October 2004 - Moose massive, part 3

[beansprout]

Does anyone want to come and play here? There's loads of space!

thanks Bibi, you are right, common sense goes a long way. Sorry it gave you such bad indigestion, once baby arrives it should be fine

Once the baby arrives I will return to the drunken lush I once was think Karen from Will & Grace hehehe ...

NOT REALLY! Please don't call Social Services!!!!

Me too Bibiboo! I've had no alcohol other than beer (one or two bottles a week) for the last 8 months as every other kind of alcohol has made me really ill. Unfortunately, I've noticed recently that db doesn't seem to like it when I have a beer now so I've cut it out completely. I can't wait to have that first G&T or glass of red wine when db arrives. In fact, I'm salivating at the thought of it.....

Ooooh, a nice, cool glass of stella would go down a treat now - if only it didn't come back up mixed with stomach acid or maybe even a tot of brandy [insert salivating emoticon here]

now you're talking, I think a large G&T once baby arrives along with some brie and tons of shelled seafood!! Of course we then have to consider breast feeding and not passing along all that booze to the baby - grrr

Dreamt last night that on admittance to hospital in labour, you are given a bowl and invited to the salad bar.

Beanie honey, everything OK? Last we heard it was early Tuesday morning and you were ironing. Hope all is well.

Sooz, like you have a million and one slightly crispy and ever so slightly off-white vests and babygros.

Sorry, it's miffy with the vests and babygros. Dur.

Turtle, I'm sure if this baby is anything like it's mum, it'll quite gladly welcome it's breastmilk laced with brandy Not sure the health visitor would approve of a new mum swigging brandy each morning - she might think I've got a bit of a problem ... so I might have to hide it ... oh no! That would look even worse! Secret drinker. Getting worried about myself now.

How are we all today? I've got the day off to go visit relatives and show off my huge belly - not my idea of HUGE fun, but better than cleaning the kitchen.
Bean are you still ironing?!

The ironing is done!!!!
Now just the cupboards to clean, fridge to defrost, cot to assemble etc etc etc
I cannot BELIEVE that this time last week I was wondering what I would do when I finished work.

TENS machine and gym ball (Argos... but of course) should arrive today, so plan to play with them both at the same time and see how high I can make myself bounce. Fun is my middle name, oh yes.

Had horrible, scary antenatal class yesterday called "baby basics". My smug ego just thought they would show us how to change nappies, but oh no, it was all symptoms to look out for, potential problems etc etc. All of which were really, really important to my paranoid first timer brain and none of which I can remember today. Arghhh! At least if the flat is spotless, everything will be ok right? RIGHT?!!!

Am having total meltdown today. Tears all over the place. Amy didnt want to go to nursery, and I felt bad for making her go as I haven't really got any work to do (apart from all the petty seeming but essential stuff we are all doing). I know I need and deserve this time to get myself and everything ready and just rest, but have been feeling despairingly guilty. E-mailed a friend who has just come back with
'...whatever you do, prepare think or feel, one thing I can guarantee - you'll convince yourself you did it wrong. SO GIVE YOURSELF A F*ING BREAK.' She's right, but that just makes me cry more. Also the baby, despite my frequent requests for it not to go there, has turned posterior

Bean - you will so look after the health of your baby, it is in fantastic hands with you. Obviously beware of making it play too much tennis, as we know that's not good for us. I'm going to tell you a sorry tale of paranoid parenting. When Amy was about eight weeks old I called an ambulance as she had blood coming out of her ear. They were very quick and lovely. Their suggested treatment? Nail clippers - she had scratched her ear. To add to the embarrassment seemed like every possible neighbour saw ambulance so I got the chance to explain my foolishness many times over.

Toots! Here, have a tissue and a big moose hug. Would a chocolate biscuit help too? Here, have one of these....
I'm sorry to hear you are melting today you most toppest of meece. I had one of these earlier in the week (triggered by dp not quite knowing the way to the birth centre), but you don't need to me to tell you that it is ok and that it will pass. Please,please be nice to yourself and know we are all here. FWIW I too have been on all fours for a considerable chunk of the morning as I fear that Beanie is going posterior too, dammit.

Hope everyone else is ok. I now have the ball and the TENS machine but have nothing to inflate the ball with and can't be ar$ed to sort out the TENS machine, but they are here so that's the main thing.....?

Toots, please don't feel guilty about sending Amy to nursery - I refuse to feel guilt about retaining childminder while on maternity leave, because I know that exposed to DS for too long I am in danger of turning into wicked witch, and need the break (yesterday I lost it because he refused to brush his teeth and then wee-ed himself after being asked if he wanted to go to the loo - definitely not textbook parenting). I know it's because I'm tired, fat and uncomfortable, and also cos I'm stressed over transverse baby thing. I am so looking forward to the week after next when I am on leave, when I will have two whole days to myself to do nothing but sleep and maybe have a chance to do some sorting of babygros!

Bean go to nearest toyshop (ELC springs to mind) and look for hand pump thingy - they are cheap and will make inflating ball much much easier. Or even simpler, go to a bike shop and get them to do it.

On cheerier note I have given my seminar and everyone seemed very pleased! Now I just have to clean up my desk and organise my going away lunch.

Oh Toots that sucks!! aren't hormones evil definitely take up on Beans offer for the chochy biscuits!! and DON'T feel guilty. I have SO MUCH admiration for fellow Mooses at 8 months pg trying to cope with Toddlers too.

Bean those balls are a b*stard to blow up (not that I did it) but watched DH grunt, groan and sweat over it for some time. How do you know if you think Beanie has gone posterior?

So I have now totally over done it with house work and a pathetic back, don't know why I can't just leave it but now I seem to feel crippled today. Moan moan.

Oh and when I get up to walk the shooting pain below takes my breath away. Anyone else getting this? Is it just the baby's way of warning me that it's coming? fingers crossed.

Turtle - Have been able to feel the back-of-the-Bean for some time, but now there are softer gaps and kicks in a different place. Will see what I can do. Not the same league as Florence though - hope you get some good news next week.

Am also getting the shooting pains. Feel like my pelvis wants to buckle from under me... and then I am ok again. I look like I have a version of Tourettes - I can be walking normally, then suddenly exclaim "oh sh*t!!!", grab onto something and then resume "normal" (ha ha ) posture again.

Have just had a friend nagging me to pack my bag but really am in some serious denial here and seem to be refusing to do it. Mmmmm.

Toots - hope you are ok oh gorgeous one.

Thanks moosinas. Have eaten freely of chocolate and pizza and the cleaner's been, so everything seems a little brighter. Florence, you're right, you're right, you're right. Why have her here being ignored or bitched at when she can be amongst the pleasant!

Beansprout, I'm sure Mr Bean is a king amongst men, but not knowing the way to the birth centre is an absolute doozy. Are your kicks sort of either side of central now as opposed to on the side? If so Sure you've searched on here, and like me will be crabbing up and down any stairs. John Lewis should have a cafe for pg women to meet and have tea on all fours/upside down.

Turtle - memo from Dr Moose, please rest that back tonight and tomorrow, sounds like you've been moving mountains.

You and beansprouts shooting pains sound yuk. Think I remember more of that kind of thing last time. Take it eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaasy.

Florence, also forgot to say - congratulations on your seminar. You did it, it was good, and even better - it's done now!

Going to leave to get dd now. Might be able to get there before they start stuffing them with 4 o'clock biscuits. It might be what I want for me, but not for her!!!

hmmm did someone mention biscuits!!! I am in.

Bean you made me laugh out loud (quite loudly actually) I really can relate to the Tourettes thing, thankfully I do it in the house generally by myself and probably say much worse swear words than you!! Then all of a sudden I am fine again and going on with my business. Every now and then it happens on the high street and no-one bats an eyelid.

I am with you on the packing of the bag issue too. I keep saying to myself this weekend I'll do it but don't!!

Do you have an A-Z??

Here's a question....what are you all wearing during labour/birth?? is that really stupid, it's not that I want to be looking my best or anything.. well I don't want to look like sh*t either but is a longish night shirt the best thing? I know I know, I am a complete amateur.

Toots - Bean is very (verging on abnormally) tall and so is lying diagonally, so kicks have been on one side but it's the gap in the middle that is new. Will see you in moosebucks though for a muffin and a latte, served to us in a bowl so we can eat on all fours?
Will spend lots of time crawling around over the weekend and see what doc says on Tues.

Have now managed to inflate my ball but my god, it stinks!!! It's a sort of rubbery smell but with a good dose of bad feet too. Dp does not quite buy my "it's the ball" explanation and is eyeing me suspiciously.

Turtle - have no idea what to wear. Possibly nothing at all as am v likely to be in the water pool but will take long old t-shirt for "on land" labouring. God help dp if he gets the camera out though.

Btw, for us 1st timers, have now watched several videos and Discovery Health programmes on giving birth and it's all fine as in all of them, labour never takes longer than 20 mins - hurrah!!!!

Have to say I bought a foot pump with the ball as knew there would be no chance of ever using it if I tried to inflate it otherwise. So now what do I do with it? Tried sitting on it which actually releives pelvic discomfort alot but gives me back ache - am I doing it wrong?
My sister (who has MS) decided to give me a hand by entertaining DS today, they've been to the airport by train and back to my mums house on the bus, so much public transport he thinks he's died and gone to heaven! Unfortunately I fear my sister may have to spend the rest of the weekend in bed recovering!

Geoteach, how kind of your sister. The ball shouldn't give you back ache, it's meant to relieve pressure, are you sitting in the middle of the ball? I too got a foot pump with it but it still seemed to take forever getting the damn thing full.

hope everyone has lovely relaxing weekend. I have friend coming over for lunch but after that I plan to do nothing!! oh except order DH around fixing stuff in house and hanging pictures in baby's room

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
Have been busy nesting (bedroom rearranged, cot assembled, stuff sorted, kind of starting packing bag...) but after being ok for a while, have been having major, major anxiety about the birth, just bordering on full blown panic attacks. Is anyone else having this? Apart from that, I'm ok (!)

Beansprout - I think I am still in complete denial about the birth part of pregnancy. I have written my birth plan but I am convinced that it is happening to someone else!!
I have started to dream about the birth but again it is like it is happening to someone else!
I guess it will become reality soon enough and maybe I will be getting the panic attacks. I am sure that you imagine it to be worse than what it actually is - otherwise we would all be only children!

Ok, to inflate your ball, you really need one of these: pump - I got something similar from a toyshop! DS seems to have decided the ball is his personal play thing - quite funny when he tries to sit on it though!

Parents have told me they will be in China when baby due - not that they would have been closer before (live in NZ) but they will be uncontactable for about 4wks. Why am I perturbed?

BTW recommend watching 24 (we just got series 3 on DVD) as way of temporarily staving off birth panics - Bibiboo, have you found series 1 yet? Offer of series 2 still holds! Bean, Bellie, think calming thoughts - it will be fine. Hey, even a Caesarian can't be all that bad, surely.... Another tip, remember to pack your nipple cream in your bag - Lansinoh is good.

Morning my fellow meece. I hope you all had lovely restful weekends. Unfortunately I had to spend yesterday with m-i-l but she wasn't too bad (for a change). I have all my hospital stuff ready and waiting to go into my labour bag in db's bedroom. I was definitely suffering from denial - it was dh who suggested it might be a good idea to get things sorted.

I think the weirdest (and most unsettling thing) is not knowing when it's going to happen. I keep meeting these women who tell me that they were 2 or 3 weeks early - yikes. But then the general view seems to be that most first dbs are very late. How is everyone else copoing with the uncertainty?