July 2013 - Holy Shit, this is IT!!

[dinkystinky]

New thread for us to natter away on as babies keep on arriving. 11 at last count already and not even in July yet.. Who will be next??

Scout - I did feel comfy in maxi dresses afterwards. Is there something specific you're worried about? I also wore my very comfy maternity linen trousers, until they started to fall down - I was quite sad when they didn't fit any more!

Citizen- Thanks. Yes, this might sound slightly strange but DM said that I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing dresses after the birth because of the bleeding, maternity pads etc. Did you find this an issue at all? Maxi dresses seem like a good idea to me, particularly since most of them seem pretty easy to bf in. My other worry with them is the length, I think I'm being an over cautious first time mum worrying about tripping over my dress whilst carrying baby or going up stairs.

Vinegar - I wouldn't have dreamed of wearing jeans for weeks after having DD1 (episiotomy, forceps), but this time I escaped with only a tiny graze, so I'm actually feeling about a million times more comfortable than I did when I was pregnant. I'm not sure quite how I managed a drug free, complication delivery, but I guess it was my lucky day!

I'm pretty sure I'll mostly be wearing my maternity clothes for a while to come!

So it looks like there could be a 4th of July baby...contractions currently 5 minutes apart. Let's see. Bang on due date too...

I worn my maternity clothes for the 1st few weeks, but I didn't have c-section so not sure about clothes to avoid stitches. I find it easier to wear tops that I can pull up to breast feed rather than down, feel much more exposed with pull down or button up tops. Amazingly after 5 weeks I am back in pre-pregnancy clothes (not sure if that is good genetics or 3 weeks of hospital food!) I didn't think for one second I'd bounce back as well as I have! Off to make banana and chocolate muffins now so might be back in maternity jean soon!

Good luck today tryitonforsize!!

Tryiton That's so exciting. Good luck! Keep us posted.

Beginning banana and chocolate muffins, they sound lovely. I'll be thinking about them all afternoon now.

Congrats on all the new arrivals, keep switching on wondering who's next. Can sympathise with the animal related dreams and the not being entirely convinced there's a baby at the end of this journey.

Been to consultant clinic again today, my midwife led care plan seems to have gone out the window since all the ?stroke moment. Now have raised liver enzymes and polyhydramnios which are probably not connected but got to have raft of liver blood tests and GTT tomorrow and then go back to clinic on Monday, think I'll be in the hospital a lot over the next week, could do with just going into labour to avoid all the faff!

37+4

Wow, having spent the day at Sports Day I've got loads to catch up on. Lots of walking and standing and cheering, lots of people telling me what to do to bring on labour, a lovely icecream in the park with the boys on the way home - and absolutely no sign of Bean wanting out any time soon.

Ooh so exciting Tryitonforsize - you're definitely going to beat me as still nothing doing here. Keep us posted. Am over in NW London (Vinegar is in your manor though) but found it super easy to bobble over to Dalston on the overland...

BB01 - hurrah for a great rooming in experience and getting to go home. Hope all goes wonderfully for you for your first night at home.

Beginning and Totally - v jealous at the pre-pregnancy clothes already. It seems to take me the full 6 months to get back into pre-pregnancy clothes... Re postnatal clothes - am planning on living in maxi dresses and tops and shorts for a good few weeks post arrival (has to be the benefit of having a summer baby). Scoutfinch - you could always hem up your maxi dresses if you're worried about tripping. Dont worry about the big baby comment - its pretty much all guess work anyway and the MW could be totally wrong. Shelley - hot milk bras are pretty - if you're large of nork, Royce do bras which give you a good shape too.

Slouching - glad you had a good appointment and it put your mind at rest.

Marie - enjoy your meal out. DH's deal in theory is closing tomorrow but suspect will slip to Monday when our doula is back. The one day the baby absolutely can not arrive is Saturday as both DS1 and DS2 have their play dress rehearsal all morning (and one of us has to be there), DS1 then has a climbing party (and DH has to drive him over and ferry 4 kids back to the party kid's place) and then both boys have swimming. Saturday evening would be acceptable at a push but our nanny (our childcare plan a) is off to a beerfest over the weekend so really best all round if baby waits till next week!

Thinking - you're allowed to be emotional and hormonal - you're heavily pregnant! That is superb service on the mattress though.

Andrea - DS1 was 2.10 when DS2 was born. We got a buggy board but to be honest he stayed in the buggy for the first few months (DS2 was in a sling) and then after that it was a mixture of buggy board and scooter for him.

My contribution to the bake off going on this week is vanilla cupcakes, they're yummy.
I chose to make them mid morning though rather than at 5am - can't drag myself up even when I am awake at that time.

xposted Lancslass - sorry you're going to have to go through all those tests. Hope you're feeling ok now and they're all precautionary. As you say, labour instead of all those tests would definitely be a good thing...

Good luck tryiton!

dinky - your baby will come on Saturday!

lanclass I hope your baby arrives soon to put an end to all the other crap!

Ooh exciting tryiton hope things go well

lanclass that must be a bit worrying but at least you are term now so baby can safely arrive any time

dinky that's really tempting fate having a day like that ahead... Hope bean stays put for now!

totally impressive re the jeans, ignore and comments from dm or dmil, my mum is always very quick to tell everyone she went home from hospital in size 8 dress

scout I had a summer baby 2 years ago and I've been trying to remember what I wore but my mind is blank. I also prefer to pull up rather than pull down when bf iyswim so will probably be in leggings/trousers and vests/ tshirts depending on weather

marie trying to remember were you having repeat sweep today? How did it go. I don't have my repeat till weekend

And to all the bakers, wow I'm really impressed, I haven't baked anything in my 4 weeks leave! Despite being intermittent member of 4am club (like this morning for example)
Actually tiredness is probably main reason for my emotional state today. The rest of my day went a lot better, mil came over this afternoon so I was able to do school run without the wee ones which is soooo much easier. And that will be my last pregnant school run as childminder has boys tomorrow and it's the last day of term!! Sun came out too, plus a cooling breeze so not too hot. And finally dh came home with big stash of chocolate for me which has fair cheered me up!!

Bless DH and the chocolate mountain! Glad your day improved Thinking - enjoy chilling out this evening.

Have finally finished off DS1's prince outfit - he's going to be a hip hop prince with shades and a blingtastic t shirt (have been ironing on the many and various transfers). DS2 is going to be a party goer raver with neon tshirt and shorts. The play, in case you're wondering, is Cinderella

Ooh, good luck tryiton keep us updated.

Congrats on going home BB01 glad the feeding is going well.

Oh Dinky you are so going to have your baby on Sat!

Had a rubbish night again, was not at all tempted to start baking though! I did make strawberry and almond tray bake with DD in the morning though, 'twas delish.

I'd love to get a special coin from DOC, but I hope to God this baby comes out soon so I'll probably miss out on that one.

Hope everyone else is ok

40 + 6 (sob!)

Scout - I see what you mean. I was in hospital for a week after DS1's birth so mostly in pyjamas or light track suit trousers. By the time I came out I wasn't using maternity pads I don't think. I'm quite short so used to holding up dress hems and multitasking! Shorter dresses are good too, as long as you can breastfeed in them (if you want to) - ie stretchy necklines - I wore with a vest top underneath but some of my nursing bras had extra bits that actually made them quite discreet especially if same colour as my dress.

Dresses are good if you're not sure where your tummy's got to in terms of shrinking (!) and for not rubbing on scars (I imagine) but trousers & tops are probably easier for breastfeeding.

Andrea - we've started DS1 on a buggy board and he loves it. Only problem is when he wants to walk instead - much more difficult to make him stay on it than it is to make him get in/ stay in the buggy. So if you definitely want to get somewhere quickly, you might want to do the sling/buggy option unless you're sure he'll stay put!

Good luck tryiton!

I've finished my craft project, might have to start another to keep me occupied when the tennis ends. Think I'll be baking tomorrow.

DH said he suddenly realised it's only a week till our due date, in an "eek" kind of way. I think in his head it is early July and due date is mid July so felt a while off. Really hope we don't have to wait much longer than that.

Hope for some baby news when I catch up with you all tomorrow morning!

That's good news bb01

dinky I like the sound of those costumes! It does sound like Saturday will be your day!

Good luck tryiton, I hope things are progressing well and you have your baby soon, if not already.

marie it's a journal article on boring medicolegal stuff. I've been writing it for ages though and it seems a shame to let it slip now. I managed to get it up to date today so I just need to submit it now. I hope your second sweep does something, my next one isn't until next week. It's amazing how different the protocols are in different areas isn't it?

I'm sure there were other personals I wanted to write but I can't think what they were now!

The talk about postnatal clothing is really useful. As a first timer I have no idea what to expect, so all advice is valuable!

Still nothing happening here, but I have managed to bake banana and cinnamon muffins and some lemon cupcakes!

Slouching at you dreaming of giving birth to puppies. Lanclass I'm curious. Which animal did you give birth too?

Tryiton sounds positive, hope all is going well and your baby arrives soon.

I'm enjoying all the talk about after birth clothes. Unlike last pg I've defintely put on non baby related weight this time and as most of my clothes are over rather than under bump I may end up having next to nothing to wear. good excuse to stay in PJs though!

Thinking glad your day got better. I hope you're enjoying muching through your chocolate mountain. My 2nd sweep was today but with a different midwife who didn't really try as she thought I was way off giving birth, so looks like I'll have to book an induction date on Monday. I hope your sweep at the weekend goes well.

Does anyone know how soon or late you can have an induction. All my family are campaigning for me to go for different dates to fit in with various plans so it would be useful to know before Monday if some dates are defiantly out of the question. E.g they won't do it as early as 10 days or as late as 14.

Dinky sending staying put vibes your way until Tuesday! Your DCs outfits sound great, and I'd love to see how their parts fit into Cinderella. Sounds like an interesting intrepretation!

Sunday I hope you have a much better night. The tray bake sounds decliouls. Seriously tempted to join Mrs Millions and start baking tomorrow.

Lanclass sorry to hear about all the upcoming tests and switch to consultant led care. Sounds like you're being well looked after but hope your baby comes soon.

Cross posted with Persuasion. Yay for getting your article updated. I hope it gets published soon.

Dinky Yes you're right I will have to hem them up, I'm very short so used to having to do that. It's been nice with the bump, haven't had to take them up! I didn't think that they could tell that accurately, glad to hear it's all just guesswork. I agree with the others, Saturday baby for you!

Thanks Citizen that's very helpful. Stretchy dresses sound good too. I thought that dresses would work better with changing sizes and hopefully hiding the tummy a bit!

Thanks thinking I think leggings are going to be a good option too. I hadn't really thought about the pull up or down issue but I suppose it's not something I will know until LO arrives so I'll have to work it out then.

So plan looks like leggings and vests for straight afterwards with some nice dresses for as soon as I feel comfortable. Thanks ladies, at least now that's one thing I won't have to think too much about once baby arrives.

Glad you got your article updated Persuasion - hope it is published soon.

Marie - I think induction dates vary from place to place. The latest the other hospital I was at let mW go was +13 (he arrived at +14). Other places only seem to do inductions on certain days.

Hope you (and the other insomniacs) get a better nights sleep tonight Sunday - and that your baby makes an appearance soon.

Good night everyone.
I hope there's some baby news in the morning.....
Looking forward to hearing what the wide-a-bake club knocks up too.

Marie induction is at plus 12 locally, but I had to wait till plus 13 with ds1 as they were too busy

Marie here they let you go to +12 also