39+3wks and just feeling really underwhelmed by it all.

[whocaresaboutyourintellect]

This is my 4th, a lovely little accident.

I think it all stems from thinking I had finished my family. after DC3 was born I got rid of everything as and when he had finished with it.

As I neared the end with the others I was so excited, relished in people calling me to ask how long, and neatly folded the baby clothes on a daily basis.

This time I just feel so underwhelmed. Knowing how hard a new baby is going to be is probably not helping but just wondered if this was a normal emotion of pregnancy for some women or am I setting myself up for PND??

I'm in exactly your position with an unexpected 4th, whocares. Except I'm at 28 weeks. I can imagine you are feeling a mixture of exhaustion and dread right now.

When I feel like that, I focus on how much I think my current 3 will love having a baby around (they are aged 9 to 6), how lucky the baby will be to be the focus of their uncomplicated love, and how nice it will be to do this with just one child to focus on instead of the rush of three in three years that I had before. How old are your three? I don't expect mine to help per se, but I'm hoping they are old enough to understand the disruption.

And dealing with the baby, well you are an old hand, whocares. You can do this. It will come flooding back within seconds and the whole thing doesn't last very long. If its a crier, stick in in a pouch and get on with it. But mostly, I'm hoping numero 4 will fit right in, because I think younger babies just have to. And PND? You won't have time!

I'm hoping that in April, my words will be proved correct! Fingers crossed! And good luck.

PS Hope I haven't been too relentlessly chirpy and used too many exclamation marks.

I really hope so flyby.

My DC's are 6, 3 and 20 months so still in the baby stages and running from schools to pre-schools to mother and toddler groups.

I havent had the best care this pg and only seen mw 5 times. Plus the consultant has advised against a HB and even though I have insisted, MW will not give me the home kit.

I hope its a mixture of exhaustion and just not being ready.

Hi i'm 39+6 with my 4th. Although planned I have been totally disorganised and I have only just properly packed my hospital bag as I am being induced tomorrow. I can't believe I am going to have a baby this weekend. My other 3 are 7, 5 and 4. Good luck with you little one.

Good luck with the induction popcat. I had a lovely one with my DS.

How are you feeling today, whocares? I was thinking about you last night (not in a stalker-ish way).

How much help and support do you have? Any family nearby? And is your DH/DP supportive? There's no denying that you have a big workload there. I was worried that my response of yesterday seems very glib.

Why are they denying you an HB, out of interest? I would have thought that a higher risk pregnancy would have been seen more often than you have.