Due in October part 8- still plodding along, this time with copious amounts of raspberry leaf tea

[Londonmrss]

Surely this'll be the last one before moving to the postnatal section?

Due Dates:

Sept. 24: Lisbethsopposite DS2 by planned induction
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?)
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1, MidgetM if induced
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1.
Oct. 17: Smorgs, DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: Mickey DC1

Actual babies:

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 25: Angelico - Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz

Congratulations squid! Labour's a funny thing, isn't it - so so so many women do it every day, so you think "how bad can it be, I can surely handle it if everyone else can?" And then it hits you like a freaking freight train. Hope you get some sleep over the coming days and nights. Welcome to the world Jess!!

Midget hope you're ok, that sounds horrendous You need a supermum emoticon!

Wantan VERY exciting! In my area they're very relaxed about waters breaking. Can't remember exactly what they advised but remember being surprised by quite how relaxed it was. Good luck, look forward to hearing about MiniOrange VERY SOON!!!

Fjord I think you're superstepmum for having your DSDs on your last weekend before having a baby You have absolutely nothing to beat yourself up for.

Good luck to all those going in tomorrow! More baby birthdays!

Am 39wks today, a bit fed up, very tired. Feel a bit stuck between a rock and a hard place - not enjoying pg but dreading teh early weeks with a newborn. I know that's not how I ought to be feeling but I can't help it I am at least now thinking I want the anticipation over and I want to get stuck into the early weeks to get them over and done with! That's positive, right?? Sorry, probably shouldn't be talking like this on an antenatal thread...

Currently feels like BabyPaving is trying to push his/her way out via my bladder so must dash!

WantAnOrange is your baby going to be called satsuma or tangerine? Sorry, lame arse sense of humour alert...

Very witty!

It is making smile because when DS was born he had jaundice and strawberry blonde hair, and therefore did actually look like a satsuma!

Yay Squid !!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!! Welcome baby Jess!!! Aww, so pleased for you to gef thru it all at home, sounds like hard work!!!!! Enjoy the loveliness and bonding, next few days will be mega tiring but wonderful!!

V quick scroll there as I am pooped from lovely afternoon tea out. Wishing tomorrow's birthers love, hugs, good health and strength!!! A third of babies by only the 1st???!! Holy moly!!!!

Look forward to tmrw, you are all brilliant!!!! Xx

Ps, can I join the maternity leave club?? Know I'm technically not and hav to work some this wk but promise I will be switching my brain off, reading and relaxing at every available opportunity and taking all the advice to read The Baby Whisperer this week!! My sanity will be much improved if I think I'm on leave like the rest of you nearly due peeps!!! 38 wks and counting!!! Xx

Wantan

Gah, the list keeps changing!

Due Dates:

Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?),MrsConfusion DC1 by planned induction, Firstbubba DC1 by planned induction
Oct. 2: Milk DC2
Oct. 4: Katla DC1
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2, Violetlights DC1
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MidgetM DC2 if induced
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS, OnOfMyTurnsComingOn DC3 by VBAC
Oct. 12: Lizzietow DC2
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1
Oct. 17: Smorgs DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrs DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov 8: Mickey DC1

Real live babies grin:

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 24: Lisbethspposite - Paul 6lb 11oz
Sept. 25: Angelico ? DD Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz
Sept. 26: Elpis ? DS 3.2kg
Sept. 30: Squidkid - Jess 7lb

well done squid!! So pleased u got the home birth u wanted, welcome little jess.
Wantan, you dark horse!! Bounce on your ball, have a curry and pineapple and a shag and hopefully your little satsuma can pop out at home, like squid's
fjord, sending hugs, am sorry you feel so down and alone and unsupported - you're not an evil step mum, just full of crazy pregnancy hormones. You know you and your hubby will make a good team and your bean will not be like his daughters - go tell him what you need from him.
MrsConfusion and Firstbubba, all the best tomorrow, ladies.
huffle, come and join me on mat leave as soon as this pesky cold that is threatening to ruin my holiday goes away.

Alas, we are not allowed to have sex after waters have gone. Shame.....

Squid, yay, ! After all the emotional difficulty of going overdue, so pleased to hear baby Jess has arrived, and you're my hero for the homebirth, hoping I can manage the same when MiniYomping decides he/she is ready to meet the world.

WantanOrange, fingers, legs and eyes crossed for some overnight action for you (was going to suggest some actual overnight action might get things moving but don't think you're meant to do that after waters break), otherwise, will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping it goes smoothly for you.

FjordMor, MrsConfusion and Firstbubba, I hope your inductions go well for you tomorrow, looking forward to hearing your news when you feel up to posting!

Planktonette, you're our captain now, dude! Hope you're managing to stay zen about everything and not going too crazy (either that or you're actually in labour and will be popping on tomorrow to let us know how it went!)

I have added a 38.5 week photo on my profile so you can all gasp at the enormity of my bump, which is so big it must have its own gravitational field by now.

Went to a lovely NT place up near Warwick today to meet up with friends, ate too much cake (for the baby!) and did a fair amount of walking, feel whacked now. Have been awake since 4:30, woke up and left hip was so sore from lying on it for days now that I couldn't get back to sleep. (am usually a tosser and turner and hate being restricted to one side)

So, in the spirit of being generally grumpy, I present a list of things I will NOT miss:

• Feeling like my left hip is falling apart from being laid on every night
• AFD (Aching Fanjo of...)
• Having to be a contortionist in order to do my shoelaces up
• Turning over in bed feeling like a major complication
• The fresh realisation of how much I must now weigh, every morning when I stand up
• Being desperate for the toilet... then producing a teaspoonful of wee
• Opening doors onto the bump, bashing into things with it, generally being a clumsy nobber
• Not being able to do any decent exercise, I really miss that physical high
• Not being able to sit comfortably in any chair or in the car
• Having to walk really slowly as the baby's head is bouncing on delicate areas and it hurts, dammit!

I'm sure there are loads more - feel free to add your own moans too!

crazy I am completely with you on the whole fed up of being preg but not looking forward to birth/first few weeks....and I've only just turned 36wks.

Feel like I've grown since yesterday - nothing to show for it, as in I don't think I look bigger, but bloody hell is it now getting difficult getting in and out of seats!!

Yomping I am certainly with you on the list of thongs that I'm not going to miss about being pregnant - can't remember what it feels like to have a decent pee!!

Good luck for all of those with impending births - kind of in awe and very jealous at the same time!

32, 36+0, #1

squidkid Congratulations! In awe of anyone who gets through birth on gas and air. Lack of tearing is a huge boon. Jess sounds adorable.

Thinking of the rest of you ladies as the big event approaches. Really looking forward to the moment when the postnatal thread gets going...

Think I did something stupid today. DH took DD to Homebase but that is insufficient exercise for a three-year-old. He has a virus and although I am doing nights single-handed (in another bedroom) feels busy and put-upon. At 5pm DD came upstairs and said 'Please take me to the playground, Mummy.' The playground is in some nearby woods. It's about a mile and a half round trip, uphill on the way.

Oh Christ, I thought. All right. Can't just lie around all day. Took her to ballet class five minutes away yesterday. So I started getting ready to go out, adjusting old sling for DS. DH offered to go. I was stubborn and said that he obviously wasn't feeling well enough and I ought to get some exercise. Staggered out. Hello, said a neighbour, you are looking slim. Smiled wanly. Well, we got halfway, and then I realised I had to turn back. Burst into tears as I opened the front door. Felt so guilty for promising DD what I couldn't deliver. Worried this was MS-related weakness and not post-op feebleness.

Please tell me this is not pathetic four days after a c-section. I'm still losing quite a lot of blood and haven't slept continuously for more than an hour since Monday night. Sorry, I know this shouldn't be on the antenatal thread. Just after a virtual hug.

virtual hug coming your way. of course you aren't being weak and you shouldn't even think about that kind of exertion so soon. Go back to bed and be looked after woman and you will be fixed soon enough x

elpis a mile and a half some of it uphill after major abdominal surgery (which is after all what Caesarians are), with ongoing blood loss and no sleep and a newborn and another small child to look after...l
Sounds like climbing Everest to me! Not remotely pathetic or feeble. Many people are still in hospital at this point. Nor do I think that means its ms related weakness - though I can understand thats a scary prospect so entirely understandable to be worried about it - sounds utterly normal to me.
Sending many virtual hugs and instructions not to even think about doing so much for the next few days. Hoping dh can do a bit more, if not is there anyone else you can call on to help out? And don't worry about dd, she will be fine and won't remember probably even by tomorrow - certainly not in a month- that she didn't go to the playground this one time.
Take care xxx

Elpis gosh, please, take it easy. You will make yourself unwell. As smiley says, lots folks still in hospital at this stage. You cannot and should not be exerting yourself after major surgery. DH needs to understand this. Hope u can call on anyone else to help? If not, dig your heels in and stay putt. Take care and allow yourself to mend. You are doing fantastically well by the way. Hugs. X

Fjordmor MrsC and Firstbubba I am sending you all a big sloppy bear hug and a snog for tomorrow. The worst thing about mine was the hanging around waiting for it to start so make sure you have entertainment. Got everything crossed for you. Much love x

oh gosh elpis massive virtual hug your way. As I said earlier, these first few days are totally relentless, so hard and unimaginably tiring. Add to that caring for a 3 year old, recovering from major surgery and trying to appease a stressed out man and you have a recipe for disaster! I don't mean to criticise your DH as it is such a shame that he is ill rigt now, but really, what was he thinking letting you head out for a walk with two children this early?! You poor thing. Can someone else help out? I know all too well how much wearing out 3 year olds need! Try and get some help if you can so that you can concentrate on recovering and coping with the constant demands of your LO. Massive hugs to you. Take care xx

elpis I agree with the others, smiley in particular! Don't feel like you're letting people down!

I've got my restless legs back this week...they're driving me crackers!

Elpis torn between sending a hug and bapping you round the head with a kipper! Of course you have not let anyone down!!! I'm on day 5 and for some reason am REALLY sore today - possibloy because I did a few post-natal exercises and staggered round the garden a bit. Seriously, take it easy!

And btw does arnica work or is it a lot of bollocks? Bought some tablets today in desperation...

Oh God, it is poo time and I'm frightened

Well, DH just burst into tears after DD refused to let him help her take off her top for bathtime and screamed that she didn't like him. You don't brush my teeth as well as Mummy, etc etc. Then he sat on the stairs holding DS and wept for ten minutes before heading off for his eight hours. (There wasn't much i could do to comfort him between getting both kids off towards bed and explaining why Daddy was upset.) So now we've all cried today.

Thank you all for that lovely reassurance. Just trying to feed DS into a stupor in hope of a couple of hours of continuous kip once I remove DD from my bed. He can stretch his arms wider now and I think his thighs may be a bit less chicken-like. The furtive glancing from side to side during feeds is becoming a bit less disconcerting.

Oh Elpis I want to come hug you all. I also think fast forward 2 weeks that will be the same scene in the midget house! DD already wants me to do everything. It is such a different ball game when it is number 2.

talking of number 2's hope yours isn't too bad Angelico. I remember the fear of the pooh after delivery only too well. Not fun at all.

Angelico Never tried arnica except in cream form and I'd be reluctant to put anything on the wound at this stage. If it's a homeopathic remedy then I'd say it's bollocks. And I'm a baby-wearing, acupuncture-loving, herbal remedy-taking, long-term breastfeeder...

Oh gawd...... Had to get out of bed...... Recurrent tightening at top of bump lasting 40-60 seconds....... Uncomfortable but not pain..... Surely this is just a new variant of BH??? Cannot possibly be contractions, surely they hurt?! And possibly brought on by copious amounts of afternoon tea and cakes, for the person who has had 1 cup of tea a day for 8 months.......... Flip, here's another one!!!

This cannot be contractions. I hav not got a fully packed bag, I hav not unpacked steriliser (tho breast is best!) and I hav to work on Wednesday......!

Got up to listen to hypno stuff..,. Where has my zen like calm breathing gone??? Been almost hyperventilating for past hour!!!!

God, I am such a novice, where is the instruction book to reassure me this is not the beginning of anything whatsoever and my imagination is letting me get carried away????!!!

3,2,1 relax......,..

Oh and I swear by arnica gel for muscle aches. I hav 2 GP friends who swear by tablets post birth!! And I jav some in bath soak form to use v dilutely post birth in bath. I have strong faith in medicine but also in natural remedies that seem to be widely used such as arnica and my other friend echinacea!! Stayed away from both in pregnancy tho.

Elpis You need to give yourself a break! Don't worry about disapointing DD, she'll have forgot all about the park long before you have.

Is anyone else up at this stupid hour?

I started having regular, if fairly mild, contractions for a couple of hours, then fell asleep from about 1am til 3am. I don't know if I was sleeping through the contractions or if they stopped. Now I'm awake, they're happening again but no more powerful.

I thought it'd be over by now and I thought second labours were supposed to be faster!

DH is asleep. He passed out from exhaustion a little after I did and I've left him that way. If I have to be induced tomorrow (and it's looking that way) I'll need him to be able to stay awake!

I've just heard from one of my NCT antenatal group that they've given birth...2 weeks early! Now absutely shitting myself as really don't like the idea of labour and was planning on mine being on time or late as that is the norm for first borns!