Due March 2010 - I'm a baby get me out of here!

[annamama]

New ante-natal thread... the post-natal thread is here

Manda So sorry you're feeling rotten. Doesn't the paternity go to whoever turns up at the register office?

Smac update from facebook 19 hours ago . (Having rechecked that she didn't mind someone posting it)

"We have another girl. No name yet but she's a bruiser weighing in at 11lb 1. Both ok."

Holy flipping moly! Eleven pounds?! Well done Smac! I hope you didn't take the labels off/wash a whole bunch of newborn sized clothes as I figure she wont fit them! (actually, am I too awful for listing some stuff on ebay today that I was given in newborn size? I have so many clothes already for him (including four pairs of 0-3 month jeans - I think I'm officially mad) it seems a waste for me to use them maybe once).

RKD, yes, I can register whomever I wish as the father if they pitch up at hte registry office with me (and, obvs! DP si the father and will be with me). It's just... I don't know. I feel weird about it. I think I'm probably over-reacting/hormonal but that intellectal knowlede doesn't help how it feels y'know? And I guess I'm very angry at ex-dh for all the dragging of his heels that got us in this situation.

Oh, seriously, I need to stop moaning.

OMG Pixie you poor woman! You are eating properly aren't you? Low blood pressure and blood sugar together is not good. At least good that nothing seems to be seriously wrong with you, just keep resting as much as you can!

Congrats to Smac! If I remember correctly she was having a CS, hence why she didn't mind someone spilling the beans as might be in hospital for a few days. 11 pounds, that's like 5 kilos?! (I'm a foregigner who don't really understand pounds that well.) That will be pretty hard to beat.

Iwonka - that sucks that no one gave you a seat, you should have said something. Stupid people!

Manda - your problems are real but probably seem worse because you're tired and hormonal... You'll find more strength to deal with things after the birth and first few weeks of having a newborn are over! Yeah just make sure DP goes to register office and claims the paternity!

Talking about going to register office, I was going to send DH on his own since we are now married (we weren't when DD was born so we had to both go). BUT I don't know if I trust him to spell my our chosen name right as I discovered last night that we seem to have some issues over that although I thought we agreed! Of course I'll have it my way though, I'm the one who will give birth. And I also read a story about someone who decided to change the baby's name on the spur of the moment without the mother knowing... Can you imagine, getting a letter about Child Benefit or something and it says to the parents of .

Pixie omg - how are you feeling now? Must be pretty scary (for you and your DH) so take care of yourself. Hope you can MN from bed!

Iwonka how awful about the bus - that would have really p*ssed me off!

Anna reckon you're right about my bump sensitivity...in fairness, it's mostly old dears [getting over myself emoticon]. Glad you spotted early that your DH has name spelling ishoos . Not sure if this applies, but I think my American DH can't actually register the birth alone...something to do with not being entitled to claim benefits ( he's on an EU spousal visa now rather than the highly skilled one he originally was on, but he did mention it to me recently) - ignore if it doesn't apply to you!

Manda sorry to hear about your problems with your ex - what a hassle. I agree with Anna that's it's probably all compounded by feeling so tired and hormonal and perhaps you should just park it until after your little boy arrrives? No advice on your DS other than he sounds like fundamentally a good kid and I imagine he's just playing up a bit because of the change that's imminent...12 is a funny aqe...still a child but practising acting like a teenager...

Smac huge congrats on your little girl . That is a great weight and can't wait to hear her name - I know you won't see this for a while, but rest up and enjoy those newborn snuggles!

Big waves to everyone else.

So midwife appointment was grand - all fine and baby is in a great position apparently. It was a bit freaky to schedule in my 41 week appointment with an obstetrician to discuss induction (Blonde tis the same worry you have with the home birth). Getting quite impatient now but I'm "only" 40+1...time has slooooowed down already [going slowly loco emoticon]

Oh and Manda sounds like it could be pitted odema? My SIL had it and was fine - she hated it though - I've been following this advice on swelling. In fact, should probably have a glass of water right now...

Yikes Pixie that's a bit scary - I really hope when you read this your feet are firmly in the up position and that you're doing sod all. Feel better soon m'dear...hopefully the babies will show up soon and you won't be confined to bed for too long.

Sorry to hear your woes manda and keep offloading if it's helping. It sounds like you're a bit like me - wanting things to be just right before your LO comes along, and it's a bit crappy to have such a massive 'loose end' as an ex-DH and a divorce hanging over your head, but I'm confident you won't worry about any of that once your DS arrives. And your DP won't feel any less of a dad to him just because of the ex. I've not got any experience/words of advice re teenage boys or swelling, but I'll be thinking about you and hope things improve soon. Chin up.

Fantastic news smac and also bloomin' flip - 11lb!! Nice one!

So I'm now increasingly convinced this baby is back-to-back. I'm sure I'm feeling limbs towards the front/side. And it's not surprising really, considering the amount of time I've spent on my arse on the sofa lately. Looks like I'm on all fours till D-day...

Hmmm. So... I called the midwives at the hospital about half an hour ago and they want me to go in to be checked over. I feel like a fraud so in a way hoping I have signs of something other than these ankles I can dent. But actually quite scared have been in denial since last night as baby has been very quiet since then and so desperately hoping I am a fraud. I know, they have their quiet days. He didn't move at all last night that I noticed whilst in bed (and night time he's extremely vigorous a lot of the time) - today a few kinda gentle nudges/rolls. Just a few though. Gah, it's just a quiet day, that's all.

And that's all this will be - he'll do the usual children/animal trick and make me look like a liar and start somersaulting as soon as they strap me to the ctg, right?

Um. I hope to not be there for longer than necessary and so long as they don't admit me (which they won't! This will be a waste of time and all will be fine) I WILL post a little something as soon as I get in. If I don't post... well, I will so let's not worry about that.

Oh, and I'll just pull my head out of my own arse to offer dear pixie an un-MNlike hug. Stop fainting forthwith! Rest up and feel much better very soon.

Good luck at the hospital manda, although I'm sure you won't need it - LO's probably just playing silly beggars as you predict! Still, best to be in the safe hands of medical staff. Let us know how you get on. xx

Congratulations Smac and DrSkid. Ouch at the 11lb though.

Have done very little today other than field "Have you had the baby yet?" texts and calls. No, definitely not, the midwife's checked! Still nothing and I'm swinging wildly between feeling flat (although not in the belly area), feeling more positive and sheer outright panic (as in 4.30 a.m. when I got myself in a right tiz and convinced myself that BF was absolutely not going to be possible - I have "issues" left over from DD about this one so I'm not in the best place to be objective/rational about it).

However, DH has clearly been reading the Mini Egg theory espoused here and bought me 2 packets. Big packets. Bless him.

Pixie, hope you're OK and being well looked after.

Manda, have you checked with the Registry Office about who can be named as the father? You can't be the only person who ever had this problem so there must be a way of sorting it. A friend of mine discovered after her DC1 was born that in her native country her very ex divorce all finalised etc was nonetheless considered the father of DC1 as she hadn't registered the divorce in her home country. This despite the fact that she was married and divorced here. Her DP was not very impressed although she thought it was quite funny and was wondering if she should try and set the CSA on her ex!

IWCAS, I'm so impressed at you making curtains never mind at 39 weeks pregnant.

Pacific, you are always so calm about your DC's being ill. Hope they all recover before this one arrives.

Here's hoping for some baby movement for all those overdue/needing them to turn and positive vibes for EVERYONE!

Evening, all!

Well, I find myself forced to use the multiple window technique again - oh my goodness, the speed at which this thread moves!! You can really tell that most/?all of us are now on mat leave ...

Pixie, cannot believe you are still with bump - well done you. Of all the queue jumpers surely you'd be entitled..
And hope the fainting will stop, 'tis horrible, sympathies from a fellow fainter.
Re worrying about DCs: I think I am lucky in that by nature I am more of a glass half full person. I am probably more likely to worry too little than too much IYKWIM. But there only seem to be 2 kinds of Dr's children: either wrapped in cotton wool and mollycuddled to the nth degree or ignored to the point of neglect .

blond36er, I am probably a bit late as lots of people have offered encouragement already, but here goes: with DS1 I was 15 days overday and yes, ended up induced, but really had a lovely delivery (even if with epidural/synto). With DS3 I was 12 days over and went into labour after 2nd sweep - so there, they can work (Had a CS at 31 weeks for DS2 so do not 'count' that delivery). V best of luck to you .

BTW, to whoever asked, IME (4 sweeps and 2 ARMs) can be uncomfortable but not painful ( at OBEM Joy's "whole hand"!).

Re cats/dogs/pets in general: we are a pet free zone although considering getting a couple of bunnies. DH keeps saying 'can't we get a dog?' although he has no idea what looking after one entails AND he is the allergic one .
Anyhow, am more of a dog than cat person, but know that with the right introduction preexisting pets can be really lovely to the new addition of the family - I suppose dogs are more likely to feel protective rather than jealous cats? Disclaimer: I know nothing about cats .

Congratulations to retromum and Smac! @ 11 lbs!! I am known to say "Anything over 7 lbs is showing off" (said tongue firmly in cheek), but 11 pounds

Good luck, Manda, sounds like you've got lots on your plate. Hope everything goes well at the hospital tonight. And the whole legal side of divorce/registering baby: I so understand where you are coming from but would agree with all the others who've said it will not make a difference in reality. Are you and your DP planning on getting married?? Maybe? In the future? I love a good wedding....

IWCAS, gah at your freezer dying!! You had precooked so much, hadn't you? Can a neighbour store something for you for a while?

My DSs are still alive despite their best efforts to make me kill them today !
DS2 was awake for 2 hours during last night complaining/howling about a sore head, so was dead on his feet this morning with tiredness. DS1 had a sore tummy and the squirts. Ergo, they both stayed off school. DS3 is now known as "Spotty" and wildly fluctuates in mood from delightful to full-blown tantrum like only a 2 year old can. His mood flips like a light switch - 'Tis really quite wearing...
Anyway, unless DSs1 and 2 are at death's door tomorrow They Are Going To School. For their own safety. I cannot take anymore moaning/fighting/whinging.

I went to work today for a Resuscitation refresher course - not that I could do much CPR on a dummy with bump in the way . The scary part of the talk was about choking... and baby rescus - I never ever want to have to be involved in that .

On that cheery thought, I am off for some some RL stuff, Gaviscon and then bed. No oral/cervical EPO here - MummyElk, my DH collapsed when I told him about your poor DH's exploits !

Night-night!

Pacific Top work lady.

Elk Hope I'm forgiven from the sofa. I want to get DH to do all that but fear he'd vomit at my swollen bits......

Evening all
Loving the banter, love the baby news, can't BELIEVE that link about breastfeeding the dog how on EARTH does that woman think it's even, urgh, acceptable?!! DH just said (from the other sofa) "I don't even want to KNOW"... and fair play to smac for the 11lber!!!

sorry to hear about various hormones and tears - the best thing I can say about tears is that Crying is a good indicator of labour starting sometimes.....so if you feel like you are over doing it somewhat on the sobbing front, just let it allllllll out........ I do sympathise with the varying dilemnas, not what you need to be thinking about at this time.

Anyone else wondering where on EARTH the last couple of threads have gone? I mean, it doesn't really feel that long ago that we were working out the Xmas Taxi thread title does it? and here we are with about 5 weeks left between us?!!

I have a fully engaged baby?!! I know it means nothing, but still. would be nice. I'm not due till the 18th so we'll see. Plus, am definitely getting focal migraines, I'd say about once a day. not very helpful with a 2yo running around. I've NEVER had them before so it's all very bizarre. must be hormones but still. my BP is fine so it's not that.

Am really interested to see what people think about their pets post baby. It's almost like a switch went off, I can't explain it!! Now, that doesn't mean to say that exactly the same will happen to everyone, (i'm probably a hard-hearted bitch?!!) but just interested.

ok time to settle up before i crash out...
iwcas really sorry about your freezer, that is bloody hard luck and VERY irritating
pixie hope you are resting, and hope those babies are perhaps thinking about coming out at some point, you never know what your body is trying to tell you??
pacific hope the boys pipe down for you enough to enjoy some mat leave at least?!
manda keep us posted on the fat ankles - no help at all but i was in flip flops for the last two months of my last pg, so my only advice is keep those legs up and try to rest. it'll go so quickly once the baby is out, just no help at all knowing that beforehand!

Sorry if i've missed anything vital.
Good luck with various sweeps etc if I don't get round to reading tomorrow (who am i kidding. laptop is open before breakfast is done )
I'm off to get DH revising his MW 101, i think he Could Do Better....onwards!

cs still on for 5th but really freaking out about its aftermath with others have always had early discharge been out shopping taking kids too school within 6 hours know i probably wont be able too do it this time but its upsetting me more than cs itself
wanting to leave hospital post cs as soon as i can walk and baby is ok ie 6to 8 hours mw not happy with this plan and is suggesting a minimum of 24 hours which seemslike an eternity
we have no family around to help dh has a week off post birth . i honestly never thought not being able to hoover dust etc would cause me such distress .dh has said he'll take the dyson too work as he just doesnt trust me not to use it post birth and am already feeling bereft at the thought .i know its completely nuts as im not house proud usually just very independent and terrible at asking/ letting others help when i know the children would help if asked . maybe cleaning paranoia will settle down as hormones and nesting disappear post birth. dh thinks ive completely lost the plot and i think i agree with him
regarding pets im a vet(although havent practised in some time . pre children had a whole house full of animals .since dc7 was born the animals really have fallen out of favour and i would happily give them all up for adoption tomorrow (pets not children). i think its to do with just no longer having the time to devote to them and often feel like i spend all day reminding dcs that their pets need walking feeding cleaning etc
congratulations smac 11lbs thats very impressive
hope all is well with mawbroon and she now has her little one
pixie look after yourself really hope babies make an appearance sooner rather than later for your sake

HI all,
HAve dragged self out of self-pity, you'll be pleased to hear. Have (despite intructions not to) waded through most of the ironing - just in time for DH to put another few loads on ... but hey ho.

Have managed to take it a bit easier, largely due, unfeasibly enough to DD1 being under the weather with a cold, and basically being quite content to sit on the sofa with mummy and watch movies all day.

Well done Smac on your lovely 11lb baby girl - I remember thinking DD1 at 9lbs 8oz was a bruiser, but your girl puts her in the shade! Well done for growing such a whopper.

Pixie, my fainting fits in early pregnancy were bad enough, but with a big bump must be really scary... Hope you get some kind of answers, or, at the very least are able to properly rest and have someone to deal with the DCs, house etc.

Manda - the last thing you need right now is ex-DH stress, I should imagine - second whoever said to park the whole deal and try and put it out of your mind? You can register your DP as the father, of course, regardless of any legal stuff regarding your ExH. It would be lovely to have it all tied up and sorted, I'm sure, but right now my instinct says leave it be and concentrate your energies on the more positive aspects of life...

Oh and BTW am LOVING being in SW... Why didn;t we do this years ago, I'm wondering. Have lovely common less than 3 minutes away where we can feed ducks, geese, swans etc... no hoodies smoking weed at the bottom fo the street... In short, SW much more the ticket, right now...

Nesting kicking in big time, but somewhat thwarted by DD1's attempts to help. This week I made the fatal error of popping to the loo having just spent 2 hours sorting and folding laundry (stuff which didn't HAVE to be ironed) - which I stupidly left in neat piles on the sofa. When I got back, she'd put it back in the drier saying "washing WET Mummy, I put in the dryer for you..." . Still, I'm reluctant to discourage any attempts at domesticity from DD in the hopes that it will continue when she's old enough to actually be a help so duly thanked her and started again...

Really want to get DDs proper room sorted so she can go in there and we can actually make a nursery for DD2 when she arrives (DD is currently sleeping in it...) pointless to try and do it during the day when with DD, and so uncomfortable by evening time that I just can't face unpacking, sorting... That said DD2 will be in with us for six months, so i should probably chill. Just feel a bit guilty that don;t really have anyting readu for the poor little mite, when everything was made so perfect for our PFB...

Confess starting to wish that we'd put DD in nursery 2 days a week rather than one - even if only temporarily... but then we really don't have the £££s...

Mum was supposed to be coming to help, but came down with a cold... Anyway... trying to be philosophical, what's done will be done, and what isn;t probably won't be, we'll survive... I'm just somewhat overwhelmed by the desire to sort everything out, but don't have the energy/strength to put it into action, which is frustrating.

Is it me, or second (third, fourth etc) time round, even when you're THIS pregnanct, nobody, like really nobody, even your Mum, really seems to give a stuff? Seriously, practically no-one, not even my supposed best friend, has even asked how I'm doing!? I know there's little novelty value second time round, but y'know, hello, am still having a baby over here, and it really IS as much of a daunting prospect as last time, even if I have done it before etc. etc. and in some ways harder becuase you can't take it easy like you could first time round... Or am I just being pathetic and needy? (again)

Anyway, promised self this would NOT be a whingey post like last one so will leavwe that right there...

Staring to panic about going overdue again, even though my actual due date is still over 2 weeks away. Am necking the max dose of rasperry leaf capsules daily ? they can do no harm at this point, right?

Ate a hot madras last night, and am going to book some pre-emptive acupuncture for next week... Just desperate not to go over... really don't want to end up with a CS.

Any other ideas, apart from the obvious - hips much too painful to consider THAT until am actually desperate really overdue - to speed things along a bit?

Baby not engaged (apparently normal for second pregs??) but feels very very low-lying this time... have enormous pressure down below when walking or standing up after sitting/lying for any lenght of time, which I don't remember from last time. Honestly it feels like her head's already hanging out, sometimes... Weird sensation.

Anyway, hips HURT so must not sit on hard bench any longer...

Night all, and sorry for any important stuff I've missed - I'm sure there's loads, but my time on t'internet is curtailed as DH needs the dongle, and my capacity for remembering stuff is just, well, rubbish, at the moment...

db
xx

So, as promised, here I am some six minutes or so after walking throuh the door to home.

Firstly, thank you all so much for your encouragement and kind words. It really lifts the spirits.

Secondly, this baby is NAUGHTY. They put me on the ctg at 9.45pm... immediately he is active +++ (i mean, an inordinate amount of movement) with a baseline of 175, accelerations over 200 and staying mostly around the 190 mark. Too. BLIMMING. FAST! After about an hour of this, the midwife brings in a jug of cold water and tells me to chug - apparently, I might be dehydrated. So chug I do. This has an effect; not necessarily 'desired' as then the trace goes flat at around 125. No decels, but no accelerations either. Bah!

Then midwife tries poking my tummy a bit. Over the course of the next forty mins or so it's still pretty flat but a few accerlations so I'm told I can go.

It's only after I leave that I realise my BP wasn't taken, nor did I give a sample so who knows what's going on there but I feel I'll try and get an appointment at the Dr tomorrow to get that checked. Certainly, although I've been allowed home the traces weren't exactly encouring - midwife was at pains to tell me to take note of fetal movement and call straight back if decreased again.

And now... I feel AWFUL for DP. He's up at 5.15am for work each day so although we've both been up over 20 hours he works physically hard all day and has to be up and gone again in four hours.

(pacific yes, we absolutely do want to marry - that's partially another reason why it all 'stinks'. Perhaps this summer, and more than likely in Vegas as DP loves it there and going transatlantic means we will avoid lots of potential hazards when it comes to wedding guests (both of our parents are divorced with acrimony still lingering decades on!) It won't be in the little chapel though! I stayed at the Wynn when I went and they have a lovely wedding room so maybe there... eh. We'll see. As it stands, I'm still hitched to someone else )

Morning, all, just marking my place for all the exciting news we no doubt are going to have today ... Where is mawbroon, I wonder??

I went to bed at a decent time last night and feel all chirpy . AND all boys slept all night so are clearly fit for school...

And, DB, awww, too much on your plate, you poor thing. 'Tis lovely to hear that you like where you moved to, though!
You are so right: things will get sorted, baby will not care which room it will sleep in, and DD's 'help' will always be endearing but... eh, not terribly efficient.
My DS3 has the habit of switching the washing machine/dish washer off, so I recently put the childlock on the WM - unfortunately it took my 3 days and hours online for instruction of this ancient machine to figure out how to undo the childlock - see, I can be less than efficient All by myself...
And, how are you (I'll ask )? All I get is 'have you not had it yet?' (39+ weeks) - gah, yes, I have, I just enjoy waddling about with a beachball under my jumper !!!
I fully expect going overdue... doing all the things you are doing. IME sweeps help and staying physically active, oh joy....

Manda, hope you are ok today. And hope you gave you bump a stern talking to - not that bumps listen, but that does not really improve even once they are born and older .

Morning! Glorious sunny day here today...a perfect day for being born - are you listening fat baby?! (probably not!)

Pacific glad the boys slept well and are well again, bet that's a relief!

Pixie - hope the fainting gets sorted, what a PITA

Designerbaby - send your DD over to me, I've got a load needs sticking in the machine and can't be bothered

Manda - glad that you and naughty bump got the ok to go home, and hope all is well with BP and sample today!

As for me, am waiting for MW to call me to arrange today's S&S and AN. Had a dodgy tum (again) at midnight followed by a solid 20 minute BH - just one great big one though rather than a couple with breaks in between but then it just went away. Woke up this morning, still pregnant. Have had one or two odd aches though, so hopefully MW will be able to do an effective S&S and get things moving...

DB Agree entirely about DC2 /3/4 being much less of a big deal for everyone. . But my DSIL has DD for bits of today so I've got some time on my own which is lovely. I can nest!!!! Wooohooo!

Manda NORTY BABY! What a rotter putting you through all that. Don't fret too much for DH as the sleep fairies will even out any discrepancies over the next few weeks.

Mumof7+4 sorry that a CS looks so likely. How galling to have had so many VBs and have to have a CS on your 8th.

Morning all. Hope all of you with troubles are feeling ok. especially Pixie - it must be terrifying to faint. I hope you have someone looking after you.

Smac - congrats on your lovely big baby, you must be very proud.

I am trying to manage my unreasonable anxieties about being a little bit overdue (only 3 days). If it goes beyond 2 weeks I can't have the homebirth.

So I have decided to take a little break from MN for the moment because I think it is feeding into my worries, especially reading other people's posts about being overdue. One of the main reasons to have a homebirth is to avoid unnecessary stresses so stressing about getting the homebirth is realllly counterproductive.

GOOD LUCK everyone. I'll be back to this thread/the postnatal one as soon as baby born/I am relaxed enough.

xxx

Donttry I'm taking the same approach as you (am only 40+2) - my hypnobirthing home birth positivity seems to be evaporating with each minute, so in an attempt to reduce stress I'm going to avoid MN for a bit! Easier said than done, as I expect I'll be too nosy interested and excited for everyone else not to check back for news of babies arriving

So before I disappear for a bit, a quite response to the latest messages...

Manda crikey, sounds v stressful but good that they let you home. Fingers crossed bubs behaves himself from here on in!

DB glad to hear you so happy with the move overall - the bigger picture sounds wonderful, even if you're still wading through laundry!!

Blonde good luck with the S&S - sounds like things are moving for you so hoping your baby decides this beautiful spring day is the ideal time to make his or her appearance!!

IWCAS how awful about the freezer - did you manage to save any of it by offloading onto friends/neighbours? Your appliance luck has to have turned now though (great that your friend found your camera!)

Pacific hurrah for a good night's sleep - so very refreshing. And hope you get to enjoy some feet up time with your older DSs back at school.

Arcadie enjoy your nesting! Glad you're getting some time to yourself today

Mummyelk we had a bit of DIY midwifery going on last night too, though it was actually too funny for me so ended up laughing my head off! Sorry to hear of the headaches - what a nightmare. Hope they clear up.

Mumof7 - good luck for the section - you get to meet your little girl tomorrow

Big waves to everyone else - lots of positive baby-turning/labour/birthing vibes (delete as appropriate) to us all

Right, off to try and distract myself in a non-internet kind of way...

donttrythisathome - hope you sneak back on and see this! Just wanted to say, it's not only you with the fear of not getting your homebirth, that's also my big stress at the moment, and I'm now 40+7

However, as the ladies on here have said, there's still plenty of time yet, I've said to the midwife on the phone this morning that I won't go in for unduction until at least next Thursday (40+14) - she'll be here any minute for S&S and she'll have the appointment booked :S

One more thing to remember - they can't MAKE you go into hospital if you go over 42 weeks, have you read up on the homebirth.org.uk site? I'd quite happily go over 42weeks with expectant management so I could have fat baby at home, but DH isn't happy with that

Anyway, all the best to you too, happy relaxing and fingers crossed for you getting your hb

unduction? INduction even!