The 4th Gemini Luxury Bus- The One with CAR SEATS

[bringonthetrumpets]

Welcome aboard ladies! You will see the newly installed infant car seats complete with cup holders for the mums waters wine. Make yourselves comfortable, it's going to be a long and sometimes bumpy journey with little ones making their arrivals!

Previous Fred.

They were just like the start of labour last time. They started 5 minutes apart & the midwife who came to see me because my waters had gone insisted that they must just be BHs because proper contractions wouldn't suddenly start that close together! It didn't even occur to me to want to call anyone last night. I nearly woke DH up but given that my waters hadn't obviously broken & I haven't lost my plug I was relatively confident that nothing exciting was going to happen!

DH has just left with DS to pop to the shop & go for a walk... Suddenly I feel funny again!

Congrats blending its lovely to hear you've had your babies safe and sound and that you are on the mend now, well done on bf, does it feel like you've constantly got them on you or do they feed at the same time from each side?
Jojo I was the same this time but be warned my waters did t break until I was almost 10cm this time and my contractions didn't really feel like proper ones at all, when we phoned my mum and dad at 2:30 I felt really guilty as I thought I might be wrong but because I was fast first time we didn't want to take a chance and not have anyone there to look after dd, mine went straight to every minute first time but were slower this time without waters going, they were still totally erratic though, I think it really sounds like we may have another in the bus very soon xx

Eep! That's got me excited kitty! I've had a few twinges today but nothing quite like last night. Something odd going on with my digestive system though which I'm assuming is hormone-related. I've not eaten anything unusual! For weeks now I've had it in my head that I'm not going to know I'm in labour until shortly before the head appears! It's got to the point where I'm assuming I'll be doing it alone while DH frantically calls for back-up! It was 8 hours from definite, regular contractions to 'hello baby' last time so I'm not expecting to take ages but also not expecting it to be a matter of minutes! My waters broke well before getting contractions last time though so I'm kinda hoping for a little warning!

Shivering again... No contractions though! Will have to lean over the beanbag & visualise dilation... That's what seemed to set things off last night!

bring I keep forgetting to ask... When you make your bath tea do you just pour hot water over the herbs & leave it for a few hours or do you keep it hot?

Ooh Jo you're definitely doing something over there . For the bath tea you can just leave for 4-6 hrs in a large stock pot and then strain it out and keep it in the fridge. It is perishable and will grow mold, so best to toss it after 2-3 days (I suggest making half of the batch of herbs so you can stretch the amt of baths out). I can't wait to hear about my fellow homebirther's story! Hoping it kicks off for you soon. (ps. my ctx usually start about 5-7 minutes apart too! So you're not alone).

38 wks today. DS2 was born at 38+3....

Go with your instincts jojo, if you think baby is coming early and going to be quick, then don't take any unnessicery (?) risks. I had a feeling all the way through my pregnancy that i wasn't going to go to full-term. I think there's a lot to be said for premonitions.
I do believe that when your time comes the midwives will get to you really quickly, so you don't need to worry about them not being there in time.

I'm not in the least bit worried about them not getting here. I've got the homebirth kit which I've had a nose through & established that it has clips for the cord... I'm quite happy to do the whole thing by myself but it'd be good if they could get here for the actual cord-cutting bit - not sure we've got sharp enough scissors! I'm a little nervous about the potential for another pph because I wouldn't have the injection to hand if they weren't here. I'm pretty sure the pph was caused by dehydration last time so I'm staying well hydrated now & drinking nettle tea which apparently has vit K in which should help avoid a hemorrhage. I'm literally a 3-minute very-pregnant waddle from the MWs office so I'm sure they could be here in moments on a normal day. Probably not on a bank holiday... We have a midwife friend who lives 6 doors down the road though so I'm pretty well covered in the MW department if we need them! Only a 7 minute drive to the hospital too!

I'm beginning to feel like I'm not going to need them today though. Just had a bath & am feeling frustratingly normal!

Jo you can always just leave the cord intact and keep the placenta in a bowl next to you if things go quickly and the midwives don't make it. It's better to just leave it than to clamp as some studies have shown that early clamping may increase the risk of PPH. PPH is another thing that if necessary, you and your DH can definitely deal with. Nipple stimulation and vigorous rubbing of the uterus (ONLY if the placenta has already been born, if it hasn't come out yet, then you can clamp the cord and snip a tiny bit off to put in your cheek yum I know but it's a lifesaver ) Nettles are perfect for Vit K as is alfalfa if you want to add more supplementation. Way to go mama, you're so on top of everything! Also awesome that midwives are so close. Mine are about 40 minutes drive away but they are both so chill with everything that they're just like "well, if the baby gets here before we do, you know what to do. Just have your DH talk to us on the phone"

I'm feeling frustratingly normal too . Had some cramp-feelings this morning, was a little about it so I went to lay down and they stopped. Then I had a melt-down b/c everything feels very out of my control (that's just parenthood, eh?) and my grandma, and I was so uncomfortable.... it's just been one of those days. Woe is me.

I hate to say this, being such a cliche and all, but make the most of baby free days, but i am biased today. I feel like a milking machine; DS has been suckling all day, well when he hasn't been burping that is.
in reality, I acknowledge that you want to meet your babies now

Ha I know Frus. I'm more in the boat of "get this kid out of me because I can't function (and meeting it would be great too)."

I know that feeling bring I definitely reached that stage. But not much longer for you now.

I decided earlier that I'm quite happy with just the one child... DH said it's too late to change my mind now! Suddenly I don't want to go into labour. It's too soon... I need another month or 2!

bring, I'll be honest... If I'm hemorrhaging I think I'll just bleed until the midwives & the drugs arrive. I really cannot see myself sucking a chunk of placenta! Eeeeewwwwww! Thanks for the advice though... It's nice to know all the gross options!

I'm not ready yet. A bit closer to my due date would be lovely. I need more time! I'm not scared of childbirth but I'm quite nervous of being responsible for a baby and bringing it home!

Morning I feel half human today, ds did some fantastic sleeping last night.

Morning.

frus that sounds promising! Good day ahead for you hopefully.

I gave myself a silly fright last night. I knew baby had been moving earlier but I had a sudden moment where I didn't think I'd felt movement in about an hour and a half - an eternity for this little one at that hour of the evening, as I get almost constant jabs when watching TV.

So to be on the safe side I rang the hospital. By that stage I'd felt some light movement but it just didn't feel right. I'm sure this drill will be familiar to most of you but she told me to drink lots of cold water, eat something, lie down on my left and monitor the kicks for an hour. At first baby was still very quiet but did feel back to normal again about half way through. Rang the hospital back to tell them all was well.

Felt a little bit silly but the hospital midwife was lovely and totally reassuring, which bodes well for when I'm in the hospital! At least I know what to try if I feel like that again. I don't know if baby was just crashed out or if I'm just getting a bit more nervy now.

DH was great though. Very calm and reassuring, looking after me. He did say afterwards that he felt totally unprepared so at least he finally agrees with me that we should have bags packed and room ready ASAP. He had actually put together all the furniture this weekend but only because I insisted. Now he's glad about it.

Hmph. I'm in pain. Pretty sure DS2 has a sledgehammer in there to use on my pubic bone! DS1 woke up crying at 3 & refused to let DH look after him. Very, very unlike him! It's only been about 6 weeks since he started to show any interest in me & all of a sudden he's trying to insist that I do everything for him! Bad timing!

DH has just booked the dentist for me on Thursday afternoon... I have every intention of going into labour Thursday lunchtime! I'd happily have him sooner but it's my niece's birthday tomorrow & I'd like to avoid having him on the same day. I have a complicated relationship with my adopted sister anyway without having to spend the rest of our lives trying to schedule parties around each other! She actually text me the other day asking me to confirm that I'd be driving over an hour away for a 2 year old's party tomorrow. I'm 39 weeks today. I wouldn't do that journey if DH was driving, let alone drive it myself, & DH was not going to take a whole day off for it! Family politics!

Sounds like hard work jojo There's something to be said for family not being nearby sometimes!

Fie on family, 2 year olds parties are horrible unless you are either 2 or the parent of the party child.

I am utterly convinced this little one will be Late and I'll be left on the bus on my own. So I'm making a big list of foods I can batch cook this week so we'll be well fed when s/he comes. Baby's room is all ready ( not that we'll be using it much as baby will be sleeping in our room) but its nice to go in there and sniff the little clothes.

I'm so well prepared in fact that yesterday I practiced putting a nappy on my Tickle Me Elmo while he was giggling...(it was the nearest I could get to an actual baby!!).

I think I need to find more to occupy myself.

Haha Lib Tickle Me Elmo is a great way to practice . We're all planning on returning to the luxury bus with the littles in-tow so you'll never be alone!

Sorry about the family situation Jo. Heading to a 2 year old's b-day party at ready-to-burst-pregnant doesn't sound very fun nor does it at anytime. Surely the memory of being pregnant hasn't slipped her mind that completely yet after 2 years..... Family can be so unreasonable sometimes!

So glad you had a good experience with the midwives at the hospital when you rang, Lor. Now you have tools in your belt to try if the little one decides to be quiet for a while. Haha at your DH. It's always something threatening like calling the midwife that lights a fire under their bums and gets them going!

I've got a bit of family drama over here as well. My gram's funeral is tomorrow and it's an hour's drive away. I am very heavily debating on whether I feel like I can go or not. It's not the drive, it's more having to do with my extended family and people that I used to know from the old religion cult that I got out of years ago that will all be there. My mum is being ridiculous as she normally is oblivious to the fact that I exist most of the time and now she's calling every other day to "check-in" with me (as if I'd forget to tell her even though I would like to! ). She got po'd with me when I mentioned how I was feeling and hung up the phone w/o saying "bye" to me last night. It's not even her parent! It's my dad's....who I now need to go call and talk to him about this.... maybe I can just have a baby tonight and get out of having to explain anything?

A tickle me Elmo is very realistic lib. somebody should suggest it to them as an extra marketing ploy.

Families suck can be difficult at times. ((Hugs)) to jo and bring have you decided whether to go or not. Have either of you got the feeling where you don't want to be far from home? even the thought was quite scary for me, I only went to work because it was closer to the hospital

I have a milk gussling baby who has managed to put on 7lb over his birth weight, despite loosing 4lb to start with. the fact that he never seems to stop eating might have something to do with it. And the MWs have signed us off as he's doing so well.

Yes, Frus that was a big factor in why I didn't feel like I could go. Feels scary of possibly driving an hour home if things pick up. I did talk to my dad this afternoon and he was nothing but completely supportive. I think he would try to get out of going too if he could! So much family drama that's not even worth putting up on here, but I'm very glad I can avoid all of it tomorrow and stay in my peaceful bubble at home. I spent some time doing my own hippy ritual in saying "goodbye" to her and having my own closure so I'm at peace with not attending.

Such great news on the weight gain! Sounds like you're making double cream instead of milk .

Bring, I think the only thing athat would persuade me to go that far at the moment would be if my bereaved parent needed me to. And as your Dad is fine with you not going, and you've said your goodbye in your own way, then no one else's (ie the extended family's) opinion really matters.

Frus, does your baby have nice fat foldy bits yet? I like those. My bump is currently stabbing me in the fanjo, I'm sure it doesn't like me.

Am so bored of the 5am wake up. Had to get up for cereal as I'm Soooo Hungry!

Frus did you mean oz not lb? 7lb seems like an emended weight gain?!
Dd2 will be weighed today shed droped to 7 last Friday so hoping for a gain!
She was amazing last night, fed her when I put her down at 7:30, she woke at 1 and had one feed then and slept til 7 again it took dd1 to 10wks to get to 1 feed she's only 10 days old!! She only had 1 feed the night before aswell but we had more trouble getting her back to sleep both times taking 2 hours ish from the start of her feed, she seems to get wind very easily so not counting my chickens as it wouldn't surprise me if it starts to get worse and she has colic like dd1 did but for now I can live in hope she's going to be a perfect sleeping machine

Oops yup, I definately meant oz not lb. 7lbs would be a superhuman weight gain. (And he's definately not that big)

lib no fat foldy bits my babies don't seem to get them. Which is why I have to squish tubby little babies. okay, I only squish the babies of people I know, squishing random babies in the street would be just a little bit wierd