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

[LadyMedea]

We are a chatty lot!

That was meant to say 'lol i'

Lol yeah they are not nice, unfortunately I couldn't have an epi with mine, would've took one willingly though lol.

Not sure who mentioned the strep b test but I've just been reading an article in thats life about a girl who was randomly picked for one and it was positive and when she fell pregnant the second time her midwife refused to give her one saying that they don't routinely check, she was just lucky to have had the random test first time around.
She saw her GP and insisted on the test and she agreed, test was negative but at least she can relax now.
Maybe try the same approach and demand the test from your GP instead.

DS was back to back, still less than 4 hours in hospital before delivery and only gas and air, but I am more afraid of a needle near my spine than pain that I know will end.

Midwife on monday said "I'll just write down you'll have and do anything in hospital for pain relief" which sparked a yes, but... No needles near my spine, no opiods that might make baby drowsy, no acupunture (I haven't found research that says it's effective) so actually, I'll have lustgas (the brilliant Swedish word for gas and air), TENS, bath/shower, and freedom of movement, then if I want anything else I will bring it up myself.

Nice and quick loki mine was just under 24 hours with gas and air and one shot of pethidine.
I'm really hoping this one is quicker, I don't think I can handle another full day of labour
I love that word for gas and air so much

DS was back to back, but still a quick labour, 9 hours from first twinge to birth and only had G&A for a very brief period before they took it off me to push. This was not my choice however!

I'm starting to get the jitters - in 8 days I'll be sitting in hospital waiting to go to theatre, and I'll be coming out of there with a new son and a whacking great abdominal wound ! Started getting that feeling of 'oh, actually, if it's all the same I've changed my mind and I don't think I will have a baby after all thanks very much'. Doesn't help that I feel rotten today, I have a sore throat and my head's pounding, I've had about an hour's sleep and I have to take DS to the dentist today which is always a traumatic experience, more so for the poor dentist! I realised I've stupidly booked the appointment for bang on middle of nap time, so he's going to be a little demon. I can't get another appointment at a more sensible time until next Friday, which is out for obvious reasons!

Oh ignore me, I'm feeling really sorry for myself today.

ooh Feather

I'm scheduled for a c-section next friday too! what time? I go into theatre at 11:00am.

It was really lovely and easy to become N's mother (my son) but everyone is different, what if new baby doesn't like me the way N did? Our bond was amazing; it still is. I expect the same with this lo, but what if it doesn't happen?

It's Thursday for me, won't find out theatre slot until Monday but regardless will have to be at the hospital for 8am!

Aw feather and angrybyrd that's really soon, how exciting to know you'll both have newborn snuggles in 8 days time.

I really worried about not bonding as much with ds2 but we were fine so I haven't really worried this time around.

chelsea how are you doing Hun? And stom are you feeling any better? Any more pains?

It's getting exciting now with the babies coming

Alyssa with the dentist they said it wasn't their policy to do general dental surgery on women in their third trimester unless there was an absolute need. I only need two repairs.

It's also exciting but terrifying!

I have my wk 36 down the birth centre today. Hoping nothing has changed and I can still go in there! You mum is ordering you to stay head down and anterior, LO!

Hope you feel better soon feather

Ah makes sense, I was in agony lol and he needed to remove the nerve in my tooth

Hope everything goes well with your appt bohemian

I'm so jealous all those getting to meet their little ones soon!!
I'm still going to be here at 41 weeks lol I bet!!

No more sharp pain but my back is still killing. But I think it just my usual back pain :/

Chelsea, hope you're ok, Stom, hope your back gets less painful soon.

I am so clumsy. I just dropped my entire tray of breakfast on the kitchen floor, smashing a glass and a bowl into tiny pieces. And because I was on my own in the house I had to get down on the floor and clean it all up myself, so I now have hip pain to add to the annoyance. Argh!!!

In more pleasant news my cousin had a baby last night, we were supposedly due around the same time (in 4-5 weeks) but she wasn't sure of the dates (they didn't give her an EDD - it could be that they don't give EDDs in her country, or maybe she discovered she was pregnant too late for an 'accurate' date to be set?!). Baby born by caesarean and both seem to be doing well! Love how with technology these days I can be lying in my bed text-chatting to a cousin who's lying in a hospital bed seven thousand miles away...!

Aw love to your cousin violet I really wanna meet my baby now. Hope your hips not giving you too much trouble.

stom sorry about your back pain, I'm all crampy again today, it's getting annoying now but I have no doubt ill be here with you at 41 weeks lol.

Hi ladies, I'm keeping up but haven't managed to post as I've been unpacking, tidying and cleaning since Saturday. We're finally in the new house, hooray!

Chelsea hope you're still ok and all is going well?

Bit panicky at the min as I'm being so slow at unpacking whilst also trying to keep up with washing and cleaning etc and feeling like I'm never going to get things ready for the bump. It's a lovely house though and feels good to be nearer family. We have a viewing booked on our old house this Saturday so keeping my fingers crossed but not getting my hopes up too much. It's only our second ever viewing since we put it on the market in July so slim pickings really.
Dp and I are going on a shopping trip at the weekend to get baby bits as I can't face it on my own. When I go on my own I seem to get overwhelmed by the huge aisles of endless baby related products, can't decide what I need and run off!

Sorry to hear about peoples aches and pains, hope they're manageable and we're all getting enough rest.

Bumpy must be huge now as it's movement feels strained and it's quite uncomfortable when it kicks or wriggles. I don't feel like it's engaged yet either, more like it's curled up like a shrimp! Got my 36 wks appointment with the new midwife tomorrow though so will see what she thinks.

Saw my new doctor yesterday and he was lovely. I've not had stretch marks yet but my skin has been really dry and itchy and he's given me some lovely shower cream and some Diprobase emollient, which is a thick greasy version of normal Diprobase and so soothing on itches. Would definitely recommend it to anyone who's suffering.

God I've got so much to do but I'm so tired! Just going to put some washing out and then I think I'll collapse for an hour or two and try to ignore the mess!

meandbumpy congrats on the move. You sound very happy.

I am in a similar position with jobs to do. My kitchen looks like a bomb has exploded since going shopping this morning and having a new fridgr freezer delivered. I am desperate to get stuck in, but am shattered already and have only managed to eat some bacon bites and chuck my three tubs of haagan daz ice cream in the freezer (£2 a tub at Asda). At least I have my priorities straight, but it is going to take me the rest of thr day to do what would usually just take a couple of hours!

congrats on the move meandbumpy glad everything is going well for you.

any news chelsea? hope everything is okay and you're just busy with newborn cuddles

hope your backache goes soon storm

Apologies for the long rant guys, I just need to vent today.

I am still in a massive downward spiral. I am so skint, I have to find £1200 to pay off my overdraft pretty soon. I currently have about £56. DP can't afford to lend me any money as his is the only income we have and we need every penny of his pay for food and rent. His parents already pay half of our rent each month for us as it is. I am so sick of being skint. We can't get any benefits until baby is born because DP works too many hours but because he is only on a shit wage we don't earn anywhere near enough to live off.
I am going to have to sell my books to try and get some money that way, but that will probably only get me another £50-100. I really don't want to sell any more of my stuff as I have been struggling financially for over a year and have very little stuff left. It makes me feel like a failure because I couldn't get a job and won't be able to get one for a long time seeing as baby will be here soon.
I am sick to the back teeth of my own company. There is only so many times I can go and wander round town looking at stuff I can't afford. I have looked for bump and baby groups but there are none that don't require a bus ride, which again I can't afford.
Sorry for the rant. Have some

Enjoy your day everybody.

Thanks guys, I'm happy we're in and trying to ignore the financial side of things as best I can. As long as we can eat and buy nappies we'll be ok.

I know what you mean pink I feel so slow at the moment, everything takes twice as long! Enjoy the bargain Haagan daz!

Sorry to hear about your money situation Whisper. I can relate as after me and dp got made redundant I wasn't able to find a job either and it was so hard to deal with. I felt like a failure but in reality there were other factors such as my depression and the fact we were living in west Yorkshire where there's a big lack of jobs. You're right that you'll be much better off when baby arrives as you'll be able to apply for benefits etc. Have you done much research into what you'll be entitled to? It could make you feel better to look into it and get the forms ready to go. Does your dp get working tax credits by the way? We didn't really know what these were before getting pregnant but they seem pretty generous for those on a low income. Keep your chin up and have some

Whisper have you looked into income support? I was in your situation over summer (without the overdraft mind) and couldn't get JSA or anything cause DP worked, but was told I could maybe get income support past 29w pregnant (I was under that then). DP gets working tax credit too which is a lifesaver for us, I'd definitely look into getting that for your DP. It goes off last year's wage I think. I sold stuff too and signed up for them online questionnaire things too, it was every little helps. If he washes his uniform at home you can also claim a (very minimal) bit of that cost back, I think it's called uniform tax rebate or something.
I'm in the same boat being lonely though, moved 100 miles away from family and friends so now I'm on ML I'm feeling kinda bored, and since it's not summer there's not even the option to go for a walk etc.
Chin up though You'll soon have a beautiful newborn to occupy your time

Whisper, why don't you knit stuff and sell it on Etsy. You probably won't make enough to live on, but you will get some pin money and make other people really happy with your skills. You can get ideas for interesting project online too (which I am sure you know :)) such as models, dolls and jewelery. I rember seeing some knitted dolls which were supercool. I was much younger and not allowed to play with them. So they were proper grown up ones and worth a pretty penny:

Some ideas here www.jeangreenhowe.com

Oooh lots to catch up on today! Can't believe we're nearly at the end of yet another thread... It doesn't seem like that long since we started this one!

Whisper, I know it's not much consolation but I know exactly how you feel as I was in the same situation a couple of months ago. The only way we got around it in the end was to accept a bit of money from family to tide us over and then claim for Maternity Allowance once I was eligible. I wasn't eligible for JSA or any other kind of benefits, but I did qualify for MA so would you be able to give that a try?
If not, try your local CAB as they'll be able to give you more practical help and advice, and they can contact the banks etc on your behalf and ask them to hold off any charges until you're in a position to pay them off.
Sorry if that all sounds really obvious, just trying to remember which routes I went down... In the meantime, I know it's easier said than done but please try not to stress about it too much as it's not good for you or baby!

meand So glad to hear you're settling in ok so far! Just make sure you don't over-do it with all that washing, cleaning and shopping - as you said, as long as you've got the basics sorted then that's all that matters for now

Chelsea How are you getting on? Any news?

Went to my first yoga class last night which I really enjoyed. Came away feeling really relaxed and I think bump enjoyed it too, as he wriggled like crazy the whole time!
It was a little bit awkward as everyone was so polite and quiet, but hopefully that'll all change over the next 6 weeks...
I thought I'd be the furthest along too, but there was actually a lady who is due 2 days before me, so not quite!

Also, is anyone else getting a bit rubbish at socialising now or am I just being a bit of a bitch?! My mum's popped in a couple of times this week, and although it's nice to have a bit of company I'm just feeling too huge and uncomfortable to focus on making conversation or being a good host! And two friends have asked to meet up soon and I just don't know if I've got the energy to traipse into London to see them, let alone talk about things that aren't baby-related...! That sounds awful doesn't it?!

whisper type into google ' what bebifits can I get' it'll take you to the government website and tmyou put in all your details what you get what dp gets etc and it'll tell you what benifits you're entitled too. Once dd is here we can get working tax credits child tax credits and child benifits which is an extra £200 a month in total! It will also tell you if you are entitled to any others

Finally managed to pack some boxes today yay! Popped now though. Lol

meand glad you're settling in- I can't wait to move and get everything sorted. As soon as we move the Xmas tree is going up!! Lol

I'm really unsociable too liz saw a friend in asda last week and she said about popping over - I couldn't think of anything worse! Lol. I'm quite happy in my pjs all day as they're the only comfy thing I have left.

Can't believe we are the end of a thread already. I'm sure this one has been quick. Lol.
Our next one babies will start arriving!! Eeek!!

Whisper you may well be entitled to mat allowance- have a look at their website.. I had to apply for it as had changed hospitals in the "qualifying period" for mat pay and it actually works out better than statutory mat pay. You just need to have worked a certain amount in the year before you were pregnant ( I think).. Check it out tho..

Sorry knot sure who already said this but yes yes to speaking to the bank about your overdraft. You couldn't possibly be in a position to pay it currently with no job, a new baby imminent and therefore won't be possible for you to get a job in the immediate future. They will have to wait until you are back on your feet. But do have the conversation so you a) wont be hassled with demands and b) won't incur extra charges.

Hope things look up- money stress is horrid and shouldn't be ruining this super happy period in your life.

I've looked into getting benefits and I don't qualify for anything. DP earns just over the amount you have to, to be able to claim anything. We think we can get working tax credits after the baby is born along with child tax. I don't qualify for MA because I haven't worked since 2010 due to being at Uni either. I am officially stuck for ways to get the money. Thanks for the suggestions though guys.

The Etsy thing could work if you have a stash of wool. Baby clothes and handmade accessories sell really well. The difficulty is getting yourself known but if you want some tips about social media marketing etc I'll do you a freebie consult and get you started.