Due in October 2012 - Part 9...the final few waddling uncomfortably and hoping things start moving soon!

[Kyyria]

Just getting us sorted with a (hopefully) final thread before we all decamp to the PN thread!!

Waving pom poms for mickey, how are you doing today?

Orenishii, big congratulations on the arrival of Quincy, well done you and what a cool name! I have come to the conclusion that most first births don't go to plan and many are pretty traumatic . Out of 8 of us in my NCT group... 2 EMCS, 2 bad induction experiences, 2 forceps and epesiotomies (one with spinal block in theatre after a 16 hour active stage including 5 hours of pushing... that was me, rather a long way from the home waterbirth I wanted). Smooth first births seem a bit of a myth! So post away, it is cathartic and the support will make you feel better.

thinking of u mickey, as i sit here, hooked up to my pump, like a dairy cow....at least it's a good excuse for a hot chocolate :) hope u r not suffering preggo related insomnia xx

hi beccus, I am up too! Struggling to keep my eyes open tonight!

Congratulations oren and I am so sorry you have had a traumatic experience. I feel so much for you and londonmrs as my first birth was very similar. londonmrs I felt like crying when I read your account as it was so like my ds1's birth. It took days and days of no sleep and agonising pain to get into established labour. I remember that feeling of complete loss of control and that it might never ever end. I too had the drip and a failed epidural and a long long pushing stage. I remember only relief that is was over rather than a rush of love when ds1 was finally born and I was left battered, bruised and truly traumatised by the experience afterwards. I felt like I had failed even thoug the rational part of me knew that none of it was my fault and that actually, my body had performed a miracle. I write all of this because I carried all that pain with me throught my latest pregnancy and felt absolutely convinced that the birth this time around would be equally as bad. I got very vlose to having to be induced, but to my surprise, William came of his own accord 9 days late and although I found the labour very painful, on reflection, it was a really good birth and everything happened in the order it should. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at hospital to be told I was already 5cm! Having had my waters artificially broken last time, I was so happy that they broke themselves at the right time this time. I haven't written up my birth story before, but felt compelled to as I hope that if either of you do go through this again, you will know that there is no reason that it will be that bad again. Everyone told me this, but I could not believe it. Although I found thus labour excruciating, and I spent most of it telling my hubby I could NEVER go throug that again, I very quickly changed my mind! I feel like it has righted some wrongs for me and I feel so happy and proud that my body did it all this time after me feeling so let down last time. I am sorry this is a bit garbled-I am bloody knackered! But I hope it may offer a little comfort to you.

mickey well done-another day closer to meeting your bean! You are doing brilliantly.

Will has fallen asleep again, naughty little chops! Will go and waggle my boob at him again....cmon little fella!

Xxx

god, I have just read that back and it is very garbled and lacking in several h's! I am one handed on my crappy phone and the h doesn't work very well! Sorry.

Bella thank you- it really helps to know that others experience the same thing. Some of the midwives I saw in the early stages were incredibly rude and dismissive of my pain, as if I was wasting their time by being only 2 cm...
Like Squid, I am beginning to be more philosophical in hindsight, and feel proud that I survived and proud of the few things my body did right. One of which was growing my beautiful daughter...
Still cartwheeling for Mickey!

Beccus 'like a cow' ditto here following 'manual removal of placenta' - i keep seeing james herriot in All Creatures Great and Small.

Dosmth Hzgreen you are not forgotten - Mikey has just posted more - good luck all.

Met a girl today whose DH DELIVERED her baby at home after a 45 min labour(#2) - 2 hr later MW (who arrived 15 mins post birth) gone away and new family snuggled up in front of fire. Now we can all feel cheated. I had a sprint like induction followed by epidural to shift naughty/retained placenta.
My baby is more fabulous though so I am

Kyria yours sounds tough - very medical. Glad it is behind you

Lmao Londonmrss I is giggling at the milk spraying cartwheels- if only I had the grace to cartwheel...

Thanks everyone. Shock horror, due date is actually approaching! Two days time. Lots and lots of tightenings yesterday and now, actually, but this morning had really bad period pains from 3am-6am. So of course I did not sleep. We had a power cut this morning- cue getting up in a very bad mood. Gas powered heating that only works when turned on by an electrical switch, go figure! The house was FREEEZING. I'm so glad it only lasted for a couple of hours.

Well ladies I'm off to finish painting a cow, dish and a spoon- i've painted the hey diddle diddle rhyme on the baby's bedroom wall will post a pic when I've finished!!

I miss you all and your wise words of wisdom, and I can truly say I cannot wait to finally meet my LO and join you all on the post-natal thread properly. Lots of love and hugs to you all, those that are struggling and those that aren't (lucky you!) and a big thankyou for all thinking of me and supporting me here even though you are all now so busy!! xxxxxx

hiya mickey. Glad to hear things are going in the right direction! Sorry about the heating-that is a pain! Keep us posted of any developments xx

We have spent most of today having a newborn photography session which was amazing! Loads of cute little hats and socks and brilliant poses. We got it all for free too so everyone is a winner! Nice to have a break from the constant flow of visitors too!

awww Bella Thats so cute... I've seen a gorgeous outfit (a crimbo) outfit for the baby and i'm going to put him/her in it for christmas day :D

Picture is up of our wall!!

Ok- I've put the picture on my profile but will also load one onto facebook group... I hope it worked!

Mickey it looks amazing! Wish I had that sort of talent. Hope things continue to progress for you this time.

-waves at mickey-

It's your due date eve! I won't say "enjoy it while it lasts" (!! my most hated phrase in late pregnancy!) but I will say book some nice things for the next week... I found it helped to fill my diary so I didn't just sit around waiting. Thinking of you xxx

Orenishi congratulations on your son. I'm really sorry to hear the birth was difficult. I second londonmrss that I found writing it down very helpful. Feel free to join us on the postnatal thread if you like, maybe it would be easier to tell your story there, where we have all given birth already... I think you'll find few people who didn't struggle with some aspect of their birth... it's a huge experience... I guess needing to process it is very normal.

bella thanks for your words about easier second births... i for one find it very comforting!

mickey cheering you on over the finish line and hope those tightenings move ito something more interesting. GRR re the power cut ? really not the time of year re the heating.!

orenishii huge congrats on safe arrival of Quincy. As with yomping and LondonMrsS (and bella) my daughter?s birth was pretty tough too (42 hours from first contractions to hello baby, wished I was dead for large parts of it ? indeed begged to be put out of my misery. epidural. Spinal block. Ventouse. Felt utterly battered and shell shocked when she got here I couldn?t give her any love ? fortunately DF was able to provide) so I really do sympathise. I spent much of the first week having nightmares about it and endlessly reliving it, but am getting a bit calmer about it now. I imagine it fades with time but right now our daughter is firmly looking like being an only child. londonmrss* and YES re midwives being dismissive. Same here. I wanted to kill her.

I feel very jealous of the couple of friends that I?ve had who?ve had babies in less than five hours from start to finish and just a bit of gas and air and said ?oh it wasn?t that bad ? not as bad as I?d feared?. Why them? Why not me? But I am realising it is so random and out of your control that you just have to see what happens on the day. If we do do this again, tough, I?m asking for an epidural the minute I step in the door of the hospital.

bella any top tips for rousing a sleeping baby (when they are supposed to be feeding)?

Oops. Very sorry re lots of bold type. Asterisk fail. Don't mean to be harbinger of doom. I do know people who have had entirely straightforward births with no pain, just strong sensations. And I met one woman who had an orgasmic birth!

Happy due date Mickey

Come on baby mickey! There's a little cot made up for you on the post natal thread...

happy due date Mickey. Thinking of you.

Livvy I wish so much that I had some tips on rousing a sleepy one! Sadly, nothing except a nappy change works for us. So often it takes two hours for him to get his fill in the night. Am feeling totally exhausted today, but now my todddler is up and full of beans so there's no chance of any more sleep. Sob! I am so sorry you are habing such a hard time just now. I read what you wrote on the other thread and can so remember that feeling. The first week without your DF is when you have to accept your new life of Mummydom, your new full time job, rather than the babymoon with your man. I feel the same this time as my DH is like yours and is away from home long hours. I have no idea how I am going to cope with two of them since my boobs are glued to the baby most of the time. But I have been dreading it so much that I kind of feel like I need to just get on and do it. As midget says, I doubt the reality will be as bad as what we are imagining! Confidence getting out and about with a baby does come very quickly. You will just have to keep celebrating the little victories- every time you get somewhere vaguely on time or something like that. Is Monday your first day on your own? That is mine too-I will be sending you good luck vibes! Xxx

Just popping in to say hello and thinking about you mickey. Love your mural!

happy due day to me, happy due day to me, this baby needs to hurrrrrry, happy due day to me

thanks everyone. can't wait to join you all! I just want snuggles with my little one now!

Happy due date Little Mickey! You're nearly there. Make sure you spend some time relaxing if you can ("Enjoy it while you can" "Fuck off, that's the most annoying thing anyone can say...")
Enjoy it while you can though!

I don't think I've got much time left to enjoy!! MW has been this morning and given me a stretch and sweep, but i'm 3cm dilated and 75% effaced already!! She is expecting me to go into labour today and have this baby by tomorrow morning hooray!! How exciting..

Now off to go and get some food in our cupboards and nursing bras because i forgot and i still haven't done that yet!! Hopefully my waters will break in mothercare and i'll get free stuff haha!

Ooh mickey that's great news! How exciting! If I were you I'd now go on a tour of all the shops that give you free stuff if your waters break there

Woo hoo!

So exciting Mickey! Good luck with everything, don't forget to blow the gold dust into your fanjo or whatever it is the hypnobollockers say!

@ "Enjoy it while you can" Londonmrs!

hurraaaaaaaah for mickey! Glad all these pains u have been having have done something! Good luck hun xx

Wood good

Go Micky go!