December 2011:Once we pop, we just can't stop

[OiMissus]

Here's the new thread!
Squee-eeze those muscles, or squee-ee-eeeze those babies out!

[jinglebum]

Great minds think alike tinsel - I was just in the process as you posted! As you said - inevitable really!

[DarciesmumandBump2]

Loving the new xmas names.

Well the pressure in my pelvis is immense :( hurts to walk and sit. having period type pains again and contractions but only in the lower half of my bump so know not labouring contractions (which is really irritating). Swollen feet and legs, told by GP to have sex every night ;) as the prostaglandin in the semen will help induce labour as he thinks its very near baby is very low and its very tender down there. Whats the chances of my MW doing a sweep this week even tho i'm only 37weeks?

[sevensevenseven]

darcies I only felt contractions as extreme pressure on my pelvic floor, despite having normal contractions with DS. I only realised it could be labour when the pressure lasted around a minute, was coming at 5 minute intervals and getting worse. If it seems to be getting worse get it checked out.

[festivefiggy]

Sympathies with the rotating midwife team arrangements we the same in our local area think have met all 4 of them on my team plus a student midwife funny. Next appt not until 39+3 on Monday so far all they've done is measure BP, bump, baby heartbeat no discussions about birth plan, the actual labour or post natal care I've just assumed that as they won't be delivering baby as having hospital birth that's normal do the rest of you have more in depth discussions or directions??

[plupervert]

Oh, dear, Mmmcheese, not good to have so many things to wait for! Don't stay off MN, though! There are so many ways ot distract yourself on here, whether you are moaning yourself or getting lost in a silly thread about What Would Babies Post on Babynet?

sazzermol, when are your works due to finish?

Honey, do you have to go through things with them? Surely once it's in your notes, you don't have to beat it into each new person, especially if you are unlikely to see her for the birth itself? If you can avoid having the conversation again next time, it could save you a bit of stress...

jigglebum, if those books aren't helping, you don't have to read them! (Disclaimer: I'm not reading lots of that kind of book because I haven't been organised enough to buy any Although I'm ordering that Siblings Without Rivalry book msbuggywinkle recommended - er... some time ago...) Who's going to be around when the baby is born? With us, it will be GPs, and I am hoping to stage some "fights" over who gets to spend special time with DS - so he feels like a prize that someone has won. No doubt some of this is very idealistic, but we can but try!

OiMistletoe, did the reflexology help your swollen feet, or was it the mistle toe?

MW appointment this afternoon - a local one at the GP's surgery - kind of put me off, as they were talking about managing things this end, and I suspect I will get bounced into the hospital they are connected with, if I "go through" them for the next couple of appointments, and they can't do the sweep themselves anyway (it needs to be booked in at the hospital), so I'm just not going to cancel my 41-week appointment with the clinic where I have been going.

[Hohohomouse]

Hello ladies,
Had to join in the name game :)
plu you have me worried about sweep options. The hospital is a good 40 min drive away for me and I really don't want to have to ask DH to take any more time off work. I suppose it's not really safe for us to be driving to and from sweeps or is it?
What a pain for you, is there no other option apart from cancelling the appt? It would seem a shame at this late stage.
festivefiggy I am in your boat - never having seen same midwife while pregnant and no in depth discussions about anything...ever. They just never seem that interested. I have been happy enough being low risk but if they try and give me substandard service in labour and birth cos they think I am "easy" I will raise merry hell. DH is under the strictest of instructions to make sure we are informed with the right info before any action taken. And to fight my corner like a tiger. I absolutely don't want to be difficult but want my needs to be taken into account at such a crucial time and when another life included too. I am mouse, hear my ROAR!!

[Sleighbellsinthesnow]

Joining the name change game - mine was well out of date anyway! A bit of a mouthful so feel free to call me Bells!

Off to consume my spicy dinner - bring it on!

[plupervert]

hohohomouse Oh, no, I don't have to cancel any appointment; just not have my 41-week appointment with the local team, as they would be booking me induction locally, rather than at the hospital I have been planning to go to. In any case, if I went with the local team, that would mean an extra appointment - 41wks plus a separate sweep. I think the NHS has enough to do as it is, so am planning to keep it simple and keep the appointment (already booked) with the MWs at the clinic I have been going to... or just pop now!

By the way, is a minicab not a possibility for you, at least for the return journey from the sweep? I've been checking out local firms, and have a list to call for various transport options.

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

I wrote my birth plan earlier. Five minutes I'll never get back, but seeing as its the same as the last one I can let myself off for brevity:) I have a consultant appointment between now and due date, so I'm sure it will get tutted at. However, unless I sprout a mystery medical condition or the octopus is breech there's diddly they can do about it. I'm especially looking forward to the 'routine' appointment with the aneasthetist to discus when they'll do my epidural... Note the when. Not if. Poor fools:o

I'm being a slob tonight the kids and I are waiting on a pizza, and we're having a late-ish night due to the school being on strike tomorrow:)

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

Also, my ame is about as festive as I can handle

[DarciesmumandBump2]

Seven thanks for that info - am keeping a beady eye out tonight :)

DP got our xmas tree & decs down from the loft so Darcie & I can put the tree up as she is on strike tomorrow. I'm currently rocking my pelvis whilst going thru the bag of baubles to pick out any broken ones! oops

[bennybenbear]

figgy my mw appts sound similar to yours, hardly any info at all! Though at the last one she told me to get some cartons of formula, make sure I get some baby bath and old knickers-all the essentials covered then
Got appt tomorrow (will be 39+3) so will be asking a lot more what if questions then!

[NorthernChinchilla]

Oi, so pleased to hear the reflexology worked and was good for the ankles, you sounded so fed up earlier on. Now let's just see if it does anything else...

It sounds like I've been incredibly lucky with my MW then, as I've seen the same one for every appointment, and she's been really kind and supportive. Was aware that it could be pretty crappy but didn't expect so many to have the revolving MW issue.

Am weebling off to sort out some dinner and think of a good Xmas name. Really hope we get an update from kri5ty soon!

[KateKringle]

Jumping on the festive name change train. Off to finish the wrapping now, and going to get out the pot pourri we bought at the weekend - it's gorgeous and very festive with lots of cinnamon and cloves.

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

My birth plan of brevity:o

In a perfect world...

i I'd like to keep things as simple as possible.

ii The ideal is minimal intervention where possible...

iii Mobility is key. Unless medically necessary I do not wish to be permanently monitored or subject to excessive internal exams. periodic sonicaid interludes are fine.

iv Pain relief. Can we start basic and work our way up? Ideally nothing more than gas and air, though if circumstances change other options will be considered if necessary. I do not want an epidural for the sake of it. Been there, done that. It sucked

v I don't object to students, but would like to avoid being the freak of the show. A room full of unnecessary bystanders would be stressful. I have no qualms about establishing a happy medium though.

vi After delivery, if all is well, please delay the clamping of the cord until it has stopped pulsating.

vii Similarly, if all is well I would like to enjoy skin to skin contact with my baby and the chance to offer a feed.

viii I have no objection to the giving of vitamin K.

ix I have no issue with the use of drugs to speed the delivery of the placenta.

x Thanks for reading:o

[MerrySorelip]

No change here. Bored bored bored!

[KateKringle]

Liking the brief birth plan LMH, mine has a similar amount of short bullet points. Do you mind me asking what was wrong with your epidural? Mine was sent from heaven

I was induced and they ramped up the dose too quickly so that I was having contractions every minute when only 5cm dilated. I could have coped with the severity, but the frequency was giving me no time to recover in between. Very glad I went for the epidural - it was another 5 hours before I was allowed to start pushing and I'd had time to get my energy back for that.

[sevenswansaswimming]

Thought I'd join in with the festivities, I'm even watching Love Actually.

I was expecting an announcement from kristy, hopefully it's all going ok.

mmm what a rubbish situation with the possible chicken pox.

Thought I'd kick off the baby photos, there's now a picture of Eva on my profile.

[aethelfleda]

Well, I'm 36 weeks today and nothing new here either-
If I go a week over again I've got 5 weeks to go by which time you lovely ladies will all be cuddling your LO's!

I've seen a diff midwife every single check this time but have given up on any
hope of continuity. As long as the b**gers give me a room this time so I can have my second stage NOT in the corridor, I'll be happy.
A midwife present at the shoving part would be nice too. There, how's that for a birth plan?

[KateKringle]

seven thanks for posting the photos of beautiful Eva. Love your name change too

Love Actually is an excellent idea. It always makes me feel festive. Not sure how well I'd cope with watching that plus all the hormones at the moment though - I end up in tears at the best of times

[aethelfleda]

Aww seven, beautiful pictures!

[PludolphTheRedNosedReindeer]

at at Darcie being on strike. That's a forward young lady you have there!

Mind you, your reminder has suddenly made me think that soft play tomorrow might not be the best-timed idea! In short, it could be an awful ZOOOOO! Maybe the park will be better - hmmmm....

Oooh, seven, have just seen your new photos! She's lovely! Your DS is lovely, too.

By the way, is this name too silly?

[DarciesmumandBump2]

Plu Darcie would strike at alot of things if I let her lol.

Ladies, PregBrain is setting in, having real trouble remembering how to tie a bow using my xmas tree ribbon

Seven Eva & your DS are lovely :)

[LittleMissHumbuggery]

Kate My epidural with my daughter was I think in wrong, as although I wasn't in abdominal pain, my joints were in agony. I spent twelve hours unable to move with hips and knees that felt as though they were going to splinter. It left me with insane backache for weeks too. I just felt that in retrospect I was convinced to have one when it really wasn't necessary at that point. Hence the point about being happy to discuss further pain relief if needed. I had nothing bug gas, air and a bloody good swear with my son. It was a swift and uneventful birth and I know how lucky I was. If it comes to it I will not outright refuse an epidural, but if all goes well I would rather avoid it if I can. If that makes sense?:o

As for Love Actually, one of my favourite films, but it makes me leak like a sieve. Might have to rummage it put over the next week or so. Mind you, give it a week or so and it should be on constant rotation on ITV42

[DarciesmumandBump2]

Haven't seen Love Actually in a long long time.