Mums-to-be (2)

[Enid]

Joe1, Tetley, Ouch and the other October Mums to be, how are you all?

Joe1 - well done on winning the baby carrier!!

Almost 34 weeks now and pleased as babys head has engaged, just the first bit has gone in but looking forward to see if its moved down anymore on Wednesdays check up. Midwife said thats good for a second baby - I am very pleased as if the head engages completely I am extremely unlikely to have another transverse occopito posterior birth. I am carrying completely differently this time, with dd I was HUGE by now, fat everywhere, this time I am mostly bump, although putting on roughly same amount of weight, maybe a bit less.

Bad indigestion and hip pain, still sick occasionally and can't run without feeling that the baby is going to fall out. CAN'T THINK OF ANY NAMES, especially for a boy. Have borrowed lots of stuff and have a few clothes and things, but not really ready, I think I'll wait about 3 weeks before I start getting it all together.

Enid we we had the same problem with names last time. Luckily I had a girl as we couldn't agree on a boys name even when I was in labour.

I'm also coming up to 34 weeks. Finished work last week (hurray!!). Ds is still at nursery for 2 days a week - so I have chance for a rest and to get some jobs done around the house. Trying to sort out his new bedroom today, to get him moved into it this week - so that the new baby can have the nursery.
Sickness being kept under control by 'Maalox', but just getting so tired now!

Really getting broody & looking forward to having a tiny baby again - although I'm not looking forward to the sleepless nights again...

My midwife hasn't mentioned to me anything about engagement of head, so I presume it's not happened yet - mind you, her sum total of writing in my notes when I last went to see her was "Well" so I don't really expect much from her!

Fingers crossed Enid. I am also carrying like you, last time put weight all round and this time not so much weight, so dh says, but lots more bump. Maybe girls. Blimey cant believe you can still run.

We have picked girls and boys name but having second thoughts on girls name, mmmm cant decide.

Tetley its lovely when you finish work isnt it, seems to bring it all abit closer. A cousin and neighbour have both had their babies, one girl one boy and they are so tiny, end scale of 6lb but you forget how tiny they are when you have a toddler that you still clase as your baby. Dh is so excited. I must admit I cant wait to meet this new little person, it seems so different to ds.

I've still got 6.5 weeks to go although if ds is anything to go by I will be giving birth just as I stop work (he was 3 weeks early!)

Feeling very tired even though we've just got back from a weekend break on Isle of Wight (without ds). BTW I recommend The Hermitage Country House Hotel for a quiet and restful retreat. In the middle of nowhere and no kids. Beautiful house and gardens.

My abdomen is really sore from being stretched. It stings horrendously then itches like mad. I keep going through this cycle over and over again.

We're still in the process of sorting our bathroom out and haven't even started on ds's new room. Why does it always get left to the last minute?!

I'm 36 weeks and finish work today ( so should be dashing around doing things and not writing to MNet). I'm ready to finish, though I have a 19mnth old boy at home, so not sure if it will be any easier.

I'm determined to be more laid back with this one, especially re feeding which is my personal neurosis with No1. Must admit, I'm very apprehensive about dealing with a toddler and a newborn.

They've said my baby is very low down - but not engaged. I don't know if this means it will shoot out at the appointed time. Hope so. Good luck everyone anyway......

Ooh, can't wait to hear about all these new babies . Almost (but not quite) making me feel broody.

Joe1, believe me I don't run because I want to, more that dd has shot off towards the road or thinks its funny to sail merrily off by herself down the escalators at M&S

Had a few of those sprints lately myself Enid. And for the feeling of it falling out, sometimes it feels like that without the running.

Debster, glad you had a lovely weekend, I like the Isle of Wight. You should have popped in for a cuppa on your way home. Feeling tired too, in fact knackered, stayed up to finish bathroom last night and now tidying up and double tidying after ds. How long have you got left at work, it must be only a couple of weeks now isnt it? Have you tried cocoa body butter on your bump to help the itching (from body shop) or their Africa Spa stuff is wonderful.

Niceglasses, enjoy your time off before the baby.

Tetley, you must have same midwife as me. I'm coming up for 37 weeks (on Fri) and just want to get on with it now - edd 20/09/02. No idea where we'll all end up sleeping as dd (22 mths) will not stay in her own room if baby in our room. House is a state due to slow progress of loft conversion but at least good excuse why in-laws will have to wait a while before visiting. We know we are having a boy and have chosen names though by the look on people's faces when we tell them not most popular choice. Good luck everyone.

Queenie - we also know that we're having a boy. We chose a name some time ago, and it feels about 80% right, but not the 100% right we both felt when chosing ds's name. However, unless inspiration strikes, I think we'll stick with what we've got. It's such a minefield, isn't it!

I could get used to this life of leisure, but have to go now, to pick ds up from nursery - & that's it for nursery then until next Tuesday - it's me & him for the rest of the week.....

Joe1

I finish work 3 weeks today. It's not the itching that's driving me mad it's the horrible stinging I get. It's so sore that it's too painful to wear anything with a waistband. If I do wear my maternity trousers I have to roll the waistband down so it sits under the bump otherwise it's too sore.

Debster sounds horrible. Why are you getting it like that then, is it just the skin stretching or is it only when you wear trousers?

3 weeks will go quickly and you can just chill then. Gosh 3 weeks, I could have mine then if it decides it likes the first date.

debster, i'm at 36 weeks and i too am a victim of the pregnancy itching. With my first pregancy I was covered in hives for the last 2 months of the pregancy. I scratched so much I was bleeding all over and my useless gp said "well it does happen sometimes during pregnancy" and suggested calamine lotion. I off course was so beyond anything like calamine lotion...In the end the only thing that I found that worked was St.Luke's Prickly Heat Powder which a korean girl recommended to me. My parents brought me some from hongkong, but you could probably find it in chinatown here.
I was just congratulating myself on not getting the itching this time around when lo and behold, I woke up this morning itching all over. yuck!!

My GP said it was ok to take piriton for itching in pregnancy and it was a complete godsend ( amlong with the zantac for the heartburn )

jasper, what is piriton?

SofiaAmes, it's an antihistamine(chlorpheniramine maleate). You can buy it across the counter or get it on prescription.
Some people find it makes them drowsy - this is not usually a bad thing in late stage pregnancy and I was disappointed it did not produce this side effect in me.Incidentally I took twice the recommended dose and it really helped me keep my sanity (itching is SO unpleasant, isn't it?)
The other thing which gave me mild relief from itching was calamine cream (not lotion) with added menthol which the pharmacist made up for me - this was suggested to me by a friend who is a GP and had bad pregnancy itching herself. It only really worked in the earlier days when it was mild and was of no effect in the last few weeks when I had to hit the drugs!

thanks jasper, i will try the piriton as sleeping at night is not really something that is occuring in sofia's world at the moment. funny about the menthol and calamine mixture...the st.luke's prickly heat powder is basically that. It's a mixture of calamine, menthol, antihistamine and boric acid. It truly does work better than anything else, but i'm always happy to try the drugs too since i have woken up with feet so swollen from the hives that i can't really walk properly.

Hi all, not long for many of us now. I have 2-4 weeks left, so really ready for it to arrive at anytime (please not late).

Anybody got any tips for sleeping, I am just wide awake most nights, cannot get comfy and wake up with very bad backache when I finally do get some sleep. I have taken to sleeping on the settee as I am able to put a big cushion under my bump and another wedged behind my back. I was up until around 3.00am this morning, after having a nice bath, drink and film all to relax but still wide awake. I am very tired today and will probably sleep well tonight. Very reluctant to take any medication at this late stage. Not long to go so maybe will have to just put up with it until baby here, no not expecting any sleep then either.

Atleast I havnt got the itching, it sounds awful, hope you all get some comfort from that.

Joe1, I think it's just a conspiracy on nature's part to make us feel grateful for the little sleep we do get after the baby is born, because it can't be any worse than it is now. I know just how you feel. There are 10 pillows stacked up on my bed right now and I've been more or less trying to sleep upright. 1st time around I would have a small drink (alcoholic) before bed to help get me to sleep, but this time it just doesn't seem to be working. Late night tv is totally useless, and I find I can't concentrate on a book. I've resorted to late night phone calls to my parents and friends in the usa. Only 3 weeks left to go!!!!

My mil keeps telling me its my body getting ready for not getting any sleep when the baby is born but I used to sleep all night every night with ds why do I need getting ready for No2. Am I being optimistic in thinking I may have a good sleeper here and when its born I will be able to catch up on all my sleep. SofiaAmes you are right about late night TV, rubbish, and alot of our channels are not working and have to wait until next week for the cable to all be re-done. My dh bought me one of those silver scratch pictures to do when I am awake so I think I will start that tonight if I cant sleep. Like you say, not many weeks now. I can see lots of little ones being born within days of one another. Although I am hoping this one doesnt come before 2 weeks now as it is ds birthday on 16th and I have a cake to make and party to do on 15th.

Hi All, how is everybody? Any early babies?

My bump has dropped almost out of sight over night is this a sign that thinks will be moving soon or am I just being optimistic.

Hasn't it gone quickly! Can't believe I'll be 36 weeks on Saturday.

Have been seeing a physio at the hospital as my hips are so bad that I can't lay on my back - it literally brings tears to my eyes. God knows how I'm supposed to give birth, apparently I have to ask the midwifes for a birthing chair whatever that is. Anyway, the physio has strapped me up - that has put paid to any lingering thoughts that I might still be attractive in any way shape or form.

Joe1 and Sofia, I have also had trouble sleeping especially with the hip pain, but find that sleeping on my side with a thick cushion between ankles and one between thighs helps a lot. I'm afraid I've been popping paracetamol before bed to give me some relief, I hope its not going to have any bad effects.

Dp has moved into the spare room so I can turn the light on and read if I have a wakeful spell, am currently reading 'Future Homemakers of America' by Laurie graham which I highly recommend as its not too taxing and very funny and sweet.

Bought a new carseat at the weekend, its really nice and made me feel quite excited.

Baby still very far down and the first bit is still engaged, although I'm really keen to have a scan in a couple of weeks to check the positioning for good as I want to avoid the transverse horror of dd's birth. unfortunately my midwife just thinks I'm being silly and won't recommend me to have one - I think I'm going to have to get tough...

Snap Enid! I have decided to bring my maternity leave one week early so my last day will be Friday hurrah!

The midwife measured me last week and said the fundus height was already 36 cms and that my b.p. was slightly up so on balance I felt it wasn't worth the hassle of working the extra week. I am feeling really tired at the moment.

Also not dealing with ds very well at the moment through extreme tiredness and am quite worried that I am making things worse in terms of what will happen when new baby arrives.

Enid, it has zoomed by, i could have mine next week if it decides it likes its first edd, if not it will be about 2 and abit weeks. Its ds birthday on 16th so hoping not this weekend as I have a cake to make and a birthday party. I too have had back and hip pain if I use our bed, feels like concrete, and have taken to sleeping on the softer settee with a cushion under bump and one wedged into my back which helps. I hope you dont get worse as you sound alot worse than me. If I lay on my back I cant breath and wake up with an almost panic attack, oh the joy. I had to walk to the doctors for my midwife appt last week (weekly now) which is only up the road but by the time I got back I felt as if I had been kicked around from the waist down, very sore. Dh keeps ringing up as he works in London as is hoping upon hope that he can get back in time or that I go into labour when he is home. We bought a new bigger boys seat for ds on saturday which really brought home he is my little man now with No2 becoming my little baby, I am getting very excited.

Debster Im so pleased that you can finish early, now you can chill. You will still be tired but not as bad as going to work. I have been shattered and wish I could have done more with ds but it wont be long now and we will all be able to do so much more. Toddler group starts again on Thursday so Im looking forward to letting him just go.