Pop pop pop We're all about to POP! - July 2014 thread

[ismarah]

Hope you like the title - like inside us, there was no room on the other thread!

Anyone else notice their hair is growing less at the moment?

I don't seem to need to shave my legs as often in the last couple of weeks (which is handy, as it's becoming more challenging by the day!)

So I guess 2 hours sleep isn't bad....finally dropped off at 6am but had to get up at 8am to get ready for hospital appointment. I'm shattered to say the least. Do you think the MW will mind if I fall asleep on the monitor??i can see it happening!!

Still waiting for our first birth announcement....

moresnowwe're hiring a birth pool in a box mini. We could fit a regular one in but am concerned about our hot water supply! Wasn't going to get a spare liner for a test run but others have said I really should so will just have to think of the extra £25 as a safety net! With DS I used the pool from about 4cm- transition in the hospital and it was great.

mixi so sorry you had such a bad night. I'm sure my body is actually getting used to feeling quit so exhausted now but I'm getting to the point that I dread going to bed as the twitchy restless kegs thing us driving me nuts! Hope all well with your MW app

plate yes to legs but no to anywhere else re hair growth! I also managed to paint my toenails at the weekend but not sure whether I'll manage it myself next time they need doing.

plate My head hair is slow-growing (but lovely and thick for once) but my leg hair is rampant, just when I can't get to it.

Also my bump is now covered in a thin coating of straight, spiky pale hairs that stand up on end. What with the lumpiness, it looks like the head of an ancient bald man armed only with a blunt razor. It's really quite horrid.

mupperoon my belly is the same.
is a water birth still an option if im induced as they dont want me going over due date?

I believe, depending on the method of induction that a waterbirth is out. Anything that involves a drip or constant monitoring is, but do ask your MW. I'd have liked one but wasn't allowed so my plan b was the c section.

My belly has a strip of hair going down the middle, it's quite odd and gorilla like! I shaved it off months ago at the start but now can't be bothered to shave, well, anything quite literally!! I might give the old downstairs a quick tidy up if I'm in the mood but I'm really not up for the challenge of reaching down there haha. Even legs are quite difficult!

Anyways, MW appt went well. Always getting told baby is very active which of course is a good sign but perhaps a sign of what to come on the outside world?? Oh coco, did your MW/consultant recommend getting menthol aqueous cream? I was told at first to buy it myself from pharmacy but by the time they ordered it I would have had baby. So spoke to MW today and she managed to sort a prescription in the hospital for me, believe me, it works wonders especially if you leave it in the fridge then slap it on! Just what I needed to get me through the next couple weeks.

I am concerned they've not put you on Urso though, do you have your blood test results? If so, what are the bile salt levels?

Yes yes yes to hairy belly!
Not sure about legs-had been a while before lovely sunny weather this weekend so will wait and see!

Glad me went well mixi rubbish about 2h of sleep though early night tonight...

hello all, long time no post but I have been reading regularly. hugs to those going through a hard time.

I've just had a bit of a shock on a routine 34 week scan - baby's abdominal circumference is measuring above the scale, rest of measurements on about the 50% centile. Also increased fluid - the max vert pocket (whatever that is) is way above the 95% centile at 9.3cm. Have another scan on Friday by a different unit, and a GTT planned for a week Thursday. I'd had no problems in this pregnancy before. Anyone had any experience with this?

I am hoping for a natural birth in a midwife led unit, but not sure that'd be possible now - unless maybe next set of measurements come back normal? This is my 3rd and I had a normal delivery with both, no gestational diabetes.

Hi
Those planning a Waterbirth might find this helpful. I'm planning one too!

Plastic sheeting from B&Q or cheap shower curtains from £1 shop

Incontenance pads or Pampers changing mats are always good to have, whether you have a homebirth or not. You can use them to put under your sheet / use as disposable changing mats at home or when you go out
www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=pampers+changing+mat&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=12426535436&ref=pd_sl_60iq0b6onm_b

Portable heater (you can get these for about £5 from Robert Dyas / Argos) - to be able to bring into the room to heat it up quickly if needs be. Also good to have anyway and use postnatally for when baby has a bath to warm up the room quickly so he / she doesn't get cold.

Also to pack a bag of essentials just in case transfer to hospital.

Bucket or ice-cream container for placenta (if encapsulating)

Cheap sieve for pool - get from £1 shop

Extra thick or strong dustbin bags

Sports water bottle to fill with water / juice so that you can drink in any position without spilling. Put a couple in the freezer. So nice to drink when crushed ice melting

Get some big 'Bridget Jones' type of knickers (black) from Primark / Tesco / M&S - they are alot more comfortable than the disposable ones or you can get some TENA lady incontinence knickers - this are quite good too as you can just throw them away if you leak etc. www.amazon.co.uk/Tena-Odour-Control-Incontinence-Pants/dp/B000UNLZ6A/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1327259582&sr=8-9

If you are interested in making some cord ties:
Buy some embroidery thread from a haberdashery store, and made 2 ties about 30-40cms long. These then get boiled on the evening of the birth
alanalentin.net/smallp/2009/11/11/cord-ties/
Dental floss works just as well - both of these things are much nicer when trying to do skin-to-skin etc. with your baby in the first week etc. after birth

Get some nice music downloaded, as well as your hypnobirthing music. Always good to have a good variety as you could be listening to it for a loooong time

Some candles etc. are also really good to enhance the atomsphere. Lavender is very calming

Do you have a good / bright lamp at home? If it get one or a good torch

Essential oils is always good - Clary Sage / Lavender is popular
Almond oil is a good carrier oil for massaging and you can also use this postnatally on your baby's skin

Nightie that buttons down the front

All your homebirth goodies can be put in a box and stored somewhere in the house so you don't have to run around when labour kicks off - it's all neatly packed away in one place

Have quite a few towels to hand for getting in / out of the pool / drying you and baby etc. Get your friends to donate their old used ones

Old / cheap duvet to go under the pool or to wrap you in if cold - softer on your knees

Do you have a lavender pack or hot water bottle?

Fill your freezer with frozen dinners etc. and then just add fresh vegetables - you can never have enough lasagnes / bolognaise etc.

Biscuits and plenty of milk for tea etc. for midwives - they drink a lot of tea :o)

Bacon and bread (for toast etc.) or something similar - always good to make everyone bacon sandwiches or something that you really like after your birth

Nice fluffy / warm dressing gown

Cheap plastic bucket

Bananas / dextrose tablets / ribena / cereal bars etc.

Cameras and all charges for phones etc. too

Witchhazel / lavender / tea tree oil is great for keeping fresh after birth and to mix with water in a jug to "doosh" yourself with - keeps any tears clean

At least 3 dozen muslins - you can never have enough of these postnatally and will use them for years and years

Kitchen roll x 4

Flannel / face cloth

Innocent smoothies / cordial / Ribena or anything that you like to drink - put some in the freezer so they stay nice and cold and some in the fridge

Fresh pineapply / mango or any other fruit - always nice and refreshing to snack on in labour and if not used, we can always freeze it (they make great ice cubes for fruit juice to drink postnatally)

Put out some nice new linen for me to make your bed with once you've had your baby so you can all snuggle together in a nice clean bed.

Pack everything in your homebirth box and your suitcase TOGETHER as it won't be you going through the box and always good for Hubby to know where everything is without having to hassle you whilst you are in labour

Put a few plastic shopping bags into your 'homebirth box' - these are always good to put wet knickers in etc.

Biological washing powder - with stain-digesting enzymes, even if you normally use the ultra-gentle, ultra-green non-bio versions. To remove any stains from clothing, towels etc..

Sanitary towels - at least 3 packets to start, but only put one packet in the box. Leave another in every toilet and in the bathroom. Be sure they are the biggest, thickest maternity ones you can find. Even if you usually only purchase slim thin types, they will not do for the immediate post-partum period

museum no helpful advice to offer I'm afraid but hope all ok.

So DH has chosen today to start a new diet and exercise routine which included shocking his body with a 7mile each way cycle to work! So not surprisingly he's utterly exhausted tonight and a bit grumpy too! He saw some photos of him with DS from the weekend and has suddenly decided he needs to lose some weight before baby arrives! Why do they do this crazy 'all or nothing' thing with diet and exercise??!

Also dropped DM to airport to fly over and sort all of Gma's stuff out and bring her ashes back. That all feels quite surreal in the midst of everything else!

Must do birthing plan this week ready for 36wk MW check next Tues

Ps comebabycome that list is great-thanks so much! I especially like the 'homebirth box' bit- gives me something to focus on with the organisation of all the bits which is great!

• Bucket or ice-cream container for placenta (if encapsulating)

Cheap sieve for pool*

Now see that's why I wouldn't go for a home water birth...

Is anyone else doing perineum massage? I don't know if we're doing it right!

Am trying the massage Auntie, not sure if am doing it right either as doing it alone (with a vibrator ). The kings college hospital website has a pdf with instructions (incl pics).

Am feeling nervous as in hospital tomorrow pm for baby turning. It was postponed from today. Hopefully it will work.

Getting to the point now where every twinge, ache and need to wee, makes me paranoid it's all kicking off. For no reason - just paranoia. Just me?

Admittedly I'm one of the early July ones - 36+1 tomorrow.

Sorry Museum I have no helpful advice, although I wonder if it's one of those things that sounds worse than it is? We can hope..

If I still have feet in the morning I'll be amazed...lower legs just won't stop twitching...aargh driving me insane and I'm SO sleepy!!! Self amputation??!! Just want to sleep! I also think baby has dropped a bit today as I feel as though I need to wee the whole time!

Am awake with itchy legs and twitchy limbs. Annoying.

TMI alert - Have had a clear jelly like discharge on and off today, could this be the early mucus plug?

I think I've been on the toilet all day! Also up because of my legs :( DP is working early tomorrow so I thought it best one of us gets some sleep so snuck downstairs to go through the sky planner

Oh that could be a show? I didn't have one with DS so I'm not exactly clued up. I was reading up on it earlier and for first time pregnancies it can still be ages til labour kicks off

yes the books say clear mucus 1 to 2 weeks before and slight blood tinged mucus 1 or 2 days before labour. Have had braxton hicks pretty much all afternoon as well.

Legs still twitchy and my mum is in the spare room so am on sofa watching late night rubbish tv .

I'm watching modern family.... Already watched an hour of corrie.

How far along are you?

museum - no advice I'm afraid, hope the next scan brings some clarity and you're not worrying yourself too much. Sometimes I think things would have been better in the 'old days' before there were so many tests and measurements and centiles - there's just so much worry involved!

Having a bit of an emotional wobble at the moment - feeling increasingly incompetent at work, terrified of 'something being wrong' with the baby, unsupported by DH, achy, tired, generally useless. Pah!

I'm the same plate ! I'm crying at everything had a mini breakdown at the thought that Lionel Richie will one day die DP has been busy with work/uni so I've been feeling unloved and that he's not interested in the baby...

I'm worrying about movement, is it enough? Is it too much?

I think generally I'm just so tired that everything seems 100x worse than it should be.