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

[Ellizardo]

Nearly there folks.

Good luck today Ellizardo!!! Will be thinking of you. Hope you slept well and are channelling the zen.

No signs here, so doubt we will be due date buddies in the end - unless I manage a Primary!

Thing!!

dats my girls LOVE him! Already been fighting over who gets to cuddle him though!! Poor lad! But even my 3 year old was great with him! Your house sounds like it's coming on so well!! (Claps hands!!) eek!! I used newrly a whole can of Pledge last week in the nesting zone!!

Sorry for my premature posting- it's what happens when feeding, writing a massage and trying to reach your water!! George has been feeding lots I think he definitely has a big appetite! Little chunk. Must get you ladies a pic! However because he is constantly attached to me all my photos have my boob in

Congratulations Cookies! Delighted baby George has arrived safe and sound - can't believe that it was on your due date again!! Lovely to hear that you're at home with the family . Look forward to seeing a pic and hearing more details when you get a chance.

Go Elliz, go!

Morning all. Yet again I have woken at 5am and not got back to sleep. Preparation for the life to come I guess. SIL visit almost over - just off to meet them for breakfast and then we can move on and relax. In fairness, they are generally fairly nice when they are here. But just quite selfish in their plans.

Cheery hope the uti clears up soon. I totally hear you on the constant low level anxiety. Thanks for family advice - you're right, I do need to put our needs and baby first. Well done with your godmother and on the sofa bed restraint

Cheery and Dats glad I'm not the only one to find the perineal massage less than dandy! Ta for microwave tip, Cheery.

Dats it's nice to have a wonky pelvis twin. Perhaps midwife will have a theory today. How was hairdressers? Well done on getting on with the painting, boo re the cold! I am fairly bunged up with the hay fever and blocked sinuses at the moment, driving me crazy.

Primary - how is it going? Forgot to say congrats on speedy labour - did you tear at all?

Becks' thanks for the newborn clothes advice!

Beaut - glad you've made your soft toy decision. Peter Rabbit is lovely. I too love jelly cat. I wanted to get one of those brightly coloured corduroy animals but need to go the centre of town for that. Sorry about your constant sore back. Impressed at your productive day yesterday - can't have helped with back tho! Do you ever lie down with one of those microwave heat packs? For me that helps.

Bluebell - any more pains?? Hope your silence is a productive one! Fingers crossed! you due another sweep soon if not?

Pulpi - so sorry to hear the bad news. That's really sad. Similar thing happened in my mum's family when I was a teenager, with two siblings in a row. Awful to have to get through. Thinking of you and family.

Bird - good luck! Very successful sweep.

I have the midwife today and I'm not sure:

a) if she will offer me a sweep (I'm 40 weeks today but in my notes it says they offer it at 41 and 42)
b) if she does, will I say yes, or wait and see if anything happens naturally before next week?

Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. I suppose it depends what she says.

40 weeks today - due date!!

Good luck today elliz. Very excited that we'll have more baby news soon.

Happy due date gnat. Sounds like you've got some decisions to make re sweep (still can't think of that without picturing a little grey puppet). I don't think they do them at 40 weeks here. That's just based on me being told to make an appointment at 40 weeks and then another one at 41 weeks so she can do a sweep.

Still wanting this baby to hurry up. Next week is really busy with family things and I don't want family to be wondering/worrying about me and the baby if I'm still pregnant. All I've had so far though is a heavy and uncomfortable feeling at the bottom of my belly. Not very encouraging I don't think.

Thank you for all the good lucks... but everything stopped before bedtime. Despite two walks whilst contracting. Im not too disheartened as I am 39+5 today and according to midwife yesterday I am 2cm dilated, my Cervix has more or less thinned out and I had lost my mucous plug. So I am favourable to go into labour soonish anyway. Another sweep booked for Sunday!! I'll be 40+2 then.

Gnats - My hospital's policy is to have the first sweep at 41 weeks too. Although if you look at the NHS choices website it does say that National recommendation is 40 and 41 weeks (but they can be done as soon as 38 weeks if clinically indicted). I got one this early as my appointments are a bit our of sync due to me being unwell and needing an extra visit and then my midwife going on holiday. So yesterday was an early 40 week appointment. I am also a Nurse, my midwife is a friend of the family and I've been saying that I have pressure down there for weeks..... So I got Midwife to agree to check to see what was going on down there and to proceed with an unofficial early sweep if she could. I don't think she thought i would be ready for one.... but it turned out I was. Gnat I think if you decide to push for a sweep today is a very personal decision - for me I just really want to avoid being induced. So anything that could encourage labour naturally, Im there. Plus i think psychologically its good to know that things are preparing down there and I am v. close to going into labour.... also it was good practice dealing with painful but milder contractions, compared to the real thing.

Dats Peter rabbit is arriving today it's ridiculous really hundreds of soft toys but I wanted something to photograph him with at his newborn shoot.

Julfin you may not want routine. A lot of people have said to me in the past that my parenting style is quite harsh. I see it that I was here first so baby needs to fit around me not the other way around. It works for me. Poor number 4 is just going to have to go with the flow of the rest of us. He has no choice .
Birthing ball the best thing to do is sit on it with legs at hip distance apart and literally bounce up and down. Also rotate your hips either way on it. I just used to sit on mine when watching tv doing those things but I haven't bothered to buy one this time.

Cookies how lovely that your girls are enjoying newborn snuggles. You only had a short stay in hospital then?

Pulpi so sorry to hear your sad news. I hope you are ok. Well as much as you can be.

Bird hope things are progressing well for you. Exciting.

Eliz good luck for today. Can't wait to see your gorgeous new arrival. I hope you aren't kept waiting too long. Try not to worry about needles etc it will all be over soon.

Gnat I would have the sweep of I were you or you could just get her to tell you if anything a happening. They usually say if it's worth having one or not. I've not had one before I've never reached that stage so really hoping not to this time.

Tams I have that horrible uncomfortable heavy feeling. Plus since the heat started I feel sick all the time

Bluebell I hope your silence means that you are enjoying newborn snuggles or at the very least hope things are happening for you.

Still nothing happening here. I have ds3 home with me today so I don't think I'll get much done. I just want to sleep. I keep feeling sick all the time which isn't helping my sorry for myself mood.

39+5

Are there many people here who fancy coming over to the facebook page. Purely for selfish reasons but I can't keep up on this thread and find some of the useful stuff you are sharing! Plus the fb page is secret so we can be a bit more open with each other.

Just started losing my mucous plug. This labour is going to be different when it eventually kicks off as I have lost my plug whilst in labour with the previous three.

Beaut - sorry you're feeling sick - I'm having nausea on and off too but rubbish if it's all the blinking time! I'm in awe of all you ladies keeping chipper and looking after other little ones whilst this pregnant!

Gnat and Bluebell - thanks for support on Godmomma - she is really wonderful, I just don't want her to be uncomfortable if she's staying. It's tricky, she's a very youthful 76 but has bad knees and is really proud. Anyway, will all work itself out I'm sure. Glad I didn't panic buy a sofa bed!

No movement here. Just getting bigger and babu jabbing me in ribs and belly with sharp little heels and knees!

39+4 (blah, blah dats!)

Good luck Beaut! x

Birdy - at least things are moving! Sounds like baby is making their way in to the world! x

Crikey, one day of not keeping up to date and so much has happened!

Cookies congratulations on the arrival of George

Eliz Good luck today, hope you're not waiting too long.

pulpi what awful news, hope you're ok and you and your family can support each other despite the distance.

primary that is SUCH a cute photo, love the pose and the blanket.

dats and beaut thanks for the bf top advice, stocked up on basic tops/vests the other week - mainly due to being outraged at price of bf ones and having slight anxiety about not being able to bf and how silly I'd feel if house full of special clothes.

gnat good question also about newborn clothes, was thinking that too. Decisions indeed! Let us know how you get on.

julfin excellent story! No longer am I laughing at those people who leave their car keys in the fridge, this could be me.

dats well done for not going into labour yet and progress with kitchen, yay for paint! Am hopeful for a 'no baby + tiling done + shower working' situation by Sunday (due date - eek). Hope the cold clears up quickly, that is crap timing.

photographer sending you positive, spontaneous labour thoughts.

Went swimming yesterday and have had similar low stomach/pelvis aching/discomfort since the afternoon. Not sure if have overdone it, or body is gearing up for labour, am going to spend today mainly under a blanket.

Perineal massage discussion making me feel bad for not trying earlier whilst laughing at idea if trying to get into that now

Friend also came round yesterday with her two children, who proceeded to drop chocolate everywhere and make me want to hide in a dark room. Am awful, anti-social pregnant person with ridiculous thoughts about how perfectly behaved my child will be...

Do we think bluebell has knitted herself into pregnant lady cave, or is giving birth?

Discharged by midwife on Sunday, seen by health visitor today. Ben has gained 8oz in 13days!!! Hearing test done, and told he has very acute hearing. Can't believe he's 2 weeks old tomorrow. Time is flying!

Chairs are finished! They turned out quite nicely. Now I'm finishing up the knitting and laundry.

Ruby - not sure re Bluebs - to be fair it's less than a day since she posted, but she was very active before then so I'm inclined to suspect that the little Bluebette has arrived.

Beaut - hope things progress quickly for you! And thanks so much for the advice re a) ball- bouncing and b) routines. You're right re maybe not wanting a routine, but it's good to know (if we decide we do) when it's reasonable to start. DH takes a similar view to you ie baby should fit around our lives. I'm inclined to agree. I think we'll aim to have a theoretical/general routine but allow ourselves to flex it a bit rather than adhering rigidly. We'll see, I guess - hard to know how things will turn out.

38+1, and not missing work in the slightest! Keeping myself busy with yoga and various appointments (MW, hospital tour, hairdresser, massage etc). At some point I should probably slow down and start enjoying afternoon naps and Wimbledon... (and finish packing my hospital bag, ahem)

Thanks cheery I've pre warned DH and childminder but no pains yet. Could be nothing. Everything is different this time around so who knows.

Ruby a lot of people just use the one up one down method when breast feeding. So a vest under a Tshirt or two vests. Just to keep you more covered.
Pains sound promising. Hope things start happening for you soon.
I think Bluebell is giving birth or possibly already has.

Becks two weeks. See I can't wait to have baby but I hate how the time flies.

Pulpi fab chairs. I can't believe you've done all that. Put your feet up now.

Peter Rabbit just arrived so I've packed him in the babies bag. So pleased I went with that its lovely although ds3 was quite taken with it.
About to have some crunchy nut cornflakes for lunch. Better keep my energy up just in case anything happens later. I have a feeling it won't. Getting bored now.

False alarm guys, I am still pregnant, and nothing is happening! And I'm quite grumpy about it, too! Ruby I love the idea of a knitted cave. Sounds ideal for my state of mind at the moment!

Beaut thanks for the top am-I-in-labour tips. I look forward to using them when something ACTUALLY HAPPENS. Grrr! Yay for your plug loss, though!

Julfin good thinking about the answerphone, but it's that 1571 service and I don't think it's changeable? Frankly I am reaching the point where I want the landline permanently unplugged anyway, so it may not be an issue ;) Your urine sample story is a classic. I will treasure that one, and comfort myself with it in times of baby-related absent-mindedness!

Cookies CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to the world, baby George! Great to hear that you're both doing well. Love that your DDs are enchanted with him!

bird sounds exciting! Sorry that things have stopped for a bit, but as you say, it seems like you've had some pretty good progress, so hopefully labour will happen soon for you!

pulpi I'm so sorry to hear about your relative. Sending you and your family my best wishes. What an unimaginably horrible situation. x

Ellizardo I am intrigued by the disastrous cooking... I would love to know what happened, but you are clearly busy with other things right now!!!! Good luck today. Thinking of you!

gnat no, I don't get another sweep - it's really odd, actually. I got offered one at 40 + 2, and then the midwife told me that I won't see her again, which really surprised me. The next step is hospital for monitoring at 40 + 10 (which is this Friday), and then induction at 40 + 12. I shall be asking at the hospital on Friday whether someone can give me a sweep. Well, when I say asking, I mean begging...

GoingLoopy I am really sorry but I don't have a Facebook account!

Becks so glad you're both doing so well!

pulpi I LOVE the chairs. I have a set of six wooden dining chairs with wicker seats that I inherited from my mum, and I have been sorely tempted to paint them each a different colour for a while now... Your pic has tempted me even more!

Okay so I am uploading a couple of pics for you in the absence of having anything more interesting to do (i.e. giving birth to my extremely dilatory child). Pic 1 is of my childhood teddy having a bath (look at the state of the water!), Pic 2 in grey vest and leggings is me at 40 weeks pregnant, Pic 3 in grey dress is me at 41 weeks pregnant.

Right. Back to cleaning, seeing as everything is now dirty / messy again having been spic and span ready for my due date!

41 + 1

pulpi massive chair envy! Want! We are planning yellow ones for our new kitchen table.

becks woah that's some good weight-piling - nice one! Time really is flying...

Ruby chuckled at the chocolate and your perfectly-behaved child. I'm really tidy and not a fan of out-of-control darlings but this time round I'm blessed with a girl who is borderline OCD likes tidying up and things being just right so she's really easy in that respect. You wait, new one will be a riotous wildchild! Fingers crossed for continued DIY progress, so funny how we end up in these situations.

Beaut boo to sick feeling, that's really grim. But hooray for plug loss, ooh! Be really interesting to see how this birth compares to your others. Does sound like you're on your way! I've got DD today but luckily DP is upstairs working, so he is available for nappy changes and general running around.

Cheery are you all sorted, post-renovations now??
I tried a bit of perineal massage earlier. While sitting on the loo. Can't see me being able to reach any other way. Anyway, it was quite sore because it's so sore and swollen so I don't know if I should carry on in the hope that it'll work, or not risk making my sore fans even worse considering what it's got to go through!

gnat you can't have a sweep!!! I need you to be on my not-ready crew!!!!

Cookies yay to sibling love, that's so nice!!!

This cold is truly miserable. I don't think I slept more than a total of 2hrs non-consecutively last night. There was a lovely sunrise at 4.38am though.

dats, 38+3

Bluebell you look utterly gorge!

Awh dats, I'm sorry your cold is so rubbish. Hopefully it will be well out of the way by the time you give birth, at least. I actually got about 9 hours of sleep last night, punctuated by toilet trips (and the random discovery at 3am that the mains water had been cut off for some reason - I woke DH up because my brain wasn't working and I wanted to ask him if we should also turn ours off at the stopcock - he thought I had gone into labour at first, whoops).

Haha thanks dats, although you should see the underwear pics - they are grotesque!!!!!!

cookies congrats!!!! :D
eliz good luck :D
pulpi im so sorry to hear your news :(
bluebell bird and beaut fingers crossed its the start of something!
ruby ive got NO breastfeeding clothes (and humongous knockers now my milk has come in) and i got some underwired but not padded stretchy bras from sainsburys which have been really comfortable and practical, and also just been using one up/one down vest tops (although not yet bf in public).

Had my first sleepless night last night. She would ONLY settle on my chest and any sniff of the moses basket and it was world war 3 :'( i was so terrified of rolling on her so i literally had my eyelids pinned open all night trying not to fall asleep! Dragged DP out of bed at 5am and passwd her over so i could get some kip!

Cant remember who asked about tearing (sorry!) but had a 1st degree tear and a graze - no stitches but all a bit swollen. Midwife has recommended a few drops of lavender essential oil and warm water on a pad and leaving it to soak around your 'area' for an hour a day

Also newborn clothes - fit her with a little room to spare, 0-3 absolutely swamp her! George, m&s and sainsbos clothes are HUGE but primark clothes come up small.