April 2011 - nearly there, all set for dropping Mofo C bombs in the delivery room

[SnapFrakkleAndPop]

Executive decision that at 987 posts we're moving over!

New challenge - can we fill up 1000 posts before the first babies arrive, given that we managed to keep our legs crossed all through the last one?!

First babies are due, officially, next month but are there any in such a hurry to see the world that they can beat our chatting?

I'm doing Ikea this morning, perhaps the stress will bring on some action!

I've got mw this afternoon, my sister is off on her lambing course this afternoon so might come with me to hear the baby's heartbeat. She's really worried she'll miss the big event

Hmmm, I wonder if one of the cats would mind me trying me new sling on them...

Morning Ladies,

I see quite a few of you are up and at 'em this morning.

My grandma passed away this morning :(

Don't really know what else to say.

Oh Lis my lovely I'm so sorry :( It will be no comfort, but I will send you a virtual (((hug))) anyway.

It's quite alright to let yourself howl if you want to, is DH with you? Grandmas are v.special, I still miss mine nearly 4 years after she died.

Cycle that cake sounds amazing, and sorry your friends bailed on you but curry and presents sounds good anyway.

ILTMI & Ali, another one here with a slightly grotty house, a slightly neglected toddler and a TV permanently tuned to CBeebies. My mantra is 'won't do any damage in the long run'.

Thanks for all the advice on pramsuits. I'm Australian and permanently overdressing DS. You could hardly find him for all the blankets and layers and snowsuit in his pram when he was tiny...but he was born in December...so maybe I should throw caution to the wind and let this baby feel air on it before s/he is 12 weeks old!

Happy anniversary Beetle

Ouch Jen hope you're resting now.

Lol at Lis using a pineapple as a suppository...can imagine you having to go to the labour ward to give birth to the pineapple before the baby!

Just refreshed before posting...so sorry about your grandma .

Big hugs, lis - my Grandad died last month, the last of the four, and it still feels very odd not to have any of them around anymore. But my mum and I are both finding that little by little the thought of the new little life about to burst upon the scene is helping to make it all seem ok - even though I am still very sad he didn't hold on long enough to meet little Bean. X X.

On happier news I am now over 37 weeks and finally on Maternity Leave AND it's a gorgeous sunny day! Hurrah! A question about raspberry leaf tea - I bought some at the weekend but DP is terrified of me having any in case it brings on baby too early but I thought you were supposed to try drinking it earlier on to gradually condition the womb or whatever. Mind you, I've also heard it tastes like old tyres - was that on here?!?! Any opinions welcomed.

I'm sorry about your grandad Daisy, thats what makes me sad too, that she didn't get to meet my little man. He is the first great grandchild.

My mum told me this morning she told my grandma on Saturday the name we had chosen. She was sleeping, but the doctors said she could hear what was going on around her. I'm glad she knew that before she went.

DH had already left for work when my dad phoned. He is going to come home soon.

Oh Caramel, I didn't think about the pineapple lingering! Perhaps I'll not bother.

Oh Lis i am so sorry. Big hugs. x

Raspberry leaf tea just gets your uterus ready I think. It's not a trigger as far as I know...

Sorry to hear about the various bereavements, so sad.

Glad your gran got to hear the baby's name Lis x

I've just out a dark load of tiny clothes in the wash, still feels unreal. I'm 38 weeks today, weird!

Lis, sorry to hear about your grandma, ((hugs)) for you.

Ali don't feel sorry for me! I've just got nothing better to do than moan!

Cycle congrats on reaching 38 weeks! Do you know if you're having a cs yet? I can't remember. And you're constantly amazing me with your activity - Ikea?! I barely handled it at 28 weeks, let alone 38! Good luck, have fun, and if your waters do go - make sure it's somewhere awkward! (trying out beds?!)

Daisy congrats on starting your Mat Leave! And on having sunshine! (It's overcast here, again!)

Just had my MW appt and found out the lovely student (she really is good!) is finishing her placement on saturday, and then that my MW is retiring at the end of May. So, we've got a deadline for the student, and I'm a bit sad that if I ever have another one, my lovely MW won't be there. (I think of her of the devon version of Ina May Gaskin!)

No news really, no mention of imminent arrival, head still not moved any further down. However belly measurement suggests he's around 8lbs now!

The BH's have continued all night, and are still going, so I'm going to take that as a positive, and spend all day bouncing on my Yoda Ball!

Thanks, Cycle, that's what I thought! Might make some today and at least SMELL it to see..... Re Yoda balls, having acquired a fancy purpley one last week, anyone else get more backache from sitting on it than not?!?! Am I doing something wrong?!?! Read whilst sitting on it for a hour the other day and was quite relieved to sink back onto the sofa....

Sorry about your grandma lis. I lost my grandad just before Xmas, the last one. It's sad to think my little one won't have a great grandparent.

Just had 38 week midwife appointment. Looks like I'm more or less fully engaged. Really hoping that doesn't mean arrival is imminent, I stll have is house full of dust & builders.

lis sorry to hear about your Grandma

cycle I put my cat in my sling...I couldn't resist she tollerated it but wasn't overly impressed funnily enough

Daisy RLT doesn't taste too bad, although have only had one cup so far, am slightly paranoid that it will make BHs worse, wouldn't mind if I thought it would lead to anything more

Got 38 week MW appt wednesday, just seen that it should be my last appointment unless I go to 41 weeks brings home how close it is, despite feeling like it's never going to happen.

lis I'm so sorry about your Grandma

Cycle & Stuffed while I haven't put a cat in a baby sling a couple of years ago my sister and I while drunk decided to 'make' a sling out of a blanket which stupid cat voluntarily got into and was happily carried around the house fast asleep!

Daisy I haven't had any RLT but a friend said she tried it, did bugger all to bring on labour but made her feel really nauseous despite liking the taste.

Oh Lis sorry to hear about your grandma.x

Lis I'm so sorry to hear that. Sending you big hugs.

Daisy how are you sitting on the ball? Is it the right size and sufficiently inflated? Sitting wrong can put strain on your back. Equally if you're carrying a lot of pre-existing tension which is distorting the way your back should be and the ball is practially forcing you to sit right it might hurt as well.

beetle happy belated anniversary!

Jen ouch! Hope you feel better soon and I'm sure your DD is loving being spoilt rotten

cycle soooo rubbish about your friends and the baby shower but I love the cake! What does your sis do that she's going on a lambing course?!

I can't get over you all talking pramsuits and British weather - I'm worried that baby's going to boil here and am planning to dress it in as little as possible!

The only natural induction method I have any belief in is sex - the prostglandins in the semen are very similar to the stuff they use in gels to induce so it will soften the cervix, however that won't kick start labour. Playing with your breasts/orgasm might as that gives you a rush of oxytocin. But if your body isn't ready it won't do anything!

I do however think that women can subconciously stop themselves going into labour - some kind of protection mechanism about preventing you from having the baby before you're ready to I suppose. I know it sounds super hippyish and very Ina May Gaskin but there's a grain of truth in there somewhere.

Sorry to hear about your Grandma Lis.

RLT can be vile, I used the capsules so I didn't have to drink it.

What is the temp going to be like when the baby arrives Frakk? I bet shifting your bump around in the heat is evil.

I believe woman can stop themselves going into labour as well. It's like animals who will only birth when they know they are in a safe environment.

My labour stalled with ds1 when I transferred to hospital from home and I KNOW it was because I was in an environment I felt unsafe and uncomfortable in.

Lis - I'm really sorry to hear about your Grandma and I hope you're ok & with DH and your family. Big virtual hug for you.

On the raspberry leaf tea front - I've started drinking a mug a day - the taste I find fine, just like raspberry hot juice really. As far as I know it is for uterus preparation more than anything, and you're meant to carry on taking it after birth to help your uterus prepare as well. I'm only 35+3 so hoping it doesn't bring anything on too soon...especially as we've got builders coming back in 2 weeks to fix nursery window so I'm freaking out about nothing being ready.

Daisy with the ball - try moving your hips around on it and not just sitting in one position. As Snap says it might be getting your body used to it from your previous positions, but keep trying as they are great, maybe just take shorter turns on it?

Am laughing out loud with you Petal - so agree with the never shagging again... DH got very excited when NCT lady said that bodily contact & stimulation was key for helping an easy labour. I've told him he's lucky I let him in the same room as me at the moment..

Cycle & stuffed loving the cat in the sling action - i can just see their faces questioning what on earth is going on!

Hello,
Another latecomer here. I've been lurking and reading the threads for a few months now and finally decided to sign up.
I'll be 38 weeks on Thursday and today is the first official day of my maternity leave, though have had 3 weeks annual leave up to now :) I'm loving being off work and just pottering around the house, though don't feel ready yet...
I started on the raspberry leaf tea last week - the first few mouthfuls are ok but by then end of the mug I'm forcing it down, I broke into my labour bag snacks this moring to take the taste away afterwards.

Temp will be 30ish, humidity is my main concern though.

We're going to need a new thread soon. Any ideas what to include in the title beyond our Yoda balls?!

Important questions:

Do you own a yoda ball?
What pram have you bought? And any other recommendations on the baby equipment?
Do you own a cat? (Don't worry if you don't, I don't either!)

Am back from Ikea and 38 week appointment. My fuss-making poor dad made my long-suffering mum take him to hospital this miring as his shoulder was incredibly painful. He got given an ibuprofen scrip and told he had muscle strain, and they say men make a fuss

Mum and I had fits of giggles in Ikea as he 'felt faint' and was 'in need of sustenance' in Ikea so I pushed his trolley so he could go and have a sit down in the cafe. Bless him, he's a bit of a stereo type in the man flu department...

Got the bits I needed though AND I remembered to pee in the pot before my appointment, normally I never do!

At my appointment the lovely mw said baby is getting ready to go. His head's completely in my pelvis and when I described the BHs that have been waking me up she said it might be the neck of my womb getting ready!

She reckons he's on schedule but knowing my luck he'll be two weeks late and induced. Sigh. She's pleased I'm being the chance to give VB a go and agrees a water birth might be a good option.

My sister is a student at the Royal Vet College, hence the lambing.

Hi Frakk, and everyone else (I feel like I know you all already).
Yes, I have a yoda ball (borrowed from a friend) when not in use it currently has it's own chair!
We got the Babystyle oyster pram in dolphin grey having done lots of research with what would easily fit in the car. We've tested the car seat out using a teddy bear, who has also been seen wearing a re-usable nappy :o
Not sure I have any recommendations, as this is baby no.1 but I did get a gliding crib, thinking a swinging crib might make baby seasick.
No cat.

Cycle My dear old Dad pulled a muscle in his leg dancing at a party a few days ago and apparently can't really walk/do anything much now....sounds much like yours lol
Sounds good RE appt hoping MW will tell me something similar this week....fingers crossed we won't be left waiting too long now! DS was only 2 days late so most people are telling me this one should be a bit earlier if anything although DH has gone from telling me it will be early because "there just isn't any more room for him to grow in there" to saying "he seems too comfortable, I reckon he'll be late" Men

Hmm, really need to work on punctuation

chilli I got a swinging crib but only because I picked it up for a tenner lol. I found an old baby doll to practice the nappies on

I've got a glider crib as my parents bought us a lovely one.

My sister has just left to go lambing, s weird to think I might be a mum by the time she comes back... Sigh. Having said that, baby will probably be really late.