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 :)

mashpot phone the DAU they will be really happy to see you. I had the same Mon, Tues, Weds last week... Went in on Tuesday for 30mins monitoring Bean had a beautiful trace but still no movement they booked me in again on Weds and again beautiful trace but little movement so had a scan Friday and turns out to have been a growth spurt. However they assured me that I did exactly the right thing, and if her movementa reduce again I am to go in straight away. If nothing else it's very reassuring which would mean less anxiety and worry for you and therefore a happier baby. Goodluck :) oh and I'm 35 + 1

Congrats to the Kettles- can I say though I'm getting a bit freaked out- this is the November thread people! I must get oot today and buy moses sheets... Cannot wait to hear birth story.

Lizzy how are you doing today? Hossie not ideal but like others say good place to be if threatened early labour.

Sleepsuits and slings thanks for all the advice.

Full term here today pains in fanny and some cramps at times but they don't last. No cheese either

kelly MASSIVE congrats!! You got your HB, I am so so pleased for you :) Looking forward to birth story when you can but just enjoy your lovely newborn girl and rest up. Here's hoping I'll be the same in another month :)

Moosey thanks, I think, for the feedback! I am sorry if you interpret my comments as being rude sometimes, they really are not meant to be. I will agree i am a cynical old thing who has had so many bad experiences with maternity services that i am now a tad suspicious of some HCPs But I do realise that my views are just that, my views, and have always tried to caveat them with - do what is best for you and your baby - it will generally be the right thing. I truly would never judge anyone here for their decisions or needs.

When I get angry, my comments are about the midwives or doctors and not the person on here posting the comment.
If you wanted help with your car seat then absolutely you should have been able to ask for it/be offered it. I do get annoyed that many NHS trusts have policies/staff that assume women leave their brains behind at the maternity dept door. Your need for help should not translate into a blanket policy that all women must have a car seat or an assumption that a woman and her baby is somehow the 'property' of the hospital and must do as she is told.

So, if anyone thinks I am outspoken, I guess I am but if it makes anyone on here question their care in the face of a poor HCP then that's a good thing IMO. There are many many fab HCPs but sadly there are also many very poor or policy-driven/no common sense HCPs, especially (in my experience) on the post natal wards.
Hopefully, we'll move on now and chalk it down to hormones eh? :)

Personally I love car seats as they saved my newborn DD after I tripped over carrying her from our front door to the car. Trying to save her, I smashed my face into the concrete and my teeth went through my lips. She remained safe in her car seat, albeit on her side.

Btw, there are rear facing car seats that sit permanently in the car from newborn to 4yrs old. Very popular in nordic countries, not so much in the UK. They are supposed to be safer for young children though.

lizzy as others have said, sounds like a complex case and sounds like you are in the right place. I've heard too that a planned section is way better than an emergency one. Good luck.

voodoo how are things today?

Had a great night sleep and DP gave me a lie in!! Yay!!

Congratulations Kelly, such lovely news, welcome little Kettle! As a nervous first-timer I had been sure that I wanted to give birth in hospital - actually Southampton so have probably seen "my room" on One Born Every Minute! But hearing you say you were snuggled up in your own bed feeding with a cup of tea an hour or so after giving birth sounded so lovely and comforting it has made me wonder.. Anyway looking forward to hearing the story and name.

Cali yay for Tuesday and help, surely that means you will meet Sprout in just a few days now?

I'm behind most of you I think at only 35+4 . It is wrong to say I am absolutely and totally sick of being pregnant? Terrible carpal tunnel and pain in hands and SO itchy everywhere, particularly legs and soles of feet - actually think I am going to do a bloodtest for obstretic cholestasis - anyone know anything about that? Apparently it would mean early deliver 37-38 weeks, so maybe wishful thinking that I do have it and then less time to go

Right off to start the packing. Moving house tomorrow. At least my lovely mum has come to help!

oh and mash get it checked out. Put your mind at ease and no one will think you are wasting their time.

morning ladies, having been away all week i have no chance of catching up with everyone, but i did notice that we have two wonderful additions. congratulations caz and kelly and welcome to your little ones, i'm looking forward to hearing the birth stories when your ready. enjoy your cuddles.

chip Everything i write down to say to you i then delete cause it sounds wrong or patronising. I wanted to say that i thought you were immensley brave and strong, and that although there is no "nice" way for it to happen at least you know she was in comfort and being loved at the time. I know there's more i wanted to say but i know i'll ramble so i'll finish with

hoping everyone is ok. oh and on another topic, still having problems with boys name, but i mentioned Xander to dh saying about caz and saying how i liked it (also in Buffy) and he likes it as well , the only name we agree on so far, but we're still in discussions. (often loud discussions)

Pandia I've got really, really bad carpal tunnel too, and itchy palms, but OC is very rare - they tested and I was fine, but someone else on the thread has it? Ask for testing though.
I was bored of pregnancy by 34 weeks, it's tiring and exhausting and absolutely limiting. I keep walking past the wine and tobacco in our local Tesco and sigh longingly, looking wistfully at the LBV Port and prosciutto. I've had to turn down so many social events "just in case you give birth" - this weekend we were supposed to be in the Peaks with friends but it was just a no-go as we weren't confident there was a hospital close enough if something happened.
I go to the local pub quiz every Wednesday and I've yet to sample the microbrewery beer on there. I have to allocate 2 hours to do my weekly shopping because I can't walk normally any more.
Finally, I've now spent almost a week in non-labour painful contractions, with no end in sight (until yesterday).
But it's all worth it in the end - people keep repeating hypnotically at me.
It better end soon so I can start enjoying it then!

Thanks Cali - really reassuring to know I'm not the only one so that is really helpful. Was starting to be worried that not enjoying this pregnancy so much was the start of bad mother syndrome..... As you say, not long now and then it will all be worth it!"

Pandia I too am sick of being pregnant. I want my ankles back, for starters...where the hell did they disappear to? But, having said that, its bitter sweet for me, because this is my second, and will be my last, so I know that when its over its over, if you see what I mean. And as I am currently heading for another C-section, I do have a feeling of 'this is it, I'm not a 'proper' mother, as I'll never experience giving birth'. But, can't let that hold me back, I had no trouble bonding or anything last time, so hope things are ok this time too.

Kelly huge congratulations. I can't tell you how brave I think you homebirth ladies are, I'd be terrified (although lying in your own bed afterwards does sound fantastic). Actually, my kitchen would sort of be ideal at the moment - it is gutted, all the units out, the cooker gone, not even a sink in there at the moment. Could cover it from top to toe in plastic sheeting, and have no fear of making a mess, as there is nothing to make a mess of. Not the warmest of environments for a new arrival though.....

Cali I am horrified at how you have been treated with regard to your anxiety/depression/OCD. Yes to support, the more of that the better, but don't they know that this type of labelling of people, making them feel like they have done something wrong, is exactly what deters people from seeking help for mental health problems in the first place? My sister suffered from infertility and tried to conceive for well over 10 years, and she just mentioned to me recently that there were many times over the years when she felt so depressed that she really felt she needed professional help, but she never dared go to the doctor, as she feared (correctly, as it turns out) that being labelled as a mental health patient would disqualify her from IVF, or being considered for adoption. Thankfully, she eventually had successful IVF, but to have to struggle through that on your own is brutal, when ironically the cause of the depression would be the infertility itself - talk about catch 22....

I too have anxiety problems (and many years ago suffered from depression for several years), and consider myself very fortunate that my community midwife is a lovely lovely lady, who has suffered from anxiety problems herself in the past, so has a full understanding of how I might be feeling. She is a total gem.

Caz and Kelly many many congratulations and lots of love to you and your family. It's just lovely reading the news on here. Ah folic sorry to hear your fancy is hurting . Reading all updates on here is helping me get through my work day, so thank you x

Bloody predictive phones *fancy can't believe it made me type twice!

Gah! I give up

I prefer fancy! Ha.
Mrsa am just having a day off from the stress! My mum is home from holiday so I'll have to go over the whole saga with her today and she is of the generation where you go to hospital for any procedure! When had my carpal tunnel op it was at a day unit attached to a doctors and she was horrified! m just feeling so let down and sadly I feel like I've let myself down too. It keeps going round my head that am only slightly over and I've never been light even when i was a size 10 I still had boobs and a bum! I'm a 16 now thanks kids and wine, although am guessing that I'm actually much smaller as can still do up size 16 trousers.... Nothing I can do about it. Very scared of the whole thing now :( although kellys successful homebirth and the other stories from the thread ladies has really helped make me be able to look at things a bit more objectively. I realise I am just not going to have the spare cash for a pool so that would limit me instantly in my choices!
Have remembered what the hospital reminds me of.... A swimming pool. Minus the actual clean pools. If that makes sense!

Just a quick note to say big congrats to Kelly, think I've already congratulated Caz, if not congrats to you guys too, lost track of when I last commented, although not ages ago I think!

Cali, hope things get better that is terrible treatment by your midwife def complain about it!!!

Right am 37+1 today, so eating a big bunch of pineapple, have really missed it and figure now am safe enough if that tiny likehood of bringing on labour actually comes about - nom nom nom!!! [hgrin]

Yay congrats Kelly! can't wait to hear all about it.
Going to check back later (just wanted to congratulate Kelly) got most horrific toothache now n not slept all night....nhs direct couldn't get me emergency app today when called last night but got a good friend whos a dentist n hopefully going to sort me out at 4. Just a bit past it now and although I don't want any work done I can't cope with pain any longer n worried about effect stress of it is having on baby

Well never I did get waxed last week so it may still be looking fancy- I wouldn't know though as can't see it

Kate ouchy sore teeth, I hope you get some relief at 4pm, but don't worry about baby, stressing about the stress is probably worse than the stress of the pain. I know sounds easier said than done. Take care.

Thanks all for advice, I decided maybe I should go and be monitored but I've rung all the numbers I have for the hospital and can't get any answer and I have no idea who to call or where to go. There doesn't seem to be a DAU at Kings.

DH is going to work in a minute so I'm just going to rest at home and hope for the best. I have felt some little wriggles so I think (hope) I'm just being a bit paranoid. DH thinks the bump has changed shape, is it possible baby has dropped and that would mean less movement? May also account for the pain yesterday.

TwoJack what is this about pineapple? Is this something else that we are meant to not eat? Yikes, I've never heard of that one and have been merrily munching pineapple throughout.....not loads of it, but I certainly haven't been avoiding it. Tell me more, this is a minefield.....

kelly huuuuge congrats

seems like the pains and stuff of last week were another UTI - yawn. Now the 3rd in 7 weeks .....just tedious .....but i had the first pain free night in 8 last night and even made it out of the house to the supermarket - rock n roll!

ive really missed DH this week but not a fat lot i can do about it .

right now, im absolutely ready for LO to appear, I feel fat, everything is swollen, my back is killing me etc etc etc whinge whinge whinge

sorry for self absorbed post. I absolutely know im not the only one feeling like it

PMA is that i made a yummy risotto

37 plus 1

Pineapple is meant to help induce labour isn't it? Have a feeling you would have to eat like 7 fresh pineapples but hey!

I think we're talking about 5-6 pineapples in one go so not a great worry! 37 weeks today so I am going to start a campaign of pineapple, curry, raspberry leaf tea and sex! Probably after I've had a nap & packed the hospital bag ;-)

Huge congrats Kelly - so exciting. Took us from Thur to Mon to name DS...

Yup, you'd have to eat millions and millions of it to bring on labour, but i love pineapple and hadn't had any for the whole of my pregnancy so really really enjoyed it, although doubt it's helped by blood sugars for gestational diabetes or my heartburn, ho hum...

Curry didn't work last weekend after and sex takes a while to persuade 'im indoors to get on with, tried raspberry leaf tea and it was stinky, although apparently getting evening primrose oil capsules and piercing them and then using them as a pessary helps, not sure I'll bother trying that one either....

This time next week I'll be in the hospital - yipes!!!

Eek two jacks!
I must buy some raspberry leaf capsules. Can't abide herbal type tea's. Got a few things to get for 'hospital' bag but just not the energy to force myself to do it.
Told OH it's time for him to up his performance as we just have not been erm getting jiggy at all!

Don't know what's up with me today. Not got any appetite,baby will not stay still, feel sick and could go and cry my eyes out! Tried a sandwich and had to bin it, felt like I was gagging on it.... Odd.

Hey voodoo Just over an hour ago you were talking about getting jiggy with it, hope that isn't what has made you feel sick Have you got any plain biscuits you could just nibble on?

Baby is still lying transverse here. I've tried everything, think Just and I are in a race to turn our babies :0