Still Brewing a March Baby!

[Carlitawantsababy]

Shiny new thread!

I know, the weeks are really flying now aren't they? We're all going to have babies by next month! Eek!

Goodness, quiet around here..everyone okay? My night time toilet trips have reduced to 1-2 which has been a great relief, the 3-4 phase was exhausting me! Had my first hypnobirthing class yesterday which went well, I'm really looking forward to the birth now but have loads of DIY I want done before he comes so mixed feelings!

Just my thoughts carlita - I wondered if people had started to have their babies!!

Glad to hear you're not having to get up in the night as often. Mine are about twice a night now but sometimes I have to get up for a shuffle around as my feet and legs are just a bit achy and feel sore/restless. All these funny things we go through to have a baby eh?! Still not long to go now - 4wks and 3 days for me xx

And 4 weeks 2 days for me!

Hello folks- no baby here yet- though exactly a month to go today, and I'm mid-decorating & sorting & all the antenatal classes & things, so haven't been online so much. My bump seems very hard a lot of the time- not sure if it's just regular Braxton Hicks, or there's a lot less room in there now. I'm seeing the MW tomorrow, so hopefully she can have a prod and let me know. It's really uncomfortable to sleep though- feels like I'm lying directly on a foot etc. I don't think I have quite enough padding!

Sorry to hear about the polyhydramos, Broody- hopefully the scan will show it's nothing to worry about. People do just naturally vary a lot between the amount of fluids they produce, don't they?

Hope you're not working too hard on the house, Carlita- one of the NHS classes was with a physio who emphasised over and over that we shouldn't be exerting ourselves too much at this stage. Made me realise I've probably been overdoing it a bit, so I am trying to slow down. She said if you go out shopping etc you should limit it to about 45 minutes + no hoovering + at least an hour's lie-down after lunch, and by 38 weeks things should be at an absolute minimum. Not very practical, but her reasoning was that you just need to have rested enough to prepare for birth, that a lot of women are simply too tired, which I thought was interesting. Anyway- now that you're in Hastings if you fancy a cuppa then let me know. I'd invite you 'round, but it would be a nightmare with your SPD- my house is all stairs- and all those stairs are covered in clutter mid-strip & paint etc! X

Ooh...I've definitely been over doing it then, there's just so much to do though! My house only has one flight of stairs but sound like yours, covered in wallpaper and paint at the moment so I get it stuck all over me going up and down on my bum! Would be great to meet up for a cuppa. The week after next (beginning 5th march) DH is taking the week off to decorate so could drop me off in the old town one day if that'd suit you?

Kiki yes it's right that women do differ in how much fluid they have but polyhydramnios is where I have too much; off the chart/graphs you get measured against on your scans. It's a rare condition and can point to some abnormalities with the baby so defo a real concern. It was only because I had a low lying placenta at 20 wks that I was scanned last wk and my MW measurements continue to be correct for my dates (ie I'm not massive) so I wouldn't have known otherwise. Another scan and an appt with the consultant two weeks today will reveal if the fluid has increased or decreased and then how baby will be delivered. We'll see...

Our nursery is really coming together now. Cotbed and drawers are being delivered next Thursday, we picked up the mattress and blind today and the carpet is being fitted some time in the next few days. Feels great for it all happening now

So most people wouldn't know at all broody? I hope you knowing gives you an advantage rather than just being distressing for you. I measured 37cm yesterday and am 36 weeks today so tiny bit over again! I'm going to look huge against kiki when we meet as I have plenty of padding! sounds good re the nursery, ours is being plastered on Monday, decorated the following week and carpeted on the 19th so the boy had better not decide to show early! I'm going to start sanding/painting his furniture today and over the weekend so that everything's ready to go in when it's done.

Fingers crossed it's all OK, Broody- it must be frustrating waiting for the next scan. You're right- there are just so many things at every turn!

I saw the MW this morning- she said it was unusual to get so many Braxton Hicks, especially with a first baby, but not to worry.. Hopefully it means the uterus is limbering up nicely. Bump is measuring on target & head partially engaged. Also just got my Strep B results back & they were negative, which is good to know. It seems like the birthing pool at my hospital is very under-used, so although there's no guarantee I'll get to use it, it's more likely than I had thought originally. Still don't want to get my hopes up. Now just need to get DP at the birth... I'm still not sure who my birthing partner is going to be- all feels a bit casual at the moment...

Argh, Braxton Hicksville!!

Yes, the week after next sounds good, Carlita.

Hi everyone, sorry not to have checked in for ages. It sounds as if everyone has had a lot going on! Congratulations on the move, Carlita!

I have been up to my eyes. Been a difficult few weeks.

Stand-in midwife measured me 5cm under, and also decided to send me for tests because I had a trace of protein in urine. So she was talking about pre-eclampsia etc. She also decided to swab me for strep B - not sure why. She was concerned about the baby's growth. There is also another health issue I have which the other midwife wasn't worried about, but this midwife thought I should be sent to a consultant about. All in all I came out of there feeling shocked and upset and battered!

Work has been nightmarish - been very stressed about it and lots of pressure. Also have a lingering cough that really shakes my whole body. Baby must wonder what the hell is going on!

Anyway, I have seen the consultant and that is sorted. She also measured me and said I was spot on. Two hours later my midwife measured me 3cm under. . Strep B negative. Urine tests negative. Feel so SO much calmer than I did.

Anyway, work is better and cough is - I hope - on its way out with the help of honey and the marvellous apple cider vinegar.

Baby is moving around SO much! We have started NCT and had a really good breastfeeding class. I have seen my health visitor so she could check I'm of sound mind :)

DH and I went out for dinner last night for the first time in ages. My eyes are definitely bigger than my stomach capacity right now! But it was lovely to have a chilled-out evening together.

Carpet is being fitted in the baby's room at the start of next month, and I got curtains and lampshade and loads of bedding on eBay, all with a jungle theme. Mothercare I think. 3 weeks and 5 days to go . . .

Anyway, sorry for the silence and then the massive update! Haven't really felt like posting while I was feeling so worried and besieged, but lots better now. Can't believe how soon the baby will be here!

kiki my hypnobirthing tutor is a midwife at the hospital and was saying I could still have a water birth if I went in to hospital, seemed confident it was a choice so FX.
Glad everything worked put alright for you in the end word, must've been a worry! Nursery plans sound good for you too! What an organised bunch we are . I just took my mum out for a belated birthday lunch and picked up a microwave steriliser (to use for breast pump) in the charity shop for 50p, one more thing to cross off my list!

Let's hope we don't end up battling it out for that birthing pool, Carlita!

Blimey, Word- sounds like you've had quite a time of it. Glad things are a bit more settled now, and size-wise that all sounds good...

Re: nursery- I now have a chest of drawers to put the baby's clothes in + the basket for it to sleep in set up- that's my 'nursery' done for now- I just need to put together another cosy basket for the cat, to tempt it out of the baby one!

PS- Carlita- there are still a lot of brand new Jojomamanbebe clothes in that charity shop in St Leonards- I went last week & picked up a nice breastfeeding nightdress for £3...

Man alive, ladies, my SPD has returned today with a passion can hardly walk. Mum and dad have just been round and are obviously v worried about me as they kept asking if they could do anything to help - even getting in my guinea pigs out of their run and back into their hutch! V sweet of them
I think I've been overdoing it without realising and it's all catching up with me now. Interesting to hear what one of your mw's said about how much we should be resting now in preparation. Think I'm going to take their advice from now on.
Hope you're all having a weekend so far?

Clearly missed out a word in that last sentence!! Hope you're all having a good weekend is what I meant xxx

Oh yes, which shop was it kiki?
Sorry about your PGP broody doesn't take much to push it over the edge does it? We're stripping the paint in the boy's room today, it's hard going! I am seated though, DH doing high and low bits!

It's Shelter, Carlita- which is at the bottom of London Road, almost at the sea. Everything was on one rail originally, but it's been muddled in with all the other clothes, now- that was last Monday, anyway.

I've been spectacularly unproductive today, have the most stinking cold- it's really annoying because I have my nesting head on and just want to get everything sorted... Bah! X

Oh yes, I know where shelter is, is that classed as St. Leonard's then? where does one stop and the other begin?

There might be another Shelter?! This one is definitely St L's- London Rd which is the main road with all the shops on. There's an ongoing debate re: Hastings/ St L's borders... somewhere after the pier... Nobody quite knows! X

I had no idea, thought it'd be further away than London road. I know which shop you're talking about, may be able to get there in a couple of weeks. Very frustrated as am in so much pain I now can't do anything, I have managed to sand half a rocking chair today and now have to have a bath and go to bed. I'm useless!

Take it easy, Carlita- I know how frustrating it is when you just want to get things done... Couldn't fall asleep until about 7am this morning with my sore throat/ cough- so today has been a bit of a washout, too- though I'm slightly less achy today- hopefully it's going. Made me think how awful it would be to go into labour with a stinking cold- impossible to breathe properly through the contractions- I'd never even thought of that before!

Hope you get better soon kiki, that sounds pretty miserable.
We have plasterers in today and my Dad is fitting out our upstairs washing cupboard (ex airing cupboard which will house washing machine and tumble drier) so should see some major progress today. I'm in bed with the dog staying out of the way as she just put her ball in the plasterer's PVA trying to get him to play! she's not usually allowed upstairs so is sniffing everything like a mad thing!
How's everyone else? It's nearly March!

Hi ladies.

Been away a bit as have had a bit of a rocky week. TBH, nothing compared with what some of you have been going through but enough to make me a bit anxious.

At last week's MW appt my blood pressure had shot up and there was a bit of protein in my wee. Sent straight for more tests. Liver and bloods came back ok, so not pre-enclampsia (thank goodness). Been put on blood pressure meds but they've not done anything to bring it down yet, in spite of having some fairly mean side effects (Saturday was a horror day of feeling like I was a ball of anxiety and sliding into a murky depression). Luckily the mental side effects seem to have cleared, apart from feeling a bit spaced out and knackered. So have upped dosage as of today and have an appointment with the registrar on Thursday to see how it's all going. Went for a scan earlier and all is well there.; placenta is doing what it should be, umbilical cord was functioning well and baby is growing as it should be. Phew!

MW did say today though that if the BP doesn't drop then they may induce me around the time of my EDD, which is only a week and a half away. Eek! To be honest though, I'm ready now and just want to have the baby in my arms, where I can see it and look after it, rather than feeling it's hidden away and never being sure if everything is okay. Going to have a stupidly hot curry tonight and hope that the baby just takes the hint and comes a little early.

Word - so glad all is okay with bubs.

And Broody - really feeling for you at the moment...you seem to be having a pretty rough time of it. Hope the SPD has abated a bit now.

Kiki - good luck with the cold...as if a pregnant lady doesn't have enough problems sleeping without throwing that in the mix!
Did make me smile what the physio in your NHS class had said about no hoovering. Think my nesting instincts would explode!

Sorry to hear all that BeeWi- can you take it really easy this week? Maybe less stress and some proper rest may drop your BP naturally? Easier said than done, I know. Sounds like we're all racing around trying to get stuff done when we should be lying about with our feet up- that just doesn't happen, does it? Gosh a week and a half doesn't sound long! It's strange this end bit, isn't it, thinking that the baby could be here at any point.. I thought I'd be a bit more organised by now... X

It is strange this bit, I want him here and am so excited to meet him and at the same time I'd like him to wait a while so we can get everything done. I think I need to come to terms with the fact that he might come before we're ready and that's okay, we can have doors hung and carpets fitted with a newborn in the house, it's not the end of the world and he won't mind! Everything is going very slowly so far this week, all owing to rotten joists that need to be replaced before actual jobs can be done. Ah well.
Hope things get better for you soon bee.

So, my waters have broken and I'm in hospital waiting to be examined! Not in labour though - no contractions or anything, really not what I was expecting at all! Home birth is out the window as am not 37 weeks till Friday (house is also a building site) not sure if they'll allow me to use the pool or not what with being (1.5 days) early. Very exciting that I'll be meeting the boy very soon but still sort of wish he'd have waited till we were ready!