Due December 2024 - thread 2

[CatCaretaker]

Follow on from the first thread here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/5032929-due-december-2024?page=40

Has anyone else’s ‘nesting’ ramped up a gear as due date gets closer?

These last few days I’ve been hyper focused on decluttering the house and cleaning everything, like I don’t want to sit down or go to bed until it’s all done. Hoping that’s a sign labour could happen soon 😅🤞🏼

Yes I've been like this the last couple of weeks, like a woman possessed. I'm absolutely knackered though, I've been doing too much and now I've caught a cough and can't stop hacking. Not ideal for giving birth god

Yep, house has never been cleaner or tidier 😂 it has been great though for declutterring as I have been absolutely ruthless! Definitely need to take it down a notch though I'm shattered lol

@RedRobyn2021 yes I am probably doing too much too. All the late nights cleaning and sorting help me feel on top of things and organised, but I do end up paying for it the next day when I need to get up and look after my toddler on only a few hours sleep.

It is so satisfying watching all the rubbish bags and charity donations leave the house, and it does feel nice having a clean and tidy home. I will admit when I’m working the place usually goes to hell because I just don’t have the time. So these last few weeks off work have been lovely.

I'm absolutely nesting, I am cleaning everything.
I also wondered if anyone else is just getting stiffer and stiffer. I am walking so slowly everywhere!!

Yes, it's hard getting up and down.

I take my dog out twice a day and the worst part is when we get home I need to hose her down then dry her off which all entails bending over and can't be avoided because it's so muddy out at the moment

My hips have been feeling sore but I find once I get walking it becomes more comfortable.

I am very slow, a walk that used to take me 25 minutes now takes me 40/45. If I try to go too fast I have to stop to catch my breath.

As much as I'm trying not to put too much pressure on the due date, I'm feeling quite emotional that I'm only a week away from it now.

The fact I'm more than likely going to give birth again in the next 1-3 weeks just feels unreal

Does anyone else feel like this?

Just can't believe I'm doing this again and everything went totally fine last time, but I'm a little scared it won't this time. The other part of me is ready to go whenever she is, I just want to push her out, I'm so uncomfortable

And then thought of her being here, I mean it seems almost ethereal

I can't wait to finally have her, I have waited for this moment for so long, I wanted her for so long. But i'm equally overwhelmed and scared

I always think of having a baby as being like crossing a bridge and once you're there you can never go back. You're still you, but you are always altered and that's quite scary isnt it?

@LilyJessie yes if I sit for too long my pelvis feels stiff and sore when I stand up.

@RedRobyn2021 I know what you mean. I cycle between being scared things could go wrong like they did last time, feeling sad that DC1 won’t be my ‘baby’ anymore, worrying how DC1 is going to feel when I disappear for a few days to the hospital and when he realises my attention now needs to be split, feeling excited to have baby here and get the newborn cuddles, and the rest of the time it goes out of my head completely because I’m focused on other things 😅

@RedRobyn2021 yes absolutely. I really struggled throughout this pregnancy to connect with my baby (or even the concept of a baby) for lots of reasons and it was only when I ended up in triage at 36w and the midwife thought I might be going into labour which gave me a massive wake-up call. By that stage I had absolutely NOTHING ready for baby, it was as if it wasn't happening! The past 3 weeks all I've done is prepare for baby but it still feels very surreal and while I'm going for my c-section on Tues it still hasn't fully registered with me. I'm waiting on it all hitting me like a ton of bricks.

Mostly, I've been sad and feeling guilty about having to split my time with my daughter but at the same time knowing that she will (eventually) love having a sibling. I completely empathise with you on that front @MaybeBaby2024!

But, my husband and I dreamed for years about having multiple children and for almost a decade we tried everything and failed so we have to keep reminding ourselves of how lucky we are to come out of a very long and painful infertility journey with two children. Most people who faced what we did over that time aren't so lucky.

We have named our daughter now so it definitely is starting to feel a bit more real and I ordered a "baby's first Christmas" bauble with her name on it 🎄

It's a bloody rollercoaster this baby stuff!!

Yes, the supermarket nearly killed me this morning. But baby's head is right down in my pelvis so it's not easy waddling all the way round Asda and lifting bags etc. I was shattered when I got home!

Girls this might be a bit of a strange one but let me know what you think especially if you have dogs 😂

I have a friendly and affectionate wee terrier who enjoys a cuddle but mostly wants left alone. By now she's usually snuggled up in her basket minding her own business. Tonight though she has been ALL OVER ME. Wanting cuddles, nudging my legs, licking me and rolling on my feet wanting belly rubs, trying to jump up on my knee (she's not allowed on furniture). When I get up to pee she follows me and sits outside the bathroom door. She's currently sitting on the floor in front of me just... staring. It's all very weird.

PLEASE tell me she isn't sensing baby coming tonight or something like that 😂 she has got me totally freaking out!

I think your dogs Spidey senses are bang on! Animals are so intuitive.

Re walking, I'm the same... Once I get going it's definitely feels a bit better but I'm still so slow.

I'm trying to ignore my due date (23rd), but I have had such a long journey and I'm desperate to meet her now too. It's hard isn't it. Not knowing when. I think I'm a long way off...

I also wanted to say, as this has really been on my mind and you are all so wonderful...
I had my cervical stitch taken out at 36 weeks. I had a speculum put in, and they cut it out and I remembered how uncomfortable/ painful I find smears.
I broke down in tears whilst they did it (no pain relief etc) realising if I can't even do a smear test without being in pain, how on earth did I think I could have a baby naturally!
And I feel so stupid. I am doing hypno birthing and trying my hardest to stay positive. But I feel quite the failure since.

@HelterSkelter224 100%. My dog knew baby was coming - not that day but within the week. Everything changed.. much more careful and calm lol. He’s usually a maniac!

@RedRobyn2021 yes, I can't believe it's come around so fast (I know it's been 9 months!). It feels like yesterday that I got that first positive test, it's crazy.

I'm starting to get apprehensive and scared now too. What if I can't cope with no sleep, crying baby, etc. etc. I know everyone does, but also people talk about what a massive change it was and how overwhelming it was at the start and it's making me nervous!

Bloody hell that sounds painful, I cringed reading it

You can do it. I've done it myself, you have to remember it's not like cutting your arm off it's your body doing a strong work out.

I personally did find it painful, but my first baby was back to back, once she had turned and I got to the pushing stage it didn't hurt much at all! It was wonderful

Don't forget there are things you can do to help with the discomfort, water is out of this world amazing, tens machine and I haven't tried it but a comb is meant to be good.

Make sure you're drinking and weeing enough. Move around the room.

Make sure you feel safe, so the room is dark and your partner is stopping people from just walking in Willy nilly, don't lay on your back

Also make sure you do your research about pain relief, then if you decide you want it you can ask and you'll know exactly what to expect. I would also put it in your birth plan that they don't ask you if you want pain relief, but you have to ask them.

I couldn’t have worded it better, my biggest worry is my toddler atm. Even my ideal birth is centred around how it would affect him, like I don’t want a section because how the hell will I look after him (have to do mornings by myself as DH works so early) if I can’t lift him.

I do feel guilty a bit that my attention will be divided but hoping he will adjust quite quickly and we find a new normal, where everyone is happy.

@Firsttimetrier i had the same worries about my toddler but he has been amazing - much to my surprise.
it really messed with my emotions too - soak up the time before baby comes 🫶🏽

@Twinkletwinklelil thank you, that’s reassuring to hear.

We’re in a big phase of only wanting me, he even told DH he didn’t like him yesterday as he wanted me to carry him and as I couldn’t, had a mega meltdown. Mum guilt is at an all time high.

My maternity leave starts on Monday, so I’ve planned to take the toddler out of nursery for a day to spend some time together, but then we have all of Christmas too.

As much as I’d like the new baby to arrive in the next week, it would be nice if they arrive after Christmas so we can have some extra time with the toddler.

Ah I was in the same position! Except it was my toddlers 2nd bday the week I went off from work. I needed that time with him and it paid off it was perfect.

he was also all about me, we only stopped breastfeeding 2 months prior! And the clinginess increased! However, he has been a dream since baby has arrived. He’s not too bothered about her but he hasn’t fallen into tantrums or getting upset. He’s bonding nicely with my dh and he comes and gets all the love he needs from me too (I pass baby to dh)

Ive been really conscious to make sure I am free and available at certain times - waking up in the morning, nap times etc. so he doesn’t feel like I’ve replaced our time with the new arrival.

also, we made sure he came to pick up baby from the hospital, not just turning up at home with a new arrival.. and gave him a gift from her lol

you’ll be fine, the mom guilt is real. I cried a fair bit the first few days but he’s been happy and seems so grown up and doing well, I couldn’t be prouder.

Hello ladies,

Yes managed to get discharged late yesterday afternoon. Yesterday was abit of a blur, the pain really started to ramp up and the sleep depravation was hitting. Thankfully we came home to my mum and sister on hand to help for an hour of two. We had a good first night at home, he slept on DH side and he slept pretty well, he woke every 3-4 hours for a feed/change and then went back off. So we managed to get a good amount of sleep/rest in. We've just been at home today, sorting out the chaos, resting and snuggling.

@xx11x ask me anything you wish. Happy to answer any questions. Xxxx

Hope you're all doing okay ladies. ❤️

@Lunamoon23 glad you had a good first night at home. Enjoy your newborn bubble.

@Lunamoon23 congratulations! So glad to hear your positive experience, sounds like you are doing great.

I imagine there will be other babies coming too these days, hope everyone is doing well!

Congratulations to those who already welcomed their babies, so exciting ❤️

I’m 39 weeks tomorrow and for the past few days have been feeling nauseated overnight and in the mornings to the point I’ve been sick the last 2 nights and then unable to eat anything until around lunchtime. Anyone experienced this starting so late? I’ve had minimal nausea/sickness throughout this pregnancy so taking very bad with it this far on xx

@Soontobemumof2kids yes I have had terrible vomiting at night too. Last night was the worst, currently in bed feeling sorry for myself I’m so wiped out. 38 weeks today.

@MaybeBaby2024 I’m the same, its awful! I never had this first pregnancy. Hoping it’s maybe a sign things could be starting soon for us 🤞