May 2016 babies - baby clothes, maternity leave and all the rest!

[GrouchyKiwi]

Here's the next thread!

29 not rude at all!!! I asked for another CS as I am 44 and going overdue is a big no no for me. I personally struggle more with natural births ( had 2 ...one very problematic and the other a nice birth but damaged my pelvic floor for a long long time). Because ds2 was born CS in 2013 they were happy for me to have another one (and I was relieved ) ...

Can I join. Expecting baby number three on the 23rd may after a long gap. My youngest is 7. Amazing how much you forget. Starting to get nervous now we are down to single figures. My husband sustpects baby will be early. Anyone else have a feeling they won't go to full term ?

Hi Notro. I had a weird dream (seriously weird) last night that my baby (also third, due 24 May) came 3 weeks early and I didn't notice she had been born!

I want this baby to come early. I'm tired of being sore, tired and grumpy.

Hello there! Is it too late to join? Expecting number two on 25 May with a 2.5yr old making this pregnancy much more tiring than the first!

Welcome badger and notro.

It's a lovely sunny day down in Essex and I have all the windows and doors open giving the house a good airing. Been so nice to get out to the park with DS this morning without hats and coats etc. made me thankful for a spring/summer baby. I can't imagine getting everyone all wrapped up for a nappy explosion to happen just to leave the house. DS was born in June so I had my shit together a very little bit before we needed to worry about being too cold. Must be a nightmare having an autumn/winter baby.

Hope everyone else is getting to enjoy a bit of sunshine.

DD1 was born on 1 March and thankfully wasn't a very poopy baby. I liked having a late Winter/early Spring baby because it meant I didn't feel I had to go out when the weather was rubbish. DD2 was born at the end of July and I liked that too as she got to sleep outside a lot, which is so good for them.

My ds was born in October and it was a freezing winter where it snowed for weeks on end! I was terrified pushing the pram in the ice. I also hated putting snowsuits on him when he was small, it always felt like I might accidentally break his arm.

Thanks ODog.
*
DD1 born in October here too and I must say that I'm looking forward to a summer baby* this time around. Dealing with poosplosions with multiple layers to remove was not fun in the winter - especially out and about.

Welcome badger.

I'm only 33 weeks. Why is this going so slowly?

Wrote a list of the things I need to do before the baby arrives. There are 20 things on the list and I'm still sure I'm forgetting some important things. You'd think I'd have it sorted now that this is baby #3.

Good morning all and happy Tuesday! I'm on the countdown at work - I finish next Wednesday and I think I have FINALLY started to chill out and realise that i am not going to solve all the problems throughout the entire organisation before I leave! - also, would it be really bad if I DON'T deal with some shitty issues with some of my team before I go, and leave my maternity cover to resolve them instead?! That's kind of what I've decided to do instead of make myself unpopular and have confirmations before I leave!
Anyway I'm tidying my office this morning and feeling sad as a friend of mine who I have shared pregnancy with minute-by-minute (when we both had v early losses this time last year then both got pregnant 1-2 cycles later) is being induced today - so I lose my closest pregnant friend!! Excited for her but realising that I'm going it alone for the last bit, IRL at least (thank heavens for MN!)

Glad you're feeling more positive about work cant :)

I feel like I've got everything sorted for baby, which probably means I've forgotten loads! Just want to meet him now.

DD was born in January, I'm worried about baby overheating this time! Probably shouldn't worry too much in the UK!

Hello to the new ladies!

Glad you are feeling better about work cant..... I finish next Friday.....it can't come quick enough! Had a couple of days off back in on Thursday, nice spending time with DS but I haven't stopped!! Think it's fair to say nesting well and truly kicked in yesterday! anyone else?

Thought I had got the last bits for my bag but forgot about the witch hazel! Will put that on my to do list for tomorrow 😆

DS was November 2010 when it was actually -14 degrees on Christmas morning....a cold winter! I liked wrapping him up in lots of layers but looking forward to a summer baby and having nice little chunky legs sticking out of rompers! (Although if he is anything like DS1 I shouldn't expect chunky legs!)

Smack some sense into me, please. I need to call the midwife to ask her to come here for my appointment on Thursday as I can't walk very far and have no-one to watch the children. But I'm putting it off because I don't want to be difficult.

Do it Grouchy! I doubt she'll mind at all, and you shouldn't be stressing yourself even worrying about it right now

Don't want to be a total thread downer, but I'm feeling really panicky and anxious today. Since our NCT course started a few weeks ago, I've worried more and more about birth, rather than feeling reassured / informed. Not the fault of NCT but probably because I was blissfully ignorant before. Stupid I know.

It's probably just the fear of the unknown making me feel so bad, that and the fact that none of my friends have had children yet, so I have nobody around me to ask for reassurance / their experiences. I'd normally talk to my mum but she is (rightly) preoccupied with my grandma who isn't well at the moment. Also my DH goes away tomorrow until Friday which makes me feel uneasy even though I'm only 33 + 2 and probably nothing will happen.

Tiffany I wouldn't listen to any bodies experiences etc as every birth and labour is different, even one person can have 2 completely different stories to tell (I'm hoping to be one of these people)....the only reassuring thing I can say is....we would all be an only child if it was that bad, people wouldn't go on to have any more children!

Not going to lie it does hurt, but there are drugs available lol and it's pain you can deal with because there's a baby coming! I seen a thread this morning talking about positive aforemations (think that's the right word )......for example....every contraction is a step closer to meeting my child....

Hope that helps!

On a different note......anyone drinking raspberry leaf tea or have done in previous pregnancies?

Tiffany I had a freak out after doing the NCT classes too and got myself terrified about labour, pain, feeding, crying, sleep deprivation etc.. None of my close friends have children either and I was having sleepless nights stressing about everything.

I've started listening to a Natal Hypnotherapy CD before I go to sleep which has really helped to calm me down and help me feel more positive about birth. It involves positive affirmations as well as positive visualisation of the birth experience, and believing in yourself and having the confidence to look after the baby afterwards. I'm still terrified but feeling a bit more relaxed and managing to sleep better which has improved my stressyness!

I had my 36 week appointment at the Birth Centre earlier and had the appointment in one of the birthing rooms which was lovely with the pool, mood lighting, en-suite and a patio leading to a sensory garden. I hope I'm able to give birth in there!

Baby is head down so no longer breech although not yet engaged at all.

I'm not drinking raspberry leaf tea yet Everything but might give it a go. One of my colleagues swears by it as she ended up having her baby early on the Sunday after only finishing for maternity leave on the Friday. I don't know how much of that was to do with the the tea though!

Freaking out is natural and I am doing it even with my third. However washing all the baby clothes and sorting out the babies room helps to stay excited - focus on positives. I remember that with my first, my cousin giving me the advice that it isn't the birth you need to worry about (either way it will be all over in a short period of time) it is the 18 years after where you need to parent a child and help them be a happy, health, kind and successful person. Luckily, there is time and support to help get that right!

I love being a mum and can't wait to hold a brand new baby.

Let's make a list of what you are most looking forward to after having your newborn - mine is the baby smell from their soft skin.

So many new people... hi everyone!

Tiffany I was freaking out too because in my job I only see all the deliveries which go wrong but a midwife gave me a stern talking to and reminded me that for every negative birth story there are loads of positive ones and that a lot of it is just down to luck, and she's right. It's hard to be calm and relaxed about it, but that's probably the best approach. Whoever suggested hypnobirthing definitely is giving sensible advice.

On the subject of hospital bags mine is about 1/3 packed. Having a bit of a freak out about needing to iron the nightie's I'm taking but my weird ironing board is too heavy for me to manage on my own so have been nagging DP. Not really sure what to take to wear home from hospital either.

I have really lost the will to work, just over 2 weeks left and I have become really apathetic to doing any of the extra stuff I usually do at work. I have loads of paperwork etc still to do before I leave but can't bring myself to do it.

I'm thinking of booking a 4D scan for Thursday because I've seen a special offer locally. Can someone please convince me that this is a massive waste of my money and that I should wait to see my lovely baby's face when he actually pops out?!

Freaking out is totally natural, Tiffany. I'm having moments of it too, and this is my third. army's advice is great.

Re what to wear when you leave hospital: not necessarily maternity clothes, but you'll still have a small bump and you'll possibly be a bit uncomfortable, so something like yoga pants or maternity leggings and a lightweight, loose top with a cardigan is what I'd suggest. (I think I slouched home in pyjamas last time...)

4D scan definitely a waste of time, Parsnip! I had to have extra scans with DD1 up to about 36 weeks (was measuring small but it was nothing) and in the later ones you didn't really see much. It's not long now!

Thanks so much all for the supportive replies. I know it will be fine and that it will seem like just a blip in the grand scheme of things once baby is here - It's just at the moment all I can focus on is the birth and worrying about what will happen. I need to redirect my thoughts to the nice things as PP have said! The main thing I am excited for is to pop baby in his first little clothes and smell his skin.

That hypno CD sounds like a good idea, I might have a search for an app so I can listen to it on headphones in bed and hopefully not keep DH awake.

Went straight from work to Tesco and bought the remaining bits of my hospital toiletry bag which made me feel more relaxed, just knowing that is organised has helped! Going to have a bath tonight and find that hypno app!

Parsnip I had one at 30 weeks and although we have a photo of his beautiful little face (biased?) It wasn't easy for the sonographer and they don't recommend after 34 weeks as it's all a bit squished in there!

My baby has decided to turn breech on me. Sunday night we actually saw it happen, saw her head press out of my belly on the way up. I'm about 10x more uncomfortable now, she seems to find my cervix a lot easier to kick than it was to punch... And now she punches my ribs at the same time! Charming child!

I've just got back from our 36wk scan and all was normal but agree with others that you really don't see much at all. she currently weighs about 5lb 8oz which I thought was loads but apparently is on the small side of average. Just looks like a lot of nothing really.

How annoying that baby has turned this late on sephi. Try googling spinning babies as they give some tips for turning them up the right way.

tiff as hard as it is, stressing about the birth is only going to make things harder. Take comfort from what the other ladies have said and really do try to relax. I think I had a brief spell of panic last time but I think in a few weeks you will probably just want baby out whatever it takes and the worry of labour goes away as you actually want it to happen.