Due in July 2013 - newborns to the left of me, big bumps to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you babe!

[SlouchingPanda]

Hello shiny new thread!

Thanks Shelly it's funny I just feel a bit nervous. Even small things like going for a wee... When DH was here even though he might have been in the garden and not with her I wouldn't have thought twice... Now it's a conscious decision- to wee or not to wee...

Shelley I agree with Slouchung - you're a great mum and town and end of reception celebrations in this heat would finish anyone off, let alone someone who gave birth 3 weeks ago. Be kind to yourself - you've done an amazing thing in growing and birthing F and it will take time for your body to recover.

Lancs - sounds promising - no idea re contraction timer apps Im afraid + I just guestimated. Hope all goes smoothly and swiftly.

Cheese - I remember well the first day alone fear. It will all be fine I promise - look on it as girls bonding time.

Can't remember what else I was going to say - hopefully it'll come back to me later. Going to take j for a little walk to the shops before it gets too hot I think...

And if it's any consolation cheese I was left with all three dcs briefly yesterday and still had that feeling of utter panic. I even text dh to say I'm not sure I can manage to be a mum of three - though probably a little late to be worrying about that now!

gah!! still waiting..... dtd this morning... DP now happy and bouncy - lol :)

bump very hard yesterday, not felt as many movements today, but there are some happening. just feels a bit different today. wonder if things are starting or if its just wishful thinking!??

is it too early for ice cream??

RekiMummy it's never too early for ice cream.

Shelly it sounds like you are doing a fab job to me! It's good to know that even experienced mummies feel the fear too.

Dinky hope your trip to the shops goes well.

I'm doing my first full day solo with 2 today too - and with immaculate timing DS1 has refused to have a nappy on and is insisting on toilet training himself! My poor nerves...

Reikimummy - I just had an icecream on my way home - never too early for ice cream.

Vinegar - good luck with the potty training. Can you hang out in the shade in the garden with ds and dd (that seems to be what my friends who potyy trained over the summer did).

I found this one on google for the other night when things seemed to be starting, but not had much for it since then unfortunately!!
www.contractiontimer.com

40 + 5 :-(

white magnum demolished!!! :D

What a morning. J woke up with dh and fed and fretted and wet/dirtied several nappies - so obviously was getting something last night. Then, mid feed, CatB brought me a very disgruntled sparrow and let it go in the bedroom. I've also had the man in to measure up the kitchen for new units.

On the plus side, J is now sleeping and MIL has done my ironing. I may even get to drink a cup of tea. Or go back to bed.

Bless mil - hope you get some sleep in now Abzs. I'd be freaking out about an injured sparrow in my room ( irrational phobia of birds - fine with everything else though!)

Hi everyone! Permission to join you?! I've lurked on this thread for far far too long and have loved how chatty, positive and supportive you all are. I had an EDD of August 1st but my elcs date next week makes me a July laydee and it would be great to join you post-natally.

This is DC2 and do not know the sex though DS (4) is totally convinced its a girl!

This pregnancy has been a bit of a journey for us and I've struggled to totally relax into it. Now, with seven days to go I need to force myself to get immersed in the madness of it all. Been quite guarded with friends as to how I've been feeling for last nine months as very few people know the difficulties we've encountered since wanting DC2. DH is really encouraging of me getting involved in this thread as he's concerned that next week will hit me like a ton of bricks.

Congratulations to all of you who have had their babies and many best wishes to those who are waiting. This heat is horrendous but in spite of my gigantic feet and ankles, I still don't want to wish the summer away!

37+6

Sorry guys I've been reading and not replying! Welcome to the new people :) MrsD of course you're welcome! It's a shame you haven't been able to enjoy this pregnancy too much, I know what you mean about not wanting to wish the summer away but struggling with the heat!

39+4

Not long now ladies!!!!!

Welcome MrsD - DS2 was convinced DS3 was a girl - and was wrong. He seems delighted with his little brother though so hopefully your DS will be equally adaptable if he turns out to be wrong. It sounds like you've been very worried throughout your pregnancy - hopefully with the end in sight, and your DD about to enter into the world next week, you can relax into it. Remember to congratulate yourself and do something nice for your body while still pregnant (massage - great for releasing water retention and banishing cancels, or a swim, or even a nice cool bath or haircut or doing your nails this week) - its doing a great thing and deserves a pamper now and again.

The last time it was really hot like this in July was when I was on maternity leave with DS1 back in Summer 2006 - I remember feeling so sorry for the pregnant women I saw walking around when out with DS1. Having had a week or so of the heat before J arrived, I can honestly say that I'm glad I wont be pregnant over the summer ever again (much as I loved being pregnant)! Its just a whole other world of hot isnt it. Hope all the innies and the outies and their mums are managing to keep cool in the heat somehow - looks like another week and a half of high temperatures are predicted. On the plus side the heat has meant I've managed to finally persuade DH to let us have a huge parasol in our garden which arrived today (only taken us nearly 3 years to get it) so may actually get to sit outside without melting now...

Welcome MrsD, sorry to her youve not had the best of pregnancies, I know exactly how that feels, I had pre-natal depression with dc3, it's awful, and unfortunately I kept everything in and didn't let on (except to poor dh) until far too late, by then all my friends were giving the mad pregnant twirlie a very wide birth (No pun intended!) and midwifed offers of help were a bit redundant.
Good thing was that the min she was born it all disappeared and we have a very strong bond (sometimes she is overly klingy with me) but all those doubts and worries and bad tempers just vanished. Hope that happens for you too.

Dinky, I know exactly what you mean about the birds, I would've run a mile. HATE birds, although having to get a little better with our move to the countryside!

Absz, please can I have you MIL? Mine has gone on holiday for a few days (not that she would do my ironing anyway!!)

Oh and please excuse the typos, bloody phones!

Hi lancslass with dc2 three years ago i used contraction master but no clever phone back then so used it on laptop at home. Was simple to use i think you can Google for an app. I did search before dc3 arrived and foundvit again butthis time didn't have time to use it as went straight in.

Am finding baby feeding and nappy app very useful as my brain is complete mush atm!

Thanks for all the welcomes already! It's been tough bottling things up. In May last year I was diagnosed with a partial molar pregnancy at 12 week scan and it took some real soul searching to decide to try again. Thankfully we did! The sickness was hideous at the beginning but since I've been fit as a butchers dog.

Having elcs as my lovely consultant (been with him due to much gynae excitement since I was 14) didn't want me to vbac as this baby is on 97th! That's fine by me!! I have instructions as to what to do if I start to labour and I'm only ten mins from the hospital. Mum is just around the corner too so on hand for DS if need be.

Trying to get my head around feeding this time. Due to long, horrible labour, blood loss and a hungry young man, BF didn't work for me at all last time. I felt v guilty about it and beat myself up a bit to be honest. I'm trying to read up on how to give myself more of a fighting chance this time and also have an electric pump and ready made bottles at the ready in case I need to top up. DH has made me promise not to feel guilty about anything. Bless him!

Thanks for the pampering encouragement Dinky, though I don't often need it! Pre baby hair cut and eyelash and eyebrow tint have already been done. Now thinking about whether I can get away with not removing toe nail polish before cs! (That makes me sound horribly vain!)

Right, off for my third lolly of the day!

Sorry twirlie I realise I have done quite well in the MIL stakes and am not sharing! She is being a great help, as well as delighting in her first gc.

Hello everyone and congratulations to new arrivals I'm still niggling away here - stop start latent phase is not fun, especially in this heat, but hopefully it means I will have a very quick active labour!

Monday was interesting, had to go up to hospital for my IV meds and they did a check and couldn't find the baby's head Second midwife was called who also couldn't locate it, and they started muttering about possible breach position. Anyway, they let me go off so I could sit through the sweltering heat of DD's sports day, and then I went back up for the consultant to scan me. Baby's head is so deep into my pelvis that it can't be felt at all (despite both MWs saying it wasn't engaged as they couldnt feel it). So he is clearly ready to come, and I think I am ready for him to come too! DD had already been born at this stage, and if he hasn't appeared in 6 days I will be the "most" pregnant I have ever been. Currently 38 +1, and hoping I don't end up going overdue.

Secretly quite jealous to read of birth stories and newborn cuddles, feeding, nappies etc, but also a little scared that shortly I will be a mum of 3!

MrsD - glad you have been well pampered, and hope you enjoy your ice lolly

Welcome to the lurkers, new and old. MrsD sounds like you've had a tough time of it, it will be wonderful to scoop up your lovely newborn in your arms and know that it was all worth it .

Phie, conversation has moved on a bit but just wanted to add to the others, I was induced this time and I had an absolutely wonderful labour. They started with a pessary, tthen broke my waters, and from that point my body took over and it was all go. Babies heart was monitored with a head clip so I didn't have those sticky bands over my bump, which was a relief. I had stitches, but they haven't hurt at all.

Congratulations to mrsmillions, persuasion , and hai, have I missed anyone? Hope you are recovering well and getting lots of snuggles

Dinky v jealous of your parasol sounds great

Cold refreshing vibes being sent out to all you innes hope you don't have much longer to wait x

Afternoon all! Well, I can thoroughly recommend wallowing in the swimming pool - it was bliss!! Now trying (and failing!) to find anywhere that has paddling pools in stock so dc1 can have somewhere to cool off too.

Welcome mrsd. I too had a lot of problems with feeding last time around. I'm hoping it will all fall into place this time, but if not, I've promised myself I'm not going to heap pressure on myself like I did last time (remind melt that in a few weeks pease!!).

Lancslass - hope all is going well!!

What feeding and. Spot apps are people using? I may download one in preparation.

Right, off to hospital for what will hopefully be my last set of bloods to check for return of the dreaded cholestasis. Wish me luck (though I won't get the results for a few days)!

38+5

Welcome mrsd glad you have joined us! I've found it so encouraging lurking on the thread and now contributing with so many who are in the same boat. Thank you ladies!

We don't have much family help here. Mil had hip replacement three weeks ago and they live 5 hour drive away anyway and my mum suffers from depression quite badly and isn't able to help. They live 2 hours away. Friends from our church have been bringing meals each evening for us which has been fab. In fact the rattles and babygro gifts are
lovely don't get me wrong but the food has been amazing and offers to help with older dd and ds
for playdates at friends so not feeling too low about lack of family right now BUT once Dh goes back to work and im juggling three kids over summer hols i think it'll be a lot different. I do wonder how I'll cope with three all at once. I know it must be possible and some of you have four (grin)
lovely dontvget me wrong

Mrsd, mightbemad - my top tip re bfing is to look out local help while still pregnant - find out local bf groups and pop in to be shown the basics while pregnant and check if they're running over the school holidays, find out if peer supporters in your area and connect with them (my fab peer supporter was the only reason I managed to bf ds1) and find out details of local lactation consultants - you probably won't need them but good to have the numbers in case you need to call on them in an emergency. If you're a second time plus mum, midwives tend to leave you to it as they think you know what you're doing so line up your support network now.

Not using any apps here Might be - just waking Jackson up when one of my boobs feels rock hard, trying to alternate between the two, and changing nappies every time I feed during the day or smell that poo smell. Good luck for your blood tests - keeping everything crossed for you.

Waves - sorry you had a scare on Monday. Sounds like that baby is truly locked and loaded!!