We will have a calm and worry-free pregnancy with lots of jumping beans and bouncing babies and will BROOK NO ARGUMENT on that (Part 7)

[TooImmatureTurtleDoves]

Biscuits, just is all I can say about yoga girl...

Well, your NCT woman wasn't correct about my back to back labour. Labour didn't start for me with my waters breaking. Mine started with contractions which were all felt in my back. My waters didn't go until I had that horrendous sweep on day 2 when I was still only 1cm dilated. I also had the urge to push from about 6cm dilated, in fact I couldn't stop myself from pushing. That's why I had to agree to epidural in the end, (about 7/8 cms I think) it was the only way I could stop myself pushing. I reckon they'd have known if your DS was back to back, they can tell easily which way round the head is by doing a VE. I guess you could find out for definite by asking them to have a look at your labour notes the next time you go in?

I'm going for my next scan and consultant appointment on Friday. I'm hoping they'll agree to not having to monitor me unless there's any reason to on the day. The only reason I'm under cons care is because of my previous labour, combined with my MCs. If this pregnancy is still showing signs of going well my MW reckons they might say yes. Obviously if there's any slight sign of anything being untoward I'm not going to refuse to be monitored, but the thought of being in agony and stuck on my back on a bed for 17 hours in hospital again is not a welcome one.

I feel a right meanie this morning. DS looks shattered, all this work going on at home is really starting to take it's toll on him. I dropped him off at playgroup and his keyworker commented on how pale and tired he looked. I felt like putting him back in the car and bringing him home. Problem is I've still got workmen in the house so it's not like he can go back to bed. He'd only be moaning here about not being able to do what he wants and me stressing about everything going on, so I figured he'd be better off having a morning with them playing with his little friends. Now I'm wondering if I did the right thing .

Scarlet your poor DS, and poor you! it is very tiring for them when there's odd stuff going on. And I'm sure as you say, a morning playing with his friends will do him the world of good. It'll be nice for him to not be tripping over the builders! And it'll be nice for you to be able to not have to be constantly saying he can't go here or there, or do this or that. A rest will do you both good .

Hope the consultant agrees that you can start off unmonitored, and then of course because you're a brooker it will stay that way!

I can't ask for my labour notes though because they were at a different hospital. The other thing the NCT lady said was that if you're exhausted (which I was) sometimes your body will decide its going to rest, so it could have just been that my body realised how tired I was and decided it needed a rest before taking on the pushing. The problem is the MWs don't like to leave you so end up escalating things. And I was definitely exhausted enough as I was basically falling asleep / passing out between contractions

Ultimately I've decided it doesn't matter because this time is going to be different, or at least there are enough ways to explain last time that are specific to that birth rather than specific to me iyswim, so no reason why it shouldn't be different.

Biscuits it was two videos that clinched it for me! then there was for a while so this was relevant, however the pace isn't as good but I find Maya from little dudes and divas really entertaining for some reason. I think it is her stuff it in approach! lol The other thing I like about this bag is it hides how huge it actually is, so if you don't have much in it doesn't look like you have a suitcase hanging off the pushchair! Although, it is a large bag.

Loopy This is the JJB website and I swear by their bags I am on my third JJB and I have tried a few other popular bags like Lin and Leo, pink lining and didn't rate them at all! In fact a have a pink lin and leo for sale if any of you fancy one. The only thing with JJB is you have to try and find uk stockists which means you don't always have the same choice as online.

Biscuits I was wondering if I had avoided for so long because I have eaten so many bananas, thing is I have gone right off them now! Along with most food what with -food aversions back again!
SHH don't tell the newbies!

Hope your enjoying your lie in :) Is yoga girl she on her second baby already?! Blimey. I think perhaps they were holding as a message of hope and encouragement? Rather than the actual your shit if your labour happens in any other way?!

Scarlet I am sure you did the right thing with Ds and they have areas for naps if he needs it, don't they? Or will at least give him quiet time if needed? His friends will probably be a welcome distraction I would have thought?

Biscuits you could ask for your notes still, it might incur a charge and tbh mine weren't that good as quite basic, although I was a bit at the written 'Anal Dilatation' noted!!

purple - yoga girl was just back with her baby to share her story at the start of the session - not pg again yet I assume.

I think they probably do mean it to come across as 'here's something to aim for' rather than 'you're a loser if you do it a different way' but I'm just perhaps sensitive to it? And this girl had only had one baby, which fortunately for her, went really well, but I don't see that gives her enough backing to comment on the pros or cons of drugs etc for anyone else's birth iyswim?

And I find the fact that people say 'it's ok if you have a CS' just all part of the 'pressure' to do it right - if I need a CS I'll have one, I don't need 'permission' from my yoga teacher

Will look at those videos later - I'm intrigued by your Mary Poppins bag!!!

To be honest I think I'll leave my notes in the dusty archives - don't think I'd like any 'anal dilation' shocks .

Oh my good lord @ anal dilation!

Scarlet - I think your ds is better off out of the house for a bit with his friends. I'm sure he'll be fine and the building work will end eventually leaving you with a beautiful house for ds and bean :)

Biscuits - Yoga girl sounds like a right pain in the arse. I did ante-natal yoga last time round and whilst it was something cool to do on a saturday morning I didnt enjoy some of the birth discussions as obviously I knew my birth would be heavily medicalised. I do remember one lovely girl though who was on her third baby who described her birth plan along the lines of: 'Get to hospital asap. Get the epidural in asap. Relax and wait for baby to arrive!'

DD at nursery today so am getting up to date with all household type stuff and then planning an attempt at a long walk including hills later to try and help sweep tomorrow!

I think that's lovely scream ! You will just have to not rise to the competitiveness if it comes to it ? some of my family are uber competitive too, but I'd rather poke my eyes out with toothpicks than Play The Game iykwim

How old is DS wants ? I only ask because if he's quite young I'd bet he'll change his mind in a fortnight? :o So I'm with purple 100%.

I didn't realise you were so young dream (I often feel like the brooking baby at 27 :o )

Poor DS Scarlett but I think you did the right thing. He'll have a much better time there than at home being bored.

DH is not impressed at the cost idea of an early scan. He made such sensible arguments as, it won't make any difference to having a mc or not, mc are just things that happen, etc etc. We're going to talk about it later, though because I ended up in a snotty teary hormone-fuelled mess

Popcorn you are positively ancient compared to Music and I
Maybe write down the reasons why you want an early scan, so you have clarity and can show him?

Oh and Wants Ds is a teenager iirc?

Pomme still about your sweep! :o Playing hide the sausage could be helpful..?

I was blushing from my knee caps about that little note, esp as Dh was reading with me!

Hmm. Case of weighing up how much I would like sweep to work vs how much I do NOT want to play hide the sausage right now!

I hit the average age of first baby with dd1 pretty much exactly (29.5) - I like to help statistics!

Popcorn - If I were you I would insist on continuing the conversation later. Have you rung round places near you and got quotes? There is a place about 30 mins from me that did it for £60 which was less than I thought it would be.

The cheapest I can find is £99 pomme (and up to £149 elsewhere)
He has said he'll back me choosing to have a scan if that's what I want, he just think I'm being silly

Oh don't worry about that Popcorn - a lot of dh's spend most of their wifes pregnancies thinking that said wife is being silly and hormonal. Mine certainly does! It is however the only time you can always get your way without arguments despite the fact he doesn't agree :)

I MUST be quick as I was on phone call jobs, need to get sow coker on and really want a rest too- tick tick tick- DD napping!

YYY DH's always think you're being silly and hormonal in my experience! Forget tht bit popcorn . For me a scan would have been £99 becaause it was twins, chaper for a singleton- the place had shut down though, and my DH adamantly refused because he's scrooge I think musical is 24? and clearly purple is around there too. We shall attempt to bring down the average age between us . I feel ancient already... Oh- and actually, I can't count- I was 27 a couple of months before I had DD, 28 for these- I did wonder how I had 2 years in there when the childrens' age gap will be 18 months

scarlet, DD is snotty, clingy, looks a bit zombie-like and I took her to playgroup this morning- out of the house she does perk up, at home she's miserable and clingier and whingy. I think you did the right thing.

I do fit the back to back most likely scenario- waters broke, no labour, no strong urge to push. There's always going to be exceptions, but I have heard similar about back to back labours.

Most people's labours on here sound quite rubbish... Did anyone here not have any complications/ EMCS/ instrumental delivery/big downstairs damage?!?! You were ok weren't you wants?

pomme, grit your teeth and get on with playing hide the sausage . Needs must!

And honestly, I am totally with everyone who thinks they can't believe they survived labour the first time and really isn't sure they can do it again... I askde a girl with a 3 week old baby at playgroup today if it was true its better second time and she looed wholly unconvinced and said 'Well....it's faster' I thought oh shit no less painful then

Can't wait for the next No Brooking baby to arrive!

Argh, that was not a quick post- slow cooker for goodness sake dream!!!!!

Ow, am having lots of BH. Like, every 3 minutes. They don't last for very long, but they feel all weird and tight. I emailed DH complaining and he phoned to try to persuade me to go home, but I can't bring myself to explain to my boss, because I know I would break down and cry with self-pity in the middle. If I can stick it out for another hour then I can go with no questions asked.

I am 28, so am I fairly average for this group?

Pomme, good luck with the sweep tomorrow! Brooking for a speedy labour and the second Brooking baby within a short space of time.

Too are you completely sure it's BH and not the real thing? Would it really be so bad to go home early? If you're feeling that bad could you not start your mat leave now? You've done so well to work up until this point, especially given your circumstances.

I'm 31 now, was 28 when DS was born. Although only 3 years, psychologically (and physically!) it feels like a massive difference in age. I always imagined I'd be finished having my babies by the time I hit 30.

Oooh yes Pomme I'm brooking for you that the sweep works it's magic for you. Think even I'd rather have the sweep than the sex and my sweep experience was not a good one. At least with the sweep it's over and done with quickly

Do any of you who are due now have any thoughts about the baby arriving on Feb 29th? Have you thought about whether you'd celebrate future birthdays on Feb 28th or March 1st?

too!! There is no such thing as braxtons every three minutes!!!! 3 contractions in 10 mins is ring the MW time!!!! Please don't ignore this especially as you have had ctx in this pg you didn't notice before!

I would celebrate the 28th :)

Dream maybe we are brookers because we have had a hard time?

too - get out of work and to a professional or at least your dh so he can take you there! Every 3 mins!

I've been thinking a lot about 29th Feb as if I go to induction and dd2 takes as long as dd1 will definitely be the 29th. I was going for 28th too but then one of dh's friends pointed out she wouldn't get served in a pub when she celebrating her 18th so I'd go for the 1st March now.

scarlet - I'm 31 now too and also thought I'd have my babies the other side of 30. Getting rid of an ex and finding dh delayed me a bit :)

Managed a 45 minute brisk walk with a couple of hills done as well. Now have a sore top of bump (what is that?? Is that this rib flare you talk about dream?) and tired legs. Cup of raspberry leaf and then pick up dd for me.

too - let us know how you are.

Oh the age thing, I see pics of me with my baby and look young now have a child and look haggard! I don't think anyone realises my age really due to this. lol Apart from some of my work where it can work in my and the persons involved favour :)

oooh, too, maybe your bean will pop up earlier!! EEEK! Fill us in ASAP (that should be your first priority of course!)

Though sorry to disappoint guys but I did have strong BH every 3 min or less, showed up so regularly on the trace after my waters had broken that the doctors and mw's spent ages discussing if they were contractions- I'd had them like that on and off for weeks before hand too, and 30 hours later I was still showing not even the slightest, tiniest little sign of going into labour!!! The staff didn't believe me til then I don't think- and they'd say silly things like 'can you feel them?' of course I could, they were really strong.

I mUST start on the RLT- 32 weeks tomorrow. Just in case I go into labour before 35 weeks....No CS for me then

I'd go for 28th Feb. I wouldn't have thought of the drinking thing!

hmmm, not sure about top of bump- it's definitely my ribs that are killing me and I don't have a cry about it in the evenings a lot when totally fed up with it too biscuits, not me

Oh my Too - please get checked out, just in case these are the real thing! Wowsers!

And is it your sweep tomorrow Pomme?

We could have 2 new brookers by the weekend

I feel like a right old fogey now - on the age thing I'm 34 . I was 30, nearly 31 when I had DS, but that was later than we'd hoped because with the mc it had taken us 9+ mths to get pg with DS. Then of course this one took a bit longer too.

24 musical , gosh! With hindsight I'd have loved to have started a bit earlier too, I think that's a lovely age to have a DC :)

Ooo too !! You are possibly popping! I agree, ring the mw!

:o biscuits you are not an old fogey in the slightest

Pomme probably just an achy bump, my rib flare feels like someone is grabbing each individual rib and pulling them apart and out...

Too although hopefully bean is staying in for a while longer, you need to at least ring the MW please!

Dream get cracking with the RLT it helps with your uterus going down after birth as well as good vits and mineral replenishment, so worth us all drinking it.

I thought I would be having babies post 30 so amusing that I was quite a bit younger really.

You are not a fogey Biscuits pmsl! A lot of women I see are that age thereabouts :)