Due in September 2009 - waiting for an August baby!

[StealthPolarBear]

Hi everyone Can't believe we could have our first baby in 4ish weeks

Morning girls

StayFrosty - glad you had a lovely wedding - like you tho, your dh's trip sounds like my worst nightmare too!! But then boys don't need somewhere to plug in their straighteners I guess!! lol!! Fingers crossed for your scan on wed!

Minshu and Thusnelda - I know what you mean about girls clothes - my dd is 18months old now and I've always dressed her in more tom-boy style clothes (it does suit her personality tho!) I have been known to buy her boys combat style jeans to avoid silly frilly pink bits and today she is wearing a cool skull and cross bones t-shirt from next - I find next are quite good at doing and 'alternative' range for girls! She also has the 'pirate' tommee tippee dummies rather than pink ones with bunnies!....and there's no mistaking her for a boy - with her little clips in her hair and the odd bit of pink here and there no-one would ever get her confused with a boy!!

First timers cover your ears, don't mean to scare anyone but....the memory of labour is starting to really play on my mind at the moment; any other 2nd/3rd timers feel the same?? - didn't have a particularly good birth last time so I'm just really pinning my hopes on a quick and piss easy one this time!!
I remember when they told me I was fully dilated last time I totally panicked and suddenly had the realisation that the baby had to somehow come out - sounds silly, but you just kinda get so caught up in the crazy world of labour pains- you forget there's a baby coming at the end!!

stayfrosty - glad the wedding went well and that you had a lovely holiday!! Hope the scan goes well on Wednesday! Fingers crossed for you!

fairysparkles I know what you mean! I won't know if I have to have a c-section until next week, but keep changing my mind between not having to go through labour again, to not wanting to venture into the unknown of a c-section!! Was it really as bad as we remember? I'm totally in denial about having to get this baby out in just over 4 weeks time!!

Woken up with awful swollen feet, reminiscent of an old lady's!! Very attractive!! Had this with DD and DH thought it was very funny! Think a pedicure is in order to sort them out!!

Hope you are all well and not too uncomfortable at this late stage!! Just think in a few weeks we'll all have our babies! I'm so excited!

Morning everyone! I'm in a good mood today even though I had another rubbish night sleep & am knackered (baby moving & hip pains and general pregnancy insomnia are to blame) but today is my last day at work so i'm in a good mood.
The girls decorated my desk with ballons and streamers and good luck banners & we are having a pub lunch later so I'm having a good day so far!

minshu we have gone for the mothercare 4 wheeler version as we both have cars & are town people, so not much off roading for us!
We got it a few months back and although i haven't played with it since we got it it seems easy enough to set up and down and generally easy to use.

FS I'm a first timer and I'm starting to get that "theres only one of two ways out" now...

Glad to hear everyone else is still cooking their buns. I only have two more weeks till i hit the 37 week mark which is a bit scary!

Stayfrosty congrats on your wedding.
It's easier 2nd time normally so don't worry. Drink your raspberry leaf tea with regularity as this will pop them out quicker! I am still having a sunroof job no matter what as with 2 and one breech I am not taking any chances.

stayfrosty tk maxx - love it!

fairysparkles I too am starting to crap myself. Mw told me number 3 can be more awkward I must stop watching 'baby tales' on sky...

Really hoping baby turns as I really don't want a c sect. I like to be up and about and HATE hospitals!! 33+1 today. See what mw says next week.

Right...off to try round 2 of camping trip [fingers crossed the tent we left there isn't totally flooded].

Glad you had a good wedding stayfrosty. The rally sounds like a once in a lifetime experience. Fingers crossed he stays safe

Thusnelda after saying I didn't want a bugaboo, we ended up going with the bee, because it's small enough and light enough to get up the steps to our flat, fits in the back of our Polo, and it'll fit on the bus better than some of the behemoths I see women with. I liked the rear facing option too, and figured that if in a year we decide to just get a Maclaren like everyone else they hold their value well second hand, so we'll get a good proportion of our money back. Found a good deal at Peppermint.co.uk including the car seat, and a free baby nest.

As a first timer I'm currently not thinking about the birth at all, since I can only imagine it's going to be the most intense physical thing I'll ever do, and I have no choice in the matter. Mostly I worry about the next 18 years - I keep looking at children and thinking 'I can't cope with one of those' I'm going to give the natal hypnotherapy cd a whirl - if nothing else I'll get a nice nap in the afternoon out of it. Anyone else trying it?

lizlemon I did the natal hypnotherapy cd with DD and it was fantastic. I can honestly say that I did not have any fear about childbirth, in fact was looking forward to it! I did it every day from about 34 week, but beware it really knocked me out for the rest of the afternoon and I'd usually sleep for about 2 hours afterwards, so make sure you don't have anything important to do afterwards!!!

Think I might have to dig it out again if I'm on for a natural delivery. If I'm going to have to have a c-section I'm going to get the one for that!

Hi all. Sorry for not being a regular post-er, but I always try and log in at least once a week to see how others are doing. Minshu - completely understand about being scared about labour.

Went to the hospital this weekend to have our maternity tour. It very quickly turned from exciting to bloody hell I've actually got to go through with this now (not sure why this hasn't occurred to me before??!!) Have had a look at the natal hypnotherapy website and think I may be making a couple of purchases very soon!

Plus KNUF - yes! That's me! Some really weird sensations going on. Only at 32 weeks, and regretting my decision to keep coming to work until 37 weeks, I think I'll be crawling my way to the finish line.....!!

Good luck with the hopefully-not-flooded tent Blue.

FairySparkles, I'm a 2nd timer too and also fairly daunted by having to do it all over again and I had a fairly "easy" time of it before - can't imagine what's it's like if 1st time was less easy... am completely addicted to reading/hearing birth stories and any threads on here titled... length of 2nd labour/weight of 2nd baby, etc Irritatingly the only conclusion I can draw from these is that everyone is different, grrr not so helpful, still I remain addicted...

Anyway,hope everyone is bearing up... the term (which I have never liked much) "heavily" pregnant seems really v applicable now..... and the words having a baby next month are slightly scary.

Hi all,

Posting from work as not much to do now, with only just over 9 days to go!! Really can't wait now, finding it so hard to get up in the morning now.

Has anyone been getting bad cramping pains on the underneath of the bump? Feels like bad period pains or that I really need the toilet but can't go. Not sure if I'm coming down with something or if it's normal, spoken to a few mothers in RL and they don't seem concerned about it but they're not experiencing the pain, which is excruciating when I turn, bend or walk (so basically as long as I'm sitting still I'm fine!!) Just thought I'd ask on here as a paranoid first timer I have no basis to go off!!

I've been focusing on having a lovely natural birth at home, yes with pain but it all very bearable and as text book as I can get it. Will pack my hospital bag very soon, but really hoping that I won't need it and will be able to unpack and use the things at home instead!! I maybe being completely naive and slightly idealistic but I'm just hoping if I focus on that and be positive about it then if things do go differently I'll just deal with them when they come and not stress out completely now!!

Minshu we have gone with the Britax Vigour 3, which is forward facing, suitable from birth (if you get the 3+ 2009 edition) and the car seat (Baby safe SHR) is single hand release so will make everything nice and simple (apparently ) have a look, we got it in red and I must say that I'm quite impressed with it, even if my mum has only let me look at it once (superstitious!)

Sorry meant that the Vigour was forward and rear facing, seriously easy to change as well, just a pull up clip either side.

Welcome back MrsStayfrosty!! Glad you had a lovely day!

Sprinkle period type pains here as well, and same as you no one in rl seems to think it is a problem. I guess there is still alot of stretching going on as bubs gets fatter. If its when you move its worth having a word with your MW as well, could possibly be a bit of SPD or similar. x x

Hypnotherapy cd definately worth getting, have been listening to mine every night for the last 2 weeks and have my second lesson tonight. It has already lessened my fear of birth alot (plus me keeping away from all the birth threads on here helps!) and does help to chill me out, the actual Hypno side of it I'm not so good at, have too many things going on in my head to switch off completely, DH on the other hand is amazing at it and can completely zone out! Have asked him whether he could have bubs for me! Not keen though...!

Hope your 2 LOs are behaving themselves Neddie! Not sure how you cope with double kicking etc.

Afternoon everyone! Posting from home as I am no longer at work (woop woop!).

I am officially organised. 37 weeks on Wednesday (based on scan). All baby stuff is washed and out of boxes (even Moses basket is up to get us used to the fact that something is going to be sleeping in it soon!). I even had a go at sussing out the bottles, mircrowave sterliser and breast pump. I ventured into Primark on Saturday to buy a nightie to deliver in - defo going in the bin afterward. I also got a couple of pairs of cheap PJ bottoms which I am planning to wear with Bravado tank tops at night. Most people I have spoken to said a bra is too painful for the first few days so recommended a tank with built in shelf.

Re bottles, I got the gift set from born free which comes with a few bottles and steriliser and is all BPA free (as is the Tommy Tippee closer to nature). All seems quite good to me, but what would I know??

Glad to see you back Stayfrosty!

As a first timer I really have no idea what to expect about the labour so can't really dread it too much (oh so naive I hear those 2nd timers snicker). I am just focusing on the fact that when I am ready for pain relief I will have it and I am not too much sure what else I can do. I am starting on the raspberry leaf tea today - no idea how much to drink but I was told to work my way up to "lots of cups".

I have had the odd period like cramps and lots of pressure on my pelvic floor! Seeing doctor on Wednesday so will have to see how far TobyAva has managed to wriggle into my pelvis.

Hope everyone else is coping at work still.

Oh StayFrosty - lack of signal is the most likely reason. Welcome back! Glad you had a good day.

Well done, BabyLady - it'll be a while before I get that far with organisation.

I've been to an ante natal class and maternity unit tour this evening. Yet another lovely midwife, who has three kids and is very enthusiastic about labour. They are very keen on ensuring that we are given the appropriate choices there. No intervention (apart from episiotomy) at this unit, so all complications require a trip to one of the larger, busier hospitals, but I'm hoping to have the kind of labour and birth that can get by with entonox and pethidine. I managed not to cry, but was gratified to see a couple of other women who looked like they could get to the brink of tears, too (and I mean that in an empathetic, rather than cruel way).

It's all getting very close and I'll be looking into hypnotherapy now, too.

Thanks for the info on buggies - I'll have a look at the britax, too.

Eleven and a half more days in the office.

The Britax Vigour is one of the best buys on Which? - I would really like to see it in the flesh though before I order it.

StayFrosty, I'm sure it's lack of signal - very frustrating though when you can't get a hold of him! You definitely have every reason to moan, but try not to worry. I've got a friend who travelled through Turkmenistan and Kazhachstan and all the other arseofnowherestans on his own and it all went well (apart from having to pay bribes for petrol).

Well I did the hypnotherapy cd and knock me out it did, good and proper. Had 2 hours of such deep sleep that I hadn't heard dh making 20 phone calls to the house and my mobile, and in fact only woke up when the front door slammed and he came running in expecting to find me lying on the floor incapacitated or something, not sleepily rubbing my eyes in bed. We've agreed that I'll tell him when I'm going to listen to it to avoid such panics in future. Whether I get anything out of the therapy is by the by - it was the most restful patch of shut eye I've had in weeks

New thing to moan about - I have a sort of weird ache in my left bum cheek. Presumably it's a nerve being compressed or something, and it's not really painful, but it is uncomfortable, and it reminds me that most of the time now there is something niggling somewhere on my body.

stayfrosty fairly sure it will have been no signal, and hope you've heard from him. How soon is he due home?

babylady I think maybe the ignorance of first timers is a bit of a blessing, and I remember that my mw said to me that fear was the worst way to approach labour. I kind of think 'bring it on', since it's the only way I get to meet this baby.

Hello everyone!

Well I have to agree about HP, a little bit disappointing. Its such a shame the missed loads of stuff out and added in random stuff that was never in the book... Nevermind, it was a nice night out anyway

Lizl it might be a bit of sciatica. I had this on and off with ds but nothing this time round. It was never so bad that needed treatment or anything but I would stop me in my tracks from time to time!

I can relate to the period cramps too, I have them so badly last week I was convinced I was going into labour, I was all ready to phone the midwife . I took paracetamol and had a lie down and they went away overnight. I'm not getting as many BH now which is nice, they were really annoying.

Stayfrosty glad to have you back and hope you hear from dh soon!

I'm glad I'm not the only one getting the cramps! I was also ready to phone the midwife the other night!!

Stayfrosty I can totally sympathise as I've also been suffering with the dreaded piles . Try a warm bath with salt diluted in it. Also the creams help and you can get medicated wipes that make it easier when you go to the loo!

babylady I agree with the others, there's no point in getting stressed about labour as it is going to happen and worrying about it isn't going to help! You never know, you might have a really easy time of it! I know more women who had 'easy' births than complicated births. Remember, you've gone through 9 months of pregnancy and birth is only for 1 day (hopefully!! )

Just ironing the last few bits for my hospital bags! I was so organised with DD and had it all done by 35 weeks, I think I'll still be adding bits as I leave for the hospital this time!!

this hypnotherapy cd sounds amazing! i could do with being knocked out for a few hours. is there an onliine link to it?

i'm not so scared of the birth as i am the newborn aftermath! though i'm kinda looking forward to the feeding and the snuggly cuddles, but not the lack of sleep, afterpains and general madness

i had an 'easy' birth last time though, and rather fast, so i'm probably more scared of giving birth alone in the kitchen than anything! i just had a friend whose husband had to catch the baby, as it was born in 45 mins (second baby).

45 mins ..... I'll add that to my pile of worries , do you know how long her first labour was audreyr? My labour was fairly short for a 1st timer (7.5hrs from waters breaking to birth but contractions didn't kick in for a couple of hours).

And I think everyone is right, fear doesn't help, relaxing/positive thinking is better

Well as a first timer I have no idea what labour will be like for me and I'm just trying to stay relaxed about it, I keep being told that if I panic or get scared then that will kick in the adrenalin which fights against the birthing hormones so staying calm and relaxed are the best ways to try and approach the whole thing... we will see what happens on the day!! I must say I am quite excited about meeting this LO and everything that will come with it (even the sleeplessness!!) As soppy as it sounds one of the things I'm looking forward to the most is seeing DH hold him!!

One lady I was talking to said that she didn't view the contractions as pain but as 'baby love' lol, so there's another approach!! Each contraction brings you closer to your baby and once every one has passed you'll never have to have it again.

I'm sure all you second/third timers are scoffing me out there, but I really want to stay positive about it all!!

Re: the Britax Vigour, we were so impressed with it when it came, we had been to a shop and looked at it in the flesh a couple of times and then found a great deal online and were even more impressed with it as we got it in red which we hadn't seen. The car seat is really padded, seems quite big though, but personally I like that as I feel he will be more protected. I would recommend the baby safe plus SHR car seat though as it's single hand release and the updated version, god knows why it's £10 cheaper than the other package though!! You can get carrycots for it as well and the carrycot car seat, but it does lie completely flat so you don't need one.

Very relieved that I am not alone in getting cramps and SF I hope you have heard from DH now.

In the Hypnobirth videos we have watched, you would almost think that they are asleep, and waiting for the stork to arrive! They just have no expression, and dont make a sound until the very end when its only a deep breathing sound - its pretty amazing to think that it could actually be like that!
Hypno teacher showed DH the most amazing massage yesterday, sit on a chair the wrong way round with your arms over the back of the chair on pillows, rest your head on your arms and then your OH very gently draws horizontal 'lines'with both hands starting from the spine and working out to the sides, and going all the way up the spine - it is totally fantastic! It is meant to stimulate nerve endings in the same way as a Tens machine, so your brain focuses on the tingling rather than any other muscular pain that may be going on. I nearly fell asleep in 2 mins its so nice, until she said to DH 'and you can also include the breasts and nipples if labour is not progressing..'! then I had to laugh just imagining his face!! and when we got to perineal massage... bless, he takes it very well!

Hope you've heard from your DH Stayfrosty, signal is probably to blame, theres no signal in the UK sometimes! x x

Bit long, hope I've made sense!

website for magic cds I got mine from ebay in the end.

If anyone has Virgin tv I found a section under 'More Free TV' about parenting, and there's actually a ten minute interview with the hypnotherapy woman and someone who used the techniques. (No I haven't achieved much today )

I've also watched some birth videos on youtube and some of them are really calm and gave me lots of encouragement.

I like the sound of the massage.