Feb 2011-Final,final stretch!!

[Grannyapple]

Hi ladies-thought I would be adventurous & set up the new thread for the final leg of our journey

needto sending you lots of positive labour vibes! How exciting today has been for this thread.

Good luck for tues now debka We will all be thinking of you.

Any news from tadjen? I supposethe oh upside of slow dilation is shorter "active" labour so will keep fingers crossed for you that things progress painlessly!

wiggles am very envious of eve out, I did laugh at your "how the might have fallen" comment!

tarlia I have had both induced and naturally occurring labour - for me the natural way was easier butthen it was my second so that's a factor too. But just be open minded and have the epidural if you want/need it. There are no medals for not having pain relief!

Sorry for typos hope you get the gist!

I wonder what ledkr has called her new girly

Very excited for needto! Hope things are progressing well now! I'm dying to know what ledkr has called her little one.

I though labour might have started last night as had a couple of very painful contractions. Had a bath and that all stopped unfortunately. The OB said he would induce me if I was still pregnant this time next week, due to my advanced maternal age! I'm beginning to think he's just very comfortable in there! Any more labour news from anyone? Going to take the dcs to storytime at the library soon then have to get passport photos for us done for our green card application. No rest for the wicked!

40 I too went to the PRUH open evening last night...I thought it was ok actually, but couldn't believe how many people were there for the tour-hoping people can hold it in for a few weeks :). Guess that's what happens when they close one of the maternity units down albeit temporarily!

Nothing too exciting to report...had 2 really soft poos within an hour this morning (sorry if tmi!). Then bump went hard with some twinges so had a bath....then started craving loads if carbs & protein so made a quick bowl of pasta. Nothing since really so think it may be just BH. But bags are all packed & ready to go, just in case...I am now fairly convinced I will be at least another 2 weeks !

Did you and 40 pass each other without knowing granny? That would be really funny!

Thank you wigles!

yes PDR, i hope mine works out as quick as that!

I want to hear from needto!!!

tad probably :)

we got split into 2 groups for the tour as there were so many of us!

You need to develop some sort of secret signal so you can recognise fellow MNers!

Just a needto update as I know there have been some wonderings about her - I got a text from her this afternoon to say she was off to hospital to be booked (?) but hb still going ahead assuming all well. Haven't heard anything from her since though so hoping she's doing well.

Just checking in to see if any updates, wishing you well needto!

Tarlia, I was induced last time but don´t have anything to compare it to yet.. I would like to avoid it this time but really can´t say whether I´ll feel the same at 41 or 42 weeks! lol.

I would imagine that if you are able to wait a natural labour is on the whole going to be better than an induced one just because your body is ready and isn´t being forced.

Wandering - you poor thing you sound so worried. You will be fine. Have you read any Ina may Gaskin? She talks a bit about this, about women being made to feel like they won´t be able to birth babies that are too big for them, but that really this is very unlikely and we are capable of more than we think. You will be fine and remember they could be wrong about the size so try not to psyche yourself out beforehand! (easier said than done, I know)

I finally packed a bag! Managed one small bag for going home clothes for me and baby. Labour bag still work in progress. Will have another one to leave in car with spares etc in case of a longer stay.

Good luck for Tuesday debka, hope you're more organised than I am with bag packing etc!

And sending you lots of positive labour vibes needto, hope things progress along nicely.

Now I may have missed it, but is anyone thinking about, or tried hypnobirthing? I've bought the book, and have generally been trying to think positively and in a relaxed way about it, but haven't mastered any actual techniques, if that makes sense? Has anyone done it properly??

angels, what sort of blood sugar readings do you normally get? I don't have a measurer thingy at home, they did me at hospital, and it was 5.4- mw seemed to be rather impressed??

tallulah I've been using the natal hypnotherapy CD for the last few weeks, am supposed to be listening daily at the moment, but have had a couple of days off! Listened this afternoon and ended up sleeping, but apparently that's ok. There are breathing techniques on the CD, but it is more about preconditioning you to relax in the particular circumstance of the birth that you choose (my disc is for hospital / birth centre, and talks about things like the journey there etc.) I try and use the breathing techniques and particular phrases to help me relax when getting off to sleep at night.

tallulah - i´ve got a birthing hypnotherapy thingy on my ipod, its about 10mins relaxation and 40mins birth prep. I am not listening to it nearly enough, maybe twice a week? but am going to try and step it up. I find it really relaxing and it often makes me drift off so hopefully it will be of some use..

Ooh grannyapple how funny! I did wonder when I was there if you would be too, should have worn a red flower to identify ourselves! Were you in the first or second group to be shown around, I was in the 2nd

tallulah I also have CD that is a recording of two hypnobirthing sessions I had when pg with ds1 and I used it last time round and now just need to upload it onto my iPod for the next few weeks. I do think it helps condition your subconscious to enable better coping techniques during labour. That said it didn't do much for me first time round as I had so much intervention as he just would NOT come out! But it can't hurt, I think anything you can do to help you feel more in control and better prepared can only be a good thing!

Hello again,

Well, I'm in early labour. Having quite a big bloody show and losing the rest of my plug

Contractions are coming every 20 mins or so but not too bad at the moment (putting on my bravest face!) and last between 25-45 seconds. The mw at the hospital (had to go in for internal as all cmws were busy but back at home now) said it should be in the next couple of days.

There were a couple of other hbs in Hastings today but nothing now so mw said to call as soon as I feel I'm in established labour (ie when I can't talk through them).

Sorry I haven't read everyone's news but I hope you're all okay and it's really helping to have your support, I love this thread!

Fantastic news needto hope things get going for you sooner rather than later and that the homebirth is all you hoped for. Best of luck, can't wait to hear more! Xxx

Good Luck needto I am thinking of you!!!!!!!!!

Ooh good luck & how exciting needto

40 I was in the 2 nd group to be shown round too :)

How funny!

Good luck needto!

How exciting needto!! are you able to rest a bit? if it takes a couple of days you'll need it!

Needto thinking of you, try and get some rest xx

Any updates from needto?

Oooh this is so exciting! More babies and another on the way!

I don't get to get on here very often so its great to see that the babies are starting to come!

I too ma reading the Hypnobirthing book but am still waiting for the CD. Amazon. Grrr

I was having cramps most of the night last night5 but they have died away now. I have just passed my driving test on the first attempt though this morning so am putting them down to nerves about that

Oooh was just checking in for the same reason! Hopefully her absence means things have kicked off. Hope she is okay. Is everyone else ok this morning?

Dh left at 4am this morn for his stag do but pil are looking after boys so am having a pedi in a minute and have just been waxed into shape! I doubt the mws care but I feel better!

Anyone watch embarrassing bodies last night!!? Had to turn over, it was gross! Never watched it before but now it holds some sort of unavoidable power over me and will have to watch next week!