April 2013 Part 7: As our miracle Alex continues to grow & the one that sees us reach TERM

[toobreathless]

Over here Ladies!

As the title suggests our fore runners will almost certainly hit 37 weeks this thread.

And the wonderful little Alex will hopefully continue to go from strength to strength and edge closer to the door home with Mama

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1658011-April-2013-part-six-what-does-the-third-trimester-have-in-store

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1560543-April-2013-stats-thread

num it depends on your practice but I asked my MW and just had to book in with the practice nurse for my whopping cough vaccine.

Rosie congratulations, super exciting news

Mrs simpkins so sorry to hear about the break in, what absolute !s I was broken into years ago and the thing I was most upset about was losing my camera with all the photos on it, as everything else I could replace. Horrible feeling like they have been in your home though, that should always feel like a safe haven.

can't believe the speed this thread is going, struggling to keep up. On the raspberry leaf tea debate the BBC website says:
"raspberry leaf tea has been proven to facilitate labour by helping the muscles of your uterus to contract. Drinking this tea in the months before delivery (but not before 30 weeks) can help shorten the second stage of labour (great!). It also appears to reduce the risk of having an assisted delivery"
I have 2 friends who swear by it (2hr and 4hr labours respectively) so have been drinking it since 26 weeks. There is no clinical evidence to support it bringing on labour, but some to support the shortening of the second stage and I'm all for that :)

On a much lighter note, I've been struggling with even climbing the stairs at home without getting out of breath, but for some reason thought it would be a good idea to go for a swim before work at 6:30am this morning. It felt so good to be weightless that I managed 40 lengths (1km!) so I was feeling really pleased with myself. Just tried to get up from my desk and my pelvis has seized! Hoping yoga will loosen it off tonight (this makes it sound like I exercise all the time, i don't , normally just my once a week yoga/sleep session ) that will teach me for following the NHS tip to "keep active in these last few weeks as it will help give you stamina to cope with labour"

oh and trish many congrats on your wedding, the photos are really lovely.

and Mama hope you got some lovely Alex cuddles, sounds like (apart from this little hiccup) you are both doing brilliantly, I am so in awe!

Hello everyone.

Welcome newbies.

MrsS so sorry to hear about your break-in.

You can definitely tell most of us are now off work - the thread is moving so quickly!

I'm exhausted. I took DD to toddler gymnastics yesterday, which involves lots of running around, lifting her onto equipment and dancing (!). I then thought it'd be a good idea to go swimming for an hour and a half.

I popped a film on this morning but then felt guilty so we've played in the garden and then I've walked her to nursery this afternoon (50 min round trip now I'm pg).

Hi all,

how do I join the Facebook group?

thanks

I'm amazed how many of you are able to exercise!

Hey everyone,
Just having a break from operation clear up. Locksmith is here changing locks now do hopefully I'll sleep better tonight! So far we've cleaned and scrubbed the whole downstairs of our house which was the worst bit with all the broken glass. DH took the day off and has decided he doesn't help me enough with housework and has enjoyed helping today so 'every cloud...' I suppose!
Have been very teary today and just burst into floods every time I think of some grot bag being in our house! So thanks for all your kind words it really means a lot especially from you mama knowing what a tough time you've been through.
Oh we'll onwards and upwards with the cleaning mission!
Hope everyone's enjoying the better weather - it means our spring bubbas are on their way! :)

I can't keep up with you all!

MrsS, the break in sounds horrendous, I can only imagine how awful.

Small update - I've been signed off this week with exhaustion and anxiety, I think the first has made the second uncontrollable. I don't want to leave work yet, but couldn't really argue that I didn't need a break, when I was crying at the poor GP! I've got two and a half weeks left after this, so I'm hoping I can get back for the last bit of term.

A midwife friend has reassurred me that the Braxton Hicks and pains I was getting down the front of my bump at the weekend are normal, especially in a second pregnancy. It can be so worrying though!

As well as St George's Day, April 23rd is also Shakespare's 'birthday' , so it's a fab date

Fact make the most of this week! Relax xxxxx I was off work for nearly a week for the same and high BP and managed another 2.5 months xx

Ladies! We are looking at going on holiday in September with our friends who have a baby too (he's the one in the pics on fb).

Me and hubby want 10 nights and the other couple want 14 nights. Any of you any advice or experience! I tend to get bored on 14 night holidays!

Hi ladies! This thread is really moving very fast - just read this tip where someone had posted about witch hazel pads - never heard of that. tried googling but not much help. Can someone please tell me the benefit and how to make them? Thanks

Hope you all are doing well. Have my appointment tomorrow - will update u guys!!

Trish I think your right to do 10 night we often get bored with 14! Congratulations on becoming a mrs too, you looked fab!

MrsS how awful to have your things rummaged through, especially the baby stuff, hope the clean up operation went ok.

Mama always lovely to hear how well Alex and you are getting on, can't wait for the photos x

We had a anti natal visit from the HV today, apparently I'm at height risk of PND because of what happened with DS, (had PTSD following a traumatic Birth)
I think I was ok after DSs birth I know I spent 3 weeks crying, but that was because he was so poorly and touch and go for a while. Will just have to wait and see I suppose!

Hope everyone is well x

Hi ladies,

finally some time to read through the thread after dinner... Sad to hear about the horrible break-in MrsS, I think the psychological effect always makes you feel worse than what they actually take. Hope the change of locks help you start getting over it.

I drank raspberry leaf tea for the final 4 weeks with both DD1 and DD2, both came a day or two after my due date, labour lasted about 8 and 4 hours. I have already bought some from Ocado, although it turned out to be not 100% raspberry leaf. This is what it says on the box:

"Twinings raspberry leaf 20 teabags
Raspberry Leaf (50%), Hibiscus (20%), Rosehips (20%), Apple Pieces (10%). Seek medical advice before drinking this product. Raspberry leaf should be avoided by those in the early stages of pregnancy."

mrsb that's the same tea that I bought couldn't find 100% raspberry leaf tea anywhere...If anyone knows if that exists and where to get it from please let me know.

nottinghill if I remember correctly people were saying on here to pour witch hazel onto pads and leave them in the fridge to keep them cool and wet. It's supposed to be soothing after birth. I've tried it a few times already during pregnancy as I've been getting really itchy down there and it feels really good with the cold witch hazel!!! you can buy it from boots for those people looking still to get it. In the shops it seems to be in random places, here it is online witch hazel

So sorry to hear about the break-in mrs s. That's a terrible thing to happen at the best of times let alone when you're expecting. Hope the clean up goes well and you can feel secure and start looking ahead again.

I'm going to look for raspberry leaf tea tomorrow it sounds like it has some good benefits, anything to try to reduce the time in labour.

Had my 34 week MW appointment today, baby is head down and all looking good. Cannot wait to finish work, 11 days to go.

I bought raspberry leaf capsules today from Holland and Barrett, boots, supermarkets and normal pharmacies do not stock it as far as I have found. It was £7.49 for 100 capsules, each contains 100% raspberry leaf, 400mg, says to take 3-6 per day with food, either as a capsule or can open capsule into a cup of hot water. I bought 2 loads as buy 1 get 1 half price, aiming for 4 per day, so just in case I go over I have enough!!

Just read back message, to clarify I got it at Holland and Barrett. They di not stock in boots, supermarkets or pharmacies as far as I could see.

Essex SNAP! I also got the Holland and Barett Raspberry leaf tea capsules today on the same offer. I used them with DD two years ago and had a very quick labour until the little madam got stuck!

I had my 36 week MW appt here, baby head down and almost fully engaged but DD was too at same stage and was eventually induced 2 weeks late as she was far too comfy. Bump is currently back to back but not too concerned about that either, will get the ball out and start bouncing!

Exhausted here, will name check tomorrow. Hope everyone gets a good nights sleep.

mrsS hope the clean up went well and you got a better nights sleep last night.

mama Alex is doing fantastically well, I can't imagine how proud of him you must be :).

I started getting hospital bag stuff yesterday because DP is having kittens over me not being prepared. I honestly don't expect her to arrive anytime soon, she seems really comfy in there!
So yesterday I bought huge jogging pants for post cs so they come up nice and high, a couple of button down night dresses, a few vests to layer under the night dresses for feeding discretely and some slip on slippers. The disaster is my feet are far too fat to fit in the slippers haha! They'll be going back and I'll be searching for slippers that slip on bit are seriously generous for my elephant sized feet!
We got some bargains for the baby in primark too. A sunhat and a sleeping bag in the sale for £1 each, 3 pairs of scratch mitts for £1 and a pack of 7 towelling bibs for £3.
My preloved nappies and wraps arrived yesterday too so now we have over 30 in different styles/brands so we can check which work best for us and the baby before buying new ones.
We've ordered the mattresses and hopefully they'll arrive today so DP can start building the cot and basket stands. We have two baskets, one for downstairs and one for the bedroom. They were cheap enough and it'll make the first few weeks post cs easier.

Hope your all feeling good today :).

I had a bath yesterday instead of a shower to try and ease a few aches and pains. I haven't had a bath in years. Ever since I've had discomfort in my ear, especially when swallowing, burping or yawning. Anyone know what it may be and how to get rid?

Ok I'm freaking out a bit now. Just had MW visit and (despite still measuring spot on with fundal height) she commented on the size of the baby. He's head down, back next to my right hip and feet at my left hip - so very long! I'm just starting to wonder exactly how I'm going to get him out, especially as DD was a very normal 7lb 7oz!

My growth scan last week also put him on 95th centile, so it's a combination of a scan and MW (and shows how rubbish FH is as a measurement)! I'm wondering if there's a chance I'll be able to have a sweep at 39 weeks or so as then, if he's ready to come out, he'll have less chance to get to 12lb!

westie whenever I get ear discomfort like that I hold my nose and gently blow through it - not sure if it's recommended or not though! Does it feel like trapped water/air? I've found my ears feel congested in pregnancy.

35+4 (and hoping DS decides to come naturally at 38 weeks)!

Hello all.

Mrs S sorry to hear about your break in and I hope you are getting things straight again now.

Westie sounds like some water trapped in your ear perhaps. I find the best way to deal with this is to actually put more water in your ear under the shower - breaks the air bubble that the water is trapped behind and it all leaks out. I also did this with rotten sinusitus earlier in the pregnancy to ease the aching.

Sneezy all pre - birth calculations of baby weight have the potential to be massively out so please don't worry too much! I'd still be pressing for that sweep at 39 weeks though.

I have been to hospital (again) this morning for monitoring as I had a show yesterday and contractions overnight. I also thought my waters might have broken as I was feeling very, erm, gushy. Doc checked and confirmed waters intact but that I am in very early stages of labour and to go home and wait it out. The gushyness was all part of the show. It could be days or even a couple of weeks yet so I'm not getting excited.

It was great though to be on the monitor and for the first time them say, oh yes you're having contractions, bugger off and have them at home rather than admit me and make me sit round on the ward while nothing much happens...

But, I think we are ready (another epic list coming up):-

• carrycot and stand and all sheets / blankets / linings, etc washed and ready to go on;
• baby hospital bag packed;
• car seat covers washed and reassembled and snowsuit packed in it;
• my hospital bag packed (apart from last minute things like toothbrush);
• all baby clothes and accessories washed and put away;
• bouncy chair and playmat washed and ready to come out;
• pram chassis and basket washed, polished and tested;
• bibs / steriliser / emergency bottles, etc in a freshly cleaned cupboard (intending to breastfeed but still want the safety net in case it doesn't work out for us);
• a couple of dummies on standby - DS was the suckiest baby in the world and these really soothed him and saved my nipples and my sanity, and were surprisingly easy to ditch though he was 2 .

Gosh, I think that's it.

Sneezy, don't worry about the baby's size, my neighbor was pestered by the MW throughout her pregnancy for having a really small baby. When she went to hospital to give birth at 9 months, she looked 6 months pregnant. And the baby was born - 8lb 8oz. So you never know.

ooh flosshide how exciting and yay for being able to go home for a while.
I think baby has dropped having a lot of pressure down there. dont thonk he is ready to come oit just yet but at least he is doing what he should be, , evenid it getting a little uncomfortable down there
sneezy are you quiye tall? my friend is 5'9 and had the smallest neatest bump ever at term, she had a 9lb baby!!

MrsS hope you have been able to get things a bit straighter after the break in. Such a rotten thing to go through x

Flosshilde it sounds like things are happening so good luck and keep us posted!

I have got some raspberry leaf tea from Holland and Barrett. I will check what % is raspberry leaf because capsules might be better (and less tea drinking!).

This week I lined the nursery curtains and got them up, have finally ordered the moses basket mattress, the cot mattress, the car seat so that really is us done now, apart from the all important witch hazel and some supplies for the hospital bag i.e. plenty of sweets to keep my DH quiet. Do I need a good book in case of hospital bordem? The last thing on my list is one of those stretchy wrap baby slings - any recommendations?

My cousin is moving house and brought us 5 huge boxes of baby things to use at the weekend (swing seat, bouncer, play mats, spare car seat, a spare pram etc etc!) so the house is full of baby things. The washing mountain has started but I do need to do all the covers etc from these 2nd hand things too......its really feels like its getting close now!

" The last thing on my list is one of those stretchy wrap baby slings - any recommendations"

These are great :) i'd recommend Kari Me and Hug a Bub among many others. Moby wraps are great too but beware there are lots of forgeries of Mobys on the market apparently, so only buy a Moby from somewhere very reputable, and google to find out how to spot a forged Moby.