Nov 2011 - almost time to push!

[TerrysNo2]

Last thread was full so thought I would just start this one off - hope you don't mind as I know I've not been a regular but god forbid you guys having nowhere to chat ;)

Right, caz what's happening, I am stalking you all over the shop and need more news :)

Hi all - just a short message to express my joy at all these wonderful new babies, and my hope that all the new mums are resting and taking care of themselves - especially those who had tough deliveries. To the rest i wish you good luck. can i apologise for my one handed typing but my daughter isin my arms having a feed, here in our lounge. she got out last night at the grand age of 36weeks gestation and after 63 (i think) days in hospital. I've never felt such an equal mix of joy andterror.

Oh, that is fab news, Poppet delighted for you!

Congratulations cali & welcome Abigail xx

Great news poppet well done Willow xx

terrys I have commented on your other thread xx

congrats cali - welcome to your little girl

good news poppet - enjoy all those lovely cuddles :)

Folic I don't think I've got round to saying congratulations tis so lovely.

Cali You did say perhaps it'll be Friday, so well done, many congratulations. How much ribbing can we give you for the 'no stitches' oh ok I'll wait a bit until you are rested

Welcome Franchini, a lovely lovely group of ladies on her so ask away your questions. I am probably no help whatsoever as its my first too.

Poppet I can feel your joy/terror through the world wide web. Enjoy every moment, you must be very proud of her.

Blue How are you getting on young lady?

35 weeks tomorrow
(baby still transverse - do I have to sleep with my bum up in the air!!)

Yay poppet and willow!
Terrys have added on your other thread :-)
I feel like I've finished work. Don't actually finish til a week today.....

Cali yay!!!! Congratulations. Love the name Abigail, and especially the middle name you chose - Isis, that is beautiful. Looking forward to the story. LIke others have said it's all becoming very real isn't it?

Folic big congrats too - sorry I don't think I said it yet as you gave birth when we were moving house. Yay for the babies!!

With the engagement thing doesn't what they record mean the amount of head they can still feel, i.e. the amount that is not in the pelvis yet. I was recorded yesterday at 4/5 which I think means she is starting to descend but the midwife can still feel 4/5ths of her head? Exciting anyway.

never and anyone else with transverse/breech baby, I thought I'd post this link www.facebook.com/#!/notes/tara-lee-yoga/exercises-to-turn-a-breech-baby/258579234177053 - on Facebook search for Tara Lee yoga - she is the one who did those pregnancy yoga DVDs that lots of people have. I go to her class in London and someone shared these exercises which were recommended through the Gentle Birth Method. Lots of girls in the class have tried them and had amazing results. It's quite extreme I think, like you need to do the exercises every 2 hours over a 48hr period or something - but may be worth a try?

House move has been so unbelievably stressful this week. Moved into a rented flat where shower is not working, keys we were given don't fit lock, major leak/damp/mould in kitchen, taps in bathroom not working etc etc. All problems that we didn't spot when we looked around a couple of months ago, or that have gone wrong since. Agent is sorting, but SO stressful in the meantime and not good for 36wk need for relaxation at all :( Not much help from DH either who seemed to think that things domestic are my department now I'm on maternity leave. Grrrrrrrr

Any more babies on the way?! Who's next?!

cali Congrats! Welcome to the world Abigail!

Welcome franchini Lucky you found us now... looks like we are set to have had most of the babies by Nov:)

As for the baby being engaged, I think it goes from +5/5 when the head is level with the top of the pelvis to -5/5 when it emerges from the vagina ?? or cervix so going from 4/5 to 3/5 is heading in the right direction. Think you have to be in labour to get in the (-).

never sending your bubs vibes to turn head down!

poppet It must be nice to be home! Can understand the anxiety as well. Well done Willow! Just keep getting bigger and stronger!

Thanks Pandia. Not sure how long I could hold position 3 for though

Yay Cali and Poppet,

congrats to you both :)

Not much else to add, welcome Franchini, terrys boo to your midwife, that kind of scaremongering is just not helping, especially this close to the end too!

Hello to everyone else, one and a half more days at home and then hospital for me, lets hope my induction goes as well as Cali's.

Cali HUGE congrats and well done on pushing without tearing - yes, it can be done! So very pleased for you.

Welcome Franchini

Poppet oh how amazing that she's home. I'm so happy for you and she's feeding from you, which is so fab. Enjoy having your family back together :)

Terrys will post in detail on your other link.

Had a fab midwife appt today. Spent well over an hour chatting with her and my doula at home, and really feel like I have a fighting chance of my homebirth now. We even talked about what foods I might like to have in for after the birth. Champagne and pate on toast is not an unusual request apparently! Well, as she said, my house - I can have what i like.
She is taking the view that she will be hands off and unless there are signs of anything unusual, treat it as a nice, quiet, natural birth and she's leaving it up to me to decide if i birth in the pool or not.
We also debated the pros and cons of the vitamin k injection after the birth (her research masters is in vitamin k study) and I think I'll decline the injection for the baby (too much trauma for him if there's been a calm birth) but go for the oral vit k which she will administer in the few days after birth.
My urine was clear, which she was delighted at - apparently this close to birth the kidneys are working overtime and it is not unusual to spill a little bit of protein or urine. She also palpated and said (her words) 'baby is in a near perfect position for birth'! Head is 1/5 engaged (or 4/5 palpable), head down obviously and his spine is virtually vertical down my tummy. It really reassured me when she proved her point by picking up the heartbeat instantly, based on where she thought the baby was. :)

Very happy.

Weekend might be challenging as DP is working all weekend and is away tonight, back Sat night but then back to work (Hi fi show in Manchester) on Sunday. PLan is to go swimming on Sunday so at least I can wallow!

Just on engagement as it confused the hell out of me first time round - there are two ways of measuring engagement. 4/5ths engaged or 4/5ths palpable.. i think a lot say engaged even though they mean palpable. If you are 4/5ths engaged it means mw can only feel 1/5 of his head above the pubic bone. if you're 4/5ths palpable it means she can feel 4/5ths of his head above the pubic bone.

I am 4/5ths palable so only the tip of baby's head is in my pelvis. The more pronounced my waddle is the further down baby is!

Looking forward to sunday dinner - lamb shank hotpot and then steamed pudding. Yum!

Missyraines peers round the door to find lots of Mums sitting with babies in their arms and the others drinking rasberry leaf tea like it's gone out of fashion and some tasty looking banana bread to munch on. She sits down to catch up with everyone

Firstly many congratulations to all the new arrivals. Sorry to hear about Sylvie-rose. Such a cruel thing to happen. My prayers are with your Mummy and Daddy.

I have been lurking most days but don't seem to post much. I'm 35+4 today (due 21/11) so will deffenatly be a Nov Mum. I hope don't stray into the Dec thread. We've got most things now thanks to friends, ebay, internet shopping and a NCT nearly new sale. My hospital bag is packed and by the door.

I have to say this pregnancy so far has been a breeze. I finish work next week with three weeks till due date. I started my NCT antenatal classes yesterday and am also doing the NHS one tomorrow. Baby is head down. I imagine them with their hands above their head like doing a dive. That would make birth a bit easier wouldn't it.

Anyway, I've nothing important to say so am just getting back on board the Nov bus after I fell asleep at the back! Ding ding, who's getting off at the next stop?

x post MrsA! That sounds like an excellent appointment. Glad you have found someone who understands and respects your wishes. I was also looking at vitamin k. I'm opting for the injection as the oral seemed a bit of a faff. Two doses in first week and then final dose at 1 month old. Who will administer the final dose, and how to they do it? In milk or syringe into mouth?

Poppet Sorry, forgot to say congratulations on Willow being home. Must be a lovely feeling having your family in one place.

Moosey cos she's my IM, she'll administer all the oral vit k as she will visit me every day for the first week, then as often as is needed for the first month. I believe she will give it as drops onto the tongue.

DD had the vit k injection and tbh, I didn't think anything of it but then she had a traumatic birth so may have been at higher risk. If it's a nice, gentle birth the risk of insufficient vit k is extremely low apparently and I don't think i want my snuggly newborn to have an injection in his leg whilst he is trying to latch on. but that's me.
She said i can always change my mind and could even have the vit k injection on day 2 or 3.
I think cos I has such problems with DD feeding, i don't want anything that doesn't have to, get in the way.

Congrats! Cali. I love the name Isis too.

mrsa glad to hear it all going well and as planned for you :)

I had planned on a nice early night. Came to bed at 8.30. Have incredible indegestion so am.sitting up in bed with a book. Boo.....

Ah never you are better than me - i always intend to go to bed early but never manage it. I am currently downstairs on the internet finishing my xmas shopping online.
I do intend to go to bed early but it never happens

I have arranged to go to a soft play centre tomorrow morning with DD to meet a good friend and his 3 yr old so he can take em both on the slides while I relax with a cuppa. I may regret the early start...

Arrrgh, the insomnia returns! For a couple of nights there, I slept not too badly, but its back with a vengeance. So tired, but so unable to sleep. Its cruel....

Yay poppet, it must be amazing to have Willow home :)

Oh the joys of insomnia snoozle, I sympathise. Though managed to sleep for a whole 5 hours in a row - whoohoo get me

Still a wee bit confused about engagement malarky, but there is info on my mw notes which I'll keep rereading til it sinks in ( which will be never with this pregnancy brain)

Hope everyone has a good weekend xx

Congratulations on your little girl, Cali
And go Willow! I'm so pleased that she is home with you Poppet

mrsA forgot you had an IM. My aftercare was crap. Only saw mw at home twice and then they forgot about me. Didn't have any issues until hv asked if I had been signed off by mw - er no.

Makes sense though re feeding. I think DD had her injection whilst they were weighing/measuring and then we breastfeed.

Does sound lovely though having a home birth, just not for me. I like to be near drugs.

Best get cracking, off to do food shopping.

morning all, been quiet for a few days, but just had a major catch up read!

Congratulations folic and cali!!

And really pleased to hear willow is home!!

Caz had a look at your pics of Xander, he is absolutely beautiful :D

Last official day at work yesterday, though this week is holiday, then the plan is for me to work from home next week, to get what i need to finished! (Though hoping someone may make and appearance to put an end to that idea! - yet if she arrives this week I will loose holiday as my mat leave will kick in!)

Had the best nights sleep in ages last night! 8 hours solid! OMG!!!!

Gonna sit and order my shopping now, then have a bit of a clear up and wash some nappies!

Mum's coming to stay for a few days today, so can't wait!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend xx

stace just to say if your baby arrived and mat leave kicked in early, legally you cannot lose holidays you are contractually entitled to. They have to carry them forward to next year and it overrides anything in your contract that says otherwise. So don't worry.

I'm debating going sick next week. My stress levels are manic. My ds is in the worst mood ever and I could just sit in a darkened room. Happy Saturday eh!
Would it be really bad to go on sick leave to kick my mat leave in? Am 38 weeks on tuesday....