February 2014 - Part 5 - The one in which nobody has ANY vomiting, heartburn, or random leg injuries...

[marzipanned]

Well, here's hoping!

Thanks vix. I think I might do the same. DH is keen to be as helpful and hands in as he can be.

Laura0007 I also have positive memories of my birth and while I remember the contractions had me stopping to hold onto something doubled over as I walked into hospital, once I got into the room with the pool, some bizarre cavewoman instincts came over me, I remember stripping all my clothes off and jumping in the pool (having packed a bikini top which I assumed I would wear to protect my modesty!) and it being the best feeling ever. After that, there was some pushing and I definitely remember the head crowning was super stingy but it's over in seconds and the next thing you know you have a baby in your arms. I'm genuinely looking forward to the birth this time around as I feel I know what to expect more and how my body is likely to just get on with it!

I suppose can always send DH out for formula if it comes to that.

somany my iron should be okay as my ante natal includes it, I think you might be right and my body is just taking a while to recover from the ravages of HG. Good luck with getting those GCSEs - you are quite amazing planning that with a new baby, and home schooling!

I don't know about the flu jab - the GP said all pregnant women definitely should have it, so probably will end up doing so.

littleen I think I rented it from itunes - you could try itunes/netflix/if you use anything like that? Or can probably get an illegal download from the pirate bay?

WRT hospitals that say to bring own formula - I'm sure they wouldn't let babies go hungry, and if all else fails they must sell formula in the hospital shop. They did in Leicester but it is quite a large hospital..

litleen my friend has imigran/sumotriptan injections. He gets prescribed a load (grudgingly as they are v expensive) then self-administers at the onset. The only thing he ever found that actually worked though was psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms!) sadly not legal anymore but it was up until about 6 years ago and tiny non-hallucinogenic doses would keep them totally at bay. Google it - there's some interesting research projects on it!

My hospital keeps milk for BF top ups and will provide it if needed, I was BFing DD but she was really sleepy (turns out my milk my codeine flavoured ... ) and kept puking too so the ward MW offered to top her up with some formula until the codeine was out of my system (I'm really sensitive to it and one pill is enough to knock me out).

My braxton hicks were like tightenings right across my abdomen, my whole bump would go rock hard and tight. They weren't painful but would sometimes leave me a little breathless. If you're ever not sure though have two paracetamol and take a warm bath. If they go away they're braxtons, if they don't then it's probably the real deal.

LovesToBake at the end of my labour I lost all inhibition and screamed at the midwife to help me get my bra off. Because of wires she said she couldn't and I told her to cut it off me! I remember just being desperate to feel the freedom of being naked! So weird

Thanks loves. It's just hard to imagine when you've never done it before and programmes like OBEM the women sound like they are dying!

I'm having the flu jab I think, why not? If its specifically offered to us Preggos i guess it's low risk?

Anyone been on a spa day whilst pg? I booked one for end of sept for me and my mum. Package includes massage, manicure and facial. Guess I can only have the manicure?

jazz you can have the lot, just let the therapist know.

The spa here does a special pre natal session - massage and skin stuff - I'm going as a present from DH as soon as I feel properly better.

I think it'll be fairly obvious when I waddle in at almost 20wks! Fingers crossed I can have at least a neck/shoulder massage and some sort of face scrub. Mums been looking forward to it for ages

Would think maybe get them to do a sensitive skin facial and just make sure they are careful about what oil they use for massage...

Very interesting, I'll have a look :) Found a free stream of the film, woho!

Ooh I think I'm going to watch it again, will probably feel differently about some of it now I'm pregnant!
Found it free here: www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the_business_of_being_born/

Urgh I am so glad not to give birth in America! They have one of the worst maternal death rates for any industrialised country and worst maternity leave. Its shocking! I have only watched a few minutes of the business of being born but I wander if their highly medicalised and insurance based system is the reason for so few mw's and the disregard for them contributes to their poor rates? Having only done a little bit of googling, it does seem that the european countries with good maternal death rates have a midwifery based system?

I highly recommend watching some hypnobirthing videos on youtube - they really changed my dh's perspective of birth (ie it wasn't necessary to be on your back with legs in stirrups!)

Never had any braxton hicks that I was aware of!

In early labour when contractions were five minutes apart I had a rest and would almost count down to the next one (contraction timer online) and then I'd count down to 45 seconds as I knew that once it got to 45 it would be easing off. I really thought labour was ok! :)

I haven't told school I'm pregnant yet but bumped into an assistant head in town who said I'm looking good.... FWIW I had skanky hair and no make up so I'm wondering if she's suspicious! I'm another who hates saying the words 'I'm pregnant'. In fact I'm so nervous about telling my boss. I don't actually know what words I'll use!

Cubano, tell your DH I am with him on DMA! Stupid, illogical process. No target my a**se.
I had pethedine during my first labour and remember sleeping between contractions, and about 8 hours passing in what seemed like five minutes. There is an inevitability to it, you sort of resign yourself to it and get on with it!
I've more or less been told I will be getting the lu jab, hadn't realised it was optional!

just wrote a really long post and pressed a button on phone that deleted the whole thing! Rubbish!

To summarise... Thanks for telling your labour'/pain stories. obem etc seem to mainly focus on the drama so good to know there might be some respite.

Dh made it to scan, which went well. V glad he got there as think it's made it real for him. Our too-early scan just showed a blob at 10+5, possibly with limbs and a head, but today's images were really clear. Was v wriggly and in wrong position so didn't get great measurements, but condirmed organs rtc healthy. I think wrigglines might mean more likely tobe a boy but have to wait 26 more weems to test the theory!

dh went home and put it straight on to facebook. I guess that takes the awmkwardness out of it!

crikey, you lot talk loads im having the flu jab this year, I had it when I was pregnant the first time. last year I had full on flu and Christmas and I felt awful, there's no way I want flu again

I have the most hideous headaches at the moment but my blood pressure is fine and I have no other symptoms.
I watched a lot of us shows on maternity wards, I remember one woman screaming when she had her Epidural or spinal. I was horrified watching that but when it comes to it you don't particularly care and its not that painful. one lady is right, you are so fed up come 9 months or longer. you just want that baby out and in your arms i had bh the whole way through and got worse towards the end of my pregnancy. For some women the pain doesn't go when you try to walk it off and sometimes a pain in your bottom can be a sign of contractions or maybe that was just me!!

wrigglines? weems? awmkwardness? Time for a good night's sleep I think!

Glad your scan went well sunflowered

Bah, been up since 5.30am (and currently childless!) anyone else waking up crazy early these days? I'll be exhausted by 9.30 when I have to start work.

Yes milk me too. Been awake since about 4.30, and couldn't get to sleep till gone midnight despite nearly being asleep on the sofa at 8pm grr

Yes and I'm getting sick if it. I wake up every 2 hours despite making sure I'm exhausted before bed but nothing helps. Woke up for good at 5.30 today same as you. Wonder what's causing it?
Off on a long weekend to a cottage in Wales today with Dp. This will be our only and probably last overnight trip together sans children.
Having an issue finding a second hand Uppababy vista. There are so few of them that they go for just short of the RRP. Thinking I might as well buy new and sell on to make my money back but I think £600 for a pushchair is silly.