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

Squid, have some for your beautiful perineum .

Thank you for sharing - good to hear honesty, but I'm now a tiny bit scared about my homebirth which could be any time from - well, right now to 3 weeks time. I guess it's never really a picnic but you just get through it as best you can. I didn't know delivering the placenta could hurt, funny they never mention that...

Velo, thank you for tips. It's very reassuring that those of you who have finally gotten to meet your babies still have time to come on here and post with news and tips!

Beccus, I've got this Baby Whisperer book which I think is the one everyone else is talking about. Seems like good advice although a bit "baby must fit into your world" for me at the moment, poor baby, think being born and having to get used to a completely new world must be traumatic enough in the first few weeks without me taking the attitude that it must fit into my world and do what I want straight away! Like the idea that there are baby personality types and once you have worked yours out it can help you to anticipate needs and deal with them more effectively.

Loopy, congrats on starting your last week of work! I hope it is an easy week.

huffle, let us know how MW appt goes!

Raising a to Squids beautiful perineum!

OK I've glanced through this to know that FINALLY Squid's wait is over - so so thrilled for you.
Angelico - Fabulosa!!
(I have a sleeper so here goes) - I'm going to talk first and catch up on read later.
CWest - delighted re Naomi also, and Velo and Elpis. all
This side of the fence will be getting fuller and fuller (with a new list of complaints but at least it hopefully won't be bizarre hormones ruling the roost - touch wood).

MidgetM I had to read one of your posts a few times, a while back, thought you had posted pics of your fanjo on the site - but you were saying you wouldn't post pics where you had talked about the state of your fanjo - very confusing to a soft brain.

Liege Fjordmor MrsC Perhaps things have moved on, but I was worried for you and the extra monitoring - agree with the comment, on removal via the sun roof if needed. I look on the extra monitoring as positive (one of nature's optimists).

Boxsets - I can't do the BF and computer so I got Damages and the first series of Morse from the Library. Damages is actually good - Glen Close.

Cherry Of course you know there is no such thing as too much rest. You are in training for a marathon. I can relate to the sadness of bean being out - I had that with DS1. I felt I was part of a miracle that might never happen again. Afraid hanging over the toilet bowl once too often removed that from me with number 2. In the days coming up to the induction I felt OVERWHELMING relief.
As for missing the baby inside, which I know many of us feel, I had a friend one time, a great mum and she was talking about her older children - I asked what was her favourite age for children. She answered every part is the best part, and I agree with her. They're lovely inside and lovely when they come out, crawling is great, first words....

WantanOrange You asked about SPD - I read on Mumsnet to warn MW not to have your legs too strained, or allow the use of stirrupy things if you are numbed. You can get injured without realising - this makes sense to me as I suffer from TMJ (Jaw joint) problems, and I will not let dentist/hygienist keep me in a very strained position (mouth wide open) for too long as it gets very sore.

Londonlivvy Congrats on making marriage plans - I was asked by the community nurse for the DoB of my 2 year old the other day, and I couldn't answer . Don't worry if DP isn't as interested, they can be a bit bowled over with the fatherhood thing and not too interested in weddings on a good day
Love your birth plan, but Beeblebs looks good too, only more detail. If I could the only thing I would add is not to poo in a crowded room with my bum in the air (Which I did - oh the indignity )

Huffle Birth positions - with DS1, because my waters had broken 36 hours earlier, I was monitored a lot (internally) so felt very restricted. I spent a lot of time on ball and then later on bed. This time I walked and stood in the early stages, but once I started on the gas, I felt a little dizzy with it so I stayed in bed after that. I delivered on all 4s/semi squat over the back of the bed.
Smorgs Farm analogies are uncomfortably apt - I grew up on a farm too and does anyone remember James Herriot and All Creatures Great and Small? - They often have their arms up cow's fanjos. I had a manual removal of placenta, which I did not see, but I can guess....

Next time I log on I will tell my story, then read everybody else...

Well, first day of maternity leave has been good but extremely unproductive! Had so many things I wanted to do but just thought I would enjoy relaxing today. Decided to have an early afternoon snooze and am now completely shattered!!

Can I just ask a question about BH? Up until now I didn't think I'd experienced any but now I'm not too sure. Have been getting pains for the last 2 days that feel like either mild period pains or like I've got a stomach bug (diarrhoea cramps) - sorry if TMI!! My tummy doesn't really feel as if it is tightening either.

They've happened a couple of times today - have currently been sitting and getting up and moving around has made them ease off a bit.

32, 36+1, #1

lisbeth so great to hear from you! Hope you and paul are doing ok!

Thanks for sharing your story squid. Agree with others that you were far too hard on yourself as usual-what a great job you did!

So much of squid's description was terrifyingly familiar and has brought it all back to me. After grumbling so much about my stressful job occupying my mind, I am one day into maternity leave and now lingering endlessly on birth worries. Think it has coincided with a bad hormone day and feeling especially guilty not to be doing more to entertain my poor little DS. He is full of beans and must be wondering what the heck has happened to his normally energetic and imaginative playmate. I just feel like I want to be left alone to brood in peace, but know that is not the answer. Plus DH is not in until after 11 tonight and the next two nights so there is noone coming in to relieve me. Sorry to grumble, I just feel so tired and weepy.

Love to you all.

bella my thoughts exactly about squid! squid really well done but it did bring back flashbacks... I'm just banking this time on actually having a medical professional with me to help me through the terror and thoughts that I'm going to die, rather than an equally terrified DH on his tod! Oh, and some pain relief would be nice too.

wantanorange thinking of you...hope it's quick

I am also knackered knackered knackered. Knackered. I know it's not newborn knackered but I am so heavy and lumpy and the baby feels like it's about to fall out of my fanjo any minute, which is deeply unpleasant. The bump has Officially Dropped and I'm walking like John Wayne. My pelvis is about to split in two and it's absolute agony all the time. Doing gymboree with DS this afternoon was an absolute barrel of laughs

Getting quite spikily painful BH contractions but they don't feel like labour iykwim. Hope there's not something weird going on.

Better go and say goodnight to DS...involves hauling my massive bulk off the sofa and upstairs (sorry for myself emoticon)

Hi ladies! yomping we must hav x posted, MW apt was fine. All normal, defo just BH!!

V glad to say tho that last nights scare has kicked me up the bum, all hospital bags packed : one for baby, one for mummy, wee one for daddy (cos he gets v hot and bothered and wants his shorts and sandals) and the spillover one for car with extras for mummy and baby if we end up staying longer! All this for hospital which considers discharge after 6 hrs if no complications!!!
House better organised, therefore mind better organised and another pot of soup for freezer!!! And only went to work for 1 hr!! Whoopee!

How I am going to manage sitting doing nothing..... Will maybe finally put on pregnancy weight eating crisps and chocolate all day!!

Lisbeth thank you for your info on positions! The more I read about everyone's experience the more I realise I hav no idea!!! Hoping will manage a combo of bed and upright like you then, it will not happen quickly!!!!! Love to little Paul. Xx

Kyyria I hope to be like you tmrw and hav an unproductive day!!!! We def need them... I was a bit of a whirlwind today, but glad I did as I feel better. Hoping you hav some company at times when DH is away?? Wish we could pop out for a coffee and compare notes!! Bit far away.....! I was reading a fair bit about BH at ungodly hours this morn and the answer seems to be that there is a multitude of possible sensations to feel!! I've had tightenings for ages, general shiny tight tight tummy, sometimes wee bit crampy period type feeling at lower extremity. Last nights tho were at top of tummy, niggly, tingly, gradual tightening and releasing in a definite pattern. Today I've had combo of all!!! But MW not even vaguely concerned they are anything other than BH. So sounds like you are having variety too!! And of course lots never feel them at all. Aren't we glad to hav so many varied experiences here???!

That's me for the evening ladies. Plan a lot of reading of Baby Whisperr (for whoever asked, mine is 3rd in series, called Solving Problems, I think) but she spends first good while explaining all principles and giving guidelines. Book then divided in to age groups. Seems good! Think I accidentally got wrong one, bought cheaply on eBay but so far it is excellent! Then an early night with hypno and a whole bed to myself!!

Oh and need to call GP again in morning about the whooping cough thing. They had no clue what was happening when I called today!

Night all, take it easy, and actually must check in later for any news on Babykumquat !!

huffle thanks for the BH reassurance!

Would also like to say in defence of GP surgeries that the first I heard about the whooping cough vaccine for preg women between 28-38wks was on the news on Friday morning...and I help run a GP surgery! I know other Practice Managers inour area were equally unimpressed with the lack of information. Would be nice if the Dept of Health could have let us know before hand! We tend to only store enough in stock to deal with child immunisation (you don't want a full vaccine fridge on the off chance you have a power cut and lose the lot) and also it's tricky to have extra stock this time of year because of the flu and pneumonial vaccines.

Thanks for all the virtual company - DH doesn't disappear off for work too often (in fact the last time was about 6 years ago) and I agree the timing is horrendous but he is unable to get out of it. He's only in Bradford (about 2.5 hours away if traffic is decent) so in the event that things kick off I can get him to drive home in time (hopefully). I had planned on meeting up with a work colleague for lunch but she wasn't too well so we postponed. I've got induction for final year of uni tomorrow night so at least I get to spend 4 hours out of the house with college friends. I'm then meeting up with my NCT antenatal girls for lunch on Wednesday, so I do have some activities planned. Other than that it's just waiting for the nesting instinct to kick in so that I can crack on with cleaning and decluttering the house.

Right, going to sort out some food and possibly an early night - I am shattered.

32, 36+1, #1

Yes, I am a GP, was at work on Friday, and first I heard of whooping cough vaccine was on mumsnet!!
Mega impressed with my own GP surgery today (where I'm a patient not where I work) - phoned at 8.30 this morning to ask about it, they didn't know and said they'd phone back. 30 mins later they were on the phone saying they'd be v happy to do it with my flu jab at lunchtime today! So I now have two sore arms but am fully immunised.
bella sympathise on the birth worries, got so anxious last night I was actually feeling really panicky. Felt horrible. Still not feeling great today. Too many scary memories from last time.

Just popping in - on? - to thank you all again for the lovely support you gave me yesterday. Today was so much better. DH brought back flowers from the preschool run, the health visitor congratulated me on DS's progress (he's lost less than 5% of his birthweight, as opposed to more usual 10%), and sleep was better last night after I took a proper look at the evidence on SIDS and bedsharing and decided to stop the feed-cot-wail-cuddle-cot-wail-nappy-cot-wail-feed etc cycle and let DS sleep alongside me if he won't settle in the cot. No duvet etc. I know it's not the official advice but in this instance I think it's going to be OK.

Thinking of everyone in labour right now. Must get back to ironing.

I didnt mean to scare or upset anyone. Births are all really different... some much harder than mine... some loads easier. Every hour that goes by I feel more and more positive about the whole thing actually. I mean yeah it hurt and was intense but I delivered a baby, at home, basically off my own back with a TENS machine! That's pretty awesome... I escaped with no interventions or tears and I know my recovery time will be really short... I am already bleeding not much more than a period, I'm half the size already my uterus/belly is just shrinking away hour by hour, it doesn't hurt to wee any more... I think I was just a bit shell shocked at the experience.

Srorry am a bit sleep depirved and one-handed but did not want ot add to negative birth stories or anything, mine had loads of positives- not least amazing baby in my arms now. For second time mums I'm sure it's supposed to be LOADS easier second time!

thinking of you all... I should probably decamp to postnatal thread eh!
ps. my and my daughter

Hi everyone, CONGRATULATIONS Squid on the arrival of Baby Jess!!! I am so happy for you :) Also chuckling quietly at the "beautiful perineum, i can't cut this!" comment! Good for you!!! Hope you are feeling more rested today and you are being waited on hand and foot. Same goes for the rest of you superladies. Fjordmumma and Orange (Lol, Kumquat!) Have been thinking of you- hope all went well today.

Well my day was also very unproductive- although this is the first day of my weeks holiday so I think I'm allowed :) Had my family round for a roast yesterday which was so nice, but is anyone else finding visitors just exhausting? I have the week off and I have arranged visitors/lunch/dinner plans for every day. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Last wednesday I made lunch plans and it was more exhausting that an 8 hour shift at work but not that bloody 10 hour shift the day after

Went to see my Great Grandad today. (In a home with alzheimers). He is well and happy. They took him to London yesterday and did the proper sightseeing tour, buckingham palace, etc etc. He didn't remember any of it and it does bug me that the staff were so surprised that he didn't tell us today, I mean honestly, get real!
I am so happy that he is Ok though. He forgets obviously that I am having the baby and is so shocked every time I turn up and he sees I am pregnant, but I honestly wasn't sure wether he would see the day that his first great great grandchild was born, as he has been ill with the disease for so long. But alas, he is still here, my beautiful strong grandad is still with us and in 5 weeks (or less I bloody hope!!) time he will see my little boy/girl. :)

Anyway. that was a completely pointless ramble but GG was so good today I felt it warranted me to say it to someone- god knows the rest of the family haven't bothered to see him, so I don't bother telling them!!

elpis I am bedsharing with jess and lots of evidence says it is perfectly safe if you do it right and it is better for breastfeeding. Also it is taking me an age shifting sore body out of bed so god knows how I could feed through the night otherwise

No, Kyrria & Smylie I didn't really expect surgery to know anything yet. DoH guidance only released on Friday locally and applies only quickly to 38 wks+. But up to 39! Other less far on weeks being done after that. So figured I better get on ball as am 38+1 today! They advised I ask MW who advised me to ask them!! So I will try again in the morning and try not to be a pain. Know how these things can drive a practice to distraction!!!

And I never even thought of flu vaccine...........!

Was just checking on for any other news.

Lovely pic of Jess !!! With one v cool looking mama!!

X

squid please don't apologise, was great to hear your story and so happy that you are recovering so well! I have bought another monster size pack of maternity pads today-maybe I have been a bit pessimistic?? Beautiful beautiful pic of you and your baby! Thanks so much for sharing xx

elpis really glad to hear you have had a better day and well done on feeding your LO up so well! Fantastic. And do whatever works for you sleep wise- sod the rules, you know your baby!

smiley and crazy thanks for letting me know I am not alone. Not sure whether it is worse or better to know what you are in for..? Except my DH is fed up of telling me that I am not going to have exactly the same experience as last time and should try and be a bit more optimistic!

Four days overdue... Phooey.

TMI coming up!

Am currently terrified for my bum. I have an anal fissure (waves at but does not name fellow sufferer which is a tear inside the bum that makes it feel like you're pooing over a shard of glass followed bya godawful muscle spasm which really really hurts. I know labour will make it worse - labour often causes the wretched things - and it's been acting up something awful in the last few days.

I am, at this point, way more scared of the fissure pain than the labour pain - especially becaus labour pains end, but a fissure tear... Well it takes a long time to heal. I've had mine almost a year now.

Anyone have any knowledge/experience of giving birh with piles or a fissure? Reassurance would be very VERY welcome...

Hello everyone! I've read snippets between monitorings. Haven't been able to click the plus to post on my phone app to post all day but now it's letting me for some reason.

Long story short, not much has happened today although I am around 2cm dilated and having contractions. DP and I have been in the delivery suite in a private room (not a delivery room) with a big flat screen telly. The routine has been pessary, trace 45 mins later, trace 4 hours later followed by examination of cervix and insertion of new pessary. I'm on my 4th pessary and now settling down for a night's sleep. DP is in a bed here as well which is a comfort in case my contractions escalate in the night.

They seem relaxed & in no hurry to pressure us along. They've talked of more pessaries in the morning & there's been no talk of breaking my waters yet. I've passed a few bits of mucus plug after good early progress but everything seemed to standstill after 3rd pessary. Contractions have increased after the 4th so I'm hoping I'll get some sleep in ( they've given me 2 paracetamol & a lush hot water bottle for my back).

I haven't minded all the cervical examinations. Mostly they've been fairly comfortable apart from one young female doctor who thrust her razor sharp begloved nails hard at my cervix, then proceeded to pull down so hard on my perineum that I think she's done a full job on stretching it out for birth. I'm still stinging & smarting from it after 12 hours! It was so painful my legs flipped up 3 feet in the air while on my back! I also don't mind all the monitoring and, although I'm in the most pain lying down, at least I can see my contractions on the trace. I'm not feeling them that much when moving around. So baby fjord won't make an appearance until tomorrow/Wednesday and thankfully, the zen is back.

Thinking of Wantan, MrsC, firstbubba and anyone else imminently going into labour. squid - your pic is lovely and a big thank you to everyone for their kind wishes & thinking of me. All I want now is for things to hold off at least until I've had a good night's sleep & brekkie tomorrow and then to escalate and all be over in 4 hours. I've had a longish yet relaxed early stage but I don't want 2nd stage to be as drawn out. AND DP & I have nearly decided on a name! Hopefully I'll have more exciting news tomorrow. Love to all & will check back in when I can xx

Wow fjord that's very exciting!!

Quick question from me- when should I be starting to drink rasberry leaf tea? Not that it will make any difference! I'm 38 1/2 weeks.

Job done.

Baby Planktonini arrived hale & hearty at 3.15 am, after five and a bit hours labour.

He is fine apart from some grunty noises, which are being checked now.

DH a real trooper throughout.

Baby adorable.

Onwards!

oh my god, huge congratulations Planktonette. 5.5 hours labour is great for a first time mum!! You sound amazingly calm, I was a jittery mess! I hope it's morphine . Lots of hugs and rest.

Wow the thread is producing epic amounts of babies now!!

Fjordmor you are a legend for updating whilst in hospital! Hope you got some rest and things are progressing well for you now. thinking of you xxx

Fjord, good to hear from you, glad you are staying chilled!

Angelico, hugs, hopefully you will feel lots better after a sleep. It must be so hard feeling like to have to ration picking miniAngelico up

Elpis, felt so sad for you and yours yesterday, it's so hard when DHs get so down, I think we get used to them supporting us (most of the time!) and when they give up and cry, it's heartbreaking . Kudos to your DH for bringing you flowers, tell him I think that was lovely of him, and that he's allowed to be finding it tough too but maybe he's not allowed to be finding it quite as tough as you

Planktonette, I remember you mentioning this before. Feel very sorry for you, it must be a hard thing to have to deal with, especially to deal with whilst pregnant. Think you are amazing for putting up with it and for not whinging more - you would have every right to . As I am a compulsively nosy person interested and curious I did some Googling. This forum might be of use, and there are some Mumsnet threads on the subject too - most posts I found said that labour wasn't any worse with a fissure, which might hopefully reassure you?

Mickey, Kyyria, hufflepuffle - unproductive days are A GOOD THING! Doing nothing is, in fact, giving your body a chance to relax, and it needs that. Labour will be shattering, I'm sure, so having some days here and there where you put no demands on your body is downright sensible! There, you have been told! Give yourself a pat on the back rather than thinking it's a bad thing to get nothing done sometimes. Women are terrible for this!

Incidentally, Kyyria, the sensations I am getting (that I now know are BH) are quite high up which is why I didn't realise what they were. It feels like someone is sort of gently squeezing the top part of my uterus and up into my ribs and lungs which makes me feel mildly panicky and like my heartrate is speeding up, even though it isn't. It's a really odd feeling

Bella, hope you too feel better this morning. Think all of this must be so much harder when you already have a child to look after and entertain. Can't say anything to help but sending you a restorative and xx

Crazy, sympathising with the John Wayne walk, tried to find an apt John Wayne quote for you but the best I found was this: Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much. - although if you changed talk to walk it would be so much better!

Well, I wore myself out yesterday, should take own advice about doing nothing. Trip to Ikea to meet up with lovely doula lady, got a pair of shark flipflops for £1.99 for in case I have to go into hospital and waters break there (tip from NCT classes) and some great stacking cups for £1.50, gotta love Ikea! Then went to gym for prenatal class but was way early so did 35mins of cycling first, which my hips are not thanking me for today . Discovered baby must be getting engaged as lunges on one side were extremely uncomfortable due to a small head being in the way! Sorry baby!

Then came home and did lots of washing of clothes and dishes, preparing dinner etc, then went to yoga and by the time I got home I was like a zombie. Had luscious lamb kebabs for dinner though and a sneaky cider so it ended up a nice evening.

Found out the the first baby has been born in my NCT group. One of the girls had PE so was taken in for monitoring and they decided to induce, baby girl born Sat. morning. Babies everywhere!

And I have had a good look at my dates and think I should revise my due date. It was originally worked out as 19th Oct. by my doctor, and I worked out this morning that based on my LMP, that gives a gestation of about 285 days which is 41 weeks 1 day (average for a first baby) take away 3 days for my 25 day cycle, so seems like a very sensible date. The first scan we had was a private one (wanted to have pics to show my parents) and moved us from 12+4 to 13+6 but I worked out this morning that if that is correct, we somehow managed to conceive before I had my last period . This seems a little, um, improbable. So the due date of 5th October, which was based on the first scan, also seems very untrustworthy.

Next time we update the list (news please Wantan, Firstbubba, MrsC and keep us updated Fjord!) I'm going to stick myself on further down at 19th Oct - now just go to work out how to get midwife to agree to new date so that she is not telling me I am 42 weeks and need induction, at the point where I think I am only just due - any tips on this?

Sorry, epic post . Lots to say today .

Yomping, 37, 39+4 or 37+4 depending on which due date I trust!

Oh god - such an epic post I cross posted with an actual baby being born! Planktonette, massive congrats!

New list in honour:

Due Dates:

Oct. 1: FjordMor DD1 by planned induction, Gigglewhizz DC1(?),MrsConfusion DC1 by planned induction, Firstbubba DC1 by planned induction, WantAnOrange DC2 by planned induction if not natural!
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 (?)
Oct. 14: Hufflepuffle DC1
Oct. 17: Smorgs DC1
Oct. 18: Bella2012 DC2, Beccus DC1
Oct. 19: Shellwedance DC1, Yomping 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, 7lb
Oct. 2: Planktonette ? DS Planktonini

Loving all the birth stories, ladies, am in awe you have the energy to be on here sharing your wisdom and experience with the rest of us.

Squid, i loved your honesty, you did so well, our mws keep describing transition as 'the time where you beg for an epidural or a c section' - i think it's just the tough, shitty bit we all have to go through. Such a lovely pic of the 2 of u. And u had an out of body experience, which is way cool!!

I nca't get enough of hearing all the birth stories - lots of feedback from people about how it seems to be pretty manageable up until about 6 cm. I am so putting in my birth plan that i want reassurance every 20 mins that me and baby are doing ok, and everything is progressing as normal because i know i'll be panicky and worried all the discomfort must be damaging us both, and can totally see myself getting into a total panic that we are both going to die.

planktonette, u don't mess about - you popped out your baby in record time-i would love to be getting ready for bed, wondering about anal fissures, to having baby in my arms by 3am - still plenty of time to catch up on some zzz's before the next day - congrats!

fjord, good to hear from you, sounds like u r doing well, hope you had a good kip, a nice breaky and bubs pops out like a pea from a pod this morning.

yomping, thx for the baby whisperer title :)

Had lovely 1st day mat leave yesterday - went for lunch, saw a film and failed to do any of the baby prep tasks i was meant to do. Right, need to get off mumset and prepare for the arrival of this little bean!