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!

Tiger, my waters kept on 'going', I could feel it pulsing out of me in little trickles. Perhaps call the hospital and see what they say? Over here you're supposed to go in when your waters go. Good luck.

Tiger yes I'm just thinking things to keep them occupied and so they don't feel left out.

Re waters yes they can go before. A lot of my friends didnt have a show or at least didnt notice it.

Zorra Whats going on. I hope you are ok

That's good to know about the show, I had mine 5 days before last time. Starting to think I'm gonna go way over again, I'm so ready to have baby now. We walked loads yesterday and was getting loads of pains last night. This morning back to nothing apart from really sore hips. DH has taken DD for a walk so I can bath in peace. I have my bump pictures today so I better sort myself out.

Weird question but has anyone else's bump got smaller?? When midwife measured me the other day it had gone under the centile chart and i have notice over the weekend I can actually see my feet again. Worried the baby has stopped growing.

Thanks everyone, I had what I thought was maybe some of my show about ten days ago after a speculum but nothing else happened since so I assumed I must have been wrong and it was just caused by the speculum. I'm going to stay active today, tidy up and get a bag ready for DS incase anything progresses and he has to stay at my friends.

There wasn't enough waters to phone the hospital just yet I don't think, they trickled out last time with DS and they kept sending me home then until things really started getting going, the hospital is 40 minutes away and DP is away at work with the car so I'll wait just now and phone them when he's home.

I hope things start moving soon for you too ineed.

Tiger, good luck. It definitely sounds like things are progressing. Let us know how you get on...

Zorra, sorry about the stresses with your DH. It is coming up to a pretty intense emotional time. Take some time for yourself if you are able to and we are here for you if you need to de-load your worries.

I get a bit worried about how DP will be with his depression once the baby is here. Not sure that it will be a magic cure like he is hoping for. But I try not to focus on it as we will just have to take each day as it comes. I feel like I have got a bit of a support network around here now though even though family is back in Aus/NZ so very thankful for that.

I hope everyone is able to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather today!

38+5

DH saga is long and ongoing, basically he has disappeared, and won't speak to me or DS, and hasn't for more than two weeks. He is fine according to his parents, and he has form for doing this. I just find it exhausting and infuriating - more important things to deal with than him being a twunt.

All these babies are so exciting! Also enjoying the spring weather here, DM has taken DS out for the morning so I've been unpacking/cleaning and now I'm going to have a snooze. Spent all night dreaming that I was in labour and waking up with tightenings (not sure if they were dream or real though, hm). Just the last few things to do: as long as the baby doesn't arrive before the lining for the birth pool does it will be fine.

Oh no Zorra, definitely not what you need at the moment! Hugs and , hope he sorts it out soon. Will be thinking of you.

Sorry to hear that zorra. DP used to do the same to me, he had depression for years and would go into these moods where he wouldn't speak to me for days, wouldn't answer calls or texts either. It was horrible, but it hasn't happened for a couple of years since after one time I couldn't take it anymore, cracked and told him if he ever did it to me again then he'd never see me again. He then went to the doctor and got treatment for his depression and has been like a different person.

I'm not saying your dh is depressed, but I know how it feels, it is horrible and he shouldn't be making you feel like this when you're so close to having a baby. I hope he pulls himself together soon for you.

Thanks for the replies. I don't think he's depressed, in his mind he is a single 17 year old, and can't decide if he wants to actally be a married father. So I am just trying to get on with it all without him, and not expecting much in the way of good outcomes

Still, should have a lovely baby soon!

Hi Tiger

I lost some waters at 38 weeks. Midwives decided it was my front waters and obviously wasn't a massive issue as I was sent home again. I woke up in the night thinking I was peeing myself and ran to the loo and had uncontrollable gush of fluid. It was clear and pretty odourless.

Hi all,
Keeping an eye on this thread, usually when feeding in the middle of the night. We've had a pretty eventful time of it. Breast feeding has been a disaster (no probs with first two) and I couldn't flush Alice's jaundice through or recover from section as I was feeding and up all night for the last 10 days and she was just too weak to get the hind milk. We ended up being admitted for light therapy and they let us out yesterday evening. It was scary while they investigated if anything else was wrong. I've been supplementing and expressing (never could before but managing it with a crappy little hand expresser from hospital). She is now sleeping properly at night (in 3 hour lots) and I feel recharged and well on the way to normality. She has a b shallow latch so I've been in agony. Happy things are better now. Sorry if this is more post natel detail just wanted to share.

Good luck to all the babies making their journies to you. Won't be long before you're singing some awful old 80s pop song to soothe your little one off to sleep. (Alice conked out to Whitney Houston saving all my love' in a terrible off tune squeak that is my singing voice - god I love her

This could be the most stupid question in the history of pregnant women... I would like to bring a scented candle to the delivery suite in the hospital. Do you think that would be alright? I suddenly had this thought of having gas and air and blowing up half the hospital... It is a big room so it wouldn't be near the bed. It's just that the smell is really relaxing to me. If it's not possible I could splash out on the spray version.

Bood wow that must have been stressful for you! Glad to hear that you are both feeling much better. Guess that sleep truly is a miracle cure :) Was singing along to a cd in the car today and was wondering if she will recognise any of the songs once she will arrive. I'm not a bad singer, but DH on the other hand is another story, so think he'll have to stick to reading rather then singing.

Saw Dr again today. She had to do a scan to check if the baby was still head down as she couldn't feel her. She's moved down quite a bit which is good news I guess. Internal exam next week to check dialatinon etc. Getting quite excited!

I don't know dxb, could you phone the mat unit on the non emergency/ tour booking number and ask, that way you'll get a definate answer from someone in the know.

Quick question: is anyone else banking cord blood? Have filled in all the forms, think its great that they can use it for bone marrow grafts. We've also been asked to consent to allow them to use the blood for research, I'm not sure whether I'm ok with that. Does anyone else know what they might use the blood for?

I'm going to say no candle dxb what with fire liking the oxygen part in gas and air a bit too much :o

Well after feeling the start of contractions last night, things haven't really progressed much. I lost my mucus plug this morning (so I guess something is happening) and then all day have had on and off contractions - sometimes fairly regularly at about 6 mins apart but then petering out again. They have never been more than just a moderate period pain - we've been out for a picnic and a walk in the sunshine and I could feel them but it was never particularly bad. Have other people had a start to things like that? How long could this go on for before things start to ramp up?

Don't know roast never had any natural contractions last time as I was induced. Imagine anything goes with labour and birth!

Something's happening here....... Feeling v sick and v tight around the tummy. More than BH. Going to bed with a heat pack

Oh and seasalt, lovely to see you back!

Boos, glad Alice is doing well now, sorry struggling too much with fat fingers and iPhone to post much

terra I think you are right... Will get the spray kind instead (if I make it out to the mall this week)

mamab we're banking as well. Using a company called Medcells. Picked up contract today. Waiting for DH to read through it. Not sure about research. Think things are quite well regulated in UK/EU so don't think you need to worry too much about it.

mamab if you mean donating cord then I consented and for the blood to be used for research. I have blood taken for an overload of iron condition that I have and they use the blood in Oxford for research into the condition. I guess the blood research for the cord is stem cell research but may be mistaken. I was told they barcode it so if you needed it for your own family & it was a match you could use it which I thought was great - and free!

DXB my midwife said no flames because the entomox would explode. I've invested in a plug in essential oil burner, which she said is fine.

MamaB. Same midwife said its for research into making bits for people which can't be made artificially - she knew of a current project where they are trying to recreate nerve endings which would help people who have been paralysed.

Obviously she may be wrong on both counts but it seemed like reasonable advice!

Mermaid. At my antenatal classes with DS 2 yrs ago they specifically said no candles in hospital but u can get 'fake' ones with a flickering light. I wasn't convinced!

Bood sounds like you've had a right stressful time. Glad things are getting better now.

Welcome back seasalt

Zorra hope your DH snaps out of his funk soon.

Now there was someone else. Was going to reply to so ill have to read back to remember...

Oh yes, cord blood. i know that the antony nolan trust are keen to bank cord blood for leukaemia research- some uk hospitals offer this opportunity. I would have done this had I been at an appropriate hospital. However, I imagine there's a whole range of potential research opportunities for cord blood. Perhaps not all of it you would feel morally happy with so worth delving further as to what they mean by 'research'.

Rest up roast

...and rest up tas.

I'm going to shut up now