Due SEPTEMBER thread 14 - here we go ...

[franch]

I am NOT superstitious but ..... couldn't bear the thread that took us into September to be #13 !!!

Thanks for the good wishes RH & KF. Had a second afternoon of mild contractions yesterday (def contractions and not braxton hicks), but all died away after that. Mw thinks it is because baby is not best positioned.

Long walk, sex, curry, pineapple, RLT, Clary sage not working. I'm sick of trying to get the baby to come, so am off for a nice soak in the bath and think of something else (and hopefully a good nights sleep). "Trying" to get the baby going is too exhausting. Have decided just to relax and enjoy having DS without a sibbling for these last days/weeks before no2 arrives.

Boompi - sounds like it is all go for you. My mw said that contractions are "really effective" when they last for a minute each - so GOOD LUCK

Happy vibes to you Franch. Remember each birth is different, and you have heaps of us hoping that everything goes well for you. I do know what you mean about wanting a "better" birth second time round. I feel that I want this to go as well as possible as it will be my last. But then I think that if things go awry, at least the hospitals are equipped to help us through difficult births that might not have been survivable (for mum and/or baby) decades ago, so at least we have the best outcome (healthy baby) at the end of it, even if the process is not what we would have chosen. Still hoping for the best birth for you (and all others on Sept thread, though)

BTW just heard that close friend is 6weeks pg. She battled for 2 years on IVF to fall pg with no1, and is stunned that no2 is on its way with no treatment at all. Just reminds me how blessed we all are to be having our babies as some people struggle and never have the joy of it in their lives. [excuse the pg hormones getting me all emotional]

Good luck to all those who have having twinges and congrats to those who have popped! Still not due for over 3 weeks and am really enjoying my time off. DS is still at nursey 3 days a week so am busy trying to make room for another person in our wee house. For the past three years all our junk has ended i up in the spare room so Oxfam are doing very well out of us at the moment.

Had a lovely weekend away at a spa. Is anyone else going to miss the compensations of being pregnant such as getting seats on the tube and being waved through queues! We'd forgotted to make a resevation for dinner and I was horrified when my friend told me we couldn't eat til 9.30. When I pointed out to the hotel staff that I was 36 weeks pg and couldn't possibly wait til then we got a table straight away!!

Pooka would have chatted after Yoga but Dh was waiting to go to the pub so had to rush off to babysit. Hope you're not too fed up.

waist 38 inches!!!(the glories of 3 months morning sickness!!)

Just been into Bromley to buy some raspberry leaf tea.....

Rhumba - you definitely have the right attitude! I am now beginning to think I should enjoy another week or so of having the house to myself, sitting in the garden in the sun, and pottering around doing any jobs I feel like, stopping occasionally for chocolate breaks for energy!

Hello!

I'm sure there must be a baby today /tomorrow by all of our aches and pains!!

Funny old day! just been back to sleep - thought that would stop the cramping! But it's still there - dh doesn't know if to come home or not- and I've no idea whats going on - you forget how early labour feels - it was 6 years ago!!

Hi Rhumba! Not too fed up, though would rather like to get on with it at SOME point.
I've just been into Bromley too - but just for a wander really, dropping my mother and dd at the station so they can go up to London. Bought lovely food in M & S, a couple of post-pregnancy tops that may be b/feeding suitable and books for me and books for dd to (hopefully) read while I'm b/feeding. You ARE very svelte - I am hippo like in comparison. Realised that never got this big last time, hnece stretchmarks - d only 6 10 and born on due date. This baby is rather bigger, I understand.
Midwife coming on Saturday for sweep and to book an induction at the end of next week, but will have to go in for CTG monitoring middle of next week just to make sure. TBH I trust the midwives and am happy enough to let things happen as they recommend.
By the way everyone, our yoga instructor had several babies at 44 weeks. Yes! 44 weeks. NO WAY JOSE!

Boompi - that is all sounding very promising - have got all my fingers and toes crossed for you!!

Franch - hope that baby of yours puts in an appearance very soon. Take care of yourself, and try to focus on the gorgeous baby you'll have very soon...

Just got back from getting my hair cut - it's the shortest it's been for years, in anticipation of not being able to get to the hairdresser again for quite some time .

Right, off to put some more washing on - seems to be the only thing I'm doing at the moment - can't even begin to imagine how much more washing I'll be doing once the baby is here!

Afternoon everybody. Congratulations to those who have popped and those who are popping and everyone else just for making it to another day.

I've just been to John Lewis to be measured for a nursing bra. She measured me at 34J! Was 32E pre-pregnancy. And assured me that they only made Butt-Ugly bras in such a large size and that the shiny nylon lace really was quite pretty. I nearly cried at the sheer ugliness of her bras! Then walked down to Fenwick and found two really pretty Elle Macpherson bras size 34E that fit perfectly and are more supportive than the ugly John Lewis ones. This bra size thing is obviously a complete lottery. But why do they have to make them so ugly and humiliating to try on?

Ohhhh, Katts I was going to buy my nursing bras this week, and I think you just put me off!!! . Blooming Marvellous has some nice ones in their catalogue, so thought I might try there. And the Elle McP ones are really nice. Don't know why some manufacturers seem to thiink they have to make bras ugly in order for them to work though !!

hi all
just had mw app got date for induction thursday 15th sept. please i cant possibly last that long surely!! My dd is driving me bonkers i just want to run away. Got membrane sweep, jings its quite uncomfortable!!

Think that's when I'll be going in if all else fails Diane. I also want to run away atm - luckily my mother has dd today, but the thought of tomorrow ....
Was the mw able to do a full sweep? i.e. was your cervix favourable? Good luck!

Anyone have a long term weather forecast? When are we going to get air again?!

Well, I have made the appoitnment to have my tooth taken out tomorrow The swelling around my teeth has subsuded enough (hopefully) for the anaesthetic to work. I'm still worried about the pain but most people assure me I'll be pain-free once the tooth comes out, so I can focus on that goal, right?!

DD is doing really well at her new Pre-school so I'm pleased the baby has not arrived early and I am able to get her settled into a new routine before all hell breaks loose. DH went back to work this week after his long summer hols, so I am retraining DD. Needless to say I have to get her out of the habit of a storybook before naptime that DH helpfully introduced.

Just had a MW appointment, and booked one for next week just in case! Due date is tomorrow, so she mentioned doing a sweep next week, but I said we'd see next week and that I'd rather not.
Just waiting for the constant phone calls from people now 'not had it then'! as if I would forget to tell everyone!

Hope everyone is doing OK. Fingers crossed for you Franch.

I am getting the phone calls already at least two a day and I am starting to leave the answer phone on to screen them cause otherwise I think I will go insane.

God I must be a terrible mother because I would love to get rid of DD till this one arrives as she is also driving me up the wall.

Just had a nice walk to the park and nearly got hit full in stomach by a marauding football whilst a group of teenage lads stood there laughing.

think full sweep was achieved it says in my notes that membranes were felt although cervix slightly posterior?????

Hey all!
Hope all ok?
Sounds like we're going to have a few busy days ahead of us (hopefully)
Just back from a rather nice afternoon at Knowsley Safari Park with DD. Trying to spend as much quality time with her as possible (when she's not at nursery) but it's difficult when you're the size of a house! Luckily DM and DS and her 2 boys were there too so I had a little bit of help. Half of me wants this baby to wait so that I can enjoy my time with DD who's still only a baby herself and half of me wants this baby to come yesterday as I am so uncomfortable and feel that the time that I do spend with DD isn't quality. Wouldn't it be so much easier if we carried these bumps on our back instead of our tums???
Kiwifruit/katts - can you be measured for nursing bras before your milk all comes in? I'm waiting until a couple of days after bump arrives as last time my boobs were so massive there is no way anyone could have predicted the size they would swell to. In fact, it was my first outing with DD - to M&S for nursing bras, a cappucino and some cake. Good excuse this time round too

Jessysmummy - lucky you, being the size of a house... I feel like I'm the size of a large shopping mall with attached multi-story car park !!!

We had our NCT breast feeding class last night, and the teacher said that you should get fitted about 37 weeks. A friend of mine told me to get a couple of cheap nursing bras about 37 weeks, then get re-fitted once my milk comes in, which I thought sounded like a good plan. Think I should get a couple to start off with, as not sure how easily I'll be able to get into town 4 days after dd/ds puts in an appearance...

mummyhill - glad that football missed you!
diane77 - good luck!!

Franch - any news???

And LadyL are you ok??

Kiwifruit - at least a mall would be useful - you could shop without even leaving the house!!!
Thanks for the info about getting measured at 37 weeks. I'm counting on DH to ferry us to an out-of-town M&S that's only 10 mins away about day 3 or 4 (assuming that I'm out of the hospital the same or next day) - just an excuse really to get out for an hour or so. I have been wearing some nursing bras that I got last time as maternity bras so I know that they fit me now and will hopefully do for the first couple of days so bosoms will not be swinging down round my knees - not a pretty image!!

Hi all. Still here and now getting fed up (having said this morning I wasn't ). My ribs are really really sore and while the midwfie sad she could feel the baby's head when she did the internal, bump still seems very high. So BAD indigestion. Have also managed to make myself go deaf in one ear by over-vigorous application of cotton bud.
Come out come out come out come out!
4 days overdue now.

Just a quick thought about being fitted for nursing bras after the event - don't fancy it myself with soggy breastpads in and milk leaking everywhere!! Experienced fitters know how much allowance to make for exploding boobs anyway! and they don't stay TOTALLY enormous for more than a couple of weeks IME (just fairly enormous !)

I've already bought my bras from a wonderful woman who comes to your house with suitcases full of 'em. Have a variety - sleep bras which are beautifully soft and comfy and a couple of the Anita underwired nursing bras that are more lacy and fancy.

Last time I was measured two weeks after DD was born at an NCT bra-fitting reunion. Nice! I already had some nursing bras throughout pregnancy. The Mava Bra lady said they were too small.. of course at two weeks post natal! But they did not stay that way for more than 6 or so weeks and then the expensive Mava bras were too big.

If first timers aren't getting nursing bras pre-delivery then might I suggest you get a couple of night time feeding bras? They are the pull on stretchy-type, sold in sizes 12-14, 16-18. At least they'll hold breast pads in place if you start leaking when you go into labour (as I did) and see you through until you can get some fitted ones.

RedHelen - I'm still here (unfortunately!!). Just had some problems with the computer today, and have now resigned myself to using the laptop instead. Just had an over-zealous cleaning hour and have seriously done my back in very painful.

Re: the nursing bras - I just got mine from Mothercare. Cheap and cheerful, but nice comfy cotton! Size-wise they look totally scary tho, like the huge contraptions I used to see on old ladies' washing lines!!! For those who've done this all before - do your boobs ever go back to the pre-pg/bf size?

Mine actually seemed smaller after breastfeeding for 13 months. Not saggy though, just perhaps a teensy bit more petite. But the I've never been particularly "stacked"!