Still Brewing a March Baby!

[Carlitawantsababy]

Shiny new thread!

[Carlitawantsababy]

Thanks for finding the article knitterati, I'll take a look now. I've packed a hospital bag (only at the weekend) in hopes that it will prevent the little one from coming early and help to guarantee my home birth!
It is funny on bump size, everyone has something to say and no one really knows anything! They're all the same in the end too like your small bump kiki now measuring over average!

[KikiRC]

I don't have anything approaching a hospital bag, or even a suitable bag to put things in! I suppose I was thinking I'd get that kind of stuff organised in early Feb, but it might be an idea to start thinking about it. Eek!

Really enjoyed pregnancy yoga last night, most people there seemed to be around the 21-33 week mark, so good to see some comparable bumps as much as anything, and to hear how people were getting on (we all introduced ourselves at the beginning, and told how things were going). I was quite relieved that it was very easy & relaxed, and I didn't feel as ungainly as I feared. In fact, it made me realise I'm keeping pretty well and active. Carlita- I briefly met a nice 29 weeker who had recently moved to Hastings.

[Carlitawantsababy]

Ooh, excellent kiki! My 'just in case hospital bag' is the stuff In a bag for life by the way, it's only to get it in one place!
knitterati I really enjoyed the article, thanks! I am not put off at all by the transfer to hospital figures at least I'll have given it a go but also not sure I really believe them, the way it is written appears that it is anecdotal from 'Steer' no studies or research is mentioned as to how he landed at that figure of 50% will be unsuitable in the first place then 50% of the remainder will end up getting transferred unless I've missed something? How do you feel about it now?

[knitterati]

I still very much want a home birth, it's just DH who has started to get cold feet because of that article. The NCT classed are winning him round to the idea of a home birth again - I think making him realise that transferring doesn't need to be a big deal.
I'm sure my powers of persuasion can win him round

[KikiRC]

Re: home births, I do know a few friends (first timers) who have had to transfer to hospital, but they were all completely unpredictable complications ending in EMCS, and they all said they were glad they could be at home for the first bit.. I think as long as you're aware/ prepared that there's a chance you may need to go into hospital at some point, it's not really a problem?

Having said that, one friend had a very long birth (48 hr) with her first baby which was the wrong way around (back to back, rather than breech) and she had a home water birth without complications, didn't go to hospital at all.

Knitterati, I imagine your DH just wants you & the baby to be safe, I think men can feel so hopeless, and the hospital with its full compliment of staff/ drugs/ surgeons etc probably helps them feel a bit more at ease.

[Moffit]

I was originally considering a home birth (due to my fear of hospitals), but my husband was very nervous in case something goes wrong with either myself or the baby, especially as this is our first. So we have decided on the very nice Midwife Led Unit which is in the hospital grounds.

Regarding the hospital bags, when do you think would be a good time to pack? I was thinking at about 34-36 weeks..........its not like we wouldn't have the time to do it, if there was an emergengcy, I'm sure I could throw some things together in 10 minutes.

[Carlitawantsababy]

I'm sure you can persuade him knitterati especially as it is only the rate of hospital transfer putting him off (rather than fear re lack of equipment) good to hear your examples kiki. I think birth centres are a great option moffit what puts me off them though is that they can't guarantee use of a pool. Re hospital bag, it only took us 5 mins to pack but we did it early in hopes that the baby will conform to sod's law, like if you take your umbrella out with you it won't rain!
Midwife appointment went well, she was good at taking bloods, heartbeat was incredibly strong and we heard the cord pulsating too! The boy is currently back to back and head down, I felt his head which was quite amazing! Bump now measuring 29 cm at 29+4 so you've over taken me kiki!

[broodylicious]

Kiki - great news you enjoyed yoga, I had hoped you would as I get so much out of it so it's nice to find someone else who is doing the same too

Hospital bags - I asked for a nice small wheeled case for my birthday (which was between Xmas and new yr) so I'd have something q nice and smart to take in with me. My in laws bought me a lovely purple samsonite so I'm a happy bunny now. Doesn't mean I've got it packed though I've read a ton of lists from my baby clubs (pampers, huggies, emma's diary etc, who all mentioned considering it in my weekly update emails this week!) so just need to get myself organised enough to buy the stuff. My pampers goody box came through this week - you get 10 newborn/size 1 nappies and some wipes - so they'll go in my case, along with some first outfits for our little one. I'm not intending on travelling heavy though, just the bare essentials. I will be taking my beloved Liz Earle facial spritzer though (my sister recommended taking a flannel which DH can run under cold water to keep my forehead and neck cool but I adore my spritzer so will be taking that instead!)

I had my anti d injection today - blimey what a needle!! At our Trust, they inject you in your hip due to the size of the jab so at least it meant I didn't have to see it go in!! The MW was absolutely lovely - a nice older indian lady who has more than 40 years MW experience, plus more as a nurse. She was so kind and friendly and showed me how to feel my tummy to understand where baby's head is (maybe you all know how to do that but I didn't and my normal MW has never bothered to tell me so it was lovely she took the time to do so!) She also made sure DH heard the heartbeat clearly before taking away the doppler (it was his first time of hearing the heartbeat). I really hope she's on delivery when I go in but know it's a slim chance.

Have you all gone for tours of your chosen hospital? We haven't been offered one and wont be pushing for one either but just checked today about the car parking situation... as with most hospitals, its a nightmare at the best of times but i was starting to worry about what would happen when we turn up, me in labour, DH no doubt worrying, and me not wanting to be left for a second while he parks the car the other side of the city haha! Looks as though he can park directly outside if a bay is free so that's alright with us

[broodylicious]

carlita I only just saw your post about feeling your boy's head today too! What a funny coincidence! It's amazing isn't it?

[sillymillyb]

Ah thats lovely that you both got to feel your babies, mine has taken to sleeping with his bum out I think (especially when I lie on my side) and it is great to be able to work out what bit is bits. Makes me incredibly smiley!

I was at the midwife too today and all was well, Im 29 +4 too carlita but was measuring 28 - though apparently this is all fine. Im booked in for second anti d injection for the 16th so that will be sorted soon too.

I haven't been for a hospital tour, in fact, Im not on any NCT classes yet either.... Im single and am not sure if I can bear the coupley-ness of the groups so have been putting it off. Oh, and Im very impressed you are considering home births, I live sort of in the middle of no where and whilst I want to stay at home as long as possible, I will be going in as Im too much of a wimp not to be near by to medical assistance :)

[Carlitawantsababy]

scan was totally amazing! The boy looks like me, has my nose, lips and chin! It was very cute, we saw him blink, yawn, stretch, squirm and touch his face, got a good idea of just how big he is too! He is doing well, 3lb 5oz, spot on average for this stage!

[broodylicious]

milly my anti d covers me up until delivery (including 2 weeks overdue in case baby's timekeeping takes after daddy's ) Do you have to have another jab because of your fall rather than your blood type? I know I'll need another immediately after delivery and maybe a top up 24 hours afterwards but I'm ok til then. It's interesting hearing how things are different in other areas of the country and how the same drug (well blood product in terms of anti d) is administered. I had mine in my hip but my sister, who is also rhesus neg and had her care under another hospital trust, had it in her arm. Someone she works with, under another trust again, had it in her bum!

Have you signed up to any ante natal courses like preggo yoga? No DP/Hs go to that type of course so maybe that could be a way for you to meet other preggos in your area? If you want to, of course!!

[Wordweaver]

I agree, Broody, it is really interesting how different things are across the country. I didn't look at the needle but it was done in my arm. I think it was a sore injection I've ever had, but the soreness went off after five minutes. And yes, mine covers me up to the birth too.

I would really like to know how to feel the stomach to understand where the head is. My MW said it was head down but she didn't tell me how to tell.

Scan sounds amazing, Carlita - how has it made you feel? I mean, do you have more of a sense of him as a person?

Over the last week or so I have been feeling as if I am moving on to another stage as I am much more conscious that this person is coming to live with us, it's all real!

I've been making a list of what I want to take with me in the hospital bag, but I don't think I'll actually put it together for a few weeks yet. I've pulled tips from all sorts of forums!

I have got SO much work on at the moment, it's ridiculous. And the fact that my sleep patterns have changed isn't helping. DH is being brilliant at the moment - doing lots more cooking than normal because I am so busy (I work from home so work in the evenings) and just being supportive in lots of little ways.

I saw my physio today and she was really pleased and surprised that the PGP has gone away. She said it was really unusual and that probably it was as much luck as anything. I think I gave her a nice change!

Oh, and we went to an auction at the weekend and got a little 1930s wardrobe and chest of drawers for £30 for the baby's room. It was good fun - only the second time I've ever been to one. We even went and looked at how much a new carpet would cost, and bought paint for the walls. Didn't actually get around to doing any painting, but hey ho . . . that can wait another couple of weeks.

Another episode of OBEM tomorrow . . . I didn't enjoy last week's as much as previous series, but hopefully tomorrow's will be better.

I'll be 30 weeks tomorrow. Can't believe there are just ten weeks to go!

[Carlitawantsababy]

It's really great being able to think about what he looks like when he's wiggling around, every day passing makes it feel more real but this was a big day! furniture sounds gorgeous, and a bargain too! Has your PGP completely gone? Mine's eased up so much which I'm totally surprised about as physio said it'd get worse and I can take the dog out for an hour and do housework etc but had 3 20 min walks today topped up with 3 flights of stairs to go up and down at the scan clinic and have been in pain. Not awful but enough to remind me that it has not actually gone away!

[Wordweaver]

Sounds really magical to have seen that.

Mind you, my old schoolfriend told me the other day that he thinks pregnancy is basically witchcraft!

Yes, for the moment the PGP really does seem to have gone. I can't put it down to any one thing I have done exercise-wise.

But there was something weird . . . the day it went was just before Christmas, and it did pretty much vanish overnight. It was a night when DH had something wrong with him that scared him a lot(and later turned out to be nothing serious) but at the time (3am) I thought I would have to take him to hospital. I was mentally gearing up for a trip to A&E and (drama alert) possibly losing him, and I am wondering if the shock to the system could have somehow done something to me - loosen the stiffness - I don't know. Maybe it's a crazy thought. But it was strange that after that episode, the pain just stopped.

Hope you get a good night's rest, Carlita - and that the pain is gone tomorrow!

[Carlitawantsababy]

How strange word! I'm glad your DH was okay, that must've been horrible!
milly are you having a birth companion?

[Wordweaver]

Yes, not nice at the time, but all fine in the end.

How is everyone sleeping? I woke up with a scream in the middle of the night because I thought a giant, rabid bunny rabbit was leaping for my throat. Poor DH can't get a decent night's sleep either as a result!

[Moffit]

I'm glad that some of you who were suffering with SPD/PGP are feeling better. Mine is still giving me problems, but I'm back to the physio tonight. I hope I wont be suffering for the next 10 weeks!!

My sleeping pattern is all over the place, I wake up every time I try to turn over in bed, as I'm in so much pain in my back and my pelvis.

Bit of a strange question, but I just wondered if anyone had a recommendation for maternity pads or breast pads? As I was writing a list for packing my hospital bag and didn't know if there was a brand/make that were better than the others........or is it more of a personal choice?

[Wordweaver]

Hope it goes well at the physio tonight, Moffit.

From my research the natracare range is supposed to be highly recommended. But this is only from reading around, not from trying them myself.

I'm also going by my experience of sanitary towels and thinking that if you spend a little more, it will likely make a lot of difference. I remember buying some very cheap own-brand pads and finding that the synthetic material they were made of made me feel far less than sanitary!

[Wordweaver]

Apparently there is a problem getting the maternity pads at the moment due to the manufacturers, but should be sorted in Feb. Their breast pads are supposed to be excellent too.

And check out this website - recommended to me by a friend.

www.tipslimited.co.uk/

[Carlitawantsababy]

No ideas on brands of pads, I've been given some avent ones from freecycle (with baby clothes) and my mum got me a pack but not sure of brand. All I've been told re maternity pads is don't think that sanitary towels will do and do buy disposable knickers!
OBEM tonight and, if you're interested, 'how to be a good mother' channel 4 at 10pm.

[Jezzabell]

Hello, can I join you please? I'm due 4th March (although by my calculations I reckon that's about a week too early). It's our first and should be a little girl. Am hoping for a home water birth. Thought it would be nice to chat to others who are at a similar stage. I hope you are all having a lovely wednesday, nearly the weekend! I've got 4 weeks left at work and can't wait!

Hope to get to know you all.

[Carlitawantsababy]

Welcome jezzabell lovely to have you with us an another home water birther - hooray!

[Moffit]

Hi jezzabell nice you see new March Mummies to be still finding us! I'm with you on the leaving work front. I have got 7 weeks left, but I'm starting to feel it's much more of an effort now.

Did you ladies watch OBEM last night? That looked like a lovely calm water birth, I really hope that's how mine goes, opposed to that poor women who was loosing it on the bed...........

[Wordweaver]

Morning everyone, and welcome Jezzaell and sillymillyb.

Yes, I watched OBEM. It did look very calm! It sounded as if her nature was to go inside herself during pain - not sure I will manage to be quite as quiet as that. But the calmness of it all seemed a lovely way to bring a baby into the world. I am going to visualise that!

I'm starting to feel very envious of those of you who are going on maternity leave soon. I'm self-employed, so am going to be working right up to the birth and then re-starting about four weeks after. I just want to rest!