Due June 08: S**t, it IS June, and I still haven't packed my hospital bag...

[LauraT]

well it will be June on Sunday anyway! thought I should go ahead and start this as there were several votes for this name...

So morning all properly, now I have had a chance to skim read posts. AM noot a SATC fan so won't be rushing to see it but hopefully DH and I going to see Indy next week, my sister has said she will babysit which is nice of her. Our local cinema does those baby showings, haven't been to one but sound like a great idea.

Was naughty last night and went to a wine tasting, didn't taste much only white as don't do red, but was good to get out.

Feet very sore and swollen this morning, will soak them after I have done breakfast and before I go to bank and clean out car as we are getting new one tomorrow A friend does reflexology so wll book in next week just to try and get the swelling down.

Hope everyone has a good day today, the sun is shining here, hope it is where you are too.

Poppy - a detailed birth plan sounds good andfingers crossed for you.

Aberdeen - they are sweeping me 'cos my placenta is on it's last legs apparently and they have to do heart traces and stuff so not ideal but also I have gone private and they are much more proactive and always start sweeping to get people on track for due dates. Did you know in the United States due dates are at 38 weeks not 40?

Ahhh birth stories making me cry too! Found at midwife appt yest that babies head is engaged...does anyone know if this is a sign that labour is close...? Its my 2nd baby, I know 1st engage 36weeks ish (Im 38+1)
Baby is making lots of stretching motions, pushing right up to ribs on one side and pelvic floor other end. Ouch!

Amberc - I think private must be the key - and I've heard that many european countries are more proactive too... I know my SIL had her sweep at 38 weeks in Canada, she still held on until her due date though before my nephew arrived. (I'd be happy with a due date delivery!).

I don't start the daily monitoring for the baby until 41 weeks here... I told them I'm not comfortable waiting to 41+5 without any monitoring since my original due date would put me at 43w by then and they seemed more than happy to book me into the hospital right now for daily checks but I thought that might be a bit extreme. It's a waste of resources - they'd be happy for me to practically move in to the hospital, but as long as I'm at home, they wont intervene.

Hello
Can I get a prize for crappest night's sleep?

DD was running a fever (>40 degrees) so we were up every 3 hours to monitor temp, strip off, medicate, sponge down and amuse her.

She's now happy as Larry and running around and laughing like she's been eating jumping beans. I AM NOT! no idea how I'll make it through today- maybe I'll just be a giggling delirious wreak by tea time.

Kids- who'd 'ave 'em ??

It is weird how there doesn't seem to be a norm at all for final weeks of pregnancy in the UK. Even if I live on the streets next time round I will find the money to go private.

pear tart, I can sympathise/empathise with you. My DD has been waking lots the last 3 nights or so, same thing, fever etc. Bloody fine come the morning(before 6 at the moment)
A bit worried how I will cope with a newborn waking at night and a 4 1/2 yr old that wants to get up befor 6, and a partner that works in London Mon - Fri.......It'll be fine Im sure??.....

Morning all!

My MW has said that if I don't come on time ie 9th June that the next day I need to go & see her then she will arrange for a sweep to be done - not sure if she'll do it then and there or wait for a couple of days & come round to my house I'm not sure!

Feeling v. positive this morning tilers turned up (thank god) and there are two of them & they have promised to be finished by end of today. My dad is here sorting out all the little bits that need to get finished & the sun is shining!!!

I did have a crap nights sleep, awake with period pains for quite some time, then felt sick (not actually sick) and really bad wind - do you think that's something I ate or early signs of things starting? Due in 5 days - god I'm getting so excited!!!

Morning all,

I haven't posted much lately as I have been desperately trying to catch up with all the chat and baby arrivals but never seem to manage it. Anyway, it sounds like most people are doing well apart from the late stage pregnancy niggles.

I'm on my second to last day at work - a day I thought would never come. It's such a relief to know I will be finishing work tomorrow as I will be 38 weeks then and they have booked me in for a sweep at 39+2 so I don't feel I've got very long with my ds at all before the baby arrives.

I too have been up a lot at night - my ds has been teething, he's got his last back four molars coming through and they are giving him a lot more pain than any of the others. He's not doing too badly as he is mostly settling himself when he wakes up, trouble is once I am awake at night that is it I really struggle to go back to sleep. I think I'm managing between 2-4 hours sleep a night which sounds horrendous but I'm not actually too bad. Perhaps it will all catch up with me when I finish work.

Has anyone else not decided on names yet? I've written a short list but still need to discuss it with my dh. He's been really stressed at work lately so is never in the right frame of mind in the evenings. I'm feeling a bit guilty about not having chosen a name as I feel like this baby has been so neglected compared to my ds but I guess that's part and parcel of having second/third/fourth kids.

Sorry for the long post, I will head off to catch up on some more of the gossip before I start my long day of coffee and lunch appointments!

Fantastic Greenfairy, I have been thinking about you loads. I am so glad that you were able to give Storm all the benefits of the contractions and that they were so sensitive to you in the hospital. Good news that you are home so quickly too. Just looked on your profile, gorgeous gorgeous piccies!

Peartart, I'm sorry about your DD. Has her temperature gone down now? Do you know what was wrong with her? When DS was getting over his virus and from chicken pox, he was perky in the mornings and then collapsed a little bit about lunchtime - so maybe you'll get some sleep then?

Re sweeps, I had loads last time after 40 weeks but was told they are unlikely to work unless you are already pretty well ready. I hate the way the system changes depending where you are in the UK though.

Re baby drugs, I think they have changed the recommendations on Medised and you shouldn't give it to under 2s. Calpol though can be given to newborns under supervision - DS was prescribed it at the hospital because of his ventouse bruising.

Greenfairy, congratulations and big hugs! Well done!

PearTart, hope you get through your day, and get a power nap at some point.

Josie, we haven't decided on names yet either. We sort of discuss it half-heartedly every so often, but I got so sick of people giving us their (dreadful) suggestions, and telling me that I COULDN'T call my baby some of the names that I liked (they weren't even outrageous, honest!) that it became a bit off-limits! I'm hoping we'll be struck by inspiration when we see our boy - 'oh look, he's definitely an Ethelred' sort of thing....

Hope everyone has a good day - the sun is out here, so must get out of dressing gown and go out.

Fungle- it's especially tough when DH is away, hope your DD is better soon.
I'm engaged too, at nearly 39 weeks; I know it's supposed to be later with 2nd babes but I don't believe that now.

Lorettah- V glad your tiling will be done. Wind sould be due to engagement. Sickness is common before baby.

Josey- sorry you've had bad night too. We haven't got around to the final names discussion either. It may wait until after baby comes and we are both at home to do so.

UDC- DD seems to have a snotty virus- nothing major but can't go to nursery (she does 2 am's per week). She's still hot but in good spirit. I hope we can both sleep later. Glad your DS OK now.

Greenfairy - congratulations on the safe arrival of what a beautiful little girl. You were only due 4 days before me so surely that means I should get mine tomorrow - or maybe not eh as this lo shows no sign of moving.

Also this means that we have actually have a June baby - do you think that they might all come in a rush now like a June baby explosion?

Greenfairy - congratulations, so pleased that despite the cs you and Storm are doing so well. Love the pictures too.

Sybil - a June baby explosion sounds a little messy, but I guess that's part and parcel of the deal.

Yep Alli, there's no escaping the fact that it is a pretty gruesome thing birth, so an explosion is probably pretty apt! Also there is a suggestion of speed there which I for one would appreciate. After a 30 hour labour with ds I think that would be called more of trickle

Congrats greenfairy - beautiful pics and lovely name .

Thanks all for medicine suggestions - am off to sainsbury's later so will check out special offers. Also, should I get special medicine spoon or oral syringe or both?

Josie not long to go on the work front - hope you're taking it easy. Laura are you enjoying maternity leave now?

Peartart sorry about your night! I was feeling a bit sorry for myself re another terrible nights sleep but I concede to you . I was shattered when I went to bed, but as soon as I hit the pillow the pregnancy insomnia kicks in! Part of the problem I think is I usually like to watch tv for an hour or so before bed to switch off my brain, but all my favourite programmes have finished so my brain just whirring around. I cant read before bed as it tends to wake me up .

Another q for those who already have DC (including you new mums ). I bought some fitted sheets for the moses basket yesterday - but no-one really seems to do 'top sheets' for them. What do people normally put over a baby in the moses basket? I've got a couple of blankets but worry that they wont be suitable if its warm. I was also planning on trying out swaddling, so another blanket would be too much and I thought a sheet for an extra layer if needed would be good. Any suggestions? I have got some baby sleeping bags but they shouldn't be worn till 10lbs and they look way too big to wear in a moses basket anyway.

Delighted that the sun is out today, altough typically this is the day that I've planned to stay at home and catch up with some housework. It does mean I can finally wash baby clothes - am strangely looking forward to seeing them all pegged out on the washing line

OMG 30 hr labour.... crikey thats scared me now!!! Is that in total from the latent phase or actually having big contractions / pushing?

It's lovely here, think I might take myself outside in a bit & read a book - once the sun covers the garden properly! Might even treat myself to an ice cream!!! (grin)

My pharmacist has given me oral syringe kits for free on 2 occasions- so worth asking. Most meds (Calpol/ Neurofen/ Infacol) come with their own measuring spoons/ dosing syringe things in the box.
We gave Gripe water to DD as a NB off a normal metal teaspoon and that was fine.

As far as sheets are concerned I think mothercare does small ones- if not for moses basket/ crib, then get the next size and fold over. It seems so long ago (20 months) but I think we just swaddled DD and put her in the crib to sleep with nothing else over her.

Hi all - and congrats to greenfairy! Love the pics, you are so lucky.

bitofadramaqueen - I was wondering the same thing about the sheets/blankets for moses basket and will be interested to hear what others think. My room temp is about 20.5 degrees so maybe one blanket is ok but really I have no idea!

I had my 37 wk MW visit yesterday. All along my blood pressure has been fine - really on the low side if anything. Then yesterday it was up to 145/85. The MW is calling to my house tomorrow to check it again. I had no protein in my wee and no puffiness, so I don't know what will happen if BP still high tomorrow??

Apparently I'm 3/5 engaged - don't know if that's good at this stage or not

Going for dreaded bikini wax earlier - and eek, when examinging 'down below' earlier noticed some stretchmarks really low on my tummy. Didn't think I had any so was bit upset!

No experience (yet!) but I have heard top sheets aren't much use and a grobag is better 0-6 months 1 tog for summer. Plus they can't kick the cover off and they come highly recommended. Otherwise a really thin cellular blanket for swaddling?

Lorettah, it was 30 hours from first contractions, so most of it was very managable. Don't worry, you may be super fast, we are all different. I blame my mum, she had really long (2 days etc) labours for all of us.

Dramaqueen - I use a flat second sheet over the baby in my moses basket, and then a blanket if necessary, just make sure you tuck them in under the mattress so the baby can't under them. Summer babies normally don't need too much in the way of blankets once they have their vest/babygro etc on they are normally quite toasty.

We used a thin cellular blanket for DD ( actually quite a few as she was born in January and just plan to use sleep suits and a thin blanket for this one. We didn't use a grobag until she went into a cot but then was great.

DQ yes have my feet up and homes under the hammer on TV... had forgotten how terrible the daytime TV is. Now I know why you've all resorted to nesting!

I'm off to pick up my Mum and visit my grandparents this afternoon, hopefully the weather will stay as nice as it is now!

I was planning on using a pram flat sheet for the moses basket if necessary as seems about the right size?

allnew I have no strtch marks above my belly button, but the mirror reveals some horrors at the bottom of my bump, so you are not alone.

greenfairy your daughter is beautiful, and well done for coping with all that last minute decision making and plan changing. Sounds like everything went as well as it could do given the circumstances, and glad you got your skin to skin quickly! Bravo!

Oh, that's a good idea Laura. I haven't got any pram sheets as they dont really work with my pram but I imagine they'd be the right size for moses basket too. Thanks to all for the suggestions re: bedding.

Allnew empathy on the stretch marks - I've discovered some on the back of my thighs. [sob] They've grown massively in the last month or so. [sob some more].