Due in October 2012 Part 7 - towards the finish line, going for Gold!

[Planktonette]

On your marks...
Get set...

GO!

Right, epic catchup here I come - you may want to get a cup of tea (raspberry leaf, natch) if you are planning to read all of this!

LondonLivvy, yes, I've seen Touching The Void, and we have 2 copies of the book - it's practically required reading if you're a climber! Thank you for reminding me about "one rock at a time" - you also reminded me that I have gained a lot of self confidence from rock climbing - have gotten myself into some pretty tricky situations on cliff faces and then had to get myself out again and it has taught me that I can get through anything and everything always passes - no matter how bad the moment is, at some point in the future it will be better, I might not know how I am going to get through it at that moment but I will figure something out because this won't go on forever. I just need to apply that principle to labour - I will cope because it will end.

Beeble, sending you and sympathy for the coyote. I can understand how upset you felt, it must have been horrible . But it was an accident, don't beat yourself up. Thank you for the group hug, here's one for you: [Beeble] (not sure that will work but worth a try!)

huffle, that was a nice quote from Giles Coren, and very reassuring - although according to his wife's book, she had the pregnancy from hell so either he is not being entirely truthful or it is some kind of karma after a really knackering pregnancy! Lol at your "fort knox" perineum! I am doing the massage daily, mostly in the shower, but I have to say I'm not seeing any, um, progress - nothing seems more stretchy or less painful yet. I was going to say I'll keep going because it can't hurt, but it still does hurt!

Squid, we've been too chicken to look in the birth box yet! DH might freak out if it's lots of really medical stuff for emergencies so I'll have a peek at the weekend when he's at work, and let you know!

Planktonette, another vote for the Natal Hypno book, but to be useful, it ought to be read in conjunction with listening to at least one of the CDs, I'd suggest the birth preparation one, so that you get to know what the hypnosis feels like and the stages you get taken through. You can find the CDs on Amazon, just search for "Natal Hypnotherapy Effective Birth Preparation".

crazy, thanks for the vote for finishing work early. I told my boss on Monday that I wanted to make this my last week, and feel very relieved as it has been a really hard couple of weeks. I was really relaxed (bar the hormonal meltdown) at the end of the summer holiday and I can feel myself sliding right back to my previous stressed state! Also, I've got coloured muslins too - although as I'm a cheapskate I bought mine on eBay from someone who dyes them herself. They are lovely and bright and colourful and I won't lose them which is a bonus!

Wantanorange, congrats on your move, I bet it will start to feel really homely very soon. Also congrats on being near to being able to have a homebirth - we are crossing our fingers baby does not plan to arrive before Friday as we'll be 37 weeks and so officially allowed a homebirth then!

Velo, firstbubba and milk, have a for getting to 37 weeks. It feels like such a milestone. Don't those first couple of Due in October threads feel like such a long time ago!

Kyyria, glad you have been given the all clear, hoping your headache is starting to go. Headaches are miserable.

Midget, lots of sympathy for your VVs. Maybe if your body can cope with the strain of poohing though, it will cope with the strain of birth with no problems too?

Phew, a general hi to anyone I missed, hope you're feeling OK, sleeping enough, poohing lots and not having too many hormonal episodes!

My news...

NCT breastfeeding class was informative, glad we went. Most interesting/useful facts:

• breastmilk is more closely related to donkey milk than monkey milk - weird!
• Babies digest 95% of breastmilk compared to 50% of cow's milk (which formula is based on) - so need more formula, which can make them feel fuller for longer so some people formula feed at night so the baby sleeps for longer, this can work, depends on baby, some struggle to digest formula if used to breastmilk.
• colostrum contains a laxative to help the meconium get poohed out, and you start to produce it at about 16 weeks (so, if you're constipated - you have a laxative on tap )
• the milk we are producing in pregnancy changes as the baby matures, so if the baby is premature, your body has the right kind of high-protein milk to help it grow quickly - I think this is really cool!
• when breastfeeding, you want your nipple to be right at the back of the baby's mouth, touching baby's soft palate and well away from baby's tongue - andthis shouldn't hurt, apart from possible brief wincy moment as baby latches on. If actual feeding hurts, could be nipple is too far forward in baby's mouth.

We now have our birthing pool - our doula (who is lovely) brought it over on Monday night and we inflated it and half filled it to see how long it would all take. It's really cool, 77cm high off the floor so looks like it will feel really cosy. It has a cup holder (for my beer!!!) and on the bottom it says "no diving in"! Trying not to notice that the house is filling up with things for the actual birth - la, la, la, I'm still calm

I finish work on Friday! That's 2 days! I keep having to pretend I haven't seen the "congratulations, you are having a baby" card and collection that's sitting in the photocopying room, our new photocopying lady maybe needs to work on being a bit more subtle! Wondering if I should sign my card and contribute to my present I could stick £50 in just to really confuse them! And today the deputy said to the head "that thing we were talking about, is it Thursday or Friday?" and since I am currently working in the leadership office and they have not worried about saying anything confidential in front of me so far, this secrecy is very suspicious! I am terrified they are planning some big send off - I said I didn't want a staff lunch but maybe I should have been more specific. (Note to self, it will serve you right if the card is for someone else (not that anyone else is pregnant) and they were actually referring to something confidential and have taken you at your word and not planned anything at all).

And... DH has proved himself wonderful, after saying he missed climbing and me saying I wouldn't mind if he went away during his off days next week (and then wishing I hadn't said it), and him then finding a friend who is free and semi-planning a 3 day trip to North Wales, today at work I started to get really sad about him actually wanting to go away climbing when I couldn't go, but I figured I couldn't say anything having told him he could go, and he has been lovely and deserves the break - then he came home from work tonight and announced that he wasn't going to go because it didn't feel right not going with me and he didn't want to be that far away from me when I would be 37+ weeks and risk not getting back in time should I go into labour and anyway, the rocks aren't going anywhere and it's more important to be with me. I was and . He is normally a bit oblivious to things so I'm really surprised that he worked this one out.

And that's me done, apart from to update the list again to add that smiley is an ELCS and Gigglewhizz is due on 1st Oct.

Sorry for epic post, am properly caught up now and will be lady of leisure from Saturday so can post little and slightly more often rather than masses then nothing!

Yomping, 37, 36+5.

Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1, Angelico DC1 by ELCS, CWest DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1, Gigglewhizz DC1(?)
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Velo DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1, Lisbethsopposite DS2
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1.
Oct. 17: Smorgs, DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1, Zara1984 DS1.
Oct. 27: MidgetM, DC2 but more likely to be around 6/10
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MickeyTheShortOne DC1

Head still banging. Codeine appears to be about as much use as a chocolate tea pot (as in doesn't seem to make any difference to just taking paracetamol) .

Going to head to bed, hope for a decent night's sleep and try and remember to sit up slowly tomorrow morning to try and avoid making it worse

If I get through tomorrow the reward is I'm on annual leave on Friday and me and hubby are going to York for a final weekend away before the little one arrives.

Must admit I'm so relieved to hear others say "if I avoid doing x then I don't have to admit that labour/birth is going to happen" - so pleased to know that it isn't just me working along those lines

Hi Yomping Crossed posts - DD buddy. Just had a long 'phone call with mum.

Glad you're in that 'loved up' place

Kyria poor you
I have no advice ... sorry I can't help...

Feeling a bit tired and rough tonight. Is anyone else getting palpitations or just me? Reading online that it's quite common especially from 7 months on and more common if you are anaemic (am on iron tablets which I take when I remember ). Apparently it's because of increased blood volume but same poor heart having to work harder. Feels horrible - I don't want to be aware of heart beating, I just want it to get on with the job thank you!

Have just realised the torch is gone!!! :( So no more torches for champion poopers!

Hi ladies,

Hormonal meltdown for me too, on sunday - Most of our stuff is in boxes due to the rennos, and B/F wanted to put some of my boxes in the loft - cue 2nd lot of floods of tears about my stuff disappearing into the black hole that is the loft, never to be seen again. Ist meltdown was also due to sex - was in the mood sun am, but felt too whale like and unattractive to initiate and then was upset i felt like that.

Kyria, glad u r ok.

cwest, so, r u psychic?? from memory, i think u dreamed that 25th was going to be yur c section date!! re the epidural, sleep on your options and see how you feel about it tomorrow and what else you want to find out so u can make the right choice for you.

londonmrs, i am loving your work - champagne and fois gras in your hospital bag! :)

elpis, we have also had a mouse situation - b/f very sad after having laid numberous humane traps over the last few weeks, he found it was caught by his one and only killer trap this morning

huffle, agree the perineal massage is not inspiring - it does not feel very stretchy at all - makes me wonder how will a bubs ever fit out???

crazy, soooo jealous of your muslins - have been eyeing them off my whole pregnancy - but can't bring myself to spend £30 on muslins.....but i want them!!!!!

lisbeth, thx for breast feeding advice - enjoyed my antenatal class where we were reminded we are the only mammal to help our little one's feed and saw a vidoe of a newborn crawling up mummy's tummy to the breast and feeding without much help. Can live in hope that skin to skin contact and relaxed mummy will work miracles. Oh, and the advice is to start expressing at 38 weeks to build up colostrum supply and encourage labour - and we can save it in a syringe for bubs.

Wide awake!! I just want to sleeeeeep. Going to try cup of tea and some toast.....

Worried..........

Not felt baby kick properly since not long after the steroid jabs yesterday.
:S
I'm meant to be back at fetal health unit at 10:30 today, to get the second dose but if things haven't improved by
8am going to give them a call and see if I can go over as soon as DS is at school.

Woke hungry - having a bowl of Just Right here - and then back to bed...

CWest I would definitely ring the MW - this board is like coffee with your non medical friends. I had a panic about 2 weeks ago re decreased movement, and MW immediately brought me in and scanned me. All was well, but even they couldn't reassure me over the 'phone.
I've just googled 'normal' foetal movement. Apparently it peaks at about 32 weeks due to a combination of baby strength and room to move. Other people on here have had similar worries in the last couple of weeks, but we (all - except Squid) needed the hospital for confirmation that all was well.
For me the MW gave me a glass of ice water to get baby to move - they move away from the cold sensation, if you want to try that.
You can ring them straight away if you are still worried - they don't keep office hours.

Thanks Beccus - how can you save colostrum hygenically? I will definitely be trying that.
Bean is going to be asked/encouraged to leave the building .

These meltdowns are awful. You know if you faint how grotty you feel after? For me they are like that, (an emotional version) they sneak up on you, sink you and then you recover over the next few hours/day. They will pass, they will pass, they will pass...
Actually if you look at your body in a different way - I mean I sometimes look down at myself in bed, and I think it looks really feminine. All curvey and definitely female. Having said that we are having less fun in bed too. Combination of heartburn, unable to lie flat and a 2 yr old who wakes around 7.30... Must try to improve things over the weekend!!!

Ooooh lisbeth very jealous of your 2yr old waking at 7.30! DS wakes between 6.30 and 6.45 like clockwork. Why doesn't he understand the concept of weekends?!!!

Sorry, posted too soon: CWest really hope all is well. Have you tried an iced drink? And maybe something sugary? Thinking of you.

Morning all waves

Gave myself 10mins to sit upright from lying this morning and that has certainly helped the headache but it's still banging away. Have gone into work as so much to do in the next 2 weeks, plus I keep thinking "it's only a headache" - I wouldn't normally be off with a headache so don't really feel I can be off with this.

Have not taken a raspberry leaf tablet today on the offchance they were the cause, but then remembered I woke up with headache on Monday and only started raspberry leaf tablets Monday afternoon, so don't think it is those. May have to go and buy sunglasses in order to sit in the office for the rest of the day though!

Hope everyone else is ok - sympathies for those with reduced movements, problems with other halves/house moves etc.

32, 33+4, #1

Kyyria don't be a hero - you may never have been off with a headache before, but you've never been pg before and have you ever had one that's lasted so long? Take care of yourself.

lisbethsopposite They WILL pass!

Had a little moment yesturday. Fainted on the kitchen floor while making dinner last night and nearly gave poor DH a heart attack. I woke up feeling really tired and crap in the morning (felt a lot like the first trimester exhaustion) and couldn't bring myself to do anything all day, then fainted after only being on my feet for 10 mins. Phoned midwife and answered about a 100 questions but she said to have a drink, food and a lie down and see how I go. I felt fine after that.

So the lesson is, if I feel tired, don't cook! lol.

WRT breast feeding the Kelleymom website is also really good. Agree if your baby is steadily gaining weight and having wet nappies, you're fine, although bear in mind that babies loose weight for the first week and this is normal! DS was born 6lb5oz and went down to 6lb before he began gaining weight. He was BF. Don't compare BF babies to FF, they are different. Formula milk is harder to digest than breast milk, I think, so that's why they stay full up longer, it doesn't mean that BF babies are getting any 'less', just because they need to feed more often.

I fed DS for 8 weeks and then gave up. I was stressed, in pain and couldn't get the support I needed. This was pretty much all down to ignorance on my part. I wish I'd known about mumsnet then! I plan to BF long term this time, my only concern is how I'm going to manage being away from her 2 days a week at college. I hope to express enough although I accept I may have to mix feed. Biggest concern is that she won't accept a bottle. I go back to college on 26th sept and baby is due on 10th oct. Don't want to miss to much college as this will make life harder in the long run so need her to accept bottle asap without messing up BF.

Am off to Mothercare to get some nursing bras this morning, how glam!

Planktonette I love this time of year! Love the build up to Christmas, Doctor Who, winter food, autumn clothes, back to college. Not so keen on the rain though, or the cost of heating!

36+1, 23, #2

My post was so long I cross posted with about 10 others .

CWest hope everything is ok with the bean's movements and you manage to get some reassurance very soon.

Kyyria really hoping your headache goes away soon - I had high hopes that a night's sleep would do wonders for you

Angelico I am getting something similar, not really palpitations as such but being really aware of heart beating a bit faster and stronger sometimes. Seems to be mostly when I'm sitting on the sofa! Weird! But it does usually go away after a while (makes me feel odd, though).

Yomping I finish work tomorrow too! Hurrah! Do you have anything nice planned for your first few days of freedom?

I went to a great BFing workshop run by the local specialist breastfeeding midwife (same birthing unit as Planktonette) and it was really helpful, fun and well organised (they even fed us juice and pastries!) so am feeling lots happier about what to do!

WantAn I love this time of year too! Can't wait for Winter - I love going out for walks in the freezing cold and then coming home and curling up in front of the fire with a warm drink I'm easily pleased!

Um, has anyone else had a sort of pins-and-needles feeling in their bump at all? It's sort of tingly and numb, mainly round my (now super-stretched) belly button Not sure whether it's normal or not - it's been going on for hours so not BH or anything like that...

On the books front, I too would thoroughly recommend the Natal Hypnotherapy book (and CD). I tried to get my hands on The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, but the only copy in the county (libraries) has grown legs and walked in the last 2 weeks - how irritating. Maybe I should just cough up for it.

to all those who have reached term - hope you're all doing ok. And sorry to all I've missed. Back to handover stuff for me!

Xx

CWest hope everything is okay! Bean is probably just growing mightily or something!

Kyrria as others have said - do take care! No one will give you a medal for struggling in when you feel crap so look after yourself.

Mutley sorry you are having the heart thingies too but glad I'm not alone if that makes any sense :) It does say it's very common online. Know what you mean - it's not exactly that heart is doing anything strange, just that I can feel it - shivers! Must keep taking iron as it is the likely culprit...

Lisbeth sympathy on the meltdowns :( They suck! Haven't had one here since the Sunday night extravaganza but suspect next week they will strike with a vengeance when reality bites. Am definitely more irritable this morning - didn't sleep well last night so nearly bit DH's head off when he couldn't find a packet of frozen mushrooms fast enough this morning

As for the winter lovers - me too! :o Only thing is our new house is quite old and cold and faces the Atlantic so could be a chilly winter - need to stock up on wood for the stove! I have a cute little study with my bookcases and computer and going to bring in an electric 'stove' so think this is where me and the bean will hang out in winter, rather than heating the whole house. I normally love going for beach walks etc in winter but it gets viciously cold and wild here at times. Will the bean be okay if she is well wrapped up and has a good wind and rain cover? Alternative is sling but worried about suffocating her under all the layers of my clothes!

Friend coming for lunch today, then have appt with consultant this afternoon. Bit nervous about seeing what size bean is now, really hoping she has slowed down a bit now my bloods are well under control. Don't fancy lifting an 11lber with a fresh section scar...!

37 weeks tomorrow - can hardly believe it!

Oooh - possible stupid question alert for all the 2nd timers! Would a large, (new) rectangular washing up bowl do as a first baby bath? Trying to keep life simple to avoid bending down after CS so was thinking stick bowl on dining room table which is perfect height and beside kitchen so DH can carry it in?

Have ordered the bababing changing bag, a changing mat for the dining table and a nappy 'organiser' thing also for table as we are going to live downstairs first week or twi to save stair climbing. Going to Dunelm Mill to get some of that pvc 'tablecloth' fabric to stick on table to save it :)

CWest, any news? Hope everything's fine.
Kyrria glad you got the all clear- hope you're taking it easy though. Sounds nasty.

Umm ... I faked an orgasm this morning. It just wasn't going to happen, even though I did the seducing. He wasn't doing anything wrong (in fact he seemed fairly determined to do everything right) but I just couldn't get comfortable despite the mountain of pillows. The whole thing became a cerebral process and I coulnd't relax. Didn't used to take any effort from me, but it's definitely not as easy as it used to be. I feel deeply ashamed. Please tell me I'll go back to normal after my body has recovered from pregnancy and birth???

Angelico I'm getting palpitations too. Got them pretty early on, and they scare the life out of me. Was watching TV lying on sofa once (strenuous obviously...) and my heart suddenly went BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM and then went back to normal. Googled like mad and it seemed to be normal I remember getting a lot of this kind of thing last time. And re. baby bath - that sounds perfect!

Just been for a swim, and under the advice of my physio, didn't use my legs at all. It's frustrating for me swimming like that - I used to swim competitively, at county level, but it's blardy good upper body exercise! And I'm not in hideous pain now, hooray!! Just knackered, so off for a quick nap I think!

Would second everything lisbethsopposite said re breastfeeding. Sometimes it's hard to be confident the baby is getting enough when you can't measure it, but if your breasts are softer after a feed and he's putting in weight, it's basically fine.

CWest I recognise that anxiety! Do hope the baby has started moving again. Iced water didn't work for me but sugary/spicy food does.

Angelico No danger of suffocating the baby in a sling if he's upright. I had a cover for my front carrier which kept DD very warm, and with a hat on she was fine. Just fasten your coat up at the bottom and loop a scarf round the back of your neck and you and the baby will keep each other warm.

I can't believe I'll have another baby in less than two weeks. It feels just as unreal as the first time. Last day of work but have stolen away for a haircut during lunch hour, as no chance of another for months!

Angelico Sink bowl ideal substitute for baby bath. We bought a 'proper' one first time round which is bulky and ugly and has taken up valuable storage space for past three years.

CWest, I hope everything's ok! I'm sure it is, but best to get checked as soon as poss.
Also, I think the option of a local is great for you! I know you've had many regrets and a lot of guilt (not that you should but...) about your DS's birth, and now you have the option of not having to feel like that again. If we asked you now if you could feel more bonded to your DS than you do, you'd say no, right?! So no problem. You would have bonded differently and at a different rate anyway as they are different children, it's a different time, birth order etc. So get that worry out your head! You've been told!

Kyyria, I used to get a lot of headaches and some migraines pre pregnancy (funnily enough they have now stopped) and found that something cold on my forehead really helped. Here we have these cold gel fever sheet things that stick on and they worked wonders for me. Don't know if you can get something similar in the UK - I'd offer to send you some, but I'd like to think you'll recover before they arrive anyway! Also, back and neck stretches/massage might help as I often felt mine were more to do with that than anything else.

"breast milk is so specific to their nutrition requirements, there is very little waste. Babies can go several days without a soiled nappy but this is not constipation." Lisbeth, this is really interesting, very useful thanks!

Right time to make dinner - something healthy after my custard doughnut after work snack I think...

STRESSED OUT TO THE MAX!

Had 2nd dose of steroids this morning, and been monitered for half hr. Baby is fine strong HB and lots of movements lil madam so relieved about that!

Got home to find a letter from the hospital detailing my admission for my ELCS. Now apparently its weds 26th Sept, not tues 25th!! I've just spent half hr on the phone trying to get it sorted and I'm still not happy! My consultants secretary was unavailable, I was put through to medical records who insisted their computer is showing the 26th. Tried explaining that the consultant sat down with me on tuesday and said the date is Tuesday 25th September and she rite it down on my maternity notes! medical records didn't seem to care or want to bother checking with my consultant so I phoned my midwife. She phoned the hospital and got the same answer so has said there is nothing more she can do good luck!
I don't mind if it is the 26th its justy husband needs it confirming with work this week so he can get the time off and why is no one bothering to check with the consultant instead of assuming they are right themselves!
Oh and I wasn't told today whether they are going for an epidural or general anaesthetic even though they assured me yesterday I would be told today.
Just had another major meltdown and ended up in tears its not fair or acceptable to be left hanging like this, how can I trust them to deliver my baby safely when they can't even get the date of my section right!!!

Scratch that, my consultants secretary has just phoned me apologising profusely, she has spoken to my consultant and its definatly the 25th. She said medical records were wrong to insist on the 26th without bothering to check, and I am going to be sent another letter with the correct date on and its been changed on the system now. Phew!
Drama over!!