October 2010 Ready or Not, Here We Come

[ILoveGregoryHouse]

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Never mind, managed to get through to the community midwife and she is going to be at the drop in clinic on Wednesday anyway so have an appointment! :)

Ideally would have like to have had my baby before then however!

allo!

Congrats Fingon - another inspirational birth story & wonderful newborn bubba!

Great you're feeling better Vikks and I'm sure this has to be our week huh? Same goes for Shieldbug, Hermya and Samb...

Really thought things were starting to happen last night - but so far nothing has turned into anything. Really hoping it's the 'start' though, at least, and not indigestion. Slight period-y ache on back, BH contractions seem to me to be coming more often but perhaps this is just all wishful thinking? Have been doing loads more park/hill walking and scrubbed the living room floors and skirting boards on my knees last night - next up, bathroom today!

I thought second births were supposed to be quicker? Or does that not include the weird latent first stage?

Also a bit concerned - so not sure what people think - but baby doesn't seem half as active. I feel a few movements here and there so I don't think I need to call midwife, but is that normal?

Frustrating as my mum's coming to stay from Sweden and I was really hoping the baby would have made an entrance by then (this Wednesday). Plus I really want to avoid the conversation around sweeps (appointment for overdueness booked for Thursday) as it really made me feel quite ill last time and although it brought on labour I'm still to this day not sure whether it triggered labour before baby had got into the best position and that all the intervention that followed could have been avoided by avoiding a sweep too early. But if I say 'no' to a sweep will I be destined to carry the baby for some kind of epic 3 week wait?

Rambling a bit here but have started getting a bit nervous about the whole VBAC thing too - and thinking maybe I should have shelled out for a doula (we have been so skint this year I decided not to, but now worrying it was false economy). For a VBAC to probably be most successful the VBAC counsellor at the hospital said I would need to try stay at home for as LONG as possible before going in, as the hospital then gives any VBAC labour a kind of 6-hour protocol time limit before basically saying (if there's little or no progress) that I can't carry on for safety's sake (despite the stats for any 'rupture' being absolutely minimal) and will have to have a caesarean. But how long is long enough? I also don't want to stay too long as I'm not set up for a homebirth & don't want to scare my daughter with any strong pains who'll be at home with us until we leave! Argh. Dilemmas dilemmas.

Meanwhile, lovely to hear all the stories of babies now at home getting BFing going and so on. It feels real and surreal at the same time on this side of the 'fence' to know that whatever happens, in a few days, I'll be on the other side with my own wriggly being.

40+3 today!

Afternoon ladies!

Sorry I've been so quiet of late - barely get any time online at the moment and find myself drawn into Active Convos, then before I know it my time's up...but I wantedf to just pop in and congratulate all our new mums and welcome all our new October babies

As for me - baby looks like another big one (DS was 9lb 6oz and had shoulder dystocia) so I'm going in on Friday to be induced (I'll be 40+2) if baby hasn't made an appearance by then.

I had sweeps at 38 and 39 weeks on consultant advice, but all they did was give me cramps! LOADS of contractions/pains at night but they wear off by the time I'm up and about in the morning. I'm sure they must be doing something so not too frustrated...yet!

Will try to keep up with you all a bit more now that DH is off work and can keep an eye on DS/do the housework for me

Hermya I think that sweeps are usually offered once you are 40 weeks, but there is nothing to lose by asking your midwife and it must be fine because lots of people seem to have had them before then.

I went through a period when I was having BH all the time. That all seems to have slowed right up and now I only have the odd ones. I've gone from feeling really 'laboury' to not feeling anything much at all! This is all very tiresome . Just off to have a little rest having been awake from 2-5am this morning. Baby was wide awake and playing silly games!

Afternoon ladies!

Have been awake since 3.30am this morning. Woke up hungry and with heart burn then couldn't get back to sleep.

Has a slight accident this am - couldn't work out if it was ahem wee or a small water break, but decided it was probably wee. Has this happened to anyone else?

Am getting nervous now about giving birth, and probably doesn't help a friend ended up having an emergency c-sec over the w/end as baby went breech at last minute. Baby and mummy are both doing fine now. just can't help but be parnoid.

TENS machine finally arrived yesterday - seemed to have got stranded in the post. Company rang me up this am to check if I had got it as they posted it on Tues, and I had called them back on Fri to say I was still waiting. So was impressed they got in touch to make sure all was ok. Friend and I tested that it worked last night - had a giggle whilst doing it. DH was very baffled by instructions on how to put it on!

We also had a giggle reading the pg book i have which recommend takign a rolling pin for Dh to use to massage you - I think probably not a good thing to pack as could see irritable pg woman in labour would use it as a weapon to deck DH with if he annoyed her at any stage in her labour!

Right am going to go and take to my bed in the hope of getting a couple of hours of sleep before having to go and get DD from school.

Any news on Lizkins yet? She must have had that baby by now surely?!

Finally online from computer.Been a bit unmotivated as it was on the dining table rather than 'my' table so just got dh to move it for me before he went for a nap.

Boobs v heavy atm waiting for dd3 () to wake and every gurgle lets milk out!

Birth story for anyone interested ! Nothing bad I promise!!!

Was in hospital at 8am, booked in , stats taken.I was in with 2 other elec sections in a 4 bed ward with 2 MWs , one on ward, one going to & from theatre. Anethetist came round , was top bloke & very nice, down to earth , explained everything & checked my details & allergies etc.

I went second so when the first baby came back I was prepped (catherter [urgh]) and taken down in a wheelchair (everyone else walked). Every bump hurt with the catherter & baby was V cross by that point (could sense my stress!)

We left dh outside whilst I went for anestetic. I had to lay on my side whilst loads of people poked things in my hands& back & attatched all the machines. The spinal was so easy compared to my imagination and such a BIG relief as it washed over me. They rolled me on my back and put up the screen. Dh came in & MW and they worked really quickly. I lay with my eyes shut as was totally freaking out by bein gin theatre! I could feel the 'rummaging' , dh tells me quite a lot of force went into getting her out as she was v engaged & had to use forceps. I heard a gurgly cry and then a proper cry! They brought her for a quick look then she went to get wrapped up with dh & MW and then they sat with me until I was stitched up.

Dh ,MW & dd3 went back to the ward for checks while I went to recovery.I was there longer than normal as the spinal had spread quite high. I went back to the ward after an hour , which wasnt that bad as all the staff in recovery were fussing & asking about the baby!

Back on the ward dh had been nursing dd3 who was v keen to feed & when I came up they put her straight on my chest & she latched on like an expert!

Nymph How are you recovering? Are your hips feeling any better now?

Bionic LOL at the rolling pin, I don't think they were quite thinking that one through.

Is anyone else really bored, I've been reduced to watching QVC and there was a moment where I almost picked up the phone.

Still achey and feeling a bit miserable today.

Hi Ladies
Can I please add my stats and join your group? I have had my due date moved from Nov to 30th Oct. I have polyhyrdamnios and although I am only 38 weeks I am measuring 49 weeks!!

HERMYA i'M BORED, TOO (sorry caps...) just been for a quick trip out, but almost wish I was at work making money! I'm just playing on the Internet, tidying and trying to be active as well. Lovely weather, but can't walk too far and don't want to be too far from the house anyway.

Hardly any cramps. Apart from getting tired so quickly, I can almost forget I'm pregnant Beginning to think it'll never happen. Got consultant appointment on Thursday and need to decide about a sweep...

Jessebelle I keep thinking mine's being too quiet - it's moving so much that I'm not really worried, but it seems 'weaker' somehow - I think it's kicking towards my back, though and just doesn't have so much room. I also think the movement is so 'normal' that I don't notice it as much. Can alwatys phone midwife though if you are worried.

Nice birth story, nymph

Hi kelsurprise! 49 weeks sounds uncomfortable!!!

Hi kelsurprise. We're due date buddies but 't hope we don't have to wait that long.

Vikks Good luck with the pineapple, still suffering here ! I have tried all of the things on your list, I guess my baby just isn?t ready!

ILGH Why were you asking for a cs? I?ve also been making a plethora of cakes and breads. My weight gain has really picked up this last week.

Hermya I hope your achyness comes to something. I think that usually it does, I?m just a little odd and all of my signs have come to nothing as yet. I hope that at least it will mean that the baby is in a good position and my cervix is in good shape. It is an awkward time, I have felt so low on occasions, so much so that I have hoped that the baby wouldn?t come because I wasn?t in the ?right place? mentally. I think that there were some readjustment issues being someone at home rather than someone who worked which didn?t help. At the moment I am feeling much more positive and she can come any time!

Jessebelle I hope your baby makes a move before Wednesday! I think that you can refuse a sweep until a later date if you are worried. So you could say that you want to give it another few days perhaps. Your mum might miss the baby though. I don?t think that sweeps always make you feel the way that you did last time, it might be worth speaking to your midwife about what happened before, she might put your mind at rest.

Ninthwave Good luck for Friday, hopefully you?ll get going before then anyway. Ouch at the size of your babies!

BionicEar I haven?t had any wee incidents but I know that loads of people do and it?s really ok. Might be worth wearing a pad just in case though. A bit embarrassing maybe but hey, there is a whole person with their head on your bladder so it?s hardly surprising. I think I should get my tens out of the box, do the pads stay sticky for more than one use? I was ?saving? them, but I really should work out how to use it!

Nymph Your birth story is lovely, I am so happy for you. Matilda sounds just lovely. You are lucky that she is feeding well too, it makes such a difference to how your days go if you get feeding off to a good start.

Nothing particular to report here, I met a friend in the car park near the school this morning and she walked DD2 into the playground with her own daughter. She has been receiving texts ever since asking when I had the baby. I think she used up quite a lot of her text allowance letting everyone know that I was just feeling a bit lazy .

I have cross posted!

Kelsurprise 49 weeks - ouch!

Moonstorm Although I was desperate to finish work, I am starting to think I should have worked longer - I could have had longer the other end with my baby rather than all this hanging around.

Kelsurprise 49 weeks!! Oh my word, I hope that your LO decides to show it's face soon. Welcome on board though!!

Muggle People keep saying the same to me, but once you have everything ready there is only so much you can fill a day with. I'm currently washing all the bedding in the house.

Sam I'm starting to wish I was still at work as well. I hope she doesn't keep you waiting. I suppose it's the start of things to come though isn't it, babies never stick to your timetable. They work to ones entirely of their own making.

Jessebelle Mines like that as well, I asked the MW about it and she told me that there isn't as much space in there anymore so they kind of become a bit squished.

Ladies - any tips on where to get a tens machine ? HI was getting one from a friend but already I can bet thY we won't have it when we need it.

I also have a very annoying ulcer on my Tongue. Feels like I have cut or sliced it but no def an ulcer.

Still feeling well. Despite the bump, backache and occ pains in the tum. Still no BH. My left leg went deadghis morning and I got stuck on my side!! Not a good look.

39 wks and counting.......

Silver I went to the NCT website and followed a link that was there I think the company are called 'babytens'. It arrived when they said it would and seems to be relatively new with all the 'bits' in sealed packages.

Brilliant ! Thank you ! I am considering hiring rather than buying.

MIL keeps getting excited whenever HI calls her. Thinking it's "THE" call. Tis already irritating me. Due date is another week away!!!!

hermya hips doing ok. overdone yesterday & couldnt get out of car/up steps at home but that was my stomach too. Have more pain in one side than the other & think thats the tie in the stiches.

SamB feeding going well except for huge engorgment. desperste to feed all the time so I get relief!

oh Im also v anesmic so more dopey than pg me! MW today shocked how low until I told her how low I was last time! have to rest as I soon feel it

silver my fil has just rang me to see what time I'll need a lift to the hospital as it's my due date today!!

Jesse I've felt a lot less movement too but the mw said, like hermya, it's because they haven't got much room left and they are getting in position and saving energy for their entrance into the world!

nymph great to hear your birth story- each one makes me feel that little bit braver.

I've got the opposite problem I have got so much to do and really can't be bothered keep finding myself watching rubbish tv. So if you're feeling bored you are more than welcome to unpack boxes and clean for me

Getting lots of period type pains today but no other signs. Seeing mw on thurs and am presuming I will be offered a sweep then.

37+2 today... getting lots of pressure in pelvis, achey bottom of spine around bum and feel absolutely knackered after BH all night.

Anyone else feeling like this??? Can't help but hope he comes quick and doesn't keep me hanging on for 3 weeks...

Silver I'd lend you mine, but I might need it!!

Kelsuprise Welcome and ouch at 49 weeks!
Sam The pains are a good sign. FX
Jessebelle My LO movements have changed too, no more room I?m afraid.

Just got back from my 40 week check and I?m feeling slightly hopeful that it won?t be too long. I?ve been having lots of ?niggles? today and the MW said maybe just maybe?.

My BH are getting stronger and more frequent, I?m getting pains in the tops of my legs and lower back, (TMI) been to the loo loads, I?m walking like a cowboy and Harry?s 2/5 to 3/5 engaged. So a few good signs there to stop me moping about. She said I?m measuring 41 weeks now and I?ve booked myself in for a sweep next Monday, I really hope I don?t make it!
The MW said the best thing I can do now is to stay active, so get bouncing on those balls girls! x

SamB I am just so fed up with the back pain, the nausea and tummy pain that I thought I'd chance it as the ob gyn is cs happy. So, I was very surprised when she said wait. It's a sign I guess if she thinks wait, I really should.

Making gingerbread and shortbread biscuits tomorrow.

HI All,

Sorry about the PUPPS still driving you mental \shieldbug it must be awful.

Thanks for the birth story Nymph so sweet she latched on right away!

Toby still zooms around like a goodie which I quite wish he would stop doing and get his head down because I saw the ruddy consultant earlier and have only just stopped crying... being induced Wednesday night. My worst nightmares coming true as he talks about pessaries, epidurals (have to have one to keep my BP down?), ventouse and forceps... errr...thanks but I didn't want to try everything that was on offer ... Am wondering if I should just say s*d it and have ELCS instead? BP and protein too high and unstable so really have no choice but to get this little chap born in order for my health to go back to normal (and not risk v dire things as a result of pre-eclampsia).

Any thoughts on induction and attempts at labour vs CS? I am not dilated at all at the moment, but cervix is softening and shortening... baby Toby's head isn't really engaged...

Hello to newbies, and sorry for lack of proper namechecking...DH is hanging about like a lost lamb, and I need to try to get my happy face on somehow.
xxx