Late April 2024 / Early May 2024

[HopefullMumto4]

Tentatively seeing if anyone else is due then yet?

I got a positive digital this morning and based on Ovulation I'd be due 30th April and 2nd May based on LMP, but until the dating scan that could easily change a week either way based on previous babies!

@Iamcatmum oh hey mat leave buddy! How are you feeling about it? I'm literally counting down the days now because I am absolutely knackered most of the time 😂😂😂. X

@GLC789 I’m exactly the same. I mean luckily I work at home so it’s not physically taxing but mentally I’m already signed out. Hoping I can start handing things over as soon as possible! How long will you have off until due date?

@Iamcatmum I worked mixed from home/office. I do find home days much easier!

Baby girl is due 30th April, so providing she stays in there until due date and beyond, I will have at least a month!

When are you due? X

@Iamcatmum Yeah you’re right, at the end of the day they don’t really have a choice legally anyway even if they did happen to like my replacement more. 😂 I think it’s just my hormones and feeling a bit insecure about being out of work after so long. 😅

hi all! Anyone found any good short sleeve / button down maternity nighties for hospital? It is hotter than hell in there. Think I threw away the ones from last time.

My cover starts on Monday, so i'm hoping a 4 week handover in the office, then i'll be able to work from home.
i don't want to start my Mat leave too early as then i won't be able to take it after the baby arrives. and i want to try and take a year off.

i've had a lovely weekend, some friends threw me a baby shower, a really lovely surprise!

@GLC789 I’m due the 25th, so similar to you I’ll have around a month off beforehand! I hope I’m still feeling mobile and don’t end up sitting doing nothing for 4 weeks 🥲. No idea what to expect for those last weeks

@HopeAndChocolate I totally get that - my replacement starts this week so I’ll see how I feel by the end of this week. I may report back that I’m also feeling a bit panicked and insecure about it all 😅

@Plumful also interested to know this - I saw a nice looking one on seraphine I was going to go for but no idea if it’ll do the job

@barbiecharley1 my friend did this and worked right to her due date so she could maximise baby time😊. Glad you had a fab weekend - so lovely of your friends to do that for you!

How is everyone?

My last working day is tomorrow! Should leave me with around 5 weeks pre-birth, seems like a long time but I just can't get myself into the office any longer what with PGP/back pain. Hopefully I can enjoy a little downtime/nesting and not get too bored 😋

Due to a raised arterial doppler reading at my 20 week scan (which so far hasn't come to anything luckily) my consultant is keen to induce me on or just before due date which I am not super keen on. Taking it day by day though - have a scan at 36 weeks which should give us more information...

How are you doing @GLC789 ?

@lenalove Im so jealous of tomorrow being your last day, I still have 7 weeks left,

Hope you manage to do some great nesting :) xx

@lenalove sorry for late reply!

Oh happy maternity leave hun!! So jealous! But only two weeks left for me. I cannot wait!

Nesting has started here already, I've found things to clean that I didn't even know existed! Haha! Also randomly pulled the hob extractor apart the other day and cleaned the filters - they were not really dirty, but it brought me joy!

I'm really good, starting to wind down a bit and saying no to social plans. My birthday is two days before my due date, and my plan is a chippy tea. Or giving birth, either or 👀👀👀.

Anyone else finding turning over in bed to be an Olympic sport? I need to turn several times due to being uncomfortable, but it's a ten minute task each time 😭😂👀.

Has anyone done their birth plan yet? Or packed a hospital bag? I have and I'm wondering if I should have this nailed by now? X

Oh gosh yes @GLC789 - I have to really psych myself up when I want to turn sides. And I’m SO fed up of weeing all the time!

So I’ve done my birth preferences but I still need to wash babies clothes and pack my hospital bag. I have made a list though so just a case of packing it all. ☺️

@HopeAndChocolate yes! A good 15 minute battle before I even attempt to roll lol!!

I need to make a list and get that bag packed! I think I will feel much better when it's done. X

Hi all. The positive birth company are doing their digital hypnobirthing for £20. It helped me so much to prepare for first time childbirth.

enter 6TODAY at the checkout

Legend!! Thank you xx

Got these in the sale. https://www.seraphine.com/en-gb/two-pack-essential-materntity-to-nursing-nightdresses/

Guys I feel so underprepared - haven’t packed hospital bag yet, haven’t washed any baby clothes, haven’t decided on next to me crib. Major procrastination going on😅. Planning to have a focussed baby-prep day this weekend to feel better about it all. Hoping no early arrivals and planning to have a few weeks before to focus on nesting and birth prep.

anyone started perineal massage? I tried once and couldn’t reach 😂. Will have another go at some point

@Iamcatmum same hun!! Same!!

I'm just getting through next week in work and I'll take it from there lol!

I'm 34+3 now. Not sure when I'm supposed to start peri massage? X

@GLC789 not long left for work for us! Feel like I made the right decision to finish early - last 5 days or so I’ve been feeling massive…

My midwife suggested I started from 34 weeks. I’m 35+1 today, so I feel I need to actually start doing it now. I know my partner will help if I ask but I’m not sure I want to go there yet 😂

Ah don’t worry @Iamcatmum - still got plenty of time! It’ll all start falling into place for you this weekend I’m sure!

I’m 34 weeks on Sunday and will start thinking about perineal massage then… I can’t lie, the idea freaks me out a bit, same with colostrum harvesting although got a couple of weeks until that yet thankfully!

I have 4 weeks left of work so feeling jealous of everyone finishing soon. 😅 I do have a little spa night away tomorrow though which I cannot WAIT for. Bring on the pool!

@Iamcatmum omg... I literally don't think i could trust my husband not to get carried away and too excited lol!! So I'll figure it out myself 😂😂. The poor boy can't give me a back rub without getting a little excited!!

@HopeAndChocolate - 4 more weeks!!! Oh girl, I do feel for you!

I haven't a bloody clue what to do with harvesting my boob juice! I was gifted a kit for it, but clueless, so I'll ask my wifwife when she visits me next week 😂👀. I haven't had any leakage anything so no idea what I'm looking out for.

N another note, we had out first little worry last night. I had to go to the maternity unit late at night for monitoring due to change in movements. Rather than reduced, baby girl went absolutely mental in there for two hours straight which is very out of the ordinary for her. But thankfully, all was fine.

Haha I know right @GLC789 - thankfully there’s lots of videos online which we can hopefully follow. 🙈

Oh no that must have been scary for you! Glad everything is ok though. These little babies sure know how to keep us on our feet.

It was cute at first! As I love to feel and see her move. But after a while it just didn't sit right with me.

It was my last office day yesterday and there was a lot of cake. I wonder if the sugar overload sent her into a little fenzie? X

@GLC789 @HopeAndChocolate okay so I’ve packed about half of the bag now. Some things still need washing or buying. Feeling slightly better.
The tiredness has really hit me this week so not sure I’m going to do as much cleaning and nesting as I thought I would over the next few weeks 😩.

Weirdly looking forward to having a go at the colostrum harvesting😂, but hating the perineal massage!

@GLC789 glad baby girl was okay - could definitely have been a sugar high, but I think sometimes it just seems random when they have a bit of a crazy evening!

@Iamcatmum well done! I'm still waiting until Thursday which is my last day of work!

However, I did randomly clean the windows yesterday 😂. By me, I mean, mostly DH. but I just had to get them done!!!!

Now I have a huge list of stuff I want to sort out and clean.

X