Due July 2008 thread - The Final Stretch!

[LikerabbitsBX]

Just thought I would start a new thread! x

Minkus - it is an awesome episode, I'm quite tempted to watch it again. Very emotional though (even without pregnancy hormones!). Jodie's right, it'd be quite hard to summarise it.

It's a bit strange about the explosion - it sounds quite random from what I've read but everyone's been encouraged to leave work early to avoid difficult traffic (with luck that means DH will be home early, yay!).

Tafftaff - I don't tell my friends about pregnancy stuff (none of them are even thinking about babies yet) because I don't want to scare them! When I do tell them about some of the "joys" I don't think they believe me - everyone looked soooo sceptical when I whinged about morning sickness. Maybe we're just programmed to not take in any of the negative stuff about pregnancy otherwise we'd never put ourselves through it!

Afternoon all been out most of the day so trying to catch up.

13 babies need to watch that tonight - the family don't live that far away from us either.

Today I bought 2 packs of 3 muslins and a pair of PJs for me, so very slowly we are getting there. Haven't washed anything yet, packed bag as still have loads to buy for it, bought pram as still can't decide, oh need to wash blankets and moses basket stuff as well.

hi ladies

i have been beavering away at work the past few days and I am done! Last client presentation today after long day/late night and now I am free!

Feels weird but not that weird yet, as I have a couple of days of freelance writing tomorrow and monday then loads of stuff to do before dp's dad and my parents arrive next thursday!

Then after that - the following monday - I can finally chill (sort of - dp's dad is here for 10 days or something).

had a good day though - started with a massage from the lady at work, then a lovely special lunch with cakes etc and speeches for me at work. they gave me a £300 voucher for a super-posh double-michelin starred restaurant here (Noma - its one of the world's best)! Such an advertising-type gift - i thought i may get a couple of toys and babygros or something . . .
but i have to wait a while until i can do justice to it.

cilc - glad you sorted some extra care - its sounds so serious and painful! my best wishes to you.

rumpel - respect to you lady! bet that feels really great. i wish i could have sorted out finalising my masters thesis and defense, but i will do it one day (there is no deadline here so its bloody indefinite)

so now i am wandering around the flat, making a list of stuff i need to do. most of the baby stuff is done, clothes washed, everything bought (apart from a big stock of nappies), nursery done and hospital bag almost finished. i just need to do a big spring clean and sort out and get stuff ready for our wedding reception part 1 next saturday.

i am sooooooooooo not a control freak - or at least have never ever thought of myself as one. but i guess for me, preparing for a baby is like preparing for a major expedition into a foreign country . . .

peanut - having asked around and talked to the anaestist who is consultant at my job - i am very open to an epidural. i don't think i will scream for one as soon as i get to hospital but i will think about time between contractions/dialation plus how long it takes to get one (approx an hour at the hospital i am going to) and the level of pain i am in too, of course!

Tjuice - congrats on the maternity leave! Kudos to your colleagues for a fab send-off

Re control freakery - people keep telling me that I don't have to do everything now but I want to. I feel much more relaxed walking into the nursery and seeing everything slowly getting ready. I figure there's no way I can be prepared for the reality of life with a first baby but I can at least kid myself that I'm prepared if I have the stuff all ready. Besides, there's not much else to do!

Does anyone else feel guilty if they sneeze? I keep sneezing really strongly and then I feel bad for waking the baby up!

Oooh have just read the plot online, sounds a bit of a nail biter!

And well done TJuice- make sure you use those vouchers too such a nice pressie

Yeah, I was so tense watching it! I was really worked up about what's going to happen so I confess I read a spoiler about next week just so I didn't have to spend the whole week wondering

Put my buggy together today (looks fab), and bought some more pj's seeing as I will be going to hospital. Not done much nesting because I went into town and got my hair done this morning.
tafftaff - I've not measured but feel giant today!

Bought a really ugly button fronted nighty from primark - only £3 and dark blue so it doesn't matter if I bleed on it! 5 pairs of black knickers for £2. Very chuffed with my bargains. I will feel perfectly happy throwing them away! Never been in there before. What bargains! Bought soe leggings for DD foe £1, and when she saw them she said, 'they're really nice!'

Heffa - DH was in Exeter today - not your usual west country goings on at all!

Well thats me done for the day. (done in too!)

Done 3 loads of washing today. 2 of those being baby bits.
Just finished ironing them and the huge pile from yesterday so knackered now!

Tomorrow im going to do all the beddng,blankets,towels etc.

DH says theres no rush and i should space it out but i like to have it done and ready.
plus kinda thinking the bigger i get that harder it will be.

Tjuice- Sounds like a fab last day! and WOW! what a yummy gift.
If it was me id have to wait till after baby as my appetite isnt what it was!

Heffa- at waking baby with your sneezing

Isaidno- Glad the prams up and looing good. DH sugested we take ours for a spin round the close but the neighbours might think we were abit odd!!

EEC - yeah, its all rather bizarre! Seems like it's a bit of a storm in a teacup but provided some excitement!

Pigley - my DH was thinking about me using the pram to go shopping (pre-baby). I tried to explain that this would just make me look like an utterly mad lady!

Hi All,

Thank you all very much for your kind words re my degree.

I am very clumsy just now - I tripped over the cats' beds and landed heavily on my (well-padded) arse - DH came in to find me in tears on the floor as I got a fright and it was a bit sore. Squished baby's head against my innards. I twisted my right foot - the one I managed to rip the big toenail off of whilst being sick on the bathroom floor, then I whacked it into the sofa and my toes are still brusied and stiff from that! Arggg! I am much more emotional this pregnancy - I don't know if it is perhaps because I have being having 'therapy' to release past emotional stuff or if I am just getting a bit pathetic in my old age

I don't use fabric conditioner either - just a couple of drops of lavender essential oil.

RE BIRTH PLAN - I haven't done mine yet either - a must do for this weekend. Last time I had my homeopathic birthing kit, essential oils, MP3, tens, birthing ball and really desperately wanted a water birth with just gas and air if possible. Ahem - ended up with diamorphine (which I will refuse this time as it made me vomit like mad) then an epidueral - which was AMAZINGINGLY FANTASTIC I was absolutley knackered and it allowed me to rest and took the excrutiating pain away . This time I will be aiming for a waterbirth with gas and air but if I need an epideural then so be it. I am hoping it might be less painful this time (ie bearable) as DD was back to back.

I always thought I had a high pain threshold as I have 5 tattoos (including my lipliner) and 13 piercings - including my nipples and tongue. Also I am a red head and according to a recent scientific study redheads have the highest pain threshold

Obviously I am wrong..

Take care allxxxxx

Hope you're ok now Rumpel x

Pigley there is a local (mad) old woman who pushes her scrawny little dog around our town in a buggy. If you're really eager to try it out I would suggest nothing bigger than a yorkshire terrier.

Just having a cuppa then going to bed, hopefully to sleep better tonight. Might see you at 4am again otherwise!

Rumpel ouch lipliner tattoo that must have been quite painful, it's soo sensitive there! Not to mention your nips! I have the standard 1 tattoo and 2 piercings (er, my ears) but would like another small tat and would consider another peicing if it was somewhere non fleshy. So either my hair or my nails . Where are your other tats?

I'm a ginge too - and before having ds would have said that my pain threshold was as low as a sausage dogs tum- but then managed to squeeze ds out in just over 4 hrs with only my TENS machine and 15 mins of gas and air. But then I was begging for an epidural, there just wasn't time so perhaps I am not as 'ard as I thought...

Rumpel - do you put the essential oil in the drum, or in the conditioner dispenser? (sounds fab!)

Wow - lots of tats and piercings! I only have my ears pierced; I always thought nips must really hurt! I keep toying with the idea of a small tattoo somewhere. I guess lipliner must be quite painful too?

I've always had a very high pain threshold, but I'm sure it's going to be tested in labour!

Have finally built all the Ikea stuff so now have lots more storage in the house! I hate having crammed cupboards so am feeling quite pleased.

Isaidno - hope you get a better night's sleep! I hadn't thought of putting a pet in the buggy - maybe the cat would oblige! When I was little my parents had a vicious, grumpy old black cat who hated kids but would still allow me to dress him up in a bonnet and push him around in a pram.

Lol heffa at the grumpy black cat in a bonnet ! Reminds me of Tom & Jerry.

Well this morning I feel really emotional. DH has just gone away fo the weekend to Germany and we didn't get to say "proper" goodbye as his friend was milling about (driving them both to the airport) so it was a quick peck on the cheek only and a cheery "have a nice time!" and now I feel really alone and sad! Had a few tears, it's silly I know he'll be back on Sunday night.

Will miss him of course but I think I am jealous even more- I would like to go away for the weekend! But I've only got myself to blame if I don't arrange anything. He wouldn't stop me. (Plus a tiny part of me would like to see how he would cope for the weekend alone with ds )

Morning all, raining here today DD1 off nursery so think we will be having a quiet day today, DP kept annoying me this morning by waking me up constantly to tell me I was snoring even though I was on my sore right side (so I was back to back to him) and I was propped up on my v shaped pillow, what else can I do? I know he's getting up for work and needs his sleep but I can't help it and I just can't get comfy now and it takes me about 5 minutes to get up and hobble to the loo. Sorry moan over just feeling a bit emotional right now.

Minkus - aww poor you I think I would feel the same way if DP was going away, hope you have something nice planned for the weekend?

heffa - I wandered about with a doll in a sling last time to see how it worked

Rumpel - ouch poor you hope you have recovered, I haven't started my birth plan either will book an appointment with the MW next week as well, I know it's my third baby but I feel a bit forgotten about really, it's been 6 weeks since I saw a MW and nothing has been arranged for the HB.

One of the things bothering me the most is the DDs and also DP getting back from work in time, I don't want the DDs to see me screaming in pain, I don't get a build up I get the first contraction very closely followed by the next one no gap so it's not like I am coherent enough to phone people/organise childcare. I have a few friends that have said they will help out but they may not be available on the day.

EEC - Primark is good for a bargain only thing is watch the shape after you wash things. Some things I have bought have went a bit funny. Asda didn't have my size in their £1 for 3 full briefs yesterday Also spotted some £1.47 bath towels too.

Moan away SK...sleep's so important and you need to conserve your energy for the big day especially if the onset is so quick.

Rumpel....that's many tattoos and piercings. You must have a high pain threshold. I had my belly button pierced and nearly passed out! I had even been given some ice to freeze the area! Hopefully childbirth will be less painful...I suspect not!

One more day's work and then a week off, woo hoo! What's everyone got planned for half-term/bank holiday?

I think I am about 50% of the way there with the hospital bag. Well, when I say that, I have the bag and the rest of it is sitting in a box until I get round to washing/packing it!!! I went to Primark to buy my nighties too but ended up taking them back as when I got home and tried them on they were so tight (and looked really really bad on me). Ended up going onto Ebay and getting a pack of two maternity ones for about £8 and they're loads better. I think there were still ones on there if anyone is interested. They don't have buttons but the straps are elasticated so you can pull them down for BFing.

Minkus - awww, I hope you have something special planned! I hate not being able to say goodbye properly.

SK - Sorry to hear you had a bad night. I couldn't get comfortable at all last night and I think DP was getting a bit annoyed with me kicking around.

I got some reasonably cheap towels from M&S who were doing a special offer on mega-cheap towel bales.

heffa - my cheap towels are for my homebirth I will be throwing them out afterwards, I still have the navy ones from DD2's birth a few years back.

I am so not a nightie person, think I had one on for a few hours last time and took it off and went back to PJs, Primark do some good seperates so think I will get a few of them, big t-shirt type tops and comfy bottoms.

Oh did I tell you this I was down the park with the DDs yesterday and there was a couple with a toddler boy and a baby with Grandad, of course I had to talk to Grandad and it turned out the baby was 2 days old but worse than that the Mum was bouncing on a kind of tyre thing that you have to straddle. My friend (who had a third degree tear) was and nearly fell over. We took DD1 out when she was a day old to the hospital for her check up and went shopping on the way back but that was 10 mins round the supermarket no bouncing involved!

Did we all watch the 13 kids programme? I felt sorry for the Asian lady who was knackered and didn't want any more - she'll have to avoid her husband!

I will be quite happy with 3, although I have alot of admiration for those big families - the children seemed very happy.

morning ladies

first day of maternity leave and its absolutely clear skies and sunny here. which shows up the dust and grunge in my flat soooo much more! but i am not letting that worry me . . . i have my cleaner coming at 2pm

laughing at the cats and dogs in prams stories. i haven't really tried mine out - just opening and closing it, which i am still no expert at. its really neat and compact (M&P pliko pramette) but now i keep seeing babies in those big old danish prams (more silver cross style) with huge wheels and bouncy tires and suspension and i think they look really comfy for the kid.
mine is built more for pushing around Croydon shopping center with a harrowed look on my face, shouting "pack it in!!!". well i have to store mine in my flat entry hall rather than the shared hallway, unlike most danish apartment blocks, so i need something light to take up 4 stairs . . . .

i am curious about the tatted-up, pierced redheads on here. post pics of yourself!!! love seeing your kiddiwinkles but also like putting a face to your name. i do understand how public it feels to put pics up though - a few people nagged to see a bump pic, so i put one on facebook, forgetting that huge amounts of random people that i met once at uni can now see me in my full-blown glory!

jealous of the primark/asda bargainous purchases. the British highstreet must be the cheapest in the world. we only have H&M at the cheap level here and its not that cheap. But then, my half-done masters thesis is all about fast-fashion and sustainable clothing - so its forcing me to be green-ish.
i have a couple of knackered, soft La Senza big t-shirt style nighties and some dark jersey pajama sets with spaghetti strap vests - isn't that enough?
i might ask my mum to bring some dark towels over and some anusol - not a big problem now but may be later . . .

morning all,

DH was given me orders to have a lazy day today after all the washing and ironing yesterday. Looks like the weather has taken a turn for the worse today so that helps me feel less guilty for not doing more.

isaidno- yeah i felt the same about the poor asian woman. The husband didnt seem to have any concern about her and how each pregnancy was getting harder and harder. DH was laughing as i was shouting at the tv at him!
Told DH that there was no way on this earth id be having 13 and his reply was " thank god for that!"

All those with tattoos and piercings.. I have my ears peirced and that hurt enough! Im going to be a right wimp during labour!

Tempted to go into town today, look in primark at pjs and nighties and get some more bits for my hospital bag.

Managed to convince DH that we need a new bad last night. We have spoken about a new mattress lately but ive decided to go the whole hog with a leather sleigh bed and plans to redecorate the bedroom. DH hasnt commented on the redecorating so maybe a touch of selective hearing!

Thats menat to say new BED not new bad! !

meant-

God what is the matter with me today!!!!