December 2010: no, it's not an autumn pumpkin up my jumper ...

[Miffster]

...and we're gliding towards the third trimester, draped in suitably flowing attire.

miffster I am also at your family! Like the vultures circling! Definitely tell them to back off. I'm sure you will find the ex-pat community very social and friendly, they have all been in your boat being the 'newbies' and having a baby is a great way to meet people. I used to work in offshore finance and know a few people who have worked far away 'offshore' and I have never heard bad reports.

DF I'm not really going with much of a birth plan, I learnt after DS1 that you can't really plan, I got contractions one minute on, one minute off from the beginning of labour (a midwife thought he might have been pressing on a nerve or something) and after going fully dilated on tens and g&a (pethidine didn't do anything for me whatsoever) he decided to turn and after 4 hours of syntocin (in an attempt to turn him by giving me even stronger contractions) and an epidural, his heartrate dropped slightly and they decided we'd both had enough and I ended up with emcs! This as after I was adamant about no pain relief!!

I am slightly worried this time as I will be induced and with DS2 they induced me by breaking my waters and a syntocin drip, I found it much more painful, g&a didn't help much, the other pain relief they gave me didn't do anything and they couldn't get an epidural in (too many contractions to sit still) although DS2 was born very soon after which probably means I was in transition!! (I actually hate intervention and really dislike the thought of people poking about in my back.)

I'm going to have a good chat to my midwife about it, I will have acupuncture the week before and hopefully with different (more in control) circumstances it should be more managable and I will certainly try TENS again. [fingers crossed emoticon] So my birth plan won't reflect major decisions but other 'smaller' things what I want this time that I wasn't allowed last time (water, food - really!) and some other things that I DON'T want them to do, nothing particularly relevant to pain relief or anything but important to me!

I don't know if they still do a 'walking' epidural, whereby it doesn't completely numb you? Gives you the inbetween option of still feeling and being able to push when needed, yet having the edge taken off.

lavita x-posted! Your baby shower sounds lovely and great that everything is going so well, the babies weights are good, aren't they? I am also doing my PF exercises so I hope they'll work too. My sonographer had said - it won't help at the birth but it will at the christening ! Stretchmarks are mainly genetic - I don't tend to get them and this is DC3 for me. Fingers crossed for you!

Lavitabellissima - your baby shower sounds lovely!

I could do with some sleep too. Up at 4am last night, having already woken for a pee once, and then couldn't get back to sleep. Was crying with tiredness this morning.

I'm not against having pethidine if I can't have a pool, but do have concerns about how long it's in the bloodstream, partly because of it affecting baby and partly because if I don't like it, I then can't do anything about it! And I don't want to scupper using the pool by succumbing to an injection.

Thabnk you tto everyone who has posted their experiences and expectations of labour - it's all really useful :)

I think Pethadine doesn't appeal to me because I have heard it makes people feel really sick. I don't deal well with sickness or feeling out of control. I'd also like to use the birthing pool.

When I had my missed miscarriage in 2009 I opted for medical management at home which was a mixture of a couple of different drugs and pessaries. It basically gave me really painful contractions which I dealt with alone at home (I sent my DH downstairs as I couldn't bear him touching me!) but the worst part was that the drugs they gave me to deal with the pain made me throw up several times and I found that harder to cope with than the contractions.

DF Sorry to hear about your loss & experience, it must of been a really tough time for you and your DH.

I think it's a good idea to have a birth plan even if it doesn't end up being exactly how you planned it, at least you can make an informed decision along the way.

I had pretty much everything going last time round. I had gone into it thinking I probably won't have an epidural but you never know. Anyway, when they set up the drip the midwives were practically on the phone to the anaesthetists and I had to say I don't need an epidural - in the end, the midwives all commented on how long I'd managed the pain without any relief. However, after 20 hrs of labour, I decided I did need some relief. I found G&A totally useless - it just made me tingle. When the obstetricians came to check on me (while we were waiting for the anaesthetist) they took one look and said 'get her some pethidine!' which I didn't protest about, as anything was better than nothing by then . The epidural was wonderful as it allowed me some much needed rest. They gave me one that lasted a few hours at a time so if we'd got as far as pushing, I could have made the decision not to have it topped up again. So basically, I understand anyone not wanting pain relief/an epidural/pethidine as part of their 'plan' but again, just be prepared for circumstances to cause you to change your mind (no matter how adamant you may feel about something beforehand)

lavita glad you had a nice holiday and the baby shower sounds lovely.

We're finally getting down to some decorating in readiness for the new arrival. DD is getting a new bedroom so that baby will be able to use her's. Unfortunately, we've used her room-to-be as a general dumping ground for a few years so I'm having to clear junk out which isn't as easy as it used to be! I'm taking the approach that doing a little bit everyday will get there in the end. Unfortunately, DH is willing but has very odd ideas about how to go about DIY tasks so I have to supervise everything he does as well to make sure the end result is presentable.

Im just posting again to keep this in 'im on' thread seeing as its been removed again and I had to find you all!

Lavita your baby shower sounds lovely! I was umming and ahhing about having one myself but dont think I will...

Hearing everyone talking about birth plans has made me realise I need to get organised! 12 weeks to go and I haven't even thought about it and don't even know what all these drugs are never mind what they do! I better get reading up!

Had the midwife today, baby now measuring 28 weeks when I am apparently 26 +3 but that's a huge improvement on last week when I was measuring 29weeks at 24 +3! She thinks it must have been the way the baby was lying last time but I recon it was the amount of time I was waiting and so the amount of urine I had in my bladder! No need for a dating scan yet. Hoorah!

Will be seeing a midwife again in 2 weeks.

Woohoo! My Mothercare delivery finally turned up (been waiting in all bloody day for it!) Just waiting for DH to get home so we can unpack the Quinny Buzz together.

My bought list now stretches to:

Baby clothes
Flexibath
Changing mat (not yet arrived)
Changing mat liners
Fabric bath support
Cuddle dry towels
2 packs Newborn nappies
Babynest pillow
Dummies

Mothercare wall fix extending safety gate
Baby forehead thermometer
Pet/cat net
Room thermometer

Disposable bed mats
Sterile maternity pads
Breast pads
Slippers

Cot (not yet arrived)
Cot mattress
Cellular blankets
Fitted & flat sheets, basket & cot size
Baby pillow (not yet arrived)
Dresser/chest of drawers
Drawer handles
Picture frames, light pull & ornament for nursery
Safababy sleeper
Bookcase

Quinny buzz pushchair - Iron
Quinny Dreami Carrycot (not yet arrived)
Quinny Buzz Shopping Basket
Maxi-Cosi® CabrioFix infant carrier
Maxi Cosi® Easyfix base
Car seat raincover
Buggy hooks (not yet arrived)
Buggy lock (not yet arrived)
Mothercare Baby on Board sign
Retractable car sunblinds - 2pk
Easyview car mirror

Toy ties
A few toys

Wowee!

I think I'm nesting.

Hi all,
What a busy day and I am still in office trying to get out of here...

Lavita great that there is no leaking. I got worried a bit as there was no post from you and thought OH god I better sms and see if she is okay. Then I noticed that I somehow managed to lose the little paper with your and Strix numbers/emails. SMS me your number when you get a min. I am attending a baby shower on 19th for a friend otherwise would love to join you. I am up for meeting up though tied up this wknd. Your shower sounded lovely!

C&G I am so happy for you and wish you all the best for this wknd. It is a magical moment to get married and enjoy it rain or sun shine...

Japh yayy to your long list of purchase! You beat me to shopping girl!! What is Maxi Cosi® Easyfix base? I got the cabrioFix in Canada and it seems complete... do I need to buy a base for it? I still am debating about push chairs. I feel I have time and want to purchase this one with a lot of thinking. Is Quinny Buz compact when folded and is easy for London public transport? I may check it out. I want something compact. I like the bee but it is too plasticy and not easily folded...

I am not against pain relief. I don't have anyone to impress with my pain tolerance. I prefer epidural over opiates as it is more effective and less drousy making and there is more recent publications on epi. If I am taking drugs then I prefer the most efficacious one and I read the studies and publications in pubmed on epidurals and feel comfortable with chosing it. Of course, I am not judging anyone deciding against drugs and absolutely respect people's decision but I truely don't understand why would one go through the pain when there is a safe option to not to. Funny enough in normal life I don't take ANY drugs. I am much against taking a pain killer when sick or having a headache than taking epi. It is probably due to my background as I am in drug research and discovery and I think the side effects and risk that you take with a simple pain killer is not worth the cold symptoms reduction but feeling light and enjoying my baby's birth instead of being miserable and in agony is worth the little risk of epi, which are close to none.

LO seems to have decided to turn upside down and her head is below my rip cage!

I have put on 15 lbs so far and have a massive bump and boobs that are 3-4 size bigger than before. They are massive and I really dislike them! I loved my well sized c cup boobs before but now I feel fat and look hunched with these massive things hanging from my chest!! My boobs are my least favorite thing from pregnancy so far! Can't wait for them to deflate but then everyone tells me "wait till there is milk in them! they get at least 2 cup size bigger!!" Is that possible? I hope NOT!!

No stretch marks yet but I know that they will come as my mom and sis's bellies look as if attacked by knife. In the meanwhile I rob my belly with all possible oils and remedies in the hope to delay them.

Okay I am off now and hope that the traffic is not that bad as I have a 45 min drive to home without traffic and can't stay awake behind wheels these days! :(

Haven't been on for a while - internet issues and not brave enough to check onto MN at work.

Think I want to try to go without an epidural and use the pool at the birth unit, and hopefully have the baby in it.
Haven't got much further in birth plan but second class tomorrow.
Whatever happens with that though, have decided that i'd like them to clean the baby though after its born, midwife told me that they don't usually do it anymore because of the protective layer - but that seems a bit yuckky. (least of my worries at that stage i'm sure )

My birth plan is heavily dependent on whether the placenta moves up or not. If it doesn't shift it could be a c-section.
However assuming it does I'd like to be in the pool at the MLU using gas and air and if I need more then pethadine.
I've used g&a before when I pulled a muscle in my back and literally couldn't stand up and was given it on the street by a paramedic and it worked wonders for me. It made me light headed but not out of control and literally did take all the pain away. I remember saying at the time - it still hurts, it's just now I don't care!
The only thing I'd really like to avoid is forceps. The idea makes me shudder.
DH knows my preferences and also knows I may be highly emotional and not great at communicating, so he will need to be my voice. However, it's difficult to set down any definitive preferences when I haven't been through labour before. Hopefully talking things through at the NCT classes (which begin next week, yikes!) will help firm up my views.

Hi, I've just joined and it's been great to see there is a group on here for December mums - I'm expecting my second on NYE, and already have a 17month daughter, so it's been different second time around...this week is the first week I have started to reduce my hours at work, so I kind of feel I am only just starting the real planning for this pregnancy...no birth plan as yet, no bags packed, yet I feel pretty relaxed about it all so far.

I went down the active birth route first time, and need to re-order the Natal Hypnotherapy CD which I found really worked for me, as my DP wiped it off iTunes, which was helpful...

Is anyone else still getting nausea? With my DD I had a bit but it stopped at 16 weeks, whereas this time it seems to just be going on and on?

I find that for the heartburn, milk works well, and for leg cramps (which thankfully I haven't had yet this time round) Indian Tonic Water worked well last time, something to do with Quinine.

Sleeping patterns are the same as last time, waking in the early hours, but I feel it is my baby's way of preparing for waking me for night feeds - lots of naps and meditation are helping.

On the family issues, DD was 1 week before her due date, so I could be in for a Christmas baby.

Given we had the pleasure (!) of PILs last year, I have put my foot down and made it clear when I found I was expecting that it's just our little unit this year - late pregnancy or immediately after birth is the last time you want your boundaries tested.

Last year at Christmas, I gave up our bed and the PILs let their dog (which I asked to be left downstairs on account of not knowing it well, and having a baby upstairs) in my room to sleep on the bed - so I empathise with those of you who have families who may not intentionally mean to do things, but who sometimes get it wrong....

Anyway hope you are all enjoying your pregnancies and I look forward to hearing your stories

Thank you all for the support about my family needing to back off. I have emailed siL and sister explaining that I am emotional and need to nest and packing/selling/storing furniture etc and other moving house decisions will be something I focus on after the baby has been born ie. early next Spring, not bloody now.

I feel better having made this clear.

Welcome Lol I too still have regular bouts of nausea and a lot of acid reflux. I'm on prescription gaviscon now which tastes like glue, but works. Congrats on your pregnancy

Miffster Good on you, I read your post and meant to comment but I was feeling rather for you and couldn't write anything polite . I think you should send them photo's and a price list on your next email or what about putting it in storage?: I assume you'll be back eventually?

My amazing, wonderful news of the week is that my best friend who sadly lives in Australia is pregnant! I posted a while ago about how sad I felt and a bit guilty that her first IVF had failed. She had said she was waiting until the new year to do another round but was understandably keeping it under wraps to keep off the pressure. I am so happy I could burst, she is a wonderful person, who works in childcare and she and her husband really deserve this

Glad you are feeling better miffster

lavita fab news about your friend, when is she due?I have been given a prescription for Gaviscon too..must remember to pick it up.

Welcome Lol77

Wave to Pjen and sympathy for the massive boobs, mine seem to have had another growth spurt.

Button I would love to have my baby in the pool, my friend managed it but I am not sure how likely it is. I want to baby delivered straight on to me if possible.

Loving your list japhrimel

chloe I am with you on the forceps, does having an epidural make it more likely that they will use forceps though?

I have a quick NCT question. I am not doing my classes until Early Nov, baby due Dec 11th - is that too late?

welcome Lol77 and snap - I'm expecting my 2nd on NYE too!

well done miffster hopefully that's made you feel a bit better

lavita great news for your friend.

DF the AN classes I attended last time were due to finish after DD was due! We made it through though as she was 2 weeks late . 1st babies are notoriously late so depending on how long the classes go on for, you should be fine.

Welcome LOL77!
Hope Cheese&Gherkins is getting all excited about her wedding this weekend!
Lavitabella wonderful news for your friend!
DuellingF, I'm due Dec 14 so could be early and my NCT classes are the first 2 weekends in November - week 36 and 37 - which I think is a bit late as well. I mean, I'll be full term! Especially as hospitals won't let you transfer to use the birth centre after 31 weeks round here. rolling eyes emoticon because the NCT advertise it as December babies course.

I was 3 weeks early apparently. With the cord round my neck twice and needed high forceps. My brother and sister had the cord round their necks as well. I really do not want forceps.

trembles

DF when I booked my classes I was asked the month I was due then booked in for this series of classes.
There are eight of them which will take us up to November, so perhaps for me they will finish a little too soon because my baby isn't due until the end of December.
I wouldn't worry - your classes will be fresher in your mind.

Morning all, Im 28 weeks today!!!!!!!

C&G I have texted you - hope youre ok

hows everyone else? Had a massive feeling of oh shit, im not ready!! this morning and now a little aprehensive. Saw MW yesterday for 28 week bloods, baby is head down, BP low :)
Put name down to try the real nappies they offer at the surgery, as a tester to help decide what we may buy, If any...

PJen - I hate my pregnancy boobs too. I miss my C cups and it's depressing how little bra choice there is once you get to this size. I'm not looking forward to possibly hitting J cup when my milk comes in.

Has anyone else's bra size not gone up in the chest at all? I thought that should've happened by now.

ButtonAzure - they don't usually clean off the vernix because it protects the baby's skin for the first few weeks but I don't see why they couldn't wipe any blood gently off.

chloesbaby - you know you won't be able to use the pool if you have pethidine, right?

Wow, some people are having classes soon. Our don't start till November!

DuelingFanjo - having an epidural does mean you're at higher risk of further interventions, e.g. forceps. There is an argument that perhaps that stat is skewed because women having more difficult labours are more likely to both want an epidural and to need forceps anyway. I think staying upright and active is very important though - it makes sense that you're more likely to need help if you're trying to push the baby out uphill with a not very open pelvis!

Miffster - glad you're feeling better. Apparently cord around the neck is very very common, but shouldn't be an issue unless it's very tight, possibly due to a short cord. Either way, MWs are used to slipping it over baby's head.

Thanks Japhrimel.

I am worried: yesterday there was a tube strike and I queued for a bus. the bus driver came along and even though the bus was half empty, he did not stop at the bus stop. So myself and three other passengers rand 300 yards to the next bus stop round the corner, whilst the bus was in traffic, and got on. We all lambasted him once he opened the doors. What a bastard.

Anyway, I ran quite fast, with a heavy bag over my shoulder - faster than I have moved for months! But I needed to get home - I had to get that bus, I had already walked a mile and waited 30 mins for it.

Later last night I found getting up and down painful, I was doubled up because of pain in my groin.

I explained to DH that the ligaments feel like the ropes that moor a hot air balloon creaking and straining, as the bump expands. And now the ropes/ligaments feel like I have strained them.

Today, getting up makes me pause, bent over because of the ache and straighten up slowly. My groin hurts when I walk, although it releases after about 20 steps.

What is this, should I be worried, do I need to see a GP, is there anything anyone medical/physio can do, etc? Shall I do a thread about it on the pg forum?

Answering my own question, I think it is common or garden painful round ligament pain

Hi all.

Miffster - what a crap bus driver. Glad you've found out what the pain is. I get exactly the same, I have to keep moving constantly or else it hurts severely when I move.

There's so much to catch up on so I'm not even going to try sorry.

Re birth plans - I've never actually had one. Was far too naive and overwhelmed by everything with ds1 to write one, I was given a birth plan form to fill in but didn't really put anythig on it as I didn't know what to put. The only thing I was clear about was that I wanted pain relief and lots of it, but adamant that I didn't want pethidine. (I know nothing about it, just don't like the name I'd only heard of it in films like Trainspotting so only associated it with heroin addicts, and that was my reason for not wanting it!) I probably won't bother this time round either as I'm flexible and tbh will just go with the flow. Hopefully it will be nice and straightforward, possibly a bit of g&a if there's time in an ideal world, but if things don't happen as I'd like and I have to transfer to hospital then ultimately what is best for me & baby is what I want to happen. The only thing I am quite adamant about this time is that I do not want to be pressured into being induced, but then that doesn't come into the birth plan.

My HIP grant was paid in today, so don't hae to borrow the money from my rent account to pay for 4d scan on Sat.

Hope everyone is well.