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

[GrouchyKiwi]

Here's the next thread!

Congrats army! Enjoy all the snuggles with your ds.
Good luck pearly, try and get some rest! You won't be able to eat if you're on the drip so take some lucozade. I found rotating my hips helped with the contractions (was on the bed) and mention it early on if you want the option of am epidural.

Quick show of hands...to sweep or not to sweep? I have the option when I see midwife on Thursday but unsure what to do and need to decide in advance so I can arrange someone to look after DS. I had 2 with DS and I don't think they helped but he was a stubborn things who didn't want to be born. Will be 39+6 on Thursday.

Have a restful day, Pearly.

ODog: I'd say Yes to sweep if you're having decent niggles etc, but No otherwise.

I had one the afternoon before my due date with DD2 after two weeks of latent labour and DD2 was born at 7:30am the next day.

Good to hear thoughts about sweep/no sweep - I can have one on Monday (when I'll be 40+4) is nothing's happened by then but I don't think I've even had a hint of a niggle so far - I would know if I had, right??!
I have just spent the last 3 hours working on my tax return so now I'm a bit thinking about money for next year....glad to have got it done (although i don't trust myself so won't submit it yet!) but it's a bit of a horrific way to spend a sunny morning, not quite sure what I was thinking!!

You'd probably know about niggles, cant. But there is apparently something called Silent Labour (I think!).

Feeling distinctly unwell this afternoon. Suspect it's the extra food catching up with me.

ODog my sweeps didn't help until I had other symptoms and niggles....

Have just found out my growth scan is on Thursday afternoon. So that's exciting.

Officially full term today (37 weeks). My Mum arrives in about 10 days. I want the baby out now (so fed up of being pregnant and sore), but also want her here.

A bit longer grouchy.... a bit longer but I feel the same as you most of the time....

What sort of bag are you using for the hospital? I can't choose...

I've got a small suitcase packed for baby and me, and have left a small backpack for DH to sort for him. But I need to sort a big handbag for me with things like a book of crosswords, kindle, wallet, cameras, and my knitting. So that's a last minute job.

That said, I'm planning a homebirth so hopefully won't need to use it. And I've had to pack it carefully so things I need for the homebirth are accessible on top.

I've got a hold-all type thing. I feel like I've forgotten a lot, but the hospital is about 200m away from a huge 24h tesco, so I can just send DH out for anything I need!

I feel the same grouchy, I'm so ready to not be pregnant any more! DH would like to be on paternity on the 26th as he wants to get out of something at work so he's requested that baby comes after the 12th.

Is anyone a Star Wars fan? I'm really not, and DH thinks it will be hilarious if baby is born on the 4th of May. He's asked if we can call him Luke if he is!

I love Star Wars. But you're right; I don't want my baby to be born tomorrow after all or DH will probably insist on calling her Leia.

We've already got a name change in place in case the baby is born on my Oma's birthday (20 May). She'd then be called Adriana.

I've just realised I forgot to put knickers in my hospital bag! Should probably do something about that.

Gaaaaahhhhh the other mum in my NCT group who I was sure would be hanging on to the end (with me!) had her baby early this morning! And DP will be back from work soon as I still haven't left the bloody house today (or found a nursery...) though I have done some productive stuff at home (tax return though I wish I didn't know how much I owe because it's freaking me out, sorting out some cupboards, put some kitchen units on eBay...) but I'm not feeling like I've had a particularly great day today...
My hospital bag is quiet massive! And still doesn't quite have everything in it, there's a long list of things to add "on the day"!

Earlier in the pregnancy I remember thinking I wouldn't want the baby to be born on May 4th. I think I'd take it now though! Would just have to grit my teeth through all the 'may the fourth be with you' jokes...every year.

I might ask for a sweep at my 40w appointment next week. Odd question for ladies who've had them before - are they in any way useful for preparing you for labour?? Or is it just a completely different feeling? I just wondered because a couple of years ago I remember someone I knew had one and said it was a good chance to practice her hypnobirthing breathing?!

We already have a Leah, which is close enough to Leia that I ruled out Luke from the start! DH has been in the army for 15 years and moves to a new unit every 2-4 years, so there were a lot of boys names he ruled out due to negative associations.

Hello..just dropping in after a long break (mainly using the FB group instead!) Congratulations to those that have had their babies already!! So jealous I'm die tomorrow.. ironic considering my username. If it was a boy I'd call him Harrison . Would quite happily get the baby out ASAP. Sore and fed up!

Obviously typo.. I'm due tomorrow.. not die!

Will be interested to hear what a sweep is like too. Will be having one at my next appointment on Monday when I'll be 41+1 (proving baby doesn't turn out to be breech after the presentation scan on Friday!) I'm imagining it to be similar to a smear test but don't know if I'm being naive!

This is full of TMI:

How a sweep feels depends on quite a few things - like the position of your cervix. I found it incredibly uncomfortable because my cervix sits in a slightly hard to find place (the nurse always has trouble during smears), and it was very short and closed. I actually cried but didn't in labour. It's a completely different kind of pain.

I guess it would be useful for practising your breathing because you really need to relax, and having someone's hand inside your vagina, and their finger sweeping around your cervix is much worse than a cervical smear.

I'll have one again if I go past the due date, or have another two-week latent labour, but only one. Don't think I could do it twice in a short time. The nearly two-year gap since I last had one is long enough to fool myself that it's not as bad as I remember.

BTW: the MW was fairly confident she wouldn't have to do it again because she got a fair amount of my mucus plug out when she did it. So if you have one and see the plug then feel happy!

Thanks grouchy that's really helpful. No such thing as TMI at this stage in the game!

Good luck storm, maybe you'll be one if those people who gives birth on their due date! Someone has to!

cant does that make you the last one left from your nct crowd?

I had a sweep last time at 40+2 and as i was already dilating and very soft it wasn't that bad and my whole plug fell out. It just made me wince!

Here they don't give them 2nd time around until 41 weeks..: I'm desperate for one... I just want this baby out

Had reflexology today and acupuncture coming up tomorrow. I was joking with DH that we already have a Luke so maybe this one is waiting to come til tomorrow!

Anyone watching in the club tonight?

The different kinds of care that you get in different areas is so baffling. Surely there's some kind of standard they should follow? I wonder what reasoning each area has.

Sweeps are uncomfortable and a little painful but nothing unbearable. If it's awful just say stop. It does help to relax but it's a few moments of mind over matter and staying calm and collected! Let's face it, it's never easy to relax with someone guddling around at your cervix. I'd say go for it. But then again, I had two and they did nothing for me as DS was induced after two full weeks. I'd take them again this time in the hope my body might recognise and respond appropriately!

I'd love a 4th May baby, the jokes tickle me and YY to Harrison, subtle, I love it!!

Library, soft play and garden galavanting for me and DS today. He's now fast asleep with minimal bedtime fuss so I'm a happy mummy today! Toddlers have sooooooo much energy, I feel like you have to just absolutely burn them out to get them to sleep well.

I agree Grouchy. My friend was speaking about a massage on her legs and feet and I thought that sounds brilliant but no sign of being offered anything here...... Will ask at next appt do you think they'd throw in a spa lunch with bubbly?

She is sure that it set her off - the bit above the ankle apparently - it works like magic if you know what you're doing.

Ice capped that's what they use in reflexology and is why I'm trying it :)