September 2014 - Babies are starting to make an appearance!

[lilone1234]

A few babies have already arrived, with more due to make their entrance soon, and it's not even September yet!

Ella I've had something very similar with my vision, it's difficult to explain. Mine seems to be triggered like eye strain, usually watching tv in the dark. I know visual disturbances can be a sign of pre-eclampsia but usually like floaters or seeing light spots, especially if you have a headache. I've not had it checked because I have no other signs (blood pressure normal and no protein in urine). I just try to avoid triggering it.

My midwife recommended the tena lady knicker type things that have a big elastic type band to hold them up, she says they are really good for holding the monitors onto you so you can be upright but still be constantly monitored. I'm hoping for a home birth so fingers crossed this won't apply to me, but it seemed a good tip so thought I'd share in case it helps anyone.

I'm not convinced that if I was planning anything other than a home birth I would have had any conversations around birth plans etc, it's only because it is a separate service with its own leads in my area that I have had a home visit to discuss it I think. I have seen 6 different midwives for my 7 community appointments so far so it has felt very much like a tick box exercise for me too - I've just been very fortunate that I have had no real problems or issues so it's not felt too traumatic to not have that support.

Is anyone else getting rib pain? My ribs are agony by the end of the day, mainly on my left side (baby is lying with it's back to the left, don't know if this might be why, maybe it's bum is stuck up there).

Yes to the rib pain! All day today, think it's baby's head as we were breech last week. Another scan tomorrow to check. Ho hum...
Congrats to Bex!
If anyone needs a gym ball, I just got a bargain at local big Tesco £3.25!!! Feeling v pleased with myself (after buying a few too many baby items of late...)

misog and marjal I have the rib pain - intermittently for the last month or so. Very annoying. Hoping it will go soon when baby engages. Bump still very high and I'm constantly needing antacids.

misog I don't even know if home birth was even an option in my area.

Feel like I would know absolutely nothing if it wasn't for NCT. There isn't an alternative in our area, and the NCT course were £200 upwards. Luckily my NCT classes were really good and I learnt loads and I didn't regret spending that, but I don't think it's fair on those who can't afford it.

velvet I've seen one midwife at hospital booking in appt, and then community midwife 4 times for about 5 mins each time and that's it now until after my due date and it's my first baby. I thought they were supposed to see you more frequently at the end.

I've written a birth plan as I don't know how assertive I'll be when I am in labour and although I'm very open minded, I like the idea of having it written down. For example I want my OH to have the chance to cut the cord and I worry I will forget to ask. The hospital midwife who did the hospital tour asked us if we'd all written birth plans, so I that's reassuring that they might take an interest. For those of you wanting a water birth, I've been advised to phone the unit when labour starts to say you want a water birth, so they know you'll be coming at some point and to try to keep one clean and ready for you.

I'll put the links I was sent on breastfeeding by NCT here, as might be useful to some of you.

www.bestbeginnings.org.uk/1-introduction/ce56404c-222c-4b40-8cf9-311a83793030
www.nct.org.uk/breastfeeding-handouts

Marjal12 My baby was breech as well on 32wk apptm. I was told to have 2 more check ups with mw before getting a scan if still breech according to mw. You're lucky you had scan already and having another .

It doesn't have to be baby's head in your ribs. I didn't want to believe my mw when she told me 2 weeks ago baby wasn't breech anymore, cause I didn't feel any major movement suggesting turning and have still been feeling hard part right in my ribs. On Thursday get to see my mw again so just hope baby didn't turn back.

Good luck on your scan and wish you baby had turned in the right position.

missing You're definitely supposed to be seen more often, after 32wks should be every 2 weeks, even more if any concerns. Maybe you can make an extra appointment with midwife without her asking to see you, just that you want a check though? She definitely can't refuse to see you and you can use this time to ask any questions you have.
With the NHS classes, I find it really unfair. They provide basic information everyone should get access to. I attended these and found them very helpful. I wouldn't be able to afford NCT classes

I feel very strange today. Getting period pains all day, haven't stopped since evening. I thought a bath would help, but feel even worse. Little sharp pain on and off down bellow, baby very active and pushing down a lot, strong BH. Feel like when flu starting since yesterday.

Hope baby won't decide to come this night as hubby working night shift and have no chance to contact him . And my tens machine coming by post only tomorrow !! Would be really shame to get it afterwards . Baby, wait wait, you can come after Thursday's check up if you're head down!!

Thanks Velvet - I'm lucky to be getting scans every 1-2 weeks at mo but it's down to having gestational diabetes and previous wee scare with growth of baby dropping suddenly at 34 weeks. Can't imagine only seeing midwife at this stage! It's a bit of a pain having to trek to the hospital every week - tomorrow I have appointments at 10.50, 1.45, and 2.15! Plus my daughter was scheduled for a dietician appointment at same hospital at 2pm, but the dietician's going to do a phone consultation with me instead. I might be able to grow a person in me, but I can't be 2 places at once!

Morning all, I'm just having a massive catch up, after I ended up so grumpy at the end I couldn't bring myself to post with anything useful or positive.
Anyway congratulations to the new mummies, white bex red ?seven and congratulations dinah but so sorry you are having a rough time, I can recommend PALS which your hospital should have if you need support to get your needs heard, sadly in our hospital the 'not established feeding' tends to fall on deaf ears, and we are usually encouraged to seek support from the community options, which are scantily places across the region for me will be fairly difficult to access following a section and being unable to drive, plus 2 others at home!
Sorry if I've missed anyone else, I guess don't' you may also have news soon.
As for me baby boy born yesterday, weighing in at 8lb 2.5, after elcs, we seem to be doing ok, managing to feed a bit, diabetes still wild, but I have literally taken the it's 'gone' to heart when choosing foods, but still having to test, and my high levels seem to tell a different story, however they have said it does take a few days to settle down, so I should probably rein in my diet a bit and see how it goes.
Baby B is grunting a bit, so we may have to see paeds again, they weren't too concerned yesterday apparently it can be common in "diabetic babies". Not counting on much sleep tonight to be honest as the 4 babies I'm sharing with are just tag teaming their crying stints!
Any multiple mummy's know if semi projectile vomits are normal? Both my previous have had elements of vomitty reflux, but this one seems to get it a couple of hours post feed, and rather than just quietly spitting back is actively making vomit/retching noises and bring back my precious colostrum! IF see a midwife I might enquire, but the do appear a rare species around here!

Baby girl Sophie born today 11.31am NZ time weighing 8lb 2oz :) I am besotted!

Congratulations boo!

Congratulations Boo and Don't :)

Babies popping out all over the place now!

Seeing MW today. Hopefully they'll tell me what happens now I'm overdue. Grrr!

Congratulations to Boo and Don't! Well done ladies.
Fingers crossed the levels start returning to normal over the course of today Boo.

Congratulations dont and boo!!

Congratulations Boo and Don't - hope you're all feeling ok

Cool you must be so fed up. Going over is my biggest fear atm!

Congratulations Boo and Don't!

Congratulations Boo and Dont!

Absolutely no signs of baby Lucid budging here. Getting bored!!!

Velvet with the monitoring I was able to stay standing and move around - even on OBEM some ladies were up and about so it's definitely not a requirement that you need to be flat on your back, unless of course the trace keeps getting lost like Katharine's. The wires etc did start to annoy me after a while but I just kept reminding myself that it was all keeping baby safe and that every pain was bringing her closer to me. Labour does suck, there's no getting away from it, but you really do forget it all very quickly!

Yay, more babies! Massive congrats to you all :)

I have my growth scan today at 4, no idea which way it's going to go but it's time to find out whether or not the mini-Hippy is a giganto-baby or not!

Congratulations Boo and Don't.

It's so exciting waking up to new arrivals every day. Really hoping it's my turn soon.

Congrats to Boo and Don't. [Grin] Babies popping out all over the place now.

I am getting increasingly uncomfortable. Bump still looks quite high to me and tired of getting a foot in my ribcage! Am 38 weeks exactly today. I'm going to give her until after the weekend and then start to try and evict her with long walks etc. Am also worried because she was at the 80th centile for fundal height size at last appointment with midwife so don't want her going overdue or she's going to be huge!

Weighed self this morning and I've gained 2 and a half stone now. I so hope I can get this extra weight off after baby is born. I miss all my own normal clothes and feel and look like a whale.

Morning ladies x
Big congrats to Don't & Boo xx

38weeks today & have another scan this afternoon, which I've gotta go to on my own cos it clashes with school run :( xx

Congrats to Boo and Dont !! Can't wait for pictures.

Hope to join you soon.

For those asking for a picture, this is my boy, Jacob James. Xx

He's gorgeous Bex! Lovely little button nose!

Thought i'd update Red's comprehensive list, as I am doing nothing but waiting for baby to arrive! Congrats to the newest arrivals!

New Babies
Topmammy - Jessica
Cookielove - Elijah
bugoven - Dexter
IlovemonstersInc - Baby boy
Teabiscuits - Emma
Kicksandgiggles - twin boys
Nazly - Dara
TwosaCrowd - Cassius
Laura2611 - Jessica
TheOnlySeven – Elizabeth
DearDinah - Evelyn
cbmb12 - Baby boy
whiteblossom - Baby boy
Redtoothbrush – Baby boy
BexBoo12 – Baby Jacob
BooSurprise – Baby boy
Dontevenblink – Baby Sophie
Current Stats: 12 B : 6 G

Awaiting News
Babyfishcakes - induced Tuesday 19th August (pre eclampsia)
LH1981 - in labour
CumbrianExile – in labour
Iatesomeofthepies - booked in for induction Monday 1st September
Frolie - section booked for Tuesday 2nd September

Now Overdue
Coolcat2014 - due Tuesday 2nd September

Week Commencing Monday 1st September - This Week
Lucidlady – due Friday 5th September
Acorncat – due Sunday 7th September

Week Commencing Monday 8th September
ShowMeShowMeTheWine – due Monday 8th September
lilone1234 – due Tuesday 9th September
KatharineClover – due Wednesday 10th September
AlwaysandForever09 – due Thursday 11th September
EllaBella220 – booked in for induction Thursday 11th September
Slithytove - due Friday 12th September (Home VBAC)
?HippyJess - due Friday 12th September
Topsyloulou – due Friday 12th September
Beccus – due Saturday 13th September
Serotonin - due Saturday 13th September
Cindy5389 – due Saturday 13th September

Week Commencing Monday 15th September
polkadotdelight - due Wednesday 17th September (measuring big - may need ELCS)
KitKat1985 - due Wednesday 17th September
Xxmissbrightsidexx – due Wednesday 17th September (measuring small - suspected IUGR & low amniotic fluid)
holls2000 - section booked for Thursday 18th September (currently breech)
Inbl00m – due Saturday 20th September
Jemsiem - due Saturday 20th September
MissingCaffeine - due Saturday 20th September
Marjal12 - ?due Sunday 21st September (currently breech, ELCS if doesn't turn)
Lilmisssunshine7 – due Sunday 21st September
TeamEponine - due Sunday 21st September (currently breech, ELCS if doesn't turn)

Week Commencing Monday 22nd September
misog2000 – due Thursday 25th September (planned homebirth)
Aisha18 - section booked for Friday 26th September
Velvetlilithi – due Saturday 27th September
Snafu33 – due Sunday 28th September

Week Commencing Monday 29th September
No one here?

A to Z of everyone else currently active
SHOUT IF YOU WANT TO BE ADDED OR YOU HAVE MORE INFO!

Congratulations to Don't and Boo!!
My ribs ache and baby is head down - not yet engaged.
Health visitor just came to see me at home (apparently a new thing). Feel like I learned more from her about pregnancy and birth than in my 4 midwife appts. She asked me if I'm having a home or hospital birth, so it turns out home births are an option here. I'd just assumed they weren't. Found out about lots of things going on locally that I can join in with once baby is here.
What are you ladies doing with your time on maternity leave? I feel a bit lost. I have lots to do (DIY and shopping) but not much energy to do it!