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

[YellowWellies]

New Fred

Started washing the babygrows here too, look so cute out on the line. Keep bringing them in too early though as lots of them have the fold over cuffs which seem to store damp..still they look even cuter on the drier inside now!
Nice to be learning something new, even if it is tips for drying baby grows and not anything to do with the masters...sure there's lots more of that to come!
All this talks of tearing is convincing me to give the PN massage another go later. Hated it first time as it just reinforced how small everything is down there in comparison to how big it needs to be on delivery day!
Really feels like the babies are getting close now that discussions are turning to washing and final preps.
me23 and frau I felt completely the same as you a few weeks ago, with no nursery to speak of, no pram etc. It really only took a couple of shopping trips/ washing loads to feel more prepared so I wouldn't worry, you'll soon be folding babygrows with the rest of us

Just read back a little and remembered I still have no hospital bag packed...ha ha there was me seeming all prepared! Planning home birth but with plasterers coming in next week I think I need to be prepared for all locations! Anyone got a good hospital bag list I can use?
Can someone explain what you mean by 4/5 palpable etc? not heard that before, as baba is breech / transverse (who knows?!) I haven't come across any talk of engagement just yet.
I put on 2 stone by 34 weeks I think and then the battery ran out on the scales, decided not to bother getting a new one now, eating what i want and enjoying it before I have to start getting fit again!

I'd put on 2 stone by 30 weeks. I've lost 5 lbs of that in a fortnight by eating in line with my diabetes and baby is still growing well so I know a lot of my previous gain was cake retention not baby related . Its actually been a good kick up the arse to eat more protein and good fats and less carbs and sugar. Both of which I desperately craved - but its a vicious circle - they are soooo addictive. Now I can't eat sugar I don't crave it in the same way - I miss it but I don't have that urgent desire to cram a Mars bar down my gullet. So anyone worrying about weight gain why not try some high protein snack substitutes - eggs, cheese, cooked chicken?

As for colic milk, some folks say they're a gimmick but I can't see the harm in getting some of the over the counter stuff as the cows milk proteins are hydrologised into shorter chains so would be easier for a very mildly dairy intolerant baby to digest. Its over the counter so you don't need a doc's referral. A really sensitive baby would however need dairy free formula - neocate or nutramigen which can only be got from a paediatrician.

I didn't eat sugar for almost a year before I was pregnant, and very little for the two or three years prior to that. Frankly if you avoid all processed food with sugar in it (pretty much all of it, even savoury stuff), it's quite easy to control your weight. It's all about the carbs. How depressing... carbs are the best things! As soon as I'm not pregnant I expect I'll have major problems with wheat again though, so it'll be carb avoidance for that reason. At the moment I need the carbs to keep the digestion going, I'm terrified of eating an egg.

Clops if baby is breech you really don't want them getting engaged - i.e. having their bum sit snugly or get stuck in your pelvis as its harder for them to turn - so for us breech folk unengaged is best! 4\5th palpable means the MW can feel 4\5th of the baby's head outside of the pelvis meaning 1\5th of the head is engaged in the brim of the pelvis and can't be felt when the belly is palpated. Lots of baby's don't engage ready for birth but just engage when the waters break. J never engaged more than 4\5ths palpable until labour.

No ideas? Ok then....

Loulou, we found the comfort milk made DS really constipated when we used it. If your wanting dairy free though i know waitrose sell a goats milk one & i think there might be another low lactose one, possibly by hip?

Yes me, definitely not as organised this time! This baby will have a plastic unit in the lounge & a drawer in DSs room!

Just bought a new baby present today - this mega cute jumper with foxes on from John Lewis. So glad I don't know the sex of this baby as know I would go crazy buying!

No ideas mrs... A huge burp maybe?!

Mrsb I think I've had that too, just assumed it was a big hiccup or a twitch similar to what I sometimes get just before I drop off to sleep! (Usually accompanied by me dreaming I've tripped over a kerb or something!)
Mum2 how exciting for your sis, glad this one is taking it's time!

Just bear in mind most babies with a cows milk protein intolerance will also react to goats milk. And don't confuse lactose intolerance with issues with dairy - true lactose intolerance is very rare and such babies would even react to the natural lactose in their Mums BM. If baby is reacting to your BM its more likely something in your diet than lactose - cut out dairy, soy or eggs (they're the biggest triggers for 'colic'. Secondary lactose intolerance can occur when the stomach is damaged by failing to remove an 'allergen' from baby's diet but primary lactose intolerance affects much less than 1% of babies.

clops have a look at the link I posted earlier about perineal massage, te research showed it made no difference to outcomes in subsequent births only a small difference to first births.

I'm am so tired so much housework to do and with 2 kids as well all day messing things up! At least tomorrow I will have child free day to get on with things (and hopefully have a nap)

So my last day at work has passed with me not setting foot on the premises; WFH in the morning then called into hospital for checks as +3 protein found in my pee at MW yesterday. Have to have kidney scan and weekly checkups now. Thought I was going to be kept in for a horrible twenty mins or so. Also peed myself a bit when MW was having a feel of baby, as had drunk loads of water for samples. So that was mortifying (though she was very nice and blasé)...

But no more work! Work is DONE! So can start on epic washing of all baby stuff, eBaying old clothes to make room for superfluous furniture in garage, and hopefully squeeze in a few nice lunches with mates before DC arrives

Me23 me too (and I've only got one!) I've a day WAH and at hospital appointments tomorrow whilst j is at the CM and I know I'll get more done in my lunch break than I have all of today! Just not having a wee helper emptying the blimmin drawers I'm trying to fill will be a start!

mrsb I get that shuddering/shaking quite often. Baby just having a big wriggle in there I think.

10 days left in work, today was a really long day. I was on my feet most of the day & started handover process today. Glad I am day off tomorrow!
I had a horrible dream last night that woke me & I was up from 1:30 - 3:30am, didn't really help me in work today!
I dreamt I was in a car that drove off a harbour & I had to hold my breath & wait until it hit the sea bed until I could escape. I woke up gasping for breath. I think I must have been lying on my back & now I'm panicking that I have done the baby damage by cutting off blood/oxygen supply. Can anyone put my mind at rest??

What a horrible sensation, excited - but if it helps, I spend a lot of time on my back still, and did with DS, too - just so much more comfortable for my hips. There was the suggestion that some of the data to do with the danger from being on your back is quite arcane and comes from epidurals (the immobilising ones) when women couldn't feel the sensation of numbness from decreased circulation and move appropriately. Your body is constantly feeding back about your positioning and you move to keep everything ok. I'm sure you've done no damage x

What a rotten dream CJ, I sometimes wake up lying on my back as well and feeling short of breath, and I've had a dream that sort of ties in with that sensation too (usually busting my ass trying to run but getting nowhere, not as scary as yours); if you were on your back at all I bet it was only for a few seconds as dreams happen so fast and the mind plays crazy tricks! My DH used to wind me up by drawing on my face with his finger while I'm sleeping and it gives me crazy dreams that feel really long but must only last seconds!

Me23 - had a retired MW approach me (randomly) today preaching the benefits of perineal massage!! I couldn't get rid of her.. Had to say I have lots of info and will be looking at it from 34 weeks

Excited - you poor thing but it's probably a metaphor for your impeding arrival and the unknown! The unconscious mind will play tricks on you and apparently dreams are more vivid during pregnancy. Try not to worry too much xx

I'm due to have 4th dc but will be my 3rd labour. I've just read that the 3rd labour is often the longest and worst!! Yikes. My 2nd labour was fine quick and not even unpleasant. Does anyone have any experience of this? me23 is this true? I'm panicking now :o

Thanks guys, I have calmed down a bit since I have felt good movements this evening. Guess I won't truly chill out until the little one arrives.

Just half a day to go at work. Happy for afternoon naps but daunting feeling as it will be the first time I've not had a job since leaving school

CJ that dream sounds awful. I read that sleeping on your back doesn't damage the baby can just make you feel faint and short of breath.

missus I hope I don't end up accosting pregnant women in the future lol.

claire 3rd babies are infamous in midwifery for labour being stop/start but don't panic I've seen plenty of 3rd labours go smoothly! It's my 3rd too I'm really hoping for an easier birth than my 2nd.

Thanks binky I try to stay away from Dr Google but I did read on a number of websites that it is very unlikely to cause harm & as the previous guys have said you wake up if you need to shift!
Just so tired and big and heavy, need a 38 week arrival!

CJ - I thought the whole thing with being on your back is that if your body doesn't like it, it'll 'make' you move. Which your body did. Ta daaaaa.

I too had a bollocks day at work. Maternity cover bloke has had a panic, Head seems to have had a panic, all other staff being annoying. Came home really grumpy.

But, had my first doula meeting tonight - was really good to talk to her about stuff. We just went through the beginnings of labour, different ways of doing things etc, nothing revolutionary, just that boyfriend was there too, so I know now that he knows about it all! And also know what some of his concerns are regards me in labour etc. Just nice to have a proper conversation about it all. It's definitely made me want it to happen sooner rather than later though, just to avoid interventions.