October 2014- thread 13. Getting the eviction notices ready!

[MundayCakes85]

Thought we'd better start a new thread, how many more will we get through before babies arrive??

stigz I've had that feeling a few times over the last couple of months, thought I was going into labour, with me it turned out to be an upset stomach each time. I think it might be a reaction to fish and chips as it seems to be happening about 24 hours after eating them !

Those of you worrying about cs, my experience was far better than I imagined. I think it's completely normal to be scared and nervous beforehand, partly because you can't escape all the propaganda about how natural births are better (and I agree that midwives should be saying this, it's just unhelpful when you have no choice) and partly because it's extremely difficult to prepare mentally for an experience you've never had before.

I found the worst bit was having the cannula put into the back of my hand and even that was no worse than having blood taken. Having the spinal put in place, which was the thing I was most scared of, was fine because it didn't hurt and I couldn't see it being done. After that I just lay down, they strapped a bp monitor to one arm and dh sat on the other side holding my other hand. They put the curtain up and even dh (who is a dr) decided not to watch.

Not being able to feel my legs was not unpleasant, most like being in a state of extreme relaxation, or when you wake up from deep sleep knowing you could move but not having any desire to actually expend the effort to do so (obviously I couldn't actually have moved my legs). The feeling while they were getting the baby out was quite weird, I could feel myself being shaken around, but dh and I had a bit of laugh about it and then dd squawked. It took three minutes from cut to birth, imo the rest of the op is irrelevant to you once the baby is out (and in my case we didn't get to hold dd until I was in recovery).

Sorry for the essay, but I hope it might reassure some of you a bit.

Well after all that drama I slept unbelievably well. Only up once to pee! BabyB is still being a little reluctant this morning, have had one or 2 movements but nothing like the usual attack I get every morning. Will see how the morning goes and call the midwives again later.
stigz I hope you're feeling a bit better?

Panic over ... They have stopped, thank fook !! Its weird feeling menstrual cramps, not had them in so long, only officially 6 weeks to go so i guess your body does start to prepare at some point? But really going to get organised now !! I did get a fright thinking "shit im actually having a baby soon" ... And i know by my last experience that baby could come when you least expect it... So my 6 week countdown is getting cut in half just in case

Ha Stigz - I had that last weekend. A good 2 hours of wave like period pain and BH. Put me in a massive panic.. mostly because I remembered how much I hated period pain when it's bad, which put me a bit in 'oh bollocks' about 12 hours of them being REALLY BAD in the next few weeks. I've actually had low level grumbling the whole time I've been pregnant, but this was definitely back to the stabbing ones you get on the first day of a period. It also gave me the feeling that it's all going to happen earlier than I really expect it to - pretty much everyone in our family has early babies (only a couple of weeks, but still). Hasn't been helped by other symptoms of pregnancy vanishing either, and obviously my bump has changed/dropped - I feel extremely different, all sort of energised and focussed - the opposite of how I've been feeling since about week 26. No heartburn medication needed since Friday, despite big spicy meals, able to actually EAT big spicy meals because I fancy them.. so my appetite and tastes are back to almost normal. And no constipation either... almost the opposite. It's interesting.

Midwife who runs aquanatal just said that it's a normal reaction to a reduction in hormones at this stage of pregnancy, so maybe I've still got the 3 weeks until 41... but who knows. Boyfriend is miles away with work on Tuesday, I wouldn't be surprised if it kicks off then. He told me to stop suggesting it might because 'that would be a self fulfilling prophecy'.

I'd only been in work an hour this morning before it was all shit again... honestly, I'm so glad I've not got this class for the whole year, the parents are almost as demanding as the kids.

Stigz good luck if things are on the move!

Binky keep an eye on your upset tummy after fatty meals like fish and chips. Pregnancy can affect your gall bladder function and being unable to process fatty foods is one symptom. Are you getting pain after fatty foods too? I'd let your MW know next time you see her, just in case.

CJ a referendum baby - how exciting? Calledonia perhaps?

And for folks taking their money out of RBS - errrr given it is state owned by the UK (not Scottish) government - why do that? You'll only tank a state owned bailed out bank whose only connection to Scotland is its name and a couple of offices. It's based in London these days. They just keep the Scottish name to keep the expat money / Scottish loyalty.

God goats you have described what has happned to me the past few days... Heartburn reduction .., chocolate cravings gone, had to eat chilli tacos with salad & cheese... Ate 4 blooming taco's that where filled to the brim .. A couple of days worth of energy to get bits and bobs done in the house, at a snails pace but better than nothing!!

Deffo be prepared not to get 41 weeks... Esp with history of early baba's in your familiy

mrs b hope baba moves ... I always find mines is slower when i havnt done a number 2 for a couple days, then goes mad when i you know what

ExcitedCJ Sorry if I've missed something, but are you having a CS because of a previous one, or is it to do with going early because of the GD?

Goats - I was chatting with my friend only yesterday that her biggest sign that her babies were a few days away was suddenly feeling very energised and focussed, just saying like

I had my first overnight hypo last night which was rubbish. Gunwalloe - you've had these before - is the best thing to have a slice of toast or something before I go to bed? I've found it so hard balancing the insulin and the hypos this time, to get my post-breakfast reading in range I basically have to snack every hour between breakfast and lunch.

Yellow we don't often eat fatty food so I usually feel pretty rotten after I do when not pregnant. I think it's just more noticeable now as the cramps feel like I imagine contractions will and come in waves!

So long as it hangs on until after 4.30pm next Thursday, I don't mind.

Hehe thanks stigz luckily my bowel movements have been pretty normal. They mentioned last night that because I'm measuring so big that baby might be getting uncomfortable and a bit squished. Movements have been few and far between and when baby does move it's a lot slower and subdued than usual.

magic ive been having a rich tea biscuit to give my sugars a little push to keep me going overnight. Im also having to snack constantly I wanted to ask the consultant about the change yesterday but with the BP drama I saw her for 2 mins and was then whisked up to the ward.

Frau, thanks for your reassuring comments re ce-sections. I'm very calm about mine right now but no doubt the night before :) - my sister had three though (due to kidney disease) and had no problems whatsover.

It's interesting to hear other people are anxious about leaving work. I love my job, busy from start to finish, intellectually challenging (well...sometimes), have lovely clients I get to meet and I manage a good team. I just can't imagine stopping that suddenly. I'm about to pay for subscriptions to the New Yorker magazine and a daily paper so I don't go bonkers. I'm even thinking of pushing back my maternity leave start date by a few days as I have projects due after I leave that I was going to hand over to a client. Someone slap me!

Frau, thanks for your reassuring comments re ce-sections. I'm very calm about mine right now but no doubt the night before :) - my sister had three though (due to kidney disease) and had no problems whatsover.

It's interesting to hear other people are anxious about leaving work. I love my job, busy from start to finish, intellectually challenging (well...sometimes), have lovely clients I get to meet and I manage a good team. I just can't imagine stopping that suddenly. I'm about to pay for subscriptions to the New Yorker magazine and a daily paper so I don't go bonkers. I'm even thinking of pushing back my maternity leave start date by a few days as I have projects due after I leave that I was going to hand over to a client. Someone slap me!

Magic I am in for section next week because baby is measuring big due to GD & with having a previous EMCS and tenderness in the scar area they don't want to leave me any longer. I am on insulin 4 times daily & finding it hard to get sugars down, so not great for baby.
I will be 36 + 3 when delivered & baby is today measuring 39 + 4, so will be measuring 40 + weeks next week. My tummy feels like it may split!
Yellow your referendum baby name made me smile, not such a bad idea. Any suggestions for beautiful Scottish sounding boys names? Would be nice for you guys to help me choose. I like names that remind me of nature.

FatPony With you on the 'what to do before baba arrives'. I still am supposed to have a week to go, but due to various things I am off to the Docs this morning and likely to be signed off. That means I have 6 weeks to go. I like your idea of ordering papers each day.

Could go stir crazy otherwise. Bar a couple of people, all my workmates are awesome. I am quite sad that I won't have a proper goodbye and spend time with them before I go. That was what I'd always imagined would happen before going on mat leave.

Glad someone mentioned earplugs. That is a brilliant idea for the hospital bag.

My sister's friend had a CS 2 weeks ago, her first baby was a natural birth but problematic to say the least, so for her second and third babies she opted for a c-section, she said of this one "It was a breeze", since both my mum and sis needed emcs I'm aware that may be the route my bod may take as well, so hearing her wave it away with a contented grin with her gorgeous wee girl in her hands, I could kiss her!
I still have no boys name, argh argh argh. As my surname is v-Scottish sounding already I'd actually like to go another way, then the kid won't sound like it's walked out of Highlander

Excited, what about Torrin? It means "from the hills" in Scots Gaelic and would have been our first choice if we'd had a boy. If you've got any nice Scottish girls' names please let me know - we're stumped!

I've just been putting together relaxing music to play if I want during Labour, but at our antenatal class the mw said we had to play stuff like she was. It was all tinkly bells and whale type noises, which I don't really find relaxing. She told us we wouldn't be allowed to play rock music as it doesn't encourage oxytocin, which I'd understand if it's loud and heavy, but most of my relaxing music is Jack Johnson type guitar and singer music. Anyone had experience of being allowed/ not allowed to play certain music in a mlu?

Badger that is lovely, keep them coming.
Binky it's your blinking labour, no one else's, play what makes you happy, that will release the Oxytocin. Jack J etc would do it for me! :)

fatpony yeah, I didn't sleep much the night before my cs! Glad I've reassured someone though.

Thanks excited exactly what we all thought but it's been a hot topic of debate amongst my antenatal group. I'm desperately hoping this woman is not my mw on the day!

Frau you have also shored me up too! I had a reasonable experience with my last EMCS, if it hadn't been for the PE sending me a bit screwy I would have been OK.
As you said, the thing in my hand was the worst bit, couldn't wait to get it out.
Kirsti thanks for your CS Happy easy breezy story, hoping that will be my experience too!

Phew, finally caught up! Glad all those that were in hospital are now home. Looks like it'll be time to re-do the roll call again for cj

One of my NCT ladies has had 4 c sections, if she didn't mind doing it 3 more times after the first it can't be that bad!

I stupidly read a thread about after pains yesterday & the fact they get worse with each labour. I didn't get them too bad last time (although no one bloody warned me it would happen!) but am a bit scared of getting them worse this time

I can imagine emcs is usually quite different anyway, lot less calm. A dr friend of dh told us about one he was called to where they opened up the woman's uterus to find...no baby . Utter confusion until they spotted it had come out of the vagina and was lying under the cloth between the woman's legs .