March 06 - Into the 3rd Trimester

[RosiePosie]

Here we are girls. I think we are all a bit shell-shocked at the moment, aren't we?

Thinking of you DHW and wishing life wasn't so cruel sometimes.

Hi girls,

Munz, With my first pregnancy the baby's head was engaged at 28 weeks, started to panic but she was only 5 days early, aparently this is normal for the head to be down early with your first pregnancy. This time mines showing no sign of being down.

Don't think i am going to be able to get my test result till next week as i did'nt get to the doctors in time for my sample to be sent of yestaday, i think it takes 3-4 days, feeling realy dizzy today, i should'nt of googled UTI's as i found out if not treated they can cause early labour.

Anyway i hope you are all well and happy, not long to go now!

Friz
Shame about the aquanatals being reduced. I really enjoy my session its worth crossing town for ( our local pool don't do it, but do have baby swim sessions), I like having the opotunity to turn somersaults in the water and give pip some of what hes been giving me ;-) oh and the exercise is good for me too I guess.

Anyone else occasionally wish thier baby din't move QUITE as much as it does? Hes really making me quite uncomfy today, lots of squirming AND Braxton Hicks at the same time. Think I'd better go clear the paperwork off the spare bed incase we need it tonight.
Unisarah

unisarah - yes! I swear blind the only time this LO's asleep is when i'm laying in the bath! lol. apart from that he's constantly active.

marne - fingers crossed all works out for u, any more BH's /probs u get straight of to the drs!

15 days to go, and today's payday! yay! so gonna get a nice changin bag from babiesrus.

hi ladies! How is everything today? nothing new to report here. Apart from I have just eaten 3 apple pie flavoured yogurts they were very nice!

I was right about the spare bed:-( Only I'd forgoten to clear the crud off it so dh had to do that when he decamped to spare room coz Pip and I were wriggling to much. Partly my fault I had not smoothered myself in anti itch cream before goin to bed coz I'm trying to use it only when I need to. Result- last night I had to smoother myself in it at midnight and wait for it to work :-(

Ah well, not the end of the world, we had managed 5 or 6 nights in a row in the same bed. Todays been nice and brezey- got two loads of washing out on the line now and have hand washed the pram lining and apron as well. Am inspired to vacum the house as well, but will wait til dh comes home so he can lift it out of the cupboard* and up stairs for me.
UniSarah

• upsidedown house results in cupboard under the stairs being half way up the stairs at waist height! Upsidedown house also results in very fine veiw all the way to the sea 10 miles away from our top floor iving room.

Unisarah! You sound like you're nesting!!

Unfortunately, SPD means I can do little more than hobble around picking things up. All major housework is left to DH at the weekends, poor bloke! Laundrylover, how is your cleaner getting along? We did consider it, and if my SPD had been worse a lot sooner, we'd have definately got one, but we've decided to just struggle by over the next few weeks instead. House is a tip, but I'm trying not to let it get me down!

I hope those of you with health problems are okay, and Munz - eat properly! I guess this will probably be easier when you are on maternity leave - I know it was hard to eat regularly and well when I worked. Much easier to snack when you're sat at home!

AARGH,nesting, thats scary , but you may be right RP.
I don't normally feel the need to vacum the house!
However doing the laundry and that kind of thing have been my jobs ever since I went self employed as I'm the one whos around more during the day.
UniSarah

It's odd how that happens to those of us who work from home isn't it!! pah says I!

Agree with the fidgity bump, although yest evening, all went calm, then I started feeling odd half way thru cooking dinner, and by the time it was ready, was having horrible braxtons, so watched dh eat his, with him spending all the time saying, your not in labour are you and me saying, no dear, its only braxtons! lol, although have to say got myself a tad worried I might be starting at one point, as went off my food last time just before starting! and its toooo early!!!
Unisarah, your house sounds nice

Hello again!

unisarah - glad you met lots of nice mums - I think meeting all the new mums and neighbours is one of the best things about being a mum - its so nice wandering about and knowing lots of people who you never even saw before. My dd got in to the local school yesterday (phew!) and we know lots of the families already so that is lovely for her and me!

munz - glad they got to the bottom of the ketones - I hadn't heard of that one before. I guess it is really important to eat so well especially as you want to do bfeeding and you will need loads of energy - I think it is an extra 500 calories a day to do bfeeding? Good for those of us who need to lose a few stone and for you skinnies, you need to eat eat eat!! I lived on smoothies with my dd and toast to be honest!

I have got a weird leg thing today - so sore so I keep having to put up one leg. Don't know if its too much walking round the shops or a fatal clot winging its way to my brain! Oh well I'll find out soon enough!

Got a book on names today incase we need a boys name after all - there's loads I haven't heard of - meo, timon, logan. Tom is my favourite but not so original! Off for dinner now and count down to big brother! have a lovely weekend everyone x

newgirl, i bought a name book today, dh and i just cant make our minds up, we can find boys names but we are having a girl, i like the name Logan, so far we have, saffron (my choice), megan and kacey. Ther are just too many to choose from!

Munz, hope you have been eating and drinking plenty, look after yourself!

Marne like Saffron, used to know one!

Is anybody here trying hypno-birthing? Or did it last time? I had a bit of a hard time with my DS and this time I want to speed labour up and try to deal with the pain better (I had contractions every 3 mins for 24 hours, so there was minimal recovery time between them).

Going to try to make it more active this time too, particularly to maximise space for delivery! I'm terrified that if this one is even an ounce bigger it won't come out!

I did a search for hypo-birthing on MN but didn't turn up much.

Apologies to those of you who don't want to think about the birth yet!

I got as far as buying a hypno-birthing cd and listening to it a few times last time, Spiker, but to be honest the sound of the woman's voice just irritated me, and I decided it wasn't for me. Doesn't mean you won't like it though! Is this your second baby? I will say that second births are often so much quicker and easier than first time ( sorry first timers! ). I had a three day labour first time, with regular painful contractions throughout ( baby was posterior ) and I dreaded the same thing happening again. Second time, it was so much more straightforward - 8 hours from start to finish. I think it's important to try and put out of your mind what previous experiences were like, becaue no two labours are the same. Mind you, I'm sat here expecting everything to go reasonably quickly and smoothly like last time, and I'm sure the experience will be totally different again. Personally I found practicing deep breathing and using a Tens was a lot more effective than imagining myself lying on a beach with a bright light shining down on me, like the hypnobirthing woman was saying. I'm sorry, I sound really dismissive of the hypnobirthing - I'm sure some people find it really good, but it just wasn't for me.

Oh, and I would heartily recommend giving birth on all fours or on your knees. I found it such a comfortable position and the second stage, although very painful obviously, was only 13 minutes, and I didn't tear. I was on my knees leaning on my dh's lap, who was sat on the sofa. Planning on doing this again! First time, I was flat on my back with an epidural and an episiotomy.

RP that's what I'm hoping for this time, tried that last time, but hosp lost traced on dd the way I was positioned and they made me get onto bed in the 'normal position' I was not impressed....(dh had to stand between me and chief MW, who'd come into the room hollering at the other poor ladies who worked for her, as apparently I looked like I was going to hit her! I know she was only doing her job, and I know its important to monitor the heart, but I was in pain right and wanted to give birth my way!)

Spiker re hypno birthing, met someone last weekend at a nappy show, who does it, although she's based in Nottmshire, is that any use, if so I'll pop her details on here.

Hope all are well and having a good weekend, dh has assured me he's sorting bumps room out today, but I can't hear much evidence of that at mo......

Unfortunately I think a lot of midwives are unfamiliar with women birthing in that position - they've only been trained to deal with women lying on their backs. The MW I had last time ( at home ) did suggest I sit/lie, but with my SPD I couldn't have done that without being in agony anyway, so I just refused ( much easier to do at home, I think - as the MW has to be respectful that she is a guest in your home ). Also at home they have hand held monitors, rather than the ones that have to be strapped on, so it's easier for them to monitor you in any position. I think second time around it's easier to be more assertive and if you want to birth in that position, just tell them!

I have to say, I actually got monitored more at home than in the hospital. In the hospital I was left alone for periods of time, I was sharing the MW with atleast one other labouring woman. At home, it was just me, dh and the MW there the whole time, keeping a very close eye on me - which I found very reassuring.

hi everyone - sorry not had much time to post as usual, but have been keeping up with you all... just

spiker - are you having a growth scan too then? mine is on monday because i am now measuring 37 weeks at 33+3. lizzylou - any news on your measurements?

spiker - i have someone in my NCT class who is really into the hypno-birthing thing, she has been doing classes in london and is going for a homebirth (first timer too). her d/h is very supportive of it too, luckily! i am not sure i would be comfortable with it first time around, maybe 2nd if you knew more about what to expect in terms of pain.

munz - never thought i would say this to you hun, but maybe its time to lay off the chocolate ( you can give it to me, lol) and eat more fruit and veg! actually i need to lay off the chocolate now too so i'll be joining you.

Spiker-I've not looked at Hypno birth stuff, but active birth seems to be encouraged by MW here in Devon, they are pretty hot on home birth too. We are hoping for a home birth (its our 1st) and MWs are being as surportive as I could ask for. I intend giving birth on all 4s or kneeling, as I'm of the opinion theres more room for baby in birth canal that way.

I'm wanting to stay home as I think I've more chance of staying low tech that way, and also I'm keen on my own bathroom , privacy etc. All that said, we do live only 10 mins from a major regional hospital with full maternity unit, so if there is a problem its not far to go for help.
UniSarah

Thanks for that RP!!
Well dh has just found the newborn stuff in the loft, hurrah, so dd has been trying all new baby clothes on her dolly!! awwwwww, she's really taken to one of the snow suits, I've had to prise it back off her.....

hello !

I haven't heard of hypno birthing - I guess it can help you relax though soft music might help too? I like Megan too - so much to choose from!

We went to a partners nct class today and she said something interesting about monitoring - she pointed out that babies move constantly during contractions - up, down, moving round, so even if you stayed exactly still on your back the monitor might not always get a 'perfect trace' so there is no reason why you can't be monitored sitting on a chair (say leaning forward) or on hands and knees, or lying on your left side. She also said why not ask for midwife to use a hand held ear piece to hear babies heartbeat as they do during antenatal checks.

Also, some midwives use a monitor to keep an eye on you if they have to leave you for a long time - its always worth asking 'can you have a quick listen before you go as I don't want to be left on a monitor'. The exception is if you are being induced and they may want to keep a closer listen for distress, but then it is even more important to get really comfy first as your contractions might be painful and you will need to move!

I wish I'd known that last time as I remember being stranded on a bed for ages on my back which was really uncomfortable and I'm sure slowed things down.

I must admit the class today wore me out completely - I feel completely knackered just thinking about the coming weeks! I needed a large bar of chocolate and heat mag just to feel normal again!

That's really interesting what you've said about monitoring, Newgirl. That's what I was trying to say, but you've said it much better! It's hard to be assertive and tell them what you want sometimes, I know as a first timer in hospital I just went along with everything they told me, when in reality you always have a choice - even in hospital. They must have the handheld monitors in the hospital - they use them in homebirths, so they must be reliable. Like you say, they often strap you to the bed in hospital so they can go off and do something else.

I'm sorry everyone if I'm beginning to sound evangelical about homebirth. I'm not anti hosptial birth at all, but I really hate it when pregnant women and women in labour are "told" what to do - like "we have to monitor you strapped to the bed for the safety of you and your baby" when they really mean " we want to strap you to the bed because it's easier for us and we can't be bothered to faff around with a hand held monitor" - in case I'm hospitalised, I'm writing all this down in my birth plan

I gave birth on all 4's last time and moniterd evry half an hour, my midwife had no problems with me birthing on all 4's, infact she was the one who sugested it. I was told lying on your back was the hardest way.

Dh has decided i can name the baby so looks like she will be saffron, just need to find a middle name now!

Hope you are all well!

which is why I can't understand why they made me get on the bed last time RP, as they should have been getting the trace fine where I was, I'm just guessing baby shifted, or started to look stressed or something, but no one ever said anything about it later and I was too happy n tired to care!
Well 35 weeks here today

Just catching up again.

TIL - A late "Welcome to the Due in March thread" from me too. I'm very about you not putting extra weight on yet. I wish I was that lucky. I don't even dare step on the scales anymore. I also agree that b'feeding can be really different the 2nd time around. It was an absolute nightmare feeding ds1. I struggled until about 6 weeks with exclusive b'feeding but neither me nor ds1 were particularly happy with it. I did mixed feeding until he was about 4 months old and then switched to just formula. Ds2 was completely different. He took to it straight away and so I carried on for about 6mths or so. He wasn't keen on giving it up but it had got to the point where I felt I needed to.

Marne - Poor you. You really haven't been having much luck just lately. Fingers crossed that you will be feeling better asap.

Munz - I didn't know anything about ketones either. Good old mumsnet, eh? Fingers crossed for you too that things are better soon.

I had an appointment with the locum MW last week as the usual one is off on holiday atm. The locum MW was sooooo scary! She was fine with me but I got the impression that you really wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her. She was absolutely furious that no-one had bothered to let me know that I was anaemic (especially after the hassle of them losing the first blood sample at the lab) and marched off to demand that some one give me a prescription for iron tablets straightaway. Eeek!

The baby is fine but still in a breech position. Hopefully he/she will decide to turn round soon as I really don't want to have a C/S if I can help it. I'm only 31wks though so there's still time left (touchwood!).

Hope everyone's okay.

Coppertop - I was breech at 31 weeks, but head is right down now ( at 35 weeks )