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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone due in April 2004?!

929 replies

dot1 · 28/07/2003 12:45

Hello!

I found out last week I was pregnant, and although I've not been to my GP yet, various websites and Miriam Stoppard have told me I'm due on March 31st/April 1st! (poor little april fools baby - let's hope it's late...).

I know it's early days, but wanted to start this thread as I've already got lots of questions - like, is anyone else having quite bad pains? I've been getting bad period-type pains, which have been worrying me, but I understand people do get (this is my first pregnancy by the way!).

Right, that's it - hope I get some company soon..!

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hewlettsdaughter · 10/03/2004 22:13

He's 4 and a half so it's a different situation I guess. He understands about the baby coming as we talk to him about it, but it'd be nice to have a book to share with him, and help know what to expect. I saw a book at the library a while ago that might be good for your dd - it's called "There's a house inside my Mummy" or something similar.
Dolbear, my yoga teacher says it's good to lie on your left as there's more space for the baby to get into the right position that way. Don't know if there's evidence that it works.

hewlettsdaughter · 10/03/2004 22:16

Link for There's a house inside my Mummy

Fennel · 11/03/2004 09:20

We have a variety of books about new babies, but I think the mothers always go to hospital. Libraries tend to have quite a choice of this topic. We have some which go on about the changes after the baby and others (which my dds like best) about the baby growing in mummy, but no birth details.

Our only one featuring a home birth is a 60's Topsy and Tim and the new baby (includes a home birth for their neighbour, assisted by T&T's mother).

But mine are clearly most impressed by the nativity story, hence the stable! DD2 thinks I will be travelling by donkey to give birth.

Fennel · 11/03/2004 09:25

HMC, I had a 17 month gap between dd1 and dd2 and it was really good in terms of dd1 not being too bothered or jealous. She just accepted the new baby as part of life. She wasn't that verbal at the time so I'm sure she didn't understand much beforehand. Sometimes she would say "put baby down" and I'd have to put dd2 down and give her a cuddle, but no negative reaction at all. we did make sure there were people - relatives and friends - to pay lots of attention to her in those weeks.

bluecow · 11/03/2004 10:55

My son is 16 months so doesn't really understand much but he does try to life my top up when I ask him where mummy's baby is!
I'm not looking forward to the birth or the sleepless nights either. I haven't forgotten how excruciating the pain was (ds was back to back) and with ds still being so little I am dreading the lack of sleep.

My extra prob is that hubby works away most of the week so I will be all by myself. Mum and dad have offered that I can stay with them but they need sleep too!

My hands and face are puffy - very attractive. Have had fewer piles this time round but last pregnancy I'm sure I had piles on piles. But they cleared up pretty soon.

bluecow · 11/03/2004 10:56

Oops - 'lift up my top' even.

Original poster
dot1 · 11/03/2004 11:11

Our ds is 2 1/4 and we got him a fab book called 'Za Za's baby brother' - by the Maisie book author - I got it from Amazon. He really enjoys it - especially at the end where the baby finally goes to sleep and Za Za gets cuddles and stories! He does seem to understand that pretty much the same thing is going to happen to his Mummy T (that's me!)... but we'll see - we're expecting a rocky few months ahead...

Couldn't sleep last night - seem to only be sleeping through every other night - my mind's too busy worrying about labour/birth/baby stuff. Am driving dp completely mad - hope she'll put up with me for the next few weeks - then after that at least we'll both be ratty and knackered..!

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 11/03/2004 12:23

Thanks for book recommendation H-daughter, and for the reassurance Fennel

handlemecarefully · 11/03/2004 12:24

Oh and Dot1 - I've got that book too! (they are the zebra family aren't they!)

Fennel · 11/03/2004 12:35

We've enjoyed the Za-za book too. I would go for a variety of books which deal with a range of aspects and emotions, particularly those which permit negative emotions. Like jealousy, dislike of new baby etc. Dd1 loved a book called "don't wake the baby" because when woken the baby cried Wah wah wah which she thought hysterical.

hewlettsdaughter · 11/03/2004 19:18

Interesting about the Topsy and Tim book from the 60s - the one I saw recently in a bookshop is definitely about a hospital birth.
And although I mentioned the library in my earlier message it hadn't occurred to me I should go back there and look specifically for some relevant books (doh!). Might check out 'Za-za's baby brother' (but what if it's a girl....?!)

Fennel · 12/03/2004 07:20

We also have the 80s/90s Topsy and Tim and the new baby, with a hospital birth! (but the father has a role in the later book instead of being packed off to work).

We have a few 60's T&T books and a few recent ones, it's really interesting the differences.

The Tony Ross "I want a sister" is about how you can't choose the sex. in there the stroppy little princess gets a brother.

dolbear · 12/03/2004 16:49

crikey and I thought that being a 1st timer was tricky ! ta for the info on the left hand side , babs is facing the right way so is good news !
sleep ? what is sleep? averaging four hours at the mo , have jsut given up work , so that will help . trying hard to keep as calm as poss about the whole thing , but v hard not to panic now

zipper · 12/03/2004 16:58

Hello! I'm actually due in May (10th) but I am going to be delivered (or the baby is!) earlier so it looks like it is going to be April. I should be getting a date on Monday a I have a 31 week appointment at the hospital.

hewlettsdaughter · 14/03/2004 15:38

Hi zipper, welcome to this thread! How are you feeling? Nervous/excited? Are you ready for the baby to be born? (well as ready as any of us are ever going to be!).
I went to a physiotherapist-run group at my local hospital on Friday (I was referred by my midwife because of pelvic pain). We talked about chairs and sofas and getting comfortable and she said plastic garden chairs with arms are surprisingly good for when you're pregnant (and for when you're feeding the baby too). She also recommended air cushions which lift your hips higher than your knees (these are good for piles as well!)
I've also been to the library and chosen a few new baby books with ds. We found the Tony Ross one and one by Catherine and Laurence Anholt called 'Sophie and the new baby' which seems to be at a good level for ds.
Good news that your baby is facing the right way, dolbear!

udar · 15/03/2004 14:12

welcome zipper. I can't believe I only have this week to go at work. Have started trying to arrange appointments for next week so I'm busy as I know unless the baby comes then I'll be bored stupid.
Can't believe how big I have gotten in the last 5 weeks, I've put on about 12kg total and 5 of these have been in 5 weeks.
Get to see my bump photos on Wednesday, am very excited about it.

hewlettsdaughter · 15/03/2004 17:34

udar, I hope that they're all nice appointments ie things that you want to do

udar · 16/03/2004 10:09

Oh yes - well so far I've arranged lunch with a friend from my old job that I have caught up with once in a year and a half so that will be great.
Trying to think of other things although it is likely that another will be nursing bra fitting.

handlemecarefully · 16/03/2004 10:14

Udar,

Have some lie ins - you won't get another opportunity for a while

Read some novels - again, you won't get the opportunity for a while!

Just try and enjoy that unfettered freedom which you get in pre-child days...

Fennel · 16/03/2004 10:28

You can only enjoy the unfettered freedom properly after a while of being fettered though!

Lie-ins in pregnancy? I am wide awake at 6am, way before the kids wake up.

I get bored silly in late pregnancy, people suggest baking and sewing but it's just not me. Though I have recovered my v-shaped nursing cushion so feel very domesticated.

Metrobaby · 16/03/2004 10:49

OOO - I wish I could have time to get bored. I know my days are going to be filled looking after dd and doing householdy type chores. On top of that I have lots of other stuff that needs to be done - including decorating - or attempting to decorate the new baby's room, getting all baby's stuff together, doing some last minute shopping for the baby, packing my hospital bag to name but a few. Arrghh the list is endless. I haven't had the time to do any of this working full time as I am just so exhausted in the evening

udar · 16/03/2004 11:26

I suppose that's the thing in that this is the first, bags are packed, nothing left to purchase (that we can think of).
Will definately do lie ins, but I don't want to just sit around at home. I've heard so many people say they got bored in late pregnancy and then you are just waiting for it all to happen. I think I would be happier if I can try to stay busy. Will probably attempt some baking though.

Metrobaby · 16/03/2004 15:03

Whilst waiting I can throughly recommend sleeping as much as possible, going out for long lazy coffees, shopping trips, going to the movies, reading lots of books or magazines, watching TV, catching up with friends. I really miss all of that once the baby comes.

hewlettsdaughter · 16/03/2004 15:59

Two weeks to go at work for me. Just had my 34 week appointment with the midwife - a trace of glucose showed up in my urine sample so am going to have to cut back on the chocolate brownies....

Fennel · 16/03/2004 16:09

Shopping trips, long lazy coffees with friends, watching lots of tv - those all sound the things I did on my maternity leaves with a new baby (but not with the toddlers).

Don't you get backache if you go on long shopping trips now? or is that just me?