Due Jan '07 part 7: Are you ready to do drugs, poo yourself in public and bear your fanjo to complete strangers? Then you're ready to have a baby!

[2HappyNewYear]

This one seems to be the winner, and I can't seem to come up with anything more inventive, sorry!

2Happy - I have exactly two pieces of my Toblerone left in the cupboard and am starting to panic about them running out!!! Only thing keeping me sane is chocolate.

You made me lol about your mother as I wrote a similar thing about my FIL ringing every bloody afternoon when I am asleep!!!! Why don't people think??

Sorry that you are feeling poorly, DH just informed me that it is supposed to be -12c sometime next week so maybe the LO's should stay where they are, nice and warm (actually scrap that, not what I am hoping for AT ALL)

Lizzz - totally agree about people asking 'Have you not had that baby yet...??' - erm yes, it popped out three weeks ago, I forgot to tell you but decided to keep a football stuck up my top for the hell of it to fool you all

LTH - how's the nipples???????

-12C?! Just as well dh brought home 2 toblerones just in case we get snowed in then! Oh God, there's another thing to panic about, being snowed in...
And talking of panic, no nonyummymummy (welcome BTW) you're definitely not alone worrying about the first 3 months - ds was 3m when he slept through, am soooo hoping this one will be as good since I've had insomnia the whole way through this pg. By the time this baby arrives I will have had a massive 4m off bfing, and whilst I want to bf this one too, the temptaion to ff and sleep is overwhelming.

My nipps are fine today wilkie. No sneeky little bugger clamping them anyway.

LOLOL...I bet you wouldn't ask me that face to face, would you??

LTH - I really would, have no boundaries I'm afraid as my friends keep telling me

hehehehe...me neither.

Hello - not been on for a while but huge congrats to all those who have given birth so far - very exciting. I swing from desperately wanting to have this baby born and not feeling at all ready! Althouhg got my birthing pool yesterday and its all pumped up in the kitchen and ready to go and finally got to boots and hired a tens machine but not sure it working properly so it may have to go back which is a pain. I left work on Dec. 29th and like you Wilkie got given bugger all and was barely wished well as hardly anyone was in the office. I'm expecting something good after this little one is born or else I'll be doing some serious moaning!! Been nesting for a while now but as fast as I wash sofa cover and clean floor my DD who is 2.5 is behind me messing everything up! Hubby and I have been doing DIY most of today though which included wallpaper stripping so I intend to get my feet up on the sofa next week and watch lots of daytime telly whilst DD is at the childminders. My baby isn't engaged yet but don't think it ever engaged when I was having dd1 until I went into labour. Am far more scared this time than last time as last time was in denial most of the labour whereas this time i'll know whats coming! Good luck to all those due in the next few days and those being induced - all exciting times ahead from now on!

LTH - spotted a kindred spirit a mile off

Becks - aren't they miserable w*nkers! I don't think anything will arrive when LO does - they just aren't like that. I am more likely to get something from one of our suppliers who I get on well with TBH.

becks, thought I was the only one on here that isn't desperate for this baby to come out!!

Feeling quite scared about the whole thing now. It's not really the labour that is scaring me, it's the fact that I'll be responsible for a new life. Don't know how I'll cope with no sleep and don't have a clue what I'm doing.

Doesn't help that there is so much conflicting advice around. Have been given a copy of the unmentionable book and another one which advocates carrying the baby around in a sling 24/7!!! Aaargh!!!

trixy, the hairs on the back of my neck jst stood up at the mere thought of the unmentionable.

I can't say what I want to say but I'm almost a mum of 4 and have never needed/wanted/used any book.

God....I'm really really biting my tongue here.

Oh yes the conflicting advice!!

I too had the unmentionable book and a complete hippy one. I found it really useful to have books that covered 2 oppositite parenting styles and we then found the middle ground that suited us. Be warned though - the moment you think you've got it sussed the little darlings change again! You'll be fine - once you've got the little bundle, there is n't much time to think about the enormity of it all!! I do remember dh and I looking at ds in the moses basket after we returned from hospital and saying "shit - what do we do now" and pissing ourselves!

PS Be warned - Mums & MIL can get a really bad case of false memory syndrome when it comes to child development - when we were little, apparently we slept through earlier, slept more in the day, sat up, crawled and walked earlier, were eating roast dinners at 4 months - all whilst using terry nappies and a twin tub!

Oh yes and don't even contemplate discussing potty training with the older generation!

LTH - Yes I too am biting my tongue.

Let's suffice to say that the unmeintionable book became well used as a doorstop!

Don't worry LTH, I have an inkling about what you would like to say!!!

I have no intention of following any book to the letter.

I know it's going to be hard, but I'm hoping that my own instincts and getting a broad spectrum of opinions from Mumsnet if I have any problems will keep me right.

Have already been warned about HVs as well and to take any advice no matter how well meant with a pinch of salt and make up my own mind.

Actaully, the mumsnet books are good. na d they're funny too.

I had both(and was quoted in one) and gave them to my firned when she had her 1st.

I'll let you buy the MN books.

hee hee, that's very kind of you LTH .

I know that I'll get by as most people do. I'm just not sure I'll be that great a Mum.

I'm sure it's only natural to feel like this as well. Doesn't stop me feeling a bit apprehensive about it all!

Hi everyone - so exciting as all the babies are starting to arrive! Congrats UD - sound as though you had a tough time!
I am half wishing this baby comes early (3 weeks to EDD) but half not...all I can say as a mum of 2 is that they are much easier to look after on the inside! I had such a trouble-free labour last time I am convinced I cannot be so lucky this time and am starting to think the worst!
My mind is also boggling about looking after 3. I was talking to my sister today about holidays and how DH and I could manage taking 3 to a theme park - how could we take the older 2 on the rides? I was beginning to think it couldn't be done with baby in tow but then the voice of reason piped up , my DS2 who is 2 and a half, who said: "We can take it in turns Mummy." Genius! I'll be glad to ditch this pregnancy brain...but will be post natal one be any better...?

Imminent sweary post alert!

Fuck me I don't know how much more of this I can take.
Got 2 and 1/4 hrs sleep thursday night, was awake from 2am last night, and tonight I've managed the fantastic total of 1 and 1/2 hours sleep.
Why can't I sleep.
I think I'm going to go mad.

I'm the same as you 2Happy.

Am completely immobile due to SPD at the moment and I just don't sleep - glad I'm having a CS coz I think I'd be too exhausted to cope with labour.

I usually go to sleep at around 6am and wake up at 7am - that's the most I can hope for. I try to sleep during the day, but with the pain, it's just impossible at times - complete nightmare

Oh crap, Harry, I am a self-pitying whinge. I may have insomnia, but at least I'm not in agony. SPD must just be the pits

It's not a barrel of laughs by any means!

I do sympathise with you though - at least I have a reason as to why I can't sleep! It must be really frustrating not sleeping just because you are pregnant IYKWIM!

I'm surprised there's anyone online at this time of night. If you look at the majority of my posts, they're all at stupid'o'clock in the morning, and then I have to wait until the following day until anyone replies!

How long have you got left to go?

2 weeks today! But ds was 14 days over, so I'm not going to be surprised if nothing happens for a bit. Don't think I'd argue with an early induction date though!
Am I right you're seeing consultant tomorrow - when are you hoping they'll book you for? ASAP I guess!

It's so nice to think that I'm seeing my Consultant "tomorrow"!! The last week seems to have dragged on for ages. I'm hoping that he'll book me in for the end of the week or beginning of next week at the latest. If he doesn't, I fully intend to put my wheelchair brake on and refuse to move out of his office - and I'm not joking!

Heehee, or threaten to insert read hot knife in his pelvic girdle to let him know how it feels! So this time next week you could already have your baby, fab! Do you know how quickly the pain should disappear afterwards?

red hot knife. Where did that a come from??