Pregnant with no. 3 / 4 / 5...?!

[LimeLeafLizard]

Just wondering if anyone else is pg with their 3rd, 4th, 5th, or more?!

I am newly pg with baby number 4 and finding it a bit different this time.

Yesterday I flicked through a couple of magazines but the content didn't seem that relevant to me. I am quietly happy but not nearly as excited or nervous as I was before, especially the first time.

I know what kind of birth I want (same as the last two times) and I don't need to buy any stuff, so there doesn't seem so much to think about, at least until the scan.

I am also a bit worried about how other people are going to react when we tell them. There seems to be a general view that wanting 4 children must make us mad.

Hope I am not alone?!

Congrats cj :)

I'm pregnant with number 5 and am also sick of people making comments such as 'you must be mad' or 'haven't you got a TV'. We chose to have this many children and as we pay for them all ourself I really don't feel its anyone elses place to comment. We cope fine with the 4 we have and don't feel 5 will be a struggle. In fact if we won the lottery we would just keep on going. I have 3 boys and my 4th was a girl. People all assume I want another girl regardless of what I say. I know it is a boy but don't want to tell anyone as I can't face the comments at the moment.

Hi, I'm 35+5, my 4th DC. Really finding this pregnancy uneventful so far which is a godsend considering my other 3DC are 4.5, 3 and 2!

Getting a bit concerned at this point, consultant has suggested that I opt for a natural birth since I've had no complications in this pregnancy even though I've had an emergency section with DC1 at 38 weeks, DC2 was prem at 26 weeks breech natural delivery and DC3 was a planned section at 38 weeks. So thats 2 sections.... Midwives don't seem happy at this suggestion and neither does my DH. Also I don't have another appt with consultant or midwife until 37+5wks....

Am I just being overly pregnant lady concerned or am I right in thinking this they are leaving me hanging just a bit!

Welcome Blue and NAR and always (good name for this thread!).

Congrats CJ! What a pretty name! How did your school run go? Was little Ava star of the show for the other mums?!

I found out at the scan last week that DC4 is a girl. We were surprised to say the least, after 3 boys! We're not telling people in RL - too much pressure and half of me still thinks 'but what if the scan is wrong'? They sometimes are. Besides I am just grateful for what we have and that the baby is healthy.

NAR, was it different in any way, having a girl after 3 boys? I just had a tentative look at baby clothes on line and the girl clothes seem so impractical for a newborn. She'll be in her brothers' hand me downs to start with, it seems...

oh, sorry Always, I meant to reply to you, too.

I think in your circs you have every right to request another CS if that is what you would prefer. 37 +5 doesn't seem an unreasonable point to make a final decision, but I can understand why you wouldn't want to have two stressful weeks waiting to discuss it again. Can you phone to talk to or book another appt with your MW? Is she supportive generally - could you get her on your side to help persuade the docs?

hetty how did the monitoring go? I hope things get going for you soon! Welcome blue and nar. Congrats cj! How did the school run go?

always if you wanted a planned section you would need to get it booked in ASAP. You can call the hospital switchboard and ask to be put through to your consultant's PA. leave a message and request he/she calls you back to discuss, if you're not keen for vbac after 2 sections you shouldn't be pushed into one.

Hey LimeLeafLizard Congratulations on a girl, she'll be spoiled rotten unintentionally I'm sure! I have 2 boys and 1 girl it's great having a female company in the house.

MWs have been all over the place. Have only met MY MW twice, every appt I get seems to be a holiday for her or she's busy. My last consultant appt was 2 weeks ago and I didn't get to see consultant to discuss options again as they had booked too many people into clinic. Think I've just been so happy that it's been such good pregnancy that I'd forgotten about the end part! MW just kinda tut tut tutted about Docs suggestion. Mmm.... Maybe just in a bit of panic in case things happen before my appt and I have no vague birth plan in place that I'm happy with!

lime congratulations on your little girl! Sorry, not sure how I missed that in your post, baby brain I guess. Girl clothes do look a bit impractical, DD lived in sleepsuits for a bit and then it was leggings and tops all the way.

Hiya, Seymour, pelvic floor, never too late to start, I am 12 weeks and am trying to do them whenever I remember, I suspect with no3 when I get heavier I may find its rather more necessary than last time ( if you know what I mean ;p)

I have a rather embarrassing question and need for some advice.... My eldest has just started primary school, literally last week, she has made just one friend, which is fine but its me who is having anxiety about making friends in the school mum playground... Is that really sad??? Most of the mums have siblings in the school so there children in her class are the youngest whereas I have smaller children so still busy with babies at home...I have always found it hard making friends so just need some advice...afraid my self esteem is rock bottom and feeling dreadful with no3 is not helping, have spent last 4 weeks fainting, laying in bed and throwing up.....HELP!

Ps hoping this is just pregnancy hormones and paranoia ....

Consultant this afternoon. Bit nervous. Could do with something other than a big tummy to convince me I'm pregnant!

Good luck angel

Dear all thanx for congratulations yes school run went ok we'v been to a party since then and playground trip (which ended in A&E for dd1 ) and yes all the school mums love Ava x

Good luck Ood - what is the appt for? Sorry but I have lost track a bit...

Hetty - hope you're ok, thinking of you...

always, sounds like it is time to be a little bit pushy in getting some decisions made - seymore's advice sounds sensible. Good luck!

Seymore, sleepsuits sound about right! Not sure I can be bothered with wrestling a newborn into a frilly dress and tights before the school run!

shirley don't worry you are not alone! I felt like that first time round, too (it is my second who has just started in Reception this year).
I didn't quite understand why, after growing up, having lots of friends, and being confident in my career, I suddenly felt like a lost child again as a SAHM faced with the school mums.
My advice would be to treat the other parents / carers as you would your colleagues - i.e. with a cheerful smile, be polite, be respectful, but don't give away too many details of your personal life until you're sure you trust someone. Don't expect them all to become 'friends', but be positive and probably several of them will become great friends over time. Just make casual chit chat and when you come across someone you think you might 'click' with, ask their child for a play / tea. (Appreciate this isn't so easy if you're feeling crap!... might have to take it slowly).

Just a check up. Don't have a midwife so all with the consultant

Have missed a bit over the last few days.

Lime congrats on expecting a girl. I have 2 DDs and they are a joy. DD2 lived in sleep suits til she was about 3 months old - no time to dress her in tights etc! Just bung a clean pretty cardi over the top of a white suit and they instantly look 'dressed' anyway imo.

Shirley how many weeks are you? Are you showing? Being pregnant is such a great conversation starter, I'm sure soon parents will approach to you ask when baby's due, all those sorts of q's. Lime's advice is very good, I felt the same as you last year when DD1 started pre-school, thankfully that gave us a year for both to make friends with children and parents before she started reception in Sept. There are probably more Mums like you with children starting school for the first time who don't know anyone either than you think and it'll get clearer over the next few weeks who the nice ones are.

always I'd feel the same as you I think - leaving it to 37+ weeks before you know how/where you'll be giving birth is just too long. It's got to be about what you feel happiest with not what consultant wants. Do you want to try for a natural birth? Make an appt to see mw regardless of the scheduled appt dates to talk over your thoughts. Best wishes with everything.

I'm 37+2 now, baby stretching soooooo much at the moment I am seeing new stretch marks appearing every day - sigh. It's also doing that scratching at my bladder thing that makes me stop in the street and go oooh! However am still happy for baby to stay in as long as possible! Had a mild panic over the weekend that we are not at all prepared. Hoping for another home birth but still need to pack a bag just in case so finally made a start on that. Still need to pack a bag for the girls in case they need to go elsewhere, have a list of stuff I need for me e.g. more big knickers and maternity pads.

Oh dear I'm in that full-on 'nesting' stage where you believe EVERYTHING has to be done before baby comes as if no shops will ever be open and no-one will ever be able to leave the house again afterwards!

Lime My little girl wears dresses because I am still enjoying the novelty but most of my firends dress their little girls in leggings and T-shirts, shich are just as practical as boys clothes. You can even buy leggings with frills on the bottom or around the ankle, to make them a bit prettier. My little girl wears leg warmers with her dresses instead of tights, which is much more practical for potty training as she can manage them herself. Congratulations.

Congrats to all the new babies & to your dd Limeleaflizard I can imagine that would be a massive shock after 3 boys! I think pretty little cardigans over sleepsuits are cute (although I have 3 boys and am expecting another so will never find out!).

Shirley School playgrounds can be very intimidating places. My ds1 is in year 1 now and I used to sometimes dread the school run! Why don't you have your dc's friend over for a playdate and then you can get chatting to the mother? My son's school arranges regular coffee mornings which are a good way of getting to meet people too. I hope it gets easier soon. Feeling dreadful can't help at all but hopefully that will pass soon. My sickness went at 14 weeks and I felt like a new woman! Have you tried Floridix? It's an iron tonic but it helped with my tiredness a lot.

Good luck to everyone due soon. I hope you have nice, quick births!

All is well with me. 18 weeks now and feel enormous! Feeling good though so going to make the most of this stage before PGP kicks in again. I am not having my next scan until 22 weeks which still feels like ages away!

Thank you so much for all the advice, I'll definitely do that, I have managed to organise 1 play date and it really helped with both me and boo as she then has at least 1 friendly face, and as I speak to her it seems she is getting on well, and I have a couple of ladies who I speak to, have to definitely make sure that I not too open though as I can end up babbling when I'm nervous ...

I just started to show in the last couple of days, literally from 1 day to e next it's so weird as I didn't show with 1 or 2 until about 5 months and I'm not even 3 yet! And I sold all my maternity clothes last time so am in pj bottoms or loose trackies for the mo until I get out to get a pair of jeans. I'll try floridix I've been given pregaday which doesn't agree with me so much.

Lime, I had 2 girls and I do a bit of both dresses and tights for special days, but as newborns I'd get frilly and cute sleep suits just cos I found it easier, as they grew up they have been in trackies, jeans and leggings but always pretty ones :) and the oldest absolutely loves dresses :)

Pink , hoping for a boy this time round but he may end up in pink clothes lol...

Nar4 , great idea about leg warders I'll bear that in mind when my youngest starts potty training ( she's 1 1/2 so not that long)

Hi everyone. I'm so glad to find this thread! I've joined the due date thread on here, but there's just soooo many people on it, and I'm being overwhelmed by 1st time nerves!

I'm pregnant with our 4th! Due May 20th next year, so I'm 7 weeks today.
Arrrgghhhh!

Just dropping in quickly to let you know Penny arrived this morning, on her due date, at 4.28 after 3 hours and 20 minutes in labour. We're both at home now and doing very well. Will catch up with you all soon xx

Congrats Hetty :) lovely name :)

Congrats Captain!

Congrats Captain enjoy those amazing newborn snuggles!

Appt v quick when I eventually got in today's Doctor was nice and checked I had referrals for the SPD. Checked heart beat and I felt baby try to escape her! Am back in 5 weeks.