Just spotted my name in Threads I'm Watching. Sorry not been around much here. Beginning to relax a bit more though, but (despite the growing fat tummy and all the vomiting!) I can't believe that I am really pregnant. 19/40 done though, only 21 (22? 23? DS arrived at 40+10) weeks to go hopefully before I get to take home a baby this time. I wonder if I've been wherever Smegs has been while AWOL and in denial. Hope you are doing okay.
Really glad I helped, Fluffy. Induction really isn't about convenience to midwives or the hospital, but about trying to prevent dead or sick babies. I hate the idea on MN that doctors and midwives are out to medicalise birth because they can, or because it will otherwise disturb their cup of tea, or because they need something to do! The risks are known of both induction (and no one denies there are risks both ways but the severity of them need to be considered) and waiting and were well discussed in a recent Cochrane review: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004945.pub3/abstract;jsessionid=F581E8DD8919245CB3A2F918ABFD9E70.d03t01
As for happy induction stories, a very good friend of mine was induced at 40+12 a few years ago (her DS is 6 months older than mine.) She had the pessaries at night and was told that nothing would happen until morning at the earliest. She began to feel uncomfortable and was pacing around or bouncing on a ball, but the MWs said there was no need to examine her because they'd be able to tell when she was in labour and she clearly wasn't. Her DH had been sent home so she was wandering around this ward in the dark alone.
Eventually about 3am, she asked for paracetamol again and asked the midwives to please examine her because she was rather uncomfortable. They eventually agreed and...she was 10cm! They had to phone her DH who had to run the 25 minutes to the hospital (he didn't drive then) who just made it in time to see his DS being born!
Smegs, I'll definitely be having the WC and flu vaccines too. There does seem to have been a lot of WC about this year. Biscuits, here is the BBC story. It's less about protecting pregnant women (who are far less likely to die as a result), more passing on the protection to newborns as 9 babies have sadly died this year.
Tock, we are gently sliding into the terrible twos here as well, but so far any tantrums have both been short lived and at home. I'm waiting for my first big tantrum out! DS has only just turned two so I'm holding off potty training until the Spring at the earliest. Not sure when to put him in a big bed though. He wakes about 6.30am but is happy to play in his cot for a while, whereas if he was able to get out of bed, he might want our attention sooner and we are both shattered.
Stacks, what ideas do you have for the nursery? We were aiming for the Hungry Caterpillar but the wall stickers are still sitting in the box on the shelf and all we have are some posters of trains (DH a bit of a trainspotter) and animals.
I second whims suggestion of BIG (make sure they are big granny pants so will cover your scar rather than touch it if you have a section) cheap black pants. I tried disposable pants once with DS but they were horrible, but the pants, even if I threw them away straight away, were much more comfortable.
My sister also suggested a big bottle of lactulose to help with post-birth bowel motions. A grim subject but it definitely made things more comfortable down there! It looks like it was going to taste horrible but it just tasted like a thick sugar solution. I'll definitely be using it next time!
Finally, I suggest you all take out shares in whoever makes Gaviscon, because I am getting through loads of it!
Hello to everyone I haven't mentioned. Better stop now as DH has just brought my dinner. (Not sure how much I'll eat but better try to eat while I think I can!) 