37 weeks today!

37 weeks today!  Not sure where the last 8 months have gone but am so excited to be officially full-term.  Feels very real now.  And after feeling panicky about getting the baby out before he grows too large (after the midwife told me to expect an 8-8 1/2 pounder) I am now feeling far more chilled about it all.  Partly helped by three lovely ladies coming up to me, while I was in the park with Hannah yesterday, to tell me that my bump was perfectly formed and shaped.  Very weird strangers coming up to me to comment on my body but as they said kind things, I really didn't mind!  So while I was feeling fat and uncomfortable, I suddenly realised that actually I will miss my bump when the baby comes.  After all, I know what the bump turns into after the birth.  So maybe I don't mind being pregnant a little longer and enjoying my shape.  

37 weeks today with my boy bump!!!

In the meantime, I realised this morning that my medicine cabinet is bursting with my potions for this baby.  I think the drugs companies are making a fortune from pregnant women.  I have raspberry leaf tea bags, raspberry leaf tablets, pregnacare tablets, iron supplements, and clary sage.  Then there is the after birth drugs ready and waiting.  Paracetamol, ibuprofen and arnica.  And I keep wondering if I have missed anything out.

Well, a day off thanks to the Royal couple and I am very glad for the long weekend.  Lots to do in the house as well as school work but am feeling a lot less tired than I was over the Easter holidays, so am hoping to get things done.  I might even get that last bit of skirting board glossed.  

After this weekend, I still have three weeks work (well, two and a half) until my maternity leave so I think I may be a little less energetic.  But on the good side, it takes my mind off watching for every little sign of labour beginning and that has to be a good thing!

Homebirth visit - good and bad points

Well, the midwife came over after work today to bring over the stuff I need for my homebirth and go through the paperwork involved and am now feeling apprehensive but also excited.  Apprehensive because this baby has grown a LOT in the last two weeks and is now at the top of the chart.  So rather than an estimated average 7-7 and a half pound baby, I am now looking at a 8-8 and a half pound baby.  Maybe not big for everyone but I am only 5 foot 1 inch and if the baby is late, I could even be looking at 9lb plus!

On the positive side, the baby is now well engaged (3/5 in the pelvis which is what the others were before I went into labour) and apparently the head is not moving at all - good that it is very unlikely to disengage but also could mean a big head (ouch!).  Hoping that the head being so low is a sign that baby is ready to come out in the next two weeks!  The head being engaged does explain the pelvic pain that I have been suffering in the last week too.  Good to know that it isn't in my head (but my pelvis - lol).

I do get to see my baby again tomorrow, just to check the presentation as I am having a homebirth.  This means that I get to see my baby once more before he is born.  And I get to check that 'he' is actually a boy!  The 20 week scan had better be right or I will be having a girl wearing boy clothes for the first three months.

The only other news from the midwife visit was that I have ketones, meaning that I am not eating enough.  Bit of a joke when I have a giant baby making my stomach so small that I haven't felt hungry in two weeks and yet the baby has grown loads.  How big he would be if I was eating normally is anyone's guess.

The reality is that I am having a baby!  And it is finally feeling real.  I have drugs delivered by the midwife in the fridge and the cupboard for baby and me.  My notes and birth plan have been written by the midwife.  The essential equipment has been dropped off in a big yellow bag.  And more importantly, my baby seems fully cooked now.  Or at least he will be in 72 hours!  While I don't think he will be a 37 weeker, a 38 weeker would be rather good considering his size and my comfort.  So lots of long walks, curries and bouncing on my ball from the 6th of May.  Or maybe earlier if the aches and pains get too much!!

Oh, forgot to mention that I went back to work today.  A five lesson day to keep me busy.  Wasn't as bad as I thought though and at least I have a long weekend to look forward to.  Am just surprised that my blood pressure wasn't raised with the long and tiring day but actually it was the lowest one to date (106/60).  Is that a sign of impending labour?  May have to research that one.

Lastly, and still work related, I handed in a letter to my Headteacher today informing him that I will be taking 6 weeks more maternity leave than I previously stated.  This means that I will be off from the 19th May 2011 (if baby not here before due date) until the middle of April 2012.  Yippee!!

A busy last day

Last day of the holidays and it is a manic day.  Partly my fault though as decided we needed to secure more of the garden for Hannah and so a trip to B&Q was in order.  So off we headed with our list and budget and I may have well chucked them both away.  Walking towards the garden area, I spotted some laminate reduced to £10 for 2.2 sqm.  On asking the sales assistant how much he had in stock, he said that he wanted to get rid of it and offered to reduce it to £8 a pack (£3.63 sqm).  So we bought enough for 40sqm!  Definitely blown the budget but a bargain.  Now Laurie has got to find the time to get the garden sorted so it is safer for Hannah as well as laying a laminate floor, which needs to be done before the baby arrives due to the dust and mess.  Oh, and the shower room needs doing but maybe I will wait a month a two for that!

So what else have I done this morning (apart from buying lots from B&Q)?  I have written a letter to my Head stating that I am going to take an extra 6 weeks maternity leave (unpaid though).  This means that I will be off until the beginning of April 2012.  Can't wait!!  Although I will miss my wages, especially with my purchases today!  But, in the meantime, I have four weeks of work to plan for and get through.  To be honest, I am not looking forward to it - am tired and aching - but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and the thought of being able to take a decent amount of time off with my new baby (and Hannah of course) is fantastic.  It was tough going returning to work after 6 months last time, especially with breastfeeding and Hannah still waking in the night, so hoping that it will be easier this time and I won't spend my maternity leave worrying about how I will cope going back.

Right, well better go as I now have to take my girls out to a majorette display this afternoon.  On my return, I will have to face the dreaded task of getting the school uniforms ironed, packed lunches made and some last minute planning.  Then an early night, ready for a 6am start tomorrow.

One month to go but am enjoying the weather

It is the 20th of April today which means that it is a month until my due date.  Please can anyone tell me where the last 8 months went?  (Or rather 7 and a half since getting that positive test result.)  Some days I feel totally ready - I have the bag packed, the baby clothes washed and am now fed up of the fat waddling look - but then I try to imagine another baby in our house and I feel totally unprepared.  But it doesn't matter how ready I am or not as at some time in the next 6 weeks (if he is two weeks late), I will have my fifth baby.  A baby with no name!

In the meantime, I am enjoying this absolutely gorgeous weather that I can't believe is here as it is a school holiday and usually the weather is terrible when the children are off.  I have lost count of the miles that I have walked while trying to enjoy this beautiful sunshine but it has been great.  Family days out on the beach or at the park in the sun is what Summer is all about.  Just keeping everything crossed that it lasts until at least the end of the holidays.

With two weeks off and this sun, I am feeling more relaxed now than I have in months and simply don't want it to end.  Can I press the pause button please and make the most of the simple life without the stresses of work and dashing about?  I could really get used to this.

Sunny Sunday and am pondering names

Well, it is 7am on a Sunday morning and I have been up since 6am to get my two eldest girls across town for the coach to take them to their majorettes competition.  Back home now and the sun is out and the day is full of promise.  What to do with myself?  Now, I have some time and energy, I don't know.

One thing that I ought to be doing is trying to sort out a name for our baby boy.  We have always chosen a name by now and with less than 5 weeks until due date, I guess we really ought to start making a decision.  There are lots that we like but I am not sure that I love them.  And don't want to go with a second best name.  The main problem is that there are many names with negative connotations due to working in four different schools over the years.  Plus, we have to decide between us and that isn't easy either.  Then the three older children give their opinions and they are not shy about saying what they think.

So what type of name do I want?  One that will suit both a child and an adult. One that isn't currently in the top 10 or 20 names as to common but equally isn't too unusual.  We like a lot of the popular Biblical names but am not sure that I love them.  Guess I am waiting for inspiration to hit me like a thunderbolt but am running out of time.  Maybe we will just wait until he arrives, then decide what name he looks like.  Unless anyone can suggest a great name in the meantime.

In the meantime, the sun is shining and I want to see some of it.  But where to go at 8 months pregnant with a two year old?  Maybe a walk down by the quay to feed the ducks and swans.  Bit early at the moment though so maybe another cup of tea first.

35 weeks tomorrow

Am shattered.  That says it all really.  So much to do in the next 11 days and now I have to add insomnia to my list.  Getting to sleep is no problem at all but in the wee hours in the morning, when I am struggling to roll over and baby has decided it is a good time to roll about and kick me as much as possible, I am awake and unable to get back to sleep.  Spent two hours in the night this morning trying to decide whether to get up and do something or continue to try and get back to sleep.  Fortunately, at 4.30am I must have gone to sleep because the next time I looked at the clock, it was 7.45!  A lie in!

After seeing the midwife today, I did at least find out what all the wriggling was about.  After being in the same left-hand position for the last 6 weeks, he has decided to go back-to-back.  This means more backache and limbs more able to kick/punch my stomach.  Hope he moves back to where he was soon.

Sadly, my midwife is off sick and isn't likely to return before my baby is born, which I am really disappointed about as I really like her.  Now I will have different ones each time which I don't like.  However, she asked if I had a homebirth last time and when I explained I did, she said that she thought she recognised the surname - I am famous after my last birth!!

Still, all seems to be going well and am on track for a 7-7.5 pound baby (they think).  Head very slightly down but nothing to get excited about especially as they can pop in and out.  All else is well and they are doing a home visit in 11 days to drop off the stuff for my homebirth!  Seems very odd that I am technically labelled full-term and allowed to have a homebirth in as little as 15 days.  Not that any of mine have been 37 weekers and so it is highly unlikely but even so, only 15 days is a scary thought.  Knowing this little monkey, I will go to 42 weeks and so still have 7 weeks and a day to go,

Have managed to get everything for the baby and me now and packed my bag so feeling happy that I am finally ready for when he decides to arrive.  Still got the painting, diy and gardening to do, but the main thing is that I have nappies, breast pads etc as these are sort of essential.  Even had my haircut so I don't need to worry about that in the first few weeks.  Starting to relax now I know that most of the stuff is done.  Just need to start my maternity leave in 5 weeks time to properly relax.

A busy two weeks ahead

It is officially the start of the holidays and I am so relieved that I now have two weeks off.  I seem to have exploded in the last week and have reached the 'uncomfortable whatever I do' stage.  I never got that with Hannah so I had forgotten what it was like.  So while I am happy to be off work, I am not sure that I will be working harder at home with four children and a very long list of jobs to do.

My husband keeps saying that I am nesting but I am not!!  I am simply being practical.  There are things that need doing before the baby arrives and as I am working until a day before this little one is due, there is no way that I will have the energy to work, run kids around and also this long list.  So it is a case of now or never (well, a very long time anyway).

Here is the list so far (keep adding to it) and it isn't too bad, as I have already painted the kitchen (finished the second coat at 7.10 this morning), bought Kaiya's shoes, washed the baby clothes, folded and put them away, and spring cleaned over half of the house.

• Spring clean house 
•  Wash baby stuff   
•  Paint kitchen 
•  Paint lounge   
• Gloss woodwork throughout house
• Paint hallways
• De-weed and tidy garden
•  Haircut 
• Midwife appointment
•  Shopping for hospital bag 
• Pack hospital bag  
•  Buy Hannah's shoes 
•  Buy Kaiya's shoes 
•  Get baby stuff ready     
•  School work               
•  Clean and hoover car 
• Clean carpets
• Grout bathroom

Today, I am trying to decide between painting the hallways or the lounge plus gloss work.  Decisions, decisions...