June 2012 - This is the final stop on the Jubilee line, could all passengers please disembark in a timely (and pain free) manner.

[Kveta]

hopefully this will be our final ante-natal thread, and the one in which we meet our babies!

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and stats so far!

ARRIVED:
25th April: TeaandHobnobs DS 4 lbs 11.5 oz
2?th May: Fanbelt DD
27th May: Warlin DS

DUE (AND GETTING A LITTLE IMPATIENT NOW):
5th June: Kveta DC2 (predicted to be a girl)
6th June: DairyNips DC3 (Boy)
6th June:Pinkpanther27 DC2
7th June: MammaInTheMaking DC1 (Surprise)
9th June: Novmama DC2 (surprise)
11th June: thedogwalker (boy)
12th June: Rachyroodle (Surprise)
13th June: TheLittleMe DC2 (girl)
15th June Ffnorm DC2 (ptb a girl)
= ceeej DC1 (girl)
= Miniangel DC1 (ptb a girl)
16th June: BlondieDollface DC1 (girl)
= Crackersncheese DC1 (predicted boy)
= Fireflies DC1 (surprise)
= Flufffymitchell DC2 (predicted girl)
17th June: Surfmama DC1 (surprise)
= Rhihaf DC1 (predicted boy)
19th June: SeriouslyStrongCheddar DC1 (boy)
20th June: CathFin DC3 (don't know but I'm guessing a girl!)
= rhibutterfly DC2(predicted to be girl)
21st June: ChateauMargot DC1 (predicted to be a girl)
= McKayz DC3 (girl)
= Florin dc1 (boy)
22nd June: bemybebe DC2 (girl)
23rd June: AmethystMoon DC1 (predicted to be a girl)
= SpecialJK (surprise, but convinced it's a boy
= ellybett DC2 (ptb a girl)
= shellywellybaby1
= Emblosion DC1
29th June: Gwenniebee DC1 (Surprise but I think boy!)

IN MEMORY:
Merryn, beloved daughter of Greengoose

Oh mamma massive congratulations!!! Do you know the weight? Sorry you had a difficult time and are feeling sore down below. Make sure the hosp keep on top of your pain relief and take it easy as much as poss. When I had my 3rd degree tear I found a salt water bath once a day soothing once I got home and it healed well. Not sure if that's 'recommended' or even of it makes much difference but it at least kept the area clean and felt nice You've picked a beautiful name! Well done for making it through to the other side.. Bet the snuggles are worth it.

Hello all, Mamma big congratulations to you for what was probably the most difficult yet amazing moment of your life. Glad you're now recovering and dont forget the tips about sitting on a rubber ring/witchhazel etc.
SSC Hoping today goes well for you without any further delays.
Dairy your parents don't sound too good, makes my Mum's lack of interest seem pretty trivial although she continues to wind me up every time I ring to speak to her. Eg mentioned about my dh maybe taking my last few months as paternity leave (instead of me as I am the main earner and childcare will come to more than his wage) and she said "oh but his work might not like that, he better not upset them". I tried to explain that its an entitlement and she muttered about it bein a waste of time trying to get through to me and said she had to go. She has been funny before when Ive had to query smp I wasnt getting/annual leave etc and said I musn't upset them. must remind myself of this next time I think about calling her
Anyway, I had a busy night last night. Had no baby movements for most of day after baby being hyper the 2 days prior to this so was told to come to hospital to be monitored. Baby started moving as I got there but midwife was concerned about some irregularities in heartrate and thought baby might be distressed in which case they were gonna do an EC. I'd been v relaxed about it and driven up there on my own so this freaked me out a bit! Luckily after further monitoring and bein seen by Dr. they decided baby was ok and let me go home.
So now gonna catch up on sleep. Hope u all have a good day

Gosh it's been a busy night!

Glad you ladies are all in agreement about the charity thing.... suddenly felt a bit Scrooge-ish after I'd left that post but clearly am not the only one to resent being mugged on my own doorstep!

Mamma congratulations :) Will you have to change your name to Mammamade now?! I was advised to make sure I have arnica tablets in my hosp bag to help with swelling/bruising afterwards. Haven't had a chance to see if they work yet, obviously, but might be another thing worth bearing in mind? (As though you haven't got enought to "bear in mind" now anyway!)

Kveta it all sounds crap :( I was thinking of you as I lay in bed listening to the rain inside and out this morning and trying to think of anywhere remotely suitable for your men to bugger off take a trip to. Not really the day for punting, is it?

Blondie have a lovely time with your brother :) How sad that his partner doesn't want kids (yet?). But I'm sure your DB understands that you can't put your plans on hold to avoid hurting his feelings. I was gutted two years ago (almost to the day, actually!) when my best friend told me his partner was expecting and we were getting no-where with our treatment. Seemed so unfair, but by the time the baby arrived I had got used to the idea. Not quite the same as your situation, I know........... I am next seeing my bro in August or September by which time I will definitely have a baby!! Woo hoo!!

Coops I am the opposite - totally delighted to have left the 30 "eager" faces behind!! Although I do worry about the lack of response to my cheesey jokes too..... Also, I was left on the kitchen table by my mother in my carrycot while she went to the supermarket. She didn't realise til she got there. It's not done me any harm [insert nervous tick face here].

BabyBee is full term today... but cannot arrive until the roof has been fixed. Also my parents begin their very busy ten days today so he/she'll have to stay put until nearer the due date. Which I suppose is a good thing.

Off to the supermarket in the rain, yay. Think I'll go to Waitrose to make it semi-bearable.

Hi dairy, sorry you're having parent trouble. Has,Lo moved yet? Mine was,back to back last time,ouch, did you'd turn at the last minute?
Kveta, hope you manage to get a little bit of rest today.
Mama, congratulations, gorgeous name, hope downstairs heals quickly.
Coops, enjoy every minute of your mat leave,you will properly realise how much your body needs it when you stop.
Panther, glad baby ok, though v stressful for you, hope you get some rest.

Another miserable day here, going to venture out on the bus today, fancy a milkshake from the milkshake bar with my 9 year old. She has been so good putting up with a very grumpy hormonal mum, we may even do a girly lunch.

Have a good day all, more babies please

Thanks ladies for the sympathies re my parents. The decision to cut contact wasn't taken lightly and they had many chances to stop being emotionally abusive before I finally stop trying to fix things. My brothers and my Aunty are not in contact with them either.. Hate telling people about it as I always feel people might be judging me and thinking I'm heartless It was just a matter of self preservation and now protecting our boys from their nastiness.

pink that does sound annoying of your mother not very supportive! Sorry you had a worrying time with baby but glad all was ok in the end

justwantscheese My ds1 was back to back and I wasn't aware. He never turned and came out facing up with arm above head- hence the 3rd degree tear. Ds2 turned back to back in the last few weeks and I spent all my time in the recommended positions from then on, he did turn and that labour was a lot better I'm crossing all my fingers and toes this baby turns too..
Enjoy your milkshake

Gwennie Hope baby waits till the roof is fixed! Have fun at Waitrose

The boys have just gone! Is it wrong to want to dance about with happiness? They've been mucking about all morning.

Going to have some lunch and then have a bath with clary sage in. This weekend would be ideal.

yaymamma congratulations
ssc hope your having baby cuddles
Well as i suspected my LO is breech AGAIN so booked for ecv monday:( so she had better turn again over weekend, i'm currently off to build an ark

Mamma - big congratulations! Hope they have taken the catheter out and given you some pants - sounds a bit grim so I hope it all heals okay.

Gwennie - I have heard that taking an arnica tablet every hour in labour and then going back to the normal dose can really help! One of the ladies in my yoga class just did that and has recovered really well. Then again I prob wouldn't remember to take the things!
I can't stand people doorstepping, stopping me in the street, or ringing me at home for charity money. I would never sign up like that and also prefer to give when I want to. The amount of people I know doing stuff for charity means there is also always someone to sponsor!

PP - glad everything is ok after your visit to hospital and hope you have got some sleep too!

Dairy - I too have issues with my mother, my parents divorced when I was about 10 but my Mum has really chosen unsuitable partners and although the current one seems harmless but bonkers we are very limited with contact plus my mum has a drink problem so I don't really want her around the children while that is ongoing.
It is hard but I think most people understand that not all families are able to stick together when there are big problems.

Thanks for the best wishes Maples - please send us lots of vibes to get some labours going!

DD just had a wee accident, havn't had one of those for ages and she was practically sat on the toilet when it happened - grr.

Oooh I am getting loads of back ache and period pain. Feels pretty much like I did just before I went into labour with the boys.

I am going to have a bath and then bounce on the ball.

Good luck Mckayz,hope you're next after me if course

mamma congratulations yippee a baby! that's what we are all doing here, sometimes I wonder.... love the name so so pretty.

dairy that sounds like a painfull decision for you, my main mission in life is not to fuck up my child/ren (not saying your fucked up!!) but when I think about the care we had as kids in my family... well...

everyone with cramps and aches - nice hot shower/bath and some good deep breathing. What do I know. Had strong rectal pressure and cramps in the night and was terrified excited of course, and then nothing other than a wiggling baby this morning....

amethyst was going to the veg patch today but OH is not allowing me out as it may be dangerous witht the victory at sea weather so going to enjoy my reflexology later - hope your pamper is lovely.

Put my order in for all sorts of shananagans yesterday, hypercal tincture if I tear, calendula ointment for baby bums and calendula oil for nipples and perineum although think i may be a bit late on that one. You can use the hypercal (diluted) on pad or flanel for the undercarriadge after birth - also good for the cord.

come on babies....ssc look forward to hearing your news, shocking behaviour from health professionals!

Well the bath has killed any backache! It does really really hurt downstairs especially if I walk about.

Nice midwife today but bit of a problem about a)disagreement of dates, b)refusal of a sweep, c)missing scan notes due to moving and lack of joined-up-ness, d)missing bloods for sexually transmitted diseases for same reason as c, e)inability to find mutually possible date for next appointment due to the school run.

Which meant the whole time taken up with that stuff so didn't need to talk about birth plan, which was a relief as it ain't conventional, - so doula and DH can deal with that on the day!

Bumpy bus ride did nothing, very hormonal in milkshake bar as I thought they had given me wrong flavour ,then dropped it on the floor and spilt it everywhere. Had to stop my self crying like a big baby! I don't want to be a 40 plus 2 anymore! Come on just a tiny twinge please

how are all the 40 pluses doing?
Mckayz any more signs?

Good luck McK

Midwife today wrote 4/5 in the engaged column which I can only assume means palpable rather than engaged and told me that the baby is almost back to back.

Both of these things mean precisely nothing afaic. Don't expect the baby to stay where it is and neither of mine ever became fully engaged until they had to actually pass through the birth canal anyway.

Hi all,
Mamma many congrats and what a gorgeous name! Wishing you and your bits a speedy recovery!
SSC thinking of you and hoping that everything has gone well for you today - for once!
Dairy so sorry to hear of the hassle with your parents. Not what you need at the best of times but certainly not now. Sending you calming vibes.
Coops i'm with Gwennie on the work thing. The way i see it, i could be spending my time enslaved to a whining petulant child who sucks me dry, has no sense of me as an individual in my own right, and is totally beyond reason...or I could NOT have to deal with my boss, and spend time cuddling a lovely baby instead. (Do you see what I did there?! )
McKayz fingers crossed this is it!

Well, i ended back at the hospital on wednesday as bp spiked. Gone back down again but i'm now on daily monitoring - Mw coming to my house so that at least gets rid of some of the hassle - and now under consultant care so no midwife-led unit for me now. Will probably start induction on EDD on tuesday. Not sure how i feel about that yet. Felt really upset after hospital as mw there was a bit off with me but when i've mentioned her name to two other mws since they've grinned and explained that she is brilliant but does Have a Way About Her! Must try to stay focussed on what this is all about and not get distracted by small annoyances!

Hi to everyone else.

Xxx

DH has finally taken DS out to jump in muddy puddles, so I can ponce around trying to get baby to descend a bit (by galloping, and maybe some yoga moves my friend told me got her labour started - it won't work, but I want to try something!)

Took DS to playgroup this morning and got a lot of winces and sympathy, and everyone telling me they'd better not see me there next friday :o It was nice actually, loads of the mums who I thought were quite cliquey were chatting to me and wishing me luck, and all the childminders came to ask how I am (DS normally goes with our CM, but she is away at the moment) and also wishing me luck!

Sweep number 2 on sunday, and FIL is leaving too (WOOHOO!!!!!) but my parents arrive sunday evening so DH is preparing to lose the will to live then :o FIL is not a bad man, means well etc, but god I think a weekend will be enough next time. He was supposed to be doing some cooking for us whilst here, but doesn't feel comfortable with our cooker or UK ingredients (which is fair enough) so I ended up doing everything. Got DH to peel potatoes and turnip for our haggis tonight though, so all I need to do is set them boiling :o But I am looking forward to a day on sunday of doing very little except waiting for midwife to come round, then seeing my ghastly parents briefly in the evening.

Oh, and is anyone else chucking up? I was SO sick this morning, stood in the shower and brought up several meals it seems. Scraping lumps of vomit out of the bath with DS's hair washing jug was such a glamorous start to the day... :o Just threw up the pineapple I had after lunch too, and now have eeeevil heartburn. Sigh. I really am no good at the pregnancy thing. Roll on the newborn days!

Sorry everyone in advance - I need a MEGA moan...

Saw midwife on Weds (who I'd never seen before, my normal MW on holiday) refused to touch my urine sample , made me take the lid off, put the testing strip in and deal with it after testing... er, isn't that part of your job as a midwife???? Or is my wee just too disgustingly offensive for you? [hormonal angry and insulted emoticon]

I forgave her this when she said that LO had defo moved out of breech but to keep my appt at hospital yesterday to get it confirmed (was booked for round 2 of ECV ). Was happy to do this.

THEN, she decides that as I want a waterbirth in hospital (I have sleep epilepsy, so they advised a hospital birth) she doesn't think it's safe. I immediately explain I've battled LONG and HARD to get approval for this, that I am NOT a regular epileptic and, as the SENIOR NEUROLOGIST at the hopsital has written and explained in a letter IN MY NOTES, I am at no greater risk of a seizure in the pool than any other healthy, low-risk mum-to-be; AND that my consultant obstetrician, midwife and one of the seniour midwives are happy with this decision. She ignores this and insists I speak to the head midwife about health and safety arrangments at the hospital...

I try to explain (as is clearly stated in my notes and the neurologist's letter) that unless I fall asleep for at least an hour (when my seizures usually occur) during labour then I won't have a seizure.

I only have about 1 seizure a year anyway, and ALWAYS during proper sleep, so having one during labour while I'm awake is as unlikely to happen to me as it is to any other healthy mother. She tuts and ignoring the letter from the neurologist, phones the head midwife to arrange an appt for me. Grrrrrrrrr...

Came home annoyed, but excitement at LO having moved overshadowed any annoyance... until we went to hospital to confirm position and discuss details of my waterbirth and found out he IS STILL BREECH. I could have fkn killed her!!

My doc knew without even feeling that he hadn't moved, and scanned to be 100%. That fucking midwife!!! Excuse lang, but she RILED me something chronic... then had to endure 8 hours of monitoring, ECV without pain relief (again) that didn't work, more monitoring and waiting around for blood results and bloody painful injections of Anti-D cos of my blood group... :(

So basically booked in for C-Sec on Monday, which we don't mind at all, as long as baby comes out OK.
I had written a C-SEC birth plan anyway, but after the massive elation when useless MW told us he'd moved, it was a bit of a crash back to earth :(

So sorry to moan on for so long, just really needed to vent.

Sending everyone most positive vibes for baby action tonight and congratulations Mamma!

DH is being amazing and is currently papering my kitchen wall (been planning to do this for months) and bought me a donut yesterday along with chips and a lush, white, chicken adn bacon and mayonnaise baguette, AND full fat Coke! but - by God it was amazing!

Love to everyone, I am now able to breathe again.... :)

Oh poor you rhi. I mean not poor for the c/s. That's just the way it is, but poor you for having to endure the stupid mw.

I had a bit of a 'thing' with mine too today. I don't understand why everything can be fine and agreed and we all know where we are and then all of a sudden things you thought had been previously okayed are no longer....

First she wanted me to go right now to the hospital for a scan as the last hospital hadn't sent the 20 week one over. I declined.

She said 'you're refusing a scan?'

I said 'no, I'm declining one. The logistics are a nightmare to arrange for me when for you it is simply a phonecall, and besides scans aren't very accurate at this stage'.

She was blimmin obsessed with giving me a sweep too. 'If not today then when?' she said.

'Erm, never'

'But you're overdue'

'No I'm due tomorrow'

'The early scan date says you were due 3 days ago'

'That's why I don't like unnecessary scans. They're not accurate. If we go with that date you'll have to explain to my DH that I must have slept with someone whilst he was abroad'.

'Well we have to go with the Ultrasound date'

'Why?'

'Hospital policy'

No answer from me. No point really. Learned to focus on the outcome which is that they can't make me have a scan, nor a sweep, nor a hospital birth EVEN IF I WAS high risk, which I'm not. I can have a row about it first, or not, but the outcome remains the same.

Awww rhihaf poor you! Moan definitely justified and hope it made you feel better! How can they get it so wrong?!! And how can people who are less qualified than others in certain areas insist on having the last word? Honestly. It makes me realise how lucky I've been - I seemed to have to fight my battles to get pregnant in the first place but my mw (and there is only one here, so no choice) has been lovely. Am breathing mega sighs of relief after reading some of your stories.

Kveta am sending obscene quanitities of "baby now" vibes in your direction....

Justwantcheese dropping milkshake would have made me cry with embarrassment and humiliation even if not pregnant so I think you did very well to hold it together!

Shelduck glad your bp seems to be behaving itself and that you aren't having to drag yourself out to mw every day..... (Shelducks are some of my favourite birdies, btw, got very excited on school trips to Slimbridge when I was teaching in Brizzle when they ate from my hand :))

McK hope things are moving!

Roofy man has been - seems really nice and reliable and I know I should be getting more than one quote and not going on hunches but heck, I just need the damn thing to stop leaking! He walked around on our extension roof and laughed outrageously at various bits he uncovered which are basically rotten through. So we're still waiting for the insurers to send a surveyor, but given that it's highly unlikely they'll cover it I kind of feel like we should just get on and organise this bloke to come asap. He said he'd try and do it as soon as possible and is going to phone tonight with a quote. Gulp. Only four months since we had to have a new hot water tank..... I'm wondering whether renting was better!

Going to remove myself from sitting room where DH is marking and take crazy natal hypnotherapy woman on CD to the bedroom. Don't think DH sniggering at her in the background would make for a good and hypnotic session....!

Dear lord, I do ramble on.......

Rhi I am so sorry to hear about all you have been through with that MW. You are fully entitled to swear a lot after all that. I hope when you feel up to it you will submit a formal complaint.

I had another scan today - apparently everything ok so don't know what all the fuss about low amnio was all about.

Hi to everyone else. Seems like we're all having a bit of a frustrating time with it all now. Don't know about you, I would prefer it to be a bit warmer rather than wet and windy. Oh, and still have an inny, which is a total surprise to me and DH!!

x-posted starlight.... sorry to hear your appointment was rubbish too :( I think your attitude is great though :) I am ashamed to say I'd be in the get really het up about it and have a row brigade, which, as you say, wouldn't change the outcome and wouldn't do any good. [Resolves to take a leaf out of star's book in future...]

Gwennie Ahh fond memories of school trips to Slimbridge! Where in Bristol did you teach? I had termly visits to Bristol Zoo as well as my school was on the same road, much preferred Slimbridge though, feeding the birds is the HIGHLIGHT of my primary school trip memories Sorry that your roof seems rotten, DH and I have an 'unsafe' boiler and spending £3k right now just isn't an option so it will have to wait, we are also wondering if buying was the right choice now!!

Rhihaf Sorry your MW was a complete muppet, I feel your pain - it's just so frustrating when they get things so wrong!! I hope you can set that aside and focus on getting your LO here safe and sound :)

Have been up and down the stairs about 20 times, done 2 loads of washing cleaned all the floors and tidied house top to bottom for DB's arrival, hopefully he'll appreciate it even if I am asleep by the time he gets here!

Have a lovely weekend everyone Xx

rhihaf & Starlight - oh dear, can' believe you both had such rotten midwives!
Hope you have nice calm weekends to get over the experiences!!

So DH picked up the S-Max today, we are liking it a lot. I said 'so have you insured it then?' - oops, answer is 'no', what a div!