PART 3!! Sept-2012 Baby Bus!! Christmas-and-New-Year-Shaggers-all-aboard!

[TinkerMaloo]

Cant see another one anywhere on the board and part 2 is full up (finally) so here is part 3! (unless I'm just being a moron and missed it?)

Chat more please ladies, we are too fat and useless to do anything else! ;)

Welcome to the newcomers and congratulations to all those ladies who have had babies! I've not posted for ages but have been lurking and keeping an eye on everyone's news.

Loopy OP stands for occiput posterior, the occiput is the bone at the back of the skull, which lines up with the posterior i.e. back, of the pelvis. I'm a doctor, but my obstetric experience is limited to medical school a looooong time ago. My elder brother was OP and my Mum had him with just gas and air (am very much hoping I've inherited her pain threshold!) and no doubt labouring on her back as it was the 70's. It sounds like baby's position plays a major role in the difficulty and indeed possibility of a vaginal birth.

Don't know if this offers anything new, but it may be of interest:
www.bellybelly.com.au/pregnancy/optimal-fetal-positioning

My maternity leave starts on Friday and I can't wait. The effort of getting showered and out of the house to get to work is becoming increasing Herculean. At the last mw appointment I found out that the baby's head is two fifths engaged, but I don't think that has any bearing on when birth with happen. The labour bags are packed, pretty much everything is bought for the baby but I can't quite believe that its going to happen and I will have a son or daughter soon. I guess with the first baby nothing can quite prepare you.

Hang in there Rusulka, I'm sure there must be time for baby to turn into a more favourable position. I am totally against being induced for going overdue as well, to the extent that I would go over 42 weeks and most likely against medical advice, but hopefully it won't come to that for any of us.

Hi Rusulka I am so sorry things are feeling like they are in reverse. :/ Apart from the spinning babies website, the only thing I have heard that MIGHT help in addition to what you mentioned is acupuncture - I don't know if it would make any difference but some people say it really does. There is a thing they can do call 'moxibustion' and SOME people swear it helped. But I don't know.

I personally like acupuncture anyway so I would personally go for it simply because I find it relaxing!

loopy thanks so much, I'm glad you where about to reply :) having read and re-read your reply over and over I think I'll go in Friday with a lot more questions to see how this will affect me and if anything is different for me. But without all help here I wouldn't no what to ask, so feeling a bit less clueless.

twizzle I think we're all experiencing this at times, didn't sleep great night before last and poor Oh got the short end of me all day. Though I think he was just as tired so it wasn't a good day for us. :( but not feeling as bad today :) but I do get what you mean and it can be very frustrating, any chance you could talk directly to your sister to see if this came from her?

Yes think I shall be carrying my bag and notes with me everywhere from now, just on the safe side. That way I'll feel more prepared.

Re: head being engaged, do all of you ask or does your Mw tell you head is engaged? I've never been told and was planning on asking yesterday but too much else went on so I never bothered. But might ask on Friday, will see how things go..

Getting the baby's room painted atm, helping out as much as I can but not doing much. Have monkeys, elephant, and all it's pretty class looking so far but a lot of work. Anyone else doing this? X

Oh man I lost you lots for totally ages and there are babies arriving and talk of nesting and labour and all kinds of things!

I think I need some kind of nesting urge to kick in over here, I'm coming up on 37 weeks and haven't a thing ready. No baby room, not a lot of baby stuff, no birth plan, no hospital bag. No idea what position the baby is in, all seemed fine at the 34 week appointment and I don't have another until Aug 31st.

I've been waiting to do lots of things until I'm on maternity leave, I'm ready to stop now if I'm honest but it's a bit early and I need to get to the end of this month - hopefully the 29th at least.

Glad everyone seems to be doing well!

Rachel it will say whether your baby is engaged in your notes- if you look in the booklet, every time you have an appt, the midwife fills in one of the sections, and one of the boxes at the top of this section will be talking about engagement- n/e if not engaged, and maybe a measurement in 5ths regarding engagement. I think 4/5ths means they can feel 4/5ths of the baby's head, so the lower the number on the left, the more engaged they are.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong!

rusulka thanks I'll have a look in my notes when I get home and see what it says. Tho Mw thought I was breech when she first felt and then had to go again so not sure if that's good but I'll have a look. X

Morning ladies, I saw the consultant yesterday and it went really well. They are going to let me continue to 38 weeks before they induce which im really pleased about as its better for baby. The risks were really minor ones at 36 weeks and baby would have only been in special care for a few days but at 38 weeks there should be no special care needed at all which is great. He also said some babies heads don't engage until labour starts so no need to stress if yours hasnt.
So having thought I was being induced next week I now have two more weeks to get stuff done. Phew! Means I get to finish my NCT classes too. He also said do I want to book in for a c section but I don't think I do think I'll let them start me off and only have one if I need one.

Good news smallgreen

That's good news smallgreenone.
I saw the consultant this morning and they said I can just carry on with the midwife and don't need to see me again unless there are any problems at my routine check ups. (I was having consultant care for previous pre-eclampsia and PPH)
I thought it had all started again last night as was having regular mild contractions, 7 mins apart for 2 hours. Then it all stopped.
It was great! I was really calm, apart from being quite excited. Think it put DPs mind at rest seeing me relaxed about it.
And it gave me yet another kick up the bum to get all washing done, beds changed, etc.

That's a really good idea about getting cleaners to come in and blitz the house. If I had any spare cash I'd do it. Maybe when my mum gets back from her hols I'll rope her into it!

Can't believe it's the home straight now! So looking forward to seeing her face!

Oh, and bump comments.
In the waiting area at the hospital and a pregnant woman talking to her young daughter pointed at the woman opposite me and said 'what do you think is that lady's tummy?? 'do you think mummy's will get that big??
Then her mother piped up 'ooh, are there two in there?'
There wasn't. And I felt as uncomfortable as the poor, huge woman.

Exciting evening last night with lots of intense contractions building up and relaxing, lasting approx 1min30secs about 5min apart.
Rang hospital and everything. They said to go in when it hurt a lot or waters broke.
Then they tailed off to nothing.
WTF?
Honestly thought that was it, and feel quite deflated now. Guess the raspberry leaf tea could have had an effect.

That sounds like me every night Rusulka, though I haven't rung in about it yet, I'm used to it from previous pregnancies. I enjoy hours of 60 second contractions 90 seconds apart most nights. Think of it as labour in bits rather than all at once. It'll have done something, whether that can be measured or not - like move the baby down a bit or into a better position.

I'm not expecting proper labour until 39 weeks at the very VERY earliest (2 weeks time) and I've been doing this since 34 weeks so I'm resigned to the long haul!

saw consultant this morning, and when she looked at growth scan and other scans and predictions, and reviewed what happened with DS, she decided that they wouldn't let me go beyond my due date of 11th Sept, and furthermore that she didn't think i should wait that long, based on their chart predictions on her screen, she was looking at arranging an ELCS for 2nd Sept if baby hasn't made an appearance by then. However as that falls on the Sunday, the closest day they can book me in is the 5th Sept as apparently they don't do ELCS's on Tuesdays here, and they've already booked 2 in for the Monday. Although she said that its highly likely i will go into labour before the 5th. But if i haven't then that will be the day we meet our new little man. If go into labour sooner, they will do CS asap if back to back. If not back to back, i want to try VBAC, on understanding that may well end up with EMCS. No forceps, no GA, no being stuck on a bed, and would like to use the pool. Think thats about as much of a plan as i can hope for! Feels nice knowing that i've got 19 days maximum left being pregnant. Have been getting next to no sleep the last 4 nights, so will be a wreck by then!

It does sound like some exciting evenings in the rusulka and misscoffee households! I've had some stretchy/crampy sort of pains at night. They make me stop and gasp a little but I don't think they're Braxton hicks or contractions. Makes me cause my DH is beginning to get quite jumpy Can you tell it's our first?!

Wow loopy! Sounds like you have a lot to digest following your app. 19 days...the thread is getting so exciting now! Would they scan to check if baby is back to back if things kick off before the 5th?

Sorry where you've also had busy nights by the sounds of it. I wonder why it all seems to start then and not midday...

Sounds like everyone's having exciting nights. I just get very bad period like pains, it's my first so have no idea how else to describe them. But they so sore., :(

My consultant appointment went well today :) she done another scan and says baby is measuring small but is still growing so she very happy with how things are progressing... Says the head is 2/5ths (not sure if I said that right) but she had to press really hard just to get his head on the screen, so he is well down there, explains why it hurts so much to move my legs or change trousers..

Oh loopy your so lucky knowing you have a exact last day, I feel like I'll be pregnant for ages after my due date. Wish I had a final date.

Xx

twizzle if i go into labour before the 5th, i am to go to hospital as soon as reasonably possible (easier said than done as DP works in London so takes a good 2 hours or more to get back, and would take my mom as long to drive to us) they will then monitor heartbeat and my blood pressure and do an internal examination within an hour to see the baby's position and if any uncertainty then they would scan me as well, consultant thinks internal exam is better than feeling from the outside. If back to back then off to theatre, if not back to back then will give VBAC a go. But we are now drawing up a plan as to how to cope with me not being able to lift DS1 for 6 weeks, will be a combo of paternity leave, DP taking holiday, my mom and his mom staying with us....if VBAC works then can rip up the plans, but i will feel happier knowing i have support whilst scar heals as last thing i want to do is pick DS up too soon and rupture the scar.

So I finally made it to maternity leave, finished work today not a moment too soon!
I still appear to be in total denial that a baby is due fairly imminently! I just can't seem to equate this bump with an actual baby.

Another one starting her leave as from today! Though, I'm popping into work on Tuesday for some delicious indian food which a few of the chaps are bringing in to celebrate their Eid. So Loopy, you're having a c section on the 5th and me on the 6th? Part of me does wonder if this little one is going to come earlier though...I am moving house next Friday. Anyone care to take bets??? I can't believe we are all on countdown now. I can't wait to start reading the birth stories. It's getting exciting now. Have a fab weekend all

I finished work today too! It is a nice feeling but a slightly strange one. It's going to be weird waking up on Monday and not having to rush to get ready and leave the house. Ooh I can't wait! My colleague had her little girl yesterday and she texted me today with details. She had to be induced which lead to her having an epidural which lead to her having to have forceps and an episotomy :( she said it was everything she didn't want. It scared me a bit at first but then she said how she can't stop looking at her beautiful healthy 9lb baby girl and that made me realise that it's all worth it. I need to be realistic about what might happen and that everything could change ( from my lovely pain free water birth plan!) but the main thing is that the baby is ok and arrives safely.
MrsHelsBels I am with you....I can't believe I'm going to give birth soon and also that a baby will come out! I know there is a wriggly thing in my tummy but a baby?! Ha....it's mad.
I too can't wait to read about more birth stories....how exciting!

Feeling hot hot hot! Anyone else swelling up in the heat?

It's very hot leelteloo. Phew. I'm not swelling up (I don't seem to do that much) but I'm boiling. No long to go now though ladies. I'm 36 weeks tomorrow, which means officially full term in 8 days... Wow, I can't believe it!

MrsHels and Bakeroo I can't really make that connection with the wriggly bump being an actual baby either - it's very bizarre isn't it. And I've done this before, so it's not like I have no evidence to point that way... I know this sounds stupid, but I find birth incomprehensible somehow - that one minute there is a wriggly bump, and the next there is a real tiny human being in existance. Incredible. But then I do tend to overthink things!

I'm the same Monkeys I have a toddler so have already done this, yet I still can't comprehend that this wriggling bump will be an actual baby very soon!

Hi. I'm boiling hot too, have no energy to do anything today. Had a little nesting surge on Friday and that seems to be it for me, ha ha hope it kicks in again soon!

Lovely to hear all baby news comin in. I've just ordered an anne geddes first year calendar, had one for dd and only way I remember what she did when e.g rolled over, first tooth. Although sure it won't be quite so detailed this time having two children to look after!

Me too, too hot and no energy at all. Actually feeling quite low today and thinking these last few weeks will really drag if I don't get some energy back. Going for a nap now and hoping I feel better after it. Hope other ladies keeping well. X