September 2013 - Definitely in the third trimester now!

[badguider]

New thread... will try to find the stats thread and link...

Oh it all makes sense... You see the baby mirror in your own rear view mirror. I think. Ok dokes.

Had two lovely lovely community midwives come and see me this afternoon at home to go down the tick list for home birth. I got 90 minutes in total! I am not sure if you usually get two, but one hadn't done a home-booking-in so was being shown how to go through the forms. Then she left after about 45 minutes and the other MW, who I had also seen at 32 weeks, did my 36 week appointment (I'm only 35+2 though, it's just that I couldn't make any other time in the next two weeks).

They were lovely, had to go through all the worst case scenarios, what they can and can't do by way of first aid for both baby and me, and when to call them when it gets going. Talked about where I could get a birth pool (but I've looked it up on ebay and they are a lot of money even second hand, I might just labour in the bath for some early pain relief and then get out for the rest, assuming I have time!!). Discussed where in the house would be best to do the actual birth, what waterproofing kit we should get (shower curtains from Poundland, basically!) and what they'd need. DH kept going on about biscuits. Talked a little bit about first birth. They were super super nice about things being done on my own time scale, e.g. delivery of the placenta "we usually give it about an hour". Delayed cord clamping is standard. No need for any synthetic hormones. Didn't talk much about what examinations they'd do, I might ask that at 38w. Sounded like they would just take it totally at my pace.

They were also very reassuring and lovely about DS (who DH went to get from nursery mid appointment). Most births, particularly home births, happen overnight she said because of feeling safe in the darkness (and also something to do with the moon). They don't see a problem at all with him being in the house, especially as he'll be able to grasp what's going on and isn't likely to be terrified of me being in pain. He'll just want to help, if he's even awake at the time. Our Plan B needs to be someone quite local who could be called at 3am (or whenever) to come to the house and stay with him should I need to transfer into hosp. Plan C is DH stays at home while I transfer. So that was that.

I still have nice blood pressure, nothing funny in my pee, no swollen feet/hands, enough energy, measuring spot on for dates, baby is pointing the right way, and... 4/5 engaged!!! So that's still mostly head out of the pelvis, but just right for this time in a second pg!

Did I mention the midwives were lovely? I'm feeling all happy and fuzzy now.

You can see it in your rear view mirror if you move your head a bit IIRC... We do have a mirror which attaches to rear view mirror to let you see a different angle which is fab once they're forward facing but was too small to see them in the second mirror while rear racing, we mostly ended up turning round which is fine if you're the passenger....

Don't worry mooster, just don't want to do the wrong thing :(

Rake that sounds fab! I was down for a hb last time and no one even visited my house let alone talked about all that stuff! They just wanted to know if my house was accessible in case a blue light transfer was needed, and they bring the 'pack' on the day!

If it was night time it would be ace to deliver at home with DD asleep upstairs, for her to wake up to find her baby brother had arrived,... But with no one local (2h+ for parents) it'd be too risky :(

That's sounds lovely rake If I wasn't an old bird (38) with a potential breech baby I'd consider it myself.

Thanks Charl, yes, I do get another scan, 3-4 weeks. We got a pic yesterday but the bigger these babies get the harder it is to get a good pic, still think the 12 week one was the best!

Runningbear no, you're not alone feeling like that. My fear isn't so much from the stuff I've got, it's just general worry now, especially after the scan yesterday which had printed on the comments section under my notes 'note:an ultrasound scan will not exclude all abormalities' DP says it's probably something they just print as standard but it's not been on any others. I spent last night crying that there's obviously something wrong with the baby that they won't tell me. DP says they'd say if this was the case. It's very hard to be logical with a hormonal pregnant woman!

rake - sounds great, I really wish I felt comfortable and private enough in my flat to go for homebirth... a friend of mine had a lovely calm overnight birth at home with an IM (she'd had a cs with her first so nhs wouldn't support HB) and her 3yo daughter came down in the morning to meet her new brother :) sooooo lovely...

Thank you for kind words of reassurance, not sure whether it is a good thing others are as worried as me but I am hoping it is all hormonal panics.

Welcome new ladies!

dorita my 20 week scan letter had the statement about not being able to rule out all abnormalities...I think it's just a standard thing.

Running, I'm sorry u feel like that, but kind of glad its not just me! It seems everywhere I look there's a horrible story or a statistic for something awful happening. I too am absolutely terrified when I look at everything we have, and yes it's just like that wait up until 12 weeks.... And then 20!

frogchops and runningbear nope, me too. I keep trying to rationalise that still birth stats include all births after 24w, and then I come across a thread about a full term still birth and get unsettled again. Hospital bag baby clothes are all with tags, and nothing has been unboxed/assembled...

In terms of ante natal classes, lots of you seem to have been going to nhs ones. When I called the hospital, after finally being told who to contact by my midwife, they said they don't do them, just a hospital tour. I'm 32+4 and there are no nct classes anywhere vaguely local to me until we'll after the baby's due - eek! How am I supposed to give birth!? When do I have to phone the hospital during labour?! What happens once the baby's here?! Etc ad infinitum due to panic...

Boats- your MW will tell you when to call the hospital, I didn't get told that on courses. Here it's when your waters go or when contractions are regular and... I can't remember how many minutes apart! Only asked MW Tuesday...

And I would suggest you read the pages on the nct website about stages of labour and pain relief options. You can then ask your MW questions/ get a book if you feel you need to.

And try not to panic: most labours give plenty of time to chat through your options anyway.

Thanks jenni, it's hard not to panic, plus I'd hoped to meet a group of other new moms at the same time. Books and google it is! :)

After i posted i realised I'd not said how rubbish it is that there's nothing for you :(

Research baby groups close by for after birth? I went to one and it was good to sit and chat to others, and although i lost touch when returning to work, now DD is at preschool I've got to know them all again!

Also Boats, there may be a baby group in your area that you could join already. There's one near me called bumps and breastfeeders (or bumps and babes?) so that new parents can talk with expectant ones.

Thanks for the advice rake and jenni. I'll get googling and see what the local children's centres have got going on.

I work in a children's centre and we have bumps and babes which is for expectant mums and mums with children up to 1 year. Any good centre should have something similar....I just need to work out wether I really want to take my baby to a group at work :-/

Just looked at my local Children's Centre after reading the last few posts and I'm really glad I did - there is everything from bumps and babes to baby massage and exercise classes - plus I had no idea that it's only a 10 minute walk from where I love! Will be making full use of it when little one arrives

live not love!

You could look on meetup.com too?

The bumps and babies at my children's centre hadn't now finished, after running for 3y since DD was about 6 weeks. I booked DDs preschool days so I'd be able to take DC2 :(

Hi everyone and welcome to all the newbies.

Sorry I have been quiet for so long, I have been keeping up (just) with all the news but it's been a bit manic at this end and I haven't had much time to write.

My mum is in the process of moving from the Midlands to just down the road from me in Cheshire, my wonderful dp is on his third drive down in a van to pick up
The final load of her stuff. It has been a mammoth endeavour!

ION I have my growth scan and consultant appointment tomorrow and I'm unreasonably nervous about it. I just really hope littley has caught up and isn't too little any more!

Hi Hetty- welcome back! Sounds like you've got a lot on!

Welcome new people!

I've completed my final hen-party of the year, and survived canoeing and a nice out (despite the pouring rain). So tired now!

Been trying to eek thigns out of my mother who isn't very chatty on personal things. Turns out with her first labour (my sister), they gave her an anti-haemorraging injection before 3rd stage and and then had to do a bit of surgery to get the placenta out as it refused to budge! :-S Will be looking for natural third stage labour when baby D arrives, even though I know it's not the norm at my local hosp!

ION had an upset tummy for about 3 days now :-(
Really hurts across the bump and up in my stomach! Anyone else had anything like this? Any ideas what I can do to stop it?

Result! I phoned the local children's centre and, although all of the 'tums to mums' style sessions are on when I'm at work (obviously targeted more towards the mums than the tums :) ), they obviously took pity on me and are sending their advisory midwife to my house on Wednesday for a private antenatal class for me and my husband. They obviously took pity on me when I was snivelling down the phone to them about how I don't know how to do the breathing and I don't know what to put in my bag etc. feeling much better now; thanks for the advice :)