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

[LadyMedea]

We are a chatty lot!

lisb I always used a new mattress for each of my kids. Mw said it had something to do with vomit and blaming some cot deaths on that, so they advise everyone to use a new mattress.
I've never re used one Hun so I couldn't say really.

Naughty baby frouby I hope he turns for you. Hope your dp feels better soon.

whisper did you find out?

chelsea how's very thing going? You must be going stir crazy Hun, are you still 2cm?

Well I hadn't felt jellybaby move all day so when i Mentioned it to the consultant she sent me for a trace and even after a glass of cold water baby still wouldn't play nice so I had to turn on my side and an hour later they were happy with him. She says he's growing fine but said I had +4 glucose in my urine and I had to do another one before I left and it had dropped to +1 which is good.
Must have been the glass of coke

So no more consultant appt, just the midwife nod hopefully only back at hospital when I finally go not labour.

X posted whisper glad everything is ok and it'll be a lovely surprise when he or she is born.
I agree I am also very done with pregnancy.

Anyone else started talking Christmas plans? My DH just asked if I'd thought about Christmas. His family don't live anywhere near us and it would be very impractical for us to go to them anyway, especially with a newborn, so I'd kind of assumed we'd be going to my parents, along with my dad's parents, DB, DSIL and DNiece. He got a right cob on as he doesn't want to do this, yet can't come up with any alternative doable suggestions! I've told him under no circumstances am I cooking Christmas dinner 5 weeks post section, while bfing a newborn, and as there's zero chance of him cooking that only really leaves going to my parents! He's agreed, and accepts that he hadn't actually thought through the logistics of staying at home, but still has a right face on about it! Oh, and not only had he thought I'd be magically up to making dinner etc., he'd thought my parents would tell the rest of the family they weren't invited to their house after all and would instead come to our house for this dinner made by elves! I know he finds my family difficult at times, but seriously!!!

Hi lisb, 'they' say "new child, new mattress" !

Xmas is a strange one here. I said no family, but they all live 24 hours flying away, so if we had them they would be staying here.
We have friends who are due at the end of December. I think their families are visiting from just after Xmas, so we will invite them and any other expat orphans. But probably for a swedish julbord, not a full Xmas dinner with all the trimmings. We always had "strays" at Xmas growing up.

Xmas is a strange one here. I said no family, but they all live 24 hours flying away, so if we had them they would be staying here.
We have friends who are due at the end of December. I think their families are visiting from just after Xmas, so we will invite them and any other expat orphans. But probably for a swedish julbord, not a full Xmas dinner with all the trimmings. We always had "strays" at Xmas growing up.

I think it's xmas dinner at dp's parents then exchanging gifts at my sisters then back to my mums for tea, then his parents for Boxing Day dinner then my sisters for Boxing Day tea......that's what everyone else thinks anyway.
I will have to see as even reading that back is making me panic at the amount of travelling with 2 toddlers and a newborn.

I'm so miserable today I didn't sleep well, work is stressing me out, hubby is working away, midwife appointment was completely disappointing (I've tested positive for strep b in the past and now they won't test me even though I was told I would be at 36 weeks) feel like I'm exposing baby to a risk that could be avoided. I know that I could test negative now and be positive in labour or vice versa but it still adds an additional worry for me. I also thought I would be in hospital as soon as I went into labour but now I'm going to labour at home. I know that's preferable for a lot of people but for me its a completely different mindset that I don't have a lot of time to get used to. feeling like all ideas I had and expected of my birth have gone

Xmas is cancelled this year. Don't want to plan anything or make promises to other people as it is soooooo unclear what stage of pregnancy/labour/neworn cuddles shitty nappies will I be in then. Due Dec 16th and it could be any of the aforementioned. I just want to be warm, cozy and undisturbed. Neighbours promised to bring round their Christmas dinner so wouldn't go starving

On other news, I've been measuring too big for my dates for a while now. Had all sorts of tests and scans and everything has come back normal - no diabetes, no extra water, baby size bang on track ( estimated 5.9lbs at 35 weeks). Hmmm... Good news, but what is it that IS too big? I wish all this baby-business would be more exact science.

deya baby was 6llb exactly at my 36 week scan and he was right bang in the middle of all the centiles so he's not big at all but I'm measuring like a week and a half over what I should be but I'm just paying attention to the growth scans.

molly do you not want a home birth? How come you have to have one?
So sorry you've had a bad day Hun. Xx

I'm paying no attention to predicted weights from scans - DS1 was, by scan measurements, 4lbs exactly on the Friday. On the Sunday tea time, when he was born, he weighed 5lbs 3.5ozs!

Oh God, christmas!

For the past few years we've spent it with my family, but they are over 400 miles away so that's out this year. DP has only been back in touch with his parents for the past couple of months (they live quite close) so we definitely want to see them at christmas BUT....
If DD comes on her due date she will be 4 weeks old on christmas day, so potentially as young as 2 weeks.

We don't have the space in our flat to have them over (no dining table etc) so the alternative is to go there. I don't really fancy spending much time sleeping on a sofa bed with a newborn who might not sleep (not even thinking about bleeding etc)

DP offered to go there christmas eve with DD and get his dad to pick me and baby up christmas morning but then I wouldn't get to see DD wake up on christmas - shes 3. I can't think of any solution that I'm happy with, and don't want to whinge and spoil christmas before it's even started

sorry for the rant!

Clare why couldn't DP's dad pick all 4 of you up on Christmas morning? If he came alone there'd be just enough room in the car! How far is it, could you get a taxi home again later in the day?

It's not that far (half hour drive ish) but don't think we would fit 3 adults and 2 x car seats in the car. I think I might go for DP and DD staying over the night before and baby and me going over christmas morning, DP says he won't let her open any presents until I get there, she might never forgive me!

I just really don't think I'd be comfortable staying over, lovely as they are I don't know them very well, at least at home we can just concentrate on feeding and sleeping!

Good lord that's a big weight difference feather lol
All my growth scans were spot on with my 2 and it was the measuring the bump that was way off lol.

deya I'm in the same situation Christmas-wise, it's so uncertain as I'm due on 16th as well. Fingers crossed either an early or a very late birth! (preferably the former...)

I'm due the 15th (and also hoping lo makes an early appearance) but the current xmas plan its that my parents and brother come and stay with us for a few days but we all go to dp's parents which is not far away on xmas day. My family know they are going to have to be self sufficient and help me more than I help them. Who knows depending on when baby actually arrives everything could still change!

Ahhhh Christmas. We have tentatively started buying gifts now for family as I don't want to leave it to after baby is born.
This year, the 'plan' is to sleep over at fil on Christmas Eve and then travel to mil the following day for lunch and dinner. Stay the night into Boxing Day.....
I remember last year I felt very tired and very ready to come home with dd. this year there will be newborn plus toddler.
I have been given a Cs date for the 28th of this month, I just it won't be too much spending three days out and about post Cs and in the middle of establishing bf. or maybe I am looking to much into it!

Will soon find out....
I am also not used to sitting around and don't want to be a burden on anyone. With a toddler in tow just hope it isn't too hectic.
When people are booked in for Cs is it normal to call hospital in the morning to confirm surgery for that day? That is what I have been told to do.

Tentatively started buying? I'm all but done, in fact I think DH is looking forward to me having to stop shopping!!! I've got presents for DS hidden all over the house, can't actually remember what he's got I added some Night Garden squashy toys yesterday just because he's so cute watching it, he talks to the TV and dances.

I've been told to call on the day too kitten, apparently it's very rare that they have to cancel but sometimes they do need to rejig times if they've had lots of emergency sections overnight, and those women are taking up the HDU beds.

Bleurgh, just had the GTT drink, it's rank! Now stuck at the sodding hospital watching daytime TV for 2 hours. And to add to the injustice, DH forgot I had this this morning and made me toasted panettone with butter and fresh coffee for breakfast. He never makes breakfast! And I couldn't eat any of it, and I'm starving!!!

Xmas is always a bit tricky. As our extended family has grown its harder and harder for us all to do it together. I am due on the 7th so am going to play it by ear as if I'm two weeks late I dont think I'm going to fancy the 3 hour drive to PIL for Xmas a few days after birth with a toddler and new born. My DM, who lives 10 minutes away from us, has kindly offered to come and cook Xmas lunch at ours so that be the most sensible solution (try telling DP that!).

Had a really good appointment at my local birth center yesterday. After being told by a doctor that I was high risk as I'd had a bad third degree tear last time, was told by midwife in charge of BC that that was load of rubbish and that they'd be happy to take me. Yeay! It looked so lovely with low lighting, birth pools and double beds so DP can stay (all on the good old NHS!). Also it in the same building as the labour ward so can be easily transferred if I need to be.

Hope you are all ok.

Chelsea you poor thing. Any news?

whisper you clear;y were meant to have a surprise then. That will be exciting and I've heard from people who have chosen not to find out gender that it gives them a little extra motivation during labour.

Deya dont stress yourself out about measuring big. I was supposed to be measuring big and was unhelpfully told at a late scan with my last DS that his head was on the 90 centile! It freaked me out for weeks but then he was born a healthy (but not massive) 8lb 6oz. They are notoriously inexact.

Had another shit night's sleep but now maternity leave (yeay) and DS1 is at the childminders till 1pm so just sitting in bed MNing thinking about getting up and making a start on my hospital bag. Bliss!

oh no featherbad sod's law!

I just remembered that for anyone that has DC already argos have quite a good sale which finishes today. I managed to buy DS a massive fisher price pirate ship with loads of features for about £25 as it was half price. So excited to see his little face when he gets it.

Ahh Christmas... I love Christmas... We are having Christmas on November 30th at PIL ( his mums a vicar so will be very busy over Xmas & BIL moving to Dubai so only time dp family will be together)
I'm due 21st. So Xmas is up in the air. Either way I'd like my parents over mine they've offered to cook and pay towards dinner. Which wether I've had dd or not I won't be up for cooking and dp won't cook.

Just got to ask dp. I bet he says no but Xmas doesn't feel right without seeing mum and dad. ( went to PIL last year and didn't feel right lol)
I'm planning that they come for lunch then leave about 4/5 then we have the evening to ourselves.
But I can't really plan anything :/ I hope dd make an early appearance!

Feather Your DS sounds adorable! Hope you get on ok at the hospital this morning.

Ooooh all this talk of Christmas is getting me really excited! My birthday is on 16th December so I've always enjoyed the festive season as there's so much to look forward to, but obviously there's the extra excitement this year...

I'm due on 30th December so DP and I have already decided we're not going anywhere for Christmas as our families live 150 miles away and it'll be too much hassle, regardless of whether I have a tiny newborn or am still pregnant.
Luckily everyone's been brilliant about it and have said they don't expect presents or visits at all this year (woohoo!) DP has also said he'll do us a little turkey dinner, so I'm actually really looking forward to having our own cosy little Christmas, tucked away from the rest of the world

DP really shocked me last night - he got home from work, told me we were going to Tesco to get dinner and parked up next door outside Mothercare instead. When I looked all confused, he told me he wanted to buy a playmat for our little one
Sounds perfectly normal but until now, he's left me to choose baby clothes, toys, bedding, etc. and hasn't been overly fussed about anything other than the 'practical stuff'.
It makes me wonder what goes on in a man's head... Something's obviously clicked in there because he suddenly seems a lot more excited about it all!

Off to my first ever pregnancy yoga/ birthing class tonight (the ones that I won a little while back)
Really looking forward to learning some relaxation and breathing techniques but I'm a bit nervous in case it's really awkward (only about 6 or 7 per class) or in case I'm the most heavily pregnant there and struggle to join in! We shall see...

Think my waters just went....waiting for the doctor