February 2014 - babies flying out all over the joint!

[marzipanned]

We've now welcomed mini sun, dawn, kat, zazou and selfies (please tell me I haven't missed anyone...)....who will be next?!

Those of us waiting impatiently will be showing down on dates, pineapple, RLT and curry while having awkward whale sex.

No idea*

Stock up on candles and torches! :) We always lose the electricity when the weather is bad, so always have a torch somewhere easy to find :)

Just got back from a really shit appointment with the MW. I am 39 weeks tomorrow.

When I got there, my bp was high but I explained I had just walked, very fast, pushing a 17kg toddler in a stroller so was a bit out of breath! After a few minutes she took my bp twice more and it was back down to normal levels. Then she weighed me, and to be fair, I have put on double the recommended max weight (max recommended is 9kg) and she said she was concerned about me be eligable for a homebirth again. I told her that I was much heavier and higher bp throughout last pg and it wasn't an issue for them. She said she would check and let me know.

So I am mulling this over in my head on the way home, wondering what to do next. Got home to find a voicemail to say that due to concerns about my weight and she had just plotted my fundal height I was showing possible large baby so she has booked me an appointment with a consultant for tomorrow morning!

Given my previous textbook homebirth, when I was fatter and unfitter, I really don't think there is cause for concern. I always measured big with ds too and he was bang on the 50th centile for height and weight. My last birth and baby could not have been more textbook!

Gah I just don't know what to think. I might give the homebirth mw team a call - they saw me 2-3 weeks ago and had no concerns about my measurements or bp (although didn't weigh me and I wasn't weighed at end of last pg - apparrently this is "new").

Sorry for long post, I am just trying to process all that has happened in the last hour. I think I need to be armed and prepared for tomorrow.....

petty that really does sound shit. Surely the home birth team who've already seen you and who do home births all the time are better placed to make the decision than someone else ticking boxes?!

Are you far from the hospital if you needed to transfer from home? So many people transfer even if they don't have any risk factors in advance - they can't judge everything from sporadic measurements, so surely if the home birth team are happy to deliver you at home then the consultant can't really complain about that being your initial plan?

That sounds rubbish petty. I agree with what sunflowered said. I think midwives what specialise in their particular area are best placed to judge. If they only saw you a couple of weeks ago I'd be amazed if they weren't dismissive and happy to overrule what you've been told today.

I know in my hospital the birth centre midwives were almost warning us about routes midwives in the labour ward might try to force us down. They were saying not to be led by them etc. That was an eye opener!

petty that sounds confusing! I hope they can get it sorted tomorrow so you get your homebirth. Wouldn't make sense that they change the rules at this point!

Petty I agree with your gut feeling and what the others have said, surely your textbook last birth at home should count for a lot in this debate anyway, and as you've said before, they're supposed to be encouraging home births at the moment in your area. Fingers crossed you can speak to your home birth midwife between now and seeing the consultant tomorrow so you feel a bit more armed with confidence.

petty I'm sure that 9kg isn't the max weight gain...I put on 7kg which I was told was below the minimum recommended weight gain. Sounds like your midwife is a bit bonkers, hopefully the consultant will talk sense tomorrow.

I hope the consultant tells her where to go. Sounds like a spurious reason for a referral, but I guess on the upside you'll know if your baby is on the large side.

Also 9kg? Pffft. I'm pretty sure I blew past that a while back.

Petty I'd give the homebirth MWs a call and just get their opinion before going to see the consultant tomorrow, least then you have all the info you can to put forward your case. Hope it goes well for you..

Well i'm all set to go in at 8am tomorrow to be induced...starting to feel a bit nervous..after spending all day in denial! Feels unreal that I will definitely be meeting my baby in the next day or so!

Although have been having tightenings all day so maybe...

Petty that sounds confusing you need to know the proper answers speak to the consultant tomorrow and see what happens.

Good luck cherry hope all goes well am sure you can't wait to meet your little bubba

I was told 6kg was the ideal max weight gain (for someone with bmi over 30) but have read some places they say not to gain any weight at all if you have a higher bmi! Don't know yours of course, Petty so don't know if this would apply to you. I've gained more than 6kg, it's a pretty low estimate I think!

Cherry Best of luck! :D

Aargh, my DH has come home with a stinking cold and a temperature.

Please don't go into labour for a while now, body!
Such bad timing every angle. My mum's having her hysterectomy monday, so now with DH out of action any labour between now and thurs would be crappy.

On a selfish note, we don't have a spare room, so looks like I'll be on the couch

And please send me continuing strong immune vibes! So don't want labour with a cold. Meep.

having started a hb thread on mn and been in text convo with my bff I am feeling a lot more confident that tomorrow's appt will be an utter waste of time. even though I have put on 18kg ( started at 83kg at 11wks and bmi of 29 - last pg I started at 93kg and put on a similar amount of weight). I will go to the appt begrudgingly just so I can hopefully be signed off - I dont want any issues once I am in labour.
this is going to cut in to the jojo maman bebe outlet clearance sale that's on tomorrow though

Julietee sending healthy vibes! And good luck to your mum :)

Petty Hopefully they'll get the point seeing as it was fine last time! Clearance sale?! hehe

4 AM club? How about 'no AM' club -.-
Can't seem to sleep more than 30 mins at a time, feeling like I squash the baby so can't relax at all, and keep waking up gasping for air! Don't know what to do if I have to stay like this for another 3 weeks. Pfff. Any advice? Can I actually squash him by lying on my side / slightly forward perhaps?

Hi Littleen, no great advice, but maybe use lots of pillows to prop you up and on your side? That might relieve the pressure. Sounds like the baby is in a really bad position for you, hopefully will move soon.

Good luck with your apt petty. I hope you get the all clear.

Healthy vibes to you, Julie, my DH had some sort of virus/man flu thing last week, lots of complaining he was tired and achey, how I managed not to kill him I'll never know!

I am feeling officially over it this week, I have 9 days to go but I want this baby out now, dammit!

I seem to wake every day at 5:30 and finally feel the urge to fall asleep just as ds is getting up! grr. lying here wondering if I could squeeze in the jojo sale before my consultant appt - I dont want to miss out on any bargains (it's 50% off everything thing at the factory shop, which is already reduced!). There will be queues and elbowing but I know what I am going in for (pjs and bf dresses for me). I'd only have 30 mins though

Good luck today Pretty (in the sale and at your appointment!) . Like everyone else has said, I think the midwife has it wrong and I'm sure the consultant will be fine with your plans. I'm hopeful for you.

Littleen I had exactly the same problems with sleeping/lying down. Have you tried one of those V shaped pillows? I sleep with that under my tummy and between my legs. I'm so sorry for you about the breathlessness, that is the worst!!! It will ease up soon when the baby is lower you will be able to eat a full meal and breathe again!

Julie I hope your husband recovers quickly so you can relax

INDUCTION DAY IS FINALLY HERE!
If everything goes well I will have my lovely little boy today!
I'm full of excitement and could hardly sleep last night... Maybe the nerves will sink in when I get to the hospital.

Oooooo good luckhope

Good luck hope

Good luck petty with the shopping and the consultants appt

Litleen - I also can't sleep very well but then I bought those v shaped pillows and decided to sleep in the living room as I felt there isn't enough bed space for me. Still uncomfortable as the baby is lying in a such an awkward position but then I am chanting every day baby come out baby come out

Haven't seen any posts from Shorpshire and champagne hope they are fine and give us the good news soon

It's not looking good . Apparently the ward is too busy AGAIN so it's "likely" I will be sent home.
Just waiting for the doctor......

Good luck hope - that must really be playing with your nerves..it's bad enough already without the cat and mouse! Hope you can get in today..I'm having to decide whether to ask for an induction over weekend as next week ward fully booked..the indecision is driving me crazy!