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

[Planktonette]

On your marks...
Get set...

GO!

Oh, nobbing nobbers. Trying again: link

Mixed day for me here today, have had an awful headache for the last two days (don't normally get headaches) and wasn't at work today so couldn't get anyone to check my bp, eventually went to GP feeling like a proper hypochondriac and although it ws a bit higher than before was still ok and no protein in wee, so relaxed a bit, and guess what, headache now starting to go. So who knows what that's all about but as long as nothing serious doesnt really matter. This evening dd is off for a sleepover at her friends so we are having a child free evening - don't think there will be another one of these for quite a while! Starting off with a nice long hot peaceful uninterrupted bath with a glass of wine. Then we are going out for a lovely grown up dinner together, really pleased we're doing this while we can.
Re what to wear in labour last time I just went to tesco and bought 2 or 3 xl men's value white tshirts. Not too hot, didn't care that they got utterly wrecked and ended up being cut off as they only cost about £1.50 each.
Hope things going ok for everyone especially velo and squid. 1 more week at work for me, glad its just mornings, I am starting to struggle now! Is anyone else hugely uncomfortable when walking - like even 20 metres - feel like I'm limping and my whole pelvis hurts, makes the bump feel tight as well. People keep telling me I look really well, which I know is a nice compliment but jus pt want to snap and say well I don't feel it all the time! I am a grumpy cow. Never mind!

Ps sorry not to name check everyone but can't let the bath get cold - sure you ladies understand!

yomping my uterus is siding with yours - still not experiencing any BH.

angelico the midwife did say it's quite common for a first birth at this stage to keep changing it's mind so he may very well make a move back out again. Hopefully he will give my ribs a wide berth if he does!

Hey,
sorry to keep people guessing, no news here, but had a bit of stupid emotional couple of days so staying offline for now at least. Have a fun jampacked weekend planned (2 festivals, mates up to stay, gig I've been wanting to go to all year) that will hopefully distract me. Silly squid, nothing to even be upset about, all is fine! Time has just slowed to a standstill and not sleeping so feel like I'm living double time. Sorry to worry people, I'm fine xxx

Mickey I thought it was just my husband who was to stupid to tell the difference between a clean fork and dirty fork. Is this normal behaviour for men? He's otherwise a fairly intellegent person...

Planktonette "Thanks for the offer to come here, but we are going to stick to the original plan, see you in february!" and repeat! Don't try and negotiate, they see it as weakness! lol. Become the broken record. Failing that, "No" is a complete sentence, I learned that from mumsnet.

Last night, I dreamt that I had triplets. Was scary, very scary.

crazy are you ok? Xxx

Smilie hope your headache is gone, your wine is down your throat and you are wallowing contentedly in bath or scoffing lovely food as I type :)

Kyrria - that's good to know. The bean is slithering all over the place tonight but seems to be at least half head down again judging by the pressure on my fanjo when I squatted down to throw more wood on the fire :o

Squid have a lovely weekend and let everyone make a fuss of you! :)

3 days of freedom...!!!

I think 36 weeks is the magic number to stop work at. One more week for me to go, and i'll be 37+1 by then. I'm so over it, baby and I just don't need the stress and just want to be relaxing, thinking about baby and doing baby preparation things...i'm a bit of a liability anyway, with not quite as much sleep as i need and just general mental slowness. huffle, i know it's your own business, so it's a tough call, but bella, get out if u can!!

crazy, hope u r feeling better, being a mummy is the one job u can't take mat leave from, and tbh, i've no idea how u guys have got through pregnancy with a little one to take care of. Think u will feel much more confident about coping with bubs and DS1 after you get some sleep, hon.

Personally, i'm looking forward to getting naked and having an excuse to behave like a banshee woman - it's a one off opportunity to go crazy and primal and just do what u want. I love being nude, i find it relaxing, but bf is much more conservative. Might even crank up the heating the 1st in the few days and have a bit of a nudey-fest skin to skin time with bubs to try to help the breast feeding along....but that's just me...i have fully accepted i will probably do a poo in the birthing pool and am not that bothered by that either...if i dont poo, i'm not pushing hard enough, that's my motto ;)

beeble, my teddy was my fav toy, closely followed by my cabbage patch dolls, rainbow bright dolls and my little ponies and barbies. I did also have a glow worm, as did my brother, and we used to have glow worm wars, throwing them at each other in the dark.

lisbeth, wow, hope u r getting your head around your inductions. Squid and velo, cant imagine what it must be like getting all those prelabor signs and not knowing if it's actually about to start, or not. yomping and kyria, i'm not really sure if i've had any BH's either.....i get a tightening discomfort that lasts 1 or 2 seconds, but usually just quite low down, not the whole uterus...not sure if that's a BH or what...

planktonnette, that sux about your MIL :( smiley, hope u r feeling better.

Please can someone repost the links to the 2 weeks to go thread and post natal thread, i missed them and am scared i'll lose u all. Happy weekend!

Hi how are all you lovely ladies?

Still no word from velo? I reckon babba has made an appearance......

angelico HOW ARE YOU STAYING SO CALM?? And lisbeth how are you feeling? I'm trying not to drive my family mad by banging on about my fears etc all weekend so outwardly I'm as calm as the sea on a summers day.

Inside? THERE'S A RAGING BLOODY STORM AND THE SEA HAS WAVES AS HIGH AS A HOUSE AND IT'S FULL OF SHARKS AND SEA MONSTERS AND I DON'T WANT TO JUMP IN BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT, THE BOAT IS FULL OF HOLES AND WATER IS FLOODING IN............

Yep. I knew it. All these bloody drugs I'm on have addled my brain..But you get my drift, the meltdown has kicked off big time, I'm frigging petrified! And all I'm hearing off family and friends is "oooohhh its so exciting, 4 days left, can't wait to meet her!" And neither can I and of course part of me is excited I just wish I didn't have to do this nasty op thing first.

Sorry. Hugs to all xxx

CWest - sending a soothing hug!!! :) And for what it's worth I am in a totally unnatural state of calm which I suspect may actually be complete denial. Keep finding reasons not to pack the bean's hospital bag. Also told DH over tea that I think my meltdown will hit on Sunday or Monday night. Have since found out parents are visiting on Sunday so reckon Sunday is the emerging favourite...

And FWIW I think we'd be weirder if we were looking forward to getting cut open

Is anyone else having to fend off potential hospital visitors? My mum was trying to get the whole bloody extended family up on Tues night!!! Had to point out I:
a) would just have had surgery
b) might end up having a GA if any bother with spinal (which always makes me boke rings round the place afterwards)
c) don't want to be hated by the hospital staff as 'that woman with the relatives who invaded the ward' - especially when going to be in and at their mercy for several days
d) probably won't want to get my boobs out in front of my brother (and his girlfriend who is very nice but have only met her a few times!)

This is the downside of a definite date - people know when they can come and visit

Eeeeek. Tired oh tired. Sorry, unable to interact. Brief read. Thank u to whoever posted the M&S nightie. I hav honestly bought about 10 by now, keep finding something more appropriate. This is the best one! Hav just ordered online with 20% voucher which got in post yesterday. Should anyone want to buy who does not hav an M&S card, I have 5 discount vouchers for 20% off to use by 23rd sept, if you pm me I will send you the online promo code. They are string-free, just a special offer, anyone welcome to!! But please give me til tmrw to reply.....

Flip, that had really beat me, that!

And I kno, would love to stop work but I hav committed and all these folks want only me before I leave. Cannot risk letting loyal patients down, they pay all our wages, not just mine!!!!

Nuff. Night xx xx

Stupid spine is in complete spasm again. Can't lie down, walking hurts and can't stretch it out. Trying hot waterbottle. Ouch. If I'm this whingey about my back, how will I cope this labour??
Keep breathing ladies, time will pass (whether we want it to or not!) And we will be ready, somehow... (V definitely not feeling ready)
X

Hey crazy - hope things are feeling a bit brighter today x

Lovely evening yesterday, just perfect, two of us sat, chatted, ate gorgeous food and generally jut loved being together. Lots of talk about the baby too and how excited we both are thwt our family is going to be growing. Obviously paid for over eating by being up half the night with indigestion which has led to the return of the headache, but it was well worth it so I don't care!
squid you sound a bit down...no need to be sorry at all,this thread is just here for us all to use when we want to and not when we don't. I think basically you are just at a really hard time of pregnancy, waiting, wondering when things re going to happen and then add in loads of hormones, you're bound to be feeling a bit emotional, not silly at all. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and just be kind to yourself!
planktonette many many sympathies re the relatives. No is a complete sentence and an under used one probably but as my dh would tell you it's one I find v difficult to use with relatives especially once the guilt kicks in. However, this time is about you and your own little family so you should feel free to stand your ground. Good luck!
mrsconfusion hope back is feeling better,you willbe fine with labour apart from anything else that is a pain that a) you know is bringing your baby closer to you and b) you know is going to stop fairly soon. Back pain on the other hand is just miserable. Hot water bottle good, paracetamol also perfectly safe if not necessarily hugely effective when it's bad, anyone about who can massage it a bit for you, would that help?
Those m and s nighties look good, huffle if you still have spare codes would be v grateful. I empathise on the wanting to stop work thing, I have 4 more days (well, mornings, I am lucky) to get through and was tempted to cancel but then I know there are already patients booked, and people relying on me, and I know I can do it (as in if I actually went into labour it's not like it would be a problem, but would feel bad about cancelling cos of being tired). Nearly there and we have a weekend to take care of ourselves!
angelico let's jut say there are people who don't know the exact date of my elcs. I think it is perfectly reasonable to ask people to save visits for once you're home, after all it's not like they keep you in for that long now and,as I said earlier, this is all about you!
cwest think it is v normal to be not looking forward to the whole surgery thing, no one usually expects you to be thrilled to bits about major abdominal surgery after all! Feel free to share fears here!
I have just realised that I know very little about what happens in elective section or what it's like afterwards. Hoping it is going to be very different to last time's 4.5 hr mega surgery, really looking forward to getting to (hopefully) keep baby with me and just be on normal ward but don't even know stuff like what you wear - is it a hospital gown? If so when do you get to put your own clothes back on? Do they give you decent painkillers (last time epidural wore off, asked nurse for pain relief, she gave me some iv paracetamol cos was due for it anyway, did naff all and then anaesthetist came and asked me what I wanted - obstetrics people had forgotten to prescribe anything! Lay there thinking, hmm. Been awake for 24 hrs, as ill as I've ever been, would like someone else to make prescribing decisions now! Ended up with what was basically weak cocodamol and useless!). Hoping to recover faster too with elective surgery that goes well, surely this is a realistic hope?!
Wishing everyone nice relaxing weekends.

Hi all, I am ok, thank you esp to bella, mickey and angelico for being kinder than I deserve I've barely slept all week and am a bit at the end of my tether. Thank God it's the weekend, my Dad is looking after DS for us (although I'm actually feeling slightly hysterical about that - DS has never had a night away and I'm really worried ) and DH and I have some time to chill. But I've "woken" exhausted and in a terrible mood. Great start...

Can't stay long as I need to pack for DS....mustn't forget the kitchen sink...

Hugs to all.

Links for Beccus:

post natal thread

last 2 weeks thread (this hasn't been linked to before, hope squid doesn't mind the link

And my top tip for the day - you can save threads by "watching" them. At the very top or bottom of the page, click on "watch this thread". You can then find it really easily by clicking at the top of the page on "I'm watching" - this is a button in a little bar that always stays at the top of your page even if you scroll down. It takes you to the list of threads you are watching so you can sort of bookmark threads this way.

Off to get hair coloured as it is a state!

Well smiley obviously I can only go by my own experience of a ELCS and it may differ from the norm so sorry if anything I say doesn't actually happen!

Like next tues I was admitted to hospital at 7:30 am on the morning of the op. I had anti sickness and anti blood clot drugs the night before and that morning and had obviously been nil by mouth since midnight.

They settled me onto the ward and did the usual admittance paperwork and ante natal checks, (bp, fetal HB etc). I was given a hospital gown and had to be naked underneath. They said they would shave the top of my bikini line in theatre but id already done it! I assuome at this point on tues they will also give me the stockings to prevent blood clots. I then had to wait for what felt like an eternity but was probably less than an hr. The anaethetist came and spoke to me breifly, then they said it was time......

I carried my own pillow and walked down to theatre. I had to say bye to hubby at this point as obviously I was having a GA and he was taken off to wait in another room. I was led into the operating theatre and asked to climb onto the operating table. The room was filled with about 8/10 medical professionals, a cot for the baby and obviously the trolley full of instruments which I tried my hardest not to look at but failed miserably.

They put my catheter in, asked me a million questions (including babys name) then said they were ready to go. A canula was put into my hand and I was given oxygen. They then injected my canula with the stuff to put me to sleep and that was that.

When I came round I was on oxygen and they put a photo in my hand of my baby. I asked if he was ok and if daddy had seen him and they said yes he was fine he was in Special Care but they had forgotten about daddy he was still waiting! They rushed off and took him to see DS and then he came into me.

I was taken to intensive care as a precaution for a couple of hours where I was given something to eat and drink, and later was put onto a private room on a ward. I finally got taken to see DS in a wheelchair at about 6:30 that evening and anytime I wanted after that.

Pain relief wise I was on a morphine drip for 24 hrs following the section, and took at least 2 other medicines orally for a week it so after. I was also on a drip for the first 24 hrs and my catheter was removed the next day.

This time I will also be given injections for 7 days after to prevent blood clots.

Like I say my experience probably differs from a normal ELCS but that's my story, hope it helps!

3 ddddddddaaaaaayyyyyyyysssssss

Smilie glad you had such a lovely evening :) On the ELCS front there are lots of MN threads about them - just google 'Mumsnet c section' or similar or try this thread I started to ask for some tips. Lots of others too. I'm a bit worried about the pain relief thing tbh as morphine makes me sick as a dog and their main drug seems to be diclofenac - generally NSAIDs kill my stomach so might havre to ask for omeprazole or something with it. I've had a few operations (hence my need for CS) and never really needed much pain relief after so am hoping that I have a reasonably high pain threshold - could be deluded! :) And FWIW a MNer Beans just had an ELCS and just updated her thread and as you can see she has been pleasantly surprised at the lack of pain :)

MrsConfusion nothing but sympathy on back pain - it is genuinely miserable and unproductive.

Crazy glad you are going to get a rest this weekend - you deserve lots of kindness! FRankly we all do at the minute but for peeps looking after small kids you need the 'extra-pamper package' :) Hope you get caught up on some sleep x

Yomping enjoy the shiny new hair :o

Squid hope you are having a ball with your friends! And Velo hope all is well with you!

at Huffle, Kyrria and everyone else - and a special hug for Lisbeth - hope you get on to the board before Monday but if not we'll all be thinking about you and your new bean! :) xo

CWest - I know, 3 dayyyyyyyyyys indeed!!! :)

Grrrr. I did post earlier but tis gone!!!! Oddness .

Sun is shining and that does wonders for the mood!!

Off today to pick up Moses basket and changing stand from friend, niceness!!

Hav a lovely Saturday all, hugs and encouragement to you all, collection of struggling troopers that you are
Xx

Stern note to self and to you all ladies!!! I have suffered with pelvic pain for months. Figured that considering how common it seemed with you all, must be an inevitable part of pregnancy for lots. Finally got fed up and got physio apt on Tuesday. She said is v common yes, but exam showed imbalance in my hips and pelvis, mostly due to my posture. Several odd manipulations and some good advice given. By Thursday was miles better and today is GONE!!

Why oh why did I not go earlier????

So. Jumping the gun a little but should I ever be down this pregnancy road again I will not put up with pelvic pain for so long!!! Granted, she did stress is not always fixable, but mine due to imbalance.

Keep in mind ladies, even those of you who suffering with good few weeks to go,

X

Thx, yomping, u r a star ;)
Just peeked on postnatal thread, nothing from squid or velo.
smiley, my mate had an elcs and LOVED it, said pain wasn't an issue at all. 2 others had emergency CS, one said she was a bit uncomfortable after, the other promptly booked herself in for an elective c section when she fell pregnant again. Just gotta hope the hospital staff dont forget about dad and dont need advice from YOU on what to prescribe...really, the mind boggles that both those things actually happened!

Just a quick hello to say that I am feeling cheery today. I slept better, the weather is lovely, we got a beautiful hand-knitted blanket for the baby from DF's mum,my sis is coming over later with the kids (and the buggy) and all is good.

Hope everyone else is enjoying sun and relaxed vibes.

Hello

Thank you for all the support guys. I really appreciate it.

I had a horrible emotional awful thursday and friday, feeling like baby is never ever going to come, feeling bored, lonely, guilty for stopping work too early, uncomfortable, lost. Rainy greyness probably didn't help. I cried so much, it was a bad couple of days. But it's been better today -sunshine and wandering around a couple of art festivals with the boyfriend, it was nice. Lots and lots and lots of painful tightenings and periody pains all day, particularly walking up hills etc, but I'm not really expecting it to come to anything. Having more now on the sofa actually, they are quite painful at times. Definitely more today than before, I had about 5-6 in an hour over lunch and a couple of other times, I haven't timed them exactly. But this has been going on (on and off) for over a week now. I still expect to go to about 41 weeks, like most people do.

I shouldn't complain because I know I've had a relatively easy pregnancy, but I struggled to put my boots on this morning and that made me cry and cry and cry. I just felt so humiliated not being able to reach my own feet. I feel enormous (but I'm really not that huge, I just FEEL so heavy.) Sleep is very hard. It's just a crap part of pregnancy I think. I really have got off very light. No stretch marks (yet, though I know they often appear in the last week or two), no swollen ankles, no heartburn, most clothes still fit, not too much weight gain comparatively. I know I'm lucky....

I am struggling a bit with the waiting and worrying about induction of all things (I'm not even due yet! Tuesday is my official due date) but I have done these things to try and cheer myself up

-made and froze a lemon cake for the midwives (if I go to hospital instead me and boyfriend can eat it)

• a big glass of wine thursday night - a proper sized one - did feel guilty the next day though!

-went to market, bought and have been eating amazing food (mussels last night, making mini yorkshire pubs and smoked mackerel tonight, making fresh tuna and bean salad tomorrow) -keep spotting post-labour treats appearing in the back of the fridge, like big rounds of soft cheese and champagne (boyfriend is lovely) -lots and lots of walking (well, at least a couple of hours a day, but out from 10 till 4 today, on my feet walking around festivals the whole time except lunch) -cuddles with boyfriend, bit too teary for sex last few days - but we did have it 4 times last week! which is not bad for 39 weeks bloody pregnant! -I don't know, stuff like that

• oh and my friend gave me her sling so if I get on with it and end up not using a pushchair I am allowed to spend hundreds of pounds on going on a lovely weekend away with boyfriend and baby in a few months instead! That's my logic anyway! Pushchairs are crazy prices.

Happiest I've been in the last few days was practising how to tie it and carrying my teddy around in it... seriously I kept the teddy on for hours and was hugging/kissing it like it was a baby... I am a hormonal nobber!! look how cute it is though Those are my lovely kitties by the way

So I am doing better today, and going to cook in a bit, and probably drink more wine, and I have friends coming tomorrow for another festivaly thing, and a gig in the evening. Lots of fun things.

I feel like I've been pregnant forever (I found out on the 25th January, I remember it vividly) and it feels like... well it certainly doesn't feel like I'm going to have a baby... it feels like this is my life now and forever, my pregnant life. Very strange, I never knew I'd feel like this, dunno if anyone can relate.

If I'm not on again before Monday I want to wish all the best to lisbethsopposite and Angelico and CWest and Elpis with your babies. Can't wait to read about it all. Hope all is well with Velo too. xxxx

squid, 39+4