Ladies, those of you planning to breastfeed I could use your help here

merryberry when you said you should freeze maternity pads did you mean disposable or washable ones?

Hello everyone,

Had an appointment with the consultant yesterday and he found protein in my water again, warned me it may be pre-eclampsia and wanted me to have some blood checked, my blood pressure was fine and i have called the hospital today and been told that my bloods are all ok which i am very glad about, believe that they may take you into hospital if you have it not sure though.

We felt the earthquake here felt quite bad, we experianced a earthquake on our honeymoon in Dominican Republic about 6 years ago so was very histerical when it happened here, in dominican there were tremors which were almost as bad as the earthquake for the week following. We live in Hull so are only 30 miles away from the epicentre.

Was wondering what LO means assume it must be something about the new arrivals.

fitnfortyone, I read yesterday that pre-labour includes a feeling of almost 'PMT' style emotional outbursts, which I had on Tuesday (was almost in a red mist rage in fact) but its settled down now. I'm due on 17th March but I suspect, along with the constant BH's, that LO is getting well ready.

I couldn't apologise enough for my hideous ranting though, luckily I have a very understanding OH!

Oh alright, I'll do it again. But only because I want everyone to be able to read Glam's news in a few hours!!
here's a new thread

fitnfortyone, I think you're right. We do need another one.

Hello ladies, just popping on for a minute before I raid the kitchen for some sugary stuff as from midnight I'll have to be nil by mouth until God knows when. Actually just had some pineapple so slightly negates the rice krispies with sugar I'm about to have.

DP is going to take a zero tolerance aproach to my flatulence after tomorrow, apparently. I'm going to make the most of it tonight

Thoughts going through my mind right now......

I'm having a baby tomorrow

It's going to hurt

I'm going to see his face at last

It's going to hurt

I'm getting a catheter fitted one night off the blardy toilet trips.

They're going to put painkilling suppositories up my bum

I might bleed to death and leave my DD motherless but luckily fleeting thought only

I'm having a baby tomorrow


Hope everyone else is coping with all the movements, tiredness etc

Toodle pip, I'm going over the top. see you on the other side

Love Glam XX

just a quickie - do we need to start another thread? I can't remember how many posts people said they could load before the page crashed...

envy those of you who can sleep on their sides - before i was pregnant i slept on my left side quite happily all night, but now, nothing comfy except propped up on loads of pillows lying on my back with more pillows under my knees to make sure i don't cut off the oxygen supply by lying totally flat. Moving onto the side gives me backache due to all the extra pillows, but if i take them away i just get indigestion. Whinge, whinge .

Spent today emptying the birth pool, cleaning out and refilling since it had developed a bit of yukky slime round the surfaces. Nearly flooded the kitchen when emptying the pool as the pipe fell out of where it was wedged in the sink! Followed this with the remaining kiddie clothes ironing and my back is now aching even though i was taking regular breaks and had the ironing board at a really good height to avoid strain. Feeling very grumpy today and have bitten off DH's head several times since he got home from work. Anyone know if feeling like cr@p is an impending sign of labour .

Looks like we have plenty of marchmums ready to drop now, can't wait for more news!

Hi all,

nice to hear all the news. nothing much to report here. 2 days left of work. I've basically been resting constantly when not at work and have been weirdly super-productive this week.

marchmum, I went to your profile to see if you had put up your pictures yet and it says that you have no children some updating to be done at some stage I guess. congratulations on your LO.

I think I've gone off all the girls' names on our list so I may well end up like you with a nameless child for a while. I always wondered how people could not have decided after 9 months to think about it but now I know that it is not really the most important thing to be thinking about

Oh Prisci - glad your baby has moved again. I think they are just playing with us - mine did a big twist again this morning and seems to be roughly where he was before (no hard lump at the top anymore) so I'm hoping he stays there!

Marchmum, so pleased that you are ok and that you enjoy being a mum. Can't wait for the birth story and the pictures.

Turtle no need to feel foolish you are ever so lucky.

Got my scan finally, and guess what LO as I thought moved again last night, he is not even born and is already playing tricks. I am still a bit worried since if he has moved once already .... maybe he will do it again.. The sonographer also took some measurements at the same time, he seems to be the right size for his age apart for the fact that they are predicting that he might be 8LB plus at delivery. I am pretty small overall , so difficult to imagine it...hopefully he will be born a bit early as I and my sister were.
Otherwise went to Yoga/Natural birth class, and the teacher was complaining about the understaffing of maternity ward at the hospital since there are 'only' 2 midwife per 4 postnatal beds (incl 2 private rooms). At the Whittingon in London, it is mostly 2 for 18. They don't know just how lucky they are...

ladies...i think iliketosleep could do with some support here

My LO has moved from being LOA for ages to ROA .Aked my midwife yesteray which was better and she said neither side is really better for delivery than than the other as long as it's not back to back there should'nt be a problem. Phew !! I was getting panicky and trying to sleep on my Left and crawl about on all fours etc.now 37+4 and counting down every hour
here focusing on low pain thresholds for us all.

Cricketsmum...Officially it's Sunday, but I got so frightened being in a hospital environment that I would probably just stay home til last poss second anyway. Also, have been told by a few people that if you're really insistent and have been in good health that you can swing it a few days early. Off to lie down and think "putting labour off til the weekend" thoughts. Hope this is just a trial run.

Oooh Turtle... how many days before you can have your water birth? Tell him to keep himself in check for a little while longer! How exciting though (and am really pleased everything is ok... had a similar scare a few weeks back and it really is horrid).

Wow turtle that's great! Maybe you have a super high pain threshold? Good to hear that baby is ok and fingers crossed it might turn into something for you

I know this one... have debated with three midwives and NCT teacher. LOA is the best position, but in reality not any better than ROA. Sometimes the baby does a 270 degree turn to the left on his way out to get to LOA which can take longer, but as long as you aren't back to back DO NOT STRESS ABOUT IT. Besides, these babies have a side they prefer and they don't change their minds easily. My placenta is on the left top and I think that's why he likes the right.
I feel a bit foolish having just gone to hospital for monitoring as LO was deadly quiet this morning and I didn't feel well. He's fine. They did, however, tell me that I was having BH every two minutes (apparently at 40% of contraction strength) and didn't notice really. How encouraging is THAT?!! Also told me to make sure I was ready at home as this could lead to something stronger...fingers crossed, but hopes not raised.

I wake up in the night and worry that I have shut off all of her oxygen by lying on my RHS - as illogical as I know this is it still bothers me so I toss and turn all night!

My bump seems to have gone really odd, the top is hard and taut but the bottom is really jelly and flabby like. Has anyone else had this? It's very strange and looks gross, my bump looks square almost!

Paranoid - that is exactly my experience with my LO! I get grumpy kicks if I lean forward, and ecstatic squirming if I lie back!!! I give him (and me ) about 15 mins of slobbing per night and then try to spend the rest of the time sat upright!

I don't think it's a silly question at all. There was a thread on MN a while ago when a newly pregnant woman asked about sleeping positions and all these people kept saying she absolutely must stay on her LHS as if there was no alternative. I freaked out as I just couldn't do it. Then I realised that there was no way anyone could do it all night, and that the posters were not actually helping answer her question rationally. I reckon as long as you spend most of the night on your LHS, and try not to go onto your back, then that is the best thing.

Thanks for the reply HolidaysQueen I suppose it was a silly question now I think about the whole "how can you possibly lie in one position all night" issue... Woopsie - I just have the most ridiculous concerns of late and for some reason, I can't control what actually comes out of my mouth of late. I seem to be losing brain cells at a vast rate!!!

It's amazing how LO scrambles as sooooon as I sit back and slump on the couch... I think LO is all quiet and sleeping (or whatever they do in there when all is still) so I lean back for a second and SCRAMBLE, TWIST, WRITHE!!! It's as if the second you get off all fours/slouch/lean back from Mary Poppins posture, LO actually WANTS to get into back 2 back position. I suppose it must be comfy for them!!!! I know lying on my back and slobbing out on the couch is comfy for me anyway!!! heh heh

Hi paranoid - your name accurately describes my feelings most of the time! I'm particularly paranoid about the sleeping thing too at the moment, especially given recent movements of the baby!

I'm basically starting off on my LHS as that is meant to be better for circulation etc. However I think it is pretty impossible to stay comfortably in one position all night (I figured there's a good reason why invalids have carers to help turn them at night!) so I do move over to the RHS if e.g. my shoulder or hip gets too sore (the weight of the baby means there is no way I could stay on one side all night). So I tend to move onto my RHS for some relief and then move back onto my left as the pain in my shoulder/hip eases off.

I may be missing something, but I don't there is any difference in labour between a left or right lying baby so long as his back is to the front. The difference comes if they are back-to-back. So I'm assuming that if I lie on my RHS for a while, it may encourage him to be right lying but shouldn't cause him to go back-to-back so that should be okay.

By the way, I have a question about the baby's position... I am now 37+4 and (having googled "ceph" on the MW notes) LO has been head down on last few antenatal appts. Last week head was "free" but bump had dropped and now defo think it is doing the "bouncing" in and out of the pelvis as mentioned earlier in the thread...

Anyway, I have been trying to sleep on LHS but always wake up on RHS with crippling pain in pubic bone since my body pillow remains on LHS and OH is snuggled into it by the time the pain in my pubic bone wakes me up. Still, this is better than the waking up flat on my back with a dry mouth from all the snoring (attractive) and numb legs!!!!

The main question is, is it ok to be sleeping on RHS or does it have to HAVE to be your LHS???
I can still feel LO scrabbling away "downstairs" when I get into the optimal sleep position and LO's feet are always sticking out of my right side under the rib cage or pushing against my right ribcage with what sometimes appears to be the bum-bum sticking up where my stomach used to be or it's back down my LHS... Is this a good position?

Sorry to waffle on again

Good luck and high pain thresholds to one and all!!!

I thought I would "do lunch" all the time but everyone I know who is off all day have kids so they have their hands full and the couple of times I have been to lunch with them, it has been more of an ordeal than anything else since it is very hard to run after a 2 yr old now and scoop them up from danger when your belly is so big you can't physically bend at all!!!!

I was also feeding my gorgeous wee nephew when my LO kicked him in the back!!!
Nephew looked a bit surprised and kinda grimaced at me as if to say "Hey!! What was that for?!?" (He's only 4 months and has just started to be 'interactive' so I was really loving his smiles and pushing the bottle away/grabbing it back games when he got a shunt in the back... awwwwwww)

Naughty naughty baby I have then!!!! Hope he/she is nothing like the handful my dad says I was when I was little but then again I have always been a bit of a drama queen attention seeker I s'pose...

Well it's my first day of maternity leave and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I'm going to meet some friends for a coffee and perhaps I'll bake a cake when I get home. I've never been a 'lady of leisure' before - does this mean that I get to 'do lunch' all the time?

My rings have been removed although I managed to reduce the swelling in my hands by holding them under cold running water for a few minutes.

I'm very disappointed that I didn't feel the earthquake - and I'm in Willesden NW10.

ok, am back from appointement- am 36 weeks but only measuring 34 cm and havent really grown in since last appointement! bit concerned but am not going to stress over it as baby is very low down and head is engagaed so may just have stopped growing length and be putting on weight ready for early arrival!

dd was only 6lb 13oz so maybe i just do massive babies. am very relived baby is head down though after weeks of transverse.

I didn't feel the earthquake either. I'm in Orpington. Although strangely I woke up at around 1, so maybe I did.

Anyway I'm sending out positive vibes for all those ladies experiencing early labour and hope that you'll all be holding your LO's soon. I have a feeling that Junior is sooo comfy in my tummy that he is not going to put in an appearance until after the due date (7 March). My 38 week check at the midwife said that the babt was 3/5 but didn't catch if that meant engaged or not engaged .

Derah, my Sammies bag came today. It is sooo cute. There is a little squeaker in the penguin's beak. Think the dsd's will have a great time squeaking it for him! So now Junior's bag is now packed and not all cramped up in my bag.

HQ go for it with the brownies. I made chocolate brownies with dsd2 yesterday. We got our recipe from the Jamie Oliver Red nose cook book from last year. They are v v nice. I am being quite restrained about them sitting in the kitchen, but now I may have to have a little one ......

Marchmum - it's lovely to hear you sound so content and happy, please do post birth story here too

Jays - sounds promising, fingers crossed!

I had a mw appt yesterday and bp is still borderline, so have to try and relax more .

On the baby positioning chat, my LO has been in textbook position since 30 weeksish, but yesterday the MW thought it may be pivoting into back to back position . So have spent most of last night on all fours, and walking around with a left-sided tilt . Going swimming today too to try and help it back into position..

Good luck Jay!
MMH- I didn't feel it but DH did, and we're only 10 minutes from you. Nothing wakes me in the night anymore.

Good luck Jay!

I didn't feel the earthquake, did anyone this far south? (Surrey)

I MUST MUST motivate myself to get off my big fat bum and sort out the baby's room today and do some housework. I completely lack the desire to do anything other than watch This Morning.

Jay maybe YOU set off the earthquake rather than the other way round
Good luck!!

Goodluck Jaysthird!

fingers crossed jay

morning all. I think the Earthquake set me off a bit...have been having VERY light contractions since about 9. I know things can stop and start at any point, but seeing as though i am due date plus one, i have fingers crossed.....nothing else though, am willing it to be the time!!

Will keep you updated

having cup of rasp tea and bowl of dry sugar puffs

good luck to everyone whos booked in for a csection over next few days, cant believe its nearly march!

my best friend from uni rang last night to tell me shes 6 weeks pregnant and little ones due in october seems a loonnnng way away

dp felt earthquake, i didn't. it tripped the circuit breaker on my birth pool, so I clambered in this am and thought, oh that's cooler than usual...

Marchmum - congratulations!
Glam - good luck!
HQ - brownies a good idea!

Did anyone else feel the earthquake? It was so scary!! Whole house shaking and horrible noise. I thought it would definately set labour off! (and then call LO 'Richter') Sadly not. Only a few days till due date now and waiting around is getting pretty tiresome - if I go overdue I'll be crazy!

People have started ringing and asking if I am still here - how to reply? 'Yes, you're speaking to me!!'

Have been forced to just lurk since meet up as internet connection wouldnt let me post anything! So much has happened since then! Congrats on babies and commiserations on end of pregnancy aches and pains!

Anyone else feel the earthquake last night?

I'm off to midwives in a min, am 36 wks so should find out if baby is in good position, it hasnt been but im confused which lump is head and which is its bottom now! Will post when i get back if internet is still co operating.

M and S knicker tip- thanks whoever posted that (sorry have to rush now) will pack my knickers now and get some new ones for when i have recovered a bit. Still had lochia, 8 weeks after dd and not looking forward to that again! Hope its over much quicker.

Never too early HQ

e14mum - I too just stopped by to catch up quickly before moving on to the most pressing matter of the day concerning my 10am cuppa. Is it too early to have a homemade chocolate brownie with it? I decided it's not as as I got my blood sugar results back and looks like urine test was just a blip - hurrah!

marchmum - you sound so serene and happy Congratulations!

Hi girls!

Marchmum- so good to hear from you. I'm so glad all went well.

Frannie- I'll watch out for your email. I'm booked in at the Barkantine birth centre on the Isle of Dogs (as in e14). But I'll go to the London if I need medical care.

Glam- have you seen the Loreal Mother's Day billboards up? I thought of you! (Not the mature glamorous woman, but more the text!) Can't wait to hear from you and babyGlam

PurlyQueen- take your rings off now while you can get them off!! I've got mine on a necklace as they were starting to get tight. Much better than having to have them cut off later on... my hands are puffy when I wake up but seem to settle down during the day.

Bye for now... pressing things to do like drink tea and such...

about a day and a half intot he resuting induction, when a 2nd consultant team reviewed my notes (including lack of protein in urine, and only 1 high BP reading in the whole time, caused by probable use of too small bp cuff) and agreed, loudly, in front of us, that I shouldn't have been induced.

ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

You must make sure you relax some, somehow!

MB Thanks for your advice/link. I think I got myself worked up before the bp tests yesterday, but I'm finding it hard to relax.... haven't got hospital bag ready, we're in the middle of having a new bathroom put in and with still being at work. Oh well must get organised.

Out of interest - when did you realise it was misdiagnosed preeclampsia?

Hello MM! Lovely to see you back, internet fixed? Post us some pics, we're baby hungry here!

Aprilfoolsbaby - I had pre-ecampsia misdiagnosed in 1st PG. Do rest, do relaxation, eat healthy, take a few minutes if possible before appts to rest and lower BP before its measured. Drink and eat plenty before appts so your urine chemistry is normal - you can get protein in it just from being hungry!

Do look out for visual disturbances, sudden hand/face/feet swelling, headaches or blood vessel leaks.

Bear in mind that BP does get higher at end of PG for many women. This is a really helpful review of the subject

Congratulations to everyone finally getting their mat leave! And congratulations PRisci on passing your test, you must feel well set up for later in the year!

Good luck tomorrow glammamma! Very excited for you...wishing you a speedy recovery and a quiet post natal ward!

Gosh - you are good nezelette!

I made it to today - 35w 4days - and I have just started my maternity leave.
I'm going to spend most of tomorrow in bed - I am just so shattered!

Hi there, anyone still working? I'm due on the 21st and still commuting and teaching full-time, I'm going MAD!!!! I don't even fit into maternity clothes and look like an idiot at work. I'm so tired. Sorry for the rant!! ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!!!!!

MM-Just wish I'd remembered earlier that I had your number in my phone still!! Glad to hear all is well, and cannot wait to hear the whole thing (especially as you had a water birth.) If I were you I'd post it in both places as there are never enough GOOD stories, people always post the traumatic ones. Sooooo pleased for you (and so jealous as well!!)

Congratulations MarchMum - so good to hear everything is going well and can't wait to hear your birth story (not sure it matters where you post it, here or birth announcements!). Very reassuring to hear about your DH as I have been worrying a little as my partner doesn't seem to be that interested still!

Please, please stay! I can't imagine missing being pregnant, I am desperate to get this little monkey out now!

Hi everyone!

I can't believe I am writing to you all with a LO at my side. She's extremely healthy and content and the feeding has been going quite well - bc of being a bit early she still has some fussy/frustrating feeds but I feel pretty lucky. My body is healing well and dh has been phenomenol - am embarased now that I bitched about him not ever having changed a nappy. He has been doing 99% of them!! I am in love with her of course but I think I am equally in love with how ga ga he is over her. We had him do skin to skin with her right after I did and not sure if that's contributing but he's a goner! I am trying to stay out of their way :.) as he goes back to work next week and I get her all summer. She's a very serious baby with pretty rather than cute features. Will post pic on my profile.

We haven't named her yet - is taking forever to agree and of course there are more pressing items to take care of. I am actually quite relaxed about it, don't want to force it!

The text idea is brilliant, I had no ability to get a hold of you all (and you were at the top of my list!!) and nearly cried when turtle texted me.

Not sure the etiquette on the birth story thing - do I post here or on the birth stories pages that mb mentioned awhile ago.

Will you let me stay on the thread??? Feel like an intruder!

PS How weird is this? Miss being pregnant, still want to wear my maternity clothes and refuse to get my other clothes out.

Wow - there are babies hatching all over the place! I think I may be the last girl standing - not due til March 30th! Is anyone else due then?

Does anyone have any experience of high blood pressure? I woke up this morning with a burst blood vessel in my eye, phoned NHS direct and they told me to get bp checked, went to docs and bp was high. I then went to the pregnancy assesssment unit at the hospital where I had 4 hrs of tests. Bp sky rocketed (probably due to stress!) but calmed down a bit and was allowed to go home with strict instructions to rest. All other tests were fine and mw will check bp on Thursday. I'm panicking about the prospect of pre-eclampsia and don't finish work til next week. Agh!

Has anyone any knowledge of pre-eclampsia? I haven't had a problem throughout the pregnancy and for all this to happen in a day, feel totally shell shocked.

Good luck to those who are waiting for c sections or whose baby's arrival is imminent....

ah Jfly, I'm going on the C&W tour tomorrow night. The midwife said that 2 weeks ago the labour ward was closed because there were too many people, and so they had to find beds for people in other hospitals and that it happens about once every six months. I guess you're right tho' in London a hospital is a hospital eh.

Beginning to see the positives of the student in the room!

Did you say you are due 6th? Good luck! I'm based in Pimlico if you want to meet and share war stories once we are on the other side

Counting down the hours until I finish work - right now it's 3.5 and counting unless my boss takes pity on me and lets me go home.

Does anyone else suffer from puffy hands? My rings are feeling a bit tight now. I hope I won't have to get them cut off ...

hi all,

just checking in really. good luck over next few days glam

thinking laboured thoughts for jaysthird - are you the first to reach your due date?

thanks for the good wishes sweetkitty, nice to hear from you as always and hope you're enjoying the lovely 20 week things

Paranoid was it you saying you're having "OMG what have I done?" thoughts? I'm definitely having those. I still mostly can't believe a baby will be here soon, cots and chairs and buggies notwithstanding. sometimes when I think of how things are going to change it kind of freaks me out. but then I go back to feeling this whole thing is some kind of strange trick.

HQ, you might hopefully be feeling his bum instead of his head at the top. When are you seeing your midwifes?
Feeling a bit less shocked compared to yesterday, thank you for the support. Also, passed my Driving Test today, hourrah...I was not sure I did, until I got the papers in my hand since the instructor kepts# on barking things, when he said I had passed, I thought I had not heard him properly but could not ask him to repeat since he was so scary indeed and seems so grumpy, that I thought he might change is mind. He was also not writing anything down during the test, that's Bermuda for you...Anyhow I have passed, no more patronizing for a while...
On LO movements, he is also kicking a lot, but because of his position he is pushing in my right ribs with his head and down with his feet, thus the only 'comfy' position at present is standing up or sitting completely upright but at least he stops by 11pm.
Off to drink more raspberry tea (yuck yuck ) do some yoga exercise to try to move LO.

Good luck for Thursday Glam, hope it all goes well.

Has anyone heard from BrazilianMum? She must be cuddling up with her baby now too!

Thnaks HQ, have emailed back! I fall asleep towards the end of my hypno CD, too. Hope I'm not missing the best parts! I guess I figure it all goes into my subconscious....

Frannie I'm at C&W too. I hadn't heard about the ward closing - do you mean b/c it's full on a particular day and people are re-routed to other hospitals?

I was a little freaked out by the C&W tour and ended up touring St Georges, too, just to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything with their new "birthing suite". Came to the conclusion that a hospital is a hospital and that it will be down to the people on the day. Have met about 5 of the MWs on my team so hoping to at least recognise the person who delivers me. I've had a couple students at appts but there's always a proper MW, too. And they'd never leave you alone to deliver with a student - but they may ask to have one attend. It was suggested that it's nice to have a student there b/c they bring you whatever you may need!

HolidaysQueen - I have the exact same problem with hypnobirthing CD - manage to fall asleep as soon as it starts and wake up as soon as it ends! Have no idea what it says on it!

Glam - hope everything goes well for you over the next few days!

I've just woken from my afternoon snooze. I'm absolutely guaranteed to sleep for an hour and a half just by switching on my natal hypnotherapy CD. I have not yet heard it the whole way through without being comatose so I'm really hoping my subconscious is taking it all in as I only get as far as "3-2-1 Relax"!

JFly - happy to be your text buddy as I'm not due until 27th. I'll email you my number

oops, i meant: i hope a real midwife WILL be around on the day ;-)

dear JFly, thanks soooo much that's incredibly helpful. I tried to google the engagement stuff but got lost.

& thanks for the reassurange fit41 about the head bouncing back up a little - I wonder if it's because I went on maternity leave at the end of the this week and consequently indulged myself in endless tv and sofa lounging, rather than walking about central London. Hmmmm. Might have to try to remember to do a BIT of exercise here and there eh.

e14/elie, I'll send you an email, would be nice to keep posted. When are you due and which hosp are you at? I'm chelsea and westminster which I started off thinking rather posh but am steadily thinkng OH MY GOD as I hear more stuff about the labour ward frequently closing down due to business etc.

I had a M/W appt today and was assigned a student midwife who is using me as her case study. She was v sweet but lordy I hope this doesn't mean a real midwife will be around on the big day...

Best wishes for the next few days, glammama. And thanks for converting me to Cinnamon Grahams!

It's my last day at work today and I've just been given a lovely bunch of flowers. I still haven't quite come to terms with the fact that I'm going to have a real, live baby in about 4 weeks

Hello all,

Been lurking as not had much to post recently. Sorry to hear about pain, burrowing and long fingernails. And I hope merryberry you feel better. That sounds rotten.

Just been to the hospital for my pre elective section assessment. My blood's been taken, my consent extracted and I have some drugs to take at 10 pm tomorrow night and 7am on Thursday to make sure my stomach is empty of acid. (In case the proposed spinal turns innto a general). I'm getting a little anxious about the recovery from the section but I have my arnica (hahahah) and lots of nighties. I don't intend to get dressed for a week after.

I asked for a tummy tuck at the same time but somehow I'm not sure they'll oblige

Babyglam may well be in the world in 48 hours time. And our lives will change forever.

hi frannie, i was 2/5 last week, but moved out to 4/5 today! Just means they can feel more of the head, and i was told not to worry as they do tend to bounce in and out of the pelvis.

M/w was lovely today, told me i was looking well and hadn't put on too much weight! Measuring at 4200g, but she reckons it won't be more than a 9lber...gulp! Asked what the chances were of going into labour to be told by hospital they were too short staffed to send out anyone for a home birth, and she replied that the welsh assembly has directed home births to be given priority, so that's also reassuring!

Little bugger is still kicking me like mad, really looking forward to seeing him, but being a typical bloke i know he'll only come out when he's good and ready for it...on his own terms!

Hmm, just noticed a typo in that. Presumably it should be 3/5 palp = 2/5 engaged.

Not confusing at all!

I could use a text/email buddy, too....Anyone due later in the month? I'm due 6th....

Got this off some website - good explanation of engagement, as I couldn't figure out what it all meant!

"The engagement or 'station' is usually measured in '5ths' and is based on the fact that the width of an adult hand is about the size of a term baby's head. When recording engagement on your pregnancy records, usually the amount of the baby's head that is felt by the caregiver's hand is measured and written down, providing a guide as to how much of the baby's head is engaged in the pelvis. As a guide:

If 5 finger widths of your baby's head is felt, it is written as 5/5 palpable or 'unengaged'.

If 4 finger widths of your baby's head is felt, it is written as '4/5' palpable or 1/5 engaged.

If 3 finger widths of your baby's head is felt, it is written as '2/5' palpable or 2/5 engaged.

If 2 finger widths of your baby's head is felt, it is written as '2/5' palpable or 3/5 engaged.

If 1 finger width of your baby's head is felt, it is written as '1/5' palpable or 4/5 engaged.

If your baby's head cannot be felt it is written as 'fully engaged' or 'not palpable'.

Some caregivers do not record how far the baby's head is engaged but simply write 'engaged' or 'unengaged'. Also, just before engagement the head may become less mobile, but still be fully felt. In this instance some caregivers will record this as being 'at the brim', meaning the top of the baby's is just sitting within the woman's pelvis, but not to the point of being engaged. Another term for the head being engaged is 'fixed', because the baby's head cannot be moved by the caregiver.

Most babies become 2 to 3 fifths engaged (or 2 to 3 fifths palpable) before labour commences, only becoming fully engaged during labour. If your baby is very active they may move 'in and out' of different levels of engagement during the last few weeks of the pregnancy, especially if this is not your first baby.”

Frannie, I think it means that the baby's head is less engaged now than it was before, when they felt for it. The lower the number the farther in the pelvis it is.
I'm due on the 9th- email me on eliebean @ hotmail . com and we'll keep eachother posted

ps. e14mum, I'm due 22nd March, is that near your time...? There'll only be a handful of us left then I suspect...

hi all, wondered if i could ask for some expert advice...2 weeks ago my midwife notes said 2/5 Eng and now it says 4/5 palp, does anyone know what this means?
Thanks!

Completely agree with burrowing- as soon as I go to bed it wakes up and starts rooting around!

Just got home from mw- baby is 2/5 engaged (which I kind of knew already from feelings down below!) and lying along my right side where it has been for weeks now. Feel really good about the birth centre choice and talked through my meagre birth plan with mw.

Anyone else at end of March who wants to be text buddies with me?

Well, wish me luck. Have MW appt this pm and hopefully she will say baby is not OP <worried emoticon>. If it is then I can see myself getting a job as a full time floor scrubber for the next few weeks .

Jaysthird- sending you labour inducing thoughts!

*Lurker alert*

Due date today, cant see it happening, don't feel any different to the past month!!!

*lurker out!*

I can also empathise with the burrowing out of there feeling and LO's DEFO need a manicure when they come out!!! OW OW OW!!! Pains do seem to ease off though - I had a terrible time when the bump really dropped at first. Spent most of the time crawling on all fours or bouncing on yoga ball (which is really deflating now so can't really recommend the £2 cr@ppy efforts from local supermarket!!!) but maybe I did give it a bit of a pounding!!!

Also getting the "I've changed my mind.... I don't think I wanna do this now...". Was looking at my OH snoring away last night thinking how much it is all going to change. Reminds me how just before her babies were born, SIL was asking everyone "will I love them as much as I love the dog??? What if I don't?!?!?" and now she is a fully fledged mum she just laughs at all that "silliness" but admits it felt very real and terrifying at the time.

Wonder who's next up?!?!?

That'd be great CricketsMum - can you email me on lauren.barstow@gmail.com? Think that's a fine gap, I'm not going to go much past my due date I don't think as my dates make my EDD 4th March and my midwife is reluctant to go on the later scan date (the one I am using) as they're less reliable apparently.

Have you decided on a home or hosp birth yet?

I was just reading last night that a show can be released over time, so Derah that could be a show. Book said it can look like increased cervical fluid/mucus and not necessarily a big globby bit. My NCT friend said her show was a "jellyfish in my pants" and over 5-6 days she continued to get more mucus, but not even every day. So, doesn't have to be regular or all in one go, it seems.

MMH - I'm due 8 days after you so happy to be text buddies if you think that is a long enough gap?

Same here fitnfortyone , keep trying to lie on my left side but wake up finding myself on my right. Up until now LO has been lying on my left ( which I think is meant to be the best side) but now has moved to my right with only 2 wks to go.Now starting to scare myself about my choice of having a home birth if it's going to be more difficult.Wish I felt like piggyp after her yoga, instead just feel miserable and want it over with.

Oooooh piggyp a show! That's a bit exciting. Being a first timer I have no idea what they are like either - 'alien slime' is how it's been described to me!

I still need a text buddy - is anyone due more towards the end of March who would like to volunteer?

Mine gets hiccups alot at the moment too - very bizarre sensation! Glad I haven't had the digging sensation though - sounds sore! Sending calming vibes to your LO's MMH, FFO and Turtle!

Prisci - hope you are feeling better.

Turtle - yes! LO kind of head-bangs and twists, it feels like its just the other side of my cervix and LO is trying to wriggle out. Doesn't seem to have scratchy nails though!

Had fantastic pregnancy yoga yesterday, really sorted my head out. LO is now encircled in glow of white light/energy and pelvic floor is just like a ripe peach!

Got given a baby monitor yesterday, posted by friends of MIL. It's v kind of them and a good saving, but when they described it as hardly used and still in box I kind of imagined it as newish. It's really old - picture of mid 80s lady in floral dress with shoulder pads on the box! It seems to work, although crackly. I'm all for getting a new one but dh thinks its fine! How often do you use monitors?

Think I might just have had a 'show' but being a first timer I'm not really sure! Don't really fancy googling images to find out!

mods - my Step Mum was exactly the same, she had an 18month old little boy when she was in the final throes of pregnancy. Take your friends and family up on all offers of help and treat yourself to some sleep or a nice bath!

I know how you feel turtle and fitnfortyone - it's really like she is digging her way out! She also seems to get hiccups as soon as I lie down in bed too! Naughty babies

absolutely turtle - mine hasn't stopped since last night, hence only got about 2 hours sleep overnight...and he's still kicking/punching/wriggling all over. I think i'm getting a bit paranoid about him moving out of position after hearing the stories here, so not sleeping properly in case i end up moving to the wrong side, but i sleep better propped up on about 15 pillows lying on my back!

Anyone else feel like their LO has a battering ram? Am convinced mine is digging some kind of tunnel out with his (feels like long-fingernailed) hands as well. OW!

Missing i feel like i am physically and mentally struggling, i have a two and a half year old keeping me on my toes so can not even take a nap when i get tired, my family are good and keep offering to take him for the day etc but i feel like i am neglecting him a little as i can not get on the floor and play with him any more.

Hi mods - good to hear from you! I have twin sisters (fraternal) and they were overdue whilst very grateful for the good weights my Step-Mum was mentally really struggling as she had prepared herself for popping arounf 35-37 weeks!

I had really bad period pains before bed last night, I managed to nod off to sleep so they were obviously not doing anything useful. I am getting texts practically every day from friends etc saying "Still pregnant?" and the like. As if I wouldn't have told them if I wasn't!

I'm booked in for reflexology and homeopathy next week to try and move me along although I keep moaning that I don't want to be pregnant everytime I have a bad BH or period type pains I start to freak out a bit as I don't really feel ready to have a baby either. Eeek!

HQ - I have a hard bit at the top of my bump and it's her bum! Also still getting kicks on both sides, lots of pain when she wriggles (think she spins on her head!!) and she is 4/5 engaged and in the perfect position so you may be the same?

Good Morning Everyone.

Thought i would drop in and make a quick post, so much has been going on this last month we have moved house but the house was a re-possession and needed everything doing, replastering decorating carpets everything. We are eventually getting there now most rooms done. I will be 36 weeks on friday and really thought i would have had the babies by now everyone told me with twins to expect them about 6 - 8 weeks early. I always said though it would be nice to have them on the leap year from the beginning and now all my family are convinced i am going to have them on Friday.

Getting quite a lot of movements not so much kicks but big movements now i suppose there is not that much space in there for them now.

Glad to hear everyone is ok (ish) hope these moving babies move on time for peoples plans but if not hope everything goes ok for other birthing plans.

Hi Prisci -

So sorry you're down in the dumps. If it's any consolation to know you're not alone, I'm feeling quite worried about the baby's position now too. Like you mine had been in the perfect position for at least 6 weeks, and he has definitely moved. It was so uncomfortable when he did it that it definitely wasn't just small movements and there is now a hard lump at the top of my bump which I have never had before and I can only think it is his head. Plus where his back was is now quite soft and yielding whereas before it was fairly solid. At night I get the feeling of limbs moving on both sides of my tummy so I am completely confused as to where he is! He seems to have more room to move now as the hard bits do move a bit, so I think he was just really uncomfortable and is trying to get a bit more room for himself.

I'm 36 weeks on Thursday when I have a prescheduled scan booked in. My placenta was low lying at 20 weeks so they just wanted to check it had moved to be on the safe side - it was a borderline diagnosis of placenta praevia so they were 95% certain it would move - so I should find out more then.

I was so proud of my baby for being such a good, compliant baby for so long and staying in the perfect position, and now I'm having to revise my thinking and realise that I might have quite a headstrong baby who wants to make up his own mind about what he should be doing in the womb

Good luck with your scan tomorrow!

HQ xx

Thank you so much for the support. Merryberry those links are very useful indeed and I also guess that Obs are trained for the worse, it is just that he was so surprised by the change in position himself, as I am pretty small etc...
Turtle23, indeed there is a while to go but I can't help being worried since the Obs made quite a fuss about it. Can't wait for the scan on Wednesday to see if there is a genuine reason for LO to turn such as placenta previa, in the meanwhile enjoying my birthing bowl and will be booking some acupuncture, prefer those needles to others.

bored lying in bed awake so have retrieved the laptop for a quick browse, and will probably watch a few episodes of House that i've been saving for such occasions... we need a yawnie emoticon don't we?

Well done sweetkitty and keep us all posted with progress!

prisci and others with fidgety babies, fingers crossed they turn the right way in time, but if they don't then hope all goes smoothly in other ways.

Tonight my stomach feels like a washing machine is going round inside me - what really confuses me is how much of it is the baby's movement and how much is say, braxton hicks? I get tightenings which i think are leading to extra kicks from LO, but being a first timer i find it really hard to tell!

Got what i hope is my final m/w appt later this afternoon if i can get the car out of the driveway...resurfacing has been partially achieved outside the door, but they have very big machines blocking the road and buggered if i'm walking to the surgery!

Evening all. I am trying everything to get OFP this time so really sorry to hear about positioning problems. I hope baby turns for you Prisci

Thanks for your lovely best wishes sweetkitty and so pleased to hear this pregnancy is going well. Take care x

It's because they're american imports... I've seen it before on there. £5.99 is ridiculous! Sorry, but Lucky Charms are pretty gross. Up there with Count Chocula in my books. The kind of cereal we used to beg mom to buy of course but she never would...(But I do like the commercials for them!)