October 14. Thread 12. Still no babies? Let the raspberry leaf tea drinking commence

[YellowWellies]

New Fred

Urgh just been sick for the first time in ages, forgotten how horrid it is to start the day that way. I also have a splitting headache when coughing/sneezing/throwing up that's not made me feel any better

On the plus side I slept for 7 hours last night, seems to be a weeklytreat I get one good night's sleep. Woke up in pain though from sleeping on my right hand side all night.

I'm going to try the tennis ball thing as hip pain has been the bain of my life for weeks. DH gives me a massage every night which temporarily relieves my aches and pains

fedup I've had the galloping horse heartbeat once, with all other appointments hearing the chugging train, so I place no stock in that OWT at all!

bump and binky, hope your days improve and you start to feel better, I hate starting the day feeling like absolute guff :(

Morning everyone! Hope you all had good sleep last night. I got a burst of energy about 11pm and spent an hour on google trying to work out why my preggo hormones are making me feel hostile towards our poor wee dog. Came across an antenatal club on bump.com where someone vented about this and oh my word, the responses! Those mamas were mean... It made me feel really grateful for this group and how supportive and kind folk on here are to each other. We're lucky.

Just a little thought to start Tuesday off nicely!

I have first time hip pain this morning too. Boo. I feel like my bump has grown overnight, got up for a wee in the night and had a proper ouch bump pain moment, doubled me over. Looking down it's definitely changed ssince yesterday.

badger my sister went completely off her cats when pregnant and has never really returned to liking them being around since. I've not noticed anything with my cat, she likes her cleanliness though and so I think the cats threatened that when she was feeling protective against the bump - could that be similar for you. I'm obviously a mucky pup!
woke every hour last night, carpel tunnel is horrible! dead hands and throbbing knuckles does not a happy pregnant lady make! Bless my OH though, he's sticking it out in our room even though the spare room is made up and ready for him at any time. I guess its good training for both of us.
When should you start with the rlt? I'm not wanting to bring on labour quicker as i'd rather he arrived when ready but i'm attracted by the possibility of quicker second stage. But then again a friend of mine had a 10 min second stage and ended up with stiches so maybe I'll leave be...what do others think? does quick 2nd stage = more likely to tear?
I know its a blessing working from home at the minute but I can't help but be jealous of those of you still working to a routine for these last few weeks. If I was going into work I think I'd feel more productive just being there as I'd be forced to work. I finish each day feeling useless at the minute, just don't know where to start and end up procrastinating all day. At least when baby arrives my routine will be dictated - like others have said i think I'm going to cope better when baby is here than in these last few weeks of pregnancy :)

Clops I think it can make a tear more likely. I've a pal who had a third degree tear and her second stage was only 10 minutes. I'm not bothering with RLT this time. To be honest I'd also be a bit worried about buying bags of dried herbs off eBay claiming to be RLT - better to go to a herbalist. Just in case. There's a lot of herbs pregnant women need to avoid for safety's sake.

Ahhhh first time in ages J hasn't woken up at 7am on a day off! Whoop!

I'm tending to think now that tears and labour in general are just luck. Hear such a wide variety of stories - small babies, big ongoing vagina issues, huge babies, not even a graze. Super fit people having major issues, really unfit people have major issues, super fit people claiming that their fitness led to an easy labour, really unfit people claiming that they'd rested up a lot and dealt with labour easily.

Pah. It's luck. Maybe an element of mind-set afterwards in terms of how you cope with the aftermath and how you think it went for you.

I'm going in to it assuming it'll hurt like a bitch for up to 3 days, it might be scary, it might be traumatic, but on the other hand it might be fine... then it'll be over and human bodies are pretty resilient in coping with stuff.

Probably a very sensible approach goats. I think there are elements of truth in all those scenarios. I understand that very muscular women can sometimes have a tough time due to top much strength yet can also have an easy time for the same reasons.

Fwiw I had pretty poor muscle tone and wasn't at my fittest by any stretch of the imagination. I had a lovely easy labour but a 2nd degree tear. I think o could have avoided the tear if I had been able to listen more to the mW. My mum felt that her inexperience meant she wasn't as forceful as she could have been when telling me to stop pushing but my feeling was that it wouldn't have made much difference. This time my mum has instructions to make sure I do as I'm told. She was right by my face last time and as an experienced midwife who knows me better than anyone, it's her job to help me. She didn't want to be a nuisence last time!

Hope those who have had a rubbish start to the day start to feel better soon. And good luck to all you who have started the eviction notices. I have a wedding on the 27th so would like to hold on until then. Went a few days early with ds though so might not male it!

I had an episiotomy with dd it was probably better having a nice clean stitched up cut that didn't get infected and you can concentrate on looking after that area. With ds I didn't tear but had a massive graze far more painful and it got infected. No one knows how your body will cope. My friend had a quick 2nd phase and was told at several times not to push when baby was crowning. She did though as was desperate to get baby out and ended up with a massive tear and a catheter. It's hard but you need to try to control your body when midwife advises!

Dh has a particularly awkward customer right on my due date.....he's hoping I'm either a bit early or start proceedings on my due date nothing like being convenient for people! Lol. I didn't hear anything from the hospital about my gtt and as the midwife said no news is good news! Phew. Celebratory percy pigs are in order I think.
bit of a crappy nights sleep for me too, awake every couple of hours with heartburn or needing a pee.
I'm with goats although I feel a lot if it is to do with positive out look and not worrying about every little thing. What will be will be whether we worry about it or not!

So haven't been on the thread since Friday and a lot has happened! Just added myself below. Had my 34wk appointment with midwife yesterday morning as was measuring 30cm (even though I was 32cm 2 weeks ago). She sent me straight to Triage for growth scan...I was really scared but once I had the scan they said baby was estimated at 5lbs 5oz already and right on track so obviously was tucking himself up for midwife! Nice to see everything is all ok but made me realise how scary it can all be..just want him here now!

Troubleandfyfe Baby Girl Lumen born 31st August 8lb 5oz
Takingchances DC1 (girl) EDD 26th Sep by c-section
Sazzlehopes DC2 (boy) EDD 27th Septemeber
Kirstipops DC1 (unknown) EDD 27th September
Mrsbadcrumble74 DC2 (boy) EDD 28th September
MundayCakes85 DC1 (unknown) EDD 28th September
ohthegoats DC1 (unknown) EDD 28th September
hefner DC2 (boy) EDD 29th September
mrsb87 dc1 EDD 29th September
Gunwalloe DC5 (girl) EDD 30th Sept C-section booked on 23rd
CaptainMcgraw DC2 (boy) EDD 30th Sept C-section booked on 23rd
Pinkfizzsparkles DC3 (girl) EDD 30th September
Vicky123uk DC2 (girl) EDD 1st October - hoping for VBAC!!!!!
Bumpbangbump DC2 (girl) EDD 2nd October
Clops2000 DC1 (boy) EDD 2nd October - homebirth (fingers crossed!)
Porcito DC1 (girl) EDD 3rd October (C-section before then likely)
Badgerinbury DC1 (girl) EDD 4th October
Georgebythesea DC1 (boy) EDD 4th October
CellyD DC2 (unknown) October 6th
Flipfantasia DC3 (unknown) edd 7 October
SlideIn DC1 (unknown) EDD 7 October
Cabster DC2 (boy) EDD 8 October
Londonjen DC1 (unknown) EDD 8th October
SummerDreams13 DC1 (unknown - even to us!) EDD 9th Oct
Annoyedbyalfiebear DC2 (girl) EDD 9th oct c-s booked 2nd oct
Ldt87 DC3 (boy) EDD 9th October
HazzaB89 DC1 (unknown) EDD 9th October
Littlewilliam DC1 (Boy) EDD 10th October
Binkybunny DC1 (girl) EDD 10th October
Fatpony DC1 (boy) EDD 16 October, c-section booked 10 October
Fedupofrainydays, DC2, (unknown), EDD 10 October
Me23 DC3 (girl) EDD 11th October
Bumpforme2014 DC1 (girl) EDD 11th October
Sweetpeapods DC2 (boy) edd 11th Oct.
Kittyvet DC1 (unknown) EDD 12th October
Madamweasel DC2 (girl) EDD 12th October
Pregnantagain7 DC4 (unknown) EDD 13th October
ExcitedCJ DC2 (boy) EDD 13th October
JellyBeans (team yellow) EDD 13th October, home birth
Mum2kiss dc2 edd 13th October
Happytimes31 DC1, surprise! EDD 15th October
Clairemiss79 DC4 girl EDD 15th October
Mrsandpuppythedog DC1 (team green?) EDD 16th October
Grannyapple DC3 (boy) EDD 16th October
PunkyBubba DC2 (boy) EDD 16th October
Shirehobbit DC2 (unknown) EDD 17th October
Loulou888 DC3 (unknown) EDD 20th October
Pusscous (girl) edd 20 October
FrauEnglischLehrerinDC2 (boy) EDD 22nd October
BingoBango85 DC1 (unknown) EDD 23rd October
STIGZ dc2 (girl) EDD 23 october (likely c/section)
FatFlashingLazer DC1 (surprise) EDD 23rd October
Magichandles DC3 (girl) EDD 24th October (likely to be induced 10/11 Oct)
Yellowwellies DC2 (unknown) EDD 25th Oct or ind/CS 18th Oct
Weeonion DC2 (secret) EDD 25th Oct
Lily31 DC1 (unknown) EDD 27th October
Lulu298 DC1 (surprise) EDD 27 October
Missus2ndwife DC1 Edd 28th October
Bumpandbaby2014 DC1 (unknown) EDD 29th October

Last day at work for me! bogles Am still on sofa though as awaiting call from day unit re: bloods from yday. Grr. Want to go in & say goodbye! Was up at 0330 with reflux, had to get up and eat bread to try & soak up liquid stomach contents which kept coming up every time I laid down. Ick. Then Gaviscon, then a 4th pillow. Up for almost an hour all told, so not at my best

goats yes I think a large element is down to luck. The fact is the vast majority of women 85% will sustain a tear during childbirth most of these will be 1st (skin only) or 2nd degree (skin and muscle) and will heal easily without complications. Only 3-4%of tears are 3rd or 4th. The fact is if you are a first time mum you are more than likely to have some from of perineal tearing. You are pushing a baby out of your vagina go figure! And don't beat yourself up and stress about what you should have or could have done to prevent it! If it's going to go it will go. Though I agree that listening to mw right at the end and panting/blowing when they advise rather than going for it full throttle does help minimise damage as can midwife guarding perineum. Some interesting research on this from Norway in last few years.

It's terribly scary seeing my name second on the list after someone who's already had her baby!!

I am on mat leave but not relaxing at all. Instead i am doing a million jobs around the house to make everything perfect for the baby

Mixed feelings after my Mw appointment this morn. Please all seemed ok with baby. But it was head really low down - 4/5 engaged. Really?! Scared it might arrive early and please not when DH is in Canada.
Second was the position. It's exactly the same as ds was which resulted in complications and 3rd degree tear. I know it can change but ds stayed in that position for weeks and did not move in labour.
Also, if am allowed to attempt vbac (scan at 38 weeks to determine) I'm not allowed in MLU as likely to tear again and want a doctor to repair me. Greeaaaat.
She also said I'm very likely to have another back to back. (Current position - sort of)
Last but not least booked in for sweep on 9th (day before due date) depending on outcome of consultant appointment.
Phewf. All becoming a bit real and am scared. First time horrors of ds birth are coming back and I feel a bit frightened. I know the end result is awesome but I do feel a bit concerned that this is getting real now....

I got told to book a midwife appointment for a sweep at 39 or 40 weeks. I haven't done it... don't want to even start interventions with a sweep. Naughty.

Can someone add me to the list pls,
Queenasanti3 DC2 (surprise) due 6th October, thanks
Really need to start packing this hospital bag, hearing of so many early births, is starting to make me feel a little nervous x

That's a lot to process fedup - hugs.
FWIW I think they can move up and down with engagement, so that might not be cause to worry. There was also some confusion over whether mws were recording 4/5 as most of the head engaged or actually 1/5 being engaged, 4/5 being palpable in my group last year - was she clear with you?
I totally understand the apprehension - mine is building a bit now too, mostly memories coming back. I already know they want me on an IV from the moment my waters go, which sets me off on a medical path from the off. I'm also worried about another b2b delivery.
I have no advice, only hugs and

Busy weekend on here, only just catching up. Lovely to see first baby has arrived.

Hugs Fedup. As Shire says that's a lot to process.

Me is there a general basis for deciding whether to cut? Presumably if most women get a 1st or 2nd degree tear, they're only likely to think about it if it looks like it could be a more serious tear than that?

Goats I avoided all sweeps last time and went into natural labour 5 days over my due date after a big walk and dtd, so don't have a sweep if you don't want to. But I do understand you have other medical issues??!!!

Fed up, mine is 4/5 engaged, I know because the notes say 1/5 palpable, so she said it might be a quick birth, but not necessarily early. Try not to panic. Hopefully the 38 week appointment will tell you more, and if you are feeling scared you do have the elcs option too.

sizzle - yeah, I do have other medical stuff going on, but it's nothing that should affect the labour thing. I think it's more about my age... which to me seems an arbitrary piece of data to use to induce. Especially when EDD is also an arbitrary number in my opinion.

We'll see - I might be desperate to get it out (considering I am already!)

Hats off to all you ladies still at work it must be very hard! And also to people getting very little sleep I don't really wake up and I'm totally shattered by lunch so god knows how people who are not managing to sleep are coping.

Interesting talk about tears I do think what goats said about it being luck is probably true I don't really think there is much you can do before hand to prevent it. The one thing I would say (not that I'm an expert!) is listen to the midwife during the pushing stage sounds simple but not always that easy as every fibre in your body is telling you to push as hard as you can and the midwife is telling you to breath and not push I really struggled to listen with my second just fired her straight out was really lucky to have done damage! However with my last one my far the biggest it was so much more controlled and the three midwives (shift change as he was crowning!) really coached me through it.

I've been for a growth scan this morning baby weighs 5lb 13 (34 weeks) so a bit big but not quite the giant I thought (if the scan is accurate) if I follow the line I'm one at moment I'm looking at a birth weight of around 10lb.
But to be honest I'm not that convinced by growth scans and I'm just happy to go with the flow for know next scan in three weeks so will see what happens then :)

Oh and regarding trying to get it out my community midwife said she would be happy to do sweep at 38 weeks so i will do that and I'm going to book some acupuncture for the afternoon never had it before so not sure what to expect but if these two things don't work I will leave it be it's obviously not ready to come. I must have had about 12 sweeps over my last three pregnancies and they've never worked I think I have cervix made from steel

Really feel for you fed up having the added worry of your husband being away xx