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??

Dinky - your day sounds lovely.

Slouching - don't worry about the moan. It's tough being heavily pregnant - and you've still got the birth & postnatal days to come! It is a big responsibility (my DH has freaked out both times at about 37-39 weeks, when as I point out, it's a bit late to be having second thoughts) but it's also an amazingly joyous experience.

DS1 brings us joy & laughter every day. Every day. I still can't believe we created him!

I was extremely stroppy yesterday at 39+2 and am only calmer today because things appear to be moving, if slowly.

Start practising this phrase: "this too shall pass" - it'll come in handy!!

And yes, dinky, the pox is over & DH has had his dentist's appointment so baby obviously got the memo about it being his turn

Slouching - everyone, and I means everyone has these doubts. When I got the positive test for ds1, ds2 and this baby - after a year of trying and about to give up - my initial reaction was aaargh, what the fuck have we done!? But having a child is definitely the most rewarding, exciting, terrifying thing I've ever done - and I wouldn't do any different if I had my time over again - and it'll all come good for you too.

Slouching, same for me too. Every time. Couldn't see life without any of the three of them now- although still seems peculiar to have 3

Slouching yes everyone has those doubts. whether it's your first or fifth I would imagine. Even though each of ours were planned and much wanted I still had that oh fuck moment when that line showed up every time. It took two days to get over the shock this time round.

It's a big thing having a baby, and being completely responsible for another little life. You wouldn't be a good mum if you weren't worrying about it I would suggest. Life will be different (not necessarily harder though) but it will all be so worth it. I was never really keen on the idea of children but now have three so it can't be that bad though ask me again next time ds and dd1 are squabbling

You will be fine. Honest.

Slouching and MrsRoss...I'm so glad others have admitted to feeling this way...this baby was longed for and v much wanted, but for the last few weeks I can't seem to muster excitement, just extremely daunted as to how much our lives are going to change/how will I cope with looking after a baby etc..
everyone expects you just to be so excited all the time but I'm so tired I can't even contemplate being excited and the thought of going into labour exhausted and then battling with breast feeding etc just seems so huge. It doesn't help that all family are over 500 miles away and I'm the first of our friends to have a baby, so don't really have much practical support, though DM is hoping to come up once baby puts in an appearance which will be great.

Anyway...point is...I totally know where you're coming from, everyone else...please excuse the me, me, me!

Re personals...on phone and no broadband just now, but congratulations to all those with new babies and all the best those currently labouring away :-)!

Thinking very impressed with your DH's nesting! I didn't know men did that, keeping my fingers crossed on it happening to DP.

Citizen How exciting! Hopefully baby stays put for a day or so.

Dinky Sounds like a lovely day. Get in the paddling pool!

Slouching Don't worry it sounds like everyone has these doubts, I know I certainly do. There are days when the idea of bringing home a baby and how much life will change because of it are utterly terrifying. I spent hours the other night worrying that baby deserves better than me and spend most of the time panicking incase i'm not a good mum. As horrible as it is I'm pretty sure its all completely normal and the hormones don't help.

Slouching - its so normal to feel this way. Having a baby is the most amazing joyous experience. But I know that between being heavily pregnant, labour and then postnatal with DS, I found it absolutely overwhelming, and quite difficult also. Like citizen, I look at my ds and cant believe we made him, he is the most amazing little person in the world.

Agree with MrsWildermac that it is really reassuring to hear so many of you admitting to feeling like this. It is such an exciting but scary time.

Thank you everyone. I had a cry on DH (yes even during the F1 qualifying ) then went to bed for a nap. It is so reassuring to wake up and read all of your responses. Getting a positive test seemed a world away from having a baby, but now that it's imminent (39+2) I guess I'm having my oh fuck moment now.

My family too are miles away, I have no close friends with babies, and my job seems utterly incompatible with a baby/child, but other people seem to manage. I like being in control and knowing the plan, and the uncertainty of just not knowing when the birth will happen or what life will be like for the next 18 years is pretty alien to me.

So thank you, thank you, thank you for reassuring me that it's ok and normal to feel this way. I'm still shitting myself though.

And with that, I'm getting up to make some courgette and feta fritters and dig up some of my potatoes. And if I'm that proud of cultivating some vegetables, hopefully when this baby makes an appearance I'll feel pretty amazing about that too.

Slouching - it'll work out. I'm 150 miles from my parents and my job is definitely the opposite of family friendly but I've made it work over the past 7 years, and you will too. Both my parents were hospital drs with no family in this continent and working 48 hour round shifts when they had me and they made it work. Life has a way of adjusting x

thinking have finally made space for you! Just waiting for someone to finish feeding. ..

abzs brilliant, I'll let bump know its time to get going!!
Can I seriously have a hot curry on (what feels like) the hottest day of the year so far?! Not to mention my heartburn - but it would be worth to be holding my baby this time tomorrow.

slouching you wil be fine, you will manage it all, and pretty soon you won't even remember life before baby. It's the best thing in the world. ( I am also shitting myself btw and this is no4!)

dinky I'm glad you got through today without baby arriving!

Slouching Glad you're feeling better now! I haven't had that too much but this baby was a surprise, so I think it was all in the beginning I forget easily but will probably freak out when baby is here!

Thinking I love curry on hot days especially! Find they help me keep cool for some reason. Maybe I'm odd though? :)

Just realised tomorrow is my due date according to LMP (it was changed to 20th at the 12 week scan) lets hope that LMP is right and not the scan

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the sun and swollen ankles etc

38 weeks!! It's getting there

Icing they changed your due date that much! Mine slipped back five days so my original EDD is also tomorrow. I don't believe dating scans at all!

YY to what everyone else said re the "holy shit what have I done" thoughts. Coupled with "oh crap I'm going to ruin no 1 DC's life" too.

Anyway, I am obviously tempting fate by typing this, but everything is going fantastically so far. I am finding it a million times easier to cope with a newborn and a toddler than I did pregnant with a toddler. I'm feeling physically really well, haven't taken any painkillers for 2 days and have been out and about loads to playgroups, on buses etc. (In fact we got the bus home from hospital when she was 8 hours old).

Bethan seems so far the polar opposite of her "high needs" brother so far. Feeding 3 hourly in the day (bit more today) and 4 hourly overnight(!) and in between mostly happy to be put down in her chair or carrycot. This is nothing short of miraculous to me & DH - DS had to be held or fed 24/7 for the first 8 weeks or he just screamed. She also has quite long happy and alert periods where she's content to just watch the world go by, which again is utterly alien to us! She isn't hugely keen on being separated from me overnight but that's fine as we'd already set up the cot as a co-sleeper expecting DS mark II and I enjoy co-sleeping with a snuggy newborn anyway

I might save her detailed birth story for when we've all had our babies. It was definitely fast, let's leave it at that!

Good luck to everyone waiting and struggling with BFing etc.

Home. Fed twice already, changed one nappy, watched Tour highlights.

MIL has the house spotless for me. It won't stay like this long, am too tired even to unpack the week's bags.

Oh and it's our 5th wedding anniversary today, had a lovely chilled day in the park, having a picnic with friends as DS swam in the pool opposite with his auntie. Curry on it's way and champers in the fridge.

cheese - so pleased all your ills seem to be on the mend. It is really scary going to the loo with stitches... but as others have said, the worry is worse than the reality. And I am jealous of your rock hard, milk filled boobs (!!) - my DS is starving and I can't wait to be able to feed him properly. Come on milk...

And to all the first timers in a panic about big life changes ahead. The truth is that everything does change radically but i can honestly say that i am a much better person for having had children, that it gets easier and easier and you do regain your social life/ sense of self/ life beyond children... and all those things that seem insurmountable now (high pressure job/ no family support/ etc) work themselves out with relative ease. Again it's the fear of the unknown/ what lies ahead that is far worse than the reality of it. In fact, I would go so far as to say that having children is by far the best thing I've ever done. So rest easy - you have happy times ahead.

Oh, nearly forgot, citizen - GOOD LUCK. May your labour be fast and pain free... er...

Right, i am typing this with one hand while feeding so signing off now.

Aargh! Just lost lots of typing, grrr!

Vinegar-that sounds utterly heavenly, what a wonderful child! fx it lasts & happy anniversary?

Slouching-I also concur with waiting & wanting to get pg & now not sure, feel guilty but agree that feeling so huge & unwell etc does not give much energy to the hope of looking after a newborn. Thinks at this stage most of us just want the pg over with.

Esme & dinky-lol at fil being pg. My DS has started saying things like 'isn't that always fat?' while pointing at my belly, and 'wow, those are really huge pants mammy!'. Yes dear....

I potted up 3 geraniums today & feel disproportionately pleased with myself but totally spent all the energy of the day doing it!

Sounds like things are going really well for you, Vinegar. Happy wedding anniversary!

Sounds like all much better now you're home Abzs and all going brilliantly for you Vinegar - am so pleased. Ds1 was a Velcro baby for the first few weeks and ds2 a relatively easy one (at least until he got mobile :-) ) and it makes such a difference. Happy 5th anniversary too! Enjoy your curry and champers.

PS Mysterymeg has announced she had a dd earlier this afternoon on FB.

Congratulations to mysterymeg, if you're reading and not too busy with newborn cuddles.

slouching and everyone else, I also feel like this intermittently and it's so reassuring to hear others going through the same set of things.

vinegar congrats on your wedding anniversary. Your DD sounds perfect!

Good luck citizen - sounds like you'll be next

It seems like gardening is the new baking on his thread. I don't think I'll be following that trend, I'm rubbish in the garden.

Not much happening here despite my show 2 days ago. Yesterday evening I had 3 hours of mild contractions 7 minutes apart, which then stopped when I went to bed. I've had another few hours of the same over lunch, then a break, then again for a few hours his evening, but the damned things keep stopping! I'm hoping this is all doing good prep work so I have one of those mythical sneeze labours, but it's starting to drive me potty!

Hi everyone,

I'll catch up on all the news tomorrow but just wanted to let you know that Alexander was born yesterday, weighing 8lbs 2oz.

I also just wanted to say Totally you're a genius, making plans and being unprepared is defintely the best way to bring on labour. It was my birthday yesterday and we'd booked a meal out but had to cancel when I started feeling constipated at 6pm. I crawled on all fours into the birthing centre at 9.15pm (it was the only comfortable position ) and told the midwife I needed to do a poo! Turns out it was the pressure of my baby's head on my membranes, and not long after my waters went, the head crowned and our lovely baby boy announced his arrival with a loud cry at 9.35pm, and I got the best birthday present ever.

Hope everyone else is okay, and this hot weather isn't proving to be too uncomfortable. Looking forward to catching up tomorrow.

Oh marie what a lovely quick birth though! Congratulations! Enjoy