November 2014 - thread 9. The one with the babies.

[amy83firsttimer]

Waddle aboard ladies.

Phew, okay that's good to hear.

I think I'm just so worried I'm going to do it all wrong!

Welcome to the November group Ark! I've been following your other thread and you'll be fine

Sounds like you have lots of people rallying around to help you get prepared and there's always us here to offer help/advice too. I read that you're also tall I'm another 6 footer. ...we went for the mama & papas zoom travel system as it seemed well suited for taller people (ie not so back breaking when bending over).

Keep asking questions and we'll do our best to help you out!

Anna - My friend who had her DS 8 weeks ago likened a sweep to 'being fingered by a random stranger'. The description by my MW was just a nicer put version of that.

Ark - please don't worry about getting it wrong. Remember there's women in completely random and remote places in the world who have been birthing babies for centuries with no medical help etc as it's mostly instinct and women's bodies are perfectly designed to do it. I should be telling myself this. There's never a 'silly' question as someone before would have asked it or been in a similar situation. The MN community is a brilliant source of knowledge so ask away!

Morning lovelies!!!!

no more babies overnight??
kantha / winter - you had some early signs??

Annarose - meant to say but FAB news on yr dad. Really pleased for you. Xx

ok - the pollution of well meaning texts and fb messages have started - "any sign of this baby yet?". trying to smile wryly at them and feel pressure.

kantha - was it yr mil who wants to know from 1st twinges??? Last time we told no-one we were in labour (and it lasted 2 1/2 days) as didn't want a countdown happening. Same policy this time methinks!!

ark - i haven't seen yr other thread but folk on and offline will no doubt rally round. On here, all questions are good and valid - some of us are newbies, some 2nd timers, some have more kids but we are all learning together as no 2 pregnancies ate the same and sometimes this feels like a safe space to have a worried meltdown as well as be assured of a nice response to a giddy happy moment. Xx

Morning all!
Welcome newbies. It is all so exciting on here at the moment. I have my 38 weeks appointment so will report back a bit later on. Plan for today is charity shop visit to drop off donations (and not to buy more ). And very exciting things like washing clothes and cleaning the kitchen.

Morning.

Weeonion - I was definitely mildly and irregularly contracting yesterday evening, but it stopped when I went to bed, and I slept about as well as I do at the moment. The kids slept till 6 (yippee). I woke up feeling 'normal' then have been feeling achey again since getting up. Just been to the loo, more mucus and it was slightly bloody. I am seeing the acupuncturist later on this morning, so I depending on what approach she takes I think that could really get things going . DH has gone to work with strict instructions to have his phone with him and not on silent(!) from midday. He is terrible about answering his phone at work!

It wasn't my MIL who wanted to know at the first twinge (although she would really, but just about has the sense not to insist). However because they are here, and if they go home before baby it is 250 miles to come back again, she is understandably desperate for this baby to come this week. She is a good soul but doesn't always filter what she is thinking before it shoots out of her mouth.

Without wishing to join the chorus of people asking if there are any signs yet, how are you feeling Weeonion?

Winter - how's it going?

Dr Blondie - forgot to say welcome yesterday. Ark's situation is rather exciting but don't want you to feel left out.

Ark - I have just had a read through your other thread. Wow! I had my first two babies at Royal Surrey but have since moved. I had a good experience with both even though one ended up with a c section and the other was a natural birth. I did NCT in Guildford and it was fine for making friends but I don't think you are missing out in terms of childbirth education. When I was in Guildford the maternity unity did tours for expectant parents on Sunday mornings. You had to ring up at 8am or something to book a space (high birth rate in Guildford). It might be worth seeing if they still do that so that you and your DP can familiarise yourself with the setting. If you want to read something about childbirth in lieu of classes I have previously on this thread suggested Ina May Gaskin's 'Guide to Childbirth'. It is written by a 1970's American hippy, so culturally a bit different/bonkers compared to most other stuff you will read, but it really helped me think about childbirth as normal and natural and something not to approach with fear.

Better go. I am meant to be getting dressed not idling on my phone!

So with a sweep: she just prods the cervix? But surely a finger doesn't really do anything, does it? Does she try to rupture the membranes a bit?

Its a different thing to getting your waters broken?

Morning everyone. Well I would like to announce my squidgy suprise bundle was a gorgeous baby girl. Came rather quickly yesterday, weighing 7lb 6oz born at exactly 39wks at 6.30pm was home by 2am. Been a whirlwind 24 hours!

Hurray Winter!! Congratulations!

Congratulations happy! Hope you're enjoying newborn cuddles.

That's wonderful news Anna - you can concentrate on you and lo now.

Welcome DrB and ark.

Ark - can I recommend the essential baby care guide DVD if you're stuck on care for after lo arrives. We did antenatal classes but having the dvd as back up is useful.

Had a small meltdown yesterday as I went to meet DH for lunch and forgot to take the sampler that I've done for his parents anniversary which we were taking to get framed. I felt completely stupid but DH was very understanding and popped home to pick it up.

The second half of this post has been brought to you from an iPad keyboard with letters that only appear when you press them. Nice to know that touch typing at least has given me an idea of where the letters are.

Anna - re sweeps this is my understanding, but it might not be wholly correct. In the first instance it's a vaginal exam where the MW assesses how posterior, effaced and dilated you are. Then, if you are a little dilated (say 2cm, it may even be possible at 1cm), and the cervix has come forward then she will be able to get her finger(s) into the cervix to sweep round the membranes. The idea is NOT to break the membranes although I think there is a risk of this happening and if the baby isn't ready to go then this isn't so great as you might need to be induced if labour hasn't started within 24 hours.

Artificial Rupture of Membranes (ARM) is different and generally involves something akin to a crochet hook!

Oooh - congratulations Winter.

Anna - as I understand it. With a sweep the MW puts her fingers inside the cervix and sweeps round the outside of the amniotic sac. I think rupturing the membrane is a slightly different procedure.

Congratulations winter!

I suppose from now on it could be baby news every day on the thread!

Hi all, wow so busy on the thread now. Huge congrats to winter and happy, can't believe it's all happening and the babies are really coming! Hope the feeding gets into swing.

Welcome to ark and Drblondie, wow ark haven't seen your other thread but what a big surprise.

Anna great news about your dad and hope you can chill in bed now for these last days. I also was a bit unclear about what exactly a sweep entails so good to know!

On 2nd day of mat leave now and rather loving it despite backache from all the cleaning. Going to get lash tint now in a few minutes, such a treat for me as it's something I never get the time to do!

Hang in there everyone, not too long for us all.

Omg winter!!!! Fab fab fab news - i wept a bit

Congrats winter!! Loving getting the baby news!!

Welcome Arc and drb, hope you're feeling well.

Cold getting worse, staying in bed all day today (thank god I'm on mat leave now). As much as I want baby here I'd like to get better first!

Last eyelash apt yesterday, new low point when I had to get her to stop so I could sit up or I was going to throw up. I'm almost as excited about not feeling sick as I am about becoming a mother!!

wow, another thread baby! So many new arrivals, and we're not even into November yet! Fab news Winter!

Welcome to the newbies too- exciting times ahead for us all

Congrats winter :)

Arrivals
Mrsy87 - 13th Oct DD
Mathssssteacher1234 - 22nd Oct DS
Bunnykitten - 24th Oct DS
Happypotamus - 26th Oct DD
WinterLover - 28th October, DD

Still waiting impatiently
WeeOnion 25th October DC2 Ssssh it's a secret (DD born at 40 + 3)
Kantha - 30th October, DC3 surprise. (DS1 40+17 EMCS, DS2 39+3 VBAC)
Annarose2014 - 1st November, DC1, boy
CraziesTogether - 1st November, girl
Hopeful83 - 4th November, DC1, girl
Ladydolly - 6th November DC1, girl
ToniWol - 7th November DC1, suprise
Petal26 - 9th November, DC2, Boy (DD1 born at 41+6)
Amy83firsttimer - 10th November, DC1, surprise
KarmaViolet - 10th November, DC1, surprise
Mumonabroom - 10th November but C Section 4th Nov scheduled, DC3, girl
Starfish99 - 11th November, DC1, surprise
WorkFreeWannabe - 13th November, DC1, Boy
Catg83 - 13th November, boy
Crazybit -14th November, DC4, boy, being induced 31.10.14 due to previous shoulder dystocia
Pinkgirlythoughts- 14th November, DC2, surprise (DS born 41 weeks)
MrsY87- 14th November, DC1, surprise
Excitedforbaba - 15th November, DC1, surprise
Moggle - 17th November, DC1, surprise
TwigletFiend - 17th November, DC1,
Utopian99 - 18th November dc2 surprise (DS born 42 weeks)
Haventgotaclue1 - 18th November, DC1, surprise
FTMK - 19th Nov, DC1, surprise. May be induced from Nov 5th due to GD
Blamber - 19th November, DC1, boy
FruitBadger - 20th November, DC1
Getyourflipflopson- 21st November, dc3, boy (third boy!)
DrBlondie - 22nd November, dc1, girl
Strawberryfield - 23th November DC1, girl!
hotfuzzra - 24th November, DC1, surprise
Arkkorox - 24th November, DC1, suprise
Thehedgehogsong - 27th Nov, DC2, surprise

Cannot believe we've got 5 already & its not even November!

Hope that isn't freaking arkkorox out....! 1st babies are usually late, anyway. I'm due on Saturday and NOTHING stirring whatsoever.

I don't even care today though - the freedom of only having to care about myself & baby!

Oh must mention for those who are getting up to the 39 wk mark - I am very glad I started practising expressing. First night = 15 painful minutes, no joy. Ooowww! But now a few days later = 3 minutes, decent sized droplet.

It might not help at all when baby does latch on, or it might help loads - I dunno. But it makes me feel proactive at least!

Just re-inserting myself after absence!

Mrsy87 - 13th Oct DD
Mathssssteacher1234 - 22nd Oct DS
Bunnykitten - 24th Oct DS
Happypotamus - 26th Oct DD
WinterLover - 28th October, DD

Still waiting impatiently
WeeOnion 25th October DC2 Ssssh it's a secret (DD born at 40 + 3)
Kantha - 30th October, DC3 surprise. (DS1 40+17 EMCS, DS2 39+3 VBAC)
Annarose2014 - 1st November, DC1, boy
CraziesTogether - 1st November, girl
Hopeful83 - 4th November, DC1, girl
Ladydolly - 6th November DC1, girl
ToniWol - 7th November DC1, suprise
Petal26 - 9th November, DC2, Boy (DD1 born at 41+6)
Amy83firsttimer - 10th November, DC1, surprise
KarmaViolet - 10th November, DC1, surprise
Mumonabroom - 10th November but C Section 4th Nov scheduled, DC3, girl
Starfish99 - 11th November, DC1, surprise
WorkFreeWannabe - 13th November, DC1, Boy
Catg83 - 13th November, boy
Crazybit -14th November, DC4, boy, being induced 31.10.14 due to previous shoulder dystocia
Pinkgirlythoughts- 14th November, DC2, surprise (DS born 41 weeks)
Thisisimpossible - 14th November, DC1, surprise
MrsY87- 14th November, DC1, surprise
Excitedforbaba - 15th November, DC1, surprise
Moggle - 17th November, DC1, surprise
TwigletFiend - 17th November, DC1,
Utopian99 - 18th November dc2 surprise (DS born 42 weeks)
Haventgotaclue1 - 18th November, DC1, surprise
FTMK - 19th Nov, DC1, surprise. May be induced from Nov 5th due to GD
Blamber - 19th November, DC1, boy
FruitBadger - 20th November, DC1
Getyourflipflopson- 21st November, dc3, boy (third boy!)
DrBlondie - 22nd November, dc1, girl
Strawberryfield - 23th November DC1, girl!
hotfuzzra - 24th November, DC1, surprise
Arkkorox - 24th November, DC1, suprise
Thehedgehogsong - 27th Nov, DC2, surprise

Congratulations Winter, brilliant news!!

Anna - I have absolutely no idea if my boobs work or not . So far I've had NOTHING, no leaks, drips or otherwise. I really hope they start working when it's time for the main event.

Congratulations Winter!!

Welcome DrB and Ark

I've been following your thread on the other board Ark, great to see you here.

Winter many, many congratulations!

Anna I tried practising hand expressing a couple of days ago, to no avail other than making me feel horny. How the HECK is that going to work?? I feel quite bad it made me feel like that when it's supposed to be a feeding thing not a sex thing. Please someone tell me it all sorts itself out when the baby arrives? Anyway, your report has encouraged me to keep going, thank you

Lots of action on the thread lately.

Massive congrats winter

ark you are in the right place for a group of really supportive ladies. You'll be fine! And you will get a laugh along the way :)

Hand expressing- I have managed this quite easily after a few attempts in the shower, I've got a book called food of love about BF and it's weird but has some great pics and descriptions about hand expressing. It basically says it's not your nipples you need to work on it's the fleshy bit behind, and even then it can take awhile to work. Apparently it can help ring on labour....but not in my case!