Due in December 07 - that's next month!!

[buzzybee]

Thought I'd start a new thread

MM - glad am not the only person who classfies stay up to watch Desperate Housewives as 'late'

Fifi - completely understand about being upset about the hospital appointment, I alays want someone with me for moral support if I need to go in. It seems you are stressing out a little, I know it might be hard but you need to relax and put your feet up. Do you have anyone that can look afte DS while you have a little 'me' time?

Seems we are at the fed up with work stage, got 4 and a half weeks to go until my mat leave.....so bloody long way away....

Thanks for all the welcomes!!
I feel so guilty as I finished work at 31 weeks I am in awe of you guys who are still going it must be really tough. I was really lucky and had heaps of A/L that i had to use up or lose so it meant I could finish much earlier than i thought I would be able to.
It's frightnening how quickly you get used to not going to work, after doing a forty hour week and an hour commute there and back i'm now wondering how i did it at all!! (and how the hell I'll cope going back.....)

Woohoo off tomorrow, going shopping with a couple of friends, then only a week to go before M/L!!!!!
Got appt with MW tomorrow, going to ask how feasible it would be for me to have a water birth as I have been read a lot about them and they sound really appealing.

Hi Mellymooks, wow your working weeks used to be very long, no wonder you finished up at 31 wks. If and when you return to work you'll soon find yourself in a routine so don't worry too much about it.

Just back from A&E with DD (21 months), she was jumping up and down with DH holding onto her arms when she started screaming, her left arm was all limp and she was obviously in a lot of pain. The Doctor examined her and fixed her arm - it was a ligament that covers the arm and elbow that had twisted out of position when she was jumping with Daddy - what a relief when he put it right, she started moving it again and I cried with happiness that she was ok.

Off to get some cereal for dinner now!

Buzzy - great news - what a shit the previous consultant was! Hope it all turns out to be OK.

Caz - teachers have my utmost respect! I went into school for half an hour yesterday morning to hear some year R children read - I couldn't have stayed there any longer!!

Cbeebies is the such a lifesaver - good quality programmes (mostly) and NO adverts! Was not happy with DH for letting on to DD2 that there were other channels - she has now learnt that adverts exist - grrr.

Good luck to those trying to sit properly - I do sometimes, but I can't help slouching in front of the telly - we have a v comfy slouchy sofa - it's very deep front to back, so if you put your legs down, you can't rest your back without slouching. I should get off my fat arse to get my beanie pillow to push me forward but that involves thinking about it and making the effort - not going to happen! Still, trying to get a decent walk each day, so that should help too. And subsequent babies don't engage that early.

Wrapped Christmas pressies tonight and have put them in a big cardboard box that some mail order stuff arrived in. Have put commas between the names on the gift tag (eg Shaggy, Scooby, Velma rather than Shaggy, Scooby and Velma) so that I can just add the baby's name too if it arrives before I give out the pressies! (Put the pen in the box with the pressies so that it'll look the same) Would like to write cards in advance but that's trickier so I might just address the envelopes then I only have to write the to & from.

Started getting hospital bags ready - have done the changing bag, and have a "bulk stuff" bag to stay in the boot - more nappies/sanitary towels/breast pads/extra clothes for me & baby in case stay in. Think mine will have to have a "last minute" list on top rather than packing toiletries now. Seems daft to end up with 2 lots of stuff on the go - unless things happen very quickly I will have time to just grab toothbrush/face wash/deodorant on the way out! Must remember nearer the time to check the charge on the camera every week and keep it in the changing bag.

Thanks Housemum, Amani, Skid, Wizzka and everyone!
You must all think I'm mad and completely over-reacted the other day!! But you do tend to believe consultants when they talk in such certain terms...
Anyway its all such a relief. Funny but 10 days ago I would have been upset that homebirth has been ruled out and there's still a fairly strong chance of some sort of bowel issue or related but now that just seems like a little thing that we'll get through OK.

fifi I can understand exactly how you feel. Things can seem completely overwhelming at times. Talking about it on this website has helped me in the past. I had to organise for a friend to pick up my DD from school on 22 Nov today (when my next scan is scheduled) and didn't like to ask her - but she like many others has offered to help out before and usually I just find a way to battle on but sometimes that's just not a good idea. The alternative was that I picked DD up early and took her to the hospital with me but that was really a last resort option. Of course my friend was completely relaxed and very happy to help despite having to leave her work to pick up DD - I don't know why I was so afraid to ask.

Oh and Housemum thanks for the reminder about the camera - had completely overlooked that! Have already packed bag but now think will have to repack in a bigger one if I'm prepared to be in hospital for 3 days. The current one only has one change of clothes for me, no dressing gown etc. Must admit I had underestimated the amount of space required for 2 packs newborn nappies, 2 packs maternity pads, cotton wool, breast pads plus breast pump and bottles! Most of the rest of the bag is taken up with babygros, blanket, hat....no room for me!

Hey buzzy - you didn't overreact - that horrible consultant panicked you with his doomsaying! really glad you can be relaxed about it all. Couldn't help notice you are packing a breast pump, I have been told not to start expressing until a few weeks after baby is born to allow breasfeeding to be established. But have also been told to start as soon as possible. What has been your experience in this regard? There does seem to be a bit of conflicting advice about it which is why I've held off buying one until after.

Fifi - hope you are okay, it is amazing just the littlest things can reduce us to tears, we are all in just a very vulnerable state.
Housemum - good God woman, you are so organised! I need to take a leaf out of your book!

Breast pump - well its just that DD and I never did get on with breast-feeding so I ended up expressing for 7 weeks and mixed feeding over that time until my breast milk dried up.
Looking back I think it was a combination of us both. She wasn't a sucky baby and my nipples were a bit inverted (sorry if TMI!) Have had a friend recently have to give up trying to breatfeed baby #3 after no probs with first 2 so can now see that some babies just aren't into it despite what all the advocates say!
This time I'm going to try again but not get too stressed about it. Also found last time it helped to pump a little to get the milk flowing and then try and get DD to latch on ("helped" but not enough unfortunately).
I suspect it varies hugely between women as to whether expressing is a good idea or not. For me I can't really see a down side - at least this way I can be sure she gets some of that vital colustrum - but then I won't be upset if we end up going down the same route as last time.
Expressing then feeding is rather exhausting though!

BTW I just used the Avent pump during those 7 weeks (manual pump). I did rent a double electric one for a couple of weeks but didn't really get on with it - made me feel like a cow on a milking machine and not really any faster . That pump has now been passed through 2 friends and found its way back to me again!!

Morning all -today is my first full day of rest as order by the doctor, so am going to do nothing at all today - although I will probbaly have to sit on my hands to stop myself from getting the hoover out.

Loucee - that must have been quite scary for you, but good to know DD is well.

Talking about breast pumps thinking of going forthe Mendela electric one or the Avent ISIS one. Both seems to have good reviews on the products page...

Morning everyone

I managed to go xmas shopping last night, it was nice to get out the house on my own for a few hours with adults.
I dont feel as stressed out today, yesterday must have been a 'down day', but im now loaded with the cold that ds has had, so thats contributed to me having about 2 hours sleep again

I cant wait for this to be over now, hopefully if i can get the date i want for cs i'll be having ds2 4 weeks tomorrow.

Morning all,

Loucee - glad to hear that DD arm was easily fixed, must have been scary though.

I am going to try and hold off on expressing this time until I have feeding established as I foudn it all very difficult last time, not sure it had very much to do with expressing as there were so many factors, but going to try leaving expressing out for the first few weeks and see if it makes a difference.

I think Buzzy is right it is very dependant on so many things and what is right for one mum or one baby wont necessarily be for another.

fifi - glad you are feeling a little better hun.

hey fifi, how nice to be able to plan!
I had 4 or 5 BHs yesterday and actually started counting between them! Scary. At least I know what they feel like now.
Giving myself a down day today- totally overdone it this week and am shattered. Have a list of jobs to do, but tomorrow is soon enough.
The more i think about it, the more i think we were nuts to arrange a housewarming party for saturday. DH is determined that all the boxes are unpacked and the house looks as good as possible. Tough.

Morning everyone. Nice to hear the chat today is generally positive and we're all getting on ok and coping with the things life is throwing us.

Temp off again today, so another relaxing day doing things at my own speed and tomorrow is a day off going shopping with an old friend. I think I'm fighting off the horrible cold that is going round - I think (fingers crossed) I'm winning.

So knackered last night I fell asleep at 9.00. Had lovely dreams about the baby though, that I was just getting used to looking after him and breast feeding him, but I was in a really stupid long dress and had to fit him inside it to get to me. I woke up and his arrival felt a bit closer and more real to me. As a first timer, the reality and enormity of the situation sometimes a bit abstract and difficult to imagine.

Oh, and can I have a gold star please - I tried perineal massage last night. Not a wonderful experience, but not too bad either.

will you be trying again wizzka

Yes, will keep at it - they say you're less likely to tear so I'll try every day in the shower.

I am hoping being in the water will stop tearing as I am not brave enough to tackle the massage.

Gold star to you Wizzska! Thought about it last night but then had a better offer...

hahaha

Lucky you Housemum! I think DH is a little scared of me at the moment. It must be a bit wierd for the poor blokes. DH will have to put up with a huge egg shaped wife coming at him with twinkle in her eye.

...and a new stretchier fanny!