Due in July 2013 - newborns to the left of me, big bumps to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you babe!

[SlouchingPanda]

Hello shiny new thread!

Just popping by to say congratulations on all the new arrivals, I can't keep up! Hope those still waiting are bearing up in this heat. It can't be much fun but pregnancy won't last forever.

Nothing new to report here, still going with the feeding, have given up even trying to put F down in her basket - she much prefers sleeping on us as did her big sister. Bit scared to have her in bed with us as she's tiny. Other two a bit hot tired and irritable like me. Managed to get out for a bit yesterday (town and an end of reception celebration at school) and I'm paying for it today. Getting annoyed at my slow recovery and feeling like a crap mum

Sorry another whiney post. See slouching you're not alone !

Welcome back, ReikiMummy and Shockingundercrackers! It's good to have you back. I hope some more of the group will be put out of their misery getting newborn snuggles soon. This heat must be unbearable for you.

shelley DD1 would only sleep on us. We ended up using a hot water bottle to pre-warm the carry cot, which we propped up at the head end, and gently transferring her from our chests to lie on her front in the carry cot. (don't tell the HV!)

Hello ladies, I haven't taken notes as I've caught up so personals are lacking, congratulations to those enjoy newborn snuggles!

As someone mentioned earlier, I thought something was going on last night as had cramps & Braxton Hicks, I went to bed optimistic & woke up miserable as I was still very pregnant & everything had tailed off! I've had nothing all day since but OH & I have dtd & I've just ate a spicy chilli, whether it does anything well, we'll just have to wait & see.

Thanks also for the positive thoughts & stories about induction guys, I guess most places/people make it sound like something to avoid at all costs unless absolutely necessary however I guess it can be an enjoyable experience, you ladies have proved that. Still want to avoid if possible though, so note to baby - GET OUT NOW!!

Hoping everyone is coping well in the heat & there are more babies on the way! 39+3

Persuasion - meant to say, lovely birth story,glad you had such a smooth birth. Hope that positive induction story helped you feel less scared Phie

Thank you for all the supportive comments re feeding. I'll let you know how we do.

Slouching my second sweep wasn't that painful, and I was told there was no way I'd give birth before Monday. That was on a Thursday and our LO arrived on the Friday so fx for you.

Shelley town and a reception celebration at school sounds pretty impressive to me, no wonder you need an easier day today.

I can't believe how hot it is for some of you. So glad we now live near the coast in the North East and aren't in London. It's 25 degrees in our bedroom so dread to think what it would have been in our old flat.

Looking forward to hearing who arrives next.

I agree lovely names and wonderful to read of new arrivals. keep going those of you who are still waiting and especially those that are overdue. you'll be soon. thank goodness were not elephants!

vinegar joseph is also only feeding every 4/5 hours or so for 30 minutes though I'm trying to get him to do it more frequently.

slouching we both have inductions for the 23rd... Let's see if we can shift these children before then... I'm currently sitting on a birth ball, having been for a long (for me, 20minutes, hills and everything) walk. Had accupuncture today but can't face any more pineapple / curry. I'm sure DH thinks this must surely mean he's on a promise at last but I'm knackered!

Going to watch the new Christopher Guest comedy in a min. That should fire off a bit of oxytocin (for one thing it's got Chris O'Dowd in it, and I have a huuuuge crush on him).

Evening ladies. slouch have they mentioned what induction involves? Will they try the gel first or straight on to the drip?

I have a midwife app on Thursday and a bit scared of the monitored and drip route.

Hello Night Shift!

Think we are over tired here. Went for a short walk on the beach, which turned out to be an hour long epic. I don't recommend that sort of thing at two weeks, my joints etc hurt again and I think I got dehydrated because J isn't feeding well tonight though I feel like there's nothing left.

He's just gone to sleep on my chest, so fx for battery life and the kindle app...

hello abz. im sure theres.something left. drink plenty now. this J just took a while to settle and feed as its so warm so put the fan on and now.hes trying. glad of phone. it helps me not nap. oh sleep where for art thow?

Abzs - please try and take it easy for another couple of weeks - your body has been through a lot and is still adjusting so things that would have been a doddle previously are a lot harder. There will be milk in there, even if you're dehydrated right now And feel like therres no milk left. Drink lots as cheek has suggested, rest up and chill with J today. In another few weeks, you'll be able to do whatever you feel like with no concerns.

Cheek - hope you got some sleep OK.We have our fan on all night next to an open window and J and me in the superkingsize bed (dh has been relegated to the sofa bed as he's working and needs his sleep - though he has today off and has come down with a stinking cold so will be keeping him as far away as possible from J today, which is a shame) which works OK as we don't go up to bed till 10/10.30 by which time its no longer 32 degrees in our bedroom, just a balmy 29 degrees...

Hai has had her baby, a dd, over on fb after a quick labour after days of warm up/latent labour - hope that gives the innies suffering the latent phase in this heat some hope of speedy births too.

Photographer - I was a monitored and drip induction and it was fine while I had a lovely supportive midwife - she encouraged me to be active and eat, drink, chill to music etc. Sadly I didn't have as good luck with my midwives when shifts changed and got a negligent one - but that was purely bad luck on my part. My top tip to first timers - if you do not like your midwife in labour, you are entirely within your legal rights to demand a new one - i wish we had known that at the time.I know so many people who have had smooth trouble free inductions, births like ds1's seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

Morning all!

Shelley - thanks for indulging me in my whining. And you are not a crap mum! Am I right in recalling that you had a CS? Recovery is certainly not a walk in the park and must be so hard with other children too look after.

Marie - you have cheered me right up with your story of successful sweeps. Thank you!

Undercrackers - you're on! I've been walking, ball bouncing, curry eating, but it's too hot for any bedroom shenanegins! I also haven't been down the Chris O'Dowd route !

Photographer fingers crossed it won't come to induction for either of us. Induction in my hospital involves going in early morning and being examined to see if they can break your waters or whether you need the pessary. If waters only it's off to delivery suite for that, and drip/monitoring if contractions don't start in a few hrs. If pessary then that goes in, and it's a boring wait in the antenatal sauna ward til either you start to labour, or waters can be broken... so it's not inevitable you'll definitely need the drip, but is a possibility. I am consultant care for a few other reasons so wasvresigned to being monitored, but I hope you can get something more like the birth you were hoping for.

40+6 today. Come on baby!

Great stuff about hai, hope those waiting for induction manage to enjoy at least a bit the last few days.

I'm not sure if something's happening here or not - woke up un comfy at 5 am and then have had increasingly painful braxton hicks. Having tried to distract myself with work and then ironing i've given the tens a go which is actually really nice. Still assuming it'll all turn into nothing but as my plug went yesterday guess its possible this sill be the start....aargh

39+3

Morning!!

Abz take it easy! As dinky said your body has been through a huge amount! Rest lots & fill your time with baby snuggles! I hope you & cheek managed to get some sleep in the end!

Thanks for the update dinky, congratulations to Hai! I become increasingly with every new birth!

Another thing I don't like about pregnancy... The awfully vivid dreams, I had a horrible horrible one this morning, woke in tears!
39+4, you know what you need to be doing baby!

Anyone know any good apps to monitor contractions?

Morning all! Gawd it's hot! Anyone got a crystal ball and can tell me when this heat wave will end?!??

Off swimming in the hope of cooling down.

38+5

Cross posted with lancs, ooo sounds positive, I hope it's the start for you & a massive good luck!

Yes slouching I ended up with an emcs after the little monkey decided she couldn't wait for me to plan a date. Went into labour with F just after watching the apprentice so maybe you could try that later?! I have never been overdue, (had my babies at 38, 39, 40 weeks exactly) so can't imagine what it must be like for you all.

Have had lots of help (though dh back to work now) but the slow recovery is getting me down. Just not healing as well as I did after birth of dd1, or as quickly. Unless I have forgotten how bad it actually was in the intervening three years. And it's best not to even think about how terrible I still look. and it's been nearly 3 weeks now

had a quick look and fab news on little Oliver, can't believe he's now 3lb! He's done so well, what a little star.

Sure there will be more baby announcements today?

Good luck Lancslass sounds promising - hope you beat the threat of induction at term!

Morning. Congratulations to all of the new arrivals. Hope you're all enjoying your cuddles and recovering well.

It has been good to hear all of the positive induction stories, after going to see the midwife on Monday I've been a bit worried about this so it is good to hear all of the positive experiences.

Started loosing plug last night so fingers crossed this is the start of something (39+2) I feel I might be getting over excited too soon though. Maybe the very long walk on Monday and pineapple have been doing the job.

lancs there is a contraction timer on the Pregnancy ++ app. I've nothing to compare it too but it seems like it will do the job.

Congratulations, Hai!

Fingers crossed, Lancslass. Sounds promising.

Congratulations to new arrivals- lovely names. Also living the birth stories.

Thank you to those who offered advice on let down and baths. I did enjoy my bath/ though not as much as usual because of the heat.

Jealous of those if you who are getting 5/6 hours sleep. The most Juno goes is about 3 and that had not happened the past couple of nights as I think she is just too hot!

DH is back to work today so it's just Juno and me...eeeeeeek!

Ooh cheese I remember that first day on my own feeling well. Good luck. You will be fine