Due May 2009 Hairy Mary!... We're on the final stretch!

[Belgianchocolates]

Thought I'd better start the new thread before it was too late. Here we go!

emmabemmas - Look up "agoraphobia". Does that sound like what you feel outside your home?

I did a mini-thesis on this subject in school. There can be many triggers, and in your case trigger seems to be the anxiety of a new baby coupled by finding yourself in a strange place full of strangers.

Please seek professional help. Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy days out with your baby?

dandy yes, I'm in Scotland but the lady I'm talking about lives in Gloucestershire. We do have Macro up here (although I don't go as it's in Edinburgh and I'm not). And I think it is one of those places you need to 'join'. Might be worth it for the bargains.......?
[plans trip to Macro to bulk-buy ginormous cheap knickers to post out to all the May 2009 thread ladies].

Cote:

Thank you for the advise. I looked it up and I wouldn't say that was what is was 100%. I love being out and about. I don't like going out alone however. I always feel like if I go somewhere there has to be a reason why. Going for a walk and I need to have a destination with a reason...not just a walk. Going into town and I need a reason not to just go...

On the rare occasions that I have managed to go on my own I have always ended up enjoying myself and the freedom. I like to sit and get DD a muffin and enjoy a coffee and enjoy scenary other than my four walls.

It is the getting out that I have a problem with. I talk myself out of it for many reasons...time, tiredness, distance, what to do when there, money...that is the main one. I can always say to myself 'why spend money on the bus and go through all the hassle of getting ready and out the door just to go to town...with no reason to go!?!' If I am going to spend £5 on a bus there better be a damn good reason since I could just wait until 2:30 when DH is home and go with him...

Even if I go out with DH and DD I still may go off on my own for a bit...I think for me the issue is the getting there aspect and the lack of what to do once I get there. Why go for a walk around the block and end up more tired than before I left unless I had a purpose...

I hope that makes sense? Also, thank you everyone for the support and advice...helps to talk about it!

Dandy Macro is a big international chain. A bit like Costco where you buy things in bulk. We have one around B'ham somewhere and when I was little my parents used to go there all the time (in Belgium!). I used to think it must be really fun inside the store, because under 12's weren't allowed back then. They are now.

Re: big knickers. Sloggi's are comfy, but too expensive to use as throw away post delivery pants IMO. I'll stick to good old Asda or Tesco ones.

Emmab Do make an effort to go out. Try and keep in mind that when you're actually out that you do enjoy it, rather than focussing on the reasons to stay in. And definitely have a word with your GP, HV or even MW.

I feel extremely tired today. I had to sleep in the spare bed and it was so uncomfortable. Getting out for a wee at night was horrible. On top of it the blinds aren't dark enough for my liking, so I woke from the light quite early. Am looking forward to the decorator finishing my room and for this week to be over (the dreaded interview is looming).

Ohhh... I just went to the bathroom and found [TMI alert] I'd lost a bit of my plug Only about a 1/4 teaspoon, so not the whole lot, right?? It was [more TMI, sorry] quite solid & had some tiny streaks of blood.

Should I be worried??? (am 35+1 today)

Hi Spangle, sorry, I don't know, but if I were you I'd call someone, your labour ward or NHS Direct, just to make sure they don't want to see you. Let us know how you are. xx

Spangle I wouldn't be worried but I would definitely call the labour ward - I imagine they will probably want you to come in for a check because you're less than 36 weeks. Good luck.

Spangle - phone the hosptial!! And let us know how you get on. xxx Big HUG xx

Dandy - maybe you know of Makro? Trade wholesalers - you can get in if you have a trade card (usually businesses or charities can apply).

emmab - I kinda know where you are coming from. I live about 5 miles from our nearest shops, and I hate going out unless I have a reason for going - sometimes the reason can be to go for a cuppa and let ds play in park... eg yesterday I needed to lodge takings in the post office, but because that was the only thing I had to do I decided it could wait until Monday when I'll be there leaving ds to school. Yet at the same time you cannot stay in all the time. I was like this when I had PND because the effort to go out was so big a challenge to me.

Re big pants - Ii got some Tescos briefs (not big pants) for post birth, and they fell apart. The elastic was too thin and tight so they cut into me. Have thrown a load out and wearing them for now until they go in bin. Have disposables in stock and may get bigger 'bridget jones' ones for comfort!

OK need to go and collect ds from party and then to shop to chat to new employee and see how he's getting on. So away to put a bit of slap on!

Have a lovely 1st Day of SUMMER!!!!!

Oh is Philidephia cheese ok to eat??? Too late for me if it isn't!!!! Yum YUM!!

divedaisy I hope think so. I've been scoffing loads of it

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was afraid you'd say that... we are right in the middle of moving stuff between the two bedrooms and the house is in complete disarray!

I'll phone shortly & give you an update later.

Thanks girls x

Belgian I didn't throw away my Sloggis last time! Oh no! I wore them for months (with regular washing, of course) then I lent them to a friend... who lent them to a friend... and I didn't really want them back! We certainly got our money's worth out of them though and like divedaisy said the really cheapo ones tend to fall apart.

Just checking in (being lurking more than anything else)

I can't believe how close we are all getting just been packing hospital bag. I'm sure my pregnancy brain will have forgotten some thing important

will have read back a bit now

good luck spanglemaker!

Let's hope Spanglemaker is OK. I didn't loose my plug with my DD until well into my contractions.

All that talk of big knickers led me to dig out mine from last time, and start wearing them- ahh so lovely to have pants that cover my backside as my usual pants have been getting too small! Might have to invest in a few more pairs as only have 3 or 4...

Spangle - you don't need to phone the hospital, but go for it if it'll reassure you. Your cervix will be constantly changing and losing part of your plus doesn't mean you're about to spontaneously erupt with a fountain of amniotic fluid and a small baby in a boat ;) Your plug is just mucous and it can (and will!) be constantly renewing itself. You really only need to start being concerned if you are having regular contractions and/or your waters break.

Phew - hospital MW said to just keep an eye on things for now, since I haven't had any bleeding, pains, waters etc & baby is moving normally. I really hope he stays put for at least a couple of weeks as there's so much to do at home.

Right, back to keeping an eye on DH to make sure he doesn't fill every available space with his crap stuff.

Thanks, blotted. I wasn't too worried when I first saw it as I know people can have bits of show over weeks & nothing happen, but then of course I started over-thinking & panicking!

Ah but with the cheap big knickers the whole point was that you could just bin them if they got too mankey during labour (e.g. if you waters go) or after birth if you bleed a lot. I wouldn't want to do that with expensive Sloggis you see. My cheap Tesco and Asda ones have been lasting a good few months now and still no broken elastic, so mine are OK.

Spangle I'd get in touch with lw too, just because you're not full term yet. Having a show could happen weeks before you go into labour, but still, it's better to check with them and see what they say. They might want you to just keep an eye on it.

Spangle x post I see. I thought lw would have said that, but being that you're not 37 weeks yet it's wise to just give them a ring, even if it's just for your own re-assurance.

oops didn't mean to sound as if I don't want to go into labour yet just because it's not convenient, obviously LO's health is the most important thing. I'm just starting to realise how un-ready I am too!

Thanks Belgian and others for the advice & reassurance. MN is great for us nervous first-timers

Just thought i'd let you all know that i was chatting with rubysmum last night on Facebook- she may pop back and join us but is really busy at the moment.

Ruby has been poorly- she got german measles 2 weeks before her MMR jab, has been teething, and has croup. Rubysmum is also having a loft conversion and outside extension, and is suffering badly from SPD.

Thanks for letting us know pulapula. How many of us are on facebook? Does anyone fancy joining a group on facebook for us due to May? Not to replace this thread, of course!

spangle I don't think you need to worry, but wow, we are getting close to the end, now aren't we? How exciting!

I'm afraid to say that I still have my big pants from last time, but they are now too big and I need to buy new smaller big pants.

I haven't posted as much here lately because DH bought me a Nintendo DS Lite with brain training, ready for hospital as I was stuck on my own in a private room last time and nearly exploded with boredom. It has become my new addiction and I can't stop playing suduko on it.