The 'Umm newbie'/ 'Thread maxed out' lovely ladies!

[mrshjb]

Hey everyone, as discussed here is our brand spanking new antenatal club thread! I thought I'd start with the stat's....

Kiki- due 23rd September
Weebairn- due 30th September
Binky- due 10th October
Misskgb- due 8th November
Ladymillion- due 11th November
Lolly- due 28th November
Chillychicken- due 10th December
mrshjb- due 28th January (awaiting confirmation of date from first scan)

Awaiting update:
mrsb87
Gennz

Maybe it's just a local thing then!

Got a shocking headache last night so rang mau as was told to report it as it's a sign of pre eclampsia. They checked my urine results which showed too much protein so called me in for further tests.

Babys movement is fine. Tested urine again & protein still present but at a lower level so took some bloods.Was there til 2am then sent home.

The mw was lovely but the junior Doctor I got seemed to be quite judgemental & I felt like I was being tested by her! Even dh said she wasn't nice.

I just want my little lady here now!

Your weekend sounds lovely Lolly. So nice of everyone to get you so much stuff :)

misskgb hope everything is alright and you're being properly monitored. I hope you don't have to wait too long for her to arrive.

Laughed at the 'which end' conversation and also the placenta bit. Really gruesome!!

Hope your girls are doing well weebairn and binky :)

Hi everyone hope you're all doing well. I'm sure you're all very busy but I was wondering whether you could tell me the prams that you've all bought please?! I want to avoid the horror of the Xmas shoppers or the January bargain hunters so thinking of going shopping for a pram this month some time but I really have no idea whatsoever what I'm looking for!!

Ta :)

We've got the gravo evo- its a frame which u can put the car seat on, pram or buggy seat, one at a time so not a travel system. It's lightweight & u can put it down one handed

Try some out in the shop & get a feel of what features u do or don't want. You'll probably find more u don't than ones u do!

Hey Helen, we got the Sola2 from Mamas and papas. Haven't went for anything with pram as he won't be in it long. Baby can lie flat and snug in it. Defo agree with Misskgb, you need to try them out. As you are my fellow tall mummy to be I would defo look at heights as don't want to bend too much xx

Ahhh now see, height issues are not something I had to consider! All 5 foot 3 of me!! Hehe. Actually, I didn't think about that when trying it out & hubby is a whole foot bigger. Massive ooops!! (He tried it & didn't day anything tho!)

Ah thanks for the advice, I'll have a Google! We're definitely going to go and try them out but wanted a bit of an idea of cost. Height is definitely a big consideration though, my DH is 6'4! Laughed at your DH being a foot taller than you misskgb!!

How are you both doing? How long left at work now Lolly?

I think ours worked out around the £300 mark, on offer (I'll check with dh as can't remember!) Luckily he's not lanky so u can't actually tell there's a foot between us!

I'm getting lots of niggles which makes me think she's still on her way but no real sign yet. I'm putting chillies in meals wherever I can, have been for walks & on my ball lots-she's just too damn comfy in there! 6 days til due date!!

Yep my DH is 6'5 so the height thing was important. We got one where could go to diff heights. Best service I had was at Mamas and Papas. They do price match on branded stuff like Maxi cosi car seats. Our whole travel system was supposed to be 700 and bartered lady down to closer to 500 with price matches. We got maxi cosi car seat and isofix base for ease.

I finish up on Fri from work and boy am I ready. 36+2 today and feel so tired and bloated. Face is pretty swollen today. Getting tested for Cholestasis as had v itchy feet. Get results on thurs. Hope I don't have it as will be high risk.

How r u Helen? Xx

I didn't realise your DH was so tall as well Lolly. Are you expecting to have a long baby?! Loads of people keep saying to me that our baby will be the size of a toddler when he's born with the height of us two! We are going to go to Mamas and Papas so hopefully will get something decent from there. £200 off is really good isn't it. Have you got a base for your car? DH wants to be able to take the baby out in his car too because it's the bigger one so we would be more likely to use that at weekend, but I'll need to be able to take him in my car during the week. We don't know whether to buy two bases or have one base and attach with a seatbelt in DHs car?!

Good stuff about finishing on Friday. You've done really well to get this far. What are your plans? Never heard of cholestasis, hope it's nothing too serious.

I'm ok thanks. 27+4 today. Getting past 27 weeks has been a good psychological milestone for me because that's when my Niece was born. I'm looking forward to getting to 30+ weeks. I've got my 28 week midwife appointment on Tuesday and then the 4d scan on Sunday. Been and bought a carpet today for baby's room as well so going to start getting bits of stuff now. Have been putting it off because I didn't want to jinx stuff but I realise I can't put it off forever and I don't want to be shopping too close to Xmas!

When's your next midwife appointment misskgb How soon do they book you in for a sweep if you go over?

Have any of you had your flu jab? I had mine on Tuesday and my arm was killing for days afterwards! The nurse said that it wasn't a live virus so shouldn't affect how you feel, but looking back I was absolutely exhausted for a few nights afterwards. Don't know if it was related or not?!

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend :) xx

Yep we got isofix, if we wanted to use DH car or MiL we can just strap car seat in. The maxi cosi cabriofix is nice and light as a recommendation. People are expecting our baby to be big but so far measuring pretty normal.

cholestatis just needs to be kept an eye on, to do with your liver function. A key symptom is itching. I think it's just my hands and feet swelling but having bloods done to be on safe side.

I was the same as you waiting off but once you get past 30 weeks you worry less I feel. Maybe that's just me.

I had both jabs and was fine, some people really react.

Ah that's good your past the milestone. It's so good to know they are viable after that!

Don't have any real plans for when I finish. Hubby is taking me out to celebrate on fri as may leave has been a long time coming. My sis is visiting the week before I'm due with my niece so that will be lovely. Kinda hoping my little man arrives as would love to have my sis close by. Apart from that absolutely chilling out. I am sure nesting will kick in.

Off to MILs to help her cook a roast mmm xx

We've bought 1 base which will go in my car. Its difficult for me (shorty) to lean over the car seat every time to plug in so I def wanted one. Its isofix but I don't have that in my car so it can also be strapped in which is good. We'll just strap the car seat in dhs car when we use his

Mw again tues. Supposed to b an extra appt to get my results after last weeks worries. Got results when in hosp but decided not to cancel mw appt-thought it'd be better to get checked over again. Have 40 week appt booked for nxt tues & mw has offered a sweep then. Dh is coming with (he's booked the day off to b there). I said yes before she could even explain what it was!! :-)

Lolly-not sure what you're like in your own company (I'm useless) but I've found it really good having at least one thing to do each day. That's meant I've had something to get up for but also I've not felt guilty if I've had no energy to do anything. I've felt good on days where I've managed more than one thing! See how u go but take it easy!

Hiya

Sorry I've been a bit AWOL. Well baby is a month old now and I'm just sort of emerging from the newborn fog! She still feeds all night but it's manageable, I get some rest at other times. Physically I feel much better just the last week and am managing to get out the house with both kids (which is a bit of a mission!!) I've stopped bleeding and I'm doing some gentle exercise again and feeling more like myself, kinda back in some of my clothes. Enjoying a drink or two!!

Baby has grown so much already! She had put on 2 lb by 4 weeks. She is a lot bigger than my toddler was. She is starting to open her eyes more and look at things and be more alert - no smiles yet!! Even though I have bad days sometimes (mostly when I haven't slept) I am trying to savour every day cause I think she'll be my last baby...

Few pics

Morning!!

Awww weebairn she is sooo cute!! I love how happy your eldest daughter looks with her :) Can't believe it's been a month already, that's absolutely flown. Glad you're starting to feel a little bit more human now anyways. Feeding all night sounds hardwork, quite a few of my friends who breastfeed said the same thing so I'm guessing that's pretty normal?

Not long to go at all at work now Lolly, are you having a leaving do? How long are you planning on having off again? Thanks for the recommendation, I have had a google and will see what they have at Mamas and Papas when we go. Yeah I think 30 weeks seems like a good point to get to, think it will feel more like I'm on the final countdown then!!

misskgb how are you feeling? Any more twinges etc?

I've got my 28 week midwife appointment this morning. Hoping she'll let me listen to the heartbeat again. Not looking forward to the blood tests though! Anyone else found it hard to cope with being constantly hot? We had new starters in our office yesterday so we went from 4 of us to 6 and it just felt a lot hotter. It didn't help because our office is quiet cold (for none pregnant people) so there were 3 of them with their fan heaters on. I nearly had a breakdown at dinner because I was sweating my bum off. I am going to ask my manager today if I can move nearer the window and then the ones who want the heaters on are all together and I'm going to take an emergency vest top for when I really can't cope any more, but I ideally don't want to be wearing a vest top at work! I'm finding the whole clothes thing really hard work. Trying to find something that doesn't make you look like a whale but is still comfy and warm enough for outside but cold enough for the office is bloody hardwork!!!

Anyways hope you all have a good day!

Haha helen I know just what u mean....my last 2 weeks at work I was constantly hot, particularly in the afternoon. I turned the radiator near me off & had a cold fan on. 4 other people in my office (including my new boss & my maternity cover) had layers on & their winter coats at times. I was in a vest top n just said I had no more clothes to take off without being fired!!!

I had 3 hours of contractions last night but they stopped when I went to bed. I was a bit worried as I started bleeding (me & dh had sex-sorry if tmi!) but I knew that could be normal. Rang this morning & they've said it doesn't sound like anything to worry about so just keep an eye on it.

Got mw in half hour. This is my extra appt so really pleased I kept it now.

Love the pix weeb-glad to hear things are going well, even if you have the odd bad day.

Oooh missk - the false starts are so frustrating. I had quite a few. Well done for still having sex this far on!! Hope midwife was helpful but it's usually just a waiting game at this point isn't it… thinking of you I found the last few days endless.

Helen hope the appointment was ok, you heard the heartbeat and the blood tests weren't too unpleasant! Midwives always get a bit anxious taking my blood when they find out I'm a doctor, thankfully I have big easy veins Oh yes the pregnant heat is awful, and we had the longest hottest summer ever which any other year I would have loved! I was just cursing it by the end… mind you it's still pretty warm for November isn't it… we'll probably get 3 months of snow in the new year to make up for it.

Breastfeeding - yeah, it is pretty time-intensive for the first 1-2 months, even if no specific problems. I think you need a lot of support, encouragement, food and water… I just don't expect to sleep much at night now, but take total advantage of when my mum is here to sleep, weekends/paternity leave to take naps in the day, etc. I think it helps to view breastfeeding as your main job, other people do the housework etc! This obviously isn't practical for everyone but I have quite a lot of people around... DP takes baby from 8 to midnight or 2am each night in the other room so I have the bed to myself and I sleep then, sometimes he has to wake me for a feed or two but I just feed lying down and he takes the baby back. Settling them afterwards is more work than feeding I find so I find that very helpful. If it's been a bad night he also takes baby and toddler in the morning and I get an extra hour or two then.

Almost all the work of breastfeeding is up front so if you can get through the first month or two that's the hard bit. Much much easier after that, the feeds space out and the nights are much easier, and then it is lovely and convenient to not have to faff with bottles or take anything out when you go out etc.

My labour was pretty straightforward (and short) so I was in a decent place to do all this. Like binky says, you need to do the right thing for your own circumstances and family, it ain't always easy at all!!

lastly I had sex last night which I was exceptionally proud of myself for doing! Between getting 2 kids to sleep, worrying about the state of your fanjo, and having giant boobs it ain't easy I tell you Pleased to report it didn't hurt much at all! last time I seem to remember sex being quite uncomfortable for several months, which is odd as I had a small tear this time but none last time...

Hi all, sorry for being AWOL (again)

wee beautiful pics!

misskgb baby OUT vibes for you!

H how was your appointment?

I'm struggling. There. I've said it. 35+2 and I am so heavy and uncomfortable. I have adored being pregnant - loved all of it (except the stretchmarks) but now I just want my baby. I can hardly sleep as my legs hurt so much. My feet have swollen and I just feel crap.

Baby is measuring big - 6lb 8oz at 34+2 apparently. DH and I are both tiny. I got a bit freaked about having a big baby but the consultant says she reckons baby's growth will tail off now and will be approx 8lb. They're not ridiculously worried so no more scans or consultant appointments. Obviously, I'm worried! Big head, massive tummy. I'm scared something is wrong and they've missed it on the scans.

I'm also in a bit of denial. I haven't packed my hospital bag and can't seem to get the motivation to do it and I had a meltdown whilst surrounded by babygros the other day. I had a really crap week last week and I can't get my head around it - I won't go into details, mostly work related - but it's taken it out of me. I'm meant to start ML this week (well, working full time from home) but that hasn't happened. My coccyx is still very much damaged and I'm actually in quite a bit of pain.

I'm losing motivation to do anything - buy Christmas presents, wrap Christmas presents, go for a walk, make soup - stuff I'd normally be happy to do just feels like such a major effort.

DH has had a crap day at work and I know he's grumpy. I want to tell him just how rubbish I feel but I also don't want to burden him with it. ARGH.

I've got a cold and I know he wants to go out for dinner to relax but I just cannot be bothered. I want to lay on the sofa and sob to be honest.

Sorry for the mega post, I'm having one of those days.

Oh chilly!! Big hugs for you. The worst thing to do is stress out so as bad aa dhs work might be, I think u need to talk to him. I've been rubbish at hiding things when something is wrong, I just burst into tears! Don't worry about having no motivation- the more u try the worse it'll be. Take a few days & do bugger all. If u feel like getting up to do something great. If u don't then hey, life goes on. Seriously-these last few weeks are hard!

I've just been for a walk. Only managed 20 minutes & now ache bigtime. Hot water bottle & the sofa for me! Loving the baby out vibes!!

Weeb I'm hoping to express from the get go but medical staff are not being overly enthusiastic about it. They all want her on my breast for 3-5 days &then the bottle. I've told them if expressing doesn't work she'll be on formula. I've bought some already too. I just wish they'd support my wanting to do it that way before questionning it

Haha thanks weeb. Dh said no more sex but mw says its clearly working so to try again if we want. He laughed when I told him. He's out tonight so it won't be tonight! It's a bit scary with the bleeding but they're happy it's safe

After all that & last weeks scares, urine was completely clear today! Bp a bit raised but ok. Head fully engaged. COME ON BABY!

Oh chilly. This stage of pregnancy is just shit. Maybe you just need a couple of days off to just relax and rest especially if you're in pain and have a cold etc. What;s happening with your maternity leave?

I think people will understand about xmas presents etc this year - also the internet is your friend!

I had a big baby (she was 8 lb 9) and I'm not a big person (5'3", size 8/10). It was ok, loads easier than my first birth actually which was a quite small baby.

I also didn't pack hospital bag till 37/38 weeks either time. If you have a sudden early baby… well you can always get DH to come back in with stuff. It's not likely though! Do it on a day when you feel better about everything!

It's ok to just say you feel terrible, late pregnancy is no joke. Thinking of you xxx

Thank you both. I feel loads better today - had a reasonable nights sleep, only woke up twice, once to go to the loo and the other because I was achey so that's a massive improvement. Still got a cold but I feel a bit more alive today.

I'm in work this morning as had a meeting but I think I'll go home around lunchtime, will see how I feel.

I managed to wrap one present last night. Woohoo! The main issue is sitting on the floor - my coccyx is still so painful from a fall in September. Hospital bag will be packed this evening. I'm having the shopping delivered this evening with my snacks (and DHs) so I will have everything to go in the bag. I'll feel loads better once that's done. I'm in work tomorrow but I'm thinking of having Friday off, not even working from home, just having it off to lay on sofa and chill out all day!

I bought the last few presents online last night so that's a task to tick off my list!

Maternity leave isn't really happening wee. We run our own business so if I don't work, things don't get done. I'm pretty much set up to work from home, it's just filing and stuff that can't be done there as I'm not having DH lug all the files home every night! We've decided to go into work for a few hours every other Saturday once baby is here so we can get the filing done together before going out somewhere. Office is big enough for baby to be in car seat/pram for the hour it'll take us. I semi-file bills as I go anyway so it shouldn't be too difficult.

My Mum asked if I was looking forward to having a year off and I laughed at her. I'll be checking the bank account the day after giving birth! I can't not work unfortunately and I know it'll be tough but we'll make it work somehow, we have no choice but to make it work

Thanks for the reassurance about big baby

Right, I have a burst of energy - time to clear a bit of my crap out the office!

Helen-early arrivals for 1st borns do exist. Not only that, but they can be done & dusted in 5.5 hours start to finish :-) here's my story!

6:30pm ate my tea. 6:45pm big pain in tummy. 6:59pm waters break-everywhere, big and constant! Ring mau & I'm in at 8pm once dh is home from football (before ko-oops!) I know something isn't right & contractions r coming thick & fast. Throw up, waters still going & other unpleasant stuff coming out uncontrollably. Mw examines me after I bleed & say I need pain relief. 8 FLIPPING CMs!!!

Taken to labour ward. No pool available so on a bed tossing from all 4s to back constantly. Dh was an absolute rock. 1.5 hours of contractions with gas & air followed by 1.5 hours of no pain relief at all & my little girl was born- 6lbs 13.5oz. Placenta wouldn't deliver. ....

Mws, doctors etc. My cord was attached in the wrong place to the placenta so had to go to theatre. One epidural & 1 long hour wait for dh & it came away finally, about 2am by now. In recovery til 5, then to the ward & discharged at 3pm. Big task now-give this beauty a name!

Congratulations misskjb speedy arrival heh! Enjoy your new born snuggles and choosing a name .

Oh my god!!!! misskgb you absolute legend of a woman, massive high five for being suitably early and having a fast delivery!! You've really given me some hope there! Congratulations on your little lady, can't wait to see pictures of her when you're ready and to hear what she's called :) Hope you're recovering well.

I'll reply to everyone else later tonight, just shouted at DH for trying to talk to me whilst I was reading misskgbs birth story and he's sulked off so better go and find him and apologise haha!

Oh wow congratulations!!! That is speedy!! Sounds like you did really well - you sound completely hyper and happy :) :)

My first little girl was 6 lb 14 oz too! (she took 30 bloody hours though!)

Hope you're enjoying the cuddles and feeling ok xxx