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

Oh and on a less whiney note, I discovered yesterday that Lidl's car parking bays are lovely and wide and allow for bad parking AND an easy exit from the car, even when heavily pregnant. Hurrah for that. Waitrose (my other alternative, near here- no normal tesco / sainsbury options) required me to do a rather undignified shimmy / squeeze / breathe in type scenario.

Have woken with cankles...just when you thought you couldn't get any more uncomfortable/attractive! sighs

32, 38+4, #1

Londonlivvy Agreeing with you RE Lidl's car parking spaces. They are truly wonderful!!! I have been thinking that all shops need a special pregnant lady parking bay section, lol. Getting in and out of the car at the hospital (yes, I know, the hospital, where most people go to have a baby) was HORRENDOUS. Glad no-one could see me ;) And also, peppermint tea seems to help my heartburn- as well as gaviscon.

Fjord Glad you took encouragement from my post... Really I'm not qualified to say anything about breast feeding because I genuinely don't know. But I'm glad it helped.

Well the pains have stopped again (There you go Cherry! Lol!!! They didn't wake me up at all last night so they must've been wind or something.)
It's so wierd being off work. I don't know what to do with myself?! Although today I am going to clean the bathroom, and take the dog for a long walk. Then sleep. Then see my mummy :]

Hoorah, full term today!!

Oh also, I gotta say. having a vaginal examination is possibly the most undignified thing I've ever sat through. It doesn't get worse than that does it? Does it?!

*Especially when the consultant has to ask the midwife to examine me again because he can't tell how dilated I am

mickey I'm pretty sure it does get less dignified than that, I'm afraid, though we'll be so in the zone with contractions that we will neither notice nor care. In theory, anyway... I had a cervical cancer minor op a few years ago and to follow up I had to have lots of check ups. Fine. Except they were in a university hospital. With consultant and 6 students looking up your business. With a camera. Not at ALL embarrassing. But I decided that it would be better that the 30 year old me said yes, seeing as they need to learn, and the 20 year old me would have cried with mortification.

My husband snored all night. He doesn't usually snore. What is it about sleeping next to a snoring man that makes you feel like he's doing it on purpose to make you miserable, and then makes you think about the best way to chop his head off?
Shouldn't be so mean- he's the one who has to get up and go to work while I slept in til 10am.

Oh I forgot to tell you about the pelvis measuring!
I had to have an x-ray, but they take it from the side, so it really has nothing to do with the width of your hips.
She showed me the x-ray afterwards and tried to explain, but I couldn't make head nor tail of it really
But I think they're looking at the opening at the bottom, like between the pubis bone at the front and the back of the pelvis. They compare that to the widest part of the baby's head.
They also check the position of the head, (you can see it on the x-ray too) because it may have dropped, but if it's dropped in the wrong place (ie. not directly over the opening) then it's not going to happen naturally.
Anyway, she couldn't see any problems for me, so I'm happy with that.
Also had my cervix checked and it's soft, I'm 1cm dilated and Baby's engaged (not sure how engaged, that didn't really come across in translation)!!!
That's good right? Last week it was firmly closed, and I haven't really felt any different, so as far as I'm concerned it can carry on like this over the next couple of weeks so I'm half way there before I even know it. Wouldn't that be great?!

Livvy, sorry about the heartburn , but Gaviscon Double Action really does help, get loads so you can just swig it whenever you need (I didn't do this and had to make one bottle last my whole pregnancy, which of course it didn't, hence my heartburn-meltdown a couple of nights ago). Chewing gum helps too.

Great to hear from you Fjord, glad things are a bit better with the breast feeding, hope they continue to improve. You sound like you're doing amazingly!

My DH snores sometimes LondonMrs, I swear it must be the motive for some murders. It takes everything I have to roll him over calmly and quietly, without violence.

Dinner time already here, how did that happen?!

Any other first timers still wondering how they will love a baby? That sounds awful, but what I mean is I still just can't imagine how it feels to have a baby and hold it and be its mum and have whatever maternal protective loving feeling one has for their child. I just can't imagine it. Hope it comes naturally.
I've always been more of a dog person.

cherry is peppermint tea available over there? It doesn't taste overly fantastic but the aftertaste is quite nice and it works wonders on my heartburn.

And seriously (TMI ALERT) how much mucus plug IS there!?!?!?!

londonmrs every bloody day!! The concept of being a mum is still very alien to me. Especially given I had a really bad (and now zero) relationship with my own mother. I don't really know based on my own childhood how a mum is meant to act, or how you play with/talk to small children. My current plan is to basically modify/extend upon how I mother my two (very spoilt) lovely cats and go from there

Can't name check u all as am on my phone, great to read your updates. Your X-ray sounds really interesting cherry!

Waiting waiting waiting to be seen at the hypertension day clinic. Getting reviewed by a senior registrar today. Since coming home from hospital I've had on and off cramps, extra fanjo discharge and caught a cold off DH. Baby also feels a bit lower, more pressure on my cervix. Who knows what this all means!!

Oh and on snoring I'm not allowed to complain about DH anymore because my snoring is at raise-the-dead levels these days. apparently last night I sounded like a motorbike. But yes when someone else does it it feels very deliberate & vindictive to your beauty sleep!

Londonmrss Are you sure your not my twin? I feel exactly the same.. Its a bit wierd. Babies are boring. Dogs are much more fun. I am also basing my parenting skills on raising a dog- this is DP's plan too. Tbh, puppies arent that much different from babies. You just have to train them to go outside for a shit, and pick it up after, rather than let them crap in a nappy ;) You have to feed them, you have to do everything for them. You have to keep them inside for the first few weeks until they get vaccinated- obviously thats a bit different for a baby but things have to be clean/sterilised etc. The only thing different is that they can walk. Babies just lay there. and Cry. and Poop. and Be Sick.

Sorry. I'll stop now. In my head that was all meant to come out and sound easy.. oh god what have i let myself in for

londonmrss - laughing at the always been more of a dog person ...me too! Still struggling to comprehend that there is a real live baby in my tummy that will soon be very much here. I agree - dogs are easier to relate to!

Keep smiling mickey

Morning everyone.

Re heartburn ate tums, swigged gaviscon, drank peppermint tea, stopped eating and drinking at 7pm. No sugary,salty or fatty foods past 3.
Finally broke down and asked my Dr fore something stronger. They gave me a prescription for zantac. Take 2 pills a day. It's like magics still have the occasional stomach contents up the esophagus incident but it's now the equivalent of burping up milk vs pickle juice.

Nothing to report here todays. Felt very gloomy yesterday after I thought things were taking off but petered out. Staying at in laws closer to the hospital now. Dh came into the city to spend the night. Wanted him to come to bed for a snuggle but seems he slept on the couch. Kept having dreams that we were fighting. Woke up in tears several times last night. Just felt really alone and vulnerable.

yesterday he never even asked how I was feeling or how my day was. :-(sorry for the woe is me post. Bloody hormones.

Aw Beeble I'm not surprised you're feeling low after all the contractions and expectations of the last few days. Can you go ask DH for a hug? Sometimes they're just a bit clueless.
If not, have a big hug from me! You're not alone

Thanks Mickey, can get peppermint tea here, might have a cup in a mo. But everything seems to be under control now with unknown Japanese medicine from the doc. Is it bad I don't actually know what I'm taking?!

Afternoon all - really sorry, I can't keep track of all the happenings so please don't be offended if I don't specifically mention anyone, I really am here rooting for all of you/us.

Massive congratulations to Lizzietow, huffle and midget - all so wonderful and awesome. Massive props to y'all and your babies :)

Smorgs are we no longer due date buddies? I think you're a couple days ahead now at 41+5? Or does confusion reign? I'm 40+2.

Yomping you remain my post-dates hero. Honestly - I bow down to pressure easily, despite what I believe in and I'm so with you on the dates thing and agendas from the NHS...your resilience and strength is amazing, and it's that that you'll take with you into your birth so you have nothing to worry about :)

Londonmrs every freakin' day! My cat is my original PFB and I am worried I won't love my baby as much Seriously would never dare say that in real life.

Mickey and Beeble - how's it going, any happening?

I am mostly very tired. I'm sleeping well apart from the other night with adventures in plastic mattress protectors. I put one on in the vain thinking if my waters go in the middle of the night...but I woke up the next morning with that awful skin-being-suffocated, ripping-plastic-off-bare-skin feeling...never again! Maddest thing from pregnancy so far, I reckon. I'm mostly just tired, stiff, emotional and irritable. I wake every morning thinking - how the fuck am I supposed to limber up if the birth starts now??

I woke up the other night to find my cat sat right in front of my face, staring at me. Then she walked all around my prone form, twice, silently. Then she nipped my foot twice and went back to sleep. I wondered for a while if she sensed imminent labour but no, she's not that bright. Now I just think she likes to watch me while I sleep, plotting catty things...

Oh two things I forgot to ask:

I have lumps in my breasts. This is just likely to be breast milk producing things right? Especially as I got out the electric pump the other day for some bringing-on-labour nipple stimulation and actually produced some colostrum - aaiieee! But I forgot to ask MW for reassurance.

Is anyone else finding the bouncing on yoga ball uncomfortable now from an inner bottom perspective? I think it's all the pressure down there but I no like it :(

hi everyone. I wrote a massive post this morning which wouldn't upload! So cross-will try and remember what I said!

livvy and mickey thanks for sympathetic words-you were quite right, I feel much better after a nights sleep. Any developments then mickey? Did your show all come in one go? Mine came in dribs and drabs last time which was pretty gross!
Hope you are ok.

cherry all that pelvis stuff is fanscinating! Glad your measurements all came up to scratch and that baby is engaged etc!

fjord so great to hear from you! What a hero you are, 2 hours on and 1 off is totally hardcore. I went a couple of weeks at one hour on and two hours off and it nearly killed me! Please do just take each day at a time and weigh up what you are both getting out of it as to whether or not it is worth it. Don't let yourself feel that you have to persevere come hell or high water and risk spoiling these first special weeks. You have given her such a great start and she is so lucky to have you as her Mummy.

mondonmrs I am not a first timer, but I can still empathise- even though I have been through it before, this baby does not seem real to me and I really don't know how I could possibly love it the way I love DS. But thankfully all of that does come instinctively once we have a little squirmy, lush smelling dependant snuggling in our arms.

yomping how are you today? Have you had any more thoughts about induction, more sweeps etc? Or are you just taking it one step at a time? My MW seemed quite anti-induction this morning. Me and beccus are due today (waves at winegod) and she said that although I can have a sweep next week I am not obliged to, and that in her view, it is much better to let the baby press the start button. She also stressed that the EDD is exactly that, 'estimated' so I may not be full term yet. So I will try and follow your example and be patient!

Am totally knackered and wish I had some help with DS today. dH not getting in until 11 for second night running which is rubbish. dS is so lovely, but so full of beans. We have put out more imaginary fires today than I can begin to describe and now he wants me to be Queen Matoria (Victoria) fighting him in the guise of a swarthy pirate. All I want to do is lie in bed and try try try to think of a boys name that will please me and DH..

Clearly, this is not going to happen so I better go and get into character... Ha ha!

Big hugs to you all xx.

Back from the midwife. No chance of a sweep until 40+7 by local guidelines.

Just got to play a waiting game.

Feeling bloody impatient!!

Ah, sorry Kyyria. But to be honest, if you have a sweep now and your body isn't about to go into labour anyway (cervix not beginning to soften or dilate) that the sweep is going to do nothing other than give you a bit of discomfort anyway...
I just feel like my body isn't doing anything yet! Still no BH, no runs, no show. Am not even particularly uncomfortable and don't feel like baby is particularly low. I'm not complaining about lack of discomfort, on't think I'll ever go into labour at this rate.

PMSL @ your cat's behaviour oren. Sorry about your mw's obstinacy about sweeps kyyria - I thought mw's were all big on them because they're a non-chemical/natural form of labour encouragement???

londonlivvy I feel ur sentiments re: no indications baby wants to come out! Despite the drama of the past few days, mine seems very comfortable!

bella at your DS' determination to play pirates... Perhaps you can feebly wave a cardboard sword in his direction while lying on the couch?

Just got home from hypertension clinic, where I NARROWLY avoided getting re-admitted to hospital. Hurrah! BP still a bit high so I have to go back to clinic on Tuesday, and they may increase my meds. Apparently my BP will just keep rising until baby arrives, the drugs simply aim to keep a lid on it. They will induce me by 40+5 at the very very latest, hurrah!

Oof. Contractions ALL DAY. And some painful stingy shit going on inside, feels like being shagged with a needle (sorry!). They feel around 5-7 mins apart, lasting for about a minute each time, and a walk in a park and a trip round Tesco has not shifted them. But they are not developing in any way so DH is gearing up to go into work tomorrow (back in for 5 day shift). Only to instantly ask for time off so he can come to hosp with me for ultrasound, trace and second sweep tomorrow, which we will go for unless these contractions develop into something overnight.

I am also waiting on a phonecall from the supervisor of midwives who is apparently very pro people having birth choices, but I guess wants to chat to me and make sure I am not a hopping mad lunatic before she agrees that my midwife can continue to support a homebirth for another week or so. Really dont want to let go of the possibility of homebirth . Hopefully won't be an issue now though

Not sure whether minging hotter-than-hell curry last night, yesterday's sweep or today's morning sex kicked things off but things do seem to have kicked off. Hopefully they will stay kicked off and not just die down overnight. I feel weirdly embarrassed, like I don't want to be the centre of attention and have people running around after me . DH laughed at me for that and said it was going to be a bit unavoidable if this is the start of labour...

Zara, phew, glad you avoided going back in!

Mickey, hardly any plug here which is making me suspicious. Little tiny bits. Maybe I have a very small plug?

LondonMrs, totally. I am more of a cat person, they're so fluffy and cute but they sod off to do poos then clear up after themselves. The perfect pet! I'm very allergic to them though. Hope I'm not allergic to my baby...

Happy due date Bella and Beccus! Do you feel weird about being officially due? Bella, your midwife sounds cool.

Orenishii, we have one of these: Hippychick mattress protector and it's soft, not plasticky. You can still tell it is there but it sounds nicer than the one you had, maybe worth a try? Although secretly I think that the very act of putting it on the bed means my waters will never break anywhere near the bed! And yes, to bouncing being a bit uncomfortable.

Beeble, sending you hugs. Sounds like a horrible night . Hope you're feeling better today and that your DH steps up a bit. I find mine is sometimes just more oblivious than I think is even possible, and he needs a nudge in the right direction, and even though I sulk about the necessity of the nudge in the first place, things are instantly better after I have pointed out the error of his ways let him know that I need him.

Thank you to everyone who said I am being strong. Not feeling it all the time but trying hard to keep everything in perspective. Reading up lots about studies showing that induction when overdue does nothing to change neonatal mortality and regular monitoring is a better option, but with an easily worried DH it is getting harder and harder...

Oh, and snorers should be given a short, sharp shock via a tens machine. Fact. . Sometimes DH just breathing loudly while he is asleep offends me!

Yomping, 37, 40+fuck knows how many days but hopefully not many more!