April 2012 - The FINAL Countdown - Chat and Stats

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

1st April aprilfoolsbaby 1 DD,3.4
2nd April LaTristesse (36) Kent, DS - 22 mo, brewing a girl
4th April Flisspaps (29) DD,2
4th April vintagenancy (32) USA, surprise in making
5th April BeyondLimits (25), DS 10m, Newport
7th April ladyfoucault
8th April spannermary (34) S Yorkshire
11th April HollyPockett
15th April Tinwe DD - 10 mo
16th April digitalgirl DS,3
16th April bushymcbush DD,3
17th April balkanscot
17th April Bunsoutheoven (36) dd- 5yrs, ds - 3yrs, boy cooking
19th April CubTrouble
22nd April JambalayaCodfishPie (27) DD,7
24th April notso DD 11, DS 7, DS 13mo &surprise
27th April Thaleia Boy in making
30th April Nordicmom (36) London, DS - 6,5 yrs

Bananna I have no issue with taking paracetamol at all, if you need some then take it!

Whoops can tell Ive not been on here in a while im off the list and everything

I cant believe how close we all are now, six weeks to go on Friday for me - I packed my hospital bag last night mainly because I like to feel prepared stops me worrying! Ive been up several times in the night for a wee which has me less than amused I miss sleep :( oh and I seem to have developed a big fear that I should have had the downs testing done (we didnt because we would have kept the baby whatever) Im worried that if I had known I could have been more prepared - I thinks its hormones creeping in a bit

Ive got 5 more shifts left in work after today Im so excited for starting mat leave and getting my last things organised and sorted - I had pains in my bump last night while I was shopping, turns out it was my punnishment for trying to hold a much needed wee in but the panic on OH's face was priceless!

Hope everyone is having a pleasant stress free day

I'm having an awful few days! Felt very down and emotional, just burst into tears. Been having pains on and off since sunday and braxton hicks which are getting very painful, felt like I needed to go for a poo. That crampy belly ache you get when desperate for a poo( sorry tmi). Had them this morning for about 2 hours coming every 15 minutes, they've stopped now though, but feel so tired, not slept due to pains for 5 days! I tend to get braxton hicks/pains at night.just don't know what to do! This is my second and I'm only 33 weeks today but as I was induced with my first I have no idea what the 'beginning' could feel like!

Riamay please come back and play with us!!!

notso there is still time that the baby moves into the right position and even if not ... please try not to worry too much

Nesting? Like in tidying up, cleaning, preparing? Naaaada. I hope it kicks in at some point and very soon! Kept all day Saturday free, so maybe get some things done then. DH's to do is endless: sort boiler, sort heating, bring curtains down, install another plug @ the kitchen and so on.

We're haven our first NCT class tonight .... my neighbour (with older kids) said that at hers were just couples who played trump cards with there houses, prams, nurser equipment and later bizarre names of their newborns. Oh well, will find out tonight!!

My big issue is lack of breath. There is just not enough air in the air. It makes me sleepy now and dizzy at night. I hope this goes away and won't stay with me till the end as still ages to go.

Can't believe we have the first confirmed with a CS on the 5th ... by that time I have another month to go!

Also had a MW appointment yesterday and had to wait for ages as it was the big pop day yesterday and all of them were with someone who's in labour, just nipping out for the check-up appointments. Hope, when I'm due it's less busy! But I measure fine, hear beat it would it should be and I've also checked if it's fine to have a "wriggler" and not a "kicker" and she said it's ok as long as I know and feel what's right for my baby. So I feel better about it now. Next time will be bloods again.

Does everyone have a growth scan or only the ones which measure slightly bigger? Hubby dead keen to have another scan ....

Also, it ok to not have BH 34 weeks in?

Just had my growth scan. All measurements average except the abdominal circumference which is off the scale .
Have started a thread in pregnancy as I have no idea what this means.

Does anyone know if it could be caused by undiagnosed GD or does that affect the baby as a whole? Does it mean there might be a problem with it's stomach? I'm worried the steroid treatment I had in the first trimester might have caused this.

Banana1
I'm a migraine sufferer but thankfully except for a two week stretch in my first trimester, I've got off lightly. My usual salvation is Migraleave but they're a no no when pregnant, so I've resorted to dissolvable Paracetamol. I only take them when I need them but they really bloody help. I dissolve 2 in warm water, they get to work in about 20 minutes. My midwife has no issues with me taking them, so neither do I :)

Hope the headache leaves soon

The Diva seems to be on synchronised swimming form today. She's going like the clappers!

Think the hormones or the migraine have got to me and am in tears from all the noise, dirt, disruption and chaos caused by our loft conversion. Muddy footprints through the kitchen and hall, back garden looks like a building site - I think you're right Notso and we will be clearing up, sorting and decorating for a long time to come (with a new baby in tow :-(). The final straw today was when big, heavy loads of tiles were placed in our newly landscaped front garden on all the new plants and squashed them all. Arghhhhhhhhhh, I've had enough, and there's still probably 5 weeks of it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Woken rather early today, not by DD but by the police doing a raid on a nearby house :(
Making me feel rather bleak about where we live...moving is definitely on the cards in the 'near future' (i.e. within the next 12-18 months) but now I feel like I want to leave already...

On a more cheerful note, had a 4 hour breast feeding workshop today and feel I have absorbed a LOT of information. Having to hold a Tiny Tears style doll up to my boob to be taught how to get the position right made me feel like I was about 6 again, playing at mummies and daddies.

Hugs to anyone having a tough week...at 34 wks today I'm not getting any signs of aches or BH cramps, feels like due date is still a long way off for me!

Evening all,

Big hugs to all those suffering this week. I had yesterday off work due to a stonking headache/swollen legs, but my self-prescribed 8hours on the sofa with my feet propped up seems to have done the trick and I'm back to my old self!

Am definately counting down until Mat Leave now though. 17 more get ups - i'll be 37.5wks, if I make it until the Easter Hols. :)

Me and DP had our first NCT class on Saturday, really enjoyed it - we've totally hit lucky with our group and leader. Even though its my second, i've still learnt a few things, and definately feel more empowered to make choices/stand firm on a few things - so definately worth the money.

Day 2 is this Saturday, with our first social, a trip to the pub (for milkshakes) planned for afterwards.

Chin up everyone - I wonder whos going to be the first??? :)

Wow loads to catch up on...

Itching - yes I get it when non-pregnant too and had it for a while earlier in pregnancy on my shins, thighs and upper arms. Particularly when we moved here so probably change of climate/water causing it. I've used Aveeno and also this stuff (been using on tummy for stretch-mark prevention too).

Sleeping - I end up awake for 2 hour stretches some nights. And others I only wake up to have a wee and go back to sleep. Most nights I have to swap sides several times a night as can't stay on one all night with sore hips. Folded up duvet under me has helped that though - and lots of pillows.

HV/MW - I don't get any home visits from anyone here, except my doula. The baby's doctor will see us every day in hospital and then we go for first visit with them at 2 weeks. Not sure when I see MW for checkups with them.

Speaking of Midwife - had 36 week check today and all is good with baby and had Strep B test and Iron levels checked. Seeing them weekly now for the final countdown!

Bananna1 - sounds grim :( Not surprised you're in tears. Putting together Ikea furniture has been known to be enough to set me off recently.
Digi - Sorry you've had a worrying measurement. I don't know the answer, hope someone can help you on your thread. Did they not explain anything at the scan?
Thaleia - I don't think everyone has/feels the BHs. I can't miss them as tummy goes rock hard and I get occasional cramping too.
confuzed90 - I've had occasional BHs like that for a while but if you're worried definitely ask your MW for reassurance. I haven't had pain though.

Hello to everyone I've missed and hugs for you all.

Well, rather surprisingly I measured 39.5cm today at 36w (have been 3.5cm over for a while now) and the MW suggested I go for another growth scan.

When I asked her what it would tell us that we didn't already know, she didn't seem particularly happy, but she also didn't have an answer for me. She just said 'well, it will help us to inform you'. Inform me of what exactly? We know the baby is predicted to be big so that's not going to be new (she didn't seem to be too sure what to say to that). I had normal levels on the GTT, big babies run in my family. Unless baby is waving a placard saying 'I'm big because...' then we'll learn nothing more from another scan (other than risk finding out what we're having!)

She also said 'Well, at this stage it is very hard to be accurate with scans. But you are measuring big. So I have to recommend you go for one, but if you don't, then that's your choice. There are risks with big babies, like shoulder dystocia'...

She seemed a bit confused that I had already discussed the possibility of SD with the supervisor of midwives, and that I was aware that it could happen (to anyone and anywhere they give birth) and that it was something I had considered, and then told me that a big baby is more likely to increase the risk of PPH or retained placenta (the very reasons I am high-risk in the first place) but I've also discussed the management of those with the SoM.

She then suggested I 'chat with my man about it' . That really got my back up. I did wonder for a moment if perhaps I had wandered into 1950.

Anyway, upon telling DH what had been said 'chatting with my man about it' his first question was 'what will another scan tell us that we don't already know?' and he's been a bit about me being a pain in the arse and questioning everything offered throughout the pregnancy.

So, I've emailed the SoM again, confirming my intention to still carry on with my plans and that I've declined a further scan, and that I do understand the risks etc and that my decisions aren't taken lightly, and she's sent me a lovely email back saying she knows I've given all the risks full consideration and that I should contact her if there's anything else I need.

Hehe, go Fliss!

I also had a 'take your DH with you to talk to the consultant' conversation with my mw. The consultant will bloody well talk to ME, I'm the one birthing this baby!

Off now to read everyone else's news...

LaTristesse I think these MWs are a bit unsure about who owns the vagina through with the baby will hopefully emerge, which is quite scary considering that the vagina is their 'coalface'!

The day that my babies come out of DH's privates is the day that he gets to make decisions about what I do with regard to pregnancy, labour and birth. Until then, he is chief chauffeur, tea-maker and back-rubber

Well done Fliss! 'Chat with your man' ugh! Of course we talk things through with our husbands/partners etc when necessary but it doesn't mean that we can't make decisions for ourselves! Did she expect him to say something different? Mind you my MIL does that - hears something from me which she doesn't like so she asks DH the exact same thing and funnily enough he says the same as me (sorry, mini side-rant there!).

Hi guys, thanks for your help with the itchy legs thing. The itching has stopped now, but I find I have terribly dry skin all over, including the most ridiculous and embarrassing amount of dandruff. Luckily Nizoral works for me but I have to use it every time otherwise it comes back ( grumbles about price )

Reading your last few posts I'm becoming more aware of just how close it is now. I'm only just 34 weeks but even so I'm getting the 'eep!' feeling.

Pain in my pelvis is slowly increasing, although it turns out my leg pain was due to me spending too much time bent over chipping at ice outside our house!

Measuring 32cm at 34wks, heart 150bpm, my heart 92bpm, b/p 103/67 (gone up! yay!)

OTOH, I accepted a coffee off my bf today and didn't realise just how strong he'd made it because it was a medium strength and quite smooth. After 40 minutes I felt like I was going to die. My head was spinning, I had a cold sweat, my body felt like a sack of lead and I felt a bit nauseous so I went for a lie down.

I haven't had caffeine (apart from the small amount in tea) for ages so the effect was mossive! I'll stick to my decaf in future!

re Itching - I use Bepanthen cream on my shines and it really helped.

Had my first NCT class yesterday, it's 6 couples and two of the others seem to be nice, hubby says one of the guys is also a good laugh (but his wife is like Valium) and there is one girl who's so scared about the birth that she started to scare me at the end! I hope the class helps her and that she calms down a bit. So all good!

At my next MW appointment, we discuss the birth - I don't need to write a plan just get - and I am wondering if I should bring hubby along. Has someone done that? I think it'll be a good idea as no NCT class will actually tell me what's happening in my hospital and I really like him to know first hand what's going on. Or is that a waste of times?

Hello everyone, feeling a bit better today. Have ordered moxibustion sticks in a 'woo' attempt to get the baby to turn.
When I was explaining to DH about burning them near an acupuncture point, he assumed this was up my fanjo and somehow the fumes would lure the baby's head downwards a la scooby doo towards scooby snacks! .

Fliss Your MW sounds quite rubbish.
I had to have several growth scans with DS2, though the main reasons for this were due to me carrying too much fluid as well as a big baby, they were never really that bothered about the size of the baby.
If there is a chance you are too then it would be beneficial to know this as there is a higher chance of early labour and also a slight risk the cord can come down before the baby, though IME they wouldn't actually do much about it anyway.

I am also measuring big for dates this time 35.5cm at 33 weeks, though I was 45cm by this time with DS2. MW said it's quite likely the breech lie is adding to the measurement and not really surprising as my last two babies were large. I will be having a 36 week scan anyway, so will check fluid levels then.

Hi Ladies....How could i not come back and post after all your lovely comments.
I have to start by saying sorry for being so pathetic. I think i was a bit hormonal that day.....
Well since last week i have lost more fluid been checked and they are happy to leave me....... and have a sweep booked for 22nd march. I will be 38 weeks then plus my c section on the 5th april so somehow this baby is coming out whether it likes it or not and maybe not on its terms!

So, anywa...thought id post a little something for you all as you seem to be missing me
Oh and it was a show the other day just not a bloody one. Saw MW yesterday :)
xx

Interesting to hear your stories, Boomerwang about itching. May I humbly add itchy boobs to the mix? :) I've also got a delightful sweat rash type thing underneath them, which is delightful! I've switched from uber moisturising (which seems to provoke the rash) to baby powder. It smells good, anyway, so we'll see!

Went to Mothercare yesterday to be measured for nursing bras, but the lady said I was too early, and to come back 2 weeks before due date. Best hope the baby doesn't come early!

In other news, I've completely gone off fresh fruit - clementines, apples and melons - as snacks, in favour of minstrels, double deckers and creme eggs! That's alright, eh?! (I've only put on 1 stone 5lb so far so I think that's ok...)

Hope you're all having a good day!

PS - Welcome back, Ria! Good to hear you sounding so positive!

notso the growth scan I had weeks ago confirmed a reasonable amount of fluid, but the bone measurements and abdominal circumference were in line with the fundal height measurement (ie the measurement was about 36cm and the scan gave a gestational age of 36w) so it's not fluid.

To be fair to her I don't think she's rubbish (she was the one really nice MW I met when having DD) but I just don't think she was expecting me to question the offer or to be able to run through what I'd already discussed with the Supervisor. I am still rather about the 'chat with your man' comment though, seeing as I'm the one who has done all of the reading and research, and DH had refreshed his memory as to the state of newborn poo in the appropriate page of the Haynes Baby Manual.

Early labour wouldn't be a bad thing from my point of view as DD was at the far end of normal and then a bit - so early in my case would probably put me somewhere near my EDD

I read the first line of your post a bit too quickly then you know, I read that you'd bought masturbation sticks!

riamay I was just wondering about you, having noticed your absence! Glad that you're cheerier :)

Every day is one day closer to getting these babies out, and even if you were to go into labour now then all should be fine - you're due just two days after me so in a week you'll be officially full term :)

DS2 posted to early for me then!
Boomer best ever itching remedy, big tub of moisturiser mixed with big tub of vick, put in the fridge = bliss. Was constantly slathered in this during the last few weeks of third pg.

Nice to hear from you vintage I get the sore hip thing too, though try to stay on left sde as apparently it's best for baby to turn. I am like an old oman when I get up though, hobbling around.

Thaleia I have never really done a birth plan or discussed the birth with my MW. I have always breifed DH on things I feel very strongly about, but no-one has ever really asked me about what I do/don't want.

Jambalaya glad you are feeling better, and lucky you to have a nice group. There is no NCT in this area, there is not much anything!

Bananna hope you are feeling better today. Poor you it is awful being in the midst of building work. We have been renovating our house for nearly 6 years now, we keep having more DC then changing our plans! Must be glutton for punishment.

Well I have a shiny new washing machine to play with today, as my dear old one blew up on Friday after 12 years of good service. I found myself watching the new one going through the cycle earlier , am going to freshen up all the baby clothes though after tackling the mountain that has built up since Friday.
Also new car is ready tomorrow, 7 seater tank will be visiting IKea at the weekend to get bits and bobs for the baby and DS2's room.

PMSL @ masturbation sticks!