July 2016 Babies (9) - let the babies commence!

[Ellizardo]

Nearly there folks.

Jem - congratulations! Lovely name - would have been on our list but there's a family name-clash. Glad there's a Jacob in our group!

Cookies - keeping fingers and legs crossed for you!

Beaut - sorry to hear that you're still unwell 😞 Hope you feel better soon.

Hopes - hope you're doing ok - thinking of you.

Dats & primary - likewise I feel as if baby has been getting lower in the last few days. He was 2/5 a week ago, so...

Speak - hope you're nicely settled back at home.

Becks - thanks for the advice re lots of maternity pads - really useful to know. Hope your little S is doing well.

Elliz - great that your baby has turned! I also had high protein levels (and high white blood cells I think?) last Monday (after a tiny bit of stinging sensation over the previous few days) but when they did further tests there was nothing. They reckon it was perhaps a mild infection but that the body managed to fight it before it developed further. Anyway, my point is that high protein level isn't always a problem - so definitely keep an eye on things but don't worry.

Thom - big hugs to you. Glad you and DH are talking about stuff. Do feel free to pour things out here too though, whenever you need to - that's what we're here for.

My DH has been v down about various things lately too, which has been pretty tough - and like you Thom, I've been trying to be the strong one. Much as I want to help him, it's exhausting, particularly when I've got plenty on my own plate anyway. Actually he's also been being a bit of a dick recently, which doesn't help, but we did some much needed air-clearing over the weekend, which I'm hoping has set things back on track. I had been feeling quite unsupported, and have been drawing huge strength from having you ladies here to share the journey with. So thank you all 😊

We (finally) bought our changing bag this afternoon. Got one that's plain black and very gender-neutral, so DH won't feel ridiculous carrying it. Which is important - for my sake! We also got some other stuff in the John Lewis clearance sale, including some babygros and a swaddling blanket. Hospital bag is mostly packed too. Am now feeling much more prepared for this baby 😊

Meanwhile Fifi's little one is a whole month old already - can't believe it!

36+5, and only five days left at work (although I have to say, I'm just starting to wonder if I'll miss it...?)

Jem - Congrats and welcome to baby Jacob!

Whoever wrote that they feel like they've been kicked in the foof, I empathize completely. My Clint Eastwood just off of a horse impression is getting better and better every day, according to DH.

36+4

beckslovestimmy wow I was a complete emotional wreck at day 3 you deserve a medal.

Morning Ladies. I am the grumpiest person alive. I have my mother and DH at home at the moment and I really moaned the house down today. The kitchen and the bathroom is in a state. I waited all weekend with the false promise that someone was going to clean (the whole thing about both of them saying they were going to help with the cooking and cleaning). Problem is some people are just really terrible at cleaning. I mean from dusting to wiping down. It was driving me mad that they just didn’t think it needed cleaning. So I elephanted about the house today cleaning and giving my DH an earful. In his defence he is so busy and is trying but my mother coming to stay has been taxing the last two weeks. She’s great at helping with the DD but terrible cook and horrible at domestics. I keep threatening to stop cooking for everyone but as I mentioned last week that just ends in processed ready meal food in the house. Wow… I can’t stop moaning 39+1

Gosh - what a lot to catch up on!

Congratulations Becks and Jem- Jacob is beautiful and if my OH wasn't called Sam, I'd so be picking that so hope you get your way becks! Well done both and so glad you and and the babies are all doing well.

Thom - sorry you're having a rough time and as the others have said you have no reason to feel guilty whatsoever. As long as you and the baby are both ok, that''s the main thing. So hard not being able to take her home though. I really feel for you. Glad you're feeling more positive now though x

Hopes - blimey you're having a stressful time of it! Hope you're ok out there.

Beaut - you feeling better now? Hope so.

dats - I'm not sure where the baby is! Sometimes I feel loads of pressure on the old foof and sometimes not.Getting punches in that region is an odd sensation though - that and sometimes it feels like he's wiggling his fingers down there which is super weird and probably should never ever be mentioned again! Also getting heartburn - particularly related to chocolate consumption over the last week….cake seems to be fine though so I'm surviving bravely.

Eliz - yay that baby has turned! Good baby! I had the opposite fear that ours had done a last minute manoeuvre in the middle of the night but midwife checked and all ok, phew. It did feel rather dramatic!

Referendum - partly why I've not posted - I can't believe it. I think we have some really uncertain times ahead. The business that DH works for relies on importing from France, Spain and Italy so we're really worried about his job going forward, especially since I won't be in work for a while once the baby's here. It doesn't help that now all the reasons that people seem to have voted to leave for are disappearing. I'm all for democracy but how can this result stand when it is based on a pack of lies??? The consequences are too dire.

Any way back to important stuff! Cookies - woweee - is your baby on the way?! How exciting! Sending love and luck to you x

Sure I've missed loads but got a bit of a false alarm on Friday with waters - turns out they hadn't gone but blooming well felt like it - was just ahem discharge apparently but I had to go in and have lovely examinations to double check. All a bit exciting really. They do like to keep us on our toes these babies!

38+2

photographer - if you can't moan at nine month pregnant then when can you moan?! You moan as much as you like! Also sounds like you've got good cause. You need to be putting your feet up so there needs to be some domestic chore delegation for sure. x

Julfin - glad you cleared the air a bit with DH - I think impending fatherhood can make them behave very strangely. I've heard lots of women experiencing OH dickish behaviour towards the end of pregnancy….good to talk it out though, well done you. Easier to get cross and have a big row which doesn't solve anything. Hope you're ok.

I'm still a bit too tired to read all in detail Luke is 5 days old today which sounds like loads in my head, last night was better in terms of sleeping I've found getting half in the side cot to breastfeed has helped him to pass out and I can remove myself and he stays asleep. He eats all the time, I have a ton of milk and he wet through his nappy and cot last night so much wee, like his brother a gobbler he's going to grow fast like his brother as well.

Congrats new mummies!! Loving the new babies

Vikki - congratulations, so sorry if I missed you! Were we due date buddies?! Glad you and Luke are doing well. x

photographer well done on surviving Peppa Pig world! Mega props to you - and how cute is your DD?! Now, remind me - why is your mother staying with you at the moment? It sounds like a bladdy nightmare situation. I do love your verb 'to elephant' though; I might start using that myself.

Beaut can't believe you've been unlucky enough to land a stomach bug at this stage of the game. Sounds utterly grim. Hope DH has stepped to the fore and let you rest up as much as poss.

Hopes you poor thing - is the induction still on for tomorrow? How are you feeling?

Thom you mustn't feel guilty, you are doing your absolute best for your baby girl - I'm so glad that you've talked things through with your OH and that it's helped.

Speak delighted that you're home. How are you settling in?

Ellizardo you're a nutter - I went to Cribbs Causeway a couple of months ago and it was a truly dire experience hauling my pregnant body around the place - can't imagine doing it at 9 months pregnant!

pulpi looking forward to seeing the chairs!

Jem congratulations on the birth of baby Jacob!

dats are you planning to keep the birth pool inflated until the time comes? I love the idea of it just sitting there for weeks. I think I would fill it up and watch TV from it, mocktail in hand...

Cookies EEEK, hope you've managed to cross your legs tight and keep him in!

becks you too are a nutcase; I intend to be being fed grapes and cake two days after giving birth, not rampaging around a fair ground! Hat off to you.

Julfin sorry to hear that your DH has been hard work. I think a lot of partners have been, at some stage or other of the pregnancy... Mine was hard work earlier on. Hope your conversation has sorted things.

Cheery I hope the referendum result doesn't end up affecting your DH's job. Fingers crossed. I am still reeling from the whole thing, and disgusted by the racism and intolerance that has emerged.

Vikki really glad the sleeping is going well - sounds great!

I've spent the weekend cooking up a storm - dhal, paneer jalfrezi, savoury filled pastries, and savoury muffins, all of which have been portioned up and packed away in the freezer. Trouble is, I now have to reorganise the freezer as it's chocka and totally unusable as it is!

My due date is tomorrow and I really want the baby to come now. I am ready, and I'm finding cleaning tricky now so I would reaaaalllly rather the baby came before the house gets dirty again... Come on, baby! The midwife has said she'll do a sweep at 40+2 (this Thursday) if I want. What do you guys reckon about sweeps?

39 + 6

Thanks Bluebell. So impressed with all your productiveness. Come on baby! Hope you get some action soon!

Bluebell, dats - in retrospect going to the Death Star that is Bluewater was probably not that wise BUT we were looking for mattresses so I basically reclined/flumped whilst OH talked Spring count with sales assistants!

Roll on yr due date Bluebell, if only so you can crack on with all that curry ironically cooked for after you have Bluebell Jnr! Don't know much about a sweep (makes me think of Sooty) but can't hurt and at least you're being proactive? These last days are really doing my head in too.

Dats I too have the shit sandwich that is baby-head-in-pubic-bone John Wayne impression yet indigestion at the same time. Wtaf?

37 weeks has arrived, so now...the waiting game!! Good luck to those ooh so very close to due dates! I haven't got a midwife appointment until 39 weeks but I have a cheeky scan next week. Hope everyone is well!

Hello all!

I know its been quite a while since I posted and Im so sorry for that! The app I was using crashed and would not work anymore so I deleted it. My phone is bad with storage even though I have hardly anything on it, so cant even download it again!😒 Im on the safari version to be able to post this!
Anyway Ive seen that a few more babies have been born! Congratulations to you all, Im so happy you have finally got to meet your precious little ones even if I am a tad jealous😉
Bit of an update from me, I had a UTI I didnt know about which resulted in me having to go to hospital as I was having really painful contractions, Ive been on a course of antibiotics which Ive now finished but I have a funny feeling I still have it 😕 I have midwife tomorrow so will find out if I still have the UTI or not!
Had my mums wedding last weekend which was absolutely beautiful and so much fun! I was the one mainly on the dancefloor despite being heavily pregnant! But I kept having everyone coming up to me saying "hes staying in isnt he?!" "Im off duty, and getting drunk so we cant help deliver" (my mum and her husband both work in the hospital, so most guests were nurses/doctors/paramedics and there was even a midwife there!) and I kept getting asked if I was okay as well, all of that kept really annoying me! IM FINE!! Just tired were mainly my answers😄
Despite all the jumping around, dancing, eating spicy food, bouncing on my ball, DTD 🙈( sorry for tmi) I am still pregnant haha..
I doubt I'll be on as much as I was before as I hate the internet version! But I will try my best to check in regularly and post, and of course will let you all know when my little cherub finally wants to make his appearance!!

37+6

photographer sounds totally justified to me! You vent it all out!

becks Samuel is lovely, I hope you get your wish. Can you 'try it out' then see if it sticks?
Well done on your fair efforts! But be careful of yourself. Sounds like something crazy stupid I would do with my DDs if I'm totally honest! . Make sure you're getting some rest too!!

vikki sounds like Luke is doing brilliantly, how lovely. Greedy monkey. So much more reassuring when you know they're getting a good feed.

bluebell wow your culinary efforts are beyond impressive. I thought I was clever for bulk buying baked beans on an online food shop I've had sweeps - some successful some not. I think they fully depend on what your cervix is doing at that time. If baby is about to come it may well bring things on. If he's not then I don't think they are as successful. Expect it to be very uncomfy and to 'spot ' afterwards. I've also been quite crampy.

Thanks dats julfin cheery and bluebell Can't say I've been sitting down. The bloody opposite. What is wrong with me?! I had the dying urge to rush around Halfords buying loads of car cleaning stuff and then scrub the inside of my car all afternoon?! Like a woman possessed. Stupid hormones. No more cramps and only a tiny bit more plug (it wasn't the whole thing yesterday) tomorrow I WILL rest.

39

Bluebell20 Mother is from the States so I foolishly agreed she could come over and spend time with DD. We aren’t very close but I keep getting talked in to her visiting. So yeah the idea is that she will spend time with DD when the new baby is here. Only downside is that she’s a pretty rubbish guest.

Bluebell20 in regards to sweeps I find out tomorrow about them at my consultation appointment. I never had them last time but apparently if you are favourable (soft and low cervix) than they can really help out. I am heading to sweepville hopefully later this week.

TheMissingPieceToMyPuzzle seems you are hitting everything in the “Things to induce labour” box, hope things start moving soon. Sorry to hear about the UTI I hope things get better soon.

Feeling less moany now. I huffed and puffed in town, had a wagamamas, slice of cake and did some shopping. Came home and DH finished all the cleaning and mowed the garden. I sort of made clear that I am not cooking anymore, they need to help out a bit more and we had a good talk.

39+0

..... does anyone else keep coming on here, reading the posts with the intention of posting, but then closing the laptop? Finding it really hard to focus on anything today... while OH is taking a shower i have set myself the task for focusing on writing a post for the 5th time today. Here goes....

Congrats Jem on baby Jacob [Flowers]. Another lovely name

Hopes Hope you dont feel too poorly, are hanging in there and to get to 37 weeks. Thats tomorrow isn't it?

Cookies Sounds like its not going to be long until you have your baby then? How many weeks are you?

Beaut - Hope you are feeling better 😞. Stomach bugs are awful, let alone being heavy pregnant too!!

Thom You mustn't feel guilty! You couldn't have done anything to prevent your baby's early birth (its just one of those things) and you being a great mummy to her..... its all the small things that matter most to babies.... being touched, being spoken too,being clean, being fed... She knows you are there too (they can smell you across the room!). She'll be home soon, I'm sure!

Speak and Becks delighted that you've got your babies home. Did you have to stay in Becks sounded like you had to go onto the ward?

I am too part of the "hanging low, feeling like I've been kicked in the fuff club". Bump is so low its on my lap. Got twinges.... but they come and go. Lots of braxton hicks after walk.... but its not developing in to much. Shame cos I'm ready to have her now!

38 + 3 today

Thanks Cheery. The productiveness is semi making up for the ridiculous number of naps I have taken in the last four weeks! I always was good at falling asleep at the drop of a hat, but late pregnancy has taken me to truly epic levels of narcolepsy.

Ellizardo that is exactly what my husband said about a sweep! I attach this picture of a sweep especially for you.

Missing I'm really glad to hear from you; I'd been wondering how you were. I also really dislike using the internet version of Mumsnet - it is super slow and eats bandwidth - every time I log on, my husband's internet crashes! Must remember to download the app onto my new phone.

Cookies thanks for the sweep info. I really dislike the idea of it, especially the spotting (where is that blood coming from?!), but on the other hand I don't want to be induced if I can help it so I figure I ought to try everything else first. You must put your feet up tomorrow! I can't believe you can even get down to clean out the car - I can't take my trousers off without issues now!

photographer oof, I hope that your mum seriously helps you out with DD after the baby is born to make up for being a burden in your late pregnancy! Glad that DH is on side now. You go, girl. Do let me know what the consultant says about sweeps tomorrow! :)

bird I too have got a steadily sinking bump. I went for a good half-hour stomp this evening, which made me feel quite achy and crampy while I was on the move, but eased off the moment I got home. Boo.

I'm now struggling to fill my time with things that I can actually physically do. I can't cook any more because both freezers are full! I can knit a bit, but still got a bit of the old carpal tunnel so that's not too comfortable for long stretches. I am cleaning the house a little bit every day, so that things don't get out of hand, but don't feel up to anything mega like window cleaning. I can't even be arsed to read books because sitting / lying for long periods gives me back ache! Arrrggghhhhh. I'm starting to go stir crazy - and yet I know that in a few weeks' time I will look back on these carefree days of no work and no baby and wonder why the hell I didn't do more with them!!!!

Cookies I would just like to clarify that I don't take my trousers off to clean my car! I meant that car-cleaning involves a lot of bending, far more than the minor bending required for trouser-removal, which I am finding tricky .

Ha ha ha Bluebell re the trouserless car-washing! Love the Sweep picture too.

Cheery/Bluebell thanks for the reassurance re dickish OHs. I think you're right that probably a lot of them freak out during pregnancy (not that that's an excuse for taking it out on me!). NCT was particularly unhelpful - lots of super-keen fathers-to-be desperately trying to demonstrate (for their wives'/girlfriends' benefit presumably) what perfect fathers they were already... Yes thank you, since our conversations over the last couple of days things have seemed better than in a long while. Hopefully that'll continue...

Vikki - congratulations! Do we have a photo? Sorry if I missed it. And another great name.

Pulpi/Elliz - great image of John Wayne! I can feel my baby's head drilling down into my pelvis. Not comfy! But nice to know he's making progress.

37 weeks today - full-term! 4 more days at work, then Lady Wot Lunches for two weeks or so.

julfin sorry to hear your dp is being an arse - like you said the "itd hard for me too" excuse wears pretty thin when i can barely wipe my own backside or get my shoes on my feet!! Hopefully he will get a grip quickly!

Well had my second sweep yesterday at 38+1 - cervix was low, soft and 2cm dilated and midwife was really enthusiastic about it working but ive not even had a show :( so gutted i really had my hopes up!

Anybody else's dp not taken the England defeat very well? (Im even more in the doghouse because i support wales...)

Julfin I did NCT ages ago and I was also struck by the way that some (not all, I hasten to add) of the other dads were treating their pregnant partners like china... 'Oh, he won't let me do any cooking', 'All I do when I get home from work is put my feet up on the sofa', etc. etc. Far cry from my house, where DH at that point was constantly nagging me about DIY, gardening, cooking something 'interesting' (i.e. complicated and long-winded) for dinner when it was my turn (we do 50/50 on cooking to be fair), and so on. I did try to console myself by thinking that I would genuinely be irritated if I had someone fawning around me all the time...

Early pregnancy was the worst for me, where he insisted on being pessimistic about things like the likelihood of a miscarriage, and wasn't AT ALL excited by my positive pregnancy test, despite the fact that this was thoroughly planned. His exact words when I showed him the test (and he glanced briefly at it) were, 'Well, that's what happens when you have sex without a condom.' I was livid, and left the house that evening to cry down the phone to my friend for ages. Actually, I think I cried on and off all week. On reflection, it upset me WAY out of proportion, and I don't know why I expected him to react in any other way because that's just who he is, he wasn't trying to be mean - but I was very hormonal at the time and to be fair I don't think it would have been unreasonable to expect at least a smile and a kiss!

He is now really excited about the baby. He's put in loads of effort into helping prepare the house and the baby things we need, he talks to the baby, plays it music, kisses my bump, and is treating me very differently to normal - encouraging me to have naps, to relax, to not push myself to do things. I wonder if maybe this extra-caring point just comes at different stages for different partners - for some it kicks in straight away, for others maybe after they see the baby on the the 12 week scan, for some (like my husband) later on in pregnancy, and for some after the baby is born and it all becomes 'real' (like it's not real to us already, hoho!).

I'm glad you were able to explain things to your OH. I think that my husband just didn't get it - he didn't really understand that he was upsetting me. When I eventually told him how hurt I was about his reaction to the pregnancy test, he had actually had no idea and at first he didn't believe that I had been so upset - he told me I needed to communicate things like that to him so that he could put them right. I had thought it was perfectly obvious that he was being horrible - but to him, he wasn't being horrible, he was just being laid-back, and didn't want to get too excited in case I miscarried and we were both the more devastated by it for having got excited. So... Yeah, the lesson I learned was: communicate! It's such a ridiculous cliche, but lots of men really DO need things spelling out to them that we think are obvious!!! :)

Thanks ladies finally feeling better. So much so that I've just treated myself to a slice of coffee and walnut cake from the cafe opposite where I'm getting my hair done. Currently sat with my colour on and my feet up.

Managed to dtd last night can't say it was very sexy. Resulted in a night of on and off tightenings which have stopped this morning. I'm going for a walk after I've had my hair done. I've left the car at home. Come on baby I'm soooo ready.

Dats my bits are itchy and swollen. But I still have the dreaded heartburn

Cookies I hope labour is still holding off for you. I know for a lot of people that lose their plug labour can still take a while. For me I always lose my plug at the very beginning of labour after contractions have started.
I also have the urge to clean the car so baby can come home in a nice clean car but I'm delegating that task to DH this evening

Becks aww you are doing great out and about. Especially braving the house of fun. I'm going to try and stay in for a while this time as I completely over did it last time after the birth.

Julfin sorry your DH is being a bit of a dick. Mines not being but I don't think DH will believe we are having another until he sees this baby. It's like he keeps forgetting.

Photographer I'm in the moan camp too. I cannot stop and DH is not doing the housework to my standards. He doesn't really do hoovering it's the only chore he doesn't which I can't complain at but hoovering is the thing I like done most. Currently hoovering about twice a day.

Vikki good to hear from you. Glad feeding is going well. I hope it does for me.

Bluebell wow well done on all the batch cooking. I feel bad it's one thing I haven't really done but then it's a lot of freezing for a family of 6
I've never had a sweep as I've not got that far along before but if it was offered I would have it. Towards the end anything that might help the baby along is worth it to me. Love the sweep picture.

Missing I hope you don't still have your uti. Good luck for today.

Bird I'm due the same time as you. Definitely had enough. Braxton Hicks are good as it's all the body preparing for labour so the more the better.

Currently sitting wondering if I'm having pains in the hairdressers chair. Just wishful thinking maybe.

38+4

Pains in your hairdresser's chair, you say? THAT SOUNDS LIKE LABOUR TO ME!

Lol dats I wrote that quickly I didn't even check. Definitely still not labour

I'm having problems with the mobile app today. I can't post it just keeps saying error so I have to keep coming onto the mobile site. Anyone else?

Give birth at the salon then get free cut and colour for life?