Due Dec 08 -- Getting Ready for final push (in every sense!)

[Beans33]

Here's a new thread for us all lovely Dec Mums!

Would love to Verso but I'm not going to be back before your littlun arrives unfortunately.

MY DH works from home most of the time. Sometimes he gets under our feet but most of the time it is OK and he is here for bath time which is a big plus.

PD sorry to hear about your brother and dad.

I also feel like I need to spend the next few weeks savouring my pregnancy, which will probably be my last as well. Am always so caught up with the kids, hardly stop to prepare for it. So this weekend want to have long baths, get baby stuff out of the loft and even read that Sylvia Plath 'You're' poem!

Oh majormoo sounds great (actually not sure about the Sylvia Plath bit though - if the Bell Jar's anything to go by I don't think old misery guts here could take it right now).

PD: think I'm around on the 26th, would love to meet somewhere locally. Sorry to hear about your brother . Hope you can get some rest - the fuzzy vision sounds a bit scary.

Don't think I can make next week's meetup, am getting huge and tired and can't face lugging DS over to sarf London . Managed to haul myself to Oxford St at lunchtime and got some clothes that fit. Some nice stuff in Gap if you can get to a store that does maternity.

Hi all, I've tried to catch up but its all gone straight in & out!

poison I'm sorry to hear about your brother & dad

cat hi, must've missed you before!

kayz hope your friend's ok

I am really struggling now. I have just over 2 weeks to go but am really tired & uncomfortable. I'm finding it hard to walk/get on the floor etc so seem to be relying on CBeebies for ds to be entertained all the time . Sorry for moaning & the me post.

I did go see our new birth centre this morning though. It's all gorgeous and nearly tempted me to go there instead of a homebirth! Oli you'd like it, its got hammocks for you to hang from!!

Oh and Verso, if anyone wanted to meet up Central London ish one weekday evening I'm around till the beginning of December.

Yay! Mini meet-up on the 26th then. Anyone else around?

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PD sorry the news was as you feared for your brother. Hope the scan goes well for him.

Having a very swollen day today. Feel like a big ballon and still 6 weeks until bumb becomes baby. Think I am going to have to wear a nightie to go out in soon as everything is becoming too tight

Really looking forward to the weekend. Got my first parenting class tomorrow. Not actually sure what it is on though but will no doubt find out when I get there

Emma: I've had to get some roomier clothes as well, inc some v attractive tracky bottoms from H&M for slobbing about the house in. I suddenly feel huge, and have about 6 weeks to go as well... hoping the expansion will slow a bit at some point.

Who was it who mentioned their face getting thinner? DH has commented that I'm losing weight (apart from on my bump, obv). Don't remember this happening with DS. Also getting rather painful to walk, not badly so just a bit achy.

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Hi everyone, hope you?re all well today?

I?m very at the size of Katie?s and abbey?s babies ? thank god for c-sections for you both!

kayz I?m pleased to hear your friend doesn?t have PE, hoping her infection clears up quickly.

turnip I?ve noticed I have fewer nighttime wees when I have a late night, even if I get a lie in and still have the full 8 hours ? must be that the last wee of the day is more effective the later it is ???

Ooh, two babies next week ? baby flumpy and possibly baby amy, so exciting!! Although I?m with pd and quite happy to be pregnant for as long as possible (potentially I still have up to 8 weeks) ? I can?t wait to meet babyZJ, but just can?t imagine being a mum yet. And pd so sorry to hear about your family, it must be so hard to have both your brother and dad so poorly at the same. Thinking of you.

Thanks for the advice on toy washing from several of you ? as babyZJ will be a farm baby I think a bit of dirt on a toy is probably the very least of my worries!!

I went to an antenatal class last night and another this afternoon, so have been blasted with info and my brain feels like it?s going to pop! Very useful and interesting though. However there were 2 things that I felt the midwife brushed off and I wondered if anyone on here could advise (although I?d like to say that otherwise the classes and the MW were really good):

1. vitamin K ? I was told that here is it injected into all babies. Full stop. When I asked what it does etc etc she did reluctantly say it could be given orally in several doses, but we don?t like to do that, and then stopped talking. It sounds like it?s a good thing to give to baby, but I got the impression they do it the easy way (ie one quick injection) so I wondered if there were any pros or cons to either way.
2. giving ?birth? to the placenta/clamping the cord. We were told 90% of women are given an injection when pushing the baby out, meaning the delivery of the placenta could be managed and done in 10 minute or less, and that if we didn?t go for this it would take an hour or so and we risk a big bleed. I thought about this last night and when I went back today I asked about leaving the cord until it stopped pulsing, to allow baby to get everything out of the placenta. I was told that this couldn?t be done if the placenta delivery was managed by the MW, there were no benefits and that 98% of women opt to have the jab (surprised how it went up 8% overnight!) Can anyone shed any light on the pros and cons of either of these, because I would like to consider my options before putting them in my birth plan? Thanks so much (and sorry I?ve gone on a while!)

Oh, and one thing the MW did mention was that DH should repeat all her instructions as I?ll tend to listen to a voice a recognise rather than a strangers voice. To which DH replied ?it?ll be the first time you?ve ever listened to me then!?

ZJ: if you search on 'managed third stage' of labout you should get some info. The injection speeds things up but it can also cause problems. Vit K, again some people query its use in newborns (though I agreed to both injections with DS).

there's an old thread on both issues here with some links:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=childbirth&threadid=394031-3rd-stage-of-labour-managed-or-natural-vit-k -what#8018967

thanks effie, already found some useful info on that thread and elsewhere online. I'll discuss it again with the MW at my next appt

pd I am so sorry that the news was not good for your brother. I am really hoping that there is no spread and that the op is a success. Hope you Dad improves too.

How scary about the visuals. You were so right to get it checked. More lies in for you, girlie.

Flumpy can't beleive you finish today and baby on wednesday - hardcore. So close now.

Had my scan today, baby NORMAL sized (yay)(but big head cos that's the way I make 'em) so no chat about 40 week inductions. So really really thinking tis a girl.

As result I then bought DD a really expensive dress on Marylebone High Street (I normally never buy them good stuff!) but I justified it on basis of Christmas, baby's christening at some point and her sister can wear it in 5 years time! Daft.

goodevening wow so busy today here. I have read up to about 1pm and am going to post a few things otherwise i'll forget.

no spew last night hooray. It is weird but it seems to be when i have food high in protein, like eggs or bean dishes (i'm vegetarian so thank goodness no repeats from meat). I am going to stick to soya based protein as Ina May recommends this. we always ahve loads of tofu and tempah in the freezer so no prob there.

PD- so sorry to hear about your family. I'm wondering if the visual disturbances maybe the start of a stress migraine that doesn't go the distance and turn to a full blown headache etc. I get migraines (though less now thanks to homeopathy) but while i'm pregnant i only get the visual disturbance part as if my body protects itself or something. Really i think you probably need a good rest but also a really really good cry, often if you try to be stoic and suppress you emotions for whatever reason you can cause a migraine. so take it easy hire a soppy movie and cry your eyes out.

Cat-this is just the beginning of your neurotic life, i always thought i was quite layed back but having a baby bought out the anxious girl in me, and it does in everyone, take it easy on yourself but just do what you have to do to make yourself feel comfortable.

right back to catching up.

ZJ- i had been told that the Vit K oral form was a bit nasty on the palate for babies. I had the inj for DS however not sure about this one as have recently been told that BM has plenty of Vit K. Will talk to MW about it. I didnt have the inj for the placenta expulsion but was open to it if needed it. However i was told by last set of MW and my current MW that there was no need to decide until after 2nd stage. My IMW said she will pop some in our fridge and if placenta is taking some time she will give me the injection if i want it. However DS's placenta was delivered 18mins after he was born which is considered fast and he also didnt have his cord cut until it had stopped pulsating, and there was still plenty of time until it came out. I don't want to contradict your MW but i think you do have enough time to wait for the cord to stop pulsating.

does that make sense?

Good evening everyone.
Really sorry to hear about your brother and Dad poison. My DP was operated on for testicular cancer when I was 7 months pregnant with DS and then was in and out of hospital at the same time I was giving birth having readiotherapy. It is really hard and the worrying is just the worse. It is hard but try to be positive as there is lots of treatments these days to cure or make it more bearable and you really must try and put your health and your babies first.

It is hard to believe that some babies will be with us shortly (next week!). I still am thinking it is weeks and weeks away and am really looking forward to going on mat leave - only 1 more week to work, as I have decided to go a week earler than planned and have some me time before she arrives. Also spoil ds a bit- who has had a cold for 2 weeks now and had to come home today with a temp.
I have another scan on Monday for my low lying placenta, and that the baby was breech at my last MW check up. I still think my bump is really small. I went to a sports fixture in the week and several people did not realise I was pregnant. So I am quite jelous of the big bumps some of you have.
My plans for the weekend include packing my hospital bag. Going to catch up on the last few days of this thread. Take care everyone.

Hi Simmo, i'm all up for spoiling my DS too over these last few weeks. i feel a little sad that it won't just be he & I soon. I know i will love my new little man as much as him but i do love the time i have with DS, and just after the baby comes he starts going to his nursery 5 mornings a week so will have even less time with him

Hello Ladies,

I've been trying to catch up on what I've missed the last two days. I'll have to try and post back to everyone later.

I've been in the hospital the last two days. I woke up and thought I was in labour at about 2 am. Called the MW and they sent me to the nearest hospital to us to get checked out. Come to find out I had kidney stones!! So after a few IV's lots of shots, some morphine and gas and air I was finally able to pass a stone. I'm hoping there aren't anymore in there!! They hurt something AWFUL!! Thankfully I was finally able to come home today. But now I'm totally knackered!!

Hope all of you ladies are doing well!!

Kimberly ouch! Hope you're feeling better now

Morning....oooooh Kimberly that sounds really painful! You poor girl!!!

Poison, so sorry to hear about your dad, brother and eyes. I'll second the try and get some time to yourself advice.

Rosmerta The natural birth unit does sound nice...I saw those african swing things in the paper. Was wondering if I could concoct somthing similar at home..maybe hanging off DS trampoline!!!! Might be a bit chilly mind!

Had hospital check up yesterday for my underactive thyroid and everything is ok. Only issue is high antibodies which mean I could swing very hyper (is that right? Always get hyer and hypo round the wrong way) but I thought hey, feeling like you are on speed will surely be a good thing to get you few the first few weeks of babydom!!!! I think it happened last time as I hardly slept but I didn't know what it was.

We're getting the baby stuff out of the loft today..wahooooo...exciting! Can't wait to see all the tiddly stuff again! Only thing is it means my beautiful minimalist nursery will be full of stuff! Also off up to the big smoke tonight to see Bill Bailey. Really looking forward to that!

Big rugby match today (I live about 10 minutes walk from Twickenham Stadium) which means we are a bit housebound. I hope it isn't raining then at least I can take DS to the park to run off all his little boy energy!

Catch up again soon. xxx

Hi All - you miss 24 hours here and it takes ages to catch up!!!
PD - so sorry to hear about your brother. Will be praying for you and your family.
zj - had my first antenatal class yesterday - was a tad embarrassed because I was the only one without a partner (DH couldn't get the time out of work! Anyway, the MW talked about the Cord and the option of waiting for it to stop pulsating...it has its down sides - basically a newborn already has an excess of red blood cells which it needs to destroy. The liver has to work very hard to do that, and when there is an excess of them which have not been completely destroyed, that's what can cause jaundice. Many babies look a bit yellowy with no problems, but if they are particularly jaundiced then they become sleepy, don't feed well and then you get a bit of a vicious circle because the less they feed, the less milk you produce, the less energy they have to feed etc...They often need to go under phototherapy lights to correct the jaundice, and in the extreme (not common) would require a blood transfusion. Anyway - if you wait until the cord has stopped pulsating you are just allowing more blood cells to reach the baby and therefore potentially making it harder work their liver. Does that make sense?

well my day of wanting only juice and fruit was soon balanced out by yesterday - I had Mcdonalds for lunch and Ikea meatballs and chips for tea!!! Will try for a happy medium today!
My DH appears to have woken up as superdad today...I asked him to get up with dd so I could lie in, and he leapt up and made me a cuppa, played with her, bathed her, played more games, made brownies with her and is now showing her how to play Mariokart on the Wii! While I sit here on MN! Not sure what's happened but shall be making the most of it - I guess tomorrow he'll have all his school work (teacher) to catch up on so it'll be my turn.
BIL and his fiancee are coming for lunch so must go I suppose...
btw, scan was fine yesterday - baby weighing about 5.5 lbs at 36 weeks - it's strange to think it's already almost double the weight of when dd was born!!!

PD am so sorry about your brother and Dad. Hope you do find some peace - must be really worrying.

Kimberly poor you with kidney stones - supposed to be as painful as childbirth so seems particularly unlucky to have to go through both in a few weeks. Hope you're feeling better.

Glad baby traceface is a good size. Saw the MW yesterday and bump is now 33cm so she's happy with me not having to have a growth scan and should be ok to try for homebirth. Completely love my midwives this time round - not least because they come round to my house for appointments. Have got so lazy...

Verso a friend's DH had a real battle with his school about going to 3 days a week, but in the end they had to give in because they were offering P/T work to women with children and had to be fair. So you never know...