Babies due in May 2014 - is this the Definitelies final countdown?

[ClearlyMoo]

WELCOME! This thread is for all Mums-to-be expecting Maybies babies in (and around) May 2014! Please come and join the fun.

Put your feet up, get yourself a (decaf?) cuppa and settle in to hear the aches and pains, trials and tribulations, shopping excitement and hospital bag woes of those in their third trimester.

Hopefully you'll find a listening ear and a wealth of knowledge. Everyone welcome, especially if you're new to MN and are just peeking in as you start your maternity leave.

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If you'd like to know how big your baby is this week the check out The Bump

If you'd like to mark your place perhaps you could tell us who you are and how long you've got to go!

Happy chatting Maybies!

I think I saw you can buy them from the pharmacy in tesco near me for £25.

bornin you really should go get checked out asap. I was induced for pre eclampsia with DS, and the swelling was my first sign starting way before blood pressure or protein.
I am reading all of your hospital bags and am trying to figure out if I'm crazy or if you guys are! I only took about a 3rd of this stuff to the hospital with DS. I don't think I'd take as much as you guys are for a two week holiday!

Worth asking friends who've had babies if they have a Tens machine then buying new pads for it... We got lent ours so very little cost incurred. People at NCT said cheaper to buy on Amazon than to rent from Boots!!

Dobe -circular motions around the dark bit around your nipple... Baby Centre Nipple Stimulation Link but only when you're 37+ weeks!

mamapants I'm going in prepared to stay a couple of nights because of the potential for complications; I'm not pleasant to be around at all if I don't feel clean and fresh which may be why I've packed so much. also I don't want OH to get in a tizz if I have to send him out for stuff so I want to be prepared for any eventuality :D

Sooo we got a call this afternoon and... We'vee got the flat! Hoping to move next week !

Congratulations moomin! I bet that's a load off your mind at last! Hope your presentation went well.

alyss Gabriel is scrumptious! I'm really glad to hear he's doing well.

I have done nothing whatsoever about a hospital bag yet. Eek!

Also think I read somewhere that you'd literally have to stimulate your nipples for about 2hrs a day for it to make any difference I don't blame the midwives for advising against curries

So, perineal massage. Anyone going to try it/tried it before?

Moomin brilliant news on the flat. That must be such a weight off your mind. Good luck tomorrow too. X

Samba I've been told by my midwife to do the massage from 35 weeks. She said because I was cut last time it would be a weak spot now. I will be giving it a go I don't want to be cut again if I can help it.

That will be the difference moomin I am quite happy to be a bit grubby.
Congrats on the flat!

Samba I'm going to give the massage ago. I've read you can do it from week 34, which is Wednesday for me. Hopefully I can manage it myself, if not I've already prepped DH that he will need to do it for me.

I'll be giving the massage a go too. I didn't tear last time though, and I didn't even bother massaging. But I'm older now, things might not be as supple as they used to be!

Yay for flat news!

selfish alert!

My back hurts. On the right hand side. Ouch. Not been doing anything out of the ordinary so don't understand why. Just started in the car and has continued. And I have a cold. I'm such a miserable wimp when I don't feel great - what on earth will I be like in labour!

Moo you are pregnant not a wimp. In labour you don't have to deal with all this crap that goes right along with pregnancy, plus you know there is an end, right now you have a few depressing crappy weeks ahead

Great news on the flat moomin! So exciting, your own place for your family :)

Sorry, I didn't mean that to be so depressive! I'm jut fed up, tired and grumpy today :( I am so ready for this to be over now, i am done with this pregnancy.

I'll defo give the massage a go - dh seems quite excited about it

Great about the flat moomin, you can finally escape the housemate from hell! And good luck with the consultant.

Talking of nipple twiddling... Does anyone know about hand expressing before birth to try and help with milk production? Is that a thing?

Moobaloo - maybe the baby's sitting awkwardly or something? Can you lie on the opposite side and see if it shifts.

Cbeebies - hugs, sorry you're feeling down. Xxx

I was keen on the idea of perineal massage but did a mumsnet search for it and am now quite scared - in my head it was more of an "external" thing whereas it seems there is insertion on fingers/thumbs required... Not sure I am brave enough, and worried dh will never look at me the same way again if I ask him to help!

I'll be giving the perineal massage a miss. I researched when I had my first and it didn't sound like fun.

Hez, I don't think expressing before would be worth it. Colostrum is there for the first 3-4 days (give or take a day) and passes all kind of good antibodies and stuff to the baby. Their stomachs are the size of a walnut so they don't need much, just often. And the more often they are on the boob, the more milk the breasts produce.

Eating things like porridge help milk production. There's lots of food that encourage milk production but maybe wait until you see how the demand and supply pans out. I remember eating Fenugreek and having a huge increase of milk and no where for it to go as baby was full and sleeping.

Cbeebies. I'm with you on that feeling Roll on June!

Moob colds are horrid. There's no let up and no prize (like a baby) after it. At least in labour, there are breaks between contractions when one can almost feel normal. And then we get to meet the little person . I agree with Hez. Baby may be in a weird position. Lying down helps when mine sticks itself out my side. Hurts like hell. I'm not beyond poking it to get it to move to a better position.

Now it feels like it is head down and my fanjo may fall out. Lovely!

Google "belly balls" they will show sie
Of baby tummy at certain days

Hi all!

Attempted perineal massage last time, apparently you need to do it for about 15-20 mins a go to be effective! That's a LONG time to be rummaging about there! I gave up!

Re: hospital bags I woukd not bother with bath stuff for baby, you are advised not to bath baby until after their cord stump has fallen off, usually any theme between3-10 days, so unlikely you will still be in hospital unless there are complications, so that might save room!

Can I suggest people buy arnica tablets? Brilliant for helping reduce bruising/swelling especially after a tear, episiotomy or section. You can buy from holland and Barrett or similar. They really helped me heal.

That's all my pearls of wisdom for now! Hope everyone is ok, another day closer to the big push!

No perineal massage for me thanks! I've never torn. I do have an upsurge in libido in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy - I imagine sex does the same thing really.

Killer heartburn is back thanks to doubled dosage of Urso - now on 600mg 3 x daily. Bleurgh.

Done far too much today, wandered round town with dd2 this morning then went into full on frenzied nesting after lunch then again after the school run. My windows are all mold free (very poor fitting + big fat tired mama who hasn't been doing her usual weekly wipe down) and the house stinks of bleach. I shall sleep well tonight, provided OBEM doesn't bring back too many memories :)

Rushyswife makes a good point re: bath stuff. Our hospital only show you how to top and tail anyway. I never buy any baby bath products other than dentinox incase of cradle cap (usually after a few weeks) - they don't get very dirty and they smell so nice I hate to cover their natural smells and oils etc with Johnson's et all. Water does the trick!

At our work we only use baby shampoo to wash off any crap that's on the head.
We don't recommend oils baby bath etc for around 4/6 weeks as can make baby's skin dry!

Top and tail daily bath 2/3 times a week

See my recommend comes from being shown how to bath DS, by a midwife the day after he was born (first timers lesson I guess!) she asked for gentle wash (his head and hair were caked in a big scab of dried blood) and a towel. I didn't have wash so they provided and it was that gentle top to toe wash just in the water. No shampoo, and just water wouldn't have gotten rid.

Just speaking from my own experience. I guess different hospitals do different stuff.

Aww thanks guys cold has ramped it up a notch with headache and itchy nose and throat but back pain is gone, weird! Suppose he's moved

I have got some arnica cream and am going out to get arnica tablets for after the birth, I've always used them when bruising may be involved and I think they really help. Want to get some witch hazel too.

Got this newborn oil stuff which is all natural and lovely if you're going to use anything on a baby - they recommend noing but water for the first month and then this with a few drops in bath water or for massage etc. I've heard it's really good for nappy rash which is mainly why I got it, as I try and avoid chemicals etc. definitely no Johnsons here!

Here it is

sensitiveskincareco.com/product/newborn-baby-organic-massage-oil/

waves

Positive girls night out tonight with one Mum of three and once (happily) childless friend. Yummy burger and pudding. Worry I'm becoming am a pregnancy bore.

Staying with (childless) friend tonight as closer to work (yes actually going to work!) for tomorrow. Was offered kingsize double on top floor but opted for single bed near bathroom. My feet are THROBBING and I've hardly walked at all today. Officially pathetic. Friend and her H are moving furniture quite amusing to listen to!

Few friends have tried perineal massage said it's not as straight forward as it sounds and you almost certainly won't want to get DH involved. I don't want to tear (obvs) so bought perineal oil in mothercare and will try in a fortnight time but at the mo with my bad back there's little chance on gaining satisfactory access to relevant areas/angles!