October 2013 - wobbling and sweating through the last trimester

[roxvox]

Baby due dates/sexes/name choices here

aaaa... based on your comments ladies, my first ever brazilian booked for this evening!! :-)

Good luck! Avoid tight trousers eg jeans today!

Glad everything's ok flyer. I'm feeling totally unprepared at the moment, all I have is some clothes and a pram which we got this week. Hopefully going to find a cot this weekend. I am feeling a bit guilty about the amount of sugar I eat to roxvox (I must try to do better).

As for nappies both my sister and sister in law use Aldi own brand so I'm going to try them. They get good mumsnet reviews. www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/disposable-nappies/9873-aldi-mamia

Agree, pampers are disgusting these days. I've heard Aldi own are fantastic, but never tried them myself.

Orange sounds heartbreaking watching these tiny hungry, poorly nourished and cared for children. God imagine having all teeth pulled at 6! Shocking! DS being a super physical boy has a couple of tiny chips on his teeth which make me wobbly, but with good hygiene and noutrishion I'm hoping will not become a problem.

Talking about teeth, whatever happened to rachel the dentist? Hope she is ok!

Clapham How about making some rawtella www.carolinecain.com/rawtella/ that will satisfy his chocolate neglect, but is also good for him shhh. If they keep the lunches in the fridge then coat fruit or nuts, if not pop in a small tub and it'll be a dip for chopped fruit. Very quick to make.

GT made me chuckle about the knickers, thats exactly what DP would do too!

Whoever said about leaving freezer bags ready at home, fab idea!

Nourishment. Damn you iPhone.

Cross posted lots!

Good luck with the wax, clapham. Used to love Bare for my treatments.

Good luck clapham

Also hear good things about Aldi nappies. I've got some, as well as son Sainsburys ones that I've realised will be too big initially and some pampers - all except the Aldi ones were for the freebies that came with them! I'm considering giving real nappies a go once we've got into the swing of things - I'll do a trial through the council and maybe get te nappy lady to advise.

Legally was it you who used them for your DD? Any recommendations? Will you go to disposables if you've got two to contend with this time?

I've seen the Cheeky Wipes (washable wipes) too and they look good, even if we decide not to use real nappies in the end.

Hello ladies, regular lurker, irregular poster here. I mainly wanted to post because I'm also Crookie1's sister and since you are so sweet to be concerned, I want to reassure you she is fine, no tricky consequences to losing that bit of mucus plug. Gosh it was scary tho! I was really panicked and worried about her, but apparent it can replenish, so if you get through the first day or so ok, you should be fine.

I'm totally unprepared in terms of kit, nursery, hospital bags etc. We are still mid decorating and I just feel like I don't want to bring anyone crap into our home until we've got places to put them! So we desperately need to get a boogie on with that. We're still planning a home birth but I'm quite aware we might end up in hospital anyway, so need to prepare for both.

On the other hand I'm feeling pretty good and prepared emotionally. DP is being largely lovely, we've done our hypnobirthing course, and just finished our NHS antenatal course which was really really good. I'm getting to pregnancy yoga now and then and still got NCT coming up. I've got disturbingly massive swollen feet and nasty acid reflux, and for the last few weeks (29 weeks yesterday) my body has decided it wants me to put on three pounds a week, but I think the oxytocin must be coursing through my body cos I'm happy and don't care about any of it really! Just really looking forward to birth and having my little baby! Best wishes to you all x x

Contesse - yes, I did real nappies with DD until about 14 months (when DH became a stay at home dad). I will def do them again with two. They really are super easy! I ended up using Flips, but this time will stock up with extras (as there will be two bottoms to cover!) of the new bum genius all in ones and blueberry basix. I like the nappies that have built in stay dry/fleece lining.

I didn't use washable wipes... Not sure why. I used cotton wool and water for about 2 months, thd Hughes baby wipes. We live Higgins wipes so much that we haver seriously stocked up on them as they are cheap before being discontinued (we have almost 100 packs! )...

Sorry for so many typos. Hopefully you get the gist!

Flyer Glad everything is ok! Take it easy today, you deserve a break after all that stress!

Pannacotta Glad Crookie is well!

Tarlia rawtella looks yum!

As for getting organised and decorating, we still have to shift around furniture and switch rooms to the bigger bedroom but I have no idea where half the furniture from it is going. DH is stubbornly refusing to get rid of the ancient energy eating TV that he watches once in a blue moon... I HATE it... Plus I refuse to sleep and have the baby sleep in the same room as his bookshelves, they're full of general crap at the front that just catches dust. When I complained he said it'd take 2 minutes to dust them, so I offered to get him a cloth and stopwatch and he backtracked rather quickly...

About the discussions on washing baby clothes - I used to work for Next and worked in a warehouse to mark down sale items for a couple of months over one summer. By the end of it, I'd come out in some weird rash on my arms and dirt was ingrained into my hands so I'll definitely be washing new clothes...

Good luck clapham, you need to report back so that I can take advantage of your bravery and decide whether to get one

Been reading the Ina May guide to childbirth. It's very 'woo' but has some useful suggestions! Some really entertaining photos in there - I've shown DP the best ones and he is just 'EUGH OMG EUGH EUGH'. So, nice and mature.

Spark, that reminds me of DP, he has these ridiculous figurines in front of our bookcases. When I say they'll be an arse to dust, he says 'no, just rinse them in water'. They're his! So he should do the blimmin rinsing!

Thanks for all your well wishes everyone.

Panacotta glad to hear crookie is doing well, that's good news after her scare.

Good Luck clapham, you'll never look back after having a Brazilian

I've been looking at the child benefits today (family allowance it used to be called I think) it's confusing. It seems to say if one of you earns over a certain amount you don't qualify for any. I just presumed I'd get it, i was going to have it to top up my maternity pay (obviously to buy stuff for the baby) can anyone clarify the criteria for me as its confusing and talks about higher earner child allowance if one of your earns over the cut off amount. Thanks

The amount you are entitled to declines gradually the more over £50k you earn. If one of you earns over £60k, you get no child benefit

So if you and DP both earn under £50k each, you get the full amount. If one of you earns over £60k, you get nothing. If one or both or you earns between £50k and £60k, you can claim child benefit, but you have to declare to taxman, as the reduced amount you are entitled to is clawed back through your tax code. The higher earner would declare.

Pointless, complex and unnecessary!

Flyer I think that its if one of you earns over £50k. If you google it, there was a useful calculator online to show how much you'd be entitled to. I think the way it works is you have to pay back a certain amount pro rata to the amount over the threshold you are, but its probably worth claiming even if its not for the full amount.

Hi October Ladies,

Can I come and join in? I have been lurking here for a few weeks and would like to join you in the final journey and hopefully beyond...

I am a first time mum at 49.... cant believe I have got to 28 weeks already! So far touch wood it's been a fairly uneventful pregnancy worst bit apart from the ms has been this heatwave which has sent me completely potty! Totally unable to sleep or do anything. Literally asleep at 02:00 and awake again at 03:00 until 06:30. A few external stresses on my plate - builders are in and its neck and neck if they will finish before the baby is born..... and DH away with a family bereavement not back for another month /emo/te/3.gif

Baby currently due 11/10/13 but consultant keen to whip her out a bit early. Am umming and ahhing about my 2 given options of either an induction at 39wks or a planned C-S at 39wk. After desperately wanting a water or home birth and completed a hypnobirthing course can't believe I am now contemplating ELCS as my best choice! Am worried that that an induction at 39 wks could end up in emergency C-S after hours of an artificially induced labour and possibly forceps etc. Not sure my poor old vagina could cope with that....

Any thoughts from the more experienced mums?

Welcome oddlife. I see that you managed to fit the word vagina into your first post. I think you'll fit in fine ... Do you know what you are having (boy or girl)?

I am not an experienced Mum by any means (this is my first) so I cannot offer any advice I am afraid! That's a bugger that your plans of a water or home birth are being pushed out of sight though. Is there any reason why the consultant is keen to get your baby out sooner rather than later?

Glad crookie is doing well, thanks for the update pannacotta. Glad you are doing well too

I have just asked my boss (who has a 3 week old daughter) what nappies he would recommend and he said that they've happily used Pampers (I mentioned chemical smell but got a confused expression back), and he also said that Asda nappies were good. I also read that Aldi ones were meant to be pretty good. I have no idea basically. I might get a few and see what works best!

Men try to avoid sniffing nappies roxvox - I bet his wife hates them

Welcome oddlife! My best friend's sister just had her first baby at 45; she was induced on her due date and ended up having a section as the induction made no progress whatsoever.

I was induced at 38 weeks, induction progressed fine but after dilating fully and pushing for nearly 3 hours DS had barely moved down! So I ended up with a section. I'm having a planned section this time.

What has your consultant recommended?

Hello and welcome oddlife
I'm a complete newbie and the talk over the last two days about episostomies and tears and bleeding haven't freaked me out at all, oh no and can offer no advice, I'm afraid - but do come along for the ride.
I have actually taken on board the talk about hospital bags and the like, especially with flyer's experiences of women in early deliveries, yesterday (glad everything is ok, btw flyer). So I wrote a list and spent the last hour browsing Boots/Mothercare looking at changing bags and what might go in them. But I've not actually bought anything, of course!
Just what am I looking for in a changing bag?!

Welcome oddlife. Are you happy to go with their recommendation - I assume they want baby out early due to the increased risks to the baby at late stage as an older mum? You don't have to be induced or have c-section - if you want to you just refuse and go in for monitoring everyday.

If you are happy to go with the medical advice, it's a very personal decision but I would be tempted to book a c-section, but then get midwife to assess whether an induction is likely to work closer to the time. I think if baby is pretty much ready, just needs some encouragement to get going then inductions are fine. But if baby and your body are just not ready at 39 weeks, would probably be less stressful to skip straight to the c-section.

A big friendly welcome to oddlife - sorry, I haven't any advice on the cs/induction dilemma either, but good to have you with us. Your post made me smile as "my poor old vagina" is an expression I use all too often!

Pannacotta - thank you for the update on your sis and I'm very jealous of your happy hormones. I'm a right moaning misery at the moment.

Shire - you sound like me...I spent ages browsing baby gear online but end up not buying a sausage. Re changing bags I think it is important to consider practical stuff like is it big enough? Does it have enough pockets for organising things? Are you and DP both going to use it? (he might not appreciate a very girly design)...

However, my top tip is buy one you really like (even if it is a touch more expensive). You are going to be lugging it around with you day after day, possibly for a good couple of years, so it pays to get one you are happy to carry.

Off on holiday tomorrow so won't be posting for a week. Lots of best wishes to all posters, and lurkers, and all our gorgeous October bundles to-be.

Bridget I think the prospect if a year off work is also massively c

Oh dear. Blooming phone. Was going to say, prospect of a year off work is also massively contributing to my cheery state! I definitely have a capacity for idleness and lazing about watching box sets, and after working full time for 4 and a half years, I'm ready for a change. I know having a baby will be really hard work but at least I won't have a difficult supervisor and office politics to negotiate. I'm also aware it gets trickier as they get older and start moving about...

Very seriously jealous of all of you who are teachers and the like .

I have another 7 weeks to go and my due date is one of the early ones

Tried to go hospital bag shopping stressful and so expensive as i still needed to buy nursing bra/nighties and blankets going home outfit etc plus all the boring things like breast pads and maternity pads really don't want to go shopping again till baby is here but still have to buy a stash of reuseable nappies