The Brookers are ready for a 2014 sneeze-birth fest. Come and join us if you think you're hard enough...

[SantaMaybe]

Here we go brookers. At least three of us will be sneezing on this one

Am keeping a very close eye on things, maybe...

Oh my, oh my Maybe 5/5ths engaged!! And Pen that's some serious nesting! looks like there's going to be some imminent sneezing!!!

solars I hope so. I'm desperate for baby to get here. Just hoping all is well on Friday for scan.

maybe oh fully engaged, good stuff.

Evening all. Well my slightly sore hip/back/bum somehow turned into full on intense back pain yesterday. I had a bath Monday night, and felt fine. Sat at the laptop for an hour, then read my book on the sofa for an hour. Bit of an ache as I lent over to brush my teeth. Next morning pain! It's lower back, and my whole back. No single muscle or tense muscle feeling. I'm ok standing or sitting straight, or lifting DS straight up from between my toes, but leaning forward, or sideways, or standing up or sitting down is just so much pain :(
I was woken at 5 with the pain, so when DH woke up I asked him if he could maybe take a family day off work and help - he said he'd rather go to work! So I had FIL here to help, but he's not very good help. He took DS when I got home, but left me dismantle and lift the pushchair into the house. Then said "I'll get out your way" as I grimaced changing DS, and finally sat at the table while I made us all lunch! I think he's so used to MIL looking after him, he doesn't really notice what he's doing. Still, it was helpful having him play with DS.

Maybe, wow, you're almost there! DS never fully engaged, but I hear it's quite an uncomfortable feeling, and causes 'the waddle' how are you managing?

Pen, hope your appointment goes well on Friday. These things are always averages for the population, so the way you are and how you carry your babies has to be taken into account. We were told on our nct classes that there are places (japan I think) where women rarely reach 35 weeks, so carrying a baby 'to term' there means very different to here. Brooking baby has grown since your last scan though, and you can relax a bit.

I've forgotten what else I read now. Did I say congrats to Fox on your great scan? How are you getting on Too, did you set up a changing station for dd? I need to call about some kind of physio, or find out the drop in times from my notes.

Oh, Too, not sure if you'd be interested, but there's a few research projects running locally to look at MRI scans for unborn babies. As a side effect they will also detect if there's anything wrong that a ultrasound wouldn't see. They have a consultant on standby for every scan to talk to you if something is found. So if you were still at all worried about baby being healthy and well in there, it could put your kind at rest?

Oh Stacks that's not good at all. How are you feeling tonight?

All will be well on Friday Pen, I just know it.

How are you doing Solars lovely?

And how are you Dino?

I'm not waddling at all, still walking up to 6 miles with the pup. I just have no bladder space anymore, and get these very strange sensations in my groin. And bump is now very low

maybe is it like a stabbing sensation? I get that a lot. The girls on my antenatal thread call them 'fanny daggers'.

6 miles maybe I can barely walk around the corner to the inlaws.

I've noticed bump has changed shape a bit today and movements are in a different place. So she's still moving about.

Hoping baby starts to engage soon as my bump is still so high and uncomfortable.

Hello ladies so here is my birth story for you all...

So we went in for our induction on the 24th Feb. When they checked me over they discovered I was already 2 cms dilated so no need for the pessaries. We were then told that the next step was to break my waters but we had to wait for a room in the delivery suite for them to do this. We pretty much waited all day and MrS was just about to leave and I was getting ready to spend the night there when they said a space was a available. So off we went upstairs and they broke my waters.

My contractions were still not very strong and when they checked for dilation I was only up to 4 cms within 4 hours, so everything was progressing slowly. They then decided to induce with the syntocin, up until now I was on the gas and air however I seemed to have a strange reaction to it, if I was sitting or lying down the g&a did not work for me but standing up it was fine, plus I was sick on it a couple of times too. Because the syntocin can bring on the contractions quite quickly and strong I decided on the epidural, which they started up before the syntocin which was around 2am. At around 11am the next day they checked my cervix and I was at 9cm but baby was back to back and also was showing signs of distressing. They kept taking blood samples from his head to make sure he was ok, must have done this nearly 10 times!

Consultant then says that we should go to theatre for either a forceps delivery or Caesarian depending on baby. So I'm on the table and they're still taking blood samples, baby is doing ok but the consultant sees meconium so there I am in floods of tears mainly from emotions of finally meeting baby but also hoping all ok with him and 2 big pushes and he was yanked out! Luckily they'd given me maximum painkillers so didn't feel the third degree tear!! It took them nearly 2hours to stitch me up and poor baby had meconium in his mouth which was quickly whisked away.

I lost a fair bit of blood and baby had low temps and slight jaundice hence we were kept in for a few days! Baby was feeding really well and everything else was ok which was good though! I'm only just about feeling normal now but one thing I will say is keep doing those pelvic floors, been a life saver for me!!

Eek Solars, that sounds very scary! Hope you and your snuggly newborn are doing well though :) yes yes to the pelvic floors - trying to remember to do mine regularly..!

Congratulations on your scan Fox. Can't believe you're at 20 weeks already - time flies! For other peoples' pregnancies at least .

Stacks - you poor thing. How annoying re FIL, but perhaps he didn't realise what kind of assistance you really needed. Reminds me - I think Too said something about a high up changing table. We had one for DD when she was born (well, actually, the box above the stairs is in her room, so was perfect with a few height adjustments). It was actually detrimental to my back rather than helping, and I found changing her on the floor was a lot better and caused me a lot less pain. It's worth trying, but just thought I'd point out that it's not necessarily a life saver, and can be worse! Trial and error, as with all things..

Maybe, how incredibly exciting! I think you'll have some exciting sneezing news soon. Well done for keeping up the walking too - that's one of the things I made sure I did last time round.

Not much to report here. Was at a funeral today and think I managed to hide bump from the whole family - my mother looked at me funnily a few times, but it was a funeral, so I suppose that's generally normal! I did manage to tie a cardigan around my waist for a lot of the afternoon which helped . Have been feeling incredibly crampy for the last two days or so though, which is making me feel quite negative.. just wish I knew everything was ok in there :( Two weeks tomorrow..

Stacks, that sounds awful, you poor thing! Your FIL sounds as much use as chocolate teapot, and tbh, it is outrageous that your DH went to work when you were in so much pain! You poor lovie. The physio class at the Royal is tomorrow night at 5.30 - it says to phone and book, so I did, but honestly, I can't see them turning you away if you didn't get around to phoning. It's in OPD5, you go in the main entrance, don't go around to Simpson's. How are you feeling now? I'd come round and give you a hand tomorrow but M has some sort of virus/flu thing which wouldn't help at all.

Will think about the MRI thing - thanks for the tip! What's the purpose of the scan - what exactly are they researching? Got any links to the projects?

Maybe, sounds like MiniMaybe could be showing up very soon! Excitement!

Pen, I have heard that lots of second babies don't engage until labour begins - maybe Pingu will be one of them. I couldn't walk 6 miles either!

Have spent the day trapped under Velcro Toddler - M is v poorly. I think she might have real proper flu and not just a bad cold, because she's been going hot and cold, shivering even though she feels boiling, and having really lethargic periods where she just wants to lie on me but can't seem to get comfy. Also, she's pretty snotty and has a bad cough, but actually she's had worse snot/coughs in the past and hasn't seemed so generally ill. Her temp went up to 38.1 this evening but according to our thermometer (an ear one that's a bit big for her ears) hadn't been higher than 37.5 before, despite her hotness and shiveriness, so I'm not sure it's very accurate. If she's not better tomorrow then I think I'll take her to the doctor just to be sure. She was in a v sad state after her bath tonight - shivering and shivering although it's warm in here, and just content to lie still on DH and stare at the TV until it was time for her next dose of Calpol so she could go to bed. Normally after bath she races around the room naked, giggling and refusing to be dressed, so the contrast was startling. She went v pale, as well. Poor little monkey! It's selfish, but I wish she wasn't ill right now - tomorrow is DD1's birthday and M being ill on it scares me. On the other hand, I will be home with her to cuddle to my heart's content and not at work in a training course having to look normal. Maybe worrying about M will prevent me from freaking out about little DS-in-utero's movements all day...or about the effect on him if I catch M's flu. My flu jab is booked for Friday, but it takes 2 weeks to take effect - why did I not book it weeks ago?

That'll teach me not to refresh before I post - Solars, that sounds v scary - glad you're feeling better now and that Sunbeam is ok. The photo of him on FB was so sweet! How's feeding going now?

Musical, I felt crampy for a lot of the early weeks this time round - Brooking that it's just your little bean getting comfy in there for the long haul.

solars it's funny how things change in different hospitals. I was 2cm with ds but still had 2 pessaries. Sounds like a scary time but at least it's over with and you have a gorgeous baby to cuddle. How are you both getting on?

Maybe I'm still in shock at the 6 miles! I can barely walk the length of myself. Good on you and it will be very helpful at keeping Finn nice and low.

Musical hope the cramping goes away for you. I had it a lot with ds, it's awful. I take it you have a scan in two weeks?

too yes I've heard that as well. Some second babies don't engage until labour. Although it would be nice if she started to engage as she is giving me more stretch marks as bump too high.

Aww poor M. I hope she is okay and gets over this soon. I hate when they are sick. Brooking for a quick recovery.

Too sending get well wishes to M and lots of love and positive thoughts to help get you through today.

Solars how is it all going with ds at home?

I hope today goes ok Too. Am thinking of you. Hope M is feeling much better today x

Solars what a story. You did so very well. I'm glad you're on the road to recovery now.

Glad you managed to get through the funeral Musical. Everything will be just fine for your scan. Those early weeks drag don't they?

How you feeling Pen? I think the exercise has kept me sane if I'm honest . I've been ordered my the MW to rest these next few weeks, but I get very itchy feet. I am shattered today though.

I'm not too bad today. A bit sore but not as bad as I've been. Did she say why you have to rest? They say walking around is the best thing to get it started and really helps in labour.

My first BP reading as high, but second one was low. Think she is being over cautious. Oh, I'll still be up and walking lots, but I have been overdoing it around the house, and am always out and about. I'm still acting like I'm not pregnant, so think she wants me to rest a bit more. I'm key getting a few hours of broken sleep a night and I'm not resting in the day, so she told me off . Glad you're doing ok today

wow solars that sounds exhausting. well done and thanks for sharing. how's feeding etc. come to the postgrad thread

maybe that sounds imminent to me. honestly try to sleep and watch TV. housework can f off.

So scan went well, baby is still below 10th centile but has grown so consultant was happy that baby is fine. Says plenty of fluid which is great.
I have an appointment in another hospital on Tuesday so a doppler to check placenta and cord. Then a scan on Friday to check growth.
Consultant says ill probably be monitored weekly from now on (3 weeks to go) and may need to be induced on due date but said they will deal with that if and when it comes to it.
For now he is happy to monitor the growth. Baby has put on a lb in 3weeks and weighs roughly 5lb 5oz.

How's everyone else doing?

Oh Pen what a relief!!! That's great news

Thanks Keep. I overdid it again yesterday and came over very strange. Am feeling slightly weird today. Like my bottom half doesn't belong to me. So I've been ordered by MrM to do nothing. So I'm drinking tea and watching TV. I think this is the first time I've done nothing in the last 6 weeks!

Hope everyone else is good x

Great news pen

Thinking of you too

Had a follow up scan today and it seems baby stopped growing just after the scan last week, so not grown and no heartbeat. Guess this one wasn't meant to be. I know things happen for a reason but can't help thinking the amount of stress over the last week to do with house hunting/selling and various headaches to do with the pressure we are under haven't helped. But we are very lucky, we have two lovely boys and we fell pregnant first time every time so hopefully we will be able to have another in the future, just not now :(

Oh Loopy I'm so sorry. Thinking of you x

I'm so sorry to hear that Loopy x

Oh no, loopy. So sorry to hear that.

So sorry loopy

So sorry to hear that loopy - look after yourself