Delurking (long post warning)

[indigo]

I seem to be a natural forum lurker. I don't do it on purpose, I just seem to fall into doing it. I think its partly time as I'm still working full time, but mainly because I'm just so knackered all the time my brain can't cope with typing cohesive sentences of an evening! I'm going to make a determined effort to change my ways as I feel like I know you guys, and you've given me so much help and reassurance and it's not fair that I just keep taking!!

Here are a few experiences/questions/observances from me so far:

Energy
When does it kick in as I'm running out of time?!

Time
I can't believe I've only got 7 weeks to go, where did the time go? Although this is a planned baby, I really can't believe that we're really doing it! I have no idea how I'm going to look after a baby lol! I'll probably be shell shocked when it happens!

Bellybutton
My belly button is getting shallower and shallower. If it suddenly becomes an outie it's really gonna creep me out. I assess the situation almost hourly.

Maternity clothes
I had to force myself to stop buying maternity clothes. I always said that I would try to get by on just the minimum since I'm not planning on having any more kids, but then kinda forgot that I'm going to be pregnant for a finite period of time! Also, some of my maternity clothes are so comfy, I'm tempted to keep wearing them after! I especially like the over bump panels in trousers as they keep my midrif so warm and cosy...

Braxton Hicks
Or Branston Pickles as my brain wants me say (I have to mentally correct myself *every time*). I have weird BHs in that I wouldn't know they were happening if I didn't happen to be touching my bump at the time. No pain, no sensation, nothing. I know that they can be really painful for some/most people, but I was just wondering if anyone else had the same experience as me? I was a bit concerned at first so asked my midwife about it, but she said it was definitely BH, and that it just happens like that sometimes. Is this a sign of how easy and straight foward birth is going to be? (she says, hopefully) Or is this hypnobirthing lark working better for me than I *ever* imagined!!!

Hypnobirthing
I'm really hoping for a natural birth at home, so decided to invest in hypnobirthing classes. They went well and everything made sense, but I'm struggling to keep practising the relaxation, I'm not sure I'm capable of relaxing as much as I need to. I'm trying not to worry about it, but since I find myself writing about it here, maybe I'm more worried than I think I am...

Growth Scan
I have to go for a growth scan this afternoon as they think the baby is measuring small. I'm pretty sure it isn't and that all is well, but the doubts are now planted in my head and I'm starting to stress. Would a small baby prevent me from having a home birth?

Sciatica
I seem to have developed it over the last few days and it's bloody painful. No further comment, just feeling sorry for myself.

Perineal massage (tmi warning)
Has anyone managed to do this to themselves successfully? My OH is *very* keen to help, but sees it as foreplay, and I can't face having to have sex every time I need his help lol! My sex drive has plummeted, but I let him get his way every so often...

Nursery
Am I the only person who will not have a nursery until after the baby is born? We recently moved into a house that needs lots of work, and the nursery isn't high on the list of essentials. Baby will be in with us for ages, so I'm thinking we'll just get to it in time...a working and heated bathroom feels more important just now.

Baby stuff
I only have the bare essentials clothes-wise - handful of baby-grows and sleep suits, couple of warm all in ones for going out. As we're team yellow, and as we don't know how big (or small) baby is going to be, I thought we would try and wait and see. I've got a cot, changing mat, bouncer, washable nappies and wipes, baby sleeping bags, baby blankets but that's about it really - oh, pram shopping will be happening at the weekend. We don't have a lot of money so I really don't want to buy loads of stuff that will never get used, and we don't know anyone that can give us hand-me-downs, but do I sound totally under-prepared? What essentials would you recommend that I'm missing?

I think that's everything for now. Have I delurked enough, too much..? Will try harder from now on, I promise.

 

[flexilexi394]

Hello! I think you'll find a lot of those questions are running through all of our minds! It's all very normal stuff. I guess you will just have to wait and see what they say at your scan about small baby, I doubt it will affect your home birth plans.
Ive not even got room for a nursery at our house, so your not the only one at all! I'll have to move before I have a nursery!
Not tried the massage or anything like that yet!
I wish you the best of luck by the way...and try and relax and remember every pregnant woman on the face of the earth gets nervous and not too sure what to do. X

 

[Rayoflight]

Indigo, are we the same person?! I swear that's like reading a mirror image of my thoughts!

Firstly, growth scan. Do not fret. I had the same at 33 weeks it was a worry but all was well and it was a great excuse to see the baby again. It was wonderful and all is well.

I too am hoping for a home hypnobirth. I started my maternity leave this week and I have my hypnobirthing refresher session tonight. I've not listened to my affirmations for about 6 weeks, I can hardly remember anything and it feels like I've not done my homework and am going to get into trouble. I've got the midwife in half an hour and as soon as I get back I'm going to re-read my notes, print off my affirmations and visualisations and stick them all over the house. I was just soooo busy in the lead up to leaving work that I came home, ate my tea and went to bed. So now with only a few weeks until my due date I'm going to really practice. (She says!).

Perennial massage. Tried it, tried it as foreplay, tried it myself. Mings. Can't do it! Also husband won't shag me says its too weird so all that's out the window and I'm hoping the hypnobirthing breathing will mean labour is nice and relaxed and slow and I won't tear!

Energy - I had a spurt last week but that's all gone now. Getting heavier is hard work.

My belly button can't decide whether it's flat or sticking out. I too obsess about it and also can't bear to have it touched!

Don't fret about the baby stuff. I started panic buying this week and got it all done in one afternoon. Still got to get the matress for the cot and bedding but we'll survive.

See, you're totally normal hun! xxx

 

[isobel84]

Indigo!

im no expert! but see what i can say from my experience..
Energy- nah, for me i have not had it for a long time only the odd day here and there! I been very tired the whole pregnancy! what i find even worse tho is even if im shattered i find it hard to fall asleep i lay there wide awake for hours..

Im overdue and still now when i look at my cot i cant belive there will be a little boy laying in there that is all ours! its unbeliveble, you dont know what to expect, what to feel or how it will be at all so i think it wont hit me until im acctually holding him that hes mine

I didnt really feel my BH much until maybe 3 weeks ago they started to get stronger (your tummy feel tight) and now i feel them everytime they come, i dont think it means anything else then that your body is practising really.

I havent done the massage thing to be honest, i tried once and found it too hard to reach and OH wouldnt do it, i think it freaks him out thinking about that the baby is coming out there, i mean at the moment my twink is all his! so i think he dont wanna think about it

we have no nursery, its no rush as he will sleep whit us for 6 month and the baby clothes and stuff, well i dont think babies need much more then to be keept warm, loved, feed and clean. Can you manage that with what you have then you be fine we are getting fooled in to that we need alot more then we do i think.

good luck hun
xx

 

[Rhino Horn]

I had a growth scan last month as my bump was measuring small. Everything was just fine My bump was measured today and it is now spot on.

We don't have a nursery either. Our spare room is also my husband's office so once the baby is old enough to sleep in there they will be sharing space! We won't be able to buy a house until end of next year so there will be no nursery for this LO.

I'm also team yellow, so have bought the bare minimum of clothes as I have no idea how big or small it will be.. we don't live very far from Asda so I will be sending my husband up there if we run out of clothes in the early days!

 

[indigo]

Thanks everyone, glad I don't sound too much like a freak!

Growth scan was fine, everything on target apparently so that's a relief to say the least. There is one issue, but that's got nothing to do with anything being wrong with the baby, I think I'll start another thread on that.

I'm actually relieved that other people don't have nurseries set up, I was starting to feel like a terrible parent already lol! As you say, baby won't need a room until at least 6 months, and even then, I may stretch that out

I can definitely provide the baby with love, food (hopefully!), warmth and keep it clean, so looks like I'm target! Fingers crossed my boobs work! We're fairly near an ASDA too, so yes, I can always kick the OH out to pick up supplies.

Rayoflight - I'm glad it's not just me re the hypno stuff! It's really difficult to fit in the practice and it doesn't help that my other half hates the music with the affirmations (can't say I'm that keen on it either really, but I see the reason for it). Have you ever really felt properly relaxed while doing it?