Thread #9 - TTC#1 grads thread - it's the final countdown

[PotatosMum]

Welcome to thread 9 of TTC#1 grads. Warning this thread moves fast!

Time is passing and our first few grads are nearly ready to pop! Nesting is in full swing and everyone is in awe of Bunch's epic organisation.

Anyone is welcome to join the journey regardless of stage, no TMI is TMI, no question is too silly, we're all in it together so just pop in and say hello

Team P - 8
Team B - 8
Team V - 7

August
11 Mor (Team Vanilla)
13 Bunch (Team Blue)
16 New (Team Vanilla)
27 Potato (Team Pink)
30 Pink (Team Pink)

September
1 Shelb (Team Pink)
2 Taz (Team Blue)
4 Nev (Team Blue)
8 DrWhy
12 Danni (Team Blue)
14 Soda (Team Vanilla)
28 Leonie (Team Blue)
29 Laurenrl (Team Pink)

October
3 Lisa (Team Vanilla)
6 Irregular (Team Pink)
8 Miley (Team Vanilla)
12 Indi (Team Pink)
13 Co5mo (Team Blue)
15 Planet (Team Pink)
23 Lillian (Team Pink)
26 Lara (Team Blue)
30 First

November
19 Canters (Team Blue)
20 Jam
25 Audrey (Stark) (Team Vanilla)
29 Elle

December
12 Feef

January 17
4 May
13 Ni (Team Vanilla)

February 17
15 Evergreen

What a great haul, Indi! So glad you had a lovely time. Hope the next one goes well too!

Really good to hear about your Mum, Potato. I remember when you said she was going downhill quite quickly and it was really sad, but it's amazing that she's doing better and talking to you about things. It's good that she knows she has someone to help keep her straight on what's real and what's not.

Audrey - FOUR dogs?? Assume they aren't all yours, right? Sounds like a handful!

Audrey and feef I'm also in to changing mats atm! I don't know why when they are
Literally used to be shit on

Miley wish I had the nesting feeling, I love being in the nursery and pottering about in there but the rest of the house needs a good clean and tidy! I just have no motivation to do it properly.
On dummies, I've read that they can be good for babies as it helps them develop their sucking for breast feeding. There's so much conflicting advice out there so I'm non the wiser tbh!

Potato glad your mum seemed better, that must be so tough when she doesn't know if what she is remembering is real life or dreams. I'm sure she appreciates seeing you and she is excited for baby potato's arrival.

Yeah the gifts were lovely and the girls really made a fuss. I've eaten too much sugar though and been violently sick for the last half an hour too much cake and sweets and Beanie having a good roll around obviously has brought it all back up. Going to get an early night as I'm seeing the consultant about a possible elective c section in the morning. Hopefully everything will go well and she'll understand my reasons.

Hope you feel better soon, Indi, and good luck with the consultant tomorrow x

We've just got two usually lisa but we've got my dps 2 for the evening aswell, thankfully everybody is asleep now but it's been a day and a half dealing with them all myself

feef I'm properly fixating on which one! A wedge one or a normal one? Coloured or plain? And in my head I know it will just be wiped clean 20 times a day and it's only purpose is to do with poo but I'm obsessing!

miley my dms stockpiling dodies as a just in case. She says it's better to have a few ready than to desperately need want one and not have any, especially at 4 in the morning when baby's been skrieking for 3 hours plus I read good things about suckle reflex and preventing sids too. Just depends on whether baby will actually take one!

Glad to hear your mum seemed better Potato. Does she understand/ remember that baby potato is due soon?

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow indi, stick to your guns. Also hope you feel better soon It looks like you got some lovely gifts.

Four dogs in one house Audrey?! Were they at least all little dogs? I'd go for a relatively neutral changing mat if I were you, given you are Team Vanilla. We have a cream one with polka dots all over which is cute.

We are going to try and do without dummies, but we'll see what happens!

Having all sorts of shooting pains around my groin/ lady bits Not comfortable at all.

Miley definitely sounds like you're nesting. I've gone for two dummies just incase by natursutten. I've not got any bottles in yet but if I need to I think ill go with their glass bottles too.

Lillian I'm a picker for sure, not managed to make myself bleed though, ouch.

How exciting feefs Fx for you. I left the August group back in the early preggo days as there were too many losses on there, it really made me worry. It's much nicer here

Oh Indi how lovely. Looks like you have a good haul! Sorry you've been ill since, good luck for tomorrow.

Glad to hear your mum is doing better potato. Sorry to hear she's finding it stressful but nice she's remembering.
I'm full on BHing this evening. DH is getting tetchy, I've tried explaining to him I'll fully make him aware when it's action stations and it certainly isn't now.

Ahh good ol fanny daggers Pink! Fun

Went on our last date night tonight. Cinema for finding Dory loved it. I've got my 38 week appointment tomorrow so I've got the fun of peeing all over my hand trying to get it in the tiny pot in the morning, joys.

I haven't been on any month groups but I've just joined the MN September Facebook group. There are some real babies on there!

Our baby is officially due next month now! 🎉🎉🎉

P.S. I meant that literally - a couple of early deliveries.

Morning ladies, how are you all today?

I woke up this morning to the realisation that some of us will have babies by the end of the month

Audrey glad you're still here. Sounds like baby brain has well and truly kicked in
I have a normal mamas and papas foam changing mat for the house and a little travel one that came with my changing bag for when we're out and about.

Indi sounds like you had a lovely time and what a haul of presents!
Sorry all the cake made you sick though. Good luck for the consultants appointment.

Feef, Lisa no stress from mum but she did need to ask me if her parents and pet dog were dead and it obviously made her cry a bit when I said yes. Mostly she was just obsessing about what I'd done with all her stuff.
She also said she's having trouble remembering what her family look like and she doesn't remember much apart from big events so I'm going to get a load of photos printed and framed for her when we've moved.

Pink yes, mum knows Potato is due and while she's not exactly excited she's now vaguely interested. I think it's still a bit of an abstract concept to her though as she is very child like in her mind.

Love the sheeting foof pains, they make life so pleasant no suggestions on what to do but they don't usually stay long if that helps.

Bunch my OH has been getting panic y'all weekend with me having BH and aches and pains. I too have pointed out that it's normal and I'll let him know when it's time to do something about it but he still keeps looking at me as if my waters will break any second.

Good luck with the midwife. I've got my appointment in Wednesday. Good thing OH has some time off work as I officially can no longer drive, my hips are fooked and I can't fit behind a steering wheel because of my little legs

After the weekends pack a thon I'm going to take it easy today and be a lazy cow the flat really needs a clean and a tidy but I've decided that this is a job for tomorrow not today. Today is for sewing and watching TV!

Hope your feeling better indi and good luck with your consultant appointment this morning.

It's so weird Audrey I haven't even got anything to put it on yet! Would have bought 4 by now if DH wasn't holding me back! It's the coloured ones that really appeal to me.

I've gone back to the gu ramekin for wee tests bunch!!

On the topic of changing mats, I've got one from Mothercare that comes with a liner and the inflatable Ikea one as that was the only one to fit my changing table. I wouldn't worry about which one you get as you'll probably always put a muslin on it first to stop baby's back getting cold.

audrey we have a jazzy one from mothercare (roll up! Roll up! Range) and a winnie the pooh one from babies r us. I love a jazzy changing mat!

potato sounds like a lovely day ahead for you! Hope you manage to relax.

Brilliant haul of gifts there, indi!! I love baby gifts

Ok I'm freaking out a little bit now. A guy I sit next to in the office is going to Florida in 3 weeks and I'm concerned about him bringing back the Zika virus! I'm contemplating bringing my maternity forward just incase but really don't want to. Someone tell me I'm being ridiculous.

Morning girls... Can't believe there may be babies in this group this month!! screams!!

I'm on the September group but it's not very consistent tbh, I don't post much there- one lady did have her baby girl at 28 weeks though, and she's doing well with breathing and gaining weight

Some lovely gifts there indi... Didn't think of buying books already but that's a good shout

Very jel of your lazy day potato... But only 4 working days for me then I'll be on mat leave.

I understand your Zika virus concerns miley- I get paro about those things, how far will you be if you bring your mat leave forward?

Miley unless you plan on jumping your colleague I think you're safe. I think it cons only be transmitted through sharing of bodily fluids and obviously mosquitos. We don't have the mosquitos that carry it here.
We're supposed to be going to Florida next May, I'm now concerned about future babies....

I had a delightful night of the worst back ache keeping me awake. I so thought everything was starting but eventually fell asleep between 2 and 4 and it's eased off.

I've just read a thread on the childbirth board regarding partners on the postnatal wards. What are everyone's thoughts? I will be pretty much distraught if I have to stay in and DH has to leave. My worry is that I give birth early evening and then they kick out DH when Pip is only a couple of hours old. There's no private rooms at the hospital I have to go to. I'm going to grill the midwife about it today.

Aww feefs full on memories of IC dip testing in the gu ramekins .

Bunch and Feefs - I now grab an empty bottle from the recycling (milk, soft drink bottle, etc.) and quickly cut the top off (i.e. Just leaving the bottom inch or so) for wee tests.

Otherwise I just risk not being able to get anything into the tiny test tube thing. It's handy because I can throw the cut-up bottle away straight afterwards.

Bunch I hadn't even thought about partners in the hospital. But you've made me think about it now. I assume it's going to be something where regions and hospitals vary. I guess they won't provide a bed for DHs, but do you think they would let them just sleep in a chair nearby, so they can stay?

Lisa as you said it probably depends. I'm aware my hospital kicks out partners after 9pm but I'm not entirely sure what happens if you give birth overnight. From what I gather, those postnatal wards that allow he partner to stay just let them have the chair. If they have a private room some get a camp bed of sorts.

Totally with everyone on the 'eek, it's August' feeling! Baby will definitely be here by end of next month!

Had my first vivid labour dream last night. Not the nicest. Woke up to leaky boobs and also had my 34 week midwife appointment. All fine. Baby in good position, head down but not engaged so no imminent arrival here!

Miley as bunch said, I'm pretty sure Zika can just be transmitted through blood so unless you're planning on getting very close to your colleague you'll be fine!

Re partners after delivery - I think it depends on hospital. I went on a labour ward tour of mine a couple of weeks ago as it was something I wanted to know. No private rooms or beds for partners but the mother is allowed someone (1 person) to stay with her at all times - there is a reclining chair by bed for overnight after baby is born. But I know of some friends who've had partners stay overnight in a double bed and some where no partners have been allowed overnight.

I lurked on the September baby thread for a while before deciding to join here - lucky you lot I liked the fact that everyone here is a first timer and we're all muddling through together.

Indi glad your shower was fun and hope your appt goes well today.*

Potato* - very envious of your chilled out day, enjoy!

Re changing mat - I just got a John Lewis one with grey stars ( neutral) but will put muslin underneath baby. I'll also have a travel mat in changing bag. If you have a bigger house (upstairs and downstairs!) then you might want 2 in the house but as ours is small I think 1 will be fine for us.

I've got a full week of work this week, urrrrrgh. 2 weeks and then 1 week of hols and then 2 weeks and I'm done. Can't wait now.

Miley it will be fine. He's not going to bring the virus back... Just don't lick him when he returns just in case

Dannie yay to nearly being on mat leave.

Bunch sorry you had a hard night

I'm worried about OH being kicked out too. Apparently at my hospital OHs are only allowed to stay one night in a chair while your in labour (even if you have a long labour and baby still hasn't arrived) and on the ward visiting is 9 to 9. There's a good chance that if he gets kicked out and I have to stay I will completely lose it. I can only hope that in those circumstances the hospital staff take pity on you but in my experience they're rather dogmatic

Ah, Monday... Back to chasing estate agents and solicitors again. I'm going to kill someone if we don't exchange today but at least I'm enjoying some TV and sewing

I can't keep up with this thread! You guys move too fast but that's kind of awesome at the same time! Hope everyone is doing well and getting as huge as I am haha.

Just checking back in! Hope all are well.

Good luck for your appointment today indi

I am feeling a bit wobbly again. All my anxiety about having a baby has come back. Fundamentally I am a bit rubbish with kids at the best of times, have no idea how to parent a boy and am wondering what the hell I have done. Then i feel even worse because am so lucky to have got pregnant relatively easy....i just don't feel it.

For those worried about zika you just need to not get preg for 8 weeks after possible exposure. So unless you were planning baby 2 next may or June you'll be fine, bunch. Miley my best mate is going to Florida this week, I'll be seeing her after she gets back.... try not to let it worry you.

bunch that's 90% of the reason I want/ed a home birth. Our MLU has an 8 hour express recover bay and providing all goes well I aim to be discharged from the birthing room. I've told dh/dm/my dad though, that if I'm in established labour and we ring up and none of the pools are free then I'm getting in our bath and staying there and they can ring the community midwife. I don't want to be induced, if I have to have intervention and stay in and dh is entirely home then I fully plan on saying I need my minister with me for religious reasons and tell my dm to arrive in her vicar collar. I know the don't look after you on the post natal wards and I'm not risking it!

*sent home

Ok, I'm a little more relaxed after doing some research and realised I hit bat shit crazy mode a little too early!

We're really lucky at our hospital to have a private room and OH will be able to stay as long as needed, but I'd definitely freak out if he couldn't because it's all very new and we're supposed to muddle through together! I think I'd feel some what abandoned

Oh phew, I'm so glad everyone is on the same page re partners. The other thread is very much anti partners on wards and it's gotten vicious!!