March 2016 Babies #9 - we're on the final countdown!!

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Thread 9!!

I'm hoping mine's close to my due date too scared. I'm due on the 10th, I don't really want it to come in February (definitely not the 29th!) as I'm selfishly looking forward to two and a half weeks to myself after I finish work, I need it really, it's what's been keeping me going! And if I go two weeks over that's the 24th and is Easter pretty much which could be quite inconvenient for lots of reasons, not least because my in-laws will be looking after ds while I'm in labour and they're in a church choir, and Easter is a busy time for that.

Three more weeks at work for me, but I do four day weeks so it's just twelve days. Eek!

Everything is seeming so real now isn't it.
Hard to believe theirs a real baby in their still. Not long now even though time seems to be dragging for me. Since 28 weeks it seems To off really slowed down

Suz, thanks for the reminder, I need to sort something out for DS and actually ask my friend to have him!.

Ooh, MrsElls that's interesting. I've had the 'dampness' and had one bit of cramp this morning (felt like trapped wind, but wrong place), but regular pains is... interesting (34 weeks is probably a bit early to be properly excited)

Oh, neh, I hope you took the hint from the universe and went home to bed. You're ill, got and rest!

Ah, Scared, you've had a particularly difficult pregnancy. All pregnancies are different - my last one was torture from start to finish, this one's been positively enjoyable! Don't rule out another just yet!

Fab news ffaux!

I was in the Sunday CSC last night - fell asleep and then immediately woke up. Started to have the late-night anxiety - about OFSTED, about death in childbirth, all sorts of irrational crap. I read my book and calmed down, fortunately! Need to get Ina May Gaskin out to reassure me!

Belly seems huge today. Childminder commented on it so not just my imagination. It's been low all along and is now filling in at the top.

51 days left for me. If I go 2 weeks overdue it'll be 4th April - when DH is an usher at his best mate's wedding!
Bonus with that though is that it's up near DM's house and she'll be having DS. But still, I'd rather have this one about 38 weeks at home!

Need to try to mark 10 books tonight and get to bed.

OMG a baby next month! That's scarily close.

Had my 34 week midwife appt today (measuring 36!). She thinks ELCS would be the right choice for me so now just have to hope the consultant agrees next week. It would most likely be at 39 weeks so should be before my 10th March due date.

I've packed my hospital bags but now might have to reassess (and add more things in!) based on the above. I think I'll do top up bags for DP to bring in so I have fresh clothes etc.

Think will have to start mat leave earlier too as I still have 4.5 weeks left!

Scared I use a panty liner every day and have done for a while.

Ffaux great news on the scan.

Phew, friend's just dropped out car seat off and has wonderfully agreed to have DS at short notice. Need to pack him a bag too now!

Is anyone doing the presents for older siblings thing? Not sure if it's necessary or something I saw on TV a few years ago. I'm not sure DS would need a present. Maybe a 'big brother' t shirt or something?

I think they get a little left out sometimes , indom . When my sis had her baby last year I was babysitting my little niece for her and got her a little jigsaw to play with whilst we were all cooing over the newborn in hospital. Gave her something to do although neither her not my sis expected anything , obviously
Damp knickers here too. Feel like I'm rotting down there ugh!

I was going to get something for ds indomitable, no idea what though. Something he can do quietly perhaps, like... fuzzy felt.

Shiiiiiiiit a baby next month! Hadn't thought of it that way. Guess it may be early April if I go overdue.

I was well and truly in CSC last night. I worked from home today, so spent my lunch break snoozing! Been having lots of braxton hicks today for some reason. Lots of dampness and discharge too, nice!

indom we're doing the present from the baby thing. DD is only 2, so easily swayed by such things. Think we're going to get her some more Thomas brio toys.

Gotta go. Said DD currently having a shit fit and refusing to sleep...

DH has calmed her down, phew!

Is anyone else starting to get bloody scared of birth?! Am starting to feel quite anxious about it. May download a hypnobirthing podcast and see if that helps. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Indom we did presents last time and will this. Things like colouring books, board games, fuzzy felt etc that keep Dc happy and busy! Particularly useful if you are in hospital a few nights and they come and visit (did 5 nights on ward after DS ). This time, I think we will replace the single swing set in the garden to a double so that DD and DS can have fun outside if I can't take them to the park while I recover from section. We already have a sandpit and climbing frame so I can just leave them out there all day

Thanks for the ideas.

Think we better get him something special. A leap pad game or hotwheels or something. Or maybe the baby equivalent of an Xmas eve box: a 'big brother' t shirt, a snack to share on his sleepover, maybe a DVD, and a toy. And maybe DH can get a little teddy or something for him to give the baby. Something special from a big brother? Or am I getting carried away now?!

crispy yes I'm totally pooping myself now! Last time was relatively hideous and I've been promised by all and sundry this time will be a breeze! We'll see! 35 wks on Friday. Being induced 4th March. Rhubarb think our dates may be the same. I have 3 weeks left at work and am so over it already! Luckily can work from home a fair bit due to the bloody broken foot! Planning to get DS1 a Wow truck from him new little bro. Will unwrap it and put it in the cot as they are like bloody Fort Knox to get in to and even he has lost interest usually by the time I've untwisted all those irritating little wires!

I've heard a present from the baby is a fail safe way of avoiding jealousy so we have got a digger toy in the sales for ds, I just think if we didn't do it and then he was jealous we would always wonder if it could have been easily avoided. If it works it will be £20 well spent!

Oh good point Lucky! Mentally (if not physically) packing scissors in hospital bag for toy unpacking!

Wow I really admire you lot doing this with other kids to think about as well, I just can't imagine!! Sounds like you have some great ideas though.

I'm worrying a lot about childbirth too, not so much the pain (though that too!) but just about things going wrong and being out of control, as every birth story you hear seems to have some point where things get hairy, and I know I will panic. I keep coming across tragic stories and stupidly reading them, then bawling my eyes out at the thought. I sometimes feel weird even accepting gifts or throwing away amazon boxes for baby stuff - everyone talks about our baby being here with such certainty but I just can't share that feeling all the time. God sorry that's an awful thing to bring up on here. Hope it's just FTM nerves that I can get under control, as I am prone to anxiety

I've started the Ina may book, though it is a bit out there (snogging your DH during contractions for an orgasmic birth? Or rubbing your naked breasts against the doula's naked breasts? ) But I think some of it will be helpful.

Would love to hear your positive experiences!! Or at least to know how you coped if things did get a bit hairy!

I felt about about what I wrote in that last post, so found this thread which seems super helpful, all about positive birth stories and the many different ways they can be positive (ie even with interventions or emcs)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/2469010-positive-birth-stories-please?dod=1

Not got to think about presents for older siblings here (first child for me and stepchildren in their 20s). But do plan doggy presents to ease tge introduction of a new family member.

Work a nightmare right now, could cheerfuly strangle any number of colleagues, but only 12 days to go so I'll no doubt weather it. Really hoping I am not early and get my planned 2 weeks of maternity leave pre birth as I have a lot of sleep to catch up on and freezer stocking to do.

I'm the same ffaux, can't fully let myself get into it until the baby is safely here. I don't know why, I was the same last time too!

I did have a lovely birth with ds though, hoping for the same again!

snogging your DH during contractions for an orgasmic birth? Or rubbing your naked breasts against the doula's naked breasts

I might be waaaaay off the mark here, but I'm not sure snogging DH will help with contractions, and I'm not sure what an orgasmic birth is (too scared to Google)

My mum is being my "doula" and I ain't rubbing my norks against hers....and DH would need brain bleach after seeing that!

We'll you've cheered me up this morning after a night in the CSC

On the topic of positive birth stories, I was thinking of trying to find my birth story on here from dd2 (hadn't found mumsnet with dd1). Anyone know how to search using the app?

I HATE MY STUPID DOCTORS SURGERY.

I sat on the phone for over 20 minutes this morning, rang in the moment they opened at 8. It puts you on hold and after 5 minutes it cuts you off saying that they are too busy and try again later. By the time I finally go through at 8.20am, all the appointments had gone for the day and no, they won't let me book an advance one, I will just have to try again tomorrow. I can't try again tomorrow as I'm going to a funeral, and I really can't go Thursday either as I am giving a seminar at work to over 100 people. Why do they have to have such a stupid system of only allowing same day appointments?!? Who does it benefit? I would love it if someone could answer these questions for me.

And the stupid hormones mean that any time I get annoyed about something I just want to cry. So I'm sitting at my desk at work trying not to.

I might have a read of the positive birth stories later to see if that can cheer me up.

Babies due next month?!! How did that happen?! Feeling very close now.

indom I did take the hint from the universe and go home yesterday.

missi thanks so much for your hen do advice and yes it'll be lovely to have other babies joining Zach soon :)

Me so sorry you weren't able to get your appointment. My doctors surgery is exactly the same. I took.to marching down there at 8 am one morning to try and get an appointment but turns out the doors don't open until 8.30 am. Do they have an online book ing system at all? Or are you able to speak with your midwife on the phone about it? She might be able to pull some strings.

Whoever said about temp midwife booking appointment for 36 weeks instead of 34 - same thing happened to me and now I also have a crappy appointment time too!

ffaux so glad you said all of the above as I've been feeling exactly the same. DH keeps trying to reassure me that the chances of things going wrong are low but I think a lot of it is fear of the unknown! Thanks for sharing positive stories, going to have a read through them.

Morning All! hope we are well!

anybody else suffering with horrendous night sweats? Woke up this morning disgustingly damp, between and under boobs and between my thighs - vile!

at work now (all showered don't worry) and feel so heavy and tired today too, can hardly walk - definitely become much more of a waddle, and feel like I'm going to fall asleep at my desk. Lots of wakey ups for wees so scared I'm really feeling your pain now. Not long for us all though.

35 weeks tomorrow

Ugh. Wish I could go home and crawl back into bed today. Not at all happy about being at work. Only today plus 3 more mornings to go. Woke up a bit wet down there and it looks like I've lost a big chunk of plug. Not bloody show thank goodness - I'm only 35+3, certainly not ready yet!

Sorry to hear about all the crap sleeping, stupid GP appointment systems, waddling, restless legs, night sweats, oh god, we are definitely into the last lap, aren't we?

Thanks neh and MShip for the sympathy! I know it is my stupid hormones making me irrationally annoyed about relatively minor things! I have now booked an appointment online for a week on Thursday (they allow pre-booking of a very small number of evening appointments usually around 2 weeks in advance). Not ideal as the midwife said I should see the GP as soon as possible and before my 36 week appointment with her which is next Wednesday but I really can't be dealing with the stress of having to try and ring up every morning! I don't feel particularly bad so it can wait.

Q I've been getting seriously sweaty at night too. I have worn short summer pyjamas the last few nights which is mad as it's quite cold here at the moment and DH, who normally prefers to sleep naked, has been wearing PJ bottoms! It's like we've swapped!