Due April 2006 - new thread for the April Shower!

[colditz]

Ok, I did it!

Now shall we get our stats down again? I think we have had some joiners since we last did it.
Copy/paste the list and add yourself to it.

Colditz - due 06/04/06, aged 25, DP aged 32, 1 DS aged 2.9, having a baby boy! Very scared of needles....

Hiccups feel like a gentle kick/movement but happen in a regular pulse- mine sometimes last up to 20 mins. My baby had the hics while I was on a monitor in hospital and entertained the student midwives!

Debithescot - celebrate with some of your chocolate tonight (I might join you!) I am back at work on Monday with parents evening on Tuesday night but will finish work no later than 36 weeks now so only 2 weeks to go

When I was pregnant with DS I thought for a long time that his hiccups were a pulse, which really freaked me out as I thought the baby must be pressing on one of my main arteries or something! (because of all that talk about not lying on your back I guess)

I realised today that I have a craving for sniffing Dettol (yep have been cleaning like mad, I guess I'm nesting now too...)

Had a midwife appointment yesterday that left me feeling really positive - she said the baby was a lovely compact size, all my bloodtests had come back fine, the head was already 3/5 engaged, and everything was looking really good for a VBAC! Wish I had asked though if 3/5 engaged at 35 weeks means the baby might be on time or even early - does anyone know? Or is that quite normal for a 2nd pregnancy anyway?

Hi Homsa,

I've heard that 2nd (+) babies engage a bit later than the 1st normally (lovely slack pelvises and all that!), but I was quite engaged early on with my first and he ended up being 6 days late. I think (sadly) there's still time for them to un-engage at this stage.

I also had a +'ve midwife visit yesterday. All booked in for my homebirth, consultant had no worries about size of babe or the slightly more than normal amount of fluid and now that the babe has sunk a bit lower I don't feel that enormous to the midwives either now. So off to the shops at the weekend for lots of plastic sheeting and binbags!!!

Oh, and on the cravings front... the only I've had now in these later stages (couldn't keep me off fat salty carbs in teh beginning!) is ICE. Can't get enough of the stuff - find myself infront of the freezer sometimes crunching away. DH thinks I'm slightly certifiable

Oh dear... where have you all gone??

Hi MrsQ, I'm still here! Glad to hear your homebirth plans are going well. I'm not hoping for an early birth, but being on time would be great! My mum is coming over to stay with us 3 days before my due date, and even though we have some emergency childcare arrangements for DS in place, I would be much calmer if I knew my mum was looking after him.

I feel less huge too, and a bit more agile now that the baby has sunk lower. Walking is no fun though, as I constantly need the loo!

I received shedloads of lovely (girl) baby clothes from a friend today - this baby will be much better dressed than DS AND I won't need to buy any baby clothes for ages!!! (could do with some clothes for myself, though - I've only got one pair of maternity trousers left that fits, and I'm sick and tired of it! I miss my jeans so badly!)

I'm here! Been back at work today so no daytime posts. Everyone was really nice but I struggled a bit, definately a good decision to finish in 2 weeks time.

When does the baby drop? I feel a lot of pelvic pressure now does that mean it has happened?

I know what you mean about clothes - I'm only comfy in my PJs but can't wear those for work unfortunately!! Can't wait to be a normal size again.

I'm reporting in too! Not a lot happening apart from my ankles and feet looking like tree trunks last night because I'd been on my feet a lot. Even my toes looked like sausages!

I know what you mean about the clothes, nothing quite fits or feels comfy. I was so fed up I bought myself a couple more t-shirts in larger sizes, a bit pointless for 3/4 weeks I know but I was going mad. Plus I thought last time I was still in my maternity clothes for about 6 weeks after the birth so I may get a bit more use out of them.

It's boiling here today! Was 24 degrees over the weekend and is up to 28 today!!! Unbelievable, but lovely. It's nice too because in the summer here when it is that hot we have 95% humidity so you can't enjoy it, but it's not humid yet so it's lush!

I just got a free sample from Pampers through the post today of a newborn size nappy and it looks soooo tiny . DD is in size 5's can't believe she was ever that small

I had my dr's appt on Friday, all well, baby's head is well down and at -3 or whatever, cervix is soft and already 30% effaced but no dilation or anything yet. I didn't feel any sort of drop last time and I haven't this time either despite the baby's head being well down, I think some people just don't - I wish I did maybe it would put an end to the vicious acid reflux!! I have still gained only 11 lbs which I can't believe considering how much choccy and ice cream I have been putting away (whilst typing I have just eaten a mini Mars, a mini Bounty and 8 squares of dairy milk ). I put on 30lbs last time, I think it must just be chasing after dd, and the fact that I was a good bit overweight before I started so didn't need the extra!

bugger bugger bugger.

Have been in hospital AGAIN and am really sick of this.

Had felt like crap all day Thursday and had major vomiting session in car on way to work followed by a near-blackout on the motorway. Luckily this happened after I had dropped middle sized DD at school and littlest DD at childminder. But it gave me a fright and so I rang midwfie and said not coping again please can you alert ante natal ward and I'll go in and have some IV fluids.

Well. Eventually got in at 6.00pm and saw registrar fairly quickly who not particularly anxious to get me on a drip but said would arrange some anti-sickness tablets. I said excuse me I will chuck them up. Okay she says, an injection then. Right. I'll go and sort it. I've never seen her since.

At 11.40pm (yes, you read right!) another registrar comes to set up the IV. By then, of course, all my veins had collapsed and it took eleven attempts to get a line in. He was muttering about dehydration and so on and I felt like saying yes well if I had been listened to five hours ago this mightn't have happened. Anyway, eventually got the line in and had some blessed anti-sickness medication and the fluids which they kept up until Saturday. Having said that, they were so blase it was unbelievable. One bag of fluids ran out at 7.30pm one evening and it was nearly midnight before it was replaced despite me asking. My IV kept tissuing (blocking up) and I would buzz and say I think it's blocked and they'd say oh right will get doctor and then a couple of hours would go by before someone came and it would take ages to find another tiny vein to get a fresh line in. My anti-sickness meds should have been strictly 6 - 8 hourly but because they were given into the IV the midwives weren't allowed to give it and so they had to bleep doctors who were always busy and so I often waited way over the time.

My bloods showed liver and kidney problems because I was so dehydrated, so I was clearly not well.

When the time came to be discharged I waited two hours to have the venflon removed.

So all in all it wasn't good!!

Am now hoping and praying this baby comes early as I am still sick but really can't face that hospital malarkey again.

Sorry for major whinge, but had to get that out of my system

God that sounds awful Allyco, just dreadful. Is that all on the same ward you'll be having the baby in? Can't be a jolly prospect. Are you still working right up til the end - is there any possibility you can go on mat leave a bit earlier and give yourself a bit of a break?

Good Afternoon All,

Just got back from another hospital visit (They love routine visit here in Germany!) Was hooked up to the machine to hear babies heart and just my luck I HAD A CONTRACTION!!!!The German obsatrician panic as babies heart rate dropped when this happened!! So i had to enjure another 40 mins on the blasted machine and have now got another appointment on thurs to be hooked up again. God i hope this baby does not come early DH has to go away (Typical Army)for 10ish days from thurs so im all alone!!!!!

Sorry that really was a winge but i needed to get it out of my system!

well icklesmudge I suppose one way of looking at it is they are looking after you!! What if the baby comes before Thursday

MrsQ yes unfortunately the ante-natal and post-natal wards are together at my hospital, staffed by the same (crappy in some cases) midwives. I am hoping against hope I can have the baby and go home straight from the labour ward so I never have to go into the other wards again, but I don't know if that's actually possible? I mean wouldn't you have to go onto the ward for a bit or could you just get up off the delivery bed and get dressed and go home?? Anybody else know??

And have decided am deffo giving up work end of next week, come what may. Yee hah. Roll on 24th March.

Good for you Allyco, I'd give up work tomorrow, if I were you.

That's bad luck about the contraction, Icklesmudge. Best safe than sorry, I suppose.

Firsttimer, where are you? I know you are likely to be one of the first and you've not checked in for a bit. I'm beginning to wonder if there have been any developments!?

I was up with stomach pains pretty much all night not last night but the night before. I never got to the contractions stage with DS because he was breech last time so I don't know what they feel like. I had period like pains that came and went and thought I could be having mild contractions. Turned out it was really bad wind from the caulflower I had eaten for tea!

Have got my last scan and consultants appointment with the hospital tomorrow.

I've mostly got my hospital bag packed now. I know what you mean about clothes, too. Hardly any of my maternity clothes fit me now and the ones I want to pack in my bag for hospital/coming home, I also want to wear now. Went to Asda yesterday to buy a really cheap nightie to give birth in. The only large cheap ones they had were for mothers day. One said "no. 1 mum", which i ended up getting because there was nothing else. The other said something along the lines of "Mum's day off". I should have bought that one for the irony of it all!

Oh yeah, and Allyco. A school teacher friend of mine had a parent go and drop her kid off in the morning pregnant and return to pick them up at 3 with the baby. I think that if everything goes perfectly then you can go straight home, provided that it's not evening or nightime. They only let you go home at my hospital if you finish giving birth morning or afternoon.

Going home at my hospital was a bit of a trial with DS - luckily the midwife who'd been with us for most of the birth warned us and told us to let them know as early in the day as poss... we told them just after breakfast (DS was born at 5.10am on Tuesday and I stayed Tuesday night in hosp) and I ended up leaving at about 6pm. Most of that was because I was a first time mum tho so wouldn't be relevant for you Allyco... we also have to wait for the paed. to check babe over - guess that might be the same? Having said that, a friend of mine was due to have a home birth and then when it came to it there were no midwives were available so went in. When they tried to make her stay to see the paed she argued that if she'd had her home birth then she'd be coming in the next day for an appointment so she'd carry on and do that thank you very much and left. So I guess at the end of the day, they can't force you to stay - its a hospital not prison!

Ponka - contractions are a bit like that from memory... but more kind of round your back than stomach. Deffo started for me like chronic period back ache. Which I'm getting loads of again mildly on and off most days now but I'm sure that its mostly Braxton Hicks and just my pelvis stretching itself out a bit.

2 weeks and a day to my EDD... bring it on!

allyco- I was able to go home 6rs after having DD2 (born at 6.50am), and within 20 minutes of her arriving they were asking if I wanted to go home after 6hrs! We were lucky, they weren't that busy so we were able to stay in the delivery room rather than be moved to a ward. I think as long as everything's OK (you've had a normal delivery, the baby's fine, your blood pressure's OK and you're able to go for a wee etc) they let you go home. They might also want to know that you've got help at home e.g from a relative so they know you're going to be looked after.

ooh, so looks like I might be able to go home then. I'm waking up every morning now hoping today might be the day even though it's still too soon. You know when you have just HAD ENOUGH!

Hi all, just logged on after a few days of strict mumsnet self discipline! That and DS is at nursery again today.
Allyco - you poor thing! I'm surprised your work haven't forced you to start mat leave tbh, you must be within that "if you're ill/absent and it's baby-related" it gets to be compulsory to stop (at my place anyway?). Blackouts on the motorway too scary.
Nothing much happening here, I've got 4 weeks to go today, one of my friends from DS's antenatal group had a baby girl on monday night, I'm so jealous! Firstly I have a deeply competitive streak that always makes me want to go first (not my finest trait) and she's beaten me, but just really cos she's got it all over and done with and we all still have to go through it...
Did Firstimer turn up? she's not secretly lurking alone on a Post natal thread is she?
iclesmudge - I was on the monitors last week for a while and amused myself trying to track the heartrate - allegedly -140 = boy, +140 = girl, at the end they gave me two baseline readings,
136 & 142 .
I should so just have asked at the scans what it was.

allyco- I know how you feel, I've got the "had enough" feeling too. My back hurts, I'm not sleeping well and now I've gone down with a stinking cold. I've still got 6 weeks to go but I'm trying not to think it might be 7 because I was a week late with DDs.

Hi guys
Have not crossed to the postnatal side yet, still here, 2 weeks and two days from due date, enormous, uncomfortable, swollen ankles and fingers, heartburn, cant sleep (awake from 2pm to 6pm last night )etc Definitely ready NOW - bring it on- as someone else said. Am eating pineapple, drinking rasberry leaf tea, eating curry (which definitely upset my stomach and gave me heartburn but didnt seem to have any other effect - maybe I need a vindaloo?) and trying to have as much sex as possible (the mind is willing but the practicalities getting difficult, we just end up lauging too much or I feel sick and we have to stop while I lie on my side .
Just had a text from a friend due same day as me to say she is in hospital having contractions and I am so jealous - cant believe I want the painful bit now.
Not bored at all though, still loads to do in the house, although we have moved into the new bedroom which is great (apart from the DIY tools on the floor I keep falling over) and I have been able to play in the nursery and unpack all my goodies.
Welcome to all the newies, this thread has really picked up recently.
Have a midwife appointment this afternoon and then consultants appointment day before my due date if no action by then.
Good luck everyone

I've got 5 weeks to go and have decided to stop work at the end of next week. Down to one pair of jeans - and very unattractive ones at that! Refuse to wear tights and heels so no skirts for me.
Still not ready in case baby comes early - must get bedding for moses basket! Have ordered a car seat today.
Finding getting to sleep very hard. So uncomfortable and can't stop my mind whirring.

hi all,

Still here baby not decided to come out. Had ante-natal today and th midwife said with 4 weeks to go they might deliver me early if the heart rate drops or just keep me in and be monitored!! Bit worried about him coming a month early though. Been having lots of tightening and some stomach pains but i think they are Braxton-Hicks as they are not regualr. With any luck I will hold out another four weeks!!!

Still lacking in the sleep department as well because everytime i move i ache round my pelvis and i have loads of pressure on it. Just want to feel myself again!

Allyco - I can't believe you are even considering another day at work after all you've been through! It's a pretty heroic effort as far as I'm concerned that you didn't give up after that first pre-term labour fright, nevermind all the sickness - you must just be double hard

I've had enough myself and I haven't had half your problems! Just so uncomfy now, can't sleep at all, can't breathe well, can't believe this might go on for another 31/2 weeks (or 41/2 weeks if anything like dd and late - ugghh!).

Hello all
Gald to know we are all still here.

Allyco your experience at the hospital sounds terrible, not what you need when you are feeling unwell and miserable! On a positive note, I understand te earliest they will discharge you is within 6 hours (my hospital actually gives you a leaflet on "going home the same day") I think the postnatal wards are generally over busy so the sooner you leave the better in their minds!!

I have to confess that I have had a lovely baby focussed positive week, starting with my sister throwing me an american style baby shower on saturday (at which i got lots of nice smellies and relaxing eye masks and was spoilt rotten) and £40 of mothercare vouchers and the cutest hand knitted jumper! One sister provided all the food and the other sister washed up. Bliss.

Then tuesday was M/W appointment to see if baby has turned - she/he has!!! The head is hovering above my pelvis and the bottom is sticking out benenath my ribs. I felt ridiculously pleased with both of us! And am enormously relieved. I am now eating as much as possible to encourage fast fattening (of baby not me) so there is no room to turn back!

then Yesterday I had a day off work to attend a breasfeeding workshop - really useful and even enjoyable, I feel much better informed and encouraged that if i need support i can find it locally.

If i can forget the unscheduled expense of a boiler breakdown everything is looking pretty rosie! let's hope it stays that way....