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

Irregular glad I'm not the only one reliving their childhood, although, I'm not bad enough that I go hunting for Pokemon yet, I just check what's around me occasionally

Well, I think I've officially gone past the nesting stage and entered the, I just want to lie down and rest until the baby is born stage. I'm just so exhausted all the time and my brain is all fuzzy.

Saw my mum today. Apparently it was her homes fair yesterday and she had been devastated that I didn't go. Oops she had a good time in the end but I feel so guilty about it, I completely forgot about it so I fibbed and told her I was poorly yesterday. A few weeks ago she wouldn't have even noticed I wasn't there but she's starting to get a lot more with it the past two weeks. She even asked how long she'd been there. She admitted though that she just couldn't remember things, she knew that she'd lived somewhere else before but didn't really know when or where.

Hi everyone,

Not been on for about 2 threads so sorry but I'm now completely behind on how you all are!! Hope you're all doing well.

I'm now 29+3, knackered and totally unsure how I can take 10-12 more weeks! Got physio next week for my PGP but apart from that all good, oh and baby Jemima is absolutely gorgeous!

Glad your dad is doing well bunch, and sorry to hear your mum was disappointed potato but at least it's a good sign that she is remembering more!

Xxx

lauren welcome back! Glad to hear you're doing okay apart from pgp and I 100% agree jemima is gorgeous! Plenty kisses soon to be planted on that cute little nose ❤

Hope everyone has had a good weekend, I'll catch up after my bath. Found this picture which pretty much sums up how I feel.

Miley, this was one of the thread photos a while back and it really made me chuckle at the time. I'm still waiting for the mysterious glowing to kick in

Welcome back Lauren. Is Jemima an already picked baby's name or a nickname? It's so lovely.

I've attempted to pack my hospital bag today, armed with a list, and just got myself bamboozled. It's so hard knowing how much of everything to take. I've ended up with a bag for hospital based on an overnight stay, and then will pack another longer stay bag which OH can just pick up if necessary.

We stocked up on a bunch of newborn and up to one month sleep suits and vests as well today, which all look tiny!

Someone asked about NCT earlier - I found them useful, but the main benefit is that as a group we all got on really well and hopefully will stay in touch.

The last session on Saturday was on breastfeeding and I found it a bit frustrating as the assumption was very much that everyone would breastfeed and the tutor wasn't really open to the idea of anything else, including combination feeding. I'll try breastfeeding but if baby doesn't take I won't be devastated and will be perfectly happy bottle feeding with formula. I just don't mind either way. I did feel that that was a bit 'looked down' on, which irritated me. At the end of the day, the formula makers must have done tons of research into what baby needs from a formula, and as long as baby is being fed adequately and is healthy I don't see that one is right and the other wrong. I thought the tutor could have been a bit more understanding of that.

Has everyone had a good weekend? I don't want it to be Monday tomorrow

Hi everyone,

Just checking in from my friends hen do down in Devon. Staying tonight and heading back tomorrow. I went to a nightclub til 3am last night! And went on a 6 mile walk today ! I'm completely knackered and feeling a bit guilty about over-doing it. Baby was very active with the loud music last night but has been much quieter today so just trying to relax on sofa and let them kick about.

Going to have very early night before the journey home tomorrow. My friend has loved it so that's the main thing!

Hope everyone else has had a lovely weekend xx

Lauren welcome back sorry you're struggling. I wish I could say it'll get easier but in my experience you just get increasingly uncomfortable and exhausted

Lovely 4D scan though

Miley I second that photo!

Pink well done on packing your hospital bags

It really irritates me when books/classes/NHS assume you're breast feeding. I actually looked up scientific studies on advantages of breast feeding and found out that very little research has been carried out in developed countries like England but that which had been done showed that the benefits of breast feeding over formula were minuscule, in the developing world where most of the research has been done the benefits are massive mostly due to environmental factors such as clean water and ability to sterilise bottles.

Soda not surprised baby is quiet today if you kept her out clubbing until 3am
Hope your trip home is quiet and uneventful.

This meme sums up how I feel about my chances of getting a good nights sleep tonight

Hi ladies,
Hope you have all had a nice weekend.

Well done for staying out until 3am soda! That's some good going

Lauren what a gorgeous 4D, she's a cutie.

Miley I feel the same today also my belly feels enormous as does everywhere else.

The drive back home (to Liverpool) was ok and uneventful thankfully, got back in 5.5hours including a couple of near pissing myself toilet breaks. I'm now about to jump into bed as me and my mum are up at 2.30am to go to the airport. I want to cry at the thought of the alarm going off in a few hours but I guess it's for a good reason. I'll try to keep checking in from Spain but I hope everyone has a lovely week and keeps well.

Thank you miley and yep that nose is going to get all of the kisses!

Yes that's her picked name pink we've stuck with it since 16 weeks so it's 99% her name unless she really doesn't suit it. I've found the same about breast feeding actually, I've said that I'd prefer to Breast feed but if it doesn't happen for whatever reason I'm fine with formula and midwives etc have all been quite pushy about persevering even if it's painful or the baby isn't getting enough!

soda wow you did well! I barely make it to midnight most nights and 6 miles is way past my ability nowadays too never mind both in a row! Hopefully baby has woken up by now!

potato yep, pretty sure it will isn't get worse! Although maybe physio exercises might help a little

Thanks indi very happy with the pics, wasn't a fan of 4d but I loved it when I was there

This heat is not fun at almost 30 weeks! Hope everyone else is doing ok in it.. I'm buying a fan for every room tomorrow! :)

Morning all,

Gorgeous scan and name Lauren.

Have an amazing holiday Indi!

The heat is already bothering me and Tuesday is set to be worse. Why did we get heavily pregnant through summer?!

I've got my midwife appointment this morning in my house. So hopefully I'll find out more about my giant baby situation, but probably not until after my results from tomorrow's GTT. I'm glad I didn't do my birth plan before it all changed, I've got the time to get my head around it now.
Fingers crossed for no huge growth spurts today and he's just following the normal trajectory (but obviously way above it).

Good luck today Bunch!

Have a wonderful holiday Indi! I don't envy the 2.30am start!

Lauren, it's a beautiful name.

I just can't be bothered today. Am travelling for work but just wanted to stay curled up in bed and attempt to sleep. Not looking forward to the heat over the next few days at all I don't mind if it's nice and sunny and warm when I start mat leave, but not when I have to trek to and from work.

Bunch the problem with getting up duffed for the first time is you have no idea how horrible it is to be heavily pregnant in the middle of summer. Not a mistake any of us are going to make again I bet!

Good luck for your midwife appointment

Indi enjoy your holiday

Pink I saw something on FB yesterday which said the weather tomorrow is going to be about 30 degrees in my area... I may have to lie in an ice bath for the duration if that's the case.

I've got my next ultrasound on Thursday and my next consultant appointment on Friday this week. I think they're going to tell me Potato's head is well and truly engaged now. I'm back to thinking Potato will be a little bit early, she's so low and I've read that not long before you go into labour your body starts trying to clear itself by pooping a lot and the past week I've been pooping 4 or 5 times a day we'll see though.

I'm also hoping to get some movement on the house this week. Desperately want at least an exchange date and it's driving me mad!

Bunch thinking of you, you seem to have so much going on at the moment

Love the meme Potato! Hope you get an exchange date soon.

Lovely picture Lauren! That's so detailed. Love Jemima too.

Blimey Soda! Hope you've got an easy day planned.

Indi have a lovely holiday!

Hello ladies. I've missed loads! Sorry, 35+6 here and now on mat leave. I managed to have a lie in until 7.30!

Hopefully I should be able to keep up a bit better now and stop neglecting you all

Good luck with midwife Bunch. I've heard a LOT of people say growth scans are often wrong when predicting weight.

potato no extra pooping here, but I've been getting the odd twinge over the past couple of days. It's probably nothing, but I'm hoping baby stays in until at least next week. watch me go 2 weeks overdue

Morning all

Hope everyone had lovely weekends, I had a pregnancy massage which I recommend, soda your weekend sounds hardcore!

Have a lovely holiday indi!

This hot weather is driving me mad, it's lovely but not at 8 weeks preggo! 3 weeks left at work! Oh and I have the first part of my NHS birthing class this afternoon.

Hope everyone has a good Monday

New yay for being on mat leave. I don't know how I'd cope if I wasn't at this point.

I feel exactly the same. Lots of twinges, particularly if I spend too much time standing up or walking but part of me thinks I'm imagining it and I'm going to end up going late another part of me wouldn't be surprised if I went into labour tomorrow I don't like all this uncertainty lol.

Danni enjoy the first half of your NHS course. Mine was all about birth, pain relief, hospital bags and what the hospital has available.
The second half was changing, washing and feeding baby (including simulated poo ) and things like how baby should sleep, where etc. We were all given dolls which we horribly abused for a couple of hours. I kept getting dirty looks from one of the midwives because another couple and I were giggling at the silliness of it all

House update, solicitors have been chasing queries for a couple of weeks... I chased them today and had responses within an hour why do I pay these people?

I think the problem with pregnancy cushions is the bit that goes between my knees is too thick. I'm guessing this will change as the bump gets bigger, but for now I'm going to try a wedge cushion under my bump and a thin cushion between my knees. I had to look up pgp/spd Bunch and I've definitely not got these worries. You have my sympathy - seems like a lot to deal with! Hydrotherapy sounds fantastic though. Swimming has been so well recommended I really should get out looking for a pool..

Sorry to hear your mum was disappointed Potato. It must be a very difficult situation! Fingers crossed you get your exchange date soon - it's certainly dragged on and on for you!

Lauren that's a lovely scan! She is adorable - just look at that little nose! And I love the name Jemima!

Pink it was me wondering about NCT. I don't fancy being lectured on breast feeding, but it will be nice to meet other new parents

Enjoy your holiday Indi!

Danni a pregnancy massage sounds lovely. I've convinced OH to pay for a facial as my pregnancy glow is more pregnancy grease, and a massage sounds a good add on to round out the day!

It's supposed to be 30 here tomorrow as well, and my only cool trousers are in the laundry bin. I suppose that means I have to do laundry again today! I've bought some ice pops in preparation for the heat!

There's £15 off a £60 spend on baby products with Amazon Prime today. I've finally got a few bits! www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=9898697031&tag=ho01f-21

Hi ladies!

I'm getting a little bit too excited with you all mentioning 'baby is engaged' and 'preparing for labour'! Wonder who will be first!

It's really warm here, too. That, coupled with the fact that I'm not getting much sleep makes for a very grumpy miley!

Yay for mat leave new!! Enjoy!!

indi hope you have a lovely holiday! I'd love to go abroad before baby makes an appearance but I'm really struggling with heat etc. It's best me and my cankles stay in England.

potato that's ridiculous. My solicitor is the same, I have an ongoing claim against my work and have had for over a year now. They're possibly the worst when it comes to communication

Pram ordered and paid for! Car seat sat in the front room with changing bag! We've gone for the silver cross pioneer in damson purple I just sort of keep looking at the car seat suspiciously.

Sorry everyone's been sleeping badly, it's not hot here, just humid! I'm still sleeping with one pillow wedged between my knees, but I've always slept like that. I know I fall asleep on my front because I wake up with baby knocking on my belly button to go for my first wee of the night. And then move onto my back when Dh gets in and rub/talks to my belly while I'm asleep. I only know this because I woke up for night wee numero two while he was doing it the other day.

Got to empty/clear/clean two rooms this afternoon so I can start getting the baby's room sorted to paint. Dh is not painting it, he's a menace, ill do it with my sister when he's at work one weekend!

Yeah for mat leave New! I'm counting down now - four weeks to go!

Very exciting that you've sorted your pram etc now Audrey!

When we bought our house the solicitors were slow, but I think that's because usually there is no urgency associated with house selling/buying so they just pootle along without thinking about the stress it puts the seller/buyer under. Not all solicitors are bad with communication though, I promise!

I found my pregnancy pillow started out really fat but has thinned down with use.

Gah so baby is 4/5ths engaged I was all in denial
me:"so when should baby engage"
Midwife: "well his head is right down now so anytime from 34 weeks ish"
Me "okay so when do you start saying how engaged he is"
Midwife : "well you're 4/5ths engaged now"
Me: "wtf?!"
I definitely didn't think we were there yet. Apparently he can be here for ages though. Just don't want him arriving before 38 weeks. She told me to get on the ball lots to encourage him lower- er no. I'll wait until my parents are home.
Dad will be out of hospital tomorrow and then should be home 10 days later woohoo.
Also it's definitely the hospital for me. Hey ho.

Potato solicitors are a pain in the arse. I'd tell them how useless they're being (once they've done all you need from them of course).

Oh Audrey that is the sweetest thing ever!

I'm hating the heat so much, I think my feet may burst.

Miley sorry you're hot and grumpy today but I can totally relate, I've just had a cold shower to cool down and then stood using the hairdryer on cold setting for ages. It didn't dry my hair but it was bliss... Now back to sitting on the sofa drowning in my own sweat

Audrey yay to pram and car seat purchase. They're the really exciting ones.

Bunch yay for your dad being let out and hopefully baby engages and then stays put until a more convenient time for you.

My feet and ankles have finally succumbed to the dreaded swelling. I'm not happy about it as all my shoes are now really tight

I'm also spitting mad at my solicitor. I've spent all day sending emails and making phone calls and achieved more in that time than they seem to have in the past 3 weeks. I was nearly in tears from frustration a little while ago and they're just taking so long to reply to anything I send them. My feedback on their service (and that of the estate agent) will not be pleasant!

Good news in your dad Bunch

I was told that in terms of engagement, 5/5 is the start of engagement, increasing up to 1/5 as the baby gets more engaged, so if that's correct you've hopefully got a little way to go yet. I know it took a friend 2 weeks from being 4/5 to 3/5. Fingers crossed for you.

It's so hot! Thank god I'm on mat leave now otherwise I'd had melted in the office. I keep thinking 'ooh I should do x y a', starting, then realising it's far too hot.

I did manage to go for a swim though! And I've got some baby clothes drying on the washing line

Good news about your dad bunch

Heeeeey, enough with the solicitor bashing! Haha!

It's too hot today.

Pink it depends on the midwife. My midwives use 1/5 as the least engaged apparently. Though I'm double checking tomorrow as she properly confused me. I'm hoping it's the same as you as I then have a way to go and as I said it does not feel like I'm that engaged.
It's so confusing that different midwives use different terms.