Due in September 2006......nearly there ladies!!

[Coriander73]

New thread...

Cori x

Mabel, I know what you mean about not feeling mentally prepared. Sometimes I can't believe its happening and that I'll have a baby. I don't think I've taken it all on board yet and when I think of the birth I feel kind of distanced from it like its not going to happen to me. Is this normal d'you think? I think at the moment I'm not thinking beyond the birth but when I do let myself think about the LO, I can't believe it. I have no idea what kind of mother i'll be but I'm just kind of trusting that everything will be fine and we'll learn everything as we go along.

myrtle - don't worry, i remember feeling like that last time - I think esp if it's your 1st.
I was so prepared last time, everything laid out in his room, cot all made up, everything washed, but couldn't imagine a little person actually lying in the cot or wearing the clothes.
This time I am so disorganised, sat on the floor last night with my head in my hands wailing to DH 'I'M NOT READY'!!!!

Hi Everyone

I don't know how you can all drink that raspberry leaf tea, its horrible!!
Mabel I don't feel mentally prepared at all. In fact I hope she stays in there, I'm terrified of giving birth again. I seemed to block out all the horrible parts from last time and focused on the baby but now its all coming back to me. Oh well, suppose it'll all work out in the end.

Mabel & Myrtle, I feel the same - although I know the baby will come, I can't imagine him at all. I guess I remember DS being born, but know this time will be totally different (for a start hopefully not by emerg. c-section..) and he won't look the same. The room is ready, and I feel physically ready too, but I think I'm a bit in denial about going through the actual birth bit. I keep willing the baby to come, but then I'll have to go through the pain... Aaargh!

I've been taking raspberry leaf tablets - 2 tabs 3 times a day, what the packet recommends. 10 cups a day does sound rather mad - esp as I think they are disgusting!!! But worth remembering... my tablets say not to "overdose", so maybe an "overdose" leads to violent contractions..?

I get most of my pains during the evening, and every night I think it must be tonight, and then nothing... I think it's just that we rush about all day, so when I finally sit down, I notice things more. Last night I had the trots, like Pol, and I've read that can be a sign (body getting rid of stuff it doesn't need, and thankfully means there's less to come out in labour . So got a bit excited. Nothing happened.

Pol, if I was religious, I'd be lying prostrate (on my side of course !!) on the church floor before the altar begging...!!! Unfortunately (or maybe the vicar might think fortunately..) I'm not, so I'll take my chances with the raspberry leaf and lots of pineapple. Still can't muster up the energy for the "other" . Maybe I should.

Hi all, spent ages catching up with posts as DH on computer all weekend writing a database for a friend!

Angeliz - beautiful pic of Elliot - makes me even more keen to see my LO!

Been definately more grumpy lately - dh trying to fit the car seat base into the car and I'm stressing out because it doesn't seem secure enough. Also v frustrated at level of clumsiness - food spillage and constantly wearing stains on my bump are really p**ing me off - its the little things!!

Adding myself into the extensive list- depends on whether you take lmp date or scan estimates which have me due anywhere between 16.9 and 23.9...:

ysettes - 14.7 ds Jacob Alexander
Hellkat - 25.7 dd Katie
LexyB - 30.7 dd Keziah
Angeliz - 22.8 ds Elliot

Babies due:

Calvemjoe - 5.9
Clairemow - 5.9
Coffeandcake - 5.9
1B1B - 6.9
Vindy - 6.9
Marls - 7.9 ds
Mabel 1973 - 7.9
Tiddler - 11.9
Compo - 12.9
Normsnockers - 12.9
Mandaz - 12.9
TopBanana - 13.9
Appyday - 14.9
Angelfaces - 14.9
Coriander73 - 15.9
FlumpyBumpy - 16.9
Puppy - 17.9
Pol26 - 18.9
Ezridax - 20.9
Homemama - 21.9
Tassis - 21.9
Woodelf - 23.9
Petrified - 25.9
Myrtle1 - 26.9
LiquidClocks - 28.9
Gizmo - 29.9

Hey all you fed-up ladies!!!

Been walking around all day in town, stocking up on toiletries- shampoo, deodrant, hair gunk, DP's deo (he is incapable of getting his own), shaower gel etc... also went and brought niece-i-law a pair of roller skates as she has wanted them for ages and her b'day on Sunday- and knew DP would leave it til the last minute. Went into the works and saw a great congrats on your baby card, it said ' Babies are like promises- fun to make but one hell of a problem to deliver' made me giggle and so brought two for ladies in antenatal at gp surgery...

also spoke to mw today- felt great when she told me my blood results from 28 weeks- for saying i'm now 37!!! She was a bit cross I hadn't had them via my mw but knew exactly who my mw was without me telling her- I assumed that I was not the only person who had problems with her...!

I am drinking three/four cups of raspberry leaf tea- I actually like it better than 'real' tea or coffee. I do think ten cups is excessive, i'd live on the loo if I drank that much!!! And wouldn't have the time to keep boiling the kettle and run around after DD as well as drink ten cups. Feeling really heavy and having period like twinges and bottie pains but not getting my hopes up. I am desperate for this baby to get out although DP wants another September one so wants me to hang on until Friday as then they'll be two school years between DD and LO rather than one. To be honest i've got to the point now that I don't care, just get him out!!! He's healthy and well. And for my sanity I need this baby to get moving.

I can empathise with the 'not ready' feeling. Although this time I feel I am ready where as with DD I wanted her out but wasn't ready to become a mummy... this time I just want to get into my routine and the swing of things and get out of the way all the little disagreements I know will happen with the in-laws Needless to say this time round I know i'm going to be less diplomatic and I know afterwards i'll feel alittle bad but then after last time it definately isn't going to be so bad as I won't let it get to that point.

Claire- I am sticking to the raspberry leaf tea and pineapple too... the sex is my last last last resort...

Liquid, just wanted to say well done on your other thread about argumentative threads - you are one brave lady!!

pol - i haven't had my 28 week blood results either - are you sure we haven't got the same midwife

Liquid - am going to hunt for your thread now, I have to say I have had people leap down my throat on threads before esp anything to do with BF and demand feeding / routines.
personally I think you can only tell people of your own experiences and hope it helps them, to argue with people because their opinion / experience differs from your own is a pointless waste of space and no use to the person who started the thread.

mabel- lol i'm sure alot of us on here have dappy mw's who don't know their arse from their elbow half the time... Nice to know finally i'm not aneamic or have gestational diabetes...

I too find it annoying when ppl add nasty/sarky comments when you actually want advice or views on bf/routines/ etc... Such as my thread I want to get my baby out- what can I do or something similar to that and all that is posted back is 'it will come when it's ready' hummmmmmm tell me something I didn't know!

seeing as i only have a week or so to go, and ds was a week early (!) i thought i should start packing hosp bag.
so far i have:
2 vests
2 suits
1 coat for baby
2 pairs scratch mitts
1 bonnet
1 pack nappies
30 maternity pads
10 pairs disp knickers
mini shampoo/conditioner/soap/comb
t'brush & paste
sponge
water sprayer for dh to spray me
'feminine' wipes
baby wipes & cotton wool
navy blue bath towel

what have i missed?
something obvious i'm sure!

I have in my case-

3 sleep suits
4 vests
1 outfit
2 hats
2 pairs scratch mitts (not that we used them last time)
1 birthing tee
2 nightshirts
1 pack of super dooper absorbant mat pads
1 pack breast pads
2 mat bras
1 pack disposable knickers
4 pairs of 'normal' huge knickers! (Real bum-huggers)
Wash bag with- soap, shampoo, cnditioner, moisturiser, razor, brush, toothbrush, deo and tooth paste
1 small navy hand towel
1 large navy towel
Few carrier bags to put in dirty towel/night shirts etc...
Cotton wool for baby's bum
1 pen
Camera and extra batteries
Change for phone (in case i have time to natter)
Slippers
1 pair of socks
Blanket for baby

Think thats it apart from my maternity notes which i'll take seperately... Had it packed so long, i'm not sure what is actually in there!

All I need now is the kitchen sink...

I have at last ordered my Tens machine today (have been meaning to do it for ages but kept forgetting) so LO is not allowed to make an appearance for the next 4 working days so I can get it and read the instructions

Marls - I will have a look for that book, sounds interesting.

I went into town and had quite strong BH all the way round. Think I'll be staying near to home now for the next week or so.

Does anyone know what the red book is? I've been told I'm supposed to have one but I haven't been given one by my mw and as I won't be seeing her now am not sure how I get one.

Pain I can handle (unless it's drastically different than last time) ... but still kind of "ugh" when it comes to what'll actually go on during labor and delivery: For me it's not so much the pain as the embarassment (afterwards though - not during - just like under the influence of alcohol).
Told DH it's like justknowing_ you're going to strip naked and dance on the table. All that moaning I don't remember doing while in "the zone" last time ... the fact that I was naked ... and then, to add injury to insult or insult to injury - something huge coming out of the most private part I own!! Really not one of my best experiences. In retrospect - kind of humiliating!!

Haven't heard this from other women, though. Am I the only one who dreads it for this reason? The fact that I got through the pain was actually something I've been proud I was able to do ... but the circumstances leave much to be desired.

Don't forget food in the labour bag for before, during and after just in case you're hungry when it's not hospital feeding times. I'm also taking in magazines as I got really bored last time.
Marls - I'm with you on the whole indiginity of birth thing. I did find it a pretty horrendous experience, especially afterwards when people had to help me get to the bathroom etc. I hate that you're feeling and looking like rubbish in hospital and people are there in their droves in normal clothes etc visiting. There seemd to be loads of people constantly visiting the woman next to me. For this reason i'm trying to ban the in-laws from coming to the hospital because I hate the idea of them seeing me in blood stained clothes and trying to b/feed etc. I just don't feel like I know them well enough for such an intimate setting (horrid though that sounds!!)

Knickers !!! I love you ladies!that would have been embarrassing - turning up on the labour ward with no knickers! Will go and pack them NOW!

Clairemow and Mabel - thanks for your support! Was slightly scared to post but for somereason I was just sat at work feeling really sad about the whole thing. MN on the brain! (either that or work avoidance)

Mandaz - my HV gave me the red book on her first visit about a week after DS was born. It contains all the developmental charts and lots of mile stone info etc. If you actually fill in the dates like you're meant to it makes quite a nice reminder.

Marls - naked? I got to wear a nighty, got an old t-shirt to wear this time - no nedd to add to the embarrassment is there?!

Pol - pleased you finally got your results - haven't actually had mine yet, must ring up... (I know I'll forget again tomorrow)

Right - off to pack knickers

Mandaz - red book you'll get from health visitor, I think some visit before birth, but generally it's once baby is a week or 10 days old. shame you can't get yourself up here - I could find lots of jobs for you!! I'm impressed you're so organised.

Cal - hope you get your decorating finished before baby arrives!

Mabel - gla dyou're back Ok and that you were well looked after

LC - I'm desparate for brie and pate and lovely wine too...

pol - great that you finally got results.

Re hospital bags - you might want to pack snacks, a magazine or book and clean t-shirt for dh too??

Big day for us here. Ds started pre-school nursery. He had a blast but is totally past it tonight (thankfully asleep already). He looked so grown up in his wee school polo shirt!

Out for a meal tonight, but feeling massively uncomfortable already...

Marls, my main concerns are that DH might want to look at it coming out - I want him to stay firmly head end, and that's my head I'm talking about... Also scared that I'll vomit (emetophobic...) and/or shit myself . I'm not sure which would be worse. Please not both. Oh god! Keep telling myself the midwives have seen it all before, but DH hasn't... Just hoping I won't realise.

Liquid, glad you remembered your knickers! Just having given birth is perhaps not the best time to be going commando...!!!!! . To add to the list, I've also got arnica, some lavender oil for massage (just in case DH offers..), cashew nuts for me and cereal bars. But hoping not to be in too long....

Liquid- i think you were very brave to start that thread. In reality don't know if it'll achieve anything - some people just genuinely do want an argument, which is a shame. I thought it would kick off at some point. I just think some people do not have the ability to see both sides and are very blinkered - just like RL I suppose!
1B1B - I would take a couple of towels for yourself when you shower straight after the birth, you'll prob not want to use that towel again. Also I have packed a towel for the baby so he won't have to use a scratchy hospital one.
cereal bars are good energy boosters for during labour i found last time. Also a blanket for the baby (I think pol mentioned that)
Mandaz - my red book is issued by my hospital before we leave - it does vary from area to area, so you may not get it from your HV, you could try ringing the hospital or your surgery to find out.

tassis, posts crossed. glad your ds's big day went well. my ds starts next April, and I'm already thinking that's quite soon. Before we know it they'll be at big school 5 days a week. Where does it go?

tassis, posts crossed. glad your ds's big day went well. my ds starts next April, and I'm already thinking that's quite soon. Before we know it they'll be at big school 5 days a week. Where does it go?

sorry, so glad about ds's big day I had to say it twice!

just a thought - tea tree oil is very useful!
I used it when I had stitches last time (about 6 drops in a bath)

Aw! tassis - did you take a piccy? can we see? sound so cute!

Mabel - I think (so far) my thread has stayed relatively civilised! though I think as it's not turned into an all out barney it willfade into the background now. Has been refreshing though and helpfulto me about somethings so hopefully to wothers too. Agree though, think some folks go out actively looking for a fight and sadly there's nothing I or anyone else can do about that.

T-shirt for DH! Back to the case I go...