Nov 2010, energy levels are low, but only one trimester to go!

[hmmSleep]

Here's the new discussion thread!

Stats thread here

lulastic i'm hoping to have a home birth, as long as bump is in the right position and midwife is happy for me to have one, but really don't know what to do about pain relief!! have been considering buying a tens machine but also considering one of the birth pool in a box kits....but confused as to which might be more effective or whether a combination of the 2 might be ok - would welcome any opinions from experience moms who have used either or both of these methods, as other than gas/air i'm not planning to use anything else.....

Loooopy I'm not hardcore or anything (nor am I a tree-hugger who doesn't believe in pain relief), but with DC1 I ended up having a homebirth without any pain relief, and it wasn't so bad! The second midwfie arrived with gas & air about five minutes after DS was born, so I had local anaesthetic and G&A for the couple of stitches I needed.

If I get to have a homebirth this time (I'll find out on Friday whether the placenta's moved enough), I'll make do with gas and air, because it was brilliant. Who'd have thought anyone could laugh almost all the way through having stitches in their fanjo?

Loooopy I'm planning for tens machine for early labour (borrowed from doula) then birth pool in a box for the later stages.

NCT teacher and both doulas I've talked to considered tens little more than a useful distraction to fiddle with in early labour. But water is a much more convincing comfort measure for established labour.

Err, if you pop first, let me know whether you agree with them!

To Lulastic I'm planning a homebirth! Yay! And apparently in my area the midwives don't carry G&A in their cars anymore (health and safety I guess) so they book you in and deliver it when you are around 38 weeks or something, and my is booked to be delivered in two weeks time. I don't plan on using it, but figured its sensible to have it there just in case I change my mind (DH is insisting that he's going to try it though! LOL)... Regarding clicking bumps, I'm pretty sure this bump and DC2 were the only ones that clicked and each time DH could hear it too, I thought it was just me at first! I am quite double jointed though, and a lot of people have remarked that their child was fairly flexible/double-jointed after being clicky in the womb. Oh and just to have a moan, I started out pre-children a 36DD cup, went up to a 36H after my third child, then down to a 34G after losing all the weight and a little more, now needing a 34H as I'm just starting to spill out of my bras! Argh! (36 weeks now) Planning to buy a couple normal 34H bras and maybe one or two underwired nursing bras if the regular ones fit well. (Us well endowed ladies need plenty of support!) Hehe, funny moment today we were sitting around the table and FIL was sat next to me, I had DS2 on my ap (he's 4) and he was fiddling with my belly and suddenly goes "Mummy, how are you going to get your boobies out?" referring, I assume, to feeding the baby when it comes. I was like....uh....not until the baby is born? Poor FIL he was very kind not to say anything and pretend to be reading the paper! lol! We're all pretty familiar with boobies in our house, as I only stopped bfing my 2.5yr DS3 a few months ago, and definitely feel you on the ouchness of bfing while pregnant, grinningbee!

Addicted I also had similar pain on my upper abdominal. Almost like a stabbing pain when ever I'd move, laugh, blow my nose etc... It would come and go but I'd be in agony for days. I saw 3 different doctors - one at my GP surgery told me that "you're ought to have pains as you're pregnant". I was so livid!!

They all were saying the same - its just ribs / ligaments / what ever stretching and it is normal... I had some blood tests done and they came back normal... Also spoke to my MW about it... I seem to be the only one worried about the pains.. So decided that I just have to live with it.

I'm now 36 weeks and haven't had any pains for a week or two.

Mwahaha Sarahbuff that is brilliant, what timing too with your FIL there. Are you having a pool at yours? Did you homebirth with your first?
Loooopy, I've heard the combo (a different stages not together!!) of TENS and water is good.
I have just bought my birth pool in a box this week, yay. And I have been doing hypnobirthing too, and feel hopeful about that. I am loving it so far. Trying to keep things as natural as possible. I am bizarely excited about giving birth, really hope it can happen here at home.
Foureyesgood,I hope things work out with your placenta.

hey ladies - sorry trying to catch up on all the thread, been feeling really busy and i should be in bed now, but have urge to just get very organised!

i am still working and also starting to struggle... just hard to be 100% focused these days, especially as good nights sleep is hard to get.

Also am a mush ball...seems the slightest thing has me in tears!

thinking of waterbirth.. maybe not full delivery in birth but defo want to try it for pain relief..and have stuck an order in Boots for tens machine..figure its worth a shot

ok must got sleep!!!!

lulastic Nope, have had three natural births in hospital (no pain relief except G&A with second birth). Figured if I can do it in the hospital and come home straight away, why bother going to hospital?? :) I'm not having a birthing pool, just never fancied it while I was in labour plus my labours are way too short to get one filled up and the right temp... (labours were 3hrs, 2hrs and 45mins from 3cm to baby in my arms)

possibly too much info here so you have been warned! But hoping someone might be able to say something useful.....

Thursday i felt fine, Thursday night (midnight ish) i had bad stomach pains, turned out to be a lot of wind, Friday i felt fine, Friday night (midnight - 1.30 ish) i was hit by violent diarrhea (spelt wrong i know!) Saturday i felt fine, had a very small jelly thing when wiped myself at about 9.30 (v tiny indeed) but then by 10.30 i was throwing up in the toilet....thought it had subsided then i was sick again, felt iffy but then no more sickness, woke at 3.45 and iffy ness had passed, and woke up today feeling fine...however had a wee this morning and major amount of jelly stuff, which from the internet this morning i have gathered was definitely my mucus plug.....

So, getting a bit concerned, as in the last 48 hours i have had diarrhea, vomiting and a show....and i turned 35 weeks yesterday....is it possible that these are a coincidence, or should i phone the hospital or a midwife or what? I've not eaten out, just home cooked meals and not eaten anything that should have caused me to be ill. Found an NHS website which said these are all symptoms of labour, along with back ache (which i've had for months).....the only things i've not had on their list of symptoms is waters breaking and contractions....although i still don't know if i'd recognise a contraction as i've had weird feelings in bump over the last week, but wasn't even sure if they were BH's or not as thought they were meant to be painful??

PS the wiping myself and the throwing up was sat night....so for 3 days felt fine in day time but far from fine late evenings!

Definately sounds like things are moving but maybe because you have had a bug, a show is a sign that your cervix is softening but you can go many days before labour I would call the midwife/labour ward for advice

Loooopy I'd give the midwife a call more for the vomiting and diarrhea than any thing else.

My midwife here (France) says that the mucus plug has little to do with predicting how likely or not you are to go into labour.

Hope the bump hangs in there and that you're feeling better soon.

Loooopy I was up all night too with D&V. Lots of people have said there's a bug going round. DS had it on Tues/Weds and then he was sick again last night after I'd finished! Not a great evening. I posted on the pregnancy board and the replies seemed to be that baby would be fine but make sure you stay hydrated ( if possible! ) and keep an eye on babies movements. If you're worried though definately ring the MW. I think I've been losing my mucous plug over the last couple of weeks too. ( Am 36+1 )

I hope you feel better soon and get some rest.

Am I crazy now to be thinking of having a poss home birth as back up (havent even run it past DP)
Its just I have heard from 1 or 2 people that have had a new baby in their families recently had been told the hospital in Norwich had been full and they had to go to the next nearest one (great yarmouth or kings lynn) and if DS is as fast as DD was, 3 and half hours I dont think we would make it in time.
I am tempted to talk to my midwife when I next see her to see if when the event does happen and the worst is they have no room for me at the hospital they will have to get someone out to my house, if that can be done

evening all, loooopy i've been having d in the evenings too as well as strong bh/cx. if your worried give your mw a call.

rinnyx that doesnt sound too good. i think talking to the mw about a possible home birth is a good idea.

Looopy I'd call the midwife. I also had a scare with gooey stuff (33 w) as well and consultant said unless there is any blood (or traces thereof i.e brownish tinge) in it I should not worry. He also said I may want to wear a towel to be 100% sure that it was all clear goo...

blondecat thats very good advice re towel, i was told to start wearing one all the time when my waters started leeking, then adain on wednesday when i was bleeding, just so i knew what colour everything was, and so i could show the mw if needed.

Just to add, make sure you stay hydrated as dehydration itself can apparently cause premature labour... Hope you're feeling better soon!

Hi all, just catching up as haven't posted for a bit,
Rinnyx - i would talk to your midwife so you know it's an option if necessary, bit scary to think you can arrive at hospital mid labour and be forced to travel across county to another one! I feel v fortunate that i live 10 mins walk from mine (Kings in London) and even if not able to walk can just get a taxi - if they were full ST Thomas' is around a 20 min taxi ride away.

Hope those of you leaking and with D&V are ok.

I am officially bored, signed off with SPD until 22nd when my annual leave/maternity leave begin. FEel trapped in the house as while I am still mobile, a trip to the shops leaves me in agony for 24hrs, so relucatant to get out unless necessary. as a result going slightly stir crazy.
one of my friends is making me a DVD with some series for me to get into and DP has been on the phone as in a book shop and do i want anything
I feel bad as DPs family are v worried about me (there is a midwife in the family) and they have mentioned getting my crutches or a wheelchair to get out and about in.
bless them for caring, but thankfully my SPD is not as bad as that and can manage the pain by limiting activity. I feel bad for making them think it's that bad (yes i'm in lots pain, but no i don't need a wheelchair lol)
I am grateful they care though, as don't really have much of a family myself.

are many of you on maternity leave yet? What are you planning to do with your time?

anyway sorry for mega post, i need human contact!!!

Hi lainey I share spd sympathy (and need for human contact; DH away in Kazakhstan of all places). My spd has been much better with physio treatment and with no walking, but today I decided (heaven knows why) to walk DS1 to preschool instead of cycling. It's only c.500m each way but can hardly stand now. I'm ok if just pootle about in the house.

Not really maternity leave, but I finished my phd in the summer so not working now - though if I weren't pg I'd be busy writing articles and preparing conference papers. Instead am frantically reorganising cupboards in mad nesting instinct frenzy.

Umf I am really impressed you can still cycle

Just a quick post; thought there was a possibility that someone might have popped but doesn't seem so....

Just finished NCT course, was great and fab to meet local mums-to-be.

Take care all....

Fenouille glad it's not just me that thinks he's rather nice, and thanks for the offer of the tea bags!

Umf I am so impressed about the cycling! I think that would kill me now.

We went to Skegness on Sunday to make the most of the sunshine. Did loads of walking, dd made sandcastles (and loved it!) but OMG when we got home I could barely walk!

I had the scan yesterday to find out why bump is measuring so big. He was estimated to be just over 6 pounds already. So a bit bigger than average, but not massively so. Everything else looked ok, but they couldn't point out much on the scan (not even any boy bits) as everything is too squished in there.

So, after last week being told by mw that I won't get to the due date, and having induction mentioned etc etc, I was told yesterday that they will only see me now once I get to 9 days over to discuss what happens next. At least we were told he is the right way around this time (as in facing my back). Hope he stays that way!

Oh yes, the one thing the sonographer could point out which I found most odd - he has loads of hair!! You could see it like a haze around his head.

Oh, just one more thing. We're having a new bathroom put in. The timing is not our choice... had a call yesterday to say they want to start it at the beginning of November!! Yeah, I really want someone to rip the only toilet out when I have to wee almost every time I stand up. And better than that - what if I went into labour while they were here? Ick!

They're coming over today for me to pick colours etc, so hopefully size of bump will spur them into action sooner rather than later (although one said yesterday could I please tell bump not to arrive early )

lol grinningbee, if we had that much power over when babies arrived, i am sure no one would go over!

sabie i was also coming on to check if anyone had their babies yet.

kawaiiko, hmmsleep and Fenouille should be first as they are due at the end of october, not long to go now.