April 2011–Half in! Half out! On the grumpy couch...do the hokeycokey, breathe the baby out, that’s what it’s all about

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

New thread here ladies.

Again, many thanks to Frakk for the inspired title

Do you think this thread will be the last ante-natal one for the April 11 crew? Or will I be the last one standing and having to start a new thread and talking to myself?!

Jen - Congratulations!! (great name!)

Salted- also meant to say wow at 70 yrs hope he is ok moving.

Can't sleep even though dh got up with ds2. No signs here at all, what's in a due date indeed?!
Last night couldn't get comfy so thought that might be the start & BHs were roughly every 10mins until I got tired of timing and went to sleep!

Baby out now please!!

Good morning all - just dipping in as haven't been on in ages and finally caught up with all news and new thread (love the name!). Huge congratulations to all the new mummies and babies, so exciting - really want mine to arrive. 39+2 today so just got to be patient I suppose, but have gone all out on curry, pineapple, raspberry leaf, sex and walking... something's got to work surely!? Heading to church in a bit for Palm Sunday service so maybe that will encourage something.....!!

Morning ladies :)

Jen - congratulations!

Lis - you poor thing, you are having a time of it!

Can't believe DS2 will be 3 weeks old tomorrow - the time has flown! We took the boys to see my grandma yesterday which she loved, got home later than planned so we're a bit knackered but having a lazy day here today :)

Congratulations Jen - love the names you've chosen :)

Well EDD#1 (actually medically impossible according to date of conception) been and gone. Never mind!

TENS placed on order at pharmacy, or will be tomorrow morning for collection tomorrow afternoon, so if that doesn't induce labour before then I have no idea what else to try!

:( that's so sad about your GFIL salted but a really romantic story at the same time. I'm such a hormonal emotional blob at the minute it nearly made me cry.

Ali it's so odd to think that there are April ladies with babies of nearly a month and some of us still have aaaaages to go! Yet in a year these differences are going to be absolutely minuscule and by the time they're off to university there will absolutely no difference whatsoever (because of course we'll still be MNing together then ).

Jen Congratulations, you made me cry whilst reing it out to DH, 5 days over and hormones are flying around. I cried at my coco pops this morning as I remembers MrsWajs comments

70 years, it's truly incredible isn't it and so sad that they won't be together at the end, he's almost forgotten who people are in the family since he went in 4 weeks ago, he only just remembers his daughter (DH's mum) so sad, he used to write historical books, served in both world wars, has travelled the world and yet he doesn't remember his grand children so when we go to see him (if we make it in time) he probably won't have a clue it's his great grand child

Anyway......back up with the mood who's next for the baby then?

Is anyone else getting daily calls asking if anything is happening?

My mother got shouted at on Friday for the twice daily calls and several texts asking do you feel different? Anything happening? Do you think it will be today? So I snapped at her to stop stressing me out and to stop calling daily, I will tell her when something happens to which she told me she's my mother so it's different for her to be allowed to call me all the time and that I should tell others to stop calling as their making me grumpy with her I explained that they called every 2 or 3 days if they hadn't heard from me not every day, several time like her!

I then made a point and ignored her call an hour later and she called my three sisters and my father (whom I haven't spoken to in over a year) to ask them to call me to check. AArrrgh I swear if she lived close by, I'd make the headlines by nightfall
How do you tell your mother to get lost when her skins as thick as Rhino hide!!

We have an emergency mobile phone (having a mountaineering company you have to have a 24/7 manned phone) I don't know how, I guess she called the office and they gave her it, but now she calls that withholding her number so we can't ignore it, bl**dy woman! She's driving me mad Come on baby then mum can lower her blood pressure!

Epic post but boy do I feel better thanks xx

Huge congratulations Jen Fab name choice (we're expecting a George too so I would say that!) Pleased it went off after the rupture of membranes which is good and certainly a short labour. Hope you and baby are doing well :)

Lol at your mum salted I get a at least a daily phonecall from my family.. though my dad made me laugh asking if I'd 'had any signs yet' I did think he shouldn't ask a question he doesn't want an answer to... he'd be a bit suprised if I started telling him all about my snot-like cervical excretions! He did say though 'I expect it'll be like your homework - always late but worth the wait' which is what one of my teachers told him about 15 years ago and has obviously stayed with him!! I never thought i'd find people asking all the time annoying but it is!!!

Another question about movements - I think baby is moving less today - he's moving but it's small movements and not very often. What should my expectations be about movements at this stage (41 weeks today) the midwife is coming round in about an hour so I'll ask her as well but I was thinking about asking for a bit of monitoring? I was up between 5.00 - 6.30 this morning guzzling Lucozade but the reaction was minimal whereas something that sugary would normally get quite a reaction from the baby?

Lucie I had a similar thing last week MW asked if I wanted to be monitored I said maybe but was a little unsure as I'd been distracted most of the day so may have just not noticed as much as I normally do. She told me to lay flat on my back and with both hands pod, poke and try to move (slightly not 360 degrees lol) baby. She said to use the same pressure as they do which can be a little uncomfortable but baby was wriggling and complaining within 30 seconds and my ribs got a good kicking for the rest of the afternoon .

She did say that if I was worried even after some movement that it's always better to get a second opinion as mothers usually have a 6th sense about their children, go with your gut but try provoking a reaction (fingers crossed it's just an overdue and fed up panic moment) xx

Thanks salted mw has just been and thinks all ok, babies heartbeat is good and she said not to worry too much about strength of movements but keep an eye one number, but obviously if I'm still worried later then to give them a call. Had the stretch and sweep done which was ok and have a bishops score of 5 so could be better, could be worse.. I feel a walk coming on!

Lucie Tell all, I'm booked on Wednesday never had it done before.
Score?
Did it hurt?
How long does it take?
I take it you don't want to try sex the day before
What's the chances of it working, do you know?

Enjoy the walk

Many congratulations Jen, sounds like you've got a good birth story to tell us when you've got time

I've noticed that the movements have changed in the past week or so. He does move of his own accord but I also seem to have to prod him a lot more to get him to move. I'll speak to my MW about it tomorrow I think.

We just went to a local garden centre to get some lunch and MIL's birthday present and the whole way round the baby was really putting pressure on my cervix and my lower bump felt like it was down by my knees!

here's more about Bishops score for anyone interested

Don't take it as law though as things can change in hours

After ds's nap we're either off for a walk in the grounds of the stately home on our village (followed by tea and cake), or off into town to get some bits and pieces (followed by tea and cake). Do you see the theme?

SP your mum sounds worse than mine. She called me one day this week and while she resisted asking if I had had the baby yet, I just knew that is what she wanted to say.

She also called me literally 10 mins after I had given birth to ds2 saying

'are you ok, I've been awake all night thinking and worrying about you' - she didn't know I was in labour btw.
'er yes, I just had the baby a few minutes ago and I'm still sitting in the pool with the cord attached and waiting for the placenta to come out'
'oh'
'all is ok, I'll call you back later'

Well lots of people (including the mw) say it's like a smear, but I didn't really think so unless their smears have been quite different to mine! However, I've also heard the rougher the better and the mw did say that the more 'uncomfortable' it was the better as that was a sign of it working. I wouldn't want one just for fun but it's nothing to worry about it. It felt pretty much like what it is, someone rummaging round your cervix! However it's pretty quick so even though it wasn't very comfortable it's only for a brief moment and I'm really pleased she's done it even though I was a bit nervous about it. Booked in for a second one on Wednesday then induction on Saturday if necessary.

The Bishops score tells you how favourable your are for induction to work/to go into labour. Less than 5 is unfavourable, over 5 is favourable but I've just been cheering myself up reading stories of people who scored a five and had their babies the next day. Been having lots more of my show this morning anyway, and then loads since the sweep (bloody now - but she said that would be the case) Sorry if TMI! Also been having lots of pains since she did it but that's normal too and I think they just trail off a bit if you don't go into labour, which with a score of 5 is unlikely. The score is based on the position of the cervix, how soft it is, how effaced it is etc but the mw should go through this with you anyway. Basically it's nothing to worry about and I'd definitely rather have one than not!!

So far today I've had 2 texts, 2 FB messages and 2 phone calls looking for a status update on operation baby arrival. Mum was calling to tell me that 3 of her neighbours had popped in to enquire and her friend had text. Hopefully she now realises how annoying it is. Laugh is with the 3 of us she was 10, 11 and 10 days late so she must know what it's like with the constant enquiries.

DH just made me a sausage sandwich (an actual sandwich for those of you with dirty minds :o), the sun is shining. Aberdeen(my team) are playing Celtic in the cup Semi final. Maybe the excitment might help things along!! Today would be a good day to be born I think! Hint hint Buster!

Salted bless your GFIL & GMIL. Its so lovely and awful at the same time. When I saw how devestated my GF was when GM died that broke my heart more than anything. They had been married 58 years and still so in love.

Good to see you got a TENS Frak! I had visions of your DH frantically running round the island trying to buy you a TENA!

Iliketomoveit & Lucie
Thanks ladies, good link to Bishops score now I'll know what she going on about when she does it.
It's not TMI Lucie it's put my mind at ease I have to say I was getting a little worried after hearing how painful it's supposed to be, but people are all different!
I hope things are happening for you, save you going through membrane rupture, I'm not a fan but again different experiences for different people.
Fingers and toes crossed for this evening for you Lucie.

10 mins after birth ha ha, we share a mum! We have just had some lovely minted pea soup and fresh bread and now heading out for a walk around the lake, up past the castle and down river to town, just can't get enough Dr Pepper over an iceberg of ice. Hope you and DS enjoy the cake and tea after your walk

Lis speaking of dirty minds, I was reading on the birthcentre website about natural ways to induce labour and sex is one for two reasons, the orgasm and the semen, only it goes a little further than most with the semen idea as apparently the gut processes the semen faster and with much more potency increasing the hormone production by half as much again!! So, don't tell your man if you don't want a smile like a Cheshire cat ha ha!

April Family Don't forget your birth stories on the post thread, really loving reading them but not everyone has posted theirs, ok you may not want to but it's interesting reading to us still in the queue!

Salted I had heard that before. I have kept it to myself for the time being! DH would think I had taken leave of my senses as it is not my usual trick, well it was long ago when I was still trying to impress, but I think it will be the "In Case of Emergency" method only! No reason for avoiding the big O though!!

Salted definitely don't worry about it on account of it being painful.. it is a bit, but it's ok, if you see what I mean? And I'm a bit wimpy! I'm less worried about the next one than I was this one which is a good sign!

Since the sweep I've been getting pains in my lower back and just below the bump - ( sort of like a band that tightens) which come and go and are a bit erm not quite painful but definitely make me frown! Is this what I might expect contractions to feel like? I think sometimes a sweep can set them off but if you're not ready (which it looks like I'm not, they just die off) but just wondered if this is what I can expect early contractions to feel like. probably a very subjective question.. they are quite ouchy if that helps!!

Ouchy cramps sounds promising Lucie!! My money is on you having a baby before we are all up in the morning!!

Good Luck!

Lucie - sounds good to me, have you timed any of them?

I have officially given up hoping baby will come at all any time soon, and am much happier! Was a grumpy cow this morning.

Popped out to Asda with DS1 to get tonnes of bubble mixture, if anyone has LOs that love bubbles, they have a great bucket of bubble wands + a giant bottle of mixture for £8. DH & boys having fun outside while I watch formula 1 in peace.

Really wanted someone to comment whilst out so if asked i could say due today & see the looks on their faces, but no luck!! sod's law.

Oooh DH just made a near fatal mistake of mentioning how tired he is....

This is the man who's getting 8ish solid hours a night, with no hip/pelvis pain/no wee trips etc.

I've been waking first every morning when DS2 wakes up, then i wake him up to get up. It's pointless anyway as i never get back to sleep as he's so noisy, grr. Think i'll just get up first from now on and if he mentions the T-word about himself again I will really let rip!!!!

JKS cheeky these men sometimes, they have no idea and seem to think we have some power naps and cream tea with friends every moment they are out of sight

Lucie Sounds promising, get on you yoda ball and bounce up a storm or o for a walk up hill (not too far from home though) try not to sit comfy on the couch, wander around, squat for a while, keep busy but not exhausted and lets hope there's a baby update to wake up to tomorrow, good luck xx

Lis pmsl yeah I don't impress anymore, unless there's something with a rather large price tag I like the look of

lol.. 8 solid hours and tired - I can imagine how well that went down :)

(though SP in my case they'd be right about the power naps and cream teas but Sssshhh)

I'm sitting on the yoda ball and playing backgammon on facebook while timing the pains.. they seem to be about every 4 mins and for about 30 seconds so I don't think it can be labour because they're not that painful to be honest just a bit annoying and they're still really low, just front and back below the bump - hopefully it's doing something though!

I've just sat out the back for a while! It is beeeooootiful out there. Rolled up my top to show Buster how lovely the outside world actually was and he went mental! arms and legs everywhere, bum out! So maybe he does want to come out, just doesn't know the way. Does anyone know if the tale of putting a torch to your fanjo works? Like a light at the end of a tunnel guiding the baby to safety?? :)

Aberdeen got gubbed 4-0 so no excitment there to get me going.

What are the timings for actual contractions? If Lucie is 30 seconds every 4 minutes but doesn't think thats labour, how long should a contraction be?

haha.. light at the the end of the tunnel, I think anything is worth a go to be honest!

It's not so much that I dont think the timings are right, but that I think the closer they are together the further along you are and therefore the more they hurt?

Wonderful news Jen and welcome baby George :)

Salted I am so sorry to hear of your DGP's move. Goodness what an inspiration he is alongside your DGM. I shared your news with my husband and we both agreed that if we could even have a percentage of the posative influence in our lives together that they have had so far we would be thrilled. My DGP on my mother's side started to forget who we all were and so I understand partly how heartbreaking it is. The thing that helped a great deal was to focus of the joy that is still possible be it helping him listen to music or any other pleasure that is possible and sharing that in a meaningful way.

I'm relieved that I'm not the only one who is receiving more nagging about the new arrival than ideal. The ladies did indeed come back yesterday and so I decided to get Fraser and Bertie (our little spaniel) in the garden and try to get things done, they came along and did a little strawberry and potato potato patch weeding along side me. Unfortunately their dog was less than well behaved ah well!

ILTMIMI the cake, heritage property and walk combination is my idea of heaven. :)

Talking of cake I've uploaded a pic of the childbirth cake I have made as promised (it's on profile now). I think after all the work on the day I'll deserve a nice cup of tea and big cake. Yes all for me...well maybe I'll let DH and midwife a small slice :)

I have ordered a flowering cherry tree just like the one in the background as all things being well I'm going to bury my placenta underneath the new tree in the front garden. That way every spring I will be reminded of this special time :)

I know, I'm soft....

Arch - looks lovely :)
Though I was happy for the MWs to take the placenta away with DS1 tbh.

Foolish DH mentioned the T word again!!
After making a 'roast' dinner with new potatoes & no gravy & WTF?

I ate mine in the living room & went to lie down for a bit as DS1 gets antsy if I 'talk rudely' to Daddy so i felt best to say nothing and leave for a bit.
Gets bad when your 4 year old censors what you say!!

I'm trying to be positive today but it's not working & I'm definitely a tearful/snappy mess. Not helped by more painful BHs. ouch.

Beautiful cake Arch. Re the tree, because you've mentioned it you are now an expert to me!! We were give a Cherry Blossom sappling as a wedding gift 3 years ago(it was literally a twig in a tube!) We planted it in a large barrel, but it's never flowered :(, any tips?? I could ask the hopsital for my placenta if it's good fertiliser!!