Jue in June -Waters breaking everywhere and not a drop of Gaviscon to drink...

[NurseSunshine]

Here's another :)

After reading lots of birth tales I have noticed that a lot of people say that when they are relaxed they get contractions and that starts things off. However advice is keep really active, I have been bouncing on birthing balls like mad and keeping busy, should I be lying around instead?

I have been trying to post for days but I think Cormac has something against you all as everytime I try to type he howls!

I am enjoying reading the birth stories on here, we should copy them to a new thread or something as a record for us all to look back on so they don't get lost among our many threads.

I am feeling very sorry for the heavily pregnant ladies in this heat, and feeling sorry for those with babies as it may be just me, but Cormac wont settle at all as he is all sticky and sweaty, plus he is feeding loads at the moment too, my boobs never feel full so I am worrying about whether I will have enough for him but everything I have read points to him being healthy and well fed so i'm sticking with it.

When exactly do babies start to sleep?? Mine wont sleep for longer than 40 minutes at a time and I am exhausted.

DP went back to work today so I will be on my own with the 3 DC, this morning getting ready for school wasn't too bad, I need to get a sling (any recommendations?) as I just can't get anything done with him crying every time he is put down.

I keep reminding myself that he is only tiny for such a short time and that I should try and enjoy every second of it, they change so quickly, I don't want to miss a second or forget any of it. I am head over heels in love with him, its like having a first born all over again. Maybe its the age gap between him and the other DC.

And there he goes again.... fingers crossed for safe deliveries of babies and sleep for the new mums!

Aww prisoner lovely to hear from you and Cormac - well done on the first school run!

Bit of a dodgy tummy here. Trying to think it's a sign though it's more likely that it's because I actually ate my five a day yesterday

I hope nurse and jasmine are enjoying the sunshine with their brand new LOs :)

Congratulations Oompa I'd go with Amelie, as you need to hold something back for when they need telling off. I find by the time I get to the end of the mouthful that is my errant DD2's full name, I am considerably calmer.

barbie Well done for making it through the weekend. I'm feeling loads better, thanks. I have made arrangements to swap health visitor (because the one that is allocated to our village is rubbish IMO) so that I can get support if I need it later on. A permanently white tongue in a baby is probably thrush. I've got Daktarin oral gel for Percy (when I remember to use it ) I think you said you are bottle feeding, but if you are breast feeding you can get the Daktarin in a cream or just spread the gel on your nipples - it has a lovely orangey smell! Are you still suffering sasa ?

prisoner respect to you for doing the school run this morning. I am spoilt as DH has agreed to do the drop offs until the end of term if I need him to. So only pick up for me. With DD1 at school and DD2 at pre-school it takes me over an hour. We're going to move DD2 to school 2 days a week in September to make our lives a bit simpler. I can't bear to have her at school full time just yet (she isn't 4 till next month). I'm sure sasa will be along soon with sling advice. Percy is nearly 3 weeks old and will now go in his basket for a little bit during the day. He is currently asleep on my lap and if I were to wrap him tightly in a blanket, he might just stay quiet while I go and hang out the washing.

misshoohaa I loved your birth story. You did so well. I love the name Xavier - it was on my short list.

pp I hope you get the support you need for your homebirth.

Right, I really must get cracking. 30 mins until I have to leave the house. Washing to the line!

Prisoner very well done on the school run. DP has been dropping DS off for me then I pick him up. I'm hoping he'll carry on with the drop offs once baby is here. Only 4 weeks left anyway.

If people want to message me their birth stories I could always put them on a document on fb?

Hi gals! I'm still here too, incubating away in the sweltering heat!! Due on Thursday, but have a feeling I'm in for the long haul, induction expected on the 12th. Sigh. Enjoying all the birth stories as it
Is helping me stay calm and know what to expect (errr... Anything I guess!!).

Actually, I've still got a few things on my "to do" list for before the baby comes so I guess it's a good thing he's going to be late.

Anyway, here's to sitting with feet in a bucket of water on a boiling hot day for all of us! Hope those who want their little one out get their wishes soon!!

Hey tinyk, add yourself to the list!

Midwife said the baby is still in an awkward position, still only 1/5 engaged, and not looking likely to move any time soon. Trying to stay focused on the fact that about a million people on MN and in real life were told the same thing and it meant absolutely nothing.

COME ON BABY!!!!!

Aagh- first overly emotional pregnancy moment!! Tell me why I'm finding this upsetting? My parents are in Canada and original plan was to phone mum when info into labour and she'd hop on a plane to come over here a couple of days later. She's just suggested that instead she book a ticket for the 6th so that she can get a chance to get to know our routines etc. Very valid reason, plus I know she's just dying to meet her first grand-child.

For some reason this has me in a flood of tears. I don't know how I feel about it. I said I have to talk to DH, that here most labouring goes on at home and I'm not sure how he'd feel about having her here. She was incredibly understanding, said she would leave during the labour if i wanted and that she understood. We said we'd talk tomorrow and not to worry, we can always go back to plan A. I get along with her really well... So why am I crying!!!

Sorry for the 'me me' post... Why the heck am I upset by my wonderful mother?!?

Back from the consultant. We had a long talk and although she was sympathetic to my concerns and my preferences for as natural of a birth as possible at home, she felt that induction at 42 weeks was strongly medically advisable, even if it couldn't be proven necessary. I was basically told that they don't really know what causes intrauterine deaths after 42 weeks, and the monitoring options (conducting a scan to check the level of fluids as an indicator of the functioning of the placenta, and monitoring the baby's heartbeat) aren't reliable past 42 weeks.

I asked for another assessment as things were already moving along as of my 41-week appointment on Friday, and she was pleasantly surprised how favourable I was for labour. She gave me a sweep (which was significantly more aggressive than the one I got from the midwife - ouch!), and recommended I book a third sweep with my MW for Wednesday. She thought things would likely kick off properly before 42 weeks, but still recommended that I book in for induction for that stage.

Once she told me that a pessary wouldn't be necessary and that ARM would likely be effective on its own given that I am already quite favourable, I finally reluctantly booked in for induction at 42 weeks on Friday. With just ARM, I would be able to labour in the birth pool or the home-from-home sweep, so it wouldn't be my worst-case scenario of being stuck on my back in a hospital bed hooked up to a FHHR monitor and a drip (unless, of course, things failed to progress).

I'm really hoping that things get going on their own before Friday, and if not, that ARM will work on its own. FX that the very long walk I took today plus the sweep will help.

Sorry to the others still waiting...hoping you're all finding ways of coping with being in limbo on top of the heat...

Here's the updated list. Add yourself tinyk!

PerpetualProvocateur EDD 17/6 (DC1) hoping for home water birth, second sweep on 27/6, IOL booked for 1/7
COAAF EDD 18/6 (DC2), Hoping for intervention & stress free hosp birth.
Curiouselle 21/6 (DC1) hoping for MLU
Neenewps EDD 22/6 (DC1) hoping for water birth in MLU
LisasCat, EDD 23/6 (DD 4), waiting (im)patiently, hoping for MLU
Supersunnyday EDD 24/6 (DC1) hoping for water birth on MLU
Takethatlady, EDD 26/6 (DC1), hoping for MLU, show 22/6
MummyOfPrawn, EDD 27/6
Milliemuffin 30/6 (DC3) home water birth

Home-from-home 'suite' even...can you tell my mind is still on my painful sweep?

Perpetual we're induction buddies for Friday so at least if we get to that stage we're not alone in being prodded. Half the reason I'm asking for a sweep tomorrow is to see how well things are progressing down there.

Something has clicked in my head and I keep having to go for walks. I was out at 10.30 last night while DH was fast asleep! It was damn nice though. Had a big walk into town this afternoon and now Currant Bun is jumping all over the place.

PerpetualProvocateur EDD 17/6 (DC1) hoping for home water birth, second sweep on 27/6, IOL booked for 1/7
COAAF EDD 18/6 (DC2), Sweep 28/6, IOL booked for 1/7.
Curiouselle 21/6 (DC1) hoping for MLU
Neenewps EDD 22/6 (DC1) hoping for water birth in MLU
LisasCat, EDD 23/6 (DD 4), waiting (im)patiently, hoping for MLU
Supersunnyday EDD 24/6 (DC1) hoping for water birth on MLU
Takethatlady, EDD 26/6 (DC1), hoping for MLU, show 22/6
MummyOfPrawn, EDD 27/6
Milliemuffin 30/6 (DC3) home water birth
TinyK 30/6

How do you feel about it Confessions? I'm quite torn as I feel there is no good decision between sticking to my principled position or following medical advice. I've just had a good long cry about it actually, as I'm so frustrated to have gotten to this stage.

Hi gals: re: inductions, I've been thinking lots about them as both I and my DH were induced babies so genetics says my LO will be too. I think perpetual you're in a really great place as you will basically only need a prod to get started. The evidence for problems after 42 weeks is compelling (to me) and as getting my baby safely into my arms is my over-riding concern I'm happy to be induced if I get that far. A good friend of mine who is an anaesthetist and has been at over 200 births made a very convincing emotional case to me to go for it- the potential consequences don't bear thinking about IMO!

I'm not overly happy about it to be honest PP, but then I know that my dates aren't out like yours so have more chance of things going wrong by the weekend. I don't know I'm feeling a bit torn and am reading all the induction talk avidly at the moment.

I'm sad because DS was born bang on 41 weeks and I'm now 41+2. Mostly I want to spend as little time at the hospital as possible and I want to keep the stress down as much for DH as for me, because he's been through so much lately. Also child care is a concern. We have people to look after DS when LO comes, but not people who can take him for days on end if I end up taking 5 days to be induced!

Mostly for now I'm just trying to stay chilled out because I know getting worked up about something that is still ages off won't help bring labour on naturally. And stupidly my brain is telling me I should go for another walk! Think I'd pass out in the gutter if I tried that. I'm just really really bored today (though not enough to wash the dishes).

I promised myself I wasn't going to start obsessing about all this, I was just going to listen to LO and take it as it comes. HA!

How is everyone else this evening? As bonkers as me? Or is there actually anyone here who is still holding onto their sanity?

I've got MW appt tomorrow and I was absolutely convinced it was an appointment I wouldn't need as baby would be here by now. I'm trying not to think about it 60mins of 24 hours in the day but I'm struggling. I desparately want something to happen soon. DS's party is getting closer and closer and I'm getting more and more uncomfortable which I didn't think was possible. Finding it very hard to be positive :(

I understand your sadness COAAF. I'm 39+4 and DS was 8 days old by now and DD 11 days old. When I had DD it was 12 days before xmas and was such a happy time, I was so happy in the days before I had her and despite the lack of sleep I was still on a high at xmas and into the new year. I'm just really fed up already and I've not even reached my EDD!!

Hey tinyk! So good to have a duedate buddy after all this time!!! Is this your first? It's great your mum is coming over, don't worry about the emotional outburst, you're doing well to have only had the one! I found it very hard not to cry the other day when my (nearly) 4yo DS emptied my shampoo into his bath! xx

tinyk I had a meltdown the other week when I unscrewed the wrong side of the battery pack on our baby bouncer and broke it. All I had to do was take it back to Tesco's, but for some reason I sobbed for about half an hour . So I agree with millie - one meltdown is pretty good going! Seriously, though, do have a little think about what you want your mum to do, just in case the tears reflect a real anxiety. Probably it's just the usual preggo mentalness :)

Have been bouncing like a loon on the birthing ball, sitting up straight, and went out for an hour-long walk. The midwife today told me to have a lot of sex but it's going to have to be morning sex as I can't take another sleepless night! She also said sweeps were ineffectual and there was no point in giving me one even at 41 weeks . Not sure about inductions, either, since I read today that if the baby isn't engaged it can have disastrous consequences with cords getting wrapped around babies' necks. Hoping the baby just drops. Getting lots of pains in the lowest part of my abdomen/groin and back ache, but definitely no contractions.

coaaf yep I feel mental . Not 100% sure that's different to normal, but definitely I feel mental ...

prisoner Rafael has also been struggling a bit in the heat. I've been trying to feed him more regularly - and he's been demanding it - so he doesn't get dehydrated. That seems to have helped but he didn't settle at all yesterday morning. Better in the afternoon.

Whoever it was who asked about staying active or relaxed to bring on labour: I think the ideal is physically active but mentally relaxed - however one might achieve that! I guess realistically mixing up some bouncing/walking (to encourage baby into position) with some lying around/bath/massage/meditation (to encourage birthing hormones) might be a plan.

We all had to sleep in the living room tonight as it's so hot everywhere else! I'm not sure I said before, but we finally came home from hospital after a week and the breastfeeding has settled in I think (boobs back to relatively normal proportions).

wishing everyone calm & productive mornings!

Things seem to be finally kicking off...I've been getting pretty painful contractions for the past hour and a half, much different to my false starts last week. They're not at regular intervals yet, but the closest have been seven to eight minutes apart. I've got my TENS machine on and DH is setting up the birth pool as we speak.

Wish me luck!!!

Good luck PP!

Good luck pp

Good luck PP!! enjoy that pool.... I loved it! Xxx

Good luck prisoner enjoy that pool!!