April 2011 - we'll shop til we pop!

[GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh]

Continuation from our old thread here

So maybe this thread we'll see some babies?! And definitely lots more shopping

I watched OBEM, rather good again.

Milla you are so not alone, I've had periods of feeling absolutely dreadful (I have moaned MANY times on this thread ). Hopefully you'll feel better soon x

I too am starving, last night DP came to bed late and was giving the bump a rub to try and move the baby from under my ribs when my stomach let out an almighty gurgle. We'd had a full dinner with roasties and everything and he couldn't believe I was still hungry. It doesn't help that if I smell toast the baby goes mad and encourages me to eat it.

Mmmmmmmmm marmalade toast...

I'm saving OBEM for later today. Have to say that last week's had a profound effect on me. It was practically a revelation. I think I've heard the term Transition before but didn't know that it marked the end of the dilation stage and that it meant the baby was about to come. I also didn't know that vomiting, a sudden feeling of panic, increased pain etc were all classic Transition symptoms. For anyone who didn't see last week's OBEM the midwives spend a bit of time explaining what it is and that most women experience it.

Anyway it was really like a lightbulb going off in my head when I watched it. I had a really rough patch during my labour with DD which lasted no more than 10 minutes but was so obviously Transition. It's a pity that my useless midwife didn't recognise it for what it was as it was over 2 hours later before she bothered to check to see that I was fully dilated and during that time insisted on strapping me down on the bed for fetal monitoring. I'm convinced now that if I or she had recognised what was going on my daughter would have been born 2 hours earlier and I would have been "allowed" (I'm afraid my one and only experience of a hospital birth was being treated like a wilful 5 year old) to stay vertical and avoided a cut.

There's a thread on the childbirth talk topic about Transition which I'd suggest you read if like me you'd never registered what it was. I really don't want to sound preachy or evangelical about this but I feel so much more confident about this baby being born now I know that I didn't lose it or freak out during my last labour. I know I'll even look forward to this time around because it will mean the baby is about to arrive.

Yeah i watched OBEM too. Thought the lady who had the epidural did very well.

Got my last 'relaxation' class today. Hurrah. Going to tell her i found a new birthing position that involved my ironing board! Ha.

All April lurkers and stragglers welcome! I think we all go through phases of feeling fairly dreadful and here is the best place to moan about it I'm with you on the achey legs btw milla, was beginning to think it might just be me but I asked the midwife and apparently heavy legs is a pretty common thing to experience in the last trimester. Doesn't make it any more fun!

I'm NOT hungry more often than not. Doesn't seem to be affecting the baby because this morning's scan showed current weight as around 5,5lb, putting me on course for an 8lber, and head size right at the top of the curve. Frantically googling perineal massage in order to avoid an episiotomy!

Hope you get your work woes sorted notanother and aussie. It's disgraceful how colleagues can treat you when you're pregnant (thankfully mine have been lovely) and how business can try to screw you over.

I found the transition thing really helpful too, Jaylar, even though I have had no experience of birth yet - even better, I watched that episode on 4OD the day after our NCT class week in which our fab lady explained about transition too in great detail and with lots of reassurance. A loss of inhibition so that you can regroup and an outpouring of fears to get reassurance so you can go for that last bit with all your strength. Very powerful stuff.

Off to Mothercare later to pick up huge load of stuff that I have ordered.

It was only looking back on my labour with ds2 that I realised what my transition moment was. The MW hadn't arrived by then, and dh was frantically filling the pool, so I didn't have anyone reassuring me that what I was experiencing was transition.

My contractions were one on top of the other and I was worried I could feel scar pain from my section (I wasn't). I remember thinking to myself 'oh my god if I am only 3cm dilated I am in trouble because I can't cope with this pain without any pain relief'.

A few minutes after that, the pool was ready and I got in. Pretty much as soon as I got in there I was mooing like a heifer and starting to push! DS arrived about 20-30 minutes later.

I've found I am hungrier in the mornings. For the past 15 weeks or so I haven't faced much, but now I feel like I could stuff my face. However the reality is if I do that I feel sick - grrr.

I think my 'transition' moment with DD1 was when the midwife told me I was fully dilated and I suddenly stopped being nice and calm and shouted "BRING THE FORCEPS AND GET HER OUT NOW!!"

Midwife then explained that, as she wasn't even crowning yet,I'd be pushing for the next hour at least After that, I quickly managed to calm down and get on with the pushing stage and there was no need for the giant salad tongs (phew!).

Jaylar Your first midwife sounds awful, so sorry you had to go through that. Are you planning on a home birth this time?

I also wanted to reassure those of you planning on hospital births that (contrary to what we're shown on OBEM!) you're not always forced to lie on your back strapped to the bed. I was on all fours/on my knees throughout - even with both monitors strapped around my belly. It is possible for them to perform checks while you're mobile, so DON'T let any bossy midwives tell you that you can't stay active!

Really hoping for a home birth Not another partly because of how my last labour went. Crossing fingers that this baby is as punctual as his/her big sis so I don't have to go into hospital. It wasn't a bad labour, pain was manageable and it was relatively quick given she was my first and a total heiffer at 9lb 1oz with a head circumference that was on the 99th percentile point! But I was given the impression from my MW that my head and voice were inconvenient attachments to a vagina IYKWIM.

Hospital or home I'll have so much more confidence in my own body and intuition this time around. Am reading Ina May's book on natural childbirth which is inspiring. I normally have a fairly low tolerance for the hippier approch to life but there is so much wisdom in that book and it is fantastic to read all the birthing stories.

Early lunch and OBEM now I think. Love my daughter beyond words but love her 2 nursery days too.

Hello folks!

My little sis has just left after spending just over 24 hours with us with her DS who is 3 months old today!

He's amazing, he looks around, he's trying out word sounds, he's working out how his hands and arms work. It's fantastic! He's been a notoriously poor sleeper/eater, but managed an almost unbroken night last night! Of course, we put this down to him sleeping in our carry cot!

So Little Sis handily tried out our kit! She's v impressed with our pram (she's got a Mothercare Xcursion and finds that the chassis is too big to go in the car and handle's so close she can't stride properly when she walks - Our Buzz = Amazing!). And of course the carry cot went down well with my Nephew, as did the bouncy chair!

I had my 34 week check yesterday (at 35+3) at home. So we talked through birth etc. My sis brilliantly chipped in with her experiences (v. fast labour). My MW might actually be the british version of Ina May Gaskin! However, she only works part time, so I need to find out which days I need to aim for for labour!

Checks still showed I'm low risk. Baby's head is 3/5ths engaged and my belly's measuring on the top line of the chart again (which, if it's to be believed, suggests baby is well over 6lb's already!).

So, I'll be 37 weeks a week on Friday, so here's hoping he's keen to turn up sooner rather than later!

Thanks all for your re-assurances, I feel much better today anyway, must have been just having one of those days, dont normally let people get to me but pregnancy emotions are another thing ! Dont get me started on my lack of patience these days !

I just want these last 7 weeks to go by nice and quickly so i can meet my little girl, her Bjorn bouncer came in yesterday and is a bit boring and modernish looking but apparently has great reviews, so i hope she likes it !

Tonight my DP and I are putting up these super cute removable self adhesive cloud stickers to the nursery ceiling so it looks like the sky.

These: www.andyslinens.com/nursery-stickers-and-borders-2090/clouds-wall-stickers-9678.html

Might catch up on some OBEM this evening, DP hasnt watched any yet so a little preparation for him should be good !

wow Petal you sound so organised & prepared - serious inspiration for me to get my arse in gear.. but I am only 31+4 so hopefully got a bit more time. What bouncer did you get btw? I'm torn as there are so many...

Had a credit card burn in Boots this morning, to the extent that the lovely lady behind the counter asked if I wanted to leave a bag there and do a shuttle run to my car!!!! But I managed to lug all the bits and pieces in one go. Getting quite excited as well as scared.

So are you going to pop before the end of this thread, Petal? You've only got about 60 posts left, otherwise we're moving on to "April 2011 - nearly there, all set for dropping Mofo C bombs in the delivery room"

Aussie we ordered the baby bjorn bouncer as well. It flatpacks. Nuff said.

Ha! Don't think I'll beat the end of this thread. Surely all this preparation only means I'll go hideously overdue!

We just got the cheapest no-frills bouncy chair from mothercare. Nephew seemed to like it, although I've no experience of any other kind.

Petal - is that the one that is literally just fabric over the metal frame? We had it for DS and he loved it, it lasted for ages as well. Reminds me that we need to get one for DC2 - DS had a massive nappy explosion over his and I couldn't get the stain out!!

Aussie - agree that she sounds a cow to tell you those things, glad you are feeling better today :)

I thought I was going to have this baby in the supermarket earlier, loads of BHs combined with twinging pain in my cervix. Had to stop and do some huffing and got a few odd looks
Growth scan and consultant again tomorrow. There is a part of me that is hoping the baby has suddenly got massive so that they want to c-section me at 38 weeks! I am sooo tired and uncomfortable, and poor DS is getting the rough end of the deal :(

I've rather ground to a halt on the preparation front, must get things finished off this coming weekend.

We've got the cheap Mothercare bouncy chair thing - although saying that, if I had known about the Baby Bjorn or Coco Bloom ones before I bought it I would have been VERY tempted.

Ali - my post natal club for ds christened oor bouncy chairs as the 'poo chairs', nearly all of us found our lo's would poo while in their chairs. Something to do with pressure on the bum hole was the theory we came up with! Good luck for your appt tomorrow. I know what you mean about ds getting the rough end of the deal, I just have NO energy.

I suppose I really need to start thinking about all the preparations and gubbins for the labour/birth, but I feel really apathetic about it all at the mo.

We got the plain basic Mothercare one too for DS1, has a slightly fuzzy cover and he liked it.
DS2 used to fall asleep in it loads.
Then we were given a hand-me-down of a 'Sally Gunnell' one might give that away this time.
And then we bought a Fisherprice Kick & Play one which is fab for when they're older, noisy though!

I think this baby has corners

JKS PMSL at the baby with corners! I feel like that too sometimes...or at the very least sharp edges!

Evening all!

Just got back from MW appt (34+5) and Little Insect has (after the weekend of gymnastics) gone back to head down and is now 3/5ths engaged. Thankfully she doesn't think Little Insect will be doing any more full on turns just rolling over.

We also discussed where I wanted to give birth (the delivery ward or MLU). I've decided on the MLU as they are apparently better at facilitating water birth and water as pain relief. I have an appt in a couple of weeks to go and have a look around the MLU and talk to the MWs on the unit. I'm actually quite relived to be able to see it before the big day!

Anyway, I'm now going to spread out on MY sofa and eat what I want and decide what I want to watch on tv...yes the PIL have been and gone! As lovely, kind and helpful as they are I am glad to have my house back!

Ali, This is the one we've got, yep, just the basic one. I can remember my little bro in one about 24 years ago (and me and my sis getting told off for pulling it right down and letting it ping forward! He loved it!).

Sounds like a bit of a drama in the supermarket! Although Make sure you get the right shop - there's all those urban legends about getting free shopping for life if your waters go in M&S!

Well done Beetle on the 'engagement'! And congrats for surviving the PIL invasion!

This is all getting a little bit real now - I've just rung round the local childminders, and have appointments to see two on Thursday. Unfortunately, one round the corner doesn't actually have any vacancies but was amazing and told me I should come round and say hello anyway to get an idea of what childminders are like (what a legend!), and the other lives too far away (I won't have the car, so needs to be walking distance) but has the days available and is about to be made redundant as the local childminder co-ordinator (type thing), so she knows everything about everything, and will be going back to full-time childminding soon. So it'll be an enlightening day.

BeetleBaby fab news - turned and engagaged! PIl gone too.
My MIL is now banned til after the baby.
I thought OBEM was great again - I can't stop myself from howling when they're born - it brings back such emotions about the boys.
We're on half term here which is fine - although Thursday one of my friends is having a little op and I've both of hers too for the morning. I've got a couple of activities for them, but I think it may be a digging in the garden morning!
I found transition very odd last time, I got really panicy and apparently tried to kick the obs/gyn. First poo was fine though.
I've been through a few bouncers - baby bjorn has been the best by far.

Hello everyone.
Hope you're all ok and coping in these last few weeks.

I've felt a lot better since I finished work - had my first two days as a lady of leisure and liking it.

Had some really bad news today - a very close friend has lost her baby - she was due 3 months after me. Am absolutely devastated for her and her husband and she's already said she won't see me for some time as can't face it with my being pregnant etc which I totally understand. It's hit me hard as it just brings home to you how fragile this all is and I'll really miss seeing my friend as well and just knowing how much she is suffering is heartbreaking and I can't do anything to help. Had a good cry and spoke to another friend so feel a bit better now but such a shock.

Evening Ladies!

Ranty pants have been removed today!! Had a lovely day with DH. Got my hair cut this morning so it's looking good for a change! And I put on make up for the first time in what feels like a year!

We then went to Ikea for a chair for the nursery. Picked one, but DH is going to go back at the weekend to get it, as my hips had given up. Then it was off the the hospital for my growth scan and "too much cake" clinic appointment! Finally I have an appointment where someone actually listened to me and my groans about my aches and pains! So I've come away with dihydrocodine (I'l only take it when pain is really bad) for my SPD and Rantidine (sp?) for my heartburn. I've also had a dull headache for the last week or so that hasn't shifted and some pain under my ribs. I've heard that these can be signs of pre-eclampsia, Doctor gave me a full check over and thinks everything is fine, but I've to go to my CMW next week just to check BP etc. So feeling much better about things today!

We also had a scan, and I'm having a whopper (aparently) 96th and 95th Percentile for head and abdo measurments! Eek!!! I know they aren't always accruate about these things! But ouchy!! I'm only wee!

I've been reading Ina May too. Some bits I'm a bit at, but on the whole it has really helped me understand that childbirth is what my body has been designed to do. Its all mental preparation, I think I can, I know I can, I think I can, I know I can.....

sassy sorry to hear about your friend :-(

just remembered I haven't got the bouncy chair thingie - will order one with the nappy bin from Kiddicare this weekend and, barring the carseat (somewhat crucial, but we like to fly by the seat of our pants in my household apparently i.e. husband has been given the responsibility of getting this). I'm going for the Bjorn one again. Gave mine away to a good cause after the twins had outgrown them as I was still in the 'I'm never having another baby' stage.

Ina May is great - it makes me wish I could just decamp to the farm for some serious lentil birth magic. I tentatively broached the possibility of my being 'allowed' into the pool this time around but was rather stiffly told that there "were no inicators for that" as I was VBAC. Whatever the f*ck that means. I think it translates as ''we'd like you flat on your back strapped to a monitor for our best convenience' which has just made me feel a bit bloody minded about it all. The only option is to huff and puff away at home for as long as possible with the help of my doula and hope that all my hypnobirthing practise doesn't disappear in a puff of smoke. It's all the great unknown to me. This time last time I was about a week away from a c section under general anaesthetic so I've no idea a) how to cope with the last five weeks with two four year olds bouncing off the walls, and b) how the hell labour is going to go for me. Guess I just have to do all the preparation and positive thinking I can and hope that the planets align on the day. At least then I'll know I did all I could and if I do end up with another c section or become some screaming, non-zen-hypnobirthing maniac then it's just how that birth will be on that day.

Okay, waffle over and question of the day, what snacks are good for labour?

Anyone else feel as if there uterus is about to drop on the floor? Everything is VEEEEEERY HEAVY, which is a tad worrying with six weeks still to go. Must keep up with the pelvic floors.....

Sorry - obviously 'their uterus' rather than 'there'. I naturally blame hormones for the deplorable grammar...