Due October 2009 - Feeling better and feeling baby!

[princessmel]

I have started the new thread

OMG didn't realise i'd written a novel....

Just checking in to see if there was any news on TheBoob

Also decided to repack my maternity bag, as I felt I had seriously over packed. I'm going to be using re-usable, but figure disposables will be much easier to use when in hospital, how many should I pack, or should I just take a whole packet?

Also re the lovely sexy maternity pads - will one pack (10) be enough or do I need to take more than that

I guess OH can bring extras if they are needed....

Someone I worked with suggesting taking a small toy in as well, for when DD is born, do I really need to do this?

LMB that's a really good list - I'm going to print it off and use. I like the way you've added things to pack on the day. V. useful.

smallone I have been feeling really emotional lately too. I presume it's tiredness and hormones. Getting fed up with welling up all the time though.

As I am first timer, I am getting a bit nervous, and also wondering some silly things. Like, what should I wear to labour in? What did you all wear?

HB
xx

Hackneybird

I wore a number of outfits which I think I threw off at regular intervals.Once I gave birth in DH large Tshirt, I think I was naked once or perhaps a hospital gown after being in the pool, and perhaps a night shirt the other time but as you can see I don't really remember nor do you really care.It all becomes a bit of a blur.I would suggest you opt for a night shirt but do have a change just incase.

That post makes me sound a bit mad !!!!

hb i wore a nightie and then when my waters went i think i wore a hosp gown. i'm pretty sure i was nekked by the end tho! i have no idea what to wear this time. what to wear in a birthing pool?

newbee do you mean a toy for the newborn baby? if so i wouldn't bother. i willl be taking in a toy for my ds from the baby tho.

lmb i ummed and ahhed about breast pads too. don't think i'll neeed them but popped a couple in just in case.

smallone i go through periods of feeling up and down. keep stuffing my face in the down times which is not good! choc helps tho.

Just pooping in to check if we have any news yet, hope you all feel better soon for those who are ill (pg brain I cant remember much more sorry).

Oh and wanted to add, im due on the 8th October and I am predicting I will go on the 11th, reason being most of DP family are born on the 11th including DD, although I cant see me going more than a week at present (wishfull thinking??)

I am due the 6th but I think that they may induce me on the 5th or 6th.I really hope so as it is hard just to exist at the moment.

I haven't packed any breast pads as never need them untill I get home.I will have some cabbage leaves in the freezer ready for my engorged breasts.They do really help has anyone eles used them ?

Quick question from me too-when I'm in hospital, what happen with the baby if I want to go off to the toilet? Do I just take him with me in the sling? Feel silly asking!

hackneybird-first timer here too and also getting a bit nervous about the birth. 9 months seems to have gone very quickly. I seem to be permanantly listening to the hypnobirthing birth prep cd now which is kind of helping, I guess I won't find out how effective it is until the day. For the birth I've just packed a nightshirt and some favourite old t-shirts

smallone-you're not alone on the feeling down/emotional. DH told me I was irritable when we were shopping in town on Saturday and I promptly burst into tears in Boots. Its mainly a mix of tiredness and anticipation on my part I think. People keep telling me I won't know tiredness until I have this baby and it is starting to annoy me- they don't see me trying to sleep at 3am/4am having been up all night with a kicking baby and don't realise I've not slept more than 4 to 5 hrs a night for the past 20 odd weeks!

newbee-wasn't going to bother with a toy but have got a Slumberbear on midwife's recommendation. It makes noises that mimic the sounds inside the womb apparently. She said it can help babies settle, especially at night when they have been used to the noises/gurglings of your stomach and come out to find that nighttime is all quiet. Again, no idea if it works but happy to give it a go.

Forgot to say LittleMissBliss-you are so organised, I am very impressed!

Feel so crap with my cold I just want to cry. Hoping and praying I improve before labour starts or I won't have any energy to cope with pain and pushing. I sympathise with you feeling down smallone.

I have packed a Baby Jack HumphreysCorner elephant and the girls will give him a bigger HC elephant which they have wrapped when he comes home. Don't think I took toys before but felt the need this time.

Can't stop yawning.

Love to all!

HC
x

Hi all,

Can't remember all the comments...but I'll try.

With dd, I gave birth in a hospital gown, as I'd had an epidural and they put you in one then.
With ds I started off in a nightie from Primark but threw up on it, then the next one, and ended up in a gown.

Re feeling emotional, yes I have done lots of crying on and off. I went for about a week crying every day over different things! Then had a few days off then started crying again!!

Predicting when I'm going to give birth...well I think I'll be late, like I was with ds and dd. Probably halloween! (due Oct 21)

But I am having SO MANY bh, it's crazy to think that they don't actually help atall with the speed/ease of labour.

Hopsital bag...I have started to pack mine. Bought the maternity towels and breast pads last week. Plus some disposable waterprrof mats to put under my sheet in case my waters go with a gush.
And also to use when bf in the first few days/weeks. I found that when I was feeding dd lying down, on my side, I'd end up with big wet milky patches on the bed. I put muslins down but they don't mop it all up really. Plus I may leak from the other end too in the first few days. Grim but true.

I hope theboob is ok and I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Take care everyone.

morning all

i am also re-packing my hospital bag today because am having an ECV tomorrow which can trigger early labour (very small chance)

i packed it so long ago that i can't remember what i put in it

have bought two huge t-shirts to labour in and disposable knickers for the first day or so ...

HC - i hope you feel better soon ... poor you feeling all full of cold

I am due 4th October but not even a twinge yet. DS was around 1 week early ... if i do have to have section it would be scheduled for 39 weeks which would be the week after next

have good days (hope theboob is doing ok)

Thanks HappyT I did mention to my sister that I would love one of those bears (and I think she may have got one, but I may have to confirm that with her) They do sound like such a great idea.

Hmmm hadn't considered needing more than one shirt to labour in, but it makes perfect sense. Right need to rummage through the OH workshop shirts again and see how many extra larges he has that he can donate. Thought they made teh most sense as they're dark, quite long, and have poppers on the front... Do they sound like they may work?

Possible TMI question, but I have to ask.....
Up until a couple of months ago, I've always kept "down there" well trimmed and tidy, but as I've not been able to see down there I've been a bit scared to risk it and shave blind, is it worth (or more importantly can I have) having a wax done a week or so before I'm due to make me look less like an unkempt mess. - or am I worrying far too much?

Newbee-don't do what I did and tried to shave blind . I would suggest your OH does it if you feel the need. My DH did mine quite a while ago so it has grown back a bit but I just can't lay on my back long enough without feeling dizzy. Never bothered with first 2 births but at least I look more presentable at the moment. Perhaps when I get rid of this cold I might ask him for a tidy up.

ruby- for you, you could be the 2nd one to have their baby. Good luck!

Day 2 of my rotten cold and it is at the stage where I have to keep blowing my nose which more often than not causes me to wee a bit. My head hurts too so going to take more paracetamol.

HC
x

38 weeks!!!

Just popping on to wish ruby good luck for tomorrow and see if anyone answered my Q re the hopsital. Ruby hope baby co-operates and turns!

Newbee-I second getting your OH to do it, thats what I'm doing anyway. Have had some painful experiences shaving blind. Your t-shirts sound like mine-have also raided DHs wardrobe!

Lots of Braxton Hicks this morning but I actually got 6 hours sleep, almost unheard of for me! Spending a lot of time on all fours over the beanbag at the moment, seems to be my most comfortable position. That beanbag is my essential labour item, I'm not going into hospital without it!

So sad about Patrick Swayze, he fought so hard.And have just heard about Keith Floyd as well.

Princessmel where did you get the disposable waterproof mats from? They sound like an excellent idea.

No news on boob yet I see.

Good luck tomorrow Ruby

HT
when I had dd and ds you were not allowed to walk along the coridours(sp) with your baby. You had to leave them in the crib.
Some hospitals have sensors in the crib, you wear a wrist band that links to the crib, and if anyone else picks up the baby , who is not wearing the wrist band, an alarm goes off. I didn't have one of these though.

I just used to wee quickly. I would say to the other mums, please keep an eye on dd , not ideal imo though.

I'm not sure on what they would say about you wheeling the crib to the loo with you.

Hopefully your partner will be with you most of the time. It's mainly at night when they've gone home that this is an issue.

HB I got them in Boots in the breast pad/maternity pad section. They look great. (They are the same sort of thing as the bed wetting mats Pampers sell)

When your in hospital they put you on these mats. And usually there are quite a few in your hospital bedside drawer, sanitary towels too. So I may take a few of those home with me too!

HT, my hospital experience was the same as princessmel's, you weren't allowed to walk around with the baby in your arms, it has to be in the wheeled crib. The reason given to us was that an emergency could happen at any point and they have to run to respond - getting knocked over holding a newborn could be very dangerous. It had seemed silly until one poor ladies alarm went off and about 13 midwifes went stampeding down the corridor - I wouldn't have wanted to be in their way!

Leaving baby at the side of the bed seemed to be normal, but was something I found really, really hard. I couldn't sleep unless DH was there to look after DS - I don't even know what I was worried about really, but am hoping to wangle a private room if at all possible this time

HB I'm borrowing DS' bed mats - we've just switched to Asda own as have been having difficulties finding the Pampers ones we used to have. They haven't been tested by DS yet so have no idea how good they'll be .

When I was in the delivery room for DS, my waters had gone but DS head didn't engage, so the waters just kept coming and coming and coming - poor DH spent most of his time mopping me, the bed etc. The midwifes showed him where all the pads were and to help himself (pretty much how most of the labour went but that's another story).

I popped into hospital yesterday as I was having regular braxtons (nothing unusual there) but with each one, was getting really lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous etc. Turns out my blood pressure is quite low. They offered me bedrest, but have come home instead. However, nursery have taken DS back full time for the time being, so that I can actually get some rest... I hope he doesn't resent me for it, not that I'll be letting on to him that I've been home all day, I shall let him think I've been working .

However, on the plus side, when the doctor examined me, she said that she was convinced the baby is now head down - she's written 'ceph long' in my notes, can't find anything about what that means... Got another scan on Thursday though so we'll see if she's right!

Fingers crossed!

Can't wait to hear about Ruby's ECV and to hear some news from TheBoob.

Ruby good luck for tomorrow lots of turning vibes from me.

Hope the boob is ok and had baby by now.

You couldnt walk around with baby in arms in my hospital too and had to do it with the crib.But luckily had my own rooms both times with own toilet so no problem leaving baby. About how many nappies to take ,I packed about 10 as hoping wont be staying in hospital too long same with maternity pads, one pack should be enough.And DP can always bring more if needed.

Will check in back later.x

I can't find those Pampers Mats either, Tesco have stopped selling them.

When I had DD1 you left your baby in the crib and took the alarm key with you. With DD2 we had a new maternity hospital with every room ensuite so never had to leave the room. I still laugh now at the MW shouting 'your baby is crying' as I trotted up the corridor to the loo. I mean, what was I supposed to do, stand cross legged all day?

HC
x

Thanks everyone for answering, thats really helped.

Sparkly-yay for baby turning! Hope you manage to get some rest

Community midwife is popping in later just to check me over. I was walking to post a letter outside my little Tesco Express earlier(tis only down the end of the road really) when I got hit with the most awful backache and some really strong Braxton Hicks. I couldn't move for a bit, they were so strong. Got to the postbox and another one hit-I almost posted my keys instead of the letter as I had them in my hand and was holding onto the postbox. Managed to walk home v v slowly (1/2hr as opposed to 10 mins) and then spent ages on all fours again. Back pain went after an hour and the Braxton Hicks have now subsided as well. The baby has only just stopped wriggling/kicking, it's unusual for him to be so active at this point in the day.Its like waves of pain if that makes any sense? I'm ok until I try to walk anywhere and then the pressure is quite intense so am going to have a bath and a lie down x

Hi Everyone,

It's been very busy on here the last few days, probably everyone coming on to check on news from theboob! I wonder how she's doing.

I saw Pampers mats in Mothercare at the weekend, they had them in the bedding section. Odd how Tesco have stopped selling them, that's where I usually get them from (dd been out of nappies at night since July, going well so far but have had a few accidents).

Sparklytwinkletoes Ceph long is good (head down and longitudinal) - have you got the green NHS pregnancy notes? If so, it mentions it on page 12 under lie and presentation. Luckily my baby's been in that position for a while now.

How scary for you HT I hope that doesn't carry on for much longer, did anyone stop and help you?

I've not got anything ready for this baby yet at all. Looks like we might be moving house as soon as next week (scary!), we're only moving up the road, to a 3 bedroom house (this house only has 2 bedrooms). I think I'll be more organised once we've moved but I want to start and get baby's things sorted this weekend. I left it quite late last time too, I was over 39 weeks before I had my bag packed!

HC I hope your cold goes soon. I've got a cold too, but it's not too bad and doesn't seem to be getting any worse luckily.

Fidelma I used cabbage leaves last time too and found them really soothing. It was mostly the coolness of them that seemed to help.

Hi all,

Another one logging in to see if there's any news from theboob!!

Had my 36 wk midwife appt today, and she confirmed carpel tunnel in my hands and wrists and SPD ... feling pretty sore all over at the moment. Not long to go now!

I bought some pampers mats in Boots the other day, so may be worth trying there.

With DD, I sprinkled water on breast pads and froze them - they worked as well as cabbage leaves when I didn't have any cabbage in the house!

Just found out today that our local council gives away £100 starter cotton nappy packs for free, so have put my name down for one of those.

Sleep well ladies ..... as soon as I have DD in bed I'll be heading in that direction!

wow lixan amazing pictures on your profile page.

Thinking about the boob.I am sure all is well but very hectic i guess !

I've been in a foul mood for the last 48 hours not really like me. DH can't stand it.I must remember that he gets very stressed by the whole birth thing.He did cancel his meetings today and take me out for lunch so I shouldn't complain too much, but it is hard when you want to run about and you can't even put your shoes on!

I am meeting some lovely girlfriends tomorrow for our Stitch and Bitch club.(arts crafts,paperwork,cake and chat)One lovely girl has offered to give me a foot massage how nice is that.I am off to try and remove some dead skin as I am only wearing fit flops at the moment as they don't require you to bend down!

As for the area of my body that I can no longer see.DH gave me a little shave about 5 weeks ago but I don't feel like asking again so hairy it is !!!!!

Thanks for the idea of frozen breast pads sounds a bit more normal than cabbage.

Babies room will have its last coat of paint tomorrow.Then it can get another really good clean.

DH is staying away tomorrow night as he is going out with a friend who is off to Afganistan in a few weeks. (leaving behind a wife and 4 children aged between 1 and 7 now thats tough.He will be away for Christmas.)luckly DH will be back on Thursday.My mum is comming to stay just in case.

Sorry for the long post.sleep tight x

Hey there! Sorry for extended absence, but had my final week at work before mat leave last week and didn't have a minute to spend on mn-ing. Missed you all though and was thinking about theboob on Sunday. Feels very to think that the first baby from the October thread might be in the world already!! Hope it all went well, theboob - impatiently waiting for news along with everyone else!

Have started mat leave now. Insufficient fuss made by my colleagues - not even a bunch of flowers! - but I did get a card, and when i got time to read all the messages, they'd all written really lovely things, so I felt quite warm and fuzzy. have to say that I've been BORED on mat leave so far. I think the trouble is that I'm tired, and it's hard to motivate myself to do anything. If I had appointments or obligations, I could just go with the flow, but having to be proactive is more than I can handle. Suffering quite chronic insomnia - hence mning at this ungodly hour - but at least I can sleep in and get some extra naps now.

DH has promised to pack the hospital bag for me - so that he can find things when I need them - but I haven't got round to getting it all out yet. Still in denial, I think, even though I'm 37 weeks today!! Baby will be here in the next 5 weeks!! Nope - still can't get my head round it......

Have whizzed through all the messages that I missed, and I wanted to sympathise with those people who are feeling a bit down about the birth. We had an NCT session last week and it was all about pain relief in labour. I looked at my DH at one point, and suddenly realised that even though we've always been a team and done everything together, when I go into labour, i'm going to be on my own. Of course he'll be there, and I know he'll be a wonderful support, but ultimately, I'm the only one who can get this baby out. It suddenly made me feel really depressed and alone and scared. I feel better now - probably because I haven't been thinking about it - but I'm sure those feelings will come back before the baby arrives.

Had my John Lewis delivery on Monday. Now got the pram (iCandy cherry), car seat and Moses basket. Flat looking a bit cluttered at the mo, but just about keeping on top of it. Started washing and ironing the baby things. Think this is the first and last time I shall ever iron a towel, but just want everything to look nice.....

Sorry not to have kept up with everyone's news but best wishes to all those that are suffering, and good vibes to all.