Feb 2011 - The home stretch! Let's see more of those babies :-)

[WanderingInAWinterWonderland]

A shiny new thread for a shiny new year.

Hi Tad. I have just read that they should feel tightening but I wouldn't describe it as that at all. They really feel like waves of short pulses and a bit similar to period cramps. That's the only way I can describe them. I have the number to the labour ward stored in my phone just in case!

BH shouldn't really be painful but some people do experience them that way. Are you drinking enough fluids because that can bring them on according to a maternity nurse I know? Also it's worth resting as this should alleviate them (if they're not the real thing!) Why are you up? I am on the West Coast of the States so clearing up after dinner now!

Congratulations, Gina! Hope you and baby are doing well. Does he have a name yet?

Dreya how are you this morning? Hope all is well.

When we've all had our babies, will we have a "was due in feb" type thread, or all vanish onto jan feb and march threads? This thread has been so reassuring, it would be a shame for us all to split up.

Congratulations Gina! Good to hear all ok with your baby. Bit scary that we're starting to have these babies now!

Hi ladies! Thanks for the messages!! Baby Alexander is doing really well. He is early so we will have to stay in for a week or so but hopefully it will be just observation, no tubes etc. He is just the most gorgeous thing ever!!!!

Labour was quick. I woke up with bad hips which progressed to period type pains through the morning. Had a "bad tummy" so thought it was that. Contractions started at 2.20pm. I thought they were just BHs and so ignored until they got pretty bad and so called the hospital who said to come in!! We arrived at 5 and I was 7 cm dilated!! Kept going for a couple of hours then had some G&A and out he popped at 8.13pm!! All in all pretty fast!

It was much better than I expected but then he did only weight 5lb 8oz!!!

Hope you are all doing ok?!?

I agree Tarlia - it would be a shame to split up now.

Any news Dreya? Hopefully everything has calmed down now and you feel fine.

Sounds fantastic Gina and welcome to baby Alexander. Hope you both go home really soon.

Oh Gina....Welcome Baby Alexander...! How lovely.

Dreya what news this morning...?

DH is already on the x-box....that's it's I'm going to fecking kill him! can't wait until he returns to work.

Wow, congratulations Gina, what lovely news. Glad Alexander is doing well :)

well done gina amd conrats.I wonder who will be next.Maybe Dreya.
My bh are awfull sometimes,even an old veteran like me somethimes thinks labour is starting.I always look for the hard "peaking" at the top of my belly cos remember that from the others.
sbf sorry i forgot to answer your question.Isnt the ranitadine fab?cant believe so many woman are still suffering unecessarily with pg heartburn.As for the effect on the bowels im not sure,but i havent suffered from the inevitable constipation and sometimes am a bit"loose" which is great cos no piles!
This time in 4 wks i will be in hospital waiting for my op,i cant believe it.Am in no hurry as of came early would mess up my plans ie pat leave for dh and flipin pil visit also means that dh will be off for half term.I am going to make the most of my last 4 wks,to see friends and spend some time with dh and dd before i hit the ground running.I def think we should carry on a thread together,i have felt closer and more supported by you guys than my own dh at times.
It was nice to read that a few of you are also setting rules re parents staying,i sometimes think im being spitefull.

Morning ladies...bookmarking new thread!

Congrats gina how exciting!!

ledkr ur not being spiteful at all...I am pretty much banning most visitors fir first 2 weeks too (incl mil)- not out of spite but dh has 3 wks pat leave so want him to spend as much time as poss with baby before they all descend on us!! Like u & highlandgirl our family would need to stay with us too (from Scotland) & I just can't be dealing with all the other crap that goes with people staying!! First time mum here & every book I have read says ban or restrict visitors for 1st 2 wks so ur just being practical!!

Saying that I have tentatively invited mil & sil's to baby shower in mid jan in the hope that (a) it will appease them for now & (b) so they can hear it from me & not just dh about restricting visitors! Luckily my best friend's mum is coming to baby shower also & she totally agrees with me so I will have back up, lol!

Sorry for ling rant/post! Back to work tomorrow for 9 days then off for mat leave-woo hoo! Sooo looking forward to being off work & never ever thought I would say that! Going to get the bag ready today me thinks!

Congratulations gina and welcome baby Alexander, how fantastic! You sound really happy about the birth and it sounds as if it went smoothly so thank you for reassuring us first timers!

Was up all night with diarrhoea and BHs again, not in the best mood today- check out women beware!!!

Thanks to all who have replied to my swine flu jab question on the previous thread. I have an appointment for tomorrow morning...

I'm 33+4 now, better get on with packing the hospital bags :)

varicose-i had mine a wk ago and am really pleased(previously wasnt going to)i also heard that the baby MAY get some resistance from it too.
granny thanks for that,its been such a difficult situation as dh is close to his family but i really do think its a time that your wellbeing has to be paramount.I couldnt care less about actual visitors its as you say the overnight thing that makes the difference-extra fighting for the bathroom,beds all aver the place and for me the constant feeling that you have to be polite.I think the months following the birth will be fraught tho as mil just thinks it is her "right" to be here as much as poss and to stay overnight and i am just not having it.Am i the only one who would struggle to afford it too?Maternity pay is crap as time goes by and baby milk is 9 pound a box we will be pushed for money as it is without those 2 greedy people here for a week expecting 3 meals a day-they dont even buy a bloody take away grrrr.
How did you relatives take it?

Gina Congrats, Alexander is a beautiful name, look after yourself.

ledkr please take it easy on yourself re in-laws, they are being dicks!! I agree its not just the actual visiting but the cleaning, cooking etc. My in-laws and bil, sil etc have popped in a few times recently and I have knackered myself trying to tidy up the house, even if its just run the hoover round or stick sonme bleach down the toilet. No-one needs the extra hassle!! I was in Tescos the other day, SMA is £2 dearer than it was 3 years ago when I was feeding dd2, Mr Wiggles nearly had a heart attack. Sometimes he looks at me with a raised eyebrow when I complain about how the price of food has gone up

Gina congratulations!!!!! it sounds as if everything went really well and glad you both are doing fine, hope you get to go home soon.

Will somebody do a new stats list? I hate excell with a passion, so better not me.

Today I think I felt LO's face turn from one side to the other at the bottom of my belly...weird but wonderfull!

Wow, congratulations Gina! I'm getting bigger and bigger over here (unsurprisingly) and my fundal measurement last night was 40cm when it "should" be 31cm. Everyone is convinced I'm about to pop when I still should have two months left

Hi ladies!

Sorry I have been so quiet lately, but I have been reading and trying to keep up!

Congrats Gina and Jack you are so lucky to have your babies! Great to hear they are doing well!

I now officially have my hospital bags packed, as I am sure that this little one is going to come early. I woke up last night with horrible pains in my stomach, felt kinda like being stabbed and happened at regular ingtervals. Could these be BH do you think? Made me really worry how I would cope with real labour pains!

Is anyone planning on using a TENS machine for labour?

Aww, Gina congratulations!!!!! Welcome to baby Alexander!

My friend had her DS2 5 and a half weeks early, in April. He's nearly 9 months old now and you should see the size of him .

Ledkr I really feel for you with the ILs situation! Heck, I remember getting frustrated with the MWs coming around everyday as I felt like the house needed to be really clean and tidy. At least I didn't have to cook for them! Can you not make them useful? Let them do the washing and cooking and have them help around the house. My friend is from Singapore so her family live there. When she had her second son, two years ago, her first was only 18 months old. Her mum and her sister stayed with her for about 8 weeks but they came to help - entertained and cared for her DS1 so that she could get rest when Ds2 was sleeping and I think they helped with cleaning etc. I'm not sure how I would feel about MIL or my mum doing my housework though. I think I'd find it a bit intrusive, plus my mum would be tut tutting through it!

Congratualtions Gina! Glad it all went smoothly and u get to bring your little man home soon.

I also had some horrendous Bh last night and what felt like period pain, was starting to get a bit worried. Turns out it was just bloody wind!

zero thats worse than me haha i measured 38cm at 33wks so as i am now 35 i am prob measuring nearly full time.People keep saying i wont go till the end but in my experience size is no indicator of when you will deliver.It is so uncomfortble tho isnt it?I find the worse is not being able to fold in the middle so cant bend down,dd or dh have to put on my socks.By the end of the day my belly and pubic bone ache like buggery and i walk like im crippled whilst grunting and groaning so everyone knows haha.
Is anyone else ravenously hungry too?I had abig roast yesterday but felt starving an hr later,had achicken sandwhich-still hungry,its odd cos ive lost weight where ive not been eating and now cant stop.Off now to make some scrambled eggs mmmmm.

Congratulations gina. Hope you and your little prince are allowed home soon :). Iv been really ill since xmas with bronchitis and headaches. I feel so weak I would be no good if baby came early. My cot is getting delivered on friday and then I can get on with finishing nursery. Re hospital bag I have no idea how many of each thing to pack? Any suggestions re baby things and nappies etc?

Big congratulations Gina, how exciting that the babies are starting to arrive!! DD was induced at 42wks and I expect this one will be the same, but I am much bigger than I was with her, and the MW says just because DD was late doesn't mean this one will be... Better get the baby stuff out of the loft! Bet I'll just diddle about and not do anything then there'll be a mad rush to get everythimg ready just after my waters break!

All this talk of hospital bags, wow, it seemed so far away, where has the time gone!?

I had my 32 week check today, baby still head down but not so low in pelvis. Measuring 33, which she said was fine.
Slight problem though, my BP is still too high, worryingly so now, but no other signs of pre eclampsia so it could be gestational hypertension.. anyone have experience of this? I've never heard of it! I have to go to the hospital tomorrow for blood tests and monitoring. The doctor said that another reason I was signed off work was to lower my BP- they didnt tell me this at all, so I'm a bit pissed off. Although I've not done much because of my pain, I would have taken things even easier had I know that.

Sorry, a me me post, bit worried and worked up.

linz i just put apack of nappies in baby gros,vests,one cardi cotton wool bit of cream,sheet and blanket,scratch mits and cotton hat in case she is cold.
I have packed mine,then was reading this thread yesterday and someone has packed wine gums and lucozade,i had forgotten little snacks and drinks so will get onto that today.