Due December 07 - The end is in sight, or is it just the beginning!

[Wizzska]

Hello everyone. Will you come and join me?

I can do growing a baby...I am now remembering all the pain and gunk bit that involves the baby coming out....wish dh could do that bit.

Do you think it is too late to go for an elective c-section...actually best not joke about such things as blood pressure still on the high side of almost not being allowed to use my pool!

I like Toby too!

thanks insy!! we're planning on using gaffa loads for the birth we've got a load of duvets and we're gonna tape shower curtains over them so we've got a waterproof yet squidgy area for me to move about on and for getting in and out of the pool etc.
Also read really good to put duvet underneath pool before pumping up for extra padding on your knees when in the pool.

I'm blocking out the pain and gunk!

off for a bath and to bed - thanks for a lovely chat, I haven't met anyone planning a home birth and all other mums (pg or with baby) look at me as if I'm mad - there are a few of us planning it on here tho so can't be that unusal

glad you like name - I keep playing it over in my head and it just works - don't think will have a back up

We have a rug under ours covered by a large taupalin.

which pool do you have melly? the regular birth pool in box has inflated base, I had a sit in friends one other day (without water) and it was very comfortable and that was on wooden floor

anyway am logging off - must run bath before I fall asleep, been promising it myself all day and now got sucked in to MN!

loads of people do that to me too insy but know it's the right thing for us and am really looking forward to being in my own familiar environment.

have a lovely bath and sleep xxxx

it's the reg.birth in a box pool, and yes it is padded, but after reading loads of water birth experiences app. after a few hours of being on your knees it doesn't feel so padded anymore!! And loads people recommend the extra padding of the duvet!! So we're gonna do that, ours is a hard laminate floor so I'm sure it can't hurt to have as much comfort as poss!

Sorry to interrupt ladies but it's that time of the month again! Are any of you in Merseyside and thinking about breastfeeding? Look here for details of an antenatal breastfeeding workshop this Thursday, especially for pg ladies. It's not a "sales pitch"; no one is going to try and "talk you into it"; it's more of a "how to" so that if you do go down the bf route, you'll be prepared once you've given birth.

And there's free biscuits. And tea. And coffee.

Just read an article reporting research that for "white women" the average due date for a first baby was 40 weeks plus 8 days!!! And could be longer if your cycle is long (say 30+days). Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for first-times

MW been and gone and all pretty good. Not engaged but in a good head down position and seems pretty comfy there. Fundal height 37cm which is bang on and as I thought my weight circumference unchanged from 6 weeks again which matches my (nil) weight gain. Every cm of baby added matched by cm off due to not eating much on the good old heartburn weight watchers plan!!

Things I'm looking forward to:
eating food
beating DD in the race upstairs to bed at her bedtime
lying on my back in bed
buying some new clothes
introducing DD to her new sister and seeing them together

Things I will miss
DD kissing and cuddling my tummy
fun and cuddles with DD, just the 2 of us
"Me"-time
not listening anxiously to hear if snuffling-like sounds at 1/2/3/4/5am turn into cries...

Morning ladies,

You have been busy this weekend!

CONGRATULATIONS - the lady!! How exciting!

Hi RGPARGY

Melly, Beckle, CP regarding your losses and Suey2 - hope your dad gets to see your baby.

McDoddle - BH or the real thing???

Pecka - I like EVA

3 working days left..whoooohooo!!! Defo starting to wind down now....

Things that I miss: putting boots on, but DD is such a sweetheart, she carries them over to me and helps me put them on.

Getting lots of pokes from LO - could see bits (not sure what though) poking out over the weekend.

Sleep update - another crap night sleep - but not due to bump! Woke up around 2am as I had a mega bad sore throat so went down to set some Stepsils, then DD woke up at 4am full of joy and life and didn't settle back until 6am! Not like her at all, but it was funny when I tried to get her to settle down with us under the under the duvet, she jumped out came jumping over to me saying 'Where's mummy gone? I can see you!' bless her.

Anyone else got those Gap vouchers that were doing the rounds on the internet? Went into GAP on Saturday and bought a few cute dresses for DD to wear to the functions that we have over Xmas and Eid. Didn't buy anything for LO as the neutral stuff was a bit pants.

worst clothing to put on- tights. No contest. I too am struggling with comfortable trousers= they fall down. The neater ones dig into the bump and are not comfortable, although they don't fall down. Taking a wide-legged stance when sitting all the time now.

Was totally exhausted yesterday after being at a wedding all day saturday- still disappointed I didn't have a dance, though. What a conversation opener, too! the amount of people who came over to talk to me (which was nice, as i only knew bride and groom). And the number of women who told me that they were jealous! That they remember how special the birth of their first child was and how exciting this time was. Which it is, let's face it, but a bit of selective memory re how the body feels, i think!

Ambi- i think you are a bit nuts taking your hospital bag with you- unless of course you have super fast labours. Maybe i have got it worng- I ahd assumed that there would be time for DH to come back and get it if we are out and about? Advice please ladies

Morning

Thelady - I hope you are doing ok with baby Frances

Amani - I bet you cant wait to finish work

I had yet another iron drip yesterday, im so fed up with trailing into the hospital all the time, 5 more to go!!!
Midwife yesterday said ds2 had turned and now has his back facing mine which is why ive got terrible backache the past few days. Got appointment with my midwife today and back at hospital tomorrow, i just want to stay in with my pj's on i dont want to go out in the cold

Fifi - can't wait to finish work, but can feel a bit of a temperature coming along with the blasted sore throat. Knowing my luck it will hit me with force as soon as I go off on maternity leave.

Ouch on the back to back position!

Hope the iron drip sessions don't tire you out too much.

Morning everyone, got loads to do today! Had quite a busy weekend, got two gift baskets from my mum and her sister, lots of lovely and practical items. Only thing is, some of the stuff my aunty got me are really girlie, so hope lo is a girl Have left tags on so if lo is a boy I can get it swapped.

Morning

Suey, I didn't take my hospital bag with me because like you said we only live 35/40 mins from the hospital and my first labour was quite long so plenty of time for DH to get it. Also I don't think I would go straight from being out to the hospital as initial labour is quite slow (from first contraction or your waters breaking).

Amani - count down to mat leave, that's great. You've done so well to work up until now.

Suey - I wouldn't take my bag out and about, unless going somewhere further away than an hour - I might stick it in the boot if we go out for the evening to someone's house, just to save having to come back for it if needed. Of course I still need to actually pack it...

Amani - I must have missed out on the Gap vouchers? Usually I hear of all sorts of special offers!

DD2 has an INSET day today so must get off backside and do the cutting-and-sticking I've promised her (figured that half hour effort this morning might mean she'll do her own thing this afternoon and just play with her dollies!)

Housemum - I've got the e-voucher which is acceptable in the stores. If you want it I can pass it onto you (not sure how though - don't like the idea of posting my email address)

Aah, time for a cup of coffee and a sit down.

Have had a cleaning frenzy round the flat this morning and have been trying to make the spare room look a little like a nursery. Still piles of junk in there that need sorting out, but its looking a little better.

Have been trying to hang some pictures up. You'd have thought that since I work in an art gallery I'd be able to hang pictures on my own. It is so hard to get them straight. Have almost admitted defeat and might wait for DH to come home. I wanted it to be a surprise for him to have it all nice and organised for when he's back from work.

Morning ladies

Well stuck in bed as piles are bleeding now so told to stay off feet

dh off for a couple of days and dad doing school run.

blind people just been and fitted conservatory and bathroom and put black out blind in nursery.just sneeked a peek and looks good and got shouted at for getting up

feels strange now knowing baby can come anytime.due sat but if not here by next mon will either be induced if body ready or section tues

both scared and v excited

Morning everyone,

Congrats to thelady and thelord!!!!! Can't believe she has had her baby already - when was she due - does anyone know? Fantastic news anyway

I've missed so much over the weekend I won;t even try to comment (although have read everything)

chocpeanut - sounds like you might be next..

no, I wouldn't take my hospital bag out with me either, esp. for a first labour as you'll almost certainly have a few hours to get organised

insy, cazzy and melly - very of your home water births - can't wait to hear all about them

I think the things I'll miss most when I'm not pg is having DD all to myself. I am def making the most of it atm as I know I won't be able to hug and kiss her as much when I have a newborn constantly feeding . She has just started saying I love you as well ('I lub yooo') which just melts my heart. She gets such an excited reaction to it that she says it about 20 times a day as well

Wizzska - Do you fancy coming and helping me??? ]

I really want to give the house a good scrub ready to put my tree and stuff up but i just cant summon up the energy to do it.
I might start on our bedroom when i get back from mw this afternoon, i had all intentions of doing it yesterday but dp was off work so i took advantage of him looking after ds and had a nap instead

Morning everyone

Am very impressed at the number of you people planning home births, especially first timers. Had I had a good first birth (not the c/s that I ended up with!) I definitely would have considered a home birth. I love the idea of being able to get into my own bath, then my own bed afterwards. And being able to eat something nice straight away rather than having to wait until the hospital decides it's the next mealtime

Insy - my baby has been less active for the last couple of days as well (having said that as soon as I typed that I got a massive kick!). I can still feel it moving fairly frequently though so am not going to fret about it. How long before your labour started did this happen to you last time?

Btw this little one has been nicknamed Mattie throughout my pregnancy as we called it Basmatti at the beginning - after the rice (as I read it was the size of a grain of rice when I first found out I was expecting). That is all that dd knows it as. Do you think just calling a baby girl Mattie (rather than Mathilda) is acceptable?

Pecka - you have very good taste in names. I like all of your choices but Celeste is so pretty. I wanted it last time round but DH wouldn't agree.

Suey really sorry to hear about your dad. I am lucky as my parents are still very much alive and active. However my DH's parents died before I even met him and I feel very sad that they never knew they have grandchildren. I know he found it hard when dd was born and he saw my mum with her, knowing that his mum would never have the chance to hold her. Oh no sorry getting emotional now...

clara - I think Mattie is a great name esp. if it is short for Basmati!!

I have also been feel less movmeent and have also been a bit damp down below (sorry TMI) which makes me wonder if birth might be soonish - but am trying not to get into that frame of mind as it drove me to distraction last time

Skidd - I know, every little thing has me wondering is this it? I'm not even at my due date yet and I am so impatient! My parents (who will look after dd) have gone to stay with friends until Wednesday and I told them not to worry, I don't feel the baby is about to come. But then, how do you know? Presumably you can go into labour without any particular hints beforehand????

Btw, am at your gorgeous little girl (have seen the pic - tried to post one of my dd but failed, might try again in a bit!) saying "I love you". Mine is usually a poppet but she prefers to say "I don't like mummy" or "go away mummy"! Have been getting lots of hugs recently though so can't complain....