Feb 2016 Babies: The One Where the Babies Start Arriving!

[clarabellski]

OK, OK, so we already had a couple of babies on the last thread, but we're going to struggle to keep up with the number of new arrivals in this one!!!

Stats:

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dWmvdD9SkvPQqKn7rpFHazgufmda2FOTMtL093cZFj8/htmlview

isla that sounds horrid glad all is well now :)

35 weeks today and should really think about packing a bag, just all feels ages away still yet

rufus I had a cold a few weeks ago and couldn't really find anything. 4 drops olbas oil in a bowl of steamy water was my best friend. You can use some nasal decongestants for less than 7 days - I'd get from a supermarket (mainly cos I get irritated by talking to pharmacists!l

But aching wise you've got paracetamol and I guess deep heat or deep freeze type rubs. It is thoroughly miserable

Though to be honest at this stage you could risk a hot toddy if totally desperate

Rufus I'm just getting over the cold, most horrendous blocked nose Iv ever experienced! Apart from paracetamol and steaming Vicks sat on a table next to me, I over dosed on fruit.. Apples, oranges, pineapple, mango.. Smoothied, chopped, with yogurt. Think it's all I ate all week! And found that washing my face with cold water broke up my congested nose and allowed me to blow my nose!

Not much help at all, especially if your in a lot of pain, but the cold water thing definitely helped!

Hello! Drinking a mug of raspberry leaf tea, thinking how odd it will be tonight not to have the Sunday evening feeling... No work for me tomorrow!

Baby has been feeling a lot heavier the past couple of days - rolling over in bed has been more difficult, and I'm conscious I'm carrying what's probably around seven pounds of baby with me. After only gaining 7lbs all pregnancy, when I was weighed this week I'd gone up 3lbs in a fortnight... Hoping that's not all the baby! Lots of movement, and he's kicking back when the cats give me a prod.

All baby stuff is now washed and dried, ready to be folded up and put away. I'd already done a couple of loads but now sorted out the gifts i'd been bought and everything's ready now. The crib's all put together and I've got all the sheets clean so might make it up in advance.

I've decided baby can come any time from Wedneday this week. I've got the last delivery, the pram, coming on Tuesday, and I've got plans tomorrow. From Wednesday it's all clear and that will only be 10 days early. I'm just about ready for this!

38+1! Baby is definitely coming in less than four weeks now!

isla that sounds awful glad you are feeling better now though.

rufus keep steaming and baths for any aches and pains. Honey and lemon for sore throats, my dd likes it with freshly squeezed orange in it for added vitamin c.

Went to look round the hospital yesterday and had a mini melt down afterwards, I hate hospitals! Don't think they will let me have the active birth suite either because I am not overly keen on having a water birth and I don't know if consultant will let me have one anyway. Not seeing the consultant until 40weeks and they won't let me have a water birth without her permission. Does anyone know of any good pregnancy friendly massage oils that my dh could rub on my back while I am in labour as I think a lot of the panic comes from the smell of the hospital?

Crikey Isla, glad you're feeling better! Gorgeous baby pictures, still can't quite believe I'll be adding to them in (hopefully) 1.5-5.5 weeks...

Clumsy, our NCT lady suggested lavender oil. Spose you're not allowed scented candles or anything...

Thanks monkerina I was thinking I had to be careful with lavender oil because of being pregnant but when I'm in labour I'm not going to be pregnant for much longer am I

Hello, I haven't posted in ages, although I've been posting on the FB group. I kept trying to catch up with the threads but never quite managed it until now. I'm 36+2 today, feeling huge and exhausted.

Having a cold is grim at the best of times, but when pregnant is grim. I had paracetemol when needed, and just honked away. Took my pregnancy multivits religiously as well.

Went and got a few more bits and bobs for the baby, on the grounds that a hospital bag is now a necessity. Newborn nappies, breast pads, the newborn bottles/teats, etc. Also got an isofix base for the car seat.

I'm the same handbag, my hips have really started giving me gyp in bed, and I can't get my shoes on properly!!

There is clary sage for labour (but it's not to everyone's taste). Something like vanilla (sweet) or a sharp citrus might over power the hospital smell. Or go for something to remind you of something else (coconut - holidays?).

trying the TENs out tonight. Strangely I quite like it. I am definitely getting increasingly odd

Hospital smells are difficult - I don't notice them but DH does. Sometimes adding a smell can just make it even more horrible or put you off that smell forever.

If you are going for massage oils I would just pick something that you like, regardless or specific smells?

Also if hospital smells are a problem then maybe your own duvet, a teeshirt of your OH that smells of him, pillows etc may help you feel more at home and less alien.

rufus crushed garlic on a spoon of honey (don't chew, just swallow!) gives a massive immune boost and tends to clear the worst of my colds in a couple of days. Plus streaming, lots of warm fluids and sleep.

I've heard with essential oils to put a bit on a flannel that you can waft in front of your face and take away if you don't like it. Clary sage is said to bring on labour, but my (nhs midwife) hypnobirthing practitioner actively didn't recommend it, although I don't know why...

Hi little!

More practice surges yesterday... Such a tease!

Rufus, hope one of the remedies you've been advised works and knocks any sickness on the head super quick! Am worried DS's cold that Granny kindly gave him has caught up with me now! Awake with headache/blocked sinuses since 2.30am, then was just dropping off on the sofa at about 6 (last chance to grab an hour) when the sodding cat pukes up!!

Sleep is so over rated anyway... Lol!!

Just spent a while catching up.

I used to post a while back then kept in touch via fb page but thought I'd pop back to see all the birth announcements!

I'm 37+4 today and it's one week til ELCS(t1 diabetes). Having pre op today and second dose of steroid injection. Had first yesterday and it wasn't nearly as awful as I'd expected.

My poor two year old appears to be teething with big back molars, therefore giving me some sleepless night practice!

Hi everyone. I'm 39+5 today so officially the most pregnant I've ever been.

The other DC came at 39+1 and 39+4.

I've no right to complain as not even overdue yet but god, I'm so fed up.

Feeling your pain Maisy. My other two were bang on and both quick labours so i am going to be very disgruntled if I either go overdue or have a long labour as I'm just not mentally prepared for that!

Another one full of cold here, 37+1, feeling generally rubbish and wondering why the hell I'm not on maternity leave yet. Still feels too early to give up work but with this cold I'm reconsidering!

Maisie sorry

Just checking in. Another one feeling huge, achey (my legs and feet feel 1,000 years old) and full of cold. Going to hide in the house today. I'm 37+3 and can't imagine still being at work troika you've got more stamina than me!

Home birth assessment today and kit being dropped off! After that baby can come.

Anyone on the raspberry leaf tea yet?

38 weeks today! Most I've been pregnant, quite chuffed! On and of contractions since Thursday, even though they're leaving me achy I'm enjoying the extra time with my daughter before baby arrives .

How's everyone doing?

xing I am on the raspberry leaf tea! Did lots of reading up - no evidence since one small study in the 1950s that it brings on labour, and inconclusive evidence over the past 20 years that it might make labour shorter/reduce the need for interventions. But it tastes pretty good and is not too expensive and it's caffeine free so I've been on it just over a week, 3-4 cups a day. It takes a few weeks to build up in your system though.

38 weeks today. Busy-ish week of appointments ahead. Midwife tomorrow, c section pre op on Wednesday and growth scan on Thursday.

Hope everyone's ok and we get more babies this week x

I'm in full on nesting mode still here. I have completely spring cleaned the house. Every room. So many niggly jobs. Left to do: sand kitchen steps and varnish then (as they're a bit tired) DH has banned me from this job so I am glaring at them today. I've arranged the changing area several times, then put it all away again so it doesn't get dusty! Other jobs are: address announcement envelopes, sort valentines day present for DH (sewing) and more knitting. Any suggestions for more as I think there's 3 - 4 weeks and only so much hoovering can be done?
Any really obscure job suggestions?

Thanks for all the tips. Cold is getting worse. I thought my mum had the same thing as DH and I but no she had to pick up full blown flu and spent all of yesterday collapsing on her own. I'm the only person she could call and there was absolutely nothing I could do as I can't go near her. Why did this have to happen this week, why couldn't we all of got sick a few weeks ago when it wouldn't have mattered! Sod's law strikes again! Not having my mum at the hospital will be nearly as bad as if DH wasn't there but I can't let her near me when she is infectious.

Got my check up tomorrow, Dr thought I was only 5-6 days away from labour last week so have made it past then. Just really need baby to stay in there until the 2nd, my planned c-section and then hopefully we will all be well by then. Not sure what I'm going to do if I'm told I need to stay in London tomorrow for an earlier c-section as there is no way I can go into my mum's germ infested house.

sighing - have you cleaned out the filters on your washing machine and dryer?