November 2012 - it's here at last, we're ready for you babies

[StuntNun]

Previous ante-natal thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1597357-November-2012-but-that-starts-on-Thursday

Post-natal thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1579907-November-2012-babies-are-here-at-last

I feel like DH & I should have a shortlist of names but we don't.... Is that weird? I guess I've just been so birth/house/decorating/pg orientated that the baby actually having a name when s/he is here isn't a priority!!! Perhaps if we knew the sex it would be different??

Chunky we've only just in the last week realised we still don't have any possible girls names!

Just been asked if I'm likely to go into labour tonight - apparently he's dying and NEEDS some medicinal whisky.....

I've got yet more clothes I've got to hang up in the baby's wardrobe and I need to sort my hospital bag. I've got everything to go in it but they are all over the house at the moment so need to do that. I don't want to be rushing around doing it when I get contractions.

My Ocado shopping is coming later and I have ordered a few treats so that should cheer me up. My mum has put me on her car insurance policy for a month and will be bringing her car round for me later so at least I'll be able to go out if I want. It's so isolating without a car. Especially when we only live in a tiny little town with maybe 10 shops if that.

I think a lot of it is hormones - poor DP hasn't done anything in particular to upset me. Just little things irritate me sometimes.

My scan put me back 6 whole days! So I could either be 38 or nearly 39 weeks but either way she's not shifting yet!

I do feel like she's so low now though, the underneath of my bump feels v heavy.

Apple feel for you re the lack of car. There are NO shops in our village, just 2 pubs, a cafe and an expensive restaurant . Oh and deep sea world.... I always feel totally isolated when DH has my car at work!

I'm in such a sulk today lol - the house is the cleanest it has ever been, everything is ready for baby, shopping all done - there is nothing left for me to do except watch episodes of weeds and I'm quickly running out of them!!!!

Wish I could go to sleep and wake up in labour!!!

apple Hope you're feeling better. Shall I send you some of my parkin?

Kirrin I'm getting impatient and i've over two weeks until my due date

MM Medicinal whiskey DH rang me from work on friday to see if he'd be able to work Friday night or did I think I was going to go in to labour as I was officially full term. I consulted my crystal ball and he worked

WRT names, we're winging it. DH has 4 boys names he likes, I have 6 I kind of like. 2 of them are them same. Girls, no idea. We'll just see when it arrives and hope something jumps out. If not it'll be nameless for a while.

I've just done the hospital bags, things were half sorted but like apple in random piles. I'm going to go through them again with DH tonight so he knows where everything is. When I go in to labour I just need to add a pillow, maternity notes, dressing gown, iphone chargers, juice from the freezer and a couple of magazines.

Will I look like I'm going on holiday though. I've split things up in to different bags so when we turn up to hospital we'll have a small suitcase on wheels (like this), a washbag, a changing bag, a pillow and DH will have an oversized hangbag/overnight bag full of snacks etc.

There'll then be a holdall with extras in the car.

Will I look ridiculous?

I had a nice walk to our library and back (renting a DVD for me whilst there - ooops!! ) while DD napped & DH DIY-ed the baby's room some more but having drunk hot choc, eaten a yog & mince pie & fallen asleep on the sofa, I feel thoroughly knackered & out of it. It was only a 20mins walk ffs!!!

Thanks MM glad we're not the only ones!!

Think it is hormones Apple. You're very close to 'the end' & its hard feeling that mix of vunerable, bored, incapable & stuck at home. I don't feel like I want to go far from home alone, as its tiring with DD and if it all kicks off etc but equally, I was going stir crazy stuck in on Friday.

Fatima less is def more. We looked like we were moving/going on hols with my DD but I was in there 2hrs before she was born, so didn't need most of it. Most of the time (unless there's a issue) they'll encourage you stay at home for as long as possible. Plan to have a small 'labour' bag and bag for DH to get through until baby is born, small bag for baby & a few bits for after - the rest can stay in the car until they're necessary. And tbh, I cannot imagine being able to read between contractions - if you can, you won't be in hospital (unless being induced) and after baby is born, you will prob not want to. Oh and final one, get DH to pack your bag, otherwise he won't be able to find anything should you need it.

Dinner tonight really is a mish mash of the last of everything we have in the house! So, roast chicken with a couple of rashers of bacon thrown on for good measure, homemade homegrown dauphinois spuds (made without cream as we have none and 3 different varieties of cheddar - could be interesting...) and some steamed veg. I don't even have enough milk or flour to make yorkshire puds!

Oh, despite planning a home birth, I have 3 bags packed; one for DD, one for baby (boots free changing bag) and one for me (flight bag, standard 'carry on luggage' type size). That's it. If DH wants anything else, he can bring it in a small bag, & I'd take my v-shaped pillow too.

We've just finished the fucking curtain pole.... I don't need to add anything else here, do I?

mm i think i could do with a medicinal whiskey neve mind your DH

chunky that is a good idea about DH packing bags. Xx

Ok I am goin g to show my ignorance here. Even though I am on number 4 I have always had a show after a sweep, never on my own. So, today a I have had too graduate from pant liners to slim maternity towels and some of the discharge has been pink tinged, and mean tinged, Is only slight. [Confused] what is this, is this the start of a he?

Also I am having quite strong cramps, but I think they are irregular. If they carry on I will use the the contraction timer thingy, but it could just be a joke my body is playing on me. I am cynical that I can do the on my own!

We have two wee bags - one hold all sort of thing for me and the boots changing bag for baby. If need be DH can whizz home and get stuff.

Best laid plans are that we put bags and baby seat in my car - 5 doors. On the way back from wedding last week is developed a crazy noise which means it has to go back into the garage despite having been there just a week ago! Doh!

• obviouslyaaa not a he but a show, my toddler is climbing all over me.

For the first time in my life I've managed to pack quite lightly for hospital. Probably because I hate hospitals and want to spend as little time as possible there! I have a holdall for me and DH and when I EVENTUALLY get my changing bag will have that for junior. If need be I've left space in our bag incase we need to grab anything last minute. Will also pack another bag nearer the time to keep in my car incase we have to stay in longer than planned.

Nearer the time - ha

I only have two bags this time, but I thought I would make a handy pile at home incase daddy needs to grab stuff. Think I should do that tonight after toad in the hole. Yum.

Sophia my show wasn't much more that a thickish pink-tinged glob of discharge with my DD and I did have period-pain type cramps for a short while (hr or 2) before, and then infrequent contractions after. DD was born about 12hrs after my show.

I'm still working! (Can't remember who asked, sorry.) I'm only actually going in once more (to teach a seminar tomorrow) but I'm still working pretty much full time from home and will continue doing so until the baby arrives I think. Have several projects to be getting on with. (I'm an academic and the whole work/life distinction is a bit vague . . .) I'm actually quite enjoying it at the moment and hoping to finish up two or three things before the big day. It helps to pass the time anyway. I had imagined I would spend my time at this stage shopping, swimming and meeting friends for coffee but as it is what with the crutches and the sickness I can barely leave the house so I might as well work instead.

My due date is not till the end of the month so I hope it's OK that we are nowhere near prepared. We did go on a 'labour ward tour' yesterday (slightly depressing, but the midwife was very nice). But we are several stages off packing a hospital bag - I mean I couldn't pack one even if I wanted to because we don't have half the stuff. Must do an Amazon order this week!

Hmm well the suitcase on wheels isn't full, could fit my wash bag inside that so it's one less thing to carry, my wash bag also has plenty of room in it but I luffs it. Then baby's things are just in the changing bag.
DH doesn't want to go home at any point so we'll have the holdall in the car with extra stuff that we probably won't need, but just incase I want to stay in longer.
I'm just worried i'm going to leak blood all over my pjs and need loads of changes of clothes so I daren't pack too light. How many clothes/nightwear do you have in your labour bag?

The magazines probably won't get used, it's just so if I get panicky then DH can read me nonsensical gossip to distract me

Yummmmm toad in the whole. Having a weird Thai-inspired rice dish for dinner tonight, that DH is cooking. Not really up for it tbh but haven't had to cook, so that's a bonus. Did Cottage pie last night and had LOADS left that went in the freezer.

Was SO sure things would kick off today after the pains in the night, but nada. Plus, if baby isn't even engaged any longer, I guess it won't be for a while. Oh well, have something planned nearly every day this wk, including taking DD to toddler group on Wed and getting her photo taken (dead easy for Christmas presents then ), which I don't think anyone else is available to do if I'm in labour, so hopefully can keep my mind off things a bit.

I remember the blood loss being heavy and NEEDING the big pads but I don't remember leaking vastly. If you can change the pads often, you shouldn't need too many changes of clothes Fatima - at worst, it'll be when you're sleeping and you'll prob not have to be in too long. I have a change of clothes to go in, in/give birth in, a spare dark nightie to give birth in/wear after and a pair of dark pjs. But then I don't intend to be in at all!!

All I have managed on 1st day of mat leave is school work! Hopefully all done now so will start on the house jobs tomorrow.

Fatima I'm similar to you, I have packed a change bag for baby and have got DH's cricket bag for me (not yet packed.) Have also got the boots bag for DH and food! Not sure if it is too much but would rather have too much than miss something.

We have no water atm so can't even wash the dishes or make a cup of tea :( Hoping DH's boss gets home soon and sorts it out.

Evening ladies

Had a nice day today, DD had her first morning at her new playgroup, which she loved I took a walk into town while she was there (we live a 5 min walk from our town centre) but I only managed a couple of shops then was so knackered I had to come home! Back and hips were really aching too, definitely getting to the 'too pregnant to do much' stage!

Had a belated send off lunch with my workmates today too and they got me some lovely mamas and papas baby grows and a soft toy duck for the LO

No signs of anything happening baby wise here today, 10 days til my section date! It can't come quickly enough tbh! Think I will attempt to put the bedside cot up tonight.

Hospital bag wise I have one for me and one for the LO. Am trying to pack light this time as last time I took loads that I never used.