DECEMBER 2011 the final countdown (in honour of OI)

[kri5ty]

Sorry for the new thread and crap name but i needed to start one oi how are you doing good luck xxx

I have fallen off the face of MN for a week or so and have loadsss to catch up on! I have been busy doing coursework and seriously nesting!!

PGP is awful, to the point of making me cry, finally got a pyshio app, but not for another 2 weeks :( doesnt seem much point. OH continues not to even attempt a massage if i ask and rolls his eyes.

Been having really bad shooting pains that take my breath away, but seems as though baby is head down (and very low) im guessing its a nerve he is on.

Very strange and TMI... but earlier (when i went to the toilet) i could feel what felt like the head bulging on the outside, through my lady garden lol... freaked me out!!

Good luck oi !! Fingers crossed

tye glad you took the sick advice!!

tyel I'm so sorry that the conversation with your mum went so badly. Stay strong. You are absolutely doing the right thing. You and your DH have done your research and have decided what is best for you. I hope that she realises that it is she who is being stubborn and pig-headed, but more importantly, that it is your child, your body, your decision. I hope this ends positively, that it starts more open discussions and she begins to accept that you're a big girl now - and the start of a new kind of relationship for you both.
I also hope that your home birth goes really, really smoothly!! So many do end up in the hospital- just in case - and we really don't want any "I told you so's!"

As for pereneal massage... (massive change of subject!) I can barely reach... I tried in the bath, but can't reach around the front. I'll have to re-look at the instructions...

Mmmm didn't scare me - just never crossed my mind tbh x

They only give you steroids if you deliver or threaten to deliver before 35 weeks.

Tyel I'm sorry your mum is being a muppet. Just hold strong in the knowledge thT you, your husband and your midwife are on the same page, and that's the only thing that matters

mrsbuggy, mmmmcheese and fusam, thanks for the reassurance regarding the nonstop cluster feeding in the first couple of nights. I'm so grateful for this group. At least this time I'll know what to expect. Last time around, although everyone said you should sleep when the baby sleeps, I just wanted to stay awake and gaze at him, so I was shattered by evening anyway. This time around the plan is that when DH is there with me, when baby is asleep, so will I be!

As for the other people who have said they are worried about bf with small boobs (sorry I can't remember the names, mind like a sieve), even with pregnancy growth, I've never gone above an A cup (except first couple of days when my milk came in) (have been very of people who go up 4 cups sizes within days of a positive test), and other than the issues I mentioned earlier, bf DS for a year. It does make finding nursing bras a bit more of an issue (most places start at a B or bigger), but I've gone for multisize ones (e.g. S,M,L, etc. rather than one specific size). Can't remember the brand but I got them from JoJo, and they were kind of like a sportsbra, very elasticy (bit painful to stretch them on in the early days), think I'll probably do the same this time.

Tyel, I'm so sorry that your mum isn't supporting you in your decision. Maybe she's just terrified of something going wrong, but as you've explained you can transfer to the hospital if you need to.

If the baby makes an entrance in the next 2weeks would that be ok? What would the pre-term effects be? X

Youre 33 weeks now arent you? The liklihood is that the baby would be absolutely fine but would probably need to stay in scbu to get feeding established. Without steroids they migt need a bit of help with breathing. My consultant has been aiming to get me to 34 weeks, a few people hee have also been told that if the baby comes at 34 weeks they are more or less term and would be fine. If you do think that you migt be inpremature labour younshouldnt delay and should get to the hospital asap so they can give you the steroids. I was offeed them at 28 weeks but as we live near thebhospital i said no as i only want to have them if i actually go into labour.

IME part of it depends on how big the baby is and exactly when it arrives. all the neonatal drs are keen on saying every day counts.

on the basis you are 35 weeks (is that right?), you are very nearly term. so you might be looking at a short stay in SCBU for the little one until they can feed on their own (the suck reflex develops at around 36 weeks i think...), maintain their temperature (something for more premature babies generally) and are a certain size.

every scbu stay is different though and it really depends on why your DC arrives early and how your DC does if it does come early. the general rule of thumb for straight forward prematurity is they should be out by the due date.

disclaimer - i only know this because DS was a 31 weeker but he spent 16 weeks in because of other reasons he was early so it really does depend on exactly how they are when they arrive

I'm 34 wks on Thursday x

ooh me too! keep everything crossed that nothing further develops x

I think, but not sure, that the suck reflex usually develops at 34 weeks. Ds came home at 35 weeks and was fully bfeeding for at least 3/4 days before that. But of course it does depend on each individual case. Ds was sucking a dummy at 31 weeks!

Fingers crossed baby stays in darcies. My consultant told me if I think I'm going into premature labour before 35 weeks get to hospital pronto for steroids. FWIW my neice arrived at 34+4 and spent one night in SCBU and was tube fed for a couple of days. She went home on day 3, so it isn't always the case that prem babies will be in hospital until EDD. It depends a lot on how early they are, obviously the closer to term the better. x

Hawthers My GP told me to keep fingers & legs crossed that baby stays in for next 2-3 weeks.

Mmmm Thanks thats reassuring that your DS was okay at this stage

I think suck reflex must vary around 34-36 weeks. DS's hadn't developed strongly enough to BF at 35+5.

Thanks Seven DP said if the bowling ball, period type cramping continues he'd feel better about taking me to hospital.

I've packed my hospital bag now just incase!

sorry didn't mean to scare anyone with the EDD chat for length of stay - defer to seven's knowledge

darcies can you go on bedrest until 35 weeks? I think it really helps, my baby was engaged at 28 weeks but came back up after being on bedrest. It is a pain but its worth it in the long run.

hawthers EDD is the rule of thumb, youre right. But most babies i know managed to get out by 36/37 weeks. The scbu staff just dont want you getting too impatient!

Mmmm I can go on bed rest from 35week s can't really this week although know I should to prevent pre term delivery. just a bit of a pain with work this week due to my handover taking a week holiday and she's not back till next week and there's still things I need to go thru with her.

Darcies could work possibly wait? I mean, wouldn't it be better to have your replacement not fully up to speed and you get some bedrest?

hawthers I wasn't implying you were wrong, I know that is what they generally say, although I wonder if maybe they should say before x weeks rather than just premature. Obviously there's very big differences between babies born at 24/30/35 weeks.

Just think: the conversations in a few weeks are going to be very different... (how long can this bloody pregnancy last? surely the bun's done! etc.)

Welcome back, SoTiredoftheWheelsontheBus!

lalababy, good to hear you are in such a good mood. POsitive stories welcome!

Mopsy might take tomorrow off and see how I go as your right work can wait - I'm just not that way!

I know how you feel, I tend to be like that. But really, you and your baby are more important right now and work will just have to cope!

Your right - my GP will be happy lol x