Due August 2011, the waiting is nearly over, who will be the first to pop?!?!?

[KLou111]

On the final stretch ladies, the waiting is nearly over for the arrival of our beautiful bundles of joy :)

Never I'm a nurse and there is no reason why you can't get a cannula wet - it should have a rubber valve on it so no chance of water getting in - the most they may have to do is change the dressing or bandage it to secure it. Don't let them put you off your water birth!
Winter Lavender is great for healing, either in your bath water or a couple of drops on your pad. Some people have mentioned Arnica too but I've never used it.
Agreeing with the general 'waiting is shit' consensus - the thought of going 2 weeks over makes me want to cry! Hope something happens for you soon Rehune

Watching the GSB convo with interest as my friend and I both did the test - mine came back negative, hers positive and she's gutted that she's been told she can't have a water birth - so thanks for that info Betty and for raising it Never, I'll let her know what you've said about the cannula.

Sending lots of labour vibes to you ladies. I'm 37+1 and pleased to be full term but feel I may still have an age to wait.

bettyboo thats brilliant info im going to really fight this one out, i think they just say no cos they just dont have experience not that they have real factual evidence that it increases any risk etc, Im gutted ive got strep b but i did have some internal instinct telling me to test i just wish the two midwifes i had discussed my concerns with especially last week when i had white blood cells in my urine, on off thrush symptoms and a bit sore and tender down there, she should of listened to me and thought to offer test, but she knew i had the kit and just told me to pay and do it myself!
at least i can now take precautions to protect the baby. i had v similar symptoms at the end of pg with ds so i could of unknowingly been a carrier then, but luckily he was fine.

Been reading all of your posts, labour vibes to all of you! The waiting is pretty horrible.

I've come down with what I think is possibly a cold - eyes hurt, head hurts, runny/blocked nose, coughing and sore throat. 39 weeks tomorrow, so great timing!

Little update. Back is killing me and have to officially take paracetamol when baby sits in a certain few positions due to her being so big I can't cope with the pain. Decided to go for caesarian, will hear consultant out of course but haven't been able to sleep apart from a few hours in days and don't feel like I could cope with labour, spd and a cold. Can't sleep in a bed due to spd, have had to sleep in armchair since roughly 2 weeks ago. I'm also incontinent, which feels horrible! Was checked out at hospital but waters haven't broken.

Best of luck to everyone!

yukana i hope your cold goes quick!! its really not good timing is it. when is your csection going to be scheduled or have they not given the date yet?
never i hope you still get your chance for a water birth

i had my sweep yesterday, did hurt but not as much as with ds1 and atleast they managed to do it, although sofar hasnt had any effect but i am happy to wait til fri anyway really, just hoping it does go well on fri..

the other people who were induced on here for diabetes (or whatever reasons) did you manage to keep your dh/dp/birth partner with you the whole time or not?? cos just thinking back to ds1 i know until your in labour ward they are not supposed to let them stay in evening after visiting closes? but with ds1 that info came as a bit of a shock so i cried and they let him stay i think they felt sorry for me cos i was young, but would feel a bit silly doing that now for my 3rd soo just wondering whether to mentally prepare myself that he will be going or maybe if they do give the gel on time in the morning maybe by the time visitng finishes would be having some progress so he can stay?? it just sucks to be left alone if you are already in pain.. although hopefully this time wont hurt quite so much, i think i may have been a bit of a drama queen with my first i was in serious pain at only 0 and 1 cm lol!

Had an uncomfortable night, and some show this morning. My sister flies in from Vienna today, so maybe todays the day!

Not sure Firawla as they moved me to labour suite at 7pm. But am sure you could ask. And more than likely you will be pretty quick ad is your third.

firwala thats the bit i hated when i was induced with ds they made dp go home at about 8.30pm and i was left to walk the corridors on my own in agony, everyone was trying to settle down for the night and i was having really strong contractions and doing all the breathing so i couldnt stay in the ward, i must of walked miles!! dp had only been home half an hour and i had to call him to come back!! he was going to get his sleeping bag and sleep in the car in the carpark anyway, bless him!

Firawla when I was induced with DS1 they examined me at 9pm and I was only 2cm dilated, my waters went half an hour before that. They sent DH home and said they'd call him in the night if things progressed and sent me off to have a bath to help with the pain. As it turned out they rang him an hour later as I was then 8cm and being moved to labour ward! I think they do tend to send them out after visiting has finished as otherwise they might have a ward full of men all night too and not all are considerate like I'm sure your DH is. I've seen ones who are verbally abusive to staff and very controlling of their girlfriends/wives so I think that's why they try to stick to fairly strict visiting hours.

Firawla I haven't spoken to the consultant yet, but hopefully everything will be booked and sorted out tomorrow when I do so.

Turns out I probably have a chest infection, woke up after a nap and sore throat is pretty much gone, but has moved down to chest and is pretty painful. Called surgery so think will have home visit from doc soon.

Finally managed to get DP to ask work about taking time off if I'm ill and/or for the birth. He said judging by the look on their face it's a no to both. Feel quite angry how anyone could say no to being at the birth, but I'll just silently hold my grudge in a corner.

yukana thats out of order if they say no! surely he has some legal rights i would have thought :(
never and misslozza atleast they called them back quite quickly but i just dont like the idea of them chucking him out, but hopefully things will move quick and it wont come to that
selina good luck, sounds like things may be happening soon! my sister lives in vienna too btw so we are matching on that :p

yukana this sounds all wrong, he has to be there at the birth, hes the dad i cant believe he would actually miss it, and i cant believe his work would be so inconsiderate, they surely have kids and know how it is?
plus if you have a c sec who is going to look after you afterwards, you will need help for a couple of weeks i think? are your family or his going to be there to help you?

One word about your dps work yukana wankers!! This is one of the most special times in both your lives, and they said no?? I know he's only just started but come on! Especially if you have a c section as you even know the day its going to happen!

Yukana so sorry his employers are being so shite, your doing very well too remembering it's them not him being unreasonable - I would struggle to keep my cool.
Well I had a few painful contractions throu the night- only about 4 but I went to Mw today who said she expects me to go into labour in the next 24-48 hrs as baby is fully engaged and I've had signs. She reakons I need to relax- so Dp has taken the day off work!

oooh, exciting Selina and MrsVidic! We are due some more birth announcements I reckon...

Yukana that really is rubbish about your DP's work. If you get given a date do you think he will ask again? Has he accrued any holiday yet? Hope your chest infection clears up quickly, shouldn't imagine that they will do a cs until you are better.

Wish the Mw wouldn't have got my hopes up- no sign

Yukana so :( for you. But I'm really not sure that it's legal: As he's just started the job he won't qualify for paternity leave, but he does have a right to take his annual leave. You do not have to accrue your leave - by this I mean you don't have to work a month to get the pro-rata entitlement you will have earned. This is why you have a holiday allowance in your contract. They can be all cats-bum mouth about it as they like, he has the right to request a holiday day, or week, whenever he likes. Now, they can refuse (needs of the business, too many other people on holiday, etc) but it's not a mark of a caring sharing employer unless you have a bloody good reason, and it's the birth of his first child, FFS! You poor thing, I really feel for you.
MrsV I've spent all night dreaming my waters were breaking. Of course, they haven't, but I've woken up every hour and had to check. Finally gave up on sleeping at 5.30 this morning. Sending labour vibes at you (send me some back!)
KLou how are those pains working out for you?
Hope everyone who's due/nearly due gets there this weekend :)
38 weeks today. COME ON BABY! I'm really bored!

It is unfortunate and yes it does fill me with rage that in this day and age people would even think of saying no. I think DP honestly feels angry too despite not talking about it.

Apparently when he approached them they gave him a funny look and said 'We'll talk about it nearer the time.' Except two things; 1) They know how pregnant I am and have known since shortly after DP started work. 2) This is the second or third time they have said that to him. It means they basically don't want to discuss it I think. DP is also scared to lose his job because he took a couple of days off sick due to continous vomiting as well as one day off for sorting out HB, which they heavily insinuated that they think he's lying.

Sadly though with people like that there isn't much we can do.

Sorting out HB? what does that mean? Did he take a holiday day for it?
Sickness is sickness, you can't do anything about that - he might not get paid for it as he's not been in the job that long, but they can't discriminate against him for that, as long as there's no pattern to it; even then they would have to carry out a full and proper investigation.
How long is his probation period at this job?
At the end of the day, they have said they will talk about it. He needs to talk to them.
Honestly, there's just no way I would refuse ANY of my staff this, regardless of if they'd worked for me for a week or ten years. Yukana, if I can help you with how he should approach the conversation with them, then please just let me know. Sorry if I'm being nosy, I just want you to have your DP there with you. :( xx

Hope everyone is ok- Yukana- hope he gets the day off- he'll just have to make sure he works extra hard and see if the extra brownie points helps? Maybe put in a few extra hours?  Thats the only advice I can give, from all the updates you gave about this being the job of his dreams etc I can understand him (ISH) about not wanting to rock the boat.

My mum is coming over to baby sit me while dp is at work in case I go into labour, give me a hand with dd etc but Im going to feel so guilty if nothing happens- like I'm wasting everyones time

Managed to get some sleep but waking up every hour. DD in kids club today, have actually put the tens on today but doesn't seem to be that strong yet, getting pains every 8-10 mins but only lasting 20 secs. Will it be today????

Ooh good luck Selina! Fingers crossed for you.

The trial period for DP's job is 6 months, as it's a 4 year adult apprenticeship. I'm not sure denying him the ability to attend the birth is legal either - not sure why they are avoiding saying 'no' directly, perhaps this is the reason. Because of 'a talk' they had with him (basically them unhappy with him taking time off shortly after starting work) he's too scared to take any time off for the rest of his trial period, as he doesn't want to upset them.

He did take time off to sort out housing benefit at the town hall, as it closes in the afternoon, he doesn't finish work until the evening and I was already wheelchair/housebound by that point.

The only way I can see it coming up with DP's boss again is if I call them myself and talk to them. Which I doubt DP would like that.

Hi all. yukana I can see where your dp is coming from as it did take him a while to get the job and that but I really think they are being unreasonable. Can he ask again when you have a cs date?

Good luck selina hoping for some can news from you soon.

No birth announcement here yet. Still getting some pain low down bit has moved from the left to the middle now. Am getting frustrated now. 39 weeks tomorrow and want this baby out!!! Am up every couple of hours all night thinking about it, and Dh wakes up when I do just in case so we're both not getting any sleep!

Hoping for.some good news I meant!

Hmm if they have kept saying 'talk about it nearer the time' maybe once you have been given the date for the planned section then he can ask them again, atleast that will force them to give a yes or a no, and as it would come across really out of order to say no, maybe they will just have to say yes?? hopefully....