May 2011 - The Home Stretch!

[sesamesmith]

Old thread here: The Rosy Glow Before the Storm

Stats thread here: Due May 2011

don't know how to add to stats, but am due 18 May. DC3.

Can i just ask bit of advice. I hav had really bad vomiting and the other since i woke up and a lit of pressure just under my ribs i cant even keep water down feel bloody awful shud i ring midwife or doctor or wait and c how i feel by tomoro?

Hi Jbells, I had diarrhea and vomiting last week and rang midwives who said not to worry unless it went on for more than 24 hrs- if that happened I needed to see a doctor, but there is nothing wrong with ringing the midwives yourself for reassurance
Mine was just a 24 hr bug- hope you are feeling better soon, you will prob feel really wiped out for a few days- I did! Get yourself some probiotic yoghurt drinks for when you start to feel better and take care x

Leaking milk, try this: milk saver
My NCT person had another version but I haven't located it yet.

JBells and others: please call your midwife! They're really helpful on the phone.

Had reflexology yesterday - weird effects, eg hard as stone uterus and returned sex drive! Shame about the back...

Thanks omnom. Thats wot i thought ill giv it till tomoro hopefully i will b better by then. Thangod dd is in nursery till 4 today really dont think i cud manage with her home today

Other milk savers: Medela £8.10
Avent £8.80

I have the avent breast cups which are great for when indoors and feeding but look very MADONNAESC!

Has anyone else started to look longingly at non-maternity clothes? I find myself lingering in front of shop windows a lot lately, anticipating the moment when I can start wearing normal clothes again ...

Yeah, just found out baby's turned head down. I really think it was the moxibustion that helped it, followed by nice walks to aid gravity. What a relief! (Hope it stays that way...)

Juneau - yes, eyeing up normal clothes, especially as my sister is getting married just 6 weeks after my due date!

Loopy Castle Coch is really nice and not far from me. The Big Pit is great as well but we had loads of rain today so we just went to the fun factory soft play.

We watched the Breastfeeding programme and I found it interesting as someone with no experience and none of my friends have a positive thing to sat about it also raised a few questions for DH as he thinks its positive thing but would not be happy with feeding in public so will see how it goes!

Cant believe I will be having a baby next month! Just keep thinking have I got and done everything I need to?!

I think its a great idea from Loopy re the 'regulars' and MIA stats so would everyone be happy if I started one tomorrow and try fish out the stats of those I can.

Ideas for names anyone as this will be our births thread!

Yes I thought there must be more subtle ways of doing it if needed; sometimes if just looks like they are cuddled up!

Ooh all this talk of Wales is making me I'm from Cardiff and you can see Castell Coch from my Mum's front door :o Would love to move back there sometime (to Wales I mean, not to Mum's - we would kill each other after about 3 days!)

jbells hope you are doing ok. If you haven't I would second a call to your mw/gp even if just for reassurance.

Didn't watch the bf doco as was in bed shortly after posting last night - worn out by IL's visiting and scan excitement.

Been v uncomfortable and tired today and DD has been v whiny - one of her little friends has just come down with slapped cheek and I am wondering if she is brewing it too which is not good news although have spoken to GP already though as I have no idea if I've had it or not. Luckily its apparently not too much of a risk to me/the bump as I'm more than 20weeks.

Been trying to write a birthplan to discuss with mw tomorrow. DH and I have decided on MLU rather than HB partly because of space and I think both of us will feel more comfortable knowing we won't have to do a transfer should something go wrong (our MLU is next door to our hospital's AN and PN wards). Am trying to keep the plan flexible so would appreciate thoughts if anyone has any comments...

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Ideally I would like as natural a birth as possible ? in water if a pool is available.

I would like to stay as active as possible and use whatever position I feel comfortable in. I would like to avoid spending time lying on my back.

To help the above, I would like to avoid continual monitoring of the baby unless there is cause for concern

I do not want pethidine but am open to other pain relief options

I am happy for a student to be present during the birth

HOWEVER?

Previous labour was by induction started at term+10. My daughter was born at term+12

During my previous birth I proved very difficult to cannulate (is this the right word?) and am very stressed about the prospect of this happening again so would like to avoid it if at all possible. I understand however that it may be required and would request that I have anaesthetic cream applied before it is attempted.

I do not want to be given a hormone drip to speed up labour unless I have had a successfully sited and working epidural in place first.

After the baby is born?

I would like the baby to be placed on my chest as soon as he is born.

I would like for you to wait until the cord stops pulsing before it is cut. Please ask DH if he would like to cut the cord.

I am happy to have an actively managed 3rd stage.

I am happy for my baby to be given a vitamin K injection.

I would like to establish breastfeeding as soon as possible after the birth and do not want my baby to be given any formula milk at any time unless permission is given by myself or my husband
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cowboy and loopy x-posts. I am another who worried about bf in public the first time but once we got it established I didn't find it a problem - and DD fed A LOT! I wore cheapy strappy vest tops (h&m ones were good) under everything that I could pull down with bra and then top went up. Had a couple of comments to the effect of 'didn't even realise what you were doing' from friends who were not baby-friendly. Ended up feeding in all sorts of weird places!

Hi guys, quick update.
Ds has gone to stay with my parents for a few days so I can chill out a bit. Not been sleeping well (pgp) and been quite emotional as a result and all DS wants to do is 'go go go'!
Desperate to get out on his bike all the time, which I sympathise with, but I really can't hack all the walking (he's only 5 so can't go unsupervised).

Midwife home visit on Friday, so this gives me time to tidy up and do a bit more nesting..
Birth pool arrived today, went for the aquaborn package in the end.
Birth/transfer bag half packed (just need to bag the baby clothes up to put in too).
Need to get dh to get the carseat down from loft so I can wash the cover on that too but feel as if things are starting to come together a bit.
Been writing birth plan too thanks to homebirth website, as mw said she wanted a detailed birth plan (guess we'll go through it on Friday).
Now... I've put everything in there that I want/prefer.. Is she likely to want to add stuff from mw perspective? Just curious really..

Need to get working on getting this baby the right way round as think he is back to back at the mo, or certainly he swaps from anterier to posterior regularly. Was classed as at 'brim' last Friday by midwife but wondered, is he going to keep switching too and fro till last few days b4 birth?
Trying my best to sleep on my left but the pgp makes things VERY uncomfortable/painful and actually feel more comfy on my back with an arrangement of pillows. I've read conflicting advice about trying to sleep on the left vs sleep in what ever position as sleep most important, and thus feel very conflicted about what to do for the best..

My scan last week showed up a VERY large head (HC=338.8mm which is above 95th centile) so mw was quite keen for me to obtain the most ideal position for birth.. Hey! I want most ideal too, I don't fancy a back to back labour if I can help it!

For info rest of results are as follows: scan @ 34+2
Biparietal Diameter 89.7mm
Head Circum 338.8mm
Abdominal Circum 307.8mm
Femur Length 68.4mm
Est. weight 2698g / 5lb 15oz

So, unsurprisingly, he's going to be big, hey, DH and I are both 6ft2 and DS was a skinny/long 9lb 3 at 42 weeks..
Think Ds's head was about 98th centile, so bout the same I'd guess...?

Right, now going to go through and namecheck and try to offer my 2 penneth if of use.. :)

I too was a bit taken aback to see the boobs whipped out on that program last night! I breastfed DS and wore bump bands (new look do three for £10) under tops so I could lift my outer layer and unclip the nursing bra then put baby on without having much bare flesh exposed.

I was also surprised that the breastfeeding mums were so quick to say that they had a closer bond with their babies than mums who don't breastfeed. I know it's a very contentious issue but mums need to do what keeps them sane. More people should live and let live.

Have to admit though, the five year old still nursing just seemed weird to me.

CAZZR: your measurements make for interesting reading.

At my last scan also at 34+2 mine was
bpd: 86
hc: 322
ac: 324
fl: 66
efw: 2723

so in comparison seems my Maxwell is fatter round the middle and weighs more but shorter in length with a smaller head! LOL

I know which I'd prefer, a fat tummy squishes more than a boney head!

Out of interest, how tall are you bonkers? Readings are very close aren't they!

Bonkerz That's fantastic about the breast milk abundance, but what a PITA too. I never once had to use anything... never leaked. I thought for a while that I was a little unfit or at least a little ambivalent, to be a mom because my boobs didn't leak when I heard another baby cry, which I was told would happen. They never even leaked when DD cried. Glad to hear you received lots of support for your PND... it must be so worrying to know your thoughts are out there but completely normal at the same time... hope that doesn't sound insensitive. I never had PND, but certainly suffered from cabin fever as we were snowed in on the mountain and DH being a Chef, worked long hours. It was lonely and boring as hell. Hope the on and off aches and pains subsides, and no, you aren't being selfish to want a drink!

juneau Not in shop windows, but definitely eyeballing my clothes in my closet that I was excited about getting into back in August, just as I found out I was pregnant again. I have been longingly looking at designer big bags to use as my new bag... and some summer wedges.

cowboy I invested in some breast feeding shirts too for when we went out... DD hated being covered and these shirts make it near impossible to even notice that I was breast feeding unless you were gaping and gawking.

Don'tworry It sort of bugs me when I hear woman referring to BF as creating a greater bond with their children. I mean really, how can you actually speak of someone's bond. You aren't them. And although BF is best for baby nutritionally, if mom isn't getting the nutrition, baby certainly isn't. The only thing I think I can say without a doubt is that the weight melted off my ass like mad (BF DD till she was 20 months) and I really could devour anything.

Sorry for all of you and sleeping uncomfortableness. I seem to be sleeping OK right now, although DH may find himself on the couch more often with all the bloody snoring! I just can't seem to get comfy sitting. As soon as I sit down, bambino starts with the moving around.

Thread title? Let the birthing begin. May, in like a lion. I'm not really any good at these sorts of things.

GotArt or a play on words.. " 'May' the birthing begin ". Not that I am good at this sort of thing either. I just steal other peoples ideas and 'tweak' them.

How about, 'may it all come to an end...' Joke.

Hi all,

Not much exciting going on here, 37 weeks on Friday, would love her to arrive now but in reality it will no doubt be another 4 weeks so i'll just have to put up with it :(

Re breastfeeding. I aphave jad mixed success... I managed the longest with my 2nd and 3rd, about 3 months and got to the point where id whip them out anywhere and give a death stare to anyone who dared to look :o

I only managed a week last time with dd3 as I was so sore and bleeding. Im hoping to bf for longer this time but I wont put too much pressure on myself and if its too hard then ill switch. With 4 other children to think about I wont have the time to feed constantly....

Hope everyone is keeping their spirits up. Not long now girls!

Sorry i havnt caught up tofay im.stuck in hospital overnite. Turns out i really wasnt very well. All is ok with baby tho