April 2015 Thread 11: The finish line is in sight as we get closer to maternity leave and our babies!

[BrixtonBunny]

Old thread getting full xx

Sounds like your MWIL has a determined and positive attitude Moomin. My Mum is a retired MW but she still keeps up to date with the way things are now, subscribes to all the publications etc. I'm really lucky to have her. She's very sensible and she BFd my bro and I and this was in the 70s when there was pressure not to. I really want to do it too. I've had people suggest it won't work etc but I'm determined to.
Poor sock, it is no more. Hopefully it is in a better place.
No I never actually discussed it with my DH holly either! People at my class had discussed it so I'm not sure what the usual approach is? Like you, it was something I always assumed I'd do.

Picking up the dirty washing is certainly one of DH's jobs. When we first moved in I had a basket upstairs and he never emptied it. I got rid of the basket and started dumping it on the landing outside out bedroom. Instant collection and deposit was made. It's just carried on from there. Now if I can just get him to unroll his shirt sleeves and separate the washing into colours I'll be laughing! he even took the wet stuff upstairs to stick on the maiden last night without me asking. I had conveniently left it at the bottom of the stairs though

Hi all! Dd and I are on our first full day of being home alone! Dh went to Edinburgh yesterday and last night I shot home from work leaving my paperwork to do on Friday, got dd to bed with MIL and then bombed it back to an out of hours shift while PIL kindly babysat til pretty much midnight for me. They are superstars.

Today the new sofas have been delivered, marked (as always) but with a promise to send someone out and clean them. There isn't any damage to the actual leather it seems so should clean off. If it doesn't they'll be replaced but I really CBA with all that sort of hassle!!!

Unfortunately it means dd's nap/quiet time is late. We need to leave for swimming at 15.45. Maybe I should get off MN and pack the swim bag and shove dd in the car before she falls asleep... And do some extra driving about? Paying for her next term of swimming lessons this week... AND ds's first term!!! It's a hot hydrotherapy pool (35 degrees) and appropriate for newborns so he is starting at 1-2 weeks old, with daddy probably since I might still be recovering. Apparently they love the weightlessness and being immersed again like in the womb. With dd I waited til she was 8 months before she started and although she is much older than the rest of her class it means she can really engage and loves, so I will ask not to be rushed up the classes tbh. The trouble is though that she still doesn't really like putting her head back, lying flat on her back or really trusting the buoyancy of the water, so on the back stuff and using a noodle float bits she still panics or is rigid, even though free swimming on her front she kicks and crawls and asks to go under etc. I am hoping that by ds starting while it still feels natural to him to be immersed he will avoid this panic. Might work, might not. But it's nice for the adult taking part too, I love going with dd. (Except for the getting changed bit these days!!!)

I have another new hernia! umbilical this time at my port site. Emailed my surgeon who said hernias are unfortunately common in pregnancy (could have figured that out I suppose) but that it hurts because it's a new tear in the tissue that has allowed it, so stop panicking about the pain and it should settle - I was worried about it getting trapped you see. But he is right, it's less tender today. My abdomen is such a mess!!!

48 days to go! Only 8 days left at work... 2 and a bit weeks... penguin I'm jealous but you are further ahead than me so it's only fair I suppose! Then I'm on 2 weeks of annual leave and will do some out of hours shifts when it suits (just one or two) until 1st April when maternity leave kicks in.

I think dd is asleep... Hmm...

Dh asked me last night "so no indications you are going to give birth today then?" When I said er, no he said "Good, I can rest easy tonight then." Poor thing is dreading the eventuality that he will miss the birth by being in Scotland, trying to desperately get a flight or train... My last labour was 12 hrs start to finish so it's possible this one might be only 6, which cuts it pretty fine even if everything falls into place. Poor hubby. And my back up birth partner is in Kenya with the army until the end of March!!! She'll take even longer to get home!!! Not sure what I'll do if it's really early. Don't want my mum or MIL really, and my other good friends I'm just not sure I'd feel quite comfortable with. Going it alone with a friendly midwife wouldn't be bad, just a bit sad not to really share it with someone that would truly care.

Funny birth stories... I have my own... Obviously I have had issues with my bum as I am sure you all know. When I had dd I wasn't well and my gut bled a lot and I had humongous piles and all sorts. When I was pushing, the midwife stopped and looked slightly concerned, and said.... "Erm, excuse me, sorry, but does your bottom always look like this?" I managed to reply, through my stupor of gas and air and disbelief, "Well I don't know, I can't really see it, but probably!!!" I had more important things to think about! I must have looked like a baboon or something!!!

Obstetrician appointment tomorrow; scan and consultant chat that I nagged them for. Will be interesting to see how ds is doing because people tell me I look small too! I think people should consider before opening their mouths, since I might, for all they know, have a growth restricted child and be unhappy and worried.

Have had 2 bump touching incidents - one, a Portugese lady who is a client and just said "Ooh how wonderful do you know what it is?" as she stroked it... Weird but probably cultural I decided so tried not to feel uncomfortable... The other a blind elderly client who asked if she could feel. That's a bit different, of course I said yes and she was really happy

What a long post. Happy belated birthday banana! And I really enjoyed the chatter about the spiders (lol! That would be an awesome comment!) and the sock!!!

Ds has hiccups. I'd better go and do the swimming bag...

33+1

Oh ps I also loved Orla for a girl, dh said too Irish (when we aren't) and couldn't be shortened, and I also like Nuala. I also liked Nia and Aurelia (means little golden one, love that). Someone I went to uni with recently called their daughter Daphne. In some ways I think it's lovely, and in others... Just no! Can't decide! I've said it before but my top girl's name was Genevieve (Ginny), with Ottilie (Tilly), Leila and Hermione on the list too. Dh wouldn't allow Briar to stay anywhere near my list! And possibly Rose as a middle name.

I wanted my daughter to have all her nick names used. We usually call her Kaitlin, but often Katy. Which is fine, but I really love Kitty and I forget to use it. Still, when her great grandma was alive she called her Kitten and granny still uses that, so I suppose it might emerge... I just wish I remembered to say it more! Even though dh isn't as keen on Kitty as Kaitlin/Katy... But I love it.

And Hannah and Harriet are both lovely! Erin is nice, and Freya is beautiful but we know one so it fell off the list to DH's disappointment. I suggested Fearne instead but he didn't like that. As someone said, men!!! Since it's a boy though it doesn't really matter does it? We just have very few names with none we truly love instead!!!

Ah ha ha I'm such a chatterbox!!!

holster I love Aurelia. That's because I was a big fan of 80s gymnast Aurelia Dobre. If I could use it I would. (OH would veto). She was an amazing athlete. I think Daphne is cute too but I know what you mean-would a child appreciate it? Girls names are hard as there are so many beautiful names.

My DD has a Genevieve in her class but her nickname is Evie

Oooo I like Erin too, not that I have put much thought into girls names!

Try not to take it personally Misty414, your bump is perfect for you!

Love love love that respond skyra13!

I felt like that with ds1 BananaToast but then something much more important took over my life and I couldn't care less about what was going on at work

On the subject of bending, Dh hurt his back the other day so I'm more capable of bending than him so I'm helping him!!

My Dh has 2 weeks full pay paternity Wineandchoccy but will also be off part of may half term as we'll have dss so won't be long before he's home again.

With ds2, who was transverse, I carried on once he was head down BananaToast but not as frequently and he stayed put!

No more vomiting PenguinPoser, yay! I feel a bit like that with all appointments but they never actually check me at all so midwife is probably useful to me.

It's better not to express in the first 6 weeks mswibble. He can still have post feed cuddles. Bf seems to be on the list for 34week midwife as she asked about it today but as I bf both my two she skipped the chat!

I agree with your mil TheBooMonster!

Mine were 5 weeks daholster but didn't have lessons we just took them. As soon as I stopped bleeding and felt like my milk was a bit more under control we went about once a fortnight as a family. Glad your surgeon isn't concerned but I can see how pain would freak you out!

Only heard of aurelia in love actually ChickenMe

Had my 34 week apt today, all good with bp and urine. Amazingly measuring 34 weeks considering I was measuring 32 at 29 week appt! It was very useful though and she said if there's not reason to induce me at 40 weeks she thinks I should push for a week overdue before they induce. She also agreed to start sweeps at 38 weeks as long as addenbrookes will agree and write it in my notes. She also said policy has changed and if I only have prostin gel and nothing else I don't need cfm and can have a water birth at my local hospital and she'd assume addenbrookes is the same, yay!!! Back to her again in 2 weeks, which is two days before my next scan but as they don't check me at those scans she'd still like to see me.

Oh yes I liked that Aurelia too cinnamon. I have always thought of it as a name for a beautiful girl because of these name sakes. Glad your appt went ok. Sounds lovely if you can have a water birth.

I like Marianne because of Sense&Sensibility. I also like Faye, Belinda, Nina, Laura and Louisa. I'm twitchy if a name is near the top ten!!

Evening everyone haven't caught up properly on the posts as haven't been on most of the day, for a change!
Feel like I've had a relatively productive day today. Car went for it's MOT and passed thank goodness. Had a letter through about my car insurance being up for renewal next month, but noticed price had increased so I called them and managed to get it cheaper than it was in the first place anyway! Also halfway to hearing back about Maternity Allowance now (thanks to skyra for the contact number). So a few things ticked off my list.

Been playing with my Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine for the afternoon and noticed the 'empty water' light kept coming on after each bottle and staying on for a good 10 minutes so I did what Tommee Tippee advised (which I must say they were very helpful on the phone, plus it's a freephone number open 24hours!) but still no luck so hopefully can swap for another one tomorrow, fingers crossed I still have the receipt somewhere

Now at work for a few hours.
Hope everyone's had a nice day

Hi everyone! I popped up a a newby the other week, but work has been a little busy....and I just can't keep up with you all anyway!

I've just about caught up on reading and so many things I want to ask and reply too but a but out of date now! I plan on BF if I can though I must admit I even feel a little funny about it myself, but definitely want to try it and see if it works for us. I would like to express as well though so DH could get involved. As a first timer with zero experience of babies I have no idea what to do....about anything! I said this to DH last night and just said I'm almost blocking out thinking about it because I will actually have a melt down I think, so I'm just trying to convince myself it will all come naturally and I will just know what to do. He said he is exactly the same....so ignorance is bliss in our household at the moment haha!

We have signed up for an NCT course, 2 full Saturdays and 1 evening so I'm hoping we learn a lot from that!

I've been struggling more with the SPD and have now been given crutches to help with getting about. I can manage round the house or little short bits of walking, it's more anything over a few minutes I need them for. They do help to take some of the weight off my pelvis, but they are also a real pain!

And a new moan....I think my friends must be completely fed up of my moaning so thought I would ask you lovely ladies in here. The latest symptom is severe pain around my rib cage, back, sides and front. It's actually sore to breathe and very painful moving about (on top of the blooming SPD).....is this normal? It's even sore to touch. I keep thinking...whatever next?!

On a happier note, only 2 more days at work!

33 + 3

Hi Tout!
I'll be completely new to it too, and new to newborn babies! So I'm also my thinking too much about it as when baby is here I suppose you just get on with it!
I've just been practising things such as making up bottles etc, but as your going to try and BF that's not really advice for you I suppose!
Also starting antenatal classes next week. Every Tuesday for 4 weeks and even though I'll be going on my own with my partner being at work, I'm quite looking forward to it and hope I learn some new things! A little nervous though as I'm only 22 so hope there's not too many judgemental people in there, hopefully not.
Sorry to hear about your rib pain?! I've no idea or experience in that though, but hopefully someone else will. Have you got another midwife appointment soon that you could mention it at? Or could you ring the midwife office? Just to check x

Hi fruit. Great having just two days left. Me too. I'm relieved but currently losing the will to live as I just want to go NOW!!!!!
Sorry about your pain. You're entitled to moan! Pregnancy is hard enough as it is. I was just moaning to OH that I'm hot, starving, knackered and have had enough!! And tbh I've got off lightly so far considering I am old!!
Re breastfeeding the book by La Leche League "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" is good. I'm a first timer too. Like the book title says it's an art or a skill..I suppose that's how I'm trying to mentally prepare. I think to myself, you can do it but you might need help/advice. Bit like driving maybe Lol!! I'm no expert tho!! Do you have any friends who did it? You can attend LLL meetings whilst still preg and get advice.

Don't be nervous RL! We have had our antenatal, but we only had 2 classes of about 90 minutes, yours sound more than what we had! There were about 7/8 of us pregnant ladies, some with their other halves but some brought along a friend or sister. We were a range of ages from early 20's to early 40's, it will be fine :)

I have the 34 week appointment next Wednesday so I could ask her about the rib pain then, I just hope the pain doesn't get any worse, it's bad enough getting about as it is with the pelvis!

Thanks for the book tip chicken, I'll look in to that, especially seeing as though I will have more time on my hands after this week. And I know what you mean, I have zero motivation or interest now, I just want to be out of there and done!! I was worried about finishing this early thinking I might be bored, but actually, I don't care now and just want to be at home and not have to battle my hurting itself out of the house if I don't have to ha! Bring on the boredom ;)

Ooh bake off! Hurrah, had forgot that was on. Thats my night sorted.

Enjoy your classes RL. If someone judges you for being 22 that is a sad state of affairs. People at my class were all very earnest and nice and sort of focussed on making a good impression to others. I found it fun to have a rant with other mums to be!!
fruit I was exactly the same lol, fretting that I will be bored..sod that I just want to sleep!! That book was meant to be my mat leave reading but I keep dipping into it!!

Tout yes will hopefully be ok, thanks! I'm sure the first one will perhaps just be an introduction I'm guessing. But will definitely post on here once I've been! I officially start maternity leave next week so my last day would have been tomorrow but I've been asked if I want to help out for a couple of extra hours on Saturday and Sunday so I thought why not. That's providing I feel ok after my Whooping Cough jab tomorrow, anyway!
Also thought I was going on maternity a bit too early but I do feel ready now, and the weeks have just flown by so far!
I'm 32+2

fruit I've got pain in my lower ribs and there's a really tender patch between the bottom two that the doctor was fairly convinced was my stomach. I think rib pain is to be expected with all the organs squishing up in there, but do mention it to the midwife.

I am genuinely in awe of those of you still at work, how the hell are you managing to get out of bed in the mornings?!

I do need to get my bloody maternity allowance stuff sorted though... Should probably ring them in the morning to see if they can send me forms because I don't have a printer :/ I've managed to find some pay slips from right at the beginning of my 66 weeks for MA that are higher than the rest so I'm going to see if I can use those to boost the amount of money I get (by like £2 or something equally rubbish)

Pretty sure this baby is where it's meant to be today, It feels suspiciously like I have heels grinding along my insides from my belly button to the top of my uterus gag

Tout - I wouldn't worry about asking things that have moved on, I think we'll all be happy to help if we can!

Tout I wonder if the pain is your rib cage expanding - as your lungs will be getting more squashed by uterus pushing up. Please ask a midwife or someone who can see you though if it's bad and you're worried!

RL you've reminded me I need to chase up my maternity allowance too. Posted the forms off 17 days ago so not sure how long to leave it. Could they tell you if you would definitely get it etc?

Sorry smogs don't mean to go on just keeping myself sane! Will see what they say about my bloods tomorrow.

Annoyed at the moment as DH is building the snuzpod and one of the parts is faulty - holes in the wrong place so can't attach one of the sides! Email drafted to send along with pictures attached - saying I need it replacing ASAP considering I've waited 5 weeks for it to come in the first place

I have pain just below my breast bone in that little triangle where your ribs separate and your stomach lives. That whole area is achy

Trying to convince DH that I need dominos for tea. He says he's not hungry but I am.

Boo I still have five weeks left at work! Managing fine at the moment but would much rather stay in bed than get up each morning.

Having been told baby is now head down I reckon he is currently back to back as I am still feeling movements low down below my belly button and from reading up on foetal positioning that is likely to be hands of a posterior baby. I am now on a mission to stop slouching and stick to forward leaning positions to get baby the right way round.

Going to order The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding tonight - thanks for the recommendation.

Boo there is one pregnant lady at my work (but in a different location) who says she is working till 39w I said "are you mad?!". She is a bit of a workaholic to be honest. I actually thought I might be a wimp to go off at 35w!!