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!

cara her OH needs a good talking to. I didn't have PND but I had one insane day of "baby blues" in the aftermath of DD's birth and thought that that must be what PND is like. I don't know what I would have done without my DP - he spotted it for what is was, allowed me to gibber insanely, cancelled all our social engagements and took care of LO. I cried for 24hours but then woke up and was fine. Without DP totally getting it I would probably still be crying. He's all geared up for the same this time.

Saw my friend this morning and she is a lot better today. OH is a major factor by the sounds of it, some of the things she's told me he has said are really bad and wouldn't help someone suffering with pnd. she can't tell how she is feeling and has to hide if she wanting a cry! Now my OH has the emotional range of a broom, but if he sees I'm genuinely upset he is pretty good. She's rung up the council today and found out what money she would be entitled to if she left him...I think it must be good that she's doing things today and feels like she has a way out if she needs it.

Buttonmoon has she got others she can speak to as well as you? that's what I tried to encourage my friend to do as then there are options if you're not available when she needs help. When is she due?

Right, power nap time :)

I've had PND and AND in the past but never dealt with any of it in a constructive way so not sure I'm really very well placed to give advice! Plus I think a lot of mine was also down to the circumstances at the time so may have just been normal depression that happened to coincide with having a baby IYSWIM? I think listening and not judging at all is the main thing. Also ensuring she has other people to turn to too is a very good idea. I've helped support other people with depression in the past too and as much as you want to help it can be incredibly draining, as selfish as that sounds you have your own life and family to support too.

I am sooo tired at the moment, I had a reasonably good night last night, I went back to bed for 1.5 hrs this morning and slept well but still feel like I just want to sleep now. I hate dp being on lates, means dealing with tea time and bedtime all by myself and my boys are being little sods about going to sleep at the moment. Not helped by my tightenings and PGP being much worse in the evenings.

Although I have just found out that a friend of mine who was due a couple of days after me and had her baby on Monday managed to get a sweep at the hospital on Friday as she was measuring 42 weeks so now hoping if I'm measuring 43 weeks then I should be able to get one too! No guarantee it'll work obviously but got to be worth a try!!

Cara they're not really the kind of family who discuss feelings (dh included) so getting her to open up to me was a major event. Hoping she'll find it easier this time, even if it's just accepting that something was wrong.

Pesha have you ever investigated oil of evening primrose as a natural induction method? If baby turns I'm wondering about giving it a whirl. I went in at 38wks to be induced for #3 labour was started simply by breaking my waters. I think (IIRC - always a risk!) that I was 2-3cm at that point without even knowing it!

I have waaay overdone it today. Just taken 2 cocodamol which is unlike me. I normally try to stick to one plus a paracetamol. Think I'd better take a senna tonight!

jimmy you totally crack me up! I didn't have any 'poking about' till just before dd when the mw attempted a sweep. It didn't work for me as DD's head was so low, but think I'll ask for one again before I go 'up the road' because I don't really want to be stuck away from home for a couple of weeks. Selfish, moi? Oh, personally and with hindsight, I wouldn't bother staying on another week if not completely necessary. I was quite ready to return to work before 9 months and would much rather have that extra week to chill on my own
Glad things seem to be a bit better for your friend Cara, though it must be very frustrating to know her OH is adding to the problem
Good luck with your sweep request Pesha and I hope your boys will go a bit easier on you!
Sorry you're not too great tonight button, a nice relaxing bath perhaps?

What do you do with the evening primrose oil button - I haven't heard that one before?

Your friends OH sounds horrible Cara - at least she has friends like you for support!

DP has gone to the cinema tonight so I'm enjoying an evening of lazing around and an early night

I can't remember where I read it (can barely remember my own name most days ) but I know I googled it.

From about 33/34wks you can take it as normal (ie orally). There is some support for believing that from about 36wks (IIRC) you can use it internally as a pessary. Apparently softens the cervix.

Of course, it may all be a bunch of twaddle but the more 'things' you do, the less time you have to worry about nothing happening! Well, that's my theory anyway!

It's my birthday today. DH has totally forgotten. I was sort of waiting to see how long it'd be before he remembered but I think it's not going to happen now. He's really stressed with work etc so I'm not really surprised, and we're not big birthday people anyway. But I do plan to make the most of this! Am going to ensure that when he comes home on Friday he really has to make it up to me and spoil me all w/e!

Have just treated myself to chip shop chips for tea - yum!

Spanner forgot to say, someone who had been using it internally said that using a pad of some sort was a good plan as it (obviously) dissolves and is very oily (no surprise there then...)

A bit eeww but if it works...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUTTON!!!!!!!

Sorry your DH has forgotten but hope you get a wonderful weekend out of it!

DP is down to work 12 hours on Sunday which, at double time, we really need as he will lose so much when he takes his paternity leave so he's hoping I can hang on till after then! But may have to take a trip into town on Monday to get some EPO! And anything else I can think of that may help!

Exactly - busy busy. By the time you've brewed your raspberry leaf tea, eaten your pineapple, had some sex, driven over bumpy roads, jumped on a trampoline, stuffed yourself full of epo capsules etc etc it'll be July and you'll have had the baby ages ago!

Thanks for birthday wishes. Had a sad little moment ten mins ago when I thought 'I've never once forgotten his birthday' then grew up and wondered how much I can sting him for on the w/e!

Happy birthday button My OH has to be reminded constantly and still gets me a card/pressie at the last minute. This year it was on the evening of my birthday!

Thanks cara.

I think I am a very silly woman. For the first time my spd pain has not got better after a bath and a good sleep. I truly hope that this is not the beginning of it getting lots worse for me! I knew yesterday I was doing too much but had no way of really not doing it. Pants.

Pesha the EPO is one of those things you have to start a couple of weeks in advance for it to work. So start now!

Hi guys am just popping in again! I know my visits are only ever fleeting! It's my wedding anniversary today! 4 years! seems like yesterday! any way had amidwife appoint yesterday and she has booked me in for nxt tues to have a sweep if all is favourable (not expecting it will be :-( though) I will be 38wks then has anyone else had one at this stage as was it successful? am thinking if I get it I will come home do the evening primrose, pineapple clary sage etc! fingers grossed! although tues is my ds1's birthday he'll be 9 and would not be pleased at sharing his birthday! Happy birthday button

Happy birthday Button! Hope you have a lovely weekend spending all your DH's money! Hopefully your pain will ease a bit too x
My legs are very achy today for some reason and I'm feeling rather 'heavy' down there, so am going to aquanatal over lunch to try and loosen up. Though I did attempt my bikini line this morning with a compact mirror and some neck aerobics - and did a shocking job according to DH He pointed out that he was there to help, and I may well take him up on the offer the next time!
My mw also mentioned EPO last time - orally till full term then the other after that. I bought some, but never tried it out because I started labouring on her due date. My waters broke over the course of the day so did a lot of walking to encourage labour and had a curry (not to be recommended when that close, as it's not nice in the opposite direction).
All the best for your sweep Dyerlou!

Last day at work today, phew! I'm totally knackered by the commute, especially after the muggy weather the last couple of days so the fact that i've still got 5 weeks to go is such a relief - thank goodness for annual leave I say.

When is the earliest you would recommend buying nursing bras from? My maternity bras are getting uncomfortable but I don't want to go splash out £100 on something that's only going to last a couple of weeks. I also don't have any nursing tops, not sure where to get them from either.

I've never changed size that much so I've never bought maternity bras, only nursing ones. And I've never bough nursing tops either! Though physio has recommended the support nursing vests from mothercare so I might indulge this time!

Happy birthday button - hope you enjoyed your chips

I've just been to Asda and bought myself some evening primrose oil so I'm prepared! Which reminds me I might make some raspberry leaf tea - I had heard that it tasted disgusting but I've really been enjoying it! I think curry and pineapple are out due to heartburn and DP might require some sort of rope and pulley system to make sex possible so I'll be pinning my hopes on the evening primrose oil!

Fraochsmum I feel 'heavy' after about 4pm every day. I always feel like the baby is just going to fall out!

Badgerwife I had some great mothercare nursing tops last time. Asda sometimes do them too. Sold them on Ebay...oops. I wouldn't get Mothercare nursing bras though, they're crap.

I believe Asda have just stopped doing their maternity range in store and are now making it online only. Shame - I like to browse by feel!

Baby has not kept still for more than 5 mins at a time today. Is really pushing at the front of my pelvis which is nice as it's really painful today. Have totally given in and am on 2xcocodamol every 5 hours. Hoping I won't need it tonight - I'll have no dosage left!

I think I'm going to accept that I may well have buggered myself pain-wise for the rest of the pg. However, I'm going to stay upbeat - after all, I'd been in this level of pain for 4 months or more last time so I've done better than the doomsayers I expected!

My sister sent me a card (late as always!) with a pair of pants in she'd picked up at TKMaxx. Fair enough, I thought, she's often buying me little odds and ends like that. What made me laugh though is that although she spent £3.99 on them the point was they were reduced from... £139! They weren't even silk or anything! She thought I deserved a little luxury on my birthday! I spent a good few minutes imagining a world where I routinely spent £139 on one pair of pants. Bizarre alternate reality!

Right. Off to collect dcs. Am going to have to hide pain tonight. The girls get well freaked out by it and I don't want them worrying unnecessarily.

badger it is usually recommended that you only buy your main nursing bras after your milk has come in - as engorgement makes them go up a few more sizes usually. Did for me anyway.

Hello - Happy Belated Birthday Button!

Still hanging in with a baby that isn't interested in coming out but a body that is ready to go. The acupuncture session was really good and I am going back tomorrow for a 2nd attempt. Due to sleeping in a 'v' shape I have a horrible cough. I will ask to be induced at wk 39 if baby hasn't decided to arrive before my appointment next week.

Jimmy It is a little offputting that they seem to be so keen to check me out. The strep B test involved them putting a long cotton stick up each hole. I had no idea and was a little when it happened.

I have bought 3 maternity bras from target which were $14 each in their memorial day sale. I can switch them for the correct size after the baby arrives.

I need to have this baby soon. It is making me not a very nice mummy. I am in so much pain and everything is so much effort that I have absolutely no patience and the slightest thing makes me so cross. My house is also an absolute shit hole because I just cannot manage to do anything. Hoping hospital ring re scan and seeing consultant asap so I can beg for sweep and possible induction too. Funny because last time I would have fought tooth and nail to avoid induction till the last possible moment but now I don't care, I'm not too fussed how the birth goes or anything, its all just a means to an end ie not being pg anymore.

Feeling that too Pesha, I ate half a pineapple tonight, hot bath and considering jumping hubbies bones in the next 5 minutes...after I post of course, priorities ;). over 37 weeks now and baby feels so big inside I can feel him sticking through my stomach at ALL times! I'm watching my skin twitch up and down right now with his hiccupping! Finish work tomorrow thank goodness, so ready just to do nothing. The thought of being late now terrifies me more than the birth! Also having some horrible nerve pinching sensations in upper thighs almost at groin which take my breath away. render me immobile and cause my legs to buckle! X

Hey all!

Well baby has flipped again and is breech. Plenty of time to flip again but does anyone know how hospitals manage u with a breech baby if can't turn?

My midwife said they would book me a c section (cue disappointed jimmychoo even if that does mean an in tact fanjo) but if unable to turn when do they decide on c-section and is it pre booked so I'll actually know when baby will be arriving? Do they let u go to 40 weeks or even into labour then take u into surgery? Didn't ask any of this whilst in as was a tad miffed :( I have confirmation scan Monday.

Am going to try out the birth ball, rocking on all 4's, trying to stay on left and the torch trick! Plus hospital will apparently be trying to turn baby.