May 2013: 5 in the thread and the little one said, roll over - there's lots more on the way!

[Rhienne]

Running out of space over here so a new thread for all our fabulous birth stories!

I've ordered pads and its a lloyds one. I know the ins and outs but not what to do with it when I'm in labour lol!
Is this the new arrival the first official may baby? I'm trying to work it out but can't think. X

bunny use it at the first signs of labour. The effect is accumulative so important to use it early on otherwise it'll be pretty useless. Press the boost button when you get a contraction. It makes the area tingle and is meant to build up your natural endorphins. I found it a useful distracting sensation to focus on, if nothing else. HTH

Well ladies Ive had my bikini wax, Ive put a bit of gradual tan on, painted toe nails and tidied finger nails. I'm good to go now. Have to say bikini wax today was strange felt baby moving low literally rolling around where she was waxing. I've had a few period type pains since but don't think any things going to happen.

I'm doing everything I can to start it off though. Curry last night, bouncing on birthing ball and I'm going to eat a pineapple tonight

So impressed beautician !

Never thought this would happen. Turns out my nursing bra's are cheaper then my normal bra's. Still getting used to them as they really do feel different. Will always stay a Prima Donna girl at heart but it will be a while before I'll be wearing those again.

Also made arrangements for the cord blood collection and payment.

And bought my final big item. A play pen: www.babykeur.nl/images/boxcharlie.jpg
Very happy with it and it's the perfect place to keep the baby safe from our dog. Not that I think he would ever hurt her, but he might not be able to resist giving her a big lick :)

I have to ask beaut, how on earth did you manage to paint your toes?

Tiger With great difficulty. It took about half hour as I had to keep pausing. I just pulled my foot up and bent toes over to see if that makes sense. It was very comical I was huffing and puffing throughout. DP offered but I wanted them done properly. I am determined to go into the labour ward and come out feeling half human. A post baby body is so much easier to take if all my grooming has been done

Hello everyone, I'm tentatively sticking my head in again just to say congratulations on all the new arrivals - lovely news and so good to see that everyone is doing so well.

Thanks also to those of you who were so kind and understanding when I stepped away from the thread for a bit, it was really appreciated (Wirra and Tas, thank you in particular). I see people have started putting 'TMI' alerts on their posts, which is really kind too and helps a lot.

I should probably come clean and admit that I'm perhaps a bit more sensitive about birth stories than I ought to be. Without going into details (TMI alert!) I have several friends who have lost babies either in birth or very late in pregnancy and so for this (and other) reasons I am particularly worried about the whole thing.

I've still got a couple of weeks at work but feel like I'm on the home stretch now (I'm due on the 28th). I'll be one of the last to pop I expect!

Anyway, happy bank holiday to you all, hope you don't mind me rejoining the thread.

Good to see you back seasalt I know its quite scary hearing birth stories when your a first timer .... grin but all will be fine from now am sure and everyone is getti very good at the tmi alerts X

Welcome back Seasalt that is very sad about your friends babies and totally understandable why it would make you more concerned although birth is generally very safe. I hope that you find this group helpful and with the tmi label, it makes it easier to skip some stories if you would rather not read.

Well done on the grooming Beaut! I had my hair done on Thursday so if I am suffering at least I can look at my hair and think 'well, doesn't it look lovely'

I have been cleaning like a woman possessed over the last couple of days. Even the metal kitchen bin is all shiny. It has got a bit out of hand tbh. Also, went to rinse out one of my lovely Irish porcelain jugs yesterday that sits on kitchen window ledge and there was a massive wolf spider living in there! Eeek! I had to pour water in there to float it out as it wasn't going to move from its nice safe home otherwise. It's in the backyard somewhere now, probably just biding its time before it attempts to move back in though.

I'm feeling a mixture of emotions this weekend, I'm excited, nervous and a little sad, it's my last weekend of being a mum to one, and next weekend I will be a mum to two!

Hi all, have been absent for so long! But so nice to catch up on all the news with the familiar names. Hope all the new babies are doing well, mummies too. seasalt I understand your need to step out for a bit. I did same whenever I read something that made me anxious. Just try to remain calm and positive. I have been in early labour for two days now, contractions strong but irregular. Hope they progress soon, I'll be too exhausted before the actual birth. Question to those that have done this before: in early labour, should I be relaxing, resting and trying to sleep? Or should I be walking about, light exercise to get things to progress? Keep getting conflicting advice.....

39 +2

I would rest pickle your gunna need all the energy you can get godd luck to you xx

Oh Pickle that does sound like you will pop soon. As a veteran of two LONG pre-labours I would strongly advise you to rest. Your body will progress as it needs to but you must conserve energy for the established labour. Eat little and often, drink lots of fluids and if sleep is a possibility then grab it.

Nice to see you back Sea. Sorry to hear about your friends. Try and keep positive and focus on the fact that you are healthy and you are booked into a great London teaching hospital (the very one where I was born in fact!).

Good going on the grooming Beaut. I'm too scared to get waxed at this stage so I am sticking to Veet every few days but I bet baby will arrive on a stubbly day in between Veets. I'm booked for a pedicure next Friday and I'm getting my hair coloured 4 hours before my induction is booked in 8 days time!

I'm currently lounging in a bath if Clary Sage Oil. Anything to try and avoid the induction. It's a bit musty smelling but quite pleasant.

Hello everyone - and welcome back seasalt - it's lovely to hear from you again.

Well, today is my due date! So funny after so long saying to people the 5th of May when they ask, and now suddenly it is the 5th of May! I had a hospital appt this morning and they showed me around the midwife led unit (which is in the hosp). I feel much my confident about everything now I know where I'll be going. They did a stretch and sweep - I thought they would say that I was miles off because I haven't felt much. But to my surprise they said that I am 2cm dilated and showing all the signs of things happening soon! She said that she could touch the baby's head! Such a surprise. I am now at home feeling like I should just do a final clean and check of my hospital bag etc in case they are right. Have been feeling some mild period like pains, but nothing very obvious. Weird mixture of excited and apprehensive....

I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely bank holiday weekend - aren't we lucky to have some sunshine. beaut I am super impressed. I vaguely wave the razor at my legs every couple of days hoping things aren't getting too out of hand and I did manage to paint my toenails but it sounds like you are super groomed and glamorous.

Exciting stuff pickle - I hope things start to progress soon. And take it easy meanwhile.

Welcome back seasalt

Excited for you roast and pickle!

beaut I am very impressed. It was impressed with myself that I was able to cut my own toenails. Do not think I can paint them and can't sit upright long enough to go for a pedicure. Am too much of a chicken to attempt waxing. Now my arms are getting too short I'm going to need DH to take care of my lady garden [shocked] we'll see how that turns out!

Welcome back Seasalt. Am also impressed by Beaut's beautification. Really excited for Roast and Pickle, good luck to both of you.

Seasalt So glad you came back. It must be hard with your friends having bad experiences. No matter what your labour brings when you hold that yummy precious newborn its all forgotten. Have you had any twinges yet?

For whoever said I'm glamourous thank you but I'm really not. It's just after I had ds1 I felt really smelly and unattractive. So with ds2 I made sure I had a shower straight after and like this time I had manicured, pedicured and waxed beforehand. It was just one less thing to worry about so I could put all my energies into my gorgeous new baby.

I'm so ready now. I think its just my fear that I will have this baby on ds2 birthday next Monday and I really want to avoid it. What will be will be but a bit of a gap between the two birthdays would be nicer for the boys plus I don't want to be away from ds2 on his birthday. I think that's something that will stick in his head.

To make the whole new baby coming home experience easier for the boys I am putting together a bag of bits and bobs as a present from new baby. I think this will really help ds1 who has autism. So far I have an angry birds activity book each and some sweets. Anymore ideas they are 6 and 8

Pickle I started off the same with ds2. I went for a twenty minute walk if that and my contractions started feeling more effective very soon into the walk. Once they were stronger and more regular I went home and got in the bath which was a good pain reliever. In fact I only realised how strong my contractions were once I got out of the bath. They were closer together by that point so I went into hospital.

I would say maybe go for a bit of a walk and if it does nothing then spend the next day or so relaxing. Watch films and eat cake

beaut that's a really good idea about having a little bag from the baby, I always thought that the 'present from the baby' idea was more for toddlers but my son is also 6 and has autism so this might help him adjust more. I might put together a little bag too. I'd probably put angry birds stuff in too, those little packs of Lego, power ranger stuff, some sweets and maybe a Skylanders book or possibly a small Skylanders figure too.

Good luck to those in labour - I'm jealous!

Morning ladies. Quick question, can some of your waters go even though you've not had a show?

Morning tiger, no idea! I would think so - you can also have a really gradual show which is like extra discharge?

My boobs are super sore today, feel like I want to give birth just so the baby can start feeding and reduce the pressure! Having a terrible time with DH but trying to just focus on getting ready for the baby...

Thanks zorra, I went to bed last night with stomach cramps, and woke up to wet jammie bottoms (but no show). Stomach cramps have went away but I'm going to spend the day getting last minute things organised just incase :o

37+5

What's going on with your dh zorro? No advice for the sore boobs sorry, unless you try a nice warm bath? It might not do anything for the soreness but would help relax you.

Tiger, I didn't have a show with DS and my waters went before I'd had any contractions.

Zorra sorry to hear you're having problems with DH, it's a stressful time for everyone. Put your feet up, have a and a and try and relax.