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

[Planktonette]

On your marks...
Get set...

GO!

Wow, they already had their first? Bloody hell.

What is raspberry leaf tea and what am I meant to do with it? Does it work or is it alternative bollocks? Do I have to ask the midwife first?

Beeble will you pass on congratulations and best wishes from us in this group to the first mummy in that group? I wouldn't want to intrude on their group...

Absolutely I will! I.m a bit of a forum slut and have been posting on both since the beginning. Lol.

Has anyone hear heard of sterile water injections for back labour? They do them in my hospital, inly ine in the city that offers it.

Afternoon! Had great plans to read & comment as on enforced rest but am 'milk drunk' sleepy so will have to have a nap I think and get on it later.

Big news from my ObGyn appt this AM. Firstly turns out he was on call during my emergency episode on Monday. He was like: "oh that was you! Glad we didn't need to deliver you as we were almost at capacity!" guess I didn't consider that might have been an alternative outcome. Secondly, turns out LO is measuring at approx 3kg today and I'm to expect a call detailing my plan to induce anything from 23rd September (after an MDT meeting to discuss me ). DP & I now in shocked mad hurry to sort flat and get in last bits of kit/pack hosp bag etc.

Elpis - thinking of you - such similar experiences but for almost opposite reasons! Hope your LO behaves from now on & you don't have to see the unit again before time. My big prob is an almost 'over-active' baby .

Right. Falling asleep. Will return later - a brief flick through shows me lots of conception stories somive a date with a read later!

Just coming on to sing the praises of my wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL osteopath who has relieved the pain in my pelvis with his magic hands. I SO recommend osteopathy for SPD. He's a proper nutter, my osteo, but he's lovely and although what he does bloody well hurts in the session, I can walk a bit more like a normal human being now! (a bit)

squid TB? Holy crap. Hope your friend's ok!

45 lovely, sofa-lying minutes until I have to pick up DS from the childminder and all hell breaks loose - no DH to help with bedtime tonight, and it's always a pelvis-shattering marathon. He is always over-tired and hungry when he gets home - last night he had a 45min tantrum Sigh. Too tired and fat for it all.

Had a lovely day - last haircut pre-baby, bought lots of winter clothes for DS with a 30% off Gap voucher...hope this baby doesn't come too soon, I love my Weds & Thurs off!

Zara big respect to you paying off that amount of debt that quickly. God if DH and I could sort our finances out maybe we'd have some savings.... I used tens last time, and tbh it was more the distraction than anything else. When labour was really going it drove me insane and I ripped it off and threw it across the room It feels like hot ants running up and down your back. I definitely think it's worth trying. Anything is!!!

londonmrs raspberry leaf tea is one of those anecdotal things, I think. It's supposed to, er, tone? your uterus or something to make it more effective in labour. I drank it in teabag form in my last pg, from about 32 wks. Apparently the teabags aren't supposed to contain enough to make any discernible difference, but I had a quick and effective labour! Am drinking teabags again this time. Apparently the tablets are supposed to be better, or loose leaf tea. I figure it can't hurt, right? And it doesn't bring on labour prematurely, it just does something to the uterus. In theory.

I have a friend who had twins due mid-Oct but had them last week after her waters suddenly went. 3 and a bit and 4 and a bit pounds, both in SCBU. Think they're doing ok, but ooh weenie. Think she and DH are finding it very hard.

Babies babies everywhere...

Congrats from me to anyone who knows people who have just had babies, and thinking of those in SCBU. It's not nice, and you do feel as if the babies will be in there forever, but the staff are normally great, and its the best place for prem babies to be. DS was in for 10 days, and I was discharged after 5 days. Leaving him was the hardest thing I have ever had to do but it soon became a distant memory.
Looks like I'm heading the same way with this one, I seem to have had a growth spurt and am REALLY uncomfortable today. Unbelievably bad backache, and bump feels like its stretched to its absolute limits. Will see what they say at my growth scan on tues, but I'm finding it hard to believe she's got any room left. I'm guessing I may be close to the end now but I could be wrong and it could be wishful thinking! Midwife tomorrow so will see what she thinks.

After reading some of the above comments about people having babies early can someone help? Obviously I'm meant to be having a ELCS, but have just realised I've got no idea what signs to look for in terms of premature labour. My DS was also born by ELCS so I've never had a contraction or anything, how would I know its the real thing and not BH?

And on a light note to end, does anyone else's baby ever make them jump when they kick?! Happened a few times now and always makes me giggle!

They've had their first baby?! Agh! I'm still unpacking my house! Nothing is where it should be, or washed, or anything! I don't even have curtains. Calm Smorgs, yours is not going to be early

crazy so glad to hear the osteo sorted your back out. I was thinking about asking for a referral when I see my gynae next week. Def going to now.

Fjord great news you have a date for cs, sort of.

Beeble never heard of it sorry. Only thing on offer here seems to be traditionsl epidural.

Zara that's amazing you paid off that amount in such a short time. Any tips? I'm always scared I'll find myself in debt one day and have no idea how to get out of it.

Sorry to everyone else I've missed but hope you're all doing ok and not kept awake too much by those damn hips, grrr.

So the first October baby has arrived - and yes, I'm starting to panic! CWEST30 according to my ante natal class symptoms from the NHS site:

The main signs of labour starting are strong, regular contractions (like period pain), and a ?show? ? when the plug of mucus sealing your cervix comes away. Other signs that you are going into labour can include your waters breaking, backache, vomiting or nausea, diarrhoea, and an urge to go to the toilet caused by your baby?s head pressing in your bowel.

My friend who just gave birth didn't realise that she was in labour until her husband mentioned that her 'period-type pains' were kind of regular (every 3 minutes!!).

As for me, body seems to be packing in. Walking now officially painful and hormones going nuts. Dr. is driving me a bit crazy. He gave me paper and told me to go for a blood test (I've been having these monthly) what he didn't tell me was that the wants me to have another glucose test - which means I need to fast. Didn't realise this until they asked me at the clinic whether or not I'd eaten - so back to the clinic tomorrow. Staying calm, staying calm....

Evening all,

Back from holiday and I have missed so much on here... will do my best to catch up.

CWest you can tell the difference between a BH and the real deal becasue the real deal is unlikely to ease if you change position and the real deal tends to come on regularly and increases in intensity. If you start to get what feels like BH's and I think you get more than 4 an hour you should get it checked out as it could be the real thing. I think so anyway - at least I sound like I know what I am talking about. I am having a lot of BH's driving me insane.

Velo your Doctor is a nobber. I've said it before and I will say it again! Good luck with fasting - making a pregnant bird fast is inhumane!

crazy feel your pain - hope DS is angelic this evening - I really feel it now when I have to sort all the childcare myself - everything is so much more of a struggle.

Fjord we may be having a competition to see who can have the biggest baby. This is a competition nobody having a VBAC wants to win...

Beeble I have read about these injections and as I had back to back labour last time I wondered why the hell I wasn't offered one.... Grrrr. The baby is currently in a good position this time round but still time for him to mess with my mind and flip over if there is any bloody room in there

Blimey Zara you were as tiny as DD. One of the midwives asked me if I had smoked and I was, and then . I hated it that she thought even for a moment that I had deliberately made DD small although back in the day most people didn't realise and smoked like chimneys and wolfed back a medicinal G&T!

LondonMrs it is alternative bollocks but I took it last time and I did have a really quick labour (I was also induced which may have more to do with that but still...)

MrsConfusion I am with you - I have got nothing much yet - certainly nothing for my bag. I am also hoping to have time when I finish work but I am realising this may be a tad ambitious - I may have a little on line shopping frenzy later. All this talk of post birth bleeding has me having flashbacks. There was a lot more blood than anyone warned me about but as my experience was not normal I don't really know how bad it is normally.

Loving all the conception stories - as Squid rightly remembers my path was not smooth. I had issues getting pregnanies to stick, not the actual conception. I always take my hat off to what women have to go through in terms of drug cycles for IVF. It puts so much strain on a woman's body and mind and I salute all of you have stuck with multiple attempts to get where you are today. I had pretty much given up on the hope of DC2, after recurrent miscarriages and then the icing on the cake was an EP late last year. The whole near death experience kind of made me think it was time to throw in the towel. I woke up in resuss and realised that I had a lot to be thankful for with one healthy and lovely DD. And then here is the BFP, kicking the crap out of me and threatening to make my little family complete. No ovulation checks, no charting, just one tiny little miracle. I think DH will get the snip though as he will be scared that I will want another one and we have been through so much to get here in terms of loss and heartache that he rightly doesn't want to go through any of that again. I feel really blessed to have got here - despite all the obstacles and my ripe old age. I won't be taking anything for granted until I hold this baby in my arms though.

Elpis Although I wasn't posting I kept checking in on you on my phone - so glad they reassured you in the end. The waiting is horrible. Love the way they put us through shit even when they are on the inside.

Squid as always of your mat leave. Also having any leg hair growing here - weird. I think I remember this with DD too, not sure what that is all about.

Right that is as much catching up as I can do for now. Special GD love and strokes to Fjord and Angelico. I think the dreaded heartburn may be catching up on me - kind of have burning in my throat and want to puke. Does that sound like heartburn? And I am so fecking constipated I am worried I could deliver the baby down the loo....

I did a really great poo today. It made me so happy.

That is all.

Despite the shock of official early induction warning and 3kg baby, I did enjoy my scan this morning ? everyone is so amused by LO playing with her umbilical cord and not stopping moving at all ever! The poor ObGyn had masses of problems measuring her or the umbilical flow (so she might not be that big after all?). It does make me look forward to meeting her though :). I think she?s going to be a real character; sociable and a bit of a comedian! I know I should be super-pleased that she?s so active but after my scare I worry that she?s a bit hyper and getting herself a bit distressed easily. I had hoped she?d inherit her dad?s comatose laid-backness and my current pregnancy laid-backness but it seems everything just excites the living daylights out of her .

Am in the middle of a really excellent ante-natal course that is making me feel a LOT better about everything. The lady is also a doula and a breastfeeding coach who does cheap house calls and we get on like a house on fire so I know I can count on her with any problems I may have and she?d come out and help me ? which is very comforting. I?ll post some of my ante-natal nuggets after the last session on Monday. In the pack I currently have I did note (and chuckle at) a 2-page guide entitled ?Dads ? how to deliver your baby at home ? don?t panic!? (for those unexpected emergencies I guess!).

Smorgs - big congrats on the work! :) I?m also planning to freelance so I know how welcome that kind of news must be for you at this stage! Btw, I?m not having a CS ? just induction. They only go to CS at absolute last resort here. I?m expected to proceed into normal delivery (albeit somewhat medicalised). There?s no Norwegian equivalent of Riverdance ? she?s marked herself as ?foreign? already as other people?s bumps seem to ?behave? in social situations (she did the ?alien? thing with ?riverdancing? all the way through my 2 hour breastfeeding workshop ? much to the amusement of the other pregnant ladies and the course leader ).

squid - congrats on reaching full term! I?m also in the ?engaged? (baby in pelvis, not ring on my finger) club so I empathise with your discomfort but sounds like you?re doing a fabulous job of still being very active and useful. I feel like an exhausted, in-pain blob these days (but then I?m practically a grandma by Norwegian standards ). Kudos on the waxing. I?ve been contemplating it but couldn?t lie on my back at all. Last time was when I got rushed to the hospital with the baby in distress .

Angelico - hope you?re continuing to cope like a star! I?m going to comment on my GD progress on your other thread so as not to bore everyone here :).

crazypaving - I know the ?ten shades of crap? kicking feeling! Mine does this high-speed Riverdancing with her feet. I just tried to get a nap as I?m catatonic but she didn?t stop and as she now seems engaged I have this pelvic/bladder pain that will not stop . Poor you having to cope with your other little chap that tired though: all I have to do is try to get comfy on the sofa (not happening grrrrr). The swimming episode sounds terrifying! What with all that and the SPD I think you need a big , a and a very big rest. Hope things get a bit less stressful! (crutches? poor you! Osteopaths totally rock though. I had an incredibly painful whiplash injury ?cured? in two sessions!).

Yomping - kudos for the aqua aerobics class! Sorry about your undignified experience though.

londonlivvy - congrats on exchanging on your flat! Brilliant news! No news on mine I?m afraid. Just as well imminent birth plans have distracted me . The dietician went surprisingly well thanks ? apparently I?m doing everything right but need to drink more water (hasn?t stopped LO getting very big though ).

I?ll think about posting my conception story. I?ve loved reading everyone else?s. I always feel so guilty as mine is just a very ?lucky? story ? a little bit miraculous and I should, by rights, have been one of those women for whom it was going to be difficult.

Hi Midget :) I guess it depends who comes first (where's that due date list? - I may be as early as 25th Sept now - I know that's squid's dd and it's also my late dad's birthday). They're determined to get mine out as soon as possible. She was 'breathing' today - is doing so all the time - so they're not worried about getting her out early - she's ready, developed and in rude health. Her little rack of ribs was rising up and down constantly! I'm probably actually nearly 36 weeks by my original estimations so 3 week's time I'll be totally ripe (she may well decide to come even sooner as she's bursting to socialise I fear...). I've stated a preference, under the circumstances, to get her out sooner, by VB rather than risk later, by CS and that I'll be left with the pessary as long as she's not getting distressed. I hope for your sake that my little bruiser is the biggie and your LO's size proves to be appropriate for her mummy to push her out without cause for major concern! I haven't got a scar to worry about...

Oh gawd. I started my pregnancy yoga teacher training course today (am 32 weeks) and I am shattered. Properly shattered. It finishes on Sunday night then at the end of the month I have a further three day course. I am seriously wondering whether I have bitten off more than I can chew...

DF had said he thought it would be too much but I was stubborn and really wanted to do the course now as after the baby comes I won't be able to get childcare (we have no family nearby and DF is working full time and studying part time for a masters). I had wanted to do the course in July but it wasn't running.

Oh crap. I don't want to fess up to DF that I am dead and he was right. And I don't want to lose the money I've spent on the course fees. So I'm just going to have to go to bed v early and just suck it up over the next three days. Argh.

Why do I do these things to myself?

Sorry for self absorbed rant.

Just popping back in to say that DS was an absolute charmer all evening - just had the loveliest time with him! Isn't it fab to be pleasantly surprised? He tried soup with bread & cream cheese dippers for the first time and LOVED it. Lots of fun

londonlivvy good luck with the course Much strength to your elbow!

fjord thank you for the and ! And you may smile at the Dads delivering at home section, but my DH was 20mins away from that, after the hospital sent us home.... Thank God for the amazing midwife who went from fast asleep to a stranger's flat in under half an hour!

Thanks Zara for the opinion - I qualified without fees or loans but wages were small then (public sector - health). If you are 18+ and don't qualify for a grant because of parent's income but are receiving none of said income, is there a way of emancipating yourself?

Crazy I am the opposite to you - DH home for first time since Sunday - he is putting DS to bed as I type and the water is on to heat for a bath for me.

And I have Gaviscon. And I also had a nice poo today. Life is good.

Fjord thinking of you.

I see your single poos and raise them... Two poos today! lol

Never thought I would get to write that sentence :o The iron tablets are killers!

Proper catch up later / tomorrow (enjoying house with DVD box set, DH out at work do) but special waves to Fjord for GD and Midget for lovely ttc story

Oh and this thread just popped up in most active - will this be us, posting 4 years on?! :)

How are we going to manage the transition to 'post-natal' club???

Two fingers to all you free poohers. Especially Angelico now to be called Angelico two poohs. I have taken 2 sachets of fybrogel, 4 teaspoons of lactose and just contemplating throwing 6 prunes into the mix.

:o @ Midget That is an impressive array of laxatives by anyone's standards < hands Midget a >

I raise you to three poos Angelico!! Baby enjoys sitting on and kicking my intestines and that seems to errr.... force things going. I think I would actually be much slower in that department if it weren't for DS' efforts.....

Actually I'd be quite happy with just one a day or every other day rather than regular small poops throughout the day.

Midget this is going to sound dreadful but it was something suggested by my doctor when I had very very bad constipation/no bowel movements for over a week. If you can stomach the idea, inserting a (covered!! in a latex glove!!) finger a bit and having a wiggle around can get things moving......????

That sounds really rotten, I'm sorry. But just thought I'd share that practical information from my doc.

Otherwise can you use those ex-lax laxatives that you squeeze into your bum when pregnant?? They sort you out in like 10 minutes! Just cos if it's really not moving then just adding more at the top (fibre gel, prunes etc) doesn't really make a difference.

Long post warning - feel free to skim read ;)

So much going on since i was last here on sat!!

elpis, glad u r ok after your scare, fjordand angelico, great to c u guys are feeling more confident about managing the GD. Angelico's started mat leave, yay!! Squid is full term, looking great in her pic and still doing more exercise than i can imagine doing. And so much poo-ing action - well done ladies!

yomping, felt for you on your rough nite the other nite - i've had moments at nite where i'm just over it and want bean to be quiet so i can sleep..and then i feel guilty and worry if i cant handle a few wriggles how am i going to handle a little bubba who needs feeding every 2 hrs...arghh!

Must write down the name of that bra u r all on about - personally i am not planning to wear any more than a nightie those 1st few days, so will re-assess the size of my boobies after bean arrives. Am hoping my nipples grow - i just spent a fortune on a breast pump and the M size shied is way too big - hope the S size fits or they grow or i'm farked! Do your nipples grow when bean arrives?

Thx for the golf ball clot advice, love, love, love this thread - i bought some sainsburys mat pads, but might save them for later and get some tina pants for those 1st few days.

I think my bean is engaging- much more pressure in pelvis and much more space around ribs.....less breathless and can actually bend forward withouth feeling like bean is squishing diaphram.

Conception stories - we planned to get preggo in 2012, and i can feel when i ovulate, so we had a romantic NYE as it was ovulation time. No cigar, felt sad, DO NOT know how you guys who waited so long stuck it out over months and years, i have such respect for you. We tried again end of Jan then mid feb as i went to dinner with a friend, i realised i hadn't had any wine for about a week and wasn't really in the mood for it....very odd for me. Then had overwhelming nausea next day that settled with food....off i toddled to buy my test, but couldn't test yet as i was not yet late. Had lunch with a friend the day after and still had no interest in wine...completely out of character so i was sure i was preggo. Managed to wait until the next day, when i was finally late. Was so excited about my morning pee that i woke at 6am on the sunday after dreaming of babies all nite. kept trying to wake b/f up as we said we'd do it together. After lots of prodding, b/f was still half asleep, so i said i'd do it and promised to come staight back and tell him. Had pee stage fright was so excited, but eventually managed to POAS and was postive!! So excited but also freaked out. Happy times :)

OMG, can i just say orgasmic birth is brilliant!! try and get your hands on a copy if you can. Totally different to OBEM/midwives- basically, they say a good birthing experience relies on the same environment as a good sexual experience - privacy, low lights, music, kisses and cuddles and massages, and all this helps your oxytocin production (the love hormone), and oxytocin helps produce endorphins (happy hormones). Lots of doctors and midwives giving medical opinions, not just a bunch of hippies :) 1 woman has an orgasm in the birth pool- god knows she managed that - the rest of them have home births/water births/ one lady gives birth on this beautiful deck at home - it's not glamorised, you can see it's f'ing hard work, but it's manageable with the right environment, the right support, and of course, those ladies were lucky and had no complications and straightforward births. V. inspiring, definitely recommend. Also suprised by how natural birthy our NHS antenatal classes were - v. similar to the dvd!!

Gross Zara but welcome. Throwing extra fibre in there was 'problematic' but seems to be working now, it was kill or cure. hangs head in TMI shame

Worst. Nights. Sleep. Ever.

Thankfully have today as annual leave so planning on spending the day snoozing.

Zzzzzzz

32, 32+5, #1

Hello lovely ladies,

I am not a v prolific poster but a big fan of the thread anyway and have been reading all your posts (well most of them! gosh this thread moves fast!) I am probably just a bit shy and should loosen up!

I have also been told I am borderline for GD though not actually diagnosed have been on no sugar and low GI diet for 2 months or so now so I sympathise with fjord and Angelico though I feel very lucky that I don't have actual GD and I'm v impressed with your perseverance it must be extremely frustrating..

Had an appointment with doc yesterday and the baby is breech I am 33 weeks today (due 26 October) and she said that if she remained breech I would have to have a CS at 39 weeks (apparently the standard in Belg).. I hadn't even thought about CS and feel pretty stupid that I didn't even let it enter my mind.. anyway does anyone know the likelihood of the baby turning around between now and then?? Perhaps I am getting worked up about nothing??.

All the house movers! massively impressed... we painted two rooms upstairs and I was becoming mad with the chaos I can't imagine the energy it must take to buy, sell, pack, move and unpack at this stage! Aren't women amazing!

Our conception story was also pretty straightforward, had coil removed in September (the day before DH proposed : ) were careful until married in v small (2 guests) wedding in December then I found out I was pregnant at the end of Jan.. My mum had just been diagnosed with cancer so it was a real bright point in all the stress and strain that followed including our "official" wedding in UK which was also bright point for Mum (but quite stressful too).. and now at the end of her Chemo she will come to visit us for the birth of her first granddaughter.. (her prognosis is good but it has been super exhausting for everyone)

Thanks to everyone for all the tips re maternity pads, nursing bras.. etc etc I honestly don't know where I would be without you except in hospital with a next to useless hospital bag and no idea!

Anyway, sorry for the long rambling post.. Have a good Friday!

29, 33 weeks #1

morning everyone!

Been reading every day and thinking-I will post tomorrow when I have time for a proper catch-up but then I never seem to get a chunk of time! Have had a manic first week back at work and dH has been working until after bedtime each day so all the childcare and pick-up and drop offs have been up to me. Just feel soooo tired and the bloody iron tablets don't seem to do anything except make going to the loo a chore! Found myself sobbing on the loo yesterday because DS was yelling for me to come and fight a fictional forest fire in his room (he was fireman Sam and I was Elvis) and wouldn't accept that I needed a minute on the loo! dH is really down at the moment too, so escaping to bed early is not an option as I cant let him come in only for me to disappear immediately. So...nothing major, but a bit of a slog of a week.

Huge sympathies to you elpis. That must have been so so worrying. Was checking in on my phone all the time to see how you were. All that worrying and analysing the meaning of movements is a nightmare-it just makes you feel dying to have baby in your arms so that you can see them and know they are OK. Well done for getting it all checked-seems like you did the right thing.

crazy you poor thing-you have so much on your plate! And the swimming story sounds terrifying. Not sure what to say about paralympics-go with your gut. How much would it be a relief just to not go? Or do you feel you would be really grumpy all evening and disappointed? It may be good practice for your dc to sleep elsewhere?

baccus how are you doing due date buddy? In my experience, my nipples grew loads! I had sweet little perky boobs and little nips and somehow these big baby feeders have appeared and are here to stay!

livvy respect on the yoga course! You are hardcore! Don't overdo it though, will you. Take care x

lisbeth hope you had a lovely relaxed evening with your DH there to help you. It is so lovely isn't it, when you are used to it all being you.

angelico and fjord- am full of admiration for how well you are coping with GD. Don't feel like you can talk about it on here. It is interesting and it makes me see how bloody lucky I am with my own concoction of minor ailments. As ever, I take my hat off to you both on your brilliant positive outlook.

Loving the conception stories! I too feel full of admiration for those of you who had interventions, treatment abroad. I just don't know how you withstood all that anxiety and emotion. I am so so happy that it worked out for you. Miracle babies indeed. I am one of the very lucky ones who managed it within a few months, and am ashamed to admit that I was incredibly impatient and obsessive even in that short time! We always host a HUGE family Christmas, so managed to avoid going out on NYE and instead had a lovely romantic time, but no cigar. On the next cycle I thought we had messed up the timings and kept getting BFN's so was completely flabbergasted when the BFP came up! Last time, DS was a happy accident and we were both in a state of shock when I tested before work at 6am, so this time I promised a more romantic and better timed 'reveal'. However, there we were at 6am analysing several sticks with feint lines on feeling shellshocked all over again! And now we are 7 weeks away from the finish line...eeek!

Have a good day ladies! Big love to all x