September 2011 - a month or so to go, come here to share the joys and woes of the final stretch.

[100years]

Now I know the threads we were in weren't finished, but there were 3 threads for the September due dates, and I thought it would be nice to get everyone together and share their experiences.

Stats thread is here If you aren't on there, then get adding yourself.

Hopefully we can all get through the last stint together :)

I'm due 1st Sept, so one month to go, if the LO is punctual.

Congrats bumpy that's great news! Hope you're back home and settling into family life soon...
Glad most of you had a better night's sleep last night. I must be very lucky as only seem to be getting up once (occasionally twice) a night, but given that I tend to be wedged between my v-pillow, two cats and hubby, that's a very good thing as think I'd have to sleep on sofa for my own sanity otherwise!!
Looking forward to hearing about the next new arrival, amused on the bets on who's next, not sure who I'll place my money on though... Sounds like annie is showing most signs?!
Erm, and would someone mind clarifying a 'sweep', and why you all seem to be getting offered it - it's not been mentioned to me at all - I see my mw on Monday - 40+1.... so want to be vaguely in the know in case she does mention it...?!
Enjoy your days... washing to hang out now, and then perhaps more kitchen cleaning (sorry back...).

Bumpy... Congratulations!!! Excellent news, looking forward to hearing more. Hope you both ok, enjoying lots of cuddles :)

Ssmile - glad you had a better night, and YAY for monster catchers!! And YAY you've got company on the new thread... hopefully, now September is only TOMORROW (yikes!) you'll soon have a few more of us joining you!

CBear - good luck for a better MW appt this afternoon. And, agree with 100years - I'm analysing everything now too!!

100years - YAY to the cold drinks! Also, good luck with MW appt and possible sweep. Let us all know how you get on... I'm also getting weird stabbing pains but think it's just how I'm sitting and muscles aching.

Annie - sounds like you might still be next... ! Sending Labour Vibes your way (Thought that smiley looked the closest to a "labour face"!!)

I'm jealous - haven't got any appointments this week - my next MW one is next Tuesday (day after EDD) as my MW is on holiday this week. Thinking she might do a sweep next Tuesday if nothing happening / happened. Had a better night last night - only two trips to the loo, and managed to get straight back to sleep :) However, the pain I get in my hip even seeped through to my dream... I was talking to someone in my dream, then a pain started in my hip and I was crying to this person... which woke me up and I was having the same pain!! Clever dream getting me up!

Isn't it just the weirdest feeling not knowing when it's all going to happen???

Meerkat ... click on here www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/labour/membranesweepexpert/ A sweep is basically (and I quote...) "While internally examining you, a midwife will simply "sweep" a finger around your cervix (neck of your womb). The aim is to separate the membranes around your baby from your cervix. This releases hormones called prostaglandins, which may kick-start your labour"...

They will usually do about 3 - one around 40 weeks, and then 2 after (with a few days apart) if nothing is happening... Your midwife will probably discuss with you or even offer you one at your next appt???

Jimmi - sorry you had a bad night and NOOOOO to your reflex appointment being moved... :( Hope you have a better day and get DP/DH to give you a foot rub!!

sebs my nxt midwife appt isnt until nxt thurs- 40+5. Feels like sssages away, i will b asking 4 a sweep as student mw already told me shel b bk at uni.
Got consultant mon tho about cs if i go 2 weeks over. Hoping things will happen sooner tho

Jimmi - From what you said you felt last night, hopefully you won't be going over 2 weeks?? Fingers crossed anyway...

It was the same as i felt last fri eve tho,.perhaps its something im eating or my body telling me 2 get more sleep. Am sure it'll happen wen i stop thinking abput it...i just cant stop yho!!! Sorry about all the typos, am on my phone

Afternoon everyone, well it all seems to be going on round here!!

Congraulations Bumpy!! and what a cute name!

JimmiJam - I've had the same symptoms as you last night, fingers crossed things are starting to happen for us.

Looking forward to hear about the next new arrival.

Gonna carry on stuffing my face with now!!! Mmmm Oreos Nom Nom

Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy, big congrats Bumpy, clever you!

Yes yes to all the horrible stabby pains that we all seem to be having, they are really no fun at all are they? DH has started to just ignore all my sharp intakes of breath and groaning and grunting now, since it just happens so often. I'll have to scream the place down in order to get him to realise I'm in labour I reckon!

I didn't realise I could ask for a sweep before 40 weeks, got a MW appt tomorrow so maybe I'll ask for one then, although it really doesn't sound like much fun. DH has got the rest of this week off for hols so it'd be really good if I could time it so that he doesn't have to go back to work on Monday.

Sebs I like as a labour face, although the sequence could maybe go something like this:
(not angry, just pushing hard)

With maybe the odd in there as well for if some poo comes out.

Erm :) sweep done and I'm 1.5cm dilated, now don't get your hopes up as it could be ages but then again I'm on the way :) whoop. Apparently that was the calmest sweep she's ever done. I'm obviously very good at this breathing thing :)

If anyone knows me on fb or anywhere else would appreciate nothing being put anywhere as I'm trying to keep things low key elsewhere but you lot should know :)

I feel quite odd in that area now.

She also predicted she'd see me at home with baby after the weekend! Fingers crossed. Now for the bath she said I should have.

Oooh, 100years, that's promising! And well done for being calm (you're clearly well 'ard!)

Ah 100years am so jealous!!!! X
feragirl, love the faces!!

feral I adored your labour faces!! What happened to the :o after cup of tea though? And the glass of wine thank you very much??!!

100years this is fantastic news! The race is on!! Damnations that I am still on the sidelines, but please know that I am cheering you all on enthusiastically (pom poms and everything). Hoping your calmness is contagious - I'll have some of that please...

...mind you I think the poo-dialogue was contagious enough

Feral - loving the labour sequence!! Spot on... but yes, with TP that it should end with !

100years - YAY!! Things looking good ... and yes, well done on keeping calm...

TP - I'll join in with you for now then... Give me "P"... P... Give me "U"... U"... Give me an "S" ... S... Give me an "H"... H... What d'we have??? PUSH* Ummmm, thinking the calmness not rubbing off on me, and the waiting is now going to my head...

Ummm, got the whole "bolding" in that completely wrong.. oh well...

I also didn't realise you could get a sweep before 40 weeks, got a MW appt tomorrow so will maybe ask for one then, i'll be 39+4 so not sure if she'll agree to it but worth a try.

100 years - Well done with the sweep, hope it works for you.

feralgirl - loving the labour face sequence

:o @ sebs

I WANT A SWEEP! WHY CAN'T I HAVE A SWEEP? AAAGGGHHHHHH 3 WEEKS FEELS LIKE AN ETERNITY!!

Thanks everyone :) let's keep fingers crossed and well I'd like to think I'm well 'ard as it was put :) there was no hot water so I went for a walk while the boiler was on, ended up in sainsbugs and bought jam doughnuts and doritos!!! Ah well. Food of late pregnant women. Gonna hopefully have the bath now. Walk again later to the pub for food with the (future) in laws, then I'll try and seduce OH in the only way a full term pregnant woman can :) lol

I'm hoping I'll have more news soon.

Oh and a question, if I'm dilating does that mean I'm no longer in the bh type and they are real (if very mild) contractions? Or can you have bh as well? I know bh don't do anything to cervix?

Oh and nice deep breaths TP :) An apparently the hosp is always really busy

Good question! Would imagine theyre now actual contractions?
With our 1st i was 2cm dilated about 5days b4 going into labour, hope u dont have the same!! U must b so excited! X

You lot are bonkers with your labour faces!!! I've been for a long walk in the park but things seemed to have gone quiet for me 100years why have you been recommended a hot bath?? I'm wondering whether I should too (whilst drinking my half hour stewed raspberry leaf tea, i could fit it in between eating another crazy hot curry and DTD with DH . It has to start up again tonight?!!!!! Last night was a warm up surely??!

How about:

A shag in the (clary-sage-waters) bath after a long walk (using curb or sand for uneven labour-inducing technique), followed by a post-coital raspberry leaf tea and pineapple?

Come on team - you gotta try it?!

TP - you forgot eating a curry whilst bouncing on a birthing ball, having your nipples stimulated and drinking cod liver oil... (maybe pre-the bath???)

Sorry 100years not sure if real contractions or not... but good luck to you and Annie and here's hoping for some more news soon!!

Hopefully you're in labour right now 100years with Annie close behind you :)

You could be onto something Tiddley. I need to get DH on board with DTD again after the other night, he's proclaimed it weird because he could feel kicks. My version of seducing him the only way a full term woman can may have to include the phrase "you did this to me now help undo it". Failing that I'll go the bribery route, one session in exchange for all the sandwiches and coffee he can handle (until I get bored of acting the 50s housewife).

MW appointment went well, she offered a sweep but I turned it down - idiot that I am - because I need to do the food shop tomorrow and wash a few more things. I often wonder if my brain short circuits and makes me say no thanks then an hour later I think to myself I should have said yes. She's seeing me again on the 12th when I'll be 40+1 and doing a sweep and then again for another one on the 14th (40+3). I'm hoping I won't need either appointment.

She told me to get some raspberry leaf if I haven't already because it makes for a smoother second stage (I had a long second stage last time) I have the tea but keep forgetting to drink it so bought some of the capsules on the way home. It says to take 1-2 a day. Is anyone taking the capsules? Not sure whether to stick to one or chow down two.

Going to catch an early night because I'm feeling a little bit weepy and vulnerable for some inexplicable reason, like I'm tweaked and anxious about something.

Hope everyone has a good night and that tomorrow brings some more lovely birth announcements :o

Had 1 hot jalfrezi 2nite, couldnt eat it all itwas that hot!! Have done a little walking today, walked arpund all day with drops of clarysage oil on my top and had a couple of cups of tea so far. Nect up begging dh 4 sex!!!
Barr a possible 2 more of us looks like most of us really will b having septembrr babies!!!