October 2005 (#6)

[Joseyjo]

carry on ladies....

Jockey you will probably have the biggest baby of all.

Glad that none of you are listening to my baby-doom advice. To be honest I think that MOST first-time mums find the first couple of weeks absolutely horrendous but it does get easier. I think it's wise to be prepared and not to imagine that you and DP will be sitting eating dinner together at night over candles and wine. You will probably be crying your eyes out while jigging the baby up and down at midnight for a while. It's a shock to the system.

I also think it's important to know that just because you HATE it sometimes and sometimes you even feel like you hate your baby, that's normal too and doesn't make you a bad mum.

Babies ARE cute though so there are some upsides ...

It doesn't take long before you get into the swing of things and things start settling down. But it's probably the most upheaval that you will ever have - physically, spiritually and mentally - in a very short period of time. Be gentle with yourself and put yourself first when you can!

I agree with morningpaper. I am a really calm person and hardly ever cry or get hysterical but in the first couple of weeks after ds was born I was a complete mess. I have just been looking at our videos (not of the event itself - that would have been wierd) of the first few days and I am smiling like a loved up idiot. Tellingly though I don't utter a word even though normally I never stop talking. It would be wise for you first time mums to warn your partners that you will be going mad for a short time. That is the bit I am most dreading tbh.

Howdyho
Hope everyone else is ok. Agree about post-natal madness, it's a very funny time (but not necessarily ha-ha)!
Question: My db is staying with us after returning to the uk and being very ill abroad. My dad lives 2 miles from us but in rather less roomy and 'luxurious' surroundings (i.e. no satellite, no broadband, no ensuite, which we have here). I fully expected db to go to my dad's when we went on holiday (tomorrow) but he tells us he wants to stay here for the week - which is fine by us. He'll see my dad every day as he needs to go to the doc's to have dressings changed, etc. but I get the idea he's very comfy here thank you very much... which isn't a problem - YET. But at what point do you think we ought to 'kick him out', prior to the baby's birth? He knows he can't stay once it's arrived but I'm getting a bit territorial and nesty about getting everything ready, esp as I may need to stay in hosp for a while before the birth. I love him dearly and totally sympathise with all he's been through but I'm also very aware of my little family's needs too. Anyone any advice?

Sorry Moomin - no advice from me (i'm useless - just read my previuos threads about MIL problems!). Good luck with getting it sorted though.

I'm 34 weeks today, and have spent all morning trying to pack my hospital bag, which is proving very difficult as i won't find out until 2 weeks today as to whether i get my caesarean or not! I was going to leave sorting the bag till after seeing the consultant, but i got scared yesterday by both my Dad's sisters announcing that their first babies were all born 3 to 4 weeks early, so thought i'd better get prepared! If i follow the same pattern, i might be having this baby in the next fortnight! Terrifying stuff!

Hope everyone is keeping well, and have a good weekend. NM2B x

Gosh yes I wonder who will be first?!!! It's like when you're 12 and you and your mates are all waiting to have your first period...

Moomin: Tricky about your bro. What are his long-term plans? Where is his girlfriend - is she abroad?

Even scarier - i've just put a load of washing on containing all my 'newborn' label purchases and the cloth nappies! Well, i figured do it now while i can (hopefully) still get it dry outside, and before i get too big to bend over to the washing machine, seeing as i seem to be expanding by the day . Anyone else in serious 'nesting' mode, or am i alone in my madness?

Not with you on nesting thing. Went through that mid-pg, now just too tired to even stand by the sink and wash the dishes.

Antenatel went well - midwife explained loads of things to me about the size, etc. She measured my bump again and it is matching the sonographers notes. She said that no matter what size the baby is it will come whenever it's ready and just to wait and see. That was my line of thinking anyway - getting my hospital bag ready next week, finished buying everything now so starting to relax rather than panic.

Strange thing happened though - when she went to measure my bump, she said we'll have to wait for a moment. When I asked why she said I was having a braxton hicks and my bump was too tight to measure. Sure enough a few minutes later it was relaxed again. I didn't even feel anything happening! I thought I would know if I was having a practise contraction.

Having very bad shooting pains every now and again really low down - asked her about these and she said when the baby moves his head thats putting pressure on my cervix and that's what causes the pains. She said his head is enagaged. I wish he would stop.

Anyone else experiencing nausea and period like cramping?

Last day in work - only 2 hours to go til I'm a free woman - wooohooo!

Yes morningpaper, I'll probably have a whopper - that would be so typical wouldn't it! I remember they seemed to think my first was on the large side - he was a pathetic 6lb 5oz. I must say, he FELT like a ten pounder when his head was crowning.

I've had nausea jolovett but cramping only in early pregnancy. Just seem to get stitches at the moment. Hoping you feel better soon.

Eeeek - scary hormonal moment. I didn't get much sleep last night one thing and another. I got up this morning shattered and ds has been behaving appallingly all day (violent and destructive and vile). I ended up slapping him which I haven't done before and don't approve of. He told me that hitting was naughty which I agree with and I felt awful.

Then I got really jealous of my friend who was showing me some photos of a party she went to last week where she looked fabulous. She is gorgeous anyway and really dresses well and she was telling me about her glam new job. I felt miserable and like a big fat scruffy heap of uselessness.

I hope I feel more like myself tomorrow, I'm glad that I am not working I would probably embarrass myself. Hope everyone else is mananging to keep on an even keel.

Moomin, re your brother, couldn't you get your dad to ask him when he's coming to stay as he's really looking forward to it? That way he may feel obliged to go to your dads and you won't have to say anything. It's a really difficult situation for you to be in especially since you should be relaxing and looking forward to the birth, but obviously you don't want to hurt his feelings. Good luck!

I too am feeling sick and was quite sick last night when I was going to bed. I always get really uncomfy in the evenings. I am finding it hard to keep much food down and have actually lost a couple of pounds over the last week. I think my baby is still breech as I can still feel her head under my ribs and her feet dancing in my pelvis! Will find out for sure on friday 9th and I can't wait to have another scan to make sure she's okay.

I'm with you triceratops in feeling really frumpy and a mess. It's my birthday tomorrow and I asked hubby to get me a new jacket and boots which I went out to choose yesterday. I felt terrible walking around all the trendy shops but bought a lovely leather jacket and knee high boots which I can't wait to wear after the babies born, that's keeping me focused. We won't always look like this....will we?? I am also finding looking after my 2 year old very trying. The more I want to rest the more demanding she becomes and I'm getting really snappy with her which makes me feel bad I wanted to enjoy these last few weeks when it's just me and her but it doesn't seem to be working out like that. I've made moves and got my hospital bag pretty much packed but with the chance of a c section still quite real I have found it hard to know what to put in!

Anyway sorry for the terribly long post, have a nice weekend everyone xxxx

Here's another one who's been feeling sick, and very uncomfortable in the evenings and at night.

My blood pressure has gone back up, though - from 80/45 to 120/70. MW says this is fine but I'm sure I read somewhere that such a big jump is a cause for concern- even though the highest reading is still not high by normal standards. Anyone know anything about this? Maybe it's just a blip and I shouldn't worry till I have the next reading.

Also, my fundal height hasn't really moved in two weeks, so I'm no longer big for dates. Normally that would of course send me into a tailspin about IUGR, but I have the reassurance of wednesday's scan so will try to stay sane on this one

I'm off on my grand summer holiday this week - three days in the Lakes! It's hard to know what to do when you don't drive, can't fly and are broke, so we decided a nice b&b somewhere pretty will do. I've made sure it's NOT one of those places where they turf you out in your walking boots at 10am and you're not allowed to return till nightfall. I want to feel able to do nothing but lie around with a book, especially if it's raining (and I don't own a pair of walking boots...)

I'm with those who are feeling frumpy and miserable. I end up feeling guilty as it makes me feel like I'm not enjoying being pregnant. I am loving being pregnant, I love feeling Boo move, I cant wait for Boo to arrive but I wish I just didn't feel fat, or sick, or tired...

Worried and stressed about work. The person who is covering my job is effing lazy and isn't listening to what I say, which is frustrating. I know it's not my problem, but I'm going back to work after 6 months and dont want to have to pick up on the crap.
Plus, seems as if every man and their dog wants to have a meeting with me to discuss what I do so they know what they're doing while I'm away. I guess I should feel glad that people seem to think highly of me (!) but it's just another thing that is getting to me.

Also starting to get worried about Boo not moving. I'm panicking because I've been told I'll be referred to the hospital at 38 weeks to see about a section, what if Boo decides to come early and is still in the wrong position? (Boo isn't bum first, it's one leg first which can apparently be dangerous as that can push the cord out before baby is born).

Sorry for rambling.

Hester- enjoy your holiday!

Just getting ready for a week in the highlands in a wooden hut . Seemed a great idea a while back, but of course the weather forecast for this week is shockingly bad. I suppose if it's really pouring the whole time then we can just come home again.

I will only have a couple of weeks left to work once I come back. I started writing up some notes for whoever replaces me but I am not going back to work so don't really care if they mess it all up.

My baby must still have plenty room as one minute he is bum up the way and then the next, his head is bumping on my ribs. As long as he ends up head down, then I don't suppose it matters for now.

Hope nobody pops while I am away.

Have a good week

MB

I AM HOME!

Good week in all, until 1am this morning.... slight bleed, but not from baby from what i can work out!

Stopped now, and bump has been kicking loads.... still really low down so deffo breach still.

Took me forever to catch up on here, but glad no-one has popped yet, although it does seem as if a few of us aren't far off it!

Hope all is ok, JBM, and that you had a fab holiday?

I've just found out that one of my colleagues is having a rough time at the mo - she's only 30 weeks PG, she had a 'flood down below' whilst at work on Friday night, and has been having contractions and passing a lot of bloody fluid since . If the Docs can't calm things down, they are talking of inducing her. Kinda makes my worrying seem irrelevant now!

Well, i'm as ready as i'm going to be for my 'arrival'- we wrote my birth plan last night, and i've just finished packing my hospital bag. Just got to play the waiting game now!

all ok here, bleeding stopped and bump VERY active so im not concerned.

hope your friend is ok.

midwife appointment on wednesday - roll on!

Holiday was fab... shame to be back! Jess not home til Tuesday though so another few days of peace and quiet!

welcome back jm

wow, you are all so organised
wish i hadn't agreed to get the heating done just now - but then again, is there ever a 'good' time?!

i am finding it more and more difficult lately.
walking exhaustes me immensly. i am quite tired all the time. i am on the toilet every 20min. back is killing me.
bump is still growing and i swear there is no more space for her to grow!!!!!! everything's just tight and huge

and still 5 weeks to go

susis - be thankful you only have 5 weeks - ive still got 7.5!!!

8 weeks to go here. I've just inspected the bump in the mirror and am having a panic attack. There's no way I can go on growing/stretching for another 8 weeks, I'll explode

piggiesmum just my thinking!!!
saw myself in the shopwindows yesterday and was thinking of one of those herals running in front of me, shouting 'make way, make way!' all the time!!!!

well jm, i knew the last few weeks would be difficult but i really do want it to be over already!!!!!!!!!!
don't you just feel so useless?!

yep! i feel like a big fat bloater too!

If i had a pund for every time someone at Butlins said "you look ready to drop" or "is it twins" i would be SO rich!!!

MY last whole day of peace and quiet today - Jess is home from her holiday tomorrow afternoon so me and DH need to make the most of it today! (We didnt wake up til 9.30am so thats a start!)

Well, my friend had her baby yesterday, a little boy. He's obviously in SCBU as he was so premature (10 weeks early), but mother and baby are both doing fine under the circumstances.

Can't help feeling a little miffed that she pipped me to the post, which i know is really childish and silly, seeing as (in my rational moments) i really wouldn't want to be going through what she is; but i just can't help it

congratulations to your friend, i hope little man continues to do well. xxx

My friend just gave me a huge stack of reusable nappies which is really kind but they are a bit stained. Do you think a month in some nappysan will sort them out?