you. Can understand your reaction. How is DH's relationship with his parents, could he put his foot down and just tell them not to come? Alternatively there is always the option of just not letting them know straight away when the baby is born so that they don't know when to come - would that be a possibility?

Right, that's the catchup, now my news...

I have not had a single Braxton Hicks contraction that I am aware of. I had a bit of a strop about this yesterday and shouted at my uterus - useless uterus, it's meant to be getting ready for birth. How will it know what to do when the time comes if it doesn't start practising now? It seems to be sulking but maybe it will see sense soon...

I have spent the morning cutting up some single bed sheets DH bought for covering his telescopes but ended up not needing, so I am making them into cot sheets. We're off to see some friends for dinner tonight and they have a sewing machine they will let me use to hem the sheets. I feel very proud, I am not a sewer at all usually and (under advice by text from friend) have measured sheets, cut up, pinned and tacked ready for sewing.

Penultimate NCT class last night - only things to pass on: don't bother using any barrier creams at all if baby doesn't have a rash - they are full of chemicals. Best things to use: Vaseline and old fashioned zinc & castor oil cream which is cheap as chips. Apparently Sudocrem dries up spots like nobody's business though! Also, babies need 4 layers at night in current temperatures, and a doubled up blanked counts as 2 layers. This is dead obvious now I type it but not sure I would have known it beforehand.

And.... SHIT, DH AND I ARE HAVING AN ACTUAL BABY. A real one, that we have to be responsible for . All the time We don't have pets because we can't be bothered with the responsibility - but somehow we are about to own a small person who we have to help grow up into a decent human being. How did this happen? . How on earth are we going to cope? And stay sane? And stay together? Will he even want to stay with me after he has been subjected to me pooing in a birthing pool, seen my intimate areas stretch to unimaginable proportions, seen me in the least sexy underwear imaginable in order to cope with al the bleeding, seen my bits look like they have been hit by a truck, seen my breasts become feeding time at the zoo, been shouted at and cried at by me because I am too tired to be nice? If he has any sense at all, he will get out now! AAARRRGGGGHHH!

Evening peeps :) I can't believe another day has gone!!! Another day closer, aaarrrgggghhhh!

Huffle and all other workers - if you're past 35 weeks don't know how you're doing it. Tbh I've enjoyed the last few weeks of the pregnancy more than any other bit, basically because I'm not working / commuting / renovating / moving house. Have finally had a chance to just be pregnant without feeling like it's all a massive inconvenience! Really feel for self-employed peeps as it's a bit like the writing, it's kind of always there in your head until it's finished... Hang in there Huffle!

Bella I just changed the date on my MATB1 form in work to make it a week earlier, they were great about it actually - but probably helped it measnt cover teacher was able to start with kids from beginning. They also brought her in a couple of days to overlap with me which was much appreciated - we got some 'handover' time, she was able to do some induction stuff with new kids - which meant I had time to tidy up last minute bits and bobs and chat to people in the staffroom! :)

Orange I just got a couple of these M&S Maternity nighties. They are a bit tentlike but very soft and comfy and unbutton from collar to hem. You can get matching Pj bottoms too for warmth. They were recommended to me for post-CS.

Liege that is a worry for you - hope everything is okay!

Kyrria your bean is ready for action :o

Crazy you poor chick - sending you a massive hug. Total respect - you are feeling sick, heavily pregnant AND trying to look after a toddler. Feel overwhelmed even imagining it never mind living it. Be as kind to yourself as you can!

Planktonette - aarrrgghhhh! Not what you need at all Hopefully your DH will put foot down for both of you. Can understand she might be excited about seeing new bean but it is such a minefield having visitors, especially when a) you don't know how you are going to feel and b) they are mentalists! Hope you can get out of it!

Mickey - all I can tell you is I feel your pain. My DH is so willing to help round the house but he tends to half do things which then need done again which drives me batshit

Yomping it made me inordinately happy that you knew the exact Fawlty scene I was envisaging :o "Right! That's it! I'm going to give you a damn good thrashing!" :o I can't do handstands in a pool even not pregnant! As for your uterus, maybe it is just chilling out and saving its strength? :o You sound very fit and athletic generally with all your climbing and stuff so I'd say your uterus is well able for the whole thing :o Very impressed at your sheet making!

As for baby fears - I've gone back into that state of unreality, following the meltdown a fortnight ago. That's when it hit me and filled me with the fear of God, I'm now in la-la land again, not quite believing the whole thing. Suspect Meltdown part 2 will hit on Sunday or Monday night...

Velo and Squid hope all is well. Not sure if beans are on their way or you are just fed up with all the twinges and false alarms but don't stay away - we are cheering you on, whatever stage things are at :)

Love to everyone else! xo

Better skirted bikini link for Bella: here