Due May 09 - May Day! May Day!! Read All About It - Babies Dropping Everywhere!!!

[divedaisy]

Here we go ladies... over to you all!

btw your husband is not alone.. my dh is nervous as we ended up with an emcs with ds and this hopeful VBAC is all new territory.

choco good luck tomorrow!

MW has been, managed t have a shower and get dressed in jeans b4 she arrived (maternity jeans I hasten to add) she was a bit concerned about my seeping (sorry tmi) wound. said to chase up the hospital 2 moro for swab results in case i need antibiotics.
my bp was normal - unusual since I've had high BP and taken medication for the last 7yrs approx. So for now I don't have to take anything for it.

DH has gone off to the races for the afternoon - work jolly - alright for some. Hopefully he'll cook me a nice dinner when he gets home - if he's not too sozzled

Just deciding what to have for lunch - might have some pasta - I guess its good to keep up my carbs when BF?

Matilda gets weighed again on saturday so have got a couple of days to sort out the feeding

Thanks for the welcome messages.

I think I'll just write a few things down and put them in my green notes and then play it by ear when i go into labour.

From memory last time the midwives did read them and take into account so could be useful!

Hi Petal WELCOME !! you are due the same day as me although I don't agree on dates with the hospital so was hoping to start a little earlier but it's not looking like I'll get my wish so far.

I've done a birth plan because I am desperately hoping to manage a VBAC and don't want any intervention if possible but I did a birth plan last time and then felt too embarrased to hand it over when they didn't ask me for it. I shall be stronger this time .... and get DH to give it to them ... LOL ... he hasn't read it !!

Glad to see you back with us looby M is just gorgeous oooh I can't wait ...
Hang in there with the feeding - it feels like they are constantly on the boob at first but just let her have as much as she wants whenever she wants for now, the routine will kick in later.

Hi petal and welcome. OOps you just reminded me about needing a birth plan! (duh , and it's my 3rd baby too so I should know better). MInd you, midwife hasn't mentioned it either......
Visited the Midwife-Led birthing unit at the hosp this morning and have decided on that option so DH is very relieved as he never got his head around the whole home birth idea. Am desperate to use one of their huge birthing pools - they look fantastic and all the rooms are en-suite and have bean bags and cosy stuff. I also met one of the midwives who works there (lovely, older V experienced- no-nonesense type) and she was so LOVELY (she actually made me cry when describing how I could give birth under water - hormones!!!) so now I'm really hoping to labour on her shift! Anyway, stopped at Tesco on the way home to buy presents for the girls new baby goodie-bags and bought a pile of cheap knickers and vest tops for the birth and after - for £1 each!!! Much cheapness to be had. Thanks for the water birth advice - am really excited about it now and plan to wear a vest top to cover my modesty for as long as I can bear it but am fully aware I'll probably rip it off in a paddy at some stage!

looby so nice to hear you're home and I second everyone else's advice - if you're tired and feeding isn't easy just take your top off, get into bed with M and snuggle away - just rest and have lots of skin contact with her - oh and make sure you eat and drink plenty (its easy to forget to - I did last time!)

Have to go now to do nursery run, then meet a friend for play date, then school run, the gymnastics.........am exhausted already.
Have a good day all x x x

looby definitely keep up the carbs? but I found dehydration more of a prob.. so when you sit down to bf make sure you have a glass of water.. and another biscuit too maybe

silly phone I wanted an ! not a ?

frazzled your birthing unit sounds lovely, and surely I win prizes for ridiculous hormonal emotions: just reading about your reaction to the midwife brought a lump to my throat!

Anyone else getting huge mood swings as the end approaches? I have been having them for the last few days and am trying to remember that's all it is, as there are moments when I'm tired, stressed and can't play with dd as much as I'd like (she's a roaringly active toddler right now) and I begin to fear that the horrid AND is back. Fortunately a cup of tea and some choclate usually produces feelings of estatic happiness pretty quickly (as long as I don't think about post-birth weight loss at the same time). Hmm actually, that sounds like rather a good idea! Will be off to do that and sit in the sun.

divedaisy good luck later on, very exciting to think you'll have your little dd today!

I think I said I was going for a lie-down.

There is a new definition of 'lie-down' - make lemon syrup cake and Jaffa cake loaf (I am very excited about this. blotted, just letting it cool and waiting to anoint it with my most bestest chocolate). Oh and cook rice to cool for chicken fried rice later for the DD's and DD1's friend and Spanishy rice with chicken and chorizo and pulses for me and DH (not enough chorizo for everyone and I love it). Oh and chop veg and stuff for later.

Still, I do love cooking so it is my idea of relaxing. However, I am well aware that I will regret not having a nap later when DD2 is rampaging around, singing, talking loudly, dancing, doing gymnaxstix on the sofa, hassling DD1 and her friend (luckily, most of DD1's friends don't have younger sisters so find DD2 incredibly cute!). Sigh.

Here comes a very strong BH. Oooooof!

Welcome petal68!!! I think most DH's are nervous - mine actually seems pleased now that I have gone past 37 weeks and can have the baby at home! Bless him.

Hello everyone. MW visit went really well - she must be related to your no-nonsense one Frazz - she was very non-plussed by my BP or by the size of the baby and even suggested I just go to the drop in clinic next week so that I don't see the new cmw who might start stressing about the HB / induction etc etc. Had a sweep too (forgot about SPD making that more awkward) and it doesn't look like I will be going into labour anytime soon. Surprisingly that made me feel much more relaxed about everything. I've been having some twinges and LO is 3/5 engaged (as opposed to not at all yesterday afternoon) so you never know I suppose.

Welcome Petal nice to meet you !

Looby you did well getting dressed in time for your MW! Glad she is taking your oozy scar seriously.

Euromum are you feeling better from the AND? I was diagnosed a while ago but am feeling much better having had some CBT and lots of support. I am really hoping it doesn't translate into PND.

Divedaisy good luck tonight. Will be thinking of you.

Oh and petal - my Birth Plan was 'no pethadine/meptid/epidural' 'as little intervention as possible' 'lots and lots of entinox!!!' 'however I am flexible and will do whatever is required!'. My MW said it was a good birth plan, she was probably joking, but that's all I could think of really.

Must go and look at my cakes again.

CONGRATS LLARE!!! . Can't wait to hear more details.

Looby welcome home . Matilda is such a lovely name. You're doing a great job, but really do make sure you rest. This time round I am taking full advantage of lazing in pj's and lots of daytime naps. I feel so much better for it. Also agree with whoever said to drink loads.

My little man is wiggling so may have to feed him soon. One of my nips is sooo sore, but am trying so hard re positioning and feeding as I only managed it a short time with dd.
He is doing well, feeding every 2 -3 hours , with two long unsettled periods a day.
Registered his birth yesterday, and now has a middle name - Kieran. Mw also came and he has lost a little weight but not too much.

Erm, trying to remember what I've read .... .... I go with being totally naked during laboiur. Hated anything touching my skin.

Have to go and feed now. Lots of posiitve labour vibes. And have a fab day tomorrow chocolate if I'm not back til then

Welcome petal- it must be nice to be having a LO again now that your two are old enough to look after themselves. I would have liked bigger gaps between mine but as I had my first when i was nearly 33 i thought it best to get on with it, so will have 3 under 5.

I have been really snappy with the DCs lately and don't like it, but i think i am just very tired (just climbing the stair or putting socks on is hard work, hence the sandals today even though it was raining). Also it's lovely that they are starting to interact more together but they are like partners in crime now- one does something naughty or silly, and the other finds it funny and copies and they get each other so giddy.

Hi Tummum, glad to hear you're feeling better and that you've had good support. I haven't had any 'formal' counselling or anything but dh has been great, especially while I was still working, and I found it helped loads just to talk to the doctor in the first place. So I am feeling a lot better too, in fact it's been ages since I really thought about it which is great. I think I just get nervous every now and again when I realise that soon I will have a toddler dd and a tiny little ds, but it's not really the same feelings of depression and fear about the pregnancy that I was having. I do really hope you don't get PND (well, I wouldn't wish it on anyone!). I haven't been worrying about it in the hope that that will make it less likely to happen. My doctor and lots of mners have all said that there's no link between AND and PND so I'm sure you'll be fine.

Well like grumpy I was planning a nap or at least a sit down while dd is napping, but have totally failed. Lots of washing done though! Am now off to the sofa with my book and fingers crossed that she sleeps for an exceptionally long time today - so far we are at 2 hours and counting, so I don't hold out that much hope! Don't know how I will cope when she drops her daytime nap.

euromum- hold old is your DD? Even when my DD stopped napping (or would nap every other day) we still put her in her room for some "quiet time". And when she grew out of this (aged nearly 3) she would just watch TV quietly at lunchtime instead!

My DS is 22mo and starting to resist naps some days, but i leave him to chat in his cot for a couple of hours anyway- i need the rest too lol

pula i have also been snapping at dd even though she's not even usually being naughty (just tired and hungry and clinging to my legs and whingeing while I try to get lunch, that sort of stuff). Think it all just gets a bit much sometimes being huge and knackered and full of hormones, doesn't it ? Have been telling myself not to feel too guilty about it and that seems to help me chill out enough to be nice again. I'm sure you're doing fine and they probably don't notice/mind that much .

She's almost 21 months now - don't think she's really ready to drop the nap but there have been a couple of days recently when she hasn't had the opportunity to sleep (out at weddings, that kind of thing) and wasn't that bothered by it, which is what makes me worry! Suppose as with all things, you just deal with it as it happens... Very good idea about the quiet rest time though, I hadn't thought of a middle way like that.

DS has been really clingy lately, and I'm sure its because he's aware i've been snappy and not happy and its making him insecure . And with a new baby on the way, I don't want him to feel pushed out, so need to make more effort to be nice mummy again.

sigh.... I'm really flagging. could do with a little snooze but ds is full of beans and the flooring guys are still hard at work. most days by the time dh gets home I'm totally shattered. 38wks tomorrow and think the next few weeks will be the most tiring. I'm getting slower and slower going up and down the stairs to our flat. will need to get things going asap I think!

Grumpy I think mine will be pretty basic as well as a birth plan - unfortunately my local hospital - the biggest and newest in the county - doesnt do epidurals as they cant afford an on call anesthiastist (dont think i've spelt that right!) which is a bit of a bug bear of mine but never mind - managed with gas and air and meptid last time so fingers crossed I will have a quicker labour this time and manage just with gas and air - and hopefully the birth pool if its available.

Thanks to all for making me feel welcome.

The worry I have with my dh is that I'll end up having to reassure and support him rather than the other way round - I did suggest getting a doula but he didnt want that so fingers crossed all will be ok!

ds dropped his nap around his 2nd birthday last aug.. suddenly if he slept in the day he wouldn't go to sleep before 9pm at night! so reluctantly had to keep going all day so he'd be happy to sleep at 7pm ish. these days any daytime sleep more than 30mins (eg if we're out in the car) affects his nights. i am finding the no nap esp hard at the moment.

Hello petal!

Having a snoozy afternoon - was knackered after my day yesterday, and yoga exhausted me - my hips and lower back were in agony last night - dp came in late (1130) and woke me up. Hmmmf. Been to NCT class this am, which dp couldn't make, so I looked like a berk without their bloke there. He missed a good sesh, it was a practising to change a nappy day - the teacher 'prepared' the nappies to look like different baby poos, with black treacle, peanut butter and green pesto - very imaginative!

Dandy - oooh a false alarm - glad all is ok though. Did you get my text?

Congrats to Llare!

hi all. having a lovely visit with my sister (thanks all for your good wishes). she did reflexology on my feet which really made baby jump - it was amazing! She said she'd do the same this evening. I just wish it would make baby arrive on time. sigh.

looby, congrats and welcome back. Matilda is beautiful and do make sure you're getting relaxation time. try not to worry about getting dressed, going out, cleaning, etc. just enjoy your baby and bonding.

pula, i'm snappy too, must be hormones and nerves? bless dd1: she keeps telling me 'patience, mummy' and 'calm down'. that brings me down to earth then.

tummum and euromum, am also getting over PND and did feel very low over the weekend. but feel better now and, since support is in place with GP/HV/MW and counsellor, feel like i can overcome falling into a down spiral like last time. defn feel more confident this time. and I've also heard there is no link b/tw AND and PND so try not to worry.

petal welcome! good to have you on the thread.

choco, best wishes for tomorrow. hope you're relaxed and have a wonderful time.

about clothes in labour: last time ended up in the birthing pool and went starkers (didn't care at that point). better than clingy wet tshirt. and the mw or anyone else involved don't really care, do they?

everyone else - hope you're all well. sure to be announcements today, right? can't wait!

Welcome petal! Congrats to everyone who's had their babies!! I can't keep up with all the threads either.

chocbunnies, have a FANTASTIC day tomorrow! It will be lovely.

Hey, sausagenmash, our NCT teacher did that with the nappies the other week!

I've still got potentially 4 or more weeks till our baby is here - I'm getting impatient now! I stop work tomorrow and can't wait.

xx