July 2013 - Holy Shit, this is IT!!

[dinkystinky]

New thread for us to natter away on as babies keep on arriving. 11 at last count already and not even in July yet.. Who will be next??

Pocopearl - that sounds awful. Any other consultants you could transfer to? I'd be speaking to supervisor of midwives and PALS re my concerns. Hopefully all will be fine with birth and you won't see the consultant again - but if you do need a consultant on hand, it has to be one you have faith in.

Lovely names Tryiton - hope life as a family of 5 going well for you.

Andrea - when people are that rude I found threatening to sit on them got rid of them quickly. Never cross an enraged hormonal heffabump :-)

MW has been - she was delighted with uterus contracting back down to normal size already (even though I'm pretty sure I still look about 6 months pregnant!) so at least all those killer after pains were doing something. My milk has started to come in too so I guess today will tell if the tongue tie snip did the trick....

Ooh Mcktastic - sorry you are still in so much pain. Hope mrMck returns with alternative prescription v v soon and it relieves the pain. Have you hired a valley cushion?

Slouching - exciting. Shows your body is warming up for the big event :-)

Tryiton - Marmitemad had a dd and Runs in labour last I checked on fb. Will update list in a min.

Due date list (Innies):

CottonSocks - 24th June
Skelosia - DC2 - 1st July
QuinandThem - 1st July
Badgerwife - DC2 - 1st July
Cutandstick - 2nd July
Thinkingof4- DC4 -2nd July
Persuasion - DC1 - 3rd July
esme80 - 3rd july
Glup - 3rd July
PenguinsInThePantry - 5th July
Efme - 8th July
GeorgieWilson - 9th July
TwoOfThree - DC1 - 10th July
Specialknickers - 11th July
MrsMillions - DC1 - 11th July
Cheekbyjowl - DC1 - 11th July
Reikimummy - 12th July (DC1)
SlouchingPanda - 12th July
Thundercatz - 12th July
Twirliedobbit - DC4 - 12th July
Hai1988 - 12th July - DC2 - Girl!
LittleFlower888 - 14th July
Tashtastic - 14th July
Beaditsback - dc2 14th July
Mizar - 15th July
photographerlady - 15th July
Evelynj - 15th July
Guavasforbreakfast - DC1 - 16th July
MiniPenguinMaker - DC1 - 17th July
Pocopearl - 18th July - DC1
Boostar - 18th July - DC2
MrsWildermac - 18th July
SingingMomma - 18th July
MummyKanny - 18th July
Andrea75 - DC3 - 18th July
GingerJulep - DC1 - 19th July
Niktasha - 19th July
whitedaffodil - 19th July
Grannyapple DC2 - 19th July
Thinking positive thoughts - 20th July
Icingthecake - 20th July
PhieEl06 - DC1 - 20th July
AmaDablam - DC1 - 21st July
Lancslass83 -dc1- 21st July
butterflyexperience - 22nd July
AllYoursBabooshka - 22nd July
Orangebubbles - DC2 - 22nd July
Isitme1 - 23rd July
Scoutfinch - DC1 - 23rd July
MightBeMad - 26th July
Cantreachmytoes - 24th July
MrsRoss26 - 24th July
Camb79 - 25th July
Sashabella0 - 25th July
BoyMeetsWorld - 27th July
marimba - 27th July
JessicaMLH - DC2 - 27th July
Lizincornwall - 27th July
LorrieJ- 27 July
TomDaleysTrunks - DC2 - 27th July
Silver15 - DC3 - 28th July
Wavesandsmiles - DC3 - 30th July
Trickybarmby - 31st July

Arrivals List (Outies):

SuperShiv - DS, Oliver, aka the little fighter, born 13.04.13, 1 lb
Emblosion - DS, Oisin Michael, born 27.5.13, 6 lb 1 oz
Beginningofthejourney - DS, Theodore, born 28.05.13, 6 lb 11 oz
Elliejitny - DS, Ezekiel, born 3.6.13, 7 lb 2 oz
Paolocee/Donna - DDs, Leila Poppy and Caitlin Liv
Princessllama - DS, Humphrey
Devilforasideboard - DS, Will
Schrosawmargerydaw - DS, born 21.6.13, Caspar Neil Ruaridh, 4 lb 8 oz
BB01 - DD Rosie, born 22.06.13, 4 lb 9 oz
Differentnow - DD Posy, born 22.06.13 8lb 4oz
OhGood - DS (no name yet)
NotprincessKate - Amy Rose, born 26.6.13, 8 lb 14 oz
Shelley72 - DD2, Florence, born 27.6.13
Twinklestarstwinklestars - DS, Max, born 27.6.13, 5lbs 3 oz
Gingerpanther27 - DS, Callum, born 27.6.13, 8 lb 4 oz
McKTastic - DS, Murray, born 29.6.13
Bigbelly4 - DD2, Constance Rose, born 30.6.13, 7 lb 4 oz
Chinainthegarden - DD, Clara Elizabeth, born 30.6.13, 7 lb 7 oz
TotallyEggFlipped - DD2, Naomi, born 1.7.13, 5 lb 8 oz
Vinegardrinker - DD, Bethan, born 2.7.13 (bang on her due date!), 7 lb 13 oz
Abz - DS, Joseph Robert, born 2.7.13, 8 lb 4 oz
Wifey6 - DS, Kyle, born 2.7.13
Cheeseandbread- DD, Juno Olivia, born 3.7.13, 7lb 2 oz
Tryitonforsize - DS, Gray Everett, born 5.7.13, 8 lb 6 oz
MarieKL - DS, Alexander, born 5.7.13, 8 lb 2 oz
MysteryMeg - DD, Edith, born 6.7.13, 8 lb 4.5oz
Pinkballetshoes - DD, Rachel Amelia, born 6.7.13
SundaySunshine - DS (name to follow), born 6.7.13
CitizenOscar - DS2 (name to follow), born 7.7.13
Calmisthemantra - DS, Abraham John Anthony, born 7.7.13, 8 lb 5 oz
Dinkystinky - DS3, Jackson Rivan, born 7.7.13, 8 lb 7 oz
Marmitemad - DD2, Evelyn Grace, born 7.7.13, 7 lb 2 oz
Silverbirdie - DD, Edith Alice, born 8.7.13, 9 lb 1 oz
RunswithSquirrels - ?
BadmissM - ?

I've updated for Marmitemad and Silverbirdie's arrivals (announced on FB) - Runs should be announcing soon (hopefully she'll hop on here when home to update) and BadMissM is having her elcs today...

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Have spent the adternoon in bed relaxing and feel a bit better. Mw is booking my induction tomorrow, think I will feel better knowing the last day possible, should be monday as will be +12. Thenhopefully sweep will get things going before.

Ouch Mcktastic that sounds horrible! Really hope you feel a bit better soon!

Thanks for the good wishes - the renal clinic seem fairly happy that the cholestasis/HELLP I had isn't ongoing. Still got to wait on this last blood test to see if they want me to go to the consultant's clinic next month though. I hope not, and am rather pleased that my ankles look like ankles today!

We are mostly in the feed to sleep camp here.

Sorry to all those feeling uncomfy or down. Mk hope the treatment is effective quickly! Esme, glad you are feeling a little better now you have a possible back-stop date.

I'm feeling rather dejected as I was hoping my consultant would support me at least spending some labour time in water, but she's just called reiterating hospital policy. I know from my research that labouring/delivering in water is not known to increase the risk to baby in my situation (may even decrease it, but the difficulty is there's not enough evidence for anyone to definitively say either way), so it is just a case of hospital policy conflicting with my wishes. I just don't know if I've got the fight to challenge it/them. Right now i feel like I should just roll over and accept that I'm going to have another crap delivery that rips me to shreds anyway so why fight it. But I also know that's the hormones talking and I've completely lost perspective because of the pain and the fear. And I'm worried I shouldn't still be in pain on day 5 of antibiotics but no one I reach out to seems to know/care/take me seriously and I don't want to be kicking up a fuss about nothing. I'm lost

Abz, very glad to hear the news was good at the renal clinic (and the ankles!).

Seems like lots of us are having a tough day today I hope some of these issues get resolved. I've been a bit antisocial the last few days, reading but not posting as I'm also feeling a bit stressed with overdueness. Had my second sweep today, baby a bit lower and cervix a bit thinner but no more dilated. Booked for induction on Monday, and came home and cried. I hate feeling so out of control of it all.

poco that's shocking re consultant, how the hell could he not notice that you are already term!!

abzs glad the appt went well, hope the next bloods are normal

slouching sounds encouraging

esme glad you are feeling a bit better now

persuasion it's not a nice feeling, I was upset to be booked for induction but at least it means the end is in sight

mcktastic hope your dh got you an alternative, but glad to hear everythin else is going well

dinky makes more sense it was private, nhs is rarely that efficient (does happen occasionally though)

mightbe sorry to hear that. Do bear in mind that second/subsequent deliveries are less likely to result in tears etc, I tore with no1 but not 2 or 3 (despite ds3 being born with hand up on his cheek
Hope you can work something out so you feel less like this before delivery

Had a lovely day today, park in morning with boys, then friends this afternoon- the kids played (pretty) well together and we had a good catch up. General feeling of shock that I'm being left till 42weeks till induction, esp as I'm not even going in till 4pm and chances are I'll be bumped till next day as it's so busy. I'm no spring chicken (nearly 35) and I feel it's getting a bit risky to leave me that long. Midwife is phoning/seeing me Friday so I think I'll speak to her then to see if anything can be done. I suppose I'm unusual in that I don't mind being induced having been through it twice before, and to me getting baby out safely before placenta packs up is my main concern.

Good luck to runs and marmite hope things are going well, and there are some more outies by tomorrow!!

Might be - ((hugs)). First off, get an emergency gp appt - after 5 days on the right abs you should be feeling better. You may need something stronger.

Re birth - a water birth or labouring in water is no guarantee of a tear free birth (believe me, I know first hand). There are other things you can do - and you have time to do them - to help give your perineum elasticity - perineal massage or epi-no exercises are an idea. Also positioning in birth and proper support from your midwife - including supporting the perineum as the head comes out - can help reduce tearing. If you're feeling there is no support for you in the labour ward, can you get a birth doula to attend your birth and fight your corner? Perhaps your hypnobirthing tutor can help recommend someone?

Abzs - sounds like good news from the clinic and hurrah for return of ankles!

Persuasion - ((hugs)) to you and all others feeling under the weather for various reasons. I remember feeling exactly the same as you with ds1 as my induction day loomed. But you know what, I was super unlucky with my experience - there are others who have been induced, including Totally and Sunday on here, who had positive and quick inductions - no reason why yours can't be another lovely positive story too.

mightbe - I am a bit behind on what exactly is going on but I had a third degree tear first time around and was advised that I couldn't have a water birth this time as they needed to be able to have a full view of my son crowning BUT I could labour in the water until the point of pushing... which I did. In the end, despite the 'dry land' delivery I have torn again, but at least only 2nd degree.

Personally, I would push for the birth you want. And if no joy with a particular midwife/ consultant, try to get hold of another. Easy to say. more difficult when you have run out of energy/ hope...

GOOD LUCK with it all.

Also - who has the piles? You can tell I am completely sleep deprived... can't remember a bloody thing! I am quite sure you have tried this already but I had them really badly last time and found Anusol suppositories a God send. Oh, isn't childbirth a glamorous old business

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone, but there has been no further action today since my early morning show. I have, however, changed my bedclothes in the hope that nice lovely crisp sheets will encourage my waters to break overnight!

Sorry to hear about those feeling down for various reasons. I'm dropping off to sleep so no personals tonight, but hope tomorrow is a better day for all.

Sorry i am on phone again so cannot remember personals... Again! Im terrible haha.

Whoever had the piles, i have no advice to give but i hope they get better soon and make sure you treat yourself to make you feel a bit better

I just went downstairs to get a drink and my mum was in the sitting room (i live with her) and she just started nagging "is it contractions? Waters gone? Any pain at all? Sickness? Diarrhoea?" And since she has done this every single night ive gotten up for a wee/drink and shes seen me i just told her that if shes going to be like that she can wait at home like everyone else when I have the baby (shes meant to be there with me and OH) i feel bad now but honestly its constant and SO annoying!!!! Im hardly going to come down one day and be like "oh crap i forgot to say i had the baby last night!!" She knows ill keep her updated shes just trying to be funny, apart from it pisses me off

Self pity post over, back to you guys! Hope all are well and wonder who our next arrival will be?

38+4

Well, so much for getting to bed early.
Tried to go to bed at 9pm, but with BFing, clearing up vomit/changing the bed & trying to get DD2 to sleep, it was well after midnight before I got to sleep. Up again since 2 & really hoping she'll settle quickly this time because I'm knackered!.....

Oh no Totally - am sorry its such a mare at the moment. No sleep here either - not due to ds3 who has fed, winded and drifted off to sleep next time but due to engorgement - my boobs are huge, rock solid and painful ( I can feel the milk ducts all the way back to my armpits). Have tried flannels, hand expressing,'even pumping and dumping a couple of ounces to relieve the engorgement but nothing works for long enough for me to get some sleep in. Jackson is manfully trying to feed - but he's only 3.5 days old and the boobs are still mostly full when he is full. I really don't remember it being this bad with ds1 or ds2. Am off to look at kellymom.com to see what they suggest to help...

Icing I know what you mean, Im starting to feel like a bomb about to go off the way my dh and mum look at me. Every time I get up the quetions start. I mean, if I go into labour I will mention it!

Have been awake on off since three with cramps, thought it was all about to start then everything died down. Hoping its a sign somethings happening at least.

Thanks to those offering support. I'm feeling a little better this morning despite a rubbish nights sleep. I don't think it's induction per se I'm worried about, more this sudden feeling it's all getting out of control. Like thinking I'm actually going to phone labour ward today and see if I can get the induction brought forward a day, I'm quite worried about DH wasting his paternity leave while nothing is happening potentially, but also about placenta failure given my high dopplers early on and high hcg.

icing that would be driving me mad too. Did she take it ok? When people ask when I'm due I've sated saying flippantly 'oh last week' (despite not feeling flippant its worth it for the facial expressions)

Sorry to those with feeding problems. I have nothing to add but am sure I'll be moaning about that next!

You sound more positive this morning Persuasion - hope labour ward can help you out re dates. Dh has been despatched to Sainsburys to buy as many savoy cabbages as he can find for me!

Esme - sounds like things are slowly starting for you too.

I feel the same persuasion and thinking, not worrying about induction but more about baby. Just want her out now to see shes ok. I dont have anything to base this on, the first I heard of placenta failure was when thinking mentioned it, Ive just had this gut feeling the last few days that she needs to get out!

Dinky sorry your so uncomfortable, does not sound like fun! Dont have any advice, you are more an expert than I am, but I have sympathy!

Morning all, sorry so many seemed to have a terrible night's sleep. Totally, dinky, hope the feeding issues and engorgement settle soon.

Thanks to those who offered reassurance after my little breakdown! Dinky - I already made an emergency appointment on Monday but they said to give it a bit more time and that I was on the right antibiotic so it ought to do the trick and they didn't't want to expose baby to another antibiotic unless necessary. All seemed perfectly reasonable so that's one of the reasons I wasn't sure if I should be making a fuss again or waiting longer. Now have another dr appointment this morning and midwife wants him to consider whether I need a hospital referral for possible kidney infection. Either way she def thinks I should get more antibiotics so we'll see. Hospital refusing to budge on the water birth issue despite the fact that the RCOG and Group B Strep support charity guidelines both say water birth is fine for gbs+ women in labour. Am now waiting for a call from a consultant midwife to see if we can reach some compromise between my preferences (which are well researched and not highly risky) and their policy...

37+6

Morning all, I've got pages to catch up on but thought I'd share a word to the wise with you. Luca (yes finally decided a name!) started vomiting blood the other day and was generally out of sorts, really upset all day whereas up till then has been really laid back. it looked horrific. Dr was shut for night and couldn't get hold of mw she'd prob gone home too, so I thought best to be safe and went to A&E. everyone thought it was most probably down to cracked nipples, including me, but it was decided to keep us in overnight for observation. I FF overnight, which he LOVED and luckily my milk came in that evening so I was able to express and cup feed him the next day. Everything seemed fine, so it was decided that it was from cracked nipples, even though they're not actually that bad, it's just that he has a very strong suck and was very hungry and couldn't wait for my milk to get going. The upside was I had a great night sleep and Luca got loads of food

Right off to catch up on thread. Oh Mck I really sympathise with your piles situation, I'm suffering too. I'm just using Anusol cream at the mo, but I'll be interested if you find a better solution. The upside is (trying to find a positive as ever) is that I can't feel the pain of my stitches over the pain of the piles!

Hope everyone else is doing well x

persuasion and esme I hope you feel more upbeat soon. its tough being overdue but theres no harm in asking for an early induction.

dinky I hope you are able to research a good solution to help with breastfeeding.

I had stomach cramps this morning and was hopeful... but just have an upset stomach which is less exciting. might be the start of something might equally be the effects of half a pineapple. will start packing hospital bag though as realised how unprepared I am.

sunday glad all is ok with luca. lovely name. mustve been scary but glad you got to a&e

mightbe let us know the outcome. hope you can find a good solution as looks like you've researched it well.

Morning all!
Congratulations to all the new arrivals. I've been keeping up on Facebook, can't manage both MN and FB.

37+5 and fed up. Dd has molars coming through so isn't sleeping. That on top of the heat is not making life easy. Had a few false starts with labour so hoping things won't be long now wishful thinking

Hope all those waiting to pop are feeling ok. Enjoy all those lovely newborn snuggles to everyone else.