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!

Things went well at the doctors today. My cervix is ripe but closed. She gave my cervix a good rubbing and I have had BH contractions, period pains and lots of baby movement today. She said given the ripeness of my cervix she thinks I will progress quite quickly once dilation starts. She also told me my acupunture appointment is booked for 39wks but if I wanted to I could book myself in now. I called them up as soon as I got home! I am fed up of being pregnant and the heat is only going to get worse after this week.

Cara I have no idea as to what I would do. My mother suffered from PND and never sought treatment. It was a huge factor in my parents marriage falling apart. I have already spoken to DH about my fear of getting PND. I told him that he needs to make sure I get medical attention ASAP.

damn wrote a message last night but internet crashed and it didn't get posted. anyway sounds like you might be next supermum!!! I have also started acupuncture. It's mainly for the diabetes but can also help me not to go over 40 weeks.

Cara so sorry to hear about your friend. I think my sister had pnd after her first baby but we all only worked it out later, so I don't think I was much help. I've never had pnd but was depressed prior to kids and think that specific practical things really helped me, like friends who said they would meet up with me for lunch. Otherwise it's easy to go from day to day doing the minimum and trying to escape from everyone rather than going out and interacting. But that might just have been me.

Re. the home birth and the kids, last time I laboured overnight and the boys only woke up at the end, but dp had bought them some new DVDs specifically for 'when the baby comes' so they sat in a different room to watch them. Ds2 was 4 then, though, so a little older than your ds or my ds3. I'm mostly worried about what if I have to go to hospital, or if I labour overnight and then carry on in the morning so will have to sort out someone to take them to school. Last time round we had lovely neighbours whose son was at the same school as my boys. Although we didn't need to call on them at all we knew it would be no problem whatsoever if anything had happened.

It's getting closer and closer so I think I'll have to do a phone list for Dp. Don't want him asking me questions about who to call if the midwife is trying to get me ready for a hospital transfer! For a similar reason I have my hospital bag all packed.

No period-type pains here yet, but loads of Braxton Hicks.

Nettle tea is very good for iron levels if you can cope with the taste. My iron even went up in the last trimester and I bet it was due to that! It's also a 'uterine tonic' (a bit like raspberry leaf tea but safe to drink at any point in pregnancy) which may explain all my Braxton Hicks.

Hope you manage to do something relaxing on your birthday, button.

Hello to dyerlou

by the way minicorrect I don't know if your dp has been pg herself but I have found that you just need to put your foot down about things you can or can't do. Decorating a ceiling at 30 something weeks' pregnant would be crazy even without the spd. You need lots of tlc but sometimes we just struggle on and partners don't realise it.

I have been snapping at the kids too and regretting it later ... but they need to learn that we are human.

OMG having the worst "sleep" ever! Infact, I can't remember a point during this night where I have slept so I have decided to get up, have a cup of tea, yoghurt, and piss about on the computer for a bit. I've also hung out my washing - no-one to see me in my dressing gown at stupid o'clock - midgies were a bitch tho!
Has anyone else had hot/cold episodes? I kept getting extremes yesterday and wondered if it was normal. For the second night running I've also had numbness down one side, but the opposite side to which I've been lying Both times I've been lying on my right, but my left arm and hand have been numb and only subsiding when I go on my back/left hand side.
Another vote for front-sleeping here!
Good luck with your special massage Want2be! Hopefully you will have some lovely news later today xxx
Afraid I have no personal knowledge of PND cara, but second the advice of seeking as much help as possible, it seems to be far more recognised these days. Someone I know of suffered terribly, which was put down to some of her placenta being retained but not realised. She ended up being hospitalised for some time, but has come through it really well now. I hope your friend gets the help she needs, and I would suggest just being the friend you always are to her.
That made me laugh button! My DH hadn't banked on my car surviving another year and kept pointing out other ones going in the town, but it sailed through the MOT last month! It's an x-reg too, my mum gave me it when my last one died (she had it for years and ended up with 3 cars and 2 people) and it has been so reliable and v comfortable. DH not impressed as he is a bit of a car fanatic and refers to it as the 'dog car' - he's even less impressed when I suggest putting the dogs in his Audi A4 Ooo your Vito sounds nice! And plenty space for long-legged DD's
OK going to try and sleep for an hour before the rest of the house wakes up, although the dogs will probably whine because they've not been fed yet :(

cara a few of my friends have had PND and one of the striking things about it was that none of them spoke to anyone about it whilst they were experiencing it - so your friend admitting it is a really good first step. In retrospect I can now see that the signals were there to see but I wasn't clued up enough to spot them myself. I would highly recommend her going to her GP to seek professional help - someone to talk to that isn't a friend of family member I think really helps. She'll probably wants to pretend that she feels normal and is coping fine so to tell anyone close to her how she really feels ie useless, a danger to her child, like she can't cope - would be difficult. Help her make the appointment and go with her. She may feel like a failure in doing so but PND is sooo common and she can be helped through it.

Cara can't help with the pnd, but as for eggs, we have our own chickens and I've been doing batches of hard boiled aggs to have for a snack. It's good to get protein as a snack anyway for energy I figure. And nobody else seems to be eating many eggs atm.

With my hb last time DS1 slept through it. Contractions started at 1.30am and DS2 was born at 3.14am. DS1s face when he got up in the morning was a picture. I'm naively maybe assuming that this time will be the same. Although my mw said nearly all hbs happen at night when you are relaxed that kids are out of the way.

Mini, what're you doing about pain relief? I'm terrible at home and keep getting told off by my drs and midwives but I'm noticing the difference in hospital where I'm taking them properly. Take them like a course, four times a day however much or little pain you're in. If you're not being prescribed anything for it then take paracetamol like that, if that doesn't work co-codamol and then ask your dr for co-dydramol. I'm finding co-dydramol 4 times a day is making a big difference, doesn't totally take the pain away though.

I've read all the posts and if I was online I'd make a long post answering you all!

I'm still in hospital but expecting to be until about Friday. Before she was born I said it'd be this week I'd go home. She's on the bilibed at the moment but hopefully should be off today, her levels were low enough yesterday but only just so they wanted to give her chance to properly get better so she doesn't end up on it again tomorrow. She's looking a lot less yellow now. It's hard because she wants a cuddle but I can't keep taking her out. She doesn't settle well in the bed. She's lost a bit of weight but they're not too concerned as she's gone from a regulated amount to all breastfeeds so it's expected, she just needs to get used to feeding herself and gain weight. Once those two things are sorted we can go home. I wonder if anyone will have their baby home before us? I'm feeling a little frustrated about it all, if we'd have gone to Transitional straight away like we were supposed to we'd be home but because they separated us and gave her formula, instead of her breastfeeding straight away like we should have done at her age, she got ill because she is intolerant to it.

My Doula popped in yesterday - the one I paid not the one on the day - she's read the backup's birth report and done some debrief with her. She's had some interesting insights into my birth, she's not happy (you already know about the stirrups but there's more that went on. The outcome is I delivered myself, no help and only g&a, but there was some messing about by the dr, you'll read all about it when I get out) and wants to see my notes and trace to understand it better. Obviously at the moment she's going by what two trainee Doulas are saying and one was in labour at the time. I think that she's seen enough births to read what we're telling her though. I think the things I've passed on to OH from her have helped him feel better about it. I must be giving some odd spoilers! It's not a bad birth story - honest!

Morning all.
Aggghhhhh I have a cold ! Another bloody cold !!
I knew I was coming down with something as I have felt odd the last few days.
Still I only need to make it to next wednesday and then im 36 weeks andits bye-eeee to work till the beginning of April 2012 lol !!

Its going to be weird actually as I have never in my whole life had that long off. With DD1 I only had 4 months and DD2 I had 5 months so it will be odd !!

My movements today are really really strong and quite painful. I feel like he is trying to escape !

Oh and as for not sleeping fraochsmum Yeah I feel your pain !! I am not sleeping AT ALL !! I was awake most of the night tossing and turning and then my poor two DD's got my temper this morning as they decided to get themselves up and dressed at 5:45 this morning and then started making toast !!They were sooo noisy ! poor DD1 is still on crutches becuase of her broken foot so she clattered down the stairs !!! Aghhh I was not happy and now feel guilty ! Still, I had better get used to the early mornings and the wakings really shouldnt I !! I am spoiled with my two ! I havent had a disturbed night in 6 years !!!

Right time for my iron tablet and a swig of fresh orange I suppose !
ooh I finally had a MW appt next monday ! Its my 36 week one ! havent seen the MW since my 28 weeks appt !!!!!! So i have plenty to moan about

Morning all! Feeling a lot more positive today

Confuddled glad your dd is improving. I bet you can't wait to get her home and really get back into your life?

Fraoch - we had a Vito til last Nov when dh lost his job - it was so brilliant! It was only a 5 seater then, but the 'boot' is amazing. We could go anywhere (with dog) and barely make a dent in the space. We went to France twice in it and made full use of the payload . This one is a little less pimpy though - the last one had a silly engine. Sorry you had such a pants night's sleep

want2be I couldn't stop laughing at your mw giving your cervix a 'good rubbing'! Let's hope things start to get moving for you soon. Perhaps you'll be next? Although Pesha's not been on for a few days so maybe there's movement there?

Oooh yes - where's Pesha?! Hope things have moved on for you there!

Taking notes on the car recommendations - we have a Honda Civic which I really like, but with 2 car seats in there's not going to be a lot of room for much else! Especially as we've got DD in a RF which is much bigger than her first one.

Confuddled - so glad to hear things are improving for you both and glad your doula is taking an interest in your birth experience - will she follow up with the medical team? I think the most frustrating part of a bad birth experience is that the mother (and family) deal with the consequences without the team that were responsible ever even knowing they felt it wasn't right. Was reading my hypnobirthing book this morning and it mentions having a hypnotherapy session to resolve any past issues with previous labours - might see if we can find the money to do that as last time just keeps playing on my mind and I'm determined this time will be good.

Not taking any medication at the moment - am very anti-drugs unless absolutely necessary, especially while pregnant, but as I potentially have 6 weeks stuck in bed if the pain doesn't get any better once I stop work, I might have to rethink that one!

Guess we need to get a plan for what to do with DD for my HB - my parents live in France and arrive 4 days before my due date (which I really doubt will be early enough!) and we don't really know anyone that we could call in the middle of the night! Let's hope DD sleeps through - although the fact that she still wakes 3 or 4 times a night doesn't bode well for that :)

Hello! Bugger all Nothing happening here Still having contractions but not going anywhere. I keep resigning myself to the fact that this is prob going to goi on for weeks and then things really pick up, I get all excited and then it all dies down again. Night before last they'd picked up a lot in the evening and carried on all night, waking me up/keeping me awake and was even dreaming about having contractions and giving birth in the little bits of sleep I did manage, they carried on on the school run but then faded off mid morning and went back to being milder and every hour or so. Beginning to get very frustrated!

Also saw MW this morning, I am 37+5 and measuring 43cm!!! I have +glucose for the third time in 4 visits but she said no point doing GTT now but could explain big baby. She has referred me for growth scan via consultant but said they may decide not to bother with scan as I'm so far gone. I'm sooo uncomfortable though. When I've been standing for a while I think he stretches himself out a bit so that when I sit down again it really hurts at top of bump as there just isn't the room. But she also said his head is no longer engaged which could go some way to explaining him being so big. Doesn't explain my constant need to pee but I think he must go in and out several times a day, doesn't seem to make a difference to the uncomfortableness at top of bump though.

I believe the cervix pains are what we used to refer to as KNUF moments on my due April '07 AN threads - Knitting Needle up Fanjo! Have been getting a lot of these lately!

Our new S Max has the ST 2.5 turbo engine so DP is getting very excited about potential pimping!! We need 3 new tyres so he has been looking at new alloys but I have told him they will have to wait. He also sent me a text the other day telling me it would only be £400 to get it chipped giving us an extra 50BHP, and that 'stage 2' also costs £400 and would get us a further 65 BHP. I just replied - 'thats nice dear'! And I'm fairly sure its only a matter of time till he starts talking about exhausts and K&Ns. My PGP makes driving really painful so I have only actually driven it once and its meant to be my car , another reason to look forward to getting this baby out!

DH was a sweetie last night. He was super tired and I am sure it felt like some sort of mercy mission for him. I seem to have one massive continuous BH. My uterus is rock hard and has been since I woke up at 5am. I am hoping to get in with the acupuncturist at 3.30pm today. It is $75 for an appointment which and the guy said should also help with the rash on my hands plus my swollen hands and feet.

Button There was no other way to describe what my obn did to my poor cervix. She didn't give me much warning and I was in agony because the bed was so uncomfortable. When she saw the pain I was in she looked at me and told me that she strongly suggested I demand an epidural!

It is 70F today and the temp is expected to increase to 85-90F for the rest of the week. I really need to get this baby out as the weather is going to stay in high 80s-90+ with high humidity until the end of August.

Pesha I feel like I am going through the same thing regarding contractions. I just stopped by the obn office to drop off my disability forms and they checked me again. This time I am 1cm dilated and my cervix is still very soft. Tis a little bit frustrating.

The obn said today that they will induce at 39wks (2 weeks away) because of the swelling and high heat. She said she would induce now if she had a medical reason as she said it was obvious that I don't handle heat well. She said the guy I am seeing this afternoon is very respected by the medical community they are very happy for me to be treated by him. It isn't often you hear doctors saying that about alternative medicine.

Poor you want2b - it's warm here but nothing like your levels. It's about 21/70 where I am but hot in the sun.

Had to pop into town this afternoon as my watch was ready to be collected having needed repairing. Unpacked it at the jewellers only to discover it was scratched - the bezel and glass both. Was v as it's a huuuge deal going to town at the mo. So off it went again for another fortnight. Blardy Rotary!

However, every cloud has a silver lining. I had to go to Debenhams to pick up my grandma's birthday present from my mum (long story), had to get some id as it wasn't my order and discovered £50 in my purse I didn't know I had! Where's that come from? It was in the section I keep my driving licence etc in so could have been there for weeks as I don't get id out very often. I managed not to spend it as knowing my luck it's for a bill I've forgotten to do something with. But it's most odd!

pesha I'm sorry you're so fed up - the last few weeks are a right pita aren't they?

Sorry - should have said, 70 but nothing like the levels it will reach!

Hi Ladies,
Just popping in to say hello. I've been following but not posting.

Having so far escaped any pregnancy related symptoms at all until 36 weeks I have suddenly be struck by bone-crushing tiredness. I volunteered at a charity fun day last Friday face painting and I think it pushed me over the edge - I was leaning forward in a garden chair painting faces solidly for over 3 hours at a time without a break - the charity forgot to bring me even a glass of water :( I woke up on Saturday in a lot of pain and have felt exhausted ever since. I'm cross with myself as it was my decision to do it I should have got up and given myself breaks but I kept going.

I'm not due to finish work until next Friday when I'll be 38+2 but I had a chat with my boss this morning and he told me that rather than using my precious holiday I could be 'on call' at home next week for 3 days to give myself a break. I think I am now realising that I may have had somewhat unrealistic expectations of my ability to work full time with a 2 hour commute!

Button I'm very jealous of your £50 discovery!! I've been on an eBay purge to make some cash and also make the most of the oportunity to use the work postal service while I still can :) Got to be some benefits to going to work?! I've made £150 in total so I'm pretty chuffed!

Want2be and Pesha I'm sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish. I'm a little bit jealous though! All quiet here...

Popped into the obn office to sort out disability paperwork and the nurse gave me an updated list of what to bring to the hospital. I don't have everything so I am repacking my bag now before I go in for my appointment.

Lolita You have a very kind boss! I had to stop work in week 35 and have come the conclusion that next time around I will plan to stop at week 34.

Button Woohoo to the GBP50 discovery! 70 is such a nice temp. I really struggle with the humidity here. Friends of ours have just bought a beach house and said if I continue to struggle DH and I can stay there as the sea breeze cuts the humidity out. It is only a 40min drive away so totally doable. I feel very lucky to have such generous friends.

Aww, it warms the cockles doesn't it when people are so nice?! Bosses and friends alike!

I've racked my brains but can't think of anything I've forgotten to pay. Most of it is by DD anyway so am v

HANG ON BACK UP BACK UP!! Do they start poking up "there" at appointments now? Theres so much info above I may have missed bits but was wondering whether that dignity goes at the birth or am I set to start losing that during my last appointments over the next few weeks? I'll be at my 35 week appointment this week but will be closer to 36 weeks. Have been measuring on time so far but I seem to have swollen and had a big growth spurt and look a right heffer all of a sudden!

Well I think baby is still the right way round ish maybe a little sideways kicks are in middle but to the sides and damn ruddy painful and it must be clawing at me....theres nothing else that can be unless I have swallowed glass!!

Eglu - I have bought a scenic, I have to say my initial reluctance (eg crying at the thought of giving up my hot hatchback!!) has been replaced with car love now. Whilst being a bit of a beast it is damn practical I love it!! Car is so clever! Dog not happy being stuck in boot now tho ha ha! Thought best get used to it.

Jimmy I had 36 week appointment this morning and no poking around :)

Midwife told me this morning that i have "an unusual bump" was so surprised to hear that that I didn't even ask what was unusual! Think it's something to do with the fact that she finds it really difficult to tell how pip's lying. But definitely the right way up, apparently head is at the brim of my pelvis so hoping that means everything's in the right place for now!

jimmy it's not 'normally' done in the UK til you are 40wks! Calm down!

And by 40 weeks you'll be begging them to poke around up there to get things going!!!

Or I will be anyway!

On me that is, not you Jimmy. Happy for you to decide for yourself who and when and how you get poked in your nethers!!

Thanks all for the advice on PND. spannerpants what you said is pretty much spot on: "She'll probably wants to pretend that she feels normal and is coping fine so to tell anyone close to her how she really feels ie useless, a danger to her child, like she can't cope - would be difficult". She says that she feels the boys would be better off without her and had a plan yesterday to give them away. I went round for a couple of hours and in the end she rung the doctor. I feel sooooo guilty though as the doctor was meant to be coming today and I haven't even rung :( This work deadline is taking over my life and I am working all the time. I will have to ring her tomorrow. I encouraged her to speak to other friends too and I know she rung one friend yesterday afternoon about it. It is scary to see. It's definitely ups and downs though as last weds she was so much better. Her OH is not understanding and just says 'pull yourself together / put some makeup on, you look a mess' etc. Nice.

Thanks or the HB tips too eglu and highfibre. Midwife comes Thursday to talk about it and I am so hoping it works out. I would love to have the baby at night with my little man sleeping in the house! Especially as I have such positive memories of HB from his birth....but then I keep telling myself that births have a tendency not to go to plan so I could well end up in hospital. that would be weird as the only experience I have of birth is in our bedroom.

Phew have calmed down now...am prepared to lose dignity from 40weeks on Only lol!

Keep getting period like cramps now not really painful and lots of discharge...sorry for tmi but funny how things change all of a sudden. 2weeks 3days left at work for me...nut have been asked if I will stay another week which I will do if feel up to it. Ive been ok at work the worst thing is feeling so conscious of size all of a sudden. I have to admit I did love my long weekend I just had and thought I could sooooooo get used to being off work now. Mind u I spent the day shopping which I couldn't afford to do if on mat leave. Sorted hospital bag pretty much now tho. Bought one nursing bra only for bag but will see how boobs are looking in a couple of weeks. Got a bumbo in mother care sale...went for blue...as girl can pull off blue...but boy in a pink one wouldn't work as well! Typical tho....I was shopping for baby and hospital stuff but could see lots of gorgeous clothes I would have bought me if I wasn't pregnant! Why can u never find those items when you ARE looking?

Bought the current mother and baby magazine and the book with it is really good would recommend for any fellow first timers on baby care thought the pictures were good too. Good book for hubby to look at too.

Dreamt about the birth for the first time last night....was a good dream as I had no recollection of pain etc but woke up really upset as I couldn't remember the actual birth! Probably because I have been chatting about pethedin.....4 friends have had babies these past 2 weeks and 2 of them lost hours to it and one only just recalled her birth. Must be playing on my kind in my sleep!

Anyway I am rambling so am off to sleep now.....if I can make it in to my ever increasing nest of pillows...

Cara I think her oh needs a lesson in compassion. My SiL was very much like this - she would ring and say she didn't want to be a mum any more, it had all been a big mistake and she'd changed her mind.

I was able to drop everything when she needed me as I didn't work then. Must admit, I'm a little worried about what will happen this time.