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 :)

thanks all for the comments on induction &/or dialation checking - sorry, i think i'd missed out on earlier talk about inductions being due to concerns about going longer without it... all makes perfect sense now :)

not sure if i'm too worried about discovering how dialated i will be at any given point, other than to be supported & guided into which phase of pushing /not pushing i'm in - don't like the idea of being despondent (as i know i would be,) if i've not dialated "enough," plus, has any doc/MW ever got in there with a tape measure & checked the 10cms? i'm figuring it's rough figure that relates to their experience of knowing what a body like the one they're working with should be at. oh well, whatever happens, will happen

oh, for those ladies feeling they might not want to get naked in front of their MWs - i was once told to "grab the exfoliator, moisturiser & fake tan at the first sign of a contraction," the idea being that by the time i was "ready," to be seen by the professionals, i'd be glowing & confident... so there you go ladies, trauma over! ...... Not!

totally agree with the comments on the differing but so inspiring birth stories - & wow!! loving the supermama action, BFing whilst birthing!! brilliant image!!

hope Sunday is being kind to everyone & you're all getting the chance to lie down for babies to get into those optimum birthing positions whilst families run quietly round, tending to your every need.... ;)

snoozledoozle soooooo jealous of the staff/pregnant ladies ratio!! recently my local nhs hospital had TWO staff on for the whole ward for a whole shift - which has a birth rate of thousands every year... but then, the lack of choice you're offered - i'm not sure how i'd feel about that. good to hear you're happy with you're offered though :)

ooh mama taking the time to fake tan once the contractions start did give me a giggle. Although I must admit that after being on the receiving end of a blunt NHS Bic razor when I was rushed for an emergency C-section (ingrown hairs for 3 years afterwards!), I am that woman who goes round telling first time mothers (even ones I barely know ) to be sure to get a very serious waxing before going into hospital, so as to at least avoid that particular trauma should things go pear shaped!

Snoozle and Mama haha! Had a little chuckle reading the fake tan and the waxing comments! I've already told OH he is to set about tackling the waxing question just in case! He knows where the Veet is in preparation! Although he did not seem too enthusiastic!

So tired today, in fact this weekend. Has really knocked me for 6 as it's not sleepy tired more sheer inability to function. However am still cooking beef casserole with pearl barley and a rice pudding.

I'm sort of compromised in my head that I will take back some time work will owe me in swapping my hols to suit them and only plan to work a full day tomorrow, half day on tues and with the combination of mw and the rest of my holiday on weds I should be able to take a day off. Then I shall see how I go and if needs be I shall go off on thurs.

Hope everyone is well. Hope also two jacks is settled in and not feeling as nervous!

Ok quick waxing question. How much to wax biniki? G string biniki? Brazilon? Or the whole area and go for Hollywood?

Dh just made lovely Sunday dinner for us. Went to m and s earlier to bet a few ready meals in case too tired to cook once baby arrives.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend.

Ah Hollywood and some bling?

cookie - go for the hollywood, or why not a vajazzle as voodoo suggests, perhaps spelling out a useful phrase for the MWs & docs, something like: i said No Managed 3rd Stage! Or... any suggestions??

i too have heard of nasty bic incidents! though, now am nearing the action time, & trying to figure out when to get my last wax & trying not to leave it too late, as yes, yes, i know the MWs won't care what state my bikini line is in - but i do!! so i'm also thinking of reviving that teenage favourite Veet if Bumpalicious arrives early/before next wax appointment.. also, thinking post birth, not loving the idea of a wax whilst everything, even in the best of circs, will be bruised & tender & probably not up to a brisk appointment with my waxologist... so veet it will have to be - hope they've done something about that awful smell it used to have.....

of course, it goes without saying that we'll all be curling our eyelashes & checking our manicures in that early labour stage too, no? hahahaha! though (big headed moment alert!!) am immensely proud of self for still being able to do my own pedicure at almost 39 weeks! - yoga works! :)

No I can confirm veet still smells awful!
Why can't vodka be a way to start labour? I'd be in my element! Am currently craving a vodka and orange. Or vodka and anything if am honest. Ever get that feeling that you need a break only you can't work out what from? Well I have figured I need a night out. With alcohol. And clothes that aren't stretchy and shoes that have heels! Ah I can dream eh. May change my name to dreamingofvodkamunkee.... Hehe

am loving the grooming questions. With DS my legs were okay purely because I'd gone swimming the day before. Although, tbh there would have been time for me to have had a quick shave in the bath before we went to hospital. With DD my legs were okay as it was a hot day the day before and I was out in my maternity shorts, but other bits were rather rampant so they got an electric trimmer to skim the top cm or so off before the section in theatre. The very fact they have a ladyshave in theatre reassured me that this was totally normal for them. Oh that and I couldn't have cared less at the time. They also used a weird plastic bandage thingy on the scar area that gave me an impromptu salon look, after they ripped that off a week later. But really I wouldn't worry about it.... if like me, you well, um frankly, do a few curly turds in front of your MW during your interminable pushing stage, where you're starkers and well and truly past caring, she's not going to be phased by the relative neatness of your feminine topiary. Midwifery is a bit gorey so I tend to find they are the least interested in grooming as any woman you'll meet.

Mama Bejeebs - fake tan at the first sign of contractions? I mean, keeping mobile and active, but really? Sometimes I wonder which planet people are on ;)

Poppet No offence taken at all - I was just confused as to what you were comparing it to!

I do how ever think you can effect what you get in a hospital by being a vocal night mare like myself. No, I didn't get the home water birth I had hoped for, but I got the next best thing - a consultant led birth where I did feel in control once I had gone into established labour.

My birth partner gave birth in the exact same labour suite three months before me, a young primip with "spontaneous labour" and a planned home birth who ended up strapped to monitors, pushing on her back, 27 stitches and 30 minutes away from a CS because she didn't think there were options/ didn't have anyone to fight her corner once she'd been shoved down the aisle of interventionist policies.

Welcome mama, the more the merrier :)!

Amazing to read your birth stories cali and kelly, I find it very heartening to hear two very different stories with wonderful endings. Setting me in stead for a weeks time!

mama I'm being induced as I have a congenital heart defect, so I need to be under full control and heavily monitored for mine and the baby's sake. So I will be induced using a drip to make labour as short as possible, and epiduralled to the nines - so there is as little stress on my heart and lungs as possible. And am only allowed to push for half an hour, then it's out with the forceps! Not ideal I suppose, but at least I am able to have a vaginal birth rather than CS, which most women in my situation have to do.

Haven't thought much about the 'grooming' thing apart for shaving the ole legs (not been done for months as stuck in anti-embolism socks, so couldn't be bothered), and need to ask DH about that! Hadn't even thought of the nether regions (don't normally do anything there apart from the odd trim), and as I haven't seen the area for ages I think I'll stick to old adage of 'out of sight out of mind' :o

DH and I spent the weekend doing the last minute jobs around the house and cleaning, so next weekend we can spend our last weekend of freedom doing something nice - god, don't think I've ever been so prepared in my entire life! Maybe I'll back a Xmas cake this week

Hope everyone had a good weekend xx

haha! I also love the idea of grooming before hospital, if just for you and not for the medical professionals. With DD, I was actually in good shape, had just had a good pedicure, had depilated recently and was tanned anyway because it was summer. But I would be careful of professional waxing myself, the last time I had one while pregnant, she made me go blue - there is so much blood in that area and its bloody painful too!
I had a social sunday with lots of food - american breakfast of french toast, eggs, bacon etc with my very overly pregnant friend - who is going nuts waiting to give birth right now. Then early dinner/playdate with a couple of other friends - she made proper coq au vin with mash potato and beans. Yum!

Hee hee I'm loving the grooming talk.

I have booked a leg & bikini wax the day before my planned cs but both have been seriously neglected of late so if tomorrow's scan leads to an earlier date I'm in big trouble. Bit scared about how sensitive that area is for waxing with extra blood flow etc esp with my scar but at leaset I know my efforts can be focussed around the scar as they are going in the same way.

A midwife told me that provided you have had a wash recently they're unlikely to notice anything in that department and are far more likely to be offended by the smelliness of feet!

I agree that I didn't care whether a mw saw a trimmed me or an untrimmed me! However I am a right prude and would prefer to give birth fully clothed of possible. I've managed in baggy tshirts so far but this time I've out in the oldest and most wrecked nightie I own. I don't do fake tan well so may skip on that too but for my own sakes I am going to get the veet out! I think a bit of shaping and tidying may be the key. Although saying that I'll probably decide now to be allergic.... Ha.
Stripey are you due to be induced week after next?

Evening all,
Best of luck twojacks! Hope to hear from you again soon with news of your little one.

I have a stinking cold, I'm suspicious the flu jab I had on Monday is to blame, I wish I hadn't had it. Its my last week at work next week and I don't have time to be ill!

I had a lovely day today. I went to meet a friend for Sunday lunch and she'd arranged a little baby shower for me with 4 other good friends who don't live in London but had come especially. And on top of that they all bought (and knitted!) me some lovely presents. Cheered me up no end from the cold/trip to hospital/tiredness etc!

Loving the wax talk, I'm going to get one and also worrying about timing it right - don't want to leave it too late or have it too early so it all grows back if I go overdue! Mama I'm impressed you're still managing the toenails, DH has been doing mine for months but he draws to line at managing the bikini area!

Right, Downton in bed with yet another honey and lemon I think. Is there anything better I can take for this endlessly running nose?

i'll be getting dh to trim the area when i start getting close to the date. it's nice to be tidy.

have never fake tanned though, was to concerned about turning orange. i'm just pretty much lily white all year, unfortunately i don't tan.

Hello all :) sorry I've been quiet over the weekend nothing wrong just has an assignment which needed writing. OH has also pulled his finger out and we now have the most beautifully decorated nursey it looks like it's just waiting for Bean to turn up... I absolutely love it and am sooooooo please with how it's turned out!

My nan is coming to stay for two nights tomorrow so it should be interesting.

Welcome to the group mama and best of luck twojacks

I think I can safely say after handing in my assignment tomorrow and at 36+3... I finally feel ready :), or maybe I don't haha, but I do realise this is actually happening now, so maybe acceptance is a better term :)

Poppet you made me laugh out loud! You are right mw have seen it all.

I don't do waxing ever since I had my eyebrows done and all the skin lifted massive blisters for months. I wanted to lock myself in the house - I'm a threading devotee now.

We started the perineal massage last week so I did a full number 1 with my lady garden - which was a sight that even Alan Titchmarsh may have thought was too much of a job. Problem was I couldn't find the trim guard for my ladyshave so I just tried to do a trim with the foil exposed. Understand I could see NOTHING, one of the greatest contortionist shows the public will never see. But it has left an interesting patchwork - Tracy Emin would be jealous of the abstract art I now display. OH is going to sort it out for me next week.

Tee hee! Loving the Topiary Talk :o Asked DH last night about shaving my legs, he looked thoroughly terrified. He wondered as having not shaved since he was 18 (he's got a full beard) whether he trusted himself to wield a razor. Luckily my folks are coming the day before induction to house sit whilst we're in hospital, so I'll ask me maw :)

voodoo am being induced on the 31st, so only a week today [brickingitsmiley]. So I should make it into the November slot, my actual due date is the 10/11/11.

Crikey - the final countdown!!

pam ooh i keep meaning to get that started, i'll speak to dh and see if he'll do it for me if i can't reach.

Stripey eek! It'll be fine and quite nice to know plans etc I should imagine. You deserve a nice relaxing week.
Well off to work for my last week! Can't say am sorry although it's very weird knowing when I go back I'll have a baby and be a 5 person family!
Hope everyone has a good day and two jacks am thinking of you!

Ok, I know this is an ante-natal thread, but I'm losing it here.

She just won't stop crying. BF is excellent once she latches, but she gets in such states that even that is hard.
From 9pm, she slept 2 hours last night, the rest was spent crying at a high pitch and refusing to latch on. Once I get her to latch on she feeds for about 10-15 mins on each breast, releases her self, then goes into screaming mode again (she's "agreed" to feed twice). Two mw's have seen her, and say she's fine, and that she just needs to settle before latching on - which I understand, obviously, it's the instant rage after the feeds I don't get.
I've cried so much in the past 12 hours - I'm so close to trying formula to see if that contains some magical socially acceptable sedative - but I feel like such a failure right now.

By the way - perineal massage = THE BEST.

Getting nervous about today's scan... junior went mental in the early hours keeping me awake for half the night with his disco dancing. Ended up calling MW to be sure you couldn't have too much movement (as DD had had a period of intense activity with prolonged raised heart rate just before they decided to deliver her) only to get lectures on how she couldn't have had an acceleration it must have been tachycardia & how I should not own a Doppler. Helpful at 4am?

Stripey my CS is 1st so we may be baby day buddies :)

Cali don't depair - exhaustion, hormones & fussy baby = recipe for desperation. If she gets in a tiz and won't latch when you are pretty sure she needs feeding try expressing the tiniest amount onto a sterilised medicine spoon and let her lap it off or squirt it into her mouth through a sterile syringe - when DD started getting hysterical about the whole thing this used to just take the edge off enough and calm her enough to latch on (not sure it's MW approved but worked for me - I nicked a few sterile bits & bobs from hospital & would sterilise a few things & a Tupperware so that I could seal them inside & keep them by the bed. At only a few days old these short feeds sound normal. It may be that she is overtired & overstimulted rather than hungry - if she has fed ok then it may be that she needs help to sleep - I would say that once in a state it will prob take at least 20mins of repetitive soothing activity to get them to switch off - we used to gently bounce on fitball whilst saying ssh ssh over & over. What you're going through is so normal & will pass in a day or 2