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

Happy chatting Maybies!

aw Alyss he's lovely. Good to hear he's doing well :)

Sarah, not QEH but Rosie in Cambridge which probably confirms my geographical location!

Moomin good news about the flat...

Impressed to read about hospital bags. So far I have, erm, found the overnight bag... and bought one pack of nappies (size 2 as DS was massive and 1 was too small). I am assuming this one will also be large, runs in my family. This is where she either arrives early or is a dainty little 7lb thing . I have a growth scan next week so might get some indication then .

Has anyone found any cheap button up, and longer than mid-thigh nighties? Preferably in black or dark colours, and made of cotton? All I can find is pastel ones which aren't really going to hide blood/milk leaks etc.

Odd to think that in 6 weeks time I shall be in hospital recovering from my c section- or if she decides to come sooner, at home with a newborn!

Blanket, I've got some leggings to go under some nighties as they are all just so short!

blanket jojo maman do good nighties - knee length or longer and navy. Also I have a grey one from mother care. It's not button up, but it's stretchy at the top so you can just pull it down easily to breastfeed or for skin to skin.

cbeebies sorry you're feeling crap. Keep coming on here. Just reading what these ladies is up to makes me feel better that I'm not alone. Especially when I'm awake in the middle of the night with pelvic pain.

I helped ds learn how to skate on his heeleys today. And now I'm paying for it! I had the day off work and I got to pick him up from school and chill out with him at home which was nice. Makes me look forward to mat leave! Normally I'm picking him up from the childminder after a long day at work and school and then it's home, dinner, homework and bed. I can't wait to just be there for him more and be able to relax with him during the week.

Dh said the other day that he worries I'm being too negative about the prospect of the baby arriving. He's right though. I think I know how much hard work it is and he's blissfully ignorant, and I keep trying to make it hit home that we're about to have a whirlwind hit us! I don't really need to do that. Also, this sounds awful, but I'm scared that the baby won't survive for whatever reason and I don't want to look forward to it too much until I'm 100% sure he will. Ds needed a box for school and I wouldn't let him take the pram box in case we had to return it . I think it might be because my cousin lost her baby at 21 weeks when I was about 21 weeks too, or else it's general anxiety and fear. But I am going to try and stop thinking so negatively and be more excited like Dh is. I will be so much happier when he's in my arms though!

Right. Back to sleep then....

Dobe, I think it's perfectly natural to not want to "count your chickens until your eggs are hatched"! I've certainly felt like this a lot and been guarded with my phrasing "hopefully when baby arrives..." etc.

However last few days I've been very busy planning and plotting and preparing (nesting starting to kick in) but I should be more guarded and careful. There's a tiny bit of me that needs to be prepared for something going wrong and us coming home empty handed...

Sorry didn't mean to be depressing. I really want everything to be fine and look around and remind myself everyone on the planet has survived birth and that women have been doing this for thousands of years!

... bed too squidgy at friends house. Ended up on floor to try and rectify damage/release pain in hip! Gah!

I keep thinking my baby will end up in nicu because of my diabetes :-(

Hi and thanks for the welcomes Sorry to hear so many of you are suffering from GD

In terms of bathing bubs... we were shown how to do it in hospital, no need to worry about the cord. They recommended water only for at least 6 weeks as using other products has been linked to skin allergies or something.

Wow some of you are very prepared with hospital bags already! We moved house when I was 36w pg with DD so nothing was even vaguely ready until pretty much due date!! Thank god she was a week late. Haven't started yet this time either (other than knitting things for bubs)! I had a student MW at the birth too and she laughed at how big my bag was... but I wanted to be prepared in case I ended up with CS and had a change of clothes for DH incase he had to come from work... Then snacks, nappies...ended up looking like I was away for a month! Might be a bit more conservative this time

People with older DCs, what are you planning on doing with them when you go into labour? We can't decide! Plan is to drop DD at in laws, but as we are 45 mins from hospital and 30 mins from in laws, we can't leave it too last minute.

Hope you are feeling a bit more positive today dobe

I'm awake and can't get back to sleep... Stupid scar :( I'm shattered!

Eggs. I have two dcs at home. A 4 year old and 2 yo. PIL are on standby to come and mind them. They live 2.5 hours away so will stay for the 3 days while I'm in hospital. They are retired and the girls aren't in nursery so it should be pretty plain sailing.

If we can't wait for them to arrive at home, we will bring them to the hospital with us and DH will do the handover of the dc there. We are also 45 mins away from the hospital.
I've been lucky with the past two labours that the waters went first and the contractions took a few hours to establish so there was time for travelling.

On the washing, i was told to just wash in water for the first couple of months and only 2-3 times a week.

Funnily enough, in Finland, the practise is to wash their poohey bums under a tap, instead of wetwipes or cotton wool. So they get a bit of a wash then. My changing mat is beside the sink in the utility room.

Clearly, I keep telling myself that too! There wouldn't be so many schools etc if people didn't easily have healthy babies. That sounds silly, but it helps a bit!
I'm just gonna force myself to think of the good things about the baby being here. If something awful does happen, I'm not going to be any less devastated, no matter how hard I try to stay detached. May as well embrace the good stuff. Hence why I washed all the teeny tiny vests and miniscule baby socks yesterday! (and kinda wished I had a kitten to dress up lol)

Bornin - seems we're all scared about various things. I'm sure your baby will be fine. It just shows you that these children are sent here to test us and make us worry for the rest of their lives. They'll be 40, heading for their mid life crisis and we'll be worrying about them when we're all old!

eggs your username is making me hungry! I know what's for lunch later!

I have a 9 year old ds and we're going to drop him off with BIL and SIL on the way to the hospital. I really really want ds to be there immediately after the birth so he's the first one meeting his brother but I also don't want anyone else there. So I don't know how we'll work it logistically! Tbh I wouldn't even mind ds being there for the birth (he watches obem all the time and would love to be there, the little weirdo) but I doubt the hospital would be up for that!

Childcare is the one reason I'm very relieved to be being induced. Ds1 and Dd1 will go and stay with their Dad for the night and ds2 and Dd2 will go to my mum and dad. Unless ExP proves to be useless busy then the bigs will stay with my sister. My parents don't have the energy or space to deal with all of them at once. I think if I went into spontaneous labour beforehand I'd end up giving birth alone as DP would have to stay with the kids

I'm lucky I've got my mum and dad about 20 mins away and they'll just come here whatever the hour and stay with DS. The hospital is about 10-15 minutes away so not so far that I'm nervous we wouldn't make it. Dobe, I want DS at the hospital too as soon after as possible, I'm not sure how flexible they'll be if Olivia arrives out of visiting hours. DS had a very sociable arrival time, born 5pm and visiting started at 6pm. So he met all his grandparents within an hour of his birth. I'm not bothered if the grandparents want to visit quickly as long as I have my time with DS first and they are all lovely so I think they'll respect that.

I'm naively hoping that I'll go into labour during the evening, overnight or while DD1 is at nursery, and that labour/birth will be as quick and easy as last time, so that she can either come downstairs or arrive home to her new baby sister.

I'm preparing for the fact that it's more likely to kick off early morning, late afternoon or over the weekend, and therefore DD1 will instead become my littlest birthing partner. I'm not too worried. She's sensible and mature for her age and made of stern stuff, so unlikely to be fazed.

I've been gently preparing her appropriately, mentioning things like I have lots of extra blood at the moment and I won't need it once the baby arrives so it can come out and that's not a problem. I've also shown her the very first pictures we took of her - about 2 minutes after she was born while she was still attached to me! She was fascinated.

Our nearest family is at least 2 hours away, so not much chance of anyone getting to us in time - especially if things go the same way as last time. I woke around 4:30am with contractions, called the MW's at about 7am when I was sure it was labour. First MW arrived at 8:30am (awkward shift change timing), second MWs arrived at 9:20am, DD1 arrived at 9:23am. G&A arrived at 9:30am.

No idea when my waters went. They hadn't gone when I was examined at around 9am, so I assume they went in the birthing pool between then and when DD1 arrived. I don't think she was born in the caul, but I was a bit distracted by the real live baby that had just appeared in the water to really pay much attention! I was the only one in the room at the time, so no-one else could have seen.

We have a few friends that would help out in an emergency, but that's more for if I have to do a hospital transfer or similar. At worst, DH is in charge of DD1 and I'll birth alone. Which is fine, I'm made of stern stuff too.

Congratulations moomin on the flat so excited for you hope your appointment goes well

hugs to all thouse not feeling well

Great consultant appointment, saw the consultant rather than one of the registrars. He said they're keen to avoid a c-section to prevent further scar tissue and because they can't be sure what they'd find when they opened me up (a baby, I'm hoping ) but that I should be fine if I need an EMCS, but it's in my notes now that if that was to happen, they've requested an experienced obstetrician to be there.

If pain continues they've agreed to induce me at 40 weeks, if it becomes unbearable they've said they'll consider it before 40 weeks so baby may not be a Maybie after all. He said hopefully I'll go spontaneously before 40 weeks, and he's given me more cocodamol yay! Fantastic appointment and I'm thrilled, that's exactly what I needed to hear :) bump is measuring 37 weeks at 34w but got a growth scan in 2 weeks time :)

Hopefully getting the keys to the house at the end of the week so excited!

Oh what a lovely appointment moomin - I love it when it goes just like planned!

I feel for all of you with worries, the only thing I can say is that nicu/ scbu were amazing when dd had to stay in there. Honestly the nicest nurses / paediatricians and so much care without making you feel bad about yourself about anything! I'm expecting to be in there again tbh- with talipes/ diabetes/ ip/ or something they haven't found yet

Feel really rough today as I have contracted man flu can't even have any bloody chocolate to take my mind off it! Anyone knowledgable think that it could be more iron/ more insulin that's making me fluey/ coldey? It's only gone up to 3 tablets (iron) and 4-6 units of insulin ATM. Hope it's not all related.

I took Moomins list into boots and have bought most of what I need now apart from arnica and peppermint oil and obviously raspberry tablets etc etc . Cussons mum and me baby stuff is all half price in there and defo worth a look!! I got the bump gift pack for myself because it had some great products and the perfect sized wash bag

Also got some stretch mark fader for a fiver so was really happy- and little mini shampoos :)

Got another scan Friday to hopefully make sure the fluid is still in there rather than more leaking away- but I have a sneaky suspicion that at any given moment they're likely to say 'ok we want baby out' must get round to packing bag!

Thats great news Moomin, nice to be having a week of getting that, and your flat sorted!

Until reading the last few posts, I hadnt even thought about what we'll do with DS when labour starts, last time I had plenty of time but guess I need to not fall into thinking it'll be the same. My in laws are literally down the road (though would rather not have my immaculately housed mother in law turn up with short notice..) . My folks are ten minutes away, I need to make a plan!

In addition, wanting DS to meet the a baby first is a lovely thought, love this thread, I hadnt considered that at all! We also had the whole family around the bed within two hours last time, so i need to factor little mister special time in!

Hope everyone is having a good day. I'm scoffing M&S fruit sherberts, baby will be going mental in a bit!

Congratulations on the flat Moomin, and I'm glad your appointment today went well. No more nightmare housemate! Although you will have a very demanding new one to deal with!

Nanny my MIL bought me the Mum & Me bump gift pack for my hospital bag. I wonder how many of that particular wash bag you see on maternity wards up and down the country? Quite a few I should imagine!

Glad appointment went well Moomin. Hope that makes you feel more relaxed.

Rubbish day for me. I was driving to work and had practically got to school, had to stop as the car in front was turning right and a range rover smashed into me from behind! It was so hard that it propelled me into the car in front. Car is a mess back completely caved in, roof buckled, bonnet smashed in! Was really frightening, I got taken to hospital as the seat belt really dug into my bump and he crash has hurt my back. The police arrived and recovered my car and came to the hospital to check I was ok and take a statement. They think it will be a right off.
Luckily baby is absolutely fine, they really are more protected than we think! Was such a relief when I got out on the monitor and heard the heartbeat.
My icandy buggy was in the boot and has bee crushed! We are really gutted as had just bought the kit to turn it into a peach blossom. Hoping insurance will cover it....

So that's my pity party for the day. At home resting now but being really paranoid baby is quieter than normal. Sure he's not, but I am obviously focusing on it more.... DH came back from work early to deal with all the insurance crap which is great as I have had enough now!

Oh god rushys!! What a day!

Rushy how awful. Thank god you and baby are okay, but what an awful day, and such a shame about the buggy. Everything crossed for you that insurance are easy to deal with and pay out what you need.

What a day rushys that sounds very scary. Glad you and baby are well.

Had midwife appt today. Trace protein again which I seem to have at every appt but so far hasn't been anything. Blood pressure still low. MW started asking me about birth preferences. Am really on the fence about homebirth as I was induced with DS and had an epidural. Would love a homebirth but worried I'll need an epidural again. Am now 2/5ths engaged which explains the pelvic pain and frequent night waking for toilet trips!

Rushy ...that sounds awful. Thank goodness baby is ok!

Haven't posted for ages as so much going on at work and home.

I am hoping for home birth so if it is conveniently timed then DS1 can stay in the house (asleep in bed) but if it's during the day then he'll go to my parents. I can't be doing with lots of fuss so I'm really hoping for a nice straightforward home birth at around midnight :) can anyone arrange for that??!

Have got to go for a growth scan on Monday as bump is measuring big so that might change things with the home birth if the baby is a monster 12lb er. Hopefully he measures ok and we can proceed as planned.

Only 4 weeks left at work yay!

While we're putting in our orders for our births, mine would ideally not include my waters breaking in the middle of a lecture. Oh, and if it could be during the Easter holidays when I'm at about 38 weeks, that'd be tidy too. Nice straightforward sneeze birth.