December 2014 Thread #7 - third trimester here we come, jingle babies all the way

[Chipandspuds]

Hooray into the third trimester!

I'm a teacher in a primary school. But I don't have my own class, I move round and teach all classes. The only thing swaying me to 36 weeks is that the week before my last week would be a week off, or I could just finish when we break up for half term

Hello, may I join in please? DS2 due first week in Dec and feeling very large and tired and ridiculously grumpy during the working week, so it's lovely to hear I'm not alone.

My job is similar catface ( secondary, moving round, one practical subject).

Las t pg I finished at 36w but had very easy pg and was lucky that summer hols fell from weeks 26-33.

This time I am struggling physically and may have to finish at 34. Going to ask my school to shift my rooming as am not coping well with going from one part of school to another 3 or 4 times a day.

Welcome tipsey !

I'm working up to 36 weeks and I'll then be using 3 weeks holiday so maternity leave will start officially at 39 weeks. I'm working an extra day a week in September and then will be working my normal 3 days a week in October. I'm finding it difficult at the moment as work is quite stressful and mentally tiring and DS no longer has an afternoon nap. Just trying to go to bed early and rest when I can!

My bump is looking huge, struggling to get up/down from soft chairs and getting down to change DS's nappy and shoes etc. 12 weeks until due date though so not too much longer to wait!

I'm planning to do the Christmas shopping after October payday so I won't be bored on maternity leave before the baby arrives. It's not as ambitious as it sounds, I'm planning to order lots from Amazon, and I'm going to be buying the rest from just a few shops like Argos, M&S etc so if I'm feeling tired I can just do one shop on one day and another shop the next.

At some point when DH is up to it we'll get DS's baby stuff out of storage and I'll get that washed.

We're planning to buy a washer/dryer. Some people are so negative about them, but we figured if we buy a certain brand from John Lewis they have a 5 year warranty and if it only lasts 5 years that's fine with us! We are hoping to have moved to a 3 bedroom house by then so would have space for a separate washing machine and dryer if needed.

I work in a care home and im working until 38 weeks, but the last 2 weeks will be just paperwork for 3 mornings a week. 13 weeks to go until a whole year off!!!

Chips I had a washer dryer for years and it was great. I will say I prefer a separate washing machine and dryer but the washer dryer did exactly what I needed it to and would get one again if I had to.

Cat I'm planning on working to 38 weeks but I've got an easy job it just depends on how I find the commute into London towards the end but I could work from home a couple days a week

Thanks Calling . I'm feeling quite lucky my job is mainly desk based hearing about your jobs where you have to move about, my biggest problem seems to be stunning lack of motivation. Just counting down the weeks now!

Only five more Saturdays to work until maternity leave!!!

Hi all. Just catching up after holidays. I've had a brilliant few days with DP. Camped overlooking the sea, swam everyday and watched the dolphins play. I'm happy and rested but really really dont want to go back to work.

My job is both physically and mentally draining and I really am not sure how much longer I can do it for. I need the money though, we're really going to struggle :( I've asked to finish 4 weeks before I'm due although in reality, I don't think I'll make it that far.

Peace, I haven't "bonded" as such, and its been very difficult to try and make myself believe that this is happening. I have spent a lot of my life (fucked up upbringing and resulting MH issues) believing that "normal" stuff like marriage, babies etc happened to other people, and because I was "flawed" that I would forever be an onlooker. Not so much that I didn't deserve it, but that it just wouldn't happen to me because normal things didn't. I'm getting used to the fact that this has happened now, and am telling myself that why shouldn't normal good things happen to me.
Every time the baby kicks, although it's a bit weird and uncomfortable, it's validation to me that I have overcome some serious shit, and have not only survived but am creating new life, a new family. I asked DP the same questions I asked you all earlier this week and he said he was looking forward the most to a lifetime of new adventures with a new little person whom we created. So far I think all I've seen is the scaryness of it all, but he's reminded me of the wonder.

I know that I will struggle when the baby is here, about whether I can cope, whether I'm doing well enough or the right thing, god, whether I can keep a baby alive! I know that I will have a massive crash at some point. It's inevitable but I'm prepared for it now.

I think that when you suffer a lifetime of MH issues, you sometimes attribute all your worries and concerns to your condition, whereas sometimes, it's just normal worries and concerns. I'm telling myself that a certain amount of worry and anxiety is utterly normal and worries about bonding with what is currrently an abstract thing which has made us feel crappy for months is probably quite normal!

Sorry, looooong post!

My mums friend sent me a parcel of really nice baby clothes. Theres a furry suit which will be ideal for bringing her home in (winter and it is going to be a cold one apparently!), really cute stripey sleepsuit and some other bits and pieces. I am really touched. I am also now really aware that I need to get a move on with preparing for baby stuff!

My bump is definitely lopsided tonight! So weird to think that's a head right there.

That's so sweet BHLS!

DHs sister is coming over next week and bringing all the masses of second hand stuff that DHs family have been collecting and acquiring for us, so DH really needs to get his arse in gear and clear his crap out of the "nursery".

Feeling a bit gloomy today. Should get up and go do some lesson planning, but I'm not paid to do work at home and it's this horrible new ICT curriculum. Thank god I only have to do one half term of it!

Hopefully picking up a big bundle of bargain washable nappies today too. Then will have to have a bit of a nappy stock take.

Can't decide whether to go cloth from day 1 (if the hospital don't object) or use disposables til we're home and settled. Will probably need to get some new borns anyway as all mine are birth to potty and not sure they'll fit.

Didn't realise that the umbilical cord stays attached. Found this out yesterday and worried that I will be seriously grossed out by it. Bleh

27 weeks exactly today

I'll be using disposables until I get home, primarily so I can make a hash of it on my own! I'm utterly clueless as it is.

Back to work tomorrow too. I really really dont want to go.

Oh and I have a phobia of bellybuttons. I am frankly ignoring the umbilical cord thing.

Catface I can remember the midwife coming to check my sister' umbilical cord when she was a baby, but luckily I don't remember what it looked like

Yeah I'm a bit worried about them judging me in hospital, especially if I make a right pigs ears of using cloth!

I think I might join the umbilical ignoring too. Yack

The cords I've seen just look like a short bit of beef jerky.

My friend suggested using disposables for the first couple of weeks, particularly for the first grim meconium poos. I think mainly because reusables are a bit bulkier and new babies are usually a bit too small to get a good fit .

I think we'll get a few samples of different reusables prior then stock up properly when we see what shape baby we have, long and leggy or more chunky, and which for best with the least potential for leakage. Ugh.

I love the stuff that is posted on this thread :) cords like beef jerky? That made me snort my tea!

I was so exhausted and exhilarated both times that if an entire pepperoni salami had popped out I wouldn't have noticed.

TBH both times I have seen the placenta/cord I have thanked it for doing an amazing job!! You will be in awe of it, and your body for producing a little person.

spider your worries are normal - that's the thing. Does any new mum not think about these things? I'm not trying to patronise you - tell me to bugger off ;) - but try to enjoy the wonder of it too. It's truly a one off. I don't have significant MH issues usually but in pregnancy I do feel quite unhinged. I have always told myself that is normal too....

I'm aiming to work to 39 weeks. Our mat pay is crap which is why. But I realise how much depends on my health - fingers crossed....

Well yeah, obviously the cord is amazing when it's doing it's job. The shrivelled dried up bit waiting to drop off a few days later? A bit less so!

Oh, the other reason for starting with disposables is the sheer number they get through in the early days.

Meant to say, great post re: mh BHLS. I have a long history of depression and have to watch out what I ascribe to it, and what is normal with regards to worries and fears.

I feel proper pathetic. Like I'm just being a mega wuss and should just (wo)man up!
Yes I'm struggling with my emotions and with my aching back/hips/whatever else. DH assures me I'm coping better than any of his sisters but I don't believe him. I have it fairly good I reckon, but still feel pathetic and useless. It feels like every other pregnant person is breezing through easily (I know just from this group that this is bollocks!) while I'm being all helpless and rubbish

Ds' got a small hernia after his cord dropped off. It was like a tiny little balloon where his belly button should have been. I of course rushed him straight to the doctor but they said it would probably heal over (which it did thankfully). Ds does have an outie now though.

And I've got some large muslin cloths and nappy wraps to use for the tiny newborn stage nappies. They will need changing so often anyway at first that absorbency isn't too much of an issue and apparently the old fashioned terry nappy way is less bulky than the all in one washables I will be using later on.

But we have some newborn nappies left over from ds anyway somewhere for just in case (do nappies have use by dates?).

I will admit that I felt like I breezed through last time catface until the last 7 weeks. This time I am struggling - with work, with DS, with DH, with dealing with anything actually.

24 weeks today so if I finish at 34 (which am pretty much decided I will do) then I have 10 weeks left with one week half term in the middle.

I love my job, but feeling like I do atm, my heart just isn't in it. I feel like I can't keep up with my marking and planning.

The worst thing about the cord is the smell before it drops off. Disposables are a good idea for the meconium poos and also if you end up in hospital for a while your partner will have quite a lot of washing to do between visits.

Cords are gross. But at least they fall off quickly. Tbh, you'll probably be so paranoid about checking that it's ok that you won't get space to be grossed out by it, that will come later. I remember paranoia and uncertainty being a constant 'friend' during the first few weeks!

How quick Monkey baby? I have a real umbilical issue