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!

No perineal massage here either, too much trouble! I'm planning to trust my body knows what to do without me prodding around down there, I had an episiotomy last time which was well sewn so it's not high on my list of worries. Trying to remember pelvic floor exercises, I was much more disciplined with them last time - post birth I was told to do them every time I fed my baby and that was a really helpful reminder :)

Hi ladies, mind if I join you? I'm expecting DC2 on Monday 8th - planned HB - and right now just every day feel like I want to moan about how baby has not arrived yet (with DD I'd be in labour right now). Lots of 'signs' like strong BH, needing loo lots, period cramps, exhaustion, etc. But who knows when baby will actually come? Been on ML since 37 weeks, completely decluttered house and general tidiness level has really improved, now it's just the finnicky bits like washing doors/skirting boards etc. but I'm too tired! C'mon baby, tis time for you to get out!

PS. God my intro is very moany, sorry all, just feel like I've had too much at this point.

Welcome Dizzy :) I've had signs like you past couple of days, but nothing happening for me yet :( Hope theres not long for either of us to wait!
Think I've congratualated everyone, but if I've missed someone sorry congrats!
Any news on any babies being born today?

Welcome dizzy!

Oh i'm so rubbish at pelvic floor exercises too. Only remember when someone mentions it or I read it then I do them for about a minute before I get bored lol. Probably why i'm now having to wear pantyliners daily!

Food shop has arrived and as I was putting it away I was checking all the use by dates and just wondering if i'll have given birth by the time each item expires lol - it's driving me mad, I want to get on with my life!

Congrats to all of those who now have their babies to cuddle, and good luck to those who are about to meet theirs!

I just need to have a self-indulgent whinge. I'm feeling so hormonal, and have no ability to cope with anything at all, so I just keep crying over the most ridiculous little things. I've still got a few days to go at work, and it just feels impossible.

I am really excited to be meeting baby (hopefully) soon, but I really can't wait to start to feel more like me again. The hormones are making me feel like I'm just totally nuts and I feel beyond huge. People keep telling me to relax and enjoy these last few days, but I just want to crawl under a rock and hide until baby is ready to make an appearance

Totally empathise with everyone having a moan. I've been on maternity leave since 36 weeks (I work full time but also self employed and had some stuff to tie up). I'm now at 40+2 and got to the point of bleak depression yesterday... So finally started a new project, wonder if I'll get it finished before baby arrives? I think if you're sitting at home waiting, the best thing is to do stuff - make meals to freeze, do something crafty, make a little fleece toy for baby, whatever. Agree with whoever it was who said nesting is more about boredom than hormones!

So I have some vague plan from the midwifes of what happens next. I'll get a sweep & stretch at 40+7, then 40+9, and 40+11, and if that doesn't work they'll induce me at 40+12/13. Yey. So booked in for sweep on Tuesday, really Hoping baby will come before then, trying everything there is to try apart from sage oil, nothing's had any affect other than to make me grumpy, so just waiting now and see what happens. Really don't want to be induced!

ew, perineal massage. I tried to do it last time and hated it. I have short arms like a t-rex which made access down there very difficult, and I hated the feeling of the oil dribbling everywhere. I dont think I managed to do it every day, and still tore a bit. there is no way I have time to do it regularly this time, so am refusing to do it. good luck with ur sweeps, coolcat. Hopefully u can avoid induction, but I was induced, and once I had my epidural in, it was fine. I think the thing with inductions is to get the epidural in before they put the syntocin drip up, unless of course, there is medical reason why they urgently want to do the drip. I did not want to be waiting about for a busy anesthetist while that drip was doing its thing.

Beccus - I really really don't want an epidural :(

Just for info, I never did any perineal massage with previous two babies and had no stitches either time.

Well, Clary Sage oil seems to have done nothing, I'm just going to have to wait it out with the rest of you!

Thanks lilone yes, due 21st Sept x

Thankyou Always, I've frustratingly had some of these signs for weeks. Google brings up lots of women who get them and within a day or 2 are in labour, and others who like me have them for a few weeks before anything happens.

Thankyou as well lilone, I'm also rubbish at remembering the pelvic floor exercises. I have heard of a machine you can get to help you do them that is really effective - I keep thinking maybe this would help me to 1. remember and 2. feel confident I'm doing it right. For me it's more the uncertainty of not knowing whether I'm even doing it correctly that discourages me from doing it at all.

Relax and enjoy the last few days? I'd ask them how, don't people know how uncomfortable and unpleasant being heavily pregnant is? I can sympathise Eponine, I actually started ML a week earlier than initially planned as I was just struggling so much, it gets really hard. Just a few more days and you can start spending your days however makes you feel most comfortable.

I hope things get going for you soon CoolCat.

Haven't heard of perineal massage before Beccus and from that brief description am feeling a bit . I take it it's something we're also meant to do? What's it meant to help with?

Not read everything since last post just want to say you don't have to have an epidural if your being induced.

I survived with just gas and air and ihad the drip turned up quite a bit.

If you feel you need more you can go for pca/pac it's a canula hooked up to a machine that administers meds liike epi when you need it. You press the button and then cabt press for a few mins.
had it with ds2 and was induced then too

It's called remifentinal (I called it my best friend in labour lol)

dizzy In theory it's meant to help stretch the perineum in preparation for labour to lessen the chance of tearing but I don't think it's been shown to make a massive difference in practice.

coolcat Fingers crossed for you that you can avoid induction!! I'm feeling for you, being overdue. Let's hope your little one gets a wriggle on! I'm surprised they leave it 7 days to even do the first sweep though!

coolcat, like ilove says, there r other pain relief options if u do have induction. maybe just research it a bit so u know what u would like to do if u r induced.
dizzy, pelvic floor exs r easy, u just use the same muscles u would use to hold back the flow of urine or wind...but best not to do them regularly while u r peeing as that can mess up bladder emptying, just practice once so u get the sensation. try to 10 x 10 sec holds or for as long as u can and then 10 quick ones.
ella, glad u r being checked out, hope all is well.

Hello all. Had a growth scan at 38+1 today and this time they don't think he is so big, 7lb9 being todays estimate and at 36 weeks they said they thought he weighed 8lb. She was really thorough today and rechecked all her measurements as well as checking the blood flow through different parts of the cord. So consulrant now

Hello all :)

I never got round to doing the massage, baby came to early for that.

Had the baby weighed yesterday and he has gone up almost lb since his birth 3 weeks ago :)

Also my infection has cleared up thank god and the doc thinks I won't need to have op as the wound is healing better. I don't have piles I do have a fissure and boy is it painful.

Any who yay for inductions :)

ffs!

now they think that the measurements for 36 week scan were out and baby is a more normal size. I shoukd be reassured but I'm not! He is back to back at the moment, spent yesterday straddling a chair/draped over gym ball and all I did was give myself a bad back! I did ask the consultant today if it was worth doing that (have read it helps baby turn the right way) and she told me not to bother and to stay comfy on the sofa. I'm starting to wonder if we ladies put too much pressure on ourselves with stuff like this (and that bloody perineal massage!). I've also horrified 2 friends by still wearing underwired bras but they are very well fitting so I'm not worried.

I just want this baby now, am uncomfortable/sore and sleep deprived but can't face the whole curry/sex stuff. Grump, grump, grump!

cookie glad to hear you and baby are doing well, I'm terrified of the idea of a fissure.

Polka I'm still wearing under wires too - can't face the thought of work without a 'proper' bra. Last day in the office tomorrow, I'm working a couple of days from home next week just to get the last bits wrapped up but won't be back in the office again.

My hips have been a bit achy today when I walk, not sure how to try and relieve that, think it's just going to be one of those things I have to put up with till baby arrives.

Good luck to anyone due in the next few days

good news ella & cookie, but sorry about fissure. yes, u should totally get ur hair done and look glam for ur 1st baby photos, ella ;)

Hi All. Baby boy Pies arrived yesterday afternoon via c section after a two day long induction didn't work to open the cervix at all. It was all fine, though long and uncomfortable and boring. The consultant said it wouldn't have mattered if we'd waited to induce as the baby was just positioned really awkwardly, weighs over 9 pounds and has a really big head! We think he is gorgeous.

beccus that T. Rex comment had me repeating it to DH while sniggering away, funniest image ever!

Congratulations pies !