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

[Beans33]

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

oops try here for the link.

Am off to bed (it's 2.30am in Australia) - sorry for the prolific amount of posting from me tonight!

just wanted to say big thanks to beans for organising yesterday's lunch - it was great to put faces and RL names to people.

very exciting that people are beginning to sprog. can't wait to hear people's stories.

re: list - my preference would be to have a separate birth list with the actual and due date (interesting to see who is late/early). i'd love to keep it on this thread as i am lazy, but bow down to everyone else's opinions.

Bisou thanks for sorting out the birth list - it's splendid! To (in a rare moment of madness) defend the NHS slightly, they've checked my wee every time I've been, and I've only had so few appointments because I've had a baby before. Now I think everyone knows my opinion of midwifery/postnatal care on the NHS here , but I do have to say that is one tiny thing they've got right for me. Mind you having said all that it varies so much from postcode to postcode...

Also a quick update on the night nanny situation here - it didn't work out, basically . THREE different nannies failed to return my calls. Obviously I must be notorious for having 'difficult' babies or something! I'm really disappointed - and also worried - because if I have another baby that doesn't sleep for months on end I guess it's PND here I come.

Hey ho. Had a bit more luck with daytime help though (I think - though still need to check out references) - so at least that's something.

Ooooh the postlady has just been(very late) and my secret stork is here!!!!

It is a little blanket with a rabbit. It is gorgeous!!!!! Also I got a Wispa and some fudge!!!!!!!

Thank you ever so much, I love it!!!!!!!

Sorry about the night nanny Verso that's really miserable. You never know - this one might be a sleeper...

Went through exactly the same panic when we first got DS home as everyone else - in fact still worry from time to time when I remember that we are parents and the poor soul is stuck with us (if that makes sense). Now can't quite believe we're doing it all again.

Many many congratulations to pixsix can't wait to hear all about it. So exciting the babies are arriving.

Hope everyone else is feeling better - am sure those of you with heartburn have tried everything by now - but if you can sleep sitting propped up as near to upright as you can manage it does help. Or at least did help me. There's a yoga position that helps to ease it too - but trying to describe it here is beyond me, sorry. Veggie hope your GP was some help.

Chutney and Verso really feel for you with decisions on schools coming up. Makes me anxious even thinking about it and we're ages off. Fingers crossed you get what you want.

Lovely to meet people yesterday.xx

Verso: have you looked into a postnatal doula? Not sure if any do nights. Though if you can get daytime cover at least you can nap during the day if necessary (which I think I would find easier if bfing rather than expressing and all that).

Verso I think Effie's idea is a good one. I will keep everything crossed for you that this baby likes their sleep.

Oh pixsix - that's amazing news! WOW! And so weird to think that when I first joined here, you and I were due on the same date!!!! Well done you!

Have you got a name? I'm so so happy for you!

How was St Thomas's????!

Big love and smiling like a loon now!

xxxx

yay hooray Pixstix well done you. looking forward to your birth story, thanks for letting us know so promptly

So many posts today it took ages to catch up hope not more behind because i reading them all.

Nolda- we haven't seen a HV for DS since he was 8 months. Thank goodness by the sound of it. He is 3 now and still gets up to come into us during the night. sometimes at 1am sometimes at 6am. We gave up viewing it as a 'problem' because really it doesn't bother us. If it is a problem with the eext one being in there too then we'll just have to take him back to his bed or....get a bigger bed.

A bit nervous now that Pixstix has had hers a little early. On tues the MW said she would be surprised if go fullterm and that baby is 3/5 engaged. Today i went to GP to sort out order for blood tests. For some reason he decided to do a full exam dipstick & BP heartbeat and bump feel even though all done on tuesday. He also agreed that baby is not far off coming and said he is even further engaged than tuesday but very mobile. DH and i are now a bit nervous as i am going to Wolverhampton for my course alone tomorrow then out with friends in Nottingham in the evening and then we are driving down to London on sat to sort out viewings for the flat and then going to DS' friends birthday party on sunday arvo then driving back up to Derby sunday evening. So hoping veggiebaby stays in there. No curry, pineapple, or sex until monday.

I cant remember the engaged stuff. Does 4/5ths mean she could feel 4/5ths of his head or she could just feel 1/5th?

The daytime help is indeed a postnatal doula - so I think I'll be sorted, one way or another >crosses everything

I would love a pineapple but you need to eat 7 before it has any affect. I love pineapple but nowhere near that much.

well that took me ages to catch up...congratulations pixsix! Sooooooo exciting!!!
DH and I are currently sitting having the baby name conversation ....again!!!! Think we may finally be getting somewhere this time! Although dd1 had a name as a bump which didn't suit her when she was born so she got a different one, so I guess we'll see when this one pops out.
My friend had a baby today so I'm all squishy and excitable and want mine now!!! Although still haven't got some of our old stuff out of the garage so maybe we ought to do that!

Verso- i can get DH to ask his bosses wife about night nannying. She is apparently doing some school work at the moment just casually so would be available i think. She is very nice though of course she would also have references from all the families she has looked after. Se is def well liked the last big job she had as a live in nanny the family liked her so much they paid for her and her DH's wedding (at hampton court palace) and the round the world first class holiday inc luxury accomodation. All i got from my work when we got married was a whip around for Selfridges vouchers.

kayz not sure about the actual terminology someone on here said it depends on the midwife. I think mune meant that it was very 3/5ths of it's head was engaged so when GP felt it he thought 1/5th more was engaged therefore he could only feel 2/5ths. whatever they think it has to wait until monday and actually longer wold be better as we don't have a pool and the tens hasn't come yet. In fact we have nothing remotely resembling anything in the house that could set it up for a home birth except some old towels and the MW has dropped over all her 'tools'.

It is so confusing. I want to know if he is really low down and ready to come or if he is just slightly engaged.

Did they say yours was fully engaged Kayz?
Mine had gone in and out. She was 3/5 engaged two weeks ago, then out again and now 1/5 engaged. Apparantly that is common with second babies, they can bounce in and out!

Good evening ladies....and...babies!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS PIXSIX!!!!!!

How exciting! And well done Bisou on the list keeping...I don't mind where it is held.

Great to see some of you yesterday. Lovely lunch! Think it was worth meeting up just to see the shocked look of the poor waiter as he ushered in so many big bumps!

Had a nice morning at a friends (DS was at nursery) where there were babies of 8, 9 and 10 weeks old.
Another crap night with DS though. Think I am going to find it interesting to say the least with two!
Spent this afternoon cleaning the oven and organising the babies room. Very fun!

Also managed to fix my robot hoover...was playing up and now working like a dream. Everyone neeeeeeeds to get one. Means you can be 'doing the housework' whilst sitting on your backside! They really really work and it was definately the best present I ever got! (from my mum before you wonder at the romance of DH!).

Off shortly to put DS to bed, having his last Charlie and Lola and he promises that he will then go off no problem...we'll see!

She just said he was engaged and then I had a look at my notes and it says 4/5ths.

Mine says 4/5th palpable (which means 1/5 engaged).

I am not sure it means much in terms of when the baby will come - a good friend has been fully engaged for 5 weeks with her second! They told her labour was imminent but she has yet to feel one twinge.

Yeah I think it means 1/5th with me too. I was so hoping it meant it would be happening in the next few days.

Hi - no follow up from pixsis then?
Artichokes wow - didn't know you were at the same hospital as me and due on the 10th!! If you're on time u must visit me! I hate hospitals and will be desperate to get out.... I'm in Wimbledon - where do you live?

TMI alert
Sorry about this, but is anyone else having more frequent (ahem) bowel movements than usual? And does it mean anything? I have to go about 5 times a day at the moment which seems a little ridiculous.
Also, I appear to have piles, or at least that's what my Mum reckons because my backside is very itchy. Is that a symptom of piles? And is there a household rememdy for it to relieve the itching before I can get to the chemist tomorrow? It's driving me insane.
Still no news from my friend who is now 13 days overdue. She texted me earlier to say that the hospital has started the process (I presume she means induction) but that they might have to wait 48 hours for anything to happen. Poor thing.

You apparently have more bowel movements when labour is a few days away. So could be soon.

Warm baths are very good for piles and also putting your feet up and relaxing.