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

hi miniangel - sore throat and fever still present. pain is not as noticeable and t is not as high after the consultant ordered to take 1000mg paracetamol every 6 hours... but i cannot sleep at night for some reason, just feel sick and uncomfortable. it feels really horrible in this weather, brains are mushy and i feel miserable for myself . how are you??

ssc feeling gutted for you as cs is clearly what you do not want. a friend of mine had a elcs and stayed only for 2 nights at the hospital, same as some others with normal vaginal deliveries and recovered in the same time pretty much... driving can be done much earlier than the nct advertised 6 weeks (i think she was driving after 3-4 weeks after being okeyed by a gp). also, it is still possible for your lo to turn up to the day of the section. chin up!!

dairy i am so sorry to hear about your mil, nothing here to say really apart from hugs, stay strong and hope for the best!

SSC - what a pity... I fully understand what you mean about longer stay in hosp - last time,due to DS not me,we ended up in for a week,so I was very keen to "deliver and out" this time (if possible) so lo's refusal thus far to move from transverse is frustrating as I don't want to spend long in hosp and I would prefer not to recover from C/S with a 2 1/2 year old... but what will be will be trying to be zen

Regarding undercarriage topiary - I have been more attentive this time compared to last time not because of the MW perspective (they have seen it all) but because I was lucky enough to have retained placenta that wasn't diagnosed for a month,so bled ALOT...and felt it would have all felt cleaner/better to me if I had attended to things better pre delivery. SO I have got DH to tend for me using my lovely Wikinson razor that has the bikini trimmer attachment he takes the job very seriously

The above story also is why I will be looking at my placenta more closely this time... a long time ago I was taught how to assess placentas ironically at DS's birth they asked if I wanted to look and I declined as I was really tired and thought DS was way more interesting... in retrospect perhaps I and them should have taken a good look

starlight they always move the goalposts IYKWIM,on the day you can ring with 1.5 min contractions and they'll say,no they must be x min apart or vice versa...Why won't they deliver the placenta in the water??

Dairy so sorry to hear about your MIL it's going to be a long journey for her and your whole family.

Thank you all for your lovely birthday wishes!!! Had a quiet day and DH took me out for a great Italian dinner thanks to my darling friend who baby sat

Will have to post and then scroll back as I know there's a gazillion things I've missed out on - sorry!!

Dairy so sorry to hear about your MIL, hope the chemo is effective, and a new grandchild will cheer her up at such a difficult time.

Dairy oh dear :( Not the news you wanted. Like the others, I hope it all goes as painlessly as possible for you all.

rach hope your dry toast has been successful and you are feeling better now! You're absolutely right about handover, not anything like as much fun as I thought it would be, but nearly done now and I have decided not to care!!

emblosion oooh I've just remembered, I had a dream last night in which I was trying to explain to my class how "emblosion" was a compound word....!

small hope your hospital visit went well.

cheddar I feel really sad for you :( That sounds really disappointing. I hope you manage to get your head around it soon.

starlight that does sound really odd but I agree with ffnorm that the goalposts always seem to move. Obviously I've not done the whole "giving birth" thing before, but certainly when I was beginning treatment for my PCOS to get this bun in the oven everyone seemed to have different rules to follow. It was really frustrating.

I had my 36 week appointment this morning and it was really good :) The 32 one was a bit odd so I was a bit worried about this, but the baby, although still measuring a bit small, is consistent with what it was last time and has grown plenty, is the right way up and 3/5 engaged apparently. She also asked if I knew what I was having, so when I said I had a hunch it was a boy she looked very smug and said that she "wouldn't like to predict, but it does have a boy heartbeat". So I feel very excited now :) I am going to be totally stunned if I have a girl..... better get my head around the idea that it still could be!

Two more days :)

Evening all
SSC I'm so sorry to hear that LO is still bum down, I was so hoping LO had turned for you. Sending you lots of hugs xx
Starlight what are you planning to do about the your homebirth? Can you accept what the MW has said?
Bemy Hope you feel better soon, how naff to be so ill in this hot weather. Sending you lots of get well vibes xx

I'm very tired today, been busy cleaning the house again and re-arranging furniture, I just keep getting the urge to clean, clean and clean. Just wish it would help the LO to vacate my tummy. Hope everyone has had a good day xx

I called supervisor of midwives who has agreed gas and air upon asking and emailed HB team.

I haven't discussed the placenta thing figuring it can be dealt with after baby born. And the no internals thing can be dealt with on the day in same way by being in pool and refusing to get out!

Star - the gas thing esp struck me as odd, why would they refuse it? Good to get that sorted.

Star, I wonder what my MW will say tomorrow as I've put in my birth plan that I want to deliver placenta in the pool. I want to wait until the cord has stopped pulsating and I don't want to be climbing out of the pool with the cord still attached really.

Evening ladies,
Lots has been happening for everyone! I'm crossing everything for all births to go to plan and that the end result is healthy, happy babies (and mummies too!)
SSC I am really sorry to hear that but please chin up, baby still has time to move and you may still get the birth that you want, please don't be saddened/disappointed. I know this isn't much in the way of consolation but at least when it's a c-sec that's booked (and not a horrible emergency) you can still have some say to what is happening, if that makes sense. You will be asked if you'd like the screen lowered and to have skin-to-skin immediately with baby. My last two electives were the most wonderful experiences and I as I keep repeating, and probably boring the pants of everyone, I was out and about by Day 7 with a double pram. I'm hoping that your LO does move so you get the birth you want, let's keep hoping eh? :)
Starlight You must have the patience of a saint. Good for you.
TDW You're welcome to bring your duster over this way... I want to do it all, but physically can't!
ffnorm totally irrelevant but your DS is absolutely adorable, he is seriously edible!!! Bet he's excited.

Right considering I wrote a mega post this morning am going to stop here. It's almost like an OCD ensuring that everyone is mentioned

Hospital appointment was fine. Risks were discussed, bloods taken in case of transfusion and general chat about the elective. Liquid given to shower in night before and morning in case of MRSA, that was a first for me. Was given meds to take night/morning before. On the downside, but maybe it's not the observation area is being refurbished so will be wheeled onto the gynae ward instead, as it is small, there is a strict policy in place of no children visiting and only one person by the bedside. Couldn't help feel a little sad that the children might not see their new sibling on day one but obviously can't be helped. If i am first to deliver then chance of being up on the ward are great and so no problems, but if i'm not, and have to stay in observation overnight then obviously problematic. Perhaps it's better to just have the rest and minimal visitors (without having to ask) on the first day anyway. I have felt overwhelmed in the past -- hmmm. Am i being sensitive about this?

Nite all, it's getting cooler now, we had a downpour and thunder earlier too.

Phew! Prefer this name!

I think they refuse gas and air to homebirths in early labour because a midwife doesn't want to stay and it is a controlled drug so they can't just hand it to yo and leave!

Anyone going to try and sneak in a May baby before we all start popping like mad in June ???

gwennie am laughing about your dream! Quite like the idea of an emblosion being a real thing, ha ha!

Must go to sleep! Will catch up properly in the morning...

Hello all. Insomnia central calling here!

ssc don't get too disheartened by the c-s for breech. I'm in the same position. Have a scan tomorrow, but pretty sure baby has wedged his bum into my pelvis, so sure I'll be on a c-s , even though I desperately didn't want one. All I can say is what I've learned and heard the last few weeks is that when it comes to labour, very few people get it the way they would ideally like. I was worried about skin to skin for example, but you can still do it. My friend who gave birth normally couldn't do it as she was shaking from adrenalin for 90 mins for example. Having a vaginal birth doesn't guarantee a good experience. But if you can think about a specific birth plan and prepare yourself, you can take back control of the c_s and make yourself feel better. I vowed yesterday that sometimes what will be will be. LO obviously wants to be in that position, so I don't want to ruin the last couple of weeks of pregnancy feeling miserable. I thought small had some great words the other day on how you can feel better about the whole thing.

small meant to thank you for your post. Found it really encouraging

So after all the voodoo I think I'm still breech, will find out today! Lying here unable to sleep as DH was on exercise yesterday and did a 28 mile hike, and hes as warm as a hot water bottle all night! Must be all the energy burning.

Was my birthday yesterday, weird to think we were born only 1 day apart ffnorm!

Happy Birthday SpecialJK, you never know maybe your baby will have turned ....
It's my Dad's birthday today but I doubt miniFin will make an appearance to celebrate.

I did buy some raspberry leaf tea yesterday so I must remember to drink some!!

Right, better get breakfast on the go, have to clear front room, dining room and hall before 9am as the carpets are getting a clean!

Morning all

Right, let myself cry all yesterday afternoon / evening re stubborn arse-first child and am now fine. I'm generally an 'always see the positive / never give up' sort of person and know that if I need a cry I just need to let myself have that to get it all out of my system and then I'll be fine.

Feel sorry for DH though, he looked so miserable with me in pain and crying - spent all day trying to cheer me up and feeling guilty that he has to go to work between now and c section as he just wants to stay home and take care of me. Bless him - he's such a star. Also, to his credit, he did pack a hospital bag for baby before we went in, just in case. The fact it contained no nappies, a bandana instead of a hat and a light up / glow in the dark 'Ewan the Dream Sheep' to enterain baby on the ward is neither nere nor there .

So, bump is still rather tender in places and I didn't really sleep last night so am knackered but am now very excited and off to spend the day reading up on c sections and stuff (I love to 'learn' and am embarassingly excited about having something new to read up about .

CathFin - I have considered a breech birth but in general they are not supportive as it's a first baby so my pelvis is 'unproven' and he's a good size. To be honest, I've had to fight the whole 9 months to get agreement for the homebirth I planned and I'm tired - don't have the energy to fight for a breech birth now. Plus, having seen the delivery suite yesterday there is no way in hell I can give birth in such a hot, small room!

Star - actually, not sure what sort of breech other than I know he's not footling; think he's frank breech from what's been said. Sounds like you're picking your battles for your homebirth which is the right approach I reckon; hope it all works out for you.

bemybebe - hope you're feeling a bit better today. To be honest, if he turns back now I think I'll go mad - too many changes to cope with. Besides - takes after his mum and is very comfortable just sat on his arse I think!

ffnorm - good zen approach; hold that thought!

tdw - thanks for the hugs; hope the cleaning is going well!

small - thanks for the positive words on ELCS. The midwife I saw yesterday has noted to drop the screen for me already as she was waxing lyrical about it so I agreed it sounded like a good idea! Re the 'liquid' to wash in for MRSA - apparently I'll be getting some of that too; sounds like fun! I had to do two swabs for MRSA yesterday - one up both nostrils and the other...elsewhere!

Special - hope you had a good birthday! Also hope that your baby isn't too comfortable and decides to turn! I'm okay re the ELCS actually, it's just the stay in hospital that bothers me (it's the thought of being on a ward with other people - I don't really 'do' other people; very anti-social me!).

Right-ho, I'm off to learn stuff and write a new birth plan!

Apologies for the epic post and hope everyone has a good day!

ssc glad you're feeling better about it. It's taken me a good few weeks to reconcile myself with the fact I may have to have one. Come to the conclusion that if he's not turned at the scan today it's not the end of the world. Did toy with the idea of normal delivery, but I have a couple of other factors which make me think just do the least riskiest thing for me and bubs

One good website I've found is

csectionrecovery.com

Morning everyone

Bemy - hope you are feeling a bit better!

Small thank you for saying my DS is adorable [proud parent emoticon] your 3 are just so cute. Meant to say before that what you've had to say about C/S has been helpful and from friends experiences,an elective is definately quicker recovery time than emergency.At the end of the day I am happy with whatever produces the best outcome for both of us!
The obs room thing sucks,as you have 3 children - ask them where you are on the list,so you can have an idea (obv there's the chance you will be bumped for an emergency but if you know from the get go you are late then you can get your head around it)

Special belated happy birthday! If both our babies co operate and turn,maybe they'll arrive 1 day apart but yours must be early as you are due 8 days after me

TDW I admire any cleaning resolve,I tend to do one task and then sit down for ages not that I get distracted by MN or anything on that note Cathfin enjoy clearing half your house

SSC is there any possibility to request a private room? I know most hospitals don't guarantee them being available and/or they charge a fairly hefty sum for them but if you are not fond of people then it might be worth it...

Good morning all
SSC and Special, my thoughts are with you, I think you are both being so pragmatic about your births and I agree by planning the c-s, you will take back control. I wish you luck with your decisions.
Special Happy belated birthday, hope you had a great day.
Hi to everyone else.

I was having mild cotnractions through the night, thought they might develop, but obviously they did not, just kept me awake half the night for nothing .
Hope we all have a great day. Take care xx

Morning all

Special Happy belated birthday!

Gosh, what a weird dream I had last night, I was sat next to the queen during the jubilee celebrations but I was naked I had my duvet to cover me but felt mightily underdressed! Very silly!

Sorry to those of you with stubborn babies who refuse to turn. I'm sure that your cs's will go fine though and none of it will matter once your adorable little bundles are here

I am just crossing all my fingers and toes this one doesn't go back to back like the other two did towards the end! Today I felt the first sensation of my body possibly thinking about the fact it needs to deliver a baby at some point. I had very mild period type ache for about 20 seconds whilst making breakfast. No need to get excited though as I'm convinced my body doesn't know how to go in to labour by itself. The last two times I had these type of aches for weeks before. It was rather nice to feel a sensation down there other than being poked in the cervix though..

Oh ds is stealing my phone.. Back later

Argh!!! Bloody people saying I could go 2 weeks over. Will you bog off!!! Why do people say that?

Hope you are all well.

SSC - re your c/s. I had an emergency one last time - left hospital 2 days later - took my time to drive again but it was the middle of winter and freezing so was in no hurry. Friend who has had 2 drove after 3 weeks - its when you feel confident about stamping your foot i.e. for emergency stop rather than a 6 week rule spouted by NCT and others. In retrospect the c/s was not ideal but not so bad. I'm still planning vbac but at times think is this the right decision?

bemybebe - you asked ages ago re TENS and the difference (you may already have ordered). I've no idea of the difference - just opted for Mama Tens on a whim - I just know it worked for me last time....

Can't remember who has had a hair dye issue but I now have rusty orange knees and ankles - had a leg wax on Tues and beautician gave me a free tan to try out a product they sell (my legs never tan). Unfortunately rough skin on knees etc.... Have been moisturising like mad! Although if its still there come to delivery I'll obviously not care what mws think!

Warlin - congratulations. Who will be next?

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow. Seeing MW again. Lots of wriggling and pressure down below but doesn't feel that different from a week ago when mw said was 3/5 engaged. If no developments by next Weds off to see consultant re either induction or planned c/s. They don't want me to go overdue to previous c/s. Just don't know - have heard bad things about induction....

So will spend next few days doing everything I can to get things going. Does anyone have any top tips? Will try spicy food, a long walk (at least weather is cooling down), don't know if I can persuade DH to do the 'deed' - he's a bit squeamish about that at this stage (he was last time too) . But it is his birthday at the weekend so you never know

Tea - thanks for link re nursing bras - will check out - remember needing quite a few last time due to leaks and if the weather is warm....

Oh well off to do - nothing actually... Enjoy and relax everyone - if you can. x

Well my bedroom looks like storage space now but at least my carpets in the living area should be presentable once the baby arrives!
Have a nice day everyone!

Nova it tried a lot of things to set myself off the last two times but still ended up being induced. The inductions themselves works well but I didn't much like all the prodding and poking and checking etc. it wasn't that bad though and could do it again of I had to.

I had the most success with nipple stimulation whilst birth ball bouncing last time. This caused mild irregular contractions but I didn't actually go in to labour. If you google it tells you how long to do it for and how often etc. I've also heard acupuncture/ acupressure / reflexology can be good although haven't tried it. An considering giving it a go this time if I go over again..

I feel terrible today. Really really sick and TMI I keep going to the toilet. I don't know if it means anything is happening but I really wish I could feel better.

Hi Everyone!

Small What on earth is that liquid stuff!?

McKayz Hope you feel better soon. Sounds not nice.

HB midwife wrote something in the engaged column but couldn't read it. It didn't say 'free' but I'm fairly sure it is as the head is still banging on my hip!