Due in October part 8- still plodding along, this time with copious amounts of raspberry leaf tea

[Londonmrss]

Surely this'll be the last one before moving to the postnatal section?

Due Dates:

Sept. 24: Lisbethsopposite DS2 by planned induction
Sept. 25: Squidkid DC1
Sept. 26: Elpis DC2 by ELCS
Sept. 27: Planktonette DC1
Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?)
Oct. 2: Firstbubba DC1, Milk DC2
Oct. 5: Yomping DC1
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2
Oct. 10: WantAnOrange DC2, MrsConfusion DC1, MidgetM if induced
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, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrss, DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla, DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks, DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: Mickey DC1

Actual babies:

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 25: Angelico - Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz

Yomping you have really made me chuckle - you have just described everything that is pissing me off at the moment too.

The peeing (or lack of) is really starting to annoy me - for examplen had registration for final year of uni course last night , had several points where on standing I really needed the loo (urge disappears when I'm sitting). Went to the loo feeling like I was going to burst, managed a trickle, 2 minutes later bladder was telling me it was in desperate need of a pee again!I I mean FFS...give me a break!

The discomfort on turning over in bed with regards to pelvis and fanjo is disruptive - you do actually have to build yourself up to deal with the discomfort when you turn.

I'm going to meet up with some of the NCT antenatal girls at lunchtime and debating whether I can be bothered with car or whether I do public transport. I do (for once) have the car to myself for the day, .and although I can still get behind the wheel it is very uncomfortable and I'm struggling with the peddles. Difficult putting my legs out infront to reach the peddles - much more comfortable sitting with my legs open but then can't reach the peddles. Think I will bus it.

Have just had work on the phone for the first time since I started mat leave (monday this week)...

Maybe cake is actually the answer today? Suspect today's bad mood might be due to too much sugar yesterday but anything's worth a try, right?

LondonMrs, it was me with the 50 blowjobs, not Huffle (well, not that I know of, but maybe Huffle too?) but only because I've heard that ingesting sperm has more of an effect as an induction method than - um - topical application

Loopy I love homes under the hammer! Also got a thing for doctors at lunchtimes too

Ah, you poor things. My sister was due the 5th and delivered a whopper on the 28th September. Good luck all of you!!

Sorry Huffle and Yomping for the blow job confusion!
Really? Ingestion? I got stuck in a blow job position at the weekend and had to be helped up!

oh, planktonette, those fast labors do sounds full on and scary - how the fu@ck were u keeping it together enough to be so assertive? i think i would just be a howling mess. I love hearing birth stories, can't get enough of them.

yomping, yes, for me the turning over at nite is the worst - it hurts, you struggle like a beached whale for a while then have to collect and rearrange all your pillows, by which stage you r completely awake, then you start to wonder if you need a pee, and of course you do, then it kills getting out of bed and kills walking to the toilet. Night before last i was regretting not stealing a bed rail and a zimmer frame before leaving work to assisit with my night time trips to the toilet.

squid, that's great b/f is not hurting, hope it carries on - i am a bit worried about b/f - thanks kyria for flagging up that documenatry last nite - i have resolved to figure out my baby bjorn today so i can get straight down to a breast feeding cafe if i am having probs.

zara, so, so feel for u on the work front, it is so hard to be at work this late on :(

Hugs to you, crazy, sorry your dh is being a nobber.

In addition to yomping's tasty semen beverage recommendation, i would just like to share that i went and saw loopers with my friend from preggo yoga on mon. This is a film about an evil little child who takes over the world in the future. She was 5 days overdue and in the comfort of the cinema, the evil child film helped her to start going into labor....so, strangely, films about evil kiddies seem to help bring on labor - i might go rent out a copy of chucky and have it on standby.

Her labor story was pretty cool - she waddled home slowly after the cinema, did some hyponobirthing, had a nap, popped down to birth centre and was told she was 1cm and went home again. Things ramped up over nite, she got the tens out, they called the birth centre again, who advised to her hubby stick her on the bath - the bath helped, but her waters broke and there was ALOT of blood, which freaked them out. Contractions were really intense by now, they went back to birth centre about 15 hrs after we had been in the cinema and she was told she was only 3cm, and was devastated by the lack of progrerss. There was meconium in the water, so she had to go to labor ward for monitoring and she requested an epidural...and then felt the urge to push. She was re-examined about 45 mins after being told she was 3cm and was fully dilated, and pushed bubs out and they are doing well :)

Right, am writing birth plan and packing bag today

Kyrria Also got a thing for doctors at lunchtimes too what, literally????

I'm really not getting much work done today....pissing around on Mumnset is far more entertaining!

Yomping I know exactly how you feel. I could have written your post- although not as funnily as you, love your humour.
I didn't break down as such last night but I got so fed up with being uncomfortable I told DP that I couldn't do it anymore and I just want the baby out now. Really, I've had enough.

I'm going to Wales this weekend without him- slightly worried I may go into labour early.. DP would never forgive me if I wasn't here!!

I must also write birth plan and pack bag today.. doula is coming round so i suppose i should show that i have made some effort!! I must also start going through baby clothes to see what we have..!

Hi ladies!

A quick update, in case it helps any of you lot later...

Baby Planktonini is currently the bounciest baby boy in neonatal ICU. He's caught some kind of bug, which had his breathing sped right up. Might even have been in the womb (which would go some way to explaining my Usain Bolt birth, as opposed to the Mo Farrah one we'd all like...)

(Don't feel envious of the fast birth, by the way - remember, NO BREAKS. A marathon is a marathon no matter how you cut it, it's just that I had to sprint mine rather than pace it!)

He's so unlikely to have any real problems, but bless the NHS, they take no chances on neonates!

My point in telling you antenatals this is - yesterday I was kicking myself for overpacking my hospital bag. Today, having been in the last two nights, knowing I'll be in tonight and that baby (and probably me too!) will be in for five nights at least, I am massively grateful for it! Overpack away, because if you need it, you'll be damn glad you did. (And pack double the maximum number of pants and pads you think you could possibly use.)

(yomping your assessment of late stage pregnancy was gold. Gold!)

Blimey Beccus! Maybe try "we need to talk about Kevin" - actually don't - I watched that when DS was in full scream-mode and seemed to hate me and it freaked me RIGHT OUT. Horrible.

Yomping I could've written your post (although not as well or as funnily). This fecking pregnancy lark has got old and tired. I feel old and tired. And i'm so fucked off that everything is so fucking difficult.

But.....I woke at 5am this morning (bear with me) and lay dozing peacefully on and off til 7am - and wondered, once the baby's here, when's the next time I'll get to do this?? It took DS 16m to sleep through the night.... And I luffs my bed. It's lucky (?!) I got pg when I did - well, lucky for this baby, anyway - because if I'd had a full night's sleep before I got pg I would've put it off for the next 4 years minimum and no sibling for DS until he was well into school! For me, life with a toddler (er, when NOT PREGNANT) is so much easier than life with a baby. (whisper: I don't really get babies )

Sorry, random ranty post.

Shit night's sleep, oh god the pain of turning over in the night and getting up to wee. And the fact that my abdomen is now so freakily distended that I'm confident it'll never go back to the way it was. I was so fecking lucky last time, small bump, snapped back - this time I'm going to get a proper Mummy tummy. Should've just been wandering around in a bikini top for the last year pre-preg, making the most of my tummy....sigh.

I really struggled to get my pants on this morning

GAHHHH just found out a friend due after me gave birth yesterday. GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRGGHHHHHHH

Just a quickie from recovery to say baby fjord was born at 10.32am Norwegian time by c-section, after a second day and night of labour that I think I do no-one any favours in sharing...

She was 3.8kg/8.3lb, 15cm and is SO good - stopping crying as soon as I hold or talk to her and already doing exactly as she's told! Name still undecided & a bit jealous of DP swanning off everywhere with her while I wait for the feeling in my legs (& scar) to return.

Very sleepy, as is she, as we haven't slept since Monday night & had a bit if an exhausting time! Must try and nap while baby fjord is off getting blood sugars sorted after our attempt at a feed. Will try to get caught up once we're on the ward & more with it! X x

Yomping ? Oh! You?ve inspired me to vent! 9 months of bottled-up gripes:

• At EVERY scan (3), I was told I couldn?t have one so I?d have to beg passing sonographers in corridors...
• MW copying down ALL my blood results wrong (inc. blood group) into my notes. I picked up on this 5 months later?
• The clinic telling me I had an infection when I didn?t.
• My GP prescribing antibiotics for phantom infection which are dangerous in pregnancy.
• My mother referring to how uncommonly big I am and ?why did you tell her where the biscuits are??
• Man refusing to move his bag from a seat so that I could sit down at 7 months pregnant.
• Certain people not helping us move house / redecorate at 8 months pregnant despite living up the road.
• Unbearable itching and getting up ten times a night to shower.
• Greedy *%&&?! landlord taking a month to fix toilet, tap and dishwasher.
• Having to walk up five flights of stairs with heavy parcels because the lift is broken and delivery men don?t do their jobs properly.
• Everyone telling me what I'm doing wrong / how I'm not going to sleep / have a life / travel after the baby is born...

I feel better already! :)

FjordMor - That's amazing! Congratulations! She sounds totally adorable! Hurray for you and your Anglo-norge babe...

Oh, poor everyone today . We need a group hug:

(((((((((((((((( all the struggling pregnant ladies ))))))))))))))))

(and yes, I did count the brackets to make sure there were the same number on each side )

Glad I made you chuckle, made myself feel better in the process so it's not all bad. Have just forced myself to sit back with feet up and listen to natal hypnotherapy CD, have breathed in so much golden light there may not be enough left for everyone else . Uterus helpfully provided some BH contractions for me to practice relaxing through during the CD, thanks uterus .

LondonMrs, hmm, hadn?t considered I might get stuck performing all the blowjobs. Sigh. Why is nothing ever simple?

Beccus, I really want to see Loopers, was it any good? Think JGL is tasty although a bit at the idea of him growing up into Bruce Willis

Off now to meet NCT group for lunch (snap Kyyria) and after brainwashing positive suggestions from the CD, I?m planning to get the healthiest lunch possible. Then some cake, just for good measure.

Here's the updated list, with Squid's corrected baby weight, WantAnOrange's baby, and my EDD changed yet again for the final time. Hopefully there will be some more additions to the real live babies list later on today? Really hoping to hear from Fjord, MrsC and Firstbubba soon, and will hopefully get news about milk too. In the absence of my bean showing any preference for the outside world any time soon, I'm totally obsessed with everyone else's!

Due Dates:

Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?), MrsConfusion DC1 by planned induction, Firstbubba DC1 by planned induction,
Oct. 2: Milk DC2
Oct. 4: Katla
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2, Violetlights DC1
Oct. 10: MidgetM DC2 if induced
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS, OnOfMyTurnsComingOn DC3 by VBAC
Oct 12: Lizzietow DC2 (?), Yomping DC1 (final change!)
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1
Oct. 17: Smorgs DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrs DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov. 8: MickeyTheShortOne DC1

Real live babies :

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 24: Lisbethspposite, Paul 6lb 11oz
Sept. 25: Angelico ? DD Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz
Sept. 26: Elpis ? DS 3.2kg
Sept. 30: Squidkid ? Jess, 6lb 14
Oct. 1: WantAnOrange ? Artemis Lily 7lbs 2oz
Oct. 2: Planktonette ? DS Planktonini

Good god, it's out of date already!

Big congrats Fjord, please do share (some of the) details when you're ready, glad she is so responsive already!

Due Dates:

Oct. 1: Gigglewhizz DC1(?),MrsConfusion DC1 by planned induction, Firstbubba DC1 by planned induction,
Oct. 2: Milk DC2
Oct. 4: Katla
Oct. 7: Crazypaving DC2, Violetlights DC1
Oct. 10: MidgetM DC2 if induced
Oct. 11: Smileyhappymummy DC2 by ELCS, OnOfMyTurnsComingOn DC3 by VBAC
Oct 12: Lizzietow DC2 (?), Yomping DC1 (final change!)
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1
Oct. 17: Smorgs DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1
Oct. 20: Beeblebear DC1, MidgetM if ELCS DC2
Oct. 21: Dosomethingmutley DC1
Oct. 26: Londonmrs DC1, Zara1984 DS1, Liege07 DS1
Oct. 28: Kyyria DC1, Loopyla DC1
Oct. 30: Cherrychopsticks DC1
Nov. 1: Londonlivvy DC1
Nov 8: Mickey DC1

Real live babies :

Sept. 20: Velo - Max 2.35kg
Sept. 24: Lisbethspposite, Paul 6lb 11oz
Sept. 25: Angelico ? DD Mini Angelico, CWest30 - Naomi Louise, 4lb 10oz
Sept. 26: Elpis ? DS 3.2kg
Sept. 30: Squidkid ? Jess, 6lb 14
Oct. 1: WantAnOrange ? Artemis Lily 7lbs 2oz
Oct. 2: Planktonette ? DS Planktonini
Oct. 3: FjordMor ? DD 8lb 3oz

Ah FjordMor, your labour sounds a bit like my first time. DD was just under 4kg. Hope the section itself was at least painless and they gave you some decent pain relief earlier on. Congratulations!

Hooray fjord congratulations and really well done you!!! Hope you're getting some sleep.

This is my very first ever post from my mobile phone. Get me being all technological n shit.

Babies bbies,
I'm just logging on to tell my birth story (A week late) - Congrats on all new babies, I will read later and enjoy the details, I just want to get a bit of my story on paper as such ...

I was given an induction date for MOnday the 24th, 38wks and 3 days. I was only a little perturbed at the timing as I knew that was not premature, I was just a bit overwhelmed at having a defined date. I was slightly worried that all was not perfect with developments but baby was moving vigorously over the weekend so that wass reassuring. I was also having a little bit of the perioy kind of pain that others on here are describing so I reckoned Nature was moving things along as well.

I went into the labour unit at 9AM Monday and ObGyn came in at 11AM and broke my waters (easily), he said cervix was already ripened(?) and preparing for birth - something like that. Also administered a gel and said they would be back in an hour to put in drip and accelerate induction - I said could this baby be born by lunch (My SiL induction took 2 1/2 days) they said probably not as was now after 11 but later in the day. I had sent husband for breakfast and he was in coffee shop with his laptop as I knew there would be a bit of idle time. Anyway they did some intermittent monitoring, DH came to the hospital in the afternoon, but they did not want to start me on the drip as other mums were in labour - this taking turns/labour by appointment is not exactly an orderly queue. SO I was reading the paper, eventually getting contractions about every 6-7 mins lasting about 20-40 seconds each. I saw on a monitor a number going up about 40 with each contraction. The TENS and breathing was doing fine - there's no pain between contractions. Anyway between it all they only came with the drip at around 5pm (I actually think the ObG was a bit annoyed as I was his private patient and things were now late, but he was on call for the evening anyway. I can't rid myself of the sneaking suspicion that the MW let things run late deliberately ... but that is my suspicious mind . I had never met her before).

Anyway when they checked, at 5, I was 3cm dilated. The gel induction was like going jogging - slow and steady so you can do it for a long time. Once they started the drip it was bootcamp!! It actually took only 45mins from the drip starting to baby in my arms. The contraction seemed to be 40 seconds with a 10 second break (it felt like). It felt like sprint, 3-5 deep breaths and then another sprint. Also they turn away the monitor but I got DH to look and the number that had been 40 (max) was now going up to 120. I asked after a while was I fully dilated and they kind of giggled and said this baby is nearly delivered!!
I was in the bed for the latter stages of this because the gas was making me dizzy and I was afraid I would fall. Anyway I turned to the back of the bed and I was on all 4s there, semi squatting and leaning forward. (I know I had a poo a this point, which I did care about and was embarrassed about, but what could I do...??)

When the baby is in the birth canal, there is a kind of urgency to the whole thing. I asked if I could have a break from the drip, it was so intense, but they said no, baby was nearly there. Anyway in 1 contraction, baby's head half came out and then was there, in my fanjo, in between contrations. This MW says, 'give a good push now next time 'cos baby does not like this' and I'm thinking, mama doesn't love it either. It's kind of surreal.
Anyway, 1 push a head was out and then baby on the next.

Anyway all is well except placenta decides it won't shift, and eventually I had to be taken to theatre for a manual evacuation of same with an epidural. I asked if thy us hands of medical instruments and all i get is evasive answers, but I have eventually figured (on the far side of the draped sheet) the ObG hand was up my fanjo clearing stuff out. Anyway it is probably gentler that a metal scraper. When it was all over the MW commented that my placenta did not look very healthy. Anyway here will be a routine histology report on it when I go back for my check up. I was glad I was not left to term as I think was placenta was on the downhill and now all is well.

I was sent back to the ward at 9pm, numb from the waist down. Your legs feel so enormous. it is strange. Anyway I had a fit of shaking - they think I lost about a litre of blood and but not enough to warrant a transfusion. My haemoglobin was 9.6 which they said would be 8.6 the next day. My hands looked like soap. SO I'm on the galfer since and eating red meat at every chance. (Then I had my first poo on Sunday - 6 days later!!!!!!!),

Oh yes today is my first day outr of Tena knickers - I was leaking with every cough

Baby is divine - worth it all!!
I'll check out the other thread later,

Hi all, not posted for a long time but have been reading and cheering you all on. Having a bit of a day and your rants are making me am loving all the stories although they just make me want to hold my own little bundle even more. I've started my mat leave now so will try to post a bit more regularly.
Only finished work on Friday but already had an awful sickness bug and now culturing a stinking cold, just typical!
Had obs appt today as baby is still breech, have decided against ECV and they have booked me in for ELCS on 19th Oct (am hoping baby will turn before then) am struggling to come to terms with this but know it's safest for me and DC.
Do you think I could join the next due date list? actual EDD is 23rd Oct (still holding out for this and trying moxibustion, surely it can't do any harm? can it?) but ELCS 19th so not really sure where I should go.

Oh and can we add constant fecking heartburn to the list of things to be glad to see the back of?!!

Well done Lisbeth, sounds like you were amazing! I seem to say that to all of you- which just proves how amazing we all are, and what an incredible thing our bodies do.
And Fjord, well done to you- shows that even if things don't quite go to plan, the result is still the same!

THankyou for your story lisbeth, sounds like you coped amazingly well. Induction is hardcore eh.

Hi willow I'm sure moxibustion is fine - can't be worse than ECV. FWIW if I was in your shoes (and I thought I was going to be) I would be likely to do the same thing, although as I'm on DC2 I might be tempted to attempt a vaginal birth. I think ECV sounds awful and risky. And I've just bought another freaking pack of freaking gaviscon. FREAKING HEARTBURN!!

On that subject, and that of evicting babies, does anyone know if pineapple juice has the same supposed labour-inducing properties as actual pineapple? Or have I just necked a (delicious) litre and given myself raging heartburn for no reason?

Induction is definately hardcore! My labour was fast, like Plankton's and back-to-back (which I didn't know) and I only had gas and air. It was actually very frightening for me so don't read on if you only want positive birth stories, although it has a happy ending!

My waters broke at 10am Sunday morning, while I was mumsnetting! I then spent all of Sunday and Sunday night waiting for labour to start. I had mild contractions on and off but didn't naturally get into established labour, so went into hospital to be induced due to risk of infection.

I was monitored for an hour and examined which showed I was 2-3cm dilated but my cervix was still thick and at the back. They gave me a sweep and a pessary which kicked off regular, painful contractions, every 5 minutes. Things then progressed incredibly fast.

I tried having a bath, which lasted for 3 contractions then got out and cried on the floor because they were too intense and I couldn't get back to my room! DH, literally, dressed me and I darted back to my room, collapsed on the bed and was followed in by a couple of midwives (who were crap and had no idea how fast things were progressing). Midwife wanted to examine me but I refused (well, pleaded with them not too) because the pain was unbearable and the thought of them putting a hand up there....NO WAY!

My contractions were continuous and intense. All I wanted was the gas and air but I was still on maternity ward so someone had to go and fetch a canister. DH was really firm and told midwife that she could examine after they sorted out some pain relief. She kept telling me I couldn't have anything stronger but she wasn't listening! I only wanted the G&A! As soon as I was on the G&A I calmed right down and agreed to be examined. I was way out of it but vaguely remember them saying I was 3-4 cm dilated and therefore ready to go up to delivery (no shit?). In order for that to happen I had to leave the G&A for a few minutes! Cue blind panic from me!

I was wheeled up to delivery and back to the intense pain again. Midwife shoved G&A back in my hand and I looked up to see it was a different midwife now, the one who has looked after me through most of my pg. I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life and finally felt that I was going to be looked after properly now. She examined me again and I had gone from 3-4cm too 7cm in about 20 minutes! No wonder I'd lost my sanity.

I don't remember anything clearly from that point on, until I was pushing. As she crowned, midwife realised that she was back-to-back, explaining why my labour had been so instantly painful. Basically, she was facing the wrong way so, square peg, round hole! I had no gaps between contractions. I didn?t cope and spent most of it pleading for them to make it stop. DH and midwife were amazing and just like Plankton I feel like I was just the conduit as well, you worded it perfectly!

There was one point I remember, while I was pushing that has to be the funniest conversation I've ever heard. I could hear everything clearly but couldn't speak. As I was pushing I felt a big gush and this followed:

DH: is that more waters?
Midwife: er...no, she's just weed on me actually...
DH: OH! wantanorange do you want me to help you to the loo?
Midwife: I think she's to out of it to give a shit really....

DD was fine and came out screaming and healthy but I was in shock and refused to look at her or talk to anyone for about 5 minutes. I had a managed third stage that was over very quickly. I just stopped and opted out for a while. Then some part of me registered that it was over and I looked down and fell in love instantly. DD latched straight on and fed and the midwife stopped looking at me worried .

She is an angel. She was not very pretty though! Her head was very misshapen because she was back to back, she looked like a peanut! It is normal head shape now?..and she looks just like DS.

This birth was nothing like my first. I?m not sure how I feel it about tbh, I don?t think I?d say it was a positive experience, although there were very positive parts of it. In the end I have a beautiful, healthy DD so things are perfect aren?t they?

Wishing everyone else slower, boring labours!

Oh wantanorange that sounds full on. Crikey. The more I hear about midwives the more murderous rage I feel towards their profession...thank God for the odd decent one dotted around. WELL DONE YOU! Love the dialogue about you weeing Mw should've kept that under her hat and just said "er yes that's right, more waters Mr Wantanorange", you poor thing!

So it's MiniPeanut rather than Kumquat?