Due March 2008 - for our early arrivals and the loooooong 3rd trimesters

[merryberry]

Hello all.

Snort, BMum, you have a very different idea to me about what a low combined income is!! Thanks for the tip!

MB - glad you had a lovely birthday, and ouch for your shoulder! I didn't invent an excuse in the end, just asked personnel to take a day off my annual leave. I'm a wimp!

SHHayls - I know how you feel being a useless hippo at work. I didn't achieve much today either, and also have one week to go (YAY!!!!).

We had my farewell lunch at work today cos a big group of people are going away for work/holidays etc next week, so they won't see me again before I leave. We all went to the pub, and the first lot of food arrived about half an hour before the second lot ! The boss had a meeting and had to go, and he'd given half of us a lift, so those of us who had eaten had to go with him when the other group's food had only just arrived! So I had to leave my leaving do early! Very weird! On the good side, boss says we can go out again next week, aaaaaaand, I got one of these changing bags, which I have wanted since DD was a baby!! I did drop hints that I'd like one... couldn't really justify getting it myself cos I just wanted rather than needed it, but it's sooooooooooooooooo cute and lovely! And practical too, with many wonderful expanding pouches, storage places, bottle insulating things and changing mat etc etc.

e14 - I am using one of fav bags that is older (hence can get wrecked if need be) but still will make me feel fashioonable. i had a dear friend offer to buy me whatever bag i wanted but i was worried about just getting one just to have it. friend is buying nursery bedding instead! :.) the only thing another friend of mine who just had a baby suggested was that it was nice to have outside pockets for bottle and dummies and things but i think i'll manage.

hope everyone's having a good weekend! off to interview doulas!

ooh yes HQ, lots of people talking to me about childbirth, especially when walking the dog. I personally find it annoying because it always involved 'you must try...' followed by mad suggestions of contented baby book or gin in the milk or similar, or 'you must have an epidural'. Really, I must? I never realised there were rules... I suppose it makes a change from the dog handling tips i normally get when people see my mutts dragging me backwards across the park.

Can't believe that some of you still have weeks of work left - if I was told I had to work another minute I would cry. Hope you're all taking it easy and your employers are understanding.

feel like an enormous lump too, hippoesque as tried to get out the bath yesterday. also am mega hormonal, or maybe borderline crazy, bursting into tears at the slightest thing and hoping that's normal but not wanting to ask in case everyone says 'no, no-one else is like that'...

ho hum, 5 weeks today and still no baby stuff acquired. Am definitely going to get organised soon. Just one more cup of tea and choccy biccy, then I'll start.

Fluff I think we must be due about the same time. It is all starting to seem very close. I finished work yesterday and it was a very weird feeling - especially being wished luck by so many people. It suddenly made having a baby seem very real - nothing else to plan / think about now, which is good because I am not at all organised. And no, you are not the only one bursting into tears! Poor DH is bearing the brunt (not that he is being particularly sympathetic!) and I am having to be careful what I watch on television!

Dreamt that LO was born with so much hair (very thick and orange!) that we had to take him to the hairdresser on the way home from the hospital! But better than the night before when I dreamt that I had puppies! Anyone else going mad?

Have a good weekend all!

Quick reminder to everyone to have a lie-in while you can, enjoy the freedom of being spontaneous and just flying out the door with nothing but keys and purse to anywhere you like, and enjoy the silence. Oh yes, and sex.
Really, enjoy these things now!! Have a good weekend everybody!

sex? Snort.... DH has been very patient as it hasn't even crossed my mind since a couple of days after we conceived the incumbent monster. So much for libido being increased in pregnancy! Mind you, might force him into it in a couple of weeks time just to get things moving, if we can find a way that doesn't involve me getting indigestion or dodgy knees

May have to go into work on Monday and swap my day off this week for another one. My delightful maternity cover knackered her back and took yesterday and 1/2 day before off sick. Sympathy for her plight, but buggered if i'm going to be doing all the month end work she needs to learn to do without me.

PiggyP, did you see my post a week or so ago about my pumpkin dream? You had to chose a pumpkin from a trolley brought round by nurses, and the size and shape of said pumpkin indicated would the size and shape of your babys head would be!! I am notorious for having wierd dreams

Well, I am came to the conclusion last night that I must be nesting, something which I do not remember experiencing before! Or maybe it is just that nothing is ready and I'm suddenly panicking! Woke in the night and couldn't get back to sleep so started thinking about clearing out and rearranging the airing cupboard! Not at all me-like, I can tell you!

Derah, love the bag. Although I think I would be torn between the ladybird and the penguin!

So, I had a bit of a panic last night....

After a very full day of midwife, NCT, lunch out, etc. got home at 7pm and felt very crampy in my lower back - the famous "period-like pain". Had it pretty steadily until bed, with a few waves of stronger pain, sometimes from low abdomen round to back. Seemed to come and go like that every 10-15 minutes.

Went to bed knackered and did my hypno CD at about 10pm. Woke up in the middle of the night (didn't check clock) with much stronger cramps and walked around for a bit. Felt like I had a funny tummy and a bit nauseous. Squatted on bed and then felt even funnier. Had diorrhea (TMI, sorry) then felt better. Went back to bed, but still had a bit of cramping.

Felt pretty normal in the morning, and have only had a couple twinges today, but it kind of freaked me out. Kept thinking it was pre-labour rather than BH, as haven't had any similar symptoms.

Long and short of it was I started shopping for my hospital bag stuff today and bought a pack of newborn nappies! Makes me think this all might happen a tad sooner than expected!!

piggy glad it's not just me, and ditto the DH - taking the emotional onslaught like a man, ie not very well, but at least trying...

fly those don't sound anything like the bh i've been getting, much more like pre labour like you say. hope LO hangs on until s/he's well cooked for you.

turtle sex? really? by 9 i'm in bed and asleep, and (TMI warning) DH is lovely and not freaked out by the bump/sex issue at all, and still (so he says) things i'm sexy, but it totally freaks me if it moves during the deed and I feel like such a big lump the whole issue is a bit of non starter. I'm actually laughing at the face I've just realised i'm pulling just thinking about it.

hospital bag question - do you pack for one night hoping everything will be ok, or pack for 3 nights in case of caesarean? or take in a one-night bag and leave a 3-nighter at home for DH to bring in if needed? or am I thinking about it too much?

JFly - eep, sounds scary! Not BH, I'm sure. I would suggest you take it easy, and chat to your mw about it.

Fluffs - I would say pack for one night. If you need to stay longer it's easy enough for someone to bring you stuff. You don't want to be rooting around through loads of stuff after the birth - keep it simple!

I'm very achy tonight, I suspect LOs head might be engaging a bit or something. My poor pelvis isn't pleased!

Funny how we all feel differently about sex when preggers. I know ladies who don't do the deed at all after conception, others who can't get enough. And of course the men are all different too. Some are grossed out by preggie sex, some don't see any difference (luckily my DH is one of the latter!). I don't remember this from last time, but this time I can feel sex kinda helping the pregnancy, if that makes sense. It's like I can feel it getting the uterus in shape and stuff. Yeah, weird I know. Still, DH is happy cos he still gets some.... only problem is when cos I'm in bed so early and he stays up late!

JFly I've been getting the exact same sounding thing myself over the past week - only a couple of times when it has been pretty scary and persistent - but it has passed... So far!!

This is my first so I don't know if it's normal but I did mention to MW at my appt last week and she didn't seem too interested... Maybe the nonchalant way I brought it up while she was feeling my tummy made her just kind of nod as if it seems ok but I have also hastily ordered all the embarrassing stuff such as nipple cream and maternity pads etc for delivery rather than have to stand in a queue with it all in the trolley for everyone to look at only for a 16 yr old bloke to bleep it all through sheepishly....

I'm crossing fingers n legs n everything that our little uns hang on in there until they're a little bit further on! 37 weeks at least I think!!!

It is scary though...

jfly hope it's just warm ups until you're ready for the real thing!

paranoid - can't sleep huh? what are you doing u at this time of night?

I was fast asleep until 1.30 ish when dh arrived home from a night out trying to be quiet and failing miserably. Probably from the minute he slammed the front door gently shut

So am nursing a mug of ovaltine now in the hope that helps. Discovered i don't get on well with either cranberry juice or spatone or both at the moment as did most imressive projectile vomiting earlier this evening.

Might have been a reaction to the amount i spent in mothercare this afternoon - a good place to shop discretely for your maternity nappies/pads . Also treated myself to their extortionate pjs as they're nice 3 piece sets. And another babygro/sleeping bag. Etc.

Well hello fitnforty - I thought I was the only one!! I bet your Ovaltine has sent you off to sleep nicely by now. I am just up surfing the net and reading other people on the Jan thread's birth stories.... That aint gonna help me get to sleep anyway!!! I have a very active bambino at the moment and it feels like it is digging its little nails into the bottom left part of my uterus right now!!! I also keep getting the worst leg cramps and DH is up playing the XBox so I think I will head back to bed asap and try to get some sleep. I find I have a window of 15 mins once I "get comfortable" in bed where I must fall asleep before I have to get up (struggle struggle) and go for a wee....

Good for you with the extortionate PJ's - I think you deserve them! I saw a set on Blooming Marvellous and have had them in the basket online 5 times before going - no no no too expensive and logging out!!!

I'm off to bed now... 15 mins and counting!!! Night.

It's been a bit quiet on here today hasn't it? Everyone busy spending quality time with their dp/dh while they still have the chance?!?

I am not a happy bunny today as I woke up this morning with painful piles...again! I think it seems to happen after I've spent the day being really busy and on the feet lots, although this never happened with dd or ds. I suggested this idea to dp hoping he would insist I keep off my feet and take it a bit easier, but no such luck! Maybe I'll go back to suggesting that he has to administer the treatment cos I can't do it myself anymore - I'm sure that would soon enough have him suggest I take it easier

Fluffs, re hospital bag. I am going to pack a baby bag for all baby stuff, a labour bag for labour stuff plus overnight stuff and then a third bag for hospital stay which we will leave in the car unless needed.

LOL at the sex thing! DH has been hedging his bets all week, to which he got fobbed off and told to ask again once I had had my Saturday lie in!! Did the deed just to get another weeks peace!

Only 4 working weeks to go thank God. Getting a bit irritable much more easily now.

I have started nesting as well, but this seems to have been tranfered onto dd as I want her room finished before the baby arrives. Note to self, must get some newborn nappies, wash clothes etc.

PS DH got me a lovely early Valentines present, they are exquisite, black with shiney gold bars.....yes .....you've guessed.....BRACES!!!!! Absolutely fantastic because now I don't have a belt digging in me when I sit down and don't have to hoik my trousers up every 3 steps

been at the inlaws being showered with gifts today and spent much of evening putting carrycot on pram, taking it off, putting car seat on, taking it off, putting raincover.... oh, you get the idea.

feed liking the 3 bag idea. have just made enormously long list of things i think i need.

getting bored with this not sleeping lark. I could cope ok with just having to get up to use the toilet several times a night, but now not getting back to sleep again and taking ages to nod off to start with....my relaxation techniques aren't working, help!!!
Oh, and the ovaltine may have worked the other night but it's disgustingly chemical tasting to me...may go back to just making my own cocoa where i don't have 15 spoons of sugar in it.

Got to go into work soon since matreplacement didn't bother phoning to say she'd done what she was aiming to do over the weekend. That has pissed me off ever so slightly. THought i'd take weds off instead to break up the week, but now find that the lodger will be off that day so will either have to take tomorrow or Thurs. Can't do Friday as want to go out for my birthday lunch!

Also, off to have an appointment later tonight with the cardiologist, fingers crossed they don't find anything wrong!

Hello ladies, hope everyone has had a nice weekend!
Jfly - hope you are feeling better!
Fitnforty - the not sleeping thing is a drag, I am so awake that by the time it's morning I am very bored and have had far too many thoughts, poor dh is bombarded by a list of questions, suggestions and ideas as soon as he wakes up.
Right, first day of mat leave and I'm determined to get organised! I need lists! Due five weeks today, which just seems insane at the moment. Off to the baby shop to get some blankets - how many do I need? And bottles, is it worth buying the more expensive 'anti cholic' type? (Hoping to breastfeed anyway.)
I really like the three bag idea, it could save lots of rummaging - will the hospital be annoyed though?

Oh, and nursing bras. How do you know what size to get? How much more are boobs likely to expand? I've gone from 32b to 36c so far.

Thanks for concern - feeling pretty normal now. No further episodes of cramping, so I reckon I'm just getting ready, rather than imminently due. Put a thread on childbirth and had lots of nice sensible responses, so feel reassured. BUT, will call MW if it happens again....

Liking the 3 bags idea, too, but then would have to be extra-uber organised, and I'm not sure I have it in me. I think with all the stuff the hospital tells you to bring, they can hardly be annoyed with the size/number of bags you show up with. I mean, I've been told to bring pillows and towels and those certainly take up space. Anyway, better to be prepared than without something you suddenly find you need.

My "episode" prompted much shopping this weekend, so have bought most everything for hospital and a bit more for after. Think the remaining will be done online, as spending an hour in Boots did me in.

I plan to get two types of bottles in case I end up expressing - Dr Browns and First Years BreastFlow. Probably get 2 small ones of each brand. Have bought Avent hand pump and the little Via cups to express into. SIL said they are good for storage/freezing if you aren't expressing into Avent bottles and then also good for storing purees/foods in later.

I find if I wake up in the night to pee I do start thinking about stuff. I have heard if you write things down, it can help you get back to sleep. I just try counting down from 10 or 50, if that doesn't work. It's so hard, though, when your mind is racing.

Three more days of work and then I'm done! Wee hee!

Morning all!

Good weekend here - got lots of shopping done for our extension and did a bit of sorting in baby's room. Cotbed arrives on Weds which is very exciting! Started up my knitting again - trying to make a little pram suit/snuggler thing for when we go for walks but need to get motoring if it's to be finished by time he arrives!

Also, I bought the Baby Whisperer book and am loving it. I find it much more helpful on understanding your baby and also a bit gentler than Gina Ford, but still along the same vein of organising a routine which I like, so will probably use a mixture of the two. I told DH about it and he is planning to take it on his work trip to US this week to read on the plane - think he thinks the stewardesses will start cooing at him and giving him extra champagne if he is seen reading a baby book

piggy - one of my friends said that with her third DC she ended up buying just one nursing bra beforehand and then getting measured again about a week after the birth because for each of her DCs the size she was just before birth bore no resemblance to the size she was once the milk came in and the bras she'd bought before never fitted properly! You can buy sleep nursing bras in Mothercare which are fitted based on your back but don't have a specific cup size, so I might get one of those for the first few days, when I'll probably be lounging in bed lots anyway, and then go for a proper fitting afterwards (fortunately live just 10 mins walk from Bravissimo so it will be easy to do!)

fitnforty - hope cardiologist appt is okay

Ohmigod - the Due October 2008 thread started this weekend!!!

Ah yes, October. What shall we be doing in October? Probably all back to pre-pregnancy weight, lolling around the coffee shops looking immaculate with our darling, well-behaved babies. Or, I'm thinking probably not!

urgh, October! I'll be back to work that month, can't wait

Feeling slightly more alive now than i did this morning, think i'll have tomorrow off to recover instead. Turned out due to miscommunication i didn't have to come in today after all, but since i'm here i'll make the least of it.

Have decided that once lodger removes himself, i'll take over that bed so that i can read without disturbing DH in the middle of the night...i would send him in to the spare room if it didn't have a bed that i find easier to roll out of in my elephantine state!