Late December - Early January Thread 2!

[Bella1985]

Hi! We're on to our 2nd thread for babies due at the end of December/Early January. 3rd trimester is in sight...!

I keep flitting between hoping that baby comes before Xmas and then wanting him to stay put until after new year. I feel horrendous (the usual late 3rd tri gripes) so I'm hoping mat leave will be a bit easier on my body. Every day that passes is another day of development for baby

I'm having a handover day today with my replacement - I'm so pleased! Writing handover notes to an imaginary person who may have no idea about the conpany and my job was stressing me out, but they appointed an internal candidate so I can leave a lot of the explaininh out of the notes as she knows the stuff already! Am feeling a little twinge of jealousy/worry about having an internal candidate now being able to do my job therefore I could have competition in the future or if they were to restructure during my leave I could come back to a new boss...silly thinga to worry about, but i don't like change and I'm now realising that the office I'm leaving this week will probably be very different when I return to it next year!

I'm the same Bella, can't seem to decide although I'm so uncomfortable! Baby & bump have dropped. Kicks are much lower (almost too low ) this cold is shocking. I feel terrible. Slept ok as the cough has turned really chesty rather than tickly. Does hurt when I cough as my whole belly tightens.

That's a late night Stealth, hope the next 14 days go quickly for you. Next milestone for me is 36 weeks & the last growth scan. Wasn't convinced I'd make it but it's only a week away now.

Just remember Bella that you will probably have changed more when you go back. Your priorities & general life will feel so different that you might not notice any changes at work. But completely normal to worry, I did the same & then didn't go back!

I can't wait to get decorated too - but I have no space to do so at the moment. DH is quite excited to go tree shopping with DD, we usually get a 6ft tree but this year we have to go small as we are getting decorators in once the kitchen refurb is completed to repair, re-plaster and repaint so I have a few weeks yet of "tradesmen" in my house!

Bella It's very normal to worry about your job, but there is no telling where the job, the firm or you will be in 1 year. With my first mat leave there was a restructuring before i left and i was shafted moved into a new team where I didn't know the manager. Within 6 months of me coming back, half the team (no kidding) incl my new line manager was made redundant. All I could do during my first mat leave, which I intend to do this time round as well, is to check in periodically and go into the office to meet my line manager and manager once-removed to show that I am still interested in coming back. And like emz said, you may change and may not want to return anyway. Two colleagues went on mat leave in Feb / Mar - one is returning in Feb, the other one has handed in her notice - so you never know really!

Anyway - 8 more days at work [does a little dance]. I can't wait. I have a scan early next week too , and I'll be discussing my birth plan with my MW. Apparently sweeps are not given until 41w in my NHS PCT for second time mums, but I am going to request one for due date or earlier as my back is killing me. Will see how it goes.

That was far better put Lucy. Sounds hard for you when you went back. I don't know when we will get our tree. But I'd like to be organised. Keep staring at my Christmas cards, I think I'm hoping they will write themselves!

I haven't really got a birth plan. Well I probably have some ideas but I found it so stressful last time when it all got thrown out the window that I'm going to try & be more relaxed & go with it.

Oh dear lucy that's what I'm worried about - being shafted whilst on leave! But as emz said, I will have changed too so maybe I won't want to go back - it's just so strange to be packing up and not knowing what the future holds. I guess it's to be expected as I've put my career first for so long. Time for a change!

I'm hoping to get a christmas tree this weekend too! Can't wait to get into the xmas spirit!

My bump has definitely dropped, it's changed shape and seems much harder now. I can't tell if I'm having braxton hicks or not. Had food with friends tonight and they were all discussing their new yrs eve plans - I wonder what we'll be doing!!

Happy 30th November admarks and colonol - we've made it to the 1 month to go mark! A friend posted this on my facebook yesterday, it will be relevant to everyone on the thread...

This cold just seems to be getting worse. My poor DS was bored yesterday. Not quite poorly enough to snuggle in front of the tv but not well enough to want to play. He's off to nursery this morning so I'm trying to get a few jobs done before I can put my feet up & write my Christmas cards.

I thought my bump had dropped & the kicks are much lower but this morning it seems high again. My dates put me on EDD of 30th Dec (our 5th wedding anniversary). We haven't planned anything for that or NYE as there doesn't seem much point. I'm getting a lot of Braxton hicks. I don't think I had them last time.

You never know Bella. I was adamant that I was going back to work as I loved my job but once DS was here I realised I couldn't do both well enough. For me, my job was too full on to dedicate enough time to DS. Iv had some friends hate being at home & go back after 4 months & some go back after the year. You just have to see how you feel. I never got to say goodbye to my work, I went home on the Friday night ready for my last week. Then DS arrived on the Monday. Oops.

This last bit is going to feel so long isn't it. All my pregnant friends have tried to tell me that I was lucky not to have the uncomfortable long last month. I would have taken that over a poorly DS but I am starting to realise what they meant!

I will add you to my greetings list emz - happy 30th November: 1 month to go! I know it can happen anytime but it's 1 month until officially we've reached the end and need to evict our little ones!!

Sorry to hear your still poorly, my bump dropping & chiropractor session meant that I was able to sleep a little more last night and my kidneys didn't get the bashing they've recently had and it's improved my mood so much. Hopefully you'll feel better soon too.

December is finally here! I wonder if our babies will be born this month. So exciting.

Just doing last wash of baby related clothes. Then can finish the baby's hospital bag. DH has packed his & both of ours are now in his car boot (where they have been after the scare last weekend!) anyone else labour symptom spotting? Feel like I'm back in the 2 week wait!!! This could be a very long month. Probably just me being anxious.

I'm with you on labour symptom spotting! DH announced last night that when he finishes work on the 9th we'll be starting on the old wives tale and all the other type of stuff that's supposed to be good at inducing labour! don't know if he's keen on meeting the baby or fed up with me being pregnant!

Last day in work tomorrow. I finished in one office today, it was weird saying bye to everyone, finishing at my 2nd office tomorrow, I hope I don't cry!!

Good luck tomorrow Bella.

Happy December everyone! I for one am very relieved the big day is almost here. Am just so uncomfortable now.

bella good luck at your last day of work. My maternity cover (external) started this week so that's been a relief. Someone to hand over to!

Happy Friday and 36w everyone!! We are almost there!

The pressure on my pelvic floor is unreal. When I stand up from sitting down a while it really hurts. Surprising what our bodies go through although I suppose it's not really that surprising when you think we are growing a complete human being! Beginning to wonder if this one will show up his/her older brother & arrive really really late. That would be typical with us being prepared now just in case!!

Hope your handover is going well Stealth.

Thanks all - last day was busy and managed to bring about 4 bags of stuff home (something to sort through when baby is overdue I suppose!!) but it was very weird wiping down my newly emptied desk, leaving my key and walking out knowing I won't be there on Monday! Won't miss the pressure of the job though!

Glad to heat you can do a face to face handover stealth it is so much easier when they can ask questions as they come to mind.

Have a really busy weekend ahead before rest begins on Monday! I just hope I'm not pushing things and baby comes early

The pressure of the baby is quite uncomfortable now, he gets into a certain position which makes my belly feel so tight and sore! I stop every now and then as I expect my waters to go the pressure down below is so high, but nothing has happened yet! I've started realising that the next stage is birth and things are about to get very real...! We have an actual human inside us!!

This baby is so heavy & low. And my cold is still hanging around. DH said my snoring was the worst lastnight oops! (Still don't believe it ) can't help feeling impatient but I do keep reminding myself that the baby still needs some growing. I guess psychologically I had assumed the baby would be here by now so I'm finding it hard. It should be a positive thing that I'm still pregnant.

Scary how many December babies have been born already!! Hope you manage some rest now Bella & hope you enjoy it. I had a coughing fit earlier & my belly tightened so much & for so long I thought I was going to go into labour (I was driving at the time!) it was mega painful. My poor tummy muscles.

How's everyone else? Sounds like I'm a right old misery guts but I am actually quite excited. Christmas tree is bought & up. Just got to wait for more lights before we can decorate it. All getting very festive!

Haven't got our tree yet but that's the plan for saturday so can't wait for that!! I was fighting off a cold on saturday, felt very rough, had all the usual signs of being run down and about to become ill, but an early night on saturday and lots of rest, oranges and water (and a big dose of luck) I seem to have successfully avoided it. Sorry to hear yours is still hanging around emz

I'm feeling very well rested after my first day of leave, but am itching wanting to go get all my xmas shopping finished this week 'just in case' but at the same time don't want to get everything done too soon or I'll be bored next week!

MW calling in tomorrow morning to go through the birth 'plan' - hoping she brings the doppler so DH can finally hear the heartbeat as he's not come to the other general midwife appointments with me.

Everybody else feeling ok?

All good here. My ribs are about to explode I'm in so much pain - I am starting to worry about what on earth is going on - but apart from that fine. Baby has been so mega active these last few days!

bella glad the first day of leave went well. Enjoy it!

We put our tree up yesterday and it looks great. Am so happy with it! Funny to think there will almost certainly be a little baby sitting under it before we take it down!

Evening ladies. Just popping on quickly to say I'm still here and still manically busy. Nothing major to report. Things very similar to most of you. Started feeling really uncomfortable with bad backache the last few days and been absolutely wiped out today. DH is nagging me to finish work early (meant to be in until the 16th) but going to see how it goes.
Bought our tree and did all the decorations yesterday so looking very festive here now.
Also fighting off the lurgy. It's been threatening for a few days but been on the honey/lemon/cloves in hot water so it hasn't come to anything as yet. Wishing those of you with the full blown lurgy a speedy recovery x

Hopefully the lurgy will depart soon. Somehow DH has avoided it so far (probably just as well as I know how bad man flu is ). Hope it gets less busy Happy and you manage some rest once your mat leave starts. Glad you are managing some rest Bella. I was up at the crack of dawn to get DS to hospital appointment. All fine, next check up will be February. We spend roughly 2 hours at hospital seeing various people (and the clinic always runs late). I'm hoping DH might be able to come next time as not sure how I'll juggle a small baby & DS. All feels a bit overwhelming when I think about the practical things (getting DS to nursery etc) but then I think about having an actual newborn baby & I get excited. Trying not to think about the birth too much.

So I woke at 2.30am this morning with period pains. Went to the loo & they lessened a bit but were still there. My lower back has been killing me since yesterday & had a bad stomach this morning. Got excited (and scared) that this might be it but nothing now. Trying to rest but it's hard.

Just checking in - I'm also still here with no baby news to report.

Sorry about the lurgies and general pains/you're getting. I hoping they are all part of the process as I am with you on all counts!

Congrats on maternity leave Bella - put your feet up and enjoy!

Happy - hope you're ok? My OH is also worried about me still working (and having the baby on a train). Thankfully (I think!) I finish on Friday. So not much longer for me. Listen to your body is my advise, if you're feeling ok with it keep going as far as you can as it will give you more time the other side. But if you're starting to struggle, might be best to slow down. Can you work from home at all?

Glad to hear your DS is ok Emz. Quarterly checkups sound tough - have you got any family around who can assist with the logistics of the check-ups?

So, my update, 36 week appointment showed baby to be a bit small (fundal 31cm) and also breech so I was referred for a scan for growth and presentation. Suffice to say baby is ok, but on the small end of the normal range (no percentiles were quotes but looking at the charts about 25%), but baby is frank breech.... I've had my suspicions but as a first timer not too sure. Anyway, I've got another scan on Friday to check presentation and if still breech perform ECV (if I want) and book c-section date. I've been working on baby coming late so having a c-section possibly before Christmas has panicked me!!!

Oh Emz I hope everything is ok. Keep us posted.
All good thanks Admarks. Felt better today though still knackered by the time I got home. I'm a teacher so no chance of working at home but will start to slow things down towards the end of term. I'm off timetable for the next 2 days doing speaking exams - so basically just sitting in a room talking which I should be able to manage!
Sorry to hear your appointment wasn't what you'd expected. Know what you mean about the panic. All along I've thought this baby would come around the 5th Jan (no idea why I thought this, it's just what I had in my head!) so when they mentioned induction at 39/40 weeks it freaked the hell out of me!
Also quite scary that I'll technically be classed as full term from tomorrow. It's starting to dawn on me that this baby could come at any moment!

Totally with you on the full term realisation, Happy!

Great to hear updates from you all! Hope baby turns naturally before friday for you admarks It would be quite nice to have the baby before xmas though wouldn't it?! Perfect little gift!

Happy full term happylass - hope things slow down for you at work.

emz glad to hear DS is well. Did anything else come from the period pains?

stealth eek about your ribs. Have you talked to your MW about it?

MW had to cancel on me this morning due to an emergency with another lady. I'm gutted about not having my appointment but can't stop thinking about the other lady and want to know everything is ok with her. The realisation that it could be me on the other side needing emergency help has really brought it home that the end is so so close. Been planning xmas day with my family tonight...I'm so excited and all the what ifs and who will stay sober to drive me to the hospital talk made me really super duper excited to meet baby!!

Good to hear everyone else's news. Getting very exciting now! Iv got my last growth scan tomorrow & excited to see baby for the last time before I (hopefully) get to hold him/her! I'm still hanging in there. Had a busy day with DS today & feel exhausted. He wasn't too impressed with me taking him for his chicken pox vaccine! Hopefully it'll cover him & mean the baby is safe in the newborn period. Period pains just sort of came & went. Probably just muscles stretching. I keep looking at DS & can't help feeling a bit guilty. He has no idea how much this is going to change things (although I'm hoping to keep the changes to a minimum). Still struggling with names. Keep thinking we are there & then one of us changes their minds. I fell in love with DSs name & Iv been waiting for that this time.... No luck yet!