Barman! A pint of your finest Gaviscon with a ferrous sulphate chaser if you please! On the February 2012 Baby Bus.

[BillComptonstrousers]

Right then my lovelies, this thread is going sloooooowly now we have our little secret facebook group

But we need to keep posting here for people who haven't joined our other group, so keep on going!

If anyone wants to join the facebook group, can they ask someone cleverer than me and they will set it up for you!

Old thread is here

hermionejgranger Hello, no if someone could pm me a link or group title I will look it up. Big thanks x x x

You have to be invited - it's a secret group so won't come up in a search. Add me as a friend here and send me a message with the friend request so I know who you are and I can invite you to the group...

everyone very cheerful today!! I have been full of energy, even trawled round JOhn Lewis in Newcastle with DH and a toddler!! And didn't want to die, not even once!! We bought dd a bed which was half price because of very small black mark on it. bargain. And they deliver for free too!! She's not having it yet as I can't cope with her turning up at night with a newborn, but we thought we'd have alook at the clearance and are chuffed with it.

oops, don't know why that posted...

Anyway, baby wriggling about, so only 5 more days to get through until next scan. I'm going to make a seriously big list tomorrow of everything that needs to be done in case of baby arriving next week - things like packing a bag for DD, leaving instructions of her groups for MIL, how to get to them etc, so her life can continue as normal (ish), eek. So much to do - thought i'd have 2 or 3 weeks at least! I am kind of excited...

Think i might watch OBEM now to prepare myself for what's to come!!

36+2

Yay Woowa, well done! Excited for you, sounds like you will be having the first baby on the bus!

I just watched OBEM, had a bit of a random cry afterwards when dh handed me some yogurt, he was rather disconcerted!

I washed last of baby clothes today and made space for in draws. Realised moses basket mattress from JL doesn't fit basket from M&P, so annoyed with myself. Hoping they will be their lovely usual selves and let me swop it. Bought it on 14th, delivered 16th so under a month. Guess I have to go tomorrow?

Work has agreed to me leaving a week earlier than I said I would and the woman taking over from me is taking some of my lesson next week too. So nice handover. So ready for it was falling asleep on INSET yesterday.

Physio tomorrrow. Hips are not happy.

Big babies are great. DS 10.5, ripped but not badly not as much as friend who had a 6lb girl and had a 4th degree anal tear. DD was 9.8 and no tear, hiking through Kew 3days later with robust little girl who had huge stomach was straight on to 4hr feeds. Hoping this one will be a wee bit smaller though as DD did get stuck momentarily, giving birth with legs next to ears was rather strange.

33+5

My neighbour who is about 5ft 4 gave birth to an 11.5lb baby girl with her hand to her head without a stitch. You just never know how it will go.
I have just read the book Orgasmic Birth. It has some more outrageous ideas but is very good for helping you trust your body to do what you need it to.

I have had a get nothing done today after a bad night. I woke about 3 then everytime I just dropped off (and you know how long that takes!) I had a visit from one of my little darlings for a cuddle. This does not normally bother me but it really did last night. I therefore went back to bed when ds2 was at nursery.
Next job: put up crib, pack hospital bag then get car seat in from Garage.
I guess thats a couple of weeks work!

Indica have a lovely day :)

Hi everyone

Hermione, cheers for the FB link, have messaged you

Ooof, just ate a huge curry and feel even more enormous. I really can't fit as much in as I'd like

ah,just watched OBEM. Lovely hearing first cries and watching daddies fall to pieces! eeeeeee

Thank you all so much for your good wishes for tomorrow, I have just got back from settling all my family into holiday cottages they are staying in, they're all very excitable. I know it's a little crazy leaving this til I'm over 34 wks but tomorrow is also our 10year anniversary and I couldn't resist the neatness of it. Plus gives DP only 1 date to remember!! Am hoping LO releases itself from under my rib cage for atleast a short while tomorrow so I don't have to grimace all day. Forgive me if I don't post tomorrow but will let all you know how it goes and try and put a piccie on.

Hermione Can I follow the link to join facebook group too?

Deep breath................

Eeeeeeeeeee

I'm so excited for you and your wedding! Come on baby! Get out of her ribs!!!

Someone else reading Maggie Howells Hypnobirthing book here too. I almost feel like I could manage birth... I also managed to watch OBEM and only cried twice.

Re tears - my tame midwife suggests finding out the grade of tear. If 1st, they'll probably leave alone; if 2nd, she said it's worth asking to leave the stitching til the next day when the swelling will have gone down a bit. The heal & repair tends to be better that way - although obviously, the hospital are keen to get closure on each case ASAP ("all sewn up" if you pardon the pun) so they may be resistant to the suggestion.

My big order from Boots arrived today. Oh my oh my oh my, the Tena Pants the midwife suggested are hilariously gigantic and un-sexy. But they do look a lot more comfie & useful than maternity knickers. I hated the elastic on them & they irritated my c-section wound.

Trying to do my birth plan at the moment & am a bit stuck. It generally consists of "don't you dare touch me" which feels a bit negative & unhelpful. Felt a bit steam rollered & uninformed last time though & the interventions did a classic snowball, so this time I'm declining CFM and VE's.... I wonder how resolved I can be before I get bullied into complying with hospital protocols (even if clinical evidence is lacking with their policy)

Good luck & every joy for tomorrow Indicababy.

indica Of course you can - just send me a message along with the friend request so I don't think you are a weird random

Indica hope it all goes well tomorrow

Woowa how exciting, you could meet your little one next week. Glad to hear they are looking after you and baby :)

Watched OBEM too, am actually feeling less worried about pushing this one out now. I know I can labour and deal with the pain of crowning (even though she is apparently nearly 5lb already according to scan). It can't be worse than failed ventouse and forceps followed by EMCS.

Also felt uninformed and steam rollered last time ships, I know they will want to CFM this time around, but unless it is wireless and I can move about as I wish I will be refusing too. Not doing another labour on my back.

Sling arrived last night, got loads more baby clothes today (although nowhere to put them at the mo), playmat out just needs a clean and someone is kindly giving me a changing table. It is all coming together nicely. Shame they are starting works on the kitchen and bathroom in a week, it will throw all my lovely organisation into chaos.

Talking of tearing... I heart Daragh, and he's so funny about tears vs episiotomy! Watch this clip. Go to about 8mins 45 for the bit I'm talking about!

Hello all sorry not been on much, it's easier to post on FB on my phone! 34 week midwife appointment today, all seems well. So excited that we're on our final stretch! Good luck today Indica

Happy Wedding Day Indica. Hope you are feeling well today and you have a fabulous time.

Can't believe you might have your baby next week woowa, so exciting!

Is there supposed to be a link there Phlossie?

I also feel like I need to be more forceful this time zhen and ships. First time around I think you tend to accept whatever is suggested without question. I had to be monitored last time and ended up giving birth on my back with my legs in stirrups - even though I said and I wanted a natural birth and would like to try giving birth standing up. I will be refusing this time as last time was uncomplicated so there is no real reason to monitor. Looking back I also felt forced to give formula as DD had jaudice and wouldn't latch, the midwife said "this baby needs to eat so we need to give her some formula". Fortunately I had really good support the next day and we got there in the end. I will be going armed with facts this time.

Monkey my size 8 petite friend had a 9lber without any intervention. For me, the thought of labour and child birth was way worse than the reality. I know it is different for everyone and of course it does hurt but I really agree with what others have said about trusting your body. After a few puffs of gas and air and I kind went into a 'zone' and just trusted my instincts.

Right best get back to work seen as I only have 2 weeks left!

And repeat mantra - "There is no clinical evidence that CFM improves outcomes" - however it does improve the cup of tea & gossip opportunity quotient for midwives. Or... It means one midwife can keep an eye on a couple of women in early labour simultaneously which is handy when the staffing ratio is stretched to breaking by the trust accountants

(cynical, I know ).

Is CFM fetal monitoring where you have to stay in bed with a strap on your tummy? I thought it lasted 40 minutes max?

I had to have CFM with DC1 because I was induced, and because I was induced because there was no fluid around him. I insisted on a remote tracker, so I had the big elastic straps around my belly and like a walkie-talkie thing that transmitted baby's heart rate to that (fucking) machine. (Cor, we got to hate that machine!) But even though I was being tracked and on a drip, I was able to move around throughout my labour and gave birth on my hands and knees, which was what I wanted. They even let me have a bath with it on.

CFM is constant fetal monitoring, Pam, and you can have it for your entire labour.

PDog yes, there was supposed to be a link! And I spelt Dara wrong. Baby brain!

Pam - they give you the impression that it's only going to be for 20mins but in reality once you're plugged in, that's it, regardless of whether your results are reassuring or not. And then you get told off for moving because the straps slip (and staying still makes active labour impossible), and then they take forever finding the heart beat again (my DD was ROA rotating posterior), and then they decide that this machine isnt actually working either and so get the THIRD machine of the night...

You may notice that I'm a little jaundiced against this piece of "helpful" kit... They have their place - it just won't be in my delivery room. . There was no need for me to have been on it - it's mainly that the midwife & I had a very poor relationship which had started in the antenatal clinic and the silly cow could consistently send my blood pressure through the roof. Didnt have the issue with my other midwives. Next time I will insist on a swap if the vibe isn't right.

ships If I was in that situation I'd tell them to remove it, can't they check the babies HB with a doppler (this is my first baby and I really don't know anything about labour/delivery but only what I've read)
I have read and been told by lots of female friends that its best to stay upright and preferably mobile it helps things along, and also when pushing baby out being more upright gives you the best advantage because of gravity.

I didn't really understand what it meant at the time or know enough to ask for a remote tracker. I have a blood disorder which means I am more at risk of developing a blood clot in pregnancy. Because of this I am under consultant led care and the consultant thought I should be monitored. I have no idea how this would have prevented me from developing a blood clot so will be refusing this time.

I'm glad I discovered this thread ships or I'd also know nothing. Hope you have a lovely and uneventful rest of the pregnancy and a nice labour...does such a thing exist!

and PDog too!!! Actually I hope we all have lovely and uneventful rest of pregnancies, wouldn't that be nice