December- The Final Countdown!!!!

[Calmriver]

HI Guys, I am still confused, so please join me on this one.

JM, I was going to work up to 38 weeks, bt it seemed so far away, so I now just have 2 weeks left. Last day is 10th November woohoo!

Am shredding everything on my desk that I wont require in the next two weeks - then it's someone elses problem

Castle - did'nt think sorry. Yeah if you have DC's at school and had C-section you will need the help. Are there any other subject areas on MN that can help?

My MIL is quite cheap - in fact if you can't get anyone else you can have her free.

Finishing 10wks before due date, work in IT banking recruitment, work from 8am - 8pm in the city and its a v pressurised target driven environment. Not pregnant friendly as there is lots of aggressive sales targets to hit and a very work hard play hard attitude. Found it very difficult to continue momentum when all I want to do is nest and not be shouted at! Haven't had time to do anti natal, buy anything for babies room or generally concentrate on me and baby, so I?m throughally looking forward to the time off!

Thanks VMS but according to your post last night, isn't your MIL a bit scary?!?! Since I posted my request I did a search on MN and there is quite a bit on Doulas which is helpful, so thanks

Oh P555nat, you have my sympathies, I worked in the City pre DCs (eldest 4.5) and it was HELL being preggers. Are you planning to go back after maternity leave? I couldn't do it with children (used to get in around 7am, leave around 9pm if I was lucky, go to the pub etc etc) and in my area they really don't want you post-babies unless you are prepared to never see them. So much for equal opportunities hey!

Judemum, my 11 days trumps you! Not planning to finish until December 15 with a due date of 26 December!

Castle - not scary - just flipping annoying and frustrating and sly - that's why she'd be free to you .

Yes, going back would be very tricky as my partner works the same hours and childcare would out way my earnings! Going to start up own co from home, so can have best of both worlds. xx

Gloria- sorry but you do make me feel better! At least I know there will be someone else staggering through to the last.
Pnat- I too know what you mean. Am solicitor in large law firm and its pretty hellish but at least I've managed to move out of London, although tis a falacy that life is that much easier in the provinces. My boss is pretty cool though, hence able to spend hours a day talking to you lot and not suing anyone!

Judemum, my 11 days trumps your two weeks! Don't plan to stop until 15 December (7 weeks today) which is 11 days before my Boxing Day due date!

Apologies for the double post, pregnant brain could't see it first time so i put it in again!

Gosh, I hadn't even considered how I was going to get DD to school after c-section. Mind you, it's booked for Boxing Day so I suppose I'll have a couple of weeks before it becomes an issue. Might just float the idea past DH ....
Interestingly, I've just come back from seeing my physio, and I'm not to wear the horrid support belt anymore. Although it's improving the sacro-iliac problem, it's probably making the SPD worse - they aren't meant to be used for SPD apparently. Got some great Pilates exercises to do. Wonder when I'll fit them in?!

WooHoo - look at me all in the mood for Halloween Can you see through my disguise???

Hey I'm due on Boxing Day as well! Finishing work on 10th Nov though, chicken of me probably but I hate my job at the moment and its stressing me out so much and aggravating all my aches and pains I may as well take my holidays and go. Besides I worry my farts are getting noisier .

SLB, I am finishing on the 10th as well, but am due Dec 9th. Bought my leave forward from 24th Nov as am sick of work and full of aches and pains - and so tired!

I smell vanilla.

Babypowder, I have a diabetic cat (well, actually seems to be ex-diabetic now after losing lots of weight) so if you want to talk about it do shout. Can't help with the chicken mites though.

I am finishing on 10 november too, which is 6 weeks before due date of 26 december. Considering house is not unpacked and haven't bought any baby things or christmas presents, it's probably good that it's on the early side!

I'm due xmas day and finishing on the 10th as well! (although am using 3 weeks hols) I cannot wait. Getting too painful to walk about and as we are still not moved into new house (went for a look last night and there are just lots of holes and bricks everywhere in the kitchen will need a few extra weeks to try and get sorted. Hoping to move in beginning of Dec but who knows....
Really wanted to be in by now so could wash and fold tiny outfits but can't

I feel pretty disorganised at the moment. Was hoping to have found a house by now but it's been a year since we've been looking and no luck so I'm just going to declutter our flat and make the best of what we have.
Had visitors (in laws) over all summer so I could really do with some 'me' time now, exercise properly and destress a little bit, finish the shopping..
I'm a bit confused about due dates though, do most first time babies arrive early or late? very conflicting information around at the moment.

summer- as I understand it most first babies are more likely than not to arrive either on time or a little bit late- my DS1 was 4 days late and I think the same was more or less true for all my pals that have had first babies- you are either pretty much on time or a few days over.

Cannot believe there's any interest in sex at this stage OMG! A pat on the bottom enough for me...
I'm on leave from Nov 16th (due on 16th Dec), which I was thinking of pushing back due to workload but now I've found out my dad & sister coming for the weekend so sod that. Work still haven't got a replacement for me, yet expect me (with 9 working days left) to train them up plus finish project launch the week before I leave. and apparently because I refused the job allocation thingy they assigned to me, I have to fill in a 20 page questionnaire in the New Year as they can't possibly send it to me until then. I'm sure my brain will be in fine fettle for that kind of thing after giving birth & having little sleep for several weeks.
Does being late or early depend on what your mum was like? I was 2 weeks late, so was DS, apparently all my siblings also late so I guess I will be with this one too.
I can't even think straight, but whoever was asking about doulas - SureStart here have a scheme, maybe that's somewhere to try or check the website.

Blimey - miss a few hours, miss the world

p555, welcome!

Castles, I've hired a postbirth doula...she's only coming for a few hours one day per week after baby is born until the start of January term (at which point it will be four days per week), because dh has taken 3-4 weeks off work, hurrah. In January I have no help, and as I'm more than likley to have had a section, decided to be nice to myself and ask for some.

She's nice, practical, willing to help with laundry, cooking, playing with dd1, as well as look after baby so I can catch a nap now and then (hmmm, knowing me catch up on MN more like). And she has her own home catering business, so will provide us with some yummy food for the freezer I didnt' want someone living in, or there for more than a few hours per day, nor did I want someone to take over my baby....but I have no willing-to-help family near by, plus its Christmas so friends are going to be busy with their own families. No idea what the reality will be like, but feel happy with the plan so far!

AQ, I'm with the pat on the bum level of action. Idea of sex good, reality?

Louloo, we only found out last week that the cat's diabetic, so we have some pretty big decisions to make. He's been with me since I came to Britain, so predates DH as well as everything else. Bless him, he's such an old thing (the cat) (and the DH, come to think of it), but I really don't know how I'll cope with new baby, 4 year old, blood testing, twice daily injections, etc. Any tips?

post-birth doula sounds good. I thought of doing it last time, perhaps should go ahead this time - especially if we are still looking for a replacement nanny. Ours picked a hell of a time to put in her notice...

Oh that sound's perfect Eliboo. Can I ask how you found her? I've got one ringing me tonight. She works for SureStart and helps a friend of mine out whose son is autistic but she's also a doula. She's already told me she's busy in December/January but has a friend. Does that sound a bit fishy? I've left it late apparently so don't have much choice.

Yes go on, Jabber, I think you should get one too! I like the idea that they only do a few hours a day, no living in, hanging around when not needed etc. I had a nanny for one week after DD was born. She was lovely but cost a bomb and spent most of the time chatting to me! There were also loads of things she wouldn't do, whereas, I've heard Doulas muck in and do pretty much everything. From what you've said, Eli, it sound's like it.

Don't know what is wrong with me today but I can't stop rambling ...