July 2011 - the final push!

[buttonmoon78]

I'm not going to do the stats as it took up so much of every page! Welcome, everyone!

button depending where head is positioned (but is head down) I can sometimes feel hiccups strong in hips! However most of the time the whole baby body seems to lurch with them but bubs is def head down just seems to depend how far down....

Had nasty pains today took paracetemol which eased it but very uncomfortable but had to stick about to meet my maternity cover. I don't feel so threatened having met him now he hasn't a clue!! He's agreed to come in early to have more days for handover which helps but realised how little time I have left at work now!!

Whilst during moments of pain and discomfort I want to be at home I am glad I am working until later on...would drive me nuts this last stage dragging with no distraction.

Ooo baby has hiccups and only feeling them in pelvis now....I find that quite an annoying sensation if I'm honest!

evening all, well we all seem to be suffering one way or another but def on the final 'stretch' now thank goodness.

im 35w on saturday so feel like ages to go tho having said that. Cot set up, pram ready just a few more small bits and pieces to get now.

I too have that feeling that baby will just 'fall out' if i walk too far. Had to give up on my support belt as just too damn uncomfortable and whilst still suffering from ms i can't do it

had once dreamed of a hb but i think i'll go for all the pain relief available now and check in at hospital go out with a bang eh as this is the fourth and last baby!

I'm not at all sure what is where! I just know I'm really uncomfortable. I think it must be properly unstable (must be genetic ) as dd1 was head down, dd2 was transverse, ds was breech so I know how they all feel.

Am just about to have scampi for tea when I have despatched girls (so I don't have to share). Was wandering around Sainsburys wondering what to have for tea when scampi popped into my head and then (oh joy!) I discovered it was 1/2 price. Such small things, such huge joy

Have almost arrived at a momentous decision. Am wondering about asking for an elcs whatever the circs. The closer I get to the birth, the more terrified I feel. I can't face another like the last one but don't really want to labour with an epidural and risk more damage to my back. So I'm wondering a) whether an elcs is a sensible option and b) whether I'd get one if I asked.

There's another thread where someone posted the new draft NICE guidelines but judging by the reaction when I discussed refusing ecv last week, I'm not confident. I don't have another appt with the consultant now until 36wks (3 wks away) but have another with MW in just over a wk so hoping I might get some support from her.

Quandry time!

DS was sick in the night. I don't think he's got a bug, he seems well and I was dimly aware of him coughing before he was sick (which he's done before - it just gets the back of his throat and makes him sick occasionally). School or no school? I am totally against sending kids in when they have something infectious - I'd be livid if someone did it to me - but I don't know what to do about this one!

Also, not happy. At the first sound of steps rushing to the loo, I leapt out of bed and legged it upstairs to him (3storey house so kids are on top floor) forgetting I can't do more than one stair at a time. Cue lots of ouching this morning!

However, baby def still breech. Was sitting having a rare quiet knit last night (watching the DofE being more charming and more irrascible than I thought possible!) and really thought it was going to pop out any minute from the kicks I was getting on my cervix. Quite brutal!

As far as I'm aware ECV is only an option and they can't force you to have it - and it only works in 50% of cases so you could need ELCS anyway! I don't think they'll put up too much of a fight Button.

Tough call about your DS, I guess if he has only been sick once, is otherwise well with no temperature/tummyache/diarrhoea then it's less likely to be a bug. Kids are sick for all sorts of reasons and they're not necessarily infectious (big learning point for me since starting GP training!) and a tickly cough irritating the throat or even swallowing a bit of mucus is often enough to do it. Hope he's ok now.

button oooh, half price scampi . I too have a tall house and in the middle of the night the stairs can be a right bugger. I fell down them twice when I was pg last time.

Only realised on Wed that we had no arrangements for DD to be taken care of if i go into early labour and don't make my ELCS date. Cue panic. Best friend round corner can cover some of it but is away for a fortnight. Argh. DP is away in France for 2 days in a fortnight too so I've also had to find another birth partner. A mate has volunteered and made me laugh as she told me "I've pushed 2 of 'em out so i roughly know what to do - though my porn career is in tatters".

at Stangirl. I've hung up my porn heels for good . BTW, scampi was lush. Had lots of mayo too!

DS gone to school. Ate 2 bowls of breakfast, sharged round the playground like a loony so I'm guessing my diagnosis was correct - cough induced vomiting. Teacher was fine about it too. Think it helps that I'm always one of those who keeps them off if they've got something contagious.

ECV worked last time (prob cos I have no stomach muscles left) but only with a full dose of morphine as my spd made it v painful. Don't know why I ever thought it wouldn't be - I hadn't been examined for several weeks previously as it hurt too much, so they scanned for position instead and confirmed what I'd been saying all along (that he was breech).

I keep trying to lighten up and adopt a que sera sera attitude but I'm finding it increasingly difficult with the shadow of labour looming. If I could 'book' another birth like dd1 I'd be laughing. It was no walk in the park (it is birth after all) but it was textbook and I never once felt out of control. DD2 and DS were both back to back though and horrible. I'm turning into a real stress-head. And then I get cross with myself because I know I'm also developing stuck record tendancies. Ho hum.

Shattered :( But have to work all morning as LO is at grandmas and I've got a deadline looming!
Aaarrrggghhh just when I was feeling energetic, I've slumped again. It doesn't help that we went for a meal last night and didn't get home 'til 10.

[Stangirl] and [Button]

I am interested in your set up of rooms at home. I live in a town house (3 floors) and am dreading the up and downstairs in the day as kitchen downstairs living room middle floor. Also, interested on where you are putting nursery. At mo my ds and us are on top floor with intention on splitting ds room so small box room goes to nursery, then we will still have speare room on middle floor. This is causing the biggest stress for me at mo as currently no nursery until builder starts in couple of weeks.

[Button] I feel your anguish over the birth, I too am really getting twitchy. Not sure what about maybe the pain, or the expectance to just 'get on with it' as its my second. First was no walk in the park, and am considering ep as soon as I can but even that frightens the hell out of me as it could go wrong or not work....

Stangirl and Button

I am interested in your set up of rooms at home. I live in a town house (3 floors) and am dreading the up and downstairs in the day as kitchen downstairs living room middle floor. Also, interested on where you are putting nursery. At mo my ds and us are on top floor with intention on splitting ds room so small box room goes to nursery, then we will still have speare room on middle floor. This is causing the biggest stress for me at mo as currently no nursery until builder starts in couple of weeks.

Button I feel your anguish over the birth, I too am really getting twitchy. Not sure what about maybe the pain, or the expectance to just 'get on with it' as its my second. First was no walk in the park, and am considering ep as soon as I can but even that frightens the hell out of me as it could go wrong or not work....

Morning all, is my last day at work today and couldn't be more delighted as I got caught up in the dramas at Waterloo yesterday and it took me 2.5 hours to get to work and 3 hours to get home last night - is official - am done with it!

Reading what everyone has already done, I having a mild panic as I haven't got anywhere for the baby to sleep as DD is still in the cot, no clothes for it to wear and no hospital bag if I go into labour early - am counting on being a week late like DD. Is a far cry from last time where I had everything ready to go 7 weeks in advance on my due date - is it just me or is there anyone else not prepared and trying to "wing it" a bit?

Button I am also trying not to think too much about the birth - DD was back to back and it was long, slow and painful - am hoping that this baby is more co-operative and stays round the right way - everyone keeps promising me that the second one is easier, reading your post am now worried as was counting on it!

Am very envious of all the ladies having a home birth, I was really keen but as I yelled my head off last time didn't think it was fair to inflict it on our neighbours, so have opted to go back to the midwifery unit at Queen Charlottes - anyone else going there?

We have dining room, kitchen and loo downstairs, lounge and master+ensuite on middle floor then 3 bedrooms plus family bath upstairs.

This one (regardless of sex) will have to share with 4yo ds once it's started being a bit better at night. I don't really have a nursery as such this time as I don't have a spare room. Last time the nursery was at the top but I only used it for naps and changing when I had visitors . Poor ds was carted about so much that he mostly slept in the pram in the kitchen in the early days.

I felt that 'just get on with it' pressure last time. They barely examined me until I said I needed to push which was then when they discovered he was back to back and I was only 3cm . They assumed I 'knew what I was doing'. I'm really getting anxious and wanting an appt sooner so I can tell consultant I want an elcs but I don't think I'll get an earlier appt. I reckon I'm stuck with waiting another 2.5wks! It's beginning to cause me sleeplessness though which is unheard of. Usually I sleep like the dead!

Just realised I trotted out the 'regardless of sex' line as I'm so used to saying that in RL! What I mean is, it will share as I know it's a boy but everyone else doesn't. It would have to anyway though. The thought of putting dds in together is horrible - I'd be back to 3dcs within a week I reckon!

notnearlyasblondasiwas enjoy your last day! I have very little sorted either. Most essentials are bought but are all over the place and no hopsital bag packed.

Totally missed your post notnearly! Have you got a nice weekend planned now that you're done then?

I am sooo winging it. I have a cot. But my nephew is still using it . I have one nursing bra cos I can't be bothered to go shopping.

I do, however, have loads of muslins!

Re birth, one of my friends had a terrible time with dc1 - nearly 3 days, forceps etc, couldn't sit comfortably for about a month, the works. With her second it was over in about 4 hours, nearly had him at home (unplanned), last min transfer to hospital as he got stuck so needed forceps again but a whole different ball game, much quicker healing etc. So it can work both ways you see!

isitreallythattime My kitchen/diner is on the lowest level - we have breakfast and lunch in there, then up a few stairs to a through dining room/living room, then up a flight to the study and showerroom, then up a small flight to my dressing room/spare room and master bedroom, then up a small flight to the family bathroom and nursery where new DS will share with 16mo DD after 6mnths in with us. We've changed our lounge/dining room into one large play area with all the toys scattered about. I'll also put the playpen in there - not for DD but to put DS in when I leave the room so DD can't jump on him. I may also hide in there myself.

notnearly I'm nearly as unorganised. I do have a moses basket - but it is somewhere either in the loft or cellar. Haven't dug out any clothes for baby yet. My only packing of a hospital bag was to sling a towel in a bag one night. I figure I'll muddle through somehow.

No not just you notnearly, I am with the 'slightly winging-it' brigade. I have taken the moses basket down from the loft and also have a 2nd hand crib that I will put baby in before the cot. I was kinda thinking that DD would be ready for a big bed by that time, what sort of age would they normally go from the cot? I'd rather try and avoid having to buy a second cot, especially if it's just for the sake of a month or 2. DD will be 18 mo when monkey arrives btw.
I had a look at the website FAB recommended for nursing bras, some of them are stunning! I just couldn't justify spending so much on one right enough, but the Bravado nursing tank top looked great - does anyone have one?
What a shame that some of you are getting worried about the birth but I guess it's natural given the stage we are all at. My friend also had a 'bit of a time' with her first, but has just had a lovely homebirth with her second. The mw gave her stiches there and she was having her lunch a couple of hours later, a completely different experience. Thankfully mine was really good and I am banking on it being exactly the same
Lucky all you guys who are already finished up! I have another 2 1/2 weeks to go - do you think it's cheeky to ask the GP's to still watch DD on my 'work days' for the 2 weeks before due date
V confusing today - 2 colleagues say how "huge" my bump is, cue another through the door saying how "neat" I am All relative I guess.
Button is an ECV when they try and turn the baby?

I'm not really thinking about the birth too much this time TBH! My first was awful, 2nd as I said before was never regular so I went most of the day without realising I was in 'proper' labour and it was all over very quickly when I got into hospital, no pushing really he just popped out when my waters went! Last time I'd been my sister's birth partner in between and seen them point blank refuse to let her be in any position other than on her back once she had monitors on which is also what had happened to me in my first and why it was so awful so I read loads about my rights to move about even with monitors etc and went in very well prepared and determined. I lay on the bed for them to examine me once and point blank refused to lie down again! They used a hand held monitor to check on him and got a bit narky with me but I didn't care! Found it to be very empowering and positive experience despite him being back to back, very painful and lots and lots of pushing. But this time I just can't get so enthused about it, I guess I'm just expecting it to be the same as last time which probably isn't very sensible. He's def not back to back (so far) this time though as his back is very clearly down my right side which I think is a first for me so hopefully not so painful this time.

I am also fully packed and everything washed, bought and ready!! This is the first time I have ever been so organised, particularly with 3 weeks still to go till my due date. I did have an overwhelming urge a couple of weeks ago to get it all organised so not entirely a surprise when contractions started, think I had a bit of an instinctive feeling things were going to start early this time, when it all actually finishes though is anyone's guess!!

Haven't got cot out the loft yet though, I have a moses basket and am trying to get myself an Amby Nest on ebay but don't want to spend too much so its taking me a while. Don't plan on using cot till he goes in with boys around 6 months so not point getting it set up yet.

Fraoch - dd went from cot to bed a couple of days after her 2nd birthday cos we moved house and I didn't see the point in putting cot up again for just a few more months so put her in a bed instead and she was fine. DS1 had to go into a bed at 17 months because he kept climbing out the cot and ds2 refused to sleep in the cot from about 18 months old because he was sharing a room with ds1 and wanted to be in the bed with him, he screamed endlessly whenever put in the cot so I didn't have a lot of choice!

On my 3rd contraction since I strated writing this, how long can this go on for?????

Just got back from dropping off DH for his exam. The poor guy gave me a kiss and then told the baby to stay put until tomorrow as he wants a couple of beers tonight!

notnearly This is our first child and we are totally winging it. Thank goodness I finished work when I did as I will be 37wks tomorrow. The bassinet is from friends and we will pick it up next week! Neither car has the car seat base installed yet and the local place that does it is only open on Wednesdays.

The weather is much better today. I stopped by our friends wine shop and he took me to their walk in fridge so I could cool down. I sat in there for half an hour and felt much better. My feet and hands went down quite a bit. I am thinking about moving into his walk in fridge until the baby arrives!

Fraocshmum I have a bravado nursing tank bra, they're great. I bought cheap mothercare ones last time that gave crap support so worth shelling out for a decent one IMO. I got mine from fromheretomaternity website.

My son went into a full size single bed at 18 months as he never slept well in a cot. He slept all night every night from then on. He was surrounded by teddys to start with but he soon seemed to grow into it. I would def ask grandparents to still have her, good to keep the routine up and you'll need rest lol! I have asked my MIL to still have my son one night a week when I stop work.

35 weeks tomorrow!! Still got another 3 weeks at work. I'm still feeling ok really. Have the odd tired...no make that knackered day....

I had some light period like pains earlier like when u r about to come on...anyone else had that? Does it mean anything.

Don't know why everyone's worried about births....im opting for the fairies swooping in dropping magical dust on me out pops baby I ping back into Shape, it def doesn't hurt if I pee afterwards and my stretch marks disappear, oh and I find put I've on the lottery....now don't any of you dare wake me up from my dream land. that is what birth is like....jimmychoo is in first baby denial week again....and still ignoring hospital bag....I'm taking monday off so I'll tackle Milton Keynes and shop for some bits as recommended on the other thread and hunt down a good bra after getting measured by some pert non pregnant girl......

Keeping it short, just wanted to let you know we're in the Transitional Care ward and looks like we're going straight to breastfeeding as she is nursing like a champ! I stopped expressing yesterday as I've been collecting what I leak and it's been enough to keep her going!

Still in lots of pain thanks to idiot dr but being back in an electric bed should help. Do you think I could sneak one home? Anyone suffering ask your dr to prescribe one! Tell them how much help you'll need without it and it's safer for the midwives if they don't have to sit you up in bed.

Jimmy, I don't hurt when I pee and I have stitches. If the ward has them definitely use a bidet when you go and use it first! I only used to sit on the toilet to dry myself!

I don't have many stretch marks but I think it's a combo of lots of scans (so lots of moisturiser and early births.

Have had same experience as others with losing posts but hope I'll get everything covered this time!

For buttonmoon and others who were wondering about the baby's positoin and hiccups I have been feeling them too but can't really help as to where the movement is as I find the whole body seems to jerk! When the baby is out you see that they will wave their hands and legs around lots so I think maybe that's what is going on.

supermum I also had a bad headache one day but I think it was a transient virus, however I'm very glad your dh behaved so excellently as it bodes well for the real thing!

cara2244 I am hopefully homebirthing, just have this bloody gestational diabetes to get on top of.

I don't feel like baby is going to fall out, in fact I feel far better than I would expect at 35 weeks. But the physio over here has given me loads of Pilates-type exercises to do so I wonder if those are keeping my pelvic floor and abs a bit tighter than they would be otherwise?

confuddled great to hear from you but poor you re spd, I wonder if you could get a physio in to tell off the midwives and doctors? anyway great you are in transitional care and no more pumping - I found all the pumping when ds1 was in special care really knackered me.

I am starting to get sorted, have fully packed hosp bag, although like some others haven't planned who will take the boys if I need it (e.g. if I have to go to hosp or if the labour takes longer than I expect).

Fraochsmum don't have a Bravado nursing tank top but several nursing vest tops which I have found v useful for home but not so good when out and about, as not v good support and a little bit exposed unless you have clever shrug/cardi/wrap arrangement over them. Interesting that the Bravado one is more supportive, might have to look into one for this time round.

pesha I completely agree about the monitoring. What you mention about your sister is what happened to me first time round (suspected pre-eclampsia) and I really wanted to avoid it the next two times. And thinking of you...

Off to see an acupuncturist/chinese herbalist today to see if she can help me with my fasting blood sugars. I seem to be fine during the day but just not very good at keeping the levels down overnight. It doesn't help that usually one or two of the boys wake up and need attention... I'm sure that's the main reason my so-called 'fasting' values are high...

Thinking of everyone

Arrrgh cant sleep. been up with pains, bowel pains nothing else although did wonder when they were starting to come every 5 minutes. had the poops (cant spell the D word) for 3 days now and have just googled salmonella and listeria in pregnancy but dont think its anything like that, must of just picked up a bug. feel fine when not in pain but feel dreadful when the pains come on.
on a brighter note i too finished work yesterday, went out for lunch with a few of my colleagues and they presented me with £80 worth of vouchers, i couldnt believe it, good job they didnt do an official presentation i think id of ended up in tears in front of everyone. theres not even that many people in our office so it was very generous of them and really didnt expect anything with them buying presents the first time round.

I dont feel when the baby has hiccups and i dont think ive even ever had a braxon hick, and this is my 2nd pregnancy - am i just abnormal? at 35 weeks would of thought id of had a BH by now.

completely not ready here too - everything is still in the attic apart from clothes, but they need washing, cant do that till DS's bedroom is finished and i can move him out of the nursery and then get baby's things in there. no hospital bag packed either as were going on holiday on Monday (only to Butlins) and using the bag for all our swimming gear while were there so cant pack that till next weekend.