December 2013 - creeping closer but no more hospital stays please god!

[LadyMedea]

We are a chatty lot!

Having a cs in (eek!) 17 days time!

My DH will still be on paternity leave, so actually could prob drop us off and pick up after, but I'd obviously have to take baby (no idea if I'll be ok with him in a wrap?) as I'm planning to bf.

Tough one Feather. Not sure I'd feel up to it and like you say- would be difficult to change your mind at the time as your GP's will have shelled out.

Do the uni only run one graduation a year? Some places have mid year ones for phd's etc- is it worth asking about deferring your grad given the situation?

Welcome to the December thread, Jessica and Ladymalfoy! If either of you are interested, we've also got a stats thread and a Facebook group that you're more than welcome to join, too

stom so glad to hear that everything went well at the hospital!

Feather If it makes for an easy life then I'd be inclined to go but get a taxi there and back and only stick around for the necessary bits of the ceremony. Although if you your grandparents are likely to be fairly understanding about the situation, then it's probably best to leave it. Of course it depends entirely on how you think you'll be feeling by then...

And Chilli, that's appalling! It's common knowledge that drinking alcohol in moderation during pregnancy is absolutely fine and as you said, you weren't exactly planning to get drunk!
I actually had the opposite happen to me the other day - had a waiter serve me champagne despite clearly saying "no thank you" before he started pouring

DP and I went to a wedding at the weekend, which was really lovely on the whole but it did involve having to endure members of his family poking my bump, being on my feet for ages, drinking endless glasses of Coke whilst everyone else took advantage of the free bar, and having to wear a maternity dress that felt more like a big purple tent!
There were a lot of cute babies and young children there though, which was a great reminder that it will all be worth it

Woke up the next morning to find that DP was hungover (cue me feeling very smug!) and that I'd ended up with the flu after getting my jab last week!
Think I'll be spending today snuggled up in bed feeling sorry for myself... But in the meantime, does anyone know if there's anything I can take for it other than paracetemol? DP bought me some Lemsip Max Cold & Flu capsules but I'm not sure how safe they are to take at the moment...
I feel like death, so any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hey Liz

My magic cure for a cold/flu is honey, lemon and ginger. I usually make it in the cafetiere to strain out the ginger or a thermos flask then use sieve/strainer.

Squeeze half a lemon, plenty of honey and then a little lump ( usually 50p squared size) of fresh ginger peeled and grated. Fill with hot water and let it brew for 10-15 mins or so. The ginger can be a bit fiery so add plenty of honey to taste.

I find it so soothing but also the ginger definitely does something to the bugs as symptoms often disappear overnight.

DH was sniffling and sneezing last night but a big mug of this and he's better today!

It's worth a schlep out to sainsbo's to get the bits..

Featherbag if your bambino arrives on time, you will probably be a little 'bruised' but if you do want to go, treat yourself to a taxi.

btw congratulations on your 2:1

Thank you! He'll be on time, scheduled surgical eviction on the 21st!

packing the hospital bags today and crying about how small the little baby gros are. question for you. we have done 10 sets of outfit so vest and baby gro 5 in newborn and 5 in 0-3. reckon that is enough? we live a 10 min walk from the hospital so it wouldn't be too much hassle to get more.

Welcome newbies

Liz don't take the lemsip stuff, I was advised not too when I was really under the weather last month by the pharmacist, only paracetemol I'm afraid. completely agree with mildred on the home remedy of ginger, lemon & honey it works a treat - gingers a natural anti inflammatory so helps your throat etc. You can take strepsils etc in moderation too. Hope you feel better soon!

featherbag how long is the ceremony? Mine lasted hours and if your bf you may be needing to do it more frequently than every 2 hours depending on what kind of day babies having so not sure if that would be difficult on top of the fact you'll be recovering from the section?

Was told on Saturday that in our region they look to induce you at 41 and 4days if you go over, which would be christmas day for me - of course they then said 'we don't induce on bank holidays' so if I go over I'm not sure if they'd try and induce me before christmas or if I'd have to wait till after boxing day, would really really love little man to be here for christmas. Think I'll be on hot curries every day from week 37!

whisper I only stayed in hospital about 4 hours with Lola. We only changed her once, and that was more because we'd been transported in by ambulance and dressed her before getting her properly clean, then changed her after she was examined at hospital. I'm hoping for 6 hour discharge this time, so I haven't packed heaps for the baby (I've not started my bag yet) DH can always pop to shops across the road or drive home 20 minutes to get more.

First official day of maternity leave (although it is for 3yo, not the new baby - Sweden is awesome for matenity leave). I took 3yo to childminder, we painted a dinosaur and a flower, went to the shop and then walked home. Now trying to bake bread and make soup for dinner.

Sounds like a lovely day loki

Moving in 4 weeks-ish should start packing bits really the spare room is a tip. But it's sooo cold.

Feeling rather lonely and fed up today.

Is it bad that I don't want to see anyone when dd is born because I know they'll only be coming to see dd and not me. They haven't bothered to ask how I am or come and seen me in the last 9 months so why bother now!? Sorry hormones!! lol

Had my 32 week appointment today baby is fully engaged and dr is now telling me she thinks i could be 36 weeks pregnant! Iv been measuring bugger every appointment since 20 weeks and my first ever original date was december 2nd...was all very confussing as i have never had regular periods and my last period was boxing day 2012 i can go months without a period. very shocked! Just aswell i have everything ready. Finally been prescribed something for my heartburn aswell:)

Wow how exciting chelsea I've got polycystic overlies and my periods ranged from 40-58 days!

At least everything is all ready :)

Can't beeline how soon our babies will be here :)

Ssssh stom. We are having a rest now from babies. No one else can pop early so cross your legs girls!

Had mw appt today too. As I thought he has turned and mw thinks he is head down! Whoop whoop! And he is measuring 31 at 33 weeks so although on the smaller side, is within the normal range and following a line on the growth chart.

Spent the day washing and drying baby clothes and bedding. Going to start my bag tomorrow just in case I do go early.

Scan went fine, baby is still head down and he weighs exactly 6llb.
He in the 60th centile I think she said.

feather as a veteran helper at the graduations of the two Unis I've worked for I urge you to ring the graduation office of your uni and ask about the format of the ceremony and what is expected of the graduands and tell them about your circumstances.

At my current place you would be expected to leave your family at least 30mins before the ceremony and they last an hour - so you would be away from baby for at least 90minutes which if you are breastfeeding is a long time! No way they would let you keep him with you in a sling.

We try and accomodate everyone and are really flexible so they may be able to put you at the end of the list so you can just go up, shake hands, and then slip out afterwards. But the more notice you give them the more likely they are to be flexible.

Also remember there may be a lot of standing around and walking which may be difficult 15 days post c section depending on how you are.

You can always defer your attendance until the next graduation, many Unis have two a year, but even waiting a year isn't too bad.

stom the doctor actually got pissed off with me that i didnt know my last full period when i went there to check i was pregnant...but i cant help it its just my body!

chelsea I have an app on my phone that tells me when my last period was and when in next due I just click when I've come on and when I've finished and it does an average cycle then tells you roughly when your next one is lol

Anyone else heard a small popping / clicking sound from their belly? I've heard three this afternoon, sounds as though hes blowing bubbles and they're popping on me!

just got results from the GD test and it all came back normal. phew i'm so relieved. but to be sure I will leave nutella alone for a while - although I really feel like treating myself to a little celebratory nutella on toast.... I need to resist the temptation!!

so we went to our first prenatal course yesterday. All first time moms & dads. I thought we would be amongst the oldest (I'm 31 and DH is 30), but surprisingly, we were the youngest couple there. I guess it's also a function of where we live but that was a surprise. I'm all confused though because the hospital bag here is so different. they give you a lot of stuff at the hospital so you don't have to pack as much, but you stay at the hospital at least 2 days so really you want some of your stuff. well I really need to go buy knickers and a nightgown. I only wear thongs and DP and I always sleep fully naked hahaha.

loki I have heard Sweden being amazing for new moms. You are very lucky.

liz i hope you feel better soon. I can't imagine being sick on top of 33 weeks pregnant... that's just a double whammy.

Rose ir is the best place for having kids (well, I am jealous of the Finland baby box, but Sweden is amazing). I moved here a year ago, and went part time, the government made up my pay to nearly full time using maternity leave for my 7 year old because I only got 6 months in England. Now I can have 420 days off for this baby, 360 of them at about 80% of my pay. I can use them as part days and work just have to deal with whatever I say I am doing.Plus 3yo gets 15 hours a week childcare free while I am on maternity leave.

Thank you all for your suggestions and kind words
Being this ill on top of being 32 weeks pregnant isn't much fun but it was completely self-inflicted - I promised myself I'd have every test, jab, etc going if it was going to be best for baby. Starting to regret that now though (especially as I've got my whooping cough jab on Thursday...!)

DP surprised me by taking the afternoon off of work and appearing with soup, crusty bread and medicine, insisting that I stay in bed so he could look after me Bless him!
I was going to send him out for honey, lemon and ginger this afternoon but since he's already been so lovely I think I'll leave that til tomorrow...!

MrsShrubs I've been getting those little clicking noises as well! I asked about it a while back but no-one seems to know exactly what it is. Some people say it's air bubbles popping, others think it could be baby's bones clicking. Tempted to ask the midwife next time I see her, but I don't think it's anything to worry about.

And Chelsea I've often wondered whether they might've got my dates wrong as I couldn't tell them when my last proper period was (stopped taking the pill at the end of last year and they just never went back to normal!) I didn't think they could get things so drastically wrong though...! Will be interesting to see when your baby gets here

Thanks for that Lady I'll call the uni tomorrow and see if they can help!

Have had a mad busy but productive day, now crippled with pain, got stuck with one leg through the front door and couldn't move the other just now, then got a bollocking from DH for doing too much. But the house was a total shit tip, how can I NOT do it?! DH has been home all weekend but no housework got done, so today I've stripped both beds and the cot bed (weaning DS off it but like him to have his daytime nap in it so I can do stuff without worrying about him escaping), washed the bedding and put it back on, hoovered the whole house, washed the floors downstairs, washed the bathroom floor, done another 3 loads of washing and put it all away (I don't iron. Ever. Except the day before I went into labour with DS, when everything got ironed!). Then I unpacked and repacked the hospital bags. Then I went into town and did more Christmas shopping, collected DH's new glasses and took travel cot and bedding to my mum's house ready for DS staying there while I'm in hospital. Then met DH and went to look at a prospective nursery for both boys when I go back to work.

That list looks even more ridiculous given how much pain I'm in, but I've been like a woman possessed. I'm having to put some serious effort into not starting on wrapping the Christmas presents now, DH has nipped out to the shops and he'll kill me if I've moved off this sofa while he's gone!

wow feather you have been busy today. I hate it when you get on a mission with stuff because you know you need to take it easy but your brain wont let you so you just end up suffering.

Get well soon liz I found that peppermint tea helped with sinus pain as it is a decongestant. You get a lovely hot drink and less stuffy nose in return.

wow chelsea that is a bit of a difference in weeks. Hope it hasn't panicked you too much. Means you might get to meet your baby even sooner than expected.

glad your GD test was all clear rose I think you should have the nutella on toast to celebrate anyway. I have eaten a giant bag of buttons today. It has calcium in it, calcium is good for you

Good news on the scan alyssa glad everything is going well for you.

me and DP have packed the hospital bags today and got the moses basket out and put it in our bedroom. I keep looking at it and grinning madly. Soon there will be a tiny person in there.

I've just been informed MIL is coming to the flat for the day next week or the week after to clean and make sure everything is "sterile" I am in two minds. I love my MIL, she's luffly but I don't want someone else cleaning my flat. I know I can't do most of the cleaning because I'm too short to reach and can't bend down without vomiting so I do need some help. I'll feel horribly guilty if I sit doing nothing while she is cleaning though. What should I do.

What should you do? Go out and leave her to it, seriously! Let her crack on, all offers of help are met with yes please in this house!